Saturday 11th January, 2014 Edition by Peoples Media Limited

News

Special Report

Jonathan orders GEJ vs Sanusi: release of 165 When pushing terror suspects comes to shove >>Page 11 >>Page 6

News

>>Page 15

Cholera kills 71 in Kano, as teacher commits suicide over sack >>Page 6 in Edo>>Page 6 weekend.peoplesdailyng.com

. . . Putti ng the p e o p l e fi rs t Vol. 3 No. 73

SATURDAY — SUNDAY, JANUARY 11-12, 2014

RABIU’L AWWAL 10-11, 1435 AH

N150

As Nass resumes Wednesday...

Mark, Ekweremadu, Ihedioha under pressure Cover

>>Pages 7,8,9,16

Gbajabiamila positions for dep. speaker

Who’s hoarding lower denominations of the Naira? Sen. Mark

Sen. Ekweremadu

The making of the Sarkin Fulanin Katsina >>Page 2

Hon. Ihedioha

Land dispute:

How reprisals were averted in Jere over attack on Emir >>Pages 3,17

>>Page 47

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 11,- sunday 12 january, 2014

Page 2

Profile

SHEMA: The making of the Sarkin Fulani of Katsina

From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

he Governor of Katsina State, Alhaji Ibrahim Shehu Shema has added another feather to his numerous caps of honour as the revered Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabir Usman bestowed on him the prestigious title of ‘Sarkin Fulanin Katsina’. Considering the miserly and careful manner with which the emir dishes out traditional titles in his domain, one can comfortably conclude that the honour to the governor is well deserved. Feelers from the emirate council has it that the governor’s numerous achievements in his six years as the governor of Katsina State captured the attention of the emirate council hence its decision to honour this icon of peace and development. Similarly the governor’s numerous projects that opened up rural communities; Fulani communities inclusive endeared him to the emirate council. The governor’s numerous health care programmes that carry mobile health care services to the Fulani milieus across the state also captured the attention of the emir. Although the date for the turbanning ceremony was not officially announced, sources from the palace and government circle confirmed that the ceremony will take place on the 25th January 2014 at the historic Kangiwa Square at the Katsina Emir’s palace. That day will be a day that a hero will be honoured by his own people after receiving various honours from within and outside the country. Governor Shema was born on September 22, 1957 in Dutsin-ma, Katsina State. He began his primary education at Nasarawa Primary School in 1964 and subsequently proceeded to Government Secondary School, Kafanchan where he obtained the West African School Certificate in 1976. Shema attended College of Arts, Science and Technology, Zaria from where he proceeded

to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria from 1980-1983 and obtained his Bachelor of Law Degree. He similarly proceeded to the Nigeria Law School, Lagos in 1983 and was called to the Bar in 1984.

1999. Having established him-

appointed Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice of Katsina State. Soon after, he was appointed to a position as member of the Peoples Democratic Party Special Committee on the Anambra crisis. Shema also participated in the Katsina State National Political Reform Conference. He rose within the Peoples Democratic Party, becoming National Vice Chairman (NORTH) of the party and chairman of the party’s National Disciplinary Committee. He similarly served as the chairman of the governing

self in leadership positions in the business and legal world, he turned his attention to public service. In 1999 he was

council of the Peoples Democratic Institute, chairman of the national reconciliation committee for the South-South and chairman of the governing board of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency. Governor Shema is an associate member of the American Bar Association,

On completion of his Nigeria Law School, the amiable Shema served as the Chief Legal Officer to the National Fertilizer Company (NAFCON) and became principal partner in Shema, Oscar and Company Legal Practitioners in Lagos. He was Managing Director of Tools Manufacturing Company Limited and Solidarity Holding Limited. While serving as the Principal in Shema S. Ibrahim and Company Legal Practitioners in Kaduna, the knowledge seeking S h e m a found

Alhaji Ibrahim Shema time to obtain his masters of Business Administration, (MBA) from Ahmadu Bello University, in 1998 and a Master of International Affairs and Diplomacy, (MIAD) from the s a m e university in

“

Feelers from the emirate council has it that the governor’s numerous achievements in his six years as the governor of Katsina State captured the attention of the emirate council hence its decision to honour this icon of peace and development

(ABA), Member International Bar Association, ( IBA), Notary Republic, Supreme Court of Nigeria, Fellow National Teachers Institute, Fellow of Nigeria Institute of Surveyors , Fellow Victor Folstom Fellow for Africa and Fellow Nigerian Institute of Management, ( FNIM). Shema was installed the Sarkin Yakin Hausa by the Daura Emirate council in July, 2010 and he also holds the title of ATTAH-OJAH Of IGALA. Additionally, Governor Shema was awarded the Best Implementing State Governor ( Year 2007) for Universal Basic Education (UBEC), Best Governor Agric Small Micro Credit Guarantee Scheme (2007), by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sardauna Leadership Awards as best Governor in Education (2010) and Mass Transit Award by the Federal Ministry of Transport (2010). In recognition of his tremendous effort in various sectors of Human Capital Development, Shema was equally awarded the National Honours of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) in 2011 and Grand Officier de L’Ordre National du Niger/ Grand Officer of the National Order of Niger (GOON) in Niger Republic. With broad based background in business, law and public service, Shema decided to run for Governor of Katsina State in 2007 under the Peoples Democratic Party banner. Since his election he has made great strides in the development of Katsina State in all spheres of human development, wealth creation, water supply, works, housing transport, food security, free education and development of tertiary and university education. Governor Shema was equally re-elected for a second term in office and was sworn in on May 29th 2011. At the last count, Governor Shema was honoured by his own Umaru Musa ‘Yar’adua University, Katsina with a honourary Doctorate Degree of Law. This was a fall out of his continuity with his mentor’s legacy, Late President ‘Yar’adua .

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 11,- sunday 12 january, 2014

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Feature

Land dispute: How reprisals were averted in Jere over attack on Emir From Muhammad Ibrahim, Kaduna

hen the Emir of Jere, Alhaji Usman Sa’ad left his palace penultimate Friday morning on his way to an official assignment in Abuja, he never sensed danger to his life until was seriously attacked and injured by one of his subject(s) in the town. The emir sustained serious injury on his neck leaving him unconscious at the farm land after the attack. His orderly who was said to have fired a bullet into the air in an attempt to scare the attackers from assaulting his principal was also said to have sustained injury on the hand. He was later said to have taken to his heels leaving his principal at the mercy of the attackers. Out of anger, the attackers used machete to injure the emir who was said to be too old to run for his life. The Gbagyi community whose sons attacked the emir claimed their action was in self defence. Mr Ayuba DaroKakaraka who addressed a press conference on behalf of the Gbagyi community alleged that over the years, the chief had oppressed the people of the Gbagyi community in the area. “On Friday, 3rdof January, 2014, Mr. Ayuba Barde was on his farm when he was physically and grievously attacked by the Chief of Jere (Alhaji Sa’ad Usman) without any provocation from Ayuba Barde who had no alternative than to attacked him in self defence. “In the process Mr. Ayuba Barde was shot, fatally wounded and left him in the pool of his own blood to die. He was later taken to hospital where he is currently under intensive care. “The Chief of Jere came to Mr. Ayuba Barde’s farm uninvited and was the first person to attack him,” he claimed. According to him, the Chief of Jere should be held responsible for the breach of peace in his domain, noting

Emir of Jere, Dr. Sa’ad Usman

that if the chief had not gone to the farm, there would not have been crisis in the first place. e blamed the government for creating a chiefdom inhabiting the Gbagyi natives and their Fulani counterparts, saying the unholy and unacceptable marriage was a taboo and oppressive, adding that it had been the cause of constant clashes in the Chiefdom. The Secretary to Jere

“

Chiefdom, Alhaji Aliyu Zubairu denied the report that the emir used his position to confiscate peoples land and properties. “Sarkin Jere has never tampered with even their family land, talk less (sic) of the properties of his subjects. He however has landed properties he purchased and was certificated by various land authorities. “We want to draw your attention also to the fact that Ayuba Kakaraka was among

others declared wanted by the police since Friday the 3rd January, 2014 when the attack was master minded. “Contrary to earlier news report by some media, that Sarkin Jere had gone to a farmland belonging to one Ayuba Barde and the insinuation that he used to disposses the so called Gbagyi people of Issah farmland is not true and a calculated efforts to smear the good image of the Sarkin Jere,” he said. According to him, the emir

He was later said to have taken to his heels leaving his principal at the mercy of the attackers. Out of anger, the attackers used machete to injure the emir who was said to be too old to run for his life.

is responding to treatment at the National Hospital, Abuja. He also described Jere Chiefdom as one of the most peaceful among all Chiefdoms in Southern Kaduna because of its proximity to the Nations Federal Capital, Abuja. herefore, he added that for sustenance of continuous peaceful co-existence among all, he pleaded and prayed that the state government and law enforcement agencies should arrest the perpetrators of the attack, failing which they threatened that they are determined to protect their traditional glory against any insult and embarrassment through all means possible. But reports coming from the area showed that the emir, his orderly and driver were on their way to the Abuja on that day when he saw a bulldozer working on his land

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PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 11,- sunday 12 january, 2014

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Feature

How NEMA evacuated over 10, 000 trapped Nigerians from crises-torn African countries By Mohammed Kandi

everal Africa countries have been enmeshed in myriad of uprising as a result of political instability, civil unrest, religious violence and socio-cultural crises, with the attendant loss of millions of lives and property. Owing to these repulsive situations, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), which has the mandate of coordinating relevant agencies to action, as well as proving relief for the distressed, would be required to carry out swift evacuation of Nigerian citizens who are stuck, to safety. Already, the agency has a brawny reputation over its timely intervention in such matters over the years. But, NEMA had more often than not, organised successful operations with the backing of the Federal government, other relevant government agencies and, in a few cases, the international community. Between the months of February and April 2011, the agency evacuated over 10, 000 Nigerians who were then stranded in crises-ridden four African countries of Egypt, Tunisia, Cote d’Ivoire and Libya. NEMA’s Director-General, Muhammad Sani-Sidi who is the chief implementer

Nigerians queuing up for evacuation by an airforce transport plane at Bangui port, CAR of government’s many plans on emergencies, gave the information during a stakeholder’s meeting in Abuja, in 2011. Sani-Sidi had also mentioned that President Goodluck Jonathan directed the immediate evacuation of Nigerians in these crisis-torn countries. “The recent sociopolitical crisis in the Middle-East

and some African countries, particularly Egypt, Tunisia, Cote ‘D’ Ivoire and Libya, posed tremendous challenges to our citizens.” imilarly, the DG told Peoples Daily Weekend, after the most recent evacuation exercise of Nigerians who were ensnared in Bangui, capital of the Central African Republic, that “following

Nigerian refugees awaiting airlift to Nigeria at Central African Republic (CAR)

Presidential directive that NEMA should immediately evacuate Nigerians that were trapped in the crisis-ridden countries of the Central African Republic, particularly in Bangui…We sent an advance team comprising of staff of other relevant agencies of government to go and work with Nigerian embassy in Bangui, to profile names of those who have been registered and willing to come back home.” Sani-Sidi noted that the exercise was not without few hitches owing to some human errors.The DG talked about a couple challenges faced by the joint team but was quick to commend the staff of NEMA, the Nigerian Immigration at Bangui, the Air Force and Customs Service for successful operations. He specifically praised the Customs for offering temporary shelter for victims at Customs House in Bangui. “Naturally in exercises like this, you have copious challenges especially trying to bring back people who lived outside the country for say a period of 20, 30 years, with their families over there. “The issue of travel document also became a big challenge as most of the evacuees didn’t have their travel documents at hand. Therefore, they needed the assistance of Nigerian Immigration and other

government agencies to verify and profile those who need travel document.” But, earlier reports in the media indicated that officers of the Nigerian Immigration arrested a few non-Nigerians among returnees. The report also indicated that over 500 nationals of other countries had infiltrated the Nigerian embassy in Bangui, but were earlier discovered and turned back by Immigration officers. eanwhile, those apprehended for beating security operatives to Nigeria were detected at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, and are now under the watch of security agencies, awaiting the authorization of relevant authorities to ensure their deportation to their home countries. Nevertheless, there were little hitches with the Egypt evacuation. As usual, the Federal government immediately directed for urgent flight of the stranded Nigerians in Cairo, the Egyptian capital city. In the case Egyptian crises, about 1, 069 were pulled out in the final operations. The exercise lasted for 48 hours, officials said, and that the operation was jointly coordinated by the National

Contd on Page 17

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 11,- sunday 12 january, 2014

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Feature

How NEMA evacuated over 10, 000 trapped Nigerians from crises-torn African countries Contd from Page 3 Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Security Adviser (NSA). NEMA’s DG said upon receiving the evacuees at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja, that the exercise was carried out by three chartered Jumbo jets from Nigeria. ani-Sidi said, conveying the sick and old people and seven infants who were delivered safely in Cairo before the evacuation exercise were some of the few challenges encountered by the rescue team. Most Nigerians were said to have been at the airport for days with no means of calling home, as Egyptian authorities had blocked mobile services as well as access to the internet. One of the reason for large numbers of Nigerian passengers at the airport was that the Egyptian national carrier, Egypt Air, had cancelled flights to African cities such as Lagos, Kano, Accra, Nairobi, Entebbe, while still operating some routes. However, a different scenario played out with the Libya evacuation. A total of 2, 278 Nigerians were involved in the Tripoli evacuation exercise. The

population involved was high so the presidency didn’t hesitate on the approval of flights and other logistics for citizens. In fact, a formidable medical team was deployed to participate in the operation. Director-General of NEMA who received a delegation of African Health and Development Support Initiative (AHADSI) at the weekend in his office, informed them that after the arrival of 128 out of 170 Nigerians stranded at the Tunisian border courtesy of International Organization for Migration and UN Agency for Refugees, the president had again approved for additional flights for the continuation of evacuation of Nigerians awaiting flight in Tripoli International Airport. e explained further: “President Jonathan as the chairman of the AU’s Peace and Security Council and current head of the regional grouping ECOWAS, is concerned about Nigerians as well as stability in the continent.” “The evacuation of Nigerians from Libya is done with high sense of sensitivity, responsiveness and mutual respect as not to put lives of our citizens in jeopardy. That is why the media and the citizens should be cautious of sensationalism and unwarranted speculation

NEMA officials coordinating

Displaced Nigerian families at a makeshift camp in Bangui

Children displaced by the CAR crisis that could create some security risk.” Then Head, Public Relations of the agency, Yusha’u Shuaib noted that “NEMA was more concerned with the total evacuation of distressed Nigerians in Libya, who have

registered with the Nigerian Embassy on their willingness to return home because the exercise is not a forceful evacuation.” y and large, just as NEMA’s desirous effort to ensure that the distressed get timely attention by Nigerian government has gone unnoticed, several other questions as to what the government is doing to fully absolve this vulnerable citizens into the Nigerian society have come forth time and again. A few critical minds have often times asked, where do the victims of crises go after being evacuated and dispatched to their various states of origin. Some of these individuals must have left their businesses or official engagements unattended and so what become of them, their families and trades when they finally come home? Is the government really preparing any incentives for these people to fall back to? If not, why? These and many more questions are still demanding the right answers for the country to move forward. And, this explains why some citizens

vehemently decline government offer to return home despite the amount of challenges faced at times of civil unrest abroad. For example, a document comprising the lists of those evacuees from the CAR indicates that Kano state has the highest number of evacuees, with a total of 419, and Borno state followed with a total of 261people. damawa state indigenes are 215, Anambra 165, Imo 95, Jigawa 45, Enugu 30, Gombe 19, Kwara 19, Sokoto 16, Ogun 4, Nasarawa 4, and Benue 3. Thisstatistics,includingthoseof the over 10, 000 Nigerian evacuees from Africa and the Middle-East, is obviously shocking. And to think that the government has not made any prior arrangements to cushion the pains of these ‘homeless and jobless’ individuals, means endangering and exposing more people to threat from poverty, insecurity and a host anti social problems in the country. There is the dire need for government to intensify more effort on the plight of such victims.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 11,- sunday 12 january, 2014

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News

Letter writing can’t solve Nigeria’s problems, says Unity Forum By Hammeed Bello

he Unity Forum, an association of elders committed to the unity of the country, has picked holes with the emerging culture of letter writing in public spheres saying writing letters would not solve Nigeria’s numerous problems. The Chairman of the Forum, Alh Musa Maigida Abdu who relayed the Forum’s position while reacting to national issues yesterday in Abuja said Nigerians are grappling with poverty and hunger and do not need provocative letters that could aggravate their situation. According to him, “Nigerians are hungry and these letters will make them hungrier. What Nigerians want to read are good projects done for their benefits and employment opportunities for the unemployed, free education, good health, uninterrupted power supply, and not ‘Before It is Too Late’ letters. It would be recalled that former president Olusegun Obasanjo had written an open letter to President Goodluck Jonathan accusing him of sundry socio-political and economic misdeeds which prompted the president’s reply with each letter bearing the same heading of “Before Its Too Late’. Abdu said that the observed issues of hunger and socio-economic empowerment of Nigerians must be addressed urgently, otherwise “the consequences may be too late for all of us.” He said the main objective of the Unity Forum is to ensure the continuous unity and progress of the country, “because we know that the advantages of living as one Nation with one destiny cannot be quantified’, adding that indivisibility of Nigeria as one united country cannot be compromised. He said however that despite the numerous advantages of Nigeria remaining as one, the National Conference being planned by the federal government is an opportunity to address certain salient issues. “If anything, we should be able to sort our problems, understand ourselves the more and in fact prove that no section of the country can lord it over another.’

Cholera kills 71 in Kano From Edwin Olofu, Kano

he Project Director of the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in the Federal Ministry of health, Professor AbdulSalam Nasidi disclosed yesterday that no fewer than 71 people have died since the first cases of outbreak of Cholera was reported on November 6, 2013 in Kano state. Professor Nasidi said that a total of 2165 cases were recorded from 22 local government areas of Kano state, adding that Fagge local government area recorded the highest number of death with 12

lives lost. Speaking at WHO office in Kano before donating the Federal government assistant of drugs worth over N34 million to the state ministry of health, Professor Nasidi said a total of 276 cases were reported. According to him “ The first cases reported on 6th November, 2013 with 22 local government affected,344 wards were affected while 713 settlement ravaged by the diseases and a total number of 71 deaths recorded from 17 local government area which represented 3.3 percent case fatality rate”. He also explained that most of

the affected persons were from the metropolitan local governments, adding that the federal government donation is to support the Kano state government to address the scourge. He assured that teams of professional health expert have been deployed to the state by the federal ministry of health to ensure mitigation of the bacteria. On his part, the state commissioner of health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf said that the state government spent over N76 million to provide necessary drugs to combat the disease in the local government areas of the state

while beds were also provided in various hospital where the cholera hit. The commissioner said “we were happy to receive the delegation today, this has shown government concern on the outbreak of the Cholera in the state”. “Cholera epidemic has been in the country since September last year , though at the initial stage Kano was no affected , this can best be attributed to the effort of the government in informing the general public on the need to take adequate car of their health as well as necessary logistic provided by the government”.

L-R: Vice Chancellor, Kaduna State University, Prof. Williams Quirx; Gov. Mukhtar Yero of Kaduna State; Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Muhammed Ali And Chairman, Kaduna State House Committee on Education, Mr. Yusuf Zalani, at the Inauguration of Kaduna State University buses, yesterday In Kaduna. Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Borno relaxes curfew as GSM services return From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

orno State government in collaboration with security agencies in the state yesterday reviewed the curfew imposed on Maiduguri on Monday following attacks on barracks. A statement signed by the

secretary to the state government, Ambassador Baba Ahmed Jidda read: “The Borno State Government in collaboration with security agencies has approved the review of the 24-hour curfew to commence from 7.am to 6am each day until further notice. “All citizens are therefore

enjoined to comply with the provisions of the curfew and cooperate with security personnel on duty. Vehicles on essential services such as ambulances, fire service, media personnel are exempted. “Governor Kashim Shettima regrets all inconveniences caused to Borno citizens as a

result of the curfew,” the statement said. Meanwhile, GSM services which were cut off in Borno state six months ago were partly restored. Though the services were not stable as at press time, residents were delighted over the new development.

Jonathan orders release of 165 terror suspects

T Abdu

he Nigerian military said on Friday it has been ordered by President Goodluck Jonathan to release over 165 persons it apprehended in the course of military operations in the three states of: Borno, Adamawa and Yobe under emergency rule. A statement on the presidential directive signed by the

spokesperson for the military, Major General Chris Olukolade however said the suspects would be released to their state governments soon, Saharareporters.com revealed. The suspects were earlier recommended for release by the Joint Investigation Team, (JIT) set up by the Defence Headquar-

ters last year. Of the number, 157 are from facilities in Borno, nine from Yobe and one suspect from Adamawa. The spokesman recalled that other detainees, particularly women and children, have previously benefitted from the same gesture, which started in May last year. More suspects in this

category are also to benefit in the present exercise, he said. The presidential gesture, according to analysts, may have something to do with Mr. Jonathan’s re-election bid in 2015, citing problems he is having with the electorate, especially in the northern part of the country.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 11,- sunday 12 january, 2014

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Cover

As NASS resumes Wednesdayâ&#x20AC;Ś

Mark, Ekweremadu, Ihedioha under pressure *Senate disowns Enang * Gbajabiamila positions for Deputy Speaker The National Assembly will resume next week after a three weeks Christmas and New Year break. As the lawmakers dash back to Abuja to resume their legislative activities, Editor, Hameed Bello and our National Assembly correspondents, Ikechukwu Okaforadi and Umar Mohammed Puma, in this piece examine some major issues that will top agenda and what fate awaits the control of the parliament.

efore the Xmas and New Year holiday by the Nigerian parliament, major issues ranging from defection of new Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers to All Progressives Congress (APC), the possible change of leadership in both chambers, which party controls majority in the parliament, budget consideration and passage, Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), were the foremost in the legislative discourse. Most certainly, both chambers of the National Assembly will be the cynosure of all eyes when they resume on Wednesday, as the PDP) and the APC will literally shift the battle field to the legislative arm of government to finally decide who between the two major parties takes control of leadership positions in the parliament. Other major issues which the parliament will treat with dispatch are National Health Bill, National Housing Policy Bill, Federal Capital Territory Tenancy Bill, Amendment of the 2010 Electoral Act for the 2015 elections, Consideration of the Report of the Constitution Review Committee, among others. Possible defection of 22 PDP senators to APC However, the apparent change of leadership in both chambers of the National Assembly has

Senator David Mark

remained one vibrant debate in the public realm. This comes on the heels of the recent threats by some lawmakers of the ruling party to cross over to the opposition. While analysts sympathetic to President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stoically believe that the leadership of the Senate will remain stable despite the alleged defection of some senators, there are strong indications that leadership change in both chambers is a done deal. Meanwhile, in line with the Senate Standing Rule and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to impeach the principal officers of either chamber, there

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal must be a two-third majority of the 109 senators, which translates to 72 senators, and 240 members out of 360 in the House. But the rules are also clear that the party in the majority forms the majority leadership including the presiding officers and Senate and House leaders, while the minority party produces the minority leadership. urrently, out of the 109 representatives in the Senate, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has 33, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has 76. However, out of these 76 senators, 22 have allegedly concluded arrangement to defect to the All Progressives Congress immediately

While analysts sympathetic to President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stoically believe that the leadership of the Senate will remain stable despite the alleged defection of some senators, there are strong indications that leadership change in both chambers is a done deal.

the parliament resumes next week. Peoples Daily Weekend reliably gathered that the senators likely to defect to the opposition APC when parliament resumes include the following: Chief Whip of the Senate, Gwarzo Hayatu (Kano), Ahmed Zana, Mohammed Adamu, Abdulahi Adamu, Abdulahi Danladi, Abdulazeez Usman, Abdulmumini Hassan, Umar Dahiru, Ahmed Mohammed Maccido. Others are: Mohammed Shabba Hasiagi, Sule Ajobola, Bukola Saraki, Magnus Abe, Danjuma Goje, Wilson AkeSaidu Aisha, Ahmed Hassan Barata, Bindowo Mogid, Aisha Jummai Alhassan, Ibrahim Abdulahi, Bashir Garba, Isah Galaudu. Therefore, when these 22 senators are removed from the PDP folds and are added to the APC, the opposition shoots up to 55 senators, while the PDP will be left with 54 Senators. If that happens, the APC will be in the simple majority in the Senate. Given the above scenario, even though the opposition APC may not immediately be able to muster the requisite two-third majority to impeach the presiding officers, the fact of their possible simple majority is a threat to the PDP leadership which is a source of concern for the ruling party. Traditionally, the party with

simple majority dictates the tune in either of the chambers. The implication of having a simple majority in the Senate is that the Senate President will be forced to dance to the tune of the opposition. Imagine what kind of Senate leadership will be there to only fulfill the desires of the opposition. resently, the opposition party is in control of the House of Representatives. The only buffer zone for the ruling party in the parliament is the Senate; and that too could be temporary, hence the defecting lawmakers could face some resistance from the PDP. Already, the Senate leadership is threatening to declare seats of defecting Senators vacant, but the APC members have waived it away, arguing that PDP is the greatest beneficiary of cross carpeting since 1999 and none of those who crossed over to PDP from other parties lost their offices or position. It would be recalled that Governor Isah Yuguda, for example, had crossed over in his first tenure to the PDP after he was elected as Bauchi State governor under the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and he maintained his office.

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PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 11,- sunday 12 january, 2014

Mark, Ekweremadu, Ihedioha ...

Sen. Ike Ekweremadu Contd from Page 7

owever, if the APC takes over leadership, it will clearly alter the progression of motions and Bills in the National Assembly, as the majority party will usually have their ways in plenary. This may not go down well with the ruling PDP and the President, especially given that his policies and decisions will most likely be overruled by the lawmakers. Obviously, no ruling party can afford to leave a sensitive institution like the parliament in the hands off the opposition. This will engender political disharmony in the country, which may even threaten the President with impeachment. On the other hand, going by the realities on ground in the Senate, it is likely that contrary to the House of Representatives, the Senate may not be willing to relinquish the leadership to the opposition on the platter of gold. Section 68 of the Constitution provides that only the Senate President or the Speaker of the House of Representatives can declare any seat vacant. Even though the Speaker of the lower chamber, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, who is perceived generally as a heavy opposition candidate, did not bathe an eyelid when the ruling party was sinking in the House of Representatives, the case may not be the same in the Senate. Before now, the leadership of the Senate had always been sympathetic to the PDP and the Presidency. In extreme cases, the upper chamber has always been very veritable and instrumental in checking what analysts refer to as exuberance of the comparably youthful green chamber. In fact, at some points, the Senate and the House of Representatives had openly disagreed on issues that they ordinarily should work in synergy as one parliament with

Hon. Emeka Ihedioha one interest. The statuesque now is that while Senate is more appended to the Presidency and the PDP, the House is equally aligned to the opposition. Bearing in mind this external alliances and internal division which has enveloped the Nigerian parliament, one can see more reason why the Senate President, in line with Section 68 of the Constitution of Nigeria, will be eager and willing to declare the seats of the defecting PDP lawmakers vacant. But the defecting lawmakers had obtained a court order preventing anybody from declaring their seats vacant, on grounds that their defection was because of the existence of a faction in the PDP. According to constitutional lawyers, once a faction exists in any party, elected members could switch party without losing their seats or position. But the PDP insists that there is no faction in the party, and hence the defections were illegal. Apparently flying the kite of David Mark’s intension, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Itah Enang, while briefing journalists in Abuja over the defection issue, said the Senate was ready to declare the seat of any defecting lawmaker vacant. According to Enang, “If a candidate came on the basis of a political party and wants to leave the party, he is leaving the seat; he is not leaving with the seat because it is the party that won the election. The defecting members elected on the PDP platform have to vacate their seats”. Pre-empting their possible sack late last year, the 22 senators listed above had sought and got an injunction restraining the Senate President, David Mark, from declaring their seats vacant. The substance of the injunction which they got from an Abuja High Court was predicated on the assumption that there is a division or faction in the PDP, on which they were elected, hence their defection is justified.

