Wednesday, June 11, 2014.

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Vol. 13 No. 82

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

. . . putting the people first

3 >>> PAGE 6

>>> PAGE 3

FG nominates Diezani for OPEC Sec Gen

Sha’aban 12, 1435 AH

New Emir: Normalcy returns to Kano

N150

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Police promote 2 AIGs, 7 commissioners

I didn't take money for 2015 campaign – Minister >>Pg 3

Traders flee Abuja markets over bomb scare >>Pg 2

Security operatives screening people going into Garki Market following a bomb scare in the vicinity of the market, yesterday in Abuja. INSET: Traders outside Wuse Market following a bomb scare also in the vicinity.

Photos: Justin Imo-Owo & NAN

Crisis rocks Edo Assembly as 2 speakers emerge From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin City

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parallel leadership yesterday emerged at the Edo state House of Assembly, following the alleged impeachment of the Speaker, Hon. Uyigue

Igbe, and the Majority Leader, Hon. Philip Shaibu by eight Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers.

Two suspended PDP members, Hon. Patrick Osayimwen and Hon. Friday Ogierhiakhi, representing Oredo East and

Orhionmwon South constituencies were allegedly beaten to pulp during a bloody clash by thugs loyal to the two rival parties at the precincts of the hallowed chamber.

Tempers were said to have risen when 13 members of the

All Progressives Congress (APC) walked into the chamber yesterday morning where the suspended PDP Deputy Speaker, Hon. Festus Ebea, was being voted in as new Speaker of the House.

This led to a commotion as suspected thugs loyal to the two par-

ties slugged it out.

The APC members however reconvened for the business of the day after riot policemen dispersed the thugs.

Chairman of the House Committee on Youth, Sports and In Contd on Page 2

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

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News CONTENTS News

2-10

Editorial

12

Op.Ed

13

Letters

14

Opinion

15

Metro

16-18

Business

19-22

Stockwatch

23

S/Report

24-25

Property

27

Arts

29

APC convention: We’re yet to zone any position - Ngige – Page 37

Int’l

31

S/World

35

Digest

36

Politics

37

Newsxtra

39

Sports

41

Columnist

48

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Traders flee Abuja markets over bomb scare

By Stanley Onyekwere

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raders in major markets in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), yesterday scampered for safety following a bomb scare in Garki Modern Market, in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) of the territory.

It was gathered that pandemonium broke out early morning yesterday when some security guards and traders raised an alarm that somebody had planted suspected explosive devices in some bags in the open area of the market.

Immediately afterwards, the rumour of the suspected planted explosives in the market gained currency within the Garki Market and several others in the city, leading to the swift abandonment of the markets as traders scampered for safety.

In the frenzy, traders in Garki Market were seen relocating their goods from that location to Enugu Street, in Garki Village, thereby causing heavy traffic gridlock in the village, just as many residents flee the area.

Also, the incident affected business activities in smaller markets and shopping plazas, including in the Neighbourhood Shopping Complex in Wuse Zone 3, Banex and Emab plazas, as well as Sheriff Plaza, all in Wuse II area of the city.

It took the arrival of policemen from the FCT police command and Garki divisional police station to douse the tension as

the Garki and Wuse markets were closed down and the areas immediately cordoned off.

Men of the Anti-Bomb squad were immediately deployed to search the place.

Residents and motorists going about their normal duties were caught up in the frenzy of the traffic created by security cordon one of the lanes passing through the market to other parts of the city, forcing commuters to go through one lane.

When our reporter visited the area, many traders were stranded and confused. Those who had come out in the morning for their usual businesses were seen in groups discussing the situation, while others who were frightened by the shocking news had no option than to turn back home for safety.

At some major markets, traders were also kept out for several hours to ensure that the marketplaces were combed for life threatening objects to ensure the safety of traders and their customers.

Besides, the traders, motorists, and customers at all the markets were subjected to thorough search to ensure that dangerous objects were not taken into the market.

According to Mr. Oda Okaro, a trader in Garki Market, "the bomb scare was just a mere speculation".

He explained that: “I just arrived this morning (yesterday) with the hope of a great day just to

meet a locked market. The people I met here told me that there were rumours of a bomb planted in the market and needed the services of the men of police anti-bomb squad to ascertain the truth and diffuse the bomb if there's any.

“Me and other traders hung around the market for hours and when we were about to leave at about 10:00am, they started calling us that they have sorted out the issue and that all is safe for traders to carry out their daily business activities”, Oda said.

Similarly, another trader, who gave her name simply as Faith, said: “When I got to the market, I saw that some places were deserted and I was told that some people had planted bomb in the area and police around the market asked us to move out of the premises, that they want to lock the main entrance for security reasons. I believed when I saw policemen there.

“The thing really affected business around that area as people were scared to move close to the market. Police also prevented people from passing through that area”, she added.

Commenting on the incident, the Public Relations Officer of the FCT police command, Altine Daniel, said there was no bomb in the market but a misunderstanding of security checks in the place by security operatives.

“It was not a bomb scare and there was no bomb scare. We have moved in there and it was just a

security check that some people misunderstood but the markets were opened and people have gone back to their normal business,” said the PRO who spoke on phone.

Investigation showed that the markets were reopened at about noon yesterday for normal businesses to continue, though many traders opted to return to their homes.

Meanwhile, in a bid to secure lives and properties in the territory, the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, has directed the management of all institutions and places of large public gathering within the territory to immediately develop their individual comprehensive security plans of action to forestall any attack by insurgents.

Some of the public places affected by the ministerial directive include motor parks, restaurants, markets, supermarkets, shopping malls and centres, drinking joints, parks and gardens, banks, churches, mosques, hotels, viewing centres and hospitals, etc.

According to a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Nosike Ogbuenyi, the directive was to forestall further attacks in the city.

Also, the minister advised residents to shun public viewing centres; especially during the forthcoming World Cup as such places are among soft targets for the terrorists.

Police promote 2 AIGs, 7 commissioners, 203 others

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he Police Service Commission (PSC) yesterday announced the promotion of 212 senior officers, including two Assistant Inspector-Generals of Police (AIGs) and seven Commissioners of Police.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Assistant Director, Press and Public Relations in the commission, Mr. Ferdinand Ekpe, in Abuja.

The commission, however, announced the dismissal of four

others.

The two AIGs were Chris Olakpe and Grace Okudo, while the Commissioners of Police were Victor Ojo, Elias Wayemeru, Paul Okafor, Henry Fadairo, Stella Udosen, Felicia Noelle and Ovie Oyokomino.

It stated that 12 Assistant Commissioners were promoted to Deputy Commissioners, 21 Chief Superintendents to Assistant Commissioners and 27 Superintendents to Chief Superinten-

dents of Police.

Also promoted were 15 Deputy Superintendents to Superintendents, 129 Assistant Superintendents to Deputy Superintendents and 20 inspectors, who were omitted during the last promotion, were promoted to Assistant Superintendents of Police.

It stated that the promotion of Assistant Superintendents of Police to Chief Superintendent of Police were with effect from Feb.19, while others took effect

on June 9.

The statement stated that the dismissed officers were: Superintendents of Police, Nyong Enefio and Offu Ukereke, Deputy Superintendent Eteng Bassey and Assistant Superintendent of Police, Mohammed Kashim.

It stated that an ASP was compulsorily retired for misconduct; six officers were reduced in rank and 10 others reprimanded.

(NAN)

Crisis rocks Edo Assembly as 2 speakers emerge Contd from Front Page formation, Hon. Adjotu Kabiru, denied the alleged impeachment of the speaker and the majority leader. He described the PDP sitting as a Kangaroo session.

Sergeant-at-Arms of the Assembly, Robert Igiri, alleged that the PDP legislators broke the door to the chamber to hold the alleged illegal session, but confirmed however, that the mace was still intact.

On Monday, the Assembly suspended indefinitely, the deputy speaker, Mr. Ebea, (Esan South East), along with Patrick Osayinmen, (Oredo East) Friday Ogierhiakhi (Orihonmwon) and Jude Ise-Idehen (Ikpoba Okha).

Three out of the suspended lawmakers had in May defected from the APC to the PDP. Moving the motion for their suspension under matters of urgent public importance, Mr Paul

Ohunbamu (APC-Egor), said the affected members had undermined the strength of the House.

He accused them of making unguarded utterances.

Ohunbamu said Order 38, rule 3 of the house rules empowered the house to suspend any member who was found wanting.

Also speaking on the motion Mr Adjoto Kabiru, (APC AkokoEdo) and Chairman, House Committee on Information said the affected lawmakers had constituted themselves into a committee which was approaching other members to defect to the PDP. “The suspended members since they defected to PDP have been approaching other members and pledging to give them N70 million for them to defect from APC to PDP. According to him, they have also been holding private meetings that can cause breach of peace in the House. The 10 law-

makers, who attended the session, later approved the motion suspending their colleagues.

The Speaker, Mr. Igbe, therefore, directed the clerk to retrieve all official property in their possession.

Meanwhile, suspected gunmen yesterday reportedly invaded the Edo state Legislators’ Quarters on Ihama Road, GRA in Benin City.

The hoodlums were said to have laid siege at the main entrance of the quarters for hours and shot sporadically, halting human and vehicular movements in the area.

Majority leader of the Assembly, Mr. Shaibu, who conducted newsmen round the quarters, alleged that the suspended deputy speaker, Mr. Ebea, was responsible for the attack.

In a swift reaction, however, Mr. Ebea dismissed the allegation and described “the rumours of de-

fection from the APC to PDP as an imagination of the APC legislators led by the Majority Leader, Hon. Philip Shaibu”.

There was stampede at the Oba Market in the city as a combined team of security operatives fired tear-gas canisters severally while attempting to prevent party supporters from gaining entrance into the Assembly complex.

Some traders at the market, who preferred anonymity, accused the government of not doing enough to protect lives and properties.

Meanwhile, Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo state yesterday sacked Captain Felix Omokhodion, his Senior Special Assistant on Projects Monitoring, “in the public interest”.

Omokhodion was directed to hand over all government property in his possession to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) within 24 hours.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

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News

Boko Haram carries out reprisals on military in Borno From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

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ver 300 suspected Boko Haram insurgents on Monday carried out seemingly deadly reprisal attacks on military in Biita village, Borno state, residents of the area told newsmen yesterday.

It would be recalled that the military claimed to have killed 50 insurgents, after repelling a bloody attack in the village on Saturday. However residents of the area said close to100 insurgents were actually killed by security forces in the encounter between Saturday and Sunday.

It was gathered that after being defeated, the militants returned to the area and launch what seemed

to be as a reprisal onslaught on the military.

Sources said over 350 insurgents, armed with rocket propelled grenades stormed out of the bushes and attacked the military formation in Biita.

A top security source said, “Yes, the terrorists re-mobilized and attacked Biita after the heavy casualty they recorded at the weekend. Our troops withdrew for strategic reasons only and not out of fear. Remember that we recorded a huge success on Saturday and Sunday,” he said.

One of the residents, John Musa told newsmen that the insurgents were well kitted in military fatigue. Musa said the militants have, armed with armored vehicles, explosives and other sophisticated weapons have

driven into the area in over 30 pick-up vehicles and dozens of motorcycles.

It was learnt that the insurgents subdued the security forces and took over the area, forcing villagers to scampered for safety.

The casualty figures recorded by both sides could not be ascertained as at press time, but residents said the invaders destroyed many buildings in the village.

In a related development, the suspected Boko Haram insurgents on Monday invaded two villages in Chibok local government area of Borno, killing at least five people and carted away bags of assorted food items as well as livestocks.

Residents of the affected areas who fled to Maiduguri told

newsmen yesterday that the incident occurred when dozens armed men believed to be Boko Haram stormed Tohya and Wurojene villages near Chibok, and unleashed terror in the people.

One of the residents, John Garba said the attackers reportedly opened fire on the villagers as soon as they arrived at around 7pm, killing at least five people, leaving several others wounded.

"The attackers fired at the people and many residents fled into the bush. There was confusion everywhere, as the attackers set fire on houses. They continue the attack for about two hours. They carted away foodstuffs, bags of grains and chicken belonging to our poor people," he said.

60 cows killed, 30 wounded in Plateau From Ado Abubakar Musa, Jos

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o fewer than 60 cows were on Monday reportedly killed while 30 others got injured in Jol village, of Riyom local government area in Plateau state.

The Plateau state chapter of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN), through its chairman, Alh. Haruna Boro Hussaini, described the incident as unfortunate and condemnatory.

However, the incident is coming when the Fulani and Berom visited Governor Jonah Jang to resolve their differences last Friday.

The chairman said, “We have reported the matter to the Special Task Force and their men attempted to enter the community but they were engaged in a gun battle by the youths.

"After our meeting with Center for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD) , the Fulani and our Berom brothers were advised to meet and iron out our issues.

Confirming the incident, the Special Task Force (STF) Media and Information Officer of STF in the state, Captain Ikedichi Iweha said the Task Force Commander, Major General David Eniete had gone to the area to see for himself what has happened, adding that 60 cows were killed.

R-L: President Goodluck Jonathan, and President Mamnoon Hassain of Pakistan, jointly addressing a news conference, during President Mamnoon official visit to Nigeria, yesterday at the State House, in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

Jonathan nominates Diezani for OPEC Sec-Gen

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resident Goodluck Jonathan has nominated Minister of Petroeum, Diezani AlisonMadueke to succeed long-serving incumbent, Abdullah al-Badri as the Secretary-General of the Organisation of Oil Exporting Countries (OPEC), Iraq’s oil

minister, Abdul Kareem Luaibi said yesterday.

The proposal was intended to solve the deadlock over the post created by opposing candidates from Saudi Arabia and Iran, Luaibi said.

Luaibi added that Iraq continued to back its own candidate, and the

issue remained unresolved. Badri’s latest term in the office ends in December.

If the Nigerian candidacy is successful, Alison-Madueke would be the oil exporter group’s club’s first female in the post.

OPEC is to meet today. (Reuters)

NIS arrests 7 suspected human traffickers in Katsina

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he Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Katsina State Command, said it arrested seven people for alleged human trafficking and related offences.

The NIS Comptroller, Mr. Emmanuel Ogbumuo, made this known when he briefed newsmen in Katsina, on Monday.

Ogbumuo said the suspects were arrested by the NIS patrol

team on Kongolam axis following a tip off, adding that the suspects were between the ages of 19 and 29.

He explained that one of the suspects was in possession of forged ECOWAS travel certificates, while the remaining persons had no travel document.

The comptroller said the suspects were trying to cross the

border through the irregular route to Agadez, Niger Republic, then to Libya and finally to Europe.

He reiterated NIS determination to rid the country from human trafficking and illegal immigrants in spite of the nature of Nigerian border.

Ogbumuo said that suspects would be handed over to NAPTIP for further actions. (NAN)

I didn’t take money for campaign - Minister From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

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upervising Minister of Aviation and Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom yesterday denied receiving any money from agencies under his aviation portfolio to fund his gubernatorial ambition in Benue state.

A statement made available to aviation journalists and signed by the minister noted that the said report was malicious and challenged anyone with any evidence to publish same.

"I state categorically that no parastatal or agency under the Aviation Ministry or any official under any of them has been tasked or is being tasked to remit any money and has ever made monthly or any payments to me to fund my campaign. I challenge any one with proof of such to step forward and publish for the general public" the minister explained.

He said "My attention has been drawn to reports in some national newspapers that there is another crisis rocking the Aviation Ministry, as some parastatals in the ministry are being compelled to make monthly payments to me for the funding of my governorship campaigns in Benue state. It has also come to my knowledge that the masterminds of this deliberate campaign of mischief blackmail and calumny have also syndicated the spurious reports to several other newspapers, magazines, as well as the social and electronic media."

He continued further: "Their plan is to run me down in the media and other platforms throughout June and the next few months of this year. By the grace of God and the discerning Nigerian public they will surely fail.

“A cursory look at the reports indicates that they have failed to prove their allegations but added that the allegations can never ever proved "because such a thing never happened.

"The fact that the reports lack any semblance of a genuine investigative work but are being pushed into the media indicates that unseen sinister hands are at work.

In the strong worded statement, Ortom also said, "I state categorically that no parastatal or agency under the Aviation Ministry or any official under any of them has been tasked or is being tasked to remit any money and has ever made monthly or any payments to me to fund my campaign. I challenge anyone with proof of such to step forward and publish same for the general public" the statement said.

PAGE 4

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

News

Nigeria, Pakistan seal deal on counter-terrorism

By Isiaka Wakili

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igeria and Pakistan have resolved to cooperate with each other in the fight against terrorism.

Minister of State (II) for Foreign Affairs Nurudeen Mohammed said this at the State House

in Abuja yesterday after the bilateral talks held by President Goodluck Jonathan and his Pakistan counterpart, Mamnoon Hussain.

Our correspondent reports that the Pakistan president was on a state visit to Nigeria.

Nurudeen said Nigeria and

Pakistan agreed to deepen cooperation in the field of defence and security as well as strengthen cooperation on counter-terrorism, maritime piracy and combating organised crimes.

The minister said both countries also resolved to cooperate to contain the menace of insurgency

and terrorist activities.

According to him, both countries agreed that as members of the United Nations and other international organisations, they would continue to strengthen cooperation with these organisations to promote international peace and security

He said Jonathan and his visitor signed bilateral agreements on poverty reduction, human resources development, environmental protection, financial and agricultural cooperation, industrial cooperation, cultural exchange programmes, commerce and industries, among others.

Conference of Chiefs, held in Lokoja yesterday, with the theme: ‘’The implications of Kogi State Chiefs Laws No 23 of 2006 on the administration of contemporary traditional institutions in Kogi State’’.

Capt. Wada described reports of armed robbery, kidnapping, thefts and assassinations which

have dominated the crime waves in recent times as alien to the people and their culture.

The governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Yomi Awoniyi, described as disturbing the refusal by Area and Local Government Traditional Councils to recognize the appointments of some

graded Chiefs duly approved by the State Executive Council.

The Governor warned such Chairmen taking laws into their hands and to flout the State Government decisions to stop forthwith and to allow peace reign in their domains to avoid the wrath of the law.

Capt. Wada solicited the continuous prayers and support for his administration from the Royal Fathers and assured that his government will continue to accord the traditional institution in the State the desired recognition.

Earlier in his address, the Chairman of the Kogi state Council of Chiefs, HRM, Ameh Oboni III, the Attah Igala, said the conference is a further commitment of the traditional ruler’s commitment to the order, peace and tranquility in the State.

The Royal Father, commended the state government’s effort at improving the welfare of traditional rulers in the state and assured of their continued support, advise and prayers.

Kogi gov reads Riot Act to traditional rulers From Omale Adama, Lokoja

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ogi state government has charged traditional rulers in the state to be pro-active in checking the increasingly disturbing crime waves in their domains.

The state governor, Capt. Idris Wada gave the charge at the Annual

Former minister condemns military act against press From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

F L-R: Representative of the Senate President, Senator Zainab Kure, former Head of Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan, Akwa Ibom state Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, and Chairman, Board of Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), General Salihu Ibrahim (rtd), during the launch of the book and 13 maritime seminar for judges organised by the Nigerian Shippers Council, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

We are committed to strengthening local government’s ability to meet MDG’s target- FG

By Doyin Ojosipe

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resident Goodluck Jonathan has reiterated the resolve of the federal government to strengthening local governments’ ability to meet their role in advancing goals especially the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and post-MDGs as well as other items on the Transformation Agenda.

Senior Special Assistant to the Vice-President, Media & Publicity, Umar Sani ,Arc Namadi Sambo stated this yesterday when he received a delegation of the board members of the Membership of the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF) in his office, State House, Abuja, on behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan.

While commending Nigeria’s membership of the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF) for entrenching values that enhance decentralization at local level of government and consolidate democracy and the rule of

law, the President reiterated the commitment of the federal government to enhancing democracy and improving governance at all levels.

Mr. President expressed his appreciation of the effort of the forum toward supporting projects and programmes that would enhance rapid socio-economic development in the various regions of the commonwealth.

The leadership of the forum, led by the chairman Lawrence

Yule and Secretary General CarlWright, who spoke at the occasion said the essence of the meeting in Abuja was to discuss democracy at the local government level and the need for timely local government elections as well as to foster regional cooperation amongst member nations and the need to develop an Abuja Declaration of Democracy for Development.

Earlier, the Minister of Special Duties Tanimu Turaki who accompanied the officials intro-

duced the essence of the visit while subsequently introducing members of the entourage Present at the meeting were the CLGF vice chairman Philip McPhee and Director of Communication Susan Rhodes, President of the Association of Local Governments of Nigerians (ALGON) Nwabueze Okafor, National President Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) Comrade Ibrahim Khaleel, amongst others.

Turkey lists Boko Haram as terrorist organization

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he Turkish government has blacklisted Nigeria’s fundamentalist militant group Boko Haram in line with a U.N. Security Council decision that recently placed the group on the U.N.’s list of terrorist organizations associated with alQaeda.

The related decision by the Council of Ministers went into force after being published in

the June 10 edition of the Official Gazette. Accordingly, a decision dated Sept. 30, 2013 concerning the seizing of the assets of persons and legal entities that have been listed by the U.N. Security Council resolutions was updated and Boko Haram was added.

In late May, the U.N. Security Council, acting on Nigerian request, placed Boko Haram on the U.N.’s list of terrorist organi-

zations associated with al-Qaeda.

The Turkish government’s decision concerning Boko Haram came a week after it eventually listed the al-Nusra Front, a branch of al-Qaeda operating in Syria and Lebanon, as a terrorist organization, in a sign that Ankara’s concerns are growing over the rise of radicals across the 900-kilometer border.

(Source:AP)

ormer Minister of Police Affairs, Dr. Ibrahim Yakubu Lame, has described as dangerous and dictatorship in a democracy the last week gagging of the press by the Nigerian military.

“It is the most dangerous thing to have in a democracy. Once you do that you are showing some tendency of dictatorship and you can’t have dictatorship in a democracy”, he said.

Lame, while also describing the ransacking of newspaper houses and their wares as gagging the people, said dictatorship in a democracy is more dangerous than military dictatorship.

The former Minister while fielding journalists’ questions shortly after the inauguration of the Bauchi state APC Executives in Bauchi Monday said that such action of the military must be stopped by Nigerians generally.

“It must be stop by patriotic Nigerians, and I believe Nigerians have the capacity to do something about it”, Also a Bauchi All Progressive Congress (APC) Gubernatorial aspirant told the journalists.

He similarly tagged the military action against the press last week as condemnable which each and every Nigerian including the journalists must stand out against it.

According to him, it is not just enough for people to think that only politicians can solve problems, hence the need for all Nigerians to condemn that act perpetrated by the military.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

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News

Gov Shettima lambasts Maku over comments on Boko Haram From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

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he Borno State governor Alhaji Kashim Shettima has said the Minister of information Labaran Maku, trivialized the Boko Haram crisis by blaming it on Borno government.

He said the minister who is the one to educate Nigeria on what constitutes Boko Haram happens to be a blind driver who will jeopardize the lives of his passengers.

Governor Shettima stated this in a key note address he delivered at the conference on security and Human rights in Northern Nigeria, organized by the Arewa Research and Development project (ARDP), held in Kaduna yesterday.

The governor added that Maku’s statement is disturbing because he was once the supervising minister of Defense. ”No one might ever know the extent he might have inflicted his understanding of the Boko Haram , on security Chiefs he had to work with.

Maku spoke just days after

President Goodluck Jonathan said after the Paris Summit, held recently, said the Boko Haram attacks began in 2002.

“He only collaborated what we know. For some time, this group went underground and resurfaced in various points to lunch attacks in states like Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Bauchi

states. In between the period, they were going underground and resurfacing, one can see clearly negligence somewhere along the line” he said.

Shettima also disclosed that it is unfortunate that people who are in position of power are of the opinion that Boko Haram is an agenda to stop the Southern

President from doing his job .

“Mohammed Yusuf, the founder of the Boko Haram sect, was killed under a northern President, Umaru Musa Yar’adua. The attack snowballed into 2011 till date. So what are we talking about?

Governor Shettima, who was represented by his Deputy Alhaji

Jega advocates regularised funding of elections

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

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Gov Aliyu Madaki Kano and Chairman, Kingmakers Council, Alhaji Yusuf Nabahani Cigari Ibrahim (2nd right), presenting the instruments of Kano Emirship to new Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi lauds (middle), yesterday in Kano. With them is Kano state Governor, Engineer Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso (right). national identity card Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching programme Hospital workers begin strike From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

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iger state governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu has assured that the ongoing national registration of Nigerians will be the best way to ensure the exact population in the country if properly handled.

Aliyu being the ‘first Governor’ in the country to be enrolled into the data base of the National Identification Management Commission declared; “This is the best way to know how the population is growing, especially when most states complained about the last census exercise making them to go to court”.

“National Identity Card is important for both the person and the country; it can be used for other purposes than personal identification”.

He assured the Commission that the state government will collaborate effectively with it to ensure everybody in the state is registered and issued with their identity cards and subsequently set up a committee of 5 to monitor the exercise in the state.

The Committee members include the Secretary to the state Government, the Chief of Staff Government House, Commissioner for Information, Commissioner for Youth and that of local government.

Zannah Umar Mustapha said, “We have an economy that is touted as growing rapidly, but is an economy that is not trickling down prosperity to the mass of our people as I have always said beneath the mayhem of Boko Haram, underneath the nihilism of Boko Haram lies the underlying cause, which is social exclusivity and extreme poverty.

“Once we engage the youth, create jobs, this madness will evaporate”, Shettima said.

From James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

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ctivities were yesterday completely paralyzed at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu, Ogun State as members of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) in the institution began an indefinite strike.

The Unions comprise the hospital’s Senior Staff Association, National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, Non-Academic Staff Union and the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria.

Among the demands of the aggrieved health workers were pay-

ment of an alleged 30 months increase of salary arrears, payment of counterpart fund on pension from the state government as well seeking an end to “unwholesome working condition in the institution”.

The Chairperson of JOHESU, Mrs. Enaholo Kikelomo, while speaking with newsmen on the strike put the total amount owed them at N1.3 billion, insisting that they would not go back to work until government meets their demands.

She added that the unions were also demanding for “accelerated promotion” of their members as well as payment of their 2011 March salary.

She alleged that the hospital lacks basic amenities like water and electricity pointing out that this has led the hospital to record avoidable deaths in recent times.

When contacted for comment, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olaokun Soyinka simply said “We are trying to do everything to improve the situation at the hospital so this (strike) does not help the matter”.

“We wish to state that we are not politicians, we have been pushed to the wall. We will like to meet the Governor himself to discuss our grievances, we are ready to negotiate with him the condition for payment,” Kikelomo stated.

Northern elites responsible for region’s woes – Unongo From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

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n Elder statesman and former Minister of information, Wantaregh Paul Unongo has blamed the northern elites for being responsible for the present woes and insecurity that the once unified North is undergoing.

He stated this while declaring open a two-day conference on security and human rights in northern Nigeria, held in Kaduna

yesterday.

Paul Unongo said the elites, who themselves are products of past focused and visionary leaders, turned out to be self-centered, acquiring every available wealth for themselves and their families leaving the masses in abject poverty.

In his own remark, Kaduna state governor, Alhaji Muhktar Ramalan Yero, who was represented by the Secretary to the state government, Alhaji Ishaq Damahawai, said no amount

of security personnel can bring peace to any region.

He revealed that the state government has convened dialogue sessions in each of the three senatorial zones in the state, where stakeholders including; traditional rulers, clergy men, youth, women and community leaders all meet to share experience on all the causes of conflict in their communities while also suggesting ways to forestall future occurrence.

he Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attahiru Jega, has said the solution to recurring gaps in election funding is for the country to treat elections as a cycle, and not events.

