Saturday 9 - Sunday 10, August 2014. Edition.

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Osun: 2 INEC officials caught diverting ballot materials

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Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State (right) listening to comments from the Managing Director of Yobe Investment Company, Alhaji Mai Musa (left) during an inspection tour of the newly-built Yobe Investment House in Abuja yesterday Photo: Yobe Govt House

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N2trn annual fuel subsidy ridiculous — NNPC boss

S’West: APC, PDP test strength again

>>Page 48

>>Pages 7,8,9

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

Page 2

Interview

Nepotism cause Immigration recruitment fiasco, says NIS Chief Superintendent The Special Assistant to the Interior Minister and a serving Chief Superintendent of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Ime Unaowo Nta, says the disastrous e-recruitment exercise which claimed the lives of seven persons was self-inflicted. The former Secretary to the Federal Government Investigation Committee on the Vandalization of Communication Cables at MMIA in 2006, says nepotism has been the bane of immigration recruitment exercises. Our Reporter Edoamaowo Udeme, brings excerpts of the interview.

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here have been counter accusations as to who should be held responsible for the disaster of the e-recruitment.

Shouldn’t the minister be held responsible for the Immigration tragedy especially he was alleged to have usurped the responsibility of the Comptroller General in the recruitment of officers from level 1-7? Or is it vice versa?

In the words of Mahatma Ghandi that “silence becomes cowardice when occasion demands speaking out the whole truth and acting accordingly’’, I respectfully disagree with the Comptroller General as an observer duly accredited by our Board for Abuja centre and the remote causes that prompted the e-recruitment option.

What were the remote causes?

Self inflicted by Immigration Service and not the Board or Ministry. Retired Comptroller General C.J Udeh shared employment slots to management staff at the Headquarters and the State Comptrollers to handle respective commands.

Unfortunately, the designated officers turned the exercise to family jamboree. Invariably, the Nigerian Immigration is the only security outfit in the world where father, mother, children and extended blood relatives served as officers.

Retired Comptroller- General, Rose Uzoma’s option was financial empowerment: squeezing helpless applicants of huge resources through her principal aides, who are today celebrated by the present Comptroller General. To thwart official reactions, fictitious allocation slots to top Government functionaries and the ChairmanFederal Character Commission were paraded. The Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, directed the steering committee of the Board of Immigration to come out with a template that will address the abuses and most importantly allow every eligible applicant to attend the aptitude test in a transparent manner and at minimal cost and inconveniences.

But the Minister usurped the responsibility of the Service in the recruitment of level 1-7?

No, rather it was the Board with absolute power under ACT on promotion, discipline and recruitment that withdrew the

delegated powers given to the Service on the recruitment of levels1-7 because of the already stated abuses.

But the Comptroller- General and the Secretary of the Board Secretary accused the minister of not listening to their advice to stagger the exercise or even postpone it altogether?

That is fallacy, because the recruitment exercise was successful in other commands that also used the same stadium facilities.

I expected both of them to have told Nigerians that the steering committee of the Board deliberated and adopted several measures and the leadership of the Immigration Service participated in all. The Minister did not but only chaired the last meeting consisting of over 10 members and interceded on their behalf in the financial aspect by begging a company to assist financially.

The millions was paid to the Board Secretary who disbursed them without recourse to the Minister. The Minister had told members of the legislature that the recruitment will hold and directed the Comptroller- General to make adequate operational arrangements while the Board was to handle the aptitude test papers. The Comptroller General vide circular NIS/S/1823/1/d/7 dated 12th, March, 2014 outline the modalities to state Comptrollers and fixed 15th, March, 2014 via internet for the exercise, so he was economical with the truth.

How do you mean, please substantiate?

The Comptroller -General abdicated his supervisory responsibility by choosing to stay in Abuja just like the Board Secretary to co-ordinate the exercise and issue instructions. He opted to attend his Governor’s birth day party in Jos at the expense of a national assignment involving his office.

This was unfair and insensitive. As usual, he never seeks permission from his Supervisory Minister and never apologized when he met him at the venue of the party venue.

Secondly, he was acting on the internal scripts of some powerful cliques of the fifth columnists in the Service. It was also a retaliatory mission for the immediate past Comptroller-Generals namely C.J

Chief Superintendent of NIS, Ime Unaowo Nta, Udeh and Mrs Rose Uzoma, who he served as Special Assistant and Assistant Comptroller General (HRM).

What is the correlation of such behavior to the Abuja tragedy?

It was an avoidable operational failure. There was no mock exercise for officers to understand the stadium terrain and to map out strategy for a hitch-free exercise.

That’s why only one access gate out of 38 gates available were opened for applicants. Imagine the insensitivity to the exercise displayed was such that the Deputy Comptroller -General- who ought to have overseen the Abuja exercise, was relaxing in the office of the Board Secretary instead of attebnding to his responsibility. Not until I notified him through the Personal Assistant to the Board Secretary after some unfortunate applicants died, including my friend’s wife, who died and left three under-aged children, did they come awake to their responsibilities.

How did your so-called fifth columnists contribute to the recruitment tragedy?

Those who preferred the sustenance of the abuses of retired Comptroller Generals than transparent approach. Others

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were those who wanted to get at the Minister because he setup Academic Certificate Verification to flush out over 30 percent officers with fake academic certificates. In addition, a Ministerial Committee on Expatriate Quota Abuses meant to tackle several of the exercise did not go down well with them.

Immigration officers constitute the highest perpetrators, which deny Nigerians who are supposed to under study the expatriates and the take over the Service.

One of the common accusations is that the Comptroller-General is not supporting efforts to reposition the service, how true is this?

Absolutely true, he is not. I am ready to substantiate my allegations of nepotisms, intimidations and other shocking unprecedented corruption because of the larger national implications. Recently, a retired Assistant Comptroller General-Mallam Gwandu sought to malign the Minister in publication of Sunday Trust, March, 23, 2014, with the caption “The Minister has overbearing influence on Immigration’ I am ready, if summoned, to officially forward incontrovertible facts through to the Senate President and

Unfortunately, the designated officers turned the exercise to family jamboree. Invariably, the Nigerian Immigration is the only security outfit in the world where father, mother, children and extended blood relatives served as officers.

Presidency.

Shouldn’t the Comptroller General and other State Comptrollers that handled the exercise be fired?

Being first offenders the State Comptrollers should be queried and warned to ensure that such costly mistake does not repeat itself.

But for the Comptroller General as a second offender because it was under his supervision as Comptroller of Enugu in 1998 that over 10 applicants died during the Immigration recruitment it should have been more. He was given soft landing and redeployed over the Enugu incident.

For fairness and equity, don’t you think the Hon Minister should have the blame?

Yes, if I was with him when he assumed office I would have availed him facts on how certain elements in the Service used banana peels to deal in Ministers in the past. They have adopted the propaganda machine of Mr. Joseph Gobies, who was Minister of Propaganda under the Nazi regime of Adolf Hiltler. Today, Interior had sacrificed Late Sunday Afolabi, Dr Mohamed Shatta, Alhaji Akwanga and Capt Ihenacheo and numerous Permanent Secretaries all because of negative trend.

The Minister’s blame I will say was not firing the ComptrollerGeneral for sacrificing national assignment for a birthday party and allowing a repeat of what happened under his tenure in Enugu in 1998, where over 10 applicants died.

What words of comfort do you have for the bereaved family and injured applicants?

They should wait for Mr. President’s palliative.

The Presidential Committee will soon turn in its report. The President palliative is a privilege and not a right. They should distance themselves from mischievous noise makers. The Minister and indeed our amiable President are men of conscience, integrity and God fearing that will not joke with innocent bloods that were wasted because of insensitivity and operational failures.

What parting word do you have for your ComptrollerGeneral?

Retired General Powel in the book of Orein Hariri, says ‘‘A leader must emphasis dignity, respect and honor when disagreeing on issues. Men of genius are admired, men of power are feared but only men of character are trusted’’. His reputation was rated very high and officers were excited on his emergence but today it is dropping in geometric progression and more compounded criminal abuse of office by some of his aides.

Confrontation with the Ministry and Board and circumventing investigation of officers accused of wrong doings, are not the best approaches to issues.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

PAGE 3

Feature

Rejuvenating rice production in Nigeria: The Dangote way

By Patrick Andrew

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etween now and 2018, Nigeria may returned to the international market as a net-exporter of rice. Years ago, Nigeria was among the top rice producers until an aversion for home-grown rice sets in. Indeed, Nigeria is ranked the world’s second largest importer of rice behind China, consuming nearly 6 million tons of the commodity yearly.

It is a fact that rice has been a major staple. Little wonder then that Nigerians consume that number of metric tons of rice annually. Sadly, the consumption rate does not correspond with the production rate thus forcing the federal government to import from other producers.

Nigeria’s importation to make up for the shortfall stands at about 2.1 million metric tons, according to figures from the authorities and at the cost about N356 billion.

However, the shortfall is soon to be addressed internally following the investment of $1 Billion (N165 billion) for the establishment of fully integrated rice production and processing operations across Nigeria.

The credit for that bold step goes to the Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), which last weekend signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) to embark on the cultivation of the stable covering five states of Niger, Kebbi, Jigawa, Edo and Kwara. The venture is expected to contribute additional 1.4 million metric tonnes of Paddy rice.

Also, Dangote will set up two modern large-scale rice mills each with a capacity to generate 120,000 metric tons of rice paddy annually, thus further enhancing the total capacity of rice milled in the country to 240,000metric tons.

The Dangote group hopes that in a twoyear time the total capacity will double a development that will make Nigeria major net-exporter of rice. That will be a reverse role since Nigeria at the moment is the net-importer of rice only second to China.

These were disclosed at the memorandum of understanding (MOU) where it was revealed that the investment is the largest single investment ever made in rice production in Africa.

The rice plant is estimated to produce 960,000 metric tons of mill rice, rep-

resenting 46 per cent of rice imported into Nigeria.

Speaking at the ceremony, which was graced by top hierarchies, Africa’s richest man who has his hands in sundry manufacturing and production investments said, “Our goal of making Nigeria a net exporter of rice will be achieved faster by this significant investment, and I congratulate the Minister of Agriculture and his team for the very strong demonstration of public-private sector partnerships and collaboration to drive significant transformation in Nigeria’s agriculture sector,” Alhaji Aliko Dangote said.

Dangote, who has investments in cement and sugar and boasts of the largest cement producing company in Africa at Obajana, lauded the federal government for its policy on agriculture that has boosted not just interest but rejuvenation in the production of the stable food. e said the robust policy has encouraged individual and corporate organizations to venture into rice production as well as assured that they will be supported with a strong will and determined state that is willing to go the extra mile in the quest to realise increase production of the product.

Accordingly, he said government’s consistent policy has engendered and gingered interest in the investment on rice and noted that the investment will boost smallholder rice production in the regions through a nucleus and outgrower farming model.

Already, since the introduction of aggressive agriculture policy that pay attentions to and encourages local production, rice worth N149.512 billion gross value of paddy and net value of N79.691 billion has been attained.

This is noteworthy because the original intention was to create a local rice production level, boost interest and reduce dependence on imported rice.

According to the minister of Agriiculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, the efforts led to the creation of 751,248 rural jobs. Though some may not totally agree with the number, but it goes without saying that interest in agriculture at the rural level has been rejuvenated, rice farmers easily identified with the gesture and therefore, have taken to the trade with gusto. Adesina adduced further statistics including that initial expected gross value double

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to N313,784,882,555 2012 and the net value doubled to N175,020,285,055 the following year. He said there was an inflow of N254 billion from the 2012 and 2013 wet and dry rice season farming, which ultimately led to strong economic impact on the lives of rice farmers, boosts the numbers of gainfully employed agro-dealers.

Now, with Dangote’s investment, the prospects are even brighter for rice farmers and Nigeria in general.

“This investment by Dangote Industries Limited is transformational for Nigeria and the rest of Africa. The 150,000 hectares of rice farms and the planned 240,000 metric tons processing capacity of international quality grade rice is guaranteed to turn Nigeria away from being a rice importing country to a major rice exporter.

“Through this billion dollar commitment, Aliko Dangote, Africa’s leading business man, has clearly attested to the policies and approach that the Federal Government has undertaken to transform the nation’s agricultural sector”.

Since the introduction of the two seasons, Nigeria has within three years experienced rise in its national paddy rice production by an extra 7 million Metric Tons. Also, the number of integrated modern rice mills in the country jumped. Today, Nigeria has high-quality locally produced rice in the market such as Quarra Rice, Umza rice, Ebony super rice, Eko rice, Mikap rice, Ashi rice, Queen of the Niger and Mama’s Pride. hat was without Dangote’s venture into the rice production.

Rice farmers will be supported: The man with the highest rice investment in Africa has made provision for agro-inputs, training, and marketing linkages just to facilitate production, encourage and stimulate community farming operations.

A major relief in the investment will improved employment opportunities for teeming youth who are likely to develop genuine interest in rice cultivation. No fewer than 8,000 Nigerians will be gainfully engaged. It is obvious Dangote has been swayed by the great potentials in rice production and indeed in agriculture. Virtually all wealthy individuals in Europe are into agro-allied production. Unfortunately though Nigerian moneybags have tended to shy away from investment in this lucrative venture instead prefer

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Alhaji Aliko Dangote to deploy their money on frivolous ventures and just buy and sale businesses.

President Goodluck Jonathan could not but applaud Dangote’s bold venture which inevitably should incite others to invest also in agriculture: “It takes a lot of hardwork, commitment and discipline to achieve the feat, accomplished by Aliko Dangote. Today is a great day for Nigeria and this investment is worth the risk. The country is capable of producing rice that can feed the whole of West African sub-region,” he said in apparent appreciation of Dangote’s determined effort to build a strong agric-based industrial in Nigeria.

Dangote himself urged other captains of industries and entrepreneurs to take advantage of the level-playing field and invest in the sector rather than sit back and watch foreigners plough into the lucrative venture. ccording to sources from the ministry of agriculture, there are now a total of 13 new integrated rice mills with parboiling facility and total combined paddy milling capacity of 534,000 metric tons. They came under the interventions in the rice value chains for paddy rice production. The rice Staple Crop Processing Zone (SCPZ) also serves as a platform intended for the production of rice.

Wacott rice processing mill is situated in Kebbi/Sokoto Staple Crop Processing Zone (SCPZ). UMZA in Kano and Ebony mill in Ebonyi have expressed interest in acquiring some of the 10 new mills being facilitated by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for distribution to rice mills.

At Rukubi village in Doma local government, Nassarawa State, Olam has installed a 60,000MT rice mill to process harvests from about 3,500 hectares of rice farm. Eko Rice, only

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recently purchased 56 trailer loads of paddy from Kebbi, for local processing in Lagos. Other mills, including the Dominion rice mill in Taraba State, are expected to boost the local supplies of processed rice.

Again, these were before the new endeavour from the Dangaote group, which many say will sure yield dividends. Of course, instead of the government spending billions on imported rice, the amount can be channeled into the provision of social amenities in other sectors. We also believe the momentum should be sustained to rebuild the nation’s economy.

Dangote’s bold step has shown that given an atmosphere conducive for investment by Africa governments’indigenous industrialists and those with sufficient capitals can venture into agro-allied industries. The continent remained untapped, ravaged by unemployment in the face of multiple opportunities to expand the employment space.

If the Dangote investment alone will stimulate production increasing production three-fold, create employment for 8,000 farmers besides the auxiliary workers quantify that with the huge dependents. What further impact will the investments of several others add to the economy? We also have to consider the impact on the health of the nation. One should be aware of the effect of a well-fed populace and the contribution they are likely to make in other sectors. igerians need to be aware that food security is a strategic national priority and therefore cooperate in every way to ensure the nation is freed from the shackles of import dependency. Surely, the Dangote’s example is worthy of praise and indeed emulation.

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This investment by Dangote Industries Limited is transformational for Nigeria and the rest of Africa. The 150,000 hectares of rice farms and the planned 240,000 Metric Tons processing capacity of international quality grade rice is guaranteed to turn Nigeria away from being a rice importing country to a major rice exporter.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

Page 4

Special Report

Burdens, pains of vehicle registration in Nigeria

Vehicle inspection officers at work Adesoji Oyinlola, Lagos

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ctivities of touts around many licensing offices in the country have been on the rise. The touts, despite concerted efforts by the government to dislodge them, are consistently duping many innocent motorists, especially the desperate ones.

Though the government has taken diverse measures and made several efforts using different agencies at both the state and federal levels to sanitise the situation, touting has remained unabated.

And it is not only in a few instances and states but cuts across all the states of the federation particularly in places where there are increasing demands for vehicle particulars.

In this regard, while the scenario painted above exists in all the states of the federation, the situation in some states such as Lagos, Kano and Port Harcourt degenerate because of the large number of vehicles available for registration.

A check by Peoples Daily Weekend revealed that touts are succeeding in their illegal activities because of the uncooperative attitudes of government officials whose legitimate duty it is to assist the people in registering their vehicles, but who would prefer to deploy the services of touts for selfish gains.

Mr. Akanmu Akinola, a Lagos based chemist, narrated his recent experience when he went to register his newly acquired Tokunbo

Toyota Sienna. According to him, he had made up his mind to follow official procedures, was ready and willing to go through whatever it would require to legally acquire needed documents, however officials of the licensing office that he went to made it impossible as they deliberately ensured he was sufficiently frustrated and discouraged from following the due process. e said though he spent a week going to the licensing office by himself without any tangible result, it took a man he simply identified as Raji, just three days to get him all the vehicle particulars and the numbered plate. Of course, he did not pay the official price but twice the required amount.

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However, it was later discovered that some of particulars Raji helped to procured were not genuine though the price was ridiculously inflated. This unfortunate discovery was made when Vehicle Inspection Officials requested for his vehicle particulars. He was embarrassed, subjected to delay and made to repeat the entire process afresh. lso, a senior journalist equally related how he too suffered similar ordeal in the process of securing vehicle particulars.

He, as an obedient and law abiding citizen, opted to follow the legal processes of renewing his vehicle particulars. He toiled, filled the forms, joined the queues and wasted so much time and subsequently he still could not get

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The manual exercise only focuses on vehicle registration and inspection, and not on other supporting services such as vehicle tracking, learner’s driving permission, and driver’s licence management, monitoring of drivers and vehicles operations and documentation of both accident and crime report.

the necessary papers until an official directed him to his agent who ensured that the same papers were re-subjected to scrutiny but at a higher cost. Two days later the documents were released to him.

He heaved a sigh of relief, thought all was over and that he was a proud owner of genuine vehicle particulars until the same elements arrested him one day barely three months later for being in possession of forged vehicle particulars.

In fact, he contested the allegation especially since a lawyer from the Federal Road Safety Corps had insulted him and threatened to drag him to court for encouraging touting. He tried in vain to convince them that he followed the due processes, had subjected himself to all the processes, filled out the genuine papers, submitted them at the right office and got correct official stamps. His papers bore the correct official insignia and he could swear they were correct. His only sin was that he facilitated the processes by paying higher than he should, and therefore had no doubt that they were genuine papers. he above scenario still plays out in many states. Most times, the particulars they procure are not from the genuine sources.

Motorists are daily being arrested for having fake driver’s licence, fake particulars, including doubtful roadworthiness certificates and a host of other false vehicle documents. Their vehicles

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Contd on Page 5

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

PAGE 5

Special Report

...pains of vehicle registration...

Contd from Page 4

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re towed. They are delayed, losing a lot of money. To secure their release, they are made to pay fines.

Ironically, sometimes to the same officials who through their agents facilitated the procurement of the papers or who had stamped the so-called “fake” papers themselves.

They encourage the fraudsters continue to have a field day. For the motorists, it is a case of double jeopardy as they have to obtain the authentic document if they do not want to go through the ordeal again. eople always lament their innocence to VIO officials each time they ran afoul of the registration law. The problem of identifying the authenticity or otherwise of the vehicle particulars is worsened by the fact that these are issued by the same government officials who would labeled the same documents fake. Further, some of the touts, working in conjunction with same government officials, stay right inside the offices of the licensing officials and clearly know their ways around.

Though the licensing offices in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are abuzz with activities one common scene is a parade of touts openly canvassing for patronage and even if you choose to ignore them you would be compelled to return to do business with them subsequently. They always know who wants to obtain fresh documents, renew and secure vehicle plate number. They know the right personnel, even those will take certain number of days to process the papers and the likely amount each document would cost from official to official.

At the Mambushi office in Abuja, officials at what they called “the bank” are notorious for allegedly extorting the public and openly ensuring that many are frustrated and compelled to use their agents to process their papers. There, the processes of renewing one’s papers can take as much as two weeks if you

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want to follow official procedures.

But that same paper comes out within 24 hours if you have the “right connection” which simply means willing to pay the right amount to touts who would remit same to their bosses at “the bank”.

Even the officials of the FRSC are not helping matters. True, there is conflict between them and the VIO over whose legal duty it is to issue licences and process vehicle documents. No, this is a matter for another day but the truth is whenever one falls into the hands of the FRSC officials whatever documents issued by the VIO is always termed “fake”.

There are abundant evidences to that effect.

Well, in concerted efforts to curb the illegal activities of the touts, the Lagos State government launched the Automated Vehicle Registration, a new vehicle licensing arrangement meant to eliminate touting and counterfeiting. Initiated

by Courteville Investment Limited, AutoReg is now being used in about 14 states in Nigeria. agos State Government inaugurated a Clients’Representative scheme in a determined effort to stamp out the problem of fake vehicle documents.

Through the CR scheme, the MVAA, under the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, is providing the official recognition to individuals who, for decades had been engaged in playing the role of middlemen to corporate organisations and private persons in procuring vehicle documentation – especially vehicle registrations and renewals.

The scheme, which was inaugurated by the state governor, Babatunde Fashola, endorsed 121 of such representatives out of the total number of 500 that applied for recognition.

The governor said, before granting them approval, the CRs were screened by the State Security Service and certified not to have any criminal records. ”We have decided to streamline and regulate the activities of these agents in order to remove the

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Men of the Federal Road Safety Commission and other agencies at work on the highway menace that the activities of some of them have created for the Motor Vehicle Administration Agency. As a matter of fact, unlicensed agents encourage touting and forgery of vehicle papers.”

The measure, according to the governor, will aid in the recovery of stolen vehicles, create employment opportunities for Lagosians and plug leakage of the revenue due to the state government.

“This latest initiative is designed to complement other ground-breaking measures which the MVAA, since its inception in 2007, has introduced to reduce forgery of vehicle documents and other undesirable consequences of touting. The measures include full automation of MVAA‘s products and services such as Vehicle Registration and Licensing (Autoreg), Hackney Permit (Autohac), Vehicle License Renewal Alert and Vehicle Insurance Certificate-3rd Party (Auto-insure).

“I believe that the automation of vehicle registration processes as well as the Clients Representatives scheme will reduce the turn-around time for vehicle registration. This will eliminate issuance of fake vehicle license and security documents,” he said. ome motorists, who spoke on the arrangement, described it as a welcome development and expressed the hope that it would not be open to any form of abuse.

A commercial bus driver, Mr. Segun Ojo said the scheme

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is a welcome development but “government needs to monitor these people, so that they would not disorganise the whole thing by charging people crazy fees on the registration.”

By “disorganize” he simply meant that the officials are likely to resort to the same old ways thereby abusing the process leading to frustration and compelling people to return to touts.

That will be vicious circle.

Some though believe the effort of the Lagos state government is not only a welcome development but if well managed would bring a huge relief to the people who had over the years being subjected to unnecessary upheavals, just to register or renew their vehicle particulars.

On his own part, a Lagos-based businessman, Mr. Akinyo Abayomi, describes the scheme as noble adding that it would eliminate the incidence of issuing fake documents for new vehicles and the renewal of old ones.

The state government, however, puts a caveat on the operations of the CR. Notwithstanding the introduction of this Clients’Representatives scheme, Fashola said, members of the public who so desired can still procure their vehicle documentations directly from the MVAA, especially vehicle registrations and renewals. “The engagement of the services of Client representatives is therefore by choice for those who want it.” he state Commissioner for Transportation, Prof.

Bamidele Badejo, stressed that the CRs were not agents or employees of the MVAA or the Lagos State Government, and therefore suggested that the chances of their playing the touts or conniving with certain officials to defraud people are slim.

“The CRs do not represent

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“ VIO officials at work

the MVAA or the Lagos State Government in any capacity. They are only recognised to transact motor vehicle documentation business with the MVAA on behalf of their clients.

Therefore, the MVAA and the Lagos State government are not liable for any conduct or misconduct of the CRs.” This is not too reassuring, but at least one knows once the documents are processed through them the likelihood of these documents being fake, are reduced to the barest minimum.

Vehicle Registration in Nigeria began over 100 years ago and the records have been essentially manual, which in turn has not helped to raise the efficiency of general automotive services in recent years.

The manual exercise only focuses on vehicle registration and inspection, and not on other supporting services such as vehicle tracking, learner’s driving permission, and driver’s licence management, monitoring of drivers and vehicles operations and documentation of both accident and crime report.

Vehicle registration in the city, state, and district offices burdened applicants by requiring them to personally deliver the certified copy of resident’s registration and other documents. ehicle registration used to involve manual recording of vehicle’s information which ranges from cars to buses and later to trucks and heavy duty equipment on ledgers and tracking other related information such as registration, road worthiness test certificates, change of ownership, engine and chassis numbers; and expiration of road license.

This process has been extremely inefficient and the recovery of the information was not possible once ledgers were damaged or lost as it frequently occurs.

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The problem of identifying the authenticity or otherwise of the vehicle particulars is worsened by the fact that these are issued by the same government officials who would later labeled the same document “fake”.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

Page 6

News

Osun: 2 INEC officials caught with ballot materials …As APC accuses police boss of doling cash to security agents

Ayodele Samuel, Lagos with Agency Report

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he police in Osun State have arrested two officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after they were caught in illegal possession of voting materials.

The duo were attached to the Obokun Local Government Area of the state and one of them is said to be the Electoral Officer. They were caught in the attempt to divert sensitive voting materials meant for today’s election Preliminary investigations showed that the latter had been communicating with a chieftain in the area but the suspects are yet to reveal the identity of their sponsor.

The Osun Governorship elections are set to hold today with the major candidates being the APC’s Rauf Aregbesola, the incumbent, and PDP’s Iyiola Omisore.

But reacting to the story, INEC last night

said none of its officials were caught diverting sensitive election materials in Osun State.

In a statement issued yesterday by Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Kayode Idowu, the commission said no sensitive materials were diverted, neither was any official of INEC caught in cohort with political partisans.

The statement reads in part: “Early on Thursday morning, all EOs in Osun State were asked to report in Oshogbo to collect sensitive materials for their respective LGAs, hence the Obokun EO and one of his officers left for the state capital to collect the materials. While they were in Oshogbo, the EO realized that mattresses needed for operating the Registration Area Centres (RACs), which ought to have been delivered at the RACs, had not been distributed. Consequently, he sent back his officer to go distribute the mattresses to all the RACs. “The officer assigned to effect this task

misinterpreted the instruction and, rather than distribute only the mattresses, began to distribute non-sensitive materials as well – contrary to the earlier agreement between the EO and political parties”.

This revelation is coming amidst accusation by the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday that the Police Commissioner in Osun State, Ibrahim Maishanu, of distributed cash to police personnel and soldiers to enable them work for PDP’s victory in today’s governorship election in the State.

In a statement issued in Osogbo yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party claimed that Maishanu distributed the money after addressing the police personnel and soldiers at the NYSC camp in Ede on Friday, during which he told them point blank that his mission is to ensure PDP’s victory at the elections.

It said the new police boss gave every po-

lice officer present 50,000 Naira; other ranks 30,000 Naira each and every non-commissioned soldier 45,000 Naira. ‘’We salute the courage and patriotism of some security agents who gave us this valuable information, and who have vowed never to do anything to subvert the country’s constitution and its democracy, whether or not they are being lured to do so with filthy lucre. ‘’The fact that there are still good men and women even in the security agencies that have become highly-partisan gives us hope that our country’s democracy will survive this unprecedented assault from those who swore an oath to uphold the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,’’ APC said.

The party wondered where the Police Commissioner got the huge amounts of cash he gave away so casually in order to use security agencies “to thwart the will of the people”.

Soldiers ransack houses in Kaduna From Muhammad Ibrahim, Kaduna

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esidents of Askolaye, a suburb of Kaduna metropolis were yesterday thrown into confusion as soldiers stormed the area conducting house to house search in the area.

Reports from the area indicated that the soldiers stormed the area in a commando style in the morning around 7 am.

It would be recalled that a minor bomb blast occurred in the area few weeks ago near the house of the renowned scholar Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi. But it was not clear whether the military operation in the area has anything to do with that incident.

Peoples Daily Weekend also gathered that the heavily armed soldiers stationed four vehicles

at Ring Road by Jimeta street asking residents to remain indoors. “ We are at home when we heard them, we don’t know what they were looking for or who they were looking for. All we know is that they only went house to house knocking people’s doors when they open the soldiers will enter to search the compound,” a resident in the area who doesn’t want his name mention said.

He added that the soldiers after an hour of searching entered their vehicles and left without saying anything to anybody.

Contacted the Spokesperson of one Mechanized Division of Nigerian Army Colonel Usman Abdul said he was not aware of the incident but promised to call back but failed to do as at the time of filling this report.

NMA boss resigns as doctors insist on strike

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iqued by the insensitivity of his colleagues to the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease in the country, the President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Kayode Obembe has tendered his resignation letter.

The NMA through a statement signed by its President, Dr. Obembe, had on Thursday announced that the five-week nationwide strike had been called off effective from Wednesday night.

He anchored the suspension of the strike on the hardship the frequent terror attacks is put-

ting on the people as well as the recent outbreak of Ebola, which was imported into Lagos by a Liberian, Patrick Sawyer, who is now dead.

However, some of his colleagues countered the statement, saying the statement does not reflect the decision taking at the meeting in Abuja where the strike was reviewed and therefore, insisted that the strike must continue.

In the resignation letter, Dr Obembe, said he could not compromise his “honour and integrity” hence the decision to resign.

INEC-officials-caught-osun-photos-pulse-

Jonathan declares emergency on Ebola with N1.9 bn

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resident Goodluck Ebele Jonathan yesterday in Abuja declared the control and containment of the Ebola virus in Nigeria, a National Emergency.

Accordingly, the President has directed the Federal Ministry of Health to work in collaboration with the State Ministries of Health, the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other relevant agencies to ensure that all possible steps are taken to effectively contain the threat of the Ebola virus in line with international protocols and best practices.

This was the content of a press release issued yesterday Reuben Abati, Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity) President Jonathan also approved a Special Intervention Plan and the immediate release of N1. 9 billion for its implementation, to further strengthen on-going steps to contain the virus such as the establishment of additional isolation centres, case management, contact tracing, deployment of additional personnel, screening at borders, and the procurement of required items and facilities.

The President commends the vigilance of aviation and health authorities in Lagos who identified and isolated the index case in Nigeria, the late Patrick Sawyer, an AmericanLiberian who flew into the country.

He also applauded the good work of health authorities at both State and Federal levels who have traced persons who had contact with him, isolated other identified cases and embarked on massive public enlightenment.

As the effective implementation of the Federal Government’s Special Intervention Plan will require other stakeholders to take certain precautionary steps that are supportive of the government’s initiative, the President called on members of the public to follow all directives by health authorities and report any suspected Ebola case to the nearest health facility for immediate medical attention.

He also enjoined the public to desist from spreading false information about Ebola which could lead to mass hysteria, panic and misdirection, including unverified suggestions about the prevention, treatment, cure and spread of the virus.

President Jonathan urged that the movement of corpses from one community to the other, and from overseas into the country should be stopped forthwith.

Religious and political groups, spiritual healing centres, families, associations and other bodies were also asked to discourage gatherings and activities that may unwittingly promote close contact with infected persons or place others at risk.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

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Osun guber: Battle of the political titans Adesoji Oyinlola, Lagos

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inally, the stage is set for the epic political battle that will determine who wins the Osun State governorship election taking place today between the incumbent, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Senator Iyiola Omisore of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) respectively.

Expectations are high on both side, especially going by the multitude of crowds that attended the final rally of the two leading candidates at the Osogbo township stadium and the seriousness with which the aspirants approached their campaigns to woo the electorate to their sides.

Though there are arrays of other candidates that are ready to slug it out in the battle to occupy the Bola Ige Government House, political analysts have narrowed down the contest to a straight battle between Aregbesola and Omisore.

As at the last count, other candidates contesting the election include Adeoye Adeyinka of Action Alliance (AA), Niyi Owolade of Accord Party (AP), Sunday Fajinmi of Alliance for Democracy (AD), Akintunde Adetunji of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Rafiu Anifowose of Citizens Popular Party (CPP).

Others are Jimoh Afolayan of National Conscience Party (NCP), Segun Adegoke of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Gbenga Gabriel of African Democratic Congress (ADP), Agboola Obasanjo of African People’s Alliance (APA) and Oludare Akinola of Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM).

Gainiyu Lawal of Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA), Funsho Bunmi of United Democratic Party (UDP), Ibrahim Adeoti of Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), Victor Adeniyi of United Progressive Party (UPP) and Segun Akinwusi of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) are also vying for the governorship post.

There have been claims and counterclaims between Aregbesola and Omisore.

While Aregbesola is boastful of his government’s performance in the last four years, the opposition accused him out righty of not doing anything tangible that may warrant his second coming.

However, one of the PDP chieftains and Minister of State for works, Prince Adedayo Adeyeye did not only commend Aregbesola, he was sure that the governor will come back for a second term. “Just as people demonstrated their support for Aregbesola in 2007, they are visibly more committed to him, following his outstanding performance in his first term tenure of office,’’ Adeyeye said at a recent forum in Osogbo.

Besides, Aregbesola solicited the people’s support for the state government’s new education policy, while inaugurating some buildings at the Baptist Elementary Primary School, Ilare, Ile-Ife, recently.

He asked the critics of his administration and its education policy to be patient, insisting that the policy would produce good results in the long run.

The governor stressed that the focus of the education policy was on promoting the wellbeing of teachers and students of the state’s public schools.

Gov. Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola Aregbesola said that the government was planning to build 20 well-equipped high schools, 50 middle schools and 100 elementary schools.

Mr Sunday Akere, the Commissioner for Information, said that the state government had committed the larger part of its financial resources to education. e said that the government was also providing free meals for primary school pupils in classes one to four every day.

“The government has spent N900 million on the provision of free uniform to students across the state; it also spent N1.2 billion on Opon Imo and N14.8 billion on the construction of school buildings under its `O’ School programme,’’ he said.

Drumming up support for Aregbesola in the Aug. 9 election, Akere emphasised that his administration had recruited no fewer than 10,470 teachers. He said that the gov-

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Senator Iyiola Omisore ernment was also paying N10, 000 monthly to elders, whose ages were above 65 years, in the state.

The PDP’s candidate, Omisore, has been trying to garner the goodwill of the electorate, explaining why he should become the next governor of the state.

“PDP will win Osun governorship election decisively because of the perceptible failures of Gov. Rauf Aregbesola’s administration in all spheres of government endeavours.

“Till today, 87 per cent of Osun State has not witnessed any meaningful development at all.

“The noise about road constructions is only limited to only two major roads; all the township roads and other Federal Government roads are abandoned. During our campaigns, we were forced to travel on very bad roads to reach the people.

“Besides, the Action Congress of Nigeria

“We are going to restore the quality of education in Osun; the management of public schools will be ceded to their original owners, if the people so desired. The one-uniform policy of the government for all schools in the state will be abrogated and our women selling cloths and sewing school uniforms will be back in business,’’

(ACN)-government in Osun has bastardised the education sector of the state.

“In fact, a couple of months ago, we asked Aregbesola to do away with his Opon Imo (computers distributed to students under the government’s e-learning programme).

“He spent about N8.4 billion on the scheme. Opon Imo has few subjects with 87.4 per cent errors. There is no single illustrative diagram or graph in Opon Imo. “There is no single figure in its graph mathematics; there is no diagram for science subjects in Opon Imo. The same goes for all the students in JSS 1 to JSS 3.

“So, there is a real confusion and the people of the state are fed up with it,’’ he added.

Omisore vowed to correct the anomaly if he was voted into power on Aug. 9.

“With my experience as a former deputy governor and a senator for eight years; I believe I am the most suited for the job.

