Saturday 12th April, 2014 Weekend Edition

weekend.peoplesdailyng.com

. . . Putti ng the p e o p l e fi rs t Vol. 3 No. 86

SATURDAY — SUNDAY, APRIL 12-13, 2014

Woman caught with kidnapped children mobbed, set ablaze >>Page 10

JIMADAL- THANI 11-12 1435 AH

N150

Insurgents kill 16 in fresh Borno attack >>Page 6

Zamfara massacre

The untold story Crisis plot to unleash food shortage —Sen. Marafa Senator Dansadau wants IGP sacked >>Pages 2,4,5

>>Page 10

With the general elections stll over nine months away, campaigns seem to have begun in earnest apparently in defiance of the Electoral Act. Here, R-L: President, GoodLuck Jonathan, Vice President, Namadi Sambo, President of the Senate, Sen. David Mark and Enugu State Gov. Sullivan Chime, during the South East Zonal Rally of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday in Enugu State.

Fulani in the blunt end of Nigeria’s crisis >>Cover: Pages 7,8,9

Questions you must answer before getting married >>Page 31

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 12,- sunday 13, April, 2014

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Interview Zamfara massacre ploy to unleash food shortage on Nigeria —Sen. Marafa Senator Kabir Marafa, along with five others, brought a motion before the Senate that drew the attention of the Senators to the spate of killings in Zamfara, the food and livestock basket of the federation, and the larger implications therein: deliberate ploy to cause food shortage in the country, and therefore urges everyone to rise against this brand of insurgency in Nigeria. He spoke with journalists on these and many other issues. Patrick Andrew was there and brings excerpts….

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ell, in recent times there have been scores of killings by armed bandits in Zamfara and several places in the North. Any idea where these bandits are coming from and their reasons for the attack?

I doubt if there is anybody that can answer the question of where these gun men are coming from, nobody knows. Some say Fulani herdsmen but others have argued that they have lived in peace with them for hundreds of years. The Fulanis that we know and they know moved around with their herds and sticks, they don’t brandished arms. So, I don’t know where they are from and in any case where ever they are from their case needs to be looked into.

Like I commented on the floor of the senate, I tagged them Numa and kiyo Haram – literally meaning livestock and Farm Haramthat’s exactly what they are trying to forbide these people from doing. The one in Maiduguri is Boko Haram –literally meaning that western education is haram. This one they are trying to deny our people the source of livelihood- cattle rearing and farming which are the main occupations of our people. These trades are more or less responsible for the peace and security in the country because food is the one thing that guarantees peace.

All the wahala about oil is not it because oil is not responsible for the GDP growth agriculture still remains the mainstay because people can farm to feed themselves and ship the surplus to elsewhere. Most of our people are peasant farmers they cannot afford merchandised form of farming, so they use oxen and camels to plow their farms. When you look at the region under attack now: parts of kebbi state, Benue, Katsina, Zamfara, Kogi, Kaduna south, places where the menace is prevalent you would see that they the food and livestock baskets of the nation. These are places where most of the farming is done and

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the produce exported to other parts of Nigeria, these are where all the cattles, sheep and goats are reared. Like Benue, Southern Kaduna, Nasarawa they have arable lands and vegetable regions and these also places where these Fulanis take their cows to graze.

Now, when people kill 50, 100 or more of their cattle it affects them but now it has degenerated to the level where you can’t even keep the two necessary male cows: Oxen. If you go to most of my people you will see these two cows because they will assist them to do relatively large scale farming. Now, nobody in our area can keep these two cows or even one camel and if have two or three camels it mean you can afford to rent or own a very large farm because they will easily plow your farms for you.

So that is the danger we are facing now. If this Numa and kiyo Haram persists in these areas then we going to witness another very serious shortage of food supplies because we are now in a raining season but the people cannot go to their farms to cultivate their crops.

You can imagine what is going to happen because the places under siege are the food belt of the nation. large percent of our peasant people from Lagos to Maiduguri, Calabar to Sokoto most of them are peasant farmers, fishermen who depend on their produce to sustain their lives. For this parts of the country where this killings is prevalent farming is their mainstay for feeding, educating their wards, and other financial and social problems like marrying out their daughters and sons, clothing and building and repairing their houses. They are no secular workers hence depend entirely on farm produce for sustenance.

So, the insurgency- Numa and kiyo Haram is trying to deny them their livelihood and the wider implications it will stoke up more problems because when you cannot feed you are susceptible to any kind of crime for survival.

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Like I commented on the floor of the senate, I tagged them Numa and kiyo Haram – literally meaning livestock and Farm Haram- that’s exactly what they are trying to forbide these people from doing. The one in Maiduguri is Boko Haram –literally meaning that western education is haram. This one they are trying to deny our people the source of livelihood- cattle rearing and farming....

Senator Kabir Marafa Again, if you look at the short term implications take for instance cities like Paris, New York, London and coming back home where you have a million or more people, if 200 persons die in a day that city will be shaken to its foundation let alone a village of about a thousand or more dwellers where 50 or even 200 persons are killed within 8 hours you can imagine the trauma, the pains, the devastation, imagine what they are being subjected to.

And these are people we are not in war, were just sitting in front of their houses or were inside, some were on their legitimate businesses when suddenly they came under attack and hundreds were killed. I think this is a very serious matter when you consider what is happening now in North West, North Central and North East axis then you will know that Nigeria is in a very serious stress and that people are being pushed to the wall. In the North East it is Boko Haram- that means you can’t go to Western school and in the North West and Central they say it’s Numa and kiyo Haram and it requires the attention of everybody.

Now, in the North East it is almost completely devastated because the ongoing problem, nobody can go out to do any business to earn anything, you can’t do nothing and now in these other axis things are almost grinding to a halt. Killing is now a daily affair and the bandits are so emboldened now that they just knock at people’s doors and ask for their cows if they resist they are killed and the cows will still be taken anyway.

That’s why I drew the attention of the senate to the plight of the people and several other motions were brought to the floor and the senate did all it could to sympathise and I brought three motions and my colleague senator from the other zone did the same. He lost about 500, Senator Sadia lost 30 and the present killings is in my constituency, senators Gemade, and another colleague from Kaduna all brought motions on these killings. We compressed into one to cover Plateau, Kaduna, Benue, Kebbi and Zamfara, Katsina and Taraba. My counterpart from Katsina lost about 100 persons. e also urged the senate to commend the Inspector General of Police for proactive actions and pronouncements which brought about a lot of relief to the people of these areas. The IGP instantly mobilized detachments of armed Mobil Policemen to areas to fish out the culprits and also deployed some helicopters to patrol the area. With these hovering over their heads the people can sleep a bit safely.

What political approach should be adopted to quell this menace?

I think the leadership of the country is working hard on this. You know the Boko Haram dialogue is still ongoing and lots of our

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leaders: political and traditional rulers have met and are still meeting and now more than ever before have come together including the Arewa Consultative Forum to look into the matter and see what really is the problem.

Who are these so-called Fulanis? They are not coming from the moon, but are part of the people that have lived peacefully with us over hundreds of years. Even if they are from neighbouring state, how did they come in? What is happening to our intelligence gathering, does it mean they are no people that gathering intelligence the security agencies? There is a problem and it has be tackled from its origin.

What advice do you have for the government under this situation?

I want to advice the two groups. Whoever the perpetrators are I am sure they are humans: they neither angels nor demons meaning that they have flesh and blood and whether they are Nigerians or are from neighbouring countries they can only be either Muslims or Christians and both religions preach peace and there is one fundamental thing: in Islam it said ‘none of you is a believer until he likes his brother’ and Christianity there is the Golden Rule ‘do to others the way you want them to do you’ and the two are basically the same. Therefore, these bandits should have the fear of God and whatever their problems are dialogue.

They have brothers, sisters, children, and mothers and are fathers may be. Now would they want others to do to what they have done to others?

I have heard Mr. president, the senate president and other leaders say that people should stop this pointless killings and that they should come out for dialogue where they will table their grievances because until they disclose their grievances not gods we won’t know what may be bothering them and if they are genuine we can attend to them.

And so my advice is whatever their grievances are please they should lay down their arms, talk to the authorities and resolve them. I do believe that the problem of Nigeria is justice and fairness because once you are able to entrench justice every other thing will follow suit. If you have problem and regardless of your political and economic status and you are treated fairly there will be less agitations. nd at the leadership level, we should also fear God. There is lopsidedness in the distribution of wealth between the elites and the masses. We, who are in positions, are to serve the people. We are not their masters, but we are their slaves, their servants and are only holding in trust their wealth and so we must dispense that trust with utmost fear of God and do whatever you must do in the fear of God. Whatever people deserve they should not be denied their rights.

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PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 12,- sunday 13, April, 2014

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Feature

Collapsed power sector and growing menace of generators From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

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xperts in the power sector have recently predicted very slow capacity growth for the private sector-driven electricity industry in Nigeria.

They also noted that this would disrupt the supply of electricity to consumers and advised them not to expect any quick solution to the current power situation in the country.

An Original Equipment Manufacturer with a significant presence in the country’s power distribution and transmission landscapes, Schneider Electric, rated the capacity of the distribution companies low, noting that the growth trajectory was also poor.

The Country President, Schneider Electric Nigeria Limited, Mr. Marcel Hochet, in an interview with our correspondent, said though the country’s actual generation capacity was 3,500 megawatts, he noted the Discos lacked the capacity to distribute the available power.

According to him, the Discos do not know how much power they receive from the Transmission Company of Nigeria and how much power they actually distribute.

However, Just as Nigeria revealed rebased Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures for 2013 that showed an 89 percent jump in the estimated size of its economy, The new rebased data show that the size of the Nigerian economy is now estimated at N80.3 trillion ($510 billion) for 2013, Yemi Kale, head of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), said at a press conference to announce the results in Abuja last week.

But Just as the country was busy trying to rebase its GDP, reports came from the World Bank that Nigeria is one of the countries with the highest number of desperately poor people in the world. While Nigeria has the highest number of private jet owners on the African continent – at the last count they were more than 200, the same Nigeria has the largest number of desperately poor people in Africa and one of the largest in the world.

Of the 174 million people in Nigeria, 122 million people live in desperate poverty, using the acceptable extreme poverty line of $1.25 a day.

Furthermore, with this growth in GDP in Nigeria, the country’s government is unable to provide steady power supply to its 170 million populations. The Federal Government has recently said that over 30 million Nigerians have no access to electricity supply because they are yet to be connected to the national electricity grid.

The Minister of Power, Prof.

Chinedu Nebo, disclosed this while declaring open, the Nigerian Renewable Energy Private Equity seminar in Abuja.

Therefore, these and other causes of poor access to electricity in the country, forced residents of

One of the commercial generators being stationed in Fagge, Kano Kano State, one of the commercial states in Nigeria, to use alternative way of electricity generation to cater for their daily commercial activities.

Just as the Kano State government is working on independent power project worth N14Billion in order to boost its economy through industrialisation, residents in the commercial city have introduced a new source of power generation through use of commercial generators called.

This new way called ‘Maja’ in Hausa parlance, meaning ‘merger’, was first introduced last year in Fagge Local Government Area in the Kano metropolis. It is the area dominated by tailoring activities which need electricity for its development.

The Maja electricity supply involved purchasing high-powered generator, Mikano or Jubaili

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110 KV and connect to multiple users at a specified price which is mostly N150 daily per electric sewing machine for tailors. The generator user must also purchase a registration form at the rate of N1500. This sum of money will be used for connection to a customer.

Seeing the development of the commercial power generation in Fagge, residents of the area made several plea to use the generator for their houses. The power generation then extended to use at houses at the rate of N150 per day for the period nine hours- 6:00pm-3:00am for house, 10:00am- 7:00pm for shops daily. This electricity generation has already been developed to other areas around the commercial city for home use. Areas like Kurnar Asabe, Brigade, Darmanawa, Dorayi, Sheka among other areas have already being enjoying the generators and other areas across

Kano city are calling for installation of the generators in their areas.

Speaking, Ahmadu Suleman Lotus, the secretary of the Maja electricity generation company, owned by Alhaji Ibrahim Mai Maja in Fagge, said the essence of introducing the commercial electricity generation is to assist government in its efforts to provide employment to its teeming youth in the state.

“The reason why we have introduced this commercial electricity generation is to assist the state government in its efforts to provide employment to its teeming youth. Therefore, we have introduced this way after thinking that lack of electricity is the major problem to unemployment.” He said.

The secretary added that “ now the generators have been connected to more than 1500 and 1000 shops

Furthermore, with this growth in GDP in Nigeria, the country’s government is unable to provide steady power supply to its 170 million populations. The Federal Government has recently said that over 30 million Nigerians have no access to electricity supply because they are yet to be connected to the national electricity grid.

and houses respectively at Fagge, Kurnar Asabe and Brigade only.

We are now working on installation of the generators in Dorayi, Tudun Wada and other areas.”

He also called on users to adhere strictly to the company’s rule and regulations, which restrict users from using water heaters, irons and other power consumption appliances that may cause trouble to the generators.

He also express delight on how the residents cooperate with their company, adding that the company is appealing to the state government to join hand with the company in order to generate more electricity in the state in order to generate more employment opportunities to the youth.

Residents in Kurnar Asabe and Brigade also spoke to our reporter on how they enjoy the commercial power generator.

Speaking, Alhaji Isa Gajere, who is enjoying the commercial generator in his two housesin Kurnar Asabe, said “ I am enjoying this Maja in my two houses at a very cheaper rate. I pay only N300 for the two houses and I could pay more than that because I used to spend more than N1000 on buying fuel always.” He said.

Another resident in Kwana Hudu area in Brigade, Alhaji Tijjani Dan Ludo, said he is happy with the coming of the commercial electricity generator, adding that “ I could have payed my dues monthly but the company did not accept that. I am really enjoying it.” He said.

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Special Report

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 12,- sunday 13, April, 2014

Zamfara massacre: The untold story

Corpses of some ot the victims prepared for burial From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

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t was a merciless and un-Godly attack ever experienced in the history of Zamfara state leading to the gory death of children, trader and leaders of vigilante groups from Sokoto, Kaduna, Katsina, Niger and Zamfara states, as well as community members totalling over 300 in ‘Yargaladima village of Dansadau emirate last Saturday.

The subsequent discovery of 35, and the possibility of more corpses lying down in the forest, was the untold part of the shocking story. It was reported that majority of them were unable to be conveyed into town for burial due to the extreme level of mutilation and unpleasant odour, but rather had their funerals and burial done in the bush for health reasons.

‘Yargaladima village, which is now ravaged and deserted following the fierce attack by gunmen, is situated by the main road, just about 10 kilometres away from Dansadau town enroute Gusau, the state capital, and is surrounded by some other economically active villages making it a commercial centre in the area.

Unconfirmed reports reveal that the state government had secretly swung

into peace talks with the leadership of the deadly group and that agreement has even reached advanced stage. Some of the arrested bandits have already been released as part of their demand from the government before they allow peace to reign in the state.

The ‘Yargaladima controversial meeting which was earlier cancelled by the state government and security agencies, was allegedly seen as the cause of the black Saturday.

It was learnt that, the dangerous

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group had earlier sent a warning message to the state government seeking its quick intervention to call off the meeting which they suspected was organised by the vigilante group to attack them.

The bandits were said to have also warned the leader of the meeting identified as Kurma who is from Zamfara state, to do his best to ensure the permanent cancellation of the meeting.

The state government and security agencies were reported to have severally aborted the meeting before the tragedy

The subsequent discovery of 35, and the possibility of more corpses lying down in the forest was the untold part of the shocking story. It was reported that, majority of them were unable to be conveyed into town for burial due to the extreme level of mutilation and unpleasant odour, but had rather their funerals and burial done there for health reasons.

but the participants sneaked to regroup elsewhere around the shallow portion of the forest. But this did not discourage the bandits’ effort to stop the meeting.

Reports narrated that, the bandits had called the leaders of the meeting and warned them to immediately dismiss the participants from the place as they were soon to arrive the venue in full force to launch a massive attack.

A survivor who identified himself as Isa Shekara Dawa, stated that, “after our leaders passed the information pertaining the warning message to about four thousand of us at the meeting, they threw the matter for voting and majority in attendance, considering our large number, insisted we should wait for their arrival. Besides, it would save our time going down the forest looking for their camp after the meeting”.

He said, they all chanted war songs in order to make up minds for war, before the situation was controlled to normality for business. He said hundreds of motorbike riding armed men in army uniform surrounded the venue, only waiting for shooting order.

“There was a brief conversation Contd on Page 5

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 22,- sunday 23, march, 2014

Zamfara massacre: The untold story Contd from Page 4 between our leader, Kurma ‘Yargaladima, and the leader of the insurgents, who at the end asked, didn’t I warn you to call off the meeting some days before now and you dare my order?”

“Now any of you that is satisfied with his formidable charms can go back to his family, or else he will sleep for ever in his grave. The man did not say a word again but only had brought out a small red flag and raised it up, then followed by the sounds of AK47 and the rain of bullets on us”, Shekara Dawa disclosed.

Another survivor, Mai Kare Danmari said,” Many of us under the heavy rain of bullets used their charms to disappear and ran helter skelter towards the market while on full session, thinking that the insurgents may consider hundreds of innocent traders to ceasefire as the bandits used to disappear too, but their leader was still shouting out orders to his men, saying “kill anybody at sight”, I pity hundreds of innocent traders killed by the insurgents”.

The attempt by participants of the quelled meeting to escape into a crowded market, led to the unfortunate and untimely death of hundreds which has forced hundreds of women into widowhood while hundreds of children would suffer the bitter side of life as orphans.

During the mass burial ceremony of 74 massacred bodies in the village, Governor Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar condemned the meeting organised by members of Vigilante group, describing it as illegal, though the group in a separate occasion through its state Chairman, Bashir Nafi’u Gadabiyu, distanced itself from the meeting as they claimed that

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the hunters association was mistaken as VGN. Sources said, the group of hunters under the leadership of the hero from Zamfara state named Kurma, had organised the meeting in a good faith after becoming tired of incessant killings of innocent people across the state, which they said the security agencies were not ready to tackle.

It was gathered that the use of AK47 in villages that share border with the forests surrounding the state has become as common as using handsets among the populace, a situation that has always kept villagers apprehensive to the extent of not sleeping soundly in their homes.

Worthy of note is that the bandits carted away 280 cows and all the sheep in the village during the attack.

The village head, Malam Adamu Magaji, told our correspondent that, they are barred from the bushes for farming activities by the bandits and do not know their fate on cultivation for the forthcoming raining season.

He said the gunmen are killing anybody that went to clear farmlands at the nearby bushes or far in the forest.

The bandits’ camp is situated on the outskirts of the village behind a rock, said a survivor, Malam Salisu.

The Fulani terrorising this village, according to Salisu, are not indigenous but aliens from no where, who sometimes abduct two or three of the community members to demand payment of huge amount of ransom.

Nobody can even go to the forest to fetch firewood, or do any related business,or he would be killed by the gunmen.

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Special Report

The final rite before interment

Bodies of some of the victims

He said, they all chanted war songs in order to make up minds for war, before the situation was controlled to normality for business.

One of the scenes of the bloody massacre

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 12,- sunday 13, April, 2014

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News

Keana massacre: Al-makura denies speaking with CDS From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia

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ontrary to claims by top military hierarchy suggesting that Governor Umaru Tanko Al-makura of Nasarawa state had spoken with the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS),

Air Vice-Marshal Alex Badeh and commended the military top brass for the exploits of the soldiers in the Keana operation, Al-makura has denied them.

He said he has not spoken with the CDS on the matter.

Al-makura made this known in a press statement issued by the

Nasarawa state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Hamza Mohammed Elayo, made available to journalists yesterday in Lafia.

The Governor, who expressed dismay over the false statement credited to him, reiterated that he has not spoken with the CDS

over the matter before or after the incident, nor ever met the CDS in his life.

Viewing the claim by the CDS as unbecoming of a respected Air Marshal and head of the military high command, Al-makura said the people expected a candid report of the misadventure in Keana as well as a show of remorse given the operational failure that led to loss of lives.

The statement added that the Nasarawa state government was appalled by comments made by the CDS, aired on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) on Thursday, April 10, to the effect that the military operation in Keana resulted from an exchange of fire between insurgents and the soldiers.

“We are constrained to respond to these comments and reports in order to put the records straight and encourage the continued peace efforts embarked upon by well meaning individuals, institutions and the governments of Nasarawa and Benue states”, the statement read in part.

“We want to assure all that

…Insists herdsmen killed not insurgents the Nasarawa state government remains committed to its position that following the Governor’s visit to the scene of the massacre, a kilometer away from Keana, and the testimonies of surviving relations, wives and children, those killed were not insurgents as claimed by the CDS and some media contractors”, the release continued.

It added that , government always condemn the activities of militants, insurgents and criminals as has been its mandate which can be discerned from the various reports of inquiries it releases to stem the tide of criminals and their activities.

“Government will spare no effort in collaborating with individuals, institutions and governments to end this avoidable carnage and destruction. We will continue to call and depend on our security agencies for prompt response whenever any crisis erupts and still confident of their capacities, professionalism and valour in nipping in the bud any challenge on our corporate peace and security”, the statement concluded.

Poly lecturers threaten mass protest

S People scooping kerosene from the drainage at the scene of a tanker accident, yesterday at Uselu in Benin-City.

Boko Haram kills 16 in Borno From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

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nsurgents launched attacks in several communities in Borno state, killing at least 16 persons.

The insurgents in the latest attack which occurred yesterday evening, blocked the MaidugutiBiu road and killed eight travellers.

Witnesses said the incident occurred in Dalwa village, when over 20 insurgents believed to have emerged from the nearby bush barricaded the road and forced motorists to stop.

The slain victims comprised of passengers and commercial drivers, while several others sustained injuries.

Similarly, prior to this incidents, another set of gunmen unleashed havoc on Thursday when they invaded three towns of Borno; Dikwa (in the central), Gwoza and Kalahgde (both in South).

In one of the attacks in Dikwa Teachers College in Dikwa local government area of the state eight teachers were slaughtered

when the gunmen stormed the staff quarters within the school’s premises.

Some residents of the town who fled to Maiduguri revealed to journalists that the hoodlums came to the town in the thick of the night and disturbed the peace of everyone.

One of them who spoke on condition of anonymity said some had to flee the town to Maiduguri.

“We could not sleep at night as all we were hearing was gunshots and we became afraid and had to sneak in the dark for Maiduguri.”

He said: “Our fear was heightened by the fact that we heard that they had attacked a boarding school and had killed eight teachers.”

Just about the time the sect attacked Dikwa, another set of the sect attacked Gwoza and Kalahgde in the southern part of the troubled state.

They were said to have engaged the military in the two towns in an exchange of gunfire in the attempt to take control of the towns.

Though details of the attacks on the two towns was minimal

as at the time of filing this report last night, it was gathered that there was heavy casualty in the siege.

All attempts to get to talk to the people of the town was unsuccessful as the phone lines were not going through, it was subsequently gathered from the indigenes of the areas living in Maiduguri that the GSM lines in the areas were no longer functional due to series of attacks.

Confirming the attack on the school at Dikwa, the Senator representing the area, Zannah Ahmed told newsmen on phone that there was a siege on one of the schools in the town just after midnight on Thursday.

He said he got to know from his people in the area that the hoodlums attacked a school, killed three teachers and two security men on duty.

Ahmed who is the Senator representing Borno Central, said the night marauders also razed the school library and escaped into the night through the bushes.

The 7 Division of the Nigerian Army declined comments on the incidents as at press time.

triking polytechnic lecturers would embark on a ‘massive protest’ in Abuja, next week, the President of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, Chibuzor Asomugha, has said.

Mr. Asomugha, who spoke on Political Platform, a radio program on Ray Power FM, yesterday morning, expressed his union’s frustration at the federal government’s handling of the sixmonth-old strike, Premiumtimes reports.

The union president said the last meeting between the government and the striking lecturers was held on March 26 in Abuja.

He said the government team was led by the Labour Minister, Emeka Nwogu, while the president of the Nigeria Labour President, Abdulwaheed Omar, also attended.

ASUP had earlier rejected the mediation of the Acting Education Minister, Emeka Wogu, accusing him of frustrating the negotiation process.

Mr. Asomugha said ASUP made “further concessions” at the last meeting including agreeing to a two-installment payment of the agreed salaries and allowances; and the setting up of an interministerial committee to review the other contentious issues.

The meeting agreed that the government delegation would brief President Goodluck Jonathan and come up with a “Memorandum of Understanding” that will be signed by both parties

“this week”, the apparently frustrated polytechnic lecturer said.

He said ASUP was concerned that since the March 26 meeting, the government had not gotten back to the lecturers.

“It is almost three weeks now,” he said.

Mr. Asomugha said the planned protest would involve market women, students, lecturers and labour unions who are all concerned with how the federal government was treating polytechnic education in Nigeria.

He did not state the day of the protest.

He, however, said the union was still seeking an amicable solution to the strike and had written to the Senate President, David Mark, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, to intervene in the strike. He added that the Senate President had replied saying he would intervene after conclusion of work on the 2014 budget. The budget was passed by the Senate on Wednesday and by the House on Thursday.

It is not clear why the strike persists as ASUP’s agreement to the two-installment payment of the agreed allowances tallies with an earlier federal government proposal.

The Education Minister, Emeka Wogu, had told PREMIUM TIMES that the federal government and ASUP had agreed on other issues; with the installment payment being the non-resolved one.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 12,- sunday 13, April, 2014

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Cover

Fulani as the scapegoat of Nigeria’s communal crises From Muhammad Ibrahim, Kaduna & Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia

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he killings of over 100 persons, mostly women and children by yetto-be identified gunmen in three villages of Unguwar Sankwai, Unguwar Gata and Chenshyi in Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State last month would remain in the minds of the people of those villages for a long time.

It was widely reported that gunmen on Friday night and Saturday over two weeks ago attacked three villages at the early morning hours and injured over 48 persons who were hospitalized in different locations in the state and neighboring Plateau state.

A similar incident also occurred at Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina state where over 100 persons were equally murdered by some suspected gunmen. In Benue State, armed men, invaded several villages killing scores of people.

From Adikpo, the Kwande Local Government headquarters, Chief Andyar Bumve said the attacks were seen as targeting some local governments because of the challenges facing Fulani herdsmen in search of grazing fields for their cattle and the Tiv subsistence farmers who are expecting bumper harvests.

These attacks have been the subject of several meetings between Nasarawa and Benue State governments because the intruders are believed to come from Nasarawa.

All these killings were condemned in strong terms by peace loving individuals and groups across the country.

These killings were largely blamed on Fulani herdsmen with allegation that they were always in dispute with neighbours either over grazing land or stolen cattle.

But the Fulani who rank as the popular herders of cattle have often denied the allegation against the backdrop of several unexplained attacks defined as political or ones unleashed by Boko Haram or common economic bandits all over the country.

“We the Members of Miyyeti Allah cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Kaduna State Chapter have disassociated our members from the attacks happening in Southern Kaduna, particularly recent killings in Kaura local government Area of the state.

“We are not responsible for the killings in other parts of the country, Not until a strong evidence is brought to us that shows Fulanis to be responsible,” State chairman Miyyeti, Ardo Ahmad Sulaiman was quoted to have said.

Kaduna state University branch of the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) joined other Nigerians to call on the state government to provide adequate security for communities in Kaura Local government area.

They also frowned at the way and manner gunmen operate along Birnin GwariKaduna highway and southern part of the state with impunity leading to the termina-

Bodies of victims of the attack on Fulani communities in Nasarawa recently. tion of many innocent lives.

In a statement signed by its chairman, Dr Sadiq Abubakar Abdu and Secretary Malam Tukur Abdulkadir in Kaduna, they urged authorities to initiate dialogue among the warring parties in southern part of the state.

Former Head of state General Muhammad Buhari had urged the state government to fish out the Kaura killers so as to serve as deterrent to others.

The Kaura killings forced the state governor, Mukhtar Ramalan Yero to cut short his trip to an international peace conference organized by the United States Government and rush back home.

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His return really doused the tension in the state as residents within the metropolis fear a reprisal may occur because of the killings in those villages. he governor convened an emergency security meeting attended by all the security chiefs in the state, including stakeholders from Kaura LGA and traditional rulers where they brainstormed on the security situation.

Peoples Daily Weekend also learnt that during all the engagements, stakeholders were urged to remain committed to the peace process and ensure that dialogue remains the only means for engendering lasting peace.

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The mammoth crowd that besieged the premises of the Dalhatu Araf Specialists Hospital (DASH) last Thursday openly wept as they contemplated the dead bodies of harmless herdsmen gunned down at their prime by agents of the federal government in what should have been an operation to restore peace.

Governor Yero decried the dangerous trend of wanton destruction of life and property in the state in particular and the nation at large.

In doing so, he however gave a hint of the nature of the crisis.

“We need to know why people are now killing fellow humans the way they kill ants. People talk about differences in tribe or religion as the cause of what is happening, but we have all these differences in the past and we lived in peace. So, why can’t we live in peace now, we need to find out what has gone wrong.” e also expressed the need for people to fear God. “May be it is because we have deviated from the path of the Almighty God and if that is the case, we have to go back and seek His forgiveness first,” he said.

“We need to dialogue in order to understand one another. Like I have said, there is no amount of guns or security that can guarantee peace, it is only through dialogue and understanding,” Yero added.

Governor Yero however said the State Government is not in charge of troops and so require President Goodluck Jonathan’s intervention on happenings in the state.

Receiving National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) relief materials for victims of the attack, District Head of Sankwai, Mr. Matash Simo stressed the

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Fulani as the scapegoat of Nigeria’s communal crises Contd from Page 7 need for more collaboration between Kaduna and Plateau state Governments to address the insecurity challenge in their borders.

Interestingly, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) who have been on each other’s neck with accusations, have decided on an end to the bloodshed by signing a peace pact calling on all peoples in Southern kaduna to stop killing each other.

“MACBAN and SOKAPU members have been living peacefully and coexisting side by side for a very long period of time. But of late, from the year 2000, there have been cases of serious clashes between members of the associations living in the southern part of the state,” the two bodies said in a statement signed by Alhaji Ahmadu Suleiman of MACBAN and Dr Ephraim Goje of SOKAPU. eaders of the two bodies also recommended the establishment of a peace and reconciliation commission by the state government, mobile police and military units in Kafanchan and Birnin Gwari for quick response to security challenges.

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The Keana massacre In what looks like a direct reaction to the media hype of “suspected Fulani herdsmen from Nasarawa State”, Nigeria Army soldiers moved to Fulani settlements to tame the “troublemakers”. The outcry that preceded the “cold blooded murder” of at least 20 Fulani herdsmen by soldiers drafted to supposedly maintain the peace in trouble spots along the border between Benue and Nasarawa states, echoed far and wide, with the gory tale the subject of whispers especially among the Muslim fateful across Nasarawa state and beyond, among clusters of disenchanted people left to contemplate the paradox of the hope giver turning round to inflict sorrow. he mammoth crowd that besieged the premises of the Dalhatu Araf Specialists Hospital (DASH) last Thursday openly

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Gov. Al-Makura wept as they contemplated the dead bodies of harmless herdsmen gunned down at their prime by agents of the federal government in what should have been an operation to restore peace. Perhaps, the soldiers well armed with the wrong information, invaded a peaceful, rustic Fulani settlement on the outskirts of Keana, headquarters of Keana local government area and shot indiscriminately at a gathering of herdsmen attending the funeral rites of a relation who died of natural causes.