Briefing the House of Representatives Committee on Reform of Government Institutions on Monday, Jega said through this practice, there will be consistent and even funding of the Election Management Body (EMB) over years in-between elections, as against the provision of quantum sums in the election year as is presently the practice.

He explained that this is very important because election funding has been politicised by many Nigerians, such that the huge sums provided to the EMB in election years are viewed with suspicion.

He also said if elections are funded as a cycle, essential requirements for the electoral process would be met on a progressive and incremental basis in a way that would ensure the operational efficiency of INEC, even as it would enhance its independence and guarantee the integrity of elections.

The INEC Chairman, in a prepared presentation, identified funding as one of the challenges facing the Commission as it prepares for the 2015 general election. Other challenges, according to him, include the security situation in some parts of the country, and the low level of citizens’ enlightenment.

Citing an instance of how funding gaps hamper the Commission’s operations, Jega noted that the inadequacy of storage facility available for INEC’s Direct Data Capture (DDC) machines contributed to the malfunctioning of some of the machines being lately deployed for Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) across the country.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

PAGE 6

News

Sanusi: Normalcy returns to Kano From Edwin Olofu, Kano

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ormalcy has returned to the ancient city of Kano yesterday, following two days of protest by some irate youths opposed to the appointment of former Central Bank Governor (CBN), Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the new emir of Kano.

Our correspondent observed that normalcy has returned in most part of the old city that witnessed violent protest for two days, as motorist were

seen plying major roads without being molest.

More shops in the city were seen open, as against Monday, where so many shop-owners closed their shops for fear of being attacked and their shops looted by hoodlums.

Malam Rabilu Inuwa, who operates a mini-shop near the Emir’ s Palace told our reporter that he is happy the situation has improved such that he could open his shop.

“The situation is better today (yesterday), unlike Monday and the

day before, whereby I wouldn’t have open my shop; but we thank God that people have realized that peace is the ultimate thing we need in the state and the nation to develop.”

Kano state Police Public Relation Officer, ASP Musa Magaji Majiya said the Police is on top of the situation, urging residents to be law abiding and desist from fomenting trouble.

Recall that protests broke out at the weekend, shortly after the state government announced the appointment of the former CBN

governor as the 57 emir of Kano.

The aggrieved youths who took to streets protesting the pronouncement of the state government, gathered in the front of the Emir’s Palace and proceeded to the Government House, setting bonfires along major roads that lead to Government House, destroying traffic and street lights.

The protest continued on Monday morning, even as the state governor, Engineer Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso presented the new emir with a letter of appointment.

Dankwambo orders house-tohouse census in Gombe From David Hassan, Gombe

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ombe state governor Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo has directed security agents in the state to go on house to house census in Gombe to ensure that people occupying houses are true citizens of the state which according to him would help government in planning their programmes.

The governor gave the order yesterday in Gombe during flag off of fertilizer sales, growth enhancement support (GES), distribution of ox-drawn ploughs and disbursement of tractor and work bull loans for 2014 farming season held at the Abubakar Umar Memorial stadium in Gombe.

He advise residents to cooperate with government during the exercise, noting that failure to do so would result in allowing government to demolish houses of those that refuse to comply with the order given by the government.

According to him, “It is high time for this government to go on house-to-house census in the state in order to know whom we are living with, to enable us achieve our co-values”.

Performing the function, governor Dankwambo said his government is committed not only to improve agricultural production but also to improve marketing through the Bank of industry.

“We have assisted organizations, groups and individuals to establish agrobased industries in order to add value to our agricultural produce and promote their market to farmers”, he said.

He explained that the government has provided 20,000 metric tonnes (MT)of fertilizer and 70 MT of improved maize seeds as well as the distribution of 200 Mersey Ferguson Tractors ,with sets of implements and money for the purchase of 2,218 ox-drawn ploughs with their work bulls on loan basis to farmers.

L-R: Acting Director of Programme, Actionaid Nigeria, Tasallah Chibok, Executive Secretary, Civil Society Legislative Advisory Centre, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, and Executive Director, Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development, Otive Igbuzor, during the stakeholders meeting on “Strengthening Public Finance in Nigeria,” organised by Actionaid Nigeria, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Zamfara police warn against taking law into hands From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

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he Zamfara state Police Command has warned the members of the public, especially the vigilante groups to avoid taking laws into their hands in the name of crime prevention or otherwise as two wrongs can never make a right.

In a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Lawal Abdullahi yesterday, the vigilante groups were advised to liaise with security agencies in the course of their activities towards making high

rate of crime a history in the state.

According to the statement, “Extra-judicial killings in the name of crime prevention by so-called Yansa kai, Yan tauri, hunters, etc is criminal and unacceptable. No stone will be left unturned by the Police in dealing decisively and according to the law with whoever breaches the law”.

The Command, however, appealed to the general public to always report suspicious movements, incidents or person any person with questionable character to the nearest Police Station or any other Security agency for necessary action.

It further contained that, members of public should continue to cooperate with the security agencies in the fight against criminality in the State through encouraging Community Policing system which, legitimately considers all patriotic civilians as Police in mufti.

It would be recalled that the vigilante groups operating especially around the terrorized villages across the state have been accused of being liable for the deadly groups of gunmen who have embarked on reprisal attacks that claimed thousands of innocent lives in the state.

Information ministry holds valedictory session for Dora

By Evelyn Okakwu

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he Ministry of information under the leadership of its minister, Labaran Maku, has organised a valedictory session in honour of the former helms person of the Ministry, Dora Akunyili, who passed away last week.

Maku, who lead members of his ministry and friends of the deceased described her as one of the greatest Nigerian women who came to the ministry on a high mark having excelled as the Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

He said in both places “she distinguished herself as a capable administrator, as a patriot and an outspoken person based on her own convictions”.

The Minister lauded her courage of conviction and determination to get results in anything she did.

He said as her junior colleague in the cabinet, Prof.

Akunyili carried him along in the management of the ministry and brought him out by regularly granting him the opportunity to address the media after the weekly Federal Executive Council Meetings.

In his tribute, the Director Protocol and Public Relations in the ministry, Mr. Peter Dama recalled the role played

by Prof. Akunyili during the constitutional crisis that was thrown up in the wake of the prolonged sickness of former President Yar’adua.

“She was just about the only person that stood firm at the Federal Executive Council to talk about our present president, who was then vice-president to stand in as the president. I recall that I had to do that memo and she took that memo to Council. When she took it to Council, nobody wanted that memo discussed because the house was divided”.

He described Dora as woman who always stood firm for whatever she believed in.

Lack of access to information, bane of investigative reporting, says ICIR

By Evelyn Okakwu

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nvestigative Journalism in Nigeria is militated by many factors, including lack of knowledge about the right access to information.

This was disclosed at a program organised by the International Center for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) in Abuja yesterday.

The director of the center,

Tayo Aiyetan, who stated this said there are various skills for good investigative journalism, lacking among Nigerian journalists.

“There is an aspect of investigative journalism, for example, that involves pure fact checking. It does not exist in Nigeria. Also we have Data journalism which the New York Times is making a huge sum of money from. It involves taking

raw data and channeling them in such measure that the media can use”.

The ICIR director said the center was doing its best to introduce a fact checking program for Journalists in the country.

Speaking also at the event, a member of the board of ICIR Nigeria, Mohammed Haruna said although journalists in Nigeria may have certain militating factors, they should

strive to excel in their line of duty.

He called on media practitioners to shun all forms of prejudice or malice in reporting events, adding that The Freedom of Information Bill is something that media practitioners can key into to do their best in the line of duty.

The ICIR training programme aims at equipping 40 Nigerian reporters with knowledge in investigative reporting.

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PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

News

2 men docked for gang-raping lady T wo men, Godwin John, 22, and Joseph Akpan, 20, yesterday appeared before a Yaba Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, charged with gang raping a 20-year-old lady.

John and Akpan, who live at Ferry area in Oworonshoki, Lagos

are standing trial on a two-count charge of conspiracy and rape.

The Prosecutor, ASP. Godwin Anyanwu, told the court that the accused and three others still at large committed the offences on April 28.

He said that the men, who gathered to revel at the home of the

complainant at ferry area, drugged the drink of their victim and took turns to have unlawful carnal knowledge of her.

Anyanwu said that when the lady regained consciousness she discovered that she had been raped. ``They raped her after they had

drugged her drink and when she regained consciousness the matter was reported to the police,’’ the prosecutor said.

According to him, the offence is contrary to the provisions of Sections 258 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

However, the accused each pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.

The Magistrate, Mrs. Yewande AjeAfunwa, granted each of them bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties each in like sum and adjourned the case until June 16 for trial. (NAN)

Contract scam: EFCC docks NLC chieftain

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he Chairman of the Kano State council of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Yunusa Isah Danguguwa, was yesterday arraigned by the Economic And Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Fatu Riman of the Federal High Court, Kano, on one count charge bordering on obtaining N2, 000, 000 (Two Million Naira ) by false pretence .

The accused allegedly obtained the sum from one Usman Arzika of Williams Dabo International Limited under the pretext that the Nigeria Labour Congress, Kano council had awarded a contract to the company for the supply of 250 units of ‘second hand’ cars and that the N2 million was meant for processing of other contract documents.

Investigation later revealed that no such contract was ever awarded by the council.

The charge read: “That you, Yunusa Isah Danguguwa, Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress Kano council, on or about 24th July,2012, within the Jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, Kano with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N2,000,000.00 (Two Million Naira only) from Usman Arzika of Williams Dabo International Limited under the pretence that the Nigeria Labour Congress, Kano Council had awarded a contract to the company for the supply of 250 units of ‘second hand’ cars and that the sum of N2 million was meant for processing other contract documents which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed and offence contrary to section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act”.

The accused person pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him.

Justice Riman granted bail to the accused person in the sum of N5, 000, 000 (Five Million Naira) and one surety in like sum. The surety must be a civil servant of not less than grade level 13 and must own a landed property in Kano.

The case was adjourned to June 30, July 1 and 4, 2014 for trial.

L-R: Veteran Journalist/Columnist, Malam Mohammed Haruna, Chairman, International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), Professor Etim Anim, and member of ICIR, Hajiya Amina Salihu, during the opening ceremony of an investigative journalism training organised by ICIR, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

N35.8bn police pension scam: Court continues trial of 6 officials June 24

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n FCT High Court, Abuja, on Monday said the hearing of the alleged N35.8 billion Police Pension Fund scam involving six officials would continue on June 24.

The EFCC filed 20 counts charge of criminal breach of trust and conspiracy against a suspended Permanent Secretary, Atiku Kigo, Esai Dangabar,

Ahmed Wada, Sani Zira, John Yusuf and Veronica Onyegbula.

The Judge, Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf, who fixed the date, ordered the court clerk to issue hearing notices to all the parties.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that at the last sitting on Feb. 27, Baba-Yusuf had admitted some documents as exhibits Baba-Yusuf said

the document, which contains analysis of cheques withdrawals and a copy of certificate from the EFCC, substantially complied with Section 84 of the Evidence Act. The EFCC has alleged that the accused persons conspired and sequentially withdrew money from the Police Pension Fund in an account domiciled at

First Bank of Nigeria and shared it.

It also alleged that Wada, particularly collected N18 million from Unity Bank Plc. as his reward for retaining the Police Pension Account with the bank.

It also maintained that the fraud was perpetuated between January 2009 and June 2011.

(NAN)

Alleged defamation: Gov. Nyako threatens court action against Kaduna-based publisher From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

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damawa state governor, Vice-Admiral Murtala Nyako (rtd) has threatened to drag a Kaduna-based Publisher and Editor-In- Chief of Power Steering newsmagazine, Mr. Oga Tom Uhia for alleged defamatory publication.

Mr. Uhia had in the May 2014 Special edition of the magazine published a cover story entitled: “Uncovered! How Nyako destroyed the peace of the North”.

However, writing through his lawyers, Kanu G. Agabi & Associates to the Editor-In – Chief, Governor Nyako said the publication on him was not only scandalous, but full of falsehood as well as defamatory and libelous.

He added that until the

publication was retracted and apology tendered to him through national dailies as well as pay him a compensation of N10 billion within a week, he would drag the publisher to court for legal action.

Nyako’s letter reads in part: “Consequently, we demand a retraction of the above libelous publication, as well as an unreserved apology, boldly written in the center pages of two national dailies circulating both within and outside Nigeria.

“We also demand the sum of N10,000,000,000.00 (Ten billion Naira) as compensation for the irreparable damage done both to the person of our client and his reputation. Our stated demands should be met within 7 days from the date of your receipt of this letter failing which

we shall commence action for an injunction and damages”.

But, reacting to the threat, in a statement, the Editor-InChief insisted that the publication contained verifiable facts and figures, and that the Governor could go ahead with his legal action against the alleged offending publication.

According to a statement issued by the Publisher/EditorIn-Chief, “We in PowerSteering are so determined now than ever to endeavour to tackle the leadership challenges of this great country, Nigeria cannot be intimidated by any individual or organization.

“Our allegations in our May 2014 edition, with the cover title: “Uncovered! How Nyako destroyed the peace of the North”

are verifiable, factual, truthful and convincing for any discerning mind to appreciate in the interest of all rational Nigerians.

“We, therefore, ask the governor to go ahead with his legal threats, which will enable us lay more credence to our claims by substantiating all the allegation with more facts, figures, and visuals.

“We wonder why Governor Nyako is more bothered about the statements as restated or quoted in his solicitor’s letter to us than any other issues in the publication.

“Vice Admiral Nyako should better be quite and bury his head in shame rather than grandstanding and waiting for more of his dirty linens to be washed in the public”, the statement further read.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

PAGE 8

Remove farming sector from Federal to state governments- Hadejia The Chairman of the committee on agriculture at the on-going National Conference, Alhaji Umaru Mohammed Hadejia Hadejia,, representing Jigawa state, in this interview with Hassan Haruna Ginsau discusses the major proposals his committee have put forward which are currently being deliberated upon for adoption on the floor of the conference

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here have been a lot of recommendations put forward by your committee, give us a highlight of the main proposals Hadejia: The most important of the recommendations is removing the major sector of farming which is extension work from the federal establishment back to the state; it used to be a state process. Apart from that we also emphasised the establishment of marketing boards as they were before, to protect the farmers, especially subsistence farmers We also recommend the use of mechanised farming.

When we say mechanised farming we don’t mean large scale farming. There are small simplified mechanisms which local farmers can use and improve their’ production.

In addition to that we recommend that there is a process where we say a lot of the land in Nigeria is being wasted through lack of testing of the soil, because every particular soil will be suitable with a particular type of seed, it has to be tested, it has to be checked into, and there are a lot of certain areas or lands in Nigeria where they use this particular kind of fertilizer, and there are certain lands where they don’t need too much fertilizer while others do. And that fertilizer in many cases has a limited period, after a certain period you have to suspend it.

We have recommended all these and many more Why did you recommend that state governments should take care of the responsibilities regarding farming?

L-R: National Conference delegates, Amanyanabo of Nembe Kingdom, His Royal Highness, Dr. Edmund Dakuro, Lamido of Adamawa, Dr. Muhammadu Barkindo Musdapha, and Justice Balkisu Bello Aliyu, during the proceedings, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Hadejia: As we said we should reduce that amount of the federal government revenue and disburse it to the state because of the added responsibility, that’s one. Two; the state governments are the best possible organisations to run management of farming because they are nearer to the people, most of those people who are employed and who are farmers as well are at the state and local government areas, so they can easily be reached and utilised.

There has been a lot of talk about grazing reserves and ranches, what proposal did your committee put forward regarding this?

Hadejia: We recommend that there should be a continuation of grazing reserves, and in a different way. State governments can make reservations for cattle and other animals by carving out large areas in various places where they can install all the facilities; water for the growing of fodder which is the grass the animals feed on, and for the animals themselves to use, for the people around the area and produce within those grazing areas little communities or villages where the cattle herders can stay, there should be a market and every other economic activity, you develop a place, and with

time they do not need to move from one place to another, that is one.

Two; we recommend also in the long term, not today, if this is developed there will be no need for it, it will be developed further into ranches where even the cattle herders can use, buy or own the lands and do it by themselves. They can also hire it to other people.

We also recommend that there will be a creation of a dispute solving organisation between the farmers and the cattle herders. It used to be like that when the district heads, village heads and in some cases even the emir; they form a committee and they do not need to go to

court. This committee can settle those disputes. We expect this to be created and formalised and be used for that respect.

Among all your recommendations, was there any that was difficult to come to an agreement on?

Hadejia: Fortunately for me, all the members of the committee right from the start became friends, even brothers. It was not even a consensus, it was a unanimous decision.

Everybody wanted to input his bits and pieces and his quota with enormous amount of effort. Everybody agreed with everybody 100%.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

PAGE 9

Conference concludes debate on of C’ttees’ report on agriculture,water resources

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he on-going National Conference extended sitting yesterday, to enable it finish debate on the Report of the Committee on Agric and Water Resources Zamani Lekwot from Kaduna state, during his contribution, said dams and canal should be constructed to combat flooding. He said food security would be ensured if the proper things are taken care of.

Silas Eneyo from SouthSouth said he knows very well about fishing and that Nigeria needs deep fishing Segun Aina, representing CIB, said the recommendation for the resuscitation of Commodity Board is good.

He said there is need to set up Youth Farmer Programme and connect it with NYSC so that after their service they can go into farming. He suggested that for the small scale farmer, there should be a way to subsidize the premium paid by them.

Felix Bajomo, a former senator from Ogun State representing ICAN, said agriculture is important and said “let us produce all that we eat and eat all that we produce.”

He said the extra aspect of it should be for business. He said industrialisation aspect should start from agro-based approach. He said research at the moment in the country is not connecting with industrialization. He called for farm settlement, but it should be mechanized and extended

to the states.

Geoffrey Ejiga, a retired general from Benue State said funding for rural farmers is important. he said government policies should be passed through Micro-finance banks because commercial banks are not encouraging it.

He lamented that farming is very crude in Nigeria hence Nigerians youth are not encouraged into it because they believe it is crude.

Fatima Adamu from Kebbi state wants a plan that will systemically infuse young entrepreneurs with aging farmers. She also wants a process that research is made to the advantage of the end users.

Delegates recomendd that any corrupt money in Nigeria go to agriculture. Whoever has two houses in Abuja should be taxed and money put into agriculture.

Bisi Olateru-Olagbegi said Nigeria has not actually fully utilized the AGOA. She adviced that Nigeria should seize the opportunity of AGOA to promote export because it would terminate in 2015. She also said all Nigeria has done is to sell our oil product. She said various governments should encourage women to go into cooperatives so that they can access bank loans without showing any collateral.

Musa Saliu representing FCT said Nigeria loses 70% of perishable foods – mango, vegetable, yams etc. He said the various method of preserving

L-R:Deputy Chairman, National Conference, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, Chairman of the Conference, Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi, and Secretary to the Conference, Mrs. Valerie-Janette Azinge, the proceedings conference, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

yam in the past cannot be used now. He suggested that the country should have a technology that would help preserve these foods. He also said Nigeria should have a provision for forest reserve because of wildlife.

Dudu Koloma Manuga, a CSO, said in Gombe state those who go to buy produce in the rural areas go with fake note. He wants special way of

handling the matter because the people are losing a lot.

Paul Basi from Borno State said any corrupt money recovered in Nigeria should go into agriculture. He also said that whoever has two houses in Abuja should be taxed and money put into agriculture.

He said any Nigerian found guilty of corruption should be executed.

Lydia John commended the

committee for recommending gender budgeting by the government. She also said there is the need to redesign agric courses to make them practical and also provide employment opportunities for Professionals in the Agricultural sector.

Conference adjourns till 9 am today, following a motion of adjournment moved by Musa Adede and seconded by Brendan Akpan.

Confab adopts new modalities for debate on committee reports

D

etermined to meet the mid-July deadline for the submission of its report to the Federal Government, the National Conference on Monday altered the modalities for considering the reports of its 20 Standing Committee.

The delegates, who want to contribute to the reports of the committees or suggest amendments to them are now to submit their views to the Conference secretariat about 24 hours before sitting.

The delegates will indicate the sessions they are proposing amendments, which should not be more than a page.

The amendment will now be read out by the Chairman or his deputy depending on who is presiding and votes taken

immediately without debate.

The Confab began the consideration of the reports three weeks ago.

So far, only seven have been presented and debated. They are Environment; Science, Technology and Development; Public Service; Land Tenure and National Boundaries; Religion; Public Finance and Revenue; and Immigration and Related Matters.

Two other committees, namely Agriculture and Economic, Trade and Investment presented their reports on Monday, but they were not considered due to the new modalities.

The delegates were to submit their views by Monday to the secretariat before the consideration of the reports of

the two committees.

Until Monday, delegates who wanted to contribute to the debate on any report were asked to submit their names to the secretariat and they would be called upon to present their views during the plenary session; before recommendations and amendments were considered one after the other and voted for.

However, midway into Monday’s plenary session, the Conference Chairman, Idris Kutigi, informed delegates of the new modalities. He said that had become necessary because going by the extension granted it by the Federal Government, the Conference had only five weeks to complete its work.

He warned that if the Conference continued at the current pace, it would not be able to submit its report to the government by midJuly. “We’re proposing an amendment to the proceeding which we hope you will help us uphold,” Mr. Kutigi said.

“We’re suggesting that the chairman of each committee will present its report within the 30 minutes we usually give them and instead of calling over 100 people to speak on the report, we shall skip that hurdle and ask that whoever has an amendment to make will be called upon to send it to the secretariat and then we shall discuss these amendments. That will strengthen our efforts to do things properly. Amendments

should be submitted a day before,” he said. “What we are trying to do is dangerous,” he warned.

But a delegate from Kano, Haruna Yerima, asked Mr. Kutigi to be firm and not bow to pressure to change the new modalities.

Apparently, considering the mood of the Confab, the Deputy Chairman of the Conference, Bolaji Akinyemi, who had earlier hinted the delegates about the new rules before Mr. Kutigi formally brought it up, was compelled to explain to the delegates that the leadership took the decision because it was near impossible to deliberate on the report of all the committees before mid-July.

(NAN)

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PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

News

Presidential Scholarship: NUC shuns NASS, presents 104 beneficiaries with awards

By Maryam Garba Hassan

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espite the on-going controversy surrounding list of candidates that made it to this year’s Presidential Special Scholarship Innovation

Maku tasks media on proactive reporting

Scheme (PRESSID) and the order given to the National Universities Commission, NUC, by the House of Representative to stop the presentation of letters to the successful candidates, the federal government on Monday

went ahead to announce winners of the scheme and presented them with letters.

The beneficiaries, who are 104 in number, aged between 2022, all having First-class honours in selected disciplines, will be

undergoing different courses in the Masters and Doctorate degrees.

Presenting certificates to the beneficiaries, Supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, said this is the first time

By Evelyn Okakwu

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ournalists in Nigeria have been urged to be pro-active in their approach to duty.

The call was made by the information minister, Labaran Maku, while addressing newsman at a book lunch in Abuja, recently.

Maku stated that with the advent of the social media and other forms of technology, journalism in recent times has have been taking steps ahead, from reporting what has just happened to reporting what is about to happen.

“Today, stories are carried about events even before they happen. The technology in circulation has taken news a step ahead, such that issues are now reported even before they happen in detail; Journalists today do not make as much research as they used to during our time. I read a lot of stories and what I learn from the content of reportage of media stories today is that journalists lack the knowledge that can come only from extensive reading and research”, he stated.

He called on media practitioners to be meticulous in the reports they write about terrorism. “I have come to understand that terrorists seek media coverage more than anything else. While it is necessary to report terrorist activities, the need to draw a line between doing such reports as pro-active measures against terror and giving terrorists an undue publicity becomes necessary”, he noted.

The Minister called on Nigerians to be strong in the fight against terrorism: “Nigerians must stand firm against terrorism and work with government to ensure that our dear country is not destroyed by evil people who have used the undue advantage of some selfish Nigerians to unleash terror on the country”.

He said the terror reports in various media have given the terrorist easy access to publicity, adding that a check on the rate of reportage would have a similar effect on the rate of terrorist activities across the country.

L-R: Chairperson, Book Development Committee of Tertiary Education Trust Funds (TETFUND), Professor Patricia Donlu, member, Board of Trustees, South West of TETFUND, Dr. Anna Kolawale, and Head, Department of Food Technology, University of Ibadan, Professor Agugua Charles Aworh, during the interactive meeting on Technical Advisory Group (TAG) of the TETFUND, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Strike paralyses academic activities at Yola Polytechnic From Umar Dankano, Yola

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he Striking Academic staff union of polytechnic Adamawa state polytechnic chapter has paralyzed academic activities of the institution to protest unpaid Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) allowances, running into several hundred millions of naira.

The institution was closed down three weeks ago, following agitations by the academic lecturers demanding the payment of their 3 years unpaid SIWES allowances.

The tension currently brewing

in the institution is over a directive by the management of the institution yesterday, ordering the students of the institution to return back to classes but which the lecturers have kicked against.

The chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Dr. Coleman Koji, who spoke to journalists over the development in the institution, blamed the management over the avoidable paralysis of academic activities in the institution following the failure of the institution to meets its demand, which is the 15% of its basic salaries aggregated from the

monthly salaries of the lecturers and expected to be paid at the end of each year.

However, the management of the institution maintained that the institution has re-opened for academic activities.

According the Rector of the institution Professor Bobboi Umar, who spoke through his information officer, Mr. Albert Mathila said as far as the institution is concerned academic activities has resumed.

He predicted the development on the fact that some members of ASUP had already started collecting their allowances.

Christian pilgrims commission partners NOA

By Evelyn Okakwu

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he Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), Mr. John Kennedy Opara has re-affirmed the need for the Commission to partner with the National Orientation Agency (NOA).

A statement issued by the head of Media and Publicity, NCPC, Celestine Ogugua, said the executive secretary disclosed this recently in Abuja, while playing

host to the Director-General of the NOA and his management team.

Mr. Opara stressed that the Commission needed to partner with National Orientation Agency to give orientation to pilgrims who travelled to the holy land so that they maintain Nigeria’s core values and norms.

In his words: “Our pilgrims are the ambassadors of Nigeria and giving them orientation will go a long way to change their mentality and behaviour”, he stated, adding that such orientation would have

a positive effect on our image abroad.

He intimated the DirectorGeneral and his team that the theme for this year’s pilgrimage is: “Pilgrimage as a tool for moral and spiritual transformation”. Mr. Opara stated that it was the desire of the Commission that people who will travel on pilgrimage will come back morally and spiritually transformed, and in turn affect those around them, as according to him, this will in no time make Nigeria a better place.

Nigeria is having a programme whose selection process is purely on merit.

He said the 28 females and 76 males who made it to this year’s list all demonstrated extreme intelligence, judging by their performance.

Congratulating the 629 shortlisted candidates, Wike expressed regret, saying “it is unfortunate that we could not award the scholarships to all of the successful candidates because of cost”.

Executive Secretary of the NUC, Prof. Julius Okojie disclosed that out of 2000 entries received, 104 were finally selected after a highly competitive process which was purely on merit.

He said the last NEEDS assessment of the universities report revealed that only 7 universities have up to 60% of their academic staff with PhD degrees, adding that he is optimistic that the scheme will help to increase the number of PhDs in Nigeria’s university system.

The beneficiaries are to study in USA, UK and Canada Australia and will major in disciplines such as sciences, basic medical sciences, special aspects of biology, economics, engineering and technology and medicine.

Emir Sanusi’s appointment welldeserved - Nyako From Mustapha Dankano, Yola

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damawa state Governor, Murtala Nyako has described the appointment of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the new emir of Kano as well deserved.

He said this when he paid a condolence and visit to Gov. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso and Emir Sanusi over the death of Alh. Ado Bayero and his appointment of the new emir, at Government House, Kano, on Monday.