“The main thrust of my administration’s policy will be on job creation, quality education, human capital development, infrastructure, health, roads, agriculture and commerce,’’ he added. misore reiterated that he was on a “rescue mission’’ to bring good governance and pragmatic development to Osun and its citizens.

He said that his eight cardinal programmes were aimed at promoting education, infrastructural development, transparency and accountability in governance, grassroots development and growth of the education sector, among others.

While it is fair to accept that the two candidates gave good accounts of themselves during the campaigns and received adequate support from their national bodies, the APC at the last minute came up with a master

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PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

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Osun guber: Battle of the political titans

Ibrahim Adeoti of Unity Party of Nigeria Contd from Page 7 stroke potent enough to weaken its opponent, the party finally succeeded in bringing Former Governor, Pince Olagunsoye Oyinlola into its fold. olitical analysts are quick to point out that there is no way the last minute move

by Oyinlola from the PDP to APC would not affect the political fortunes of the two parties. While he is expected to galvanize his supporters to vote for Aregbesola, that particular action will go a long way to deplete the votes of Omisore.

While joining the APC on Tuesday, Prince Oyinlola played up on the murder of the late Bola Ige, alluding that the suspects in the killing of Mr. Ige were now confidants of President Jonathan or functionaries in his government.

Oyinlola said: “The candidate of the PDP was arrested for killing Ige. He was arrested and detained. The national secretary of the [PDP], Professor Wale Oladipo, was also detained in connection with the killing. The Minister of Police Affairs, Jelili Adesiyan, was also detained. The chairman of the party in this state, Ayobami Olaoluwa, was also arrested.

So, why is everyone who was in detention given appointment or put in a position of authority [by Jonathan]? We need to ask the government.” Mr. Oyinlola, who was a former national secretary of the PDP, spoke in Osogbo during the grand finale of the APC’s governorship campaign. He described the governorship candidate of the PDP, Iyiola Omisore, as a selfish person.

However, while looking up to victory at the today’s election, the APC entertains the fear that the presence of heavy security in the state is big enough to scare voters away from exercising their civic rights.

Checks by Peoples Daily re-

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Adeoye Adeyinka of the Action Alliance

vealed the deployment of 900 operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS) to monitor the August 9 governorship election in Osun State. The DSS operatives were said to have shot sporadically into the air last Thursday in Osogbo, the state capital, a development that led to people running for safety.

Also, a source from Osogbo said Ear-splitting siren is blaring as security operatives from various agencies, including the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Security (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force arrive ahead of the August 9 governorship election. hey can be seen in all strategic areas. Though their presence is meant to guarantee safety, the people of the state seem apprehensive due to the appearance of stern looking security men.

A resident of Osogbo, Dr Azeez Umar, a medical doctor said he sighted armed DSS operatives in a convoy of over 50 Hilux vehicles parading the city of Osogbo and that their presence created fear in the minds of the people of the state.

Umar said “the DSS ought to know that the state is peaceful and with the current behaviour, electorates may be scared and discouraged. The sporadic shooting by the

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Chief-Segun Adegoke of New Nigerian Peoples Party

DSS men is barbaric, uncivilised and should be condemned by all.

The security men should be electorate friendly.”

Umar, therefore, urged the electorate to come out on the day of election and vote without fear. The heavy presence of security agents has continued to generate debate among the political parties as well as the people of the state. eacting to the development, Centre for Sustained Dialogue (CSD) said it was important for security agencies monitoring the election to operate within the confines of the law, and not unnecessarily scare the people.

CSD, in a statement by its Executive Director, Omotosho Hakeem, added that it was now imperative to remind security agencies that Osun election is the last litmus test prior to 2015 general elections.

Also, De Raufs Volunteer Group reacted angrily to the show of power by DSS operatives, lamenting that there was no justification for such action abnitio (in the first instance).

Director General of De Raufs, Amitolu Shittu, in a telephone interview with Peoples Daily, urged the people of the state not to panic, but go out on the election day to cast their vote. By most accounts,

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Victor Adeniyi of United Progressives Party

elections are usually preceded by political intrigues and subterfuges which may mar the processes and conclusion of the elections if not checked on time. olitical analysts observe that unlike in the past, recent public reactions to political developments, particularly on elections, tend to reinforce the fact that Nigeria’s democracy is becoming more stable.

They point at the recent governorship election in Ekiti State, in which the incumbent governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi of the All Progressives Congress (APC), accepted his defeat by Mr Ayodele Fayode of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in good faith. Observers express the hope that the hitch-free and peaceful conduct of the Ekiti State governorship election will be replicated in Osun State’s governorship election come Aug. 9.

However, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has repeatedly assured Nigerians that the Osun governorship election and the 2015 general elections would be free and fair.

This assurance notwithstanding, observers insist that the contestants in the Osun polls should adhere strictly to the rules of the game by selling their programmes

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Just as people demonstrated their support for Aregbesola in 2007, they are visibly more committed to him, following his outstanding performance in his first term tenure of office.

to the electorate and allowing the voters to make their choice.

In the lead-up to the Osun polls, the contestants have staged several political campaigns across the state, dishing out promises; all in the need to garner the electorate’s support.

Although INEC has cleared 20 candidates of different political parties for the governorship election, observers, nonetheless, note that the election is somewhat a straight fight between APC and PDP candidates. hey argue that due to the antecedents of Gov. Rauf Aregbesola (APC) and Sen. Iyiola Omisore (PDP), the election is going to be a direct contest between the two candidates. They could, however, not rule out the possibility that a minority party may spring a surprise by producing the next governor of Osun if it has a populist, people-oriented manifesto.

However, the PDP has, on several occasions, vowed to replicate its victory in the June 21 Ekiti governorship election in Osun on Aug. 9. he PDP’s candidate, Omisore, has been trying to garner the goodwill of the electorate, explaining why he should become the next governor of the state.

“With my experience as a former deputy governor and a senator for eight years; I believe I am the most suited for the job. The main thrust of my administration’s policy will be on job creation, quality education, human capital development, infrastructure, health, roads, agriculture and commerce,’’ he added.

Omisore reiterated that he was on a “rescue mission’’ to bring good governance and pragmatic development to Osun and its citizens.

He said that his eight cardinal programmes were aimed at promoting education, infrastruc-

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PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

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Osun guber: Battle of the political titans

Voters queuing to vote Contd from Page 8 tural development, transparency and accountability in governance, grassroots development and growth of the education sector, among others.

“Our primary focus will be on improving the wellbeing and social safety of the people; wealth creation and pensionable employment; agriculture, food security and rural development; peace and security and public service administration.

“We are going to fight poverty by giving young graduates jobs; we will also create small and medium scale enterprises to empower the people,’’ he added.

In the area of education, Omisore said that if voted into power, his government would invest massively in the education sector because of his belief that any investment in the development of education was a worthwhile venture.

“We are going to restore the quality of education in Osun; the management of public schools will be ceded to their original owners, if the people so desired. The one-uniform policy of the government for all schools in the state will be abrogated and our women selling cloths and sewing school uniforms will be back in business,’’ Omisore said.

Omisore urged the electorate to come out en-masse and vote for him, saying that they should all be involved in the ongoing campaign

for a better society in Osun in a pragmatic way. n a swift reaction to Omisore’s electioneering, Sen. Olusola Adeyeye, the Director-General of Aregbesola Campaign Organisation, stressed that the PDP victory in Ekiti State governorship election would never be replicated in Osun.

He vowed that Aregbesola would win the governorship election by a wide margin, saying that the massive turnout of people at the governor’s campaign rallies in towns like Iwo, Ikire, Ikirun and Ibokun was a clear testimony of the people’s support for his secondterm bid.

“Just as people demonstrated their support for Aregbesola in 2007, they are visibly more committed to him, following his outstanding performance in his first term tenure of office,’’ Adeyeye said at a recent forum in Osogbo.

Besides, Aregbesola solicited the people’s support for the state government’s new education policy, while inaugurating some buildings at the Baptist Elementary Primary School, Ilare, Ile-Ife, recently.

He warned the critics of his administration and its education policy to be patient, insisting that the policy would produce good results in the long run.

The governor stressed that the focus of the education policy was on promoting the wellbeing of teachers and students of the state’s public schools. Aregbesola said that the government was planning

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to build 20 well-equipped high schools, 50 middle schools and 100 elementary schools.

Mr Sunday Akere, the Commissioner for Information, said that the state government had committed the larger part of its financial resources to education. He said that the government was also providing free meals for primary school pupils in classes one to four every day.

“The government has spent N900 million on the provision of free uniform to students across the state; it also spent N1.2 billion on Opon Imo and N14.8 billion on the construction of school buildings under its `O’ School programme,’’ he said. rumming up support for Aregbesola in the Aug. 9 election, Akere emphasised that his administration had recruited no fewer than 10,470 teachers. He said that the government was also paying N10, 000 monthly to elders, whose ages were above 65 years, in the state.

In his campaign, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade, the governorship candidate for the Labour Party (LP), pledged to provide free health care for pregnant women in the state if voted into power.

He said that the focus of his qualitative free health programme, if he became governor, would be on pregnant women so as to reduce maternal mortality rate and ensure safe childbirths in the state.

Dr Eunice Adedayo, the leader

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of Women for Positive Change, pledged that women would support Akinbade in the election, adding that the manifesto of the LP was aimed at promoting the interests of the masses. ther candidates who are contesting the governorship election on the platform of different political parties also made different promises to the electorate during their electioneering.

The candidates include Adeoye Adeyinka of Action Alliance (AA), Niyi Owolade of Accord Party (AP), Sunday Fajinmi of Alliance for Democracy (AD), Akintunde Adetunji of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Rafiu Anifowose of Citizens Popular Party (CPP).

Others are Jimoh Afolayan of National Conscience Party (NCP), Segun Adegoke of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Gbenga Gabriel of African Democratic Congress (ADP), Agboola Obasanjo

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of African People’s Alliance (APA) and Oludare Akinola of Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM).

Ganiyu Lawal of Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA), Funsho Bunmi of United Democratic Party (UDP), Ibrahim Adeoti of Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), Victor Adeniyi of United Progressive Party (UPP) and Segun Akinwusi of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) are also vying for the governorship post.

Concerned citizens, however, appeal to the electorate in Osun to look beyond the pragmatics of the candidates’ rhetoric to specific areas which spur them to make informed choices on whom to vote for on Aug. 9. hey also urged the candidate who eventually wins the election to live up to his campaign promises, particularly those that are aimed at promoting the people’s wellbeing.

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The DSS ought to know that the state is peaceful and with the current behaviour, electorates may be scared and discouraged.

The sporadic shooting by the DSS men is barbaric, uncivilised and should be condemned by all. The security men should be electorate friendly.

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PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

Residents kick against monkey ranch in Calabar

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ome residents of Atekong Drive, Marian area, Calabar, have protested against a monkey ranch in their neighbourhood.

The residents said they were concerned about the Drill Ranch close to them, describing it as very dangerous and unsafe in view of the outbreak of Ebola disease in the country.

One of them, Mr Effiong Okon, said since the news of Ebola virus broke out, the residents have been living in perpetual fear. ``These animals are not supposed to be living in the midst of human beings, especially when monkeys are known to be part of the ani-

mals that transmit the Ebola virus. ``I appeal to the authorities to consider the health challenges posed by this ranch and relocate it to another place’’, Okon said.

Another resident, Miss Rose Akpan, also expressed fear over the ranch, saying that it was very dangerous to the health of the people. ``We live in fear now, because nobody knows what to do with the presence of the animals here’’, she said.

She called on the state Ministry of Health to cause the owner of the ranch to relocate it as

soon as possible to save the people. ``This should be a challenge to the State Government in view of the present Ebola challenge’’, she said.

Reacting to the situation, the Director of Epidemiology in the state Ministry of Health, Dr Sunny Omini, said they were aware of the ranch. ``We are aware of the ranch but it is not in wild area; it is in the inclusive area, so the monkeys there are not as harmful as those in the wild areas. ``However, we are monitoring the situation.

We have not received any report from our Dis-

ease Surveillance Notification Officers (DSNOs) on any possible outbreak of Ebola’’, he said.

The Co-Director of the Drill Ranch, Mrs Liza Gadsby, said the monkeys in the ranch undergo laboratory tests. ``We screen our animals before admitting them. Moreover, all the animals here were born here so there has been no case of illness let alone of Ebola’’, she said.

According to her, ``monkeys do not spread Ebola. Rather, fruit bats spread Ebola. Ignorance is the cause of panic among residents.’’

(NAN)

Three Kids drown in Obudu pool

By Lekan Bakare

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ragedy stuck in the family of Mr. Emmanuel Agogo, a primary school teacher in Ohong community in Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River state when his three children drowned in a pool near their home.

The children named Ushang Igbo Agogo (female) Agoanbekong and Umike Igbo Agogo (both male) and aged between four and six years allegedly sneaked out of the house to swim only to get drowned and never returned home.

The incident which took residents of the sleepy community by surprise and threw it into mourning was said to be the first of its kind in the area.

The deceased were alleged to have taken a cue from their seniors who sometimes swim in the pool which came into existence when con-

Gunmen kill 4, burn 15 houses in Dogara, Kaduna

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fresh attack by suspected Fulani gunmen on Gimi Dogara village in Sanga Local Government Area has claimed four lives with 15 houses burnt down.

The attack, which was launched around 11 p.m. on Thursday night, left the villagers scampering to different directions for safety.

The Chairman of the Local Government, Emmanuel Adamu, who confirmed the incident, expressed sadness over the development and described the attack as “retrogressive”.

Mr. Adamu said the frequent attacks were undermining the peace building process initiated by the council.

He reiterated his appeal to the attackers to bury the hatchet and embrace peace as the pathway to progress.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Aminu Lawal, said that he was yet to be briefed on the alleged incident.

About four villages in Sanga Local Government have come under separate attacks in the past two months.

struction of the Ohong-Bedia-Ibong to Okorshie road was still ongoing.

The construction company handling the project had left a huge hole uncovered and left the site.

Investigations revealed that if appropriate action was not taken by relevant authorities, more disaster may be looming as children usually play around the pool.

They only refrained from the area as the community was still mourning the death of the Agogo children.

A barricade could be built around the pool to ward off children, said a member of the community who would rather remain anonymous. He added however, that it was not adequate because of children’s curiosity. “No matter how much you warn children they will still go there so it is only a concrete barrier that will ensure that they do not have access to the place, that can prevent more tragedies”, he said.

L-R: Lagos Commissioner for special duties, Dr Wale Ahmed; Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos; Commissioner for health, Dr Jide Idris and Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Alhaji Hakeem Bello, during an inspection of isolated ward for the treatment of Ebola victims, yesterday at mainland hospital, Yaba, Lagos.

Bauchi, Kaduna dispel rumours of Ebola virus …As Council of Imans, Ulamas calls for calm From Ahmed Kaigama,Bauchi & Muhammad Ibrahim, Kaduna

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he Bauchi State Government has dispelled rumors gaining ground in the social media that the dreaded Ebola disease has been found in the state describing the rumour as baseless and a move to send panic among the people of the state.

A press release from the Chief Press Secretary to Bauchi State Governor, Deacon Ishola Michael Adeyemi made available to news men in Bauchi stated that the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Abubakar Sani Malami dispelled the rumour while addressing journalists at the Government House yesterday.

Dr Malami said that there was no truth in the rumour which he described as the handiwork of enemies of the state and its people just as he assured that government has taken proactive measure to deal with any outbreak.

Abubakar Sani Malami added that there was also no truth in the messages broadcast that to prevent the spread of the Ebola virus people should bath with salty water as well as drinking same as such would only put many people in health danger particularly those that

are kidney patients or hypertensive.

The Health Commissioner maintained that the dreaded disease remains in Lagos for now where health authorities have confirmed the death of two medical personnel who attended to Late Patrick Sawyer, the Liberian who died of the infection few days ago.

In Kaduna state, Medical Director of Barau Dikko Specialist Hospital, Dr Hussaini Yahaya yesterday debunked reports going round that Ebola virus has entered the state, saying nobody contacted the virus.

He disclosed this at a joint press briefing organized

by Bureau for Religious Affairs in collaboration with Councils of Imams and Ulamas held in the state.

According to him, so far there was no report of the virus in any state of northern Nigeria. “ There is no Ebola virus in Kaduna, Kano, Niger, Abuja or any state in the north. Only Lagos State has case of Ebola. Even in Lagos the 7 victims were kept in a specialize place at a hospital where they are receiving treatment apart form the nurse that died of the virus,” he said.

The Medical Doctor also said Kaduna state government like its counterpart in the Federation is doing a lot to ensure that lives of the citizens are protected from the virus.

On the used of Salt and Water to cure the Virus Dr Hussain said “ medically it is not true that when you bath with or drink salt it will cure or protect you from Ebola virus. All these are rumour and we are calling on people to disregard such rumours,” he said.

He further advised residents to focus on self hygiene such as washing hand after handshake with friends before eating and to avoid touching people that are confirmed to be seriously ill with ebola virus.

In his remark, State Chairman of the Council of Ulamas and Imams in the state, shaikh Abubakar Usman Baban Tune also urged people, particularly Muslims to remain calm and disregard the rumour going round about the virus.

He also said that as Muslims leaders, they were concerned about the panic as a result of the virus.

“We as religious leaders are deeply concerned with the issue but we are urging our people to disregard the rumour of drinking salt. We believe that no sickness is without medicine but people should wait for advice from experts and religious leaders,” he said.

The group further directed all Juma’at mosques Imams to pray for Allah’s protection from the virus and urged people to repent to Allah and seek forgiveness for their sins.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

Abortion: Court dissolves 10-year-old marriage

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Mapo Customary Court in Ibadan has dissolved a 10-year-old marriage between one Mr. Faniyan Abodunde, and Mrs. Comfort Abodunde, over infidelity and abortion of pregnancies.

The President of the court, Mr Ademola Odunade, in his judgment, held that any act of prostitution constitutes a big risk not only to the wife, but also to the husband.

“Comfort has refused to show up in court and this indicates that she is guilty; the court does not want the death of anybody.

“According to the report we heard, she almost died the last time she aborted, the court therefore, dissolve the union between both of you henceforth,” he held.

Abodunde had earlier told the court that Comfort was a big time prostitute who aborted four different pregnancies from her escapade.

“When I caught her prostituting, I warned her and restrained from having further sexual intercourse

with her so that I would not contact disease.

“During that time, she aborted four separate pregnancies and the last one almost took her life.

“Comfort’s mother even invited her to her matrimonial home to give birth there.

“One day, I took the pain to ask Comfort’s younger sister living with us if she was aware of her sister’s pregnancy.

“I asked Comfort’s sister to swear with the holy bible in her confession and she confessed of her sister’s escapades and the pregnancy.

I always listen to her mother’s plea for her, but she almost lost her life in the last abortion.

I don’t want to be held culpable for what I am not responsible for,” Abodunde explained.

Abodunde and Comfort lived at Apata Area of Ibadan and had two children before she started misbehaving.(NAN)

Cholera claims 11 in Borno

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Osun: Senate assures of adequate police protection

The entrance of Osun government secretariat at Abere, shot as public holiday was declared in preparation for the state governorship election , yesterday in Osogbo.

- Photo: Justin Imo-owo By Lawrence Olaoye Ayodele Samuel, Osogbo

&

(PDP) insisting that only a popular candidate wins in any election.

Igwe said the opposition was complaining because it was unpopular and would begin to complain even before the conduct of the election.

“I have not seen anything to suggest that the Police is planning to arrest anybody who did not commit any offence during the election,” Igwe assured.

He however disclosed that the Police would not fold its arms and allow criminals to have a field day at the poll, adding that the people have not lost confidence in the police as being insinuated in certain quarters.

Responding to the allegations of the Federal Government’s militarization of elections in the country, the Senator, who is currently eyeing the governorship seat of Ebonyi state, said the military option becomes

imperative because of the prevailing insecurity in the country.

Commenting on the threat by the APC to form a parallel government in the country should it be rigged out in 2015, Igwe said the statement credited to the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, was unfortunate.

Figures about Osun elections One seat 20 candidates 1,407,222 Voters 20,000 election observers 2000 Journalists 20,000 NSDC 30,000 policemen 15,000 Soldiers 10,000 DSS 3,379 polling units 30 Local governments Over 70 percent of permanent voters cards have been collected, INEC said

ealth officials in Borno state said yesterday that death toll from suspected cholera outbreak at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Biu, Biu Local Government Area had risen to 11.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that about five people were last week confirmed dead following the outbreak of the disease at the camp.

The Principal Medical Officer at Biu General Hospital, Dr Edward Diga, told a team of officials from the Borno Ministry of Health in Biu that the epidemic had claimed more lives.

Diga said no fewer than 325 cases were handled at the

hospital, adding that ``we treated about 325 cases at the hospital, unfortunately, 11 people died out of the number. ``We still have about 30 people on admission, while the rest have been treated and discharged,’’ he said.

Diga blamed the rising spread of the disease on the influx of IDPs from camps due to the continuous Boko Haram insurgency attacks on villages.

Also, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Salma Kolo, said the team was at the camp to present drugs and other essential items provided by the government.

(NAN)

Ebola: FG warns against spread of rumours

Youths demand 15 percent position in Cross River

By Evelyn Okakwu

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igerians have been urged to disregard rumours being circulated in the Social Media that bathing with hot water and salt cures the Ebola Virus Disease.

Information Minister Mr. Labaran Maku debunked the speculation in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Joseph Mutah According to the statement, Maku said there was no cure yet for the Ebola Virus Disease and urged Nigerians to maintain maximum environmental and personal hygiene to guard against contracting the deadly virus.

In a similar development, a human rights group, known as the Citizens Advocacy for social and Economic Rights (CASER) has condemned the undue circulation of false information by the Nigerian social media and called on government to facilitate greater use of community based media platforms to forestall future occurrences of similar nature.

By Lekan Bakare, Calabar

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he Cross River state Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN, Mr. Okori Bendard Oko has demanded that youths in the state should be given fifteen percent representation in governance and elective posts.

Oko said this yesterday during his address at the International Youth Week celebration in Calabar.

He described youth as the conscience of the society and ones looked upon as leaders of tomorrow and hope for the future.

The state Chairman

Chairman, Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Senator Paulinus Igwe, yesterday assured that the Nigeria Police is adequately prepared to provide security for the electorate at today’s governorship election in Osun state.

Igwe, who claimed to have just returned from Osun state on a mission to inspect and ascertain police preparedness for the poll, told newsmen that the election would be rancour free and better organized than that of Ekiti state.

The Senator from Ebonyi state also debunked allegations by the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) that security agents were deployed to rig Ekiti election in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party

of NYCN added that nationalists of like the Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and Nelson Mandela all rose to prominence through positive youth activism.

He recalled that General Yakubu Gowon ruled Nigeria at the youthful age of thirty. He also said that the present governor of the state, Senator Liyel Imoke became a Senator at the age of 30 in 1992.

He thanked the governor for the creation of the offices of the Special Assistant on Youth Matters and Personal Assistant on Students Matters.

He said the government’s attraction

of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Entrepreneurial Development Centre , CBN/EDC has also brought a lot of smile on the faces of youths in the state.

He said that the governor is not only at the helm of affairs in the state, but also a father to the teeming youths in the state.

Oko urged the governor to do more by involving more youths in governance.

He urged youths to shun all sort of social vices like cultism and terrorism which he said, is threatening the unity of the nation even as the 2015 elections are approaching fast.

Executive Director of Life Resources

Network a youth based non-governmental organisation, Bishop Micheal Okom in his goodwill message on behalf of other youth based NGOs thanked the governor saying, “You have launched various youth empowerment and skills acquisition programmes; you are building stadia in Ikom and Ogoja and also brought foreign coaches to train youths to compete in national and international competitions. You have also stood behind the youth and they have been enabled to participate in national youth activities organized by the NYCN and federal government such as the National Youth Parliament”.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

Page 12

SOKOTO STATE GOVERNMENT TEXT OF THE SPEECH DELIVERED BY HIS EXCELLENCY, ALHAJI (DR.) ALIYU MAGATAKARDA WAMAKKO, GMON, MMWL, NIIFE, SARKIN YAMMAN SOKOTO, THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF SOKOTO STATE AND THE VISITOR TO THE SOKOTO STATE UNIVERSITY ON THE OCCASION OF THE MAIDEN MATRICULATION OF THE PIONEER STUDENTS OF THE SOKOTO STATE UNIVERSITY, SOKOTO, ON 31ST JULY, 2014.

By all means because there is always an alternative to strike actions and this alternative is the path of dialogue. Through dialogue a lot can be achieved; after all, if strike actions had been embarked upon, it would always be through the mechanics of dialogue that pending issues would be resolved. Dialogue should, thus, be the first and ultimate instrument to use to resolve seemingly intractable disputes.

PROTOCOL INTRODCTION I give all thanks and adulations to Almighty Allah who has made our gathering here today possible. As those of us who were here late October 2013, to commission the University, would recall, today’s occasion is with respect to the highly commendable progressive development of the Sokoto State University. Although today’s occasion may not be as glamorous and imbued with the capacity to attract the crowd that graced the earlier occasion, it is nevertheless as important, if not more important than the October 2013 event. Indeed, today’s event is a requirement without which nobody can call themselves a student of this University or any other university for that matter. I am therefore very happy that, in spite of the delay in hosting it, it is being held today, as I said before, to the glory of Allah. I would like to, at this juncture, thank all those who have worked so tirelessly to get all of us to this point. It is my prayers that Allah shall compensate and reward every one of you abundantly. I equally wish to seize this opportunity to thank all our invited guests for sparing their valuable time to be with us on this occasion.

THE ESSENCE OF SOKOTO STATE UNIVERSITY This may perhaps be the best opportunity I would have to reflect somehow briefly on the establishment of this University.

When the idea for the development of this institution was being conceived, not few critics thought it was going to be a misplaced priority. I would like to thank my colleagues and advisers in government who saw the wisdom of the step we were determined to undertake and stood by me, to establish this beautiful and well acclaimed edifice, now universally known and referred to as the Sokoto State University. Without doubt, sacrifices and adjustments here and there had had to be made to get to where we are now; indeed, the outcome is worth what travails we might have gone through. I am, in one significant instance, convinced that if the University had not been established as of the time it was established, it would certainly cost ten to twenty times what its future cost shall be. In a sense, a university system is considered inevitable for a State such as Sokoto State where, historically, learning has always been a significant part of the culture of the people. This is one advantage of going ahead with our plans as of the time we did. The other compelling argument for establishing the University as of the time we did is based on the fact that the 783 students, ninety percent of whom are indigenes of Sokoto State, who have just been matriculated would have missed the opportunity they had at the time they entered this University last year, to gain a foothold in a university as well as to embark on a higher education career. And, as everyone here now would agree, opportunities knock but once. This is a wise saying that only an unwary person would have ignored to their peril.

We may even have to leave history to rest wherever it may be resting. This University is about the future of this State, of this country; indeed it is about the future of the globe. It is not for any reason that we are constantly reminded these days that the world has become a global village. The real import of this statement is not to imagine how the earth’s surface has or is shrinking in the imagery of the village, but to underscore the point that whatever we do today, no matter how secretive we may wish it to be, can be made a global good for general consumption. This is how I would like the people of this State and indeed the entire citizenry of this country to see this University and its prospects. We therefore cannot afford to play politics with it.

And because we do not wish to dress this noble University in political garb, our pattern of recruitment has reflected the most sublime tradition of a university system, which is excellence and diversity. This is shown in the governance structure of the University – from the Chancellorship to the lowest cadre of the administrative system. I am happy indeed that at the lower levels the diversity blend has been promoted by the Governing Council and Management of the institution. In addition, because the University is being primed to be a world-class institution, third class graduates are not being recruited into its services. This is what it should be because Sokoto State, which is reputed to have contributed 85% of the University’s workforce, can actually boast of the right calibre of graduate candidates to occupy the available employment opportunities. This indeed is the case, as exemplified by the proportion mentioned in the second to the last sentence.

The Sokoto State University is therefore a University whose time has come and it is going to carve a veritable niche for itself in the fullness of time. I pray fervently for the success of this project as its potentials portend great spin-off benefits for all of us – current and future generations, on the one hand, and the State, the Nigerian nation-state, and the globe, on the other.

MY MESSAGE TO THE STUDENTS I would like to start by congratulating all the matriculated students on this occasion. You are, by my reckoning all round blessed set: this is in the sense that you are the pioneer students of this great university of promise who have found themselves in a university campus that has all the trappings of serene atmosphere required for serious and rigorous academic pursuits.

I am therefore not surprised that under less than six months of the commencement of academic activities, the University participated in a pan-African academic competition in faraway Cotonou in the Benin Republic and, out of nine competitors, the team from this

THE GOVERNING COUNCIL I would not end my address without also expressing my appreciation to the members of the Governing Council for the commendable roles they have variously played to bring this institution to the enviable position it is already enjoying in Nigeria’s comity of universities. I am quite aware of the sacrifices each of them has made and are still making to get the University to where it is at the moment. If I were to enumerate, I would like to start by thanking the Chairman of the Governing Council for always sacrificing his precious time and even financial resources to attend meetings and to make the Vice-Chancellor comfortable before he moves into the Vice-Chancellor’s Lodge.

Other members of Council are also reportedly making unprecedented sacrifices to ensure that the necessary assignments of the body are attended to as and when due and to such an extent that their other equally important responsibilities might have encountered some difficulties. I sincerely commend the forbearance of the members and urge them to endure such, as the rock-solid foundation they are putting in place to make the future much, much better for the generations yet unborn will never go unappreciated by the appreciative people of Sokoto.

Gov. Aliyu Magatakrda Wamakko most young University came fourth!!! The team was also reported to have won the award of the best organized team among the institutions at the competition.

Although more of what took place in the Benin Republic has already been explained to us at this event, I want to say that this is truly commendable feat that should not only be appreciated by all and sundry, but it is one that should finally lay to rest the cynicism that initially surrounded the establishment of the institution. On the basis of this commendable performance, I would like to, first of all, congratulate the team that spectacularly represented the institution and to urge the institution to continue to be a part and parcel of academic activities wherever it is hosted – nationally, continentally and globally. Even if the management of the University is not in a position to sponsor such competition, the State Government under my leadership shall come readily to support such an endeavour.

This Sokoto State University must at all times prove its mettle as an institution that has arrived in the comity of the global university system.

Apart from this, I feel I should advise the students that they should always pay attention to their studies. I am made to understand by the management of the University that the emphasis is on learner-based tuition. What I understand this to mean is that the learning process will proceed from the known to the unknown; that the student is at the centre of the learning process; and that, as much as possible, a student would not proceed to the next stage of learning except it is established that he has mastered the prerequisites. To make the process failure-proof, constant assignments are going to be given to the students and assessed promptly. In addition, there would be mutually beneficial relationship between the learner and the teacher. The most important aspect of the entire process is the humble disposition of the teacher not to arrogate to themselves the monopoly of knowledge; their perception that they can also gain from the students – hence the learning process is interactive.

The students are therefore enjoined to exploit the advantages of this innovative learning system and gain most optimally there-from.

The students can gain a great deal from this method as it is bound to break down all social barriers to learning. I must however advise the students not to abuse the resulting interaction by being solicitous of obviously unprofessional demands. It is also pertinent that the teachers should be disciplined enough to keep the contacts within the bounds of professional callings, behaviour, and ethics.

Finally, I would like to assure the students that Government shall continue to provide for their needs in the areas of adequate staffing; the provision of structures and teaching as well as learning aids.

The students should at all times strive to complement government effort by, literally speaking, buying into the amenities that shall be provided. What actually this point requires the students to do is to avoid the vandalization and destruction of such provisions, which they are supposed to regard as their own. Indeed, the amenities belong to you because it is from the taxes that your parents are paying that the amenities are provided in the first place and subsequently maintained. In my speech during the commissioning of the campus last year, I admonished both the staff and the students’ body to avoid resorting to strike actions to settle disputes; that this campus should be made a strike-free campus. I wish to re-state that advice on this occasion, as well. It is a well established fact that strikes, no matter the duration, are an ill-wind that blows nothing good towards anyone. It must therefore be avoided by all means.

MANAGEMENT AND STAFF As for the Management Team and the generality of the staff, I wish to commend them as well for the pro-active nature with which they have embraced their various assignments. It is such dedication to duty that has led to the numerous achievements the institution has garnered for itself in such a short span of time. The achievements include the conduct of the First Semester Examinations and the prompt release of the results; the recognition by the Board of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to include the University among the Nigerian tertiary institutions that can benefit from its funding activities; the hosting of the National Conference by the Faculty of Science in March in which many participants came from several campuses across the length and breadth of the country. There is the spectacular performance of the students at the continental competition I earlier mentioned.

I am also aware that the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences of the University is planning to host an International Conference in August in which one Vice-Chancellor from a University in Pakistan is coming to give a keynote address, along with another world renowned scholar, a Nigerian based in the United States, who is also billed to give another keynote speech. I must also not fail to mention as an achievement the planned tree-planting campaign to green the environment, as landscape initiatives, and the future plans to set up a zoo on the Campus for both academic pursuits and social activities, such as picnics and children’s tourism during holidays. I am also impressed with the planned programmes of setting up the Institute of Mathematical Sciences and the Centre for Caliphate Studies. It is unimaginable that all of these are taking place before the University could clock one year of the commencement of academic activities.

These achievements as well as the inherent potentials for greatness of the institution make me to assert that the University is definitely doing what any average university is supposed to be doing, i.e., generating ideas for the development of society. On this basis, I wish to appeal, first and foremost, to indigenes of Sokoto State, especially those in the private sector of the economy, to seek areas of partnership with the University as the institution is capable of generating ideas that could help their businesses. This appeal is also extended to other Nigerians to come to the Centre of Scholarship, where IT ALL BEGINS!!!

I am simply impressed by the positive developments going on in this Campus and would wish to commend the Management and the Staff for their efforts and sacrifices. As for the government’s gesture to support and encourage the tempo of favourable developments, I am happy to announce that the Vice-Chancellor has made recommendations for overseas and local scholarships to be given to the young staff that need to be trained at higher levels, with a view to coming back to deepen the pursuit of scholarship and academic excellence. I would like to urge all of you that will enjoy this privilege to come back as quickly as you finish your programmes to boost the staff strength of the institution. I have also asked the Vice-Chancellor to ensure that you are all on bond and you know what that implies. Anyway, I urge those of you going for further studies to work hard on your studies and diligently too for your own sake, for the sake of the University, and for the sake of the State and country.

CONCLUDING REMARKS I would like to thank all of you that have come to witness this occasion. We all have a role to play to enhance the relevance of this University. Material and non-material gestures will help out. It is my hope that Almighty Allah shall give each and every one of us the wherewithal to contribute positively to the contemporary and future developments of the Sokoto State University.

I pray to God to take all of us home safely. Thank you and God bless.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

PAGE 13

News

Ebola: Niger establishes quarantine centres to curb spread From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

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iger state government has said it will establish Ebola quarantine centres in each of the three senatorial districts in the state and Minna, the state capital, as part of efforts to curb the spread of the virus despite non-existing case in the state.

The state commissioner for Information, Communication and Strategy, Mallam Danladi Ndayebo disclosed this at a press conference in Minna yesterday where he said it was aimed at educating the public on the dreaded virus.

Ndayebo said the state was determined to curtail the spread of the dreaded Ebola Virus in the state, hence the proactive steps towards

curtailing the disease through education of residents on prevention and management of the virus.

Mallam Ndayebo confirmed that the State ministry of Health has commenced the reactivation of its rapid response team to ensure monitoring and supervision in the event of outbreak of the virus.

Ndayebo said the health ministry would strengthen its surveillance system to ensure prompt and early reporting of any outbreak by notifying officers in local government areas.

The commissioner noted that the Health ministry, in conjunction with the ministry of Information , has commenced public sensitization that will include media phone-in

programme, airing of jingles on radio and television, press conferences, etc, all in a bid to educate the public on the disease.

In addition, Ndayebo said the Health ministry was interfacing with district heads, local government chairmen and directors of public health in the 25 local governments to create awareness on the disease.

He noted that Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu has constituted a six man council committee for the attainment of the objectives made up of the commissioner for Health, Hajia Hadiza Abdullahi as chairperson, the Information commissioner, Danladi Ndayebo, Livestock and Fisheries Commissioner, Dr. Yahaya Isah Vatsa, Commissioner for Water Resourc-

es, Abdulkadir Mazakuka, Commissioner for Planning, Yahaya Dansallau and the Director General for the State Action on Aids, SACA, Mallam Umaru Baba.

