Thursday, December 11, 2014. Edition.

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Thursday, December 11, 2014 Safar 19, 1436 AH

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Delegates amend PDP Constitution, ratify Jonathan’s candidature

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2 female bombers, 4 others killed in Kano blasts

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Buhari inches towards clinching APC ticket l Party big-wigs push for consensus l Aspirants insist on election l Nigeria’s fate not for sale - Buhari

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Ballot boxes manned by policemen, during All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primaries, yesterday in Lagos.

241 Days after Will the abducted Chibok schoolgirls ever be rescued?

Photo: PREMIUM TIMES

HIV-infected wife rejects N2m >> page 3 damages in Kano

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PEOPLES DAILY, thursday, September 11, 2014

News CONTENTS 2 female bombers, 4 others killed in fresh Kano blasts News 2-11 Editorial 13 Op.Ed 14 Letters 15 Politics 16-18 Business Stockwatch

19-22 23

S/Report 24-25 M/Earth 26 Update 28 Feature

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From Edwin Olofu, Kano

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wo female suicide bombers along with four other persons died in the busy Kantin-Kwari textile market in Kano, when they detonated explosives they were carrying on their bodies at a place known as ‘Filin Parking’ yesterday.

Some residents and security officials said the blast occurred at about 3 pm.

According to an eyewitness, who spoke to Peoples Daily, but doesn’t want his name in print, the female suicide bombers disguised as customers, and were trying to make their way into the market, when some traders became suspicious and tried to quiz them.

The eyewitness added that after the alarm was raised by the traders, the duo requested for water, claiming that they were pressed and were looking for a rest room.

“The traders didn’t allow them, which resulted in a shouting match between the traders and the two female bombers. In

the ensuing argument, the first suicide bomber detonated her explosive and the second one also detonated hers, while people started running for their lives after the first explosion,” he stated.

He said that he suspected that second bomber detonated her bomb during the ensuing confusion to avoid being arrested.

Confirming the attack, Kano State Police Commissioner, Mr Aderenle Shinaba, told reporters at the scene of the attack that the explosion killed six persons including the two suicide bombers.

Shinaba stated that 7 other people sustained varying degrees of injuries and have been taken to the hospital for treatment.

He further explained that the incident happened around 2.45 p.m, when the two female bombers, who were wearing Hijab, launched the attack outside the market. ‘’We have also taken the dead ones, including the two suicide bombers to the morgue and the area has been cordoned-off, in order to prevent hoodlums

from using the opportunity to loot properties in the market,” Shinaba said.

Shinaba said security agencies are working in conjunction with the officials of the market to avoid allowing criminals coming under the pretext of sympathising with the traders to loot in the market.

The Police Commissioner added that: “The Police Ordinance Unit are already working to ensure that there was no more explosives hidden somewhere in the market.”

Meanwhile, following the explosions yesterday, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has said rescue workers and security operatives have evacuated all persons affected by the blasts to hospitals and cordoned-off the location to forestall the danger of any further explosions.

According to a press statement issued yesterday by NEMA’s Press Officer, Manzo Ezekiel, the victims were evacuated to the nearby Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital and Nasarawa Hospital where they were being

treated of the various degrees of injuries they have sustained.

“Rescue officers from NEMA’s North-West zonal office, led

by Musa Illalah, joined state officials, security operatives and local sympathisers at the scene in carrying out the rescue and evacuation. At least more than 29 persons were rescued from the blast and taken to the hospital.

It could be recalled that less than a fortnight ago, on Friday, at the mosque near the Kano Emir’s Palace, there were similar explosions followed by sporadic shootings that resulted in the deaths and injuries of many worshippers. Some of the injured persons are still recuperating in different hospitals.

NEMA had recently distributed medical supplies to the hospitals to support the treatment of the victims of the bomb explosions.

The Agency advised the public to stay away from the explosion scenes until security operatives have cleared them as safe enough to be approached.

Buhari inches towards clinching APC ticket

By Ali Abare Abubakar & Ayodele Samuel, Umar Muhammad Puma in Lagos

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Insurgency: Decisive action needed to curb violence -New study – Page 4

Metro

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Int’l 39 S/World

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Sports 41 Columnist 48

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s the over 8,000 delegates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) gathered at Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos yesterday to pick the party’s flag-bearer for the February 14 presidential election, side meetings have delayed the outcome of the convention.

The APC presidential aspirants are former Head of State, Gen Muhammadu Buhari (rtd); former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar; Kano State governor, Rabi’u Kwankwaso; his Imo State counterpart, Rochas Okorocha and the founder of LEADERSHIP newspapers, Sam Nda-Isaiah.

Peoples Daily gathered that discreet attempts by some party leaders to pick a consensus candidate among the aspirants were unsuccessful. All five contenders preferred to go into today’s contest, believing they could secure victory in a credible primary.

It was also learnt that 12 serving governors under the APC had moved to stop former vice President Atiku Abubakar from emerging as the APC Presidential candidate. A top party chieftain, who does not want his name in print, told newsmen at the venue that the governors, in a meeting that lasted for four hours, resolved to support Buhari, after several pleas to Atiku to step down for the former general failed.

The state governors were AbdulAzeez Yari (Zamfara); Ibrahim Gaidam (Yobe); Kashim Shettima (Borno); Tanko AlMakura (Nasarawa); Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara);Babatunde Fashola (Lagos); Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo); Adams Oshiomhole (Edo); Ra’uf Aregbesola (Osun); Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun); Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto) and Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers).

According to the source, “the governors had observed how Atiku has been moving round meeting the delegates, inducing them with cash.”

The source said with the governors’ support for Buhari, some aspirants were expected to

step down for him, adding that even if that happens eventually, it would be a tough race between the duo of Buhari and Atiku.

Buhari had earlier met with Atiku on possibilities of negotiating his victory through consensus, and the meeting was said to be what delayed the commencement of the convention for about five hours.

The convention started gathering momentum around 9 pm, when delegates where welcomed to the rally by APC Governors who moved round the stadium.

Buhari says Nigeria’s fate not for sale General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), said he is seeking to be the president of Nigeria because he has something to offer especially at this time when security challenges facing the nation.

In a letter he addressed to the delegates at the APC convention yesterday, a copy obtained by Peoples Daily, he said insecurity, corruption, and economic collapse have brought the nation low.

Buhari also urged the party’s delegates not to be motivated with money in the choice of the party’s presidential candidate, noting that the fate of Nigeria is not for sale.

He said he seeks to be the next president of Nigeria because he believes he has something to offer the nation at this time of multiple crises and therefore promised to serve the country with all his strength, commitment, sweat and toil in the service of the people.

“As you gather for our convention, please remember that history, change and the hopes of Nigeria are there with you. They are there to ask you to perform according to your best judgment and patriotic conscience. I also ask you to do the same.

“We seek a new Nigeria; it starts with us. It starts today. I have placed myself before you seeking your help to nominate me as your standard bearer for our progressive party, APC. “Personal ambition does not drive me in this regard. I seek to be the next president of our beloved nation because I believe I have something to offer Nigeria at this time of multiple crises.

“Insecurity, corruption, and economic collapse have brought the nation low. Time is past due that we work together to lift Nigeria up. I am ready to lead Nigeria to its rightful future.

“I have always served Nigeria to the best of my ability. I have always tried to give more to the nation than it has given me. This is the principle of service that has guided my public life. Thus, I am not a rich person. I can’t give you a pocketful of dollars or naira to purchase your support.

Even if I could, I would not do so.

The fate of this nation is not up for sale,” he said.

Stressing the need for the party delegates to elect him as APC presidential candidate, Buhari promised to govern Nigeria democratically, if elected as next President.

His words: “What I will give you and this nation is all of my strength, commitment, sweat and toil in the service of the people. What I can give you is my all. I do not intend to rule Nigeria. I want to democratically govern it with your help.

“I seek a Nigeria where Christians and Muslims may practice their faiths in peace and security; a Nigeria that is just and where corruption no longer trespasses into our institutions and national behaviour and a Nigeria where our diversity could be used for our national prosperity.

“Nigeria is our home; let us now turn it into the great nation we know it can and should be,” Buhari said.

Also, APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in his address to the delegates, said: “You came not just as party members from your particular states or communities.

You came here as representatives of a new Nigeria.

“As APC, we cannot afford to squander this moment. We cannot afford to look history in the face then turn our back to it. Let that which you do here not only be recorded as a high moment for the party but also as an inspiring turning point for our country,” Tinubu said.

He added that with the third National Convention, “the history of our beloved nation is to be rewritten for the better.”

No aspirant stepped down, says Fayemi Chairman of the National Convention Committee and former governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, debunked reports making round in the social media that some aspirants have stepped down for Buhari saying, “no aspirant stepped down.”

When asked to confirm the authenticity of the report that some aspirants have stepped down for General Muhammadu Buhari, Fayemi said: “I don’t have any aspirant that has stepped down; I am not aware of any aspirant that has stepped down.”

On the reason for the delay of the programme, Fayemi said: “We can’t be sharing space with Abuja people; we want Nigerians to watch them and see what they want to do, so when they finish their coronation we will start our election.”

I’m still in the contest - Nda-Isaiah Also, the Sam4Nigeria Presidential campaign organization has denied reports on some online media suggesting that one of the APC presidential aspirants, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah, is withdrawing his presidential ambition.

In a press release issued yesterday in Abuja, signed by David Chinda on behalf of the Sam4Nigeria media team, the campaign organization dismissed the said reports as untrue, insisting that their principal is still in the race.

Large security detachments keep vigil About 2,000 security agents including officers of Nigerian Police, Department of State Services, private security agents also took over the venue of the convention in Lagos.

A security source told our correspondent at the venue that 1000 police officers, 200 DSS officials, 300 Civil Defence personnel and about 100 private security guards including five bomb detectors, two armoured personnel carriers and 15 security trained dogs were strategically positioned at the stadium.

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PEOPLES DAILY, thursday, September 11, 2014

News

Stop playing politics with Boko Haram – Mamman Nasir From Femi Oyelola,

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ormer President of Appeal Court and Chairman Advisory Council of Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, Justice Mamman Nasir, has warned Nigerian politicians to stop playing politics with insurgents in the country.

He stated this during a press conference in Kaduna yesterday, saying this development does not augur well with the grassroots people who are at the receiving end of this senseless killing and maiming that could have been stopped a long time ago if our

leaders are united in their purpose.

According to the legal luminary, it is time those in the position of leadership and security agents realize that insurgency is a sensitive issue that should not be used as campaign slogan by anybody.

Justice Nasir also said the Sardauna Foundation after a special meeting on the state of the nation came to a conclusion that it is time for President Goodluck Jonathan to have a meeting with all former Heads of States and Presidents, traditional and religious rulers and governors of the 36 state on the insurgency

in order to seek their advice on how they solved similar situation during their tenure.

He appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to eschew and swallow all insults and political abuse, half truths as the number one Head of the Nation and be a statesman and not a politician.

“It is very obvious that Nigerians were not united enough to fight insurgency. The most worrying aspect of the truth is that our leaders in active or passive politics do not seem to care for the lives and properties and indeed part of the country and the citizens have been lost. If

there is unity, government will find it very easy to tackle the present situation?.”

He noted that the nation does not call for criticism, irrespective of the political parties differences.

“We need to Team up with Mr. President because we have not been teaming up with Mr. President and that is one of the reasons why we are unable to tackle insurgency.

“The press should also be more sensitive to security issues in their reports or information dissemination in order not to overheat the already tense situation” he concluded.

60% voters card distributed nationwide – Jega From Ayodele Samuel & Akilani Abdullah, Lagos

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head of the 2015 general elections, the Independent National electoral Commission, INEC has said that over 60% of the permanent voters card has been distributed nationwide.

Speaking at the public presentation of Nigeria Media Code of Election Coverage/INEC interface with editors in Lagos yesterday, the INEC Chairman, Prof. Athairu Jega made it known that the team has been working tirelessly to make sure it delivered credible elections in 2015.

He said at present, only two states have not been given the permanent voters card which includes Borno and Niger state, noting that the other 40% will soon be distributed across the nation.

Jega noted that the past elections has been faced with the challenge of logistics and the electoral body is prepared to tackle it next year, through its available data base that has been gathered through the distribution of the Permanent Voters Cards (PVC).

He assured Nigerians that the electoral body is prepared for the 2015 general election, saying the body will not make the same mistakes like that of 2011.

Jega urged the Nigerian Journalists against unethical and unprofessional reporting of electoral process, adding that the masses depend on them to uphold and deepen the nation’s democracy.

He urged journalists to abide by the code of conduct of coverage, saying the electoral body is open to the media in ensuring credible elections.

Scene of Kantin Kwari market suicide bomb blast, yesterday in Kano.

Jonathan support group in auto crash From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

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ragedy struck along Katsina-Kaduna expressway yesterday, when a Hiace bus conveying 18 members of the Jonathan support group under the name, Jonathan Shall Lead Again Movemenet (JOSLA) from Katsina to Kaduna, enroute Abuja had a head-on collision with a Golf car, which was coming from the opposite direction, at Giwa junction.

The state coordinator of the movement, Ms Queen Abueh, who was one of the passengers had her hand amputated at an hospital in Zaria and together with the other passengers are receiving treatment at a private hospital in Kaduna.

Briefing the media in Kaduna yesterday, the national coordinator of the movement, Comrade Kingsley Okoruwa, described the accident as unfortunate and a setback to the Jonathan support group.

He added that the driver of the vehicle is also in a critical condition as he was placed on life support machine.

“We, however, express gratitude to God that all the 18 members in the bus are responding to treatment.”

He also thanked the Katsina State Governor, Ibrahim Shehu Shema, who stopped by at the accident, assisted the victims and promised to settle the hospital bills of the 18 members involved.

Hausa movie ace comedian dies at 43 From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

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he popular Hausa film comedian, Rabilu Musa Dan Lasan, popularly known as Ibro, died in the wee hours of yesterday at the age of 43.

He died after protracted illness, which led to his medical trip to India, and passed away,

immediately after his return to Kano.

Late Ibro was born in 1971, in Dan Lasan, a suburb in Warawa local government area, about 40 kilometres from the Kano city.

He was during his lifetime sent to prison repeatedly by the then Kano state government under ex-governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, for acting in movies

believed to be violating censorship rules in Kano.

Until his death, Ibro had about 1,500 movies to his credit in the Kannywood film industry.

Late Ibro survived with four wives and eight children and was since buried according to Islamic rites at his home town in the Warawa local government area.

HIV-infected wife rejects N2m damages From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

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wife accusing her husband for allegedly infecting her with HIV virus and sued for N40 million damages, yesterday rejected the sum of N2 million damages offered from the accused.

It would be recalled that, Mansur Musa Nyanya, was dragged to Upper Shariah court sitting at Sabon Gari, Kano State, by his wife (name withheld), for allegedly infecting her with the deadly virus, early this year, before the case was transferred to Upper Shariah Court, sitting at Kasuwar Kurmi, Kano, for continuation of the trial.

However, the defense counsel, Aminu Muhammad Usman, offered to enter into reconciliation by both parties during the last proceedings.

But the reconciliation session, held Sunday, and led by the court’s magistrate, Mallam Rabiu Aminu Dausayi, was not successful as the prosecuting counsel rejected the N2million damages, instead of N40million claimed before.

Meanwhile, Barr. Dalhatu, after the magistrate convinced him to accept the offer in order to end the trial, demanded that the accused,who has never appeared before the court throughout the proceedings, should plead guilty of his offence through radio, admit that he is HIV positive and make public apology before they accept the offer. “ They agreed to pay N2million out of the N40million we claimed but the sum is too meager compared to the disease he infected her with. Therefore we prefer to continue with the trial. Or he should admit that he is HIV positive through the radio, and admit that he infected his wife as well as apologise publicly through the media before we agree with their offer.” said the prosecuting counsel When contacted, the defense counsel, said “ we argue that the plaintiff got married before she married my client and that she didn’t conduct the HIV test before she married him. So I don’t think she was infected by my client. I don’t even believe that she is HIV positive. Let’s the trial continue since they failed to accept our offer.”

Hence, the presiding judge adjourned the case until 16th December, 2014, for continued hearing.

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday, September 11, 2014

Page 4 Report Insurgency: Decisive action needed to curb violence-New study

By Ese Awhotu

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s the incidence of violence continues unabated worldwide, especially in countries like Nigeria where the Boko Haram terrorist’s gang is still wrecking havoc.

The Global status report on violence prevention 2014 released yesterday reveals that 475 000 people were murdered in 2012 alone, and homicide is the third leading cause of death globally for males aged 15–44 years, highlighting the urgent need for more decisive action to prevent violence.

The report, said despite indications that homicide rates decreased by 16% globally between 2000 and 2012, violence remains widespread. “Non-fatal acts of violence take a particular toll on women and children.

One in four children has been physically abused; one in five girls has been sexually abused; and one in three women have been a victim of physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence at some point in her lifetime.” It added Key findings of the report jointly published Wednesday

by WHO, the United Nations Development Programme, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the report indicates that: only one third of the 133 countries surveyed are implementing large-scale initiatives to prevent violence, such as bullying prevention programmes, visits by nurses to families at risk, and support to those who care for older people; just over half the countries are fully enforcing a set of 12 laws generally acknowledged to prevent violence, although 80% of countries have enacted them.

The report also found that only half of all countries have services in place to protect and support victims of violence.

“The consequences of violence on physical, mental, sexual and reproductive health often last a lifetime. Violence also contributes to leading causes of death such as cancer, heart disease and HIV/AIDS, because victims are at an increased risk of adopting behaviours such as smoking, alcohol and drug misuse, and unsafe sex.

“The consequences of violence on families and communities are profound, and can result in lifelong ill health for those affected,” states Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General. “Yet we know what works to prevent violence in our homes, schools and workplaces and on our streets and playgrounds. We should take inspiration from governments which have demonstrated success in reducing violence by taking the steps needed. They have shown us that indeed violence is preventable.”

The “Global status report on violence prevention 2014”

Troops on parol is the first report of its kind to assess national efforts to address interpersonal violence, namely child maltreatment, youth violence, intimate partner and sexual violence, and elder abuse.

Individual country profiles reflect the extent to which key violence prevention programmes and laws and selected services for victims of violence are being implemented.

The report assessed the scale of implementation of 18 “best buy” violence prevention programmes.

It shows, for example, that: one half of countries are implementing school-based programmes to teach children and adolescents “life-skills” such as non-violent conflict resolution; one half of countries are promoting efforts to change gender norms supportive of violence against women.

The report further showed that one third of countries are putting in place programmes to improve parenting in families at risk of violence while less than one quarter of countries are developing public information campaigns to prevent elder abuse.

“High levels of family and

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community violence cripple both people’s ability to sustain their individual livelihoods, as well as a nation’s options for political, social, and economic development”, said Helen Clark, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme. “This report takes stock of the measures countries are taking to prevent and respond to interpersonal violence, but the report also reveals gaps in global violence prevention which must be filled, such as the quality and reach of prevention programmes, the access to services for victims, particularly for women and girls who are disproportionately affected by violence, and the enforcement of existing laws.”

The report also reviewed 12 laws which are relevant for violence prevention. It shows, for example, that:98% of countries have laws against rape;87% of countries have laws against domestic violence;84% of countries have laws against carrying weapons in schools;40% of countries have laws against abuse in institutions for older

people.

On average 80% of countries have enacted each of these 12 laws relevant for violence prevention.

However, only just over half of countries report that these laws are fully enforced.

Laws protecting citizens against violent crime send a clear message to society about what is acceptable,” said Yury Fedotov, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. “With this Global status report on violence prevention 2014, we have a useful tool for identifying the gaps in legislation and enforcement in countries, which can help to indicate what further action, is needed to ensure reductions in violent crime.”

Providing care and support to victims of violence is important for reducing psychological trauma, helping victims heal, and preventing further involvement in violence. Despite strong evidence linking experiences of violence to mental health problems, under half of countries have mental health services to address victim needs, with only 15% of countries

In Nigeria, experts and analysts say the report is of utmost significance in the fight against the Boko Haram, militancy in the Niger Delta, vandals, youth restiveness, rape and other forms of violence.

in Africa offering such services.

Over two thirds of countries make available child protection services and medico-legal services for victims of sexual violence.

The report called for a scaling up of violence prevention programmes in all countries; stronger legislation and enforcement of laws relevant for violence prevention; strengthened justice and security institutions to uphold the rule of law; and enhanced services for victims of violence. It also advocates for better and more effective use of data to inform violence prevention programming and to measure progress. The report is intended for use by governments to help identify gaps and encourage and guide actions and by nongovernmental organizations and experts to assist governments in their efforts.

In Nigeria, experts and analysts say the report is of utmost significance in the fight against the Boko Haram, militancy in the Niger Delta, vandals, youth restiveness, rape and other forms of violence.

The figures from deaths through violence have reached alarming proportions that could plunge the country into a war.

Several Nigerians including two former heads of state, Rtd General Yakubu Gowon and Olusegun Obasanjo have echoed this repeatedly in recent times.

In his comments on the report, Dr Etienne Krug, Director, Management of NCDs, Disability, Violence and Injury Prevention said violence can affect anyone, suggesting that it is our collective responsibility to tackle violence.

According to him, “While working as a medical doctor in El Salvador, Mozambique, Nicaragua and Sudan, I saw firsthand the devastating impact of violence and its destruction on families and communities.

“Although war was raging in these countries at the time, many patients I treated in rural hospitals were children who were victims of abuse, women beaten by their partners, young boys injured in fights, or older people abandoned by their families. I also saw first-hand examples of the enormous impact such violence has on the health sector which devoted a significant amount of time and resources responding to its consequences.”

He said violence ripples well beyond physical harm. “It causes depression, anxiety and other mental health disorders. It also contributes to cancer, heart disease, stroke and HIV/AIDS because victims of violence often try to cope with their traumatic experiences by adopting risky behaviours such as using tobacco, alcohol and drugs, as well as engaging in unsafe sex. In this regard too, violence can be a driver of early death and lifelong ill health.”

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday, September 11, 2014

PAGE 5

News Northern elites sabotage democracy – Northern youths From Umar Dankano, Yola

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he Northern Youth Leaders Forum (NYLF) has frowned at the utterances of some northern elites in creating confusion and unnecessary tension in the scheme of things, especially the political arena, with a sole aim of achieving their selfish interest to detriment of the larger populace in the region.

National Chairman of the forum, Comrade Elliot Afiyo, who warned against the tendency, cautioned the politicians involved in such under-hand dealings to recant their ways, as according to him, it is capable of plunging the state into unfathomable crisis.

“We strongly frown at the actions and inactions of the acting governor of Taraba state, Alhaji Sani Danladi and the PDP stakeholders in the state who went to visit the PDP national chairman demanding for zoning of governorship to the southern zone of the state.

Comrade Afiyo accused some powerful elites from Taraba state including the acting governor of using religion sentiments to prevent the immediate acting governor of the state, Alh Garba Umar from clinching the gubernatorial ticket of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

“We view this latest stance as a calculated attempt to deny Alh Garba Umar and Muslims of Taraba state the privilege of governing the state even at once and trading the peace, religious and ethnic unity in the state,” he said.

Afiyo, who at a press conference held in Yola Adamawa state capital yesterday, said his forum deemed it fit to send the warning signals in view of the fact that Taraba state has been witnessing internecine conflict between various groups which in the past led to the death of thousands of the indigenes and should not aggravate the situation because of their selfish interests.

L-R; Senate President David Mark, wife of the Vice-President, Hajiya Amina Sambo, Vice-President Mohammed Nanadi Sambo, President Goodluck Jonathan; First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman, Alhaji Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu, during the PDP presidential primary election, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

Bode George obstacle to PDP victory in Lagos, says Obanikoro From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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ormer Minister of State for Defence and Lagos Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial contender, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro has described Chief Bode George as a man without capacity for peace, honor and integrity, saying he remains reason PDP can’t win Lagos.

In response to Chief Bode George’s call for peace in Lagos PDP in the aftermath of the gubernatorial

primaries, Senator Obanikoro in a statement on Wednesday noted that the violence that tainted and tarnished the outcome of Monday’s gubernatorial primaries was orchestrated by Bode George.

“Chief Bode George has no capacity for peace and unity in Lagos PDP when he is the major architect of violence and confusion in the first place. His call for peace is a desperate attempt to get the attention of President Jonathan to take him

seriously as a responsible leader of Lagos PDP. Unfortunately, Bode George is a man far from anything responsible, peaceful or honorable.

“His introduction of religious bias and sentiment into Lagos PDP by asking delegates to vote for a Christian, instead of a Muslim candidate, is dangerous for the peaceful cohesion of Lagos PDP and totally condemnable.

“I warned Chief Bode George

to steer clear of the electoral process and stand as an unbiased umpire but he opted for the path of dishonor and threw himself into the ring. The result is the sham of gubernatorial primaries that has subjected our party in Lagos state to an unprecedented public ridicule.”

“Where is Chief Bode George’s honor if after manipulating an election where 806 delegates produced 863 votes, he is calling for peace and unity?” Senator Obanikoro queried.

Delegates amend PDP Constitution, ratify Jonathan’s candidature

By Ahmed Abubakar

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he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has amended its Constitution at the party’s special National Convention held between yesterday and early this morning, at the Eagle Square venue, in Abuja.

The chairman of the convention electoral panel, Senator Ken Nnamani said, with the development, section 33 sub-section 1 and section 47 subsection 6 of the PDP Constitution stands amended.

Disclosing this earlier today, during the special convention held to ratify the president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, the party said that section 33 sub-section 1 of the PDP Constitution allows for all former PDP state governors to automatically become members of the party’s executive committee.

The party, which submitted forms to delegates at the convention, arrived at the decision to amend the party’s Constitution, having acquired a total of 2672 votes cast in support of the amendment, out

of the 2,691 delegates at the convention.

Chairman of the convention electoral panel, Senator Ken Nnamani stated while declaring the results that: “our party’s Constitution has been amended.”

Earlier, Governor Gabriel Suswam, of Benue state, moved a motion seeking the amendment to the party’s Constitution and was seconded by Minister of State for power, Mohammed Wakil.

Similarly, the party has resolved to amend its manifesto for 2015 to 2019. Motion for the

amendment was moved by PDP National Legal Adviser, Victor Ekwon and was seconded by the party’s national youth leader.

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has been ratified as the PDP candidate in the February 2015 Presidential election.

This followed the affirmation of his earlier selection by various levels of the party machinery as its sole candidate.

A total od 2812 delegates voted ‘yes’ to Jonathan’s candidature to ratify the earlier endorsement.

Zungeru Dam project: Emir assures community’s support From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

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he Emir of Minna, Alhaji Umar Farouk Bahago, has assured the contractor handling the 700 megawatts Zungeru Hydro Power Dam project of unflinching support and assistance of maintaining peace with the host communities in order to actualize the project without further delay.

The traditional leader gave the assurance yesterday when the contractor and the traditional heads of the community paid

courtesy visit to him at his palace in Minna, that he will do everything possible to ensure the host communities cooperate with the company peacefully.

Bahago therefore, appreciated the federal government gesture for siting the project in Niger state and his community which was on drawing board for years now, assuring to reciprocate the gesture by doing everything possible for the completion of the project within its specified time while he applauded the Community Relations Committee, CRC led by

Alhaji Isah Jibrin for a job well done in the area of community relation, advising them not to take laws into their hands in whatever form.

The Chinese company handling the Zungeru 700 megawatt hydropower dam project said at least 3,000 to 4,000 local workers around the dam site will be employed when fully operational.

It will be recalled that work on the project stopped when some angry youths of the dam communities protested the none settlement of their compensation,

five months ago.

The dam project coordinator, Mr. Abiy Getahun, who earlier made this known while briefing the Emir on the development on the project, on the directive of the Ministry of Power, said they, will be employed to work on the project in various capacities.

“We will like to work with the local communities and at the same time, we will need their cooperation.”He noted that the federal government has paid its 25% share of cost of the project; likewise the Chinese government

for the implementation, saying more sources of funding has been secured.

Getahun further said that work on the dam project had to stop, following protest by youths of the area over non-payment of compensation, having blocked the road leading to the dam site.

He then appealed to the Emir to help resolve the issue so that work can continue on the project as government is doing everything possible to address the situation in order to meet up with project specification.

PAGE 6

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday, September 11, 2014

News INEC extends issuance of PVCs in Kaduna State

T

he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday said the issuance of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) in Kaduna state would continue in areas the exercise was yet to start.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the issuance of the cards, which began on Monday, was scheduled to end on Wednesday.

The commission had supplied only two million cards out of the 3.5 million to be issued to verified voters in the state.

It had said that the balance of 1.5 million cards would be supplied to it at a later date from Lagos.

Consequently, the issuance of the cards has not commenced in many polling units across the state.

The commission, in a statement signed by the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Halliru Tambawel, made available to NAN in Kaduna, stated that lapses emanated from it and would, therefore, “not penalise the general public through no fault of theirs”.

It stated that the exercise would not end on Wednesday in places it was yet to start.

It said “the commencement of the exercise in any local government area, wards and polling units affected will be the first day of the exercise in such areas”. (NAN)

FG to cut growth outlook as oil retreats

By Etuka Sunday with agency report

N

igeria’s Finance Ministry said it is set to lower the economic-growth forecast for 2015, as tumbling oil prices erode government’s projected revenue.

The federal government, which had initially projected 6.35 percent growth for next year, may lower that estimate by about one percentage point next week, Paul Nwabuikwu, a spokesman for the finance ministry, told Bloomberg by phone yesterday, in Abuja.

Global oil prices have plunged more than a third since June, roiling Nigeria’s markets, eroding foreigncurrency reserves and prompting policy makers to devalue the Naira for the first time in three years.

With crude exports accounting for about 70 percent of government’s income, the revenue slump may force authorities to curb spending in 2015 during an election year.

The federal government won’t resort to printing money or imprudent borrowing as it adjusts to lower prices of oil, Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said on Dec. 8.

About 15 percent of the one percent Fund will be for the provision and maintenance of facilities, equipment and transport for PHC facilities, while 20 per cent will cover essential vaccines and consumables for all eligible primary healthcare facilities across Nigeria.

Panic buying of petrol at a filling station, yesterday at Ijora, in Lagos.

Photo: NAN

Kwara PDP elders reject transfer of guber primary to Abuja From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

T

he Kwara State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) Elders Forum has rejected any plan to transfer the botched governorship primary of the party to Abuja.

The Forum made it position known during a press conference in Ilorin held at the residence of immediate past Deputy Governor,Chief Joel Afolabi Ogundeji.

