Tuesday, January 7, 2020 Edition

Tuesday, January 7, 2020/ Jumadal Ula 11, 1441 AH

Vol. 33 No. 030 N150

2095 Days after

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. . . putting the people first

The nation awaits rescue of the remaining abducted Chibok schoolgirls

Oil price jumps again as Middle East tensions escalate

We may vacate order suspending CAC boss - CCT

Stop disobeying Oba of Benin, Edo APC tells Oshiomhole

pAGE 4

pAGE 7

pAGE 16

596 dead workers on Bauchi payroll -Report page 5

An aerial view of Marina Park as work resumes after the holidays, yesterday in Lagos.

Photo: NAN

2023: Buhari won’t handover to looters - Presidency >>PG 10 Death toll in Kaduna gas explosion rises to 6 >>>page 3

Woman pushes stepson into well, nabbed by police

>>>page 5

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PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, JANUARY 7, 2020

News CONTENTS News 2-14 Op.Ed

12-13

Politics 15-17 Stock Watch Business Metro

18 19-20 21

World Analysis 22 Africa News

23

World News

24

Iran General’s killing: Shi’ites protest in Abuja, burn US flag

By Ese Awhotu

M

embers of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) popularly known as Shi’ites yesterday staged a protest in Banex, Wuse Area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

The protesting Shi’ites who led a procession expressed their anger over the killing of Iranian General, Qasem Soleimani in an airstrike by

the United States of America in Iraq.

They group also demanded the release of their leader, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenat who are still in detention.

The Shi’ites who carried placards condemning the killing of General Qasem Soleimani marched through the streets of Abuja chanting hate songs and slogans like “Death To America.”

The visibly angry Shi’ites also burnt a flag of the United States of America.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs appealed to the youths to exercise caution saying that the impasse between Iran and America could only be resolved through dialogue.

Speaking in a statement yesterday, the Head of Media and Communication, NSCIA, Ibrahim Aselemi, said that,

protest is an integral part of all civil democracies in the world, the council said the timing was wrong as it could lead to loss of lives.

He appealed to the youths not to allow their emotions becloud them to the dangers of taking to the streets.

“We appeal to these Muslim youths not to allow their emotions becloud them to the dangers of taking to the streets,” he stated.

FCT ministers urged to reposition trailers’ park Page 4

Digest

25

Feature 26

Students crossing the road at Moshalashi Bus Stop in Ipaja Area of Lagos State as schools resumed, yesterday in Lagos. Photo: NAN

Sports 30-31

NIMC establishes 70 enrolment centres in Kano

Back Page

32

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T

he National Identity M a n a g e m e n t Commission (NIMC) has established no fewer than 70 enrolment centres in Kano State.

The NIMC Coordinator in the state, Mohammed AuwalSanusi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Monday that the enrolment centres, including the temporary ones, were increased from 50 to 70 as part of renewed efforts to facilitate the operation of the commission in the state.

“The temporary enrolment centres give our staff the opportunity to deploy their mobile kits and stay at the centres for one or two weeks before leaving the place,” he said.

He said establishing additional registration centres was necessary so as to reduce the hardship being encountered by residents, especially those living in remote areas of the state, in reaching the designated enrolment centres.

He said the additional centres will give all Kano residents the opportunity to be enrolled into the National Identity Database and issued with the National Identification Number (NIM).

The commission had also established some special enrolment centres at places where there is a concentration of people like Bayero University Kano (BUK), Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), Kwari textile market and Murtala Mohammed Hospital,

he said.

He said the commission was looking into the possibility of collaborating with the Kano State Government to register and enrol especially final year students who must use the National Identification Number to register for JAMB examinations.

“The collaboration with the state government is in the process. This will enable us to go schools in order to get the students enrolled to make it easy for them to register for the JAMB examinations,” he said.

He called on the media to continue to support the commission through massive public awareness on the importance of the National Identification Number to encourage residents to come

and obtain the number.

On challenges, the coordinator said inadequate funding remained the major obstacle hindering the smooth operation of the commission as it required no less than N150 billion to enable it implement the project successfully.

“Inadequate funding is the major challenge of the commission. When the present Director-General took over in 2015, he did mention that the N7 billion budget of the commission was grossly inadequate to enable it implement the project.

“According to the DG, the commission requires N150 billion to meet up with the number of its demands,” he added.(NAN)

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PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, JANUARY 7, 2020

News

NLC to Gov. Bello: Pay minimum wage in 21 days or face strike From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

T

he Nigeria Labour Congress in Niger State has issued a 21day ultimatum to Governor Abubakar Sani Bello led state government to implement the new minimum wage of N30,000 or face indefinite strike.

Organized labour in state warned that if at the expiration of the ultimatum, government did not begin the payment of the minimum wage it would declare an indefinite strike from the 4th February 2020.

NLC while rising from an emergency meeting held at the Labour House in Minna, the NLC said its action followed the inability of government “to adequately respond to the issues raised in an earlier letter to the government.”

The ultimatum letter was jointly signed by the state chairman of the NLC, Comrade Yakubu Garba and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, Chairman Comrade Yunusa Tanimu titled “Notice of 21 days ultimatum of indefinite strike ” was sent to the state governor Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello through the Secretary to the Government SSG and the Head of Service.

The letter dated 3rd January 2020 with reference ” Ol/NS/040/ GEN/Vol.1/26 and OLS/NS/040/ GEN/Vol1/27 warn that all activities of government in the state will be paralysed from the 4th of February if the demands were not met.

“The Organized Labour wishes to register its total dismay on the government’s inability to adequately respond to the issues raised in the aforementioned letters” Also the Organised Labour said the payment which should have been completed on the 3rd of February should include the ” Consequential Adjustments and accrued arrears.”

The government has not reacted to the ultimatum letter.

However, the state government had said that its 2020 budget is based on the payment of the N30,000 minimum wage.

The commissioners for Planning Alhaji Mamman Musa and that of Finance Alhaji Zakari Abubakar while giving the breakdown of the budget in Minna recently said like other aspects of the budget the implementation will commence once the fiscal estimates is passed by the house of assembly and assented to by the governor.

The commissioners declined to say categorically when the minimum wage payment will commence but said” this is 2020 budget everything in the budget will be implemented in 2020″ They further submitted that the state will not have difficulty in paying the N30,000 minimum wage because “we are already paying N22,500, what we need now is N7,500, we have taken care of that in the budget.

News Editor, Ese Awhotu

Death toll in Kaduna gas explosion rises to 6

From Ese Awhotu

T

he Kaduna State Police Command yesterday disclosed that the death toll from the gas explosion in state has risen to six.

The police, in a statement by its spokesperson, Yakubu Sabo, said that properties valued at N16 million were destroyed in the explosion.

The Police also said it has identified names of five victims of the gas explosion

at a gas plant in Sabon Tasha on Saturday.

It gave the names as: Prof.

Mallam Simon M, Wale Ajayi M, Daniel Peter M, Victor Asoegwu M and Micheal Ernest M. The state Commissioner of Polic CP Ali Aji Janga expressed his sincere condolences to the families of the victims and assured the public that, the Command is still investigating the root cause of the incident and will

ensure justice in accordance with the law.

The statement reads: “Kaduna Police Command wishes to update the general Public that the death toll has increased to six from the five persons already mentioned in the earlier statement.

“The Command has also in the course of investigation identified five of the deceased victims as; Properties valued at sixteen Million, four hundred

and two thousand,three hundred Naira (#16,402,300) only, have been burnt in the four shops affected by the fire.

“The Commissioner of Polic CP Ali Aji Janga psc has expressed his sincere condolences to the families of the victims and assured the Public that, the Command is still investigating the root cause of the incident and will ensure justice in accordance with the law.”

Minister of Science and Technology Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu representing Mr. President (2nd left), APC Vice Chairman South East Zone Hon. Emmanuel Enukwu (left), Former Ebonyi State Governor Chief Martin Nwanchor Elechi (3rd right), Representative of the Permanent Secretary, Ecological Office Engr. Benjamin Ani (2nd right), Chief Medical Director (CMD) Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital (AE-FUTHA) Dr. Emmanuel Onwe Ogah (right), During the Commissioning and Handing Over of Flood and Erosion Control Works at Alex Ekwueme Teaching Hospital , yesterday at Abakaliki Ebonyi State, by the Minister.

Northern Govs mourn Atomic Energy Commission boss T he Northern Governors Forum is mourning the demise of the Chairman, Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC), Simon Mallam, a professor, who died in a gas explosion in Kaduna.

The gas explosion killed both Mr Mallam and his son alongside three others on Saturday at Sabon Tasha

area, Kaduna.

In his condolence message issued on Monday in Jos, the Chairman of the forum and Governor of Plateau, Simon Lalong, described the death as painful and unfortunate.

“This is a huge loss to the entire people of the Northern Region, the immediate family of the deceased and Nigeria, as we have lost one of our

brightest minds.

“Prof. Mallam contributed enormously to the development of our people.

“We send our heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased and pray God to grant their souls eternal rest as well as give the family the strength to be comforted.

“The death of Prof. Mallam would cause a major setback

to Nigeria’s quest for energy sufficiency given his vast knowledge and experience which he has been deploying as the Chairman of the commission,’’ Mr Lalong said.

The forum, therefore, called for stringent supervision of gas handling in Nigeria to forestall future occurrences.(NAN)

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News

Oil price jumps again as Middle East tensions escalate

B

rent crude topped $70 a barrel Monday for the first time in months on the unending flow of updates from the Middle East that point towards further escalation between the United States and Iran.

Oil prices soared early last Friday morning after U.S. forces in Iraq assassinated Iran’s most powerful and visible military leader, Qassem Soleimani.

The United States killed the Iranian general in an air strike early on Friday morning according to Pentagon reports.

Influential Iraqi militia commander and advisor to Soleimani, Abu Mahdi alMuhandis, was also killed in the attack according to a militia spokesman.

US President Donald Trump said he was ready to strike Iran directly if it retaliated for the assassination.

As usual, he took to Twitter to announce the threat, which said Washington has already selected “52 Iranian sites (representing the 52 American hostages taken

by Iran many years ago), some at a very high level & important to Iran & the Iranian culture, and those targets, and Iran itself, WILL BE HIT VERY FAST AND VERY HARD. The USA wants no more threats!”

Then, on Sunday, Trump threatened Iraq with sanctions if the country expelled U.S. troops as Baghdad said it would, after parliament voted in favor of the expulsion.

“The mood in the country was pushing for it,” CNN quoted a source as saying following the vote. “This was not something that could have been avoided.”

Meanwhile, Iran has made another step towards withdrawing from the so-called nuclear deal that halted its nuclear program. In a tweet on Sunday, Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said “As 5th & final REMEDIAL step under paragraph 36 of JCPOA, there will no longer be any restriction on number of centrifuges This step is within JCPOA & all 5 steps are reversible upon effective implementation of reciprocal obligations Iran’s full cooperation w/IAEA will continue.”(OILPRICE.COM)

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, JANUARY 7, 2020

FCT ministers urged to reposition trailers’ park

By Usman Shuaibu

T

he chairman of Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has appealed to the FCT Minister, Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello as well as the FCT Minister of State, Hajiya Ramatu

Tijjani Aliyu to as a matter of urgency provide a permanent park for the trailers in the area in order to avoid accident along Abuja-Lokoja express road.

He said if the trailers park is repositioned, it would reduce the risk that drivers may face when parking their vehicles in the area.

Abubakar who made the appeal in an interview with our correspondent in Gwagwalada

on Monday, calling on both the minister of FCT and state to provide comprehensive and viable policies for the transporters in the territory.

He also pleaded with the ministers to provide vehicles for the transport unions in the FCT to arrest the problems of transportation facing the residents.

He further charged the ministers to deem it necessary to liaise with

T

he Madrasatu Nuril Islam, Oversea Quarters in Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has graduated a total

News

596 dead workers on Bauchi payroll – Report From Ahmad Mohammed, Bauchi

T

he Verification Committee set up by the Bauchi State government to ascertain the number of civil servants in the state that are collecting salaries without Bank Verification Numbers, BVN, has discovered that 596 dead civil servants in the State are still receiving salaries and allowances from the purse of the state government over the years.

Chairman of the Committee

Senator, Adamu Ibrahim Gumba stated this Monday while briefing newsmen on the activities of the committee as it winds up.

He said that during their assignment which took them about three months, 4,578 people failed to appear before the committee to be verified.

Gumba said that a total of 24,736 people made up of state workers and local government workers as well as pensioners have been verified and cleared by the committee and have started receiving their salaries

and allowances.

On those who failed to appear before the committee, Adamu Gumba said that “maybe they will have another chance to be verified by the implementation committee to be set up, but to me, they are suspects and everything must be done to identify them” He said that if the entire 130,000 workers in the state and local governments, as well as pensioners, will be verified, ghost workers will be discovered because as he puts it, “if we can uncover

ghost workers from the 30,226 verified, how much more will be discovered if the entire number were verified”.

Gumba ssured that all those verified and clear by the committee but have not received their 3 months salaries and allowances will now be paid without any further delay The committee chairman said that already, the State Governor, Sen Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir has approved the immediate payment of the arrears of the

salaries.

He expressed the hope that whatever amount will be saved from the exercise will be used by the government to improve the welfare of the state civil service for optimum service delivery.

Gumba said that in a no distant future, embargo placed on the recruitment of new staff will be lifted to allow the recruitment of professionals to replace those who have retired because according to him, “most MDAs are lacking professionals in service.”

Brigade Commander, 23rd Army Brigade Yola, Brig.-Gen. Sani Muhammed; other senior officers and cross-section of beneficiaries of Nigeria Army entrepreneurship and skills acquisition, during the distribution of state packs and inauguration of the three weeks training, at the 23rd Army Brigade, yesterday in Yola Adamawa state.

Photo: NAN

SOKAPU bemoans bandits attack on Gbagyi land

From Femi Oyelola Kaduna he Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), has raised concern over what it described as the alarming and unrelenting impunity with which several Gbagyi communities in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna state on its boundary with Niger state are being invaded by armed bandits and kidnappers.

SOKAPU, in a statement made available to the media in Kaduna yesterday called on the public and the government to take particular note of the past five days in which the villages of Kuduru, Tawali, Unguwan Madaki and Katarma, all under Chikun Local Government Area, close to the border between Kaduna and Niger states have been under severe attacks by armed bandits and kidnappers numbering over 200, riding on motorcycles and heavily armed with AK-47 rifles.

The statement which was signed by the National Publicity Secretary of

T

SOKAPU, Mr. Luka Binniyat further states; “These invaders, who took the villagers by storm and went only in the wee hours of the night, had continued to kill, maim, destroy, loot, sacked and occupy these villages with impunity.”

Binniyat noted that before the election and inauguration of the present National leadership of SOKAPU, it was informed about the humongous violent crimes committed against several Gbagyi communities in Chukun Local Government Area, stressing that it however curious that it received little or no mention in the media over the years for the public to know of the level of atrocities going on there.

SOKAPU noted that all the youths in the communities could do, was to reduce the level of casualty by assisting to evacuate women, children and the infirmed into nearby bushes carrying little or nothing with them in terms of food and clothing.

The statements states; “After days

in the bushes, the beleaguered victims have found their ways to Sarkin Pawa town, in Niger State, trekking for days and crossing by canoe to their neighbours in Niger state.”

“In all the affected villages, foodstuff, cows, goats, sheep, motorcycles and other household items belonging to the villagers have been taken over as the invaders that are currently occupying the villages unchallenged by the Nigeria military, police or any of the security agencies.

“Information at our disposal has it that in Tawali village, six persons were kidnapped and nothing has been heard of them ever since. The ECWA Church in the village was not spared as it was burnt down completely. Also, a young lad, by name Ezra Bala (16), who is a student of Government College Kwoi, was shot dead in Kuduru village during the attack.

“The attack, expulsion and occupation have continued as more

Islamic school graduates 23 students

By Usman Shuaibu

the transport unions to bring all the users of the road-side motor parks to the main park, urging the passengers to always board the vehicles at the motor parks.

The Gwagwalada RTEAN chairman, however, advised the drivers of the association to always obey the traffic rules and regulations, and urged them to get their driving particulars intact or completed.

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PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, JANUARY 7, 2020

number of twenty-three students at Kwali Stadium.

The proprietor of the school, Mallam Isah Muhammad, who disclosed this in an interview with our correspondent in Kwali, advising the graduands

to continue to seek for Islamic knowledge in all ramifications.

Muhammad also urged the graduating students to make use of the knowledge they had acquired in the school to better the society, charging them

to utilise the knowledge in accordance with the teachings of Islam.

He called on the parents to always support the education of their children, while appreciating the efforts of the

communities have come under similar siege. They are: Zoko Yako, Sabon Gida Katarma, Unguwan Sarki, Bwadana, and Kwayipe. In Kwayipe, one person, whose name was given as Dimas, was shot but escaped with fatal injuries.

He was lucky to be helped to Sarkin Pawa, where he has been rushed to Minna, Niger state for urgent medical attention.”

SOKAPU therefore called on the government to look into the crisis and take urgent necessary steps to address the perennial crimes against humanity in the Gbagyi communities.

“We also call on the elected representatives of the affected communities to please urgently attend to these affected communities within their constituencies and liaise with relevant government agencies to provide security, welfare and other essential needs for their electorates in distress,” SOKAPU appealed.

teachers in the school.

He, therefore, appealed to the government of Kwali Area Council to allocate a piece of land to the school to enable the management to erect the permanent site of the school.

L-R: Vice Chancellor, Chris-land University Abeokuta, Prof. Peace Babalola; President, Sickle Cell Hope Alive Foundation, Prof. Adeyinka Falusi; and a member of the Foundation, Prof. Adetomiwa Odebiyi, during a news conference on Sickle Cell Hope Alive Foundation activities for the year, yesterday in Ibadan.

Photo: NAN

Woman pushes stepson into well, nabbed by police

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he Kano State Police Command has arrested a 30-year-old housewife, Hauwa Lawal, for allegedly pushing her co-wife, Zuwaira Sani, 35, and her 18-month-old son into a well.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Haruna, confirmed the arrest in an interview with News Agency

of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Kano.

Mr Haruna said the police received a report on Friday that Ms Lawal of Rurum village of Rano Local Government Area of Kano, had pushed her co-wife and baby into a well.

“The suspect had a misunderstanding with the victim. In the process, they

started fighting in the house.

The suspect pushed her rival along with her 18-month-old son, Mustafa Gambo, whom she was backing, into a well situated in their house.’’

He said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Habu Sani-Ahmadu, ordered the tracking down and arrest of the fleeing suspect within 24

hours.

“Operation Puff-Adder, swung into action and arrested the suspect on Saturday at about 1.17 am.

“The victims were removed from the well and were rushed to Rano Hospital where Sani was confirmed dead, while her son is alive and has been discharged from the hospital.

The suspect confessed to the crime,’’ the spokesperson said.

He said the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for investigation.

“Once investigation is completed, the suspect would b e c h a rg e d t o c o u rt ,’’ M r Haruna said.(NAN)

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News

Land disputes delaying Ogoniland clean-up – FG

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he Federal Government on Monday said it is committed in cleaning up the hydrocarbon impact on communities in Ogoniland in spite of challenges being faced in the exercise.

The Project Coordinator, Hydrocarbon Pollution and Remediation Project, Dr Marvin Dekil, disclosed this on the sidelines of the 2020 Ogoni Day celebration in Bori, Rivers.

HYPREP, under the Federal Ministry of Environment has the mandate to clean up decadeslong oil spills in four Ogoni local government areas in Rivers such as Eleme, Gokana, Khana and Tai. Dekil said that in spite of government’s commitment to the project, the remediation exercise was hampered by land disputes, leadership tussles and communal clashes.

“The tussle over land and chieftaincy stool has been a major cause of delay in the implementation of the UN Environment Report at the many clean-up sites.

“This has to change for us to make progress by way of unfettered access to all contaminated sites.

“We equally appeal that HYPREP be spared land and chieftaincy disputes as we do not have an interest in any land and chieftaincy stool,” he said.

According to him, the Federal Government is also worried with the re-pollution of the affected Ogoni communities, blamed on activities of oil thieves in the area.

“So, another area that we expect stakeholders to assist us deliver on our mandate is the issue of repollution.

“Our efforts to clean Ogoniland will amount to nothing if after investing so much resources and time, it is again re-polluted by activities of illegal bunkers and refiners.

“We urge the leadership of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People and communities to dissuade youths from these very poisonous activities that affects our health, environment and economy,” he appealed.

The project coordinator said in spite of the challenges, the remediation agency recorded several successes in 2019.

He listed the achievements to include the mobilisation of contractors to the 21 remediation sites in the areas, employment of 24 indigent-Ogoni graduates, creation of job opportunities and skills acquisitions.

Others include the agreement on rehabilitation of moribund Rivers State Water facilities in Ogoniland and use of the state’s facilities to conduct Health Impact study in the areas.

“At most of the sites, contractors are excavating and treating contaminated soils, while some have even completed the process of excavation and are back filling treated soils.

