PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5-6, 2016. EDITION.

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Saturday, March 5, 2016 Jimadal Awwal 25, 1437 AH

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N150 Vol. 4 No. 83

Boko Haram

UNICEF, Peace Institute to protect children in N/East

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L-R; Chairman Maersk Group, Nigeria, Chief Ernest Shonekan; President Muhammadu Buhari; Chief Executive Officer, Maersk Group, Mr. Nils Andersen, and Minister of Transport Rotimi Amaechi, during a meeting between the group and the Presidency at the Presidential Villa, yesterday Abuja .

Buhari congratulates Obasanjo at 79 Pg 11 d N Housewife bathes eeken zine N W a g a E Mile 12 clash: Police E husband with hot M W W water, disappears with S arrest 105 suspects >>PG 18 S N200,000 >>PG 13 N

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PeoPles Daily WeeKeND, saTURDay — sUNDay, MaRCH 5 - 6, 2016

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Entertainm

691 Days after

Will the abducted Chibok schoolgirls ever be rescued?

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Court rejects Badeh’s application for bail >>PG 6

Fashion

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Beauty Tip

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Hollywoo

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Bollywoo

Why I started my own project —Paul Okoye

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Yemi Alade’s “Mama Africa” album is out

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Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5-6, 2016

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Interview Ministries’ merger will cut high cost of governance —Bldr Yakubu

Bldr. Musa Yakubu is a private professional building practitioner based in Abuja and the National Publicity Secretary of Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), in this exclusive interview with Peoples Daily Weekend, the image maker shares his thoughts on government’s wisdom in merging ministries.

Bldr. Yakubu argued that apart from the administrative convenience it offers, it will also help government to cut cost as well as reduce the over bloated cabinet that had hitherto increased government spending in recurrent expenditure.

He also spoke on other issues

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s a professional in the built environment, what do you think is the wisdom in merging ministries of Power, Works, and Housing and Urban Development by the incumbent administration?

One of the important things I want you to understand about merging ministries is to first of all look at the wisdom behind what the action of government intended to achieve in this era of positive change. To start with, merging the ministries does not entail reducing the professionals in the ministries.

What government did was just to streamline administrative procedures. What do I mean by administrative procedures? If you go to each of the ministries that were merged into one for instance, you will find out that all the departments, directors and professionals in the ministries were still maintained. The only difference now is that you have only one administrative head which is the minister. I believe that the wisdom behind the government’s action in this matter is its attempt to cut cost in running government and reduce the over bloated cabinet for the benefit of the country. The president believes that it is not how large the government is but how efficient.

Is the new minister not a square peg in a round hole as some industry watchers had insinuated?

The new minister of Power, Works, Land and Urban Development Barr.Fashola is a seasoned administrator who had governed one of the most challenging and problematic states in the country and at the same time performed tremendously well.So as far as I am concerned he is a square peg in a square hole. As governor of Lagos State, he changed the face of the state to a modern and mega city in Africa. His records at least speak for him; therefore it is not about professionals occupying certain positions but competent person who is a technocrat, has broad idea and technical capacity in administration.Ministerial position is not a rocket science that requires the services of rocket scientist, it is more of administrative in nature so he does not need to be an engi-

neer or architect or builder to function effectively in a position that is largely policy driven. The minister is a policy formulator while the directors and other retinue of staff carry out the major technical task in the ministry.

As a professional, don’t you feel short changed to see professional from another field come to head a ministry that is largely construction driven?

Well, a minister like I said earlier is more of an administrator who helps to formulate policies, show leadership direction and coordinates the activities of professionals in a ministry.Besides, it is not only in the built environment that the right professional was not appointed to head the sector.

There are other ministries that professionals that are not in that ministry are there. Will you say that they are also short changed; in my view, government is trying to balance governance. A professional in a particular sector may feel that he knows too much and may not give the best to the sector because he will not want to see things from other people’s perspectives whereas an administrator who wants to succeed sees every opportunity as a platform to learn and make impact with a view to improving the system. An administrator will accommodate new ideas, suggestions and inputs synthesize them and come up with the best of the ideas that will help solve a particular problem in the sector.

The current administration is planning to re-introduce toll gates in the nation’s roads with the view to generating revenue from road users, are you for or against the plan?

Personally, I am in support of government’s plan because I do not see anything wrong in collecting toll from road users as far as the funds generated from the toll will be used for the purpose it was collected. If you remember very well, it was because the proceeds from tolling were being diverted into private pockets that the administration of President Obasanjo decided to cancel the tolling system.

Meanwhile the original intention of tolling system as is obtained in other climes is for maintenance

of the road network which in turn enhances the durability and good state of the roads. Don’t also forget that all these heavy duty vehicles that ply the roads with heavy loads contribute in no small measures to the deplorable state of the roads yet, those who haul goods to different parts of the country with these trucks contribute nothing to the maintenance of the roads. So they need to contribute to the maintenance of the road network that they contribute to spoil. Therefore I see nothing wrong in government looking inwards to raise funds from road users as is done elsewhere in the globe to fix many of those roads begging for attention.

Nigerians should learn and cultivate the habit of appreciating the services that government renders to the people. It is just like saying we make calls free without buying airtime from telecom companies, how will they continue to render services? Therefore the road users should also pay for using the road so that the road can be put in a better shape to serve the public better.

In what ways will you want the new minister to partner with your institute so as to succeed in his new assignment?

It is very important for every administrator to understand that he needs professional bodies to be able to succeed well. As an administrator, you need advice from those persons that have the specific knowledge, understanding and technical knowhow of the field he is superintending over. I think that the minister should create a platform where he will bring together all the professional bodies relevant to his ministry and have a forum of interaction with them so as to seek and tap from their reservoir of knowledge. He is just an administrator who may not have the technical knowhow of how to go about certain issues in the ministry. We at the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) are available to work with him. This is because our input in housing development is very crucial considering the huge deficit that already exists. We well be delighted to contribute our quarter in whatever capacity that will be required to solve the problems of quackery and infrastructure decay. We want the new minister and

Yakubu the administration of President Muhamadu Buhari to succeed in delivery dividends of democracy to Nigerians.

It is on record that no professional builder had ever been involved or indicted on the issue of building collapse in Nigeria despite their crucial role in the built environment, how were you able to maintain such clean record?

I am very happy about your observation and that shows that Nigerians especially the members of the press are taking account of happening in the construction industry. It is true that there is no collapse building that had happened in the country that a builderhas played any role in the construction. We are proud about that but that is not to say that there are no bad builders. The ethics of our profession is fashioned in such a way that put every builder in check and compels them to always discharge their duties diligently. It is also true that builder play crucial role in the construction environment.

A builder is actually responsible for the management and production process of any building project. He is a “jack of all trades and master of all” as he must understand the role and work of all other professionals in the built industry to be able to interpret their designs and put them into reality. However, lack of awareness on the part of the public and the clients on the roles expected of each professional in the built environment is encour-

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aging many professionals to accept jobs made for other professionals.

But if clients understand that an architect’s role ends in the design, just like a structural and mechanical engineer’s role also has to do with the engineering and mechanical designs, they would not be engaged to manage the construction of his building. He will engage the relevant professionals at every stage of the construction. However the regulatory agencies of government are not also helping matters because they lack the capacity in terms of adequate manpower to function effectively in addition to paucity of fund to move round every site in the country to enforce compliance as they are the police of the industry. If they are living up to their responsibilities, professionals will not encroach into other duties other jobs and quackery will be eliminated in the industry.

What is your assessment of the current administration?

Well, the administration is moving in the right direction, even though there is hardship in the country; we are beginning to witness the promised change. Meanwhile there is nowhere in the world where you will witness a change from bad to good without witnessing some temporal pains that will eventually give way to blissfulness.

A lot had gone wrong and it will take time for those anomalies to be corrected.You can see the level of corruption that is being exposed by this administration.

If they are living up to their responsibilities, professionals will not encroach into other duties other jobs and quackery will be eliminated in the industry.

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5-6, 2016

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FEATURE Advocacy, value re-orientation campaign as tools for fighting insurgency

An IDP camp in Maiduguri

By Deji Abdulwahab

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he Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, recently visited some areas affected in Borno by the activities of Boko Haram insurgents to obtain information that could help in the fight against terrorism.

The minister, accompanied by some journalists, paid an inspection visit to the Theatre Command of the Operation Lafiya Dole in Maiduguri, Bama, Konduga, and other areas affected by the crisis.

Expressing concern about level destruction in the areas, he said that his ministry would inaugurate a national security campaign against insurgency to sensitise Nigerians to the need for active participation of individuals in security matters. ``Intelligence gathering and robust advocacy would be used to sensitise Nigerians on the need to wage war against the insurgents. ``No nation succeeds in the fight against insurgency without the civilian component; so, we will let Nigerians know that the fight against insurgency is a national issue,’’ the minister said when he visited a camp of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Bama.

According to him, the Federal Minister of Information and Culture will roll out national jingles to educate Nigerians on the need to be vigilant and report any suspicious movements to security agencies.

He noted that although security awareness messages had been going on as broadcast in many radio and television stations, there should be more awareness campaign, especially at the grassroots. ``I urge Nigerians to be vigilant in public places and ensure that they know their neigbours’ means of livelihood with a view to complementing the military’s efforts against the insurgents. ``I also call for synergy between the military and the media to enhance mutual

understanding in the war against insurgency because security is everybody’s business,’’ he said.

Maj.-Gen. Yushau Abubakar, the Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, also said that every Nigerian had a role to play to complement the military’s efforts at ending insurgency.

In his response, Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno acknowledged that Mohammed was the first Minister of Minister of Information and Culture that visited the state to get firsthand information on the war against insurgency.

The governor said the state had witnessed unimaginable destruction of 27 local government areas from 2009 to date by the insurgents.

Shettima, who blamed the insurgency on poverty and unemployment, urged the Federal Government to address the problems of poverty, unemployment and lack of hope for the youth.

Beside this, the minister stressed that there should be effective value re-orientation for positive attitude to sustain the ethics and values among Nigerians. ``We need to re-inject values into our society as value re-orientation is imperative to the achievement of the change agenda of the present administration,’’ he said recently in a meeting in Abuja.

He said his ministry would soon begin a nationwide campaign against indiscipline, African-time syndrome and loss of social norms and values. ``I have convened to present to you the template for the massive, nationwide reorientation campaign to be embarked upon by this ministry very soon. ``Those invited to this meeting have been painstakingly selected because I believe they have the necessary expertise to help drive the campaign. ``However, let me state unequivocally, that everyone in the Ministry of Information and Culture as well as its parastatals, is key to

the campaign. ``This is because as the lead ministry, we must first buy into the campaign before we can propagate it,’’ he said.

The minister said that the National Orientation Agency would spearhead the campaign to ensure positive change of attitude, values and behaviours among Nigerians. ``Make no mistake about it, we need to change the way we do things in Nigeria; it is important to let our people know that they cannot continue to do things the same way and expect a different result. ``The impending campaign must take on indiscipline, the lack of respect for time, loss of our time-tested values and generally lead to attitudinal change in such a way that there will be a paradigm shift in the way we do things.,’’ he noted.

The minister said the change agenda of the present administration could only succeed if Nigerians decided to change their attitude.

Muhammed said the merger of information and culture would make the ministry to drive the change agenda effectively.

Sharing similar sentiments, an Islamic scholar in Abuja, Alhaji Mufutaudeen Balogun, urged the religious leaders to inculcate moral values in children.

He said the inculcation of education and moral teachings were fundamental to national development. ``One of the purposes of acquiring knowledge is to gain the good of this world, not to destroy it through wastage, arrogance and reckless pursuit material comfort. ``Broad steps should be taken by our religious leaders to inculcate moral values in our children in the early childhood since their hearts will be pure at that tender age. ``Once we have that assistance in guidance, there will be no more violence or terrorism,’’ Balogun said.

In his view, Alhaji Nuru Khalid, the Chief Imam of Apo Legislative Quarters Mosque, Abuja, observed that security challenges

had, over the years, become a concern in the world.

He urged Nigerians to support government’s programme aimed at deradicalising the thoughts of the youth. ``Religion is the tool they (insurgents) use to indoctrinate extremism in the minds of our children; they misinterpret our scripture to radicalise the youth against us but religious leaders have a duty to discourage this,’’ he said.

For inclusive advocacy, the Primate of Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, insists that all religious leaders must support the Federal Government in fighting terrorism through their sermons on the need to ensure peace in the country.

(NAN Features)

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He said his ministry would soon begin a nationwide campaign against indiscipline, African-time syndrome and loss of social norms and values.

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Special Report

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5-6, 2016

Yelwa: Source for alternative to crude oil

Nigeria’s rural areas provide the most peaceful atmosphere for living; thus, they remain to a large degree, more serene places to live in, especially when provided with the basic necessities of life like roads, schools, healthcare facilities, potable water, electricity and others. Yelwa is a village in Plateau State

Cable bridge

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his is a settlement located in the northern suburbs of Jos, popularly known as Yelwa Mr Bow; it is an ancient village of more than three centuries. It is a settlement of an estimated population of 5,000+ inhabitants according to the last head count, most of whom are Hausa, Kanuri, and Fulani that engage in tin mining and farming for their economic viability.

The place is a five-kilometre drive from the Jos city centre, but has a very bad road that leads to the village with a single-line carriage wooden bridge.

This makes it absolutely impossible for more than one vehicle to pass across at once, and was said to be constructed by the military in the 1980’s. It is from around the bridge that plantation of irrigated farms being practiced would give a rousing welcome to any person approaching the village from that end.

Prior to the construction of the wooden bridge, there used to exist a pedestrian bridge (Gadar langa langa) in the same position, made of iron cable and a wood floor said to be constructed

which inhabitants have against all odds, remain quite productive especially on their farms. Peoples Daily Weekend correspondent was there and reports with additional information from agency reports that the village could provide an alternative to the crude oil for Nigeria.

Part of the village by the colonial masters in the 1900’s to convey tin that was mined and also allow for passage to neighbouring communities of Narkuta and Jos. Signs of tin mining activities that had taken place are glaringly traceable in the community, as one can simply sight pit holes that characterized such activities, though little quantity of the product is still found as people still take time to dig the soil in search of the product till date.

The village was said to have predated Narkuta and even Jos for several years. This was according to an aged man Malam Baba believed to be about one hundred and twenty years old. He told our correspondent that, “ Yelwa existed longer than Narkuta which later also gave birth to Jos; and that the people of Yelwa specialize in tin mining even before the advent of the British who came and met our fore fathers and fathers mining.”

Baba explained that apart from tin mining, Yelwa people are also good in farming both in the rainy and dry seasons but most specifically irrigation

system of farming. This according to him is as of today, the major economic activity that keeps the people moving.

“Noman Lambu, (irrigation) is today the major work that our people do with little tin mining; even though some of the youths are now into mechanic work and other trades. While some of them had left the village because there are no amenities due to government neglect.”

To the old man, the punctured peace that used to disturb the mutual coexistence of Jos which by extension affected the surrounding villages was a major cause for concern.

Majority of the vast land that made up the village is either put into use as farm land or left fallow, with trees and other plantations surrounding the village thereby attracting other people that usually visit to relax and enjoy its quietness and serenity with natural air blowing devoid of contamination.

The village often has quiet and scanty features most especially during morning through afternoon period of the day, with its riverside experiencing

the bubble and bustles of its inhabitants as they go about their irrigated farming activities.

Vegetable and other plantations that range from carrots, cabbage, onions, citrus, tomatoes, cassava, guava, mango, maize, millet and many others, are grown and harvested in commercial quantities in and around Yelwa throughout the year.

Our reporter was able transverse the riverside where irrigation farming is taking place; and sighted harvest of some of the products.

Malam Danladi, a full time farmer born and brought up in Yelwa village, narrated that even his grandfathers were farmers and apart from the period of his school days, he had also never left the village neither had he done anything else apart from farming.

“I have no other business in my life apart from farming. I teach Islamic studies in the school we have, upon request by the PTA, but farming has been my way of life. The occupation Contd on Page 5

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5-6, 2016

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Special Report

Source for alternative to crude oil Contd from Page 4 is today only manageable because the harvest therefrom is rather very low with little profit coming out of it due to lack of sufficient capital to acquire farm implements and fertilizer on time to meet market demands.”

He said students from the University of Jos have been visiting the place for their experiments on how to cultivate crops and other perishable products mostly during the dry season of farming. He decried the absence of support from government, as one of the factors hindering the growth of the business.

It was gathered that the hitherto persistent crises and the general insecurity of the state in the past was yet another major obstacle that caused decline in the patronage of farm products from the state as the number of traders who go there from far and near was low.

Our correspondent saw farm produce cultivated from Danladi’s farm, with tomatoes and cabbage being packaged in readiness for conveyance to major markets in Jos from where other people come from across Nigeria to patronize.

One could see and also feel the deplorable situation of the road and the bridge from both ways that lead into the village which if properly constructed, will surely raise the standard of the village. This would also not only allow the people to

Harvest time

enjoy good access but would further pave way for development and will also serve as another metropolitan by-pass, more so that the road links to the major Bauchi road that leads to North eastern states of the federation. It would also link to Zaria road which leads to North western states, thereby creating easy access for commuters.

It is not only the road that is bad, but also the lone primary school which structures are inadequate and dilapidated, with insufficient teachers. This was said to have compelled parents to take their children to distant schools in search of education. Likewise, the only primary health care facility in the village was not only lacking in good structure but also in even the most relevant drugs and health personnel.

Narrating some of their plights, Alhaji Aliyu, a youth leader in the village, explained that, “basically there are lots of challenges disturbing us; road, hospital, water, electricity and educational challenges as well.

We also have a health facility that lacks qualified doctors, light and obviously it is not good because as old as the village and as close as it is to Jos, being not more than five kilometres away, we face all these challenges.”

The youth leader stated that they expended up to N800,000 in putting additional structure of two classrooms in their primary school to complement the efforts of government; but lamented that it was not enough to ac-

Vegitable farm commodate the teeming children seeking for knowledge.

He equally urged governments at all levels to come to their aid especially in the area of water supply to the community.

According to the 2006 population census estimate Yelwa has no fewer than 5,000 inhabitants, which must have increased going by the trend that many other people have migrated from other places to settle there. This was said to be one of the end results of the persistent crises in some places. It was also worthy of mention that despite having this growing population, the

village had only one borehole as the source of potable water, and scores of people were seen queuing to fetch this very basic requirement there.

Our reporter monitored children, men and women waiting for their turns to get the water from the borehole that rather flows low, thereby taking longer time than necessary for one to have a full content of a bucket.

Sparse darkness is also one other feature of Yelwa, due to the inadequacy of lightening though the high tension service cables that supply energy to North Eastern states passed

Harvested tomatoes

through the village. The village is said to have been lucky though as crime rate is quite low.

Yelwa is a community that if those basic social amenities are properly provided for, its scenic natural environment as well as its potentials in the field of agriculture will not only attract more people to settle and bring development but will further lead to the exploration of other opportunities especially in solid minerals especially against the dwindling oil revenue.

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Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5-6, 2016

News

Buhari congratulates new Olubadan on his coronation By Olaoye

Lawrence

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resident Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the new Olubadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji Aje Ogungunniso 1, on his coronation yesterday.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, Buhari joined the indigenes of Ibadan, the family of the new Olubadan, the government and people of Oyo State in celebrating Oba Adetunji’s ascension to the ancient throne of his forefathers.

As he ascends the throne as the 41st Olubadan, the President urged Oba Adetunji to follow in the worthy and commendable footsteps of his predecessors by working diligently

L-R: Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr. Dikko Suleiman with : Ogun State Governor, Senator ibikunle Amosun , during the Commission’s management courtesy call on the Governor recently in Abeokuta.

Court rejects Badeh’s application for bail

By Osby Isibor

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Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday struck out a bail application filed by former Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh.

Justice John Tsoho said he could not give bail because there was a subsisting remand order by a Lagos Magistrate Court, and there was no application to set it aside.

Justice Tsoho said Badeh, a retired Air Chief Marshal, only

filed an application for bail, and not to set aside the order of the magistrate court obtained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The judge had on Monday reserved March 4 for his ruling on the bail application.

Badeh has been in the custody of the EFCC since February 8, and is facing a 10-count charge of criminal breach of trust and corruption to the tune N3.9billion.

He denies wrongdoing.

Samuel Zibiri, counsel to the

former defence chief, had asked the court to admit Badeh to bail on self-recognition or on liberal terms pending his arraignment by the anti-graft agency.

He argued that Badeh had voluntarily honoured the invitation of the EFCC on February 8.

Zibiri also said Badeh had been detained for more than the period required by the Constitution without trial.

However, Cosmos Ugwu, counsel to the EFCC, opposed

the application, saying the commission should be allowed to complete its investigation.

Ugwu argued that the applicant’s current detention in Lagos was not related to the earlier issues that led to his invitation and subsequent detention in Abuja.

Badeh was to be arraigned before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, but the case was shifted to March 7 owing to the absence of the judge.

acting director, army public relations, Sani Usman, said.

The statement also said troops recovered 1 Dane gun and 1 Light Machine Gun Bipod Stand and detonated 1 Improvised Explosive Device enroute.

The army said in a separate operation, troops of 81 Battalion and 251 Task Force Battalion of 25 Task Force Brigade, 7 Division Nigerian Army, “demystified” Boko Haram terrorists’ spiritual

power base at the Alagarno forest, Borno State.

The troops, based on tip off, conducted a clearance operation around Alagarno forest general area, destroying terrorists camps at Mosa, Ariwuzumari and Kagalmari, as well as Missene, Joba, Yajiwa and Sansan.

“During the operations, the troops were able to clear all the camps, killing quite a number of terrorists and recovered

Boko Haram terrorists flags hoisted on some premises, destroyed their logistics base and recovered 31 motorcycles, assorted foodstuffs, a donkey and a pick up van, AK-45 rifle with registration number 17714 and a Dane gun.

“Other items recovered include 2 boxes of 7.62mm ammunition, 4 loaded magazines of AK-47 rifles and 2 magazines pack,” the statement said.

Army raids Boko Haram’s hideout, rescues 63

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he Nigerian Army said yesterday that it’s Special Forces Team B, 7 Division Garrison, conducted fighting patrol in which they cleared Boko Haram terrorist’s hideout at Lawin Meleri, Matiri Bulaka and Aljeri villages.

During the operation, the soldiers killed five Boko Haram terrorists and also rescued 63 persons held captives by the terrorists, a statement by the

for peace and development in Ibadan, Oyo State and Nigeria.

He called on Adetunji to also do his utmost best, in his new role as the chief custodian of the traditions of his people, to preserve and propagate the admirable culture and customs of Ibadan.

Buhari assured the new Olubadan of the full support and cooperation of the Federal Government as he strives to lead his people forward and contribute meaningfully to the development of his domain, Oyo State and the nation.

He prayed that Almighty God will grant Oba Adetunji long life, good health and the wisdom he needs for a successfully reign

PPMC puts measures to end current fuel scarcity

By Sunday Etuka

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n response to the current fuel scarcity, the management of the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC) yesterday said it has flooded Abuja with 31 high capacity trucks, each with approximately 60,000 litres.

Another 25 trucks are expected today, the company said in a statement, explaining that the measure was in line with the efforts being made by the Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, to end the scarcity.

According to the PPMC, the 31 intervention trucks that arrived Abuja Friday were deployed to areas of need.

“This is made possible by reason of the partnership between NNPC Retail and Capital Oil and Gas,” the company said. “In addition, 150 trucks have been provided by A. A. Rano, Azman, and Rahamaniyya.”

The Managing

Director of PPMC, Esther NnamdiOgbue, said these interventionist efforts would continue until the queues at filling stations disappear.

The agency said despite not being a regulator, “it has made an extra effort to curb the effect of the fuel crisis on the general public by deploying staff to petrol stations across Abuja for round-the-clock monitoring.

“It is believed that with these measures, normalcy will return to Abuja and its environs in no time. Motorists are therefore advised for the umpteenth time not to engage in panic buying as this will encourage the activities of hoarders.

“They are also advised to be vigilant and to report any observed sharp practices and other identified areas of need.”

The PPMC urges citizens to report sharp practices observed at filling stations through its twitter account, @ PPMC_NGR.

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5-6, 2016

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Cover

Revisiting NCC, NESREA clash over masts

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ome time ago, two federal agencies- the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), tried to educate each other on the best ways to put mobile communication installations to effective use within our country’s earth’s surface. While one agency seemed to follow a moral and ethical pathway, the other looked at its profit margins in the course of doing business on the environment. According to industrial dispute indicators, the two agencies were heading to the courthouse to validate their claims.

The struggle came to the fore after the sealing and unsealing off of an MTN mast and base station located at EFAB Estate in the nation’s capital around 2012, where NESREA argued that the site of the mast fell short of the required distances from the perimeter fencing of any residential building.

According to a representative of NESREA, “masts and base stations must stand at least ten metres away from any residential quarters in order to protect inhabitants of the area from chemical emissions and noise pollutions emanating from such base stations. But as you can see, this mast here is only 1.2 meters away from that house. And of course, it is dangerously too close and we can’t allow it to continue to stand there in the interest of the health of people living in that house.”

In their own submission, authorities of NCC argued that, “It is the inalienable right of NCC to determine where telecom masts and base stations should be sited in this country for the success of mobile telephony, and not NESREA’s. We have approved the location of masts many years before NESREA came on board and our telephone companies have not caused any bodily harm to anyone in the course of their business operations.

NESREA is simply whipping up sentiments and meddling in the affairs of this commission and we won’t take it.”

It is no gainsaying that since then, both of them have exerted substantial strengths in trying to determine which of them is the ultimate judge in the dayto-day human interactions on the environment which has, no doubt, earned them front-burner attention with ordinary Nigerians asking if at all the chief executives of the two agencies actually know their onions in their constitutionally-assigned roles to the masses of this country.

As a matter-of-fact, Nigerian people have wondered if the two warring government departments were alien agencies who have no business carrying on their public service jobs under one federal authority.

In the not so recent past, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), fiercely engaged in a show of supremacy over how to use or how not to use Nigeria’s environmental space for telecommunication business purposes. Peoples Daily Weekend with additional information from agencies, relates some expert opinions on the issue

Dr. Lawrence Anukam, Director General/CEO of NESREA Since then, too, concerned Nigerians, have tried to find out which of the agencies has been overstepping its bounds. They have tried to find out if NESREA, the federal agency charged with the responsibility of regulating hu-

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Prof Umar Garba Dambatta, Executive Vice Chairman of NCC

man actions on the environment is the one exceeding the limits or boundaries of its authority. Or NCC, the federal agency formally instructed to supervise how telecommunication operators carry on their businesses in Nigeria the one

As a matter-of-fact, Nigerian people have wondered if the two warring government departments were alien agencies who have no business carrying on their public service jobs under one federal authority.

stepping outside of its assigned roles.

On the other hand, critical observers also tried to find out if either of the two agencies was even being overzealous, altogether. But before any informed opinion could be reached on this vexed issue we tried to properly understand the various subsets of the mandates of the two agencies from their chief executives.

First, according to NESREA source, “The NESREA Act of 2007, empowers our agency to regulate and enforce, where necessary, all standards of social and economic operations undertaking by every inhabitant of this country’s biosphere insofar as such operation might affect the health and wellbeing of other inhabitants. And of course, this includes even unwholesome discharges into the atmospheric commons.”

At this point, if we understand the subset of its constitutional mandate properly, it means that NESREA overContd on Page 8

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5-6, 2016

Page 8

Cover

Revisiting NCC, NESREA clash over masts Contd from Page 7 sees how all humans interact with the whole areas of our country’s environmental space which include the atmosphere and our sea areas inhabited by living things in order to ensure sustainability of all life forms on the environment, namely; sustainability of the human environment and the ecosystem.

For full understanding of NCC mandate, a top official in the commission who spoke to us on grounds of anonymity, maintained that it is his agency’s responsibility to approve licenses for telephone companies and other communication outfits as well as oversee the development and rational use of telecom masts and base stations and their efficient operations for purposes of improving telecom services in Nigeria.

He concluded that, “in all this, we make sure that all telecom equipment are put to their best uses and are readily available to the general public while we are at the same time making sure that the actions of phone companies are coordinated in order that they may attain their economic potentials.”

Here, the subset in NCC’s mandate is clear and suggestive. That is to say, in addition to making sure that telecom properties are developed and made available to the public, such installations must also be positioned in such a way as to earn maximum profits for the telephone companies.

Now looking at the divergence or rather, the amount of difference in the mandates of the two agencies, it might not be out of place to state here that they are purely and unreservedly parallel lines that might never meet; while one should try to oversee and preserve the purity and sanctity of our natural environment the other should oversee or rather, coordinate the use of telecommunication devices and systems to transmit electronic and optical signals across long distances within and outside the country.

But is that the case? What should be their rallying point?

On the other hand, is anyone of them trying to muscle the other?

Whatever the answers though, an Abuja-based social analyst said that how each of the agencies succeeds in the execution of their national mandates should simply be a matter of synergizing. He, however, thinks that NCC has no business carrying on property developments on the environment without first, clearing with the environmental stand-

ards enforcement agency.

He said, “I don’t think NCC is getting it right, here. You see, you and I and everyone else in this country know that every agency of government has its own area of jurisdiction which must not cross each other.

Therefore, NCC has no right whatsoever, to judge in matters of environmental decency.

“

That decision is NESREA’s who should give environment impact reports to government concerning any industrial activities on the environment.”

On this, NESREA’s spokesman when the controversy lasted, Mr Sule Oyofo said, “the MTN mast in question was shut down on 23 April for breaching environmental laws. The site

of the mast did not meet the stipulated 10-meter setback – a requirement permitted by the National Environmental (Telecom and Broadcast Facilities) Regulations S1 No 11 of 2011.

Besides, the facility located in EFAB Estate in Mbora District of Abuja, was not captured in a national environmental audit carried out by NESREA to de-

Whatever the answers though, an Abujabased social analyst said that how each of the agencies succeeds in the execution of their national mandates should simply be a matter of synergizing. He, however, thinks that NCC has no business carrying on property developments on the environment without first, clearing with the environmental standards enforcement agency.

termine the rightness or otherwise of the locations of masts and base stations in the Capital City.”

We may wish to believe cited document as real and duly ratified by government. But what does he mean by rightness? Is his agency really interested in ethical issues and moral correctness in the conduct of government businesses, or the agency is just playing to the gallery and making people believe that NCC is a social bully?

At that time, an Abujabased constitutional lawyer, Barr Chukwudi Uzendu, said that regardless of the huge successes recorded by the telecommunication industry in this country, the health and wellbeing of citizens should be given due consideration over financial gains, adding that it is only a healthy citizenry that can do business with any going concern.

Speaking on the point of law he said, “the National Environmental Regulations S1 No 11 of 2011 which includes Telecommunications and Broadcast Facilities, is a document that is expected to be obeyed by all industry players including NCC and its motley of telephone companies. If NCC fails to obey that piece of rule then it is indeed seen as meddling in the affairs of the environmental agency and could, therefore be summarily adjudged as being overzealous in its mandates. The commission should rather concentrate its energy on properly coordinating the activities telecom companies that are almost going haywire in their operations.”

Citing Lagos State as an example where separate regulatory agencies have been set up to stem indiscriminate erection of telecom masts and base stations, Uzendu said, “I think there is something wrong in the way the telecommu/nications industry operates in this country. Someone has to keep a close watch on them in the overriding interest of the Nigerian masses.”