The pervading atmosphere at the DASH mortuary that Thursday evening was that of hostility as the onlookers, moved to the point of near despondency as a result of the unwarranted provocation by the agents of the federal government.

People poured out invectives at perceived antagonists who unleashed pogrom aimed at whittling down northern stranglehold of the political landscape of the country.

With recent events in the country, particularly in the north, where insecurity has become the order, with hundreds of inno-

Gov. Suswam cent lives lost through one crisis or the other, with the militarization of the region giving rise to a new dimension of sponsored violence against the ordinary people, the sympathizers that turned up at the mortuary to catch a glimpse of the dead bodies of their kinsmen, felt justified in venting their pent up anger on a perceptively insensitive and complicit federal government.

There was a commonality there that what had started earlier on as subtle attempts by forces wary of northern hegemony as long as the population of the north remain one and united, their chances of winning elections remains bleak, embarked on the exploitation of seeming weaknesses as presented in the plurality of tribes and religion.

“This is all because of power, is it a must that he should rule us? We shall see come 2015!” one of the aggrieved onlookers blurted.

When Peoples Daily Weekend visited Keana, the settlement of the Fulani herdsmen, which is barely a kilometer away from the centre of town, clinging to the foot of small hills covered in lush green vegetation, along Giza road, from where one could sight roof tops of buildings in Keana, the mood pervading at the enclave of the pastoralists was that of sorrow. hen news of the Thursday, April 3 shootings first filtered out, many would have imagined that the “insurgents” must have died fighting, with some media reports, concocted in the safety of homes far away from Keana and in seeming frenzy to distort reality, even suggesting that there was exchange of gunfire between the military and the “insurgents”.

However, when our reporter visited the scene, it was certainly pathetic seeing elderly women, now widows, attending to children who oblivious of the calamity that befell them, dash to the ground wailing for attention.

For the Nigerian military to invade and attack the Fulani settlement, known

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Usman Musa,spoke on behalf of the community

Alh. Muhammad Hussaini, state Sec, Nasarawa MACBAN

as “Ruga”, on the claims that the inhabitants are “insurgents”, is possibly one of the greatest fallacies of our time, considering that those innocent herdsmen mowed down by guns bought by tax payers money, lived there for the past decade engaging in meaningful socio-economic activities with the indigenes of the area.

Narrating their ordeal, Usman Musa in his forties, speaking on behalf of Ardo Sodangi, leader of the small community of about 200, who was absent as at the time of the visit, described what happened on that black Thursday of April 3, as a script out of a horrible movie, when armed soldiers swooped on the peaceful settlement, gathered male members of the community attending the three day prayer after the death of another elder, and shot them under a tree, assaulting their women and destroying their property.

Huddled on a mat and under the shade of a giant tree, among kinsmen arriving to condole with the community, Musa, said for the past ten years of their existence in the area, they have had cordial relationship with the Keana community, adding that all along, their father, the Ardo, has wielded enormous influence, particularly in settling of the occasional disputes between the herdsmen and farmers. escribing the incident as perplexing, the herdsman lamented that soldiers who are supposed to be the source of confidence, with the people looking up to them for protection, became the source of so much agony and despair to such a harmless community.

“Our understanding is that when you see the military that are a symbol of authority, you regain your confidence and feel secure, more so we learned that a team is visiting to facilitate peace among the people. We didn’t expect the soldiers to shoot at us and they killed our people in a cold blooded manner, shooting at defense-

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Fulani as the scapegoat of Nigeria’s communal crises Contd from Page 8 less herdsmen”, Musa narrated almost at the point of tears.

“When the soldiers came, they met the people attending the funeral rites of our grandfather, Alhaji Kerawa, who died three days ago. They asked for the son of the late patriarch, seeking to find out the reason for the gathering, upon which he took them to the grave of Alhaji and showed it to the soldiers, telling them that was the reason for the gathering”, Musa recounted.

He continued that even after taking them to the graveside of his late father, the soldiers took the bereaved son of the late Alhaji Kerawa together with one of the uncles, Abdullahi Maudo, to a little distance apart and shot them dead, before returning to the rest.

“They used wooden pestles to hit out at our people, breaking their bones before they shot them.”

Opening up more on the is-

sue, Musa sought the assistance of the media to take up the matter as according to him; the soldiers could be acting out the orders of their superiors.

“If indeed it is true they came to bring peace, why did they attack only the Fulani settlement?

It would have been another thing if we were fighting or causing any trouble. For the military to just come and kill us without a reason is provocative” he stated.

While thanking the Governor of Nasarawa state, Umaru Tanko Al-makura for coming down to identify with them, Musa urged other leaders to emulate Almakura so that the people could feel secure once again.

“If such a thing could happen and the people are left to their fate, they will feel they don’t belong and if that happens they may end up taking measures to protect themselves”, he said.

A survivor of the attack, Ali Ardo, who escaped with a head wound and who sat squatting besides Musa Usman, removed

Rugar-Ardo Sodangi, a Fulani settlement in Keana his cap to reveal a swath of bandage sticking from the centre of his skull. arrating his ordeal, Ali, who also lost his father in the invasion, said he was sleeping in his hut that fateful Thursday when the soldiers came.

“I was sleeping in my hut when they asked me to come out.

I asked for the reason but before I knew, one of them clutched my shirt and dragged me outside and they started beating me before one of them hit me on the head with an axe.

“While they were at it, they kept asking me for weapons, the weapons they said we use in killing people. I told them I don’t have weapons but they continued to beat me. I heard one of the soldiers say if an Ardo is not killed yet no Fulani has been killed yet.

Then their commander asked them to take me away and shoot me. They dragged me to a spot but as God will have it the soldiers merely dumped me thinking I could die from my head wound and that is why I’m still alive today” he stated.

The Gidan Ardo, as the community is known, is an aggregate cluster of thatched round huts, sometimes three or four huts together but dotting the foot of low hills on both sides of the spiraling Keana-Giza road, all within walking distance of each other, housing a community of about 200 people whose livelihood centres around grazing cattle. he herdsmen took our reporter to the section of the community where the carnage actually took place, a little distance from where the leader of the community, Ardo Sodangi has his residence. They showed him the exact spot where the soldiers shot the men, motorcycles perforated with gunshots and fi-

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T Some of the children who lost their father during the military incursion

nally took him to the grave of the late Alhaji kerawa.

Our reporter gathered that after the soldiers finished with the men, they went for the women, shooting and killing a pregnant mother and injuring another.

Hafsat Musa, now a widow because the soldiers killed her husband during the raid, said she saw soldiers storm the community, invading their privacy and shooting their men.

“I saw soldiers entering our houses and shooting our men.

Then they proceeded to Alhaji Lamidi where they killed our men including our husband” she recounted.

She disclosed that when the soldiers killed their husband, he left behind three wives and eight children.

“Now the children have become orphans, who will cater for their needs?” Hafsat wailed as she tried to pacify one of the children, little Mohammed wriggling at her feet on the ground. damu Adamu, a grandchild of the late Alhaji Kerawa, disclosed that the soldiers arrived the community at around 9 am, where they met herdsmen attending the funeral rites of his late father, Alhaji Lamidi, gathered them together and shot them.

“I’m sure they are soldiers because they came in military vehicles, including an armoured car. One of them inquired about an old man known to be sitting under a mango three and he was told that the man died sometime back. But they asked to be shown the grave of the old man and we took the soldiers to the grave. After that they started beating the people, gathered some of them and took them to a little distance

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east of here and shot them all” Adamu said.

“After the soldiers finished what brought them, policemen from Keana came and evacuated the dead bodies” he added. ccording to Musa Usman, son to Ardo Sodangi, over 30 members of the community lost their lives, mostly elderly persons who could hardly engage in insurgency.

Since the “cold blooded murder” of herdsmen by soldiers from the Nigerian army drafted to the North central states of Benue, Nasarawa and Plateau, to bring peace to trouble spots in the region, controversy has continued to trail the conduct of the men in khaki, with divergent views competing for attention.

For Alhaji Mohammed Hussaini, state secretary of MACBAN, the atrocity by the soldiers was painful but however, his organization first appealed to the herdsmen for calm, urging them not to take the laws into their hands.

“The second thing we did was to take a complaint before our national executives, following which we organized a press conference in Abuja to let the world know about the calamity that befell us” he said.

“We are not happy with the Nigerian government over the conduct of the soldiers concerning the Fulani. We have cause to believe there are plans to eliminate the Fulani. We see no reason why some of our kinsmen could just be killed without committing any crime”, Hussaini stated.

He accused the federal government of double standards, stressing that not long ago, armed militia group in Nasarawa brazenly attacked and murdered over 100 security operatives and yet up till

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PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 12,- sunday 13, April, 2014

Killing: Senator demands N340m compensation, wants IGP sacked

By Patrick Andrew

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enator Saidu Mohammed Dansadau has demanded N340m compensation from the Federal Government and Zamfara state for the 100 defenceless persons killed in Zamfara state recently as well as the sack of the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar for failing to protect the lives and property of the victims.

The senator, who said the victims were from Unguwar Galadima in Dansadau Emirate of

Woman caught with kidnapped children mobbed, feared killed in Ilorin

Maru Zamfara state, were brutally slaughtered by gunmen that have repeatedly attacked, vandalized and destroyed the property of the rural settlers without the intervention of the police.

Accordingly, he said in line with Islamic provision of compensation for victims of criminal injustice, each of the dead should be paid

N34m including payments for their motorcycles, and other properties which were destroyed by unknown bandits.

The lawmaker said the IGP should be sacked because he has failed to deploy sufficient security operatives to combat the bandits stressing that even a known bandit who had confessed to killing several

defenceless persons was released on bail and left to perpetrate more evil.

“The leader of the armed bandits who killed our people on Saturday 5th April, 2014, who threatened to continue to kill people was arrested at the instance of the Zamfara state Governor A.A. Yari but was within a few days released by the police.

“Also, we want sack of the AIG, Zone 10, Zamfara state Commissioner of Police and the Divisional Police officer in charge of Dansadau Emirate for their complicity in the heinous crime of 5th April 2014. Pay compensation of N34m to each of the victims,” he said.

He said the failure to pay the said compensation would compel them to seek redress at whatever international level using the human rights agencies because the killings have not only denied the people their lives but are perpetually under threat.

Mark urges security agencies to cooperate against insurgency

By Patrick Andrew

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he Senate president David Mark has urged security agencies to join forces against the menace of insurgency and other crimes against humanity in the country.

According to Mark, a unified effort against terrorism, kidnapping and armed robbery would end the unnecessary agony experienced by defenceless citizens as well as allow room for

government to concentrate on the provision of essential amenities.

Speaking to participants of the Executive management Course 07 of the Institute of Security Studies (ISS) in Abuja, Mark said synergy among security agencies was inevitable as it would make it possible for them to combat insurgency.

He said that only a strong security arrangement in the country could safeguard and defend democracy.

Mark added that sustained political conflicts in various parts of the country and misgivings among political parties were products of misunderstanding of the democratic processes among Nigerians.

“The essence of governance is to let people have access to development. Democracy means that everybody is a participant.

If we are to tame the lingering insecurity challenges we are

facing as a nation, we must work together as one people.”

He commended the Institute for doing a good job in the area of security intelligence and personnel training even as he urged them to do more by expanding their scope.

The Senate President assured that the Senate under his leadership will not relent in making legislations capable of bringing insecurity to an end across the nation.

From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

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woman allegedly caught with two kidnapped children, has been killed by aggrieved crowd in Ilorin.

It was gathered that the incident happened around 9am Thursday morning along Emir road in Ilorin.

She was stripped naked and beaten to the point of death. Crowd in the area gathered as she was brutally wounded with cutlasses and soaked in her pool of blood.

Her body was left on the middle of the road.

The incident caused huge traffic jam along the road as motorists passing through could not access the road at that point .

A team of police men who came in two Hilux vans were unable to control the mob has they were sent away with stones. This made the team to go for reinforcement.

After beating and inflicting wounds on all over the body of the suspect, the mob set fire on her but due to the timely reinforcement of the police, the mob was dispersed with tear gas and gunshots into the air.

The situation caused panic in the area as people scrambled for safety. Shop owners were seen packing their wears and locking up their shops.

The police later came to carry the suspect .

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO), Kwara State Police Command, ASP Ajayi Okansanmi said five suspects have been arrested in connection with mob action.

He said that when the police got to the scene, she had suffered a lot from the mob and none of the children allegedly kidnapped by her were seen or handed over to the police.

The Police spokesman added that the woman has been taken to the hospital while investigation still going on.

L-R: Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduagham, Chairman, Guild of Editors building Fund Raising Dinner, Prof. Jubril Aminu, Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku and Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomole, during NGE fund raising dinner for the building of Editor’s Plaza on Thursday Night, in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

2015: PDP governorship ticket not for sale – Gov Aliyu From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna.

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iger state Governor Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu has reassured that the governorship ticket of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party PDP will be given to a member from the Niger North Senatorial District.

Aliyu gave the assurance in Kontagora yesterday while commissioning the Kontagora township road and street light as well as 10 kilometers of roads projects constructed in the 11 wards of the local government area.

While the Kontagora road and township light projects cost the government over N1.9bn, the 110 kilometer road projects were

executed at over N710m. The projects were commissioned by the Sarkin Sudan of Kontagora, Alhaji Saidu Namaska.

Governor Aliyu assured all those gunning for the ticket, that the slot is not for sale to the highest bidder just as he maintained that the PDP would not buy votes during the election proper insisting that the right of the people to make their choice freely, would be respected.

Aliyu advised the people of Kontagora and Borgu emirates which make up the Niger North senatorial district to be wary of people going round the communities seeking their support just because they have money.

“I warn you to be wary of some people who want to buy you

because their parents are rich, examine those seeking your votes and see their contributions to the state before taking a decision.”

The governor also used the occasion to dispel the claim of non performance levied against his administration by the opposition in the state saying that since the administration came on board in 2007, it has continued to pay as at when due, the salaries and allowances of all category of workers’ from cleaners to the permanent secretaries’ apart from other projects that have been executed for the benefit of the average nigerlite.

He claimed that some states in the country under the opposition party have not been able to pay workers salaries for upward of 18

months adding that when workers are not paid promptly, it creates opportunity for fraud in the public service.

Governor Aliyu also defended the decision of the government to go to the capital market for loan explaining that the N15bn already collected has been used to provide basic infrastructural facilities in the three senatorial districts thereby fast tracking their developments.

Earlier the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure Alhaji Muazu Bawa had told the people that government embarked on the construction of 10 kilometers of roads in each of the 25 local government areas of the state to open the areas to development and boost the economic lives of the people.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 12,- sunday 13, April, 2014

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Adamawa APC supporters PDP inaugurates planning threaten defection over committee planned imposition to host From Umar Dankano, Yola

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he All Progressives Congress (APC), in Adamawa State is in crisis over Wednesday’s unconcluded ward congresses as the entire process was alleged to be marred with impunity and imposition by the son of Governor Murtala Nyako, Commander Abdul’Aziz Nyako.

Investigation by our correspondent in Yola revealed that, no fewer than 50 petitions are said to be on the doorsteps of the SenatorTitus Olupitan’s Committee, saddled with the responsibility of conducting transparent, free and fair congresses in 226 wards in Adamawa State.

There were allegations that Nyako’s son has already predetermined those to lead the party from the ward,local government to the state levels, in an attempt to control political structures in Adamawa State.

There were indication in some quarters that many supporters in the state may have threatened

mass defection over alleged plan to impose candidates at the ongoing party congress in the state

by Abdul’Aziz Nyako.

The protesting supporters in Yola, the Adamawa State capital ,said they have reliable information that members of the new PDP under the control of Abdulazeez Nyako had perfected plans to marginalize supporters of legacy parties (CPC, ANPP, APGA and ACN) in forming the party executives from ward to state level.

An APC supporter, named Musa, said” We learnt that they want to impose one Rev Iliya Aguwa as state chairman and Abdullahi Bakari as secretary of APC in the state “ Similarly, in a petition from Mayo-Belwa, the home town of Governor Nyako signed by Yohana Mathias, Maikudi Babanmau and Peter Ibrahim on behalf of other party supporters claimed that Wednesday ward congress were held in only three wards out of the 12 wards in the area.

In the same vein, a petition from Yelwa ward

of Yola North local government area, alleged manipulation through multiple counting to impose an unpopular candidate on the people.

When contacted, on the petitions, the the Chairman of the state Congress Monitoring Committee, Sen. Titus Olupitan, said the committee had been receiving complaints since Wednesday when the ward congress was conducted.

Olupitan said the committee had cause to order fresh congress in Shelleng this Friday because of the seriousness of the problem in that local government.

When contacted on the development, the North East Interim National Vice Chairman of the party, Barrister Umar Duhu, said he was investigating the matter. “ I want to assure party members that no one will be allowed to impose any candidate on the people” Duhu said.

Effort to get the reaction of Abdul’Aziz Nyako over the allegation did not yield result.

NDLEA nabs 11.5kg of Cannabis stuffed in cosmetics

From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

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fficials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday said they detected 11.5kg of dried weeds suspected to be cannabis inside cosmetics.

Anti-narcotics agents made the discovery at the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) warehouse during screening of goods on a KLM flight to Suriname.

NDLEA Commander at the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA) Lagos, Mr. Hamza Umar said the drug which was hidden in cosmetics was destined for Paramaribo, capital of the South America country.

“The suspect, Oguike Franklin, 33, brought a consignment of cosmetics for shipment to Suriname. In the process of search operation, officers found out that some of the soap containers had been replaced with dried weeds that tested positive for cannabis. The drug weighed 11.5kg”. He told journalists.

The 33 year-old Aba-based electronics trader said he was introduced into drug smuggling by a friend when his business was no longer flourishing.

“I am a trader living at Aba, Abia State. It was my friend that introduced me into smuggling cannabis to South America. He told me that I could earn 5,000 dollars. My business has been going down and I am indebted. This is my first time.”

Chief Executive of NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade commended the officers for detecting the drugs.

L-R: Deputy Chairman, House of Representatives, Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Victor Ogene,Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Zakari Mohammed and a member of the committee, Hon. Lanre Odubote, at the press conference on Thursday in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

Kwara govt pleads with striking COE staff From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

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he Special Adviser to the Kwara State Governor on Labour Matters, Mr. Bisi Fakayode has assured Kwara State residents that the government was working hard to ensure that the striking staff of the Kwara State College of Education called off their strike on Monday.

Fakayode while speaking with journalists stated that the government had been making concerted efforts to addressing the demands of the striking workers.

He added that the government has intervened so as to harmonize the workers and the management of the institution.

According to him, government’s efforts would soon yield the desired results and move the institution forward.

He pleaded with the striking workers to call off their

strike in the interests of the students.

Members of the Committee of Union of Tertiary Institutions in Kwara State had on Friday protested at the Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin.

Chairman, CUTI, Mr. Sani Ahmed said in an interview with journalists that the protest was against alleged infrastructural decay in the college.

He also alleged that the members were not fairly treated in terms of welfare and allowances.

He said that the members were not happy with the Chairman of the Board of the institution, Alhaji Ayinla Yeketi whom he accused him of administrative and financial misadventure.

But Yeketi said the allegations against him were untrue.

The Provost of the college, Dr. Isiaka Opobiyi pleaded with the workers to take the interest of the students into consideration and resume academic duties.

Jonathan in Nasarawa

From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia

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he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Nasarawa state has set up a central planning committee, preparatory to the visit of President Goodluck Jonathan, who is expected to arrive the state on May 10.

This was made known yesterday, by the state chairman of the party, Yunana Iliya, while delivering a speech during an expanded exco meeting of the party held in Lafia.

Iliya who said the committee will soon be inaugurated, explained that it has become necessary to set up the committee in order to give the president a rousing welcome, adding that members of the committee were carefully selected to plan, organize and prosecute the visit by the president.

Taking stock of activities of the party in the recent past, Iliya expressed gratitude to supporters of the party across the state, hailing the performance of the party in the just concluded local government election, which the state PDP chairman described as “a sham and shameful exercise”, even as he said the result of the exercise showed that the PDP is firmly on ground.

Commenting on the re-run council election conducted by the Nasarawa Independent Electoral Commission (NASIEC), the PDP chairman said the exercise was carried out to allegedly satisfy the desperation of Governor Almakura and his cronies.

He alleged that Governor Almakura diverted soldiers sent into the state in the wake of the Keana killings were over 30 herdsmen were shot by soldiers, to Akwanga, Nasarawa and Obi, to man the conduct of the re-run.

“I call on the federal government to probe the use of the military deployed to safeguard crises prone areas which were diverted by Al-makura just to demonstrate his desperation, so that his excesses could be curtailed”, he said.

Reacting over claims regarding the local government election, interim state chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Arc Stanley Buba, dismissed the allegations leveled by the PDP chairman as the mere ranting of a serial loser.

He condemned the action of the PDP and its assembly members for their continued attitude, describing it as disregard for the rule of law.

Peoples Daily Weekend recalls that even though the PDP said it boycotted the last re-run election, yet it supporters in Nasarawa, Akwanga and Obi, poured into the streets in protest, setting up bonfires on major roads and threatening to disrupt the conduct of the election.

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Photo Splash

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 12,- sunday 13, April, 2014

Former Vice President and chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC) Atiku Abubakar with his son and groom Abba and the bride Mariana and her parents when they visited him at his home in Yola on Friday ahead of the conclusion of his son’s wedding ceremony in Ganye, Adamawa State

FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed (middle) in a group photograph with executive officers of the Nigerian Guild of Editors who paid him a courtesy call in Abuja on Friday. on the Minister’s right Flood that wreaked havoc in Ilorin on Wednesday night. are Mr. Femi Adesina, President of the Guild of Editors and Permanent Secretary, FCTA, ENGR. John Obinna Chukwu.

Some buildings were destroyed.

L-R: Executive Director/CEO, National Primary Health Care Development Agency(NPHCDA), Dr. Ado Muhammad, President, Police Wives Association (POWA), Mrs. Zahra Bunu Abubakar and Wife of DIG Zone A, Bilikis Fakai, during their visit to POWA Headquarters on Thursday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

L-R: .Children participating in Epa and Angere cultural festival in Omu-aran, Irepodun local Government Area yesterday in Kwara State.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 12,- sunday 13, April, 2014

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Broadcast media laments rate of political violence in Bauchi From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

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roadcasting houses in Bauchi state, Globe FM and Bauchi Radio Corperation have decried the high rate of political violence describing it as alarming and promised to partner with an NGO, Generational leadership Awareness Initiative to stem it.

The Managing Director of the BRC Bauchi who spoke through the Director News and Current Affairs, Alhaji Mohammed Ladan and Usman Musa General Manger of Federal Globe FM respectively, made the statement when the NGO paid visits to their

media houses and promised to educate, inform and entertain the public on the danger of instigating violence ahead of 2015 elections.

According to the MD, the Corporation will create an enabling environment through synergy support the activities of the forum with particular reference to youth rehabilitation.

The visit, according to the MD, was timely because of the urgent need for media to always disseminate information against political violence in partnership with the forum.

Also speaking, the General Manger Federal Globe FM described the forum as a success towards 2015 general

elections considering its aims and objectives which includes attitudinal change, good governance and credible leadership.

He stressed that the Federal GLO FM will continue to support the forum in the dissemination of its activities against political violence, thuggery and anti-social behaviors to ensure societal development.

Earlier speaking, chairman of the forum, Alhaji Mohammed Alhassan Sadig said, the forum was in the media houses for formal familiarization and to seek the media support ahead of 2015 election.

The major aim of the forum he

added, is to churn out informed opinions that would improve good governance, effect positive leadership changes in the country including championing the course of youths.

The chairman laments the current decay in the society and attribute to lack of unemployment, corruption and re-cycling of leadership trend without regard to the constituted authority.

According to the chairman, the forum will soon intensify consultations. Dialogue, public rallies, campaign, advocacy and lectures across the state to correct the ills past political activities in the state.

KDSG seeks stiffer punishment for drug addicts From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

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aduna State government has sent a bill before the state House of Assembly for enforcement of drug law and punishment of violators in the state.

The State Governor, Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, disclosed this during the inaugural conference on drug addiction held in Kaduna yesterday.

Governor Yero, who was represented by the Director General Media and Publicity, Alhaji Ahmed Maiyaki, said the rate at which youth and housewives get addicted to drugs is very alarming, especially, easy drugs like codeine and marijuana.

“We are not running away from the fact that drug addiction is a problem in Kaduna state and more painful is that some of the laws on drug addiction are obsolete. You find that somebody who is destroying the life of our youth is sent to prison for a term of two to three months or with option of fine about 2,000 Naira.

“In order to correct this injustice, Kaduna State government has sent a bill to the state House of Assembly, when that bill scales through, it would proffer tough punishment for drug barons and addicts in the state.

“Let me sound this note of warning that the war against drug addiction is not for the government alone but there must be a collaborative effort by the community through community response system.

We have tried it drugs dominant area, like Angwan Shanu, but when the communities have enough of drug addicts and their suppliers, they march against them through the office of the district head and the government quickly join in the fight. That is what is expected from every community in the state,” he said.

In her remark, the key paper presenter, Mrs Yemisi Abiona, said drug addiction is chronic relapsing brain diseases that cause compulsive drug seeking and use.

Mrs Abiona said there is no

single factor known that lead any person to drug addiction, but is known to have impart on the biological make up of the individual, gender or ethnicity, his or her development stage and surrounding social environment.

A former drug addict and now a councilor, Malam Isa Babangida, who is now a councilor at the Egypt drug addict rehabilitation center, Cairo, blamed parents the most for their children or wards involvement in drug addiction.

L-R: Chairman, Senate Committee on Security and Intelligence,Sen. Mohammed Magoro receiving copies of white paper on the judicial commission of inquiry into Alakyo killings from Nasarawa state Governor, yesterday in Lafia.

PDP Congress: Gbemi Saraki’s loyalists emerge winners in Kwara

From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

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ome loyalists of a former Senator and first daughter of the late strongman of Ilorin politics, Senator Gbemi Saraki have emerged winners of Local Government congress of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in Kwara.

The congress, which held across the state under water tight security, was monitored by representatives of the National secretariat of the PDP and

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Our Correspondent, who went round the various congress venues in Ilorin West, Ilorin -South and Ilorin East local government areas respectively observed that Alhaji Toyin Olosasa and Alhaji Nasir Alkali who are supporters of late Dr Olusola Saraki, emerged as Chairmen of Ilorin West and South respectively.

In Ilorin East, stakeholders of the party unanimously adopted

Alhaji Abubakar Ibrahim and Mallam Ahmed Mohammed as Chairman and Secretary respectively of the party.

Speaking with Journalists after the Congresses, the newly elected Chairman of the PDP in Ilorin West, Alhaji Toyin Olososa said he was overwhelmed with joy and thanked stakeholders of the party for the support.

He urged other contestants who lost out during the Congresses to join hands with him to move the party forward in the state.

News

Mrs Sambo advises professionals to associate with NIM

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he wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Amina Namadi Sambo, has called on all professionals to join Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM)so as to benefit from resources, support services and career enhancement provided by the institute.

She stated this in a key note address she delivered at the 2014 NIM Management Day public lecture held in Kaduna yesterday.

Mrs Sambo who was represented by the wife of Kaduna state governor,Hajiya Fatima Ramalan Yero, said for years she has personally monitored the activities of the institute and became interested in its efforts to develop the professional careers of members and offered great opportunity for networking among them.

“It is for this reason that I applied to be a member of this institute and this has build my own capacity as an entrepreneur and employer of labour and also facilitated the running of my NGO, I Care Women and Youth Initiative, which has the objectives of improving the living conditions of women, youth and other vulnerable persons in the society,” she said.

Speaking on the theme this year’s lecture: Defining Nigeria’s Nationhood at 100 Years: The View Point of Management, she said it was timely as the nation has just marked its 100 years of amalgamation, and therefore called on the institute to make its professional input on the centenary celebration.

In her own remarks, the wife of Kaduna state governor, Hajiya Fatim Yero, tasked women to get more educated and train themselves in various careers adding that it was high time that Nigeria needs more professional women.

“We are in the 21st century, our women should ensure that our women should get the best opportunity in training as their male counterpart. We are not competing with the men, we are their wives and their mothers, but that does not mean that we cannot seek knowledge to improve our understanding.

“Women should seek knowledge in order to be best home managers and that is why I commend Nigeria Institute Management (NIM) for their concern towards women and I advice my fellow women to make the best use of the opportunity provided by the institute,” she said.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 12,- sunday 13, April, 2014

Page 14

Crime Cycle

Stanley Onyekwere pmlcrimecycle@gmail.com 08138559513

Man gets 19 months’ jail term for beating up police officer

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back to the station, the convict attacked the police man and set the other suspect free in the process and escaped with the exhibit.

Danlami also told the court that Musa deceived one Cpl. Yonana Moses to come and arrest a suspect that escaped from his custody.

He said that on reaching there, the convict, along with some boys, beat up the officer.

The prosecutor told the court that the offences contravened the Penal code.

ne Ismaila Musa, of no fixed address, is to spend 19 months in prison for beating up a police officer, after he was sentenced accordingly by a Zuba Upper Area court, Abuja.

Musa was arraigned on a four-count charge of screening an offender, obstructing a police officer from carrying out his work, assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest.

The presiding judge, Malam Aminu Sa’ad, sentenced Musa after he pleaded guilty to the

charges against him.

Sa’ad, however, gave the convict an option of N75,000 fine.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Sgt. Haruna Danlami, told the court that on April 2, a police officer was sent to Zuba fruit market, Abuja, on inquiry.

Danlami said that when the officer got to the market, he arrested two suspects, along with the exhibit of their offence, and charged them with theft.

He alleged that on their way

9 football fans in remand for jumping fence to watch match

Manager bags 1 year imprisonment for N8.6m recharge cards theft

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ine youths who pleaded guilty to allegedly jumping the fence of the Oceanography School, Victoria Island, Lagos, to watch a football match, have been remanded at the Ikoyi Prisons, Lagos.

The accused are: Olatobi Alex, 21; Segun Akinowo, 21; Timilehin Joseph, 31; Patrick Ajimoh, 29; Sunday Odukoya, 19; Ajayi Taiye, 20; Martin Igbekele, 23; Lucky Emmanuel, 28, and David Okon, 24.

They are facing one-count charge of breach of peace and jumping the fence.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Prosecutor, SP. Austin Orji, said the offence was committed on Tuesday, April 8, at about 10.49 p.m., at the School of Oceanography, Victoria Island, Lagos.

He explained to the court that the accused jumped into the compound of the school through the fence to watch the Chelsea/PSG match.

Orji said that the police was invited to apprehend the intruders, who entered into the compound illegally.

The accused persons, however, pleaded guilty to the charge preferred against them.

The Magistrate, Mrs. Salama Matepo, adjourned the case till April 11, for facts and sentencing.

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30-year old man, Olakunle Ikujuni, is to spend one year imprisonment for stealing recharge cards valued at N8.6 million, after an Akure Chief Magistrates’ court, in Ondo state sentenced him accordingly.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr. Omotosho Akinyele, sentenced the convict, who was the manager of Saki Ventures Limited and on a salary of N15,000 a month, to one year imprisonment with hard labour without an option of fine. ``Having found the accused guilty on first count of stealing, Olakunle Ikujuni is hereby sentenced to one year imprisonment with hard labour without an option of fine,” Akinyele said.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ikujuni, of no fixed address, was arraigned on a three-

count charge of stealing, conspiracy and fraud for which he pleaded not guilty.

