Saturday 15th to Sunday 16th August, 2015. Weekend Edition.

NEWS

488 Days after

Osinbajo, Aregbesola extol Ooni Sijuwade’s virtues >>Pg 6

Will the abducted Chibok schoolgirls ever be rescued?

COVER

Long walk to Nigeria’s anticorruption war >>Pg 7-9

weekend.peoplesdailyng.com

Saturday, August 15 - 16, 2015 Shawwal 30, 1436 AH

. . . P utti ng the p eop l e fi r st

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N150 Vol. 4 No. 56

Presidential directive

NSA, Service Chiefs storm Borno

>>Pg 6

L-R: Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Yakubu Dogara; National President Nigeria Union of Journalists, Waheed Odusile and former House of Representatives member Sam Tsokwa, during the inauguration of House of Representatives Needs Assessment Committee at Transcope Hilton in Abuja yesterday.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Peace on Plateau: Barikin Ladi as black sheep

Page 3,5

Crashed helicopter black box >>PG 10 found

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST 15 - 16, 2015

PAGE 2

Interview

Corruption: We need specialised courts —Jega

D

o you find it disturbing that corruption has crept into the electoral process?

I find worrisome the use of money in politics particularly in the electioneering process in Nigeria. Increasingly, use of money in politics seems to be enticing to voters because of what they receive rather than choosing those they believe can deliver. I think the use of money in Nigerian politics is becoming such a worrisome phenomenon that a lot needs to be done in order to minimize it, because it is capable of undermining the integrity of the entire exercise.

Given the pervasiveness of corruption, what will be your advice to politicians regarding what needs to be done in tackling the problem?

Nigeria has achieved notoriety on the issue of corruption particularly in the public sector. It is important that we have a definite commitment or even a programme of action that will address this very challenge in our country. I think what we see is that virtually every political party and candidate now articulate a programme on how to deal with corruption but I think we need to move from programmes to actual action in terms of dealing with corruption. I think the anti-corruption agencies need to be strengthened so that they can be more effective in dealing with the phenomenon of corruption.

I believe like so many other people that acts of corruption are committed with impunity. Until there are strong sanctions and mechanisms for detecting, apprehending and penalizing corrupt officials, we will continue to have this challenge.

Talking about punitive measures, China prescribes the death penalty for corruption. Would you advocate a similar model for Nigeria?

I think our court process or the legal process is generally very slow. As far as I am concerned, we should accelerate that process. We should not allow corruption cases to be handled by regular courts. We need to establish specialised courts that can handle corruption cases with dispatch.

What we require is speedy dispensation of justice rather than penalties such as death sentence.

INEC plays a crucial role in the emergence of the nation’s political leadership.

Does your agency have mechanism for checking the background of political office seekers?

The electoral legal framework at this point does not allow INEC to screen candidates. In the past, the electoral commission together with security agencies were

The 2015 elections was an acid test for Professor Attahiru Jega as Nigerians looked up to him to deliver free and fair election. He did, while also making history as the first umpire to organise two national polls. In this interview with Zero Tolerance, a quarterly magazine of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), he reflects on the preparation and conduct of the 2015 elections

Jega given the power to screen candidates but the 2010 Electoral Act (as amended) did not require INEC to screen candidates or to use security agencies to vet candidates.

As a matter of fact, the Electoral Act says that once parties nominate their candidates and send their names to INEC, INEC cannot reject them whatsoever and so we cannot vet or screen candidates.

It is frequently alleged that INEC officials collude with desperate politicians to undermine the electoral process. How true is this?

We make it clear to our staff that they

stand the risk of losing their jobs and being prosecuted if they condone or partake in corrupt practices. And I am glad to say that we have drastically eliminated the phenomenon of corruption in the electoral process.

What we have done in INEC is to create measures that will make it difficult for anybody to be involved in corruption without being detected and when you are detected and apprehended, we obviously allow the law to take its course.

Slush fund in electoral campaign is a sore issue in Nigeria. Does INEC have the power to check the source of cam-

paign funds?

The Electoral Act mandates the Independent National Electoral Commission to monitor finances of political parties and of candidates and there are limits imposed particularly on candidates, about what their campaign expenditures should not exceed.

When we conducted the 2011 elections, we did it within eight months of being appointed. We did not inherit any mechanism for monitoring campaign finance and we were then unable in the 2011 elections to monitor campaign finances of political parties and candidates. We ensured that parties published their audited accounts and we appointed auditors which are requirements of the law, to audit party finances and we had published this audited report but we were not able to closely monitor campaign expenditure.

Now, we have established a unit; Party Monitoring Department, specifically to handle campaign financing and we have got the support of many international partners to train them and we are working with some credible NGOs to partner with us in order to monitor, generate and gather information about campaign financing.

So far, have you had any cases of any political party exceeding their campaign finance limit?

In the interim, we are gathering information and at the appropriate time, we will come out and say that this is our finding. Slowly and steadily we are increasing our capacity to be able to deal with the issue of campaign financing and to deal with the use of money in politics or even to have the capacity to penalise those who break the law.

How did you pull off the feat of the 2015 election that is being described as a watershed in Nigeria’s electoral history?

We thank God that the election has come and gone, and both local and international observers are saying it is the best election ever conducted in the country. I must say it was a collective effort.

Our field officers, in particular-the young men and women of the NYSC and the Vice Chancellors who served as returning officers, did their best under very difficult circumstances. All Nigerians wanted a free, fair, credible and peaceful election; and we all worked hard for it and we thank God that it has come to pass.

Did you anticipate the outcome of the election, especially the presidential election?

Our business as an election body is to Contd on Pg 42

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST 15 - 16, 2015

PAGE 3

Feature

Peace on Plateau: Barikin Ladi as black sheep

I

From Ado Abubakar Musa, Jos n the recent past, incidents of killings and counter killings in Plateau State seemed to have ended. Even Jos North which was more volatile to violence in the past has relatively become peaceful. This is because records of attacks and violence from many areas of the state have virtually reduced to the barest minimum.

Towards the end of last year and early this year, many people both within and outside the state had begun to express hope that the past ugly experiences of violence might be a thing of the past as the condition of most parts of the state has been a bit conducive when compared to what happened a decade ago.

However, the recent attacks and killings particularly in towns and villages in Barikin Ladi Local Government Area of the state have become a cause of concern as lives and properties in the area were greatly lost within a period of months.

Prior to the escalation of the current crises, the most violent areas in the whole of the state as of this year were those of Jos South, Riyom and Barikin Ladi, even though the situation is a bit calm in Jos South and Riyom with no records of attacks in recent weeks.

But in Barikin Ladi the situation is worsening day by day with lots of terrifying stories of killings and attacks coming out from towns and villages of the said council.

Even the newly-redeployed STF commander, Major General T C Ude, had in a meeting with stakeholders last Thursday admitted that in just days many lives were lost in the crises.

At the beginning, the crisis was said to have been between Berom who are predominantly Christians on one hand and Fulani who are predominantly Muslims on the other. There have been several accusations and counter accusations by the two warring parties where Berom would often accuse the Fulani herders of grazing on their farmlands and fulani always accused Berom of rustling their cattle.

“

But the Plateau State Special Task Force (STF), charged with maintaining peace in the state had said in its several reports on the Berom-Fulani clashes that the genesis of the problem especially the recent ones, is solely cattle rustling.

The crises in the entire region of Barikin Ladi were said to have escalated since after the 2015 general elections particularly in towns and villages like Dorowa, Besichi, Barin Ladi.

Looking at the recent occurrence, on 22 of last July, tensions virtually mired all commercial activities in Barikin Ladi town, following an alleged attack and killing of one person in the night. This was later confirmed to newsmen by Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Emmanuel Abu, at the state command in Jos. In relation to the above attack, a source from the area told journalists that: “The perpetrators attacked the residence of Alhaji Auwal Tanko, who was nominated as a supervisory councillor with the intention of killing him but did not meet him.”

According to the source, when the perpetrators stormed the house they (gunmen) got two persons in the house and opened fire on them. One was killed (Hassan Salisu )and the other one was injured.

The surviving victim, Tanko Salisu Nasir, who sustained bullet wounds during the attack and currently at the Mainasara hospital, in Barikin Ladi town, alleged that: “I know the attackers. I know one by name. One is David Dokotrick, but I have forgotten the name of the other one, but I know him.”

In furtherance of that, on 4th of August, the Plateau Special Task Force (STF) through its Media and Information Officer, Captain Ikedichi Iweha , confirmed a mosque attack by unknown gunmen in Anguwan Katako, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State during an early morning prayers.

Sources in the area accused Berom neighbouring community who arrived the area on foot and shot sporadically at

At the beginning, the crisis was said to have been between Berom who are predominantly Christians on one hand and Fulani who are predominantly Muslims on the other. There have been several accusations and counter accusations by the two warring parties where Berom would often accuse the Fulani herders of grazing on their farmlands and fulani always accused Berom of rustling their cattle.

Gov. Lalong worshippers where no one was killed but windows, walls and roof of the mosque were riddled by bullets.

An eyewitness of the mosque attack, Alhassan Suleiman who gave the account of the incident outrightly accused Berom youths of launching the attack saying the STF keeping peace in the area had visited and assessed the level of damage to the mosque. That attack raised much tension in the Barikin Ladi town and its environs which was eventually calmed down by security agents.

Various sources from Barikin Ladi town alleged that the incessant attacks on mostly Hausa/ Fulani might not be unconnected with the recent nomination of a supervisory councillor, Alhaji Auwal, who is of Hausa parentage, and which the Berom allegedly didn’t like.

After the above incident, on the night of Monday 4th August this year, no fewer than eighteen cattle were reportedly shot dead night in Sho village, a Fulani Community in Barkin Ladi by suspected gunmen.

Muhammad Adam Muhammad, who is the Secretary of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association in Nigeria (MACBAN) in Barkin Ladi, confirmed

the incident, adding that the case has since been reported to sector 7 of STF in Barikin Ladi .

Within the same week, a similar attack was launched on the residence of a community leader, Malam Isyaku, in Barikin Ladi by unknown gunmen who shot severally at his residence.

Isyaku lamented that they have been facing intimidation and harassment recently in the area, calling on the government to intervene on the matter and bring an end to it.

Five days after the above attack, the crises further moved to Bisichi, a neighbouring community of Barikin Ladi town, where two persons were left dead in another string of attack following an alleged killing of eight persons who were of Berom parentage.

Ikramatu Musa, who is a resident of the area, gave the names of the deceased as Abdulahi Saidu 67and 65 years Iliyasu Samaila.

Alhaji Yakubu Abubakar, a youth leader in Bisichi, alleged that, “Berom youths have been attacking our people.

Iliyasu Ismaila, who was one of the deceased, was shot in his farm in the afternoon, while Suleiman Ali was killed in

Contd on Page 5

PAGE 4

Special Report

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST 15 - 16, 2015

‘We were forced by poverty’

Delta Baby Factory:

Victims of a baby factory

By Osakhare Erese, Asaba

S

uspects of a recentlyuncovered baby factory in Asaba, Delta State have begun to recount their ordeals, and reasons why they ventured into the illicit business.

As it were, the Police in Asaba, recently uncovered a baby factory behind the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria

Other victims

(FRCN) station and rescued eight allegedly pregnant girls while the operator and two other boys were arrested.

But the suspects still helping Police investigation at the State CID, spoke to our correspondent on the spirit behind their involvement.

First among them, Miss Ihezue, (19), who claimed to have hailed from Imo State, said poverty and lack of care pushed

her into the ‘business’ adding: “Life was difficult, so, I was looking for work and my brother brought me to Asaba and I was introduced to the operator who offered me job in his proposed polythene producing factory where the Police swooped on us.”

But 20 years Blessing claimed she got pregnant for her boyfriend in Anambra State, adding that the boyfriend denied the pregnancy and ran away while her parents

chased her away from home, so the ‘factory’ was just her last resort.

She said: “As I was at a crossroads, I was introduced to the operator of the baby factory, I begged him and he agreed to take care of me, hence I began to stay where the Police arrested us. I never knew it was a baby factory.”

On her part, Miss Ibechukwu (15), said she was brought to the home by her sister to spend holidays and do vacation job in the polythene factory, adding that the operator of the factory allegedly forced her into the ‘business.’

In the same vein, Miss Isioma (20), who claimed to have hailed from Enugu State, said she got into the ‘business’ through a phone number on a notice board that asked people to apply for a job and she applied, adding: “When I came into the factory, I saw others with the operator, and after discussing with him, he offered me job as Factory Assistant, where I stayed without doing anything except men coming to make love to me at nightfall. I was always asking when the factory will commence and the operator keeps telling me to be patient.”

Another lady who anonymously spoke in the same way, claimed she was forced into the ‘business’ as a result of hunger

and poverty in her family, adding: “We were lured into the factory where the operator introduced men to be sleeping with us.”

Speaking with the suspected operator of the factory who gave his name as John Mary, and claimed to have hailed from Imo state, he denied that he was operating a baby factory.

According to him, “I am a Reverend Brother and a care person; I want to make heaven.

I’m interested in helping people, you can see I’m not married and these girls you are seeing their parents are aware that they are with me, I was ordained a Reverend Brother in 1995, I wrote to Rome about this and they are aware of it.”

Meanwhile, police detectives in Asaba, have killed two robbery suspects reported to have been terrorizing Asaba and its environs in the recent times.

Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mrs. Celestina Kalu, who confirmed the incident, said the suspects, David Ogboi and Sunday Kafe met their waterloo when the Police detectives acted on a tip-off on Thursday evening around DBS Road, Asaba.

She said that upon sighting the police detectives, the hoodlums opened fire on them and the police responded swiftly thereby killing the two gangstars.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST 15 - 16, 2015

PAGE 5

Feature

Barikin Ladi as black sheep

A scene from a Jos crisis Contd from Page 3

Kassa, a Berom community on his way to the cattle market.

The incessant attacks have become problems to even innocent travellers who have no business with the state, so, the major highway leading to Plateau Central Zone and the new bypass are no longer safe. Reports from those areas according to security and other sources, gunmen would always hide beside the road and open fire sporadically at travelling cars and they sometimes block the road and kill passengers. These developments have posed serious threats to the lives of travellers patronising the roads.

Last week, the Plateau State Police Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Abu, also confirmed the killing of three travellers in Kassa village of Barikin Ladi Local Government Area, adding that, “the private parts of the victims were removed by the perpetrators.”

The names of the deceased were given as Magaji Sirajo, Tukur Sirajo and Hassan Ibrahim; all of whom hailed from Saminaka in Lere Local Government of Kaduna State.

A day after the killing of three travellers from Kaduna,

there were reports of another report from Bisichi of gun attack where six people were reportedly shot including a sub-sector commander. According to the STF in the state, the attack was later repelled by the security deployed to the area.

Just an interval of a day, the STF through its media officer, Captain Ikedichi Iweha, also confirmed the interception by the hoodlums, of two transit buses belonging to Adamawa Sunshine and Gombe Line at Kara village of the embattled local government, adding that the buses were burnt but the passengers were rescued unhurt.

However, there has been widespread allegation that the

“

escalation of the crises in the affected areas were attempts by the Berom tribe to sabotage Lalong ‘s administration having refused to vote for him during the last election.

But another version says Hausa/Fulani communities accuse the Berom ethnic group of a deliberate move to annihilate them with a view to taking over their properties.

The Berom on the other hand, have debunked the allegation of them being responsible of launching the various attacks on Hausa/Fulani communities, saying they did not have hand in the atrocities committed in all the areas attacked.

Member representing Barikn

Various committees were set up by previous administrations to look into similar crises, which yielded no positive result as atrocious acts continue to occur whereby even individuals express lack of confidence in such committees.

Ladi Local Government in the state assembly, Peter Gyenbeng a Berom, raised a motion on the floor of the House blaming the Fulani herders for the recurrent clashes.

But the Plateau State chapter of the Jama’atu Nasril Islam in its reaction to the crises accused Berom of the recent incessant killings. The group, which last week said this in Jos while receiving the new STF commander, also accused the past administration of Jonah David Jang of being silent on the crisis, adding that things would not have reached this level if proper measures were taken during his administration.

Peoples Daily Weekend further gathered that one factor that allowed the escalation of the crises is the availability of arms in the hands of civilians in the affected areas which according to stakeholders, unless they were mopped up, the trouble end may be far-fetched.

Moved by the incessant killings, the new Plateau State governor, Barrister Simon Lalong, set up a 14-man committee comprising members of the warring parties from the affected areas to proffer solutions to it.

The State Assembly also had two weeks back set up a peace

process committee to meet with members of the affected areas to discuss the matter.

Likewise, the State Security Council met recently to find lasting solution to the problem.

After the meeting, the council in a statement signed by the Director of Press to the governor, Mr Emmanuel Nanle, assured that government has mobilised security agents to the areas to protect lives and properties.

The governor also called on all communities involved to sheath their swords and embrace peace, urging religious and traditional leaders to talk to their individual members.

Various committees were set up by previous administrations to look into similar crises, which yielded no positive result as atrocious acts continue to occur whereby even individuals express lack of confidence in such committees. However, people in many parts of the state have questioned that with the new change and confidence in both the state and federal governments, would the steps being taken by the current government address the prevailing problems?

PAGE 6

News

Expect results in 60 days – Kachikwu

Mohammed Usman with agency report

T

he group managing director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Ibe Kachikwu, has assured Nigerians that the impact of the ongoing reforms in the corporation would be felt within the next two months, the Cable online has reported.

Kachikwu charged the staff of the national oil firm to transform NNPC into a profit-oriented organisation, saying efforts were in place to improve their welfare.

He was speaking on Friday during his maiden interactive session with the top management of Nigeria’s foremost oil firm.

“For the NNPC to transform into a profit center like its peers in other climes, the morale of the work force must be high,”Ohi Alegbe, spokesman of the corporation, quoted him as saying. “Ibe urged the management to provide leadership by example to the workforce while adding that sectionalism, tribalism and any form of non-transparent transactions must be completely stamped out of the NNPC. “The GMD noted that his administration would ensure that all the refineries of the corporation are run efficiently and profitably to meet the energy needs of the country. “He said the corporate service unit and all the strategic business units of the corporation would henceforth be run as profit centres while noting that the days when the corporation was perceived as a civil service organisation instead of a corporation were over.

“The GMD urged members of staff to act as change agents and assured that in the next 60 days some of the strategic targets would be translated into concrete milestones to the appreciation of all Nigerians.”

2015 Hajj: Kebbi constitutes 10 member committee From Ahmed Idris, Birnin Kebbi

T

he Kebbi State government yesterday constituted a 10 member committee that will oversee the activities of the 2015 Hajj operation of all intending Pilgrims to the Holy land.

Addressing newsmen shortly after their inauguration yesterday, the Secretary of the body, Alhaji Issa Alafisa, stated that the state government having been aware of the numerous problems pilgrims from the state do encounter in the Holy land previously, the new government in the state had no alternative than to set up this new committee under the leadership of the deputy governor.

The Deputy Governor, retired Col. Samaila Dabai Yombe will serve as the chairman.

Alhaji Alafisa explained that the report of previous operation had compelled the new administration to set up the new committee under the leadership of Col. Yombe whom he described as agile and result oriented fellow.

Members of the committee according to him includes, Hon. Abdullahi Dadinga(vice chairman), Hon. Bello Yakubu Rilisco, Hon Aliyu Mera, Alhaji Issa Alafisa who will serve as secretary of the body among others.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST 15 - 16, 2015

Ooni Sijuwade an epitome of humility, honesty —Osinbajo

T

he Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has described the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, as an epitome of humility and honesty.

Osinbajo made this statement at the interreligious farewell service in honour of Ooni at his palace in Ile-Ife, Osun, on Friday.

The vice president also described Sijuwade as an exemplary ruler, who did so much to uphold the high traditions and culture of Yoruba people.

Osinbajo said, “all over the world, places where the Yoruba culture is celebrated, the Ooni was very well recognised.”

He said that the achievements of Sijuwade were worth celebrating and that the monarch would live on with his legacy enshrined in Yoruba history.

Similarly, Gov. Rauf Aregbesola lauded the late Ooni for a life well lived and for being a good role model to other ``Obas` ’(traditional rulers).

The governor, who was represented by Mr Moshood Adeoti, the Secretary to the State Government, said in a speech that he received news of the death of Sijuwade with shock.

He said the Ooni was a pacesetter who led the Osun Council of Obas with sincerity and honesty and that he would always be celebrated.

He said the Ooni was the chief custodian of Yoruba culture who would be greatly missed.

Aregbesola prayed for the repose of the soul of the Ooni and that God grant his family the fortitude to bear the loss. The Interdenominational service was earlier heralded by sermons and prayers from Rev. Olusola Akanbi (Christian), Mufutaudeen Yusuf (Muslim) and Ifaloba Ifagbenro (traditional priest).

Mr Adetokunbo Sijuwade, son of the late Ooni, thanked the state government and the people of Ife for their support on behalf of the family. (NAN)

L-R Former Member of the House of Representatives Hon Emmanuel Jimeh; Benue State governor Samuel Ortom and Senator Joseph Waku during the reconciliation meeting of Benue State All Progressives Congress (APC) crisis at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, yesterday.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Presidential directive: NSA, Service Chiefs storm Borno

T

he National Security Adviser, NSA, Babagana Monguno, on Friday visited his home state of Borno, where he led all other security chiefs to reassess the ongoing counter-insurgency operation in the northeastern part of Nigeria.

The visit by the security chiefs comes a day after President Muhammadu Buhari challenged them to end the Boko Haram insurgency in three months. The president gave the order while decorating the recently appointed service chiefs.

On Friday, Mr. Monguno, a retired Major General, led the service chiefs to Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, for what he described as a reassessment of the operational strategy with a view to positioning the troops to effectively actualise the directives of the president.

He said he could stake out his neck for the newly appointed military chiefs and vouched for their professional competence and credibility.

Upon arriving Maiduguri, the NSA, who

was accompanied by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin, Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Baba Abubakar; and the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, went into a closed-door discussion with Governor Kashim Shettima for nearly two hours before coming out to perform the perfunctory courtesy call session.

“With the recent change of government, there was a tendency to replace old officials with the new structure”, Mr. Monguno said.

“And amongst these replacements in the military is the change of service chiefs. This was exactly a month and a day ago in which myself and the new service chiefs were appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari, and given special mandate. The president has left us in no doubt as to what he wants us to achieve, taking into consideration that the most pressing issue facing Nigeria today is the insurgency that faces us in the north-eastern region of the country.

“Ordinarily, we would have hit the ground running since our appointments, but I felt that we should wait for the Senate to confirm the new service chiefs and for the President to decorate them in their new ranks. And as soon as that is done we found ourselves here, the hottest point. That is why less than 24 hours after the decoration we have come here today.

“The purpose of this visit is for all us to come and reassess the operational situation on the ground with the view to effecting the required changes at the strategic, operational, and tactical levels.

“Mr. President has told us that he wants this insurgency to end within the shortest possible time; he has given a time-frame which we are all aware of. His commitment to ending this insurgency is not in doubt. He has charged us to carry out this mission, knowing full well that he has picked the people which as far as he is concerned were the best to end this insurgency”.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST 15 -16, 2015

Page 7

Cover Long walk to Nigeria’s anti-corruption war

By Osby Isibor

A

ccording to economic watchers, corruption is endemic in Nigeria and cuts across every sector of the economy.

Corruption has remained the recurring hindrance against good governance, which has been responsible for infrastructural deficits and the general public services delivery decay in Nigeria since independence. For instance, an estimated $400bn of oil revenue has been stolen or misspent since Nigeria’s independence in 1960.

“Corruption in Nigeria is not just endemic, but has become institutionalised. Until the country gets serious about strengthening its institutions, especially in key areas of the economy, this is unlikely to change,” says Lanre Akinola, former editor of the Financial Times’s publication ‘This Is Africa’.

Successive governments even before the return to democracy in 1999 have attempted to fight corruption, with varying degrees of success.

When on December 31, 1983, Muhammadu Buhari’s military government overthrew the regime of President Shehu Shagari, it detained most political leaders of the Second Republic, accusing them of indiscipline and profligacy.

For the first time in Nigerian history, the country’s security organizations were actively used to track down alleged acts of corruption through the Special Investigation Bureau preparatory to formal military style trials at Bonny Camp. As had been the initial practice by various prior military regimes, special asset recovery military tribunals were set up all over the country. The Buhari regime also purged the uppermost echelon of the Armed Forces, retiring all officers of the rank of Major General equivalent or above at the time of the coup.

A “War Against Indiscipline” (WAI) was launched.

President Buhari Such indiscipline was interpreted broadly to mean lack of environmental cleanliness, lack of manners (such as failing to take one’s place in queues), corruption, smuggling, desecration of the flag and disloyalty to the anthem.

“

On Tuesday August 27, 1985, Major General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida took over power from Buhari. The administration didn’t make any significant attempts fight corrupt politicians; but the late General Sani Abacha’s regime

which later succeeded the Babangida government, jailed many bank executives. The bank officials, including former heads of some of Nigeria’s largest banks, were imprisoned for alleged banking malpractices.

At the return of democ-

Corruption in Nigeria is not just endemic, but has become institutionalised. Until the country gets serious about strengthening its institutions, especially in key areas of the economy, this is unlikely to change

racy in 1999, former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration also instituted a coordinated fight against corruption.

The creation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in 2003 by Obasanjo, gave his administration a strong anti-graft posture. But Obasanjo’s grip over the organisation turned the agency into another tool of maintaining and exerting influence and power.

However, the EFCC during the Obasanjo administration, led by nonconformist crime fighter Nuhu Ribadu, managed to prosecute and convict a number of high profile corrupt individuals, including a former Inspector General of Police, ministers, bank chief executives and state governors.

The anti-corruption momentum began to wane under the stewardship of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who would allow his government to be infiltrated by powerful and corrupt elements who demanded he turn a blind eye to graft and water down the EFCC as payback for their political support in the 2007 elections.

The administration of Goodluck Jonathan fared no better as it was engulfed in numerous scandals, including the $8bn fuel subsidy overpayments in 2012 and the unremitted funds to the state coffers by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, which former Central Bank Governor Lamido Sanusi estimated at $20bn. Both were seamlessly swept under the carpet, with the EFCC’s effectiveness in securing high profile convictions of society’s ‘big men’ becoming non-existent.

The emergence of Muhammadu Buhari on March 28, 2015 as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria came with a lot of hopes and expectations. His administration is seen by many as one that will usher in a new dawn in the political and economic life of Nigeria. The aura of incorruptiContd on Page 8

Page 8

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST 15 -16, 2015

Cover

Walk to Nigeria’s anti-corruption war

President Buhari (4thR), Vice President Osinbajo (4thL) with members of the Abdulsalami Peace Committee.

Contd from Page 7

bility has continued to favour him in the eyes of Nigerians and the international community.

Buhari was voted into office to, even if he fails to achieve any other thing, deal a lethal blow to the nation’s corruption levels. Many believe that Nigeria needs a man of his standing to change the attitude of politicians, businessmen and the general populace. Buhari, a known anti-corruption crusader, will need to stem the tide of graft and change the nation’s mentality towards corruption if he is to achieve the desired results and legitimacy his government needs.

Apart from corruption, deficient infrastructure and a sharp economic downturn occasioned by the fall in oil prices have made President Buhari’s task of salvaging Nigeria a more arduous one.

In a recent meeting with APC governors and at other fora, Buhari had reiterated his campaign promise that he will recover billions of dollars worth of stolen funds, within and outside the country. He had also spoken boldly of the United States and the international community’s offer of assistance in achieving this objective.

President Buhari seems to be keeping to his promises since action has began to be directed towards the country’s

biggest issue - corruption.

The present administration had been investigating some activities of Jonathan’s administration with government officials, claiming that the past administration was characterised by impunity and large scale corruption.

Apart from probing the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, the present administration is also beaming its searchlight on the management of the Excess Crude Account under Jonathan.

Some former aides of the ex-President such as his National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.); his Chief Security Officer, Mr. Gordon Obuah; and the former Director-Gen-

“

eral of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Dr. Patrick Akpobolokemi, have either been arrested, detained or investigated.

Buhari had on Tuesday in Abuja said that the prosecution of persons who have stolen national resources will begin in a matter of weeks.

Speaking at a meeting with members of the National Peace Committee led by Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar in the Presidential Villa, President Buhari declared that his administration was irrevocably committed to doing all within its powers to break the vicious cycle of corruption, unemployment and insecurity in Nigeria.

“Nigeria has to break this vicious cycle before we can make progress,” the

Apart from probing the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, the present administration is also beaming its searchlight on the management of the Excess Crude Account under Jonathan.

President said, adding that his administration was diligently getting facts and figures pertaining to the nation’s stolen funds, before proceeding to the prosecution of identified culprits.

He told General Abdulsalami and members of his committee that the Federal Government, under his leadership, will not only ask for the return of stolen funds that have been stashed in foreign banks, but will also ensure that those who stole the funds are put on trial in Nigeria.

The President also said that as part of its actions to address the national problems it inherited, his administration was reorganising Nigeria’s revenue generating institutions.

The President further explained that a single treasury account had been established for all Federal revenue to ensure greater probity, transparency and accountability in the collection, disbursement and utilisation of national funds.

“As Petroleum Minister under Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo in the 1970s, I could not travel abroad until I had taken a memo to the Federal Executive Council asking for estacode. Now, everybody does what he wants.

“That is why security-wise and economically, we’re in trouble,” adding Contd on Page 9

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST 15 -16, 2015

Contd from Page 7

that those who have stolen the national wealth “will be in court in a matter of weeks and Nigerians will know those who have short-changed them.”

The general support shown by Nigerians towards the current fight against corruption is overwhelming, even though they are divided on whether the probe should be extended beyond Jonathan’s administration or not.

Much as Nigerians welcome and appreciate Buhari’s determination to rescue this country from the cobweb of corruption for which it has for years been entangled, the position of his government to limit her planned probe to the immediate past administration of Goodluck Jonathan alone did not go down well with some Nigerians.

It is the view of many that probing Jonathan’s administration alone will amount to witch-hunt while it will also portray Buhari as a vindictive person who is given to vendetta.

For instance, the Centre for Social Justice urged the federal government to extend its corruption probe beyond the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan. Reacting to reports that President Buhari will limit his probe to the past administration, the Lead Director, CSJ, Eze Oyekpere, said it would be unfair to streamline corruption probes to only officials in the Jonathan government.

He stressed that there were some unscrupulous deals conducted by previous governments that were still fresh in the minds of Nigerians.

He said, “I take a holistic view about recovering public properties that were stolen and mismanaged. For instance, the Halliburton issue, the Siemens scandal did not just come up under the last administration. And those things are too recent for us to forget them. So I believe that he (Buhari) shouldn’t simply draw a line and say it is going to be from 2011 or from 2010, no.

“He should go back a little bit, even the power scandal that involves an expenditure of over $15bn where we can’t see the results up till today. He should go back a little bit, it shouldn’t be about Jonathan’s administration viz-a-viz PDP, APC, no. It should have been about our national interest and some of these issues are too recent in our memories for us to sweep them under the carpet.”

On May 27, less than 48 hours to the end of his tenure, Jonathan had advised Buhari not to single out his administration in any probe.

He said all those advising Buhari to probe his administration must also advise him to extend his probe beyond his regime or else, the probe will be seen as witch-hunting.