In its own submissions in the inter-agency rivalry, League of Patriotic Youths of Nigeria, a nonpartisan, iconoclastic youths vanguard said, “we the youths of this country have watched with dismay the ongoing disagreement between NCC and NESREA over issues of communication and the environment and have, therefore, decided that NCC is being unreasonable in the matter because all NESREA is doing is to ensure that human health and the natural environment are safeguarded for purposes of sustainable development,” the youths concluded.

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5-6, 2016

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Saturday Column

Islam teaches Muslims good character Contd from Back Page Imam ibn Al-Qayyim writes: “The religion itself is entirely good character, so whoever surpasses you in good character has surpassed you in religion.”

(See Madaarij al-Saalikin, 2/294) And he also writes: “Good manners itself is the religion in its entirety.” (See Madaarij al-Saalikin, 2/363) The true measure of a good Muslim is how good are his character and manners, particularly in his or her relationships with their families and all people. Men are specifically called upon to treat their women in the best manner.

The honour of a Muslim man is directly proportional to his behaviour towards women.

Abdullah ibn Amr reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “The best of you are those with the best character.” (See Sahih Bukhari, 3366) In another narration, the Prophet said: “The most complete of the believers in faith are those with the best character, and the best of you are the best in behaviour to their women.” (See Sunan AtTirmidhi, 1162) And in another narration, the Prophet said: “Verily, the believers with the most complete faith are those with the most excellent character and who are most kind to their family.” (See Sunan At-Tirmidhi, 2612) Servants of Allah!

Good character is among the greatest of good deeds to be placed on the scale of a believer on the Day of Judgment, even more so than an abundance of voluntary acts of worship.

Abu Dardaa reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Nothing is heavier upon the

“

scale of the believer on the Day of Resurrection than his good character. Verily, Allah hates the shameless, obscene person.” (See Sunan At-Tirmidhi, 2002) Aisha reported: the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Verily, the believer may reach through his good character the status of one who regularly fasts and prays at night.” (See Sunan Abu Dawud, 4798) The Prophet informed us that good character is the leading cause of people entering paradise.

On the contrary, character flaws involving bad speech, defaming, attacking, abusing and insulting people and sexual immorality are the leading cause of people entering the Hellfire.

Abu Hurairah reported: The Prophet was asked, “What enters most people into paradise?” The

Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him said: “Righteousness and good character.”

It was asked, “What enters most people into the Hellfire?”

The Prophet said: “The mouth and the private parts.” (See Sunan At-Tirmidhi, 2004) Those who practiced good character and manners will be the closet to the Prophet and the righteous in paradise, whereas those who indulged in bad manners will be the furthest from them.

Abdullah ibn Amr reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessing be upon him, said: “Shall I tell you about the most beloved to me and the closest to my assembly on the Day of Resurrection? They are those with the best character.” (See

The scholars have written many books and articles about the virtues of good character and their practical manifestations: acts of mercy, justice, fairness, patience, forbearance, modesty, humility, generosity, piety, kindness, compassion, and so forth. In each case, good character involves the respect due to Allah, as well as the respect due to human beings and animals as the creations of Allah.

Musnad Ahmad, 6696) In another narration, the Prophet said: “Verily, the most beloved and nearest to my gathering on the Day of Resurrection are those of you with the best character.

Verily, the most reprehensible of you to me and the furthest from my gathering on the Day of Resurrection will be the pompous, the extravagant, and the arrogant.” (See Sunan AtTirmidhi, 2018) My respected people!

The scholars have written many books and articles about the virtues of good character and their practical manifestations: acts of mercy, justice, fairness, patience, forbearance, modesty, humility, generosity, piety, kindness, compassion, and so forth. In each case, good character involves the respect due to Allah, as well as the respect due to human beings and animals as the creations of Allah.

Ibn Taymiyyah summarizes the good character of Islam, saying: “The believers encourage people to reconcile relations with those who have cut them off, to give charity to those who have deprived them, and to forgive those who have oppressed them. They order people to be benevolent with parents, to uphold family ties, to be benevolent with neighbours, to be kind with orphans, travelers, and the poor, and to be gentle with servants. They forbid bragging, arrogance, and transgression.

They discourage people from feeling superior over others, rightly or wrongly. They enjoin people to use lofty manners and

prohibit them from pursuing trifles. All that they say or do from these virtues and other teachings, in all of it they follow the Qur’an and the Sunnah. Their path is thereligion of Islam with which Allah has sent Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him.” (See al-Aqidah al-Wasitiyah, 1/71) Dear Servants of Allah!

As Muslims, our goal should be to behave well towards Allah by continuously seeking knowledge of the religion and performing acts of worship, while at the same time behaving well towards all people, upholding divine values of justice, fairness and mercy, and responding to evil with good.

“O Allah! Make us among those who earn your forgiveness and acquire safety from the Hell fire, Ameen.

All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. Prayers, peace and mercy are upon our beloved Master Muhammad, the son of Abdullah (SAW), his family and his companions.

Success comes from Allah, the Lord of all that exists, and He the Most High knows best.

This Khutbah (Friday Sermon) was prepared for delivery today, Friday, Jumaada al-awwal 24, 1437 A.H (March 4, 2016), by Imam Murtadha Muhammad Gusau, the Chief Imam of Nagazi-Uvete Jumu’at Mosque and Alhaji Abdurrahman Okene’s Mosque, Okene Kogi State, Nigeria. He can be reached through: +234 80 3828 9761.

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Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5-6, 2016

News UNICEF, Peace Institute, partner to protect children in North-eastern Nigeria T

he United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has launched a partnership project with the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) towards protecting children in the conflict-torn North-eastern Nigeria.

Mr. Anil Rughavanshi, Manager, Child Protection in Emergencies, UNICEF, said this at the inaugural meeting with IPCR in Abuja.

Rughavanshi said that the partnership was to implement a project: ``Community Coping Strategies Support for Children in Armed Conflicts in the North-eastern Nigeria’’.

He decried the vulnerability of children in armed conflicts saying, that they were the most affected. ``Children in armed conflicts are

affected doubly: they have all the problems faced by their counterparts in Abuja or Lagos; yet they are also facing problems due to the conflicts. ``Children are more vulnerable because they are least capable of protecting themselves. ``If there is fighting going on, a child is more vulnerable to killing, injuries or any other violence,” he said.

He said that the issue of child protection had become very important because of the percentage of children population in Nigeria. ``In Nigeria, more than 50 per cent of the population is below the age of 18 years; so, these are children. ``Also, that means that when we talk about the child, we are talking about the most vulnerable population with that high

number, and many of them are already suffering. ``This UNICEF Child Protection in Emergencies is working on responding to child protection issues in the North East of Nigeria,” Rughavanshi said.

He explained that many children whose parents were killed or had been separated from their families during conflicts had nobody to live with and consequently, had become unaccompanied children.

According to him, unaccompanied children are more vulnerable to sexual violence, sexual exploitation, child labour, trafficking, killing, abduction and many other things as a result of displacement.

The UNICEF official said that armed conflicts affected the normal level of law and order, adding that ``the protection level comes down while the vulnerability level

goes up’’.

According to him, their resolve is to work to fill that gap and increase the protection measures as well as decrease the vulnerability for children.

Rughavanshi asserted that the IPCR, as the `think-tank’ of Nigeria in strengthening the country’s capacity for the promotion of peace and conflict prevention, management and resolution, was strategic in the project.

Speaking earlier, the Director-General of IPCR, Prof Oshita Oshita, commended the UNICEF’s focus at working for children’s rights, survival, development and protection. ``We are aware of the UN Security Council concern about the child and its Resolution 1612 in particular; we all know the issues that were flagged by that resolution.

ASUU accuses Oshiomhole of demolishing UNIBEN lecturers’ houses

L-R: South West Chairman, Campaign for Democracy, Prince Goodluck Obi; Lawyer to the victim of violent attack, mr Kolawole love; President, Women arise Initiative, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin; victim of violent attack by her husband, Gloria Izuakor and a member, women arise, Ayo Olohuntade, at the trial of Jude Izuakor over his violent attack on his wife Gloria, yesterday in Lagos,

From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

T

he Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has accused the Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole of confiscating and demolishing houses belonging to University of Benin lecturers.

The Zonal Coordinator of the union, Professor Nanmwa Voncir of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) Bauchi, who made the accusation yesterday while addressing newsman in Bauchi, said that they wanted to draw the attention of Nigerians over the issue.

The union alleged that the governor has transformed from a ‘Comrade’ into a tyrant because of political power.

“The ‘Comrade’ Governor of Edo State has confiscated and demolished houses belonging to the University of Benin with sitting occupants. Even when the matter is in court, the governor has gone ahead and completely demolished the properties of the university” He stated that the governor’s action amounted to tyranny, adding that the land was also allocated to individuals after the demolishing.

The union therefore, said that by his action, the governor has allowed private interest to override public interest which it said is unbecoming of a man who claims to protect the working class people.

“We call on the Governor of Edo State to forthwith rebuild the demolished properties and return same to University of Benin without delay. We also appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian people to call the ‘Comrade’ Governor to order”, the union added.

Buhari condoles with Ganduje over death of his mother

By Lawrence Olaoye

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari has condoled with the Kano state governor, Dr. Umar Ganduje on the loss of his mother, Hajiya Fadimatu Ganduje.

In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on media and publicity, Garba Shehu, the President described the late Fatimatu as a woman of virtue and vision who brought up her children with a strong sense of public service.

In a condolence message read on his behalf by a government delegation of ministers he sent to represent him at the burial ceremony at Ganduje village near Kano yesterday, President Buhari said the deceased matriarch watched over the affairs of her household with care and diligence.

“She was a personification of humility and decency. Decency was

…describes Eskor Toyo as fearless advocate one of her magnetic and inspiring virtues. Nigerian parents should emulate her sterling character in their conducts,” the President said.

He prayed Allah to accept her good deeds and forgive her sins.

The President urged Ganduje, his family and the people of Kano state to bear the loss with fortitude.

The delegation was led by the Minister Internal Affairs, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau and it included the the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami,SAN, the Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, Minister of State, Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media,

Garba Shehu.

Others in the delegation were the Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, the Deputy National Chairman of the APC, Senator Lawal Shuaibu and a retired Military officer, MajorGeneral Abdulmalik Jibrin.

In his remarks shortly after the funeral ceremony, Ganduje who spoke on behalf of his bereaved brothers and sisters said that the people of Kano state would remain eternally grateful to the President for his consistent identification with them in their moments of joy or sadness.

In a related development, President Muhammadu Buhari has

described late Professor Eskor Toyo as a fearless advocate of social justice and a role model who’s building principle was to live for the good of less privileged people.

Buhari in a statement by his Special Adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, paid a tribute to the the late renown scholar and elder statesman.

He stated “As Prof. Toyo is laid to rest tomorrow; President Buhari believes that he will be long remembered as a fearless advocate who never stopped confronting the problems of social injustice, discrimination and poverty in Nigeria.”

Buhari extended heartfelt

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5-6, 2016

Page 11

News

Buhari congratulates Obasanjo at 79

Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo of G o m b e State (R) and Chairman Globarch Associates Projects consultant, Alhaji Saleh Yunusa, during an inspection visit to international conference centre, on Thursday in Gombe

By Lawrence Olaoye

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated former President Olusegun Obasajo (GCFR) as he turns 79 years today.

The President, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, affirmed that the former president, who is approaching the octogenarian cycle, has contributed immensely to the institutionalization of democracy in Nigeria and Africa through his personal sacrifice, extensive local and international networks, and God-given wisdom.

Buhari expressed the believe that Chief Obasanjo’s place in global history is assured for successfully handing over power to a civilian government in 1979 after serving as a military Head of State, and returning to power in 1999 through elections to stabilize the polity, during which he most remarkably negotiated a debt relief for Nigeria.

The President warmly commended Obasanjo’s vision and commitment to the growth of Nigeria and Africa, which translated into a historical growth rate of 6 percent for the Nigerian economy after a long period of slow growth, and also created a rippling effect that buoyed other African economies.

As he turns 79, the President averred that the former president’s regular shuttles across Nigeria and Africa to counsel on economic, social and political issues, and his willingness to head election monitoring teams that have heralded smooth transitions in many countries are legacies which generations will remain grateful.

President Buhari prays that the Almighty God will grant the Balogun of the Owu lineage, who is also the Ekerin Balogun of the Egba clan, long life and strength to continue his service to humanity.

Chief Obasanjo

IGP visits Nasarawa, seeks collaboration with state govt From Gambo Ahmed, Lafia

T

he Inspector General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase yesterday sought the collaboration of the Nasarawa state government for a piece of land for the construction of a housing scheme for the rank and file in the Nigeria Police .

Arase made the assertion when he paid a courtesy call on Governor Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa state at the Government House, Lafia, the state

capital.

According to him, the housing scheme initiated by his regime for the rank and file was born out of the passion he has for the welfare of the Police.

“I promise to look after the welfare of the Nigeria Police.

Police will not regret after leaving service. We are building houses for the rank and file so that they can enjoy after leaving service”, he added.

Arase said that the over 40, 000 policemen have been promoted recently, saying that the

gesture was part of measures put in place to better the welfare of Police officers.

The IGP regretted that over 100 policemen lost their lives during the previous crisis in the state, promising that plans are in place to provide succour for the families of the deceased.

In a remark, Governor Tanko Al-Makura reiterated that his administration was determined to partner with the Nigeria Police, stressing that the Nigeria Police has been reformed under Arase’s watch.

His words, “I commend you for the inputs to stabilise the state. You have added value and support to Nasarawa’s stability. Your initiative has greatly impacted on the Nigeria police. The police now are having greater integrity in face of the public since you assumed office”.

Al-Makura then directed the commissioner in the ministry of works to look for a suitable piece of land to be allocated to the Police for the housing scheme.

U.S., Nigeria, corporation launch $20m women’s health initiative

T

he Federal Government, the United States and General Electric (GE) have jointly launched a new mother-and-child health initiative to expand access to pre-natal screening to over two million expectant mothers in Nigeria by 2020.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that GE is an American multinational conglomerate corporation.

The U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle, said that the “Healthymagination Mother and Child Initiative” would help to reduce preventable mother and infant deaths.

Entwistle said that there were 40,000 maternal deaths per year in Nigeria, adding that many preg-

nant women delayed seeking care until potential life-threatening condition arose.

He said that no mother should die from preventable causes.

According to him, the tripartite partnership between Nigeria, U.S. and GE would identify at-risk pregnancies early and refer women to higher level of care.

The 20 million dollars endeavour, according to him, will also address maternal and child health challenges among health workers in Nigeria.

He said that the initiative would enhance training of midwives, nurses and other professionals in the use of portable ultrasound (Vscan Access) screening tool to determine at-risk pregnancies.

``The U.S. Government is committed to engaging in effective and innovative alliance with the private sector to support Nigeria’s criteria development needs. ``We are proud to collaborate with GE to bring quality health services to millions of women and children in Nigeria,” he said.

He said that the initiative would target 1,300 midwives and prenatal primary healthcare givers with over 100,000 hours of training over the next three years in maternal and child health care.

He said that six states and the Federal Capital Territory were being targeted.

According to him, GE’s portable ultrasound Vscan Access launched at the World Health Assembly in

Geneva in May 2015, is a system designed for front-line workers in low-resources settings to help improve maternal health.

Dr Osagie Ehanire, Minister of State for Health who presided over the ceremony, said that Nigeria was faced with high maternal mortality.

He said the Federal Government had put in place measures to reduce the preventable maternal and new born child death in Nigeria.

The occasion was graced by Dr. Ado Mohammed, Executive Director of National Primary Health Care Development Agency and the GE Chairman, Jeffrey Immelt.

(NAN)

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Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5-6, 2016

Photo Splash

Commercial motorcyclists queuing to purchase petrol at a filling station in Madalla, as scarcity of the commodity continues in Niger, on Friday

L-R: Minister For Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed with the Gbong Gom Jos, Da Jacob Buba, during the minister’s visit on the Gbong Gom Jos on Friday in Jos

L-R: Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Ado Muhammad; Chief Executive Officer, Sustainable Healthcare Solutions (Ge Healthcare), Mrs Terri Bresenham; Senior Vice President, Ge Healthcare Human Resources, Susan Peters; Minister Of State For Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire; President/Chief Executive Officer, Ge Healthcare Africa, Farid Fezoua, and Deputy Mission Director, Usaid/Nigeria, Aler Grubbs, at the launch and signing of the healthymagination mother and child initiative, in Abuja on Friday

L-R: Representative of the Chairman, Mr. Leon Aliboh, Representative of Corp Marshal, Mr. Albanus Nwachukwu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu and Author, Mr. Kelechi Okoronkwo, during the Public Presentation of the book ‘’Managing Interpersonal Relations’’ on Thursday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

L-R: Governor Of Niger State, Alh Abubakar Sani Bello receiving 2015 Hajj Report from the Amirul Hajj/Speaker of the state assembly, Hon Ahmed Marafa, at Government House Minna, on Friday

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5-6, 2016

Page 13

News Insurgency: NGO trains residents of Maiduguri

From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

A

Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State (R) and Chairman Globarch Associates Projects consultant, Alhaji Saleh Yunusa, during an inspection visit to international conference centre, on Thursday in Gombe

Ese: Police admit negligence From Edwin Olofu, Kano

T

he Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 1 Kano, Mr. Shuaibu Lawal Gambo yesterday admitted negligence on the part of the Police on failure to carry out the instruction of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Muhammad 11 to repatriate Ese back to Bayelsa state since August last year.

However, the Police also revealed that Ese Rita Oruru was actually handed over to them by the Kano State Sharia Commission last Monday.

Speaking to newsmen in his office yesterday, the AIG zone 1, said “Police ought to have followed up the case with

Sharia Commission to confirm whether it has resolved the matter about the repatriation of the girl to her family”.

Continuing, he added “the Force Headquarters are in better position to explain her health status because they are to conduct the medical examination on her. It is them that can explain this information because I don’t have copy of the medical examination with me to verify whether she is pregnant or not.”

According to him, “it is evident that there was a failure of communication as the delegation never returned with the girl for onward transportation to her family and no further report on complaint, whatsoever was received in

respect of the case.”

Gambo further stated that, “the information as obtained from my predecessor, AIG Tambori Yabo, confirmed that His Royal Highness actually sent a delegation, made up of some members of the Sharia Commission and the representative of the Emirate Council, with a letter requesting the Police to take back the girl to her parents.

“However, the delegation in the company of the girl arrived very late in the evening to the Zone, as a result of which it was rightly agreed by all parties to bring her back the following day so as to implement the request of the monarch.

“On the part of the Zone, when it

did not hear from the delegation, it innocently presumed that the case might have been resolved by the Shari’ah Commission, which as you know is also empowered to adopt alternative dispute resolution measures in cases of this nature.

“It will be on public interest to address the unfounded argument in some quarters that the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase ought to have acted earlier on the matter. Let me categorically state that the IGP was never in the picture of this case until on Sunday (28 February), when the matter was reported in the conventional media,” he stated.

Housewife bathes husband with hot water, disappears with N200,000

By Osakhare Erese, Asaba

A

ggrieved housewife, Awele Nwani, 35 year-old, in Ibusa, Oshimili South local government area of Delta State, has allegedly bathed her husband, Frank Nwani with hot water after denying her of sex for three weeks.

The mother of six children now on the run had alleged that her husband has been having sexual affairs outside and threatened to make life unbearable for him. But the victim (husband) dispelled as untrue, saying his wife took laws into her hands to be sleeping around.

He said “my wife has been sleeping around me hence I stopped sleeping with her for three weeks, it is a taboo in my tribe and she violates the laws”.

He stressed that his attempts to stop her illicit affairs outside proved abortive when he took the decision to starve her of sex.

Trouble started last Thursday when the vic-

tim returned from a visit to a friend’s house during nightfall and in his usual jokes, called his wife a lazy woman, leaving her in wide anger as she fired back to call the husband a witch.

This, our informed sources said, degenerated into verbal crossfire and in the process resulted in shouting match.

Sources said while their quarrel lasted, the woman disguised to have put the quarrel behind her, dashed to the kitchen where she allegedly boiled water and unknown to the husband who was relaxing in the parlour, bathed him with the water and disappeared.

Police officers at the Ibusa Police Division who did not want their names in the print, confirmed that the woman disappeared into the tin air including N200,000 daily contributions the husband received and kept in her custody.

The Police said they were on the trail of the suspect, while the victim is presently receiving treatment in a private hospital.

Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) known as Interfaith Mediation Centre (IMC) has trained some residents of Maiduguri in Borno state, to be community peace observers under its ‘Tolerance Project’, to complement the efforts of security agencies in the state.

The training which took place yesterday in Bauchi was attended by 30 participants randomly selected from the Boko Haram’s prone areas of Maiduguri that includes; Limanti, Shehuri, Gwange, Gamboru and Custom community.

Declaring the workshop open, the program manager, ‘Tolerance Project’ of the Interfaith Mediation Centre, Mr. Seth Karamage explained that the trainees would be taught on how to detect crises or attacks, mediate, alert residents as well as communicate with security operatives and other stakeholders so that they might be at alert.

He promised that the centre would establish permanent structures called ‘Community Peace Network’ (CPAN) with at least six of the trained peace observers in each community across Maiduguri with a view to assisting in the restoration of peace in the embattled state.

Karmage added that the project which would last for five years also targets Bauchi, Kaduna, Sokoto, Kano and Plateau states and therefore tasked the trainees to respect issues of confidentiality in order to achieve their goal.

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5-6, 2016

Page 14

Crime Cycle

Mashe Umaru Gwamna pmlcrimecycle@gmail.com 07037750515

Child trafficking: The modern day slavery in Nigeria

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

A

mina is a younger girl of 12 years old who hails from Kano state , shared her ordeals , fears and anxiety to the police .

Who looks beautiful , calm , quiet and naive. With many dreams about the future , ever though she too will be among the victim of child trafficking .

But she thanks her stars when the Kano state police command rescued in the hands of their adopters .

Amina story is not different from others stories of many children who their parents have been lured by cheap psychological lies and manipulative emotional 419 of selling their children in to unknown slavery of crystal “green pasture” outside the villages or towns.

However, Peoples Daily Weekend revealed that the trafficking of children for the purpose of domestic service, prostitution and other forms of exploitative labour is a widespread phenomenon in Nigeria for a very long time now.

However , there are classification of age range some are from ages 5- 10, 11- 18 and 18 above these Children are recruited with promises of well-paid jobs in urban centres within the country or abroad, realising

too late that they have been lured into a debt bond.

Violence, coercion and deception are used to take victims away from their families, since most of them are desperate for quick and easy way to get wealth .

Unfortunately , Nigeria is a source, transit and destination country for trafficked women and children, Prostitution, domestic and exploitative labour continues to fuel this modern from of slavery.

Meanwhile, Human trafficking is said to be the third largest illegal trade after drug trafficking and arms trade.

There is yet no reliable estimate of the number of children trafficking internally and externally

by United Nation Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) primarily this is because of the clandestine nature of the phenomenon.

The causes of child trafficking are numerous.

They include poverty, desperation to escape violence, corruption, unemployment, illiteracy and ignorance.

Further more,these children lives under the mercy of those traffickers , in those countries they took their victims to country like Gabon, Togo, Cameroon, Niger, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Benin Republic, Saudi Arabia and South Africa.

POLICE DIARY Security is a collective responsibility. Partner with the Police command to fight and provide security for all. Promote Community Partnership in preventing and controlling social disorder in the society

Police Emergency Numbers in the FCT

08032003913, 08061581936, 07057337653, 0802840883

Lately, children are reported to be trafficked from Nigeria to Dubai.

In reality, those who attempt to sell children into slavery or sexual exploitation do not seek their prey in comfortable suburbs; they look in the poorest shanty towns or the most underprivileged rural areas, where grinding poverty can heighten children’s vulnerability to protection abuses.

A cross section of resident give an insight on how most of these children suffering mental, psychological and emotional trauma and they children passed through.

A resident at Wuse 2 Jonathan Ibrahim said that most of these rich in United Kingdom , the adopted a child in Africa by agencies for black market organ trafficking after using keeping them for a month or when a child reach a certain age for their organ harvest, blood, labour because they are children and strong .

Another painful thing , is that after all inflicting pains on them ,killed or abounded them on the mercy of one .

And most of those agencies have not been

monitored .

Similarly ,Mrs. Omehi David emphasized that parents needs to be conscience of greed and selfishness of wealth . And most of those parents do not equally known the true situation of what is happening to them.

To fight child trafficking, the Government passed the Trafficking in Persons Prohibition and Administration Act and established the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and Other Related matters (NAPTIP) in 2003. Since then, investigation of cases, prosecution of criminals, rescue and rehabilitation of victims have been successfully carried out by the Agency.

Mrs. David reiterated that even of a recent media have been reported such cases and more grace to them.

Another resident , in utako market Miss Beverley Ben, decried the increasing rate of children who are being made vulnerable due to family and socio-economic hardship in the country maintaining that the experience effects the psychology and the

social well being of the victim especially those with poor education and lack of social amenities of life had contributed to the increase of child trafficking. She also observed the need to equip and educate Nigerians in the war against child trafficking in the country.

Adding that “I can recalled that the National Assembly passed a Human Trafficking Law to end the nefarious activities of the merchants, whether it is in trafficking of children or women. “But I have not seen or heard any conviction of perpetrators since the human trafficking bill was signed into law at the federal land,” she added.

If the government and agencies involved in combating child trafficking Put more effort, with their outstanding effort . Soon Nigeria will be curb the menace of child Trafficking , in as much as more enlightenment both in television , radio , newspaper and billboard adverts are involved in different languages in Nigeria , citizens will be enlightened and report any attempt of such evil act to the necessary authority .

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5-6, 2016

Page 15

Politics

The change APC promised Nigerians unrealistic —Tanko

H

ow prepared is the PDP to face the formidable APC in the forth coming area council polls in Federal Capital Terri-

tory (FCT)?

Well, we are fully prepared because the All Progressive Congress (APC) to me and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is not a threat. We are working hard and mobilizing our people and we believe that the confidence that our supporters have on the party is still evergreen, especially now that the people have realized that the change which APC were preaching and promising is not change for progress but change for poverty and retardation. If you can make your inquiries very well, you will get to hear the feeling and frustration of the people as well as the disappointment that the people are expressing over the way and manner that APC administration is being run. So to me, I think it is an advantage to PDP because most of those who voted for APC are regretting for ever working and voting for APC. The AMAC administration under your party had concentrated two much effort in urban centers, thereby neglecting the rural communities in FCT. If elected, are you going to give priority attention to the rural areas?

Well, I beg to disagree with you on that, I think that the successive administrations in AMAC and other chairmen in PDP controlled area councils in FCT had done well in the areas of rural development. If you visit most communities in AMAC, the villagers will be confident and proud to point out to you various projects that were executed by AMAC under PDP leadership. When you talk of rural electrification, our party had provided that to most rural communities in FCT. When you talk of construction of schools which is education, we had done well in that, is it in the areas of health, agriculture, roads, and provision of clean and potable water, we had provided all that to the people at the grassroots. These are the reasons why they are still appreciative of PDP in the territory and I can assure you that they are really longing to vote for PDP again and again.

Which areas of the economy will you give priority attention if elected?

I believe in continuity because I had observed that our major problem as a nation in terms of provision of infrastructural facilities and basic amenities to the people is lack of maintenance culture. So I will continue from where the present administration is going to stop and ensure that the infrastructures that they had put in place are properly maintained before I think of embarking on new projects. One problem we have is absence of maintenance culture and lack of continuity on the part of our leaders.

If we do not maintain what we have, we will lose it to dilapidation and you know that it is more costly to build new infrastructures than to maintain existing ones. Therefore I will lay more emphasis on maintenance of public infrastructure. However education will be given priority attention it deserves because it is the bedrock of every development. Without education, there will be no development and peace. This is because if

Hon. Bitrus Kura Tanko is the immediate-past Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the chairmanship candidate of the party in the forth coming area council election in the territory.

In this interview with Peoples Daily Weekend, Kura alleged that the fight against corruption by the present administration is a direct witch-hunt against the opposition in the country. He noted that the promised change of the ruling party is not change for progress but change for poverty and retardation. He also spoke extensively on the coming election.

share and I feel that there is no reason for a state government to hijack local government allocation in the guise of joint account.

I will not seat and watch a situation where local council funds are diverted by the state government for other uses. Because these chairmen are accountable to the people who elected them into office and if these funds are diverted, they will not be able to fulfill their campaign promises to the people. I will challenge it to any level even though such ugly practice is not obtainable in FCT. What is your view on the ongoing fight against corruption by the federal government?

In fact, I believe that the fight against corruption is selective. Selective in the sense that we are all Nigerians, our behavior and thinking pattern is almost the same. Either in All Progressive Congress (APC) or Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a Nigerian is a Nigerian. We think and behave almost the same way. You cannot tell me that it is only the PDP members that are corrupt. The president is surrounded by corrupt people and he is pretending not to be seeing what they are doing or what they seem to have done in the past. Take the issue of Dasuki for example; everybody in Nigeria knows that the President is on a vendetta mission, I want to tell you that this fight against graft

by APC administration is bound to fail. If truly the president is serious and sincere about this fight, let the fight be holistic.

This is because our people say that charity begins at home; therefore let him begin with his party, APC. Come to think of it, how did he get his campaign funds? Even when he openly told Nigerians that he borrowed money to buy his expression of interest form, but he ran a multi-billion naira campaign at the end of the day. Where did he get the money from? Let him come out and tell Nigerians how he raised his money?

Who are those that sponsored him? Who are those that financed his campaign and what was the source of their funds? You can fool some people sometime but you cannot fool all the people all the time.

“ Hon. Bitrus Kura Tanko

people are ignorant, problems and restiveness are bound to thrive; therefore, education will be given good attention. Health care delivery will also not be left out. We also need to go back to agriculture to ensure food security. I will also introduce programmes that will make our youths to be self employed by partnering with local and foreign NGOs to train our youths in contemporary skills that will make them self reliant. Government cannot employ every graduates but every graduate can be self employed if they have the zeal and are well trained. These are some of the few areas out of so many I intend to give priority attention if elected.

Your call to the electorate as the election draws nearer?

The call I have for the electorate is to remain resolute, to remain committed to the ideals of democracy, to vote according to their conscience and to come out in their numbers to vote for candidates of their choice.

What is your view on the local government joint account system with states in Nigeria?

There is no doubt that the constitution has recognized that there shall be a third tier of government which are the local government areas. And in terms of revenue allocation, local governments also have their own

The call I have for the electorate is to remain resolute, to remain committed to the ideals of democracy, to vote according to their conscience and to come out in their numbers to vote for candidates of their choice.

Page 16

FEATURE

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5-6, 2016

Re-engineering tomato processing for national sufficiency

By Oluwafunke Ishola

I

n December 2015, Mrs. Sarah Smith, like most women agonised over the high cost of tomatoes in the market which marred her Christmas shopping due to paucity of funds arising from the economic downturn of the country.

However, upon her visit to the market in February 2016, she was dumbfounded by the reduced price of a basket of tomatoes occasioned by the alarming glut of the produce.

She said: ``In December, I bought a basket of tomatoes from Mile 12 market at N21, 000, a produce I had bought between N6,500 and N8,000 in the previous months. ``Now, a basket of tomatoes goes for between N2,500 and N4,000 in the same market due to excess supply leading to huge waste of the produce because of its perishable nature. ``How I wish I could buy a lot and store in my freezer for the rainy season when tomatoes are usually pricey, but the epileptic power supply in the country will not allow that’’.