However, there is a subsisting judgment delivered by Lagos High Court, which says that there is no division in PDP. It was on this premise that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) refused to recognise the Kawu Baraje led faction of PDP. Observers have submitted that this subsisting Lagos High Court’s judgment has provided an enabling platform for the Senate President to declare the seat of any defecting lawmaker vacant in the Senate. This whole issue will definitely be resolved in the Supreme Court, but what becomes the fate of the defected senators within this period is only imaginable. Gbajabiamila positioned for Deputy Speaker here are strong indications that the House of Representatives minority leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, would next week when the House resumes be elected as the majority leader. Already, the APC, in the House has shared out the leadership positions to its members as part of plans to assume full control of the legislature in the New Year. However, an APC lawmaker who spoke to Peoples Daily on condition of anonymity was of the opinion that Gbajabiamila could be elected to be the Deputy Speaker of the House, as the current Deputy Speaker Emeka

“

Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila Ihedioha. “We are thinking of the possibility of our own Leader, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila being the next Deputy Speaker”, he said. He said going by how long the Minority Leader had been on the floor as a Leader of the APC, the party would likely elevate him to the number two slot. “As you already know, this man (Gbajabiamila) has been a leader for a very long time, and he has done wonderfully well, so it’s only right and fair for him to now be our Deputy Speaker, a position that you will agree with me, is slightly above that of even the Majority Leader”, he said. Another lawmaker who is a member of the PDP also said the present Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha (PDP-Imo) is not likely to join the APC, so he, along with the present Leader of the House, Mrs. Mulikat Akande-Adeola (PDP-Oyo) would lose their seats. Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, would however retain his seat as Speaker, while he waits for a clear judicial signal to formally join the APC. Although the current Deputy Speaker may not defect, indications have emerged that he is not in the good books of the Presidency, because of his closeness to an ex-Governor of a State, a sworn rival of President Goodluck Jonathan. It was authoritatively gathered that more PDP member are said to announce their defection to the APC

There are strong indications that the House of Representatives minority leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, would next week when the House resumes be elected as the majority leader. Already, the APC, in the House has shared out the leadership positions to its members as part of plans to assume full control of the legislature in the New Year.

between January and February 2014. It was also gathered that about four lawmakers who have lost out with the party in Benue State have concluded plans to take the leap in January. “Yes, we are still PDP members, but I can’t guarantee that in January we would still be there. It is only Jigawa, many other states too. We are not less than 29 moving in January”, he said. he constraints however are that the defectors must wait to make the register compiled by the Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa, before leadership change can be effected. Though the rules of the House states that a simple majority is 181, and the APC must wait, till their majority status is confirmed in the members’ register, which is in custody of the Clerk. For the APC members to play safe, they may also have to wait for a judicial pronouncement on the PDP’s case against their defection. The confusion now is that Gbajabiamila is caught between being the majority leader and the Deputy Speaker”, another source in the House informed Peoples Daily Weekend. Part of the permutation is that, Femi Gbajabiamila (APC-Lagos) is said to be warming up to takeover from Mulikat Adeola-Akande (PDPOyo) as Majority Leader. Also, Deputy Leader, Leo Ogor; Chief Whip, Ishaka Bawa; and Deputy Whip, Ahmed Muktar Muhammed, are also set to lose their seats. To join Gbajabiamila on the majority side as Principal Officers are Deputy Minority Leader, Sumaila Kawu; Minority Whip, Samson Osagie; and Deputy whip, Garba Datti. On resumption of plenary next week, the APC is expected to formally notify the office of the Speaker to allow it nominate the its Principal Officers in line with the House rules, having become the majority party. Source hinted that once that is

Contd on Page 9

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 11,- sunday 12 january, 2014

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Cover

Mark, Ekweremadu, Ihedioha ... Contd from Page 8 effected, the Speaker may dissolve all the standing committees so that members of the APC in their new status could head some of the socalled ‘juicy’ committees. In another twist of an event, is the Minority Leader of the House Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila who denied APC’s interested in removing incumbent deputy speaker, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha from office. Although Gbajabiamila did not deny that some APC members of the House are pushing to oust Ihedioha. ince the APC assumed a majority status in the House following the defection of some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the hitherto opposition party, there have been media reports that the leadership of the House will change to reflect the new shape of things. The media has been particularly awash with reports in the last few days that the changes will affect Ihedioha whom Gbajabiamila is said to replace when the House resumes from its recess on January 14, 2014. The APC leader himself has been quoted to say that only the position of the speaker is guaranteed from the imminent changes indicating that he may have been propped up to take over Ihedioha’s job. He also said the APC as a party has never been interested in changing the leadership (speaker and deputy speaker) of the House in spite of its new status. The House in a swift reaction on the matter faulted reports that members of the All Progressive Party (APC) in the House of Representatives have concluded plans to remove the deputy speaker of the House, Rt.Hon Emeka Ihedioha from office. Vice chairman House committee on media and public affairs Rep. Victor Afam Ogene (APGA, Anambra) started this while charting with reporters in Abuja. According to him, the Speaker and his Deputy can be remove only in the event of his resignation, impeachment or death and not due to a change of majority party in the House. On the event that the Speaker eventually declares for APC, Ogene said “the Deputy Speaker will still retain his seat and it wouldn’t be an unusual scenario as it had happened in the past that a presiding officer and his deputy belonged to different parties. “Resignation, death or impeachment are the only ways that a vacancy can occur in the office of the speaker or deputy or indeed, any other principal officer’s position. However, Order 7 (2) of the House Rules states that while those of the majority leadership come from the party with majority members, the minority parties nominate from among themselves, minority leader, minority whip, deputy minority leader and deputy minority whip. “But for presiding officers like the speaker and deputy, for a vacancy to occur thereof, the person has to resign or be impeached and impeachment requires 2/3rd of members which is 240 members”,

oil theft, and non oil revenues “you can understand that we have some revenue challenges because of the losses we suffered in oil revenue as a result of oil theft and the losses in non oil revenue and lower customs duties. Because we had a policy of trying to growing our own rice, we put high tariff on rice so the importation of rice was low, so but oil and non oil revenues experience revenue short fall that explain what has happened this year”, he said. Already, the budget estimate has generated heated debate among Nigerian especially Jonathan’s proposed N1.5 billion for the purchase of another presidential jet to increase the number of private jets in the Presidential Air Fleet to 11. The proposal for the new aircraft has already been included in the proposed 2014 Appropriation Bill submitted to the National Assembly. The presidential fleet also proposed to spend about N747 million to take care of its aircraft fuel cost during the year. ther proposals in the budget include the plan by the presidency to purchase a new embalming machine for the State House, Abuja, for which a budget of N1.65 billion has been made. Another N17.5 million has also been set aside by the presidency for the provision of magnetic resonance imaging, MRI, building and mortuary conversion machine; as well as N1.3 billion for the construction of the VIP wing of the State House Medical Centre, Abuja. In addition, about N17.5 million would go for the construction of hospitals and health centre in the State House, apart from N37million set aside for wildlife conservation purposes in the Presidential Villa. Another N70 million would be spent for the building and installation of oxygen and other gases generating plant at the State House; N50 million for the completion of the extension of dental wing at the State House Medical Centre; N6 million for two sauna baths; N5 million for a wildlife capture equipment, and N14.5 million to purchase two wildlife animals not mentioned in the budget. The upgrade of Villa facilities would gulp about N1.5 billion; upgrade of Villa Telecommunication Exchange and spare parts would take N220 million; and about N215million would be spent on remodeling of the new guest house for the vice President at Yakubu Gowon Crescent, Asokoro. About N50 million has been included in the budget for improvement of electrical installation in the State House Banquet Hall; N15 million for renovation of Horses’ stable/paddock; N8 million for the upgrade and maintenance of Villa Zoo, while N1.8 million would go for six wardrobe/towel shelves for the presidential lodge. As part of the ongoing reform in the power sector, the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, which transmits generated electricity, has been allocated about N24.9 billion for its operations in 2014. The Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, successor generation companies also have an allocation of N1.143 billion for the year.

O Senator Bukola Saraki

Senator Danjuma Goje

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It would be recalled that before the three weeks break, both chambers of the parliament were embroiled in the oil benchmark debacle, where in a benchmark of $76.5 and $79 per barrel were adopted respectively by both Senate and House of Representatives. Even though the issue was resolved after series of meeting between the conference committee raised by both chambers, observers are expecting more disagreements between both chambers on the major parameters of the 2014 budget. The bickering will worsen by the time crisis of control engulfs parliament.

Ogene said. “The report that the deputy speaker will be removed when we resume is the handiwork of 5th columnists trying to cause a crisis among members before resumption. People should not forget that besides political affiliations, we all belong to a group called House Project which saw the emergence of the current House leadership. “What will happen is a seamless transfer. As soon as the party with the majority members notify the speaker that they have majority, he the (Speaker) would crosschecks with the clerk, and the change would be immediate”, he said. Politics of budget defence and passage t would be recalled that before the three weeks break, both chambers of the parliament were embroiled in the oil benchmark debacle, where in a benchmark of $76.5 and $79 per barrel were adopted respectively by both Senate and House of Representatives. Even though the issue was resolved after series of meeting between the conference committee raised by both chambers, observers

are expecting more disagreements between both chambers on the major parameters of the 2014 budget. The bickering will worsen by the time crisis of control engulfs parliament. n the 19th of December, President Goodluck Jonathan caused the coordinating minister of the economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to lay the 2014 budget separately to both chambers. This was after both the Senate and House of Representatives managed to agree on the harmonised oil benchmark of $77.5 per barrel of crude oil. Nonetheless, due to the limited time for the lawmakers to discuss the indices of the budget, it was suspended to when they will resume after their Xmas holiday. Meanwhile, while the parliament was on holiday, there were damning reports about how the Presidency budget huge sums of money for alleged frivolities. These frivolities include feeding of animals and maintaining of grass and flowers in the Presidential Villa. Others are allegations that the larger percentage of the capital

budget, which is up N1.1 trillion, was to service intangibles, which has no direct impact on the lives of Nigerians. From all these indications, one can understand that the budget consideration and passage will take more dangerous dimensions than imagined. This may ultimately delay the budget passage. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala who gave the breakdown of budget shortly after the presentation said to includes, the aggregate expenditure excluding the SURE-P is N4.642 trillion, and the federal government expected revenue is N3.73 trillion, the fiscal deficit is 1.9% of GDP which is slightly above that of last year, which was 1.85 % from last year’s budget. According to her, the budget is the continuation of Mr. President’s drive to diversify the economy and create jobs. “this is a budget for jobs and inclusive growths, the budget support policies that would continue to push agriculture because we know that that is where most jobs are created, it would continue to push manufacturing so that our youth can have modern jobs”. She attributed the shortfall in revenue to the losses as a result of

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PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 11,- sunday 12 january, 2014

News

CAR president resigns amidst violence

unfire has been reported on the streets of Bangui in the Central African Republic’s capital after the news that interim President Michel Djotodia, facing international pressure, had agreed to resign after failing to halt interreligious violence that has displaced many including Nigerians recently evacuated home. The resignations of Djotodia and Prime Minister Nicolas Tiangaye, were announced yesterday in a statement issued at a two-day summit of the Economic Community of Central

African States (CEEAC) in neighbouring Chad. Talks to decide on new leadership will take place in CAR, it said. Under an agreement brokered by the CEEAC last year, CAR’s transitional assembly (CNT) elected Djotodia to his position as interim president in April to take the former French colony to elections, due at the end of this year. As news from the summit reached Bangui, thousands of residents took to the streets, dancing, singing and honking horns in celebration.

Cheers erupted at a camp for 100,000 displaced Christian civilians at the city’s French-controlled airport. There were no signs of the proDjotodia fighters who once dominated Bangui, Reuters news agency reported. Al Jazeera’s Barnaby Phillips, reporting from Bangui yesterday, said the gunfire broke out shortly after the resignation announcement. “It is not possible to work out who is firing at who at this stage,” he said. “The international community

is going to have to react very quickly as there is no one regionally who can unite CAR. Djotodia seized power in the CAR last March and became the country’s first Muslim leader. “The foreign troops are largely welcome but they are not necessarily enough. The trouble in recent weeks and month has not just been in Bangui.” Despite the celebrations yesterday, there are fears that the resulting power vacuum will lead to greater instability if it is not filled quickly.

L-R: Justice of the federal High court, Justice Adamu Bello (RTD), his wife, Hajiya Zubaida Bello, Senator Ibrahim Idah and Chairman, Peoples Media Limited, Alh. Wada Maida, during the valedictory Dinner in Honour of Justice Bello, on thursday in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Unremitted $10.8bn spent on subsidy, oil theft, strategic reserve-NNPC By Etuka Sunday

he Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has said that the yet to be reconciled 10.8 billion dollars was an accumulated unpaid subsidies from the Federal Government and other expenses. This is coming against the backdrop of questions on which of the agencies of government is responsible for the subsidy payment- Ministry of Finance or NNPC. Briefing newsmen yesterday in a conference to clarify the issue, a member Board of Directors and Group Executive Director, Finance and Accounts Directorate, NNPC, Mr. Bernard O. N. Otti said “the $10.8 billion which currently the subject of ongoing inter-agency reconciliation exercise is not missing.” Mr. Otti however said that “the sum in question has been expenditures incurred as part of statutory responsibilities which the NNPC as the National Oil Company executes on behalf of the Federal Government and by extension the entire people of Nigeria.” He listed unpaid subsidy on petroleum products, maintenance of national strategic reserve, cost of pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft as some of the expenses made on behalf of the federal government. “I would like to use this opportunity to restate our position on subsidy. The subsidy regime is a policy of the Federal Government. We only implement what we are directed to. “The unpaid subsidies from the government to the corporation constitutes a significant portion of the yet to be reconciled $10.8bn. It is important to note that these expenses were incurred by the Corporation while fulfilling its essential statutory responsibilities,” Otti said. He gave the breakdown to include: $8.49 billion for subsidy payment, $1.22 billion as cost of maintenance and repair of vandalised pipelines,

0.27 billion as losses and .37 for maintaining strategic reserve. On the legality of the expenses incurred by the Corporation on behalf of the federal government, he said “let me assure you that as a law-abiding corporate entity, NNPC’s processes and procedures are guided by the provisions of the law. Whatever expenditure we have incurred in the discharge of the above national responsibilities are backed by the law setting up the Corporation. Section 7 sub-section A and B of the NNPC Act states inter-alia: “The Corporation shall maintain a fund which shall consist of- (a) such monies as may, from time to time, be provided by the federal government for the purposes of this Act by way of grants or loans or otherwise however; and (b) such monies as may be received by the Corporation in the course of its operations or in relation to the exercise by the Corporation of any of its functions under this Act, and from such there shall be defrayed all expenses incurred by the Corporation.” He said the services we have been rendering, which I have enumerated are critical to the development of the national economy, and are services which no corporation will perform without being paid upfront by the government; subsidy regime is a policy of the government not the NNPC; and no money is missing,” he concluded. Meanwhile, the Director, transformation and Coordinator, Corporate Management and Strategy, Dr. Timothy Okon said most the expenses made where not provided for in the Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) template therefore NNPC had to sort itself out by making those expenses. On whether NNPC is indebted to the federal government in anyway in the course of the business transaction, Okon said that “the reconciliation is on going-even in the next FAAC it is still going to continue”

Indian auto giants to set up plants in Nigeria

wo vehicle manufacturing companies from India, TATA and TVS Motor Company, yesterday indicated their interest to establish automotive plants in the country. This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja by the Principal Executive Officer (Information) of the National Automotive Council (NAC), Mr Bello Rasheed. The statement said that top management executives of both companies made their intentions known during separate visits to the Director General of NAC, Mr Aminu Jalal, in Abuja. According to the statement, the TATA delegation comprised Messrs P. Gangadharan, N. Menon and Fred Obi, while the TVS team included Messrs K. Srinivasan, J. Vignesh and Rajan Menon. It quoted the representatives as saying that both companies were encouraged by the new National Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP) approved late last year by the Federal Government. Among other needed information, the statement said that the visitors were provided with the technical details, administrative requirements and NAIDP guidelines for setting up vehicle industrial plants in the country. ``Established in 1945, TATA Motors is the world’s fifth truck manufacturer and India’s largest automobile maker with products ranging from cars, buses, utility vehicles, SUVs, trucks, armoured and military vehicles. ``It is also the new owner of Land Rover and Jaguar brands. ``Similarly, TVS Motors manufactures a wide range of motor cycles and three-wheelers. It is among the world’s top ten two-wheeler manufacturer,’’ the statement said. (NAN)

21 yrs old sets self ablaze over marriage From Yushu’u Alhassan, Jalingo

twenty one year old man, Mansur Tanko of Mafindi in Mjidadi ward of Jalingo local Government of Taraba state has set himself ablaze over disagreement with his father on marriage. An eye witness who is a trader in the area, Jibrin Bala Mohammed, told our reporter in Jalingo that the deceased was in a relationship with a woman from Gembu of Sardauna local government area whom Tanko introduced to his father as his proposed wife. However, according to the eyewitness, the father disagreed with the choice of his son. This provoked the son despite efforts by the father to explain why he took the decision. The son walked out on him, bathe himself with petrol and set himself ablaze, stressing that the efforts of the father to rescue the victim failed as he almost caught fire himself. Mohammed said that Mansur Tanko died instantly and his remains were taken away last night by the police to the hospital, adding that the woman had disappeared. When contacted the police public relations officer ASP Joseph Kwaji confirmed the incident but said that the matter was under investigation.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 11,- sunday 12 january, 2014

No FG presence in Jigawa – Gov Lamido From Ahmed Abubakar, Dutse

overnor of Jigawa, Alhaji Sule Lamido has lambasted the Federal Government over what he called, "deliberate abandon of the state". The accusation came on the heels of President Goodluck Jonathan's defence against the accusation that his government is antithetical to the Northern region of the country. Sule Lamido said this yesterday when the minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Ayodeji Adesina paid him a courtesy visit in his office. The governor who was visibly

piqued, challenged the Federal government to go beyond its usual rhetoric of promises to the people to a dignified way of providing the people with the basic things they require to steer their lives. He said conferences, dialogues are not what the people require to have confidence in the federal government but rather they prefer to be convinced with what they can hold on to as evidence to believe they are being taken care of. The governor who also chided the minister said, "it is unfortunate that you the Minister is just coming to Jigawa for the first time in your life despite serving in that capacity for two years and Jigawa

people are part of the people you are serving as minister and yet you know our state has a vast arable land for Agriculture". The Governor further stated that, "I have on my own planted over 13 million trees since the inception of my administration, I have built an agro-allied cargo airport in the state and there is no single support whatsoever from the Federal Government". He said that has been the case in virtually all the federal Government sectors, adding that “even the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) office, I have to go and plead for them to commence the building of the structure".

He said, " people of the country are simply telling us that we are playing lip service to their plights, what they want is actuality", Lamido said. Earlier, the minister of Agriculture Dr. Akinwumi Adesina has assured the Governor of a renewed consultation between the state and federal Government on areas of agriculture. Dr. Adesina promised that three rice processing mills would be provided to the state alongside revitalisation of the Hadejia Jama'are River Basin Development Authority (HJRBDA) for the revamping of irrigation in the areas.

Edo teacher commits suicide over sack By Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

public school teacher in Edo State identified as Friday Obasuyi has allegedly taken his own life in Benin. He reportedly plunged himself into a river in Benin when he discovered that his name was among the 836 teachers recently dismissed by the State government. Obasuyi’s last place of service was Education Authority, Abudu, the administrative headquarters of Orhionmwon Local government area of the State. The victim whose child has been suffering from lingering mental illness had initially been declared missing by his family before the deceased written note was found. A family source who gave an account of how the victim died, quoted the note, explaining that he (Obasuyi) has ``gone to the world and that nobody should look for him’’. The source said Obasuyi had lost his wife over 20 years ago in a mysterious circumstance and few months ago, he (Obasuyi) declared his intention to obtain his Masters Degree. But financial challenges prevented him. The source also stated that he obtained an Associate certificate in Education and Bachelor of Science in Physical and Health Education from Abrakka University, Delta State.

L-R: Supervising Minister of Education, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, Chairman, Nigeria. Arabic Language Village, Borno State, Alh. Sani Idris and Wali of Borno, Alh. Adamu Mohd, during Board members and Management Staff courtesy visit to the Minister, on Thursday in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Niger spent N477.6M on WAEC, NECO fees in 2013 From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

iger state Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Danladi Umar Abdulhamid has stated that the government in the last one year spent over N477.6 on the payment of West African Examination Council (WAEC), National Examination Council (NECO), National Business and Technical Examination Board (NABTEB) fees for students in public schools who sat for the examinations. Alhaji Abdulhamid disclosed this in Minna, that government under its free education policy pays one public examination fees for students in the state while the

parents pay for the other. The Commissioner said most parents paid the NECO fee for their wards which cost them over N179.2m. He said that over 36,826 students sat for WAEC in public schools in the state while 23,250 students sat for the NECO examination. Alhaji Abdulhamid further stated that over 370,177 students sat for the internal examination conducted for final year students in public schools by the ministry last year adding that of the figure, 54,542 students sat for mock WAEC NECO’. The internal examination the

commissioner explained, was conducted to gauge the likely performance of students in public schools in WAEC,NECO and other public examinations saying that the result of the examination showed that 37,955 students passed in five credits including English or Mathematics. 16,588 students failed the test but the commissioner did not say what would become of this category of students. Alhaji Abdulhamid assured that government would not go back on the implementation of its free education policy because it has been discovered to be of tremendous assistance to parents.

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News U.S reviews travel alert on Nigeria

he United States of America has revised its travel alert on Nigeria, warning its citizens against travelling to 16 states in the country, including Adamawa, Borno and Yobe. The three north eastern states have been under emergency rule after a presidential declaration on May 14, 2013, aimed at restoring safety and security due to insurgent activities in the area. The revised alert released by the State Department and dated Jan. 8, advised U.S citizens to avoid all but essential travels to Adamawa, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Borno, Delta, Gombe and Jigawa states. The other states on the list, which the U.S. said are prone to kidnappings, robberies and other armed attacks are Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Plateau, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Edo, Imo and Rivers states, which were in an earlier list issued in June 2013 are not on the latest travel alert list. The U.S described the security situation in Nigeria as ``fluid and unpredictable,’’ and warned against travel to the Gulf of Guinea because of the threat of piracy. It also advised all U.S. citizens to be particularly vigilant around government security facilities, ``places of worship and locations where large crowds may gather’’. ``Security measures in Nigeria remain heightened due to threats posed by extremist groups. ``Boko Haram, an extremist group based in northeast Nigeria designated as a Foreign Terrorist organisation by the Department of State, has claimed responsibility for many attacks, mainly in northern Nigeria,’’ the statement read. According to the State Department, the Ansaru group, an offshoot of Boko Haram, has carried out several kidnappings targeting foreigners in Nigeria. It noted that the group also claimed responsibility for other violent acts in the past year. (NAN)

Jonathan appoints Anyanwu as Imo SURE-P boss By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

resident Goodluck Ebele Johnathan has appointed Longers Anyanwu as the Chairman, Coordination and Implementation of the Subsidy Reinvestment Programme(SURE-P)

Imo State. Jonathan said the appointment of Anyanwu as SURE-P boss would further drive the transformation agenda of the President in Imo state. According to the letter of the appointment, government reiter-

ated its urgent desire to increase its job creation and infrastructural development and provision. The new chairman, who was a commissioner for Agriculture for four years under Governor Ikedi Ohakim, is a known achiever, grassroots’ mobiliser, charismatic

politician and a reputable management and PR consultant, has put his experience to bear on this job. In conveying the appointment, the Minister of Labour, Chief Emeka Nwogu charged Anyanwu to deploy his wealth of experience in carrying out the job while being

fair to all in the discharge of his duty. The Vice President of Nigeria Arch. Namadi Sambo whose office co-ordinate’s SUREP-P in Nigeria congratulated Longers Anyanwu and charged him to hit the ball rolling.

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Photo Splash

Former Oyo State Head of Service, Alhaja Kudirat Adeleke (M), coming out of the State High Court on alleged pension fraud case, yesterday In Ibadan.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 11,- sunday 12 january, 2014

Traders lamenting over their loss after the fire incident at Olodi Apapa , yesterday In Lagos . Photo: NAN

Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Dele Ezeoba (M), meeting with leaders of Ugborodo Community. yesterday In Abuja.

L-R: Sister of the deceased, Moremi Soyinka-Onijala; Children of the deceased, Adeoto and Oreofe; Sister, Peyibomi Soyinka-Airewele, at the funeral service of Prof. Wole Soyinkaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s daughter, yesterday In Ibadan

Sensitive and non-sensitive materials at INEC office in Awka for the local government election, yesterday in Anambra. Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 11,- sunday 12 january, 2014

Page 13

News Kogi NDE disburses N2m soft loan From Omale Adama Lokoja

he National Directorate of Employment (NDE)in Kogi state over the weekend said it has disbursed N20,000 each to 100 recharge card vendors and beans-cake (Akara) sellers under its Micro-Enterprises Enhancement Loan Scheme. The NDE state Director, Malam Abdulkadir Oba-Saadu who disclosed this in an interview with correspondents in Lokoja said the beneficiaries were drawn from the 21 Local Government Areas of the state. Malam Oba’Sadu said the scheme was aimed at enhancing the capacity of micro-business operators to expand and remain in business “as they lack the required collateral security to access loans from financial institutions. He said that the scheme was part of government’s efforts to reduce unemployment through soft loans to the beneficiaries including soft drink and pure water vendors as well as food vendors and the likes. The director urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the loan to expand their businesses and advance to the next level saying “‘’the success of their businesses will increase their self-worth, self confidence and their ability to employ others’’.” Also speaking, Mr Jibrin Aye, Director, Small Scale Enterprises Development Department at the NDE headquarters in Abuja, reiterated the determination of the directorate to fashion out more job-creation schemes to reduce poverty and unemployment to the barest minimum.

Defected PDP members will regret their mistake -Akpabio From David Hassan, Gombe

kwa Ibom state governor and chairman PDP governors forum, Mr. Godswill Akpabio yesterday said the all the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members who defected to the All Progressive Alliance (APC) will soon learn from their mistakes as PDP would sweep all elective offices come 2015. Akpabio stated this in Gombe when he commiserated with Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo over the demise of his father-in-law, Alhaji Inuwa Gombe who died at the age of 102. According to him, the defector PDP governors should be aware that PDP would always accept those willing to come back to the party as some deputy governors refused to defect to APC. He said their defection to APC would not cause PDP to regret noting that whatsoever the situation, the party had already created a solid foundation to ensure a good fight in the 2015 general elections. He commended governor Dankwambo for his effort towards development across the state and called on the people of Gombe state to love one another in order to ensure peaceful coexistence among citizens in the area. Responding, Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo appreciated the visit by Governor Akpabio which he said would ensure mutual understanding between Akwa Ibom and Gombe states.

L-R: Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki; Igp Mohammed Abubakar; Vice President Namadi Sambo; Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Ibrahim And Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Aliyu Numan, during a special Juma’at prayer for Armed Forces Remembrance Day, yesterday in Abuja. Joe Oroyo

Attack on Jere Emir: Lawyers’ Forum calls for justice

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

he Southern Kaduna Lawyers’ Forum has called on the Kaduna State government and the Police to exhibit impartiality in handling the aftermath of the fracas which led to the beating and hospitalisation of the Emir of Jere, Dr. Sa’ad Usman. Gbagyi community in Jere Chiefdom of Kaduna State claimed on Tuesday that the Emir of Jere, Dr. Sa’ad Usman was wounded in self defense when he and his aides met a Gbagyi chieftain, Ayuba Barde on his farm and engaged him in a fight over a disputed land. As a result, the police in Kaduna State have arrested 14 suspects with connection with the attack, just as the emir was reported to have been

flown abroad for more medical attention. The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Olufemi Adenaike, said his command had arrested 14 suspects in connection with the incident, but could not be immediately charged to court because “the emir, who is the principal character, cannot speak, he is still in hospital.” Adenaike said that the 14 suspects would be charged for attempted murder, while one of his men was beaten to a pulp and his gun snatched away during the incident. Reacting to the incident, the Forum, during a press briefing in Kaduna yesterday, through its spokesman, Barr. James Reuben expressed their dissatisfaction with what he described as the police indiscriminate arrest and detentions without trial.

“We call on the police to desist from the indiscriminate arrest of individuals and resort to a clinical and intelligent way of investigation. We equally call for the immediate release of those arrested either conditionally or unconditionally or charge them to court if found culpable failing which we shall be constrained to seek the enforcement of the Fundamental Rights of the suspects as guaranteed by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”. The Forum added that as a result of this unfortunate incident, individuals, groups, the media, government and particularly the police took certain actions and made comments regarding the incident. “Some media reports had it that there was a fracas between Gbagyi

community and Fulani herdsmen and that the chief of Jere went there to settle the fracas. “This story is not only misleading but ridiculous as a Royal father of such standing cannot be found on a farm resolving a crisis involving his subjects. “The story is hence a product of the imaginations of mischievous minds and does not add up to a coherent whole. Of particular concern is the indiscriminate arrest from the community and continuous detention of persons from the area where the incident occurred. The police authorities have admitted arresting about 14 suspects who they have kept in detention in the name of investigation and have refused to grant bail or charge such individuals to court”.

described the ruling PDP as inefficient and incompetent, which informed why practical politicians like him and others have decided to chart a new course for the improvement of the quality of lives of the people. While acknowledging the contributions of youths to the growth of democracy in the country, the former Benue state governor observed that the youths must have, after studying the performance of the PDP since 1999, come to the conclusion that a new direction was necessary. He however urged the youths as well as other Nigerians to take up the challenge by turning up enmasse to register in the upcoming party regis-

tration exercise as according to him, “the vote is the power.” “We must all register to throw away these people who have nothing to offer but innuendoes and insults in large bags to dish out to those who made it possible for them to be where they are today”, Akume said. Also speaking at the event, former governor of Nasarawa state, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, lamented the inability of the country to attend its potentials through the years in spite of the ample opportunities to do so. While attributing this failure to “people who are bigger, whose pens are mightier, whose images in the arena is beclouding the future of the coun-

try”, Adamu who officially defected to the APC Thursday, said he decided to be part of the wind of change blowing across the country in order to reposition Nigeria for greater heights. “After sometime, no matter what you do, you must say, look I don’t belong here anymore. So this wind of change, we decided to join and be part of it”, Adamu explained. While recognizing the youths as the vanguard of change, Sen. Adamu challenged the people of the North Central zone on the necessity for the APC to take over the national government, stressing that for the country to progress, the PDP must be shown the way out.

2015: Senators Akume, Adamu want Nigerians to vote out PDP

From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia

oth the Senate Majority Leader, Senator George Akume and the Senator representing Nasarawa West at the National Assembly, have urged Nigerians to make sure that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is sent packing come 2015. The lawmakers made this known Thursday in Lafia, at the launching of the Young Patriots, a grassroot youth mobilization initiative for the All Progressive Change (APC) for the North Central zone, which held at the Conference Hotel in Lafia, the Nasarawa state capital. Akume who chaired the occasion,

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 11,- sunday 12 january, 2014

Page 14

Crime Cycle

Stanley Onyekwere pmlcrimecycle@gmail.com 08138559513

How police paraded couple, 17 other suspected criminals in Ogun T he Police Command in Ogun during the week said it arrested 19 suspected criminals, including a couple, in December 2013. The couples, who reside in Ogbere in Ijebu-East Local Government Area of the state, were found in possession of four locally-made pistol and three live cartridges. The other exhibits recovered from the couples were four rifles allegedly stolen from security operatives, mobile phones, assorted charms and N255, 000. The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi, presented the suspects to newsmen at the Police Headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta.

Adejobi said that in December 2013, the police at Ogbere Division got information that the occupants of a house at J4 Area on Abigi Road were terrorising innocent citizens. He said that the police swung into action, arrested the couples and recovered the weapons from them. The spokesman, who said the police, was still investigation the case, gave assurance that the couples would be charged to court as soon as investigations were concluded. He restated the determination of the command to control crime in 2014 and solicited the cooperation of the public in combating crime. (NAN)

Robbery: Court remands 2 brothers in prison

Congolese lady caught with fake $240,000

n Ilorin Magistrates’ court has remanded two brothers, Shede Mohammed, 21, and Abubakar Mohammed, 19, for alleged armed robbery. The prosecutor, Insp Mathew Ologbonsaye, told the court that the accused attempted to rob five commercial drivers who were travelling to Ilorin from Lafiagi on January 1. Ologbonsaye said that the accused mounted an illegal road block with logs of wood at Gbubu road in Edu Local Government Area of Kwara and made an attempt to rob the victims of their belongings. According to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), added that when the accused saw that the drivers were travelling in a convoy, they fled the scene. Ologbonsaye said the suspects were pursued by the drivers and later apprehended while one cutlass and torch light were recovered from them. The prosecutor said that the accused were arraigned on a twocount charge of criminal conspiracy and attempted armed robbery contrary to Sections 97 and 293 of the Penal code Law. He said investigation was ongoing and urged the court to remand the accused in prison. The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges against them. Magistrate Kehinde Ajide ordered the remand of the accused at Mondala Prison Yard, Ilorin, and adjourned the case till January 15 for hearing proper.

he National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Thursday arrested a suspected fake currency trafficker with 240,000 dollars (about N37.2 million), at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. This was contained in a statement signed by the NDLEA spokesman, Mr. Mitchel Ofoyeju, which was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos. The statement said that the suspected fake currency was concealed inside dictionaries. It said the suspect, a 39 year old Congolese who claimed to be a fashion designer, was caught while attempting to export the suspected fake dollars to CongoKinshasa, through the Cargolux airline.

IGP M.D. Abubakar

The statement said that the NDLEA commander at the Airport, Mr. Hamza Umar, said that the seizure was made following the suspicion of the consignment. “The suspect, who hails from the Democratic Republic of Congo, brought a sewing machine and a bag containing clothes and five dictionaries for exportation to Congo-Kinshasa. “There was high suspicion of the consignment and when it was subjected to a search, the dictionaries were found to contain 24 envelopes containing 10,000 dollars each’’ it said. The statement said the suspect, who is a divorcee and mother of two, in her statement, said the dollars were given to her by her boyfriend. It quoted the suspect as say-

ing: “I am a fashion designer from DR Congo. I have two children but my husband and I have separated. “I came to Nigeria in search of greener pastures in 2006. It was my boyfriend that gave me the dictionaries to send to the Congo.’’ The statement also quoted the Chairman and Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, as describing the discovery as a big boost for airport and border security in the country. Giade said that criminal groups were fast becoming inept, based on the NDLEA’s superior search operations. He disclosed that after preliminary investigations, the suspect would be transferred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for further investigation and legal action.

