Friday, January 16, 2015. Edition.

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Friday, January 16, 2015 Rabiul Al-Awwal 25, 1436 AH

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N150 Vol. 15 No. 37

US, UK in fresh move to deal with Boko Haram l Accuse sect of “crime against humanity”

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi with agency report

U

S Secretary of State John Kerry has said he and his British counterpart

are discussing a special initiative to deal with the Boko Haram extremist group in Nigeria and its

neighbors.

Speaking in the Bulgarian capital on Thursday, Kerry

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

said Boko Haram is “without question one of the most evil and threatening terrorist entities on

the planet.” He says their recent attacks in Nigeria’s north is a “crime against humanity” and

Nyusi takes over as new Mozambique President

>> page 3

L-R: Yobe state Governor, Malam Ibrahim Gaidam, in a handshake with Senator Ikechukwu Godson Abana, who was Chief launcher at the fund raising dinner for the re-election of the governor organised by the Ibrahim Gaidam Campaign Organisation, yesterday at Government House, in Damaturu.

Jonathan visits Maiduguri, 30 days to election l Commends troops, mum on abducted Chibok girls Temporary voters card will aid rigging, says APC >> page 4

President’s impeachment list missing in Reps >> page 3

>> page 2

IG orders AIGs, CPs to secure police arms >> page 2

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015

PAGE 2

News CONTENTS News 2-11 Editorial 13 Op.Ed 14 Letters 15 Politics 16-18 Business 19-22 Stockwatch 23 S/Report 24-25 Int’l 27-31

Jonathan wasting Nigeria resources - Tinubu – Page 16

Vogue 32-33 Feature 34 Digest 36 Metro 37 Newsxtra

39

Sports 41 Columnist 48

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Jonathan visits Maiduguri, 30 days to election From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri & lengnan Dapam

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday undertook a surprise visit to Maiduguri on the occasion of Nigeria’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day to meet with officers and men of the Armed Forces currently in the frontline of the war against terrorism and insurgency in the country.

This is the first time the President visited the troubled area since insurgency reared its ugly head in the north eastern part of the country. Precisely, the last time the President visited the state was in March 2013, where held a town hall meeting with members of the Borno Elders Forum and other stakeholders on how to tackle the Boko Haram insurgency.

Also, in the wake of the abduction of over 200 Chibok schoolgirls from Federal Government Secondary School Chibok, the President did not make any effort to visit the area.

The girls have so far spent 277 days in the enemy’s camp.

In yesterday’s visit Jonathan, who was accompanied by all the service chiefs, arrived Maiduguri International Airport accompanied by two other military aircrafts at exactly 3pm.

He was received by the state governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima and few other officials of the Borno state government.

The reception at the airport was low-key as there was no political coloration even as the Minister of States for Power, Barrister Muhammed Wakil and other top PDP big shots who were in town since Monday were all conspicuously absent.

From the airport, the president

was driven straight to Maimalari Barracks where he addressed troops of the Nigeria Army.

At the barracks President Jonathan told troops that he was visiting them as part of the activities mapped out for him in respect of the armed forces remembrance day even as he commended their gallantry and patriotism by standing their grounds to confront the Boko Haram insurgency.

Jonathan assured the troops that their welfare would be better taken care of.

He said the federal government acknowledged the troops efforts at combating the Boko Haram insurgency, even as he assured them that better motivations have been approved for the soldiers to enable them “crush the insurgents once and for all”.

The president also visited some of the injured soldiers at the military hospital within the barracks where he had a brief chat with soldiers behind closed doors.

Journalists were barred from covering what transpired within the hospital.

From the airport, the president was driven to the IDP camp at the Ali Monguno Teachers Village Housing estate along the way to the airport where he met and sympathised with the displaced persons from Baga town.

He assured the IDPs that the federal government will ensure that they return to their homes very soon as federal troops are working round the clock to ensure that the towns under the control of Boko Haram are reclaimed Jonathan whose speech at the IDP camp was translated by the Director General of National Emergency Management Agency, (NEMA), Mohamed Sani Sidi said: “The federal government is

very much concerned about your situation here and I assure you all that very soon you will all return back to your homes in Bama, Gubio, Ngala and Baga.

Goodluck Jonathan left the IDP camp for the airport where he boarded his aircraft that took off at about 6:20pm.

However, the president did not make any statement about the plight of the Chibok schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram members 277 days ago, neither did he give any word about prospects of their release or what the government is doing to reunite them with their families.

Throughout the president’s three hours visit in Maiduguri, traffic activities were halted as soldiers barricaded all roads linking the major township roads that the motorcade of the president passed through.

Meanwhile, a statement issued by the Special Adviser

to the President on Media & Publicity, Reuben Abati, said the President thanked the Red Cross and other international organizations who have been assisting in the provision of relief materials to the displaced persons.

He also charged local, state and federal government officials to work with greater harmony and cooperation in rendering support to the displaced persons.

“I do not want to be hearing conflicting reports on support being given to them. Government is one and we must all work together to assist our people whenever the need arises.

“We must cooperate maximally and work together at the local government, state and federal levels to ensure that our people who are unfortunately displaced from their homes get the best possible treatment,” President Jonathan said.

IG orders AIGs, CPs to secure police arms, ammunition

T

he Inspector-General of Police, Mr Suleiman Abba, has again ordered commanding officers nationwide to take measures to secure arms and ammunition at police commands, formations and units nationwide.

Abba, in a statement issued by the force spokesman, Mr Emmanuel Ojukwu, on Thursday ordered Zonal Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and Commissioners of Police in charge of the states to ensure this.

He said such measures became imperative to ward off possible attempt by hoodlums or men of the underworld to attack police stations and other installations.

He further directed the

commissioners to beef up security at banks within their jurisdictions and collaborate with the banks’ authorities and officials to secure their premises.

Abba urged the public to collaborate with the force in its determined efforts to stamp out crimes and ensure the safety of all Nigerians and foreigners alike to enable them go about their normal businesses.

It will be recalled that the I-G, in 2014, ordered an audit of police armouries nationwide with a view to securing arms and ammunition.

It will also be recalled that the I-G said the measure was to provide safety and security in all communities across the nation.

US, UK plan initiative to deal with Boko Haram Contd from Page 1 must be addressed.

Kerry said that during breakfast in Sofia with British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, they had talked about setting up a new initiative to address Boko Haram and the situation in Nigeria. He did not elaborate on the idea.

The rights group Amnesty International said Thursday that the recent attacks by the radical Islamist group may have killed many more people than the Nigerian government said.

The government said about 150 people were killed in attacks that started in Baga in the northeast on January 3, downplaying reports that put the death toll at 2,000.

However, satellite images published by Amnesty showed that the neighboring towns of Baga or Doron Baga were largely destroyed, with more than 3,700

structures damaged or burned down.

“These detailed images show devastation of catastrophic proportions in two towns,” with Doron Baga almost completely wiped off the map, said Daniel Eyre, a Nigeria researcher with Amnesty.

Interviews with witnesses, officials and human rights activists suggest that Boko Haram shot hundreds of civilians.

“There were bodies everywhere we looked,” one woman told the rights group. Another witness said the insurgents killed even small children and a woman who was in labor.

Eyre said the images suggested a “much higher” death toll than that given by the Nigerian government. The attacks sent thousands of people fleeing to neighboring countries.

Also yesterday another UN official said the four African nations most threatened by Boko

Haram must put aside mutual distrust and agree on a command structure and strategy for a fledgling regional force if they want to defeat the militants.

Mohamed Ibn Chambas, U.N. Special Representative for West Africa, said the international community could only help Nigeria and neighboring Niger, Chad and Cameroon once they clearly laid out the assets they lacked to fight Boko Haram.

“It is clear now that the countries should not be left to tackle it individually. That has been the approach so far and it is not winning the fight,” Chambas told Reuters.

He said it was up to the four states bordering Lake Chad to draw up better coordinated plans.

He called for a clearer command structure and rules of engagement, amid resistance from some countries to see their troops deploy outside their borders under foreign

command.

“They have not been able to agree the idea of joint operations and right of hot pursuit, which is very, very crucial in fighting a movement like Boko Haram which can engage in battle in one country and then run into another,” he said.

Chambas said defense and foreign ministers due to meet in Niger on Tuesday will have to agree on tough issues such as the ground rules and leadership of the regional military response.

“The challenge is to have the political will to agree and come to an understanding,” he said.

Chambas said outside help would be needed for some specific capabilities but the priority was for regional armies to identify what they could put forward.

“It shouldn’t be a problem of numbers of troops. They should be able to mobilize the troops in the first instance.”

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015

News

By Umar Muhammad Puma

I

ndications have emerged that the plot to impeach President Goodluck Jonathan by the House of Representatives has again suffered a setback following alleged disappearance of the purported list of the lawmakers’ signatures meant to impeach the President.

People’s Daily had earlier reported last year that the number of lawmakers that signed to support the plot to oust President Jonathan had risen to 174, about the two third number required by law to effect the impeachment.

The plot started as a reaction to the alleged growing impunity by the Federal Government following an incident that took place at the National Assembly, where lawmakers were tear gassed by the police who also barred the Speaker Aminu Tambuwal from entering the chambers.

A lawmaker who spoke on condition of anonymity said he was surprise that upon resumption from Christmas and New Year break, he was unable to find the impeachment list of signatures he initiated, even after asking for it.

“Initially I was the one that initiated the impeachment list so that members who were in support of it could sign, but surprisingly when we came back from break, that list was nowhere to be found. And even when I asked for it to be returned to me, I couldn’t see it up till now,” he said.

Asked why the impeachment move now, when elections are only a few weeks away, he said the President has committed impeachable offenses in the past. The lawmaker said the House has long before the issue of Tambuwal been

President’s impeachment list missing in House of Reps

collecting signatures, but it was only heightened because of the despicable treatment of the lawmakers by the police, allegedly at the instance of the president..

Also reacting Rep Ali Ahmad (APC Kwara), however dismissed the allegation that the House has abandoned the impeachment proceeding against the President, saying the move is still on course and that the lawmakers are determined to execute it.

“Just because we have not officially brought the matter before the House does not mean that the matter is dead. We are very much on course especially now that he (Jonathan), now has minority in the House, the impeachment is going to be much more easier now than before,” he said.

When asked whether it not be better to shelve their plan now that the House is on break and will not resume till after elections, he replied, “what matters to us is certain provision of the constitution was breached. We don’t care whether he wins or loses the election, we are not backing down. The impeachment itself has a life of its own”, he said.

“I want to assure you that we are committed to it this time around and no amount of blackmail or intimidation would cow us to abdicate our constitutional responsibility which we signed with our employers the (Nigerian people) to stand firm and protect their interest. What is more interesting is that majority

Army Remembrance Day: Jonathan, others honour fallen heroes

By Lawrence Olaoye

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday led leaders of the legislature, judiciary, military and para-military Organisations to honour the nation’s fallen heroes.

The President, alongside others, laid wreaths in honour of the fallen heroes at the National Arcade, Abuja.

The event with the theme “Appreciating the The Nigerian Armed Forces”, started with the arrival of the President, who is also the Grand Patron of the Nigerian Legion.

Jonathan was treated to a general salute, rendition of the National Anthem and inspection of parade.

Prayers were offered for the repose of the souls of departed

PAGE 3

heroes and for peace, security and unity of the nation by Christian and Muslim clerics.

Shortly after the prayers, the president laid a wreath, followed

by Vice-President Namadi Sambo, the Senate President, Sen. David Mark, and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha among others.

After the wreath laying, military and para-military men on parade fired guns shots and saluted.

The president thereafter released white pigeons, which signifies freedom, unity, peace and harmony for the country and also signed the register.

The annual ceremony was held to honour and remember fallen heroes who sacrificed their lives for the freedom and unity of the country.

of the lawmakers that signed the impeachment notice were members of the PDP. Reacting, House Deputy Minority Leader, Rep Leo Ogor (PDP Delta) said “If for any reason anybody wants to talk about impeachment, that person should come out and address the issue. But I can tell you categorically that an attempt to raise the issue of impeachment in respect of the House, it’s going be a very difficult one because the President has not committed any offence against anybody in that House neither has he violated any constitutional

provision.

“The issue of impeachment is inconsequential because he who is alleging must be ready to prove. You can’t just come and say you want to impeach without having anything to prove against the President.

As far as I’m concerned, its inconsequential, it has nothing to do under the subject matter.

Meanwhile, efforts to reach the spokesman of the House Rep Zakari Mohammed failed as at the time of filling in this report. All his mobile phone numbers were switched off and his deputy, Rep Afarm Ogene could not retun his call or reply

to our text massage.

Section 143 (1) of the constitution stipulates that the President or Vice President may be removed from office in accordance with the provision of this section (2) whatever a notice of any allegation in writing by not less than onethird of the members of the National Assembly is presented to the President of the Senate starting that the holder of the office of Preside nt or Vice President is guilty of gross misconduct in the performance of the functions of his office detailed particulars shall be specified.

President Goodluck Jonathan laying a wreath, during the 2015 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration, yesterday Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

Nyusi takes over as new Mozambique president

By Eveltn Okakwu with agency report

F

ilipe Nyusi was sworn in as Mozambique’s new president on Thursday following his election victory last October, promising to modernise the economy and maintain peace in the east African state.

Opposition leader Afonso Dhlakama, whose Renamo party says last year’s vote was fraudulent, boycotted the ceremony. Earlier this month, the former civil war rebel chief

threatened to split the country in two because of the election row.

Renamo fought a 16-year civil war against Nyusi’s Frelimo movement before signing a peace deal in 1992, with the former Portuguese colony now looking to escape years of poverty by tapping into its huge energy resources.

“Mozambicans will never, ever fear the menace of arms,” Nyusi said on Thursday, alluding to tensions between the Frelimo and Renamo groups. “I assume the presidency willing and

available listen to all parties and the people.”

Mozambique sits on large coal fields and has off-shore energy reserves. But it is among the world’s least developed nations, with the majority of its more than 25 million people living in poverty.

Nyusi, 56, said he would ensure exploration and industrial activities were conducted in a “responsible and transparent manner, contributing to the expansion, transformation and modernisation of the economy”.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015

Page 4

News

Boko Haram ceasefire: Nigerians need explanation - APC Campaign

By Umar Muhammad Puma

T

he APC Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCPCO) has expressed concern over the collapse of the phantom ceasefire with the Boko Haram terrorists, which the Jonathan administration has declined to talk about , by pretending that the passage of time would automatically make the issue die a natural death.

A statement by the Directorate of Media and Publicity of the campaign and signed by Mallam Garba Shehu said that the Jonathan government got it wrong on the curious silence over the botched deal.

According to the statement, a democratic government should be open and accountable to the people, noting that accountability is the dividing line between a dictatorship and a democratic government, but the Jonathan administration is behaving as if it owes Nigerians no explanations over the failed ceasefire deal.

“For the sake of Nigerians who may have lost their recollection of

this epic national scandal called a “ceasefire deal” with Boko Haram, it is important to quote the government officials and remind them of the promises they made to free the Chibok girls under that phantom truce.

The statement read thus, “On October 17, 2014, the Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh excitedly told an expectant nation that a deal had been reached with Boko Haram, which included not only a ceasefire, but also the immediate release of the kidnapped Chibok girls within a week. He said: “…I wish to inform this audience that a ceasefire agreement has been concluded between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Ahlul Sunna Li Daawa Wal Jihad (Boko Haram).

I have accordingly directed the service chiefs to ensure immediate compliance with this development in the field.”

“A previously unknown man called Danladi Ahmadu was widely reported by the international media as being the contact person between Boko Haram, Chad and Nigeria. But within 24 hours,

the Boko Haram putative leader, Abubakar Shekau, released a video message through the French news agency (AFP), denying any ceasefire deal and repudiated Danladi Ahmadu, the so-called Boko Haram representative at the ceasefire talks.

“Ironically, while Air Marshal Badeh was directing service chiefs to enforce the “ceasefire immediately”, the Boko Haram terrorists launched simultaneous attacks on towns and villages, including Badeh’s hometown.

The Boko Haram had not only discredited the “ceasefire”, but also vowed to continue their terrorist campaigns.

“This purported “ceasefire” had brought instant ray of hope to the families of the Chibok girls, currently being held hostage by the terrorists. Sadly, their hope had evaporated after it became evident that the “ceasefire” was a hoax after all. There were also reports that Nigeria had lost millions of dollars to the fake peace deal.

“What is more shocking, however, is that since the collapse

of the so-called truce with Boko Haram, the federal government has maintained sealed lips, despite repeated reports that Nigeria had been conned into the “ceasefire” deal.

“Rather than coming clean to tell Nigerians what happened, the Jonathan administration feels it owes the citizens no explanations.

Is this the character of a democratic government? Why the government did announce a unilateral ceasefire without any assurance of the workability of the deal (if it had ever existed)?

Does the government think the issue will die a natural death with the passage of time, hoping that the citizens don’t have the right to know? Should a democratic government be run like a cult when matters of public importance are shrouded in secrecy? Does greeting every issue of public importance, including the missing $50 billion and the millions of dollars allegedly lost to fake ceasefire deal with deliberate silence reflects the character of a serious and accountable government?”

L-R: Members Presidential Committee on the Review of the National Defence Policy, Ambassador Zango Addu, Hajiya Rabi Ishak, Major-General John Nwaoga, and Chairman of the Committee, Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Umaru, during a news conference on the activities of the committee, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: NAN

Temporary voter cards will aid rigging – APC

By Ali Abare Abubakar

T

he All Progressives Congress (APC) has decried calls for the use of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) temporary voter cards in the scheduled general election.

The APC through its national publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said there is no

going back on the use of the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) as according to him, that is the only way to check rigging.

Mohammed said this while delivering a speech yesterday at a two-day conference on Nigeria 2015 elections and beyond, organized by the Savannah Centre and the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

He said it is unacceptable to the APC for INEC to revert to the use of the temporary voter cards in the coming election, stressing that the action will open another gate for election rigging.

“Card readers must be used against allegations of buying and selling of voter cards” he said.

On the fate of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the three most affected states

of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, the APC national publicity secretary, said INEC must ensure that election takes place there.

Lai Mohammed however lamented that as long as agencies of government, particularly security agencies fail to observe strict neutrality, there is the tendency for elections to be marred.

Defence policy review committee set for public presentation

By Joy Baba Yesufu

T

he Chairman of the Presidential Committee set up to review the National Defence Policy, AVM Mohammed Umaru, has said the committee is set to hold public presentations in three states of the country.

Umaru stated this yesterday in Abuja while addressing journalist saying that the public presentation will hold in Lagos, Kaduna and Enugu states simultaneously from January 21-22, 2015.

Umaru and his 35-man committee members said the decision to make it a public hearing was borne out of the desire to involve as many Nigerians as possible to make contributions to the policy.

According to him “In order to draw up a robust draft report, the committee has scheduled public presentations to hold simultaneously in Kaduna, Enugu and Lagos from January 21-22, 2015.

“Papers on different topics will be presented by experts and members of the public will have the opportunity to contribute.

“The National Defence Policy provides general guidelines for the employment of the Armed Forces and deployment of national resources to secure Nigerian citizens, maintain the country’s territorial integrity, protect her from external aggression and facilitate the achievement of her national interest.

“The current National Defence Policy was promulgated in 2006 and since then, the nation has undergone a lot of transformation in terms of development as well as security challenges.

“There are also new developments and challenges in the global environment that have direct impact on our security and national defence.

These challenges highlight the need for the review of the National Defence Policy in order to address the new developments and emerging threats.”

It would be recalled that President, Goodluck Jonathan, had on November 20, 2014 inaugurated a committee to review the National Defence Policy to make response to the current security issues.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015

Page 5

News

Love Scam: American victim lauds EFCC

By Joy Baba Yesufu

T

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has been commended for helping to recover $2000 for an American victim of love scam, Margaret Sanders, just as the agency announce the recovery of $23,886 for another victim.

This was contained in a statement signed by the commission’s head of media and publicity Wilson Uwujaren in Abuja.

The statement said Sanders, who lives in Sherman, Texas, made the commendation after she was presented with a cheque for the sum by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI. Uwujaren said she expressed delight at the professionalism demonstrated by the Nigerian agency in helping to recover the money which she thought she had lost to the scammer.

The FBI agent who made the presentation lauded the cooperation with the EFCC, while explaining that the FBI only facilitated the repatriation of the money after it was recovered by the EFCC. “Sanders met a suspected Nigerian fraudster, Benjamin Akugbe, online and fell in love with him. The scammer who claimed to be Benny Brown from Warri, Delta State, promised her marriage, and requested for the sum of $2000.00USD to enable him join her in United States of America.

“The money was wired to him through Western Union, into an account with the name, Gladys

… Agency recovers $23,886 for another victim

Ikpoba domiciled with a new generation bank.

“After an endless wait for the fiancé, Sanders came to the sad realisation that she had been duped. But her efforts to recover the money were unsuccessful until she petitioned the EFCC. “The latest recovery of $23,886 by the Commission was made in similar circumstances, for Jolanta Kasza, an American based in New York. She was fleeced of $64,000 by a suspected Nigerian Fraudster, Ndekwu Jindu (aka Dr. Daniel Coffman ) in a romance scam.

“Kasza allegedly met Coffman online in June 2012, and the fraudster introduced himself as self employed Caucasian pharmacist.

“Impressed by the profile, Kasza “fell in love” with both agreeing to get married”, Uwujaren said.

Kasza said in the course of the affair, the suspect at different times requested for money under various guise. Before she realised that she was dealing with a con artist, she had lost $64,000 USD to the fraudster.

She consequently petitioned the EFCC, which through discreet investigation recovered $23,886 USD. The statement further said the agency is in the process of repatriating the fund to the victim.

In a related development, EFCC said has arrested three suspected internet fraudsters in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

The suspects, Okpekereke Timothy, Stanley Odjighere, and Teminor Karo are said to be a part of a syndicate arrested over allegations of conspiracy, internet scam and stealing from one of the new generation banks to the

tune of N806, 208,000.00 (Eight Hundred and Six Million Two Hundred and Eight Thousand Naira).

A statement signed by the commission’s head of media and publicity, Wilson Uwujaren said Forty others are still at large saying that the theft was perpetrated through a system glitch linked to the fraudsters, in which the bank suffered a huge loss of more than N806, 208,000.

The statement further said the petitioner, who works in one of the new generation banks, alleged that a review of transactions involving the bank with Interswitch Nigeria limited revealed that the bank was not reimbursed for the transactions consummated on ATM terminals.

According to the statement “he observed that while many of the transactions involved were

failed transactions, the amounts involved were not reversed, and all the customers were seen to have withdrawn the cash amounting to the sum, on each day of the occasion it happened.

“The EFCC has so far confiscated the following properties, which are proceeds of the crime from the suspects who are all within the SouthSouth zone: one uncompleted 59room self contain hostel, a twin bungalow in Oghara, Delta State, one uncompleted hotel project, one bungalow with a swimming pool in Ughelli, a bungalow in Agbaro , one Toyota Venza 2010 model, two Toyota Solara cars 2010 model, two Toyota Camry cars, 2010 model and two Honda Accord cars, 2005 model”.

The statement added that the suspects would be arraigned in court as soon as investigations are completed

Measles outbreak hit IDPs’ camps in Adamawa

By Doyin Ojosipe with agency report

T

he Adamawa Government has on Thursday confirmed the outbreak of measles in some Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in the state.

Mr Haruna Furo, the Executive Secretary, Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency, confirmed the development to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola.

Furo, however, said that there was no death recorded.

“There is outbreak of measles not just in the IDPs camps, but also within the community,” said the scribe.

He listed the affected camps as the NYSC Camp at Bajabure, Girei and Malkohi camps in Girei and Yola North local government areas, respectively.

He attributed the outbreak to the daily mass movement and influx of new IDPs from Borno and Cameroon mountains into the various camps across the state.

He assured that the cases were not beyond the medical team in the camps saying that the agency was yet to ascertain the exact number of the affected persons.

L-R: Vice-President, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Comrade Issac Achem, NUT National President, Comrade Michael Alogba, and Secretary General, Obong Ikpe Johnny Obong, during NUT 2014 solemn assembly and prayer session, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

APC hails Nigerian military’s sacrifice

By Umar Muhammad Puma

T

he All Progressives Congress (APC) has hailed the invaluable sacrifice of the Nigerian military in keeping the country safe and united in the face of unprecedented forces tugging at the very core of its existence.

In a statement in Abuja yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed,

to mark the 2015 Armed Forces Remembrance Day, the party said Nigerians owe the gallant men and women of the Nigerian military a debt of gratitude for their courage, perseverance and sacrifice in defence of all that Nigerians hold dear.

It called on all Nigerians to show their unalloyed gratitude to the men and women in uniform by supporting them unconditionally

in their ongoing fight against terror, and also by remembering those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defence of their fatherland.

The party said in view of its all-important role in ensuring the security and unity of the nation, the military must always be above the fray, and must never be compromised by partisans.

‘’Never must this critical national institution allow itself to be compromised on the altar of politics. Never must it be dragged into the mud of unbridled partisanship, and never must it be used against the corporate interest of the nation.

Its important stabilising role must be respected at all times, even as it has subjugated itself to the tenets of democracy,’’ it said

Masari insists on public servant’s children attending public schools

From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

A

ll Progressive Congress, APC gubernatorial candidate in Katsina State, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari has vowed that public servants including himself must send

their children to public schools if he wins the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state.

Masari stated this yesterday in Katsina while inaugurating three committees, the committees of water resources, health and energy to advise him on what to present to the public as his

proposed master plan in these areas for electorates in the state.

He added “we are all beneficiaries of a sound public school system in the past. The system of education in Katsina state has collapsed and the only way to revive it is for the leaders to have their children attending

these schools”.

The gubernatorial candidate further decried the dearth of teachers in critical subjects in these public schools in Katsina state, arguing that in Katsina state only structures exist in some areas without personnel to man them.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015

PAGE 6

News

Senator Gaya K frees 96 prisoners

KADPOLY matriculates 11,485 new students

From Edwin Olofu, Kano

S

enator Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya, representing Kano South Senatorial District, said he has secured the release of ninety six prisoners in his senatorial zone.

Gaya, who is the chairman senate committee on local government, made the disclosure at a meeting with journalists tagged

NUJ Platform, at the NUJ press centre in Kano state yesterday.

He said the inmates were released from various prisons across the senatorial district after settling their fines amounting to N600,000.

According to him, “Part of my project is touching the lives of the less privileged positively. It is at this juncture that I wish to tell you that I secured the release

of 96 inmates from various prisons across my senatorial zone. You will be surprised to know that some of the inmates were fined not less than N5, 000 but could not pay due to the current economic situation in the country.”

“When I got to know about the situation, I set up a committee recently which came up with the names of the 96 inmates who were

languishing in the prisons because they could not pay the fine,” he said.

The senator added that the beneficiaries had since been released and reunited with their families.

Gaya also appealed to all Nigerians to come out en mass and vote the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the forthcoming general elections in the country.

L-R: NEMA Director, Disaster Risk Reduction, Alhassan Nuhu, NEMA Director Search and Rescue, Air Commander Charles Otegbade, and Coordinator, National Information Centre (NIC), Mr. Mike Omeri, briefing journalists on the state of the nation, yesterday in Abuja.

Katsina diabetic patients decry non-availability of drugs From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

Photo: Justin ImoOwo

Again, Presidency withdraws MTEF from National Assembly

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

F

or the third time, the Presidency has withdrawn the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Strategy Policy (SP) Paper from the National Assembly yesterday, following the dwindling price of the crude oil at the international market, it was reliably gathered.

The MTEF is the foundations on which the budget is built and

its withdrawal would enable the Federal Government adjust the oil benchmark so as to reflect the current realities in the new MTEF/Strategy Policy Paper to be presented to the National Assembly.

The dwindling oil price has pressured Federal Government oil revenue, forcing it into adopting austerity measures last year.

The withdrawal will once again delay the 2015 budget which Nigerians had doubt of its quality

due to the electioneering for 2015 elections that is taking its toll on legislative duties and executive functions.

However, the N4.357 trillion budget proposal scaled through second reading on the floor of the House of Representatives and was referred to the House Committees on Appropriation, Finance and other standing committees for further legislative input.

These committees are expected

to engage the ministry, departments and agencies from next week for the defense of their budgetary proposals.

In the bid to shore-up revenue for the year 2015, the lawmakers urged the Federal Government to increase revenue from non-oil sector and financial institutions to release funds to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the bid to boost the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Charlie Hebdo massacre avoidable-Council of Ulamas

By Doyin Ojosipe

K

aduna State Council of Imams and Ulamas has said that the recent Charlie Hebdo massacre would have been avoided if the French Government had risen up to its responsibility by calling to order the publisher of the magazine.

The clerics stated this during a press conference held at the Council secretariat in Kaduna yesterday.

The conference jointly addressed by Sheik Abubakar

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna aduna state Polytechnic yesterday admitted 11,485 out of 25,597 applicants who expressed interest to pursue their academic programmes in the institution.

The Rector of the institution, Dr Mohammed Bello Ibrahim, made this known while delivering a speech at the matriculation ceremony for newly admitted students for 2014/2015 academic session.

According to him, the institution has over the years, provided needed platform for the provision of excellent education, boasting that its products were found in allpartsoftheworld,manningrespectable strategic positions in their places of work.

To the matriculating students, he said, “Gaining admission into Kaduna Polytechnic afford you several opportunities to achieve greater heights in the future if only you choose to humble yourself by studying hard and be obedienttoyourlecturersandconstituted authorities in the institution.

“Be very careful and be on your guard in all that you do in order to earn your certificate peacefully and safely. Develop the right attitude from today as you are not as free as you may think after all,” he advised.

He however submitted that the management of the institution would do its utmost best to provide a conducive academic and social environment to help the students maximize their potentials.

Baba Tuni and Mallam Yusuf Yakubu Arrigasiyyu, Chairman and Secretary respectively, added that the inability of all right thinking people to persuade the publisher of the magazine to desist from such blasphemous publication perhaps triggered the attack.

“If the sensitivity of adherence to other religion was taken into account, the attack could have been avoided.

“We think, it is high time for the Western World to redefine the meaning of freedom of speech and

expression especially as it affects religious matters.”

The council condemned the Publishers of the magazine, the French people and their political leadership for their insensitivity and lack of diplomatic maturity in handling sensitive issues bordering on sacrilegious desecration of the Prophet of Allah. .

“The statement made by the Prime Minister, Manuel Vall where he said his country is at war with extremism and terrorism, but not Muslims, is a face saving

because their recent action in supporting the publication means that the French Government supported the publication of the Magazine in which Charlie Hebdo defamed the honour and integrity of the noble Prophet Muhammad (SAW) had contradicted his statement and exposed their hidden agenda” The council however called on Muslim Ummah to remain calm and not to take the law into their hands as Allah (SAW) has million ways to deal with all those that transgresses.

T

he Chairman, Diabetes Association of Nigeria (DAN), Katsina State, Sa’in Katsina, Alhaji Ahmadu NaFuntua, has urged the state government to assist diabetic patients with drugs.