Nyako told the new emir that “God Almighty has destined that you are going to be the 14th emir of Fulani dynasty in the state” and prayed to Almighty Allah to prolong his reign so as to transform the state to match contemporary global challenges.

While thanking the state governor for choosing Lamido Sanusi who, according to him, has experience and is knowledgeable with full of wisdom Gov. Nyako prayed for Allah to grant soul of Late Emir Ado Bayero Jannatul Firdaus.

In his response, the new Emir, Lamido Sanusi disclosed that there is a very long cordial relationship between the Kano and that of Adamawa emirates.

He described the death Emir Bayero as a great loss, not only to Kano or Nigeria, but to the entire Africa continent because, according to him, he was a member of African traditional and religious organisations.

He said, “We have lost a leader and father who was recognised by his subjects as just, prudent and a pious leader who was always protecting the oppressed.”

He expressed appreciation for the visit and expressed hope that the relationship between Kano and Adamawa would continue to grow stronger.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, YUNE 11, 2014

PAGE 11

APC: National Convention And Wamakko’s Spirit

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hen Governor Wamakko nature which are, however, being defected to the All Peoples addressed.

Congress, it becomes It is therefore appropriate to hail unmistakably obvious that the party Governor Wamakko for midwifing was on its journey to a reverberating rancor-free elections into party offices victory come 2015. Wamakko was in Sokoto State. It is discernable that invited to join the Party by its national his unwavering commitment to figures as he is deemed capable of whatever task he embarks on must changing its fortune for the better in have made the Sokoto elections Sokoto State. flawless.

It is worth recalling here that, before Now that the APC at the national Wamakko’s defection to the party, the level has appointed Governor APC was an obscure party without Wamakko to head its National visible presence in the State so much Convention, what else do we expect? so that the party had no befitting office Your guess is as good as mine; we accommodation anywhere in the state. expect impeccable results, a rancorGovernor Wamakko with his joining the party, Wamakko free convention, a remarkable breathed life into it all over Sokoto exercise that would go into the annals State with colorful party offices across of Nigerian political history. the 23 Local Government areas of the State and the over His emergence as the convention Chairman is an ample 240 wards. testimony of the conviction of APC’s top echelon that He came into the APC with all the serving local Governor Wamakko is steadfast; dependable, and reliable government Chairmen, their Councillors and all the and a committed party leader who could always brave the notable politicians within the local government areas. That odds and break records. feat was a solid demonstration of his tenacity of purpose Back home in Sokoto, the Governor is at peace with the and the fact that, the average Sokoto Man will always go citizens and at peace with his party men and women. His for Wamakko irrespective of what party he belongs to. residence is a mecca of some sorts to all who go there. The Governor Wamakko has over the years proved himself doors are opened as he interacts directly with especially to be a politicians’’ politician, a go-getter, an achiever par the common men. excellence, a master strategist and a sagacious mobilizer.

This is as a result of his all-embracing disposition, History is still evergreen with the truth that, before humility and approachability, and these same traits he joined his last party that party merely existed in are what all party members see in him at the National name only, as we knew the exigencies that made him its Convention. candidate in 2006. Immediately he joined, of course he We are confident that, Governor Wamakko by God’s revived the then comatose party, the PDP, and delivered grace will replicate the Sokoto example of rancor-free all the elective offices at all levels 100%. and acceptable convention. It is normal to urge all the Recently, when the state congress was held, Sokoto party membership to have faith in the APC, shame its State was a blueprint of where consensus really worked detractors by putting the interest of the party above all out well. The elections into the wards, Local and State other interests.

Executive Councils of the APC were held in remarkable The promise of the Rainbow is that, the Sun will shine harmony as they were rancor–free. Governor Wamakko’s again, Governor Wamakko will by God’s blessings conduct personal Charisma as a dependable and reliable leader an acceptable and transparent convention that will further worked wonders in making the Sokoto State elections enrich and solidify APC on its way to changing Nigeria’s unique without any rumpus. misfortunes into fortunes come 2015.

As I write this, many State Chapters of the APC are Mohammed S Umar mired in post-election rumbles as there are complaints President, Sokoto Liberal democrats Media of either imposition of leadership or something of that Foundation

PAGE 12

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

EDITORIAL

From a siege mentality to sheer paranoia Abati, to counsel government on the foolhardiness of attempts to muzzle the press in this technologically advanced global village.”

Dr. Abati and General Olukade appeared on RayPower’s Political Platform, yesterday morning, offering “clarifications” of the action of the military that rather begged many questions. They

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he Nigerian military for two days - Friday and Saturday – last week undertook a clampdown on national newspapers never before seen under a democratic dispensation.

It effectively denied Nigerian readers access to their newspaper copies by shutting down distribution outlets in Abuja and other major cities. In Abuja, soldiers, armed to the teeth, descended on the popular Area 1 newspaper distribution point, stopped delivery vans from offloading copies, detained the drivers, assaulted and chased away vendors.

It took 24 hours and persistent complaints by publishers and editors for the military to offer a limp excuse for its unwarranted action. Defence Hqrs spokesman, Major General Chris Olukolade, issued a statement late Friday, saying that “intelligence” had come to hand, indicating that “sensitive materials are being moved across the country through newsprint related consignments.” He said what happened was “a routine security action that should not be misconstrued for any other motive…The Defence Headquarters wishes to clarify that the exercise has nothing to do with content or operation of the media organisations or their personnel as is being wrongly imputed by a section of the press”.

Expectedly, the premeditated media clampdown has been condemned by NPAN, which is the umbrella body of newspaper publishers, the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and Nigeria Union of journalists (NUJ) and, opposition parties, particularly, the All Progressives Congress (APC). The NUJ, Abuja council, issued an instant statement, saying “We urge our respected senior colleague and Special Adviser to the President, Dr. Reuben

Our position is that this Jonathan government’s siege mentality has deteriorated into a paranoia that may consume it eventually. both said these were difficult times for the country and everyone, including the media, should be prepared to pay a temporary small price for their security and that of the entire nation. But, as we pointed out earlier, their explanations begged many questions. First, has the quality of intelligence gathering by the military that has so far performed so dismally against Boko Haram improved so dramatically that it was able to say categorically that the media were complicit in the insurgency? Secondly, why were the vans not stopped before they reached Abuja if indeed the motive

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

was to head off a major security breach especially in the capital city?

Thirdly, why did the military authorities this time, unlike before, choose not to confide in newspapers publishers and professionals as they usually did in matters of national security? Fourthly, why was the action selective at first, targeting only what the government considers the “critical press”? Abati and Olukolade betrayed this selectivity when they said their alleged misconstruing of the clampdown was by only “a section of the press”.

As it has now turned out, the soldiers did not order the delivery vans emptied of what they carried so that the vehicles would be checked. Instead they were stopped from offloading newspaper copies for vendors to take away. The goal was anything but security; it was clearly aimed at the financial jugular of the newspaper houses considered too critical of the Jonathan government which itself is responsible for the bad press it believes it is getting. Its failure to rise to the nation’s security challenges that require vision, wit and resources to overcome has been acknowledged even outside our shores.

Now consider this: at the same time as the military were busy hounding media houses, Boko Haram struck again at Chibok, kidnapping over 20 women – the same rural community in Borno state where the insurgents took away over 200 schoolgirls in April.

Is the press to blame for this second successful Boko Haram attack?

Our position is that this Jonathan government’s siege mentality has deteriorated into a paranoia that may consume it eventually. As the NUJ warned, it is foolhardy to engage the press in a war of nerves you cannot win.

History bears this out abundantly.

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

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER ALI M. ALI

DEPUTY MANAGER, PRODUCTION ABDUL-RAUF MUSA

EDITOR, DAILY AHMED I. SHEKARAU

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HEAD, LAGOS BUREAU ADESOJI OYINLOLA

EDITOR, WEEKEND HAMEED M. BELLO

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PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

PAGE 13

Opinion Mr. Jonathan, free the press

By Bamidele Ademola-Olateju

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he government of President Goodluck Jonathan has defaulted to pervasive use of the nation’s security apparatuses to enforce Prior Restraint on the Press, members of the opposition and certain individuals and it is very unfortunate. The use of Prior Restraint which is widely understood to be unconstitutional has become this regime’s preferred mode of gagging us and abridging our constitutional rights to free speech and assembly. Why do we have to suffer repercussions from the government for our speech, be it popular or unpopular in a democratic society? If anyone wants to muzzle the press, it shouldn’t be Goodluck Jonathan. Here is a man who became president because civil society groups like the Save Nigeria Group and outspoken individuals like the late Prof. Dora Akunyili fought to ensure that the constitution of Nigeria is upheld for him to succeed President Umaru Yar’Adua.

It is the exercise of free speech and the pressure from civil society that ensured Goodluck Jonathan ascendancy as Nigeria’s president today.

Without mincing words, the confiscation of print runs of major newspapers and the use of tear gas on a sitting governor on political campaign,

the grounding of private jets belonging to members of the opposition among others are troubling indicators of where our constitutional rights stands in Nigeria of today. These egregious violations of our fundamental rights points to Mr. Jonathan’s prolonged romance with all kinds of unethical misuse of power and his tenacity at becoming muffler of critical speech through a long menu of direct and indirect tactics. He certainly has no qualms violating the basic freedoms enshrined in the constitution in cahoots with the totalitarians in his party.

Thanks to the media age and modern telephony, Nigerians, especially the burgeoning youth demographics are no eunuchs without values or beliefs. We are informed, incensed and alert to the shenanigans of the political class. For a review, Chapter IV, Article 39, Subsection 1 of the Nigerian Constitution states that “Every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference.” In furtherance to this Article 40 states: “Every person shall be entitled to assemble freely and associate with other persons, and in particular he may form or belong to any political party, trade union or any other association for the protection of his interests”.

Last week, some soldiers,

who claimed they were acting on orders from above, embarked on wholesale confiscation and destruction of newspapers.

They brutalized vendors, distributors, waylaid vehicles and paralyzed the distribution network of the Daily Trust, the Punch, the Nation, Leadership and Vanguard newspapers. Is it the duty of soldiers or law enforcement to prevent free speech, disrupt free assembly and enforce policies of political office holders that so blatantly infringe on the rights protected under the Nigerian Constitution?

It is easy to just shrug off these wanton display of lawlessness, especially when no one was physically injured or arrested.

It is easy to say that the soldiers were just doing their jobs.

It is easy to hide under the pretext of looking for arms, terrorist links or that they were acting on spurious and cooked intelligence. It is easy to say they are trying to protect the general public but no one is fooled; they have only succeeded in mocking the Jonathan’s administration.

What is the excuse for firing at Dr. Kayode Fayemi and his party men and women on the campaign trail? Why was a young man killed for attending a peaceful political rally?

The government of Goodluck Jonathan has offered itself as a reliable index for paranoia.

It does not matter whether government means to do good or ill; the abridgment of any person

or group’s rights is not only impermissible but it is actually a criminal overreach. It is a violation that attracts judicial mediation.

It is easy to sit by and watch as our rights are slowly taken away in installments but should we? We must never sit on our hands and accept unconstitutional infringements and unjust police action, as if we are living in a dictatorship or a police state. We must resist, fight back and speak out against the tyranny of a misguided collective whose sole aim is to impose a one party state that broods no dissent. We must not stop at complaining on Facebook and Twitter, we must resist and challenge the arbitrary use of the nation’s scarce resources, police brutality and army arrangement.

Infringements by the government, its agents and law enforcement on our constitutional rights are never light and should never be taken lightly because they are never minor. They are not what we should shrug off, be indifferent to or stay quiet about. Things are usually not as they seem. For the most part, especially in our immature and spoils laden political space, abrogation of citizens right is a precursor for oppression.

The constitution guarantees us certain fundamental rights such as the right to speak our mind, to peacefully assemble and to worship whatever god we please.

The clampdown on the press should be seen not only as an assault on press freedom, we must see it for what it is, that is; a way to intimidate us as 2015 approaches. Thanks to the online version of the newspapers, online only newspapers and blogs, these serial violations would have posed an even greater danger to Nigerians who will otherwise have no other outlets to tell the story of what is happening here to the rest of the world. We cannot allow this to have a chilling effect on press coverage of what is going on in Nigeria.

Mr. Jonathan and his government should realize that Nigerians will not be silenced, we will continue to share our stories through social media.

We will continue to tell Nigeria’s story to the world and defenders of freedom everywhere will help us magnify our struggles for a new Nigeria. Now more than ever, we must never be afraid to stand up for those rights when they are threatened, no matter how insignificant it may seem. Since smaller evils lead to bigger evils, today’s minor infringements on our rights will lead to bigger violations tomorrow. Refuse to be cowed, refuse all forms of oppression and suppression. Liberate yourself! Expose evil things and report yourself!

Bamidele AdemolaOlateju is on Twitter:@ olafunmilayo

Unwarranted crackdown on news media

By Michael Jegede

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he three basic functions perform by the media are that of information, education and entertainment.

These are the conventional social functions the media render to the public anywhere in the world. In performing these functions, the media in Nigeria has contributed in on small measure to national development and the entrenchment, growth and sustenance of democracy, where the fundamental human rights of every citizen are absolutely guaranteed.

No doubt, it is for the very crucial role of the media in the society in teaching, sensitizing and mobilizing the people via information dissemination, that the freedom of the press is equally fully granted in the constitution, besides the freedom of speech enshrined as part of the basic fundamental human rights of citizens.

However, it must also be noted that the said freedom of press does not give media organizations and practitioners in the industry the leeway to unnecessarily malign or mar the reputation of any individual, group or government through their publications and contents.

Where of course such situation occurs, the appropriate thing for the affected person, group or government to do is to seek redress through the constitutional means of instituting a legal action against the media house.

It is on this note that I condemn in its entirety the unwarranted clampdown of the Nigerian military on the media, where some newspapers were reportedly confiscated and distribution vans of media outfits impounded acting on a supposed intelligence report.

I do not think it is proper for the Army to launch this kind of onslaught on the media, no matter where the directive may have come from. Rather than this offensive attack and needless intimidation of the media, what the Nigerian army as a key security agency ought to do is to continue to ensure a very smooth relationship with the press. They are supposed to see themselves as partners in progress with media organizations in the fight against terrorism which is seriously hitting us in the face at the moment. The deadly activities of the Boko Haram

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sect have reportedly claimed about 12, 000 lives since 2009 and the terrorist group is currently holding captive about 300 innocent schoolgirls for almost two months now. The rescue of these girls is what we should concentrate on now and not the terrorization of newspaper firms.

I recall in one of my most recent articles captioned: “Jonathan’s plea for emergency rule extension”, how I enjoined Nigerians to put aside their religious, ethnic and political affiliations to combine effort with the military and government in the battle to stamp out terrorism from our dear country, Nigeria. In the said piece, I also urged the Senate while it was trying to dilly-dally to concur with the resolution of the House of Representatives that had already approved the request of Mr. President for a six-month extension of the

emergency rule in the troubled Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states. Many had used the media to vent their views for and against the extension of the state of emergency, but at the end of day it was granted.

It is annoying to see the military taking such a preposterous action that is capable of giving wrong impression about the Nigerian media, when they are supposed to be working with the press to achieve a better result in the struggle against insurgency. I do not think that the purported order could have come from the Presidency, as some may want us to believe. But I think the President as the CommanderIn-Chief has a duty to call the military to order to stop this unjustified harassment.

Major General Chris Olukolade, the Director of Defence Information last Friday confirmed that soldiers were

It is annoying to see the military taking such a preposterous action that is capable of giving wrong impression about the Nigerian media, when they are supposed to be working with the press to achieve a better result in the struggle against insurgency. I do not think that the purported order could have come from the Presidency, as some may want us to believe. But I think the President as the Commander-In-Chief has a duty to call the military to order to stop this unjustified harassment

indeed given orders to ransack newspaper distribution vans for “materials with grave security implications”, stressing that the exercise had nothing to do with the contents or operations of the affected newspaper outfits or their staff.

The statement reads in part: “The Defence Headquarters wishes to clarify that the exercise has nothing to do with content or operation of the media organizations or their personnel as it is being wrongly imputed by a section of the press. The military appreciates and indeed respects the role of the media as an indispensable partner in the ongoing counter-insurgency operation and the overall advancement of our country’s democratic credentials. As such, the military will not deliberately and without cause, infringe on the freedom of the press.

The general public and the affected media organizations in particular are assured that the exercise was a routine security action and should not be misconstrued for any other motive.”

This explanation by the military spokesman does not hold water for many Nigerians who were equally shocked by the sudden crackdown on the media, which continued for three consecutive days, from Friday, June 6, 2014.

Michael Jegede, a journalist and commentator on national issues contributed this piece from Abuja.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

PAGE 14

Opinion Dream not of a revolution

By Olaide Omideyi

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very Nigerian must have dreamt, discussed the possibilities of or prayed about the coming of the Nigerian version of Jerry Rawlings. I mean a hungrylooking guy with fiery ideas of ethical standards of behavior for public officers should be and the punishment that should be meted on them when they fail to meet these standards. We, meaning ordinary Nigerians, must have fantasized about waking up one morning and hearing about our oppressors being arrested, interrogated, made to ‘vomit’ all the money they have stolen while in office including the interest payments and then taken before a ‘Peoples’ Tribunal’ for summary trial and then, taken while shitting in their trousers and skirts, to be part of the ‘Bar-Beach Show’. Sorry guys, it is not going to happen anytime soon because the dreams will remain just that; dreams. Most people must have wondered why things have remained the way they are in Nigeria when in other countries, the people have taken things into their own hands to effect positive changes.

Nigeria is a different country and unless you are a Nigerian, you will not understand why we all stand around (160 million mumus?) while a minuscule number

of people ride roughshod over us and we smile and wave at them and wish them well in our prayers every Friday and Sundays.

Suffering and smiling has become our national character. After a thorough examination of the Nigerian people and

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their psyche, I have come up with the ten reasons why there will never be a revolution in Nigeria.

As a matter of fact, the only revolution most Nigerians will ever witness will be the turning of their car wheels. Most of the reasons are also not original because we all know about them but knowing the Nigerian and the ostrich attitude, we always deny the obvious.

Well, all of us must have had the misfortune to listen to or read Asari-Dokubo’s, Tompolo or Ateke Tom take on this argument. If the person doing the looting of public treasury is from the region perceived to be producing the natural resource and the money, all of you parasites have no reason to accuse him of stealing because it is ‘our’ (the region) money he is stealing. If he is from the

region, he cannot be accused of stealing public funds because most of it is coming from his region.

If we accept that the holy books could be used to justify stealing in the name of anointing and not harming God’s prophets, then we should all keep quiet and accept the situation as it is. The basis for this argument is that God anointed the politicians who are stealing from us and they are his Prophets. If they are his ‘prophets’, we have no authority to question them even when we know that their avarice is taking us backwards while other countries are marching forward with a fraction of our resources.

While it is understandable that people like the late Madiba Nelson Mandela come

around once in a thousand years, it does not mean that the rest of us have to stomach oppression and bad governance for a thousand years while we wait for our own ‘Mandela’.

We will never have a

Mandela in Nigeria for the simple reason that no Nigerian wants to be the one at the forefront of the struggle to change things because of the dangers to self and family. We all therefore pray to God to ‘raise’ a Joseph for us to lead us out of Egypt of hopelessness, greedy politicians and collapsing infrastructure. Since none of us is ready to be appointed ‘Joseph’, we can forget about having the elusive change we all continue to dream about.

We hand over our problems to ‘God’ to solve for us because if we believe in ‘Him’ (assuming God is male), why do we need to make any effort? Let us all just wait for His wishes to be manifested in our lives. If it is His wish, our electricity will become stable, our roads will stop being death traps, our

schools will become world standard and our public hospitals will stop being mortuaries and ‘mere consulting clinics’.

If the system is not going to change and we are not fighting it because our politicians were anointed by Him and they are His prophets, why not wait for your time to move to the feeding through? (treasury) Pray for those who are there and wait for the time you will also be ‘anointed’ to move to the next level (from petty thievery to stealing billions).

The best optimists in the world are Nigerians. Nigerians were adjudged the ‘happiest people on earth’ because of their optimism of ‘E go better’. They live on hope for a perpetually better tomorrow. Promises of a brighter future are postponed time and again by politicians.

We all remember Vision 2000, Vision 2010, Vision 2015, Housing for all by Year 2000 and Vision 2020-20. There are other ‘visions’ not mentioned here that you all know about.

Nigerians believe in these promises and wait for them but the goalposts are shifted when the promised time is approaching. That was why Vision 2000 turned to Vision 2010 and now to ‘Visionless 2020-20. I am sure most Nigerians will die happy waiting for the ‘better’ future.

Ola Omideyi is on Twitter:@olaomideyi

Confab too scared to take on religion?

By Mansir Lawal Kaware

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he National conference, convened about three months ago on 17/3/2014, is charged with the responsibility for charting a new course for the country. The body considered all aspects of the Nigerian Nation aimed at bringing positive changes to the country.

While the delegates have a right to discuss and come-up with suggestions on diverse issues, there may be some of the areas the conference can not pass a resolution for the affected persons without recourse to the generality of those concerned. One of such issues is religion. Muslims and Christians believe that the source of their religions is from God. Believers in the two religions run their lives in accordance with the scriptures sent to them through their messengers. Unless one is a believer of either religion he cannot have the required knowledge and guidance to take decision for others or decide on their behalf on what is to be done.

A good and strong building is expected to start from the foundation. As far as the religious issues are concerned the base of the conference is weak and can therefore not support the building properly which eventually will lead to its collapse. That is to say the membership of the conference was in a ratio of 2:1 between Christians and Muslims, making it lopsided in favour of the Christians. Whether the action was intentional or not the reality is that Christians have doubled the number of Muslims at the conference. Jama’atu Nasril Islam had complained on 20/3/2014 over the undue favour given to Christians. The Sultan of Sokot oAlhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, also led some prominent Muslims to Aso Villa on 26/3/2014 where he submitted a protest letter to President Jonathan over the lopsided membership of the conference delegates against the Muslims. These were in addition to hues and cries from various Muslims quarters.

Under this circumstance the conference can take decision

on other issues as they affect the nation, but it can not take decision on Islam and its activities because the Muslim population of delegates is not there to do so. Taking decision on Islam by whatever process, either by consensus or voting will not be binding on the Nigerian Muslims, because it would mean imposing Christian views on the Muslims. How do you vote in a house with 2/3 majority when they have no idea about Islam and how Muslims practice the religion. Sentiment aside one can not direct his neighbor to cook Yam simply because he decided to cook it in his house, bearing in mind that he did not supply the neighbours house with food items and he does not know what he has in his food store. The fact that President Jonathan did not amend the conference membership despite the complaints has usurped the powers of the conference to make decision in respect of Islam and Muslims.

In the light of that, the Tuesday 27/5/2014 voting at which churches and mosques

were listed among tax payers and similar decisions can not affect Muslims and Islam. Since the Christian majority voted for it.

Then it will be for the Churches to pay, more so all the examples given were restricted to Pastors and Churches, frowning at church leaders owning private jets at the expense of poor church members. Even the said Naseer Kura representing Civil Societies who made the contribution could not mention any Imam or Mosque that owned a jet or has a fleet of cars. In fact, unless an Imam runs private business, he can not own a car unless if it is donated to him, and one day he will not be seen in the car because he has no money to buy fuel.

How will he be asked to pay tax to the government. IssacIghure who represented Guild of Editors also mentioned that some heads of Churches owned private jets while many of their members are in abject poverty. As the decision was taken through a voice vote Dr. Bello Halliru a former Minister of Defence said there was no clear winner and called for allowing delegates

to go for division. The Deputy Chairman of the conference Professor BolajiAkinyemi agreed to that, though many delegates were reported to have disagreed arguing that the matter has already been decided.

But the question is who are the many delegates, it simply refers to the Christians two third majority, and we are saying they have taken decision for the Christians. We believe the Pastors, Churches and other Christian will have no quarrel with that since the decision was that of Christian majority who also know the religion of Christianity. As for the Muslims, individual states should be allowed to take decision on what to do on all the issues raised.

In Islam Imams and mosques committees are not allowed to levy any follower. I supposed even Naseer Kura can not tell us that he was asked to pay any amount before praying in a mosque at any Muslim community in the country.

Mansir Lawal Kaware wrote in from Katsina

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY , JUNE 11, 2014

PAGE 15

Comment

The recurring fuel subsidy decimal

By Ifeanyi Izeze

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rying to understand the way the Nigerian mind works should have been an impossible task even to Nostradamus, the man who saw tomorrow, if he were to live in this country by this time. Is it not a shame that what has delayed the Passage of the all-important Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) at the National Assembly equally played out at the ongoing National Conference? How can you explain that the issue of total withdrawal of subsidy on petroleum products could split delegates at the national confab?

Even my own brother, Chief Mike Ozekhome’s argument was not only very surprising but outright uneducated. Hear the words of this same man who few weeks ago advocated federal government amnesty for the Edo boys that kidnapped him: “I have always argued in the last 25 years, when we were still selling a litre of fuel for about 25 kobo, that we cannot talk about removing of subsidy from a product you own. “Does a farmer subsidise a piece of yam he wants to eat in his family? Do you begin to take a knife and begin

to measure and say for me to eat this, I must find out how much it was sold in the Utako Market or at Ogbete Market in Enugu, before I can allow my family to eat it? We do not subsidise our own product. I do not agree that there should be removal of any fuel subsidy.” Habamallam!

Where outside Abuja, except a very small part of Lagos, are Nigerians buying fuel at N97 per litre and you still have one full litre? These people coming with the naïve arguments in support of fuel subsidy, are they not aware that Petrol (PMS) sells for between N120 - N250 per litre depending on where you are in this country? Let’s not even talk of kerosene because for that, everybody simply sells at whatever price they want to even in Abuja. On what grounds are they arguing that the current subsidy regime was in the interest of the poor masses?

Of the battery of retail outlets (filling stations) belonging to both the major and independent marketers even few metres from the Port Harcourt Refinery through the entire stretch to Eleme Junction on the out sketch of the metropolis, which one sells at N97 per litre or even N100? So

why are we deceiving ourselves?

Meanwhile we were meant to believe that the Port Harcourt refinery is running at about 60 percent installed capacity. If we don’t buy at the government regulated prices within the same village (Eleme) where the fuel is produced, is it at Kula or Nembe on the offshore tip of Rivers and Bayelsa states that the products would sell at government prices?

Abeg make we tell ourselves the truth!

Between 2006 and 2011, fuel subsidy payments accounted for 30 per cent of the total expenditure by the Federal Government which translated to 118 per cent of capital budget and 4.18 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) as rebased. In 2012 and 2013, total payments to subsidise fuel for domestic use averaged N1.263 trillion. Is it not glaring that this had been a major financial burden the nation had been made to bear either for its actions or inactions or for outright lack of foresight in administration of our oil sector.

Would the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill currently archived in the National Assembly, not address some of the statutory lapses

in the administration of our downstream subsector which ofcourse includes every activity in the refining and distribution/ availability of products across the country? This is what obtains in a country where the so called leadership and representatives of the people because of their myopic and self-serving interests could be rightly said to be working more against the interest of the interests of the same ordinary citizens they were supposed to protect.

Most Nigerians are unaware that the epileptic power supply situation experienced in the country today is traceable to this all-important bill sitting at the National Assembly. Without the passage of the bill, gas feedstocks needed to fire most of thermal generating stations under the National Independent Power Project (NIPP) would not come on stream as the issue of appropriate gas pricing is expected to be resolved or at least adequately addressed by the PIB. The delay in the passage of this same bill is affecting everything in the nation’s oil sector- upstream, downstream.