“We assure that 2020 will see an increase in our activities as everything that is recommended in the UNEP is now an emergency for us,” he said.(NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, JANUARY 7, 2020

Nigerian maize in high demand in USA, Bangladesh, says MAN From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

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he National Chairman of Maize Farmers Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Bello Abubakar has disclosed that due to the closure of the nation’s borders and improved maize farming in the country, the commodity is now on a high demand in United States of America and Bangladesh.

Abubakar made the disclosure

yesterday in Katsina while speaking in an interview with newsmen.

“With the closure of the borders and improved maize farming investors from these two countries have indicated their willingness to invest in the farming sector of the country,” he added.

He advised the government to close its eyes and ears from the critics that are according to him” bent on criticizing the border

closure for their selfish interest.

According to him, the closure of the border has made farming more attractive and encourage farmers to take farming seriously.

He further advised government to open more farm lands and hand them to prospective farmers as a way of encouraging the youth to embrace the venture and make the country self-reliant in food production.

Abubakar similarly advised

governments at all levels to clear forest harbouring criminal to Encourage people to turn such forest into farmlands.

He noted that since the inter entire of the Federal Government with the support of their association farming yields in the country has increased by about 90%.

He therefore urged the citizens to rally round the government in achieving food security in the country.

L-R: Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Mr Rauf Olaniyan; Chairman, Nigerian Legion Oyo State, Deacon Michael Fajinmi and Deputy Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly, Abiodun Fadeyi, during the launch of Oyo State Emblem Appeal Week as part of activities mark the 2020 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration, yesterday in Ibadan.

Photo: NAN

Right group condemns abduction of CAN chair in Michika

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

T

he Centre for Africa Liberation and SocioEconomic Rights (CALSER) has condemned the kidnap of Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Michika, Adamawa State, Mr Lawan Andimi.

In a statement released yesterday, the right group blamed the Boko Haram/Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) and withdrawal of 1,200 Chadian troops meant to be supporting the counter-insurgency efforts for the abduction.

The Director of Communication and Strategy, Roland Okupe, bemoaned the development, describing it as another demonic plot by the terrorists to whip up sectarian anger targeted at breaking Nigeria up along religious

lines.

The statement reads, “Nigerians and the rest of the world to the fact that Boko Haram/ISWAP are now pursuing the last leg of their agenda which is to target people of a particular religious group for evil as to portray Nigeria and the government as an ineffective in tackling the scourge of terrorism.”

The Centre, therefore, appealed to Nigerians not to fall for this ploy by ensuring that they take holistic views of issues relating to the new wave of attacks by these terrorists. ‘’We appeal to Nigerians not to fall for this ploy by ensuring that they take wholistic views of issues relating to the new wave of attacks by these terrorists who now seem fixated on causing sectarian provocations in the hope that the strategy will help them destabilize

Nigeria. ‘’Such strategy could only have been arrived upon by the terrorists after review of their persistent recent failings and losses to the Nigerian Military that have ensured that they no longer have free reign to torment innocent Nigerians.’’

While demanding that Boko Haram/ISWAP immediately release Andimi and any other abducted Christian, the group urged “the military and other security agencies not to leave any stone unturned in bringing perpetrators of the act to justice”.

Meanwhile, CALSER has noted with disappointment the decision by the authorities of the Republic of Chad to pull out the country’s 1,200 troops that were meant to be supporting the counter-insurgency efforts in Nigeria. ‘’In our view, the Chadian

troops withdrawal is hasty, poorly thought out and badly timed. The withdrawal should have been put on hold considering other world occurrences with geo-strategic consequences for the counterinsurgency efforts in the lake Chad Basin. There has also been injection of logistic support for the terrorists reportedly by Chad’s colonial boss, France, which would have necessitated that the withdrawal be delayed until the region becomes more stable. ‘’ The troops withdrawal if the face of glaring persuasion to the contrary is another conspiracy by France and their allies to further expose the people of north east Nigeria to harm consistent with Boko Haram/ISWAP agenda to destabilize Africa, which they have unfortunately sanctioned,’’ it concluded.

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PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, JANUARY 7, 2020

Exam malpractice: Delta govt shuts sanctions 16 teachers From Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

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he Delta State Government has ordered the closure of two private secondary schools and sanctioned sixteen teachers across the state over their various levels of involvement in examination malpractice in the state.

This is coming as a result of the approval of the report of the Examination Ethics Disciplinary Committee (EEDC) investigation on WAEC indictment of some public and private secondary schools in the state for examination malpractice in the 2018 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) by the state Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Chief Patrick Ukah.

St. Vincent College, Ovwian, whose candidates wrote the 2018 WASSCE at Anointed Secondary School, Ubogo, without the approval of WAEC or the ministry, with the intent to committing examination malpractice is to be closed down along with Anointed Secondary School.

Also twelve supervisors found guilty for collusion, compromise, negligence of duty and failure to write reports at the end of the examinations will suffer one year deferment of promotion and banned from supervision of any school examination for a period of three years.

The Vice Principal (Academics) of Ogidigben Grammar School, Ogidigben, Mrs. H. Akponeware, who was found guilty of inefficiency in handling the affairs of the school in the absence of the principal due to her nonchalant attitude, negligence of duty and connivance during the conduct of 2018 WASSC is to be demoted by one salary grade level.

Similarly, the Examination Officer of the same school, Mr. Akpochimara Ufuoma, was found guilty of gross complicity in the act of examination malpractice, compromise, sharing money amongst supervisors and pressurizing WAEC Officers/Supervisors to release question papers and answer scripts for candidates outside the examination hall and is to be demoted by one salary grade level.

Ms Onoriode Q. from Ovwian Secondary School, Ovwian, who was Supervisor for Mathematics 2 at St. Vincent College, Ovwian, was found guilty of not writing report to the ministry or WAEC and is to be banned from supervising any school examination for three years.

Speaking after the approval of the recommendations, Chief Ukah seriously warned those who might still have the intention of involvement in examination malpractice to have a rethink as the state government has zero tolerance on the act.

He said that stiffer penalties will be given to any person who is involved in examination malpractice no matter how highly placed and advised them to operate within the provisions of the rules guiding the conduct of examinations in the state.

The approved recommendations have been forwarded to the PPEB for implementation.

EEDC, chaired by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, is an interministerial body with representatives from the Ministry of Justice, Post Primary Education Board (PPEB), Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Association of Private School Owners of Nigeria (APSON), the Director of Examinations as well as that of Inspectorate Department in the ministry.

CRIME News

We may vacate order suspending CAC boss - CCT

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

T

he Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) yesterday hinted, it may vacate the temporary order it made asking Azuka Azinge, to step aside as the acting Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), pending the determination of her trial.

This was made known yesterday, by a member of the three memberpanel of the CCT, Julie Anabor, in reaction to a complaint made by Mrs Azinge’s lawyer, Abiodun Owonikoko.

Owonikoko informed the tribunal that he is not aware of the ex parte application, filed by the prosecution, which birthed the order.

“The order that was given by this tribunal is an interim order and not perpetual. All the counter and better affidavit put together would be looked into and the interim order can be vacated”, Mrs Anabor said.

Mrs Azinge, is facing an 11-count charges bordering on the breach of the code of conduct for public officers, brought against her by the federal government.

Mrs Azinge was arraigned before the tribunal on December 23, on an 11-count charge marked: In a charge sheet marked, CCT/ ABJ/03/2019, the prosecution alleged that the defendant concealed her naira, euro and dollar domiciliary accounts in Access Bank Plc and Standard Chartered Bank.

Also, the case filed on December 23, alleged Azinge received allowances she was not entitled to as an acting Registrar-General of the CAC. She pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to her on December 23.

The tribunal then fixed January 29, 2020, for the commencement of her trial.

However, the Code of Conduct

Bureau (CCB), before the next adjourned date, approached the court for an ex-parte order.

The tribunal on December 24, heard and granted the prosecution’s ex-parte request.

An ex-parte order is one granted a requesting party in the absence of the other party to the suit. In this case, Mrs Azinge’s counsel was not notified or represented when the order was granted.

The three-member panel of the tribunal led by, Danladi Umar, had on December 24, made the order for the suspension of Mrs Azinge, following an ex parte application brought by the prosecution lawyer, Musa Ibrahim.

The tribunal directed the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment to execute the order of suspension to subsist, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice dated and filed on December 17.

Mr Umar said Mrs Azinge is to remain on suspension pending the conclusion of her trial.

At the resumed hearing of the matter on Monday, the defendant lawyer informed the tribunal that they did not receive any process ordering them to appear before it today as they were aware that the matter was adjourned to January 29.

Mr Owonikoko said the notification for today sitting and the ex-parte order made by the CCT was gotten from various media platform.

He noted that he was served with the motion on notice on Monday, at the tribunal.

Mrs Azinge’s lawyer asked the tribunal for an adjournment to enable the defendant to react to the processes.

The tribunal chairman granted the request and adjourned to January 29, for the hearing of the motion on notice.

L-R: Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed; Acting Director-General, Securities and Exchange Commission, Mary Uduk; and Head, Securities and Investments Services of SEC, Abdulkadir Abbas, during the Send-forth for the former Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mohammed Dikwa, in Abuja.

Photo: NAN

Bishop laments increasing rate of piracy, others in N/Delta From Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

T

he Catholic Bishop of Bomadi Doicese, Bishop Hyacinth Egbebo has raised the concern over the increasing pirate and criminal activities in Niger Delta region, saying that unless steps are taken to ensure total eradication, there are likely to be more trouble in the region.

While calling for frontal attacks by government and security agencies before it generates into fierce threat, Bishop Egbebo who spoke to journalists in Asaba on Monday, said no efforts should be spared in curbing the renewed form of piracy in the region.

He described political killings, kidnapping, assassination and other violent crimes as the plague

affecting the political landscape of the Niger Delta.

He therefore called for renewal of hearts to change the negative trend as development cannot thrive in an atmosphere of violence.

He urged the federal and state governments to provide job opportunities through education or skills acquisition for teeming youths and attributed the

upsurge of piracy, kidnappings and other criminal activities to unemployment but commended the senator representing Delta South Senatorial District, Senator James Manager for his developmental efforts in the Niger Delta region, saying that his handwriting of practical development was evident in various Communities in the creek and town.

2019: We handled 30 cases of human trafficking in Kaduna- NSCDC From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

K

aduna State Command of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has disclosed that the command received 30 cases of human trafficking in 2019.

This was contained in its 2019 Annual Report released by the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the Command.

According to the report , a total of 3o cases were reported to the command for investigation and further actions by the State Ministry of Human Services and Social

Development being a collaborating agency in ending violence against children.

The report indicates that some of the cases were traced to community members from eight local government areas of the state.

“A break down shows that out of the total number of reports received, cases of child trafficking for labour exploitation were mostly from Jigawa, Katsina and Kaduna States and 16 survivors were rescued and reunited with their families.

“Three suspects held in connection with the cases of child

trafficking and labour were handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), for further investigation.

“On sexual violence, two defendants were remanded in prison custody while their case files were referred to the Ministry of Justice for legal advice.

“In a related development, cases of domestic violence were referred to Ministry of Justice’s Citizens right for mediation just as cases of physical violence were treated out of court and survivors were reunited

with biological parents for further care and supervision by the State Ministry of Human Services and Social Development.

“In furtherance of its tasks, the unit provided support for survivors of juvenile delinquency who were later sheltered by the collaborating ministry.

“The report maintains that as a form of succor for survivors, cases of child neglect were handled out of court and survivors were also reunited with family members and alimony is being paid for upkeep of victims,” the statement reads.

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, JANUARY 7, 2020

PAGE 8

News

S/Kaduna Peoples Union mourn Prof.

Mallam, others From Femi Oyelola Kaduna

T

he Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) has mourned Professor Simon P. Mallam and the five other persons who lost their lives as a result of a gas explosion in Sabon Tasha area of Kaduna metropolis on Saturday.

This was as Kaduna State Police Command disclosed the identity of victims of the gas explosion.

Prof. Simon P. Mallam, a renowned Nuclear Physicist from Kaura local government area in the southern part of Kaduna State was until his death the Director General of Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission.

SOKAPU President, Hon. Jonathan Asake in a statement condoled with the families of the victims and called on the government and other relevant regulatory agencies to enforce safety regulations for life threatening businesses such as gas outlets and petrol stations that are situated in residential areas to avoid future recurrence of avoidable loss of precious lives.

According to the SOKAPU president, “SOKAPU on behalf of the the 67 Ethnic Nationalities represented by the various Community Development Associations, send our heartfelt condolences to the family of late Prof.

Simon P. Mallam, on the very painful exit of this rare gem, a great icon and an illustrious son of Southern Kaduna whose sad event occurred on Saturday the 4th of January, 2020 following a very regrettable gas explosion that occurred and took his life when he was within the vicinity of the accident.

“Our heartfelt condolences also to the families of the six persons killed alongside Prof. Mallam. May God grant them the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss “To those that were wounded and receiving treatment in the various hospitals in Sabon Tasha, St. Gerald’s Hospital and Barau Dikko, we wish them a quick recovery.”

Integrated Devt Plan for Minna, Suleja cities kick off

From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

N

iger State Government has begun the formation of Integrated Development Plan (IDP) for Minna and Suleja cities to make them equitable, socially inclusive, engaging, resilient and self-sustaining cities.

The Regional Metropolitan Officer, UN-Habitata, Mr Micheal Kinyanjui disclosed this when he led a delegation from UN-Habitat to the state for the preparation of IDP yesterday in Minna.

He noted that the UN-Habitat was delighted with the commitment of Niger government to come up with an IDP for major cities on human settlement for their sustainability.

According to him, “Niger is the first state in Nigeria that has shown commitment to the implementation

of urban support programme, this shows that the state is ready to work and see how to manage development process, “ Kinyanjui explained that the formulation process of the IDP for Minna and Suleja would involve stakeholders participation to come up with their development process.

Also, Rossana Poblet, UNHabitat Consultant for IDP in Niger,called for collaboration between Minna and Suleja emirate, adding that the IDP would involve individual participation.

She pledged to support the state to prepare its IDP and called on the government to set up a technical team for Minna and Suleja.

“See the challenges and potentials, there are a lot of potentials and resources as well as active dynamic people such as

technicians, communities, academia, and everybody to run and develop the plan, “ she said.

In his remarks, the Secretary to the State Government and Chairman of the State Technical Support Team, Alhaji Ahmed Ibrahim Matane, expressed optimism with the commitment of the state governor to ensure the implementation of the programme.

He said that the IDP would help harmonise and integrate major cities in the state which were expanding on daily basis towards their development.

Matane disclosed that many investors were already indicating interest in the IDP to invest and develop Suleja and said government put in resources and make the environment conducive for the development of the IDP. The Coordinator, Niger State

Urban Support Programme, PrOf. Mustapha Zubairu explained that the IDP would be stakeholders driven process to guide activities such as physical, social, economic, cultural and environmental in each of the cities.

He added that the effort for government to create an enabling environment for residents and investors to provide products, services and skills required for economy to grow.

Niger government is partnering with the United Nation Habitat to develop an integrated development plan for Minna and Suleja cities.

The UN-Habitat will prepare an integrated plan for towns and cities in the state to help modernise them to be self-sustaining and prepare IDP for Minna and build the capacity of MDAs to manage the new plan policy.

L-R: Sen. Olamilekan Yayi; Speaker, Lagos House of Assembly, Mr Mudasiru Obasa; Mrs Ibironke Bankole; Wife of the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs Oluremi Hamzat; Her husband, Obafemi Hamzat; Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State; His wife, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, during the 2020 Annual Thanksgiving Service by Lagos State Government on Sunday in Lagos.

Minimum wage: Our negotiation with labour fruitful-Plateau Govt

From Yusuf Mairiga Shekarau, Jos

T

he Plateau Government on Monday said that negotiation with labour unions for the implementation of the N30, 000 minimum wage in the state is a must step to take.

Mr. Dan Manjang, State

Commissioner of Information and Communication, told newsmen in Jos that significant progress was made on the negotiation with labour unions.

He explained that the stage at which negotiation has reached, with labour unions is fruitful and encouraging.

“We first began the process by

setting up a committee being led

by Mr. Luka Fwangyil, a former Head of Service, to negotiate with labour about the consequential adjustments as directed by the Federal Government based on the peculiarity, sustainability and capacity of each state.

“Today I will be proud to tell you that that singular step we took is

Police records 61 rape cases in Jigawa

From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse

N

o fewer than sixty one rape cases was recorded by the Jigawa State Police Command from January to December 2019.

This was disclosed by the state Commissioner of Police, CP Usman Sule Gomna while briefing

newsmen on the cases recorded by the command in the year under review.

He explained that, the command has also received fifty four reports of murder/ culpable homicide and 61 rape/ indecent assault among others within the year.

CP Gomna said a total of 588 different criminal offences where

recorded during the year and all were charged to court except seven that are currently under investigation.

According to him, the cases include 13 unnatural offence, 32 armed robbery, 59 thrift/ stealing, 11 an lawful possession of arm and 119 fatal accidents.

CP Usman added the state police

paying as things are going smoothly toward us agreeing on what to pay our most cherished workers.

“I want to put the record straight to the citizens of Plateau that this government is committed to the welfare of its workers and do all it could to achieve that at all cost,” he assured.

The commissioner appealed

to workers and the unions to remain calm while negotiations are on and pending subsequent recommendations.

The commissioner enjoined plateau indigenes to desist any attempt by detractors to undermine the governments from discharging its usual constitutional roles to the good people of the state.

command in collaboration other sisters security agencies and general public succeeded in handling all the recorded cases which consequently help in maintaining peace and order in the state. “ In 2020 the operation Fuff Adder in Jigawa State will strength its community policing through massive

community engagement to bridge its manpower gaps and ensure security coverage to all communities across the state.”

The commissioner called on the general public to continue with support given to police by informing them about any suspicious movement in the community for timely action against criminals.

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, JANUARY 7, 2020

NiMet predicts dry, dusty atmosphere today

T

he Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) on Monday predicted a dry and dusty atmosphere over the entire country for Tuesday.

NiMet’s Weather Outlook released in Abuja forecast dust haze conditions over the northern states with horizontal visibility of 2 to 5km and localised visibility of less than 2000m.

The agency envisaged day and night temperatures to be 24 to 31 degrees Celsius and 13 to 20 degrees Celsius respectively.

“For central states, dust haze condition with horizontal visibility of 2 to 5km and localised visibility of less than 2000m is anticipated over the region within the forecast period.

“Day and night temperatures of the region are expected to be 28 to 33 degrees Celsius and 12 to 20 degrees Celsius respectively,” it said.

NiMet predicted early morning mist/fog over the coastal cities of the southern states.

It further predicted dust haze conditions with horizontal visibility of 1to 3km and localised visibility of less than 1000m over the region within the forecast period.

“Day and night temperatures are expected to be 30 to 35 degrees Celsius and 15 to 23 degrees Celsius respectively,” the agency added.(NAN)

Page 9

News

2 feared killed as leadership tussle rocks Delta community

From Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

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wo persons were in the early hours of Monday allegedly shot by suspected hired assassins in Afisere Community in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta following an aged long leadership tussle.

It was gathered that a group of persons had in a failed attempt to dethrone the current leadership of the community, resorted to the alleged shooting of one Anthony Apiloko, a 42 year old motorcyclist at a close range but however survived and was rushed to the hospital in the area where he is currently receiving treatment for gunshot injuries Sources said that Afisere Community has been enveloped in leadership tussle following calls by a section of the community led by one Chief Evans Akponanna on the need for a financial audit of the community’s funds and amendment of the constitution before the next community’s election scheduled for July 2020.

While the demands were

reportedly tensed, it was further gathered a faction took the executive of the community to court seeking an order restraining the executive from tampering with the GMoU projects funds paid to the community by an oil company operating in the community But the community Public Relations Officer, Precious Orichadere who confirmed the incident, said that two persons were shot as they are currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital in the area Police officers at Ughelli Police Division who spoke to journalists on condition of anonymity described the incident as pathetic adding that a faction of youths in the community opposed to the leadership of the community as they also passed a vote of no confidence on the Victor Otumemine led executive while they installed a Caretaker Committee to oversee the affairs of the community.

Meanwhile, youths suspected to be members of Tuomo Community in Burutu Local

Government Area at the weekend allegedly attacked the community leader, Chief Gimba Tamani and destroyed his palace over alleged postponement of youth election.

Eyewitness Jerome Ebeiye said that the irate youths also allegedly beat up two persons in the Palace and proceeded to destroy property in the community radio house.

But Chief Tamani while narrating his ordeals to journalists in the area, said that the community youth president election earlier scheduled for December 30, 2019 was postponed by the community leader allegedly due to security threats.

He said” the Joint Taskforce ( JTF) Commanding Officer at Agbarho gave an order to the Bomadi Division not to meddle into civil issues in communities and officers led by the Bomadi Commander came to my Palace to inform me.