The Police Prosecutor, ASP Pelumi Adejuwon, had told the court that Ikujuni stole the items in January 2010 at Saki Ventures Limited in Akure.

According to him, the offences contravene sections 390 and 419 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol.1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.

NAN reports that the second and third counts were struck out by the magistrate.

The counsel to the accused person, Mr. Bode Akinyemi, begged the court for leniency.

He said that the accused had an aged mother, a wife and two children who would invariably suffer.

The plea of the counsel was, however, not taken by the court.

CJN Mariam Aloma Mukhtar

Couple docked for threatening neighbour’s life over land

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couple, Zakari and Aishetu Audu, have appeared in a Grade 1 Area Court in Gwagwalada Area Council, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), for allegedly threatening their neighbour’s life over land dispute.

Zakari, 48, and Aishetu, 46, who reside in Sabon-Gari in Gwagwalada, are charged with two counts of joint act and criminal intimidation.

The prosecutor, ASP Modupe Musa, told the court that on April 6, the accused persons jointly threatened to kill their neighbour, Alhaji Shehu Lolo using diabolical means, after an argument ensued over a piece of land.

The matter, according to Musa was lodged at the Police Area Command in Gwagwalada by the nominal complainant simply known as Lolo on same date.

She said that the offence contravened the provisions of sections 79 and 392 of the Penal Code.

News Agency of Nigeria

(NAN) reports that if the accused are found guilty, they are liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of not less than two years each or with fine or both.

The accused persons pleaded not guilty.

The accused counsel, Mr Emmanuel Apkataki, in an oral application prayed the court to grant his clients bail.

He said that the accused persons were still presumed innocent until the contrary was proven. `` My lord, my clients will not jump bail or tamper with police investigations. ``The wife is a nursing mother and I pray the court to have compassion on them,’’ he said.

The judge, Alhaji Mohammed Adamu-Wakili admitted them to in the sum of N50, 000 each with one surety each in like sum.

He ordered that the sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and adjourned the matter until May 8 for hearing.

Human Trafficking: How Nigerian teenager had sex with 10 men daily in Burkina Faso

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teenage girl, 19-year-old girl, who was lured into prostitution in Burkina Faso, through human trafficking, told a Federal High court in Lagos that she was made to sleep with 10 men daily. ``I was sleeping with more than 10 men daily to make money that will cover the expenses for my trip to the country,’’ she said at the resumed hearing of the case.

The girl, 19, had told the court that the accused -Christian Awanebi of Pagilaidi-Onagadouguo, Burkina Faso and Ariwayo Olowede of Block 337, Ilasan Estate, Lekki -- took her to Burkina Faso in 2011.

She said she was a sales representative on Victoria Island, Lagos, before she was taken to Burkina Faso.

According to her, the men promised her that she will be given the job of a salesgirl in a big

supermarket in the country.

“Rather than getting the job, I was asked to sleep with men so that I can make up to N200, 000 to repay the expenses for my trip to Burkina Faso. ``I collected an equivalent of N5, 000 from every man that I sleep with and I also made a blood covenant with the men, who took me to the country not to tell anyone about my ordeal.’’

The girl, who was cross-examined by the counsel to the accused, Mr MacJohnson Oddeh, said her boyfriend, one Sikiru, introduced her to the two accused. ``I decided to go to Burkina Faso because the accused showed me passports of other girls they had helped, who are making money there. ``They assured me that I will make more money there to help my family since my father is dead,’’ she added.

She told the court that it was the National Agency for Prohibition in Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) that facilitated her return to Nigeria.

The prosecutor, Mrs Anthonia Mgbemeje from NAPTIP, asked the court to adjourn the case to enable her to call other witnesses.

Justice Saliu Saidu adjourned the case to June 3 for continuation of trial.

Mgbemeje had earlier told the court that the accused committed the offence sometime in November 2012 at Ilasan Estate in Lekki, Lagos.

She said the offence contravened Section 15 (a) of the NAPTIP Act 2003.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the accused may be sentenced to 14 years imprisonment on conviction.

The accused were first arraigned on March 27, 2013.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 12,- sunday 13, April, 2014

Mark, Senate Press Corps parley on common interest

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enate President, David Mark, and the leadership of the Senate Press Corps, on Thursday met to iron out how to work together for the interest of both parties, and Nigeria at large.

Speaking during the meeting, the Senate President urged the media to enlist in campaign of government to achieve peace and unity of the country.

Mark also said that the task of peaceful coexistence in the country is a business of every Nigerian, irrespective of one’s religion, profession or ethnic of origin.

“We should admit that we are faced with problems and we should work together to resolve our difference. The media has been active in this regards, but we need to do more because we can only achieve development in an environment of peace”, he stated.

Earlier, chairman of the Senate Press Corps, Cusmos Ekpunobi, praised the excellent leadership of the Senate President, which he said brought unity not only in the Senate, but in the nation at

large.

He enjoined Mark not to rest on his oars in the effort to ensure peace and unity of Nigeria In a related development, the Senate President has assured the Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria of the country’s readiness to partner with Turkey in the area of industrialization.

Speaking when he hosted the Ambassador in the National Assembly, Mark said this has become necessary because Nigeria needed to create jobs in the country, even as he noted that both countries have a lot to gain through bilateral relations.

He told his guest that Nigeria is an ideal investors’ destination, saying that fears of insurgency should not deter any one because the issues are being addressed, even as he pointed out that Nigeria is a secular state that upholds the sanctity of freedom of worship.

In his speech, the Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mustafa Pulat, said he was in Nigeria to strengthen the existing bilateral relationship in a way that would be beneficial to both nations.

Page 15

Politics Senate Diary With Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Senators disagree over N7bn budget for confab

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enators were last Wednesday divided over the proposal by the federal government to spend N7 billion on the ongoing National Conference, saying it is a waste of resources doing the job of Nigerian parliament.

Even though when the question was put, majority of the senators agreed that the fund should be appropriated, but unlike other clauses that were read, this particular item surprisingly raised division among the senators.

Some lawmakers, including other politicians outside had kicked against the National

Conference for so many reasons, among them, was that it is the duty of the National Assembly.

Other reasons adduced by opponents of this Conference were that it is a waste of resources and time by the federal government, even as Senator Solomon Ewuga (PDP/Nasarawa), described the division as democracy in action.

He said the division means that senators are not elected to come to the parliament to sing solo song, even as he commended the willingness of the lawmakers to voice out their rejection of the National Conference.

Senator Lawan rejects N2bn budget to rebuild North East

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Senator David Mark

enator representing Yobe North, Ahmed Lawan, has rejected the N2 billion proposal by the federal government to rebuild the north east, which is currently undergoing destruction in the hands of the Boko Haram insurgents.

Speaking last Wednesday during the clause by clause consideration of the2014budgetbytheSenate,Lawan pleaded for the understanding of the Senate President, to do something urgently about the amount.

Lawan who described the amount as meager, expressed concern that despite the opposition

he raised against the proposal when the budget was being read the second time initially, nothing was done by the appropriation committee about it.

He said the amount amounts to mockery of the entire north east, despite the security challenges facing it, even as he called on the Senate President to do something about the figure.

In his response, the Senate President, David Mark, assured him that he will make a special case for the matter, saying that his point has been validly noted by the Senate.

Aduda tasks power firm on power delivery

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he Chairman of Senate Committee on Power, Philip Aduda, has tasked a South African power firm, Kham Corporation, to be mindful of sacking its Nigerian experts, as they bring in foreign technical experts.

Speaking during a familiarization visit of the company to the Nigerian parliament, Aduda said, “ensure that you make good use of those you have found on ground.

“This is the only way to ensure that Nigerians get services delivered to them, because those are the people who know the terrain better. You must surely improve on what you have met on ground”, he said.

He also urged the company to improve on its service delivery, adding that the federal government has done very well in providing all the infrastructures and ensuring that privatization took off properly.

The lawmaker also reminded Khan Corporation of the need to build in AEDC, a corporate culture that will accommodate Nigerian experts and as well retrain them to understand that culture, instead of laying them off.

This Aduda stated, will improve the quality of service that it would deliver to Nigeria, which he said, has a large market.

Unit against Boko Haram, Mark charges Security operatives

Senate President, David Mark, has tasked the Armed forces and other security operatives to close ranks and work in harmony in order to have a common approach to the rampaging insurgents in the country.

This coordinated common approach, Mark stated, would go a long way in fighting the insurgents and ending the unnecessary wars in the country.

Addressing participants at the Executive management Course 07 of the Institute of Security Studies (ISS) in Abuja yesterday, Mark canvassed for synergy between security agents to end the activities of Boko Haram.

He noted that only a strong security arrangement in the country can safeguard democracy, even as he blamed the conflicts on lack of understanding of democratic processes among Nigerians.

While stressing that development cannot be achieved when insecurity and other anti-social vices are the order of the day in our society.

“The essence of governance is to let people have access to development. Democracy means that everybody is a participant. If we are to tame the lingering insecurity challenges we are facing as a nation, we must work together as one people”, Mark said.

Senator Philip Aduda

PAGE 16

Politics From The Green Chamber As the House the House of Representatives passsed the 2014 budget and subsequently adjourned plenary till April 29, 2014, following are the reviews of activities that transpired in the House durring the week. Umar Muhammad Puma reports.

PDP Reps silent on court order sacking 37 APC members

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eople’s Democratic Party (PDP), caucus in the House of Representatives remained silent at the plenary on Tuesday following the court ruling that sacked the 37 PDP members who crossed over to All Progressives congress (APC).

The press gallery which was full to capacity in anticipation of a showdown between the aggrieved APC members of the House and the PDP lawmakers over the ruling, but were disappointed to see nothing happened as the PDP lawmakers could not even raised a point of order on that regard.

As usual, the Speaker of the House of Representatives who presided over the plenary followed through normal legislative process of approving the vote and proceeding and follow through the first order of the day without raising any point of order from the PDP members.

Recall a Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday gave an order of perpetual injunction restraining the lawmakers who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC, from effecting any leadership change

RH Aminu Tambuwal in the House of Representatives.

The PDP had on January 7 instituted a suit seeking to restrain the House of Representatives from altering the composition of its leadership.

The party had commenced the action following the defection of 37

lawmakers, who won election on its platform, to the opposition APC. The defection had initially given the APC a slim majority in the House. The majority was later reversed when some APC lawmakers decamped to the PDP.

No, we are not vacating our seats, APC Reps reply Justice Ademola

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n what may appear to be a reaction of Justice Ademola Court ruling, the All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus in the House of Representatives has declared that none of its 37 members that defected from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would vacate their seats as ruled by an Abuja Federal High Court Presided over by Justice Adeniyi Ademola.

Addressing reporters at the National Assembly yesterday, Minority whip of the House, Rep Samson Osagie (APC, Edo) insisted that the ruling of the judge was a misleading misrepresentation of the issue before him and that there was no judgement ordering the 37 APC members to vacate their seats.

“We want to assure members of the public that there is no court judgment before the House, directing any member of the APC to vacate his or her seat.”

“A section of the media and indeed the public have been misled by the court ruling into believing that the said judgment has effectively terminated the tenure of office of the affected members. This is not only untrue, but also a mere obiter dicta expressed by a judge who veered off the course of the case before him in order to do the bidding of the ruling party. At best the judgment has turned law on its head and cannot stand”.

Adding that “for the avoidance of doubt, let me state unequivocally on behalf our members that the import of yesterday ruling was that our 37 members cannot participate in the removal of Principal Officers of the House nothing more, nothing less. Every other pronouncement by the Judge as to the status of our 37 members of the House were mere opinion.

“In any event, this judgment was given in vain and in ignorance of the House rules which governs the appointment of party leaders in the parliament. It is also an attempt by the court to meddle in the internal affairs of the parliament. This certainly is not the import of the doctrine of judicial review. As we speak our colleagues have appealed the vexatious ruling and we hope to get justice soon. We believe the House of Representatives will take due notice of the appeal in this case”.

According to him, “section 68 (2) of the 1999 Constitution makes it clear that satisfactory evidence must be presented to the House before any of the provision of S.68

(1) can become applicable.

He insisted that “members were elected into the House based on law. The question of morality was unsolicited for. What we are experiencing today is the highhandedness of the ruling party that wants to retain power by hook or crook” The minority whip stressed that the APC caucus was not surprised at the ruling of Justice Ademola and that his verdict only confirmed their earlier fears. “For us in the APC, we were not surprised because in the course of the proceedings the same judge had earlier issued a preservative order as soon as the argument against his jurisdiction in the case was taken. This was our first apprehension of the commencement of the case.

“Our fears were further confirmed when the judge after granting the reliefs sought in the suit went ahead to render an opinion on issues that were not before him nor solicited by the plaintiffs”.

He reaffirmed that “The House of Representatives remains the bastion of hope of the traumatized and pauperized Nigerians and we shall not give in to the attempt of some of our PDP colleagues in collusion with a certain judge to turn facts and law on its head to achieve some sinister ends”.

Another defected member, Rep Asita Honourable (APC, Rivers) said Justice Ademola has no moral justification to give such a judgement adding that “the judgement is bad in law and in morality”. He said “the judge moved a motion, seconded it and ruled on it alone” Meanwhile, the 37 legislators have served the speaker with notice of appeal. In a letter dated April 1, 2014 signed

by Efut Okoi of M.A. Mahmud SAN & Co and addressed to the speaker, the lawyers to the APC lawmakers stated that “in view of the judgement/ruling of the court in the above suit delivered by Justice Ademola on the 31st of March, 2014, our clients instructed us to proceed with an appeal.

“Consequently, we filed a notice of appeal dated 1st of April, 2014 challenging the judgement of the Court in the above suit. It is trite in law that once an appeal is filed in a particular suit, all matters relating to or pertaining to the said judgement must wait for the outcome in the said matter”, he said.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 12,- sunday 13, April, 2014

We have no personal Interest —Tambuwal, Ihedioha

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peaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and his Deputy, Emeka Ihedioha, were quick to react to a newspaper report which said that they have jointly appealed the judgment of the Federal High Court concerning 37 members of the House that defected from PDP to APC. Deputy chairman of the House committee on media and public affairs, Rep. Victor Ogene (APGA, Anambra) told reporters at a press briefing after a closed door session, that the principal officers of the House have no personal interest in the ongoing judicial process.

He appealed to the media not to introduce mischief into the process, insisting that the Speaker and his Deputy didn’t act on their own in the matter, instead, he explained that they were nominal parties in the suit by virtue of their office and the counsel was briefed by the Management of the National Assembly to represent the House of Representatives as an Institution.

Ogene explained the rationale behind Wednesday’s closed door as the need for legislators to talk among themselves and “nd nothing unusual.” “We talked to ourselves in order to get things clear about the defection matter that is already in court,” he said.

He added that the House decided to allow the case in court to take its full course, taking cognizance of the precedence already set in such area.

He cited an on-going court case involving the defection of Hon. Bamidele Opeyemi (Ekiti) from All Progressives Congress (APC) to La-

bour Party (LP).

Ogene said the in-camera session yesterday also deliberated on the growing tendency towards partisanship among members during plenary, saying the green chamber took a unanimous decision to set aside party affiliations and make laws for the good of Nigerians.

“This is our core mandate and the decision was well taken by all members present at the executive session,” Ogene said.

When asked whether Tambuwal was not under pressure to evict the 37 lawmakers, Ogene said this was not true. “There was no pressure on the Speaker to sack the defected legislators. If there was we would not have held the closed door session today (Wednesday),” he noted.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Speaker, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Oke Epia, “remains a firm and committed member of the PDP and associates himself fully with its ideals, principles, purposes and progress.”

Stressing that his principal “will take steps to retain an independent counsel of his choice ... to protect his legal interests in the matter,” he said this is necessary in order to debunk the falsehood already in public domain that he “is at odd purposes with his political party, the Peoples Democratic Party.

In particular, Ihedioha, who towed the same line of argument as the House committee, said: “the appeal was primarily instituted by the 37 members who defected from PDP to APC.”

Diezani shuns Reps over chartered private jet scandals

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inister of Petroleum Resources Diezani Alison Madueke, has refused to respond to the memo sent to her by the House Committee on Public Account, despite the one week ultimatum given to her and the Coorporation and other agencies involved in the deal to provide the Committee the necessary information to enable commence its work.

A member of the Committee said in yesterday that the Committee which was expected to be rounding up its assignment by now was yet Commence the public hearing ordered by the House as the Minister and the NNPC were yet to respond to the memo sent to them on the matter while one of the operators of the private jets was said to have fled the country since the matter became public knowledge.

Peoples Daily Weekend gathered that pressures were also being mounted on the NNPC to provide a legal agreement that would make it solely responsible for all the aircraft charter transactions and provide a suitable defence before the Committee while some of the officials of the Corporation were not to be in support.

Though the Chairman of the Committee, Rep Solomon Adeola Olamilekan (APC Lagos), was not available for comment on Tuesday, a member of the Committee told reporters in confidence that there were deliberate efforts from certain quarters to frustrate the probe of the deal.

“We are aware of steps being

taken to prevent the Committee from carrying out its assignment, why the removal of the Director of the Legal services of the NNPC at this point in time? the Corporation, and the Minister come before the Committee to explain their roles in the deal to all Nigerians, we as lawmakers will use all the constitutional powers we have to get the the root of the matter”, he said.

Madueke

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 12,- sunday 13, April, 2014

PAGE17

Politics

2015 Polls: The preparations, the challenges, by Jega The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega at a forum with senior editors and news directors in Abuja unraveled a master plan for a hitch-free 2015 election.

He also raised the fears, constraints and challenges of the election umpire and measures adopted by the Commissionto weather the storm. Our correspondent Abbas Aminu Bamalli reports.

J

ega underscored the point that Nigeria is a country in transition to democracy, and is nurturing the democratic political culture after many years of military rule and the antidemocratic tendencies it fostered.

He said the electoral system in Nigeria is therefore work in progress, with the main task of implementing reform measures, which aims at incremental positive changes that are sustainable.

He said democratization, in all societies, is neither swift nor smooth-sailing, therefore, it is a long and tortuous process that takes place in incremental ways.

Until 1999, he said, Nigeria’s experience with democratization was in fits and starts, charactarised by military interventions.

“The fourth Republic in 1999 brought some stability to the democratization process, but however, the process was bedeviled by badly conducted elections that left Nigerians frustrated and questioning the value and validity of electoral democracy.”

According to the Chairman, the issue of bad conduct of the elections was the challenge facing the country when he came on board as a new commission in June 2010.

He disclosed that soon after he conducted the 2011 elections, the commission had taken a number of reforms to raise the bar.

“A new biometric register of voters, Re-Modified Open Ballot System (REMOBS), improved security features on sensitive electoral materials, revised framework for engagement of Adhoc staff and more transparent framework for results collation and returns were some of them.”

He said, other reforms include more open and transparent procedures, modalities and processes on Election Day (pasting of results at polling units and collation centers), closer collaboration and partnerships with a range of critical stakeholders, and enhanced voter education and citizen engagement.

Jega further said intensified training and re-training of INEC staff and the creation of interagency consultative committee on election security to ensure coordinated engagement of all

the security agencies during the election periods are part of the major reforms.

According to him, the commission had learned some lessons from the 2011 general elections which he said, soon after that, the commission spent much time reflecting on the conduct of the elections and how to improve on future elections, through inhouse review, security review, external and independent review, and structural and organizational review.

While stating the lessons the commission learned, he admitted that good elections require adequate and timely planning, saying that getting elections right is still work in progress because, despite all the encomiums, the 2011 elections were by no means perfect; there’s however tremendous room for improvement. he Chairman of the Nigerian Electoral body said, the commission has embraced three focal points among others, in preparations towards the 2015 General Elections. That, he said, include structure, which he said the commission has taken a long deep look at the INEC as an institutionits structure and processes, as well as its human resources.

He said Policy is the second point which the commission has focused on to develope new policies to guide the work and create the right normative framework for successful election management in Nigeria.

The third point he said is planning, which he said the Commission has focused on both strategic planning and election planning.

He said the commission has in the past 18 months done the following as part of preparations towards the 2015 elections: - Strategic plan from 2012 to 2016, and detailed strategic program of action have been formulated and are being implemented.

- Detailed election project plan has been drafted, the implementation of which ensures seamless execution of specific tasks leading to the 2015 elections.

Comprehensive reorganization and restructuring

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Prof. Attahiru Jega of the commission has been completed, drawing from the recommendations of a highly rated management consulting firm.

Jega said this structuring in summary, is designed to achieve the following: A defined and optimal structure, B. eliminate duplication and overlaps in roles, C, streamline branches of the commission namely departments, units, desks, and also clarify manning levels, D, clarify job descriptions, E, identify skills and competencies required to man the branches of the commission, F, augment skills through continuous training, where necessar5y, and G, enhance the conditions of service of staff. he Prof revealed that plans have also been concluded to issue all duly registered voters with chip-based Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), which he said will be swiped with card readers in the 1015 elections to ensure 100 per

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cent verification and authentication of voters.

He said a program for the review of electoral constituencies and creation of additional polling units has commenced, adding that the training and retraining of staff on an ongoing basis, especially through several Bridge training workshops is underway with the support of many development partners.

“From the foregoing, we are convinced that the prospects of having remarkably much better elections of in 2015 are very bright. But we harbor no illusion that we have accounted for all issues that could pose challenges for the elections. In fact, there are still a number of key challenges”. he challenges include: security, funding, attitude of the political class, apathetic and inactive citizenry, delay in amendment to the legal framework, completion of the review of electoral constituencies and polling

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units, and prosecution of election offenders.

Although INEC has given assurance that preparations for the 2015 general elections are proceeding in earnest, he said learning from the experiences of 2011, especially regarding the need for early preparations, the commission has undertaken the task of fundamental restructuring of its bureaucracy, established new policies to guide its work and embarked on far-reaching planning of its operations through a strategic plan, an election project plan and an election management system. owever, bringing this about and ensuring free, fair, credible and peaceful elections is not a task that INEC alone can deliver, but all stakeholders have important roles to play and attitude and mind-sets must be changed, as well as strengthening partnerships and collaborative endeavors to bring this about.

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He said a program for the review of electoral constituencies and creation of additional polling units has commenced, adding that the training and retraining of staff on an ongoing basis, especially through several Bridge training workshops is underway with the support of many development partners.

PAGE 18

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 12,- sunday 13, April, 2014

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 12,- sunday 13, April, 2014

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lateau State is the twelfth largest state of Nigeria, and is roughly located in the center of the country. It is geographically unique in Nigeria because its boundaries totally surround the Jos Plateau, having the Jos Plateau totally in its central and northern part. Its capital is Jos. Plateau State is celebrated as “The Home of Peace and Tourism”, an image that has been fractured in recent years by Muslim-Christian clashes in the state. Plateau State gets its name from the Jos Plateau. It has a population of around 3.5 million people.

Boundaries Plateau State is located in Nigeria’s middle belt. With an area of 26,899 square kilometres, the State has an estimated population of about three million people. It is located between latitude 80°24’N and longitude 80°32’ and 100°38’ east. The state is named after the picturesque Jos Plateau, a mountainous area in the north of the state with captivating rock formations. Bare rocks are scattered across the grasslands, which cover the plateau. The altitude ranges from around 1,200 meters (about 4000 feet) to a peak of 1,829 metres above sea level in the Shere Hills range near Jos. Years of tin mining have also left the area strewn with deep gorges and lakes.

Climate Though situated in the tropical zone, a higher altitude means that Plateau State has a near temperate climate with an average temperature of between 18 and 22°C. Harmattan

Kurra falls: Nature’s magnificent beauty on the Plateau

PAGE 19

Tourism

The falls cascading down a rocky area

winds cause the coldest weather between December and February.

The warmest temperatures usually occur in the dry season months of March and April. The mean annual rainfall varies from 131.75 cm (52 in) in the southern part to 146 cm (57 in) on the Plateau. The highest rainfall is recorded during the wet season

months of July and August. The average lower temperatures Plateau State has led to a reduced incidence of some tropical diseases such as malaria. The Jos Plateau makes it the source of many rivers in northern Nigeria including the Kaduna, Gongola, Hadejia and Yobe rivers. he Jos Plateau is thought to be an area of younger granite which was intruded through an area of older granite rock, making up the surrounding states. These “younger” granites are thought to be about 160 million years old. This creates the unusual scenery of the Jos Plateau. There are numerous hillocks with gentle slopes emerging from the ground like mushrooms scattered with huge boulders. Also volcanic activity 50 million years ago created numerous volcanoes and vast basaltic plateaus created from lava flows. This also produces regions of mainly narrow and deep valleys and pediments (surfaces made smooth by erosion) from the middle of rounded hills with sheer rock faces. The phases of volcanic activities involved in the formation of Plateau State have made it one of the mineral rich states in the country.

Tin is still mined and processed on the plateau.

Plateau State is known as The Home of Peace and Tourism and there is plenty to see.

The Wildlife Safari Park sits in the middle of 8 km2 (3.09 sq. miles) of unspoiled savanna bush, about 4 km (2 mi) from Jos. It offers a wide variety of wild animals within easy viewing. These include buffalos, lions, leopards, baboons, monkeys, derby elands, pythons, crocodiles, chimpanzees, jackals and the rare pygmy hippopotamus, which is being successfully bred in the ‘hippo pool’. The park also boasts great, panoramic views of Jos city.

National Museum in Jos was founded in 1952, and is recognised as one of the best in the country. It

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is renowned for its archeology and The Pottery Hall has an exceptional collection of finely crafted pottery from all over Nigeria. The museum boasts some fine specimens of Nok terracotta heads and artifacts dating from between 500 BC to 200 AD. The Museum of Traditional Nigerian Architecture is adjacent, with life-size replicas of a variety of buildings, from the walls of Kano and the Mosque at Zaria to a Tiv village. In addition, articles of interest from colonial times relating to the railway and tin mining can be found on display.

Jos Zoo is located in Jos city, beside the museum. It has a good stock of animals, birds and reptiles and was established in 1957.

Assop Falls is perhaps, the most

notable of Nigeria’s many waterfalls.

Located at the edge of the Jos Plateau, about 40 miles (64 km) from Jos city, on the road to Abuja, this is a popular tourist stop for picnicking, swimming and enjoying the scenery.

Assop Falls has also proved popular with people shooting local soap operas and advertisements. urra Falls is an area of magnificent scenery some 77 kilometers southeast of Jos. It is the location of the State’s first hydroelectric power station. It is a beautiful area of rocks hills, and lakes, ideal for boating, camping, and rock climbing. There is tourist accommodation available.

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Travelingluck.com

The area is suitable for boating and picnics

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Homes Choose towel racks to match the bathroom’s interior

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owel racks for bathrooms can be practical and attractive, adding to the interior decor. While people can hang towels on pegs or hooks, the towels do not dry properly on them in most climates especially during the rainy season when dampness becomes the order of the day. Additionally, the towel can easily slip from the hook and form a moist heap on the floor. Actually, towel racks for bathrooms are one of the most essentials of the bathroom fixtures.

Towel Racks Types Towel racks come in several shapes and sizes. In the more humid climates, a heated radiator or rail for towels is a helpful fixture. These are usually powered by electricity to add some warmth and heat-dry the towels hanging on them. Most bathrooms have wall racks from which the towels can hang. These may be the width of a towel or half the towel with the intention that the towel will be folded in half length-wise before being hung.

Then, the bars come in several other shapes and sizes such as a stand-alone rack with multiple rungs where one or more towels can drape. Some racks come out from the wall and have four or more rungs for hanging more than one towel in the same space with enough room between for some air to circulate.

Some are made for hand towels and are usually placed near the sink.

The materials used in manufacturing towel racks range from metal to glass, resin to wood. Any imaginable material sturdy enough to handle the weight of moist towels is appropriate. Some materials are selected mainly for design style and others are only serviceable for the function with basic design.

Selecting the Right Towel Racks Most of the time, care is taken that the towel racks match the other hardware installed in the bathroom and the style enhances the decor. Burnished or brushed brass may be wonderful for rooms with pro-

vincial decor. White solid or chrome may work with white tiles or bathrooms with color and white trimmings. Most of the time, basic racks fit a variety of decor design styles.

Selecting towel racks also means taking into account the space where they will be installed, and how many racks are desired. One rack in a room that services multiple people is definitely inadequate. If space is limited, creative spacing and fixtures that feature more than one rack in the unit may be helpful.

Installation Professionals can install the racks for a minimal price. Many building supply stores have experts willing to do the work or they have recommended workers. Additionally, building supply stores will have employees that can guide home and business owners through the steps to install the towel racks.

Different types of walls will pose different challenges to installation. Most newer homes come with racks already included in the finished bathroom, but sometimes more racks are needed or the home did not come equipped with towel racks. Walls with tile require drilling through the tiles and usually require a professional. or walls with drywall, finding the studs in the structure of the wall behind the drywall is important. The towel racks must be secured to the studs and not just bolted to the drywall that is not reliable to hold weight. Tools needed are generally a drill with bits that fit the bolts and a screw driver that fits the bolts.

The Bathroom with Racks While towel racks for bathrooms are not the eyecatching focal point of the room, they are greatly missed when they are not installed. Finding a place to hang a wet or damp towel can become a problem.

Completing the room, towel racks are necessary fixtures for normal bathroom use. towelracksforbathrooms.net

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PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 12,- sunday 13, April, 2014

e n i z a

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 12,- sunday 13, April, 2014

d n e k e We

g a M ent

m Entertain

Fashion

ps Beauty Ti

od Kannywo

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Hollywoo

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d Bollywoo

Peach and blue: Contrasting colours in a rhyme >>PG29

Klint Da Drunk opens up on messy N250,000 Church fraud >>PG34

We joined Kannywood to promote Hausa culture —Twins >>PG36

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 12,- sunday 13, April, 2014

Page 22

Your Body, Image & U

Boost your personal image...Explore your talent & be self employed

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ast month, we all heard of how some jobless Nigerian youths died during a job recruitment by the immigration service of Nigeria. One wonders what the catch at that section of the government establishment is to attract so many youths.

On the other hand, others were dazed to see the high rate of jobless Nigerian youths roaming our towns looking for jobs to earn a living. The fact remains that thousands of Nigeria youths are jobless and majority of them are more interested in white collar –government jobs than trying to look inside themselves to discover what talents they have to create their own jobs.

In my career, I always have my own ways to empower the youths and women that I meet everywhere I go in Africa. I always love to see those of them who are not waiting for government to give them jobs but trying to create their own jobs by being self employed. Most of our youths are so talented . The amount of energy and time some of our talented youths put into internet fraud, if they channel it into something positive, Nigeria will be something else in the area of technology.

Recently I met a young lady-Leah Hyeini Ibrahim from the northern part of Nigeria who has so much passion for fashion and modeling. To Leah, she is more keen on using her creative

A catwalk

talents to create her own means of survival. She loves modeling and is very cool headed about it . Initially her father was not so happy about her chosen career but she made her father to understand that this is what her passion is and she is not going to use it to bring disgrace to the family. Her father’s excuse was still the old tale of girls who model are not respectable in the society. Says who? I ask! I think our parents are part of the problems our present youths have in pursuing their talents . Days are gone when you call models cheap. Any woman who chose to be cheap and flirt around can do so no matter her chosen career. What do you say about female bankers whose jobs are worse than the models when the banks gives them orders to lure rich men with fat bank accounts or get fired? So would you say, all female bankers are easy lay? I think parents should concenterate on guiding their children very well and allow them to follow their hearts in any chosen career of their choice.