Na-Funtua made the call yesterday in Katsina at the commemoration of World Diabetic Day, 2014/2015.

He said that the call has become necessary considering the increasing rate of people being contracted with the disease on daily basis.

Na-Funtua said most of the people who tested positive to diabetic were poor and cannot afford medication and balanced diet. ‘’I am calling on the government and wealthy individuals to come to our aid with drugs, we need free medicine by the government,’’ he said.

He urged the patients to always abide by the instructions given to them by health experts on the disease for them to continue to live longer, “Every ailment has cure except death,’’ he said.

In his remark, the GeneralManager, Katsina State Hospital Services Management Board, Dr Kabir Dara, said the disease was cause by a heredity factor.

Dara, who was represented by Hajiya Uwani Muhammad, said that diabetes symptoms included frequent urinating, excessive water drinking, loss of body weight and weakness.

He, therefore, advised patients to always eat balanced diet, vegetables, exercise their body on regular basis and take drugs regularly.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015

Page 7

News

Man seeks dissolution of 18year old marriage over wife’s maltreatment of step children

A

Sokoto state Governor, Alhaji Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, releasing pigeons to commemorate 2015 Armed Forces Remembrance Day, yesterday in Sokoto.

Photo: NAN

Anonymous caller to return 2052 stolen PVC’s in Edo

From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

I

ndependent National Electoral commission (INEC), is set to reclaim a total of 2052 permanent voters card (PVC) snatched by suspected hoodlums during the last Registration exercise in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo state.

The figure however falls short of 2,606 PVC’s out of a total of 4,658 snatched PVC’s which were unaccounted for by the commission as at last year.

State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Barrister Mike Igini dropped the hint on Wednesday at an interactive

session with leaders of registered political parties in the state at the commission’s headquarters.

Igini said he received the “good news from anonymous caller’’ on his mobile phone to welcome him back home (Edo state), shortly after his submission on the consequences of the awful act at a similar stakeholders forum put together by the state police command headquarters on Tuesday.

He affirmed that the PVC’s were stolen in some parts of the state, including Orhionmwon, Akoko-Edo, Egor, Etsako West, Oredo, Owan East and Ovia North East Local Government Areas.

“The PVC’s are intact…that is the good news. That call was received from an anonymous caller in Orhionmwon’’, according to the commissioner who warned those that fail to return the remaining PVC’s in their possession ``will not participate in February elections’’ under his watch.

He noted that the state headquarters of INEC has received 1, 535,84 PVC’s, while 1, 791,433 are expected to vote in Edo state in the 2015 elections as couched in INEC voters Register.

The figure over 200, 000 higher than a total of 1.5 million Registered voters in the state

in the 2011 general elections, according to him.

He clarified that the commission would begin another round of collection of the remaining 24, 000 PVC’s which are yet to be collected by eligible voters.

Besides, a total of 935, 672 PVC’s already distributed in the state by INEC. The three days distribution exercise has been schedule to begin on Saturday 17th January this year across the 18 Local Government headquarters of INEC in the state, according to him.

He said elections will hold at 2,627 polling units in the state.

Kidnapped pregnant wife rescued by NSCDC in Jigawa From Mustapha Adamu, Jigawa

A

30-year old pregnant wife, Suwaiba Adili of Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, has been rescued from the hand of kidnappers by officials of Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) in Jigawa State.

The state’s commandant of NSCDC, Dr. Muhammad Gidado Fari, said the victim was kidnapped by unknown bandit while travelling from Kebbi State to visit a relative being hospitalised at Usman Danfodio University Teaching Hospital in Sokoto State.

According to him, the woman was intercepted in Gumel local government area of the state when his men on patrol suspected the car she was abducted into and trailed it on the highway, adding

that the kidnappers, realising that they were being trailed by the corps, quickly dropped her and flee.

Dr. Muhammad further said that the devastated pregnant wife was taken to the state’s command after she was freed, adding that it was at the station that she

regained consciousness and narrated how she was abducted.

He stated that the mystery behind the abduction is yet to be ascertained, noting that the motive might be on ritual mission.

The commandant added that the victim had since been reunited with her relatives after they

were contacted through her phone.

He also called on the general public in the state to monitor movements of their loved ones to avoid being kidnapped by unscrupulous groups especially as the election period is being approached.

Kaduna NDLEA arrests 346 drug dealers, seizes drugs

T

he National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Kaduna State Command, has in 2014 arrested 346 suspected drug traffickers and seized 6,366.906kg of substances.

The NDLEA Commandant in the state, Mr Samuel Azike, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Kaduna.

Azike said the agency had also secured 149 convictions and

impounded 11 vehicles within the period under review.

He said the substances seized are; 6,288.94kg of Cannabis; 0.009kg of Heroin; 86.118kg of psychotropic substances and 0.016kg of cocaine.

He said the command had also destroyed a half hectare of cannabis farm at Sabon Garin Aamu in Kauru Local Government Area.

The commandant further said that 143 drug addicts had been

rehabilitated by the agency’s Drug Demand Reduction Unit (DDRU).

He said the command would intensify sensitisation campaign against the use, hawking and dealing in illicit drugs to save the public from its harmful effects.

He called on the state and local governments, traditional rulers, community and religious leaders, among others, to support the agency in the fight against drug abuse.

5 5 - y e a r - o l d businessman, Saliu Adesokan, on Thursday pleaded with an Igando Customary in Lagos to dissolve his 18-year-old marriage over wife’s maltreatment of her stepchildren.

He told the court that his wife, Jumoke, detested his children from another woman that she always handled them in a rough and cruel way.

“My wife always maltreats my children; she hates them to the extent that she only cooks for her children and refuses to give her stepchildren food.

“She promised to take care of them before I married her but she has refused to keep her vow.

“As a result of her frequent fighting and rivalry with them, I rented another apartment for my children but she still refused them to visit me.”

The petitioner described his wife as a proud and arrogant woman.

“My wife is so full of herself and arrogant, she does not respect me and she talks to my parents rudely.

“She does not wash my clothes, she will tell me to hire a house help, so I wash my clothes myself.”

He recalled that he sought the dissolution of the marriage in 2011 but because she was then pregnant, he withdrew the suit and also thought that she would change but she has remained adamant.

Saliu begged the court to separate them, that he was no longer interested in the union and that the love he had for her had faded.

Defending the allegations, Jumoke Adesokan, a 37-yearold trader, denied the allegation of maltreating her stepchildren.

She said that the children were too rude and troublesome and that one of them slapped her when she cautioned her.

“My husband’s daughter slapped me when I corrected her, she and her siblings always fight me.”

Jumoke said that it was her husband that asked her to stop washing his clothes.

She claimed that she used to cook for her husband and step children and that she always respected her husband and his parents.

The mother of two begged the court not to grant her husband’s wish as she was still in love with him.

The court president, Mr Ruphus Adeyeri adjourned the case till Jan.27, for judgement.

(NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015

PAGE 8

News

Immigration nabs Nigerien nationals with PVCs, other documents in Sokoto From Raji Bello, Sokoto

T

he Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Sokoto state Command has seized no fewer than 452 permanent voter and identity cards and birth certificates from some nationals of Niger republic.

The Controller of the Service in the state, Mr. Yunusa Aliyu disclosed this at a news briefing in Sokoto on Thursday.

Aliyu stated that out of the figure, 66 were permanent voter cards, 33 temporary voter cards, as well as 271 and 69 old and new national identification cards.

The rest of the seized national documents were one local government identification cards and 12 birth certificates.

Aliyu said that all the documents were seized by the officers attached to the Tureta checkpoint of the service along Sokoto -Gusau road.

The Controller said that these national documents which are supposed to be issued to only bonafide Nigerians were issued in other southern states of the country.

“This is because it is extremely difficult there to differentiate between the Hausas from the northern Nigeria and those from the neighbouring Niger Republic,” Aliyu, averred.

The controller promised that officers and men of the service in the command will continue to be diligent in the discharge of their responsibilities.

In a related development, some officers attached to the border guards units under the command had recently intercepted a stolen vehicle along the Tangaza-Balle road in the state.

According to Aliyu, “the suspected car snatchers were stopped for a routine search by the officers but they refused to stop and they fled.

“The officers consequently pursued them and they later abandoned the vehicle and fled, although no suspect was arrested,” he explained.

The controller stated that the vehicle had since been handed over to the state police command.

“The owner had also came to our command to claim the recovered vehicle but he was referred to the police command for proper identification and claim,’’ Aliyu, added.

R-L: Vice-President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, Senate President David Mark, Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, Minister of Defence, General Mohammed Aliyu Gusau, and FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, during the 2015 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

Gov Gaidam raises N495m for campaign From Uche Uche, Damaturu

O

ver N495 million was yesterday raised for the support of Governor (Dr.) Ibrahim Gaidam 2015 re-election campaign with the highest donation of N100 million coming from the chief launcher, Senator Ikechukwu Abana.

Speaking earlier, the

…Says N10bn spent on insurgency in Yobe

governor pointed out that the biggest campaign issue in the 2015 election in Yobe state would be about security of lives and properties which the federal government has failed to address leading to large lost of lives and properties in the state.

He also disclosed that the

state government has spent an accumulative sum of over N10 billion from the beginning of the insurgency to date,adding that the security challenges has slowed down the execution of government planned policies and programmes because funds that could have been used for the provision of social services

are being deployed to support the fight against insurgency.

He therefore called on the electorates to rise up and vote out the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) out of office in the center and vote in the All Progressive Congress (APC) at all elective posts from the local, state to the national level.

Nigeria.

Aliyu made this known in Minna yesterday after attending and laying wreath at the 123 Military cenotaphs as part of activities to mark this year’s armed forces remembrance day.

“The military should be placed on first line charge in the disbursement of money from the Federation Account; all this call for financial autonomy should

also affect the military”.

Governor Aliyu said Nigeria is the largest and most populous nation which requires a very strong and well equipped army force adding also that the country should adequately take care of its officers and men saying that when they are not well taken care of and equipped the country can run into problems.

He added that government at all levels must come to terms that the armed forces is a very important institution in the country, we should show reference to those who one way or the other have sacrificed their lives for the unity of the country’.

Aliyu also commended the gallantry of officers and men of

the armed forces in peace keeping operations across the globe and the fighting of insurgency in some parts of the country.

Governor Aliyu added that the accord between the presidential candidates of all the parties taking part in the February 2015 presidential election will stabilize democracy and assure Nigerians that all will be well before during and after the presidential election.

Earlier the Governor and other dignitaries among them the emir of Minna Dr Umar Farouq Bahago, the Commissioner of Police Mr Emmanuel Olusola Amore as well as Commanders of the various forces in the state had laid wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Gov. Aliyu calls for Military financial autonomy

From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

D

r Muazu Babangida Aliyu of Niger state has said that to avoid the poor equipping of the Nigerian Army and other forces, they should be given financial autonomy which will translate to availability of funds for the procurement of arms and ammunition for the forces in

Insecurity: IGP orders stern measures on security of arms, ammunition

By Joy Baba Yesufu

T

he Inspector General of Police, IGP Suleiman Abba, has ordered the Zonal Assistant Inspectors General of Police and Commissioners of Police at State Commands to take stern measures at securing arms and ammunition on hold to the Police at various departments and stations.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Ag. CP Emmanuel Ojukwu in Abuja.

The statement said this became imperative in a bid to ward off any likely or possible attempt by hoodlums or men of the underworld to attack Police stations and other installations.

Ojukwu in the statement recalled that the IGP had earlier

directed audit on Police Armouries nationwide with a view to securing the Police arms and ammunition and in tandem with the mission of the IGP to provide safety and security in Nigerian communities and controlling social order.

“The IGP, in addition, directed all Commissioners of Police at State Commands to beef up security at banks within their jurisdictions and further collaborate with bank authorities and officials to secure their premises” “He further enjoins the members of the public to remain steadfast in collaborating with officers and men of Nigeria Police Force to stamp out crimes, as the Police is determined to make the nation safe and secure for Nigerians and Foreigners to go about their normal businesses”, the statement added

Police deploy personnel in Makurdi for Today’s APC presidential rally

T

he Benue Police Command said it had deployed 16 truck-loads of personnel to beef-up security at the venue of Friday’s All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally in Makurdi.

ASP John Bako, the command’s Public Relations Officer, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Makurdi, that the large deployment of personnel was because of the anticipated crowd.

NAN reports that the rally holds at the IBB Stadium,

Makurdi.

Bako said the command had received an operational order for the enforcement of security at the rally, and assured of adequate protection of lives and property during the rally.

The police spokesman said that the command was expecting deployments from neighbouring states for support and to beef-up its personnel on ground.

Bako appealed to members of the public to refrain from acts that would jeopardise the security of the state. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015

Page 9

News Bauchi CP warns politicians against inflammatory statements, thuggery From Ahmed Kaigama,Bauchi

B

auchi State Police Commissioner, Lawal Shehu has warned politicians in the state to guard their utterances and conduct themselves for the success of free violence 2015 election.

Shehu made the warning at a CP’S Stakeholders meeting with political parties ,candidates and INEC representative yesterday in his office in Bauchi, saying that the warning became necessary as the 2015 general election is fast approaching According to him we have called for tolerance and issue base campaign , free of inciting and provocative utterances,He said “we want to make be sure of zero tolerance of thugs , thuggery and political violence before and after the el election, adding that

Police and other security agents were bent on ensuring violencefree election as well as deal with any politician whose utterances are capable of inciting violence.

“Let me sound a warning to our politicians to guard their utterance. They should always conduct themselves within the ambit of the law.”

The Bauchi CP, assured leaders of political parties in the State that

Police will give them a level playing ground to conduct their political parties without any interference.

“We appeal to our politicians to work hand in hand with all security agents for violence-free 2015 election. We will provide a level playing ground to all parties to conduct their political parties without any interference.”

Lawal Shehu also warned against destruction of bill boards

and posters of political parties and candidates, saying that will also bring disharmony among members of political parties and their supporters.

He charge politicians to give the police a 24 hours notification before organizing political rallies and campaign for effective security coverage “that will give way to any possible clash” he said Responding the Bauchi state

PDP Gubernatorial Candidate, Hon Auwal Mohammed Jatau pledged to caution all his supporters and party members against any conduct that will the election process Also responding the Bauchi south APC senatorial Candidate, Mallam Ali Wakili said they will abide by rules of the game and called on the police to be vigilante while carrying out their duties.

Avoid actions that can lead to war, Amosun urges Nigerians

From James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

G

overnor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State has called on all Nigerians to avoid actions that are capable of leading to war and other national disasters.

Amosun who made the call in his address delivered at the 2015 Armed Forces Remembrance Day held at Arcade Ground located within the Government Secretariat, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, noted that the celebration should not be seen as an annual ritual, but a solemn moment steeped in deep appreciation for men and women who gave their all for our nationhood.

“All Nigerians must demonstrate acts of patriotism at all times. Nigerians should love Nigeria and remember that we have no other place to call our home. Like the heroes that we are honouring today, we must be willing to give our all. Our diversity should be a source of strength rather than weakness.

Development is only possible in an atmosphere devoid of rancour and acrimony”.

He therefore urged Nigerians to continue to pray for peace, unity and progress in the country, to pray for the gallant men and women who laid their lives in the service of our country and to constantly remember the families they left behind who need to be cared and catered for.

“I appreciate the efforts of the Nigerian Legion in ensuring that the families the deceased officers left behind are well catered for”, pointing out that “we should not leave this responsibility to the Nigerian Legion alone, but it should be a collective debt we need to pay in the memory of the deceased”, Amosun said.

L-R: Deputy Rector (Academics), Federal Polytechnics, Oko, Mrs. Gladys Anene, Deputy Rector (Administration), Mr. Ejike Nwabuona, Rector, Professor Godwin Onu, and Director, Medical Services, Dr Ifeoma Monago, during inspection tour of the polytechnics’ Medical Centre, yesterday in Oko. Photo: NAN

Erosion disaster kills 10 in Delta

From Osa Eresoyen, Asaba

A

n Aged long gully erosion hitherto ravaging Boji-Boji Owa and its environs, in Ika North-East Local government area of Delta State has killed 10 persons in the last one month.

The erosion menace apart from killing some residents of the areas has also caved in several buildings and destroyed no fewer than 56 houses, especially as it measures over 65 meters deep and 50 meters wide that have left many family members to have deserted their houses.

Expectedly, investigation revealed that environmental problem at the various streets in the affected areas stemmed from the huge volume of running water from the adjoining streets, which terminated at the affected streets.

This development results in high pressure on the point which led to the washing away of the solid and the concrete drain that have given birth to the over 65 meters deep, 50 meters wide and 1.5km gully.

One of the affected persons, Mrs. Bosal Adube said in a tearful voice, adding “My house has caved in into the gully erosion, and a portion of it is also threatening to cave in and I

am still living in the remaining part which I access through the back because the front had since gone” While soliciting for the state government’s intervention, Hon. Edwin Ikeke Agidi a retired elderly civil servant who spoke to our correspondent on behalf of other affected persons said

the environmental disasters started from Midomer street and triangulated down Abraka road, adding that it had swept off the entire road, poles, tree including buildings as well as fast enlarging the deep cuts from the gully. According to him “The gully erosion started about 15

years ago, and residents of the affected area now has sleepless nights especially whenever it rains, it has thwarted several efforts put in place through communal efforts, the rampaging erosion has succesWsfully destroyed and eroded the drainage system constructed through communal efforts and if steps are not taken, it might wipe out the entire communities”

From Gambo Ahmed, Lafia

and Nasarawa while states like Adamawa, Plateau and Gombe would be the next batch.

Mrs. Yemisi Gabriel Susuwan explained that the forum identified the effort of their husbands to contribute to humanity over the unfortunate incidences in some states.

As according to her, the federal and the state governments alone cannot handle the issue of displaced persons without the contribution of other relevant stakeholders.

She further used the occasion to condole the government and people of Nasarawa state over the incessant killings in some parts of the state.

Receiving the items, Governor

Umaru Tanko Almakura told them that the state government has evolved a new strategy for conflict resolution to ensure peaceful co-existence amongst diverse ethnic groups in the state.

Almakura however commended the forum for their kind gesture and assured that by next week the state government would distribute building materials to those affected by the recent uprising.

Meanwhile the wife of Nasarawa state governor, Hajiya Salamatu Tanko Almakura applauded the people of the state for their effort to live peaceful with one another and appealed to them to maintain the culture.

Insurgency: Northern governor’s wives donate relief materials to victims

T

he Forum of Northern Governors Wives on Wednesday donated relief materials worth forty million naira to the displaced persons in the recent communal crisis in three states of the region.

Presenting the relief materials to Nasarawa state government, the Chairperson of the forum, Mrs. Yemisi Gabriel Susuwan of Benue state opined that the gesture was part of their responsibilities to rendered assistance to the victims of the crisis in most parts of the states in the north.

According to her the three states that benefited from the relief materials are Benue, Borno

PAGE 10

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015

TAX IMPLICATION OF MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS

Simply put, a merger is a combination or integration of existing companies to form a single company while acquisition is known as take-over. It is the takeover of by one company of sufficient share in another company to give the acquiring company control over that other company.

STATUTORY REQUIREMENT UNDER COMPANIES INCOME TAX ACT (CITA) The CITA in Section 29(12) Cap (21, LFN, 2004) provides that ‘‘no merger, take-over, transfer or restructuring of the trade or business carried on by a company shall take place without having obtained the Service’s direction under sub-section 9 of this section and clearance with respect to any tax that may be due and payable under the Capital Gains Tax Act’’. The implication of this provision is that the approval of the Federal Inland Revenue Service is a necessary condition for the completion of the process in a merger or acquisition bid. Therefore, no merger or acquisition bids would be fully consummated without the companies involved having obtained consent from the FIRS. PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING THE SERVICE’S APPROVAL From the start, the merging companies are required to submit to the FIRS, copies of the scheme of merger and scheme of arrangement on the consolidation request for its study and proper evaluation in order to ensure that taxes which may result from the companies’ transactions are correctly assessed and collected. Herein lies the relevance of the Service’s powers under section 29(9) (i) to require either of the companies directly affected by any direction which is under the consideration of the Service to guarantee or give security to its satisfaction for payment in full of all tax due or to become due by the company which is selling or transferring such asset or business.

TAX ISSUES IN MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS A merger may result in any of the following situations: • Formation of a new company.

• Continuation of the consolidated business by one of the merging parties, in its name or under a new name.

• Cessation of business by the other merging parties.

In acquisition, there is only an acquiring company (ies) and the company being acquired.

EMERGENCE OF A NEW COMPANY RENDITION OF ANNUAL RETURNS Where a new company emerges from a merger process, then, the new company is expected to file its returns, in line with the provisions of Section 55(3)(b) of CITA. The section provides that “every new company shall file with the Service, its audited accounts and returns within eighteen (18) months from the date of its incorporation or not later than six (6) months after the end of its first accounting period as defined in section 29(3) of this Act, whichever is earlier’’.

It should however be understood that a mere change of name does not make an existing business entity a new company. Such companies will continue to be treated as old businesses on an on-going concern basis.

BASIS OF ASSESSMENT Commencement rule as provided under Section 29(3) will apply to the new company, except where any of the under-listed circumstances arise: (I) Where the merging parties are connected parties, the Service may direct that commencement rule be set aside, in which case, the new company will file its returns as an on-going concern and its assessment will be determined on preceding year basis.

(II) Where the new business is a reconstituted company, taking over the trade or business formerly run by its foreign parent company.

CLAIM OF ALLOWANCES Companies Income Tax Act (CITA) did not categorically address the value at which assets may be transferred for the purpose of capital allowances claims.

However, International Accounting Standard 22 prescribes that in merger accounting, the assets, liabilities and reserves must be recorded at their carrying balances, implying that merger process does not permit the recording of assets at their fair value in the event of consolidation. The new company will therefore not be entitled to any investment allowance claim or initial allowance on the transferred assets; it will only be entitled to claim annual allowance on the Tax Written Down Values (TWDV) of the transferred assets.

UNABSORBED LOSSES AND UN-UTILIZED CAPITAL ALLOWANCES BROUGHT FORWARD The new company may also not be permitted to inherit the unabsorbed losses and capital allowances of the absorbed companies, except under the following circumstance: (i) where a reconstituted company is carrying on the same business previously carried on by this company and it is proved that the losses have not been allowed against any assessable profits or income of that company for any such year; in that case the amount of unabsorbed losses shall be deemed to be a

loss incurred by the re-constituted company in its trade or business during the year of assessment in which the business commenced.

TAXES AND DEDUCTIBILITY OF RELATED EXPENSES (i) Stamp Duties Duty payment will arise on the share capital of the new company, subject to the provisions of Section 104 of the Stamp Duties Act, in relation to capital and duty relief. (ii) Consolidated Expenses Fees paid to statutory bodies such as SEC, NSE, CBN, Land Authorities etc, including professionals like accountants, stockbrokers, issuing houses, and solicitors are regarded as capital in nature and will therefore not be allowed as deductible expenses by virtue of Section 27(a) of CITA. (iii) Taxation of Consolidation Fees: Fees paid to professionals for services rendered in connection with consolidation will be subject to VAT and WHT at the rates of 5% and 10% respectively.

4.3.1 Tax Indemnification Section 29(9)(i) of CITA provides that the Service may require the new company to guarantee or give security for payment in full, for any tax due or that may become due by any of the ceased companies.

4.3.2 Approval for Pension Scheme The new company will need to obtain a Joint Tax Board (JTB) approval for its staff pension scheme.

STATUS OF A SURVIVING COMPANY IN RELATION TO TAXATION It is a possibility that one of the merging companies survives and its old name or a new name to inherit the assets, liabilities, reserves and entire operations of the merging parties. Where this happens, the following points must be noted: (i) The surviving company must file its returns in line with the provisions of section 55(3)(a) of CITA. (ii) Commencement rules under section 29(3) of CITA will not apply to the surviving company, as it will be regarded as an existing company. (iii) The surviving company will not be allowed to claim investment allowance on the assets which were transferred to it and will also not claim initial allowance on such assets. (iv) The surviving company may however claim annual allowance only on the tax Written down Values (TWDV) of the assets transferred to it. (v) The surviving company may not inherit the unabsorbed losses and capital allowances of the merging companies, except it is proved that the new business is a reconstituted company. (vi) All fees payable on merger bids or consolidation will be liable to VAT and WHT just like it is applicable on the emergence of a new company. Stamp duties will be paid on the increase in share capital and the company will have to obtain its own staff pension scheme approval from the JTB. CEASED BUSINESSES The merger or consolidation exercise may also result in cessation of business for any of the merging parties. In this case, cessation rule as applicable under section 29(4) of CITA will apply to any of the merging companies which have now ceased business permanently, except if any of the following circumstances occur: (i) Where the merging companies are connected. Here, the Service may direct, in line with its discretionary powers, under section 29(9) of CITA that the cessation rule may not apply. (ii) Where a reconstituted company is formed to take over the trade or business formerly run by its foreign parent company. (See Section 29(10) of CITA. CAPITAL GAINS TAX SHARES OR CASH RECEIVED Section 32A of Capital Gains Tax Act (CGTA) Cap 121LFN 2004 provides that a person shall not be chargeable to tax under the Act, in respect of any gains arising from the acquisition of the shares of a company, either merged with, or taken over or absorbed by another company, as a result of which the acquired company has lost its identity. However, where shareholders are either wholly or partly paid in cash for surrendering their shares in the ceased business, the gains arising from the cash payment will be subject to CGT. EFFECT OF TAXATIONS ON CONSOLIDATION ACQUIRING/ ACQUIRED COMPANIES The tax implications of consolidation on an acquiring company or acquired companies are similar to those of mergers. Acquisition expenses are nondeductible while fees paid to professional bodies are equally subject to WHT and VAT.

Page 11

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015

News

Armed Forces Day: Almakura urges unity among Nigerians From Gambo Ahmed, Lafia

G

overnor Tanko Almakura of Nasarawa state has appealed to Nigerians and Nasarawa people to live humorously with one another irrespective of tribe and religion in the interest of this country.

Almakura stated this yesterday during the Armed forces remembrance celebration at the government House Shedam road Lafia the state

Capital. “ I appreciate the members of the region and Armed forces in the manner they show love and sympathy to the fallen heroes.

They are people who have sacrificed their lives and blood to ensure that the country remain in unity and indivisible entity.”

He added that, their sweat and efforts towards the unity and peaceful co-existence of this country cannot be quantify, stressing that oneness, love

and harmonious co-existence amongst the ethnic nationality of this country is very paramount.

The governor prayed for the families of the fallen heroes for God’s blessings as well as gives them the guiding spirit in their endeavors.

He further admonished the people of the state to live in peace and harmony with one another irrespective of tribe or religious background, despite the recent skirmishes that

bedeviled some parts of the state.

His words “I call on all of us to embrace the virtue of oneness and to be our brothers’ keeper for the rapid development of the state. I am delighted for the peaceful co-operation being enjoyed now for the past few weeks in the troubled areas. Be you Mada, Eggon, Alago,Ekye, Afo, Hausa Fulani, Fulani, Gwandara, Migili. Etc. I urged you to always maintain

peace in order to benefit from the present administration whose philosophy is aimed at delivering the dividends of democracy to the common man.

Almakura who also assured communities ravaged by crisis in the recent times his readiness to distribute relief materials in not distance time to them so as to enable the affected persons go back to their ancestral homes, as well as enjoined them to cultivate the spirit of forgiveness.

FEMA to improve welfare of IDPs – Director

T

he Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has promised to improve the welfare of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Abuja.

Alhaji Abbas Idris, Director of FEMA, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Thursday.

Idris said that the FCT Minister, Alhaji Bala Mohammed, had set up a committee to work out modalities for the welfare and safety of the IDPs. “A lot of activities have taken place regarding the welfare of displaced persons and the FCT minister has set up a crossfunctional committee headed by the army Garrison Commander.

“The function of the committee is to fashion ways by which government can take proper care of these persons so that the trauma they have experienced can be effectively managed.

“Though the FCT was caught unawares by the influx of the displaced persons war-torn areas of the country, we just have to rise up to the occasion by giving them adequate care,’’ he said.

Idris said that FEMA presently accommodated IDPs in four makeshift camps within the FCT, adding that plans were on to build a permanent camp at Kuje.

“Presently, we have about 4,500 IDPs located in makeshift camps in Wasa, Waru, Durumi and New Kuchingoro, but we are working on a more comfortable camp at Kuje.

“The idea is to ensure that these Nigerians, who are unfortunate victims of insurgency, are made to feel at home while in the camp.

“We, however, pray for an end to the insurgency so that they can move back to their homes,’’ the director said.

He said that the FCTA had taken steps to ensure that medical and educational facilities are made available to them, while skill acquisition programmes were being organised for artisans among them. “The idea is to keep them busy so that they don’t get distracted by criminal elements in the society,’’ he said. (NAN)

L-R: Imo state Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, in a handshake with new INECResident Electoral Commissioner to Imo state, Dr Gabriel Adah, during the latter’s visit to the Government House, yesterday in Owerri.

Strike: Kebbi judicial staff union demands solicitor general’s apology to CJN From Ahmed Idris, Brinin Kebbi

T

he leadership of Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) Kebbi State Chapter has called on the state Solicitor General and the permanent Secretary Ministry of Justice Barr. Aminu Usman Tunga to urgently tender unreserved apology to his Lordship, the chief Justice of Nigeria over his comment on the ongoing strike.

This was disclosed by the National Vice President JUSUN North-West, Comerade Saidu Maguji Karkarku while addressing newsmen yesterday at the Union office Brinin Kebbi.

Adding that Aminu has no power to challenge the Nigeria Judiciary, urged him to apology unless the union will have no other option than to report him to appropriate quarters for disciplinary action.

“This is highly condemnable for a lawyer and solicitor general of a state to abuse the Chief Justice of his country. His

lordship simply urged the state Governors to obey the constitution by complying with the Judgment/ orders of a competent court” he said.

He further pointed out that the solicitor general also raised the issue of figures. JUSUN demands are not without figures “you see in Nov. 2014, the executive and the state judiciary sat and worked out the financial needs of the judicial, but funds were never released.

Aminu is clearly aware of these, if he has issues with the working of National Judicial Council, he is free to challenge them” he explained.

Karkarku, said that Aminu has no power constitutional or administrative to call on JUSUN to suspend the strike, adding that this is the position of section 318 (b) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria while the judiciary workers are not civil servants talk less of being referred to as supporting staff. “ We are on strike because of the

failure of state executive governor to comply with the judgment/ orders of the federal high court delivered on 13/01/2014. So for that there is a limit to arrogance/ power intoxication” he lamented.

Recall l that on Tuesday 13 January 2015, Aminu held a press briefing in Government

House, Brinin kebbi condemning the illegality of the strike, saying that is unconstitutional for state to join the strike. However the union simply called on the state government to implement the court judgment/orders of the federal high court of 13/1/2014 and M.O V of 27/11/2014.