Jonathan said, “Some people are even calling for the probe of this government. I agree that in Nigeria, there are a number of things that we will probe, many things.

“Even debts owed by states and this nation from 1960 up to this time, they are saying it is Jonathan’s administration that is owing all the debts. I believe that anybody calling for probe must en-

Page 9

Cover

Walk to Nigeria’s anti-corruption war

CJN Mahmud

“

Lamorde

The general support shown by Nigerians towards the current fight against corruption is overwhelming, even though they are divided on whether the probe should be extended beyond Jonathan’s administration or not.

sure that these probes are extended beyond the Jonathan administration, otherwise to me, it will be witch-hunting”.

In a related development, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Rev. Matthew Hassan-Kukah said that too much talk about probe is a distraction to the Buhari government.The spokesman of the General Abdulsa­lami Abubakar-led National Peace Com­mittee had advised President Muhamma­du Buhari not to be distracted from the core business of governance on account of too much talk about probe.

Speaking recently after a meeting between the committee and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Doga­ra, Kukah said though bringing treasury looters to book was important, govern­ment must place premium on providing the desired governance.

The bishop acknowledged the damag­ing effect of corruption on the country, stressing that it has set the nation back­ward on all fronts. However, he em­phasized that it is also necessary that Ni­gerians including those in power do not get distracted from the core mandate of governance and the contributions of for­mer President Goodluck Jonathan to the sustenance of peace

which the country is enjoying today.

According to him, “There is no such thing as probe in a democratic setting like ours. What obtains is investigation, and once people lead and things are not right, in­vestigation becomes necessary.

“However, in doing that, we must never be distracted from the spectacular actions undertaken by former President Jonathan. He is an individual.

I think this whole thing about probe can be ascer­tained once investigations are concluded. But we are saying that a lot of talks and speculation about this probe are the dis­tractions nobody needs. So, the most important thing is that we need a stable country first, before we can talk about these things. And they will have happened down the line”.

Recent high profile visits of past leaders and the private meeting between President Buhari and former President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, also had Nigerians thinking.

According to reports, the meeting was at the instance of the 2015 Elections Peace Committee, after former President Jonathan complained that President Buhari was not sticking to the

Nta peace accord they signed.

Jonathan was reported to have also sought for understanding on alleged corrupt practices and mismanagement of funds under his administration, with a source saying the former President claimed he was hearing about some of the graft allegations for the first time.

The report however claimed that President Buhari reportedly insisted that all looted funds must be returned to the nation’s coffers, adding that the President also restated his pledge that Jonathan had nothing to fear at all.

A day after Jonathan’s visit, Buhari also played host to former President Olusegun Obasanjo. But unlike Jonathan’s visit which was not made public, one of the photographers attached to the President was able to capture the two leaders. It was gathered that the two leaders discussed a number of national issues and Obasanjo offered his advice to Buhari.

However, it was not clear whether the two visits were connected.

The question in the lips of most Nigerians is whether Buhari will sustain the perceived political will to depart from the antecedents of past presidents and unleash a full-scale clean-up campaign of corrupt institutions and their proprietors. Political analysts fear that, a deep cleanup of the nation’s eroded moral fabric will surely unearth various scandals and will make the president some powerful enemies, even within his own party, the APC. No doubt President Muhammadu Buhari has what it takes to fight corruption; being the reason why Nigerians overwhelmingly voted for him as a man of impeccable character. And like most people have reasoned, if Buhari cannot successfully fight corruption, then we should see it as an intractable disease that has come to stay with us.

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST 15 - 16, 2015

News

Drivers lament disparity over issuance of driving license From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

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rivers in Kaduna State yesterday staged a protest to know whose constitutional duty between Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and the Vehicle Inspection Officer (VIO) to issue official drivers license.

According to the spokesperson of the drivers, Musa Idris, they have been having problem in respect of drivers license issue by the two organizations, saying, either will always turn down licenses that is not from their office, describing it as forged, especially during vehicle particular inspection on the highways.

The spokesperson also alleged that the drivers pay between twenty to thirty thousand naira (N20, 000 – N30, 000) to officials of Road Safety for license only for same to be classified as fake by officials of the VIO. The drivers also alleged that a cartel issue drivers license from the data base of the FRSC only to remove the name from the computer which render such license useless.

While giving credence to this, Alhaji Kasim Balogun who ply the Kaduna-Abuja highway said he paid directly

to the FRSC office to renew his license at the Road Safety office in Kaduna only to find out later that his name was not captured in the computer and he has to pay another N30, 000 only to find out that issued place was Plateau State and not Kaduna state where he paid.

Another driver, who said he was a retired army personnel, Thomas Kazah, alleged that he had on many occasions been embarrassed especially on Kaduna-Abuja expressway by men of FRSC who always inform them that their driving license is not genuine despite the money was paid to their office.

Thomas said, the duplication of issuance of driver’s license is responsible for many accidents on the road because many drivers did not go VIO’s driving test or obtain learner’s permit before they were issued with driver’s license.

Speaking on the issue, a former deputy director of Vehicle Inspection, Alhaji Shehu Nuhu Abubakar, said Edict 13 section D of the Act establishing the FRSC only empowered it to design and produce driving license to state government who will distribute it through VIO’s office to individuals and not for the commission to issue license to them.

Group tasks monarchs, religious leaders on polio immunization From Mohammad Ibrahim, Kaduna

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roup under the aegis of Journalists Against Polio has urged traditional rulers in Kaduna state to educate parents to allow their children between 0-5 years old to be immunized.

In a press statement issued by the group and signed by its Acting Chairman, Lawal Dogara appealed to parents most especially in rural areas to allow their children to be immunized.

According to him, traditional rulers and religious leaders must always educate their followers on the importance of the immunization.

“Traditional rulers and religious leaders should educate parents to allow their kids be

vaccinated against polio and other children killer diseases” the statement explained.

The statement further explained that the State Primary Health Care Agency (SPHCA) had concluded arrangements with a view to ensuring the successful conduct of the immunization in the state which is ending on 18th August 2015.

The statement commended World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, state government and stakeholders for their effort toward the eradication of polio not only in Kaduna State alone, but the country in general.

It appealed to the ad-hoc staff engaged for the conduct of polio vaccination to be sincere in their activities with a view to making the exercise a huge success.

L-R: Deputy President, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Mr Otis Anyaeji; Former Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega; NSE President, Mr Ademola Olorunfemi and his wife, Tolani, at the presentation of special NSE merit award to Professor Jjega, on Thursday night in Lagos

Buhari will restore lost glory of Armed Forces From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

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chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adegoke Alawuje has assured Nigerians that President Muhammadu Buhari will restore the lost glory of the Nigerian Armed Forces by making them discipline, combat ready and equipped with state-of-the-art weapons.

Comrade Alawuje stated this in a press statement made available to the media in Kaduna yesterday.

Comrade Alawuje who is a retired Army officer, said from experiences the nation troop are among the best in the African continent that is well respected. The story according to

him has taken a downward trend due to corruption and negligence on the part of the past administrations and this was a setback to the country and the insurgency took advantage of the situation to wreck havoc on the country.

The retired Army captain added that it is time for all retired Military personnl to rally round President Buhari in other to bring new life to the military because the pride of the Military has been mortgage because of greed and selfishness.

As a way forward, Comrade Alawuje advised President Buhari to reorganize the Armed Forces Police and Directorate of State Security by

making them to be more intelligent gathering body in other to nib any problem in the bud.

“State Governor should be made to contribute to the security agencies in their state because it is only in the atmosphere of peace that development can take place.

“With the new life injected in the Military I am very confident that the Presidential marching order given to the services Chief to crush the insurgency will be accompany because our soldiers are gallant and brave but was neglected in the past and that is why we are suffering from the insecurity challenges but all that will soon be history” he said.

Crashed helicopter black box recovered From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

T

he Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) yesterday announced that the flight recorders, popularly known as black boxes, to the Sikosky 76 helicopter that crashed into the lagoon in Oworonshoki area of Lagos on Wednesday 12 August, 2015 have been recovered.

The Sikosky 76 helicopter

marked 5N-BGD and operated by Bristow Helicopters was believed to have departed SEDCO oil platform offshore and crashed shortly before landing at Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

The Black Box contains the Cockpit Voice and the Flight Data Recorders.

Commissioner of the Accident Investigation Bureau, Dr Felix Abali, made this known while

displaying the two devices to aviation correspondents at the bureau’s headquarters in Lagos.

The search party led by Julius Berger with the assistance of a hired diver located the recorders, which are expected to assist the investigators in unraveling the cause of the accident in which four passengers and two crew members lost their lives. Six other passengers are receiving treatment at a private hospital.

The Flight Data Recorder (FDR) contains data generated from different parts of the aircraft including the engines and the avionics while the Cockpit Voice Recorder will unveil conversations within the cockpit and between the pilots and the Control Tower.

The biggest part of the wreckage of the ill fated aircraft was recovered on Thursday but without the black boxes. The search resumed yesterday.

According to AIB, investigation has extended to retrieving documents and other materials from Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) and the airline operator.

Other information will be released to the public as they unfold and according to International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Annexe 13, the agency told reporters.

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST 15 - 16, 2015

News Demolition: El-Rufai warns against illegal marking of houses, buildings From Mohammad Kaduna

Ibrahim,

K

aduna State government yesterday said there will be no marking of buildings or plots, or the delivery of stop-work or recovery notices until proper surveys and assessment of maps have established the boundaries of the affected institutions, and the extent of land encroachments in the state.

It will be recalled that the state government demolished about 93 houses in Zaria in its efforts to recover lands encroached by individuals in public schools, hospital across the state.

This led to marking of houses believed to be built on such government lands in different locations within the state metropolis.

Governor El-Rufai’s continued plan to demolish more houses came under criticism from

stakeholders in the state.

But a statement by El-Rufai’s Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Samuel Aruwan, said the general public has nothing to fear from the ongoing effort of land recovery as he warned agencies against blanket marking of buildings and neighborhoods.

The government explained that all cases of encroachment on the lands of public institutions such as schools and hospitals will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

“There will be no blanket marking of buildings, neighborhoods and layouts. Local government councils have no role in the land recovery process beyond gathering and forwarding relevant information to the appropriate agencies.

“Kaduna State Government has announced its determination to recover lands belonging to public institutions. This applies to lands that have been illegally excised, carved-out or alienated

in a manner that contradicts the security, orderly environment and expansion prospects of the affected schools, hospitals and other public institutions.

“In restoring the integrity of these lands, the Government has taken steps to ensure that the recovery exercise is conducted in a fair and orderly manner that upholds public interest and conduces to social harmony”.

NEMA holds workshop on flood risk awareness From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

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L-R Former Member of the House of Representative Hon Emmanuel Jimeh; Benue state governor Samuel Ortum and senator Joseph Waku during the reconciliation meeting of Benue state All Progressives Congress(APC)governorship crisis at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja. yesterday. Photo: Mahmud Isa

NICA President calls on Indonesia to relax stringent visa regime

By Usman Mohammed

T

he President of NigeriaIndonesia Commercial Association (NICA), Dr. Ken Giami has called on the President of Indonesia, His Excellency, Joko Widodo, to relax the country’s visa regime, which has continued to serve as impediment to economic growth between Nigerian businesses and their Indonesian counterpart.

Dr. Giami made the call while receiving the Indonesian Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, Harry Purwanto, who paid him a courtesy visit at his office in Abuja, Nigeria.

Speaking during the meeting, Dr. Giami maintained that Indonesia is in a place to play a big brotherly role to Nigeria, noting that they both share a lot of similarities.

In his words, “Indonesia has fought terrorism to a standstill,

while Nigeria is currently doing same; Indonesia has a large population and market for goods, Nigeria has same”.

He however, added that the stringent visa requirements for businessmen travelling from Nigeria to Indonesia, has remained one of the major albatross to the increase in trade and commercial activities between both countries, as genuine businessmen and women willing to patronize Indonesian products due to the quality are denied entry into the country, due to these stringent requirements.

He therefore, called on the Ambassador to intervene and ensure that something is done to correct the anomaly.

The Ambassador in his response thanked Dr. Giami for his efforts towards promoting Nigeria and Indonesia trade relations

over the last few years, while assuring him that Jakarta is happy with the progress that the organization is making under his leadership. The Ambassador also reiterated his commitment towards supporting any initiative that would promote the growth of trade and economic activities between both countries.

He also added that, “our president His Excellency, Joko Widodo, is an accomplished businessman before veering into politics and he understands the role of business to the growth of our country, and I will assure you that I will use my office in pursuing the relaxing of some of the stringent visa requirements that you have talked about, to ensure that genuine business men and women are not denied access into our coun

n its commitment to forestall and militate against natural disasters, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has organised a workshop for stakeholders on floods risk awareness and mitigation against persistent heavy downpour.

The Director General of NEMA, Muhammed Sani Sidi stated this at a one-day workshop organized for the stakeholders in Bauchi yesterday, saying the agency is compelled to identify risk communities to mitigate flood disaster.

Mohammed Sidi who was represented by the Gombe Zonal Head of Operation, Saidu Ahmed Minin, said the workshop was organized to strengthening flood risk awareness and incorporating mitigation into development and relief project/ management of solid and liquid waste in the contest of flood mitigation.

Sidi added that the workshop is aimed at inculcating the habit of waste management and control, environmental standards, need for strengthening flood risk awareness as well as carrying campaign among vulnerable communities through NIMET. He noted that flood can only be prevented with the combine support and cooperation of resident through various preventive measures relating to proper drainage, proper waste disposal among others.

The participants were drawn from political, religious groups, traditional institutions as well as NGO’s, public and private individuals including Nigeria Red Cross that cut-across Bauchi state.

The agency urged the participants to avail themselves with the knowledge of flood mitigation with a view to extending same to their respective communities.

PDP scribe, three others expelled in Ekiti

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he Ekiti State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expelled the State Secretary, Dr Tope Aluko and three other members of the state working committee over anti-party activities.

The other affected officers are Tunde Olatunde (ViceChairman, North), Mrs. Busola Oyebode (Women Leader) and Tunji Olanrewaju (Assistant Secretary).

The expulsion of the officers followed the adoption by the State Executive Committee of the recommendations by the Disciplinary Committee set up by the party to probe the allegations leveled against them.

In a statement in AdoEkiti yesterday by the State Chairman, Chief Idowu Faleye

and the outgoing Organizing Secretary, Alhaji Lateef Agbaje, the SEC affirmed its support and recognition of Faleye as the state chairman as confirmed by the National Working Committee of the party.

It also lauded Governor Ayo Fayose for his leadership qualities and his efforts at moving the party forward both at state and national levels.

While the SEC appreciated the role of the NWC in the matter, it also commended the role played by elders and other stakeholders in the party.

It also approved the appointment of Chief Bola Olu-Ojo as the Special Adviser to the State Chairman on Party Matters based on his experience as a former state chairman of the party.

PAGE 12

Photosplash

Burnfire set by students of the Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Moore plantation, protesting over one of their students knocked down by a moving vehicle in Ibadan

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST 15 - 16, 2015

Members of Paupers Fund Committee, Federal Medical Centre (FMC), at the inaugural meeting of the committee, yesterday in Yola

Imo Head of Service, Mr Calistus Ekenze (5th-L) and Permanent Secretaries in the state, after their meeting with Imo State Governor., yesterday at the Government House in Owerri

Some widows waiting to collect their monthly widow allowance at a bank in Gwagwalada, Abuja

FERMA MD, Engr. Gabriel Amuchi (3rd right) making a point to Inspector General

of Police, Solomon Arase, (2nd right) during the tour to secure Abuja-Lokoja-Okene road yesterday.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST 15 - 16, 2015

PAGE 13

News

TMG supports Buhari’s crusade against corruption

By Umar Muhammad Puma

T R-L: Outgoing Director of Basic and Secondary Education, Federal Ministry of Education, Barrister Chike Uwaezuoke, Director with federal Ministry of Interior, Mallam. Shehu Aliyu and Dr. Tochukwu Uwazuoke, during Send fourth ceremony for retired Director Uwaezuoke by Ministry of Education staff, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Army Generals sabotaging FG’s efforts to end Boko Haram - Corporal From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

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serving soldier identified as Corporal Lawal Ahmed under 115 Task Force (TF) battalion with the service number 03NA/54/5867 has drawn the attention of President Muhammadu Buhari and the International Human Rights Organisations who embarked upon possible measures to end the activities of Boko Haram in the North-East, that Army Generals are sabotaging the efforts of the federal government.

Speaking exclusively with Peoples Daily Weekend, the worried Soldier said he has strong evidences which could prove that officers of the Nigerian Army at war front could not eventually work to actualize the dreams of Nigerians in a bid to end of Boko Haram insurgency as there were no rules of engagements issued for the Army to work upon.

According to Corporal Lawal Ahmed, a single battalion could

have since made the Boko Haram operations a history but, that could only be possible should the fighting officers were guided with rules of engagements, the development on which they would fight under complete networking order of the senior officers from remote or at war ground.

He further lamented that, the Soldiers were operating at random, saying, “They sometimes opened fire against selves or even on a community that deserves rescue mission due to lack of uniformed order for the fight”.

In addition to that, he contended that only Soldiers that found themselves at same location can work with one idea as the Army is still suffering the dearth of communication gadgets.

“Even among the War Controlling Generals (WCG), it was absolutely confused as they could not immediately identify enemy’s targets for destructions for fear that colleagues might be there and no means of

communication to secure the required information about that”.

On the claim, he advised it could easily be investigated to confirm by the President Buhari and the International Human Rights Organisations or the Amnesty International, adding that, the Soldiers assigned to smoke out Boko Haram from the north-east could not conquer the situation as they were served with dilapidated weapons that could not give them amount of courage to competently face the enemies.

“Let me call the attention of President Buhari and the International Human Rights Organisations to virtually register my offer to answer an invitation in efforts to acquire most needed information towards instant freezing of power of the Boko Haram fighters as I would not decline to reveal a lot of malpractices by the Army Generals capable of giving opportunity to Boko Haram to live for the fight until today”.

UNICEF, Yobe assure successful completion of programmes From Uche Uche, Damaturu Yobe state governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam, has assured the commitment of his administration to fulfill its obligation towards maintaining the agreement it entered into with UNICEF on programmes geared towards socio-economic development of the state in the areas of health, education, water supply and sanitation among others.

Gaidam stated this yesterday when UNICEF country representative in Nigeria, Miss Jim Gough, paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Damaturu, the state capital.

The governor who restated the commitment of his administration

to the agreement reached with UNICEF regretted that his government has not been able to pay its counterpart funding due mainly on low revenue from the federation account, assured his visitor that his government is prepared to do so between the months of September and October this year as the situation is improving.

He however, said his administration has achieved a lot in the areas of water supply and sanitation, health and assured to work with UNICEF to achieve the desired objective at the end of the programme.

Speaking earlier, UNICEF country representative in Nigeria who led the delegation of

technical experts, Miss Jim Gough said her visit was to review the achievements already made and how to scale up activities before the end of the second phase of the programmes which started in the year 2014 to end in 2017.

Speaking to journalists shortly after meeting with the governor, the UNICEF country representative expressed appreciation for what Yobe state government has achieved and cooperation UNICEF crews are receiving, pointing out that it was not the counterpart funding by the government that informed her visit, but the reminder to that effect is to move the state to wake up to its responsibility to assist UNICEF scale up its activities.

he Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) has commended President Muhammadu Buhari’s move to rid the nation of corruption, saying prosecution of all those who have engaged in the mindless plunder of the nation’s resources resonates squarely with all Nigerians.

The group in a statement issued yesterday by Ibrahim Zikirullah, said there is no doubt that the President is on the right track, and he needs the support of all patriotic citizens of this country.

“The era of crime and more crime is over. This is the time when all crimes committed against the nation would be visited with appropriate sanction.

We are convinced that the President should be given all the required support to bring to book anyone found culpable in the looting of Nigeria. TMG believes the President’s moves thus far, constitute important first steps, towards entrenching a system that would drastically reduce corruption. Only the guilty would nurse fears about the President’s commitment to hold past officials to account and recover ill-gotten wealth.

“Consequently, we are strongly in support of the gradual reforms in the nation’s financial system,

which in the end would entrench accountability and transparency, while saving the nation’s resources for developmental goals. The introduction of the Single Treasury Account for all revenue generating agencies is cheering news for a system that had seen gory days of outright financial recklessness. The clean sweep currently happening in the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) could not have come at a more auspicious time. Steadily, these efforts by the President are bringing to an end the financial hemorrhage that characterized the system”.

The group called on President Buhari to open up a channel of engagement with credible civil society organizations so as to get the required grassroots support needed for the ongoing anticorruption crusade.

“The President should also unveil his administration’s strategy for the war against graft, as promised during the campaigns. As for those making distracting and divisive comments about the President’s move against corrupt elements, we want to remind them of the truism in the President’s signature statement about the danger of corruption: if Nigeria does not kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria”, it stated.

Dean preaches against corruption

By Usman Shuaibu

T

he Dean of the Faculty of Law of the University of Abuja, Dr. Mohammed Waziri, has expressed concern over the corruption which had eaten deep into the fabric of our nation, while calling on the young lawyers to rise up to wage war against the menace.

Waziri, who stated this while addressing the gathering during the annual law week of the Law Students’ Association of Nigeria (LAWSAN) of the University of Abuja Chapter in Gwagwalada, urged the students as well as practicing lawyers to always rise up to kick against human rights violation in the society.

He advised the law students to remain committed to their studies, and warned them to desist from examination malpractices.

Presenting a paper tagged, “Socio-legal Dynamics behind the Non-Justiciability of the Socioeconomic and Cultural Rights in Nigeria: A Critical Analysis”, a legal luminary, Yusuf Ibrahim

Orowosaiye, called on the human rights institution, governmental organizations as well as civil society establishments to give attention to the protection and enforcement of socio-economic rights of Nigerians.

This, according to him, the protection and enforcement of socio-economic rights are not the sole responsibility of the Judiciary, Legislature and Executive.

He said: “The social dynamism behind the Non-Justiciability of socio-economic and Cultural rights is due to the high rates of poverty in the country coupled with ignorance occasioned by illiteracy and lack of proper education”.

On his part, the president of the LAWSAN of the University of Abuja Chapter, Sanni Abas, explained that the law week was a mandatory programme being organized annually to enlighten the students in the law profession.

Abas advised the law students to read their books always in order to excel in the law profession.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST 15 - 16, 2015

PAGE 14

Crime Cycle

Mashe Umaru Gwamna pmlcrimecycle@gmail.com 07037750515

Police dock fake journalist in Ogun James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

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56-year-old man, Segun Odofin was arraigned in an Abeokuta Magistrates Court III over alleged false representation of himself as a journalist.

The Prosecutor, Cpl Moshood Hammed told the court that the accused committed the alleged offence on August 9 at about 4:00p.m at Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta.

He said that the accused falsely presented himself as a Journalist attached to The News

Magazine, Lagos branch.

“The accused was caught by some members of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Ogun State Council during the thanksgiving ceremony of Mr. John Abolurin, the immediate past Commandant General of Nigeria Civil Defence Corp.

“He was arrested and taken to Ibara police station where he was questioned and he confessed to being a fake journalist and that The News Magazine identity card found in his possession was forged by him at a printing press in Abuja.

“Odofin also confessed that this had been his means of

livelihood for a long time as he had no other means of providing for his family,” the prosecutor said.

Hammed argued that the offence contravened Section 108 (2) of the Criminal Laws of Ogun, 2006.

The accused who was not represented by a counsel pleaded not guilty to a charge of impersonation.

The Magistrate, Mr. Martins Akinyemi granted the accused bail in the sum of N100, 000 with one surety in like sum.

He, then, adjourned the case to October 14 for further hearing.

Police arrest 7suspects for handbag snatching

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

T

he Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police command personnel attached to the Nyanya division have arrested 7 miscreants suspected to be handbag snatchers along a Nyanya by express bus stop.

This was disclosed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police Administration (DCPA), Danmallam Mohammade at a press briefing in the FCT Police command in Abuja, said the suspects includes pocket pickers.

“The suspects have been terrorizing the area for a long time period time and were been arrested during a special operation”.

Mohmmade said the suspects will soon be charged and arraigned to court, on conclusion of the investigation.

Similarly, the Federal Territory Capital (FCT) Joint Task Force has recovered a total number of 53 bags containing weed (India hemp) at Bakassi around Apo round in Abuja.

The 53 bags were recovered

from a suspected criminal hide out in the area yesterday.

The DCPA said no arrest has been made by the police during the early morning operations.

Assuring that the suspects will be tracked down soonest.

“We want the FCT residents to be aware that Abuja is crime free society and appealing with the members of public to be watch and stay alert when the suspect any moves they should report it to the nearest police command,” He said.

53 bags of weed suspected to be Indian hemp recovered by the FCT Joint Task Team in Abuja - By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

FERMA, Police partner to secure Abuja - Lokoja - Okene Road

By Miriam Humbe

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he Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has collaborated with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to intensify patrol on the Abuja – Lokoja road with the aim of identifying and combating crimes on the nation’s highways as well as ensuring the all year round motor-ability of the highways particularly around a black spot in Osara Village, Iruekpe, Kogi state with over grown vegetation which over the years, haboured criminals who incessantly carried out attacks on unsuspecting road users.

Managing Director of FERMA, Engr. Gabriel C. Amuchi, revealed this during a joint inspection with Police IGP along the road yesterday.

“This is a very strong collaboration. At the end of this clearing, we would improve visibility and sight-seeing. So it is going to be a continuous relationship and in other flash points, we would need collaboration to commence work in place for safety. We are collaborating in line with government directive to help Nigerians heave a sigh of relief in area of concern”, Amuchi said.

The Inspector General of

police, Solomon Arase who spoke on the importance of partnering with FERMA, said “this stretch of road has become a source of security concern to us due to armed robbery and kidnappers.

The Kogi state Commissioner of Police has been working tirelessly, but because of the nature of the forest, it has given succor to hoodlums who always come out of the forest to kidnap people. So I decided to seek the assistance of FERMA to see how we can open the space here as part of our security prevention to ensure that the place is safe.”

NDLEA nabs 2 in possession of 124 cartons of codeine From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

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aduna State Command of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA has remanded in it custody 2 drug dealers suspect for being in thepossession of 124 cartons of codeine syrup.

The State Commander of the agency, Mr. Samuel Azinge disclosed this while addressing newsmen in kaduna yesterday, also said the agency apprehended one, Abdul Haruna, 20 years old for being in possession of drug known as “200” and other three for illicit drugs.

Mr. Azinge said the suspects were rounded-off during joint securityoperations it carried out in some part of the state.

According to him, “Two of them, Adebisi Sunday, 26 years and Ayo Tunde, 28 years all remanded in our Zaria custody were caught in a stop and search operation and where their vehicle conveying the 124 cartons of codeine syrup was intercepted.

“In the course of our normal routine operations we receive complaints from various communities and neighborhoods within the Kaduna metropolis.

“As a matter of fact lots of communities are concerned because of the drug activities taking place in these communities especially Malali Low Cost and Calabar street at the market axis, these are very notorious areas where young men and women converge to take drugs and most of these drugs are not conventional drugs that are listed by the international community for prosecution and so they take advantage ofsuch substances because the law cannot catch up with them and they continue to abuse these drugs”.

“However, we have to make the environment safe for the people because you know the present government of Governor Malam Nasir El-Rufai is a very serious

government. The government of the day is a very serious one.

It is a government that is attracting investors, and wants to give the youth hope and also to sanitize Kaduna State in general.

“In line with this present government’s policy, NDLEA as a regulatory Agency has to beef up its activities in that ensuring Kaduna State is sanitizing from all illegal activities to make the city save for business activities.

“If you listen to radio progams and complaints from the communities’ people are complaining that they can no longer go about safely, they’re scared. Handbags and phones are being snatched left and right from people.

And so we can no longer tolerate these again, so in conjunction with other security agencies, the NDLEA, Kaduna State Command embark on operation together with Nigeria Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC and the Kaduna State security agency ‘Operation Yaki’ to rid the state of drug suspects and users”.

“In the course of the operation we apprehended four of the drugsuspects, Abdul Haruna, 20 years in custody of drug known as “200”, Barnawa, Mustapha Garba, 17 years, Barnawa, Rabiu Mohd, Malali and Masaud Abubakar, 20, Malali.

“I want to commend the efforts of these two agencies because they have been of tremendous help to this Command. We went on a raid operation and were able to arrest some of these drug suspects and users.

They’re becoming nuisance to the communities, even the District and Ward Heads of these communities are complaining.

“The Command is going to confine them and their parents will have to come because we have to strike a balance so that the suspects will be rehabilitated before they’re discharged and handed over to their parents,” the Commander said.

POLICE DIARY Security is a collective responsibility. Partner with the Police command to fight and provide security for all. Promote Community Partnership in preventing and controlling social disorder in the society

Police Emergency Numbers in the FCT

08032003913, 08061581936, 07057337653, 0802840883

PAGE 15

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST 15 - 16, 2015

Interview

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ell us what your views are concerning the leadership of the House of Representatives and what you think the fate of the South east became?

What happened in the House regarding Principal Officers was a product of a tussle that has been going on for a while. I always say that anything that happens politically is the will of God, and what happened that day was the will of God; and to summarise it, when the APC came on board, I felt they were a bit confused both Legislative and Executive arm.

However, we agreed to work together.

We agreed to make things work at the national level from the legislative angle of the government; but the APC itself wasn’t too organised to handle their issues. If it were the era of PDP, this leadership tussle wouldn’t have lingered to the extent it did, but I will just say like I said before, that I thank God for what happened for the ‘deed is done.’ They have picked the Majority Principal Officers and other things. APC which is the majority in the House has picked the leadership and there is nothing we can do but to support.

In the case of the Southeast, in fact South-Eastern Nigerians can see what they have done to themselves by supporting APC. I can say that in the House, the Southeast was completely short-changed in what I call a deliberate effort to scheme the region out of leadership responsibilities. I don’t see any basis or reasons why they must do what they did to block out the Southeast in the scheme of majority leadership of the House.

Before now, they have been shouting that they will give South-east this, they will give South-east that. But at the end of the day, someone like me knew very well that they were going to disappoint South-east.

Like I always say, if I have the opportunity of repeat what I did last time by voting the PDP; and the South-east as a whole voting for PDP, we are going to do it a hundred times. The Southeast can see it by themselves what has happened. It’s possible that during the appointments of officers into the Federal Executive Council, the Southeast will still experience the same thing, so they can see what they have done to themselves for not whole-heartedly coming out to vote massively for the PDP, because in the past, every state in the region could boast of recording a million votes for the PDP. But the reverse became the case in 2015.

The two APC reps from the South east are first timers and given the hierarchy of members in terms of ranking do you think the party was too harsh not to have considered them for any leadership position?

What happened in that aspect was totally a party affair, and I would say that the party wasn’t fair in its consideration of zones for

S’East will vote PDP 100 times over —Hon Edwin

Anayo Edwin, is a member representing Ezza North/ Ishielu Federal Constituency of Ebonyi State. In this interview with some journalists he revealed the continued loyalty of the Southeast geopolitical zone to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); his views on the politics in the House of Representatives, policies of the APC-led Federal government as well as the political future of Ebonyi State.

