Tuesday, June 16th, 2015 Edition

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Tuesday, June 16, 2015/ Shaaban 28, 1436 AH

Soldiers, tanker drivers clash on Kaduna road

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US: We’ll assist Nigeria stamp out Boko Haram, donates $5bn

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Vol. 16 No. 41 N150

30 killed in Potiskum, Chad multiple blasts >> pg 3

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FG revokes pipeline surveillance contracts l Tompolo, Dokubo, Fasehun, Adams lose out

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L-R Benue State Governor, Samuel Otorm, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs Amb. Paul Lolo, President Muhammadu Buhari, Ogun State Governor, Mr Ibukunle Amosun, Lt General Abdulrahman Dambazau and Acting High Commissioner Mr. Martins Cobham in a group photo at the International Conference Centre in Johannesburg South Africa.

Why I’m yet to appoint ministers – Buhari page 2

428 Days after Court fails to stop President Will the abducted Chibok schoolgirls ever be rescued?

Al-Bashir flying out of S’Africa

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, JUNE 16, 2015

News CONTENTS News 2-11 Editorial 13 Op.Ed 14 Letters 15 Politics 16-18 Business Stockwatch

19-22 23

S/Report 24-25 Feature 26 Defence 27 Agric 29 Feature 30

FG revokes pipeline surveillance contracts From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

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trong indications emerged yesterday that the Federal Government has revoked the pipelines surveillance contracts awarded to ex-militant leaders from the Niger Delta region.

An impeccable source who did not want his name in print told Peoples Daily that the Federal Government might have bowed to pressure to cancel the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipelines protection contracts awarded to ethnic militia groups in different parts of the country.

As it were, Government Tompolo, Mujaheedin AsariDokubo and Chief Bipobiri Ajube, aka Gen. Shoot-At-Sight, the founder of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Dr. Frederick Fasehun and OPC National Coordinator, Otunba Gani Adams may have lost out of the deal.

Although, some of the companies involved in the contract said the federal government did not withdraw the pipeline protection contracts but that the agreement signed by both parties expired yesterday.

The contracts, which were awarded by the Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, had

come under severe criticism since March this year when the job to safeguard Nigeria waterways and oil pipelines came into effect.

The Presidency had then mandated the Police and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) that had hitherto watch the pipelines to relinquished the job to companies owned by militia group leaders.

But the army and navy authority has been asked to oversee the job in the new arrangement.

The militia leaders include former Niger-Delta militants Government Tompolo, Mujaheedin Asari-Dokubo and Chief Bipobiri Ajube, aka Gen. Shoot-At-Sight. The founder of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) Dr. Frederick Fasehun and OPC National co-coordinator, Otunba Gani Adams also got a share of the deals.

Former President Jonathan was accused of handling over the protection of the oil facilities to the above leaders as parts of his political patronage to attract voters from the South South and South West regions, where the militia groups held sway. Gani Adams and Frederick Fasehun were at the forefront alongside other Yoruba leaders that vigorously advocated the failed

return bid of former President Jonathan.

Seven companies considered for the exercise and their areas of control are Egbe Security River One (Bayelsa); Gallery Security (Mosinmi -Ore); Close Body Protection (Edo State); Adex Energy Security (Rivers) ; Donyx Global Concept(Lagos and Ogun); Oil Facilities Surveillance-(Delta) and New Age Global Security (Mosinmi-Ibadan).

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) was responsible to oversee the exercise.

At the height of the criticism that trailed the awards, National Coordinator of Odua Peoples Congress, Gani Adams retorted that President Goodluck Jonathan deserves praise from the All Progressives Congress for approving a contract for the OPC to protect pipelines across the South-West.

He noted that it would create at least 5,000 direct jobs for his boys and another 10,000 for other youths in the South-West region.

Adams had said, “The allegation is that the Federal Government gave us a contract: Pipeline security. What is the security of pipeline to the OPC? We have been running this

organisation without getting a dime from any government but most of the security agencies saddled with the responsibility of protecting the pipelines have failed; people were dying every day.

He said “Nigeria was losing more than N3bn everyday to the activities of the vandals and the agitation of that contract started from Dr. Fredrick Fasehun one and a half years ago and you know the bureaucracy of Nigerian ministries. It was a long process and it was just granted and it will empower nothing less than 5,000 youths from my side.”

In a swift reaction Personal Assistant to Gani Adams, Prince Segun Olalekan Akanni said “the Federal Government did not withdraw the pipeline protection contracts but rather the agreement signed by both parties expired today, (yesterday, Monday, June 15, 2015)”.

Asked if there is any of hope of renewal of the contract, Prince Akanni, said “that is left to government if they want”.

The monthly sum for the contract is put at N2.4billion an amount meant for the purpose of “policing and protection oil pipelines in the South West Nigeria against vandalism.”

visited the scene of the blast said he saw six of the bodies of the victims being carried to the general hospital where they have been deposited, while several unspecified others were sent to the hospital where they are receiving treatment.

He said the bomb was planted near the office of the vigilantes near Rimi filling station.

When our reporter contacted the state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Toyin Gbadegese, he said he would call back after he has confirmed the incident.

At least 20 people had been killed in a series of blasts perpetrated by Boko Haram suicide bombers at several locations linked to Chad’s police in the capital, security sources

have reported.

An international security source said Boko Haram suicide bombers struck in N’Djamena killing seven people in an initial attack and another 35 people when explosives planted at the police training school went off.

A second source said at least 20 people had been killed but did not give a breakdown of the incidents.

The interior minister confirmed at least one suicide attack but gave no further details.

Interior Minister Abderahim Bireme Hamid said security forces had locked down the area but the situation was ongoing. He said it was too early to give any toll from the incident.

“I can confirm that it was a suicide

attack,” he told Reuters.

Oil-producing Chad has become a key ally in the fight against the Islamist threat across West Africa, playing a central role in offensives on al Qaeda-linked groups in Mali and Boko Haram militants in Nigeria.

Chad has lost dozen soldiers fighting in northern Mali and in northern Nigeria and there had been a number of attacks near Chad’s border with Nigeria.

However, N’Djamena has so far not yet been attacked. The riverside city, which lies on the border with Cameroon, is the headquarters for a regional taskforce being launched to fight Boko Haram, supposed to group troops from Nigeria, Chad, Niger, Cameroon and Benin.

position can be prepared for the new government to start from with clear records from ministers.

“But the ministers knew that they were going but the technocrats, the permanent secretaries and directors and so on, they know they would remain.

“If anything goes wrong they would be invited to explain, but unfortunately the outgoing government did not cooperate.

“So, what the committee did was to divide itself into about five sub-committees and get a resource person that was willing to come and bring the document, and so they prepared and I got the report I think three days ago.

“I was waiting for this report because I would like to know what position in the government especially in terms of finance and petroleum industry. So, I am not in a hurry to get ministers.

“I want to get ministers after at least I have seen the report because I don’t have to appoint a minister today and sack him the next week because this report

would give me what actually happened in terms of security, economy of the country.

“And since I have to have ministers from politicians and technocrats, I wouldn’t (like to) make the mistake of getting somebody, who has been involved on account of accountability”.

Buhari added that he, Mr. Jonathan and former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, had agreed to letting the former ministers hand over their notes to the interim committee he had formed.

He said that the planned examination of the handover notes had to be suspended when the outgoing ruling party accused his then incoming administration of forming a parallel government.

Buhari said he actually wanted to get a platform from the former ministers on which to start from following the problem of accountability in the administration.

The President, who recalled that during his time as minister

of petroleum during the Olusegun Obasanjo military regime, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation had only three accounts, said that during the immediate past administration, the NNPC and the ministry of finance did not know how many accounts they had.

He described the development as improper.

He also said that the emergence of Bukola Saraki as Senate President divided the All Progressives Congress in spite of the moves by the party to avert a crisis.

He said the onus was on the National Assembly to resolve the issue as it had its own criteria for choosing its officers, which was why he did not want to interfere in the exercise.

Buhari said the problem of Boko Haram had been internationalised and expressed his happiness with the support coming from Nigeria’s neighbours and the G7 in an effort to end insurgency.

30 Killed in Potiskum, Chad multiple blasts

From Uche Uche, Damaturu

T My regrets as INEC boss – Jega – Page 16

Metro

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Int’l 39 S/World

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Digest 40 Sports 41 Columnist 48

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en people were killed in two separate blasts in the Northeastern Nigerian city of Potiskum while at least 20 were reportedly sent to early graves in N’Djamena, Chad Republic, by Boko Haram suicide bombers.

A police source and a civilian vigilante assisting the military against Boko Haram said on Monday that eight vigilantes were killed when a man taken in for questioning on suspicion of theft detonated explosives he was carrying at about12:15 p.m. (1115 GMT) while two others were killed outside a tavern and brothel in Potiskum.

According to an eye witness who

Why I have not appointed ministers yet – Buhari

By Osby Isibor with agency reports

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resident Muhammadu Buhari yesterday gave reasons for the delay in his appointment of ministers, attributing it to the late submission of the transition committee’s report on the previous administration to him.

Buhari made this known while speaking to journalists at the Summit of the African Union in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The President said he was being careful in order not to make mistakes in appointing individuals especially to key positions such as in the finance and petroleum ministries.

“I don’t know why people are so anxious about ministers. But eventually we will have (them).

“But the main reason is that I have an interim committee which I agreed with former President Jonathan that the ministers of the outgoing government should hand over their notes or their documents to this interim committee so that a

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, JUNE 16, 2015

News

Dogara seeks Britain’s assistance on e-parliament

By Umar Muhammad Puma

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Kaduna-Zaria Highway blocked by drivers in a protest over the alleged shooting of a driver by soldier, yesterday at Marabar Jos, in Kaduna.

Photo: NAN

Soldier shoots driver over N500 in Kaduna From Mohammad Ibrahim, Kaduna

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otorists plying Kaduna- Zaria express way were stranded on Sunday night after a Soldier was alleged to have shot a trailer driver for refusing to offer him N500 bribe.

The victim, Abba Saminu was shot on his right leg. The incident occurred closed to Mararrabar, Jos around 10 p.m.

It was gathered that when the news of the incident got into town, his fellow drivers protested the shooting by blocking the highway with their vehicles for hours making it difficult for motorists to get across.

The victim was rushed to Saint Gerald’s Hospital, Kaduna by good Samaritans that found him in a pool of his blood.

The victim who narrated the incident to our correspondent on his hospital bed, said “We were on way back to Kaduna with Irish potatoes inside the vehicle when we came across a check point mounted by the soldiers around 10 pm on Sunday closed to Mararraba jos.

“They ordered us to park

as I was about parking by the roadside one of the soldiers demanded N500 from me. I told him I can only afford N100 naira. So he shouted at us and ordered us out of the vehicle,” he said.

According to Abba, immediately he alighted from the vehicle another soldier slapped him.

“When I turned to run I heard a gunshot so I fell down.

They entered their vehicle and zoom off. It was some people that later came to rush me to hospital,” he said.

Abba’s employer, Alhaji Ibrahim who was at the hospital appealed to the Military authority and government to bring an end to harassment against drivers by soldiers at the high ways.

He said drivers are always subjected to all kind of intimidation and harassment by security agents stationed on high ways for refusing to offer them bribe.

“We know that their leaders didn’t send them to be harassing people but the soldiers always demand bribe from our drivers on highways, if they refuse to give they will

be subjected to all sorts of harassment,” he said.

Alhaji Ibrahim described the soldiers attitude towards drivers as illegal calling on government to put an end to it.

Effort to speak with Army One Divisional Public Relations Officer, Colonel Usman Abdul failed as he didn’t answer his phone.

But Special Assistant Media and Publicity to the state governor, Samuel Aruwan confirmed the incident.

According to him, the state governor directed his deputy Bala Bantex and state commissioner of Police to visit the scene to plead with the drivers union to allow stranded vehicles access to road.

“The state government received the information and the governor immediately directed his deputy and state commissioner of police to visit the scene so as to bring the situation under control,” he said.

Aruwan also pleaded with the citizens to avoid taken laws into their hands, saying they should always channel their grievances to the right authority.

he Speaker of the House of Representatives; Hon. Yakubu Dogara has urged the British government to assist Nigeria in upgrading the chamber to a modern facility for parliamentary platform such as e-parliament.

Dogara stated this while receiving a delegation from the British High Commission who paid him a courtesy call at his office, saying Nigeria and Britain have come a long way; and that Nigeria is a creation of Britain.

He said: “Permit me to acknowledge the role Britain has played in the development of this country. Whether we like it or not, Nigeria is essentially a creation of the British. I remember nearing the 2015 elections, we had apocalyptic prediction that we would break up. But we saw the role the international community played especially Britain in ensuring that our elections went smoothly and peaceful.

“However, without sounding like Oliver Twist, we still need to ask for more. As you may have known, some of the goals set in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were not met by Nigeria.

“We also acknowledge the role your country has played through the DFID in trying to enhance socio-economic development of Nigeria. We require your assistance in the area of project

selection in budgetary provision because in most cases, the budget largely favours those who draft the estimates before it is sent to the parliament for passage”, he said.

Speaking on behalf of the delegation and Political Counselor for the British High Commission, Mr. Ben Llowellyn-Jones told the Speaker they were at his office to felicitate with on his electoral victory as Speaker and to also declare the support of the British government for his leadership.

He said: “We have come today to pay our respect and to congratulate you. And to also wish you well in your legislative responsibilities as well as pledge the support of the British High Commission to your leadership”.

Hon. Dogara called on the High Commission to assist in the upgrade of equipment with a view to operating an electronic parliament with real time legislative proceedings.

“We need to improve on our physical infrastructure of the National Assembly such as the chamber which does not have modern legislative equipment due to how it was designed.

“A certain parliament has pledged to upgrade it into a platform for e-parliament and we also need your assistance on that.

“Capacity building for members is essential to the work of legislators. We need partnership in the building of capacity for members so as to enhance the effectiveness of members.

PDP confused, ill informed on Ambode’s asset declaration – APC From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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he Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday described as uninformed, hollow and laughable the statement credited to the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that Governor Akinwumi Ambode should declare his assets or be regarded as a pretender governor.

The party said that PDP is lost and needs help to survive the demeaning fate they face in Lagos and the country today.

In a release in Lagos, signed by the Publicity Secretary, Joe Igbokwe, the party dismissed Lagos PDP as a group of ill informed jokers who are being dealt a big blow by their present shambolic state.

It advises the PDP to take a period to school itself about constitutional provisions regarding asset declaration before it comes out just to make some unserious noise to source relevance it does not have.

“PDP Lagos continues to make us believe it exists in Lagos where it has been dealt serious electoral blows year in year out.

Lagos PDP is an unserious group that periodically amuses itself with such hollow vituperations as asking Governor Ambode to declare his assets or be regarded as “pretender governor”-whatever that means. This can only be the fruits of uncoordinated thoughts of serial losers that have no inkling on how to handle its latest round of electoral defeat, “When what calls itself Lagos PDP are not engaged in unending fight with themselves as a way of expressing their electoral frustration, they are busy making disoriented demands that are both hollow in articulation and empty in reasons. It is not surprising that Lagos PDP is coming out the way they did after the thorough APC victory in both Lagos and the center as well as majority of states in Nigeria.

“Lagos PDP in making the demand of Governor Ambode to declare his assets must have woken up from a long slumber that robs them both of the constitutional provision on assets declaration and the fact that as incoming Governor, the governor declared his assets with the Code of Conduct Bureau, in keeping with the constitutional requirements for his office.

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, JUNE 16, 2015

News

US: We’ll assist Buhari stamp out Boko Haram, contributes $5 billion

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he United States of America has said it will work with President Muhammadu Buhari to stop the menace of Boko Haram in Nigeria and its neighbouring countries.

This is even as the United States has announced a $5 billion contribution to the Multinational Joint Task Force (MJTF) to boost the military operation against the Boko Haram insurgency.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan had complained during his tenure about the unwillingness of the American government to assist Nigeria in prosecuting the

war against the terrorist group, especially in selling weapons to the country.

But Washington said it would work with Buhari to likely increase the US’ level of support though it did not say whether that would include sales of lethal weapons earlier requested for by the Federal Government.

The US Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, during a telephone press briefing on Monday, held in South Africa at the 25th African Union Summit, and monitored by our correspondent in

Lagos, stated that Washington was committed to ensuring that Nigeria wins its battle against the terrorist group.

“Fighting terrorism is not easy.

Since 2001 we have been fighting terrorism and we will continue to fight terrorists. Fighting in Africa requires support of the entire region,” Thomas-Greenfield said.

The US government added that the Boko Haram insurgency was not a Nigerian problem alone.

According to its representative, the US is working closely with Nigeria’s neighbours to curtail the activities of the terrorist group.

Rivers state Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike (2nd right), speaking during inspection of Eagle IslandIrobuchi Link Road, yesterday in Port Harcourt.

Photo: NAN

OPC wants Police to produce 3 missing operatives guarding pipeline

From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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he Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) led by Dr. Fredrick Faseun yesterday asked the police to produce three of its operatives guarding petroleum pipeline for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in Shagamu, Ogun State.

The group said Babatunde Adeyemi, Roland Ajayi and Orungbeja Dele-Osagie who are employed by New Age Global Business Ltd went missing after a confrontation with the police in the Shagamu, Ogun State, axis of the pipeline security contract that OPC holds with the Federal Government.

In a statement issued in Lagos

by Prince Sylvester Eweka, the OPC Publicity Secretary, the organisation said that the men went missing after an armed military task force attempted to forcefully eject them from their area of operation at the pipeline.

The three men were part of the 4,000 private security operatives employed by New Age Global

Business Ltd, the contractor NNPC hired to provide security against criminals engaged in pipeline vandalism and petroleum products stealing.

At the weekend, NNPC abruptly sent an SMS message terminating the pipeline security contract with effect from June 15, 2015.

The OPC security outfits involved in the contract are being owed three months by the NNPC, and they have been unable to pay personnel on the project.

On Sunday, a lorry-load of task force members invaded the Shagamu area, claiming it had orders to forcefully reclaim control of the pipeline area.

Irked by this unceremonious move, the private security operatives said they had no signal from their management to vacate the site.

However, after the ensuing fracas, three men could not be accounted for by their team leaders.

Many of the private security operatives fled the scene, amidst shooting by the task force.

The statement said, “The action of the Task Force is suspect.

We have been rendering selfless and patriotic to protect the nation’s pipelines and prevent vandals from stealing petroleum products. How come it is our patriotic security operatives who are now being harassed, haunted and brutalised?

“Apart from the missing men, the uniformed men also carted away telephone handsets and cash.

“The deadline for the termination of the contract is not today, why this inordinate haste by these uniformed men?”

Attempts to reach the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 2, Mr. Joseph Mbu did not succeed.

“We want this matter resolved as quickly as possible and it we fear the worst has happened to these missing men,” he said, adding, “We also demand that the NNPC immediately takes responsibility for the damages caused the group and ensure swift payment of all arrears.”