“I was planning to invite the Police to provide security for the election when information came to my palace that supporters of one of the aspirants, name

withheld, were coming to attack me with the perception that I had postponed their election again. They were led by one of their leaders who came with matchetes, battles, axe and broke my door, invaded my bedroom, destroyed all property on sight, including window glasses, chairs and also made away with my money,they would have inflicted severe injuries on me or perhaps killed me if I was seen,as I was on my way to report to security threats at the police station when they arrived, and I am calling on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and the appropriate security agencies to apprehend those involved in the act because an attack on the throne is an attack on Tuomo Community.”

In a swift reaction, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Onome Onovwakpoyeya said investigation into the matter was on going with a view to bringing those involved to arrest and warned that the police will not tolerate any act of indiscipline in the community.

L-R: Minister of Health, Dr Ehanire Osagie; Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Faisal Shuaib; and Chief Executive Officer, GAVI Alliance, Seth Berkley, during the Expanded InterAgency Coordinating Committee meeting to review immunization and Primary Health Care performance, recently in Abuja.

Al-Makura empowers 100 youths, women

S

en. Umaru Al-Makura (APCNasarawa South), on Saturday empowered 100 vulnerable members of his constituency with grinding machines and power generating sets.

Distributing the items to the beneficiaries in Lafia, Al-Makura said it was aimed at improving their economic well-being.

He the items were part of his zonal intervention for his constituents, especially the most vulnerable.

Al-Makura maintained that the best form of empowerment was not doling out cash and food to people but providing them with items that would enable them make a living.

According to him, the grinding

mills will go a long way to boost the economy of households of the women beneficiaries.

Al-Makura explained that he would roll-out various empowerment programmes with

direct bearing on indigent members in his senatorial district to tackle poverty and restiveness.

Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr Isa Mahanga from Awe Local Government Area, said

that the donation was a justification of their mandate to the senator.

He therefore assured the senator that they would use the items for the purpose they were meant to serve.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the beneficiaries were drawn from Doma, Lafia, Awe, Keana and Obi Local Government Areas that make-up the senatorial zone. (NAN)

My wife is a ‘serial’ thief, divorce-seeking man tells court

M

r Olanrewaju on Monday prayed a Mapo Customary Court in Ibadan to dissolve his nine-year union with his wife, Tolulope, whom he called “a serial thief” and adulterous.

Olanrewaju alleged that Tolulope was fond of giving her lovers birds from his poultry farm.

“Shortly before the last

Christmas, after I returned from a trip to Abuja, I discovered that Tolulope had stolen two big turkeys valued at N15,000 each. ”She also stole a new TV set and a fan from my farm.” he added.

In her own submission, Olanrewaju’s mother accused her daughter-in-law of assault.

“Tolulope beats me and has

threatened to poison me, my son and my two grand-children.

Responding, Tolulope, agreed to the prayer for divorce.

“I took the two turkeys because Olanrewaju has not paid me, as the manager of the poultry farm.

“I don’t know the whereabouts of Olanrewaju’s TV set and fan, he is telling lies.

The president of the court, Chief Ademola Odunade, in his judgement dissolved the union and awarded custody of the two children to the respondent.

Odunade ordered the petitioner to pay N10,000 as the children’s monthly feeding allowance.

He also ordered Olanrewaju to be responsible for the school fees

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, JANUARY 7, 2020

PAGE 10

News

By Lawrence Olaoye

E

ven when President Muhammadu Buhari in his new year letter to Nigerians saying he would not contest as president after the expiration of his second term in 2023, the Presidency has said that he will not hand over power to looters.

Responding to a recent call by the Senior Pastor of Latter a rain Assembly, Tunde Bakare, urging President Muhammadu Buhari to sustain his legacy by picking a successor before 2023, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina who was guest of Channels Television’s Politics Today by Seun Akinbaloye, said Buhari will not handpick his successor neither will he handover to those who will take the country back and erased the successes of his administration

Abducted CAN chair seeks govt intervention

2023: Buhari won’t hand over to looters -Presidency

on the fight against corruption.

Adesina said that like anyone in position of authority, his principal has his exit plan.

He said: “By May 2023 God willing he would have finished his second term as president, he would not have stood for another term and he will be exiting. So, he has that at the back of his mind. Pastor Bakare said he should be interested in who succeeds him, yes I’m sure the president will be interested in who succeeds him but he will not manipulate the process, to pick a successor.

The president will not pick a successor. We know him, he is not somebody like that. Will he be interested in the process?

Yes he will. He will ensure that

there is a free, fair and credible election; that nobody will come to use money and resources to bamboozle his way into the leadership of the country. It will not happen. The president will ensure free, fair and credible process but to hand pick a successor? No, he will not do that.”

On if Buhari was listening to the advice by his friend, Pastor Bakare, Adesina said: “The President will ensure that Nigeria is in safe hands. There is no point having worked, having made gains, having made advances since 20152023, to hand Nigeria over to those who will take her back or hand Nigeria over to looters once again or you allow looters

to allow stolen funds to work for them to seize power. No, that will not happen.

“The President will be interested much in who succeeds him but he is not going to impose anybody. Rather, he is going to create a free and fair process and Nigerians are then going to determine who the next president should be.”

On Bakare’s allegation of the enemies of the nation being in the three tiers of government and arrogating state resources for personal use and the Buhari’s response, the Presidential Spokesman said, “Well, the president respects the principles of federalism. There are certain things that the president will not dabble into but whatever

role that the law allows him to look into that, sure he will do.

The anti-corruption agencies are empowered to look at things happening in the state and they will. But the president interfering or intervening directly where the law does not permit him, no he will not.”

On if the president will act on the electoral Act amendment early enough though he said he is committed to reforming the electoral process, Adesina said: “Well, it depends on how you define early enough. One thing that is clear is that the President will do whatever is needful before the next set of general elections. Early enough is relative. But the president will do whatever is needful.”

T

he Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Chairman in Michika Local Government Area of Adamawa State who was abducted last week by Boko Haram elements has spoken out from the den of his abductors.

In a video released over the weekend, Rev Lawan Andimi was seen appealing to the state government to intervene and secure his release.

The abducted Rev, however, declared that if it’s the will of God that he would not get out of captivity, the government should help him look after his children.

He also called on his fellow pastors to impress on the authorities to secure his release.

The insurgents had stormed the community on Thursday, January 2, to carry out their attacks but were repelled by soldiers and vigilantes before they could do much damage.

They, however, succeeded in whisking the reverend away.

Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State (2nd R), with other dignitaries, during an inspection visit to the ongoing construction of new Gombe-Biu Bypass, recently in Gombe State.

Stop escalation, urges UN chief, as geopolitical tensions escalate

T

he New Year has begun with our world in turmoil. We are living in dangerous times”, said the UN chief, noting that turbulence is only escalating.

“Even nuclear non-proliferation can no longer be taken for granted” he added, without specifically referencing the events of recent days following the targeted killing by a United States drone, of Iran’s most influential general, Qasem Soleimani, in Iraq last Friday.

Iran has vowed to avenge the killing of the elite Quds Force commander, and on Sunday it signified it would no longer be

bound by the restrictions on its nuclear programme, outlined in the 2015 deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA. Guterres has also expressed his deep concern at the announcement by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), commonly known as North Korea, that it was ending its self-imposed moratorium on nuclear missile testing.

On Sunday, the Iraqi parliament also passed a nonbinding resolution calling for US troops to leave the country, in a

clear response to the killing of the Iranian general on their soil. In response, President Trump has threatened Iraq with sanctions if forced to withdraw its forces, and also threatened on Twitter, to destroy multiple sites of “cultural” significance within Iran, if there are reprisal attacks against Americans.

Mr. Guterres told the noon stakeout for correspondents at UN Headquarters in New York, that a “cauldron of tensions is leading more and more countries to take unpredicted decisions with unpredictable consequences and a profound risk of miscalculation.

At the same time, we see trade and technological conflicts that fracture world markets, undermine growth and widen inequalities”, he added.

Furthermore, said the UN chief, “our planet is on fire. The climate crisis rages on.

In many parts of the world, we see many people frustrated and angry. We see increased social unrest and growing extremism, nationalism and radicalization, with a dangerous advance of terrorism, notably in Africa.

He said it was clear that “this situation cannot go on. I have been

following the recent rise in global tensions with great concern. I am in constant contact with leading officials around the world.

The UN chief had a clear fourpoint message for what needs to happen now, in capitals across the world: “Stop escalation. Exercise maximum restraint. Re-start dialogue. Renew international cooperation.”

“Let us not forget the terrible human suffering caused by war,” he concluded. “As always, ordinary people pay the highest price. It is our common duty to avoid it.”

(Source: UN)

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, JANUARY 7, 2020

PAGE 11

EDITORIAL

T

The electricity tariff raise

he Federal Government has asked the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to effect an “immediate (upward) review” of electricity tariffs across board. The NERC announced the new power charges in a series of documents dated December 31, 2019. The tariff increase ranges from 59.7% to 77.6%.

Government has committed to funding the revenue gap arising from the difference between costreflective tariffs determined by the commission and the actual end-user tariffs payable by customers.”

The truth is that two of the stakeholders - the government and power distributors - have pushed for higher tariffs commensurate with their investments in the industry.

The government generates the electricity which it then sells to 11 private distribution companies. The other stakeholder that will resent higher tariffs is the consumer, this for good reasons.

NERC

Consumers classified as residential (R1) are, however, unaffected by the by cost increment. The excluded N4 per kWh they have been paying is unchanged.

A majority of Nigerians fall into the category of residential consumers who are those using singe phase and threeThe phase meters and explained that Firstly, the government consuming 50 kWh of the new tariff electricity “in premises claims power generation with flats exclusively for has averaged 5,700 regime was residential purposes.

Megawatts but supply “Those categorised based on “actual to end-users has been changes in under commercial less and very epileptic. are consumers who macroeconomic For instance, the use premises for any national grid suffered variables” in purpose other than two shutdowns each exclusively as residence in November and generation or as a factory for December 2019. The capacity as at government said the manufacturing goods, October 31, 2019. power distributors were while industrial consumers are to blame, a charge the those who use their latter denied. premises for manufacturing goods, including welding and ironmonger. Secondly, the distribution sector Consumers involved in agriculture of the power industry, over the other than agro-allied enterprises years, had been riddled with involved in processing, water corruption. Consumers were often boards, and religious houses, shortchanged by staff of the former among others, are categorised as Power Holding Company of Nigeria special electricity consumers.

(PHCN). It was for that reason that the company was unbundled The NERC explained that the new and power distribution privatized. tariff regime was based on “actual Yet the corruption has not abated. changes in macroeconomic Distribution companies have failed variables” in generation capacity as to provide all consumers with preat October 31, 2019. Other factors paid meters so that they pay for are an “exchange rate of N306.9 only what they can buy. This is the plus one per cent premium, which consumer’s constant headache. is about N309.97 to the dollar, and gas price of $2.50 per million metric Without revolving this problem and tons BTU and gas transportation going ahead to announce new cost of $0.80 per MMBTU.” tariffs in the New Year is putting the consumer in an insufferable However, the new tariffs will not take situation. It is important that the effect until April 1. “The Federal meter issue is sorted out quickly Government’s updated Power for the consumer to get value for Sector Recovery Programme does his money. This is why we think the not envisage an immediate increase 3-months moratorium placed on in end-user tariffs until April 1, the new charges is not enough for 2020, and a transition to full cost the government to sort matters out reflectivity by end of 2021,” said with the distributors. Next June will NERC. “In the interim, the Federal be more like it.

“

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Letter to the Editor

NAUB: General Buratai’s Wisdom

By David Onmeje

N

igeria’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and leader of the counter-insurgency operations, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai is an enigmatic soldier, admirable leader and astute administrator. He is a soldier who knows his direction in all circumstances. His leadership vision of the Nigerian Army is anchored chiefly on professionalism and he has effectively lived this dream these past few years in transforming the Army.

Every day, Gen. Buratai’s actions show tenacious pursuit of the vision and agenda of repositioning the Nigerian Army into one of the very best around the world. His uncommon reforms and innovations in the last few years have elevated the Nigerian Army to an enviable pedestal. Gen. Buratai is not a flippant leader; he blends his words with verifiable actions.

The Army Chief has promised Nigerians that he must finally terminate the reign of Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorism in the country. And he is sparing no effort in this direction. So, in another surprise outing, Gen. Buratai shocked his troops and Nigerians alike at the beginning of Year 2020 by personally leading troops for the anti-insurgency clearance operations in Nigeria’s Northeast for the umpteenth time.

The COAS led troops to climb the craggy Limankara hills in Borno as part of the COAS’ exceptional operational visits to Boko Haram hideouts in the state. It is one of the locations, encased by a rugged terrain where remnants of terrorists find fortress.

He combed the place and thereafter, visited multiple other areas in the region to boost troops morale.

It is an apt indication that Gen. Buratai is not only providing good leadership to the Nigerian Army by routine office work, but he is also best in the trenches. He saunters on the field and into the trenches from time to time with troops.

A core plank of Gen. Buratai’s vision to make the Nigerian Army professionally responsible and responsive in the discharge of its constitutional roles is the welfare of troops and their families. So, he has berthed massive renovations, constructions of new offices and residential accommodation for soldiers and numerous other empowerments and developmental projects.

Almost every day, Gen. Buratai commissions a project somewhere in the country or lays the foundation for a development project in various parts of the country. The previously loud grumblings of soldiers over poor welfare have dissipated because Gen. Buratai has instituted and sustained the culture of enhanced comfort for Nigerian Army personnel.

And sometimes, he stretches into Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects for Army’s host communities. For instance, by the end of 2019, the Nigerian Army had reconstructed and commissioned the collapsed pedestrian metal bridge at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, which links students’ hostels and lecture halls. It’s a rare community service from an institution like the Nigerian Army.

Quite tragically, when the bridge collapsed as a result of a heavy downpour, it consumed the lives of three students and injured several others. Same day, the Army Chief also commissioned new accommodation blocks for soldiers at School of Armoury, Bauchi and another 10 new blocks of 8 apartments at Lt.-Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai Village in the Nigerian Army Armoured Corps, Obienu Barracks in same Bauchi.

At the Gibson Jalo cantonment in Adamawa, Gen. Buratai commissioned Entrepreneurship and Skill Acquisition Centre, Accident and Emergency Unit and also, performed the foundation laying of perimeter fence in the barracks. Similarly, at the Nigerian Army Ordnance Corps, Gen. Buratai has constructed the officers’ transit accommodation, with the nomenclature Col Nebo Hall and the headquarters main gate. It is fairly difficult to say, any Army formation in Nigeria or any section of the country has not felt the impact of Gen. Buratai’s leadership of the Army.

Gen. Buratai has built new schools;

renovated and upgraded existing ones for the Nigerian Army like the Nigerian Army Aviation School. But the wonder of it all is the Nigerian Army University, Biu (NAUB).

It is incredible to discern how Gen. Buratai conceived this laudable initiative. It is even more endearing how he has been able to aggressively build NAUB within a span of two years. NAUB commenced operations in 2018, but it is like a varsity in existence for more than three decades.

Today, the first Army university in Africa is expanding in physical structures, academic enrollment and staff strength with the speed of a tornado. A few days ago, Gen. Buratai inaugurated an ultra-modern and gigantic building complex for the Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences of NAUB, cofunded by the Nigerian Army and the FGN. The science faculty complex comprises of 47 offices, 24 classrooms, lecture halls and three laboratories. A sight of the commissioned marvelous architectural edifice would tempt a visitor to believe he has found himself in a foreign university.

But certainly no! It is in Nigeria and in Borno, a state and community once ravaged by terrorism. It is really a magnificent sight to behold.

The beneficial impact of the university to the host and indeed, all Nigerians is unimaginably enormous. In fact, even its admission policy is skewed in favour of civilians, who have been allocated 75 percent of quota, while the military and para-military agencies collectively share the remaining 25 percent.

With this daily exhibition of positive results, Gen. Buratai has demonstrated his knack for leadership excellence as evidence in the massive infrastructural improvements at NAUB within the shortest time. This is a remarkable departure from established norms in Nigeria where it takes approved new higher institutions a dozen years to find their operational pulse.

But the COAS has effortlessly broken the jinx.

The Army boss is a realist to the core and a selfless leader. He believes in turning everything he touches into gold. Excellence in all assignments has been his guiding ideology. He hardly misses his targets. He leads for the benefit of the people, detached from his personal interests, a mark of true and committed leaders anywhere in the world.

Gen. Buratai believes in the consummation of splendor and hard work.

The university in Biu is one of the numerous achievements of his administration. At its inception, Gen. Buratai promised Nigerians to make NAUB a world class university.

And he has left nothing to chance, but is vigorously pursuing this ambition as evident in the results.

It explains why many Nigerians are puzzled with Gen. Buratai’s persona. People have continued to ask where Gen. Buratai derives his wisdom? Nigerians angle to know what inspires his exceptional vision, ideas and the strength of a workaholic?

So, aside his military career, Gen. Buratai is an uncommon farmer. Buratai owns a personal snake farm, a moneyspinning venture only for the brave, like he indubitably typifies. Not many Nigerians are courageous enough to go close to a snake.

But Gen. Buratai does not only keep them quarantined in a farm, but he plays with them as pets.

Though interested in agricultural investments, but as the COAS he avoids conflict of interest. Rather, he has launched the Nigerian Army farms for soldiers and their families. He is not into personal rice cultivation or any crop that would conflict with what the Nigerian Army has initiated for soldiers.

He has rather introduced and supported empowerment schemes such as the Barracks Investment Initiative Programme for the skills acquisition and empowerment of Nigerian Army personnel and their families.

Gen. Buratai remains a great, reputable and archetypal leader of his generation and for many years to come in the history of our country.

Onmeje wrote this piece from the United Kingdom.

PAGE 12

Opinion

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, JANUARY 7, 2020

My eyewitness daylight burial of criminal justice

By Daniel O. Adedigba

T

oday, I saw a new twist to the Administration of Criminal Justice.

I was on the queue at a Gtbank ATM just in front of a major road linking Ogbomoso to Oyo when I saw a naked man running and gasping for air. The poor guy (hereinafter addressed as the accused person) had been alleged of stealing two hundred thousand naira (N200,000) in a shop nearby, stripped naked and in the course of being beaten, took to his heels. In the twinkle of an eye, I saw some young men as well as some motorcyclists in pursuit. As though the accused had a special training in ‘escaping’, the long list of chasers could not catch him. At some point, he made a U-Turn, ran into the ATM section of the bank, receiving beatings on the run yet not caught. The occasioned ruggedness of the accused had already awakened more pursuers to the extent that it became obvious the guy would be caught.

Given the nature of the scene, I was sure if the accused was not eventually killed, he would be closed to death when they get him down. In my firm position that Justice is for the tripartite of the Victim, the State and the

Accused, I woke the consciousness of some persons close to me to the legal aftermath of what is happening and luckily, one of them linked the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Oyo Command. In what was to me a commendable response by the SARS team, there was blasting of siren in few minutes. The team was however clogged by the heavy traffic on the road which led to a little delay to the scene where the accused was held down.

Before getting to the scene where the accused person was pinned down, the accused had already been brutalised to the expense of losing blood from his palm, head and shoulder. The SARS team condemned the brutality of the accused person and told the league of complainants that they (SARS) cannot go with the accused person; this was of course to avoid fundamental human right issues with public interest lawyers in the event that anything happen to the accused. The SARS team mentioned that in the instance that the accused die before they get to their station, who will be held responsible? No one was ready to answer that question.

In no time, the SARS team drove off and mentioned that if the victim of the theft was ready to pursue the matter, she should

treat the accused of the sustained injuries and bring him to their station. The team drove off leaving the accused behind. The matter was then left in the hand of several public commentators, self-acclaimed judges and opinionated rabble rousers throwing different opinions and options. In the long run, they agreed in unison that the accused person be left to go on his own as no one was ready to treat him for the matter to be prosecuted.

What follows quickly is where lies the fate of the barefooted blindfolded woman holding a sword and a scale – Justice. Given this instance, was there Justice for the accused? Who was brutally beaten without been heard, without being tried, without the sledge hammer of the court convicting him of theft contrary to our criminal laws. Was their Justice for the Victim of theft? Who within minutes was stripped of a whopping and hard-earned two hundred thousand naira, who could not get her money back and who could not give information to prosecute the suspect.

Was their Justice for the State? Perhaps NO, NO, NO. The overriding question then is Why? At what point was Justice buried and at what point was Justice made impossible? The quick answer is at the point

where the empathetic passersby started the rounds of beating on the accused, subjected him to torture, inhumane treatment and stripped him in entirety of the dignity of his human person as entrenched in Section 34, Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFRN) 1999 and immediately condemned him guilty without trial in contravention of Section 36(5) CFRN 1999.

It is a twist to the Administration of Criminal Justice and a deep stab in the back for the message of Justice. The massage remains evergreen. “Every person who has been charged with a criminal offence shall be presumed innocent until he is proven guilty”. In this instance, the presumption of innocence was raped and Jungle Justice prevailed. It is, I suppose, that the long list of torturers of the accused person should be apprehended for criminal assault.