Modeling when conducted very well is a very thriving self employed job that our youths can do and earn a living. Most Nigerian male and females have this modeling talents but their parents always kick against it and at the same time not finding jobs for such youths to do. I have been working with models and

i discovered most of them are very responsible. All they want is to be themselves and do their stuff. Again most of them who model are very passionate about it because modeling itself is also not an easy job. People think it is easy to model but by the time you observe the procedures of becoming a successful model, you will give some good credit to models. If you are someone who does not take good care of her body and skin, you certainly cannot do modeling . Your skin and weight must be on tops and you must not joke with your diet or else you will go out of shape. eah, here is so proud of her modeling career and grateful for her mum ‘s support and her father also gave his support later on and presently, she is working hard to make a success out of her chosen career. She is still coming up and I am willing to give her all the support I can to make realise her dreams.

She is willing to model for most African and foriegn labels and also love to do brand / product Adverts.

For youths and our women whose desires are same with Leah’s own, you must be ready to take a firm stand to work hard because it takes a lot of hard work to make it in the modeling industry. Do not think being a model is a tea party.

Do not also allow your peers to

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Posing for the camera

distract your focus on being a decnt model because there are certain negative moral attitudes peer groups bring up among themsleves and if your friends and peers try to influence you with thier bad attitude, you will not go far in modeling. Since it is a very sensitive area of work and misunderstood by many Africans, it is now left for you who wants to be a model, to prove to others that there is credibilityand decency in the modeling industry. When others see your decency and how you carry yourself, the notion people have about modeling will change gradually. Bear in mind you can still be schooling and modeling at the same time and modeling cannot stop you from being educated and pursuing your educational dreams. Be rest assured that by the time you combine your modeling with good educational qualification, you will really go far in life. This is because, it will get to a stage in your life, you might not want to model but desire to enter into a new line of job, your educational status will enable you to do so.

If combining education and modeling is too difficult for you, try and concenterate on one and do the other one later.

It is always good to get a good education because models are also highly paid internationally.

You never know where your passion will take you so if you

Modelling

With Jacqui Iwu bwreforms@gmail.com 08184825606 (sms only) do not have a good education, it might hinder your progress to go outside the shores of your country.

Considering the sad incident that happened last month with some of our youths at the Nigerian Immigration service, if you are are still folding your hands and waiting for the government to give you job, you might wait for ever and also be depressed waiting for the Government to employ you. ursuing your talents is the best way for you to discover what you are being called to do in life. The Government cannot provide jobs for all in this country and if you can discover what you enjoy doing, turn it into a job, you will be self employed and happy.

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Jacqui IWU is a BodyImage Coach A STRESS Management Expert &Conference Speaker Media Relations Personnel BLOG: https:// bluntjacqui.blogspot.com FB: Facebook.com/ beautifulwoman.column

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 12,- sunday 13, April, 2014

Page 23

Womanhood

Hajia Fatima Ramalan Yero: Beauty, humility personified

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ower belongs to the Almighty Allah. He bestows it to whoever He wants anywhere, no matter his/ her status and at any time He wishes. And power is ever transient. He alone knows why He created each soul. Therefore, if one believes that whatever he/she becomes on earth is from Him; he/she will find it very easy in all his undertakings.

Rest of mind is a special gift given to mankind, though not all of them are lucky to possess this gift, but the lucky ones are very few in number. One of the very signs of possessing rest of mind, is leaving everything one comes across to the will of Allah. Though, whoever possess rest of mind, he/she is bound to challenges, trials, obstacles and hurdles. But at the end, they will become lessons to him in his/her journey to stardom.

This quality speaks glaringly about the Kaduna State First Lady, Hajia Fatima Ramalan Yero, who is among the few people that are blessed with this gift. This informs her simplicity, hard work, respect and fear of Allah in all her undertaking. These qualities and others made her to be ahead of her peers during those days she serve as Deputy Governor’s wife where she faced different challenges as result of the intrigues of power play. But because of her good faith and genuine desire to contribute immensely to the development of women and children, she has become a force to be reckoned with in the middle of power brokers.

She respects every person that comes across her no matter his social status. She believes in excellent performance and recognizes such efforts in individuals who proves their handwork. Apart from rest of mind that she is proud to be born with, she is a peace loving woman since her childhood days, though sometimes she looks like a wounded lioness who is ready to step on toes in order to bring solution to problems affecting the society no matter their difficulties. She is the

type of woman who loves challenges, because according her life itself is very challenging.

Though her husband marked a year in office recently, she is yet to come out with the initiative that she will use to contribute her quota to the development of Kaduna State, the way those before her did. Nevertheless, it is clear through discussions with some people about her on the issue of improving the living standard of women/children, she is seriously worried by the large number of women losing their lives every year during and after child deliveries. Though governments at all levels are trying their best, but due to lack of proper awareness the problem has become like bush fire to women. his is a reminder of how she showcases her readiness in at least reducing the number of death among pregnant women during her days as wife of deputy governor, when she laud the wonderful contributions of Coalition on Maternal and Child Health in the State. Hajia Fatima Ramalan Yero observed that the effort of the coalition in drafting a bill on the free Maternal and Child Health policy of Kaduna state is an indication of the group’s commitment towards improving the health status of women and children in the state.

While calling on other organizations to chart a similar cause for the good of the people in the state, she pledged her commitment in assisting the coalition towards achieving

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their goal of having a law on maternal and child health. ``I want to assure you that I am fully in support of this cause and In-sha Allah (God willing), I will assist in the best possible way,’’ she assured. So by this assertion one can agreed with me that one of the areas where the new First Lady’s initiative is going to focus its attention is on the dangerous trend facing pregnant women during delivery. Another issue that is worrying her is how women are becoming praise singers moving from one office to another, praising politicians under the guise of seeking for survival.

She is thinking of changing the atmosphere through engaging women in skill acquisition centers where they can learn a skill in order to become self-reliant and responsible in the society. Some neighboring states to Kaduna State are giving women soft loans to engage in farming and other means of living.

It is the hope of every good citizen of Kaduna State that the new mother will come out with a program that will bring lots of innovation to the life of teeming women

It is important to bring to her knowledge the need to advise the governor to find alternative avenue of engaging motorcycle riders before banning them in order to avoid increase in crime in the state.

and youth in state more than the way her predecessors did. However, it is timely if Hajia Fatima Yero checkmate the following: he Youth constitute 60 per cent of the population of every society. Through them one can identify the future of every society. Therefore, as a mother you should advise your hubby to open centers of skill acquisition to the teeming youths, either as graduates or not, but are jobless. Unemployment makes them to take the law into their hands or is the very reason why some bad elements are using them in unleashing terror on innocent citizens. Another menace is taking hard drugs, where girls of easy virtues are ahead of men in becoming stars in the trend.

It is important to bring to her knowledge the need to advise the governor to find alternative avenue of engaging motorcycle riders before banning them in order to avoid increase in crime in the state.

In order to solve the problems facing women’s health in the state, she can advise the government to increase the number of female students to be admitted in all the state health institutions in order to have enough number of nurses that will attend to women, especially in rural areas where nurses and midwives

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are lacking health facilities.

Agric training centers should be open in all the 23 local government areas for them to be engaged in farming and rearing of domestic animals. Graduates from the centers should be given soft loans through banks to empower them.

And for those women that did not acquire western education, government can engage them in literacy classes through the Ministry of Education. You can also introduce demonstration farms in all the 23 local government areas where participants can be taught how to farm fish and rear livestock such as Rabbit, Sheep, Goats, Cows and Chickens, among others. ajiya Yero can also advise her husband to rehabilitate the State Skills Acquisition Center for people with disabilities and beggars. After graduation, their various local government councils should be directed to assist them in becoming self-reliant in the society.

For you to achieve meaningful success as a mother of the state, you have to engage women at all levels, such as wives of state legislatures, local government chairmen and other important personalities.

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elombah.com

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 12,- sunday 13, April, 2014

PAGE 24

Kiddies World

With Miriam

SIGHTS AND SOUNDS

Humbe

ABCDE

HIS AND HERS CORNER

First railway locomotive engine (Wushishi tramway engine no. 1) A dip in the ocean

Cartoon

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iger State is rich in tourism centres. There are numerous tourist attraction sites in the State such as the following.

Railway construction first began in 1889 with the construction of Lagos-Abeokuta line. By 1901, the line was extended to Ibadan and by 1908 the line reached Jebba.

The capital of the then Northern Nigeria was Zungeru and the nearest terminal river port for the supply of urgently needed building and other necessary materials was Wushishi. It was therefore decided to link Zungeru with Wushishi by means of steam tramway of 2 feet 6 inches gauge.

The tramway was opened in 1901 and operated successfully for

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many years.

The first locomotive to run the steam tramway has been preserved and it stands under a canopy on the Railway platform at Minna station. This preserved locomotive was the first steam engine to work in Northern Nigeria. It was 0-607½ x 12” two cylinder 2.6” gauge locomotive built by Hunslet Engine Company, England and delivered to Nigeria on the 2nd of August, 1901.

The engine ran on the 12” Wushishi-Zungeru-Barijuko Tramway and hauled the first train built to avoid a dangerous reach of water on the Kaduna river in order that the then capital of Zungeru could be better placed.

Railway construction first began in 1889 with the construction of Lagos-Abeokuta line.

By 1901, the line was extended to Ibadan and by 1908 the line reached Jebba.

Mickey and Minnie Mouse

Tom and Jerry

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 12,- sunday 13, April, 2014

Kiddies World

PAGE 25

With Miriam

ABCDE

Humbe

MODEL OF THE WEEK

AFRICAN TALES

How the Ostrich got his long neck

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r. Ostrich was a sober minded, serious husband, who was always willing to assist his wife in her family duties.

“My Dear”, he said to her one evening, when their large clutch of eggs seemed almost ready to hatch, “my black feathers cannot be seen in the darkness, so I will guard our eggs by night, and at the same time keep them warm for you. That will leave you free to relax and enjoy yourself until daybreak each morning.”

He settled down clumsily to his unaccustomed task, while his flighty wife was more than thankful to be relieved of a duty which she already found a trial. She fluffed up her feathers and, to show how pleased she was, she set off in a joyful highstepping dance among the low termite-mounds that surrounded their nest.

The big birds had chosen the site with care, for they knew that

a sitting ostrich hen, with her head down, looks from the distance like a grey mound of earth. They had decided to rear their young on the short-grassed plain lands because they could see all round them, for in those days the ostrich had a short neck like a guinea-fowl and partridge.

They had learned the hard lesson that in long grass their enemies could attack them before they realised their danger.

To keep their precious eggs safe from the dreaded fires that swept across the plains, the two birds had carefully scratched away a broad band of dusty earth in the grass round the slight hollow that was their nest. On the whole they were a happy pair-although from time to time the husband had disapproved of his wife’s high-spirited ways. At this particular time, she should behave more sensibly as she had her eggs to look after. He wriggled his massive

thighs on the ground as he had seen his wife do, to shift the position of the eggs so that they lay more comfortably in their bed, and settled down to his long night’s wait.

It was full moon. The silvery light shed strange shadows and threw up ghostly figures among the surrounding mounds of earth. His head was beginning to nod with weariness, when he became aware of his wife’s hissing laugh. He was wide awake in a moment. Straining his short neck to its utmost limit, he saw her dodging in and out between the termite-mounds in a wild game of hide-and-seek with a handsome young ostrich in hot pursuit.

This would never do. He half rose from the nest - but sank down again with a sigh. He dare not leave the precious eggs, whatever the reason. What if they were to grow cold while he went to tell his flirting wife what he thought of her disgraceful behaviour?

He settled down again with a feeling of annoyance, but strained his neck further and further, to try to catch sight of her as she dodged and raced between the termitemounds on the moonlit veldt.

From time to time he did catch a glimpse of her, and heard her foolish giggles - and each time that he did so, he strained and stretched his neck trying to see further and yet further between the nearby termite-mounds. At last, the long, tedious night came to an end. As it did so, his wife appeared out of the grey distance to take over her duties once more.

The ostrich rose stiffly, prepared to punish his wife for her undignified behaviours; but as he did so, he felt strangeness in the muscles of his neck. He looked down at his feet, and was alarmed to discover how very far away from his head they were - and realised with a shock that, as a result of all the straining that he had done during the long night, his neck had stretched, and stretched, and stretched. He tried to shake it back to its former length, but no matter what he did, it stayed just the same: he had stretched beyond return.

And that is why the ostrich has a long neck- a lasting memory of a flirty wife.

Ahmad Bashir

ACTIVITIES

CREATIVITY

How to make fingerprint candles

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sing your child’s fingerprint to design adorable animals or shapes on a candle is a great way to create a keepsake. The resulting candle can be used for special events, kept as long as you like or given to relatives and friends.

Method: Create your design Place a large piece of newsprint or wax paper on a clear flat surface. This is where your child will work. Use a comfortable spot at the kitchen table, workroom––or even outdoors if the day is nice.

Always cover the surface before working. Since your child will be creating his or her design on the tissue paper, the paint will eventually soak through onto the surface.

Lay a piece of tissue paper on top of the newsprint or wax paper and secure in place. You may want to use a small amount of clear tape on each side of the tissue to avoid having it slide around the table. Your child will create the artwork directly on the tissue paper, which will be wrapped around the candle and placed under heat to transfer the design.

Make sure the tissue paper is the same size as the candle. Test it by wrapping it around the candle and cutting to size if it isn’t an exact fit.

Provide your child with different color paints and paintbrushes. Also provide clear water to wash brushes and hands. It might be easier to transfer the paint to smaller, separate bowls.

Decide how you plan to integrate your child’s fingerprint into a design.

The print could double as flower petals, animal heads (or bodies), stick figure people or other designs. It can help guide the fingerprinting if you draw a design outline first––nothing too fancy, and be prepared to be flexible and incorporate changes your child makes.

Guide your child’s finger into the paint and create your fingerprint design on the tissue paper. Depending on your child’s age, he or she could work independently too.

Keep a clean towel or paper towels on hand to wipe excess paint from your child’s fingers should the project become a little messy.

Embellish the fingerprint design with paintbrushes after washing hands. Add the fingerprints first and then paint around them and/or create designs such as animals or flowers, following the design you planned earlier.

Use a paint pen to mark the occasion such as, “Happy Birthday Grandma 2014!”, or add your child’s name.

Using the right colours, shade the image below.

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

Cheers!

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 12,- sunday 13, April, 2014

PAGE 26

Learning

The Senior Alphabet!

A is for apple, and B is for boat, That used to be right, but now it won’t float!

Age before beauty is what we once said, But let’s be a bit more realistic instead.

L ‘s for libido, what happened to sex?

M is for memory, I forget what comes next.

N is neuralgia, in nerves way down low; O is for osteo, bones that don’t grow!

A’s for arthritis, B’s the bad back, C’s the chest pains, perhaps car-di-ac?

P for prescriptions, I have quite a few, just give me a pill and I’ll be good as new!

Q is for queasy, is it fatal or flu?

R is for reflux, one meal turns to two.

D is for dental decay and decline, E is for eyesight, can’t read that top line!

F is for fissures and fluid retention, G is for gas which I’d rather not mention.

H is for high blood pressure - I’d rather it low; I for incisions with scars you can show.

J is for joints, out of socket, won’t mend, K is for knees that crack when they bend.

S is for sleepless nights, counting my fears, T is for Tinnitus, bells in my ears! U is for urinary, troubles with flow, V for vertigo, that’s ‘dizzy,’ you know.

W for worry, now what’s going ‘round?

X is for X ray, and what might be found.

Y for another year I’m left here behind, Z is for zest I still have - in my mind!

Researchers reveal phone and credit card that can MELT when stolen

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esearchers have unveiled an electronic circuit that can melt on demand, rendering itself useless.

They say the technology could be used in mobile phones and credit cards as anti-theft devices.

If stolen, the user could simply send a command to their handset to cause it to self destruct.

‘You don’t expect your cell phone to dissolve someday, right?” said Reza Montazami, an Iowa State University assistant professor of mechanical engineering.

‘The resistors, capacitors and electronics, you don’t expect everything to dissolve in such a manner that there’s no trace of it.’

Montazami believes his ‘transient materials’ could make it a reality.

‘A medical device, once its job is done, could harmlessly melt away inside a person’s body,’ the researchers say.

‘Or, a military device could collect and send its data and then dissolve away, leaving no trace of an intelligence mission.

The materials are special polymers designed to quickly and completely melt away when a trigger is activated.

The team has already built and tested a degradable antenna capable of data transmission, and presented some of its research results at the recent meeting of the American Chemical Society in Dallas and in a paper in the journal Advanced Functional Materials.

‘Investigation of electronic devices based on transient materials (transient electronics) is a new and rarely addressed technology with paramount potentials in both medical and military applications,’ the researchers wrote in the paper.

One of the first tests was to create a blue light-emitting diode mounted on a clear polymer composite base with the electrical leads embedded inside.

Add a drop of water and the base and wiring begin to melt away.

Before long the light goes out and a second drop of water degrades what little is left.

The researchers have also developed and tested transient resistors and capacitors.

They’re also working on transient LED and transistor technology, said Montazami.

‘Just think, he said, if you lose your credit card, you could send out a signal that causes the card to self-destruct.

Or, sensors programmed to degrade over certain times and temperatures could be stored with food.

‘When the sensors degrade and stop sending a signal, that food is no longer fresh.

‘Or, when soldiers are wounded, their electronic devices could be remotely triggered to melt away, securing sensitive military information.’

Iowa State’s Reza Montazami examines a degradable antenna capable of data transmission.

The team hope it could form part of a phone capable of melting if it is stolen.

Iowa State’s Reza Montazami examines a degradable antenna capable of data transmission. The team hope it could form part of a phone capable of melting if it is stolen.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 12,- sunday 13, April, 2014

PAGE 27

Side Talk

By Jacinta David

The comic discourse by senior citizens on the choice of foreign rice at the setting of Nigeria’s very important National dialogue forces Side Talk to wonder whether this set of delegates understand clearly the enormity of the stake at hand; whether they are well aware of the true state of the nation or their concern lies only in the state of their stomach.

Also the recent information that Nigeria’s economy is the highest growing on the African continent, backed with the very interesting question from one of our source; seeking the relationship of that with the price of fish gave Side Talk a very interesting bend to the topic.

More so the recent story that the official writer for the Nation’s insurance health scheme plans to revitalise the sector makes it necessary to bring the issues begging for concern in the area to bear.

Lastly the drama that ensued during the passage of the latest budget for the country is something very interesting for us and certainly for our readers.

Rice from the China shop, national diet

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es this first topic is indeed triggered by a rather dramatic and certainly funny discussion that took place at the National debate of our time. The story has it that our set of a specially prescribed representatives at the national conference, decided to make issues of stomach relevance a matter of top priority, the subject matter tabled for deliberation therefore was the inclusion of a foreign kind of rice in the dialogue menu for the nation’s senior citizens.

In fact the rice suggested is that emanating from the China shop. Indeed the Chinese have not only worn our dear country over with the choice

of their generating set to our powerful sources of electric energy.

The fact that our country with all of its resources still relies solely on generated power supply is not enough headache for this able leaders of our dearly beloved Nigeria. No! The choice of food will also be made with special reference to this ocean tigers.

And thus this set of national discussants relegates the all important issues craving national attention for a topic on foreign kind of food for themselves as menu at the National discuss.

How much is fish in the largest economy?

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ext on our gender is the latest pleasant bombshell of our time. Side talk watched with vigour how the news went round that Nigeria’s economy has topped that of its counterparts in the continent. A noble colleague anxiously popped the question from side talk’s initiative when it asked how that affects the price of fish.

At side talk we continue with the list of question: does that provide in any way for the teaming population of unemployed Nigerians? Or are these youths just going to fold their hands and watch while an economy booms without feeling its effects?

Does that mean a more stabled power supply for the people in all sets of the society?

Does that mean that the young Nigerian at 18 can soon start hoping of having legal access to sources of living? Even before graduating from

tertiary institution?

Does that mean that those in the Nigerian civil service, but private and public sector will stop witnessing the season of salary failures at the end of each working season?

Does that mean that fuel and kerosene with other petroleum products will become more available in the market?

Does that also mean our leaders will stick their necks out, for a change to make things even better?

OR : Is that a new signal for greater attempts towards pen robbery by whoever can try?

Is that another phase in Nigeria’s stream of nightmares?

Indeed is this yet another lie waiting only to be unraveled?

Insurance revitilisation, and health issues

Yes a story on the national tabloids about Nigeria’s health insurance revitilastion promised by the secretary general of the sector caught our interest at side talk, although the focus of the topic, as stated by the man, was to ensure that the facilities for the agency was not diverted. Side talk thinks it is high time the moral and legal rights of the benefactors of these facilities became a matter of equal importance to the agency. A visit to government hospital will certainly reveal that the right of fair treatment for health insurance facilities in the nation is treated with much less concern than ought to be. The way and manner this people are treated at hospitals has made it quite necessary to wonder whether the insurance schemes have a nick name like a suffering mechanism.

Yes the intension for creating the scheme was to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians and it may be doing that but the process requires further arrangement for future diversion of the agency from side talk’s cradle.

Budgetary debate, an argument or an argument?

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ur last story emanates from the raging battle in the nation’s leadership of political parties.

The budget proposal analysed earlier on this page was not without its own face from the political episodes of our time. According to our source, it was gathered that the various issues tabled for discussion on the nations’ budgetary allocation went quite smooth until it got to the time for the money on the national discourse of our time.

Side talk gathered that the amount which totaled at N7 billion raised quite an eyebrow in the house. But what made greater interest was the fact that the set of people in the oppos-

ing end are not just those from a random setting but the members of the opposing party.

What a set you may say. At Side Talk, we say the set differs only in name but are quite alike in spirit. Or how else will one explain the fact that the figure slated for consideration by these people was unanimously increased without any one raising a point of order?

If that discuss on the increase in sum did not cause controversy, one then wonders why the same topic that has raised interparty controversy at its inception will again become subject of controversial debate in the budgetary analyses.

Beauty Page 28

TIPS

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ts rich taste makes eating it appetizing. Oh yes that’s berries. There are in varieties but all serve same health and beauty purposes.

So, berries are “juicy foods” being mostly of water and a quite good for losing weight. It also helps to chase out diabetes and cancer. Not done yet, berries are rich in folate and fiber, which are key to lowering one’s cholesterol level as well as normalize blood pressure.

Berries have come handy for pharmaceutical companies because its rich natural nutrients are applied ease wrinkles, sun damage, age spots and are great sources of immunity-boosting vitamin C. According to health experts, berries full of nutrient-rich building blocks including antioxidants, phytochemicals, flavanoids, carotenoids, polyphenols, vitamins, and minerals.

Now, that is where it matters very much to us here.

These elements are known to be beneficial to the skin. They are used for anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

So, its beauty nutrients are fascinating: They provide rich colors for our lipsticks, lip glosses, and cheek colors, and makes skin glow.

Berries can be added to different dishes, cakes, cocktails, beverages and cookies and to further boost your health and physical appearance.

Berries beautify your skin because they contain: Anthocyanin which is

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 12,- sunday 13, April, 2014

Compiled By Patrick Andrew

Get the looks you want using berries antioxidant that helps mitigate damage from free radicals on the skin. Found in blackberries, blueberries, cranberries, raspberries, and strawberries.

Another antioxidant found in berries is Ellagic acid and are useful for protecting the skin from sun damage, blocks the formation of an enzyme that breaks down elastin and collagen in the skin. This combination creates a one–two punch against wrinkles. Found in blackberries, cranberries, raspberries, and strawberries.

It contains acids that are needed to improve skin’s hydration and smoothness, and reduce inflammation. Found in açaí berries, and the seed oils of blackberries, blueberries, cranberries, and strawberries.

Finally, Vitamin C that helps hydrates the skin and increases collagen and elastin levels. Found in blackberries, blueberries, cranberries, elderberries, goji berries, raspberries, and strawberries.

Compiled by MIRIAM HUMBE

Fashion

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 12,- sunday 13, April, 2014

Page 29

Peach and blue: Contrasting colors in a rhyme

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each and blue are contrasting colours that can only be used in combination to bring out a perfect rhyme with cool matching accessories. The colors that compliment peach would be white, black and the colors that are on the opposite side of the color wheel. As peach is a combination of red and yellow, colors that combine yellow and blue would compliment peach best. White and/or black can bring out other colors but in the case of peach, white and cream would make the color peach stand out.

When wearing the peach color as gele on a blue outfit, remember to add a nice pair of peach shoes to your outfit and a cute purse or cluthbag to go with the outfit and make for a perfect finish.

Some of the female celebrities who registered their presence at Paul Okoye, ‘Psquare’s’ wedding held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State recently included award winning Nollywood actresses like Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Ini Edo, Uche Jombo-Rodriquez, Ebube Nwagbo, Funke Akindele and Sylvia Oluchi.

These beautiful and stylish divas rocked the peach and blue colours in their well tailored outfits and matching jewelries and other accessories. Savour…….

Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde

Uche Jombo-Rodriguez

Clutch bag

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 12,- sunday 13, April, 2014

PAGE 30

Pots & Pans Quite a lot of people love to chew a snack or two in between meals or just simply recline at a relaxation spot or at home with something to lighten their mood. Here is a combination of natural snack, homemade popcorn and nutritionally rich ginger drink to add a spark into your weekend. Savour…….

Ingredients: 3 tablespoons oil ½ teaspoon salt ½ cup popping corn 3 tablespoons butter, melted Directions: In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan, add the oil, salt and popping corn. Turn the heat to medium, cover the pot with a lid left slightly ajar, and shake once or twice.

The corn kernels will begin to pop within a minute or two. Once the popping slows to an almost stop, remove the pot from the heat.

Transfer the popcorn to a large serving bowl and drizzle with melted butter, tossing well to combine.

Add more butter, honey or salt, if preferred.

Homemade popcorn

The ginger root is a very medicinal plant that has been used for decades to treat all kinds of ailments. Here are a few benefits of the ginger root: -Immune system booster -Anti-bacterial and anti-fungal effects -Soothes menstrual cramps, migraines and nausea -Aids in digestion and soothes an upset stomach -Lowers cholesterol

Add 4-5 cups of water into the pot cover and bring to a boil.

Next, using a sieve, carefully pour boiled mixture (you may also want to let it cool down some more to avoid getting burned) from pot into another container in order to catch all the chaff from the ginger root.

Ingredients: 1 cup fresh ginger root, skin removed (If you don’t like it too spicy you may want to reduce your measurements to 1/2 a cup or 1/4 cup of ginger root) 6-7 cups of water, divided 1/3 cup honey Directions: First, place the ginger root and 2 cups of water into a high speed blender and blend until liquefied.

Then pour content from the blender into a medium size pot.

Ginger drink

Finally, add 1/3 cup of honey into your ginger drink and mix. You may also add a dash of cinnamon to your individual glass before drinking.

Enjoy it warm or cold. Save the rest in a bottle with a lid and store in the refrigerator.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 12,- sunday 13, April, 2014

PAGE 31

Relationship

11 Signs that she is not keen about you

By Patrick Andrew

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umans are complex beings.

Not easy to understand.

Girls, in particular, are not easy to understand. Though they seem soft on the surface but beneath the seemingly vulnerable exterior lies a complex layer hard to penetrate, difficult to interpret and herculean to dissect and analyse.

Well, they need to, considering all the attention that they get from desperate and voracious men.

And so they turn on the gear and the harder part of them comes on.

It happens so often that it is no wonder it is often very confusing for guys to easily uncover the inner complexities of the soft tissues and ultimately to find out if a girl is interested or otherwise in one’s advances.

Well, the answer often does depend entirely on the depth of the inner recesses of the complex ladies. No, it may just be that guys are not looking deep enough or as often the case being dealt in by their clear cut ignorance of the dos and don’ts of approaching and getting the attention of these emotional beings.

Studies show that guys are always victims of self-inflicted ignorance because they failed to notice basic signs which must have been clearly exhibited before them.

In other words, signs which lie in front of their eyes.

Caution, careful attention and evaluation of their acts, needs and emotional display do often reveal glaringly the fancies of ladies. It follows then, that a better approach to exploring the inner recesses of girls would depend on what we are consciously looking at and indeed seeing from whatever perspective we may have chosen.

After all, what halls in the cat is good bait without which she walks away with elegance and glee leaving its chaser in the lurch and in utter shame. Sad that some become desperate and take desperate measures that lead to no good when all they need is a magnifying glass to look beyond the surface or beyond their ego to have better view and plan better strategies for getting desired attention.

1. She often doesn’t bother to return your calls: You could assume that probably she’s been so busy with work that she didn’t get even two minutes to spare or that she obviously must have lost her phone or you could just come face-to-face with reality that, she’s just not that into you.

2. She flirts with boys in front of you all the time: When a girl likes you more than a friend, there can be no excuse why would she do this. So instead of making yourself believe that she’s just trying to make you

jealous, why don’t you just come close to the truth? And the obvious truth here is, the girl is not that into you.

3. She shuns you away like a fly: emales always respect the one whom they are interested in. It is in their DNA. There can be no other explanation for belittling you, often forgetting promises made to you and choosing everything possible over you. So if a girl acts like she really doesn’t give a damn, probably she really doesn’t give a damn.

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4. She runs away from commitment with you: When you try to talk about your future together, she changes the topic. It is time to face the fact. She does this because she doesn’t want to have a future with you and she may be flirting around with you.

5. She doesn’t return your advances: Think about how she reacts when you ask her for a date. Does she just change the topic or come up with silly excuses? If at all she agrees to come out with you, does she always try to bring someone along? Here the huge possibility is that she doesn’t want to be anything more than friends with you. She has already made it

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Women love to talk. So once that mouthpiece goes into silent mode, it is time to worry. You need not look further my brother, the big obvious truth staring at you in the face is that she is not that into you.

pretty evident. It is just you, who is delaying to pick the signs.

6. She is very amused by your jokes: f a girl finds you funny, half of the job of getting her attracted to you is done. However if she just won’t laugh at your jokes, if she rolls her eyes at your witty comments and sulks at your funny one-liners, she isn’t that into you.

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7. She ignores you often: You catch a glimpse of her on the street. You excitedly wave in her direction. But she walks away as if she never saw you. When you

finally manage to reach her and ask her why she didn’t say hi to you, she acts all innocent saying that she didn’t notice you. Well obviously she didn’t notice you because she was trying hard not to!

8. She is often quiet around you: omen love to talk. So once that mouthpiece goes into silent mode, it is time to worry. You often notice her not being herself around you and often not telling you even basic important things about her day. You need not look further my brother, the big obvious truth

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staring at you in the face is that she is not that into you.

9. She often makes plans minus you: All girls like their space. But if most of her big plans don’t include you, this is a sign of trouble in paradise. It is so obvious that she is just trying to get away from you and doesn’t know how to tell it to you.

10. Nice Comments: ou write nice Facebook posts or rather made a nice comment on a blog, she sees it and either likes your comment or reply you nicely, that’s it! That doesn’t mean she likes you and it’s not a sign that she is into you.

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11. She sends out signs that she is uncomfortable: If you take a step towards her, she jolts backwards. This is a clear indication that she feels uncomfortable around you. Do you seriously need any more signs?

Sometimes the signs are not that hard to pick. It is just that you are so blinded in love that you just won’t notice. All you got to do is open your eyes to notice the very much visible truth-she’s not that into you!