She added that the US was committing $5 million to Nigeria’s efforts at defeating Boko Haram and that Nigeria had been receiving equipment and technical assistance from the US. Contrary to President Buhari’s statement on Sunday at the AU Summit, the US assistant secretary, Bureau of African Affairs, said Africa was not under siege, though she admitted the continent was facing “really horrific attacks in recent times.”

“I’ll not say Africa is under siege. I’ll say Africa is facing some challenging security situations,” she said.

Meanwhile, the United States has announced a $5 billion contribution to the Multinational Joint Task Force to boost the military operation against the Boko Haram insurgency.

The U.S. Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, announced this at news briefing via telephone from the African Union Summit on Monday.

“We have been working with Nigeria as well as the African countries to address their concerns about Boko Haram because we don’t see this as just a Nigerian problem.

“We are having discussions with President Buhari on how we might bolster our support. We have already been working with them and providing information.

“We are providing some training and support and we’ll love to work with the new administration to see

how we might increase the level of support to Nigeria.

“At the same time, we’ve just announced at the venue of the AU, five billion dollars contribution to the Multinational Task Force.

“We are also providing some equipment and support and we have a number of meetings with the countries who are members of the Multinational Joint Task Force to look at other areas we might support.”

Mr. Thomas-Greenfield said that Africa had faced “some really horrendous terrorist attacks” over the past two years.

He listed the West Gate and Garissa University attacks in Kenya, and the Boko Haram attacks particularly, the kidnapping of the Chibok girls among others.

“While I would not say Africa is under siege, Africa has some major security challenges.

“That requires a very strong and very concerted strategic effort

by African countries and partners to address the security concerns of Africa.”

She said the U.S. is providing a strong support to AU on security as the U.S. has a strong partnership with the continent on security.

“We are working closely with the Lake Chad Basin countries: Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon to address the issues of Boko Haram,” she said.

She said that U.S. had so far trained about 250,000 African peacekeepers, saying U.S. highest priority in Africa remained security.

Murderers won’t be spared in Kaduna – El-Rufai warns From Mohammad Ibrahim, Kaduna

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aduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, yesterday declared that the spate of killings in the state must end now, warning that anybody who attack or commit murder will not be spared.

According to him, there is the need for residents to embrace peace in the era of change as government is working round the clock to deliver real dividends of democracy to the people.

The governor spoke through his Special Assistant, Media and Publicity, Samuel Aruwan in the state.

He further warned against any form of attacks by persons or group in any part of the state.

“We are calling on the good people of Kaduna state not to commit murder or attack anybody in the state. All citizens

in Kaduna State have the right to live in peace. Henceforth, the new administration will not allow killing of another fellow human being under any guise with impunity.

“If a husband kills his wife, he will face the full wrath of the law, the same thing if a wife or son kills her husband or father, she or he will face the law no matter highly the person is.

“Any one or group of people that any community will not be spared, we will not tolerate any kind of killings,” he warned.

El-Rufai added that no more buying of justice in the state, saying he cannot fold his hands to watch such ungodly act taken place in the state.

He said there would be no religious sentiment, favoritism and witch hunting in the state, urging people with grievances or problem with anybody to report such person to security agencies.

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, JUNE 16, 2015

News

Anticorruption: Melaye bags award in US ...says it’s for the missing Chibok girls

By Etuka Sunday

T

he All Progressives Congress Senator (APC) representing Kogi West in Nigeria’s National Assembly, Otunba Dino Melaye, on Wednesday said he would be dedicating an award to be conferred on him by popular United States-based Exclusive Accolade International Magazine on the missing Chibok girls.

Reports reaching Peoples Daily said the award ceremony scheduled for August 21 and 23 at Sheraton Atlanta Hotel, Atlanta Georgia, United States, would be conferred on him in recognition of his strict stance against corruption in Nigeria.

Before his election as a Senator, Melaye was the Executive Secretary of AntiCorruption Network (ACN), a platform registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) whose mandate was basically to check the excesses of corrupt government officials.

According to the statement, issued from Melaye’s office, Melaye who is the Convener of “Like minded Senators”, the group which spearheaded the emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki as Nigeria’s Senate President, said his commitment to the fight against corruption is a battle of no retreat, no surrender.

“I thank the organizers of the award and accept in wholeheartedly. I dedicate the award to the missing Chibok girls. I also use this opportunity to pray for their return and this award can only propel me to do more in the anti-corruption fight in Nigeria”.

“The battle to rescue Nigeria from economic cankerworms and financial scavengers is a battle of no retreat, no surrender. I use this opportunity to call on Nigerians to join the battle against corruption that has become the bane of our development because in an unjust society, silence is a crime.”

The over 200 female students of Government Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State, were abducted by Boko Haram Islamic sect since April 2014.

A letter dated June 8 2015 signed by the CEO of Accolade Media, Ambassador (Mrs) Ginika Tor and Patron, Mrs. Alanyingi Sylva, said “this award is in recognition of your outstanding qualities, innovations, immense humanitarian service and demonstration of excellence in your quest and passion to end corruption in Nigeria.”

Local gin kills 2 in Delta community as police uncover homosexual hideouts From Osakhare Erese, Asaba

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uspected killer local gin otherwise known as “ogogoro” has reportedly killed two persons in Okolore, Kwale axis, Delta State after Federal government recently placed a ban on it.

It was gathered that the two persons died at the weekend by a bush path to various farm lands in the area after they both were

said to have taken “two shots” of the drink allegedly prepared with herbs. The deceased, (names withheld) middle aged, have been known drinkers in the community and in most cases, they drank to stupor and sleep by the road side.

Sources said they may have died of long damaged kidney problems as both found dead were oozing out offensive odour within two days of their death.

Family sources said the duo related of the same family, have never been married as they were well known drinkers in the past and in most cases smell “ogogoro” when they speak in public places.

But acting police spokesman in the State, Asp Uwuigbe Nosakhare said the police were investigating the surroundings of their deaths, adding that the police detectives in Kwale uncovered hideout for

homosexual and arrested the operator of the Joint currently detained in the area.

It was gathered that the joint harbor miscreants who allegedly take delight in making love to male counter parts for money.

Sources said at Nightfall, the joint located around a T-Junction in the community, is beehive of illegal activities where these miscreants smoke Indian harm before going to the sexual act.

President Muhammadu Buhari, delivers his address at the 25th AU Summit, on Sunday in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Delta Okpanam community petitions Airtel over corporate responsibility neglect From Osakhare Erese, Asaba

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irtel Communication Limited, a leading telecommunications service provider in the country has been accused of allegedly neglecting its corporate social n responsibility to Okpanam community in Oshimili

North Local Government area of Delta State, following the company’s alleged failure to respond to the distress calls by the people befallen by natural disasters and even when such calamity directly affected the company’s installations and business operation in the town.

In a petition addressed to

the General Manager. Airtel Communication Ltd Asaba a copy made available to our correspondent captioned “Neglect of Corporate Social Responsibility to Okpanam Community by your Establishment” and signed by acting secretary to Ugoani-incouncil Mr. Mattew 0. Okafor, the-community stated that “on

CSO tasked FG on electoral reform

By Umar Muhammad Puma

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ivil society group had called for early commencement of electoral reform for the 2019 General Elections as part of measures to consolidate the gains of the 2015 exercise.

Speaking at a media roundtable on the 2015 Elections yesterday in Abuja, organised by the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) on the Project Quick Count with a themed: “Setting a Media Agenda for Electoral Reform”, Chairman of Partners for Electoral Reforms (PER) Ezenwa Nwagwu, Human Right activist Jide Ojo, TMG Project Manager Lazarus Apir and Training Manager Paul James among others were unanimous

that the nations electoral laws require total overhaul.

In his keynote Nwagwu who spoke on “The Strategic Role of the Media and CSOs in Promoting Electoral Reforms” said there should be mid-term elections for federal and state lawmakers apart from making provisions for independent candidacy to deepen the nation’s democratic gains.

“The process of recalling lawmakers in the constitution is very cumbersome and complicated, but providing for mid-term elections would go a long a way to put the legislators on their toes and deliver and also gives the voters opportunity to replace non-performing lawmakers.

It can be seen that Nigerians

voted for the personalities of former President Goodluck Jonathan and President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2011 and 2015 elections rather than their parties. How then can the independent candidacy not deepen the nation’s democracy?”

Nwagwu said.

He also said it was not the business of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register and deregister political parties in the face of freedom of association, but should rather set criteria for parties that would be listed on the ballot papers as being done in the United State which have over 400 parties but have 13 on the ballot contest.

May 12, 2012 rainstorm swept across Mkpflam kingdom, leaving in its wake, fallen six electricity poles leading to your mast installed in the premises of St. Mulumba College, Obodogba Quarters, Okpanam, and contrary to the expectation of all and sundry Airtel turned a blind eye to the malaise, until Okpanam community took up the gauntlet to repair the massive damage to restore electricity to the community including the company’s mast” The letter states that the repair to the horrendous destruction to houses by the rainstorm was borne by affected individuals, while the damaged disused cables leading to the mast installed by Airtel are still lying on the surface of the earth posing danger to members of the public.

The community also alleged that again, sometime in the year 2014, Airtel’s heavy duty vehicle caused the collapse of the culvert leading to the palace of Ugoani of Okpanam, St. Mulumba college and the telecommunication company’s mast installed in Obodogba quarter, the company as usual turned a deaf ear to our repeated calls to come and effect repairs to the culvert”.

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, JUNE 16, 2015

News

Gov Okowa promises to tackle unemployment with entrepreneurship From Osakhare Erese, Asaba

D

elta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa has disclosed that his administration would emphasis on skill acquisition and entrepreneurship so as to reduce youth employment.

Speaking at a Thanksgiving Service at the First Baptist Church, Oghara at the weekend held in honour of Hon. Erhiatake Ibori, Legislator representing Ethiope West Local Government Area, Governor Okowa said that his administration would create conducive environment for skill acquisition, entrepreneurship and youth empowerment in order to create more job opportunities and engage Deltans.

He explained that giving the present financial challenges in the country the state government cannot employ everybody into the state civil service adding that ”when technical and entrepreneur skills are developed and nurtured it will become easier to attain micro credit support, create employment outside government and the state economy will improve”.

While charging political leaders to use their positions to serve humanity, Senator Okowa said they should serve with humility, truth, justice as well as endure challenges that would come with their positions in order to bring dividends of democracy to Nigerians.

“Whatever we are, once we hold on to God and put Him first, he lays the foundation for us to succeed. We should not allow the grace given us by God to be wasted because we will be accountable to God for the service we rendered on the last day”, the governor said.

Sen. Okowa expressed confidence that Hon. Erhiatake Ibori would represent her constituency well stressing that she has passion for her people and has supported them in the past through her people oriented programmes.

Earlier, the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church Rev. Godspower Iweh in a sermon explained that God’s grace was not given for self proclamation but for a purpose which was to serve Him and his people “God gives us grace for a purpose and the moment we deviate from His purpose, God’s glory leaves us.

Whatever you are called to do, you must do it accordingly”.

L-R: Chairman, Global Water Partnership, West Africa, Dr Hassan Badliya, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, Mr. Musa Istifanus, and Project Manager, Water Sanitation, Food Security and Environment, European Union, Mrs. Kate Kanebi, during the National Consultation on Food Security and Water in Sub-Sahara Africa, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: NAN

Pay workers salaries in the spirit of Ramadan, Muslim youths tell Governors From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

A

s Muslims fasting period of Ramadan sets in, National Council of Muslim Youth Organizations (NACOMYO) has called on state governors owing workers to pay in the spirit of the Holy month.

NACOMYO National President Alhaji Kamal’ddin Akintunde in a statement urged nation leaders and especially State Chief Executives to apply virtues of the glorious and blessed month which include steadfastness, goodness, benevolence, kindness, charity in the act of governance and to accord priority to workers welfare, just as the group urged employers of labour to create synergy that will aid production and development.

Akintunde said the appeal

is coming against the backdrop of states and local governments owing backlog of workers’ salaries and entitlements.

He noted that the unhealthy development has brought hardship and economic worries to many Nigerian families.

The group noted that the phenomenon and recurring decimal undermines healthy living and good family life and has resulted into morbidity and mortality in many homes.

NACOMYO admonished Nigerian governments to be conscientious and righteous, just as it told them that it was scriptural that the sweat of labourers should not dry before they were accorded their dues and entitlements.

The group urged President Muhammadu Buhari to take a second look at his seemingly

stance not to assist depressed states, stating that such rescue was a compelling concern that will also check corruptive tendencies which his government promised to battle.

While noting that this year’s Ramadan was coming on the heels of the inauguration of new governments, NACOMYO enjoined Muslim faithful to use the opportunity of the elevated and majestic month to engage in meritorious acts/deeds and to pray fervently for divine guidance of the leadership and the led in the collective effort of building a nation of our dream where peace and justice shall reign. It reminded Nigerians that sacrifice, understanding, patience and patriotism were required of them for the new leadership to succeed and for democratic dividends to be enjoyed and go round.

NACOMYO also emphasized the need for Nigerians to sustain the peace in the country and therefore implored Muslim scholars and clerics to conform and preach virtues that will promote unity, love, peaceful coexistence and good governance best practices and imperatives.

The Muslim Youth umbrella body also canvassed and renewed the call for establishment of special courts to adjudicate over corruption cases as a way of the decongesting the conventional courts, and as our slow judicial process is being capitalized upon by financial and economic crime offenders to pervert the course of justice. NACOMYO further noted that the free bargaining plea for treasury looters was an encouragement and rather not a punishment nor it serves as a deterrent.

CITAD to establish cattle rustling information system in Zamfara

From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

A

Kano state-based non governmental organization, Center for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has expressed commitment for the provision of access information regarding preventive measures against cattle rustling and method of engagement with relevant stakeholders on how to achieve to minimise the ugly terrain in Zamfara state.

The Leader of a team on the platform of the organisation, Malam Sufiyanu Lawal Kabo, who

presided over major part of the technical session held in Fulbe Villa hotel in Gusau, the state capital, noted that cattle rustling has been one of the greatest challenge bedevelling the country especially North-eastern part following some of the local based NGO’s were suffering dearth of appropriate capacity to access data pertaining cattle rustling to share with relevant stakeholders with a view to acquire a lasting solution to the problem.

Malam Kabo, who urged members of the Civil Society to remain pro-active in supporting CITAD to succeed it aims, informed that a team of

volunteers would be mobilsed in the State immediately after the establishment of Center for Cattle Rustling Information System so that relevant information regarding cattle rustling could eventually be accessed and shared among the stakeholders for continuous advocacy and engagement.

The Center has equally organised training for the members of the Civil Society in the state on the use of the Social Media in promoting peace among the Nigerian citizenry.

The workshop has succeeded to have inculcate the stakeholders on the importance of using social

media as an effective instrument for ensuring sustainable peacebuilding, thereby caution participants on the dangers surrounding use of social media as means of attacking personalities as well as base less campaigns.

The State Focal person of CITAD, Malam Musa Umar explained that, the objective of organising the capacity training was to engage all the relevant stakeholders especially members of the Civil Society to embark upon intensified campaign for peace and find a lasting ways to end the unwanted cattle rustling in the State.

PAGE 7

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, JUNE 16, 2015

NIGERIAN INVESTMENT PROMOTION COMMISSION (NIPC).

Plot 1181, Aguiyi Ironsi Street.

Maitama, Abuja

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE /DISTRICT COURT OF C.F.T ABUJA OF NIGERIA (Order 3 Rule 7 ) HEARING NOTICE

INVITATION FOR PREQUALIFICATION/ EXPRESSION OF INTEREST.

INTRODUCTION. In compliance with the Public Procurement Act 2007,the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC)hereby invites interested professional consultants and companies with relevant experience and good track record to submit Prequalification/ Financialbid documents for the following consultancy services. a) b)

Redesign of NIPC Corporate website.

Targeted Marketing Strategy for attracting Foreign Direct Investment

1.0 PREQUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS. Prospective bidders are required to submit the following documents: i.

Certificate of incorporation / Evidence of Registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) Memorandum and Article of Association. ii.

Evidence of Certification / Exemption from PENCOM in accordance with Pension Act, 2004. iii.

Evidence of Tax Clearance Certificate for the last three years (2012, 2013, 2014) corresponding to declared turnover. iv.

Evidence of VAT Registration with TIN No and past remittances for the last three years (2012, 2013, 2014) v.

Evidence of Contribution/Remittance of 1% of Annual Total Emolument accrued to members of staff of the company payable to ITF. vi.

Evidence of Compliance with Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria Act. vii.

Evidence of membership of relevant Professional Bodies. viii.

Company Audited Account prepared by a reputable Chartered Accounting firm for the last three years (2012, 2013, 2014) showing annual turnover. ix.

Evidence of Technical Capability. x.

Verifiable list of similar jobs successfully executedin the last three year including letters of award and job completion certificate (please provide contact addresses of the clients who may be contacted for reference) xi.

Evidence of Financial Capability to execute the projects. xii.

Company Profile and Technical qualification / curriculum vitae of key personnel with evidence of experience on similar consultancy jobs. xiii.

A sworn affidavit that none of the Directors or Consultants have been convicted in any court of any criminal offences and xiv.

A sworn Affidavit confirming that all information presented and attached are true and correct and that no officer of the Commission is a former or present Director, Shareholder or has any pecuniary interest in the bidder.

2.0 SUBMISSION OF DOCUMENTS: Interested bidders shall submit Technical and Financial bid documents separately in sealed tamper proof envelopes in two hard copies. The envelopes must be properly labeled and addressedto: The Executive Secretary Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission No. 19 Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Block B, Room 009 Abuja.

Closing time for all submissions is on or before Tuesday30th June, 2015 at 12 noon prompt. Late submissions shall not be entertained.

3.0 OPENING: Opening of the received documents will commence at 2.00pm on Tuesday day 30th June, 2015 in the Board Room Block A of the NIPC Headquarters. All Bidders and / or their representatives, Relevant Professional Bodies and NGOs are invited to witness the public opening exercise accordingly.

4.0 PLEASE NOTE THAT: i.

All CAC, VAT, PENCOM, ITF and Tax Certificate may be referred to the Security Agencies, Corporate Affairs Commission, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), National Pension Commission and other relevant bodies for verification. ii.

Only bidders successful at this stage will be invited for the next stage of the bidding process where applicable. iii.

The Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission reserves the right to reject any or all the submissions that do not meet up with the requirements as specified. iv.

The Evaluation of the received documents shall be strictly based on the requirements specified above.

5.0 SPECIAL NOTICE This publication is not invitation to tender but only successful pre-qualified companies would be required to tender for the projects.

Nothing in this advertisement shall be construed to be a commitment on the part of National Human Rights Commission to undertake the projects or entitle any renderer to make any claim(s) incurred in preparing the pre-qualification documents.

Signed: Head, Procurement For: Executive Secretary

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE /DISTRICT COURT OF C.F.T ABUJA OF NIGERIA (Order 3 Rule 7 ) HEARING NOTICE

PAGE 8

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, JUNE 16, 2015

News

DELSU offers 12 Best Graduating students automatic Varsity don employment, expels 21 others for forgery, sundry offences calls for From Osakhare Erese, Asaba The occasion was the oath/ certificates were found to be forged. students.