… as bizman gets N5m bail for alleged drug peddling

Lagos-based businessman, Mr. Livinus Nweke, who is standing trial at a Federal High court in Lagos, for allegedly trafficking in drug, was granted bail by the court. Justice Saliu Saidu released the accused, whose trial began in November, 2013, on bail at the sum of N5 million and two sureties in like sum, following an application by his counsel, Mr. Sunday Okwor. Nweke, who resides at Epe, Lagos State, was arraigned by the National Drug Law Enforcement

Agency (NDLEA) for allegedly importing 1.7 kilograms of substance suspected to be heroine. The prosecutor, Mr. Uchechukwu Eke, had at the commencement of the case, told the court that the accused was arrested on September 23, 2013, at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, while in possession of the drug. Eke said that the accused was apprehended during routine clearance of passengers, adding that the offence contravened the provisions of the NDLEA Act.

The accused however pleaded not guilty. In his ruling of the bail application, Saidu said “the accused is granted bail in the sum of N5 million, with two sureties in like sum. “The sureties must be civil servants in Lagos State, one of whom must be a relation of the accused and both sureties are to deposit their passport photographs with the court’s registry”. Saidu adjourned the case to March 19 for substantive hearing. (NAN)

Police arrest 1, 418 suspects in 2013 in A/ Ibom

he Police Command in Akwa Ibom says it arrested 1,418 suspects for alleged kidnapping, cultism and armed robbery in 2013. The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Umar Gwadabe, made the disclosure when he briefed newsmen on the activities of the command in 2013 in Uyo. Gwadabe said that during the period 1,993 cases were reported to the police out of which 662 cases were prosecuted while 963 cases were still under investigation. He said that 368 cases were forwarded to the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) for vetting and advice. He added that armed robbery cases of dropped to 46 in 2013 as against 54 in 2012, while murder cases reduced from 74 to 68 within the period. Gwadabe said that burglary also reduced to 22 cases in 2013 as against 35 in 2012, while cases of arson and fire came down to 18 cases from 21 within the period.

…as kebbi records 213 criminal cases in 2013-DPP

he Kebbi judiciary disclosed that it recorded 213 criminal cases in 2013 as against the 234 recorded in the previous years. The state Acting Director Public of Prosecution (DPP), Alhaji Kabiru Aliyu, made this disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Birnin Kebbi. He said that one out of the eight criminal cases against the state had been concluded at the Court of Appeal. He, however, said three cases were pending at the Supreme Court, adding that they were filed by private legal practitioners on behalf of the plaintiffs. Aliyu said that cases of armed robbery, rape and culpable homicide had reduced due to increase in the employment level in the state.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 11,- sunday 12 january, 2014

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Special Report

Jonathan vs Sanusi : When pushing comes to shove!

By Abdulwahab Isa

one from the pool of President Jonathan‘s spokespersons has issued rebuttal on reported ‘rash’ phone conversation between the president and Sanusi Lamido Sanusi , the Central Bank Governor. The unusual dead silence from team comprising of Dr. Ruben Abati, Presidential main spokesperson, Ahmed Gulak and the boisterous Doyen Okukpe lend credence to credibility of the report. A livid Goodluck Jonathan had asked the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, to resign immediately on the ground that the letter Sanusi wrote to him on the unremitted $49.8 billion oil revenue to the Federation Account was leaked to former President Olusegun Obasanjo by the CBN governor. The president, already on the cliff edge with his godfather Chief Olusegun Obasanjo over 2015 ambition reportedly accused Sanusi during phone conversation of leaking the letter to Obasanjo, which enabled the latter to use it as one of many allegations he leveled against him in his letter titled: “Before it is too late”. The Kano prince did not only deny being the source of leakage of a letter which exposed shroud secret nature of NNPC operations, he reportedly told the President using decorous language due to office of the president that the letter which was available in the presidential villa, finance ministry CBN and in possession of some former presidents could have been leaked through any other sources. The President wants express implementation of his presidential order. But brave, diminutive Sanusi who had earlier planned to proceed on pre-retirement leave effective March preparatory to his final exit June this year remained adamant. In a humane and very polite expression, Sanusi expressed surprise that he was being persecuted by the President for simply doing his job as Chief Economic Adviser and no.1 chief Banker to both the President and Federal Republic of Nigeria. He was reported to have told the President that he could only be removed by two-thirds of the Senate as required by law. A source knowledgeable about what transpired quoted the CBN governor: “He informed the president that it is necessary to deal with the issues and not the letter that had been leaked since it has since been established that it was not $49.8 billion that had not been remitted to the Federation Account, but $10.8 billion, which was still in dispute and by any stretch of imagination was still a large sum”.

President Goodluck Jonathan By Thursday, Sanusi had foreclosed going on pre-retirement leave. He said he had no plan to proceed on retirement leave by March as being speculated. ather, he would be retiring 2nd of June this year, the date he will be completing his five year single tenure as the governor of Central bank of Nigeria. CBN governor cleared the air on speculated pre-retirement leave at a family meeting held with some CBN staff on Wednesday. CBN Director of Communications, Ugochukwu Okarafo confirmed Sanusi‘s declaration to reporters yesterday in Abuja which put paid to speculation making the rounds that the CBN governor would be embarking on terminal leave before June expiration of his tenure . The verbal confrontation between the President and CBN governor could pose danger to the fragile nation’s economy if carried out. The altercation coming few days to the first Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) in 2014, financial experts fear could impact negatively on the economy still wrestling with inflation, weak currency against major international currencies and very low productive capacity. Some personalities, especially the political class with political leaning belong to the ruling party believe President was justified in his decision. Chief Dan Nwanyanwu, a

Sanusi Lamido Sanusi stunch member of PDP shares this stance. He reportedly told a national daily (not Peoles Daily) that President was indeed right in his decision. “My worry is that they are desecrating the Office of the President. I read from the newspaper this morning about the alleged exchange between Mr. President and the Governor of Central Bank. “As far as I am concerned, the CBN governor was appointed by Mr. President and was only confirmed by the Senate and if the President is no longer satisfied with his performance, he reserves the right to boot him out,” he said. The main opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) differed. The party in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary Alhaji Lai Mohammed urged the president to tread softly on his reported plan to force Sanusi to resign because of the impact this would

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have on the nation’s economy. The party warned that any move to suspend Sanusi and use security forces to prevent him from entering his office would even be worse, because it would mean that the president is willing to circumvent the provision of the law that the governor can only be removed by two-thirds of the Senate. he Act establishing CBN is explicit on process of the governor’s removal and Sanusi may draw his boldness from the Act. Section 11(2)(f) of the Act states: “A person shall not remain a Governor, Deputy Governor or Director of the Bank if he is removed by the President: Provided that the removal of the Governor shall be supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate praying that he be so removed.” However, a pertinent question that deserves probing is being ignored by several people that hae expressed their views on the issue

Section 11(2)(f) of the Act states: “A person shall not remain a Governor, Deputy Governor or Director of the Bank if he is removed by the President: Provided that the removal of the Governor shall be supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate praying that he be so removed.

of NNPC non- remittances of oil proceeds to the federation account. Given that Sanusi $49.8 billion turned out misleading, and the fund is $10.8 billion as against his earlier figure. Who authorized NNPC to spend the $10.8 billion which a joint press conference convened by the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke and Sanusi established as unremitted fund to the federation account? Does NNPC Act confer on the corporation autonomous status, shielding its operation to none but its GMD and Minister of petroleum? Those familiar with NNPC and non-remittance of crude oil sales could recall the whistle blow on its operation did not start with the CBN governor. It was a battle engineered by the former fearless Chairman of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Engr. Hamman Tukur. Tukur , in his days at revenue commission waged relentless war with the management of NNPC over unilateral withholding of oil proceeds to the federation account. The President should be dispassionate and see through the intention of CBN governor, who as part of his duty as chief banker to the government draw his attention to NNPC handling of the national resources. He should see the merit in the message and ignore the messenger.

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Politics

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 11,- sunday 12 january, 2014

Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo mediates Zamfara leadership crisis

Senate disowns Enang's position on defecting senators

From Ibrahim Sidi Muh'd, Gusau

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

he alleged cancellation of Eze Ndi Igbo title in the northern part of Nigeria and Zamfara state recently claimed by the President- General of the Igbo Community Association (ICA) in a press conference has generated controversies among the Igbo community in Zamfara. In a swift reaction several Igbo groups and some individuals who are in favor of the embattled Eze Ndi Igbo Gusau 1, Chief Egbunna Obijiaku, are unanimous that the title exists and should not be cancelled. Obijiaku, a founding-father of Igbo Community Association and Igbo Welfare Association {IWA} in Gusau, Zamfara state capital, said controversies relating to the office ought not to have risen because he has legal claim to it. According to Chief Obijiaku the congratulatory letter confirming him as Eze Ndi Igbo Gusau 1 and Zamfara at large which was issued by the Secretary-General of the office of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo Enugu attested to it. Presenting the letter meant to erase all doubts especially members of the ICA and IWA had contended that the title of Eze Ndi Igbo was abolished across the north, dismissed the claim noting that it came from a higher authority. The President-General of ICA had argued that the cancellation of the title was in conjunction with the northern traditional rulers led by his eminence, Sultan of Sokoto, Dr. Sa’ad Abubakar III in Owerri sometime in 2001. However, the authoritative congratulatory and affirmation letter for Chief Egbuna Obijiaku as Eze Ndi Igbo Gusau 1 from the office of Ohanaeze of Enugu was issued in 2008, some seven years. Peoples Daily Weekend learnt that the office it meant to champion the welfare of Igbos, protect and support them and work to forestall whatever might hurt their interests. Unfortunately, some said it seems the reverse has been the case as the title had been contentious thus forestalling efforts to ensure that elected leadership runs Igbo affairs in Diaspora as it was meant to. Igbos, who are republican in nature, have been tradition choosing their leaders whenever they domiciled for business and other legitimate activities to run their affairs under one umbrella to always speak in one voice. The Ohanaeze’s reaffirmation and acceptance letter which was issued on 30th October, 2012 following an election in Gusau, Zamfara state capital, in which Chief Egbuna Obijiaku emerged Eze Ndi Igbo 1 appears insufficient to address the issue. Disagreement over the alleged cancellation led the people to the Chairman of Council of Chiefs, Emir of Anka, Muhammad Attahiru Ahmad, who had complied with the initial directive on the abrogation of the Ohaneze title. In an interview with our Correspondent, Eze Egbuna argued that the opposition to the office was empty stressing that it has been long a tradition of speaking for Igbos in Diaspora. He said it would be heard of for the traditional council of Igbos in Enugu to jettison an arrangement that would see to the welfare of its citizens outside their local environment. He revealed that the genesis of the opposition against his leadership was that some members of the ICA asked him swear with the gods which he declined on the basis of his Christian faith. “As Eze Ndi Igbo of Gusau and Zamfara, I am still on my word, that I will not drop Christianity for Idol worship”, he stressed. Further, he said the original founder of Igbo Community Association (ICA) and Igbo Welfare Association (IWA) were elected by Igbo community in 1997 following which the office of Ohanaeze endorsed and turbaned him as Eze. He added that his leadership was subsequently considered in written, by the office of the Zamfara Council of Chiefs who is the emir of Anka, Dr. Muhammad Attahiru Ahmad.

he Senate yesterday distanced itself from the personal opinion of one of its members, Senator Ita Enang, to the fact that the senate would declare vacant the seat of any defecting senator from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressive Congress (APC). Senate Spokesman, Enyinnaya Abaribe, in a statement in Abuja also debunked reports that tends to align the President of the Senate, David Mark to the said statement credited to Senator Enang. Abaribe said the report credited to Enang is wholly his personal opinion to which he is entitled to and has nothing to do with the Senate as a chamber of the National Assembly. The statement he added also has nothing to do with the President of the Senate who had in a statement assured that the leadership of the PDP would work to keep the party intact and prevent further crisis in the party. Abaribe further said "in the first place there is no acrimony in the Senate irrespective of political party affiliation. The senate

is still on vacation to resume on the 14th of January and only after it's deliberations would any statement on urgent matters of state be issued. "It is therefore preposterous to attribute the personal opinion of a Senator to represent the resolution of the Senate and its highly respected leadership as exemplified by Senate President Mark. "Senate position as statutory is always relayed by its spokesman. In which case it becomes safe to say that Sen. Ita Enang senate has spoken", he said. Abaribe further declared that the Senate is at peace and no sign that the senators are working at cross purposes with each other. It is one whole family of patriotic Nigerians who first and foremost defers to

issues that are of national interest. "The Senate as presently constituted, is peopled by very distinguished Nigerians who see the institution for what it is; a hallowed chamber whose decisions and resolutions are shaped by honour and love for country", he said.

L-R Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo in a handshake with British High Commission in Nigeria Dr. Andrew Pacock, right is the Director General Debt Management Office Dr. Abraham Nwankwo during their meeting with Department for International Development held at the State House Abuja yesterday. Photo: Joe Oroyo

Ex-officio cautions against insulting office of the President

n ex-officio of the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Alhjai Muhammed Mafinchi, has cautioned against desecrating the office of the president of Nigeria for whatever political interest. The senior citizen said yesterday that it was unacceptable for any individual, no matter how highly placed to insult the person and office of the president, Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces whether for political or other differences. Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja Mafinchi said demeaning the office of the president was an insult to the country noting that nowhere in the world do people seeking to occupy the same office ridicule it.

According to him, make unsavoury comments about the office denigrate the sanctity of such an office adding that same the subject of media tirade indicates how much disdain the person has for his or her country. “This is not politics. It is not right. Even the Holy books demands of us to not only respect our leaders, but also pray for them. There is nowhere in the world where people who are themselves looking for an opportunity to occupy the office of president, make the denigration of the sanctity of such an office, the subject of their daily media tirade”, he said. He defended the national chairman of PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, noting that he is not the problem of the party, adding that

under the dynamic leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan and Alhaji Tukur, the PDP-led administration has repositioned the nation’s economy. “Our national chairman has within the very short time he has so far spent in office, succeeded in making the PDP an allinclusive party. It is also on record that the PDP, under his leadership has been transformed into an all-embracing political institution which is open to constructive criticisms” He appealed to members of the PDP, especially those in leadership positions at all levels, to avoid playing into the hands of the oppositions through their actions and utterances.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 11,- sunday 12 january, 2014

Land dispute: How reprisals were averted in Jere over attack on Emir Contd from Page 3

located in the village. So he stopped to inquire from the people working on the land. Thereafter, an argument ensued between the emir and one Ayuba Barde that led to the unfortunate incident. It was also learnt that when the news of the attack spread within Jere town, tension became high as women and children began leaving their homes for fear of the unknown. ouths from Jere rose to react to the attack but well meaning and respected personalities in the community intervened to nip the crisis in the bud. The whole community was thrown into confusion that lasted several hours with the local and state governments deploying security personnel to the town to prevent any reprisal. Peoples Daily Weekkend investigation has also reveled that the land in dispute has been a long standing

controversy because it dated back to before Kagarko Local Government was created. The issue was then taken to court and the court actually availed those disputing over land to present documents to substantiate their claims. It was said that the Chief of Jere presented the Certificate of Occupancy of the piece of land dated way back to the time they were under Kachia Local Government, even before Kagarko was created. It was based on the facts presented in

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PAGE17

Feature the court by both parties that the court gave judgment in favour of the Jere Chief. his was why the Kagarko Chairman, Hon. Akuso Yusuf Danjuma blamed the Gbagyi chieftain who allegedly attacked and wounded the Emir, Dr. Sa’ad Usman over the disputed land, insisting that the court had since passed judgment that the land belonged to the emir. “As far as I’m concerned and as far as the records are concerned and the right way of doing things is concerned, this land by law has been confirmed to be owned by the Chief of Jere.” “If there are issues or if people are not satisfied by the judgment or whatever bone of contention they have about the land, the best way is to go to the same court or a higher court to seek for redress. The Chairman further condemned the act in strongest terms, saying we are

guided by law and protected by the same law, so, people should not be seen to take the law into their hands. He also debunked the claim that the Gbagyi chieftain that wounded the emir on that fateful day acted in self defense. On the measures taken by the council to prevent reprisal, he explained that immediately the incidence occurred, the Local Government stepped in by mobilizing the police at the same time called for additional reinforcement from Kafanchan zonal office to make sure that the situation was calm. He said they were talking to the people, the youths and every one that was concerned to see that they don’t worsen the situation as he called on people in the area to go about their normal business lawfully and report any suspicious movement to the authorities. The state government, too,

This was why the Kagarko Chairman, Hon. Akuso Yusuf Danjuma blamed the Gbagyi chieftain who allegedly attacked and wounded the Emir, Dr. Sa’ad Usman over the disputed land, insisting that the court had since passed judgment that the land belonged to the emir.

Piece of land where Emir of Jere was attacked

in a Statement signed by the Director General Media and Publicity, Ahmed Maiyaki, said Governor Yero urged the people of Jere not to take laws in their own hands as Government has already directed security operatives to ensure law and order in the affected area. According to him, Government has also ordered full investigation into the cause of the dispute and will leave no stone unturned in its effort at ensuring that justice is done. he Governor vowed that anyone found culpable in the ugly incident would be brought to book no matter how highly placed they may be in the society. “It is sad for some miscreants to attack the respected Emir, who like every other traditional ruler in the state has been working hard towards building lasting peace among their diverse people. “Traditional leaders should be protected from such embarrassment owing to their role as mediators in conflict situations and must be respected by all parties involved in a dispute,” he said. Governor Yero expressed his sincere sympathy with the Emir and indeed the entire people of Jere for the unfortunate incidence, as called on people in the community to continue to live peacefully irrespective of their differences.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 11,- sunday 12 january, 2014

PAGE 18

Human Angle

Mother of teenage virgin killer says son possessed

other of the 18-year-old boy, Ikechukwu Lucky, who was arrested by the police in Lagos State for strangling a 12-year-old girl, Bose Ogoja, to death for money ritual, in Badagry area of the state, has said her son is possessed of an evil spirit that has been tormenting him. The mother of the boy, Esa Egbo, told newsmen, yesterday, that her son had been arrested four times for attempting to rape little girls between the ages of 10 and 15 years by the police in Badagry Division. Mrs. Egbo also said she and her family are members of Perfect Christianity Mission in Surulere area of Lagos, where Dr. Ofuche Ukoha (aka Sign Fireman) is the General Overseer, adding that her son does not know or have any access to the cleric, whom he claimed sent him to kill the girl. Neighbour laid a curse on him She explained that two years ago, a neighbour laid a curse on her son and after then he started behaving strangely, thereby at-

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make Ike useless and miserable. I thought he was joking but after that Ikechuwu started behaving funny. “Whenever he goes out during the day and sees a little girl he would grip and attempt to rape her and the girl would scream alerting people around, who would arrest and beat him up before handing him over to the police at Badagry Police Station. Arrested four times for attempted rape “On lucky days, he would escape and flee the area. He has been arrested four times over the same offence and I am the one who normally goes to bail him. “In April last year, he made me lose over N25,000 I paid as WAEC exam fee. On the day he was supposed to start the exam, he left home with his school uniform and didn’t return until after two weeks. When he came back he told me that the demon came over him on his way to school and he gripped a girl and when the girl screamed he managed to escape so he decided to

“On this particular case, he told me that he was going to work at a place where a building was demolished by government opposite the French Village in Badagry. They are actually constructing a factory at that place and he used to help them carry bags of cement for which they paid him some stipends at the end of the day. “He failed to return home that day and I and his father went out to look for him at his place of work and people around told us that they didn’t see him. The next day we didn’t see him, so by Wednesday, we decided to go to the police station at Badagry. “A police woman we met told us that we should go to the SCID to look for him. I asked her what was his offence and she refused to tell me, rather she said when I got to the SCID that I would know what was my son’s offence. “The next day I and my husband went to the SCID and when I saw my son he told me that there was a woman who sells food close to where he used to work and the woman had a daughter. “He said on that day he was eating at the woman’s shop when he saw the girl passing and all of a sudden something came over him and he stood up and followed the girl and gripped her so tight and the girl screamed and died after which he regained consciousness. “He attempted to run, but someone at a building close by who saw all what happened apprehended him. He used to tell me that he was not misbehaving

When he came back he told me that the demon came over him on his way to school and he gripped a girl and when the girl screamed he managed to escape so he decided to run away from home.

tempting to rape little children whenever he sees them. According to her, “He started two years ago to molest girls in attempt to rape them. It is not an ordinary thing. You know some people are very good in hurting other people’s children. So for that reason I am suspecting that. He has been staying with me from birth and just two years ago when he was 16 years old, a man who lives close to us laid a curse on him. “What happened was that we have a well in our compound and Ikechukwu and one of the man’s daughters were at the well fetching water and they had a quarrel. Ikechuwu beat up the girl and when the man returned he brought out a belt to whip Ike and I prevented him. He started boasting that he was going to

run away from home. “I and the father went to beg the people whose child he molested and I decided to follow him to school throughout his NECO examinations. “The last one before this occurred on December 10, 2013 at Imeke. He was arrested and charged to court and remanded in Badagry Prison. I got a lawyer who stood for him before he was granted bail. “While these things were happening, I told our branch pastor at Badagry about it but I didn’t tell our GO. “Whenever he sees a little girl he would grip the girl and when she screams he would return to himself. He does not do it at night, it’s always during the day time. On the current issue

“

consciously but that something used to come over him and I have told our branch pastor about it and he prayed for him. I dont know the boy — Sign Fireman “My son didn’t accuse the GO. I don’t have the GO’s phone number and that of my son. My son didn’t beg the GO for money and even our branch pastor he has never gone to beg for money. Ikechukwu was the most gentle of all my children but this demon destroyed his life.” Contacted, Dr. Fireman told

a national daily that he was innocent of the allegations, saying he does not know the boy. He said: “I don’t know that boy and if anybody should know him or his family as members of our church, it’s the Badagry branch pastor. I am the GO of my church. You can imagine how possible it would be for an 18-year-old boy from a distant branch to have easy access to me talk alone contracting him to kill someone on my behalf.” Culled from Chat212 mail

He said on that day he was eating at the woman’s shop when he saw the girl passing and all of a sudden something came over him and he stood up and followed the girl and gripped her so tight and the girl screamed and died after which he regained consciousness.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 11,- sunday 12 january, 2014

PAGE 19

Tourism

Kainji Lake National Park has great amusement spots for tourists and visitors K ainji Park was established in 1979 as a result of the promulgation of Decree 46 0f 1979, through the amalgamation of 2 former game reserves, Borgu and Zugurma, which were created in 1962 and 1971 respectively. These reserves are now Borgu and Zugurma Sectors of the Park. The Park covers an area of 5340.82sqkm. The Borgu Sector is bordered on the east by the Kainji Lake and on the west by the Republic of Benin. The Zugurma Sector occupies a relatively smaller area and bordered by the Kontagora River on the North-west side and Manyara River on the north side. The entire Park lies between latitude 90o 40’N and 10o30’N and longitudes 3o30’E and 5o50E. These places the Park in an area generally referred to as the Middle Belt of Nigeria. It is a great avenue for amusement for tourists and visitors as there exist a wide range of excitement and amusement potentials such as bird watching, indoor games, park viewing and swimming, among others. The Park which is 100% owned by the Federal government is situated close to the famous Kainji Lake that serves as a source of fishing for the rural populace and hydroelectric power for the nation. Potentials • Bio-diversity (Wildlife): The population of the fauna is encouraging enough to justify investment in tourism. • Water Resources: Although the lake is not within the park, its proximity provides an attraction to tourists in terms of a seamless hospitality experience within one location. There are also islands and beaches on the River Niger that can be developed into tourist havens. • Ethno-Historical/Cultural Features: Besides its natural endowments, the park hosts the following cultural antiquities: – Museum in Wawa – Kali Hill & Shrine There are other cultural attractions outside the park such as – Old Busa monument – Maot wall in Wawa – Pisa cave – Kabe cave

A side view of the lake

Gate-way to Kainji Lake National Park

Page 20

Homes

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 11,- sunday 12 january, 2014

The do’s and don’ts for hanging curtains

urtains have a double function. Besides their ability to offer protection and shade during the sunny days and mornings, they also have a decorative function. The curtains can really change the aspect of a room. They are often used to add color and texture to a certain space. This means you have to be extra careful when choosing the fabric, texture and color. Here are a few do’s and don’ts. As already mentioned, the curtains have a big impact on the entire room décor. They take up a large amount of visual space so it’s not easy to choose the right curtains for your home. So take as much time as you need. Don’t rush the decision because you might regret later. Think long about the texture and the color of the curtains and explore multiple options before making a decision. The size is also very important. So don’t try to save some money by choosing smaller curtains because it’s not a good idea and there now are available a range of curtains. Curtains need to be at least double the width of the window. They also need to be long enough. So make sure your measurements are correct and that you have made the right decision before buying the curtains. f you want the curtains to be more than just a beautiful decoration for your home, you should also think practically. The fabric, the texture, pattern and the color are all very important but so is the lining. For example, a basic cotton lining provides protection while still allowing some light to filter through. But if you’re looking for something that’s better insulated in order to keep your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, a more insulating lining is the answer. Pay great attention to the fabric. It can make a big difference in your room. Each type has its own characteristics. For example, cotton is easy to clean and is also very versatile and adaptable to most interior decors. Velvet has a more sophisticated and luxurious look but it can also look heavy so it’s not suited for all the rooms. Sheers are the opposite of velvet. They’re light and delicate but they don’t provide much privacy. Finally, the hardware can turn out to be just as important as the curtains themselves. So don’t forget about this part. Make sure the curtain rods and finials match the fabric. This means that velvet curtains need larger rods while sheets can sit on lightweight rods. The hardware also needs to fit into the rest of the room. The finish and style are thus also important.

e n i z a

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 11,- sunday 12 january, 2014

d n e k e We

g a M ent

m Entertain

Fashion

ps Beauty Ti

od Kannywo

Hollywoo

PAGE 21

d Bollywoo

Perfect

in silver and royal

purple >>P29

Flavour,

Lagbaja thrill fans at Glo/CAF Awards >>P34

Psquare to have White 4 Wedding April In Dubai >>P3

Eedris Abdulkareem still in a rented apartment >>P35

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 11,- sunday 12 january, 2014

Page 22

Your Body Image & U

Women who stand-by their partners excel

guess I am going to get some pretty red tomatoes smashed on me this time. You know the good part folks, someone somewhere hiding, being confused, depressed or trying to throw in the towel will be relieved and glad to read this gist today. Let’s go! There are things I see people go through and I sit down and wonder why such things happen to such people. As we mature in life, we tend to see the story of existence rolling, breakdancing and it appears majority of people caught in this web of what I personally like to call‘’drama-live-it’’ keep running round in circles and having no escape. Not that they cannot escape from this ugly web but they just do not have the strongwill, the zest to push on and be free. Those who have the desire to escape find themselves surrounded by flakey-bitchy-lying friends, relative, collegues and religious hypocrites that would have been helpful to them and drag them out the deep mess. Boy! Did I just say ‘relatives and religious hypocrites? Wondering why I picked on these two out of the others? They are the two group of relationship anyone could have in this life and not worry about being misled. Suprise folks? Why? I guess you have not been very observant . They must have even biten you without you knowing the pains, sorrow, wounds you had or still have came from them.

Ok, honestly there are men you see their attitude or would I say lifestyle, and you feel like creeping under the bed. U-uuhh!....awful! Hey, hold it..I know you would say..eeehh how about women too? Oh yea, I know but am not talking about that today. That? Those who have been following BW REFORMS Online Therapies over the years know that I do not spare the women in that ‘attitude’ area as well. Do you know that a man’s personal hygiene could be irritating but that does not mean he chose to be that way. Especially the top

“

deals, travelling for contracts, losing sleep to survive. Thats just their runs! Sad to say that if you take time to observe such men closely, get to know them better, they are sad , unfufilled in the inside. Such a man comes home most times hungry and tired to even take a night bath. You are still busy cooking or probably at the beauty salon doing your hair &nails huh? Afterall, thats why we have fastfoods huh? Ok lets say, you are a careeer lady too, so why not put your home in order so that his meal gets ready once he is back home? He hardly takes night

Body pampering, healthy eating, keeping fit make you stand out, prolong your life and also attract the right people to you and your business.

guys. Top guys? Yea, Coporate Guys who work so hard to put well cooked tasty ‘five’ square (not three this time)meals on your lovely Italian Dinning table, give you fat monthly allowance to shop in Dubai, London or Paris. Some men can really be very generous when it comes to money even when it pains them. Most men in this category could work round the clock chasing

bath, wears torn underwears and you care less. Afterall,thats his body and not yours. Body odour and craw-craw can infect him ..who cares? Not that this man does not appreciate taking care of himself, he probably needs a little warm and kind push to get him clean up himself &soothe his mind +body from those hot job deals he is chasing. Maybe, he is (ancient ma-

rina/old school) when it comes to toiletries,underwears, shop for men skincare products and put them in his bathroom. Buy him new underwears as gifts. You are not the only one made for gifts. Find a subtle way to lure him take his night bath. Do this with love and humility and he will be grateful and cherish you. If you bully him and call him names while doing this, you miss it. Big time! When a very busy man does not eat good and well prepared meals regularly, keeps fresh and clean especially at night so as to get a sound sleep, it creates STRESS and his job productivity is affected. Such men also have problem perfoming sexually. Lack of good night sleep, good diet, good body hygiene, high STRESS level can create sexual dysfunction and infertility in men. There is no amount of medication ,stimulant , herb-

With Jacqui Iwu bwreforms@gmail.com 08184825606 (sms only) al medicine that can cure a man with such problems if these vital issues are not tackled. Ladies, pampering and taking good care of your man is the least you can do to support him and keep him going. You do not have to nag your man about your palns to groom his body or renew his diet or else it might not work . A typical African man has this pride in him and when you first lash out on him before helping him, you are simply wasting your time. If both of you share some good humor regularly, this can pass but still be cautious. For guys reading this, days are gone when having a decent body image concerns women only, nothing stops you from smelling good at nights when cuddling your partner just like she smells good for you. Women love sweet-smelling men too. So Guys step up on this and make your woman happy and proud of you. Again, if your woman sudwbathroom essentials, do not get mad at her, quietly call her to ask what’s up. Ofcourse there will be new items when she trash the old ones and remember it’s for your own good and that she is not trying to bully you or tell you how to live your life. Body pampering, healthy eating, keeping fit make you stand out, prolong your life and also attract the right people to you and your business. Iwu is a body image coach and stress management expert

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 11,- sunday 12 january, 2014

Page 23

Human Angle Tears as NSTA hands out cheques to families of accident victims By Yakubu Mustapha, Minna.

ife they said is very precious. That is true because healthy and vibrant person would ordinarily choose to die. But humans do submit to the will of the almighty Creator (God), even while he fears the nature of his death: when, how, and where. That was the situation with those who lost their lives on August 17, 2013. On that fateful day eight persons were burnt to death following a ghastly vehicle accident. The day painful as it was has remained memorable to the families of the victims. However, to assuage the pains, the Niger State Transport Authority (NSTA), opted to lend some succour to the families by presenting N11.1 million cheques to the next of kin of the eight persons burnt to death. The cheques from the NSTA’s insurance company came handy just to cushion the effect of the death on their respective families. The Niger state government on 6th January, 2014 compensated the nine (9) victims of August 17, 2013 accident along Minna to Bida road with the total sum of N11.1 million. General Manager of Niger State Transport Authority NSTA Alhaji Umar Usman Nagogo disclosed in Minna while presenting cheques to the deceased families in his office, said each victim was expected to go home with the sum of N1.3 million while the only survival was given N700,000. Nagogo recalled that the accident involved NSTA’s 14-seater bus and a truck and resulted in the eight passengers in the vehicle being burnt to death. He said the insurance company (Mansard Insurance plc) paid the victims the sum of N6.9 million while the state government correspondently counter funded it with N4.2 million. Giving the breakdown in his office he explained that each deceased was given N1.3 million while the only surviving member of the victims got N700,000. Further, he said the insurance company gave N800,000 to each deceased and N500,000 for the survival as state government gave N500,000 to each person that died and N200,000 for the injured, he said. Receiving the cheque, Pastor Abraham Samuel, who lost four members of his family that is 3 children and his wife in tears appreciated the gesture of the state government and the NSTA.