Ndayebo intimated that such quarantine centres would be properly equipped and stocked with drugs for supportive care , since no cure has been found for Ebola presently.

Adding “conscious of the fact that we have boundary communities, for instance, Babbana in Borgu local government which shares border with Benin Republic, we will be working hand-in-hand with the security agencies , particularly, the Nigeria Immigration Service, to check movements of persons”, he stated.

…Gombe residents panic From David Hassan, Gombe

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Inec officials checking for their posting at the state headquarters in preparation for Osun Governorship election, yesterday in Osogbo.

FG, CBN urged to disburse N220bn micro-biz intervention

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he Federal Government and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Friday were urged to disburse the N220 billion micro businesses intervention fund through the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).

A cross section of stakeholders told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews in Abuja that SMEDAN’s National Enterprise Development Programme (NEDEP) was the right platform to disburse the fund.

The federal government had launched the Micro Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Development in 2013 to resurrect business activities in the sector of the economy.

The stakeholders said the disbursement process would be marred if it was done through state controlled micro finance institutions as presently arranged.

Mr Philemon Akusu, an industrialist, said ``such development would be surely inimical to the process of fast tracking the industrialisation of the country going by the attitudes of state controlled institutions’’.

According to him, ``micro finance institutions across the states were the creation of state governments to misappropriate funds’’.

The CBN did agree to engage micro finance banks (MFBs) with good track record and strong financial base for the disbursement of the funds.

It said Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs) included nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) and micro-finance institutions, which would be able to access funding at an interest rate of nine per cent per annum.

According to stakeholders, the funds would be lent to other entities with a spread of up to six percentage points per annum.

The scheme is expected to provide liquidity to PFIs on a maximum threeyear tenure, with most institutions limited to N5 million or N10 million.

It, however, added that national micro finance institutions would be able to access up to N1 billion.

Mr Praise Emeka, Chief Executive Officer of Praz Finance Nig. Ltd, said most intervention funds of the government that followed this module had failed.

Emeka explained that the CBN must learn to trust other arms of government saddled with the responsibility to carry out such tasks. ``You are witnesses to the lack of corporate governance and transparency in the country’s finance sector. ``A number of banks with huge deposits and other transaction assets were mismanaged in the past, is it micro finance institutions that should be trusted to do this disbursement?’’, he asked.

On his part, Malam Abdul Usman, an Entrepreneurm, said ``if the government really want to assist people, I think a traditional method using the SMEDAN organ that has the reach would be most acceptable’’.

Usman said the CBN must understand that most micro finance banks are ``one-man show’’, adding that those ones that appear seemly strong were equally susceptible. ``SMEDAN has the capacity to enlist the banks it desires to use in disbursing the funds and this approach that appears to empower the states government and their cronies,’’ he said.

(NAN)

esidents in Gombe yesterday were thrown into panic when relations and friends across the country made several calls and text messages alerting families to bath with warm water and salt in order not to be infected with the deadly Ebola virus.

Our correspondent in Gombe reports that several calls and text messages were sent to the metropolis alerting them about the deadly disease.

Many residents were alerted between 2 am and dawn to bath with warm water to ward off the disease.

Peoples Daily Weekend gathered that most residents in Gombe

metropolis were seen taking bath with warm water and salt by 2:am on Friday morning , noting that resident were also told to drink warm water with salt after bathing.

Mohammed Ibrahim, a resident of Gombe told our correspondent that the spread of the disease could cause havoc in the country and so, the government should sensitize citizens on the need to clean their environment to avoid outbreak of the deadly disease.

Our correspondent’s efforts to contact the commissioner of health in the state, Dr. Kennedy Ishaya for comment proved abortive as his cellphones were switched off as the time of filling this report.

Ebola: Expert cautions against using salt as treatment

A

n epidemiologist with Kwara state ministry of health, Dr Michael Oguntoye yesterday cautioned against the use of salt for the treatment of Ebola disease.

Oguntoye also advised Nigerians to beware of GSM text messages asking them to bath and drink salt solution as a preventive medicine against the dreaded Ebola virus.

The expert on Public Health told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin that he had received such messages and calls from people asking for the authenticity of the claim.

He said that the claim had not been medically proven that bathing with salt and drinking salt solution could cure or protect one from the Ebola virus. ``Ebola disease is contracted through close contact with blood, saliva, sweat, semen or secretions from

organs of infected individuals and animals. ``People are only advised to disinfect their surroundings with one cup of Jik in nine cups of water solution in all their surrounding daily,” he explained.

According to the epidemiologist, there is no evidence to show that drinking salt can kill the virus.

Oguntoye also warned people against using Jik solution to bath, adding that the solution is only to disinfect the surroundings against the virus.

The expert reiterated that the virus is deadly with high mortality rate and no known cure.

The outbreak of the Ebola virus had sickened 1,711 people and killed 932, according to World Health Organisation (WHO).

(NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

Page 14

Crime Cycle

Stanley Onyekwere pmlcrimecycle@gmail.com 08138559513

Court remands man for trying to rape friend’s wife A Somolu Magistrates’ court in Lagos has remanded one Ayoola Abiola, 23, in prison custody for allegedly attempting to rape his friend’s wife.

Abiola, however, pleaded guilty to the two-count charge of assault and attempted rape.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the magistrate, Mrs. Bola Osunsanmi, ordered the accused to be remanded in prison custody.

The prosecutor, ASP Akinlabi Adegoke, told the court that the accused, who was accommodated by his friend, Mr. Clem Uzor, at No. 34 Ajayi Street, Bariga, committed

the offences on July 5 at the same address.

According to him, the accused preyed on the vulnerability of his friend’s wife while living in their home.

“The accused tried to force his victim into having sexual relations with him,’’ he said, adding that upon her refusal, ``the accused assaulted her and forcefully grabbed her breast, indecently’’.

Adegoke said the offences contravened Sections 134 and 244 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

The case was adjourned till August 12 for judgment.

A

Sulaiman Abba Ispector General of Police, Nigeria

Intimidation: Court discharges labourer

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n Abuja Senior Magistrates’ court in Life Camp, has discharged a labourer, Ejima Eze, 31, of Zango Village, Abuja, for insulting a businessman, Mr. Uwadiegwu Solomon.

The accused was arraigned on a two-count charge of intentional insult and criminal intimidation before Senior Magistrate Mrs. Asama’u Akanbi.

The prosecutor, Cpl. Simon Emmanuel, told the court that Solomon lodged the complaint against the accused at the Life Camp Police Station, on

July16.

Emmanuel said that on July 11, the accused went to the complainant’s shop, bought a stick of cigarette and demanded for a lighter.

He said the complainant couldn’t find the lighter and the accused began to insult him.

He said the accused threatened to kill the complainant’s wife, called her a prostitute and his son, a bastard.

The accused, however, pleaded guilty to the charges, saying ``I am sorry, I was not in my right senses, I was very angry when I insulted him.’’

Student to spend 2 months in jail for stealing Ipad at night club

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ne Mariam Nuhu, a student is to spend two months in prison, after a Wuse Zone 2 Senior Magistrates’ court convicted him of stealing IPAD at a night club in Garki, Abuja.

The presiding officer, Mrs. Ramatu Gulma, sentenced Nuhu after she pleaded guilty to the one-count charge of theft, contrary to Section 288 of the Penal code. ``The accused has no cause to show why she should not be convicted; I, therefore, convict her for the offence of theft,’’ Gulma said.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Gulma, however, gave her an option to pay a fine of N5, 000.

The convict, 26, a resident of Durumi Village, Abuja, was accused of stealing the IPAD at a night club on June 28.

The police prosecutor, Cpl. Umar Ango, told the court that Mr. Danladi Adamu, a resident of Wuse, Abuja, lodged a complaint against the accused at the Wuse Zone 3 Police Station on July 23.

Nuhu, who pleaded guilty to the offence, however, begged for leniency.

She told the court that a man picked her at the club and promised to pay N20, 000 but later failed.

“I got angry by his actions and stole the Ipad. I called his number after two days to return the Ipad but he did not pick the call.

…Ex-soldier in police custody over defilement of minor

The prosecutor also told the court that the complainant was not interested in the case anymore and had decided to withdraw the matter.

“I am not interested in the case, I have forgiven him,’’ Solomon added.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Senior Magistrate, Mrs. Asama’u Akanbi, struck out the case and terminated the First Information Report (FIR) after both parties agreed to settle out of court.

“The court hereby terminates the FIR and the case is stroke out accordingly,’’ Akanbi ruled.

Bricklayer in trouble over house breaking

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29-year-old bricklayer, Simon Bitrus, has appeared in a Grade 1 Area court, Karu, Abuja, for allegedly breaking into his clients’ apartment.

Bitrus, who resides at Asokoro, Abuja, is facing a three-count charge of house breaking, trespass and theft.

The Police Prosecutor, Insp. Phillip Akogwu, told the court that Amen John, also of Asokoro, who is a client of the accused, reported Bitrus to Kuruduma Police Post, Asokoro, on August 5.

Akogwu said the complainant reported that he engaged the accused to carry out some repairs in his house on August 4, but returned to the house on Aug. 5, to steal an Acer laptop valued

at N35,000, N120,000 cash and other valuables.

The prosecutor said the offence is contrary to sections 342, 346 and 288 of the Penal code respectively.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) The Presiding officer, Malam Hassan Ishaq, admitted the accused bail in the sum of N200,000 with a reasonable and reliable surety in like sum.

Ishag said the surety must reside within the jurisdiction of the court and as well as submit his National Identity card to the registrar of the court.

He adjourned the case until October 16, for hearing.

n Abuja Chief Magistrates’ court has ordered that a 41-yearold discharged soldier, Kayode Omidiji, be remanded in police custody for alleged unlawful carnal knowledge of a minor.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Idayat Akanni, said that the remand followed an application by the Prosecutor, Insp. Audu Bitrus, that the police had not concluded its investigations.

“In the interim, the accused person should be remanded in police custody till Sept.15 for his bail and conclusion of investigation by the prosecution,’’ the court held.

Omidiji, who resides at Daki Biyu Village, Abuja, was arraigned on a one-count charge of defiling a three-yearold girl on August 5.

The prosecutor had told the court that the mother of the victim, Monica Odama, reported the matter at the Life Camp Police Station on August 5.

Bitrus said that the offence contravened Section 275 of the Penal Code, which if convicted attracts 10 years imprisonment or fine.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Bitrus had objected to the bail of the accused, pointing out that the police had not concluded its investigations and the victim was still in the hospital.

He said that the mother while bathing the victim noticed that the child cried and complained of pains in her sex organ.

The prosecutor said when the mother questioned the child she said the accused put his ``finger deeply’’ in her sex organ.

The prosecutor told the court that the action of the accused made the child to sustain a deep internal injury.

Police arraign swindler for conspiracy

P Mohammed Bello Adoke Antoney-General and Minister of Justice

olice have arraigned one Samuel Ndukwe at a Gudu Upper Area court in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for allegedly cheating a man of N1,000 and a cell phone.

Ndukwe, who resides at Nyanya, Abuja, is standing trial on a twocount charge of criminal conspiracy and cheating.

The prosecutor, Insp. Steve Okwuagbor, told the court that one Mr Chisom Ani of Apo, Wamba,

Abuja, reported the matter at the Durumi police station on July 31.

He said that the accused and others now at large, deceived the complainant and collected his N1, 000 and a cell phone valued at N25, 000 under a bridge at the Apo District, Abuja.

He said that the accused, whom he described as a fake pastor, had promised to pray for the complainant for protection against danger of the `enemy’.

Okwuagbor said the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 97 and 322 of the Penal code respectively.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The judge, Alhaji Umar Kagarko, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N30,000 with a surety who must reside within the jurisdiction of the court.

He adjourned the case until August 19 for continuation of hearing.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

Page 15

Issues

Nasarawa Impasse: How mass action contained elitism

By Ali Abare Abubakar

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he Nigerian political system under the present democratic dispensation arguably has its multifaceted challenges but a visible limitation discernible to any careful observer of politics in Nigeria is the hijacking of the political structure by the elites who exploit this advantage to deny the Nigerian masses access to the economic base of the country.

The elite’s theory as propounded by several scholars was essentially geared towards creating enabling environment for the elites to scheme, manoeuvre and control the political machinery for the mere acquisition and manifestation of political power.

This no doubt, explains why all political parties in the country, under the present democratic dispensation, could be classified either as cadre or elite parties which seek to manipulate the sentiments of the masses for the selfish objective of acquiring economic base.

These manipulative stance of the political elites exist mostly because they are better organized and posses class consciousness when compared to the masses, with the manipulative process becoming so complex in Nigeria as to even threaten the survival of the polity, not only as a result of the contradiction of interests among the elites but also because they tend to manipulate primordial sentiments as tools for the acquisition of power.

As Mallam Abdulkarim Abdullahi Muhammad, chairman of the Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board (NSUBEB) recently observed in a chat with Peoples Daily, “the elites in the north are like slave masters in a new pattern of colonial slavery. They are the reasons for the deprivations in the north because they appropriate what is supposed to go down the line.

The ordinary people must know that the elites are responsible for the perpetual poverty in the north. They should rediscover how they allowed themselves to be subdued by self serving elites when they, the people have a superior moral standing.”

For that reason, the impeachment saga in Nasarawa State has become a watershed in the political history of the country, because that was when the common people, represented by workers, artisans, market women and youths, among others, came out to protest the move by

the state assembly to oust Governor Umaru Tanko Al-makura.

They eventually emerged victorious when the panel of enquiry put up for that, cleared the governor amidst a cut-throat political war.

When on July 14, 2014, members of the Nasarawa State Assembly commenced impeachment proceedings against Governor Al-makura, a battle-line was drawn between the elites that have succeeded in hijacking the political structure to their advantage and the ordinary people who have continued to bear the brunt of decades of political subjugation in the hands of leaders who obviously came into power for mundane reasons.

This tug of war in Nasarawa gradually snowballed into an open confrontation. This led to the relocation of the lawmakers from their primary point of assignment, the state assembly complex located along Shendam Road in Lafia to the Federal Capital. Eventually the masses emerged victorious following the subsequent dismissal of the 16-count allegations of gross misconduct levelled against the governor by the legislators, when the 7-man panel constituted by the state Chief Judge, Justice Suleiman Umaru Dikko, cleared the governor. nvestigations by Peoples Daily Weekend revealed that amidst the plethora of reasons forwarded by the lawmakers in support of their case, the actual reason why the 20 lawmakers belonging to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) embarked on this journey of misadventure was essentially to protest their inability to access public funds for private use. Political observers maintain that the lawmakers might have latched on to the desperation of politicians in Abuja in a bid to clear the ground ahead of the 2015 election to initiate the move. But they said the

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Gov. Umaru Tanko Al-makura primary reason the lawmakers sought to impeach the governor was because Al-makura stood in their way, constituting a formidable barrier between them and the resources of the state.

Impeccable sources confided in our reporter that the impasse occasioned by the impeachment threat hanging over Governor Al-makura arose out of personal desires by the lawmakers to collect lucre from the governor for facilitating N20bn bond for the state. he source who spoke under condition of anonymity revealed that when the governor contacted the assembly on his intention to secure an initial N30bn bond to develop infrastructure in the state, the lawmakers insisted Al-makura parts with 10 percent of the funds as settlement for their services.

“He gave them N1.3bn already and now that they are demanding for him to complete the payment, it has snowballed into

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an impeachment” the source said.

Laying credence to this claim, Governor Al-makura, while addressing concerned women from Nasarawa State who came to greet him on a solidarity visit at his Abuja residence recently, made reference to the borrowed funds when he told the women that the lawmakers demanded 10 percent from the money the state borrowed and is expected to pay back.

“After settling the loans we met, we decided to collect funds to put some infrastructure on ground for the people but the House members stood up that we must give them money, requesting for 10 percent of the money coming in, amounting to billions. This is money the state would have to pay back, meant to provide for the people,” Almakura told the women. he governor however assured the women that he has nothing to hide; stress-

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Impeccable sources confided in our reporter that the impasse occasioned by the impeachment threat hanging over Governor Al-makura arose out of personal desires by the lawmakers to collect lucre from the governor for facilitating N20bn bond for the state.

ing that he is ready to face any probe if the lawmakers insist on carrying out their threat further.

Noting that this is the ninth time the assembly members have tried to remove him, fabricating all manner of allegations against him, the governor said he is ready to submit himself to a probe provided every constitutional procedure is followed.

“If they intend to carry out their plans we have all the evidence to defend ourselves. I know where this will end; we have all the answers for them.

Any person that reasons and is searching for the truth will surely see we have no fault or question to answer,” he had said.

The move by the lawmakers drew the angst of the people who mobilized to checkmate the antics of the assembly members, by pouring out into the streets from every corner of the state, to denounce the action of the lawmakers and to urge them to reconsider and to allow the governor to continue with his developmental strides. n a statement issued to journalists by the National Youth Council, Nasarawa state chapter as the crisis lasted, the council while recognizing the constitutional responsibility of the legislators to carry out oversight functions, however frowned at their decision to commence the impeachment process.

Signed by the duo of Comrades Mohammed Bako and Fago Assom, president and pub

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Contd on Page 37

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PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

Politics Osun Election: APC accuses new police commissioner of bribing for PDP

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he All Progressives Congress, APC, has accused the new Police Commissioner in Osun State, of distributing cash to police personnel and soldiers so they can work to give the PDP victory in today’s governorship election in the State.

In a statement issued in Osogbo on Friday by its National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, the party said Maishanu distributed the money after addressing the police personnel and soldiers at the NYSC camp in Ede yesterday, during which he told them point blank that his mission is to ensure PDP’s victory at the elections.

It said the new police boss gave every police officer present N50,000; other ranks N30,000 each and every non-commissioned soldier N45,000. ”We salute the courage and patriotism of some security agents who gave us this valuable information, and who have vowed never to do anything to subvert the country’s constitution and its democracy, whether or not they are being lured to do so with filthy lucre. ”The fact that there are still good men and women even in the security agencies that have become highly-partisan gives us hope that our country’s democracy will survive this unprecedented assault from those who swore an oath to uphold the constitution of the

Federal Republic of Nigeria,” APC said.

The party wondered where the Police Commissioner got the huge amounts of cash he gave away so casually in order to use security agencies to thwart the will of the people.

It said even as the police boss was sharing out the money in Ede, Chris Uba, a hireling of the PDP, was setting down in Osogbo with the 50 troops he was given from Enugu with the mission to use the result sheets already given to him to manipulate the results of the election, as well as to harass and brutalize any APC member who would not let the PDP carry out its rigging plan, earlier exposed by the APC, during Saturday’s election. ”Where else in the world will the government give a man who is not in the military 50 troops to command, for the purpose of rigging an election?

It is now very clear that the PDP’s desperation to win at all cost in Osun is right from the top! Now, neither the Chief of Army Staff nor the Inspector General of Police can exonerate themselves from the PDP’s rigging manual,” he said.

The party said those who are colluding with the desperate PDP to subvert democracy today must realize that power is transient, and that in the fullness of time, everyone will account for his or her actions.

Alh. Mu’azu, PDP National Chairman

Court rejects Nyako’s request to halt Adamawa Gov poll

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Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday turned down the request by erstwhile Deputy Governor of Adamawa State, Bala Ngilari, to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission from conducting the governorship byeelection in the state.

Justice Adeniyi Ademola ruling on Ngilari’s ex-parte motion, however, ordered that INEC be put on notice to defend the substantive suit.

The judge after listening to the plaintiff’s counsel, Mr. Festus Keyamo, who moved two ex-parte applications, granted his prayer for substituted service through publication in the national newspaper.

The judge also granted leave to the plaintiff to serve the court processes on the defendants outside

Ex Gov. Murtala Nyako

Abuja. He then fixed Tuesday for hearing of the motion on notice containing similar prayer of injunction.

Ngilari had on Wednesday filed the suit seeking among other prayers, an order compelling his swearing in as the governor of Adamawa State following the impeachment of Governor Murtala Nyako.

The former deputy governor denied resigning from office. He urged the court to declare as nullity his letter of resignation dated July 14 and addressed to the Speaker of the Adamawa State House of Assembly.

In his suit, marked, FHC/ABJ/ CS/545/14, the plaintiff argued that his resignation was in breach of the provisions of sections 306(1), (2) and (5) of the 1999 Constitution since it was addressed to the Speaker and

not the governor as “strictly” provided for in the Constitution.

According to his lawyer, the constitution provides that a Deputy Governor who intends to resign from office is “strictly” required by the provisions of the constitution to send his resignation letter to the governor and not the Speaker of the House of Assembly as his client did.

The defendants in the suit are the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, the House itself, Ahmadu Fintiri, who was sued as an individual and as the Acting Governor of the state, Nyako and the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The plaintiff is asking the court to nullify the declaration of his office vacant on the account of his resignation letter dated July 14 and also the subsequent swearing in of Fintiri as the acting governor on July 15.

Ngilari stated in a supporting affidavit, that “I did not submit any letter of resignation to the 5th defendant (governor) or any other person other than the 1st defendant (the Speaker).

“I only submitted a purported letter of resignation (exhibit A), to the 1st defendant but I never intended to comply with the strict provisions of sections 306 (1), (2) & (5) of the 1999 Constitution by submitting it to the 5th defendant (the Governor).

“I never intended exhibit A (the letter) to be any subject of debate or resolution by the 2nd defendant (House of Assembly), but a private correspondence between myself and the 1st defendant, hence it was marked ‘secret’.

Chief Oyegun, APC National Chairman

NBA deploys 40 observers in Osun

By Lawrence Olaoye

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he Nigerian Bar Association is deploying a total of 40 observers for today’s governorship election in Osun State.

The observers are drawn from the Election Working Group, EWG, of the association as well as its local branches in the southwest state.

This is contained in a press statement jointly signed by EWG chairman, Dafe Akpedeye, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, and the Alternate Chairman, Reuben James yesterday in Osogbo, the Osun State Capital.

The NBA EWG is one of the 29 Domestic and International Observers accredited by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to observe today’s election. The group said its observers would cover the 30 local governments in the state.

Stating that it had successfully observed past elections, including last June governorship election in Ekiti State, the NBA EWG said the observers had been adequately trained for the Saturday’s election and that as usual it would make its report public after the poll.

“INEC has accredited 29 Domestics and International Observers Groups to observe the Osun State Gubernatorial Election of August 9, 2014, of which the NBA Election Working Group is one,” the statement said.

“The NBA Election Working Group will be engaging all the local branches of the NBA in Osun State to observe the elections. In all, the NBA will deploy a total of 40 observers in the 30 local government areas of Osun State to observe the election.”

The NBA EWG urged the people of Osun State to come out enmasse to vote for their preferred governorship

candidate and that security had been adequately provided, as promised by the Nigerian government and the police, to protect anybody from being harassed. It also asked the voters to conduct be peaceful during the exercise.

According to the group, “Prior to this election, the various security agencies have carried intensive surveillance and patrols in the state. The intensive patrols and surveillance by the security agencies will rekindle the confidence of the people and reassured them that lives and properties will be protected on the Election Day.” The group, lamented the “ugly side of Osun politics,” particularly between the two major parties, the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, during the electioneering campaign and that it had dominated discourse in recent times.

It also noted that there had been campaigns of calumny among parties and candidates, and that bickering, mud-slinging and character assassination as opposed to issue based campaigns, had become the order of the day.

The group also regretted that over the years, Nigerian elections had been fraught with lack of transparency associated with the use of violence, thuggery, hijacking and illegal seizures of ballot boxes, inflation of election results at collation centers, voting by unregistered persons, refusal to conduct elections at certified polling stations and the creation of illegal polling stations at unrecognized venues.

“The method of rigging election is inexhaustible for no sooner had the legislature plugged existing loopholes in new legislation than election riggers would have invented new means of circumventing the new laws,” it said.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

PAGE17

Romance

She reappeared two years after I found new love

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wo years ago, I lost my wife. The first day I met Cynthia, I knew she was the one for me. I met her at a friend’s party. We shook hands as the hostess introduced her to me. Although I didn’t have my phone with me at that moment, I quickly asked James who was with me for his phone.

I collected her number and wanted to make sure I had all 10 digits of it correct so I dialed the number right in front of her but her phone didn’t ring.

She was embarrassed at the scene and simply smiled asking me to give her my number but I refused, insisting that I had hers instead. We spoke for hours that night and I didn’t forget to ask soon enough if she was seeing anyone after I felt we had created some sort of mutual understanding between us. I imagined her smiling and shaking her head as she gave me the answer that kick started our relationship.

A year later, after three break ups and everything you can imagine could go wrong in a young relationship, I asked her to marry me and she agreed.

Our wedding day was the best day of my life, I had everything I prayed for and when she told me three months later that we would be expecting our first child, I couldn’t help but thank God for how well he was taking me through this journey called Life. Iffy came months later and we were so excited to have her as part of our family. She brought joy and we soon realized she brought stability to our now growing family.

One fateful night, the unexpected happened. My wife and I were coming back from a friend’s engagement party when we were suddenly thrown off the road by an unknown driver.

I was the one driving that night and Cynthia always hated to wear her seat belt saying it didn’t really prevent the inevitable. Just when I thought there was no hope for us, a voice came.

“Hello sir… are you okay? Can you hear me?” I couldn’t get a clear view of the person speaking but I knew it had to be a woman due to her soft voice. I tried to move my body but I was knocked down by the excruciating pain from my head.

“Sir, I am a doctor and I promise you will be fine, just try not to move for me,” she said.

“Where am I?” I asked her. She told me I had just gotten involved in an accident and in that instant I came back to life.

“Cynthia… Cynthia…” I called out, trying to move myself up.

“Sir, there is no one else here. Was there another passenger in the car with you?”

“Cynthia, my wife…” those were my last words as I blacked out again for the second time.

They were sure I wouldn’t survive but my doctor was determined to make me whole again. She stood by my side through everything and even took on the task of caring for both father and child. Vivian was like an angel sent to me from God. She was the one who broke the news that shattered my life.

Two weeks later, they had found a body which they claimed to be my wife’s and she was proclaimed dead. I couldn’t even attend the funeral they had hastily prepared for her, I didn’t get the chance to say goodbye because I was still battling to survive and be there for our then five months old child.

The romance between Vivian and I was brief and we both knew we needed

each other. I needed a mother figure around my child and I soon began to fall for her.

That night as I prepared to head to the restaurant where I told Vivian to meet me, I had one intention and one only; I would ask her to marry me.

“Victor, are you sure about what you’re about to do?” James asked.

I placed my phone back to my ear after finishing off with my tie. “Yes now, you know how I feel about her, I just feel this is the right thing to do.” He advised me to not be too heartbroken when Vivian refuses my proposal. We laughed and he wished me good luck regardless. s I rushed to the door, my house keeper stopped me. “Sir, will you be coming back tonight?” the old lady asked.

“Mrs. Ada, I hope not ooh.” We both smiled. Upon opening the door, the sight that welcomed me made me speechless. She fell into my arms almost breathless. This wasn’t just any woman, she was my Cynthia.

“Water…” she said.

“Jesus Christ!” I shouted as I reached out to grab her.. Mrs. Ada who wasn’t far away came to my rescue. Upon seeing her too, Mrs. Ada screamed, “Chineke!”

I had two things on my mind, it’s either the stories of people seeing ghosts were truly for real or I was simply dreaming.

For five minutes, Mrs. Ada and I starred at her and it soon began to dawn on me that she was definitely not a ghost.

“Is this a dream or what? Cynthia is this really you?” I asked as I drew her closer to my chest with my trembling hands. Mrs. Ada directed me back into the living room as I carried Cynthia on my shoulders.

“Lay her on the couch for now while I go get some water.” She said. I did as she told me and as soon as she left for the kitchen, my phone began to ring. I took it out from my pocket and it was Vivian who was calling. Six months into my recovering from the accident, the relationship between Vivian and I started to take a new turn from just our normal doctor and patient thing. Vivian is a beautiful woman with all the curves in the world and I am a man.

“Victor, is this really you?” Cynthia asked in a whisper. She brought me back to my senses and in that moment, everything was decided. I turned off my phone, laying it carefully back on the floor.

“Yes, it’s me.” I smiled down at her.

She looked fine to me except for some few bruises that were on her cheeks.

A million questions were running through my head. Just where in the world had she been for the past years? I was about to start beating myself up for the answers when Mrs. Ada appeared back into the room with some hot tea, a bowl of hot water and a towel.

As I watched her sleep, I still couldn’t believe it was her. I raised her blouse up in search of a tattoo she had gotten a few months after we started dating. The letter V was lying underneath her flat tummy and I was sure this was my Cynthia.

“Cynthia, we need to talk.” I couldn’t get those words fast enough out of my mouth.

She looked distracted with trying to pet the baby. “Victor, can we do that later, I need to spend time with my

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child.” She smiled down at Iffy who was still trying to remember who Cynthia was.

“No, it can’t wait.” She looked up at me as if to second my order. I called for Mrs. Ada to come get Iffy as I took Cynthia by the hands into my bedroom.

“Who are you?” I asked furiously.

I wasn’t planning to shout at her but I just wasn’t happy for some reason.

She laughed, repeating my question.

“Yes! Who are you?” Why come back now, after two years? Why are you doing this to me?” I began to scream at her. “The hospital said you were dead!”

She didn’t know what seeing her again did to me after I had thought she had died. I couldn’t sleep that night she

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showed up; I was excited, and confused at the same time.

“Victor, are you out of your mind!” she yelled. “How dare you ask me such questions? Who are you to tell me not to come back to my husband and my child?” but something in her voice just wasn’t convincing enough.

“Victor, I missed you… ” She continued. “I have been through hell and back just to come back to you, please don’t turn me away. We can make this work; I am still your wife in every way victor.” If only she knew two years were a pretty long time for everything to change.

“I don’t remember anything that happened the night of the accident just that when I opened my eyes, I

She looked fine to me except for some few bruises that were on her cheeks. A million questions were running through my head. Just where in the world had she been for the past years?

was somewhere in a place I didn’t recognize. Some people who had heard me screaming your name came to my rescue. I was in their care for some time until I decided to find my way home again. The journey wasn’t easy,” she pointed to her cheeks. “but I made it home.”

She moved closer to me, playing with my emotions. She tip toed to match my height as she drew me in for a kiss.

Yes, my Cynthia was a woman with great passion and in no time, she soon proved herself to be my wife. I fell for it, she has always had her way with me and never once could I deny her of what she wanted. I soon realized just how much I had missed her.

We were getting ourselves back in order when I heard the doorbell ring. I hurriedly put on my trousers and rushed to see who was at the door. Cursing as I opened the door, I wasn’t surprised when a worried Vivian barged in.

“What happened to you last night?

I called your cell phone without any answer from you.”

I had already been dreading this moment and decided to stick to my first plan. Lie to her to get her away from the house then later I would meet her somewhere and explain our current situation to her. When Cynthia called out my name from our bedroom, I knew I was finished.

PAGE 18

Landmark

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

Northern tourism loses N5bn to insecurity in 4 years W

ith the worsening security situation in parts of northern Nigeria on account of the Boko Haram insurgency, tourism ventures in the region are fast winding up.

The region has lost over N5 billion in four years (from 2010 till date) due to the continued insurgency, according to tourism experts and a report on the rate of business confidence in states across the country.

Experts observe that within the four years, the region witnessed the lowest tourists’ arrival, unconcluded business visits, no opening of an international branded hotel, closure of amusements parks and bars, loss of revenue by government, and gross stifling of social life.

“If you add the aggregate of profit hotels would have made at a much better occupancy rate within the four years, the new ones that would have opened, the revenue from the parks, new bars and restaurants that would have opened, the revenue accruing to government as tax, and other tourismrelated businesses that would have been flourishing since the four years, the loss is over N5 billion,” said Nicolas Akpan, a hospitality expert.

The loss of revenue over the four years, according to Business Confidence Report, will continue as no northern city made it to the top 15 alternative investment destinations in 2013 and as the region continues to enjoy the lion’s share of insecurity.

The most affected by the worsening security situation are amusement parks, wildlife parks, bars and restaurants, and especially indigenous hotel owners who before the insurgency recorded about 40 percent occupancy but today have less than 20 percent occupancy in cities like Kano, Kaduna, Jos and Maiduguri, with Abuja partially affected.

Most hotels in Kano are struggling to pay staff as patronage keeps declining with each bomb blast. Most of them resort to discounted rates to woo guests despite the high operational costs. Also, tourists and other guests hardly visit the popular Kano Durbar these days, which used to draw tourists but is today often cancelled for security reasons.

“We expected so many guests during the coronation of Lamido Sanusi as the Emir of Kano, but we got less. For the first time in the history of the crisis in the north, a lot of southerners are leaving and strategically moving their business out of Kano to places like Abuja,” said Ameh Bello, a hotel manager in Kano.

“About 45 percent of the over 4 million Igbos in Kano, among others southerners, are leaving, foreigners are not coming, and these people constitute our guests. When you manage to get guests, no single one of them asks after tourist sites. The situation is truly bad,” he said.

The big regret for Bello is that two international hotel brands that showed interest in Kano have left to Benin City and Ikot Ekpene because Kano is rated top among states with less business confidence for investors.

The situation in Jos, the Plateau

State capital, is no different. The once thriving tourism destination has not recovered from the ethno-religious crisis that keeps recurring in the state.

At present, only a few hotels are recording slightly above 20 percent occupancy rate in Jos, while some have closed down due to dwindling profit.

Before the crisis, an average hotel room in Jos cost around N10,000 because Jos is not much of a metropolitan city. Today, standard hotel rooms go as low as N5,000.

“A right-thinking investor will take his investment to Lagos or more peaceful cities where that same room can fetch as much N30,000 per night,” said a hotel staff who craved anonymity.

The insecurity which has so far killed social life in Jos has also made tourism non-existent. Jos Museums, Jos Wildlife and Amusement Park, among others, no longer see visitors trooping in.

Tyem Bulus, a staff of the park, says despite the improvement in the facilities and the introduction of new wildlife species, visitors are reluctant to come because people fear for their lives. The Yankari Game Reserve, which has not done well since being taken over by the Bauchi State government, is one of the worst hit. Its nearness to Borno State, the hotbed of the insurgency, makes tourists wary. ourism and recreation have likewise been crippled in Kaduna.

As a result of the prevailing insecurity, many businesses, especially hotels, beer parlours, night clubs and other places of relaxation are gradually folding up as their owners count their losses.

In Maiduguri, Borno State capital, where the Boko Haram sect originated, the frequent bombings and clashes between the sect and security agents have weighed seriously on business and many people have fled the state.

Hundreds of shop owners at the Maiduguri Monday Market, especially southerners, have closed their businesses and left the troubled city.

About half of the 10,000 shops in the market have been abandoned.

About 1,200 hotels rooms in the state are empty.

Grand Central Hotel, Kano

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Recreation spot at Kano hotel

Royal Tropicana Hotel 2

Central Hotel

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

PAGE 19

Tourism

The mysterious cascading waterfalls of Erin-Ijesa The walls of the massive rock cleft through which the water flows is rugged in verdant colors, and although in the daytime the cleft is as dark as the night, the gracious vegetal canopies jutting out above allows some sunrays to penetrate, casting a subtle but gracious blue-green tone upon the vestal showers of Olumirin Waterfalls.

The awe-inspiring falls, also known as Erin-Ijesha Waterfalls is an assemblage of seven distinct cascades located on the south western slopes of the lush Effon Ridge, in Erin-Ijesha town, Osun state.

The gigantic Ridge constitutes a conspicuous eye-catcher for every traveler along the Ilesa-Akure expressway, as it towers into the distant skyline, forming a spectacular backrest for the sleepy towns of ErinOke, Erin-Ijesha and Erinmo.

The people of Erin-Ijesa believe that the waterfalls exude from a big pot located at the top of the ridge.

Often times, first time tourist at the waterfalls unconsciously starts to number the waterfalls from the last drop (the base of the ridge) as it is the first of all the falls to be encountered when visiting; whereas the numbering is supposed to be from the top. Nevertheless, going by layman’s standard, the seventh drop of the waterfalls is the first waterfall.