According to him, “After all, induction ceremony of 2012/2013 Professor Peretomode review of o fewer than twelve Best set of Bachelor of Nursing science on graduation, they will provide emphasized that the Council Graduating students were grandaunts. services to us all, therefore, I am regulatory body of the Nurses/ 6-3-3-4ystem at the weekend offered Speaking at the event, the through this occasion, inviting Midwifery had always taken Employment by vice Chancellor of the University, the Nigerian public, private measures not to relent in her of education automatic management of the Delta State Professor Victor Peretomode, organizations in Nigeria and those effort to actualize the internship owned University Abraka, while explained that the training of Nigerians in dispora to come the programme of Bachelor of in Nigeria twenty one others were expelled Nurses like every other profession aid of Delta State University” Nursing Science graduates that

N

From Osakhare Erese, Asaba

T

he Secretary General, Committee of Provosts of Colleges of Education in Nigeria, Prof. Olu Akeusola has called for the review of the 6-3- 3-4 system of education in the country.

Akeusola who made the call during the 74th regular quarterly meeting 0f members the of Committee of provosts of Colleges 0f Education in Nigeria held at the Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba Delta State yesterday, said that the call had become imperative as it would go a long way in helping to reposition the educational system in the country for enhanced productivity.

According to him, the 6-3-3-4 educational system in Nigeria should be review such that the last three years of senior secondary education should be dedicated towards preparing students for university discipline, technical education for polytechnics and teachers’ education for students that would be going to Colleges of Education for the NCE programmes.

He disclosed that the problem facing teachers’ education 4i the country started when the nation hurriedly killed the Teacher Grade II Programme in preference for the Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE).

“The Killing of Teachers Grade II Programme was the beginning of the problem of teachers’ education in Nigeria; we hurriedly killed the Teachers Grade 11 Programme and now said that the minimum teaching qualification is the NCE whereas education is pyramidal in nature”, Akeusola who is the Provost of Michael Otedola College of Primary Education, Epe, Lagos State , said.

He stated that it was only at the Teachers Grade Il level that one could acquire the knowledge of teaching a lot of subjects that are taught in primary schools “while in Colleges of Education, you are to specialize in two or three subject. So, how do you allow those with NCE to go and teach in primary schools, he queried.

for alleged forgery and sundry offences.

One of the beneficiaries, Miss Izeko Constance from the department of Clinical was given an automatic employment as a lecturer while others were given assistant lecturers respectively.

has always been capital intensive, adding that the University cannot transfer the heavy financial burden to the parents of students.

On the expelled students, the vice chancellor said that the students were exposed by findings, explaining that their school

noting that the call to Nigerians become necessary as government alone cannot shoulder the funding of the University system in Nigeria.

He said that despite the funding constraint, Delta State University remains committed to impacting qualitative education to the

will ultimately address the current theory gap challenge fated by the graduates.

He expressed confidence that having gone through the vigorous academic preparation, the inductees will be ready for the global market as professionals.

NDIC Caution Youths over fraudulent Banks

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

T

he Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has warned youths to be wary of financial institutions in the country operating without licenses.

Mr. Feturi Otedoh who is

in-charge of Examination Unit of the NDIC gave the warning yesterday during a sensitization seminar at the NYSC Orientation camp in Wannune,Tarka local government area of Benue State,while frowning at the fraudulent activities of some financial institutions who

operate without license just to dupe young people and other prospective customers.

He urged them to report any irregularities to NDIC but stated clearly, “note that we will not protect you unduly and unprotect the banks”.

Mr. Feturi also, advised the

corp members to beware of banks who dangles high interest rates before them, maintaining that such banks are just out to cheat them.

The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation is charged with supervision of banks to ensure their financial stability.

L-R: Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Mr. John Kennedy Opara, with the newly appointed Director of FCT Christian Pilgrim Welfare Board (SCPWB), Mr. Dabara Audu Labaran, during later visit to NCPC , yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin ImoOwo

Ramadan: Etsu Nupe warns clerics against inciting sermons

From Yakubu Mustapha,Minna.

T

he Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar has warned Islamic preachers against inciting sermons that could provoke the public against each other.

Abubakar stated this yesterday in his Wadata palace in Bida when he met with Imams, Islamic clerics and representatives of various market traders.

He said “religious preaching’s during this period should be targeted at maintaining harmonious relationship among the people and nothing should be done to divide the people”, Etsu Nupe said.

Etsu Nupe disclosed that

harmonious relationship among people should always be promoted to enhance peace, unity and progress of Nupe kingdom, Niger state and indeed Nigerians.

The traditional ruler told the clerics of the importanc of their roles as representatives of the God Almighty, adding that they should always be shining examples both in words and in deeds.

The monarch further warned against sectarianism in Islam and appealed to clerics to fashion out ways that would propagate the genuine teachings of the religion.

He therefore, appealed to wealthy Nigerians to always assist the less privileged in the society

with food items, monies for them to do the fasting with ease and calm.

According to the Royal father, “people should use their God given wealth to see that those who do not have to cushion the effect they may go throw during this only Month of Ramadan” The Etsu Nupe also appealed to traders not to hike prices of the commodities during the Ramadan period. “Those using the period to increase prices of their commodities should have a re-think and fear God and not to cause any unnecessary hardship on their fellow brothers and sisters in Islam”, he added In his remarks

on behalf of others, the Chief of Bida, Sheikh Adamu LimanYakatun warned all and sundry to have the fear of God in their minds and to always remember the day of reckoning.

He also appealed to wealthy individuals to assist in feeding of the less privileged, to cushion the effect of fasting during the holy month of Ramadan.

According to the clergy man, “Muslims should spend their God given wealthy in the course of moving the religion forward, rather than saving them in bank accounts that will not had any value for them, here and in the hereafter”.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, JUNE 16, 2015

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News

Kwara OPC supports Saraki, Dogara as Senate President,Speaker From Olanrewaju Lawal,Ilorin

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he Kwara State chapter of Odua Peoples Congress(OPC) has declared its support for the Senate President,,Dr Bukola Saraki and the Speaker, House of Representative,Hon Yaqub Dongara.

The State Cordinator of OPC, Comrade Maruff Olarewaju who declared the support of his group in a statement made available

to Journalists in Ilorin said the aggrieved All Progressive Congress (APC) lawmakers should shield their swords and embrace Saraki,Dongara as the Senate President and Speaker.

Olarewaju noted that the emergence of both the Senate President and Speaker was the divine intervention stressing that God give power to whom He want.

“We also call on All progressive congress(APC) leaders, Asiwaju Bola Ahmmed Tinubu, Alh lai

Muhammed, Bisi Akande and all others grumbling Senators to learn how to concede defeat like former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan on last general election.

“Moreso Tinubu must also aware that what goes up always around, in 2011 when Hon. Mulikat was to elected as speaker of house of representative, it was him (Tinubu) who make sure that she (Mulikat) doesn’t get to the position of speaker by instigated the members of ACN against the woman and pave

way for Hon Aminu Tambuwal to become a speaker. “ Nobody call for Tinubu head.

He can’t be dictate the political pace in Lagos and thinks the entire Nigeria is under his control, Nigeria is bigger than any individuals, groups, narrow minded and selfishness people.

Tinubu should also realize that the era of godfatherism is gradually over in Nigeria politics, he should by now wake up from his slumber and face the reality on ground.”

state while commeserating with the families of victims of recent communal clash in the area said government is not happy when people rose up arms against themselves.

He commended the effort of both the two traditional rulers of the communities of Billiri and Kaltungo for their role of prevailing on their subjects on the need for peace and urged them to continue especially for the youth not to allow themselves to be used negatively towards causing disunity among the people in

the area.

Speaking further, the deputy governor however said two wrongs can never make a right and urged the people to always considered dialogue and not confrontation in resolving their differences.

He assured the general public that government shall continue to ensure that lives and property of people in the state are protected and promise to bring those behind the problem to book.

In their separate responses, the Mai Kaltungo Alhaji Saleh

Mohammed and that of Mai Tangle Dr. Abdul Baba Maisheru the second thanked the deputy governor for his effort to commiserate with them.

They said the two communities in the area has prevail on their subjects to give peace a chance and will continue to prevail on them with a view to preventing future occurrences.

The deputy governor has earlier visited one of the victims at the Specialist Hospital Gombe in accompanied of Secretary to the state government (SSG) Mr. James D. Pisagih.

Gombe deputy gov warns residents over communal clashes From David Hassan, Gombe

G

ombe state deputy governor Mr. Charles Iliya has warned residents not to take law into their has hands as result of communal crisis even as he tasked the people in the state to live in peace with one another so that government could perform its constitutional responsibility of meeting their needs.

The deputy government who made the remark both in Billiri and Kaltungo local government areas of Gombe

L-R: Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi, representative of Lagos state Governor, Mr. Oluseyi Coker, and Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, Office of Secretary of the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Mohammed Bukar, during a one day summit of stakeholders on safety of haulage operators, organised by FRSC, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Women group plead with Kebbi Gov not to scrap First Lady’s office From Ahmed Idris Birnin Kebbi.

K

ebbi State Women Coalition Group (WCG) under the agies of women Association has made a passionate appealed to Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State not to scrap the office of the first lady in spite of the feud over the office between the wives of the Governor.

This called was made yesterday in Birnin Kebbi by the state chairperson of the Association Hajiya Fatima Mustapha while fielding question from newsmen adding that the office of the first Lady during democratic regime is important as it caters for the women and children in the society.

According to her “ As a woman i am duty bound to make

a plea on behalf of all women in the state beg the governor not to abolish this good office because it empowers the women folk and assist the children especially the less privileged ones “, she said.

Hajiya Fatima argue that in all the states in the country, such office exist but wondered why Kebbi should be an exceptional and after the women and Children in the have

started enjoying and benefitting from the humanitarian gesture of the wives of the governor.

“What Governor Bagudu needs to do is sit with his wives and resolve the issue amicably for the interest of Kebbi women.

I also appeal to wives of the governor to sheath their swords on the ongoing saga over he first lady slot, so let Aisha and Zainab Bagudu know that Kebbi is larger than them “, she said.

Benue Govt signs MOU with Chinese company on infrastructural devt From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

B

enue State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU with a group of Chinese companies under the auspices of CGC Alliance for industrial and commercial revitalization of the state.

Areas of focus include coal power plant, potable water and irrigation, renovation of agriculture service centers, construction of Makurdi-Guma road, and reticulation of water in Makurdi, Otukpo and KatsinaAla. Others are airport and industrial park construction, sugar cane plantation and refineries.

Governor Samuel Ortom who signed on behalf of the state government in his office at the Benue Peoples House while Managing Director of the Group, Tony Ye signed on behalf of the companies, expressed confidence in the ability of the group to deliver as it had successfully constructed the Otobi and Katsina-Ala water works.

He noted that though the state government owed CGC huge amounts of money on the two projects, Ortom however, appealed for understanding while assuring that his administration would do its best to honor contractual agreements.

Managing Director of the group, Mr Ye stated that various companies have teamed up under the alliance in order to handle all infrastructural projects in the state if given the opportunity and expressed appreciation to the Ortom administration for inviting them to partner in the development of the state.

In another development, Governor Ortom has appealed to the Bill Gates Foundation to consider the whole value chain in its approach to promote the cultivation of cassava and rice in the state.

He made the appeal when he received a delegation from Synergos Institute led by Adewale Adewale Ajabi on behalf of the foundation.

The Governor who expressed the willingness of the state to partner with viable investors and create the enabling environment of investments to thrive, pointed out that unless attention was given to the whole value chain, the cassava produced would be wasted at the end of the day.

Mr. Ajabi had disclosed that the foundation was willing to collaborate with the state government to assist in cassava and rice processing.

He said the objective was to assist farmer to get value for their produce and to boost the economy of the state

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, JUNE 16, 2015

News

Fayose, Varsity don identify moral decadence as challenges of education in Nigeria From Tope Musowo, Ado-Ekiti

T

he prevalent moral decadence in the society and the downward trend in the education sector have been partly traced to the indifference attitude of religious denominations and groups to education development.

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose raised the observation at the 15th National Education Summit of the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN) held at Olaoluwa Grammar School, Ado-Ekiti over the weekend.

Governor Fayose, who was represented at the forum by his Deputy, Dr. Kolapo Olusola noted that religious denominations and bodies still have vital roles to play if education in the state and Nigeria in general will regain its reputation as the burden of reviving education would be too much for the government alone

to bear.

Fayose said the situation of education in the state was quite appalling when he took over the rein of the government in October last year, but with the strategic implementation of his government education reform agenda, the sector is gradually taking shape.

He disclosed that specialized training programmes were

organized for teachers to enable them handle the various intervention schemes for students who participated in the national examinations such as the West African Senior School Certificate Examination and the NECO examination while other strategic reform programmes that would restore the dwindling fortune of Education in the state are in the pipeline.

The Governor therefore commended FOMWAN for being one of the few religious organizations that showed interest in education development and for taking the initiative to organize the annual education summit to identify, discuss and proffer plausible solutions to some of the challenges confronting the sector.

Church commissions ultra modern hospital in Lagos From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

L

agos fast growing ministry, Christ Livingspring Apostolic Ministry (CLAM) has commissions its ultramodern, Soteria Maternity and Hospital Complex, saying it is contribution to the fight against high rate of maternal mortality in the country.

The hospital built within

the church’s premises in Omole Lagos was approved by the Lagos state ministry of health in 2013.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, CLAM Senior Pastor and Chairman Soteria Hospital, Pastor Wole Oladiyun stated that the hospital is a way of giving back to the society.

He said the project will be of benefit to Lagos residents,

stressing that it will reduce medical tourism embarked upon

by Nigerians.

According to him, the hospital is built to take care of both the poor and the rich stressing affordability is an essential consideration in the running of the setup.

“I had this vision when I was 10 years old. Then, whenever I saw pregnant women labouring

L-R: Director-General, Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority, Professor Lawrence Dim, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mr. Taye Haruna, and representative of the Director-General of NEMA, Dr Zanna Mohammed, during the International Atomic Energy Agency Emergency Preparedness and Response Review Service Mission to Nigeria, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: NAN

Suspected killer of NYSC member arraigned in Ilorin Court

From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

A

suspected killer of a female National Youth Service Corps (NYSC),late Miss Idowu Yetunde Shukurat,Abdullahi Tanko has been arraigned before Magistrate Court presided over by Magistrate K.A. Yahyah.

The Police Prosecutor, Inspector Matthew Ologbon informed the Court on Monday that the suspected killer of late Shukurat that on 23-5-2015, at about 12pm ,the Police received a distress call that they should go to a street in Ilorin, named Simeon

In her own speech at the summit, a university don from the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife and the Chairperson of FOMWAN in Nigeria, Dr. Latefah Durosinmi identified other major factors responsible for poor education in the country to include inadequate funding, poor policy implementation, politicization of education matters and insufficient data.

Okedi GRA located at Upabiasika ni ilorin.

Ologbon said when the police got to the place; they found the late Corps member in the pool of blood and was found on the ground.

He told the Court that investigation by the Police revealed that Tanko and his collaborators who were now at large conspired to trick the deceased from her residence at saw-mill area to Shoprite area where she was killed on that fateful day.

The Prosecutor told the Court that the suspected killer and his

gangs had raped the deceased inside their car which caused her untimely death.

He added that after they have raped the late Corps member at Tanko’s residence area, Plot 6, Simion Okedi Upabiasika junction GRA, they carried her dead body to nearby junction while her blood was still flowing along with them.

He added that the Police traced Tanko house through the blood traces of the deceased and the suspected killer was arrested.

Beside, the Prosecutor told the Court that the mobile phone of the deceased was caught with Tanko at the time he was arrested at his

place.

He added that efforts are still going on to arrest Tanko’s flee gangs by the police.

The Prosecutor urged the Court to remand the suspected killer in Prison Custody until other suspects were arrested and completion of the Police investigation.

The Presiding Magistrate, K.A Yahaya order that the accused killer of late Corps member, Abdullahi Tanko, who is about 51 year old be remanded in Mandala federal prison until the case will resume further hearing on 10 of August,2015.

in pain, I would run to the church and pray until they deliver safely.

“If a school of thought says religion organisations always take from people, Soteria maternity and hospital is an example that CLAM as a missionary gives to the society, and this is not our first time”.

“Aside that the hospital is structured to benefit all classes of Nigerians, it will also provide employment opportunities for youths since the focus of the church is on raising Godly, hardworking and patriotic Nigerian youths.

“Going by the vision given to me, this is one of the four healthcare outfits that will happen from the stable of CLAM,” he added.

While speaking, the Chief Medical Director, Dr. Moyosore Makinde noted that CLAM intervention through the establishment of Soteria hospital is timely considering the rate of death of mother and child at birth in the country.

She said, “United Arab Emirate has reduced child death at birth to 20 of every 10000 but I assure us that with the facilities here, Nigeria can achieve more than that and that is our vision”.

“We had gotten approval from Lagos state ministry of health since June 1, 2013 and with the support of God, facilities and able hands, our clients experiences have been worthwhile.”

In his words, the Senior Pastor, Kingsways International Christian Center KICC International, Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo noted that any church that preaches salvation but do not care for physical aspect of the people is not preaching full gospel.

Commending the benevolent features of CLAM, Ashimolowo added that healing is critical to God, that is why hospital project is relevant to fulfilling gospel.

“I have seen bigger churches that never thought of this human-face contribution to the society, this is a prove of genuine selflessness and service from CLAM,” he said.

Also present at the commissioning ceremony, Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko commended the ministry for embarking on such project.

Page 11

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, JUNE 16, 2015

EDITORIAL

What is Amnesty International up to?

T

he visibility of the starvation, Major Gen. Chris Olukolade said US-based human extreme overcrowding and denial of Amnesty “just went out to gather rights whistleblower, medical assistance.” It claimed to the names of specific individuals Amnesty International, have interviewed “more than 400 in a calculated attempt to rubbish has increased victims, eyewitnesses and senior their reputation as well as the exponentially in Nigeria with military of the Nigerian security image of the military.” the intensification of the antiforces. Amnesty also claimed to President Buhari, on his own part, insurgency.