Those who know would agree that the lull or more aptly the

near-zero activity in the nation’s upstream is orchestrated by the politics of the PIB. How many active rigs do we have in our arena- onshore/offshore? As at February, there were 31 active rigs in the Niger Delta and offshore representing a whopping 27 percent decline from the 43 active rigs six months ago (August 2013) and this is even a far cry from the over 58 rigs in 2012. Of the 31 rigs active in Nigeria as at February this year, how many of them were engaged in exploration play?

None! Most of the rigs are just on workovers with few on appraisal assignments compared to say 2005 where 20 new exploratory wells were drilled in the country.

It should actually bother our lawmakers or maybe they don’t know that every year that passes with the uncertainty of how the PIB would turn out, activities in the oil sector particularly the upstream shrinks. The oil companies are just busy pumping from already flowing wells and ensuring they just continue to flow while they wait on our legislatures to do what would have been described as expedient.

Ifeanyi Izeze via iizeze@ yahoo.com

Akunyili: More than a handful for drug barons

By Ola Idowu

M

y first exposure to Dora was in 2002 when I kept seeing her face on every TV screen. Not a single day went by without you hearing her voice or seeing her ever smiling face in the news, and I said to myself there we go again another ‘billboard leader’ like the usual ones we had and still have all over the country, where all their achievements are on billboards and pages of newspaper and nothing to show on the ground for their fellow country-men on the street.

Each time I went past Oshodi, I wanted to book an appointment to see the Director-General of NAFDAC-Dora- and tell her to please shut up and stop doing interviews or seeking publicity but to settle down and do a job for the people, and I was also ready to point her in the directions she should be heading.

Now don’t get me wrong here, I had genuine reasons to be angry. I lived then in a country where I knew people get into public office either elected or appointed, with no acute sense of history, what legacies they were keen to leave behind and how history would remember them, it was more about their stomach and nothing else. So I thought Dora would be the same, she wouldn’t understand the issues and fight

the racket and racketeers in that particular sector of our nation who were mainly Nigerians from her tribe. Many years before she busted on the scene, as a young man growing up in Lagos I had the opportunity to come across some of these guys in the drug counterfeiting trade. Then I didn’t understand all of the issues, but I knew something wasn’t right with the way they went about things.

For example, there was a popular malaria drug then in the market called Halfan and made by Beechams (now Glaxo-Smithkline). Theses guys would take a sample to India, Indonesia, China or Thailand but usually it was India, and get the same composition of the drug manufactured, then cargo it by air or sea into the country.

On its arrival in sachets they would then go to printers in Mushin or Sango-Otta and print the packs and leaflets for it, package everything together looking like the original and sell it at a slightly cheaper price to the original. There were traders from Onitsha, Aba and Kano waiting on the go at shops in Dosunmu and environs in Lagos Island to ferry these fake drugs across the country.

I found the courage one day to ask one of the guys involved and queried him on how they could make a profit selling lesser than the original manufacturer.

I thanked God for the good health he provided me and I still do considering the fact that till this day, last time I ever saw an hospital or clinic bed would be close to two decades. But I couldn’t help imagining the damage these men were causing innocent Nigerians based on their greed and in some cases just a means to survive based on ignorance. Thus you can understand why I was angry when Dora was just granting interviews and I couldn’t see anything been done especially knowing the guys involved were her kinsmen. But not soon after I saw Lagos raided, markets closed in Onitsha, Kano, Aba and Port Harcourt.

I saw foods and drugs start getting classified, testing laboratories upgraded or built in different parts of the country. Pre-shipment inspection of food and drugs before they get into the country especially from India and China, as well as further testing of the same drugs when they arrived in Nigeria. Importers of foods and drugs as well as local manufacturers started knowing they couldn’t do anything in the country without NAFDAC approval. Nigerians became aware of the dangers of fake drugs and foods and how it affects our entire health-care value-chain. I saw drug counterfeiting bosses particularly her tribesmen

hurled before the courts and sent to jail and even when they shifted base to other West African countries and were beginning to operate from there she went after them and set-up the West African Drug Regulatory Authority Network (WADRAN). I saw lives of men, women, children, elderly and the vulnerable being saved. I saw confidence return to our health-care system, pride and belief in being a Nigerian. I saw order, organization and a society well enlightened at least about the importance of having genuine food and drugs around us.

Add that to the story of how she got the job as NAFDAC DG and you would know why she was so dogged. Then president Obasanjo, wanted someone to come clear up the racket and mess in NAFDAC and Dr. Onaolapo Soleye through General Buhari recommended Dora to him, a woman whom returned £12,000 pounds back to the treasury in 1997 while she worked with Buhari in PTF. Soleye heard the story through Buhari and told Obasanjo who then contacted Dora to give her the job.

Opposition came in from the Senate led by late Chuba Okadigbo (an Igbo like her) who had his own candidate as well as many other politicians. They tried the tribal card that she is Igbo, the Minister of Health was

Igbo and the counterfeiters are Igbos how would she do a good job?. When that didn’t work they told lies that she was never a trained Pharmacist. Soleye had to get all her certificates from her which showed she had trained as a Pharmacist from Bachelors degree to Doctorate level before she was then appointed. According to her, all these helped her motivation while in the job.

She would go on to receive death threats for all her efforts and even escaped an assassination attempt provided in her book “The War Against Counterfeit Medicine: My Story”. By the time she left NAFDAC, the agency was a better shape than she found it.

Her only failing surely was when she accepted the job of an Information Minister and started the whole re-branding exercise but Dora being who she was would never turn Nigeria down and God used her in fighting the so-called cabal in 2010. Dear Dora, I would love to rest my case too but not before praying that God grant your soul repose in his bosom and resurrect it at the end of time. Just as Caesar said after his victory over Pharnaces II, I say to you Dora with my head bowed veni, vidi, vici.

You came, you saw and you conquered!!

Ola Idowu via frenchcoast2@gmail.com

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Club wants government to support private initiatives

FCTA receives report on child welfare services, others

By Usman Shuaibu

By Stanley Onyekwere

T

T

he governor of platinum All Stars United football Club, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter, Barrister Andem E. Ndem, has called on the government at all levels to support the private sector initiatives by providing them with the funds to actualize their objectives.

Ndem, who made the call in an interview with newsmen during the football competition organized between married men and single men within the club at the national stadium in Abuja, also urged the government to provide an enabling environment for the youths that see football clubs as a means of livelihood.

He noted that the leadership of the club organized the competition between married and Bachelors, to foster social interaction among them.

He said that the club was charged with the responsibility of visiting the orphanage homes to carter for the welfare of the less privileged ones in the society.

He advised the youths that have the interest in sport to remain focused and determined to pursue their career to the logical conclusion.

The government therefore, appealed to winners and losers of the competition to continue to contribute positively towards the development and unity of the club.

On his part, the secretary and captain of the club, Dr Andrew Bassey Ubong, said that the leadership of the club would take the youths along especially those who have the interest in the sports.

Ubong disclosed that the club had sponsored three persons to abroad to pursue their football career.

he Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, yesterday received a comprehensive report on various issues touching on the services of residential homes otherwise known as orphanage homes, from its ministerial committee on the Administration of child welfare services in the Territory.

Presenting the report to the minister, the chairman of the committee, Mrs. Nana Tsokwa, noted that the committee which was inaugurated on 11th February, 2013, took it upon theirs to tour round the FCT to get firsthand information regarding the activities of the orphanages.

She identified lack of clarity in roles and responsibilities of the relevant stakeholders in child welfare services,

therefor leading to lapses in the provision of direct services by the Social Secretariat Department, overlaps in service delivery, duplication of functions and more seriously certain direct oversight duties not been performed by the Secretariat.

The committee chairman equally identified that Social Development Secretariat is hampered by inadequate human and material resources needed to

Grains sellers waiting for patronage, yesterday at Bwari market, in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-owo

carry out its mandate effectively, saying it had become critical as FCT continues to experience an almost daily influx of persons from surrounding states, with its population fast out pacing available social infrastructure.

However, in the report, it was recommended that the FCT Administration approves the schedule of duties for the Departments of Gender Development and Social Welfare Services as proposed in the report.

According to her, this will ensure efficiency in the provision of services, as well as a focused monitoring of children in the orphanages by relevant departments.

Similarly, Akinjide inaugurated the implementation committee on the elimination of the practice of infanticide in some part of the FCT. In her remark, the minister said the committee became necessary following the incident of infanticide within some parts of the FCT. The committee headed by Secretary, Education Secretariat, Alhaji Kabiru Usman has the mandate of examining the observations and recommendation of the earlier committee as they affect each of the identified communities and to evolve a viable action plan to address issues raised.

The committee is expected to carry out massive advocacy and sensitization campaign against handful practice via print and electronic media as well as group contacts with the local communities.

FCT minister confers Pakistani president with honorary Abuja citizenship

By Stanley Onyekwere The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed, has presented the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Mamnoon Hussain, with a key to the city of Abuja, which confers on him the

honorary citizenship of Abuja.

The key also confers on President Hussain, who is in the country on a State visit, all the rights and privileges of a full-fledged citizen as a mark of respect for the strong friendship and cordial relationship between Pakistan and the Federal

Republic of Nigeria.

According to a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the FCT minister, Muhammad Sule , the minister, made the presentation, when he received the visiting President on behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan, on Monday, at the

Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

It added that Mohammed officially welcomed the Pakistani President to Abuja, and wished him a memorable stay as a citizen.

“Those who accompanied the FCT Minister to receive him

include the Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Dr. Nurudeen Mohammed, FCT Permanent Secretary, Engr. John Chukwu, FCDA Executive Secretary, Engr.

Adamu Ismaila, FCT Chief of Staff, Alhaji Yau Muhammad Gital as well as diplomats from Pakistan and Nigeria”, the statement said.

Director urges councils to embrace adult literacy programme

A

lhaji Musa Yakubu, Director, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Agency for Mass Education, has called on the area councils of the Territory, to embrace literacy programmes at the grassroots to achieve the goal two of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Yakubu, who made the call in an interview with the News

Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said it became imperative for them to encourage their subjects to embrace literacy programme as most of the FCT grass roots populace could not read and write.

NAN reports that goal two is achieving universal primary education with the deadline in 2015.

He said the agency, with 582 centres in the six councils, had the mandate to provide literacy to those who did not have the opportunity to access formal education in their early life.

“Most of these centres are in the six area councils; it will be good if the chairmen will encourage their people to embrace the non formal

education or mass literacy.

“It is our mandate to make sure that every adult is literate, including youths that are out of schools; our time table is not rigid for them to be discouraged.

“We want everybody to be educated because we want to achieve the MDGs goal 2015 deadline,’’ he said.

However, he said that the

mandates did not go beyond training and giving basic education to adults and the youth that were far above the primary school age.

“These are the categories we can train, but for those who are out of schools and they are within primary school age, they are being handled by the Universal Basic Education (UBE),’’ he said. (NAN)

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business@peoplesdailyng.com 08142929046 etuka2012@gmail.com 08066605655

NLC slams NERC over electricity tariff hike

By Etuka Sunday

T

he Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday slammed the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) over the recent tariff upward adjustment

without proper consumer consultation.

The NLC President, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar while speaking at the stakeholders meeting held in Abuja, said electricity tariff was increased by NERC without due consultation with

the NLC and members of the public.

Umar said Nigerians are tired of excuses from the regulatory body, which he said has being obtainable since the 70’s, he added that the regulatory body must match accessibility with

affordability.

He said: “The rate of tariff increase is quite worrisome, and there is no proportionate increase in electricity supply.

The amount of consumption should determine the rate paid by consumers, what Nigerian consumers expect

L-R – Commissioner, Safety and Standard Division, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Mary Awolokun, NERC Chairman, Sam Amadi, President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, NLC Deputy President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, and NLC Vice-Chairman, Comrade Mohammed Lawal Bello, after an in-depth discussion of the new electricity tariff, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

NSE market indices dip by 0.22%, in spite higher turnover

A

ctivities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) ended on a depressed note yesterday as the market capitalisation dipped by 0.21 per cent in spite higher volume of transactions.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the market capitalisation, which opened at N13.739 trillion, lost N29 billion to close lower at N13.710 trillion.

Also, the All-Share Index lost 88.09 points or 0.21 per cent to close at 41,521.40 from

the previous 41,609.50. A total of 1.41 billion shares worth N8.47 billion were traded in 5,686 deals against 229.330 million shares valued at N3.61 billion exchanged in 5,153 deals on Monday.

Dangote Cement topped the price losers’ chart with N2.40 to close at N226.60 per share.

Lafarge Wapco followed with a loss of N1.51 to close at N111.99, while GTBank dipped

by N1 to close at N30.50 per share. CCNN lost 30k to close at N10.10, while Oando shed 24k

to close at N20.10 per share. Market analysts attributed the situation to profit-taking by some investors following the growth recorded by the market.

Conversely, Nigerian Breweries topped the price gainers’ chart with N3.20 to close at N180 per share.

Conoil came second with N2.50 to close at N57, while Unilever gained N2.23 to close at N50.65 per share.

MRS Oil rose by N1.65 to close at N48, while Guinness

improved by N1.01 to close at N180.01 per share.

Transcorp was the toast of investors, trading 1.04 billion shares worth N4.68 billion.

Access Bank sold 83.65 million shares valued at N826.66 million, while Wapic Insurance sold 65.41 million shares worth N50.50 million.

UBA accounted for 33.81 million shares valued at N267.03 million, while FBN Holdings exchanged 18.19 million shares worth N283.45 million. (NAN)

‘100,000 Nigerians have access to insurance monthly via MTN’

NAMA, Air Force gear up for further airspace co-ordination >>Pg 20

>>Pg 21

is an improvement in power supply, but what they have gotten in return is a hike on electricity tariff.”

He also urged NERC to properly investigate the activities of the Distribution Companies (Discos) which according to him, bill customers based on estimation and not on adequate metering system made available by the regulatory body.

“It is one thing to announce tariff rate without the capacity to enforce it, the social service component of electricity must not be laid down for profit maximization because the consumers are always at the receiving end,” he added.

Recall that NERC had lately in May 2014 announced that the fixed charge of electricity from June 2014 remains constant due to some favourable indices that had dropped it from what was earlier expected in the 2014 Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO).

However the Energy Cost (EC) it said, slightly increased by at least N1 due to what it described as high distribution cost over a low energy generation capacity. NERC Chairman, Dr. Sam Amadi had said about 9,000megawatts (mw) was projected for 2014 MYTO when the MYTO was first drafted in 2012 but failed as actual generation is now at 3,500mw which had ignited the increase in the Energy Cost.

Meanwhile, the NERC Chairman, Dr. Sam Amadi in his speech said the stakeholders meeting was organised to address some pertinent issues which affects electricity consumers.

On the activities of the Discos and Generation Companies (Gencos), Amadi said in the privatized market, all companies are properly regu

CBN Exchange Rates as at 10th JUNE, 2014 Buying Selling

$ € £ Riyal YEN CFA

154.7 256.94 212.44 41.25 1.49 0.30

NEITI Audit: CISLAC seeks media synergy for implementation

155.74 258.60 213.81 41.52 1.50 0.32

>>Pg 22

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PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

Aviation FG set to establish new aviation college in Anambra

T

he federal government has set up a new aviation training collegein Ogbaru, Anambra state to meet the increasing number of student desiring to pursue career in aeronautical studies, a situation that has seen many states government send their indigenes to aviation training academies abroad.

The college will bring to two aviation such training institutions owned by the Federal Government alongside the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology NCAT, in Zaria and it will be will be affiliated to the Federal Polytechnic, Oko also in Anambra state.

At the foundation laying ceremony, the chairman, board of trustees, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETF), Dr Musa Babayo said the college when completed will provide the critical facilities needed for training of first class aviation professionals that will be used by the aviation industry not only in Nigeria but the whole of West Africa.

“This is the idea of the president, President Goodluck Jonathan in his desire to comprehensively transform aviation, rehabilitate, consolidate and reconstruct educational infrastructure in all tertiary education institutions in the country. Acting director general of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Benedict Adeyileka said the college would offer classroom and practical training for aviation professionals who will be awarded degrees unlike the college in Zaria.

He said it will also be affiliated to airlines and maintenance repair organisations to enable the students acquire industry experience.

He said “The challenges that we have here is that we only have one aviation training school in Nigeria. I know we have some universities that are offering degrees in aviation related courses, but they are not complete aviation training institutions.

The advantage of this one is, for you to obtain a license; you must have a minimum number of hours in the classroom and a minimum number of hours in the industry. So, that would combine the industrial training and the university training, so as soon as they get their degree, they also have enough qualifications to obtain their license because you need an aircraft maintenance license to be able to practice in the industry.”

Speakers at the occasion commended former Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah for facilitating the establishment of the college, which they said will add value to manpower development in the sector.

In her remarks, former aviation minister, Stella Oduah said the establishment of the aviation college would create jobs and opportunity to develop skills for Nigerians.

She said:” Well, aviation is job creating, it is skill enabling, most importantly it is pivotal to the economic growth.

NAMA, Air Force gear up for further airspace co-ordination T Stories by Suleiman Idris

he Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and the Nigerian Air Force have concluded talks on how both will work to sustain its collaboration on strategic management of the Nigeria airspace to enhance the overall safety of both military and civilian flyers.

The two held talks in Lagos when a delegation of the Nigerian Air Force paid a courtesy visit to the Managing Director, Engr. Ibrahim Abdulsalam and held crucial discussions with NAMA management on issues bordering on collaborative airspace management, civil-

military coordination, training of Air Force officers by NAMA and the military radar which is the military equivalent of TRACON. Leader of the delegation and Director of Air Traffic Services, Comdr. Bello Garba, explained that the visit was to strengthen the existing mutual relationship between the Nigerian Air Force and NAMA, stressing that “this synergy is particularly critical in view of the nation’s current security challenges”.

Comdr. Garba commended agency’s role in quelling the ongoing insurgency in the NorthEastern part of the country and solicited it’s assistance in the provision of technical expertise

in the installation of a military radar and the needed capacity to man the equipment.

Engr. Ibrahim Abdulsalam noted that the Nigerian Air Force has always been an ally of NAMA as the statutory role of the two organizations are complimentary, stressing that NAMA has always been at the forefront of the Civil-Military Coordination meeting.

He said the on-going multilateration project in the Gulf of Guinea would effectively capture low-level aircraft in the area including military helicopters while promising NAMA would provide the Nigerian Air Force with the needed

manpower training and technical information on the military radar and other logistics. Meanwhile, seven representatives of NAMA drawn from the Search and Rescue Department at the weekend in Abuja participated in a live simulation exercise on air crash outside the vicinity of an Airport.

Organized by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the exercise which took place at the National Fire Academy, Shada Abuja, was among other things, to demonstrate the nation’s preparedness in responding to air crash accidents as well as rescue coordination strategies outside the confines of an aerodrome.

L-R. Mr Lanre Adekola, GM Engineering and Maintenance, representing MD SAHCOL, Mrs Blessing Basil, Celebrant, Basil Agboarumi, Dr. Rotimi Oladele, President NIPR, Abdusalam..MD NAMA, and Adebayo Stephene, NIPR Registrar

SAHCOL receives award for outstanding service delivery

T

he Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited, SAHCOL has won an award as the “Outstanding Aviation Provider in Africa”, in the maiden Leadership Awards for African Achievers (LAFAA 2014).

The award was presented

to the company in a ceremony, held at the Balmoral Event Centre, Kudirat Abiola Way, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos, which drew participants from the businessmen, entertainers and celebrities’cycle from Nigeria and other African nations.

According to the organizers of the Leadership Awards for African Achievers, SAHCOL was picked for the award “based on your world-class services and sterling performance in the aviation sector in Nigeria and your noteworthy contributions to the task of making air travel safer

in Africa.”

The award is a ‘Pan African Platform instituted for the purpose of identifying, honouring and encouraging extra-ordinary men, women and institutions of African origin across the globe, deemed to have distinguished themselves in various fields.

IATA appoints Landover Nigeria agent

N

igeria domestic carrier and aviation services company, Landover Company Limited, has announced its appointment as the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Publications Sales Agent (PSA) in Nigeria. IATA, the trade association representing and

serving the world’s airlines, offers the air transport industry a comprehensive suite of information products on a multitude of subjects (more than 300 titles) that touch on all aspects of aviation.

Landover will distribute the manuals and publications in

Nigeria to assist customers locally.

At the signing ceremony, Managing Director of Landover Company Capt. Edward Boyo said “This new partnership is yet another landmark achievement in our efforts and commitment to providing intelligent products and services to the Nigerian aviation industry”.

The partnership they said will simplify the purchase of IATA manuals such as Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR), Airport Handling Manual (AHM), Perishable Cargo Regulations (PCR), Live Animal Regulations (LAR), and hundreds of other manuals in Nigeria.

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Pension/Insurance ‘100,000 Nigerians have access to insurance monthly via MTN’ Stories from Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

T

he National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) said that the sector has been able to sell insurance to 100,000 persons through the use of mobile telecommunication network (MTN).

Speaking in an interview with journalists at just concluded Africa Insurance Organization, (AIO) conference held in Kigali, Rwanda, the Commissioner for Insurance, Mr. Fola Daniel stayed that MTN has helped to deploy insurance to 100,000 persons monthly in Nigeria.

The commissioner noted that the network provider has helped in deepening insurance penetration through the selling

of micro insurance products to 100,000 Nigerians monthly across the country.

According to him: “ if four other service providers are doing half of what MTN is doing it means every month the industry will be having at least 250,000,” this he said will lead to rapid growth in the industry.

He said that the deploying of Information Technology ( IT) and telephoning as a means of selling insurance in Nigeria and Africa is the right thing that will move the industry forward to a better insurance business.

He was of the opinion that the use of IT and telephoning to sell insurance will reduce the cost of doing business, adding that Nigeria is one of the highest

in Africa where the cost of doing business is very. He further said that excluding reaching the people faster through IT, telephoning is accessible to average Nigerian He stated that if the Nigeria insurance industry finds a means of selling more of insurance policies without incurring extra cost it should be embraced by the industry.

Speaking on what the commission is doing to checkmate the partnership of telecoms and insurance against fraud, the Naicom boss said that such partnership are put under telescope, adding that all agreement entered into by insurance companies and the service provider are submitted to the commission for further

verification.

He noted that the aim of the verification is to make sure that the interests of the insuring public are protected by such policies being introduced by the companies.

He said after agreement the commission look at performance of the company in terms of returns on business on monthly basis and payment of claims by the company.

The assured that unless these processes are done correctly, Nigerians will be disappointed by the industry On performance of Nigeria insurance regulation, he said that the insurance industry is resonantly compliant, despite not yet in the level of the developed nations,

L-R: Director General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr. Joseph Odumodu, Director General, Standard and Quality Agency of Cameroon, Mr. Charles Booto, and Cameroonian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ambassador Salaheddine Abbas, during the signing of the MOU between SON and the Cameroonian Standards Agency, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

PENCOM reviews rules to suit informal sector

F

ollowing the National Pension Commissions, (PENCOM) plans to extend the Contributory Pension Scheme, (CPS) to the informal sector of the economy; the commission has assured its resolve to review pension rules to suit them.

The Acting Director General of the Commission, Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, while speaking in view of PenCom

conference billed for July, stated that one of its strategic focus areas is to bring on board the informal sector, adding that the commission is putting in place strategies as well as reviewing the rules so as to suit them.

According her, “One of our strategic focus areas is to bring on board the informal sector of the economy where

most of our active employees earn their living. However, the rules would be tailor made to suit their peculiarities, Continuing, she said, “Looking at the numbers in terms of where PENCOM was before and where it is now, one would believe that they are doing well.

“First of all, the CPS has engendered a regime of a fully funded pension scheme

with assets in excess of N4 trillion today. This has been a remarkable growth when compared to estimated pension liabilities of over N2 trillion before the reform. “Over 98,000workers have retired so far and are receiving their retirement benefits as at when due. In the past, they joined long queues and some even died in the process.”

Sovereign Trust joins African committee on energy insurance

I

n a bid geared towards enhancing administration of oil and energy pool across Africa, Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc has been appointed into a nine member committee to steer the affairs of the pool.

STI joining the committee came as an outcome of the committees resolve at the just concluded African Insurance Organisation Conference held in Kigali, Rwanda.

According to company, this was disclosed at the 51st management board and 27th annual general assembly of the African underwriters in the oil and energy insurance at the conference.

With this development, it added that Sovereign Trust alongside two other insurance companies in the country and some African insurance companies, namely, Misr Insurance Company from Egypt, Chanas Assurances SA, Cameroun, Compagnie Centrale De Reassurance, Algeria, Zeb Re, Kenya, Tunis Re, Tunisia and Cica Re, Togo would administer the oil and energy pool from 2014 to 2016.

Speaking on the development, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, STI, Mr. Wale Onaolapo, said this appointment was in recognition of the company’s expertise over the years in underwriting of oil and gas risks.

He stressed that it had further reaffirmed the company’s overwhelming capacity in this very critical sector of the country’s economy and the African continent at large adding that firm would not relent in providing world-class insurance services in the oil and energy sector and other allied areas to further consolidate its leadership position in that regard.

The General Manager and Head, Technical Division, STI, Mr. Olaotan Soyinka, stated that The company over the years had created an enviable niche in the oil and energy sector and the insurance market as a whole by continuously building capacity and expertise on a continuous basis.

“It is a familiar terrain for us and we are set to maximise our potential and assert our leadership position,” he said.

Sovereign Trust considered the energy sector very crucial to the economic development of the country and would continue to exploit the market to maximise every opportunity embedded therein, the statement said.

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Business Why NDIC lost bid to freeze Emeka Offor’s account

By Etuka Sunday

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he Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) on Friday lost its bid to freeze funds in 22 banks in the country belonging to Sir Emeka Offor, the Chairman of Chrome Group.

Emeka Offor, it was alleged owed the African Express Bank N9.2 billion in liquidation.

However, the ruling in favour of Offor came Sequel to the alarm raised by the Counsel to Offor accusing NDIC of breaching the terms of agreement reached with his client who he said has almost finished settling the said debts.

The Counsel said that the NDIC went behind their backs to try and confiscate the properties of their client noting that they would meet them in court at next adjourned date July 15th.

Cited in the suit as the 1st to 8th respondents are: Sir a emeka Offor, Chrome Oli Services Limited, Chrome Consortium Nigeria Limited, Choffan Communications Limited, Nimek Investment Limited, Dextron Engineering Limitef, Atlantic Engineering Construction Limited and Chrome Energy LLC In a ruling in an exparte application brought by the NDIC seeking to restraining all commercial banks in Nigeria from Nanking any outward payments, operations or transfers, and further releasing any money to Offor and his companies the court presided over

by Justice Gabriel Kolawole held that there was no urgency to grant the application since the licence of the African Express Bank has been revoked for eight years now.

“The applicant failed in his duty to state the steps taken so far to recover the money from the 1st respondent. In doing justice, the court must also consider the rights of the 1st respondent to arrive at a balance. The respondents shall with seven day show cause why the court should not proceed to grant the order sought by the applicant.

The respondent should also provide the applicant with the information required to assuage its fears” he added.

Justice Kolawole further held that “the banks where the defendant has his accounts should place a close watch on the accounts of the defendants and report any suspicious transactions to the Central Bank of Nigeria. The banks should also be informed that the accounts are subjects of litigation. The preservatory order is necessary to preserve the rest of the case because by nature they are interventionary measure. of Nigeria Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc, Wema Bank Plc and Zenith Bank Plc from making any outward payments, operations, transfers (including bills of exchange) releasing or further releasing or dealing in any manner whatsoever with any of all monies or whatever assets due to the 1st to 8 respondents/debtors from any account whatsoever maintained by the respondents.

NEITI Audit: CISLAC seeks media synergy for implementation C

By Etuka Sunday

ivil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) yesterday decried the nonspeedy implementation of the recommendations contained in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI)’s Audit report therefore sought for media partnership in pushing for its implementation.