Oshiomhole expels Igbinedion varsity students From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

A

s part of the ongoing audit to rid the system of parasites feasting on the patrimony of Edo people, the Governor of Edo State, Wednesday, issued an executive order stopping the nursing students of Igbinedion University, Okada from making use of the facilities of the stateowned Benin Central Hospital

and the Stella Obasanjo Hospital.

Students of the School of Nursing affiliated to the Igbinedion University have been enjoying the use of government hospitals free of charge over the years even when they pay their fees to the Igbinedion University.

It would be recalled that the state government had earlier terminated an agreement to train medical students of the University at its specialist hospitals over debts totaling N350 million.

PAGE 12

Money Sense

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015

Remain in business despite intense competition

By Tito Philips

W

hether you like it or not, the world of business is a very highly competitive one. Business is a game and it takes a lot to eventually emerge as a winner. Winning however does require you find a way to remain in business irrespective of competition. Perhaps one of the most critical factors in determining who wins or lose in the game of business is knowing what not to do in the face of intense competition.

In March 2008 my friend and I took over the management of a defunct cybercafé. We had consulted for this cybercafé earlier in 2007, doing a total business process re-engineering including the hiring and training of new staff. That year everything seemed to work fine in the hands of the owner with us coming around from time to time to check up on things. As it turned out after almost a year, things started going sour because the owner wasn’t directly involved in the creation of the change we had handed over to them to now manage. As a result, the business towards the end of the year folded up, this time for the second time since they began operation.

This was when we got an offer from the owner to come in no

longer as consultants but now as partners to resume complete management and turnaround of the business. How glad were we when this opportunity came.

It was an opportunity for us to experiment all our ideas on how to build a SIGNIFICANT business. And a significant business we did build. At least several evidences showed. For example, in the first year of our operations the business recorded the highest sales so far since it came into existence, a whopping sum of 3.9million naira! Also, we successfully initiated a first of its kind membership program for a cyber café whereby browsers logged in with a personalized username and password of their choice. As a result, we have the highest customer retention rate in the whole industry with close to 1700 registered customers since March 2008 when we took over.

Like a planned hostile takeover, in January 2010 a total of 9 new cybercafés sprang into existence (compared to only one at the time we took over the business) with two occupying the same business premises as we. We were about to be eaten up alive by all the new guys and so we panicked.

Why? Because they didn’t just stop at copying all that we did, as is synonymous with competitors, they took the game a step further.

They came with their flat screen (LCD) monitors, smaller number of systems in an air conditioned environment: talk about a total knock out! (TKO). There we were with our cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors, with more systems in a no air conditioned environment. I mean they had copied everything from our pricing model to the software we used as a timer. The only thing they couldn’t copy was our membership strategy.

We never realized this until after we had panicked and reacted out of desperation in an attempt to remain competitive.

We went head on and bought our own air conditions. I mean we bought four air conditions all at once in the month of January alone. Paid PHCN (the electricity company) to install a new business line to ensure a regular power supply since our big generator couldn’t power our four new air conditions. Meanwhile in our competitor’s case their small generator could carry their own air condition because they didn’t have as much computers as we did and they had only one air condition. We based the whole of our winning-strategy on stable power supply believing that we would match up with them on air conditions even though we didn’t get flat screen monitors. Instead of flat screen monitors, we decided

to expand by taking up one more office suite in addition to the three we were previously occupying to make room for the growing demands from laptop owners.

In essence, we spent more than they probably did but still lost a part of the total market share.

Why? Because we panicked and reacted out of desperation rather than being proactive. We ended up spending more but for the wrong things. We didn’t think through on our decision to buy those air conditions. Our singular strategy of constant power supply went up in smoke exactly two weeks after installation and the AC’s we bought were as good as useless since we didn’t have the regular power supply to operate them. So we were back to square one, only this time with more debts since we had to borrow some money from a bank to fund most of these reactive moves.

How can you remain in business despite intense competition?

How you respond to the competitions is the key determinant whether you’ll remain in business or not!

The entrance of new competitions into an existing market can be a blessing or a curse depending on how you respond to it. In the previous post, I shared a story of how the entrance of new competitions nearly drove us out

of business because we didn’t choose our response carefully, we panicked and lost focus. This seemingly minor mistake in tactical planning is still costing us so much headache in the business even though we have began to take corrective measures. Choosing your response carefully after having strategically considered every alternative is the focus of this concluding part of the article.

Don’t Panic, Focus!

Competitions are very useful to businesses because they act as a source of feedback. Alone you might not be able to measure your strength or weaknesses objectively, but the emergence of competitions will help put your business in a better perspective.

Take it or leave it, the entrance of new competitions will either make you or break you; these are the only two options available to you. Panicking will break you as it almost did to us but focusing will make you as we later found out.

Like I said above, the entrance of new competitions is like a raging storm that sweeps everyone along its path off their feet if they aren’t standing firm or holding on to something strong and tangible.

So what was fundamentally wrong with our response to the competitions?

In our own case, we responded wrongly because we reacted early.

How you respond to competitions is what really matters and not the entrance of new competitions.

You see when competitions show up in your line of business it’s more like a raging storm that can sweep you off your feet if you are not standing firm. It is not the time for you to panic and start making frantic moves born out of fear rather than strategic planning. We realized this mistake only after the power company we had backed on for regular power supply to power our air conditions messed up. It’s funny thinking of it now in retrospect; how could we have been so lame to have imagined a regular power supply in a country like mine (Nigeria) where irregular power supply was the norm? In my country, the only way to ensure a regular power supply is to own a generator -an expensive, high cost of maintenance and fuel consuming machine that generates power and pollutes the environment. In our first year of business we spent over 1 million naira (almost $7000) on generator expenses alone. Imagine if such an amount of money had been ploughed back into the business.

Well, it’s no use crying over spilled milk. The good thing about the whole experience was the vital business lesson it taught me without which you wouldn’t be reading this today. The lesson learnt is costing me and my partner a whole year without pay.

Not to even mention all other non financial cost such as stress, threat from creditors, loss of sleep etc. So for the singular fact that I’m saving you several months of headache not to even mention financial loss, I think it was worth it! The least you could do in appreciation for this free but expensive business lesson is to share this article with every Entrepreneur you know.

EzineArticles.com

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015

PAGE 13

EDITORIAL

Feb. polls and PDP’s deep pocket

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ithout knowing, fundraising dinner showed how Communication, Mr. Aniekan P r e s i d e n t deep the PDP government at the Umanah, was recently quoted as G o o d l u c k centre has made their pockets. The saying that the government had Jonathan let slip 21 PDP state governors, between been unable to realize its projected words that will them, donated N1.05 billion to the IGR of N400 bn. On the N135.84 come back to haunt him sooner President’s re-election campaign. bn it received as its statutory or later. Speaking at a late Dec. They “donated” N50 million each. share of the federal revenues, he fundraising dinner of his Peoples These are states that have been said, “When you are talking about Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja, unable to pay the N18,000 national allocation of N135.84 billion, it he declared that the 15 years that wage to their workers because they sounds big to you, but it is not a the PDP has been in power “actually lot of money when you are doing created a number of millionaires key projects. When you look at and billionaires.”He said, “This projects like the new international party, as you all know, is business stadium, these are not bread and friendly. The government of PDP butter projects. These are quality encourages policies and will come projects that cost money.” up programmes and policies While the PDP may have bred tens of that will promote enterprise and new “millionaires and billionaires” industry. We believe we must in the 15 years of its vice-like grip on encourage commercial activity. the nation’s wealth, its misrule has And within this period that the also fawned hundreds of millions PDP has been ruling, we’ve actually of impoverished citizens. The created a number of millionaires President’s finance minister, Mrs. and billionaires.”

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, recently Two things the President deliberately admitted that there is a huge gap did not say. One, he didn’t say between few stupendously rich that most of those “millionaires Nigerians and a scandalously and billionaires” are in his party. poverty stricken majority.

They are men and women who The President should feel shame benefited from his government’s to flaunt the ill-gotten wealth are “too broke”. Capital projects patronage distribution, including of few men and women in his have not been executed for years contract awards that were often party while the rest of the society even there is an annual budget for not executed but they were paid wallows in absolute penury. This such. all the same. Secondly, there are majority has the power to decide also PDP card carriers who have Recently, the government of Akwa his political fate in the February Ibom declared itself too insolvent helped themselves to the public 14 presidential election. However, to pay for new projects in spite of till using the highly visible public if the President is counting on his having collected N135.84 billion offices they hold. In this category club of billionaires to ‘pay’ his way as its share from the federation are past and sitting state governors to power again or steal it outright account in the first half of this year, who went into office very poor as the PDP has been doing since according to the Federal Account but came out as “millionaires and 1999, he is mistaken.The political Allocation Committee.

The state’s billionaires”. wind sweeping the country today Commissioner of Information and And truly, these people at the is one of change.

“

if the President is counting on his club of billionaires to ‘pay’ his way to power again or steal it outright as the PDP has been doing since 1999, he is mistaken.

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PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015

PAGE 14

Opinion

What did happen at Baga?

By Mausi Segun

S

ince January 3, Boko Haram militants have attacked – almost on a daily basis –the area surrounding Baga, a fishing settlement on the shores of Lake Chad in Nigeria’s northeast Borno State. The exact death toll in Baga and 16 surrounding villages is unknown, with estimates ranging from “dozens” to 2000 or more.

“No one stayed back to count bodies,” one local resident told Human Rights Watch. “We were all running to get out of town ahead of Boko Haram fighters who have since taken over the area.”

Satellite imagery acquired

by Human Rights Watch reveals evidence of large-scale destruction, particularly in the town of Doro Gowon, http://www.hrw.org/ sites/default/files/media/images/ photographs/2015-Nigeria-Slide1. jpeg the site of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) base, a few kilometres from Baga. Nigeria, Chad, and Niger established the MNJTF in 1998, initially to check criminal activities in the border areas between the three countries.

The MNJTF expanded in 2012 to include Cameroon and Benin and cover counterterrorism operations against Boko Haram in the region.

The satellite images, taken in

the days following the attacks, provide direct evidence of extensive areas of fire-related damages to local buildings and trees, consistent with a systematic campaign of arson directed against the civilian population in the area, Although we don’t yet have an exact figure on the number of damaged and destroyed buildings, our analysis of the images permits us to conclude the following: Doro Gowon, the site of the MNJTF base, has been hardest hit, with extensive areas of destruction covering approximately 57 percent

of the town (based on the damages visible in the imagery versus the total area of the built-up portion of the town). It is likely that several thousand residential and commercial buildings have been destroyed as a result.

Arson attacks likely occurred in Doro Gowon during the evening of January 3 and the morning of January 4 (as detected by an environmental satellite at the time). There are substantial areas of building damages in Baga, covering approximately 11 percent of the town (based on the damages

visible in the imagery versus the total area of the built-up portion of the town).

The Ni g e ri a n mi l i t a ry i s fighting to retake Baga from Boko Haram, The extent of loss of life and damage to property, including from the current fighting, will become clearer when the battle is over. This is not the first time that the Baga area has been attacked.

Human Rights Watch reported that a Nigerian military raid in April 2013 resulted in the killing of local residents and the largescale and deliberate destruction

The raid was in response to a Boko Haram assault that had killed a Nigerian soldier. After the 2013 assault, we gathered information and analyzed satellite imagery, which conclusively showed that the soldiers destroyed a total of 2,275 buildings and severely damaged another 125.

of property.

The raid was in response to a Boko Haram assault that had killed a Nigerian soldier. After the 2013 assault, we gathered information and analyzed satellite imagery, which conclusively showed that the soldiers destroyed a total of 2,275 buildings and severely damaged another 125.

A preliminary report on the incident by the Nigeria National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), quoting a police report and witness accounts to NHRC staff, confirmed Human Rights Watch’s information and analysis.

The Nigerian National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) then issued its own report, which attempted to refute Human Rights Watch’s findings.

A detailed Human Rights Watch review of the NASRDA report found substantial technical and analytical errors.

Government and military officials nonetheless continue to disparage and repudiate Human Rights Watch’s findings on the 2013 Baga attacks. In time, we hope to provide more accurate figures on the number of those killed in the attacks and information about them. But for now, credibly used satellite imagery is the closest we will get to the truth.

Ms. Mausi Segun is the Nigeria Country researcher for Human Rights Watch based in Abuja

Early marriage: A misunderstanding of Nigerian constitution

By Maryam Yahya

I

t is unfortunate that even when some of us are unfamiliar with the Nigerian Constitution as regards early marriage and related issues, some uninformed minds still go out treading banters of noises; unveiling their ignorance and belittling themselves on the pages of media all in the name of ‘activism’. ‘pseudo activism’ I call it. Out of prejudice, some are even calling for Senator Yarima’s head as they see him as the arrowhead of the proponents of the retention of the ‘clause’ – they also want him executed for allegedly marrying a 13-year-old Egyptian girl… And we couldn’t wait to identify with the motives on why the Nigeria’s Upper Chamber of Parliament itself refuses to reverse a stand to retain the controversial section 29(4) of the 1999 constitution before we air our scruffy views but went on with all forms of obnoxious attacks as usual. What pleasure do we drive in the process of insulting the sensibilities of others only because we share different theological ideologies with them? What an unrealistic community where the minds of citizens are cemented with insalubrious sentiments.

Nigerians, we have a very long way to go.

Before any other thing, we must recognise that section 29 of the constitution has absolutely nothing to do with ‘child-marriage’; rather, the section in question is about ‘renunciation of citizenship’. The said section reads: “29: (1) Any citizen of full age who wishes to renounce his Nigerian citizenship

shall make a declaration in the prescribed manner of the renunciation. (2) The president shall cause the declaration made under subsection [1] of this section to be registered and upon such registration, the person who made the declaration shall cease to be a citizen of Nigeria. (3) The president may withhold the registration of any declaration made under subsection [1] of this section is the declaration is made during any war in which Nigeria is physically involved; or in his opinion, it is otherwise contrary to public service. (4) For the purpose of subsection (1) of this section.

‘Full age’ means the age of eighteen years and above. Any woman who is married shall be deemed to be of full age.” At this instant, let us exceptionally note that section 29(4)[a] of the constitution identifies ‘full age’ to mean eighteen years and above whilst in recognition to early marriage, section 29(4)[b] states that “any woman who is married shall be deemed to be of full age.” On noticing that citizenship has no bearing on gender, the Constitution Review Committee of the Senate recommended that section 29(4)[b] of the constitution be deleted. Senator Yarima’s crime is his contribution to the debate on the issue where he argued against the removal of the clause on the ground that it is against the religion of Islam. On convincing the senate, the members had no option than to rightly proceed and vote against the recommendation that the controversial clause be deleted which they did. It sounds absurd

to think that it was Senator Yarima who sponsored the bill as some supposed activists misinterpreted the whole thing.

The crux of the matter is that this particular provision has been in the constitution since 1979; Senator Yarima is only against its removal. I’m not surprised that some of us don’t know that the Nigerian Constitution recognises three systems of justice: ‘the shari’a law, the common law and the customary law – and makes ample provisions to protect adherents of religions – Islam, Christianity and Traditional religions.’ I think that is what perceptibly put the Upper Chamber in the eye of the storm. Now let us place some senses in us, I quite agree with Elder Obawusi Obafemi’s take in some ways, “At the end of the day, this underage marriage law is aimed at the talakawa (the poor) which is a way of perpetuating generational backwardness of this class of Nigerians in the north. Denying the female child the faculties to develop into a full independent adult retards this individual’s social worth, income and of course skills. In addition, this child-bride goes on to bear children, a child raising another child in brutal poverty with the savage gender barriers in an oppressively subterranean environment would only result in a distorted by-product: generational poverty.”

I’m not swayed here because it’s wrong to believe that education ends when marriage begins for there are thousands of women who got their first, second

and even third degrees while in their matrimonial homes.

To be candid with you, early marriage is a global scourge; there is no place in the world at some time where the practice of early marriage was wholly deserted. Using the societal glitch of ‘poor health, early death and lack of educational opportunities’ as a reason for condemning early marriage is all about fixing the mirror, not fixing the reflections Nigerians see in the mirrow. Is it not sheer lunacy for one to agree to sex a girl below eighteen and disagree to marry off a girl of same age? How many cases of unwanted pregnancy at early age as 13, 14 and 15 without proper marriage has the society witnessed? What about rape cases; how many minors have been raped in recent times?

I sense that every African knows the importance placed upon virginity. I equally need not to remind anyone that relationship (sex) outside marriage is neither encouraged in Islam nor in Christianity. In African culture, it’s both shameful and reprehensible. It will be insane to know all these and keep quite over this gobbledygook they tie to the concept ‘freedom’. It was same-sex marriage and now ‘early prostitution’ who knows whether they would legalise incest tomorrow. Whatever… tell them that we say that we will not allow them to sentence us to eternal sorrows; and for the apostates they have triumphed over, ‘sutafimunyafemususu’. To the antagonists of the law which

legalises early marriage, ”but can we prevent early marriage by just enacting laws? I don’t think so.

Social reformers across the globe have acknowledged the limits of law in controlling cultural practices that are embedded in peoples way of life. I think law by itself cannot solve the problem of child marriage without removing the underlying causes.

There are many countries that have adopted laws regulating the age of marriage, but child marriage is still prevalent. It’s hard to enforce laws on age of marriage in a country where births and deaths are not registered.

It’s hard to enforce laws on age of marriage in a country where majority of the marriages are conducted informally. It’s hard to enforce laws on age of marriage in a country where parents cannot afford to send their children to school as an alternative to early marriage - either the schools are not girl friendly or because they cannot afford the cost… we must end not only child marriage, but also child sexual exploitation that has become common in our schools and streets.’’ I think instead of wasting our precious time discussing ‘early marriage’, ‘early prostitution’ banters at this stage, let us step up a campaign on how to eradicate abject poverty, educate and empower women and provide them with economic activities. We must all re-examine ourselves!!

Maryam Yahya via maryamibrahim10@yahoo.com

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015

PAGE 15

Comment

February polls and education reform

By Otive Igbuzor

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ver the years, Nigeria has expressed a commitment to education, in the belief that overcoming illiteracy and ignorance will form a basis for accelerated national development.

However, regardless of the incontrovertible evidence that education is crucial to the development of the community and the nation, there are a lot of challenges to education which has deprived citizens and the country the benefit of relevant and quality education.

As we approach the 2015 elections, one issue that is of great interest to the electorate is the educational system. Over the years, the educational sector in Nigeria has faced a lot of challenges making it difficult for good quality education that is empowering and capable of bringing about sustainable development to be provided. The challenges include low girl child enrolment, poor completion rates, unqualified teachers, inadequate funding, inadequate facilities, ineffective

supervision and inspection, problem of relevance and coherent and co-ordinated policy planning and implementation by the three tiers of government (Federal, State and Local Governments).

The challenges in the educational sector has led to poor educational outcomes. In the May/June 2014 West African Examination Council for instance, only 5259,425 candidates representing 31.28 percent obtained credits in five subjects and above including English Language and Mathematics out of a total of 1, 692, 435 candidates. In addition, a whopping 10.5 million children are out of school in Nigeria which is one of the highest in the world.

Despite the poor state of educational infrastructure, State and tertiary educational institutions have failed to access over N44 billion and N65 billion from Universal Basic Education and Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) respectively.

The challenges in the education sector has been compounded by the insurgency in the country especially in the North East zone.

Students are discouraged from going to school especially with the abduction of over 200 female students from Chibok Secondary School in Borno State and the killing of scores of students at Federal Government College, Buni Yadi, Yobe State and other schools across the North east zone and other parts of the country.

Teachers are not left out as it is reported that at least 170 teachers have been murdered in Borno State and an estimated 300 educational institutions destroyed in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States, including 80 primary schools in Borno State alone. There is no doubt that there is the need to focus on school safety which should include increasing security consciousness among the citizens, removing circumstances that can jeopardise security in schools and securing the school through adequate infrastructure, technology, intelligence and effective security arrangement by school authorities and security agencies.

In the recent past, there has been some intervention in

the education sector including building of 150 Almajiri schools across the Northern States, out of school children programme, Girl Child education programme, establishment of 14 new universities, increased funding, review of school curriculum and training of teachers. But the challenges still remain and the educational outcome still not satisfactory.

As we approach the elections in 2015, political parties and candidates need to tell us how they will address these challenges. It is no longer enough to promise to improve education and improve quality. We need to know the strategy that they will utilize and what they would do differently.

Experience has shown that it is more than just throwing money at the problem. It is crucial to know what public administration reform will be carried out in the education sector to address the challenges. In particular, we need to know the strategy that will be utilized to ensure that girl child enrolment will be improved. Concrete strategies

are required to deal with the poverty, cultural and religious barrier to girl child education.

Concrete plans and programmes are required to upgrade the present unqualified teachers and ensure that qualified teachers are produced and motivated to deliver.

A clear plan and programme of supervision and inspection is urgently needed. The issue of relevance must be addressed holistically with the participation of citizens, the industry and professionals. A clear capacity building strategy is required for the bureaucrats and managers of educational institutions. We need to know what will be done to prevent un-accessed funds from Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and Tertiary E du ca ti on F u n d (TE TF u n d) going into private pockets - one form of insanity to do the same thing again and again and expect a different outcome.

Dr. Otive Igbuzor is a pharmacist and holds a doctorate degree in public administration.

Fundamentalism, extremism & terrorism: The baseless whopper (II)

By Sulaiman Badamasi (Mahir)

M

oderation is the act of not going to the extreme or level of excessiveness, and not neglecting the set rules. By doing this, one becomes moderate.

This is the state that Allah and His beloved Messenger, Muhammad (Peace be upon him) prescribed for those who want to please them with their acts of worship.

Therefore, a Muslim is required to be moderate, not laxit nor extremist. In other words he/ she should fulfill all servantto-God responsibilities in line with the right teachings of the religion without committing any act of terrorism or falling in to extremism. In this part, I decided to preserve my words and allow the reader to drink directly from the three different valid sources of Islamic discipline mentioned above (Qur’an, Prophetic tradition and scholarly consensus): God says in the Qur’an: “…But do not transgress. Indeed. Allah does not like transgressors”. (Al-Baqara, 2:190),“You are not a taskmaster over them”. (Al-Ghashiyah, 88: 22) “There is no compulsion in religion. Rectitude has become clear from error …” (Al-Baqarah, 2: 256),‘And if your Lord willed, all who are in the earth would have believed together. Would you then compel people until they are believers?’ (Yunus, 10: 99),“The truth [that comes] from your Lord; so whoever will, let him believe, and whoever will, let him disbelieve”.’ (Al-Kahf, 18: 29),‘You have your religion and I have my religion’ (Al-Kafirun, 109: 6).

In 628 C.E. Prophet Muhammad(s) is narrated to have granted a Charter of Privileges to the monks of St. Catherine Monastery in Mt. Sinai.

It consisted of several clauses

covering all aspects of human rights including such topics as the protection of Christians, freedom of worship and movement, freedom to appoint their own judges and to own and maintain their property, exemption from military service, and the right to protection in war.

An English translation of that document is: This is a message from Muhammad ibn Abdullah, as a covenant to those who adopt Christianity, near and far, we are with them. Verily I, the servants, the helpers, and my followers defend them, because Christians are my citizens; and by Allah! I hold out against anything that displeases them. No compulsion is to be on them. Neither are their judges to be removed from their jobs nor their monks from their monasteries. No one is to destroy a house of their religion, to damage it, or to carry anything from it to the Muslims’ houses. Should anyone take any of these, he would spoil God’s covenant and disobey His Prophet. Verily, they are my allies and have my secure charter against all that they hate. No one is

“

to force them to travel or to oblige them to fight. The Muslims are to fight for them. If a female Christian is married to a Muslim, it is not to take place without her approval.

She is not to be prevented from visiting her church to pray. Their churches are to be respected. They are neither to be prevented from repairing them nor the sacredness of their covenants. No one of the nation (Muslims) is to disobey the covenant till the Last Day (end of the world).”

A copy of this letter is available in many libraries and encyclopedias, but this copy has been copied directly from ‘News Rescue’s official facebookpage’on 22nd Oct, 2014. In an open letter to ISIS’s leader, Dr. Ibrahim Awwad Al-Badri, alias ‘Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi’,which is reviewed and signed by over 120 Muslim scholars worldwide, disapproving the group’s deadly, ungodly act and cautioning him as well, the group which represents the worlds Muslim community and speaks on its behalf had the following to say in the executive summary of the

23-pages letter: • It is forbidden in Islam to ignore the reality of contemporary times when deriving legal rulings.

• It is forbidden in Islam to kill the innocent.

• It is forbidden in Islam to kill emissaries, ambassadors, and diplomats; hence it is forbidden to kill journalists and aid workers.

• Jihad in Islam is defensive war. It is not permissible without the right cause, the right purpose and without the right rules of conduct.

• It is forbidden in Islam to harm or mistreat—in any way— Christians or any ‘People of the Scripture’.

• It is forbidden in Islam to force people to convert.

• It is forbidden in Islam to deny women their rights.

• It is forbidden in Islam to deny children their rights.

• It is forbidden in Islam to torture people.

• It is forbidden in Islam to disfigure the dead.

• It is forbidden in Islam to attribute evil acts to God I just

It is forbidden in Islam to commit suicide (killing one’s self), for in it there is self-oppression. An act that we the Muslims are not allowed doing- Thus suicide killing is considered as a major sin, by committing which one will not attain eternal mercy.

cherry-picked the points above amongst many other ones that were made available in the letter, which we, the Muslims, strongly conquer with and adhere to.

It is forbidden in Islam to commit suicide (killing one’s self), for in it there is self-oppression.

An act that we the Muslims are not allowed doing- Thus suicide killing is considered as a major sin, by committing which one will not attain eternal mercy.

Allah says in the Quran: “Nor kill nor destroy yourselves, for surely God has been to you Most Merciful”(An-Nisaa’ 4:29) and “And do not throw yourselves in destruction” (Baqarah 2:195) It was narrated that The Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Among those who came before you there was a man who was wounded and he panicked, so he took a knife and cut his hand with it, and the blood did not stop flowing until he died. Allah said ‘My slave hastened to bring about his demise; I have forbidden Paradise to him’” [Bukari; 3276, Muslim; 113] The Prophet said, “Whoever throws himself down from a mountain and kills himself will be in fire of hell, throwing himself down therein forever and ever.

Whoever takes poison and kills himself, his poison will be in his hand and he will be sipping it in the Fire of Hell forever and ever.

Whoever kills himself with an iron, that piece of iron will be in his hand and he will be stabbing himself in the stomach with it in the Fire of Hell, forever and ever.” [Bukhari; 5442, Muslim 109] Therefore, it is a baseless whopper to commit/see an act of terrorism or any affair that is related to extremism and relate it with Islam. Concluded.

Sulaiman Badamasi (Mahir) via sulaimanmahir@gmail.com

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015

PAGE 16

Jonathan wasting Nigeria resources - Tinubu

From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

T

he leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, yesterday accused President Goodluck Jonathan of wasting the nation’s resources.

Tinubu, speaking at the flag-off of the APC governorship campaign in Lagos, said President Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has failed the country, urging electorates to vote for change in February general election.

He called on Nigerians to vote for the APC presidential candidate, Mohammadu Buhari, describing him as a man of integrity and a straightforward and honest Nigerian.

Tinubu insisted that President Jonathan has failed Nigerians by replacing their joy with bad governance, unemployment and insecurity.

“Jonathan never failed except other people but luckily recently he admitted that he has failed. He has failed, no more repeat. We want Buhari! We want Buhari!! We want Buhari!!! Nigerians want Buhari!

Lagos wants Buhari! Say Buhari!

Jonathan must go; we want Buhari!

Jonathan has destroyed our economy and he has squandered our money. He is a wasteful spender”, he said.

He said that based on what Jonathan has turned the economy to; Nigerians need an experienced person and good financial manager

to manage Lagos State.

“We need somebody with financial and managerial experience to move Lagos State forward.

The person that can move Lagos forward is Akinwunmi Ambode.

Lagos State is not for experiment, so we cannot experiment in Lagos State,” he said.

Tinubu said the APC governorship candidate is more

experienced and credible than the PDP governorship candidate, Jimi Agbaje, even as he charged the people of Lagos State to vote for APC for continuity of good governance in Lagos State.

He also noted that it will be unfair to experiment with Lagos by voting for the PDP, adding that the PDP governorship candidate was with him during the Alliance for

Democracy (AD) days and he failed.

“He went to Afenifere and before Afenifere could cough, he failed. He came back to Action Congress (AC) and we accepted him. He wanted to contest against Fashola, but we told him to be patient because Fashola is brilliant, more educated and know the job more than him. He contested and failed”.

Sokoto State All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship candidate and Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (left), Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko (right) presenting Alhaji Aminu Shagari (middle), as APC House of Representatives Candidate during APC rally, yesterday in Sokoto.

Photo: NAN

Group plans to attack Jonathan’s campaign in Bayelsa

By Ahmed Abubakar

A

ngry youths under the aegis of Bayelsa Youth Vanguard (BYV) has threatened to disrupt the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential rally of President Goodluck Jonathan slated for February 5 in the state capital, Yenagoa, if the First Lady, Dame Patience, comes along with him.

The organisation therefore warned the First Lady not to accompany her husband for the

presidential campaign, if she continues to cause crisis in the state or face the consequence.

The warning, the group said, was sequel to what it described as attempts by the First Lady to destabilise the state and fuel needless crisis and political tension in the state.

The Spokesperson of BYV, Precious Ebi Johnson, in a statement on Wednesday, said the First Lady would only be allowed to come to the state “unless she

retraced her steps or otherwise we will mobilize against the President’s rally.”

The statement read in part “We are constrained to issue this statement bearing this important warning to bar the First Lady from accompanying President Goodluck Jonathan to Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, for the presidential rally on 5th of February.

“Our action is well informed by the various steps and activities of the First Lady in recent times,

which portends clear danger for the good of our dear state. We note with regret the various attempts by the First Lady to create crisis in the state through subterfuge or using surrogates”, it said.

“As things are, we want to make it very clear to her that she has to change this attitude or we go against her coming to Yenagoa with the President for the Presidential campaign. Indeed, we may be forced to mobilize against the entire rally”, it added.

PDP commends Jonathan, Buhari over peace pact

By Ahmed Abubakar

T

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has commended its presidential candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan and the presidential candidate of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), Muhammadu Buhari, for signing the pact on non-violence ahead of 2015 general elections.

In a statement by the national publicity secretary of the party, Olisa

Metuh, the party said this is in line with the irrevocable commitment of the PDP to peace and progress of the nation at all times.

It said already, in the last one week of campaigns, PDP has demonstrated its resolve for a peaceful polls by ensuring that its members adhere strictly to its code of conduct on violence free polls.

“It is timely therefore to urge the leadership of the APC to move beyond signing of the peace pact

to genuinely taking practical steps to rein in members, especially, the horde of brigand thugs already on the loose in parts of the country, or be held responsible for any failure”, the statement said.