This situation is one of the many that tomato price fluctuations has caused, raising concerns to many homemakers for a pragmatic approach to reduce waste through preservation of the excess produce.

According to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), Nigeria is the 13th largest producer of tomato in the world and the second after Egypt in Africa.

Nigeria has a domestic demand for tomatoes put at 2.3 million tons, while it produces only 1.8 million tons annually.

However, due to the dysfunctional agricultural value chain system, about 50 per cent of the tomato produced is wasted due to lack of preservation, poor handling system, poor distribution channels and lack of easy access to markets.

The situation has resulted in tomato waste of over 750, 000 tonnes and an import bill of N16 billion annually to make up for the shortfall in local production.

According to experts, the panacea to reduce tomato waste is to preserve the excess supply through local processing into juice, paste, ketchup, puree and powder form.

The country’s Ministry of Agriculture puts the annual local demand for tomato paste at 900,000 tonnes.

Sadly, Nigeria is forced to rely on import of tomato puree, mostly from China because of lack of adequate processing plants.

Currently, most of the tomato processing plants in Nigeria are non- functional, ranging from Manto Tomato Processing Plant in Gombe State and Wanunne Tomato Processing Plant in Benue.

Others are Galf Tomato Factory in Jigawa State, Lau Tomato Processing Company in Taraba, Savannah Integrated in Borno and Perfect Integrated Foods Industry Ltd situated in Ondo State.

Data from FMARD reveals that the non-functional plants have processing and packaging capacities ranging from 7.0 to 1,050 metric tons of tomato paste per day.

A tomato processing plant Unarguably, lack of tomato import control, unstable power supply, inadequate assessment of market and supply chain channels are some identified factors that led to the absence of processing plants.

To mitigate these problems and ensure wastage is curtailed during glut, indigenous companies have risen to the challenge by reviving one of the moribund processing plants and investing in the industry.

Notably, the Ikara Food Processing Plant in Kaduna which had been moribund for over two decades was resuscitated in 2014 through a Public-Private Partnership between the state government and Springfield Agro Ltd. The Ikara Tomato Company was established in 1981 by the Balarabe Musa administration. The company has an installed capacity for processing 16,950 tons of tomato and 700 hectares of land purposely for tomato farming.

As at today, the company’s tomato paste production from fresh tomatoes is put at 20 metric tons daily.

Following the trail of Ikara Food Company in tomato processing in Nigeria is Erisco Foods Ltd. The Chief Executive Officer of Erisco Foods, Chief Eric Umeofia, said the plant has an installed production capacity of 450,000 metric tonnes per annum in its Lagos factory alone, making it the biggest in Africa and 4th largest in the world. ``The Erisco Foods revolution in tomato paste production will stop the annual wastages by over 75 per cent of fresh tomatoes across Nigeria. ``If we continue with the good policies of the present administration, there will be nothing like tomato glut anywhere in Nigeria in the next two years. ``We as off-taker will produce and process to meet our local demands and export to earn foreign

exchange provided government continues to support manufacturing. ``Our backward integration programmes planned for Jigawa, Sokoto and Katsina states will generate employment and prosperity for 50,000 Nigerians within three years,’’ said Umeofia.

Also, Dangote Industries Ltd is not left out of the drive to boost the industrial sector of the economy with the establishment of Dangote Tomato Factory in Kadawa, Kano State.

The plant which will begin operation in March has a production capacity of 430,000 metric tonnes of paste per annum.

The factory requires 40 trailers of fresh tomatoes (1, 200 MT) each day to run at full capacity.

To strengthen the supply chain needed to improve tomato processing, the factory is collaborating with GEMS4 and the Tomato Growers Association in Kano.

Kano farmers supplying the factory means more sales, less waste and year-long demand for tomatoes even during the oversupply period.

Growth and Employment in States -- Wholesale and Retail Sector (GEMS4) facilitates links between farmers and processing companies such as Dangote Factory and Ikara Food Company.

Its reach targets 100,000 farmers in Kaduna and Kano states.

GEMS4 is a 17 million pound market development project in Nigeria, funded by the World Bank and the U.K’s Department for International Development.

Its mandate is to facilitate market system changes to address identified constraints to encourage economic growth, resulting in the creation of 10,000 new jobs and increased incomes for 500,000 people, especially for the poor rural dwellers and women.

GEMS4 has been in implementation since 2012 and will be in operation until July 2017.

The project employs a ``Making Markets Work for the Poor (M4P)’’ approach to implement initiatives that facilitates entry into markets.

It also provides technical support for the adoption of innovations, new business models and leverage investments for the development of key market facilities to support optimal business performance.

Mr Richard Ogundele, Intervention Manager for GEMS4, said that linking tomato farmers to processing plants initiative creates increased business choices for farmers by facilitating business linkages between small scale tomato farmers and tomato processing plants.

It enables them to serve each other on a commercial basis. ``The initiative also builds the capacity of farmers in good handling practices which ensures that incomes increase across the value chain. ``Proper handling, packaging and protection of their produce in a way that ensures quality, extends shelf-life and preserves sales value. ``Good quality produce attracts higher retail prices and financial losses from produce damage is prevented.’’

Similarly, an economist, Mr Adeoye Abiodun, decried Nigeria’s status as the largest importer of tomatoes as detrimental to economic growth and protection of local investments.

He said: ``Available data reveals that the country has the wherewithal to meet local demands and even become a net exporter of the commodity. ``Importation of tomato paste to fill the local demand gap could be reversed with the right measures targeted at eliminating waste in the value chain’’.

Also, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Babachir Lawal, said government would continue to support the

growth of indigenous businesses, especially in this period of economic downturn.

He said that the current economic reality calls for a decisive policy thrust to address issues which must be realistic enough to leverage upon. ``The major concern of government in this present circumstance is to continue to make policies and reforms as well as restore confidence to stabilise the economic fundamentals and to provide the necessary infrastructure for industries to thrive on. ``Furthermore, government will continue to intervene in policy formulation towards protecting our national interest and in the process providing a conducive atmosphere that will make production in Nigeria profitable, attractive and worth engaging in,’’ Lawal said.

Industry stakeholders have identified some strategies for entrenching a realistic and sustainable tomato processing plant as government formulating policy on import restriction of processed tomato products.

Others are increased investments in Research and Development (R&D) to produce improved seed varieties, develop technologies for storage system and good handling practices for the produce.

With its position as the 13th world largest producer of tomato and second in Africa, Nigeria stands the chance to boost its economy from this agricultural produce through export, especially in this era of diversification.

The government should also ensure that farmers are aided to produce the enough to sustain the revived and the upcoming processing plants so that wastage could be stopped and enough produced for local consumption and export.

(NANFEATURES)

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5-6, 2016

Page 17

News Extra

Court refuses Dasuki’s application for stay of proceedings

By Mohammed Usman

A

Federal Capital Territory High Court has refused an application for stay of prosecution filed by a former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.

The trial judge, Peter Affen, said Dasuki had not proved the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), disobeyed a court order.

He however said information contained in the affidavit presented in court proved that it was the State Security Service that rearrested the former NSA.

Mr. Affen ruled that the SSS and the EFCC were different and should therefore be regarded likewise.

“I have found no correlation whatsoever between the alleged disobedience of court order and further discharge of charges against the second defendant,” Mr. Affen said.

He further stated that a stay of proceedings can only be granted where there are evidence of contingencies, which had not been provided by Mr. Dasuki.

Mr. Affen also dismissed Mr. Dasuki’ application to prohibit the EFCC from continuing with

its trial or levelling allegations against him before the court or any other court of law.

The former security adviser’s application, which was sought on seven grounds, urged the court to either stay proceedings or place an order prohibiting the complainant (EFCC), from further carrying on with the charge against him in any court of law.

It also sought an order discharging all charges against him (Mr. Dasuki), until court orders previously granted are obeyed by the prosecution.

The EFCC on its part argued

that the commission never flouted court orders.

It claimed that Mr. Dasuki was re-arrested by the SSS after he was released by the EFCC. The anti-graft agency also objected to Mr. Dasuki’s argument that the EFCC and the SSS are the same since they are both subsidiaries of the federal government.

A similar application by Mr. Dasuki is billed for ruling in April.

Present at today’s court hearing was the founder of Daar Communications, Raymond Dokpesi, who was seen chatting with Mr. Dasuki.

INEC Ad-Hoc staff at INEC centre in Garki, during the commencement of distribution of PVCS in FCT, Abuja

SSS releases former APGA chairman, Victor Umeh

By Osby Isibor

A

former national chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, Victor Umeh, who was arrested Wednesday by the State Security Service, has been released.

Mr. Umeh was arrested at his Aguluzigbo country home in Anambra State and taken to Abuja reportedly for questioning over his alleged sponsorship of the pro-Biafra group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

He was released Friday morning, the party’s deputy secretary, Jerry Obasi, confirmed.

Mr. Obasi however said the arrest was politically motivated by Mr. Umeh’s opponents in the forthcoming Anambra Central Senatorial rerun election.

While describing the arrest as “obnoxious and despicable”, Mr. Obasi expressed regret that the SSS had become a willing tool in the hands of politicians who use the service to intimidate political opponents. ”We condemn in strongest terms the unlawful harassment and intimidation of Chief Sir Victor Umeh, our former National Chairman who was whisked away from his house at the

earliest hour of yesterday in what seemed like a commando and gang arrangements by the DSS. “It is quite unfortunate that Nigerians, especially political stalwarts of other political parties are now branded names using government agencies like the DSS to intimidate opponents with a view to either stopping them from running for elections or to clamp down on their chances politically especially those whose chances of winning elections are obvious just as in the circumstances which Chief Umeh was arrested,” he said.

“It is quite absurd and alarming that the DSS deliberately whisked

Chief Umeh away in a rickety van thereby bringing his personality to odium.

“The most disappointing of them all is the obvious fact that these black movies are being acted under the watchful eye of President Muhammadu Buhari. It is sad that security agencies under the present administration are willing tools in the hands of the highest bidder rather than concentrating on their constitutional duty of maintaining law and order.

“Democracy should be civilized and not militarized unless in the circumstances where we are heading towards a police state and anarchy.”

EFCC arrests Ebonyi Speaker for alleged N60m fraud

T

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested the Speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Ogbonnaya Francis Nwaifuru.

Mr. Nwaifuru was picked up at about 11a.m. Friday at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, by operatives of the commission, after he ignored two previous invitations by the agency, the EFCC said in a statement.

The EFCC said Mr. Nwaifuru was first invited on October 20, 2015 to appear before the Enugu zonal office of the commission but did not respond to the invitation. A reminder letter was sent to him on November 19, 2015, which he also failed to respond to.

The lawmaker, who is representing Izzi West state constituency in the Ebonyi State Assembly, allegedly diverted and misappropriated N60 million constituency project funds before his emergence as speaker.

As of press time, the speaker was still being grilled by operatives of the commission.

As speaker, Mr. Nwaifuru has no constitutional immunity against prosecution under the Nigerian Constitution.

His arrest came two days after operatives of the EFCC arrested three top officials of Imo State government for allegedly diverting N2 billion bailout fund given to the state by the Federal Government for payment of salary arrears of the state’s civil servants.

The suspects are: Obi Paschal Chigozie, principal secretary to the Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha; Uzoho Casmir, director of finance and Iheoma Kenneth, treasurer.

Their arrest followed an investigation into the alleged diversion of the said money which revealed that the cashier had made cash withdrawal of N456.532 million between September 3, 2015 and October 10, 2015 from the Government House account domiciled in Zenith Bank.

However, it was revealed that the said amount was given to an aide of the Chief of Staff to the Governor, following approval and directive by the principal secretary to the governor.

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5-6, 2016

Page 18

Politics

Digitisation will revolutionise media industry, boost economy —Lai

T

he Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, says the digitisation of the broadcast industry will revolutionise the broadcast media industry and boost the nation’s economy.

The minister said this when he paid a courtesy call on the Gbong Gwom Jos, Jacob Gyang Buba on Friday in Jos. He said that thousands of jobs would be created in 2017 when the country would be expected to switch from analogue to digital broadcasting. ``This project is going to bring a revolution not just to communication and media industry in terms of television, advertising, content producing and film making. ``But it is going to change the economy in a manner that has never been seen before. ``Over 5, 000 direct jobs for engineers, another 15, 000 for technicians, hundreds of thousands of jobs for people who will become retailers and vendors in all the local governments of the federation,” the minister said.

He said that when the country go digital, every Nigerian would be able to watch a minimum of 30 channels on their television free of charge through free to air.

Mohammed said that many stations, which Nigerians pay to watch would be viewed free and would also be better in quality.

According to him, digitisation is a programme that must not allow the recent happenings in the country to affect it.

Mohammed said that the choice of Jos for the pilot scheme of the digitisation, which had April as deadline was significant in many aspects. ``Jos was chosen because historically, Jos has always been number one cosmopolitan city in the country and because Jos was where historically the colour television was first aired in Nigeria. ``Jos is one city that has a confluence of regional, national network and also private channels and that is why we are starting our pilot scheme in Jos in April. ``We have 15 channels for the pilot scheme programme. ``I am here today to meet with all the stakeholders in this project, like the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), representatives of the digital team and other consultants.”

The minister said that the visit was to see how far the work had gone and the impediments that might hinder meeting the April deadline.

In his remarks, the Gbong Gwom Jos said that the choice of Jos would help in the confidence building mechanism to return Jos and Plateau as the home of peace and tourism.

He said that the visit would afford the minister the opportunity to see things for himself, stressing that often situations concerning the state were misrepresented. ``We have our challenges but we also know that the whole of Nigeria has challenges and we believe that the country through this government will overcome the challenges so that we can continue our match to greatness,” he said.

The monarch expressed confidence in the abilities of Lai Mohammed while urging those working with him to give him maximum cooperation to succeed.

(NAN)

Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State (R) presenting staff of office to the new Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, during the Oba’s coronation yesterday in Ibadan with them is the Oba’s eldest wife, Alhaja Rafiat Adetunji.

Mile 12 clash: Police arrest 105 suspects

P

olice has arrested 105 suspects on Friday after the deadly clash in the Mile 12 market, according to Lagos State police spokesperson Dolapo Badmus.

While local media outlets initially reported between 7 and 10 deaths, Ms. Badmus stated that the death toll was 3.

The uproar began on Wednesday when a woman was knocked down by a motorcyclist taxi driver, who then refused to bring her to a

hospital. According to the police, the victim later died. Market goers soon began to attack other motorcyclists, which escalated into a riot.

The motorcyclists and vendors are predominantly Hausa, while the Mile 12 area is mostly populated by Yoruba, according to reports.

In response to the incident, the Lagos State government closed the market and met with stakeholders from the market and members of

the Agiliti and Maidan communities in order to resolve the violence and bring stability to the area.

Mr. Tunji Bello, the Secretary to the State Government, led the meeting at the Lagos State Secretariat in Alausa and expressed the need for peaceful cohabitation among people from different religions, cultures, and tribes.

The meeting was attended by various leaders of the community, including traditional rulers from Agiliti and Maidan,

transport union leaders, motorcyclists, and representatives from community development associations. According to Mr. Bello, leaders left the meeting agreeing that they would urge members of their community to keep peace in the area.

Assistant Commissioner of Police I.O. Edgal was also present at the meeting and assured the audience that the Police High Command has secured the Agiliti area.

Ex-governor urges FG to boost industries for economy development

T

he former Governor of Ekiti, Mr Segun Oni, on Friday called on the Federal Government to boost the nation`s industries to enhance Nigeria’s economy and create wealth.

Oni made the call in Abuja at the presentation of a book titled: ``Who Says Government Has No Business in Business.’’

According to him, government must take a role in the establishment and expansion of industries for an effective improvement toward nation’s industrialisation and development.

He said that government should also strongly define properly any business it established and ensure that such businesses were monitored and evaluated for an efficient economic development.

Oni, who was also the chair-

man of the book launch, urged the government to be visionary and show direction on how the economy of the country should be established and managed. ``Government must define any business they are establishing properly and must direct how the economy should be used appropriately; it is government’s responsibility to ensure that people in business are not for charity. ``But that people engaged in business should expand and achieve the target goal for the development of the country,’’ he said.

Speaking on the title of the book, he said it looked at industrialisation and the developmental process of many advanced countries from the time of the industrial revolution to date.

He added that the book

would redirect our leaders to start developing and industrialising the nation for real growth and prosperity.

Mr Anthony Madagua, the author of the book, said he was motivated to write the book in view of the fact that there were some decisions and interventions that government should make to strongly change the nation. ``It is no doubt that all is not well with our country. We have been doing a lot of things in the past 10 years and I feel that it is important to take a look at those things. ``That effort will help us to know the area we are going wrong. ``In the past, we were almost at the same path in terms of industrialisation and development with Iran, Brazil, Indo-

nesia and other developed countries today. ``Suddenly, those countries just left us, and we are groaning under poverty and I ask myself what is wrong with Nigeria and I decided to gather my fact. ``I encourage everyone not to ignore this book and I strongly believe that after reading the book, it will bring a greater change to our nation,’’ he said.

According to Madagua, Nigeria needs change, but it is through hard work, effective and strong business expansion that will can make our economy to grow and develop.

He advised Nigerians not to be discouraged, adding that Nigeria of the past must also come back to its normal shape, if only we can agree that government has business in business.

(NAN)

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5 - 6, 2016

Page 19

Tourism

Sungbo’s Eredo: A monument in tribute to Nigeria’s ‘Queen of Sheba’ S ungbo’s Eredo is a rampart or system of walls and ditches that is located to the South-West of the Yoruba town of IjebuOde in Ogun state, South-West Nigeria. It was built in honour of the Ijebu noblewoman Oloye Bilikisu Sungbo.

Total length of fortifications is more than 160 kilometres (99 mi).

Fortifications consist of a ditch with unusually smooth walls and bank in the inner side of ditch. The height difference between the bottom of the ditch and the upper rim of the bank on the inner side can reach 20 metres (66 ft). Works have been performed in laterite, a typical African soil consisting of clay and iron oxides. Ditch forms an uneven ring around the area of ancient Ijebu state, an area approximately 40 kilometres (25 mi) wide in north-south, with the walls flanked by trees and other vegetation, turning the ditch into green tunnel.

History The Eredo served a defensive purpose when it was built in 800–1000 AD, a period of political confrontation and consolidation in the southern Nigerian rainforest. It was likely to have been inspired by the same process that led to the construction of similar walls and ditches throughout western Nigeria, including earthworks around Ile-Ife, Ilesa, and the Benin Iya, a 6,500 kilometres (4,000

The Eredo is a rampart of great walls and ditches

mi) series of connected but separate earthworks in the neighboring Edo-speaking region.

Sungbo’s Eredo has also been connected with the legend of the Queen of Sheba which is recounted in both the Bible and Koran. In the Old Testament, she is described as having sent a caravan of gold, ivory and other goods from her kingdom to King Solomon. In the Koran she is an Ethiopian sun worshiper named Bilqis involved in the incense trade who converts to Islam. Legends of the contemporary Ijebu clan link the Eredo to this fabled woman, a wealthy, childless

Tourists trek through footpaths to get to the site

widow who they know as Bilikisu Sungbo. According to them, the monument was built as her personal memorial. In addition to this, her grave is believed to be located in Oke-Eiri, a town in a Muslim area just north of the Eredo. Pilgrims of Christian, Muslim and traditional African religions annually trek to this holy site in tribute to her.

It is believed that the Eredo was a means of unifying an area of diverse communities into a single kingdom. It seems that the builders of these fortifications deliberately tried to reach groundwater

or clay to create a swampy bottom for the ditch. If this could be achieved in shallow depth, builders stopped, even if only at the depth of 1 meter. In some places small, conical idol statues had been placed on the bottom of the ditch.

The impressive size and complex construction of the Eredo drew worldwide media attention in September 1999 when Dr Patrick Darling, a British archaeologist then with Bournemouth University, surveyed the tourist site and began publicizing his bid to preserve the Eredo and bring the site some prominence.

Between trunks of trees

Previously, the Eredo had been little-known outside of the small community of residents and specialists in Yoruba history. Forty years passed between Professor Peter Lloyd’s publication of his analysis of the site and that of Darling, but it still served to necessitate a complete rethinking of West Africa’s past.

World Heritage Status This site was added, along with the Iya of Benin, to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List on November 1, 1995 in the Cultural category.

Enwikipedia.org

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5 - 6, 2016

Page 20

Homes

What your front door colour says about you

Dark green is also commonly associated with money

D

oors aren’t always the most exciting part of your home but it doesn’t mean they can’t be used to make an impact. Think about how you want to feel when you enter a room or approach the front of your house. How do you want your visitors to feel? Next time you decide to redecorate or simply want to freshen up your home, give some thought to your doors.

What colour is your front door?

As the saying goes, first impressions are everything and this is certainly true of your home. An immaculate front lawn or a freshly painted door makes visitors feel welcome and shows that you take pride in your home. When your front door is freshly painted in high-shine gloss bright fire engine red with gold fixtures, it makes you smile every time you arrive home.

When choosing your front door obviously functionality is key, the design and style of the door is also important. If you’re on the look-out for a new door you can find a range of sliding doors, front doors, solid wood doors and even fire doors. When choosing you need to think about the kind of impression you want your doors to make, how they will complement your existing décor and what your door hue says about you.

Many cultures associate rather complex meanings to the colors we choose for our home, especially the color we choose to paint our front door? The front door is thought to be the “mouth” of the home, the entry point where energy, abundance and opportunities may find us!

Red: Red is the feng shui color for prosperity and abundance. Red represents joy, sexuality, passion, sensitivity, and love. Red is the color of fire and blood, so it is associated with energy, war, danger, strength, power, determination as well as passion, desire, and love.

Red has very high visibility, which is why stop signs, stoplights, and fire equipment are usually painted red a very emotionally intense color, red calls for attention, so you’re not afraid of being noticed.

White: A crisp white door is for those who are (or strive to be) organised, neat and clean. White is associated

with light, goodness, innocence, purity, and virginity. It is considered to be the color of perfection.

Green: Green is the color of nature. It symbolizes growth, harmony, freshness, and fertility. A green front door suggests that you care about your home and your community and you have more traditional values. Green has strong emotional correspondence with safety. Dark green is also commonly associated with money.

Black: This is a timeless look, showing you don’t waiver for trends. You’re consistent, conservative and reserved.

Black is associated with power, elegance, formality, death, evil, and mystery. Black is considered to be a very formal, elegant, and prestigious color.

Blue: Blue is the color of the sky and sea. It is often associated with depth and stability. It symbolizes trust, loyalty, wisdom, confidence, intelligence, faith, truth, and heaven. Blue is considered beneficial to the mind and body.

Blue is strongly associated with tranquility and calmness.

Yellow: If you choose this sunny hue, a color that evokes mental clarity, perception, understanding, wisdom, confidence, curiosity, humor and merriment. Yellow produces a warming effect, arouses cheerfulness and stimulates mental activity. Yellow is an unstable and spontaneous color, so avoid using yellow if you want to suggest stability and safety.

Purple: You’re comfortable taking risks and dreaming big. Some may call you a “free spirit.” Purple combines the stability of blue and the energy of red. Purple is associated with royalty. It symbolizes power, nobility, luxury, and ambition. It conveys wealth and extravagance. Purple is associated with wisdom, dignity, independence, creativity, mystery, and magic.

Orange: Orange corresponds to desire, sexual passion, pleasure, domination, aggression, and thirst for action. Orange is the color of fall and harvest. Orange is symbolic of strength and endurance. Orange has very high visibility, so you can use it to catch attention and highlight the most important elements of your design. thefabuloustimes.com

Red is the color for prosperity and abundance

Yellow produces a warming effect, arouses cheerfulness and stimulates mental activity

e n i z a

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Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5 - 6, 2016

d n e k e We

g a M ent

m Entertain

Fashion

ps Beauty Ti

od Kannywo

d

Hollywoo

d Bollywoo

Why I started my own project —Paul Okoye

>>Pg 37

Yemi Alade’s “Mama Africa” album is out

PG 36

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5 - 6, 2016

Page 22

Your Body, Image & U

Housewives and stress management

D

o full time house wives encounter stress since they do not report at anyone’s office 9/5 weekly? This is a question some people usually ask when they hear about housewives and stress. The people that ask this kind of question forget that managing the house is also a different kind of job where you pilot your personal affairs and how it suits you and your family (good/bad).

There are housewives that when you monitor their daily chores, you wonder how such women would cope if they had a career. In other words, they can hardly cope with their house chores so if such women are taken inside the office environment, it will be a total disaster!! A catastrophe.

Take a close study on what is happening to such women and you will discover that they are grippling with too much stress.

Some of them create the stress by not organising their house chores and managing time properly. Others are suffering from the stress created for them by others around them.

Can a housewife function properly under stress? When a woman whose job ordinarily is to manage house duties, but she cannot cope, it means such a woman has a big problem.

This is because, the primary job of a woman is to keep the house functioning, married or not married.

Sadly, we have lots of women who just keep complaining about all the small details hap-

“

How can a housewife always complain of being exhausted to cook. I understand that most career women juggle with regular cooking, but as a full time house wife, cooking should be a major priority in your house duties.

pening at home which they cannot control. Unfortunately, African men feel that you must have to manage the house even if you are drowning and hardly care how you go about it. All they want is to meet a sparkling house with things kept in order, well prepared meals when ever he comes home and sexual satisfaction when ever he needs it ....(it does not concern him if you are tired in the mood or not).

Housewives combine all these tasks with school runs, pregnancy hassles, and children upkeep. As a single lady, there are housewives you meet, by the time they roll out how difficult they find it managing their home, you will lose interest in marriage. That is not what it should be. Housewife duties must be planned just like career women plan their office work.

Your house is your own office and your entire family are your fellow workers.

When you fail to plan your house actvities, stress will not be far away from you. At the same

time you will end up running in circles and never achieving anything. Yes, you see women tell you they have to do this and that and at the end of the day such ladies end up doing nothing.

They tend to put more energy in visiting friends, looking for people to gist /gossip with, wasting the time they they would have utilized in planning their house chores on irrelevant issues.

How can a housewife always complain of being exhausted to cook. I understand that most career women juggle with regular cooking but as a full time house wife, cooking, should be a major priority in your house duties.

On time management, the time most housewives spend in visiting friends/relatives, chatting and gossiping should be reduced or even blot out of your routine completely. You do not use the time you are supposed to shop for food items comfortably, go home to cook before you go for school runs just talking with friends. By the time you look at your watch, you suddenly

discover that the day is far spent and the stress set in. You start shouting at people you meet, driving recklessly because you want to meet up. Most times, you do not meet up and then it will affect your family and they will lash out on you because you never did what you were supposed to do. When the heat gets too much for you, your stress level escalates and managing anything becomes extremely difficult not to talk of the enemity you will create among the people you interract with.

When you take time to plan , organize your daily chores, you will have no reason to be under stress. For those who transfer or create stress for you, when you have organized yourself, keep them at arm’s lenght and meet them when urgently neccessary. It is not compulsory that you must visit everyone who invites you to his/her house/office.

Make people who always expecs you to visit them that, your house chores comes first. As a full time house wife, your only job centers

With Jacqui Iwu bwreforms@gmail.com 08184825606 (sms only) on your entire family and keeping them comfortable. Once you have problems taking care of house hold duties, everyone at home will be disorganized and when people you live with are disorganized, they create more jobs for you and when you have more than what you can handle at home, stress will discover you no matter how far you try to run.

If there are things your spouse has to put in place at home to make your chores easier, calmly talk to him about this and make him to understand how easy and effective your job at home will be. Also consider the social status of your husband before you start making certain financial demands. If you are pretty sure your husband’s salary cannot afford a washing machine, an oven ...you will be creating more stress and at times family squabble among you and your husband. Such demands can only come in if your husband goes out of his way to demand in a loving manner that you be vocal and free in informing him the facilities you must have at home to make your house work faster and easier.

How do we explain a situation where a housewife spends much time watching nollywood movies and postponing house duties? Ensure things at home have been taken care of and then relax with couple of movies.

Most women even watch movies and forget the time for school run. If your husband does the school run, then you are lucky but I feel it is absolutely ridiculous dragging your husband out of work when you can comfortably go and pick the children from school.

Manage your time very well, focus on house priorities before other social activities and you will keep stress away from you.

You should have a social life, but family first!

Jacqui IWU is Life/Career/Business Coach A Stress Management Expert Media Relations Personnel &Conference Speaker BLOG: http://bluntjacqui.blogspot.com FACEBOOK: Beautifulwoman.column TWITTER: @Jacqui WORLD

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5 - 6, 2016

Page 23

Womanhood

Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide: FCT’s third Minister of State

Educational pursuits he had her primary and secondary education between 1963 & 1974 at Maryhill Convent School & St Louis Grammar School, both at Ibadan, Oyo State of Nigeria respectively. She then left the Nigerian soil & shores for the United Kingdom (UK), where she attended Kings College, London, University of London and bagged in 1980 a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) with 2nd Class Upper. Not still satisfied with this achievement, she proceeded to the United States of America (USA), where she attended Harvard Law School and with speed in 1981 bagged a Master of Laws (LLM).

She was at the Nigerian Law School, Lagos where she was called to the Nigerian Bar (BL) in 1982. Not scared or tired of examinations, she passed her English Solicitors’ Final Examinations at the College of Law, London in 1993 with first class honours.

S

Nativity orn on the 4th August, 1959 the FCT Minister of State, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide is the third amongst female Ministers of State of the Federal Capital Territory.

She assumed duty on Tuesday, 12th July, 2011.

B

Career advancement professional to the core, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide was admitted as a Barrister & Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in July 1983 while in March 1996, she was admitted as a Solicitor of England and Wales. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, UK. She is a member of various local and international professional bodies/associations such as Nigerian Bar Association, Law Society of England and Wales, Association of International Petroleum Negotiators USA, International Bar Association, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) to mention just a few. Similarly, she was variously nominated/elected member of Committees/ Board such as Aviation Sector Reform Implementation Committee (2000-2002), Board of Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (1999-2002), Arbitration Law Reform Committee of Lagos State 2007, Nigerian Economic Summit Group, etc.

The Barrister & Solicitor has

A

Akinjide

had varying work experience in both the public and private sector. She was the Special Assistant to Mr. President (SAP) on FCT Matters (20012002) and SAP on G77 and Nigerians In the Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) – 2002 to 2003. She was a Principal

“

Partner to NEWMAN LEGAL – a Law firm based in Lagos & Abuja and the former Managing Partner of Akinjide & Co. where she was Joint Head of the Energy Law Dept. and the Head of Company Law Department. She was also the Chairperson, Local

Organising Committee, Association of International Petroleum Explorationists (AIPN), West Africa Chapter.

Beside these ventures/ endeavours, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, is the Founder & CEO of Olajumoke Akinjide Foundation which is a Non-

She was the Special Assistant to Mr. President (SAP) on FCT Matters (2001-2002) and SAP on G77 and Nigerians In the Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) – 2002 to 2003. She was a Principal Partner to NEWMAN LEGAL – a Law firm based in Lagos & Abuja and the former Managing Partner of Akinjide & Co. where she was Joint Head of the Energy Law Dept. and the Head of Company Law Department.