Additional report Nigeriafilms.com

from

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 12,- sunday 13, April, 2014

PAGE 32

Fiction

The mysterious content of the packs for Abuja journey

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tanley did not show up in the suite till 4.00 a.m. Ghenero had kept awake all the while.

She could not sleep again for which ever miasma: fear or tipsiness.

Stanley did not appear drunk when he returned to the suite even though he had been drinking all night.

‘Oh baby, you have been awake all night.’ Stanley spoke as he came in to see her sitting on the bed watching television.

‘You promised not to take too long.’

‘Sorry to have kept you waiting all night. I will make it up to you.

Besides, it’s good because we can talk now.’

‘Talk?’ Wondered Ghenero aloud.

‘Yes, talk,’ replied Stanley.

‘Is that all you ever do?’

She was almost infuriated.

‘Yes and more.’

‘Okay, what about?’

‘About money.’

‘You want me to tell you how much you will pay me?’

‘That’s not what I mean. I want to talk to you about you making money for yourself.’

‘That’s interesting,’ said she.

‘Go ahead, I am all ears.’

‘You are going to work for me henceforth.’

‘And what exactly will I be doing for you?’

‘Traveling.’

‘With you?’

‘No’ ‘I don’t understand, please explain further.’

‘You will understand by and by. I will explain things to you on a need to know basis. For now just know that you will run errands for me across Nigeria and you will get well paid for that.’

‘I don’t get it. What type of errands?’

Your first assignment is to go to Port Harcourt tomorrow.

‘I am yet to agree with you on the proposal to work for you just yet.’

‘Oh you have to.’

‘What if I say no?’

‘Then you will lose out in whatever payment was coming your way. Look there are many girls out there that will hurriedly grab this offer.’

‘Okay then, let’s say I agree which I’m yet to, what will I go to do for you at Port Harcourt? And, how much payment are you talking about?’

‘You are simply going there to deliver a parcel by hand to a friend.

You will return immediately after to collect twenty thousand naira payment from me. As time goes on and I see how forthcoming you are, I will give you bigger assignment

and you will make bigger money.’

‘Sounds fabulous.’ Muttered Ghenero.

‘Life itself is fabulous,’ said Stanley.

Ghenero’s mind was brought alive. She began to imagine things.

If this was true, then it could just be it for her. She could go back and complete her secondary schooling and even proceed to a University.

Stanley had taken advantage of gullibility to lure her into agreeing to work for him.

‘I want you to go to bed now.

You are traveling by the first bus to Port Harcourt tomorrow morning.’

‘Is that all for the night?’ She asked.

‘Just go to bed.’

The next morning, she was in a bus heading for Port Harcourt.

The instruction had been given.

Speak to no one in the bus. Do not open the packs of cornflakes. At the motor park in Port Harcourt, some man in a pair of yellow trousers will walk up to you. Give him the packs of cornflakes without any conversation. Then go to another motor park and board a bus back to Warri.

To her, this was easy. n a couple of weeks, Ghenero sat back to take stock. She had made three trips to Port Harcourt and another three trips to Calabar to deliver packs of cornflakes, two trips to Lagos to receive packs of cornflakes. She had made two trips to Abuja to deliver packs of cornflakes. She had been busying in and out of Warri with packs of cornflakes.

Her aunt was beginning to quarrel raucously of her movement and absence from the house most nights; that if she thought she was grown up enough, she could as well just pack out of her apartment to live all by herself.

Ghenero’s joy was that she had started making money; a lot of

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money by the week. She should be happy. But she was beginning to get curious. She began to wonder what it was about these packs of cornflakes that she would have to travel to deliver them. Couldn’t whoever they were meant for just buy them from any store in their towns? And how come delivering three or four packs of cornflakes was earning her as much as twenty thousand naira or more on each trip? These were no ordinary packs of cornflakes, she concluded.

Ghenero would be traveling to Abuja this time to deliver cornflakes again. Stanley had given her three packs. He had told her that once she got to the bus terminal at Gwagwalada, a man wearing a black hat would walk up to her to collect the packs.

The time was seven a.m. she had just come out of PM Hotel where she had passed the night in the suite with Stanley. She was surprised that in all the nights they had spent in that suite, he had not as much as looked at her in a manner that suggested any moiety of eroticism talk less of having to touch her. She had noticed that Stanley carried with him, a sound aura of discipline and responsibility. Perhaps that was his secret. he was to head for the bus terminal at Deco Road. But her curiosity got her thinking of a quiet spot where she could open the packs to see. At least she deserved to know what it was she was carrying. Stanley had always warned her to remember that curiosity killed the cat. She remembered the warning even now. But to hell with the English proverb.

She decided to take it home to her aunt’s apartment to check quickly before embarking on her trip. Her curiosity was getting the better of her.

She whistled signaling a motor

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She was to head for the bus terminal at Deco Road. But her curiosity got her thinking of a quiet spot where she could open the packs to see. At least she deserved to know what it was she was carrying.

bike rider to stop.

‘Where?’ Asked the rider as he stopped just by her. He was clad in a shabby overall. He had his helmet on.

‘The other end of Omatsola Road, she replied. ‘It will cost you two hundred naira.’

She just climbed on the motor bike and it rode off. t was past seven when she got home. Her aunt was out already to attend to her own business as she had calculated.

She had her key with her so she quickly opened the door and got in to satisfy her curiosity. She held out one of the packs and carefully began to open it. She took her time to ensure she didn’t tear it.

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She successfully opened it and smiled. She dipped her hand in the pack to bring out the content.

It was cornflakes packed in the usual air tight cellophane.

What!

She up turned the paper pack to see. powdery lump tied in transparent cellophane dropped from the pack.

Ghenero picked the substance slowly to have a better look wondering what it was.

So this was it. But what was it?

Her aunt bumped into her in the room.

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Naijastories.com

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 12,- sunday 13, April, 2014

PAGE 33

Romance

Get answers to these questions before you get married

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on’t make that mistake. Don’t get married without knowing your future spouse’s thoughts on these issues that can kill a marriage.

Compromise is usually not an option if the two of you disagree on these issues that can be deal breakers.

Do you want to have children?

It is a huge red flag in your relationship if you and your future spouse cannot agree on whether to have children or not.

Thinking that you can deal with this issue later in your marriage is a mistake.

Making a decision to have a baby when one parent doesn’t want to have children is not fair to the child or to your marriage.

Can we talk about money?

The mechanics of how the two of you will handle your finances really isn’t the issue.

Many couples in successful marriages have separate checking accounts and many couples in successful marriages have one account.

The issue is whether or not the two of you can calmly and practically talk about money.

If how your money is spent, or saved, or not spent is an issue before you get married, it will be an even bigger issue after your wedding.

If your future spouse doesn’t want to talk about money, or doesn’t think talking about money is important, postpone your wedding until this issue is solved.

Can we talk about sex?

There is no way of predicting the future when it comes to an individual’s sexual libido.

However, if the two of you are already having sexual issues, you shouldn’t get married until the issues are settled.

Differences in sexual frequency, desire, preferences, fantasies, masturbation, pornography, expectations, etc. will tear the two of you apart. If you and your partner are unable to talk about the issues, or if your future spouse doesn’t see any real problem, or doesn’t want to talk about

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How much time will we spend with our in-laws?

They may be wonderful people who love you both, but your in-laws should not be allowed to interfere in your marriage relationship.

sex with you, cancel the wedding.

How much time will we spend with our in-laws?

They may be wonderful people who love you both, but your in-laws should not be allowed to interfere in your marriage relationship. f either one of you will not set boundaries with your own parents when it comes to visits, phone calls, finances, children, etc., the problem with your in-laws will only worsen.

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Will you clean the toilet?

If the answer is “no” or “why should I?” or “Isn’t that your job?”, you have several options.

You can hire someone to do the chores that neither of you wants to do. ou can accept that you will be doing 90% of the chores around the house.

You can discuss the importance of sharing the household chores together.

If none of these options

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work out, call off the wedding.

This is another one of those issues that won’t suddenly get better after you sign the marriage license.

How do you want to spend our days off?

The answer to this question will reveal several things.

How your future spouse likes to spend free time. he value your future spouse places on having fun together.

Whether or not you will come first before work.

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Balancing work and fun and family time and personal time is not easy.

Without talking about the time aspect of your life together, you may find yourself grumbling because your spouse is spending what you consider to be too much time with old friends and extended family, or on hobbies, sports, the computer, etc.

Living a balanced life together will create the time you both need, individually and together, for vacations, quiet time, and fun time.

How often do you drink?

The answer to this question, or to questions about smoking cigarettes or using drugs, will reveal whether or not your future spouse has a potential addiction problem which could end up not only threatening your marriage but could also put you in legal and financial jeopardy.

Have you ever hit someone?

If your future spouse has anger management issues, or tries to control who you see and what you do, or is causing you to walk on egg shells, cancel your wedding.

These are signs of a potentially abusive personality.

Don’t think you can “save” him or her. You can’t. This is a problem that needs professional counseling.

Do you think it is important to be faithful to one another?

Open marriage and swinging is okay for some married couples, but most want and prefer a monogamous relationship. If your future spouse and you have differing opinions on what cheating is or isn’t, don’t get married until this issue has been discussed.

What do you think we’ll be doing in thirty or forty years?

If your future spouse can’t answer this or won’t answer this, then the two of you need to talk about long-lasting marriage expectations. Why should you go ahead to marry someone who doesn’t think your marriage will last? news2.onlinenigeria. com

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 12,- sunday 13, April, 2014

PAGE 34

Nollywood

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ome years ago, Nollywood actress, ChidiIhezie-Okafor took a sabbatical from the movie industry and left some of her fans wondering where she hid herself. Her calm and gentle look made many to love her as an actress.

She is one actress that interprets her role judiciously, especially when she plays the role of a ‘good’ wife. For this light-skinned make-believe star, acting is what gives her joy, even though she has other things she does when she is not on set.

Not too long ago, she opened a store in Akowonjo, in Egbeda area of Lagos State, where she sells clothing materials. For her, seeing her fans patronizing her gives her joy, according to what she told Nigeriafilms.com.

Explaining the reason behind her absence from the industry that got her fame many years ago, the mother of four said that she had to leave acting in order to produce children for her husband, who she described as her best friend and confidant.

“When I got married, I faced the other side of production; family production. That was why I was away from Nollywood for some time,”Chidi said.

Meanwhile, the actress expressed her joy in returning to Nollywood and she said that her fans will not cease to see her on the screens. “I have returned and some of my films are already in the market. I picked up last year (2013),” she noted.

Okafor

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ulaiman Adigun, popularly known as Pasopoly, has returned from his six-month musical tour in Europe.

While in Europe, he dazzled his numerous fans over there with his delightful Fuji tunes.

So impressed were the fans that the gist on their lips was that just like the king of Fuji music, Wasiu Omogbolahan Ayinde aka K1 has a protégée who is doing very well in his lifetime in the person of Kolade Onanuga aka K2, the same thing goes for Wasiu Alabi aka Pasuma as he’s protégée in the person of Paso-poly has already come to stay.

Last week, on his arrival at the Murtala Mo-

Klint Da Drunk

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ome days ago, reports went viral on the internet that an Abuja based church called ‘Christos International Church’ accused popular comedian, Clinton AfamefunaIgwemba, well known as ‘Klint Da Drunk’ of collecting about N250,000 from them to anchor an event, but failed to show up.

According to reports, the humour merchant was supposed to anchor the programme on Saturday, March 22, 2014.

However, speaking to Nigeriafilms.com when contacted, Klint Da Drunk disclosed that the church was at fault in the mess, claiming that he was told that the event would hold on Sunday, March 23, not March 22, as claimed by the church.

He added that he was paid N200,000 for the show, not N250,000 the church claimed they paid him for his services.

Narrating the whole incident to Nigeriafilms. com, the Anambra State-born rib cracker explained that he boarded a flight to Owerri (Imo Sate capital) from Lagos on Saturday for another function holding on that day (Saturday) in Owerri, hoping to connect Abuja from there for the church event on Sunday.

“On my way to Owerri, they called to tell me

hammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos, Paso-Poly, while addressing a group of his supporters who had besieged the airport to welcome him, said he is not mimicking Pasuma as some people are insinuating. He clarified that he is only closely following the legacy Pasuma has already laid down using Pasuma’s style of Fuji, coupled with his voice as his own personal unique style as the medium.

According to him, “Wasiu Alabi Pasuma is someone I respect so much and I will continue to respect him as long as I breathe. I refer to him as my foundation and leader. He is someone that I have benefited immenselyfrom, as such I give it to him”.

that the event was that day, which was 22nd of March, and that I should start coming (to Abuja).

They were begging me to be in Abuja. If they were so sure of the date, why were they begging me? The church told me they would pay whatever cost I incur for my flight to the programme that day.

“That I missed the show wasn’t my fault, the church should be faulted. At the end of the day, I still went to Abuja (on Sunday) because I had already bought the ticket for Sunday. I tried reaching the pastor, but I couldn’t.

“Someone called me (a journalist) and I explained to him, only for him to go back and write that it was because I played computer games that I missed the programme. Does he (the journalist) know how far I have gone? He doesn’t even know me, he wants to use his blog as a platform to crush me. Let God judge all this.”

When asked whether he has refunded the money, Klint said the church did not give him an account number to make a refund.

An angry Klint said, “they claim to be a church, which is supposed to be the most peaceful organization. I will go to that church and I will settle it with them.”

Paso-Poly

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PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 12,- sunday 13, April, 2014

H ollywood/ B ollywood

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val.

hoopi Goldberg, Jeff Goldblum and Toni Collette are among the star jurors announced for this year’s Tribeca Film Festi-

Heather Graham, Paul Wesley and Lake Bell are also among the 33 film industry names who will help choose the winners of the 2014 TFF, which runs from April 16 to April 27.

Whoopi and Vampire Diaries star Paul are on the jury for the short film competition while A Long Way Down star Toni will join rising star Anton Yelchin on the documen-

tary judging panel.

Jeff Goldblum is helping find the best new director, while Lake and Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke are among the jurors for the world narrative competition.

Heather Graham is on the jury for best new documentary director and The Hunger Games director Gary Ross is among the judges for the Nora Ephron Prize.

The prize was introduced last year and awards 25,000 dollars to a female writer or director.

The winners will be announced at the TFF Awards Night ceremony on April 24.

Made in Chelsea heads to New York

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ade in Chelsea is set to uproot to New York for a new standalone series, according to reports.

The six-part series, Made In Chelsea: New York, will air this summer on E4.

According to Digital Spy, it’s not yet been confirmed which of the show’s reality stars will head to the Big Apple.

But cast member Louise Thompson said: “We’re all getting really, really over-excited about it, but nothing has been confirmed yet.”

She added: “It’s basically going to be as dramatic and as cool as filming here, but in an equally cool city - if not more exciting.”

Rosie Fortescue said it would give viewers an insight into New York adding: “We’ll get to explore and

get to know the city.”

The show’s executive producer Sarah Dillistone said she wanted to see the cast out of their Sloane Square “bubble”.

“New York has a scene buzzing and sophisticated enough to rival Chelsea, so it feels like the next natural step,” she said.

“We’re going to see the cast out of their bubble for the first time since the show began and I’m sure the result will be nothing like we’ve seen before.”

Made In Chelsea has been running for six series and launched in 2011.

Ollie Locke and Millie Mackintosh, two of the longest serving cast members, left at the end of series five.

Shirley MacLaine joins Glee cast

S

hirley MacLaine is the lastest famous guest star to sign up to the cast of Glee.

The Oscar winner is set to make her debut in the TV musical series later this month, where she has been cast as a wealthy New York socialite according to E!.

Darren Criss is the lucky cast member who will get to shoot many of his scenes with Shirley, as her character champions Blaine Anderson (who he plays) to try to make him a star.

Shirley won an Oscar for her performance in Terms Of Endearment and has a recurring role on Downton

Abbey as Martha Levinson, mother to Cora Crawley (Elizabeth McGovern).

Glee recently took the decision to stop splitting its time between McKinley High, scene of the series to begin with, and New York where many of the character have moved to, and will now be solely focussing on the New York storylines.

Blaine, Sam Evans (Chord Overstreet), Artie Abrams (Kevin McHale) and Mercedes Jones (Amber Riley) join Rachel Berry (Lea Michele) Kurt Hummel (Chris Colfer) and Santana Lopez (Naya Rivera) in the Big Apple.

The show also had its series five episode run cut from 22 to 20.

Sharknado 2 unleashes sharks on NYC T

he Sharknado sequel will be a “whole different story” to the original, star Kari Wuhrer has said.

Syfy’s sequel to last summer’s campy classic - titled Sharknado 2: The Second One - will take a bite out of New York City this time around, when a freak weather system unleashes sharks on the populace and famous sites.

“It’s a whole different story, not just sharks ripping through flesh,” Kari said at NBC’s summer TV presentation. “New York is a character in the movie; the weather is a character in the movie.”

Ian Ziering and Tara Reid return from the original film, which attracted nearly 1.37 million viewers. They are joined by Vivica A Fox and Mark McGrath, along with Kelly Osbourne, Judah Friedlander, Andy Dick, Judd Hirsch and Perez Hilton.

30 Rock star Judah revealed he was a fan of the original movie and approached the network directly to get a role in the follow-up.

“This to me is the most important film ever made about climate change,” he joked, noting that it features “some of the top shark actors in the world”.

The original film was a trending topic on Twitter, generating nearly 5,000 tweets a minute at its peak.

“It’s unpretentious, it’s fun and you can turn it on at any point and instantly be entertained,” Judah said. “It’s very communal even though people aren’t watching at a theatre.”

The film was shot over the same 18-day schedule as the original, with a slightly larger budget. It features more than 500 visual effects shots.

“We’re trying to perfect the tornado on this one even more because we’re trying to make it a character,” said director Anthony Ferrante.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 12,- sunday 13, April, 2014

PAGE 36

Kannywood We joined Kannywood to promote Hausa culture —Twins From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

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n just three years, beginning from 2011, the twins of Kannywood, Hassana Musa Abdullahi and Hussaina Musa Abdullahi, have surprised everyone in the film industry for their remarkable performances, making them to become screen divas soon. In this interview with MUSTAPHA ADAMU, the 19 years old barrister and nurse in the making respectively, share their experience and challenges faced in the film making.

Can you briefly tell us about yourselves?

Hussaina responding: We attended Unguwa Uku Special Primary School and Government Girls Secondary School Jogana, Kano State. I am now studying in the Kano State School of Hygiene while my twin sister, Hassana, is studying a diploma programme in legal studies in Aminu Kano College of Legal Studies. She is graduating tomorrow.

How old are you?

We are 19 years old.

What motivated you to join Kannywood?

Our primary objective for joining Kannywood is to contribute our quota towards development of Hausa culture and enlighting the society. We

were also motivated because of popularity. We have realised that film artists are popular, they are recognised everywhere they go. People cheer them and want to talk to them, this is another reason why we have joined Kannywood to be like other artists.

How did you join the Kannywood?

After developing the passion to join the industry, we went to our parents, informed them about our desire and sought for their permission. To our delight, they granted us the permission and cautioned us against immorality in the course of our job. It was me (Hussaina) that first joined the industry but later on Hassana, became impressed and joined me in the film industry. After she joined the industry, I decided to quit it because I didn’t want us to be together. I later changed my mind that I should continue with my sister after she made several pleas . I am now enjoying our life together at the industry.

How many movies have you made so far?

Hussaina: I have acted in 17 movies so far.

Hassana: I have featured in more than 20 films. Some are released and some are yet to be at the market.

Can you tell us some of them?

Hussaina: “ Auren Zamani”, “ Nawwal”, “ Meron Kauye”, “Basaja”, etc Hassana: “Basaja”, “Takun farko”, “Mizani” etc What is your first movie in Kannywood?

Hussaina: My first movie in Kannywood is “auren zamani” Hassana: My first movie is “ Mizani”.

What is your favourite movie among your movies?

Hussaina : My favourite film among my films is “ Meron Kauye” Hassana: The fact that all my movies are my favourite, “Mizani” is the best to me because it was the movie I featured as the star character and I suffered a lot in the movies to the extent that I had a cut on my back that I sustained when I was running in the film. The mark will remain forever until my death. The director was even visiting me at home until I recuperated.

Have you ever featured together in movie?

Yes, we starred in movies like “ Basaja”, “ Takun Farko,”, “Gaba da Gabanta”, “Meron Kauye” among other movies.

What challenge(s) do you face in your career?

O

ur biggest challenge is stigma.

People regard film makers as bad people, this result to showing disdainful and disrespectful treatment to us. But this doesn’t bother us much because our parents permitted us and always pray for us.

We are also conducting ourselves well in the industry, so nothing will worry us.

What is your relationship with artistes in Kannywood?

We live a harmonious life in the film industry. Everybody is friendly to us and vice versa. We love one another and our relationship is cordial.

What is your relationship as twin sisters?

Very good and peaceful. Nobody envy another. We share our belonging together and love each other. We

“

share together whichever amount of money one of us get.

Who is your favourite actor and actress in Kannywood?

Everybody in the industry is our favourite.

Do you work on any project now?

Yes, we are currently making movies now. Usaina is making a movie titled “ Kamanni” and I am going to start another film soon.

Are you married?

None of us are married but we are willing to do. If we get married, we would quit acting and become producers if our husbands allow us.

What is your favourite food?

We all love indomie noodles the most. Laughs.

We were also motivated because of popularity. We have realised that film artists are popular, they are recognised everywhere they go. People cheer them and want to talk to them, this is another reason why we have joined Kannywood to be like other artists.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 12,- sunday 13, April, 2014 With TOBIAS LENGNAN DAPAM

PHONE NO: 07036990957

Page 37

Entertainment Flakes

Vic and Bob back in house of fools

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he BBC has commissioned a second series of Vic and Bob’s sitcom ‘House of Fools’.

Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer, created and star in the wacky sitcom about the uninvited lodgers and guests who wreak havoc in Bob’s home.

Stephen Fry and artist Damien Hirst were among fans of the BBC Two show who voiced their anger following speculation that it was being axed after just one series.

But Bob put paid to reports of the show ending when he announced on Twitter: “BBC commission second series of

Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer

Kiki Omeili, J’odie, others spice up Nikki Laoye’s new video

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ikki Laoye is one Nigerian female artiste that has carved a niche for herself in entertainment industry in the country. She is well respected for her exemplary lifestyle, which corroborates her style of music and what she stands for.

Nikki, who has won the prestigious ‘The Headies’, is now set to release her music video, ‘123’, on Friday, April 11, 2014.

The pretty singer gathered some stars for the video, including Kiki Omeili, a movie star. Also in the music video are Ade Laoye of EbonyLife TV, DJ Gosporella, J’odie, ONOS, Provabs, XL2Letters and Akeem.

‘123’ was shot by T-Frizzle, while the likes of Xblaze (Nikki’s brother), Temisan of Alien Nation, Nikki Laoye, Stephen of Kaffy’sImagneto crew had their inputs on the job.

‘House of Fools’.

Comedy duo Vic and Bob returned to the small screen with the surreal comedy in January.

The sitcom, which received warm reviews, also stars Daniel Simonsen, Morgana Robinson and Matt Berry.

Comics Vic and Bob first hit the small screen with Channel 4 show Vic Reeves: Big Night Out and enjoyed success with the panel game Shooting Stars and the sketch-show The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer.

Regina Askia returns home

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egina Askia, one of Nollywood finest who started alongside Liz Benson, Gloria Anozie, Kate Henshaw and Sandra Achums,is currently in the country.

She arrived after spending over two decades in the United States of America (USA), gathering various certificates and raising her family.

The actress was a onetime most beautiful girl in Nigeria.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 12,- sunday 13, April, 2014

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Cover

Fulani as the scapegoat of Nigeria’s crises Contd from Page 9

now not one of the perpetrators of the dastardly act was arrested but only for the military to go and kill harmless herdsmen going about their livelihood.

“It is clear these people that killed the operatives are considered first class citizens and are therefore untouchable. Because since the Alakyo incidence, none of their villages was sacked, we the Fulani are regarded as second class citizens, we don’t have godfathers, that is why they can kill us at will” Hussaini added.

On what his organization expects from the authorities over the killing of over 30 herdsmen in Keana, the MACBAN state secretary, was emphatic that the military must first apologize for the wrong inflicted on the Fulani community.

“We will institute legal action against the military. They must tell us what intelligence they used to attack and kill innocent Fulani without recovering any alleged weapon. What intelligence have they gathered to show that members of the Ardo Sodangi community are insurgents? Where are the weapons they recovered from the operation?

“This was an intentional act kill the Fulani and drive them away. We were surprised this incident occurred only three days after a Tiv delegation from Benue state, under the leadership of Governor Suswam, paid a visit on the president in Abuja “Is Jonathan trying to sacrifice the Fulani for a political ambition? They should know that the Fulani are deep in the politics of this country, with a population of over 35 million, as against three or four million Tivs or the military however and according to the director, Defence Information, Major-General Chris Olukolade, the army has since commenced a major operation to put an end to the

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Houses set ablaze by suspected gunment during attack in Kaura activities of all armed men and criminal gangs engaged in wanton killings and destruction of lives and property in three states of North-central Nigeria.

According to a statement issued by the military, the operation was meant to capture and neutralize all the enclaves of criminal gangs.

Laudable as this military initiative could seem, with no responsible citizen willing to identify with criminals and their activities, particularly as has become common across the three states, it

becomes however worrisome when those targeted are not criminal gangs but innocent citizens marked out because of stereotyping. Because they are herdsmen, then they must be insurgents.

What intelligence are the security operatives working with? What are the sources of this intelligence?

For Governor Umaru Tanko Almakura of Nasarawa state, the military have erred by visiting death on harmless citizens, with the Governor confirming that the herdsmen killed in Keana were

not insurgents but residents of the area.

During a condolence visit to the paramount ruler of the area, the Osana of Keana, Emmanuel Elayo, the Governor called on the federal government to review the military operation in the state to guard against civilian casualties, stressing the need for its operations to focus on tracking the real insurgents traversing the borders of Benue, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Plateau, Taraba and Kogi states.

Corroborating with Al-makura, the Osana of Keana, Emmanuel Elayo, described the incident as “unfortunate” as according to him, “the herdsmen and farmers were working hard to fish out criminal elements infiltrating their ranks to cause mayhem.”

On his part, Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue state, possibly reading the Keana massacre as an easy channel to redeem his image, launched a propaganda seeking to distort facts regarding the killing of innocent herdsmen in the name of insurgents.

It is now a common joke that only Suswam is still in the PDP, with most of his aides already fraternizing with the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) that is fast gaining ground and is the major source of worry to the governor. ot long ago, Suswam was reported to have confirmed that those causing mayhem along the borders of the two states are not the herdsmen that he said move around with their cattle with sticks and the occasional dane gun for hunting.

Viewed objectively, the Keana massacre must be taken for what it really is, an error by the authorities that acted on misinformation, leading to the death of innocent citizens. Like Alhaji Mohammed Hussaini, Nasarawa state secretary of MACBAN said, “Those who perpetrated the dastardly act must be brought to book to serve as deterrent.”

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Women refugee at a primary school in Kaura

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PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 12,- sunday 13, April, 2014

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”

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OUR VISION

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

Chief Operating Officer Ali M. Ali

Head, Advert/Marketing Hussaini Abdulrahman, Cna

Editor, Daily Ahmed I. Shekarau

Manager, administration Hassan Hammanyaji

Deputy Manager, Production Abdul-Rauf Musa

Editor, Weekend Hameed M. Bello

Head, Lagos Bureau Adesoji Oyinlola

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

L etters

The lacuna in the 2014 budget

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he Senate has considered and passed the 2014 Appropriation Act. During my contribution on the floor of the Senate on the consideration of the report, I drew the attention of the Senate to a lacuna in the budget, which I considered critical to the effective implementation of the budget. My intervention is simple.

The Appropriation Act we passed did not consider a valuable indicator of our revenue base- oil production variation. In other words, our national budget is predicated on oil production and price.

So much emphasis has however been placed on the bench mark price but little consideration on the production side. In recent times, we have witnessed massive fluctuations in the production level with production going down sharply

By Ocheiga Enoch oloche

I

n many parts of Nigerian cities today, a major means of transportation is motorcycles popularly called Okada. Some of those who do not have cars opt for commercial taxis, buses or commercial tricycles.

Before now, we had the menace of Okada riders many of who were reckless on the road, leading to loss of lives and various degrees of injury from accidents. It is common knowledge that there is no mechanism to ascertain a qualified or unqualified Okada rider. No official verification or preparatory process for an intending Okada rider. Anyone who needed to eke out a living and could afford to buy a motorcycle sets out without the rudimentary knowledge of using the

WRITE TO US

Peoples Daily Weekend welcomes your letters, opinion articles, text messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters - 150 words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your name and a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be addressed to: The Editor, Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, 35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja.

Email: opinion@peoplesdailyng.com adverts@peoplesdailyng.com pictures@peoplesdailyng.com contact@peoplesdailyng.com and other times going up. We have seen production fluctuate from 2.1mbpd to 2.5mbpd and back to 1.8mbpd to 1.9mbpd all within two years. We have budgeted for on a baseline production

figure of 2.5mbpd and ended up with 2.1mbpd average.

All of these have impacted on the implementation of the budget significantly. This throws up a lacuna in

the budget implementation process which now raises few questions.

Some of which are; What then happens if there is a significant drop in production? What happens if there is a significant improvement in the production levels?

While we may have set a benchmark on oil price (helpful as it may be), we have not set clear parameters on what happens with production fluctuations a key determinant of revenues. We cannot deal with one and not the other if we want a level of certainty and predictability in our budget.

Implementation outcome is a key factor and a stepping stone to the next level.

Senator Bukola Saraki, National Assembly, Abuja

Reckless riding of tricycles in Abuja road.

All they needed to do was learn how to manipulate the machine and off they went. They ride like they own the roads, like no one else plies the road at all times and bump into anyone whether he/she has the right of way or not.

Then the government at a point in some places decided to place a ban on the use of motorcycles and replaced them with tricycles or power bikes in some states like Lagos.

Over the years, people have grumbled over the reckless way tricycle riders popularly called Keke ply the roads, putting the lives of citizens in danger by trying to fit into small areas that they normally cannot enter. They overtake other vehicles recklessly,

and don’t have tricycle “bus stops”.

They stop to drop their passengers anywhere they want which also caused traffic jam, and even accident. Like the case of Okada in Abuja before they were banned, now that keke has been introduced, we all know its advantage, which, however, cannot be compared to the number of lives and property that are being lost also due to the reckless use of keke.

Despite the efforts put in place in the FCT to make the roads better and safer, with keke riders as the major violators of road traffic regulations, the roads remain as unsafe as ever. One day, I had to take time out to find out from one of them, why no keke riders never bordered to look at the side mirrors.

It seems to me they haven’t been told the side mirrors were meant to be used. They are all oblivious of its existence while on the roads as they swerve from right to left at will without considering there could be a vehicle coming from behind.

The government has what it takes, and should do something about the reckless riding of keke especially in the FCT and elsewhere in the country.

This will bring decency into transport system, especially in the urban centres where both keke and taxi compete on the highways. Let’s move from this chaos to some decency. Taxis or buses will do better, and are safer.

Oloche lives in Wuse Zone 6 Abuja

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PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 12,- sunday 13, April, 2014

Comments

Insecurity: Uniting against spurious allegations

By Sunny Osaze

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hile efforts are being geared towards providing maximum security for Nigerians and foreigners in the country, some elements have resolved to puncture these efforts for selfish and self-seeking reasons.