According to the party, “with the completion of the APC’s campaign rallies in the South East and South South without slightest incidence of harassment or violence, the PDP has emphatically demonstrated its unflinching resolve for peaceful

campaigns, as well as ideological structure to plurality of opinions and electoral choice even in areas considered its most impregnable fortes.

“We hence advise the APC to take a cue and urgently forestall plans by miscreants acting in its name to disrupt PDP campaign rallies in some parts of the North.

APC must withdraw its violent prone membership from the red line,” the statement concluded.

Shekarau, Wali accused of not campaigning for Jonathan in Kano From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

L

ess than a month to the presidential polls across the country, a group of supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have accused Minister of Education, Ibrahim Shekarau and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aminu Wali, of not embarking on vigorous campaigns in Kano state for the re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Speaking to journalists at a press briefing in Kano, chairman of Goodluck/Sambo Support Group, Abdulmumin Ya’u Musa, lamented the lacklustre attitude of those charged with the campaign in the state.

He lamented that nothing is being done to boost the effort in the mobilisation drive for supporters for re-election bid of the President.

Musa also said the group has observed that no serious Jonathan’s campaign is ongoing in Kano state, citing that posters, banners, billboards or branded vehicles cannot be found in strategic places in the state.

He wondered also why no PDP candidate has openly identified himself with the party’s Presidential candidate in campaign posters or produced a jingle on radio or internet.

“We wish to avail to President, especially the Goodluck/ Sambo Presidential Campaign Organisation and the general public of the lacklustre attitude of those charged with the campaign in the state, as their approach lacks vigour, and it will indeed be a statement of fact that nothing is being done at the moment to boost the effort in the mobilization drive for supporters for the re-election project with just about one month to the presidential polls”, he said.

The chairman lamented that “with the number of projects brought to the state by Goodluck’s administration, as well as lucrative appointments given to sons and daughters of the state in his government, the President does not deserve this i-don’t-care attitude”.

However, Musa expressed hope that with the 120 Jonathan’s support groups, which he said, has membership strength of about 1.5million mobilised over the last two years, the ugly trend in the state can be turned around.

He appealed to the party’s presidential flag bearer and its leadership to act fast to provide campaign materials, stressing that if the materials would be on ground, they are ready to sell the candidate in the state within the shortest period of time.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015

PAGE 17

Former FCT Minister charges 6,521 PDP Councillors to reply opposition through Social Media

By Ahmed Abubakar

T L-R: Ebonyi state Governor, Chief Matins Elechi, Abia state Governor, Chief Theodore Orji, Minister of State for Education, Professor Viola Onwuliri, and National Vice-Chairman PDP South-East, Colonel Austine Akobundu (rtd), during a meeting of South-East states coordinators of President Jonathan Campaign Organisation, yesterday in Umuahia.

2015 polls: Staunch PDP members defect to APC

From Umar Dankano, Yola

A

former acting Governor of Adamawa State, James Shuaibu Barka, including hundreds of his followers, have formally defected from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

This was made known to journalists yesterday during the campaign rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate, Muhammad Umaru Jibrilla Bindow, which was held at Gangwari Ganye’s square of

Ganye Local Government Area in the State.

Receiving the new members into the party, the chairman of the party in the state, Shuaibu Yamusa, assured them of equal treatment with the old members of the party, adding that APC is a place where equity, justice, fairness and togetherness are highly respected.

Responding on behalf of all defectors, the former acting governor of the state, Barka, said PDP as a party is operating with impunity and injustice, saying this is their major reasons for abandoning the party.

“I am not here to contest for anything, but to let the world know that it is in APC that you can see justice, fairness, truth and equal treatment.

APC is the only party left for the general masses, while PDP is for political betrayals and tyrants.

“I am now into a new found party of mine which I believe is the party with good manifesto to change the country which the other party messed up”.

Barka said.

Meanwhile, the campaign train later paid a courtesy visit on the paramount ruler of the camba

chiefdom, Umaru Adamu Sanda, for his royal blessings.

Spokesman of the campaign team, who is also the Deputy Director of Bindow Campaign Organization, Abdulrahaman Abba Jimeta, requested for a royal blessing and permission from the royal father to visit the communities of Ganye chiefdom to plead with all the electorates to vote for APC. Responding, Sanda cautioned the campaign team to be mature and more polite in their campaign trip to the chiefdom.

Nashuni launches Katsina PDP guber campaign From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

T

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate in Katsina State, Musa Nashuni, has launched his gubernatorial campaign, with the promise to continue with the programmes and policies of the incumbent Governor of the state, Ibrahim Shehu Shema, if elected.

Nashuni noted that the incumbent Governor of the state has instilled the

culture of prudent and accountable management of the state’s resources, which he said has contributed in making the state a model in the whole country.

He noted that the priority given to health, education, youth empowerment, women development, water supply, security and other areas by the governor would be sustained.

He therefore called on the party supporters to move all over the state to campaign for victory of the party in

the forthcoming elections in the state, advising them to conduct themselves peacefully and shun all form of violence.

In his remarks, Governor Ibrahim Shema, urged people of the state to turn out en masse to vote PDP during the forthcoming gubernatorial election, which he said was a sure way of continuity in enjoying free education, free health care services, youth and women empowerment and security in the

state.

Shema noted that Katsina state was a PDP state since the return to democracy in the country 16 years ago, adding that PDP in Katsina state did not disappoint people of the state in delivering democracy dividends.

Also speaking, the PDP Zonal vicechairman North-West, Ambassador Ibrahim Kazaure, urged Katsina electorates not to elect a person with disjointed qualification to become the governor of the state.

Shun stomach infrastructure politicians, community leader warns From Matthew Aramunde, Lagos

A

community leader in Shasha, a suburb of Lagos and the Baale of Oguntade, Mufutau Adekunle, has called on eligible voters to shun politicians whose stock in trade is the carrot methods.

He also advised politicians and their followers to eschew bitterness and rancor, as the country inches towards the forthcoming general elections next month.

Adekunle made the plea at his palace when he addressed journalists after a meeting he held with opinion leaders and members of the Community Development Authority, on sensitizing the residents of the area on the need to play politics without violence.

Expressing optimism that with the peaceful accord signed by the fourteen Presidential hopefuls recently in Abuja, he noted that it has become pertinent that their

various followers know what their principals have signed and witness to.

“We have all seen that those who are aspiring for the plum job of President have decided that a peaceful conduct during and after the election is the best antidote to violence after election and therefore, it will not only be detrimental to the growth of the nascent democracy but, it will make nonsense of the agreements signed by our principals,

thus also ridicule us in the eyes of the international comity if we act contrary”, he said.

On the issue of the killings in some parts of the northern part of Nigeria by the members of the Boko Haram, he said that just as the emergence of the sect was not prepared for by Nigerians, so also it will come to end by the doings of God Almighty who knows the beginning and the end of whatever mortals go through.

he former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abba Gana, has charged the 6,521 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) across the country to avail themselves with the maximum use of the social media to reply attacks by the opposition.

Speaking yesterday at PDP organised Councillors Forum involving PDP councillors from the North-Central zone of the country, Abba Gana who is the grand patron of PDP National Councillors’ Forum, noted that PDP councillors account for nearly 70 per cent of all councillors in Nigeria, comprising 6,521 members.

He described PDP as a truly grassroots based political party, and called on the councillors to promote the party’s candidates on social media.

The Director, Contact and Mobilisation, PDP campaign organisation, Jerry Gana, whose office organised the conference, said the objective was to mobilise and train the councillors as PDP mobilisation agents.

Describing them as image makers of the party, Gana told them to avoid the use of abusive languages, but to present President Goodluck Jonathan as good product who has delivered on his campaign promises.

He listed the achievements of the President on the areas of respect to human rights, infrastructure development, agriculture, education, water resources, health and the power sector.

“Don’t waste your time abusing people, don’t waste your time creating trouble, you have a good product to sell. You are very powerful people because you are closer to the grassroots”, Gana told them.

The Deputy Director General of PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Tunde Adeniran, who represented the Director General of the Campaign Organisation, Ahmadu Ali, at the occasion said the need to use the councillors for the mobilisation of the people was because they occupy the most strategic position among politically elected people.

“We know that you are very strategic, we know that you are very influential and we know that you are very popular among the people.

“We are launching you to win your units, win your wards, win your friends and relations and then translate that to your local government area”, Adeniran charged them.

He implored them to work like the elections are for tomorrow, adding, “When you go out as ambassadors, you are the eyes of the President and the PDP”.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015

PAGE 18

Reject Buhari, Jonathan, ADC candidate tells IDPs

By Stanley Onyekwere

T

he Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mani Ahmad, has advised the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the country, to reject the candidates of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), President Goodluck Jonathan, and his All Progressives Congress (APC) counterpart, Muhammadu Bhari, and vote for his party if they want to change their current predicament.

According to him, the IDPs did not deserve the present condition of hopelessness in which they found themselves, stressing that this is the right time for them to take the right decision to change their condition for the better.

Speaking at the official flagoff of the ADC campaign for the 2015 elections at the IDPs Camp, in New Kuchingoro, Abuja, on Thursday, Ahmad noted that he kicked off his campaign with the IDPs, to share and identify with their plight, a clear demonstration of his commitment towards solving their problem if elected.

The presidential candidate, who recalled that the insurgency in the North-east part of the country had affected about three million people and that about 1.5 million persons are currently displaced, decried that the population of the IDPs presently in the country was more than the population of some African countries.

According to him, “Vote out the government and the opposition out of power, vote us in and we will change your situation. We can’t grow in a situation where people are living in such a pathetic situation.

“What made it more pathetic was that it is not supposed to be happening, but we don’t have the political will as we can provide you with good homes. A lot of Nigerians might be living in houses, but their conditions are not better than refugees in other countries. This is the right time to take the right step,” Ahmad stressed.

He explained that there was need to re-engineer the educational system, and to cut down on the corruption in the country, and put the money into the educational sector, even as he stressed further that government excesses must be reduced, lamenting that Nigeria spends one per cent as against 10 per cent of her GDP on education.

L-R: Former Kaduna state Governor, Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, Former Ekiti state, Dr Kayode Fayemi, and U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistele, during Eisenhower Leadership Lecture on Peaceful Election, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: NAN

Kaduna Assembly confirms 23 LG caretakers, 86 councillors From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

K

aduna state House of Assembly has confirmed the appointment of Caretaker Chairmen for the twenty three local government councils in the state and eighty six councilors out of the ninety two presented before the House by the Governor.

The lawmakers also approved the appointment of Retired Justice Adamu Abdullahi Sarki Fada and Barrister Samuel Atung, as new members of the Judicial Service Commission.

In his speech after the

confirmation, the Speaker, Shehu Usman Tahir, directed that the remaining six nominees who could not make it to the screening are giving up till 20th January to appear before the state lawmakers or fortified their nomination.

The confirmation came after the House thoroughly screened all the nominees by Kaduna State Governor, Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero.

The appointed caretaker committees chairmen included, Ali Kalat, Jama’a Local Government, Rilwaan Abdullahi, Kaduna North, Mahammed Bello

Aliyu, Kaduna South, Abdurashi Yaro nkirki Kajuru, Barrister James Atung, Kaura, Paul wagi, Kauru, Garba Yusuf, Achaiwu Kubau.

Others are Magaji Sadiq Hunkuyi Kudan, Ibrahim Abdukarim Lazuru Lere, Magaji Ahmed Makarfi, Umar Sani Anwa Sabon Gari, Abdullahi Mohammed Isah Sangal, Umar Ahmed Soba and Nuhu Bature Zaria local Government.

Others includes Alhaji Hamisu Adamu. Wazaka Giwa local Government Jonathan Asake Zango Kataf, Nuhu Makama

Chikun, Abubakar Tanimu Kagarko, Suleman Umar Zakari Kachia, Abubakar Umar Birni Gwari, Kabiru Lawal Igabi, Sagir Saidu Ikara, and Alexander Namu Jaba local Government.

The nominees confirmed as councilors comprised three male and one female for each of the twenty three local government councils.

Speaking shortly after the screening, some of the caretaker committee chairmen assured of their readiness to work towards promoting peace and unity within their domains.

Masari not illiterate, says aide

From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

M

edia aide to the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate in Katsina state, Abdu Labaran Malumfashi, has said that his principal, Aminu Bello Masari,

is not an illiterate.

Malumfashi stated this in a statement to newsmen yesterday in Katsina, while reacting to a statement credited to the PDP zonal vice-chairman, Ibrahim Kazaure, where he allegedly describe Masari as an illiterate.

The media aide said “it takes one

to know one, because his utterances portray him to be nothing but literate”.

“Vile languages and denigrating of members of the opposition have become their stock-in-trade. A couple of weeks ago, the PDP National Secretary supposedly a Professor, made similar remarks about APC

presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari” he added.

He lamented that the leaders of the PDP have, according to him, resorted to discussing personalities instead of issues, adding that this clearly indicated lack of agenda in the forthcoming 2015 general elections.

Nigerians in diaspora should vote – Soyode

T

he Chairman of BEN Television, UK, Alistair Soyode, has urged the federal government to allow Nigerians in the diasporas to vote in subsequent elections after 2015.

Soyode told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos that the authorities would have to take the necessary steps to make the demand a reality through a constitutional amendment. ``I think it is very important for Nigerians in the Diaspora to vote. ``Since the advent of the present administration they have always been

trying to promise that the Nigerians in Diaspora should be able to vote from that 2011. ``But now as we know, this is a new era, Nigeria is celebrating her centenary year as well - 2014 from 1914. ``There’s no better time as much as we have been than to actually move into a new century season which starts again from 2015 for Nigerians. ``So, we are hoping that whoever is going to come in, if it is the same government, would absolutely deliver the promise they have been making

for Nigerians that they should be able to vote. ``And if it is a new government that is coming in, then we want them to make it a priority that they remember that other African countries are actually doing the same allowing their Diaspora community and citizens to vote. ``There’s no any other impediment that should not allow Nigerians who have contributed massively towards national development. ``And have contributed

immensely in their host countries to be able to vote, especially, bearing in mind that they want to vote.’’

Cue out audio Soyode, however, admitted that it might not be possible to allow all Nigerians in Diaspora to vote because of their scanty presence in those countries.

He said that countries like the UK, U.S., Germany, Brazil, Canada, Malaysia and Singapore could be used as a springboard for Nigerians in the Diaspora to exercise their civil rights.

(NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015

Page 19

Power: FG pledges 1 million meters to bridge deficit

By Etuka Sunday

T

he Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo has disclosed the plan of the federal government to bridge the current metering deficit in the power sector by distributing over one million meters to electricity consumers across the states of the federation.

The over one million meters according to him, would help the Distribution Companies (DisCos) reach out speedily to many consumers as possible in their determined meter implementation scheme.

Based on their agreements with the federal government, discos are supposed to meter every electricity consumer in the country. However, the federal government decided to intervene because of the slow pace of implementation of the metering plan by discos and the cry by Nigerians of being defrauded by discos through estimated billing system.

Speaking at Town Hall Meeting yesterday in Abuja, the minister who said that the privatisation of the power sector was the best thing that has happened to Nigeria, added that mechanism would be developed for the meters to be well distributed using the distribution companies.

L-R: Managing Director, Transmission Company of Nigeria, Mr. Mack Kast, Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, and Permanent Secretary, Dr Godknows Igali, during a town hall meeting, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-owo Nebo noted that before the present administration, there was no gas infrastructure in place to fire the existing power plants in the country, but disclosed that the anomaly has been corrected, as there are gas facilities connected to almost all the power plants now

in Nigeria.

He lamented the devastating effect of gas pipeline vandalism which has hindered the intended progress of power generation in 2014, but assured that adequate security measures would be put in place to checkmate those

sabotaging government’s efforts in the sector.

He pegged the current power generation as at yesterday at 4, 500 megawatts, but promised Nigerians of 6,000 megawatts this year, 12, 500 megawatts by 2017 and 20, 000 megawatts by

2020 respectively.

Also speaking, the President, Consumer Protection Network, Mr Kunle Olubiyo advised the government that service charges should not be included in the tariff in areas where there is no electricity for weeks or months.

He stated, “Based on the new checklist and methodology put in place for assessing Free Zone requests, the President approved the following: Centenary City Free Zone (Business and Tourism Destination), with expected investment of about $18bn; Ogogoro Industrial Park, Lagos (oil and gas activities) $160m; and the Nigeria International Commerce City, Lagos, (formerly Eko Atlantic City) $38bn.

“Others are: Badagry Creek Industrial Park, Lagos, $1.3bn; Nigeria Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) Free Zone, $25.5m; Dangote Refinery/ Petrochemical Park, $9bn; Lekki Deep Sea Port (under Lagos Free Trade Zone) $1.4bn; and Samsung Heavy Industries and Mega Construction Integrated FZE (under LADOL Free Zone), $300m.”

The managing director added, “The Authority is currently at advanced stages for the approval of the proposed Kogi Industrial

Park. We are also presently consulting with the Cross Rivers state government on the establishment of an Automotive Industrial Cluster in the state.

“This is sequel to a bilateral relation agreement between Nigeria and Japan, where Japan has proposed to help develop an auto industrial cluster in Calabar.

This is being done in conjunction with the National Automotive Council. Consultations are also ongoing for the revamping of the Idu Industrial Area located in Abuja.

According to experts, FDI can be defined as the inflow of capital or capital importation from Country ‘A’ to Country ‘B’ for the purpose of investment in Country ‘B’.

“The word ‘Capital’ here is mainly in the form of plant and machinery or professional services (not physical cash) brought in from outside the country for the purpose of investment, which value can be placed upon and is quantifiable

in monetary terms.”

Kuye noted that since his assumption of office in 2013, the Authority had undergone a massive transformation characterised by the restructuring of its organogram to reflect the new NEPZA, “which is to be driven largely by in-depth research and excellent investor relations.”

He said, “In order to complement the directives of the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment in putting in place a robust methodology for assessing investors’ applications for Free Zone status and a rigorous method of process engineering to enhance efficiency and productivity, we have been able to reduce the delays which usually characterised the operations of the Authority.

“A major characteristic of the old NEPZA was the frosty relationship the Authority had with other regulatory agencies.

The feud, which had hitherto engulfed the management of

NEPZA and some other agencies, has been laid to rest while NEPZA staff are more equipped for their jobs than ever before with competitive staff welfare packages.”

He noted that the need to review the NEPZA Act CAP, N107, LFN 2004, also became imperative, as the Act hampered the full realisation of the authority’s mandate and also hampered the authority from taking its place as an industrialisation agency, in line with the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan.

“In view of this, the agency has embarked on the review of the Act, which is currently at the National Assembly, with a view to amending it and getting it passed as soon as possible.

The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment also acknowledged the achievements of the agency under this administration, saying the enhanced efficiency of the agency should be commended.

Export Processing Zones: FG targets $68.1bn fresh FDI from 8 zones

From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

T

he Federal Government is targeting $68.1bn fresh Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) from eight newly licensed export processing-free zones, the Managing Director of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority, Mr. Gbenga Kuye has said.

He said the enhanced efficiency of the agency, in line with the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan, had helped to fast-track approvals for zones, based on the new checklist and methodology put in place for assessing requests.

Kuye, told newsmen on Wednesday, that the investments attracted already, and the incoming ones that had been sealed, provided a solid foundation for a stronger economy and greatly improved standard of living for Nigerians, adding that the current administration should be commended for that.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015

Page 20

Business FG to boost transmission capacity, signs 3 MoUs with Chinese coys

By Etuka Sunday

F

ederal Government yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with three Chinese companies to further boost the weak electricity transmission capacity in the country.

A statement by the Deputy Director, Press, Ministry of Power, Timothy Oyedeji quoted the Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo to have tasked the Chinese Companies to fill in the gap so as to boost the nation’s capacity to wheel generated power to end users.

The Minister identified the critical role of transmission, saying that it is needless if generated power cannot be used, hence it is important to strengthen the engine that would ensure that the chain is not broken.

While calling for more foreign investment, the minister identified the Chinese as special people that have capacity to identify opportunities;“little wonder that China is doing so well with us in the sector”, he added.

According to him, “We will continue to support and defend your interests and investments here, while further requesting the Chinese to do even more in terms of investing in the sector, adding that in the area of renewable, a lot of opportunities still exist.

Prof. Nebo counseled the Chinese to also build synergy with Distribution Companies (Discos) and Generation Companies (Gencos) as they could build mutual relationship in the area of embedded or generated power within a locality and get such distributed through the Disco in the area.

He commended Mr. President for the doggedness and determination to push Electricity Agenda to this level through its privatization programme, and enthused that without that political will, the whole process could have derailed.

The Representatives of SinoHydro Nigeria, Gan Yongzhi said his company is ready to promote the project in line with the agreement signed, assuring that the project will be realized on record time.

Beleaguered NITEL gets buyer for US$252 m

By Etuka Sunday with agency report

T

he beleaguered Nigeria Telecommunications (NITEL) and its mobile arm, Nigerian Mobile Telecommunication (MTEL), have been sold to the preferred bidder, which has paid $75.7 million.

The payment represents 30 percent of the $252.5 million bid price for the acquisition of the assets and business units of the enterprises.

The Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), the federal government’s agency charged with the privatization of state-run companies, said in a statement on Wednesday, in Abuja, that the payment was in line with the offer letter by the BPE to the preferred bidder, NATCOM Consortium.

The preferred bidders were mandated to make an initial deposit of 30 percent of the bid price not later than 14 days on receipt of the offer letter.

Mr. Chigbo Anichebe,

Spokesman of BPE, said: “With the payment of the 30 percent, NATCOM is expected to pay the balance of 70 percent of the bid price within 90 days.

“It is therefore imperative to inform creditors that disbursements to them will be considered only after full payment has been received,” he said.

The National Council on Privatisation (NCP) on February 27, 2012, approved the privatisation of NITEL and MTEL as stipulated by the extant guidelines for the sale of public properties.

All the assets and undertaking of NITEL and MTEL, by this development, have been sold as a single or multiple lots to a qualified bidder by the liquidator under the general guidance of the National Council on Privatisation.

NATCOM and NETTAG Consortia met the minimum pass mark of 75 percent and were prequalified and issued the Request for Proposals (RFP) and allowed to proceed to data room and physical due diligence stage prior

to preparation and submission of their technical and financial proposals.

But NATCOM Consortium qualified for opening on December 3, 2014; having scored an average of 92 percent in its technical proposal, which was above the minimum pass mark of 75 percent and satisfied the requirement of a valid bid bond.

NITEL and MTEL have been sold three times, but the preferred bidders could not pay in each of the occasions.

NITEL was Nigeria’s communication flagship and enjoyed telephony monopoly until 2001 when Global System of Communication (GSM) was introduced and many providers emerged thereafter.

The company, which provided the nation’s land line became comatose, when it was given out to PENTOSCOPE for management in 2004.

Before it ran into troubled waters, NITEL provided more than 400,000 lines across the country. (Source : APA)

Banks face cut in profit as costs weigh

H

uge operating costs are expected to weigh on Nigerian banks’ overall FY 2014 performance, especially as power supply worsened during the year and insecurity, especially in the North-East, persisted.

“There has been so much regulatory headwinds and where you have a whole lot of costs associated with doing business, we are going to see some slight reduction in the performance for 2014,” Phillip Oduoza, UBA managing director has said, noting, however, that the “banking industry faired very well during the year.”

Banks’ total operating expenses increased to N1.872 trillion in 2013 from N1.193 trillion in 2012.

Consequently, return on assets, (ROA), return on equity (ROE) as well as yield on earning assets (YEA) all declined during the period from 22.2 percent, 2.62 percent and 11.92 percent in 2012 to 19.14 percent, 2.15 percent, 12.13 percent, respectively, according to figures from the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC).

“The costs are still quite high, infrastructure is a constraint to the banks so you find that the growth may not be as much as what we expect,” Oduoza stated.

He said for instance, the ATM charge that was abolished brought in another cost that banks are contending with, even though it was brought back but in a small percentage of what it used to be.

“That is going to affect income of the banks,” according to him.

He also pointed to the interest rate in the savings accounts which was moved up from one percent to about 30 percent of the MPR as another cost that would have implication on the books of banks. “Once the MPR goes up, that is additional cost,” Oduoza noted.

But analysts are already predicting that 2015 would be a more difficult year as the banks get set to test their courage against a combination of major challenges that could severely press on their record earnings growth.

Insecurity is still a huge challenge which could mean the banks shutting down more branches in troubled areas, dwindling oil prices resulting to disposable income and less deposits and power supply which is still not looking up.

NDIC had raised concerns that the volume of nonperforming loans in the banking sector is also rising.

L-R: Lagos state, Commissioner, Commerce & Industry, Olusola Oworu, Chairman, MainOne, Fola Adeola, Minister of Communication Technology, Omobola Johnson, and CEO, MainOne, Funke Opeke, during the launch of MainOne’s new Tier III Data Centre, MDX-i, yesterday in Lagos.

Negative sentiments meet DMO maiden bond auction

T

he bond issuance calendar of the Debt Management Office (DMO) for 2015 may have come under pressure given the lingering macro-economic and political uncertainties that are sustaining investors’ apathy.

DMO tested the waters aimed at raising N73 billion at its maiden bond auction Wednesday for 15.10% FGN April 2017 (5-yr re-opening); 14.20% FGN March 2024 (10-yr re-opening); and 12.1493% FGN July 2034 (20-yr re-opening).

Ahead of the auction result, dealers said as trading activity

remained weak, bond investors stayed on the sideline to avoid probable surprises from the auction result.

Analysts said investors’ recent fatigue over Federal Government’s debt instruments resulted from general macro worries, which are prompted by recent pressure on oil price. This is in addition to compelling rates on money market instruments; as well as the squeezing of liquidity in the banking system, through tighter monetary policy.

“Nigeria’s 2015 macroeconomic performance is

expected to be influenced by a number of variables, including crude oil prices, foreign exchange movements, national security, global financial markets, fiscal and monetary policies, as well as the outcome of the 2015 elections,” said Oscar Onyema, CEO, Nigerian Stock Exchange.

While presenting the capital market review and 2015 outlook, Onyema said, “A strengthening dollar may continue to precipitate foreign portfolio inflow (FPI) reversal, which remains a real threat to the Nigerian capital market”. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015

Page 21

Biz Feature 10 key numbers to shape Nigeria’s economy in 2015

By Aminu Imam with agency report

For more than four years, the Nigerian economy has expanded by an average of 6 percent, despite a home grown banking crisis, global economic collapse, insecurity, energy shortages and lack of movement on important reforms such as the deregulation of the downstream oil sector.

Below is a list of ten other noteworthy numbers (apart from the average 6 percent growth rate) the direction of which will shed light on where Africa’s largest economy is headed in 2015.

200: Naira to the dollar

T

he strength or weakness of the Nigerian currency is an indicator that affects everyone from real sector manufacturers to offshore carry trade investors looking to buy or sell naira denominated assets.

The Nigerian currency has been selling off versus the dollar since the retreat in oil prices began in mid – June 2014. This forced the CBN Governor Emefiele to devalue the currency by eight percent in November and widen its target trading band to N160-176 against the dollar, although the new level has been breached on the interbank FX market, given dwindling state oil revenues and declining reserves.

“We think an adjustment of the midpoint of the official rate, to NGN200/$1, (from 155 pre-oil price drop and 168 today) implying an overall

$30bn Nigeria’s gross Foreign Exchange (FX) reserves stood at $34.4 billion as at 12 January 2015, and is down nearly 20 percent from a year ago.

The CBN has burnt through reserves as it struggles to defend the currency and analysts believe the $30 billion level is a line in the sand, below which investors will lose confidence in the CBNs ability to defend the currency.

For stark comparisons, at the beginning of the 2008 global Financial Crises, Nigeria had FX reserves of nearly $60 bn, while its economy was half the size it is today.

20,000 The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index (ASI) has lost nearly

10 % Nigeria’s inflation rate has been in single digits for close to two years and peaked last year at 8.5 percent in August.

“The headline inflation is yet to reflect the impact of the recent currency devaluation, as well as the new electricity tariff, due to the time lag between event and impact,” said research firm Financial Derivatives in a January 12 Economic Bulletin.

Investors will be watching to see if inflation begins to creep up this year to hit the double digits level (10 %) and what actions the CBN may take to mitigate higher consumer prices.

13 %

devaluation of c. 30 percent is probable in the short term.

This could happen as soon as the 20 January MPC meeting,” said Renaissance Capital SSA Economist, Yvone Mhango, in a Jan 08 note.

Any breach of the N200 level will accelerate negative positioning and sentiment against the naira, as well as increase inflation due to Nigeria’s import dependent nature, analysts have stated.

N4 trillion in market capitalisation since the sell-off in equities began last June.

The NSE – ASI closed trading on Tuesday 29,889 points and is down 13.76 percent already this year.

A look at its chart and technical analysis of the index shows there may be more sell –off to come, with the 20,000 points level showing up as the next major support level for the index.

Nigeria’s benchmark policy rate was increased by 100 basis points to 13 percent, after being held at the previous level for up to three years.

A further hike in the MPR in 2015 will be as a result of erosion of reserves and continued oil price slump.

Manufacturers already groaning under high borrowing costs will be closely watching this indicator.

“This does not bode well for the 20 percent at the bottom, who are barely able to afford products that we already sell in N10 and N20 packages.

They may be unable to afford any attempts by manufacturers to pass on increased costs to the consumer,” Keith Richards, chairman of Promasidor, a Nigerian manufacturer of consumer goods products said.

$39

D

uring the 2008 financial crises oil prices collapsed from $141 – $39 per barrel in a 6 months period. After which Brent began a gradual climb back to the $100 levels.

Saudi – Arabia, a major player in OPEC has signalled its intention to not cut output to support prices, even if oil hits $20.

Analysts say traders and Nigerian government officials will be watching the $39 mark (where oil bottomed in February 2009) to see if it signals a new bottom for the current shale induced sell-off.

Goldman Sachs reduced its six and 12-month Brent predictions to $43 a barrel and $70, according to a report released Monday.

“To keep all capital sidelined and curtail investment in shale until the market has re-balanced, we believe prices need to stay lower for longer,” Goldman analysts said in the report.

18 % The Debt Management Office (DMO) sold bonds to fund the government deficit at an average of 13 percent last year.

Analysts believe investors will demand higher yields from the

6,000 The figure (6,000) is the amount in mega watts (MWs) of electricity Nigeria hoped to generate by December 2014, which however failed to materialise.

A 50 percent increase in electricity generation from year end 2014 levels of around 4,000 MW to 6,000 MW in 2015 will be significant for economic growth and productivity.

13,000 In its six-year campaign of terror, the government says Boko Haram has killed more than 13,000 people.

Moving to decisively end this mayhem and war declared on mostly defenceless Nigerians, would give a significant boost to the economy and lives of people living in the North-East.

DMO of up to 18 percent, to hold FGN bonds this year.

“The significant back-up in yields in the Nigerian fixed income market is a function of the lower oil price and recent capital flight, but in a sense, it also mirrors the lack of fiscal savings in the country,” Samir Gadio, Head of Africa Strategy, FICC Research at Standard Chartered Bank have said.