Governmental Organisation for social development that has provided • Free surgical/ medical operations for over 10,000 indigenes of the Oyo Central Senatorial District • Free malaria and typhoid medication for the Oyo Central Senatorial District • 270 free NECO Examination forms for indigent students of the Oyo Central Senatorial District The FCT Minister of State, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, the Iya Yeye of Ona-Ara has spoken as a guest lecturer and written on the following topics amongst many: • Investment Opportunities for Oil Service Companies in Nigeria (1996) • Current Legal Issues for Gas Production and Utilisation in Nigeria (1997) • Corporate Social Responsibility in the Petroleum Industry (1999) • The Nigerian Power Sector: An Industry in Transition (2001) • Local Content - Provision of Professional Legal Services in the Petroleum Industry (2004) • Good Governance & Africa’s Development (2007) • Globalisation of Legal Services – Fears of African Countries (2007) It is worthy to note that the FCT Minister of State is a Christian who is married with three (3) children.

Squabbles on the home front In a recent political development, Chief Olajumoke Akinjide, has vowed to stick with the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and President Goodluck Jonathan, despite her husband’s defection to the All Progressives Congress, APC. Mrs. Akinjide’s husband, Ahman Pategi, was one of the 37 ex-PDP members of the House of Representatives who defected to the APC on recently.

Mr. Pategi, who was elected to the lower legislative chamber on the platform of the PDP, represents Edu/Moro/Pategi federal constituency of Kwara State.

He is the Chairman of the House Committee on Water Resources. Mrs. Akinjide, who hails from Ibadan in Oyo State, responded dismissed speculations that she was going to join her husband in the APC. She vowed to remain in the PDP to work for the success of the president, the Transformation Agenda, and the party at future polls. www.fct.gov.ng

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5 - 6, 2016

Page 24

Kiddies World SIGHTS AND SOUNDS

HIS AND HERS CORNER

Kainji Dam: One of the longest in the world

Kainji dam

K

ainji Dam is located across the Niger River in Niger State. Construction of the dam was carried out by Impregilo (a consortium of Italian Civil Engineering Contractors) and designed by Joint Consultants, Balfour Beatty and Nedeco. It began in 1964 and was completed in 1968. The total cost was estimated at US$209 million, with one-quarter of this amount used to resettle people displaced by the construction of the dam and its reservoir, Kainji Lake.

Dimensions Kainji Dam extends for about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi), including its saddle dam, which closes off a tributary valley. The primary section across the outflow to the Niger is 550 metres (1,800 ft). Most of the structure is made from earth, but the centre section, housing the hydroelectric turbines, was built from concrete. This section is 65 metres (213 ft) high. Kanji Dam is one of the longest dams in the world.

Power station The dam was designed to have a generating capacity of 960 megawatts (1,290,000 hp); however, only 8 of its 12 turbines have been installed, reducing the capacity to 760 megawatts (1,020,000 hp). The dam generates electricity for all the large cities in Nigeria. Some of the electricity is sold to the neighbouring country of Niger. In addition, occasional droughts have made the Niger’s water flow unpredictable, diminishing the dam’s electrical output.

Lock The dam has a single-lock chamber capable of lifting barges 49 metres (161 ft).

Lake Kainji Kainji Lake measures about 135 kilometres (84 mi) long and about 30 kilometres (19 mi) at its widest point, and supports irrigation and a local fishing industry. In 1999, uncoordinated opening of floodgates led to local flooding of

about 60 villages.

Project Description There are three major dams in Niger State, Nigeria. The Kainji Dam built in 1968, Jebba Dam built in 1985 and Shiroro Dam built in 1990. A fourth dam is being built at Zungeru, also in Niger State. These are all hydroelectric dams and generate a combined power output of 1,900 megawatts.

The 1976 geotechnical activities carried out included geological mapping, marine geophysical surveys, land and marine drilling and sampling, soil overburden and rock core sampling, test pits for clay core borrow materials, onsite soil laboratory setup and testing, groundwater level and seepage monitoring, vibrocompaction testing of loose river alluvium, data collection and analysis, borehole logs and geologic cross sections for preliminary feasibility studies. The Kainji Dam has a concrete main dam with rockfill embankments and a saddle dam. The saddle dam protects the main dam during flooding. There are four spillways with hydraulic operated gates of 15.2 x 15.2 m (50 x 50 ft), which could be opened to control flood and also to release water for use at the Jebba Dam downstream.

Kainji Dam is 85.5 m (215 ft) in height and about 8 km (5 miles) in length. The lake is supplied with water from the upper Niger River and it flows from Futa Djarlon Island through Guinea, Mali, Sierra Leone, Senegal and Niger. The reservoir lake stretches some 136 km upstream and has a breadth of 24 km at its widest point. The maximum head elevation is 141.7 m (465 ft) and maximum tail elevation is 104m (330 ft). The lake has a total capacity of 15 billion cubic meters covering an area of 1270 square kilometres. The dam which took almost five years to construct was built at the cost of N175 million

by Impregilo, a consortium of three Italian firms. It took 20,000 men of nine different nationalities to construct it.

B E AD C

Whose ball is bigger?

Cartoon Angle

Snowhite and the seven dwarfs

Scoobydoo and friends having a drink

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5 - 6, 2016

Page 25

B Kiddies World

E A CD

MODEL OF THE WEEK

AFRICAN TALES

The Lion’s whisker

Lion

O

nce upon a time, there lived a young husband and wife in a small village in Africa. For some time, the husband had not been happy with his marriage. He began to come home late from working in the fields. His wife thought he was the most wonderful man. But she was unhappy, too. His behavior was making her miserable.

Finally, she went to the oldest man in her village. The elder was sad to hear her marriage was not a happy one. He had married them only two years before. At the time, he was sure that the marriage would be a good one.

“Of course I will end your marriage if that is what you want,” he told the young wife, after listening patiently for a while. “You will be free to marry again. But is that really what you want?”

“I want my husband to be more loving,” she said. We are both miserable.”

“I think I can help you,” the

elder said slowly. “I can prepare a secret potion that will change your husband into a loving man.”

“Prepare this magic potion at once!” the young wife cried out excitedly.

“I could make it,” he said sadly.

“But I am missing an important ingredient. I am too old to get this ingredient for you. You must bring it to me.”

“What do you need?” the young wife asked eagerly. “I’ll bring it today.”

“I need a single whisker taken from a living lion to make the potion work.”

Her eyes widened in alarm. She bit her bottom lip. She straightened her shoulders. “I’ll get it for you,” she nodded.

The next morning, the young wife carried a huge piece of raw meat down to the river where lions sometimes came to drink. She hid behind a tree and waited. After waiting many hours, a lion ambled

down to the river to have a drink. He sniffed at the raw meat. In three bites, the meat was gone. He raised his mighty head. He knew she was there.

The young wife held her breath. The mighty lion moved slowly back into the forest and disappeared.

The next day, the young wife came again. This time, the lion appeared quite quickly. This continued for many days. Days became weeks. Each day, the woman crept from her hiding place behind the tree, moving closer and closer to the lion.

At the end of four weeks, she moved quietly next to the lion and sat silently while he ate. Her hand shaking, she reached slowly out and pulled a whisker from his chin.

Holding per prize firmly in one hand, she sat frozen until the lion had disappeared back into the forest.

She ran to the elder, waving her whisker. “I have it,” she shouted. “I have it!”

The elder was in awe when he heard her story. “You do not need magic to change your husband back into the loving man he once was.

You were brave enough to pull a whisker from the chin of a living lion.

It took cleverness and bravery to do what you have done. Can you not use that same patience, courage and wit with your husband?

“But the potion,” the young wife said eagerly. “Would not that work as well?”

“Perhaps,” the elder told her.

“But it would not last. Trust me, my child. Show your husband each day that you love him. Share his problems. Make him feel welcome.

Make him feel wanted and needed.

Give him time to change and see what happens.”

The young wife went home and followed the elder’s advice. Slowly, her husband began to return from the fields with the other men of the village. He began to look glad to see her. Within a year, their life was a happy one.

Question: What is the moral of this story?

Here comes the computer whiz kid, Miss Ella Adams

ACTIVITIES

With the help of the right materials, have fun colouring this image. Show your work to your parents or teacher for correction. Cheers!

CREATIVITY

Make your own paper car

T

his quick and easy basket only needs a square of paper, plus a strip for the handle, and some brads to attach the handle.

I

t’s a great project to do with your kids, or for a class party craft.

There are also a few variations you can use so all the baskets aren’t exactly alike.

What you need: Square sheet of card stock or decorative paper A 1 inch x 12 inch strip of matching or coordinating paper 2 Brads Scissors Scoring Tool What You Do Cut your card stock or paper into a square. A 9 inch square makes a nice sized basket. A 6 inch square is a good size for favor baskets.

Score the square so it is divided into

3 equal squares in both directions – or 3 squares x 3 squares.

If you want a decorative edge around the top of your basket, cut 2 opposite sides of the basket with decorative scissors as shown.

Cut on lines as shown in red. If you make decorative edges, these red cut lines should be parallel to the decorative edges.

Fold the paper on all the score lines, with the decorative side on the outside.

Punch a hole in the center of each end of the basket handle about an inch from the end.

For the angled basket, fold the two corner squares so they overlap each other and the center square on one side of the basket. The center square should

be on the inside of the corner squares.

Punch a hole in the center about an inch down from the top, through all 3 squares.

Put one end of the handle between the 2 corner squares and the center square, and attach a brad through all the layers.

Repeat with the other side. Your basket is finished.

For a square basket, completely overlap all the squares to form a square shape, before punching a hole through all 3 layers to attach the handle Be sure to put the end of the handle between the layers to make it a little sturdier.

Tips Use a pipe cleaner for the handle

instead of a paper strip.

For a paper handle, be sure the paper strip is long enough. On this basket it was a little too short, which makes it hard to put things in the basket,

and it looks kind of funky.

Using card stock or cardboard will make the basket sturdier. You could use the side of a cereal or cracker box and cover it with decorative paper.

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5 - 6, 2016

Page 26

e-Learning People who only know one language make better judgements than bilinguals

T

here are reportedly numerous benefits of speaking a second, third or fourth language, but being bilingual may not always give you the mental edge over those who only speak their mother tongue.

A study has found that people who speak just the one language may actually have better judgement and insight than their bilingual counterparts.

When people had to judge their own performance in tests, those with just a single language were better able to self-assess.

Researchers from the Universities of Cambridge and Anglia Ruskin claim that the findings provide new insight into the differences between those who speak one or two languages, with bilinguals at a disadvantage.

A total of 62 people – half monolingual and the other half bilingual – were

asked to perform two quickfire computer-based tasks, in which they judged which of two circles onscreen contained more dots.

In addition, they were asked to rate how confident they were that their decision was correct.

When the scores were tallied up, the researchers found that bilinguals were around 10 per cent less accurate at assessing their performance, when compared to the single language group. The findings are published in the journal Cognition.

‘The results are somewhat against our initial predictions,’ Dr Roberto Filippi, director of the Multi-language and Cognition Lab (MULTAC) at Anglia Ruskin University, told The Telegraph.

‘We often observe a bilingual advantage in attentional processing, and we thought that this advantage would extend to decisionmaking and metacognitive

A study has found that people who speak just the one language may actually have better judgement and insight than their bilingual counterparts. Stock image of school children learning French

processing.

‘However, this does not seem to be the case. We found a possible bilingual disadvantage in metacognitive processing.

‘Nobody has previously investigated the effect of second language acquisition on decision-making.’

However, in a similar study published earlier this month, Dr Filippi and fellow Anglia researcher Professor Peter Bright found that bilingual speakers may have an advantage when it comes to spotting unknown differences between images.

When people were presented with two onscreen images and asked to hit a

“ Researchers from the Universities of Cambridge and Anglia Ruskin, who carried out the study, said the findings provide new insight into the differences between those who speak one or two languages - such as English and Cymru (pictured) - with bilinguals at a disadvantage.

key when they spotted a difference between them, bilinguals were seen to react faster than single language speakers.

The results showed that on average the bilinguals were 11 per cent more accurate and spotted the differences almost three seconds faster, indicating a boost in selective attention where bilingual speakers can block out ‘noise’.

Dr Filippi explained: ‘A possible interpretation for this advantage is that bilingual speakers, in order to process one language, need to suppress the other.’

He added: ‘This constant inhibitory ‘mental workout’ could in turn strength-

en general cognitive processes such as memory and attention, helping bilingual speakers block distracting information.’

According to the researchers, this could even explain why people who speak an additional language may even have some protection against cognitive decline and neurodegenerative disease in later life.

Dr Filippi added: ‘It is important that the public, and in particular parents and educators, are aware of the potential importance of speaking more than one language on the development and maintenance of cognitive abilities.’

MAILONLINE

Researchers from the Universities of Cambridge and Anglia Ruskin claim that the findings provide new insight into the differences between those who speak one or two languages, with bilinguals at a disadvantage.

PAGE 27

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5 - 6, 2016

Compiled By Doyin Ojosipe

The King and the ‘Nsiat Bird W

hen ‘Ndarake was King of Idu, being young and rich, he was very fond of fine girls, and had plenty of slaves. The ‘Nsiat bird was then living at Idu, and had a very pretty daughter, whom ‘Ndarake wished to marry.

When he spoke to the father about the matter, he replied that of course he had no objection personally, as it would be a great honour for his daughter to marry the king, but, unfortunately, when any of his family had children, they always gave birth to twins, which, as the king knew, was not allowed in the country; the native custom being to kill both the children and throw them into the bush, the mother being driven away and allowed to starve.

The king, however, being greatly struck with Adit, the bird’s daughter, insisted on marrying her, so the ‘Nsiat bird had to agree. A large amount of dowry was paid by the king, and a big play and feast was held. One strong slave was told to carry Adit ‘Nsiat during the whole play, and she sat on his shoulders with her legs around his neck; this was done to show what a rich and

powerful man the king was.

After the marriage, in due course Adit gave birth to twins, as her mother had done before her.

The king immediately became very fond of the two babies, but according to the native custom, which was too strong for anyone to resist, he had to give them up to be killed, When the ‘Nsiat bird heard this, he went to the king and reminded him that he had warned the king before he married on what would happen if he married Adit, and rather than that the twins should be killed, he and the whole of his family would leave the earth and dwell in the air, taking the twins with them.

As the king was so fond of Adit and the two children, and did not want them to be killed, he gladly consented, and the ‘Nsiat bird took the whole of his family, as well as Adit and her two children, away, and left the earth to live and make their home in the trees; but as they had formerly lived in the town with all the people, they did not like to go into the forest, so they made their nests in the trees which grew in the town, and that is why you always see the ‘Nsiat birds living and making their

Leisure Poem

FLOATING VESSELS What name will suit thee?

With what can the cat be let out of the bag?

Floating vessels I think fitting Belonging here and there Thro and fro they go Vessels of honour they are believed…

Floating vessels Lovers of unity but breathe divergence Preachers of prejudice in the pretext of elder state men Floating vessels Gibes of the globe Ambassadors of peace as decoy for ruin Intermediates of hate and love But as corrosive as bile Floating vessels Lovers of good weather and enemies of rain Men for a season, jilters of confidence Pleasers of all men, haters of truth nests only in places where human beings are. The black birds are the cocks, and the goldencoloured ones are the hens. It

Get acquainted with the Dental words

was the beautiful colour of Adit which first attracted the attention of ‘Ndarake and caused him to marry her.

Laugh out loud (lol)!

Floating vessels Like straws they add no value to life Floating vessels, they are carried from one shore to the other like leafs Men of no status on noble seat Floating vessels Leaders of the people Affecting all men with no life changed Men without scruples Men of double minds Floating vessels Heavier than the earth but hang in the air Habitants of the sea and enemies of water Compatriots or glibber in national issues Glimmers and killers of destiny

Bring my gun

O

ne day, thieves came to Akpos’ house; his father quickly noticed them and asked Akpos to bring his gun.

After Akpos brought him his gun, he told him to hide in the room. As the thieves entered, his father brandished the gun at them and they began to tremble.

Suddenly, Akpos came out of the room. His father, surprised, commanded, “Go inside!”

Akpos shouted back, “Dad, you forgot to put water into the gun.”

Akpos’ father is currently in the hospital receiving treatment.

Floating vessels Are all men of no importance?

They glitter but not gold Leaders as laden They are all floating vessels.

By John Ocheje

Motivational

Be brave

O

n any given day, at any given moment we have the ability to change the course of our lives. Most times, the fear of the unknown is so frightening we would rather stay in a situation that is familiar even if it’s destructive. Take courage!

Uncover the strength that lies dormant and move forward!

Beauty

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5 - 6, 2016

Page 28

TIPS

F

ake nails come in a variety of lengths, colours and designs, allowing people to drastically change the look of their hands. Unfortunately, they can also damage the natural nails underneath due to the chemicals in the primer and adhesives used to apply them.

These chemicals make the natural nails thin, weak, dry and prone to splits and breaks. It takes time to grow healthy nails and reverse nail damage, but there are ways to speed up the process.

After wearing acrylics on your fingernails, your natural nails can end up feeling very weak and flimsy, especially if you have had them on for a long period of time. One thing you should remember is that acrylics don’t ruin your nails forever and it is just the layer of the nail bed that the chemicals were adhered to that will feel damaged. Repairing nails after acrylics may at first feel and look like they will never look healthy again, but in actual fact with the right products and a little bit of time you can re-gain the strength of your nails in as little as two weeks.

Symptoms of damaged nails -Nails coming away from your nail bed -Weak, brittle nails -Dry cuticles and cracked cuticles -Inflamed skin around nails -Ridges in your nails -Peeling -Flimsy Great tips to help repair nails Keep your nails short as soon as you have had your acrylics removed, just while your nails are re-building damaged tissues.

Make sure this is done straight away to avoid catching them on anything. Once you can see that your nails are feeling a little stronger and looking a lot healthier, then you can think about some length.

Get a regular manicure preferably once a fortnight or monthly to ensure better circulation in your nail bed. Since a lot of us are on a budget these days to avoid additional expenses why not try giving yourself a manicure at home.

Massage your nail beds each night before you go to sleep to get the blood circulating at your fingertips which will stimulate the blood flow to that area and really help in the healing of your nails.

Soaking your nails in an essential oil for at least ten minutes daily for a month will do wonders in speeding up the

Tips to repair nails after fixing acrylics

Lovely acrylic nails

Damaged nails

process, strengthening and moisturising your nails. After a month you will only need to soak your nails maybe once or twice a week.

Stay away from harsh chemicals, this tip will prevent you from causing further damages to your already damaged natural nails.

Harsh chemicals are present in cleaning products, so consider staying away from them for a while after removing acrylics or make sure you wear gloves.

Use a good cuticle conditioner, your cuticles are just as important as your nail and there is nothing worse than cracked, dry cuticles.

If you are serious about repairing your nails you shouldn’t forget

about the health of your cuticles.

Consume biotin-rich foods.

Biotin works effectively in keeping your nails strong and thick. Among the best biotin sources are avocados, bananas, eggs, sardines, salmon or tuna, berries, mushrooms and whole grains. These are just a few of the many biotin-rich foods you could start to add to your diet to help with not only your nails, but your hair and skin.

Investing in a good nail repair kit, one which is designed to really condition your nails while helping repair them at the same time. There are a lot to choose from out there so don’t run out and grab the first nail repair kit

Nail repair kit

you find because there are many that seem like they are doing the job, but are actually doing more damage than good. You are looking for a nail repair kit that contains formaldehyde, a very small amount and around 80 percent protein and 15–18 percent moisture.

Repairing your nails after fixing acrylics can take a little time, but if you are patient, make some time each day for a couple of weeks and follow the aforementioned tips, it won’t be long before you have your strong and healthy nails back.

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5 - 6, 2016

Sophisticated ways to pair up a maxi skirt for all occasions

Fashion

Page 29

M

axi skirts are back in trends and that’s because women can’t get enough of them. Different colors and designs make these skirts so comfortable and modest yet fashionable.

There are many ways to wear maxi skirts; you can create a daily look or classy one, you can wear heels or flats, whatever you find yourself better with.

Many women think maxi skirts look better on tall girls but that’s not necessarily true. It doesn’t matter the height because if you wear it with some hot trendy high heel shoes, you will look amazing.

From evening to daily designs, the maxi skirt looks so cool and sophisticated, therefore, if you are a maxi skirt lover, you may like to try wearing it in different styles.

Maxi skirts are a wardrobe staple for most fashionistas. They can also be worn during the cold and warm seasons as well. That’s what’s so great about them – they’re versatile, easy to style with anything, and incredibly comfortable, because there are so many outfits you can create with one. To get you started, here are some style tips on how to wear a maxi skirt for any season.

Go for a sporty vibe by pairing a maxi skirt with a graphic tee-shirt and a varsity jacket. Pair a floral maxi with a basic tee, and layer with a cardigan.

Wear your maxi skirt with a crop top. Wear it higher on your waist so you show very little skin, or wear it lower to bare your stomach.

Whatever you’re comfortable with!

Layer a blazer over a tee and maxi skirt for a flirty look.

A chambray skirt looks amazing tucked into a maxi skirt. Cinch the waist in with a thin belt to give the outfit some shape. Pick a maxi skirt outfit based on what’s best for your body type.

Keep things super simple by pairing your skirt with a white tee.

A fun leopard print belt really stands out. Wear your maxi skirt to a festival or to the beach, and protect the bottom by tying it into a cute knot.

Go for a super casual look by mixing basics. Tying the tee at your waist looks so chic and effortless. Kick your outfit up a notch by layering with a jean jacket. This is great for an evening-out.

Maxi skirt during the day, cute dress by night, this is a great idea, especially for vacations when you don’t have room to pack much.

Wearing a cozy sweater with a feminine maxi skirt looks so good always. Try one of these easy styles. The blazer is simply the loveliest; it makes your look more professional and streamlined.

Go for a tough but girly look by pairing a pink maxi with combat boots and a leather jacket.

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5 - 6, 2016

Page 30

Pots & Pans

Oven cooked spaghetti squash Spaghetti squash has a very mild flavor. It is not something you would necessarily serve all on its own it tastes great when paired with sauces and other richly-seasoned main dishes.

Ingredients 1 medium spaghetti squash (2 to 3 pounds) Equipment Sharp chef’s knife Cutting board Soup spoon Medium-size roasting pan or baking dish Fork

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 400°F: Preheat the oven while you prep the squash.

Slice the squash in half: Use a chef’s knife to cut the spaghetti squash lengthwise from stem to tail.

Spaghetti squash are really tough and hard, so be cautious and work slowly. You can cradle the squash in a balled-up dish cloth to keep it steady as you cut.

Scoop out the seeds: Use a soup spoon to scrape out the seeds and stringy bits of flesh from inside the squash. Be careful of actually digging into the flesh though — we want that! The inside should look clean and fairly smooth. Discard the seeds (or save them and roast them for a snack).

Place the squash in a roasting pan: Place the squash halves cutside down in a roasting pan.

Pour in a little water (optional): Pour a little water in the pan, enough to cover the bottom. Your squash will roast just fine without it, but I find that the water helps the squash steam and become more tender.

You can also cover the pan with aluminum foil, if you prefer.

Cook the squash for 30 to 45 minutes: Transfer the squash to the oven and cook for 30 to 45 minutes. Smaller squash will cook more quickly than larger squash. Check the squash after 30 minutes to gauge cooking.

The squash is done when tender: The squash is ready when you can easily pierce a fork through the flesh all the way to the peel. The flesh will also separate easily into spaghettilike strands. You can also taste it right now — if the noodles are still a bit crunchy for your taste, put the squash back in the oven for another 15 to 20 minutes.

Scrape out the squash: Use a fork to gently pull the squash flesh from the peel and to separate the flesh into strands. The strands wrap around the squash horizontally — rake your fork in the same direction as the strands to make the longest “noodles.”

Serve the squash: Serve the squash immediately, tossed with a little butter or olive oil. Spaghetti squash will also keep refrigerated for up to a week, or frozen for up to 3 months.

Carrot, apple, ginger juice recipe

R

efreshing and healthy carrot apple ginger juice is not only energizing, but easy to prepare as well. This fruit and vegetable juice is rich in multivitamins, beta-carotenes and antioxidants that cleans the digestive system from toxins, as well as helps the body fight against cancer and many other dis-

Preparation Preparation time: 5 minutes Serves: 2 servings Ingredients: 2 Apples, cored, peeled and chopped 5 Carrots, peeled and chopped 1 inch Ginger piece, peeled and chopped 1/2 Lemon, seeded and skin removed Salt to taste

Directions:

Process apple, carrots, lemon and ginger in fruit juicer.

Add and stir a pinch of salt in collected juice.

Fill up serving glasses and enjoy.

Tips and Variations: As time passes, juice will start losing its nutritional values due to oxidation. Hence, drink it immediately after preparation to get all of its benefits.

PAGE 31

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5 - 6, 2016

D

espite the changes in modern society the burden still lies on a man to make the first move.

After finally working up the nerve to ask a woman out, you initiate conversation, make small talk, play it the way you feel it should be played and put it out there for her to accept or reject. But then you get rejected. Getting rejected is no fun, especially when you have been trying to get the courage to speak to a woman over a long period of time.

Below are some key reasons why men get rejected by women and how best to avoid them.

Bad presentation In the age of the ‘metrosexual’ where clean cut and well maintained men abound, hygiene is important.

Women tend to make a decision on whether they will date a man within the first 10 seconds of seeing him. First impression starts with appearance so make sure that your hygiene is up to par. Clean teeth are essential, it is a clear sign that a man looks after himself.

If you are a smoker or heavy coffee drinker make an extra effort to remove the stains from your teeth to keep them nice and white.

Foul breath is also a massive turn off for women. Make sure you keep breath mints or minty chewing gum when talking to a woman. Hair is also important and needs to be well maintained in order to avoid the big ‘no.’

Everyone has a different hairstyle and it is entirely up to you how you style your hair but make sure it is clean. Above all make sure you are fresh and smelling clean. No one likes a guy that has overwhelming body odour. If you sweat a lot make sure you have a proper bath before stepping out combined with healthy amounts of anti-perspirant and aftershave.

This doesn’t mean that you have to wear a suit and bow tie, but you need to be presentable in line with your overall grooming and hygiene.

Worn out clothes or clothes with holes make you appear scruffy, it shows lack of self-care. Some people go for shirts and trousers others go for t-shirts and jeans, whatever you decide to wear make sure it is: a) in fashion (b) clean (c) free from holes and (d) appropriate.

Desperation Girls can smell desperation a mile away. It causes lack of real confidence and can also lead to extreme nervousness. This is a massive turn off and can lead to a hard rejection. There are times when desperation can manifest itself and identifying it before it happens will help improve your chances. After a break up, people tend to become desperate when they constantly assess where the relationship went wrong and want a new partner in

“

Relationship

Why women reject ‘perfect’ men their life.

When you are in this state of mind, then your desperation to find someone else becomes obvious.

Deal with the emotions involved and move on from the break up to prevent desperation from hampering your approach to a new woman.

Lack of ambition and job prospects Men that lack drive and ambition are a massive turn off, period. Girls like men that have clear direction in their life. Women evaluate men’s date-ability and suitability based on who they are as a person, if you are a middle aged video game playing momma’s boy then you are likely to be somewhere near the bottom of her list. No one is saying you need to be the next ‘Bill Gates’, but you need to have an idea of what to do with your life, especially if you are heading into you late 20s and early 30s.

Having good job prospects is also important to women because it gives them an indication of whether you can look after them financially.

Bottom line is they prefer guys who are financially independent as opposed to broke guys who are constantly relying on other people.

Women will never turn a guy down because he is too rich, but will reject a man for the opposite social position.

Just like men, they look ahead to the future if only for a brief second.

Yes, we live in a modern age where girls aim for their own financial independence, but they also don’t want to be the one paying all the bills and having to look after you. The solution here is simple, get your act together to avoid rejection.

You are boring Women often do not respond well to guys who are boring or have nothing to say for themselves. If you are naturally shy and introverted then you need to think of things to say before approaching a woman.

Talking about a subject that she has no interest in or is considered dull is a sure way to get rejected. If you are past the introduction stage why not ask her some questions about her likes and interests.

The ability to hold a conversation beyond yes or no answers is an indication of a man’s intellect, more importantly, what they are ultimately like in dating or social situations. In

An uninterested lady terms of what to say this is up to you.

Coming up with cheesy lines doesn’t work, but in some instances it may be a good way of breaking the ice.

Being original and interesting will help you get the right approach.

Being too pushy There is a big difference between being confidence and being too pushy, stepping over the line can result in rejection. All girls are different and using the same approach is likely to result in failure.

After approaching a woman there are two points where being too pushy can mean that you lose your chance.

If you have had a good conversation and she is interested, you will see each other again. The other point is at the end of a good conversation, it is important to be direct on a next meeting or exchanging details, but don’t ask repeatedly if she says no.

Silence can be a good thing, wait for her to give you an answer and then pose a different question if you do not get the intended response.

She’s not interested in a relationship Contrary to every romantic

Having good job prospects is also important to women because it gives them an indication of whether you can look after them financially. Bottom line is they prefer guys who are financially independent as opposed to broke guys who are constantly relying on other people.

Women will never turn a guy down because he is too rich, but will reject a man for the opposite social position.

comedy, not every woman is on the hunt for a relationship at all times.

Whether it is a busy work life or the need to just be on her own for a while, there is something keeping her from committing to a man and a long-term relationship. Just as men don’t want to get involved because it would be too much hassle at the present moment, it is the same for some women. You could be perfect together, but she just isn’t interested in finding out right now.

You’re coming on too strong Calm down, rocket, your approach and tactics are stronger than a shot of whiskey. Women like to be courted, but all the texting, emailing, calling and jumping up and down yelling ‘Meet me for drinks’ is a major turnoff. Keep it subtle, almost like you are not even asking her out at all.

Many men will also get way too physical in the first encounter, which is an immediate turnoff for most women, especially if they aren’t interested in the guy. Keep your hands to yourself.

There’s someone else Sometimes life is all about timing.

She might not be interested in your offer because there is someone else in her life, it could be an exboyfriend, a crush or she could be smack dab in the middle of a brand new relationship. It is got nothing to do with you personally, you are just late to the party.

You seem interested in the physical Women can tell within the first few exchanges with a man if he is just interested in her for the sex. It is the way you look at her,

the jokes you make or the double entendres you sprinkle throughout the casual conversation. Even if you are interested in more than just a physical relationship, all signs point to this being just a passing fling, and she is just not interested in another one-and-done dude.

You’re not her type This is going to hit you hard and is much more painful to accept than any of the above listed points.

Just as you like a specific type of woman, women look for a certain type of man. You are just not her type and it doesn’t matter if you are the greatest man in the world and the person who could make her the happiest woman. You just don’t fit the mold of the man she is looking for. It might have little to do with appearance, but more to do with her individual preference in men.

Women have certain physical features and personality traits that they find attractive in a man. If you do not have these then you are likely going to get rejected. In this situation there is little you can do if you are a five foot tall fair guy and she likes six foot tall men with a dark skin.

You can improve your chances by keeping yourself in shape and well groomed, but sometimes it is just not enough.

It is natural to take it personally when a woman isn’t interested in you romantically, but as the points above prove, it sometimes has little to do with you as an individual. It is all about being attracted to each other and sometimes it just isn’t in the cards. As the saying goes, “It is better to try and fail than never to have tried at all.”