Umar Muhammad Puma was there and reports the said positions. A situation where a particular zone will get two major seats out of the six principal offices meant for the ruling party was not healthy for equitable democratic ethos. And then, you used ranking as a yardstick for denying the Southeast Caucus at least, a seat in the principal position was also totally untenable. You can see what happened in the Senate where a first timer became the Minority Leader. It has never happened in the history of this country, but it happened. You consider people according to how they supported you. If you are talking about the Federal Character principles, where there’s equity to make sure things are balanced, then, you should consider at least a member from every zone for a position.

But some people are aggrieved that the election of the Minority Leader at the Senate didn’t follow due process as laid down in the standing rules. Are you saying that you are in support of that?

Yes. Let me tell you the truth. The standing rules of the House always talk about hierarchy and I continue to say that I condemned that argument about hierarchy.

Even before I stepped my foot into the Green Chamber, I wanted to contest for the post of Minority Leader. I am a first-timer and I said I was going to run for whatever position that would be zoned to the Southeast. So I indicated interest, but when they started talking about hierarchy of members

according ranking, I was no longer part of the arrangement.

So what I have to say in that regard is this: As far as you have been elected as a member of Federal House of Representatives, whether hierarchy or not; as long as you can handle the affairs of that particular House they should allow you to run. This issue of ranking or no ranking thing is causing a lot of problems and I like what happened now. The Senate has broken that rule. In the House of Reps too; something like that should happen as well. I know by the 9th Assembly, nobody will be talking about that ranking and that is the change we need.

It was understood that the PDP caucus gave Dogara the backing to fight his battles.

Now he and Gbajamilia collapsed their factions into a one-united APC Caucus of the House. How is the PDP caucus taking that?

I won’t go deeply into that. Though, I heard it that they have reconciled. Let me use the word reconcile because, this is politics. As I am now, I know the person that made me politically. No matter who I am reconciling with; in politics, they say there is neither permanent friend nor permanent enemy. I believe Mr. Speaker knows what he is doing. I believe that the reconciliation that is going on now is borne of the fact that they are all politically matured. We know what they are trying to play; but I can tell you that it’s all politics. However, like I said before, I won’t go deeply into this question. When the

time comes, when the matters arise then, we can start talking about it.

Are you comfortable with President Buhari narrowing his probe to the Jonathan’s government?

In fact I am not supporting that. Yes, as lawmakers we are supporting Mr. President on his anti corruption fight. We want him to clean up the country, but not to narrow it to somebody and make it look like a personal fight. I am advising him that yes, fight corruption. Probe past regimes like Obasanjo’s administration, Jonathan’s administration even the past ones before them. He should look into their activities and make sure he cleans up the system and collect our monies; but narrowing it to just Jonathan’s administration - not only Nigerians but Niger Deltans will not take it easy. And if it comes to that, it means the leadership is a lopsided leadership.

How comfortable are you with the new governor of your state, taking into consideration that he was part of the former administration you criticised?

In this country they don’t value anything Deputy. He was the former Deputy Governor to that administration. During Obasanjo’s administration, most of the Deputy Governors; even the Vice President were being called, “spare tyres”. In this country they don’t value Deputy Governors; and I believe during the last administration as a Deputy Governor, he has no control over the activities of the government and so there was nothing he could have done. As a Deputy Governor, his hands were tied.

Coming to the second question, yes, we do and that is the reason why we supported him. Just give Ebonyi State one year, and you will see some real changes. We know the person we voted for. We believe in him. Not only that, we are close. If you can’t create any impact to the development of my State, I can’t support you politically. So we, the Ebonyi people strongly believe that His Excellency, Elder Umahi will turn around the economy of the state and that is what Ebonyi people voted him for.

Will you support the probe of the past Governor?

If you give me the opportunity to probe, I will probe Elechi hundred percent. if I were given the chance to do so because he didn’t handle the state as if he was a founding member as he always puts. If you handle a property as a founding member of a society, someone who struggled for that thing, I believe; that person will handle that thing very well. But Elechi couldn’t handle Ebonyi very well in the past 8 years. No Ebonyi man is happy with Elechi’s administration. It’s like Ebonyi was caged but by the special grace of God, He has delivered us from that bondage.

Aisha Buhari urges women to foster unity W

A’isha Buhari

ife of the President of Nigeria, Mrs Aisha Buhari, has called on women to engage in activities that will foster unity and progress in the country.

NAN reports that Aisha gave the advice at the August 2015 Meeting of Imo Women held at the Heroes Square, Owerri on Friday.

She stated that Nigeria could only advance in an atmosphere of unity, love, and understanding.

Aisha, represented by wife of Vice President, Mrs Dolapo Osibanjo, commended the theme of the meeting: ``Women Dare to Dream...It ispossible”, advised women to live by it.

According to her, when women dream well Nigeria can never be the same.

The president’s wife expressed love and goodwill to the Imo women and urged them to continue to foster unity and peace as stated in the programme.

She also enjoined women to bring up their children in the spirit of truth and knowledge of God. Aisha commended the wife of Imo Governor, Mrs Nkechi Okorocha, for improving the lives of the less privileged women

through her pet project designed to alleviate the burdens of indigent women.

Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo called on Nigerians to always give women a chance to exhibit their God-given potential, adding that ``they are endowed with much wisdom, gift and intellect. ``I never knew the depth of wisdom the almighty endowed my wife with and good heart she has until she was given the chance to impact on the lives of Imo women.’’

Okorocha thanked the president’s wife for finding time to honour the women in the state.

He also expressed gratitude to all the governor’s wives from the various states that graced the occasion.

Okorocha restated the support of Imo people to the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. ``Imo women are solidly behind the government of President Muhammadu Buhari which is destined to succeed”, he said.

Wife of Imo Governor, Mrs Nkechi Okorocha, said the August meeting was a yearly programme.

She expressed gratitude to the president’s wife and her entourage, other state

governor’s wives and Imo people for the success of the programme.

She said the theme of the occasion was to build in the women the desire to dream big for themselves, the family and Nigeria at large.

Nkechi said she was using the opportunity of her position to spur women of the state to dream big and achieve big.

She assured that she would continue to pilot the affairs of Imo women to enable them discover and promote hidden talents in them.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the president’s wife had commissioned some projects christened ``She Needs A Roof Project (SNARP)”, initiative of Nkechi, for indigent women.

There was match past by women from the 27 local government areas of Imo, beauty contest, cultural and social dance competition, head and neck tie competition by couples and food exhibition.

The occasion was graced by governors’ wives from Zamfara, Nasarawa, Enugu, Abia and Plateau states, among others.

PAGE 16

Special Report

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST 15 - 16, 2015

Nigeria earned $11.8bn from LNG; not $5.6bn claimed by PDP, Jonathan

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igeria earned at least $11.8 billion as dividends from the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Company, and not $5.6 billion as claimed by former Nigerian governments led by the People’s Democratic Party, PREMIUM TIMES can confirm.

The figure covers remittances due to have been paid to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, which holds 49 per cent shareholding in the NLNG, on behalf of Nigeria.

The remaining equities are held by Dutch firm, Shell, and its Italian counterpart, Eni/Agip.

After weeks of being rebuffed by different government agencies and the NLNG, over requests for the details of the remittances to Nigeria, PREMIUM TIMES arrived at the figure based on an analysis of payments to Agip, exclusively sourced by the paper.

The investigations showed that the Federal Government, through the NNPC, earned $11.8 billion (about N2.5 trillion) as dividends from NLNG between 2004 and 2014.

Pioneer Status The NLNG operated for at least 10 years under a controversial tax freedom holiday, called the pioneer status, which was granted by the Nigerian government. The incentive is usually given pioneer investors in new sectors of the economy to encourage more investments.

In the case of NLNG, it was to trigger investment in gas.

Even with the tax relief, the government and other shareholders drew dividends from NLNG during the period, but the Nigerian authorities refused to provide details of how much was paid from 2004, under the Olusegun Obasanjo administration.

Controversy over the money started in June when the Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative, NEITI, announced that it had uncovered that the NNPC failed to remit $11.6 billion paid by the NLNG. NEITI urged President Muhammadu Buhari to recover the money.

In response, the NNPC spokesperson, Ohi Alegbe, said the matter had already been referred to the Inter-Ministerial Task Team (IMTT) for reconcilia­ tion and resolution.

“At the last meeting of IMTT, it was resolved that the Minister of Petroleum, Chairman of NEITI, Execu­ tive Secretary of NEITI and the Group Managing Direc­ tor of NNPC should meet

Jonathan

on the issue of NLNG dividends and report back to IMTT. “Unfortunately, that meet­ing has not held. However, another meeting of IMTT is coming up next week and the issue will be taken up from there. NEITI, as a member of IMTT, is aware of the ongo­ing efforts to reconcile and resolve the issue of NLNG dividend remittance,” Mr. Alegbe said in a statement June 10.

He did not confirm or deny the amount in question.

By July, nearly a month later, the new federal government said it was disbursing $2.1 billion out of the NLNG funds to cashstrapped state governments to enable them clear backlogs of salaries owed workers.

The distribution was the first time in Nigeria’s history. It is the

“

first time that funds from NLNG would be shared between the federal and state governments.

The ruling All Progressives Congress accused the previous PDP government of diverting past remittances, an allegation denied by the PDP. APC spokesperson, Lai Mohammed, said over $4 billion of the NLNG money was outstanding.

In its response on July 12, the PDP said the party’s previous administrations –from Obasanjo to Goodluck Jonathan— deserved praise than rebuke for saving the LNG funds for the new government.

The party’s spokesperson, Olisa Metuh, said since NLNG had been on a “10-year tax haven” (he probably meant tax

holiday) until 2014, “successive governments, right from President Olusegun Obasanjo never shared nor tampered with the cumulative dividends over the years”.

He said as of May 29, when Mr. Jonathan left office, the NLNG dividend stood at a cumulative $5.6billion and “not a single cent was ever taken from the funds”.

Denials Repeated attempts by PREMIUM TIMES to confirm that figure were rebuffed by all the relevant government agencies.

The Corporate Communications manager of NLNG, Tony Okonedo, said releasing the details to PREMIUM TIMES would amount to a breach of confidentiality.

Controversy over the money started in June when the Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative, NEITI, announced that it had uncovered that the NNPC failed to remit $11.6 billion paid by the NLNG.

“Any details on the dividends we (NLNG) paid to government, the best place to go is NNPC that received it. For us, we are very clear on what we paid,” he said.

The NNPC told PREMIUM TIMES that the corporation did not have any information on dividend payments by NLNG. “Your best bet for such information would be NLNG, which made the payment,” Mr. Alegbe said.

Neither the NLNG nor the NNPC was forthcoming with information on their annual report and financial statements.

The ministry of finance and office of the accountant general also refused to provide details.

Eni to the rescue Regardless, PREMIUM TIMES sourced Eni’s financial filings, and confirmed that the company received billions of dollars as its due of dividend since 2004.

Eni owns 10.4 percent of NLNG, while Nigeria holds 49 percent stake.

A review of Eni’s consolidated financial statements showed that the company received €2.319 billion ($2.5 billion) as total dividends billion between 2004 and 2014.

Eni received €72 million in 2004; €33 million in 2005, €56 million in 2006; and €131 million in 2007.

The company also earned €453 million in 2008; €101 million in 2009; €188 million in 2010; €483 million in 2011; €331 million for 2012; €224 million in 2013, and €247 million in 2014.

At 49 per cent, Nigeria’s dividend climbed to $11.8 billion.

That is about N2.5 trillion.

The figure tallies with the $11.6 billion reported in the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) 2009-2012 Audit Report. The little difference might be as a result of fluctuating exchange rate.

Still, there is a discrepancy as previous reports show that the NLNG had announced in 2014 that it paid a total $13 billion as dividend to the government.

The firm’s managing director, Babs Omotowa, stated this when the company celebrated its 3,000th LNG export cargo in Abuja, in March.

He said Nigeria now owned $14 billion of assets on Bonny Island; $13 billion in dividends, another $11 billion earned in feed gas sales revenue, over $10 billion expenditure in local economy on goods, services and salaries of thousands of staff employed. premiumtimesng.com

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST 15 - 16, 2015

PDP: APC behind reports of Metuh’s suspension

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he leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has risen in defence of Olisa Metuh, spokesman of the party, over his reported suspension by the PDP in Anambra.

The former ruling party said the report of Metuh’s suspension was fabricated by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in its desperate attempt to bring him down. A statement signed by nine PDP leaders from the southeast read: “The attention of Peoples Democratic Party from the 118 electoral wards, and the seven local government areas that make up Anambra south senatorial district of Anambra state has been drawn to reports in some media titled, ‘Anambra PDP sacks Metuh,” and wish to state as follows: “That the said media reports about the purported suspension of Olisa Metuh did not emanate from either Otolo Ward 1, or any of the wards and LGA in Anambra south senatorial district and not from PDP Anambra state, rather it was the handiwork of agents of All Progressive Congress (APC) in their desperate attempts to bring down at all cost the leader of PDP in Anambra

state, Olisa Metuh.

“That we challenge the authors of the fabricated stories about the purported suspension/sack of our leader Olisa Metuh from PDP, to publish the names and signatures of the elected PDP ward, LGA and state officers that signed the false and malicious resolution.

“That we are not in any way surprised that the makers of the false and malicious media propaganda against our leader Olisa Metuh, the All Progressives Congress (APC) being a political party owned by one man and his agents, and not being a disciplined association grounded in constitutional issues and norms, are pitiably ignorant about the constitutional procedure for disciplinary action (if any) against the national officer of PDP. “That no amount of blackmail, harassment and intimidation from the APC and their agents can deter and distract our leader Olisa Metuh, from the ongoing task of rebuilding, remobilisation and repositioning of PDP to reclaim Anambra state in the forthcoming elections.”

Metuh had earlier told TheCable that nobody from the zone can suspend him.

PAGE 17

Politics News

Wike wants Peterside’s petition dismissed over N100 fee default Usman Muhammed with agency report

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he Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate in the April 11, 2015 governorship election in Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, and the Independent National Electoral Commission, on yesterday asked the state Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abuja to dismiss the petition filed by the All Progressive Party and its candidate in the poll, Dr. Dakuku Peterside.

Wike and INEC predicated their prayer for the dismissal of the petition on the petitioners’ failure to pay a fee of N100 for the filing for the issuance of pre-hearing notice, Form TF007.

But counsel for Peterside and the APC, who are through their petition, challenging the declaration of Wike as the winner of the April 11 poll, Chief Akin Olujinmi (SAN), asked the Justice Muazu Pindiga-led tribunal to dismiss the respondents’ application for lacking in merit.

Olujinmi insisted that since the application for the pre-hearing notice was by a letter to the Secretary to the tribunal, his clients were not liable to pay for filing fee as such was not specifically provided for in any law.

He maintained that Paragraph 2 of the TF007 only made provision for the submission of the form and not filing which would have warranted payment of filing fee.

He added that even if his clients were required to pay the fee, failure to do so could only amount to a mere irregularity which the tribunal could direct them to pay at any time.

He also maintained that his clients, like other parties to the petition, had made a deopsit of N500,000 security fund to the tribunal, so the tribunal

could easily deduct N100 from the said money if it was a must that the N100 fee be paid.

Olujinmi, a former AttorneyGeneral of the Federation added, “It is now settled that a petitioner can start a pre-hearing session by oral application. If I’m passing by, I can just ask the Secretary to the tribunal to issue Form TF 007. So am I going to pay for the voice?”

He urged the tribunal not to allow the justice of the petition to be defeated by mere technicality which the respondents’ applications were predicated.

Through their respective lawyers, Wike and INEC had argued that the failure of the petitioners to pay the fee constituted an infringement on provisions of Paragraphs 18(1), (3) and 47 of the 1st Schedule to the Electoral Act as amended.

They argued that the noncompliance with the statutory provisions implied that the petition had been abandoned because the jurisdiction of the tribunal to entertain the petition could not be evoked without the payment of the prescribed fees.

Wike’s lawyer, Mr. Emmanuel Ukala (SAN), urged the tribunal to be persuaded by a ruling delivered by the Imo State Governorship Elections Petition Tribunal in Owerri on July 22, 2015, dismissing the petition filed by the PDP’s governorship candidate in the state, Emeka Ihedioha, on the grounds of the petitioner’s failure to pay the N100 fee for the filing of the pre-hearing notice.

Ihedioha’s petition was challenging the victory of the Governor Rochas Okorocha of the APC who was declared winner of the April 11 poll in Imo State.

Ukala also urged the Rivers State tribunal to uphold its previous rulings in which it affirmed “the seriousness of the statutory provision with regards to filing of application for pre-hearing notice.”

“Failure to propery apply for pre-hearing notice renders the petition abandoned and liable to be dismissed,” he said.

INEC’s lawyer, Chief K. C Njamanze (SAN), who also canvassed the same argument, said the payment of the fee was a condition precedent for the tribunal to assume jurisdiction on the petition.

Njamanze said, “It is our submission that payment of filing fee for such application is statutory and constitutes condition precedent for the invocation of the jurisdiction of this honourable tribunal.

“In the circumstance, my Lords, in law, there is no application for issuance of Form TF007 and we urge in the circumstance to dismiss this petition.”

PDP’s counsel, F. O Orbih (SAN), adopted the arguments canvassed by the lawyers to Wike and INEC. The respondents’ lawyers also insisted in their replies on points of law that non-payment of the fee was “not a mere irregularity” and that the Election Petition Tribunal Practice Direction 2011 provided for the payment of N100 for the filing of exhibit or “any other document”.

Ukala also said that since the security fund was meant for a specific purpose, money could not be deducted from it to pay for default of paying filing fees.

The tribunal adjourned till Monday for its ruling on the applications.

Hajj: The physical and spritual journey Contd from Page Back Page displeases Him? Here we do have a choice, a most important choice. And the wonderful news is that we still have time to make that choice, and to act on it.

Hajj is a journey of full of meaning and purpose. By wrapping ourselves in two sheets of plain white cloth, the Ihraam, we symbolically prepare ourselves for death; it is the only time we will wrap ourselves, in our own burial shroud. When we die, someone else will do it for us. Here we remind ourselves of the fleeting nature of our life on earth; yet it is also an opportunity to put matter right, to make a fresh start; a chance for rebirth, and renewal. We can take a new look at ourselves, consider the direction of our lives, and if needed, we can still rearrange our priorities.

Hajj brings together some of the fundamental teachings of Islam. The concept of Tawheed, the unity and oneness of Allah, is visibly expressed here, in a most powerful way. We see the oneness of Allah, through the oneness of those who worship Him. We see the essential unity that underpins the great diversity of Muslims. Every race, every language, every colour of the human species, is represented here. On Hajj, we are not merely passive witnesses and we are not like couch potatoes watching TV. We are an active part of the great Ummah of Islam.

We see and experience the true

brotherhood of all believers. Before Hajj, we were used to praying and observing our Islamic duties in smaller groups. For example, prayer, Salah, is a duty we all must observe, on time, five times a day. When we are alone, we pray alone, but as soon as there is at least one other person, we are encouraged to pray together. If we are near a mosque, we are encouraged to go there, and join a larger group. Once a week, we attend Jumu’ahprayers, and twice a year, we join even larger groups for the Eid prayers.

Finally, we are obliged, at least once in our lives to make the pilgrimage to Makkah.

Hence, Islam urges us to seek active association in ever widening circles. So, clearly, Islam is not a religion of the Loner or the recluse. It fosters the idea of community, from gatherings of just two people at home, to over eight million on Hajj.

Hajj is therefore an extremely important act of collective worship. Those who do not perform Hajj when they are capable of doing so are considered to be no better than nonMuslims. In an authentic Hadith, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: “Whosoever fails to complete his Hajj before his death, he dies as a Jew or a Christian.”

Despite our many different languages, races, cultures and social backgrounds, we Muslims are all one. While in ihraam, we cannot see any distinction between rich and poor, high born or low born. The professor

and student, the prince and the farmer, the businessman and window-cleaner, all wear the same two sheets of plain white cloth. In Ihraam, there is no distinction between anyone. We see ourselves exactly as Allah sees us. Stripped of all our outer pretensions, it is the inner person, the essential human being that we have to cultivate, strengthen and purify.

Hajj is a reminder of death. We are clothed in the same simple white cloth that will cover us on our final journey to the grave. Hajj is therefore an opportunity for new beginnings, for taking stock of our lives.

It’s a wake-up call. When the angel of death comes to return us to our maker, we will have no opportunity to delay, or to complete any unfinished business. Hajj is therefore an excellent time to start setting things right.

Throughout the rites of Tawaaf, and sa’yi, the journey to Mina, Musdalifa and Arafaat, we seek Allah’s mercy and forgiveness for our sins, and we rededicate ourselves to His service. If those prayers are sincere, if we honestly and truthfully turn away from our bad and shameful behaviour, and if we strive with great effort to seek Allah’s pleasure, then the Hajj becomes a significant milestone in our lives. On Hajj we are able to reflect on our past deeds, from a distance, and consider our future direction. Hajj is not only the completion of an important Islamic duty. A true Hajji or true Alhaji returns home with a solemn determination to steer his life in the direction that pleases Allah. He

no longer is a slave of his own vain desires, but a true Ambassador of Islam.

Someone we know may well be making their Hajj this year; many would have left already. We pray for their safety and good health, may Allah take good care of them on their journey to Makkah, Madinah and all the Holy places. May Allah accept their Hajj,and when they have completed their duties, may Allah return them safely to their homes, Inshaa-Allah.

May Allah Most Gracious, also accept this prayer, that each and every one of us here should find the means and the opportunity to perform our sacred duty, and complete our own Hajj, at Allah’s invitation, in the near future, ameen.

May Allah the Bestower of Mercy also assist, help and guide our leader, the leader of all the Nigerian Muslims, the permanent National Amirul Hajj of Nigeria, His Eminence, the Sultan, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’adAbubakar III and His Royal Highness the Emir of Kano, SheikhMuhammadu Sanusi II, who was delegated by the Sultan to represent him as the National Amirul Hajj of the 1436/2015 Hajj operation. And May He the Most High assist and help the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria and all the stakeholders on this great, important assignment and responsibility put on their necks and shoulders. Ameen YaaAr-hamarRaahimeen Yaa Rabbal Aalameen. premiumtimesng.com

PAGE 18

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST 15 - 16, 2015

News Extra

Adamawa debunks N200m for prayers story From Umar Dankano, Yola

A

damawa State Government has debunked the media report that it earmarked the sum of N200 million for prayers to seek for Allah’s intervention in tackling the Boko Haram insurgency credited to the chief of staff to the state governor, Abdulrahman Abba Jimeta.

Recall that, on Thursday Jimeta in a media parley stated that the state government has earmarked the sum of N200m to prayer warriors and vigilantes to end insurgency rocking the state.

The position was made known in a press release signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Yohanna Mathias.

The statement noted that, “one of the challenges inherited by the government on assumption of office is the menace of Boko Haram insurgency. And as a serious and responsive government the government deemed it fit to tackle it head on by evolving new security measures and sustaining the existing ones aimed at curbing the menace thereby enhancing security of lives and properties”, he said.

It further added that, “The correct position of the matter is that the government had evolved a community mobilization process intended to enhance peace and security in the state.

“This process includes the use of vigilantes, youth vanguards, religious leaders and security agencies domicile within communities. This process had been ongoing for a long time. Community leaders had been mobilizing people to perform special prayers by both Christians and Muslims”, it noted.

Kebbi College of Health appeals for bailout From Ahmed Idris, Birnin Kebbi

T

he principal of the College of Health Technology, Jega, Malam Aminu Muhammad Dakingari, has applauded the recent commitment shown by Governor Atiku Abubakari over the restructuring of the institution and health sector across the state.

Dakingari who stated this in an interview with newsmen stated that the college challenges are peculiar to such challenges bedeviling most institutions of higher learning across the country, however pleaded for bailout from the state government.

He stated that the current challenges

G

lack teaching and supporting staff, adding that most of those available are operating on part time basis.

Dakingari added further that, the school also lack labourers and security personnel, stressing that the ones currently on ground in the school are haired to perform the roll of permanent staff as labourers and security officials.

Hostel accommodation, lecture halls and administrative blocks are also among the various handicap of the institution, expressing that the present admin block is what the school has been operating in for the past 35years of the inception of the college.

Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi state (2nd-L), presenting souvenir to President Boni Yayi of Benin Republic, during his visit to the President, yesterday in Cotonou

Lalong appoints Jega as ProChancellor, re-instates Sheni as VC ov. Simon Lalong of Plateau State has appointed Prof. Attahiru Jega as ProChancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of Plateau University, Bokkos.

This is contained in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Rufus Bature, in Jos on Friday.

The governor also announced the reinstatement of Prof.

Danjuma Sheni as Vice Chancellor of the institution.

confronting the Kebbi State College of Health Technology, Jega are surmountable.

“You see now if the state government will live up to its campaign promises to the electorate then they would be changes in the state”, he added The college boss who listed various challenges of the Institution to include clinic, explained that the college deserves a comprehensive clinic as a basis for accreditation of most of the school courses, adding that the school also need an e-library for students to avail themselves of modern information regarding their various course of studies.

He also mentioned the insufficient staff in the college, pointing out that the college presently

Jega, the immediate past chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), was appointed alongside six other council members.

The statement said the re-instatement of Sheni as the substantive Vice Chancellor of the University was with immediate effect.

According to the statement, ‘’The VC is to ensure proper re-positioning of the institution in line with international practices,

and to liaise with NUC to fast-track accreditation of programmes and subsequent graduation of two set of final year students.’’

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the past administration of Gov. Jonah Jang, in Oct. 2014, suspended Sheni as Vice Chancellor.

Jang’s administration had refused an order of the state high court for the reinstatement of Sheni and, instead, appointed Prof.

Stephen Mallo as acting Vice Chancellor. (NAN).

Gas explosion: Committee orders evacuation of empty cylinders From Ado Abubakar Musa, Jos

T

he committee investigating the July chlorine gas explosion at the Laminga water treatment plant, Jos, has ordered an immediate evacuation of empty gas cylinders around water treatment plants in Plateau.

Its Chairman, Mr. Jimmy Cheto, told newsmen in Pankshin on Friday that the directive became necessary due to some findings during an assessment tour of the Pankshin water treatment plant.

“We have ordered that the cylinders be removed to avoid a recurrence of the Laminga; we must always be proactive so as to

save lives,’’ he said.

Recalling the danger of chlorine gas explosion which led to the death of eight persons and injured 147 others in Jos, he said that empty cylinders should not be dumped for a very long time.

“Chlorine is meant for the treatment of water but it is very dangerous when exposed raw.

Most of the cylinders in some areas we visited are just being rolled on the ground; they are exposed to harsh weather and rain without any shed and this gives room for corrosion to take place,’’ Cheto said.

The chairman, however, said that cylinders were well handled

only in Pankshin.

“In Pankshin, the cylinders were kept upward and under shed; this is commendable. We are happy at the way they are being stored vertically and under shed, unlike what we saw in other places; I will say kudos to Pankshin treatment plant”.

He said that Plateau had 18 water sources, but that most of them were not operating at all, while those in operation were operating below 20 per cent capacity.

Cheto said that all the plants needed rehabilitation, to bring them to optimum capacity toward improved services.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST, 15 - 16, 2015

PAGE 19

Tourism

See the African gorilla at Cross River National Park forestry also holds promise.

History

Park locations The park was first proposed in 1965, but serious planning did not start until 1988. The World Wide Fund for Nature - UK played a leading role for the plan to establish the park in two divisions separated by farmland and the Cross River valley, with a budget of $49.9 million. The plan envisaged villagers in the buffer zone being involved in running the park and being given development aid.

The Cross River National Park (CRNP) was established by Federal Ministry Government Decree in 1991, with the Cross River gorilla chosen as the theme animal.

The original plan was not fully implemented, and the park established in 1991 only included existing forest reserves. After a small amount of initial aid, the funding dried up and the villagers became hostile to the park administration. An amending decree in 1999 converted the Nigerian National Park Service, which runs the park, into a paramilitary outfit with increased powers.

Organization The Nigeria National

Drill, an endangered primate related to the mandrill

T

he Cross River National Park is located in Cross River State, Nigeria.

There are two separate sections, Okwangwo (established 1991) and Oban (established 1988). The park has a total area of about 4,000 km2, most of which consists of primary moist tropical rainforests in the North and Central parts, with mangrove swamps on the coastal zones.

Parts of the park belong to the Guinea-Congolian region, with a closed canopy and scattered emergent trees reaching 40 or 50 meters in height.

The park has one of the oldest rainforests in Africa, and has been identified as a biodiversity hot spot. Sixteen primate species have been recorded in the park. Rare primates include common chimpanzees, drills and (in Okwangwo) Cross River gorillas. Another primate, the gray-cheeked mangabey,

seems to have recently become extinct in the area.

Both divisions of the park are threatened by illegal logging, slash and burn

Gateway to the park

farming and poaching. Ecotourism may support efforts to preserve the park fauna.

Assisting villagers in buffer zones to practice sustainable

Road in the park

Park Service is an agency of the Federal Ministry of Environment, Housing & Urban Development.

The Cross River National Park is headed by a Director under the guidance of a Park Management Committee.

The park management has established a station at Kanyang as a base for primate research and eco-tourism.

The Butatong Divisional Head Office, established with assistance from the European Union and the World Wildlife Fund provides a base for rangers patrolling the Okwa and Okwangwo sectors of the Okwangwo division.

The park has four departments: Park Protection and Conservation, Ecotourism, Park Engineering and Maintenance, and Finance and Administration. In 2010, 250 of the total 320 personnel worked in Park Protection and Conservation, mostly male due to the rigors of the job, based at twelve ranger stations. This number is inadequate given the size of the territory to be patrolled. Despite attempts at training, many of the rangers are poorly qualified and are dissatisfied with pay, equipment, motivation and career prospects.

En.wikipedia.org

PAGE 20

Homes B

ookshelves don’t need to be solely utilitarian, and you can decorate a bookshelf in more ways than just putting things on it. Paint and wallpaper offer ways to add some style to your plain bookshelf, but a fun way to add color, design and texture is to cover your bookshelf’s backing with some interesting fabric. A bold design will create visual interest, and shiny fabrics can add a sense of depth to the shelf and brighten up the items on it. * Pull out the nails holding on the back panel of your bookcase with the claw of a hammer or needle-nose pliers. Remove the back panel of your bookcase and lay it flat with the side that faces the shelves up. * Measure your panel, then cut your fabric so that it measures about 1 inch longer and wider than the panel. * Lay out your fabric over the panel face up. Turn the panel and fabric over, stretch the edge of the fabric over the top of the panel, and staple it in place 1/4 inch from the edge, spacing the staples approximately 3 inches apart. * Turn your panel back over, leaving the other three sides unstapled. Pull back the fabric and, starting at the stapled edge, spray adhesive on about 1 foot of the panel at a time, stretching the fabric over the adhesive and smoothing it down as you go.

Continue until the fabric is adhered to the entire panel. * Turn your panel back over. Stretch the fabric over the other three edges one at a time, stapling the fabric in place as you did with the first edge. * Lay your bookshelf on the floor face-down and put the back panel in place.

Hammer in finishing nails along the edges of the backing 4 to 5 inches apart to secure the back panel to the bookshelf.

Things you will need * Hammer * Needle-nose pliers * Bookcase with cardboard or particleboard back panel * Fabric * Spray adhesive * Stapler * Finishing Nails Tip • If your back panel is too thick for regular staples, use a staple gun or finishing nails to secure the fabric in place.