GM NSTA Alh Umar Usman Nagogo “It’s a sign that death has no warning, the advantage we have over death is that our lives will not be waste, again. We’ve accepted with faith we believed God permitted it or else there would be way out,” he stated The Permanent Secretary, Niger state Ministry of Transportation, Hajiya Safiya M. Bawa, who presented the cheques to the families of the deceased, said though that human lives cannot be paid for stressing that the state government only sympathized with them through the gesture just to cushion the pains. “This was my first challenged immediately I assumed office in the ministry. I know what it takes to lose your loved one. This ceremony is like a burial

Family representatives that recieved cheaques and the survival

again, not a happy moment as you all received cheques with sadness. It’s not a compensation for lives because no amount can compensate a live to fill the vacuum created,” she said. The Secretary of the State company, Mallam Ibrahim Barje Bawa, said ‘inna nilahi wainahi laihim raji unna’ meaning (we came from God and to Him we will returned to) and commended the state government under the leadership of Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu taking the giant step by providing succour for the deceased families as he thanked God for fulfilling their obligation as a custodial for public service. Barje therefore appreciated the patience of the affected families to the company and government as well thanked the

state government for it support to actualize the programme in conjunction with the insurance company. In the same vein, Nagogo was optimistic about the late driver Mohammed Mayaki who has served for over 25 years that “we were shocked when we heard that the said driver had an accident. We were not ourselves, the late driver happened to be one of the best and most disciplined and careful driver we had. “It wasn’t his fault, those who witnessed it as well as the police report clearly exonerated him. That the truck driver immediately ran away shows he knew he was at fault and that he had done wrong. “But as we all know we cannot hasten what God has delayed and we cannot delay what God has hastened,” he said and urged the

Pastor Abraham Samuel centre recieving cheaque for 4 members of his family

families to continued to pray for their loved ones, state and Nigeria not to experience such again. Names of the deceased includes Helen Samuel, Ensign Samuel, Purity Samuel and Savior Samuel others were Jean Okorie Paul, ex- corps members, Jimoh Olaitain and Eyo Effiok, who were serving in Niger state. The family members who represented the deceased were pastor Abraham Samuel who lost four (4) of his family, Mohammed Mohammed, Elder Paul who lost a daughter that has just completed her service year, Richard Tetedi Oladimeji represented one of the NYSC while Ms Gloria Effiok received for her brother also corper she said he was the only son of the family whom we all look up to after his service has gone we will continue to remember him, she spoke tears. The only survival Abubakar Shettima, a student of Saint Migrate Secondary School, Lagos said that “I came out through the window, my survival was the work of God,” he said and thanked the state government for its kindness. Engineer Jethro Koji, who is the Loss adjuster of Mansard Insurance plc, stated that the insurance has also given the sum of N1 million for the vehicle as well as the NSTA the sum of N3.4 million compensation. The fourteen (14) seater bus had ahead on collusion with a DAF truck along Minna to Bida road while returning from Lagos on 17th August, 2013. The truck had tried to dodge a pot hole at Kakapangi village, instead it crashed against the bus, caught fire leaving eight persons burnt beyond recognition.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 11,- sunday 12 january, 2014

PAGE 24

Kiddies World

With Nami Hassan Kadir namy.kadir@yahoo.com 08130693795.

SIGHTS AND SOUNDS

HIS AND HER’S CORNER

Aso Rock

Cartoon

so Rock is a large outcrop and the largest rock formation that is on the outskirts of Abuja, the capital of Nigeria. It is a 400 metre monolith and is the city’s most noticeable feature. The main axis of the Central District, it rises to nearly 400 meters above sea level and towers majestically in the background of the Three Arms Zone – so named because it is home to the Presidential Complex, the National Assembly, and the Supreme Court. The term “Aso” means victory in the local language, and the local people are called “Asokoro” or the people of victory. The original village of Asokoro was first

located at the base of the rock and had existed there for centuries. But the development of the new city resulted in the villagers being resettled initially in Suleja and subsequently in Kubwa District. The area of the village is now part of Asokoro district. Aso Rock was the site of the 2003 Aso Rock Declaration, issued by Heads of Government of the Commonwealth during the CHOGM held in Abuja. It reaffirmed the Commonwealth’s principles as detailed under the Harare Declaration, but set the ‘promotion of democracy and development’ as the organisation’s priorities.

ABCDE

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 11,- sunday 12 january, 2014

Kiddies World

PAGE 25

ABCDE

With Nami Hassan Kadir namy.kadir@yahoo.com 08130693795.

MODEL OF THE WEEK

AFRICAN TALES

The Elephant and Lion King of the Jungle fight

nce upon a time, there was one fine sunny day when the Lion felt rather strong and wanted to test his prowess. As he went about the African Jungle with thick canopying trees, the Lion met the Monkey, stopped and asked him: “Who is the King of the Jungle?” The Monkey bowed and answered “You Sire”. Feeling proud and reassured the Lion saw the Hyena and repeated the question to the Hyena who again confirmed that indeed the Lion was the King of the Jungle. The Lion then noticed an Elephant who was as tall as two stories high. Resting under the shed

of a Mopani tree, chewing cud. “Who is the King of the Jungle?” the Lion briskly demanded of the elephant. Before the Lion could finish asking the question, the elephant swooped the Lion off its feet and threw it against the Mopani tree. Before the Lion could shake his senses back, the elephant picked it up again and beat it against a rock. The Lion managed to extricate itself from the powerful grip of the elephant truck, stood at a distance and said: “No, no, no, you do not have to be so nasty and violent, just because you do not know the answer”.

CREATIVITY

How to make a clock toy

Long clock hand (minutes) ne of the best ways to help One washer a child learn, is by taking a If you have a little helper, hands-on approach. When watch fingers carefully teaching your child to tell time, when using the having a practice clock available to hammer. experiment with can accelerate Turn the the learning process. Make nail point one yourself, or help your d o w n child create one of their w h i l e own. holding Choose an 8”x8” t h e square of wood in any washers thickness you desire. a n d Use sandpaper to clock smooth any rough or hands sharp edges. i n Cut two 16” pieces place. of string. Lay one Hammer piece of string from the nail the top left corner to into the the bottom right. Lay the center of second piece of string from the wood the top right corner to block where the the bottom left. Hold Makpencil mark is. strings taunt and ing a toy clock Nail only far enough mark the center of for children to to allow free movement of the block, where the learn on is quick and the clock hands while assuring strings intercept, with easy the nail does not exit the back a pencil mark. Hold the nail point side up. side of the wood block. Use self adhesive number stickers to mark the Thread washers and clock hands on to the nail in the following manner: hours on the clock face. Start with 12 at the top of your clock, adding 6 at the bottom, then the One washer 3 and 9. Fill in the remaining numbers evenly to Short clock hand (hour) complete your clock. One washer

Furqan Hameed Bello

ACTIVITIES Using the right materials, colour the following item. Show your work to your teacher for correction. Cheers

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PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 11,- sunday 12 january, 2014

Learning Problems with Prepositions Rule 1

ou may end a sentence with a preposition. Just do not use extra prepositions when the meaning is clear without them. Correct: That is something I cannot agree with. That is something with which I cannot agree. Correct: Where did he go? Incorrect: Where did he go to? Correct: Where did you get this? Incorrect: Where did you get this at? Correct: I will go later. Incorrect: I will go later on. Correct: Take your shoes off the bed. Incorrect: Take your shoes off of the bed. Correct: You may look out the window. Incorrect: You may look out of the window. Correct: Cut it into small pieces. Incorrect: Cut it up into small pieces. Rule 2 Use on with expressions that indicate the time of an occurrence. Examples: He was born on December 23. We will arrive on the fourth. Rule 3 Of should never be used in place of have. Correct: I should have done it. Incorrect: I should of done it. Rule 4 Between refers to two. Among is used for three or more. Examples: Divide the candy between the two of you. Divide the candy among the three of you. Rule 5 The word like may be used as a preposition and in informal writing, as a conjunction. In formal writing, use as, as if, or as though rather than like as the conjunction. Examples: Prepositional usage You look so much like your mother. Conjunction usage You look like you are angry. OR You look as if you are angry.

Who vs. That vs. Which

Rule 1

ho refers to people. That and which refer to groups or things. Examples: Anya is the one who rescued the bird. Lokua is on the team that won first place. She belongs to an organization that specializes in saving endangered species. Rule 2 That introduces essential

clauses while which introduces nonessential clauses. Examples: I do not trust products that claim "all natural ingredients" because this phrase can mean almost anything. We would not know which products were being discussed without the that clause. The product claiming "all natural ingredients," which appeared in the Sunday newspaper, is on sale. The product is already

identified. Therefore, which begins a nonessential clause. NOTE: Essential clauses do not have commas surrounding them while nonessential clauses are surrounded by commas. Rule 3 If this, that, these, or those has already introduced an essential clause, you may use which to introduce the next clause, whether it is essential or nonessential. Examples: That is a decision which you must live with for the rest of your

life. Those ideas, which we've discussed thoroughly enough, do not need to be addressed again. NOTE: Often, you can streamline your sentence by leaving out which. Example: That is a decision which you must live with for the rest of your life. Better: That is a decision you must live with for the rest of your life

Effective Writing Rule 1

se concrete rather than vague language. Vague: The weather was of an extreme nature on the west coast. Concrete: California had very cold weather last week. Rule 2 Use active voice whenever possible. Active voice means the subject is performing the verb. Examples: Active: Barry hit the ball. Passive: The ball was hit. Notice that the responsible party may not even appear when using passive voice. Rule 3 Avoid overusing there is, there are, it is, it was, and so on. Example: There is a case of meningitis that was reported in the newspaper. Correction: A case of meningitis was reported in the newspaper. Even better: The newspaper reported a case of meningitis. (Active voice) Example: It is important to signal before

making a left turn. Correction: Signaling before making a left turn is important. OR Signaling before a left turn is important. OR You should signal before making a left turn.(Active voice) Example: There are some revisions which must be made. Correction: Some revisions must be made. Even better: Please make some revisions. (Active voice) Rule 4 To avoid confusion, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t use two negatives to make a positive. Incorrect: He is not unwilling to help. Correct: He is willing to help. Rule 5 Use similar grammatical form when offering several ideas. This is called parallel construction. Correct: You should check your spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Incorrect: You should check your spelling, grammar, and punctuating.

Rule 6 If you start a sentence with an action, place the actor immediately after or you will have created the infamous dangling modifier. Incorrect: While walking across the street, the bus hit her. Correct: While walking across the street, she was hit by a bus. OR She was hit by a bus while walking across the street. Rule 7 Place modifiers near the words they modify. Incorrect:

Rule 3

I have some pound cake Mollie baked in my lunch bag. Correct: In my lunch bag, I have some pound cake that Mollie baked. Rule 8 A sentence fragment occurs when you have only a phrase or weak clause but are missing a strong clause. Example of Sentence Fragment: After the show ended. Example of Sentence: After the show ended, we had coffee. GrammarBook.com

Good vs. Well

he word good is an adjective, while well is an adverb. Examples: You did a good job. Good describes the job. You did the job well. Well answers how. You smell good today. Describes your odor, not how you smell with your nose, so follow with the adjective. You smell well for someone with a cold. You are actively smelling with

a nose here, so follow with the adverb. Rule 4 When referring to health, use well rather than good. Example: I do not feel well. You do not look well today. Note: You may use good with feel when you are not referring to health. Example: I feel good about my decision to learn Spanish

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 11,- sunday 12 january, 2014

PAGE 27

Food & Health

Five principles of clean, healthy eating

ating clean may seem like a new buzzy idea, but really it’s about going back to some sane, basic healthyeating principles. If you’ve lived by these principles for years, think of this as a helpful reminder. Clean eating means filling your plate with real, whole foods, eating a variety of vegetables, fruits and whole grains, moderate amounts of lean meats and sustainable seafood, dairy, nuts and seeds and healthy oils. Notice how you don’t eliminate food groups? Eating clean also means choosing foods that are in season and limiting processed foods, salt, added sugars and unhealthy saturated fats. These clean-eating tips will help you figure out how to clean up your diet and fill your plate with nourishing, gooble-me-up foods. So what are you waiting for? This year, resolve to eat cleaner, fresher, tastier for a healthier you.

1. Limit Processed Food Some packaged foods--like yogurt or bagged greens--are “clean.” To pick healthy processed foods, look for whole foods in ingredient lists. If an ingredient sounds suited for a chemical lab, think twice. Another benefit to limiting processed food: in a study in Food & Nutrition Research, people who ate a “whole food” sandwich (Cheddar on multigrain bread) burned about 64 more calories per meal than those who ate a “processed” sandwich (processed cheese on white bread). The energy needed to digest a less-refined, more nutrient-dense sandwich may explain the extra calorie burn. 2. Watch the Sodium Americans regularly eat 1,000 mg more sodium than the recommended daily limit of 2,300 mg, mostly from processed foods and restaurant meals. (Your recommended daily limit is even lower at 1,500 mg if you’re 51 years or older, African American, have high blood pressure, diabetes or kidney disease.). Help your heart and blood pressure: cook from scratch as much as possible so you can control the amount of added salt and be creative with how you flavor foods. Use plenty of spices, fresh herbs and vinegar or citrus. 3. Eat Less Meat You enjoy eating meat! Especially is this so in Nigeria, where in some ways the quantity of meat in your plate per meal may be seen as a reflection of affluence. How sad!

Yes, for while meat offers protein, iron and vitamin B12, too much of it can pile on saturated fat and cholesterol. When that happens, seemingly pleasant and enjoyable endeavour becomes a serious health hazard. And not a few have paid dearly for this careless extravagance, or outright abuse of their health. But you don’t have to cut out meat entirely to eat healthy. Use a small amount to flavor largely plant-based dishes, like seasoning vegetable soup with bits of chicken or jazzing up noodles and vegetables with shreds of pork.

4. Eat More Vegetables Low in calories and packed with fiber, vegetables are also bursting with vitamins and minerals. Eating more veggies in small amounts here and there will add up quickly and help you get the 2½-3 cups per day that’s recommended for most adults. Whir spinach into smoothies, tuck snap peas into wraps and sandwiches, and double up vegetables in stirfries. When dining out, start your meal with a salad or order a vegetarian entree. 5. Choose Whole Grains eplace refined grains with whole ones to capture beneficial nutrients in the bran and germ. Start your day with steelcut oats, add quinoa or freekah (roasted, rubbed green grain, usually wheat) to salads and try wild or black rice with dinner. The extra fiber might also slim you down: people who eat 3 or more whole-grain servings daily have lower body mass indexes and less belly fat than those eating fewer servings, says a study in the Journal of Nutrition.

Carrot and coriander

A plate of sugar ladden food

Fluted pumpkin leaves

Vegetable soup

Page 28

s p i T y t u a Be

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 11,- sunday 12 january, 2014

Compiled by Patrick Andrew

Carrots for refreshing skin, hair and health S

weet and crunchy, carrots have been an important part of vegetarian diets. Carrots are basically root vegetables belonging to the Apeaceae or Umbelliferrous family which also includes parsley, parsnip, dill, cumin etc. A carrot plant has green lacy leaves and a long slender orange root that is edible. Baby carrots are tender but they are less flavourful because of their immaturity. These vegetables are believed to have originated about 5000 years ago. In fact, you will be surprised to know that formerly carrots were red, black, yellow, white and mostly purple in colour but not orange. They were

first cultivated in Afghanistan and had purple exteriors with yellow flesh. Bright orange carrots were developed by the Dutch in the middle ages and today they are the most common ones. Besides their delicious flavour, carrots contain high amounts of beta carotene and other healthbenefitting compounds such as Vitamin A, minerals and antioxidants. Carrots offer several health benefits and are particularly beneficial for organs like the eyes, skin, digestive system and teeth. No doubt it is a favourite of bugs bunny and accounts for his swiftness, energy and intelligence.

Washing off the carrot maze

Facial cleansing using carrot

Carrot facial dream cream porridge carrot for facial wash

Fruits that fight aging

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Compiled by MIRIAM HUMBE

Fashion

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 11,- sunday 12 january, 2014

Perfect in silver and royal purple P

urple is royalty. A mysterious color, it is associated with both nobility and spirituality. The opposites of hot red and cool blue combine to create this intriguing color. Combining the stable and calming aspects of blue with the mystical and spiritual qualities of purple,

Blue Iris satisfies the need for reassurance in a complex world, while adding a hint of mystery and excitement. Purple has a special, almost sacred place in nature: lavender, orchid, lilac, and violet flowers are often delicate and considered precious. Because it is derived from the mixing of a strong warm and strong cool color it has both warm and cool properties. A combination of silver and purple gives its wearer the perfect classy and enviable look.

Pots & Pans

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Breakfast with egg sauces Ingredients eggs, fresh peppers, [attarugu and tattasai], tomatoes, onion mince meat, curry and thyme salt cubes for seasoning, groundnut oil.

Method: Wash vegetables and chop, slice onion put

in a clean frying pan or pot add groundnut oil add mince meat and fry then add salt and seasoning, curry and thyme. Continue frying until done, then break eggs and heat well then add to the frying sauce and turn very well for 5 minutes to 7 minutes before removing from fire and serve with chips or yam

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 11,- sunday 12 january, 2014

Paw Paw Shake Ingredients: whole paw-paw, 1 tin of evaporated milk, sugar or honey and one orange. Method: Wash and peel paw-paw then blend it in a blender machine. Add milk and sugar then add the cube, garnish, with sliced orange in a glass.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 11,- sunday 12 january, 2014

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Relationship

Six strong signs of a healthy relationship H By Patrick Andrew

urrah! Many are still in celebration mood. They have reasons to. It’s a new year, which means it’s time for new goals, new resolutions, and perhaps a new you. But hopefully the one thing you won’t be trading in this New Year is your relationship. So you are married? That’s wonderful and indeed pleasant to the ears. Of course, its ginger good feeling and as an African and a Nigerian in particular, being married is applauded as a demonstration of maturity and a sense of responsibility. But that’s not all there is in marriage. Older couples know a few tricks about marriage. They also possess a good dose of facts or rather basic truth about marriage. Essentially that the shiny new presents, the grandiose party, and the blissful honeymoon suite with the in-room hot tub does not a happy marriage make. If that were the case there won’t be celebrity marriage break-ups. There won’t even be sad memories of failed celebrity marriages. But the truth is so many seemingly happy marriages have hit the rocks. Many older couples will tell you that beyond the flashes, smiles and dreamy eyes and excitement of the wedding day are stack realities of real life situations which challenge the nerves of the newlyweds to no end. One pair of one couple had this to say: “I’m getting to the age where most of my peers are walking down the aisle, where I’m witness to new and blossoming love. And admittedly, as a married woman who just celebrated her sixth wedding anniversary (by working at the hospital for a 12hour shift, woohoo!), I am starting to feel a little jaded about love. “That the shiny new presents, the grandiose party, and the blissful honeymoon suite with the in-room hot tub does not a happy marriage make. Relationships take on all sorts of different shapes and sizes these days, with couples choosing not to marry yet live together, or to forge non-traditional family units. So just what is the key to a lifelong, lasting union? Check out these 6 signs your relationship will last a lifetime! 1. Trust your gut Apparently, the real test of a relationship’s longevity is actually incredibly simple. Time reports

that a group of scientists measured how happy couples were by simply showing them pictures and asking them to rate them as either “happy” or “sad” after first asking them to look at pictures of their spouses. The couples who took a long time ranking the “sad” pictures had happier unions, while those who quickly identified the sad pictures ending up breaking up. The reason? At some unconscious level, unhappy couples who looked at pictures of their spouses were already in a “sad” mood, and thus could easily and quickly pinpoint the sad pictures.

2. You are a better person with your partner than you are without I can honestly say that my relationship with my husband has made me a better person. When we first started dating, I was a miserably moody, unconfident, and insecure person and I took out a lot of my feelings on him. These days, I still struggle with those issues, but he has helped me to learn how to “fight fair,” and he has been the rock that I know will never leave. 3. You don’t depend on each other for happiness hile I don’t think this is meant to be confused with the fact that marriage can make people happier, I also fell trap to the thinking early on in my marriage that my title as a “Mrs.” was also my ticket to happiness. I thought for sure that having a husband who loved me would make me the confident, skinny, happy person I longed to be, but lo and behold - that didn’t happen. Marriage is a source of happiness no doubt, but marriage alone cannot make you happy.

4. You don’t believe in soul mates There’s an inherent and underlying danger to the premise of soul mates when you really think about it. After all, if it’s true that we have soul mates, then who are we to take an active part in our relationship? If you’re destined to be, you will be, right? Well, no. Unlike the concept of effortless love that soul mates can portray, choosing a relationship is an entirely different matter. Personally, I love how blogger Hannah puts it, when she declared to the world in a post gone viral that her husband was not her soulmate: “... I delight in choosing to love him every day. I like it better this

“

Marriage is a source of happiness no doubt, but marriage alone cannot make you happy.

way, with the pressure on me and not on fate, cosmos, or divinity. I will not fall out of love, cannot fall out of love, because I willingly dived in and I’m choosing daily to stay in. This is my joyous task, my daily decision.” 5. You have realistic ex-

pectations lamour Magazine reported that one of the easiest and best ways to tell if a relationship will last is if a couple displays realistic images and portrayals about each other and their relationship - meaning, no unrealistic expectations about a

life of pure bliss and toilet paper rolls that change themselves. This also means really grasping the concept that people don’t change, and it’s pretty much always a recipe for disaster if you go into a relationship expecting your partner to change for you. 6. You dream about the future together Not in a way that keeps you from enjoying the present together, of course, but in a way that ensures that you will have a future together. Setting goals together, making plans for the kind of life you want to live with your partner, and checking in along the way helps to keep you connected as you dream together. Additional report shine-yahoo.com

from

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 11,- sunday 12 january, 2014

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Fiction

Police Wahala (Part 3)

can see him ending up like that one who carried two prostitutes into Aso Rock.’ Another man said, rather flatly, in a resigned tone, ‘you are correct, Nwanne Nwoke. A thief will always suspect whoever comes into his house as a thief,’ as if he needed to add his own voice to the babble, even though he would rather not. ‘The ruling party has destroyed this country. Look at those men outside forcing money out of poor drivers. The worst part is that they are husbands and fathers.’ ‘They have killed and buried us all. We have become skeletons. Only God will save us,’ said the woman who smelled of mackerel. Bede simpered. Why should God come and fight for us? Is He the cause of all this queue, fuel scarcity, extortion by every man in uniform, the wanton embezzlement in the government? Is it not because we are all keeping hushed that all of this oppression is happening? During the military dictatorship, people came together to protest regardless of the armoured tanks and heavy artillery on the streets, but now democracy has shrunken every man into a lizard! What is the demo in the crazy, he mused, thinking of another song by Fela. Bede did not say out these words, even though he longed to blurt them out. He would have liked to put the blame on every passenger sitting in the bus, because he had noticed that every citizen knew how to speak blah-blah-blah. How to criticize yawn-yawnyawn, yet no one wanted to lead a protest march against the government. Maybe they were waiting for him. Bunch of buffoons, Bede thought, sweeping his eyes around him. What stops all the passengers from accosting the police men? What stops all the drivers in the queue from rolling up their windows in the faces of the police men? He knew that the moment he uncovered his mind, all the passengers, excluding the Old Soldier, would begin to argue and insult him. They were all look-alikes of Ikuku – brimming with froth. This was one of the reasons he preferred taking a bike, Bede thought, trying not to work himself up. Once you were on a bike you were spared the murmurings. You could navigate a roadblock. The police men seldom stopped you. And the wind blew in your face, rejuvenating you. Voices ricocheted around him. Bede shut his eyes, conscious of a mild chill in his nostrils each time he breathed in. He let his mind drift. Because listening to the motley sounds of discontent would jangle his nerves some more. ‘It’s amazing how people change overnight, amazing. I used to know the governor…’ Bede pulled his eyelids back. He thought the Old Soldier had spoken to him, but the man had only made a general statement. The voices died down. Silence flitted in the air, brittle, unreal. ‘…we both went to the same university, yes, yes,’ the old man went on; his voice scraping the silence. ‘He used to be the president of the SUG in the seventies. He was articulate, had a good grasp of politics, and selfless. Upright, to boot…’ he coughed, paused a while, then kept on speaking. ‘… he didn’t steal a farthing. But now I read in the newspapers, yes, yes…’ the man coughed again. Bede noted the various expressions on some of the passengers’ faces, those who had turned in their seats to face him, those sitting close to the old man. Some expressions were strained tight with expectation; some scrawled with scepticism; a few showed ambivalence, as though they couldn’t de-

cide what to make of the man’s surprising tale. Even the conductor was staring rapt, his beady eyes fixed on the hunched shape of the old man, who was now trying to subdue his cough, by rubbing his chest gently, thoughtfully, as though he was calming a disgruntled teenager. Bede wondered if it was not better the Old Soldier kept his mouth shut; nobody cared about his story; they just wanted him to jabber on, a good distraction from the disgusting drama at the roadblock. That way nobody would feel powerless and persecuted by the law. tion ‘…that He has houses in London. His wife spends more time in Switzerland buying buy gold, watches and chocolates than she stays with her husband, yes, yes…’ the old man had resumed his tale, smiling sleepily; his hand still massaging his chest. ‘Oga, you funny,’ a man in his twenties said behind Old Soldier. He looked like an undergraduate, Bede observed. ‘Is that all you have read about him?’ The young man laughed. Bede thought his laugh sounded like the screech of a parakeet. ‘It’s no news that he has the mightiest mansion in his village. His daughters are studying in my school; they travel to London and France as if they are going to buy shoes in Douglas Market.’ He screeched some more, and added, ‘Let him eat plenty money, it is his time.’