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5 - 6, 2016

Page 32

Fiction

Caught with the wrong boss

I

t wasn’t so much the way he looked at her that made her mad. How he looked straight ahead as if she didn’t exist. It was the tone of his voice when he talked. It was insultive; derogatory. It was laced with something nearly akin to hatred. A scene from horrible bosses came to her mind. Sometimes, she was so mad she wanted to hit him.

She didn’t want to be stuck with him. She shouldn’t have been stuck with him. It was unfair. But the order from above had come and there was nothing they both could do about it. They were supposed to be partners working on this big account but he treated her more like she was his secretary. Giving her orders, telling her to fetch and carry.

The fact that he got employed in the company three months before her didn’t give him the right to boss her around. But he seemed not to have gotten that memo.

“Oiza,” he called her from his office. She was sitting in an adjoining office and heard him clearly. She bristled. He didn’t even have the decency to call her on her intercom and he had the nerve to call her by her first name. She took a deep breath and entered his office.

“Mr. Dada,” she said trying to instill ice into her voice.

“What is it?”

“Have you looked at these figures?” he said pointing at a piece of paper on his table.

“They don’t add up. Your estimate for the project is way below what we’ll need.”

“What do you mean by that?” she said trying to keep her voice from rising. “I did a thorough research on this and to the best of my knowledge those figures are correct.”

“Well, your research wasn’t thorough enough then.

I’ve done my own research and this is what I came up with,” he said giving her another sheet of paper.

She scanned through it.

The figures were nearly twice her own.

“I’m not sure the company can afford this Mr. Dada,” she said fighting the urge to scream.

“Oh,” he said lifting his eyebrows. “Are you now the manager of the company?

Or are you the spokesperson for the company?” he asked sarcastically. “The company would do what it needs to do to ensure it gets this account and I won’t allow anyone, not even you to stand in the way of that.”

Her eyes narrowed and she responded with a voice of steel.

“I do not like your tone, Mr. Dada. All the work I do here is in the best interests of this company. I really cannot agree with you on your estimates.

I’m sure if we try to present it to the board tomorrow, they’ll

turn yours down for being too extravagant.”

He looked away from her to his keyboard. “We’ll see about that. Besides, you don’t have to worry. Since I’m the senior officer here, I’ll make the presentation.”

“Good luck,” she muttered under her breath. There was no way the board would give them that kind of money just because they were looking to secure an account. Never mind that the company in question was one of the fastest growing food companies in the country.

“Have it your way,” she said and turned on her heel and left.

As she got back to her

“

office, she wondered whether he hated women or just her.

He treated her like she was incompetent or incapable.

She had worked hard to get to where she was and the company had recognized that.

It hadn’t been easy combining her job with her home but she was determined to give it her best shot. She wouldn’t allow a male chauvinist like Mr. Dada to take that away from her. She itched to say: ‘I told you so’, at the board meeting the next day.

When they gathered in the board room, the next day, she noticed that he looked particularly smug. It irritated

her. He was about to be blown down anyway, she consoled herself and then he would wipe that smirk off his face.

She watched him as he got up slowly and moved to address the room and watched in open mouthed shock as he proceeded to make a presentation based on her own estimates. She tried to say something but nothing would come out.

As he was closing, he said: “I’m afraid my partner and I could not agree on the estimate for this particular account.

This is what she felt we would need to offset the account.” So saying, he showed a slide of his own estimates. “I have to say

The company would do what it needs to do to ensure it gets this account and I won’t allow anyone, not even you to stand in the way of that.”

that when she showed me this, we had an argument because I felt it was too extravagant. I had to remind her that we needed to have the best interests of the company at heart.”

Oiza got up from her chair in a raging fury. The slimy conniving snake! The gall of him! So this is what he had planned to do all along! Well, she would show him. Nobody messed with her and got away with it scot-free.

“Yes, Mrs. Ozovehe, do you have anything to add?” a member of the board said.

She realized she could not say anything at that moment that would not make her look or sound stupid. She shook her head slowly and sat down.

“Well then I think Mr. Dada’s estimates look reasonable enough to me,” the chairman said. “Can we move on to the next agenda?”

She felt like crawling into the ground and glared across at Mr. Dada. Waheed or whatever his name was, sat there with that smirk on his face. This was not over yet, she thought. Not by a long shot.

Naijastories.com

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Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5 - 6, 2016

Romance

In spite of my love, he’s stuck with my best friend

I

t was my turn to make dinner that night. I wasn’t feeling like myself as I sat at the dinner table. The sight of Amara eating made my stomach turn. I watched as she pretended that all was well between us. She would hum a tune to a song that was nonexistent every now and then, waiting for me to say something so she could use that as her excuse to snap at me. We lived in the same apartment with one other close friend. It was no fun living with someone who had cooked up some sort of hatred for you overnight. We weren’t always like that. We’d known each other since we were babies.

Amara’s attitude towards me changed drastically a few months ago. When we saw each other in public it felt as if we didn’t live in the same house. We worked for the same company but when she turned in a resignation letter some months ago, my suspicions spiked. There was only one reason I could think of that would make her act this way towards me, and I was ready to get some answers.

“Amara, did you ever feel like Vincent and I were doing something behind your back when you guys were dating?”

I asked. I was so sick to my stomach as I watched her chew that piece of bone.

“My dear, it’s a thing of choice, I can’t tell but things do happen. Why the question if I may ask?” she wouldn’t look at me. It seemed as if my question didn’t hit a nerve in her.

“Are you disturbed or something?” she added, when she saw that I no longer touched my meal.

“Please just answer me, and no, I’m not disturbed.”

“Well are you feeling guilty of any crime? You know you can talk to me Vanessa.”

My patience was running out.

See, I knew who I was dealing with here. She could win an Oscar in an act of fooling people into thinking she really cared about their feelings when at the end of the day, all she really wants is to hear you admit your fears so she could laugh behind your back.

“Amara, I simply asked you a question, if you don’t want to answer then we can just forget this; abi e get crime wey you commit?”

“Oh my goodness, see this girl oo.” She laughed. “If you have anything bothering you, just tell me instead of asking me unreasonable questions.”

“I’m asking you a question, and you seat there and lie to my face as if you don’t know what I mean. Don’t worry, you’ve already answered me.” I said in a matter of fact manner.

“I know the kind of person you are now, next time I won’t make such mistake again.” My

food was already cold, there was no reason for me to sit back and watch her manipulate me any longer. As soon as she saw me cover up my plate of food, she began laughing.

“HA! HA! HA!” she went. “Oh so you are just knowing me now ‘abi’? But you, I’ve known you all along!” she slammed her spoon on the table.

“I thought I knew you, which was why I accepted you as my friend till now! I know nothing really. Seriously, I don’t know what you are talking about so stop asking me for silly answers.”

She wasn’t making any sense.

This was one of her schemes to confuse me.

“Look, you can keep pretending okay?”

“Just come out plain Vanessa.”

“I came out!” I yelled. “I think you felt that I was messing with your boyfriend and it’s caused a strain on our relationship. Did you ever feel that way?”

“Oh, can you stop please? My head is spinning.” She placed her hands faintly on her forehead.

“No! I need to know so I will keep asking.”

“Like I said before, something is bothering you; I am willing to listen Vanessa.”

“You… you just won’t stop now will you?”

“Stop what!”

“The act!” I yelled back.

I came close to her. “Your boyfriend came to me after you guys broke up. He said that somehow you felt I was coming on to him and that was the reason for the break up. You never told me such Amara. I … I … never knew you were bothered by my friendship with Vincent.”

“Oh how could you know when you were all over him?

You pushed me aside and the guy that I introduced you to as my boyfriend became your best friend. But what he doesn’t know is that you’re such a whore.” She looked at me in total disgust.

“Excuse me?”

“Yes. And now I know the reason why all your other boyfriends left you.” My heart sunk into my stomach the instant those words left her mouth.

“

The fact that every guy I’d ever dated never seem to stay longer than after they’d taken what they wanted from me wasn’t something I was proud of.

Amara had no right to use that against me.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry that I made you feel insured with the guy you loved,” she hissed, not wanting to believe my sincere apology.

“But it’s not my fault that you didn’t fight for him.” I picked up my plate of food. I had no business apologizing for something I didn’t do. What crime did I commit? She knew who I was; if I wanted something, I went for it!

“Go! Go oo. Go and ask Vincent if truly he loves you.

Eight months, that was how long you could wait before you went ahead seeing him behind my

back when you were supposed to be my friend. Who knows if you haven’t already opened your legs for him? I swear Vanessa if I ever see you near me again, you will be sorry.”

I couldn’t take her insults anymore; I slammed the door and left that night.

I banged heavily on Vincent’s door with all the anger Amara left in me. When he opened, he was half naked. I barged in without waiting for him to speak.

With tears in my eyes, I hugged him tightly.

“Please tell me you love me, please Vincent…”

“Hey, hey, calm down babe.”

Vincent said as he ran his fingers through my hair in a soothing manner.

“Vincent…” I could barely say his name. My tears were getting the best of me.

I stayed away for eight months after the breakup, hoping it was enough time for you to get over her but no, like a hook, she’s still tied around your neck! Do you know how many other guys she’s slept with since she broke up with you?”

“Just tell me what happened.”

He requested as he drew me close to a nearby couch.

“I just had the biggest fight with Amara and I just need to know if I made a mistake by coming here.”

“I don’t understand vane…”

“Do you love me Vincent?”

He nodded. “Yes, of course I do.” He raised my jaw up and planted a soft kiss to my slightly parted lips. But that wasn’t the reason why I came. I need to fully confirm that he was mine.

“But do you still love her?”

His grip on me softened. He let go of me and stood up. My jaws dropped.

“Oh my goodness… please tell me it isn’t true.” I panicked.

His eyes, they gave him away.

“I still want her. There’s this piece of me that still thinks of her.”

“Can you ever let her go?”

He looked at me and said, “I don’t think so.”

“But Vanessa, I love you… I really do.” He rushed to my side when he saw me get up.

“Vincent!” I shouted through my tears. “So that was why she laughed at me. That was why she was so filed with confidence because she knew she still had you.”

“I… I thought you didn’t want her anymore. I thought you guys were through!”

“It’s not that easy, it’s just not! Amara and I have been together since forever, you don’t just forget people like that so easily.”

“I stayed away for eight months after the breakup, hoping it was enough time for you to get over her but no, like a hook, she’s still tied around your neck! Do you know how many other guys she’s slept with since she broke up with you?” I had to break it to him; he was being fooled by love. Amara no longer wanted him, but she’d made sure that he’ll never have another if not her.

“Why can’t you just understand me? I love you despite my feeling for Amara.”

“No, that’s your guilt speaking. I won’t blame you for my mistake. I blame my fragile heart that always flutters whenever a guy like you walks past. I hate to say this but Amara was right about me.”

“Vanessa…” his yes begged for me to stop. I could see that he cared but never in my life will I be anyone’s second best.

“I’ve lost a dear friend, but you can’t even give me the reward of that?” Without looking back at him, I said, “I’m sorry Vincent but I have to go.”

Maybe if I had given him time, he would have been mine, but I am my mother’s daughter; she was the only woman my father ever loved.

Naijastories.com

PAGE 34

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5 - 6, 2016

Nollywood Singer, Seyi Sodimu takes to street to feed homeless people

Daniela Okeke reveals her fear for marriage Curvy and ‘bootlicious Nollywood actress, Daniella Okeke is unarguably one of the top eligible spinster in the entertainment industry.

The script-interpreter has been receiving some back lashes from her fans over her worrisome single status.

Reacting to their pleas to find a man, Daniella opened up on the main reason she’s waiting on God for her Mr Right.

“For you all asking me when will I get married? And all dis crazy things you have to say. I will get married when GOD brings the right guy and at the right time. No be How far? Na How well? I’ve so many married friends that are so unhappy but I believe when GOD THINKS the time is right it will happen. So enough of dis crazy Direct messages,” she wrote on Instagram.

Actor speaks on movie role he won’t play

‘Love me Jeje’ crooner, Seyi Sodimu, recently honoured his daughter’s wish during her birthday as the daughter wished that her birthday be celebrated with the less privilege in the society.

The singer’s daughter, Tomi Simisola, turned a year older on the 29th of February, 2016, and since such days comes ones in every four years, the daughter felt people on the street needed the fun and care.

Tomi actually schools abroad at George Washington University, but she wanted her birthday to be a memorable one which made her father take it upon himself to do the sharing and promised to make it a routine to feed people on the street.

In his words, “I asked my daughter Tomi Simisola who is at school in George Washington University, what she wanted for her birthday because, this time it is special. It only comes once in four years, and I wanted to do something special for her. But she told me instead of a party, she wanted to feed the homeless and less privileged. So we did. It was a humbling experience to say the least and I am very glad we did. I will surely do this again and more often I love you kid stay blessed.”

Nollywood actor, Bryan Okwara, who is popular for movies like “Shattered Romance,” “Weekend Getaway,” “I’ll Take my Chances,” among others, was recently a guest at Pulse TV studios.

In an exclusive interview, the actor spoke on characters he won’t play in a movie, even as a professional.

“I don’t play characters that are too far away from me. For instance, if you wanted me to play Bryan of another tribe that can speak another language, and I had to learn another language, I would make a fool of myself.

I wouldn’t play it.

Caroline Danjuma finds God amid divorce rumours Caroline Danjuma has shown that reliance on God is the only ultimate salvation in the face of any marital challenges one might be going through.

The actress recently shared a powerful post worshipping and recognising her God as the only help in the time of need, especially in her marriage with the wealthy Musa Danjuma, who allegedly impregnated his mistress in the UK, leading to frictions in their marriage.

As a way of soliciting God’s help in her trying moments, she wrote, ”You are the God that makes the lame to walk.. You are

the God that makes the blind to see… You are the God that has given me victory . My alpha and Omega I worship you . Everything my heart has desired you have given to me,” “You moulded me into a strong warrior . You alone are God. No one knows me like you and no one loves me like you do. Thank you for always putting testimonies in my mouth . I worship you .

All praises , honour, adoration and glory to you who has made everything beautiful in my life. I bow before your throne . My King of kings #JesusChristisKing

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5 - 6, 2016

Maria Menounos won’t marry Madonna, Ritchie urged boyfriend of nearly 20 years to resolve teen son’s because of Kris Jenner

M

aria Menounos and her boyfriend, Keven Undergaro, have been an item for nearly two decades “We’ve been together 19 [years] this April -- or maybe 18. I forget,” the E! News anchor said during a recent chat with Wonderwall. com -- but don’t expect them to tie the knot anytime soon.

“We talk about it -- we’ve been talking about it recently,” Maria told us while discussing the dress she’ll be wearing during the 2016 Academy Awards, a collaboration with designer Christian Siriano that will pay tribute to Stella Artois and Water. org’s Buy A Lady A Drink campaign.

So what exactly is the hold up? Apparently, Kris Jenner is to blame. ... Well, sort of!

The Kardashian family matriarch, a longtime friend of the couple, once offered to help them plan their wedding should they ever decide to make it official. And therein lies the problem.

“We just can’t agree on what [our wedding] would be when we’re in the hypothetical conversation,” says Maria.

“I love the idea of four people on an island in Greece -- that’s my ideal wedding,” she explains. “He’s like, ‘Well, my fairy godmother Kris Jenner has promised to plan my wedding, so why would I give up that amazing opportunity to have Kris Jenner plan the wedding of the century for me?’”

Fair enough! After all, the momager has played a hand in some of the most over-the-top wedding ceremonies in recent memory. (Remember Kris Humphries and Kim Kardashian West’s $10 million televised nuptials?)

But the host isn’t willing to make compromises when it comes to the details surrounding her big day.

“I’m the bride,” she asserts. “It’s my day!”

“That’s when the conversation just ends,” concludes the former “Extra” host. “And I’m like, ‘Okay, we’re at a loss.’”

Over the years, the brunet beauty’s Greek Orthodox upbringing -- and her traditional family -- have also caused complications with plans to tie the knot. When she was a teenager, Maria’s father even disowned her because of her relationship with Keven, who’s an Italian-American producer.

“It wasn’t an easy situation,” Maria told AOL.com in April 2014. “[Keven] wasn’t Greek so my dad was very upset, pretty much disowned me, took my education away. ... I was now pretty much homeless, no education, no degree, but I had Keven.”

The 37-year-old and her boyfriend have since reconciled with her family, though Maria’s parents continue to put pressure on the couple to wed and start a family.

Maria’s clan even appeared in her early 2014 Oxygen reality TV series “Chasing Maria Menounos,” which concluded when Keven converted to the Christian Orthodox faith.

custody case

M

adonna and Guy Ritchie should think of their 15-yearold son’s best interests and quickly resolve a monthslong dispute over with whom the boy will live, a state judge said in a proceeding Wednesday in Manhattan.

State Supreme Court Justice Deborah Kaplan implored the divorced singer and film director to settle the matter a day after their lawyers said a deal reached late Tuesday had fallen apart.

“No one is disrupting his household other than the inability of the parents to reach a resolution,” Kaplan said. “If they cannot resolve this matter then eventually the court will.”

Ellen Sigal, a court-appointed attorney for Rocco Ritchie, said her client has been stressed about his future since leaving his mother’s worldwide tour last year to stay with Ritchie in London, where he now attends school.

“It’s been a very difficult time for him,” she said in court. “We hope to put an end to this as soon as possible without exposing him to more litigation, press innuendo, any of that kind of thing.”

In December, Kaplan ruled that Rocco should return to his mother’s custody. Records show Madonna, whose legal name is Madonna Louise Ciccone, moved for the judge to enforce that order.

On Wednesday, Kaplan said she wasn’t going to remove the order but also said she wasn’t planning on issuing a warrant to compel Ritchie to appear in New York.

Ritchie, who directed the 1998 thriller “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels,” and Madonna divorced in New York in 2008.

Neither parent appeared in court, instead calling in from abroad. She performed Sunday in Singapore and is scheduled to perform Saturday in Auckland, New Zealand. Ritchie called in from London.

PAGE 35

Hollywood Jodie Sweetin Joins the Cast of Dancing with the Stars

J

odie Sweetin is joining Dancing with the Stars, she announced Wednesday on Good Morning America The Fuller House stopped by the studio for the big reveal.

“I would have loved to have done it in the past but it was a huge scheduling conflict with Fuller House at the time so I wasn’t able to do it, but I’m a huge fan of the show,” she said.

“I’ve always loved to dance. Stephanie was a dancer on the show, I danced growing up, not as much as I would have liked to, I definitely don’t call myself a professional but I have some moves, I have some rhythm so I’ll be okay.”

She will be partnered with dance pro Keo Motsepe.

Sweetin, 34, is the first celebrity to join the cast after Bindi Irwin won last year. Her TV sister Candace Cameron-Bure previously competed.

Dustin Hoffman on Oscars: ‘It’s always been racism’

D

ustin Hoffman feels there’s a systemic racial problem in America that goes beyond the Oscars.

The two-time Oscar winner did not attend Sunday night’s ceremony, nor did he watch the broadcast. But he was in the same place as this year’s recipient of an Honorary Academy Award who boycotted the show.

“I went to see the Knicks game and saw my friend Spike Lee there all dressed up for the Oscars, but he was at the Knick game,” Hoffman told the Associated Press on Wednesday night.

Lee attended the game at Madison Square Garden in New York in a black tuxedo. Comedian Tracy Morgan, who was part of an Oscar’s skit, also was at the game.

For the second consecutive year, there was a lack of diversity among Oscar nominees with only white actors getting the nod.

“Well, it’s always been that way. It’s not anything new, like Chris Rock, I heard said, ‘Why this year’,” responded Hoffman.

During his opening monologue at the Oscars, Rock questioned the controversy, saying: “It’s the 88th Academy Awards, which means this whole black, no nominees thing has happened at least 71 other times.”

Hoffman was blunt in his response for the reason why it’s been that way for so long.

“It’s always been racism. It’s kind of a reflection of what the country is,” he said.

“They call my era, the Golden Age of film, but I think the Golden Age of film still exists, but it’s done by the indies, and I think that is what this theater is for,” Hoffman said.

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5 - 6, 2016

Page 36

Celebrity Gists

JLo denies feud with Mariah Carey

R

umors of a feud between Grammy award singers, Mariah Carey and Jennifer Lopez have been swirling since the early 2000s when the ‘We Belong Together’ star famously told reporters she didn’t know Lopez.

More than a decade later in 2014, the ‘Get Right’ singer squashed the rumours on Watch What Happens Live, revealing that they have never met.

“I would love to meet her and I would love to be friends with her, I think she’s incredibly talented and I’ve always been a fan. ‘My All’ is one of my favourite songs of all time. I just love her. It saddens me to hear anything that’s negative because I’m a fan of hers.”

A year after clearing things up, the rumours were rehashed when Lopez was

caught at the 2015 Billboard Music Awards looking down and texting while Carey serenaded the crowd on stage, reigniting the speculation once more.

Never willing to avoid the obvious, Cohen revisited the topic when he asked ‘Jenny from the Block’ what exactly was going on between them. It seems cameras just caught her at the wrong moment.

However, the host was quick to note that the “All I Have” performer had gone to see many of her fellow pop star’s Las Vegas residencies before she geared up for her own, but has yet to make an appearance at Mariah’s show.

“I think last year when it started I was already here in New York filming Shades of Blue and doing Idol on the weekends— didn’t have a lot of time,” she explained.”

Toke nabs endorsement deal with Mecran Cosmetics

T

oke Makinwa is cashing in.

The media personality has nabbed a new deal with Mecran Cosmetics.

According to the brand, Mecran Cosmetics is a widerange cosmetic brand that has mastered the science of skin-lightening and warns against using creams with harmful ingredients that could result in long-term and physically gruesome side effects.

They sent out a press release saying “We are excited to have the beautiful Toke Makinwa on board our train, as we continue to emphasize safe and effective skin-lightening.”

Yemi Alade’s “Mama ‘I’ll get married Africa” album is out at the right

E

ffyzie Music Group has unveiled Yemi Alade‘s sophomore album, “Mama Africa” via iTunes.

The LP which focuses on the pains and joys of an African woman is available for pre-order on iTunes and features several African heavyweight artists such as PSquare from Nigeria, Flavour from Nigeria, Sarkodie from Ghana, Sauti Sol from Kenya, DJ Arafat from Ivory Coast.

The tracklist includes Na Gode feat. Selebobo, Tumbum, Tonight feat. P-Squar, Kom Kom feat. Flavour, Baby’s Back, Marry Me, Africa” feat. Sauti Sol, Ferrari amongst others.

time’

N

ollywood actress, Daniella Okeke, seems to have been getting quite a lot of questions from fans and followers about when she will get married so much that she had to address the issue on Instagram.

According to her, she will get married when God brings the right guy and when it is the right time. ‘‘For you all asking me when I will get married and all this crazy things you have to say. I will get married when God brings the right guy and at the right time. No be how far na how well. I have so many married friends that are unhappy but I believe when God thinks the time is right it will happen.

So enough of this crazy Dm’s.’’

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5 - 6, 2016

Page 37

Entertainment ‘I invested my time in prayer’,Tonto dishes on how she found Mr. Right

Seyi Shay features Why I Phyno in ‘Mary’ started A

couple of days ago, singer Seyi Shay released a short teaser of her song, ‘Mary’ featuring Phyno and her fans have been anticipating the release of the video.

The video, shot by Meji Alabi, is officially out. It was shot in Lagos with amazing props, captivating scenes and a brilliant use of lights and effects.

my own project -Paul Okoye F

or the past couple of months, the PSquare brothers have diversified their talents and started individual projects.

Peter Okoye has his “Dance With Peter” show and a football academy, while Paul now owns a record label called “Rudeboy Recordz”. The two have however been in the news for more than their projects as they have been publicly feuding.

In a chat, Paul opened up on why he started his own project and why that does not necessarily mean the demise of PSquare as a duo.

On why he started his own record label, he said he needed a platform to express himself separate from the group. According to him, when you have different CEOs decisions can be conflicting and he simply needed an escape from that.

N

ollywood actress and new mum, Tonto Dikeh, shared a few secrets on her social media page.

She shared a note with her Instagram followers on how she turned her life around through prayers and also found Mr. Right.

According to her, “A lot of you email, text, Dm, call and send comments to me to explain how I turned my life Around and became so happy and fulfilled and have a man to call my Own.. Some ask how I got so lucky to marry such an incredible man and Live such a blessed life now. Well the truth is I invested my time in prayer to God on what I really wanted. Join me in this beautiful prayer project, and I promise your love life will never remain the same again. If you have a spouse at the end of this project you can wrap your project book up and give it to them as a gift. Happy new month darlings.”

Leonardo DiCaprio finally wins an Oscar after six nominations

A

ctor Leonardo Di Caprio’s win was the biggest moment of the 2016 Oscars.

After being nominated for six Oscars over his long, successful career, the actor picked up his first award from the Academy on Sunday night for his role as frontiersman Hugh Glass in The Revenant.

The 41-year-old actor has been nominated five other times in the past, four times for acting and one time as a producer. He previously got nominations for The Wolf of Wall Street in

2014 (Best Actor and Best Picture), Blood Diamond in 2007 (Best Actor), The Aviator in 2005 (Best Actor), and What’s Eating Gilbert Grape in 1994 (Best Supporting Actor).

It has been nothing short of an incredible awards season for Leo who received his first big win at the Golden Globes. Ever since then, he has been unstoppable when it comes to picking up trophies.

Other big winner of the night was Mad Max: Fury Road, which won six awards all in the technical categories.

Page

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5 - 6, 2016

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ISSUES Why Nigeria needs Buhari’s foreign trips WRITE TO US

By Folarin Ademosu

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari has continued to take the flak for his frequent foreign trips.

Since he became Nigeria’s president on May 29, 2015, he has visited no fewer than 18 countries and packed hefty bills in travel expenses.

The president has visited the United States, the UN General Assembly, South Africa, Niger, Chad, Cameroun, Germany, Ghana, France, India, Iran, Malta, Kenya and Ethiopia. Again, Buhari last week departed the country to visit Qatar and Saudi Arabia, including observing the Lesser Hajj in Medina.

To critics, President Buhari’s foreign trips suggest fecklessness and display insensitivity akin to 54 AD Emperor Nero – who played violin while Rome burnt. The majority consider the president’s frequent foreign trips illpurposed and occurring at a time of economic haemorrhage.

Buhari’s cabinet ministers Lai Mohammed (Information) and Amina Mohammed (Environment) responded that the trips would ultimately benefit the country’s struggling economy.

Characteristic of Lai Mohammed, he added for good measure that Nigeria had almost become “a pariah state” before Buhari’s emergence as president and his “personal presence in many of these (international) fora is important”.

While the Information minister’s allusion to Nigeria sliding into a pariah state might be fallacious, it was undoubted that Buhari inherited a polity deeply sunk in political, economic and moral quicksand.

The troubling revelations from the various ongoing corruption investigations and prosecutions have shown how a rapacious infinitesimal political and economic ruling class superintended one of the biggest heists in the country’s history. The official banditry and impunity of public servants

Peoples Daily Weekend welcomes your letters, opinion articles, text messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters - 150 words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your name and a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be addressed to: The Editor, Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, 35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja. contacts@peoplesdailyng.com adverts@peoplesdailyng.com admin@peoplesdailyng.com news@peoplesdailyng.com in the immediate past administration was a perfect remake of obnoxious gusto displayed by Nigeria’s 1980s king of the underworld Lawrence Anini. The otherwise public servant culpable in the primitive thievery couldn’t give a hoot and were so impatient that they bolted with the vault’s key even after stealing what would have lasted five generations.

On this score, the country requires some in-your-face redemptive efforts both at home and abroad. We need to regain the confidence of the international community, as much as the trust of

“

Nigerians.

All through the Goodluck Jonathan presidency, Nigerians were serially lied to on the exact shape of the economy.

Officials of the last government cooked figures and regaled the citizens with fake international financial ratings more worthless than toilet papers. The figures meant nothing at home and absolutely incongruent with the actual living standard of the toiling masses. It is regrettable that Nigerians seem not to have learnt anything from this grotesque past and unwilling to walk their faith to

More so, Nigeria’s population, geography, size of economy and mineral endowment, etc will continue to spur its active participation in international affairs. It is invaluable that the Buhari goodwill magnet Foreign Direct Investments, FDI, and help to open up untapped or underused mineral endowment.

political and economic salvation.

The groundswell of international goodwill that greeted Buhari’s emergence must be optimally exploited. Nigeria’s foreign policy is not isolationism, but one that reflects an ideological disposition to regional and continental cooperation in varied matters. Nigeria, more than ever before, needs international cooperation on trade and investment, free market, health, security and military, democratic sustainability, to mention but a few. As a country menaced by terrorists in the north-east and blighted intermittently by implosion threats owing to ethnic and religious agitations, Nigeria needs every super-and-supranational supports it could muster.

More so, Nigeria’s population, geography, size of economy and mineral endowment, etc will continue to spur its active participation in international affairs. It is invaluable that the Buhari goodwill magnet Foreign Direct Investments, FDI, and help to open up untapped or underused mineral endowment. It is an opportunity to wean the Nigerian state off its robust dependence on oil-run economy and deliver it from the vagaries of the global market. It affords a chance to open up the untapped or underused mineral resources, build industries and resuscitate dying ones to create jobs and back up this recovery with moderate protectionist legislations.

The current experience favours the strengthening of the institutions of government, and not the personalisation of governance. Only an irresponsible father sits idly at home, while his offspring squirm and writhe in lack. It is also an opportunity for President Buhari to demonstrate a more modernist view on local and global issue, instead of being a prototypical leader.

Culled from Abusidiqu.com

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5 - 6, 2016

Page 39

Opinion

I’ll buy Nigeria, but…

By Ololade Ajekigbe

I

n the past couple of weeks, there has been a clamour for Nigerians to patronise made-in-Nigeria products.

The hashtag “Buy Naija To Grow The Naira” was even created to drive awareness on Twitter. The aim is simple, buy locally made goods to save the naira from its current alarming slope downhill.

For all intents and purposes this campaign has become imperative especially in the light of the dwindling fortune of the naira against the dollar. Since the price of crude oil has been on a steady decline for a while now, oil producing countries have had to turn their attention to other sectors of the economy to ensure that their gross domestic product does not plummet. In a mono-economy like Nigeria there were no such options.

After jettisoning its first love, agriculture, for the more attractive oil in the last couple of decades, Nigeria has suddenly found herself in a quagmire occasioned by the consistent fall in the price of crude oil. This has had a multiplier effect on all other areas of the economy as we never really gave a long term thought to the consequences of our overdependence on one area of the economy.

Now, the prices of goods and services have skyrocketed, organizations are laying off staff every day, the naira now exchanges for N400 to a dollar in the parallel market, while one would have to cough over N500 in exchange for one pound an all time low since its steady decline at the beginning of this year following the stopping of weekly dollar sale to Bureaux de Change’s by the Central Bank.

Bottom line – the prognosis doesn’t look good and there remains a pervading sense of uncertainty in the air. Hence, the call for Nigerians to strengthen their currency by reducing their long time penchant for buying foreign products as opposed to the made-in-Nigeria ones.

One man who has been at the forefront of this crusade is the CEO of Silverd bird

and Senator representing Bayelsa East constituency, Mr Ben Murray Bruce. The “commonsense” crusader has taken it upon himself to champion the cause of Obinna who makes shoes in Aba, Iya Kudi who deals in Adire textile in Ibadan and Hassan who manufactures leather wallets in Kano. Mr Bruce put his money where his mouth is by not only sharing photos of himself patronizing Aba made clothes and shoes, but also going further to purchase made-in-Nigeria cars by Innoson Motors.