The forum, through it

Chairman,Senator Aliru Idrish disclosed that the forum after it meeting on the botched primaries decided that the authentic lists endorsed by the Local Government Chairmen of the party should be use for the primaries.

Idrish, who was represented by his Deputy Chairman, Alhaji Ayinla Folorunsho said the forum was not carry along on the election processes and had resolved that for the party to win election, delegates should be free to elect their Governorship candidate.

He said the forum also resolved that there should not be separate venue for the accreditation of delegates and voting, stressing that both should be done in a venue.

The forum, which recommended that only accredited delegates members should be allow to enter the voting venue, said the primary should be hold in Ilorin not Abuja.

While collaborating the Chairman remarks, the former Deputy Governor of the state

and member of forum, Chief Joel Afolabi Ogundeji said the botched governorship primary had shown that the popularity of the party and sign of democracy in the party.

Ogundeji noted that Kwara state are experiencing freedom to elect their political leaders for the first time after 40 years stressing that many leaders and members ran away from opposition party because of imposition and would not allow imposition of candidates.

President Jonathan signs National Health Bill

By Doyin Ojosipe with agency report

T

he Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, has signed the long-awaited National Health Bill.

This was confirmed to Premium Times, by presidential spokesperson, Reuben Abati.

“Yes, he did weeks ago and the Bill has since been transmitted back to the clerk of the National Assembly,” Mr. Abati said.

In July, a report on the Bill was

presented by a House Committee assigned to consider amendments and the results of public hearings on the Bill.

The committee was presided over by Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha.

However, no amendment was made by the House at plenary when it was passed. The Senate had earlier approved its version of the Bill.

The Bill clearly defines the various roles and functions to be played by the three tiers of

government on health related issues.

It is expected to help Nigeria achieve universal health service, guarantee improvement in the health sector, regulate healthcare practice, and promote professionalism among healthcare givers.

The Bill is also expected to set standards in health care services rendered across Nigeria and also help eliminate medical quacks in the system.

It seeks among others, the

enablement to provide one per cent of Nigeria’s consolidated revenue fund for the development of primary health care.

The various states across Nigeria, through this fund, are expected to improve on primary health care services in their states.

The Bill also covers provision of health care insurance for Nigerians, especially the lessprivileged and in its entirety, also takes care of the continuous crisis within professional health bodies in Nigeria.

Katsina NCP chairman chides APC senatorial aspirant for attacking Shema From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

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he Katsina state chairman of National Conscience Party (NCP), Abdulmumini Sani Aliyu, has hit hard on an APC senatorial aspirant, Kabir Yahaya, insisting he lacked moral justification to complain about alleged human rights violation by Katsina state governor, Ibrahim

Shema.

Kabir Yahaya, who had sought the APC ticket for Katsina-Central senatorial seat, in a publication, accused Governor Shema of human rights violation, urging the state’s House of Assembly to either impeach him or face recall.

However, the NCP chairman, in a statement signed and made available to newsmen said the call

by Kabir Yahaya was merely the “matter of pot calling the kettle black”.

Sani said: “The said person has no moral justification to say a word on human right violations. Firstly, I’m a victim of his actions”.

He alleged that he had been a subject of the said Kabir Yahaya’s human rights abuse, as according to him, Kabir had, along with one of his

sons, beat him up and threatened to kill him on some trump up charges.

“They beat me up and it took the intervention of neighbours and other Good Samaritans to rescue my life.

“For the record, Kabir Yahaya has no moral ground to castigate Shema or anyone as he himself cannot come out clean over human right abuses”, Sani added.

PAGE 7

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday, September 11, 2014

News

Alleged N25m fraud: Court grants N15m bail to businessman T

he Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on has granted N15 million bail to a businessman, Kennedy Kaycee, charged with N25 million fraud.

The defendant, who is the Managing Director of Virtual Xchange Ltd., is standing trial on a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and fraud.

Kaycee was arraigned on

December 2, by the Police Special Fraud Unit (SFU), Ikoyi, Lagos, but he pleaded not guilty.

Justice Ibrahim Buba had ordered his remand at the Ikoyi Prisons, and adjourned the case for ruling on his bail application.

At the resumed hearing of the case on Thursday, Buba admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N15 million with one surety in like sum.

The judge added that the

surety must have a developed landed property in Lagos, and must present evidence of payment of three years tax.

Buba adjourned the case to July 4 for substantive trial.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Mr. Effiong Asuquo of the SFU, told the court that the accused committed the offences sometime in June, 2012.

He told the court that the accused conspired with two

others who were still at large to obtain N25 million from Mr. Sunny Israel.

The prosecutor said the accused induced Israel to part with the money on the pretext that he would invest it on a joint venture agreement in an Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO) business.

Asuquo said that Kaycee told the complainant that he would ensure repayment of the

capital.

According to the prosecutor, all the representations made by the accused were discovered to be false.

Asuquo said that the accused absconded with the money.

He said that the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 1(1) (a) (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006. (NAN)

Brand forgery: Court fixes Nov. 12 for trial of Chinese

A

Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday fixed Jan. 12 for continuation of the trial of a Chinese, Hong Dong Shen, charged with forgery of rice brand.

The accused is standing trial on a four-count charge bordering on forgery, fraud, unlawful possession and stealing.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the case was stalled last Thursday because the prosecution, led by Mr. Daniel Apochi, was unprepared.

The trial judge, Justice Mohammed Yunusa, therefore, adjourned the case at the instance of the prosecutor to Jan. 12.

At the last adjournment, the court was forced to adjourned the case following the absence of prosecution witnesses.

Yunusa had urged the prosecution to exhibit more diligence in the suit since it bordered on a criminal charge.

The accused, who was arraigned on July 29, 2013, had pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The judge granted him bail in the sum of N2 million with two sureties in like sum.

Yunusa had also ordered the accused to deposit his travelling documents at the court’s registry.

The prosecutor had told the court that the accused committed the offences between February 2011 and March 2013.

According to him, the accused forged the trademark of Olam Nig. Ltd, producers of Mama Gold Rice, and had fraudulently reproduced about 140 bags for sale to members of the public. He said the trademark is valued at N200 million.

The offences contravened the provisions of sections 390 (9) and 516 of the Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation, 2004, as well as Sections 3 and 32 of the Merchandise Act, 2004. (NAN)

Staffers of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) with stakeholders, during road show marking this year International Human Rights Day, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Ex-convict bags 1 year for theft of jewelry

A

n Abule Egba Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, on Thursday, sentenced a 25-year-old ex-convict, Lukmon Taofeek, to one year imprisonment for stealing a box of jewelry and other valuables.

The Magistrate, Mr. Tajuddeen Elias, sentenced Taofeek, convicted Taofeek without an option of fine following his guilty plea.

He said Taofeek should serve his term at the Kirikiri Minimum

Prisons, Lagos.

Elias noted that the barber had previously been convicted by his court for a different offence, adding that community service was imposed on him as penalty.

“It shows that accused has not been reformed. He is, therefore, sentenced to one year imprisonment for conspiracy and stealing. It will serve as deterrent to others,” he said.

The accused, who lives at No. 23, Atanla St., Ipaja, a suburb

of Lagos, was arraigned on November 16 on a four-count charge of conspiracy, burglary, stealing and causing breach of peace.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp.

Rachael Williams, told the court that the offences were committed on June 9 at MercyLand Estate, Atankekere, Ipaja.

Williams said the accused with a man still at large broke into the house of one Mrs. Modinat Aniyikaye and stole some of her

belongings including a box of jewelry.

She said that the thieves also stole a Nokia phone and N3, 500.

“As they were fleeing the scene, members of a vigilante group intercepted them and arrested only Lukmon, while his accomplice escaped.”

The offences, according to the prosecutor, contravene Sections 166,278, 305 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos state, 2011. (NAN)

Man jailed for stealing Man bags 3 months’ at his brother’s house imprisonment for stealing

A

Maiduguri High Court on Monday sentenced a man to 10 years imprisonment for conspiracy and robbery.

The accused, Kyari Bukar of Ngomari ward of Maiduguri, was sentenced under sections 97 and 298 of the penal code law of Borno state.

The court also sentenced the accomplice of the accused, Hamisu Haruna, to six months imprisonment.

The court was told that the accused persons, who were armed with dangerous weapons, including knives, cutlasses and sticks, broke into the house of one Hauwa Ngomari and carted away her

property.

According to court papers, the accused carted away necklaces, four handsets, gold earring and DVD machine, all valued at N173,000.

The first accused, who was said to be a brother to the complainant’s husband was also accused of attempting to rape one of the victims during the robbery incident.

Presiding judge of the High Court 11, where the case was determined, Justice Alkali Wakil, said the action of Bukar was shameful and serious.

“It is the highest ingratitude of Kyari and his partners in crime”, said Wakkil. (NAN)

from a church, joint act

A

Zuba Upper Area Court has sentenced Yusuf Magaji, 19, of no fixed address, to three months in prison for stealing church property.

The presiding judge, Malam Aminu Sa’ad, passed the sentence after Magaji pleaded guilty to the two-count offence of joint act and theft.

Sa’ad, however, gave the convict an option of N15, 000 as fine.

Earlier, the police prosecutor, Cpl. Momoh Ibrahim, had told the court that on July 2, Adeniran Adekunle,

of Apiawe-Deidei (Abuja), reported the case at the Dei-dei Police Station.

Ibrahim told the court that on the same date, the convict along with one Ibrahim, now at large, broke in through the ceiling of Providence Baptist Church at Shagari quarters.

The prosecutor stated that they stole one bicycle, PVC ceiling fittings and one digger, all valued at N16, 000.

According to him, the offences contravene the provisions of sections 79, and 288 of Penal Code. (NAN)

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PEOPLES DAILY, thursday, September 11, 2014

News

JIBWIS urges FG to fish out fake security operatives

From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

T

R-L: Chairman, Victims Support Fund (VSF), General Theophilus Danjuma, presenting relief materials to one of the victims, Mrs. Emos Luka, during the official flag-off and distribution of relief materials to victims of terrorism, yesterday at Waru community, in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

he Chairman national council of scholars of the Jama’atu Izalatul Bid’a Wa’ikamatus Sunna (JIBWIS), Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, has alleged that there were fake security operatives serving across the legitimate security agencies in disguise.

The Islamic leader, who was in Gusau, Zamfara state capital yesterday called on the entire members of the sect to arise to contribute their quota towards ensuring adequate security for themselves and other Islamic communities, challenged the federal government to double its efforts in fishing out fake uniformed men amidst its security operatives.

Sheikh Jingir further lamented the incessant attacks on innocent citizens at any point,

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

By Joy Baba Yesufu

which he attributed to the federal government’s inability to protect their lives and properties, as enshrined in the Constitution, adding that the government cannot be exonerated from the recent merciless attack on worshippers in Kano.

He claimed that there has been an alarming number of fake policemen, soldiers, State Security Service (SSS) and other paramilitary operatives across the nation and especially NorthEast. “Now, no single Muslim worshipper across the North is comfortable during weekly Friday prayers and no amount of effort is witnessed from the federal government to arrest the situation”.

The sect leader called on all Muslim communities to return to God, saying it is the only shield against the devil’s agents who were on their toes to destroy Islamic religion.

Boko Haram : Waru,Gwoza IGP calls for vigilance victims get food items during Yuletide

T

he Victim Support Fund (VSF) committee, yesterday donated food items to Boko Haram victims in Waru village, Apo District, Abuja.

The committee, which is chaired by Maj. Gen. T. Y. Danjuma, was set up by the federal government to identify sources and ways of raising sustainable funding to support victims of Boko Haram.

Speaking while distributing the items to Boko Haram victims from Gwoza, Adamawa state, Danjuma said he will ensure that the food items reach the real victims of terror.

“Our mandate is to reach out to the victims and help them

where necessary. The occasion is a reminder of what terrorism has done to this country. We will continue to identify with the victims at all times.

“The federal government has not forgotten you. The committee will also go to the northeast and ascertain the person, communities, facilities and economic assets affected by Boko Haram terror activities”.

He noted that terrorism is a national problem, urging wellmeaning Nigerians to support them.

“There are victims of terror among us. Some are in neighbouring countries. It is our responsibility to collectively help them.

“We should also work

towards ensuring peace in the country”.

Earlier, the Director VSF, Sunday Ocheceh, said is was unfortunate that the victims suffer from the horror of Boko Haram activities.

“We are living in difficult times. We are pained by the sufferings of our brothers and sisters in the northeast. We will continue to do our best and provide the best support for the victims”.

Responding on behalf of the victims, Paul Amos, appealed to the government to help rescue their families who are caged in neighbouring countries.

He also pleaded for jobs to enable them earn a meaningful living.

for sale, the book, My Watch, whose content touched on the subject matter before the court.

Justice Ashi also ordered the Inspector-General of Police, the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Comptroller of Customs to recover the published book from all book stands, sales agents, vendors, the sea and airports and deposit them with his court’s registrar pending the determination of the substantive suit.”

Obasanjo released the new book, My Watch, Tuesday, in Lagos, days after the court order.

The court had ordered that the book launch be put on hold over claim the three-volume series contained details of a libel case already before the court.

The case involves a drug trafficking allegation made by Mr.

Obasanjo against Buruji Kashamu, a leader of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the South-West, who is believed to be an ally of President Jonathan.

Mr. Kashamu had requested the court order to stop the release of the book, citing the case.

But the move is believed to have been a cover to block Mr. Obasanjo from making public some of his most scathing assessments of President Goodluck Jonathan, as contained in the book.

On Tuesday, the former president defied the court order and proceeded with the book launch saying the judge acted in error and deserved to be sanctioned.

The former president also said the book had already been published before the court gave its order.

Book launch: Court finds Obasanjo guilty of contempt

By A’isha Biola Raji with agency report

A

n Abuja High Court sitting in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja yesterday held that former President Olusegun Obasanjo was in contempt of court for flouting its orders restraining him from, among others, publishing his autobiography, “My Watch.”

Justice Valentine Ashi, in a ruling yesterday, gave Obasanjo 21 days (from the day of service of the court’s orders on him) to show cause why he should not be punished for contempt for going ahead to publish the book in spite of the ex-parte interim order made by the court on December 5 and a pending libel suit before the court involving him.

The judge restrained the former president from further publishing, printing or offering

T

he Inspector-General of Police, (IGP) Suleiman Abba has urged Nigerians to be vigilant while receiving gifts from unknown persons that may pose as friends during the season, to avoid explosiveladen owing to the emerging security challenges in parts of the country.

The IGP also cautioned against the use of fireworks such as knockout, “bangers” and other explosives in the celebration as they could cause distraction that may further heighten fear of insecurity.

A statement, signed by the Force Public Relations Office, Ag. CP Emmanuel Ojukwu said the IGP also enjoined citizens to shun all forms of violence and unlawful acts, eschew bitterness, hatred and rancor and go about

their legitimate duties without fear of intimidation from any quarter during and after the season.

According to the statement: “to ensure a peaceful and incident-free Yuletide, the IGP has directed all Zonal AIGs and Command Commissioners of Police, to take all necessary measures in ensuring the provision of adequate security for worshippers, travelers, picnickers and all citizens across the country before, during, and after the season.

“Command Commissioners of Police are to personally ensure that all key and vulnerable points within their jurisdictions, including places of worship, recreation centres, motor parks, highways, financial institutions and all places of public resort are adequately and effectively protected”.

Nigerian Turkish Nile University matriculates 204 students

By Mashe Umar Gwamna

T

he Nigerian Turkish Nile University yesterday held its 2014/2015 matriculation, admitting 204 students.

Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Huseyin Sert, said the matriculation would be the sixth since the inception of the university.

“The Nigerian Turkish Nile University commenced academic programme in 2009 with two faculties and seven departments,” he said.

“Not only are all these departments fully accredited, but we have also currently added the Faculty of Law, which has been fully accredited by the NUC; we are also proud to announce to our esteemed audience that we have

commenced the much advertised Post Graduate School,” he added.

He congratulated the new students on their achievements that have led them into being admitted into the university.

Sert said, “I will advise you to spend your time wisely; time is very crucial because it waits for no man. Always recognise your studies as your number one priority.

“Remember that the toil and hard work of your parents, family members and guardians has brought you to this pedestal, so that you would enjoy this enviable privilege.”

Responding, one of the new students, Mr. Ahmed Mai Deribe, said, “A new chapter has been opened in our lives and we have the pen to write our first few words.”

Page 9

News

Adamawa PDP aspirants decry Abuja primaries

By Ahmed Abubakar

T

he Adamawa state People’s Democratic Party (PDP) aspirants have decried over irregularities in the conduct of the Governorship and House of Assembly Primaries conducted in Abuja.

This was disclosed yesterday, by the leader of the Adamawa State PDP Stakeholders and Aspirants of all cadres Professor Andrawus Sawa who said, “we wish to express our displeasure with the way and manner our great Party which

was built and nurtured with our sweat had been deliberately thrown into confusion”.

Professor Andrawus said they are particularly disappointed as they see it as “a view to impose unpopular candidates against the wishes of the people which will extinguish the fortune of our party both at the State and the National Level with intention to truncate democracy.

He said, “It is evident and no doubt that Adamawa state is a stronghold of PDP and overwhelmingly behind Mr.

President in the last election, (2011), but unfortunately, with the flagrant and open abuse of the rules and law with impunity as regard to party primaries it is a thing of serious concern that will lead to complete eradication of the Party in the minds of our grassroots supporters”.

It is very clear that both the Electoral Act and our party guidelines state unequivocally that should there be any change of election venue, there must be a notice of not less than 7 days and more to that, all Elections are to be held in the various constituencies, but unfortunately in

the case of Adamawa state all the delegates and aspirants were in Yola without any communication either from INEC or the party while a purported election was said to have taken place in Abuja.

More to that, the purported primary election was conducted in contravention of the Court Order restraining PDP and INEC from using any delegates list other than the one recognized by all the party executive at all levels, aspirants and stakeholders affirmed by the Court.

In view of the above, it is our

unanimous resolution to distance, condemned and reject it in its entirety; and in protest to that, we will not be part of any illegality that is happening within our Party.

In conclusion, it is our collective view that anything short of cancellation of this Kangaroo primary by the NWC of our party will lead us with no option but to follow the views of the entire greater majority of the people of Adamawa state. We, therefore, resolve to boycott the National Convention of the Party scheduled to take place in Abuja.

ICAN, US, 600 CSOs meet on nuclear weapons abolishment

By Etuka Sunday

T

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, Mr. Musa Fuktur, Head of Public Private Partnership of the ministry, Mr. Benson Ajisekur, and Assistant Director, Real Sector and House Statistics, National Bureau of Statistics, Mr. Ofenne Augustine, during the inauguration of National Water Supply and Sanitisation Data Survey, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Jos road side traders ine agony as quit notice expiresQ From Ado Abubakar Musa, Jos

F

ollowing the quit notice issued to the Jos roadside traders by the members of Jos Metropolitan Development Board (JMDB),they have

thrown water on the traders along Ahmadu Bello Way in Jos city, the capital of Plateau state.

Our reporter gathered that traders were seen running helterskelter with their properties as personnel of the board kept

spreading offensive water on the traders who refused to vacate the area.

It was also learnt that the members of the JMDB were seen patrolling the major roads within the city of Jos to ensure that the city traders complied with the

rules and regulations of the Board.

It would be recalled that since last May’s bomb blast in Jos, roadside traders were asked to vacate some major area along Terminus that attracted traffic, but who refused and remained at the spot.

Population commission to disseminate 2013 NDHS report

From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

T

he National Population Commission (NPC) has concluded arrangements for the extensive dissemination of the nationally representative survey of the 2013 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) which contained the detailed information on the levels and trends of fertility, family planning, maternal and child health and sexually transmitted infections.

In a welcome address yesterday during opening ceremony of a one day seminar organised for the dissemination of the 2013 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) final report, the Chairman of the NPC, Chief Eze

Duruiheoma SAN, said the NDHS 2013 findings which is fourth of its kind since 1999 would be implemented by his agency for the drive of accurate and reliable upto-date data that would improve health and family planning services in the state and the nation at large.

Chief Eze, who stressed the need for the populace to be served with the compiled report said, the 2013 NDHS was conducted in 40,320 households that were randomly selected in all the states of the federation and the FCT, adding that, women at the age of 15-49 and men of same age were interviewed after which preliminary report was released in October 2013.

“The results of the 2013 shows that more were needed to be

done at all levels of governments towards the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MGDs) and indeed to ensure that the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan is fully implemented across the nation”, Eze stated.

He called on stakeholders in the health and social sectors to avail themselves of the rare insights offered by the NDHS in the bid to improve the living condition of Nigerians. “Resources for health intervention are scarce and the issues to be addressed are wideranging. The 2013 NDHS therefore offers policy-makers in the health and social sectors the resources to guide effectively planning”.

The Chairman further noted

that, the success of the 2013 NDHS was made possible by number of organisations comprising United States Agency for International Development in Nigeria (USAID/ Nigeria), the Department for International Development through PATHS-2, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the government of Nigeria through the Commission and the Federal Ministry of Health.

Also speaking, the state Governor, AbdulAzeez Yari Abubakar through Acting State Secretary to the Government, Haruna Sallau, has assured all possible cooperation and support towards the attainment of the desired goals that would improve the healthy living of the good people of the state.

he International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), United States of America (USA) and over 600 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have gathered in Vienna, Austria, to further negotiations on a treaty banning nuclear weapons.

The ICAN international is holding an ICAN Civil Society Forum just before the commencement of the Vienna Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons in Vienna, Austria.

The government conference which started Monday, Dec 8 and Tuesday, 9 Dec. have over 150 states attending. More interestingly and most usual, this conference which is the third in the series have for the first time the nuclear states attending - United States of America (USA), The United Kingdom and China.

“ICAN is excited to be gathering in such numbers and welcome all campaigners who are coming together from all over the world with a clear demand: a ban on nuclear weapons.

Since the Civil Society Forum in Oslo, we have seen a dramatic change in the way we now discuss nuclear weapons. The humanitarian initiatives have changed the terms of the debate.

“While many forums discussing nuclear weapons have been deadlocked, we have taken major step in having nuclear weapons recognized for what they really are: dangerous, indiscriminate and unacceptable.

“More and more countries are coming on board with the idea that a new legal instrument is needed to put the era of nuclear weapons to an end.

The role of civil society is essential now more than ever. We need to make sure that the awareness the humanitarian initiative has generated turns into clear political results.

Vienna is the chance of civil society to demand courage to stand up and take decisive action.

This window of opportunity cannot be missed. A process to ban nuclear weapons needs to be initiated as soon as possibl.

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PEOPLES DAILY, thursday, September 11, 2014

News

Nigeria ranked low in road network, housing

From Matthew Aramunde, Lagos

T

he Director General/CEO, Nigerian Building & Road Research Institute (NBRRI) Prof Danladi Mattawal has said Nigeria ranks very low in road network and housing in the comity of nations.

He made this declaration during this year’s public lecture of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering, which held at the auditorium of the Medical

Research Institute (NIMR), in Yaba, Lagos.

Drawing from the theme: “Road and Building Research in Nigeria; Panacea to Nigeria’s Quest for Infrastructural Development”, the Guest Speaker said the measure of the state of development of any country can be made through the volume and state of roads within its geographical area.

This according to him is because roads are amongst some of the most critical economic

infrastructures that stimulate growth and development being used for freighting the citizens and goods for leisure, tourism and holiday, trade and commerce, etc. stressing that this is particularly emphatic in a country like Nigeria where other forms of transport are negligible, especially huge viable options railways, air and water transportation.

In this regard, he continued, the World Total Road Networks (paved + unpaved) was approximately 70 million

kilometers in 2012 with 95.5percent of the entire network domiciled in North America, Europe, China, Japan, Brazil and India.

He noted that the total length of road networks, in kilometers (with the major highways/ expressway lengths in bracket) are: USA 6,506,204(75238); China 4,193,000 (95,600); India 402,000(10,000), Brazil 1,751,868(N/A), Japan 1,210,251.

Also, Japan, Canada, Russia, France, Australia, Spain,

INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega (right), speaking during the INEC and Religious Leaders National Summit on Peaceful Elections in 2015, on Tuesday in Abuja. With him are UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Daouda Toure (middle), and INEC Commissioner, Dr Ishmael Igbani (left).

Photo: NAN From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

T

he All Progressives Congress (APC), Kwara state chapter, has described the crisesridden, botched and aborted governorship primaries of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara state as unsurprising.

The APC said the PDP has brought stains and disrepute to the status of Kwara state as the most harmonious state in Nigeria.

The party in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Sulayman Buhari, the APC said the PDP is perpetually incapable and incompetent to govern Kwara State According to him, “The crisesridden, botched and aborted governorship primaries of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is

Guber primaries: Kwara APC calls for competent policing

unsurprising. It shows that Kwara PDP is a gang of desperadoes and anarchists who hate democratic values and have consequently raised needless political tension in our dear state.

“It is quite funny that even when security operatives barred notorious thugs of the PDP from gaining access to the venue of election, PDP delegates engaged themselves in free-for-all fight and physical combat which led to many of them sustaining injuries.

Violence is truly a hierarchical value in PDP. “The opposition PDP is unripe

and immature, in all ramifications, to form government. It has done poorly as an opposition party and it needs to learn opposition politics till eternity. It is shameful that the boastful opposition PDP cannot conduct mere primary election.

“Kwara PDP lacks capable leadership and Mr. Iyiola Oyedepo should take responsibility for the needless political tension the PDP has ignited in Kwara state.

“The media report that security officials stationed at the venue of PDP primaries watched PDP politicians fight themselves to a

pulp without interfering is highly embarrassing. For how long would Kwara PDP continue to perpetrate violence under the watch of security operatives?”, he queried.

“The Kwara state Police Command and other security operatives in the state need to urgently address and assure the people that the security situation is under their firm control.”

“We reiterate our earlier call on the people of Kwara State to be security-conscious, watchful and vigilant before, during and after the PDP gubernatorial primaries in Ilorin.”, the statement read.

KDSG partners psychiatrists on drug abuse control

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

K

aduna state government said it has put all machinery in motion to partner Association of Psychiatrists (APN) in Nigeria in order to tackle the rising problem of drug abuse among youths, which has become worrisome and threatening the basic fabrics, values of the society.

The state governor, Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero disclosed this while declaring the 45th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference in Kaduna yesterday.

He said the problem of drug

abuse among the youths cannot be dissociated from the rising level of crime in the society and to some extent, activities of insurgents, therefore, called on the association to take steps as professionals to tackle the problem.

He promised the assistance of his government to the association in this area.

Speaking on the theme of the conference: “Mental Health Transformation in Nigeria”, which deliberates on issues such as psychological effects of insurgents and Ebola virus diseases which he said is the right step in the right

direction.

“In crisis period such as outbreak of an infectious disease with high fatality rate or insurgency, we must communicate effectively to the people whether as government or health care providers.

In his own remarks, the national president, Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria (APN), Professor Jide Adeyemi, said mental health services are hardly accessible outside state capitals with a ratio of one to 3.3 million.

“In spite of this picture, recently qualified psychiatrists

remain unemployed while quite a proportion is leaving the country. This raises the question how will the millions of Nigerians requiring mental health care receive optimum care?

The chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Ramalan Yero, who is also the chairman of Board of Management, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Barnawa, Kaduna, said within the four years the hospital has undergone tremendous transformation in cubing the problem of psychiatrics in the country and has introduced community psychiatric outreach programme

Germany and Sweden each has an individual country network varying between 1,210,251 and 572,900, while the Russian major highway/expressway is over 30,000km.

“United Kingdom has total network of 394,428 kilometers of which 3,519 kilometers are major highways/expressway but UK geographical area is pretty small with a highly dense and sophisticated railway network”, he stated.

Continuing, Mattawal said serviceability conditions of the African paved networks are questionable with lengths; S/Africa 161868, Nigeria 35900, Ethiopia 25081, Zambia 18958, Mozambique 18067, Cameroun 9802, Rwanda 9383, Benin 7368, B/Faso 7108, Kenya 6314, Tanzania 5727, Chad 5162, Uganda 5000, Madagascar 3952, Niger 3518, Senegal 2392, Ghana 2360, Malawi 2208, Lesotho 641, I/Coast 516 etc. noting that the African figures are very low indeed with poor serviceability.

Making comparison, the emeritus Professor said, USA is No.1 in World, China 2nd, S/ African 18th, Nigeria 27th, Congo DRC 34th, Kenya 32nd, Libya 43rd, Ghana 73rd, Ethiopia 96th, Niger 113th, Eritrea 158th, etc.

In his welcome address, the President of the academy, Prof.

Rafiu Salawu revealed that the Nigerian Academy of Engineering was incorporated as a private company limited by guarantee in September 1997, for the purpose of promoting excellence in technological and engineering training and practice to ensure the technological growth and economic development of Nigeria, stressing that it is a non-profit and nongovernmental organization.

Boko Haram killed 250 teachers in 3 years - Report

From Ado Abubakar Musa, Jos

A

bout two hundred and fifty school teachers in Borno State were reportedly killed in the last three years by the dreaded Boko Haram insurgents in the state.

This was revealed yesterday on the Hausa Service of VOA monitored in Jos when members from Borno state Chapter of Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) visited the families of the deceased to sympathise with them.

Comrade Bulama, who led the delegation of the Union, explained that the purpose of their visit to the families of the victims was to share food items and other presents to them so as to ease some of their difficulties just as he said, the victims were their colleagues prior their departure, adding that it has become necessary for them to offer such assistance.

Rita Musa, who lost her mother in a bomb blast around Post Office area was among the beneficiary of the gifts, appreciating the magnanimity of the Union.

Page 11

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday, September 11, 2014

News

Ebola: Bauchi monarchs evolve agenda to contain virus

From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

T

he Bauchi State Council of Emirs has evolved a four point resolution aimed at supporting relevant stakeholders to enlighten the people at the grass root on Ebola disease.

The resolutions were reached at a meeting between the council and UNICEF’s ‘D’ Office, in Bauchi.

Some of the resolutions include, embarking on community awareness campaigns, supervising community compliance to best practices as means of containing the disease as well as encouraging religious and community

leaders to disseminate correct information to the grassroots on the disease.

Also, the council has agreed that district and village heads should embark on intensive campaigns in their respective areas on the disease.

Speaking at a forum, organized

by UNICEF, at the Bauchi emirs’ palace, the Emir, Alhaji Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu, assured the readiness of traditional rulers in the state to support the stakeholders on the fight against Ebola and other deadly disease.

Alhaji Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu used the forum to commend Bauchi state

government for its numerous support to the health sector through the renovation, construction and upgrading of health centres across the state.