“

‘What kind of statement is that?’ snapped the middle-aged man sitting next to him. The student replied, ‘Won’t you do the same? People like you would suck the state dry such that even the street sweepers won’t see a torn naira note. Pretenders.’ ‘I know you will do that sort of thing,’ the man fired back at him. ‘Look at your eyes.’ ‘As hungry as your own!’ The student screeched in laughter. verybody laughed. Bede smiled, thinking how one minute passengers could be falling out with each other, and the next minute they would be guffawing at their silliness. By the end of the trip, nothing would have changed. Everybody went home to manage his domestic problems. So, he thought, it was always pointless joining in the banter. As the mirth ebbed, Bede noticed the ease with which the entire fare slid back into their individual thoughts. He suddenly thought of Lemchi. He fished out his mobile phone to call his cousin, but the bus rocked. He gripped the seat. The old man was also hanging on to the seat. They exchanged vague grins. ‘Look at their pockets!’ the mackerelsmelly woman shouted. All the passengers lifted their gazes out of the windows. The police men, five in number, were plodding off from the road-

As the police men dispersed into the shed, which seemed to be where some of their gear was kept, the passengers started to toss curses out the window at them, in a quiet, witty manner.

block. Obviously, they had decided to call it a day. Who knows how much they must have made, Bede brooded. It would run into hundreds of thousands of naira, probably, because over five thousand vehicles plied that route to and fro on a daily basis. As the police men dispersed into the shed, which seemed to be where some of their gear was kept, the passengers started to toss curses out the window at them, in a quiet, witty manner. ‘See their coconut heads.’ ‘Hungry thieves.’ ‘Thin like bamboo, even with all the money.’ ‘That’s how your children will harass you, riff-raff, rogues, rapists. God will punish all of you – plus your ogas in Abuja.’ Bede smiled. Typical of them, he thought. Cowards. Anyway, he was glad the police men had let the cars through the sham toll. In twenty minutes’ time, he would be home. They had spent nearly thirty minutes in the hold-up. The conductor had turned off the inner light. Inside was dark once more. The bus wobbled on, silently, determinedly, on its narrow lane. The drizzle had ceased, but the air felt cold. ‘People change as their desires change. Eventually, we all desire the same thing.’ The old man chuckled softly. ‘Yes, odd it seems. But I find it funny. Because if you look belooow the surface, you will find out all our desires rest on money,’ he said, wheezing yet again, and pressing his hand to his mouth. ede moved his head at once, thinking the man would break out in another jerky round of coughing fit. The man didn’t. He started to think of his boss, wondering if that statement applied to him. He doubted Mr. Brutus Achu would ever change. The man’s temperament was set in granite. Bede sighed. Turning his gaze from the window, he caught the drowsy Old Soldier watching him intently. He felt the stranger’s eyes crawling, like spiders, all over his arms, and quickly glanced away, stemming the sudden image of his own father’s eyes. sentinelnigeria.org

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 11,- sunday 12 january, 2014

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Romance

Stepping stones

xcuse me, excuse me coming through” I raced through the airport, the announcer had called the final boarding call for my flight. I was about to miss my flight due to all the prayers my family insisted on having which if you ask me were excessive. Missing this flight was not an option I was willing to entertain; I had to get out of this country and fast. Oh no. I thought as I approached the escalator; there was an out-of-order sign positioned right in front of it. Only in Murtala Mohammed airport would there be such a shiny escalator that almost never worked. Only in ‘Naija’ and the funny thing was that no one seemed to complain, or raise an eyebrow but as usual we all adjusted to not having a working escalator at the airport. I am still proudly Nigerian but the reality is that we still got work to do! Speaking of reality, it was my reality that the man I gave my everything to was really moving on. My mind flashed back to the day I walked into the Domino’s Pizza in Ikoyi to pick up my mouth-watering pizza, I just happened to buy the latest gossip magazine from the vendor standing by the door. My eyes widened when there, plastered on the front page was Nedu; he was getting married. My mind went back to that day a year ago that my world came crashing down. I wanted to keep it a secret and sometimes wish I did, but I loved him too much not to tell him. My bible also said that whatever was done in the secret will surely come out to the light. On that fateful, beautiful evening he whipped out the ring I had been waiting on for a while. I remember he went on bended knees about to give what I thought would have been the most unforgettable proposal there was. Right before he spoke, I had to open my big mouth. I told him the truth I had known all along; one of my tubes was blocked making the possibility of me having a child slim to none. Just like that a relationship that spanned six years was gone down the drain. He suddenly was very busy at the office, then he gradually stopped picking my calls or replying my text or bbms. All the signs were there, he had changed somehow, and he was no longer my Nedu. I wasn’t going to go down like that. Gathering up the nerve I decided to go visit him. I was confident we could talk this out, after all there were other options available. I called and he said he wasn’t back from Abuja. Since I had a key, I quickly packed an overnight bag and headed to his house. I was going to surprise him. I intended to spoil him; cook clean and tidy up for him. He would get a feel of what he was missing when he arrived tomorrow afternoon. The air was sucked out of my lungs when I arrived and his car was parked in the covered parking space. Wishing for the best while making a thousand excuses for him in just a matter of seconds, I approached the house and could hear laughter. Ringing the bell, I waited and then the door opened. The opened door brought me face to face with Toyin. “Honey who is it” questioned the

voice I had become so used to hearing; Nedu. Our eyes were glued to one another. Both expressions clearly different, hers had a hint of guilt but somewhere in there was a smirk; mine was filled with despair and shock. My worst fears were confirmed when he appeared, wearing a white T-shirt and his lounging pants. He was no longer mine. He was oozing of nervous energy, he couldn’t be that nervous as he didn’t waste time locating Toyin’s waist. When he wrapped his arms around her waist, I felt like I was punched in the gut. My best friend and my man. How wicked could the world be? She was the one I cried to, laid out all my problems to. Too much to bear, the last thing I heard was” Amaka, wait I can explain” hat was a year ago; it was time to turn over a new leaf. I had to stop feeling sorry for myself and get busy. I had goals, dreams, and visions for my life. I was not going to pine away anymore, if God gave me a husband in the process, glory be to His name. Now on my way to the USA , I could see new possibilities and was grateful. My godparents were gracious enough to send for me when my parents had complained about my inability to get over my heartbreak. My dad had been a faithful driver to the Omojola’s. During those years an unlikely friendship had blossomed. They were bonded together by the fact that both men married the love of their lives. These women were their soul mates and they loved them but the unions were still childless even after five years of marriage. After ten solid years, God blessed my parents

“

My dad had been a faithful driver to the Omojola’s. During those years an unlikely friendship had blossomed. They were bonded together by the fact that both men married the love of their lives.

with a child; me. Since his employers still didn’t have one of their own my parents decided to share and that was how they became my godparents. They had been blessed with riches but didn’t have the one thing they wanted; children. The Irony of life. I got to the gate just in time, I scurried to my seat in the plane, securing my hand luggage in the overhead compartment, I breathed a sigh of relief. I was determined not to blow it, my life may not be where I thought it should be but it is not over. U S of A, here I come. Six Years Later………. “Sir are you still here? I asked you to let me reschedule for you for another time” the secretary said as she came out of the office belonging to her boss. “What kind of question is that? Of course I’m still here. I had a 2pm appointment and I have to see him today” Looking at his watch and taking note of the time; 430pm. He was frustrated. If only he could finally get to see him, it would be his big break. He has been trying for what seemed

like ages to get an appointment. He finally did and now this. A friend had referred him here; the man had relocated from America a year ago and was fast becoming a force to be reckoned with in the literary arena. If anyone could get a book sold; Dr. Igwebuike could. His wife was quickly losing patience in his inability to breakthrough as a writer; something he promised her he would do when he stopped working two years ago. They had run out of their savings and he needed a miracle. he secretary was about to respond when her attention shifted to the door, following her direction, he saw a woman trying to break up a squabble between two kids, it didn’t take him long to see they were twins. “Welcome madam,” the secretary said genuflecting even when the woman had yet to lift her head to acknowledge her. “Thank you dear,” the woman said lifting her head as she had managed to get the kids to quiet down. With each kid on her side she ap-

proached. They made eye contact; he stood up and walked towards her. “Amaka?” he asked in shock. “Nedu?” She asked equally shocked. “What are you doing here?” He asked. “This is my husband’s office,” she answered, just then the door behind them opened and a man who had a close resemblance to the American actor Boris Kodjoe , standing at about six-foot four walked through. He was dressed in well starched native attire and before Nedu knew it, the kids flew out of Amaka’s hands and ran to him shouting “Daaaaaaaddy”. He picked them up and twirled them around. As he approached, Nedu was blinded by the glow of love between both of them. He planted a wet kiss on her lips as if no one else was in the room. Releasing her he said “Hey honey ready to go?” “Oh I’m sorry Mr. Okam” the man said turning to him. “I was tied up that’s why I told my secretary to give you another appointment.” he explained. “Please make another appointment and we will see what we can do,” the man said. With one child one each arm, and his wife’s arm around his waist, Dr. Igwbuike turned around and left. When they got to the elevator Nnamdi looked down at his wife with all the love in his heart, she was his heartbeat and he knew without a doubt he was hers. Then he asked “Honey, you two know each other?” “Yeah babes, he was one of the stepping-stones that brought me closer to you,” she smiled as the elevator opened. romancemeetslife.com

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 11,- sunday 12 january, 2014

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Entertainment Xtra Psquare to have White Wedding April In Dubai

eter Okoye one of the twins of Psquare and Lola had their traditional wedding the last quarter of 2013 in what many have tagged one of the biggest entertainment event of 2013. It didn't end there, many even said his family never supported the marriage, but they don't care, they only care about what they think is best for them self, it can also be recalled that Paul Okoye his twin brother has slightly disclosed they will have their white wedding together but he never stated any time or date, here is the real gist, Peter and Paul Okoye are getting set to storm Dubai for a double wedding in three months’ time, April. Though the twin brothers are yet to pick a particular date in the month of April, they are quietly working on where, when and how. “If all things work out as planned the two brothers would walk down the aisle together with their heartthrobs (Lola & Anita) come April of 2014 and we can confirm to you that except for some extraordinary last minute change of heart, the venue for the planned superlative wedding is most definitely Dubai.”

Iyanya releases first 2014 album

igerian superstar, Iyanya, have dropped his first song of the new year. Titled ‘Away’, the song is produced by ace producer Masterkraft. ‘Away’ is a tidy Highlife release. It shows Iyanya’s lyrical versatility as he dips into his Southern roots to create catchy lyrics for the song. Some parts of the song even has a fusion of traditional percussion instrumentals, creating a melodious rhythm. Iyanya is currently working on releasing his 3 album this year, and he hope it will achieve similar success as that of his previous work; Desire. ‘Away’ is the second single off the forthcoming EP, and he promises to drop more. Listen to my way below. What do you think about the new song. Hit or Miss? –

Ejiofor, McQueen backout on Fela movie

he duo of Chiwetel Ejiofor and British Steve McQueen have backed out of the planned movie on the life of Nigerian music legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the project was dumped by the actors due to lack of funds. McQueen was quoted by The Hollywood Reporter to have said, "They didn't have the money. It is one of those things that happen in this business." Ejiofor would have played Fela in the said movie, which was reportedly described as "dead" by McQueen, following the latest development. It is uncertain if the project would still be revisited in the nearest future when the money to run the biopic is eventually sourced for.

Flavour, Lagbaja thrill fans at Glo/CAF Awards

op Nigerian musicians Lagbaja and Flavour among others thrilled fans and soccer in dignitaries, their counterparts in the commerce and industry as well as other guests from across world at the GLO CAF Awards held in Lagos on Thursday night at the Expo centre of Eko Hotel, Lagos. The music aces rendered their popular tunes to the delight of the spectators who were also treated to scintillating dance steps by the top artistes' groups. Peoples Daily Weekend noted the spectators were not only delighted but could help joining in mouthing the songs as well as danced to the tunes, although the rendering in some were not exactly as alluring as they are in albums. Also singing sensation and Glo Ambassador in Benin Republic, Zeynab, as well as South African singer, Lira, took to the stage to thrill the fans as did Mairika Koch who performed choreographic to send the spectators reeling with excitement. According to organizers, these celebrated acts will set the tone for the event that celebrates African football stars that shone in the football sphere

Kanye West, Scott Disick in fashion faceoff

anye West and Scott Disick care about their Kardashian women almost as much as they care about their wardrobe, which is why we weren't surprised to see that the duo apparently pluck items from the same closet. It's time for Scott and Kanye to face-off! What they wore: An army green, fur-lined Ermanno Scervino coat, retailing at $3,567. When they wore it: The 36-year-old performer donned the designer duds during Paris Fashion Week in 2013. Kourtney Kardashian's main squeeze, and the father of her two kids, stepped out in the cozy couture on Dec. 6 in New York City. How they styled it: Disick didn't add much detail to his outfit, pairing the attentiongrabbing jacket with a black T-shirt, a gray sweater, and a pair of blue jeans. Kim Kardashian's fiancé amped up the stylish coat with a red plaid flannel shirt, a black T-shirt, a pair of dark jeans,

and finally completed it with a gold chain necklace. Both gents played up the rustic nature of the outerwear by growing some scruffy facial hair. Judge's scorecard: While we like that Kanye added color to his overall ensemble, we're really digging Scott's look. His simple

blue jeans and slightly unkempt coif look very mountain manmeets-high-fashion. The question is, did Kanye let the dapper Disick borrow his coat (we know the Kardashian gals regularly swap styles!) and then get outdone by him?

Omotola speaks to CNN African Voices on future plans

rolific and Nigerian superstar actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde is featuring on CNN's African Voice programme. The show began yesterday and will till Tuesday, January 14. Numerous fans of the sexy mother of four, who will tune in to the programme, will have the opportunity to hear from the screen goddess' mouth talk about her rise to fame, upbringing, passion for activism and future plans. The singer, television star and philanthropist told CNN, "I've reached a point in my life where I’ve realised I have to leave something. I have to have a legacy. I decided I will be an activist for Africa.

"My experience with the UN and other humanitarian organisations inspired me to want to speak out and say more and there's so much you can just say with words. This was my motivation for singing." Omotola is popularly referred to as the Queen of Nollywood. She is not only an icon in the Nigerian entertainment industry, but a UN ambassador and activist with Amnesty International. In 2012, Omotola was awarded the Black Entertainment Film Fashion Television and Arts (BEFFTA) Icon, a special honorary award, in recognition of her contribution to the film industry in Africa, Europe

and globally. Omotola is the first Nigerian with her own reality TV show, tagged “Omotola: The Real Me”, she was also named one of the most influential people in the world by Time Magazine in the annual Time 100 List in 2013. The CNN's weekly half-hour programme, which highlights Africa's most engaging personalities, will air Omosexy's interview on Friday, January 10 at 9.30am; Saturday, January 11 at 4.30am; Sunday, January 12 at 10.am & 7.30pm; Monday, January 13 at 11.30am & 6.30pm; Tuesday, January 14 at 6.30am.

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PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 11,- sunday 12 january, 2014

Bollywood/Hollywood

China cinema rakes in $3.6 bn in 2013

hinese cinemas raked in 21.77 billion yuan in 2013, the China Daily said, citing the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television. The year's highest-grossing film was Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons, an action fantasy adaptation of a Chinese classic novel believed to date from the 16th century. Only three Hollywood movies made it into the top 10, with Iron Man 3 ranking second with 753.6 million yuan in takings, followed by Pacific Rim in fourth place and Gravity in 10th, the report added. Unlike in 2012, domestic productions had more of the market than imported movies, with 12.77 billion yuan in ticket sales for a 58.7 percent share, the China Daily said. Imported movies earned nine billion yuan in the year, up 2.3 percent from 2012 but only 41.3 percent of the market, according to the report. A cinema staff member (L) checks a customer's ticket at the entrance of the movie house in Beiji … Official data showed domestic and foreign films had 48.5 percent and 51.5 percent of the Chinese cinema market in 2012 respectively. Foreign films in China come under an annual quota -- just 34 last year -- and face censorship by cultural authorities who excise content deemed politically sensitive or obscene. Nearly 5,100 screens were added in theatres

o vid

D’ban

fans recently. According to him, "[I am] in the studio with the king. 2014, year of all." Davido and D'Banj have shown affection for each other's musical works. They have always got along with their music careers and Davido sees the 'Eja Nla' as his big boss, while Wizkid sees Don Jazzy as his own industry big boss.

Eedris Abdulkareem still in a rented apartment

his is amazing. Gone are the days when rappers wear baggy jeans, oversized shirts with bandana and sun-shades. Then, they seem to be living a rugged life but now, everything has changed. Even smoking of weeds is done in a more civilized fashion. Before we get it twisted, news making around town has it that popular rapper, Eedris Abdulareem still have not gotten his own personal house. Sources hint us that the rapper still stays in a two bedroom flat apartment with his family since he returned from his self-imposed exile few years ago.

• Says she uses cocoa butter but not bleaching

across China in 2013, bringing the total number of screens in the country to 18,195 by the end of the year, the report said. Analysts have forecast China will have 30,000 screens within three to five years, but the paper quoted Liu Hanwen, an official with the administration, saying it was hard to predict when the number of cinemas would be sufficient to "satisfy audience demand" spurred by the country's rapid urbanisation. China collected 17 billion yuan in box office revenue in 2012, $2.7 billion at the time. That put it second only to the $10.8 billion recorded in the US and Canada, according to a report by the Motion Picture Association of America. It put Japan as the world's third biggest movie market with $2.4 billion in ticket sales, followed by Britain and France, both at $1.7 billion. Industry experts have predicted that China will at current rates become the world's top film market by 2020. But critics said the market's explosive growth last year had not been matched by a similar improvement in quality. "Neither the quality of Chinese films or the quantity of fine (domestic) movies improved in proportion to the leap in box office revenue," the Beijing Youth Daily said in a commentary on Tuesday.

Davido, D'Banj collaborating for new song

he duo of Nigerian superstar artistes; D'Banj and Davido have put heads together on a song. The single was recently recorded and there have already been anticipation for the song to hit the airwaves. But there is no hint yet on the song title or what direction the single will go. An excited Davido announced this news to his

Yvonne Nelson admits whitening skin

The house located at Aboderin Estate, Mangoro Bus Stop also firms his personal studio and we heard the house has also been a hid out for young chaps he has groomed to be his crew, smoking weeds almost every evening. We also heard that some artists in his good book have also worked from his home from time to time. But really it is unfortunate that some rappers that have come behind him with less fame are multi-millionaire and redefining the game. Eedris raise to fame with his “pass’ album after splitting from “Remedies”. He released his second album

“Jaga Jaga” which got him into a serious faceoff with the former president “Chief Olusegun obasanjo. Also referred to as Mr. Lecture, Eedris is expected to have grown into an household name and racked in millions but was blank listed by major brands in the country due to his face off with American rapper 50 Cent. Those were troubled times that nosedived his career. He has since not been able to get his career back on track even with several attempt. Born into a polygamous family in Kano state, the rapper can be said to have reformed rap music in Nigeria.

he rumours has been ongoing for nearly a year that actress Ynovve Nelson is bleaching her skin she has kept quiet about this rumors since But the mention of her name by a US website, Atlanta Blackstar, as one of 15 black celebrities believed to be whitening their skin, moved Miss Nelson to give a response. In a statement released this morning, the Ghanaian actress is alleged to have claimed that though her skin complexion has lightened over the years, it has absolutely nothing to do with skin bleaching. She said: “My present skin tone is as a result of the constant use of the famous Queen Elizabeth Cocoa Butter. About 3 years ago, I was fortunate enough to secure a deal to be the ‘Face of Queen Elizabeth Cocoa Butter’ and as part of the contract, I was given a lifetime supply of the body cream. “I have therefore been using this cream exclusively for 3 years, so what you see now is the result of the goodness of Queen Elizabeth. It has simply enhanced my natural complexion rather than bleach it.” Queen Elizabeth Cocoa Butter, which is the official moisturiser of the British monarch, after whom the product is named, is rich in akomfem oil, which is believed to have given Miss Yvonne Nelson this caramel skin colour. It also contains vitamins A, E and F, which are essential for nourishment and moisturising without leaving the skin greasy.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 11,- sunday 12 january, 2014

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Entertainm en t X tra Ex-Nigerian footballer Emeka Ezeugo converts to Islam

ey member of the 1994 Super Eagles squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations and later awed the world with scintillating display of skill has finally found peace. The 46 years old retired Nigerian international defensive midfielder and current coach, Emeka Ezeugo, has announced that he’s embraced Islam after being inspired by the life of Prophet Mohammad. Emeka went to a Muslim cleric last week along with Mohammedan manager Amirul Islam, his former teammate Kaiser Hamid, Zaker party leader Amir Faisal and club official Abu Hasan Prince to convert to Islam. The former footballer, who represented Nigeria in the 1994 World Cup after playing for Mohammedan Sporting Club for nearly a decade, said he feels honoured to be a follower of the great prophet who he thinks is the greatest among all messengers of God. Speaking early in the week, the aggressive defender, who was often used by Clemens Westerhof to ‘do the dirty’ job for the Eagles on the pitch, said he found peace and contentment in his new found faith. “I am always a curious person and studied different religions when I found the life of Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) very inspiring,’. Emeka, who now has taken a new name Mustafa

Mohammed, claimed that his family has accepted his decision, though they all are members of Roman Catholic Church. ‘I am a grown up man brother. I am free to make my own decisions. None of my family members protested the decision. However, Emeka, said that the large number of friends he made in Bangladesh is like his family and they gave him good support in making the decision.‘ Bangladesh is my second home and I have some friends here who are like my brothers. They helped me in making the decision,’ Emeka said. Emeka said he could not express his feeling about becoming a Muslim and felt like a Bangladeshi and it became stronger after converting to Islam. His life has become more disciplined as he has to offer prayers more now and follow some other rituals of the religion. I have just planted a seed and now I have to nourish it into a tree. I know that I will discover many good sides of this decision with time but at this moment I can say the religion has made my life more disciplined,’ said Emeka. He added that he will apply for a new passport with his new name once he returns to his home in Nigeria.

D-Tunes reveals why he parted ways with Iyanya

he name ‘D-Tunes’ came into the consciousness of many music buffs when the winner of the maiden edition of MTN Project Fame, Iyanya Mbuk released his hit single, ‘Kukere’, which later became a street song. In the song, the singer introduced D-Tunes as the producer of the song. The music producer went ahead to do some other hit singles for Iyanya and another artiste, Sean Tizzle in Sho Lee. But not too long after fame smiled on Iyanya, he reportedly parted ways with his producer. Some even reported that they left in bad blood, but the beat maker has refuted that claim and has said there is no problem between him and Iyanya. Speaking recently on why he left Iyanya, D-Tunes explained the real reason he dumped the singer, but hinted that they could still woork together on a song. “We just had to leave each other to do our own thing. It is a case of two persons trying to move on in life. That’s just it,” D-Tunes said.

Kannywood singer, Nazir Ahmed, weds

annywood singer, Nazir Ahmed, on Sunday, married Hadiza Isyaku in Kano. The wedding fatiha took place at the Murtala Mohammed Juma’at Mosque. The wedding was attended by several Kannywood celebrities including Ali Nuhu, Sani Danja, Aminu Saira who happens to be the groom’s brother, and a host of others. Nazir is noted in Kannywood for his unique singing style. He won the Best Kannywood Singer of the Year at the 2013 Kannywood MTN awards for his song, Wani The wedding celebrations will end on Tuesday with a brief get-together for Kannywood celebrities at the groom’s house.

‘Love Like A Movie’ concert holds February 15

uccess is sweet. That’s true. This is evident by the planned return of the second edition of Valentine concert series, ‘Love Like A Movie’. Last year, the series had an acclaimed successful debut in 2013 and organiser Darey Art-Alade, wants a repeat performance this year on February 15. According to a statement issued by Darey’s publicist, BHM, the concert produced by Livespot Productions, another company owned by Darey, will hold at the Eko Hotel Oceanview Grounds. The maiden edition of the concert which saw appearances by Kim Kardashian, 2face Idibia, and many

other entertainers would, this year, feature aerial performances, breathtaking stunts and slams, the statement said. “The event will be one night of world-class performances that LLAM is known for, plus boundary pushing lights, lasers and pyrotechnic displays. It’s an unbelievable show we’re putting together this year. Unbelievable,” Darey said. Themed, Love Roller-Coaster, Love Like A Movie 2014 will follow the format of the previous edition; featuring dozens of performers from Nigeria including two US superstars, who will be announced later.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 11,- sunday 12 january, 2014

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Entertainment Flakes

Eith FUNSHO AKINWALE PHONE NO: 08051101191

Bimbo Akintola cries out: I don’t need a husband

ince hitting the lime light in a big way with Out Of Bounds, alongside Richard Mofe Damijo, in the 90s,Bimbo Akintola has become a big name who does her things in a big way. In a recent revealing interview, Akintola cleared the air on report that she is desperately in need of a husband. According to her:”I don’t need any man. I am a complete person. I only do things that make me feel happy”. I understand the reality of life and you should live it to the maximum happiness, and peace should be the key.” I’m not searching for a husband because the rumor that I’m searching for a husband has given me so many headaches.”

BBA winner, Dillish redeems promise, buys Elkem power bike

he 22 year old Namabian and former Big Brother Africa house mate, Dillish, has acquired a power bike for her boy friend, Elkem. Their sizzling romance,I t would be recalled, started during their days in the Big Brother Africa house. So strong was the romance then that Dillish visited Elkem’s parents in Kumasi, Ghana, for marriage arrangements before Dillish’s father scuttled the marriage plans. Reports however have it that despite all odds, the relationship is still waxing stronger.

Davido, D’banj set to release collabo song

he duo of Nigeria super stars, D’banj and Davido, have jointly concluded a song which will any moment from now hit the airwaves. The single, it was learnt was recorded late last year and all arrangements have been perfected to release the song. An excited Davido announced this to his fans few days ago. The title of the song, according to sources, is still kept

under wraps until it is released into the market later this year. Davido and D’banj, have shown affection for each other’s musical works. They have always got along with their music styles and careers. While the Omo Baba Olowo Crooner sees D’banj as his big boss, Wizkid respect Don Jazzy, more as his own industry big boss.

Genevieve Nnaji stages comeback back into fashion again

ollywood star actress, Genevieve Nnaji, has indicated interest to stage a comeback into fashion line again. It would be recalled that in 2008, the Mbiase, Imo State born screen goddess, launched a clothing line called St Genevieve, which later hit the rock because of inadequate plans for the business. A very dependable source close to the actress revealed that Nnaji, has perfected all necessary arrangements to start the business in a big way. She was even spotted few weeks ago at the office of Kinabuti Fashion in Lagos, owned by Caterina Bortolissi. Further checks revealed that Nnaji is thinking of partnering with the fashion designer to return into the business. However, the name of the new clothing line is still closely guarded by the actress. But no one now is sure when Nnaji will launch the clothing line.

Sola Allison relocates to Lagos

op gospel singer, Sola Allinson has relocated to Lagos State. The sonorous singer, who gained fame through her hit song ,Eji Owuro in 2003,reportedly left her former abode in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, to Lagos State. She was also said to have relocated with her husband, Toyin Obaniyi. They now resides around Lekki-Ajah, Lagos State. The delectable songstress is one of the most respected artistes in Nigeria. Few years ago, she was among the judges in the popular MTN Project Fame West Africa, a music talent-

hunt programme. Allinson,whose style of music is unique, is blessed with three children, Ayobami, Mopelola and Obafunmiwo. Born in Ikorodu, Lagos State, where she had her primary and secondary education before heading to the Polytechnic Ibadan to study Music in 1997, where she graduated with an upper credit, specializing in voice major, piano minor. She already have about four albums to her credit and has worked as a back -up singer for artistes like Stella Monye, Gbenga Adeboye, Yinka Ayefele, Kayode Olajide and hosts of others.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 11,- sunday 12 january, 2014

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L etters Imo State and the half bread syndrome By Emmanuel Onwubiko

efore the close of last year, I had the singular misfortune of been confronted by a longstanding friend from Gombe state who indeed wanted to validate the impressions he had about the current status of governance in Imo state whereby Chief Rochas Anayochukwu Okorocha a man born and bred in Northern Nigeria preside over as the governor. Shehu Salisu who is an accountant with a good grade from one of the Southern African Universities told me that from the stories told him by some friends he met in Jos, Plateau state where indeed the current Imo state Governor grew up and attended schools up to post-graduate levels, he has this uncanny suspicion that people running down the administrative style of the Imo state governor are only doing that because they perceive him as a man with a wider accommodating political space for other members of the polity especially those from the Northern segment of Nigeria. Sincerely, I lacked what to tell him but on a second thought I decided to give him what I considered as the general impression of most people I have met in the last two and half years that the current Imo state governor won election and especially those of them with vast knowledge of the state for many years. Speaking with over two dozen persons in Imo state, the impression I came out with is that the Imo state governor has made landmark achievements in the area of urban road infrastructure especially in Owerri and Orlu even as his effort to build and indeed at the verge of completing a general hospital each in all of the 27 local government areas has been applauded as positive and indeed salutary. Okigwe senatorial zone has yet to see some of these so-called infrastructure said to have been delivered in the two other zones and unemployment is still very high among Imo state youth. In summary, most people staying in Imo state and who have witnessed different layers of bad governance over the last fourteen years that democracy returned to Nigeria, have told me that half bread

WRITE TO US

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 is better than none meaning that the little things being erected by the current Imo state governor are far better than all the past civilian governors put together since 1999 and who have mostly been produced by the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP]. Rochas won election under the popular pro-Igbo political platform of All progressives Grand Alliance [APGA] but he cross carpeted to the newly registered opposition party the All Progressives Congress [APC] in search of a national platform so he stated. Going home during the last yuletide celebrations, one was greeted by the funny reality that the current Imo state governor inaugurated what could become the finest evidence of an epicurean or hedonistic political practice because he was said to have released N200, 000 each to all of the autonomous communities numbering in their hundreds to throw Christmas parties for their people and indeed in my own autonomous community my elderly impoverished citizenry were joyful that at least for once a serving governor remembered to send them their own quota of the national cake. There was this atmosphere of if you can not beat them then you join them. I refused to join this hedonistic party in my rural community that is still battling to come to terms with the fact that it is still largely backward in areas of modern

infrastructure. Worried by the seemingly undying claims and counter claims in the grape vine of missing billions of public fund belonging to Imo state under the watch of governor Rochas Okorcha the state governor recently issued a rejoinder to disabuse the minds of the people of Imo state to still have confidence in the half bread is better than none type of political administration going on in Imo state. The governor’s spokesman had written in a rejoinder that in the latest edition of the Verbatim News magazine which has a lead cover story with the referenced caption about some missing billions in Imo state, it found out that the entire materials published were just rehash of some half baked truth and innuendos of some missing billions that it stated only existed in the figments of the imaginations of the writers. “We had gone through the 12 pages story and discovered that the authors decided, for reasons best known to them to repackage perforated stories that had been told since March, 2013 and treated accordingly”, he had stated. The Imo state governor’s spoke person continued by saying thus; “We have also made contacts with the officers of the EFCC who could be in the know, to find out if the Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha is

at the moment under any probe over N26 Billion Expenditure, and our finding was in the negative”. “For these reasons, we want to state as follows, at least, for the avoidance of doubt; The EFCC or any other agency is not probing the Imo State Governor over N26 Billion Expenditure from the state treasury”. Samson Onwumeodo who signed off as the Imo state Governor’s senior special assistant on Media also debunked the insinuations of a schism in the government of Imo state saying that it is also important to state categorically that the Deputy governor of the state, Prince Eze Madumere is not under any threat of removal, talk more, the plot to remove him thickening as reported by the magazine. To the good people of Imo state who have accepted the unproductive and dramatic style of half bread is better than none syndrome, the state government urged them to keep the flag of optimism flying. He the spokesman of the Imo state governor had written thus; “We simply want to urge men and women of goodwill to disregard the story because it has no iota of truth. Governor Okorocha is not under any probe by EFCC or by any other agency over N26 Billion Expenditure. It is also important to remind those who have the privilege of writing and publishing materials on the pages of newspapers on people to always remember posterity when handling the biro”. But who still writes with ‘biro’ in this twenty first century? From my village of Ndiuche etiti Arondizuogu which has also benefitted from this half bread is better than none style of governance with the tarring of our rural road [an achievement that is unprecedented in the last thirty years], I still wrote from my laptop because the private telecommunication companies have installed many devices to enable the rural folks also enjoy some sense of modernity. Is half bread better than none really? Emmanuel Onwubiko isthe head, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria

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PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 11,- sunday 12 january, 2014

Opinion

Mr. ‘Trouble’ delivers corruption’s open letter to President Jonathan

By Kole Omotoso

or now, the open letter has been closed. But those who were privileged to have had a peak at the open letter, including Mr. Trouble, have made some comments which we would look at shortly. But before we get to the comments, we should that realize that Mr. Trouble was able to see this letter because of his opportune delivery of another letter, to wit ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo’s open letter to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo recently. According to Mr. Trouble’s researches, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo had written in all, over the years, seven letters to serving heads of State of Nigeria. Not all the letters were delivered to the addresses. Two in particular were missing: the one to Chief Shonekan and the one to General Abdulsalaam Abubakar. It could be that these letters were misdirected, returned to sender or otherwise thrown away, not because the address and addressees were unknown but because the writer was in prison. But we are talking now about the Corruptions’ open letter to President Jonathan. In this letter Corruption explains ‘eatself’ (surely I mean ‘itself’?) and asserts that President Jonathan and his party might be in power at the federal level, Corruption was in control. It is one By Babatunde Rosanwo

he high point of political party discussion for 2013 in Nigeria was the emergence of the All Progressive Congress (APC), the outcome of a merger between Nigeria’s four largest opposition parties. Subsequently the overtures made to attract members of the ruling party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led to acts of decamping (from PDP to APC) which will make 2014 a year to watch as the 2015 elections gain momentum. There has been much criticism of the ideology of political parties; what is the difference between APC and PDP? Does it lie with the political party or with its members? For all that may exist in different theoretical postulations, Nigeria is a difficult nut to crack. Political parties constitute a social struggle between different classes based on principles of common interest. A platform which serves the general interests of individuals who may not have much in common is a convenient vehicle for achieving political objectives. These political objectives are usually embedded in a call for change that carries the idea of what best suits the people. The political machinery is put into action by generating campaign-based opinions which are not necessarily evidence based. Depending on how sophisticated the electorate is, the ability to discern what is genuine or not is largely dependent on their economic and social status. It therefore becomes very important to understand the relationship between the internal structures of these political

thing to be in power and have all the motorcades scuttling all over the bad roads of the country, but it is quite another thing to be in control. And that is what Corruption has – control. Corruption is the final decision maker in anything and everything that happens in the federal republic of Nigeria, as at now. The buck, as the Yankees would like to put it, stops at Corruption’s table. You want to fight Corruption then take control and the decision-making authority from ‘eat’ (I mean ‘it’). Corruption reminds the President in this letter about a number of decisions pending, which usually ensures that the in-tray in front of the President and the in-tray in front of his ministers, the in-tray in front of the Governors of the thirtysix states brims and overflows while the out-tray is empty. The reason, as the President knows well, and all the Governors know, is that Corruption had not made ‘eat’s own’ (I mean it’ own) in-put into the process. Just one example would do to illustrate the fact that all these fast moving personalities might be in power, they are feeble in front of Corruption who has control. The example has to do with rice, our local rice in competition with imported rice. A competent consulting local firm was employed to look at the problem and make recommendations to the appropriate organisation of the civil

service in charge of rice production and distribution. It took the consulting firm some time to research and study the problem, make comparisons where useful with best practice overseas and come to their conclusion. They wrote their report and submitted same to those who had engaged their services. This is not the place to deliberate on how they came to get the consultancy in the first instance. Such a deliberation would delay this short summary of the open letter of Corruption to President Jonathan. Sufficient to say that the officials of the consultancy firm knew some mates who knew that such an expertise could help solve the problem and so recommended for the job. Their report detailed the evil effect of using large milling machines in an environment where a mediumsized milling machine would do the job wonderfully. The large milling machines needed more than the present growing amount leading to waste at different levels of the work that needed to be done. Medium-sized milling machines on the other hand would adequately do the job, save waste and encourage a gradual process of improvement on rice quality and increase in rice quantity as time goes by. In conclusion therefore, the consulting firm recommended that henceforth, the ministry responsible should buy only medium sized

milling machines for use in the rice producing industry in Nigeria. The consulting firm was paid and thanked for its professional job. Thereafter, the report laid on the table of the boss in power for fifteen months. The boss in power had looked at the voluminous report with its graphs and statistics and illustrations and references and confessed that he was not used to reading any memo longer than one page! How was he going to read a report that is two hundred and fifty pages long? The summary, in one paragraph, recommending medium sized machines instead of large sized ones was good enough for him and he would apply his mind to that recommendation. In the meantime, Nigeria was spending billions and billions on the importation of rice from China, from South Korea, from the United States of America. Local farmers of our rice were becoming better contractors for the distribution of imported rice. Its status had moved to essential commodity level, like air and water. Rice had become scarce, if you find it please come and tell me so that I too can have some. Rice fields stood neglected. Seedlings became mouldy, grew inefficiently, withered and dried. Between those who eat rice and those who eat from the proceeds of rice, whose ‘eat’ is more important? The process of milling rice ben-

efits from medium sized milling machines. The process of buying medium sized milling machines carried no ‘eating’ possibility for Corruption. On the other hand, the process of milling rice does not benefit from large sized milling machines but the ‘eating’ from the process of procuring large sized milling machines was large. It thus happened that having read the report and deliberated on its recommendation, those in power asked for the Thing in control to give me them ‘eat’s’ (it’s?) decision. Corruption recommended that the ministry continue to buy and distribute to non-existent farmers the large sized milling machines. Mr. Trouble was particularly tickled by the conclusion of the open letter to President Jonathan: “I don’t know about you Mr. President, when the buck stops at my table, I Corruption, take it and put it in my personal account.” Mr. Trouble waits to take President Jonathan’s reply back to Corruption. Perhaps one of the church leaders would advise that President Jonathan apologies to Corruption and beg ‘eat’ (it) make he no vex! He, President Jonathan would never again claim that he is fighting Corruption.