The Senate president has also added his voice to the “Buy Naija To Grow The Naira” campaign. Promising to re-examine to the laws to seek ways to improve support for domestic manufacturers and producers following his meeting with the CEO of the Nnewi based vehicle manufacturing company, Mr Innocent Chukwuma. These are steps in the right direction. However, the fact remains that the average Nigerian has developed apathy for made-in-Nigeria goods over the years and for good reason too. Locally made products are often seen as counterfeit and sub standard. Only very few Nigerian manufacturers put utmost care and attention into their creation. The Anything-goes mentality of the typical Nigerian has eaten deep into the fabric of our manufacturing industry.

“

Clothes whose colours run as soon as you dip them into water, heels that come off just as you step into the interview room of a potential employer, the locally made soap that makes the hands appear shrivelled after washing, pot handles that come off only a few weeks into using them, diapers that induce rashes in babies and cornflakes that turn soggy just as soon as you introduce a bit of water into them.

That has been the narrative associated with made-in-Nigeria products for a while now, yet there are many fantastic Nigerian-made products which have stood the test of time. The truth is as plain as a pikestaff – Nigerians don’t trust their own products. Hence, the “long throat” for foreign goods, even though there are no guarantees that they are any better.

The reality is; if the government is serious about growing the naira, then it must invest heavily in small and medium scale businesses so as to encourage manufacturers to produce their best. The first thing anyone who is parting with their hard earned cash wants to be sure of is getting value for their money, especially in these austere times. Nigerians are not going to be cajoled or guilt-tripped into buying Nigeria except they are certain of the quality of what they are getting. As a

If the government is serious about growing the naira, then it must invest heavily in small and medium scale businesses so as to encourage manufacturers to produce their best. The first thing anyone who is parting with their hard earned cash wants to be sure of is getting value for their money, especially in these austere times.

matter of fact, this rule doesn’t apply to Nigerians only. There’s no one in their right frame of mind, in any part of the world who would choose to buy a fake product when they can get the authentic one at about the same price or for a slightly higher amount. It only makes sense.

There are people who have sworn off made-in-Nigeria goods because of the not-too-pleasant and sometimes embarrassing experiences they have had because they dared to put their trust in a home-made good. Essentially, this means that our manufacturers and local industry need to up their game in order to make sure they put out good quality products which speak for themselves. The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) appears to be doing a good job in creating awareness on how to identify original products but things are far from uhuru yet. SON needs to do more to ensure that substandard goods do not define the Nigerian made goods market. The National Agency for Food And Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) which has been under the radar since the glory days of its late former Director General, Dora Akunyili, must be alive to its responsibilities and ensure that chalk isn’t sold as paracetamol in our Pharmacies and Supermarkets. The right structure must be put in place to boost the local market.

In all, while it is shameful that a country with vast human and material resources like Nigeria still imports toothpicks and tomato paste, it is not enough to “shout it from the rooftops” and create a hashtag to encourage locally made goods patronage.

If our leaders who are usually the first ones to ship in foreign made goods to satisfy their most basic needs can control their appetite for “oyinbo things” and patronize our own brands here, then the general populace will be more wont to follow suit, and not see this campaign as mere lip service.

Culled from Omojuwa.com

Buhari’s economic shock therapy

By Nasiru Suwaid

I

have always wondered why a shock treatment is administered on a patient whose heart has stopped and before anyone says, it is done to revive him or her, I am seeing things from the effects of allowing volts of electricity into and until the veins of a human soul, as for one, it would be extremely painful, in fact, when not administered correctly, it would ‘kill’ the rest of the functional heart.

But, what am I implying here, it is simply that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration inherited a comatose economy, which has almost blade to death, because of wrong or rather, bad economic diagnosis, and despite whatever accolade may heap on the last administration’s Economic Management Team, it failed spectacularly in the area of strict financial discipline and acceptable prudential management, thus allowing financial leakage within the system, so much that it threatened the whole national economy.

What it is inferring here, is that the revival of the Nigerian economy is bound to be extremely painful, but just like a

medical shock therapy, it was simply done to make Nigeria well and economically healthy. It is within these context, you can understand the creeping high inflation in the economy, where prices of goods and services has disproportionately increased, which is as a result of the scarcity of foreign exchange currencies or United State’s Dollar, to be more specific, most notably, in an import dependent or rather, import reliant economy like ours.

Economically, the only way Nigeria could ‘discourage’ foreign consumption is not through traditional means of higher tariffs and more secure borders, which Nigerian business men and need I say,

“

women, have grown adept at beating the system, it is through a way or method, where such entrepreneurs ‘only’ get access to forex on higher (parallel market) terms or monetary value. It is most noteworthy that this policy by default, has negatively impacted on the volume and value of imported goods into the country, which painfully, it has increased inflationary rates on consumables but, our foreign imports cravings attitude is as well affected.

However, this economic vision would easily be defeated, were the government to suddenly devalue the naira, but like policy projections, it is susceptible to abuse like

round tripping, which could be addressed by a more rigorous supervisory regulation by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

But, it not need a clairvoyant economic prophet to predict, that such increase in revenue volume for the government, a substantial portion of it, would most likely be deployed in chasing and putting more pressure on a highly limited forex or more specifically, United State’s dollar, because, Nigerians usually spend to satisfy their cravings for foreign consumption tastes.

Suwaid posted this article on Abusidiqu.com

The revival of the Nigerian economy is bound to be extremely painful, but just like a medical shock therapy, it was simply done to make Nigeria well and economically healthy.

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5 - 6, 2016

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Comment

Diversification of the economy: A critical appraisal of the gas industry

By Ayobami Ismail Akanji The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining’?

—John F. Kennedy

N

igeria is on a threshold of history with various dynamic economic variables being ushered into its economy ardently driven by the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, whose resolve for total diversification can’t be overemphasized.

He passionately restated this point when the United States Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker led a delegation of ten American business men and women at the prompting of President Barack Obama. “It’s time to diversify our economy from oil. We have always talked about it, but never got round doing it“, Buhari declared during the meeting.

Oil is a wasting asset or resource, and with Western countries involved in research into alternative sources of energy, it is fatal illusion to depend almost entirely on oil to earn national income to finance development efforts.

The fading merit of oil in the growth of the Nigerian economy since its discovery in 1956 till date poignantly

highlight the imperative of an urgent diversification which is speedily needed, to advance the development of critical subsectors that are cointegrated into the economy.

For economic interest and due to the sharp decline of the mainstay of the economy (crude oil) which accounts for about 35% of GDP, 75% of government revenue and 90% of export earnings makes Nigeria a mono-economy, government is in a dire strait and needs to muster the political will to nail home the diversification of the economy which is imperative.

Nigeria is a natural resource abundant country, and the most populous OPEC member nation. Over the last 50 years, the oil subsector has grown expontially. Both production and exports increased tremendously since commercial production in 1958. For example, crude production increased from 395.7 million barrels in 1970 to 776.01 million barrels in 1998.

The figure increased to 919.3 million barrels in 2006, in the same vein, crude oil exports increased from 139.5 million barrels in 1996 to 807.7 million barrels in 1979. Oil revenue increased from N166.6 million in 1970 to N1 591,675.00 million

and N6, 530,430.00 million in 2000 and 2008 respectively.

The huge revenues from oil was expected to have been a game changer in terms of massive infrastructural development, poverty reduction, employment generation for millions of Nigerians, alas the reverse was the case apart from complicating macroeconomics with a mix of pervasive corruption which dominated the oil dependent economy at the expense of agriculture which was once its mainstay.

In hard times, (the current situation) economic diversification is the right policy to embrace given the fact that its mostly a process in which a growing range of output is produced, majorly by diversifying activities risen from the fact that the market is relied heavily on production of primary commodities that are to price vulnerability. Nigeria currently witness a sharp decline in the price of oil the 75% plunge in crude prices to around $33 per barrel paints a clear outlook the country faces over the last 9 months with a knock-on effect on government earnings, and no hope of any recovery in the nearest future.

Moreover, sustaining the political will in implementing a

robust gas policy anchored on reduction of gas flaring which historically began with the extraction of oil in the 1960s, can be consolidated by government following through with its decision to have more industries stop gas flaring, a cohesive implementation of policy lapses beyond the joint ventures whose major preference is to extract crude and make their profit.

Consequently the gas associated with crude oil is seen as a nuisance and had to be flared, it is time to religiously follow the government enacted law (Associated Gas Reinjection Act, 1979) which charges a fee of US $3.50 for every 1000 standard cubic feet of gas flared. Another major area to be harnessed in the oil and gas sector which is viable in contributing to development of the economy through provision of intermediate inputs to the rest of the economy. These intermediate inputs include crude oil, gas and liquid feed stocks, as well as oil and gas into the refining, petrochemical and energy intensive industries.

Diversification is the new buzz word in town, the present administration evidently has embarked on an aggressive economic policy geared towards revamping a battered economy

with an unprecedented boldness and conviction which looks both impressive and revolutionary.

A whooping sum of N1.8 trillion has been voted for capital expenditure with 30% voted for capital project, a Social Protection Investment wherein one million artisans’ market women will be given loans, of N60, 000 each and 500,000 teaching jobs for graduates including N5000 conditional for the poorest of the poor, these are all nouvel policies in the anal of Nigeria’s socio-political and economic evolution.

President Buhari’s commitment to diversify the economy in the face of rapidly changing realities is a clarion call to a country that appears detached from these ugly realities. He is reawakening the country not to take other untapped potential resources for national wealth for granted.

Driven by a clear vision and passion to arouse Nigeria out of this slumber of overdependence on oil, President Buhari deserves the support of all Nigerians in this regard.

Akanji, a Political Strategist posted this piece on Abusidiqu.com

Role of new media in this government of ‘change’

By Anjuwon Oluwole

T

he role of new media in modern day governance cannot be over emphasized as it helps to propagate government policies and decisions in record time to members of the public. Thus, President Muhammadu Buhari, in his wisdom has appointed two young Nigerians, Tolu Ogunlesi and Bashir Ahmad to spearhead the job of promoting and defending the ‘change’ effort of his administration with the help of the New Media.

The announcement of the duo as Special Assistant and Principal Assistant, New Media to the president respectively, came with mixed reactions, but Nigerians generally welcomed the introduction of the both; especially as Tolu is seen as non controversial, unblemished and an extremely good columnist, whose knowledge the president and his team will find useful.

Notwithstanding, many also wonder why the president needs so many hands to promote the works of his administration, thereby controlling the narratives of his performance, when he has informed the nation times without number that he would drastically reduce the cost of governance, despite having in his service the likes of Femi Adesina, Garba Shehu, other recognised

“

New Media paid volunteers and surely millions of self-appointed media aides of the president who are ready to tear down his critics at the slightest provocation.

The government of President Buhari seems to understand that modern day governance requires proper and adequate dissemination of government actions and inaction to the populace. Be that as it may, I

The government of President Buhari seems to understand that modern day governance requires proper and adequate dissemination of government actions and inaction to the populace.

would like to add that these propagations must be done with extreme sense of sincerity to speak the truth and nothing but the truth to the citizenry and to accommodate and respect every critic of the president.

These were what men who controlled the media and public image of erstwhile President Goodluck Jonathan failed to implement while serving him. Worst among President Jonathan’s ‘Man Friday’ was Reno Omokri, whose shoes Tolu and Bashir have been appointed to fill. Reno was the former peresident’s Special Assistant, New Media.

On Twitter, Reno blocked many young aggrieved Nigerians who would criticize his boss, especially a good number of those who had less than 2,000 followers on twitter without room for interaction with them.

This path, Tolu and Bashir must not tow. Unlike Reno, these two, must interact with aggrieved

Nigerians intelligently and make them understand the direction of President Buhari’s policies with an attempt to win them over with superior arguments, rather than building a fence against them with the block or mute button.

Without mincing words, the job of media aides to the president won’t be smooth for the duo, as Nigerians would frustrate them day and night. Tolu and Bashir must avoid the many errors made by their predecessor, by making sure that they do not employ the service of young Nigerians as e-thugs to attack the President’s critics. They must not promote hashtags with our common resources for unnecessary reasons. They must be courteously accommodative with their critics and their principal’s critics, as the job they have now might become their source of regret when they leave office as assistants to the President on New Media.

Culled from Omojuwa.com

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5-6, 2016

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Online Comments State of the nation: Osinbajo, Saraki, Atiku, Tinubu, others in closed door meeting SirOscie. says: Party leaders discussing the way forward is always a welcome development, one that all organs of the party and Nigerians stand to benefit from considering the fact that the APC is now the party in power.

Army on high alert to combat N/Delta militants Tony says: It is preposterous to think that hungrylooking and inept Nigerian soldiers can stand the highly equipped Niger Delta militants, many of whom are experts in guerilla warfare.

Murtala Made Us Crazy S. A. Maigari says: There’s always a new way of telling an old story. Well done, Oga Yawe.

JIBWIS unveils satellite radio, television stations in Abuja Yusuf Abdullai Kwoffie says: We need and want to donate to manara programmes and also register our masjid so kindly help us.

The emerging political debate in Jigawa Shehu Bello says: Leaders like Sule Lamido are visionaries, committed, honest, dedicated, transparent, faithful; hardworking and unbiased and they are in very short supply. So, he deserves to be appreciated and respected. Suspending his son makes us believe that he is being witch-hunted by this clueless administration of Gov. Badaru. It is unfortunate. Lamido will continue to excel.

Abubakar Aliyu says: This is incredible!!! Why will the governor behave this way? Why will he suspend district heads? He should take things easy and gently. He should be wary of all these kind of things because what goes around comes around. Sule Lamido deserves respect, gratitude, commendation and appreciation. Not humiliation and witch-hunt. May God guide us aright.

Muhammad Bello says:

The late Murtala

Mr. Adam, Governor Muhammad has nothing to envy in Sule talk less of those district heads who want to live under the expense of their community and the Jigawa people in general. Infact even if you are ignorant of what Badaru’s government is all about you can’t compare him with Lamido.

Isa Dan-Sidi Kafin-Hausa says: Administrators are cheap and easy to find and cheap to keep. Leaders like Sule Lamido are visionaries, committed, honest, dedicated, transparent, faithful; hardworking and unbiased and they are in very short supply. And ones with vision are pure gold. Lamido is more than gold. Sir, keep on, sky is the limit. Baba we are with you come rain come sun. May Allah reward you. Sai Lamido. .

Isa Dan-Sidi Kafin-Hausa says: This action of suspending Lamido’s son is illogical and politically motivated. I pity governors with this kind of attitude.

Badaru you are governor and we are all yours but don’t intimidate Lamido’s family and his supporters. We pray for Jigawa’s peace and unity. Oh God help us.

Adamu Muhd Usman KafinHausa says: Lamido and his administration accommodated insults and abuses from the people without having to reprimand anyone and in its bid to entrench democratic values, his government ensured the freedom of speech. PDP was not afraid of the APC, but was enjoying its activities.

He observed that it was his deliberate policy of promoting freedom of association that made it possible for those in the opposition to merge and challenge the ruling party.

Lamido believes that strong opposition is good for our democracy. APC should be very grateful to Sule Lamido and his administration. He added that the administration has promoted the right to vote and be voted for and strengthened the sanctity and integrity of democracy by ensuring that votes count.

Lamido pointed out that despite all negative comments against him and his government, there had not been any political prisoner or suspend anybody because he is facing trial in the state also the administration of Lamido had been able to stabilise the state assembly by not interfering with their operations. This, he explained, is his own way of decentralizing power by strengthening institutions rather than making himself or anybody serving under his government a dictator.

Atiku’s philanthropy not inspired by political consideration

Atiku Abubakar

VP Osinbajo

Saraki

– Associate

For example from late 2007 to 2015 Jigawa State accomplished the construction of over 1,200 housing units in the state capital, Malam Aminu Kano Triangle square, state high court complex, Second phase of state secretariat, chief judge, grand kadi, deputy governor, speaker, deputy speaker residences, five Emirs lodges, Dutse ultramodern market, NYSC permanent orientation camp and sport complex, New legislative quarters, illuminated Dual Carrige road traversing the nook and cranny of the state capital.

The state University at Kafin-Hausa, the beautiful airport etc.

SirOscie. says: I believe Atiku means well for Nigerians and will keep giving back to the people even after 2019.

Between Gov. Badaru, Lamido and Jigawa health sector (II) Abubakar Aliyu says: The purpose of human life is to serve, show compassion and the will to help others. It is very rare, thrilling and fascinating to get a leader with this kind of initiative and attributes of pity, love, care, concern, compassion, commitment, dedication, devotion and empathy etc to his people like Sule Lamido. He who cares the situation and bears the challenges and interests of humanity, that man is blessed Thank you Lamido.

Mansur Ahmed Jahun. says: I really pity my beloved state, Jigawa.

Things are going in a reverse gear. From inception of this present administration we are lacking and lagging behind in all works of life and missing good things.

Because of ignoring or not continuing with Sule Lamido’s policies and the application of some unpopular and outdated policies in the state especially the neglect of health sector in the state. Sule Lamido’s uncommon commitment, efficiency, selfless service, love of his people, intensity and approbation of fashionable developmental issues mark him out as a purposeful leader. Thank you Baba, we are with you come rain come sun.

Auwal Muhd says: One good thing about life is the rotation of time. It is popularly said: “A fool does not know the value of his left hand until he loses it”. I really sympathize with the good people of Jigawa for a great lose. Lamido is the one who has Jigawa and its people at heart. A meaningful developer and a great achiever. The best that has ever ruled the state. Without fear of contradiction, his name has been written in gold, shining and glowing. Jigawa people are today victims of circumstances (change). If at all there will be meaningful development, honour must be given to whom it is due..

Umar Danjani says: Sule Lamido touched all spheres of human life ranging from education, health, transportation, rural and infrastructural development to agriculture, economic empowerment, housing and water supply.

Isa Dan-Sidi Kafin-Hausa says: Dr Sule Lamido, a great Leader that contributed immensely to the development of Jigawa State. He left lasting structures, especially free education, free health delivery, youth empowerment, massive road contraction etc.

Emmanual Abraham says: Malam Adamu, I really appreciate your consistent comments and stand on Jigawa and Nigerian politics in general. One thing with politics is that you can win election with propaganda but you can’t run government with it. APC has deceived gullible people on electioneering campaigns now they find it impossible to take people to a Promising Land. . Keep on brother, don’t relent in your effort please. Lamido has proven to be a leader par excellence. He changed Jigawa to a modern locality and a place to be and live. The present governor should borrow a leaf and stop political vendetta. May God help us.

NFF threatens to demote Oliseh over CHAN comments

Onyekachi, M says: “The truth be said, Oliseh is yet to show signs that he is capable of taking the Eagles to the expected heights. We might ask him to work under a technical adviser or resign if he cannot but we can’t risk leaving him to experiment with our dear Super Eagles.”

NFF executives are unversed otherwise they would have known that Oliseh is inexperienced to coach a team like the Super Eagles in the first instance. How could you sack an experienced coach Keshi and replaced him with an inexperienced coach Oliseh? Does that make any sense?

Look! The Super Eagles won’t qualify for the Nations Cup if Oliseh remains the coach. Many of our high-profiled foreign-based players won’t honor Oliseh’s invitation (or even if they do, they won’t play well) simply because Oliseh lacks the pedigree to lead the Super Eagles.

Biographies

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5 - 6, 2016

Page 43

Habib Ben Ali Bourguiba (1903 - 2000)

H

abib Ben Ali Bourguiba was a Tunisian statesman who served as the first President of Tunisia from 1957 to 1987.

Having worked as a lawyer in France in the 1920s, he returned to Tunisia and started being more active in the country’s nationalist movement.

In 1934, when he was 31 years old, he cofounded the Neo Destour that spearheaded the Tunisian movement for independence.

After being arrested and exiled several times by the occupying French protectorate, he decided to both negotiate and put pressure on the Fourth Republic to put forward his nationalist agenda. Following the country’s independence on 20 March 1956, Bourguiba put an end to the monarchy, declared the republic of which he served as first president on 25 July 1957 and then focused on building a modern Tunisian state.

His main priorities upon taking over power included the improvement of the country’s educational system, fighting gender inequality, developing the economy and maintaining a neutral foreign policy, which made him an exception among Arab leaders. However, a cult of personality also developed around him, as he held the title of “Supreme Combatant” and established a twenty-year one-party state. The end of his rule was marked by his declining health, the rise of clientelism and Islamism, which was concluded by his removal from power by his prime minister, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, on 7 November 1987. He was later kept under house arrest in a residence in Monastir, where he remained until his death on 6 April 2000, and was buried in a mausoleum he had previously built there.

Origins and family background Originating in the Ottoman Empire, the Bourguibas are from the nobility class which lived in Istanbul, before leaving the city to reach Sirte in Libya. In 1795, Habib Bourguiba’s great-grandfather, Haj Mohamed Bourguiba El Kebir, left Tripolitania to settle in Tunisia because of the conflicts between Libya and the Ottoman Empire. He moved to Monastir, in the “Tripolitarian neighborhood”, with his family, goods, doctor and slaves.[1] The newcomers integrated easily into the town, with Mohamed’s popularity increasing; he was known as a generous man who helped people in need. In 1805, he had his first son, who was also named Mohamed. When the elder Mohamed died, his son inherited his father’s wealth.

Years later, the Husainid dynasty applied expensive reforms to avoid colonization and established new institutions to compete with Europe. This led to tax increases so the state, indebted, could refund foreign states. In 1864, rebellions erupted as a sign of protest and discontent. The bey responded with strong repression against his people. In this contest, general Ahmed Zarrouk was sent to Monastir to bring back peace. He decided to arrest the notables of the city, including Mohamed Bourguiba and his brother, who were imprisoned in a camp in the west of Monastir. They were finally freed on condition that they renounce all properties, jewels and money. Mohamed’s youngest child, Ali, who was only fourteen, was charged to take the ransom to the general’s base. Zarrouk saw him as a good recruit for the army and decided to enroll him. However, Mohamed Bourguiba died in the same night; Ali then accepted the general’s offer.

In 1880, he ended his military career, ranked as sergeant-in-chief, at the age of 30. The army granted him a pension of 11.25 Francs every three months. In the same year, he married Fattouma Khefacha, daughter of Ahmed Khefacha and Khadouja Mzali. In 1881, while France established its protectorate in Tunisia with the signature of the Bardo Treaty on May 12, Fattouma gave birth to her first child, Mohamed. Five other boys (Ahmed, Muhamed, Mahmoud and Younes, who died at the age of 3 months) and two girls (Nejia and Aïcha) followed. Settled in the Bourguiba family house with Ali’s siblings (Emna and Hassan), living in poor conditions, many familial conflicts erupted between them, their spouses and children.

Ali, whose situation improved by becoming

cheikh of the Tripolitarian neighbourhood and then councilman of the city, decided to move out from his childhood house and settle in a modest home called Dar El Kouij, located on Karrayia Hill. The family lived there for a year before moving into their own house.

Early life and education Bourguiba was officially born on August 3, 1903, although he stated that he was born a year or two before. He was the youngest son of Ali Bourguiba and Fattouma Khefacha, who was 40 years old at the time. He also stated that his mother felt ashamed of bearing a child at that advanced age and his father wondered if he could raise him well. Despite his financial difficulties, Ali Bourguiba dedicated a great deal of attention to his children’s education.

This was criticized by his brother Mohamed who reproached him for giving too much consideration to their instruction. But he succeeded in providing good education for his children with his military pension, which led to their ascent in important jobs.

His first born child, Mohamed, worked in Tunis as a nurse in Sadiki Hospital.

Ahmed and Mohamed worked in the state administration. When Habib was born, his brother, Mahmoud, was pursuing his studies in Sadiki College. In that year, Ali became councilman of Monastir, a job that helped him provide a modern education to Habib.

Habib was raised in a female environment with his sisters, his father being too old and his brothers in Tunis, which helped him notice the inequalities between men and women. He was enrolled in the French-Arabic school of Monastir but his father, concerned by the quality of his son’s education, sent him to Tunis so he could pursue his studies in a prestigious establishment. In 1907, he went to the capital, where he settled with his brother M’hamed, in the médina, affected by the separation with his mother.[6] When he arrives, the capital city is facing important protests against the protectorate. It also saw the emergence of the tunisian nationalism and its movement lead by Ali Bach Hamba.

Bourguiba settles in the wealthy trading neighbourhood of Tourbet el Bey in the médina where his brother is renting a settlement in Korchani street. M’hamed being very busy preparing his Baccalaureate in the Khaldounia School where he is studying, Habib is left with Dhaouia, Muhamed’s servant. This one mistreats Habib, making him her own domestic in his brother’s absence and taking him with her whenver she visits families, selecting young girls to marry M’hamed. Habib is enrolled by his brother in Sadiki College, in 1907, where he is told that his brother is turbulent but studious. There, the main lessons taught are Quran learnings. Members of the beylical family being the only persons allowed to eat lunch at school, Habib has to endure the Ratatouilles of Dhaouia, that do not mitigate his hunger. In 1911, M’hamed’s pregnant wife dies because of cholera, which ends his surveillance and allows to eat one’s fill.

However, Habib spends his summer vacations in Monastir in the company of women who he helps with house chores. At the end of holidays, he goes back to Tunis, living with his brother. Two events have left an important impact on him : Djellaz Cimetery events in 1911 and the death of his mother which occurred in 1913, before he could make her proud of him. In this context, he decides to get serious and involved in his studies and succeeds by earning his Certificat d’études primaires, the same year. Earning this diploma exempts military service under a beylical decree, which relieves his father: Not only does his son avoid military service but he also earns a scholarship and is admitted as an intern in the Sadiki High School.

Higher education in Paris He obtained his Baccalaureate in 1924 and went to the University of Paris to study law and political science. While in Paris, the adult Bourguiba met Mathilde Lorrain, his landlady at that time, whom he married in 1927. The couple had their only son, Habib Bourguiba, Jr. on 9 April 1927.

Early political career The same year Bourguiba graduated with a degree in Law and Political Science,

Bourguiba and returned with his newly formed family to Tunisia where he got immediately involved in political life by joining two newspapers in 1928: l’Étendard Tunisien (The Tunisian Standard) and Sawt AtTunisi (The Tunisian Voice). In 1931, the French colonial authorities prosecuted him for his alleged “Incitement to racial hatred”.

Subsequent to this, Bourguiba launched a militant newspaper L’Action Tunisienne, laying the ground for strong action against the colonial power.

Fighting for independence After the end of World War II, Bourguiba, after many sterile efforts to open a dialogue with the French authorities, came to the conclusion that the Tunisian cause had to be brought to the attention of the world opinion. In March 1945, he left Sfax secretly, on a small fisherman’s boat, heading to Libya, and from there, on foot and on camel’s back, he managed to reach Cairo, which he used as a base for his international activity. He took part in the setting up of the Greater Maghreb Office. He travelled continuously to the different Arab countries, members of the newly born Arab League, Europe, (Switzerland, Belgium), to Asia, (Pakistan, India, Indonesia) and USA to promote the Tunisian aspiration for independence and met with high and influential personalities to help the Tunisian cause. On 8 September 1949, Bourguiba returned to Tunis to reorganise the Party and resume his direct contact policy with the population by visiting small towns and villages throughout the country.

In April 1950, he laid out a seven-point program aiming at ending the system of direct administration in Tunisia and restoring full Tunisian sovereignty as a final step to independent statehood. In 1951, he embarked on a second round of trips to promote his program at the international level. In light of the French Government refusal to concede to national claims, Bourguiba toughened his stance and called for unlimited resistance and general insurrection. This tactic led to his arrest on 18 January 1952 and his confinement in Tabarka, then Remada then in La Galite and finally Groix Island at the Ferte Castle.

Pierre Mendès-France became French Prime Minister in 1954; his positions on France’s colonial policies opened the door to Tunisian home-rule. 1 June 1955 saw the return of Bourguiba. The “Internal Autonomy Agreement” was a big step to total independence. After several arduous negotiations, independence was proclaimed on 20 March 1956, with Habib Bourguiba as President of the National Constituent Assembly, and Head of the Government. At the same time, he acted as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tunisia.

Presidency On 25 July 1957, a republic was proclaimed abolishing the monarchy and vesting Bourguiba with powers of President of the Republic. Bourguiba’s long and powerful presidency was formative for the creation of the Tunisian state and nation. On the debit side, however, his rule was authoritarian. Political democracy in the Western sense was more or less nonexistent. The constitution vested Bourguiba with sweeping—almost dictatorial—powers. Civil liberties were subject to “the limits prescribed by law,” per the constitution. The media were expected to practice self-censorship, and opponents were frequently imprisoned.

Bourguiba became the focus of a modest personality cult in which he was extolled as the “Supreme Warrior” of the nation.

After a failed experiment with socialist economic policies, Bourguiba embarked from the early 1970s on an economically liberal model of development spearheaded by his Prime Minister, Hédi Nouira for a ten-year period. This led to flourishing of private businesses and consolidation of the private sector.

On the international front, Bourguiba took a pro-Western position in the Cold War, but with a fiercely defended independent foreign policy that challenged the leadership of the Arab League by Egyptian President Nasser. In March 1965, he delivered the historical Jericho Speech advocating a fair and lasting peace between Palestinians and Israelis based on the UN 1947 Resolution that proposed two states.

Bourguiba signed an agreement with Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to merge nations in 1974.[16] The pact came as a surprise because Bourguiba had rebuked similar offers for over two years previously.[17]Weeks after the agreement, he postponed a referendum on the issue, effectively ending it weeks later. The idea of merging states was highly unpopular in Tunisia, and cost Bourguiba much of his people’s respect. The agreement was said to allow Bourguiba the presidency while Gaddafi would be defense minister.

In March 1975, the Tunisian National Assembly voted Bourguiba president for life, as an exceptional measure. In the 1980s Bourguiba made efforts to combat both poverty and a rising Islamist opposition, spearheaded by the Nahda party.

In 1979 Tunis became the headquarters of the Arab League after the Camp David Accords and in 1982, it welcomed the Palestine Liberation Organization’s (PLO) leadership in Tunis, after it had been ousted fromBeirut during the Lebanese Civil War. A fall in the price of oil towards the end of 1983 reduced the revenue of the Tunisian state, which was already struggling to meet rising expenses. President Bourguiba agreed to seek a loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The IMF loan was conditional on government spending cuts and other reforms. The government announced an end to food subsidies on 29 December 1983, causing an immediate rise in the price of bread and flour. The Tunisian bread riots started that day in the semi-desert region of Nefzaoua in the south, and on 3 January 1984 a state of emergency was declared after the unrest had spread to Tunis and Sfax. By the time the protests ended on 5 January 1984 more than 150 of the rioters had been killed. President Bourguiba announced on 6 January 1984 that the increase in the price of bread and flour had been cancelled.

On 1 October 1985, Israel launched an attack against the PLO headquarters near Tunis. The Tunisian Armed Forces were unable to prevent the total destruction of the base. Although most of the dead were PLO members, there were casualties among Tunisian civilian bystanders. As a result, Bourguiba significantly downscaled relations with the United States.