The DMO has released its provisional issuance calendar for Q1 2015, and seeks to raise (gross) between N215bn (US$1.17bn) and N305bn (US$1.66bn).

The FGN’s budget proposals project a deficit of N755bn for this year, and a contribution from net domestic borrowing of N570bn.

52 % In the 2011 presidential elections, the incumbent PDP presidential candidate won 58.8 percent of the votes cast to emerge winner.

This year’s contest will be a much tighter race and will see anyone able to muster 52 percent of the votes doing just enough to squeeze through as winner, a political analyst speaking anonymously, has said.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015

Page 22

Business

Samsung Electronics launches Tizen smartphone in India

S

outh Korea’s Samsung Electronics Co Ltd has launched the first smartphone powered by its Tizen operating system, a major development in the tech giant’s aim to build a software ecosystem to rival Google’s Android.

The Z1 device went on sale in India on Wednesday, for $92 (N 18, 400 each), targeting first-time smartphone buyers, the world’s No.1 smartphone maker said in a statement.

The no-nonsense handset - one of Samsung’s cheapest - sports a 4-inch display, a plastic body and a simplified user interface.

The launch is a key step in the company’s strategy to break free from the Android platform,

which powers Samsung’s flagship Galaxy devices and most other smartphones on the market.

At less than $100 (N20,000, the Z1 will be able to compete with low-price offerings by manufacturers like Micromax Infomatics Ltd [IPO-MINF.NS] in India. The price will also help convince first-time smartphone buyers to try a Tizen-powered device, analysts said.

“Samsung has better chances of success with first-time smartphone users, who may have limited exposure to the huge ecosystem offerings from Android or Apple’s iOS,” IDC analyst, Kiranjeet Kaur said, ahead of the launch.

While India is already the

world’s third-biggest market for smartphones, most consumers in the country do not yet own one of the devices, meaning the growth potential is huge.

Although, a Samsung spokeswoman said the firm had not decided whether to launch the Z1 in any other countries, the company is however pushing to grow Tizen on other platforms such as televisions.

Until now, Tizen has been deployed only in Samsung smartwatches and cameras, leading some analysts to doubt if it would ever power devices in the crucial smartphone business.

The mobile division as a whole accounted for about 68 percent of the firm’s operating profit in

L-R: Managing Director, Vodacom Nigeria, Mr. Guy Clarke, presenting Certificate of Recognition to Group Managing Director/CEO, UBA Plc, Mr. Phillips Oduoza, during the presentation of the certificate of recognition to UBA as Nigeria’s first Vodafone Global Enterprise customer, on Wednesday in Lagos.

2013.

Samsung says more than 1,000 apps will be available for download in the Tizen Store - a tiny fraction of the number of offerings on Google Play.

FBN Insurance completes acquisition of Oasis From Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

F

BN Insurance Limited, a subsidiary of FBN Holdings Plc, has completed the acquisition of Oasis Insurance Plc. While FBN Insurance had initially acquired 71.2 per cent equity interest in Oasis Insurance through a block divestment in February 2014, the company subsequently made a mandatory takeover bid for the remaining 28.8 percent equity interest in Oasis Insurance since Oasis is listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). This is in accordance with Rules of the Securities & Exchange Commission.

By the close of the takeover bid on July 31, 2014, FBN Insurance received a total of 1,289,493,953 ordinary shares bringing its shareholding in Oasis Insurance to approximately 91.1 per cent.

Thereafter, FBN Insurance elected to exercise its rights under Section 146(2) of the Investments and Securities Act to compulsorily acquire shares belonging to the minority shareholders having crossed the 90 per cent threshold.

At the end of the 20-day statutory notice period, FBN Insurance increased its holdings by an additional 22,603,617

N

ewly inaugurated Managing Director of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Gimba Ya’u Kumo has assured Nigerians that the bank would work to continue to provide quality and affordable houses to Nigeria and strive to improve its balance sheet.

The MD spoke in Abuja, at the inauguration of a new board for the bank by the Minister of Lands Housing and Urban Development, Mrs. Akon Eyakenyi.

Kumo, whose appointment was renewed, promised that the team would recapitalise the bank and improve the balance sheet structure to modify its standing as a financial institution.

According to him, “Our strategy will involve developing pro-active and effective strategies to attract offshore funding for

affordable housing to Nigerians as well as improving service delivery to NHF contributors across the country.

“We also plan to look at improvement of members of staff welfare across board to ensure a well motivated workforce and profitable operations”, he added.

The FMBN boss said that the completion of on-going housing estate projects under the Ministerial Pilot Housing Scheme nationwide and the completion of the Goodluck Jonathan Legacy Estate in Kaba District, in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, would be vigorously pursued.

Kumo assured the Federal Government and other stakeholders in the sector, of their determination to sustain the cordial relationship they enjoyed in the previous years.

Earlier, the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs. Akon

Eyakenyi, said that the essence of reconstituting the team of the FMBN was to reinvigorate the bank and effectively reposition it to meet the present and future challenges and gave a fresh mandate to the management to make house ownership easier for most Nigerians.

Eyakenyi applauded the performance of the FMBN in previous years, saying the bank continues to be one of the performing organisations in the country.

She urged the team to create room for innovators and strategic thinkers in the bank to flourish by reconfiguring the human resources management architecture of the bank.

“I wish to assure you of the cooperation of the Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development and indeed my personal support in the task ahead,” she said.

shares bringing its holdings in Oasis Insurance to approximately 91.4 per cent.

The company thereafter transferred the sum of N310,649,730 to FBN Registrars (as consideration for the outstanding 560,808,895 shares or 8.6 per cent) to keep in trust for shareholders who are yet to tender their share certificates.

Consequently, FBN Insurance now holds 100 per cent equity interest in Oasis Insurance. Thus, Oasis Insurance applied to the NSE that it should be delisted from the exchange.

The NSE has now delisted Oasis Insurance from its daily official list.

The acquisition would enable the FBN Holdings to deepen its insurance business as FBN Life seeks to harness Oasis Insurance’s relative strengths, thereby creating synergies for the development of the insurance business.

Also, Oasis Insurance is expected to leverage FBN Holdings’ wide network, including the international spread of its flags.

Speaking on the acquisition, the Group Chief Executive Officer, FBN Holdings, Bello Maccido, noted that the group would leverage on its acquisitions to consolidate its performance.

Naira falls amidst CBN $249.4m foreign exchange auction

FMBN promises to make T home ownership easier

By Aminu Imam

The Z1 comes with preinstalled apps and web links to services like Amazon.com, Flipkart, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Yahoo and YouTube.

(Source: Reuters)

he Naira, on Wednesday depreciated by 50 kobo at the inter-bank market despite foreign exchange auction by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

After trading on Wednesday, the local currency closed at N183.60k/$ as against N183.10k/$ the previous day, according to the data obtained from the Financial Markets Dealers Quotations (FMDQ).

The CBN offered a total of $200 million but sold a total of 249.4 million to some deposit money banks at its twice-weekly Retail Dutch Auction System (RDAS).

An analyst at Ecobank Nigeria, Kunle Ezun, explained to that there is no cast in stone to the amount of dollar sale at the inter-bank foreign exchange market. He said the CBN could sell above or below the demand.

With Wednesday sale, the CBN has sold about $489.49 million at the bi-weekly RDAS window. However, at the parallel market segment, naira remained stable at N191.50k/$.

Naira has been gaining against the dollar since the resumption of foreign exchange auction at the Retail Dutch Auction System (RDAS) after the festive holidays by CBN. But only Tuesday and Wednesday that Naira depreciated following CBN’s measure to curtail speculation.

The CBN, on Tuesday, said commercial banks could hold 0.1 percent of their shareholders’ funds in foreign currency, reversing a directive enforced last month to stop banks from dealing in hard currency on their account.

The apex bank devalued the Naira two months ago, and in December tightened trading rules to try to curb speculation against the currency, slowing trading to a trickle.

The devaluation of its target band by 8 percent to N160-N176 against the dollar was meant to halt the slide in foreign reserves.

But the naira has traded well outside that band, and reserves are still falling.

(Source: Bloomberg)

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015

Stock Watch

Report as at Thursday, January 15 2015

PAGE 23

Peoples Daily, Friday, Janaury 16, 2015

PAGE 24

PAGE 25

Special Report

Boko Haram crisis: Why it is hard to know the truth in Nigeria

By Will Ross It is not easy to find out the truth in Nigeria.

T

he Baga killings last week are a case in point, with politicians and government officials offering vastly different information - from 150 dead to 2,000.

News of another attack

by Islamist militants from Boko Haram often starts as a vague one-liner as was the case on 3 January: “Attack on Baga. Loud gunfire heard.”

This first bit of information often comes via social media. The challenge now is to find out the details and there are plenty of obstacles in the way of getting to the truth.

First up there has been no mobile phone connection in Baga for many months after the jihadists attacked mobile phone masts in the north-east.

There are of course the officials whose job it is to tell the world what is going on.

But for the first few days of the Baga crisis both the military spokesmen and government officials were silent or not picking up calls.

Then, often with help from colleagues from the BBC’s Hausa service, the goal is to get through to people who have witnessed the violence.

Fleeing On 4 January we spoke to a man who had walked for two days through the bush, eventually getting a lift to the relative safety of the biggest city in the area, Maiduguri, on a lorry.

“There was shooting from every corner of the headquarters of the multinational task force,” he tells me, adding that the exchange of fire lasted hours.

Then there are more testimonies from witnesses who say the military base was overpowered and then the gunmen started killing civilians in Baga town.

But every witness we speak to is fleeing for their life. They are not hanging

Police officers stand guard in front of the burnt-out remains of buildings in the village of Konduga, Borno State, on February 12, 2014.

around Baga to check exactly what’s happening so it is hard to be sure we are getting facts.

Then a local politician from the area weighs in with more accounts of people being shot in Baga and others dying as they fled, their boats capsizing on Lake Chad.

“I don’t know how many people have been killed,” says Senator Maina Maaji Lawan, who represents Borno North.

“But at least 70% of the area I represent is in Boko Haram hands.”

Four days after the attack and there is still silence from the government and the military.

Totally untrue Then some journalists manage to meet the chief of defence staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh. It is not an organised news conference but a hurried exchange in a car park.

He is asked about the

attack on the military base in Baga.

Boko Haram at a glance Founded in 2002 Initially focused on opposing Western education - Boko Haram means “Western education is forbidden” in the Hausa language Launched military operations in 2009 to create Islamic state Thousands killed, mostly in north-eastern Nigeria - also attacked police and UN headquarters in capital, Abuja Some three million people affected Declared terrorist group

by US in 2013 “Of course there was an attack,” he shoots back.

“But don’t worry we are at work.”

Can we retake Baga? Mr Badeh is asked.

“Why not?” is the short

reply. Seconds later he ducks into his car and is driven off.

It is an unusual way for the capture of Baga to be confirmed officially although it is worth noting this is the same very senior military official who told us a few months ago that a ceasefire deal had been reached with Boko Haram which turned out to be totally untrue.

More eyewitnesses fleeing Baga are telling the BBC about hundreds of bodies on the streets of Baga.

Another local politician says 2,000 are dead. But he is not there to count them nobody is because it is far too dangerous - so it is hard to believe him.

Election focus Meanwhile in Paris news breaks of, initially at least, 12 people being shot dead by gunmen. Within minutes President Francois Hollande is speaking to the world’s media offering some clarity

and leadership.

“This is an act of exceptional barbarism,” he begins and says security measures are in place to apprehend the perpetrators.

Ten days since Baga was first attacked and there have also been several suicide bombings.

But we have not heard a word from Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan - except for a statement condemning the Paris attacks.

The finance minister also appears keener to comment on events far away that have killed far less people.

“Terrible incident. Our deepest sympathies to the journalists and their families.

We are one with France in mourning,” tweets Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala with the hash tag #JeSuisCharlie.

Meanwhile local TV stations follow every twist and turn of the presidential election campaign - some

are lengthy programmes sponsored by rival political parties.

The media seem far more focused on the Valentine’s Day vote. That seems to be where the politicians are focused too.

President Goodluck Jonathan

On Monday evening the government put out a statement saying “the number of people who lost their lives during the Baga attack has so far not exceeded about 150”.

But we may never know how many have died in and around Baga. We know there will never be an investigation that will reveal the truth.

It won’t be the first time we are not sure if 150, 300, 500 or even 2,000 people were killed in a massacre in Nigeria.

It could be stated that Nigeria’s militant Islamist group Boko Haram - which has caused havoc in Africa’s most populous country through a wave of bombings, assassinations and now abductions - is fighting to overthrow the government and create an Islamic state.

Its followers are said to be influenced by the Koranic phrase which says: “Anyone who is not governed by what Allah has revealed is among the transgressors”.

Boko Haram promotes a version of Islam which makes it “haram”, or forbidden, for Muslims to take part in any political or social activity associated with Western society.

This includes voting in elections, wearing shirts and trousers or receiving a secular education.

Boko Haram regards the Nigerian state as being run

by non-believers, even when the country had a Muslim president.

The group’s official name is Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad, which in Arabic means “People Committed to the Propagation of the Prophet’s Teachings and Jihad”.

Recruiting ground But residents in the north-eastern city of Maiduguri, where the group had its headquarters, dubbed it Boko Haram.

Loosely translated from the region’s Hausa language, this means “Western education is forbidden”.

Boko originally meant fake but came to signify Western education, while haram means forbidden.

Since the Sokoto caliphate, which ruled parts of what is now northern Nigeria, Niger and southern Cameroon, fell under British control in 1903, there has been resistance among some of the area’s Muslims to Western education.

They still refuse to send their children to governmentrun “Western schools”, a problem compounded by the ruling elite which does not see education as a priority.

Against this background,

“

the charismatic Muslim cleric, Mohammed Yusuf, formed Boko Haram in Maiduguri in 2002. He set up a religious complex, which included a mosque and an Islamic school.

Many poor Muslim families from across Nigeria, as well as neighbouring countries, enrolled their children at the school.

But Boko Haram was not only interested in education.

Its political goal was to create an Islamic state, and the school became a recruiting ground for jihadis.

In 2009, Boko Haram carried out a spate of attacks

Ten days since Baga was first attacked and there have also been several suicide bombings.

But we have not heard a word from Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan except for a statement condemning the Paris attacks

Boko Haram terrorists

on police stations and other government buildings in Maiduguri.

This led to shoot-outs on Maiduguri’s streets.

Hundreds of Boko Haram supporters were killed and thousands of residents fled the city.

Nigeria’s security forces eventually seized the group’s headquarters, capturing its fighters and killing Mr Yusuf.

His body was shown on state television and the security forces declared Boko Haram finished.

But its fighters regrouped under a new leader, Abubakar Shekau, and have stepped up their insurgency.

In 2010, the US designated it a terrorist organisation, amid fears that it had developed links with other militant groups, such as al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, to wage a global jihad.

Boko Haram’s trademark was originally the use of gunmen on motorbikes, killing police, politicians and anyone who criticises it, including clerics from other Muslim traditions and Christian preachers.

The group has also staged more audacious attacks in northern and central Nigeria, including bombing churches, bus ranks, bars, military barracks and even the police and UN headquarters in the capital, Abuja.

Amid growing concern about the escalating violence, President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in May 2013 in the three northern states where Boko Haram is the strongest - Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.

It draws its fighters mainly from the Kanuri ethnic group, which is the largest in the three states. Most Kanuris have distinctive facial scars and when added to their heavy Hausa accents, they are easily identifiable to others Nigerians.

As a result, the militants operate mainly in the northeast, where the terrain is also familiar to them.

Source: BBC

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015

Page 26

Islam Fidau prayers: The stand of the shari’ah Qur’an says: “Every soul that hath sinned, if it possessed all that is on earth, would Fain give it In ransom: They would declare (their) repentance when They see the penalty: but the Judgment between them will be with justice, and no wrong will be done unto them.”[Yunus: 54] Anas bin Malik narrated that the Prophet said, “Allah will say to the person who will have the minimum punishment in the Fire on the Day of Resurrection, ‘If you had wealth equal to whatever is on the earth, would you ransom yourself (from the punishment) with it?’ He will reply, Yes! Then Allah will say, ‘I asked you a much easier thing than this while you were in the backbone of Adam, that is, not to worship others besides Me, but you refused and insisted to worship others besides Me.”[ Bukhari: Book 8: Volume 76: Hadith 562 ] In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. All Praise is due to Allah! We praise Him and we seek help from Him. We ask forgiveness from Him. We repent to Him; and we seek refuge in Him from our evils and bad deeds. Anyone who is guided by Allah, is indeed guided; and anyone who has been left astray, will find no one to guide him. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah, the Only One without any partner; and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and final messenger to mankind. May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon His last and final Apostle, his Household, his companions and all his followers until the end of time.

The Qur’an testifies that humankind has been the same throughout time and space. They were, and are still the same, culturally, till the end of time. They will continue to share the same fears and tribulations of the Unseen and the repugnance of their environment; those natural phenomenon which still defy their control or domination! The prehistoric man, as a result of acceptance of his incapacitation,started worshiping fearsome creatures without any guidance by setting for himself and his fellows certain fictitious rites, initiations and celebrations as mollification. He later called these creatures gods, which were usually represented in curved stones, wooden or irons statues. His fears and apprehensions became calamities of various degrees sometime culminating into fatality. Probably his rituals for the dead relatives were related to getting it well integrated, and accepted by its ancestors who perished many centuries ago. It may also be associated with comforting the ancestors to accept the arrival of new dead souls, should any violation or wrongs were perpetrated to the them whilst it was alive. Thus, the entire scheme of any type of rituals by traditionalist and polytheist priests were usually based on surmisals, conjectures and suppositions which they fabricate or confabulate out of their whimsies and impulses to defraud their ignorant acolytes and followers. In most cases their

islam explained

By Husain Zakariyya Yawale +234-8052952900 (sms only) islamexplained35@yahoo.com paralanguages are only groundless tongues without any rational meanings.

In many parts of the world, different cultures and religions have various rituals regarding spiritual redemption or rescue from torment of their dead in the hands of their ancestors in the great beyond.

Some rites are still very cruel in their routines as well as barbaric in conjectures of communicating with the spiritual worlds on behalf of the deceases’ families. The whole aim for all these unfounded rituals was to rescue or ransom the soul of the dead from the awaiting torment or anguish in the great beyond.

In Judaism for example, the culture of ransom or redemption was sensual both in belief and orientation, according to their creeds.

Christianity, similarly, ‘’teaches that the cruxifixction of Jesus Christ was a ransom for the Christians, believed to have been paid God to Satan, in satisfaction of his just claim on the souls of humanity as a result of their sins. Christian philosopher Robin Collins in his book “Understanding Atonement: A New and Orthodox Theory’’ summarized it as follows: ‘’Essentially, this theory claimed that Adam and Eve sold humanity over to the Devil at the time of the Fall; hence, justice required that grace pay the Devil a ransom to free us from the Devil’s clutches.

God, however, tricked the Devil into accepting Christ’s death as a ransom, for the Devil did not realize that Christ could not be held in the bonds of death. Once the Devil accepted Christ’s death as a ransom, this theory concluded, justice was satisfied and God was able to free us from Satan’s grip’’.

The Qur’an also relates to us the belief of the pagan Arabs, as well as their inner motives in worshipping their numerous gods and goddesshood: “They serve, besides Allah, things that hurt them not nor profit them, and They say: “These are Our intercessors with Allah.” say: “Do ye indeed inform Allah of something He knows not, In the heavens or on earth?- glory to Him! and far is He above the partners They ascribe (to Him)!”[Yunus: 18] And: “Is it not to Allah that sincere devotion is due? but those who take for protectors other than Allah (Say): “We only serve them In order that They may bring us nearer to Allah.” truly Allah will judge between them In that wherein They differ. but Allah guides not such As are false and ungrateful.”[azZumar: 3] From these verses we can clearly construe that idol worshippers

worship it for the sole reason of interceding and protecting them from the awaiting tribulation hereafter. That is to say all sacrificial offerings to the gods here are ransom, meant to rescue them from the torment of fire.

Thus, “Fidda’u” or “Fidau”, or whatever it may be called is only a residue of either paganism, Judaism or ‘Christianism’, or the combination of all isms, going by their theological histories. In Islam, ransom has never been an issue with any consequence in allits scheme of theology. The Qur’an is very explicit on the impossibility of offering to Allah any material as ransom in alternative to the eternal punishment awaiting the infidels, regardless of its value and quantity.

Allah confirms this possition in several verses of the Qur’an thus: “Then guard yourselves against a Day when one soul shall not avail another nor shall intercession be accepted for her, nor shall compensation be taken from her, nor shall anyone be helped (from outside)”.[al-baqarah: 48] And: “Every soul that hath sinned, if it possessed all that is on earth, would Fain give it In ransom: They would declare (their) repentance when They see the penalty: but the Judgment between them will be with justice, and no wrong will be done unto them.”[Yunus: 54] Furthermore, a hadith expatiated the stand in the following sublime words.

Anas bin Malik Allah’s Prophet used to say, “A disbeliever will be brought on the Day of Resurrection and will be asked. “Suppose you had as much gold as to fill the earth, would you offer it to ransom yourself?” He will reply, “Yes.” Then it will be said to him, “You were asked for something easier than that (to join none in worship with Allah (i.e. to accept Islam, but you refused).” [Bukhari: Book 8 : Volume 76 : Hadith 546 ] The case is where a person wasted his sojourn in this world as a loyal servant of Allah, and worshipped other gods beside Allah, or associated a fellow beingwith Him, or think someone has an immutablepowers to intercede, pay ransom or compensation in lieu of his or her condemnation before Allah. That is to say, if anyone made the mistake of his life by not submitting to Allah in devotion, and in line with what was revealed to Muhammad (PBUH) during his life time, such a person has fall into the abyss of eternal torment.

When a person misused his chances of believing in and worship Allah in this world, he or she will not

have another chance of returning to the world after death to restyle or amend his or her faults. Nor those who consider the life of this world a passing amusement and pleasure devoid of any purpose or consequences. This wish will never come to reality, as no respite of amendment will be offered for whatever reason or price. Allah says: “Leave alone those who take their Religion to be mere play and amusement, and are deceived by the life of This world. but proclaim (to them) This (truth): that every soul delivers itself to ruin by its own acts: it will find for itself no Protector or intercessor except Allah. if it offered every ransom, (or reparation), none will be accepted: such is (the end of) those who deliver themselves to ruin by their own acts: They will have for drink (only) boiling water, and for punishment, one Most grievous: for They persisted In rejecting Allah.”[al-Ma’idah: 70] The Qur’an tells us of situations where the unbelievers would wish another chance to redeem their misconstruals. The following verses are meant for us here before the day when knowledge of belief and action will cease to be of any importance or value.

“Do They just wait for the final fulfilment of the event? on the Day the event is finally fulfilled, those who disregarded it before will say: “The apostles of Our Lord did indeed bring true (tidings). have we no intercessors Now to intercede on Our behalf? or could we be sent back? then should we behave differently from Our behaviour In the past.” In fact They will have lost their souls, and the things They invented will leave them In the lurch.”[a-A’araf: 53] “Those whose lives the angels take In a state of wrong-doing to their own; then would They offer submission (with the pretence),;We did no evil (knowingly); (the angels will reply), Nay, but Verily Allah knoweth all that ye did; So enter the gates of Hell, to dwell therein.

Thus evil indeed is the abode of the arrogant.”[an-Nahl: 28-29] “If only Thou couldst see when the guilty ones will bend low their heads before their Lord, (saying:) “Our Lord! we have seen and we have heard: Now then send us back (to the world): we will work righteousness: for we do indeed (now) believe.”[as- sajadah: 12] In essence, what people do after the death of their parents, wives or husbands, sons or daughters in terms of inviting friends and relations on the third, seventh and fourtieth days to offer some ‘special prayers’ for the deceased as ransom or fidau due his or her lapses, remains an innovation or Bid’ah.

The prayers is inconsequential in changing the past of dead. Allah will never accept a ransom from the families, friends and relations of a dead person if he or she did not pay his or her right dues to Allah when alive. No compensations or substitute for bad work done while alive, instead of a good one later.

In fact, the special fidau prayers which people consider in my country

as Islamic, is really not Islamic in anyway! it is waste of money, time and above all null and void effort in a wrong direction. The Qur’an forewarns, thus: “That man can have nothing but what He strives for; That (the fruit of) His striving will soon come In sight”[an-Najm: 39-40] That is to say, if the dead was righteaus while alive, to him or her his or her credit! The next verse brings that out clearly.

“Whoever works any act of righteousness and has Faith,- His endeavour will not be rejected: we shall record it In His favour”.[alAnbiya’u: 94] Similarly, Allah has given us a expansive liberty and freedom to choose to do good or bad while alive.

Why after series of warnings and admonishing, and the flinging of several chances for repentance, can such a careless person be granted any compassion by proxy, and free of charge? Our chances of repentance is only during our life time. When we pass away, the chances become quiescent, dormant and frozen forever!

Thus, Allah, the Most High is above being lured by the foods, drinks and money given out to the beggar, the indigents and fraudulent mallams. let me say here and to be repeated anywhere anytime that those mallams or sheiks who persuad innocent relations of any dead person to spend money in vain ( not charity), are in fact, fraudulent, deceitful and dishonest in the name of religion (aklu-bid-deen)! Any insinuation to dupe any grieved Muslim after losing his loved one and abusing him by indirectly telling him that his decease is an inmate of hell-fire, to mercilessly again swindle him of what could have been spent mercifully in taking care of the widow and her orphans in many ways, such mallam are worse than merciless armed robbers in their heinous schemes.

In Islam, there is no any religious gathering in the name of asking Allah for any sympathy on behalf of a dead person after funeral services.

There is no fidda’u or fidau or whatever prayers allowable in Shari’ah after burial rites. Indeed Islam has commanded us to pray for the repose of our dead in private and in the open, but not for a fee or bill. In our prayers (Salawats), at the break of our fasting, during pilgrimage, and any moment we remember them.

Allah says: “And those who came after them say: “Our Lord! forgive us, and Our brethren who came before us into the Faith, and leave not, In Our hearts, rancour (or sense of injury) against those who have believed. Our Lord! Thou art indeed full of kindness, Most Merciful.”[al-Hashr: 10] Finally, let me conclude with this verse and invoke Allah to have mercy on all of us when we finally meet Him alone: “O Our Lord! cover (Us) with Thy forgiveness - me, My parents, and (all) believers, on the Day that the reckoning will be established!”[Ibrahim: 41]

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015

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PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015

Page 28

International Kenya’s The Star apologises over Charlie Hebdo cover

Tigray Region of Ethiopia Focuses on Reducing Trachoma in 2015

T

he federation of NGOs known as Light for the World is committed to stopping the transmission of the eye disease trachoma in the northern Ethiopian region of Tigray.

The federation’s strategy includes mapping the mountainous region, and teaching people how to apply the SAFE strategy -- Surgery; Antibiotics; Facial cleanliness and Environmental change.

The organization says it has carried out mapping in Ethiopia’s Tigray and Somali regions to collect and analyze data that will help them treat the 4.5 million people who live in places where trachoma is endemic.

Dr. Amir BedriKello, senior consultant for Light for the World, explained that mapping is important in determining the prevalence of trachoma, which in turn allows the SAFE strategy to be applied more effectively.

“Tigray region is one of the regions that has very high endemicity for trachoma. Almost 4.4 million people in Tigray live in trachoma endemic areas. From the region itself we have a backlog of over 30,000 trachoma-- trichiasis cases—this is the late complication of trachoma whereby you have inverted lashes that touch the cornea. It is a painful condition that will eventually lead to blindness unless it is treated by surgical intervention,” explained Dr. Bedri.

The biggest focus for 2015 is on districts with the highest rates of trachoma and trichiasis.

“When you have very high trachoma infection rates which are 30% and above, this would require five years of intervention with full WHO recommended SAFE strategy.

That would mean for 2015 that we would be doing surgery for delayed complications of trachoma, over 3,500 trachoma surgeries for next year, (2015), and also implementing activities that would promote hygiene and sanitation,” Dr. Bedri pointed out.

He also emphasized that the biggest challenge of these activities will be behavioral changes towards personal hygiene and sanitation. He said the medical aspect of treating trachoma is readily accepted.

However the doctor said when it comes to teaching the importance of personal hygiene and environmental sanitation, efforts are more challenging.

“It requires a lot of extensive health education, provisional hardware, meaning construction of latrines, water points, but also having to convince the population to change their behavior to better sanitation and hygiene,” said Bedri.

The first run of copies of the magazine were sold out within hours

A

Kenyan newspaper has apologised for publishing Charlie Hebdo’s cover, depicting Prophet Muhammad following an outcry from its Muslim readers.

The Star said it “sincerely regretted” any offence caused by the “small reproduction” of the cover.

Meanwhile, a second Kenyan newspaper has published the satirical magazine’s cover with an article which said it embodied press freedom.

In Senegal, the government banned the French magazine’s distribution.

Many Senegalese are Muslims who are likely to welcome the ban, correspondents say.

The country has close links with France, the former colonial power and French newspapers are widely available.

‘Muslim sensibilities’ The magazine is being distributed worldwide, with a cartoon which shows the Prophet weeping while holding a sign saying “I am Charlie”, and below the headline “All is

forgiven”.

“It is forbidden to distribute and disseminate, by any means, today’s editions of the French magazine Charlie Hebdo and the French newspaper Liberation throughout the national territory,” the Senegalese news agency APS reported, citing a statement from the interior ministry.

any means, today’s editions of the French magazine Charlie Hebdo and the French newspaper Liberation throughout the national territory”.

President MackySall marched in last Sunday’s unity rally in Paris to condemn terrorism.

But Senegalese political analyst Abdou Lo, general manager of Primum Africa Consulting, said banning the distribution of the magazine is a political cover for President Sall.

Senegalese Muslims, who make up

95 percent of the population, had been angry with him for participating in last Sunday’s unity march in Paris.

“I think it’s more political positioning for President Sall because as you might know, President Sall went to Paris to rally with French President Francois Hollande and many head of states and it was not very well received in Senegal,” he said.

Lo said Senegalese could not understand why an African president

like Sall did not organize a rally for Nigeria against Boko Haram or organize anything for northern Mali. “[The second] reason is for a country such as Senegal where you have 95 percent of Muslims and 4 percent of Christians, which is 99 percent of believers, people cannot understand MackySall going to back a magazine that is mocking religion,” Lo said.

He said Senegalese believe in freedom of speech and press and do not support the killings of the Charlie Hebdo journalists. However, Lo said, Senegalese Muslims do not look favorably on anyone who makes a mockery of their Prophet Muhammad or any religion. “They are against the killings of the cartoonists because the Islam we have in this country is very tolerant, very open because we live peacefully with Christians and animists. But people cannot understand a news magazine mocking the Prophet and MackySall going to back that magazine and saying ‘I am Charlie,’” Lo said.

Lo said there was no reason for the president to ban the distribution because many Senegalese would not have bought the magazine. But by doing so, the president is trying to win the support of religious leaders who might have been angry with the president for marching in Paris.