The first cascade plummets through a narrow opening in a cluster of luxuriant tree trunks blanketed in dark green leafage, down a steeply folded rock face of about ten meters in height. Like a rain of a million limpid pins, the showers descend

First cascade of Olumirin falls (at the foothill of the ridge) and inundate s huge boulder reposed at its plunge pool below. Fallen logs of wood laid dank in the pool and out-flowing stream channel. The air hung muggy with a heavy smoke of splashed water droplets. The sight

sparks the first fire of excitement that pervades the veins of any visitor at the falls. The refreshing ambience is further thickened when one ascends the steep rocks to explore the other stages of the waterfalls.

The second cascade is the most gigantic of all, with the waters diving down a 40m-high cliff. The copious plunge is most spectacular in the rainy season when the stream channel is at its flooding levels. Its plunge pool clear paths made up the ridge slopes, except depressions and projections on the surface, as well as roots and branches of huge trees, forest climbers and shrubs along the paths, which serves as hand and foot holds for the adventurous tourist.

Nevertheless, the ascent of the enormous ridge is most rewarding, as one is treated to dazzling and panoramic vistas of the surrounding landscape, depicting the true natural beauty of the Nigerian landmass.

Another great attraction at the waterfalls is the Abake village, a rustic enclave located at the top of the colossal ridge. The name “Abake”, is a

Clean water cascading down a rock make for a serene environment at the falls cultivation as they are found in great numbers on the ridge. The enclave suffers from inaccessibility of good roads, lack of electrical supply, poor water supply, lack of hospitals, clinics or health centers etc. Despite the indigence of the people, they are ever convivial and ecstatic to see people beat the heights of the enormous ridge in order to visit their remote enclave.

Exciting activities at Erin-Ijesha waterfalls tourist resort includes: Swimming, base jumping (new

potentials), rock climbing; bird and game watching etc.

More tourist facilities such as good road, tourist chalets, electrical supply, escalators and steps up the waterfalls etc., if provided will place Olumirin Waterfalls on the pedestal of one of the choicest tourist resorts in Africa.

The waterfall is a must-visit for you. If you come to Nigeria and you miss the Olumirin Waterfalls, you might as well have stayed at home.

Tourists having a swell time at the foot of the falls

forms a shallow swimming pool for visitors at the site who are lucky and brave enough to get to the second fall.

The climb up the waterfalls is quite intimidating and arduous, as there are no steps constructed or Yoruba word which is a combination of two other Yoruba words: “Aba” “Oke”, meaning “the village on the top”, suggesting the location , of the small village.

A tourist ascending the ridge from the waterfalls will have to climb for about one hour before getting to Abake settlement. The village is said to be in Effon Alaaye local government, hence the villagers refer to their settlement as Effon Alaaye (Ekiti State). The village basically consists of mud houses and the main occupations are farming, garri processing (using local method), cocoa cultivation and moi moi leaf

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

Page 20

Homes Best ways to store more in your kitchen

By Mariam Humbe

I

f you’re moving to a new home that doesn’t have as much kitchen storage space as your old home, you might find that you’re having to get rid of things that are essential.

Finding ways of storing things in your kitchen is not only a great way to find room for all your things, but will also help organize your stuff so it’s easier to find, while keeping things out of the way.

How to Store More Remove flour, sugar, pasta and other dry goods from their original packaging and store them into containers that can be stacked. I find square containers the easiest to stack, plus their square sides use the space more effectively.

My favorite way of storing spices, is to transfer them to containers with labels on the top, each spice written on the label. Place the containers in a drawer, with the label facing up. While your spices might take up an entire drawer, they’re easier to identify and it keeps them dry and away from the heat. Heat from the stove can diminish the potency of the spice.

If your cabinets have space between the top and the ceiling, this becomes a perfect place to store items that are

infrequently used. It can also serve as a dry pantry, storing flours, sugars and other dry goods that you might not use as often as other food items.

Large baskets that fit into the space below the ceiling will assist in creating an uncluttered storage area that will

On the inside of cabinet doors, attach racks, hooks or bins that can hold extra items, such as plastic wrap and plastic bags. Attach racks to the inside of cabinet doors to boost storage options. Be sure to allow enough clearance within your cabinets for racks that tidily stow paper products.

It is strongly suggested using wire baskets that hang down from shelves.

Wire baskets can be pulled out and used to store extra plates or food items.

Just make sure baskets can slide easily out and in and won’t interfere with the items stored on the cabinet shelves.

Even though I prefer having a clear counter space, items that are flat and easy to store, such as cutting boards, can be placed between other items, or

next to the refrigerator.

Use the space under the kitchen sink to store cleaning supplies, garbage bags or other items by installing bins and shelving units.

Add shelves to blank wall space, or to the side of cabinets. Place items that are not used often such as cookbooks.

Attach a towel rack to the inside of a cabinet or below the sink.

Purchase a small movable kitchen island. Islands are available in varying sizes and shapes and if you buy one that has wheels, then you can shift it around in the space, even placing it in another room when it’s not being used.

When trying to make the most out of cabinet space, move shelves so that

they fit the contents. Try not to have too much space between top of items and the next shelf. If you can’t adjust shelf height, make sure you use the extra space by installing wire baskets or an extra shelf.

Use a metal wall grid or a pot rack to store pots, freeing up much needed cabinet space.

Use a dining room for extra storage by installing an armoire or buffet

which can hold good dishes, china and other items that aren’t used on a daily basis.

Use space above a counter top microwave to store a basket that can hold mail, keys or items that will require sorting. You can also purchase (inexpensive) plastic holders that have magnets attached that will stick onto the side of a fridge or stove.

be functional and add some texture to the room.

To get more use out of drawers, use drawer inserts to help organize items.

Flatware might not take up an entire drawer, so use the extra space for other utensils or spices or dishtowels.

e n i z a

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

d n e k e We

g a M ent

m Entertain

Fashion

ps Beauty Ti

od Kannywo

Simple but stunning makeup tips >>PG 28

How to keep your relationship afloat

PG 31

Why I turned down Glo Ambassador —Genevieve PG 36

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Hollywoo

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d Bollywoo

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

Page 22

Your Body, Image & U

Putting genuine smiles on frowning faces

I

do not know or talk for other writers on why they write but, I personally write to make people’s lives much-much better and express my stand in the things happening in my society and the world as a whole.

I have been writing for the past 9 years and it keeps getting better and better not that i get paid for writing but the fact that the things I talk about over the years has touched several lives both in Nigeria and abroad for good. Let me add briefly here for those who want to make fast bucks by diving into ‘forced’ writing career. Honestly, if this is your mindset, you will be fraustrated! Write because you enjoy writing and have the passion to do so.

Over the years, my Career actually kicked off with writing so i use writing most times to spread good news and empower people. For writers who fall under the same category with me, it gives us pleasure seeing people reading our stuff

and feeling strong, relieved of their sorrows, pains and agony some how. This good feelings differs from one individual to the other. have also decided to go extra mile not just to write but to reach out to certain people around me who need practical help and assistance. Listen folks, I am not talking about floating or having an NGO because let us face it, how many NGO walk the street to check and feed hungry people, cloth and distribute toiletries to young girls? We have big registered NGOs all over but we only see and hear about them once in a while when they want to create some kind of publicity stunt for one big fish in the society. (well take me up on this, if you feel your own NGO is not for the rich and powerful, i am all out for you! Bring-it-on..prove it to me!).

So what I have been doing in my own capacity is not some kind of registering an NGO but touch-

I

ing lives in my own little ways in my own organized manner as well.

Come to think of it, if you come out today to tell me that each time you leave your house and come back, you never met any hungry person, or someone who could do with some new shoes, clothes?

Yes, look around you...even in the street where you live, they are every where...sad faces...hungry looking...shabilly dressed...yet some people store bags of rice, beans, tubers of yams, to spoil and they throw them them away. There are people especially women you will open their large wardrobes and you notice old clothes, even new ones they have not worn for years gathering dust. Yet, you pass through couple of young ladies, widows wearing same skirt and blouse, one tattered jeans for months and their shoes have almost swore not to go to the shoe maker any longer. Have you not seen women who use rags for monthly menstrual flow in-

stead of sanitary towels? Very unhygienic and dangerous to health!

Do you need an NGO before helping? Certainly not!! Yet when you do this, you have done what most NGO claim to do. In all sincererity, why invite the media to come take pictures where you are donating cartons of soap, beverages, bags of rice and beans to those who need them? Are you really donating these things to feel important so people will praise you or just helping the needy?

Before some of you will start throwing tomatoes on me saying am against NGOs, I am not! I personally do not need to go to coporate affairs commission to register a building before I help the needy... that is my point. Presently i am just doing what I feel happy doing with the resources that i have and can afford. If one day, the need arises that i need to register my own personal building as an NGO property where i can serve FREE and well cooked dishes to the hungry and homeless.. fantastic! I will gladly do so! This is ofcourse my DREAM!!!! It has been my desire for years now and it shall come to pass by GOD’s grace!!! ost people the world noted for charity today never had a registered NGO. The late Mother Theresa never had one but she did lots of good charity works the world will never forget.

So why wait for publicity before helping the needy and touching lives positively?

There is also one secret i discovered over the years about ‘giving’.

The more you give freely with happiness, the greater you get and become and also being blessed spiritually. Years back while i was in the University, most young girls and teenagers in my village always look foward to my home visit. I think my late mother always informed them.

By the time I arrived, I would see these girls in our house and it was like- ohhhh..what’s up girls? All of

M

With Jacqui Iwu bwreforms@gmail.com 08184825606 (sms only) you here, same time-is mama celebrating something or what? They were there for their own individual share of the loads of clothings and shoes that I always share each time I visited. At times, my late mom will break my old suitcases and share the dresses herself after waiting for me for long to come. They will not just go home with dresses but toiletries like soaps but, also eat good food prepared by mama.

No one came to my house without being served food by my mom. To be honest, at times, I had so much dresses and shoes I never even wore and also remembered I had and I felt good giving them out to those who had none. Till today, I have not lacked in the clothing and shoes department. How about beverages donations? There were little kids in my village which my mom would give some milk I bought for her then and these are kids who hardly drink milk. I once noticed some of them picking empty cans of milk we used, and licking them.

OMG!! Can you picture this sad sight? Small children who ordinarily should not be starved of milk but all they do is lick empty milk cans?

Same thing still happen to most children around us as I speak.

If you want to support me feed and clothe the needy, feel free to call on me on how you can make your Material or Cash Donations. Honestly you will feel very happy and fulfilled doing so. I appreciate!!!!

Jacqui IWU is a Body, Life &Career Coach A Stress Management Expert &Conference Speaker A Media Relations Personnel BLOG: http://bluntjacqui. blogspot.com TWITTER: @JacquiWORLD

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

Page 23

Womanhood

Senator Chris Anyanwu: Soaring career from media to politics

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hristiana ‘Chris’ Anyanwu, is a Nigerian journalist, publisher, author, and politician. She was imprisoned from 1995 to 1998 for treason after reporting on a failed coup d’état against the government of Sani Abacha, and won several international journalism prizes during her confinement, including the UNESCO/ Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize.

Believing that she could make more of an impact in politics than in journalism, Anyanwu ran for office and was elected Senator for the Imo East (Oweri) constituency in 2007.

Anyanwu was born in Mbaise, Imo State. Born on 28 October 1951, she attended Owerri Girls Secondary School before moving to the US, where she obtained a Bachelors Degree in Journalism and a Masters Degree in Mass Communication from the University of Missouri and Florida State University respectively.

After graduating, she returned to Nigeria, and worked for the NTA and the Imo Broadcasting Corporation as a news reader and reporter.

In 1987, she was appointed Imo State commissioner for Information, Youth, Sports, Culture and Social Welfare under Imo governor Amadi Ikwechegh. Following her tenure as commissioner, Anyanwu became publisher/ editor-in-chief of TSM (The Sunday Magazine), a weekly publication which focused on political issues as they affected the country.

“

In May 1995 Anyanwu was arrested following the publication of a story about a failed coup d’état against the government of Sani Abacha, whom she had refused to endorse as president; she and several Nigerian journalists were accused of being “accessory after the fact of treason”.

Anyanwu was prosecuted in camera by a military court and sentenced to life imprisonment on 4 July 1995, later reduced to 15 years in October 1995 following pressure from national and international human rights groups. While being held in Gombe prison, she went partially blind; doctors warned that she was in danger of losing her sight completely if she failed to receive medical attention. hortly after her imprisonment, she received the International Women’s Media Foundation Courage in Journalism Award, making news around the world. Anyanwu, then held in solitary confinement, was passed a note that read, “Some women in America are giving you a prize. The world is watching”. Anyanwu later told the IWMF that receiving the award had buoyed her spirits while in prison: “Yes! Somebody must understand or else they wouldn’t just give out an award like this ... I was very much encouraged and strengthened by it.

And it made me confident and determined not to cave into pressure.” Two years later, the Committee to Protect Journalists named Anyanwu winner of the CPJ International Press Freedom Award, and in May 1998 she was

S

awarded UNESCO’s Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize. Because of her imprisonment, Nobel Literature Prize laureate Wole Soyinka attended the ceremony to accept the latter on her behalf.

In June 1998, following the death of President Abacha and several protests from human rights groups worldwide, Anyanwu was released by Abacha’s successor General Abdulsalam Abubakar on health grounds.

She embarked on a twoyear break in Virginia, during which she wrote the book Days of Terror about Nigeria’s struggle during the dictatorship.

Returning to Nigeria after her book’s release, she testified to her experiences in prison and confronted her former jailers, publicly forgiving one after another to he apologize to her.

A televised version of her n o w defunct publication TSM Show was aired in 2001. In 2005, Anyanwu opened her radio station Hot 98.3 FM, based in Abuja. Anyanwu was featured in the PBS Frontline production titled Nigeria: The Road North in 2003.

During the Nigerian general election, 2007 Anyanwu was elected to the Senate on

In May 1995 Anyanwu was arrested following the publication of a story about a failed coup d’état against the government of Sani Abacha, whom she had refused to endorse as president

the platform of the People’s Democratic Party as a representative of Owerri Zone, Imo State, Nigeria. In describing her change in careers, she stated, “I felt I could do more than observe and moan the things that were not going right ... With my years of reporting government, politics, social issues, oil and diplomacy, I had come to understand governance issues well. I felt I could be more useful in helping find solutions to the problems.” fter taking her seat in the Senate she was appointed to committees on Women and Youth, States & Local Government, Millennium Development Goals, Health, Environment and Defence & Army. In a midterm evaluation of Senators in May 2009, ThisDay noted that she had sponsored bills on Occupational Health and

A

Safety and to Criminalise and Punish Discrimination and Segregation against Nigerians, and had sponsored seven motions. The report described her as an engaging contributor to debates in plenary who was active in the committees. Anyanwu was a successful contender to be reelected as Senator for Imo East on the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) platform in the April 2011 elections. he PDP declared that they would contest the result, claiming that voting was marred by violence. Anyanwu is married to Casmir Anyanwu, with whom she has a daughter, Ihuoma, and a son, Nduwueze, who live in the US. She is a devout Christian.

T

Wikipedia.com

PAGE 24

Kiddies World SIGHTS AND SOUNDS

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

With Miriam

Humbe

ABCDE

HIS AND HERS CORNER

Kamuku National Park

T

he park is located north-west of Kaduna near BirninGwari in central-western Nigeria. The terrain is largely flat, rising gradually eastwards to the BirninGwari Ridge, which forms part of the eastern boundary. The vegetation is Guinea Savanna with, in places, some transitional Sudan Savanna elements.

Dominant tree species of the park include Isoberliniadoka, Terminaliaavicennioides and Detariummacrocarpum. Also common are Danelliaoliveri, Nauclealatifolia, Acacia spp., Lophiralanceolata,Par kiabiglobosa, Prosopisafricana and Isoberliniatomentosa.

Elaeisguineensis is common in riparian forests that line small, seasonal rivers. Together with the Forest Reserves in this area the park represents one of the best remaining blocks of Sudan-Guinea Savanna vegetation in the country’s protected-area system.

Kaduna State occupies part of the central position of the Northern part of Nigeria. Kaduna, which is the plural of Kada, got its name from the reptile crocodile, which abounded in the River Kaduna in the early days.

Kaduna State is historically the home of Queen Amina of Zazzau who was noted for stepping where men dared not. As the ruler of Zauzzau she made conquest and waged battles against her neighbours.

The southern part of the state is home of our ancient civilization known as the Nok culture which dates back to between 90BC-500AD. This is an archelogical discovery around Nok town in Jaba local government area of the state and one of the most significant

and best known culture in the black African region today.

The capital Kaduna served as the capital of colonial master, Fredrick Luggard when he moved from Zungeru , capital of Northern Nigeria , North central state and now Kaduna. The entire land structure consists of an undulating Plateau with major rivers in the State including river Kaduna, river wonderful in Kafanchan, River Kagom, river Gurara and Galma. The State is mostly populated by the Hausas, GwariKatab and Bajjuu ethnic communities, with other up to 36 indigenous ethnic groups found in different parts of the State.

About 80% percent of the State population is engaged in peasant farming both food and cash crops. The crops produced in the State include, Cotton, Groundnut, Tobacco, Maize, Yam, Beans, Guinea corn, Millet, Ginger, Rice, Cassava, Sugarcane, Shea nuts, Cowpea, Mango, Kenaf, Cocoyam, Timber, Palm kennel, Banana, Soyabean, Corn, Onions, Sorghum and Potatoes. Another important aspect of agriculture engaged by the people is the rearing of cattles, Sheep, Goats, Pigs and Poultry Farming. Since the late 1950s, kaduna has become a major industrial, commercial and financial centre of the Northern States of Nigeria. It has a branch of the Nigeria Stock Exchange.

Kaduna state is blessed with minerals which include clay, serpentine, asbestos, amethyst, kyannite, gold, graphite and siltimanite graphite, which is found in Sabon Birnin Gwari, in the Birnin Gwari local government. This is an important raw material.

Time to learn

Cartoon Tom and Jerry with guest, Doggie

Daffy duck and Bugs bunny

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

Kiddies World

PAGE 25

With Miriam

MODEL OF THE WEEK

AFRICAN TALES

Why Dogs, Cats, and Mice are enemies O nce upon a time, dogs, cats, and mice were friends. The problem between them started when the dogs thought they were being too heavily taxed. They did not want so much of their money going to the animal commissioners. The dogs knew they would have to travel a great distance to meet with the commissioners about their concerns. Finally, the burden of the taxes became so severe that the dogs knew they must make the long and dangerous trip. They packed their belongings and began the arduous journey.

This wasn’t an easy expedition.

The dogs had to cross the scorching savannah.

Here they must dodge dangerous lion prides and packs of snarling hyenas. Rivers full of hungry crocodiles lay in their path.

The dogs needed to stay away from the riverbanks where these ravenous reptiles always kept one watchful eye out for a tasty meal. You can imagine how happy the dogs were that this tiresome trip was not in vain. The commissioners listened to the dogs’ request and decided they would no longer have to pay taxes. They gave the dogs a letter stating they were now exempt from this burden.

During their journey home, heavy rains poured down from the sky. But, this pelting rain did not bother the dogs. No, they were happy because of their letter. They knew this precious paper would improve their lives.

The problem started when the dogs reached the river that lay between them and their homeland. The rain had caused this river to rise far beyond its banks. The waters rushed downstream at great speed. “What will we do?” asked the dogs. “We must keep our letter safe.

When we cross the high waters of the river, this letter may be destroyed.” The dogs all looked at one another in dismay. Finally, the Chow Dog spoke up. “I am able to carry my tail high. Let us tie the letter to my tail. I will raise it above the rushing currents as we swim across this river.

When we reach the other side, we will untie the letter. It will be safe and dry.” The dogs all thought this was a good plan so they tied the letter to the Chow’s tail and swam across the river. But, when they reached the opposite side, the letter was gone! They stared at the rushing river that had stolen their precious letter. They hunted along the bank for any sign of it. Not even a piece of it could be found. The dogs returned sadly to their home, devastated that the letter was lost. The following day the dogs visited the home of their friends, the cats. They sat together in the warm sun and told the sad tale of the lost letter. “Oh, our dear friends. Do not despair. We went walking in the night after

ABCDE

Humbe

the rains stopped. We discovered your letter along the riverbank. We’ll go into the house and fetch it for you.” There was much rejoicing among the dogs as the cats went into the house to retrieve the letter. They even began making plans for a party to honor the rescuers of the important letter.

S o o n , however, the cats reappeared carrying bits of paper. “We are quite sorry, our friends,” apologized the cats.

“It seems that the mouse who lives with us found your letter. Look, she has chewed it into bits!” The dogs became very angry!

They chased the cats, howling, “From this day forward, we are no longer friends!”

The cats ran to the nearest tree for refuge. They raced up it and stayed in its branches until the dogs went away. Then the cats cautiously returned to their home. “Why did you chew our friends’ letter into bits?” demanded the cats when they saw the mouse. “Now the dogs are no longer our friends.

We must run up the nearest tree when they come along. Because of your destruction, YOU are no longer OUR friend!” With that, the cats chased the mouse. She scurried into a nearby hole to hide until the cats left. This is why, to this day, a cat runs up a tree when it sees a dog and a mouse runs to a hole when a cat is close!

Afrah Muhammad Kandi

ACTIVITIES Using the right colours, shade the image below.

Describe your action and show your work to your teacher for correction.

Cheers!

CREATIVITY

Make fun eyeglasses out of paper

A

new craft project is a simple paper activity making faux eye-glasses or “fun-glasses” with kids. In the family, these are part of our big costume bin. The glasses alone can help transform us into little old ladies, crazy goons, movie-star, robots, etc.

What you’ll need: * 100 or higher cardstock paper that is at least 13 inches wide * color transparencies or clear plastic * tape, scissors, glue & markers/paint Step 1.

t o

glass.

Measure face (temple temple and also from temple to ear). Use measurements as guide when sketching eyeglass design on cardstock paper Step 2.

Cut out and fold at corner temples.

Step 3.

Decorate with paint, sequins, and also tape color transparencies for the shades/

PAGE 26

Learning

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

Laugh out loud(lol)!

The fear of ebola...

Y

ou take a girl out for dinner, drives her back to her house, walk her to the door-step, she leaves you, walks to her door, open it, waves at you and throws a goodnight

Akpos Joke: University College of London

W

hen Akpos was studying law at the University College of London, a white professor, whose last name was Peters, disliked him intensely and always displayed prejudice and animosity towards him.

Also, because Akpos never lowered his head when addressing him as he expected, there were always “arguments” and confrontations.

One day, Mr. Peters was having lunch at the dining room of the University, and Akpos came along with his tray and sat next to the professor.

The professor said, “Mr Akpos, you do not understand, kiss at you (if you like catch am) a pig and a bird do not sit The aboki that sells suya beside our house, dey chop Him suyas him- together to eat.” Akpos looked self these days because even the suya at him as a parent would a is a suspect (Who wan die?) rude child and calmly replied,

“You do not worry professor; I’ll fly away,” and he went and sat at another table.

Mr. Peters, reddened with rage, decided to take revenge on the next test paper, but Akpos responded brilliantly to all questions.

Mr. Peters, unhappy and frustrated, asked him the following question. “Mr Akpos, if you were walking down the street and found a package, and within was a bag of wisdom and another bag with a lot of money, which one would you have taken?”

Without hesitating, Akpos responded, “The one with the money, of course.”

Mr. Peters, smiling sarcastically said, “I, in your place, would have taken the wisdom, don’t you think?”

Akpos shrugged indifferently and responded, “Each one takes what he doesn’t have.” Mr. Peters, by this time was fit to be tied, So great was his anger that he wrote on Akpos’ exam sheet the word “idiot” and gave it to Akpos.

Akpos took the exam sheet and sat down at his desk, trying very hard to remain calm while he contemplated his next move.

A few minutes later, Akpos got up, went to the professor and said to him in a dignified but sarcastically polite tone, “Mr. Peters, you signed the sheet, but you did not give me the gr ade.” funnyakposjokes.com/ ngtrends.com

Here’s my pick of the top ten random Irish/English words: 1. Runners This one seems like sound Irish logic to me. What do you do when you put on your sports shoes?...You run! Therefore your sneakers shall be known as runners.

2. Hotpress Again, this seems totally logical to the Irish mind. The hotpress is the airing cupboard where you might store sheets and towels, located next to the boiler. So therefore it is a press (cupboard) which is hot.

3. Gum boil/Mouth ulcer Now, here’s where the office staff start to wince. The American name for this painful little spot on your tongue or gums is a canker sore. We’ve all decided that that sounds far worse that a gum boil, so we’re going to stick with the Irish terminology on this one.

4. Yoke You would use this in a sentence like: “Do you know the yoke you use to make coffee?”

See, it’s simple. The Irish appear to be noun-deficient and

have many words that can be used to replace nouns. For example “Where did I put that thingamabob?”

5. Jumper No, this is not someone who has hurled themselves off a building. It’s simply a sweater, not to be confused by a jumpsuit. Made famous by the Irish song “Where’s my Jumper?” by The Sultans of Ping FC. 6. Chipper Mostly frequented after a night of gargle (alcohol), a chipper is a take-away place that sells

chips (French fries), fish, battered sausages and other fried foods.

7. Footpath Americans call it a sidewalk, but in Ireland it’s called a footpath. This is quite simply a path for your feet.

8. Boot Not the variety of shoes that go on your feet. A boot is the trunk of a car. The place where your spare tire, groceries and other bulky items go. A common command as an Irish

child was to “pop the boot.”

9. Ride In Ireland, a ride usually refers to an attractive person, male or female. It is not when your friend offers you a lift to the shop.

10. Stuffed Perhaps referring to taxidermy, when an Irish person says they are ‘stuffed’ it means they have had their fill of food.

By Irish Central Staff Writers IrishCentral (IrishCentral) on Twitter

10 words the Irish use that confuse Americans

W

ha’ ye eejit... are you confused by the Irish lingo? “Listen, I’m going to slap on me runners and leg it down to the chipper!”

If you understand this sentence then you’re well on your way to understanding how the Irish use the English language and make a version of it that’s

entirely their own.

We were inspired by an article featured in TheJournal.ie to put together a list of words that are uniquely Irish.

More to the point, words that the writer (a relatively new Irish immigrant in New York) uses regularly that never fail to stump Americans.

BLEEDING BLOOD DIRECTCONTACT EBOLA FATAL EVER FILOVIRUS FLUIDS HEADACHE HUMANS IMMUNESYSTEM INFECTION INTERNALORGANS ISOLATE MAMMALS PATHOGEN PRIMATES RASH STERILIZATION VOMITING

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

PAGE 27

Leisure

Dutse Royal Golf Course and Nature Park: A budding tourist attraction

Donkeys at the Nature Park, Dutse

F

By Abdullahi Shugaba

rom all indications, ecotourism in Nigeria is bound to receive a remarkable boost with the establishment of the Royal Golf Course and Nature Park in Dutse, the capital of Jigawa State.

The golf course and nature park, which is located about three kilometres from Dutse, is the brainchild of the Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Muhammadu Sunusi. Tourism experts say that the nature park will boost efforts to promote ecotourism in the country and stem travels to famous ecotourism destinations in countries like South Africa, Kenya and Tanzania.

They describe nature park as a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for

Jigawa Hotel Limited

conservation, while providing special opportunities for sightseeing, study or research.

As regards the Royal Golf Course and Nature Park in Dutse, Sunusi says that that it was established as part of his designed efforts to develop Jigawa State and boost the country’s tourism potential.

Observers describe the emir’s decision to set up the golf course and nature park as very pragmatic, as tourists from all over the country now come to the park, either to play golf or have a good time. ven people from countries like Niger Republic, Mali, Chad, Cameroon, Benin Republic and Ghana now visit the park for vacation, they add.

Sunusi says that the Royal Golf Course and Nature Park is a natural environment which consists of a golf course, a nature park and an amusement garden.

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He explains that the nature park is home to a variety of wildlife and aquaculture. “The wild animals in the park include spring duck, deer, camel, antelope and ostrich, while the aquatic creatures include crocodile and different species of fish, among others,’’ he adds. unusi says that the golf course has a network of roads which traverse the entire area. The emir concedes that he once had some problems in getting adequate water to make the golf course to remain lush all year round, adding that this compelled him to construct earth dams around the course. ``The idea here is simple; if the dams could trap and harvest rainwater at least twice a year, there would be enough water to water the course for a whole year,’’ he says, adding: ``And the arrangement is working quite fine.’’

The emir says that 42 earth

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Emir of Dutse

dams were constructed in the entire area to provide water for the animals and the vegetation throughout the year. He says that eight boreholes were also constructed in the area to provide additional water for the flora and fauna.

He says that over 60,000 species of trees were planted in the golf course and nature park, which covers a total area of 120 hectares of land, fully fenced. On the golf course, Sunusi says that it has 18 holes -- the international standard -- with ``putting greens’’ (luxuriant green carpet-grass) planted on it.

He says that plans are underway to construct additional nine holes to complement the existing 18 holes of the golf course, adding that the extra holes would make it one of the biggest golf courses in the world.

The e m i r s a y s t h a t the golf course and nature park has 22 permanent workers and 40 casual workers working in various departments. e expatiates that the park also has a standard club house, with reception, cafeteria and changing rooms as well as a banquet hall. Sunusi, how-

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ever, says that there plans to build a first-class hotel and a theme park for tourists in the park.

He also says that plans are underway to establish a Golf Academy to train young people who are aspiring to become professional golfers. He, nonetheless, solicits the collaboration of the Nigerian Tourism Development Commission (NTDC) and other stakeholders in efforts to boost the tourism potential of the area and attract investors.

Sunusi explains that Jigawa State is endowed with a lot of tourism resources that have yet to tapped, adding that the favorable weather conditions of the state will also aid efforts to transform the state into a good tourist destination.

All the same, analysts underscore the need for all stakeholders in the tourism sector to encourage all innovative plans to develop the vast tourism resources of the country. h e y also e m phasise that pragmatic efforts should be made to specifically encourage investors like the Emir of Dutse, who are striving to develop the ecotourism sub-sector of the country’s tourism industry.

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(NANFeatures)

Beauty

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

Page 28

TIPS

Compiled by Patrick Andrew

Simple makeup tips that waaoh people

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ith the minimalist make up or natural make up, women can look lovely and charming. You can make decision, what appearance you want today. You can be look like Madonna or Katy Perry in the same day.

How to look like them? It’s start from your eyes to your

cheek.

Before you decided what appearance that you want to use today, you should make sure what is the colour of your face skin and then you search what colour of makeup that suitable on you. This is the tips for you.

Choose the foundation which have the same colour with your face skin, and combined that foundation with your powder.

If you have an acne on your face, covering it with concealer Now, touch your eyebrow, and see it. Do your eyebrow thick? Or otherwise. If you have the thick eyebrows, use eye shadow with brown color.

But for the people which have thin eyebrows, you should use the eye shadow with dark colours.

Don’t forget to use your eyeliner and mascara, so your eyes can look natural but gorgeous.

Use lipsticks with the soft color, so your lips can be look like cute. Use blush on with pink color.

You will look so pretty in accordance with your colours.

Makeup-box

Woman applying makeup

Tobi-Phillips, Miss University 2012

Getting ready for outing

Compiled by Mariam Humbe

Fashion

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

Page 29

Achieve the bold looks in Camouflage dress Every well-dressed fashionista hopes to have at least one pair of camo pants in her wardrobe. The tricky part often comes when it is time to put together

an entire outfit for a lively outing.

Camouflage is wildly popular, but you want to make sure that you get dressed up exactly right, without

being overly flashy. Whether you wear camo skinny jeans, cargo pants, leggings, or capris, be rest assured that you can put together a dashing

look in just a few minutes. Even better, you can accomplish this feat of fashion with the wardrobe basics that you already have in your closet.

Emphasize the Camo When wearing camouflage, the trick to a truly lovely look is to minimize additional patterns that will divert attention from the bold style of your camo pants or skirt. Start by adding one of your wardrobe basics, such as a solid-color button-up shirt, a favorite graphic tee, or an oversized batwing sweater. Bold solid colors, such as hot pink or bright red, add a splash of color, and basics like black and gray are always a safe choice.

It is hard to go wrong when you add a jacket to the mix. Blazers, denim, and leather jackets are all fabulous choices and only add to the versatility and comfort of your outfit, which is essential for a splendid look. No matter what type of jacket you choose to wear with your camo, remember to choose pieces that enhance your best features and express your individual and unique style.

Be Creative By just mixing and matching different pieces from your wardrobe, the possible combinations are endless when it comes to dressing up your camo pants.

Use this opportunity to be creative with your outfit by trying out combinations, such as your favorite black leather jacket, sparkly silver blouse, and matching black stiletto heels.

Shoes and Accessories Scarves, hats, and jewelry are just a few examples of ways to accessorize your camo outfit. No matter what the season, a scarf gives a clean and tailored look with minimal effort.

Explore various ways to tie your scarf to get an even more diverse array of options. Choose jewelry to complement your top, purse, and shoes. When it comes to fashion, details matter, so choose your accessories mindfully. For example, if your handbag has silver hardware, you want to choose coordinating jewelry.

Camo Army fatigue maxi skirt with matching colours & accessories

Banana Republic Camo Skirt Camouflage heeled cover toe shoes

Purses and Handbags A purse can make or break any outfit, and camo outfits are no exception.

For a dressier look, try a simple and functional style, such as a fold-over clutch.

If the occasion is more casual, you need more carrying capacity or a handsfree carry style. A big brown satchel is sure to draw plenty

of compliments.

Bags with chain straps, patent leather, and even authentic vintage styles are all possibilities when you are sporting camo outfits.

As with all components of your camouflage outfit, choosing which purse to carry is just another way to completely customize your outfit.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

PAGE 30

Pots & Pans

With Miriam Hum,be

Fried rice with eggs

Plantain stem juice Indication : Ideal to be consumed during : •Obesity •Urinary stones •Ulcers •Burning sensation •Acidity •Diabetes •Bleeding disorders •Menorrhagia

Properties: •Bitter & astringent in taste •Is a natural diuretic •Cold in potency •Reduces cholesterol •Its astringent quality helps in blood coagulation •Is an alkalizer

Ingredients: Plantain’s pith of the stem – 100gm Buttermilk – 50 ml Rock salt – 3 gm Water – 50 ml

The egg fried rice is one of the most versatile Nigerian Rice recipes. There are several variations, of which the Egg fried rice is one of them.

The egg fried rice isn’t so different from the classic Nigerian Fried Rice, but the addition of eggs, takes this delicious meal to different tasty levels. Get cooking and enjoy…..

Ingredients: •500g long grain white Rice •2-3 eggs •500ml Chicken or Turkey stock/broth •100g cooked and diced cow liver (use beef as a substitute) •2 large Carrots •1 handful Green Peas or Runner Beans •1 large Green bell pepper •1 Onion bulb • 2-3 tablespoonful Curry Powder •1 teaspoonful Garlic Powder •½ tablespoonful Black or white pepper (optional) •2- 3 Cooking spoonful Vegetable Oil •2 stock cube or bouillon cube for Seasoning •Salt (to taste)

Preparation: The first step is to prepare the Vegetables; Wash all the vegetables.

Dice the onion and set aside; Peel the carrots and cut into small cubes.

Remove the seeds of the green bell peppers and cut pepper into small cubes.

Tip: Although fresh veggies are the best for Nigerian egg fried rice, frozen vegetables can also be used (after thawing).

Place the green peas and carrots in boiling water for 5 minutes, strain out and place in a bowl of cold water, leave to cool in the water, then pour into a sieve and set aside.

Tip: This method is called blanching. It helps to par-boil the vegetables without cooking it through, thereby cutting down the stir-frying process. It also helps to preserve the vibrant color of the vegetables. You can skip this step if you want crunchy vegetables.

Pour the chicken stock into a large pot and bring to a boil. As the stock begins to boil, add the parboiled rice, seasoning cubes(stock cubes), curry powder, garlic powder, onions and salt to taste. Leave to cook on medium heat until it’s done.

The stock should be at almost the same level as the rice, so that it dries up completely when the rice is done.

You can add some water if the stock won’t be enough to cook the Rice.

Tip: The cooked rice should not be soggy or too tender and the grains shouldn’t stick together either.

Break the eggs, add salt to taste, whisk and fry in a pan (like an omelet), cool and dice the fried eggs.

Heat up the vegetable oil; add the carrots, peas, green bell pepper and diced liver/meat; stir-fry for 1 min and then add white/black pepper, a pinch of curry and a little seasoning cube to taste...mix together and add the diced eggs. Mix thoroughly and pour into a bowl.