Bourguiba had been in ill health from the 1970s onward. As the 1980s wore on, his behavior grew more erratic. He fired the general manager of a major newspaper only 24 hours after appointing him. He also fired the head of the country’s United Nations delegation only a few days after appointing him, and forgot about a decree he had signed to appoint new ministers. Matters came to a head in November 1987, when he ordered new trials for 15 Islamists and demanded that 12 of them be hanged by the next weekend. This latest order convinced several opponents and supporters of Bourguiba that he was no longer acting or thinking rationally; one human rights activist said that if the orders had been carried out, it would have meant civil war. After several doctors attending to Bourguiba issued a report declaring that Bourguiba was mentally incapable of carrying out his duties, Prime Minister Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali, who had been appointed to the post only a month earlier, removed Bourguiba from office and assumed the presidency himself.

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5 - 6, 2016

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Archives Fukushima: Images show how region devastated by tsunami and nuclear disaster is slowly recovering

T

hese haunting images show Japanese cities devastated by the massive earthquake and tsunami that hit the north-east coast in 2011, killing more than 18,000 people.

The disaster left many still unable to return to their homes and triggered a meltdown at Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant in what turned out to be the worst nuclear accident since Cernobyl.

As Japan prepares to mark five years since the tragedy, the pictures provide a priceless testimony to the death and destruction that struck the country.

Natori city, once a thriving farming town home to 74,000 people, was erased off the map by the 10m-high waves, whose catastrophic images reverberated around the world.

Flooded areas, debris and burning houses gave way to emptiness and desolation.

Naraha town, near the Fukushima plant, was evacuated following the disaster that sent the plant’s reactor into triple meltdowns in March 2011.

The town’s 7,400 residents were prevented from going home for four and half years since the accident. Only in October 2015 Japan’s government lifted a ban meaning people from the town could return to their home for the first time since the disaster.

The central government said radiation levels in Naraha have fallen to levels deemed safe following decontamination efforts. About 100,000 people from about 10 munici-

The tsunami-devastated Natori city in Miyagi prefecture seen in these images taken 11 March 2011 (top) and 15 February 2016 (bottom)

palities around the wrecked plant still cannot go home.

After the nuclear disaster, both Japanese and global media struggled to communicate the consequences of damage done at the nuclear plant.

It was reported that three of the plant’s six nuclear reactors went into meltdown and released radioactive materials. The soil and water in the region still contains high levels of radiation which makes the

clean-up effort difficult, according to reports.

A total of 300,000 people evacuated the Fukushima area on the east coast and 15,884 people died due to the earthquake and tsunami.

Clean-up is expected to take decades, and cost more than £18 billion.

An investigation panel deduced the disaster had major elements of being ‘man-made,’ and there was a culture of complacency about nuclear

“ Kesennuma city in Miyagi prefecture seen in these images taken March 12, 2011 (L) and February 16, 2016

Natori city, once a thriving farming town home to 74,000 people, was erased off the map by the 10m-high waves (top), whose catastrophic images reverberated around the world

safety and poor crisis management.

The anniversary comes as three former executives at Fukushima were formally charged with negligence over the 2011 accident.

The trio, who worked at Tokyo Electric Power (Tepco), will be the first to go to a criminal court over the disaster.

A citizens’ judicial review panel ruled last year that Tepco chairman Tsunehisa Katsumata, then-vice-president

Sakae Muto and former vice president Ichiro Takekuro should be put on trial.

Prosecutors had twice refused to press charges against the men, citing insufficient evidence and little chance of conviction.

But the citizens’ panel forced prosecutors to press on with the criminal case under Japanese law.

MAILONLINE

The town’s 7,400 residents were prevented from going home for four and half years since the accident. Only in October 2015 Japan’s government lifted a ban meaning people from the town could return to their home for the first time since the disaster.

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5 - 6, 2016

Page 45

Digest

Trick your mind to eatwell: The more you eat healthy foods, the better they taste

W

henever I’m asked whether a certain food is healthy, I invariably reply: ‘Compared to what?’

For example, are eggs healthy? Compared to oatmeal, definitely not. But compared to sausages next to them on the breakfast plate? Yes. What about potatoes? They’re vegetables, so they must be healthy, right? Compared to French fries, yes. Compared to a baked or mashed sweet potato? No, they’re not.

I realise these may not be satisfying answers, but the only way to answer the question meaningfully is to ask what your other options are. If you’re in a fast-food restaurant, for example, a baked potato may very well be your healthiest option.

I remember a man telling me he would never ‘go plant-based’ because he could not give up his grandma’s chicken soup. Then don’t! I told him enjoying her soup shouldn’t keep him from healthier choices the rest of the time.

The problem with all-ornothing thinking is that it stops people even taking the first steps. The thought of never having pepperoni pizza again somehow turns into an excuse to keep ordering it every week.

Scale it down to once a month or special occasions only. Food on special occasions is insignificant to what you eat day in, day out. A good way to adjust

Pasta with tomato sauce can be tweaked to wholegrain pasta with added vegetables to a healthier diet is to think of three meals you enjoy that are largely plant-based. Pasta with tomato sauce can be tweaked to wholegrain pasta with added vegetables.

Next, think of three meals that could be made healthier, such as switching from beef chilli con carne to five-bean

chilli.

Finally, challenge yourself to discover new healthy options. As you eat more healthily, your palate changes - it’s amazing. Your taste buds constantly adapt: from minute to minute, in fact. If you drank orange juice right now, it would taste sweet.

But if you first ate some sweets

then drank the same juice, it could taste unpleasantly bitter.

Long term, the more you eat healthily, the better healthy foods taste.

I remember my first green smoothie. I was staying with a couple, both doctors, who drank ‘blended salads’ for breakfast.

I loved the idea. Greens, the healthiest food on the planet, in liquid form?

Then I tasted it. It felt like drinking someone’s lawn. I gagged and almost threw up.

You have to build up to green smoothies. Everyone loves fruit

“ As you eat more healthily, your palate changes - it’s amazing. Your taste buds constantly adapt

smoothies: you can add a handful of baby spinach to a fruit smoothie and may hardly even taste it.

Next, try two. Slowly, your taste buds can adapt to more greens.

This happens with all your senses. Walk into a dark room and your eyes slowly adapt.

Stick your foot into a hot bath, and though at first it may be too hot, your body equilibrates to a new normal. Likewise, in a couple of weeks you can be drinking - and enjoying - concoctions that you might consider absolutely wretched today.

MAILONLINE

Differences in sex hormones may explain why women are particularly affected, the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reports.

Page 46

International

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5-6, 2016

India’s ‘gun widows’ on the road to recovery Young widows who have lost husbands to gun violence face financial, legal and social hardships in India’s Manipur.

By Sarita Santoshini

I

mphal, India - On January 21, 2009, Edina Yaikhom bid goodbye to her husband, Anand Ningthoujam, for the last time.

After he left in the morning to go to work, Yaikhom busied herself with household chores.

“In the evening, neighbours started gathering at my house after a local news channel flashed reports of an encounter” between police and members of an armed group, she recalled. “I was worried sick all night, but kept assuring myself that he was fine.”

The next day, the local papers carried a statement by the state police announcing that it had encountered and killed Ningthoujam and another civilian, both of whom they claimed were members of Kanglei Yaol Kanba Lup (KYKL), a rebel group. The men were accused of carrying an AK47 rifle and a hand grenade.

Just one day later, the papers carried a statement by KYKL, clarifying that neither Ningthoujam nor the other man belonged to their group. But by then it was too late.

Four days later, Yaikhom visited the spot where her husband’s body was found, in a village about 40 kilometres away from the state capital, Imphal. She found his scarf hanging from a tree and blood on the ground where his body might have been dragged.

An elderly woman told Yaikhom that she had seen everything.

“She told me that the police got him there in a Jeep. They tied him to a tree and tortured him.

Later, they let him loose … challenged him to run to save himself before firing bullets at his body.

How’s this an encounter, and what had my husband done to deserve this?” she said, weeping.

Awash in guns Manipur, a state in northeastern India, has been the site of armed insurgencies since India’s independence in 1948. According to the Indian federal government, 34 terrorist groups operate in Manipur.

Given the situation, the entire state except for Imphal has been declared to be a disturbed area, and the army has the right to arrest or kill without fear of prosecution under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act of 1958.

Critics say Indian security forces have committed numerous human rights violations under the act.

In 2012, the Extra-Judicial Execution Victim Families Association (EEVFM) - of which Yaikhom is the secretary - filed a lawsuit in the Supreme Court alleging that 1,528 civilians had been killed extra-judicially in India between 1979 and May 2012.

A commission appointed in 2013 to investigate six of these cases issued a report concluding that none were cases of genuine encounters between security forces and alleged members of armed groups. The report pointed out that none of the security forces had suffered injuries, while one of those killed was found with as

Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network has used weaving as a form of psycho-social therapy to help a number of conflict widows deal with loss and trauma as well as support themselves financially [Sarita Santoshini/Al Jazeera] many as 16 bullet wounds.

During court proceedings of the case last December, the government defended the killings by stating that they were part of efforts to combat insurgency, and could not be treated as a law-andorder problem.

However, a chilling confession made in January by a police officer, Thounaojam Herojit Singh, has brought the issue to light again.

In a public statement, Singh - who had won a gallantry award for exemplary courage in the line of duty - confessed to shooting an unarmed man, allegedly a surrendered militant, in broad daylight in Imphal on orders from his superiors.

Meihoubam Rakesh, a lawyer and the director of Human Rights Law Network in Manipur, believes that these killings have paradoxically bolstered the reputation of the security forces.

“The army has been conducting joint operations with police commandos, which included many fake encounters and death of civilians. The police received gallantry awards for these without any probe, and it only encouraged them further,” he claimed.

Binalakshmi Nepram, the founder of Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network (MWGSN), said that many women have been widowed by non-state forces in Manipur, in large part due to easy access to weapons in the state.

“Weapons of more than 13 countries have found their way to the state. The United States might have never heard of Manipur, but its weapons have reached us,” she said.

According to a report issued in January by the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs about northeastern India, there were 3,867 violent incidents in Manipur from 2007-15,

in which 1,205 “extremists” and 486 civilians were killed.

Yet Nepram insists that official figures underestimate the number of people affected by gun violence in Manipur.

“The state government says there are 20,000 registered widows in Manipur who lost their husbands in conflict,” she said.

“But we’ve been working closely with these women for more than a decade, and I know that there are thousands of killings that have gone unreported.”

Killers seldom convicted According to Meihoubam, locals are scared of providing information to media or testifying as a witness in court. “Even in the case of Yaikhom’s husband, his friend had witnessed the police torture and so had an elderly woman, but they denied it in front of the inquiry officer and I couldn’t prove anything,” he said.

In many cases filed by EEVFM, circumstantial evidence has been enough to prove a killing was staged. However, Meihoubam recalls only one case in which the court ordered the prosecution of army members. The defendants, he said, were never convicted.

“Gun widows” such as Yaikhom often face difficult circumstances after their husbands’ death. Some social schemes for widows exist, but the benefits are paltry - and most widows fail to receive even these small sums.

“A large number of these women are young, so they cannot avail the widow pension scheme.

In other cases, after the deceased is killed by state forces and branded as a militant, all schemes are denied to their relatives unless proven otherwise in the court, which takes years or mostly never happens,” Meihoubam explained.

Farida Bibi, 33, is a staff member in MWGSN whose husband

was killed in 2008 in an armed robbery. Bibi said she worked as a day labourer soon after her husband’s death to provide for her three daughters. She did not receive any support from the government. Finally, in 2013, an NGO she was working for directed her to a school in Delhi that accepted her children free of tuition.

Empowerment in the face of adversity Mumtaz Begum was devastated when her husband, renowned professor Azad Khan Shekhar, was killed in an encounter in 2009 and alleged to be a member of an Islamist militant group.

She was left alone to provide for her five children, the youngest of whom was only two years old.

“I found out that my husband had been threatened to give the militant group about $1,500 a few months ago. I reached out to ask them to return the money so I could feed my kids, but they blackmailed me. They asked me to carry out illegal activities for them if I wanted my money back, failing which they threatened to instigate the community against me and have me killed,” she recalled, breaking into tears.

Begum did not give into their demands, and today she works as a community mobiliser for MWGSN, helping other widows deal with trauma, encouraging them to work, and informing them about their rights.

According to Reena Mutum, a coordinator at MWGSN, the network includes more than 5,000 women, including gun widows and other vulnerable women affected by conflict.

“In a state that has been facing ethnic conflicts for decades, we have women from all tribes and communities coming together and supporting each other. I see this as a great step towards peace

building,” Mutum said.

Mutum and Nepram started by opening bank accounts for widows and provided them with a few thousand Indian rupees to buy yarn for weaving or seeds for a vegetable farm, so they could support themselves. Over the years their projects have increased, and the government recently provided them with 50 looms, helping more women to engage in commercial weaving through their organisation.

“We simply wanted them to know that they aren’t alone, and also remain involved so it keeps their mind off trauma. We realised much later that what we were doing was actually a form of psycho-social therapy,” Mutum explained.

Yaikhom, whose traumatic experience had left her partially paralysed for a year, said she found support and courage as a part of EEVFM. The organisation has about 100 active members who meet once every two weeks and donate small amounts of money, used to provide interestfree loans to widows or mothers of men killed by either state forces or militants.

“I’ve travelled across the country to attend sessions on counselling, trauma-training and human rights awareness along with a few other members. We come back and teach the others what we learned,” said Yaikhom.

Today, Begum, Yaikhom and Bibi are empowered women who are not reluctant to share what they have been through, crying freely when memories pain them.

“We’re doing everything for our children,” Begum said. “We hope at least they grow up to see a better, less militarised Manipur.”

Source: Al Jazeera

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5-6, 2016

Page 47

Business

Development Planning and Project Continuity Bill 2011: A mixture of enduring legacies and excellent promises

By Sunday Onyemaechi Eze

A

ll over the world, government is a continuum. Ideally, once the baton of leadership of a nation is handed over to a new government, the onus lie on the regime to embrace the projects, policies and programmes of the previous administration without recourse to any personal, party or primordial interests. However, one major identifiable draw-back to social, economic and infrastructural development in Nigeria is lack of continuity of policies and programmes of government at the federal, state and local levels. State resources are poorly managed, majorly siphoned or frittered as political leaders often embark on white elephant projects that cannot endure the test of time at the twilight of their tenures.

This unfortunate tradition has badly characterised governance and induced corruption since 1999. As at June, 2011, the Presidential Projects Assessment Committee led by Architect Ibrahim Bunu, a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory had reported that there are 11,886 abandoned federal and state government projects dotting the nooks and crannies of Nigeria which will require N7.78 trillion to complete. The committee revealed that political and personal considerations outweighed national interest in the award of contracts. Majority of the contracts the committee said were procurement-driven rather than development driven. With this ugly political trend and ridiculous disposition of politicians, the nation is utterly consigned to retrogression if not urgently checked.

Vision 20:2020 initiated by late General Sani Abacha said to be one of the best of Nigeria’s developmental plans had already identified interruption of development plans, programmes and projects as part of the bane of effective budgeting and development in Nigeria. The Vision considering the number of abandoned projects within the three tiers of government, proposed a legal framework that will guarantee continuity of projects even if there is a change in government.

The proposed Development Planning and Project Continuity Bill, 2011 sent to the 7th Senate which stands to permanently remedy this man-made problematic situation is an off-shoot of Vision 20:2020. With this act of the parliament, the culture of initiating new or duplicating projects, programmes and policies by every government while those embarked upon by previous administrations are pending is permanently laid to rest.

This bill provides sure remedy to the overt lack of seamless developmental plan for the nation.

Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola on tour of projects in North It rises above primordial sentiments and stands to quarantine any regional neglect or political vendetta. The proposed bill professes enduring legacies and showcases excellent promises to Nigerians.

First, section four of it states that it shall be unlawful for a government of the Federation to have an abandoned project in any part of Nigeria. Second, it calls for the establishment of a registry of projects for all ongoing and completed projects detailing the location, cost and purpose of each project and means of identification, the project commencement date and the agreed or projected date of completion.

Third, the register should also include information on budgetary and funding sources of the project; the contractor incharge of the project; amounts, disbursed and expended on the project; the estimated amount required for completion; and any other information or details per-

“

taining to the implementation of the project. Section three makes formulation of development plan compulsory for all the three tiers of government in Nigeria.

Why have we habituated too long on this mount? According to Eze Onyekpere, Lead Director Centre for Social Justice, “the major underlying reason is that power has been entrusted to elected and appointed officials and career civil servants without a commensurate duty to be accountable to citizens. The thinking, sadly, is that the credit and the glory will go to the previous administration if the new one continues with the projects they initiated. But governance is a continuous exercise and two administrations are bound to take credit for initiating, continuing and completing large-scale projects. In the process of initiating new projects, too many activities are inserted in the budget year after year with very little resources to implement them. There are

perverse incentives for public officials to abandon projects started by their predecessors.

In essence, public officials deem and know that the kickbacks and bribes in old and ongoing projects have already been collected by the preceding public officials and as such, there is not much to personally gain in continued implementation of old projects. The alternative is to upwardly review the cost of an ongoing contract for the new men to get “a piece of the action”. But this may raise suspicion from the discerning public. Therefore, their best option is to design a new project (notwithstanding that it has no bearing on the welfare of citizens or growth of the economy) and get kickbacks from the exercise.”

The apparent lack of political ideology and patriotism driving parties and individuals is one low democratic spot in Nigeria.

Politics is played with manifest bitterness. It is a do or die affair!

Most Nigerian leaders are egois-

The apparent lack of political ideology and patriotism driving parties and individuals is one low democratic spot in Nigeria. Politics is played with manifest bitterness. It is a do or die affair!

tic and power drunk. They take little or no advice from anyone.

Parties and politicians alike see governance as an elitist question, a national cake to be shared among friends and relations devoid of service to humanity.

Continuity in government induces seamless and even societal development.

Developmental strides or legacies of government should not be seen as a personal achievement of individuals at the helm of state affairs. Rather as services occasioned and provided by virtue of the positions occupied by those who initiated them for the benefit of the nation and not one meant for accolades or a pat on their backs for a job well done. Government should take advantage of the excellent promises this bill offers and join hands with other well-meaning Nigerians to begin a robust engagement with the National Assembly to ensure that it is revisited and passed before the end of this administration. Therefore, we must all rise to bring to the consciousness of National Assembly the import of that bill and the disservice they are doing to the nation for not passing it. A bill of immense societal benefit like this one should not be allowed to die a natural death. This is a clarion call to the 8th Senate to revisit that proposed bill and give it the accelerated hearing and passage it deserves for the good of our nation-Nigeria.

Source: WorldStage

PAGE 48

Business

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5-6, 2016

PENGASSAN, NUPENG reject unbundling of NNPC

T

wo major unions in the oil and gas sector on Friday rejected plans to unbundle the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) into 30 companies.

The unions are the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).

The Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe kachikwu, had on Wednesday said that NNPC would be unbundled into 30 competitive revenue-generating subsidiaries in the coming week.

According to Kachikwu, the plan which would be concluded within the next seven days, would reposition the

corporation to accrue profits and stability in the sector.

The PENGASSAN’s Spokesman, Mr Emmanuel Ojugbana, while reacting to the development, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the union was not in support of the split.

According to him, if such a decision or plan should be taken, the two unions in the sector were supposed to be carried along.

Ojugbana said that the Act establishing the NNPC must be repealed before the company could be unbundled.

He said that the union was not carried along in the decision to unbundle the company into 30 sub-sectors, adding that PENGASSAN was holding a meeting to take

action on the issue.

Similarly, , the NUPENG’s President, Mr Igwe Achese, said that the government needed a law to repeal the existing Act which established the NNPC to institute the changes.

Achese said that the union would not accept the decision without knowing how the manpower that would operate in the 30 companies would be managed. ``We will resist the move to unbundle the company because we see it as an attempt to cause industrial crisis. ``Our fear is that the NNPC can start disengaging workers as a result of this plan,’’ the union leader said.

He, therefore, called for a stakeholders’ meeting that would involve NUPENG and PENGASSAN. (NAN)

NBCC urges OPS to execute policy blueprints to promote economic growth

T

he Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) has stressed the need for the organised private sector (OPS) to ensure that policy blueprints were executed in the country.

Mr Dapo Adelegan, President of the chamber, said this at a media parley organised by the chamber on Friday in Lagos.

He said that the organised private sector must move beyond presenting policy documents direction to government, but should ensure the plans were executed.

Adelegan also said that the organised private sector should also evaluate the impact of policies on the economy.

“We have allowed only people in government to battle with the challenges of policy issues.

“We have to stay back and ensure that inputs presented to the government are followed through for economic growth,” he said.

He said the chamber had been repositioned to meet the changing demands of the country by involving its members in specific sectors that would galvanise them into increased productivity.

Adelegan listed sectors created within the chamber as the Oil and Gas Trade Group, Export Nigeria Club, Professional Service Group, Media and Creative Group and Construction and Real Estate Group.

He said the sectors would provide platforms for members who were experts in the various sectors to engage and promote their businesses.

Adelegan said that the chamber would make concerted efforts to boost the non-oil export products for increased foreign exchange earnings.

According to him, the exports from Nigeria to Britain fell from eight billion dollars in 2014 to seven billion dollars in 2015.

He said the chamber would drive non-oil exports through its support for the small and medium enterprises in the export group to thrive.

Adelegan said that reforms and structures were critical to industry survival in view of the current economic challenges in the country.

(NAN)

L—R;President /CEO General Electric Group Nigeria Dr Lazarus Angbazo, Chairman /CEO General Electric Group,Mr Jeffrey Immet Vice President Yemi Osinbajo ,President Mahammadu Buhari, President General Electric Group Africa Dr Jay Ireland ,Global Leader Mrs Susan Peters, Chief of Staff to the President Alhaji Abba Kyari, Minister of Transportation Mr Rotimi Amaechi and Others During the Meeting of General Electric Group, with President, yesterday at the Presidential Villa Abuja.

Interbank lending rate up on cash shortage

By Mohammed Usman with agency report

O

vernight interbank lending rate rose week-on-week to an average of 3.5 percent on Friday, up from 1 percent last week, after Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN)sales of treasury bills and deposits for dollar purchases drained liquidity in the banking system.

Nigeria raised 329.93 billion naira ($1.66 billion) worth of three-month to one-year treasury bills at an auction on Wednesday with higher returns than in its previous auction.

The CBN also directed commercial lenders on Tuesday to pay for their dollar purchases 48 hours in advance

of its Thursday intervention in the official interbank forex market. This step also drained cash from the system and led to a hike in the cost of borrowing among banks.

The CBN usually intervenes once a week in the official interbank foreign exchange market to provide dollars for eligible importers, while it requires commercial lenders to fund its naira account 48 hours ahead of the intervention.

Traders said the central bank offered 50 billion naira in open market operation (OMO) treasury bills on Friday, but the result of the auction was yet to be released.

The total commercial lenders’ credit balance with the CBN stood at

439 billion naira on Thursday compared with 591.76 billion naira last Friday.

Traders said banking system liquidity was expected to decrease further after additional cash outflows to OMO bill purchases and cash reserves requirements are debited from commercial lenders’ accounts.

“The cost of borrowing is expected to spike further on Monday if the CBN sells more treasury bills than it offered at the OMO auction today (Friday) and the CRR debit is reflected in the banking system debt balance,” one trader said.

The interbank rate reflects the level of naira cash liquidity in the banking system.

Crude price edges towards $38 per barrel ahead of U.S. data

C

rude oil futures edged up on Friday as traders and analysts eyed U.S. jobs data which could give further momentum to rising prices.

Brent futures rose 19 cents to 37.26 dollars a barrel after settling 14 cents higher in the previous session.

The crude benchmark is set to end the week with a gain of more than five per cent, according to analysts.

U.S. crude futures traded up 13 cents to 34.70 dollars a barrel having settled down nine cents in the previous session.

While U.S. crude inventories rose to a new record of 517.98 million barrels last week, output fell for a sixth straight week to 9.08 million barrels a day, according to the U.S. government’s Energy Information Administration.

Cuts in U.S. production are providing price support, but investors are also waiting for U.S. economic data later on Friday to give further direction.

“A lot of traders are keeping their powder dry in front of non-farm payroll data - it’s the No.1 (indicator) in terms of crude consumers,” said Ben Le Brun, market analyst at Sydney’s OptionsXpress.

“Investors are a little more confident we’ve seen a bottom in oil (prices),” he added.

Le Brun is forecasting oil prices will hover around $40 by the middle of this year.

Positive numbers for February payrolls and U.S. jobs data, both due on Friday, could give impetus for a further recovery in oil prices, analysts said.

“If we get a decent number this should also improve the demand outlook for the U.S. still the largest oil consumer in the world,” Commerzbank analyst Carsten Fritsch said.

Rising oil prices are helping steer Asian shares toward their strongest week in five months, as global investors returned to riskier assets after a string of positive U.S. economic data.

Meetings between oil producers are expected to take place in March to discuss potential coordinated action although no decision on the date or venue of a possible meeting has been made. (Reuters/NAN)

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5 - 6, 2016

Page 49

Oddities

Woman blows £130k on plastic surgery to look like holiday caricature drawing

S

trolling down a promenade, enjoying her holiday in sunny Spain, Krystina Butel did what lots of tourists do and stopped when she saw a local artist drawing funny caricatures.

Intrigued, she paid him to draw hers, too. But little did she know that this spur-of-themoment drawing, which only took 10 minutes, would change her life forever and that she would splash £130,000 on plastic surgery to look just like the finished artwork.

“The woman in the picture was so glamorous,” says Krystina, from Wakefield, West Yorkshire.

“She was everything I wanted to be.” So Krystina’s spent the

past 15 years in pursuit of this perfection…

Her interest in her looks began at 14 when she got a job at a local hairdresser, modelling various styles for customers.

“But I’d never considered plastic surgery or anything like that,” explained Krystina, now 31.

“I was still finding myself at that age.” When she turned 15, Krystina went on holiday to Ibiza with an older friend and her two children. She had no idea how fateful the two-week relaxing break would prove to be. It was towards the end of the holiday, while walking through Ibiza Town, that Krystina got her

Woman proposes to boyfriend with steak, onion ring

D

uring a leap year it is tradition for women to propose to their partners on February 29, reversing social norms.

One woman from Southcote did just that, but she said it with a steak.

Joleen Williams, 37, proposed to 55-year-old Duncan Schofield with a steak branded with the message: “Will you marry me?”

Jo popped the question to her partner of one year at her local Beefeater restaurant, taking advantage of their ‘M-engagement’ proposal

package.

Duncan was presented with a 10oz steak with the branded message, along with ‘crispfetti’ instead of confetti, an onion ring (in place of a diamond ring, obviously), two bottles of beer and a ‘man-sized’ box of tissues.

Another lady who took advantage of the leap year was 35-year-old Hayley Toone, from Derbyshire, who proposed to her boyfriend, Tony, following an afternoon tea in a hotel.

Hayley enlisted the help of a 30-strong choir to sing Tony’s favourite Beatles tracks before

caricature drawn.

“My friend and I were strolling down a busy street and this old man was sitting there drawing people. He shouted over to ask if we wanted to get ours done and we agreed. I figured it would be a nice souvenir of my holiday.

I didn’t expect it to be so lifechanging.”

The drawing took just 10 minutes and when the artist turned the easel round to show Krystina, she was over the moon.

“When I saw the caricature for the first time, that was it,” she remembered. “I was so happy.

It was as if finally I knew exactly what I wanted to be. I wanted

to look like that cartoon. I felt envious of it. He’d done quite an ordinary portrait of my friend, but for some reason, he had gone to town with mine.

“I was wearing a dress at the time – so I didn’t expect him to draw me topless! I adored how over-the-top she looked and how done-up she was. I loved her massive boobs and tiny waist.

“I loved her eyes, hair and lips too. It was as if the artist had seen the potential in me; he showed me what I could be if I pushed myself to the limit. The caricature led me in the direction that I wanted to go down.”

When she got back to her hotel that night, Krystina couldn’t stop thinking about the drawing.

“From that moment onwards, I knew that caricature was my goal. At the time, it seemed so unachievable and I didn’t know how to go about it. I was only 15 and I didn’t have the knowledge or funds to become her. I wanted to look like her immediately, but I knew my transformation wasn’t going to be an overnight thing. It would take a lot of work.”

When Krystina came home from her holiday, she started wearing more make-up, and she used sunbeds regularly to keep up her tanned appearance.

“I also worked harder so I could earn enough money to afford a breast augmentation,” Krystina added.

In 2001, aged 17, Krystina opened her own hairdressing salon. That same year, she had her first surgical procedure to alter her body, undergoing a £3,600 boob job to take her from an already ample 32DD to a 34FF,

using money she’d earned.

“I remember waking up in the hospital and being so happy.

I loved the way my boobs stuck up and looked more like hers. By the time I was discharged, I was already planning my second one.”

Just two years later, she got a second £4,000 boob job, taking her to a 36GG. She would go on to have another three breast augmentations, costing more than £16,000, to get her to her current 36K bra size.

From her early twenties, Krystina began having lip injections and Botox every six months, spending £550 a time, so she could emulate her caricature’s gigantic lips and taut face.

She also regularly undergoes teeth-whitening, semi-permanent make-up tattooing, eyelash and hair extensions in addition to using sunbeds. In total, she has splurged a staggering £133,900 to become the mirror image of her beloved caricature.

“The surgery is definitely addictive, I get a buzz from it,” says Krystina, who is currently single after recently splitting up from her last partner.

“I know I am going to wake up afterwards and see something new in my body. For me, it is about getting closer to my dream.

As my funds have got bigger, I have spent more and more on cosmetic work. With every surgery, my appearance has got more exaggerated and I have gone for the caricature look fully.”

Krystina claimed that the artwork – which hangs proudly in her living room – inspires her to get more work done.

Page 50

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5 - 6, 2016

Healthy Living

How to prevent STDs A

sexually transmitted disease (STD) is an infection that is spread during sexual contact with another person. This includes touching, since some STDs can be spread from skin-to-skin contact.

In general, STDs are highly preventable. A large number of infections can be avoided if people make positive decisions about their sexual health. The only guaranteed method to prevent STDs is to abstain from all sexual contact.

This may not a practical solution for everyone. Fortunately, there are steps people can take to limit their risk of exposure.

Protect yourself before sex Effective STD prevention begins before any clothing comes off. There are some things you can do to reduce your risks and they include: Limiting your number of sexual partners, talking honestly with potential partners about your sexual history, getting tested along with your partner before having sex, avoiding sex when under the influence of alcohol or drugs and getting vaccinated against the

Practice safe sex

human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis B (HBV).

Many people mistakenly think they would know if they or their partner have an STD. This isn’t always true, because not everyone with STD knows they are infected.

That is why it is important to get tested before you have sex with a new partner. If you have been diagnosed with an STD, it is important to tell your partner. That way you can both make informed decisions about risks. You should also explicitly ask your partner if they have (or have had) a STD. Honesty about STD diagnoses are important. An STD diagnosis is not always a deal breaker, however, being lied to can ruin a relationship.

It is always a good idea to practice safe sex. This is true even if you have both been tested. Testing is not always accurate. Even in the presence of infection, some tests can take a while to turn positive. In addition to testing and practicing safe sex, be aware of the symptoms of various STDs. Many people can have an STD without having any

symptom. However, unexplained symptoms are a good reason to refrain from having sex until you or your partner has been tested.

What is safer sex?

Having safer sex means using a latex or polyurethane barrier for all forms of sex. This can include: using a male or female condom for intercourse, using condoms or dental dams for oral sex and using gloves for manual penetration.

You should also wash with soap and water after sex. This can help remove any infectious material that is on your skin.