Analyst: Senegal Ban of ‘Charlie Hebdo’ distribution political

S

enegal’s government has reportedly banned the distribution of Wednesday’s edition of the French satirical weekly magazine Charlie Hebdo and the daily Liberation.

Both publications carried a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed on their Wednesday front pages.

The Senegalese news agency, citing a statement from the interior ministry, said, “it is forbidden to distribute and disseminate, by

MackySall, President of Senegal.

Page 29

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015

International

Pope Francis visits Philippines for talks on the poor and victims of injustice

P

ope Francis is in the Philippines for a five-day visit keenly awaited by the nation’s 80 million Roman Catholics.

A huge crowd was on hand to welcome the pope, who was greeted by Philippine President Benigno Aquino as he got off the plane Thursday.

It is the first papal visit to the Philippines in 20 years. Francis said he will focus on the poor, the exploited and victims of injustice during his trip to the country.

The highlight will be a huge open-air Mass on Sunday in the capital, Manila, where some 6 million people are expected to turn out.

On Wednesday, President Benigno Aquino personally inspected motorcade routes and public venues, which were lined with black-and-white concrete barriers topped by thick wire mesh to control eager crowds.

Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas said Aquino was willing to serve as Francis’ “personal bodyguard” to ensure his safety.

In a televised address on Monday, Aquino appealed to Filipinos to follow security rules after two

A

Pope Francis waves to Filipinos upon his arrival in Manila, Philippines, Jan. 15, 2015.

people were killed in a stampede during a religious procession on Friday.

Asked if he was nervous ahead of the Pope’s arrival, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Senior Superintendent Wilben Mayor said: “For a long time now, yes. This is very challenging for the

PNP.” Police, military security Nearly 50,000 soldiers and police were deployed in the capital and in the central Philippine province of Leyte, where the pope will visit Tacloban to meet survivors of a devastating typhoon in November 2013.

About 2 million people are expected to attend an open-air mass on Saturday at Tacloban City airport, almost completely destroyed

by Haiyan, Reuters reported.

The pontiff’s visit to the Philippines is the first since Pope John Paul II’s in 1995.

Source-VOA

for failing to carry out adequate driver checks.

On the first day of the trial, the victim made a statement to the judge and formally identified the driver as her attacker, AFP news agency quoted prosecutor AtulShrivastava as saying.

“She gave her statement confidently. She saw the man and immediately said: ‘He is the person’,” MrShrivastava said.

“She appeared angry, obviously.

If someone curses you, you would be angry. Imagine her situation -

that anger is more than justified.”

The defence lawyers said they would cross-examine the victim on Friday.

Journalists were not allowed inside the court and there is a bar on reporting the victim’s statement.

Uber, which now operates in more than 50 countries since being founded in California in 2009, has faced a range of challenges in recent months: Uber has defended the way it checked drivers, and said it would

have completed about two million background checks by the end of 2014.

The company has also apologised for the incident in Delhi and acknowledged that it “must do better”.

On Tuesday, when MrYadav was charged, police said they intended to produce more than 40 prosecution witnesses.

India’s legal system is notoriously slow, and cases can go on for years.

Source-BBC

Divers to Head for main section of AirAsia Jet wreckage

I

ndonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency says divers Thursday will try to

Kerry says may meet Iran’s Zarif again this week

U

Uber Delhi ‘rape’: India court begins driver’s trial n Indian driver from the web-based taxi firm Uber has gone on trial in Delhi charged with the rape of a passenger last month.

Shiv Kumar Yadav has also been charged with “criminal intimidation” and kidnapping. He has pleaded not guilty.

A 26-year-old woman alleges she was taken to a secluded area and raped after booking a journey home with Uber.

Delhi later banned Uber and several other web-based taxi firms

Asia & Middle East

reach the main section of the AirAsia flight wreckage where most of the bodies are believed

to be located.

Agency chief Henry BambangSoelistyo says the

Indonesian navy divers are seen on board their vessel preparing for an underwater mission in the Java

fuselage was found in the Java Sea three kilometers from the tail section and 800 meters from where the “black box” recorders were found earlier. The fuselage was located by a Singaporean navy ship.

The Airbus jet crashed December 28 with 162 people on board. Fifty bodies have been recovered so far.

Underwater photos from a remotely operated vehicle show the cracked fuselage and part of the plane’s wing.

AirAsia Flight QZ8501 vanished from radar less than halfway into its flight to Singapore from the Indonesian city of Surabaya.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Thursday he may meet Iran’s foreign minister again this week to discuss Tehran’s nuclear program following their roughly six hours of talks on Wednesday.

Iran and six world powers have renewed their quest for an elusive nuclear deal - seen as crucial to reducing the risk of a wider Middle East war - after negotiators failed for the second time in November to meet a self-imposed deadline.

The major powers hope to persuade Iran to curb its nuclear program, which the West suspects may seek to develop atomic weapons, in exchange for a gradual easing of economic sanctions.

Iran says its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes.

Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad JawadZarif met for about six hours in Geneva on Wednesday.

“There is no final decision as to whether or not we will meet in Paris,” Kerry told reporters in the Bulgarian capital Sofia, noting he and Zarif would both be in the French capital on Friday.

“It is possible, but nothing has been decided. It may also not happen,” he added.

Kerry sidestepped a question on whether it was possible for the United States to strike a nuclear deal while Iran continues to detain a number of U.S. citizens, saying only that Washington was making great efforts to secure their release.

Trafficked Chinese boy reunited with family after 24 years apart

A

Chinese man has been reunited with his father 24 years after he was abducted as a toddler from a vegetable market.

In 1991, 4-year-old Sun Bin was taken by child traffickers from his hometown in Sichuan province and sold to a family thousands of miles away, in Jiangsu province on the country’s eastern coast, Chinese state media reported.

On Tuesday, Sun was finally reacquainted with his 60-year-old father, Sun Youhong, and a younger sister he had never met. The moment was captured in a moving series of photographs.

“I was happy. I was grateful,” the father said. “But I was also bitter.”

Child trafficking is still a major business in China, as traffickers seek to profit off a growing demand for healthy babies from potential adoptive parents in China and elsewhere.

Boys, prized because they carry on the family line, are in great demand and fetch higher prices.

Earlier this week, Chinese police said they had rescued 37 newborn babies after busting a trafficking ring that sold the babies for up $13,000 each.

The reunion Tuesday took place at a police station in Chengdu. When a police officer introduced Sun Bin to his father, the 28-year-old dropped to his knees and wept in his father’s embrace.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015

Page 30

International Obama, Cameron pledge firm stand against extremists

P

resident Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David

Cameron say they will not a llo w ter r o r ists t o s up p r e s s free speech and free

e xp r e s s io n.

In joint opinion piece published in The Times of

President Barack Obama speaks to members of the media prior to a meeting with Secretary of State John Kerry and Vice President Joe Biden in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington.

London, the two leaders promised to “defeat these barbaric killers and their d is t o r t ed ide ology .” O bam a and Cameron said the world would “not be cowed by extremists,” whether they were “lone fanatics” or groups such as al-Qaida, the Islamic State or Boko H a r a m.

The article comes after l a s t w e ek’ s de adly t e rroris t a t t a ck on t he offic e s of t he Fr e nch s at iric al n e ws pape r Ch a r l ie He bdo.

President Obama is s ch e d ul e d t o hos t C am e ron f o r a w orkin g din n e r at t he White House Thursday.

T h e y are d u e t o h o l d m o re t a l k s o n Friday .

In their opinion piece, both leaders also vowed to maintain diplomatic p r e s s ure on R u s s ia ove r it s a ct io ns in Ukrain e .

Kerry: US ‘Deeply Committed’ to Bulgarian Security, Democracy

U

.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says the United States is “deeply committed to Bulgaria’s security, prosperity, and the health of its democratic institutions.”

Kerry, who is on his first trip to Sofia as Secretary of State, made the comment in a joint news conference with Prime Minister

BoykoBorisov. He also met with President Rosen Plevneliev and foreign Minister Daniel Mitov, discussing diversification of Bulgaria’s energy resources, defense cooperation, and bolstering the rule of law.

A senior State Department official said earlier that Bulgaria’s “significant” energy dependence is

on the agenda because of Russia’s cancellation of the South Stream pipeline project last month.

The pipeline would have run under the Black Sea to southern and central Europe. Russia said it cancelled the project because of European opposition. The State Department official said the U.S. is working intensively to help

Bulgaria find alternative energy supplies.

Kerry is also meeting, separately, with British Foreign Secretary Phillip Hammond, who is on a tour of the region.

After Bulgaria, Kerry will travel to Paris where he will pay his respects to victims of the Charlie Hebdo attacks.

CIA board clears staff of snooping Senate computers

A

CIA internal watchdog has cleared agency officers of improperly accessing the computers of members of the US Senate intelligence committee.

It said CIA officers acted reasonably in searching computers after concerns they contained classified material.

The finding contradicts allegations from lawmakers and an admission from the agency’s own inspector general.

The allegations came during the intelligence committee’s investigation into claims of torture by the CIA. ‘Inappropriate access’ An internal board launched an inquiry after the CIA appealed against findings by David Buckley, the agency’s inspector general, that employees had “improperly” gained access to computers used

by Senate staff.

It concluded that although there had been some “inappropriate access” to a secured network being used by Senate workers, there had been no wrongdoing and no law violated.

Dianne Feinstein, the chair of the Senate intelligence committee, who has clashed with the CIA over the issue, rejected the board’s

findings.

“I’m disappointed that no-one at the CIA will be held accountable,” she said in a statement.

“The decision was made to search committee computers, and someone should be found responsible for those actions,” she added.

The board’s conclusion comes a week after Mr Buckley said he was stepping down from his post, but officials said his resignation was unrelated to anything he had investigated.

The Senate staff had been using computers at a CIA facility to examine documents related to the

agency’s interrogation practices following the 9/11 attacks on the US. Those documents formed the basis of a damning report, released in December 2014, which found the CIA had carried out “brutal” interrogations of al-Qaeda suspects.

Europe and Americas

The new Charlie Hebdo sells out in Paris

T

here was an unusual sight in Paris on Wednesday: long lines at market kiosks and newsstands before the sun even came up.

The customers were waiting for Charlie Hebdo, one week to the day after terrorists stormed the satirical French magazine’s offices and killed 12 people, including its senior-most cartoonists.

Buyers said they wanted a piece of history and needed to support freedom of expression.

By sunrise, the magazine was mostly sold out in central Paris.

Workers encouraged customers to come back Thursday, promising there would be more copies of the magazine then.

In the meantime, copies are selling for hundreds of dollars on eBay. As newsstands ran out of copies, Charlie Hebdo columnist Patrick Pelloux wrote on Twitter, “Thank you, and rest assured we will reprint and redistribute.”

The initial plan called for 3 million copies to be distributed in France and other countries, a fifty-fold increase from Charlie Hebdo’s typical weekly circulation of 60,000.

But the new goal is 5 million.

A spokesman for the magazine distributor said the first 1 million copies were released during the day on Wednesday.

“1 million tomorrow Thursday, 1 million Friday and then 1 million for the weekend,”thespokesman,MichelSalion, told CNNMoney via Twitter. “Last 1 million for restocking next week.”

The magazine’s release has been highly controversial, largely because on its cover is an illustration of a tearful Prophet Mohammed, holding up an “I am Charlie” sign accompanied by the words “ ll is forgiven.” Source-CNN

Hollande: Mainstream Muslims victimized by fundamentalism, Intolerance

F

Senate intelligence committee chairwoman Dianne Feinstein said she was disappointed with the outcome

rench President Francois Hollande said mainstream Muslims are the primary victims of “fanaticism, fundamentalism, and intolerance,” as the nation deals with the fallout of last week’s terrorist attacks by Islamist extremists.

Hollande spoke at the Arab World Institute, which seeks to build closer ties between France and Arab cultures.

He said a crisis like last week’s shooting at the Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine can serve to undermine confidence, or awaken people to, in his words, “shout their message all the louder.” But he added that the whole country was “united in the face of terrorism.”

The Muslim community in France, Europe’s largest, have “the same rights and the same duties as all citizens” and must be protected, Hollande said.

Source-VOA

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015

PAGE 31

Kawonise replaces Sunmola as Ogun LP guber candidate From James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

T

he Ogun State chapter of Labour Party (LP) has dropped the candidature of Sina Kawonise as the governorship candidate of the party in the state, replacing him with the name of a 54 year old maritime consultant, Abolaji Sunmola, as its governorship candidate for the forthcoming election in the state.

Kawonise, former Commissioner of Information during Gbenga Daniel’s administration, became the sole aspirant of the party after he was affirmed at the governorship primary election held in December last year.

The indication that Kawonise might not be fielded as the party’s flag bearer emerged last week when INEC announced the name of the State Chairman of LP, Bode Simeon, as the party’s candidate for February 28 governorship election.

Reacting to the development, Kawonise described the development as an illegality, threatening that he had assembled his team of lawyers to sue the party for a redress.

In a statement he personally signed, Kawonise said, “My attention has been drawn to an illegality committed by the National Working Committee of the Labour Party in submitting the name of Abolaji Sunmola to the INEC as the LP Governorship Candidate in Ogun State”.

“The fact of the matter is that I am the lawfully elected candidate of the LP in the state. I was the sole aspirant that attended the affirmative congress of the LP in Abeokuta on December 10, 2104.

“The Congress that returned me as the governorship candidate was witnessed by INEC, the Directorate of State Security

(DSS), the Police, and the media.

“It is on record that the INEC team that witnessed the congress duly wrote the report of the Congress returning me as the governorship candidate and submitted same to INEC headquarters in Abuja.

“My legal team has concluded briefs to take up the matter in the

appropriate court.

While speaking with newsmen, in Abeokuta, the party’s secretary, Sunday Oginni, explained that the party had replaced the name of the state party chairman, Olabode Simeon, whose name had been submitted as the party governorship candidate with Sunmola.

L-R: PDP Gubernatorial Candidate for Lagos state, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, welcoming his APC counterpart, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode to the 2015

INEC shortlists 7,661 ad hoc staff for Edo polls

From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

T

he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has shortlisted 7,661 ad hoc staff for the February polls in Edo State.

This is even as the proposed examination for certain categories of the ad hoc staff in the state appears to have caused anger and frustration among the affected ad hoc staff.

The State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mike Igni, who disclosed this to journalists,

also said the shortlisted ad hoc staff are expected to participate in oral and written examinations.

The REC who disclosed this on Wednesday at an interactive session with leaders of registered political parties in the state at the commission’s headquarters also assured that successful persons would be enlisted to complement 339 permanent staff of the commission, even though he did not disclose the time for the interview.

He further said the commission has made appreciable progress in training and retraining of personnel who will conduct the elections.

According to him, “We are going to conduct examinations for INEC ad hoc staff. The kind of graduates we have now, most of them cannot define what they read in schools they graduated from’’.

He gave a detailed account of the benefits of the newly introduced Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) reading device in the 2015 polls, describing it as “the game changer’’ that will eliminate rigging and fake PVCs during elections.

He explained that the commission will not tolerate dereliction of duty by INEC staff, saying this is capable of

undermining the peaceful conduct of the elections.

“The electoral process must not be used to divide the people…We must do justice in all our actions’’, he said, as he cautioned leaders of the registered political parties to submit to the commission, the names of reasonable and responsible persons as agents and to do so within the time frame.

“Political parties should not submit names of illiterate people as their party agents. We are not looking for bouncers as party agents.

In fact, don’t bring names of agents who cannot read and write’’, he said.

Borno PDP rejects voting in IDP camp From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

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he Borno state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday called on the Federal Government to stop the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) from conducting any election at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps established in some parts of the state.

Rising from an emergency stakeholders meeting held in Maiduguri, the party argued that there is nowhere in the constitution where it says elections should be conducted in IDP camps and that it was unaware of the INEC’s rationale behind the ongoing distribution of permanent voter cards at the IDPs camps.

The convener of the meeting, who is the party’s deputy gubernatorial candidate for the 2015 general elections, Ibrahim Birma accused INEC of bias over the issue.

Birma, who briefed newsmen over the issue, alleged that INEC in Borno state seems to be dancing the tune of one political party, which is bent on having the commission to conduct elections in the IDP camps.

The party also alleged that voter cards are being issued out to wrong people at the camps, while others were asked to sell their own.

Birma queried INEC to explain the fate of other IDPs who are staying outside the state, adding “What happens to all the IDPs from Borno who are at camps in Abuja, Lagos, Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe and the rest of the states.

If IDPs in Borno must cast votes during the 2015 elections, what happens to those who fled the state due to insurgency? What explanation do they have to the constitution, which said elections are to be conducted at units? I find this laughable”.

He therefore called on the federal government to ensure that everybody go back to where they registered to cast their votes.

“We want all the road close to be opened so that everybody will go back to where he or she registered to vote in the elections, as conducting elections in Maiduguri and Jere alone cannot be an election. All the local governments in the southern Borno have people who are ready to vote, nothing was taken to them, but they are distributing PVCs at IDP camps. For who?”, he asked.

Plateau guber candidates sign anti violence pact From Ado Abubakar Musa, Jos

P

lateau state gubernatorial candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Gyang Pwajok and his opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) counterpart, Barrister Lalong, have signed an anti election violence pact, promising to caution their

supporters against any kind of violence during and after the general elections.

The two governorship contenders signed the commitment yesterday during a meeting with the Plateau state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) , Kwangan Godwin Mbatavbee, the Catholic Archbishop of Jos, Most Rev.

Ignatius Kaigama, including other community and religious leaders in the state.

The chairman of the meeting, Ignatius Kaigama, said the aim of the meeting was to ensure that the 2015 polls were conducted in peace and harmony, urging political leaders to admonish their supporters against violence.

In his remarks at the meeting,

Pwajok said he was in support of the peace commitment, noting that it was his love for peace that motivated him to sponsor a Bill in the Senate on Reconciliation, Reconstruction and Rebuilding the nation, which he said is currently before the Senate.

Lalong, on his part, said his party was doing everything possible to ensure that its

supporters conducted themselves in a peaceful manner, calling on INEC to conduct credible elections.

“For those of us who know Gen. Buhari, we know that he does not tolerate violence and that is the spirit we are imbibing. However, we are mindful of the government of the day, the military and the police should not be allowed to use intimidation”, he said.

PAGE 32

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015

People returning from Christmas and New Year holidays, yesterday at Zuba Motor Park, in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Agency reiterates resolve to improve welfare of 4,500 IDPs in Abuja T he Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency (FCT-FEMA) has reiterated its resolve to improve the welfare of a total of 4,500 IDPs Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) located in makeshift camps in Wasa, Waru, Durumi and New Kuchingoro communities, in Abuja.

According to the director of the agency, Alhaji Abbas Idris, who disclosed this yesterday, in an interview with the News Agency of

Nigeria in Abuja, the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, had set up a committee to work out modalities for the welfare and safety of the IDPs in the Territory.

“A lot of activities have taken place regarding the welfare of displaced persons and the FCT minister has set up a cross-functional committee headed by the army Garrison Commander.

“The function of the committee is to fashion ways by which

government can take proper care of these persons so that the trauma they have experienced can be effectively managed.

“Though the FCT was caught unawares by the influx of the displaced persons war-torn areas of the country, we just have to rise up to the occasion by giving them adequate care,’’ he said.

Idris explained that FEMA presently accommodated IDPs in four makeshift camps within the

FCT, adding that plans were on to build a permanent camp at Kuje.

“Presently, we have about 4,500 IDPs located in makeshift camps in Wasa, Waru, Durumi and New Kuchingoro, but we are working on more comfortable camp at Kuje.

“The idea is to ensure that these Nigerians, who are unfortunate victims of insurgency, are made to feel at home while in the camp.

“We, however, pray for an end to the insurgency so that they can move

back to their homes,’’ the director stressed.

Furthermore, he said that the FCTA had taken steps to ensure that medical and educational facilities are made available to them, while skill acquisition programmes were being organised for artisans among them.

“The idea is to keep them busy so that they don’t get distracted by criminal elements in the society,’’ he pointed out. (NAN)

Yelwan-Zuba: A community in dire need of basic amenities

By Usman Shuaibu

Y

elwan-Zuba is a village located on the hinterland along the former Abuja Airport, in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The road to Yelwan-zuba community is not only meandering but narrow, even as it’s very sandy and rough.

Peoples Daily correspondent who visited the community observed that the it is in dire need of basic necessities of life, for many inhabitants of the area.

According to the head of the community, Chief Abdullahi Musa, Yelwan-zuba village has been neglected by the past and present administrations of the Gwagwalada area council.

Musa claimed that there are over 50,000 habitants in the community, who are mainly farmers.

Lamenting the situation, the village head recalled that the only functional borehole in the community was built by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).

He therefore urged the Gwagwalada Chairman, Hon. Abubakar Jibrin Giri to sink additional boreholes, to boost access to potable water in the community.

To boost electricity supply in the area, the community leader pleaded with the Council chairman to provide power transformers for the benefit of people there.

On education, Musa appealed to the authorities of Gwagwalada Area Council as well as FCT Administration to, as a matter of urgency to build both Junior and Senior secondary schools in the community, to prevent their children from going out to other neighbouring communities, for such purpose.

He decried that almost on daily basis; some of the many children were involved in accidents, whenever they went out of the community, in search of secondary education, especially those at Tugan-Maje secondary school.

Furthermore, the community leader pleaded with the FCT Administration and Giri-led leadership of the Council to deem it necessary to provide fertilizers to farmers, especially during the farming season.

He however, urged the people of the community to continue to be loyal to the constituted authorities as well as contribute their quota to the development of the area.

In the same vein, the Madaki (Prime Minister) of the community, Mr. Isah Garba Zuba, expressed dismay over the neglect of the people of the community by past Chairmen of the Council, and urged the present

Giri-led government redouble its developmental effort, in order to move the community to the next level.

Zuba, specifically asked the Council Chairman to rehabilitate the dilapidated main link road from the Tugan Maje village to the community, for the benefit of motorists plying the route every day.

Also, he urged the Chairman to build a healthcare centre in the area, to enable the inhabitants have access to adequate medical care.

Not left out, the assistant Chief Imam of the community, Mallam Abubakar Yakubu, explained that the community’s top priority is how to resolve perennial water problem in the area.

Like others, the cleric asked the Council boss to place more emphasis on provision of infrastructural facilities in the community this year, to enable the people feel the impact of his leadership of the Council.

However, he frowned at the way in which the politicians always use the residents during the electioneering period, and thereafter dumped them without taking along in the scheme of things.

He therefore urged political leaders irrespective of their status to contribute their quota to the development of the community for the benefit of the electorates residing in the area.

Also, the Imam called for the establishment of a polling unit to enable the residents to come out en masse to vote for candidates of their choice whenever there are elections.

Yakubu, however, advised the elders and youths of the community to work together, so as to fight for a common goal.

This, according to him, was necessary, as without unity, no meaningful development will be achieved in the community.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015

PAGE 33

Photo Splash

Young girls hawking, yesterday at Nyanya, in Abuja.

A driver transporting firewood, yesterday at Gwagwalada, in Abuja.

Gbagi drummers entertaining people, at a function yesterday at Bwari, in Abuja.

Water melon sellers waiting for patronage, yesterday at Dei-dei fruit market, in Abuja.

Young boy learning how to use grinding machine, yesterday at Apo village, in Abuja.

Photos: Justin Imo-Owo

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015

PAGE 34

Metro

Bala inaugurates FCT PDP campaign committees

By Stanley Onyekwere

M

A woman selling roasted yam, at Area I, in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Transportation : Residents bemoan traffic congestion on Abuja roads

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

A

cross section of residents in the Federal Capital Territory(FCT ), have bemoaned the perennial traffic congestion within the metropolis, causing a lot of difficulties to the comminuting public.

Some of the residents who spoke to Peoples Daily, in separate interviews said they were concerned over the inability of the relevant authorities to resolve the lingering problem, which they attributed to influx of vehicles into the city.

They observed that most of the existing road infrastructures have become over stretched by the influx of vehicles into the metropolis, thereby leading to traffic jam on many roads in the Territory, especially the city centre.A resident at Wuse, Felix George, who described the situation as a very frustrating, as everyday people are forced to spend a lot of man hours in the traffic jam, especially during morning and evening peak periods, said something needed to be done to reverse the unfortunate trend.

“I wonder why that every blessed day there must be intra

city traffic jam, and because of the situation, to go my office, which ordinarily would take 20 minutes, but before I could reach my office, it has to take me almost an hour.

“Government seriously needs to do something about this traffic holdup, as if care is not taken Abuja will very soon turn to the old Lagos, where people usually spend much hours on the road, hence there should be more control of the traffic, because it is frustrating”, he stressed.

Another resident, who simply identified herself as Mrs. Nweke, specifically expressed her deep concerns over the heavy traffic around Banex junction to Wuse market.

“Why motorists and other commuters should be subjected to spend in hours held up in the traffic gridlock, and most often than not, one even gets tired of holding car break “.

“In this Wuse, even traffic wardens cannot control the traffic flow, because vehicles are too much, so the increased of cars on the roads will always cause gridlock and delay commuters from reaching their destinations on time.

“But, although there are more cars on the road are so much, and some impatient cab drivers contribute to our frustrations while moving around the city,” she pointed out.

“You can imagine leaving your house as early as 4.am to beat traffic jam, after passing through the horrific perennial traffic gridlock on Abuja/Keffi expressway for hours; I still get to Area 1, to waste another hour, before getting to my office.

“There are so many cars and people within the city centre, and at times vehicles do not easily move around, and most motorists are in always in hurry to reach their destinations, as a result, residents and others that live in and around the FCT suburbs have to spend hours on traffic, says Mr. Tatari Shekwoyadu, who reside at New Karu.

Not left out, one Owen Bassey notes that: “One of the major problems that causes gridlock in the city, was that people always move into to Abuja, in search of daily bread, so it means that there will be some issues of holdups around major areas in the federal capital city.

“For instance around Central Area, where the rail tracks are been laid, and around Apo Mechanic road, there are always heavy traffic, because the roads are either too busy or narrow; but the police traffic wardens and FCT Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) personnel can help in controlling the traffic.”

However, another resident, at Gwarinpa estate, Mallam Wahab Muhammad, observes that “at times VIO personnel also contribute to the lingering gridlock in the city, by laying ambush on motorists.

“When vehicles owners noticed that the VIO officials are on the roads, trying to ambush them, they promptly they just turn their vehicles in the middle of road, thereby causing obstruction to the traffic flow, as most often a lot accidents occur in the process, and when such incident happened, getting oneself out of such traffic becomes a problem.”

He adds: “there are so many vehicles in the metropolis, which is why we are stretching many existing roads, if the traffic situation is not addressed immediately it will soon get out of hand.”

FCT NAWOJ charges INEC on voters registration, PVC distribution

By Ochiaka Ugwu

I

n a quest to sustain her engagement with the society, the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has admonished Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to sustain the distribution of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs), as well as continue the registration process, so as to capture those who

will attain the voting age before February polls.

The group made this known in a statement by the Chairperson FCT NAWOJ, Felicia Chukwurah, and it reads “We urge INEC to ensure that they register Nigerians who will be attaining the voting age of 18years, before14th, February, 2015, the commencement of the elections, as captured in the 1999, Nigerian Constitution, so as not to disenfranchise these class of

Nigerians who should be giving privilege of participating in the process for the first time.”

The statement also urged INEC to explore all legal options to ensure that all eligible voters get their PVCs, so that they can also participate in shaping the future of their country, adding that it will give the electorate a sense of belonging, as true citizens.

Chukwurah, further called on politicians in the country and

FCT, in particular, to carry out issue based campaigns and eschew inciting statements that can breed violence and urged youths to avoid being used as weapons of destruction during elections by desperate politicians.

NAWOJ equally advised female journalists mostly those on political beat to uphold the ethic of the profession by reporting objectively, warning that erring members would be punished accordingly.

inister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed, yesterday inaugurated the FCT Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) 2015 campaign committees; urging members to swiftly move into the field to scout for votes.

Peoples Daily reports that the committees include the eight members Campaign Council to be led by the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, with Senator Philip Tanimu Aduda, FCT Minister of State, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, Yahaya Yunusa Suleiman, Zephaniah Jisalo, Danladi Etsu Zhin, Hassan Abbas Grema and Bitrus Kura as members.

Other committees inaugurated were AMAC, Kuje, Kwali, Gwagwalada, Bwari, Abaji, civil societies/groups, Media/Publicity as well as Security.

According to the minister, who inaugurated the committees, members should assiduously move from door-to-door throughout the nooks and crannies of the 8,000 square kilometers of the FCT, to canvass for votes for all the party’s candidates from the Presidency down to the positions of the members of the House of Representatives.

Mohammed noted that President Goodluck Jonathan loves the FCT, and so it was time to appreciate that uncommon love as well as the massive development delivered by his administration like the expansion and rehabilitation of the Airport & Kubwa roads respectively.

The minister emphasized that President Jonathan has never interfered in the running or administration of the Territory since he assumed leadership in FCTA, thereby bequeathing another face of leadership.

He warned that the party cannot afford any rancor or acrimony at this material time and pleaded with all those who couldn’t actualize their aspirations at the party’s primaries to take solace, as there is another time for them.

Mohammed also called for highlevel cooperation and synergy amongst all party faithful, as it is the time to go back to the people to seek for their mandate.

The minister reiterated that every vote counts and advised party faithful to shun any act of violence as they move into the field to canvass for votes.

He used the occasion to officially announce the appointment of Mr. Hassan Grema as his new Senior Special Assistant on Political Matters.

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the FCT Chapter of the PDP, Yahaya Suleiman, thanked the minister for his wise and fatherly leadership he has bequeathed to the party.

The Chairman therefore pledged to work fervently for the success of the party at the forthcoming general elections; stressing that the FCT is a PDP state.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015

Page 35

Strange World

Woman jumped to her death from depression after her desperate partner’s calls… went unanswered

A

mother-of-one who suffered suicidal bouts of depression jumped to her death from a multi-

storey car park after calls by her desperate family to NHS out-ofhours numbers went unanswered.

Lorna Clymo, 42, from Haworth, Keighley, suffered so

badly from depression her partner, Mark Feather, was given a list of telephone helpline numbers for doctors to call in case she had depressive episodes after her discharge from hospital.

But although she was rated by health professionals as being at ‘red’ - at high risk of harming herself - Mr Feather found all the numbers rang out and he was unable to leave a message when he tried to contact them.

On February 1 last year MsClymo, a homecare worker, drove her Peugeot to the top of a car park in Keighley, near Bradford, and jumped.

She died a short time later in hospital from chest, spinal and pelvic injuries.

Her anti depressants had been switched by doctors in the run up to her death.

At an inquest MsClymo’s family condemned Bradford

District Care Trust over its failure to have a messaging service and claimed she was not on the correct medication.

Her sister Sharon Charlton, 44, told Bradford Coroner’s Court: ‘If you are providing a service and somebody said ‘just ring us up’ and there was no message how would you know who was ringing you?