The Rice is going to be fried in small batches, so you’ll have to divide the stir-fried vegetables into portions, to go with the quantity of rice you cooked.

Pour a portion of the stir-fried mix into the frying pan; add the cooked rice and stir-fry for about 2 minutes.

Tip: Do not overcrowd the pan; make sure there is a little space in the pan so that you can move the rice around the pan for even distribution of heat.

Repeat this process for the remaining rice and vegetable mix.

And your egg fried rice is ready to be served with salads, moi- moi, fried plantains, grilled fish/beef/Chicken or any meat of your choice.

Preparation: Put the plantain stem in juicer and extract the juice.

Add little buttermilk, water and rock salt.

Stir well & drink.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

PAGE 31

Relationship

Keeping your relationship afloat

By Patrick Andrew

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perfect relationship! That’s the desire of all lovers and indeed married couples.

But that’s a tall dream, like they say. It doesn’t always work that way simply because as products of imperfection, producing anything unblemished is well off the mark, simply impossible.

This is understandable for both men and women want functional romance and a relationship that appeals and is tantalizing. That’s funny because people are so often frustrated on account of failed romance.

Nonetheless, relationship we must have. After all we can’t altogether do without some romantic spice in our lives. It doesn’t matter what age and one’s moral savvy and belief, we do cherish good feelings, care and attention from the opposite sex.

And so to forge a relationship that boosts good feelings and endear one to his or her heartthrob there are inevitable steps that must be taken to build and sustain a romantic relationship. Keep it alive and healthy. That means we must make it work, if with some hassles.

Firstly, commitment is the key. A committed person will most likely want to go the extra mile to make a relationship work. Yes, there will be some frustration but they will not be deterred instead will surge on believing that unless the relationship was condemned for failure: doomed then efforts to make it work will yield positive fruits.

Some say they try hard to make the relationship but to no avail.

May be they did. Others say they don’t know just what went wrong because they had committed their all into ensuring that it turns out well, yet it never did. They say they don’t even know at what point it went sour and they could not have done anything to arrest the situation.

Nonetheless, experience shows that we all in reality know what needs to be done to forge, sustain and fix a relationship.

Often though, many are listless about sustaining the initial fire that had ginger the relationship.

They tended to ignore vital signs that there are slips and seething points which needed soothing to keep the romance truly enlivening.

Even when there are obvious signs, many choose to procrastinate, assume it is nothing or that whatever efforts may just not be worth the hassle.

Some find it rather beneath them to acknowledge and admit that something has gone amiss or that they need to do something to keep the romance going.

They are full of themselves

believing that the other person and not he or she really needs the relationship. It may well be so. But if you really want your relationship to work out, just keep one piece of advice in mind. Trust your instincts.

It’s as simple as that. If you feel like something’s not right, in all probability, something is definitely wrong. Communicate and make the effort. At times, the relationship may be a failed cause because your man’s a bad guy. But almost always, the relationship stagnates because you and your lover have started to take the relationship for granted.

Here are simple suggestions which may stir you both back on course. lay with him. Playfulness is the one thing that holds a happy relationship together more than anything else. Just because you’re past your childhood doesn’t mean you should act all grown up all the time! The right yokes, touch, laugh and sharing of the day’s experiences either in the office or on the way to and from work will ensure that you both laugh over certain things: talk and come together.

Men are easily influenced by other men around them in their life. If his friends and other guys in the room think you’re a dream catch, he’ll fall more in love and stay more in love with you, and avoid straying away from you.

So make yourself the object of his heart’s desire. No, this doesn’t mean throwing yourself at him but making your image enshrined in his subconscious that he misses you, wants to be with you and desires your presence.

Not all men understand the art of chivalry, romantic gestures and romance. Instead of giving up on him, show him the way by example, and he’ll learn to treat you with respect. Smile at him, warm his heart, excite him with appearance, your care and things that matters to him.

Listen to his point of view before arguing back or cutting across to him. It’s the easiest way to prevent tempers from rising.

And don’t be condescending either! Listen even if you disagree with him. Be sure you understand his point of view and try to appreciate his position.

You can’t change someone who doesn’t want to be changed.

Help your man understand you better and help him learn by example. But he doesn’t want to change for you, it may not necessarily means he doesn’t respect you or care enough for you. You may need to persuade him with your attitude not by words.

Don’t constantly remind

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him of his past failures. Men are very sensitive when it comes to past mistakes. He’ll clam up like a shell if you use his past failures to get him to accept defeat or listen to you.

Don’t blame yourself.

You’re never entirely at fault if the relationship starts to suffer. So don’t blame yourself completely if you’re experiencing a bad relationship. Accept responsibility, but don’t blame yourself unless it really is your fault.

Love is full of layers. Take time to fall in love, and experience the relationship one step at a time. Rushing too soon or moving in together too soon can make him think twice about his commitment to you even before he’s really fallen in love.

Don’t let yourself go in you’re in a long term relationship.

Sexual attraction plays a big part

“

in a happy romance. Work out and look your best if you want your man to desire you more than he desires any other woman.

However, this doesn’t mean being a lady of the hot pant and pulling it whenever and where ever. Self discipline and strictly morality earns you more respect than loose morals. raise him for his achievements.

Who doesn’t want to be praised? We all do and you guy in particular. Even in seemingly inconsequential things. It’s a way of massaging his ego; he’ll try harder all the time just to win your praise.

Don’t try too hard to please your man. Many women though over worked themselves just get the attention of their men. But if often their gestures aren’t reciprocated. When you overwork

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Many choose to procrastinate, assume it is nothing or that whatever efforts may just not be worth the hassle. Some find it rather beneath them to acknowledge and admit that something has gone amiss or that they need to do something to keep the romance going.

to please him likely he’d just take you for granted. Instead, make him realize just how lucky he is to have you. Most guys just take things for granted instead of realizing how lucky they are. he silent treatment.

Many resort to this method to express their displeasure. They don’t talk to their partners just because there is misunderstanding. Some men simply reject their spouse’s food.

Ignoring your lover when he hurts you may seem like the best way to teach him a lesson. But truth be told, the silent treatment won’t make him stop hurting you, it’s only make him a lot more indifferent.

You and your partner are a team. There are no winners or losers between partners. Either both of you will win or both of you will lose together. So any issue has to be worked out to better the relationship, not to win points.

Plan together, work together and in unison. Don’t under rate his decisions, even if you don’t just agree with him. ove is a complex blend of physical attraction and emotional attachment for men. Make a man realize that he needs you emotionally before he sees all of you sexually. Be presentable, attractive but be more a woman of the heart. A good companion, a friend and compatible and pleasant to be with.

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PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

PAGE 32

Fiction Three- man squad to the rescue

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ove…move…move we don’t have much time”.

The noise of heavy boots filled the air as troopers loaded the Black Maria. ‘Click-clack’; everyone adjusted their rifle as they got into the Black Maria. Every part of Camp 14 seemed to be filled with little green men and orders rendered in the air. Soon enough, the engines revived and 4 Black Maria vans made their way out of the Camp.

They moved as convoy, no sirens blared, no unruly driving although their speed was a bit above limits “Long day ahead” Collins started “its not even up to 50 minutes into the meeting” “What were you expecting, a ‘peace summit’ ? “Jide ‘Scamal’ Thomson replied flicking his automatic rifle and placing it by his boot. “As long as it’s Nigeria, things like this are bound” “Okay guys…” everyone went mute, commander was speaking.

Most people say he came from Hitler lineage, others think it is Abacha but whoever it was, people sure did respect him and never dared to mess with him. “In a couple of minutes we’d be on ground, filling in a backup. Its going to be a three-man squad thing, you know the drill.M.C” Microchip-or simple M.C-was their Intel guy, quite lanky and small enough not to be in the military.

“Uhh… first off!, it’s a Code Red” he said, this was followed by murmurs in the Van. Code Red meant there were hostages and no negotiations were being made. This sort of thing happened only when the abductors were professionals.

He swiped through the 7 inch tablet, his eyes seemed glued to its screen and its lighting effect made his face look like some reflection panel.

“We know what we’re up against last heard, we had 9 guards down… that goes a long way to show that these guys mean business.

There’s only one entry, several exits and in between we got hostages on the third floor. Stay safe, sync up” Everyone tweaked the controls on their hand year. Beep! Beep!

“That’s the building layout, we…”

“O boi wait O! my own no show” Ebube interrupted. He was a short hilarious well built fellow, had a distinct Ibo accent and always had a death punch at his disposal when the need arose. They called him Knuckles.

“Ode” Collins replied as he tapped his head “You did not sync.”

Commander simply sighed and shook his head, what every made him choose Knuckles for his team, he still couldn’t understand.

“We join up with the ground team to secure all exists “M.C. continued and if there’s any need to go into the building, don’t use the elevators” “Thank God O! “ Knuckles mumbled loud enough for everyone to hear, everyone chuckled.

“Una no get technology for your village … Omo Nna” Scamal teased, “We’re almost there” the driver announced minutes later, the mood in the Black Maria ‘M2’ changed.

There was moment of disorder as everyone grabbed their Arms and Hi-Tech headgear. The van slowed down, the noise outside made it quite obvious that they were close…

“Rifles”

“check” “Gears” “Check” “C4’s” “Check” “Lets show ‘em” “Boom!!!”

Everyone had their ‘meanface’ on as they alighted the M2, weapons held with both hand as their feet were as swift as flowing stream. Commander was last to get off M2, he took in his environment.

Just like Camp 14, orders were being rendered into the air as military personnel filled the surrounding.

The hotel was magnificent in its beauty, quite huger than expected.

There was a Chopper in the sky, hovering about the third floor.

Activities had come to a halt in the surrounding environment.

“Sir” an officer saluted.

“What’s the situation like?”

“Its still on a Code Red, all exits are secured. Your men sure would be of great use as reinforcement” “Any idea what this is about?”

“No, we suspect they ‘re…”

‘Bang’ ‘Bang’… gunshots were heard from the building, everyone ran in the direction of the building.

“All units on stand by” Commander started as he wore his head gear “How about the parking lot? ” Commander turned to the young officer who went dumb for a moment.

“The exits are secured, there’s no way…” Commander gave a stern look at him.

“Commander to Camp 14, I need 2 teams in the parking lot ASAP” “We’re on it” came a distorted reply from his head gear.

“Uhh… Commander, looks like we got movements in Exist 12” “Okay M.C….Collins, you’re up!

“Yes sir” The trio of Collins, Scamal and Knuckles made their way through to the building. They busted in through the front door and once in, went mute. Collins made hand signs.

“Ear open. Eye Open. Quiet.

Light feet”

They all understood. He signaled again and they started up the stairs. The ground floor was deserted; all staff had been rescued before the major lock down. Being held hostage on the third floor was the ECOWAS chairman and officials, a representative from the presidency, three European Union representatives and four ministers.

They had assembled to finalize the peace summit between ECOWAS and E.U. West Africans in Europe were being savaged indirectly, West Africa too had ended all business transactions with E.U… everything was going to be settled here but they were attacked.

They were new on the second floor, conversations could be heard indistinctly now, Knuckles gave a sharp look at his team mates and that could mean only one thing “I’ll check it out” he signaled and moments later, three thuds were heard before he reappeared. Scamal shook his head as they tried hard to hold back their laughter.

“Guy you wicked o! three guys now now” Scamal whispered.

They progressed to the third floor; tension enveloped them as they all know how dangerous this level was. The large conference room was just down the floor.

“Shut up!… I say shut up!

“Someone yelled from within the

“

conference room, there could be more than a handful of gunmen in there. Footsteps approached from Exit 12, a door flung open and the trio dashed in to take cover.

“Officer Ibrahim” the voice sounded like the one that yelled.

“Ejiro” was the response, they both laughed out loud.

“What took you so long?”

“I had to take care of those ‘loyal’ cops Jare… are we set?’’

Their voices disappeared as the conference room’s door opened and slammed.

“Shit “ Scamal said, “it’s a snitch in the system” “We get that every time” Collins replied “What do you say guys because my babe is starving” Knuckles said, kissing his Carbine Boom!!! The conference door smashed open, there was an uproar.

Bang! Bang!! Bang!!! With a click of the trigger, four bodies dropped to Collins credit, a perfect gunman he was. Bullets rained in the air as they took cover behind a side of the large conference table. The large glass wall which overlooked the city had been shattered.

Collins signaled again to his team. Scamal nodded and within seconds, was on his feet and back in action. Bang! Bang!!

Knuckles wasn’t left out as he

The hotel was left in shambles with its surrounding gripped in fear and a whole lot of damages done but what did is the matter, it was a mission accomplished.

too joined Scamal. The hostages were kept in the smaller room where gadgets were stored. They made their way to the other part of the room as they shot at their targets. There were just two gunmen left, Ibrahim and Ejiro had fled using the emergency exists.

‘Click-Click’ Collins had run out of bullets. His shotgun had fallen off and he seemed stranded.

“Knuckles, I’m out” Knuckles couldn’t see him but he had gotten the message in his head gear. He reached for his knife; there were movements behind a turned table. He flung his knife hard; it pierced through the table and into his targets back. The last one surrendered willingly.

“Commander we’re clear here.

We got the leaders on the run” Collins reported, helping the hostages out.

“I’m on their tail” Knuckles dashed out heading for the parking lot.

There were gunshots in the parking lot. Knuckles got there to find 6 men down, the footsteps of people running was within distance.

“Knuckles, we got 2 teams there” commander said into his headgear. ‘‘Not anymore sir, call the medics down here” He shook his head and followed the now fading footsteps. ‘Tweak tweak’ the doors to an Acura ZDX opened, Ejiro got in and sped off leaving ‘Officer’ Ibrahim behind.

“Wait! Ejiro wait!!!”. He turned back to face his doom, knuckles, who ran towards him, dodging the gunshots fired at him. He made a fist, went up in the air and ‘Blam’.

Ibrahim’s light went out.

“Scamal, we got a vehicle approaching the exit” the ZDX drove out of the parking lot, Scamal positioned his sniper and ‘Bang’. The bullet pierced through the car’s roof and into the driver’s skull.

The hotel was left in shambles with its surrounding gripped in fear and a whole lot of damages done but what did is the matter, it was a mission accomplished.

Naijastories.com

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

PAGE 33

Romance

She reappeared two years after I found new love

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wo years ago, I lost my wife. The first day I met Cynthia, I knew she was the one for me. I met her at a friend’s party. We shook hands as the hostess introduced her to me. Although I didn’t have my phone with me at that moment, I quickly asked James who was with me for his phone.

I collected her number and wanted to make sure I had all 10 digits of it correct so I dialed the number right in front of her but her phone didn’t ring.

She was embarrassed at the scene and simply smiled asking me to give her my number but I refused, insisting that I had hers instead. We spoke for hours that night and I didn’t forget to ask soon enough if she was seeing anyone after I felt we had created some sort of mutual understanding between us. I imagined her smiling and shaking her head as she gave me the answer that kick started our relationship.

A year later, after three break ups and everything you can imagine could go wrong in a young relationship, I asked her to marry me and she agreed.

Our wedding day was the best day of my life, I had everything I prayed for and when she told me three months later that we would be expecting our first child, I couldn’t help but thank God for how well he was taking me through this journey called Life. Iffy came months later and we were so excited to have her as part of our family. She brought joy and we soon realized she brought stability to our now growing family.

One fateful night, the unexpected happened. My wife and I were coming back from a friend’s engagement party when we were suddenly thrown off the road by an unknown driver.

I was the one driving that night and Cynthia always hated to wear her seat belt saying it didn’t really prevent the inevitable. Just when I thought there was no hope for us, a voice came.

“Hello sir… are you okay? Can you hear me?” I couldn’t get a clear view of the person speaking but I knew it had to be a woman due to her soft voice. I tried to move my body but I was knocked down by the excruciating pain from my head.

“Sir, I am a doctor and I promise you will be fine, just try not to move for me,” she said.

“Where am I?” I asked her. She told me I had just gotten involved in an accident and in that instant I came back to life.

“Cynthia… Cynthia…” I called out, trying to move myself up.

“Sir, there is no one else here. Was there another passenger in the car with you?”

“Cynthia, my wife…” those were my last words as I blacked out again for the second time.

They were sure I wouldn’t survive but my doctor was determined to make me whole again. She stood by my side through everything and even took on the task of caring for both father and child. Vivian was like an angel sent to me from God. She was the one who broke the news that shattered my life.

Two weeks later, they had found a body which they claimed to be my wife’s and she was proclaimed dead. I couldn’t even attend the funeral they had hastily prepared for her, I didn’t get the chance to say goodbye because I was still battling to survive and be there for our then five months old child.

The romance between Vivian and I was brief and we both knew we needed

each other. I needed a mother figure around my child and I soon began to fall for her.

That night as I prepared to head to the restaurant where I told Vivian to meet me, I had one intention and one only; I would ask her to marry me.

“Victor, are you sure about what you’re about to do?” James asked.

I placed my phone back to my ear after finishing off with my tie. “Yes now, you know how I feel about her, I just feel this is the right thing to do.” He advised me to not be too heartbroken when Vivian refuses my proposal. We laughed and he wished me good luck regardless. s I rushed to the door, my house keeper stopped me. “Sir, will you be coming back tonight?” the old lady asked.

“Mrs. Ada, I hope not ooh.” We both smiled. Upon opening the door, the sight that welcomed me made me speechless. She fell into my arms almost breathless. This wasn’t just any woman, she was my Cynthia.

“Water…” she said.

“Jesus Christ!” I shouted as I reached out to grab her.. Mrs. Ada who wasn’t far away came to my rescue. Upon seeing her too, Mrs. Ada screamed, “Chineke!”

I had two things on my mind, it’s either the stories of people seeing ghosts were truly for real or I was simply dreaming.

For five minutes, Mrs. Ada and I starred at her and it soon began to dawn on me that she was definitely not a ghost.

“Is this a dream or what? Cynthia is this really you?” I asked as I drew her closer to my chest with my trembling hands. Mrs. Ada directed me back into the living room as I carried Cynthia on my shoulders.

“Lay her on the couch for now while I go get some water.” She said. I did as she told me and as soon as she left for the kitchen, my phone began to ring. I took it out from my pocket and it was Vivian who was calling. Six months into my recovering from the accident, the relationship between Vivian and I started to take a new turn from just our normal doctor and patient thing. Vivian is a beautiful woman with all the curves in the world and I am a man.

“Victor, is this really you?” Cynthia asked in a whisper. She brought me back to my senses and in that moment, everything was decided. I turned off my phone, laying it carefully back on the floor.

“Yes, it’s me.” I smiled down at her.

She looked fine to me except for some few bruises that were on her cheeks.

A million questions were running through my head. Just where in the world had she been for the past years? I was about to start beating myself up for the answers when Mrs. Ada appeared back into the room with some hot tea, a bowl of hot water and a towel.

As I watched her sleep, I still couldn’t believe it was her. I raised her blouse up in search of a tattoo she had gotten a few months after we started dating. The letter V was lying underneath her flat tummy and I was sure this was my Cynthia.

“Cynthia, we need to talk.” I couldn’t get those words fast enough out of my mouth.

She looked distracted with trying to pet the baby. “Victor, can we do that later, I need to spend time with my

A

child.” She smiled down at Iffy who was still trying to remember who Cynthia was.

“No, it can’t wait.” She looked up at me as if to second my order. I called for Mrs. Ada to come get Iffy as I took Cynthia by the hands into my bedroom.

“Who are you?” I asked furiously.

I wasn’t planning to shout at her but I just wasn’t happy for some reason.

She laughed, repeating my question.

“Yes! Who are you?” Why come back now, after two years? Why are you doing this to me?” I began to scream at her. “The hospital said you were dead!”

She didn’t know what seeing her again did to me after I had thought she had died. I couldn’t sleep that night she

“

showed up; I was excited, and confused at the same time.

“Victor, are you out of your mind!” she yelled. “How dare you ask me such questions? Who are you to tell me not to come back to my husband and my child?” but something in her voice just wasn’t convincing enough.

“Victor, I missed you… ” She continued. “I have been through hell and back just to come back to you, please don’t turn me away. We can make this work; I am still your wife in every way victor.” If only she knew two years were a pretty long time for everything to change.

“I don’t remember anything that happened the night of the accident just that when I opened my eyes, I

She looked fine to me except for some few bruises that were on her cheeks. A million questions were running through my head. Just where in the world had she been for the past years?

was somewhere in a place I didn’t recognize. Some people who had heard me screaming your name came to my rescue. I was in their care for some time until I decided to find my way home again. The journey wasn’t easy,” she pointed to her cheeks. “but I made it home.”

She moved closer to me, playing with my emotions. She tip toed to match my height as she drew me in for a kiss.

Yes, my Cynthia was a woman with great passion and in no time, she soon proved herself to be my wife. I fell for it, she has always had her way with me and never once could I deny her of what she wanted. I soon realized just how much I had missed her.

We were getting ourselves back in order when I heard the doorbell ring. I hurriedly put on my trousers and rushed to see who was at the door. Cursing as I opened the door, I wasn’t surprised when a worried Vivian barged in.

“What happened to you last night?

I called your cell phone without any answer from you.”

I had already been dreading this moment and decided to stick to my first plan. Lie to her to get her away from the house then later I would meet her somewhere and explain our current situation to her. When Cynthia called out my name from our bedroom, I knew I was finished.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

PAGE 34

Nollywood

‘Why I did not marry Kate Henshaw, others’

Popular gospel singer, Sammie Okposo, in a recent interview with Yes International, talked about his days as a bachelor with a successful career in the industry.He revealed that although he had lots of failed relationships, he does not regret his actions as they have taught him a thing or two about married life.Before the popular singer got hitched, he was linked to several females in the entertainment industry such as Kate Henshaw, Stella Damasus and a few others.

Sammie who just celebrated the 4th wedding anniversary with his beautiful wife Ozioma, revealed why he did not marry one out of the numerous girls. Excerpt

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A lot of people have the impression that Sammie is a ladies’ man, a playboy.

Is Sammie truly one?

Ah! God forbid bad thing! (General laughter). In fact, like I said, I am one of those people who like history.

Because when you go back to history and you start the story, then you progress and get to the present day. You can see the progression and you can see the different junctions of changes a man’s life has gone through. There was a time when it was oh, Sammie is a ladies’ man, single guy, pruuuu!

He loves women, he doesn’t want to marry, he just wants to play. And those were my days of youthful exuberance. Let me just pause and say this – I think every man should go through that whole process so that when you build a home and a family, there is nothing out there that has the capacity to come and even make you say you are packing out of your house or to scatter your home or to come and start giving your wife and your children trouble, because some of the guys who dive, and I’m not saying that early marriage is bad; some people dive into it and they have no experience of what the world is. They get in there and while they are married, they start saying hey, like say I know, I for never marry o! Before you know it, they have messed everything up. The home is in crisis, the wife has packed out, families are meeting, bad PR out here and you are just messing up yourself. So, those days of Sammie is a ladies’ man are gone. I am so happily married to the woman of my dreams.

In fact, it was my wedding anniversary on the 1st of July. You were there, Azuh. And I’m happy that I did not marry before I got married, because I probably would have joined all the headlines of crashed marriages in the entertainment industry.

We shall return to your marriage. At that time, you dated some of the finest and hottest babes in the industry. Now, when you see fine girls, what goes through your mind and how do you avoid the temptation of going back to your old ways?

My brother! You see, those days, we didn’t know better. We didn’t know better and I have been able to get around wise mentors and wise counselors who have used their own lives as experiences to teach me certain things. You know when you are just moving by yourself, nobody advises you, there’s nobody you can go to, to say please, what do I do? This, that, that, that is an issue. That is why everybody, you must be accountable, you must submit yourself to people who can pick up their phones and call

you and say Sammie, you are messing up, I need to see you right now; I heard X, Y, Z, where are you? Come to my house right now or come to my office now? And you will leave whatever you are doing, drive there. I had to submit myself to those kind of people because my life was going in a kind of crazy direction and I didn’t want it to end that way. I had to do a re-think and put myself together and then somebody said you know what, be accountable.

When you are accountable to certain people and you know that their eyes and their ears are on ground, they can hear anything, you will behave yourself. Those things restrain you from doing certain things. So, these people have taught me so many things that now you can look at beautiful women; because if beautiful women was the problem, I waited and I married a beautiful woman. So, it is not like when you go back home, what you are living with is not beautiful enough.

When you want to mess up, you are imagining the kind of abuse that is going to come. Like, look at his wife; you have this kind of wife, what are you still looking for outside, if something is not worrying you? So, I put myself under those kinds of checks and balances where people can advise me.

Even when I have issues, they will say no, this is how you handle it and guess what? My wife is my best friend.

You moved effortlessly from one woman to another then. In fact you were gliding and galloping– Kate Henshaw, Stella Damasus, Janet Fateye, Gloria Ibru and so on. How were you able to cope during those days? t was mad! It’s a crazy thing that I did then. The industry just swallowed me. That’s the only way I can describe it because I was an up and coming entertainment personality, I was involved in all the media events, all the awards. They were calling me to be part of the theme songs, to do this, do that and I said to myself, my God, this is the life! The kind of ladies that you will not dare say good morning to; you don’t even have to say good morning; as you are passing, they will just say hi and you begin to wonder: are my the one they are waving at?

Because I was in the limelight and I didn’t know how to handle it; I entered it gbuaaaa! And I was like my God; is this what these celebrities are dealing with? Where you don’t even have to say hello to a lady. She’s looking for you, she’s trying to hang out with you. So, I didn’t know what to do with it; I thought that was the life and the thing just swallowed me and like you said, before you knew it, I was gliding and galloping from relationship to relationship. It was crazy! I didn’t know better. I didn’t know better, but I will

I

balance that. I didn’t know better, b u t somehow, I

having fun as a married man.

Of all the beautiful girls you dated, why did you settle for your wife, Ozioma?

Em… without trying t o dis-

be out there and not in the industry.

So, I deliberately took my mind away from the entertainment industry and I told myself that well, they are fantastic people, but I think one relationship, two relationships, three, four, five is enough to convince you that you know what, try it from another side. I decided to look out and it was in my looking out, away from the industry, that I met my wife in God’s kingdom.

I went to perform at KICC (Kingsway International Christian Centre in London). Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo’s church. That was how and where I met my wife. She came with her sister.

After my performance, I was signing my CDs for people. I was so busy, I wasn’t even looking up. People were on queue; they buy and I sign. But immediately I saw her hand, I looked up, saw a very beautiful woman, but couldn’t do anything because there were so many people on the queue. Later, when I left for my hotel, I still couldn’t get her off my mind. My heart was troubled.

Then, a friend called to say he wanted to take me out because I complained o f

credit anybody, because any past relationship I have had, I respect, and a lot of them have moved into their own families, so I try my best to respect who they are now regardless of whatever we had in the past and that doesn’t make any of them unqualified or not a house wife material. No! It was a decision I made. All the relationships I had in my industry did not get me to that point where I could decide to say I do. Yeah, it went towards that direction, but it didn’t get there. o, I said to myself: dude, maybe you need to look away from this industry, maybe your life partner is not there, because sometimes people say if the person is in the entertainment industry, the person already understands how crazy your schedule is, knows that you would travel, you can be on tour for 6 months and because the person is in the industry, the person will understand. That’s what some people say. So, I thought that would work, but it didn’t work like that and it was not just a one-time thing. So, I decided; I said, take your mind away from the entertainment industry and look outside; maybe the wife you want to look for now would

boredom. Along the way, he said we should stop over first at one exhibition going on, and reluctantly I accepted.

Azuh, listen to this – when we got to the exhibition, it turned out that it was my wife’s sister that was organizing it and guess what? She was also there!

And that was how we started. She refused to give me her number. he only gave me her email address and I started bombarding her with mails, sometimes 10 in a day. Haba! Na me now! Let me tell you another interesting story – during that time, I was getting shows almost every week in London. So, we were always seeing. My manager will call me and say there’s this show, but what they are offering is not much and I will say take it! Shebi they will take care of accommodation, flight and so on?

Just to see my wife o! So, I was always going to London, seeing her till we got married. But you people, the press, didn’t know until we finally got married. My marriage was a big surprise to all of you, which I like. At least, una don leave me alone (General laughter).

Source: Pulse.com

am grateful that I had to go through that.

Because that is what I appreciate now; because of what I have been through. You know they say experience is the best teacher. When you have gone through some things, that is when you look back and you say ah! That was not a good experience. You will do all you can not to go through that again.

You got married quite late.

How is married life and how is marriage treating you? weet! Sweet!! In fact, there was an article that said this is one celebrity that we see at almost every event with his wife, and I decided to do that deliberately because a lot of us think that we are too busy to take our wives to events and when you are not guarded, that is the protection.

Anywhere you go, they are still saying hello, hello. So, right now, it’s a sweet union. 4 years! Somebody said ah-ah, e don reach 4 years just now? I said yes. July next year, I’m gonna be 5, then 6 and so on. And guess what?

I am married for better, for worse because I didn’t go into it expecting it to be a bed of roses. Two different people have come together to form a union.

Two different ideologies, two different backgrounds. So, as you go along, you will run against each other in unpleasant ways, but the best part of it is you are able to resolve it, the love is still glowing as you move on and the marriage and the family are still intact. I’m

S

S

S

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

S

andra Bullock has soared to new heights, after being named as the year’s highestearning actress in Hollywood.

The Oscar-winning actress beat Jennifer Lawrence and Jennifer Aniston to the top spot after she earned an estimated 51 million US dollars (£30 million) in the last year - mostly thanks to her award-winning role as an astronaut stranded in space in Alfonso Cuaron’s drama, Gravity, according to Forbes.com.

The Oscar-winning film, which also starred George Clooney, brought in 716 million US dollars (£425 million) in global box office takings.

Jennifer Lawrence took second place on the list, with a reported 34 million US dollars (£20 million), boosted by her starring role as feisty heroine KatnissEverdeen in the Hunger Games franchise and Mystique in the new X-Men films.

Jennifer Aniston came in third with earnings of around 31 million US dollars (£18 million)

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Hollywood

following her roles in comedies such as Horrible Bosses and we’re The Millers.

Iron Man star Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelina Jolie - last year’s top earner - completed the top five, with Amy Adams, Kristen Stewart and Scarlett Johansson among the top ten.

Despite Sandra’s large pay packet, Forbes reported that there is a discrepancy between actresses and actor’s salaries.

Females are still earning less than men in Hollywood, with the top ten women on the list earning a combined 216 million US dollars (£128 million), almost half of the 419 million US dollars (£249 million) that the top ten actors received.

Robert Downey Jr was named as the top Hollywood actor, having received around 75 million US dollars (£44.5 million) for the second year in a row, thanks to the Iron Man trilogy and Avengers films

Radcliffe: I want to direct a film

D

aniel Radcliffe has revealed he would like to try his hand at directing.

The former Harry Potter star said he is keen to sit in the director’s chair in the future.

“I would love to direct. I do it in my head when I’m watching other directors direct.

‘No, don’t say that to them!’” he told Variety.

“I think I’m quite good with people. Part of being a director is knowing how different actors work in different ways. I’d enjoy it.”

Daniel, who next stars in romantic comedy What If, said he has picked up some tips, having worked with directors such as Alfonso Cuaron, Mike Newell and David Yates.

“The mistake I see even the really good directors make is they assume they are the only creative person on that set,” the 25-yearold actor continued.

“And actually, make-up artists are not just girls with brushes who put foundation on, and costume guys are not just there to stitch up accidents. They are all immensely creative people.”

Daniel, best known for playing boy wizard Harry Potter in the films based on JK Rowling’s books, said his directorial debut won’t be for a few more years and would probably be an indie movie.

“The last film to blow my f*****g mind was this film by Charlie McDowell called The One I Love. When I watched that film, I was like, ‘Yes, that’s exactly the type of film I’m interested in making.’ It’s totally funny and creepy in a way that so few films manage to be,” he said.

W

esleySnipes has joked Sylvester Stallone wanted him for the first Expendables movie, but he was “just a little occupied at the time”.

The action star makes his big screen

comeback following his release from prison as he joins Sly and the cast of The Expendables 3.

Wesley said: “They reserved a spot for me and when the opportunity came along he reached out again and said come join us, we

would like you to be a part of this.”

The Blade star was sentenced to three years in prison in 2008 after failing to file income tax returns. He began his jail term in December 2010.

The movie makes reference to Wesley’s time behind bars with a tax-evasion joke in the opening scenes.

“Whether I do something really funny or really stupid, it is okay with me,” said Wesley.

“I think that is what life is about. You can’t take life itself too seriously.”

“At the end of the day, nobody really cares. You’re going to be forgotten anyway.

The issues and problems that you think are like mountains that you have to deal with now, after time goes by, nobody cares,” he continued. “Might as well have a good time with it.”

The 52-year-old actor is currently looking for new action projects, with a return to the blood-soaked universe of vampire Blade at the top of his list.

“A lot of people are calling for it and I would like to do it,” he said

B

eyonce and Jay Z proved they are stronger than ever, as they sealed their Los Angeles gig with a kiss.

The husband and wife team, who have been plagued by rumours of marital strife, shared a show-stopping snog on stage after performing Forever Young as their closing song on the latest stop of their joint On the Run tour.

The couple then walked off armin-arm, but not before giving loving shout-outs to one another, reported People.

“Last but not least, give it up for Mr Carter,” Beyonce said, while the rapper added: “No. Last but not least, give it up for Mrs Carter.”

The finale, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, featured a peek into their lives with family footage, including shots of their two-year-old daughter Blue Ivy. Beyonce and Jay Z appeared to brush off any allegations that their sixyear marriage is on the rocks in their united performance.

The 32-year-old singer started

welling up as she sang her relationship ballad, Resentment, before she was joined by her husband on a number of duets including Drunk In Love, where Jay Z held his wife from behind.

Speculation over Jay Z - whose real name is Shawn Carter - and Beyonce’s marriage began in May, when a video

emerged of Beyonce’s sister Solange lashing out at the Holy Grail rapper as Beyonce looked on in a New York lift.

The trio released a statement saying they had “moved forward as a united family” but have not spoken about the incident.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

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Celebrities

Why I turned down being Glo Ambassador, says Genevieve Nnaji The actress spoke about her various brand endorsements and why she never quite cinched a Glo deal Genevieve Nnaji is easily one of the most popular and most loved celebrities in Nigeria. Her obvious talent and her effortless beauty are a constant delight to her fans and that’s why they keep coming back for more. The screen goddess opened up in this interview with Lagos-based paper and she spoke about her career and her many brand endorsements.

Excerpts below:

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ou have also represented brands as an ambassador. Can you tell us the difference between the latest one and the rest?

You can’t compare. This is a drink and also a health drink. It is also a successful brand and it is something that I consume as well. It is not that I am just being introduced to it. It is the same for every other brand. For every brand I represent as ambassador from Range Rover, Polo luxury brand or Etisalat, I am actually a customer or patron of such brands. many of your colleagues are part of a particular telecommunication brand as its ambassador. Why were you never considered for the deal?

You have to mention the brand.

Ok, Globacom But you know I am an Etisalat brand ambassador.

But many people believe you ought to be among the main target when they were choosing entertainment persons for their brand?

Well, I don’t know about that.

It is alleged that Chief Mike Adenuga personally called you and you still referred him to your manager?

First of all, that is not true as I never spoke to Dr. Mike Adenuga. In fact, it will be a honour to speak with him. However, let us face the subject of speaking with my manager. I think it is professional that managers should be contacted when issues about business are about to be discussed.

I am not saying that was the issue with that particular brand. But let’s assume it was; is there any problem speaking with someone’s management? Please tell me.

So, they never approached you?

Truly I was approached. We had negotiations but things didn’t work out and everyone moved on. It is simple.

Would you want to set the record straight concerning your relationship with the music star, D’Banj?

I have no comment at all on that subject.

Genevieve Nnaji

Life After Marriage’ Artistes are extravagant, says Obe reunites ex-spouse S Saidi, Fathia Balogun

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fter filing for a divorce in court so as to enable each other go their separate ways, Nollywood actor, Saidi Balogun and Fathia Williams (Balogun), may be finding their way back into fans heart has they both featured in the same movie.

In the yet to be released movie, Fathia Williams as she is now known, was seen acting along her ex-hubby Saidi and this was courtesy of Nollywood actress, Mercy Aigbe.

The movie ‘Life after Marriage,’ which is being directed by Lancelot Odua Imaseun, stars the likes of veteran actor, Olu Jacobs, Saidi Balogun, Fathia Balogun, Seun Akindele, Funsho Adeolu, Jumoke George, Jude Orhoha, and Ghanaian actress, Juliet Ibrahim.