Regrettably, the have “analysed 50 videos and has described the Amnesty report group has moved out of the numerous photographs showing as “disturbing” and promised a threshold of alleging the sosecurity forces, their allied militia thorough investigation. called aberrations in the rules of and the joint task force committing Much as we, at Peoples Daily, agree engagement in the fight against there have been some breach Boko Haram and entered that of the rules of engagement in of meddlesomeness. In its latest the fight against Boko Haram, report, running into 129 pages, we disagree with Amnesty that Amnesty has gone from making those breaches were deliberate general allegations of human Much as we, at Peoples and systemic. Furthermore, we rights abuses by Nigerian troops Daily, agree there have wonder what Amnesty’s motive is but also put names of individuals this time. Is it to unsettle the new on the charges. In the report, government of President Buhari been some breach of the group named former Chief who has demonstrated through the rules of engagement of Army Staff Lt.-Gen . Azubuike word and deed that he intends to Iherijika, retired Chief of Defence in the fight against Boko crush the insurgency? Amnesty Staff, Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim International didn’t give the Haram, we disagree and his successor Air Marshal government the benefit of getting Alex Badeh . The other is current hold of its report first before with Amnesty that COAS Lt- Gen. Kenneth Minimah. going public with it. Who and Also named in the report are what does the group want Buhari those breaches were three major-generals and two to investigate after it had given deliberate and systemic. brigadier-generals who the list of the individual officers command troops on the field. it accused of “war crimes” to the Under their watch, Amnesty International Criminal Court? alleges, “Nigerian military forces All these queries leave us with the violations.” Amnesty wanted the have extra judicially executed this conclusion: Amnesty doesn’t new administration of President more than 1,200 people, they Muhammadu Buhari to order an want the insurgency to end. As have arbitrarily arrested at least nauseating as the Amnesty report “urgent investigation” of the senior 20,000 people, mostly young men is, we caution the government military officers for “war crimes and boys. against any precipitate action of murder, torture and enforced “Countless acts of torture, such as banning it or sending disappearance”. hundreds, if not thousands, of Defence Headquarters in Abuja has away the officers who did that Nigerians have become victims of wicked report. To do so will only reacted to the Amnesty report, enforced disappearance; and at play into the hands of Amnesty expectedly dismissing it as “an least 7,000 people have died in and its western financiers who do attempt to blackmail the Nigerian military detention as a result of not mean well for Nigeria. military.”

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PAGE 12

Opinion

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, JUNE 16, 2015

How to reverse Nigeria’s oil palaver

By Sarah Chayes

T

he inauguration of Nigeria’s new president, Muhammadu Buhari, sets the stage for an unprecedented alliance of public and private sector actors to perform something close to a miracle: reverse the ravages of the so-called oil curse.

The tough-minded ascetic, who was elected on an anticorruption platform, aims to clean up practices in his country’s notoriously opaque and criminal national oil company, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). If multinationals and Western governments join forces with Buhari, Nigeria could be transformed from an object lesson in how hydrocarbon wealth paradoxically cripples developing nations into a model for its resource-rich neighbors to emulate.

Of the world’s nearly 60 oilproducing countries, a mere half dozen have escaped the oil curse. As they discover oil and their governments discover the temptations of an unaccountable revenue streamother economic sectors wither. Unemployment rises. Corruption grows pervasive.

Oil revenues are squandered on conspicuous consumption by members of ruling networks while populations become poorer.

Alienated groups rebel.

And it’s not just the locals who suffer. Western oil companies pay a hefty price in the form of increased personnel costs and security measures, repudiated contracts, production stoppages, “corporate social responsibility” outlays, and, when all else fails, undesired divestiture. Meanwhile, international donors pour precious development funds down a seemingly bottomless hole.

Nigeria is a textbook case of this syndrome. A oncevibrant economy that included manufacturing, long-distance

trade, and agricultural production so abundant that it fed much of West Africa has given way to an oil monoculture. Attacks and kidnappings in the oil-producing south have declined, to be replaced by whatofficials call industrial “bunkering” the theft of crude by the barge-load. Oil oozing from sabotaged pipes has poisoned precious marshland . On the other side of the country, the emergence of the Boko Haram insurgency can be partially ascribed to acute corruption and gross regional inequalities associated with Nigeria’s curse.

As a result, oil majors are jostling to unload their onshore holdings. In April, French giant Total sold off a Nigerian block for half a billion dollars, the latest in a series of divestitures that has been accelerating since 2010.

There was nothing foreordained in this outcome, and it can be reversed. It is in the interests of energy companies as well as the United States and other Western governments to help Nigeria’s new leadership do so.

Regardless of whether the NNPC is eventually broken up or wholly or partially privatized, Buhari a former oil minister can require and publish quarterly audits of its books. A long awaited partial review by PricewaterhouseCoopers exposed multiple computational errors and omissions in the reporting of both costs and revenues so glaring that it was impossible to arrive at a consolidated profit and loss statement.

Buhari could blaze the trail for other oil-producing countries by mandating a standard contract form, civil society participation in negotiation and oversight of contract terms, and an end to opaque swaps of crude for refined petroleum products. Ironically, Nigeria—Africa’s number-one crude oil producer imports gasoline from countries like the United

Kingdom and the Netherlands.

Four dilapidated refineries have lapsed into disuse. But in many cases, instead of selling crude for dollars and using the cash to buy kerosene and gasoline, the NNPC negotiates a trade crude for refined product. Such swaps, according to experts, offer significant opportunities for corruption.

Even before rebuilding Nigeria’s own refining capacity, Buhari can require that all refined products be purchased in currency, and publish the accounts, so reported purchases can be compared with consumption figures.

With new appointments to the central bank, moreover, he can rid that institution of its current penetration by former NNPC officials and bankers who have been under scrutiny for their potential role helping launder tens of billions of dollars in pilfered oil revenues.

“As far as the constitution allows me,” Buhari promised in his inauguration address, “I will try to ensure that there is responsible and accountable governance at all levels.” To do so, he should ensure the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is staffed by talented and determined investigators, resource it adequately, and enforce its independence.

To improve, as Buhari put it, the “dispatch” with which he expects the judiciary to act on cases of “corruption, serious financial crimes, or abuse of office,” a special tribunal might be required on a temporary basis to expedite EFCC cases and ensure their protection from political interference.

Cracking down on corruption within the judicial branch as a whole, as he has promised, will be critical in the long term to improve government legitimacy and for countering extremists’ complaints of a justice deficit.

But Buhari can’t go it alone.

Both oil companies and Western

governments must help. For, with Africa’s largest economy, a burgeoning population, and significant political stature, Nigeria matters. Its fate will affect that of its neighbors, of oil companies, and of global security.

Though the bare thought of collective action discomforts the competitive energy industry, there are precedents for pooling efforts to counter challenges the whole industry faces. Oil majors have come together to share infrastructure or to pressure host governments on such issues as taxes or customs enforcement.

Joint action is possible.

In this case, if companies pooled their investments to promote economic growth in agriculture and manufacturing in line with Buhari’s development goals and a provision of Nigeria’s draft petroleum industry legislation they might be able to help reverse recent economic dediversification where individual efforts would not.

To justify this outlay, companies could share data on losses incurred due to oil-curse related disruptions, to promote an accurate accounting of this syndrome. Currently, such risks and costs are not consolidated and systematically factored into risk analysis or investment planning.

Oil companies could provide enhanced disclosures to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, of which Nigeria is a member. They could provide information on corrupt practices they have witnessed to the EFCC—or to their home countries’ justice ministries.

The international community has a role to play as well. Calls

by Western governments for free and fair elections helped make Buhari’s victory possible.

Now they must help him fulfill his pledge to hold corrupt officials accountable. Where they possess sufficient information,

they should suspend visas of egregious offenders and their families, launch asset forfeiture or even criminal cases, and order enhanced scrutiny of property purchases. Mechanisms recently brought to bear against FIFA officials can be applied to former government officials, too.

Washington should expand its support for the EFCC, including financial resources if required, technical assistance and training, and, where appropriate, joint investigations and prosecutions.

As a first step, Western leaders, in the private as well as the public sectors, should resist the temptation to swiftly turn the page or even to make heroes of former president Goodluck Jonathan and some members of his administration for the swift concession of electoral defeat as the vote count was being completed or for purported efforts at reform. Though Jonathan’s gesture probably saved Nigeria bloodshed, it cannot make up for his administration’s epic looting of the public treasury. The March 2015 election did not constitute an amnesty vote. And it’s time the incentive structure that rewards official corruption began to change.

No example can as yet be cited of a country that has recovered from the oil curse once it has set in. But, supported by the combined best efforts of the Western private and public sectors, there’s no reason why passionate, dynamic Nigeria shouldn’t be a first: a turnaround country for a turnaround industry.

Sarah Chayes, formerly special adviser to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is an expert in South Asia policy, kleptocracy and anticorruption, and civil-military relations.

Nigeria’s falling education system

By Ojo Stephen Gbemisola

N

igeria is the most populated country in Africa and like other countries, such as Pakistan, Nigeria also has problems and challenges which are stalling and hindering the development of the country. One of its major challenges exists in the education and university system. The level of education system of Nigeria is impressive for an average African country, but Nigeria is not an average country. Nigeria’s education system is poor and disappointing for a country known as the ‘Giant of Africa’.

One of the challenges facing Nigeria’s education system is inadequate qualified manpower which explains the falling standards of education.

It also goes to support the agelong adage that “no education system can rise above the quality of its teachers.”

Former executive secretary of the National Universities Commission Professor Peter Okebukola restated the challenge of qualified teachers explaining that most graduate teachers are not professionals and are inadequately exposed to teaching practices while many of them cannot even communicate effectively in English. He also said that the low rating of the teaching profession manifested in the scanty applications for admission into education faculties and the college of education.

Just as corruption has played a large role in the setback of Nigeria, it has also played its part in the education system,

particularly universities.

Lecturers are known to collect money from students in exchange for good grades.

Some say they have to bribe university administrators in order to have their exam results compiled and submitted to the required National Youth Corps.

There is a lack of political will in dealing with corruption.

There are few internal checks and balances in universities to prevent corruption. Beyond political corruption, the Nigerian education system suffers in other ways. It compares poorly not only to education in developed Western nations, but also to some African countries like Ghana and South Africa. In 1997 and 2000, federal government expenditure on education was below 10 per cent of the overall budget. Unesco recommends

that the education sector should account for 26 per cent of national budgets in order to impact national development.

The lack of motivation is another reason for setbacks in the education system of Nigeria as it results in poor performance of teachers.

Extrinsic motivation, in terms of salaries and reward structure, is pitifully low. The agenda for reformatting teacher education in Nigeria should go beyond improving teacher preservice and in-service delivery systems, to improving the working conditions and welfare of teachers.

Many would agree to a long list of challenges facing Nigeria’s education system, some of which include the use of outdated curricula, inadequate basic infrastructure, overcrowded classrooms,

inadequate learning and teaching materials, low literacy level of the country and maltreatment of students by teachers, among others.

The Nigerian government needs to stand up to these challenges to make Nigeria a better country. They need to fork out solutions like enforcement of checks and balances in schools, active competition between schools, boosting the morale of teachers and students, and focusing on the literacy level of the country.

If these are ensured then the education system in Nigeria will not only be the best in Africa but it will go as far as competing with the education systems of other nations.

Gbemisola is accessible at The ExpressTribune. com

PAGE 13

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, JUNE 16, 2015

Comment

Driving Nigeria’s mortgage refinancing system

By Bashir Ibrahim Hassan

A

ffordable housing is the ultimate objective of mortgage refinancing programmes, but different circumstances may lead different countries to introduce it. The Obama administration authorized several refinancing programs aimed at helping underwater homeowners take advantage of the historically low interest rates in the US. In Nigeria bridging the housing deficit may be the driving force.

According housing industry sources there is an estimated 17 million housing deficit in Nigeria. Filling this gap needed a good amount of liquidity, which only special intervention by any government of the day can guarantee. Not surprisingly, the Jonathan led administration came up with the country’s first mortgage refinancing institution-Nigeria Mortgage Refinancing Company (NMRC) based on public-private partnership model, and entrust it in the hands of Professor Charles Inyangete.

Inyangete came to NMRC with a clear visionof providing a l e ve l p l ay i ng g r o u n d a n d creating the required market for all stakeholders in line with global mortgage best practices in refinancing towards becoming a world class institution. This

vision, as Iyangete would always describe it, is predicated on four pillars—innovation supported by robust IT; integrity, as a hallmark of good governance; independence from undue external influence and inclusiveness.

Asked what Nigerians will expect of the NMRC in the next five years, the NMRC CEO answered: “In the next five years, we have projected that we will refinance close to the region of 400,000 to 450,000 mortgages for one segment of the market. When we go down to the lower segments of the market we expect to refinance proportion larger than that number. So Nigerians can expect to see mortgages refinanced in their hundreds of thousands perhaps close to a million in that period, depending on the buoyancy and vibrancy of the market and their activities in that period” Like elsewhere in the world the NMRC is a private sector driven company with the singular purpose of developing the primary and secondary mortgage markets by raising long-term funds from the domestic capital market as well as foreign markets and thereby provide accessible and affordable housing in Nigeria.

The mandate given to the NMRC is to provide primary mortgage Banks (PMBs) with access to long-term finance at an affordable

interest rate, which in turn will enable mortgages to be issued by these institutions to Nigerians at longer tenors and affordable rates.

Consequently, the provision of mortgage loans at longer tenors will provide the average working class Nigerian citizens an opportunity to buy a home and conveniently pay for it over a reasonable period of time without hassles.

Increasingly, provision of adequate housing is one of the indices for measuring the standard of living of people. Therefore, any effort to address housing deficit is an effort towards raising the standard of living of the people.

This effort cannot come at a better time than now when Nigeria is being ranked as one of the poorest countries in the world despite its vast natural endowments and being one of the leading exporters of crude oil and gas in the world.

Thus NMRC as novel idea, incorporated in 2013 can ill afford to fail. Nigerians have waited for long for this to come. Now that it is here, care must be taken to ensure success. With the World Bank approved concessional US$300 million 40-year interest free International Development Association (IDA) loan NMRC has financial wherewithal to make a difference in the Nigeria’s Housing sector. It is expected the lingering problems bedeviling the mortgage

sector will disappear when NMRC take off fully. Lack of focus of some PMBs on mortgage due to their pursuit of other more profitable ventures should be a thing of the past. With NMRC PMBs can borrow, pay out their cash within short term and go back to borrow again and again thereby increasing their own lending capacity.

Lack of ability of PMBs to mobilize funds will no longer be a problem for the Housing sector because with NMRC guarantees the Housing sector will be awash with more funds such the N5 trillion or so of pension fund in the market. With the law interest rate NMRC is bringing into the market it is a win-win situation for both the PMBs and the consumers of mortgage.

NMRC is mandated to increase the efficiency of mortgage lending by taking a lead role in proposing changes to the enabling environment for mortgage lending as well as by standardizing mortgage lending practices of financial institutions.

Standardization of lending practices is where NMRC may face some challenges. New legal frameworks, like foreclosure laws or the new underwriting policy just published by the NMRC will need to be develop and adapted which will take some time. The underwriting policy promised to

allow any player in the mortgage industry that wants to be part of the refinancing to be able to know the exact process from origination right through to the servicing of every mortgage. What will help is a well-articulated industrial relations programme that will address the need for the players to comply. Such industrial relations will have to go beyond the confines of Business-toBusiness communication. NMRC, as a new idea with the purpose of developing both the primary and secondary mortgage institutions, need to engage in massive public sensitization that will awaken Nigerians to the silver lining in the clouds.

Other areas to watch are the macro-economic environment the issue of inflation, which has impact on the construction industry—a critical sector in the mortgage industry process, double-digit interest rates, etc. This should not be difficult to monitor since the NMRC is a key component of the Nigeria Housing Finance Programme which was initiated by all our fiscal policy drivers— the Federal Ministry of Finance (FMOF), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Federal Ministry of Lands & Urban Development & Housing and the World Bank/IFC. Bashir Ibrahim Hassan contributed this piece from Abuja.

Boko Haram is imperialist terrorism

By P. D. Lawton

B

oko Haram is the excuse for US/UK military intervention in Nigeria. Boko Haram are Saddam Hussein`s weapons of mass destruction, Syria`s sarin gas, Gadaffi`s dictatorship, Somalia`s Al Shebaab, Central African Republic`s Seleka rebels, DR Congo`s M23 ( and now FDLR), Mali`s Islamic extremists, Uganda`s LRA, Liberia`s Ebola, Iraq`s ISIS and the Middle East`s Al Qaeda. In short Boko Haram are justification for militarization and foreign intervention according to the new international law called R2P. This stands for Responsibility to Protect.

This law was brought in just in time for NATO to bomb the hell out of Libya. And now the AU are sending 7,500 troops to Nigeria whose military might was quite capable of `restoring law and order` in Sierra Leone and Liberia during their civil wars/economic revolutions.

This is all linked to 9/11 and the resulting War on Terror which conveniently replaced the Cold War. The USA is based on a war economy.

This is called the military industrial complex, which means that the military forces of the USA are being used to defend the corporate interests of industry. Only fools are still believing that Saddam Hussein had WMDs which justified NATO bombing of Iraq and the death of 1.5 million Iraqis and the continuing carnage which is all part of the oil and heroin destabilization program.

The problem in Africa at present is the progress of a new banking system associated with the BRICS bloc, Brazil Russia India China and South Africa. This is the supreme threat to the Rothschild-owned Central Banking system that operates current global finance through the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund ( IMF),

the Federal Reserve of America and the Bank of England. All these establishments are privately owned by a British based cartel headed by the Rothschild family who have economic hegemony over Africa.

This hegemony was once called colonialism and is now called neocolonialism.

Under Muammar Gadaffi, Africa`s banking system was due to be changed from UK/USA/ Rothschild petro-dollar based debt system to the gold based system.

Libya had stockpiled gold reserves worth an estimated $6 billion.

Muammar Gadaffi was, behind the political scenes, bringing African leadership together to form an African economic union that would operate free of World Bank and IMF policy. Since his assassination and the destruction of Libya these gold reserves have disappeared.

The white-collar criminal network that disguises itself as NATO have stolen it.

If Nigeria joined BRICS this would mean the end of UK hegemony in West Africa. Or in other words the end of colonialism in West Africa.

Nigeria is particularly important to the Central Banking system because it has always been Britain`s St George. This term was how the British foreign office described Nigeria, according to declassified memos from the 1960s. St George was sent “to slay the Ghanaian dragon.” The Ghanaian dragon was Kwame Nkrumah and his new economic system was set to end colonialism/neo-colonialism/the British Empires economic control.

Kwame Nkrumah`s system was the Organization of African Unity. And Nigeria, Tanzania, Kenya, Liberia and many other rule-by-proxy African states of the 1960s did indeed slay the Ghanaian dragon and finally gave birth to a mutated corrupted version of Nkrumah`s

OAU. Today the African Union, as the OAU is now called, is how the Central Banking system/ British Empire/ imperialist powers conduct destabilization in Africa while looking African and Black.

The African Union is not overtly a proxy institution, it is controlled through voting so appears to be democratic. As long as the majority of member-states belong to the British Commonwealth voting is always in favor of pro-Western policy. Blackmail is routinely used against leadership that does not tow the line. This blackmail can be economic as in the case of Zimbabwe.

After Zimbabwe sent troops to aid Zaire from invasion by British agents Museveni and Kagame, the IMF called in Zimbabwe`s loans leading to the current economic collapse in Zimbabwe. Blackmail is also carried out by demonization, character assassination or governments overthrown by foreign engineered coups.

Nigeria has been the making of Royal Dutch Shell. This BritishDutch MNC has quite literally set new records for the word corruption.

This corporation has owned Nigeria in every sense of the word for decades and it is one of the pre-eminent corporations of the City of London, otherwise known as the Corporation of London, the raw materials hub of the Economic Empire. Nigeria is a prize asset because it is large, geographically strategic in Frenchcorporate dominated West Africa, full of oil and is industrialized with this currently being in the `right` hands. Nigeria is set to be one of the Central Banks/Empire`s Next Eleven. Next Eleven is the Goldman Sachs rating system for emerging economies.