Warning • Use spray adhesive only in a wellventilated area. homeguides.sfgate.com

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST 15 -16, 2015

By Mariam Humbe

e n i z a g a M

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST 15 - 16, 2015

d n e k e We ent

m Entertain

Fashion

ps Beauty Ti

od Kannywo

d

Hollywoo

PAGE 21

d Bollywoo

Terry G features Wizkid, Phyno, Runtown in ‘Knack Am’ >>PG 37

My ex was a cheat, internet whore —Tonto Dikeh >> PG 34

KaySwitch releses ‘Jaburata’ >> PG 36

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST 15 - 16, 2015

PAGE 22

Your Body, Image & U

Your body fitness and morning routine

Assorted food items YOUR DRESSING SAYS A LOT ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL IMAGE ave you considered the messages you put out to the public with what you wear each time you step out from your house? You see some people wear wrong and unsuitable outfits to work places and occassions and you ask yourself—what is she/he thinking?

In the Nigerian setting, it would be pretty awkward to see a local pepper/crayfish seller wearing expensive designer’s suit sitting under the hot sun selling fresh pepper in the open Nigeria market. In that condition, her/ his outfit is totally out of order. It would also be outrageous walking into a corporate establishment and seeing ladies in strippers attire or men wearing multicolored leggings with suits. Awwwchhhhhh....guys with multicolored leggings covered with Armani Suits? What a sight to behold huh? Those of them with

H

Cucumber

ugly twisted legs will certainly swear for their establishment for allowing such outfits. So you see that what we wear daily matters a lot.

There are situations you walk into a particular shopping mall or grocery store and you see some female attendants dressed in ways that could make you throw up. I think those selling consumables should train their female attendants on suitable dress code suitable for their kind of job. Nothing is wrong with a female attendant wearing jeans but it must be a clean denim and not those dirty-washed-ripped jeans made for rock music stars on stage performance. The worst part is that the jeans will hardly cover the back side of the female attendants so you wonder what she is selling. Her backside or grocery? Still on female attendants, most of them are also seen wearing tops that showcase their breasts and ask them to pick some items for you and you will see things wobbling here and there.

Quite an obscene outfit for people working in grocery stores. Same is

applicable to females that work in restaurants and hotels. Word has it that men enjoy looking and talking to such women and this attracts customership to the outlets.

How about the male attendants that wears what we call ‘’sagging’’?

Yea, you walk into an eatry/ supermarket and you see young men sagging their jeans exposing their boxers. This is the worst dressing any young man can step out in stupidly thinking he is trendy. Trendy? When your whole moronic personality is at stake? What is attractive and trendy with a man exposing his boxers and walking like someone carrying injection malfunction on his buttocks. Very stupid dress code which every outlet no matter what you sell should not tolerate.

I see any adult male sagging his jeans as very irresponsible and parents that allow their boys to wear such outfits and leave the house should be questioned about their parental duties. These males actually feel on top of the world sagging their trousers when in the

Fried plantain

real sense, they are destroying their entire personality. Totally!!

There has been this controversy that some churches allow female worshippers wear hot minis to church and the worst part is that such ladies go straight to the front seats to seat. Distracting the pastor who i also see as not doing their jobs by allowing such ladies wear such outfits to church in the first place. Sure, a good church will warn women who wear such outfits because such outfits are inappropriate for churches. How can you wear hot mini skirts and dresses to church and all the time, all you do is to cross and recross your legs, adjust and re-adjust your legs trying to cover your inner self? Why are you so uncomfortable while sitting down wearing such dresses? Did you not see that the dress was short before you put it on or did someone forced the dress on you? Arrant nonesense if you ask me!!! Does this really make sense when you are aware you are wearing a hot mini dress and you keep pulling the dress down to cover up as if the dress will instantly become longer. Meanwhile, some of these ladies spent days dreaming of wearing such dresses to church to show off. In this case, such outfit tears your personality and drags your entire personality to the mud. These so –called happening chicks/babes think by wearing such slutty wears to church, they will be adored and seen as trendy. Trendy?

Fashionista...whatever they call them...you actually lost your entire body image and self respect if this is your style of dressing.

Ok..slow down jacqui...slow down....sure slow down but for what? You all are aware of these things i am exposing here but no one cares to address them when necessary huh? Take the case of the pastors not warning and banning ladies with slutty dressing from entering the church. Yes, ban them outright and if they really care to worship God, they will change their dress attitude. I am fully aware that God does not focus on our outward dressing but i do not think that God also smiles at a woman walking into his house almost naked where one can see her underwears when she sits down.

For offices and outlets that

With Jacqui Iwu bwreforms@gmail.com 08184825606 (sms only) purposely ask female attendants to dress half naked to attract male clients and patrons, this actually sends a wrong signal to your customers but you know Nigerians will see wrong things happening and will keep sealed lips. Your customers will dwindle but you might know why you are losing customers because they will not complain to you.

Some local pepper soup joints actually sell their pepper soups and drinks alongside female attendants.

The owners of such places will plan with male patrons who are willing to choose any female attendant they likes. This expalins why you go to some outlets and you see female attendants with drag-queen makeups and slutty outfits that expose their bodies. Why must a half naked female attendant serve you open foods to eat? Have you even thought about their total body hygiene? Most of these women have very bad –unkept body hygiene which is very dangerous to health.

I applaud women like Mrs. Chinwe. Ndidi. Ndubuisi, owner of Afrik Wears collections wuse2 Abuja, who uses her creative Male /Female African/Arabian/Turkish wears collections to educate our African women and men on decent and suitable dressings that boost their personality and protect their image. She believes that Women should wear outfits that covers their body very well and preserving their womanhood. What you wear says a lot about your entire Body/ Personality Image. Wear what suits you and preserves your self dignity!!

Jacqui IWU is a BodyImage/ Life/ Career Coach A Stress Management Expert &Conference Speaker Media Relations Personnel BLOG: http://bluntjacqui. blogspot.com F A C E B O O K : Beautifulwoman.column TWITTER: @ JacquiWORLD

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST 15 - 16, 2015

PAGE 23

Womanhood

Chief Mrs Pauline Kedem Tallen

P

auline was born on January 8, 1959, in Shendam, Plateau State, Nigeria to the family of Baba Paul & Mama Elizabeth Kattiems.

Sworn into office on 29th May, 2007, Tallens leadership traits were visibly prominent while in secondary school and after her studies there, she gained admission at the University of Jos where she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology in 1982. After graduation, Pauline realized that her hometown would never be able to emerge and advance unless there were more permanent educational facilities in place.

Tallen’s first political awakening and commitment may have come when she realized that something had to be done to remedy the situation.

Starting her public service career in the Shendam local government Council in 1976 as a Clerical Officer and later to the Ministry of Local Government Affairs in that same position, Mrs Tallen later moved her way up to a position of Member of the management committee of the Shendam Local Government Council when she won her first political appointment to the local council in 1994 as Councillor. From the moment she entered into politics she has barely had one moment to herself because of many people who clamour around her in her home in Shendam. Her lively spirit at all times shows that she thrives on the interactions and on the chaos. Tallen never seems tired despite her very busy schedule, one always wonders where she gets her energy. She seemed quite happy to have her every moment engaged.

Pauline’s husband, John Tallen, an elder in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau State and a politician all of his life as well, has firsthand knowledge of what Politics entails and encouraged her to go into politics. Therefore she went a step further into politics by competing for the Chairmanship of the Council. She was deeply into this campaign when the military government took over power. Luckily for her, the new regime viewed her as an asset in her community and

“

appointed her into the position of Commissioner in the State Executive Council overseeing the Ministry of Social Development, Youth, Sports and Culture, the position she held until the regime redeployed her to the Ministry of Health as a Commissioner one year later.

She served in this position from 1995 until 1999.

Tallen yet moved further into politics by becoming a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Inauguration Committee in 1999, in June of the same year she was appointed to the position of the Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology because of her outstanding contribution to the party and society as a whole.

Mrs Pauline Tallen is the first female to ever hold the post of a Minister of Science and Technology in the history of Nigeria.

While in this office Mrs Tallen helped to formulate strategic plans to enable the ministry accomplish its objectives and used her strong and wide political influence and contacts within the Legislative and Executive arms of Government to garner resources for the ministry.

Mrs Tallen portfolio as Minister of State and her feminist nature did not weaken her resolve to make a huge difference which was glaring and has drummed up the goodwill the Ministry is enjoying presently from the Government and people of Nigeria. Various media reports during her tenure described her as a positive leader that has provided the impetus for the growth of the Science and Technology sector of Nigeria. Many awards from within and outside the country have clearly demonstrated this.

Encouraging women, especially the girlchild to embrace technology, is another important role she played as a Minister. Her message has been that unless women embrace technology, they will not be able to advance economically and thus stand to become irrelevant in the 21st century. As Minister of Science and Technology she has been able to, through sheer hardwork, contribute

Politically, Mrs Pauline Tallen has paid her dues and has played several roles in party politics, conflict resolution and reconciliation at both National and State level. She is one of the strongest political voices in the middle Belt forum which has the likes of General Theophilus Daujuma, Senator Iyorchia Ayu etc.

Tallen to the three –fold increase in the budget of the Ministry and its overall development before she left office in May 2003.

Mrs Pauline Tallen also ensured the placement of many Plateau Indigenes into various senior and junior working positions in the federal Civil Service and because of her Nationalistic approach has also influenced the appointment of indigenes of other parts of the country into the service. Many Federal projects on the Plateau were directly influenced by this patriotic woman who has consistently exhibited her love and passion for the development and upliftment of Plateau State.

She was one of the few Ministers who had survived all the cabinet reshufflement throughout the first tenure of President Olusegun Obasanjo, and the reason is quite obvious, her hardwork, loyalty dedication and commitment to duty.

Her administrative acumen was once again recognized by President Olusegun Obasanjo after her Ministerial appointment when he appointed her as Chairman of the Governing Board of one of the high profile parastatals in the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC). Her stint there did not surprise many as she instituted innovative programmes like, the high profile monitoring of all RMRDC projects throughout the country which has hitherto never taken place in the history of the Council.

Mrs Tallen has received numerous National and International Awards and recognitions for her outstanding contribution to

community development; women mobilization towards National development, science and technology development, youth development, proficiency in Business Administration, development of Education and Health Care in Plateau State and politics amongst several others. In 2005, Mr. President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo crowned her with the prestigious community service award of, Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR).

Politically, Mrs Pauline Tallen has paid her dues and has played several roles in party politics, conflict resolution and reconciliation at both National and State level. She is one of the strongest political voices in the middle Belt forum which has the likes of General Theophilus Daujuma, Senator Iyorchia Ayu etc.

This pragmatic and highly accomplished woman is one of the greatest female politicians ever to come out of the middle belt.

She is a notable rural mobilizer, a member of many community development associations and has widely travelled to all the continents of the world.

With the election of this deeply religious woman, wife, politician and mother of 5 children as Deputy Governor of Plateau State, she has scored another first, as the first and only female Deputy Governor in the entire Northern part of Nigeria.

Her contributions to politics and women development are unequalled in the history of Plateau State and the Middle Belt and she can aptly be described as, “Magajiyan Matan Plateau” and “The Greatest female Political Gladiator in the Middle Belt.”

PAGE 24

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST 15 - 16, 2015

Kiddies World

With Miriam Humbe

SIGHTS AND SOUNDS

HIS AND HERS CORNER

Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport

Learning together

Mallam Aminu Kano Airport

M

allam Aminu Kano International Airport (IATA: KAN, ICAO: DNKN) is located in Kano, the capital city of Kano State of Nigeria. It was a Royal Air Force station before the country became independent.

It is the main airport serving northern Nigeria and was named after politician Aminu Kano. The airport consists of an international and a domestic terminal.

The terminals share the same runway. Construction started on a new domestic terminal and was commissioned on 23 May 2011. In 2009, the airport handled 323,482 passengers.

History Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport is the oldest in Nigeria, with operations starting in 1936. In the first decades of operation, it became an important fuel stop for airlines flying longhaul services between Europe and Africa. Newer aircraft did not need such fuel stops any longer and, with the demise of the economy of Kano in the late 20th century, many international airlines stopped serving the airport. Until they indefinitely suspended services in June 2012, KLM was the only European airline serving Kano, which they had done without interruption since 1947. This makes KLM the longest-serving foreign airline in Nigeria.

The bulk of international flights cater for the large Lebanese community in Kano and Muslim pilgrimages to Mecca.

Facilities The airport serves civilian and military flights. Runway 06/24 is mainly used for civilian flights, while runway 05/23 primarily serves the Nigerian Air Force base at the south side of the airport.

Runway 05/23 was in use for all operations, when the main runway was rehabilitated in the beginning of the 21st century. Between the two runways lie the terminal facilities.

The main terminal with the control tower serves international flights and domestic services operated

by Arik Air. Facilities in the departure lounge are minimal, with a newsstand near the check-in counter and a small bar at airside. There is a small VIP lounge for business class passengers. Duty-free shops are currently closed. In the arrivals hall there is a small bar and a post office.

On the south side of the airport, along runway 06/24, is the domestic terminal currently serving operations of IRS Airlines. Facilities include a newsstand and small bar.

Construction of a new domestic terminal, adjacent to the main terminal building, started in the beginning of the 21st century. Construction was abandoned but was resumed. The operator of the airport, Federal Airports Authority Nigeria (FAAN), saw the completion of the new terminal in November 2009.

It was commissioned on May 2011.

ABCDE

Cartoon angle

Donald Duck and Daisy

Tom and Jerry

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST 15 - 16, 2015

PAGE 25

Kiddies World

With Miriam Humbe

AFRICAN TALES When the Elephant’s trunks became longer

ABCDE

MODEL OF THE WEEK

Calvin and Caleb Christopher having a ‘sweety’ weekend

ACTIVITIES

The girl with broken pot

O

nce upon a time there was a herd of elephants. All of the elephants didn’t have trunks because it wasn’t invented yet so they looked liked pigs.

One day a baby elephant was taking a stroll to get some water from the river and while he was drinking a crocodile came up and took the elephant by the neck and threw him in the water (crunch crunch crunch). Five seconds later blood was rising from the river. This happened a lot to baby elephants when they were taking

drinks from crocodile infested waters in the African grasslands, and it had to be stopped!

Then one day an adult elephant came, it also came to get a drink. Then a crocodile rose up from the muddy water and grabbed its nose and pulled and pulled then suddenly the crocodile let go of the elephant’s nose. The elephant fell back and realized his trunk was three metres long! Very quickly he ran back to the elephant herd and

said. Hey guys look - having a long nose is awesome because you can lift stuff and drink water from it, it’s awesome!

All the others got the treatment too and that’s how the elephant got its trunk! But some elephants got their trunks bitten off! This procedure evolved elephants so they don’t look like pigs.

That is how the elephants got their trunks.

With the help of the right materials, have fun colouring the image below. Show your work to your parents or teacher for correction.

Cheers!

CREATIVITY

Make a paper purse at home

H

ave you ever wanted a purse but never had the money to buy one?

Well, now you can make your own purse on the spot!

Things You’ll Need • 1 sheet of A4 paper (letter size will also work) • Sellotape • Felt tips/ Colouring pencils • Scissors • Glue (optional) Method Fold the sheet of paper, taking the top right corner and folding

onto the left edge. You should be left with a right angled triangle followed by a rectangle below it.

If you do not have scissors fold the rectangle up so that the bottom of the triangle finishes and the fold begins immediately.

Unfold this and and carefully tare of this rectangle. If you do have scissors just cut off the rectangle.

Unfold the triangle.

You should be left with a square.

Fold the bottom edge up so that it is around 4⁄5 centimeter (0.3 in)

away from the top.*If you would like separate compartments, unfold that fold. Using the rectangle that you cut off earlier cut out a rectangle that fits inside the purse. Stick all the edges apart from the top edge to the side of the purse. Then fold back.

Fold the left and right edge of the purse to the back. Turn the paper over.

Stick what you just folded to the back of the purse. Turn over.

Fold the top part of the purse over the rest.

Flower vase

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST 15 - 16, 2015

PAGE 26

e-Learning

How spotting cancer early triples chance of survival • Cancer Research UK have discovered how vital it is to find cancer early • Findings revealed those found with initial symptoms were likely to live on • However, patients in which the disease has spread will have lesser chance • Britain currently lags behind most Western countries in terms of cancer survival rates

C

ancer patients are three times more likely to survive if the illness is diagnosed early, figures reveal.

The news underlines how crucial it is that doctors and patients pick up on symptoms before tumours spread.

Analysis by Cancer Research UK found 80 per cent of patients with one of eight common cancers survive for at least ten years if the disease is detected in its early stages.

But this falls to just 25 per cent for patients diagnosed in the later stages, when tumours have spread to the bones, brain, lungs or other organs.

Only last week, figures revealed that cancer survival rates in Britain lag ten years behind those in other Western countries, mainly due to late diagnosis.

Experts say this is partly down to pa-

tients not seeking medical help early, as well as GPs missing certain ambiguous symptoms.

Around half of patients are diagnosed in stage 1 – when the disease is confined to one organ, and stage 2 – in which it has spread to a small area of nearby tissue.

The other half are diagnosed in the later stages of 3 – where it has spread to the lymph nodes in the armpits or stomach, and stage 4 – when it has spread to the bones, liver, brain, lungs or other organs.

Researchers at Cancer Research UK looked at the survival rates for breast, cervical, bladder, bowel, womb, skin, ovarian and testicular cancers, which together account for more than 40 per cent of all cases in Britain. The ten-year survival rates were the highest for patients diagnosed in stage 1, at 90 per cent, falling to just 5 per cent for those who had

Analysis found 80 per cent of patients with one of eight common cancers survive for at least ten years if the disease is detected in its early stage already reached stage 4.

Sara Hiom, of Cancer Research UK, said: ‘These figures show the prize on offer if we can diagnose more cancers earlier.’

“

Only last week, figures revealed that cancer survival rates in Britain lag ten years behind those in other Western countries, mainly due to late diagnosis

Researchers at Cancer Research UK looked at the survival rates for breast, cervical, bladder, bowel, womb, skin, ovarian and testicular cancers, which together account for more than 40 per cent of all cases in Britain.

Beauty

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST 15 - 16, 2015

PAGE 28

TIPS

Steps to a flawless makeup

M

akeup offers a visual delight that seamlessly hides flaws and skin imperfections. It is a blessing that artificially makes up for our less than perfect features. Undoubtedly, we all love to put on the best makeup on our face. It not only makes a woman look more beautiful, but also makes her feel more confident and stronger. Below are basic steps to achieve a flawless makeup.

Cleansing: For most freaks who believe that makeup begins with foundation, it truly doesn’t. The first step towards a flawless makeup begins with proper cleansing. Cleansing prepares your skin for a perfect makeup. It removes trapped and hidden dirt and sebum. It makes the skin fresh and makeup ready.

It is a good idea to use an exfoliating cleanser that can also remove dead skin cells. Enjoy the goodness of a high-quality cleanser, which is the first step towards a flawless makeup.

Massage your face with baby

oil for two minutes and then use a cleanser followed by a mild face wash. Rinse your face with warm water first, and then use cold water.

It brings an instant glow to your face.

Moisturizer: Now select a moisturizer, suitable for your skin type. It is important because it creates a protective barrier for your skin. Moisturizer should lock in the moisture content of your skin. You can also add a little vitamin E serum for a glossier look.

Foundation primer: Primers are necessary if you want your makeup to be smudgefree for hours. A foundation primer holds the foundation for a longer period without cracking or smudging. Primer too acts as a protective barrier to the skin. Use the best brands to maintain skin health.

Add SPF to your primer and apply it together. On days when you are in a rush, you can step out wearing just these two.

Foundation: The next step to a proper makeup is foundation. However,

it is difficult to find a skin-friendly one. A perfect foundation suits your skin tone, texture and complexion. If your skin is oily and you use a cream foundation, you are digging your own makeup grave.

Oily skinned beauties should use a gel-based foundation. Dry skin divas should stick to the use of a cream-based hydrating foundation.

Sensitive skin beauties should use powder foundations. Foundation makes the complexion look even and smooth. So, blend it well with your finger tips. When testing a foundation, always try it on your jaw line and check under daylight.

Concealer: Foundation covers up most of the blemishes and age spots. However, a few acne-hit beauties might not be getting full coverage with a lone foundation. So, the next step is to use a concealer. Use a concealer that is closest to your complexion.

Dab a little to make the concealed parts look more natural. Always apply the concealer in a triangular shape to your under eye area. Use your finger tips to blend it properly.

It gives a good lift to your face, es-

Flawless makeup pecially the under eye area.

Compact: Use a good compact powder to coat your base to perfection. Dabbing a compact sets your concealer right. The base will no more crack, once you dab a compact for seamless finish.

Bronzer and highlighter: Are you a big fan of bronzer and highlighter? These are the next steps towards a flawless face makeup. The basic that spoils the complete look is the use of a same shade bronzer and highlighter. Ensure that there is a difference of at least one shade between the highlighter and the bronzer.

You should wear your bronzer in the shape of a cross on the forehead, nose and cheeks. Put the bronzer right under the apple of your cheeks to give a slimmer look to your face.

Blush: Do you usually look like a plastic doll after your makeup gets done?

You must avoid the common blush blunder then. Stick to earthy shades if you have olive to dark skin. You can try the lighter shades of mauve, pink and peach too. Darker shades are for fairer women. Always apply blush on the apples of your cheek.

So smile and then gently apply the blush. Also, ensure to keep the strokes uni-directional to make the makeup look natural.

Eyeshadow Primer:

Like a foundation primer ensures that the base doesn’t smudge, an eyeshadow primer ensures that the eye makeup remains smudgefree. It is an essential step to obtaining smudge-free eyes.

Mascara: Curl your lashes and wear mascara. Mascara can make or break your overall look. Therefore, stick to the use of waterproof mascara only.

Complete the eyes: Apply eye liner and finally wear kohl. You can put a liner in a number of ways depending on your choice, but keeping it simple looks more natural. Shape your eyebrow well. You must have well-shaped eyebrows. Use a tweezer/plucker to shape it after your shower, and then apply an eyebrow gel to keep it in its place for long.

Lipstick: Apply lip primer to fill in all the lines evenly. Now wear a light lip shade to match your lip colour. You may top this with a gloss for a glossier finish. Alternately, you can opt for a tinted lip balm which will give a natural tint to your lips. Always wear a lip liner to define your lips well. Use silver or gold eye shadow on your cupid’s bow and center of the lower lip to make them appear pouty.

These tips may look simple, but when done right, they can transform the way you look.

Compiled by MIRIAM HUMBE

Fashion

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST 15-16, 2015

Kela

PAGE 29

The wrap dress: One work attire to try out

F

ashion is limitless and endless, but many times we lose inspiration and creativity. When this happens, we simply need to see things in a different light. For your work outfits to look both fashionable and professional you need experiment more often. That way you get to find out what suits you the most and what works best for you.

If you don’t have a standard work attire, the best way is to look around and notice what your colleagues have on, this way you can determine how you should dress to work. For work attire the first rule is comfort, always have on comfortable clothings. Below are some work ideas to try out.

Color Block This color block idea is absolutely fantastic, Kela pairs a red wrap knee length dress with a purple blazer, black belt with gold buckle, dark blue hand bag, gold accessories and gold ankle strap heels.

Kela’s Kloset Who says you can only rock an outfit the same way? Here kela rocks the red wrap dress with an orange jacket this time, she accessorizes with a golden brown waist belt, vintage gold accessories, black with brown hand bag and leopard print peep toe heel.

Rad in Rose Red Stylist Rose Lazard schools us on the corporate casual look as she rocks a Zara rose red loose pant with a white flannel shirt, a white and brown suede leather bag and black suede pumps.

Stripe Shea rocks a wrap black and white wrap dress paired with brown sandal heel and a brown fendi bag. This look is minimal and simple.

Kela

Shea

PAGE 30

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST 15 - 16, 2015

Pots & Pans

With Miriam Humbe

Unripe banana meal A serving of soft unripe banana meal This meal can be prepared for the whole family with other sources of protein but when cooking for these little ones, crayfish alone is just ok. Cooked without pepper for now.

Ingredients • Unripe banana, you need a grater to grate this banana but I think a blender can equally be used • Crayfish • Onion • Seasoning cube • Salt • Hot leaf or mint leaves • Palm oil • Water.

How to prepare Grated unripe bananas being scooped and wrapped in uziza leaves. grated with that tiny part of grater used in grating coconut for Nigerian coconut rice Banana is wrapped and dropped in a pot Crayfish and onion being fried to add to wrapped bananas Fried sauce and boiling water being added. The boiling water helps this wrapped soft bananas to solidify fast without disintegrating from the leaves Banana pudding on the cooker after adding boiled water and the fried crayfish, add seasoning, taste for salt before bringing to a quick boil

Unripe banana porage The bananas here are two thirds of the one being cooked, after boiling, the rest of the

cooking is done in low heat. It cooks very fast. Really thinking of grating one or two with same

quantity unripe plantain to see how it goes.

Well cooked, full of aroma, the

banana for babies is ready. The pot is stirred just about one or two times.

Red Currant Soya and Pear Smoothie

T

his smoothie recipe is great even for diabetics because of its high dietary fiber content from the red currants, soya milk, and pear.

Preparation Time 5 minutes Total Time 5 minutes Yield 1 serving

Ingredients: • ½ cup red currants • ½ cup soya milk

Red currant Soya

• ½ medium pear • ¼ cup crushed ice• Preparation Method: 1. Combine the red currants, soya milk, pear, and crushed ice in the tall glass. Process in the Nutri-Bullet for 10-12 seconds or until smooth.

2. Pour in a serving glass. Garnish with a few red currants or a slice of pear, if desired.

3. Serve and enjoy!

PAGE 31

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST 15 - 16, 2015

Relationship

Living peacefully with your step children

F

rom time immemorial, step mothers have always been portrayed as evil.

The role of a step mother is a very difficult one.

Some might never be welcomed by the children and trying to act like their real mother can cause altercations, in which case the step mother finds herself in a very tricky situation.

Most children feel loyalty towards their biological mother and therefore struggle to hate their step mother. Disciplining them and setting new limits can be very challenging. Children, when offended with their step mother turn to their biological father for succour, and if this continues, your relationship with your partner might get strained.

It is always a very tough task for women and their step children when it comes to coping with each other. If you eventually decide to settle down with a man that has children, don’t forget you are going to share his love with them.

The mistake most women make is that they easily forget that there are other people, possibly grownups, who were there before them.

It is not possible to have the man all to yourself.

If you are in love with a man with children, the first thing you should do is to strive to establish a very good relationship with his children. You would be making a very big mistake if you decide to relate with them as their step or biological mother. It is wise relating with them as friends and part-

Happy stepmum/stepchild ners, this way they feel respected and wanted.

Many women who are married to single parents fight so hard to establish their place in the home.

Maybe you are afraid that his divorced partner might come into the home. You are threatened by the presence of the children and

Adjusting to a stepmother/stepchild relationship

their relationship with their mother. It is a natural thing and there is nothing you can do about it.

No matter how much the children love and accept you, it will be foolish to think they will love you like their biological mother.

In the case of divorce, you should know they are not happy that their mother is not in the home. Some of them may even end up seeing you as the reason for the unsettled differences between their parents, especially if you met the man not too long after the separation.

It is easier relating with your step children if they are very young, but if they are adults, it will take extra efforts to have a good relationship with them. They may even insist on having their mother visit sometimes and that, I know, is what you dread.

Women need to know that you aren’t going to be close with your stepchild instantly. A step-parent/ stepchild relationship grows over time. Take it slowly when trying to establish a relationship. Take small steps to show them that your love and support is sincere. Also spend time on your relationship with your stepkids. As time moves on, make efforts to spend one-onone time with them without your spouse. This will allow the children get to know you better and establish a solid relationship with you.

It will also allow you all make your own memories together.

It is tempting as a step-parent to help mold your stepchild, but he/she already has parents for that. What he/she really needs is someone to encourage and cheer

him on. Friend, parent, spiritualadvisor, life coach, road-block, critic... these are what a stepparent isn’t. As a step-parent, the best way to navigate is through the eyes of a cheerleader. So, how do you encourage stepchildren? You are there to cheer on a good relationship between them and their parents, to cheer on a good relationship between them and your children. And in doing so, you will be cheering on your own relationship with them.

As with any new relationship, affection is going to take time to develop. Care, love and affection will come with a good relationship, but you have to give it the time and space to grow. Don’t force it forward. Let the child take the lead on demonstrations of affection. Be warm in spirit, but don’t try to hug or embrace the child. If she wants to hug you -- and you want to -hug her back. Know how to recognize, appreciate and acknowledge shows of affection. You want them to be making requests from you, but this may never happen. They want you to know that they are closer to their father than you are.

Some of them will intentionally do things to make life miserable for you, especially the girls.

No one wants to feel like a third wheel, a guest or an outsider, so don’t let your stepkids fall into that place. Let them be a part of everything. Children should also be involved in making decisions.

When they feel they have been heard, they will be less resistant to family rules. If the children have a say in devising reasonable punish-

ments for infractions, they will feel the rules are more fair. Consistency is important, and so is setting boundaries. Change is difficult for everyone, so understand that it will take a while for things to settle down.

Women, please stop complaining about your step children. Don’t go about making them look evil.

Your own children may fight, steal, disobey and do all sorts at home and you try to hide it. But the moment your step child does a little thing, the whole world hears about it. This is absolutely wrong. Stop seeing their occasional rudeness as rejection. Begin to see it as the usual thing with children.

Most importantly, if you do not live together with your step children never refuse them from visiting their father. You can struggle so much to keep them away from the home, but definitely not from the man’s heart. Remember, most men have their will and you can never say what is in it. The best way to get a man to even love you more is by accepting his children.

There are countless childless women that are being loved unconditionally by their step children and you can never know they are not their biological offspring(s).

Your step children could be your hope in the nearest future. You are the one to decide how happy you will be in your home despite their presence.

Finally, if you want your husband to accept and love you unconditionally, please accept and love his children (your step children) unconditionally.

PAGE 32

Fiction

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST, 15 - 16, 2015

The wedding guest

I

magine going to that wedding your friend invited you for. Initially you had no intention of attending this wedding but you found out that on that Saturday you won’t have much to do at home and soon enough your day will become boring as always, and you also found out that the couple are wealthy, which means that a full lap of chicken might be added to the jollof rice that would be served at the wedding, or they might even ‘upgrade’ to fried rice and chicken.

So you decide to attend the wedding after all.

Now the problem is the cloth you will wear to the wedding. Being a young and fashionable guy with a really good dress sense, in fact, if modelling agencies could try and checkout your pictures on Instagram and facebook, they’d sign you right away.

Knowing this wedding to be that of the wealthy, you feel you should wear something classy. So you sort out the blazer you bought two months ago that you wore once to that your secondary school reunion, because you wanted to show your former classmates that you’re a ‘dabbing’ and ‘flexing bobo’ who knows the latest fashion trends in town.

So you sort out the blazer and a pair of trouser and that Nike Air you wore with the blazer to your secondary school reunion. But on bringing out the shoe you remember that this was the exact combination you wore to the reunion, your mind begins to wonder ‘what if my former classmates who were at that reunion see me wearing this same clothes, it would seem as if I don’t have enough clothes’ but then you thought ‘many of my classmates are not well to do and I don’t think they’ll be invited to this wedding’, moreover its being two months since you last wore this clothe.