Nigeriafilms.com

Fathia Balogun

howbiz couple, Tunde and Wunmi Obe have really proven to fans that true love still exists in the society especially if both parties are ready to open up to each other and share understanding.

The duo, who recently completed their multi-million naira luxury mansion in Alausa, Lagos, also added another single to their effort with wave making track ‘Green-White-Green,’ a classical collaboration with award-winning singer, 2Face Idibia.

In a recent interview on their road to success, Tunde Obe disclosed that young Nigerian artistes get things wrong when they try to live above their income, which makes them fall astray.

He explained that his family success came with

lots of sacrifices, adding that he didn’t spend nights in clubs drinking champagne or had children from other women.

According to Tunde, “When I and Wunmi started, we could have afforded to rent a luxury apartment on the Island, considering the kind of money we were making that time, but we were living in Gowon Estate, Ipaja, Lagos, where we paid minimal rent so we can save for other basic needs. It wasn’t a day’s journey.

Many artistes don’t get it right. You are driving a car you don’t have a quarter of its total cost in your account, you are a failure.”

Tunde urged them to invest wisely because they can’t predict what the future holds.

Ebola is no joke, Juliet Ibrahim warns comedian

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opular beautiful Ghanian actress Juliet Ibrahim is angry with the attitude of some important on air personalities with the spread of the Ebola virus in West Africa.

She accused some of the OAP’s of making jokes while the virus is spreading and still has no cure. She questioned everyone who has been joking about the epidemic. She then asked, “how someone can behave like that when in people in the neighbouring countries have been dying and some with their entire family?

In her words: “Seriously it’s sad how many are so ignorant and heartless. Our brothers and sisters in neighboring countries are dying daily from a deadly viral disease that has no cure and could hit anyone of us if we are not careful. Yet we have others senselessly waking up in the morning taking time off their jobless schedules to type rubbish and broadcast it! Must everything be a joke?

“Instead of us Africans sitting and trying to work on finding the cure we are jobless spreading lies about salt water curing Ebola whilst waiting around for America to keep busy in their various labs finding a cure that I am very sure we the same Africans will pay for to get a hold of.

“Shameh! I am really highly disappointed in everyone sending silly because it is and posting pictures mocking #ebola when there are people when have been shown on the news daily dying with their entire family. May God save us all but wise up people.

Juliet Ibrahim

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

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Issues

Nasarawa Impasse: How mass action contained elitism Contd from Page 15 lic relations officer respectively, the council, following its resolution reached at a meeting that held at the Abacha Youth Centre, in Lafia, maintained that such oversight functions by the assembly most be popular, peaceful and generally acceptable to the people of the state.

The council added that based on an assessment of the reactions of youths from across the state, the conduct of the lawmakers was far from being generally acceptable or popular and is capable of jeopardizing the relative peace in the state.

“The council is calling with a state of urgency for the Nasarawa State House of Assembly to set aside this impeachment plan in the interest of the state,” the statement reads in part. hile appealing to youths in the state to remain calm, the council however cautioned the lawmakers on the realization that the people elected them to represent them and as such the voice of the people should be a guide to them.

As the lawmakers insisted on the removal of the governor, they directed the state Chief Judge, Justice Suleiman Umaru Dikko, to constitute a seven-man probe panel as required by the Constitution to commence the

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investigation of the alleged gross misconduct.

The uproar generated in repulsing the decision of the legislators drew protests from across the state, with a mega rally held in Lafia by supporters of the governor, where the people were categorical in demanding that the lawmakers jettison the impeachment process for the interest of peace in the state. The furore was said to have drawn the attention of the Presidency that reportedly cautioned the lawmakers against actions capable of further jeopardizing the precarious security situation in the country.

Pundits were of the view that the dogged resistance by the people against the decision of the lawmakers equally impacted severely on the members of the 7-man panel headed by Yusuf Shehu Usman, making them to understand the imperativeness of carrying out their responsibility without fear or favour, knowing too well what could be the outcome of a lopsided judgment, particularly that which would further push the state over the precipice. hough the lawmakers had remained adamant in the quest to oust the governor, finding cause to reject the composition of the investigative panel set up by the state Chief Judge over alleged partisanship, however, their failure to appear before the panel to lead in evi-

T

The lawmakers during a sitting in Karu dence which could confirm their allegations against the governor, left many to believe that the legislators were up against a blind wall and might have unwittingly committed political suicide.

In dismissing the allegations, the panel maintained that ‘’having considered and dismissed the misconduct and breach of the 1999 constitution by the Nasarawa State House of Assembly and having found no merit in each allegation, the panel finally therefore, dismissed the allegations.’’

Chairman of the panel stated that his committee would submit its report to the speaker of the Assembly, stressing that it had carried out its duties in compliance with Section 188 (8) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as (amended). ommenting on his eventual acquittal by the panel, Governor Al-makura, in a state-wide broadcast, described the pronouncement by the panel as a victory for the people of the

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state and democracy.

According to him, even though the impeachment process has been a distraction to the state, Al-makura called upon the people to take it as their contribution to the development of constitutional democracy and the rule of Law. “Accordingly, I further appeal to all citizens to remain law abiding and pursue their lawful businesses without let or hindrance as the outcome of the panel’s exercise is indeed a victory for the people of Nasarawa state, and our democracy,” the Governor stated.

Al-makura equally called on the people Nasarawa, especially the lawmakers, to partner with his administration in the collective task of building the state to the enviable height envisioned by the founding fathers, urging them not to forget that they are one people with one destiny.

Highlighting further on the significance of the decision of the panel, Abdulhamid Kwarra, Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Publicity, described it as a milestone achievement in the history of impeachments in the country, predicating his statement on two reasons; “Firstly, it has changed the face of impeachment in Nigeria because it has been on record that no governor or deputy governor has survived impeachment threats. Secondly, it is the confirmation of the will of the people of the state, who had earlier maintained the innocence of the governor,” Kwarra explained. n the part, the lawmakers, Peoples Daily Weekend reliably gathered, had met Tuesday afternoon at a highbrow hotel in Abuja with a former governor of the state, Aliyu Akwe Doma in attendance. They made known their intention to

O People protesting the impeachment move

proceed with the impeachment proceedings, declaring that they are resorting to the courts of law to redress the matter.

There is strong indication that the members of the assembly will formally approach a Nasarawa State High court sitting in Karu, to challenge the decision of the seven-man probe panel that cleared Governor Almakura.

Our reporter equally gathered that the lawmakers will also send a petition to the National Judicial Council (NJC) against the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Suleiman Umaru Dikko, for allegedly being partisan as a judicial officer in the ongoing faceoff between the governor and the legislators.

“The chief Judge has refused to disband the panel knowing full well that some members of the probe panel are All Progressives Congress (APC) card carrying members yet they went ahead and cleared the governor of any wrong doing.

“The lawmakers are going to write to the chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Mariam Aloma Mukthar who doubles as the Chairman of NJC to investigate the CJ for allegedly been (sic) partisan as a judicial officer” a source boasted. eanwhile, an impeccable source has confided in Peoples Daily Weekend to the effect that the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku has warned the lawmakers to desist from dropping his name as one of their backers, even as the source, who spoke under the condition of anonymity disclosed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is set to begin a probe of the lawmakers to ascertain how the subsidy funds put in their trust were expended.

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PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

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Keeping the Chibok Yellow Ribbon aglow WRITE TO US

By Jibrin Ibrahim

T

oday is the 117-day since over 200 girls were abducted from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, while they were sitting for their final exams.

Today is 102 days since we in the Abuja Family have been meeting every single day to demand of our government and security agencies to BringBackOurGirls. We maintain our stance that we shall not rest until our girls are returned safely.

We tried an experiment at our sit out to mark our 100 days of struggle. We sealed our lips for one hour. It was a harrowing experience.

We were not talking for the period, our minds wondered into what those 219 girls were suffering.

Their 115 days of fear and abuse.

Their encounters with dangerous living conditions, lack of a sanitary environment and ill health, maybe even snake bites. The oppression and mental and physical torture they have been going through. Their loneliness and possibly despair. As we recounted our thoughts for that hour, many broke down in tears. We must keep our resolve, we cannot forget about the girls, they must be rescued. We used the occasion also to address a press conference.

We argued the world cannot move on while the Chibok girls are in bondage. We articulated our complaint that there is no evidence to back the statements by the Government that all is being done

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

Email: opinion@peoplesdailyng.com adverts@peoplesdailyng.com pictures@peoplesdailyng.com contact@peoplesdailyng.com to rescue our girls. We also noted the statements credited to the US Government over sighting of the girls in July 2014. Knowing the location of the girls is a positive development but this is not the first time Nigerians have been told that the location of the girls is already known. We also noted the ambiguity in the statement credited to President Jonathan in Washington DC that efforts to negotiate with the insurgents are ongoing even though the earlier position of the government had been that it would not negotiate with Boko Haram. It is this ambiguity and double talk, which gives our movement great cause for concern about the sincerity of the effort to rescue the abducted girls. t its meeting on July 30, 2014, the National Council of State promised that the insurgency in the North East will end by December 2014. We call on the Government

A

to provide adequate information on how this is to be achieved considering that the insurgency in the North East has only escalated in the past several months. Previous assurances by the Government and its functionaries have not produced any results. What are the benchmarks to look out for so that we can believe that this time, something is happenning. t is imperative that the Nigerian Government scales up its efforts in the rescue operation, to ensure that this debacle comes to an end.

The separation of the innocent girls from their grieving parents has gone on for too long. Their education has come to a standstill, as they remain in captivity with the insurgents. Worse still, their continued stay in captivity has given room for unfounded speculations about the role the girls are purported to have played in recent suicide attacks. We should all bury our heads in shame that 117

I

days since their abduction, we have not produced any visible results.

Instead, associating them with heinous crimes is victimizing the girls further.

While we continue in our resolve to remind Government of its obligation to rescue the Chibok Girls, it is imperative that we inform the general public that the #BringBackOurGirls Abuja family is in possession of credible information about an imminent attack on the daily sit-out organised by our Movement.

We have taken necessary precautions to avoid any planned attacks, but are openly calling on Government and its security agencies, especially the Nigeria Police and the Department of State Security, to provide adequate security for our daily protest as we are not planning to give our protest up. We will persevere in the demand for the swift rescue of the abducted Chibok girls until they are brought back to us, safe and alive. e concluded on the note of our immense gratitude to all our members, Nigerians, friends of Nigeria all over the world and the media for supporting our Chibok Girls.

We must all continue to demand #BringBackOurGirls Now and Alive!

We shall not stop#UntilOurGirls AreBackAndAlive!

W

Dr. Ibrahim, writes from Abuja

PAGE 39

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

Opinion Why do women turn into suicide bombers?

By Jane Harman

R

ecently, a young Nigerian girl—just 15 years old—approached a group of police officers and blew herself up.The attack failed; she claimed no lives but her own.

Boko Haram may have launched bloodier attacks, but I struggle to imagine a more heinous terror plot. That girl was just one of four Nigerian women to weaponize themselves this July in the populous northern city of Kano. The second attempt, targeting a shopping mall, likewise killed just the bomber. The third slaughtered three women lined up to buy oil for their cook-stoves. The fourth cut short the lives of six young people at Kano Polytechnic.

These attacks cast in sharp relief a trend that needs greater attention: the real and growing participation of women in extremist movements.

We take for granted that young girls don’t strap on suicide vests, and yet they sometimes do. Women and girls have scant rights under the medieval control of Iraq and al-Sham, or ISIS. Our instincts say they would never join in its abusive rule over other women, and yet they have.

We’re used to thinking that men have a monopoly on violent extremism -- except

they don’t. We need a better understanding of what drives women to take part in, and even give their lives for, violent movements that insist on their inferiority. We can’t counter radical narratives if we don’t understand the motives of the radicalized.

The Atlantic’s Kathy Gilsinan recently highlighted the surprising efforts of the al-Khansaa Bridage of ISIS. Wandering the streets of Raqqa, they wave firearms and enforce the jihadist code of conduct -- and they do it all while fully veiled, because the brigade is entirely female. That grim vision of women’s participation challenges our less-than-nuanced understanding of radical movements.

Why do women contribute to groups like Boko Haram and ISIS that demand their submission? Sometimes, no doubt, they are coerced into compliance; sometimes, women participate in these extreme ideologies with enthusiasm. I wonder if some don’t strap on a bomb as a merciful escape from miserable circumstances. But the important point is that we don’t really know why women join terror groups that would deny them equality and opportunity.

We also don’t understand the full extent of women’s involvement. We

don’t know if Boko Haram’s female bombers were a fluke or the first of many. We don’t know if the alKhansaa Brigade is a one-off experiment or a model for future ISIS governance. We have seen, though, that jihadists use women to exploit incomplete understandings of terrorism. Women pass unsuspected where men don’t; that makes them valuable fighters. We can’t thwart every attack while watching just half the pieces on the board.

Though women’s involvement in terror seems to be on the rise, the tactic is old. Gillo Pontecorvo’s 1966 film “The Battle of Algiers” lingered on the image of female militants applying French cosmetics—equal parts war paint and camouflage—while preparing to bomb French milk bars in support of Algeria’s independence struggle.

Sri Lanka’s Tamil insurgency made extensive use of female suicide bombers; between 1987 and 2008, women were better represented among their Black Tiger suicide commandos than they now are in either house of the United States Congress.

Today, social media is rife with female supporters of ISIS -- some of them Western citizens who have traveled to Syria

to wed and support jihadists. It’s time to wake up to the growing role of women.

Terror groups clearly believe that jihad is a women’s issue. The recruitment of women and girls is an important element of the modern threat landscape.

In the pursuit of women’s equality at home and abroad, we still struggle to complete what former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton referred to as “the great unfinished business of the 21st century.”

If the United States is to offer a narrative of opportunity to the world—and strategically it must—then that narrative must include women and girls.

Terror groups will run out of female fighters when girls are protected from domineering violence, sex trafficking and child marriage, and given every opportunity to pursue a better path. Some critics of Clinton’s tenure at the State Department have belittled her focus on women and girls -- as if the fate of half the world’s population weren’t an important subject for U.S. foreign policy.

That indifference can’t last. Increasingly, radicalism has a female face. Security issues are women’s issues; women’s issues, sure enough, are security issues.

Join us on Facebook.com/CNNOpinion.

Using U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit to fight poverty in Nigeria

By Sani Adamu

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report of the United Nations (UN) says that the poverty rate in Nigeria has gone up from 46 per cent to 76 per cent in the last 13 years.

A report by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) also reveals that more than 60 per cent of people living in the northern part of the country live below the UN-prescribed poverty level.

Besides, a recent World Bank’s global poverty rating placed Nigeria among the five poorest countries in the world. The report revealed that most Nigerians lived on less than one U.S. dollar (about N157.6) per day.

Jim Yong Kim, the World Bank President, while releasing the report at the April 4 IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings in New York, the U.S., emphasised that Nigeria had one of the largest concentration of poor people.

Nigeria also ranked third among the poorest countries in the world, while India ranked number one with 33 per cent of the world poor.

According to him, China is ranked second with 13 per cent of the world’s poor, followed by Nigeria where seven per cent of the world poor live in. Equally worrisome is the statistics released by the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC), which listed Bauchi, Jigawa and Yobe among the states with the worst poverty indices in Nigeria.

However, analysts, note that these negative trends crop up in spite of Nigeria’s recent ranking as the 26th largest economy in the world and the largest economy in Africa. These underscore the wisdom in the appeal of Nigeria’s award-winning artiste, Dapo Oyebanjo, popularly called Dbanj, that African leaders should use the opportunity offered to them by the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit to look at ways and means of fighting poverty on the continent.

Dbanj attended the summit as an ambassador for ONE. Org- an international non-partisan, non-profit, advocacy group that fights extreme poverty and preventable diseases, particularly in Africa that also raises public awareness, while pressuring political leaders to support effective agricultural policies and programmes that are aimed at saving lives and improving the people’s future.

Dbanj, who spoke in an interview by American Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) News on the sidelines of the summit in the U.S., said that African leaders should invest in agriculture, as part of efforts to fight poverty.

“The reason I came to the summit is to tell African leaders to invest in agriculture because it is so key for us to know what we have. Agriculture has been seen to be

the fastest way of eradicating poverty and creating jobs across Africa.

“For me, coming from Africa, it is vital for us to know what we have. When I was approached 10 years ago, at the start of this campaign, African leaders called me and said 10 per cent of their annual budget will devoted to agriculture.

“By the end the campaign, we had one to two million African youths saying they want to support agriculture.

For me, first of all, the theme of the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit is why we are here. It is investing in the next generation, and I’m glad and privileged to be from the next generation,’’ he said.

Dbanj stressed that many African youths, through hard work and sheer determination, had excelled in their chosen careers, adding that for instance, he was able to achieve success in the music industry 10 years ago without a good record label in existence then.

“Because we believed in ourselves and in what we had, we continued and now, music is the biggest export from Africa after oil and gas,’’ he added.

Prior to the summit, Obama launched the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) in 2013. The scheme allowed 500 young African leaders, including those from Nigeria, to broaden their skills in their fields of expertise, as part of efforts to provoke self-reliance and poverty reduction, particularly among the youth.

Addressing African youth activists in Washington during the launch of the initiative, Obama said: “The security, prosperity and justice that we seek in the world cannot be achieved without a strong, prosperous and self-reliant Africa.

“There is no doubt that, dating back to the colonial era; you can trace many of the problems that have plagued the continent. But at some point, we have to stop looking somewhere else for solutions, and you have to start looking for solutions internally.

“And as powerful as history is; at some point, you have to look to the future and say `OK’, we didn’t get a good deal then but let’s make sure that we’re not making excuses for not going forward,’’ Obama added.

President Jonathan has repeatedly argued that Nigeria was not a poor country: “The challenge of the country is not poverty but redistribution of wealth,” Jonathan said, while addressing labour leaders at the 2014 May Day rally in Abuja. For him, the realities on the ground did not portray Nigeria as a poor nation but as a country with abundant wealth which needed to be evenly redistributed among its populace.

“Nigeria is not a poor country. Nigerians are the most travelled people in the world; there is no country in the

world you go to that you will not see Nigerians there.

The GDP of Nigeria is over half a trillion dollars and the economy is growing at a rate close to 7 per cent,” he added.

Besides, Jonathan cited the recent classification of Alhaji Aliko Dangote as one of the 25 richest people in the world as another pointer to Nigeria’s affluence.

He also recalled that the number of private jets owned by Nigerians, which landed in Nairobi during his recent state visit to Kenya, was a subject of discussion in the Kenyan media for over a week.

“If you talk about ownership of private jets, Nigeria will be among the first 10 countries in the world. Yet, they are saying that Nigeria is among the five poorest countries. The World Bank statistics show that Nigeria is among the five poorest countries but our problem is not poverty; our problem is redistribution of wealth.

“Probably, wealth is concentrated in very a few hands and a number of people do not have access to it. That is why my administration is committed to ensuring the creation of wealth, in terms of financial inclusiveness, and we are working very hard to achieve this,’’ he added.

Jonathan said that as part efforts to address the poverty challenge, the Federal Government introduced the Electronic Wallet System for farmers in rural areas to enable them to have access to fertilizers and other farm inputs, including funds via affordable bank facilities.

Equally, he said that the government was also transforming agriculture from just a rural development programme into a major wealth-creation and business programme.

The president said that his administration had initiated proactive measures and policies to improve and stabilise power supply in the country so as to enable small and medium-scale enterprises to thrive.

He also said that the key component of his administration’s commitment was aimed at ensuring that many Nigerians had access to finance, so that they would be able to create wealth for themselves. Observers blame the failure to tackle the poverty challenge in the country on massive corruption which has permeated every facet of national life.

They, nonetheless, hope that the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit will reawaken the consciousness of African leaders on the need to squarely tackle the challenge of poverty, which if well addressed, can help to reduce youth restiveness and other acts of criminalities in African countries.

Adamu works with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

PAGE 40

Comments

By Allahnana Attah

T

he Nigeria Police Force hierarchy witnessed a change of baton recently with the appointment of a gentle man, Suleiman Abba as captain of this very important security ship desired by all but hardly accepted by those who it is meant to serve through protection of lives and properties.

Abba came into the driver’s seat of the police authorities following the retirement of former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar.

The ascension of Abba has been greeted with mixed reactions, which is usual with every such appointment made in this country.

Each time such exercise is conducted, controversy will arise as to the suitability, procedure and any other consideration deemed necessary by “stakeholders” who virtually cannot reverse the event. The only option left most often is for them to contribute to the successful tenure of the appointee for the benefit of the larger society. Sad that some die hard critics and hardliners never shift ground in terms of opinion, neither are they willing to see some others give their unalloyed support to such appointee to succeed. In the end, we all are losers from this uncooperative stand!

One thing that former IGP Mohammed Abubakar stands out is that he came into the office at a time when this country is faced with the worst security challenge of its history as a nation after the bitter thirty months civil war that ended in 1970. Most importantly, he did his very best to salvage the situation.

Whether, he succeeded or not in doing the job is a matter for debate another day. Most young Nigerians may not understand the seriousness of a disruptive live under a crisis period characterize with unlimited and unbridled violence unleashed on innocent persons.

Residents in the North Eastern part of Nigeria (Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states) as well as cities like Kano, Jos and Abuja are in a better position to speak out their experiences.

I am writing this as a personal memo to the Acting IGP believing that he and the NPF top shots may come into contact and read same. Mine is sharing in the joy of his elation to the pinnacle of his career as a police officer.

I also share in the herculean challenges awaiting him as the top most officer in this security outfit that has received the highest bashing from those who ought to be supportive with constructive suggestions and criticisms.

My prayer is that Acting IGP Suleiman will

By Austin Asadu

H

on. Aliyu Ibrahim Gebi’s primary motivation and driving force for wading into the perilous political waters of our epoch stems from a burning desire to change the political, economic, social and developmental dynamics of his people and indeed Nigeria as a whole for the better, to ensure which has for long being denied them due to incompetent, insensitive and incoherent leadership that tends unfortunately towards self actualization, self aggrandizement and self perpetuation.

Bauchi- born political maverick believes it is now is the time to dispense with such selfish and self-seeking political charlatans, and chart a fresh and glorious course for the long enslaved and over manipulated masses who are presently wallowing in abject and desperate poverty on a scale unprecedented in the history of the nation.

To achieve this, Gebi is prepared to push to the outer limit and would go to any length, even to the moon, metaphorically speaking, in order to lead his beloved people to the promised El-Dorado. He minces no words and does not engage in deceptive double speak in order to get his message through. In fact, AIG looks you straight in the eye and delivers his prose, swiftly and deftly, right to target not carrying if your or any others one’s ox is gored for that matter.

In fact, the 7th NASS has uncovered a lot of fraud, wastage, corruption and mismanagement in the bureaucratic structure of the MDAs and several top officials have been indicted and recommended for appropriate sanctions by the Executive though in many cases the Ex-NASS resolutions have not been implemented or carried through to the chagrin of many Nigerian.

However, he remain undaunted in pressing for greater scrutiny of those in positions of authority while calling on the citizenry to

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

Memo to Igp Suleiman Abba succeed. I make bold to state that he has the capacity to mobilise others in the Police Force and in liaison with other agencies propel them into giving the country the best in terms of providing security for the citizens and their properties.

My knowledge of Acting IGP Suleiman Abba as a course mate from 1980-1983 in the University of Jos History class, coupled with the additional skills, maturity and training as a lawyer in latter years are enough credentials that make him stand tall in the daily pursuit of his duties. I am of the firm belief that these qualities together with his humility contributed in the success he recorded in the Police Force and to which so much allusions have been made as pertaining his qualifications for this position. I, alongside some other school mates like ACG of Immigration, Yahaya Inusa, Comptrollers of Immigration Ezekiel Kaura and Domyil Barko expressed optimism about his capability to carry on the assignment when President Goodluck Jonathan apoointed him as the Acting IGP. CONGRATULATIONS Acting IGP SULEIMAN ABBA. Well, the euphoria that accompany ascension into such positions must not last too long as the enormity of responsibilities far stare occupants of such esteemed positions. Care and dexterity must be applied if the occupant will not be overwhelmed with challenges of the office. I must quickly remind Abba that there is the great need for team work in the Force as he executes the onerous task before him.

He came outstanding in the midst of seniors, contemporaries and even subordinates. Time to put heads and hands together with these groups in order to succeed is NOW. Bury any iota of pride and arrogance, (I do not know you with this though) you harbor and carry officers and men of the Force along.

IGP Abba is coming at a time when security challenges like Boko Haram insurgency have become hydra headed. These set of persons who are considered enemies of Nigeria and humanity have left no one in doubt as to their mission of making the country unsafe for its occupants nationwide. Their mode of operation and targets are seemingly unpredictable. They are highly vicious and heartless in unleashing harm and havoc on perceived enemies. This group looks as the greatest challenge all security agencies, Nigerians and

the international community are confronting today. Other security challenges include kidnapping, rape cases, armed robberies, ritual killings among many more. As you remarked last week at Osogbo, there should be “no hiding place for them” and all other violent criminals.

The image of the Nigeria Police Force has been so battered that one hardly associates with. Not many people who have friends as serving police officers as men have taken pride in relating with them because of the bad image that the force earned for itself.

Instances abound where policemen at road blocks have been disparaged as N20 men simply because that little sum does the magic of allowing criminals pass through to perpetrate their crimes without any hindrance.

You must work vigorously to let the Police be our friends once more. Like you stated on Wednesday at Osogbo, the police man should be our friend and helper. I am however proud to associate with you today because you have proven yourself different from those that have dragged the name of the force into the mud.

As with human beings, it may be for the success you achieved, but when it is failure, you may never trust any longer.

I listened very keenly as you addressed stakeholders preparatory to the Osun gubernatorial polls. You sounded convincing about the determination of the force to ensure a transparent and free election. I was elated when you sent warning signals to the “very, very important people” who are wont to recruit young people into “professional thugs” with the sole aim of intimidating their opponents and thereby frustrating the democratic experience Nigeria is enjoying. It is worthy to state that with the success of the polls, hope for a better outing by the force in the 2015 general elections is realizable. The fact that more than one state will be involved next year means the overstretching of the personnel in the force.

A well-motivated police is a sure way to gingering the personnel into working to the best of their ability, including sacrificing their lives which is the ultimate prize one can give for his neighbor and country. Over the years, bickering over unpaid allowances to men on duty by officers was a constant feature. This is gradually giving way but more can be done.

Promotions to the rank and file personnel,

provision of working tools (stationery in the police formations for recording statements), vehicles, arms, communication and intelligence gadgets as well as training and retraining of officers is vital for a sustainable force.

New recruits into the force should be properly screened and engaged when found worthy in character in addition to academic qualifications. Some people in the police force are no better than criminals that they are engaged to curb. Efforts at combating criminality and criminals are rendered futile with such “bad eggs” who work against the very system they serve. There is no denying the fact that the force needs more personnel, but care must be taken to get the right persons. Deliberate resistance should be adopted against recruiting children of “big shots” not minding their character. These recruits must go through proper training and exposed to the rudiments, rules and regulations of the force.

May I ask AIGP Abba; what went wrong with the idea of “Community Policing?” While this policy was being preached and practiced, communities had some semblance of confidence in the force as revealed in meetings between the force and the public through the Police Public Relations Committee. As an astute officer who has gone through the mills in the last thirty years, I am hopeful that you will explore this strategy in resolving several communal crises that transform into eruption of violence across the country. You are definitely better equipped with strategies than lay men like us who are advising.

I join well -meaning Nigerians in saying “CONGRATULATIONS” to AIGP Abba and wish him a successful tenure. However, as you settle down to work, watch beyond your shoulders for those who will be clog in the wheel of progress. You and the Force will succeed only when you purge yourselves of the vices that confront the force and Nigeria generally. Remain focused and firm as you police Nigeria to safety. Remember that much is expected from you by the public who will be quick to voice their protest, even if mildly and when misunderstood (as in Osogbo) when things go wrong.

Allanana wrote in from Lafia and could be reached atattah1961@gmail. com

AIG Gebi’s unusual approach to legislative business unconditionally insist on the implementation of probe reports: ‘Remember that our duty as legislators is to make laws and perform oversight functions to the best of our ability.

After we have conducted a probe and come up with a probe report, it is left for the executive to implement the probe report, it is left for the executive to ensure that the probe report is implemented by the Executive. It is up to us, the Nigerian citizens to ensure that those indicted by the probe report are prosecuted’.

On the issue of security, lot of anxiety and apprehension has been raised as to the physical and material safety of the National Assembly members, their staff, management and the state of the art facilities that dot the entire National Assembly complex as there has been quite a few security alarms that have been raised recently that turned out to be false at the end of the day.

Nevertheless, as chairman House Committee on Internal security, Gebi has taken far reaching steps towards raising the security threshold to the next level with increased co-operation between the various security agencies establishing a joint take force to coordinate intelligence gathering, information collation in the sharing of data, intelligence, information, tips etc. that would check all forms of security threats or breaches within and around the vast NASS complex. Also the NASS leadership has acted fast on requests for provision of security equipment, operational vehicles, logistics and other.

“Anyone that has been a constant visitor to the National Assembly would have noticed

a lot of changes in the security arrangements and a lot of people have commended us on the latest changes. We have applied for several vehicles for operational use by the joint task force and for the sergeant-at-arms and the leadership duly obliged us. We are grateful for the kind of open and transparent leadership we have in the House, for if we didn’t have that kind of leadership, they will have carried all those cars to their houses. So I am grateful for the kind of leadership we have in the House,” he said.

On the recurring of constitutional reform, a nationalistic he argued that there was a need to revamp and strengthen the citizenship clause to ensure that Nigerians begin to see themselves as Nigerian first and not as citizens or indigenes of an ethnic or sectional locality or zone before regarding themselves as Nigerians.

He believes Nigeria must come first before any primordial, parochial or primeval consideration: ‘We need to redefine who a citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is and we need to re-empower and re-energise that definition because in my humble opinion, most of the problems we have are caused by a lot of grey areas there. Because there is more emphasis given to an indigene than a citizen and I think we should not totally abolish the indigene clause but strengthen the citizenship clause, it will engender nationalistic tendencies where we look at ourselves first as Nigerians before you are whatever indigene of any other locality whatsoever.

The woe be gone years of complacency, mutual back slapping, back scratching, crony-

ism, nepotism, corruption, mismanagement and monumental theft of state resources are now happily a thing of the past. This Bauchi born political maestro is out to restore the dignity of his people and ensure that they get it right this time, no matter how strenuous or stressful the struggle for emancipation is or how long it takes, this time the people will, aspirations and desires must ultimately, irrevocable and irreversibly prevail.

Hear him, “I am here to restore the dignity of my people because over the years their dignity has been collectively eroded by misrepresentation, misdirection and political tyranny of a few people belonging to certain affiliations. My mandate is clear, the covenant I have entered with the people is the covenant I have entered too with our creator, God. We are not a nation or state or constituency of beggars, we have pride, though our dignity restored has been eroded, we want our dignity to be restored meaning that we want to make sure that people who want to go back to school, do so and those people who want to stay back and take care of the home, do that too”. Need we say more?

Only time, destiny, providence and posterity will decide and give definitive judgment on the political, social, economic and developmental trajectory of Hon. Aliyu Ibrahim Gebi’s postulations but we wish him God’s continued blessing and divinely sanctioned wisdom in all his endeavours and deliberations. *Austin Asadu *wrote from Garki, Abuja.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

PAGE 41

Online Comments Jonathan will contest for President in 2015, says Anenih

partner to achieve 5000MW electricity generation by Dec Osaro says:

President Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda in the Power Sector, just like the other sectors of the economy, is here to stay whether anyone likes it or not. And, this is another proof of that.

So, all the ‘doubting Thomases’ out there who think GEJ’s agenda is just a fluke, I say to you, think again!

Osaro says:

Very pleasant piece of information, Mr. Chairman, BOT!

Different shades of a national identity abdullah musa says: Well, a Nigerian exists only in relation to those outside its borders. How many have been killed by ‘fellow Nigerians’ because they chose to live outside their enclave, but within so-called Nigeria?

Ms Audu may not have a neat compartment to be caged into, but there is definitely no internal Nigeria to belong to either.

‘SURE-P has provided employment for 50,000 graduates’ Osaro says:

This is a very positive thing for our youth to look up to and make something of themselves as opposed to taking to reckless living. I believe in this programme and I also believe that it will help solve the issue of unemployment in our country.

Boko Haram: Biya’s no nonsense approach Muhammad says:

You forget to add that all the victims were rescued unharmed after only 3 days in captivity in a commando-like operation in which the insurgents suffered heavy casualty. In fact, unconfirmed report says that the insurgents handed over their captives when they realised that these are not Nigerian troops who are under armed and under motivated and very corrupt.

FG ask Nigerian students to vacate E/Ukraine What is the use of higher education and subjecting oneself to all the rigours associated with undergoing all the trainings in tertiary institutions only to graduate to joblessness? The worse, of course, is schooling abroad and yet still no hope of securing employment at the end.

Presidency not financing proJonathan groupsAlkali Usman Ibrahim says:

It is only the blind and the deaf that can believe your claim that the Presidency is not financing the GSG which is campaigning for the return of GEJ. True, Jonathan has not declared yet, but it is obvious that the campaign has began. Did he

President Goodluck Jonathan & BOT Chairman Anenih denounce TAN and othergroups that have been campaigning for him? Let your work speak for you rather than people trying to do the talking for you. We need security, not corruption. We need employment, electricity, and good infrastructure in every community.

Moses says:

Ola-Olu

Famuyiwa

Even if Mr. Jonathan is not directly financing the campaign so long as you are campaigning on his behalf then you are doing it for him. It is his campaign and without his consent you could hardly have gone ahead with it. Of course, you have budget for that with a coded name.

Kwankwaso to Jonathan: You can’t govern Nigeria by luck Umar Abba says:

Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is a visionary leader who is leading by example.

Whether GEJ like it or not kwankwaso is telling him the truth. Therefore, Jonathan should exercise caution in the manner he runs the affairs of this country because anything that goes round will surely come around.

Gentle Giant says:

Please people should stop this sentiment!

Tell me, how is Rabiu Kwankwaso governing Kano State? What major impact has his government had that is different from what Jonathan is doing? Are we to believe that Sabon Gari is not part of Kano city and does not deserve any social amenities or government presence in anyway?

People should stop being hypocritical.

If in small Kano where Kwankwaso is he is unable to govern fairly and judiciously how will he be able to do so nationally? How is he an example or is hypocrisy a model for good governance? Is being a good leader only based on your sentiment and actually a figment of your imagination? With places like Sabon Gari just a stone throw from his office you don’t need a classic example of poor governance.

It seems all Kwankwaso knows is to insult President Jonathan instead of focusing on how to develop his state and empower his people. He is just an unfocused governor.

Osaro says:

Kwankwaso never fails to amaze me. I just never understood this man’s sense of reasoning.

Where do I even begin concerning this interview he gave? It is simply comical! A beg I can neither shout nor have the strength to do so considering the misrule that is going on in Kano. He’s simply unbelievable!

Okon says:

It appears kwakwanso has no other business

than to criticize Jonathan. He tended to criticize the president from the sublime to the ridiculous.

Sad, that he has abandoned the business of governing his state just to concentrate on criticising the president even in matters within his office in Kano.

Habino2@yahoo.com says:

Since Nigeria’s Independence , the country has never experienced a directionless government than that headed by Jonathan.

Mallam Duku says:

KwaKwaso hardly makes sense in his criticism of Jonathan. He seems fixated on the president and doesn’t seem to be bothered about developing Kano state: changing the beggarly orientation of the Al majiri, helping them to learn to accept others’ culture and faith. Like his party the APC, he’s warlike and ever confrontational. It seems he takes delight in noisemaking.

Hamisu Ado Nguru says:

Jonathan is the most ethno-centric president Nigeria ever had! His appointments are clear demonstrative of ethno-centric tendencies.

Usman says:

You have said it all. Ideally, that man should have been sent packing since. The country is in serious crises: people are losing their lives every day and the leadership is simply insensitive to the suffering of the people. Like Kwankwaso said, he lacks the depth and courage to govern.