We cannot really explain a situation whereby some respected people in the society would choose to hold brief for terror groups or people trying hard to reduce Nigeria to a pariah nation. All that our security establishments require from Nigerians is nothing but cooperation and understanding. It is alarming some recent spurious and inflammatory remarks that attempt to turn the public against the military over unsubstantiated allegations of ethnic cleansing.

Some individuals and groups claim that Nigeria’s military offensive against terror groups is targeted at followers of particular religions and ethnic groups.

Though some remarks are grossly unfair and unacceptable, the timely response by the security agency was also apt.

Clearing the air on the unfounded allegation, the Director of Defence Information, Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade said the Nigerian military remains nonpartisan, non-sectarian and will continue to be the symbol of patriotism and a unifying factor in the face of threats to

national sovereignty. It must be noted that the Armed Forces comprises Nigerians from all religious persuasions and cannot be used against any particular religion as purported. The military will not be distracted by unfair imputations from any quarter as Security Agencies do not have any policy, agenda or plans to perpetrate massacre or extra judicial killing of law abiding citizens.

We should continue to support genuine efforts targeted at rooting out insurgency and other anti-social behaviours from our country Nigeria.

We shouldn’t toe the inglorious path of a negligible percentage of these unpatriotic elements hiding under the umbrella of spurious opposition or amorphous groups to reduce Nigeria to a pariah nation. Left for these bloodthirsty elements, Nigeria and Nigerians would have long become a forgotten story by now. Instead of assisting and cooperating with government to enable her deliver on its campaign promises, these elements have rather chosen to put spanners in Nigeria’s wheel of progress.

Without fear of contradiction, I make bold to state here that whoever that seeks to hold brief for terror groups operating under known or amorphous platform is an enemy of mankind and Nigerians in particular. Such a person, no matter how highly placed should be

told in clear terms that our dear nation isn’t a place for him or her to practice and condone evil. No one is his or her right senses would align himself with groups or persons whose stock in trade is to visit mindless terror on defenseless and law abiding citizens for no justifiable course. We cannot afford to keep sealed lips and watch as agents of devil from the pit of hell make life unbearable for our fellow countrymen across different parts of the country.

We actually do not require the services of a soothsayer or security expert to affirm the obvious fact that terror groups under different names and appellation have vowed to bring Nigeria to her knees. They have demonstrated their deep-seated hatred through acts of bombings, midnight attacks, killings and armed robbery. Interestingly, Nigerians have since realized that these groups are not only out to fight the government of the day, but also hellbent on making life uncomfortable for the masses, especially the defenceless ones. This is simply why Nigerians have resolved to assist government in its determination to wipe out terrorism in the country. Nigerians of different faith, political leanings, language and ethnic backgrounds have all suffered one form of pain or the other in separate terror attacks. These terror groups,

especially the Boko Haram, have through their operations told the world that they are out to fight Nigerians, including Muslims. Examples of Muslim clerics killed since the insurgency war began are mindboggling. The latest in the series of killings is that of Sheikh Albany, his wife and son earlier in the year in Zaria, Kaduna state. We have seen them attack Mosques, churches, schools, social centres, government establishments, banks and foreign establishments. We have clear-cut evidences to show that these guys are moreorless on a mission to send Nigerians to their early graves.

We should encourage the military to continue to be driven by patriotism and commitment to the cause of the nation and its law abiding citizens. All responsible organisations should cooperate in the efforts at addressing the nation’s security challenges rather than compound the problem. We should restrain from and shouldn’t allow the cowards whose pastime is to shed innocent blood, maim, kill and cause disaffection among brothers and sisters sell any dummy to us. We have had enough of blood wasted by these undesirable elements.

Sunny Osaze Asaba, Delta State

NIPR commends Media-Security synergy … Tasks FG on national growth T he Federal Capital Territory Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has commended the recent synergy between the media and the Forum of Spokespersons in Security and Response Agencies (FOSSRA) under the auspices of the office of the National Security Adviser, which seeks to bridge the gap of information inter-flow between the Nigerians and government on emerging national issues such the security challenges.

The FCT Chairman of the NIPR, Mr. Ohaeri Osondu who made the commendation during an advocacy visit on the Director, Army Public Relations Department, Brig. General Olajide Laleye, identified information as a critical component for national development and urged the Forum to work out other sustainable strategies towards enhancing peaceful co-existence in the country through intelligence gathering and information sharing.

Osondu also urged the Federal Government to undertake a holistic review of the nation’s economic sector in order to further boost national growth.

While commending the Federal Government of the recent ranking of Nigeria as the fastest growing economy in Africa and 26th across the globe, urged for extensive efforts to be made to stimulate further growth of the economy.

According to Ohaeri, “there is the need to properly harness those aspects of the nation’s economy where we enjoy comparative advantage in order to reposition our country within the global economic landscape” He recalled that the nation’s Nollywood industry is presently ranked 3rd globally after Hollywood in America and Bollywood in India thus putting the country on a vantage position to compete favorably with other countries.

Speaking further, the NIPR Chairman recalled that with a per capita income of $2,800 as at December 2013 and projected power generation of 4,000 mega watts in 2020, Nigeria is still far behind South Africa with $11,500 per capita income and 240,000 giga watts. He there-

fore implored the Federal Government to raise the bar on the on-going revitalization of the power and agricultural sectors which to a large extent, will enhance national growth through the provision of employment opportunities and positively impact on other sectors of the economy. He also harped on the need prioritize efforts towards empowering youths to rediscover and re-acquire skills that would help the create wealth, become reliant for industrial growth and to eradicate poverty in the country.

While congratulating the Army spokesman for his appointment, the NIPR Chairman also said “the on-going national conference has once again, provided a rare platform for a collective review and pursuit of those issues that bind us together and to discard issues that give room to disintegration”.

He however used the platform to further urge political parties to work towards a united and formidable Nigerian society

come 2015, “political players should strictly comply with the electoral act by initiating campaigns and rallies at the appropriate time. We are the NIPR frown seriously at the scenario where our streets are littered with campaign posters while Radio and Television stations are agog with political messages even in the face of obvious violation of the electoral Act by some group of persons”.

Responding, Brig. Gen. Olajide said that the Forum of Security Spokespersons underscores the relevance of public relations for national development as the forum is made of Heads of Public Relations Departments from the various Military and Para-military agencies in Nigeria. He added that the forum became important in view of emerging trends on information collation, management and dissemination in Nigeria and the need to push to the front burner, expertise and professionalism in addressing contemporary security chal-

lenges and other related issues of serious national interest.

He also commended the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations for blazing the trail on goodwill, responsible performance and good governance and charged the Institute to critically undertake a re-alignment of its operational modalities and policies on membership in order to effectively sustain present standards.

The highpoint of the visit was the an assurance by the Army spokesman to consider an earlier request be the FCT Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations to partner with the Nigerian Army to organize training workshops for its Officers and Men. These training programmes according to the NIPR, will no doubt, acquaint them with contemporary global trends in Public Relations especially in the face present national and global peace-keeping assignments which always put the Army personnel in contact with the general public.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 12,- sunday 13, April, 2014

PAGE 41

Online Comments Atiku cautions on Ebola disease in his blog

Sir Oscie dannynwokolo@yahoo. com A welcome call, and I hope the figure will do the needful to prevent this disease getting into this country. we are already suffering and losing loved ones as a result of the insurgency, Fulani herdsmen in the northern part of the country and poverty plaguing the whole nation. may god almighty deliver our nation from this ebola virus. Amen.

Will North Vote For Jonathan? sulaiman muhammad ayagi smayagi@gmail.com I quite agree with you, Mallam Zayyad. The truth of the matter is that not an average Northern is talakawa. However, the overwhelming number of talakawas in the north don’t believe in Jonathan! Only people of insignificant number eating from his plate are spreading his (so-called) possibility and likely acceptance in the forthcoming 2015 election.

I can assure you that Jonathan will not secure the constitutional 1/3 score in: Kano, Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Jigawa, Kaduna, Katsina. He may also lose in places like Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba, Adamawa. In addition, he will fail woefully in Niger, Nasarawa, Kogi.

In spite of religious propaganda being orchestrated by some of foot-soldiers even Plateau and Benue will return zero vote for him.

Transformation of a few pockets: Analyzing the OHCSF budget Tadiq ti_elbee@yahoo.com This just goes to show the level of decadence and the continuous demonstration of misplaced priorities which some persons in governance have exhibited. There is hardly

President Jonathan

Boko Haram. What then is the role of the President and law enforcement agencies in Nigeria?

By including CBN amongst institutions whose leaders ought to have resigned, he agreed that a whopping loss of $20 billion dollars should simply be swept under the carpet.

He also conveniently forgot that it is this same administration that removed Justice Ayo Salami to avoid unfavorable judgement.

Atiku Abubakar accountability for use funds used. Or where is the conscience? Leaders should be the slaves of the people they ruled not vice versa.

Rebased GDP: Fashola, Amosun slam FG on new economic statistics

Moses Ola-Olu Famuyiwa mofamuyiwa74@hotmail. com Why do they say Nigeria is the biggest economy in Africa and the 26th in the world? Is it because they want to encourage people to vote for Jonathan in 2015? It is a political game.

They want to take Nigeria for a ride, but it won’t work. Ngozi Oknojo-Iweala is simply playing the script of the IMF.

2015: APC mistakes will cost it the Presidency – Olaniyi

Echenwune Ben. Saharareporters.com Echebenji@gmail.com The vision carries an ominious sign of blood bath imminent in Nigeria. We need to seek the face of God, ask for forgiveness for various atrocities commited in the past, spiritually atone for the monumental bloodshed since the civil war because those innocent blood are still demanding for vengance. Anything short of this will not help the situation.

Surrendering Nigeria to US control Abdullah Musa google.com kigongabas@gmail.com One sympathizes with the author, but it seems he has sympathy for the present administration.

He conveniently forgot that the current President had told the either Western leaders or UN to fish out those behind

Keana massacre and unanswered questions

Oku Alphonsus okufarm@gmail.com I am writing to say that the ongoing National Conference is not only a waste of time and efforts but of resources. It seems more than 80 percent of the people nominated to participate in the confab have been accused of one corruption or another. How, then do you expect good result from them?

The same people that ruled and ruined Nigeria proffering solutions? That can’t happen.

We need something else to move Nigeria forward.

Diezani is more powerful than FG -Sule Lamido Moses Ola-Olu Famuyiwa mofamuyiwa74@hotmail. com Lamido, Diezani Alison is an untouchable. She is a powerful woman.. All investigations going on in the NASS, are just a waste of time, it will lead to nowhere.

Tambuwal, Ihedioha: Count us out of defection suit saga Moses Ola-Olu Famuyiwa mofamuyiwa74@hotmail. com That Judge needs to be examined. He wants this nation on fire. The PDP members that defected to the APC are they the first to defect to other parties?

When people from other parties defected to the PDP in the past why did the PDP not reject them? And only recently, many APC members have defected to the PDP and were openly received. Why must the law be applied now that some lawmakers have defected to the APC? Why should the Judge say that they should vacate their seats in the House of Representatives? He learn from grievous mistakes of the past which led to serious national upheavals.

Help fish out Boko Haram sponsors, Jonathan tells European, African leaders

Moses Ola-Olu Famuyiwa mofamuyiwa74@hotmail. com The president should stop corruption and distribute the wealth of the nation equally.

He should be responsible and responsive to the needs of youth, like providing them employment.

They should be given adequate welfare to cushion the effects of their suffering. There will be no more terrorism in our country.

Note that the African Union that you are crying to are responsible leaders in their respective countries, and who take care of their citizens.

It is sad that Nigerian leaders are corrupt and more interested in using public funds to buy private jets, build skyscrppers in other countries whereas 95 percent of Nigerians are living in abject poverty. They can’t be peace in the face of hunger and inequality.

Chartered jet: Fresh troubles brew for Petroleum Minister, NNPC

Diezani Alison Moses Ola-Olu Famuyiwa mofamuyiwa74@hotmail.com Nothing will come out of this probe, because Diezani MaduekeAlison, is the right hand person of Jonathan. Nothing from the previous allegations because they were treated with levity. She may not answer the NASS Committee, and nobody will ever ask her. She knows that she has the support of President Jonathan.

We push our husbands into corruption, says

Speaker Tambuwal

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

delegate Moses Ola-Olu Famuyiwa mofamuyiwa74@hotmail. com I agree with you (Jumai) women like Diezani MaduekeAlison, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Stella Oduah, and Patience Jonathan are no good role model.

World Bank: Nigerians extremely poor people Moses Ola-Olu Famuyiwa mofamuyiwa74@hotmail. com Nigeria is the highest buyer of private jet. Our president has 11 presidential jets, the oil minister used N10 billion to service her private jet and 80% of our people are living in poverty. We need radical changes and mass reaction from the public.

Jonathan can’t draft new Constitution – Senators

Truth Power truthpower@rocketmail. com With due respect, the call for another constitution for Nigeria is a clear pointer to the fact that the two parliaments have failed Nigerians.

The fact remains that any attempt by same to scuffle this national conference will rather further expose their already known failure by Nigerians.

The next move then may just be a revolution from the nooks and crannies of the country.

Nigerians will not be always be fooled by same.

Confab: Atiku charges delegates on true federalism

Mr Abdin abdullahiumar43@gmail. com This is a welcome development from a true democrat who believes in the unity of Nigeria. A true Nigerian like Atiku will not pray for the disintegration of the country and it is hopeful that the delegates will discuss issues of National importance. God bless Nigeria amen.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 12,- sunday 13, April, 2014

PAGE 42

SPOTLIGHT ON OUTSTANDING NORTHERN MEMBERS OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

As campaigns begin soon for the 2015 general elections, Peoples Daily throws the spotlight on distinguished members of the House of Representatives who have excelled in providing qualitative representation for their constituents.

In a special publication, your widely read newspaper, Peoples Daily, offers a unique opportunity for members to showcase their achievements for posterity.

It promises to be a publication no member can afford to be left out of.

For further information and bookings, please, contact:

Lawrence 08036236703 Umar 08039409957

VACANCIES A newspaper based in Abuja has vacancies for young vibrant, qualified persons seeking to pursue a career in Journalism in its Editorial and Production departments.

A. Reporters (Business, Politics, Features) Eligible candidates must: i.

Be graduates. ii.

Have good command of both oral and written English. iii.

Have a fair knowledge of the business

and political environment of the country.

Two or more years working experience would be an added advantage.

B. Production Editor (Weekend Edition) i.

Eligible candidates must have good command of

both oral and written English. ii.

S/he should have good knowledge of newspaper production.

C. Graphic Artists Eligible candidates must: i.

Be young, talented, committed and competent. ii.

Have a diploma in computer applications from any reputable institu tions. iii.

Be conversant with both oral and written English iv.

Be proficient on Indesign, Photoshop Coreldraw, and are conversant

with newspaper production.

Send your application to: pmlnewsdesk@gmail.com or submit to Peoples Media Limited, at Peace Plaza, No. 35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja.

Space for sale Space for sale

PAGE 43

Biographies

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 12,- sunday 13, April, 2014

Vladimir Lenin (1870-1924) I INTRODUCTION

V

ladimir Lenin gained political stature through his writings and then as head of the radical socialist Bolshevik Party. He led the 1917 Bolshevik takeover of Russia’s Provisional Government, which had governed the country since the fall of tsarist rule a few months earlier. After the revolution, Lenin became the leader of the new Soviet state. This audio selection contains a portion of a speech recorded by Lenin on a gramophone in 1919:Today, the workers who have remained loyal to the cause of throwing off the yoke of capital call themselves Communists. All over the world the association of Communists is growing. In a number of countries Soviet power has already triumphed.

Soon we shall see the victory of Communism throughout the world; we shall see the foundation of the World Federative Republic of Soviets.

Hulton Deutsch/From V.I. Lenin: Speeches on Gramophone Records 1919-1921 (Cat. # Melodiya MCD 003) (p) 1987 Melodiya. All rights reserved.

Vladimir Lenin (1870-1924), Russian revolutionary leader and theorist, who presided over the first government of Soviet Russia and then that of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). Lenin was the leader of the radical socialist Bolshevik Party (later renamed the Communist Party), which seized power in the October phase of the Russian Revolution of 1917. After the revolution, Lenin headed the new Soviet government that formed in Russia. He became the leader of the USSR upon its founding in 1922. Lenin held the highest post in the Soviet government until his death in 1924, when Joseph Stalin assumed power.

II EARLY YEARS Lenin was born Vladimir Ilich Ulyanov in the city of Simbirsk ( now Ul’yanovsk) in central European Russia. (He adopted the pseudonym Lenin, probably derived from the river Lena in Siberia, while doing secret work as a revolutionary.) He was the third of six children born to Ilya Nikolayevich Ulyanov and Maria Alexandrovna Blank. Ilya Ulyanov was the director of public education for the province of Simbirsk during Lenin’s childhood, and his service to the state earned him the title of hereditary nobleman. While Lenin was finishing school in Simbirsk in 1887, his older brother, Aleksandr, was arrested and executed in Saint Petersburg (then the capital of Russia) for his involvement

in a conspiracy to assassinate Russian emperor Alexander III. Later that year Lenin entered Kazan’ University (now Kazan’ State University), where he intended to study law. Before completing his first term at the university, however, Lenin was expelled for his involvement in a student demonstration.

He settled on his mother’s estate in the village of Kokushkino and pursued his study of law as an external student of Saint Petersburg University (now Saint Petersburg State University).

While living on the estate, Lenin began to immerse himself in the radical political literature of the time. A particular favorite was the novel What Is To Be Done? (1863), by Russian writer Nikolay Chernyshevsky. One of the novel’s main characters, a man named Rakhmetev, lived a life of extreme selfdiscipline and single-minded focus on revolutionary politics. Rakhmetev served as a model for Lenin, and it was largely these ideals of the Russian revolutionary tradition—which glorified political action and a life fully committed to the cause of revolutionary political change—that shaped Lenin’s political personality. Also about this time, Lenin became acquainted with the revolutionary ideas of German philosopher Karl Marx through Marx’s greatest work, Das Kapital (published in three volumes from 1867 to 1895).

Marx’s ideas had a profound impact on Lenin, and he soon came to consider himself a Marxist. enin received his law degree in 1892. He moved to the city of Samara and took a position as a lawyer’s assistant. Lenin’s earlier brush with the authorities limited his prospects as a lawyer, however, and he soon began channeling his ambitions into revolutionary politics. In the mid-1890s Lenin quit his law practice in Samara and settled in Saint Petersburg. There he became associated with a group of radicals who were similarly impressed by the ideas of Marx and the influential Russian Marxist Georgy Plekhanov.

L

IV REVOLUTIONARY LEADER During the period of his work on Iskra (1900-1903) and a second newspaper, Vperyod (Forward), begun in 1904, Lenin established himself as the unofficial leader of the RSDLP. However, he was still living abroad and thus was dependent upon intermediaries for information about developments in Russia. In 1904 Russia went to war with Japan (see Russo-Japanese War).

A string of military defeats and the strains placed on society by the war made for a tense atmosphere in Saint

Vladimir Lenin Petersburg, and by the beginning of 1905 various segments of Russian society, including students and liberal members of the nobility, were calling for political reform. When an unarmed crowd of workers marched to the city’s Winter Palace on January 9 (or January 22, in the Western, or New Style, calendar) to submit a petition to Emperor Nicholas II, security forces fired on the crowd, killing or wounding several hundred marchers (see Bloody Sunday). The crackdown resulted in further strikes and demonstrations throughout the country, beginning the crisis that would become known as the Russian Revolution of 1905. n October 1905 the emperor issued his October Manifesto, in which he made a number of political concessions, including a commitment to establish a popularly elected legislative assembly called the Duma.

Lenin did not return to Russia until November—when the emperor proclaimed an amnesty for all political exiles living abroad—and did not play a significant role in the events of the revolution. By the end of 1905 the imperial government had restored order in Saint Petersburg, and by mid1906 the government had reasserted complete control over the country. In April 1906 the numerous factions of the RSDLP (not only the Bolsheviks and Mensheviks but various ethnic and national affiliates as well) met in Stockholm, Sweden, for the Fourth

I

Party Congress (the so-called Unity Congress). At the meeting, the RSDLP resolved to support elections to the new Duma, despite the party’s commitment to the objective of revolution. Lenin opposed this resolution, demanding no less than the complete overthrow of the monarchy.

In December 1907 Lenin began his second extended stay in Western Europe, settling first in Geneva, Switzerland, and then in Paris. While the disagreements that divided his Bolsheviks from the Menshevik faction continued, both sides were also experiencing internal turmoil resulting from a decline in membership. In 1912 Lenin and his supporters organized a party conference in Prague. At this conference, Lenin formally broke from his Menshevik opponents and the rest of the RSDLP to form an independent Bolshevik Party.

Lenin settled again in Switzerland, where he spent the initial years of World War I (1914-1918). The war inspired one of Lenin’s most influential works, titled Imperialism, The Highest Stage of Capitalism (1916).

In this book, Lenin argued that the world war was an inevitable outcome of Western capitalism and imperialism, whereby the capitalist states of Europe had come to rely upon aggressive foreign expansion in order to maintain economic profits. Lenin was convinced that the war signaled the final decline of the worldwide capitalist economy and thus was bringing nearer the socialist revolution. He declared himself a “defeatist,” arguing that imperial Russia’s defeat in the war would be the surest means of bringing about revolution in Russia. In advocating Russia’s defeat in World War I, Lenin found himself very much alone among his fellow Russian Marxists, for whom the war had aroused a fair measure of patriotism. he pressures that the war inflicted on the Russian state eventually produced a second crisis for the imperial government. In late February 1917 (March, New Style), riots broke out in Saint Petersburg (which had been renamed Petrograd in 1914). The riots intensified rapidly, prompting the formation of an emergency committee of the Duma.

The committee, composed of liberal politicians, assumed formal governmental powers and declared itself the Provisional Government of Russia on March 1. The other important political body that surfaced at this time was the Petrograd Soviet (Council) of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies, an organization composed of elected deputies representing the city’s workers and soldiers. (The soviet had formed during the 1905 revolution but then had been outlawed

T

Lenin addresses rally Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin addresses a rally of Red Army troops in Moscow’s Red Square on May 25, 1919, during the Russian Civil War. SOVFOTO-EASTFOTO

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 12,- sunday 13, April, 2014

PAGE 44

Archive

Montréal, second largest city in Canada

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ontréal, city in Îlede-Montréal County, southern Québec province, Canada.

The second largest city in Canada, Montréal is one of Canada’s leading commercial, industrial, and service centers. It is also a center of Canadian intellectual and cultural life and the chief cultural center of the French part of Canada. Most of the residents are of French descent and speak the French language; however, a significant minority speaks English, giving Montréal a bilingual character.

Founded by the French in 1642, Montréal is one of the oldest cities in North America. Its name comes from the old French form of the name of the mountain, Mount Royal, that dominates the city. Montréal has a northern climate, with a mean July temperature range of 15° to 26°C (60° to 79°F) and a mean January range of -15° to -6°C (5° to 22°F). With an average yearly snowfall of 214 cm (84 in), winter snowdrifts can become deep, and popular winter activities are skating, skiing, and ice hockey.

Montréal, Québec Montréal is the largest city in the Canadian province of Québec. It is also a major center for commerce, manufacturing, transportation, and finance. Most of the people of Montréal speak French as their first language.

Matt Bradley/ImageQuest

Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours, built in 1771, is one of oldest churches in the city of Montréal, Québec. It is located in the section known as Old Montréal on Rue St.Paul. Unlike the rest of the city, which has been modernized, the architecture in this area has been preserved.

S.S.C. Photo Center A.S.C.

Habitat Project The Habitat housing complex, designed by Canadian architect Moshe Safdie for Expo ’67 in Montréal, Canada, was the first major prefabricated housing project ever constructed.

Vladpans/Leo de Wys, Inc.

Expo ‘67 Montréal hosted the 1967 World’s Fair. Expo ’67 included numerous international exhibits and attractions, including the geodesic dome pictured here, which served as the United States pavilion. The fair was held on two islands, Sainte-Hélène and Notre Dame, in the Saint Lawrence River, and the site continues to host exhibits and summer festivals.

Friedmann/Photo Researchers, Inc.

Montréal City Hall Montréal’s City Hall (Hôtel de Ville) was designed by Canadian architect Henry Maurice Perrault. Built in 1875 in a revival style known as Second Empire, it was destroyed by fire and rebuilt in 1926. The Second Empire style, which originated in France under Emperor Napoleon III, featured corner towers and steeply sloping mansard roofs.

Carl Purcell/Corbis

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 12,- sunday 13, April, 2014

Page 45

International

Missing Malaysian plane: How much will MH370 search cost?

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n the month since Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 disappeared en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, search and rescue teams have patrolled areas of the southern Indian ocean, thousands of kilometres apart.

Planes, ships and submarines have all been deployed.

China, Australia, Malaysia, the US, the UK New Zealand, Japan and South Korea have all contributed to the search. So how much is it costing, and who pays?

Malaysia has refused to be drawn.

Acting Transport Minister Hishamuddin Hussein told reporters that the cost of mounting the search was “immaterial” when set against the need to bring solace to the families of the missing.

But mounting a search operation on this scale, and for this length of time, does not come cheap. The bill so far probably runs to £20-25m ($3342m), estimates Peter Roberts, senior research fellow in sea power and maritime studies at the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi).

This includes the cost of fuel, spare parts, and transporting supplies, as well as the relocation of staff even costs such as cancelled leave can push up the final bill.

‘Sense of brotherhood’ Most of the financial burden will be borne by the countries who have contributed their forces.

For example, Australia deployed

a navy replenishment vessel, HMAS Success, two weeks ago. It costs AU$550,000 a day to operate, says the Department of Defence, so that comes to $7.7m ($7.2m; £4.3m) already.

And that is just a single ship.

HMAS Toowoomba, which has also been involved, costs AU$380,000.

The US Department of Defense set aside $4m to help the search: between 8 and 24 March, it spent $3.2m, a spokesman told reporters in Washington.

The UK has sent a survey ship, HMS Echo, which is equipped with sensitive underwater detection equipment. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) is not yet putting a price tag on the British role.

“The operation to locate flight MH370 is ongoing as is the work to fully identify the costs,” the MoD told the BBC in a statement.

In the end, the cost of sending HMS Echo to the waters off Australia will be met from Treasury contingency funds, says Mr Roberts. Governments will take the costs within their budget “and accept they have to do it”.

The ship will stay there as long as it has a role to play, he says: “Mariners have got a very strong sense of brotherhood: saving life at sea is the right thing to do.”

Once the search is completed, attention is likely to turn to improving the tracking technology.

“It is hard for anyone to imagine

HMS Echo carries sophisticated underwater detection equipment that we can’t continuously track aircraft anywhere in the world,” says Mr Roberts.

There, the most expensive part of the process will not be the development or fitting of any technology, but the cost of getting it accepted and standardised by aviation regulators around the world.

The most expensive salvage operation in aviation history came after an Air France flight from Rio de Janeiro to Paris crashed in the Atlantic in 2009.

After multiple searches over three years, the final bill came to 32m euros (£26m; $44m).

For now, Australia has joined

Malaysia in downplaying the cost factor: Prime Minister Tony Abbott has vowed to ‘’spend what we need to spend to get this job done.”

He has called it “an act of international citizenship on Australia’s part,’’ but added: ‘’At some point there might need to be a reckoning’’.

EU braces to support Ukraine on justice system

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he UK, Poland and Sweden have proposed that a European Union civilian mission be set up to help Ukraine improve its justice system.

In a leaked joint paper the three countries argue that “re-establishing confidence in the rule of law in Ukraine will be vital for future stability”.

The idea is due to be discussed by ambassadors to the EU in Brussels on Monday afternoon.

Those same ambassadors will also be presented with their biggest

dilemma over the whole Ukraine crisis: how to respond if Russia were to invade eastern Ukraine?

Most seriously of all, how much pain would Europe be willing to endure as a result of any Russian retaliation to further sanctions?

The UK, Poland and Sweden suggest that their proposed mission would be set up under the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy. It would see experts in law and order deployed to Ukraine “monitoring, mentoring and advising” officials in both central and regional govern-

Pro- Ukraine supporters during a march

ment.

The European Commission has also announced that a “support group”, similar to the task forces put in place to help Greece and Cyprus through their financial crises, is to be set up.

It will be made up of staff from countries in the EU with specific expertise. They will provide technical help to officials in Kiev - and will focus on reforming the political and economic systems in the country.

Red rag to a Russian bull

It is part of a package of measures - as the EU sees it - to support Ukraine and its interim government.

Other measures include development assistance, a loan of 1.6 bn euros (£1.3bn; $2.2bn) to help it pay off some of its debts as well as supporting economic reforms, the temporary removal of customs duties on Ukrainian exports to the EU, and a programme to lessen Ukraine’s energy dependence on Russia.

Many in Ukraine will welcome such measures. The protests in Kiev and elsewhere focused on the need for reform to the public sector, particularly the rule of law and order and tackling corruption.

The EU’s increasing involvement in Ukraine however will be a red rag to a Russian bull. It will be perceived as more interference from Brussels in a sovereign nation.

“This has become about whether Ukraine has a sovereign right to make its own decisions,” one senior diplomatic source in Brussels said recently.

The package of measures form one plank of EU policy on the Ukraine question. Encouraging a pro-European government in Kiev to continue along the path on which it has set itself.

The cost of sanctions The other side of the policy sanctioning Russia for its stance - is also being further discussed.

EU ambassadors in Brussels are being brought up to date on extra measures - and their potential costs to Europe - that could be imposed if Russia were to invade eastern Ukraine.

So called “Stage 3” sanctions

could include curbs on Russian banks and financial services firms.

There might be measures taken against Russia’s dominant oil and gas sectors.

It is understood the European Commission and the EU’s foreign policy arm, the European External Action Service, are continuing to work on the various options for such sanctions, and what the Russian response to each would be.

“There would be a cost to Europe for doing this,” said one source. Any cost would have to be shared across the 28 countries that make up the EU, but how to do this fairly?

Germany could be hit by Moscow because of its reliance on Russian energy supplies. France could suffer because of a deal to supply Moscow with two navy ships worth 1.2 bn euros to the struggling French economy. Britain is nervous because so much Russian money is tied up in London’s financial sector. All are vulnerable. As are many smaller EU states.

The precise sanctions being discussed are not being made public.

One source said the details are being kept to a “very limited number of people” because it is market- sensitive information.

The measures will be considered by EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg next week. They will wish to have various scenarios ready were Russia to invade eastern Ukraine.

Then there is the meeting of the foreign ministers of Ukraine, Russia, the US and the EU’s top foreign policy official. That is due to take place next week, in Europe.

Page 46

International

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 12,- sunday 13, April, 2014

Syrian refugees fear permanent exile in Lebanon’s camps

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yrian refugees have flooded into Lebanon since the start of the conflict in their country three years ago, swelling the population by more than 25%.

Before the war, Syria was a lower middle-income country, and many of its refugees have been able to afford to rent vacant apartments throughout the country.

For the less fortunate however, shelter has been found in vast, informal tented camps in the Bekaa Valley - and in Beirut’s Sabra and Shatila camps, known for the infamous massacre of hundreds of Palestinian refugees by Lebanese Christian militiamen during the 1982 Israeli invasion.

The camps are situated less than 4km (2.5 miles) from central Beirut’s tree-lined promenades, uncomfortably entrenched in the predominantly Shia district of Dahiyeh.