Earlier in a welcome address, the Emir of Dass Alhaji Usman Bilyaminu Othman, said just as the fight against polio was successful through the support of traditional rulers; the fight against Ebola will succeed.

He commended the federal government for successfully flushing out the deadly virus from the country and called on

the public to maintain personal hygiene and environmental sanitation in the respective areas.

Also speaking, the state commissioner of health Dr Sani Abubakar Malami, said the state government had done a lot in fighting the spread of Ebola disease.

Dr. Malami, who was represented by Dr. Sambo Mohammed Alkali, said Bayara and Azare General Hospitals were designated as isolation centres by the state government to contain the disease.

Also speaking, the Chief Field Office of UNICEF in charge of Bauchi, Dr Abdullahi Kaikai, said Unicef decided tooin hands with traditional rulers in view of their closeness to the people particularly the grassroots.

Dr. Kaikai commended the state government for the measures earlier taken to stop the deadly Ebola virus from coming into the state, and called on the people of the state to observe environmental and personal hygiene in order to prevent themselves from diseases.

Shettima nominates 21 commissioners to parliament From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

G

overnor Kashim Shettima, of Borno state, yesterday forwarded names of 21 persons as commissioner nominees and members of the State Executive Council to the state House of Assembly for confirmation.

Recall that the governor had dissolved his cabinet four months ago and since then permanent secretaries had been overseeing activities of their respective ministries.

Similarly, governor Shettima has approved other appointments, which comprised of his Director of Press, Alhaji Usman Chiroma as the Caretaker Chairman of Maiduguri Metropolitant Council (MMC).

Others are Ibrahim Audu

Miringa as the Chairman Assembly Service Commission and Babagana Shettima Mailafiya as member of the state teaching service board.

The commissioner nominees included Baba Kaka Bashir Garbai, Baba Gana Abbas Dawa, Alamin Mohammed Gumsuri,Usman Mamman Durkwa, Barister Kaka Shehu Lawan and Dr. Haruna Mshelia.

Others are Yunus Baba Mairami, Fanta Baba Shehu Yerima Lawan Kareto, Barister Isa Buratai, Dr. Salma Annas Kolo, Usman Ali Zanna, Dr. Zainab Gimba Musa Inuwa Kubo, Mustapha Fanarambe and Hassan Mustapha Aminami.

The rest were Dr. Mohammed Bulama, Sugun Mai Mele, Ibrahim Abubakar Babale, Magaji Wamdeo and Ali Abatcha.

Edo SSG quits Oshiomhole’s cabinet over APC ticket From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

P

rofessor Julius Ihonvbere has resigned his appointment as Secretary to Edo state government (SSG), leaving his followers disillusioned.

The SSG resignation, which came barely 24 hours after he lost the senatorial ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo-North senatorial district of the state, is not unconnected with the party’s primary won by Mr. Francis Alimikhena, who many believe is Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s kinsman.

Ihonvbere was appointed

by Governor Oshiomhole at the countdown to 2011 General elections to replace Hon. Pally Iriase, House of Representatives member representing Owan federal constituency.

The Professor of Political Science had before the undisputed election told a

section of the media that a period of political realignment which is the trend of politics has come.

The University Don, former Special Adviser on project Monitoring and Evaluation to President Olusegun Obasanjo came second with 816 votes ahead of the incumbent APC Senator Domingo Obende, who scored a total of 192 votes in the election.

Similarly, Governor Oshiomhole has accepted the resignation of Professor Julius Ihonvbere from the cabinet as Secretary to the State Government and wished him well in his future endeavour.

According to a terse statement by the chief press secretary to the governor, Mr. Peter Okhiria, the governor thanked Prof Ihonvbere for his services to the government and the state.

A public affairs commentator, Mr. Tony Abolo described the move as sad. ``Ihonvbere for now has gone into oblivion like a nobody”, he said.

L-R: Permanent Sectary, Ministry of Works, Dr. Dauda S. Kigbu, exchanging Pleasantries with MD/ CEO FERMA, Engineer Gabriel C. Amuchi, during Kigbu’s visit to FERMA headquarters, recently in Abuja.

FRSC extends ember month awareness campaign

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

T

he massive awareness campaign currently put in place by Federal Roads Safety Commission (FRSC), is to continue beyond the ember months which are notorious for accidents and loss of lives.

The Corp Marshall and the Chief Executive of the Commission, Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi disclosed this when he visited the Commandant of the Nigeria Army School of Infantry, Jaji, Kaduna state Mr. Oyeyemi said the military and the Corps have a good and cordial relationship with the

Infantry Centre and that is why he was in the center to seek for collaborations.

In his response, the Commandant of the Infantry School, Major General Mohammed D Abubakar said the capacity building relationship between the centre and the school would be strengthen with the courtesy visit of the Corps Marshall.

He however enjoins Military Personnel to always avoid jumping check points, traffic wardens, traffic lights amongst others by obeying simple traffic rules and regulations for their safety.

At the Nigerian Defense

Academy, (NDA), Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi said the Corps will always liaise with other relevant stakeholders on the need to improve capacity training of its personnel to serve the nation better.

In his response, the Commandant of the Nigerian Defense Academy (NDA), Major General Mohammed I. Idris said the training and re-training of Cadets and NDA staff on road safety would be encouraged and that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) would be reviewed bi-annually for the Military to be good drivers who respect and abide by traffic rules to lives.

Group chides INEC over PVC, CVR distribution

From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

A

n election monitoring group, Justice and Equity Organisation, has chided the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over its poor handling of Permanent voter Card, PVC and continuous voter card, CVR distribution in Katsina state.

Addressing a press conference, yesterday in Katsina, Mr. Romanus

Azibuike said the performance of INEC regarding the exercise fall short of commendation.

He noted that since the commencement of the exercise, INEC was unable to release about 3.5 permanent registered cards as recorded in the 2011 general election.

He further disclosed that despite this release there was, according to him, a short fall of over a million voter cards that were not released for the state.

Azubuike said, “It is uncertain as to when the remaining permanent voters’ cards of over one million will arrive the state and how it will finally get to the original owners”.

He, therefore, questioned the preparedness of INEC to meet the challenges of the forthcoming general election.

Azubuike similarly called on INEC and other relevant agencies to urgently address the situation in Katsina state and other states that share similar problems.

PAGE 12

Money Sense

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday, September 11, 2014

The couple who helped transform the way we shop

By Will Smale

A

s the owners of a small business with just 30 members of staff, Edwina Dunn and her husband Clive Humby shouldn’t have been in Tesco’s boardroom.

Yet back in 1994 they had been invited to give a presentation to Tesco’s directors.

What Ms Dunn and Mr Humby said that day enabled the supermarket group to double its market share in little more than a year, transformed the way many of us shop, and ultimately made the couple multimillionaires.

After they had finished their presentation, an awkward silence followed for more than a minute.

This was eventually broken

by Tesco’s then chairman, Lord MacLaurin, who made a remark that has gone down in the supermarket’s folklore: “What scares me about this is that you know more about my customers after three months than I know after 30 years.”

So what was the secret of Ms Dunn and Mr Humby’s presentation?

They had shown the Tesco board that their tiny business had the software and skills to do something the supermarket group hadn’t been able to do for itself - work out almost exactly what Tesco’s customers were buying.

Ms Dunn, now 56, says: “It was the defining moment.”

Tesco quickly gave the couple a long-term contract and used their expertise to launch the Tesco Clubcard, the world’s first supermarket loyalty card.

Ms Dunn and her husband had set up their business four years earlier, in the kitchen of their home in Chiswick, west London.

Called Dunnhumby, it was one of the first companies in the UK dedicated to analysing data to best work out the spending patterns of consumers.

He was the software and data expert, and she was the chief executive who would look after the day-to-day running of the business.

Studying Booker’s sales in depth, they were able to advise the company on exactly what its customers were buying, allowing Booker to improve its distribution network.

“Start Quote Thinking about this these days, many might question why Booker wasn’t already doing this itself. But back in 1990 no national retailer was properly collecting and analysing its sales data.

Retailers at the time obviously knew how much they were selling of a particular product, but the key point is that they did not know what combination of items consumers were typically buying.

Dunnhumby was able to provide this information.

“The thing to remember is that data was thrown away in those days... there was no such thing as

The couple have been married for 32 years after first meeting when working in the same office data mining or data profiling, this was all new,” says Ms Dunn.

In 1994 a senior manager at Tesco got in touch with Dunnhumby because the supermarket giant wanted to launch a loyalty card.

The card would give customers special offers and money-off coupons, in return for Tesco finding out a lot more about what people were buying. Only the company was having difficulty dealing with all the data.

“They were struggling with their pilot, there was just so much

...and turning your hobby into a business

Alice Barrow’s luxury candle business has really taken off

By Tony Bonsignore

F

or Alice Barrow and Tom Green, starting their own business was a natural next

step.

A family business, they began making candles as a sideline, mixing the different colours, scents and waxes at home, and then selling the results in their spare time.

It was a labour of love, but also a

lucrative sideline.

The luxury candles - costing around £35 each - sold well, and Alice and Tom were soon faced with a dilemma familiar to many aspiring entrepreneurs.

Should they leave it as a hobby, or give up their day jobs and go fulltime?

“We started three or four years ago from our kitchen table, and we quickly started to see that we had a

product we could take to market,” says Alice.

“So we literally took it to the market, a market stall in London, and from there we got a really loyal fan base.

“We then took a step back and thought we can really create a luxury product, and that’s where we began.”

Today, their company, Wick and Tallow, is thriving.

data that they couldn’t manage it,” says Ms Dunn. “Remember that computers were not what they are today.

“Start Quote They were happy, and we were happy. And we were tired actually... I just needed a rest” “So we were invited in to look at their data, and told not to get too excited, as it would only be one-off.”

It was the start of a 16-year working relationship between Tesco and Ms Dunn and Mr Humby.

Thanks to Dunnhumby’s help, Tesco was able to successfully pilot its Clubcard across nine stores in 1994, and then launch it nationwide a year later.

Ms Dunn explains how Dunnhumby was able to make the data work: “We brought in a statistician’s mindset, which was ‘some of the data, some of the time’. That is what the technology people at the time didn’t grasp.”

So she says that while Tesco had been trying to analyse 100% of consumer data, a giant task that was near impossible at the time and very expensive, Dunnhumby was able to show that they could instead just study a 10% sample and still achieve between 95% and 99% accuracy.

“When Tesco asked its IT department how long, and how much to do the [nationwide] roll out, they said three years and £50m,” says Ms Dunn.

“We said £250,000 and 10 weeks.”

The launch of the Clubcard was an immediate hit with Tesco’s customers, with millions of people signing up, tempted by the promise of money-off coupons, and special offers that the supermarket group had arranged with the big brand owners, such as Coca-Cola and Nestle.

In just over a year it enabled Tesco to overtake Sainsbury’s and become the UK’s largest retailer.

But how exactly did Dunnhumby make millions of pounds from its contract with Tesco?

Firstly Tesco paid it an annual fee, but more importantly - and much more lucratively Dunnhumby got a share of the money Tesco started to receive from selling to the likes of CocaCola the vast amount of consumer data it was now collecting.

Ms Dunn describes the start of the working relationship with Tesco as an “amazingly intense phase”.

Dunnhumby’s workforce “immediately” went from 30 to 70, and then continued to more than double every year.

“That was the fastest we could grow, it was our maximum capacity, as we couldn’t hire and train enough people,” she says.

With Tesco’s blessing, Dunnhumby was soon signing similar deals with supermarket groups around the world, and then in 2002, Tesco bought a 53% stake in the business.

In 2010, Ms Dunn and Mr Humby eventually sold the remainder of the business to Tesco, pocketing a widely reported £93m in total.

Ms Dunn says: “It had always been our intention to ultimately exit the business, and we had come to the end of business plan. We had exceeded our numbers, and Tesco gave us more than they had promised.

“They were happy, and we were happy. And we were tired actually... I just needed a rest.”

Yet after six months of relaxation in the Caribbean and Mediterranean, Mr Humby and Ms Dunn were keen to start working again.

And so a year ago, they joined a start-up business called Starcount, which aims to study which celebrities people follow on social media, and then sell on the useful information.

PAGE 13

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday, September 11, 2014

EDITORIAL

This is disturbing trend In Ekiti State, further south, on Dec. 1, gunmen attacked the central prison in the capital, Ado Ekiti, with explosives and machine guns, enabling all 320 inmates to make their escape. Two days later, 45 were rearrested but the rest 274 are still unaccounted for.

Commenting on the attack, Mr. Abba Moro, the minister of interior, had this to say: “The attack on the Ado

“

N

igerians are familiar with reports of Boko Haram militants attacking prisons and releasing inmates in a spectacular fashion. The daring attack on Bauchi main prison in September 2010 is one memorable example. In that dawn storming of the facility, some 700 inmates were believed to have been turned loose by the “Taliban” as the sect was initially called. It also marked the beginning of the sect’s expansion outside its base in Maiduguri, Borno State.

The sect struck again at Bama prison, in Borno State, in March, 2014, freeing several prisoners. A good number were recaptured and others returned, on their own volition.

Then there was the Mubi prison storming in October, this year. Mubi is in neighbouring Adamawa State and has been severally attacked by Boko Haram’s armed marauders.

What is surprising, however, are attacks on jails far out of the reach of the sect’s militants. These are in states supposedly impregnable.

Take Kogi State, for instance. On Nov. 3, gunmen attacked the prison in Kotonkarfe with explosives, enabling all 145 inmates but one in the facility at the time to escape.

The other was killed.“One died, eight have been recaptured and four surrendered voluntarily. The rest are at large,” Kogi State government spokesman Jacob Edi was quoted as saying. Police Force Headquarters spokesman, Emmanuel Ojukwu was emphatic that what happened was “an act of criminality and had nothing to do with the five-year-old Boko Haram insurgency.

The authorities must act fast to secure our prisons and also decongest them.

Ekiti prison which is similar to that on Kotonkarfe in Kogi State was carried out by desperate people outside, whose friends and accomplices were in jail and had attempted to forcibly release them…

“What these attacks have brought to the fore is that there is need for reinforced perimeter fencing in our prisons, which is being done now at Kotonkarfieand because of the ease with which both prisons had been attacked and broken into, the need to reinforce our concrete fencing of the prison becomes an imperative need”.

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”

Not quite a week after he spoke those words, the medium security prison in Minna, Niger State was stormed by gunmen. In this latest attack on Dec. 6, over 200 inmates were freed but only14 recaptured after two days, according to Superintendent Ibrahim Gambari. In response to the latest prison attack, the Controller-General of Prisons, Dr. Peter Ekpendu, has ordered the removal of the Controller of Prisons, Niger State Command, Musa Maiyaki, the officer-in-charge of the medium security prison, Mohammed Bena and other officers on duty during the jail break.

It is a fact that our prisons are old and security is porous. Many have inmates whose numbers far exceed the prisons’ holding capacity.Only 18,042 of 56,785 inmates have been convicted of a crime, according to statistics dated June 30 and posted on the website of the Nigeria Prisons Service. Besides poor structures, the prison staff are poorly trained and illequipped. They are easily outgunned by attackers with superior fire power.

However, what we find very disturbing is a suggestion that links these attacks to politicians. Coming with just two months to general and presidential elections, which, in our case, are always problematic, these attacks, if indeed they are the handiwork of politicians, should worry everyone concerned about the future of not only our democracy but that of the country generally. Already with the Boko Haram insurgency a hard nut to crack, we cannot afford to have former prison inmates, some of them killers, on the loose. The authorities must act fast to secure our prisons and also decongest them.

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OUR VISION

Chairman Malam Wada Maida, Oon, Fnge Director/Editor-in-Chief Rufa’i Ibrahim Managing Editor Abdul-Azeez Abdullahi

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Manager, administration Hassan Hammanyaji

Head, Lagos Bureau Adesoji Oyinlola

Acting Editor, Weekend Patrick Andrew

“To be a reputable, profitable, innovative and technologically reliant media company offering world class services and products”

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday, September 11, 2014

PAGE 14

Opinion

NLC and the fight against neo-colonialism ByAbdullah Musa

N

LC is an abbreviation for Nigerian Labor Congress, an umbrella organization for numerous other recognized labor unions in Nigeria.

For NLC to answer its name, Nigeria must be in existence as a united, indivisible country. Those in leadership positions today in NLC should know that they have a stake in the continuity of Nigeria.

We are aware that it is in our nature to adjust. You may be riding a big car today, because somewhere along the line you had access to a windfall; and therefore the big car is a symbol that you have also arrived. If with passage of time, however, things start to deteriorate, and you find yourself unable to run the fuel-guzzling monster, we may not be surprised to see you in one of those mini Japanese boxes, weaving in and out of lanes with ease.

Our example above is an attempt to show that Nigerians can with ease become local champions, either willingly, or if it is imposed upon them by the designs of others.

One must salute the leadership of the NLC for mobilizing the nation to oppose President Goodluck Jonathan’s IMF-manufactured killer-pills. What is a blessing in this turmoil is that Nigerians are rudely awakened to the fact that neo-colonialism is alive, and doing very fine. This is because as its

modus operandi, it usually recruits agents from targeted countries: NgoziIweala is one.

The World Bank, the IMF, and even most recently, the International Criminal Court, are also institutions designed to aid the cause of imperialism. The mindset of the imperialist is simply this: your safety lies in being under his or her boot. In a book: Political Geography, Colin Flint and Peter Taylor said: defining the future of others is an immense cultural power.

Since independence, we had been on leash to Western institutions. During the reign of another agent of imperialism, General Babangida, structural adjustment program, (SAP) was introduced. Even the acronym might not be coincidental: we say to sap the energy of someone; and the dictionary is even most brutal: in one of its definitions, it says: to make something/ somebody weaker; to destroy something gradually. In consonance with this definition, the Naira was devalued from one to one with dollar, to one to three in favor of the dollar. We need no reminder that today; it is one to one hundred and sixty.

So if we and NLC win the battle against imperialism and its agents, we would surely want to go back to sleep. Sleeping is what we are fond of. It may sound ludicrous, or even insulting, when many Nigerians spend the whole day in

sweltering sun to earn pittance, and I add insult to injury by saying we are fond of sleep. Well, to my understanding, human beings are elevated above other creatures by their ability to think; some may add, to create. Nigerians, and may be nearly all Africans, find the process of constructive thought daunting.

It is for that reason the West, through its imperial institutions like the World Bank and the IMF have arrogated to themselves the power to plan for us; to attempt, literally, to feed us through the feeding bottle, since we have not, as yet, developed wisdom teeth.

Otherwise how can it be that while the nation faces threat to its corporate existence, that a leadership ‘thinks’ it is the most suitable time to ram unpopular policies down the throat of ordinary Nigerians?

We may not ever know the faceless group that is behind Boko Haram. What should concern us is how the present leadership responds to it. If, as it were, it cocoons itself with few who share its peculiar understanding, comes out with a list of Boko Haram ‘supporters’ from within the government, the army, and so on; and that list happens to be a list of those who do not tow the line of the administration; or is simply a list designed to purge off certain tribe from the echelon of the armed forces, what reaction will be

envisaged; or more appropriately, what reaction is being courted?

NLC had long back, due to the circumstances of Nigeria’s political history, been transformed from simply an umbrella for labor unions, to being part of the guardians of the nation. Was it not NLC and company that brought the nation to a standstill in the June 12 saga? But there are certain new ingredients that have made the current political stew really toxic. What is really the agenda of DrGoodluck? Do all members of his cabinet know it? If they do, do they all subscribe to it? How does that agenda relate to the common man?

Nigerians, by coming together in spite of the security challenges, have spoken loud and clear: they do not subscribe to DrGoodluck’s agenda, whatever it might be. One of the toxic ingredients in our political soup is the West. A BBC reporter was finding it extremely difficult to voice out the resentment of the Nigerian populace against the swift and draconian measures of DrGoodluck’s administration.

These are people (BBC Press) who champion democracy, human rights, blah! blah! blah! Yet when the people spoke, the BBC reporter apparently decided to squeak rather than speak. (It was in a morning program of January 10, 2012) So after the fuel subsidy debacle, (if there is going to be

any after) NLC will face a dilemma.

Here is someone in power as President of Nigeria. He decides that Nigerians do not know what is good for them; Nigerians do not agree, but the West does. And who will he listen to? He will listen to those who gave him the winning election formula, (dividing Nigeria along religious and geographic lines). So he will continue to sit as President. And he has a debt to the West which he has not paid back.

The West by its nature does not forgive failure. If there must be a united Nigeria and democracy is an obstacle to West’s agenda, then democracy must go. But some have observed that in the SouthEast of Nigeria the protests were lukewarm. One man interviewed said the Niger Delta has been subsidizing oil to Nigeria for more than 50 years; another said that the $8billion-dollar subsidy should have been money used to finance development of Niger Delta. So if Dr. Goodluck is a Niger Deltan, not a Nigerian; and if Niger Deltans have no problem with subsidy removal; and if the oil is found in Niger Delta; and if David Cameron is considering the possibility of letting Scotland go out of United Kingdom; then who are we Nigerians, a colonial creation, to resist the excision of Niger Delta from Nigeria? Am I being utopian? I hope so.

Musa Abdullahi via kigongabas@gmai.com

country, churches in Nigeria are waging crusades against the pockets of their adherents.

Nigerian churches employ mindbending strategies to keep their faithful mass of penitents under a regimen of compulsory and thankless giving. Nevertheless, that is a subject for another day.

Truth be told, beyond the political and economic reasons that have been given for the rising and thriving of Boko Haram, one neglected reason that may be the kingpin of the other reasons is religion. Boko Haram is the fallout of our ultra-religious society.

Our society being ultra-religious gives expansive room for the mushrooming of dangerous sects and groups. It also engenders religious conflicts and schisms.

In the 1980s what appeared

to be a harbinger of today’s Boko Haram rampaged through the north. It was Maitatsine and his boys. Then later, it was Musa Makaniki and the residue of Maitatsine boys. Many lives were lost in the riots that these ultra-religious men caused.

These terrorists rose and thrived because the society in which they operated was ultra-religious.

So, as it is now, if the economic and political causes of terrorism in Nigeria are addressed, the same problem will persist because of the ultra-religiousness of its people.

The battle to stifle terrorism must be taken to the minds of Nigerians. Ridding the country of its ultra-religious garb is a necessary action that must be taken to salvage what is left of it.

Physical combat may stunt the growth of terrorism for a while, but it cannot kill its seed. The seed of terrorism in Nigeria today is religion.

Boko Haram’s ideology is pickled in religion. Steering the minds of Nigerians away from ultra-religiosity through seminal re-education may be the one way out of the one-end street of naked violence. We must de-emphasise religion!The truth is, we are Boko Haram because we are an ultrareligious society.

Fredrick Nwabufo via fredricknwabufo@yahoo. com

We all are Boko Haram

By Fredrick Nwabufo

A

s the Boko Haram “intifada” continues to transmogrify in monstrosity; upping the ante in barbarism and savagery, more Nigerians, undoubtedly, will be martyred. This is not a prognosis of doom, but a cringing deduction from the exegesis of the terror group. However, this article does not broach Boko Haram’s future killing statistics.

All around the navel and fringes of north-eastern Nigeria, Boko Haram roams cutting down feeble “usurpers” who are pawned by fate. From the rustic communities of Borno to the slumbering towns of Yobe; it is the same fate that binds them in one tragedy loop. Boko Haram has become to the inhabitants of this axis of infamy and horror a festering sore which they have to live with; a nightmare that has become a daylight reality.

And so it is, today Boko Haram has become the spitting image of evil; the belch from the bowels of hell. True as this representation of Boko Haram may be, the fact is that it has always been with us. Boko Haram has always been the subservient, quiet and docile demon in our ultra-religious space. And when that demon has soaked up enough contaminated religious water, it unleashes itself fiercely on obverse people knifing,

biting, mauling and mowing. All tools in its killing kit, it unleashes to relieve itself of religious concupiscence.

“Religicide” (killing in the name of God) is the child of ultra-religiousness. It is common where religion trounces reason.

And in Nigeria, an ultra-religious country, reason is a prisoner.

Again, what ultra-religiousness in Nigeria connotes is incessant frictions and clashes arising from the collision of different religions or faiths. And that means, even if Boko Haram is subdued today, something greater than it may rise from its ashes.

As a matter of fact, Boko Haram is a manifestation of the loss of reason, and it can be apparelled in the robe of Islam, in the hood of Christianity, or in the raiment of any religion.

The Anti-Balaka, a collection of Christian militias giving the Boko Haram treatment to Muslims in Central Africa Republic is a clear indication that a delicacy of terror can be prepared and served

by Christians too. The truth is, a mind fecundated by religion is schizophrenic, and as a result, it is dangerous behind the trigger.

Come to think of it, have we wondered why terrorism is common in ultra-religious societies? The Middle East, in spite of all its resources is a hotbed of violence, rape, child marriage and gender discrimination. One

would have hoped that being ultra-religious; societies in the Middle East would be front-liners in promoting democracy, fairness, gender equality and peace. But sadly, that is not the case.

Ours is an ultra-religious society with little care for reason.

We hold our religious beliefs arrogantly to our chests, and cease to reason out or think through what our religious lords feed us. We gulp down large morsels of religious tommy-rot, and challenge any authority that disputes our “truths”. We keep contaminating our minds with religious poisons until our guts cannot contain them, and then we puke the poisons on people of obverse faith.

Besides, while Boko Haram is waging a Jihad against the

“

As a matter of fact, Boko Haram is a manifestation of the loss of reason, and it can be apparelled in the robe of Islam, in the hood of Christianity, or in the raiment of any religion. The Anti-Balaka, a collection of Christian militias giving the Boko Haram treatment to Muslims in Central Africa Republic is a clear indication that a delicacy of terror can be prepared and served by Christians too.

PAGE 15

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday, September 11, 2014

Comment

Defections and political prostitution

By Anthony Akinola

O

ne major difference in the politics of the advanced democratic nations and that of contemporary Nigeria is that one is highly “individualistic” while the other is still largely “communal”. By this I mean there is a greater degree of independence in one than exists in the other.

Whereas the divorce lawyer may not be summoned because a wife has chosen to hold a political view that is different from that of her husband, this may not be the case in a communal society where the choice made by one person could be taken, invariably, as the choice made by others. It is precisely because of this communal culture that the phenomenon of defections, i.e. crossing over from one political party to another, attracts the attention it hardly deserves.

When a key political actor has defected from one political party to another, there is a “bandwagon” effect helped by a very low level of political education as well as economic poverty on the part of others. I remember when

my father, the late Chief Josiah AkinolaOisa was “coerced” into transferring his loyalty from the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) in the late 1950s, quite a number of erstwhile supporters of the party followed him to the ruling Action Group (AG) in the then Western Region.

He was quite an influential chief, very intelligent as he was equally principled and bold. However, the “regional government” threatened him with deposition if he did not switch loyalty. Deposition was, and still is, some kind of disgrace no one would wish for. My father reluctantly abandoned the political party he so much cherished, thanks to the intolerance of those in positions of power and authority.

He was not given the option of being paid “a penny a year salary”.

Armed with what I observed as a very young child, I took exceptional interest in the phenomenon of defections during the Second Republic (1979-83). I was about arguing a thesis that the presidency would bring about a two-party system in Nigeria, hence the excitement in an observation that members of minor political

parties were defecting in large numbers to the then two relatively successful parties, the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). I saw the development as a process of “party cross-breeding”. The termination of the then democratic experiment, not least because of the culture of election rigging, frustrated whatever outcome or conclusion one was anticipating.

There have been quite a few noticeable defections since political party activity resumed in 1999; however, the phenomenon of defections has never been as pronounced as it has been in the past couple of months. The internal crisis in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) opened up a floodgate of defections, with as many as five governors as well as senators and representatives transferring their loyalty from the PDP to the new alternative political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). Of course, the PDP has equally been benefiting from the spate of defections as well as allegedly “buying back” its fleeing members.

The ease with which our

When small isn’t beautiful

By Aminu F. Hamajoda

T

he conflicts in Mali, Congo, CAR and South Sudan should be viewed with grave concern by Africans especially in concurrence to the doggedness of the European Union in battling for consolidation even in a period of depression. The trend of balkanization in the face of the challenges of the 21st century is not the best solution for the aggrieved people of Africa.

After close to thirty years of civil war in Sudan, there was hope that a division between North and South Sudan will bring peace and development.

Not yet uhuru! Soon after the proclamation of independence for the South in 2011, droves of south Sudanese flocked back home in boats and buses only to find non-existent infrastructure, unavailable schools and jobs and perverse insecurity and corruption. In the North inflation skyrocketed, fuel prices increased, investments slowed and new conflicts arose about border and crude oil transportation.

In desperation, the two nations agreed in 2012 among others things, for citizens of both countries to work and own property in either Sudans and other specific protocols in oil, security, trade, banking and culture. All these had existed in a unified Sudan! To crown it all, in 2013, the ugly head of ethnicity reared its head in Juba and a one-year-old nation is consumed in a tribal inferno with a former President of a united Sudan coming to the rescue!

As nations balkanize further, their competitivenessis bound to reduce. Modern city-states can be quoted as examples of ‘small is beautiful and successful’, but there are several catches there.

All modern city-states like Singapore, Hongkong, and Dubai, are not landlocked and are multi-racial, multicultural, immigrants forming the bulk of their citizens. They are generally financial and trading centers relying on trade and manufacturing, real vulnerable factors of development.

Similarly, military and geopolitical power is non-existent in these city-states; they depend completely on western powers for their defense and can never feature in top ranking countries, because countries that are competing for the first ten positions as world economic powers (USA, China, EU, India, Japan, Brazil, Russia, UK, France…) have larger land mass, more population, and economies that depend much more on land, human capital, and manufacturing. Size is one factor that is driving European countries to form a union.

Brazil will overtake Germany and France in 2028. Old Britain cannot compete with India, its former colony in 2030, and the USA will relinquish its baton to China by 2032, if we last that long.

Starting from this year, the number one effort by all African countries should be towards increasing mobility of people and goods by consolidating transnational cooperation (e.g ECOWAS, EAC etc) that will ultimately

end in an African Union. This will require doggedness similar to that of EU, because it is not good for Africa after emerging from a damaging colonial political economy to succumb to a growing bitter conflict of ethnic nationalism and useless demands for separations.

Studies have already shown that ethnic and separatists’ conflicts are just levers used by our current inept African leaders to garner support for their political and economic aggrandizements. The current situation in South Sudan and CAR are graphic examples of the shameful quality of postcolonial leadership in Africa.