In a training workshop organised for journalists on communicating NEITI reports

and remediation issues, the civil society said the synergy was necessary to put pressure on government to implement the various recommendations submitted by the NEITI audit reports.

Speaking through its Executive Director, Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), CISLAC said the focus of government should be equally directed to the mine and steel sector as recommended by NEITI in its reports.

Auwal said the civil society

would beam its search light more on the activities of agencies of government that are covered by NEITI and also enquire from the National Assembly while the NEITI recommendations were not fully implemented as promised by the federal government.

Meanwhile, in a presentation on behalf of the Director of Communications, NEITI, Orji Ogbonnaya Orji titled: “the Media as a Tool for Communicating and Tracking Remediation Issues from NEITI Reports,” the

NEITI’s Team Leader Outreach, Mrs. Obiageli Onuorah called for better media dissemination of NEITI reports.

She also called for the review of the 2000 memorandum of Understanding among the three agencies of government; DPR, FIRS and NNPC. She appealed for more awareness creation on NEITI mandate and processes through reports, analysis and also for the media to set agenda on the issue for public discourse.

L-R: President, Association of Telecom Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Mr. Lanre Ajayi, Chairman of the occasion, former Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Professor Cleopas Angaye, Chairperson, Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NIRA), Mrs. Mary Uduma, representative of the Minister of Communications Technology, Mr. Ola Ogunleye, during the 2014 Nigeria Internet Governance Forum (NIGF) on Youth Workshop, recently in Lagos.

Photo: Olawale Rotimi

IFC, Firstmonie to expand access to affordable financial services in Nigeria From Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

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FC, a member of the World Bank Group, yesterday announced its signing of an advisory services agreement with Firstmonie, a subsidiary of First Bank Nigeria Limited, to advance mobile financial services and agent banking in order to strengthen the supply of affordable financial services to low-income individuals and small-scale entrepreneurs in Nigeria.

IFC will provide Firstmonie with technical assistance in financial

modeling, agent management and customer activation, to a value of $550,000, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Mr. Mike Ogbalu, Managing Director of Pridar Systems (wholly owned by FirstBank), the owners of Firstmonie, said, “At Firstmonie, we are committed to expanding mobile financial services to the under banked and low income communities. With the advisory support from IFC, we hope to achieve our goal of boosting financial inclusion through our product offerings and

decrease the population of the unbanked and under-banked in Nigeria” Nigeria has a low rate of financial inclusion, with only 43% of the adult population having access to formal financial services.

The Central Bank of Nigeria issued licenses for mobile money operators in 2010, but adoption and usage has been slow to take off due to high costs, poor agent network management and low awareness amongst the population.

David Crush, Manager, IFC Access to Finance, Sub-Saharan

Africa, said, “Firstmonie and IFC aim to develop a best practice mobile money operation that will demonstrate the sustainable business case for affordable financial services in one of Africa’s most important economies. This is a step towards reaching full financial inclusion in Nigeria.”

Firstmonie Mobile Money Service is an innovative product that enables customers to access financial and other value added services through their mobile phones.

We are not against Tobacco regulation-BATN From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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he British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN) has said it’s not in any way against the passage of the National Tobacco Control Bill, insisting that it’s not against lawful regulations.

BATN Director of Corporate and Regulatory Affairs in West Africa, Mr. Freddy Messanvi while speaking in an interactive with journalists in Lagos said, “We obey the law of the land and existing laws still allow us to do advert but as a global organization,

we do self-regulation to meet international standard.

“We are not against regulation of cigarette or tobacco, in fact, we were the first to mute that regulation because we don’t want it to sound as if we are forcing people into smoking, no, we want smoking to be controlled. What we want is full improved regulation; we want well-coordinated control so that enforcement of the ban of smoking in some selected places will be restricted only to such places as

specified by the law.” He said the company supports effective regulation of the tobacco industry. “For regulation to be effective and achieve its objectives it must be balanced and enforceable.

“BAT has always stated its support for tobacco regulation. In the past, however, the company had asked that the drafting of tobacco control bills must be clear of ambiguities in other for it to be enforceable. “The company had also maintained that tobacco control laws must ensure

that the legal industry is not affected by such laws to the undue advantage of criminal tobacco smuggling rings.

Also BATN Head of Corporate Unit, Mrs. Oluwasoromidayo George added that the company through it activities have boosted the economy with the creation of over 500,000 direct and indirect jobs. “as a responsible company, BATN is also into training and retraining of its over 600 farmers who have become millionaires by virtues of their growing of all crops including the tobacco.”

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

Stock Watch

Report as at Tuesday, June 10, 2014

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PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

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PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

Property Mortgage: Fashola approves N2bn for new housing estates From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

new estates that had been under consideration.

“And we will continue to pay all outstandings to contractors to ensure work continues on the sites” he said.

Fashola said government was fulfilling its promise to reduce housing deficit through the delivery of homes under the scheme.

The governor said no fewer than 235 homes had been allocated so far, adding more home would be allocated in subsequent homes.

He commended contractors handling the various housing projects for a job well done but urged them to speed up work for prompt delivery.

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agos state Governor Babatunde Fashola said the government had approved and released the sum of N2bn for the construction of new estates.

Fashola speaking at the 4th draw for the allocation of homes under the state’s Home Ownership Scheme (Lagos HOMS) said the planned estate would be incorporated into the state’s mortgage scheme designed to improve access to decent homes.

Just this week, we have approved and released about N2bn to mobilise fresh contractors for

According to him, prompt delivery of the various on-going projects will boost the number of homes under the scheme.

The governor said he was fulfilled by the smiles on the faces of those who have become new owners via the scheme.

He urged residents to continue to pay their taxes to enable government to mobilise resources to provide homes for more people.

Fashola advised citizens to believe in the country’s democracy, saying the success story of the state’s mortgage scheme meant Nigeria could be great with the right attitude.

“I am happy about this scheme.

Smart homes go high-tech

©

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o what exactly can we expect from our future homes, and how will we be living in 50 years’ time? The Home of the Future is not the only project attempting to answer these questions.

T

Technology companies are increasingly looking for ways to get more out of everyday appliances by connecting them to the internet.

W i r e l e s s telecommunications firm Qualcomm displayed

its connected home at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona earlier this year.

The property featured a range of smart household appliances that were linked together and controlled via a smartphone. Key features include a smart

Future predictions

hese smart a p p l i a n c e s are forecast to completely change our homelife. They are already seeing considerable investment, with companies such as Google recently buying into the market.

The search giant bought Nest Labs – makers of the Nest smart thermostat that regulates interior temperatures – for $3.2 billion USD. In an interview this week, Nest’s CEO predicted that, within 10 years, every electrical device in your home will be connected

©

I am happy because, in spite of what happens around us, something made by us, designed by us can work without interference.

“I am happy that the idea can work openly and honestly and transparently and what all this means is that democracy is at work.

“This is a product of democracy.

It means we should not lose hope.

It means that if we commit, persist and dare to dream, everything is possible “he said.

Fashola appealed to residents to continue to support the government to deliver more development in the state.

Earlier, Mr Bayowa Forsythe, Secretary ,Lagos Mortgage Board

said 222 residents applied for homes across the various estates in the June draw.

He said 176 were prequalified for the draw while 46 applications were declined due to documentation issues.

Forsythe said the board would continue to do its best to ensure the allocation of homes was done in a transparent manner.

92 new winners emerged at the draw and were allocated homes across seven estates.

Some of the estates in which homes were allocated are Chois Estate, Lekki, Olaitan Mustapha Estate, Ijaiye; Shogunro Estate; and Michael Otedola Estate, Epe.

Real estate news Pinnacle plans N30bn real estate in Nigeria

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outh African real estate firm, Pinnacle Point Group Limited, has indicated readiness to inject about N30 billion into the development of a world-class golf estate in Badagry, Lagos State. The company, which is the largest golf and leisure estate developer in South Africa and on the African continent, intends to position itself as a major global player in both the golf and residential estate development markets in the next five years.

Actual and projected turnover of all projects being executed by the Pinnacle group across Africa currently under management exceeds $6.6 billion. The group already has nine other developments in South Africa and recently announced that it is in negotiation to develop and construct a multi-million dollar luxury golf estate in Lagos State.

The Lagos Keys development will comprise 300 luxury homes, an international golf course, a marina; with boutique shops, a six star hotel and conference facility and all iconic Badagry Pyramid, which will be a tower 18 storeys.The pyramid will comprise of 45 million solar panels and will supplement electrical power to the project. The group is also to build one of the world s most exclusive golf and casino resorts on an island f in the Indian Ocean off Mahe, Seychelles.

Pinnacle Point won the tender from the Seychelles government against tough international competition. The project will be the largest investment in the Seychelles leisure industry.The group’s flag ship development Pinnacle Point Beach and Golf Resort, on the east coast of South Africa, comprises

luxury residential homes, golf lodges, villas, additional exclusive properties situated on the 9Yster Bay beach front enclave, and an 18 hole international championship golf course.

The resort has received numerous awards and accolades, and the golf course has been voted one of the Top Ten Best New Golf Courses in the World. The Pinnacle Point Group is committed to the development and management of all its properties to the highest standards possible, in accordance with a global trend towards luxury lifestyle living. It is equally committed to maintaining the highest environmental standards across all properties and to a policy of responsible corporate social Investment.

The company came about as a result of the merger of the businesses of the Pinnacle Point Holdings group of companies and Acc-Ross Holdings Limited. The merger was achieved through the reverse take- over of AccRossby Pinnacle Point Holdings in November 2008. The Pinnacle Point Group is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Major shareholders of the Company include South Africa’s leading bank ABSA and a Nigerian consortium led by GMA. Other key shareholders include a major international property development company in the UAE, who have indicated their intention to partner with the Pinnacle Point Group in expanding the Group’s footprint in Africa and exploring the opportunities for global expansion beyond the African continent.

Lamudi Nigeria

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

P A G E

Property

The need for a “rebased” property market

By Caroline A. Akinlotan

T

here is a newly found over used word floating around the country at the moment which comes on the heels of our recently discovered very high GDP (Gross Domestic Product). It is called “Rebased”.

In the Oxford dictionary the word “rebased” means “establishing a new base level” Since our GDP has found a new improved rebased level.

I certainly hope our mortgage rates and housing finance structures can be also “rebased” in the near future.

Mortgage rates and property prices at the moment are both too high to be affordable for the general population.

I have recently spotted two new Mortgage banks opening up in Lagos, which is hopefully a pointer that there is an interest in supporting the population in getting better mortgage rates to buy a roof over their heads. Mortgage interest rates still hover between 18% at the lowest and 22%, which is still much too high for comfortable payback on any loan, and does not make any real common sense! Why take a loan of N10million over 5 years, and have to pay back N2m in interest every year, without even paying off anything on the principal loan itself?

It is widely written how Nigeria now has the highest GDP in the whole of Africa surpassing South Africa for the first time even though we have also been internationally rated as one of the poorest countries in the world where over 70% of our population live in poverty conditions and can hardly afford one square

meal a day. Between 1980 and 1996 the country’s poverty level rose from 28% to over 70%. High GDP anywhere else in the world usually translates into fair/good living conditions and access to housing and infrastructure, but as we can all see, this has not yet been passed on to the general population in Nigeria.

It therefore appears that there is some sort of disconnect which needs to be rectified. Hopefully this will be done partly by recognising the need for affordable mortgage finance and homes. In Lagos state alone there is allegedly a housing shortage of over two million homes.

I must in all fairness recognize the Lagos State Governor who is already doing something to rectify the shortage quite successfully under his administration with the HOMS scheme which provides low cost homes at affordable mortgage rates. We need many more of these schemes in the state and country as a whole. Most private developers now work out payment plans with buyers which suits both parties better due to the unaffordable high mortgage rates available from banks and private mortgage institutions The recently concluded Lagos State Economic Summit Conference (Ehingbeti) covered the need for affordable housing, but agreed that this was not achievable without stable electricity supply! The Power Minister addressed the appalling power situation and stated that the country as a whole should not expect improved power supply anytime soon due to the ageing and decrepit power infrastructure that is currently in place and cannot adequately transmit the

available power. The growing unstable power supply has slowed the country’s real estate growth enormously due to the inability for our industries to manufacture cheaper home grown building materials like tiles, plumbing and electric fittings, sanitary wares, light fittings etc. A lot of developers choose to buy materials from China and Europe, adding to the cost of the property which is already out of the reach of most people. As more and more developers are building apartments and multi storey units

to maximise their costs, the Lagos State Government has put a limit on the number of floors for residential buildings outside of Ikoyi and VI at four floors only. Anything four floors and above will need lifts and the unstable power supply makes this unachievable for low cost to medium cost developments and buyers. Getting electricity alone right, would see an immediate improvement in all aspects of the economy including housing and standard of living. Housing provision is not just a private

developer responsibility, but must involve all aspects of government, federal, state and local, to ensure quality affordable homes are provided under regulated standards. I know it is a lot to ask right now, but it is achievable if small steps are undertaken by all sectors to ensure that the next few years show some transformational growth in the much needed property market.

Source: Services

RSG

Property

Properties in Abuja, Nigeria

A well finished 3 bedroom bungalow plus 2 rooms boys quarters. Sun city Estate. for rent N2,500,000 p.a. Suncity Estate

Well finished 4 Bedroom Twin Duplex for rent N3,500,000 p.a.

Newly built 4 bedroom duplex with boys quarters in a mini

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PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

Motoring

BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo, shopper’s ideal car

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ometimes it seems like there is a bewildering array of choices when you’re shopping for a new car. This can really be the case with BMW’s lineup. Beyond all the typical choices of sedans and SUVs, there’s the 2014 BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo. A large hatchback based on the 7 Series sedan (indeed, it’s bigger than the 5 Series with which it shares its name), the Gran Turismo mixes the attributes of a sedan, crossover SUV and wagon. It’s an interesting mix to be sure, but how much appeal that mix holds with you will depend on your specific needs.

The 5 Series Gran Turismo’s calling card is its dual-function liftgate that can open up in two different ways. As expected, the whole thing lifts upward in conventional fashion as a single piece. But you can also open just the lower portion, below the rear window, much like a sedan’s trunk lid. With the Gran Turismo, you also get a high-class interior with an impressively roomy rear seat, available all-wheel drive, a slightly higher ride height than a sedan and the option to choose either a strong and fuel-efficient turbocharged six-cylinder engine or an even more powerful turbocharged V8.

Under cold analysis, though, we find it hard to love the 5 Series GT. The automaker’s own crossovers, the 2014 BMW X3 and 2014 BMW X5, provide plenty of luxury and utility at much lower prices. And while the Gran Turismo does give you more cargo space than a

coupe-styled sedan like the 2014 Audi A7 or BMW’s 6 Series Gran Coupe, it’s not as enjoyable to drive (or as easy on the eyes) as those sportier cars. And if you’re looking for more of a luxury sport wagon, we’d point you toward the 2014 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon.

Overall, though, the 2015 BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo will satisfy shoppers looking for a vehicle that can do a little bit of everything.

The 2014 BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo is a tall, four-door luxury hatchback with seating for five.

It features a segmented rear window and deck lid that can be opened either as a hatchback or a conventional trunk. The two trim levels (535i and 550i) correspond to the engine under the hood, and both come standard with rear-wheel drive. All-wheel drive (xDrive) is optional.

Standard 535i features include 18-inch alloy wheels, adaptive xenon headlights, foglamps, autodimming and heated exterior mirrors, a panoramic sunroof, front and rear parking sensors, automatic wipers, leather upholstery, a power tilt-andtelescoping steering wheel, dualzone automatic climate control, 10-way power front seats (with four-way power lumbar), driver memory settings and sliding, reclining and split-folding rear seats. Also standard are Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, BMW’s iDrive electronics interface, a navigation system, smartphone integration and a

12-speaker sound system with HD radio, a CD player and an iPod/ USB interface.

Besides the upgrade to the V8 engine, the 550i adds 20-way power front seats and a rearview camera.

Most Gran Turismo options are grouped into packages.

Starting things off are three main equipment lines: Luxury, Modern and M Sport. Luxury and Modern give you 19- or 20-inch wheels, LED foglights, upgraded leather upholstery and special interior trim. The M Sport package is similar, but it also adds summer performance tires (all-season tires remain standard on xDrive models), a special aerodynamic body kit and a sport steering wheel.

The Premium package for the 535i adds keyless ignition and entry, soft-close doors and satellite radio. Also for the 535i is the Driver Assistance package that gets you the rearview camera and a head-up display. On the 550i, an Executive package effectively bundles the contents of those two packages together along with ceramic-trimmed controls.

For all Gran Turismos, a Lighting package includes LED headlights and automatic high beam control. The Dynamic Handling package adds an adaptive suspension. The Driver Assistance Plus package includes a blind-spot monitoring system, lane-departure warning, top and sideview parking cameras, and

frontal collision warning and mitigation.

For the interior, the Cold Weather package keeps passengers cozy with heated front and rear seats and a heated steering wheel.

The Luxury Seating package adds ventilated front seats (20-way front seats for the 535i).

Stand-alone options include many of the above-listed items, plus four-wheel active steering, adaptive cruise control, automated parallel-parking assist, a premium 16-speaker sound system (either Harman Kardon or pricier Bang & Olufsen), power rear window shades, a rear-seat entertainment system and a night-vision camera system with pedestrian detection.

Powering the 2014 BMW 535i Gran Turismo is a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine that makes 300 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque. The 550i’s 4.4-liter turbocharged V8 increases output to 445 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque. An eightspeed automatic and rear-wheel drive are standard, and buyers can opt for all-wheel drive (known as xDrive) with either engine.

Automatic engine stop-start is also included for both models.

The EPA estimates 535i fuel economy at 22 mpg in combined driving (19 city/28 highway), while the 535i xDrive drops to 21 mpg combined (18/26). The 550i is rated at 19 mpg combined (16/25 for rear-drive and 16/24 for all-wheel drive).

Source: Edmunds.com

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PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

Arts & Culture Vandals destroy prehistoric rock art in Libya’s lawless Sahara

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andals have destroyed prehistoric rock art in lawless southern Libya, endangering a sprawling tableau of paintings and carvings classified by UNESCO as of “outstanding universal value”.

Located along Libya’s southwestern tip bordering Algeria, the Tadrart Acacus mountain massif is famous for thousands of cave paintings and carvings going back up to 14,000 years.

The art, painted or carved on rocks sandwiched by spectacular sand dunes, showcase the changing flora and fauna of the Sahara stretching over thousands of years.

Highlights include a huge elephant carved on a rock face as well as giraffes, cows and ostriches rendered in caves dating back to an era when the region was not inhospitable desert.

But in a visit to Libya’s remote far south, Reuters found many paintings destroyed or damaged by graffiti sprayers or people carving in their initials.

Tourist officials in Ghat,

the nearest large town, said the vandalism started around 2009 when a former Libyan employee of a foreign tour company sprayed over several paintings in anger after he had been fired.

But the destruction has accelerated since the 2011 civil war which ousted dictator Muammar Gaddafi and then plunged the sprawling North African country into widespread armed anarchy.

With tourist and archaeologists staying away on safety grounds, hunters have taken over the Acacus massif, shooting much of the wildlife across the arid, rugged landscape.

Weapons are available anywhere these days in a country where the central government based in Tripoli on the northern Mediterranean coast exerts scant authority and the nascent armed forces are no match for armed tribesmen and militias.

“The destruction is not just affecting the paintings but also the natural reserve. Hunters are

to blame,” said Ahmed Sarhan, a tourist ministry official in Ghat.

“It’s even a problem in Algeria. Authorities are too weak to stop it,” he said, adding that wildlife such as gazelles and wolves had been almost extinguished by local hunters.

“It (Acacus) contains some of the most extraordinary scenery in the world and has its unique natural wonders,” UNESCO, the United Nations cultural agency, said on its website.

UNESCO has listed Acacus as a World Heritage site, one of 981 worldwide recognized for their outstanding universal value to humanity.

“Many tourists (once) visited the area, in particular Acacus since it is one of the best touristic locations in Libya,” said al-Amin al-Ansari, a local tour operator. “The destruction of paintings is regrettable,” he said, standing in front of a cave with desecrated paintings of camels and other animals.

Vandalised rock art is pictured at Tadrart Acacus

Art should not tear people’s dignity – Photographer

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photographer and poet, Sandra Mbanefo-Obiago, has said that art should not be destructive or bring down the dignity of people but should teach something positive.

“I believe that art, including photography, dance and music should have inspirational elements,’’Mbanefo-Obiago told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

The artist spoke at the Wheatbaker Hotel Ikoyi, venue of her photo exhibition.

NAN reports that the exhibition had the title: ``Unfurling”.

It would hold from June 9 to Aug. 31.

According to her, artworks are able to show something from a vantage point that gives hope.

“I don’t subscribe to art that is destructive or that tears down the dignity of others.

“Amid all the pain and disillusionment, striving for success and challenges, there is still beauty surrounding us; we should endeavour to enjoy it.

“We hope that these photographs will allow our audience to appreciate anew some of the simple things that exist in our path everyday, which we rarely see,” she said.

The photographer urged Nigerians to admire the numerous works of nature.

“When was the last time you laid under a tree and looked up and admired beauty?

“We hardly do it now because of our businesses and constant activities,” she said. (NAN)

FROM THE LIVE STAGE with Patrick-Jude Oteh 0803 700 0496, 0805 953 5215 (SMS only)

The day after

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think we are in rats’ alley where the dead men lost their bones.... T. S.Elliot, The Waste Land It is almost two weeks after that terrible afternoon of the two bombs and the ill-fated attempt to bomb the viewing center. The city of Jos is still in the throes of mourning and crying. As always our leaders have continued to mouth and voice the almost inane of thoughts. One is wont to believe that the lack of a clear reasoning faculty is one of the most important reasons why people are appointed to political office. Some of them have come to blame the traders for displaying their wares on the road.

Some have blamed a lot of the traders for being in the wrong place. Some have even said that there was never any market there in the first place.

The traders some from their sick beds have said that they complained to the police about the vehicle with grains that had been packed in their vicinity for such a long period but the best the police did was to come and remove the number plates of the vehicle and away they went. Some victims are forever silent with their spirits roaming the eternal void seeking for justice in a very unfair world.

Now the comedy is beginning to rear its head – people are beginning to take laws into their hands. Suddenly everyone in the city of Jos has become a bomb expert. The people are moving to protect themselves. Presently before you pack your vehicle anywhere, some people will simply appear and ask you to open your boot. After thoroughly searching your boot, any wire that is found in the vehicle or even a towing rope is a bomb device! And while parking in some places, you will be advised that if you cannot come back to collect the car in five minutes, forget it. Forget the fact that where you are trying to park is a major road which is a public thoroughfare. Some people will actually watch you park and they then proceed to deflate your tyres.

Pray, tell me if you deflate the tyres of a bomb laden car, is that not a sure recipe that when the bomb goes off you are all trapped? The other aspect of the reaction right now is that people now place blocks and stones right on the road in front of commercial places and houses that are built practically on the road. These stones are not rocks but bits and pieces of cement blocks that contain 95% sand and 5% cement. Now how does such a watery contraption stop a bomb laden car from going in the direction it is primed?

The development board continues in the ridiculous practice of collecting N100 per parking space with no facilities built for parking. They have sent men and women who act as toll collectors to continue to collect the revenue – as soon as you park they swoop down on your car and with bare hands they proceed to check and ransack your car. I had cause to ask one of such women that if they see a bomb or the wirings of a bomb will they recognize it or the idea is simply the N100 revenue generation? Their employers have not deemed it fit to arm them with even the simple metal detectors.

I went to see my electrician last week. I could not get space to park in front of his shop so I went further down. I parked on the road beside one woman selling kose. I left the car and went to Peter’s shop. I asked them to look at what will happen next – suddenly the woman realised that there was a car parked by her makeshift shop. She proceeded to put off her fire, dismissed the four customers there and they all went to a safe distance to watch events unfold. One other man, who had been watching, started to laugh and we all joined. He proceeded to point to me in front of Peter’s shop that I was the owner of the car and they all knew me.

Only then did the woman come back to attempt to re-ignite her fire and resume her business. In the city center, while the Murtala Mohammed road has been blocked to allow for the bomb experts to conclude part of their investigations, all the traffic that used to abound there has shifted to the Ahmadu Bello Way axis creating the kind of human and vehicular traffic that made the day after the bomb in the city of Jos such a sad and sombre one. If not for the fact that God endowed the average Nigerian with the gift of comedy, we would have still been crying and moaning our collective loss.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

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Arts & Culture Book Review

Win The War …Inside Biafra

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Nigerian youths today seem to be unaware of the doom threatening their country.

Some are more occupied with fun in the entertainment industry. If we have as many technologists as there are entertainment artists today, Nigeria would become one of the developed Global Nations.

Others seek power and influence by joining deceptive cult groups.”

(Okenwa Enyeribe ) Being a descent of the Igbo nation, though a much younger witness, Okenwa Enyeribe narrates his account of the Biafran war. Years after what is termed as ‘calculated genocide’ against the Igbos, the remote cause of the Biafran war is yet to be addressed; the issue of deep seated corruption which has trailed the country’s development history, now engulfing the progress of the nation is much of concern to virtually everyone who seeks the good of the country.

With overheated polity, corruption soars to fearful heights. A time where democracy is proclaimed without the proof of its dividends; the interlocking dangers of unemployment with the dreadful insecurity issues in the country cum the doubtful thoughts of continuous existence of the Nigerian Nation.

Obviously disturbed by the retrogressive state of Nigeria, the Author of the book, Win the war …inside Biafra, Okenwa Enyeribe, reminisces the history of Nigerian politics, the corruption inherent and how it affected the Igbo race.

He seeks to alert the Nigerian youths to wake up from their slumber and take the governance of their country more seriously.

The Author advocates against the breakup of Nigeria since that was the reason for the Nigerian civil war of 1967-1970: For the national confab ongoing, the Writer says “proponent of breakup or division of Nigeria are pre-Lugard ideologists, who want to take the country 100years backwards.

Division of Nigeria in whatever way will result in calamitous events of Rwanda and Burundi in the 1980s.”

Win The War … Inside Biafra, is not just a book that tells the story of the Biafran war; it is a book that painstakingly gives a sequential account on development of corruption in Nigeria, the injury inflicted on the country by the few greedy elites and corrupt politicians, a wake up message for the serious minded but underrated Nigerian Youths. The author brings to the fore the travail in the Biafra, the evil and loss in war, deceit in the Nigerian state and the importance to deal with corruption as that has been the culprit behind underdevelopment and consequently political instability.

The author captures these in 19 chapters, while subdividing the chapters into 2 parts; the civil war and aftermath, spread through 12 chapters and the continuous growth of corruption spread through 7 chapters. Still worried with the present dilemma in

Tittle: Win The War …Inside Biafra Author: Okenwa Enyeribe Publisher: Dabiton International, Abuja, 2012 Pages: 145 Reviewer: Doyin Ojosipe Nigerian, Okenwa Enyeribe took time to explain the cause of the civil war as an elitist rank ego between Ojukwu and Gowon; He captures this in chapter 12, while stating the importance of dialogue rather than war. The chapters 1-11 gave account of the Aburi accord, the war, starvation, and death due to diseases, crippled economy, and struggles for survival, the Igbo’s ingenuity in technological invention, the offensives and the surrender. The author made use of good pictorial illustrations, use of time and dates cum the first person narrative style

to peg his reader’s continuous interest.

The remaining chapters 13-19 discussed extensively on Nigeria today and the erosive decadence in Nigerian democracy. For the author “opposition to Government dubiousness and corruption is very weak in Nigeria… a regime without opposition is a rotten autocracy. An administration that does not contend heatedly with its legislature is a ‘chop-I-chop’ arrangement-a charade.”