No, Nigeria can’t be governed on luck. Only a visionary leader with mission and focus can rule the country. Competency and leadership by example as shown by Kwankwaso’s administration in Kano needs be emulated. Keep going.

Sani Bichi says:

Kwankwaso, the people Governor, you are saying obvious fact. Please, keep it up.

2015: Group drums support for Atiku Atiku will definitely make a very good president and I strongly believe 2015 is his time to shine and make Nigeria great again. It is the time for the PDP-led government to go. We want others that are prepared to do the job to come in because PDP has failed.

Chibok girls still missing after 100 days plus and no clue of the young girls’ whereabouts.

This government needs to learn from Cameroon which brought back the deputy PM’s wife in less than 48 hours. Change is for Nigeria come 2015 and Atiku Abubakar will make us proud.

Gas Challenges: NNPC, CBN, Power Ministry

Osun Election: PDP plans massive rigging in 10 LGs, APC alleges Osaro says:

I hope APC is aware that these are quite serious allegations. Where are their facts? I hope they are ready to back up these accusations if they are asked to? If they know these things then in my opinion they don’t need to worry but simply counter/block these strategies.

APC know they’re going to lose and are simply coming up with bogus things as reasons they’ll use to defend their loss at the end of the day!

Lagos adopts measures against Ebola virus amadin ben ehibor says:

As nigerians, because of the love we have for ourselves and for others we should have regular checkup to ensure that we are free from any virus.

We should desist from buying things especially that we don’t know their sources.

We also want to avoid handshake for some time and must be conscious of our environmental sanitation. If an environment is clean there is noway people leaving in that environment can contact disease. For now, we trust no one even the doctors because of the danger associated with the deadly ebola virus and we know that doctors and nurses are the first contact of any infected person.

How are we sure the management of the patients in the cities the virus has been detected is adequate or that people in the villages are not infected? Most of all lets pray to God.

Between Amosun and journalists Moses Ola-Olu Famuyiwa says:

Some Nigerian Journalists hardly live the by the ethics of the profession. That’s why some would prefer to rush to the press without first cross-checking the authenticity of their news stories.

The governor on his own part seems immature politically. A good executive does not say all that he has said in the report. I think all our politicians need to attend seminars on media relationship.

Journalists are his mirror for the public to see him. They see him for what he is whether good or bad. It depends on him to adjust himself, but not with confrontation, he can call them for briefing to speak his mind out.

agbara says:

Please accept the bitter pills, Mr. Governor. If the same statement was made against president Jonathan this same governor would roundly clap for these journalists but now that it is against him he is complaining.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

PAGE 42

News Extra

War against terrorism: Jonathan seeks support from religious leaders

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resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday called on religious leaders to join hands with the Federal Government in the fight against terrorism in the country.

Jonathan made the call in Aboh Mbaise, Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo state during the requiem mass for Chief Paulinus Opara, father of John-Kennedy, Executive Secretary of National Christian Pilgrims Commission.

Jonathan, represented by Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa, said the greatest problem confronting the nation today was terrorism.

He said government would continue to play its roll in tackling the challenge, but added that the problem should not be left for government alone.

Jonathan said the late Opara, who served in the Nigerian Army, was a man with amiable qualities.

He said Opara served the nation with dignity and humility, adding that his legacies would speak for him even after his death.

Jonathan urged the citizens, especially public office holders, to live a life that would speak positively for them when they passed away.

He urged the Opara family not to allow the demise of their patriarch to weigh them down.

Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo said the Opara lived a life worthy of emulation. ``We have come to bury a man who lived a just life; but we still need others to follow his footsteps so that they will be remembered for something good”, he said.

He urged politicians in Imo not to witch-hunt one another but to play politics that promotes unity and progress.

He commended the NCPC John-Kennedy for the

Former Adamawa deputy gov loses bid to stop by-election

roll he has been playing in bridging the gap between Christians and Muslims.

The Deputy Speaker House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihediaoha, said Opara was a man whose Christian life was worth emulating.

He urged John-Kennedy not to be distracted by the demise of his father.

The presiding priest, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, said though death was a necessary end for everybody, what mattered most was the legacy left behind.

He said Christians would continue to pray for the nation against any form of terrorism and other national challenges.

John-Kennedy promised to continue with the good work done by his father, adding that this would reflect in the discharge of responsibilities as the executive secretary of NCPC. (NAN)

Kano NMA vows to continue strike From Edwin Olofu, Kano

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octors in Kano yesterday defied the suspension of the six weeks old strike embarked upon by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), insisting that Doctors are still on strike in Kano, accusing the national leadership of suspending the strike, without due consultation.

Despite the communiqué, issued by the (NMA) president, Dr Kayode Obembe for suspension of the six weeks old strike over the spread of Ebola virus, all the striking doctors in Kano ignored the order to resume work yesterday, a situation that has dashed the hopes of patients in some of the public hospitals visited in Kano metropolis.

In a swift reaction to the communique, other national executive members, jointly issued and signed a counter press statement, upholding the strike, just as the executive members and the NMA Chairman of Kano state chapter, Dr Sharafuddeen Mashi said there is no division among the members; saying that the national president was acting on his own.

Dr. Mashi told newsmen that if the association could not call off the strike due to the incessant attacks by insurgents’ which claimed about 4, 000 lives this year, it was not justifiable to suspend the strike because of Ebola virus, which has claimed fewer victims.

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x- Adamawa State Deputy Governor, Bala Ngilari, yesterday lost in his bid to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) from conducting by-election to fill the vacant governorship seat in the state.

The seat became vacant following the recent impeachment of Governor Murtala Nyako by the state lawmakers.

Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in a ruling, refused Ngilari’s ex-parte motion in which he sought an interim restraining order against the INEC. The judge ordered that INEC be put on notice and fixed next Tuesday for hearing of the motion on notice containing similar prayer of injunction.

Justice Ademola, who listened to Ngilari’s lawyer, Festus Keyamo, move two ex-parte motions filed for the plaintiff, granted his prayer for substituted service, via the newspaper.

The judge also granted leave to the plaintiff to serve court processes on the defendants outside Abuja.

Ngilari, whose office was declared vacant on July 15 by the state’s lawmakers following their impeachment of the governor, had earlier this week sued the legislators and asked the court to sack the state’s acting Governor, Ahmadu Umaru and make him (Ngilari) the governor.

Shettima dissolves cabinet

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The entrance of osun government secretariat at abere, shot as public holiday was declared in preparation for the state governorship election , yesterday in osogbo.

Loss of document This is to inform the general public of the loss of the following items: 1. Three (3) international passports bearing RABI’U ADAMU KAZAURE, HAJIYA SALAMATU MOHAMMED and AISHATU BUKAR. All residents of Jigawa state.

2. Three (3) handsets (2 Gionee and 1 HTC make) 3. One (1) ipad phone.

4. Acknowledgement letter issued by AGIS FCDA bearing RABI’U ADAMU KAZAURE. 5. Offer of land by Bwari Area Council Abuja and certificate issued by AGIS FCDA Bearing ANTHONY ADAMS. 6. Birth certificate Bearing AISHA RABI’U ADAMU. 7. ATM and National I.D Card of RABI’U ADAMU KAZAURE. All effort to trace the said documents and items proved abortive. If found kindly return to nearest police station or AGIS. The general public is advice by this notice to take note.

overnor Kashim Shettima of Borno State yesterday in Maiduguri dissolved the State Executive Council.

Alhaji Baba Jidda, the Secretary to the State Government, made this known in a statement. ``Gov. Kashim Shettima has approved the immediate dissolution of the state executive council. ``All Commissioners and Advisers are advised to hand over the affairs of their ministries to their permanent secretaries’’, the statement said.

It added that they were expected to hand over all government property, including official vehicles in their possession, to the permanent secretaries.

This was the first time the state executive council would be dissolved since its inauguration in June 2011.

(NAN)

Yobe to commission new Investment House in Abuja

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overnor Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State has said that the ultra-modern seven-storey Investment House built by the state government in Abuja’s Central Business District will be commissioned at the end of the month.

The governor spoke yesterday during a final inspection of the property, built at the total cost of N2.2 billion.

The governor expressed satisfaction with the quality of work executed and asked the contractors, AG Ferraro Nig. Ltd, to ensure the completion of the few remaining touches to the building in time for the commissioning at the end of August.

Gaidam, who spoke of the effort of his administration to improve internal revenue generation, said the funds spent by the government in building the Investment House will be recovered within ten years.

“This is one of the many legacies we will leave behind; we will be able to recover money spent here within ten years and thereafter, the property will continue to generate revenue for the government. It is part of our effort to diversify our revenue base”, the governor said.

The Managing Director of the Yobe State investment Corporation, Alhaji Mai Musa, who took the governor round the building on inspection, assured that his organisation will work

with the contractors to ensure timely completion of the few remaining works before the commissioning slated at the end Yobe to commission new Investment House in Abuja Governor Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State has said that the ultra-modern seven-storey Investment House built by the state government in Abuja’s Central Business District will be commissioned at the end of the month.

The governor spoke yesterday during a final inspection of the property, built at the total cost of N2.2 billion.

The governor expressed satisfaction with the quality of work executed and asked the contractors, AG Ferraro Nig. Ltd, to ensure the completion of the few remaining touches to the building in time for the commissioning at the end of August.

Gaidam, who spoke of the effort of his administration to improve internal revenue generation, said the funds spent by the government in building the Investment House will be recovered within ten years.

“This is one of the many legacies we will leave behind; we will be able to recover money spent here within ten years and thereafter, the property will continue to generate revenue for the government. It is part of our effort to diversify our revenue base”, the governor said.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

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PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

PAGE 44

Archive

Relics from Stone Age (II) B Stone Technology

Age

Toolmaking

The Natural History Museum, London arly hominids made stone artifacts either by smashing rocks between a hammer and anvil (known as the bipolar technique) to produce usable pieces or by a more controlled process termed flaking, in which stone chips were fractured away from a larger rock by striking it with a hammer of stone or other hard material. Later, especially during the last 10,000 years, other techniques of producing stone artifacts—including pecking, grinding, sawing, and boring—became more common.

The best rocks for flaking tended to be hard, fine-grained, or amorphous (having no crystal structure) rocks, including lava, obsidian, ignimbrite, flint, chert, quartz, silicified limestone, quartzite, and indurated shale.

Ground stone tools could be made on a wider range of raw material types, including coarser grained rock such as granite.

Flaking produces several different types of stone artifacts, which archaeologists look for at prehistoric sites. The parent pieces of rock from which chips have been detached are called cores, and the chips that have been removed from cores are called flakes. A flake that has had yet smaller flakes removed from one or more edges in order to sharpen or shape it is known as a retouched piece. The stone used to knock flakes from cores is called a hammerstone or a percussor. Other flaking artifacts include fragments and chunks, most of which are broken cores and flakes.

The terms culture and industry both refer to a system of technology (toolmaking technique, for example) shared by different Stone Age sites of the same broad time period. Experts now prefer to use the term industry instead of culture to refer to these shared Stone Age systems.

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III DIVISIONS OF THE STONE AGE Archaeologists have divided the Stone Age into different stages, each characterized by different types of tools or tool-manufacturing techniques. The stages also imply broad time frames and are perceived as stages of human cultural development. The most widely used designations for the successive stages are Paleolithic (Old Stone Age), Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age), and Neolithic (New Stone Age). British naturalist Sir John Lubbock in 1865 defined the Paleolithic stage as the period in which stone tools were chipped or flaked. He defined the Neolithic as the stage in which ground and pol-

ished stone axes became prevalent.

These two stages also were associated with different economic and subsistence strategies: Paleolithic peoples were hunter-gatherers while Neolithic peoples were farmers. Archaeologists subsequently identified a separate stage of stone tool working in Eurasia and Africa between the Paleolithic and the Neolithic, called the Mesolithic. This period is characterized by the creation of microliths, small, geometric-shaped stone artifacts that were attached to wood, antler, or bone to form implements such as arrows, spears, or scythes.

Microliths began appearing between 15,000 and 10,000 years ago at the end of the Pleistocene Ice Age. The Paleolithic/Mesolithic/Neolithic division system was first applied only to sites in Europe, but is now widely used (with some modification) to refer to prehistoric human development in much of Asia, Africa, and Australasia. Different terminology is often used to describe the cultural-historical chronology of the Americas, which humans did not reach until some point between 20,000 and 12,000 years ago. However, there is a general similarity in the transition from flaked stone tools associated with prehistoric huntergatherers to both flaked and ground stone tools associated with the rise of early farming communities. The period in the Americas up to the end of the Pleistocene Ice Age about 10,000 years ago, when most humans were hunter-gatherers, is called Paleo-Indian and the subsequent, postglacial period is known as Archaic.

A Paleolithic rchaeologists subdivide the Paleolithic into the Lower Paleolithic (the earliest phase), Middle Paleolithic, and Upper Paleolithic (the later phase), based upon the presence or absence of certain classes of stone artifacts.

A

A1 Lower Paleolithic The Lower Paleolithic dates from approximately 2.5 million years ago until about 200,000 years ago. It includes the earliest record of human toolmaking and documents much of the evolutionary history of the genus Homo from its origins in Africa to its spread into Eurasia. Two successive toolmaking industries characterize the Lower Paleolithic: the Oldowan and the Acheulean.

Stone Toolmaking Humans first made tools of stone at least 2.5 million years ago, initiating the so-called Stone Age. The Stone Age advanced through three stages over time—the Paleolithic (which is subdivided into Lower, Middle, and Upper periods), Mesolithic, and Neolithic. Blade toolmaking, as demonstrated in this video, was a development of the Upper Paleolithic, which began about 40,000 years ago.

This technique produced a far greater variety and higher quality of tools than did earlier methods of toolmaking.

The Natural History Museum, London the chopper-core or pebble-tool industry. Simple stone artifacts made from small stones or blocks of stone characterize the Oldowan industry.

Mary Leakey classified Oldowan artifacts as either heavy-duty tools or light-duty tools. In this classification, heavy-duty tools include core types such as choppers, discoids, polyhedrons, and heavy-duty scrapers.

Many of these cores may have been produced to generate sharp-edged flakes, but some could have been used for chopping or scraping activities as well. Light-duty tools include retouched forms such as smaller scrapers, awls (sharp, pointed tools for punching holes in animal hides or wood), and burins (chisel-like flint

tools used for engraving and cutting).

Oldowan techniques of manufacture included hard-hammer percussion, or detaching flakes from cores with a stone hammer; the anvil technique, striking a core on a stationary anvil to detach flakes; and bipolar technique, detaching flakes by placing the core between an anvil and the hammerstone. arly humans probably also made tools from a wide range of materials other than stone. For example, they probably used wood for simple digging sticks, spears, clubs, or probes, and they probably used shell, hide, bark, or horn to fashion containers. Unfortunately, organic materials such as these do not

E

normally survive from earlier Stone Age times, so archaeologists can only speculate about whether such tools were used.

Two of the oldest Oldowan sites are in Ethiopia: Gona (occupied 2.5 million years ago) and Omo (2.3 million years ago). Other well-studied Oldowan sites include Lokalalei (2.3 million years ago) and Koobi Fora (1.9 million to 1.4 million years ago), in Kenya; Olduvai Gorge (1.9 million to 1.2 million years ago), in Tanzania; Ain Hanech (perhaps 1.7 million years ago), in Algeria; and the cave deposits at Sterkfontein and Swartkrans (estimated to be from 2.0 million to 1.5 million years ago), in South Africa.

A1a Oldowan Industry The Oldowan industry was named by British Kenyan anthropologists Louis Leakey and Mary Leakey for early archaeological sites found at Olduvai Gorge in northern Tanzania.

It is also sometimes referred to as

Prehistoric Tools rehistoric humans made many stone tools. Axes were used to cut and shape wood. Knives were used to cut up animals for food.

Small arrowheads were used to make weapons for hunting. © Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Oldowan Tools Humans have been toolmakers for at least 2.5 million years. The earliest technology was a practicalAbout 2.5 million years ago early humans in Africa made the first tools of stone. Scientists call these tools and the technique used to make them Oldowan, after the site of Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania, where many have been unearthed. Oldowan toolmaking involved hitting one palmsized cobblestone against another. This process created large, sharp-edged core tools capable of breaking bones and slicing meat or vegetation, and smaller flakes that could scrape hides and sharpen wooden sticks.

University of California Berkeley Collection and University of Indiana Collection/Lithic Casting Lab

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

Page 45

Digest

US airstrikes begin on Iraq’s ISIS militants

By Tom Cohen and Ben Brumfield, CNN Two U.S. F/A-18 jet fighters bombed artillery of Sunni Islamic extremists in Iraq on Friday, escalating America’s military involvement more than two years after President Barack Obama brought home forces from the country.

Obama authorized “targeted airstrikes” if needed to protect U.S. personnel from fighters with the Islamic State, formerly known as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or ISIS. The U.S. military also could use airstrikes to prevent what officials warn could be genocide of minority groups by the Islamic State fighters.

U.S. warplanes patrolling the skies over northern Iraq have a “green light” to go after perceived ISIS threats to the Kurdish capital, Irbil, or to minority populations, said deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes.

Laser-guided bombs The first strike involved 500-pound laser-guided bombs on a “mobile artillery piece” used by ISIS at about 6:45 a.m. ET Friday, Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby said.

It came in response to an Islamic State advance this week on what officials call U.S. interests in Iraq’s Kurdish region in the north. The militants took towns from the Kurdish fighting force known as the Peshmerga.

Before the onslaught, the region had been the most stable in Iraq and a cooperative ally of the United States. U.S. military advisers and consular personnel are stationed in Irbil.

The mobile artillery battery hit Friday was based outside Irbil, Kirby said.

In announcing his decision Thursday night, Obama said the militants would get hit “should they move towards the city.”

Kurdish leaders have been pleading for the United States or NATO to buttress their forces against the Islamic State from the air. The President seems to have heard their appeal.

“We do whatever is necessary to protect our people,” Obama said, adding, “We support our allies when they’re in danger.”

Obama: Potential ‘genocide’ U.S. airstrikes also could hit the Islamic State if militants continue to endanger the lives of thousands of ethnic Yazidis stranded in mountains by the militants’ siege. Obama and other administration officials are using the term “genocide” when referring to the threat to the internal refugees.

Last weekend, ISIS militants raided the Yazidi town of Sinjar in northern Iraq.

Yazidis, one of Iraq’s smallest minorities, are of Kurdish descent and their religion is considered a pre-Islamic sect that draws from Christianity, Judaism and Zoroastrianism.

Iraq requests US to launch air strikes on ISIS militants, but US shifts focus away

The Islamic State has executed people who don’t share their fanatical interpretation of Sunni Islam and posted videos of their killings to the Internet. “Convert to Islam or die” is the militants’ ultimatum to those captured.

They also have beheaded victims and placed their heads on spikes to strike terror in the population, a senior administration official said.

Before Obama spoke Thursday night, two U.S. military cargo planes airdropped 5,300 gallons of water and 8,000 meals onto Mount Sinjar, where some Yazidi children had died from dehydration.

British support The British government said Friday it would support the U.S. humanitarian effort and planned airdrops of its own.

Meanwhile, the United Nations in Iraq was “urgently preparing a humanitarian corridor to allow those in need to flee the areas under threat,” said Nickolay Mladenov, the special representative to the U.N. secretary-general.

He welcomed the “cooperation between the Government of Iraq, the Kurdistan Regional Government and the international community to help prevent genocide and fight terrorism,” according to a U.N. statement.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday repeated the administration’s concerns about genocide.

The Islamic State’s “campaign of terror against the innocent, including the Yazidi and Christian minorities, and its

grotesque targeted acts of violence show all the warning signs of genocide,” Kerry said Friday during a televised press conference in Kabul, Afghanistan. “The stakes for Iraq’s future could not be more clear,” and “for anyone who (needs) a wake-up call, this is it.”

Concern over U.S. ground troops returning While he authorized the airstrikes in response to specific threats, Obama made clear he had no intention of sending in ground forces.

“As commander in chief, I will not allow the United States to be dragged into fighting another war in Iraq,” the President said.

The administration has put the onus on the Iraqi government, which it has pushed to reform. It wants Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s Shiite-dominated regime replaced by an ethnically more inclusive government.

Already, the Obama administration is rapidly funneling weapons to Iraqi forces. Factories in the United States are operating seven days a week to produce them, a senior administration official said.

But two Republican senators said in a statement that the President’s actions do not go far enough. And the United States should not wait on Iraq to pull together before Washington takes action.

Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina want to see U.S. forces take the fight to the Is-

lamic State.

“It should include U.S. airstrikes against ISIS leaders, forces, and positions both in Iraq and Syria,” their statement read.

Iraqi forces fight back The Iraqi air force bombed a number of Islamic State targets on Thursday night, said Qubad Talabani, deputy prime minister of the Kurdish regional government. He told CNN the strikes killed at least two of the group’s emirs.

At this point, the United States has 245 military personnel in Iraq, 90 of them advisers sent in recent weeks to coordinate with Iraqi and Kurdish military officials in response to the ISIS rampage. The USS George H.W. Bush and other Navy ships also are in the region, and the FA/18s in Friday’s initial strike came from the aircraft carrier.

The Islamic State fighters have captured armored vehicles and other military hardware from Iraqi forces in a lightning sweep through the north earlier this year.

The militant group’s name, Islamic State, reflects its goal to establish a Sunni caliphate stretching from Syria to Baghdad. After establishing the religious state, the group envisions expanding it throughout the world, and analysts warn of Americans and Europeans with the Islamic State returning home at some point to bring the battle. edition.cnn.com

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

Page 46

International

Kenya is where you should invest, President Kenyatta tells American investors

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he ambitious expansion and modernisation of the country’s transport, energy and ICT infrastructure is aimed at reducing the cost of doing business, President Uhuru Kenyatta has said.

He said these initiatives are intended at making Kenya the most ideal investment destination in the continent.

The President said one of the cardinal requisites of Vision2030 is the expansion and modernisation of Kenya’s transport, energy, and ICT infrastructure to meet world class standards.

He said it is for this reason that the

Jubilee Government is doubling the paved road network by 2017, and building a new, faster, high capacity standard gauge rail system to connect the country and other nations in region.

“On our own, and within regional infrastructure collaborative initiatives, we are expanding our sea port in Mombasa to achieve the capacity to service a growing national economy and an expanding regional market. Our international airport in Nairobi has already been expanded to handle over 20 million travellers annually,” he said.

Speaking when he addressed mem-

U.S. cuts resources for project involved in Ebola battle in Sierra Leone

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he U.S. government will not renew funding for a major research project into Lassa fever, a decision that will, in turn, cut resources for a facility in Sierra Leone that is at the forefront of the current battle against the Ebola virus.

The National Institutes of Health rejected a proposal from New Orleans-based Tulane University to renew the five-year contract which expires in November, according to a July 30 letter from NIH reviewed by Reuters. The expiring contract is worth $15 million.

NIH declined to comment on the decision, citing “federal government procurement integrity rules.”

The facility, at Kenema Government Hospital, was set up a decade ago to test and treat Lassa fever. Now it is being used to treat patients stricken with Ebola. Both are hemorrhagic fevers caused by distinct families of viruses. Ebola is the most lethal, leading to death in up to 90 percent of cases.

Last week, the facility’s director and chief physician, Dr. Sheik Umar Khan, died after becoming infected with Ebola. Its head nurse and two other nurses have also died, and some other staff are sick. The Ebola outbreak, the worst ever recorded, has killed 932 people across Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.

As part of the Tulane research project, which was designed to identify diagnostics and treatment for Lassa, researchers support the Kenema facility, which has a 5,500 square foot laboratory

and similarly sized hospital ward.

Blood samples from infected patients are used to develop tests and diagnostics.

Funds from the Tulane project support most of the facility’s operations, including $100,000 a year to supplement meagre government salaries received by some 30 staff – including doctors, nurses, lab technicians and field workers – said Robert Garry, a professor of microbiology and immunology at Tulane, who heads the programme.

The programme also supplies laboratory equipment, including protective garments, pipettes, and all materials needed to analyse blood samples.

It is unclear whether the facility will be able to raise funds from other sources to replace the Tulane project money.

In the letter to Tulane, a contracting officer for the NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Liem Nguyen, said the proposal had been rejected “based on technical factors, scientific priority, and availability of funds.”

The proposal, the letter added, “falls short of those considered by NIAID to offer the best opportunities for the most successful accomplishment of the acquisition objectives.”

NIH declined to provide further comment on the matter.

Dr Anthony Fauci, director of NIAID, said he was unaware of the decision.

It is unclear if U.S. government funding cuts for NIH in recent years contributed to the decision.

bers of Corporate Council for Africa at Washington D.C., President Kenyatta said his Government is also leveraging natural resources in the energy sector to power increased industrial and commercial activity.

“Aside from stabilising our hydro power generation capacity, we have gone all out to increase geothermal generation to meet increasing demand, and lower energy costs,” he added.

The Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) is a nonprofit, membership-based organization established in 1993 to promote business and investment between the United

States and the nations of Africa.

The Corporate Council on Africa includes as members more than 180 companies, which represent nearly 85 percent of total U.S. private sector investments in Africa.

President Kenyatta said in the next 3 years, the country will be guaranteed of 5000 Megawatts of reliable electric power.

“In fact, our challenge is about to shift from meeting demand, to encouraging enterprises to expand and make use of our power capacity,” the President further noted.

An Indonesian girl swept away by the devastating 2004 tsunami has been reunited with her family a decade after.

Rebels fire at medical evacuation helicopter, force emergency landing

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krainian forces said that rebels in the conflicttorn east had opened fire on a medical evacuation helicopter, injuring the three crew on board and forcing it to make an emergency landing.

The incident occurred late yesterday near the airport of Lugansk, the second largest rebel-held city, the military said in a statement.

“Terrorists opened fire on a medical Mi-8 helicopter (Medevac), the crew made an emergency landing,” it said, adding that the helicopter was damaged in the attack and that all three injured airmen were brought to a hospital in territory controlled by the government.

The statement also noted that Russia continued to fire on Ukrainian positions from across

the border.

This latest incident comes after rebels shot down a Ukrainian fighter jet yesterday.

Rebels said that the two pilots from the downed plane had been found and captured.

Ukrainian forces have lost a string of aircraft during the conflict.

The jet came down some 40 kilometres west of the crash site of the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, which the US has accused rebels of shooting down on July 17 with a missile likely supplied by Russia.

Fighting continues to rage around rebel-held cities in east Ukraine, as government forces make their advances and try to cut the strongholds off from each other and the Russian border.

Over 1,300 people have already been killed and 285,000 forced to flee during almost four months of conflict that the Red Cross has designated a civil war.

Petro Poroshenko, Ukraine President

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PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

Energy

How BPE breached privatisation rules in sale of Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company

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n a flagrant violation of privatization guidelines it drafted, the Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, unilaterally extended the deadline for the completion of the Share Purchase Agreement, SPA for the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company, Kaduna DISCO, PREMIUM TIMES has learnt.

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he privatization bureau appears to have set a precedence never seen in its privatisation history by surreptitiously shifting the goal post in favour of Northwest Power Limited, NPL, declared the preferred bidder for the Kaduna DISCO. Having signed the SPA with the BPE in December last year, Northwest Power Limited, one of the 17 PHCN successor companies put up for sale in December 2010, had until June 23, 2014 to make the 75 per cent balance payment.

However, when it became clear that the company may not meet the deadline, and in order not to lose the mandatory 25 per cent initial down payment it made for the acquisition of the assets of the power distribution company, the BPE, against set privatisation rules, unilaterally extended the deadline to August 6.

The privatization guidelines demands that failure by the preferred bidder to discharge its payment obligation before the stipulated deadline, it should mandatorily forfeit its 25 per cent initial payment and the right to buy the asset to the reserve bidder.

DG, BPE, Benjamin Ezra Dikki.

Section 15 (138) of the Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Privatization of PHCN Successor Companies states: “The designated Preferred Bidder will be invited for negotiations with BPE. Failure to enter into negotiation will result in the forfeiture of the Preferred Bidder’s Bank Guarantee of the

Bidder, and BPE will invite the first (1st) Reserve Bidder for negotiation.”

It is not immediately clear why the BPE seemed hell-bent to award the DISCO to Northwest Power Limited. Kaduna DISCO was one of the last successor companies from the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to be sold.

It is also unclear if the company had paid the 75 per cent balance payment for the DISCO before the August 6 deadline it was given to do so.

A source close to the privatization however disclosed that as at the close of business on Wednesday, Northwest Power Limited was yet to pay the outstanding 75 per cent balance, despite the shift in the payment deadline.

“It was further confirmed that Northwest Power had no intention of meeting August 6 deadline from the outset because it had written BPE about four weeks ago requesting for additional two months extension to enable them raise the money. The additional extension contravened privatization guidelines,” the source said.

According to the source, the letter requesting for the additional extension was submitted to the National Council on Privatization on August 6.

“This means that the integrity of the entire privatization process has been undermined by this illegality and deliberate inconsistencies. This is nothing but grand deceit on the part of BPE who misled both local and foreign investors into believing that the process is real,” the source added.

An e-mail to the Head of Public Communications at BPE, Chigbo Anichebe, was not responded to. Calls and text messages to his telephone were equally not responded to.

Flouting privatisation rules Northwest Power Limited emerged top bidder for the Kaduna DISCO in late 2013 having offered the highest Aggregate Technical Commercial and Collection, ATC & C, percentage loss reduction figure of 29.26.

Following a fresh date fixed

One of the Power Stations under Kaduna DISCO

by BPE for the completion of the Share Sale Agreement, SSA, Leda Consortium Limited, the reserve bidder in the process, had its bid bond and post-qualification security guarantee totaling about $15.815 million withheld beyond the validity period, against the privatisation guideline.

Section 14.3 (137) of the Request for Proposals, RFP for the Privatisation of PHCN Successor Companies, states: “The Second (2nd) ranked bidder will be required to maintain both its bid bond and post-qualification security valid for the duration of the proposal validity period or the extended proposal validity period that the bidder has agreed to in order to maintain its status as the first (1st) reserved bidder.”

“By unlawfully sustaining the status of Northwest Power as the Preferred Bidder of Kaduna Disco until now, BPE has demonstrated a flagrant and reckless breach of the

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iron-cast and inviolate provisions of the Request for Proposal, RFP. “By implication, the bid bond and post-qualification security of the reserved bidder shall not be held beyond the extended validity period, which in this case is April 2014,” the source said. “For want of better expression, BPE more or less confiscated the Reserved Bidder’s Bid Bond and Post Qualification Security beyond April 2014, until it was compelled to release it in July 2014, three months later,” the source added.

With the failure of the Preferred Bidder (Northwest Power Limited) to beat the deadline for the 75 per cent balance payment, according to privatization guidelines, the Reserve Bidder – in this case Leda Consortium Limited – will be invited to take over the power asset.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that Northwest Power Limited, as the Preferred Bidder for the

The privatization guidelines demands that failure by the preferred bidder to discharge its payment obligation before the stipulated deadline, it should mandatorily forfeit its 25 per cent initial payment and the right to buy the asset to the reserve bidder.

Kaduna DISCO, entered the Share Sale Agreement (SSA) with the BPE on December 23, 2013, making June 23, 2014, the deadline for the conclusion of the transaction.

Section 15 (139) of the RFP for the Privatization of PHCN Successor Companies stipulates, “Within fifteen (15) Business Days after signing of the Share Sale Agreement, or at a mutually agreed earlier time, the Bidder shall make a down payment of twenty five per cent (25%) of the Share purchase price.

“Failure to make this payment will result in the automatic drawdown of the full amount of coverage of the Preferred Bidder’s Bank Guarantee.

Upon receipt of the down payment, the Preferred Bidder’s Bank Guarantee will be returned to the Bidder within a maximum of two (2) weeks.”

Furthermore, Section 15 (140) stipulates that, “Within six (6) months after signing of the Share Sale Agreement, or at a mutually agreed upon time, the Bidder will be required to pay the outstanding seventy five per cent (75%) of the Share purchase price to complete the transaction. Failure to complete the transaction within a mutually agreed timeframe will result in the forfeiture of the down payment as per the terms of the Share Sale Agreement.”

But contrary to its much publicised claim of transparency, BPE unilaterally extended the ‘mutually agreed time’ to August 6, 2014, the source said.

Culled from PREMIUM TIMES

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

PAGE 48

Business

AfDB recommends participation in global value chain to Nigeria

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he African Development Bank (AfDB) has advised Nigeria and other African countries to engage in global value chain system as a viable opportunity and strategy that could help them achieve strong, sustained and inclusive growth as well as structural transformation.

This was a key argument of the 2014 African Economic Outlook,

the flagship annual publication of the bank launched in Abuja.

Ousmane Dore, AfDB country director in Nigeria, said at the launch that global value chain would allow Africa to set up new and more productive activities that drive structural transformation.

The outlook has the theme, ‘Global Value Chains and Africa’s

Industrialisation,’ and was chosen based on the conviction that global value chains hold high promise for boosting employment and a structural transformation on the continent.

The report notes that currently, Africa captures a small but growing share of trade in global value chains, with sectors integrating differently.

The continent’s share in global trade in value added grew from 1.4 percent in 1995 to just 2.2 percent in 2011.

AfDB is concerned that for instance, Africa’s exports to the rest of the world grew faster than those of any other region in 2012, but the continent’s participation in global value chain is currently limited to lower value activities

although opportunities exist for upgrading to higher ones.

But the bank strongly argues that more efficient participation in regional and global value chains could serve as a springboard for Africa in economic diversification, domestic resource mobilisation and investments in critical infrastructure.

NNPC boss says N2trn on fuel subsidy a year ridiculous

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oseph Thlama Dawha, group managing director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), has described the whopping sum of N2 trillion expended on fuel subsidy in Nigeria in a year as ridiculous.

Speaking at the 38th Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibitions organised by the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Nigeria, Dawha said the Nigerianpeoplemustunderstandtheneed to get off this inefficient use of resources, adding that Nigeria has no excuse to import refined petroleum products such as kerosene, petrol and diesel.

Nigeria, Africa’s largest crude oil producer, is arguably the biggest importer of refined petroleum products in the continent, creating a lucrative market for refineries particularly in Europe and the US. InFebruary,Nigeriabroughtinitslargest kerosene cargo – 292,000 barrels from the United States (US). The country also emerged as the second-largest importer of US jet fuel, according to data released

by Energy Information Administration (EIA), the statistics arm of US Department Gov. Oshiomhole at the launching of 5 security patrol vehicles donated to Edo state by MTN in Benin. With him is General Manager, of Energy. Kerosene, which is the cooking fuel of choice for many Nigerians, is being MTN network planning, Mr Gideon Obhakhan. subsidised by the Nigerian government.

Butdespitethekerosenesubsidyregime, retail prices of fuel across the country have been far above the government-approved price of N50 per litre, now ranging from Egbiki says Africa is urbanising N100 to N250 per litre, depending on According to the report, the new report from Ernst & managing partner for West Africa, Young (EY) reveals that by EY, comments: “While near- growing number of lower-middle at an unprecedented rate. Data the location, with only the NNPC petrol 2030, half of the world’s term growth in several emerging income households with some from Oxford Economics reveal that stations and a few retailers in Lagos, Port top 50 cities will be in rapid growth economies hinges on the political disposable income is set to exceed 30 the urban population in Africa is HarcourtandAbujasellingattheapproved markets just as the report also will to implement second generation million by 2030 in Africa and South projected to grow at least twice as regulated price.

“One of the sad issues with Nigeria is suggests that over two-thirds of of reforms; in the medium term, Asia – with incomes above $5,000 fast as that of any other continent people in Nigeria, Ghana and fast-growing populations and but below $10,000 in Africa and up until 2030. The rapid pace of that we export crude oil and then import Indonesia will live in cities by 2030. increasing productivity are expected India. This growth will help to create urbanisation, combined with strong refined products. Similarly, power supply While the world needs to get to lift growth, with cities especially in markets of scale for mobile phone economic growth, is expected to is not enough and we have enormous amount of gas,” said Dawha, who was used to a slower pace of growth Africa and Asia, expected to be the airtime cards and other consumer create “consumer cities.” represented by Timothy Okon, group goods and services. across rapid-growth markets epicenter of this growth.” coordinator, corporate planning and (RGMs) relative to the past decade, strategy, NNPC, at a panel session on ‘The a gradual recovery will see growth Changing Global Energy Supply Balance above 4.5 percent next year. and Africa’s Economic Transformation’.

This is according to EY’s latest By Mohammed Usman with committed to investing a further $100 close later this year.