So you convince yourself that you won’t be seeing any of your former classmates at the

wedding and also you fancy the stares and looks of admiration you’ll get from your neighborhood as you’ll be stepping out, because you’d look so fabulous. Now you take the blazer, trouser and shoes outside to brush them up after which you iron press the trouser and blazer.

It’s Saturday and you woke up feeling really happy and off you head to do your chores after which you play music as you browse the internet on your phone, mum has prepared your food but you tell her politely that you’re not hungry but deep down you know the real reason was because you’ll be attending a wedding ceremony and your stomach really needs to be empty in order for you to savour the food that’d be served at the occasion be it fried or jollof rice with chicken.

Your friend who invited you for this wedding told you the wedding will start by 9am but you being a true African know that 9am means 11am moreover the couple would first of all go to church before coming for the reception, so you conclude that you’ll be going to the reception venue by 1pm, by then they must have finished all the photo sessions and all other protocol they must observe. So by 1pm they should be getting ready to serve refreshment aka ‘item7′, that’s just the perfect time to arrive.

It’s one O’clock pm and you step out with your Nike Air, trouser, blazer and nerdy goggles to make you look rich and more classy and as you walk to the junction to board a taxi, you can feel eyes all around you and this makes you walk majestically as you notice your street boys whom you play football with every Saturday morning hailing you and you begin to really feel on top of the world.

Twenty minutes later you find yourself at the venue of the wedding reception and your friend smiling as he ushers you in and shows

He showed up wearing his best clothes

you a place to sit, the front and middle seats have all being occupied and because you arrived late you had to seat at the back. Deep down you hate seating at the back because you have had several experiences of food finishing before it got to people sitting at the back. You console yourself that this wedding is not an ordinary wedding and from the look of things there should be more than enough to go round and this back seat affords you the full view of all the beautiful girls coming in and out.

The MC cracked a funny joke that got

everyone laughing really hard but you weren’t listening because you were checking out that tall slim girl on a pink dress, you weren’t looking at her because you liked her but because she was going close to the store house where ‘item7′ was kept.

This signals that it is time for refreshment.

You see them carrying the buffet out and positioning it at the beginning of each row and you almost shouted ‘Thank God’. The MC turned to announce the arrival of refreshments and your eyes met and who knows you almost wanted to duck and hide

your face because you know him.

He was your former classmate who was never serious and made fun and joked with everything and everybody, although he was a bright student back then, when you last saw him two months ago he didn’t look like a person who could MC a big occasion as this with all the dignitaries here.

He comes close to where you are seated laughing and then he said into the microphone, “you know Jonathan had no shoes, my friend has just a piece of clothe”.

Naijastories.com

PAGE 33

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST, 15 - 16, 2015

Romance

A couples’ first dance

By Ajenifuja Adetokunbo

I

t was her brother’s wedding and Chisimdi stared enviously at the couple who were gazing adoringly into each other’s eyes as the MC made jokes that had the guests reeling in laughter.

She couldn’t help her envy, they looked so happy. Hilary who’d sworn as a teenager that he’d never marry had just exchanged vows with the girl he met barely six months ago. While she, who’d been dreaming of her wedding and happily-ever-after all of her life, sat at his reception single, man-less and… helplessly envyridden.

Chisimdi felt like such a loser.

She was quite a pretty young woman, had a great job in a telecoms company, had her own car and her very own apartment in a plush side of the Mainland. She was a good Christian girl and she devotedly paid her tithe. Ladies like her shouldn’t be single and without a man of their own.

Of course, she wasn’t without admirers. There were hordes of men dying for her attention. Well, not hordes, she admitted grudgingly sipping her wine, but there were men who wanted her. Who were attracted to her and would anything to have her give them the time of day.

But how could she, when she had long given her heart to her brother’s best friend who also had sworn off matrimony as a teen and who appeared to be bent on keeping his own eternal-bachelor vow.

She’d been just twelve when her young heart had first skidded to a stop at the sight of Jeneta Nnani. It had been a girly crush then but as the years went by, that crush had flourished and become a deep rooted affection. A real love.

A love hidden deep in her heart and away from the prying eyes of the world. She’d learned to stay away from him. Learned to avoid running into him at family functions with one girlfriend or another. Learned to act and remain aloof despite the unbearable ache in her heart.

He was a sworn bachelor and she was a fool in love, the two can never meet. Her secret dreams of being his one true love were only dreams that will never be a reality.

She’d learned to accept that.

Chisimdi shifted her gaze to where he was seated as his brother’s best man. True to type, he was charming the maid of honour beside him with his seductive smile and deep-toned voice.

The Casanova!

The MC announced that it was dancing time and her brother and his new bride danced off to the centre of the hall. As traditionally expected, people jiggled to the dance floor and started spraying Nigerian currencies to the floor with happy, reckless abandon. She got up and two-stepped to the dance floor, unclipping the wad of two-hundred naira notes she’d kept aside for the occasion.

Soon the music shifted from spray-dancing and turned to the real boogie down thingy, Chisimdi, not much of a dancehall girl, wiggled her body a bit and then sneaked off the dance floor and out the reception hall.

Maybe it was time she let go of this unrequited love, she thought standing at a quiet corner of the event centre.

Couple dance

Maybe it was time she forcefully removed him from her heart and gave herself a chance to find a man who will love her.

“Hey, Simdi, running away from twirling around the dance floor with me?”

Chisimdi shut her eyes briefly to steady herself against the effect of his deep, resonate voice. Certain she had herself in control, she turned slowly and arched her brows at him. “What?

No girl draped all over you?”

Jeneta curved his full mouth into a tempting grin. “What girl would that be?”

She lifted a shoulder nonchalantly.

“The maid of honour for one. You seemed to be successfully charming the brains off her.”

He threw back his head in a rumble of deep-throated laughter. “Just doing my best man duties is all.”

“Really?” She tilted her head to the side. “And what is this, an extension of that duty?”

He grinned. “No, this is a special kind of duty.”

That was all she’ll ever be to him duty. His best friend’s little sister he has to look out for. Oh yes, it was time she wrenched him out of her heart.

“Thank you, dutiful friend… but I don’t need charming.”

A pained expression crossed his face. “Gosh, I don’t mean it like that.

You are not just duty to me. You are…”

“Your best friend’s kid sister who’d always tagged after you two. Yeah, I know. That’s all I’ve ever been—I get that now.” She blinked quickly. She will save the tears for when she was alone.

For a long moment there was

silence. Chisimdi frowned and looked at him. He had a thoughtful expression on his face like he was contemplating something. Was he wondering what to say to her because he thought he might have offended her? Or was he just wondering how best to escape her annoying company without being obvious?

Well, she’d do him that small favour since she wanted to get rid of him too. Her heart wasn’t doing so well having him standing so close and looking utterly gorgeous in his steelblue three-piece suit.

“Neta, if you don’t mind I was actually…” she broke off abruptly when he took her hand. She stared down at their joined hands and tried not to pay attention to the tingle she felt in her palm and in her tummy. “What are you doing? Let my hand go, please. I came out here for some quiet moment and I’d like to have it, if you don’t mind.”

“Actually I do mind.” Jeneta said, looking into her eyes.

“What?”

“Simdi, I mind leaving you alone.

I’m tired of leaving you alone.” He sighed and shook his head. “I’m tired of telling myself, I should leave you alone. Reminding myself that you are my best friend’s little sister.”

She gawked at him. What the heck was he talking about? “What the hell are you saying?” She rasped suddenly feeling nervous.

He shrugged, looked away and then back at her. “Are you seeing anyone? I mean I haven’t heard anything about a man in your life from Hilary.”

What? That was it? He was checking up on her? Was this some

kind of sick game he and Hilary had come up with like when she’d been in the university and they’d wanted to know if she’d started dating?

Bloody hell!

“What kind of silly question is that, Neta? Am I not beautiful enough to have male attention?” She returned with a cool smile. “Anyway, since it interests you, I am. My boyfriend just couldn’t make it. He’s away on a business trip.”

“Oh.” Jeneta frowned darkly.

She tried to tug her hand free but he just won’t let go. She couldn’t stand it! Bad enough he was touching her like this in the first place—when she was trying to convince herself the time had come to forgot about childish dreams—but he’d started to stroke the back of her hand with his thumb.

She doubted he was even aware of his actions. Jeneta was a lady’s man who likely knew all the right moves to make on a woman and carried them out unconsciously.

“So, is he the reason I never see you around anymore? Are you two… serious?”

Chisimdi glared at him. How dare he question her about her relationship like he was her father? She added pressure and wrenched her hand free.

“You care to explain how that is any of your business? Or are you just fishing for information for my brother? Why can’t the two of you realize that I’m all grown up and don’t need you getting into my business?”

She snarled.

He leaned his face closer to hers.

“This has nothing to do with Hilary.”

He growled. “Just answer the question.

Are you two serious? Is that why you never return my calls?”

The calls he made every now and then to check up on her as he was doing now? The calls that were like burning coals to her aching heart?

“I told you, I don’t need another big brother. So back off!”

Jeneta cussed, grabbed her by the arm and yanked her forward. “I am not your brother! I never were and I never will be. Now answer me, are you serious about this guy?”

Chisimdi blinked. Suddenly her place in the universe seemed to have slipped, because she felt like she was free falling. Holy crap! Was he jealous?

And why would he be jealous?

“And why do you care? You’ve got some chick on your arm every time I see you. So is it really your business?”

Jeneta suddenly let her go but his eyes were still on her and they still held a puzzling expression. “Look, like I said before, I haven’t seen you on your own in ages and I want to know what’s going on with you.” He lifted his shoulders. “Maybe if you returned my calls or messages once in a while, I wouldn’t be so curious and we wouldn’t be here at your brother’s wedding making a scene.”

Though he tried to sound offhand, Chisimdi could still read the possessive look in his eyes.Jeneta was jealous over her… wow! He wasn’t the type to make a scene and he was here making a scene with her, at a wedding, and probing her about her private life.

What the heck was going on?

“Neta…”

“Just answer the question, Simdi.

How involved are you with this guy you’re seeing?”

She took a deep breath and stared at him. She was tempted to keep bluffing. But she was curious as to what was going on, so she shrugged

carelessly. “We’re as involved as any new couple. Nothing deep has happened yet, we are still feeling the water and trying to see where it might lead. Now, mind telling me why you are so interested.”

He looked away quickly. “Well, I was just curious.”

“Why?” He didn’t speak for a moment, then he shrugged. “Because you matter.”

Chisimdi frowned. “I matter? How do you mean?”

Jeneta face her again. “You’ve always mattered to me. You’ve always been important to me. First as my best friend’s kid sister and then…” he huffed out a breath. “Then as the woman I was fast falling for and now, as the woman I am heads over heels in love with and don’t know how the hell to tell her or tell her family.”

Chisimdi gaped at him. Her heartbeat had picked up the speed of an express train. “Why… why did you never say anything? Why can’t you tell me or my family?”

“Because you are Hilary’s sister!”

Jeneta snapped out, tossing his hand in the air in frustration. “I am his best friend—there are codes of honour about such matters.” He sucked in breath and sighed. “Besides, I am the guy he knows—your entire family know as a playboy, a ladies man. They would never trust me with you.”

Chisimdi could not believe it. She had loved him for so long and he had loved her too but neither knew of the other’s feelings? And even worse, she’d been working on herself on how to get him out of her heart?

“I think the most important factor is, can you trust yourself with me?”

She met his gaze. “Can I trust myself with you? Can I entrust my life, my heart… my love to you?”

Something she’d never seen happen happened right before her eyes and Chisimdi knew even before his words came that she could trust him forever.

His eyes welled up and a tear slipped. “If you entrust your life, your heart, your love to me, I swear on everything I hold sacred, I will never fail you or let you down. I will love you forever. I swear it. I have loved you forever.”

Chisimdi felt her own tears fall and she blinked away the blurriness. “I can’t believe I’ve loved you for so long and did not know you felt the same.”

She shook her head, in wonder. “We have wasted so much time.”

“No, we haven’t.” Jeneta said with certainty. “We have needed the time to grow and I think the time to find the courage to face your family—at least I needed the time.” He laughed.

She laughed with him. He was right, she had needed time too, to grow up and be sure. The dancehall beat that was filtering out from the hall changed into a slow, romantic beat.

“Hmm, All of me… if I remember correctly, that’s your best love song.”

Jeneta held out a hand. “ Care to dance with me, Simdi?”

Chisimdi hesitated but only for the briefest second. She took his hand and allowed him to draw her closer and mould her body perfectly against his.

He slipped his hand around her waist as they started to move in slow, even steps. “Dance with me forever, my heart’s dearest.” He whispered into her ear.

PAGE 34

Nollywood

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST 15 - 16, 2015

artistes feel on top of the My ex was a cheat, internet Some world after making money – 2face whore – Tonto Dikeh H ypertek record boss, 2Face Idibia, who has been seen as an icon and one of the lasting hip hop singers in Nigeria, has pointed that artistes fail in their careers because they have the mindset that they are on top of the world the moment they make some money.

The singer while speaking with Vanguard stressed that the ‘I don arrive’ syndrome is one of the major factor that make artistes fall by the way side and find it difficult to pick up.

The African Queen sensation advised that artistes should never assume they have arrived rather they should keep working on themselves to be better.

“I think it’s the ‘I don arrive’ syndrome that affects artistes who fall along the way. That thing is a major factor. Most times if you check it, it is that syndrome of I have arrived and we have to keep doing it this way, forgetting that you have to keep working on yourself.”

Tonto Dikeh

L

ast weekend, Tonto Dikeh reportedly held her marriage introduction at her hometown in Rivers State.

This put to rest the stunt the actress started shortly after she commenced an affair with her new husband, Churchill Oladunni, who

she first described as Mr X. Nigeriafilms.com broke the news of the actress rocking a baby bump, Speaking on how her former boyfriend, Tonto said he was a cheat and an internet whore.

In her words, “Your partner cheated on you does not mean

all humans are cheats. My ex was a cheat. A prolific internet whore and a fake but that did not stop me from loving even harder the next time.”

It would be recalled that before now, Tonto dated Michael Awujoola, better known as Malivelihood 2face

People mocked me when I turned evangelist- Eucharia Anunobi

Why I waited long to get pregnant – Stephanie Okereke

Stephanie Okereke

N Eucharia Anunobi

N

ollywood actress, Eucharia Anunobi, has revealed that she never planned to become a minister of God, but that she later discovered she was going to specially work for God in the cause of her acting career.

She further said that she later had to attend a Bible school before accepting to answer God’s call.

According to her, people mocked her when she made her intention known to join the ministry.

In her words, “I started up as an actress but in the process of time when I discovered the call of God for my life, I enrolled in a Bible school.

“When people heard it, they mocked and laughed at me. Some asked ‘will a prophet come out of Eucharia Anunobi.’ Today, I am an Evangelist acting in the office of a prophet. I travel around the world as a conference speaker.”

The talented actress made this

hint over the weekend at a book launch in Lagos, where she was invited as a guest speaker.

Advising audience at the event, the actress said people should always try to look for that hidden talent in them to be able to set themselves out of many. “You cannot have a destiny without a dream, you cannot have a dream without an idea,” the ‘Glamour Girls’ star said at the occasion.

ollywood actress, Stephanie OkerekeLinus, has disclosed that she never wanted to let people know she was pregnant until her photographs started flying on the internet.

She explained that it was only few family members and friends that were aware of her pregnancy and even went as far as staying away from the cameras to conceal the good news.

Stephanie told Genevieve magazine that, “You just don’t say anything. Your family and friends know, but you stay at home and don’t go anywhere. People have been trying to get me to come out but I keep telling them I’m on bed rest. I didn’t want people talking about it until I was ready to announce it.”

On why it took her long to get

pregnant, the actress stated that it was a personal choice.

“Waiting this long to have a baby is a personal choice and God ultimately decides. You have to be ready mentally and physically. I had a lot of films I was shooting and I was travelling a lot too. My movie is out now and I cannot even promote it across Africa like I wanted to do because I am stuck in one place.

“It’s also God’s timing. Neither my husband nor I were pressured.

I feel this is the right time for it to happen. Right after we got married, I was on set shooting.

But this year was different. It’s the perfect year for me to year to get pregnant,” she said.

Stephanie got married to her husband, Linus Idahosa in April 2012 in Paris, France.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, JULY 25 - 26, 2015

PAGE 35

Hollywood Katie Price: I thought I would be with Peter Andre forever

Strictly Come Dancing 2015: Jeremy Vine is first to take to the floor

J

Leonardo DiCaprio

K

atie Price has admitted she “idolised” her former husband Peter Andre and claimed that their marriage ended because he wrongly thought she had been unfaithful.

In a series of sessions with psychiatrist Dr Claudia Bernat for her new documentary, Katie Price: In Therapy, the glamour model and entrepreneur opened up about their split in 2009 after four years.

According to Now magazine, in one session Katie said that the couple split because of Peter’s suspicions about something going on between his wife and her

horse trainer, Andrew Gould – an accusation which Katie totally denies.

Katie explained: “He thought that something was going on with me and my horse trainer and I always said nothing was going on with my horse trainer.

“I loved Pete. I’d have never have done anything behind his back or anything like that.”

The two met on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! in 2004 and married shortly after.

They have two children.

The 37-year-old added: “I thought that we could have been together for ever. I idolised him

and he did me, definitely.”

Peter, 42, always said that the marriage ended because “something big happened, which I won’t reveal”.

According to the magazine, Mother-of-five Katie also revealed how much of a struggle it is looking after her eldest son, Harvey, who is blind, autistic, and suffers from Prader-Willi syndrome.

“Take everything else out of the equation, take my job out, take the men out, take all my other kids out: just me and Harvey on his own is a challenge,” she admitted.

Harrison Ford flying again following crash

H

Harrison Ford

arrison Ford is flying again following his crash in March.

Five months on from his plane accident when he crashlanded on a golf course in Los Angeles - due to engine failure related to a loose part - the 72-year-old actor’s wife Calista Flockhart has revealed her husband still loves his aviation hobby and although it was “really hard” she supports his decision “100 percent” to get back to what he loves most.

She said: “He loves it, so I love it, and I support him 100 percent.”

However, it was a “scary time” for Calista and the ‘Star Wars’ star’s son Liam Flockhart and also Harrison’s children from his previous

marriages with Melissa Mathison Georgia Ford and Malcolm Ford and Willard Ford and Ben Ford with Mary Marquardt.

The TV actress told People magazine: “It was a really hard, scary time for our family. I think it just makes you realise, once again, that life can turn on a dime. We just have to appreciate every second we’re here, because you never know.”

The accident hasn’t stopped Harrison’s wife from being a passenger in his aircraft and she confirmed that she goes along on his journeys, but she doesn’t fly herself.

She added: “I don’t fly. I’m the passenger in the plane.”

eremy Vine is the first star to join the line-up for the new series of Strictly Come Dancing.

Known for his election swingometer, journalist Jeremy said he wants to try to be “doing the splits by September”.

The 50-year-old contestant said: “How could I say no to the biggest show in TV? Yes, yes, yes and yes again to the sequins and the Samba.”

He told The Chris Evans Breakfast Show on BBC Radio 2: “But you know, they asked me and I just thought I just turned 50 this year I’ve got to start dancing properly. I can’t go into the dad dancing.”

He added: “Now I just need to find some dancing shoes and identify my left foot. I am doing it for my two young daughters who jumped behind the sofa when I told them. It seems dad on Strictly is more scary than Doctor Who.” Current affairs supremo Jeremy is the host of his selftitled BBC Radio 2 programme, which presents news, views and interviews with live guests and music every weekday.

He also presents BBC One’s Points Of View on Sundays, as well as Eggheads on BBC Two, a teatime staple which is now one of the longest-running quiz shows in British TV history.

A seasoned broadcaster, he has also been one of the presenters for the BBC’s election coverage since 2006, including overseeing the famous swingometer.

More celebrity contestants for the 13th series of Strictly Come Dancing will be announced in due course.

Other names that have been mentioned in connection with the new series include former This Morning presenters Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan, former Liberty X singer Michelle Heaton, singer Peter Andre, EastEnder Shane Richie, and Loose Women’s Jamelia.

Last month, a spokeswoman for Jamie and Louise Redknapp said they will not be appearing on the show.

Reports suggesting that the husband and wife duo were in advanced talks to join the line-up of the BBC One dance show were said to be “completely untrue”.

Last year’s series was won

by Caroline Flack, who beat celebrities including Saturdays singer Frankie Bridge and EastEnders actor Jake Wood to win the glitterball trophy.

Jeremy Vine

Taylor Swift sizing up $4.6M Scottish castle

T

aylor Swift has reportedly been looking into buying a $4.8 million Scottish castle.

The ‘Bad Blood’ hitmaker is believed to have been checking out the 16th-century property so she can be nearer to her superstar DJ beau Calvin Harris and his family, according to MailOnline.

The castle would be perfect as it’s just a 90-minute drive away from the Harris’ residence in Edinburgh.

Tower of Lethendy north of Perth in Scotland was built in 1570 and boasts an impressive eight bedrooms, seven bathrooms, 40-acres of land, an 18-hole golf, heated swimming pool, tennis courts and two staff cottages.

It wouldn’t be the first time the blonde beauty has moved for her

boyfriend.

The 25-year-old pop star moved next door to her former lover Conor Kennedy in 2012 and she spent $1 million more than the Scottish abode on a $4.9 million Cape Cod mansion.

The star previously joked about how people say buying real estate for “every boy” she likes is something she does.

She told Vanity Fair: “People say that about me, that I apparently buy houses near every boy I like. If I like you I will apparently buy up the real-estate market just to freak you out so you leave me.”

Taylor already has homes in Nashville, New York and Beverly Hills, but this would be her first in the UK.

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST 15-16, 2015

Celebrity Gists Aaliyah: Timbaland to drop unreleased tracks

S

inger Aaliyah may have tragically left too soon, but some unreleased music by the songstress will hit our ears in coming weeks. Timbaland, who has famously worked with Aaliyah on a number of tracks, announced that new music from the late star would soon be released.

Though an official collection of previously unreleased music from Aaliyah was released in 2002 as I Care 4 U, more tracks have resurfaced in the following years after her death in 2001.

In 2012, producer Jeffrey “J-Dub” Walker announced his involvement in a second posthumous album, which was allegedly created from a stash of demo vocals. However, the project was shut down by Aaliyah’s brother,

Rashad Haughton.

Some of the late singer’s vocals were used for a collaboration with a Canadian rapper, Drake. Later that year, Drizzy released “Enough Said,” which was meant to be part of a larger tribute.

But by 2014, the project was apparently shelved with Drake’s producer, Noah “40” Shebib, saying, “[Aaliyah’s] mother saying ‘I don’t want this out’ was enough for me. I walked away very quickly.”

In 2013, an Aaliyah hook was featured on Chris Brown’s “Don’t Think They Know” from his album X, which quickly drew criticism from Timbaland who said, “Aaliyah’s music only work with its soulmate, which is me.”

David Oyelowo to portray James Bond in Audiobook

N

igerian-British actor, David Oyelowo, is set to play James Bond, according to new reports.

He will be starring as the voice of James Bond after getting a direct invitation from the estate of 007’s creator, Ian Fleming.

Oyelowo will play Bond and other characters in the audiobook version of Trigger Mortis, written by Anthony Horowitz and commissioned by the Ian Fleming estate.

Aremu breaks 8yr video drought, releases new visual for Vow

A

frica’s most celebrated saxophonist and multiple awards winning international jazz artiste, Mike Aremu, has broken its eight years video drought with an intriguing and crispy visual to his last single, “Vow” off his double CD album, “Coat Of Many Colours”.

The album, “Coat of Many Colours” was the Oluwa Ku Ise crooner’s last album and it featured collaborations from the likes of MI, Chidinma, and Sasha P amongst others. The entrancing VOW video was shot on a location in Oxford, England, and was directed by the very resourceful Uvi Orogun.

KaySwitch releses ‘Jaburata’

A

fter a one year break, KaySwitch is back with a new single titled ‘Jaburata’.

The DB Records artist said in the past year he has been doing underground planning with the objective of redefining his brand and improving on his unique style of music.

The song was produced by Princeton.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST 15 - 16, 2015

PAGE 37

Entertainment Drake becomes first artist to go Platinum in 2015

Terry G features Wizkid, Phyno, Runtown in ‘Knack Am’

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apper Drake is officially the first artist to reach platinum in 2015. His mix tape, ‘If you’re reading this it’s too late’ has so far sold over one million copies till date. The only other album to go platinum this year was Taylor Swift’s ‘1989’, but that came out in 2014.

Drake dropped the album in February on iTunes and did not release physical copies until two months later.

M

assive collaboration alert. Fresh from dropping ‘Totori’, Terry G has released a new song titled “Knack Am“. He enlisted industry heavyweights Wizkid, Phyno and Runtown on this Afro Pop joint.

The singer is currently working on a new project after being signed on to American rapper, The Game‘s Black Wall Street Records.

Comedian Akpororo is engaged

C

omedian Akpororo got engaged to his girlfriend, Josephine Abraham, at the end of a church service at the Ultimate Power Ministry in Lagos. Sources said Akpororo planned his proposal with four children who carried placards with “Will you marry me”.

After the church service and just before the closing prayers, the young men came in with the placards.

With members of the congregation still wondering what was happening, the pastor of the church said one of his ‘sons’ was asking the all important question. At that moment, the comedian approached Josephine, knelt before her and asked her to marry him. An excited Josephine answered Yes.

Actress Tonto Dikeh marries Obasanjo’s son

N

ollywood actress, Tonto Dikeh, kept the world guessing about her relationship status in the past few months, but she definitely cleared things up this past weekend when she had her introduction ceremony to Oladunni Obasanjo Churchill in her hometown in Port-Harcourt.

Her hubby, Oladunni, is said to be one of former

President Olusegun Obasanjo‘s children.

From prayers from her grandmother to sharing a kiss with her grandmother, the controversial actress, who has since changed her name to Mrs. Tonto Wigo DikehChurchill on social media, looked extremely happy and joyful at the ceremony.

Adekunle Gold releases video for ‘Orente’

Y

BNL artiste, Adekunle Gold, is out with the video for his catchy single, ‘Orente’.

The video was shot in the ancient city of Osogbo in Osun State and it captures the essence of the city. It was shot across different locations with scenes bearing images from notable landmarks such as the Erin Jesha waterfalls, the Nigerian Railway Corporation Osogbo, Osogbo City Stadium, Osogbo market, and the famous Nike Art Gallery and Museum.

The video was directed by Mex with a retro Yoruba theme.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST 15 - 16, 2015

PAGE 38

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ISSUES Local production of arms: A mission long overdue

By Ogundana Michael Rotimi

I

t is impossible to imagine a world without needs. The history of mankind is shows his efforts to satisfy his needs. All the discoveries and inventions of science are a proof of man’s urge to solve his problems.

Hence, when man feels the pinching need of anything, he begins to think of how he can satisfy them. He then sets his mind to the task of invention.

Necessity gives the first impulse and the rest is the work of the intellect. The world is changing everyday and we must adapt to our changing needs and keep pace with them.

We may not have seen the need to revive the dead, but as the terror of the deadliest terrorist sect, Boko Haram, continues and the refusal of the United States of America to sell weapons to us, there are many reasons why we should locally produce our weapons.

In 1964, an Act of Parliament established the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) to operate the ordnance factories for the manufacture and supply of arms and ammunition, as well as inspecting, testing and recommending ordnance materiel intended for use by the armed forces and other security organisations.

The first Technical Partner of DICON was Fritz Werner (FW). FW designed and built the Kaduna Ordnance Factory with a production capacity of, 5,000 units of BM 59 rifles per annum, 18,000 units of SMG 12 per annum, 12,000,000 rounds of 7.62mm x 51 per annum and 4,000,000 rounds of 9mm x 19 per annum.

The Nigerian civil war, which occurred between 1967 -1970, necessitated the tripling of the production rates and the factory was able to make a significant contribution to the war effort. After the war in 1970, the lucrative arms market for DICON ended. Therefore, in order to remain in business, it decided to use its equipment to produce civilian items like rural water

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That was how we forgot and abandoned our own production of weapons since 1970 till date. However, as the security challenges facing our country continue, it has become imperative to revive DICON and make it functional again.

For five years, former President Goodluck Jonathan begged the US government for military hardware to combat Boko Haram insurgents, but according to the US, the Leahy Law prohibits it from selling military hardware to countries where human rights abuses are being committed.

A global human rights watch group, Amnesty International, had recently accused the Nigerian military under Jonathan of gross human rights abuse in the prosecution of the war on terrorists. The Nigerian military denied the allegation and President Buhari has promised to investigate it.

Apparently, an arm deal was part of a four-day official visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to the United States of America. But he returned to Nigeria with no pledge of concrete military assistance against the Boko Haram sect from his hosts. The US government again

told him that its arms are tied by the Leahy Act, which prevents it from selling arms to countries with human rights abuse records.

Meanwhile, prior to the 2015 general election, the war against the Islamic terrorist group took a new dimension when it was reported that Nigeria procured modern military hardware including fighter jets and armoured vehicles which aided in combating the terrorist group. It is on record that the achievements made during this period remained the most successful throughout Jonathan`s administration.

What this means is; Boko Haram is not a sophisticated terrorist group, but our military isn`t well equipped and sophisticated enough to combat them.

With the right weapons and technology, complete defeat of the sect is attainable.

Regrettably, the application of the Leahy Law by the United States on the grounds of allegations of human rights violations leveled against our forces denied us access to appropriate strategic weapons to put an end to the insurgency.

We can`t blame the US for our woes and we can`t condemn the Leahy Law for standing as a barrier to securing a deal with the US. A country as big as Nigeria in size, capacity and capital and with all

its manpower and resources should be able to produce its weapons by itself. We must as a matter of national emergency commence the production of military hardware to solve our security challenges.

We cannot continue to wait for the US to help us out in everything. We have the brains and materials. The basic technology needed isn`t rocket science and we have the money too. So why have we waited this long?

We should blame ourselves for asking the US for help in the first place.

When you can’t solve your problems and unnecessarily invite others to help, you invite ridicule into your affairs. If former President Goodluck Jonathan, had considered the self production of weapons in the last five years, by now we would have gone a long way. And who knows, we may have no need to prostrate before our ‘big boss’ for weapons. This is where visionary leadership comes in. For those periods we were begging, we should have considered our own production. But we preferred to beg than to invent.

Fortunately, President Muhammadu Buhari recently directed the Ministry of Defence to design a plan for the establishment of a military industrial complex for local production of weapons. He gave the directive at the graduation of Course 23 of the National Defence College in Abuja. This is a welcome development and we cannot afford to lose the next second without an achievable plan on how to get this done.

If we must become a viable nation, we must define our needs and start catering for them ourselves. After that, all we need from more advanced nations will just be complementary. It is not so much for us to achieve.

Ogundana, a Biochemist and Political Commentator, posted this article on Abusidiqu.com

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST 15 - 16, 2015

Opinion

IDPs and special education needs

By Fareedah Mohammed Munir

N

o child left behind: Four words that ensure basic education caters for all. The education sector requires restructuring in Nigeria. From archaic syllabus to examination malpractice, several glitches within the educational system have caused Nigeria to lag behind global education standards. Regrettably, millions are left behind and reorientation of our education system should be a priority.

The 2015 Education For All (EFA) Global Monitoring Report (GMR) has revealed that “Nigeria failed to reach any of the global education goals.” This indicates that the ‘Giant of Africa’ is not doing enough to improve its children’s education.