By the directive of the Legal Maxim; Fiat Justitia, Ruat Coelum, Justice must be done even though heaven falls. In this instant case, the heaven did not even fall yet Justice was not done.

It was indeed a tripartite loss! A tragedy of monumental proportions!

Daniel Adedigba can be reached at adedigbadaniel01@gmail.com

Indices of poverty and its consequential breach of fundamental rights

By Adeyeye Eyitayo

I

n my family, if anyone becomes seriously ill, we know that we will lose him because we do not even have enough money for food so we cannot afford to use the hospital —– A 35-year-old Nigerian Woman.

Nigeria is the most populous black nation with population of over 200million,heterogeneous and multicultural society covering massive land space in the Africa continent. Nigeria is equally endowed with natural resources and human capital sufficient enough to cater for her population if adequately and judiciously administered.

However, the trend of poverty in Nigeria has steadily be on the increase like wildfire. The dimension of poverty in Nigeria is such that is multifaceted and has permeated through the cycle of people living within the poverty bracket.

In 2018, statistics from World Data Lab confirmed Nigeria as the poverty capital of the world, overtaking India on the world poverty radar, with an estimated 87 million Nigerians, or around half of the country’s population living on less than $1.90 a day.

The reality of life for the poor people in Nigeria is worse than what can ever be imagined. It makes them less of human that could not even enjoy basic necessities of life guaranteed by the extant laws of Nigeria and the international community.

More than half of the Nigerian population settle in the rural and underdeveloped areas where the quality of life is crude and native,due mainly to extreme lack of basic social amenities. The health care is very poor compounded by the lack of access to potable water. Educational facilities are insufficient and dilapidated, access to land for agriculture is limited and where available, productivity is low due to poor technology and lack of input. Road network, communications facilities and markets are poorly developed. The list is endless and regrettably government policies have not been channelled to reverse the hydra-headed poverty mitigating against the poor majority in Nigeria.

In effect, the stroke of poverty in Nigeria has shattered and battered the fundamental idea of Human Rights, reducing such rights to “empty rights”. Thus, the notion of human

right has become mere illusion and figment of imagination existing only on paper and not in reality.

Meanwhile, “Human Rights” are basic and inherent rights of any human individual, giving access to undeniable necessities such as the right to live, the right to liberty, and the right to freedom of expression. They are rights that makes life worth living for humans in the absence of which life is miserable and worthless.

Regrettably, despite 1999 Constitution’s devotion of the whole of Chapter IV to human rights, (similar to the ones in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights UDHR) coupled with a mechanism for its enforcement, these rights remain elusive and meaningless to the poor masses, who remains the majority in Nigeria.

Since time immemorial, issue of human rights abuses and violations prevails in the Nigerian societal structure. And while most of the world’s community see Nigeria as a developing nation, much of the human rights cases still go unreported.

A cursory look at some of the basic Fundamental Rights which have become illusory to the poor masses.

RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution provides for the right to freedom of expression, including the freedom to hold opinions, to receive, impart ideas and information without any let or hindrance.

Same right is enshrined and recognized in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The government of Nigeria has severally muzzled this right by clamping down on the masses who protest unpopular policies of government and labour unions who champion the rights of the poor are also subjected to censorship of their private telephones, series of arrests, detention and physical attacks. The prolonged detention of Mr Omoyele Sowore, a journalist and 2019 presidential candidate, by the Federal Government of Nigeria is a clincher. Mr Sowore was detained for by the Department of State Services (DSS), a specialised security agency under the direct control of the President of Nigeria for over hundred days despite several orders of court demanding

his release. Eventually, he was relunctantly released following serious condemnation from both national and international community.

RIGHT TO LIFE “Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person” ——.Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) The 1999 Constitution of Nigeria also insulates this right in section 33.

Despite the importance attached to this right by international community and the domestic laws of Nigeria, this right is however largely unprotected, especially for the poor. Apart from the physical threat to life by acts of extrajudicial killings, the poor are also worst affected by deaths resulting from a chain of causal effects such as lack of adequate food and nutrition,especially in the core north of Nigeria, lack of access to health, safe and portable water and adequate sanitation, housing and a healthy environment. It is sad to know that malaria kills more than 300,000 Nigerians annually.

RIGHT TO FREEDOM FROM DISCRIMINATION The way the poor are marginalized on account of poverty, humiliated when seeking access to government services, and being denied access to information and participation are equally discriminatory of the poor. Needful to recall situations where the rich and people of influence command the attention of the police to achieve thier personal interest.

In 2017, a poor man was reported to be relaxing on the balcony of his house somewhere around Agege Lagos state, with a towel tied around his waist, when the police on patrol reportedly picked him for ‘illegal sitting’ in front of his house. Despite protesting and claiming that he had not offended the law he was taken to the police station and detained, and what was written on the charge board at the police station against his name was ‘illegal sitting’. That can only happen to the poor.

RIGHT TO HEALTH The UDHR in Article 25 provides for adequate standard of living, which includes the right to health. The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and

mental health to the exclusion of nobody.The risk of getting infectious disease and sickness becomes more possible day by day due to intolerable living conditions and the crude standard of living, which add up to reduce life expectancy for the impoverished density.

It is a popular saying that health is wealth.

FREEDOM FROM TORTURE The resulting effect of poverty in this regard is much more psychological. Effects of torture inflicted by poverty is that which makes an able bodied man/woman to wake up in the morning and not have the smallest clue as to how or where he is going to find a meal to eat the whole of that day, not to mention day after. What can also be more torturing for a man or woman who is willing to work but finds him or herself a victim of frustratingly prolonged unemployment.

In conclusion, the deleterious effect of poverty on human rights of the poor man in Nigeria is inexpressible and can not be captured within the confines of any discourse. The poor hardly enjoy human rights and neither can they afford to protect against or redress any violation by way of access to justice. Also, the narrative above clearly revealed that a human rights approach to poverty reduction has great prospects if all the rights can be enjoyed and enforced by the poor, because of their potency to make them escape the cycle of poverty.

In theory the Constitution of Nigeria in its preamble talks of promoting good government and welfare of all persons based on the principles of Freedom, Equality and Justice. But in reality , one sees that it is the powerful, the rich and the dominant class that seem to have all the rights, while for the poor, the weak and the down-trodden, it seems to be their right to suffer in silence, to be patient and wait for their reward in heaven.

Lack of equality before the law irrespective of social status weighs heavily against the poor, because each time we deflect from equality, we rob the poor of more comfort than we add to the rich.

Adeyeye Eyitayo is a Law graduate with irrepressible penchant for human rights.

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, JANUARY 7, 2020

PAGE 13

Comment

Educating the so-called Marlians on who Marley really was

By Kareem Itunu Azeez

I

f there was a more volatile time to exist, then those who lived in the early days of 80s would know and understand much better what standing for a purpose means, and having a philosophy that depicts your character symbolises. Many icons have come and gone, philosophers as well as orators, in whose trends a band was erected, and in not just their memory but as an emulation of their struggles.

Bob Marley of Jamaica is one of this people. While back in Nigeria there is one who is already seeing himself as one, even on social media, his followers sees him as president, while its not as serious as it may seem, his negative impact on youths is spreading like wide fire.

Meanwhile the Jamaican musician Born Robert Nesta Marley, better known as Bob, was born in Rhoden Hall to the north of Jamaica on February 6, 1945.

Been born to a Captain, Mr Norval Marley, a fifty-year-old white quartermaster attached to the British West Indian regiment and his mother, Cedella Booker, was an eighteen-year-old black woman. Which is to say, even at such era, early marriage was encouraged, not just walk around and dump your flesh residue in different tanks Bob Marley was a fighter, a lover of freedom, and of his career was to be given a short review, it would go thus; Both religiously and politically, the Rastafarian movement started in Jamaica in 1930s and drew its beliefs from many sources, including Jamaican-born black nationalist Marcus Garvey, the Old Testament, and their African heritage and culture. Bob Marley eventually joined the movement in regard to using marijuana as “wisdom weed” that had grown on the grave of Solomon.

The only Marlian was Bob Marley not this Nuisance Bob’s belief in One World, One Love was inspired by his belief in Rastafari. It not only influenced his music and spirit, but it also influenced his appearance. Rasta men embraced the look of long dreadlocks and beards. Bob came to embrace the appearance, the weed, the movement, and all of the powerful aspects of Rasta. Bob especially embraced the signature music of Rasta known as reggae, and then made a career of conquering it.

In a nutshell everything about the first, true and only Marlian was with a purpose and driven for positivism.

A little profiling would do about Marley, but the premise of this article is via, the immoral trend of Nigerian musician, one Mr Azeez Fashola, better known by his stage name, Naira Marley, who to so many youths aired their opinion, while to some his vulgar approach to sensitive issues through

music needs to be checked and if the system would do nothing to stop this, then to the few who still understand what value means, and remember culture, then to those few what is abnormal will continue to be abnormal no matter how sweet coated its made to be. And gladly I would be excited if they continue to disregard this menace.

The Nigerian entertainment industry is gaining weight by the day, and is head and shoulder above its African counterpart, which is a joyful thing to the country, amidst the dangerous economic situation and political tension in the country, Nigerians have no where to turn to in seeking for solace, little wonder almost all Nigerian youths sip in whatever comes from the reservoir of the music industry.

Today the industry now thrives on the ever growing immoralities among the youths, Kareem Itunu Azeez had laid emphasis on this in his article some months back, titled “The Songs that raised us” a dedication to Segun Akinlolu (Beautiful Nubia) when he called the industry a “Noise industry”. This is to let you know very well that not just the recent trend of the so-called Naira Marley, that is influencing them, but a known fact that the Nigerian youths of today have gone far worse than the ones that raised us, especially entertainment wise, they simply hide under the cloak of,, ” We are in a computer age” The 25 year old Nigerian singer, who tagged himself a Marlian, today might be earning a living through the entertainment Industry that no longer have censorship or perhaps no longer works, but having been convicted for crimes known and unknown is sure enough reason to vet his personality, but once again Nigerians follow beats not message in the music. The future is sure doom if fraudulent messages are encouraged openly through music, and unfortunately even played in open party, where the internet age kids assimilate faster even than a super computer nowadays.

You try to switch on your television set, and the only form of dance you see is children younger than expected dancing to what they refer to as ” Leg work” some say “Tesumole” and many others, which make no meaning but further water the decaying part of our unmonitored lifestyle. There would be no point comparing today’s Nigerian youths with that of countries of which population is of advantage, while they progress using their population cleverly, we kept on ridiculing and criticising the government who has done nothing, meanwhile, many sit at home and become twitter and Faceboo comrades. As we graciously regress.

meaning, which definitely must have been picked from the Jamaican legend “Marley” although there is room for self chosen words, but definitely the person in reference to, can’t be so clever to have created his own name. Having been picked from the Jamaican musician, then it is an assumed believe that been a representative of a particular brand means you will exhibit the traits of such characters, at least to some high degree, if you are a Nigerian, you probably must have been born in Nigerian, A Malian is a citizen of Mali, followers of various philosophers are known by the name ascribed to them by their philosophy.

Therefore, Naira Marley is calling himself a Marlian then he should however exhibit the true traits of Bob Marley, as well as his followers and youths who are just pushed without any purpose. But having falter badly by this assessment it shows he only is a nuisance to the morality of the environment we found ourselves in. In proper perspective, the only thing he represent is the pointless smokes of weeds freely in his shows and concerts. A true Marlian don’t do that.

If you are a Marlian, you must have been wired to think there’s no joy in the situation you find yourself, and probably won’t care whatever happens to you and your next line of action. You definitely listen to musics that often time depicts your current mood, and still you balance the equation by justifying your actions with unreasonable proofs, issues like why you are poor and justification for engaging into frauds, why the government is not functioning, then justifications like disobeying laws and orders, bad parenting and justification like, been vagabonds, why you are single and broke, and you tends to justify your self by either engaging in casual sex or even rape. The list is endless and a troubled country has so much more to deal with including this, then we are a country fading into abys.

More than 40% of today’s youth when you use Lagos as a case study now don’t even have a legal means of survival, if its not cybercrime, its hooliganism, they now camp themselves in number under incomplete buildings, some are even bold enough to publicly display their mental neurosis, which sons and daughters of reasonable parents do that. And they call themselves Marlian they complain of been unemployed, but I tell you there are various opportunities around, and all it takes is for this opportunity to be explored, but the Nigerian Marlian mentality is wired and designed to make quick money or die trying, and I tell you, I hope they do meet their Waterloo while trying.

known as his ‘no-belt-gang’, this group of people are very devout followers of Naira Marley and are known to usually be skilled in illicit activities such as 419 and yahoo”

What does been a Marlian means?

The fact that it has no recognized etymological meaning further streamlined us to its subjective

And according to the urban online dictionary, it States that, ” A ‘Marlian’ is a (true) follower of popular Nigerian musician Naira Marley . Also

Kareem Itunu Azeez Writes from Lagos Nigeria.

Bob Marley was known for his inspiring quotes, and strong messages, i would continue to rememeber one of my favorite, when he said, “Does possession make you rich’ my wealth is life forever” it would be a shame on my side to compare both in terms of intelligence, however claiming to represent what you are not is another reason why such followers should be schooled, and it doesn’t matter whether they change their narrations or not, the fact remains, “A man with shame won’t behave the way this current youths, behaves they called themselves Marlians. And all they know is making money and sleeping around freely and aimlessly.

Returning back to the Bob Marley quotes and inspiring messages, it would be a waste of time trying to give you quotes from the Nigerian musician, as flurry of his quotes and messages are online for his loved ones.

However the trouble for me isn’t even the musician currently, it is the amount of people he has gathered overtime, the jobless as well as the ones struggling to make ends meet, the ones into the wrong side of the divide, who engage in terrible and immoral acts, the trouble furthermore is the fact that, through his ” No message” musics and lifestyles the coming generation are been contaminated.

At least if our generation seems to be a wasted generation, as often time proclaim by the Nobel Laureate, (Wole Soyinka) at least the young should be allowed to grow.

Aa i pause for now, getting rid of this menace therefore may be daunting, as a matter of fact, its almost impossible, due to the psychological aspect of those who have already buy the idea, just like the advice shared by Bimbo Ajinibi, through Wole Street journal, Parents will still continue to monitor their growing kids, and those who are old enough, know too well what is good is totally different from what is bad, irrespective of how we brandish it, or irrespective of how we think it boost our morale.

And for any negative vibe creator in the form of Marlian should be mercilessly dealt with. If we can’t channel our anger and pain as reasonable youths to the elites dictating our future, we shouldn’t corrupt the mind further into total mess where redemption is far.

Blanket border closure is hurting traders

By Churchill Okonkwo

T

he long history of smuggling of legal and illegal items across Nigeria’s artificial and often porous borders is pervasive and well known. To curb the flooding of the Nigerian market with good, check smuggling and boost revenue, some citizens have long called for the government to close all its land borders. These Nigerians have argued that the positive effect, especially on agricultural products like rice and revenue generation, will be remarkable.

One of the prominent Nigerians that called for the border closure was a former senator from Bayelsa State, Ben Bruce. On May 11, 2015, Senator Ben Bruce tweeted, “National Assembly must force the FG to ban the importation of rice, wheat, and chicken. It drains our forex and Nigerians won’t die if we don’t eat imported rice.”

More than four years after Senator Bruce’s call, the Buhari’s administration closed the Nigerian land borders. There has been some success; the local economy is booming; poultry farmers are smiling and local fuel consumption has reduced drastically due to reduced smuggling.

Even with these huge successes, the present blanket border closure has some unintended negative consequences on law-abiding traders across Nigeria. The truth is that even when the advantages of the border closure far outweigh any disadvantages, Nigerians, especially traders that depend on the cross-border trade of their goods that is not harmful to our economy should not be

punished indefinitely and unnecessarily. There is thus the need to objectively scrutinise the present blanket border closure.

Suffices to say that not all cross-border trade is illegal. To this end, the Nigerian Government should put measures in place to restrict the importation of products that are harming our local economy especially the agricultural sector, without a blanket restriction of goods in and out of our borders.

From a small shop owner at Nkwo Nnewi that relies on his trading partners from Niger republic to the textile small shop owner in Kano that depend on his partners from Togo, the border closures have had particularly negative consequences on their income. The shutdown has hurt supply chains and N1.7bn in daily trade at some of the busiest Nigeria markets. These are traders that deal with everyday products that are not produced locally and do not have alternatives.

Without a doubt, the long history of weak border enforcement, stretching decades, corruption, and perhaps, lack of coordination of economic policies have been hurting the Nigerian economy and revenue generation. At the same time, now that the Nigerian borders will remain closed in the foreseeable future, one will expect that the government will come up with a strategy to reopen the borders while enforcing restrictions.

Given the sheer number of people engaged in cross-border trade and deriving their livelihoods from it on both sides of the border as well as the ineffective policing of that trade, the success of its

closure is up for debate.

If the bachelor runs from his duties, the morning’s ashes (from last night’s fire) still await him: Supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari who wants him to truly have a legacy in the agricultural sector must not run away from their responsibility to criticise, constructively, the present border closure of his administration.

That’s the only way the government will gradually ease out of the present blanket closure with effective and improved policy.

While Nigerians and international investors are investing heavily in the agricultural sector, the government should come up with medium and long term plans to raise productivity. State ministries of agriculture should start building strong agricultural industrial towns as models for the country. Scaling up these agricultural towns with needed infrastructures will allow Nigerian farmers to invest in modern farming equipment, including planting machines and pesticidespraying equipment.

The closure of Nigerian borders and hopefully the implementation of policies that will impose heavy tariffs on imported agricultural products, when borders are reopened, should serve as fresh motivation for Nigerian farmers to expand efficiently. If we succeed in effectively preventing smuggling across our borders and boost local production, many other African countries will copy our model.

President Buhari recently said that he has not given any date for the reopening of Nigeria’s land

borders. Status quo remains until the situation that necessitated the closure improves, he added. Fair, but it is time to start addressing the unintended consequences of the border closure.

The closure is not sustainable and while it lasts, it hurt tens of thousands of petty traders in Kano, Onitsha, Lagos, and Nnewi. No matter how irrelevant one might believe that is, it is a fact that cannot be disputed.

The apparent benefits from the closure of the border are clear. However, the blanket border closure is hurting traders and should be reviewed.

The border closer should be implemented in such a way that everyday Nigerians struggling to make end meet are not punished indefinitely.

If the Nigerian customs can effectively seal our land borders including previously unmanned entry points used for smuggling, what will it take for the government to allow entry of goods that are not on the “watch” list?

Is it possible to achieve the aims of border closure without hurting traders?

The answer is yes. What we need is a closedopen border that will allow traders dealing with legitimate goods and products that are not harmful to the local economy to thrive. President Buhari should show more visible support to the plight of these traders across Nigeria. That’s what leadership is all about.

We are all Nigerians and together, we can multiply our success as Nigerians.

Follow me on Twitter @Churchillnnobi

PAGE 14

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, JANUARY 7, 2020

NEWS

Ikpeazu inaugurates panel on establishment of science varsity

Annulment of my election an act of God, says Doguwa

A

bia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, on Monday set up a seven-man exploration committee on the establishment of Abia State University of Science and Technology. The committee is headed by Prof.

Anya O. Anya. Other members of the panel are – Isaac Nnadi, Uwaoma Olewengwa, Benjamin Ozurumba, Ikechi Mgbeoji, John Ogunji, and Nduka Ekere.

Inaugurating the committee, Ikpeazu pledged the commitment of the state government to boost human capital development to enhance productivity and economic growth in the state. The governor said the government was desirous to establish a university of science and technology to tackle unemployment, promote the manufacturing of spare parts, and implementation of innovative developmental ideas in Abia.

Ikpeazu urged the members of the committee to leverage on comparative advantages available in the state in completing the assignment the government had given them. He also urged the committee to be compelled by a high sense of patriotism to complete the project within the shortest possible time, adding that it would become the forefront that would drive new vistas of development. The governor said the terms of reference of the committee included “exploring the viability of the university in Aba, generate options of funding and leveraging the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME)/commercial activities in Aba. “Take note of the rich human capital available in Aba and explore the possibility of collaboration with development partner,” Governor Ikpeazu added. (NAN)

From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

A

L-R: Executive Secretary Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr Hamid Bobboyi; Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu; and Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba, during the presentation of the 2018 National Personnel Audit Report, recently in Abuja.

N7bn Govt House project causes uproar in Zamfara T he Northern Youths Assembly (NYA) has advised Zamfara Government to shelve its proposed N7 billion Government House project in the best interest of the people.

This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Mannir Haidara the state’s NYA Chairman in Gusau on Monday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that

the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Bala Bello had last week announced plans for the project in the 2020 budget.

But Haidara noted that the project had no value for the state.

“I think that Zamfara doesn’t need a new Government House because, all our past governors do not stay there.