Limits to safer sex Condoms and other barriers are very good at preventing the exchange of infected bodily fluids.

They can also help minimise skinto-skin contact. This reduces the transmission of diseases that spread from skin to skin. However, it doesn’t prevent transmission entirely. STDs that spread through skin-to-skin contact include: syphilis, herpes and HPV. There is a common misconception that if you have had unprotected sex once, it is too late to practice safe sex. That is not true. STDs are not necessarily transmitted every time you have sex.

When using condoms and other barriers for safe sex, it is important to follow the instructions on the box. Using condoms correctly makes them more effective. Some safety considerations include: checking the expiration date, making sure the package has an air bubble, which shows it has not been punctured, putting the condom on correctly, always leaving room at the tip, unrolling the condom onto the penis, not before it goes on, using condom-safe lubricant during intercourse, holding onto the condom when withdrawing after sex, so that it doesn’t slip off, disposing it properly, never take it off and try to put it on again and

Get tested regularly never reuse a condom.

Though STDs are common, there are ways to reduce your risk and make sex safer. If you are unsure about the right method for you, talk with your partner or your

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doctor. Being honest about your sexual practices with your doctor can help them assist you in risk reduction methods. Safer sex is for everyone, because everyone who is sexually active is at risk.

Though STDs are common, there are ways to reduce your risk and make sex safer. If you are unsure about the right method for you, talk with your partner or your doctor.

Health benefits of Vitamin E V

Vitamin E capsule and oil

itamin E is the generic name for ‘tocopherol’ and is available in four different forms. It is a fat soluble antioxidant which can be obtained only as a food supplement. The most widely known health benefits of vitamin E are protection against toxins such as air pollution, premenstrual syndrome, eye disorders such as cataracts, neurological diseases such as Alzheimer and diabetes.

The health benefits of vitamin E come from its antioxidant properties.

Antioxidants remove free radicals, the unstable compounds that damage cell structure. Immunity levels improve when vitamin E is consumed. Another important benefit is that it reduces cholesterol and the risk of developing cancer.

It thins the blood which is another significant health benefit. In other words, it prevents the blood platelets from clumping. High levels of vitamin E reduce the risk of sunstroke and

coronary artery disorder or heart disease. Another widely known health benefit of vitamin E is in skin and hair care. Owing to its antioxidant properties, it promotes the circulation of blood to the scalp. Vitamin E helps alleviate fatigue and strengthen capillary walls, while nourishing the cells.

Pure vitamin E oil is extremely versatile. A major benefit for the skin is that it helps the healing process, as it is absorbed by the epidermis layer of the skin, it can be used for treating sunburn or protecting you from the sun.

Another wonderful benefit of vitamin E oil is that it can be used to treat scars, acne and wrinkles because it speeds up cell regeneration. This creates an antiaging effect which makes the skin look younger. Vitamin E oil benefits the skin by helping it retain its natural moisture content. It makes dull-looking, dry skin look healthier and fresher. You can apply a few drops to your nails and cuticles which is an effective way of treating the skin.

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5 - 6, 2016

Take up your Cross! (I) “

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hen He said to them all, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it” (Luke 9:23-24, NKJV).

There’s an unbalanced presentation of the Gospel of Christ today that has led to influx of people to churches but not many true followers of Christ. People are coming to Jesus so as to find solutions to their problems – health, financial, marital, career, etc – they’re in search of miracles. If they come to Jesus, all their problems will be solved! And who doesn’t want to have all his problems disappear. And it’s true Jesus is the solution to the problems of man. That’s why Jesus went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil. (Acts 10:38) But these days, if the solution people are looking for is not forthcoming as quickly as they want it, they move from one church to the other or even leave church entirely to try other remedies.

The commitment of many Christians to Jesus in our days is very low or nil.

Jesus is just one of the alternative ways of solving their problems. But Jesus says, “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat – I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I will show you how”(Luke 9:23, TM).

The emphasis today is not that people who come to Jesus should deny themselves, take up their cross daily and follow Jesus. We’ve presented to them a Christianity of absolute convenience, comfort, paradise on earth. This is certainly another Gospel, not the Gospel of Christ. We need not sweet-talk people to come to Christ though Jesus does solve problems in the lives of people when they come to him.

Nehemiah 2:1-20

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od expects us to be attentive, retentive and responsive when we read or hear His word. With the prevailing conflict, corruption, evil and the lost glory in our nation today, there seems to be no hope of solution in sight. This was once the experience of the children of Israel and Judea.

There was no hope of redemption for them until Nehemiah rose up to the challenge. In order to fulfil this mission, he had to pay the price by giving up his prestigious job. Our ministry, work, position in God’s kingdom as agents of change and reformers is not cheap.

There is a price to pay. Believers who are ready to lay all on the altar are the people that can become agents of change. There is no position without a price. Does your ministry cost you time, further education, extramural studies, promotion; progress in your profession, movement or change? Bible characters like Moses, Nehemiah, Peter, Matthew etc., were willing to follow the Lord and do whatever He wanted them to do. We need to be consecrated and devoted believers, like Nehemiah, to bring back the lost glory in our nation. To experience the power of God and do exploits for Him, we must be detached from earthly things and surrender our lives completely to Him. Whatever labour of love we do for God will be rewarded now and in eternity, if we remain faithful to Him. 1.

ANSWERED PRAYER CONCERNING HIS GREAT COMMISSION Nehemiah 2:1-4; Proverbs 21:1; Nehemiah 2:5,6; 6:15; 5:14; 2:7,8; Proverbs 15:13; 13:23; 15:28; 16:1-3; Philippians 4:6; Isaiah 65:24.

Nehemiah’s fasting and prayer granted him uncommon favour

People who come to Christ should not come with the mindset of just collecting gifts and no commitment to the giver. That’s a selfish reason to come to Christ, and many in churches today are guilty of this. Their interest is not in the person of Christ and obedience to his word but in what they can ‘make’ through him. Bible teaching sessions are not as well attended as anointing services! The most attended church programmes are the ones that promise miracles.

It is true Jesus says, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt 11:28, NKJV). But contextually which labour and heavy laden or burden was Jesus talking about? I believe he was talking about the grievous, burdensome legalistic system of the Pharisees, the burden of religious duties placed on the Jews by their religious leaders (Matt 23:4, Acts 15:10). So Jesus was promising them rest from this burdensome load; he wasn’t promising a life devoid of problems or challenges which many Christians are looking for.

And I’m not saying Jesus doesn’t deliver us from problems when we accept him into our lives. He does deliver us from the yoke of satan but that should not be the major reason for believing in Jesus and following him. He said, “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness” (John 10:10, NLT).

But we can’t have and enjoy life in all its fullness – abundant life – unless we receive and follow his teachings and commandment.

If you even take a look at verses 29-30 of Matt 11, you’ll see that Jesus replaced the burdensome yoke and burden of the religious system with his own yoke: “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My

burden is light” (NKJV). His easy yoke and light burden refer to obedience to his commandment and commitment to following him. Believers in Jesus must bend their necks to his yoke and carry his burden no matter the life challenges they face. “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.

And His commandments are not burdensome” (1John 5:2-3, NKJV).

Professional soldiers fight war; they don’t run away from war. And every Christian is supposed to be a soldier of Christ as a member of the Lord’s army because there is war to fight. It’s wrong to think that the army of Christ consists only of those occupying leadership positions in the church. There ought not to be any spectator in the church of Jesus; we all should be participants if we’re not concerned alone about our personal problems or comfort. Paul says, “Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus” (2 Tim 2:3, NLT). That’s clear enough. He didn’t say pray that you won’t have to suffer. There will be times of suffering, and when such suffering comes, endure it. Soldiers know this, and don’t complain; they know suffering is temporary. That should be our mindset. We must not allow our lives and the work of the Kingdom to come to a standstill or suffer because of our cross. We should carry our cross daily and follow him doing his will, serving him faithfully and cheerfully.

We must be careful not to approach with a civilian mentality the war God has called us to fight. “And as Christ’s soldier, do not let yourself become tied up in the affairs of this life, for then you cannot satisfy the one who has enlisted you in his army. Follow the Lord’s rules for doing his work, just as an athlete either follows the rules or is disqualified and wins no prize” (2 Tim 2:4-5, NLT).

How do we know the rules to follow in doing his work? It is as we come to

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From the Pulpit green pastures

By Pastor T. O. Banso

cedarministryintl@yahoo.com GSM: 08033113523 him to learn from him as we have read in Matt 11:29. We must carry our cross daily and fight the war the army we’ve been enlisted into is involved in rather than hoping for some permanent comfort zone. Eph 6:10-18 says, “A final word: Be strong with the Lord’s mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies and tricks of the Devil.

For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms. Use every piece of God’s armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the sturdy belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.

For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News, so that you will be fully prepared. In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan.

Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray at all times and on every occasion in the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all Christians everywhere” (NLT).

We must forcefully advance the Kingdom of God not allowing our personal problems or challenges deter us. Jesus said, “And from the time

John the Baptist began preaching and baptizing until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people attack it” (Matt 11:12, NLT). Carry your cross daily and fight on the Lord’s side. Don’t just be a consumer; be a contributor. Be part of this army; don’t just be a miracle seeker.

I’ll stop here today, and conclude this message next week. You’re blessed in Jesus’ name.

TAKE ACTION! If you’re not born again, kindly say this prayer now: “0 Lord God, I come unto you today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and resurrected the third day. I confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour and surrender my life to him today. I invite Jesus into my heart today. By this prayer, I know I am saved.

Thank you Jesus for saving me and making me a child of God.” I believe you’ve said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible believing, Bible teaching church in your area where you will be taught how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I’ll be glad to hear from you. May the Lord be with you.

Prompt response to his high and heavenly calling before the king and other people.

His commission was to go back to Jerusalem to rebuild its broken walls and restore its lost glory. And he responded very promptly. Our great commission today is to preach the gospel to every creature. To accomplish the task, we must allow the fear of God in our hearts to be greater than the fear we have for men.

We must be willing, like Nehemiah, to build the wall of security, salvation, holiness and spirituality around God’s people. The task of preaching the gospel must not be done on short-term basis. We must give it enough time while depending on God. Nehemiah was faithful in accomplishing the task of rebuilding the wall. Hence, the Lord gave him a bigger responsibility: he was appointed to be their governor.

Believers who have vision, passion and conviction are always worried about the state of sinners around them.

Their dreams will affect their lives, soul, spirit and comportment. While carrying out the great commission, we must refuse the tendency to be overconfident.

Unlike Nehemiah, many believers today think in fear; they cross the bridge before they get to the bridge.

They are afraid of opposition in doing God’s work. When we concentrate on the threats of the enemies, we cannot get the task of the great commission done. We should rather look on to Jesus the Author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross and despised the shame. Nehemiah focused his attention on the work he set out to do, not on his detractors. As a result, he had no need to worry. When we pray

By Pastor W.F Kumuyi according to God’s will, He will answer and make us prosper in the work He has committed in our hands.

2.

ADEQUATE PREPARATION BEFORE A GUIDED COMMENCEMENT Nehemiah 2:9-16; Matthew 10:16; John 15:18-20; 2 Timothy 3:1214; 1 Corinthians 16:9; 15:58.

There is need for adequate preparation, like Nehemiah did, before we set out to do God’s work. This is because Satan is not pleased when we seek the salvation of sinners in our communities. Therefore, he uses human agents like Tobiah, Sanballat and Geshem to try to stop us. The will of God is not devoid of challenges and oppositions. We must take cognizance of the difficulties and persecutions that the devil stir up against us and use them as stepping stones to achieve God’s will. Many people shy away from God’s work because of oppositions.

But with God on our side, we shall overcome anything that tries to hinder us from doing God’s will. Like Nehemiah, we should always make

ourselves available for God’s work when the need arises.

Carelessness on the part of the believer will make him reveal his vision to those who will kill it. For Nehemiah, he kept his mouth shut until the appointed time. He had to study the people to know those who are enemies before he revealed his mission. We must be wise not to reveal our intention to those who will kill it. The world will hate us because we testify against their corrupt practices and evil deeds.

They will not appreciate us when we come to them with the message of righteousness, justice, integrity and holiness. Their persecution or hatred for the Word should not make us conform to their will. We must understand that holiness goes hand in hand with persecution and opposition.

If we wait for better conditions and opportunities, we may never serve the Lord because adversaries of the gospel shall wax worse and worse. And since our work will be rewarded, we should not be afraid.

3. ACTIVE PARTICIPATION DESPITE GODLESS CONFLICT

Nehemiah 2:17; Proverbs 29:11; Nehemiah 2:18.

Many so-called believers in our contemporary times do not read their Bibles, listen to Christ, the Holy Spirit and the Almighty God. All that influences their character and actions are stories from the media. The wisdom of the world that makes us shy away from preaching the gospel will minimise Calvary, the work of Christ and Redemption. We must be active, passionate and zealous in preaching the gospel to the world of dying men.

The fool is the one that talks when he should keep quiet; he is the one that keeps quiet when he should speak out.

A fool speaks so quickly or he never speaks at all. The wise speaks at the right time to the right people for the right reason and for the right purpose.

Like Nehemiah, they are wise in recognising those who are friendly foes and know how to relate with them.

Each letter in the word ‘FOOL’ stands for F –forgetful, O – overconfident, O – overzealous, L – leader. A fool forgets all he has learnt from the Scripture about Ahab, Jezebel, Achan, Judas Iscariot etc. Nehemiah was a wise man who waited and watched carefully until the right time before he set out on his mission. Each letter in the word ‘WISE’ stands for W – watchful, I – influential, S – spiritual, E – elder. We must be determined, like Nehemiah, to join hands together with faithful believers to build for God with our hearts, skills, talents and wealth. We must rise and build for God’s kingdom; and for the restoration of the lost glory in our society.

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S p or T

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5-6, 2016

Title chase spice up Spurs-Arsenal tie Pg 55

Siasia picks uncapped Adi, Player’s welfare should be major Aminu for Egypt crackers Pg 53 priority for NPFL clubs —Jimoh Pg 53

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5-6, 2016

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Sports Leon Balogun missing from Super Eagles squad

Leon Balogun (R)

Siasia picks uncapped Adi, Aminu for Egypt crackers

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igeria caretaker coach Samson Siasia has picked uncapped Fanendo Adi, Umar Aminu and Stanley Amuzie, while Victor Moses and Aaron Samuel have been recalled for this month’s AFCON qualifiers against Egypt.

The 42-man squad has 22 players from the domestic league with 20 pros from abroad.

Adi, 25, fired 19 goals last season for Portland Timbers to clinch a first-ever MLS championship, while Aminu has been in superlative form for Turkish Super League club Osmanlispor and Portugal-based defender Amuzie has bounced back after a long-term knee injury he suffered early last year on duty with the Nigeria U23s.

Nigeria takes on Egypt on March 25 in Kaduna with the return leg in

Alexandria four days later.

Chelsea loanee Victor Moses is staging a return to the Super Eagles after more than a year away.

Striker Aaron Samuel, who recently joined Russian club CSKA Moscow on loan from China, has also been recalled.

The squad have several players who have worked with Siasia in the U23 team –skipper Azubuike Okechukwu, Usman Mohammed, Segun Oduduwa, Sincere Seth, Oghenekaro Etebo, Emmanuel Daniel and Stanley Dimgba.

Otherwise, Siasia has invited the core of the players Sunday Oliseh has worked with during his eight-month stint.

The players include goalkeeper Carl Ikeme, Efe Ambrose, Shehu Abdullahi, Mikel Obi, Ahmed Musa and Moses Simon.

Player’s welfare should be major priority for NPFL clubs —Jimoh

Shooting Stars

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Fanendo Adi gets first Eagles call-up

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he Mainz O5 defender has been overlooked in Samson Siasia’s first squad announcement ahead of the crucial double header against Egypt One of the key players that were excluded from Coach Samson Siasia’s squad for this month’s Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches against Egypt is Leon Balogun.

Potentially Nigeria’s best central defender at the moment, Balogun was a key part of the Mainz 05 side that defeated perennial German champions Bayern Munich on Wednesday at the Allianz Arena.

Balogun kept Franck Ribery in check for most of the game as the visitors ran out 2-1 winners.

Interim Nigeria coach Siasia announced his squad of 42 players, handing invitations to many of the players he led to win the Africa U23 Cup of Nations in December.

he Shooting Stars defender feels domestic league club sides need to take care of their players better if they hope to achieve great feats in the game.

Shooting Stars defender Olawale Jimoh has advised Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) clubs to do more in terms of players welfare.

The towering defender advised that without the players there won’t be football and as such, players’ welfare should be a major priority for club administrators.

Players from different NPFL clubs had to protest to make their voice heard on issues relating to

non-payment of salaries last season. Players at Dolphins FC, Kwara United, FC Taraba, El-Kanemi Warriors at some point during the 2015/16 season demanded that their owed salaries be paid.

“I’ve had the opportunity to play for a couple of clubs in the local scene and must say that players aren’t well treated at all. We play football with our hearts yet after working we beg to collect our entitlement. It’s really sad,” Jimoh said.

“FC Taraba management owe me a backlog of salaries of well over seven months and nothing has been said about it till date, same [with] Kwara United but I

just have to move on. Some players have had to forfeit this huge amount yet there’s a huge uncertainty that you will receive what’s due to you.

“I hope that the League Management Company (LMC) and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will continue to do more as we continue to see obvious improvement in the league.”

Jimoh whose club, 3SC lost at FC Ifeanyi Ubah had earlier mentioned to Goal before the match that the Oluyole Warriors will earn something against the Anambra Warriors but in the end 3SC lost 3-1 to FC Ifeanyi Ubah in a week four NPFL tie

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Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5-6, 2016

Sports

Prodl relishing clash with Leicester City after Old Trafford heartache S ebastian Prodl says Watford is relishing the chance to bounce back from their heartbreaking defeat at Manchester United against Premier League leaders Leicester City.

Juan Mata’s fine 83rd-minute freekick condemned Watford to a 1-0 loss at Old Trafford on Wednesday, after Odion Ighalo had wasted two clear-cut chances to open the scoring in the first half.

Quique Sanchez Flores’ ambitions of securing European qualification for the Hornets have been checked by a run of only two wins from 11 Premier League games since Boxing Day, and the prospect of hosting table-topping Leicester – who have lost just two of their last 17 top-flight away matches – is a daunting one.

However, centre-back Prodl insists Watford will be ready for Claudio Ranieri’s title challengers.

Leicester head to Vicarage Road on the back of a 2-2 home draw with West Brom on Tuesday, although any blow felt at dropping points was softened by the subsequent results involving their main title rivals.

Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester City all lost on Wednesday, leaving Leicester three points clear at the summit ahead of a weekend that sees the two north London clubs meet at White Hart Lane.

Midfielder Danny Drinkwater, who scored with a deflected effort against West Brom, refused to be downbeat about that result and is determined to return to winning ways today.

Leicester won the reverse fixture 2-1 at the King Power Stadium in November, although the man who scored their opening goal that day midfielder N’Golo Kante – misses out this time around due to a hamstring injury.

Watford defender Sebastian Prodl tussles with Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford

Juve eye improvement after Inter horror

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uventus will want to show they have learned a lesson when they return to Serie A action this weekend after being handed a wake-up call by Inter Milan in their Italian Cup semifinal on Wednesday.

The champions currently lead the league with 61 points after 27 matches, three clear of secondplaced Napoli. Roma and Fiorentina, in third and fourth respectively, are eight points behind Juve.

Juventus capitulated 3-0 at the San Siro as Inter, who lost 3-0 in the first leg in Turin, rallied

Juventus

superbly only to lose 5-3 on penalties.

Juventus’s club record 15-game winning streak in the league ended with a 0-0 stalemate at Bologna on February 19, and while Massimiliano Allegri’s side defeated Inter 2-0 in the ‘Derby of Italy’ in Serie A last weekend, they will be keen to move on with a win at 13th-placed Atalanta in Bergamo.

Giorgio Chiellini is ruled out after suffering a recurrence of his recent calf injury against Inter but Mario Mandzukic, Claudio Marchisio and

Patrice Evra are all in line for a return.

Napoli’s club record eight-game winning streak ended with a 1-0 defeat by Juve on February 13, and Maurizio Sarri’s side need a win at home against Chievo on Saturday after taking just two points from a possible six since.

Roma have lost only one league game since Luciano Spalletti replaced coach Rudi Garcia on January 14 and will look to make it seven wins from seven in the league when they host Fiorentina, who could reaffirm their own title credentials.

Manchester United’s Europa League clash with Liverpool delay

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anchester United’s upcoming Europa League second-leg clash with Liverpool has been moved back on March 17.

The last-16 match was originally scheduled to kick off at 6pm but will now take place at a more conventional time for midweek games in England.

Trafford Council had appealed to Uefa to change the kick-off time due to the large crowds that are expected in Manchester during the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations while worries over rush hour traffic compounded the issue.

Reports suggested

Van Gal

the necessary safety personnel would not be available to cover the match at its original kick-off time, with a statement from Trafford Council reading: “Following an approach from Manchester United, Trafford Council’s Safety Advisory Group have written to Uefa, highlighting that it would not be safe to hold this fixture at 6pm with spectators in the stadium.”

The pair of matches will see United and Liverpool take each other on in European competition for the first time in their history as they look to book a place in next season’s Champions League by winning the tournament.

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5-6, 2016

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Sports

Title chase spice up Spurs-Arsenal tie

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ottenham Hotspur and Arsenal have the perfect opportunity to bounce back immediately from disappointing midweek defeats when they meet in the most significant North London derby for years at White Hart Lane today.

While matches between the arch-rivals are always tense, highlycharged occasions, Saturday’s Premier League game has added spice because both are heavily involved in the title race and both lost ground on leaders Leicester City on Wednesday.

Spurs’ six-match winning league run ended in a 1-0 defeat at West Ham United while Arsenal suffered a second successive league loss, and a third in all competitions, surprisingly beaten 2-1 at home by relegation-threatened Swansea City.

Leicester, who drew 2-2 with West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday and play at Watford on Saturday, lead the table with 57 points with Spurs second on 54, Arsenal third on 51 and Manchester City fourth on 47 with a game in hand.

City, who went down 3-0 at Liverpool on Wednesday, are level on points with fifth-placed Manchester United, who beat Watford 1-0.

Spurs have not been this high in

the table this late in the season since 1985 which is why Saturday’s game has more at stake for both teams than any since the 1991 FA Cup semifinal at Wembley which Spurs won 3-1.

Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino has seen his side respond well to defeats this season and will be hoping for the same reaction on Saturday when he also hopes to have Mousa Dembele back after injury and Dele Alli fully fit again.

Wenger also faces the prospect of being without first choice keeper Petr Cech who aggravated a groin injury in bizarre circumstances on Wednesday, pulling up running back to his own goal after going up for an Arsenal corner in the dying seconds.

Defender Laurent Koscielny also looks set to miss out with a calf injury.

Leicester will be seeking three more points at Watford to continue their almost unbelievable assault on a first ever title while Manchester City face bottom club and virtually-doomed Aston Villa at the Etihad.

Manchester United is at West Brom on Sunday, while champions Chelsea will be hoping to prolong their recent improvement with a home win over Stoke City today.

Mesut Ozil and Harry Kane

Champions League is my top priority —Ronaldo

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ristiano Ronaldo has suggested Real Madrid have conceded the Liga title and are now fully focused on lifting the Champions League.

Madrid have fallen nine points behind league leaders Barcelona in recent weeks and that gap will widen should the Catalan giants get something from their game in hand against Rayo Vallecano on Thursday.

The decline of Zinedine Zidane’s side’s bid for the crown started with a disappointing draw at Malaga and was swiftly followed by a 1-0 home defeat to city rivals Atletico Madrid.

With 11 games to play Ronaldo – who has scored 35 goals in all competitions – has acknowledged winning the league may be a

challenge too far and hinted European success is now their top priority.

“This [his goalscoring feats] is a result of years of hard work and dedication,” the Portugal international said at a promotional event in Madrid.

“I want to keep the momentum despite things being complicated in the league campaign.

“We’re still in the Champions League and that’s a competition that motivates everyone connected with the club, especially as no-one has won as many titles in the European Cup as we have.

Madrid has a 2-0 lead over Roma from the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie and host the Serie A side next Tuesday.

Coutinho, Sandro return to Brazil squad

Coutinho

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Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo

he Liverpool midfielder and the Juventus full-back were named among Dunga’s 23man panel for the upcoming qualifiers against Uruguay and Paraguay Brazil coach Dunga has handed Philippe Coutinho and Alex Sandro international returns by including them in his squad for World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Paraguay.

Liverpool midfielder Coutinho was left out of the group for October’s fixtures against Argentina and Peru, while Juventus left-back Alex Sandro has earned his first call-up since November 2014.

Valencia goalkeeper Diego Alves also returns to the international fold, replacing Botafogo shot-stopper Jefferson, who has been left out of the squad entirely for the first time

since Dunga’s July 2014 appointment.

China-based duo Gil and Renato Augusto retained their places in the squad, despite concerns that their decisions to head to the Far East could cost them their international futures.

Dunga stalwarts David Luiz and Marquinhos were named among the defenders but there was once again no place for their Paris Saint-Germain colleague Thiago Silva, who has not appeared for the Selecao since last year’s Copa America.

There was also no room for Benfica’s Jonas, who had been linked with a call-up by local media, with 35-year-old Ricardo Oliveira retaining his place.

The five-time world champions host Uruguay on March 25 before travelling to Asuncion to clash with Paraguay on March 29.

BIG PUNCH

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, MARCH 5-6, 2016

Saturday Column By

Imam Murtada Gusau In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

A

ll perfect praise be to Allah, we praise Him, seek His aid, and ask His forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allah from the evils of ourselves and from our bad deeds. He whom Allah guides, there is none to misguide him, and he whom He leaves astray there is none to guide him! I bear witness that Muhammad (SAW) is His slave and Messenger.

“O you who have believe! Fear Allah (by doing all that He has ordered and by abstaining from all that He has forbidden) as He should be feared, (Obey Him, be thankful to Him, and remember Him always), and die not except in a state of Islam (as Muslims) with complete submission to Allah.” [AlImraan: 103] “O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) he created his wife [Hawwa (Eve)], and from them both He created many men and women and fear Allah through whom you demand your mutual (rights), and (do not cut the relations of) the wombs (kinship).

Surely Allah is Ever an All-Watcher over you.” (An-Nisaa’: 1) “O you who have believe! Keep your duty to Allah and fear Him, and speak (always) the truth. He will direct you to do righteous good deeds and will forgive you your sins.

And whosoever obeys Allah and His Messenger (SAW) he has indeed achieved a great achievement (i.e. he will be saved from the Hell-fire and made to enter paradise).” [AlAhzaab: 70-71) To Proceed: Verily the most truthful speech is the Book of Allah, and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (SAW). And the worst matters are the newly invented matters (in the religion), and ALL new matters are innovations into the religion, and all the innovations are misguidance, and all the misguidance lead to the fire.”

Servants of Allah!

Good character, morals, ethics and manners are fundamental to the religion of Islam and the means by which we can achieve salvation in the life to come. Good character is a major theme in the teachings of the Qur’an and the Hadiths of the Prophet (SAW).

True righteousness is defined by Advert: business: news: lagos:

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it and the best Muslims are those who practice it. The believers with the most complete faith, who are most beloved by Allah and His Messenger, are those with the best character. A good Muslim is a person who received good training and upbringing from his parents.

Therefore he will not abuse or insult the leaders and elders of other people nor listen to those untrained people who are trying to tarnish his image, defame him or spreading the campaign of calumny against him. Because he have believed that it’s lack of good training and proper upbringing that would make a person to behave so.

Allah praised the Prophet’s character and set him as the example and role model for all believers to follow. Allah the Most High said: “Verily, you are upon great moral character.” (Surah Al-Qalam 68:4) The commentators of the Qur’an say the “great moral character” mentioned in this verse is the Qur’an, the Prophet, and the religion of Islam itself.

Imam Ibn Kathir also comments on this verse, saying: “The meaning of this verse is that the Prophet would emulate the Qur’an in its commands, its prohibitions, and it became his temperament. His character became accustomed to it and he abandoned his visceral carnal nature. Whatever the Qur’an commanded he did, and whatever it prohibited he abstained. Along with this, Allah ingrained within him great character traits of modesty, generosity, courage, forgiveness, forbearance, and every beautiful trait.” (See Tafsir al-Qur’an alAzim, 68:4) The primary mission of the Prophet was to instill good character within the believers in every aspect of their lives.

Abu Hurairah reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“ 8620 9705 9046 1969 0344

For the first time, we are unbundling the subset of the NNPC to 30 independent companies with their own Managing Directors. Titles like Group Executive Directors are going to disappear and in their place you are going to have Chief Executive Officers and they are going to take responsibilities for their titles.

—Minister of Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu

Islam teaches Muslims good character

Imam Murtada Gusau “Verily, I have only been sent to perfect righteous character.” (See Musnad Ahmad, 8729) In another narration, the Prophet said: “I have been sent to perfect good character.” (See al-Muwatta, 1614) And in another narration, the Prophet said: “Verily, Allah has sent me to perfect noble morals and complete good deeds.”(See al-Mu’jam alAwsat, 7073) Brothers and sisters!

With respect to Allah, good character means upholding the sound creed (aqeedah) and acts of worship (ibadah). With respect to people, good character means being just, merciful, forgiving, kind, generous and patient in our interactions with them (Mu’amalat).

This comprehensive view of good character coloured the Prophet’s preaching in Makkah and throughout his life. The companions would recall how good character was one of the first

Islamic teachings they had ever heard.

Ibn Abbas reported: When Abu Dharr heard that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, had appeared in Makkah, he said to his brother, “Ride to this valley and tell me about this man who claims to have received revelation from the heavens. Listen to his words and then inform me. “The man rode along until he arrived in Makkah and he listened to the Prophet, then he return to Abu Dharr and he said: “I have seen him order noble morals, and his speech is not that of poet.” (See Sahih Muslim, 2474) Since good character is so important, behaving in a morally upright manner is a religious obligation. The Prophet commanded Muslims to behave well in every circumstance and with every human being, not simply those close to us.

Abu Dharr reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Behave with good character

With respect to Allah, good character means upholding the sound creed (aqeedah) and acts of worship (ibadah). With respect to people, good character means being just, merciful, forgiving, kind, generous and patient in our interactions with them (Mu’amalat).

toward the people”. (See Sunan AtTimidhi, 1987) Good character is not merely recommended or secondary to issues of doctrine. Rather, good character, morals, ethics, and manners are the spirit that breathes life into our doctrines. It is the very essence of the righteousness spoken about all throughout the Qur’an. It is accessible to our innate rational nature as Allah has bestowed upon all of us the power to recognize righteousness and sin, even without the aid of revelation.

An-Nawwas ibn Sam’an reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Righteousness is good character and sin is what waivers in your heart and you hate for people to find out about it.” (See Sahih Muslim, 2553) In another narration, the Prophet said: “Consult your soul, consult your heart. Righteousness is what is satisfying to your soul and your heart, and sin is what wavers in your soul and causes hesitancy in your chest, even if the people give you a judgment, and again give you a judgment.” (See Sunan AdDarimi, 2533) From all this, many classical scholars understood that good character is essential and required in Islam, even equivalent to the religion itself.

Contd on Page 9

DAN GAYE

Tambuwal orders probe of ‘abducted’ teenager in Sokoto —News

Abduction this, abduction that. Enough of this bluffing!

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