Source-Daily mail

Teenager killed over Gangnam-Style dancing

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Lorna Clymo, who suffered with depression, jumped to her death from a multi-storey car park after calls to NHS out-of-hours numbers went unanswered

teenager was killed by another boy who thought he was being racist when he started performing the Gangnam Style dance in a corner shop.

Jordan Brennan, 17, broke into the dance in the shop in front of a 16-year-old who thought his South East Asian ethnicity was being mocked.

A tussle followed and Jordan fell back, hitting his head on the metal shutters and then the concrete floor outside a shop in Gorton, Manchester.

His attacker, who cannot be identified, then kicked him in the legs.

Jordan walked home, unaware that he was suffering from bleeding on the brain and was found dead the next day by his mother Kim. The 16-year-old pleaded guilty to

manslaughter and his not guilty plea to murder was accepted.

College student Jordan was described as a ‘polite, very bubbly, happy-go-lucky type of lad’.

At the time of Jordan’s death, his father Nigel Hatton said: ‘We’ll always remember his smile and his loveable face. He was always very happy, always smiling. At school he was a very good friend and he always listened to his mates. His two passions were BMXing and fishing.

‘We can’t describe the impact it’s had on us.

We’ve lost our son at 17, and we didn’t expect to.

If someone you love falls in or gets old, then you can start to take stock of things – but we never got a chance. You see this happen in the news to other people, but you don’t expect it to happen Jordan Brennan died shortly after the attack to you.’

(Picture: Cavendish)

Nigeria 2015: A large chair doesn’t make a king Contd from Back Page special interests.

Elections in Nigeria You may have recognized some of these challenges in Nigeria today. Your vocal press and the speakers today have certainly indicated as much. But it is not for me to say. I can only share with you some personal reflections, as a neighbour, as a fellow African and as a friend of Nigeria.

Nigeria has come a long way since 1999. I remember vividly the bad old days of dictatorship.

But we know that every election since 1999 has been fraught, and marred by violence. Many people I have spoken to worry that violence might once again disfigure and undermine the electoral process.

So I entreat all Nigerians, and especially the political actors, not to put the amazing progress Nigeria has made in jeopardy.

Politics should be about serving the higher interests of the country and not self-serving. As the late President Kennedy said, “…ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.” Nigeria has the largest population of any country on the continent and has the biggest economy. It plays a major role on the international stage, especially at this time, when it holds a seat at the Security Council. Nigeria is one of the largest contributors of UN peacekeepers.

But as the old proverb says, a large chair does not make a king. To lead, you have to be a role model. The 2015 elections are an opportunity to confirm Nigeria’s progress in the eyes of the world, but most importantly, in the eyes of its own people. As I said earlier, you, as civil society, have an important role to play in making sure that these coming elections and the elections in

the future meet the standards that Nigerians, especially young Nigerians, expect and demand.

You can, in particular, resist efforts to use regional, tribal and religious differences for political gain. You must denounce such manoeuvers that threaten the cohesion of Nigeria and incite violence. It is for this urgent reason that you must stand as one against Boko Haram. We must reject their evil ideology. We are in the same boat Boko Haram’s vicious and brutal tactics have no place in the civilized world. No cause- I repeat no cause- can justify such brutality, murder, kidnapping of innocent children, women and men.

Nigerians are proud that theirs is a big country. The size of Nigeria is a major source of your wealth and power. But the price of that size is diversity, which should be accepted, valued and even celebrated. I also urge politicians and their supporters

to be careful with their language, for words can inflame, incite and provoke. But they can also calm, soothe and reconcile. Nigerians should remember that their destiny is a common one, whether you are Muslim or Christian, Northerner or Southerner, for the PDP or the APC. I must caution, however, that no election is ever perfect, not even in the most developed and stable democracies. Even so, you have the right to expect elections that are fair and credible and that the electoral code will be respected by all political actors and their parties.

You have a right to demand transparency and accountability, but through the legal system.

Most importantly, I hope that you will urge all Nigerians not to resort to violence because their candidate of choice did not win.

A proverb from Kenya says that when two elephants fight, it is the grass that gets trampled. The people of Kenya know this well

because they suffered grievously from election-related violence in 2008. Fortunately, they leant from that tragic experience and their most recent election was violence-free even though it was keenly contested.

I shall conclude by observing that in many ways, Nigeria has the future of the continent in its hands. What happens in Nigeria has an impact far beyond its borders. Nigeria’s success in the forthcoming election will be Africa’s success. So I wish you well as you approach this great test of national unity, a test in which civil society is poised to play such a crucial role.

Dr. Kofi Annan is former Secretary-General of the United Nations, a Nobel Peace and Indira Gandhi Prize laureate, and currently President of the Kofi Annan Foundation in Accra, Ghana. He delivered this paper on Wednesday in Abuja, Nigeria.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015

Page 36

I

Some Interesting Facts

t is impossible to sneeze with your eyes open. We dare you, give it a try!

A Ten Gallon Hat will only hold 3/4 of a Gallon.

• Of all the words in the English language, the word “SET” has the most definitions.

• It is against the law to burp, or sneeze inside a church in Nebraska.

• In 1386 a pig in France was executed by public hanging for the murder of a child.

• Earth is the only planet not named after a god.

• The world’s oldest piece of chewing gum is over 9,000 years old!

• Scientists have tracked butterflies travelling over 3,000 miles.

• The silkworm consumes 86,000 times its own weight in 56 days.

• If removed from the stress of the modern world, the average human would sleep about 10 hours a day.

• To produce a single pound of honey, a single bee would have to visit 2 million flowers.

• A colony of 500 bats can eat approximately 250,000 insects in an hour.

• One in Five adults believe that aliens are hiding in our planet disguised as humans.

• Travelling masseuses in ancient Japan were required by law to be blind.

• The blo o dho und i s the only animal whose evidence is admissible in court.

Leisure

• James Fixx, the man who popularized jogging in America died of a heart attack while running.

• The average American spends about a year and a half of his or her life watching commercials on television. What are you doing?! Get out and spend that year and a half doing something productive!

Say what?

SUDOKU SUDOKU EASY 226

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Lazy days: Why use a bed when you can clamber up a parking sign and rig up a make-shift hammock 10ft above a sidewalk in full view of everyone?

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015

Page 37

Parent-Child Relations A

s parents, our behavior will be the model to which children will turn. Therefore, we should continually seek dhikr to remind us of our duty to do that which would improve our lives and please Him. In particular, we are required to do our best in maintaining a righteous life on earth, in taking care of our environment, seeking knowledge, and helping the oppressed to be liberated. Children will have a better understanding of the real meaning and aim of ‘ibadat if they see parents practicing this, and if they are taught that life is meant to be a test of people’s qualities and their struggle to do their best in both the private and public aspects of society.

The following verses establish the foundations of a worldview in the mind of the child: Say: “Indeed, my prayer, my emotional devotion, my livelihood, and my demise are for Allah, the Lord of the worlds. There is no partner with Allah, and that is what I have been ordered, and I am at the forefront of those who submit.”

(Qur’an 6:162-163) Prayer restrains [one] from shameful and unjust deeds and aggression.

(Qur’an 29:45) ... and who give food - however great be their own want of it - unto the needy, and the orphan, and the captive [saying, in their hearts.] “We feed you for the sake of God alone: we desire no recompense from you, nor thanks.”

(Qur’an 76:8-9) Allah has promised, to those among you who believe and perform righteous deeds, that He will, of a surety, grant them in the land, inheritance [of power}, as He granted it to those before them; that He will establish in authority their religion - the one which He has chosen for them; and that He will change [their state}, after the fear in which they [lived}, to one ‘of security and peace: They will worship Me [alone} and not associate aught with Me; and whoever disbelieves after that, they are the rebellious ones.

(Qur’an 24:55) Teach Children Love of the Our’an To raise children who love God, parents need to introduce the Qur’an to them so that it becomes more than just a sacred Book which is to be read on a few religious events and then shelved for the rest of the year. Should the emphasis be on giving information or should it be on the more important emotional and psychological development of the heart and soul of the child? Gaining knowledge and information continues throughout one’s entire life, whereas healthy emotional and psychological development must occur early in childhood, mostly before the teen years.

What is happening today is that Muslims repeatedly frighten children from their early years with accounts of Hellfire (jahannam), rarely mentioning Allah’s Love, Mercy, and Compassion, or the beauty of Heaven. We emphasize how they will burn in Hell if they disobey God or their parents or make mistakes. Meanwhile, we neglect to mention how they will be rewarded and served in Paradise if they act righteously, obey Allah, obey their parents, help others, and do what is right. We continually threaten children and remind them about punishments as if they are evil criminals, yet sel-

. . . A guide to raising children

The role of parent in moulding child behavioural traits

dom encourage them or mention the love of God and the rewards they get for good behavior. In this environment, children grow into terrified and fearful adults.

They harbor a negative attitude and lack self confidence and, at worst, are discouraged from their faith altogether.

Teachers usually start teaching the Qur’an to children from the last Part (juzu’ ‘ammah or Part 30). This Part contains short chapters (surahs), which were revealed in Makkah at the beginning of the Revelation. These short chapters were aimed at the deviant and arrogant oppressors from the tribe of Quraysh and their cruel pagan leaders (like Abu Iahal and Abu Lahab). In these early chapters the Qur’an is addressing those who tortured Muslims, killed some of them, plotted to kill the Prophet $, and waged war to annihilate the believers. These surahs were meant to bring these tyrants to their senses, and the strong verses fell on their ears like thunder, because they contained dire warnings. Look at the following examples: Destruction upon the hands of Abu Lahab, and destruction upon him. (Qur’an 111:1) Horror to every liar and gossiper. (Qur’an 104:1) Has there come unto thee the tiding of the Overshadowing Event? Some faces will on that Day be downcast, toiling [under burdens of sin], worn out [by fear], about to enter a glowing fire, given to drink from a boiling spring. No food for them save the bitterness of dry thorns. (Qur’an 88:1-6) Horror to the cheaters.

(Qur’an 83:1) Say: “0 you who reject Faith!” (Qur’an 109:1) When the Earth is shaken to its [utmost] convulsion. (Qur’an 99:1) It is unfortunate that although this harsh form of address was not meant for innocent children, these are the very verses that are first taught to them nowadays.

The reason for teaching these

surahs is that they are very short and are considered easy to memorize.

Instead of frightening children at this young age with an emphasis on Hell and punishment, we need to emphasize the love of God, the mercy of parents, and the beauty of Heaven. This fits into their psychology instilling feelings of security, love, warmth, generosity and tenderness during early childhood. It is better to begin with God’s Love, His Mercy, Kindness, Compassion, Forgiveness, and Generosity, in addition to His many other beautiful attributes. Children should also be told that they are good and that God loves them before teaching them that they should love God. The sequence should be God’s love (first) and then (second) their obligation to love God. Once children begin to understand, parents can gently bring in the subject of Hell as punishment for evil doing. Surahs containing warnings and threats for committing major sins are supposed to be introduced when children can draw lessons from them instead of succumbing to fear. This is usually during the late childhood and teen years, when they are older and can better comprehend abstract ideas and the consequences of their actions.

Care needs to be taken over how we develop our children’s mentality and psychology, especially when teaching the Qur’an.

It is imperative that parents select the most suitable verses on which to focus during the different stages of their children’s growing up.

Most of the Companions iSahaboh) of the Prophet $ were introduced to the Qur’an when they were adults. At that age, the Qur’an had a profound effect on them. Their already courageous and strong character was strengthened and the Qur’an directed them to high moral standards. Specialists in Qur’anic sciences, together with education

experts and social scientists, can advise parents on how to teach children, including the sequence of verses relative to their age. Certainly, all the verses of the Qur’an are to be taught during the life of the individual. However, the question is: In what sequence should they be taught? Which verses need to be emphasized and at what age? It is clearly not suitable to start with the whole of the 30th part just because it contains 37 short surahs. What is considered easier to remember should not be the only consideration.

Non-Arabie-speaking parents have to explain to their children the meaning of the verses in their own languages. Currently, emphasis is placed on simply being able to read the Arabic and memorize the verses without knowing the meaning. Parents are strongly recommended to acquire a good translation of the Qur’an and supplement their reading lessons with interpretation (tafslr) lessons, so that they start to develop a relationship with the world view and message of the Qur’an. If parents are unable to do this, they can find a teacher and monitor what and how their children are taught. Recordings of the Qur’an can be played regularly at home so that children become familiar with its sound. It is important to establish a pattern of reading that is consistent and organized so that children become used to reading the Qur’an every day. Learning Arabic as a second language also helps children learn the Qur’an and interact with it first hand.

Many good children’s books have been published containing stories of the prophets taken from scriptures, and the lessons to draw from these stories. Parents have to purchase or borrow these stories to supplement the Qur’anic readings so that children become familiar and comfortable with the Qur’an.

Teach Children Prayers: Continual Remembrance of God

There are many short prayers that bring to mind the idea of a watchful, caring God, Who is ever present with us. These are easy to introduce and help children acquire the habit of thanking Him, and seeking His guidance and protection. They also combat any attempt to push God into the background. Parents, for instance, should thank God out loud before they eat, and when finishing eating, and ask children to repeat the du’a’ (supplication) after them.

Again, when entering the house, when leaving the house, when going to sleep, and when waking up, a point should be made of saying a du’a’. This instills an attitude of gratitude. Simply saying Bismillah (in the Name of God) when beginning an activity will be observed by children and copied. Although it may seem trivial and dull for children at first, it is worth persevering. Eventually this habit will promote in children the practice of dhikr and make this communication with the Almighty a natural aspect of their life. They will also come to realize God’s merciful hand in everything. When it comes to salah (ritual prayers), again, this should be made an important and natural element of the parents’ daily life. Parents set the best example for their children.

Make the call for prayers (adhtm) in front of your children and treat the time for prayer seriously. The television should be switched off and everyone should be prepared so that the prayer starts in the right atmosphere. Parents should pray in front of their children with consciousness and calmness. Too often there is an impatience for the prayer to end, and this rush will be noticed by children and no doubt imitated without concentration on prayers. A du’a’ has to be made before and after the prayer so that the children learn to do the same; it can be a request for anything you feel you need from the Almighty.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015

Page 38

Feature

Guantanamo Bay: What next for Cuba prison camp?

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By Tara McKelvey

fter years of stagnation, there’s been a burst of activity in transferring inmates out of the controversial Guantanamo Bay detention camp. Where will it end?

Over the past year, 28 detainees have been transferred out of the prison and taken to countries such as Kazakhstan and Uruguay.

This leaves 127 men who are still held at Guantanamo. One of them is Shaker Aamer, the last British resident being held in Guantanamo Bay. Mr Aamer, who is from London, has been held at Guantanamo since 2002.

Prime Minister David Cameron is visiting Washington this week and is planning to ask US President Barack Obama about Mr Aamer’s release.

Today Mr Aamer is waiting to hear if he will be allowed to leave as are others at the prison.

On Tuesday afternoon, one man at the prison was watching football on a big-screen television in a large room. He was held in a cellblock in Camp Six, an area of the compound where the “compliant” prisoners, as they’re known, are housed.

He and other detainees were milling about in a communal area of the prison that could be seen through a one-way mirror. I was visiting the prison with three of my colleagues from the BBC and was escorted around the place by military officers.

A sign in the hallway says: “Close door quietly.” The silence was broken only by the sound of keys clanking as a guard opened a door.

The hallway outside the communal area smelled like French coffee. Inside, an apple and several pears were displayed on a table. Another man in loosefitting, tan pants was leaning back in a white plastic lawn chair, with his legs stretched out. He could have been waiting at a bus stop.

“They can do nothing but wait,” said David Remes, a Washingtonbased human-rights lawyer who was visiting his clients at the prison on Wednesday - and spoke with me after getting off a ferry at the island. “One detainee told me that patience was their only weapon,” he said.

The obstacles to getting him and other detainees out of the prison - and closing the place down - are immense.

Currently, 59 detainees have been approved for transfer, according to a Defense Department spokesman. Ten men, including Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, are facing criminal charges.

In addition 58 detainees fall into various categories. These range from individuals whose cases may be reviewed - and could

People have been protesting for the closure of Guantanamo for years

“

In January 2009 Mr Obama issued a directive that ordered the closing of Guantanamo.

But congressional leaders baulked, saying they did not want the detainees to be released - and that none of them could be transferred to prisons in the US.

then be released - to men who have never been charged with a crime and are unlikely to be released from detention.

It is not clear where the individuals who are not cleared for release will end up. They could be transferred to other countries - or to prisons in the US. Some of these prisoners are seen as a risk, and this is one of the most contentious issues regarding Guantanamo.

In January 2009 Mr Obama issued a directive that ordered the closing of Guantanamo. But congressional leaders baulked, saying they did not want the detainees to be released - and that none of them could be transferred to prisons in the US. This week Republicans in Washington raised concerns about detainees who could be released and then pose a threat to Americans.

Senator Kelly Ayotte, a Republican from New Hampshire, introduced legislation that would “enhance” the prohibitions that have already been placed on moving detainees out Guantanamo.

The measure states that government funds cannot be used to place the detainees in the US. It also places even more restrictions on transferring them to other countries.

Senator John McCain said these steps are necessary because some of the detainees who were released in past years “re-entered the fight”, returning to militant groups.

Speaking on background, a State Department official said that only a small number of Guantanamo detainees who have been released have returned to militancy, despite the recent

There are believed to be around 155 prisoners in Guantanamo currently accounts in the media.

Nineteen percent of the men who were released before 2009, the year that Mr Obama took office, were “confirmed of re-engaging”, said the official. Afterwards the percentage dropped to 6.8%.

“Nearly half of the former detainees confirmed of reengaging are either dead or in custody,” said the official.

Obama vowed to close it in 2009

220 Afghans have been held at the US military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, making them the largest single group of the nearly 50 nationalities involved. The vast majority have returned home, where their stories of imprisonment, and sometimes abuse at American hands, have made a big impact.

Source: BBC

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015

Page 39

Weekend Revue

With Tobias Lengnan Dapam lovelengz@yahoo.com 07036990957

Kenny Rogers replied my poem when I was 13 years old, says Abuja artiste, Julietta An Abuja based artiste, Julietta Ofuyeta, who is also the owner of Diamond Record Label, in an interview with Tobias Lengnan Dapam, spoke on how an American music icon, Kenny Rogers replied her poem at the age of 13. She also spoke about some of the pressing issues in the Nigerian music industry. Excerpts:

W

Do you have a role model in the Nigeria music industry?

Yes, I have people like Onyeka, Majek Fashek and Alex O. I think that is my generation kind of music. But recently, I like people like Omawumi, Asher and Mavin crew.

ho is julietta in the music industry?

Julietta is an Abuja based artiste and an actress. I have been in the industry for quite some time performing with a live band and studio. I released my first album in 1999.

I presently own a record label and am promoting young artiste.

Where do you see Nigeria music in the next five years?

I see them rising to the contemporary changes. Presently, the Ghanians and South Africans are waking up from their slumber.

It is really competitive but I believe that Nigerians always aspire to be the best.

What is music to you?

Music is everything to me. I can’t imagine life without music.

I had opportunity to be a banker and a boutique owner but I chose music because that is where I belong.

As an actress, have you featured in any movie before?

Yes, I featured in two movies; one with a major role and the other one is a minor role. I starred in ‘only for love,’ the producer is from Sierra Leone’; I acted as a mother to Rita Dominic and a wife to late Enebeli. It was challenging then but I loved it. I am also working towards shooting my own movie.

What drive you in to music?

Music is a childhood dream for me. As a child, I always go to the library and write poems.

I even wrote a poem to Kenny Rogers when I was 13 years old and he replied me. I was reading a magazine and saw an entry for sending poetry. I wrote a very sweet poem and post to him and indicate my age. He wrote back that he liked the poem and would like to meet the young talented person that wrote it. But we couldn’t afford the trip.

With the Nigerian style of music, do you think we are making headway?

Well, it is two ways. On one hand, we are making head way, and on the other hand, we are not making headway. We are making headway because we are being recognised by the western world unlike years back when nobody recognised us. However, our talents are not hat great. We copy the western music a lot and the western world is accepting what we are giving. And if you look critically these days, the western musicians are copying us. So, there is a little improvement but I think we can do more.

What in specific terms do you think the musicians need to do to compete favourably?

I think we should work hard. But the truth is that we

If given a choice, will you settle for movie or music?

My number one is music because music has become part of my life. The movie am shooting is a movie/ music kind of movie.

Julietta Ofuyeta

are trying compared to what others are giving out. But we can still do more in adding value to the music. If you listen to the music now you will see that the music is crazy and everybody now is talking about illuminati.

The moral that once ruled the industry is no more. So wherever you look, there is work to be done.

What is your experience in grooming young talents?

What I am doing is to give them a chosen career; but some of them when they come, it is

like starting from the scratch- we try to make them better artiste.

I always want people under my Diamond Record Label to be the best and that is what I am doing.

What are the challenges involved in performing on stage and singing in the studio?

That has been my luck because it is not easy, and that is what I have been training artiste to do. I have many artistes on my record label and we train them on instruments and live

performances. I have made a lot as Queen Julietta and the Diamond Band and that keeps me going. But for Julietta as an artiste, I have not made anything.

Most times we perform in free shows but when the time comes to pay money, the organizers will opt for Lagos artistes. I started with live band and I feel like a true musician because I can combine the two effectively.

Some musicians only sing well in the studio but cannot perform on stage.

What is your advice to young artiste?

They should work hard and do a lot of research. They should stay away from drugs and take things easy. Music these days need serious commitment like any other profession and they should always pray that luck is on their side to enter a good record label that will help them make waves. They should also have in mind that the industry is more about spending than making money- money doesn’t come from CD sells like before but from shows. These days’ people download free online so producers of the music don’t get anything. That is why we advice them to take second jobs.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015

Page 40

Weekend Revue

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I can’t tolerate a cheating husband – Stella

Stella Damasus

ew days ago, sultry actress, Stella Damasus, took to her Instagram page to make a post on how some Christian women deal with their cheating spouses.

She asked if it was right for a married woman to put condoms in the suitcase of her cheating husband because she does not believe in divorce.

Speaking on the issue on her show, ‘Undiluted with Stella Damasus’, the actress said she will not accept her husband to continue to cheat on her.

“If a man cheats once and you catch him, your reaction to his cheating would determine what happens the next time. If I have tried everything and he continues, then I’m sorry, I wouldn’t stay there. I would never be the one to put condoms in his suitcase.

“I’m sorry darling; you putting a condom in a suitcase will not change him. Instead of putting condoms, write a note telling him how much you love him and ask him to protect you and your home,” she said on the programme.

Kanye and Macca team Cameron: Avatar 2 not till 2017 up on ‘Only One’

T

he follow-up to the 2009 blockbuster will now be released in late 2017, rather than late 2016, as previously expected.

The Oscar-winning filmmaker admitted that the writing process had proved to be “very involved” and that the initial target date was probably too ambitious.

“There’s a layer of complexity in getting the story to work as a saga across three films that you don’t get when you’re making a stand-alone film,” he said in Wellington, New Zealand, where he was helping promote the local film industry with other directors including Peter Jackson.

James, who is leading a team that’s writing the screenplays, said the goal was to have the scripts for the three movies completed by the end of this month, which he plans to release over consecutive years.

“We’re writing three simultaneously. And we’ve done that

T

he song is a soft emotional ballad, and is dedicated to his daughter, North West, who was born in 2013.

The 37-year-old rapper released his last album, critically acclaimed Yeezus, in 2013, and received two Grammy nominations.

But the new song is in a very different style from the experimental electronic hip-hop of that album.

It features auto-tuned vocals and organ music played by McCartney.

The singer takes on the voice of his mother, Donda West, who died in 2007, and addresses both himself, using his middle name Omari, and his baby daughter, using her nickname Nori.

The two musicians were rumoured to be collaborating last year.

A statement from McCartney

Kanye West has released a new single with Sir Paul McCartney.

on his official website said: “For any of you guys who were wondering what I was doing with Kanye ... Here it is: Only One. “Happy rocking new year!”

On Twitter, West’s wife, Kim Kardashian West, revealed that the ballad was her favourite of his songs.

She said: “People always ask me what my favourite Kanye song is and it’s Only One. Kanye feels like his mom sang through him to our daughter.”

She added: “I cry every time I hear this song.

“And such a beautiful photo of Kanye and North by Inez and Vinoodh.”

The artwork for the single features an image of West with his daughter on his lap.

Dutch photography duo Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin have previously worked with artists including Lady Gaga and Bjork.

so that everything tracks throughout the three films,” he said.

“We’re not just going to do one and then make up another one and another one after that. And parallel with that, we’re doing all the design.

So we’ve designed all the creatures and the environments.”

The original film, which became the highest-grossing film in history and won three Oscars, was shot in New Zealand, and the sequels will also be filmed there.

Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana are set to reprise their roles in the upcoming sequels.

James Cameron has revealed that the Avatar sequel has been delayed by a year.

Angelina Jolie reveals she and Brad Pitt had two secret weddings

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ngelina Jolie has revealed she was married to Brad Pitt long before their secret, intimate ceremony last summer.

“Before the wedding in France with the kids, Brad and I were already married in California,” Angelina told Italian magazine Io Donna. “As Americans, we couldn’t marry legally

Angelina and Jolie Brad Pitt

in France.”

And it seems they wanted to save all the grand gestures for their European wedding, with the 39-yearold revealing just how laid-back the official ceremony was. “One day I said to Brad, ‘Let’s meet up at 4:30 pm?’” she said. “I called a justice of the peace and we signed the documents.”

It was no secret that the couple

had obtained a marriage license from a California judge, who then conducted the nondenominational civil ceremony in France, but it seems the couple wanted to keep this vital bit of information to themselves.

Five days after their French ceremony a representative for the pair released a statement announcing their surprise news.

It read: “On Saturday, Aug. 23, in the presence of family and friends, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt were married in a small chapel in Chateau Miraval in France. It was a nondenominational civil ceremony.

It was very much a family affair.”

The intimate ceremony was witnessed by a mere 22 guests, and the couple’s six children played pivotal roles throughout the big day.

Eldest sons Maddox, 13, and Pax, 11, walked their mum down the aisle, whilst Shiloh, 8, and Knox, 6, were ring bearers. Zahara, 10, and Vivienne, 6, took on the roles of flower girls. The children were even tasked with ‘decorating’ Angie’s custom-made Versace grown, drawing pictures on the dress and veil.

SporT 41 Page

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015

S

uper Falcons Head Coach Edwin Okon is still been owned N75 million salary arrears by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

The amount is an accumulation of his 25 months’ salary since he began work as the Head Coach of the Super Falcons over two years ago. Okon took over from Kadiri Ikhan Okon who was spotted at the Glass House Secretariat on Tuesday confirmed that his visit to the football house is to enable him pursue the payment of his salary arrears for over two years.

According to him, this becomes necessary because he was informed that some of his assistants have been paid.

The Coach however expressed optimism that the debt would be offset soon to enable him concentrate fully on giving Nigeria his best in the FIFA Women World cup holding later in the year in Canada.

A source at the Glasshouse said that the delay in the payment of the Coach’s entitlements may not be unconnected to his not having an existing contract with the NFF “If I will tell you the bitter truth, most of our Coaches should strive to step up. Many of them take up appointments without contract. I want to tell you that Coach Okon may not have a contract with us, and he does not even know how much he is been owned. I think, he is living on the assumption that, because the person he took over from was paid N3 million, he also would be paid the same.

Then, Ikhana negotiated his money, and it was agreed. But, I doubt, if such was done in Okon’s case. Don’t forget, we were told by the then Technical Committee that he was handling the team on interim basis. So, when it was regularized to a permanent status, he should have demanded for a contract to legalize his appointment. So, what is happening now is that we are working out something for him, and when it is ready, he would be paid.

He has done the job, and surely would be paid” our source who is highly place in the Secretariat said.

Meanwhile, the Coach has announced that the Super Falcons will resume camping in Abuja on 30 January in preparation for the

AFCON groups review >>>Pg 43

sports@peoplesdailyng.com, SMS- 08142929046

N75m salary debt worries Super Falcons coach ahead of World Cup

All Africa Games.

The Rivers Angels Technical Adviser said he has already submitted his programs to the Football Federation, while awaiting their approval.

He also revealed that the preparations for the All African

Games preliminaries would go alongside that of the World cup.

It would be recalled that the Chairman of the Nigeria Women League Board who also combined as the Chairman of the Women Football Development Committee of the NFF Dilichuk-

wu Onyedinma had earlier confirmed the receipt of the Super Falcons Head Coach’s programs, promising that the NFF would give necessary approvals to this, and ensure that the African champions begin their preparation in earnest.

On his unpaid salaries and allowances, the Rivers Angels gaffer said his trip to the football house was unsuccessful as there seems to be no hope of when he would pay the salaries which is now running into 25 months. He said though.

Super Falcons

Chelsea join Liverpool in chase for Oshoala >>>Pg 42

Okon wants top friendlies ahead of FIFA World Cup >>>Pg 42

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015

PAGE 42

Sport

Chelsea join Liverpool in chase for Oshoala E

nglish Super League champions, Liverpool Ladies face a fight with Chelsea Ladies over Rivers Angels star Asisat Oshoala, according to SL10 sources in England.

The 20-year-old is regarded as one of the hottest properties in women football football and Matt Beard has been tipped to take her to Anfield after the recent signings of Satara Murray, Ingrid Ryland and Line Krogedal Smorsgard.

But now ESL rivals, Chelsea Ladies are circling and are eager to land the forward to boost their ranks.

Oshoala featured in all the matches of the Falconets side at the 2014 U20 FIFA Women’s World Cup, helping them to the final, winning the Most Valuable Player Award and also emerging as the recipient of the Golden Shoe.

She emerged as the Most Valuable Player of the 9th African Women’s Championship in Namibia.

However, she narrowly lost the Highest Goals Scorer award to Desire Oparanozie with just one goal less than the five scored by her compatriot.

The FC Robo product was voted the Glo/CAF Women’s and Young Player of the year.

Oshoala

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THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Prince Ebile Dudu 2. Stella Agbim 3. Moses Onomake THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To address the concerns of the youth and improve their lives 2. To empower the youth.

3. Engage in civic education for the youth.

4. Raise patriotic and productive youth.

5. Advocate against youth restiveness.

6. Engage the youth in useful ventures.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, P.M.B 198, Garki Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

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The general public is hereby notified that the above named forum has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act No. 1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Dr. Henry Anayo Akuchie 2. Dr. Emecheta Okwudire.

3. Barr. Armstrong Ukwuoma THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To engage in activities to promote human rights 2. Engage in peace building.

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Provide a platform for the citizens to contribute to community and national development 4. To engage in civic education and promote transparency and accountability.