“Even the current governor resides in his private residence,

so why don’t government leave the project for the future. “l can recall during the campaign of Gov. Alhaji Bello Matawalle that he promised various intervention programmes for the people of the state.

“As we are all aware, our state is currently bedevilled with serious security challenges, let us therefore propose projects that will have direct bearing on the people,

especially victims of security challenges in the state,”he said.

Haidara said NYA is a NonGovernmental Organisation (NGO) working towards ensuring transparency and accountability in all Northern States.

He urged the state government to focus on identifying ways to improve revenue generation in the state instead of proposing unnecessary projects. (NAN)

Hike in electricity tariff necessary, says NECA DG

T

he Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) says the proposed hike in electricity tariff is necessary to get the power sector back on track.

Its Director-General, Mr Timothy Olawale, said on Monday in Lagos that putting the tariff concerns in context, the issue of the increment was intended to enable the sector to realise the right price for the product.

Olawale explained that cost reflective tariff was important to ensure that provider of the commodity or service could cover operational and capital expenses in order to stay in business and deliver on service.

“The issue of tariff has remained topical in the sector since shortly after privatisation.

“The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has said that the

electricity tariffs being paid by consumers will increase in April this year.

“NERC disclosed this in its ‘December 2019 Minor Review of Multi-Year Tariff Order 2015 and Minimum Remittance Order for the Year 2020, which was dated Dec. 31, 2019.

“Though, the proposed increase in tariff might cause a shock from the consumers’ perspective, it is, however, a necessity in order to get the power sector back on track.

“While customers have said the tariff review should only take place after there has been improvement in service, service providers have said for service to improve, the right amount has to be paid.

“The argument has always been a cyclical one, but putting the matter in context, therefore, the issue of the increase is intended to enable the sector to realise what can be described as right price for the

product.

“It is with this right that more investment can be attracted and consequently, improved service,” he said.

On the challenges of regular power supply and imperative for appropriate pricing of electricity, the NECA directorgeneral said that tariff reviews were expected.

“There had been minor and major reviews to adjust all the variables that make up the tariffs such as generation volumes, FX price and all these play a role in determining the tariffs.

“NERC for some reasons had delayed implementation of minor reviews that should normally occur bi-annually by regulation.

“The NERC tariff order in June 2019 took all these into account and adjusted the variables to ensure a cost reflective tariff.

“While the Discos have had six minor reviews, totalling 16 per cent, micro and macro-economic indices have affected the ability of the DisCos to meet their cost.

“However, the Generation Companies as had several reviews bringing their percentile increase to about 116 per cent,” he said.

While urging the DisCos to justify the proposed tariff hike, Olawale said that consumers and businesses were not opposed to paying appropriate price for electricity consumed.

According to him, the major contention has been estimated and sometimes outrageous billing for power not consumed, with implication on cost of living and cost of doing business without a guarantee of commensurate improvement in quality of service.

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PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, JANUARY 7, 2020

former member of the House of Representatives, representing Tudun-Wada/ Douglas Federal Constituency in Kano State, Alhaji Alhassan Ado Doguwa has described the annulment of his election by the court as an act of God. Doguwa stated this weekend in Funtua while speaking at the distribution of empowerment materials by a member of the house of Representatives representing Funtua/Dandume, Alhaji Muntari Dandutse to the people of his constituency.

He noted that as a Muslim he takes the annulment of his election by the court in good faith, adding that he would not blame anyone for the set back.

Doguwa therefore urged people of goodwill to pray for his reelection in the rescheduled rerun election to be conducted in the constituency.

Similarly, he thanked his colleagues for their solidarity with him by preserving his office until after the conduct of the rerun election.

He therefore assured that members of the house are poised in working with the executive arm in moving the country to the next level.

Doguwa commended the member representing Funtua/ Dandume, Alhaji Muntari Dandutse for empowering his people to be self-reliant.

In his remark, Alhaji Muntari Dandutse pledged to continue doing more to his people.

He advised the beneficiaries of the empowerment materials to make good use of them to be selfreliant and improve their economic status.

Sokoto APC charges Tambuwal on 2020 budget implementation

From Raji Bello, Sokoto

T

he All Progressive Congress in Sokoto State has demanded the full implementation of 2020 Budget by the State Governor, Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.

The party’s chairman in the state, Hon. Isah Sadiq Acida stated this while addressing journalists in Sokoto on Monday on issues concerning the State of governance in Sokoto State.

The party feared that the budget passage may resulted to piling up the list of broken promises that

have characterized the present administration in Sokoto State.

The chairman also added that the budget also represented only one, out of his many empty promises that have ended on the pages of newspapers.

The party wondered why the 2019 of N169.184 billion was virtually swept under the carpet at the 2020 budget presentation.

“This is in complete contrary with the established tradition where governments review their performances on the ongoing budget, highlighting their achievements, before presenting a

new budget.”

The party questioned the governor on how many of the capital and ongoing projects in the 2019 budget have been completed adding that “most of the 2019, capital projects have not even commenced, as at December.”

Its listed some of the projects to include the renovation of Sultan Abubakar III Airport access road at N548 million, additional structures, road network and children’s playground equipment at the International Conference Centre, Kasarawa, at N128 million,

construction and equipping of new advanced diagnostic centre at N2.443 billion among others.

“It is also disheartening to note that our civil servants have continued to bear the burden of being taxed to fund the running of education in the State, while the huge budgetary allocation to education continues to remain unaccounted for.”

The party, however, concluded that Governor Tambuwal’s consistent failure to honour his covenant with the people and persistence in making promises and breaking them is predicated.

The National Chairman of All progressive Congress, (APC) Comrade Adams Oshiomhole (M) flanked by the National Vice Chairman North Central, Alhaji Suliaman Ahmed Wambai (right) and The National Publicity Secretary of All Progressive Congress, (APC) Mallam Lanre Issa-Onailu briefing the State House Press Corp during a visit to the President for the New Year 2020 at the State House, recently

Zamfara APC chieftain debunks defection to PDP From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

T

he Zamfara state Chieftain of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Kabiru Umar Jabaka, has debunked a report published by a National Daily (Not Peoples Daily) on the 20th December 2019 that, he decamped to the ruling PDP in

the state.

At a press conference in the state Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Gusau the state capital yesterday, Professor Jabaka said, he was compelled to debunk the report which according to him was sourceless and baseless.

“I insisted that, my membership with APC especially

G-8 faction is still intact, and I have not seen any reason to drop APC for PDP, but that does not mean my support for the PDPled government against security challenges bedeviled the state is shaking”, Jabaka has declared.

He lamented publishing a sourceless report by a reputable newspaper that earned a widely size of readership across the north and even down the other

regions of the country.

“I would have taken a legal action to address the matter as insisted by my followers who have already contracted a lawyer that will file in the case against the reporter and the embattled medium.

“I have multitude number of followers behind me across the 14 local government areas of the state, and were worried

and putting pressure on me on why I should decamped without consulting them.

“I had toiled round the state to calm down my followers before they made to understand that, it was just an empty attempt to smear my hard earned political image in the state by some faceless politicians who connived with the medium”, Professor Jabaka has cried.

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PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, JANUARY 7, 2020

politics

One killed as APC, PDP supporters clash in Imo

By Ese Awhotu agency report

with

O

ne person was shot to death yesterday in Isu local government area of Imo State following a violent clash between supporters of the All Progressives’ Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

The dead man was identified as Amajuru Ahamefule.

Police spokesperson in Imo State, Orlando Ikeokwu who confirmed the incident to the media said that the clash started after some local government chairmen who were suspended by Governor Emeka Ihedioha Ihedioha-led administration claimed to have gotten a purported Supreme Court judgment.

Ikeokwu, however, noted that the police in the state is yet to receive any court order or directives on the matter to enforce the takeover.

The Police PRO added that the action to forcefully take over office by the local government chairmen and their councilors was vehemently opposed by members of the Interim Management Committee and supporters of the PDP. This eventually led to a clash and sporadic gunshots rent the air.

Several people sustained injuries and Ahemefule was shot dead in the process.

Mr Ikeokwu added the Imo State police commissioner has since waded into the matter and an investigation has been launched into the incident.

He advised the warring factions to sheath their swords and adhere to the rule of law to prevent any further breakdown of law and order in the state.

R-L: Executive Director Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, Mr. Clement Nwankwo; Head of Section Democracy Governance and Migration, European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Clement Boutillier and Mr. Emmanuel Anyaegbunam from African Centre for Parliamentary and Constitutional Studies during the 2019 legislative Interns Model Legislative Assembly, recently in Abuja

Stop disobeying Oba of Benin, Edo APC tells Oshiomhole

By Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

T

he All Progressives Congress has accused the National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole of disobeying the wish of Benin monarch, HRM Oba Ewuare II in the ongoing political crisis in the state.

Edo State factional publicity secretary of the party, Mr Joseph Osagiede made the accusation at the party secretariat on Monday in Benin City.

He repeated assertion that the state chapter of the party has no confidence in APC Reconciliation Committee led by the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, alleging that members of the group were interested parties in the crisis.

He recalled how Oba Ewuare II led Edo State Council of Traditional rulers and Chiefs to meet President Muhammadu Buhari towards finding amicable solution to APC crisis in the State, but to no avail.

Osagiede, accused Oshiomhole of

supporting and harbouring dissidents members who left the party to form Edo Peoples Movement (EPM), a pressure group to destabilise the party in the state.

“Once the Oba has expressed a wish about anything, it becomes a wish for all of us that are Edo people. so, the Oba’s wish is a command that they should be peace about this political imbroglio. and for Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to still be harbouring these dissidents who left the party and are forming EPM, and he is still supporting them.

“He (Adams Oshiomhole) is working against the wish of the Oba of Benin. And we are all aware that recently, the Oba of Benin with Edo State Traditional Rulers Council of Chiefs, announced that we should hold prayer and fasting to avert a calamity in this year, all because of the political crisis that is going on.

“Any wise man, any wise leader, any wise political party national chairman that knows that he is directly responsible for all these crisis, should

take a cue from such a statement by the Oba, meet the governor, Godwin Obaseki to the Oba and say, your royal Majesty, we have reconciled.Wee do not want crisis in Edo State”, he said.

Osagiede also called on President Muhammadu to set up a reconciliatory committee to reconcile the feuding parties in the crisis, haven lost confidence in the past committees earlier set up by the National Working Committee of the party and the National Assembly due largely for their personal interest in the crisis.

“We do not have any faction in APC. That might surprise some of you (journalists) to hear. Those who left this party (APC) left to form Edo Peoples Movement (EPM) till date remains an unregistered political association of social association that has no bearing whatsoever with APC. Although some of our national leaders including our national chairman is flirting with some of the members, it has nothing to do with us.

“We have always said that we are willing and care for reconciliation,

but, we cannot be talking about reconciliation when an interested party in the issue is asked to midwife. The Presidency or the Benin Traditional Council can set up a committee for reconciliation.

“It is not for us to say we want to reconcile when we are part of the issue. That was we also rejected the reconciliation Committee that was set up by Adams Oshiomhole because of the members had vested interest on the issue.

“For instance, it was the deputy Speaker that presided over the House of Representatives that passed a resolution to takeover Edo State House of Assembly. Now, you have become a member of the reconciliatory Committee to reconcile Edo State APC and the National Chairman. How can we have confidence in you?

“If you want to reconcile warring factions, you must come with clean hands”, he said.

…Gives conditions for reconciliation

T

he Edo Publicity Secretary of the All Progress Congress (APC), Joseph Osagiede, says the party is ready for reconciliation if initiated by a neutral body.

Mr Osagiede, who made the disclosure while briefing journalists at the party’s Secretariat in Benin on Monday, said either the presidency or the Benin traditional council should make such a move.

According to him, we have already said that we are

willing for reconciliation, but we cannot constitute a reconciliation body when you are an interested party in the issue.

“A neutral body from the presidency or Benin traditional council can set up a committee for reconciliation.

He expressed optimism that the crisis in the party at the state level was dying down as the activities of the Edo People’s Movement (EPM), a breakout group of the party, was fading away.

“I think the APC crisis is already ending because we know that EPM is already folding up; we know that the members of EPM are also reaching out to us”.

Mr Osagiede said it was expected that the National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole, should heed to the wish of the Oba of Benin, Ewuare 11 who had called for peace to reign.

“The Oba’s wish is that there should be peace and for Oshiomhole to still

be supporting EPM, he is working against the wishes of the Oba. “The national chairman should take a clue from the Oba and come home, meet with the governor and take him to the Oba and say we have reconciled.

He added that he was not a factional publicity secretary of the party but the state publicity secretary, noting that those who left the party to form EPM had no bearing with APC.(NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, JANUARY 7, 2020

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PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, JANUARY 7, 2020

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PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, JANUARY 7, 2020

Stock Watch: Monday, January 6, 2020 Low

OPEN Volume Close High

4.80 1.15 0 2.94 1.94 0 1.27 0.27 0 1.64 0.64 0 6.60 4.60 0 57.00 48.30 0 5.79 2.21 0 9.65 40.05 0 31.50 64.00 0 1.90 1.92 0 18.45 18.45 0 1.72 1.84 0 23.25 23.25 0 0.20 0.20 0 0.20 0.20 0 6.10 6.10 0 1.75 1.75 0 186.00 186.00 0 6.00 6.65 0 14.60 14.55 0 1.80 2.00 0 3.37 3.37 0 4.30 4.70 0 14.00 14.00 0 7.35 7.80 0 1.62 1.65 0 1.91 1.96 0 4.95 4.95 99 0.33 0.33 0 21.85 21.85 0 29.60 30.70 0 0.20 0.20 0 12.20 13.05 0 32.60 32.95 0 72.00 72.00 0 1.18 1.18 0 1.53 1.53 0 31.50 31.50 0 0.51 0.54 0 0.20 0.20 0 23.25 23.25 0 0.44 0.44 0 0.30 0.30 0 1.36 1.36 0 0.72 0.72 0 0.52 0.49 0 1.83 1.83 0 2.45 2.45 0

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3.80 6.00 ACCESS -0.35 1.94 3.94 AFRIPRUD 0.00 1.27 0.27 AGLEVENT 0.00 1.64 0.64 AIICO 0.00 4.60 8.60 BERGER 0.00 37.00 67.00 BETAGLAS -1.30 6.79 3.79 BOCGAS -0.42 4.65 10.05 CADBURY -0.40 71.50 31.50 CAP -2.50 0.90 1.90 CAVERTON -0.02 08.45 18.45 CCNN 0.00 0.72 1.72 CHAMPION -0.12 23.25 23.25 CONOIL 0.00 0.20 0.20 CORNERST 0.00 0.20 0.20 COURTVILLE 0.00 6.10 6.10 CUSTODIAN 0.00 1.75 1.75 CUTIX 0.00 186.00 186.00 DANGCEM 0.00 6.00 6.25 DANGFLOUR -0.65 14.60 14.60 DANGSUGAR 0.05 1.80 2.00 DIAMONDBNK -0.20 3.37 3.37 EKOCORP 0.00 4.30 4.30 ETERNA -0.40 14.00 14.00 ETI 0.00 7.45 7.60 FBNH -0.35 1.62 1.67 FCMB -0.03 1.92 1.98 FIDELITYBK -0.04 4.95 4.95 FIDSON 0.00 0.33 0.33 FIRSTALUM 0.00 21.85 21.85 FLOURMILL 0.00 29.60 29.60 FO -1.10 0.20 0.20 FTNCOCOA 0.00 12.20 12.20 GLAXOSMITH -0.85 33.50 33.50 GUARANTY 0.55 72.00 72.00 GUINNESS 0.00 1.18 1.18 HONYFLOUR 0.00 1.53 1.53 IKEJAHOTEL 0.00 31.50 31.50 INTBREW 0.00 0.53 0.53 JAIZBANK -0.01 0.20 0.21 JAPAULOIL 0.00 23.25 23.25 JBERGER 0.00 0.44 0.44 JOHNHOLT 0.00 0.30 0.30 LASACO 0.00 1.36 1.36 LEARNAFRCA 0.00 0.72 0.72 LINKASSURE 0.00 0.52 0.52 LIVESTOCK 0.03 1.83 1.83 MANSARD 0.00 2.45 2.45 MAYBAKER 0.00

Stock Close Gain UPL 2.14 0.03 LIVESTOCK 0.42 0.08 SOVRENINS 0.28 0.13 OKOMUOIL 20.00 0.90 GUARANTY 43.50 0.25

Low 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

OPEN Volume Close High

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0.21 0.21 0 0.21 0.21 MBENEFIT 0.00 0 0.63 0.43 0 0.43 0.43 MCNICHOLS 0.00 0 1.15 2.05 261 2.05 2.05 MEDVIEWAIR 0.00 0 24.80 184.80 0 184.80 184.80 MOBIL 0.00 0 1.20 0.20 970 0.20 0.20 MULTIVERSE 0.00 0 6.50 3.50 0 3.50 3.50 NAHCO 0.00 0 12.00 18.00 0 18.00 18.00 NASCON 0.00 0 68.50 78.70 0 79.50 79.50 NB 0.80 0 1.78 0.78 0 0.78 0.78 NEIMETH 0.00 0 1.60 2.60 0 2.60 2.60 NEM 0.00 0 52.20 552.20 150 552.20 552.20 NESF 0.00 0 1,475.00 1,475.00 0 1,475.00 1,475.00 NESTLE 0.00 0 1.60 1.65 0 1.60 1.60 NPFMCRFBK -0.05 0 4.60 4.80 0 4.60 4.75 OANDO -0.20 0 80.00 76.20 0 80.00 80.00 OKOMUOIL 3.80 0 64.00 64.00 0 64.00 64.00 PRESCO 0.00 0 0.50 0.50 0 0.50 0.50 PRESTIGE 0.00 0 12.30 12.30 0 12.30 12.30 PZ 0.00 0 4.20 4.20 0 4.20 4.20 REDSTAREX 0.00 0 0.20 0.21 0 0.20 0.21 REGALINS -0.01 0 0.50 0.50 0 0.50 0.50 RESORTSAL 0.00 0 0.21 0.23 0 0.21 0.22 ROYALEX -0.02 0 640.00 640.00 405 640.00 640.00 SEPLAT 0.00 0 0.20 0.20 0 0.21 0.21 SOVRENINS 0.01 0 46.50 46.00 0 46.50 46.50 STANBIC 0.50 0 102.00 102.00 122 102.00 102.00 STANBICETF30 0.00 0 1.97 1.96 0 1.97 1.97 STERLNBANK 0.01 0 203.00 203.00 0 203.00 203.00 TOTAL 0.00 0 6.10 6.10 632 6.10 6.10 TRANSCOHOT 0.00 0 1.15 1.21 0 1.16 1.18 TRANSCORP -0.05 0 9.60 9.60 0 9.60 9.60 UACN 0.00 0 1.74 1.92 0 1.74 1.74 UAC-PROP -0.18 0 7.60 7.80 0 7.90 7.95 UBA 0.10 0 6.00 6.05 0 6.00 6.05 UBN -0.05 0 2.89 2.94 0 2.89 2.91 UCAP -0.05 0 36.30 37.00 0 36.30 36.30 UNILEVER -0.70 0 0.27 0.27 0 0.27 0.27 UNIONDAC 0.00 0 1.00 0.99 0 1.00 1.00 UNITYBNK 0.01 0 2.04 1.97 0 2.14 2.14 UPL 0.17 0 0.23 0.23 0 0.23 0.23 VERITASKAP 0.00 0 4.50 4.99 0 4.50 4.50 VITAFOAM -0.49 0 11.30 11.50 0 11.30 11.65 WAPCO -0.20 0 0.40 0.40 0 0.40 0.40 WAPIC 0.00 0 0.59 0.61 0 0.59 0.61 WEMABANK -0.02 0 21.20 22.70 0 21.70 22.50 ZENITHBANK -1.00 0 Copyright © 2019 NgTradeOnline

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Electricity Tariff increase not immediate -NERC

By Etuka Sunday

T

he Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) yesterday disclosed that there was no immediate increase in electricity tariff for customers as being speculated.

NERC said, although electricity tariff review was statutory, it was not tantamount to tariff increase, saying that consultations would be held with the customers before any tariff increase.

Chairman, NERC, Prof.

James Momoh while addressing newsmen in Abuja said, the MultiYear Tariff Order released was simply a communication of what the Regulator (NERC) has done looking at the macro-economic variables like the exchange rate, inflation Rate and the price of gas.

Prof. Momoh said, in the next three months public consultations would be held to determine whether to go for tariff increase or decrease.

“There is no immediate increase in tariff for customers.

The proposed tariff reveiw is what we are mandated to do as a Regulator. We are to do that twice a year. We have done the first one around June, January is here and we must do our job.

“We have done the review and is subject to public consultation.

In the next three months we will

engage you for consultation.

“The Order is simply a communication of what we have done as a regulator, looking at what it takes to increase and decrease the tariff.

“If at the end of our meeting back and forth, we say no increase, no increase. And if there is going to be increase, it will be

based on our engagement at the public forum.

“We are going to issue press statement to clarify this once more. We will engage with all the customers; Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and others.