Currently Jacob Zuma of South Africa is undergoing character assassination for his part in BRICS.

This is not to say that Jacob Zuma is a decent leader or has a government that behaves decently to its citizens.

Julius Malema`s EFF and the Democratic Alliance are part of a proxy process to bring down the ANC. The European and American sanctions against Russia are an attempt to bring down Putin.And although it is refreshing to see Blaise Compaore flung out of Burkina Faso this revolution more than likely involves Compaore`s interest in getting Burkina Faso to join BRICS. This is not to say that like Saddam Hussein`s WMDs, Boko Haram do not exist. Boko Haram do exist in a mutated corrupted form of the original if it is indeed Boko Haram carrying out these acts of aggression and terrorism and not a completely new movement based on British cultivated radical Islam aka ISIS. Something similar but on a lesser scale just happened in France with the terrorist attack on the Charlie Hebdo journalists. This event was like the many attributed to Boko Haram, staged acts to instil fear in the public and in government.

France had just prior to this event, muted a desire to end sanctions against Russia and had been in favor of recognizing a Palestinian state; both detrimental to the Central Banking system/the City of London and its desire to engineer the next Cold War with Russia over the Ukraine and to keep the Zionist State of Israel as the cuckoo of the Middle East ie Terrorism Central.

Kenya`s Westgate Shopping Mall was a staged terror attack ( very clearly staged) in preparation for the current invasion of Nigeria by AU forces and very likely a reprisal against Kenya-China trade deals.

When Ebola erupted Ellen Johnson Sirleaf embraced it with enthusiasm. So enthusiastic was she to allow Liberia to be militarized by US forces posing as nurses that she

attempted to shut down parliament and hold Liberia under martial law right done to its government.

Luckily she did not get away with this. So does Ebola exist or not?

The natural form of this disease exists in the fruit bat population of the jungles who most likely also supply immunity and a cure. The weaponized form of Ebola exists in a Tekmira laboratory in Canada and is most likely only passed on by injection/ `vaccination`.

Joseph Kony has proved a lucrative problem for the Ugandan Goverment.But does he exist? Most likely is that the LRA was formed

by Joseph Kony to resist the British agent in the Ugandan government who has a private war against the Acholi people of northern Uganda because they do not want to vote for him. And whilst having the duplicated version of the LRA, militarization of northern Uganda can be justified. For his troubles with terrorism, Yoweri Museveni is paid billions of dollars by the British Foreign Office and the American budget for supporting anti-terrorism is unlimited.

The man who founded Boko Haram was called Mohammed Yusuf. He was murdered in police custody in Nigeria in 2009.The rare photo of him does not resemble Boko Haram`s offspring of Al Qaeda/ISIS bearded , AK47 , RPG waving, black flag flying Islamic lunatics. And to disagree with Western education is not a crime and not necessarily a backward Taliban concept. Western education is flawed to extreme levels and a Darwinian concept of the Universe is not only atheist but spiritually and scientifically harmful.

P. D. Lawton is founder of africanagenda.net, a writer, researcher and revisionist historian working for true African liberation and a real end to colonialism.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, JUNE 16, 2015

PAGE 14

News

NDIC says Banks in Nigeria are healthy, global standards From Yakubu Mustapha,Minna.

T

he Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has said that the banks in the Nigeria are healthy and were operating in line with global standard allay the fear of destress in the country’s financial sector.

The Deputy Director, Research of NDIC Hashim Ahmad made the disclosure while addressing Journalists yesterday in Paiko during a sensitization of Corps members at the 2015 Batch ‘A Stream II’, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp in Niger state, said the Corporation inline with its mandates

undertakes supervision of the banks in the country as insurer in order to ensure they sustained its standard.

“Nigerian Banks are relatively healthy in line with global standard. We don’t normally announce the healthy status of our banks in the public, but we normally say in aggregate and I think our annual report will soon be released and be made available to the public” he said.

“The annual report normally summarises the health status of the industry. We don’t particularly say Bank A or B is distressed.

We are simply saying that on aggregate basis we will tell you the

industry is this or that.

“We undertake supervision of the banks as insurer as you know, no insurer will sit back and allow his risk to crystalize before he wakes up. We are embarking on the supervision of Banks to ensure they remain safe and sound.

Ahmad noted that the NDIC undertakes the stress resolution of banks adding that “any Bank that is identified as distressed or in difficulty is normally turned over to NDIC for management.

And so, we manage the Bank until such a time that it is deemed to be fit or safe and sound.

“In the cause of doing that we

takeover the management and control of the Bank. We can go to that extent. We manage the bank until such a time we think it is able to stand on its feet and then we hand it back to its owners.”

According to him “NDIC as the sole liquidator of banks in Nigeria undertakes liquidation when all other avenue to resuscitate the purchase of the bank fails”.

He added “the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will then revoke the licence and hand the bank over to NDIC for liquidation widening off of the affairs of the Bank.”

On Savannah Bank he assured that the bank will return on board, “we expect the bank to bounce

bank soonest because it has been handed over to the owners. At our own end (NDIC), we can only act and exercise our own mandate when a licence is revoked by the CBN. It was revealed that Savannah Bank’s licence was revoked in 2002 and they dragged the regulator (CBN) to court, and an injunction was given that their licence be returned. “as Savannah Bank stands, the licence has been restored by the CBN and there is nothing NDIC can do in terms of paying off depositors, since their licence is back to them. And we can’t go and pay anybody” he concluded.

also check corruptive tendencies which his government promised to battle.

While noting that this year’s Ramadan was coming on the heels of the inauguration of new governments, NACOMYO enjoined Muslim faithful to use the opportunity of the elevated and majestic month to engage in meritorious acts/deeds and to pray fervently for divine guidance

of the leadership and the led in the collective effort of building a nation of our dream where peace and justice shall reign.

It reminded Nigerians that sacrifice, understanding, patience and patriotism were required of them for the new leadership to succeed and for democratic dividends to be enjoyed and go round. NACOMYO also emphasized the need for Nigerians

to sustain the peace in the country and therefore implored Muslim scholars and clerics to conform and preach virtues that will promote unity, love, peaceful coexistence and good governance best practices and imperatives.

The Muslim Youth umbrella body also canvassed and renewed the call for establishment of special courts to adjudicate over corruption cases as a way of the

decongesting the conventional courts, and as our slow judicial process is being capitalized upon by financial and economic crime offenders to pervert the course of justice.

NACOMYO further noted that the free bargaining plea for treasury looters was an encouragement and rather not a punishment nor it serves as a deterrent.

Ramadan: NACOMYO calls for commitment

From James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

A

s Muslims fasting period of Ramadan sets in, National Council of Muslim Youth Organizations (NACOMYO) wants nation leaders and especially State Chief Executives to apply virtues of the glorious and blessed month which include steadfastness, goodness, benevolence, kindness, charity in the act of governance and to accord priority to workers welfare, just as the group urged employers of labour to create synergy that will aid production and development.

The appeal in a release signed

by Alh. Kamal’ddin Akintunde, National President, NACOMYO, came against the backdrop of states and local governments owing backlog of workers’ salaries and entitlements, noted that the unhealthy development has brought hardship and economic worries to many Nigerian families.

The group noted that the phenomenon and recurring decimal undermines healthy living and good family life and has resulted into morbidity and mortality in many homes.

NACOMYO thus admonished Nigerian governments to be conscientious and righteous, just as it told them that it was scriptural that the sweat of labourers should not dry before they were accorded their dues and entitlements.

The group urged President Muhammadu Buhari to take a second look at his seemingly stance not to assist depressed states, stating that such rescue was a compelling concern that will

L-R: Director Finance and Accounts, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Malam Mamman Idris, wife of the former Minister of Agriculture, Mrs. Grace Adeshina, former Minister of Agriculture, Dr Akinwumi Adeshina, and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Architect Sunny Echono, during a send forth ceremony in honour of Adeshina by the ministry,v in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Police arrest housewife, six others over alleged child theft in Delta community From Osakhare Erese, Asaba

T

he police in Illah community, near Asaba Delta State, have arrested a 46 year old housewife identified as Victoria (surname withheld) and six others for alleged nineyear old missing child and other related acts.

Reports said that the house wife had been mastermind of several missing children and had allegedly been involved in sale of children in the Northern part of the country.

It was gathered that the nine year old missing child identified as Victor Aakaragba had gone to her house in the community to

play with his peers during night fall and did not return home, a situation the parents conducted a search party that uncovered ploy by the suspects to have ferry the child out of the community.

But a senior police officer at the police Division in the community, SP Frankly Omorgho who confirmed the arrest of the

suspects, said they were arrested on the alarm raised by the parents of the child, adding that while investigation lasted, the police acted on a tip-off to arrest the woman who upon interrogation confessed her gang members.

He said that the suspects would be child to court on completion of investigation, disclosing that the

missing boy was seen tied to a tree in the bush where he tried to shout for help to no avail.

It was gathered that the housewife-suspect, a widow of three years, had been indulged in illicit child theft in the past and was arrested after spending two weeks, was released before she bounced back in the business.

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, JUNE 16, 2015

Niger govt insists on EFCC intervention over N2.9 BN loan From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

N Members of the 8th Bauchi state House of Assembly taking oath of allegiance during their inauguration, yesterday in Bauchi. Photo: NAN

Group defends Lai Muhammed on NASS crisis From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

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group known as the Kwara Concerned Citizens has expressed support for the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed, over his role in the conflict that arose from the election of new National Assembly leadership.

The group in a statement signed by an Igbomina Community Leader, Hezekiah Oyedepo and the Wakilin of Lafiaji, Edu Community Leader, Umoru Sha’aba Lafiaji, warned that Mohammed should not be subject of attack simply because he was discharging his duties.

They noted that to the best of their knowledge, Lai Mohammed’s statement conveying his party’s reaction was not restricted to the election of Dr. Bukola Saraki alone, but also concerns that of Hon. Yakubu

Dogara as the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

“Our attention has been drawn to the statement by a group in our dear state, Kwara, condemning and even threatening the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed, over the statement he issued on behalf of the party in the aftermath of the recent elections into the leadership positions of the National Assembly.

“We are not aware that to date, any group in Bauchi State, the home state of Hon. Dogara, has attacked or threatened Mohammed for not supporting his emergence as Speaker.”

“We are astonished that for carrying out his duties diligently, as he has always done, by articulating the position of his party, Mohammed has become a target of attacks and threats

from some perfidious persons in his home state.

“While also acknowledging the courage, loyalty, decency and professionalism of Mohammed in carrying out his duties as the voice of the APC, we make bold to say that, to our pride as his kinsmen and indeed to wide acclamation across the land, he has performed his duties creditably.”

“In the first instance, the opinions expressed by Lai Mohammed in his statements are not his own, but that of his party. Secondly, since he articulates the position of his party at many levels - including intraand inter-party, national as well as international - he is expected, at all times, to put the interest of the party above his own personal interest.

“It is therefore unfair, illogical and downright simplistic to conclude that Lai Mohammed’s statement

conveying the immediate reaction of his party to the elections in the National Assembly means he is opposed to the election of his kinsman, Dr. Bukola Saraki, as the President of the Senate.

“What was he expected to do in the circumstances? Refuse to carry out his duty as the APC’s spokesman just because of the involvement of his kinsman in the Senate leadership election? Infuse his own feelings and opinion into his party’s statement so that he won’t be seen as opposing his kinsman? Or issue his own statement reflecting his personal opinion, as against that of his party?

The group said Lai Mohammed’s antecedents in the performance of his duties as party spokesman speak volumes about his courage, party loyalty and ability to rise beyond situations that will get less-imbued persons bogged down in a quagmire.

states in the country as obtains in established federations such as; the United States of America (USA), Canada, India, Australia, among others.

Other recommendations of the national conference, OPC listed are; an initial stage of resource control through the increase of derivation to 50 per cent in the first instance, setting up of policing systems by states, local governments and urban centres to guarantee security and abrogation of the Land Use Act in the constitution in keeping with the universal principle of federalism and autonomy.

Prof. Godini Darah of Delta State University, Abraka, at the

commemoration of the 22nd anniversary of the Annulment of June 12, 1993 election, said developments in Nigeria since 1999 have shown that many opportunists and fake democrats have exploited elections to derail and divert the goals of the June 12 movement.

Darah, however, called on President Buhari to look into the goals of the June 12 movement for him to successfully fulfil the wishes of Nigerians.

Dr Otunba Gani Adams, National Coordinator, OPC said since 1999, government has failed to give Late Moshood Abiola, who gave his life for Nigeria to have democracy, the honour and respect

that he deserves, adding that if late Abiola had not given his life, Buhari would not have been the current president of the country.

Adams said the Nigerian government needs to recognise Abiola’s self-sacrifices for democracy in Nigeria and called on the new president to immortalise the great icon.

While credit must be given to Former President, Goodluck Jonathan, for his decision to name the University of Lagos (UNILAG) after the hero of democracy, Adams said a lot still need to be done to honour late Abiola and stamp his name as a true hero of the nation‘s democracy.

June 12: Act on confab report, OPC tasks Buhari

By Mohammed Umar Puma with agency report

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he Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to act on the recommendations of the National Conference, if he wants his administration to be successful.

The congress listed Confab issues for implementation to include; the restructuring of Nigeria into the federation of states with each state having its own constitution, creation of additional states with each of the six geopolitical zones having equal number of six states, resource ownership and control by federating units/

iger State Government has insisted the intervention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on the continued denial in the media, by the officials of the past administration of Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu, that they did not obtain a loan of N2.9 billion on the eve of their departure.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the new Governor of the state, Ibraheem Dooba, which said that it would allow the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to do its job.

According to the statement, the past administration should answer some vital questions like why would the then Secretary to the State Government (SSG) deny collecting any N600 million only for him to later admit that he collected the sum of N612 million for “general” security during the last senatorial bye-election in the state?

But in a swift reaction, the former Secretary to State Government (SSG), Hon. Idris Saidu Ndako Kpaki, when contacted, denied to have collected such money as loan and had never admitted to have collected the said money as alleged by the spokesman of government.

Dooba stated that it was regrettable that instead of answering questions and making clarifications, these officials of the past administration have engaged in rhetoric there by diverting attention from the major issue.

He said that government has “continue to discover heinous scandals of the previous administration on a daily basis, however like we said earlier, we will allow the EFCC to do their work”.

It added that why are they focusing on the definition of the “eve of departure” was because it is obvious that these past government officials have chosen the hard way rather than the easy one, and the hard way they will get.

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, JUNE 16, 2015

Politics

My regrets as INEC boss – Jega

By Ahmed Abubakar

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L-R: Clerk of Bauchi state House of Assembly, Alhaji Abdullahi Jafar, swearing-in the newly elected Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Kauwa Damina, during the inauguration of the 8th Bauchi state House of Assembly, yesterday in Bauchi.

Photo: NAN

Unpaid Salaries: Rights group says Aregbesola is a clueless Governor

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi with agency report

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s controversy rages over the inability of Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, to pay salaries and pension of workers and retiree respectively for a period of seven to eight months in the State, a human rights group, the Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ) has passed a vote of no confidence on Aregbesola, urging him to honourably tender his resignation letter without further delaying.

The rights group further described Aregbesola as a clueless Governor who could not rule the State alright again, insisting that he was economical with the truth on the financial status of the State in the past four years.

Reacting to the Abuja Friday outburst of the State Governor

in the media titled:”Osun Crisis Beyond My Control”, through a signed Statement by the Executive Chairman of the Centre, Comrade Adeniyi Alimi Sulaiman, which a copy was made available to newsmen in Osogbo, the State capital, maintained that Aregbesola should not waste the precious time of the good people of the state over his clueless second term administration, by immediately resigning his position as Governor of Osun State.

He insisted that Governor Aregbesola has been lying to the people of the State about the allocations accrued to the state since 2010 when he assumed office, asking rhetorically on “how Aregbesola spent the resources of the state’, saying that lack of proper planning and unacceptability of advices from well meaning Osun people on how the State should be governed by Aregbesola, were the

bane of the present predicament of the State.

Comrade Sulaiman therefore urged former Aregbesola’s cabinet members to call themselves together and fine tune the strategy to help their former boss out of the present doldrums because when the things were going well for the State, they reaped their own goodies.

CHRSJ boss disclosed that Aregbesola put the State into its present financial mess as a result of his inability to plan for the dry season, quoting Aregbesola’s position in media sometimes ago when he opined that he would not wait for federal allocation to pay its workforce and any state that was waiting for the federal allocation to pay its workers has been doomed.

According to him, “ Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola has failed the people of the State with the misappropriation of the allocations accrued to the state

from federal government and now shifting blame on the third force as bane of his present problems but the only solution for Governor Aregbesola now,is to tender his resignation letter without further delaying so as to end his clueless government in the State.

“The present government of Osun State under Aregbesola has lost focus and direction and we hereby publicly demand the income and expenditure with regards to IGR and all the abandoned projects of the State since December 2010.There is need for Aregbesola to stop fooling people of the State with untenable excuses as Aregbesola did not promise failure during his electioneering campaign for second term. We want to use this medium to urge the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,General Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in this matter before it will go out of hands”, it said.

he Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, on Monday reviewed his tenure as the chairman of the electoral body, saying his only regret was his inability to create separate salary structure for those working with the commission.

Jega spoke in Abuja during a retreat organised for the electoral officers of the commission where the 2015 elections were reviewed.

The retreat was titled “2015 general elections: lessons and way forward.”

Jega also declared that the staff of the commission were subjected to difficult circumstances during the course of the 2015 elections.

He said apart from the special salary issue, the commission, under his leadership, performed well.

But he regretted that despite the undertaking he said he made when he assumed office on the need to create special salary structure for the members of staff of the commission, he was unable to accomplish that up till now.

He said, “I must say that we have been mindful of the need to keep on motivating the staff to keep on improving condition of service and condition of work. And to keep on improving the welfare of the staff.

“We have done our best as a commission under very difficult circumstances and my major regret, as I have always acknowledged, is that a major undertaking we made when we first came in as a commission, which is to have a separate salary structure for the staffs of the commission, we have not been able to get.

“And obviously this is one area where we still have to do a lot of work and put in a lot of effort as we move towards the future and to improve.

“But apart from that, I don’t think we have done badly in terms of promoting the welfare and the wellbeing of the staff.

“We have ensured that salaries were paid regularly, we have ensured that there are a lot of opportunity for self improvement through the organisation of seminar and workshop with partners.”

Group lauds el-Rufai for appointing journalist as media aide From Mohammad Ibrahim, Kaduna

G

roup under the aegis of Public Relation Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN), yesterday lauded Kaduna state Governor, Malam Nasir El-

Rufai for appointing a journalist, Samuel Aruwan, as his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity.

According to the group, Aruwan deserved the appointment due to his contribution to the campaign that brought the party to power.

This was disclosed in a statement

signed by the state chairman of the group, Consultant Abubakar Aliyu and made available to newsmen in the state.

“Executive Committee and the members of the Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria Kaduna wish to proudly

congratulate you for appointing a journalist as your special assistant media and publicity.