But for the front cover graphics, I would not have paid much attention; seeing the topic was just

enough to give a clue about what it’s all about. Many authors have done a work on the Biafran history, with titles like: ‘There was a Time’, ‘There was a country’, and a poem in Obu Udeozo’s ‘Compassion’, which gives much imagery of the Biafran trauma. Okenwa Enyeribe was however able to peg my interest, by making use of pictorial illustrations and precise dates of events, which gives the book more depth.

The book is good for lovers of history and politically-minded readers, as it not only makes a story but kept the track of turning events in Nigeria while proffering solutions as well. By his bibliography, the references drawn from various newspapers of different dates; the Bible; a Pharmaceutical book and other related books, makes it a worthwhile book to read.

POEM OF THE WEEK Going all the way with it Head bowed at the desk.

Stop talking. You’re no longer special.

Notebook in hand. Rilke and Hemingway In my head. Always in my head.

Their empires have become mine.

Their knowledge has become mine.

What masters of observation, lessons, intimacy.

Their breath has become my breath.

They cut me with their small details Because they were both tough in their own way.

I wonder what they thought of the feminine writer.

The female poet suffered too.

They sowed brave seeds and planted weather.

She discovered that clay was grand.

And having a husband and children too.

These poets they feel things.

They see things.

They are prophets and chefs too.

Memorising recipes in the kitchen.

And their words come to them in whispers, mother-tongue.

Men of that generation thought it was strange For a woman to write, to have that kind of knowledge.

And if women weren’t brave enough they gave it all up.

Stupid stars how I love them.

How I love to worship them.

Diamonds that are broken off into pieces.

What is poverty anyway? It is not a crime.

I don’t want love, any of it and that is the truth.

I don’t want to be worshipped or admired.

And that is also the truth. Ship the news off.

Insomnia means nothing and everything to me.

In youth perhaps I was more beautiful then Than I am now. Now I live with regret.

And it is bitter like thoughts of suicide.

Watching someone bleeding to death is a horrible bore.

Or even in the sight of yourself in the eyes of someone you love.

Can I get anything useful from it I ask myself?

Here bleeding is a metaphor for such is war and battles.

The written word, love at first magical sight.

Loneliness, morning, waking up alone, the sight of a lake No people swimming in it or on it in sight. No beasts about.

And when you remember and when you remember not to forget.

There was no fish on Easter Sunday. Daddy was very upset, sad even.

After leaving Mr Hughes there was nothing left of me.

But love can do that to you.

QUOTE He knew everything about literature except how to enjoy it.”

- Joseph Heller

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

PAGE 31

International ANALYSIS

I

n 1844, Karl Marx published a short but dense text entitled “On the Jewish Question”. It was a critical review of two essays by the-then famous philosopher Bruno Bauer, who had argued against equal rights for Jews if granted on religious grounds.

If Jews wanted to be considered full citizens - Bauer maintained echoing the widespread opinion of the time - Jews would have to abandon their religion and embrace Enlightenment. According to this logic, there was no room for religious demands in a secular society.

As Bauer’s position suggests, anti-Jewish racism in Germany and elsewhere in Europe in the first half of the 19th century, was justified mainly on cultural and religious grounds. Jews were discriminated and regarded with suspicion because they were considered an alien “nation within the nation”.

In fact, it was not until the second half of the 19th century and the rise of “social Darwinism” that “racial anti-Semitism”, framed in biological terms, appeared on the political scene and Jews were openly discriminated against on the basis of their alleged genetic inferiority.

The question we might want to ask ourselves today is whether contemporary Europe is confronting a Muslim question similar to the Jewish question 170 years ago.

Is European antipathy towards Muslims comparable to that first stage of hatred towards Jews, a hatred that culminated in one of the darkest pages of human history?

In spite of the obvious differences between the two contexts, the success of the far right during the recent elections in several European countries seems to suggest that the answer is a resounding yes.

The victory of these parties attests to the incredible gains made by Islamophobic propaganda in the last ten years. In France, the president of the National Front, Marine Le Pen - who obtained one quarter of all votes - has asked school canteens to stop offering Muslim children alternatives to pork. In Britain, the UK Independence Party campaigned against the construction of mosques and became the biggest winner in the elections, with an astonishing 27.5 percent of the vote.

Many of these parties, as well as those who voted for them, do not consider themselves racists. After all, the problem with Muslims according to the likes of Le Pen - is their alleged backwardness, fanaticism and unwillingness to integrate.

In short, it is the Muslims’ fault.

Just like the Jewish question of the 19th century, the contemporary Muslim question is premised upon cultural differences and thus presented as legitimate and politically correct.

Though immigrants in general are singled out as a social and economic threat to European societies and workers, it is Muslims in particular who have come to epitomise the “bad other”. This has been achieved not only through the

The rise of the far right in Europe has fed Islamophobic sentiments, writes Farris [AFP/Getty Images]

On anti-Semitism and Islamophobia in Europe xenophobic propaganda of the far right. Actually, conservatives and even liberal and left-wing parties have contributed to the fanfare.

On the one hand, conservative leaders such as current UK Prime Minister David Cameron, France’s former President Nicolas Sarkozy and Italy’s former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi have repeatedly invoked the Christian roots of

European countries, while, on the other, a much broader gamut of political forces, including liberals and leftists, have participated in decrying the headscarf as a symbol of backwardness and oppression.

The voices nourishing anti-Muslim sentiment across Europe come from all sides of the political map.

Muslims have thus become, at least in many ways, the new Jews.

“

They have become the scapegoats onto whom Europeans are projecting their anxieties about the future. Conservative and far-right politicians constantly intensify and exploit these anxieties in order to enhance neoliberal and nationalist agendas, while most liberal and left-wing parties have imitated the racist right, perhaps hoping it will bring them more votes.

Many of these parties, as well as those who voted for them, do not consider themselves racists. After all, the problem with Muslims - according to the likes of Le Pen - is their alleged backwardness, fanaticism and unwillingness to integrate.

Marx understood this process all too well. He criticised Bauer for claiming that the lack of political emancipation for the Jews was the result of their culture and religion.

Marx maintained that religion had nothing to do with the continued discrimination of the Jews. The prejudice against the Jews and their lack of rights, Marx argued, is to be understood in the broader context of the state’s structural inequalities.

The transmutation of the Muslims into the Jews of the 19th century does not mean that a new genocide is imminent, or that the tragedy of the Jewish people in 20th century Europe will be replicated as the tragedy of the Muslim people in the 21st. History does not repeat itself in this way. But history can rhyme. It will only be the redoubled work of anti-racist militants and organisations that can potentially prevent that rhyme.

Source: Aljazeera

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

PAGE 32

International

Uganda minister ‘unfit’ for UN appointment ICC to put Congolese rebel leader on trial

P

rosecutors have presented enough evidence to justify putting on trial a Congolese rebel leader accused of rape, murder and enlisting child soldiers, judges at the International Criminal Court said on Monday.

Bosco Ntaganda, widely known as “the Terminator”, surrendered to the US embassy in the Rwandan capital Kigali in March and was transferred to the ICC in The Hague.

Judges said in a statement there was sufficient evidence of his involvement to proceed to a trial.

He will face 18 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity for his alleged involvement in a surge of ethnic violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) more than a decade ago.

Prosecutors will now seek to prove the charges against Ntaganda, who commanded the United of Congolese Patriots (UPC) militia, in a trial.

There was a widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population,” the judges said in a statement. The UPC militia targeted “civilians perceived to be non-Hema, such as those belonging to Lendu, Bira and Nande ethnic groups”.

The decision marked a rare success for prosecutors, who have struggled to build solid cases at the court, established more than a decade ago to prosecute individuals responsible for war crimes.

The New York-based Human Rights Watch said Monday’s decision would open the way for broader justice in the northeastern Ituri region of DRC. “The ICC decision sending Ntaganda to trial opens the door to justice for victims of horrific crimes in Ituri,” said Geraldine Mattioli-Zeltner, international justice advocacy director at Human Rights Watch.

Bosco Ntaganda is accused of committing war crimes in the Democratic Republic of Congo a decade ago [EPA]

Uganda foreign minister Sam Kutesa has been implicated in at least two scandals since 1999 [AP]

U

ganda’s Foreign Minister Sam Kutesa, who was previously ousted as a junior investment minister over claims he abused his office, is not fit to become the president of the United Nations

General Assembly, a watchdog has said.

Kutesa has been implicated in at least two more scandals since 1999, including allegations that he accepted bribes from foreign companies seeking oil contracts in

Uganda.

“He’s a hugely divisive figure because of his chequered history in Uganda’s politics,” said Nicholas Opiyo, a prominent Ugandan lawyer who runs a watchdog group called Chapter Four.

“He’s “H ’ nott a paragon off virtues it and he’s not the best this country ccan put forward,’’ Opiyo said.

Kutesa, who denies all allegations, is Africa’s unanimous cchoice to become the UN General A Assembly’s president. He’s expected tto be elected to the UN position on J June 11, replacing John W Ashe o of Antigua and Barbuda. The post rrotates annually by region.

At least two senators from N New York have criticised Kutesa’s appointment, and more than 9,000 people have signed an online p petition urging US Secretary of State John Kerry and UN member sstates to block the Ugandan from ttaking up the post.

The petition cites his iimplication in corruption scandals at home and his alleged role in the eenactment of Uganda’s new antig gay law.

Kutesa and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni are “making a mockery” of UN values and it would be a “travesty” if Kutesa was allowed to lead the next session of the UN General Assembly, the petition says.

Kenya cleric Sheikh Mohammed Idris shot dead in Mombasa

A

moderate Muslim cleric has been shot dead in Mombasa, the latest killing of a preacher in the Kenyan city.

Sheikh Mohammed Idris, chairman of the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya, was killed close to a mosque near his home by a group of gunmen.

Reports say he had previously been threatened by radical Muslim youths and had said he feared for his life.

He is the fourth prominent Muslim cleric to be shot dead in the city since 2012.

The others were accused of links to the al-Qaeda linked

Somali Islamist group al-Shabab and their supporters accused the government of being behind their killings - charges the authorities denied.

‘Big blow’ Mr Idris had apparently urged the police to deal with militant elements at his mosque, leading some to brand him a traitor.

“There was a power struggle at Sakina mosque - where he was supposed to be installed as a sheikh - between his supporters and another radical group opposed to him,” Mombasa’s police chief Robert Kitur told the AFP news agency.

According to Kenya’s Daily Nation newspaper, those opposed to him wanted to change the

gypt’s new president has ordered the police to launch a crackdown on sexual assaults amid growing public

anger.

Abdul Fattah al-Sisi also called for citizens to “reinstate moral values in society” after a graphic

video of sexual assault victim went viral.

Mr Sisi’s inauguration as president on Sunday was marred by a string of sexual assaults on women in Cairo.

Several men have been arrested over the attacks in Tahrir Square, where his supporters were celebrating.

A statement from President Sisi’s office said he had told the Interior Minister to ensure there is full implementation of a new law that has for the first time made sexual harassment a crime.

The law decrees that those found guilty of harassment in public or private will face up to five

mosque’s name from Sakina Jamia to Masjid Mujahedeen, meaning “mosque of Islamist fighters”.

Sheikh Mohammed Idris had apparently urged the police to deal with militant elements at his mosque

Sisi vows to end sexual assaults E

President Sisi introduced a new law that has for the first time made sexual harassment a crime

years in prison and a maximum fine of 50,000 Egyptian pounds ($6,990; £4,160).

Activists welcomed the law, but warned it remained to be seen whether it would be enforced by police.

Judicial sources said the arrests that took place after Sunday’s attacks were made under the new law.

The Interior Ministry said the men were aged between 15 and 49.

The incidents took place as thousands of supporters of President Sisi gathered in Tahrir Square in Cairo to celebrate his inauguration as president.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

PAGE 33

International

Asia & Middle East

Iraqi PM calls emergency Indian president after Mosul is seized lays out new T economic he Iraqi prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki said yesterday that he would ask parliament to declare the emergency after the overnight takeoverby the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

He said: “We will not allow Mosul to be under the banner of terrorism, We call on all international organisations to support Iraq and its stance in fighting terrorism. The entire world will suffer if terrorism spreads.”

He stated that the government would arm civilians who volunteered “to defend the homeland and defeat terrorism”.

Osama al-Nujaifi, the parliament speaker, said Iraqi soldiers abandoned their posts in Mosul when the attack began, action he described as “a dereliction of duty”.

Nujaifi said parliament would discuss the call for a state of emergency on Thursday.

Reports by AFP later on Tuesday quoted Iraqi police sources as saying fighters had taken over areas of Kirkuk and Salaheddin province.

Syrian activists meanwhile said ISIL fighters had taken over the Syrian side of al-Yaroubiya crossing, one of three crossings into Iraq.

Al Jazeera cannot verify those reports.

Nujaifi, who is the brother

of Atheel al-Nujaifi, the state governor, said he had asked the US ambassador in Baghdad for help in order to stop what he described as “a foreign invasion

by ISIL”.

A pro-ISIL Twitter feed said the group had released about 3,000 people from three prisons, although other estimates were lower.

Mosul is Iraq’s second largest city, and the second city to be

captured by fighters this year after Fallujah.

“We have lost Mosul this morning,” a colonel at a local military command centre told the Reuters news agency. “Army and police forces left their positions and ISIL terrorists are in full control. It’s a total collapse of the security forces.”

Al Jazeera’s Imran Khan, reporting from Baghdad, said Maliki faced opposition to his

call for a state of emergency, which would grant him sweeping powers.

Khan said: “Many politicians have vocally criticised Maliki’s handling of the crisis. Many in Iraq are asking why a lightly armed group like ISIL have been able to take over huge cities.

“Some here worry that a state of emergency will give Maliki sweeping powers that once he has, he may well find difficult to

Nouri al-Maliki, Iraqi prime minister

Israel selects Rivlin as next president

R

euven Rivlin, a staunchly right-wing member of Likud party, has been selected as the 10th president of Israel, ending an ugly and hard-fought campaign to replace the outgoing head of state, Shimon Peres.

Rivlin received 63 votes in a second-round runoff on Tuesday in the Knesset, the Israeli parliament.

He defeated Meir Sheetrit, a centrist politician, who received 53 votes.

Israel’s next president

Rivlin is a former Knesset speaker and a member of Likud, the party headed by prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

He received only reluctant support from the Netanyahu, however the two men have a personal feud stretching back years. Netanyahu spent weeks trying to delay the election and recruit candidates to run against Rivlin. At one point he tried to recruit Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel,

who is not even an Israeli citizen.

The incoming president is a staunchly right-wing politician.

He does not support Palestinian statehood, or an Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank; instead, he has said he favours giving Israeli citizenship to Palestinians.

He has also been sharply critical of undemocratic laws introduced in the Knesset in recent years, particularly a bill to raise the electoral threshold,

which would drive Palestinian parties out of the parliament.

The 90-year-old Peres restored some prestige to a presidency that had recently been tarnished by scandal. His predecessor, Moshe Katsav, is currently serving a sevenyear jail term after being convicted of rape, while Ezer Weizman, who held the job before Katsav, retired early amid corruption charges.

The post is largely a ceremonial one, however, and Peres spent much of his term putting a friendlier face on the policies of an increasingly right-wing government. Rivlin has already said he will focus on domestic issues; his stance on the two-state solution, though, might have a symbolic impact, if not a substantive one.

“It might have made a difference if he had a lot of moral authority,” said Mark Heller, an analyst at the Institute for National Security Studies. “But it’s not enough to move the government in one direction or another, and whenever the president opens his mouth on these issues, he’s sharply reminded to stay out of politics.”

agenda

I

ndia’s new government will pursue an economic reform agenda that foresees introducing a general sales tax, encouraging foreign i investment and speeding approvals f major business projects, the for p president has told parliament.

Pranab Mukherjee also said o Monday the new government on w would engage energetically with its n neighbours, including China.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s g government will “urgently pursue” r reforms to the state-run coal sector to a attract private investment, Mukherjee t told politicians elected in Modi’s l landslide victory last month.

In an address to the two houses o parliament which was drawn up of b Modi’s new cabinet, Mukherjee by s said India’s economy faced “ “extremely difficult” times and that iinflation was “unacceptably” high.

The speech also included a sseries of ambitious policy goals that h had been laid out in the election m manifesto of Modi’s Bharatiya J Janata Party (BJP), including the ccreation of 100 new cities and a rrevamp of the railway network.

“The country is passing through a an extremely difficult phase on the eeconomic front,” said Mukherjee.

“Putting the economy back on track is paramount for my government.”

“My government will strive to get India on a high growth path, reign in inflation, restart the investment cycle ...[and] restore investor confidence,” he said.

India’s economy has been growing at below five percent for the past two years, far below the level needed to lift millions of people out of poverty, while inflation is currently running close to nine percent.

Modi’s conservative BJP, which defeated the ruling centre-left Congress party in polls in April and May, made reviving the economy the main platform of its campaign as well as promising to clean up government.

In the speech, Mukherjee said that “my government ... will be predictable, transparent and fair” and “was committed to providing a clean and efficent administration focused on delivery”.

The government would “make every effort” to fulfil its pre-election promise to bring in a new general sales tax and would also “embark on rationalisation and simplification of the tax regime” to make it less “adverserial”, Mukherjee said.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

PAGE 34

International Europe and Americas

Merkel and Cameron in battle over European Commission

C

entre-right leaders from Sweden, Germany, Britain and the Netherlands are meeting near Stockholm to try to reach a consensus on European reform.

The controversial question of who is to head the European Commission is likely to be discussed, but not officially.

UK Prime Minister, David Cameron is expected to try to get leaders on-side to block JeanClaude Juncker taking the job.

It sets him against German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who publicly supports the exLuxembourg leader’s appointment.

EU leaders have traditionally named the Commission head on their own, but new rules mean they now have to “take into account” the results of the European Parliament elections.

The European People’s Party (EPP) - the largest centre-right grouping in the parliament, of which MrJuncker is a member won the highest number of seats in May’s polls, and he has argued that gives him the mandate.

But observers say neither he nor any other candidate has managed to obtain a majority so far. Some EU leaders, including Mr Cameron, insist that the Commission’s priorities need to be redefined first before an appropriate candidate is chosen.

Commission president is the most powerful job in Brussels, shaping EU policy in key areas such as economic reform, immigration and ties with other global powers.

Few details from the minisummit in Harpsund have emerged. However, job creation, institutional changes in the EU and structural reforms to boost EU competitiveness were said to be high on the agenda.

The UK, Sweden and the Netherlands are leading a campaign to block Mr.Juncker’s candidacy, which has the support of the EPP.

Hague: UK to boost support for survivors of sexual violence

T

he United Kingdom will boost its financial support to survivors of gender-based violence in warzones, British Foreign Secretary, William Hague announced on Tuesday during the opening to the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict.

“I am pleased to announce this morning that the UK will pledge a further £6 million to support survivors of sexual violence in conflict – a further £6 million to help them rebuild their lives and rebuild communities,” Hague said.

“But governments alone cannot end sexual violence in conflict, so this is much more than just a meeting of ministers.We also want to help achieve a change in attitudes all over the world to these crimes – and you are part of changing those attitudes,” he added.

More than 117 countries have sent representatives to the event which is being held between June10 -13 in London.

The summit will establish an “international protocol” to document and investigate instances of sexual violence in warzones.

(L-R) British Foreign Secretary, William Hague, British Prime Minister David Cameron and U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Special Envoy, Angelina Jolieduring the opening to the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict, which held in London yesterday.

Hague also called upon states to strengthen their domestic laws “so that there are no safe havens for those responsible for warzone sexual violence.”

Parallel to the summit, British diplomatic posts around the world will hold events related to the conference.

U.N. High Commissioner for

Refugees Special Envoy, Angelina Jolie joined Hague in co-hosting the conference. Jolie stressed on the importance of transferring the stigma from the victim, to the perpetrator.

In her opening speech, she attributed the widespread presence of sexual violence in warzones to the lack of medical

and legal protection provided to victims. She reiterated Hague’s remarks on the need to train armies and peace envoys to combat gender-based violence.

Hague referred to the plight of those in the Central African Republic, Afghanistan and Syria to stress the urgency of combating sexual violence.

Protests spread across europe as taxi-app backlash grows

U

Taxi drivers protest in Milan, Italy, on May 21, 2014. Milan’s taxis have been idle for five days to protest the ride-hailing app,Uber.

ber Technologies Inc. faces more than 30,000 taxi and limo drivers acrossEurope in the region’s biggest protest against the smartphone app that’s threatening to upend the carservice industry.

At least 3,000 Parisian drivers are planning to block the Charles de GaulleandOrly airports as well as the A1 highway that circles the French capital starting at 6 a.m. local time. tomorrow. Similar demonstrations are planned inMadrid, Milan and Berlin. In London, between 10,000 and 12,000 black cabs and private hire cars are expected to descend on the

tourist hubs of Trafalgar Square and Parliament Square at 2 p.m.

While Europe’s taxi industry has in the past held local rallies against Uber, whose app allows customers to order a ride from drivers who don’t have taxi licenses, its unison underscores the challenges the San Francisco-based company is facing to justify a $17 billion valuation. The protests also mark an increasing backlash against the likes of roombooking service Airbnb Inc. and video-streaming provider Aereo Inc. as they clash with traditional industries arguing the competitors should be subject to the same regulations.

US deploys stealth B-2 bombers in Europe T he US Air Force has sent more of its bombers to Europe, deploying two B-2 stealth aircraft as part of a military exercise.

On Sunday they joined three B-52 StratoFortress bombers already deployed in Britain.

All the visiting American aircraft are stationed at RAF Fairford, a British air base west of London.

“This deployment of strategic bombers provides an invaluable opportunity to strengthen and improve interoperability with our allies and partners,” said Adm. Cecil Haney, commander, US Strategic Command in a USAF statement. “

The B-2 bombers are assigned to the 509th Bomb Wing out of Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri.

They will conduct training flights in the US European Command area of operations, the statement said, offering no further details on the mission.

The US has been sending additional troops to Europe lately in a gesture meant to reassure its NATO partners, especially those in Eastern Europe, that Washington is committed to defending them militarily. NATO says the deployments are needed for a possible aggression from Russia

amid the ongoing political crisis in Ukraine.

Moscow is criticizing the buildup of NATO forces close to Russia’s borders, calling them provocative and warning that the US is using the Ukrainian events as a pretext to flex its muscles.

The Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit is a multipurpose stealth bomber first used by the US during the 1999 war in Kosovo. It was designed primarily to deliver nuclear weapons, but has been used extensively as a conventional bomber in all major US military campaigns from Afghanistan to Libya.

One of two B-2 Stealth Bombers deployed in Britain

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

PAGE 35

Strange World

Homeless man has been living in a grave for 15 years

B

ratislav Stojanovic, a 43-year-old homeless man from Serbia, has been living with the dead in a cemetery in Nis. He has made a grave his home and says he is more scared of starving and of the living than of his dead neighbors.

A former construction worker, Stojanovic has never had a regular job, and lost his home many years ago, after running up debts. For the last 15 years he has been sharing a tomb with the ashes of a family who died over 100 years ago, in Nis. He tried to make the place as cozy as possible, and claims he feels at home in it. “It is dry and it is warm,” Bratislav says. It isn’t a palace but it is more comfortable than the street.”

He admits life in the cemetery was hard in the beginning, but now he’s more afraid of the living than he is of the dead. Most of Bratislav’s time is spent foraging for candles and cigarette buts around the cemetery grounds, but things have been pretty tough since the burial place went out of use and hardly anyone goes there anymore.

Most days Bratislav feeds on food from the city’s dumpsters, but says it’s not as bad as you might think.

“It’s amazing what people throw away,” he says. The candles help him stay warm on cold nights, and the homeless man is happy he has finally found a place where no one dares bother him, not even the police. Still, whenever he slides over the lid of his tomb, Bratislav always takes a look around before revealing himself, not for fear of attackers, but to make sure he doesn’t scare anyone to death.

His not the first person to make his home in a cemetery. Last year, we reported about an Argentinian woman who moved in her husband’s mausoleum because she loved him so much, and the over 10,000 cemetery dwellers of Manilla have constantly been in the news for years. Still, Bratislav Stojanovic is the first person I’ve ever heard of who lived in a grave for as long as 15 years.

Bratislav coming out of the grave he lives in

Man goes barefoot for a year T his winter has been one of the toughest in years, which makes this Kentucky man’s initiative all the more special.

Richard Hudgins has decided to go barefoot for an entire year to create awareness about the plight of shoeless children around the world. He also hopes to raise

money for the cause.

“For 365 days I’m going to wear no shoes to collect new shoes and raise money to buy shoes for children who have never had the luxury of owning a pair,” Hudgins wrote on his Facebook page ‘No Shoes for a Year’. “At the end of the year I’m going to take all of the money that I’ve raised and talk to as many shoes companies as I can. Hopefully, I can raise enough money that they really really want it and they’ll make a contribution as well.”

Hudgins, a hairstylist from Louisville, started the charity campaign in December. His first day barefoot was the hardest.

“After that first hour-and-ahalf, I was like no way, I can’t do this, there’s no way.” He even abandoned his workout and left the gym when he saw the manager approaching him.

“It was kind of humiliating, I didn’t expect that at all,” he said. He almost gave up after that, until he saw his first $5 donation on the website. “That really inspired me and I said I’m going to keep doing it, I’m going

to keep going.”

So far, he has gone barefoot to work, to the supermarket, dropped his daughter at school and even made it to the gym.

It’s really amazing how he could make it in such harsh weather.

“You really do build a tolerance up,” he said. “The ice isn’t so bad; it’s the snow, because the snow gets on top of my feet.”

On his Facebook page, Hudgins also wrote about the people who are forced to go barefoot every day. “The reality of life for many individuals in developing nations is that having a pair of shoes is a rarity. Over 300 million children worldwide are without shoes.” He highlights the dangers of not wearing shoes – puncture wounds, cuts, scrapes, and burns. And in some cases, hookworm or threadworm infections too.

Hudgins’ goal is to raise $25,000 by the end of the year. He then wants to take the money to Kenya, where children need uniforms and shoes to go to school. According to Elijah Ombati, a Kenyan missionary, the amount is good enough to

buy durable shoes for over 800 kids. “The need is high, and the need is growing day by day,” said Ombati. “Those who are from middle class families, they have shoes, but those who are poor, maybe a friend gave them shoes, or maybe they are still looking, or maybe the shoes are torn. Some even share shoes.”

So far, Hudgins has managed to raise $4,000. Donors are also sending in boxes of new shoes. He got the barefoot idea from Toms Shoes, after the store challenged its customers to go without shoes for a day. “I thought one day without shoes was a pretty cool idea, but I wanted to go big or go home, so I decided to do a year.”

Mostly, Hudgins has found people to be supportive of his cause. “You’d be surprised how many places don’t have those (no shoes) signs,” he said. Most businesses don’t have a problem with him walking in barefoot.

Even his gym is okay with it now.

But a few people do point and stare, or throw him a dirty look sometimes. There was only one place – a sandwich shop – that flatly refused to serve him.

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PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

Digest Smoking marijuana as a teenager lowers IQ for life, scientists warn

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mo kin g c an n abis a s a teenager lowers IQ into adulthood and could have a lifelong impact, researchers have warned.

U.S. researchers found the damaging effects of the drug remained even if users stopped smoking marijuana as adults.

They said teenagers face increased risks from smoking cannabis, because the brain is rapidly developing at this time.

The scientists, from the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) in the U.S., added that smoking cannabis affects critical thinking and memory during use, with the effects persisting for days.

Reviewing a range of studies on marijuana smoking, they reiterated that cannabis impairs driving and increases the risk of being involved in a car accident.

The risks are further enhanced when combining marijuana with alcohol, they reported in the New

The damaging effects of the drug persist even if a person stops smoking it in adulthood

Smoking cannabis as a teenager lowers IQ in adulthood and could have a lifelong impact, research suggests

England Journal of Medicine.