“Nigeria really has no excuse to import Rapid-Growth Markets Forecast million in the towers acquired, on agency report Etisalat currently has the highest refined products, and the key to that is (RGMF) released recently, a advanced generators, efficient batteries quality network in Nigeria and the the need to remove the subsidy regime. quarterly forecast for 25 markets and alternative energy solutions to partnership with IHS is designed to n an aim to improve the quality of It is simply ridiculous to be spending N2 that are becoming more important reduce diesel consumption and improve its network performance and to promote network sharing, ensure higher trillionayearonsomethingwhichismostly globally in terms of their overall efficiency of grid use. accelerate the roll out of 2G and quality, sustain reliable mobile services, imported from outside the country,” he weight in the world economy, their Matthew Willsher, CEO of Etisalat 3G coverage and new services to its lower overall costs and also promote a said. global influence and the business Nigeria, said: “Continued demand for customers, Etisalat Nigeria has sold 2,136 cleaner environment through reduced Commenting on the incentives that are opportunities they offer to large mobile connectivity along with increased of its towers to IHS Holding Limited diesel usage and increased investments available to invest in gas development and corporations. consumption of data requires reliable (IHS), just as the African Export-Import in alternative energy solutions. refining , he said the Petroleum Industry RGMs have recovered and effective networks that are also cost Over the past 18 months, IHS Bank (Afreximbank) in Cairo, Egypt, Bill (PIB) is coming on stream, adding that somewhat from the financial efficient for network operators. The has installed a large number of “I hope that two provisions in the bill will turmoil in the second half of 2013 announced the successful closing of a alternative energy sites in Nigeria. decision to sell our passive infrastructure be preserved. That is section 39, which is and early 2014, and a fast-growing $150 million financing facility for Econet These investments in addition to to an experienced commercial partner, Wireless Global Limited, Mauritius, to gas utilisation, has been expanded to be population, strong investment such as IHS, is part of our strategy to further investments in its state-of-theapplicable to oil utilisation with respect to rates and the rapid adoption of enable the company fund its expansion art Network Operations Centre (NOC) increase network coverage and capacity programme. BusinessDay and Reuters those who want to build refineries. So the technologies, will continue to grow which is already rated number one mean that uptimes of over 99% are have reported. terms that are available to gas have been rapidly over the medium term. for quality of service by the Nigerian The transaction, the first by a major achieved on its owned sites. Under adopted for those who are building new Henry Egbiki, regional Communications Commission.”

GSM operator in Nigeria, is expected to the terms of this transaction, IHS has refineries.”

EY says two-thirds of Nigerians will live in cities by 2030

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Etisalat Nigeria sells 2,136 towers to

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PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

PAGE 49

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST, 9-10, 2014

Side Talk

By Jacinta David

This week on side talk we seek to analyse recent reports about some issues in the country. The new helms man in the department of personnel, popularly known as the friends of the people tells the nation that he plans to make the sector free of corruption.

While this is a welcome development, we also think the proper analyses of the pledge is equally welcomed.

Then a similar promise by the lady at the head of our retired workers remuneration agencies in the country also, in a recent reports tells Nigerians that all traces of corruption and financial misappropriation in the sector, have been eradicated.

Side talk smiles over this reports. However, it considers the necessity of having a re-think on the matter.

Our third story emanates from the latest epidemic in the continent, how the menace, gradually exposes the technical lapses of the black continent and sadly the rather inept nature of the health sector in the continents’ largest nation.

This and more will make the page this week on side talk.

Our heroes’ funds in safe hands, true or false?

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ur next story is quite similar in nature to the previous one. We are told by our nations’ agency that regulates the allowance of retired workers that no form of financial misappropriation can occur in the sector. They say since the latest transitional arrangement of the people responsible for the management of the worker’s funds have done well. They say it has led to the elimination of any kind of financial misappropriation that you can think of.

According to the leader of the sector.

There have not been single case of financial misappropriation in the sector, and there would never be such throughout the life span of the agency. While these may be

seen as a good prophesy, there may be the need to re-examine the comments.

How many retired workers on the streets share the opinion of the helms woman. How many of the people who should be beneficiaries can vouch for the speaker of this very controversial analogy? Yet still she did not stop at suggesting that nothing like a financial misappropriation, can be found in the agency. She went ahead to state that such will never happen through out the life span of the agency.

If this is true, then the agency should be commended; if not, this woman, should look out for the feed back from media practitioners.

Raising eyebrows for a claim that may not completely be false

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ow for our last story, a report was taken a few days back about the fact that the leaders of the country frowned at the comments of an international human rights organisation which accused the personnel in the nation of violating the issue they (the rights group) stand to protect.

According to the reports; the leading class of the society, blamed the people for making a claim, they described as baseless, yet the whole world was witness to the dastardly abuse of media freedom, and indeed abuse of the rights of the citizenry by these same class, in not so long a period, over what they described as a step to check-mate the threat to security. That report is still very fresh to the reporters across the country. The actions of the people who made this claim, may be viewed as stiff, but

certainly not too far away from the obtainable fact.

Yet while all these true, Side Talk still maintains that no one, and in this case, no group, is perfect, hence what is required is a general understanding of the personnel so that the public, groups and other stakeholders can work with them to make the best expected results.

The peoples’ friend refraining from the culture of corruption??

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ccording to reports reaching us, our dear newly appointed leader of the people’s friend promises to ensure a tranformational in the sector that focuses on attitudinal and ethical reforms. He says the reform will be such that the entire workforce in the personnelrepublic popularly known as the people’s friend will learn to work with ideology and ethics that they will become more ethically guided and groomed in such an ideological framework, that these MAJOR

proponents of bribery and corruption in the country, will no longer indulge in the usual culture of N20, and N50 bribe. But they will focus more on protecting the masses, as friends of the people.

What we do not know is whether or not it is possible for a people so used to working only by the little little change they extort from people to refrain from such a conduct and practice a culture directly opposite in nature to that which they are popularly known for.

When will these people learn to tell us the truth in good time?

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ur next story emanates from the latest epidemic in the country.

A couple of days back the latest epidemic in the continent gets imported into Nigeria. Ever since, all hell has been let loose as people panicked with fear over what will become the fate of residents of the continent’s most populous nation.

Consequently, the stakeholders in the sector decided to come up with a meagre solution, a kind of temporary dose for calming the people’s nerves and they said the only case traceable to the disease has since been eliminated in the death of the importer of the disease. Unfortunately, sooner than imagined, another victim, not only tested positive, but suddenly dies.

What the people are asking is whether or not the medical personnel reported dead from the disease was not properly examined before the report that no case of the disease exists in the country? While we appreciate the effort of those at the helm of the issue in the country at calming the nerves of the people, this is also a call to them, that they should become more proactive and honest to truly lesson the burden of the people.

Also the latest reports by the people about the need to bathe with warm water and salt, to prevent being infected, only better explains the place of the government in dealing with a people so confused in actions as in information assimilation.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

PAGE 50

Healthy Living

What to do in an emergency and no dentist

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he series of shorts will deal with emergencies that may occur in dental health and the first aid that may be applied in such circumstance.

The population of dentist serving the country is about 4400, four thousand four hundred dentists, is totally insufficient for the country of roughly a population of a hundred and fifty million people. There is a great skew towards the south-west and southsouth geo-political zone with half of the number practising in the region.

A sizeable number are present in the

federal capital territory Abuja. Access to dental facilities is therefore limited, it is hoped that the series will assist readers in getting first aid treatment prior to finding an oral health facility.

DISLOCATED JAW The mouth and facial skeleton are composed of joints between the mandibular head and the temporal bone of the skull. The joint derives the name from the component bones making the joint, Temporomandibular joint. (TMJ).

The dislocated jaw occurs when someone opens the mouth too wide as in yawning; the mouth is unable to close. The mouth remains open and referred to as dislocated. The mouth (jaw) is open and stuck in an open position, preventing closure, tiredness of the muscle, reduced speech, dribbling of saliva difficulty in chewing, as the mechanism of chewing will involve the opening and closing of the jaw.

The jaw can accidentally be dislocated during routine dental treatment and this should not be a deter-

With

Dr. Samuel Omodele Awosolu 08108155239 (SMS only) samawosolu@yahoo.co.uk (Text only) rent to receiving dental treatment!

The initial emergency treatment for a dislocated jaw will be to get the jaw supported, the neck supported against the wall and the person placed on the floor.

The operator or giving the first aid should sit in front or kneel in front of the person whichever is comfortable. The fingers should be put under the jaws outside the mouth.

The thumbs should be placed beside the last tooth, molars in this case, not on the teeth as the individuals may bite them during the manoeuvre.

Slight downward pressure should be applied with the ends of the thumb force the jaw quickly downwards and backwards. If after two or three attempts, the jaw does not move into place give some analgesics and see the nearest dentist. The dentist may need to put the person to sleep or

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Surgery bites

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he holiday season is upon us, the school kids are everywhere in the surgery, the result of the retreat and smiling school project, the regular appointees, as visits are encouraged for the kids during the school holiday so the visits are least disruptive and it serves more or less a family outing.

My welcome patient is a regular not because he has a myriad of dental problems far from that, it is just that the family have become disciples of the preventive oral health care practicalised by regular dental checkups.

He was in his Barcelona jersey and was having a run around touching everything in sight. I delighted at seeing the jersey and teased him so much that the Catalans were well deserved losers to athletic Madrid and no longer made any team shudder, of course that was not the real reason still sulking that there was some perceived injustice to the team I felt played better , Manchester City in the

previous round.

They made it through due to the impossible decision of the referee to award a phantom penalty and red card.

I asked he not touch all the surfaces in the clinic. I arrive at the discuss for today,

INFECTION CONTROL IN THE DENTAL SURGERY. The dental surgery is a mini theatre where invasive procedures are carried out and there is a risk of contamination for every procedure carried out. It becomes paramount that infection control is most important.

There is a conscious effort to ensure that germs are not introduced from one person to the other, from the dentist to the patient and vice versa.

The dentist and the staff have a duty to ensure the cleanliness of the surgery, the instruments in use and where possible disposable materials be used. Barrier protection for

the dentist and the patient , the dentist wears a protective clothing, uses sterile and puncture resistant gloves, face mask to prevent breathing to and into the patients mouth or from the patients mouth. To prevent splatter , surfaces should be easily cleaned and waste disposed properly , dental needles are for single use they are not to be reused per any chance...You are within rights if in doubt to get assurance from the dentist that instruments are being sterilised and made safe for use between patients.

It is a disservice to the dentist for patients to withhold their medical history, if you have any fears and anything you need to let the dentist know it will be most appreciated to inform the dentist. Health professionals are duty bound to ensure confidentiality of patient’s record except it is a matter of public interest in which case proper legal proceedings will be initiated.

Dental surgery and treatment are safe, see you next week

sedate to reduce pain and relax stiff muscles before reducing the jaw dislocation back to the original position.

Once relocated, the jaw should be supported by a head and chin bandage to support the jaw for at least five days, over the counter analgesics to cope with the inflammation and pain.

Soft diet should be taken for the next couple of days. The mouth should not be opened too widely say yawning lest the dislocation happens again.

The first aid tips are not a substitute for treatment, they are a stop gap to the period that elapses before help can be reached or accessed.

The idea of a twenty four hour dental service is still restricted to the teaching hospitals, general hospitals and the federal medical centres that have on call dentists to deal with emergency cases.

There is a conscious effort to ensure that germs are not introduced from one person to the other, from the dentist to the patient and vice versa.

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PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

Those who shouldn’t venture into marriage (III)

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welcome you to this column in Jesus’ name. I want to bring to you today the concluding part of this message. Don’t forget I said while first introducing this message that my intention is not to discourage you from marriage if you’re still a spinster; it’s not to make you quit your marriage if you are already married but facing certain challenges. My objective is to help you with some truths from God’s Word which will facilitate your making wise decisions about marriage or making your present marriage better.

These truths I’ve been sharing and want to wrap up today. I believe the Lord will speak to you more today. Let me go into today’s message.

• Men who cannot listen to their wives. Being the head does not make the man superior to the woman spiritually, intellectually, morally etc.

A man should listen to his wife and be humble to concede to her when she is right. If a man is secure, he won’t see listening to his wife when she is right as losing his position. In Gen 21:10-14, God told Abraham to listen to Sarah because God considered her position right. So if you have ego problem as a man who believes being the head means you are always right and a man should not defer to a woman even when she is right, don’t bother to go into marriage. That you are the head does not make you a dictator! You are not “Mr. Know-all.”

A wise man will take advantage of what God has blessed him with in her wife by listening to her. The same God that blamed Adam for listening to his wife, Eve by eating the forbidden fruit also told Abraham in Gen 21:12 to listen to Sarah. The woman is not always wrong neither is the man always right.

• Men who will not honor their wives as weaker vessels. Take note that the word “weaker” is talking of comparative degree of weakness meaning that the man too is a weak vessel! Only God is the strength of both

the man and the woman. God tells the husband to honour his wife. 1Peter 3:7 says lack of honor for your wife will hinder your prayers. Why allow marriage to hinder your prayers when you can stay unmarried and receive answers to your prayers! When you dishonour your wife God does not take kindly to it as much as He does not tolerate a woman not respecting her husband. The Bible calls the wife a weaker vessel to illustrate the kind of attention and care that He expects the husband to give to the wife as a fragile vessel. We always handle carefully and with respect objects that are fragile lest they should break. That’s how God expects husbands to handle their wives.

• Women whose priority is to change their husbands or who see themselves as their husbands’ supervisors, counselors or teachers.

That is missing the purpose of God for the wife. God didn’t make a wife to be his husband’s supervisors, counselor or teacher. He has not given the wife the assignment to change her husband. Your duty as a wife is to help him, respect him, submit to him, and reverence him. If you do this, you’ll succeed indirectly in changing him and your husband will be the one to ask for your counsel, opinion or advice. You’ll not need to generate tension unnecessarily in the home by constant correction and teaching of your husband or by trying to appoint yourself as his advisor.

If you do what God says, you will effortlessly change him without any desire to do so. It will be unobtrusive.

If your priority is to teach, counsel or change your husband, you will only make yourself miserable by the tension you create in your marriage. Natalie Wood says, “The only time a woman succeeds in changing a man is when he’s a baby” Only if your husband is a baby will you not find it a Herculean task changing him by being didactic!

No wonder the Bible says the wife should adapt to the husband.

• Those who want to hold on to the ownership of their bodies.

In marriage, the bodies of husbands and wives belong to their spouses.

You cannot go into marriage and still want to hold on to your body. If you’re married, you don’t deny your spouse access to your body. Sex is at the center of most troubled marriages today. The woman should not deny her husband her sexual obligation and vice versa.

The man is different from the woman. The make-up of a man is such that, if possible, he’ll want to have sex with his wife everyday but the woman will want to be in the mood first.

Lack of understanding has made many women lose their marriages.

You can’t allow your husband to have sex with you only when you feel like it.

Be wise. That does not mean that the husband should be insensitive to the health condition and the emotional state of his wife.

Man shall not live by bread alone as important as bread is but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God. A man should not promote sex as important as his daily food. Even food as important as it is to the human body, we can do without it for some days. And with discipline, you can do without sex for a longer period. While both the man and the woman should not deny each other sex, they must however have consideration for each other. There is need for balance.

1Cor 7:4 -5 says, “The wife hath not power of her own body but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. Defraud ye not one another, except it be the consent for a time, that ye may give yourself to fasting and prayer, and come together again that Satan tempt you for your incontinency” Did you see the condition given there for abstinence from sex for married people?

From the Pulpit green pastures

By Pastor T. O. Banso

cedarministryintl@yahoo.com GSM: 08033113523 • Those who cannot forgive their spouses. Marriage will offer you opportunities to be offended by your spouse but you must not take offence.

Are you somebody who does not forgive or cannot forgive? It will be safe for you not to marry then. Keeping offences will destroy marriage. The Bible says it is impossible that offences will come. (Matt 18:7 KJV) By offences, the Bible means opportunities to sin.

It is your responsibility not to take offences that must come. Hear how the New Living Translation puts it: “What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting” Husbands and wives must learn to forgive each other as many times as offences occur. There is no end to forgiveness. Once you stop forgiveness, your marriage starts dying gradually. In Luke 17:4 the Bible says, “If thy brother (including your wife or husband) trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying I repent, thou shall forgive him” Has your spouse offended you up to seven times in a day that you feel so bad and you don’t want to forgive him or her?

In Matt 18:21-22, the Bible says, “Then come Peter to him, and said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive? Till seven times? Jesus said unto him, I say not unto thee until seven times but until seventy times seven” That means the end of forgiveness is infinity. In marriage, you must learn to forgive your spouse as many times as he or she offends you. That does not mean that spouses should go out deliberately

to offend each other just because the Bible says forgive!

I believe God has spoken to you through this message. I know that giving your life to Jesus positions you to have a godly, divinely purposeful and exceedingly fulfilling marriage. I wish to invite you to accept Jesus into your life as your Saviour and Lord.

More importantly, so as to spend your eternity with God, it is necessary to give your life to Jesus. You must be born again because God’s Word says so. You must if you don’t want to spend your eternity in hell fire. There’s no other name given to man by which he can be saved except the name of Jesus.

TAKE ACTION! If you want to be born again, kindly say this prayer now: “0 Lord God, I come unto you today. I know I’m a sinner and I cannot save myself. I repent of my sins and forsake them. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and resurrected the third day.

I confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour and surrender my life to him today. I invite Jesus into my heart today. By this prayer, I know I‘m saved. Thank you Jesus for saving me and making me a child of God” I believe you’ve said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations!

You’ll need to join a Bible believing, Bible teaching church in your area where you’ll be taught how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be.

Consistent confidence of faith without anxiety Matthew 6:28-30; Luke 12:27-31; Hosea 14:5-9; James 1:5-8; Ephesians 6:16; Romans 4:18-21; 8:32; Psalm 37:16-19; Romans 10:11-13; Philippians 4:6-8,13,19.

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orry is essentially distrust of God. Faith in God sets us free from worry and anxiety. He who believes in God will not worry or be anxious because he believes in the love of God. It is pointless to worry. Can worry or anxiety add one cubit to our stature?

Prayer and faith added fifteen years to Hezekiah’s life (2 Kings 20:1-6) but has worry, fear, unbelief, anxiety or discouragement ever added to the quality of any life?

“Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. If God so clothe the grass of the field ..., shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?” To be worried and anxious about necessities of life shows that we are of little faith. If we have manifested saving faith and we have received “so great salvation”, why should we doubt God in the area of material supplies? If God clothes the

lilies of the field with a beauty which is beyond man’s power to imitate, how much more will He care for His own children? Surely, God, a loving, compassionate Father will not be forgetful of man, the crown of creation. He will not forget His own.

He will not forget you.

ANTIDOTE FOR WORRY AND ANXIETY Matthew 6:26,27 Worry is a self-imposed, internally generated disease in the human family that slowly but surely kills many. Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, the Great Physician, the Healer of both mind and body, has provided an effective cure. The causes of worry and anxiety are many and varied. The rich and the poor, villagers and city-dwellers, men and women, married and unmarried, old and young, even the fortunate and the less fortunate all find things to worry about.

Whatever the cause of our worry or anxiety may be, there is a cure that never fails. Permanently cured from worry and anxiety, there is no limit to how peaceful, purposeful and

By Pastor W.F Kumuyi profitable our lives can be. The Lord has prescribed the means for total and perfect cure and we must follow His prescription. A fulfilled and fuller life awaits us as we become free from worry and anxiety.

Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, is the great Physician as well as the great Master-Teacher. Effective teaching requires much repetition and that is what our Lord has done in the last ten verses of Matthew chapter six. The experienced teacher knows that it is not enough to teach an important principle of life only once; it needs to be repeated. So, He

repeats “take no thought” a number of times and illustrates it with convincing realities.

1. BEHOLD THE BIRDS AND STOP WORRYING Matthew 6:26; Job 38:41; 39:2629; Genesis 8:6,7; Psalms 84:3-5; 104:10-12,16,17; 145:15-19; 147:79; Song of Solomon 2:11,12; Isaiah 34:13-16.

“Behold the fowls of the air.”

Jesus said, behold the birds and learn not to worry. Birds are inferior to men but we can learn from them; just like ants are much inferior to men, yet we are instructed to learn from them

and become wise (Proverbs 6:611; 30:25). Above all, we are to learn from Christ who lived to fulfil the divine purpose without a moment of worry (Matthew 11:29).

The purpose of creation and existence for the birds is different from the purpose of man’s creation and redemption. The birds eat, live and fulfil their divinely appointed purpose without worry and anxiety.

Men, the crown of God’s creation and regenerated men, citizens of God’s kingdom are to discover the divine purpose of existence and fulfil it. Why are we alive at such a time on earth? (Genesis 1:28,29; Acts 13:22; Esther 4:14b; Jeremiah 1:5; Ezekiel 3:17; John 15:16; 1 Peter 2:9). We are not alive only to eat and be clothed.

Our preoccupation must not end with finding food, clothing and shelter. All these things are provided to keep us healthy and happy in order to fulfil the main purpose in life. We must not allow distracting worry and distrustful anxiety to make us lose focus. God who has ordained our life and its purpose will provide all that is necessary to keep us alive.

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Photo Splash

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

Representative of the Vice President, retired Gen. Aliyu Gusau (4th L); commandant, National Defence College (NDC); Rear Adm. Patrick Agholor (5th L); Service Chiefs, Dignitaries and Graduands at the graduation of course 22 of NDC, yesterday in Abuja.

Isolated ward for treatment of Ebola at Lagos Mainland Hospital, yesterday Yaba, Lagos.

Security men checking a vehicle at the entrance of the INEC Headquarters, yesterday in Osogbo

L-R: Udi community leader, Igwe Chris Ogakwu, Director of Studies, Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) School of Professional and Legal Studies, Prof. Gab Agu and Chairman, ESUT Senate Exam Malpractice Committee, Prof. Alex Ndiji, at the 2nd Exam Ethics Marshals Workshop, yesterday in Enugu

Pupils of Great Havillah School , during their prize giving day ceremony recently at Journalist Estate, Arepo , Ogun state.

Photos: Justin Imo-Owo and NAN

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PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

Keshi can’t reject NFF offer, says Ado

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World Cup: Falconets will progress to next round -Okoh believes >>Page 54

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Sports

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

Falconets will progress to next round, says Okoh Stories by Albert Akota

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he Super Falcons coach Edwin Okon, has charged Nigeria’s women under-20 national team the Faloconets not to be disappointed in the result of their first group match against Mexico which ended 1-1 draw in the ongoing FIFA under -20 World Cup. The coach who led the Falconets to a semi final finish in the last tournament in Japan said the girls must work hard to ensure that they win their remaining matches which are very important if they must progress in the competition.

“I am praying for Peter Dedevbo and his girls to win their remaining matches to firstly boost the confidence

of the girls to qualify from their group and do the nation proud.

“Thank God they did not lose their first match so they should pick themselves up and pick the maximum points for the remaining matches” “We know they won all their matches in qualifying for the World Cup but they must guard against complacency if they must progress.

“The World Cup is a different ball game and the girls must remain focused and double their efforts to emerge from the group” he stated.

Okon stressed that he would be praying for the team on behalf of the entire Super Falcons players and officials, expressing optimism that the Falconets will do the country proud in Canada.

Falconets

Keshi can’t reject NFF offer, says Ado

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he brother to out of contract Super Eagles Coach, “Already he has replied the NFF that he is willing to Stephen Keshi, Emmanuel Ado, has said in an continue as Coach of the Super Eagles,so presently he is exclusive chat that the big boss is waiting for the waiting for them to offer him terms of the new dea,l” he Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to offer him terms after said. accepting their offer to renew his deal.

“It’s only after a new deal has been offered to him that discussion proper can begin.”

However, Ado is optimistic that Keshi will accept to continue as Nigeria Coach despite interest from Gabon and Equitorial Guinea.

“He was very happy when the NFF made the first step by signalling their intention to renew, despite interest from other countries like you rightly mention his number one priority is Nigeria.

“It’s so because he captained the team for 10 years, coached them to winning the Nations cup and above all he wants to finish the good works he started two years ago.”

He vehemently denied that Keshi asked for a whopping 10 million naira monthly salary to stay on and also debunked talks that Keshi refused the NFF offer of 7 million naira a month.

“Most times I laugh when I read some of these things, how can he demand for 10 million naira when the NFF as at that time didn’t give him a notice of renewal?

“I wonder where they got news that he rejected the offer of 7 million naira from the NFF because from what I know discussions are yet to begin on a new deal, all what we have is just an agreement for talks to start over a new deal.”

Despite insisting Keshi is keen on the Eagles job, Ado urged the NFF to hasten up with an offer for talks to start in earnest.

“Already he has waited for a month, keeping all interested party on hold waiting for Nigeria, I doubt if he will be patient enough for a second month, the ball is in the NFF court he is waiting.”

With exactly a month before the Super Eagles start the defence of their AFCON 2013 title with a game against Rwanda at home, Nigerians are hopeful that a deal between the NFF and Keshi will be reached before the end of this Stephen Keshi week.

Minsk signs Esther Sunday from Pelican Stars

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insk have signed Nigeria winger Esther Sunday on undisclosed terms from Nigeria Women Premier League outfit Pelican Stars.

The club have decided to move for the mobile player in order to beef up their squad for the 13-week old Belarus Premier League and the UEFA Champions League.

It is the latest of transfer of Nigerians to the team, with Onome Ebi, Gift Otuwe and Ishola Tawa already on the pay-roll of the defending league champions.

The ex-Falconets star counts Sunshine Queens among her other former employers.

She made her debut in the three-nil league win over Nadezhda, replacing national team compatriot Ishola Tawa in the 46th minute.

Minsk begins their UEFA Champions League campaign in the qualifying round against Zurich, with the match taking place at the Stadions Arkadija on 9th August.

Esther Sunday

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 9,- sunday 10, august, 2014

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Sports

10 most expensive transfers of the summer

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he Uruguay star currently tops the list of the summer’s biggest deals to date in a hectic preseason, but who else has been signed for big money? Despite almost a month of the transfer window still remaining, the summer of 2014 has already been quite remarkable.

Following Gareth Bale’s worldrecord €100 million move from Tottenham to Real Madrid last year, we have already seen the €80m barrier broken twice this time around. With clubs enjoying greater commercial and broadcast revenues than ever and on the back of the shop window that is the World Cup, it is safe to expect more big signings between now and September.

But what have been the most expensive transfers so far?

Luis Suarez may have seen his World Cup end in ignominy, but it wasn’t long after his time in Brazil that Barcelona paid what is currently the biggest fee of the summer - a staggering €88m - to bring the Premier League player of the year to Spain.

Not to be outdone by their Clasico rivals, Real Madrid splashed out €80m on James Rodriguez, who captured the attention of the world with his Golden Boot-winning performances in Brazil and promptly moved to the Spanish capital from Monaco. Interestingly, this is the only transfer currently in the top 10 not to include a club from England’s top flight.

David Luiz will not be missed at Chelsea according to Jose Mourinho, but Paris Saint-Germain will hope that their €49.5m outlay on the Brazilian - the highest fee ever paid for a defender - will not go to waste. Chelsea, of course, wasted little time in reinvesting the funds, paying €44m to Atletico Madrid to bring Diego Costa to Stamford Bridge.

Currently in fifth place is Alexis Sanchez, who became Arsenal’s second most-expensive player when he joined from Barcelona. Just behind him is Luke Shaw, whom Manchester United made the costliest teenager in football history when they forked out just over €37.8m to Southampton for his services.

Shaw’s new United team-mate Ander Herrera is seventh in the table, with Athletic Bilbao receiving €36.5m for the midfielder, with Cesc Fabregas’ return to the Premier League placing him in eighth.

In ninth place - the fourth deal involving Chelsea in the table - is Romelu Lukaku, who joined Everton in a club-record transfer, while Adam Lallana completes the current top 10 after joining Liverpool for €31.5m.

A number of other significant summer moves just fall short of a place in our list. Toni Kroos and Antoine Griezmann both cost a fraction around €30m as they joined Real and Atletico, while Mario Mandzukic - Costa’s replacement at Atleti is down in 15th with a fee of around €22m.

Juan Iturbe is the most expensive signing made by a Serie A side so far, with Roma’s new attacker placed ahead of Alvaro Morata. Jeremy Mathieu became the most expensive defender ever over the age of 30 while Ciro Immobile is the priciest Bundesliga arrival of the summer at €18.5m.

Ivan Rakitic and Jan Oblak both make the top 25 along with Manchester City newboy Fernando, while Iturbe, bizarrely, appears again at No.24 after Hellas Verona initially paid Porto to acquire the full rights to the player before his Roma move.

See table the players details

Luiz Suarez in Barcelona pseudo shirt

Rodriguez acknowledging cheers at the Bernabeu

No. Player From To Total fee 1 Luis Suarez Liverpool Barcelona €88m 2 James Rodriguez Monaco Real Madrid €80m 3 David Luiz Chelsea Paris Saint-Germain €49.5m 4 Diego Costa Atletico Madrid Chelsea €44m 5 Alexis Sanchez Barcelona Arsenal €40m 6 Luke Shaw Southampton Manchester United €37.8m 7 Ander Herrera Athletic Bilbao Manchester United €36.5m 8 Cesc Fabregas Barcelona Chelsea €36m 9 Romelu Lukaku Chelsea Everton €35.3m 10 Adam Lallana Southampton Liverpool €31.5m Source: goal.com

Gombe win after 9 matches under Eguavoen

G Eguavoen

ombe United picked up their first win in nine games after securing a 2-0 victory over visiting Akwa United.

The boys of former Super Eagles Coach Austin Eguavoen got the curtain raiser in the 30th minute when Austin Ekpoma met Sani Gidado’s cross with a flying header to put them one goal up.

The goal was the only major talking point of a half that was devoid of any real goal mouth action.

Five minutes after both team resumed proceedings for the second half, Isaac Giwa

made it 2-0 for Gombe United after Akwa United failed to deal with a series of passes from the hosts.

Akwa United put up little fight to reduce the deficit with Gombe United not having any moment or reason to panic at the back.

Eguavoen and his boys could and should have scored more to reduce their goal deficit of -1 but chances after chances went begging.

At the end of the game despite winning 2-0 Gombe United are still second from the rear with 23 points four points away from safety.

BIG PUNCH “I want to make it categorically cleared that I stand by the very letter of the document that I signed- “THAT THE STRIKE WAS SUSPENDED”. And since upon my INTEGRITY AND HONOUR, I cannot continue to drive the doctrine that “STRIKE CONTINUES”, I hereby tender my letter of resignation as NMA President.

—President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Kayode Obembe

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST 9-10, 2014

Who is afraid of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari?

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he attempt to snuff life out of one of Nigeria’s most revered former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari, in a fiendish operation which would have passed for a routine Boko Haram attack if their hand had performed their enterprise, would have thrown Nigeria in turmoil of unimaginable proportions as President Jonathan submitted days ago. The failed “assassination attempt,” as Buhari tagged it, may not be unconnected with the grand plot to silence the opposition.

This is coming on the heels of the impeachment of Murtala Nyako of Adamawa state and the tightening of impeachment noose around Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa state. Clearly, the shades of the varying scope of operation to hunt down those who pose a threat to the present government as enshrined in the alleged sniper’s list former President Olusegun Obasanjo divulged in his missive is being made manifest. Surely, the mere knowledge of an alleged sniper’s list should be instructive to the opposition party leaders.

Impeaching opposition Governors one after the other, it now appears, is part of the grand scheme.

To underscore the gruesome motive of the perpetrators, eyewitness accounts said the bomb-laden car single-mindedly targeted the vehicle conveying the APC chieftain to Daura, his ancestral home from Kaduna.

It hit target but the bulletproof construction of the SUV ensured the General escaped death by the whiskers. To the ‘terrorists’, they came agonisingly close.

How can we forget retired General Muhammadu Mamman Shuwa? In November 2012, the civil war veteran was killed in cold blood by unknown gunmen in his Maiduguri home yards away from soldiers idling away in enforcement of law and order. Boko Haram, the usual suspects were fingered.

Had Buhari suffered a similar fate, the perpetrators would use the sect to divert attention from the perpetrators.

The PDP have sold a dummy to Nigerians for too long that the sponsors of terror were members of the opposition, All Progressive Advert: Business:

News: Lagos:

Congress (APC), but this attack have vindicated the much maligned progressives. Buhari has openly challenged those who accuse him of religious fundamentalism to come out and show proof. No one till this day has any clue.

For irredentists, who think the attack on Buhari’s life was stagemanaged, let them continue to stew in their bitterness and wallow in their chutzpah. Same people who peddle such falsehood of a selfmasterminded attack won’t roam within a metre radius of a spot of a bomb scare. Any reasonable Nigerian will acknowledge the risk in masterminding such an attack as the probability that it could spiral out of control is higher than its success. he political elite in the ruling party must truly be frightened by Buhari’s growing popularity ahead of the 2015 elections even though the media coverage on the General is frequentlynegativewithunfounded and unsubstantiated allegations. It has rather won him more support from discerning Nigerians who cannot be misinformed or misled by needless propaganda. For his loyalists across the country, they can boldly say of him, “All I need from Buhari is his word, I can take it to the bank.” Such is the cult-like following that Gen. Buhari wields that he need not rent a crowd, or share rice to garner support.

This is because of his glowing and incorruptible antecedents.

Very few people in this country will occupy the number one position to live a modest and Spartan life afterwards like him. He occupied lofty positions like the Governor of the defunct North-Eastern State of Nigeria, Head of State, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources and Chairman of NNPC, Chairman of Petroleum (Special) Trust Fund (PTF). He could easily be one of Nigeria’s wealthiest politicians with oil blocs to boot because he birthed and supervised the establishment of our existing refineries. Today, we import 70% of the fuel we use because those after him have literally crippled the refineries. He could have retired into stupendous opulence like the Danjumas, Obasanjos, and Abachas of this world. But Buhari bucked the trend

SATURDAY COLUMN By

By Theophilus Ilevbare

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Gen. Muhammadu Buhari

and chose the honourable path.

His detractors and traducers are uncomfortable with him around the political scene.

Maybe he scares them with his incorruptible, uncompromising, sober, painstaking personae he exudes; his intolerance of impropriety - a major fault of the privileged political elite – scares them. He is everything they are not. here have been various attempts to erode the electoral value of a man who has validated his cast iron

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reputation for accountability and transparency coming out unscathed from probes regarding his tenure as Chairman of PTF. And as Buhari’s staunch loyalist in Mallam Nasir el-Rufai posited that his antagonists “have changed our politics into that of ethnicity and religion to divert attention from their incompetence, lack of capacity and looting of the treasury… PDP is scared of Buhari’s integrity and his track record of doing the right thing and ensuring that people are brought to justice when they break

His detractors and traducers are uncomfortable with him around the political scene. Maybe he scares them with his incorruptible, uncompromising, sober, painstaking personae

the law. They are afraid of that day when he will become President.”

With the failed attempt to take General Buhari’s life, the burgeoning army of opposition against the General of impeccable integrity would now sit back, maybe have a rethink, recall their foot soldiers masked in the toga of Jihadists cutting short the lives of “infidels” they see as living corpses.

In the 2011 presidential elections, the man they hate to see even in their dreams, got over 12 million votes with a party that was formed barely 10 months to the election without the support structureandvotesastateGovernor or even a Local Government chairman would have brought into the party. He had no war chest or federal might to manipulate voters and electoral officers, a trick the PDP has perfected over the years.

But Buhari’s enormous star power earned him a couple of senators and a state governor after the elections. It won’t take a political scientist, a Nostradamus or some prophetic unction to work the numbers in votes the General will pull in 2015 with the 15 Governors in the APC fold!

Those who plotted the dastardly act are enemies of Nigeria, they neither seek its prosperity nor tranquility but thrive and profit from the chaos, bloodshed and colossal sleaze.

They are afraid of the intimidating profile of the former Head of State and his acolytes in the opposition party. hoever wanted Buhari dead has made a super hero of him. Of all the reasons why Buhari was wanted dead, the 2015 general elections keep popping out of every possibility and conspiracy theory. Inadvertently, they only succeeded in raising his popularity meter. With the overwhelming outpouring of emotion and support, the retired General has reaffirmed his status as a political heavyweight and gladiator who remains a top contender for next year’s general elections.

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Please follow the writer on twitter, @tilevbare.

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