“There will be no increase without negotiation. There is a

change in tariff, customers need to know why and how it was done.

It has to be good for everybody.

Don’t forget, services must also improve,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Chairman announced that the 11th edition of the International Conference on Energy, Power Systems Operations and Planning

(ICEPSOP), an initiative of the Howard University U.S.A with sponsorship from the National Science Foundation (NSF) of the United States of America is being hosted and organized by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in Abuja from January, 20 to January 22, 2020.

L-R: Chairman/CEO, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Prof. James Momoh, and Commissioner, Engineering Performance Monitoring, Mr. Frank Okafor, during a press briefing on the forthcoming 11th edition of the International Conference on Energy, Power Systems Operations and Planning (ICEPSOP), an initiative of the Howard University U.S.A with sponsorship from the National Science Foundation (NSF) of the United States of America is being hosted and organized by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

FG orders economic diversification to uplift N100mNigerians -Adebayo

By Miriam Humbe

M

inister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Richard Adebayo has revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari issued direct orders to drive growth, diversify the economy, create jobs, boost export and ultimately contribute to his promise of lifting 100 million people over the next 10 years.

He said that the Ministry was working assiduously towards achieving that mandate, stressing that “nothing can be achieved if the Unions refused to resolve their differences and come together as a team to move the Ministry forward”.

Adebayo disclosed this during a meeting with leadership of the four union bodies of the Ministry who resolved their differences and came together as a team to support the Ministers to achieve the mandate of the Ministry.

The delegation was led by the newly posted Permanent Secretary to the

Ministry, Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, in his office in Abuja.

The Minister also assured the Unions of his support, urging them to continue to work together with the new Permanent Secretary especially in the area of staff welfare and general wellbeing of the staff of the Ministry.

He further assured the Unions that the Ministry will take on board their suggestions on the need to have a Resident Labour Desk Officer from the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment to assist the Management on labour matters.

The Minister of State, Amb. Mariam Yalwaji Katagum said “coming together by the unions is inevitable because I believe it is the Comrades that said ‘united we stand and divided we fall’ “.

She therefore, challenged them to come up with their strategic vision to move the Ministry forward, saying:“Now that you have a brand new Permanent Secretary, you should be able to extract whatever you need to help him get motivated to make

you happy so that you can contribute your quota to national development”.

The Permanent Secretary, Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo who led the union bodies pledged to put in his best to support the Ministers to achieve their agenda which they took an oath with President Muhammadu Buhari.

Gwarzo added “that by the grace of God you will come out to be the best Ministers Mr. President ever brought on board”.

Furthermore, the Permanent Secretary promised to create an enabling working environment by investing in the welfare and general wellbeing of all staff of the Ministry.

He said: “I was told that one of the issues that we are going to face is the union but when I came here I realised that all of them have one thing in common, they have sincere mind set to move the Ministry forward” Chairman of the Senior Civil Servants Association of Nigeria (SCSAN), Comrade Onwuyai Okonkwo, on behalf of the four

Union bodies said, “today the union is a new rebirth of unionism in the Ministry.

We are beginning with this Year on a fruitful note of reconciliation shown in Dr. Nasir Sani- Gwarzo”.

“We assure you that we will provide you with the right solutions to any issues concerning the Unions in the Ministry and one important recommendation we are making here is that the management should please request for a Resident Labour Desk Officer from the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment to assist the Management on Labour matters’’ he said.

The four Unions that came together as a team includes; Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU), Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations Civil Service Technical and Recreational Service (AUPCTRE), and the Nigerian Union of Public Service Reportorial Secretarial, Data Processors and Allied Workers (NUPSRAW).

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PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, JANUARY 7, 2020

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, JANUARY 7, 2020

METRO

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Students Students of pace setters’ Academy Abuja at the assembly ground during their resumption from Christmas and new year holiday, yesterday in Abuja.

Depression: Foundation advocates improved mental health education for youth

By Stanley Onyekwere

A

n Abuja based Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), Teenz Global Foundation has advocated improved education for youth on developing and maintaining sound mental health skills as antidote to rising suicide rate in the society.

To this end, the Foundation staged an event where hundreds of students drawn from seven public schools in Wuse, Apo Resettlement and Gwarinpa were comprehensively enlightened on depression and how to recognise and deal with it to avoid suicides and other negative choices.

Founder and project director of Teens Global Foundation, Mrs Ijeoma Sorochi revealed that already there is a statistics showing that suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people between the ages of 15 and 29.

Sorochi said the project was conceived

to help increase awareness on mental health management among young people, to enable them understand how to utilize their minds and prevent negative thoughts.

“We need to start the conversation on mental health issues, we need to change our mindset and perception about mental health issues. “ We need to understand that people go through challenges that they may not be able to control circumstances beyond people’s control.

“Having those where people can speak up, where we can educate people, and increase awareness about mental health issues, because they are things that would help reduce the rising suicide in the society,” she reinforced.

Similarly, Pastor Evangeline Michaels of the Christ Embassy, Abuja Ministry Centre, called for more positive mindset re-orientation and character development

programmes for young people in Nigeria.

She said the time was apt to expose teenagers on life changing information, because whatever information they receive forms who they become in life.

On his part, a medical expert, Dr. Chigozie Igwe, from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Secretariat, the effects of mental health challenges have contributed immensely to suicides and other hazards amongst youth.

According to him: “Mental health affects people of different age, background and gender in different ways and shapes daily. “ The mental health status of a person is critical to living as it is a major determinant of choices, how one relates with others and outlook on life.

“It also determines how people handle stress, depression and challenges in life.

“Depression is a common and serious

mental health challenge that affects the way one thinks, feel and act.

“The more young people are aware of their mental health issues, the more they will be able to utilise mental health skills and to prevent suicide as well as handle depression.”

He, therefore, stressed the need for the public, particularly parents and schools to monitor and recognise when someone may be struggling with mental health issues by listening more, empathising and seek help, where needs be.

Our correspondent reports that the students effectively participated in the third edition of the dialogue on the Power of Your Mind Project (POYMP): An Effective Suicide Prevention Response Strategy for Young People in Nigeria” an initiative of Teens Global Foundation, held at the Korean Cultural Centre, Nigeria (KCCN), in Abuja.

Council boss harps on reviving Abuja indigenous cultures

By Stanley Onyekwere

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he Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Abdullahi Adamu Candido, has called on indigenous people of the nation’s capital to revive their traditions and heritage through periodic cultural festivals that would promote unity in diversity.

Candido, who noted that many traditions and heritages are dying off with time, urged FCT stakeholders not to let that happen to theirs.

He spoke during the second edition of

Gwandara annual cultural festival, organised

by Gwandara Development Educational And Cultural Association (GWADECA), FCT chapter held recently in Shereti Community of AMAC. According to him, as an annual event stakeholders intend to keep it up, so as to ensure the people must not forget their culture and heritage.

“Certain traditions are going into extinction, we don’t like that to happen, and the Gwandara people have realized this, and so have decided to demonstrate, so we are encouraging other tribes to do so.

“In FCT, we have the Koros, we have the Bassas, we have the Gbagys, the Gwandara etc. They must revive their cultural heritage and traditions, so that Nigerians who are coming to Abuja today, will remember and see for themselves and say yes that this is not just a virgin place.

“And as Gwandara person who is privileged to be in a position of authority today, it is only fair to encourage my people to not forget who they are and how they do things and that is how we are reviving this country that is why we are promoting and asking other Nigerians not just Gwandara

people to do so.

“It has always been my desire that we, my Administration in particular encourages unity. Any indigene who do not see other Nigerians as a partner in progress then is lost because we cannot make Abuja alone.

“We must see everyone as part and parcel of FCT because we want to progress. Come to think of it, where I come from today, other Nigerians are more than 70% the population.

“And therefore, we need each other, we need to synergies. So that the indigenes and non indigenes will be seen doing things together.”

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, JANUARY 7, 2020

Page 22

world news

international_peoplesdailyng@yahoo.com

Soleimani: Huge crowds pack Tehran for commander’s funeral

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uge crowds have packed the streets of the Iranian capital Tehran for the funeral of Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani.

Soleimani was assassinated in a US drone strike in Iraq on Friday on the orders of President Donald Trump.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei led prayers and at one point was seen weeping.

Iran has vowed “severe revenge” for the death of Soleimani and on Sunday pulled back from the 2015 nuclear accord.

Soleimani, 62, headed Iran’s elite Quds Force, and was tasked with protecting and boosting Iran’s influence in the Middle East.

He supported Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad in the country’s civil conflict, aided the Shia militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon, and guided Iraqi militia groups against the Islamic State group.

Soleimani was hailed as a national hero in Iran and widely considered the second most powerful man in the country behind Supreme Leader Khamenei.

The US saw him as a terrorist, and President Trump said Soleimani was plotting “imminent” attacks on US diplomats and military personnel.

What happened at Soleimani’s funeral?

State television showed huge crowds in Tehran for the event. It put the number who turned out as “millions” although this is yet to be verified.

Some people cried, while others clutched pictures of the late commander. Mourners passed Soleimani’s coffin over their heads and “death to America” chants were heard.

His daughter Zeinab Soleimani warned the US that it faced a “dark

day”.

“Crazy Trump, don’t think that everything is over with my father’s martyrdom,” she said.

Following Monday’s funeral, the general’s remains were taken to Qom, one of the centres of Shia Islam, for a ceremony ahead of a burial in his hometown of Kerman on Tuesday.

How has Iran responded to the killing?

On Sunday Iran declared it would no longer abide by any of the restrictions imposed by the 2015 nuclear deal.

The deal limited Iranian nuclear capacities in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.

Three European parties to the deal - Germany, France and the UK - urged Iran to abide by its terms.

Also on Sunday, Iraqi MPs passed a non-binding resolution calling for

foreign troops to leave.

US forces had been invited back to Iraq in 2014 to help defeat the Islamic State group, and there are about 5,000 in the country.

The new head of Iran’s Quds force has vowed to expel the US from the Middle East.

Meanwhile, BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner says an Iranian official told him he backed a claim by Iraq’s PM that Soleimani was carrying an Iranian response to a Saudi peace overture.

How has Trump reacted?

Following warnings from Iran, Mr Trump said that the US would respond in the event of retaliation for Soleimani’s death, “perhaps in a disproportionate manner”.

He repeated a threat to target Iranian cultural sites, saying the US would “strike very fast and very hard”

if Tehran attacked Americans or US assets.

President Trump also threatened severe sanctions against Iraq if US troops left.

“We have a very extraordinarily expensive airbase that’s there. It cost billions of dollars to build. We’re not leaving unless they pay us back for it,” he told reporters.

The president on Monday also responded to Iran’s decision to no longer abide by the restrictions of the international nuclear deal, tweeting: “Iran will never have a nuclear weapon!”

Other world leaders are urging restraint. Nato ambassadors are to meet on Monday while German Chancellor Angela Merkel will travel to Russia later this week for talks with President Vladimir Putin.

Markets have remained turbulent.

Brent crude oil topped $70 (£53) a barrel on Monday for the first time since September.

Voices from Iran The BBC’s Persian service has been seeking the views of Iranians on Soleimani’s killing.

“I believe Soleimani did not deserve such a fate. He did a lot for Iran, to protect this country. Our enemies have been attacking us for the past four decades and he tried to save the country,” - Paniz (f) “Soleimani was not a hero, in my opinion he was a soldier and overrated by the establishment. People are being too emotional about him,” - Erfan (m) What are Iran’s key cultural sites?

The suggestion that the US could target Iranian cultural sites sparked alarm in Iran and beyond. Such action could be considered a war crime under international law.

Iran is home to two dozen Unesco World Heritage sites. These are sites that the UN’s cultural organisation believes need preserving for their cultural, historic or scientific significance. These include: • Persepolis, the sprawling ancient ruins which date back to 518 BC and were the site of the capital of the ancient Persian Achaemenid empire • Naqsh-e Jahan Square in the city of Isfahan, which was built in the early 17th Century and is is one of the largest city squares in the world • Golestan Palace in Tehran, the residence and seat of power for the Qajar dynasty which ruled Iran from 1785 to 1925 There are also a number of sites which - while not listed by Unesco still retain huge cultural importance ,such as the Mausoleum of Ruhollah Khomeini, dedicated to the Islamic Republic’s founder.

Reynhard Sinaga: ‘Evil sexual predator’ jailed for life for 136 rapes

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man convicted of 159 sex offences, including 136 rapes, will “never be safe to be released”, a judge has said.

Reynhard Sinaga was found guilty of luring 48 men from outside Manchester clubs to his flat, where he drugged and assaulted them - filming the attacks.

Police say they have evidence Sinaga, 36, who is being named for the first time, targeted at least 190 victims.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said Sinaga was “the most prolific rapist in British legal history”.

The judge ruled his life sentence must include a minimum of 30 years in jail.

Reporting restrictions were also lifted at a sentencing hearing at Manchester Crown Court on Monday, meaning Sinaga could be identified for the first time.

The post-graduate student was already serving life, with a minimum term of 20 years, for the offences he was convicted of in two earlier trials, which took place in summer 2018 and last spring.

Across four separate trials, the Indonesian national was found guilty

of 136 counts of rape, eight counts of attempted rape, 14 counts of sexual assault, and one count of assault by penetration, against a total of 48 victims.

At the hearing, Judge Suzanne Goddard QC said Sinaga was “an evil serial sexual predator who has preyed upon young men” who wanted “nothing more than a good night out with their friends”.

“In my judgment you are a highly dangerous, cunning and deceitful individual who will never be safe to be released,” she said - adding that the decision to release prisoners is made by the Parole Board.

Sinaga would wait for men leaving nightclubs and bars before leading them to his flat in Montana House, Princess Street, often with the offer of somewhere to have a drink or call a taxi.

He drugged his victims before assaulting them while they were unconscious. When the victims woke up many of them had no memory of what had happened.

The student, who denied the charges, had claimed all the sexual activity was consensual and that each man had agreed

to being filmed while pretending to be asleep - a defence described by the judge as “ludicrous”.

At an earlier sentencing, the judge said she was sure that Sinaga had used a form of date rape drug such as GHB. Home Secretary Priti Patel said she was “deeply concerned” by the use of such a drug.

In victim impact statements read out in court, one victim said Sinaga had “destroyed a part of my life”, while another said: “I hope he never comes out of prison and he rots in hell.”

“I have periods where I can’t get up and face the day,” another added.

Several victims said the ordeal had had a serious impact on their mental health, with some developing suicidal thoughts.

‘Staggering tally’ Judge Goddard said the “scale and enormity” of Sinaga’s offending meant it was “accurate” for one of his victims to have described him as a monster.

She added that Sinaga had shown “not a jot of remorse” and at times appeared to be “actually enjoying the trial process”.

Following the sentencing, Ian Rushton, from the CPS, said Sinaga was “the most prolific rapist in British legal history” and possibly “in the world”.

“His extreme sense of sexual entitlement almost defies belief and he would no doubt still be adding to his staggering tally had he not been caught,” he said.

He added that he thought Sinaga took “a particular pleasure in preying on heterosexual men”.

Sinaga, who was studying for a PHD at the University of Leeds, carried out his attacks over several years.

The rapist was caught in June 2017 when one victim, who regained consciousness while being assaulted, fought Sinaga off and called the police.

When officers seized Sinaga’s phone they found he had filmed each of his attacks - amounting to hundreds of hours of footage.

The discovery led to the launch of the largest rape inquiry in British history.

Assistant Chief Constable Mabbs Hussain said the true extent of Sinaga’s offending would probably never be known.

“We suspect he’s offended over a period of 10 years,” he said. “The information and evidence we are going from is largely from trophies that he’s collected from the victims of his crimes.”

Investigators traced dozens of victims from the videos using clues found in Sinaga’s Manchester flat, such as stolen phones, ID cards and watches.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said in response to Sinaga’s “truly sickening crimes” she had asked an independent council to prioritise a review into whether controls for drugs like GHB were “tough enough”.

GHB (gammahydroxybutyrate) is a class C drug. Anyone found in possession of it can be imprisoned for up to two years.

Sinaga’s trials took place across 18 months at Manchester Crown Court, resulting in unanimous guilty verdicts on all charges.

Detectives say they have been unable to identify 70 victims and are now appealing for anyone who believes they may been abused by Sinaga to come forward.

Source: bbc

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, JANUARY 7, 2020

Page 23

N e w s F r o m A f r i c a Libya conflict: Turkey sends troops to shore up UN-backed government

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urkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said troops have begun moving into Libya after parliament approved the move last week.

He said their mission was to ensure stability for the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli.

The Libyan government is fighting an insurgency by rebel forces under Gen Khalifa Haftar, based in eastern Libya.

Gen Haftar is backed by Egypt and the UAE, while the UN-backed government is supported by Turkey and its ally Qatar.

Rebel forces have been trying to capture Tripoli and were blamed for an air strike on a military academy on Saturday that killed at least 30 people. They denied any involvement.

The Turkish government has given no details about the scale of the military deployment.

"Our soldiers' duty there is coordination. They will develop the operation centre there. Our soldiers are gradually going right now," President Erdogan told the CNN Turk TV channel.

He said Turkey's objective was "not to fight" but "to support the legitimate

Kenya arrests intruders in UK army camp ‘break-in’ attempt

These Tripoli residents welcomed news of Turkish military support for the government and avoid a humanitarian tragedy".

The UN Security Council is expected to meet behind closed doors on Monday to discuss the situation in Libya, AFP news agency reported, citing diplomats.

What do other countries think about the Turkish action?

It has been condemned by several countries, including the US. Last week, President Donald Trump told Mr Erdogan in a phone call that

American rapper Ludacris becomes Gabonese citizen

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hree men have been arrested for allegedly trying to break into a British Army base in central Kenya.

Regional police chief Marcus Ochola said officers were interrogating the suspects to establish their motive.

The failed intrusion occurred at a camp in the town of Nanyuki where 10,000 UK troops receive training every year.

It came hours after an attack on a US army base in Kenya’s coastal region - but it is not clear whether the two incidents are connected.

On Sunday, al-Shabab militants attacked Camp Simba on Manda Island in Lamu County killing a US military service member and two contractors .

A spokesperson for the British Army told the BBC that they were working with Kenyan authorities in the investigations.

“Kenyan police are currently investigating suspicious activity near a base used by the British Army for training,” the spokesperson said.

Kenyan police said the three suspects were spotted on CCTV attempting to forcedly enter the base.

“We are still interrogating them to find out the truth,” Rift Valley Regional Commissioner George Natembeya told the Kenya’s Daily Nation newspaper.

The Nanyuki camp, about 200km (120 miles) north of the capital Nairobi, is used by the British Army Training Unit Kenya (Batuk) under an agreement with Kenya for training British troops in hot and rugged terrain.

Source: BBC

"foreign interference is complicating the situation in Libya".

Egypt said military intervention in Libya was a "matter of Egyptian national security" and it would defeat efforts seeking "to control" its neighbour, news agency Reuters reports.

While Israel, Greece and Cyprus issued a joint statement warning against the Turkish deployment. They called it a dangerous threat to regional stability, and warned that it breached a UN arms embargo imposed on Libya in order to end years of violence.

Mr Erdogan said Libya's government had requested military assistance.

MPs in Turkey approved the bill allowing the deployment of troops last Thursday with 325 in favour and 184 against.

Libya has been torn by violence since long-time ruler Muammar Gaddafi was deposed and killed in 2011 by Nato-backed forces.

The country has two rival administrations, the UN-backed one based in Tripoli, and Gen Haftar's one in the eastern city of Tobruk.

Ludacris has won three Grammy awards frican-American rapper and actor the president of Gabon. His father, Omar Ludacris has become the latest US Bongo, was in power for more than four celebrity to take the nationality of an decades.

African country.

Gabon is not the only country welcoming Ludacris, whose real name is African-Americans as citizens.

Christopher Brian Bridges, celebrated In May 2019, comedian and actress Christmas and rang in the New Year in Tiffany Haddish travelled to Eritrea where Gabon, where he received the citizenship. she gained the country’s citizenship.

The rapper’s wife Eudoxie She was criticised by some for Mbouguiengue is Gabonese. appearing to endorse Eritrea’s totalitarian A video uploaded on Twitter shows government.

Ludacris with his Gabonese passport and And last November, Ghana held a mass confirming his mother and two daughters ceremony in which 126 African-Americans also obtained the citizenship of the small, and Afro-Caribbeans took Ghanaian oil-rich Central African nation. nationality as part of the country’s “Year In recent years a number African- of Return” marking 400 years since the American celebrities have received African arrival of the first enslaved Africans in citizenship or travelled to Africa to trace North America. their roots.

‘Africa was born in me’ In August 2019, actor and producer The popularity of African Ancestry, Samuel L Jackson also received a Gabonese a US-based genealogy company with the passport after he was hosted by Ali Bongo, largest African DNA database, shows that

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many African-Americans are looking to discover more about their roots and family history.

The Trans-Atlantic slave trade, which saw some 12.5 million Africans shipped to the New World, stripped most African slaves of their identity and over the course of 400 years, erased their history.