According to the United Nations Education, Scientific, Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), “Nigeria has more out-of- school children than any other country in the world. The number was estimated at 10.5 million.”

In the shadows of the system lurks the plight of Special Education Needs (SEN) students erroneously regarded as dull, slow, or mentally challenged, SEN students are marginalised and ignored.

Most people are dismissive of the realities of learning difficulties, assuming it is not a common problem in Nigeria. This is far from the truth.

SEN is stereotypically categorised as educating physically challenged students in separate special schools.

Special education is much more than two or three labels. It covers a vast range of learning difficulties, sensory/physical difficulties, communication needs, intellectual disabilities, behavioural/emotional difficulties and medical conditions.

It is necessary to accommodate students with special needs within

mainstream schools instead of them being unjustly perceived as burdens and brushed aside. Identifying strength and weakness, application of multiple teaching methods, individualised educational plans, therapy, modified syllabus and assessments and physical structural assistance are few services that are provided to SEN students to improve their educational knowledge.

Two cases particular to Nigeria today are sickle cell anaemia (SCA) patients and internally displaced children. Because of frequent hospital admission and healthrelated school absences, SCA students fall under the medical attention aspect of special education. “No child left behind” is priority. SCA patients often deal with emotional distress and struggle to keep up with the syllabus that they missed.

Recent series of unfortunate events in the north east has displaced entire communities.

Children’s educational

“

process has been disrupted and many are out-of-school. IDPs will need post-conflict rehabilitation. Most (if not all) children will need some level of special education needs support, ranging from behavioural/ emotional needs to communication needs.

That is excluding any other needs not taken care of prior to the conflict.

So far, there has been overwhelming support by individuals and charity groups to help IDPs. However, establishing a functional school system is still in the works. The government is yet to act on improving this aspect. The Special Education Needs office in the Ministry of Education is a small under-resourced room, with little activity.

A ‘Disability Bill’ is still in limbo at the National Assembly bookshelves. “Part XII – Education” section of the “Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities” is flawed in the sense that it is not adequate

The aim of a Special Needs Education Act is to protect the rights of children with learning difficulties to improve their educational outcome and ensure the equality of opportunity, independent livelihood and economic self-sufficiency. It should be designed to meet their needs and prepare them for further education, employment and independent living.

and relevant to students with learning difficulties. A few lines are not sufficient to cater for the needs of students in Nigeria.

“Special Education” should be an Act on its own, with the following provisions; An Amendment to the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities Act Definitions and eligibility of Special Education Needs, Learning Disabilities, Social Disabilities, Mental Health Disabilities, and Physical Disabilities Diagnosis and Certification Emphasis on Inclusive Approach to integrate SEN students in schools Administration, Projects, and Research Departments Source, allocation and use of grants and funds Roles of State, Public and Private Schools, Teachers, Students, and Parents Methods of Teaching, Alternative Assessments, & Assignment Modifications Parent and Teacher Training/Interaction Resources and tools within government schools for Special Needs Students Awareness, information centers, booklets, and website It is apparent that a lot more should be dedicated to SEN students. The aim of a Special Needs Education Act is to protect the rights of children with learning difficulties to improve their educational outcome and ensure the equality of opportunity, independent livelihood and economic self-sufficiency. It should be designed to meet their needs and prepare them for further education, employment and independent living.

The Federal Ministry of Education has to ensure that all students have high education standards by providing qualified teachers, proper resources and a favourable learning environment.

Improving education will create productive citizens, who will contribute to the development of Nigeria, instead of becoming detrimental to our society.

Culled from Abusidiqu.com

The corruption Buhari’s govt cannot fight

By Abbas Inuwa Jnr

T

he government is expected to address all challenges, domestic and international for the wellbeing of its people and guests. The challenge of corruption is not mutually exclusive, government through anti-corruption agencies need to enforce and prevent corruption, as well as educate the public on its vices.

The government can address bureaucratic, political, economic, incidental and state-restricting corruptions. However, not all forms of corruption can be addressed by the government as not all forms are criminal offences or simple transaction like bribe.

Therefore, the onus lies with the citizens.

The corrupt behaviour of breaching traffic rules, lateness to work, absenteeism, lies, mischief, misuse of official information, not keeping to time (African time), hypocrisy, deceit and underhandedness, passive abuse of office (including nepotism, victimisation and bullying), exploiting conflicts of interest or personal interests may be considered unethical, especially in a professional sense. They constitute ‘quiet’ corruption found in various types of malpractice of frontline providers (such as teachers, doctors, supervisors, and other government agents) that do not involve monetary exchange. Quiet corruptions are observable and sometimes hard-toobserve deviations from expected conduct

such as a lower level of effort than expected or the deliberate bending of rules for personal advantage.

These forms of corruption are relatively subjective and inclined to personal conduct either privately or publicly and require personal commitment and redemption to be addressed and not governmental intervention.

What would you say of someone who accuses a motorist of obeying traffic rules because he wants to overtake the motorist and breach traffic? Or, someone who accuses a colleague of doing his work diligently? Really that person requires divine intervention to see the rights in others before emulating same.

Quiet corruption is not the type Buhari’s government will fight, they

“

are either inherent or habitual immoral attitude that Nigerians must fight. As the saying goes “the fight against corruption starts with you and me”.

At the core of this saying is the individual commitment to condemn corruption and uphold integrity according to the rules and tenets of belief. All religions abhor corruption and social vices, therefore we must look inward spiritually and internalise God’s consciousness to be able to fight corruption.

Spiritually, the holy bible reveals that, “Corrupt thoughts give rise to corrupt speech and corrupt actions” (Proverbs 19:28; James 3:6). “When human hearts are not in fellowship with God, they are preoccupied with their own interests and fail to accept God’s will as the norm of

As Nigerians, we are part of the government’s anti-corruption effort, the success of which depends on us, our readiness to change, our support and commitment, response and participation in the process. The thought of eradicating corruption starts with the individual. It is our ethical transformation and commitment to fight the menace that will make the anticorruption crusade successful.

action” (Romans 3:23; 5:12).

The holy quran says: “Woe to those who deal in fraud. Those who when they have to receive by measure from men, exact full measure. But when they have to give by measure or weight to men, give less than due. Do they not think that they will be called to account on a mighty day, a day when (all) mankind will stand before the Lord of the worlds?” (Q.83 vs. 1-6). Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) further reiterates that, “Whoever indulges in corruption is not part of us”.

Therefore, it is pertinent to note that, irrespective of one’s belief or religion, corruption is not an option both morally and spiritually.

As Nigerians, we are part of the government’s anti-corruption effort, the success of which depends on us, our readiness to change, our support and commitment, response and participation in the process. The thought of eradicating corruption starts with the individual.

It is our ethical transformation and commitment to fight the menace that will make the anti-corruption crusade successful.

Nigerians must shun and condemn corruption in all its ramifications and work for the common good individually and collectively; a progressive nation is built on the platform of good leadership, committed followers, sound morals, stable economy and patriotism.

Inuwa posted this piece on Abusidiqu.com

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST 15 - 16, 2015

Comment

Bungudu: Empowering youths

By Chris Alu

A

bdulmalik Zubairu Bungudu (APC) represents Bungudu/Maru federal constituency of Zamfara State. A very simple and fearless politician, during electioneering campaigns he explicitly told his people what he will do for them if he is elected. A former local government staff with Bungudu council, he was elected the president of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees, Zamfara State chapter, before joining partisan politics.

He used that period to showcase himself by ensuring that he fought for the interest of the workers.

Apart from that, Bungudu also made series of efforts to reform the local government system in order to provide purposeful governance to the people at the grassroots.

According to him, if local governments are reformed they would be able to bridge the governance gap between the people at the grassroots and those at the federal and state level, adding that a functional local government system will bring development and speed up dividends of democracy to the people.

The young federal lawmaker shot himself into political limelight when his posters occupied the major streets of his constituency and since it was a few months into the elections, it was not clear if he was a serious candidate considering the brevity of time between the electioneering campaign and the election day. But as soon as he rolled out his campaign train on the streets of Bungudu and the towns and

villages that constitute his constituency, it became obvious to pundits that there was more to the young man than they saw on billboards.

He was on a moving train with Governor Abdul’Aziz Yari to turn the fortunes of the state. The lawmaker also benefitted from the vestiges of his goodwill during his days as NULGE president, to a great extent he was accessible and addressed issues as it affects the people of the state, especially his co- workers, farmers, as well as politicians.

On the other hand, his predecessor had lost out completely in the state’s political calculation, apart from warming the bench

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in the House of Representatives he was also regarded as a self-serving member who was insensitive to the feelings of his people.

So going by the existing political circumstances, Bungudu got a soft landing, since there was no organised and principled force to counter his move. With an overwhelming exposure, it was difficult to sink the ship of his political aspiration.

As expected, he pushed out his contestants at the primaries to assume the flag bearer of the APC, culminating to his victory at the polls.

The political hurdles he scaled through on his path to the eight National Assembly

The lawmaker told journalists recently in Abuja that he is more interested in re-writing the history of his constituency by ensuring that he empowers women and youths who are unemployed, stressing that Bungudu/ Maru youths and women are suffering from unemployment and it is by empowering them that there would be a difference in their lives.

would have been considered a mere twist of fate, or at most, the amazing grace of his luck because he has never been into politics.

Though he was able to carve a niche for himself as a principled, thoroughbred and fearless person when he was president of local government employees in the state, that alone became manifest that even in the face of tight conditions, his articulate planning and execution are unshakable.

The lawmaker told journalists recently in Abuja that he is more interested in rewriting the history of his constituency by ensuring that he empowers women and youths who are unemployed, stressing that Bungudu/Maru youths and women are suffering from unemployment and it is by empowering them that there would be a difference in their lives.

He also said the Zamfara–Sokoto bridge needs to be given urgent attention, so as to enable the people move freely and also transport their products from the state to Sokoto. According to him, the bridge for sometime now has posed a serious challenge to the people which has led to fear especially at night, but if it is reconstructed it will help the people to move freely and urged the federal government to reconstruct the bridge before the end of the year.

Bungudu also said that he will ensure that he makes laws that will have direct bearing on the people of his constituency, stressing that constituency projects will be given adequate attention.

Alu, sent this piece from Abuja

The Boko Haram prisoners’ transfer

By Ejike Anyaduba

T

he transfer of Boko Haram prisoners to Ekwulo¬bia in Anambra State has been generating a lot of controversy. Very few subjects can claim to have done so in recent past.

The closest, perhaps, was the dump-ing by nightfall of some waifs at the foot of the Niger Bridge by the then Fashola government in Lagos. That incident almost pitched Anambra State against Lagos and helped define the election of the period. It may feel safe to accept as normal the prolonged public debate that has dogged the prisoners’ transfer because of its un-usualness. Either through security measures or divine intervention or both, the southeast zone was insulated and void of the menace of the terrorists. And it appears to want to remain so.

Though there were some resident Igbo and a few peripatetic ones who were killed within the Boko Ha¬ram enclave, but to cohabit with the suicides (be they captive or free) would be a costly acquiescence. Per¬haps, this explains the consistent demonstrations and protests witnessed differently at Onitsha, Awka, Nnewi, and Ekwulobia. Other muffled voices of complaint yet to be given expression have failed to be assuaged by the futile explanation that the transfer is a routine pro-gramme of the Prison Establishment. Essentially, the transfer is seen by the people as yielding the zone – hitherto immune to boundless violence – to possible rape by the suicides. The strong feeling of disapproval from the people is premised upon three major reasons. One is the fear of indoctrination of other inmates who were not known to harbor as much ruthless streak as the

terrorists, and whose convictions were secured on less criminal charge. Two is the fear of escape from the prison and possible mingling with the natives.

Three, and perhaps the worst of the fears, is likely invasion of the prison and its surrounding by other members of the terrorist group who may attempt to free the captives. As feeble as the excuse that this set of Boko Haram prisoners are not as radicalized as the ones wreaking havoc in the Northeast and beyond is, the choice of a poor prison like Ekwulobia beats the imagination. If the argument is to insulate this set of prisoners from further radicalization couldn’t a better equipped prison suffice? At any rate, what attraction has Ekwulobia as a prison? Is it capacious? Does it have enough room to swing a cat? Does it have the necessary facility to hold in check such high risk pris¬oners? Now soldiers are said to be drafted to the place to keep surveillance.

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This must be at another cost. And there is no assurance that an invasion will be repelled if it occurs.

Aside the fact that the terrorists have been a handful for security operatives, nothing has changed in recent past to inspire in the people the kind of confidence exuded by those who made the transfer. Ekwulobia prison or any other prison in the Southeast does not fit the bill of a safe place for Boko Haram-type of pris¬oners. Except there is a fail-safe option in this prison that is not evident to the people, the transfer remains a policy mistake. For a zone that is the least developed, including its prison facilities, to be the first choice for the transfer is very strange. Again the transfer failed to follow Nigeria’s unofficial scale of preference in its distribution of favours.

Southeast normally comes last in this scale. Every effort made by those involved in the unsavoury transfer to convince the

For a zone that is the least developed, including its prison facilities, to be the first choice for the transfer is very strange.

Again the transfer failed to follow Nigeria’s unofficial scale of preference in its distribution of favours. Southeast normally comes last in this scale. Every effort made by those involved in the unsavoury transfer to convince the people of their good intention leaves the host community Ekwulobia, Anambra and the Southeast zone more distressed.

people of their good intention leaves the host community Ekwulobia, Anambra and the Southeast zone more distressed.

And until they are relocated from Anambra, every other state in the Southeast zone is at risk of being in¬filtrated. Everybody now sleeps with their eyes wide open in keeping with the saying that a man hemmed in by enemies must guard his life always.

To the credit of the Anambra State government, it managed all the protests well, thus de-escalating them. Even though a lot of people still see the with rage over the issue, including those whose calls I missed, government is able to manage the situation while awaiting redress. Already efforts are on by all concerned Southeastern¬ers, including the five governors, senators and other stakeholders to even out the situation.

Sadly, the time required in thinking out new strat¬egy on how to move the zone forward is now wasted on avoidable problem. It would seem that those who hatched the idea to send the prisoners to Ekwulobia never envisaged there will be outcry. But if they are conscious of the poverty of infrastructural develop¬ment in the zone, including prison services they will not to annoy the people further. When in recent mem¬ory did the Southeast zone beat other zones as the first choice of destination for building an industry by the federal government? Virtually all federal infrastruc¬tures in the zone are moribund. Instead of sending high-risk prisoners to the zone to keep everybody on edge why not expedite work on the second Niger Bridge whose construction has endured the worst politiciza¬tion in recent memory.

Culled from Opinion.ng

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST 15 - 16, 2015

Online Comments Labour Party calls for probe of OBJ, Atiku, Saraki, Tinubu, others Says: Sir Oscie.

Who is Abdulkadir Abdusalam to name names or advice PMB on how to carry out his anti corruption war?

Only the guilty fears the name BUHARI. Abdulkadir naming names will not help you just return your loot and pray BABA forgives you.

CHANGE is here to stay.

Tackling Nigeria incessant floods Says: REV’D G. E. EMAKARA I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THE GOD IS CONTROL OF THE UNIVERSE. THANKS BE TO GOD ALMITHY WHO GIVES THE FORECASTERS THIS IDEAS(NEMA)

Waiting for President Muhammadu Buhari Tinubu Says: Abdullah Musa Politics is not a charitable affair.

In a setting such as Nigeria,the stock of patience allotted to us by nature seems to be exhausted.

Yet, let us be reminded that the government of Buhari came to office in the most hostile environment possible.

Those handing over ensured that in – coming government had no iota of understanding of the mess they left behind.

However, may I suggest that the Femi Adèsinas invite us to a tea room while we await the arrival of policy from policy kitchen.

Killing DISCOs? rethink

Obasanjo

Says: Abdullah Musa With respect to the intellectual of Malam Ibrahim, I venture to say that Marx’s socialism is not African.

The African was not subjected to the expropriation that gave rise to Western industrialisation, and vanquished the traditional craftsmen.

May I say that the fact Wuri existed in Hausaland as money, shows that trade, (the harbinger of Capitalism) was natural to people.

A caring State, a responsible and law – abiding Capitalist are desired. That does not equate with Socialism. You may call it Africapitalism.

for Why I dumped national teams for Arsenal, Chelsea match, Pinnick

Time

Says: Abdullah Musa Discos ought to succeed.

If FG did not takeover Yola Disco what would have happened?

If one were to advise Discos it should be that they became proactive.

Government has so much on its plate, that the most well intentioned becomes victim of status quo.

Says: Dotun I. He should be impeached. After all, he knows nothing about soccer. No wonder things are not moving well in the Glass House and indirectly affecting the National Teams performance in global competitions.

How Russia Let Discos give us a blueprint enemies for the power sector.

Abdullah Musa Kigon Gabas Investment Limited, Kano.

outfoxes

its

Says: Marketing Ema Ahaa, its pleasant conversation concerning this paragraph at this place at this weblog, I have read all that, so now I am also commenting it in this place.

Says: Abubakar May GOD make you a true follower emmanuel adibayo

Drama in Senate over controversial media report Says: Dabo What brought in the name Ahmed Bola Tinubu again into the senate leadership saga. Ndume must face the reality. This is someone who claimed the PDP was after his life, please wake up.

President Buhari stated that the party is supreme. Every APC party member agreed and there was peace in the house of reps. But, why is Bukola and his supporters against the supremacy of the party? They are indeed against the party, against the president and ultimately working with the PDP to rubbish the APC Government of president Buhari. We the electorate are watching them carefully.

We will not accept any member of the senate rubbish the sacrifices made by Nigerian men, women and youth who defy all odds to elect this Government.

The media should publish the names of those senators in support of the senate president and those opposing.

Those senators who supported Senate president Bukola should come to their constituencies and explain why they had to support him despite President Buhari’s call for them to respect the party (APC) decision which is supreme.

Anything short of that, the electorate will consider them enemies of the president.

Probing Jonathan alone’ll bring chaos, Prof Nwala Why I converted to Islam – 2015: Who takes over from Emmanuel Adebayor Says: Larry Jay says: Suswam in Benue?

1. Says: Fred K Mike Okibe Onoja is the man Reply 2. Says: Malu Mike okibe onoja is the right man for the mantle Reply 3. Says: Milwa Ajoh mike okibe onoja…hmmm, should he be given any chance Reply

3. Says: Paul Rufus Mike Okibe Onoja of benue state should be given a chance

Recruitment tragedy: Who owns Drexel?

Says: Philip Mahmood Ahmadu resides with his wife Maryam in London at 16 Westchester Drive, London, NW4 1RD. I suggest your journalist continue to make his inquiries there.

NYSC introduces deployment scheme

kings

and for

Atiku

Ndume

self-

Says: Onu E.M This is a good development in NYSC.I hope that those who have been eating from ‘deployment racketeering’ will allow the policy to thrive.

We know all the people that betrayed the Jonathan adm. are either Igbo or his own people. We learn for the first time the nation has borrow money to pay the salaries of workers. Finance, NNPC , military leaders etc. Millions of barrels of oil been stolen everyday. Former Enugu governor converted all states money so is other governors. Buhari has approve the cleaning of oil spill in Ogoniland.

In Jonathan adm. stealing was taken to highest level.

Entrepreneurs philosopher Africapitalism

why

Brig-Gen. Johnson Olawumi

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST 15 - 16, 2015

PAGE 42

Interview

‘Why I remained calm while Orubebe misbehaved’ Contd from Pg 2

conduct elections freely, fairly with a level playing field for everybody. But nobody could predict what the electoral outcome will be until the votes are counted. From our point of view as an elections management body we did our best to ensure the elections were fair, peaceful, and conducted professionally.

Before the election, there were talks about plots to remove you from office while some politicians accused you of bias. How were you able to maintain focus in the face of those challenges?

I knew I was doing this job to the best of my ability without any bias, so accusations of bias did not really concern me.

I tried to remain focussed and urged all those with whom I worked to remain focussed so that we were not distracted. I thank God that all those accusations and allegations did not distract us and we remained focussed and were able to do our best under very difficult circumstances.

Part of comments that were flying about then was that some political parties approached you to rig elections in their favour. Was there any truth in that?

No! You know in Nigeria we have a very vibrant rumour mill. Certainly no political party approached me to ask me to rig any elections for them. And I am not aware they approached any National Commissioner or Resident Electoral Commissioner. Indeed, there is no way any one of us could rig elections to favour any candidate. The Returning Officers are not even INEC Staff; these are Vice Chancellors for Governorship election, and for Senatorial election, we had professors. There is no way I as a Chairman or a National Commissioner or a Resident Electoral Commissioner can change results to favour any candidate.

The use of the card reader was one of the innovations that defined the election. Will you say the device has come to stay?

The card reader was a fantastic innovation that has added tremendous value to the integrity of our electoral process.

There were challenges. Anytime you are introducing a new technology there are bound to be challenges, but I must say that the challenges we have seen were minimal. In fact, a lot of the challenges we believe were on account of the activities of those who did not want the card reader to be used in the first place. For example in places where on the first day of the presidential and senatorial elections people were saying the card reader had failed, we took the statistics and the failure rate was less than 0.25percent. So if you are doing something major and sub-

Godsday Orubebe (l) when he was misbehaving stantive like that and you had only less than half a percentage point as so called failure; that is insignificant.

We identified what some of those so called failures were and we addressed them before the governorship elections.

You could see that nobody complained about the use of the card reader during the governorship elections.

There were areas where people didn’t want the card readers to be used, and worked very hard to ensure those card readers were not used. They now turned around and made it appear as if the card reader failed to work.

There were accusations that the supplier of the card reader was a supporter of a particular party…

(Laughs) those are allegations that remain unproven. In any case, the time we gave this contract for the production of

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the card readers was over 2 years ago, almost 3 years. So at that time the political permutations and configurations had not become established.

The process of collating the results, especially the presidential poll was the most agonizing for Nigerians especially when the “Orubebe” scene happened and a lot of people were tensed that probably the process was going to be truncated; but in the face of all that provocation, you were able to maintain your composure. Is that really who you are or you had prior knowledge that such a thing might happen and you prepared for it?

The fact of the matter is that all of us in INEC were determined to conduct free, fair, credible and peaceful elections and by the time we came to collation it became evident that we had done our best professionally. So, we were determined

I knew I was doing this job to the best of my ability without any bias, so accusations of bias did not really concern me. I tried to remain focussed and urged all those with whom I worked to remain focussed so that we were not distracted.

to ensure that no matter the provocation we would ensure that the results were tabulated and announced. There were all sorts of allegations and accusations, but they didn’t faze us because we knew we have not done anything to warrant such allegations and accusations (cuts in) were you at all afraid for your life ?

No! Anybody who is afraid for his life will not do this kind of job. As you know, they say “death is a necessary end. It comes when it will come.” So we did our best knowing that if God wills, people can drop and die; but so long we are alive, we will continue to do our best under all circumstances.

What can anybody do to get you annoyed?

It takes a lot to get me annoyed, but when I’m angry people don’t like me; so that’s why I try not to be angry at all times. (Laughs) What are your future plans for the INEC? In the last four years or so we have done our best to build INEC as an institution, an institution that is firmly rooted and can survive individuals; such that individuals can come and go but the organisation remains. I feel satisfied that a lot has happened in INEC and whoever comes will find it easier than we found it when we came, and will be able to continue to add value to what exists. premiumtimesng.com

Biographies

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST 15 - 16, 2015

PAGE 43

Muhammadu Maccido dan Abubakar (1928 – 2006)

I

brahim Muhammadu Maccido dan Abubakar (20 April 1928 – 29 October 2006), often shortened to Muhammadu Maccido, was the 19th Sultan of Sokoto in Nigeria.

He was the son and primary aide to Siddiq Abubakar III (1903–1988) who had been the Sultan of Sokoto for 50 years. Maccido served in many functions of government during his life and served most prominently as the liaison to Nigerian President Shehu Shagari (rule 1979–1983) until a military coup removed Shagari from power. When his father died in 1988, the head of the military government in Nigeria, Ibrahim Babangida appointed Ibrahim Dasuki (rule 1985–1993) as the new Sultan of Sokoto, a decision which caused large-scale, violent protests throughout northern Nigeria.

In 1996, Sani Abacha (1993– 1998), a later Nigerian military dictator, deposed Dasuki and named Maccido the new Sultan.

Maccido was crowned on 21 April 1996 and ruled from the position for a decade. He used the position to try and reconcile divisions in the Muslim community of northern Nigeria, improve connections with other Muslim communities, and decrease ethnic tensions within Nigeria. On 29 October 2006, after meeting with President Olusegun Obasanjo, Maccido died in the plane crash of ADC Airlines Flight 53, with his son Badamasi Maccido, while returning to Sokoto. He is buried in Sokoto with many of the other Sultans of Sokoto.

Early life Muhammadu Maccido was one of the few children born to Sultan Siddiq Abubakar III before Abubakar became the Sultan of Sokoto in 1938. He was born on 20 April 1928 on the outskirts of the city of Sokoto in the town of Dange Shuni. Many other children had died in childbirth and so when Muhammadu was born to Abubakar’s senior wife Hauwa, he was given the additional name Maccido (meaning slave) to try and ward off bad luck. Although Abubakar only had two children before he became Sultan, he preceded to have 53 additional children after.

Maccido was prominent in Abubakar’s court while growing up and his father’s system of leadership had significant impacts on Maccido’s eventual reign. One example was in 1943 when Sardauna Ahmadu, who had challenged Abubakar in the selection as sultan, was accused of misappropriating tax money and was punished with jail by Abubakar; however, Ahmadu hired a lawyer in the south to appeal the conviction and the British court ordered the charges dropped. The political situation was quite tense after this and from this Maccido learned to reconcile with political opponents.

Maccido was educated at the college in Zaria before studying in 1952-1953 at South Devon College in Great Britain.

Entry into politics In the last decade of British rule over the territory, Maccido

Maccido became active in various political roles. In 1951, Maccido became a member of the House of Assembly in Kaduna ruling the Sokoto Native Authority. Although very young and a junior member of the Assembly, he was able to create connections with many early Nigerian leaders because he was the son of the sultan. In the late 1950s, Zamfara and other communities in the north began to experience violent disorder with political parties struggling against each other before the 1959 elections. Maccido was dispatched to the communities to serve as the representative for the Sokoto Emirate in trying to reduce the tension. He held various posts in the Sokoto Native Authority in the 1950s including Councilor of Works (1956), Councilor for Rural Development (1959), and Councilor for Agriculture (1960).

With the post-independence violence in Nigeria, which heightened significantly following the assassination of Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (from Sokoto) in 1966, Maccido played a key role helping his father in trying to ease the violence. In Sokoto, a crowd of angry Muslims advanced toward the Catholic Church aiming to destroy the building as part of general anger towards Igbos and Christians. Maccido and Marafa, a brother-in-law, met the crowd and convinced them to disperse preventing destruction of the church.

The following year, Maccido was made a North Western State Executive Council Commissioner and worked in the Ministry of Agriculture and then later the Ministry of Health. Although he kept distance from the military governments in the 1970s, he served as the presidential liaison officer between the Sokoto Emirate and the Nigerian head of state for many years during the Presidency of Shehu Shagari.

In 1986, Maccido left politics around the country to tend to his ill father Abubakar and local politics in Sokoto. When his father

was determined to be too ill for the responsibilities of the office, Maccido was part of an Inner Council to govern the Emirate.

Dasuki as Sultan Abubakar III died on 1 November 1988 while Ibrahim Babangida was the head of the military government of Nigeria.

As was traditional in the Sokoto religious structure, the electors of the various emirates undertook the issue and selected Maccido as the new Sultan on 3 November 1988.

However, on 6 November, the military government of Babangida decided that Ibrahim Dasuki, who had challenged Maccido for the position and was a prominent business associate of Babangida, would become the new sultan.

Violence immediately erupted in Sokoto and the rest of northern Nigeria with supporters of Maccido actively protesting the interference of the military in emirate matters.[6] Maccido was sent in exile to South Africa.

He returned after Babangida’s reign but did not support active resistance of his followers to Dasuki.

He encouraged his supporters to not associate with Dasuki’s rule and remain separate. Life grew financially difficult for Maccido and his residence began to become unmaintained and his phone service was even disconnected for lack of payment.[8] Many of the Muslims in northern Nigeria opposed Dasuki’s rule, with a long list of complaints including that Dasuki had destroying the house of Muhammed Bello, the second Sultan, to make renovations to the palace complex.

Sultan Maccido eventually recovered financially. He started importing goods and selling the goods to local businesses, just before he became sultan. Ibrahim Dasuki was removed from the position by military dictator Sani Abacha on 19 April 1996. Without going through the traditional Sokoto system of selection, Abacha named Maccido the new Sultan and he was turbaned, or a formal coronation,

on 21 April 1996 in the Sultan Bello Mosque. As Sultan, he became the spiritual leader to Nigeria’s Islamic community and head of the Sokoto Emirate.

To avoid problems with Dasuki and his supporters, Maccido asked Abacha to ensure that he was treated humanely and that he would be allowed to return from exile after a brief period. When Dasuki was attacked at his home by armed robbers, Maccido sent an official envoy to provide support to Dasuki.

As part of his position, he also became the Chairman of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs in Nigeria and made significant connections with other Muslim groups around the world from this position. He attended the World Conference on Islam, went to Saudi Arabia to raise money for Islamic schools, and engaged significantly with Muslims elsewhere in the world. To support Muslims in northern Nigeria, Maccido gave encouragement to a Muslim women’s education organization, founded a school outside of Sokoto, and began a major push for the polio vaccine to be distributed widely. In 2004, he organized the celebrations of the bicentennial jihad of Usman dan Fodio, the founder of the Sokoto Emirate, and the start of the Fulani War. With increasing ethnic tensions between Christians and Muslims in Nigeria, Maccido attempted to end the violence and intervened many times to reduce tensions. During his time as sultan, he also conferred traditional titles on three of his sons. His son Malami was turbaned as “danburan sokoto”; Ahmed, who is now a senator, was turbaned as “Mainan Sokoto”; and Bello, who is the CEO of FBN holdings in Nigeria, was turbaned as “wakilin Sokoto”. Even after the death of their father, they have all retained their titles as key princes of the caliphate.

However, Maccido also opposed the Nigerian state government when they tried to grant Shi’ite migrants to the area the right to pray in the Sokoto mosques. Like his father, he opposed this effort and refused to provide prayer access for Shi’ite Muslims.

Death After celebrating the Eid al-Fitr in 2006, Maccido went to Abuja to meet with President Olusegun Obasanjo. After that meeting, Maccido got on a plane back to Sokoto on Sunday 29 October.

On the flight were one of his sons Badamasi Maccido (who was the Senator from Sokoto), his grandson, and other regional government authorities who were in Abuja for an education workshop. The ADC Airlines Flight 53 crashed just after takeoff killing most of the people on board including Maccido, his son, and grandson. Maccido’s body was not burnt, making positive identification easy. His body was led through the streets of Sokoto with tens of thousand of mourners gathered. He was buried in the main tomb of the sultans of Sokoto (the Hubbare), near that of his father.

Wikipedia

PAGE 44

Archives

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST 15 - 16, 2015

Has Queen Nefertiti been found behind King Tut’s tomb?