If, therefore, ethnic and separatist conflicts stem from desire to access power and resources by African leaders, then the steps to take to mitigate these conflicts while striving for regional and African union are quite obvious. First it is time to stop this craze about autochthony (son-of-the-soil syndrome) as a definition of citizenship for it is not an African concept because historical records show that although ethnicity had socially defined people in Africa before colonialism, intermarriages and other inter-ethnic mixing of cultures and people were taking place. If this was not the case, every village area in Africa would have been an inferno of ethnic war before the coming of colonialism.

Similarly, the vicious ideology of autochthony is created to definitively eliminate the so-called nonindigenes by genocide and other forms of atrocities. Ivory

politicians change political party support clearly suggests that ideology is of little relevance in our politics. Our politicians are divided by their greed and selfish interests than by anything else. Where there is commitment to ideology, a politician will not transfer his or her loyalty for the fear of competition by potential rivals. They will not be running from the political party they believed in for the fear that its structure could be hijacked by another. On the contrary, an ideologically-informed politician will remain in his or her party and sort out whatever problems might have arisen.

It will take quite a while for the Nigerian party system to stabilize. The party system is evolving, still some kind of work in progress. The one good thing to take from current observations is the potential for integration being exhibited by the presidency as a political institution. There will be those arguing for Nigeria to return to the parliamentary system of government which was practiced in the First Republic, not least because it is believed to be less expensive than the presidential

alternative. However, when it comes to the issue of political integration, I shall be one of those arguing that the presidential system should be accepted as having come to stay.

A return to the parliamentary system will be a return to another era of ethnic political parties and the erstwhile culture of conspiratorial ethnic alliances. There is nothing to be nostalgic about in the practice of the parliamentary system as witnessed at the federal level of political governance until its deserved death on 15 January 1966. The emergence of the PDP and the APC, as broad-based political parties, has revealed the centralizing influence of the presidency and proved beyond reasonable doubt that there is no place for ethnic political parties in the current dispensation. A bit of tinkering with the constitution, especially at the level of leadership recruitment (rotating the presidency, for instance) could tame the spate of defections and political prostitution.

Anthony Akinola via anthonyakinola@yahoo. co.uk

Cost in 2002 and Plateau State in Nigeria are good examples of the callousness of autochthony conflicts. It is time to stamp forcefully before it becomes a monster, this fabricated narrow notion of citizenship in Africa. Failing to stamp it out will provide a portent weapon for the enemies of Africa to continue to destroy the black race. Rwanda was an example and the recent sparks in East and Central Africa are pointers to even more ethnic violence to come in Africa.

In addition to fighting the autochthony conspiracy, African countries need to overhaul their protocols of intervention and justice because they are keys to stemming conflicts.

The current situation where at the African Union level, leaders are befuddled on how to solve conflicts is highly discouraging.

This not the time for diplomacy, but for assessing situations, arriving at judgments and pronouncing solutions without fear and favour like our ancestors use to do. For instance there must be culprits in the present conflicts in Sudan and CAR. Without fear and favour political players must be judged and heavily sanctioned.

Western paradigms in solving our problems are not efficient.

There is apparently a need for AU to have an African Court in Addis Ababa that will try African leaders even if at the beginning nations may reject its rulings. At the national level, failure to obtain justice through public institutions is another cause of the cycle of violence in the conflict areas.

Probably replicating Ghana’s model of conflict resolution, CHRAJ, across Africa nations may be a worthwhile exercise in providing an independent institution that documents and reconcile ethnic conflicts.

Apart from timely intervention and improvement in the justice system, national and regional security forces must be strengthened and diversified. It is time for the mooted African High Command Force to take off in addition to existing regional forces like the ECOMOG. More security personnel should be recruited at both national and AU levels that cut across ethnic and religious lines. Both in CAR and Sudan currently, deployed troops are not adequate to ensure civilian safety. Recruitment of security personnel must be ethnically and religiously balanced because research has already shown that ethnically representative security forces are very effective in diverse societies.

Continuously depending on the West and UN for our conflict resolution after close to a century of independence will not augur well for Africa.

Lastly while striving for regional and African unity, each African country must develop and consolidate their strategies and institutions that will mitigate micro-nationalist and ethnic conflicts.

Dr. Aminu F. Hamajodavia aminufhamajoda@ yahoo.com

PAGE 16

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday, September 11, 2014

Plateau guber aspirants reject PDP primaries From Ado Abubakar Musa, Jos

F

ollowing the conducted of the governorship primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau State which saw the emergence of Senator Gyang Nyam Pwajok as winner, other

aspirants who also contested for the seat have rejected the outcome of the primaries, describing it as incredible.

The aggrieved aspirants who rejected the result of the primary have petitioned the PDP Appeal Panel saying the accreditation process was violated.

While addressing journalists in Jos yesterday, one of the gubernatorial aspirant and former governor of the state, Fidelis Tapgun lamented that “the violation of the provisions guiding the accreditation process led to issues of discrepancy and inability to ascertain the number

of delegates in the primary“.

“When the so called voting process commenced, there were no definite figures announced for any local governme nt.

“And to complicate the problem of ascertaining the exact number of accredited delegates was the fact

L-R: Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC) Election Committee, Dr Kayode Fayemi, and former Osun State Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, during the party’s presidential primary, yesterday in Lagos.

Photo: NAN

…As ex-Miyetti Allah scribe picks DPP Rep ticket

A

Voters to use card readers in 2015 elections - INEC From Isaac Money, Yenagoa

T

he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that voters in 2015 elections would use card readers in the process of accreditation before voting.

This is to be made possible because of the type of voter register that is in existence as NUJ says the conduct of a

credible election is a collective responsibility.

Mr. Victor Agbanwaneten, Head, Voters Education, Publicity and Civil Society Organization, disclosed this when he presented a lecture , titled “ Towards Credible 2015 elections”, at this year’s Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Week in Yenagoa yesterday assured that electoral malpractices hitherto

experienced in the voting system such as multiple registration and multiple voting are to be things of the past.

Agbanwaneten further disclosed that the Commission is putting in place what is termed the re-modified open ballot system that will enable voters vote in secret but drop the ballot in the box in the most open and transparent manner as possible.

In his opening remark, Mr. Taranto Akono, the Chairman of the state chapter of the NUJ, who decried the actions of politicians in the on gong elections, pointed out that the conduct of credible elections is a collective task.

He stated that most politicians are either anointed or supported by god fathers, and that is why the electorate must exercise their votes and also speak out.

(Thursday) at a grand convention rally at the Eagle Square, Abuja.

Peoples Daily at the convention reports that the entire routes leading to the Eagle Square, the venue of the convention has been cordoned by heavily armed security operatives that apart from sealing the routes from all vehicular movements also conduct thorough search on people attending the ceremony.

Heavy traffic was recorded around the Abuja central area due to the secured routes a situation that forced motorists attending the ceremony to forcefully

abandon their vehicles at strategic places and to trek for kilometres before arriving at the venue.

The programme which was scheduled to start at 2 pm could not start till 5.25 pm despite the arrival of the President and other top party members.

The ratification of Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu heralded the commencement of the ceremony of also the ratification of President Jonathan by popular acclamation of the delegates present.

Mu’azu was appointed as acting chairman of the party after the resignation of Alhaji

Bamanga Tukur in January this year alongside the PDP National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo together with the National Auditor, Wale Adeyanju respectively.

President Goodluck Jonathan flanked by his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan, Vice President Arch. Namadi Sambo, Senate president David Mark, deputy Speaker, Emeka Ehidioha, State Governors and other top politicians collectively moved to the designated voting centres at exactly 6.18 pm to cast their votes for their support of the PDP

3,073 Delegates ratify Mu’azu as PDP Chairman

By Ahmed Abubakar

N

o fewer than 3,073 delegates from across the 36 states of the Federation including Abuja have ratified the embattled Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu as the party’s substantive chairman.

The ratification of Mu’azu as the party’s substantive National Chairman has now, based on the party’s constitution, paved the way for the ratification of President Goodluck Jonathan as the party’s candidate today

that the document containing the list of the delegates tendered by the Plateau State Organizing Secretary is different from that brought by the electoral Panel Chairman up to when the purported voting commenced.”

Continuing he said, “The electoral panel should have met with all the aspirants where they would be fully briefed on the detailed procedures for the election to verify any doubt on issues before the commencement of voting“.

“The venue of the election was taken over by thugs wearing ushers and protocol tags who were brought into the venue to cause mayhem in the name of being officials in the election, “ he added.

Tapgun further said, their decision to stage a walkout at the venue of the primary was due to the adamant posture of the electoral panel to the abuses of the provisions of the party’s guidelines.

former National Secretary of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alh Saleh Bayeri has been affirmed yesterday as the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) candidate to contest for Jos North / Bassa Federal Constituency.

The former secretary was confirmed together with some state assembly candidates for Jos North/ North, Jos North West and Pengana Constituency; Abubakar Ateeku Yusuf, Inuwa Usman and Bulus Malaika Mafinja as the flag bearers of the party.

However In his speech during the confirmation, Bayeri said, “I am going into this contest on the call and desire of the people of my constituency to seek for the seat so as to enable me make an improvement to the area” “There was general feeling in the entire constituency for equity and justice for the people of Bassa LGA who have waited for a period for 12 years now. We supposed to retake the seat from 2011 considering the fact that the people from Jos North LGA had been in the seat since 2003 and for equity and justice, courtesy demand the shift of the seat to Bassa LGA” , he added.

He further said,”We have lots of challenges being the largest constituency with the highest population in the state but is magnanimous in terms of infrastructural development.

If elected I will use my experience toward addressing the problem”.

“I urge the people of the constituency to vote wisely and elect credible candidates during the forthcoming election”, while thanking party faithful for given them opportunity and pledged to be loyal to the party.

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday, September 11, 2014

PAGE 17

Politics

Corruption allegation blackmail against Jonathan, says Abati INTERVIEW

T

he President has continued to tell Nigerians to be patient in the course of uneven distribution of infrastructures especially in the roads and power sector.

How much longer are the people expected to wait especially with the dwindling oil prices?

I am not aware that the President talked about infrastructure being unevenly distributed. If you are referring to the declaration speech by the President, what he said in that speech is that ‘we’ve done a lot but there is still a lot more to be done.’

He spoke in the context of the determination of the government to do a lot more. With regard to power, the truth is that the Discos (Distribution Companies) and Gencos (Generation Companies) are all in the process of consolidating their takeover of the various facilities and the President made it clear that issues arising with regard to gas supply are being addressed. The President did not talk about uneven distribution of infrastructure.

The determination of government is to ensure that every part of the country is covered and a lot has been done to make sure that in terms of infrastructure, either roads or other facilities, every part of the country benefits.

We have just completed a six-part publication indicating what has been done in every geopolitical zone and the key message of that publication is to dispel this kind of assumption that the distribution of infrastructure has been uneven. In the three years plus of the Jonathan administration, every part of the country has been touched.

Not just roads, those who may not have gained more in terms of roads have gained more in terms of other types of infrastructure like schools, libraries, health facilities and railway. There is no part of the country that has not been touched because the objective of transformation is a national agenda which does not exclude any part of the country. The President’s message is that in his second term this administration will do even a lot more and he needs a second term to be able to continue to further take Nigeria forward.

But despite all that the President declared to be his achievements, some Nigerians, especially the opposition keeps insisting that there exists a high level corruption in this government?

The people who complain of corruption about this administration are oftentimes themselves the most corrupt persons in whatever circumstance

Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Reuben Abati, in this interaction with newsmen said the allegation of corruption against his boss’ administration has become a refrain coming from those politicians bereft of ideas hoping to blackmail him. The Presidential spokesman also gave the assurance that his boss will win the 2015 Presidential election convincingly even as he maintained that the government has yet to make any declaration on fuel subsidy removal as being variously speculated. Our Villa Correspondent, Lawrence Olaoye, was there. they find themselves and it is one label that people think they can just slam on this government, in order to gain attention and to be seen to be progressive. So, everybody that comments on the administration, brings up the issue of corruption, it is becoming so banal and predictable. It doesn’t sound original anymore. It is a question to which we have responded again and again. This administration has done a lot more than previous administrations to deal with the challenge of corruption and I have given so many examples.

The restructuring of the pension payment system, the restructuring of the integrated salary payment system, the introduction of greater level of integrity in payments for refined crude imports and the elimination of ghost workers who used to collect money for work not done. Even the whole idea of deregulation in the oil and gas sector was to check corrupt practices in the downstream sector.

This administration conducted free and fair elections in 2011 and the various by- elections and state-level elections that followed have been adjudged unequivocally as free and fair. In addition, this government has been very transparent and accountable in the conduct of its affairs.

This is the first government in recent memory that will insist that its ministers must give account to Nigerians on a regular basis and we also regularly publish allocations to various levels of government.

The Jonathan administration has shown that it has nothing to hide and it has subjected itself to thorough scrutiny by the Nigerian people, by the public and by the relevant institutions. You cannot say that such an administration is corrupt.

But what people do is to look at what suits their fancy and they blow it up to say, ‘oh, this public official has travelled five times, so, the administration must be corrupt’.

And people use such tactics when they are motivated by blackmail.

But one question should be asked: why the exclusive focus on the Federal Government? Why is no one turning the searchlight on the state and local governments, and be scientific in making allegations?

There is this issue of austerity measures in the country. There are reports that the government is even making plans to revisit the subsidy removal issue next year. Is it true?

Abati If government is going to announce a policy, it will not do so through bush radio. So, you can’t be quoting bush radio and say I have even heard. If there is going to be a specific government policy, government will come out openly and announce it. As at this moment, the Federal Government has not made such announcement. Even the Central Bank of Nigeria that announced a number of measures to protect the country’s monetary system did not talk about removal of subsidy. And the Ministry of Finance in reviewing the proposed Expenditure Framework for 2015 did not do so either. So, people should not start quoting bush radio because that would amount to rumour-mongering.

There are insinuations that some of the Northern PDP governors pretend to be working for the President, but in the true sense they are sabotaging his 2015 ambition. What would you say about that?

That question is funny. What I know is that in the Northern part of the country, as in the Southern part and in every geopolitical zone, the PDP, the President’s party controls majority of the states. It has the largest number of states and I think it will be a very serious allegation indeed to say that a sitting governor on the platform of the PDP will sabotage his own party.

You are more or less accusing those governors of anti-party activities. We shouldn’t make such

an allegation without concrete evidence. What I can tell you is that President Jonathan has the solid support of the governors and the party members in all the geopolitical zones. It will be unfair to dismiss as traitors, these persons who are solidly behind the President, who on every occasion profess their loyalty and who through their performance have shown that they are loyal party members. It will be unfair indeed to accuse them of plotting to sabotage the party or the President without concrete evidence.

The basis for this particular rumour is that the First Lady is allegedly pitching the president against the governors by interfering in the politics of succession in the states. There was even a report last week that she snubbed Bayelsa governor when he came for the president’s birthday?

The First Lady is not interfering in any politics of succession at the state level. There is a democratic process in place and at work, which is driven by laid down rules and regulations. The problem is that there is too much rumourmongering going on as we move closer to the 2015 elections, and too many innocent persons are being maligned for no just reason.

You claim for example that the First Lady snubbed the Governor of Bayelsa State on November 20.

That is not true.

That very morning, the First

Lady was in attendance during the early Morning Prayer session to mark the President’s 57th birthday.

She was scheduled to travel out to England that same morning and she left immediately after the cutting of cake. This you can double-check.

She travelled with British Airways.

If you know the date, go and check with the airline.

By the time the Governor of Bayelsa arrived at the Villa with some elders of Bayelsa State much later in the day, the First Lady was already airborne; she was inside a British Airways aircraft, going to the UK. And then somebody went on to write a story claiming she didn’t come out to greet the governors and the elders from Bayelsa; good evidence, in that fiction writer’s imagination that she is against the governor.

The kind of stories that you read sometimes in our newspapers raise questions about the editorial ability of those who put out the stories and the common sense of the authors. Whatever happened to investigative journalism; a simple thing that could be clarified by just asking simple questions, a reporter will on the basis of mere suspicion just cook up a story and then the story is played up in the paper but it is not the truth. It is a bad thing for democracy if those who are supposed to inform the people set out deliberately to mislead and misinform them.

Political analysts believe that what is happening in the North appears as if the region is divided over the President’s 2015 presidential ambition. How does he intend to weather the storm in this direction?

Who are these political analysts?

Some people just give themselves titles that they don’t deserve.

Any character that is offered an arm-chair by a newspaper or a TV station is suddenly an analyst and an expert. Oftentimes we use these terms so loosely, but what I can tell you is that we have no anxieties whatsoever about the fact that President Jonathan will perform very well in the 2015 presidential elections and he will win convincingly.

In the last elections in 2011, he presented himself for the presidential elections and he was the only candidate who had the required spread in more than 2/3 of the states of the federation, which means that he was the only one who was nationally accepted.

PAGE 18

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday, September 11, 2014

Politics

Movement drums support for Suswam’s senatorial ambition From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

A

movement known as Peoples Democratic Party, PDP-Goodluck Jonathan Presidency Mass Mobilization Movement (GJPM3) has advised Benue people especially Benue North East senatorial district to support governor Gabriel Suswam to emerge as senator in 2015.

The movement which is planning a peace summit for the North Central zone on a date yet to be disclosed, said that it is working with Benue to host the summit.

Director General of the movement, Prince Felix Ihonre who disclosed this while inaugurating the state chapter of the movement in Makurdi yesterday, explained that the peace summit would bring the people of the zone together with all shades of suggestions that would be a model towards bringing lasting peace to the region.

Ihonre stressed the importance of peace, arguing that the need is to champion the cause of peace “in all our homes.”

Speaking on the senatorial ambition of the state governor, he noted that as a young man Suswam has dedicated his time to serve the people of the state and now that he has made himself available to serve the state in another capacity as senator, the people should throw their weight behind him.

Ihonre who also drummed support for President Goodluck Jonathan said the president has kept faith with his projects and the time of completion.

He observed that Jonathan has ensured that peace return to Niger Delta and he was confident that the president would also restore peace in the country.

He condemned those that have the intention of making the nation ungovernable, describing them as the enemies of the nation.

Earlier, the state coordinator of the movement, Patrick Yaavur noted that the efforts made by the President in containing the Boko Haram menace is worthy of commendation.

He advised Nigerians not to politicize the issue of security.

He also said “The good governance of the president has also been replicated in Benue State where close to 30 women aspired for various positions in the party primaries in Benue State.”

Delegates queuing for screening, during Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Special National Convention, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: NAN

Guber aspirant wants Bauchi PDP primaries canceled From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

T

he Campaign Organization of Dr. Mohammed Ali Pate, who is aspiring to be governor of Bauchi State under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has said that unless the Bauchi gubernatorial primary elections conducted Tuesday is cancelled, the party will not deliver the state in the February 2015 elections.

An agent to the former minster during the botched primaries, Danlami Danfulani explained that PDP machineries in the state hijacked the primary election that was supposed to be conducted by the Senator Stella Omo led panel sent by the national headquarters of the party to officiate the exercise.

“Unfortunately the Lady that came to Bauchi to conduct the PDP gubernatorial primaries was overpowered by the PDP leader in the state and party executives such that one person can write ballot papers for 10 – 20 delegates and put them into the ballot box’, he alleged.

Danfulani said at a press conference in Bauchi last evening

that the exchanged of bad words that ensued between the his organization members on one hand and the PDP Executives backed by the party leader on the other nearly break the camel’s back.

Danfulani who observed that the PDP leader is no longer interested in delivering Bauchi to the party comes 2015 elections, recalled that what transpired during the primaries could best be described as political maneuvers rather than elections, saying it is a prelude to the PDP losing the state in the 2015 elections.

“After votes casting of delegates from 5 local government areas of Alkaleri, Bauchi, Bogoro, Darazo and Danbam, we raised alarm to the irregularities going on and the electoral officer cancelled the votes cast but to our dismay justice did not prevail as the state party machineries took over election procedures from the electoral officer”, he said.

He stated that at the end of the primaries, different elections result figures were apportioned to the gubernatorial aspirants that

partake in the elections ranging from 300 votes to 100 and even less than that, as our appeals for the cancellation of results fell into deaf ears.

“We appeal at that time to the electoral officer and members of the panel that the elections must be canceled if we want to deliver in 2015, but we realized from the party leader that he is not interested in the deliverance of the governorship seat to the PDP come 2015 elections”, Danfulani cried.

Danfulani appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan and the National leadership of the PDP to delve into the Bauchi gubernatorial primaries palaver for rectification as, according to him, the state known as the beacon of PDP will lose out in the 2015 general elections.

The press briefing was co-held

by Pate Campaign Organization’s Director-general, Musa Babangida Maijama’a, and second returning officer in the primaries, Wakili Abdu who observed that PDP in Bauchi need a credible person as governor that can move the state out of the woods.

“It is a known fact that everybody knows where Bauchi is heading to as regards to economic situations and other problems bedeviling it, and it’s only a good hand that can move the state forward and take it out of the woods” Abdu stated.

Alhaji Wakili Abdu expressed dismay that the PDP leader in the state has lost control of governing the state and running the party as its leader, as some few cabals surrounding him took over control of everything for their selfish and myopic interests.

“Somebody who cannot manage a State House of Assembly of 31 people, you want to put him on a saddle of power in Bauchi State to run its affairs. It’s unfortunate, people of Bauchi State should not allow this exercise to continue”, he noted.

Maijama’a sumummed it all thus, “We totally reject the procedure and results of yesterday’s PDP gubernatorial primaries in Bauchi State and call on the party at National level to direct for the conduct of fresh elections in Bauchi”.

… As aspirants seek cancellation of Bauchi APC primary election

T

he Minority Leader of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Alhaji Baba Abubakar Suleiman in collaboration with six other defeated aspirants in the just concluded All Progressives Congress (APC) Katagum Federal constituency primary election has appealed to the national leadership of the party to cancel the election

and order for a fresh election.

Suleiman stated this yesterday while speaking with newsmen in Bauchi, where he alleged that “ we observed that the elections was characterized with rigging, violation of electoral laws , conspiracy , threats , intimidation , use of money and other illegal and corrupt practices during the election.”

The Minority Leader said together with other defeated aspirants including, Aliyu Abdullahi Mahmud,Mohammed Ghali Abdullahi, Ghazali Mohammed Mijinyawa, Awwalu Dahiru Saleh ,MD Nuru and Kabiru Mohammed Baba, they have submitted a petition against the conduct of the primary election to the election Appeal Panel set up by the National

Headquarters of the party.

He alleged that the aspirants observed that in the process of casting their votes, delegates were manipulated and compelled to vote for a particular candidate and they recorded shortage of ballot papers as five delegates could not cast their votes due to lack of ballot papers and called for the cancellation of the election.

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PEOPLES DAILY, thursday, September 11, 2014

Abuja Disco takes power safety awareness campaign to Lokoja

By Etuka Sunday

A

buja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) on Tuesday took its safety awareness campaign to Lokoja in Kogi State and urged those who built houses under its high-tension wires to remove them.

Speaking, the Executive Director, Regulatory Affairs, AEDC, Mr Abimbola Odubiyi said, the advice become necessary in view of the increasing cases of deaths and other disasters caused by illegal connections and erection of buildings under hightension cables.

Mr Odubiyi warned that the company would not take responsibility for disasters caused by consumers’ illegal actions, therefore, advised them to desist from patronising unlicensed electricians.

He assured that the company would soon install more transformers in new areas of Lokoja and its environs, and send pre-paid meters to the state to check the menace of “crazy and estimated bills’’.

Also speaking, the Executive Director, Risk and Compliance, AEDC, Mr Collins Chabbukka, advised electricity consumers to always take safety steps while fixing electrical appliances such as bulbs, plugs.

Chabbukka advised them to promptly draw the company’s attention to detected faults, as well as avoid having contact with naked wire.

He assured that the company was ready to offer improved services to its clients.

The people called on the company to urgently find a lasting solution to the problems of arbitrary charges and poor power supply in the state.

…Counsels residents to remove houses under High-Tension wires

L-R: Executive Director, Regulatory and Stakeholders Affairs, Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), Mr. Abimbola Odubiyi, presenting a gift to the Maigari of Lokoja, Alhaji Muhammadu Maikarfi, while the Executive Director, Risk and Compliance of AEDC, Mr. Collins Chabuka watches, during AEDC’s Health and Safety Sensitization Campaign Tuesday in Lokoja, Kogi State,

Aviation Ministry, ICPC to tackle corruption at airports From Suleiman Idris, Lagos & Joy Baba-Yesufu, Abuja

T

he ministry of aviation and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU ) that would allow both federal organs root out what they described as low level corruption across the airports in Nigeria.

The two bodies said the strategies to be deployed would include mandatory training on ethics and integrity at the

…Gives 14-day ultimatum for touts eviction anti – graft agency’s academy for personnel that work at the facilities.

ICPC Chairman, Mr. Ekpo Nta told the gathering in Lagos that the MoU also involve a comprehensive systems study of the Federal Ministry of Aviation and its agencies and a continuous sensitisation of the travelling public and foreigners who use the airports to stop giving tips or bribes and as well report any unwholesome acts to the ICPC.

Power: NERC begins probe of metering implementation in Lagos >>Pg 21

Minister of aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka in his presentation described corruption as a roadblock to national economic development.

Chidoka directed the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigerian Air Force to root out touts loitering around the arrival hall of the international wing of the Lagos Airport within 14 days.

Also, he said FAAN should cancel concessions that involve

the use of trolleys at the terminal and explained that government would install brand new close circuit television cameras at major international terminals to provide surveillance through the use of technology ways and means to checking corrupt practices.

According to him, the ministry would interface with the Lagos State Government to set up mobile courts at the Lagos Airport for the speedy

‘Pension funds investment to accelerate equity value to N3trn by 2019’ >>Pg 22

trail and prosecution of persons arrested for touting and other unauthorized practices.

Chidoka said:” We need to stamp out corruption at our airports because its practice has become a roadblock to economic prosperity. Corruption destroys processes and truncate outcomes.

It does not create a level playing field.

As a window to the world, that is why the aviation sector has decided to blaze the trail to have a conversation on how to stamp out corruption at our entry and exit points out of the country. I get very worried over the crowding of passengers and airport personnel around the check in areas. This must be reviewed, because we have to find better ways of processing passengers.”

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PEOPLES DAILY, thursday, September 11, 2014

Analysis

Falling oil prices: Why FG must work beyond mere assurances

By Etuka Sunday

S

ince the announcement of the drop in global oil prices, there have been assurances from the federal government and indeed economic experts around the corridor of power on how Nigeria’s economy would blossom even in the face of such global reality.

The recent one was the one made by President Goodluck Jonathan last week when a delegation of multinational industrial giant, General Electric (GE), led by its Vice Chairman and CEO, Mr John Rice, paid him a courtesy visit at the Presidential Villa.

Jonathan while speaking assured Nigerians and indeed foreign investors that the Nigerian economy would remain stable despite the drop in global oil prices.

Although no precise solutions were advanced by the President in his speech but he said, the Federal Government would do everything possible to maintain domestic economic stability, and urged the company to maintain its confidence in the country.

To quote him directly, he said, “We promise our people that even with the drop in oil prices, the economy will be stable. I urge you to maintain the confidence you have in this country before the oil price drop, and even expect better management from us. Sometimes, it is when you are challenged that you do better than when everything looks good.

So, I assure you, other investors in this country and all Nigerians that the government will do everything necessary to stabilise the economy and that the drop in the price of crude oil will not create so much distortion in our economy,” he said.

Although a lot of measures had been announced by the federal government in anticipation to cushion the effect of the falling oil prices on Nigeria’s economy, but experts saw the measures as temporary solutions to the ugly reality of the global challenge.

The federal government through the Minister of Finance and the Co-ordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, announced austerity measures aimed at cushioning its impact on the economy.

The measures was to see Nigerians paying tax on luxury goods, reduction in public expenditures and international travels by public servants, prudence and low budget benchmark by the National

CMF Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

Assembly to encourage more savings.

“After a careful analysis of the situation, the economic team approved a $5 per barrel reduction in the 2015 budget benchmark price for oil from $78 to $73 per barrel,” she said.

According to her, the measures were designed to boost non-oil revenues further, plug loopholes and waste and cut unnecessary expenditures in order to cope with the situation.

She said, “Every country that is well managed doesn’t just sit and allow a situation to happen to them. If they are well managed, they prepare the right set of policies to deal with the situation.

“Those days when we used to be like that in the ‘80s and 90s are over.

In the ‘80s, when we had shock, we didn’t take measures by ourselves to adjust. We waited for others to come and tell us how to adjust. But now we have competent teams and our job is not to sit and wait, but, to craft a

“

CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele

set of policies that will help us to address the shocks.

“We are not talking about (cutting) salaries and benefits.

We are talking of training and travels and these will be only for critical and essential items which will be pre-approved by the Head of Service and the Director-General of the Budget Office and then if someone invites you for overseas course, you can go provided they pay for your training and your stay and you have to furnish evidence that they are paying before you will be allowed.

“The purpose of this is to tell you what we are doing and this team is calm and will be effective and we are working with the monetary policy authorities and together we will manage the economy in a transparent manner so that people need not have any fear.

“Panic is not a strategy. It’s important that our strategies are based on facts and a clear understanding of both the strengths of the economy and

Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke

the challenges posed by the drop in oil prices which is currently at $79 for our premium Bonny Light Crude.

“The drop in oil prices is a serious challenge which we must confront as a country. We must be prepared to make sacrifices where necessary.

“But we should also not forget that we retain some important advantages such as a broad economic base driven by the private sector and anchored on sound policies.

“Our strategy is to continue to strengthen the sectors that drive growth such as agriculture and housing while reducing waste with a renewed focus on prudence.”

She disclosed that the Federal Government would focus more on increasing non-oil revenues.

As part of the measures, she said from the $4.1bn (N656bn) in the Excess Crude Account, government would be withdrawing $2bn (N320bn) between now and the end of this year to take care of critical

In as much as these measures are well tailored theoretically, they must be followed with actions-determined efforts that would save Nigeria from impending economic doom.

expenditure.

“We will work in such a way that we won’t deplete the ECA because we have to leave something for next year but we might go to tap about a half of it ($2bn) or slightly less than half to be able to meet expenditures that are crystalising at the moment that we need to make.”

It doesn’t just stopped there, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), after its Monetary Policy Committee meeting announced policy measures that would help reduced the effect of the falling oil prices on the economy as well.

The CBN’s Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele shortly after the meeting announced that the MPR was hiked 100 basis points from 12 percent to 13 percent.