They are urban slums, confined to an area of about 1.3 sq km (0.5 square miles), with more than 10,000 people living in desperate conditions worlds away from the cosmopolitan districts barely 10 minutes’ drive away.

“Life in Syria was better than it is here, and if I had the money to return I would,” says Mohammed, an elderly man who brought his family from Yarmouk in southern Damascus.

“The rent cripples me - it’s $200 (£120) for the room I share with my family. There are rats everywhere. The water is salty and stings your eyes when you wash. I haven’t found a job in the camp yet, so I never know if I am able to provide the money for rent.”

Repercussion worries Refugees, both Palestinians and Syrians who are newly arrived at Sabra and Shatila, rely on aid money from local non-governmental organisations and from the United Nations.

Sabra and Shatila is officially a camp for the Palestinians who fled from the Arab-Israeli wars of 1948 and 1967, and humanitarian missions are run by the UN Relief and Works

Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), rather than the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

However, UNRWA has been informally providing some aid for Syrians on behalf of the UNHCR. Some Syrians have been able to claim up to 75% of the cost of lifesaving surgery, and some have been eligible to receive a “blue card”, which entitles them to about $130 (£78) of food per month.

Eligibility is determined by family size, number of dependents, and whether or not potential recipients are in work.

However, there are many Syrians who have refused to register with UN agencies in Lebanon, out of fear that their names might be discovered by the Syrian government and that they might be accused of being defectors.

Those with relatives still trapped in Syria often worry that they will be subject to reprisal attacks, or that they themselves will be targeted if they ever return.

Najwa, a mother of five from the northern province of Idlib, came to the camp five months ago with her three daughters.

Her two sons remained in Syria.

She recently learned that one of them had been killed.

The whereabouts of her second son are unknown, and because of this she does not want her full name to be published.

She lost her blue card two months ago and has been asking for a new one, but has been told that she cannot reapply.

“Every two days the landlord comes to my house and says that if I do not pay the rent he will throw me out,” she says.

“There is no-one here to help me - I receive money from a local Syrian NGO for food, but I do not have help with the rent. I have nowhere else to go - but anywhere would be better than

Syrian children in a refugee camp in Lebanon here.”

Armed gangs Estimates for the population of Sabra and Shatila vary from about 10,000 to 22,000, swollen by the influx of refugees.

Despite the growth in the number of inhabitants, the camps are prohibited by the Lebanese authorities from expanding outwards, so both are slowly growing upwards.

Many breeze-block houses, which comprise small square rooms of about 25-30 sq m (80-100 sqft), are now four or five storeys high, sometimes more.

The tapering streets, many of which are barely a metre wide, are now cast in near-permanent darkness, save for a few hours around noon when the sunlight can penetrate through the concrete canopy.

The lack of fresh air and abundance of open sewers, coupled with the incredibly dense population, also contributes to spread of disease in the camp.

With their rabbit-warren-like alleyways and informal housing, the geography of the camps make it nearly impossible for large NGOs to operate there.

Dozens of local militia and armed criminal gangs have taken advantage of the camp’s inaccessibility to run black markets there. Their presence also prevents international organisations from obtaining insurance to allow their workers to enter.

‘No return’ But it is this obscurity, as well as the comparatively low cost of living, which makes many Sunni refugees from Syr-

ia seek shelter there.

Despite being located in predominately Shia southern Beirut, living among the mostly Sunni Palestinian refugees is considered a better option than other areas of the capital, where tensions with Christians have forced some Syrian families to leave.

Syrians adapting to life inside the camp spoke of their fears for the future.

When they first arrived in Beirut, some at the earlier stages of the Syrian uprising, they took with them the keys and deeds to their property, expecting to return in a matter of months.

As the conflict rages on though, many Syrians living with Palestinian refugees - whose community has now been in Lebanon for more than 60 years - fear they could share the same fate in years to come.

The Kenyan Muslim cleric who predicted he would be killed

P

olice in Kenya say they have detained nearly 4,000 people in the past week in a massive security operation. The arrests come after the killing of a controversial Muslim preacher in the city of Mombasa.

Abubakar Shariff Ahmed’s supporters have accused the Kenyan secu-

Makaburi

rity forces of being behind the shooting.

Suspicion has fallen in particular on the Anti-Terror Police Unit (ATPU), which is funded by the UK and US. Gabriel Gatehouse of the BBC who met him in December said: an affable man with a bad reputation. His name featured on a UN sanctions list, ac-

cused of facilitating and recruiting terrorists.

He was more commonly known as Makaburi. It means “graveyard” in Swahili. He had told me that Kenyan police were planning to assassinate him.

“I do not fear for my safety,” he had said at his fourth floor flat in the Majengo area of Mombasa.

“I know they are going to kill me.

But I am a true Muslim. I believe I will only die the day Allah has ordained for me to die. Not a moment before, not a moment after.”

‘Two final gunshots’ The moment of his death came shortly after 6pm on 1 April. Makaburi was leaving a courthouse on the outskirts of Mombasa. Witnesses told us they saw a car approaching from out of town. It did a U-turn outside a highsecurity prison attached to the court.

“That’s when I heard gunfire,” said Mohammed Saidi, who was with Makaburi when he was shot.

“We pushed each other as we tried to get down, so that we wouldn’t get hit.

We dived into a ditch and lay down. I heard two final gunshots. Then everything went silent.”

Makaburi was the third high-profile terror suspect to be shot and killed along the same stretch of road in the

past two years.

In private, Kenyan security officials have made no secret of their involvement in the killing of terror suspects.

Late last year, a Mombasa-based security officer told me Makaburi’s “days were numbered”.

When I spoke to that same officer last week, he said his unit had not been directly involved in the shooting, but that the hit had been planned and executed by security officers from outside Mombasa.

Al Amin Kimathi, a Nairobi-based human rights activist, reports having similar conversations.

“I’ve spoken to people within the security agencies who own up and even come out to say: ‘You ain’t seen nothing yet, we are going to do more of this. We kill, we shoot them to kill, not to detain them’.”

Britain accused That conversation, MrKimathi said, took place at one of the offices of the ATPU, which receives training and funding from the UK and the US. In a report published last November, two human rights groups documented what they said were dozens of cases of disappearances and extrajudicial killings carried out by the ATPU in recent years.

Makaburi himself had made simi-

lar accusations.

He had told me: “The British government is helping the ATPU in Kenya kill Muslims by training them and providing them with logistical support and giving them money. And we are supposed to be the terrorists.”

It’s not clear whether the ATPU was involved in the shooting of Makaburi, but late last year one ATPU officer told me the police had lost faith in the courts and preferred instead to “eliminate” terror suspects.

KhelefKhalifa, who runs the Mombasa-based group Muslims for Human Rights, which co-authored November’s report, fears the methods employed by the ATPU, far from reducing radicalisation, will have the opposite effect.

“If Britain or any other Western country fund this unit, and this unit violates the rights of Kenyans, so the anger also goes to the British taxpayers: why is their money being used for these extrajudicial killings?”

There is no doubt Kenya has a problem with terrorism, and with radicalisation.

In response to a recent series of explosions, shootings and terror alerts, the security forces have deployed extra officers across the country. Thousands of people, many of them ethnic Somalis, have been detained.

Stories:BBC

PAGE 47

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 12,- sunday 13, April, 2014

Back Page Comment

Richer economy, poorer people Contd from Back Page

comparison, Brazil generates 100,000 MW for its 201 million people. Power consumption per capita in the Nigeria is 155kWh, around half of the global average, and Nigerians pay over the odds for their energy. According to the Adam Smith Institute, Nigerians pay around 50¢ per kWh burning candles and kerosene; manufacturers pay more than 35¢ per kWh for diesel generation. Around 40 percent of the cost of doing business is power, and the cost to the economy of power shortages is estimated in the tens of billions of dollars per year. n October 2013, the government handed over 15 state-owned generating companies to their new owners, after an auction that attracted more than 400 interested parties and $2.5 billion in bids.

The second phase of the privatisation process is also now underway, with the government selling up to 80 per cent of its stake in 10 generating companies. The hope is that investments in generation will result in transformative changes to the country’s business environment.

“I suspect that in five years’ time, we’ll look back and wonder why we didn’t do this before,” says Andrew Alli, the CEO of the Africa Finance Corporation.

These changes are, for long-term investors in Nigeria, very significant— probably far more so than the nominal 89 percent jump in the GDP. Likewise, for average Nigerians the rebasing has no practical impact on their lives, except to bring the inequities in development metrics more sharply into focus.

“While the rebasing makes a number of metrics look very good—the debt [to GDP] ratio comes down, the deficit ratio comes down—it also makes a number of others less impressive,” says David Faulkner, HSBC’s chief economist for sub-Saharan Africa. “Education spending as a share of GDP is going to be much smaller now.

Revenues from the non-oil economy are going to be tiny, and it highlights that those are challenges that Nigeria is going to have to address.”

“Favorable demographics” are one of the reasons routinely given by economists for Nigeria’s potential. In a speech in Lagos last month, Jim O’Neil—who coined the acronym “BRIC” and has become the go-to economist for emerging market shorthand—said that no country experiencing such rapid population growth had failed to emerge.

“You’ve seen it in China and India, where the large populations were a factor of the growth in the economy in absolute terms,” Faulkner says. “Obviously it requires improvements in productivity to ensure that you’re also getting rapid increases in GDP per capita and employment. I think it provides a significant opportunity for Nigeria to become a bigger player.”

If the country can sustain its current growth rates of 6-7 percent over the next decade, it could be a $1 trillion economy by 2025, Faulkner adds. The hope is that this leads to job creation and social development.

“We see it as a potential demographic dividend that’s waiting to happen,” he says.

“But it’s key that those young people find unemployment, otherwise it could be a demographic disaster.”

The Alaba Market, in Nigeria’s commercial capital of Lagos, is a chaotic mass of noise, vehicles and electronics shops; open air stalls selling software

I

A typical Nigerian settlement depicting squalour

and movies of dubious provenance and tiny dark rooms housing the country’s ruthlessly profiteering film producers.

Financed at Alaba and filmed in housesturned-sets, ‘Nollywood’ has become a $500 million-a year business, the second largest film industry in the world by volume and Africa’s biggest by some distance. Its video CDs and DVDs—some legitimate copies, many not—play in households and businesses throughout Africa and African communities worldwide, where its settings and universal stories of redemption, lust and greed resonate. Jason Njoku, a BritishNigerian serial entrepreneur, has built a world leader in Nollywood distribution online—a for the African Diaspora.

His company, Iroko, took a globallyconsumed but little understood product and built a business model around ease of access, solving many of the problems of intellectual property along the way. The company has six million viewers in 178 countries Through Tiger Global and his new company,Rise Capital, Nazar Yasin has twice invested in Iroko, most recently in December 2013. He is one of a growing group ofinternational investors awake to the potential of African content businesses.

‘When you look at what’s going on in Africa, there’s obviously a large population there— about a billion people. Up to 70 percent of the content that those people consume is African origin content,” Yasin says. Iroko, which has expanded into music, postproduction and licensing of movies for inflight entertainment, and sits in a pivotal point in the industry, able to identify and guide trends, according to Yasin. For the time being, the company’s biggest audience is online and outside of Africa. CEO Njoku has said several times that the real growth will come once the continent itself opens up. For content providers, domestic and international, access remains a huge problem. “There are fewer than 50 movie

theaters in sub-Saharan Africa,” Yasin says. “There are only 6-7 million pay TV households in all of Africa. There’s not a lot of broadcast TV. There’s not a lot of ways to actually access content,” Yasin says. “Then consider the fact that most people... do have a mobile phone.” The answer, then, will be online, and more likely than not, it will be mobile. The mobile telecommunications boom in sub-Saharan Africa was one of the loudest signifiers of the region’s economic development over the last decade. Without hard-wired telephone networks, cellphones spread rapidly, with penetration in some countries now approaching saturation point. As well as launching multi-billion dollar investments into African telecoms businesses, the arrival of near-ubiquitous cellphones drove a wave of innovation by local entrepreneurs. On the back of a breakthrough in mobile payments, the Kenyan capital Nairobi has become a haven for risk-taking venture capitalists searching for the big thing in frontier markets tech.

Lagos could soon follow, backed by local and international financiers. The same infrastructure gap that held back fixed-line telephones has curtailed the growth of subSaharan Africa’s adoption of the internet.

While urban areas have had access, either through satellites or one of the few fibre optic cables that served the continent, in many cases bandwidth has been prohibitively expensive. Data from the International Telecommunications Union of the UN puts internet penetration in Africa at around 16 percent, although there is wild variation between countries. One percent of Ethiopians are online, compared with 28 percent of Kenyans. That environment is changing. In the past five years, several large cables have made landfall into West and East Africa, serving the economic hubs of Lagos and Nairobi. At the same time, the cost of data-enabled phones and tablets has come down considerably,

bringing them into the price range of the continent’s emerging middle class. As well as being one of the few global bright spots for Blackberry, Africa is an emerging center of growth for smartphone makers.

A November 2013 report by the McKinsey Global Institute predicts that between now and 2025, the number of internetenabled phones used on the continent will rise from 67 million to 360 million, with internet penetration exploding to around 50 percent. In absolute terms, that means more than 450 million people could come online in the next decade and a half.

Penetration of cellphones in Nigeria is 68 percent; internet penetration is 28 percent.

With a growing, urbanising population of nearly 170 million people and GDP growth predicted at more than 6.5 percent per annum for the next four years, the potential commercial opportunity is huge.

While African consumers are used to using the internet through a small screen, poor speeds and mobile platforms have meant that much of Africa’s traffic has been related to browsing and communication.

As bandwidth becomes available and affordable, streaming content is likely to be more popular. Right now, only around 6 percent of African traffic is video, according to the Sandvine Global Internet Phenomena Report, a biannual rundown of global web use. Sandvine predicts that the continent will be the fastest new adopter of video applications in the world. Like every other market, they will expect content that speaks to them directly. From the Sahara downwards, Nollywood, along with European football, is a constant presence on African television screens. While cultures may differ across Africa’s vast geography, many African consumers find common reference points in Nigerian stories. Brand Nollywood is already priceless; a ready-made product for Africa’s online video revolution.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 12,- sunday 13, April, 2014

PAGE 48

Business

NITDA CPC tasks Arik Airline over alleged inhuman treatment of passengers gets new DG

By Clem Khena-Ogbena

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he Consumer Protection Council (CPC) has taken Arik Airline to task over its reported ill-treatment of passengers of its New York- bound flight WT3107 penultimate Monday .

A statement issued by the Deputy Director, Public Relations, Mr.AbiodunObimuyiwa, said that the airline was reported to have kept the passengers of the flight on board for about one and half hours under suffocating

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he Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr Musa Sada, said the Federal Government would partner with Kaduna Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KACCIMA) and local investors to develop the mining sector.

He made the disclosure when a delegation from the Chamber visited him in Abuja on Friday.

He said the Federal Government wanted Nigerians to be major players in the mining sector, noting that the existing collaboration between the government and stakeholders in the sector would be strengthened.

He lamented that operations in the sector were being dominated by Chinese and Indians and stressed the need for Nigerians to be exposed to the sector and participate fully.

The minister said that the ministry wanted to expand the scope of stakeholders in the industry and encourage them to develop the minerals and metals sector for enhanced economic development of the country.

He urged the delegates to establish cordial relationship with the mineral and metals unit of the ministry, whose mandate was to aid and guide investors on the areas of mining in the country.

He said the promotion of limestone and clay resources

condition, due to the breakdown of its air-conditioner.

According to media reports, the statement added, the Arik Air flight WT3107 of 31st March 2014 from Lagos to JFK New York was delayed in Lagos from a scheduled departure time of 11.50pm till 1.20am on 1st April 2014 under suffocating hot conditions, as the air conditioner of the plane did not function.

The report pointed out that the extreme discomfort led to some passengers taking off their clothing, due to the unbearable heat and that their request to

disembark while the problem lasted was not honoured.

The CPC has, however, taken up the complaints of the affected passengers as it demanded a full brief of the incident from the airline to enable it take an informed decision on the case.

The statement further said that the Council, in its letter dated April 10, 2014, directed the airline “to provide a full report of the alleged incident on or before Thursday 17th April 2014” since it would not want to “draw conclusions from media reports”.

Meanwhile, the Director General of the Council, Mrs. Dupe Atoki, has assured passengers of the affected flight that the agency’s intervention would ensure adequate redress for the alleged consumer abuse.

She expressed the commitment of her administration to the adequate protection of Nigerian consumers of all products and services, stressing that providers of goods and services in the country must exhibit best ethical practices in all their interactions with consumers.

by the Federal Government had led to increase in the number of ceramic companies in the country.

He assured that more Nigerians would be encouraged to participate in the activities in the mining sector.

Earlier, the KACCIMA President, Dr Abdul-Alimi Bello, said the visit was in appreciation of

the ministry’s participation at the recent 35th Kaduna International Trade Fair and to brief the minister on the chamber’s activities.

Bello said that KACCIMA, which had existed for 40 years, had significantly contributed to the socio-economic growth of the country, especially the Northern part.

He intimated the minister about the forthcoming Solid Minerals Exhibition to be organised by the chamber in Kaduna. (NAN) He also solicited the ministry’s partnership in the event, particularly in educating the public on activities in the mining sector. (NAN)

FG to partner KACCIMA, local investors to develop mining sector

L-R Emir of Lapai, Engr Umar Bago Tafida, the Sarkin Sudan of Kontagora, Alhaji Sa’idu Namaska, the speaker of the state Assembly, Barr Adamu Usman and the Governor of Niger state Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, during the official commissioning of Kontagora township roads and street lights, yesterday in Kontagora.

By Clem Khena-Ogbena

F

ederal Government has approved the appointment of Mr Peter Jack as the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

His appointment, which took effect from the April 7, 2014, was for a first term of four years, according to a statement issued by the Acting Head, Corporate Affairs, NITDA, Mrs. Hadiza Umar.

According to the statement, Jackholds a BSc. in Chemical Engineering, ObafemiAwolowo University Ile Ife, a Masters Degree in Chemical Engineering and an MBA, both from the University of Lagos.

It further said Jackattended the International Information Technology Policy Programme, College of Engineering, Seoul National University, South Korea in 2007, adding that he designed and implemented the Niger Delta Youth Computer Training Programme for the Niger Delta Development Commission in 2003.

Jack started as a Training Consultant with NITDA on 1st August, 2001, and later became the Technical Assistant to the then Director General, Prof.

C.O. Angaye in January 2006 on temporary appointment. His appointment was terminated on 1st March, 2007 to enable him pursue a PhD programme in South Korea, the statement noted.

Former DG of NITDA, Prof.

CleopasAngaye, retired in July 2013, having served for two terms with total of eight years, handed over to the Director, Software and Outsourcing, Dr. AshiruDaura, who acted as the Director General of the agency until Jack’s appointment

Minister signs $18.3bn FCT housing agreement

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he Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Sen. Bala Mohammed, said the city’s authorities had given 1,264.8 hectares of land to an investor for a housing programme.

Mohammed said that the land was located at Kuje, on the Airport Road in the capital territory.

He said this on Friday in Abuja while signing an18.3 billion dollars (about N2.76 trillion) agreement with the investor, Centenary City Plc, for the project in Abuja on Friday.

He said that the FCT had given the Certificate of Occupancy of the land to the company, explaining that the document

would enable the firm to access funds to accelerate development of infrastructure on the land.

He said that the project would be carried out in seven phases and would be completed within 60 months.

The minister stated that the project, which conceptual and engineering designs had been completed, would provide more than 800,000 jobs.

He added that the project would also boost the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the country.

According to him, the project will create wealth and development to our economy.

He said that FCT would take five per cent equity of value of the project in line with global practice.

Bala added that that Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) would monitor the project to ensure compliance with Abuja Master Plan.

In his speech, the Executive Secretary of FCDA, MrAdamuIsmaila, said that the investor had paid compensation for economic trees, crops and to owners of property on the affected land. ``The company has adequately paid the amount required for all these.

``The next stage is to conduct a biometric and data capturing exercise of the indigenes’ property and find a site where the company will build houses for them before relocating them,’’ Ismaila said.

Earlier, the Managing Director of Centenary City, Mr Michael Odenigwe, said that the company paid N1.2 billion as compensation for valuables on the land.

Odenigwe said that 20 per cent of the land would be used for residential apartments while 80 per cent would be for commercial projects, including a five-star hotel and convention centre.

(NAN)

Mr Peter Jack

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 12,- sunday 13, April, 2014

PAGE 49

Business Feature NEF: Bringing hope to the unemployed

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nitiating meatures that will alleviate the plight of Nigeria’s job seekers, retirees, unrewarded and unappreciated employees, opportunity seekers, the professionally burnt out individuals and the likes, has become one of the top most concerns of the Nigeria Entrepreneurs Forum (NEF).

The NEF drives these measures through a well and carefully planned bi-monthly training programme, supported by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, which generously provided some sort of infrastructural facilities, domiciled in the ministry itself, to ease the efforts of the Forum and enable it maximise its gains within the limit of available resources. Propelled by the dire need to contribute its own quota to the overall development of the nation’s economy, through growing new crops of small and medium entrepreneurs (SMEs), and indeed, improving the capacity of the already existing ones, the Forum has instituted a bi-monthly training programme, tagged “How to start your own business seminar”, which is designed for individuals to appreciate and explore the opportunities in the business ownership.

Incidentally, NEF’s mandate is in tandem with the basic vision of Nigerian government--creating a viable, formidable and reliable private sector-based economy-and this vision has further been illuminated by the seminar theme: “Combating Unemployment and Creating Wealth through Entrepreneurship”.

It might not be unreasonable to say this initiative is apt and timely, given the fact that while the nation’s workforce is steadily on the rise, the job opportunities are progressively drying up, with the chances of securing employments

in government-owned establishments getting slimmer and slimmer. And to close this gap, private initiative like NEF has become indispensable in Nigerian economy, especially when appreciating the likely benefits to seminar participants.

Trainees are taught all they need to know about setting up their own business; motivated to actually begin their own business; assisted to secure financial freedom and selfesteem; informed where to secure financial assistance to start off and expand the business; educated on different government programmes geared towards supporting personal business; and helped to access available government loans or grants with NERFund, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN), SIRA, among others.

These benefits are , indeed, among the expectations of the participants at the maiden edition of NEF bi-monthly seminar, held on March 26, 2014, at the NEF Capacity Centre, at Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Abuja, where the President of the Forum, Dr. Sidney Inegbedion, gave an overview of the Nigerian economy and the importance of business ownership, describing Nigeria as a country with massive unemployment and wasted talents, especially among the youth. He added that restiveness and anti-social behaviours, high population growth rate, ruralurban migraton, and inadequate infrastructure to support sustainable development, have continued to plague the nation’s economy.

He stated further, “Reason for the above could be traced to disarticulation arising from the contradiction between colonial policies and independencerelated policies, lack of symbiotic

NEF President, Dr. Sidney E. Inegbedion relationship between the public and the private sectors, the governors and the governed”, adding that the birth of NEF was necessitated by the need “to encourage new business start-ups and the sustenance of existing ones, provide entrepreneurship training initiatives, foster business-to-business networking, promote trade and investment, offer funding assistance and provide business advisory advocacy.

Explaining the prospects for business ownership in this initiative, the NEF president stated that the objectives inherent

A multitude of unemployed youth trying their luck for limited vacancies

Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga

in “How to Start Your Business Seminar” include, among others, “Creating a platform where the would-be entrepreneurs could come together to listen to experienced people who have started their ventures and thus, nipping off the fears of business ownership; bringing about the success that exists wihin individuals through inner change; providing leadership and role model for people who truly want to venture into private businesses; bringing about self awareness, attitudinal and behavioural transformation among individuals so as to stimulate them to become entrepreneurs with candid attitude or to work on their employability skill, thus making them better entrepreneurs.”

Commenting on the seminar, a participant, Williams Ajayi, who runs a barbing saloon outfit, at Rubochi, in Kuje Area Council, stated, “I have learnt many things from this programme, especially on how to start a business.

Nevertheless, i am so happy for this seminar and my advice is that i want to appeal to NEF to assist or support me in financial aspect, in order to expand my business.

And i believe if i am supported with finance, this business will sustain me and my family till the end of my life.”

Also, Biki Priscilla, another participant and an Interior Decorator, while explaining her benefits so far from the programme, remarked, “The lesson i have learnt is way cheaper than the cost of the seminar. The lecture hall is comfortable and i appreciate the refreshment”. She, however, confessed: “I came with the mindset of what will i hear today that i have not heard before?

But i have learnt the need to start up my business now, and why it is necessary to have more than one business, meaning that i will have more than one channel of making money.” The interior decorator further said that she has learnt, “How to earn residual income by being the business owner or investor rather than being just an employee”, adding she has also been taught the “importance of having a registered company, the challenges after i would have started my business, how to manage the challenges i might or will face , and how i can be helped to set up or expand my business”.

She noted that so many people are not aware of the Forum, which , according to her, is rich in ideas and called for more publicity for the Forum.

Besides, in the comment of Njideka Nwabudike, a participant, the trainee remarked, “In general, i’ m persuaded to start my own enterprise. I look out for my name among the entrepreneurs making waves in the next five years.”, adding: “I’m quite impressed with the delivery of the seminar topic.

The speakers or resource persons brought their experience and expertise to bear on the seminar, and to the level of their students’ understanding.”

Another participant and Technical Services and Digital Security operator, Joseph Okafo, pointed out, “This programme is quite helpful and is going a long way to help me to be able to take off from here and become a self made man. This programme should be given more time and be done weekly, because Nigerians need to know these things and have this awareness to help them grow.”

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 12,- sunday 13, April, 2014

PAGE 50

Healthy Living

The dental team

With

Dr. Samuel Omodele Awosolu 08108155239 (SMS only) samawosolu@yahoo.co.uk (Text only)

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he dental team consists of the dental practitioner (dentist) and the ancillary/supportive

staff.

Dentistry is a profession that relies on team work.

It also has subspecialties and is often more than the perception of tooth removal and tooth paste. We will look at the various health professionals and their roles in the dental health profession generally.

The dental profession is one which has not benefitted from public enlightenment programmes. It has preventive, curative rehabilitation aspects.

There is disproportionate number of qualified professionals to the population ratio in the country. The reasons that suffice are the few dental school available for training dentists, the lopsided regional spread of these training centers.

The more training centers being situated mainly in the geographical south of Nigeria, with the increasing factor of insecurity in parts of the country – This creates a lopsided supply/ demand ration of dentists – A situation making room for in accessibility to services short fall of services and the dreaded Quackery.

The outlay for private dental practice is considerable owing to the fact that the structure of dentistry most especially infrastructure is not sourced locally, it has to be imported wholly.

In reality on almost every individual requires some form of oral health consultation at one time or the other in their life time, nowhere is the maxim prevention being a better antecedent then cure most relevant than in oral health and the irony of missed opportunities glaring.

Dentist: The dentist heads the team of unless specialized in subspecialities of dentistry (dentistry has subspecialities like oral and maxillofacial

surgery, prosthetic dentistry/Restorative dentistry community/ preventive dentistry. Child dental health/ paedatric dentistry (Orthodontics), Oral Medicine/Oral pathology forensic odontologists/ paleodontologists) will be a general dental practitioner.

They are in some government hospitals, general hospitals, teaching hospitals, private and group practices.

They offer services ranging from consultation/ preventive/ curative/ restorative work.

He is trained to be able to collaborate with the medical practitioner to detect, recognize, early signs and symptoms of innocuous disease conditions – the month is the gateway to the body in its unigive role practically every know disease state or medical condition has an oral manifestation or sign/symptoms. This detected in time by a cursory visit or examination to the dentist could be a life-saver.

DENTAL HYGIENIST/ DENTAL THERAPISTS: hey are professionals who complement the dentists in various roles; they have been used in the fore front of the preventive oral health in different settings. They do function in giving different treatment to scope in different counties.

Currently they are found mainly in the government hospitals giving oral health education. They are also involved in giving therapies which are scaling and polishing of the teeth oral hygiene instructions some countries actually allow them to carry out preventive/curative treatments such as application of topical fluoridation, simple canty fillings with glass ionomer cements, fisture sealants etc.

There are even fewer centres raining dental therapists in oral health care delivery cannot be overemphasized like every profession, ethics and clear guidelines are essential.

The armed forces due to their needs and history have from history

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been good at training good quality ancillary, supportive medical personnel.

A good example is the Nigerian army medical training school. Consulties in war time situation has reduced especially with the advanced armies due to the roles of ancillary staff and their training – after all low army doctors/ dentists and oral health professional’s inllingly opt for a career in the armed forces these days?

The profession is currently still evolving in Nigeria and in due course I believe will be more relevant and recognized in the team work process of oral health care delivery.

DENTAL TECHNOLOGISTS/ LAB TECHNICIANS: Oral health delivery services have a curative/ relabilitative arm which takes into cognizance the restoration of acsthetics and function of the oral and facial complex.

Like every part of the human body the mouth under goes change tissues are worn, lost and reads to be replaced.

The dental technologists are involved in the manufacture in the intricate laboratory work of fabricating replacement teeth, faciat structures etc. these can be made of various materials, acrylic, porcelain, metals like Gold, cobalt chromium, tilanium implants etc.

They also help fabricate orthodontic appliances to correct malaliped teeth whether removable or fixed Broies – something a kin to a status symbol amongst movie stars and personalities (ugly Betty sitcom) here are appliances that are fabricated to help the physically challenged in the stroke, celebral palsy, doun’s syndrome – The handles of their tooth brushes needed to be cusfomsed for group people with arthritis tremors etc.

Prosthesis like artificial eyes, ears, nose with onagrits is also fabricated by maxillofacial prosthesis.

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DENTAL TECHNICIAN/ DENTAL SEERCITRY ASSISTANTS: They are the ones literarily seen as the dental nurses in the surgery. They complement the dentists in the delivery of four handed dentistry. They aid the dentists in the delivery of treatment, the mixing of omaterials, the cabruing of patients, the sterilization and disinfection of instruments.

A very experienced dental technician who has the advantage of working with many dentists may at times be invaluable as they may chip in critical situations knowing what instruments to bring next, in a procedure for example shade selection or color match. There is no sex – predilection as increasingly both male and female nurses are being trained.

In instances and some jurisdictions (counties) know to be permitted school visits to give health talk topical foundation even take dental radio graphs (x-rays) OTHER ANCILLARY STAFF: entistry like any team work involves back room rather I say front room staff like the administrator/ receptionists who are often the face of the practice to the outside world, they must be courteous smart, knowledgeable polite and organized. They arrange all appointments file, records, and computer work administration liaison telephone contacts, maintain diary feedback do patients, canvass literarily as a good experience goes a long way to making the clinical experience more palatable.

This one aspect I personally find very reglected most especially in the general hospitals settings – The setting often is most unfriendly and unprofessional as most front room reception staff are unsympathetic to the plight of the incoming patients which already is pathetic as most often they are in pain it is important that front room staff are highly motivated and kept on their toes. There is no hospitality more important than

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the front – room staff checks and balances to be carried out by sample surveys to evaluate these services by the hospital superintendants/ Administrative officers.

Staff like the handyman, handing the old electrical, plumbing work, cleaners, messengers, facility managers, Record clerks equipment manufacturers, maintenance, drivers (ambulance) proairement officers, peripheral out sourcing staff like the informative technologists who design website got the practice/ hospital accountants, auditors, lawyers, who design employment/job description contracts, bankers who fauliate letters of credits, mechanics who service and maintain fleet of vehicles.