The panel looked into areas where little research had been previously conducted.

Those areas included the consequences of secondhand marijuana smoke, the long-term impact of prenatal marijuana exposure, the

therapeutic potential of the individual chemicals found in the marijuana plant, and the effects of marijuana legalisation policies on public health in the U.S. Stronger health effects may occur with today’s more potent marijuana, they warned, as older

studies are based on the effects of lower-potency marijuana.

‘It is important to alert the public that using marijuana in the teen years brings health, social, and academic risk,’ said lead author and NIDA director Dr Nora D. Volkow.

‘Physicians in particular

can play a role in conveying to families that early marijuana use can interfere with crucial social and developmental milestones and can impair cognitive development.’

Recently, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia, found smoking cannabis before the age of 15 could lead to insomnia later in life.

Any history of using the drug was associated with an increased risk of reporting difficulty getting enough sleep.

Participants in the study reported struggling to fall asleep, difficulty maintaining sleep, experiencing nonrestorative sleep and feeling sleepy during the day.

The strongest link between lack of sleep and cannabis use was in those who first used the drug under the age of 15.

Source: Dailymail. co.uk

Could using your phone at night cause blindness?

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Chinese man who texted his girlfriend for hours in the dark risked going blind after his retina detached from the back of his eye.

The 26-year-old suffered the condition retinal detachment after using the messaging app, WeChat, almost constantly over several days and nights.

Doctors who diagnosed the condition, which can lead to blindness, took the man into surgery for an emergency operation to fix the problem.

Without prompt treatment, the condition can lead to blindness in the affected eye.

The retina is light-sensitive and sends messages to the brain through the optic nerve.

A 26-year-old Chinese man was rushed into emergency surgery after the retina in his left eye began to detach from the back of his eye after he spent hours texting his girlfriend in the dark. The condition can lead to blindness if a person does not receive prompt treatment. File picture

The man had reported experiencing sudden flashes in his line of sight, a common sign that a retina has become detached.

The condition occurs when the thin lining at the back of a person’s eye - the retina - begins to pull away from the blood vessels that supply it with oxygen and nutrients.

The condition usually strikes between the ages of 50 and 70 - but scientists say an increasing number of young people are suffering from it - and smartphones could be to blame.

Medical Daily reported the Chinese man had been texting his girlfriend constantly throughout the day and for several hours in bed at night.

Yu Bin, an eye expert, told Want China Times this was an extreme case, but added it was possible for people to experience a retinal detachment as a result of excessive phone use.

Experts say starring at devices, such as phones and tablet computers, can put unnecessary strain on a person’s eyes.

‘Our eyes have evolved for three-dimensional viewing,’ Andrea Thau, a New York Citybased optometrist, told NBC News.

‘So we wind up overfocusing as we strain to find a 3-D image on a close-up 2-D screen.’

Last year a lasdr eye surgeon warned that rates of short sightedness among young

people have soared because of p ssmartphones.

David Allamby, Founder of F Focus Clinics, said there had b been a 35 per cent increase in the n number of people with advancing m myopia (short sightedness) since tthe launch of smartphones in 11997.

He added that the problem ccould increase by 50 per cent in tthe next ten years.What is retinal d detachment?

Retinal detachment happens w when the thin lining at the back of a person’s eye begins to pull away ffrom the blood vessels that supply iit with oxygen and nutrients.

Without prompt treatment, tthe condition can lead to blindness iin the affected eye.

Many people will spot warning

signs, indicating their retina is at risk of detaching before they lose their sight.

They include the appearance of floaters or dark spots in the field of vision, sudden short flashes of light in one eye and blurred or distorted vision.

Retinal detachment is most often the result of the retina becoming thinner and more brittle with age.

It can also be caused by a direct injury to the eye.

It is a rare condition, one in every 10,000 people will develop a new case in any given year.

As it is associated with ageing, most people are affected between the ages of 50 and 75.

Source: NHS Choices

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

PAGE 37

Beware of APC politicians, Niger PDP warns From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

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iger state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has counseled Nigerlites, especially its members, to be wary of failed APC politicians who have nothing to offer them but desperation to grab power at all cost in the state.

In a statement signed by the PDP state Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Hassan Mohammed-Saba and made available to newsmen in Minna yesterday, the party

stated that these failed politicians have lost virtually all the elections they have ever contested at all levels but were only versatile in cheap propaganda for cheap political gains.

It stated that the incompetence of the APC leadership could be seen in its inability to hold a conclusive congress which has brought about division among their members.

“How can a political party that cannot hold a conclusive congress want to rule a complex

state like Niger state?” Saba asked.

He added that the APC is already on the verge of collapse owing to the crisis generated by its poor and haphazard attempt to organize congresses from ward to local government and state levels adding that the people of Niger state should therefore distance themselves from the pack of incompetent people and their party.

He therefore urged Nigerlites to disregard all concocted lies being peddled by those group

of self seeking opportunistic politicians against the PDP led state government in a vain attempt to hide their failure through propaganda.

Saba disclosed that a party, like its so called legacy predecessors - ACN , CPC and ANPP, will continue to fail at the polls and would soon fade away to oblivion as Nigerlites are conscious of the Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu’s government developmental strides.

He stated that the achievements recorded so far by

PDP led government in the state speaks volumes in the fields of Education, Health, Agriculture, Transportation, Investment and the development of Human Capital in line with its vision to become one of the three most developed economy in the country by 2020.

He noted that PDP will not resort to use of gutter language or mudslinging but will continue to present issues as they are unlike the APC whose stock in trade is character assassination and twisting of facts to mislead the public.

2015: Group wants FCT minister released for Bauchi guber poll From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

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group, under auspices of Amalgamated Democracy Awareness in Bauchi state, has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to release the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed to contest the state gubernatorial election in 2015.

The Chairman of the group, Haruna Adamu Maihula, made the call yesterday in Bauchi during a meeting it held at Reinsurance House Bauchi, saying that the FCT minister remains the best out of all the other aspirants currently vying for the office.

Maihula said that the call became necessary in view of the level of transformation that had been witnessed since Mohammed was appointed as the FCT minister by President Jonathan.

“We are calling on Senator Bala Mohammed to come and contest for the governorship election because we are confident that he would transform Bauchi State the way he has transformed the FCT because the state is in dire need of the kind of leadership he has demonstrated,” he said.

Chairman of the group also appealed to the people of the state to rally round and support the FCT minister for governor come 2015 to continue the good work of the present administration of Isa Yuguda in the state.

Maihulan said that the group would soon begin mobilising their members across the 20 local government areas in the state for the realisation of the Senator Mohammed mandate.

The meeting was attended by several market groups comprising of students, farmers, artisans, traders and market women.

L-R: Chairman, PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, Vice-President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, Chairman of Ado Ekiti Hausa community, Alhaji Musa Ahmed, and Mai Girma-Sarki, Ado Ekiti, Alhaji Abduldullahi Adamu, during a meeting of Hausa community with the vice president after grand finale of Ekiti PDP gubernatorial candidate’s rally, on Saturday in Ado Ekiti.

NGF: Jang, Mimiko commended for purposeful leadership

By Lawrence Olaoye

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he Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Gov. Jonah Jang of Plateau state and his deputy, Gov. Segun Mimiko of Ondo state have been commended for focused and purposeful leadership as the forum marks its first year under

their leadership.

The sole administrator of the Forum, Earl Osaro Onaiwu, said he was particularly proud to be serving the Forum under their leadership.

He said their leadership adhered to the vision and the objectives behind the founding of the Forum, which is an avenue

for peer review and collaborative interaction with other tiers of government for the benefit of the citizenry.

Onaiwu noted that the forum under the leadership of the duo was so far very successful in working with the federal government at ensuring that the citizens of Nigeria benefit from

government policies at all levels.

The Sole Administrator encouraged all the governors to continue to maintain the peaceful coexistence and mutual respect they have achieved in the last one year, which could stand as a model for other groups working for a better and peaceful Nigeria.

APC convention: We’re yet to zone any position - Ngige

By Umar Muhammad Puma

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ll Progressives Congress (APC), convention committee secretary, Sen. Chris Ngige,yesterday debunked the rumour making the rounds that the party has zoned it executive positions ahead of its National Convention.

Ngige made this disclosure yesterday in an interview shortly after he presided over a meeting with all the convention committee members in Abuja.

Asked to confirm reports that certain positions have been zoned, Ngige said “No, we have not zoned anything to anywhere and you know that zoning is a conceptual arrangement. So, even if we agree it will be a sort of gentleman’s agreement, it will not deny anybody of its right as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution.”

On how prepared the committee was for the convention, the Senator declared that “APC National Convention

Committee is very very prepared, you can see that all the committee members are here and everything is already working out fine.

“Nigerians will see a convention that is transparent, democratically elected leaders will emerge from our party to steer the affairs our party for the next four years. Thereafter, in November or December this year, this particular executive we are putting in place will organise our National Convention to elect our Presidential candidate.”

He also said many people have obtained forms for different positions. He was not however specific of numbers for each positions.

On how the party is working to resolve some of the crisis arising from the Congresses, Sen. Ngige explained that it was only in about five states the party is having issues, adding that “ for a big party like us, with 37 branches, those states will be handed over to the incoming executive for them to look at.”

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PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

Politics

Saidu Baba sworn in as member of Yobe Assembly From Uche Uche, Damaturu

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Edo state Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, addressing youths protesting against some lawmakers who defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday in Benin City.

2015: Atiku, Nyako’s defection, a setback for PDP in Adamawa,says APC chieftain From Umar Dankano, Yola

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former youth leader of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in Adamawa state Alh. Aliyu Bakari, who is a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress, (APC) has said that the defection of Governor Murala Nyako and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to APC, has rattled the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

Bakari observed that the PDP lost its relevance in the state when Gov Murtala Nyako, the state leader of the party and other founding fathers like

former Vice President Atiku Abubakar left its fold to APC based on impunity, injustice melted on them.

Bakari, while addressing over 5000 PDP supporters from the 21 local government areas of the state who reaffirmed their support to Nyako APC led government at Silver Hotel, Yola, maintained that APC is the only party in State that will guarantee the safety of the electorates in any election.

The former PDP Youth leader, who is now the Special Adviser to Nyako, on Grassroots Mobilization, told the gathering

that over1.5 million electorates are working for the victory of APC ahead of the 2015 general elections.

He explained that those who mattered in the PDP who worked for the victory of the party in the last general election such as Alh. Mijinyawa Kugama, Ahmed Song, Alh. Abdu Digir, Hon PP Elisha, former governor of the state, Alh. Saleh Michika, and hosts of others have decided to work for the interest of the APC in the next general election.

He advised the decamped members of the PDP not to be troubled as the APC will give

them a free and dependable democracy at all levels in the state just as he advised those who are yet to declare for the party to come forward and do so.

Bakari called on all people of the state to come and join the APC as the party is open to all irrespective of your creed or religion.

He charged the members of the Adamawa State House of Assembly who recently decamped to the PDP to retrace their steps stressing that it was only in APC they could actualize their political ambition.

Former Katsina SSG now state APC chairman From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

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ormer secretary to Katsina state government and chieftain of All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state, Dr Mustapha Inuwa Muhammad was yesterday elected the chairman of the party in the state.

The former SSG, who is currently having a running

battle with Governor Ibrahim Shema, polled 1004 to defeat his closest rival, Abdullahi Murja who got 776 votes in a poll by 2033 delegates from 31 council areas of the state.

Announcing the results, chairman of the Katsina state APC congress committee, Abba Wali Bello, said it was the best congress ever conducted in the history of the state and the party noting

“there is no victor, no vanquish as everybody is a winner” He insisted that the peaceful nature of the congress has further proven that the party has all it takes to safeguard the nation’s democracy adding that APC members in the state had proved cynics wrong.

“The party has emerged out of this more united and I hope we will sustain the unity for the progress and

development of the party,” he said. He noted that the entire exercise was done based on strict adherence to principles of democracy.

In a post election speech, the new Katsina state APC chairman, appealed for support and cooperation of party members assuring that he would put in his best to ensure that a virile party will confront the challenges ahead.

Kebbi 2015: Zuru youth, stakeholders endorse Hussaini for governorship From Ahmed Idris, Brinin Kebbi

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s 2015 general election approaches, some NGOs and politicians in Zuru Emirate have started picking interest in producing Adamu Hussaini Zuru as the Kebbi state governor by 2015.

Addressing newsmen yesterday after the final meeting held at Zuru with some stakeholders in the emirate, the chairman of the joint meeting, Comrade Bawa Fakai, said that youth in their different groups have also concluded to support a candidate.

He explained that groups

from all over Kebbi under the aegis of Caolition of Youth Organisations have expressed their support for the current campaign by endorsing the candidature of Adamu Hussaini Zuru, MD ZBCC for the position.

“Youth, through their various groups, have expressed their support for the actualisation of

Adamu Hussaini governorship ambition on the basis of his being the most competent among others’’ he said.

“He is a prominent bussinessman, politician and a philantropist who has never gotten tired in assisting the less privilege ones and the elderly’’ he said of the ZBCC boss.

inner of the recently conducted by election in Nangere local government area of Yobe, Saidu Baba, has was yesterday sworn in as a member of the state Assembly.

Speaking during the occasion, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Honourable Adamu Dala Dogo, while congratulating the new member for his new appointment, urged him the use his position to justify the confidence reposed in him by members of his constituency, and his party.

He called on him to also cooperate with his colleagues in the House in order to move the state forward.

The lawmaker was immediately appointed the chairman of the Assembly’s committee on Women Affairs.

2015:North Central youth call on Jigawa governor to contest Presidency From Ado Abubakar Musa, Jos

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s the 2015 draws closer,the North Central Youth Movement for Good Governance (NCYMGG), has called on the Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, to contest the presidential primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015.

The National coordinator of the group, Nafiu Yau, who disclosed this at a press briefing yesterday in Jos, said that the call for Lamido to contest the PDP presidential primaries was prompted by the need to have visionary leadership in the country.

Yau said, “We unanimously adopted Governor Sule Lamido as our presidential candidate due to his efforts and contributions towards the transformation of Jigawa state.

“Lamido has all the requisite and potentials, looking at his track record in the political sphere of this country by serving in different capacities. He was in the forefront in the struggle for the entrenchment of democracy in Nigeria,” he added.

He further stressed that among his political colleagues within the PDP, Lamido remains unequalled even as he Nigerians to vote leaders like the Jigawa governor who is focused and patriotic to the country.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

PAGE 39

News Extra

Gombe loses Nafada LG chairman

Sokoto Perm Sec, Gatawa, dies at 51

From David Hassan, Gombe

From Raji Bello, Sokoto

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The Permanent Secretary in the Sokoto State Pilgrims Welfare Agency (PWA), Alhaji Salihu Gatawa died on Sunday at the age of 51 years.

The late Gatawa died at Kaduna on after a brief illness.

This was contained in an issued statement, signed and made available to Peoples Daily by the Special Assistant to Governor Aliyu Wamakko on Press Affairs, Alhaji Abubakar Dangusau.

The statement said the late Permanent Secretary had been buried same day at his home town, Gatawa in Sabon-Birni local government.

His funeral prayer was attended by Wamakko and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, among others.

The deceased is survived by two wives and twelve children.

he chairman of Nafada local government area in Gombe state Alhaji Umar El-Nafaty is dead. The chairman was said to have felt sick and was taken to Abuja for treatment and later died at the early hours of Monday.

The prayer was conducted by the Chief Imam of Central Mosque, Gombe. Alhaji Pindiga prayed to God to forgive his sins.

He has since been buried in his home town, Gombe, according to Islamic injunction.

The late chairman was survived by two wives and children.

Among those that attended the funeral burial were the new Emir of Gombe Alhaji Abubakar Shehu Abubakar III, Gombe state governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo and top government functionaries among others.

3rd quarter: Senate passes 12 out of 187 bills

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

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s the Senate rounded up its third session of the 7th Senate, the chairman of its Rules and Business Committee, Ita Enang, has revealed that the Upper House passed 12 out of the 187 bills before it in the last one year.

This is even as he stated that the four new ministerial nominees from President Goodluck Jonathan will be confirmed when the Senate resumes on June 24.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja, Enang explained that as at the close of legislative business in plenary, a total of 187 bills were introduced from June 2013.

“These include Bills either passed, withdrawn, negatived, read a second time, committed to either standing committees or committee of the whole , consolidated, published but yet to be read and all the bills howsoever but published in the journals of the Senate”, he said.

Meanwhile, he said there are some draft bills which are yet to be numbered or published in the journal, but are being re-drafted or scrutinized to determine if they are existing laws.

He further explained that out of the 187 Bills, 9 are executive Bills, while the remaining 178 Bills are members Bills, of which 12 have been finally passed by the Senate.

L-R: Sokoto state Governor, Alhaji Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko , and Argentine Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Gustaro Dzugala, during the envoy’s visit to the governor, on Monday at the Government House, in Sokoto.

Photo: NAN

Foreign media should stop over blowing Nigeria’s security issue – Malaysian NGO From Ahmed Idris, Birnin Kebbi

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Malaysian-based non-governmental organisation (NGO) called World Assembly of Youths, has urged the foreign and Nigeria media not to overblow the persistence crisis in the country most especially the cases of Boko Haram.

Addressing newsmen yesterday at the Presidential

Hall, Birnin Kebbi while fielding questions shortly after honoring Alhaji Lawalli Na Malam Dakingari for his philanthropists support to the youth and less privileged in the state.

The president of the organisation, Umar Elkatum said that both the Nigerian and foreign media were over-blowing the current insecurity, saying that it is only some few parts of the country that the crisis is affecting.

‘’There are untrue news in some international media that Nigeria is engulfed in total crisis as a result of the current insecurity bedeviling the country’’ he said.

Umar Elkatum said that the honoring of Alh. Lawalli Na Malan Dakingari was based on his philanthropic support to youths and humanitarian assistance to people in the state, especially the less-privileged in the society.

Elkatum, who was represented by the Barr.

Ohurizeku Tochukwu said that contrary to what is making news in some foreign media that the Nigerian state is in crisis, only a small portion of the country is facing security challenges due to insurgency, pointing out that 90% of the country, such as Kebbi state, is safe and peaceful.

The occasion was attended by local government chairmen, politicians, civil servants, business tycoons and other wellwishers of Alh. Dakingari.

Kebbi pays N400m scholarship to students From Ahmed Idris, Birnin Kebbi

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ollowing the efforts of Kebbi state governor towards reducing the suffering of the students at the Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education, the state government said it has so far paid a total sum of N400 million to its students studying in various higher institutions of learning across the country and abroad for the 2013/2014 academic year.

Addressing newsmen yesterday

in his office, the Executive Secretary, Kebbi state Scholarship Board, Dr. Sahabi Adamu BirninYauri said the prompt payment confirmed the state government’s commitment to education.

Dr. Adamu stated that the state government has settled all scholarship arrears accruing to students from the state in all tertiary institutions at home and abroad.

“The Kebbi state government has been able to settle all outstanding scholarship to the

state indigenes studying home and abroad; it is not true that government owes”, he said.

He added that the state government is sponsoring its students studying Medicine and Pharmacy in Sudan and India, adding that no student under the state government’s sponsorship is stranded in the countries mentioned.

The Scholarship Board boss explained that in Nigeria, Kebbi students in Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto, Bayero

University, Kano and degree students of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto have been settled.

He however added that Students who are still working under the state civil service are exempted from the scholarship scheme since they are enjoying their salaries and other entitlement.

For the students in the Polytechnics, he said the sum of N102 million was paid to them for the same academic session under review.

Family is cell for a healthy society – Catholic Bishops

By Evelyn Okakwu

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family has been described as the most significant cell for the promotion of a healthy society.

This was disclosed by the president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) Arch Bishop Ignatius Kaigama, during the international family and pro-life conference,

organised by the CBCN, with the theme: “Witnessing to the dignity of human life”.

Bishop Kaigama said the Catholic Church is clear on its stand for life and therefore, will not encourage any marriage that will not lead to procreation. “We are very clear in stating that we stand for life.

The church, and indeed our culture, recognises only the

marriage between a man and a woman. The pro-life conference is aimed at promoting the African culture, as well as the teaching of the church”, he stated.

The CBCN president said the gathering of people at the conference in large number is a call to greater respect for life.

“We will not witness the reckless killing and shedding of

blood that is being experienced in recent times and stay quiet.

We are trying to say in words and in deeds that it is wrong. So, we have called men and women of God to assemble hear and announce clearly to the world that we stand for life. Anyone who stands to take away life or destroys or diminishes the value of life is an enemy of God”, he stated.

PAGE 40

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

Photo Splash

Bauchi state civil servants at a sensitisation workshop for civil service promotion examination, yesterday in Bauchi.

R-L: Adamawa state Commissioner for Environment, Mrs. Arziki Sawa, presenting a seedling to the wife of the state Governor, Hajiya Zainab Nyako, during the 2014 World Environment Day, yesterday in Yola.

Photo: NAN

Lagos state Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa (left), Lagos state Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (3rd right), Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye (right), in a group photograph with winners of the finals of “Be Road Friendly” competition, yesterday in Lagos.

Photo: NAN

Photo: NAN

L-R: Wife of the Senate President, Mrs. Helen Mark; Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Gu Xiaojie, and First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, during the presentation of sets of computers and accessories donated by wife of the Chinese Premier, Mrs. Cheng Hong to the office of Nigeria’s First Lady, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

Police block Lagos state House of Assembly road, to prevent protesting LASU students access to the House, yesterday in Lagos.

Photo: NAN

SPORT 41 PAGE

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

sports@peoplesdailyng.com, SMS- 08142929046, 08036258222, albertakota@yahoo.com

24 Hours to World Cup

are Eagles must beat Iran - NFF ...We ready for

T

he Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) General Secretary, Musa Amadu has stated that the Super Eagles cannot afford the luxury of not beating the Iranian National football team when the two sides meet in their first match of the FIFA World cup in Brazil on June 16 Speaking with newsmen in Abuja, Amadu stated that the result of the match with Iran will go a long way to determine whether the Super Eagles would qualify from that group or not.

He urged the Super Eagles players to go all out against the Iranian team so as to get the maximum three points and then take away the pressure from them in their other matches.

“The point is that winning the first match against Iran will take a lot of pressure away from the team when they meet the other opponents in the group.

The fact is that if we fail to beat Iran in the first match the situation will become a little bit

United States’s Jozy Altidore vs Joseph Yobo

Team Melli, says Yobo difficult for them,” Meanwhile, Joseph Yobo has expressed the Super Eagles readiness to trample upon Team Melli when both sides face in Group F’s opening game at the 2014 Fifa World Cup Brazil.

Stephen Keshi’s men will be hoping to begin their World Cup campaign on a winning note when they face Carlos Queiroz’s side at the Arena da Baixaba in Curtiba on June 16.

The 33-year old defender said that despite not winning any of their pre-World Cup friendlies, all is now set for the Eagles to have a brilliant outing in Brazil starting with the game against Iran before facing Bosnia and Argentina.

“We believe in ourselves. We have played some friendly games.

Not the results we expected but we have learnt a lot from it,” Yobo said.

Dolphins reject LMC’s order on Kano Pillars match Don’t instigate

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hree-time Nigeria Professional Football League champions, Dolphins FC have announced that they will not honour their rescheduled match day 19 fixture against champions Kano Pillars as directed by the organisers of the league, the League Management Company.

Dolphins were originally scheduled to face Pillars at the Sani Abacha Stadium on 8 June but the game was put off following the death of the Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero.

General Manager of the club, Joe Johnson said the new date, 14 June is not feasible and as such, Dolphins will not honour the fixture in Kano.

“Since we were told that the game was postponed indefinitely, we let our players

go on break since the LMC had previously said there would be no league games during the World Cup,” Johnson said in a statement made available to Supersport.com.

The club chief also revealed that a lot of their players did not even return to Port Harcourt with the team.

“A lot of them (players) did not return to Port Harcourt with us as some alighted in Kano and some in Enugu, depending on where they live.

“By the time we got to the camp in Port Harcourt some had departed too because they were told by us that there would be a two-week break for them during the World Cup. “We received a message from the LMC that the game will be replayed this Saturday but how

crisis in Eagles’ camp, Yobo tells critics

By Albert Akota

T Dolphins Chief Coach, Stanley Eguma that is possible when there are no ready funds to prosecute a game we had already spent money on and there are no players too,” he said.

Dolphins currently sit in eighth place in the NPFL with 27 points from 18 matches while Pillars occupy second spot with 28 points from 17 games.

Know your World Cup teams and their nicknames

T

he World Cup matches for 2014 is to kick off in Brazil in a matter of days.

Just 4 years after the last one in South Africa that was won by Spain, and Spain returns to this year competition as the number one ranked team, according to a large section of soccer fans, a favourite to win it again.

Without much doubt, you may know the moniker of your favourite team. But do you know the moniker of the other teams that qualified to play in the 2014 World Cup, see below.

Nigeria: Super Eagles, Algeria: Fenec Foxes, Argentina: La Albiceleste, Australia: The Socceroos, Belgium: Diables Rouges, Bosnia and Herzegovina: Zmajevi, Brazil: Selecao, Cameroon: The Lions, Chile: La Roja, Colombia: Los Caferos, Costa Rica: Ticos, Côte d’Ivoire: The Elephants, Croatia: Vatreni, Ecuador: La Tri, England:Three Lions,

France: Les Bleus, Germany: Nationalmannschaft, Ghana: Black Stars, Greece: Galanolefk, Honduras: Los Catrachos, Iran: Team Melli, Italy: Azzurri, Japan: Samurai Blue, Korea Republic: Taegeuk Warriors, Mexico: El Tri, Netherlands: Oranje, Portugal: A Selecao, Russia: Sbornaya, Spain: La Furia Roja, Switzerland: La Nati, Uruguay: La Celeste and USA: Team USA

he Super Eagles captain, Joseph Yobo has alleged that some persons are bent on creating problem in the Super Eagles camp by peddling stories that are totally untrue about the situation in the camp.

Speaking before the team departed for Brazil for the FIFA World cup, Yobo said he wondered where the whole issue of crises in their camp emanated from stressing that there is absolute peace in the camp as the players are all in one mind preparing seriously for the big task ahead of them.

The Fanabache of Turkey defender who played last season with English premiership side, Norwich on loan also decried the news that made the round about their meeting they had with officials of the Nigeria Football Federation with regard to their allowances.

He said the information that came out of the meeting was a total representation of fact saying that whatever issued they raised was amicably resolved.

Meanwhile, Joseph Yobo enjoined Nigerians not to judge the Super Eagles with the results of the friendly matches saying that even though the results of the matches did not go as they wanted, he advised that Nigerians should not attach much importance to them.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

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Sports

Nathan Cleverly and Alejandro Emilio

Cleverly to face Valori on July 12

F

ormer world lightheavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly will face Alejandro Emilio Valori at Liverpool’s Echo Arena on 12 July.

It will be Cleverly’s second fight at cruiserweight after his second-round defeat of Shawn Corbin in May. Argentine Valori, 31, has won

Iran dismiss Eagles’ threat

T

he Assistant coach of Iran’s national team, Oceano Cruz has predicted defeat for African champions, Super Eagles when both nations square up in the second Group F game at the 2014 Fifa World Cup finals in Brazil.

The Super Eagles and Team Melli will go head-to-head at the Arena da Baixada, Curitiba on 16 June and Oceano, an extremely important member of Iran’s coaching staff, has voiced his sentiments about the potentially decisive fixture.

Team Melli have been in fine fettle as their preparations for the 2014 World Cup finals continued with an impressive 2-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago in their last tune-up game.

Carlos Queiroz’s side had been on a four-match winless

15 of his 19 fights, 11 by knockout, but this is his first fight outside his homeland.