The private sector CRR was hiked 500 bps from 15 percent to 20 percent. The RDAS midrate was moved to 168 from 155, and the band around it widened to +/-5 percent.

In as much as these measures are well tailored theoretically, they must be followed with actionsdetermined efforts that would save Nigeria from impending economic doom.

Again, it is agreed that much attention should be given to the non-oil sector like agriculture, however, that may not be fast in replacing the oil revenue.

It may take years before that materialises.

Therefore, as a suggestion, corruption and money- laundering should be promptly tackled.

Additionally, the country should be preparing for the worst next year (2015) because major producers may slash their drilling and exploration budget by more than 20% which may slow global economic growth.

Page 21

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday, September 11, 2014

Business Police Pensioners satisfied with verification

by PTAD From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

P

olice pensioners have expressed satisfaction with the ongoing nationwide verification exercise by the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS).

Some of the already verified pensioners who spoke to our correspondent at the venue of the exercise holding in Kaduna for police pensioners from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Niger and Kaduna states said their fate has been rekindled that their efforts is not and will not be in vain, describing the exercise as a worthy one.

Mr John Samuel Dogonyaro who commended the PTAD for the way and manner the verification exercise was being handled said, “I thank God to be alive to witness this exercise, the exercise is going on smoothly and in an orderly manner, this is the first experience ever and it is good, infact we were being fed while waiting for our documents to be verified, PTAD is doing well, I thank them” he stressed.

Mrs Helen Abubakar Dangi, a widow to one of the deceased police officer also described the exercise as impressive, in her case; she said she has almost given up until she got a call to come for the verification exercise. “My husband died in 2005 in active service” she added.

Speaking on the verification exercise, the director general of the PTAD Mrs Nellie Mayshak said the verification exercise is a pilot scheme aimed at guiding against fraudulent tendencies and series of complaints on the part of the pensioners.

She said the verification exercise for the northern zone is running simultaneously from the 8th-18th December, 2014, expressing optimism that that of the Southern zone is likely to commence in the 1st quarter of 2015.

According to her, “at the end of the exercise, data and finger prints of each pensioner would have been captured alongside their documents, this will in no small measures guide against fraud and complaints of omission or irregularities.

“We have decided to make them comfortable, we give them numbers and we feed them while waiting, so the stress they are subjected to in previous exercises is no longer there, they are happy with what we are doing and that is what it should be” she emphasised.

The verification exercise for FCT, Niger and Kaduna States is holding at the police officers mess and is expected to end on the 18th December, 2014.

Power: NERC begins probe of metering implementation in Lagos

By Etuka Sunday

T

he Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) yesterday said it has commenced probe into the level of implementation of the Credit Advance Payment for Meter Installation (CAPMI) in Lagos State.

The companies are: Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) and the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (Eko Disco), two distribution companies that service Lagos residents.

According to the Commission, the probe was necessitated by the zeal to ensure a corrupt free electricity industry in the country, therefore has barred electricity companies from making profits from the CAPMI Scheme.

A statement by the Head,

Public Affairs, NERC, Christy Iliya quoted the Chairman, NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi as saying that the exercise was part of a nationwide fact finding visit to distribution companies aimed at verifying the extent of the implementation of the Credit Advance Payment for Meter Installation (CAPMI) and how far the Discos had gone in metering customers.

According to the statement, Amadi who was represented by a Commissioner at the Commission, Engr Mary Awoloku stressed that customers who were willing to advance money for meters should be allowed to do so, noting that such customers must compulsorily be metered within 45 days, while the money would later be refunded.

He said, “Customers subscribing to the CAPMI scheme are to be provided meters within a

stipulated time frame (maximum of 45 days from date of payment).

The advance-payment customers are repaid by the Disco over time through reduction in the amount billed for the fixed charge. For instance, if the customer will pay N300 per month for fixed charge instead of the N500 provided for in the Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO) until the advance is fully repaid. The customer will also be entitled to a return on the amount advanced. Such a return shall be applied by appropriately extending the period of reduction of the fixed charge duration of repayment, and this will depend on the cost of the respective meter and the amount of reduction in the fixed charge.”

Also speaking, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC),

Mr Abiodun Ajifowobaje, pledged to install smart pre-paid meters to consumers within three years.

Since taking over in November 2013, he said the firm had installed about 4,256 meters to customers, a figure described as too low by NERC. “NERC is not happy with Ikeja Disco for not embracing CAPMI. The number of meters so far installed is very negligible,” Amadi said.

But the IKEDC CEO noted: “IKEDC has reached a working arrangement with an international acclaimed communication infrastructure, energy management and accounting company to manage our metering operations with local input. Kick off date will be first quarter of 2015. Monthly roll out will be 10, 000 non-MD meters and 45 MD customers.”

L-R: Manager, Risk Consulting, KPMG Advisory Services, Martins Olajide, Head, Consumer Banking Products , First Bank, Adebimpe Ihekuna, Assistant Director Internal Audit, NTA Lagos Network, Mrs. Franca Akinneye, and Team Lead, Youth Products, First Bank, Akin Meadows, during the First Bank Kid sFirst and Me First Accounts raffle draws, on Tuesday in Lagos.

‘ITF trains 37,000 youths in 2yrs’ From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

T

he Industrial Training Fund, (ITF) said it has trained 37,000 youths in collaboration with Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and Bank of Industry (BoI) in two years.

According toITF directorgeneral, Dr. Juliet ChukkasOnaeko, the training was carried out under the National Industrial Skills Development Programme, (NISDP) which was introduced by the Federal Government 2012.

Onaeko made this known in Lagos, during interactive forum with industry stakeholders organised by the Fund.

She disclosed that the theme of forum, ‘Moving forward and succeeding together’ is apt and a clarion call for all its stakeholders to join in the Fund strides towards a developed and industrialised Nigeria.

Onaeko pointed out that no nation develops by merely exporting raw materials without having a booming industrial sector, saying that for this to happen an adequate number of skilled workforce as a prerequisite is needed.

She added that the Fund came up with a four point agenda which are, to escalate the number of nigerians trained to two million annually, fully automate ITF business processes

and ensuring 100 per cent each of collection training contributions and implementation of Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES).

She further added that the four point agenda is intended to ensure effective service delivery that will add value to the bottom line of our esteemed clients’ operations and guarantee full actualization of its mandate.

“Furthermore, as part of our commitment to building the capacity of middle level manpower in Nigeria, the ITF in conjunction with Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) has set up a Technical Skills Development Project (TSDP),” she said.

She stated, “the project which currently runs in the facilities of NECA member companies, Peugeot Automobile of Nigeria (PAN) Kaduna, Niger Dock Lagos, Nigerian Breweries and ITF ISTCs in Ikeja and Kano is set to be expanded to more facilities in order to accept more trainees.”

Onaeko pointed out that the increased in the patronage of ITF programmes, payment of training contributions and acceptance of students on SIWES. She however appealed to others companies that had failed in their statutory duties to do so, saying “it is only when we collectively live up to our responsibilities that our dream of a great Nigeria will be achieved.”

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PEOPLES DAILY, thursday, September 11, 2014

Business

‘Pension funds investment to accelerate equity value to N3trn by 2019’ From Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lago

A

financial expert has said that investment of pension funds into the nations’ capital market would increase the value of equities listed into the market from currently N500 billion to N3 trillion by 2019.

The Group CEO, UBA Capital, Mrs Oluwatoyin Sanni who made the observation called for upgrade of Pension Funds Administrators (PFA) investment guidelines such that it would promote investment in nations’ capital market to ensure full utilisation of the market.

He noted that the Nigeria’s huge potential of large population

in excess of 170 million suggested that the feat is achievable.

Speaking as a guest at the Capital Market Correspondents Association of Nigeria ( CAMCAN) 2014 Workshop at the weekend in Lagos, Sanni therefore called for upwards review of 10 per cent equity representation of the pension assets which currently stood at N4.5 trillion.

Dwelling on the topic ‘Sustaining Capital Market Recovery’, she said that proper investment of pension funds among other measures should be put in place for the perpetual recovery of the market.

Other measures she

highlighted included the use of technology and increase operational efficiency, Increased transparency & corporate governance to promote investor confidence and Promote renewed savings and investment culture among local investors.

Sanni added that federal government must ensure privatisation of state owned enterprises and listing on the stock exchange while strong incentives to promote the listing of Telcos and other large firms would be offered and Continue key industry reforms like; Power, Transportation or SME friendly policies and initiatives.

On measures to save the

market as well as prevent it from crashing again, she noted that there must be regulatory synergy between the different arms of the financial markets and industry regulators Securities and Exchange Commission ( SEC), Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), National Pension Commission PenCom among others, ensuring development of world class infrastructure across all operators, Implementation of international best practice regarding transparency, corporate governance and reporting standards implementation of robust risk management systems.

Earlier in his presentation at the event, the CEO of the NSE, Oscar Onyema stated that the nations’ capital market has recorded huge recovery in the recent past.

Onyema who was represented by the Head of Corporate Communications NSE, Bola Adeeko, attributed the recovery to initiatives and recovery measures introduced in the market which include good corporate governance, regulations aimed at protecting investors, attraction of investors to the market and promoting investors’ confidence.

NBC 2015 broadcast deadline: Ogun gets digital Radio Station From James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

A

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, Mrs. Sola David-Borha, Ogun state Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mrs. Oluwande Muoyo, Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Ltd, Dr Demola Sogunle, and Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Mr. Yinka Sanni, during the Stanbic IBTC clients’ dinner, recently in Lagos.

Brent crude oil falls below $66 on ample supply, rising stocks

B

rent crude oil slipped below $66 a barrel yesterday, just above a five-year low, on mounting signs of oversupply and lackluster demand as global economic growth falters.

The price of the North Sea oil benchmark has fallen more than 40 percent since June as new supplies of high-quality crude from North America have fed a glut of fuel in many parts of the world.

Data from the American Petroleum Institute (API) on Tuesday showed U.S. crude oil inventories rose by 4.4 million barrels last week to 377.4 million barrels, compared with analysts’ expectations of a drop of 2.2 million.

U.S. gasoline and distillate stocks also showed big builds, the API said.

Brent futures for January LCOc1 fell to a low of $65.68 a barrel, down $1.16, before recovering slightly to trade around $65.90 by 0850 GMT (03:50 a.m. EST). The contract reached $65.29 on Tuesday, its lowest since September 2009.

U.S. crude futures CLc1 were down $1 at $62.82 a barrel.

“Almost all the news flow points to a weaker market,” said Carsten Fritsch, oil analyst at Commerzbank in Frankfurt.

“We have had very bearish API data with large stock builds across the board, and also a very bearish Short-Term Energy Outlook from

the EIA, with a sharp reduction in demand growth forecasts for next year.”

The U.S. Energy Information Administration cut its global oil demand growth estimate for 2015 by 240,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 880,000 bpd. It forecast oil demand growth this year would be around 960,000 bpd.

Global oil demand has been capped by slowing economic growth in China as well as stagnation in many moredeveloped economies, particularly in Europe.

“The fundamental picture hasn’t really changed, and that is one of supply outstripping demand growth for most of the year,” said Phin Ziebell, a senior

analyst at National Australia Bank.

“It’s an incessant march downwards, and it would be interesting to see where it bottoms out, but there doesn’t seem to be any sign of it so far.”

Members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) are divided on how to respond to the global surplus and falling prices. The cartel may still hold an emergency meeting before its June gathering, Algeria’s energy minister said on Tuesday.

Top oil producer Saudi Arabia blocked production cuts at the last meeting in November and has taken steps to shore up its market share. (Reuters)

s part of efforts to meet the July 2015 deadline given to all broadcast stations in the country to migrate from analogue to digital broadcasting, the Ogun State government has re-equipped the state-owned Broadcasting Corporation (OGBC) with state of the art digital equipment.

The State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun while commissioning the digital Studio equipped with modern broadcasting facilities purchased by his administration said, people cannot expect anything less from the State which is the cradle of journalism in Nigeria.

He noted that the development was as a result of his administration’s determination to ensure a participatory democracy that would give room for his government to be answerable to the people of the State.

“It gives me a great pleasure to commission this digital studio to enlighten and allow our people to assess their government, what is expected and where necessary,” Amosun said.

The governor said a huge aspect of the daily lives of the people would be compromised if there is no probable and reliable feedback mechanism for people to interface with their government, assuring that his administration was determined to do more to extend the reach of the station beyond the state, adding that already it reaches Kwara State, Benin Republic and other hinterlands.

Amosun commended the management of Ogun state radio for its doggedness and innovations despite its financial challenges and also thanked the veteran broadcasters from the station for continuously lending their wealth of experiences to help the station.

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday, September 11, 2014

Stock Watch

Report as at Wednesday, December 10 2014

PAGE 23

Peoples Daily, Thursday, DecEMber 11, 2014

PAGE 24

PAGE 25

Special Report

UNICEF and deteriorating global child’s right

T

he unprecedented acceptance of the Convention clearly shows a wide global commitment to advancing children’s rights. There is much to celebrate as we look back with nostalgia on the happenings in 2014, from declining infant mortality to rising school enrolment, but this historic milestone must also serve as an urgent reminder that much remains to be done.

Too many children still do not enjoy their full rights on par with their peers.

Business as usual is not enough to make the vision of the child’s right of a reality for all children.

The world needs new ideas and approaches, and the Child’s Right Convention must become a guiding document for every human being in every nation.

The year 2014 has been one of horror, fear and despair for millions of children, as worsening conflicts across the world saw them exposed to extreme violence and its consequences, forcibly recruited and deliberately targeted by warring groups, yet many crises no longer capture the world’s attention. This was exactly the warning posed by The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

According to the press statement released by Anthony Lake, UNICEF Executive Director in New York/Geneva, “This has been a devastating year for millions of children,” “Children have been killed while studying in the classroom and

The Convention on the Rights of the Child is no doubt the most rapidly and widely ratified international human rights treaty in history. The Convention changed the way children are viewed and treated – i.e., as human beings with a distinct set of rights instead of as passive objects of care and charity. But with passage of time it seems the convention is taking a turn for worst, Edoamaowo Udeme writes

UNICEF Executive Director, Anthony Lake

while sleeping in their beds; they have been orphaned, kidnapped, tortured, recruited, raped and even sold as slaves.

Never in recent memory have so many children been subjected to such unspeakable brutality.”

The statement added that as many as 15 million children are caught up in violent conflicts in the Central African Republic, Iraq, South Sudan, the State of Palestine, Syria and Ukraine – including those internally displaced or living as refugees.

Globally, an estimated 230 million children currently

UNICEF official interacting with children in South Sahara Africa

live in countries and areas affected by armed conflicts.

Continuing, Anthony Lake noted that, in 2014, hundreds of children have been kidnapped from their schools or on their way to school. Tens of thousands have been recruited or used by armed forces and groups. Attacks on education and health facilities and use of schools for military purposes have increased in many places.

In the Central African Republic, 2.3 million children are affected by the conflict, up to 10,000 children are believed to have been recruited by

armed groups over the last year, and more than 430 children have been killed and maimed – three times as many as in 2013.

In Gaza, 54,000 children were left homeless as a result of the 50-day conflict during the summer that also saw 538 children killed, and more than 3,370 injured.

In Syria, with more than 7.3 million children affected by the conflict including 1.7 million child refugees, the United Nations verified at least 35 attacks on schools in the first nine months of the year, which killed 105 children and injured nearly 300 others. In Iraq, where an estimated 2.7 million children are affected by conflict, at least 700 children are believed to have been maimed, killed or even executed this year. In both countries, children have been victims of, witnesses to and even perpetrators of increasingly brutal and extreme violence.

In South Sudan, an estimated 235,000 children under five are suffering from severe

UNICEF preaches one world devoid of discrimination

An official playing with children

acute malnutrition. Almost 750,000 children have been displaced and more than 320,000 are living as refugees.

According to UN verified data, more than 600 children have been killed and over 200 maimed this year, and around 12,000 children are now being used by armed forces and groups.

Children scrambling for UNICEF materials

The sheer number of crises in 2014 meant that many were quickly forgotten or captured little attention. Protracted crises in countries like Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen, continued to claim even more young lives and

futures.

This year has also posed significant new threats to children’s health and wellbeing, most notably the Ebola outbreak in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, which has left thousands of children orphaned and an estimated 5 million out of school.

Despite the tremendous

challenges children have faced in 2014, there has been hope for millions of children affected by conflict and crisis. In the face of access restrictions, insecurity, and funding challenges, humanitarian organizations including UNICEF have worked together to provide lifesaving assistance and other critical services like education and emotional support to help children growing up in some of the most dangerous places in

An official attending to health needs of children

the world.

In Central African Republic, a campaign is under way to get 662,000 children back to school as the security situation permits.

Nearly 68 million doses of the oral polio vaccine were delivered to countries in the Middle East to stem a polio outbreak in Iraq and Syria.

In South Sudan, more than 70,000 children were treated for severe malnutrition.

“

The sheer number of crises in 2014 meant that many were quickly forgotten or captured little attention. Protracted crises in countries like Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen, continued to claim even more young lives and futures In Ebola-hit countries, work continues to combat the virus in local communities through support for community care centres and Ebola treatment Units; through training of health workers and awareness-raising campaigns to reduce the risks of transmission; and through supporting children orphaned by Ebola.

“It is sadly ironic that in this, the 25th anniversary year of the Convention on the Rights of the Child when we have been able to celebrate so much progress for

children globally, the rights of so many millions of other children have been so brutally violated,” said Lake.

“Violence and trauma do more than harm individual children – they undermine the strength of societies. The world can and must do more to make 2015 a much better year for every child. For every child who grows up strong, safe, healthy and educated is a child who can go on to contribute to her own, her family’s, her community’s, her nation’s and, indeed, to our common future.”

He concluded.

PAGE 26

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday, September 11, 2014

Mother Earth

Government’s ineptitude over illegal mining

F

or 40-year-old Surajo Baba, who lives in the midst of Darata gold mining fields in Zamfara state, poverty remains a daily reality. But Nigeria as one of the world’s richest solid minerals deposits, besides the oil wealth, the country’s majority has no reason living in abject poverty.

“Here in Darata village, the gold wealth has not helped in any way to change our lives for the better, but rather for the worse as we have strayed further into poverty,” said Surajo.

That tells a story of how Nigeria is rich in mineral resources, yet its majority may have to wait a long time before they benefit from it, due largely to the mismanagement of the sector by the state vested with the responsibility to manage it on behalf of the people.

Today, across the length and breadth of this country, illegal mining is widespread, with the Chinese and Indian operators, in collaboration with local communities sabotaging the economy, while the authorities who supposedly in charge to are regulate and supervise the sector look the other way.

This has been blamed, partly on the weak federal regulation and in violation of the 1999 Constitution, which has made illegal mining thrives since some state and local governments illegally issue permits to artisans that do not have the expertise in mining. This was the cause of the estimated 400 children that were reported to have died, and 30,000 others poisoned in Zamfara state, in the world’s worst recorded outbreak of lead poisoning in March 2009.

It could be recalled that the source of the outbreak began after the price of gold shot up and villagers realized they could make more money from exploiting local gold deposits than from farming.

Pronto, young and old began to dig metal ore from nearby mines and process it in their homes in the search for gold.

But they were unknowingly mining lead, and the dust from the processing contaminated their houses, as children play in the dust around water wells, ignorant of the danger.

They were actually poisoned by dust released by gold miners breaking open rocks near their homes, as contaminated soil dumped in water sources as rain further spread pollutants.

Do we have to blame the local miners who did not know the health implications of their mining activity? The authorities charged with the responsibility to regulate and supervise the mineral resources sector should

Victims of illegal mining carry the burden of guilt.

Considering the enormous potential for economic growth if the mining sector is formalized, experts believe that soon Nigeria would be dominating the list of one of the fastest growing economies in the world, and would have slowly shed its image as a development burden.

But without a clear policy, and with government folding its arms watching helplessly, while foreign operators with their local collaborators go on plundering the sector, it will be a long night.

Sadly is the claim by the

“

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Mines and Solid Minerals Development (MMSD), Linus Awute, at a forum in Abuja sometime ago, that the amount of unprocessed gold that has left the country through neighboring countries, Ghana in particular, is being processed in Ashanti (Ghana) is enormous.

And again, his admission that the activities of illegal gold miners had gone “beyond control,” bordered on crass incompetence, to say the obvious.

The claim also that Nigeria lost $50 billion to her neighbors

through illegal gold mining, coupled with the negative economic, environmental and health impact on the country, shows that our solid minerals sector remained unregulated or at best haphazardly.

That underhand dealing in the mining of gold and other rich minerals in the country has fuelled poverty with its attendant environmental problems, is an understatement, as Nigeria will first have to rein in its corrupt officials before its resources can enrich its own people.

Without dealing with the

Do we have to blame the local miners who did not know the health implications of their mining activity? The authorities charged with the responsibility to regulate and supervise the mineral resources sector should carry the burden of guilt.

cancer of corruption blighting the country,and robbing it of revenue from mineral resources through corrupt officials receiving bribes from these illegal mining operators, the country shall continue to have the worst poverty indices globally.

It is unimaginable that a country that depends on oil and gas exports for 92 per cent of her external revenues, failed to seize the opportunity to diversify her earnings by exploiting available abundant minerals.

It’s unfathomable that till date, we are yet to see the reforms of the solid minerals sector which begun since Obasanjo administration that were poised to attract investors from around the world to exploit the more than 34 mineral types available in Nigeria.

Unfortunately, both federal and state governments who are the gate-keepers in this sector have been irresponsibly reluctant to confront the menace of unregulated mining and smuggling.

While Economic analysts say that Nigeria’s best economic years are yet to come, it remains to be seen if the billions of dollars Nigeria has in natural resources will trickle down to people like Surajo.

P A G E

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday, September 11, 2014

Mother Earth

Minister launches national water supply and sanitation data survey

By Mohammed Usman

I

n a bid to enhance performance tracking system for water supply and sanitation sub-sector, the minister of water resource, Mrs Sarah Reng Ochekpe, yesterday, launched the national water supply and sanitation data survey.

The minister, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Musa Mukhtar, launched the flag-off workshop on the national water supply and sanitation data survey held in Abuja.

The minister said the objectives of the survey were to have an up to date information system on all public water supply

and sanitation facilities. “It will also ascertain the percentage of our population that have access to improved sources of water supply and adequate sanitation nationwide”.

She added that the exercise was important as it would enable stock taking of achievements so far made under the MDG targets for water supply and sanitation. She said that the survey would also afford Nigeria the opportunity to lay a solid foundation for the sustainable development goals (SDGs) that would follow the MDGs. Ochekpe who said that the importance of a robust database for water supply and sanitation cannot be over emphasized as it was a fundamental tool

for planning and formulating policies and strategies for result-oriented interventions, called on all the state executive governors and chairmen of local government councils to provide the necessary supports that would make the survey a success in their area.

The minister, said President Goodluck Jonathan, who places emphasis on activities that improve the quality of life of Nigerians, has been giving the necessary supports to the water sector that are bringing about the level of achievements that the ministry is being recording in the sector.

She said that the survey that was flagged-off, was to build on the pool of data that were established

from the baseline survey, adding “Our ministry in 2006/2007, carried out the first ever national baseline survey for water supply and sanitation. The survey which covered all the 36 states and FCT was used to identify locations and operational status of water supply and sanitation facilities and also determine national access to improved water supply and basic sanitation.”

In his remark, Nigeria’s World Bank representative, Eng. Kida, who stressed that they were much aware that some activities were done in the past, said that they were ready to give their support to water resources ministry in order to give people and government of Nigeria information needed for development.

Ozone

NESREA seals-off 8 filling stations and 5 quarry sites in Ekiti

T

he National Environmental Standards and R e g u l a t i o n s Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has sealed-off eight filling stations and five quarry sites in Ado-Ekiti over violation of environmental regulations.

The Ekiti Director of the agency, Mr Ajani Adeleke, disclosed this in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday at the send-forth ceremony organised by Forum of Heads of Federal Establishment for some of its retired members.

Adeleke said the stations and quarry sites failed to comply

with regulations guiding their operations in the state.

According to him, the violations include failure to abide by the 10 metres set back regulation for residential areas, not having Environmental Inverse Statement and noise pollution caused by their generators.

The director enjoined the general public to report violation of any kind to the agency’s nearest office.

He reiterated NESREA’s commitment to ensuring healthy environment for Nigerian citizens through regulations.

Adeleke advised residents to report to the agency, any complaints or cases of violation of environmental laws through mobile phone number 08174634760.

He said the agency would handle their reports or complaints with utmost secrecy.

Adeleke gave the assurance that the agency would deal with people found wanting irrespective of their social status.

The Chairman of the forum, Chief Dele Fagbemi, charged members to perform well whenever they are given an opportunity to serve.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some members of the forum were given awards for their excellent performances as heads of federal establishment.

The awardees include Mr Modupe Osewole, who retired as Ekiti State Correspondent of NAN in 2012 and former General Manager, Radio Nigeria, AdoEkiti, Mr Dare Olorunfemi.

The third awardee, Mr Abimbola Oni, was the former Ekiti State Coordinator of the National Directorate of Employment before she left for Osun. (NAN)

Climate talks will lead to Sustainable Development Goals – Environmentalist

A

n environmentalist, Dr Nasiru Idris, said on Monday the ongoing climate talks being held by more than 195 countries in Lima, Peru, would help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the SDGs are expected to replace the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) at the end of 2015.

Idris told NAN at the on-going 20th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 20) to the Kyoto Protocol in Lima that the objectives of COP, starting from COP 1 to COP 20 were linked with the achievements of SDGs and other development agenda. ``Most of the agenda right from COP one to COP 20 are leading towards achieving the SDGs because the word sustainable development is how to sustain the environment and how to sustain your living, how to sustain everything on our biosphere. ``Therefore, environmental conferences, UN NGOs and their organisations are working toward achieving that particular goal of SDGs. ``If you look at the goal of SDGs; we have a triangle, it looks at the environment, you look at the social aspect and the equity. ``This triangle has to be achieved and for government to achieve this goal; you need to benefit from economic perspective; you have to look at social economic aspect, the living of the people. ``And for you to achieve that you have to tap the environment.`` Idris said that the concept of sustainable development focused at meeting the needs of the present generation without comprising the needs of the future generation. He said that the environment needed to be understood and managed effectively to be able to achieve the SDGs. `` It (SDGs) is the development that looks at the ability of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generation so that they will meet their own needs. ``What the triangle has to say is that for you to tap the environment, you understand it so that you can use it without compromising ability of the future generation. ``You have to consider the future generation while using the resources,’’ he said.

Idris, also a director at the Centre for Environmental Studies, Nassarawa State University, said that both climate change talks and SDGs share the same goal of sustainable development.

He said that the processes of climate talks and the SDGs share the same path as they move towards the second half of 2015.

NAN reports that the UN General Assembly is to ratify the SDGs in September 2015 and in November the COP 21 in Paris is to agree on a new climate treaty, to be effective from 2020. (NAN)

PAGE 28

Emergency Update

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday, September 11, 2014

Kano Mosque Blasts: NEMA distributes medical items I n continuation of supports for persons affected by the recent multiple bomb blasts that occurred at the Kano Central Mosque, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has distributed medical consumables and drugs to nine hospitals in Kano to strengthen the treatment of the victims in the hospitals.

Director General of NEMA Muhammad Sani Sidi stated in Kano that the distribution aimed at complementing the positive response of the hospitals that spontaneously accepted to treat the victims. He said ““We have brought this items to replenish the stock exhausted by the hospitals in the treatment of the victims of the Kano Central Mosque attack. It is not late because some of the patients are still in the hospitals.”

The Director General NEMA who was represented by its North west Zonal Coordinator Musa Illalah reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Government to support the quick recovery of the victims. He also commended the health workers in the state for suspending their industrial actions for the sake of the victims and returning to back to support them in their various hospitals. He gave details of the

distribution as being made up of 31 different medical items distributed according to the number of victims in the hospitals which are the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, National Orthopedic Hospital Dala, Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital,

Sir Sanusi Hospital, Armed Forces Hospital, Sheikh Jiddah Hospital, Khadija Hospital and Waziri Gidado Hospital and Muhammad Abdullahi Wase hospital.

Kano State Commissioner of Health Dr Labaran Yusuf who received the drugs on behalf of

the state government before the distribution appreciated the Federal Government through NEMA for the kind gesture.

Speaking on behalf of the benefitting hospitals, the Cheif Medical Director of the National Orthopedic Hospital Dr Salihu

Muhammad assured that the medical items would be judiciously used for the benefit of the victims.

The items included lysol solution, chromic sutures, chromic cat gut, vicryl, inj cetriazone, pentazocine, saline and metronidazole amongst others.

NEMA search and rescue officers deployed to the Emergency Response Bays in Abuja after a training session.

NEMA recovers diverted relief materials in Gombe .... Transporter under investigation

From David Hassan, Gombe

T

he National Emergency Management Agency has recovered relief materials diverted by a transporter in Gombe state and distributed them directly L-R NEMA Northwest zonal Coordinator, Musa Illalah, presenting medical items to Director Pharmacy, Kano State Ministry of Health, Abdullahi Umar Madaki and Chief Medical Director, National Orthopedic Hospital, Dala Dr Salihu Mohammed.

Others are Director Kano State Hospitals Management Board Yusuf Maigoro, Fl Lt Abubakar Danbatta of the Military Hospital and Abdullahi Aminu Minjibir of the Kano State Emergency Management Agency.

to victims of windstorm in Bangoba community of Kakara in Sardauna Local Government Area of Taraba State for whom they were meant.

The Director General of NEMA, Muhammad Sani-Sidi has also constituted a committee

to investigate the attempted diversion as well as unravel likely internal collaboration for appropriate measures and sanctions against the culprits.

Addressing the beneficiary community in Taraba, after the distribution of the relief

materials, the Assistant Director Training in NEMA, Mr. Iyiola Akande said there was an attempted diversion of relief items which was successfully intercepted by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) following a tip

off.

He said that the prime suspect, who was the transporter is under investigation.

Akande said “It is difficult to divert relief materials from NEMA because beneficiary states do receive advance copies of the list of items before arrivals of the trucks “In fact a notification letter containing details of quantities of the items is usually sent to the state officials for acknowledgment.’’

He therefore urged state officials to always cross check items delivered to them to ensure they correspond with the list submitted to them for the benefit of victims of disasters.

He said although the relief items in the two trucks were recovered and found to be intact, the agency has decided that henceforth officials of the agency would accompany such trucks of relief materials to their destinations.

A leader of the benefitting community, Jauro Yaya who was also a victim of windstorm said they heard the story of diversion of the relief materials meant for their community to another place, but commended the Federal Government for the eventual delivery of the relief assistance.