“Our ancestors never gave up Faith.

You can never imprison our minds nor our spirits. They empowered me to Return,” Ludacris wrote on Instagram.

In one of the photos taken in front of a slave dungeon built by the Europeans in Cape Coast, Ghana, Ludacris has his back turned to the camera, wearing a shirt that says: “ I am not an African because I was born in Africa. I am an African because Africa was born in me. I have returned.”

This is a slogan from Ghana’s “Year of Return” programme.

Returning ‘home’ Samuel L Jackson chose to take Gabonese nationality after taking a DNA test as part of a US documentary series Finding Your Roots that uncovers the family history of stars.

This traced his roots back to the Benga people in Gabon.

Samuel L Jackson visited Gabon in August 2019 The US veteran actor posted several photos of the country, including one with a king of the Benga people.

“When you’re on a journey of discovery & a life choice becomes clear!” he wrote.

The government of Ghana launched “The Year of Return” to encourage AfricanAmericans and the black Diaspora to return “home”.

Source: BBC

PAGE 24

N e w s Trump threatens Iraq with sanctions if US troops are expelled

Donald Trump has threatened Iraq with “sanctions like they’ve never seen before”

resident Trump has threatened severe sanctions against Iraq after its parliament called on US troops to leave the country.

“We have a very extraordinarily expensive air base that’s there. It cost billions of dollars to build.

We’re not leaving unless they pay us back for it,” he told reporters.

Tensions are high after the US assassinated Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad last week.

Iran has vowed “severe revenge”.

Soleimani, 62, spearheaded Iranian military operations in the Middle East, and was regarded as a terrorist by the US. The general’s remains have now returned to his home country, where mourners packed the streets of Tehran early on Monday.

The new head of Iran’s Quds force - which Soleimani led - has vowed to expel the US from the Middle East.

“We promise to continue martyr Soleimani’s path with the same force... and the only compensation for us would be to remove America from the region,” state radio quoted Esmail Qaani as saying.

Soleimani was seen as the second most powerful figure in Iran The strike that killed Soleimani also claimed the life of Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, a top Iraqi military figure who commanded the Iranianbacked Kataib Hezbollah group.

What did Trump threaten Iraq with?

Speaking from the presidential plane, Mr Trump said that if Iraq asked US forces to depart on an unfriendly basis, “we will charge them sanctions like they’ve never seen before, ever. It’ll make Iranian sanctions look somewhat tame.”

Some 5,000 US soldiers are in Iraq as part of the international coalition against the Islamic State (IS) group.

On Sunday, the coalition paused its operations against IS in Iraq, and Iraqi MPs passed a non-binding resolution calling for foreign troops to leave.

The resolution was pushed through by the parliament’s Shia Muslim bloc - which is close to Iran.

How has Iran responded to the US? Iran has announced it will no longer abide by restrictions imposed by the 2015 nuclear deal, under which it agreed to limit its sensitive nuclear activities and allow in international inspectors in return for the lifting of economic sanctions.

US President Donald Trump abandoned the deal in 2018, saying he wanted to force Iran to negotiate a new deal that would place indefinite curbs on its nuclear programme and also halt its development of ballistic missiles.

Iranian MPs stood up in parliament and chanted ‘death to America’ for several minutes Iran refused and had since been gradually rolling back its commitments under the deal.

In a statement, it said it would no longer observe limitations on its capacity for enrichment, the level of enrichment, the stock of enriched material, or research and development.

The leaders of Germany, France and the UK - which were all signatories to the 2015 deal, alongside China and Russia responded with a joint statement urging Iran to refrain from “further violent action or proliferation”.

“It is crucial now to de-escalate.

We call on all the players involved to show utmost restraint and responsibility,” they said.

What has Trump said about Iran?

Mr Trump has vowed to strike back at Iran in the event of retaliation for Soleimani’s death, “perhaps in a disproportionate manner”.

He also repeated a controversial threat to target Iranian cultural sites on Sunday, despite criticism from within the US and overseas.

“They’re allowed to kill our people. They’re allowed to torture and maim our people. They’re allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people. And we’re not allowed to touch their cultural site? It doesn’t work that way,” the president said.

In a series of tweets on Saturday, Mr Trump said the US had identified 52 Iranian sites, some “at a very high level & important to Iran & the Iranian culture”, and warned they would be “HIT VERY FAST AND HARD” if Tehran struck at the US. US Senator Elizabeth Warren, a senior member of the Democratic Party, responded by tweeting: “You are threatening to commit war crimes.”

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif drew parallels with IS destruction of the Middle East’s cultural riches.

“A reminder to those hallucinating about emulating ISIS war crimes by targeting our cultural heritage,” he tweeted. “Through MILLENNIA of history, barbarians have come and ravaged our cities,

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PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, JANUARY 7, 2020

Iran rolls back nuclear deal commitments

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razed our monuments and burnt our libraries. Where are they now?

We’re still here, & standing tall.”

Targeting cultural sites is banned under the Geneva and Hague Conventions - and violating them would constitute a war crime in the US. Iran’s top cultural sites Iran is home to two dozen Unesco World Heritage sites.

These are landmarks the UN’s cultural organisation believes need preserving for their cultural, historic or scientific significance.

They include: • Persepolis, the capital of the ancient Persian Achaemenid empire and whose earliest remains date back to Sixth Century BC • Naqsh-e Jahan Square in the city of Isfahan, which was built in the early 17th Century and is is one of the largest city squares in the world • Golestan Palace in Tehran, the residence and seat of power for the Qajar dynasty which ruled Iran from 1785 to 1925 There are also a number of sites which - while not listed by Unesco - still retain huge cultural importance. For example, the Azadi (Freedom) Tower in Tehran has been the gathering point for celebrations, military parades and mass demonstrations for almost 50 years.

Elsewhere in the city, the Mausoleum of Ruhollah Khomeini is dedicated to the Islamic Republic’s founder and also houses the tombs of some of the country’s leading political figures.

How soon could Iran develop a nuclear bomb?

The country has always insisted that its nuclear programme is entirely peaceful - but suspicions that it was being used to develop a bomb covertly prompted the UN Security Council, US and EU to impose crippling sanctions in 2010.

The 2015 deal was designed to constrain the programme in a verifiable way in return for sanctions relief.

It restricted Iran’s enrichment of uranium, which is used to make reactor fuel but also nuclear weapons, to 3.67%. Iran was also required to redesign a heavy-water reactor being built, whose spent fuel would contain plutonium suitable for a bomb, and allow international inspections.

Before July 2015, Iran had a large stockpile of enriched uranium and almost 20,000 centrifuges, enough to create eight to 10 bombs, according to the White House at the time.

ran has declared that it will no longer abide by any of the restrictions imposed by the 2015 nuclear deal.

In a statement, it said it would no longer observe limitations on its capacity for enrichment, the level of enrichment, the stock of enriched material, or research and development.

The announcement followed a meeting of the Iranian cabinet in Tehran.

Tensions have been high over the killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani by the US in Baghdad.

Reports from Baghdad say the US embassy compound there was targeted in an attack on Sunday evening. A source told the BBC that four rounds of “indirect fire “ had been launched in the direction of the embassy. There were no reports of casualties.

What happened on Sunday?

Hundreds of thousands turned out in Iran on Sunday to give Soleimani a hero’s welcome ahead of his funeral on Tuesday.

Earlier, Iraqi MPs had passed a non-binding resolution calling for foreign troops to leave the country after the general’s killing in a drone strike at Baghdad airport on Friday.

About 5,000 US soldiers are in Iraq as part of the international coalition against the Islamic State (IS) group. The coalition paused operations against IS in Iraq just before Sunday’s vote.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened that the US will strike back at Iran in the event of retaliation for Soleimani’s death, and said it could do so “perhaps in a disproportionate manner”.

The 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran, on life support ever since the Trump administration abandoned it in May 2018, may now be in its final death throes.

Donald Trump, throughout his presidential campaign and then as president, has never failed to rail against what he calls his predecessor President Barack Obama’s “bad deal”. But all its other signatories - the UK, France, Russia, China, Germany and the EU - believe that it still has merit.

The agreement, known as the JCPOA, constrained Iran’s nuclear programme for a set period in a largely verifiable way. But its greatest significance - even more so given the current crisis - is that it helped to avert an imminent war.

Before it was signed, there was mounting concern about Tehran’s nuclear activities and every chance that Israel (or possibly Israel and the US in tandem) might attack Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Since the US withdrawal, Iran has successively breached key constraints of the JCPOA. Now it appears to be throwing these constraints out altogether. What matters now is what precisely it decides to do. Will it up its level of uranium enrichment, for example, to 20%? This would reduce significantly the time it would take Tehran to obtain suitable material for a bomb. Will it continue to abide by enhanced international inspection measures?

We are now at the destination the Trump administration clearly hoped for in May 2018. But the major powers, while deeply unhappy about Iran’s breaches of the deal, are also shocked at the controversial decision by Mr Trump to kill the head of Iran’s Quds Force, a decision that has again brought the US and Iran to the brink of war.

What is Iran’s new stance on the nuclear deal?

Under the 2015 accord, Iran agreed to limit its sensitive nuclear activities and allow in international inspectors in return for the lifting of crippling economic sanctions.

US President Donald Trump abandoned it in 2018, saying he wanted to force Iran to negotiate a new deal that would place indefinite curbs on its nuclear programme and also halt its development of ballistic missiles.

Iran refused, and had since been gradually rolling back its commitments under the agreement. It had been expected to announce its latest stance on the agreement this weekend, before news of Soleimani’s death.

Iranian state media announced on Sunday that the country will no longer respect any limits laid down in the 2015 deal.

“Iran will continue its nuclear enrichment with no limitations and based on its technical needs,” a statement said.

However, the statement did not say that Iran was actually withdrawing from the agreement and it added that the country would continue to co-operate with the UN’s nuclear watchdog, the IAEA. Iran, it said, was ready to return to its commitments once it enjoyed the benefits of the agreement.

Correspondents say this is a reference to its inability to sell oil and have access to its income under US sanctions.

How soon could Iran develop a nuclear bomb?

The country has always insisted that its nuclear programme is entirely peaceful - but suspicions that it was being used to develop a bomb covertly prompted the UN Security Council, US and EU to impose crippling sanctions in 2010.

The 2015 deal was designed to constrain the programme in a verifiable way in return for sanctions relief.

It restricted Iran’s enrichment of uranium, which is used to make reactor fuel but also nuclear weapons, to 3.67%. Iran was also required to redesign a heavy-water reactor being built, whose spent fuel would contain plutonium suitable for a bomb, and allow international inspections.

Before July 2015, Iran had a large stockpile of enriched uranium and almost 20,000 centrifuges, enough to create eight to 10 bombs, according to the White House at the time.

US experts estimated back then that if Iran had decided to rush to make a bomb, it would take two to three months until it had enough 90%-enriched uranium to build a nuclear weapon - the so-called “breakout time”.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2020

Feature

Did Britain meddle in a US presidential election?

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hen US President George HW Bush craved “a smoking gun” in 1992 to politically kneecap his White House challenger Bill Clinton, the British government delved into its files for damaging information.

So, did the Bush camp solicit foreign interference to help him win an election - the allegation that has seen President Trump impeached?

“A guy like that doesn’t deserve to be president,” President Bush told his sister about Clinton.

He viewed the young Arkansas governor, who was the same age as Bush’s eldest son, as a scoundrel and felt confident he could roll over him.

But the president sorely underestimated Clinton, an adversary so politically gifted that his ascent to the White House had been foreseen when he was aged just seven by his school teacher.

To Bush’s mystification, his saxophone-tootling challenger’s popularity in opinion polls was even defying the gravity of revelations about his draftdodging past.

The Republican, a decorated World War 2 fighter pilot, dictated to his diary: “I’m tired of this guy lying and ducking on the draft and not coming clean.”

Bush had another problem his campaign was as stale as the recession-sapped US economy.

So he turned for inspiration across the Atlantic to his friend, UK Prime Minister John Major.

The British premier’s comefrom-behind general election win in April 1992 was being touted

by American conservatives as a blueprint for the US president.

Bush had a very special relationship with Major, his brother-in-arms from the 1990-91 Gulf War, as has previously been revealed in transcripts of their private conversations obtained by the BBC. He once spoke of sending him “a love letter” and assured the British PM “obviously we’re rooting for you” to beat Labour Party leader Neil Kinnock.

Major, critics suspected, returned the favour.

Two UK Tory panjandrums - architects of the PM’s surprise victory - flew to Washington eight weeks before the US election and advised the Bush team to focus attacks on Clinton’s character.

The president’s campaign hired an opposition research specialist to dig for dirt in Britain.

What happened next was either a bureaucratic mishap, or an egregious act of political meddling by the UK in the internal politics of a friendly nation.

At some point in early October 1992, the Home Office inspected

its immigration nationality section to see whether Clinton had applied for British citizenship while at Oxford University from 1968-70 in order to escape the Vietnam draft.

Briefing reporters on background, the department said its “comprehensive” check was conducted out of “sheer helpfulness” to the media, even though it usually always rebuffed journalists with the stock answer that it did not discuss individual cases.

Nothing compromising on the Democrat was discovered, though it remains an open question how any such political bombshell, had it been excavated, would have been handled by Whitehall.

That same month, a frustrated Bush would dictate to his diary that “we cannot get this smoking gun on Clinton”.

All Major could offer him were well wishes.

The British premier called Bush on Air Force One during a last burst of campaigning two days ahead of November’s election.

“I wanted to wish you a great hurrah and all of my best for the home stretch,” Major said, according to a transcript of their conversation at the Bush presidential library in Texas.

But he had backed the wrong horse - Clinton trounced Bush.

Returning to the White House a day after he lost, the humiliated one-term president

“

A stinging Department of State inspector general report would later implicate two Bush political appointees in having Clinton’s documents unsealed. It was a fruitless bid to find out if the Democrat had ever considered renouncing his US citizenship during the Vietnam conflict.

grew emotional, according to biographer Jon Meacham.

Bush dictated to his diary that he was thinking to himself: “How in God’s name did this country elect a draft dodger?”

A month later, when the Home Office publicly acknowledged having carried out the file check, the victorious Clinton did not hide his annoyance.

“They should have more pressing business,” he said of British officials when asked about the controversy during a morning jog in Little Rock, Arkansas.

That very same day, 6 December 1992, Major wrote a letter of apology to the US president-elect.

According to a copy of the correspondence, declassified only last year by the UK National

chamber 27 years ago.

“I thought at the very least there must have been a nod and wink [between the US and UK].

“And probably a bit more than a nod and a wink, ‘if you can find something, George [HW Bush] might be rather grateful’.

“Because it [the Home Office records search] seemed to me like the kind of thing most civil servants would be fairly wary about doing.”

Whosever idea it was, Beckett says, it was “quite a big mistake”.

In a statement to the BBC, Major - now a knight of the realm - denied approving the Home Office file search.

His spokeswoman, Dame Arabella Warburton, says: “Sir John did, indeed, have a close working and personal relationship

Archives, the British premier said he was “disturbed by reports which have appeared about enquiries by our Home Office relating back to your time at Oxford”.

“I am only sorry,” Major added, “that it has been played up now in a mischievous way. I hope the mischief will be short-lived.”

The file does not indicate that Clinton responded.

Later that month, Major flew to Washington on an official working visit. He had hoped to mend fences with the presidentelect during the trip.

But Clinton declined to meet him - the Washington Post described it as a snub.

With the so-called special relationship on ice, Labour MPs jeered the prime minister in the House of Commons in February 1993 as he denied taking sides in a US election.

Margaret Beckett, the opposition’s deputy leader, was among members of Parliament who shook her head sceptically at Major’s explanation.

“No I didn’t buy it,” the MP for Derby South tells the BBC, remembering that day in the

with President George HW Bush.

“However, Sir John neither sanctioned, nor had any knowledge of, Home Office checks being carried out on George Bush’s Presidential rival Bill Clinton.”

No-one in the Bush camp set any UK official to go rummaging for such skeletons in Clinton’s closet, insists Charles Black, who was a senior adviser to the president’s re-election bid.

“I’m pretty confident that nobody in the campaign asked for it,” he tells the BBC. “It didn’t come up in the meetings I had with the [UK] Conservatives, so maybe somebody in the [US] government did.”

The two top Tory apparatchiks who flew to Washington were Sir John Lacy and Mark Fullbrook.

Lacy died in 2009 and Fullbrook declined to comment to the BBC. James Pinkerton, who was deputy assistant to Bush and worked on the campaign, thinks his former boss’ hands were clean.

“Bush was an ethical, honest guy,” he tells the BBC, “and if

25 you said to him, we’re going to do a dirty trick to help you win, he would’ve said, no.”

But despite his reputation for civility and decency, “the last gentleman” - as Bush’s admirers call him - did not always measure up to the ideal of noblesse oblige.

In his political life, he was fully prepared to fight dirty to win, as evidenced by the infamously racebaiting attacks he launched in 1988 to tar his then-Democratic challenger, Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis, as soft on crime.

Bush effectively blamed his rival for the torture and rape of a white couple by a black felon, Willie Horton, who had failed to return to prison after being allowed out on a weekend-release programme.

And as Ronald Reagan’s deputy, Bush blatantly lied when insisting he was “out of the loop” on the administration’s secret effort to trade arms with Iran for hostages in violation of its own policy.

“I’m one of the few people who know the details,” the vicepresident had confided to his diary.

George Herbert Walker Bush - who died one year ago, aged 94 - was an intensely competitive man.

In 1980, as his dream of capturing the Republican presidential nomination began to slip away in the wake of defeat to Reagan in New Hampshire, Bush penned a revealing note to himself on a flight.

“I WILL NEVER GIVE UP. NEVER. NEVER,” it said in bold scrawl. He gave up three months later.

Sidney Blumenthal, a historian and former Clinton White House aide, tells the BBC that “of course” the Home Office files search was done at the behest of the British government in cahoots with team Bush.

He notes that former Bush chief of staff James Baker - who declined to speak to the BBC for this article - stated in a 1992 memo, cited recently by the New York Times, that the commanderin-chief would not have enlisted the UK to aid his campaign.

“And yet somehow the Home Office went ahead,” Blumenthal archly adds. “Hard to believe that they [the British government] would do this entirely unbidden.”

The UK action might be dismissed as the suspected rogue meddling of an over-zealous ally, except that it was mirrored by a simultaneous muckraking exercise within the Bush administration.

Just as the Republican president was making an issue of his rival’s past opposition to the Vietnam War, a government warehouse in suburban Maryland was being scoured for damaging information on Clinton, and even his mother.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2020

26

Digest

Scientists have warned that indulging in too much cream raises a person’s cholesterol level, which is associated with heart disease

By Alexandra Thompson Senior Health Reporter For Mailonline

C

elebrating Christmas is associated with higher cholesterol, scientists have warned.

A study of more than 25,700 people found their cholesterol levels are up to 20 per cent higher in January.

Researchers say this could be because they indulged in fatty foods like brandy butter, cream and Stilton over the festive season. Scientists have now warned doctors they should not diagnose people with high cholesterol in January.

And any patients who are told they have the condition at the beginning of the year should be retested before taking medication.

The research was carried out by the University of Copenhagen and led by Dr Signe Vedel-Krogh, from the department of clinical biochemistry.

The study, ‘The Christmas holidays are immediately followed by a period of hypercholesterolemia’, was published in the journal Atherosclerosis. ’Our study shows strong indications that cholesterol levels are influenced by the fatty food we consume when celebrating Christmas,’ study author Dr Anne Langsted, who also specialises in clinical biochemistry, said.

‘The fact that so many people have high cholesterol readings straight after the Christmas holiday is very surprising.’ High cholesterol occurs when fatty deposits

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EVANGELIST GRACE BOLANLE OSHABI 2.

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THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. Bebero Collins 3. Philip Adambe 5. Danjuma Musa 7. Awas Haruna 9. Ahmadu Bello 11. Mbanus Chigozie 13. Mathew Femi

Scientists have warned that indulging in too much cream over Christmas raises a person’s cholesterol level come January, which is associated with heart disease (stock)

build up in the blood vessels, which make it difficult for blood to flow through the arteries.

This is often the result of a poor diet that includes too much red meat and fullfat dairy.

If the heart does not get enough oxygenrich blood, you may have a heart attack, while lack of blood to the brain can cause a stroke. Such conditions are responsible for one in four deaths in both the UK and US. The researchers looked at the cholesterol levels of 25,764 people, aged 20 to 100, from the Copenhagen General Population Study, over the course of a year.

Results suggest a person’s overall cholesterol level in December or January is 15 per cent greater than in May to June. And their amounts of so-called ‘bad cholesterol’, known as LDL, is 20 per cent higher during the festive season.

Cholesterol is measured in units called millimoles per litre of blood, or mmol/L. The researchers defined high cholesterol as having an overall level of more than 5mmol/L and an LDL reading of above 3mmol/L. The NHS also recommends healthy people keep their levels below 5mmol/L and 3mmol/L, respectively.