“There is no doubt; he deserved the appointment due to his tenacity and contributions to the campaign that brought the party to power. His engagement is no surprise to us all,”

he said.

The chairman further added that the media assistant will surely live up to expectations due to his vas experience in media profession.

Aruwan before his appointment was the Kaduna bureau chief of Blue Print Newspaper.

Talen appointed National Patron of Buhari Friends Organization Network From Ado Abubakar Musa, Jos

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he former Plateau State Deputy Governor, and chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Pauline Talen, has been appointed as a National Patron of the Buhari Friends Organization Network (BFON).

Talen’s appointment, which was contained in a letter signed by the National Co-odinator of the group, Saint Attanasius Okon, said her appointment from North Central Zone was done following the realization of her contribution to the APC in both the state and National

level.

According to the letter, the former deputy governor, is expected to participate and contribute at all major events organized by the group at whatever level that would lead to the overall success of the organization and grand parton, General Muhammadu

Buhari.

In her reaction to the development, Talen welcomed the appointment, pledged to work and ensure success of the group.

In a related development,the group has initiated a program intending to provide support for over

63,000 Internally Display Persons who are currently taking refuge on the Plateau.

The group in a release singed by its PRO said the program aimed at mobilize shelter, food, clothing and social welfare package to the IDs in the 19 northern states and Abuja.

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, JUNE 16, 2015

Politics

Adamawa Assembly Speaker appoints principal officers, PDP lawmakers kick From Umar Dankano, Yola

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damawa House of Assembly Speaker, Alhaji Kabiru Mijinywa, on Monday announced the names of Principal Officers of the House at the plenary amidst protest from a PDP member.

The announcement of Mrs Justina Nkom, the only Social Democratic Party (SDP) member in the House as Minority Leader

by Mijinyawa attracted reaction from Emmanuel Samdu of PDP from Madagali constituency who was given the position of Minority Whip.

Samdu argued that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who has two members deserved to be given the position of minority leader.

Mijinyawa however overruled Samdu who was a onetime Deputy Speaker and

asked him to go and look at the meaning of minority in the dictionary as a solution to his reaction over the appointment of Justina Nkom as Minority Leader.

The Speaker announced Musa Mahmud of Mayo Belwa constituency as Majority Leader, Mohammed Mutawali of Girei constituency as Deputy Majority Leader, Hassan Barguma of Hong constituency as Chief

Whip and Lumsamba Dili Demsa of Demsa constituency who is the second PDP member in the House as Deputy Minority Whip.

Mijinyawa also announced the constitution of Five Committees comprising Committee of Selection; Rules Business, Ethics and Privileges Committee; House Service and Special Duties Committee; Public Petition Committee; and Public Accounts Committee.

Kano govt to review preaching law- Ganduje From Edwin Olofu, Kano

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ano state Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has said that his administration would review the state preaching Regulatory Law to ensure that only educated people would engage in religious propagation.

Ganduje made the disclosed during the 22nd edition of Radio Kano Qur’anic Competition at Bello Dandago House, explaining that government is not planning to witch-hunt anybody, but intends to address the rampant cases of nonknowledgeable people claiming to be Islamic scholars but end up misleading people.

“You may remember the Maitatsine saga in the state as well as what is happening now which started through unguided preaching by evil-minded people posing as scholars”, he stressed.

The governor noted that if such activities are not standardized, considering the high population of the state, as well as what some of the self-acclaimed scholars are doing to attract followers, the situation could metamorphose into a big crisis in the state.

According to him, already, the state government has started discussing the matter with leaders of religious groups in the state, adding that the law would soon be presented to Kano State House of Assembly for amendment.

He, therefore, appealed to religious scholars to accept the proposal in good faith, urging them to enlighten their followers on the importance of the regulation as well as that of peaceful coexistence.

On the Qur’anic competition, the governor announced that those that got first to forth positions, would be sponsored for Pilgrimage to Makkah this year, by the government, adding that the organizing committee of the competition would be given a bus to facilitate their activities.

Ganduje charged the participants in the competition to continue pursuing Qur’anic science education, urging them to respect their teachers and parents in order to have blessed lives.

L-R: Coordinator, Independent Election Monitor Group, Mr. Festus Okoye, Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Yusuf Sulaimon-Lasun, Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, Convener, Civil Society Situation Room, Mr. Clement Nwanko, and Executive Director, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre(CISLAC), Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, during their visit to speaker, yesterday at the National Assembly, in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Damina, Panti emerge Bauchi 8th Assembly speaker, deputy as police tear gas thugs From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

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on.

Dahuwa Shehu Damina, member representing Darazo constituency, has emerged as the new Bauchi state House of Assembly Speaker, while Abdulmumuni Bala Panti, member representing pali, Alkaleri constituency, was elected Deputy Speaker of the House, just as police dispersed political thugs with tear gas, who invaded the State House of Assembly during the inauguration of 8th Assembly.

The Speaker was nominated

by Hon. Yusuf Nuhu member representing Lame, Toro constituency and seconded by. Hon Sale Umar member representing Ganjuwa East constituency yesterday in the floor of the house Panti shortly after oath of office, assured of the house independence against any external interference and seeks for the members supports.

The Speaker promised to work hand in hand with the

three arms of government towards development and good governance.

According to Panti, the 8th Assembly under his leadership will witness free and fair dispensation of legislative process, saying the state needed urgent development.

Meanwhile, there was pandemonium, as political thugs invaded the State House of Assembly during the inauguration of 8th Assembly.

Security operatives had a tough time in controlling the thugs who overpowered them forcing them to use tear gas to disperse the thugs.

Despite the heavy security personal at the Assembly complex, the violent thugs who came from different Local Government maneuver their ways into the Assembly complex disrupting the sitting.

The thugs then enterd the floor of the house forcing the newly inaugurated members including the only female lawmaker to scamper out of their seat for safety.

The political thugs who were carrying placards of the elected law makers shouted the name of lawmakers noisily on the floor of the house momentarily forcing the new speaker to shout on top of his voice to direct procedings to no avail.

Not contended, the political thugs in a bid to get a better view of their representatives started climbing chairs and tables in the chamber breaking many in process.

The development forced the 8th Assembly to hurriedly move for adjournement as members made their ways to the Speaker office for a meeting.

When the mileu had die down, Hon Aminu Tukur was lamenting that his Android phone was stolen.

There was also reported cases lost of hand sets and valuables.

When contacted, the PPRO of the Bauchi state command said he did not have details because he was not at the inauguration but promised to get back to our correspondent later.

Senate President: Saraki emergence followed due process - Baraje From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

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former National Acting Chairman and Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) and a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, has noted that there was no controversy surrounding the election of Bukola Saraki as a Senate President of 8th National Assembly.

The APC Chieftain noted that Saraki’s election followed due constitutional process and warned that any attempt to antagonise him would be resisted by the electorates who have heaved a sigh of relieve over the return of constitutional governance to the country.

Baraje who stated this while speaking with Journalists in Ilorin yesterday during the graduation of 171 students of Baraje Centre for Arabic and Islamic Studies, Ilorin said that the level of awareness among Nigerian electorate was getting higher and that the process through which Saraki emerged on June 8 was an indication that ‘‘democracy is greater than any individual’’.

“The process is legal, there was no breach of any rule of the National Assembly, the National Assembly is not dependent on government, is not dependent of any political party. ‘‘The process was democratic and democracy is greater than any individual therefore we must respect democracy’’, Baraje said.

Baraje also said that Saraki’s emergence was historic which ‘‘portends unlimited opportunities’’ for people of Kwara State and Nigeria as a whole stressing that it was a reflection of the change the masses have been yearning for.

The APC Chieftain decried the activities of insurgents in the North- East of Nigeria which he said had negative impact on the growth of the school.

He said the Arabic school which currently awards a certificate equivalent to diploma in 2014 missed the opportunity to be affiliated to two Universities in Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirate to run degree programmes because authorities of those Universities were scared of visiting the school because of insurgents’ activities in the North -East.

The former Chairman of Nigeria Railway Corporation commended the kwara state government for establishing the state’s Arabic Board to supervise and regulate activities of Arabic and Islamic schools.

He urged the board to support Arabic schools in realising their objectives of providing quality education to students and ensure that graduates of such schools are offered government jobs.

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, JUNE 16, 2015

Politics

‘It’s time to pray for Nigeria’s leadership’

A member representing Gumel/ Gagarawa/ Migatari Federal Constituency in Jigawa state, Hon. Sani Zoro (right), addressing his constituents, on Sunday in Jobi village of Maigatari Local Government Area over a land dispute between the community and Nigeriens.

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

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Photo: NAN

PDP slams Oshiomhole’s government in Edo From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

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he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Edo state chapter, yesterday declared that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) government in the state has not performed better than the administration of the former Governor Lucky Igbinedion in terms of human capital and infrastructural development.

It said criticisms by the former Labour leader, Adams Oshiomhole, who will be seven years old in

government November this year against the PDP was diversionary and selfish.

Addressing newsmen at the party’s secretariat on Monday, in Benin City, Edo state chairman of PDP, Dan Orbih, who made his first official public appearance after April 11th 2015 Governorship/ state Houses of Assembly elections; advised Governor Oshiomhole to re-order his priorities to amend the frosty government/workers relationship.

“At the time Oshiomhole came into office, each time we draw his

attention whenever he is doing what is not right, he will quickly come out with a statement. We know PDP was in government for over nine years, but let me remind him that he (Oshiomhole) has been in government for about seven years, yet, there is little or nothing short of the year’s PDP was in government”, he said.

He lamented, the rising huge debt profile of the state and high level of unemployment occasioned by existing industries including Edo Line Transport company and Bendel Brewery inherited by the

current government which have remained in state of comatose.

Orbih berated the Governor over the recent sack of 12, 000 youth employment scheme (YES) casual workers by the state government.

He called on President Muhammadu Buhari to commence his anti corruption onslought in the state.

He also appealed to aggrieved workers in the state to be patient, calm and join force with the people of the state to vote against the APC government in next year governorship election.

Prophetess of Tabernacle Prophetic Ministry, kaduna Mercy Odoom, has said this is not the time for fault finding in Nigeria, but a time to pray for the leadership of the country to succeed and for a peaceful coexistence among the people of the country.

She stated this when speaking to Journalists in Kaduna yesterday, adding that there is nothing greater then prayer which is the only way to seek the creator intervention for the success of the country.

The Prophetess said she believed President Buhari is God sent because nobody can attain any leadership position unless the almighty gives approval, and therefore called on all Nigerians to support him with prayers because if a leader succeeds it is the cooperation he received from his people.

“I believe what is happing in the world today was a result of the people’s sinful acts and the mad rush for worldly and material things at the expense of worshiping of God. “We are in a trail period in our country and all must get closer to their creator for guidance in all their ways.

“The currents development in the country was one of the reasons our church is organizing a three days revival at the Church auditorium in Goni- Gora with a theme: “Who Are Thou Great Mountain –Thou Shall Become a Plain”, she said.

The Prophetess urged all religion leaders to preach peace and peaceful co- existence among all Nigerians in order for the

Kuje area council gets new scribe

By Usman Shuaibu

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he Chairman of Kuje Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ishaku Shaban Tete, on Monday appointed Makus Wakili as the new secretary of the Area Council, following the sack of the former secretary, Hon.

Musa Kaka, about two weeks ago.

Tete pointed out that the new secretary was appointed based on the recommendation by his people from their ward, urging the secretary to always listen to his people in interest of peace and togetherness.

He charged the secretary to

contribute his quota towards the development of the Council, saying that the position of power is from God. The chairman, however, said that his leadership would continue to focus on the people’s oriented projects, emphasizing that people you know whether his wicked or

good until when he leaves power.

Responding, the new Council Secretary, Mr. Wakili said that his leadership would carry the entire people of the council along, in the scheme of things.

The Secretary also said he would accord the necessary support and cooperation to the council

chairman anytime of the day, as according to him, he will not fail the people of Kuje Area Council.

Not left out, the Head of Administration of the Council, Barrister Loko, said that he would work hand in hand with the Secretary to move the Council to the next level.

Ambode pays glowing tribute to Amuka at 80 From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

L

agos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, on Sunday paid tribute to the Chairman of Vanguard Media Limited and a veteran journalist, Sam Amuka-Pemu, who turned 80 last Saturday.

In a statement signed by his

Chief Press Secretary, Habib Aruna, the Governor conveyed warm felicitations, saying that Amuka-Pemu has contributed largely to the upliftment of the profession of journalism in the country.

Governor Ambode said his strides towards the growth of the Nigerian press are not only evident

in how he has spearheaded his newspaper to enviable heights, but also his stance on political stability, accountability and the rule of law.

The Governor said, “Nigeria has benefitted immensely by the presence of Uncle Sam Amuka in the media both as a journalist and columnist from the days of the Daily Times group, of which

he served as Editor of the Sunday Times”.

“His then column, ‘Sad-Sam’, stood tall amongst equals as he continuously kept his readers glued to his satirical and literary styled articles, a model he has maintained over the years”.

“It is not surprising that he has brought his wealth of experience to

bear to the Vanguard newspapers, one of the newspapers to reckon with in the country today”.

“On behalf of my family, the government and people of Lagos, I wish you a Happy 80th Birthday and many more years of good health, good speed and new heights going forward”, Ambode said.

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, JUNE 16, 2015

65% of Nigeria’s population are unbanked- says NDIC cordinator From Edwin Olofu,Kano

K

ano Zonal Coordinator Nigeria Deposit Insurance cooperation NDIC) Dr. Kabiru Oniyangi has revealed that about 65% of Nigeria’s population mainly people in rural areas and people with low income due to irregular income , unemployment and distance to bank branches are unbanked.

Oniyangi who made the disclosure while delivering a lecture at a sensitization forum organized for Corps members

at the NYSC orientation camp in Karaye kano yesterday said unbanked people are persons who do not have access to any form of banking facility or service.

He described the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation as one of the safety net participants which had continued to effectively discharge its mandate by sustaining public confidence in the banking system and ensure financial system stability.

He hinted NDIC is the

only institution established by government to administer deposit insurance in Nigeria, adding that it is part of the financial system net arrangement which provides an additional layer of protection by complementing the effort of the CBN. According to him, the strategic nature of the banking system was what had informed the establishment of various institution to foster its stability saying the NDIC is one of such institutions set up to curtail the

attendant economic disruptions that typically banks failures.

He said” savings are kept for purpose of investment or deferred consumption, acquisition of physical assets like house, motor vehicles et cetera. the safest place to keep money is bank”.

Onayinga further revealed that a commercial bank is a financial institution that deals mainly with companies and very rich individuals and households stressing that merchants banks do not provide regular banking

services to the general public.

He said the important thing to know in a bank failure is that one’s money is safe as it is insured by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation affirming that the NDIC guarantees payment of deposits up to a maximum amount if a bank fails He called on the Corps members to utilize the knowledge they have acquired during the one day NDIC sensitization forum stressing however that saving one’s earnings in bank is the safest way of keeping money.

L-R: Interim National Secretary, Motor Dealers Association of Nigeria (MDAN), Malam Suleiman Kato, Chairman of MDAN, Northern Zone, Mr. Rotimi Fabiyi, and Interim President of MDAN, Alhaji Ibrahim Bello, during the national meeting of the association, on Sunday in Kaduna.

Photo: NAN

Customs seizes 7000 bags of rice, cartoons of poultry foods From Ayodele Samuel,Lagos

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he Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit FOU last week in two separate operations impounded large wooden boats with 4,404 bags of 50kg parboiled rice and 3,000 cartons of smuggled poultry frozen products with a cumulative Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N44, 626,000.00.

Controller FOU Zone ‘A’, Turaki Usman Adamu, told newsmen while inspecting the Seizures at the Gbaji YekeBadagry waterside as well as the poultry destruction site at the workshop area of the Unit.

Turaki pointed out that the

two separate operations were driven by intelligence which was carefully articulated and discreetly executed.

He stated that strategic planning and monitoring coupled with operational expertise displayed by the teams necessitated the success.

He however commended the Lagos Roving Team leader AC Adamu Mohammed Abubakar, for the gallantry displayed by his team. Similarly, CSC Wale Adenuga, the team leader of Monitoring Team II that effected the Seizure of poultry products was equally commended for the remarkable Seizure.

Turaki clarified that the two

Seizures were made at Gbaji-YekeBadagry waterways and the Lagos Shagamu on the expressway on the 11th – 12th June respectively.

He recalled the resuscitation of the ‘Customs Community Relations’ by his Unit recently and stated that it has provided a forum and platform for crossfertilization of ideas on ways of suppressing smuggling. He noted that the collaboration and synergy with the Community dwellers and other security agencies have been very overwhelming.

Turaki also commended the Baale of Gbaji-Yeke Kingdom, Chief Emmanuel Kwuakanm, in whose waterside the Seizure was made, for providing enormous

support to the operatives who went for the operations.

He commended his high sense of humility and readiness to align with the Nigeria Customs Service in its war against smuggling.

Turaki stated that hitherto such areas had volatile tendency resulting in occasional skirmishes between the Service and some hoodlums who masquerade as smugglers. He assured that the FOU ‘A’ will continue to fine-tune its operational modalities through proactive and strategic planning.

“The FOU ‘A’ under my watch, will remain a rallying point in anti-smuggling. As a frontline Unit, we are poised to drastically reducing incidences of smuggling,

though we appreciate the fact that smuggling just like scavenging is a global phenomenon. However, we are highly committed to eradicating it.

LThe Unit will intensify patrol activities along the flanks and flash points particularly to ensure that no vacuum is created at this period. In view of this, I have given a matching order to team leaders to step up in accordance with official requirements”.

Turaki noted that the Unit will not rest in its oars in our effort to frontally tackle the hydra headed monster of smuggling. We will ensure that we remain several steps ahead of smugglers such that we can always decode their antics.

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, JUNE 16, 2015

Energy NERC gets N29m license fees from four power coys to generate 774mw

By Etuka Sunday

T

he Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has issued four licences worth $ 150, 000 (about N29million) to four power companies to generate 774 megawatts of electricity.

NERC while granting the licences yesterday in Abuja said, it is reviewing the status of 124 power generation licenses it had issued since inception in 2006 and would revoke inoperative ones on verification, saying that those licences ought to have generated 30,000mw.

The four beneficiaries

include: Pan Africa Solar Limited which ought to build 24mw solar plant at Kankia in Katsina state while Nigeria Solar Capital Partners would also build 100mw solar power in Ganjuwa, Bauchi state.

Others are Proton Energy intending to build 150mw gas Independent Power Plant (IPP) at Ogorode in Delta State just as Turbine Drives is working on generating 500mw at Ajaokuta in Kogi state.

NERC Chairman, Dr. Sam Amadi while speaking on the significance of the licences said, “These new licenses are here pledging to develop new power,

different amounts of megawatts to the grid. That is really solving the customers’ problem. If we were a 10, 000mw market, the experience of consumers will be different.”

According to him, the licence comes with expectations and that the companies and investors should embrace the cost reflective tariff which the commission has set as incentive for doing power business.