Page 29

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday, September 11, 2014

Feature

Oil rush: Can Somalia attract big energy firms?

By Russell Padmore

T

he Horn of Africa country could be the next focus for the energy industry, as the government claims the nation will be producing oil within six years.

London-based Soma Oil and Gas, which is backed by Russian billionaire Alexander Djaparidze, has completed an onshore and offshore seismic survey and it is encouraged by the results. Details are expected to be published by the end of the year.

Security remains a concern for foreign investors, but Somalia says with the help of troops from the African Union, it is making progress against the Islamist insurgents al-Shabab.

Nevertheless attacks continue in the region, with ones in the capital, Mogadishu, the southcentral town of Baidoa and northeastern Kenya, near the Somali border, in the last week alone.

Soma Oil and Gas chief executive Bob Sheppard, told the BBC the company’s seismic survey covered thousands of kilometres without any security worries.

“We’re able to do that with zero security incidents. What we’ve been able to demonstrate is that you can conduct offshore operations safely and securely,” he said.

A seismic survey involves firing an audio signal underground and analysing the sound waves that bounce back, which can indicate if there are deposits of oil or gas.

Territorial dispute The government in Mogadishu will reward Soma for carrying out the seismic survey with licences to explore for oil.

“The government have recognised they need to stimulate exploration.

They need to stimulate the creation of a hydrocarbon regime because they are in a prospective area,” says Mr

Somalia’s Petroleum Minister Daud Mohamed Omar is confident of winning a territorial dispute with Kenya

The price of oil may have fallen off a cliff recently, but that has not deterred energy giants like Exxon Mobil, Royal Dutch Shell, BP and Chevron from reactivating plans to drill in Somalia.

Oil rigs exploring for reserves offshore could soon be a familiar site off the coast of Somalia Sheppard.

He notes that the region’s geology looks positive. “The analogous area would be the northwest coast of Madagascar, which has oil, because back in Triassic time (205 to 248 million years ago) they were joined. So we think the same hydrocarbon environment may exist,” he said.

“We’re hopeful about oil.”

Another thing that could disrupt development of Somalia’s oil and gas is a territorial dispute with Kenya over the offshore border between the two nations.

Talks between Nairobi and Mogadishu have failed to resolve the dispute and tensions increased after Kenya issued exploration licences to drill in the region.

Somalia has filed a case with the UN’s International Court of Arbitration.

Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister Daud Mohamed Omar is confident Somalia will win its case.

“We do not believe that it is a disputed area. We believe it’s the property of the Somali nation,” he said.

“As we have hired maritime lawyers, we have hopes that the outcome would be a mutual understanding between the two countries or we will have to wait for the ruling of the court,” he said.

Another complication for the government in Mogadishu lies in the fact that the autonomous regions of Puntland and Somaliland have also issued exploration licenses.

‘Hottest opportunity’

East Africa is the new frontier for the world’s energy industry, as reserves of gas are being developed off the coast of Mozambique, Tanzania is exploring offshore and oil has been discovered in Kenya and Uganda.

“East Africa is regarded within the oil and gas industry as having huge untapped potential,” says Steve Robertson, a director with the energy analysis group Douglas Westwood.

“It has been regarded in recent years as one of the hottest opportunities available to both independent and larger international oil companies,” he told the BBC. Abdulkadir Abiikar Hussein, the director of oil and gas exploration at the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources in Mogadishu, is confident Somalia can attract the world’s big oil companies to start drilling.

“Comparing to what we have seen in the region. From Mozambique through Tanzania, Kenya, that has proved there are gas resources.” And the bulk of the Indian Ocean is with Somalia so that’s why there is a rush to Somalia these days,” he said.

Mr Hussein also insisted stability is returning to the once war-torn country.

“The Indian Ocean is safe enough these days. There was the problem of piracy and piracy has dwindled. In terms of al-Shabab and other problems, that is a continental problem, but not in the Indian Ocean, so as a priority the Indian Ocean has to be explored

first,” he said.

“There is a tremendous improvement in security in Somalia at the moment,” he added.

New port

“

Companies like Royal Dutch Shell and Exxon Mobil are being encouraged to reactivate dormant contracts to explore for oil and gas.

They withdrew from Somalia two decades ago after civil war broke out in 1991.

They may be encouraged by Somalia’s plans to develop the country’s infrastructure.

According to Mr Hussein, “there is an expansion going on to Mogadishu port and initially that will be adequate enough to receive the movements of rigs and things like that into Somalia.

“But there will be another project that will include building a new port to handle the massive equipment imported in by international oil companies,” he added.

Somalia is confident it will be producing oil within a few years, but given the planned development of oil and gas resources elsewhere in the region, notably Uganda and Kenya, the government in Mogadishu would do well to remember an old Somali proverb: “One cannot count on riches.”

Source: BBC

Another thing that could disrupt development of Somalia’s oil and gas is a territorial dispute with Kenya over the offshore border between the two nations.

The port in Mogadishu is being expanded

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday, September 11, 2014

Page 30

Feature

D

akar, Senegal - A wrestling bonanza is generating public unease in Senegal as large pots of prize money and the sport’s soaring popularity is encouraging a growing number of boys to drop out of school to seek stardom in the arena.

Blanket media coverage and the chance for victors to escape poverty by earning up to $300,000 per contest has fired up the passion for the sport to dizzying levels, with the country’s grandees now joining the spectator.

But concern is growing that the youth are abandoning their education and jobs for a shortcut to fame without any guarantees of success, and observers point out that only a handful ever make it to the top in painfully short careers.

Boys are leaving school in the fifth or sixth grade with others turning their back on low-paid vocations as mechanics, tailors, welders, masons, and carpenters to jump on the wrestling bandwagon.

“Almost all wrestlers have abandoned their original jobs to enter the arena,” said Oumar Diarra, secretary-general of the national sportswriters’ association.

High stakes Early in the morning young wrestling hopefuls swarm across sand dunes on the outskirts of Senegal’s capital, Dakar, to train in pursuit of an often elusive dream of wealth in a country where 54 percent of people survive below the poverty line.

At least 8,000 unemployed and disadvantaged boys registered with the CNG, the governing body of wrestling in the country. They see the sport as a potential route to success, according to Thierno Ka, the organisation’s deputy chairman.

Al Jazeera’s Witness show the story of five young men competing for the chance to become professional wrestlers “The pursuit of money trumps all other motives for their association with the sport,” Ka said.

It is hardly surprising: A wrestler can earn between $250,000 to $300,000 for a bout, with the high stakes now

Wrestling mania grips Senegal’s youths

Thousands of youth are dropping out of school as the dream of fame - and fortune – lures them into a bruising career. Ngagne Diouf writes

Local wrestling is very attractive in Senegal attracting ministers, politicians, businesspeople, music celebrities and sports stars to stadiums.

These sums are a far cry from the sport’s roots in villages where men fought for local honour until wrestling became big business in the late 1990s as the exploits of Mohamed Ndao Tyson - styled after US boxer Mike Tyson - paved the way to lucrative bouts.

Anthropologists link the sport closely to the country’s traditional culture and fans, journalists, and tourists are drawn to spectacular bouts that begin with the national anthem, sometimes sung by stars such as Youssou N’Dour.

Promoters, brand managers, broadcasters, corporations and politicians have all cashed in, mindful of the media coverage

Most wrestlers in Senegal rely on voodoo for success

“

These sums are a far cry from the sport’s roots in villages where men fought for local honour until wrestling became big business in the late 1990s as the exploits of Mohamed Ndao Tyson styled after US boxer Mike Tyson - paved the way to lucrative bouts.

fuelling the sport’s popularity and commercial potential.

Abou Ndour, editor of a wrestling newspaper, explained: “With the development of the media, sponsors are falling over themselves to secure visibility for their products or brand names.”

Everyone appears to be winning: Athletes’ managers claim 10 percent of the prize money, television channels and radio stations jostle for broadcasting rights, and hawkers sell T-shirts, flags and other gadgets promoting the wrestlers.

But perhaps the main beneficiaries are the marabouts - a local wrestling term for witch doctors or seers - who charge huge sums of money for magical potions or amulets to ensure

victory for their “clients”.

“Marabouts are the speculators of the mysticism in wrestling,” said Ibrahima Sow, an anthropologist at Dakar University’s Fundamental Black Africa Institute.

In the family Wrestling in Senegal can often run in the family with fathers passing on their skills to sons or brothers, most of whom can neither read nor write French, the country’s official language.

Former wrestler Meissa Diaw, who fought under the name Boy Kaire and holds the country’s record for triumphant bouts with 26 wins and 13 defeats, stood aside for his son, 22-year-old Diene Kaire.

I knew I had little chance to

succeed in school, so I turned to wrestling as a career.

- Diene Kaire, wrestler “At 43, I realised I could no longer support the hard training the sport requires, so I decided to quit,” Meissa told Al Jazeera. “I did not want to stand as a mental impediment to Diene.”

Like many retirees, he now works as a bouncer in a luxury casino in Dakar while managing the “Green Berets” club which trains 37 boys.

Physically well-endowed and confident of success, Diene dropped out of school after only four years in order to wrestle, and has won seven contests and lost two since his professional debut in 2011.

“I knew I had little chance to succeed in school, so I turned to wrestling as a career,” he said. “I was really motivated by my father’s guidance and the opportunities in the sport.”

Like many other wrestlers, Diene has travelled to the United States to prepare for fights, and within three years of pocketing his first $200 for a contest, his market value has jumped to thousands of dollars - a world away from his father’s first earnings of $10 in 1984.

Short careers Yet many wrestlers remain wilfully blind to the fact that only a handful of them will ever become stars in the course of their short careers, and bouts can be hard to come by.

In the 2012-13 season, there were just 623 tournaments of wrestling without throwing punches, with only 730 athletes locking horns in fights that permit punching.

“If I have no contest this year, I will travel to Japan for business,” said Lac de Guiers II, who has recorded two successive draws and one loss.

Ibou Cissé, alias Battling Siki, joined those who have moved to rugby because he only had two fights in two years.

Although the longer a wrestler’s run of success, the larger his fan-base and the greater his earning power, sickness or injury can cut short their livelihoods.

CNG chairman Dr Alioune Saar advises wrestlers to train for a parallel trade as their careers can change dramatically in the aftermath of an illness or injury.

“Many of them will have little chance to earn millions in this sports because promoters would offer derisory sums to small-time wrestlers,” he said.

Source: Al-Jazeera

PAGE 31

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday, September 11, 2014

Politics Extra

Majority Leader asks losers in Plateau to accept defeat

Senator Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya leaving the venue of All Progressive Congress (APC) of Kano South Senatorial Zone primary after casting his vote, on Tuesday in Rano, Kano State.

From Ado Abubakar Musa, Jos

T

Court grants Ugbah right to contest APC primaries

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

A

high court presided over

by Justice Theresa Igoche has granted Prof. Steve Ugbah the right to contest for the governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Prof. Ugbah had last week approached the court with an injunction alleging plot by the party to exclude him from contesting the primaries which was rescheduled

for 5th December, 2014.

The court had honored the injunction and called for the cancellation of the primaries while slating the hearing of the suit for 9th December, 2014.

However, when the case came up for hearing yesterday, Justice Ada Onum who initially handled the matter, declined hearing it on “personal grounds,” and returned the file to the State Chief Judge who re-assigned it to Justice Igoche.

During the hearing, Ugbah’s lead lawyer, Barr. Simon Orkuma, told the court that Ugbah was seeking answers to three questions as well as seven reliefs. While the state chairman of the APC, Abba Yaro’s lead counsel, Omale Omale Esq. told the court that they concede everything, adding “Ugbah is a candidate in the primaries. We have no problem with that. And we will not contest it.”

Delivering her judgment,

Justice Igoche said: “It is trite in law that where there is no counter-affidavit to any originating summons or any opposing motion from the Respondents’ counsels, the claims therein are deemed admitted and conceded on behalf of the Respondents.”

“I hereby enter judgment in favour of the Applicant, Ugbah.

He is qualified to contest for the governorship primaries on the APC platform.”

Rescheduled Ogun PDP senatorial primaries hit brick wall From James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

T

he re-scheduled primaries of the Ogun Central Senatorial District of the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) that was expected to hold yesterday (Tuesday) has again hit the rocks.

Peoples Daily reliably report that hundreds of delegates that ought to vote at the party primary converged

at the party secretariat located along Presidential Boulevard, Abeokuta for the congress, but only to discover that, no arrangement was put in place by the leadership of the party.

The Chairman of the party in the state, Dayo Bayo on Sunday announced the congress postponement till Tuesday, as a result of what he called lack of conducive atmosphere during the Sunday exercise.

However, adhering to the chairman’s directive, the

aspirants for the senatorial ticket, Bisola Sodipo-Clark and Lanre Laoshe appeared at the party secretariat for the proposed rescheduled primaries, but were shocked when it dawn on them that, no arrangement was on ground.

The duo denied comment over the development, but had to leave after waiting endlessly for awhile, while all the delegates also left in disappointment.

Investigation by our correspondent revealed that

the party chairman, Dayo Bayo had been summoned to the national headquarters of the party in Abuja over alleged illegal conduct of governorship primaries in the state on Monday, as against a directive from the party’s National Working Committee.

Efforts to reach the party chairman to react to the failure to conduct the senatorial primaries proved abortive, as he did not pick calls nor respond to text messages.

Abubakar emerges Accord Party governorship candidate in Gombe From David Hassan, Gombe

A

ccord Party’s only gubernatorial aspirant, Alhaji Abubakar Ibrahim Hashidu has emerged the party’s candidate to contest for the seat of the governor in the forth coming general election in Gombe State.

Speaking in an interview with journalists yesterday in Gombe, the governorship aspirant said his

intension to vie for governorship in the state was to put his people first and to ensure that pensioners have sense of belonging in the society.

He said people have suffered enough and there is need for change to ensure that citizens witness dividend of democracy in the country, adding that it is the responsibility of government to ensure that Infrastructure

and human development are maintained According to him, if elected, his administration would not shy away to contribute its quarter through human development, noting that a successful government can never achieve its programme without the concept of the people.

“My priority was to ensure that I empower youths in the state

to enable them be productive” Hashidu said, adding that youths in any society are the engine room of government.

Speaking further, the governorship aspirant emphasized that he would do everything possible to ensure that he give security agents more support in order to put to an end to the insurgency in the northeast.

he Majority Leader of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Hon. Daniel Dame, has called on the losers of the concluded Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to accept the wish God and embraced the winner of the primary election.

Dame was saying this on Monday at the Rwang Pam Stadium in Jos, the Plateau State capital, where the PDP had its gubernatorial primaries.

The Majority leader added that leadership was always given by God and therefore the losers of the primaries should accept the outcome of then exercise in good faith and throw their weight behind the winner to enable the party move forward.

“I am calling on those that lost in the primaries and support the winner. Leadership is given by God and not by man.

He however called on the Boko Haram insurgents to put down their arms and allow peace reign so as to allow the displaced persons to go back to their various homes, adding the killing and destructions were unfortunate and uncalled for.

…Nobody can stop my contest - Umar

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s the Peoples Democratic Party primaries in Taraba State took a different dimension on Monday, the former acting governor of the state, Alh. Garba Umar, has reaffirmed that nobody could stop him from contesting in the PDP primaries in the state, since he was eligible to participate in the contest.

Garba Umar who made the reaffirmation yesterday through his media aide on the Hausa Service of the BBC monitored in Jos also disputed any claim by the other contender, Arch. Darius Isyaku, that the PDP governorship candidate must come from the Southern Senatorial District of the state.

He stressed that there was never a time when zoning agreement was made in the state and for that reason no zoning would be observed at the moment, adding that if there was any written agreement of such kind, it should be presented as evidence to prove beyond any reasonable doubt.

He said, ‘ nobody has the right to stop Garba from participating in the primaries because he is eligible to go into the contest. There was never a time in the state that zoning formula would be observed or the PDP ticket would move to the Southern or any other zone.

He however added that all the noise to stop Umar was just because his opponent, Isyaku has seen his failure coming and that was why he was moving from pillar to the post to secure the ticket of the party by all means, adding that his boss had done lots of campaign that would give him an age over anybody.

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PEOPLES DAILY, thursday, September 11, 2014

Supervision: Teachers storm FCTA secretariat

Stories by Stanley Onyekwere

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o register their disgust over the continued complete supervision of the primary schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) by the six Area Councils, the FCT wing of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), yesterday stormed the secretariat of the FCT Administration.

The aggrieved teachers argued that they are not comfortable with the current arrangement, as it portends more harm than good to the growth of educational system in FCT, especially the secondary education where the unprepared children are sent, to continue their education.

Leading a large number of teachers dressed in a local uniform attire for the protest to thesecretariat of the FCT administration, in Garki, Abuja, the Chairman of FCT-NUT, Comrade Hassan Jibril said, “we are afraid of the future with our schools under the supervision of the local governments, because we are sure that they have no capacity to manage the schools.”

Delivering a protest letter to the FCT permanent secretary, Engr Obinna Chukwu, Comrade Jibril, alleged that even as the constitution had indicated that local authorities be part of maintenance/management of schools, the chairmen of the local governments have hijacked both the employment and welfare of teachers, using it to compensate their friends, families and other people for political gains.

“If local government autonomy is granted, we fear that different faces will employ in the noble profession with the passion and qualifications, and by this, the children who mostly the children of the poor will be denied basic

The aggrieved teachers displaying placards with various inscriptions during the protest. education,” he added.

While expressing his total support for the local government autonomy, as the third tier of the government, the comrade strongly recommend that the management of primary schools be removed from the care of local government, and transferred to the state government for proper care and attention.

Similarly, the Union’s secretary, Bello Bawa Argungu, observed that though it’s a constitutional issues, but the local council Chairmen have not demonstrated interest in the welfare of teachers.

“We are against taking primary education back to the local government. We are not against the autonomy of the local governments, but we will work against it, if it will be with primary education, he insisted.”

Addressing the teachers on behalf of the FCT Minister, the FCT permanent secretary, Engr Obinna Chukwu, in company of other top officials of FCTA,who commended the teachers for expressing themselves in a peaceful manner, stressed that peaceful protest is recognised for expression of grievances.

He told them that their request

is a constitutional matter that requires the touch of the members of the National Assembly, who, constitutionally, makes law for the running of the FCT. “You are aware that we don’t have our own state Assembly, so the resolution you have presented to FCTA will be duly presented to the National Assembly for proper consideration,” he explained.

Chukwu however reminded the teachers that despite the low budgetary provision for the running of the FCT, the administration has taken some significant steps towards realisation of good working

conditions for the teachers.

His words: “Regarding, promotion, you can attest to the fact that we are working assiduously to complete the promotion exercise that we commenced recently and I plead for your cooperation.”

The Permanent Secretary therefore pleaded with the teachers to expect a change, especially with the plan of the FCT administration to carry out Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), with a view to ensure that over 28,000 teachers under FCT Administration are authentic employees of the Territory.

as its consensus candidate for the next year presidential election.

Visit round the city revealed a presence of heavy security personnel across the length and breadth of the city even as a Police branded Helicopter hovered above the Federal Capital Territory.

Also, men of the Nigerian Army and those of the Police were sighted at various spots on entry points into the city, conducting stop and search.

Peoples Daily reports

that all the roads that lead to Eagle Square, the venue of the convention were closed to motorists, a development that caused several diversions and serious traffic jam across the city.

In particular, motorists and commuters coming from the notorious Mararaba- Nyanya axis, who were supposed to follow the Eagle Square route, were diverted to the Ministry of Finance axis enroute Wuse/ Berger axis.

Some commuters and

motorists coming into the city from the Airport road, Zuba and Bwari, for their normal daily routine wasted hours on the heavy traffic gridlock before they could get to their different destinations.

Also, from Kubwa express road to AYA roundabout, and other major roads in the area, many commuters were forced stay hours in heavy traffic, with some even trekking long distance to their destinations and all the roads were blocked.

…As Abuja shuts down for PDP convention

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ajor roads around the Central Business District of Abuja, the nation’s capital were yesterday shut down for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) National Convention at Eagle square, just barely a month after the city was locked down when President Goodluck Jonathan, publicly declared to run for a second term next year.

Consequently, business and other activities were paralysed within and around the nation’s capital, all the Ministries,

parastatals, agencies as well as commissions in the Three Arm Zones came to a halt, as heavily armed security operatives mounted a blockade in the area.

It was gathered that like the November 11 declaration of President Jonathan, civil servants who work in offices around the venue of the event were told on Tuesday to stay at home.

The convention, was organised to affirm the status of the party’s national executives as well as to the endorse President Jonathan

PAGE 33

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday, September 11, 2014

Photo Splash

Business activities going on, yesterday in Mararaba.

Hawkers waiting for buyers along Games Village, yesterday in Abuja.

Women coming from farm, yesterday at Waru village, in Abuja.

Almajiri roaming around Zuba military check point, recently in Abuja

Sachet water hawker and orange sellers waiting for clients, yesterday at Galadimawa, in Abuja.

Photos: Mahmud Isa

PAGE 34

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday, September 11, 2014

Metro Village head calls for police outpost in Passo

Stories by Usman Shuaibu

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he village Head of Passo community in Gwagwalada area council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief John Joshua, has called on the chairman of the area council, Hon. Abubakar Jibrin Giri, to as a matter of urgency provide the community with a police out post, so as tackle the problem of insecurity in the area.

He also begged the chairman to establish a health centre in the community, in order to prevent the people from travelling out to some neighbouring towns for medical treatment.

Joshua, who made the call in an interview with Peoples Daily yesterday, at his residence in Passo, further pleaded with the chairman to repair some dilapidated roads in the community.

Also, he called on the administration of the area council to establish a market in the area, so as to boost the socio-economic status of the community.

He further asked the leadership of the council to ensure the provision of enough waste collection point and waste receptacles for the people of the community to properly dispose waste they generate in the area.

Equally, the monarch solicited for the assistance of the area council to map-out plots of land for the community, where the indigenous inhabitants would erect their l houses in the area.

Joshua, however, reiterated that his leadership would continue to be loyal to the constituted authority, and urged the residents to shun any act capable of heightening tension in the community.

A caps seller attending to his customer at Apo, in Abuja, yesterday.

Traders urge FCT minister to fix roads in Zuba

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ome traders in Zuba, Gwagwalada area council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have appealed to the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed to repair many dilapidated access roads in the area, in order to alleviate plight of residents and motorists plying the roads.They also

called on the minister to provide potable drinking water for the residents, to relieve them of a lot of sufferings they are faced with especially during the dry season.

According to the chairman of the Okirika sellers in Zuba, Mr. Jibrin Shuaibu, who made this appeal in an

interview with Peoples Daily, yesterday in Zuba, alleged that the inhabitants were being neglected by the government of the day, in terms of provision of basic amenities.

He therefore urged the minister to gear up towards the development of Zuba, so as to enable the residents feel the

impact of the government in the area.

Furthermore, the leader of the traders pleaded with the Chairman of the Gwagwalada area council, Hon. Abubakar Jubrin Giri to upgrade the various markets in Zuba, to ensure that they meet up with the international standard.

Yoruba leader cautions politicians against violence

T

he Otunba (traditional prime minister) of Yoruba Community Association in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr. Wasiu Tunwase, has urged politicians to embrace peace, by eschewing all forms of violence during and after the country’s 2015 general elections, in the Territory.

Tunwase, who made the call in an interview with Peoples Daily in his residence in Zuba, said that politics should be

played in an atmosphere of peace and harmony anytime of the day.

He condemned some politicians who are bent on engaging youths as thugs to ferment trouble during elections, pointing out that if we are going to ensure peace and stability during the elections.

Stressing the need for politicians to be united irrespective of their political

and religious differences, he reiterated that politics is not a do- or- die affair.

He insisted that politics is supposed to be a noble career, but it has been misused by the some politicians, who want to clinch power by all means.

He however called on the citizenry to come out en masse in 2015 to vote for only credible candidates who would carry them to the Promised Land.

Commenting on the security

challenges in FCT and the country at large, the Yoruba community leader, made a passionate appeal to President Goodluck Jonathan to redouble his effort towards tackling the insurgents, in order to pave way for peaceful elections next year.

Similarly, Tunwase pleaded with the President to continue providing the needed facilities in the institutions of higher learning for the benefit of students.

Don tasks UniAbuja lecturers, students on ethical behaviour

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rofessor Abdul-Hamed Agbeje Ujo, of the department of political science and International relations at the University of Abuja, in Gwagwalada area council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has stressed the need for lecturers and students to always imbibe ethical behaviour in the learning environment.

Also, he called for the establishment of quality control offices where the activities of both the lecturers and students will be effectively monitored and checkmated.

Ujo, who made this point while presenting a paper, entitled “Ethical Principles in University Teaching� during a one-day seminar organized by the faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Abuja, recently.

He urged lecturers to shun corruption in the course of discharging their duties, so as to pave way for sanity in the teaching profession.

He requested the lecturers to ensure they deliver lectures as at when due, in order to enhance learning at the university community.

Ujo, who is also the chairman of International Institute for the study of election and election management, however, appealed to the government to focus on the provision of infrastructural facilities at the universities for the benefit of the students.

Speaking earlier, the ViceChancellor of the University, Prof. Michael Adiukwu, who was represented by the deputy vice chancellor, prof. Gidado Tahir, said the authority of the university would do everything possible to see that students and lecturers obey the laid down rules and regulations guiding the university.

Similarly, Dean, Social Sciences at the university, Prof. Rhoda Mundi, explained that the seminar was organized to enlighten the entire university community on relevant ethical principles in the teaching profession.

Mundi therefore, assured that the faculty will continue to organize such seminar, to enable the lecturers and students to know some of the things they are supposed to do.

Page 35

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday, September 11, 2014

International

Punishment, not apology after CIA torture report ANALYSIS What a dark day for the United States. ive years and nine months after Senators Dianne Feinstein and Kit Bond, the chair and vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, announced a review of the CIA’s detention and interrogation programme in the so-called “war on terror”, the 500-page executive summary of that report has been made publicly available.

Its conclusions are shocking. As Feinstein explained in an interview with the Los Angeles Times at the weekend, “We have to get this report out. Anybody who reads this is going to never let this happen again.”

Let us hope so - and let us also hope that senior officials in the Bush administration, as well as senior CIA personnel, will eventually be held accountable for their actions.

The CIA’s torture programme, initiated almost immediately after the 9/11 attacks, remained a closely guarded secret for many years. An early revelation was a June 2004 leak of a memo which purported to redefine torture so that it could be used by the CIA. The memo was written by John Yoo, a lawyer in the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel (OLC), who was close to Dick Cheney.

The CIA’s “black sites” in Europe were not publicly exposed until November 2005.

The Bush administration still refused to openly acknowledge the programme until September 2006, when then President George W Bush announced that, with the arrival of 14 “high-value detainees” at Guantanamo from various “black sites”, the programme he had denied the existence of until that time had now closed down.

That statement, we subsequently learned, was not entirely true, as a few other prisoners arrived at Guantanamo from CIA custody in 2007 and 2008, but the torture report provides conclusive proof.

“By March 2006,” the report states, “the programme was operating in only one country.

The CIA last used its enhanced interrogation techniques on November 8, 2007. The CIA did not hold any detainees after April 2008.”

After the arrival of the “highvalue detainees” at Guantanamo, numerous attempts were made to pierce the veil of secrecy that surrounded the programme. In 2007, Swiss Senator Dick Marty published an influential report for the Council of Europe about secret prisons and rendition in Europe.

In February 2008, CIA Director

F

US President, Barrack Obama Michael Hayden admitted that three “high-value detainees” had been subjected to waterboarding.

In December 2008, the Senate Armed Services Committee published a powerful report about how the policies for dealing with prisoners in the “war on terror” had developed - including detailed analysis of how the US military’s SERE programme (intended to train US personnel to resist torture if captured by a hostile enemy) had been reverse-engineered for the “war on terror”.

In April 2009, harrowing interviews with the 14 “highvalue detainees”, conducted by representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross, were leaked, and in August 2009 an

“

internal CIA report from 2004 into the agency’s detention and interrogation policies after 9/11 was released containing details of how one prisoner, Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri (one of the three men waterboarded, along with Abu Zubaydah and Khalid Sheikh Muhammad), was physically abused and threatened with a gun and power drill while hooded at a “black site” in Thailand.

In 2010 I wrote a detailed analysis of the secret detention programme for a UN study, in which I sought to ascertain the identities of the 94 “ghost prisoners” in CIA custody - including 28 subjected to “enhanced interrogation” - who were referred to in a memo from 2005 by OLC lawyer Steven G

Bradbury that was released by the Obama administration in April 2009. Another major report, by the Constitution Project, was published in 2013.

A shocking report And yet, although some of the gruesome facts about the torture programme were known, the Senate Intelligence Committee’s report provides far more. In its “Findings and Conclusions”, for example, the report states: “At least five CIA detainees were subjected to ‘rectal rehydration’ or rectal feeding without documented medical necessity. The CIA placed detainees in ice water ‘baths’. The CIA led several detainees to believe they would never be allowed to leave CIA custody alive, suggesting to one detainee that he would only leave in a coffin-shaped box. One interrogator told another detainee that he would never go to court, because ‘we can never let the world know what I have done to you’. CIA officers also threatened at least three detainees with harm to their families - to include threats to harm the children of a detainee, threats to sexually abuse the mother of a detainee, and a threat to ‘cut [a detainee’s] mother’s throat’.”

There are many more examples.

The report states: “The waterboarding technique was physically harmful, inducing convulsions and vomiting. Abu Zubaydah, for example, became ‘completely unresponsive, with bubbles rising through his open, full mouth’. Internal CIA records describe the waterboarding of Khalid Sheikh Muhammad as evolving into a ‘series of near drownings’.”

In addition, “sleep deprivation involved keeping detainees awake for up to 180 hours”, and although some “experienced disturbing hallucinations”, in at least two cases the CIA continued its abuse.

These examples - and many more in the summary - demonstrate clearly the committee’s conclusion that the interrogations “were brutal and far worse than the CIA represented to policymakers and others”.

The CIA’s torture programme, initiated almost immediately after the 9/11 attacks, remained a closely guarded secret for many years. An early revelation was a June 2004 leak of a memo which purported to redefine torture so that it could be used by the CIA. The memo was written by John Yoo, a lawyer in the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel (OLC), who was close to Dick Cheney.