Of those whose cholesterol levels were measured in January, 77 per cent had LDL levels above 3mmol/L and 89 per cent had levels of more than 5mmol/L. And an astonishing nine out of ten of the study’s participants had high cholesterol in the New Year - six times more than in the

“

The fact that so many people have high cholesterol readings straight after the Christmas holiday is very surprising.’ High cholesterol occurs when fatty deposits build up in the blood vessels, which make it difficult for blood to flow through the arteries

other 11 months.

‘Celebrating Christmas is associated with higher levels of total and LDL cholesterol and a higher risk of hypercholesterolemia in individuals in the general population,’ the authors wrote.

They stress people should not panic if they are told they have high cholesterol in the New Year.

PAGE 27

PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, JANUARY 7, 2020

‘There is a greater risk of finding that you have elevated cholesterol if you go to the doctor and have your cholesterol tested straight after Christmas,’ Dr Vedel-Krogh said.

‘It is important to be aware of this, both for doctors who treat high cholesterol and those wishing to keep their cholesterol levels down.’

WHAT IS HIGH CHOLESTEROL? Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is vital for the normal functioning of the body.

But too much can cause it to build up in the arteries, restricting blood flow to the heart, brain and rest of the body.

This raises the risk of angina, heart attacks, stroke and blood clots.

Cholesterol is made in the liver and is carried in the blood by proteins.

The first - high-density lipoprotein (HDL) - carries cholesterol from cells to the liver where it is broken down or passed as waste. This is ‘good cholesterol’.

‘Bad cholesterol’ - low-density lipoprotein (LDL) - carries cholesterol to cells, with excessive amounts then building in the artery walls.

High cholesterol can be genetic but it is also linked to a diet rich in saturated fat, as well as smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure and a family history of stroke or heart disease.

Blood cholesterol is measured in units called millimoles per litre of blood, often shortened to mmol/L. A healthy adult’s overall level should be 5mmol/L or less, while their LDL level should be no more than 3mmol/L. An ideal level of HDL is above 1mmol/L. Cholesterol can be lowered by eating a healthy, low-fat diet; not smoking; and exercising regularly.

If these do not help, cholesterol-lowering medication like statins may be prescribed.

Source: NHS

2. Jonah Gbemre 4. Patrick Totarhon 6. John Isaiah 8. Amde Ibrahim 10. Innocent Abimiku 12. Ifeanyi Nwaenukwu 14. Obayomi Idowu

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THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. DR JAMES OHIOMA ARUKHE 2. SOLOMON RAPHAEL IMIE 3. MKEMAKONAM EJIOFOR THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : 1.To enhance the teaching of petroleum and chemical engineering in tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

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tuesday, JANUARY 7, 2020

Osho takes over Odogwu under-17 Enyimba as coach tournament Abdallah pathway begins in Abuja

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ALLAHU NUUR ISLAMIC PROPAGATION ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA

This is to notify the General Public that the above named ASSOCIATION has applied for the Re-appointment, Removal, Appointment of Trustees and Appointment of New Chairman and Amendment of Constitution with Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja under Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990 Part ‘C’.

A. 1.

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4.

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RE-APPOINTED TRUSTEES FAWOLE ABDUL WASI ADEWALE AYANLOYE KAMORUDEEN APPOINTED TRUSTEES AKINWANDE TUNDE SALAUDEEN KILANI PROF. ABDULRAZAQ OLUBUSIYI ENGR. JIMOH OLAYINKA MUSA AHMED KULADE IBRAHIM BROWN

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NEWLY APPOINTED CHAIRMAN PROF. ABDULRAZAQ OLUBUSIYI KILANI AMENDMENT OF CONSTITUTION

Footballers in training

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On this issue the trustees unanimously agreed that the entire constitution be amended.

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Fatai Osho

Stories by Albert Akota

N

igeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side, Enyimba Football Club of Aba, Sunday evening have asked their Head Coach Usman Abdallah, to temporarily step side from his duties with immediate effect.

Meanwhile, the assistant coach to Usman Abdallah, Fatai Osho will be in charge of the team for now.

The People’s Elephants who are the current Nigerian champions are not also finding it rosy this term following series of poor results.

The board of the Aba Millionaires were furious with

Abdallah, after they lost 1-0 to Paradou AC of Algeria, in the CAF Confederations Cup. Officials of the Aba-based club made the decision after the team was whitewashed 4-0 by Plateau United in the NPFL Week 12 contest on Sunday.

Despite the defeat the performance on the day was unimpressive leaving fans of the 8 times champions of the Nigeria Professional Football League wondering Enyimba will on Sunday host Paradou AC in the second leg Fixture of the CAF Confederations Cup at the Aba Township Stadium.

he maiden edition of the Odogwu U.17 Football Tournament will begin on Tuesday 17 January in Gwagwalada Abuja.

The tournament sponsored by the Abia Warriors Football Club Sporting Director, Patrick Ngwaogu (Odogwu ndi Abia) is aimed at discovering youths at that level that is ready to make a living from football.

According to the Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Thompson Ojukwu, the opening match will be between 2S Academy and Real Justice FC. The match which would be played at UBE Primary School, Kuntunku Gwagwalada Abuja by 4pm, will see a member of the FCT Football Association and Coach of the National U.15 team, Patrick Bassey performing the ceremonial kick off.

Quoting his word, Ojukwu said “we have dedicated the next three weeks in Gwagwalada to honour this passionate man that have boldly represented Gwagwalada and FCT perfectly in the game of football.

He served us meritilously, and still serving us till date, we are putting this tournament together to honour him.

In the opening match, 2SC Academy will take on Real Justice, while the second day, Babayaro FC will tackle Ejiwumi Academy”.

Ojukwu said the semi finals will be played on 18th and 19th January, with the donor deciding the date of the finals.

Patrick Ngwaogu was the leader of the Gwagwalada Football Coaches Council, Public Relations Officer, FCT Football Coaches Association, Secretary FCT Coaches Association, Board Member, FCT Football Association and First Vice Chairman, FCT Football Association.

He has also served variously at the NFF standing committees and is the Board Secretary of FOSLA Academy.

He was appointed appointed as the Match Reader/Assistant Coach of Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia in 2016/2017 Football, before he was elevated to the position of Sporting Director in the current football season.

Super Falcons, Oshoala, Osimhen in line for honours at CAF awards

>>pg 30

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PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, JANUARY 7, 2020

S p Aribo off to Dubai with Rangers for midseason camping

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uper Eagles midfielder Joe Aribo was part of Glasgow Rangers squad that travelled to Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Monday afternoon for a camping exercise ahead of the second half of the Scottish Premiership.

Rangers will play a friendly game with Uzbekistani Super League champions, Locomotiv Tashkent on Saturday.

The Match, arranged in partnership with Dubai Sports Council and Its Just Football, will be played at the Sevens Stadium in Dubai.

Rangers defeated title rivals Celtic 2-1 at the Celtic Park in their last league game before the international break.

Steven Gerrard’s men will host St. Mirren in their next game when the league resume on Wednesday, January 22nd.

Aribo has scored two goals and registeted six assists in 17 league appearances for Rangers this season.

Harris gets first world shot against Julio Martinez

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ulio Cesar Martinez will make the first defence of his WBC Flyweight title against Welshman Jay Harris on 29 February in Frisco, Texas, USA. Swansea’s Harris, 29, took his record to 17-0 by beating Paddy Barnes for the IBF Inter-Continental Flyweight title in his last outing in October.

Harris, who has also won the European and Commonwealth belts, now gets his first tilt at a world crown.

Martinez (15-1) stopped Cristofer Rosales to claim his title in December.

The 24-year-old Mexican’s ninthround win was the first time that Rosales had been stopped in his professional career.

The Martinez-Harris bout will take place on the Mikey Garcia versus Jessie Vargas undercard at The Star.

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Super Falcons, Oshoala, Osimhen in line for honours at CAF awards

By Albert Akota

N

igerian star football players Asisat Oshoala, Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze are in the shortlist for honours at the 2019 CAF Awards ceremony scheduled for the Albatros Citadel Sahl Hasheesh, Hurghada, Egypt on Tuesday night.

Winner of the gong in 2014, 2016 and 2017, and also among the final three in 2018, Super Falcons’ captain Asisat Oshoala is highly favoured for a fourth African Woman Player of the Year crown, which will equal the feat of fellow Nigerian, Perpetua Nkwocha.

The other contenders are Ajara Nchout from Cameroon and South Africa’s Thembi Kgatlana, who was crowned in Dakar, Senegal 12 months ago.

Super Eagles’ aces Samuel Chukwueze and Victor Osimhen are in the battle for the Young Player of the Year award, with Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi up against the duo.

Nigeria’s Super Falcons is primed for the award of the Women’s National Team of the Year, having successfully retained their continental crown in Ghana in December 2018 and reached the knockout stage of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in France last year summer.

Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses and Banyana Banyana of South Africa are contending against the nine-time African champions.

Former Super Falcons’ coach, Thomas Dennerby is also in the running for honours after being listed for the Women’s Coach of the Year for his work with the Super Falcons.

He will battle South Africa’s Desire Ellis and Cameroon’s Alain Djeumfa.

The final phase of voting for the men’s and women’s African Player of the Year, as well as the male and female Coach of the Year, will be selected by Head Coaches/Technical Directors and Captains of senior national teams from CAF Member Associations.

Meanwhile, the Interclubs Player of the Year will be decided upon by the Head Coaches and Captains of the group phase of the current season of CAF Interclubs competitions.

The top three (3) contenders for all the categories:

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Public Notice

Samuel Chukwueze (Nigeria & Villarreal) Victor Osimhen (Nigeria & Lille) African Men’s Coach of the Year Aliou Cisse (Senegal - Senegal) Djamel Belmadi (Algeria - Algeria) Moïne Chaâbani (Tunisia - Esperance) African Women’s Coach of the Year Alain Djeumfa (Cameroon) Desiree Ellis (South Africa) Thomas Dennerby (Nigeria) African Men’s National Team of the Year Algeria Madagascar Senegal African Women’s National Team of the Year Cameroon Nigeria South Africa

grace the CAF Awards 2019.

Four-time winner Samuel Eto’O Fils of Cameroon will be the host at the ceremony.

Egyptian star forward Mohamed Salah will battle his Liverpool teammate, Sadio Mane and Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez for the title of 2019 African Footballer of the 2019.

Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala is the among the three players shortlisted for the top prize in the CaF Awards 2019/women category. The other two are Cameroon’s Ajara Nchout and Tembi Kgatlana of South Africa.

The duo of Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwuweze will battle Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi for Africa’s best young player award.

Public Notice

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ABASI COVENANT FAMILY PROPHTIC MINISTRY INTERNATIONAL CAC/RC/NO: 96039

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR Appointed / Resigned of trustees UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990, (CAP C20, LFN 2004).

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REMOVAL AND APPOINTMENT OF TRUSTEES AND AMENDMENT OF CONSTITUTION UNDER ARTICLE 12 AND CHANGE OF NAME UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1999

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. Hauwa Adamu 2. Micheal Peter Kure 3. Apostle Stephen Okhumeode

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS APPLICATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY.

Kanu, Amokachi other football legends for CAF Awards 2019 AF Awards 2019: Nigerian football legends, Nwankwo Kanu and Daniel Amokachi are among former football stars expected to attend the CAF Awards 2019 ceremony at the Citadel Azure, Hurghada, Egypt.

Kanu, a two-time African Footballer of the Year award winner and Amokachi, who represented Nigeria at two FIFA World Cup finals, will be joined at the ceremony by former Selecao of Brazil defender, Cafu; Argentine legend, Juan Sebastien Veron and Youri Djorkaeff, a world cup winner with the the Les Blues of France.

Former African legends and former winners; Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure, El Hadji Diouf, Kalusha Bwalya and Roger Milla will also

CLASSIFIED

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To empower the aged, less privileged and widows.

To eliminate mediocrity amongst youths.

African Player of the Year Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Liverpool) Riyad Mahrez (Algeria & Manchester City) Sadio Mane (Senegal & Liverpool) African Women’s Player of the Year Ajara Nchout (Cameroon & Valerenga) Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria & Barcelona) Thembi Kgatlana (South Africa & Beijing Phoenix FC) African Interclubs Player of the Year Anice Badri (Tunisia & Esperance) Tarek Hamed (Egypt & Zamalek) Youcef Belaïli (Algeria & Esperance / Ahli Jeddah) African Youth Player of the Year Achraf Hakimi (Morocco & Borussia Dortmund)

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PEOPLES DAILY, tuesday, JANUARY 7, 2020

THE OLD TRUSTEES ARE: 1. UBONG UMOHETTE OKOKON - RE-APPOINTED 2. LEVI IHEGARANYA - RE-APPOINTED 3. GODFREY IKECHUKWU ALUKA - REMOVED 4. STELLA MEKAN SAMUEL - REMOVED 5. EMMANUEL VICTOR UKOH - REMOVED 6. TINA CHARITY ALUKA - REMOVED 7. ANDY MEDAN UDOM - REMOVED 8. SAMUEL UBONG - REMOVED AIM AND OBJECTIVES REMAIN THE SAME THE NEW TRUSTEES ARE: 1. PATRICIA EKOEYONG AFAHA - APPOINTED 2. CHINESE UGOCHUKWU EZERIOHA - APPOINTED 3. NZUBECHUKWU OKALU - APPOINTED 4. ARET MARTHA UFUO - APPOINTED APPOINTMENT OF NEW CHAIRMAN AND SECRETARY 1. UBONG UMOHETTE OKOKON - NEW CHAIRMAN 2. ARET MARTHA UFUO - NEW SECRETARY ANY OBJECTION TO THIS APPLICATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION SIGNED :SECRETARY

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SPORTS Gen. Soleimani: Beyond the fury of Iran latest

Germany’s 1966 World Cup goalkeeper dies at 84

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ormer West Germany goalkeeper Hans Tilkowski, who played in the 1966 World Cup final against winners England, has died at the age of 84, his family told German media yesterday.

That final match featured one of the most controversial goals in football history.

This was when Geoff Hurst’s shot bounced off the crossbar and landed on the goal line with Tilkowski beaten, before the ball was then headed clear.

Tournament of Champions: Thomas wins Hawaii play-off

J

ustin Thomas said he “got very lucky” after beating Patrick Reed and Xander Schauffele in a play-off to win the Tournament of Champions in Hawaii.

The 26-year-old American won his 12th US PGA Tour title despite bogeying two of the last three holes in regulation.

He birdied the third extra hole to beat Reed after defending champion Schauffele was eliminated on the first play-off hole.

The trio had finished 72 holes with 14 under par totals of 278.

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Guest Column

By Charles Onunaiju

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he bumbling Washington’s regime of Mr. Donald Trump has finally crossed the line; cold-bloodily assassinating formal top actor of another State on the street.

Major General Qassem Soleimani is not a shadowy chief of a murderous extremist band or a boss of a violent drug cartel, not even a commander of rebel army or a rogue general on the run.

He was a charismatic general of an established and legally recognized institution of a formal state. General Soleimani is the military commander of Iran’s elite Quds force or the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, the equivalent of U.S Special Forces or the marine.

General Qassem has discretely arrived in the neighbouring Iraq, where Tehran has been playing vital role to stabilize the country after it was devastated by the United States, and was on small convoy of cars from the airport, when the deadly drone attack was orchestrated killing both General Qaseem and his Iraqi host, along with few others. Mr. Trump and his Secretary of State, Mr. Mike Pompeo gloated over the state sponsored murder of a senior military official of another state. This is certainly crossing the lines. Assassinating foreign leaders through the complicity of intelligence agencies with local proxies are normal routine in the deadly game, nations sometimes play, as in the overthrow of Chilean leader, Allende Salvador in 1973, or the 2011 assassination of the Libyan leader but there is not yet a case until now, when a head of state ordered the killing of a key actor of another state in peace time, despite ideological or political disagreement.

Mr. Trump’s Washington has set a dangerous precedent that must not be allowed to stand otherwise, key state actors of other countries, be they military commanders, diplomats, ministers, heads of state think tanks and banks, even scientists could be framed for unproven terrorist acts and simply murdered by the accusing state.

The murder of General Soleimani was cowardly and showed that Washington has long but unsuccessfully laboured to find local proxies and accomplices within the Iranian rank, and in desperation, chose the most cowardly way to murder a distinguished military commander.

Washington should have declared war against Iran and go ahead with some military dexterity to take out General Soleimani in a battle, with his troops either decapitated or put in disarray. To take out a military leader on a routine state visit without troops or arms is an action that is beneath the famed prowess of the U.S military.

In remarks that should worry Americans about the intelligent quotients of those they have put in high offices, President Trump claimed that he ordered the killing of General Soleimani to prevent war and not to

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Charles Onunaiju start one. Mr Pompeo who issued advisory for Americans to leave Iraq immediately without even going to their embassy in Baghdad for consular help claimed that the killing of General Soleimani would make Americans safer in the region.

Iranian foreign minister, Mr. Zarif was right on point when he called Mr. Pompeo, an arrogant clown masquerading as a diplomat when the US secretary of State claimed that Iranians were dancing on the street, following the murder of Gen. Soleimani.

Despite the small circle of his Republican party co-travelers, the vast majority of Americans including key political figures have expressed outrage and queried the wisdom in the murdering of a man, who would do more harm to America, while dead, than he would have done, when and if alive.

Even more serious and sober U.S administration has poor record of post-conflict peace building and reconciliation, which has left the U.S bogged down in places like Afghanistan and Iraq. A chaotic Trump’s regime characterized by internal purges and dissensions can hardly be expected to pick up the pieces from the fallout of Washington’s most heinous decision in a normally restive region.

Anyone who imagined that the killing of General Soleimani would have no consequences, only had to take a look at the stock markets worldwide and how panic is driving them downwards even as oil prices take a leap upwards. And these are mere jitters to anticipate Iran’s furry.

General Soleimani is a towering military figure in the Middle Eastern region. At the peak of the power of the Islamic state (ISIS), when Washington

“

and Gulf states in the region were treating the deadly extremist jihadists with kid gloves, General Soleimani orchestrated a hard and harsh military reprisals that put the delusional zealots in disarray, and restored the modicum of territorial integrity of Iraq and Syria, two key states targeted by ISIS as the fountain head of their dream worldwide caliphate.

Despite the chaos in the neighboring Afghanistan, General Soleimaini, ensured that the extremist Jihadist never get a foothold there.

It is ironic that President Trump, who demonstrated absolute zero tolerance for the Islamic State (ISIS) could order the cowardly murder of the strategic arrow-head in the defeat and dismantling of Islamic State. Many commentators, including respected Americans have worried that as with Mr. Trump regime, the murdering of General Soleimani may not have been thought through.

Iran and the United State have had troubled relations and have both used harsh and bombastic epithets to describe each other. From the time, America’s doyen of Foreign affairs, Henry Kissinger claimed that Iran is not a state, but “revolutionary cause devoted to mayhem,” up to Mr. Trump who invited all “nations of conscience” to counter Iran and Tehran’s inspired popular chants of death to the “great Satan”, in reference to the United States, bitter recrimination has been normal between the estranged countries.

The joint comprehensive plan of action (JCPOA), the meticulously negotiated nuclear deal over Iran’s nuclear program, however, opened a path of détente in the relation between the states, before president Trump announced the withdrawal of the

Anyone who imagined that the killing of General Soleimani would have no consequences, only had to take a look at the stock markets worldwide and how panic is driving them downwards even as oil prices take a leap upwards. And these are mere jitters to anticipate Iran’s furry

United States from the deal in may 2018, plunging the relations between the two countries into ice cold, with Washington routinely purveying “regime change,” and maximum pressure,” with no obvious sign that Tehran is fracturing, in response.

Last year, Washington had one of its unmanned spy plane brought down by the Iranians and President Trump, later said that he called off, supposedly punitive military reprisals against Iranian targets, after being advised that the cost of the attack would be nearly 200 dead. Later Iranian oil tanker was seized in the coast of Gibraltar by British Special Forces ostensibly at the U.S prodding. Almost immediately, the Iranians retaliated by grabbing a British flagged ship in the strait of Hormuz but the tit for tat confrontation was resolved when both ships were released by their respective captors.

Though, conflicts have continued to simmer between the two states, it has never been taken to the level of gruesome assassination of each other formal key state actor.

That is why Mr. Trump’s action in ordering the assassination of General Soleimani is a dangerous escalation that is unprecedented in contemporary international relations.

Iran traditionally does not bluster and the firm commitment of the Iranian leadership to seek revenge for the state-sponsored murder of their top state official is sending jitters across the world. The American regime of President Trump must be held accountable for consequence of their thoughtless and heinous action and key regime figures including Mr. Trump himself should be individually held responsible for turning a revisionist page on the emerging multipolar world order, in which, finding a common ground despite differences is the defining creed of contemporary international cooperation.

Mr. Onunaiju wrote in from Abuja.

Dan GAYE gaye DAN We may vacate order suspending CAC boss CCT

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