Also speaking, the NERC’s Commissioner for Engineering Standards and Safety, Dr. Abba Ibrahim reminded the companies that the licences come with the challenge of

achieving the goals.

“Each license comes with milestones and key performance indicators that must be achieved.

NERC has begun the process to review and revoke licenses that it had issued but are inoperative.

We want to tighten the screw and we have no choice but to revoke non-performing licenses,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Licensing and Legal, Dr. Steven Andzenge noted that 124 licences have been issued since it started in 2006 adding that, “they ought to have given us 30gigawatts (30,000mw) but that is not the case today.”

L-R: Commissioner for Consumer Affairs, Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Alhji Abba Ibrahim, Chief Executive Officer of Pan Africa Solar, Mr. Marcus Heal, Executive Vice-Chairman, Proton Energy Limited, Mr. Oti Ikomi, Chairman of NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi, Executive Director Turbine Drives Limited, Mr. Vicent Dogo, Commissioner, Legal, Licensing and Enforcement of NERC, Mr. Steven Andzenge, and Managing Director, Nigeria Solar Capital Partners, Mr. Joel Abrams, during the presentation of operating licenses to four companies by NERC, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

CSO calls for urgent passage of PIB, others

By Umar Muhammad Puma

C

ivil society group under the umbrella the Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room comprising more than 60 civic organisations has urged the newly inaugurated 8th National Assembly to pass the other critical outstanding Bills from the past 7th and Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

Convener of the civic organisations coalition and Executive Director, Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), Clement Nwankwo made the call in Abuja during a courtesy visit to the newly elected Speaker,

House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.

Nwankwo who spoke on behalf of the Situation Room delegation listed the Constitution Amendment Bill, Electoral Act and other outstanding bills as priority legislations which should receive accelerated hearing and eventual passage by the 8th National Assembly.

The House Speaker, Yakubu Dogara in his response, hailed the contributions of Nigerian civil societies in the successful conduct of the 2015 general elections.

Dogara said the House on resumption from its current two-

weeks break will commission civil society organisations to conduct a “needs assessment” to determine priority areas as well as needs and gaps of the 8th National Assembly.

He assured speedy passage of the PIB and other priority Bills by the 8th Assembly.

Dogara: “We want this needs assessment to be conducted on the legislature and we want the civil societies in this country to do that... The National Assembly membership will be excluded because once we are involved, they will say the exercise has been tainted with bias.

“On the issue of pending

Bills, we recently amended the rules of the House to provide for a situation whereby those [outstanding] Bills will not commence denovo.

“As soon as we start legislative business, we are going to prepare a compendium of all those Bills that we consider critical as quickly as possible for onward transmission to the President for assent.”

Recall that the 7th National Assembly failed to pass the controversial PIB, a re-occurring development that have greeted past assemblies which have failed to pass the bill since its introduction in 2008.

Laments public misunderstanding of the Power Industry

By Etuka Sunday

N

igerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has expressed regret over what it described as public misunderstanding of the electricity industry.

The Chairman /Chief Executive of NERC, Dr Sam Amadi, while lamenting said, people prefer to cast aspersions on the sector without regards to the hiccups in the value chain of electricity service delivery.

A statement by the Commission quoted Amadi to have made the observation when a team of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, led by the Deputy Director Programs of the FRCN, Mohammed Bawa, received on behalf of their management from the Commission; donations of two desktops computers for their library.

He said the recent strike action by oil workers that had led to several hangs-outs including shortage of gas to the electricity operators which resulted in drop in electricity supply, which some people just had assumed was as a result of system collapse.

He said ‘’ If people didn’t know what happened, they will assume that the system had collapsed. The public should separate temporal set-backs about the sector from system collapse’’.

In the light of this, he urged the FRCN officials to continue to be a catalyst on nation development by using the station to educate Nigerians on the sector. According to him, radio remains the most public oriented channel for widespread communication in Nigeria today; hence the Commission is happy to partner the organisation.

Leader of the team, Mohammed Bawa, who applauded the Commission’s gesture, said it knew it was making the right move when it sought the Commission’s assistance for its library upgrade. He said NERC has made its mark as the first and only organisation that has so far responded to its request. ‘’ When we took the decision to upgrade our library, we knew we could not do it alone due to paucity of funds, so we took this initiative to seek your assistance. We are gratified by your response even though it was on short notice’’ he said.

Both NERC and FRCN have agreed to work together for the development of the economy.

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, JUNE 16, 2015

ICT

Nigeria GITR drops 7 points to 119th in network readiness ranking-Report N etworked readiness index ranking has placed African countries backward in global information technology report with Nigeria dropping at 7 point to 119,while Kenya’s Networked readiness ranking improved by climbing six places to 86th position.

Nigeria dropped seven places and now ranks 119th, South Africa dropped five places and now ranks 75th‎ and Egypt dropped three places and now ranks 94th.

Cisco, taking a cue from the world economic forum’s global information technology report 2015 (GITR), insists that African countries need to take full advantage of the potential offered by ICTs to drive social and economic transformation.

They highlight challenges facing most African countries to include that of infrastructure, institutions and skills needed to reap the full benefits of

ICTs, as only 39% of the global population enjoys access to the Internet despite the fact that more than half now owns a mobile phone and Africa having one of the highest mobile phone penetration.

According to Cisco, access to the Internet is depriving many Africans of the opportunity to take full advantage of e-learning as well as online financial, data and health services.

It said, achieving societal and economic transformation is the ability to embrace the Internet of everything (IoE), the connections between people, process, data and things, to create unprecedented opportunities for African citizens as well as the public and private sectors.

According to the General Manager, Cisco, Dare Ogunlade, Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone “said , we have learned that technology helps people find

innovative solutions to address societal problems.

We believe there has never been a better time to combine human ingenuity and technological innovation to improve the lives of all Africans.

The GITR report suggests that investing in infrastructure and education; supporting the development of local content;

and creating an enabling environment by promoting competition through sound regulation will correct the imbalance in many African countries today.

Cisco is committed to working with public and private sector organisations in Africa to work on strategies for the digital transformation, thereby helping them

transform their IT strategy, connect everything, embrace analytics, and secure their technology and operations.

“We are already facing the next wave of the Internet – the Internet of Everything (IoE) – Africa needs to prioritise ICT development if it is to benefit from the new experiences and efficiencies that the IoE will bring,” Ogunlade added

ITU to mark switchover date from analogue to digital TV in Geneva

T

he deadline for the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting, set for 17 June 2015, is applicable for all countries belonging to ITU Region-1 (Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia) and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

ITU said, it would mark this key milestone with a thought provoking symposium at its headquarters in Geneva to highlight the inherent advantages offered by digital terrestrial broadcasting today and in the future.

The above deadline for switching off analogue television broadcasting in the UHF band was set by ITU Member States at the Regional Radiocommunication conference in 2006, known as the GE06 Regional Agreement.

The symposium would bring experts from around the world to examine the objectives of the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting and take a look at advances in television, such as ultra-high-definition TV (UHDTV), Integrated broadcastbroadband (IBB) systems, and smart TV platforms as well as building a sustainable ecosystem for digital TV in the future and its spectrum requirements.

New technologies related to digital broadcasting, including UHDTV, hybrid HbbTV, extended image dynamic range, higher frame rates, and immersive audio, would be demonstrated by leading developers and experts

from the BBC, EBU, Dolby, Fraunhofer and others Digital TV broadcasting offers many advantages over analogue systems for end-users, operators and regulators.

Apart from increasing the number of channels, digital systems can provide new innovative services, such as interactive TV, electronic programme guides and mobile TV as well as transmit image and sound in high-definition (HDTV) and ultra-high definition (UHDTV).

Digital TV requires less energy to ensure the same coverage as for analogue while decreasing overall costs of transmission.

The more efficient use of radio spectrum brought on by digital TV also allows for the socalled digital dividend resulting from the freeing up of spectrum for use by other services, such as mobile broadband.

Countries around the world are actively working towards the switchover to digital television. several countries that are parties to the GE06 Agreement, as well as many who are not, have already made the transition; others are in the process of doing so.

The ITU Secretary-General, Houlin Zhao said, “As the specialized agency of the United Nations dealing with information and communication technologies, including spectrum and satellite orbit issues, ITU will keep supporting the development of new technologies.”

Latest-Nokia-cell-phone-Lumia-EOS

Intel partners MTN on technological solutions to SMEs Stories By Chris Alu

I

ntel Nigeria, has joined hands with MTN, Microsoft, HP and Diamond Bank to provide technological solutions to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the country.

In this development, Intel will provide Nigerian SME’s bundles of PC, Printer and Office for their day to day operations and also feature capacity building seminars, conferences

and workshops to address other issues confronting them.

Mr Adim Isiakpona, marketing and public relations manager, Intel West Africa, said, the initiative is an all-encompassing approach aim at solving reoccurring issues confronting small and medium businesses in Nigeria.

He stated that, “Technology has done a lot at transforming businesses in advanced countries of the world and we believe we

can replicate same in Nigeria SMBs which constitute over 70 percent of the country’s GDP.” Amongst several other benefits, he said, the strategic partnership would afford SME’s free listing on MTN Y’ello directory, free trial of MTN cloud services, free biz plus and MTN SME messaging with which they can connect with their consumers, while Diamond bank would make different financing options available to participating SMEs.

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, JUNE 16, 2015

BUSINESS Financial Inclusion: NDIC empowers NYSC members From Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

I

n an effort geared towards empowering Nigerians in the area of financial inclusion, the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) yesterday held a sensitization lecture for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members at their orientation camp in Ipaja, Lagos.

According to the corporation, the campaign became necessary to abridge knowledge gap as well as ensure financially sound Nigerians, thus reducing the quantum of the financially excluded which stood at 39.5 per

cent as at November, 2014.

“NDIC is very much interested in empowering Nigerians in the area of financial inclusion.

And one ways we can do that effectively is by creating public awareness, and we want to do that with as many strata as possible especially those in the youth age that is the corpers.

So as to make sure that they are financially informed and sound in order to reduce the quantum of the financial excluded which was at put at 39.5 per cent as at November, 2014”, said the Director, Special Insured Institutions Department, NDIC,

...As financial exclusion hits 39.5%

Mr Etopidiok James.

James while presenting a paper titled, Deposit Insurance System in Nigeria, lamented that 40 million Nigerians which formed 65 per cent of the total of the nations population were still unbanked.

This and inability of the people to understand the benefits to be derived from the protective role of NDIC, James highlighted as some of the major challenges facing the corporation.

Against this backdrop, James

opined that the corporation was working towards ensuring that financial inclusion is added to education curriculum of higher institutions in the country.

He equally added that as a result, the corporation was taking awareness education to the

villages in the rural areas, schools, market places as well as through the media.

Urging corp members to ensure saving their monies in the bank, James assured them that their deposits and banks were protected by NDIC.

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

sold for N400 before today, is now sold between N600-700 while a bag of orange before now goes for N9,000 but now N12,500.

Alhaji Idris Usman, blames the high. Price on two factors; high cost of transportation and high demand.

According to him, people are making last minute purchase of needed items during Ramadan, adding that. They were ready to get the items at any cost.

The secretary of Council of Imams and Ulamas in Kaduna state, Malam Yakub Arigassiyu, called on Muslims especially, those of them who are marketers, to avoid high profiteering especially as r month approaches.

He said, “Either we bless the little profit they make rather than extorting huge sums from unsuspecting”.

However, even with the high cost of the items, major markets in Kaduna metropolis continued to witness inflow of large number of customers. Market places like Kawo, Kasuwa-baici, Bakin-dogo and Tudun-wada have become a Mecca of such.

Ramadan: prices of food stuff, fruits soar

B

arely a week to the commencement of the Muslim fasting month otherwise known as Ramadan, prices of food stuff and fruits in major markets in Kaduna has soared as consumers complain bitterly over the development.

Investigation by this reporter revealed that at Sheik Abubakar Gumi market, a gallon of vegetable oil hitherto sold between N12001300, now sold between N1,7001,800. Similarly, a bag of rice which sold for N12,000 is now N15,000 while a basket of tomatoes usually sold at N9,000 is now N14,000.

The leader of the provision sector in the market, Alhaji Mustapha Adamu, blamed the high price on the high cost of transportation as a result of fuel scarcity.

However, a customer, Hajia Talatu Ibrahim, blame the traders on the high cost due to hoarding the product long before the fuel scarcity.

At the station roundabout fruit market, average water melon that

L-R: President, Rivers State Entrepreneurs and Investors Forum, Mr. Ibifiri Bob Manuel, presenting the forum’s position to Rivers state Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, yesterday in Port Harcourt.

Photo: NAN

‘NDIC paid N97bn to over 528,000 depositors of 14, 103 liquidated banks’

By Etuka Sunday

N

igerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NIDC) has disclosed that a total sum of N97billion was used to settle 528,500 depositors of 14 banks and 103 Micro-finance liquidated banks between 1991 to date.

The Head of Media and Public Relations to the corporation, Alhaji Hadi Sule Bauchi made the disclosure while speaking to newsmen shortly after a day training to over 2000 National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) at general Yakubu Gawon in Dutse, Jigawa state.

Alhaji Hadi Sule Bauchi explained that the corporation commenced operation and paying the Nigerian Merchant bank the first liquidated bank in 1991 “which many don’t know bank and its liquidation”.

He said as the primary

responsibility of corporation is provide safety and guaranty to bank depositor NDIC had helped and pay back the depositor in 14 banks and 103 Micro Finance Bank that failed or collapsed in the period mention.

According to him the despite its existence of over 23 year and the achievement made majority of Nigerians are not aware of the company existence or the services it provide.

He maintained that, “Due to the fear of risk of collapse many nigerian are very hesitant to open account for depositing their money in the bank” Alhaji Bauchi added that “Base on this, we chose those over 2000 corp member who are under going orientation in this Gen Yakubu Gawan NYSC orientation camp, for a special sencitaization workshop on the Activities of NDIC”

“Those NYSC member are expected to carry this message to the member of the community they would be posted for primary assignment, enlight them on the activities of NDIC and also encourage them to go an open account with any bank of their choice”, he emphases.

While delivering his paper during the workshop the zonal comptroller of NDIC incharges of Kano Zone Alhaji Abdul Hamid Ali, said, any depositor with balance of N200,000 down ward would be paid his complete money by NDIC in any case of his bank collapse and those with above amount would be paid after due and necessary documentation.

He then assured corp member and general public the ever readiness of NDIC to come to their rescue in any related financial crisis within its

Benue Govt signs MOU with Chinese Coy on Infrastructural Devt From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

B

enue State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with a group of Chinese companies under the auspices of CGC Alliance for industrial and commercial revitalization of the state.

Areas of focus include: Coal power plant, potable water and irrigation, renovation of agriculture service centers, construction of Makurdi-Guma road, and reticulation of water in Makurdi, Otukpo and Katsina-Ala. Others are airport and industrial park construction, sugar cane plantation and refineries.

Governor Samuel Ortom who signed the pact in his office, while Managing Director of the Group, Tony Ye signed on behalf of the companies, expressed confidence in the ability of the group to deliver as it had successfully constructed the Otobi and Katsina-Ala water works.

He noted that the state government owed CGC huge amounts of money on the two projects, but appealed for understanding while assuring that his administration would do its best to honour contractual agreements.

Managing Director of the group, Mr Ye stated that various

companies have teamed up under the alliance in order to handle all infrastructural projects in the state if given the opportunity and expressed appreciation to the Ortom administration for inviting them to partner in the development of the state. In another development, Governor Ortom has appealed to the Bill Gates Foundation to consider the whole value chain in its approach to promote the cultivation of cassava and rice in the state.

He made the appeal when he received a delegation from Synergos Institute led by Adewale Adewale Ajabi on behalf of the foundation.

The Governor who expressed the willingness of the state to partner with viable investors and create the enabling environment of investments to thrive, pointed out that unless attention was given to the whole value chain, the cassava produced would be wasted at the end of the day.

Mr Ajabi had disclosed that the foundation was willing to collaborate with the state government to assist in cassava and rice processing.

He said the objective was to assist farmers to get value for their produce and to boost the economy of the state.

PAGE 23

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, JUNE 16, 2015

Stock Watch:

Monday, June 15, 2015

Peoples Daily, Tuesday, June 16, 2015

PAGE 24

PAGE 25

Special Report

Village where cousins were raped and hanged

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he village of Katra Shahadatganj in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh is difficult to get to. The roads are in a poor state. There is hardly ever any power here and few homes have toilets.

Days ago it was the scene of a brutal rape and murder.

In the late evening on Wednesday two cousins left home to visit a nearby field, which they used as a toilet.

They never returned and by the next morning they were found hanging from a tree in the village. They had been gang-raped.

Relatives say police ridiculed them when they first reported the girls missing after they heard from neighbours that the cousins had been accosted by a group of men.

They claim that caste discrimination is at the heart of this tragedy - the police deny this.

Mother: My girl was ambitious The mother of the

In the remote Indian village where two low-caste girls aged 14 and 16 were gang-raped and hanged, there is a sense of powerlessness and anger. The BBC’s Divya Arya travelled to Katra Shahadatganj and sent this account of the people she met. younger girl showed me her daughter’s school notebooks lined with neat Hindi script.

She said that her daughter always wanted to do something more with her life than get married. She wanted to work and get a job.

“She wanted to study until college just like the boys in the village,” her mother said.

She had told her daughter that she would be allowed to progress with her studies unhindered because she was the youngest girl in the family .

The mother said that in her generation women did not work but they have tried hard to educate their children.

She was composed but

Police Chief, Atul Saxena denied any discrimination

also full of anger. The mother of the older girl was howling and unable to speak.

‘The danger of having no toilets’ Having to go to the field to defecate is the real problem identified by many villagers.

For women it’s a huge issue. They have to venture out early in the morning or late in the evening, as defecating openly in the middle of the day is too embarrassing.

“It is easier for men but it gets very difficult for us, especially during our menstrual cycles,” the mother told me.

Women said they find themselves structuring their entire lives around when

they can go to the toilet.

She said that it is a 15-minute walk to the field their family can use.

“I always keep my girls’ safety in mind. I always accompany her and other girls in the family to the field. But that evening I had to help my husband in tending some animals so I let them go on their own. I asked them to be quick.”

Neighbour: This could have been prevented A neighbour says he saw the girls being harassed by a group of men and reported this to the parents who then went to the police.

They claim they were rebuffed.

The neighbour, Ramesh, told me he was not surprised:

“Even though the police suspended some constables, the ones who replace them would not be any better.

They would discriminate too.”

“People from our caste are poor and illiterate and do not get employed in positions of power and influence.”

Father: The police ridiculed me The girl’s father is poor farm labourer.

When he went to the police outpost at the village one of the men seen by the neighbour harassing his daughter was with them.

The father claims that police then ridiculed him for his low-caste status. “The first thing I was asked was my caste. When I told them they started abusing me,” he said.

Even though the accused and the victims are from the same broad category known as “Other backward classes” the victims were lower down

Most of the people in the village are farmers or farm labourers and many live in poverty

“

Villagers accuse the local police of ‘caste’ discrimination

within that hierarchy.

The father said he had to go down on all fours and literally beg the police.