parties versus their actual engagement when voted into power. Political parties are organized structures which the political class needs to convey their objectives; their collective will comes to the forefront as they set aside their individual differences. Success via the political platforms is a confirmation that any platform will succeed only to the extent in which the individual interests is built into solidarity. This solidarity may be vertical or horizontal in nature depending greatly on social and economic conditions. Without an economic advantage, qualitative numerical strength is of equal importance and influence- the emphasis on participation cannot be over stated.. Although the leadership of each political party is a minority in numbers, yet they sign off the most important decisions of the party. Thus establishing a form of oligarchy which can only be challenged from within the system, where such internal system check is unavailable, absolute power corrupts absolutely. It is these party oligarchies that decide where the party parade moves to in Nigeria, wining and dining with the society’s most talented and intelligent individuals whilst seeking to build a consensus of interests across the divide and recognize individuals who will help to mid-wife their aspirations. They hunt out those institutionalized individuals who will deliver wards, states and entire regions to them at the next elections; for it is

in these characters their aspirations may be fulfilled. We should treat the political party like any other business organization; a platform created to secure an end. Our 1960 independence was not without the influence of the global Second Wave Democracy. One can assume from several indicators that Nigeria’s aristocrats and ruling elite gave in to democracy in theory, but remained anti-democratic in nature. Their quest for power and relevance compelled them to join the democratic movement by floating political parties especially when in possession of the wherewithal to fund political parties. In theory it appears that political parties are about the majority, but in practice the minority rules from within. There are many individuals who join political parties with the aim

of making change; they have lofty dreams of how they can effectively redirect the destiny of the country A conservative candidate, who declares to his electors that he does not regard them capable of playing an active role in influencing the destiny of the country, and proceeds to tell them that for this reason they ought to be deprived of their universal suffrage, would be a man of incomparable sincerity but politically insane. Roberts Michels, 1915. This is the moral dilemma most politicians have to endure; they have to descend into the politicking of the system where they engage everyone as equals in order to win. They set aside their primary aim to frolic with whoever matters (what Robert Michels describes as howling with the democratic wolves) in order to secure the coveted majority. The in-

ability to appeal to people of every class and veiled economic interests will guarantee failure at the polls. General Muhammadu Buhari, popularly known as GMB is one candidate who decided to stick to his principles in the general presidential elections. His political ideology of what Nigeria should be is largely predicated on his anti-corruption stance. His inability to tolerate certain quarters that are perceived as corrupt in the polity earned him the support of some which unfortunately did not constitute the majority needed to win in the last 3 presidential elections. Over the past year, the same man has been a key part of the merger that led to the formation of what can be called the mega opposition party. Beyond the quest to be the president, has Buhari now come to an understanding of how essential it is to build a political party with and without like minds? Would he willingly accept the verdict of the party if the presidential ticket is not handed to him? Time will tell but one thing is evident, GMB’s position on who to associate with on a political platform has changed. One thing that is certain is that he must accept the fact that the APC is now a political party of interests that goes beyond his person and for a chance at victory; the collective interests of the party must be accepted by all members.

Professor Kole Omotoso, foremost scholar on Arabic literature, writes from Akure

Of political parties and alliances

“

We should treat the political party like any other business organization; a platform created to secure an end.

Babatunde Rosanwo writes from Lagos

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PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 11,- sunday 12 january, 2014

Comments

Godfatherism in modern Nigeria politics

By Prof. R. A. Ipinyomi, University of Ilorin, Nigeria

he concept of being a godfather or a godmother is not new in the literature or in many societies. It has been used as a way to sponsor the way of an individual who may be less privileged or whom one so loved that must be assisted to attain a higher ground. For example, when a child is born the parents may wish to honour a family friend at the child’s naming ceremony by inviting the family friend as the godparents of their newborn. Hence the idea of political godfather or godmother is primarily noble and could be used to mentor younger politicians to maturity. There is nothing wrong is serving as a political godfather or accepting to be mentored into political life by a more experienced godfather. Recently in Nigeria politics, especially in the current dispensation called Fourth Republic many regional and centralised individuals have been recognised either as godfathers or godsons. In this way, and because of inadequate preparation, a young politician would embrace what may look like a carrot and stick from a relatively older or wealthier known figure around him as a godfather. The initial hope is that the political godfather could enhance and influence his eventual political success. At that stage of desperation we have since found out that many

of the would-be godsons enter into written or verbal agreements and covenants. Meanwhile most of the godfathers in Nigeria politics are either First or Second Republic politicians who have become regional ward-lords, or an ex-military brass that was able to rise to visible military political life during the opportunity military junta politics provided them through the use of gun and seniority. Military politics was just opportunistic and use of brute force, a bit of seniority and comradeship and very little on ability, accountability or performances. We have also observed young but wealthy nonpoliticians acting as godfathers. One denominator is common with most Nigerian godfathers; they want their money back and at exorbitantly high profits. In fact they would not see anything wrong if the annual budget is brought fully to their personal control in addition to many other candidates they would sponsor for appointments at different levels. Another class of interaction with the godsons in government houses across Nigeria is the demand of many godfathers to have political control in addition to financial control. Their weird or genuine wishes must be obeyed or their godson would be impeached. The godfather-godson relationship would usually soon hit at the rock when either the godfather’s requests are considered as abnormal, incessant, and pre-

sented with element of arrogance and pride. On the other hand we have noticed many of the godsons that jettisoned their godfathers soon after becoming his Excellency or occupying a high office on appointment. Whereas most Nigerian godfathers see the relationship purely on business most godsons always forget too soon the covenants they signed off carelessly in the desperation. We even learned that a godson went to the oath taken between himself and his godfather with a Bible hiding secretly under his armpit believing the hiding Bible would break the agreement. We know that the Bible encourages us to honour our agreements and not to enter into any agreement we know we would not be able to honour. The reasons why a thing like mentoring younger generations by relatively elderly ones is in a sorry state are legends. Nigeria value system is in shamble and politics is confused with a money making avenue. Politics has to be allowed to evolve from the axis of love for development of humanity and community organisational approach. Politics and its assessment should be on how many other lives are improved and how much of the infrastructure is improved. A properly oriented value system would lead to such understanding. The second class of confusion is the people that put themselves up for elections that are often less

than qualified and many of who could not be mentored. In addition we have very few people that could be approach to guide Nigeria politics. It is like the situations we have on campus when those who graduate with first class refuse to come back for postgraduate studies whereas third class graduates are hurrying back because they fail to get jobs and not their love for research work. If you develop your laboratory with such background the future of research could be damning. So also it is in politics. Just as there are very few supervisors on campus even so there are very few trainable students. There are limited individuals that can mentor a politician. Many African politicians actually want to be praised and not to be taught or advised. They see the chains of political advisers and hangers-on as political favour and payback on promises during campaigns instead of expert advisers that are truly needed. The fact that Nigerian politicians are failing their societies can be measured by the functional infrastructure on ground, number of viable jobs created, improvement on national economy, availability of new factories created in their communities, availability of food stuffs, reduction the inequality of opportunities in incomes, housing, and the like. On the other hand an index

of a successful godfather is a successful godson or god daughter. Our immediate observation is that there has never been an ideal godfather in Nigeria political field; the existence of regional politicians like the Awolowo, Azikwe, or Sadauna of Sokoto notwithstanding. A road map of where the community should be on the social and economic scales must be produced by a mentor for his mentored and divorced of payback discussions. The dynamism of politics demands that both the godfather and his godson should have only one objective; to ensuring that the younger and less experienced politicians are well trained and focused in ideology and practice. For example in western politics, how a candidate voted some many years back could decide the outcome of his current quests. A politician should be very consistent, focused and persistent, not one moving around from one ideological axis to another within months and on regular basis. Therefore if Nigerian politicians had been failing it might have been due to lack of genuine mentors or untrained individuals parading themselves as politicians while there were not. Politics is an art of its own where factor of money is very insignificant in practice. Prof. R.A. Ipinyomi, ipinyomira@yahoo.co.uk or/and raipinyomi@unilorin.edu.ng

How long before Jonathan sacks Oduah?

By Theophilus Ilevbare

t never rains but pours. The storm is certainly not over for the embattled Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah who is now embroiled in a scandal of towering proportion – certificate forgery. Sahara Reporters revealed that Princess Oduah, lied about her Masters degree. In her citation to the Senate during ministerial screening in 2011, Mrs. Oduah claimed she attended St. Paul’s College, Lawrenceville in Virginia, United States, from 1978-1982, where she bagged her first Degree in Accounting. Thorough investigations have revealed that St. Paul’s College, Lawrenceville in its 125year history never ran a graduate (masters) programme. More so, there was no trace of evidence that she earned a Bachelor’s degree from the said university. Barely 24 hours after further investigation uncovered another false claim by the embattled Minister – that she lied on oath to the Nigeria Senate, and indeed the Nigerian people, in her audacious claim that another American ‘university’, Pacific Christian University based in Glendale, sometime in 1998, awarded her an honorary doctorate degree in Business Administration. Investigation by grapevine online news platforms showed that

there is no university in Glendale called Pacific Christian University. It was on the strength of this qualification she was grilled and eventually confirmed by the lawmakers as a minister. This is a scandal and the law should be allowed to take its course. Silence, they say, is acquiescence. Unsurprisingly, all her aides and spokesmen of departments and parastatals under her ministry have so far failed to respond to enquiries by journalists to the latest findings indicting the minister. It has been observed that frantic efforts have been made by her aides to revise her profiles on the internet in a desperate bid to clean up every reference to St. Paul’s College and Pacific Christian University. On Wikipedia for instance, it was observed that her page was edited 19 times between 1.56am and 5.05pm on Tuesday, January 7. Meanwhile, the dust is yet to settle on the reckless abuse of office by the Minister’s approval of the purchase of two bulletproof BMW cars at an unimaginable cost of $1.6m (or about N255m) by the National Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), a federal agency under her ministry’s supervision. Coscharis Motors Limited, a dealership from which the two BMW cars were purchased by NCAA, gave N112million to the aviation minister, Ms Oduah as kickbacks while Cosmas Maduka, who owns

Coscharis Motors, pocketed N60 million for each of the two BMW cars. But how long will President Jonathan continue to shield her from anti-corruption agencies despite massive criticism trailing her corrupt acts is the big question on everyone’s lips. Many reason that with the latest revelations, she does not deserve to stay one more second as a minister of the federal republic. The longer she remains in Jonathan’s government, the more embarassment she becomes to the country, making a huge joke of the much touted anti-graft crusade of the present administration. President Jonathan should not use any probe panel to cover-up or create a leeway to delay investigations, lull public outrage and ultimately detract the anti-corruption agencies from prosecuting the aviation minister. At this point, Ms Oduah is (seemingly) unshaken, the subterfuge of a panel has been a fortress. Those who revel in ignominy have resorted to such crude ways as clannishness to support her reckless abuse of office. Such Nigerians have been blinded by ethnic jingoism that no deed is too heinous as long as the offender is of their ethnic bracket. For such staunch backers, she is being ‘persecuted because she is igbo.” It is inconceivable that such tribalists try so hard to validate

impunity with ethnicity. It is even more worrisome when so called enlightened Nigerians join in this stupefying vulgarity. Nigeria will turn the corner when we stop invoking the ‘ethnic card’ to perpetuate criminality and defend corruption. The Senate must now do more than ‘take a bow and go’ during subsequent screening exercises. Independent verification of documents must be done by the upper chamber of the National Assembly and not left to security agencies alone that it now seem take orders from powers above. The most probable option left for Stella Oduah is to throw in the towel, if for nothing at all, so she can save us all the embarassment she unduly attracts to the country. Our sit tight leaders have already gained a reputation that no amount of disgrace constrains them to lose their tight grip on power. What better way can President Jonathan prove to Nigerians that he is dedicated to taking the fight against corruption in 2014 up a notch, as he promised in his new year message, by asking her to step aside. The damage she has done to his administration is incalculable. The fight against corruption requires leaders at all levels with high voltage public morality. People who occupy public offices must be made to feel they have moral obligations to our sensibilities to

save us from being the laughing stock of the bemused international community. It is time we began to address the issue of academic dishonesty in public service in Nigeria. We need to raise ethical standards and morality that’s the more reason why the Stella Oduah certificate scandal should not be swept under the carpet. If other scandals can be ‘ignored’ by this government, certainly not this. If Oduah is left to continue as a minister, then it sends the wrong signal to young Nigerians that you can cheat your way to attain such lofty heights in government. Every effort of the government at curbing exam malpractice and certificate forgery will effectively be brought to its knees if this shameful act as widely expected, is ignored by Mr. President. In this part of the world where politics of mudslinging hold sway, issues of certificate forgery are lethal weapons in the hands of the opposition. It is weighty enough to nail her political coffin. Nigerian political history is replete with examples. But it takes bovine guts to hang on to your job in the face of public opprobrium when you’re privy to mystifying facts about your certificates. Her bravery has become her undoing. Theophilus Ilevbare is a public affairs commentator. Engage him on twitter, @tilevbare. He blogs at http://ilevbare.com.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 11,- sunday 12 january, 2014

Development Control pulls down ALGON office

PAGE 41

Online Comments Kwankwaso as President, says Fani Kayode

NsikakAbasi Etop says: Please, who is the new national ALGON chairman after Mr Nwabueze Okafor? nsikakabasietop@gmail. com

Who will rebuild NASENI? Shehu S Bello says: Only GOD knows who will rebuild NASENI and restore its lost value? Just let us pray for the best and forget with sentiment, sycophancy, and self-centred individuals because they may end up destroying whatever would have been a glorious legacy. If the leaders don’t carefully ponder over what criteria to be used to select the leadership of NASENI, it will only appoint elements that will inflict pains on the national institution. The government needs to position NASENI to be the centre of excellence in personnel and focus.

Top civil servant abducted, killed in Abuja Next says: These politicians just want to cause havoc in the country. They want to hide under the guise of being on danger list of anybody to carry out bloody acts and then lay the blame on the presidency for political gains. I personally think that a good lot of the politicians are cowards, who think they can fool the majority of us by pretending to be nationalistic and holy. We know their antecedents, their antics. They think by making wide and baseless accusations as well as cause undue tension in the land that they will support, force the government to its wicked antics. The government should stand up and defend the citizens who are likely to be the victims of the nefarious activities of these die-hard politicians, especially those that are hellbent on imposing themselves

Gov. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso

on the people in the guise of regional interests. nicolasnelson321@yahoo.com

How Jonathan plans to win 2015 election (I) Barr. Shuwa says: It seems Dr. Gamawa is of the 100 northern foot-soldiers conscripted into the President GEJ campaign team. Well, he should better beware because we do not intend to fold our hands and allow the ruling party or anybody at that to rig 2015 elections in favour of the incumbent or whoever. This time, we the electorates intend to ensure that our votes count. We will neither be interest in bread and butter politics nor politics of ethnicism. These have been the reason the country has not advanced meaningfully since the almagamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates in 1914. Let it be known to Gamawa and his likes that this threat analysis will not work. alminshuwa65@yahoo.com

2014 and industrial expectations

Andy says: This type of write up is required to remind public office holders of their words. One does not hesitate to recommend that all public servants take to peruse the contents and carefully imbibe them with a view putting them into action.

President Goodluck Jonathan

If indeed, Olusegun Aganga believes in his pronouncements, one hopes he will work meticulously to ensure it materialises to the benefit of the Nigerian society. One also that this wont hunt Aganga by the end of the year. mercyikpemosi@yahoo.com

Senate leader advocates devolution of powers Abuleshowo says: The devolution of power will be welcome development. Nigeria needs it because it is obvious power has been concentrated in the centre at the federal level and state levels. And because of such concentration, politicians have engaged in needless fight just to wrestle power from each other leading to economic stagnation and unnecessary civil unrest. Devolution of power I want to believe will be one of the key items and indeed the basis for National Conference. I also want to think that it will allows for competition between states, provide employment and ultimately solve political restiveness for power at the center, among others. ogadadevet@gmail.com

President Jonathan’s 11th Private Jet! Taofeek says: This is a food for thought for Nigeria governments

and citizens. How can the president think of increasing the presidential fleet when many Nigerians are suffering? How many roads would the cost of that jet construct in Nigeria? No, this is sheer profligacy. It is a clear demonstration of lack of care for the real needs of the ordinary citizens. Nigerians need basic necessities of life and the sooner the presidency realizes that the better for us all. Discipline must be total in our lives. Profligacy is another form of corruption. Enough is enough!!!

Explosion rocks Rivers state High Court Abyah Luper Joseph says: We need to try new set of politicians in this country. The likes of OBJ, Buhari, Atiku, IBB and so many others should be excused from the present dispensation so that they could enjoy dividends of democracy. Of course, they were never democrats and will never be. The conflicts they created and inflicted on the polity are still lingering. Whatever pretensions to true leadership qualities, they may have claimed have been exposed to be false. The happenings in River state are just part of the grand deceit just to create tension in the country and rubbish the present leadership.

Nigeria will be better with

Shorebattery says: Femi Fani-Kayode seems to have problem with sound reasoning. One is attempted to allege that his brain may have been removed and replaced with some liquid substance. often he adduces outlandish ideas and canvasses them with such aggression that one ordinarily thinks it’s sacrosanct. Why it is true that as Governor Kwankwaso has benefited Kano people, but by his utterances he is yet to demonstrate the quality of a national leader. This makes his choice a bit amateurish. Nigeria needs a levelheaded person not a fire-brand individual who will easily be susceptible to bias politics, which has been the bane of the so-called political leaders in the country. One would advice Femi Fani-Kayode to exercise restraint in his rash comments and better not allow selfish longing to guide his choice of leadership for the country.

Sorry, this APC is no different from PDP Love says: I love that commentary. APC can’t save Nigeria from economic mess because most of its members even those that have decamped from the PDP to join are all birds of the same feather. Some are as corrupt as those in the PDP that they are accusing of mismanaging the Nigerian economy. They have failed in their respective capacities as elected and appointed persons to make any meaninful difference in the lives of the ordinary citizens. They are all hungry for power and merely want to cause chaos in the country just for selfish benefits. A good lot are simple hypocritical and loud-mouthed persons who do nothing more than to cricitise especially when are out of power and are denied their selfish quest to impose themselves on others. May God save us from their evil intent in 2015.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 11,- sunday 12 january, 2014

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Focus

Fashola, Ajimobi and investments on tobacco By Godwin Okoduwa

he description of tobacco companies as examples of “working” Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) by Governors Babatunde Fashola of Lagos and his Oyo State counterpart, Abiola Ajimobi is the least shocking and very disturbing at a time the global community is determined to regulate the manufacture, distribution and marketing of cigarettes through national laws. While Governor Ajimobi was said to have been basking in the euphoria of the glitz associated with the commissioning of a mere recreational center at British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN) $150 million factory in Ibadan, his Lagos state counterpart was also upbeat with words of praise while receiving the managing director of BATN, Keith Gretton at Alausa. Fashola had remarked that BATN was commendable for allegedly creating jobs since it began operations in 2003 and was quick to add that the state government would continue to maintain a conducive environment for the company to thrive in line with “aggressive investment” in infrastructure and security to improve the business environment. Analysts of global trends in the tobacco business however view these comments as strange because our governors, even if they make personal comments, are seen as representing our collectivity, at least at state level. It is in this light that the comments of the duo and their body language are interpreted as tacit support for a company that markets a lethal product and encourages it to continue making mega profits at the expense of lives that are wasted in the process. The impact of this unholy embrace on the Nigerian economy cannot be. It is impossible to convert into monetary terms many of the harmful effects of smoking on the human body. Medical experts tell us that such harms include various forms of cancer, invalidism, early deaths, and family dislocation caused by the disability or premature death of a family member, especially the bread winner. If the governors do not understand the underlying fallouts of the pat on the back for BATN, economists think differently. There are economic and social costs associated with tobacco consumption. They can be listed as follow: loss of production, increase demand in medical care. There are three ways in which smoking affects production. One, it reduces life expectancy and by extension the number of productive years of workers. This leads

Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, Minister of Health to low productivity on the general scale. Secondly, it increases the number of permanently disabled persons who will end up as burden to our social system. This group will continue consuming more and producing nothing. Thirdly, it increases absenteeism from work as a result of intermittent illnesses of the smoker. Smoking, through its adverse health effects, reduces goods and services produced and thus the society consumption potential. The flipside of this is that reducing smoking would increase society’s consumption potential and in return increase Gross National Product (GNP). Cigarette smoking as we know is a major cause of a number of illnesses in Nigeria such as cancer, cardiovascular disorders and respiratory ailments. Treatment of these diseases places on health care systems additional burdens that are particularly heavy to bear for many states in Nigeria where medical facilities are already inadequate. A 2006 census for instance, reveals that more than 13 million Nigerians smoke cigarettes, even as another research conducted in 11 Lagos State-owned hospitals

“

Babatunde Fashola, Gov. Lagos

that same year revealed that at least two persons die every day from a tobacco-related disease, while over 9,000 cases of tobacco related illnesses were recorded. The number of young Nigerians lighting up for the first time also tripled in recent years because of the persistent and increased marketing of tobacco products to the youths by BATN. One of the ways the industry has beat our collective watch is the all-night secret smoking parties organised for the under-aged in mostly poor and deprived areas of the country. In Lagos, the secret parties were organised in Ajegunle, another in Amuwo Odofin and yet another in the high-brow Victoria Island. In all these, the target was the underaged that tobacco industry documents pencil to replace a dying generation of smokers. This has generated various cost recovery and criminal suits against the industry by at least 10 state governments including the Federal Government in 2007. Some of the states include Lagos, Oyo, Gombe, Ekiti, Akwa Ibiom, Kano, Ogun etc. Governors Fashola and Ajimobi may have spoken at the

spore of the moment or out of want of what to say as they never presented us any tangible statistics of how tobacco investments have worked outside our shores or here. If we are to question Ajimobi our first talkback would be: How does a recreational center translate to a ‘working FDI’? It is evident that the two governors are oblivious of the fact that tobacco investments contravene Article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) signed by Nigeria in 2004 and ratified in 2005. Article 5.3 states that “in setting and implementing their public health policies with respect to tobacco control, parties shall act to protect these policies from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry in accordance with national law.” We would have expected the chief servants of the two states to put the mega bucks that the tobacco companies make vis-à-vis the economic harm of the tobacco trade. In doing this, they must however rely on credible statistics like that of the World Health Organisation (WHO) which tells us that 5.4 million people, mostly from developing nations die of

It is evident that the two governors are oblivious of the fact that tobacco investments contravene Article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) signed by Nigeria in 2004 and ratified in 2005…..it states that “in setting and implementing their public health policies with respect to tobacco control, parties shall act to protect these policies from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry in accordance with national law.”

tobacco-related illnesses yearly. We cannot rely on tobacco industry economic analyses that deliberately fail to account for health care costs for treating tobacco-related illness. The tobacco industry claims that resources devoted to tobacco production and distribution will disappear if tobacco-related economic activity declines. In doing this, they cleverly avoid considering that, it would be redistributed as consumers use the same money to purchase alternative goods and services. Just like spending on tobacco, this alternative spending would generate employment and tax revenues associated with the production, distribution and sale of purchased goods and services. Just like spending on tobacco, this alternative spending would generate employment and tax revenue associated with the production, distribution, and sales of purchased goods and services. However, the toll of death, disability and costs from smoking in Nigeria are yet to be seriously felt because the diseases caused by smoking take an average of 20 years to develop. Even when smoking is very common in a population, the damage to health may not yet be visible. This point can be most clearly demonstrated by trends in lung cancer in the United States. While the most rapid growth in cigarette consumption in the United States happened between 1915 and 1950, rates of lung cancer did not begin to rise steeply until about 1945. Age-standardized rates of the disease tripled between the 1930s and 1950s, but after 1955 the rates increased much more that by the 1980s, rates were 11-fold higher than 1940. These are statistics that are available for Fashola and Ajimobi to read and analyse. Tobacco companies’ activities have only and will only contribute to death and destruction of lives. In the last ten years this nation has lost talented musicians, broadcast and print journalists and great minds of all works of life. Ironically, in all these the Nigerian nation and economy loses. Nigerians are dying daily due to tobacco related diseases while tobacco manufacturers smile to the banks. It is time to take a decision to halt investments that do not contribute to the growth of our country’s economy. There must be collaborative efforts by all stakeholders to ensure that the National Tobacco Control Bill no longer stagnates in the National Assembly. The time to pass the bill is now. Godwin Okoduwa is a commentator on national issues based in Benin

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PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 11,- sunday 12 january, 2014

Interview

The many experiences of the 2013 Christian Pilgrimage By Evelyn Okakwu

that go on each pilgrimage. During the last pilgrimage the percentage of individual sponsorship amounted to 40 per cent of those who went on pilgrimage while others were sponsored by philanthropic Nigerians and other organisations.

he 2013 Christian Pilgrimage has ended. The people of Nigeria have taken part in the Journey to receive the blessings of God. But the Christian Pilgrimage, like many other exercises, had its ups and downs. In this interview, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, Mr John Kennedy Opera spoke with Evelyn Okakwu on the experiences of the Commission in the Just concluded Pilgrimage. Excerpts: The 2013 Christian Pilgrimage has come and gone. How would you analyse the events? There is a time for everything. Ours is to plan and the doing is of the Lord. The NCPC is a special commission set up to touch lives. The sole aim of any Pilgrimage is the transformation of lives and it is hoped that those who have returned will bare testimonies, by way of their personal transformation to the people of Nigeria. As I always say my personal believe is that no matter how bad we may think Nigeria is, what ever is wrong with Nigeria can be corrected with what is right with Nigeria. And we must understand that Pilgrimage is a call to divine service. It is worthy of emulation that Nigerians; both Christians and Muslims respect the need to partake in Holy Pilgrimages. Also the media has been of tremendous help, we could not have come this far without the aid of the media. Some of the issues that came up during the 2013 Christian Pilgrimage was the case of abscondment by some quarters as reported by the media. Your commission has since refuted the claims of the reports, but what have you to say further on the issue? Well like I said when the Commsion heard about the report, what happened is that some persons who came from a set did not go back with the same set. That is a usual occurrence in the Christian Pilgrimage. Even at the moment a number of pilgrims are still in Israel receiving medical treatment, despite the fact the Pilgrimage has ended. The idea is that you do not allege that there has been an abscondment, since one cannot conclude as such, till the pilgrimage has ended and the members of a given community complain of not having those who went for the Pilgrimage in the accurate number as they were when they left the country. So the report was done in a haste and such developments will not help anyone. A member of the commission was reportedly involved in an accident, what is your take on that? Yes one of the Commissionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s member of Staff was involved in an accident. He is currently receiving treatment and we would like to appreciate all those who showed concern for him. The fact is that the commission, on its part will continue

How will the effect of the BASA agreement be felt in the next pilgrimage exercise? The effect of the BASA agreement will definitely be felt, not only by the Nigerian economy, but by Nigerians themselves. The duration of flight will grossly be reduced by almost 50 per cent, coupled with the fact that Nigerian air carriers will now have the chance to fully take part in the exercise thereby creating employment for the Nigerians.

The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) to do its best to prevent the repetition of such occurrences, but like I earlier stated, ours is to plan the doing is of the lord. We believe that with God on our side such will remain avoided in the future. Regarding the recent report that some the Delta State pilgrims complained of been abandoned what have you to say? Yes what happened was that some pilgrims delayed their flight for no good reason and were trying to stop others by replacing them. However we at the commission would like to affirm that the commission would not tolerate such misdemeanour. During the pilgrimage also; a number of pilgrims were reportedly arrested. Tell us about the latest developments? About the arrest I would have you know that it was due to certain misconduct but I can also assure you that nothing wrong happened or will happen to those

arrested. The commission has put in place all that is necessary to bring them back home and in the shortest possible time they will be home. What is planned is that the issue will be completely resolved and all of them returned soon, before the next pilgrimage. How many pilgrims were sponsored by government in this year's pilgrimage? Now I want to make this clear, the government of Nigeria does not sponsor any individual on pilgrimage. I have observed that their has been this raging misconception that the Christian Pilgrimage is been sponsored by government. I want to make it known that the only cases of government's financial involvement is for the set of medical teams and those who partake in the pilgrimage as consular. The participation of these people is based on government's funding that is why we often screen the medical teams and do our best to ensure a specific number for the set of consular

How many pilgrims are expected to partake in this year's pilgrimage? Well regarding that; I can only tell you that the pilgrimage will commence in the early march with the Easter Pilgrimage where Nigerians get to participate in the Stations of the Cross at lent with the people in Israel. I cannot specifically tell the number since there is a committee set up to determine that and they will come up shortly with the findings. Also the Pilgrimage this year will explore Holy sites in other parts of the world. Last year the President charged us to explore other Holy sites. A s a form of response to that call we set up a team to go to the Holy places discovered in turkey. That team will soon return with its findings and it is hoped that we will include Tarsus and Ephesus in the list of places to be toured by pilgrims this year. It has been noticed that some Pilgrims take part in the exercise following the sponsorship of politicians and this set of people evidently constitute a menace to the exercise. What do you have to say about this? I understand that there are a number of persons who often complain that the pilgrimage is too long or that they are not comfortable for one flimsy excuse or the other. I will persistently say that pilgrimage is not about money. If what a pilgrim is after revolves around Dollars, or Naira as the case may be, the result will be a failure for the whole exercise. However I would like to state also that the commission alone cannot right the wrongs caused by the presence of this sought of people. What the commission can do is to ensure that we meet with the requirements for embarking on the pilgrimage as indicated by the rules guiding Christian Pilgrimage in Nigeria. If that has been ascertained and the Pilgrim still decides to regard the exercise with little repute, what the commission can do is to ask the likes of you journalists and all who participate in the exercise positively, to enlighten the minds of these sought of people. You can achieve this by personal conversation with the people or by the way and manner you lead your lives.