Perhaps more importantly, however, the committee also concludes that torture was “not an effective means of acquiring intelligence or gaining cooperation from detainees”, that the CIA made “inaccurate claims” about the “effectiveness” of the programme in an attempt to justify it and that it led to friction with other agencies that endangered national security, as well as providing false statements that led to costly and worthless wild goose chases.

The report also concludes that non-approved techniques were used wisely, and that “[a]t least 17 detainees were subjected to CIA enhanced interrogation techniques without authorisation from CIA headquarters”, and that “multiple detainees were subjected to techniques that were applied in ways that diverged from the specific authorisation, or were subjected to enhanced interrogation techniques by interrogators who had not been authorised to use them”.

The committee was also critical of the central role played by two contract psychologists from the SERE programme, even though neither of them “had any experience as an interrogator, nor did either have specialised knowledge of al-Qaeda, a background in counterterrorism, or any relevant cultural or linguistic expertise”.

The committee also concluded that Steven Bradbury’s numbers were wrong, and that the CIA “detained at least 119 individuals, of whom at least 39 were subjected to the CIA’s enhanced interrogation techniques”. Moreover, of these 119 “at least 26 were wrongfully held and did not meet the detention standard” in the still-secret Bush administration memorandum establishing the programme in September 2001.

In the days and weeks to come, there will be concerted efforts by the CIA and by former Bush administration officials to defend their actions, but the report makes clear that any kind of defence is untenable. Crimes were committed, authorised at the highest level of the US government, and, although Obama came into office in 2009 expressing “a belief that we need to look forward as opposed to looking backwards”, that is not acceptable.

The Senate Intelligence Committee’s torture report - all 6,700 pages of it, costing $40m and involving an analysis of more than six million pages of classified documents - must be the trigger not just for an airing of apologies, but for those who instigated and authorised the torture programme to be held accountable - up to and including President George W Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney.

Courtesy; Aljazeera

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday, September 11, 2014

Page 36

International

Kenyan women with HIV sue over sterilization

Somalia crisis: AlShabab and army ‘kill women’

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soldier in Somalia has avenged the killing of his wife by shooting dead five women related to militant Islamists, an official has said.

He suspected that the women had colluded with the murderers of his wife, who was also a soldier, he added.

Al-Shabab gunmen killed his wife and another female soldier in the small southwestern town of Tiyeglow on Tuesday night, the official said.

Al-Shabab is fighting to create an Islamic state in Somalia.

It controlled Tiyeglow for about six years, before it fell to government forces this year, reports the BBC’s Mohamed Moalimu from the capital, Somalia.

The killing of all seven women has shocked women’s rights groups in Somalia, who have noted that it is extremely rare for so many women to be shot dead, he adds.

Mohamed Abdalla Hassan, a government official in Tiyeglow, said al-Shabab gunmen shot dead the two female soldiers during a hitand-run raid on Tuesday night.

Government forces then picked up the five women on Wednesday on suspicion of helping the gunmen identify their targets, he said.

As the women were being taken to the police station, the soldier confronted them and shot them dead, Mr Hassan added.

Somalia has been without an effective central government since the overthrow of the Siad Barre regime in 1991.

The African Union has some 22,000 troops in the country to help the weak government battle al-Shabab, which is linked to al-Qaeda.

A

group of HIV-positive women in Kenya has taken legal action against the government, accusing it of arranging for them to be forcibly sterilised.

The five women are demanding compensation from the government and the nongovernmental organisations they say carried out the sterilisations.

Activists protested in the capital, Nairobi, to call for the practice to be banned, claiming it was widespread.

The government has not yet commented on their allegations.

One of the women, Teresia Otieno, told the BBC that she was sterilised without her consent.

“I went in for an operation to give birth to my first child. By the time I was leaving the operation the doctor told me I had been sterilised,” Ms Otieno said.

The women marched from Nairobi’s High Court to Uhuru Park with T-shirts bearing the words: “Enforced and coerced sterilization of women living with HIV”.

Lawyer Allan Machele said the reproductive rights of the women had been breached, along with their right to dignity.

“When you sterilise women who are living with HIV, you have violated their rights,” he

Women say their rights are being violated added.

In 2012, a court in Namibia ruled that three HIV-positive women had been sterilised without their consent.

The case had been brought by three women who opted to have Caesarean deliveries to reduce the risk of passing the Aids virus to

their babies.

Health officials had denied that the women had been forcibly sterilised.

Zimbabwe’s Mugabe names hardline justice minister his new deputy

Z

imbabwe’s veteran president Robert Mugabe on Wednesday named the country’s hardline justice minister Emmerson Mnangagwa the country’s first vice president and the vice president of the ruling ZANU PF party to replace Joice Mujuru, who Mugabe sacked this week over assassination allegations.

Mnangagwa, 68, has been serving in Mugabe’s cabinet

since Zimbabwe gained its independence from Britain in 1980. He was previously Minister of State Security from 1980 to 1988, Minister of Justice from 1988 to 2000, Speaker of Parliament from 2000 to 2005, Minister of Rural Housing from 2005 to 2009, and Minister of Defense from 2009 to 2013.

Mnangagwa is widely believed to be leading a faction, competing with the other faction led by former Vice President Joice

Mujuru, to succeed Mugabe, who will turn 91 in February next year.

The ruling ZANU PF’s elective congress last week saw Mujuru’s camp collapsing as she and her eight allies in the cabinet were eliminated from the ruling core and subsequently removed from the cabinet.

Mugabe on Wednesday also named seasoned diplomat Phekezela Mphoko second vice president of the ruling party and of

Pistorius’ lawyers had been against the appeal request, while

prosecutors argued that the judge did not interpret the law

the state. Mphoko was the former Zimbabwean ambassador to South Africa.

The president abolished the post of party national chairman and said the two vice presidents will rotate the chairmanship.

The presidium of the ruling party will now be composed of three members -- Mugabe, Mnangagwa, and Mphoko.

The two vice presidents are expected to be sworn in on Friday.

South African judge approves Pistorius appeal

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outh African prosecutors have won their bid to appeal the “culpable homicide” sentence handed down to Olympic and Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius for killing his girlfriend.

Now they are going to seek a murder conviction for the worldfamous athlete at the Supreme Court.

“I cannot say the prospect of success at the Supreme Court is remote,” said Pretoria High Court Judge Thokozile Masipa in granting the appeal.

The amputee athlete was sentenced to five years in jail in October for unintentionally shooting dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp last year.

Judge Masipa said prosecutors could only appeal the conviction, but not the length of the sentence.

Oscar Pistorius

correctly while giving the verdict of “culpable homicide”.

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday, September 11, 2014

Page 37

International

Palestinian minister dies after assaul by Israeli soldiers

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Palestinian minister died on Wednesday after being assaulted by Israeli soldiers during a mass rally in the West Bank city of Ramallah, provoking outrage and condemnation among the Palestinians, sources said.

Palestinian Minister of Settlement Ziad Abu Ein died in a hospital in Ramallah after being assaulted by Israeli soldiers who were dispersing an antisettlement rally in the village of Termos Meya near Ramallah.

Witnesses said that Abu Ein inhaled Israeli tear gas and fainted, and that several Israeli soldiers beat him up on his head with their helmets and clubs.

Other reports that the minister was struck by the soldiers’ gun in the chest.

Medics said Abu Ein was in complete unconsciousness when brought to the hospital, and that his heart beat stopped after all attempts to rescue his life.

Abu Ein was also the former minister of prisoners’ affairs, as well as a member of Fatah party’s revolutionary council. In September, he was assigned by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to lead the popular resistance committee against the Israeli separation wall and Israeli settlement activities.

Abu Ein’s death provoked outrage and condemnation among the Palestinians.

Abbas condemned the killing as “a brutal assault” that is “barbarian and not acceptable,” saying the Palestinians “won’t keep silent for this crime.”

Ihab Besseiso, spokesman of the Palestinian unity government, also said “the killing of Abu Ein

is a continuation of the Israeli crimes against our people.”

“We seriously consider what happened and we seriously consider all the violations that are committed against our people. We will use all needed legal measures

to defend our people,” Besseiso added.

The Islamic Hamas movement, while condemning the killing of Abu Ein, called for stopping “all security cooperation with the occupation.”

A spokesperson of the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) said on his social website that the IDF is reviewing occurrences Wednesday’s demonstration that led to the reported death of a Palestinian.

Ziad Abu Ein died in a hospital in Ramallah after being assaulted by Israeli soldiers who were dispersing an anti-settlement rally in the village of Termos Meya near Ramallah.

Asia & Middle East

Furor over ‘conversion’ of Muslims in India

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ndia’s opposition politicians have protested inside parliament against the alleged mass conversion of about 200 Muslims to Hinduism in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.

Opposition MPs on Tuesday attacked the conservative Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party over the conversions in Agra city, reportedly under allurement by groups linked to the ruling party’s ideological parent, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

“This is a serious matter as allurement was given to poor [people] to get them converted,” Dalit leader Mayawati was quoted as saying by Times of India website.

The opposition has asked the government to ensure the religious freedom of minorities as enshrined in the country’s constitution.

“The House and the country need reassurance that the Constitution will not be violated,” Congress leader Anand Sharma was quoted as saying by the NDTV channel.

A day after much publicised mass conversion, Muslim families have told local media that they were tricked into conversion and did not speak against the act “out of fear of violence”.

NDTV reported that a police complaint has been filed after a villager alleged that Muslims from a slum in Agra, the city that houses the famous Taj Mahal, were allured to convert.

“We were told we will get a ration card, Aadhar [ID] card, and that the police will not bother us.

We are poor so what do we do?”

NDTV quoted one of the converts as saying.

Malala and Kailash Satyarthi receive joint Nobel award

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akistani education activist Malala Yousafzai and Indian child rights campaigner Kailash Satyarthi have received the Nobel Peace Prize awards.

The Nobel committee described both laureates as “champions of peace”.

Ms Yousafzai said she was there to stand up for the rights of forgotten and frightened children, and raise their voice rather than pity them.

Mr Satyarthi said receiving the prize was “a great opportunity” to further his work against child slavery.

Ms Yousafzai and Mr Satyarthi received their awards from the chairman of the Norwegian Nobel committee, in the presence of King Harald V of Norway.

They delivered their Nobel lectures during the award ceremony.

In her speech, Ms Yousafzai said the award was not just for her: “It is for those forgotten children who want education. It is for those frightened children who want peace. It is for those voiceless children who want change.

“I am here to stand up for their rights, raise their voice. It is not time to pity them. It is time to take action so it becomes the last time that we see a child deprived of education.”

Ms Yousafzai, 17, was shot in the head by Taliban gunmen in October 2012 for campaigning for girls’ education and now lives in the UK. She is the youngest-ever recipient of a Nobel prize.

She said she had brought other girls with her to Oslo with similar stories, among them two classmates shot alongside her by the Taliban.

Ms Yousafzai said she was dedicating the prize money to the Malala Fund, “to help give girls everywhere a quality education and call on leaders to help girls like me...”

“I will continue this fight until I see every child in school,” she added.

“I feel much stronger after the attack that I endured, because I know, no-one can stop me, or stop us, because now we are millions, standing up together.”

Indescribable courage’ In his speech earlier, Mr Satyarthi said he was “representing the sound of silence” and the “millions of those children who are left behind”.

He said he had kept an empty chair at the ceremony as a reminder of the children without

a voice.

“There is no greater violence than to deny the dreams of our children,” he said.

“I refuse to accept that the shackles of slavery can ever be stronger than the quest for freedom,” he added, to applause.

Nobel committee chairman Thorbjorn Jagland stressed

Kailash Satyarthi: “I refuse to accept that the shackles of slavery can ever be stronger than the quest for freedom”

the importance of education, saying: “The road to democracy and freedom is paved with knowledge.”

Mr Jagland praised Mr Satyarthi’s work campaigning against child labour, often at great risk to himself.

He also lauded Ms Yousafzai’s efforts to promote education despite threats from the Taliban, saying: “Her courage is almost indescribable”.

Indian and Pakistani leaders congratulated the laureates.

Pakistani radio quoted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif as saying: “The dream of Malala regarding girls’ education shall be realised.”

His Indian counterpart Narendra Modi tweeted: “The entire nation watches the ceremony in Oslo with great joy & immense pride. Congratulations @k_satyarthi!

“I also congratulate the young Malala Yousafzai for the momentous achievement.”

Through the efforts of Mr Satyarthi, 60, tens of thousands of children have been rescued from hazardous industries.

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday, September 11, 2014

Page 38

International

French hostage Lazarevic freed for ‘al-Qaeda prisoners’ A

Frenchman held hostage by an al Qaeda-linked group in Mali was reportedly freed as part of a prisoner swap with two jailed militants.

Serge Lazarevic was welcomed home on Wednesday by family members and French President Francois Hollande.

Reports say his release was facilitated by a deal that saw at least two militants - including his alleged abductors - freed from a Malian prison.

The French government has repeatedly denied paying ransoms for hostages.

Another Frenchman who was taken hostage along with Mr Lazarevic, Philippe Verdon, was killed by the group, Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).

Three Western citizens are still believed to be held hostage in Mali. They are Johan Gustaffson from Sweden, Sjaak Rijke from The Netherlands and Stephen Malcom McGowan, who has dual British and South African citizenship.

They were abducted in Timbuktu in November 2011.

A prison official in the Malian capital Bamako revealed over the weekend that two men had been taken from their cells to the airport, to be flown to Niger, the BBC’s Alex Duval Smith reports from the city.

The men were named as Heiba Ag Acherif and Mohammed Ali Ag Wadossene. Both are said to be members of AQIM, and had been jailed for their alleged role in the abduction of Mr Lazarevic.

An association that honours the memory of Ghislaine Dupont, a French journalist killed in

A

Govt forces extend ceasefire in eastern Ukraine

U

Mr Lazarevic (centre) thanked the French president for securing his release Mali last year, also said the two militants had been freed. The association did not say how it had got its information.

Stephane Le Foll, a French cabinet minister who was asked about reports of a prisoner swap, said only that there had been negotiations.

Mr Lazarevic and Mr Verdon were snatched in Mali in November 2011.

On Wednesday, Mr Lazarevic was flown to a military airport outside Paris from Niger. Mr Hollande said there were now no more French hostages left anywhere in the world.

The French president credited the governments of Mali and Niger for their help in securing Mr Lazarevic’s release. Mr Lazarevic also thanked Mr Hollande and the French government for “having done everything to free me”.

French officials have not given any details about how Mr Lazarevic was freed.

A former anti-terrorism judge, Alain Marsaud, told French radio that some form of payment must have been made. “If it isn’t the government, it’s someone: maybe a business or an insurance company,” he said.

In his first words on French

soil, Mr Lazarevic said how wonderful it was to regain his freedom. “When you’re on the verge of death, you think more about life,” he said.

President Hollande welcomed him back, warning French travellers not to venture into areas where they could risk kidnap. “It’s a dangerous world,” he said.

AQIM kidnapped a number of Western hostages before the French military deployed its forces against the group in January 2013.

There were at one point at least 14 French nationals being held by Islamists in West Africa.

CIA torture program draws heavy criticism U.S. Senate report that reveals a brutal torture program of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) after the 9/11 terrorist attacks has drawn heavy criticism at home and abroad.

The CIA repeatedly misled the public, Congress and the White House about its aggressive questioning and torture on detainees after the terrorist attacks in 2001, according to the Senate Intelligence Committee report released Tuesday.

The CIA downplayed the brutality of the interrogations and exaggerated the usefulness of the information it gathered, including its role in setting in motion the U.S. raid that killed al-Qaida mastermind Osama bin Laden, says the report.

The 6,000-page report also found that the “Enhanced Interrogation Techniques” program escaped effective scrutiny by outsiders long after its inception in 2002. CIA records showed that then President

Europe & Americas

George W. Bush was never fully briefed by the agency on torturous interrogation techniques until 2006, it says.

The report contains details about waterboarding, sexual threats and other controversial methods to obtain information, and finds those techniques largely ineffective and poorly managed.

Some of the detainees were kept awake for up to 180 hours, or more than seven days, usually in standing or stress positions.

Interrogators also placed the interrogations above medical needs, such as treating bullet wounds, the report says. Some detainees were also placed in ice water “baths”.

Conditions at CIA detention sites were poor, says the report, and detainees at a detention facility called “COBALT” were kept in complete darkness, and lack of heat at the facility likely contributed to the death of a detainee.

The White House and President Barack Obama backed

the decision to release the report, despite warning from lawmakers and some officials inside the administration that it could lead to a backlash against Americans.

Obama said in a written statement that Bush-era CIA interrogation techniques “did significant damage to America’s standing in the world and made it harder to pursue our interests with allies and partners.”

“These harsh methods were not only inconsistent with our values as nation, they did not serve our broader counterterrorism efforts or our national security interests,” Obama said.

Republican Senator John McCain said harsh interrogations did little to make Americans safer, adding it will produce more bad than good intelligence.

Anthony Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, called the report “shocking,” saying,”It is impossible to read it without feeling immense outrage that our government engaged in these

terrible crimes.”

“The government officials who authorized illegal activity need to be held accountable,” Romero said.

There was also international consternation at the findings.

British Prime Minister David Cameron said the use of torture and other violations of human rights to battle terrorists was ultimately counter-productive.

“Let us be clear: Torture is wrong. Torture is always wrong,” Cameron told a press conference in Ankara, where he met Turkish officials.

“Those of us who want to see a safer, more secure world want to see extremism defeated. We won’t succeed if we lose our moral authority,” Cameron noted.

The UN special rapporteur on human rights and counterterrorism, Ben Emmerson, also said the report revealed a “clear policy orchestrated at a high level within the Bush administration” and called for prosecution of those officials.

krainian forces have extended a oneday ceasefire with independence-seeking insurgents in eastern regions for another day, a military spokesman said Wednesday.

“Since the truce regime has been generally observed and we witnessed a decrease of provocative attacks, we continue to maintain the ‘regime of silence’,” Andrei Lysenko, a spokesman for the National Security and Defense Council, told reporters.

The ceasefire had been extended because it brought positive results, Lysenko said.

Over the past 24 hours, Ukrainian forces suffered no casualties for the first time in few months.

“The ‘day of silence’ has shown that the two sides are ready to make concessions,” he said.

At the same time, the press center of the Ukrainian military operation issued a statement, accusing the rebels of violating the truce regime 11 times with seven civilians injured during the attacks.

The confronting sides in eastern Ukraine announced their consent to the ceasefire Tuesday morning to start the so-called “day of silence,” prescribed in the peace agreement signed on Sept. 5 in the Belarusian capital of Minsk.

The “day of silence” was enforced in eastern Ukraine after weeks of heavy fighting, in an attempt to prevent further bloodshed and end the eightmonth-old armed conflict, which has killed more than 4,300 people.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko

Page 39

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday, September 11, 2014

Strange World

Scottish University creates fabric that always smells like whisky

J

ohnnie Walker Whisky and Harris Tweed Hebrides, two of Scotland’s most iconic brands, teamed up with Heriot Watt University to create a new smart fabric that permanently smells like whisky. Because who doesn’t want their clothes smelling like booze all the time, right?

Recently launched in Berlin, the smelly fabric is said to have key notes of malt, vanilla, red fruits and dark chocolate tones, which closely resemble the aroma of Johnnie Walker Black Label.

“The unique scent, inspired by the nose of our liquid, echoes the masterful whisky production process. The key notes of rich malt, golden vanilla, red fruit and the trademark dark chocolate tones have been layered onto the fabric to achieve the unique final nose and finish of the Johnnie Walker Fabric of Flavour”, the famous spirit maker declared in a press release. The colors of the fabric match the colors of the Johnnie Walker label (that is, black, gold, and off-white).

But what makes the new fabric special is that its aroma can withstand washing and drycleaning. Donald Mackay, head of the finishing department at the Harris Tweed Hebrides mill, said the clothing company had worked with aromas in the past, but they were only meant to withstand one dry-clean. However, with the help of scientists from Heriot Watt University, they were able to make the whisky fragrance permanent.

“The process we have devised for Johnnie Walker means that this scent is layered into the fabric throughout the finishing process and is permanently imbued in the tweed,” Mackay added.

As strange as it sounds, Both companies involved in the project claim that “early indications are that the finished products are creating a high level of interest in the target markets”. A range of Harris Tweed clothing items imbued with the Johnnie Walker Black aroma have already been produced and are ready to be marketed across Europe, starting with Germany, Greece and Belgium.

Meet the evangelists who believe they can raise the dead

D

ead Raising Team (DRT) is a team of evangelical Christians who boast that they can raise people from the dead with their prayers. Tyler Johnson, the group’s charismatic leader, claims to be responsible for bringing 13 corpses back to life!

The DRT story was covered in the 2013 documentary film Deadraiser. It depicts various miracle stories where DRT members pray for dead people and witness them come alive.

Some of the people who allegedly came back from the dead claimed to have seen hell and the demons who were torturing them. But

they were ultimately saved and pulled back to earth.

Mark DeDio, for instance, used to be a troubled drug user who actually claims to have died in 2006 as a result of an overdose. The next thing he knew, “there was screeching, torment, screams. The smell was just like vomit, sulphur.” But he was eventually saved by DRT member TJ Aderholdt, who happened to pass by the ambulance in which Mark’s corpse lay.

Although the man had no pulse, TJ began speaking in tongues as soon as he spotted Mark. Within minutes, Mark’s eyes popped open, he stood up

and started telling everybody how he went to hell and was pulled back. “It was like a grab on my collar,” he recalled. “Jesus pulled me out.”

DRT founder Tyler Johnson is an Evangelist and the author of books such as Stories of the Supernatural and How to Raise the Dead. He spends his time traveling all over the world, healing the sick and raising the dead. He also gives free lessons on resurrection to the faithful. He apparently has dozens of trained DRTs in the US, Netherlands, Sri Lanka and Canada.

“I abhorred Christianity growing up,” Johnson revealed.

“It was plastic to me. It was all about the money.” But when he turned 17, he attended a youth mission to Canada and claims to have witnessed a prostitute turning into Jesus right before his very eyes. That was a turning point in his life and he slowly began to learn more about faith healing.

One of Johnson’s inspirations is English plumber Smith Wigglesworth, who was a renowned dead-raiser in the late 19th century. He was so popular that he left his day job to travel across the world, healing people and bringing them back to life.

Johnson’s own dead-raising journey began when he was only 19 years old and his father died in front of him.

“He was redoing the roof,” he recalled. “I’d woken from a nap and joined him. I’d been up there for a couple of minutes when he just keeled over. We brought him down and tried resuscitation.”

When that didn’t work, Johnson said that he heard God speaking to him and giving him a choice: “Son, I want to talk to you alone.

Right now your dad is dead. You can believe I’m good and I didn’t do this. Or you can believe I’m responsible for it.” Johnson said that he decided to believe the former, that God is good.

So he began to pin his belief on a particular verse from the Bible, Matthew 10:8, in which Jesus says: “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons.” He decided to try raising the dead by praying for them, anywhere he got an opportunity – in a morgue or a funeral home, or even at a car accident. When people got to know what he was doing, they welcomed him to give it his best shot.

Johnson hasn’t looked back

since then – word of his attempts spread through his Christian networks and others who were ‘radical enough to believe him’ soon joined hands with him.

Many of them believe that raising the dead isn’t a flippant aside, but central to the whole of Christianity.

Of course, there are some Christians who do not entirely agree with Johnson. They are of the opinion that Jesus’ words were intended for his 12 disciples, who were alone given that power. So it is unthinkable that people who have had no direct contact with Jesus could exercise it. Especially, some argue, si9nce Jesus himself raised only three people from the dead.

Another cause for suspicion is that the DRT do not seem to have any evidence to prove that they are indeed bringing people back from the dead. Johnson cites the example of a friend that he revived on a Florida beach, but he’s unable to provide the date, the name of the beach, or the name of the friend. He also talks about a man in a hospital who came back to life after Johnson prayed, but again, he cannot remember the date or year.

The testimony of Mark and TJ also seems doubtful, especially after Mark claimed in another interview that he’d never been to hell. Instead, he said that he’d only passed out and when he came around, he’d felt very grateful. He didn’t even remember who TJ was.

Johnson agreed that Deadraisers would have been much better if it had actually featured the raising of a dead person. “That would have been a golden ticket, man,” he said.

“Everyone in the world would have seen the movie if that happened. But it didn’t.”

Page 40

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday, September 11, 2014

Digest

Drinking two fizzy drinks a day ‘raises blood pressure’

By Madlen Davies

F

izzy drinks have been much maligned due to their high sugar content.

Now doctors warn the cans that they come in could also be bad for a person’s health.

A new study has found a common coating used in soft drink cans could cause high blood pressure and put heart patients at risk.

The chemical Bisphenol A known as BPA - is widely used as a lining for cans and plastic bottles, but previous studies found it can leach into food and drink.

The chemical Bisphenol Aknown as BPA - found in the lining of fizzy drink cans could cause high blood pressure and put heart patients at risk, experts warn Korean researchers found drinking from cans increased the concentration of BPA in urine by 1,600 per cent when compared to glass bottles.

Drinking two cans a day increased blood pressure by 5 mmg Hg, a rise which would cause ‘significant problems’ for patients with high blood pressure or heart disease, doctors warned.

Such patients would also need to seek medical if such a rise was seen, they added.

Bisphenol A has already been linked to a host of medical problems such as migraines, obesity, diabetes, infertility, heart attacks and even cancer. Pictured is a molecule of BPA Bisphenol A has already been linked to a host of medical problems, including migraines, obesity, diabetes, infertility, heart

attacks and even cancer.

The chemical has already been banned in baby bottles in Europe because of safety fears.

However, the EFSA - the European Food Safety Authority last year found that BPA posed no appreciable health risk to anyone apart from very young children.

It is currently reviewing its findings, with a new report due before Christmas.

The new study, carried out by the Korean researchers, found ingesting BPA was associated with high blood pressure and changes in heart rate.

Dr Yun-Chul Hong, of the Seoul National University College of Medicine, said: ‘A 5 mm Hg increase in systolic blood pressure by drinking two canned beverages may cause clinically significant problems, particularly in patients with heart disease or hypertension.

‘A 20 mm Hg increase in systolic blood pressure doubles the risk of cardiovascular disease.’

A person is normally said to have high blood pressure if the have a pressure of 140/90 mm Hg or above.

The study involved 60 adults over the age of 60 who were given soy milk from glass bottles or

cans three times over the course of the study.

Researchers then measured the level of BPA in their urine, as well as their blood pressure and heart rate two hours after drinking each beverage.

Soy was chosen as it doesn’t contain any ingredients that are known to elevate blood pressure.

They found that the concentration of BPA increased by up to 1,600 per cent after consuming canned drinks compared to after consuming the glass-bottled beverages.

Researchers controlled factors such as population characteristics or past medical history.

Time variables, such as daily temperatures, however, could still affect the results, they said.

Dr Hong concluded: ‘I suggest consumers try to eat fresh foods or glass bottle-contained foods rather than canned foods.

‘Hopefully, manufacturers will develop and use healthy alternatives to BPA for the inner lining of can containers.’

Gavin Partington, British Soft Drinks Association director general, said BPA is used in ‘virtually all cans used for food and beverage products’.

He said: ‘BPA has been approved safe by the UK Food Standards Agency and this view is shared by authorities worldwide.

‘The scientific consensus repeatedly stated among regulatory agencies in Australia, Canada, Europe, Japan, New Zealand and the United States is that current levels of exposure to BPA through food and beverage packaging do not pose a health risk to the general population.

‘The overwhelming majority of soft drinks bottles are made from plastics which do not contain bisphenol A.’ The study was published in the American Heart Association’s journal Hypertension.

Bisphenol A has already been linked to a host of medical problems such as migraines, obesity, diabetes, infertility, heart attacks and even cancer.

Pictured is a molecule of BPA Source: Dailymail.co.uk

The chemical Bisphenol A- known as BPA - found in the lining of fizzy drink cans could cause high blood pressure and put heart patients at risk, experts warn

Drinking coffee cuts diabetes risk

T

hree cups of tea or coffee a day could lower the risk of diabetes, according to a new study of nearly 9,000 people.

Regular coffee or tea drinkers tend to have smaller waist and BMI measurements than people who have less than a cup a day of either.

Coffee - but not tea - also appeared to be linked with lower blood pressure, though it’s not clear why. (The new finding contradicts previous studies linking coffee to higher blood pressure.)

A large waist, high BMI and high blood pressure all contribute to metabolic syndrome, a cluster of symptoms that raise the risk of diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

Coffee - but not tea - also appeared to be linked with lower

blood pressure University College London researchers found coffee or tea drinkers had 25 per cent fewer symptoms of metabolic syndrome, perhaps because compounds (polyphenols) in the drinks work against inflammatory chemicals.

Previous research has suggested transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) - which involves having an electromagnetic field applied to the head - can help with low mood caused by depression.

Researchers will compare two versions of the therapy delivering energy in different ways, which is believed to work by resetting brain wave activity - it’s thought people with depression may have

abnormal brain rhythms that have an effect on chemicals that control mood.

Researchers at the Institute of Mental Health Nottingham will target the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, an area of the brain linked to processing mood.

Oregano contains a compound called carvacrol, which has been shown to help control inflammation and pain A rub-on cream made from oregano is being tested as a treatment for eczema.

Researchers at the State University of New York, believe the herb - commonly used on pizza - could be an effective and safe alternative to steroids, which can

have side-effects, including skinthinning.

Oregano contains a compound called carvacrol, which has been shown to help control inflammation and pain. It is also a natural antiseptic.

Although the exact cause is not known, eczema causes patches of skin to become dry, itchy, red and sometimes cracked.

The trial, involving 40 patients aged two to 17, will compare the oregano cream to a standard steroid cream. Researchers say it may be prove a useful treatment for children with eczema, as they are more prone to side-effects from steroid creams.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Coffee - but not tea - also appeared to be linked with lower blood pressure

SporT 41 Page

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday, September 11, 2014

sports@peoplesdailyng.com, SMS- 08142929046

Kevin Akpoguma

Germany under- 20 stars reject Nigeria

H

offenheim defender, Kevin Akpoguma has rejected an invitation to play for Nigeria’s youth teams as he is an integral member of Germany’s Under 20 squad.

Akpoguma, whose mother is German, has been given a chance to display his wares to coach

Samson Siasia at the Under 23 national team screening exercise.

The Nigeria Football Federation are doing the groundwork to convince the defender to turn out for Nigeria instead of Germany, and Germany - based Darlington Omodiagbe, a member of the Technical Study Group, has been pressurizing the player.

Super Eagles coordinator donates trophy to FCT FA >>>Pg 42

The retired Nigeria Under 23 international, now a youth team coach at SV Wacker Burghausen, did not bring good news in that regard when he contacted on Tuesday afternoon.