CARE OF PROSTHESIS/ DENTURE: The artificial teeth/prosthesis needs attention. This leaflet will serve to give instructions and guide on the care of dentures/ prosthesis.

Do not sleep overnight with the removable prosthesis/denture in your mouth.

It needs to be dropped in a glass of clean water with any cleaning solution (diluted e.g. Milton, sodium hypochlorite or even warm water).

Do not use any abrasive substance to clean the denture use recommended denture cleaners brush, soft sponge only.

Do not use your denture as a bottle opener or use onto hard objects or sticky food as this can dislodge the dentures especially the upper one.

Use only recommended adhesives to help with the grip of upper dentures and prosthesis. f you notice any swelling or redness under the denture please remove the denture and contact your dentist for a checkup similarly should the denture become broken, keep all the pieces and contact the dentist so the laboratory can have it repaired.

This is applicable to all parts of the denture.

It is advisable to have spare denture made to deal with any emergences.

I

The dentist heads the team of unless specialized in subspecialities of dentistry (dentistry has subspecialities like oral and maxillofacial surgery, prosthetic dentistry/Restorative dentistry community/ preventive dentistry. Child dental health/ paedatric dentistry (Orthodontics), Oral Medicine/Oral pathology forensic odontologists/ paleodontologists) will be a general dental practitioner.

PAGE 51

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 12,- sunday 13, April, 2014

Give all your worries to God (I)

G

lory be to God! I’m pleased to welcome you again to your favourite column. Last week I began another series, and I took my text from Matt 6:25-34.I differentiated between planning and worrying, and said that God does not want you to worry. I started sharing with you six reasons you shouldn’t worry. I was only able to discuss threereasons before I rounded off, and these reasons were: (1) Worrying is a waste of time; it achieves nothing. (2)Most of the fears your worrying centers on don’t ever become a reality. (3) Worrying distracts you from finding and focusing on the right solution to the particular challenge you’re confronting.

I’ll start today by sharing with you the remaining three reasons you shouldn’t worry, and go further to show you how to overcome worrying.

Worrying reveals lack of faith in God. Jesus tells us that little faith is at the centre of worrying. Hear him: “And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won’t he more surely care for you? You have so little faith!” (Matt 6:30 NLT) But these days, it seems many people have degenerated from little faith to no faith in God. And I’ve no intention to change the words of the Master.

George Muller said, “The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.”That means anxiety (worry) will kill your faith, and true faith will kill your anxiety! Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. (Rom 10:17) If you’re worrying, it means you believe what your circumstances are saying more than what the Word of God is saying; you believe what the devil is saying more than what God is saying. If you’re a child of God, you should know

that God is in control of your life – not the devil. You should approach life by faith not by worrying. Protestant clergyman and abolitionist, Henry Ward Beecher said, “Every tomorrow has two handles.

We can take hold of it by the handle of anxiety or by the handle of faith.”Are you always using the handle of anxiety or the handle of faith?

Because God cares for you. This is another important reason you shouldn’t worry. God is the dependable CARETAKER. That’s why He’s asked you not to worry. He can handle your cares – your challenge or trouble. 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Casting the whole of your care – all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all – on Him for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.” (The Amplified Bible) You don’t need to worry because God cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. He’ll sustain you; He’ll not let you fall. (Ps 55:22) He will provide a way of escape for you in any situation. (1Cor 10:13)Rom. 8:28 assures that all things shall work together for your good, so why worry?

Because He cares for you, He’ll answer you if you call upon Him. “And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved.”

(Joel 2:32, Acts 2:21 NKJV) Rom. 10:13 alsoreiterates this Scripture. God cares for you, and you’re free to call on Him whenever you have any challenge. “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” (Jer 33:3 NKJV) Worrying is not good for your mental and physical health.Pro 12:25 says, “Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad.” (NKJV) Worrying robs you of your of peace. Studies have shown that worrying can cause depression,

tiredness, stomach ulcer, speeding up of the aging process, stress, and heart attack. It can open the door of your life to other sicknesses. You don’t have to allow it ¬– it’s within your power to do.

How to overcome worrying I’ll like to share with you what you need to do to overcome worry.

If your worrying is as a result of sin, repent, ask God for forgiveness and believe that He has forgiven you. “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” (Ps 103:12 NKJV) Jesus told that woman caught in adultery: “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” (John 8:10 NKJV) Don’t hide your sin; it’s a futile effort because God already knows all the details.

Commit your life to God and trust Him. If you’re not born again, first commit your heart to Jesus accepting him as your Lord and Savior. You cannot overcome worrying without committing your life to God and trusting Him that He cares for you no matter what, and has the best plan for you in all situations. “Commit your to the LORD; trust in him and he will act.”

(Ps. 37:5 NEB) Pro. 16:3 says, “Commit to the LORD all that you do, and your plans will be fulfilled.” (NEB) Seek God’s will in all you do. Make God’s will number one in your life and you won’t have to worry. Everything will turn out for your good. Prov 3:6 says, “Seek his [God’s] will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.” (NLT) Billy Graham said, “Anxiety is the natural result when our hopes are centred in anything short of God and his will for us.”I cannot agree more.

Be content with what God is doing in your life. What God is doing in your life now may not be the best you desire

From the Pulpit green pastures

By Pastor T. O. Banso cedarministryintl@yahoo.com GSM: 08033113523

but you must learn to be content knowing that God is not finished with you yet – your life is work-in-progress.

It’s not worrying that will make your life better than it is now.

Lack of contentment is the number one cause of worry in many people’s lives. Hear what Paul said: “Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to get along happily whether I have much or little. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything.

I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.

For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need.” (Phil 4:11-14 NLT) Did you see that?Paul learnt how to live whether he had much or little. He wasn’t worrying; he had learnt contentment.Still talking about contentment, Paul says, “So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.” (1 Tim 6:8 NLT) Everybody is not at the same level in life. There are those ahead of you and those you’re ahead. Don’t fret because of where you are. You still have a future to live. God will take care of you. If there’s anything good that’s not enough today, you will soon have abundance of it!Stop worrying. Heb. 13:5.says, “Stay away from the love of money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, ‘I will never fail you. I will never forsake you.’”

(NLT) This is where I’ll stop today. Has God spoken to you? Did you get anything from today’s message? Go and act on the Word you have received and it shall be well with you in Jesus’ name.

Next week, by the grace of God, I shall

bring you the concluding part of this series. Jesus loves you, and I do too.

TAKE ACTION! If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus. I urge you to take the following steps:*Admit you’re a sinner and you can’t save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start to attend a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching church.

There you will be taught how to grow in the Kingdom of God. Kindly say this prayer now: “0 Lord God, I come unto you today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and resurrected the third day.

I confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour and surrender my life to him today. I invite Jesus into my heart today. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank you Jesus for saving me and making me a child of God” I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations!

You will need to join a Bible believing, Bible teaching church in your area where you will be taught how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar of Lebanon.

May you grow into Christ in all things becoming all God wants you to be. I’ll be glad to hear from you.

The great priority in the Lord’s prayer Matthew 6:9,10 Prayer is the heart-to-heart communion with God. Beyond the sound of our words in prayer, our thoughts, attitude and desires are very significant. They give meaning to the words we say before God. So, prayer goes beyond the use of the right words. One may use the right words in prayer, but if the heart, attitude and dispositions are wrong before God, the prayer becomes empty babbling, the babbling of a hypocrite.

For instance, I cannot say: “Our” if I live a selfish, self-centred life, living only for myself. Nor can I say “Father” if my name is not in the Book of Life, in the family book of God in heaven.

How can I say: “our Father which art in heaven” if I am laying up no treasure up there, if my heart and interests are all buried in earthly things? None is eligible to say: “Hallowed be Thy Name” if he is not daily striving, endeavouring to honour God alone in all he says and does. To say those words with any meaning before God we must, by words and deeds, be living daily in holiness. I cannot say: “Thy kingdom come” if I am not

doing all in my power to hasten the coming of that kingdom, if I am not preparing for the arrival of the King. I cannot truly say: “Thy will be done” if I am deliberately rebelling against the revealed will of God in His Word. To pray from the heart, not merely from the head, our hearts must be united with God and His Word.

1.

SANCTIFYING THE NAME OF GOD Matthew 6:9; Isaiah 29:23,24; Exodus 20:7; Psalms 111:9; 29:2; 86:9-11; Ezekiel 36:21-28; 2 Timothy 2:19.

From the Greek, “hallowed be Thy Name ” means, ‘holy, sanctified, exalted, honoured be Thy Name’. To hallow the name of God is to count it as sacred, so set apart that we hold the matchless name of God in reverence.

To hallow the name of God is to honour it, esteem it, reverence and adore it as divine and infinitely higher than any other name. It means that we “make no mention of the name of other gods” (Exodus 23:13; Joshua 23:7) but we always “praise the LORD, call upon His name, declare His doings among the people, make mention that His name is exalted ”

By Pastor W.F Kumuyi (Isaiah 12:4).

To hallow the name of God is to so respect it that you will not blaspheme the name, you will not take God’s name in vain or encourage others to take the name in vain (Exodus 20:7). Hallowing the name of God means that we so live, walk and work every time and everywhere “that the name of God and His doctrine be not blasphemed” (1 Timothy 6:1). If “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you” (Romans 2:24), then you do not honour or hallow His name. We hallow, sanctify God’s name when we honour, esteem,

exalt, adore, reverence that name and live in such a way that our neighbours respect God’s name and everything pertaining to God. Only then can we truly pray: “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.”

2.

SUPPLICATION FOR THE REIGN OF GOD Matthew 6:10; Mark 1:14,15; John 3:3-8; Romans 14:17-19; Matthew 6:33; Luke 19:11-13; 21:31-36; Revelation 11:15.

To pray, “Thy kingdom come” shows a desire for the arrival of God’s kingdom by a person who is completely dissatisfied with all the kingdoms of

the world. We are eager to see the soon establishment of the kingdom of God to replace all earthly kingdoms. The one who prays, “Thy kingdom come” has experienced the peace of the Kingdom in his own heart; so, he desires this peace of the Kingdom for others and in the whole world. His prayer, “Thy kingdom come” is an expression of his willingness to do anything, to labour and to serve, to work alone and with others, to see to the establishment of God’s kingdom. He has surrendered to God’s rule and reign in his own heart and life; and he desires God to reign as King in all realms of mankind.

It takes deadness to self to pray like this because quite often, our prayers are filled with our own kingdoms, our own reign, our desires, aspirations and ambitions. Only those who have been transformed by the power of God’s grace and the change of heart has led to a complete abandonment of personal agenda for personal kingdom can truthfully and sincerely pray, “Thy kingdom come.” For the true believer, all that is within his heart cries out, “Thy kingdom come.” He desires the King of kings to reign in his heart and on earth.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 12,- sunday 13, April, 2014

PAGE 52

Profile

Gen Abdulkadir: Honour from abroad for exemplary service

By Hassan Ginsau

I

t is often said, heroes are not celebrated at home. Major General Shehu Usman Abdulkadir, the immediate past Commander of African-Led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA) falls in this category. His exploits in Mali in ensuring that peace prevails earned him garlands and laurels from that country.

He was decorated recently with Medal of ECOWAS in a well attended ceremony

by African leaders including President Jonathan.

Major General Shehu Usman Abdulkadir was born on 27 January 1958 in Kaduna, hails from and was raised in Lapai LGA of Niger State. He enlisted into the Nigerian Army on 3 January 1977 as a regular combatant officer and was commissioned on 16 June 1979 into the corps of Military Police, a career which has now spanned 3 long and prosperous decades.

He rose to the rank of Colonel in the year 2000, then to Brigadier General in 2003, and finally he made the rank of Major General in 2005, a year in which he highly impressed as Chief of Army standards and evaluation.

Smart as he is in the field, academically, Abdulkadir has stellar qualifications.

Fluent in English, French and Hausa, hiscertificatesinclude;a Diploma in French, Advance and Post Graduate Diploma in Public Administration and Diploma in Criminal Investigation to name a few in what is a long list.

With a raft of military medals and academic awards stashed away in the trophy cabinet, Abdul Kadir has attended several training courses in the USA and is something of a sort of military diplomat, keeping close ties with his fellow officers in the region.

He has also attended many military courses at home during his career amongst which are; Military Police Officers Basic Course, Criminal Investigation Course, Junior and Senior Staff Colleges and National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies.

In his military career, he has held many appointments in the staff, command and as instructional staff. He was platoon commander in HQ Nigerian Army Corps of Military Police, instructor Nigerian Army School of Military Police and Military Assistant to Minister of Internal Affairs.

He was also Commander AHQ Provost Group, Commandant Nigerian Army School of Military Police, Military Secretary - Army, Chief of Research and Development in Defence HQ, Chief of Army Standards and Evaluation in AHQ,and Commander Training and Doctrine Command Nigerian Army.

He also has a reputation for straight

ECOWAS President, Desire Kadire Quadrago decorating Gen. Abdulkadir with ECOWAS Medal of Honour, one of the several laurels

talk and telling the truth no matter how bitter. He shocked an audience in Lagos once by revealing that 70 percent of the estimated 10 million illegal weapons in West Africa had come from Nigeria.

Inthemostrecentofallhisappointments, he was the Force Commander of the African-Led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA), an ECOWAS organized military mission sent to support the government of ECOWAS member nation Mali against Islamist rebels in the Northern Mali conflictfrom January to June 2013. eing the first time that an Anglophone officer has commanded a predominantly

B

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Francophone force in the region, his fluency in French helped. His first address, in French, to the troops on his arrival in Bamako endeared him to his fellow West African soldiers.

The unanimous choice of the 15 ECOWAS member states for the command, the straight-talking Abdul-Kadir says “despite the political problems they [Malian army] have had, they have tried”.

The senior officer has been honoured at home and abroad throughout his military career. He was honoured with Commander of the Order of the Mali for his efforts as force commander of AFISMA, a country which has since seen

the restoration of peace and has even conducted an internationally commended election . bdulkadir also has an ECOWAS medal in recognition of his immense contribution to peacekeeping in the West African sub-region. This is in addition to his other 4 military honours and awards for diligent service to the Nigerian Army.

He is also blessed on the homefront, as he is happily married with children. In his spare time, he enjoys playing squash and lawn tennis.

A

The senior officer has been honoured at home and abroad throughout his military career. He was honoured with Commander of the Order of the Mali for his efforts as force commander of AFISMA, a country which has since seen the restoration of peace and has even conducted an internationally commended election .

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 12,- sunday 13, April, 2014

S p or T

PAGE 53

NFF urges Keshi to recall Uche, Odemwingie for World Cup

Page 53

World Championships: Nigeria wins more medals in Dubai

Page 53

Why Atletico knocked Barcelona out of CL

Page 54

Page 54

Sports

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 12,- sunday 13, April, 2014

NFF urges Keshi to recall Uche, Odemwingie for World Cup

By Albert Akota

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he Former Vice president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Obinna Ogba has urged Super Eagles’ coach, Stephen Keshi to recall Ikechukwu Uche and Osaze Odemwingie for the 2014 World Cup. Ogba said in Abuja that both players were doing well in their respective clubs and could help raise Nigeria’s game at the mundial in Brazil.

“My appeal to coaches is that they should look at players who can deliver.

“They should look at those old players and invite them, if need be they should throw the camp open for people to compete for shirts.

“And with special reference to Uche and Odemwingie, we are all monitoring their activities in their respective clubs and they are doing fantastically well, so, if they are doing it there, why can’t they do it for the country,” he said Uche has not been invited to the national team since he featured at the 2013 Nations Cup in South Africa.

On his part, Odemwingie has fallen out with national team officials over comments he made in the social media after his performance for Nigeria during the World Cup qualifying matches.

According to Ogba, the national team coach is supposed to teach the players football techniques and tactics as well as manage them in all ramifications.

“That shows the ability of the coach to manage the players, not just (playing) football.

“There is no good player or fantastic player in the world that is not stubborn, and stubbornness is in different stages.

“You also read it on the pages of newspapers where (Lionel) Messi was charged to court with tax issues, these are part of stubbornness.

“I still remember one player called Luis Igwilo when he was playing for Rangers (International Football Club), he was stubborn to a point that at times, he will refuse to enter the bus.

“And Christian Chukwu, who

Osaze Odemwingie was the coach, resorted to carrying him in his own official car, because he knows when he gets to the field of play he will give him the results, so the ability of the coach to manage them is very important, “he noted.

On preparations for the World Cup, Ogba, who is currently the Chairman of Ebonyi State Football Association, said Keshi and NFA should shun any act capable of

Argentina slumps in FIFA ranking

P

ortugal has risen to third and Colombia is now South America’s top-ranked nation after Argentina slid three places in the latest FIFA ranking.

World champions Spain remain top and Germany stay second in April’s standing, with Copa America holders Uruguay climbing one place to fifth.

APUSA’s friendly with Mexico was one of the few internationals to be played over the past month.

Argentina is now joint-sixth with this year’s World Cup hosts Brazil, who has raised three places.

Though no top-10 team played last month, the movement in the ranking was caused by earlier results in a four-year cycle of matches decreasing in value.

Switzerland, Italy and Greece complete the top 10, with the latter returning there for the first time since October 2012.

England have risen one place to 11th, while the United States climbed to 13th after drawing 2-2 with Mexico in a friendly on April 2. El Tri moved up one place to 19th as a result of that draw.

Scotland was the biggest climbers, soaring 15 places up to 22nd.

Ivory Coast, at No. 21, leads the African nations, while Iran is the highest-ranked Asian confederation team at No. 37.

Australia, at No. 59, is the lowest-ranked team at the World Cup, which kicks off in Sao Paulo in June 12.

Ikechukwu Uche generating acrimony as it could have a devastating effect on Nigeria’s performance.

“We really need to make sure that we don’t allow acrimony to set in between the coaches and the administrators that is the NFF. “The relationship between the employers and employees has to be maintained 24 hours of the day and if we do that, then the spirit of

Nigerians will go for the game and we won’t have any obstacle, “he added.

Nigeria is one of the 32 countries that are expected to participate in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil from June 12 to July 13.

Nigeria has been drawn with Argentina, Bosnia Herzegovina, and Iran in Group F of the competition.

Lionel Messi

World Championships: Nigeria wins more medals in Dubai

T

Yakubu Adesokan

eam Nigeria at the ongoing International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Powerlifting World Championships in Dubai streak more additional gold and silver medals.

The medals has made it four gold, one silver and one bronze medal won by Nigeria at the championship.

Samuel Ekeoma, the Technical Director, Nigeria Para-powerlifting Federation (NPPF), said that Abdulazeez Ibrahim clinched the fourth gold for Nigeria.

Ekeoma said that Ibrahim lifted 235kg in the male 97kg weight category to win the gold.

He added that Loveline Obiji won the silver with a lift of 142.5kg in the female 86kg weight category.

Yakubu Adesokan won the first gold medal for Nigeria after breaking his own world record of

178kg in 46kg.

Adesokan had earlier set the record at the 2012 London Olympic Games by lifting 181kg in the same weight category.

Esther Oyema won the second gold after she had also set a new world record in the 55kg category.

The new record erased her previous record of 122kg she set in 2013 Asian Open Championships in Malaysia with a lift of 125kg.

The third gold was won by Ijeoma Ihurobiem in the female 73kg weight category, while Anthony Ulonnam won the bronze in the male 54kg.

The director expressed the hope that Team Nigeria would not relent in their effort to win more medals for the country before the end of the championships.

Nigeria is being represented at the championships by eight male and five female.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 12,- sunday 13, April, 2014

Page 55

Sports

Wenger rallies Arsenal for Wigan A

rsenal must continue their fine form in the FA Cup if they are to beat current holders Wigan Athletic in the semifinals at Wembley today, manager Arsene Wenger said.

Arsenal have reached the last four for a record-equalling 27th time after impressive wins over Tottenham Hotspur, Coventry City, Liverpool and Everton, and with Hull City, Sheffield United and Wigan remaining, they are favourites to win the competition for the 11th time.

Their Cup form is in contrast to their dismal league form which has seen them win two of their last nine games and slide down the table from top to fourth.

They now face a buoyant Championship side in Wigan, who stunned Manchester City in last year’s final and then beat them again in this season’s quarterfinals.

As well as ending City’s interest with a 2-1 win in the sixth round last month, they have also seen off Premier League sides Crystal Palace and Cardiff City in their bid to become only the sixth club in the last 123 years to retain the trophy.

Arsenal has injury concerns over Kieran Gibbs, Tomas Rosicky and Alex OxladeChamberlain, while Mesut Ozil and Laurent Koscielny have both been ruled out.

Midfielder Aaron Ramsey will start his first game in four months after a substitute appearance against Everton last week following his recovery from a thigh problem and Wenger believes injuries to vital players have crippled his side throughout the campaign.

After a dismal 3-0 defeat by Everton in the Premier League on Sunday, Arsenal’s grip on a

Madrid worries over Ronaldo’s injury ahead of Copa del Rey final

R

eal Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo is a doubt for Wednesday’s Copa del Rey final against Barcelona because of a muscle injury.

Ronaldo, 29, was an unused substitute in Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final match with Borussia Dortmund because of a knee complaint.

However, Real have also confirmed that he has “an injury to the left biceps’ femoris muscle”.

The Spanish giants did not say how long he could be out for.

Head to head and not goal difference decides team’s level on points. Atletico have better record than Real, and yet to play Barcelona twice

However Spanish media reports claim he could be sidelined for 15 days. That would see him miss today’s league game with Almeria, the cup final against Barcelona and the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.

Portugal captain Ronaldo has scored 52 goals in 45 appearances for club and country this season.

He has not played since Real’s Champions League quarter-final first leg against Dortmund, where he scored in a 3-0 win.

Ronaldo was not included in the squad for last Saturday’s 4-0 wins at Real Sociedad in La Liga, where they trail leaders Atletico Madrid by three points, and did not play as Real lost 2-0 at Dortmund in midweek.

Despite that defeat, Real progressed to the Champions League semi-finals with a 3-2 aggregate win.

Weekend Fixtures Barclays Premier League Crystal Palace v Fulham v Southampton v Stoke City v Sunderland v W/Bromwich Albion v

Aston Villa Norwich City Cardiff City Newcastle United Everton Tottenham Hotspur

Sunday Liverpool Swansea City

v v

Manchester City Chelsea

English FA Cup Wigan Athletic

v

Arsenal

German Bundesliga FSV Mainz 05 v B/Mönchengladbach v Hannover 96 v Sport-Club Freiburg v VfL Wolfsburg v FC Bayern München v Sunday Bayer 04 Leverkusen v 1899 Hoffenheim v

Italian Serie A Sassuolo v Roma v Sunday Bologna v Livorno v Napoli v Sampdoria v Torino v Verona v Milan v

Arsenal top four finish appears to be loosening, Everton now trail Wenger’s side by a single point and have a game in hand.

But the Frenchman refused to be drawn on whether he would take a top four finish over winning the FA Cup, claiming a first trophy since 2005 in the process.

But Wenger is more concerned with what is coming rather than what has gone before.

That’s where our future lies; it’s in our capacity to respond with a strong performance.

That is the next game and the next game is the FA Cup.

Spanish La Liga Celta de Vigo Villarreal Granada CF Real Madrid Sunday Real Betis Valencia CF Getafe Espanyol

SV Werder Bremen VfB Stuttgart Hamburger SV E/B/Stadion 1. FC Nürnberg Borussia Dortmund Hertha BSC FC Augsburg

Cagliari Atalanta Parma Renato Chievo Lazio Internazionale Genoa Fiorentina Catania

v v v v

Real Sociedad Levante Barcelona Almería

v v v v

Sevilla Elche A/ de Madrid Rayo Vallecano

Why Atletico knocked Barcelona out of CL

A

tletico Madrid sealed an historic triumph over Barcelona as they progressed to the Champions League semifinals for the first time in 40 years with a 2-1 aggregate victory over the four-time European champions.

Atletico’s organisation and defensive resolve have been the bedrock of the club’s revival since Simeone took charge two-and-a-half years ago.

They have conceded just five times in 10 Champions League games on their return to the competition for the first time in four years and, even more impressively, just twice in five encounters with Barcelona this season.

The key to Atletico’s defensive job had been crowding out four-time World Player of the Year Lionel Messi.

Prior to May last year Messi had scored 20 times in 15 games against Atletico. He has been held scoreless in the six matches between the two since.

Indeed, Atletico’s marshalling of the Argentine has been so good that Barca boss Gerardo Martino moved his compatriot out of his favoured role as a false nine at the Vicente Calderon in an unsuccessful attempt to offer his star man more space out on the right.

The only goal of the second leg came after just five minutes as midfielder Koke timed his run into the box perfectly to volley home Adrian Lopez’s knock-down.

The 22-year-old seems certain to be included in Vicente del Bosque’s World Cup squad and made his case for a starting place as he excelled against many of his more illustrious international teammates in the Barcelona midfield over both legs.

Atletico fans haven’t had it this good for years and they played their part with spectacular backing throughout the whole 90 minutes to drag their side towards the finish line.

What made Atletico’s triumph even more remarkable was that it was done without their talisman Diego Costa for the vast majority of the tie.

Koke and David Villa in action

BIG PUNCH “The self-defence asserted by the DSS and the army is not supported by the facts or evidence.

Taking account of all the circumstances in this case, the killings of the eight deceased persons as well as the injuries to the 11 survivors were unlawful.”

—National Human Rights Commission on the killing of Apo 8

Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, APRIL 12-13, 2014

Richer economy, poorer people A

fter months of waiting, Nigeria was finally confirmed on Sunday as sub-Saharan Africa’s largest economy, leapfrogging South Africa as it jumped by 89 percent overnight after a long-overdue rebasing of the country’s GDP. However, the rebasing also serves to highlight the vast contrasts in opportunity and wealth that have resulted from its hydrocarbon-focused, rentier economy. More than 100 million people are due to enter the workforce over the next two decades, and unemployment amongst under-25s is estimated at more than 75 percent. Wealth has been generated—Nigeria’s pool of millionaires increased by 44 percent between 2007 and 2013, according to New World Wealth—but it has remained at the top end, with much of the country remaining grindingly poor. It is a gulf in opportunity writ large across the landscape. In the commercial capital, Lagos, a gleaming new Porsche dealership is a long stone’s throw from creeks jammed with tumble-down shacks on stilts.

Nigeria’s consumer markets are booming and it is undergoing an agricultural transformation.

Photo Credit: Olam It might now be the 26th biggest economy in the world, but Nigeria is 121st in terms of GDP per capita. In parts of the north, up to 80 percent of people live below the $1.25 per day poverty line.

As one former senior government official says, this is the story of Nigeria. “The economy can grow by hundreds of billions [of dollars], but nobody gets a dollar richer.”

The rebasing, which updates the contribution of telecoms, technology and media, in particular, to the economy, shows that there has been some diversification over the past two decades. However, government revenues are still 75 percent derived from sales of hydrocarbons, and billions are wasted each year on subsidizing the import and consumption of refined petroleum products. The naked pursuit of easy oil money from the 1960s hollowed out what little manufacturing the country had, and mismanagement of refineries and powerful vested interests in the import business finished the job. Nearly every sector suffered. Agriculture, once the lifeblood of the economy, atrophied, leaving the country

dependent on imports. By 2011, the food import bill was close to $11 billion.

The concentration of revenues in a few sectors also prevented wealth from being spread more broadly through society. This, in turn, fed into a political system that inherited colonial-era imbalances and formalized them, creating webs of patronage. For decades, the quickest route to wealth was to have political power. On the Legatum Institute’s Prosperity Index, Nigeria ranks as the fifth most corrupt country in Africa.

Attacking these structures still leads to casualties. In February, the reformist central bank governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, was suspended with three months of his term remaining for questioning where $20 billion of revenues from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation had gone. His accusation, leveled at the influential Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezuke Alison-Madueke, threw up too many questions for a ruling party that is struggling to hold itself together ahead of elections, according to people with knowledge of the situation. anusi—along with the current head of the Securities Exchange Commission, Arunma Oteh—had long been held up as proof that individuals could change the system. The pair swept through the criminality and corruption of the banking sector and the financial markets, uncovering billions of dollars in fraud and ending years of dire mismanagement. Sanusi’s removal, several current and former officials say, is calculated to humiliate him, preventing him from pursuing his calls for an enquiry.

Amid the grinding traffic and crumbling infrastructure, the chugging diesel generators and the constant expectation of bribery, there are times when Nigeria, for all its promise, seems totally hopeless. And yet, Nigerians themselves are not.

Counterintuitively, the country routinely scores highly on surveys of its citizens’ hope and confidence in their future prosperity.

Increasingly, too, Nigeria is seeing the power of individuals and institutions to break down the calcified structures of patronage and corruption in the country.

Oteh, who survived vicious attacks on her character and accusations of misappropriating state resources after pursuing

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vested interests in the stock markets, remains at the helm of the SEC. A formidable, fiercely articulate former vice president at the African Development Bank, she has continued to fight to maintain the integrity of the markets despite the “demons”— her word—that tried to ruin her.

The intensity of the attacks have fallen off, she says, in part because politicians are maneuvering ahead of the election, in part because public sympathy is behind her, and other reformers.

“Sometimes people do cross a boundary,” she says, referring to the officials in the House of

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Representatives who, at one point tried to insert a clause into the budget limiting her power. “I think that was a big turning point.

People realized this is crazy…

You’ve gone too far.”

In the agriculture ministry, Akinwumi Adesina—an enthusiastic technocrat prone to wearing a bow tie and thickrimmed glasses—has, in less than three years, transformed a sector that was moribund and riven with corruption. An agricultural economist with wide international experience, he has focused on injecting commercial sensibilities into Nigeria’s farming sector,

It might now be the 26th biggest economy in the world, but Nigeria is 121st in terms of GDP per capita. In parts of the north, up to 80 percent of people live below the $1.25 per day poverty line.

with a view to creating jobs and reducing imports.

“If we keep importing from other countries, we are simply decapitalising our own economy. We are exporting jobs and creating joblessness here at home,” Adesina says in an interview in Lagos. “I don’t believe that poverty is an industry. You can’t grow the poverty sector. You have to create wealth for people. The way you create wealth for people is to use agriculture as that engine. It touches millions and millions of people.”

Of $5.4 billion spent on fertilizer subsidies given out by the government between 1980 and 2010, he says, more than $4.5 billion never reached farmers. One of his first acts was to completely dismantle this extraordinarily corrupt system. It took 90 days.

Now, seeds and fertilizers are distributed by the private sector.

Since 2011, food imports have fallen by $5 billion, 3.4 million jobs have been created and $4 billion worth of private investments have gone into the sector.

“The machinery of government has ensured that [seed and fertilizer] is going to the right people,” Mukul Mathur of Olam Nigeria, one of the largest agricultural investors in the country, says in an interview in his office on the outskirts of Lagos.

While Mathur is frank about the challenges of operating in the country—the port congestion; the poor infrastructure that makes it more expensive to ship a container from Lagos to the north than it does from Lagos to Japan—he is optimistic about the prospects for growth and about the signals coming out of the government.

“We are headed on the right path,” he says. lam has invested heavily in increasing rice production, reorienting itself from an export-focused business to one that serves the growing domestic population—a signal of the kind of long-term commitments to domestic services and goods that the country has historically lacked.

Many hope that the same approach—putting the private sector in charge—will work for the power sector. If there is anything that unites Nigerians, it is their perennial complaints about the shoddy state of the grid.

Nigeria only generates 6,000 MW of grid energy for a population of 167 million. By

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