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Archive

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 11,- sunday 12 january, 2014

Relics of ancient Roman Civilisation

ncient Rome, the period between the 8th and 1st centuries BC in which Rome grew from a tiny settlement to an emerging empire while developing from monarchy to a republican form of government. Nearly 3,000 years ago shepherds first built huts on the hills beside the Tiber River in central Italy. These encampments gradually grew and merged to form the city of Rome. Rome’s history is unique in comparison to other large urban centers like London, England, or Paris, France, because it encompasses more than the story of a single city. In ancient times Rome extended its political control over all of Italy and eventually created an empire that stretched from England to North Africa and from the Atlantic Ocean to Arabia. The political history of Rome is marked by three periods. In the first period from 753– 509 BC, the city developed from a village to a city ruled by kings. Then, the Romans expelled the kings and established the Roman Republic during the period from 509–27 BC. Following the collapse of the republic, Rome fell under the domination of emperors and flourished for another five centuries as the Roman Empire from 27 BC–AD 476. This article begins the discussion of ancient Rome’s history with the city’s legendary founder, Romulus, and ends when Augustus becomes the first emperor of imperial Rome, in 27 BC. Modern motion pictures and television often portray the ancient Romans as military conquerors as well as ardent pleasure seekers, and there is some truth to those images. Their armies did brutally subjugate the Mediterranean world. Today statues of native leaders such as Vercingetorix in France or Arminius in Germany honor those patriots who battled against Roman domination in Europe, just as Christians honor early disciples martyred by the Romans. The ancient Romans also did enjoy lavish and sometimes even cruel entertainments that included gladi-

atorial combats, chariot races, and animal hunts in the arena. Yet these same Romans created a civilization that has shaped subsequent world history for 2,000 years. The remains of vast building projects, including roads and bridges, enormous baths and aqueducts, temples and theaters, as well as entire towns in the North African desert, still mark Rome’s former dominion. Cities throughout Western Europe stand on Roman foundations. The Romans also had enormous cultural influence. Their language, Latin, gave rise to languages spoken by a billion people in the world today. Many other languages—including Polish, Turkish, and Vietnamese—use the Roman alphabet. The Romans developed a legal system that remains the basis of continental European law, and they brought to portraiture a lifelike style that forms the basis of the realistic tradition in Western art. The founders of the American government looked to the Roman Republic as a model. Modern political institutions also reflect Roman origins: senators, bicameral legislatures, judges, and juries are all adapted from the Roman system. In addition, despite recent modernization, the Roman Catholic Church still uses symbols and ritual derived largely from the ancient Romans. ontrary to popular image, the Roman state was not continuously at war. Roman armies most often served on the frontiers of the empire while Roman lands nearer the Mediterranean were more peaceful and more culturally and economically interconnected than in any subsequent era. The Romans extended citizenship far beyond the people of Italy to Greeks and Gauls, Spaniards and Syrians, Jews and Arabs, North Africans and Egyptians. The Roman Empire also became the channel through which the cultures and religions of many peoples were combined and transmitted via medieval and Renaissance Europe to the modern world.

Roman Ruins in Lepcis Magna Evidence of Roman influence remains throughout the Mediterranean world. The columns and arches still standing at the site of the ancient city of Lepcis Magna, now part of Libya, attest to the beauty of Roman architecture but also the extent of Rome’s political control. Roman advances in language, law, and engineering also had a lasting effect on other cultures throughout the world. Robert Isear/Photo Researchers, Inc.

Death of Julius Caesar The growing power of Julius Caesar, who assumed the title of dictator for life, threatened the prestige of many members of the Roman Senate. On March 15 in 44 BC a group of senators assassinated Caesar. The story of the assassination has become the subject of many plays and other works of art, including this painting by Italian Vincenzo Camuccini. Scala/Art Resource, NY

The City of Rome Rome’s growth as a major urban center is mirrored in its architecture. The tiny settlement on the Tiber River rapidly evolved into a thriving city that also came to dominate a farflung empire. David M. Grossman/ Photo Researchers, Inc.

Imperial Forum, Rome The Roman Forum was founded at the beginning of the Roman republic (around 500 bc), and it continued to develop into the late 2nd century ad. Among the ruins seen here are the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina (since converted into a church, background, left), the foundations of the Basilica Julia (foreground, center), and the three remaining columns of the Temple of Castor and Pollux (background, right).

Hannibal Crossing the Alps This fresco by Italian Renaissance painter Jacopo Ripanda shows Hannibal, the commander of the Carthaginian army, crossing the Alps during the Second Punic War. The Punic Wars were the result of rivalry between Rome and Carthage for control of Sicily in the 3rd century bc. During the Second Punic War Hannibal marched a large army on the backs of elephants across the Rhône River and over the Alps to attack the Romans in Italy. Bridgeman Art Library, London/New York

Mount Vesuvius Mount Vesuvius looms above the ruins of Pompeii, one of the ancient cities that was destroyed by an eruption of the volcano in ad 79. Volcanic activity also had some benefits, as ash from Vesuvius and other volcanoes along the western coast of Italy made the soils of the region more fertile for agricultural development. Guido Alberto Rossi/TIPS Images

Biographies

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Marcus Garvey (1887-1940)

arcus Garvey (18871940), black nationalist leader, who created a “Back to Africa” movement in the United States. Garvey was born the youngest of 11 children in Saint Ann’s Bay, Jamaica. He left school at the age of 14 to serve as a printer’s apprentice. A few years later, he took a job at a printing company in Kingston, where in 1907 he led a printers’ strike for higher wages. Garvey then traveled to South America and Central America. In 1912 he went to England, where he became interested in African history and culture. He returned to Jamaica in 1914 and shortly thereafter founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) and the African Communities League. In 1916 Garvey moved to the United States and settled in New York City. There he incorporated the UNIA and started a weekly newspaper, the Negro World. A persuasive orator and author, Garvey urged American blacks to be proud of their race and preached their return to Africa, their ancestral homeland. To this end he founded the Black Star Line in 1919 to provide steamship transportation, and the Negro Factories Corporation to encourage black economic independence. Garvey attracted thousands of supporters and claimed two million members for the UNIA. He suffered a series of economic disasters, however, and in 1922 he was arrested for mail fraud. Garvey served as his own defense attorney at his trial, was convicted, and went to prison in 1925. His sentence was commuted two years later, but he was immediately deported to Jamaica. Unable to resurrect the UNIA or regain his influence, Garvey moved to London, where he died in relative obscurity. Garvey and Pan Africanism The next Pan-African congresses sponsored by Du Bois were held in 1921 (in London, Paris, and Brussels, Belgium), 1923 (in London and Lisbon, Portugal), and 1927 (in New York City). These congresses were attended by increasing numbers of representatives from the United States, Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean. Several important factors affected the growing popularity of the congresses. First, many delegates were sponsored by international labor movements, which were growing in size and power in the 1920s. A second factor was the growth of the black nationalist movement of Marcus Garvey. The Garvey movement was important in the United States as a popular expression of the sentiments of African unity and redemption among working-class blacks. His followers contrasted with the more elite black groups cultivated by Du Bois. Garvey, a Jamaican, founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) in 1914 to

promote black pride, political and economic improvements for blacks everywhere, and the repatriation of blacks to Africa (often called the “Back to Africa” movement). The institutional growth of the Garvey movement was swift and international in scope. Garvey’s newspaper, the Negro World, achieved wide distribution, and chapters of UNIA sprung up all over the Americas, as well as in Europe, Australia, and South Africa. Garvey also established a steamship company, the Black Star Line, with which he hoped both to enter international trade and to transport blacks to Africa. Garvey hoped to oversee the repatriation of tens of thousands of American blacks to the West African nation of Liberia, which had been founded by freed American slaves in the early 19th century. The Garvey movement declined when Garvey was arrested and imprisoned in 1925 on charges of mail fraud relating to the operation of the Black Star Line, and his repatriation scheme was never fulfilled. Influenced by Garvey’s ideas, young Africans studying in London founded the West African Student Union (WASU) in the late 1920s. WASU became a focal point for younger, more politically aggressive blacks from Africa and the Caribbean who agitated for African independence from colonialism. In the late 1920s and the 1930s, public awareness of the plight of peoples of African descent grew as black cultural movements such as the Harlem Renaissance in the United States gained recognition. The Harlem Renaissance, centered in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City, disseminated the works of black writers such as Claude McKay, Langston Hughes, Richard Wright, and Du Bois himself, along with other black artists espousing black pride and challenging racial injustice. In France, a similar movement, called the négritude movement, followed the Harlem Renaissance. The movement developed in Paris among French-speaking African intellectuals and activists whose works affirmed the integrity of African civilization, defending

Marcus Garvey on the UNIA Marcus Garvey founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) in 1914 to promote the improvement of living conditions for black Africans and people of black African descent in North and South America, the Caribbean, and Europe. In this quote, from a speech given in 1921, Garvey explains the goal of the UNIA. The text of the quote is: “We of the Universal Negro Improvement Association are raising the cry of ‘Africa for the Africans’—those at home and those abroad. There are 400 million Africans in the world who have Negro blood coursing through their veins. And we believe that the time has come to unite these 400 million people for the one common purpose of bettering their condition.” it against charges of African inferiority. Noted proponents of négritude included the authors Léopold Sédar Senghor (who later became the first president of Senegal), Aimé Césaire, Alioune Diop, and Léon-Gontran Damas. The Malcolm X factor Malcolm X was born Malcolm Little on May 19, 1925, in Omaha, Nebraska. He was the son of Earl Little, a Baptist preacher, and his wife, Louise. The family moved to Lansing, Michigan, shortly after Malcolm’s birth. Earl Little was an outspoken promoter of social and economic independence for blacks and a supporter of the ‘Back to Africa’ movement of black nationalist leader Marcus Garvey. In 1931 Earl Little was killed, probably murdered by

white terrorists because of his political and social activism. His father’s death had a disastrous effect on Malcolm and his family. His mother suffered a nervous breakdown, and the welfare department took the eight little children away from her. Malcolm was placed in a foster home and then in reform school. In 1941 he went to live with his halfsister in Boston, Massachusetts. There he soon entered the fringes of the underworld, and at the age of 17 he moved to the Harlem neighborhood of New York City. Known as Detroit Red, Malcolm turned to a life of crime, including drug dealing and armed robbery. When he was 20, Malcolm received a sentence of ten years in prison for burglary.

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International

Central African Republic: Fears of sectarian genocide The UN has warned that the Central African Republic is heading toward a humanitarian disaster, as people fleeing conflict between Muslim and Christian militias pack into overcrowded camps with poor sanitation. Paul Wood in the capital, Bangui, reports on fears that sectarian violence will end in genocide.

en armed with knives and clubs were striding down the dirt road, purposefully. They were Christians and they had discovered that one of our drivers was a Muslim. They stole the four-wheel drive vehicle he had and started to take him away. They were vigilantes known as the anti-balaka, or “anti-machete”. One of them told me his whole village had been burned to the ground by gunmen from the mainly Muslim Seleka former rebel group. He wanted revenge. We thought the driver might be killed. We were in the dense, makeshift camp that has sprung up near the international airport. Aid workers began pleading for the driver. The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Bangui happened to be visiting the camp. He joined the negotiations. Some of the anti-balakawere drunk. They were not listening to their commander. It was extremely tense. A militia man lashed out at a boy of perhaps 14 or 15 who was standing around. The blow looked strong enough to break the boy’s jaw. He screamed in shock and pain. Eventually, they let the driver go and even returned the vehicle, the archbishop coming with us in the car to ensure safe passage. Earlier, though, I had watched the anti-balaka man who said the village had been burned, as he shouted at the archbishop that Muslims should die. “Revenge is never a solution to any problem,” said the Archbishop,

A militiaman attacks an elderly man

A French army tanker patrols the streets of Bangui Porterfield-Chickering/Photo Researchers, Inc.

Monsignor DieudonneNzapalainga. On Thursday he is signing a statement with Muslim clerics, calling for reconciliation. He went on: “You kill someone, you kill another person, you just continue the cycle of violence. We have to end that cycle.” That will be difficult. The camp at the airport has grown from a few

thousand a month ago to an estimated 100,000 today as the violence has escalated. ll here are Christians, preferring the cramped, diseaseridden squalor around them to the risks of going home to areas now controlled by the Seleka. ElenYassi told me how her 29-year-old son was shot dead in

front of her. “The Muslims knocked on our door and asked us: ‘Do you have any guns?” she told me. “We said no, but they took my son out and they shot him. They shot all of our sons, one by one.” Then she went on to tell me that another son had gone back to their home that morning to retrieve their belongings. He too was killed, by the Seleka she said, though this time it was a machete. We heard many similar stories. How did this begin? The Christians accuse the Seleka of looting, raping and killing without restraint after their leader, Michel Djotodia, came to power in March 2013. The Christians have done their share of killing too. The Seleka, though, are far better armed. They have heavy weapons and machine guns. The anti-balaka (from what we have seen) have knives, sticks, and only a few guns. That is why the camp near the airport now has only Christians. However, aid workers with long experience here believe that power is seeping away from the Seleka, partly because some are from neighbouring Chad and are returning home. One aid worker spoke of a grow-

ing Christian backlash against the Muslim population (a minority here) threatening truly awful bloodshed on a scale not yet seen. The violence is increasingly neighbour against neighbour. The tiny French and African force in the Central African Republic has no chance of stopping such killings. Into this explosive mix has been thrown the claim that President Djotodia will resign on Thursday and flee the country. Rumours are sweeping Bangui that an unusually large amount of presidential luggage has been seen heading to the airport. His spokesman told us he was going to a summit of regional leaders and would not be stepping down. he effects of a resignation would be unpredictable. Many Christians I spoke to told me their main demand was for the president to go. If he leaves, it could take some of the steam out of the conflict. But it might also trigger a power struggle engulfing the country in its worst violence yet. Bangui, though it is under curfew, is bracing itself, uncertain and fearful about what comes next. Source: BBC Africa

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PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 11,- sunday 12 january, 2014

Business

Who’s hoarding lower denominations of the Naira? By Abdulwahab Isa, Etuka Sunday & Mashe Umaru Gwamna

ahama, a youth corps member gets to Abuja city center from Mararaba, a densely populated outskirt town of Abuja on transport fare of N200. Overtime, it became the established transport fare she needs to disembark at the popular Berger junction and thereafter, trek a short distance to the Microfinance Bank, the place of her primary assignment. In the last eight months to her eleven months National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme, Rahama never encountered problem with bus conductors. Her daily commuting to town during rushing hour and return journey back home was an exercise she relished with joy. But the last two weeks of her experience with bus conductors has become a sad experience making her daily commuting to the city center a nightmare. Sharing her sad experience with one of our correspondents, Rahama

…We have sufficient volume in circulation, says CBN

said she forewent her N500 note to a bus conductor because she could not source N300 change for N200 transport fare. She wouldn’t want to be dragged into other details and argument with the bus conductor. A young lady selling sachet water shared similar experience. She complained that an apparent scarcity of smaller currency denominations has shrunk her volume of sales. The experience narrated by Rahama and the little young lad hawking sachet water confirm growing scarcity of smaller naira notes in Nigeria which has become a source of worry to Nigerians especially those into smaller businesses . Paul Polycarp laments that lower denominations like N200, N50, N20 and N10 are now hot currencies that makes life of the commonman very difficult . He added that, for an individual to get the lower notes, he needs to travel to Dede, a settlement along the mega-highway

CBN Gov. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi to Suleja, Niger State to exchange higher notes. Mrs. Monica Ijim, attributed the scarcity of lower notes to plan by the CBN to discontinue the use of polymer notes which she said, are not durable. But Mr. Henry probably thinks CBN, could be conniving with other banks to cause the unnecessary scarcity of smaller notes in their favour. Mr. Michael Chilaka said, “you see, a lot of water passed under the bridge when Soludo was the CBN Governor, the money he printed was fake, so, the federal government is now contemplating on whether to use them or not. As am talking to you they have stopped the production of polymer notes. Again, they want to re-introduce the former notes which were discontinued.”

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But the CBN has denied scarcity of lower denominations. Speaking with Peoples Daily, CBN Director, Corporate Communications Mr. Ugochuwukwu Okoroafor said the bank was yet to get complaint of scarcity of lower denominations. To demonstrate that the currencies are in sufficient supply, he whipped out a wallet from his pocket showing various smaller denominations of N10, N50 and N20. The scarcity some people fear may not be unconnected to a statement by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) that the public would get a large quantity of the new notes to replace the old and mutilated notes. There is also the believe that CBN statement that new naira notes would be in circulation by June, and that the smaller denomi-

Mr. Michael Chilaka said, “you see, a lot of water passed under the bridge when Soludo was the CBN Governor, the money he printed was fake, so, the federal government is now contemplating on whether to use them or not. As am talking to you they have stopped the production of polymer notes. Again, they want to re-introduce the former notes which were discontinued.”

nations (N5, N10, N20, and N50) would be reprinted could have caused the scarcity. The Deputy Governor, Operations, Dr Tunde Lemo, was quoted as saying “we are going to take delivery of the new notes from this month of August. We will take delivery of the new notes before the end of September. The public will get a large quantity of the new notes to replace the old and mutilated notes, particularly the higher denomination notes in the first instance, then later the lower denominations,’’ he said. On the scarcity of notes, Lemo blamed commercial banks for what he called “poor circulation’’. “For the lower denomination; well, I think the banks are really the ones that are really not allowing the lower denomination in circulation, largely, because of the carrying value. “Most people don’t require small denomination. But for buying things in the market, if you look at the veracity, you find out that the N50 circulate more than the smaller ones,’’ he said. Lemo urged law enforcement agencies to arrest all illegal hawkers of new naira notes and called on commercial banks to keep watchful eyes on their staff to avoid being used as conduit for illegal transfer of new notes to unauthorized hands.

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Business

Maximizing broadband for economic growth By Justin Eradiri

t is the desire of both citizens and the state that the advancements recorded in the telecoms sector since 2001 should be consolidated beyond telephony and ancillary services. Nigerians are looking to upgrade to a full multimedia platform, leveraging on the broadband to maximise the capacities of their smart phones and other devices in video streaming, internet radio, information download and upload, etc. Yes, we need that extra byte, that strength that speeds up our navigation and research on the web, that delivers us out of the callously slow, small and near unproductive byte allocations our GSM networks currently permit us. Therefore, the recently approved broadband policy is a welcome development. The presentation of Nigeria’s broadband ambitions and the invitation by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) at the 2013 ITU World Telecom forum in Bangkok, Thailand, was a commendable preparatory step. At the event, the Commission’s Executive Vice Chairman, Dr. Eugene Juwah, invited the world to take up the investment opportunities

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Dr. Eugene Juwah, Executive Vice Chairman, NCC ity with the full implementation of the broadband policy. Digital migration from analogue broadcasting has been in the pipeline with repeatedly shifted timelines partly due to the narrow carrying capacity of the nation’s ICT base. The digital switch-over, is now ex-

In the private sector, broadband deployment would significantly reduce the cost of business and facilitate faster and more reliable service delivery.

that exist in that spectrum of the nation’s ICT industry. Broadband connectivity confers an array of benefits on economic and social activities in both private and public sectors of the economy. For the public sector for instance, it can be the backbone on which e-governance can be practicalised. Decision making, policy formulation and directives could be easily reached without persons needing to converge in a particular place for meetings. At reduced cost and faster link-up, meetings can be held with participants in different locations through teleconferencing. Even though this is already taking place, it is still minimally effective due to the preponderance of narrow band connectivity and sundry challenges. In the media industry, digital broadcasting can become a real-

pected in 2015. Part of the challenges facing the full scale implementation of the cashless policy initiated by the Central Bank of Nigeria, is the lack of IT infrastructural backbone with a bandwidth that could make cashless transactions a reality in all ramifications. Thus, with more reliable IT facilities, the use of POS machines, credit/debit cards, online and remote transactions will be greatly encouraged. It is common knowledge that most Nigerians in urban centres still fear and avoid the use of ATMs because of unstable data and connectivity problems, similar to what they experience with their mobile phones. In the private sector (and it must be emphasised here that this sector has made more advancement in the deployment of information and communications

Mrs Omobola Johnson, Minister for Communications Technology

technology compared to its public counterpart), broadband deployment would significantly reduce the cost of business and facilitate faster and more reliable service delivery. Thus, as the Minister for Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson has aptly noted, ‘increased broadband penetration has a direct correlation with increased economic activities and GDP contributions’. According to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), a thorough approach to broadband policy can include the timely adoption of national strategies encouraging national backbone roll-out, spectrum policies and practices, subsidies, taxes, user skills and trust, applications and content, competition policy, and other aspects of infrastructure, including backhaul and access. As the telecoms sector regulator, this is the point at which the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) becomes more relevant. Effective policy and regulatory frameworks, could act as vital levers to facilitate the development of broadband connectivity. NCC can leverage on its relationship with the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC), because broadcasting has a lot of frequencies assigned by the National Frequency Management Board (NFMB) and NCC as well as NBC, are supervised by the same ministry. The digital migration of broadcasting will free up a lot of broadcast frequencies which can then be assigned for broadband. This migration, according to NCC, will be the “digital dividend” that would wrest a lot of frequencies as the switch-over will give a lot of spectrum. The NCC will have to ensure

that liberalisation of the market encompasses all key elements of the broadband service delivery: international gateway, national and regional backbone, and Internet access. Fortunately, it has ensured a robust competitive environment among telecom operators in the country. Competition boosts broadband penetration and is the key driver of higher levels of uptake and investment in communication networks and services in many countries. Given the speed with which the ICT sector has grown, there should be updates and revision of regulatory frameworks. Nigeria would need to update its legislative and regulatory frameworks to provide businesses and users proper protection of personal data amongst other issues. A well regulated system will enable the private sector to provide universal connectivity and extend connectivity to less populated or less developed regions, thus providing universal

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access. With the inauguration of the Broadband Council by the Federal Government to implement Nigeria’s National Broadband Plan from 2013 to 2018, the stage is set. The Minister of Communications Technology is very optimistic, describing the National Broadband Plan as robust and implementable. She said at its inauguration that the plan had been widely circulated and has received positive feedback from the ITU, the Global System for Communications Association (GSMA), as well as other international bodies. “The terms of reference of the council include providing periodic progress report on the evaluation of the plan, facilitating the coordination and collaboration of the various stakeholders during plan implementation; ensuring that relevant agencies and institutions are actively engaged and monitoring the progress of the plan and highlighting adjustment areas if any.” According to Johnson, the institutions include the Association of Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), the Nigeria Internet Group (NIG) and the Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria and all key institutions to the delivery of the broadband plan. She said other partners included the Nigerian Communication Commission, the Universal Service Provision Fund and the National Information Technology Development Agency, adding that the council would be chaired by the minister. The goal of the broadband plan is to have pervasive mobile broadband access to 80 percent of the population and fix broadband access to roughly 20 percent of the population, mostly by the year 2017. Eradiri is a telecoms sector pundit based in PortHarcourt.

Broadband connectivity… can be the backbone on which e-governance can be practicalised. Decision making, policy formulation and directives could be easily reached without persons needing to converge in a particular place for meetings.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 11,- sunday 12 january, 2014

Side Talk

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By Jacinta David

Skyrocketing contracts in Nigeria

his story truly tickled the fancy of Side talk for the simple reason that the rate at which the amount of a given contract tripled and quadrupled without any one raising an eyelid makes it necessary for Side Talk to speak for concerned Nigerians. The simple question is, why is it that a body as big as the governing body of this country would go as far as finalising a contract and make it public without proper verification. The story, published on Wednesday by some of our National tabloids that the Abuja Lokoja road would be constructed at the cost of N3 billion without scrutinizing the financialdetails. The report revealed that the contract was awarded for the same road in 2006 by the administration of former President also called Baba for the sum of N42 billion and reviewed upwards to N116 billion in 2011 by the present administration. The report further revealed that the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the subsidy Reinvestment and empowerment programme (SURE-P) had last year in its investigations of the project, queried the Minister of work with the alphabet “S”, over the hike in cost of the project to the tune of 170 per cent. The response of the Minister according to the paper had been that the contract, as initially awarded lacked requisite designs. (Requisite designs! What an excuse). The paper further explained that the former administration had failed to give adequate time to the parties involved in the initial award of the contract for proper design, which had led to the provision of inadequate specifications for the construction of the road. Although the present sum of three million is said to be because the contract is awarded in four sections with different contractors, the question side talk dares to ask is how can a road be re-awarded at such a high cost as to exceed its original sum to the tune of 170 per cent all under the guise of poor design? Indeed the series of Drama emanating from the Niger area will never cease to amuse our people. The sections of the road as indicated by the recent report include “The Abuja Abaji road (Section 1, which starts from the international Airport link road Junction to sheda Village); the Abaji Abaji road; this one starts from the Sheda village junction to Abaji, while the third section is the Abuja Lokoja road beginning from Abaji to karton Karfi and the fourth one starts from the Koton Karfi to Lokoja.”

Again, we witness another episode of the embattled minister on the pages of our National newspapers and in the broadcast media. Also, the story about how a road meant to be constructed at the cost of N42 million skyrockets to N117 million and finally to a whooping N three billion tickled the fancy of side talk this week making it necessary to peep into the issues.

The return of the Minister's Gate

s you may have heard, this rather controversial woman is not on the news for the purchase of armoured cars this time. No! her recent drama was cast using the plot of forgery and undue association of herself to a popular university in the States. This cunning Nigerian Minister was said to have included on her wikipedia and facebook profile that she attended and obtained her Bachelors and Masters degree from a university in America. Drama however ensued when the university in question disowned the minister like a bad child saying it has no record of such a person obtaining any of such certificates from its institution. Curious to know how this minister reacted to this? She quickly wiped off the details of herself linking directly to the said institution. According to reports: “After it was reported earlier that the Minister had presented false information on her educational background, she has moved to cover-up evidence that she made those claims. The embattled Minister has deleted the name of the school from her Facebook and Wikipedia pages. Although she has not

publicly responded to any of the allegations. Her biography on the website of the Ministry has also been revised, and the new profile now talks about her education without any reference to the university she attended. The last edit on the Wikipedia page was done at 14:41 p.m. Nigerian time. All links and reference

materials on the Wikipedia page capable of linking the minister to the university that has disowned her have also been deleted. Side talk tried, for the minister’s sake, to assume the impossibility of the said accusation being true; but the question remains that if this assumption were to be factual, the minister would since have

published her certificates from the said institution, rather than deleting the controversial information from her profile. Any way we hope this remains the last episode from this dramatic minister because it is gradually becoming obvious that she is a talented Nigerian who would do well in the Nigerian movie industry.

Preventing the trend of homosexuality in the country

ur last story emanated from the entertainment industry. A recent report had made it known that an actor whose name reminds one of the popular cigarette called Benson and hedges stated that he was made popular by a role he played as gay. The story brings to mind the fact that our dear country is gradually cultivating the attitude of normalizing the vice of homosexually. A sin gravely abhorred by the Holy books acknowledged by Nigeria. According to the story, the role which was nicely played by the

actor has earned him so much popularity that he has had to play the role in two other movies. The object of concern is not necessarily the actor in question since he has rightly explained that the role was just staged not real life. But the fear is that Nigerians are gradually beginning to conceive of this vice as a norm which can be accepted in the society. Side talk therefore hopes that the leaders of this country will rise to the challenge of preventing Nigeria from becoming another Sodom and Gomora of the Bible.

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Sports

Club Owners mourn former Kano Pillars Chairman

he Club Owners Association of Nigeria, yesterday expressed shock over the death of Alhaji Sani Usman, former Kano Pillars FC Chairman and seasoned match commissioner. The association expressed the shock in a statement issued in Ilorin by its Acting Secretary, Alloy Chukwuemeka. The statement quoted Chukwuemeka as describing the death, which happened in Kano on Friday, as a shock to club owners, which the deceased was an active member. He condoled with the immediate family, the management of Kano Pillars, the government and people of Kano State, as well as friends of the deceased. He prayed for the repose of the soul of the deceased and for Almighty Allah to grant his loved ones the fortitude to bear the loss. Meanwhile, the club owners have sent a three-man delegation to Kano to condole with the family and attend the burial rites. The delegation, according to the statement, is to be led by Alhaji Sabo Babayaro of Kaduna Utd, Alhaji Abba Yola of Kano Pillars and Alhaji Zanna Mala of Elkanemi Warriors. The late Usman is survived by two wives and seven children.

8 countries to battle for Kenya 2014 tennis tickets in Abuja By Patrick Andrew

igeria will lead seven other countries within the West and Central African zone in the chase for tickets to the Africa Junior Tennis Championship (AJTC) scheduled for March in Nairobi, Kenya. This was disclosed by the chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Alhaji Aminu Kurfi while briefing the press in Abuja on Friday. The tournament, the third edition of the West and Central AJTC qualifiers, is making a return for the third time within a decade in Nigeria, serves off in Abuja on Monday at the Package B of the Abuja National Stadium. At the briefing, Aminu Kurfi revealed that each country is expected to field two candidates in each of the U-14, U-16 categories and may present three players for the U-12 must it either be two girls and a boy or vice vesar. According to him winners will represent the zone at the African Junior Tennis Championship in Kenya, while two that emerged champions in the U-12 category will be sent to a tennis academy in Casablanca, Morroco. ``Winners in the U-12 category will however attend the talent identification project in Casablanca, Morocco at a date yet

Sani Ndanusa, President of NTF to be communicated,’’ he said. The member of the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF) and chairman of the Kaduna Tennis Association listed the participating countries as Togo, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Gabon, Gambia, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali and Niger. Speaking further on the tournament,

Aminu Kurfi said Nigeria will use the hosting to showcase the country’s tourism potentials and cultural heritage. ``The competition will create an avenue for the home-based tennis players to compete for supremacy with their contenders from West and Central Africa,’’ he said adding gathering of young talented players within the region would further strengthen the unity among Nigerians and their neighbours through the display of tolerance. He assured that the NTF will leave no stone unturned to secure private sector sponsorship for Team Nigeria if it qualified for the championship. Meanwhile, National Tennis Coach, Ubale Mohammed, has confirmed that four foreign-based Nigerian tennis players had been invited for the U-14 and U-16 categories. ``We have only two in that category presently in camp, but we have invited four foreign-based players in the two categories to make up,’’ he said. The coach disclosed that Adetunji Adebayo based in South Africa and silver medal winner in the last edition and Elizabeth Pam, who will make her maiden appearance in the colours of Nigeria, will seek honours in the U-14 male and U-16 female, respectively.