5. Raise patriotic and productive youth.

6. Promote rule of law.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, P.M.B 198, Garki Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: ARMSTRONG UKWUOMA ESQ. 08032269934

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known as MISS. EBIRIE FAITH OTUEGBA, now wish to be addressed as MRS. UIYOSHIORIA FAITH OTUEGBA. All former document remain valid. Nigeria Barr Association (NBA) and the general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known as ALFA ROSE UNYOGBA , now wish to be addressed as ODOMA ROSE UNYOGBA. All former document remain valid. general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I , FORMERLY KNOWN AS MISS AZEETAT AYINKE GARUBA NOW WISH TO BE ADDRESSED AS MRS AZEETAT AYINKE AFOLABI.ALL FORMER DOCUMENT REMAIN VALID.THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE..

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015

Page 43

Sport

AFCON groups review S Group A: Burkina Faso, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon Equatorial Guinea

E

quatorial Guinea was given a place at the finals after replacing Morocco - they had been eliminated from qualifying after being penalised for fielding an ineligible player.

They are the only side ranked outside Fifa’s top 100 and appointed coach Becker only 11 days before the start of the tournament.

Group B: Zambia, DR Congo, Tunisia, Cape Verde

Zambia

Z Nsue

ambia won the 2012 tournament when Equatorial Guinea cohosted with Gabon.

One year later, the defending champions exited the competition without winning a game.

Ten of the current Chipolopolo squad were part of the victorious 2012 side.

DR Congo

Burkina Faso

D

B

urkina Faso surprised everyone by reaching the final last time out in South Africa. They finished as runners-up after losing 1-0 to Nigeria.

Prior to that the Stallions had never won a Nations Cup match on foreign soil (a run of 21 games without a win) Winger Pitroipa was crowned the best player of the 2013 Nations Cup - and he scored six goals in qualifying for the 2015 edition.

Pitroipa

G

Gabon abon was one of four teams to qualify unbeaten (along with South Cameroon and

Africa, Tunisia).

They have won only won one match away from home at a Nations Cup finals when beating Zaire (now DR Congo) in 1996. Gabon co-hosted the finals in 2012 along with Equatorial Guinea.

C

Kalaba

R Congo has not reached the Nations Cup quarter-finals since 2006. Ibenge combines his DR Congo coaching duties with local side AS Vita, this year’s African Champions League runnersup.

DR Congo’s Pierre Ndaye Mulamba holds the scoring record for a single Nations Cup - 9 goals in 1974.

Bolasie

T

ixteen teams go into the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Equatorial Guinea hoping that after a total of 32 games have been played over 18 match days they will emerge as the winners.

First they have to qualify

Group C: Senegal, South Africa, Ghana, Algeria Ghana

G

Algeria

A

South Africa

W

Msakni

on the Nations Cup on their debut appearance in 1996.

Current team is hoping to win the title to honour late captain and goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa, who was shot dead in November. Bafana Bafana have won just one of their last 12 matches at the Nations Cup.

1988 and will be at his eight finals - a record.

The Red Devils knocked out 2013 African champions Nigeria in qualifying.

S

Cisse

Oniangue

C

enegal’s recent record at the finals is not good - they have won only one of their last nine matches.

Their last victory came in 2006, against Guinea in the quarter-finals. However, they conceded just one goal in qualification for this tournament.

Group D: Ivory Coast, Mali, Cameroon and Guinea

Babanco

ape Verde is the smallest country to ever compete at a Nations Cup. Yet the ‘Blue Sharks’ reached the quarter-finals when

Furman

Senegal

Congo

ongo is appearing at their first Nations Cup since 2000.

Coach Claude LeRoy won the Nations Cup with Cameroon way back in

lgeria crashed out in the group phase last time around but have since climbed to the top of the African rankings and reached the World Cup knockout stage for first time in 2014.

Attacking midfielder Yacine Brahimi is reigning BBC African Footballer of Year.

Brahimi

Cape Verde

Aubameyang

Ghana

hana has reached last four Nations Cup semi-finals. The Black Stars raced to four titles but have since been eclipsed by Egypt (seven) and have not lifted the trophy for 33 years.

Former Chelsea coach Grant only took charge last Gyan month.

Tunisia

unisia is at their 12th consecutive Nations Cup - the best record of any team on the continent. Their sole title came on home soil in 2004, beating North African rivals Morocco in the final.

They have reached the quarter-finals at four of the last six tournaments, but exited in the group stages in 2013.

from one of four groups, each containing four teams, with only the winners and runners-up progressing to the next round.

The draw and provides some key facts for each team at the competition, which kicks off on Saturday and runs until 8 February.

making their Nations Cup finals debut in 2013.

All of their current squad play their club football outside of Cape Verde.

L

Ivory Coast

ost in the 2006 and 2012 finals. Defeat three years ago came against Zambia, who were then coached

by Renard.

The Elephants are without legendary striker Didier Drogba, who has retired from internationals, but they still scored the most goals in qualifying - 13 - and boast Bony, who has just become one of Africa’s most expensive players after joining Manchester City for £28m

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015

PAGE 44

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

WINNINGREST MINISTRY

Akass Estate Landlords & Residents association Lugbe Abuja.

Focal Plus Grassroot Sanitization Healthcare organisation

This is to notify the general public that the above named Ministry has applied tot the Corporate Affairs Commission under Part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEE ARE; 1- OSATUYI MICHEAL FOLORUNSO 2- OSATUYI MOTUNRAYO TITILAYO 3-OLUWAFEMI ONAWOLE OSATUYI Aims and Objectives 1-To spread the gospel 2-To liberate heavy laden people 3-To preach repentance to sinners Any objections to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar- General,Corporate Affairs Commission,Abuja,within 28 days of this publication.

Signed Dada John Mayokun(Esq)

PUBLIC NOTICE ARIOZOMA INTL FAITH BIBLE CHURCH

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.Rev .(mrs)Ogbodu-Ibori Godwin 2. A .Ogbodu-Ibori 3. Aminomo Anthony 4. Agunu Aghogho 5. Happy.Otorho 6. Kingsley Ogbodu. Ibori AIMS AND OBJECTIVES. I. To propagate the gospel of christ.

2. To Evangelise for soul winning into the kingdom of GOD. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED association HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ORGANIZATION HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

Trustees 1. Sulaiman Ahmad 2. Christiana Ahamefula Iwundu 3. James Yahaya Ajayi 4. Muhammed Lawal Yusuf 5. Rabiu Lawal 6. Abu Adohnoyi Zakari 7. Nkawu Emnang Nkawu.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. mr.USIOMOIFO OSAHON (chairman) 2.mr.OGBOMO MONDAY 3.Mrs.AGABI RACHAEL 4.BARR. Asse Uwade Bright.

5. Bishop Nekpenkpen Andrew.

Aim: to cater for the welfare of members.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION.

SIGNED: BARR. EUGENE EGU FOR: EQUINOX SOLICITORS, ABUJA. O8O92I45386

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PALMPRODUCE ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA

THIS IS INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF THE LOSS OF OFFER OF TERMS OF GRANT/CONVEYANCE OF APPROVAL AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RE-CERTIFICATION WITH NEW FILE NO MISC 56540 AND PLOT NO Ps2,CADASTRAL ZONE CO4,DAPE DISTRICT,ABIJA WHICH BELONG TO LEARN FAST EDUCATION INSTITUTE LTD GOT MISSING.ALL EFFORT MADE TO TRACE THE MISSING DOCUMENT PROVED ABORTIVE. IF FOUND PLEASE RETURN TO THE NEAREST POLICE STATION.GENERAL PUBLIC TO PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ASSOCIATION HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.MRS. ENDURANCE AIGBE - CHAIRMAN 2.MR. PAUL IKE ANYALITE - SECRETARY 3.MRS. PATIENCE AGO 4.MRS. STELLA NWOSU THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1.FOR THE DISTRIBUTION,REGULATION AND SALES OF PALM FRUITS. 2.FOR THE WELFARE OF ITS MEMBERS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: OUR LADY’S SOLICITORS SUITE A31,MAITAMA COMPLEX, ABUJA 08055527042

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

DAZZLYN SICKLES INITIATIVE

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ASSOCIATION HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED INITIATIVE HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.ALH. YUNUSA USMAN 2.ALH. SALIHU MOHAMMED SONG 3.ARDO AHMADU BELLO 4.AHAMADU UMARU 5.SULE UGA 6.BASHIRU USMAN 7.IBRAHIM USMAN

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.PAUL NOSAKHARE ALIMELE-MORGANS 2.ANTHONIA TOCHUKWU ALIMELE-MORGANS

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1.TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME FOR INDIGENT STUDENT. 2.TO PROVIDE ADEQUATES WELFARE FOR THE LESS PRIVILEGE. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE Women in cleantech and eco- innovations initiative THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Mrs grace edison ogolo - president /founder 2. Ms. Ann anietie ogolo - secretary Aim and objective: 1. To encourage the participation of Women the green economy transformation and development.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: Barr oby

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION.

SIGNED: secretary

SIGNED: SECRETARY.

BERA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: I. To provide free health care services.

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1.CHRISTIAN MISSION SUPPORT. 2.PUBLICATION OF CHRISTIAN LITERATURE FLYERS AND TRACKS. 3.BUILDING AND MANAGEMENT OF HOMES FOR DESTITUTE/ ORPHANS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: BARRISTER PERPETUAL 07035516722

SIGNED: FEMI BELLO DIRECTOR PUBLIC NOTICE

ALBAYAN SOCIETY OF NIGERIA

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. AMINULLAHI IBRAHIM ADEYEMI 2. Ogunrinde Adeniyi Ganiyu 3. JIBREEL HUMULKHAIR SAHBAN 4.OGUNRINDE FAUSAT FOLASADE THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1.To propagate islam ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

REV. EZRA DIKKI FOUNDATION

THE PAUL OHWOYOVWINEVWE UVWO FOUNDATION

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.PROF. CHARLES EZRA DIKKI 2.DR. PHILEMON EZRA DIKKI 3.MR. BENJAMIN EZRA DIKKI 4.REBECCA EZRA DIKKI 5.MICHAEL EZRA DIKKI

This is to inform the general public that the above named Foundation has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act No 1 of 1999.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. DR. OSHEVIRE UVWO 2. MRS. STELLA EKPRUKE NEE UVWO 3. ENGR. IGHOFASAN TONY UVWO 4. ENGR. MUDIAGA UVWO

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1.VOCATIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL ACQUISITION CENTRE. 2.EMPOWERMENT OF WIDOWS, YOUTHS AND THE LESS PRIVILEGED IN THE SOCIETY.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To assist the poor and less privilege in the society 2. To provide assistance to persons who need education, entrepreneurial skill and general welfare.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Maitama District, Abuja, within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED:SECRETARY

Signed: IKECHUKWU ODANWU ESQ

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015

PUBLIC NOTICE AGRICULTURAL VALUE CHAIN DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ASSOCIATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR THE REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANY AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO 1 OF 1990

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Alhaji Shuaibu Bello 2. Mustapha Muhammad 3. Engineer Armayau Lawal.

4. Nana Shehu - Secretary

- Chairman - Member - Member

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To empower farmers by equipping them with the knowledge and training necessary for their jobs.

2. To represent the interest of farmer-members to government, associations and other organizations.

3. To train farmers on modern and most economical farming methods 4. To enhance the contribution of agricultural value chain to the national and regional food security and also non oil export earnings.

5. To promote the interest of the members ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, MAITAMA ABUJA, WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION

Page 45

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

Hope Ambassadors of Africa foundation

GAS MARKETERS COORDINATORS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA

The general public is hereby notified that the above named Foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Olusegun Oladipupo 2. Alade Jumoke 3. Oluwadamilola Ibitayo.

The Aim and Objectives: 1. To bring hope to the hopeless through the giving love of our Lord Jesus christ.

Any objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs, plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named Foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

NAMES OF BOARD OF TRUSTEES 1.Randy Ogidiolu- Chairman 2.Olarenwaju Obanishola- Secretary 3.Victor Okenwa- Member 4.Usman Umar- Member 5.Magnus Ewuzie- Member 6.Qudus Lawson- Member 7.Badejo Adelu- Member AIMS AND OBJECTIVE 1.To foster unity, love and co-operation among marketers representative of liquid petroleum gas, petroleum prospectors, producers, refiners.

2.As a forum for the protection of members right and interest.

3.To enhance the progress of members and promote assistance to members.

4.As business group devoid of political, tribal and religious interest.

Any objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs, plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED:BFF SERVICES SUITE B4 HALIMA PLAZA, AREA 11 ABUJA

SIGNED: Perezlegal

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

LOVE, PEACE AND UNITY BROTHERS SOCIAL CLUB OF NIGERIA

OLD STUDENTS’ASSOCIATION OF NATIONAL COLLEGE GBAGADA LAGOS.

NIGERIAN ASSOCIATION OF FOREIGN TRAINED PHARMACISTS

This is to inform the General Public that the above named Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for Registration under part ‘C’ of the Company and Allied Matters Act 1990.

This is to inform the general public that the above named “ASSOCIATION” has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under the part C of companies and allied matters Acts, 1990.

TRUSTEES: 1. MR. JUDE OKWOR 2. MRS. EMILIAN OSONDU 3. MR. UNINI AUGUSTINE - SECRETARY 4. MR. AKACHUKWU OBI

TRUSTEES ARE:1. ORIOLA KAZEEM ABIORO - Businessman 2. ALFRED AINA ADEGBITE - School Proprietor/ Manager 3. AKINOLA SHERIF OLAYIDE – Educational Web- Consultant.

4. BAKARE NOSIRU OLUGBENGA - Businessman.

AIMS AND OBJECTIONS: 1. TO PROMOTE LOVE AND UNITY AMONG BROTHERS 2. TO REACH OUT TO THE LESS PRIVILEGE IN THE SOCIETY 3. TO SHARE VALUES, INFORMATION AMONG MEMBERS

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To develop and foster a mutually cum beneficial relationship amongst grandaunts from the college.

2. To increase involvement and generate support for the school

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to Registrar - General, Corporate Affairs Commission, P.M.B 198, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguyi Ironsi Street Maitama Abuja, within {28} days of this publication.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to Registrar - General, Corporate Affairs Commission, P.M.B 198, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguyi Ironsi Street Maitama Abuja, within {28} days of this publication.

SIGNED: SECRETARY

Signed by: TRUSTEES.

PUBLIC NOTICE MICHAEL AND FELICIA EHIMEN FOUNDATION

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY INFORMED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. DR. MICHAEL EHIMEN 2. MRS FELICIA EHIMEN 3. PASTOR EMMANUEL URUAKPA 4. BARR. ENOCH UCHENNA IBE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. PUBLIC ENLIGHTENMENT ON HEALTH RELATED ISSUES. 2. PROVISION OF FREE MEDICAL CARE AND SERVICES TO INDIGENT PERSONS. 3. PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, GARKI, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: BARRISTER ENOCH UCHENNA IBE

SIGNED: secretary

This is to inform the General Public that the above named Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for Registration under part ‘C’ of the Company and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. DR.EJEZIE JOHN CHIDOZIE= PRESIDENT 2. PHARM.NWANGWU CHIKE = SECRETARY 3. DR.ANUGWOM OJIMMADU ANDREW = MEMBER 4. DR.UGOCHUKWU CHRISTOPHER MUOMAH = MEMBER 5. DR.OKPUZOR PRISCILLA ONYENIKE = MEMBER 6. DR.EZE ALOYSIUS UCHEGBULEM = MEMEBER 7. DR.ADEKOYA ADETUNDE FRANCIS = MEMBER 8. PHARM.NNEJI JOHN CHIDI = MEMBER 9. PHARM.ADENIYI MOLADE MODUPEOLA = MEMBER AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To Promote healthcare through ethical delivery of pharmaceutical services and with high standards.

2. To standardize pharmacy practices in Nigeria so that it can compare with the world’s best practices..

3. To improve patient care through provision of quality and affordable pharmaceutical products.

4. Promote and enhance safe medication therapy management and improve patients’ outcomes.

Any Objection To This Registration Should Be Forwarded To The Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama

Abuja Within 28 Days Of This Publication.

SIGNED: CAJETAN AMASIKE ESQ.

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

APOSTLE PAUL’S MISSION INT’L

POWER PROCLAIMERS PEOPLE’S ASSEMBLY

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY INFORMED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED MISSION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1 OF 1990.

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY INFORMED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED CHURCH HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. PST ADUN ELIJAH EHIGIATOR 2. EVANG. EMOGHENE OGHENEKEVWE 3. EVANG. IFEOMA NDUPU

THE TRUSTEES ARE:

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST AND TEACH BELIEVERS OF THEIR FREEDOM IN CHRIST. 2. TO EVANGELISE AND WIN SOULS TO THE SERVICE OF GOD ALMIGHTY. 3. TO ESTABLISH LOCAL BRANCHES FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL WORLDWIDE. 4. TO ORGANISE OUTREACH, CRUSADES, SEMINARS, WORKSHOP AND REVIVAL SERVICES FOR THE WORK OF THE GOSPEL. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, GARKI, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: BARR. AJAYI ILESANMI 08074495479

1. REV. PAUL TOPE ALANIYI - PRESIDENT 2. PASTOR OLUSOJI SOGUNRO - MEMBER 3. MR ADEWUMI GBADESOGUN - MEMBER 4. EVANG. GRACE MODUPE OJO - MEMBER 5. ELDER MATHEW ALABI - MEMBER 6. PASTOR (MRS) OLUFUNKE OLANIYI – MEMBER

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. TO PREACH AND PROPAGATE THE CHRISTIAN GOSPEL WITHIN AND OUTSIDE NIGERIA. 2. TO MINISTER HEALING, DELIVERANCE AND RESTORE FREEDOM TO THE OPPRESSED AND THE CAPTIVES. 3. TO ESTABLISH BRANCHES WHEREVER CONVERTS ARE MADE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, GARKI, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. Signed: BARRISTER PAUL E. UTI (J.P) TEL: 08035910306, 0828798278

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015

PAGE 46

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

DAMAM PALM FOUNDATION

ORGANIZED PRIVATE SECTOR EXPORTERS ASSOCIATION

PUBLIC NOTICE

FITNESS FOR LIFE FOUNDATION

The General Public is hereby notified that the above named FOUNDATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja, for Registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act,1of 1990.

The General Public is hereby notified that the above named ASSOCIATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja, for Registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act,1of 1990.

The General Public is hereby notified that the above named FOUNDATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, No 1 of 1990

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Mr. Ozigi Michael Aziz 2. Mrs. Ozigi Angela Egbe 3. Ozigi Manny Omeiza 4. Ozigi Amy Omeneke 5. Ozigi Danny Onimisi

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Victor Eburajolo, Fcipm, Mni 2. Alhaji Mohammad Salisu Umar 3. Olu Olabisi Esq 4. Sunday Maidodo Bonnet

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. TegaTari Diana Oliver 2. Olusanya Babatunde Fisayo 3. Nnoruka Kenechi Chineze Obiamaka 4. Buwa Umoren 5. Precious Preye Chika Idibia 6. Mrs. Jimo Adepeju

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To relieve people fromm poverty, lack and bring hope to the poor in Nigeria.

2. To help build self confidence and morale of vulnerable persons in Nigeria.

3. To cater for less privileged in Nigeria especially widows and orphans.

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To promote and encourage non-oil exports of agricultural, agro-allied and manufactured products from Nigeria in order to foster the interest, welfare and unity of its members.

2. To engage in enlightenment campaigns, capacity building and training of tis members to develop their organisational capabilities.

- President - Member - Member - Member - Secretary

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To fight against childhood obesity.

2. To develop strategies that would create opportunities for fitness, sports, recreation and other morale-boosting activities towards recreation.

Any objection to this Application should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs, plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off AguiyiIronsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR – GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET.PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR – GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET.PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION.

SIGNED: SECRETARY

SIGNED: BARR. M. Y. ZACHARIAH

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE END TIME GLORY MINISTRY INTERNATIONAL

SIGNED: IWUAGWU NNAMDI ESQ GREEN AID SOLICITORS SUITE 10 SHALOM PLAZA GUDU ABUJA

JESUS IS THE WAY FLORISHING OUTREACH

THE PILLAR OF BREAKTHROUGH AND TRUTH MINISTRY

This is to inform the general public that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, No 1 of 1990.

This is to inform the general public that the above named MINISTRY has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, No 1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Pastor Dr. Kola Ajayi - Chairman 2. Elder William Adudu - Secretary 3. Pastor David Simon 4. Pastor John Simon Amedu 5. Pastor (Mrs) Rose Simon 6. Rev. Elijah Audu 7. Pastor Prof. Mbama liIkem

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Dr. Jonathan Akpan - Chairman 2. Mrs. Joyce Jonathan Akpan - Member 3. Agyei Yaw - Secretary 4. Mrs. Joy Friday - Member 5. Mr. Emaikop Johnson - Member 6. Mr. Ben Warrie - Member 7. Mr. Ezekiel Jonathan - Member

The Aim and Objectives are: 1. To preach the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to the whole world.

2. To minister healing, deliverance and restore freedom to the captives.

3. To prepare souls for the kingdom of God. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off AguiyiIronsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within twentyeight (28) days of this publication.

The Aim and Objectives are: 1. To promote the preaching of the gosple of the Lord Jesus Christ according to the Holy Bible.

2. To preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ/the word of God.

The Aim and Objectives are: 1. To preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ to all nations.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off AguiyiIronsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within twentyeight (28) days of this publication.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off AguiyiIronsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within twenty-eight (28) days of this publication.

SIGNED: SECRETARY

SIGNED: Secretary

SIGNED: BARR. HALIMA UKAGHA 08065645555

This is to inform the general public that the above named MINISTRY has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, No 1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Pastor Paul Emmanuel 2. Pastor Mrs. Patience Paul 3. Mr. Kunle Deji 4. Mrs. Hope Olaniyo 5. Mrs. Matina Otu

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

LUPUS SUPPORT FOUNDATION

KAINOS INT’L BIBLE CHURCH

KING’S POWER AND GLORY RESTORATION GLOBAL MINISTRY

The general public is hereby notified that the above named foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part C of the Companies and Allied Matter Act 1990.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named CHURCH has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part C of the Companies and Allied Matter Act 1990.

The Trustees are: 1. Paula Ekihalo Osobase - President 2. Ilozobhie Doris Osabhahiemen - Vice President 3. Olusoga Abiodun- Secretary 4. Oduenyi Irene Mandu - Treasurer 5. Kunbi Adesanya - Member 6. Rosemary Isiramen Teriba- Member

The Trustees are: 1. Pastor Atayi Ogbe Clement 2. Mrs. Atayi Ochanya Angela 3. Pastor Unogwu Innocent

The general public is hereby notified that the above named MINISTRY has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part C of the Companies and Allied Matter Act 1990.

The Trustees are: 1. Pastor Promise Agboola - President 2. Special Apostle Elias Oyeniyi 3. Mrs. Oluwakemi O. Agboola - Secretary 4. Pastor Femi Olorunlogbon- Vice President

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE 1. Creating awareness of lupus disease.

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE 1. To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.

2. To disciple the people of God unto righteousness.

3. To embark on missionary and charity work.

4. To embark on projects that improve human lives.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission (C.A.C) P.M.B 198, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent off AguiyiIronsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission (C.A.C) P.M.B 198, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent off AguiyiIronsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE 1. To preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2. To restore man into his original place in the plan of God Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission (C.A.C) P.M.B 198, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent off AguiyiIronsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

SIGNED: PRESIDENT

SIGNED: ITODO JOY ESQ

SIGNED: SECRETARY

LOSS OF DOCUMENT This is to inform the general public of the loss of original certificate of occupancy with file No. BA/10991. Located in BAUCHI. BAUCHI L.G A. Covering Area of about 450000. Sqm with plot no.-- 540-DP/8 of LP/BA/34. Belonging to ALH. HARSANU MAHMUDU. All effort to trace the said document proved abortive. If found, kindly return to the nearest police station.

LOSS OF DOCUMENT

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I FORMELY KNOWN AS MUHAMMAD ADAM SHEHU, NOW WISH TO BE ADDRESSED AS ALI M0HAMMED. ALL FORMER DOCOUMENTS REMAIN VALID. L . E . A BAUCHI and the GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

This is to inform the general public of the loss of original copy of customary right of occupancy in respect of Plot No. FL-132B, Area Council Kuje measuring about 6.0HA in Chibiri with file No. KAC/FCDA/LP&S/MISC-3064 and new File No. MISC 95036 belonging to Paradise World Limited. All efforts made to trace the said missing documents proved abortive. If found kindly return to the nearest police station. Kuje Area Council, Zonal Land Planning & Survey, FCT-Abuja and the general public to take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known as NKIRUKA BLESSING UCHENDU. now wish to be known as NKIRUKA BLESSING NGOR HARRISON. All former documents remain valid, All authorities concerned and the general public to take note.

I formerly known as miss Gold Mathilda Etonyeaku now wishes to be known as mrs Gold Nwanyieze Alozie-chijioke.all former document remain valid,general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I FORMELY KNOWN AS LINDA BAWA, NOW WISH TO BE ADDRESSED AS MANASSEH LINDA BAWA. ALL FORMER DOCOUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE. CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known as MISS. ONWUEZOBE RACHEL IFEOMA, now wish to be addressed as MRS. EZEAMALUKWUE RACHEL IFEOMA.All former document remain valid. The general public should please take note.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2015

Page 47

www.peoplesdailyng.com

. . . putting the people first

Friday, january 16, 2015

QUOTABLE QUOTE I agree like every other person that Buhari is an incorruptible, honest, clean and patriotic Nigerian. My concern has always been defectors who our party, PDP, had made ministers, governors, speakers and members of the National Assembly and left us after benefiting so much.

– Jigawa state Gov. Sule Lamido

SPORTS Nigeria 2015: A large latest

Everton cut ticket price for fans

E

verton have taken the unusual step of thanking their fans for their support this season by subsidising their tickets for the Premier League match at Chelsea next month.

Everton will put £10 towards the cost of an adult ticket and five pounds for concessionaries for the match at Stamford Bridge on the evening of February 11 as a way of recognising their loyalty.

More than 3 000 Everton fans were at Upton Park on Tuesday night when Everton were beaten on penalties after their FA Cup third round replay against West Ham ended in a 2-2 draw.

Everton CEO Robert Elstone said on the club’s website “The level of backing the team receives for away fixtures is a source of enormous pride for everybody associated with the Club.

“That support was at its best at Upton Park.

It makes a difference. It gets noticed. And we are delighted to be able to say thank you.”

Everton have seriously tested that loyalty since the end of November with just one win in 12 matches in all competitions since then.

Their next match is on Monday when they are at home to West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League.

Advert: 0806 business: 0704 news: 0814 lagos: 0805 0803

chair doesn’t make a king

I

am very pleased to see that civil society in Nigeria is taking a constructive role in helping the country prepare for the forthcoming national elections. A strong democracy needs a vibrant and engaged civil society, capable of expressing popular concerns in a responsible and constructive manner.

Politics is too important to be left only to politicians alone. And elections are the key moments in political life, since they are the foremost mechanisms for peaceful and democratic rotation of leadership. As some of you may know, I have long been an advocate of civil society. As Secretary-General of the United Nations, I undertook a number of reforms to involve civil society in the organisation’s work because the UN Charter itself begins with the words “We the peoples”.

I stand before you today not as a former Secretary-General of the United Nations, but as the chairman of the Global Commission on Elections, Democracy and Security. I am here to share with you the work that my Foundation and a number of partner organisations and individuals are undertaking to implement the recommendations of the Commission. I will first explain why I took on the Global Commission. Then I will explain what I mean by elections with integrity, and the obstacles that often lie in the way, not just in Nigeria but all over the world.

Finally, I will share a few thoughts with you about the significance of your upcoming elections in 2015.

The Global Commission I set up the Global Commission in 2011 because of a paradox that I observed. Even

“

564 385 292 327 454

8620 9705 9046 1969 0344

Friday Column Kofi Atta Annan

Kofi Atta Annan as elections have become a global norm – just about every country now organizes regular elections – democracy itself is increasingly called into question. This is not just a problem on our continent.

Around the world, voter participation and trust in politics and politicians to change people’s lives for the better are at an alltime low. We have had further demonstrations of this trend in 2014 in the USA and Europe.

Each unhappy democracy is unhappy in its own way, of course, but there is clearly a problem. So I brought together a remarkable group of distinguished statesmen and world experts to address the issue. Our findings confirmed that democracy has played and continues to play a central role in human progress. The reason is clear: democracy obliges leaders to listen to the concerns of those

they govern, or else they get ousted, or as professor Armatya Sen puts it, “People who live in democracies do not starve.”

Democracy allows transfers of power to happen peacefully through institutional mechanisms rather than through violent conflict. Legitimate elections are therefore the cornerstone of a true democracy, hence their importance.

Unfortunately, many elections that have been organized these past two decades have given democracy a bad name.

Flawed elections have eroded the trust of citizens in the democratic process. (the rest of the sentence – “ which doesn’t seem to produce the results they expected” – is erased) What the experience of the last 20 years teaches us is that elections are not enough if they are not conducted with integrity and able to reflect the real will of the people.

Elections with integrity: definition and challenges • So what does this concept of electoral integrity mean in practice?

“Elections with integrity” is shorthand for elections that respect a range of global standards and norms enshrined in international treaties and good practice. Above all, they are elections that grant each citizen the equal right to participate in the selection of his or her leaders and hold them

What the experience of the last 20 years teaches us is that elections are not enough if they are not conducted with integrity and able to reflect the real will of the people.

accountable.

Elections with integrity also have to guarantee fundamental freedoms, like the freedoms of opinion and expression, peaceful assembly and association.

• Finally, elections with integrity have to afford citizens a mechanism to challenge contested results through credible legal channels whose decisions are regarded as fair and impartial.

Only if elections meet all these criteria can they fulfil their key role, which is to confer legitimacy on the winners and security on the losers and peaceful change for all.

The Global Commission identified 5 obstacles to elections with integrity: • Weak rule of law and weak protection of voters’ rights; • Inadequate electoral management bodies, either because they are insufficiently resourced, incompetent or not independent enough to enjoy public confidence; • Denial of future political opportunity to those who lose, leading to a win-at-all cost mindset; • Barriers to universal and equal political participation; and • Uncontrolled, undisclosed, and opaque political financing.

These challenges are evident in many countries.

Even countries with long established democracies are vulnerable. In the United States, for example, voters question the role of money in politics, which leaves many citizens feeling that elections are captured or at least heavily influenced by well-endowed Contd on Page 35

DAN GAYE

PDP drops Sheriff, Oduah in Senate race – News

Dem don enter one chance

Published by Peoples Media Limited, 35, Ajose Adeogun Street, 1st Floor Peace Park Plaza, Utako, Abuja. Kano office: Plot 3, Zaria Road, Opposite Kano State House of Assembly. Lagos Office: No.8 Oliyide Street, off Unity Road, Ikeja, Lagos. Tel: +234 814 292 9046. Cell: +234 802 443 2099; 803 7007 759. e-mail: contact@peoplesdailyng.com; pmlnewsdesk@gmail.com ISSN: 2141– 6141