Cleverly would share top billing with fellow cruiserweight

Tony Bellew that fought Brazil’s Julio Cesar dos Santos.

Cleverly beat Bellew at the same venue in a light-heavyweight contest in October 2011 and

the pair look set for a rematch at cruiserweight later this year, as long as they both progress through their respective fights on the card.

NFF bans coaches for recycling of age-group players

run before Sunday’s friendly victory in Sao Paulo and Oceano says they have now turned their attentions to the upcoming fixture against the Super Eagles.

“It was a game that has fulfilled our expectations,” Cruz told Globoesporte.

He added that their thoughts are now fully on their opening game of the World Cup against the talented Super Eagles.

“We are preparing for the first match against Nigeria. Our only concern is Nigeria at the moment.

“Victory is always important to create a culture of winning.

This only happens with results like this,” he said.

Group F of the 2014 Fifa World Cup is comprised of Nigeria, Iran, Argentina and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Flying Eagles

By Albert Akota

T

he Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Technical Committee has evolved a policy barring the recycling of players in the age-group national teams by coaches.

This was revealed by NFF Technical Committee chairman, Bar. Christopher Green.

According to Green, this is aimed at ensuring that more talents are discovered from the grassroots.

His words; “We have noted with displeasure that some coaches of the

age-group teams use players that played in the same age-group team in the previous tournament just because they still fall within the age bracket.

This has to stop. Henceforth, any coach that does this will incur the wrath of the committee.

“We challenge age-group coaches to be more hard working and discover a fresh set of players every two years.

Even if the player is four years below the age bracket, he is ineligible if he had played in that age-group before.

This country is blessed with many talented footballers and we want to have a large pool so as to secure the future of Nigerian football”, he added.

He continued; “We did this with the men’s U-17 team. All the last set of players that won the tournament last year have graduated to the U-20 team and current U-17 coaches have to groom an entirely new set of players.

I want all the other age-group coaches to take a cue. The main aim of the age-group teams is not to win but to discover fresh talents”.

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MELCHIZEDEK ONYHAS CARE FOUNDATION

GO WITH JESUS CHRIST MISSION

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED CENTRE HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

SIGNED: SECRETARY

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. RUTH OSEHAI IBRAHIM (MRS) 2. VIDON ALBERT JAULE (MR) 3. SIPHO MSELEKU 4. LINDA IBRAHIM (MRS) 5. OCHOLI OJONIMI OKUTEPA (BARR) 6. OLUWATOMI ADEOYE OYEBANJI (PASTOR) 7. ASHLEY OYEZIMA IBRAHIM (MISS) 8. MICHELLE FANOE 9. BENJAMIN ADICK ALIKIGHA (MR) 10. ZAKARI OHINOYI IBRAHIM (MR) THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1.PROVISION OF CARE AND SUPPORT TO THE POOR, VULNERABLE AND THE MARGINALISED GROUP BOTH IN NIGERIA AND GLOBALLY THROUGH ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT AND EMBARKING ON CAPACITY BUILDING PROJECTS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: MESSRS J.O. IBE & CO (LEGAL PRACTITIONERS & NOTARY PUBLIC)

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PUBLIC NOTICE

THE LEADING LIGHT EVANGELICAL MINISTRY

CLASSIC 1 LOVE CLUB OF NIGERIA

MICHAEL AND THERESA OYENEYE

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED MINISTRY HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.PASTOR ODULEYE TAIWO FEMI 2.ODULEYE AYODEJI OLUWAFEMI 3.MR. PETERS SHOLA 4.MRS. PETERS DUPE 5.ODULEYE FOLAKE THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVE ARE: 1. TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. 2.TO WINS SOULS FOR CHRIST. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED CLUB HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. OLAYINKA STELLA OYENEYE 2. OLAITAN GLORIA OLOWOLEHIN 3. OLUWATOYIN ANTONIA OYENEYE 4. FOLASHADE ALISIGWE-EJIM 5. DEBBIE MEKWUNYE 6. WURAOLA ANTHONIA BADMUS THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. AWARD SCHOLARSHIP TO THE LESS PRIVILEGED CHILDREN. 2. PROVIDE TEACHING JOBS FOR THE WIDOWS. 3. PROVISION OF ADULT EDUCATION FOR ADULT IN RURAL COMMUNITIES. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION.

SIGNED:BARRISTER NJOKU OZICHI AMAECHI

SIGNED:BENSON AKUNYA

SIGNED: BARR. CHUKWUEMEKA OKOLI.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.PASTOR IGNATIUS OLABODE OWOLABI 2. PASTOR (MRS) ALARAPE OMOLARA OWOLABI 3. PASTOR ADELEKE ADESINA ADEYEMI THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVE ARE: 1.TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.UCHE JOHNPAUL EZEH 2.SAMUEL AKUNNAYA NNABUCHI THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVE ARE: 1.TO FOSTER MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING,AND HARMONIOUS RELATIONSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER. 2.TO PROTECT THE INTEREST AND WELFARE OF MEMBERS.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.PASTOR OWUMI OGHENERORO PALMER 2.PASTOR (MRS) EUNICE OWUMI PALMER 3.BRO. JACKSON AGHAHOWA OKORO 4.BRO. ODARO ERIC OSATOHANMWEN 5.BRO. ROBERT OBIAZI 6.BRO. IGBINOBA THEOPHILUS 7.BRO.AUGUSTINE OSAZUWA 8.SIS. OSAYAMEN FAITH THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVE ARE: 1.PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL OF SALVATION IN CHRIST JESUS. 2.TO TEACH AND ORIENTATE CHRISTIANS FOR HEAVENLY KINGDOM. 3.TO PRESENT JESUS CHRIST AS LIGHT OF THE WORLD. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED:PASTOR OWUMI OGHENERORO PALMER

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

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PUBLIC NOTICE

DELIVERANCE & MIRACLE INTERCESSORY MINISTRY

LIFE BROOKS INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION

ARROW OF GOD’S DELIVERANCE BIBLE CHURCH

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED CHURCH HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.MISS OMOLOLA DORCAS TAIWO - CHAIRMAN 2.MISS KIKELOMO IHINOSEN ALUFOHAI - SECRETARY 3.MR. ADEMOLA JONATHAN BAMGBOSE - MEMBER 4.MISS MARY MODUPE SULLE - MEMBER 5.MISS. OLAFIYIN FOLUWA OLUWATOSIN TAIWO - MEMBER 6.MR. KEHINDE AYANLEYE - MEMBER 7.MR. ADESEGUN OLABODE ADEDOYIN - MEMBER

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.PASTOR GOODNESS KING 2. PASTOR (MRS) VICTORIA GOODNESS 3.PASTOR ANTHONY UBAH 4. MR JAMES OFODI 5.MR DAUGLAS AISHEN

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED MINISTRY HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. EVANG. THELMA EBAM - PRESIDENT 2. JOY KUCHELI YATI BWALA 3. MR. ANDY DAUDA AMBIKPUTEN 4. MR. CHINEDU COMRADE OGUBUIKE THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. 2. TO PROPAGATE CHRISTIAN FAITH TOWARDS DELIVERANCE FROM SPIRITUAL BONDAGE. 3. TO CONDUCT HEALING, DELIVERANCE, BREAKTHROUGH SALVATION AND SETTING THE CAPTIVES FREE. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION.

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.TO PROMOTE EDUCATION,ENTREPRENEURSHIP,AGRICULTURE,F OOD SECURITY,OLD PEOPLE’S PROGRAMME,EMERGENCY DISASTER MANAGEMENT,SHELTER AND LEGAL SERVICES.

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION.

SIGNED: PRESIDENT: EVANG. THELMA EBAM

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED:OSAGIEDE EHIS ESQ FOR:STARLION LEGAL

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PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

ODINMA OWO YOUTH CLUB OF NIGERIA

OMNIPOTENT POTTER’S MINISTRY INTERNATIONAL

ASSOCIATION OF PERFORMING GOSPEL MUSIC MINISTERS

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED MINISTRY HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ASSOCIATION HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.AKINKUNMI SEGUN SAMSON 2.AKINKUNMI FUNKE RECHAEL MEEKNESS 3.IJIDAKINRO OLUBUNMI OLUWOLE 4.AKINMOLAYAN AKINWANDE JOSEPH

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.RUTH VINCENT EBUNKPOLO 2.PRINCE OKEKE GOZIE ELIAS 3.PROMISE IWUOZOR 4.ROSEMARY CHUKWU

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1.TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST.

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1.TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED CLUB HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.EDE JOSEPH-CHAIRMAN 2.ANI OKWUDILI 3.NJOKU INNOCENT- SECRETARY 4. NNAMANI EMMANUEL 5.OKWOR GEORGE THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.TO PROMOTE GOOD RELATIONSHIP AMONG THE MEMBERS 2.TO POOL RESOURCES TOGETHER WITH A VIEW TO ADDRESSING THE WELFARE OF THE MEMBERS 3.TO INITIATE VIABLE PROJECTS, PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE CLUB AND THE SOCIETY IN GENERAL. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: BETHRAND O. OKOLO (ESQ.)

SIGNED: AKINLABI VICTOR SHINA ESQ 07036910971

SIGNED: BARR. HOPE ABAYOMI

SIGNED: BARRISTER ANICHE BENJAMIN 08068657263

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PUBLIC NOTICE

MEDIA AND COMMUNICATION RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE

SUSTAINABLE FOOD SECURITY INITIATIVE IN AFRICA

THE NEW HOLY CHRIST ARMY CHURCH WORLDWIDE

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED INITIATIVE HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED INITIATIVE HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.PROF.IBRAHIM LAWAN BASHIR 2.PROF.ZEBULON SUNDAY CHIBUNDO OKOYE 3.PROF. CHIEDO OKECHUKWU AKU ESHI 4.PROF. JOHN WOKTON WADE MNI 5.CHIEF. ELVIS CHIBIKO E. CHUKWU PHI THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.TO STRIVE TO END HUNGER AND PROVIDING LIFE SAVING AID TO AFRICAN MOST VULNERABLE. 2.BRINGING FOOD RELIEF INTERVENTION IN DISASTER AND EMERGANCY SITUATIONS. 3.PROMOTING FOOD SECURITY ISSUES ACROSS AFRICA. 4.TEACHING FARMERS AND CORP PRODUCERS NEW AND MODERN TECHNIQUES IN FOOD PRODUCTION. 5.DEVELOP AND CREATE A MEAL PACKAGING PROGRAM THAT IS SUSTAINABLE AND MOST COST EFFECTIVE. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION.

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED CHURCH HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION ABUJA FOR CHANGE OF ITS TRUSTEES UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.ILIYA M. KURE - CHAIRMAN 2.MARY KURE 3.NAOMI L. G MAIGUWA - SECRETARY THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1.TO PROMOTE EXECELLENCE IN SCIENCE,HEALTH ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIAL SECTOR DEVELOPMENT JOURNALISM. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

SIGNED: SECRETARY

THE NEW TRUSTEES ARE: 1. HIS EMINENCE, MOST REVD. (CHIEF PROPHET) DR. ISAAC COMFORTER TAMUUOTONSIKI ANYANASIKIKE 2. RT. REV. ACHESEOMIE TAMUNOGIKIPIRI GERSHON 3. RT. REV. (SNR PROPHET ) SAMUEL OKECHUKWU NDUBUEZE 4. RT. REV. (SNR PROPHET) SOTONYE DANIEL KELIO 5. SIR CHIEF FRIDAY AKARAKPO (KSE) THE OLD TRUSTEES ARE: 1. LEADER GOD’S GIFT ABRAHAM 2. DR. JOHN MONDAY 3. BARR. DRESSMAN OKEY 4. PROF. SUNDAY DICKSON 5. ENGR. OKORO FRIDAY AIMS: TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST ROUND THE WORLD ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, MAITAMA, ABUJA SIGNED: SECRETARY

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PUBLIC NOTICE

GOD’S SUFFICIENCY DELIVERANCE MINISTRY (CAC/ IT/NO 40215)

LAWAL KASALI BELLO FOUNDATION

LIVING SPRING ASSEMBLY

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. AKEEM LAWAL, ESQ - CHAIRMAN 2. HABEEB FASUYI, ESQ - MEMBER 3. GODSON OSHIOGBE IGBADUME, ESQ - MEMBER 4. KABIR FOLORUNSHO ELELU, ESQ - MEMBER 5. MARGARET ADENIKE LAWAL - MEMBER 6. DAWUD ABAYOMI SULAYMAN, ESQ - SECRETARY AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO ASSIST LESS PRIVILEGED MOTHERS AND WIDOWS IN THE SOCIETY

BY EMPOWERING THEM TO START TRADE, BUSINESS OR VOCATION THAT WOULD MAKE THEM SELF RELIANT. 2. TO ASSIST LESS PRIVILEGED ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN BY GIVING THEM SCHOLARSHIPS AND OR OTHER FORMS OF ASSISTANCE TO CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION. 3. TO ENHANCE THE PERFORMANCE AND SELF ESTEEM OF PUPILS AND STUDENTS IN SCHOOLS; AND TO HELP PUPILS/STUDENTS REALIZE THEIR POTENTIAL ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPERATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ORGANISATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 2004

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED MINISTRY HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REMOVAL/APPOINTMENT OF SECRETARY UNDER PART “C” OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 2004 APPOINTED TRUSTEE 1. MR. EKE FELIX MMANUOMA PH.D - SECRETARY 2. BRO. OPARA PATRICK IKECHI - REMOVED THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES REMAIN THE SAME ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REMOVAL/APPOINTMENT SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B. 198, GARKI, ABUJA WITHIN TWENTYEIGHT (28) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. IHECHI DANIEL 2. ENGR. ONUOHA JOSEPH THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. TO PREACH AND PROPAGATE THE WORD OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. 2. TO WIN SOUL INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD THROUGH THE PREACHING OF THE WORD OF GOD. 3. TO MINISTER HEALING, DELIVERANCE AND RESTORE FREEDOM TO CAPTIVES. 4. TO PRINT AND PUBLISH TRACTS, RELIGIOUS BOOKS, MAGAZINES AND DISTRIBUTE SAME FREELY TO SCHOOLS, PRISONS, AND REHABILITATION CENTRES. 5. TO ESTABLISH BANCHES WHEREVER CONVERTS ARE MADE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B. 198, GARKI, ABUJA WITHIN TWENTY-EIGHT (28) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

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PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

COMMUNITY DRIVERS FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE INITIATIVE

SWORD OF VICTORY KIDNEY FOUNDATION

BASHARI BIRNINKUDU FOUNDATION

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 2004

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 2004 THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. ABBAS ANAS ADAMU 2. AISHA MOHAMMED GARBA 3. NASIR ABDULLAHI THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. TO SUPPORT WOMEN’S ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY FOR THEIR EMPOWERMENT TO ENABLE THEM TO ACHIEVE GOD ORDAINED POTENTIALS 2. TO GENERATE PROGRAMMES DESIGNED TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF WOMEN’S LIVES. 3. TTO PROMOTE THE SUSTENANCE OF WOMEN’S OPTIMUM HEALTH INALL ITS RAMIFICATIONS WITHIN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA. 4. TO ASSIST GOVERNMENT DEVELOP POLICY AND PROGRAMMES FOR THE ENHANCEMENT OF WOMEN’S HEALTH. 5. TO ENCOURAGE THE PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN IN THE CONCEPTUALIZATION, DESIGN AND ADMINISTRATION OF HEALTH CASE AND OTHER FACTS OF DECISION MAKING. ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRARGENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B. 198, GARKI, ABUJA WITHIN TWENTY-EIGHT (28) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED INITIATIVE HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 2004 THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. LATIFAH ISAH ASPITAH 2. ADO ADAMU BELLO 3. PROFESSOR ADAM OKENE AHMED 4. MOHAMMED B. ATTAH 5. YUSUF SIDIKAT OLOWO 6. MOHAMMED HABIB THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. TO PROMOTE GIRL CHILD EDUCATION 2. TO ADVANCE THE STANDARD OF LEARNING IN PRIMARY EDUCATION 3. TO ENHANCE TEACHERS CAPACITY THROUGH CAPITAL BUILDING TRAININGS 4. TO PROMOTE THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WELLBEING OF STUDENTS THROUGH SPORTING ACTIVITITIES. ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B. 198, GARKI, ABUJA WITHIN TWENTY-EIGHT (28) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. MR STANLEY EBERECHUKWU ECHEBELEM 2. PASTOR IKECHUKWU NICHOLAS AMAECHI THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. TO GIVE HOPE TO THE ‘‘HOPELESS’’ WHO CANNOT AFFORD THE HIGH COST OF KIDNEY TREATMENT. 2. TO POSSIBLY DELETE KIDNEY DISEASE AS ‘‘INCURABLE’’ FROM THE MEDICAL LEXICON. 3. TO STEM THE TIDE OF KIDNEY RELATED DEATHS. ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B. 198, GARKI, ABUJA WITHIN TWENTY-EIGHT (28) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: EZEJI GLORIA 0803876923, SOLICITOR

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PUBLIC NOTICE

CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY SUPPORT FOUNDATION

LIVING SOULS SANTUARY OF PRAISE CHURCH

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED CHURCH HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 2004 THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. BARINE GBOSI 2. OMONIYI FAGBEMI 3. PROFESSOR BAYO OLOYEDE 4. WUNMI ADEYEYE THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST TO EVERY PEOPLE AND LANGUAGE. 2. TO SPONSOR CRUSADES AND ENVANGELISM 3. TO SPONSOR MISSIONARY AND MISSION WORK 4. TO PRINT, DISTRIBUTE AND CIRCULATE CHRISTIAN MATERIALS AND BIBLES 5. TO SUPPORT THE BUILDING AND EQUIPPING CHRUCHES FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL.

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED CHURCH HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 2004

SUSTAINABLE EDUCATION FOUNDATION FOR AFRICA

ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B. 198, GARKI, ABUJA WITHIN TWENTY-EIGHT (28) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION.

ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B. 198, GARKI, ABUJA WITHIN TWENTY-EIGHT (28) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED: SECRETARY

SIGNED: SECRETARY

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. PASTOR ADESINA OLADAPO MICHAEL - PRESIDENT 2. ELDER ADEKANMI ADEYINKA - SECRETARY 3. PASTOR ELUROTIMI JOSEPH HAMMED - TREASURER 4. PASTOR ELUJOBA AKINOLA - MEMBER 5. DEACONESS ADESINA OLUWABUSAYO JULIANAH - MEMBER THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. TO PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST TO THE WHOLE WORLD. 2. TO BE A PARTAKER IN INSTITUTING GODLY HOMES THROUGH MARRIAGES PROGRAMMES 3. TO ESTABLISH CHRISTIAN INSTITUTION FOR THE PURPOSE OF MORAL TEACHING.

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THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ASSOCIATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 2004 THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. ALHJAI ABDUKADIR ABDULSALAM 2. PROF. ONJE GYE-WADO 3. CHIEF PETER AMEH 4. MR. BILBERT MAJOR AGBO 5. PROF. SHAIBU IBRAHIM 6. MR GANI GALADIMA 7. BARR. JOHN OTANWA THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. TO STIVE FOR THE EDUCATIONAL, ECONOMICAL, SOCIO-CULTURAL AND PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE MIDDLE BELT AREA. ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B. 198, GARKI, ABUJA WITHIN TWENTY-EIGHT (28) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION.

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THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. PASTOR OSITA BENJAMIN OKECHUKWU 2. PASTOR MRS. COMFORT OSITA OKECHUKWU 3. ENVANGELIST MRS. LINDA DIEPRIYE DAN 4. PASTOR SOKARI JOHNSON YELLOWE THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. TO PREACH THE WORD OF GOD TO MANKIND ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B. 198, GARKI, ABUJA WITHIN TWENTY-EIGHT (28) DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: BARR. VINCENT O. ENEMOSAH

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PAGE 47

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

Leisure

Some Interesting Facts

A

whale’s penis is called a dork. Because of the rotation of the earth, an object can be thrown farther if it is thrown west.

The average person spends 6 months of their life sitting at red lights.

In 1912 a law passed in Nebraska where drivers in the country at night were required to stop every 150 yards, send up a skyrocket, wait eight minutes for the road to clear before proceeding cautiously, all the while blowing their horn and shooting off flares.

More Monopoly money is printed in a year, than real money throughout the world.

Caesar salad has nothing to do with any of the Caesars. It was first concocted in a bar in Tijuana, Mexico, in the 1920’s.

One quarter of the bones in your body are in your feet.

Crocodiles and alligators are surprisingly fast on land. Although they are rapid, they are not agile. So, if being chased by one, run in a zigzag line to lose him or her.

Seattle’s Fremont Bridge rises up and down more than any drawbridge in the world.

Right-handed people live, on average; nine years longer than left handed people.

Ten percent of the Russian government’s income comes from the sale of vodka.

In the United States, a pound of potato chips costs two hundred times more than a pound of potatoes.

A giraffe can go without water longer than a camel.

A person cannot taste food unless it is mixed with saliva. For example,

if a strong-tasting substance like salt is placed on a dry tongue, the taste buds will not be able to taste it.

As soon as a drop of saliva is added and the salt is dissolved, however, a definite taste sensation results. This is true for all foods.

Nearly 80% of all animals on earth have six legs.

In the marriage ceremony of the ancient Inca Indians of Peru, the couple was considered officially wed when they took off their sandals and handed them to each other.

Ninety percent of all species that have become extinct have been birds.

There is approximately one chicken for every human being in the world.

Most collect calls are made on father’s day.

Say what?

SUDOKU SUDOKU EASY 96

PHOTO OF THE DAY

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

QUOTABLE QUOTE As I speak with you, there are funding gaps [in preparations for] the 2015 elections… There is appropriation challenge. Ideally, when we say INEC is independent, we should do everything possible to make it really independent.

– Prof. Attahiru Jega, Chairman, INEC

SPORTS Ado Bayero was a chief, not a Lord LATEST

Mark leads Nigerian delegation to cheer up Eagles in Brazil

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

S

enate President, David Mark, yesterday led the federal government of Nigeria delegation to the 2014 FIFA soccer world cup in Brazil.

A statement issued by his Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, said President Goodluck Jonathan in a letter mandated Mark to lead the government delegation, including Chairman Senate Committee on Sports, Adamu Gumba and his House of Representatives’ counterpart, Godfrey Gaiya.

According to the statement, on the entourage also are governors of Cross River state, Liyel Imoke, his Katsina state counterpart, Shehu Shema, Federal Capital Territory Minister, Bala Mohammed, Culture and Tourism Minister, Edem Duke as well as Minister for Youth Development, Boni Haruna .

Others on the entourage includes; Sports Minister, Tamuno Danagogo, Minister of State Foreign Affairs 1, Professor Viola Onwuliri, and Commissioner of Police, Kola Sodipo.

Meanwhile, Mark is expected to deliver President Jonathan’s goodwill message to the players and officials and hold talks with them ahead of the opening game.

The delegation will attend the opening ceremony of the mundial and watch Super Eagles match with Bosnia before returning to Nigeria.

E

veryone has his/her story of the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero.

He made me feel very special from the day he and his large entourage stormed the Class One, my class, at Dutse Primary School, now in Jigawa state.

He wore all white, wearing the broadest smile I had ever seen.

He asked the teacher to step and took over the instruction. He asked a question I cannot now remember. I raised my hand.

When he picked me, I told him the correct answer. He looked surprised for he apparently thought it was an unexpected performance. The Emir strolled to my seat, put his hand on my head by the way of a blessing as our seniors do and said words to the effect that “you are the special one, greatness awaits you.”

While I’am still waiting for that moment of greatness to present itself, two things always came to mind whenever Ado Bayero’s words rang in my head.

It reminds me of a teaching story I encountered from an Indian about how God plays a joke on every new-born, whispering, ‘You are the special one!’ But the joke quickly wears thin when, as an adult, the once new-born starts running up against several billion others on this planet who all assume that they are ‘the special one’.

Two, this was a great motivation for me to look beyond the small town in which I was raised.

I’am a driver’s son whose ambition at the early period was no more than growing up to be like dad or any of those teachers.

It was a spartan lifestyle over there, but one of contentment.

Dad brought home everything we needed. He hadn’t had a formal education although he was literate, and he knew that education was the way

“

David Mark

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Wednesday Column Garba Shehu garshehu@yahoo.co.in

Late Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero

to the future. Having himself originated from Kano city, he made the habit of taking us home once in a year to spend time with the larger family. These visits to the city used to be the highest moments of the children’s life.

Unlike my dad, many of the kids and their parents saw the modern school as an unwelcome imposition. Nearly all the girls in school never made it to class seven before they were married off. Many of the boys too dropped out before making the transition to secondary school.

In this environment at that time, there was hardly a motivation for anyone to be extraordinary in school.

When the Emir moved to the next class, everyone came around to congratulate

me for, first answering his tricky question and two for the blessing I got from the revered leader. The endorsement had the immediate effect of raising my spirit, upward like a cloud.

Thereafter, it often looked to me that this was my own gateway to success, and had actually served as a great inspiration for the success achieved, if any, so far on my part.

My full conversion to republican thinking followed the contact I had in college with the radical ideas of the late Malam Aminu Kano, the liberator of the Talakawa. Aminu Kano helped many in my generation resolve their crises of identity, which led in turn, to career choices.

For instance, it was this new thinking that enabled some of

But in truth and in all of my life, I never thought that Aminu Kano’s ruthless demonization of the traditional rulers applied or captured the humane ruler that Ado Bayero was. Aminu Kano himself reserved a special place in his speeches for the later ruler and never did I hear or see on record, attacks that the late politician rendered on the Emir personally.

us to see journalism as a friend of the weak, poor, and the under-dog and for its crusading role, helping to comfort the discomforted, while at some, if not most of the times, inflicting those that are comfortable.

But in truth and in all of my life, I never thought that Aminu Kano’s ruthless demonization of the traditional rulers applied or captured the humane ruler that Ado Bayero was. Aminu Kano himself reserved a special place in his speeches for the later ruler and never did I hear or see on record, attacks that the late politician rendered on the Emir personally.

And this was for a special reason. Ado Bayero was a chief, not a lord over his people. I think that he saw his major function as stitching up the divisions among his own people, the North and the entire federation. He was always bringing together those who were divided. He rallied the Muslim masses towards education and commerce as a means to economic independence, and tried very hard to manage the delicate relationship between Muslims and Christians and that between his Hausa and Fulani people with the other groups. As a leader, the difference he made was that he not only enjoyed the confidence of successive administrations but also of the rank-and-file.

He worked very hard at the grassroots level to improve the conditions of ordinary people and those that are backward as illustrated by my own personal example.

His death therefore is tragedy as many have said, not only for the people of Kano, but for the country.

His leadership and experience will be sorely missed

by Kano, the North and Nigeria, especially given the fact that 2015 lurked around the corner, and there is no denying that a bumpy road lies ahead of country.

Ado Bayero’s long years of reign over Kano are better captured by the words of Indra Nooyi: Leadership is hard to define, and good leadership even harder. But if you can get people to follow you to the end of the earth, you are a great leader.”

That’s how Ado Bayero did his own and it is for all of follow his examples.

R.I.P Ado Bayero. We lost a good leader. Truly an irreparable loss to the country.

Published by Peoples Media Limited, 35, Ajose Adeogun Street, 1st Floor Peace Park Plaza, Utako, Abuja. Kano office: Plot 3, Zaria Road, Opposite Kano State House of Assembly. Lagos Office: No.8 Oliyide Street, off Unity Road, Ikeja, Lagos. Tel: +234 814 292 9046. Cell: +234 802 443 2099; 803 7007 759. e-mail: contact@peoplesdailyng.com; pmlnewsdesk@gmail.com ISSN: 2141– 6141