Injury halts Mares WBC title defence

Abner Mares

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 11,- sunday 12 january, 2014

he WBC featherweight title rematch between Abner Mares and Jhonny Gonzales has been postponed. Mares suffered a rib injury during training on Tuesday according to the promoter of the duel which had been set for February 15 in Los Angeles. Mares, a former bantamweight and super-bantamweight champion, won the WBC featherweight title last May when he stopped Mexican southpaw Daniel Ponce de Leon in the ninth round. In August, Mares suffered the first loss of his career when Gonzalez knocked him out 2 minutes 55 seconds into the first round. Mares, 28, has a professional record of 26-1-1, including 14 knockouts. He is four years younger than Gonzalez, whose record stands at 55-8, with

47 knockouts. "I'm disappointed of course, but I know these things happen in boxing and I wish Abner a speedy recovery," Gonzalez said. "We both know we'll meet again and when we do, we'll give the fans a fight to remember." Gonzalez first won the WBC featherweight crown in 2011 with a fourth-round

stoppage of Japanese southpaw Hozumi Hasegawa. He retained the belt in four defences before losing it to Ponce de Leon in 2012. The fight ended after eight rounds when a clash of heads opened a gash over Gonzalez's right eye, setting the stage for him to reclaim the crown from Mares last year.

NNWL holds congress Jan. 20

he Executive Secretary, Nigeria Nation-Wide League (NNWL), Mr Olusola Ogunnowo, has confirmed that the body will hold its congress on January 20. Ogunnowo said the congress would, among other issues, determine the league competition’s commencement date. ``The target of the league’s management body was the end of the month, but we still need the input of the participating clubs. ``This is why our congress will come up on Jan. 20, and we hope to start our league by the end of January, so that we can round up by May. ``We want to start early so that we will not fall into the FIFA calendar of June and July, which is the FIFA World Cup period. ``So, we will need to end our programme by May. For us to meet this target, we have to ensure we start our league by the end of January. We only have 18 weeks of football,’’ he said. The executive secretary said the league organisers wanted to make sure the competition was different from what it used to be in the past. ``There were so many measures which

have been put in place to ensure a hitchfree season, including ensuring that our website started to work last December. `Ànyone can now have access to our website for detailed information, such as the profile of the clubs, contact addresses, players’ profiles and so on. ``We have already uploaded all the details of a total of 128 clubs in our league. `Ànyone can visit our site now. There is virtually nothing that you are looking for about the league that you will not find there,’’ he said. Ogunnowo said the NNWL management was working closely with security agencies to ensure enough security during its league matches. `Ìf and where the need arises, the disciplinary committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will place sanctions and bans on individuals or groups in order to nip in the bud any ugly situation,’’ he said. The NNWL has two regular divisions of Division One, which has four groups, and Division Two which has eight groups. The league’s Division Three is played on a zonal basis, based on geo-political zone groupings. (NAN)

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PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 11,- sunday 12 january, 2014

Sports

Hull out to upset Chelsea H

u l l City will look to put an end to Chelsea’s winning run in the Premier League when the two sides meet at the KC Stadium this afternoon. The Blues are unbeaten in their las five matches, winning five, and go into this game looking for their fourth straight win. Jose Mourinho’s men defeated Southampton 3-0 in their last league outing and are currently place third with 43 point from 20 matches. The Tigers on the other hand have

been less consistent in recent weeks, winning just one of their last five matches. Steve Bruce’s side go into this clash looking to bounce back to winning ways after going down 2-0 to Liverpool at Anfield. Hull are placed 10th on the table with 23 points from 20 matches and needing maximum points to keep their spot in the top half of the table and midfielder George Boyd believes they can upset the odds against Chelsea. When the two sides met in the opening fixture of the season Chelsea won the match 2-0 courtesy of first-half goals from Oscar and Frank Lampard.

Manchester United desperate to beat Swansea City

Fernando Torres

anchester United will be desperate to get back to winning ways when they play host to Swansea for the second time in six days. The Premier League clash is set for today. The Red Devils have suffered three successive losses across three competitions and will be looking to

get some revenge on the Swans, who won for the first time at Old Trafford this past Sunday to send United packing from the FA Cup. The loss to the Welsh side was sandwiched by a defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League and Tuesday evening’s 2-1 loss away to Sunderland in the first leg of the Capital One Cup semifinal. David Moyes’s team is a full 11 points off the pace of league leaders Arsenal and have plenty of work to do if they are to at least finish in the top four and secure Champions League football for next season. The under-fire manager will hope to have Wayne Rooney and possibly Robin van Persie back for the visit of Swansea, though there is

CHAN 2014 South Africa Mali Sunday Zimbabwe Uganda Faso

v Mozambique v Nigeria

v Morocco v Burkina

Barclays Premier League Hull City v Chelsea Cardiff City v West Ham U. Everton v Norwich Fulham v Sunderland Southampton v West Bromwich A. Tottenham Hotspur v Crystal Palace Manchester United v Swansea City Sunday Newcastle United v City Stoke City v

Manchester Liverpool

French Ligue 1 Ajaccio v Paris Saint Germain Bordeaux v Toulouse Guingamp v St Etienne Lyon v Sochaux Rennes v Nice Valenciennes v Bastia Stade Sunday Nantes v Lorient Evian Thonon Gaillard v Marseille Lille v Reims Italian Serie A Livorno v Parma Bologna v Lazio

Swansea City's Wilfried Bony scores against Manchester United in the FA Cup no concrete news on either player. Defender Rio Ferdinand will certainly miss the clash, as he faces two weeks on the sidelines with a knee injury. Swansea have struggled to find consistency in the Premier League this season and lie in 13th place, 13 points adrift of United and just four points above the relegation zone.

Real Madrid targeting win against Espanyol

eal Madrid will look to make up ground at the top of La Liga when they visit Espanyol at the Cornella-El Prat Stadium tomorrow. The Whites are currently in third place on the table with 44 points from 18 matches, five points behind both Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. However, with the two sides meeting in a crucial encounter tomorrow, Real coach Carlo Ancelotti believes his side have to take advantage by reducing the gap. “If we win on Sunday, we’ll cut the gap on someone or both teams because it’s impossible for Atletico and Barcelona to both win,” Ancelotti told reporters. Madrid go into this game on the back of a 3-0 win over Celta Vigo but the match was harder than the scoreline suggests as all three goals came late in the

Weekend fixture

second half. There was also a moment of controversy as Argentine midfielder Angel di Maria was investigated for a gesture he made when he was substituted early in the second half, following some jeers from the home fans. Espanyol on the other hand will aim to return to winning after starting the year with a 1-0 loss to struggling side Osasuna. The Periquitos are currently in 10th place with 22 points and also in need of maximum points as they look to move up towards the European places. The Barcelona-based side don’t have a good overall record against Real Madrid but last season they managed to frustrate them with two draws, holding out for a 2-2 stalemate at the Santiago Bernabeu and 1-1 at home.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Sunday Torino v Atalanta v Cagliari v Roma v Verona v Sassuolo v

Fiorentina Catania Juventus Genoa Napoli Milan

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PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 11,- sunday 12 january, 2014

Sports

South Africa battle Mozambique today to kick-off 2014 CHAN

he host nation’s team has not had ideal preparation according to Coach Gordon Igesund, who has had to wrangle over the availability of players from domestic clubs and deal with the injury-enforced withdrawal of first-choice left-back Tsepo Masilela. In addition, Bafana were unable to organise a friendly/practice match against a fellow CHAN team early in the week, though at the time of writing they were planning a game against a local side in order to get some much-needed playing time under their belts. The good news for Igesund is that South Africa has a 100 percent record against Mozambique in official international matches, having won all four of the matches in which the teams have crossed swords. While the competition rules stipulate that teams may only choose players who are based domestically, this match will be relatively close to being a ‘full’ international, as both sides pick predominantly from their local leagues anyway. Mambas coach Joao Chissano has been able to select a fairly experienced team that is not far off being full strength. It includes the likes of experienced defender Dario Khan as well as Almiro Lobo, who will be well aware of conditions in South Africa having played for Bidvest Wits and Platinum Stars in the PSL. The Mozambicans have also been able to get in a couple of friendly matches in Johannesburg ahead of flying down to Cape Town for the opening match, so they could well be sharper and better drilled than their hosts. Yet, with home support and an ability

Gordon Igesund (head coach) of South Africa chats to his players during a training session South Africa and Mozambique will kick-off the 2014 African Nations Championship when they clash in the Group A opener at Cape Town Stadium. to call upon hugely experienced players such as Itumeleng Khune, Siphiwe Tshabalala and Bernard Parker – who all have more than 60 caps under their belt Bafana Bafana will be the favourites to pick

up the three points. And given that the hosts must face ‘unknown’ quantities in Mali and Nigeria – teams who they have traditionally struggled against – it is vital for Igesund

and his charges that they come out on top today in this key opening match. The second Group A match, Mali v Nigeria, will be played at the same venue later.

CHAN: Debutants Nigeria battle old foes Mali today

Chief Coach, Steven Kesh

ebutants Nigeria will confront fellow West Africans the Eagles of Mali in a Group A at the African Nations Championship (CHAN) today in Cape Town. Fellow Group A rivals Hosts South Africa and Mozambique will open the biennial championship reserved for locally based players in Africa. Nigeria has failed to qualify for the previous two editions of the competition, while Mali will be making their second appearance at the competition after making it to the last edition in 2012. To reach CHAN 2014, Nigeria saw off Cote d'Ivoire on a 4-3 aggregate, while Mali defeated Guinea 3-2 on aggregate. Nigeria will be relying on the experience of full internationals like skipper and goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim, Solomon Kwambe, Ejike Uzoenyi, Azubuike Egwuekwe and Francis Benjamin. Mali, on the other hand, will bank on experienced Stade Malien goalkeeper Soumbeila Diakate, who has 34 caps with main team and the likes of Ousmane Keita and Adama Traore to make headway. The West Africans, who are handled by

Coach Djibril Drame, have struggled in the build-up to the tournament, failing to impress at the WAFU Nations Cup in Ghana and also losing 1-0 to CHAN-bound Libya in a warm-up match played in Casablanca, Morocco, last month. The country’s recently appointed coach Henri Kasperczak will also be in South Africa to lend a helping hand. Both teams have never met at this stage of this tournament. But at full international level, they have clashed seven times with the Eagles winning four games, while there have been three draws. Nigeria prepared for CHAN by playing against several local clubs including champions Kano Pillars before they beat Ethiopia 2-1 in an international friendly in Abuja. Warri wolves forward Joshua Obaje said that they are in South Africa to write their names in gold. “We are going to put in our best right from the first game of the competition. Our target remains the trophy and we know how important first game is in every competition. “We have the qualities to win CHAN and with God on our side we will do it," Obaje declared.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 11,- sunday 12 january, 2014

PAGE 53

Weekend Digest

Where are their heads?

ncanny photos show people dressed ‘upside-down’ as they wander the streets of Paris on their hands French photographer and art director Patrice Letarnec unveils Head Over Heels snaps Shows individuals walking on hands around Paris wearing their clothes the right way up A photographer has given a whole new meaning to the phrase ‘head over heels’ with his quirky new project. French photographer and art director Patrice Letarnec has unveiled a hilarious series of images called - you guessed it - Head Over Heels. Each snap shows an individual walking around the streets of Paris on their hands. But in a clever optical illusion, Letarnec’s subjects are dressed the right way up making them appear headless. As they pose in headstands, their legs appear to be arms and arms look like their legs.

This way up! French photographer Patrice Letarnec has unveiled a hilarious series of images depicting people on their hands walking around Paris

Now THAT’s confusing! As they pose in headstands, their legs appear to be arms and arms look like their legs

Shapes: Each snap shows an individual walking around the streets of Paris on their hands pulling their bodies into different positions...but where are their heads?

Which way up? In a clever optical illusion, Letarnec’s subjects are dressed the right way up making them appear headless

Quirky: Letarnec is a talented photographer and art director based in France, who turns life upside down (literally) in the streets of Paris

Page 54

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 11,- sunday 12 january, 2014

Healthy Living

Eating plenty of fruit and vegetable can protect against asthma High fibre diet prevents lung inflammation â&#x20AC;˘ Findings suggest what we eat can influence immune cell development â&#x20AC;˘ Consuming fibre alters the composition of bacteria in the gut â&#x20AC;˘ Bacteria release fatty acids that enter blood and influence development of immune cells elsewhere in the body - including in the lungs

ating plenty of fruit and vegetables protects against asthma, according to new research. Mice fed a diet high in fibre had less inflamed lungs when exposed to the house dust mites that trigger the condition than those given little of the healthy food. The researchers said the findings published in Nature Medicine may apply to humans and underline how what we eat can influence immune cell development and disease outside of the gut. A previous study found asthma and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) could be caused by the same inflammatory reaction. People who suffer from IBS are twice as likely to have asthmatic symptoms as well. IBS is a common digestive disorder that produces a range of symptoms including cramp, a feeling of bloating, and a change or disruption of bowel habit, such as constipation or diarrhoea. Dr Benjamin Marsland, of the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, said: 'Over recent decades, the incidence of allergic asthma has increased in developing countries, while the consumption of dietary fibre has decreased in these countries.' His team found mice fed a low fibre diet developed increased lung inflammation in response to dust mites whereas those whose food was enriched with pectin found in the cell walls of plants had reduced allergic airway disease. The soluble fibre used to combat constipation altered the composition of bacteria in the gut. Once ingested, these bugs process the fibre and release metabolites, called short chain fatty acids, which enter the blood and influence the development of immune cells elsewhere in the body, including those entering the lung. In the mice administration of propionate, a short chain fatty acid produced when gut bacteria metabolises fibre, also reduced allergic inflammation in the lung and resulted in the same protective effect as the pectin. Dr Marsland said the work highlights the importance of roughage and provides a cellular mechanism for controlling asth-

Eating a lot of fibre reduces the inflammation in the lungs which occurs as a result of exposure to the dust mites that trigger asthma ma. He added: 'Moreover, these data can be interpreted within the contect of epidemiological studies showing as fibre content in the diet has decreased, the incidence

of allergies has increased. 'Taken together, our findings support the concept intervention strategies targeting diet are a valuable approach for not only intestinal diseases but also respiratory

inflammatory diseases.' Dietary fibre has many known benefits, including reduced risk of heart disease and certain cancers with health organisations around the world recommending daily

minimum levels. But most people in western countries like Britain, Australia and the United States eat much less fibre than they require to remain healthy. dailymail.co.uk

New research suggests that eating a lot of fruit and vegetables can protect against the development of asthma

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 11,- sunday 12 january, 2014

Page 55

From the Pulpit

Dealing with pains in the green pursuit of your destiny (II) pastures B P T. O. B P raise the Lord! This is the concluding part of my first series for 2014. The first part was published last week, and I emphasized that it is impossible to fulfill your destiny without experiencing pains. If you missed that edition, you can ask your vendor for the hard copy or access it on-line. It will bless you. Irrespective of that, this concluding part will minister to you tremendously as you read what more you need to do to deal with pain in the pursuit of your destiny. . Encourage yourself in the Lord. In the time of crisis, the Bible says, David encouraged himself in the Lord. “And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.” (1 Sam 30:6 KJV). Learn to encourage yourself in the Lord even if nobody is there or willing to encourage you. Everybody needs encouragement when he feels like quitting. All those who eventually fulfilled or are currently fulfilling their destinies felt like giving up at a point in their journey of destiny but encouragement kept them going. Let the Holy Spirit encourage you. Walk in the comfort of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 9:31b) *Receive encouragement from others. Don’t pretend you’re superman or you’re self-sufficient. That’s a lie. You’ll always need somebody else. One of the ways God encourages us is to send others to be around us in our pains - to pray for us and or with us, to give advice and speak comforting words. That you’re not alone is enough encouragement. That man at the pool of Bethesda said, “I have no man,”(John 5:7 KJV) May you not lack the right people around you to minister encouragement to you – not the three miserable comforter-friends of Job, (Job 16:2). And don’t be too proud to receive encouragement from others.

Paul was encouraged by the Corinthians. (2 Cor 7:4), 1Thes 5:11 says, “So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing” (NLT) *Pray. Pray without ceasing. (1The 5:17) Through prayers, God will minister strength, courage, direction etc. to you. He can bring to you correct perspective in your pains. Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane while in agony – his soul was exceedingly sorrowful, even unto death.(Matt 26:36-46) Let pains draw you closer to God in prayer. “Never stop praying” (1 Thes 5:17 NLT) *Continue the pursuit of your destiny no matter what. Don’t give up on your destiny. Don’t surrender your purpose to problems. Stay focused. Don’t let the challenges you’re facing distract you. Never stop. *Manage well your stress. You can’t live without stress. There is positive stress and there is negative stress. Positive stress: Positive stress is known as Eustress. This is good and beneficial stress. It supplies extra energy that helps drive you to achieve goals. It manifests as excitement or boost towards undertaking an assignment or meeting deadline. Eustress increases motivation, alertness, efficiency and self-esteem. Negative Stress: This is also called distress. It is stress that continues without relief - the body fails to relax even when there’s no stressor. Some of the common signs of distress are frequent headache, weakness, dizziness, neck pain, back pain, chest pain, jaw pain, neck ache, trembling of lips and hands, increased perspiration, difficulty in breathing, dry mouth, ringing in ears, edginess, sleep disorder, constant tiredness, frustration, social withdrawal etc. But these could also be symptoms of other ailments. How to Manage Negative Stress

Negative stress is deadly if not well managed. Too much stress can weaken your immune system, making you vulnerable to sickness. Too much stress has been linked to high blood pressure, heart diseases, digestive problem, lung ailments, cancer, etc. People are known to have committed suicide for inability to manage stress. The following tips can help you in managing negative stress: •Know your stress trigger – the sources of your stress – and avoid it as much as possible. For example, if lateness is your stress trigger, prepare early and manage your time well. If busy schedule is your source of stress, avoid crowded schedule – say “No” to unnecessary tasks. However, if the stress trigger is such that you cannot completely avoid, you may have to learn how to adapt to it or adjust it to make the most of it without allowing it to destroy you. Don’t brood over what you can’t change. •Take a break from your busy and overwhelming schedule. When you notice some symptoms of negative stress, it’s wise to take a break to cool down rather than insist you must continue because of the deadline. Don’t be dead before the deadline! •Spend time to meditate on the Word of God. It will refresh you; it will also give you correct perspective of life. •Be realistic with your goals; don’t put yourself under unnecessary and avoidable stress. Be SMART with your goals. That is set Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time–bound goals. Some have even expanded this goal setting strategy with the addition of two more steps, E.R, to make it S.M.A.R.T.E.R goals. The E.R stands for Evaluate and Re-evaluate or Revise. Many people suffer distress from unrealistic goals when they fail to pay attention to these key factors. •Ask for and receive help from

astor

anso

cedarministryintl@yahoo.com GSM: 08033113523

others. Don’t be deluded that until you do it, it’s not yet the best. That will only crowd your schedule and trigger stress. Perfectionism is a killer. Delegate assignments to competent hands and don’t be unnecessarily and excessively critical of their performance understanding that there’s room for improvement for everybody including you. If it’s so important to add to or adjust what they’ve done, do so graciously without killing their morale. •Share your feelings with spiritually mature Christians. They can be your pastor, family members, or friends. But don’t bottle up your concerns. You may implode. Sharing your concerns with others has a healing, soothing effect. They can give you Biblebased and Holy Spirit inspired counsel. •Lead a healthy life. Don’t adopt a life style that increases negative stress in your life. Eat healthy diet. Don’t engage in unhealthy habits to manage negative stress. These include cigarette smoking, drugs, alcohol consumption, under-eating, over-eating, withdrawal from people etc. They ultimately make people’s lives worse. In addition, find time to relax, have adequate sleep and exercise your body regularly. Paul says, “Physical training is good,” (1 Tim 4:8 NLT), Physical exercise is good for your body and mind; it’s a potent therapy for stress. Conclusion: Beloved, no destiny is fulfilled without pains. No woman is delivered of a baby naturally without going through the labour pain. No nation is born without pains; there are usually times of painful building. “Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain

came, she was delivered of a man-child. Who hath heard such a thing? Who hath seen such things? Shall a land be born in one day? Shall a nation be brought forth at once? For as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children. Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith Jehovah: shall I that cause to bring forth shut (the womb)? saith thy God.” (Isa 66:7-9 ASV). This year, you won’t die in pains in fulfilling your destiny; you won’t suffer miscarriage; your destiny won’t be a stillbirth. You shall fulfill your destiny. After your pains, shall come your celebration in Jesus’ name. TAKE ACTION! If you’re not born again, kindly say this prayer now: “0 Lord God, I come unto you today. I know I‘m a sinner and I can’t save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and resurrected the third day. I confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour and surrender my life to him today. I invite Jesus into my heart today. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank you Jesus for saving me and making me a child of God” I believe you’ve said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You’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 becoming all God wants you to be. I’ll be glad to hear from you. May the Lord be with you.

The sinfulness of acts and thoughts of impurity Matthew 5:27-30

esus Christ is the Light of the world as well as the Light of the Word. Without His insight and interpretation, most people will think that they are free from the condemnation of sin. Hearing the word, “Thou shalt not kill”, the majority of people in the world will claim to have kept this God’s Word. Hearing the true explanation, “Whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment,” every mouth is stopped and all the world become guilty before God (Romans 3:19). Christ’s true interpretation makes everyone see the need for forgiveness and salvation. Our Lord now explains and applies the next commandment, “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” Limited understanding, again, will lead most people to conclude that they are morally upright and righteous. That superficial righteousness is lost as we listen to Christ’s revelation on the commandment. “Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” Christ effectively takes the veil of deception away to make everyone in the world see the need for salvation in Him. Christ makes the world see the need for divine mercy

and He makes the church see the need for heart-cleansing. 1. COMMAND AGAINST AN IMMORAL DEED Matthew 5:27; Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 22:22-24; Proverbs 6:32-35; Romans 1:29-32; 13:9,10;1 Corinthians 6:9,10; Galatians 5:1921; Revelation 2:19-23; Luke 16:18; Romans 7:2,3; Hebrews 13:4. “Ye have heard ...” We have heard from the voice of conscience, from the voice of society, from the voice of selfinterest, from the voice of judgement and from the voice of priests and preachers. “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery.” This moral law had been in effect before the dispensation of the law (Genesis 20:17; 38:24) and it is still in effect today after the dispensation of the law; in this dispensation of grace (Matthew 19:16-18; Romans 13:9,10). Christ has not come to excuse and conceal the sin of mankind; No! He came to expose and cleanse the sin of the world. He has not come to condemn and leave man under condemnation; No! He has come to reveal the guilt and condemnation of all men in order to make men seek God’s forgiveness, mercy and salvation through Christ. His light searches us that His love may save us.

By Pastor W.F Kumuyi 2. CONDEMNATION OF AN IMPURE DESIRE Matthew 5:28; Exodus 20:14,17; Mark 7:20-23; Romans 7:7; 2 Samuel 13:1-4; Colossians 3:5,6; James 1:14,15;1 John 2:16; Genesis 6:5; Proverbs 15:26; 24:9; Isaiah 55:7. The Pharisees and scribes had reduced the commandment which prohibits adultery to the mere physical act of adultery. They imagined that as long as they were not actually guilty of the act, they were perfectly innocent and free from guilt or condemnation. The great mistake of the Pharisees was that they never read the Ten commandments properly. If they had truly considered and thoroughly studied them, they would have seen the error of isolating each of the commandments. While

the seventh commandment says, “Thou shalt not commit adultery”, the tenth commandment says, “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife.” This law forbids lust in the heart or improper desire of “inordinate affection” for any woman in the heart. Here again, we have Christ faithfully showing us the insufficiency of external righteousness. His inspired interpretation and faithful revelation of what is in man’s heart helps us to see our need of Christ as Saviour and Sanctifier. “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith” (Galatians 3:24). 3. CONSIDERATION OF AN ILLUSTRATIVE DELIVERANCE Matthew 5:29,30; Psalm 119:37; Job 31:1; Proverbs 5:8-13; Proverbs

6:25-29; 7:25-27; Romans 6:13; 8:13; Galatians 5:24; 2 Corinthians 10:4,5; 1 Corinthians 9:27; Mark 9:43-48. Christ is not only the Teacher come from God, He is also the great Physician (Doctor) sent from God. He is the Saviour with the divine Word. He is also the Surgeon with divine Wisdom. For a man with a cancerous eye or hand, there are times when ‘plucking out the eye’ or ‘cutting off the hand’ becomes necessary to save the whole body. It is the last resort when all other treatments fail. “And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.” If a man or a woman as dear and precious to you as your right eye, be an occasion of offending God; a means of exciting unholy desires in your heart, delay not to separate from him or her. “And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.” If anyone who is as necessary, useful and profitable to you as your right hand be a constant means of impure desires or immoral deeds, cut her or him off and let there be a total and final separation.

BIG PUNCH “The assassination attempt on the father of the Kano state governor, Alhaji Musa Sale Kwankwaso, was unfortunate. This clearly shows that there is complete breakdown of security in the country which may lead to a state of anarchy.” -The Emir of Kano Alh. (Dr) Ado Bayero

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, JANUARY 11-12, 2014

Shekarau, Bafarawa and enemies within

ano state governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, recently alluded to the likelihood that those who cross-carpeted from the beleaguered Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) would ultimately take over the party. He was making it abundantly clear that the inexorable process of ‘PDP-nizing’ the APC had begun, whether supporters of the legacy parties like it or not. In effect, he is saying that we are bound to have another PDP on our hands. In fact, the governor was reacting to news reports that supporters of the defunct ANPP in the state under the leadership of the immediate past governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, had petitioned the national leadership of the APC protesting the agreement which conceded the leadership of the party in the states to the G-5 governors who defected from the PDP. According to him, even at the moment out of the three or four legacy parties only the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) can boast of having more governors in APC than the G-5 governors. And so, by the time other PDP governors and assembly members crossed over in the New Year, as promised by some stalwarts, ex-PDP elements would be the majority in APC. The defection by G-5 governors was certainly not welcomed by supporters of the legacy parties in especially states controlled by them. This is because of the fear of the dictatorial behavior exhibited by some of them even against their fellow PDP members who are now happy to be rid of them. Right now there have been protestations in Kano, Sokoto, Adamawa and Kwara states against the agreement that the G-5 governors would supplant the APC founding members as leaders. It is unfortunate that the APC has borrowed this undemocratic clause that makes the president and governors party leaders from the PDP, which presumably was inserted in its constitution during the “garrison politics” of ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo. In the Second Republic, this was not the case as party chairmen were supreme. For instance, the powerful national chairman of NPN, the then ruling party, late Chief Adisa Akinloye, called meetings at the party’s headquarters where President Shehu Shagari had to attend. Today, as the party leader the president calls PDP executive meetings in Aso Rock.

Because of that misbegotten clause that mortgaged the APC leadership as reportedly contained in its constitution, in Kano state Shekarau and his supporters are today in a serious quandary over what to do. Ditto in Sokoto, where Attahiru Bafarawa squares up to Gov. Aliyu Wamakko; in Adamawa, where Buba Marwa and Marcus Gundiri vow to confront Gov. Murtala Nyako; and in Kwara, where Dele Belgore won’t concede the party to Gov. AbdulFatah Ahmed and Senator Bukola Saraki. In all the four cases, the antagonists can’t see the justification in laboring to form a party only to then be asked to hand it over to a new comer. Besides, some of them like Shekarau and Bafarawa can’t figure out how they could relate with long-standing political rivals who have done things that only their worst enemies would do. To be asked therefore to operate under those rivals and expect justice and equity from them is akin to a mouse expecting justice from a cat. Shekarau and Bafarawa, as former governors of their respective states, surely have a large number of supporters. Their dilemma therefore is not only how to protect their personal interests but the interests of their teeming supporters as well. That cannot be guaranteed in APC under the current arrangement which gives the ex-PDP governors an edge over them. situation where one has to associate with his enemies is bad enough, and worse still if the enemy as a vindictive and uncompromising one has the upper hand. It is even more painful when one has played a critical role in bringing about the party that the enemy has encroached upon. What’s more, the party leadership has to this day failed to find a solution to the problem. I therefore foresee a further realignment of political forces with the emergence of a ‘Third Force’ becoming inevitable. And if this is what APC leaders are asking for, this is what they should get. Remnants of ANPP, CPC and ANC that are discontented with the prevailing situation in APC must therefore seek to merge with the barely visible Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) and Atiku Abubakar’s Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) to form a brand new mega party. After all, we had five major political parties in the Second

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GUEST COLUMNIST Ado Umar Muhammad <aumo21@yahoo.com>

Mal. Ibrahim Shekarau Republic and all of them did well in the general elections under a relatively level playing field. All the five parties, which are now defunct namely the NPN, UPN, NPP, GNPP and PRP, produced state governors, Senators and members of the House of Reps, as well as State Assemblies. I think we can still be fair to ourselves by allowing that to happen. As already registered parties, the DPP and PDM can then apply

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prayed for. But if members of the legacy parties cannot get justice in APC as PDP defectors are about to take it over then no one should begrudge them the right to seek solace elsewhere. For those who may fear that the development may jeopardize someone’s chances at the polls, let me assure that it

Alh. Attahiru Bafarawa to INEC for change of name so that a single party can emerge from them. Luckily, the DPP was a breakaway faction of the ANPP whose formation was incidentally facilitated by Bafarawa. Hence, both Shekarau and Bafarawa would be re-united with like-minds in the new party. And I am sure Atiku and his PDM supporters would not find it difficult to blend with their new ‘comrades.’ This is not the ideal we had all

Luckily, the DPP was a breakaway faction of the ANPP whose formation was incidentally facilitated by Bafarawa. Hence, both Shekarau and Bafarawa would be re-united with like-minds in the new party. And I am sure Atiku and his PDM supporters would not find it difficult to blend with their new ‘comrades.’

is unlikely. A careful study of the 2011 presidential election results, especially in Kano state, reveals that people voted massively for the CPC presidential candidate but acted otherwise in other elections. dealists like me had wanted to see a clearly distinct new party that would wholeheartedly identify with the yearnings and aspirations of the common man. We had hoped to see the APC engage in vigorous grassroots mobilization and ensuring that politics is predicated on class issues and fought on the basis of divergent ideologies. However, in a situation where you have stalwarts of the PDP taking over the party in large numbers no one can bet on that. This is because at the federal and state levels, PDP governments/politicians are known to pursue policies that are always elitist in nature. So the promise of pursuing even a mere welfare policy by APC leaders is now a mirage. As the party is now being swarmed by the PDP ‘locusts,’ that can never be achieved.

Muhammad wrote from Hotoro, Kano <aumo21@ yahoo.com>

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