“I have talked to Kevin Akpoguma, we still have worked to do to convince him to play for Nigeria,’’ Darlington Omodiagbe

said to SL10.ng.

“It is not going to be easy; he plays for Germany’s Under 20 team. I’ll suggest that we offer him something bigger.

“Everything is possible but it won’t be easy. His father is from Delta State but grew up in Benin City.’’

Though Omodiagbe refused

to go straight to the point, it is believed that Kevin Akpoguma will only consider an invitation to play for Nigeria’s main squad, the Super Eagles.

The ex Karlsruher SC and FC Bavaria Wörth youth-teamer has clocked up over 40 appearances for Germany’s youth teams since his debut in 2011.

Group suspends Wenger under today’s protest pressure against NWFL despite win board >>>Pg 43

>>>Pg 44

Page 42

Sport

Adidas threatens to sue NFF

By Albert Akota

S

p o r t s w e a r manufacturing giants, Adidas has threatened to sue the Nigeria Football Federation should any of Nigeria’s national team wear Adidas kits effective from January, 2015.

President of NFF, Amaju Pinnick confirmed this in a chat with Prompt News in Abuja.

According to him, the German kit suppliers, Adidas has written formally to terminate the kitting contract by the end of December, 2014.

He said to avoid being taken to court; all national teams would cease to use Adidas kits and equipment once the contract runs out this month.

Pinnick allayed the fears that the Federation could face ‘kitting crisis’ saying he was working round the clock to ensure that another sportswear manufacturers come on board soon.

He however noted that the leadership may not get a better deal because of the current crisis bedeviling the Federation.

The NFF president described the issue of minority report released by the Appeals Committee headed by Okey Ajunwa, as diversionary.

He however assured that it would not stop him from forging ahead to take Nigerian football to greater height.

It is believed that the inability of the Super Eagles to qualify for the 2015 African Cup of Nations holding in Equatorial Guinea may be one of the reasons why kits suppliers are pulling out.

Adidas supplies kits and equipment to all the national teams worth over seven billion Euro and about 850, 000 Euro annual grants to the NFF.

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday, September 11, 2014

Canada 2015: Falcons not yet a World Cup team —Nkwocha

A

s the Super Falcons get set to take on the world’s finest at the FIFA Women’s World Cup next year, veteran Falcons player, Perpetual Nkwocha has revealed that the team still lacks a lot of key ingredients to succeed on a global platform like the World Cup. The 38-year old and fourtime African Women Footballer of the Year award winner told www.footballlive.ng that she is hopeful with the current crop of players; the team will deliver on the big stage.

“We’re still lacking a lot of things, but I believe if we can prepare this time, early enough, with the current crop of players we have, this World Cup will be a good experience for us.”

Perpetual also had few

words to say about fellow African representatives, Ivory Coast. The West Africa nation qualified alongside Nigeria and Cameroon for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup. She predicted a good outing for the tough Ivorians in time to come. “Ivory Coast is one of the most improved team on the continent. I was impressed or perhaps shocked about them.

In another two years they’ll do well,” she said.

Meanwhile, Super Falcons striker Asisat Oshoala has said her side has the capacity to progress out of Group D. “I was expecting any (opposition) because it’s called draws – anything can happen.

The teams, USA, Sweden and Australia, are no threat to us all,” Oshoala said.

Nkwocha

Super Eagles coordinator donates trophy to FCT FA

S

uper Eagles coordinator Emmanuel Atah has donated a trophy to the Federal Capital Territory Football Association for the winners of the State League.

Atah who was the immediate past Chairman of the FA said his decision to donate the trophy

was borne out his usual desire to support the development of football at the grassroots.

“I have also pledge my support to the present administration in the FCT FA. They have been striving in their little ways to ensure that the game of football is developing

further in the Federal Capital Territory.

We appreciate them, and believed that the better ways to support and motivate them is to make this presentation” he said.

Atah who is an Assistant Director in the NYSC promised to do more for grassroots

Emmanuel Atah presenting the giant trophy to FCT FA Musa Talle

football in FCT. In his response, the Chairman of the FCT FA Musa Talle appreciated the gesture of his predecessor in office, and promised that the task of developing the grassroot players remains a major task of his administration.

He called on other sports personalities to always give back to the society. He said that the donor would be on ground next week to present the trophy to winners of the FCT league when the finals would be played.

Meanwhile, four teams have qualified for the semi finals of the 2014 FCT Football League.

The qualifiers are the NYSC strikers of Abuja, Alpha FC of Abuja, Medical strikers of Gwagwalada and Optimum Academy of Bwari.

According to the Acting Secretary of the FCT FA Haruna Usman Ilerika, the semi final pairings will see NYSC Strikers slugging it out with Alpha FC, while Medical strikers will settle scores with Optimum Academy.

He said the semi final matches would be on Monday 15 November,while the finals come up on Wednesday 17 November. Over 45 clubs took part in this year’s edition of the FCT Football League.

Civil servants agog in Akure for annual games

A

Amaju Pinnick

kure, the Ondo State capital will host over 6000 athletes and officials, have begin a 10-day quest for individual and collective honours.

It is the 33nd edition of the Federation of Public Service Games (FEPSGA), was formally declared open by Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko.

While welcoming the athletes and officials drawn from 53

Federal Ministries, parastatas, departments and agencies to Akure ahead of the kick off ceremony, the organisers of the games have assured both the participants and sports fans of an exciting tournament, which will feature 14 sports.

The sports are football, badminton, table tennis, squash, volleyball, scrabble, swimming, athletics, chess, handball, basketball and others.

Meanwhile, the defending champions, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, who has came tops in every edition of the tournament, has also vowed to retain their title for one more year, while other participating ministries, departments and agencies have promised to give them a run for their money.

Yesterday, the organisers held a pre-tournament seminar to educate athletes and their officials on the

rules of the games and to also create awareness for the competition.

Speaking ahead of today’s opening of the games, FEPSGA President, Comrade Hassan Dahiru said the modalities have been put in place to ensure that only eligible athletes took part in the games.

He revealed that the games will hold in two venues, Akure Township Stadium and Federal University of Technology (FUT), Akure.

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday, September 11, 2014

PAGE 43

Sport

Group suspends today’s protest against NWFL board

A

n advocacy group, Save Female Football in Nigeria (SSFN), has postponed indefinitely its planned today’s 1200-woman protest march to Nigeria Football Federation secretariat in demand for better management of women football in the country.

The Coordinator of the group, Moses Bako told journalists in Abuja, that the intended protest has been put on hold due to the unsettled crisis rocking the NFF for over five months.

Bako commended the Nigeria Women League Board led by Mrs. Dilichuckwu Onyedinma, but insists his group has lost faith in her ability to take the game forward in Nigeria and however demands change.

“We have nothing against anybody. We only want the best of organisation for the Nigeria women league board the current leadership failed to meet their

promises given at the congress,” Bako said.

“In view of that, we want answers from the Federation on the poor management and what plans they have to improve women football. Dilichukwu must go, she has tried. We will hold our protest as soon as the crisis is over,” he declared.

On the Canada 2015 Women’s World Cup draws, the Kogi born football administrator said the Super Falcons will progress out of the so-called ‘group of death’ only if the team gets early and quality preparation and arrangement of grade A friendly games.

The chairman of Confluence Queens Supporters Club further urged the technical crew and technical department of the NFF to invites talented players that will add quality to the team.

“I don’t have any doubt.

Nigeria will progress from the group. We only need the best of

AFCON 2015: Keshi sets to coach Equatorial Guinea

T

here are strong indications that embattled Super Eagles Stephen Keshi may have commenced discussions with football chiefs in Equatorial Guinea on the possibility of handling their senior national team to the 2015 AFCON to be hosted by the Central African The Big Boss who was spotted at the prestigious Hilton hotel in Malabo may have come to negotiate with their football chiefs on the possibility of his becoming the country’s national team coach.

There were confirmations from the country’s football eggheads on the possibility of the 2013 African coach landing job for the nation’s cup only, after which further agreements can be reached.

When we put calls across to the former International on his mobile lines, all were not reachable.

This is coming just few days after coach Steven Keshi who remains the most successful Nigerian coach led the Super Eagles to a dissappointing 2-2 draw with South Africa last month,a result which was not enough to see them through to the nations’s cup.

Keshi, it would be on record led the Super Eagles to win the African Nations cup, 19 years after winning as the captain of the team.

He is also the most mobile Nigerian coach. He took Togo to qualify for their first and only World in 2006, and also handled the Malian national team.

preparation and grade A friendly games with the same teams as big as their group opponents.

“The NFF and coach Okon should without bias invite

W

Dilichukwu Onyedinma

Ejor named final squad for Copa Lagos

Isah Danladi

By Albert Akota

H

Keshi

quality players that have what it takes to represent the country well at the World Cup. With that we will go far,” he concluded.

Wikki promise Olympic team tough game

ead coach of the Nigeria’s beach soccer team, nicknamed Super Sand Eagles, Coach Audu Adamu Ejor has announced his final squad of 10 players for the Copa Lagos 2014.

Ejor as popularly called, picked seven familiar faces and three debutantes for the 4th edition of the Beach soccer competition taking place from Friday December 12-14 at the Eko Atlantic City, Victoria Island, Lagos.

On his drawn final squad, Ejor expressed satisfaction with the performance of the ten players selected in camp as believed they were capable of doing the country proud at the

entertaining competition.

The three-time title winning coach said his ambition to win the fourth consecutive berth is achievable as his side will delight to reward Nigerians with another Christmas gift.

“I’m satisfied with the ten players they know themselves and have good understanding of each others. They are excellent players and proved themselves in training. I’m confident with them, we can win our fourth title,” Ejor said.

“Our ambition is to win again as we normally do every year to give Nigerians another xmas gift,” he said.

Nigeria will in their bid for a fourth straight berth face Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana in the three-day tournament.

ikki Tourists captain and right back, Mustapha Ibrahim has said his side will pose a hard nut to crack by the nation’s Under-23 Olympic team.

The promoted side are scheduled to engage the Dream Team V1 in a build-up match on Saturday in Bauchi.

Ibrahim said his side discontinued with their off season break to prepare adequately for the expected tough match against the coach Samson Siasia led Olympic team.

“We started our preparations quite early aimed at giving a good fight when both sides square up on Saturday for the friendly match in Bauchi.

“We quite understand it won’t be an easy challenge given the quality of opposition but we’ve resolved to win at least to prove to doubters that our promotion to the Nigerian top flight wasn’t a fluke but well deserved.

“We’re excited with the proposed test match and anxiously waiting for match day to unleash our full weight on the Dream Team V1,” said said.

The encounter is part of preparatory matches lined up for the Nigerian side for the daunting qualifying series ahead of them.

Ibrahim however stated pointedly that his side will not add to the number in the Nigerian top flight in the upcoming 2014/15 season.

Ibrahim said his side will certainly challenge for the title as they are already looking forward to winning their first match of the season.

“Wikki Tourists understand quite well what it takes to be in the top flight and now we’re back to the familiar terrain I can assure you that we won’t add to the number but compete favourably as well as challenge for the title.

“We’re already thinking of the first match of the season as victory in the encounter will go a long way to put us in good stand to fight strongly in subsequent matches.

“I’m certain we won’t disappoint our supporters whenever hostilities start in the elite league,” said Ibrahim.

The Bauchi-based side picked one of the promotion slots in the Nigeria National League (NNL) Division A in the out gone 2013/14 league season.

Page 44

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday, September 11, 2014

Sport

Wenger under pressure despite win A

Wenger

WTA signs deal worth £335m

Williams

T

he Women’s Tennis Association has signed a new record media rights contract that it says will be worth more than £335m ($525m) over 10 years.

The deal with Perform runs from 2017 to 2026 with plans to produce every singles match, which is around 2,000 fixtures, for the first time.

Under the existing contract with Perform, only around a third of singles matches are broadcast.

WTA chairwoman Stacey Allastar called the new deal “a

rsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey’s superb goal in Champions League win could not mask the fact that manager Arsene Wenger is under mounting pressure as the focus returns to their stuttering Premier League campaign.

Club officials blocked unhappy supporters from displaying banners calling for Wenger to be sacked ahead of Arsenal’s 4-1 victory at Galatasaray, as the team finished second in their group to qualify for the competition’s knockout stages.

Two goals each from Lukas Podolski and Ramsey, whose second was a 30-metre volley that he hailed as his “best” ever goal, secured the win but,

with qualification to the last16 secured before kick off, it is the visit of in-form Newcastle United in the league on Saturday that really matters.

Dissenting voices against Wenger, who has been at the club for 18 years, have become more vociferous as Arsenal have suffered a poor start to their domestic league campaign with the team sixth and level on 23 points with Newcastle after 15 games.

Arsenal ended a nine-year wait for a trophy by winning the FA Cup last season and supporters had hoped their success would be a springboard for more silverware this term.

Having suffered defeats in the Champions League round of 16 in the previous four seasons, qualification for the same stage this year will not be met with high expectations and their Premier League form remains the main focus for supporters.

Wenger was subjected to a torrent of verbal abuse from fans as he boarded the team bus after their 3-2 league defeat at Stoke City on Saturday and he has called for patience from supporters.

Khan ponders Alexander rather than Mayweather

A

mir Khan insists his dream fight against Floyd Mayweather is not on his mind ahead of Saturday’s bout against Devon Alexander in Las Vegas.

The winner of the welterweight showdown could fight unbeaten five-weight world champion Mayweather next year.

However, Britain’s Khan has been promised a fight against Mayweather before, only to be disappointed.

Khan has endured a frustrating year, with American superstar Mayweather choosing to fight Argentine Marcos Maidana twice instead and a scheduled fight against Alexander, who was then a world champion, falling through.

And Khan, who returned from a 13-month lay-off with a points win over veteran

American Luis Collazo on his welterweight debut in May, is still keen to make the Mayweather fight happen.

Meanwhile, Khan’s American promoter Oscar de la Hoya believes his charge has

the talent to become one of the all-time greats at 147lb.

Philippine great Manny Pacquiao has thrown down another challenge to the 37-year-old Mayweather, who is scheduled to fight next May.

Khan floored Luis Collazo three times in a points win in May

Hull sets to top LPGA on merit in Dubai

C game-changer”.

The WTA and Perform are forming WTA Media, which will produce all main-draw matches in singles, along with the semi-finals and finals in doubles at every tour event.

Allaster said that the new deal guarantees annual TV rights fees of £21m ($33m) from Perform, which is nearly double the current agreement of (£11m) ($17m) per year that runs 2013-2016. The deal also includes what Allaster said was “eight figures”’ a year in “production investment”.

harley Hull is on course to top the European Order of Merit after making a strong start to the season-ending Dubai Ladies Masters.

Hull, 18, shot an opening five-under-par 67, one stroke behind Sweden’s Carin Koch and Shanshan Feng of China.

She leads France’s Gwlayds Nocera by just over £18,000 in the Order of Merit, with £59,000 on offer for the winner in Dubai.

Nocera, playing in the same group as Hull, ended day one on three under.

Charley Hull

Page 45

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday, September 11, 2014

Sport

P-i-c-t-o-r-i-a-l

1.Two-time African champions Enyimba have maintained they have no plans to ditch Coach Kadiri Ikhana for former handler Salisu Yusuf.

2.In the wake of the fallen South African and Orlando Pirates goalkeeper, Senzo Meyiwa’s CAF nomination, the South African Football Association’s president Dr Danny Jordaan has praised the keeper.

1

3. The Women’s Tennis Association signs a new media rights contract with Perform worth more than £335m over 10 years.

2

4. The 27-year-old Nigeria international has been scapegoated for the Blues’ first loss of the season, quite unfairly so as his manager made decisions that were questionable.

5. BMoses Simon and Kingsley Madu are honoured to be invited to practice with the Olympic National Team by Coach Samson Siasia, and will join the squad any moment from now.

3

4

5

Page 46

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday, September 11, 2014

Sport

Goalkeepers need something exceptional to win matches, Buffon says

B

y its very nature, the role of the goalkeeper involves a degree of solitude and selfsacrifice. When he chooses his position, the keeper knows that he will stand alone, set apart from his team-mates, and that his mistakes will be remembered more quickly than his moments of triumph. Perhaps because of this, competing for individual awards has never been easy.

No one knows this better than Italy’s Gianluigi Buffon, who at 36 has won every prize the game has to offer including the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ – and is widely regarded as one of the finest to ever play the position. And yet among all his trophies, there is no award for the best player in world or European football.

In fact, only one goalkeeper Lev Yashin of the USSR in 1963 ever won France Football’s Ballon d’Or award for the best player in Europe, although Buffon himself came close in 2006, when he finished a close second behind countryman Fabio Cannavaro.

But when it comes to the prize for the best player in the world over a calendar year, the nomination of Germany’s Manuel Neuer as a FIFA Ballon d’Or 2014 finalist, alongside Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, is unprecedented and unique.

“For a goalkeeper to win the award, something truly exceptional has to happen,” said Buffon, who has made more appearances for Italy than any other player.

He discussed the subject further, and revealed his tip to win the top prize at the FIFA Ballon d’Or 2014 Gala, in the following interview with FIFA.com.

When you think of the FIFA Ballon d’Or, what goes through your mind?

It’s a very important award for a player because it’s the greatest and most symbolic recognition of our work. It is the ultimate goal you can achieve in the game, because global recognition is something that makes you proud, and tells

Gianluigi Buffon

you that you will be in the football history books forever.

In 2006 you came second behind Fabio Cannavaro in the voting for France Football’s Ballon d’Or, which in those days was awarded to the best player in Europe.

How important was that to you?

Well, no one remembers second place, especially in sport.

Of course I was proud, because coming second was the result of great sacrifices and victories as a team. But in the end, if you don’t win, second place is not really important. Fabio won because he deserved it more.

The only time a goalkeeper won the Ballon d’Or award for the best player in Europe was in 1963, when Lev Yashin

claimed the prize. Why is it so difficult for a goalkeeper to win?

It’s not just that it’s difficult, but there are also historical situations and moments that end up deciding these awards. Yashin was certainly exceptional, one of the greats, but I think the fact that he came from a country about which people knew little helped.

At that time, there were players people had heard a lot about, but had only seen play a few times. I think this mystery added to the legend that surrounded them.

Although, of course, to win the Ballon d’Or, you have to have something special in comparison with the rest.

For a goalkeeper to win the award today something truly exceptional has to happen. Often the prize doesn’t go to the best player, but to the player who has won more games, and who was most decisive in those victories.

So perhaps a goalkeeper will win the Ballon d’Or when he helps his team become world champions by winning four games in a row on penalties and saving every spotkick (laughs). That way no one can overlook him! But something really remarkable needs to happen.

If you were to choose the FIFA Ballon D’Or award winner in 2014, what criteria would you use?

For me the best player unless something very surprising happens, like someone has a really wonderful individual season – should make an important contribution to his own history and trajectory, to the level of performance that he has always produced.

If he was considered a

phenomenon when he was younger, for example, he has to fulfil and maintain that expectation. That will lead to a deserved winner.

And in your opinion, who will win?

Probably [Cristiano] Ronaldo.

Even if he hadn’t won the UEFA Champions League, the player who is the best at a particular moment should be rewarded.

Ronaldo in addition to having a splendid career and maintaining a high level of performance over a long period has done something exceptional over the last two years, and deserves the recognition.

That said, I still think that [Lionel] Messi is still the best overall, because when he is 100 per cent he is simply sublime to watch.

But there is not much difference between the two: they are playing at such a high level that if one drops just a little, the other will overtake him. And what Ronaldo did this year was beautiful to behold: incredibly decisive and professional.

You realise that he has the right mind-set, and is working towards goals that he sets himself.

In the end, people who stand out so deservedly, thanks to their hard work and sacrifice, should be rewarded.

Cannavaro was the last Italian to be voted player of the year in 2006. What current Italian player has the potential to repeat this achievement?

I don’t know if we have a young, talented player coming through who can aspire to win this sort of award in the future.

There is no Italian among the candidates for this year’s award because we are coming off a very disappointing World Cup and our clubs haven’t challenged for the highest honours for quite a few years.

Either we improve the national team or our football will remain ordinary, and it will be impossible to stand out.

As captain of the national team, does it upset you that there are no Italian players among the nominees?

The fact that no Italian has been nominated forces us to understand the situation our football is currently in, and confirms that the technical and individual quality of our players has declined. But it is also true that, as in any area of life, sport goes in cycles.

This is perhaps a low point for Italy, but the country’s history carries a lot of weight, and Italian football has always managed to combine technique with tactical discipline.

By putting an emphasis on these qualities, I think we will soon start to grow again.

PEOPLES DAILY, thursday, September 11, 2014

Funny Jigsaw mystery

2

7. Once upon a time, the north was the more literate part of Nigeria. According to Lord Luggard, there were 25,000 Qur’anic Arabic schools with about 250,000 pupils in the north.

28. Sardauna of Sokoto said he preferred foreign workers to Igbo’s because he felt Igbo’s are domineering. This was while Nigeria existed as regions with regional administrations.

29. Kaduna Nzeogwu killed Sardauna in Nigeria’s first military coup.

30. In 1966, a mischievous Igbo owned bakery allegedly made a loaf of bread with a label that depicted Nzeogwu as the Saint in the ‘Saint George and the Dragon’ medieval tale, killing Sardauna, the ‘dragon,’ this labeled bread provoked deadly anti-Igbo riots.

31. Idrîs Aloma (1571-1603) King of Kanem-Bornu went on pilgrimage and came across firearms. He brought some guns back, along with Turks to train his army on how to use them.

32. Travel Visa was not required to travel to the United Kingdom till 1984.

33. A brand new car sold for N2000 in 1975. A ticket to London was less than N100 in 1975.

34. In 1976, 75 kobo exchanged for one British Pound and 60 kobo for one US dollar.

35. A dollar was 90 kobo at the beginning of Babangida’s tenure in 1985.

36. Nigeria took its first loan from the World Bank in 1977.

37. Obasanjo’s first term and Babangida’s regime oversaw the weakening of the naira.

38. General Buhari and Idiagbon rejected IMF demands that Nigeria devalue its currency.

39. Babangida’s coup in 1985 was invaluable to the colonialists suspected to have been in support as it led to Nigeria accepting SAP

PAGE 47

Leisure

restrictions, loans and crippling foreign monetary conditions.

40. Nigeria has 5 of the 10 richest pastors in the entire world, with net worth’s according to Forbes, from $10-150 million. They are Pastors, David Oyedepo, E. A. Adeboye, Chris Oyakhilome, Mathew Ashimolowo and Temitope Joshua.

Say what?

SUDOKU EASY 201 Is that a $100 fine for putting out a fire? Or a whack on you-know-what for answering the call of nature? Maybe you should just wait for the next rest area.

PHOTO OF THE DAY

SUDOKU EASY 200

Little 20-month-old Jayden Wallis stuck down the loo at his home in Bournemouth. His mum Jemma sent in the snap, saying that her son sneaked into the toilet, telling her he ‘just wanted another bath’.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

www.peoplesdailyng.com

. . . putting the people first

THURSDAY, december 11, 2014

QUOTABLE QUOTE We harbor no illusion that our preparations are perfect, but as far as INEC is concerned, operationally prepared to deliver better elections in 2015 than what we had with the 2011 elections.

– INEC chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega

SPORTS Between the Shoeless and the Shameless latest E THURSDAY

Pinnick thanks Jonathan, SGF, others for support

By Albert Akota

P

resident of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Melvin Pinnick yesterday expressed appreciation to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for the huge support the federation has received.

The NFF boss also praised the Secretary to Government of the Federation, Distinguished Senator Anyim Pius Anyim (GCON), Sports Minister, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, Director General of the National Sports Commission, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye and the sports committees of the National Assembly ably led by Senator Adamu Gumba and Hon. Godfrey Gaiya for their steadfastness in supporting the new NFF team.

“We also must give kudos to the NFF Congress the supreme authority in Nigeria football – as well as the NFF Executive Committee, NFF Management and Staff, stakeholders of the game and the nation’s very vibrant media.

“There is no victor, no vanquished in this matter. Ours is one big, marvellous family and here, football is the winner. “ Pinnick urged persons who feel aggrieved in any way concerning the recent crises in Nigeria football to bury the hatchet and join hands with the NFF Executive Committee and Management in redefining football culture in Nigeria.

“There is so much to do, and only few persons cannot do it. The support, prayers and contribution of everyone in the huge football sector is needed for this administration to be able to fulfill its mission and vision.

“I am pleading that people should forgive the NFF Executive Committee for any of our actions or inactions since coming on board, and let us jointly take Nigeria football to much higher heights.”

World football governing body, FIFA, on Tuesday backed the majority decision of the NFF 2014 Electoral Appeals Committee, which upheld in its entirety, the NFF 2014 Elective Congress of 30th September, 2014, at which Pinnick and others were elected into the NFF Executive Committee for a four –year term.

Advert: 0806 business: 0704 news: 0814 lagos: 0805 0803

x-President Olusegun Obasanjo is ‘smoking hot’.

His latest book “My Watch” is quaking Nigeria’s political earth. He is shooting straight from the hip. He has an unkind word for everybody who thought he was somebody under his watch in the dawn of the 4th Republic.

He is at his vitriolic best in this current book. Past endeavours at letter or book writing have always ended up like this -in controversy. But he is no stranger to it. I admire the man. He is not afraid to be caught ‘pants-down’ so to speak, in his own doublespeak. When others like him shy away from controversy for bread or safety, he makes public spectacle riding the rolling waves of controversy. I shudder to think what the present political clime would look like without his timely intervention at strategic times. He truly deserves national applause, his glaring hypocrisy notwithstanding. By his own admission, he is ‘shameless’. He is also ‘shock less’ Baba Iyabo is a unique character. An unusual patriot, if you like, who routinely calls a spade a shovel.

Depending on his mood, Obasanjo may see the glass ‘half full’ or ‘half empty’. I have this sneaky feeling that the expresident fancies himself as the conscience of the nation. Since 1979, he has stood as sentry nation’s political and economic vault as the country’s super patriot who thinks only of the state.

I hazard another guess. Armed with this onerous duty of saving the nation from predatory rulers, there has been no government or individual for that matter, he has not “diss” as imperfect except his.

Unless he ‘anoints’, it is ‘rogue’ When Buhari and Idiagbon government aligned itself with his regime in 1984, he “dissed” it. Shagari’s government, the one he helped installed in the year he quitted as military head, he earlier ‘dissed’. Name any government

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Column Ali M. Ali

aliyumaliyu@yahoo.

Jonathan or individual, Obasanjo had a searing word for both. IBB? Awo? Abiola? Abacha?

Expectedly his current book ‘My Watch” presented to the public in defiance of a court order on Tuesday, is vintage Obasanjo .The order to ‘arrest’ or impound the book yesterday would be fruitless. I think the DSS and the police had better go track down insurgents than hunt “My Watch”. They are popularizing it. Obasanjo is chuckling. He is “shameless’.

The old man has a history of ‘shooting’ on sight at real and phantom enemies. Since he retired from the army as military head of state, he has taken to a career of farming and ‘shooting’ –with his mouth and pen. In doing that, he doesn’t give a damn whose ox is gored.

Unwittingly, by the account of the book, each unkind word on Jonathan and others, Obasanjo so generously lavishes, is a damning indictment of his own failing as a leader. It exposed him as master in double-speak with motives almost sinister .

Obasanjo We are in an era of “less”.

Everything is “less”. Modern day fashionistas insist that “less” is more. I am bewildered. How could ‘less’ be ‘more?’But in this country’s incredible political clime, this couldn’t be truer.

The ‘less’ is, indeed, truly, more.

Consider the on-going charming thriller for instance. It involves two narratives of the ‘less’ genre.

The shoe (less) and the shame (less). It is engaging. It is gripping.

It is the kind of thriller that would keep you on the edge of your seat –all the time. Were it being shown in the theatre, this thriller would morbidly fascinate the audience and kept it spellbound.

It is the tale of the lamb and the fox. It is the narrative of a current President and an ex president.

Those who have been around the precincts of power long enough, like my friend Sani Zango, think of the current faceoff between godson (Jonathan) and godfather (Obasanjo) as overwhelming dejavu.

We have been here before”, he keeps telling me. Zango likes to point at the 1993 scenario that forcefully ended General Ibrahim Babangida winding transition programme, which, at the same time, culminated in Interim Government. The ill-advised cancellation of June 12 elections was among a cocktail of reasons that sent IBB to Minna not in the measured dribbling steps of a Maradona. The cancellation caused huge uproar. The critical press domiciled in Lagos was unsparing. Before then, Obasanjo’s scathing criticisms of the regime was unending. This cocktail of reasons significantly helped in sealing the fate of the military government of Babangida 21 years ago. Zango is convinced that the foxy ex-

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president is set to politically bury the shoeless Jonathan.

I am not dishing out labels.

The President’s shoeless narrative is well known. It was his call to electoral arms in 2011.Nearly four years ago, it resonated with a vast majority of ordinary folks.

The unwary identified with the tale of a barefooted country boy done good encapsulated in the shoeless yarn. All simple folks saw themselves in the ‘I am Goodluck Jonathan’ tale. Today the narrative is inverted. In the social media, frustrated citizens are of the informed view that any shoeless fella should be given one and asked to “beat it”.

Truly our president is a historic figure. By location or by extra-ordinary aptitude, the idea of being no1 in a mega complex country like Nigeria in 2010was so remote as to invite the word ‘impossible’ for a certain Ebele Jonathan. I know how this sounds. Myopic. Why not?

Because of history.

Our history of democratic election is unkind to ethnic groups lacking in numerical strength. The so-called big three of Hausa/Fulani, Igbo and Yoruba unkindly conspire to keep the smaller tribes away from the nation’s plum. Check history.

Except for military juntas, all duly elected presidents were Fulani or Yoruba or Igbo. Jonathan is not among any of the listed. He is a ‘minority’. But today he is the President. He broke the circle.

This is historic.

I don’t subscribe to the idea of recruiting leaders on the basis of the size of their tribe. Tragically, our nation is yet to get there. We worry about the name and the face. I am of the firm belief that capacity and not quantum tribe dimension, is the most essential skill to pull a country like ours dangerously dancing on the brink.

Unwittingly, by the account of the book, each unkind word on Jonathan and others, Obasanjo so generously lavishes, is a damning indictment of his own failing as a leader. It exposed him as master in double-speak with motives almost sinister .His only redeeming quality is –he is not afraid to speak out and express his understanding of the truth. It is not out of sync though for the ’shameless’.

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