Dr Nicholas Reeves, an English archaeologist at the University of Arizona, says he made the discovery after analysing high-resolution scans of the walls of Tutankhamun’s grave (right). Dr Reeves describes how he uncovered the ‘ghosts’ of two portals that tomb builders blocked up, one of which is believed to be a storage cupboard. The other, on the north side of Tutankhamun’s tomb, contains ‘the undisturbed burial of the tomb’s original owner - Nefertiti’, Dr Reeves argues. It is shown with the red box. The opening of what is believed to have been Nefertiti’s tomb is decorated with religious scenes, perhaps in a ritual to provide protection to the chamber behind it, he said. Pictured on the left is the famed bust of Queen Nefertiti, the ‘Lady of the Two Lands’.

•Radical claim made by Dr Nicholas Reeves at the University of Arizona •He analysed high-resolution scans of the walls of Tutankhamun’s grave •Dr Reeves says he found ‘ghosts’ of doors that tomb builders blocked •The door on the north side contains ‘the undisturbed burial of the tomb’s original owner - Nefertiti’, Dr Reeves argues

A

lmost 100 years since its discovery, the tomb of Tutankhamun, the boy-king of ancient Egypt, continues to reveal its secrets.

A researcher claims to have found a ‘ghost’ doorway hiding in plain sight on the wall of the boyking’s burial chamber and he believes it leads to the grave of the ruler’s supposed mother, Queen Nefertiti.

Famed for her exquisite beauty, the grave of Nefertiti or the ‘Lady of the Two Lands’ has been lost for centuries since her sudden death in 1340BC. The claims have been made by Dr Nicholas Reeves, an English archaeologist at the University of Arizona in a report published by the Amarna Royal Tombs Project.

After analysing high-resolution scans of the walls of Tutankhamun’s grave complex in the Valley of the Kings, Dr Reeves spotted what appeared to be a secret entrance.

He described how he uncovered the ‘ghosts’ of two portals

that tomb builders blocked up, one of which is believed to be a storage room.

The other, on the north side of Tutankhamun’s tomb, contains ‘the undisturbed burial of the tomb’s original owner - Nefertiti’, Dr Reeves argued.

He believes this because the tomb itself is positioned to the right of the entrance shaft, which is far more typical of Egyptian queens rather than kings.

The small size of Tutankhamun’s burial chamber, given his standing in the Egyptian history, has baffled experts for years and Dr Reeves’ theory could suggest that it was built as an addition to an existing tomb his mother’s.

Tutankhamun’s burial chamber is the same size as an antechamber, rather than a tomb fit for an Egyptian King, for example.

Combined with the images, Dr Reeves believes the tomb belonged to Nefertiti and the pharaoh’s room was simply an afterthought, describing it as a ‘corridor-style tomb-within-a-

tomb’.

The opening of what is believed to have been Nefertiti’s tomb is decorated with religious scenes, perhaps in a ritual to provide protection to the chamber behind it, he said.

‘Only one female royal of the late 18th Dynasty is known to have received such honours, and that is Nefertiti’, Dr Reeves writes.

If Dr Reeves’ theory is correct, it may resolve a number of oddities about Tutankhamun’s burial chamber that have long baffled researchers.

For instance, the treasures found within seem to have been placed there in a rush, and are largely second-hand. ‘The implications are extraordinary,’ he wrote.

‘If digital appearance translates into physical reality, it seems we are now faced not merely with the prospect of a new, Tutankhamun-era store room to the west [but] that of Nefertiti herself, celebrated consort, co-regent, and eventual successor of Pharaoh Akhenaten.’

Joyce Tyldesley, senior lecturer in Egyptology at the University of Manchester, told The Timesthat Dr Reeves’s hypothesis may prove correct.

‘It would not be surprising if the tomb had been intended to have additional rooms, although how far the builders got with these rooms it is difficult to say on current evidence,’ she said.

‘I would be very surprised if this tomb was built to house the original, or first, burial of Nefertiti.

‘It seems to me that it is highly likely that she died during her husband’s reign and so would

have been buried at Amarna, the city purpose-built by Akhenaten in Middle Egypt.

‘But I would have expected her to be buried somewhere in the Western Valley, rather than in the centre of the Valley of the Kings.’

Nefertiti, whose name means ‘the beautiful one has come,’ was the queen of Egypt and wife of Pharaoh Akhenaten during the 14th century B.C. She and her husband established the cult of Aten, the sun god, and promoted artwork in Egypt that was strikingly different from its predecessors.

Her titles suggests she was co-regent and possibly a pharaoh after Akhenaten’s death.

But despite her remarkable

status, her death and burial remains a mystery.

If Dr Reeves is correct, the hidden tomb could be far more magnificent than anything found in Tutankhamun’s burial chamber.

‘Each piece of evidence on its own is not conclusive, but put it all together and it’s hard to avoid my conclusion,’ Mr Reeves told The Economist.

‘If I’m wrong I’m wrong, but if I’m right this is potentially the biggest archaeological discovery ever made.’

The images were unveiled by Factum Arte, a group which recently created a life-sized copy of Tutankhamun’s tomb, intended for tourists to visit.

In 2010 geneticists used DNA tests to examine the parentage of Tutankhamun and suggested it might be this mummy shown above, nicknamed the Elder Lady, who was the boyking’s mother. Subsequent work, however, has suggested that Nefertiti, who was a distant cousin of King Tut’s father, may have been the boy’s mother

PAGE 45

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST 15 - 16, 2015

Digest

Potatoes: The secret to man’s intelligence?

Eating meat was credited with allowing humans to develop large brains

•But study suggests cooked starchy foods like potatoes were vital too •Human brain uses high levels of blood glucose found in carbohydrates •Starches would have been readily available to ancestral human populations

T

he human brain is unique - no other animal possesses such a large brain relative to the size of its body.

It has been argued that an increase in meat consumption could have triggered the increase in size, but now scientists believe that we may have another food to thank: the humble potato.

Researchers suggest carbohydrate consumption, particularly in the form of starch, was critical for the extraordinary development of the brain over the past million years.

They say starches would have been readily available to ancestral human populations in the form of potatoes as well as in seeds, some fruits and nuts.

The new study combines archaeological, anthropological, genetic, physiological and anatomical data to argue it carbohydrate consumption was key in

the human brain’s evolution.

Up until now there has been a heavy focus on the role of animal protein and cooking in the development of the human brain over the last two million years and the importance of starch rich plant foods has been largely overlooked.

Dr Karen Hardy and her team at the Autonomous University of Barcelona say that there are five crucial reasons why a starch-rich diet was critical in human development.

Firstly, the human brain uses up to 25 per cent of the body’s energy daily budget and up to 60 per cent of the body’s blood glucose.

While synthesis of glucose from other sources is possible it is not especially efficient, and such high glucose demands would not have been met on a low carbohydrate diet.

This need for carbohydrates

Big complex brains require lots of energy to develop and function properly. While synthesis of glucose from sources other than starch-rich tubers like potatoes is possible, it is not especially efficient, and such high glucose demands would not have been met on a low carbohydrate diet

would have been satisfied in part by the development of cooking.

While raw starches are often poorly digested in humans, when cooked they lose their crystalline structure and in turn make the assimilation of nutrients much easier.

The human brain uses up to 60 per cent of the body’s blood glucose. It is thought that cooked starchy food like potatoes could have provided a glucose-rich diet necessary for this to develop in our early ancestors

The ability to use fire for cooking would have unlocked nutrients and enabled our ancestors to eat a far broader diet including tough, starchy roots.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding also place additional demands on the body’s glucose budget.

Low maternal blood glucose levels compromise the health of both the mother and her offspring, which suggest that a certain level of carbohydrates would have been essential for survival.

In addition to this, starchy carbohydrates would have been readily available to ancestral human populations in the form of tubers, as well as in seeds and some fruits and nuts.

The researchers also point out that humans possess six salivary amylase genes, while other primates just have two, increasing the ability to digest starch.

The exact date at which these additional genes appeared remains uncertain, but analysis suggests it was at some point in the last million years.

Dr Hardy explained that after cooking became widespread and the salivary amylase genes multiplied, this increased the availability of dietary glucose to the brain and foetus which, in turn, allowed the acceleration in brain size which occurred from around

800,000 years ago onwards.

She said: ‘In addition to the increased energy availability from starch, other advantages of the coevolution of cooking and amylase expression include a reduction in chewing time, increased palatability and digestibility of polyphenol-rich plant foods, and improved reproductive function; a reliable supply of glycemic carbohydrate is likely to have sustainably supported foetal growth, provided the extra caloric intake needed during lactation, and improved infant survival.

‘The regular consumption of starchy plant foods offers a coherent explanation for the provision of energy to the developing brain during the Late Pliocene and Early Pleistocene while the development of cooking, and a concomitant increases in salivary amylase expression, explains how the rapid increases in brain size from the Middle Pleistocene onward were energetically affordable.’

Added Dr Hardy: ‘Eating meat may have kick started the evolution of bigger brains, but cooked starchy foods together with more salivary amylase genes made us smarter still.’

The study was published in The Quarterly Review of Biology.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST 15 - 16, 2015

PAGE 46

International

Meet the volunteers saving the migrants Europe ignores

T

he distress call comes at 10:30 a.m. Ragino Fagner, a tough looking medic tattooed from shoulder to ankle, rings the ship’s bell. The ragtag crew gathers in the mess. A few nautical miles away, but out of viewing distance, are more than 100 people crowded onto a rickety rubber raft, desperate for help.

They are migrants on the perilous journey from lawless Libya toward the Italian coast. Once in international waters and beyond the reach of Libyan authorities, they call for help with the satellite phone provided by their smuggler.

The ship, a 98-year-old former houseboat called Sea-Watch, picks up speed and pushes toward the position the migrants radioed.

In recent years, unprecedented numbers of refugees and migrants, fleeing conflict, persecution and economic turmoil, have crossed the Mediterranean for Europe.

In 2013, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, 60,000 people arrived in Europe by sea. In 2014, that figure more than tripled to 219,000.

And the numbers continue to rise: From January to June, 137,000 migrants made the journey, an 83 percent increase compared with the same time last year. Most are Syrians, Eritreans and Afghans; roughly half departed from Libya, the other half from Turkey.

In October 2013, after at least 360 migrants died when their boat sank off the Italian island of Lampedusa, Italy launched an extensive search-and-rescue operation known as Mare Nostrum. But after saving an estimated 150,000 people in less than 13 months, the government halted the program, citing overwhelming need and a lack of financial support from other European Union members. The program that succeeded Mare Nostrum, known as Operation Triton and run by Frontex, the border agency of the EU, had a vastly different mandate. It was tasked not with saving migrants, but securing Europe’s borders.

The results of this policy change became evident earlier this year as death tolls continued to break records. April saw the single deadliest disaster of the migration crisis in the Mediterranean when an estimated 800 people drowned 60 miles off the Libyan coast. In an emergency meeting 10 days later, the EU decided to extend Triton’s mandate to include rescue operations and triple its funding.

Still, it doesn’t match Mare Nostrum; Amnesty International called Triton “a face-saving not a life-saving operation.”

In the meantime, a number of private aid organizations have stepped in. Doctors Without Borders has chartered two ships. Christopher and Regina Catrambone, an American-Italian couple who made a fortune in

Johannes Bayer and Philipp Hahn take down the ship’s sails as it travels off the coast of Spain. the insurance industry, run the nonprofit Migrant Offshore Aid Station from a ship called the Phoenix. But perhaps the most unlikely of these private rescue operations is Sea-Watch.

Started at the end of last year by a German furniture entrepreneur, the operation is run from a ramshackle, 69-foot-long ship by a rotating crew of eight volunteers that includes professional offshore rescuers, physicians and idealistic seafarers. Still, they are able to make a small difference off Europe’s deadly shores.

Out on the Mediterranean, the Sea-Watch crew continues its search. The ship only reaches 7 knots (just over 8 miles per hour), too slow for a rescue operation, in which every minute counts. So the crew prepares to launch the ship’s gray, rubber speedboat, known as a tender. It’s a precarious procedure. Five people are needed to winch the rubber boat from the deck, up over the ship’s railing and into the sea. Reinier Boere, a locksmith from the Netherlands, leads the operation. While the speedboat dangles from the crane, the Sea-Watch has to slow down to allow hoisting it into the water.

As the ship drifts parallel to the waves, it starts to swerve. On the deck, the crew is struggling to keep the 1,300-pound speedboat under control. It swings back and forth. Finally they manage to get it into the water. Fagner climbs on board along with Thomas Lenzen, a physician, and Meik Schöpping, the speedboat’s pilot. They cram bags with 140 life vests onto the boat and race toward the horizon.

Sea-Watch is the brainchild of

Harald Höppner, who has made modest riches from his business selling furniture online. Inspired to make a difference in the migrant crisis but without a clear sense of what he was getting into, Höppner decided to buy a ship.

“People drown by the thousands and you don’t do anything,” he says of EU inaction. Together with his wife, Tanja Höppner, and his business partner, Matthias Kuhnt, he scraped together 140,000 euros ($153,000). Finding a suitable vessel on their budget was difficult.

The ships Höppner looked at became a running joke among the first volunteers to join the project.

“He didn’t know anything,” says Johannes Bayer, an avid sailor who is studying naval architecture and joined Sea-Watch in February during a break in his studies.

Eventually, with the help of two knowledgeable skippers, Höppner decided on the 100-ton steel ship that is now the Sea-Watch.

Built in the Netherlands in 1917, it was last used for sportfishing cruises. Equipped with a beer tap, but no up-to-date navigational equipment, it was hardly ready for the high seas, let alone daily rescue operations. Höppner bought it for 60,000 euros; the rest was set aside for repairs and operational costs.

Bayer and other volunteers worked on the ship for months.

They welded masts onto the deck, installed communication equipment, put in more bunks and got rid of the beer tap. They had to ponder even small expenditures and made more than one trip to the junkyard for materials. But the financial situation changed

in mid-April when Höppner appeared on a prominent talk show in Germany to discuss the Mediterranean migration crisis.

Ignoring the host’s protest, Höppner pressed for a minute of silence to commemorate the migrants who had drowned. He gained celebrity and the donations started flowing. Höppner has raised 300,000 euros to date — enough for operational costs and better equipment, but not enough for a new boat.

The Sea-Watch can hold no more than 80 people, it’s low to the water, and it rolls heavily from side to side even on the moderate waves of the Mediterranean.

“Everything on the ship is dangerous,” says Beyer. “It’s an adventure.”

A day before the ship was scheduled to embark on its third excursion toward the Libyan coast, its motor started leaking oil, the winch used to hoist the speedboat was broken, and the speedboat itself made only clicking sounds when the engine was turned on. When the speedboat finally started, its motor produced too much power and blew its radio.

One crew member decided to drop out of the mission. Others, though, said they’d known what they’d gotten themselves into. “For this project, I throw my workplace security measures over board,” said Fagner, who normally works as a medic on offshore wind parks.

Like many of the volunteers, he said he signed up for this project because of idealism: “I can’t accept that we keep looking away.” After last minute repairs, and two days behind schedule, the Sea-Watch

finally left the harbor.

Knowing the ship’s limitations, Höppner was initially less interested in conducting rescues than making a political statement.

He calculated that with a boat of do-it-yourself rescuers patrolling the waters, the European Union might be shamed into committing more resources to search and rescue missions. “We Europeans go there as a bait,” he said. But once the Sea-Watch left the dock, things turned out differently.

After an hourlong search, the crew still hasn’t found the rubber raft. Schöpping, the speedboat pilot, radios the Sea-Watch’s captain, Bruno Wolf. “The coordinates don’t make sense,” he shouts. “Can you confirm the coordinates!” In the distance, a cargo ship is visible. Sailing under the flag of Panama, it’s on its way to Algeria. “Can you see the cargo ship?” asks the captain. “It’s there!”

The ship has been sent to the area by the Italian, state-run Maritime Rescue Coordination Center, based in Rome, which handles all distress calls in this part of the Mediterranean. The MRCC identifies vessels close enough to provide aid; all ships are legally required to come to the rescue of those stranded at sea unless doing so would endanger their crew. Schöpping races toward the cargo ship, the Shaya.

Finally they find the rubber raft. It is crowded with 104 migrants from Somalia and Eritrea, including 26 women and three children. The motor is broken, and the compass they were given by their smuggler is lying unopened and unused in its packaging.

Most of the boats used by smugglers are rubber rafts of the same make, seemingly built for no other purpose than to transport as many people as cheaply as possible. The motors are unreliable and the fuel is often stretched with water. Some are so crowded that those on board have to stand in order to fit. The skippers, usually refugees themselves, lack navigational skills. In previous years, smugglers would transport migrants in sight of a shoreline, but now they often take them just into international waters and leave them with a satellite photo. Rescue operations have become part of the smugglers’ calculus. On social media, many accuse Sea-Watch of aiding human smuggling and, by their rescue activities, actually encouraging refugees to take the perilous journey. But the crew says there is a moral and legal duty to save people from drowning and that human smuggling is a symptom of unregulated migration and not the cause.

Source: Aljazeera.

Cont’d Next Weekend

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST 15 - 16, 2015

PAGE 47

Business Ensuring reduction in underemployment of Nigerian local farmers

Grassroot farmers

By Mohammed Usman

T

o say underemployment is plaguing Nigerian local farmers cannot be disputed.

Underemployment could be seen as a situation whereby a person is earning below his/her effort, skill, qualification etc.

Underemployment in Nigeria is not something new. For instance, according to a world bank report entitled: ‘Nigeria Economic Report’, which was once published by The Punch, Nigeria’s employment challenge is more of underemployment rather than unemployment.

Presenting the report, the Lead Economist and Acting Country Manager, World Bank, who said the analysis of the bank showed that poverty reduction in Nigeria was primarily an urban phenomenon as poverty remained high in the rural areas, added: “………Most Nigerians cannot afford not to work, but a large share of the population is engaged in low productivity and low paying tasks.”

The underemployment of Nigerian farmers is that of earning below effort. This usually manifested through glut, high cost of fertilizer, destructive birds and insects and so forth.

In this connection, a recent news report by Sunday trust had it that Bakalori irrigation site farmers in Zamfara state complained of major glut in the wheat and rice markets, saying they are selling their farm produce at give away

prices.

According to the report, one of the farmers, who said they are in the harvesting period, and complained bitterly about the glut in wheat and rice markets nowadays, said their morale has gone down with the very poor price of their produce. In the report, one of the farmers who said that they have bumper harvest but the price is not motivating lament as thus: “Our produce is being purchased by the local buyers only and they are not buying much from us, but if there are buyers from different places this will increase demand with resultant shift in the price” He stated that at the present

“

price in their local markets, for a farmer not to run at a loss, the price must be higher to cover up the cost of production. Another one complained of high price of fertilizer.

As it is government effort at federal, state and local government to relatively increase the standard of living of Nigerians, which include the inhabitant at local levels, who are mostly dependent on farming, there is need in applying and taking the techniques of agricultural economics to the local farmers.

According to wiseGEEK online, Agricultural economics is the study of applying economic management principles to food

farming. It went further that the result, ideally, is an agriculture industry that better understands efficiency, sustenance and market demand. It stated that this field looks at all elements of food production and applies rational thought and planning as a whole.

In this connection, Alhaji Nura Attajjiri, a large-scale farmer in Sokoto state urged the government to establish rice mills to boost rice production saying the establishment of such mills by the three tiers of government and other investors will greatly encourage farmers in the country to produce more rice, while increased research

As it is government effort at federal, state and local government to relatively increase the standard of living of Nigerians, which include the inhabitant at local levels, who are mostly dependent on farming, there is need in applying and taking the techniques of agricultural economics to the local farmers.

and development will enable them to have high yield and good prices. He further called for the increased provision of agricultural loans, fertilizers, implements, extension services and other inputs to the farmers.

Also, during a Town Hall Meeting held in Kano recently on the ravaging effect of Tuta Absoluta, a Tomato disease, the Chief Executive Officer of Chimande Seed Nigeria Limited, Alhaji Yusuf Ado Kibiya, called on government on the need to improve productivity, provision of quality seeds and above all access to market.

Kibiya, who also called for speedy intervention in the transport system by the government, said: “There is the need for subvention from the government because there are quite a number of factors that are confronting the industry, but the major issue at present, is the infection.”

Speaking through the chairman of Bakalori water users association, the irrigation farmers, who implored the government to come to their rescue especially with the advent of the destructive birds that wreck havoc on rice plantations, emphasised the need for better pricing of rice and wheat especially through the implementation of federal government’s buyback policy to encourage the farmers not to abandon farming for any other business.

PAGE 48

Business

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST 15 - 16, 2015

Interbank rates ease on liquidity boost from matured T-bills

President of (NUTGTWN) Mr. Oladele Hunsu, present textile material to the Vice President Prof.

Yemi Osinbajo, , during a courtesy visit of the union to the Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajoheld on in Abuja on Thursday Photo Joe Oroye.

By Mohammed Usman

I

nterbank lending rates eased to 14 percent on Friday from 40 percent last week after injections of liquidity from matured Treasury bills and refunds by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) of cash set aside by banks to buy dollars. Reuters reports.

The cost of borrowing among banks jumped to as high as 70 percent during the week on tight liquidity after the CBN tightened liquidity to support the naira currency. The CBN last week directed banks to pay for their dollar purchases 48 hours in advance, draining the market of liquidity.

Traders said about 183 billion

naira ($920 million) in matured Treasury bills was injected into the money market on Thursday by the CBN causing rates to fall.

Also, more funds from interest payment on bonds and refunds to banks from the CBN for their forex cash provision also raised liquidity, traders said.

“Interbank lending rates swung this week as a result of

tight liquidity arising from the provision for forex purchases and we expect the cycle to continue next week,” one dealer said.

Traders said banks’ cash balances with the CBN stood at about 80 billion naira compared with a 25 billion naira cash surplus last week.

The secured Open Buy Back (OBB) and overnight placement closed at 14 percent from 40 percent apiece for OBB and overnight placement last week.

“We expect rates to trend up early next week on possible cash withdrawal by NNPC (stateowned energy firm) and could trade around the 30 percent level until inflows of budgetary allocations to government agencies come in,” another trader said.

Nigeria, distributes revenue from oil among its three tiers of government every month, injecting liquidity into the money markets.

Meanwhile, Nigerian bond yields could fall due to rising debt demand from pensions after the government distributes oil revenue.

Nigeria, distributes revenue from oil among its three tiers of government every month, injecting liquidity into the money markets, which is expected to increase demand for debt and put a downward pressure on yields.

“We hope to see increased

liquidity in the market next week from budgetary allocations to government agencies spurring buying by mostly pension fund administrators,” one dealer said.

The local debt market is largely dominated by the pension funds in the absence of offshore investors that have largely stayed away since the CBN imposed tight controls in the foreign exchange market in February to support the naira.

Nigeria sold 80.20 billion naira ($403 million) worth of Treasury bonds this week with maturities ranging between five and 20 years at mixed yields.

Traders had expected higher yields at the auction, but were disappointed with the outcome which reflected the yields at the secondary market.

“Many investors had expected to luck in at higher yields at the auction but were disappointed with the outcome will try to cover their positions next week, leading to downward movement in yields,” another trader said.

Yields on the longest tenor 2034 debt rose by 10 percentage points to 15.22 percent from 15.12 percent last week.

The benchmark 2024 paper fell to 15.14 percent on Friday against 15.31 percent, while the 2022 debt was trading higher at 15.22 percent against 15.37 percent.

NSE moves 189.07m shares valued N2.42Bn Anambra Govt. attracts

I

nvestors at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on Friday staked N2.42 billion on 189.07 million shares transacted in 3,706 deals.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this was against the 305.80 million shares worth N4.01 billion achieved in 4,168 deals on Thursday.

GT Bank was the most traded equity with a total of 27.87 million shares valued N635.47 million.

It was trailed by Diamond Bank with 20.23 million shares worth N69.76 million while Zenith Bank traded 19.50 million shares valued N315.38 million.

Transcorp accounted for 13.79 million shares worth N35.47 million while AIICO Insurance sold 12.60 million shares valued N11.21 million.

NAN reports that the market indices recorded further depreciation, dropping by 0.15 per cent as a result of price loses.

The All-Share Index lost 47.01 points or 0.15 per cent to close at 30,703.62 compared with 30,752.63 posted on Thursday.

Similarly, the market capitalisation which opened at N10.540 trillion lost N16 billion or 0.15 per cent to close at N10.524 trillion.

Mobil recorded the highest price loss to lead the losers’ chart, dropping N5 to close at N154 per share.

Dangote Cement dipped N2.50 to close at N180.50,

while Julius Berger lost N2.27 to close at N43.31 per share.

Northern Nigeria Flour Mill declined by 67k to close at N12.83, while Berger Paint lost 52k to close at N9.93 per share.

On the other hand, Forte Oil topped the gainers’ chart, gaining N7.03 to close at N215 per share.

CAP garnered N3.60 to close at N41.30, while Nigerian Breweries gained N1.83 to close at N126.93 per share.

7UP and Ashaka appreciated by 50k each to close at N190.50 and N23.50 per share, respectively.

Meanwhile, The Bank of Agriculture (BoA) has called on farmers in the country to redouble their production of grains or face imminent hunger by 2050.

In a paper presented on Friday in Makurdi at the Exporter Enlightenment Forum organised by NEXIM Bank, its Managing Director, Prof. Danbaba Danju, said farmers needed to modernise their farming implements to meet rising food demand.

“Agriculture as currently practised in Nigeria must change to become more productive, efficient and sustainable to make food cheaper and readily available,” he said.

He said the current paradigm shift from oil to agriculture had become imperative owing to the collapse of the oil market with its crippling effects on dwindling revenues across the world.

He said the current efforts at re-engineering agriculture were not only useful in ensuring food security but for export purposes.

Danju said such exports would shore up the nation’s foreign exchange.

He also called for the organisation of value chain across global, regional and subnational boundaries to promote food security, poverty reduction and ensure sustainable production.

According to him, the benefits accruable to such value chain are unquantifiable, explaining that it will reduce post harvest losses and decrease prices of food to consumers.

He said such efforts would reduce grain losses between 15 and 25 per cent; vegetables losses would be reduced between 40 and 50 per cent while livestock and fisheries would suffer less by 10 - 20 per cent and 40 per cent respectively.

He urged farmers to adopt new technologies that promoted improved seedlings with high yielding capacity, to double their crop production.

(NAN) ``If maritime reporters are performing their roles effectively, everybody in the sector will do the right thing at the appropriate time. ``Maritime reporters need to upgrade their knowledge of the familiar trends in the industry and should report critically,’’ Bello said. (NAN)

N472bn investments in 18 months

G

ov. Willie Obiano of Anambra on Friday said that the state attracted investment worth 2.4 billion dollars (N472 billion) in the past 18 months.

The governor disclosed this during a courtesy visit and bell ringing at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in Lagos.

Obiano said that the state government had embarked on several initiatives and strategies aimed at increasing investment and revenue generation.

He said that the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) currently stood at N1.3 billion, adding that there were plans to increase the monthly IGR to N3 billion.

Obiano said that it had completed arrangement to repackage business outfits in the state to make them more attractive to be listed on the nation’s bourse.

He said that the state had established an investment outfit where investment discussions could be finalised in a one stop shop within one week.

The governor added that tax incentives would be given to companies that would indicate interest to invest in the state.

He stated that the state had established an outfit called Anambra State Investment and Promotion Agency (ANSIPA) to fasten

investment opportunities.

The governor said that ANSIPA was a special purpose vehicle established to facilitate the industrialisation process of the state through helping prospective entrepreneurs to overcome the hurdles of infrastructure and land title.

“It is a one stop investment outfit, so if you want to invest in Anambra State, you don’t need to go to 10 places, just come to the outfit and discuss your business.

In that outfit, where you will get your land is there, where you will get your C of O all within one week and life is a lot easy doing business that way,” Obiano said.

He, however, solicited the support of the exchange to encourage listed companies to come and invest in the state.

Obiano said that the state was one of the safest to invest in currently, adding that investors all over the world should embrace its investment window.

“We have zero kidnapping and no armed robbery cases so we are asking people to come and enjoy their fund in an enabling environment.” he said.

He added that the government’s economic blueprint centered on agriculture, trade, commerce and oil and gas. (NAN)

PAGE 49

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST 15 - 16, 2015

Oddities

sells his Artist grows ear out of arm Student surname for £200 ‘so public can hear him’ H

A

n artist, who is growing an ear out of his arm, has revealed how he plans to connect it to the internet so people can use it to listen to him.

Australian oddball Stelarc has told how he wants to make the extra organ a porthole for people to listen in to his life, wherever they may be.

The Curtin University professor, real name Stelios Arcadiou, originally came up with the idea for the ear back in 1996 and managed to convince a team of boffins to go ahead with it using his own tissue samples.

Early attempts to install a microchip proved fruitless, but now the 69-year-old has announced plans to use his own stem cells to make the ear more three dimensional so that the microchip can be put in without the possibility of infection and then linked up to wireless internet.

He told ABC: “This ear is not for me, I have got two good ears to hear with. This ear is a remote listening device for people in other places they will be able to follow a conversation or hear the sounds of a concert, wherever I am, wherever you are.”

Revealing how the chip would be on all the time as it would not be fitted with an off switch, the eccentric artist added: “Increasingly now, people are becoming internet portals of experience... imagine if I could hear with the ears of someone in New York, imagine if I at the same time could see with the eyes of someone in London.

“If I am not in a wi-fi hotspot or I switch off my home modem, then perhaps I will be offline, but the idea actually is to try to keep the ear online all the time.”

Man lets monkey paint on his back, turns it into permanent tattoo An artist has fulfilled an ambition to let a monkey paint on his back and then transferred the animal’s artwork into a tattoo which is then permanently etched into his skin.

The creative combination was the brainchild of Jan Schekauski, an artist and blogger from Germany.

The clip shows both Jan and the monkey each dressed in a pair of jeans.

Jan begins dancing. while the monkey walks and dabs paint onto his back.

Speaking about the project entitled Dancing Monkey with Pants, Jan said: “I’d been looking for a monkey to realise one of my ideas for a project for over two years.

The painting was carried out at the Europa Centre in Berlin, in front of a piece of the Berlin Wall.

“In everyday life this leaves room for interpretation even more than an abstract painting in a museum. Art that no one can see cannot exist just as knowledge does not exist if it is not made use of.”

The final tattoo was accompanied by a quote from Article 1 of the Constitution of the European Union: “Human dignity is inviolable.”

ard-up students will go to great lengths to scape together a bit of cash, but Alan Kerr has taken things to a whole new level, by selling his surname for £200.

Skint art student, Alan, put his surname up for auction to the highest bidder.

The 33-year-old tried for months to get a decent sponsorship deal in a bid to gain recognition for his artwork and make some money.

But now an independent music label has stepped in with a £200 offer and he has changed his name by deed poll to Alan Trashmouth Records.

Alan, a final year student at Edinburgh College of Art, said: “I changed my name by deed poll. It is a good name for being in a rock band.

Now I will have to change my details with the bank and on my driving licence. It is about artists and how artists make money and how as a young

graduating artist I can make money.”

Alan approached businesses across the country by letter and through social media sites including Facebook and Twitter.

The student, who is currently in the band, Bat Bike, is working with the record company to produce his debut album, Getting Back, which will be released in the summer.

Trashmouth Records are a music recording label based in London and are responsible for signing bands including Fat White Family, Taman Shud, Meatrafle and Bat Bike.

Liam D May, record producer at the music label, said: “I thought it was really funny. It is very surreal and very interesting. I’ve never heard of anybody wanting to take the corporate sponsorship concept that far.

We just thought it was a fun thing to collaborate on.”

Artist uses helicopter to create abstract canvas

L

ike most artists he requires skill, precision and a firm hand, but unlike other painters he also needs a pilot’s licence and nerves of steel.

Because Heiner Börger boasts of the unique status as the world’s only heliartist, hovering precariously close to the ground in his helicopter to produce his incredible abstract works.

After splashing paint and pigment on canvases carefully arranged on the ground, he then manoeuvres the colours using the downward draft of his rotor blades.

The delicate process even sees him use the chopper’s landing skids to create impressions in the paint, the finishing touches of his vibrant creations.

“Some people say this is just some funny coloured spots. They may see it like that, but this is wrong. It has a concept. I am a conceptual guy. I have experimented and tried different colours, even different helicopters and I have made about 120 different paintings now.

Heiner, 54, of Frankfurt, sees his work as a continuation of the “action art” first created by the likes of Jackson Pollock, and highlights the fact that Leonard da Vinci had a fascination with flying and art.

“Perhaps if Pollock or da Vinci had a pilot’s licence or a helicopter they would have made art like me.”

Sometimes seed, grass and even insects get blown onto the canvases, but that provides context to the artworks.

And the surroundings, specially selected by Heiner as he travels around the world have special meaning.

In South Africa, he explored religion by painting in front of the Twelve Apostles mountains near Table Mountain, Cape Town, and in Las Vegas, he examined gambling on the edge of America’s sin city.

But Heiner is now fascinated by the concept of borders, a fascination which first manifest itself last year when he produced a series of canvases on the equator in Kenya.

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST 15 - 16, 2015

Healthy Living

How sleep deprivation affects your body A

lot of health issues result from inadequate sleep.

Among the chronically sleepless, cortisol (the stress hormone) remains at a high level instead of dropping in accordance with the body’s circadian rhythm, the natural body clock that controls physiological processes like sleep.

The body’s inability to regulate cortisol contributes to high blood pressure and can increase the risk of calcification of the coronary arteries.

Inadequate sleep may also be linked to chronic illnesses like cancer and heart disease.

Though the connection between sleep disorders and diseases are not entirely understood, lack of sleep may increase inflammation throughout the body and impair cell repair. For women, getting fewer than six hours of sleep, increases the risk of coronary heart disease.

Sleep is important for the immune system. People who don’t get enough sleep are usually unable to fight infection. Sleeping fewer than five hours increases the risk of death by about 15 percent.

Adequate sleep is not a luxury.

We need to make it a priority.

Prior to having electricity in the home, the body’s circadian rhythm dictated sleep patterns. Light was a powerful timekeeper in the

morning, sunlight coaxed people to stay awake and at sundown, it was time to hit the hay. Today, simply by switching on a light at night, our bodies are pressured to stay alert and awake, as opposed to following their natural rhythm.

The prevalence of electronic devices makes the situation even worse. When laptops, tablets and smartphones enter the bedroom, problems arise. The blue light they emit confuses the body. It is stimulating and disturbing, leading to an ‘on call’ type of lighter sleep that is not deep or fully restorative.

How to improve your sleep routine Total darkness in the bedroom is recommended by experts, as it promotes higher secretions of melatonin which encourages sleepiness, regulates body temperature and blood pressure and inhibits cancer cell growth.

Turning off electronics an hour before bedtime and keeping devices away from sleep zones go a long way towards encouraging more restorative sleep.

Surprisingly, interrupted sleep can be just as bad as getting no sleep at all. A pilot study from Tel Aviv University concluded that when sleep is disrupted during the night, even when participants slept for seven hours, it was equivalent to sleeping half that time, causing

Adequate sleep is essential the same fatigue, depression and confusion experienced by the severely sleep-deprived. The most

What your eyes say about your health T he eyes are the portal through which signs of certain health problems can be discovered, not only eye disorders like cataracts and glaucoma, but also systemic illnesses like diabetes mellitus and

Bright eye

cardiovascular diseases. Sometimes the signs of these diseases are visible in, on, or around the eyes long before the symptoms appear.

“The eyes truly are unique real estate.

crucial time is the deep slumber that occurs during the third stage of the sleep cycle. This is when

They are the only place in the body where you can see a bare nerve, a bare artery and a bare vein without doing any cutting. And the disease processes we see in the eye are probably occurring in the rest of the body,” Andrew Iwach, MD, Associate Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of California, San Francisco and Executive Director of the Glaucoma Center of San Francisco, said.

The list of systemic diseases that can have ocular manifestations is a long one; in addition to diabetes and cardiovascular disease, it includes aneurysms, HIV, cancer, and rare hereditary diseases. This is one reason why eye experts recommend periodic checks.

“Everyone should have a comprehensive eye exam by age 40,” Ruth Williams, MD, an ophthalmologist and glaucoma specialist in Wheaton, Ill, said. People who have a family history of eye problems should be seen earlier and anyone who is having eye trouble should see a doctor right away. But people shouldn’t wait until they experience symptoms to see a doctor, because many eye problems are silent, meaning they cause no symptoms.

Some ocular manifestations of systemic disease can be seen only by a trained specialist during the course of an eye exam.

Others are plain for all to see.

Here are some of the common eye signs and what they might be saying about your health: Bloody eyes. The eye’s transparent outer layer called the conjunctiva is nourished by numerous tiny blood vessels. If these burst, blood may pool on the white of the eye (sclera). A sub-conjunctival hemorrhage, as it is known among doctors, can be caused by a blow to the eye, but in most

the body goes into overdrive to produce healing and repairing hormones.

cases has no obvious cause. In rare instances, it can be a sign of severe high blood pressure or a platelet disorder, which can interfere with clotting.

Bulging eyes. Though prominent eyes may simply be a family trait, it may also be evidence of thyroid disease. Abnormal levels of thyroid hormone cause tissues surrounding the eye to swell, making it appear that the eye is bulging.

Different coloured eyes.

Also called heterochromia iridis, this condition is usually inherited. A change in colour may be due to bleeding, a foreign body in the eye, glaucoma, inflammation in the eye or other conditions such as Waardenburg syndrome or neurofibromatosis.

Droopy eyelid. This condition, known among doctors as ptosis, can simply be a sign of aging. But in rare cases it is evidence of a brain tumor or a neuro-muscular disease known as Myasthenia Gravis (MG). It is an auto-immune disorder that weakens muscles throughout the body.

Rings on the cornea. A rare hereditary disorder known as Wilson’s disease can cause copper to accumulate in various tissues, including those in the brain and liver. Copper deposits sometimes form on the inner surface of the cornea. These ‘Kayser-Fleischer rings’ are harmless, but without appropriate treatment, they disease can be fatal.

Yellow eyes. Diseases of the liver including hepatitis and cirrhosis can turn the scleras to a yellowish colour. The colour is caused by the buildup of bilirubin, a compound created by the breakdown of hemoglobin.

Culled from Webmed

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST 15 - 16, 2015

Infallible proofs of Jesus’ resurrection (IV)

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o far in this series, I’ve discussed the following proofs of Jesus’ resurrection: the testimony of Jesus himself before his death, Bible prophecy, the conviction of the church about Jesus resurrection and the preaching of it to counter the propaganda and lies that he didn’t resurrect and the empty tomb which even the religious leaders testified to though feebly claiming that Jesus’ body was stolen.

Last week, I began to talk about the eye witnesses mentioned in the Bible which include Mary Magdalene, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, Peter, the ten disciples, the eleven disciples and the two disciples on their way to Emmaus.

There are still other eye witnesses I want to talk about. (i) The seven disciples: Jesus showed himself again to another set of his disciples – seven of them by the sea where they had followed Simon Peter to go fishing, and Jesus had breakfast with them. John 21:2 gives us the list of these seven disciples – Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples whose names were not mentioned.

It must have been another memorable encounter for these disciples who might also have been there during his other appearances after his resurrection. John ended that narrative by saying, “This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.”

(John 21:14 NKJV) Did you see that? That occasion was the third time Jesus was appearing to his disciples after his resurrection – that should have convinced any disciple still having any doubt. (ii) Over five hundred followers: In Paul’s narrative on the eye witnesses of Jesus resurrection, he mentioned five hundred people who saw at once the resurrected Lord. “After that, 2. CONFESSION OF FAITH ebrews 11:31; Joshua 2:1,8-12,18-21; 6:22-25; Matthew 1:1-5; Romans 10:8-10; 2 Timothy 1:12; Romans 8:31,32,37-39.

Rahab was a Canaanite, a stranger – “an alien from the commonwealth of Israel”, “a stranger from the covenants of promise”, yet “by faith she perished not with them that believed not”. Rahab had heard of the God of Israel and His mighty acts done on behalf of Israel.

She had heard of God’s plan to give the land of Canaan to Israel.

Others heard and believed not; they rebelled in their unbelief.

But she heard and believed. And she confessed in faith. “And she said,... I know that the LORD hath given you the land,... For we have heard how the LORD dried the water of the Red Sea for you...

For the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and in earth beneath” (Joshua 2:9-11).

Others in Jericho heard the same things that Rahab heard.

What they heard brought fear in their hearts but she had faith.

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he was seen by more than five hundred of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died by now.”

(1 Cor 15:6 NLT) The Bible does not tell us when this incident took place but at the time Paul was speaking, some of those witnesses were alive. (iii) All disciples during his ascension: Jesus also appeared to all his followers at Mount Olivet before his ascension to heaven. This was his final public appearance.

Acts 1:9-11 says, “Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven?

This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.’” (NKJV) These disciples became powerful witnesses of Jesus after they received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and the apostles in particular boldly preached his resurrection which they couldn’t deny took place because they saw the risen Lord. (X) Paul: In 1 Cor 15:8, Paul mentioned his name last as one of the witnesses that saw Jesus after his resurrection as evidence that his resurrection wasn’t a lie; it was real.

Although Paul only got converted after Jesus has ascended to heaven, and after the early church had begun, he had the privilege of Jesus appearing to him. Jesus appeared to him on the way to Damascus where he was converted. “And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you.’”

(Acts 9:17 NKJV) In view of his personal

experience, Paul was convinced beyond all propaganda and lies that the same Jesus who was crucified was the person that came out of the grave alive – he had incontrovertible evidence.

And he preached that gospel of the risen Savior with holy passion.

Though not a follower of Jesus when he was doing his ministry on the earth, he had no reason to doubt that he resurrected. The persecutor of the saints became the proclaimer of the Word. That wouldn’t have been possible if Paul was not convinced by the evidence he had.

(XI) James, the half brother of Jesus. James didn’t believe Jesus, his brother, was the Messiah during his earthly ministry. He was converted after his death and resurrection and became the leader of the church in Jerusalem. Giving further list of those who saw the resurrected Jesus, Paul said, “After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles.” (1 Cor 15:7 NKJV) John 7:5 said, “For even His brothers did not believe in Him.” (NKJV) James was one of the brothers being referred to here. “Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?” (Matt 13:55 NKJV) James didn’t believe his brother, Jesus, while he was doing his ministry, and there was no reason for him to believe him after his death. What convinced him was his resurrection. He knew he was killed and was buried but he saw him thereafter so he began to believe that indeed he was the Messiah. James believed and Acts 15:13 shows James as leader of the church in Jerusalem.

Conclusion: Do you believe that Jesus died and resurrected?

Are you convinced that Jesus resurrected from the dead, and is alive for ever more? The proofs you have read are infallible but you determine what you believe.

I believe in the resurrection of

PAGE 51

From the Pulpit GREEN PASTURES

By Pastor T. O. Banso

cedarministryintl@yahoo.com GSM: 08033113523 Jesus Christ. I believe he is alive forever more. No propaganda, no theory, no philosophy can convince me otherwise. “Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?

But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up — if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.” (1 Cor 15:12-19 NKJV)

If you believe in his resurrection, the power of resurrection becomes accessible to you. Paul says, “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection…” (Phil 3:10 ASV) He wanted to experience the power of resurrection which is only possible if you believe that Jesus actually resurrected.

Believe in his resurrection.

The power of resurrection will give life to your mortal body. “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit

who dwells in you.” (Rom 8:11 NKJV) For man, death is not the end.

There’s going to be a resurrection – a resurrection to eternity, eternity in hell or eternity with God. “I have hope in God…that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.” (Acts 24:16 NKJV) For the child of God, there is resurrection unto eternity with God. What’s your decision?

TAKE ACTION! If you’re not born again, 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 repent and confess my sins. 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. May the Lord be with you.

Pulling down strongholds by faith (II) Rahab’s confession was full and sure. She accepted the testimonies as true. She exalted God because of His wondrous works. She acknowledged Him as the God of heaven and earth.

She was sure that God had given the land of Canaan to His people. With an expectant faith, she asked for mercy and salvation, not only for herself but also for her household.

Her faith perceived something of the infinite mercy of God that she believed He would be willing to show mercy and grant grace to her as well as her family. Her confession and demand revealed her faith. Our confession is absolutely inseparable from our faith.

3. CHARACTERISTICS OF FAITH Hebrews 11:30,31; Mark 11:24; Romans 4:19-21; Hebrews 4:3,10; Luke 5:4-6; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; Isaiah 28:16; 2 Chronicles 20:2022; John 11:40.

The historical account connected with these two verses

By Pastor W.F Kumuyi (Hebrews 11:30,31) reveals some striking characteristics of faith.

There is faith that receives, when we come empty-handed to Christ for salvation. There is faith that reckons, that counts on God to undertake for us. There is faith that risks, that moves out on God’s word, daring to do the impossible.

There is faith that rests, that when facing persecution, we remain confident that God will deliver.

Unbelief is hesitant but bold faith is confident and courageous.

Reading Joshua chapter 6, we observe (1) the obedience of faith.

After receiving God’s instruction

and promise to deliver Jericho into their hands, Joshua and Israel obeyed without modifying God’s word. There was also (2) the discipline of faith. Everyone among those millions of Israelites manifested faith and knew that there is “a time to keep silence and a time to speak” (Ecclesiastes 3:7).

(3) Their patience of faith was remarkable. The walls of Jericho did not fall on the first day when Israel marched around them. It was not until the thirteenth time, on the seventh day, that the power of God was displayed to make the walls fall down. We must not

overlook (4) the expectation of faith. The people shouted before the walls fell down – their faith expected victory and was rejoicing before the victory came. (5) The ground (basis) of faith for Joshua, Israel or Rahab was the word of God. “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). The word of God is a surer foundation for our faith than feeling. We have already spoken about (6) the confession of faith. There are those who remain silent or quiet in confusion, fear and unbelief. Others like the ten spies utter negative words that doubt the promises of God. Faith confesses with assurance and says what God has said in His promises.

(7) The effect and reward of faith is always the same. For an individual (Joshua), or a family (Rahab and her household), or a nation (Israel), faith always pulls down the enemy’s strongholds and delivers us from temporal and eternal perdition.

Sports

52

Tanzania can’t stop us – Salami vows Ramadan, says Ibrahima Traore

Sports

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST, 15 - 16, 2015

PAGE 53

Tanzania can’t stop us – Salami vows

By Albert Akota

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bolahan Salami, the Warri Wolves goal poacher, has expressed happiness at being invited by the new coach of the senior national team and has promised to deliver if included in the final squad for the encounter in Dar es Salam next month. Salami says he is more than ready to play under coach Sunday Oliseh.

Salami was a prominent figure under former coach Stephen Keshi and scored the opening goal in June’s 2-0 victory over Chad in Kaduna.

He said that playing for the Eagles has always been very exciting and ensuring that the maximum points is secured against the Taifa Stars would be the ideal tonic for the Eagles’ quest to qualify for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations after the team’s failure to play in the 2015 edition held in Equatorial Guinea.

“I am always happy to be invited to the national team and another call up to the Super Eagles won’t be an exception,” Salami told Goal.

The Wolves goal sensation promised Nigerians that the Eagles would be competitive and be poised to record an

impressive result in Dar es Salam.

“We are condemned to beat Tanzania away from home to stand a good chance of qualifying for the 2017 Afcon.

“Everyone is still pained at our inability to play in Equatorial Guinea this year and we must do everything possible to qualify ahead of our opponents,” Salami said.

He has scored nine goals from 22 games this season and also added five goals in the 2015 Caf Confederation Cup before the Seasiders crashed out. He netted over 15 goals in the top plight last season.

NFF sues for patience, confidence over Nigeria’s football

ECOWAS experts canvass establishment of National Federations of WAPSGA

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Eagles

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he Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Amaju Pinnick, has called on Nigerians to invest some patience and confidence in the current administrators of the game for the maturation of the benefits of the various measures being put in place to take the game to the next level.

Pinnick urged critics of the Nigerian game to be constructive and not destructive and to cultivate the habit of proffering alternative solutions whenever they feel what was being offered was not good enough.

“Instead of simply castigating those at the helm of affairs, we should have tendency to offer what we believe are better solutions for specific issues. It is not about one person; it is about our dear

country, Nigeria.

“When myself and other persons at the helm of Nigeria football travel out of the country, we go out there to project the Nigerian game, to seek for partners for Nigeria football in order that we can actualise our development plans.”

He named Ambassador Chris Giwa, Olajide Fashikun and Barrister Iyke Igbokwe as people who were on the other side but today, they have seen reason with us and joined us to move Nigerian football forward. It is about our country and not Pinnick.

He dismissed statements by some persons about new Super Eagles’ coach, Sunday Oliseh, being inexperienced, declaring that Oliseh’s playing career that saw him winning Africa Cup of

Nations gold, silver and bronze, Olympic gold and also starring at the very top level in Europe, added to his post-playing career work with FIFA Technical Study Group, and technology, will take care of that area.

“We have no regrets appointing Sunday Oliseh. Other African countries were gunning for him, but he opted for his country.

Oliseh’s stock in international football is high because apart from his work with FIFA, he has a company that trains and grades coaches all over the world.

“What the NFF, Oliseh, the LMC and other aspects of Nigeria football need is support from everyone and patience, so that we can put in place our development programmes that will take the country’s game to a new height.”

The NFF boss expressed delight at the impact of the Federation’s capacity-building programmes, which has seen referees and coaches going to the United Kingdom for some interesting education.

“We can all see the impact of the new orientation in our referees who handle League matches and everyone is now talking about the League again. We will soon begin to see the impact of the coaches’ training in match analysis and we also have plans to send some administrators for similar programmes.

“The present NFF leadership is driven by passion to make a difference, and we have that capacity to make the difference in administration of Nigeria football.”

egional sporting experts and relevant ECOWAS resource persons have resolved that the establishment of a National Federation of West African Public Service Games (WAPSGA) has become imperative for the overall health of West African citizens.

The resolution was reached at the end of a two-day regional consultation meeting which held on the 6th and 7th of August 2015 at the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja, where the conferees decided that there shall now be established in each ECOWAS member state, a National Federation of West African Public Service Games.

In this regard, each member state which makes up the regional group is expected to commence immediately the process of putting in place the necessary structures for the National Federations.

WAPSGA is seen as a functional platform for Public Services of the region to interface for the purpose of regional integration and cooperation.

According to the communique released on the deliberations of the meeting, the operational structure as envisaged entails each member state to designate a Focal Point or a competent officer to regularly communicate to the ECOWAS Commission on all matters arising. Such designates would be the link with ECOWAS and are to be responsible for the organization of the games at National levels among other

PAGE 54

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST 15 - 16, 2015

Sports

City seek early psychological lift against Chelsea

Kompany against Remy

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he destination of the Premier League trophy will not be decided when current champions Chelsea meet their immediate

predecessors Manchester City on Sunday, but the winners will get a welcome psychological boost for the long campaign ahead.

The meeting between two of the main title contenders has come early in the season but three points are three points whether they are won

in August or May. If Manchester City takes them they will already be five clear of Chelsea whereas last season they never got their noses in front of Jose Mourinho’s side.

City began their campaign with an easy 3-0 win at West Bromwich Albion on Monday with Yaya Toure looking back to his imperious best, scoring the best goal of the season so far with City’s second from the edge of the box.

Toure’s excellent display and an equally emphatic statement of intent from City’s captain Vincent Kompany were both in contrast to many of their performances last season.

His manager Manuel Pellegrini, who has just signed a new deal with the club, did say Toure had had problems last season following the death of his brother Ibrahim, when Toure struggled in matches against the top sides.

Chelsea made an

indifferent start with a 2-2 draw against Swansea City at Stamford Bridge but much of the focus since has been on the curious aftermath of the match with Mourinho banning the club’s first team doctor Eva Carneiro from the bench.

Mourinho was unhappy that Carneiro and physio Jon Fearn went on the pitch to treat Eden Hazard near the end.

Chelsea was down to 10 men following the dismissal of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and because the medics had come on to the pitch, Hazard had to go off before he could resume playing, leaving Chelsea with nine men on the field.

That incensed Mourinho and his banning order has made headlines since but what should concern him more was the way his team played.

Courtois will miss Sunday’s game with newlyarrived deputy Asmir Begovic taking his place.

Sakho to play Mourinho under fire despite arrest over Eva treatment C

Diafra Sakho

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est Ham United’s Senegalese striker Diafra Sakho could play against Leicester City this weekend despite having been arrested on suspicion of assault, manager Slaven Bilic said.

Sakho, 25, is thought to have been arrested last week on suspicion of assaulting his girlfriend in east London.

But he played in the team that won 2-0 at Arsenal in West Ham’s opening Premier League fixture last weekend and Bilic suggested he would keep his place against Leicester on Saturday.

Sakho joined West Ham frim French side Metz last year and

scored 12 goals in his first season at Upton Park.

Meanwhile, French midfielder Morgan Amalfitano’s future at the club is in serious doubt after Bilic said he was not part of his plans.

The Croatian downplayed press reports of a bust-up between the pair, but confirmed that Amalfitano had been removed from the first-team squad.

Bilic also dismissed suggestions that West Ham had decided not to offer controversyprone midfielder Joey Barton a contract due to protests against the move by the club’s fans.

helsea manager Jose Mourinho found himself at the eye of a storm on Thursday as criticism mounted over reports he has sidelined the Premier League champions’ team doctor Eva Carneiro.

British media reports claim Carneiro will no longer attend Chelsea’s matches or training sessions after Mourinho lambasted her and physiotherapist Jon Fearn for running onto the pitch to treat Eden Hazard during the latter stages of last weekend’s 2-2 draw at home to Swansea City.

In a statement said that the Premier League Doctors’ Group described Carneiro’s reported demotion as “unjust in the extreme”.

“A refusal to run onto the pitch would have breached the duty of care required of the medical team to their patient.

“It is a huge concern that Dr Carneiro has been subjected to unprecedented media scrutiny and a change in her professional role, merely because she adhered to her code of professional conduct and did her job properly.”

Eva Carneiro

Sports

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST, 15 - 16, 2015

PAGE 55

Some Eagles players who may lose opportunities in Europe

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lubs in the various European leagues still have more than fourteen days to strengthen their squads. However, this strengthening will be at the expense of some players who may have lost their places to new acquisitions.

Efe Ambrose at Celtic The Super Eagles defender is not finding things easy at Celtic this season. Even though he

played his second 90- minutes in the League on Wednesday in a 2-2 draw with Kilmarnock, he did not feature in the first two matches of the new league season.

The main reason he could become a perpetual bench warmer is the acquisition from Manchester City of Belgian defender, Dedrick Boyata.

Boyata is already a crowd darling having scored twice

in the Champions League you may recall his late goal against Qarabag in the last round.

Ambrose has been shuffled from the centre of the defence to the right, depending on the availability of Boyata and he is going to have to do much more now to convince his manager, Ronny Deila, that he merits time on the pitch.

Brown Ideye at West Brom

I

deye has always had doubts concerning his ability to put the ball in the net consistently.

Tony Pulis has shelled out a club record fee for Salomon Rondon and the loanee, Serge Gnabry from Arsenal.

There is also his compatriot, Victor

Anichebe, and Rickie Lambert. The path seems finally clear for the Nigerian to depart.

In the forward slots, West Brom now have six players jostling for at best two places with Saido Berahino being almost guaranteed one of the spots.

Efe Ambrose at Celtic

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here is no way that Stoke manager, Mark Hughes, will leave £12million purchase, Xherdan Shaqiri, on the bench for the Nigerian.

Also, the addition of

Ibrahim Afellay will severely limit the Nigerian’s appearances for the Potters this season.

There is also Marko Arnautovic and Jan Walters

to contend with for the wide slots in attack. Odemwingie has a one-year extension at the Britannia and it could be his toughest test yet.

Victor Anichebe at West Brom

T Osaze Odemwingie at Stoke City

he acquisition of burly forward, Rickie Lambert, from Liverpool is an indication that Anichebe would be at best a second choice as was shown on the first day of the season when they lost 3-0 to Manchester City.

With a paltry return of just six goals in 46 league appearances, the striker

should be looking for pastures anew.

In football, everything is not black and white.

There are grey areas too.

Anything can happen between now and the end of the transfer window but the situation looks uncertain for these players at the moment.

BIG PUNCH

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, AUGUST 8 - 9, 2015

Saturday Column By

Imam Murtada Gusau In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the most Merciful

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lhamdulillah. Indeed, all praise is due to Allah. We praise Him and seek His help and forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allah from the evil within ourselves and from our wrongdoings. He whom Allah guides, no one can misguide; and he whom He misguides, no one can guide.

I bear witness that there is no (true) god except Allah – alone without a partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad (SAW) is His ‘abd (Servant) and Messenger.

“O you who believe! Revere Allah the right reverence, and do not die except as Muslims.” (AlImran, 3:102) “O people! Revere your Lord who has created you from a single soul, created from it its mate, and dispersed from both of them many men and women. Revere Allah through whom you demand things from one another; and (cherish the ties of) the wombs, indeed, Allah is ever watchful over you.”

(Al-Nisa’, 4:1) “O you who believe! Revere Allah and say fair words. He will then rectify your deeds and forgive your sins. He who obeys Allah and His Messenger have certainly achieved a great victory. (AlAhzab, 33:70-71) Indeed, the best speech is Allah’s (SWT) Book and the best guidance is Muhammad (SAW) guidance. The worst affairs (of religion) are those innovated (by people), for every such innovation is an act of misguidance leading to the fire.

My dear brothers and sisters, Our today’s Khutbah (Sermon) is about Hajj. In a few days’ time, millions of Muslims from the far corners of the earth will converge on the holy city of Makkah to perform the fifth and final pillar of their faith.

The Noble Qur’an says, in Surah Al-hajj, chapter 22, verse 27: “And proclaim the pilgrimage among men, they will come to you on foot and (mounted) on every kind of camel, lean on account of journeys through deep and distant mountain highways…”

Also in Surah Al-Imran, 3:97 – we read: “…Pilgrimage is a duty men owe to Allah; those who can afford ADVERT: BUSINESS: NEWS: LAGOS:

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the journey; but if any deny faith, Allah stands not in need of any of his creatures.”

All Muslims, who have the means to do so, physically and financially, must do the pilgrimage at least once in a lifetime. It is a duty, but not merely a duty. It is an integral part of being Muslim.

For a few precious days, we participate in one of the greatest annual events in human history.

We complete the rituals whose origins go way back beyond the time of Prophet Muhammad, (SAW), to the time of Prophet Ibrahim (A.S), and even further back to the time of Adam (A.S).

During these momentous days, pilgrims remove their normal clothing, removing all outer signs of nationality, of wealth and social status, and everyone wears the same simple sheet of white cloth, the ihraam.

From the starting point or meeqat, they chant those deeply stirring words, “labbaik, Allahummalabbaik, labbaik… Here I am, O Allah, Here I am!” They are answering the call of Allah, which began with the first time they recited their KalimahShahaadah.

Hajj is the response to Allah’s call. His invitation to visit His House, at least once before we die.

It is also the fulfillment of a promise that we all make. Every time we recite our KalimahShahaada, and we say “…Wahajjulbayt,manistat a‘ailayhisabeelaa…” It is a part of our Declaration of Faith that we promise to perform Hajj when he have the means to do so.

We then perform tawaaf, walking around the Ka’abah, which was purified of idols by Prophet Muhammad (SAW), as soon as he returned to Makkah from exile in Madinah. Praying at Maqam Ibrahim, the Place of Prophet Abraham (A.S), and performing sa’yi; we remember how his wife Hajar ran in search of water for

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It is shocking that the TCN are celebrating that power generation has increased to 4,600 when in 1999 the generation of the country was 4600 megawatts ... despite billions of dollars investment.

—Senate Majority Leader, Ali Ndume

Hajj: The physical and spritual journey

Pilgrims at Mount Arafat her infant son, Ismail. This is how the well of Zamzam was found. To this day, for thousands of years, Zamzam has quenched the thirst of millions who visit the House of Allah.

Later, we make our way to the great plain of ‘Arafaat and spend the day of wuqoof in deep and passionate prayer, asking Allah to forgive us our sins, just as he forgave Adam, (A.S), in that very place, on Jabal Rahma, the Mount of Mercy; we seek atonement for our past sins, and await Allah’s Mercy. At Mina and Musdalifah, we throw stones at the Jamraat.

This is an outer expression of our inner resolve to reject Shaitaan (Satan) and all that he stands for.

The whole experience of Hajj is rich in symbolism and history. We are not mere spectators, but active participants in this prolonged act of worship. When we do our daily prayers, it takes a few minutes of concentrated effort. When we perform Hajj, it takes at from 7 to 10 days to complete all the rituals

associated with this great journey.

Dear brothers and sisters in Islam, This year, we expect the Day of Wuqoof in Arafaat. All the pilgrims will be devoting this day to seeking Allah’s Mercy. May I request that we all fast on that day, so that even if we cannot be on Arafaat in person, we can at least join those pilgrims in spirit. Our fasting should be an act of solidarity and unity with the Muslim Ummah, not only seeking forgiveness for ourselves, but also to seek Allah’s mercy and blessings for those who suffer hardship and distress everywhere.

Dear brothers and sisters in Islam, What is the significance of Hajj? What does Hajj really mean to us, and how does Hajj affect our lives, and our destiny?

Hajj is both an outward and inward journey. It is an outward journey, from our homes and families and familiar things, to the centre of Islam; it is also an inward

Hajj is the response to Allah’s call. His invitation to visit His House, at least once before we die. It is also the fulfillment of a promise that we all make. Every time we recite our KalimahShahaada, and we say “…

Wahajjulbayt,manistata‘ailayhisabeelaa…

journey, to find our own centre.

The outward journey to reach the Ka’abah in Makkah helps us to meet our Muslim brothers and sisters, from around the world. It must also be our inward journey, to reach the Ka’abah of our own heart and own soul. Here we need to reflect, to take stock of ourselves.

Where have we come from, and where are we going? What have we done with our lives? How have we used the health, education, wealth and opportunities, which Allah has provided for our benefit? We ask these questions at every level, but most importantly, at the spiritual level. Where have we come from, and where are we going?

The answer comes from deep within the innermost chambers of the heart, from within the deepest depths of the soul; in the words of the Noble Qur’an: “Innalillahiwainnailayhirraajiu un”.“From Allah we come, and to Him is our return.”

That is it! What could be simpler, more profound, and more complete! Our origin is from Allah, and our destiny is to return to Him. About that we have no choice. But how will we return? Will we return to him, eagerly, willingly, excited to meet with our lord, or will we return kicking and screaming, our hearts filled with dread, heavy with guilt and remorse? Will we return in a manner that pleases Allah, or Contd on Page 17

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