He said the officers and the man with them kept

laughing and told them to go home and the girls would be back in two hours.

They went back and waited. The next morning, police told them the girls

The mother of the younger girl said her daughter was ambitious. This picture has been blurred to prevent identification.

had been found in a field in their village.

Family friend: Our needs are not important Across the village people felt disenfranchised. During

election time politicians come asking for their votes but ignore their needs.

Ratna, one family friend of the victims, said she constantly asks visiting

Days ago it was the scene of a brutal rape and murder. In the late evening on Wednesday two cousins left home to visit a nearby field, which they used as a toilet. They never returned and by the next morning they were found hanging from a tree in the village. They had been gang-raped.

Relatives say police ridiculed them when they first reported the girls missing after they heard from neighbours that the cousins had been accosted by a group of men officials about toilets, “but it is not important to them”.

She said that when people are unwell, with upset

This woman, a friend of the family, described how vulnerable the women of the village were because they had no access to basic sanitation

stomach, it is like torture having to go to the field.

Poverty means they cannot afford a toilet inside their homes.

Police: There was no discrimination There is no police station as such in the village, simply an outpost. But in the main station 45km (27 miles) away, senior official Atul Saxena denied any police discrimination.

He said that the moment they got the complaints from the family, they suspended officers and took action.

“It shows we are not trying to hide anything.”

He said that no matter the caste, a criminal is a criminal in the eye of the law, and that police just need time to properly investigate cases.

Source: BBC

PAGE 26

Feature

I

n January, protesters carrying the black flags of IS burnt the French Tricolore at a rally against the cartoons of Prophet Muhammad published by satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.

Gaza’s Hamas authorities allowed that to go ahead, wanting to show their own Islamist credentials.

But in the last few months, there has been a series of confrontations.

Hamas has taken a tougher stance against IS since it killed about 100 Palestinian in April, beheading two leaders of a Hamas-linked group, in Yarmouk refugee camp in southern Damascus.

At the same time, extremists appear to have been encouraged

by IS gains elsewhere in the region.

“We have the Salafist groups here in Gaza pledging their support to Islamic State,” says Mukhaimer Abu Saada, politics professor at Gaza’s al-Azhar University.

“They very much identify with Islamic State in terms of their ideology and their radical interpretations of Islam and the Koran.”

“They are unhappy with Hamas because they believe it has not implemented Islamic law and because Hamas has reached an understanding with Israel, which put an end to the war in the summer of 2014.”

‘We will never forget’ Hamas blames radical Salafist groups for several small explosions targeting its security forces. Dozens of activists and religious leaders have been arrested and a Salafist mosque destroyed.

Last week, an IS-supporting militant, 27-year-old Younis Hunnar, was killed in a raid by Hamas security forces on his home in Gaza City.

Three rockets have since been fired at Israel and a group calling itself the Omar Brigades said via social media that it was responsible.

On Thursday, a fourth rocket was launched but fell short inside Gaza.

While the missiles have not caused injuries, they have drawn Israeli air strikes in response - some targeting Hamas military sites and endangered a 10-month-long ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

At the entrance to Mr Hunnar’s apartment, bloodstains and bullet holes are still visible. His brother tells me the family no longer want to speak about what happened.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, JUNE 16, 2015

Can Hamas hold back Islamic State in Gaza?

The Gaza Strip is still reeling from last year’s devastating war with Israel, but now there are troubling signs that it faces an internal threat from ultra-conservative militants, some inspired by the Islamic State (IS) group.

Hamas often displays shows of support to assert its position as the dominant force in Gaza

“

Hamas has taken a tougher stance against IS since it killed about 100 Palestinian in April, beheading two leaders of a Hamas-linked group, in Yarmouk refugee camp in southern Damascus. At the same time, extremists appear to have been encouraged by IS gains elsewhere in the

However, on the walls outside, an IS flag has been drawn and there are slogans against Hamas alongside pledges of revenge. Some graffiti reads: “We will never forget your blood while we live.”

Salafists appeared in Gaza about a decade ago. They adhere

Islamic State flags were allowed to fly at a protest rally in Gaza earlier this year

There is still massive damage in Gaza nearly one year after the war

to a strict lifestyle based on that of the earliest followers of Islam.

So far, Hamas, which has its ideological roots in the more moderate Muslim Brotherhood, has been largely able to contain them.

There were tensions in 2009, after a Salafist leader, Abdul Latif Moussa, declared an Islamic emirate in the southern town of Rafah. He was among more than 20 people killed the next day when

Hamas forces stormed his mosque and house.

‘Ignorant people’ In 2011, after the abduction and murder by Salafists of a proPalestinian Italian activist, Vittorio Arrigoni, Hamas also took action to crush the groups.

The number of militant Salafists is estimated to be relatively small amounting to hundreds or perhaps a few thousand at most.

By contrast, Hamas has some

35,000 security personnel under its military command.

However the latest developments come at a time when the Islamist movement is weaker.

Last year’s 50-day conflict killed some 2,200 Palestinians, mainly civilians, according to the UN, and 73 on the Israeli side, mostly soldiers.

Tens of thousands of homes were destroyed and key infrastructure was badly damaged.

There is rising frustration over the failure of Hamas to lift the blockade of Gaza, which Israel and Egypt say they impose for security reasons but which has severely hampered the pace of reconstruction.

Hamas Deputy Foreign Minister Ghazi Hamad insists there is no organisation formally associated with IS in Gaza and that “ignorant people” will be dealt with.

“You’ll find some individuals who support their thoughts but I can confirm and assure [you] there is no organisation affiliated to Daesh [Islamic State] or alQaeda in Gaza,” he says. “We will not allow such radical groups to survive.”

“We won’t allow anyone to break the ceasefire because it’s in the national interests,” he adds, in reference to the recent missile fire.

‘Clear policy’ At a security conference in the Israeli city of Herzliya this week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the situation in Gaza “could ignite the region”.

He sent a warning to Hamas: “I have a very clear policy - you fire at us, we fire back. Hamas is responsible for non-Hamas rocket fire too.”

But some observers see Israel’s approach as potentially playing into the Salafists’ hands.

“They’re trying to challenge Israel and Hamas,” Eran Zinger, Israel Radio correspondent, says.

“They know that once we see missile attacks coming from Gaza, Israel will have no other choice but to retaliate and this is exactly what they want. They know this will have an effect on Hamas.”

For now the Salafists appear to be doing little more than riling and putting pressure on Hamas.

Their fighters are said to lack clear leadership and organisation and have few resources.

However there are fears they could attract disenfranchised militants from inside Hamas’s ranks and obtain funds and arms from IS organisations outside, particularly from Egypt’s Sinai.

That could cause a dangerous escalation.

Source: BBC

PAGE 27

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, JUNE 16, 2015

Defence

Army Chief, Minimah visits troops in frontline

T

he Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Kenneth Tobiah Jacob Minimah, paid an operational and morale boosting visit to troops in the frontline fighting war against Boko Haram terrorists groups in Borno and Adamawa States. During the visit, he addressed and encouraged the troops of 7 Division Strike Group (7 DSG) and 121 Special Force (SF) Battalion that comprised the Armed Forces and Nigerian Army Special Forces located in Pulka, 26 Task Force Brigade in Gwoza, 28 Task Force Brigade and 174 Battalion in Mubi.

In Pulka, the Commander,

7 DSG, Lieutenant Colonel Umar Faruq Abubakar and the Commanding Officer of 121 SF Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Murtala Danjuma Abdulsalam briefed him on their respective commands. He commended them for their performances. The COAS thereafter addressed the troops in which he said that he came to thank and commend them for their valour, courage and bravery, which turned the tide against the Boko Haram terrorists and their accomplishments thus far.

The COAS informed the troops that the President and indeed the whole nation are proud of them. He reiterated his determined

effort to continue to support and encourage them and enjoined them to maintain the momentum.

He also urged the gallant soldiers to be more dedicated, disciplined, professional and continue with the same zeal and determination till attainment of the set objective of locating and destroying Boko Haram camps and enclaves.

The exploits of these troops are quite numerous; apart from recapturing most Boko Haram terrorist held territories such as Pulka and Gwoza, they were able to destroy quite a number of the terrorists’ camps in Kirawa and Kinene, as well as their workshops, training camps and arms stores,

weapons and equipment. They also recovered a T-55 Battle Tank, 2 Armoured Personnel Carriers, various calibres of arms and ammunitions from the Boko Haram. At the headquarters of 26 Task Force Brigade Gwoza, the COAS was received and briefed by the Brigade Commander, Colonel Irenuma Irabor who was accompanied by Lieutenant Colonel Chidozie Amoha, Garrison Commander of 26 Task Force Brigade.

In his brief, the Brigade Commander stated that due to recapture of Gwoza and the presence of the military, life has gradually been getting back to normal. He

Commander 26 Task Force Brigade, Colonel Irenuma Irabor (2nd left) describing a scene to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-General Kenneth Minimah (2nd right),on arrival at the brigade headquarters, recently in Gwoza, Borno state.

Photo: NAN

Military allays fear of reprisal attack in Zaki Biam

T

he people of Zaki biam who fled their homes after an armed gang ambushed and killed a soldier and police man recently have been assured that there will be no reprisal attack on the community as rumoured in some quarters.

The military authorities in the

locality have assured that while every effort was being made to track down the armed gang that have been operating in the area before the incidence, no civilian will be unduly harassed.

There had been apprehension in the community, following the incidence which triggered a rumour of impending reprisal

attack by the military. The people were therefore advised to return to their homes and normal activities as the troops are there for their protection.

An armed gang identified as Gana which have been operating along Zaki-biam/Katsina Ala road had attacked the troops on patrol as they were on their way

to respond to distress call from civilians in the town recently. The gang which had reportedly been terrorising the community for some time, also made away with a number of items. Normalcy has been restored as the military and police patrol continue in the area.

Culled from PR Nigeria

stated that his Brigade is working with Borno State government and youth vigilantes for screening of returnees and preventing infiltration of fleeing terrorists from Sambisa forest. He also said that his Brigade has embarked on measures to enhance cordial relationship with the civil populace.

The COAS thanked him for the brief and the wonderful efforts of the troops, which gave the Nigerian Army and indeed the nation victory over Boko Haram terrorists. In his address to the troops of Brigade Garrison, elements of 82 Battalion, 121 Special Force Battalion and 122 Special Battalion, he also informed them that he was very proud of them for changing the tide of the battle against the terrorists adding that Nigerians are proud of them as attested to by the renewed positive attitude and accolades being showered on the military.

It will be recalled that it was in Gwoza the purported Boko Haram terrorists leader, Abubakar Shekau shot a video in flowing gown conducting special Friday prayers proclaiming the town the headquarters of his phantom ‘Caliphate’. While in Mubi, the COAS was received by the Commander 28 Task Force Brigade, Brigadier General Victor Ezugwu and the Commanding Officer, 174 Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel MA Sadiq who briefed him respectively. In his address to the troops, he told them that he was in Mubi to inform them that the Nigerian Army is proud of them for their unprecedented accomplishment that also turned the public opinion and perception of the military among Nigerians after humiliation by the terrorists. He also stated that the President, Commanderin-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria being a retired senior Army officer, was embarrassed by the cowardice behaviour of some soldiers, but today, he is pleased with them. Adding that what they accomplished in recent weeks had brought international recognition and rekindled national pride. The Chief of Army Staff was accompanied on the visit by Corps Commander of Nigerian Army Engineers, Major General SJ Davies, Provost Marshal Army, Major General PAT Akem, Director Military Intelligence, Major General LW Wiwa, General Officers Commanding 3 and 7 Divisions, Major General FO Ali and Major General LO Adeosun, the Coordinator of Nigerian Army Aviation Service, Major General LEO Irabor, Chief of Staff, Office of Chief of Army Staff, Brigadier General SE Oduonwa and the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel SK Usman.

PAGE 28

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, JUNE 16, 2015

Agriculture

Fadama III: World Bank approves 2015 work plan

By Doyin Ojosipe with Agency report

T

he National Coordinator of the Fadama III project, Mr Tayo Akinwunmi, has disclosed that the World Bank in collaboration with the Federal Government have approved the Fadama III 2015 budget.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, Wednesday that the work plan including procurement plan have been approved by the World Bank and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, adding that its implementation was already on.

The Fadama coordinator also said that 65 workers who were drawn from within the existing Fadama III facilitators have so far been recruited to facilitate business plans for the project at the community level.

He also added that the workers would facilitate business plan preparation at community level for the Fadama III additional financing core states.

Akinwunmi, who revealed that training for farmers was conducted in the six core states (Anambra, Enugu, Kano, Kogi, Lagos and Niger) with two master trainers per state, said about 165 business plans have been submitted by the six core states for the first review.

“The samples of the plans were reviewed and returned to the states for corrections to ensure adequacy and compliance with the set out objectives and standard procedure.

“The review was to further appraise the submitted plans so as to determine the level of compliance with the fund disbursement requirement,” he said.

Akinwunmi further said it was to re-orientate and reeducate the Farmer Field School master trainers on the skills and principles of the farmer field schools.

“A farmers-need assessment commenced earlier, aimed at identifying the needs of farmers and how to proffer solutions,” he added.

The coordinator said the first phase of the assignment has been completed in Kogi, Kano and Niger states and the reports are being reviewed.

He added that technical assistance mission to production cluster states was also carried out to ascertain the readiness of the states for their participation in the Fadama III additional financing.

CAVA II, AMREC train cassava farmers on commercial cultivation

By Doyin Ojosipe

T

he Country Technical Expert on Cassava P r o d u c t i o n, C a s s ava: Adding Value for Africa (CAVA II) Project, Mr. Stephen Olonade has urged cassava farmers to engage new productive approach in production of cassava by making use of enhance technologies which will work effectively and benefit them in the upturning market.

He added that the cassava market is being broadened by subsectors which have made the business much lucrative.

He said, “Huge markets exist in the cassava sub-sector particularly, in value chains such as ethanol, High Quality Cassava Flour, starch,

grits and chips.”

“The CAVA II project is committed to linking up farmers with these markets, but we want them to adopt new productivity enhancing technologies in order to benefit effectively from these lucrative value chains. With good farming practices, farmers can increase their yield by 25 percent and this will invariably increase their incomes” he added.

At a pre-season training which was organised by CAVA II Project in conjunction with Agricultural Media Resources and Extension Centre (AMREC), The Expert maintained that that farmers could only benefit effectively in the flourishing sub-sector, if they embrace good agro-economic

practices.

Also speaking at the training event, AMREC representative, Mr. Olukayode Adesanya, said the training was necessary to educate farmers on appropriate farming practices for cultivation of cassava as that will empower the farmers to move from subsistence to commercial farming as well.

He said, “Farmers have been practicing agriculture at subsistence level; they don’t believe that they can cultivate cassava at a level where they can get more revenue. But we believe that if we train them on good farming practices and make high-yielding cassava varieties accessible to them, they will be able earn more revenue from their

production.”

Another stake holder, The Procurement Manager, Allied Atlantic Distillers Limited, Mr. Rauf Omotara, maintained that the farmers now have huge opportunities as the market grows day by day.

“There is every need for farmers to increase their production because now, there is market for them to sell their cassava roots.

Normally, if a farmer cultivates cassava, the average yield he gets is 15 tonnes per hectare; however with all these trainings that the CAVA II project is giving the farmers, they can get up to 35 tonnes per hectare. The more roots they harvest, the more profit they get,” he added.

L-R: Former Agric Minister Dr. Akinwumi Adesina(2nd R) wife(1ST L)with Sarkin noma of Zamfara(2nd L)and Hajiya Ladi(1st R).

Kebbi to partner with Iran on Agriculture

By Doyin Ojosipe with agency report

K

ebbi state Governor has said it will partner with some Iranian companies to further boost agriculture and quickly

develop the state.

Addressing the Iranian Ambassador to Nigeria, Saeed Koozochi and his convoy during a courtesy call to the Governor, Abubakar Atiku Bugudu said Kebbi state has a lot of potentials in the agricultural terrain, adding

that minning was another sector to be exploited.

He said,”There are agricultural potentials available in all parts of the state suitable for commercial cultivation of all sorts of crops including sugar cane.”

Speaking earlier, The Iranian ambassador intimated the governor on his mission stating that his country will be pleased to enter into partnership with Nigeria in the areas of culture, science, aviation and economy.

Page 29

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, JUNE 16, 2015

Agriculture

Why farmers must embrace Agric Co-operative Societies A gricultural co-operative societies have been adjudged as the best platforms for accessing f u n d in g i nte r v e nti on s fr o m government, therefore farmers are advised to exploit them to their advantages.

With Agricultural co-operative societies, farmers who are often faced with the challenges of accessing loans from banks on collateral or higher interests basis can turn to government for better results.

The Permanent secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Sunny Echono, while speaking on the benefits of Agricultural co-operative societies to farmers said, with it, they could assess the N220billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises

Development Fund provided by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Echono spoke at the maiden special matriculation ceremony of the Federal Co-operative College, O r g a n i s e d f o r Co- op e rat ive Registrars and Officers of FMARD undergoing professional diploma courses on co-operatives at NCDC Sheda.

The Perm Sec, who was represented by the director of co-operatives, Dr Dickson Okolo revealed that the ministry was also in touch with officials of the Nigerian Incentive-based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) on how best to assist farmer groups and agricultural co-operatives access credits for their farming operations.

“With a good number of

available credit windows now in place, we are confident that the difficulties in accessing credit from financial service providers will soon be a thing of the past,” he said.

While restating the commitment of the ministry towards supporting co-operative societies to play a greater role in achieving the goals of the federal government’s transformation agenda, Echono added that” it is partly for this reason that approval was given for the 23 staff of the ministry to attend the 9 months course. We hope the training you receive at the end of the programme will equip you to be technically able to discharge your duties as cooperative registrars and officers respectively.” while Presenting a paper

on the theme: “Repositioning Cooperatives for Greater Impact of the Nigerian Economy,” Mrs Justina Otaokpukpu, spoke on the challenges of Nigerian cooperatives to include weak cooperative movement, lack of enabling laws, limited access to finance, weak infrastructure, lack of awareness, among several others.

Also speaking, the Acting Provost of the Institution, Hajiya Aisha Ishaq, called for a law establishing the college, better staffing of the institution, additional academic programmes, capacity building and teacher training programmes, provision of ICT infrastructures and facilities, fencing of the college as well as construction of student hostels.

There is no doubt that farmers

would gain a lot by joining cooperative societies. It would not only help them access loans, but would stand as absolute guarantee in terms of emergencies caused by flooding and other natural disasters to their produce.

Farmers across Nigeria are in good stead to access various funding windows created by the immediate past government.

It is imperative that every farmer should take advantage of these windows to further develop the nation’s agriculture.

I will make Power, Agriculture major priorities” – says AfDB president elect

F

Snail farm

Adesina to replicate Nigeria’s energy nutritious foods development at continental level

D

r Akinwumi Adesina, the President-elect of the African Development Bank (AfDB), plans to replicate Nigeria’s energy nutritious foods model at the continental level, an official has said.

Mr Olukayode Oyeleye, the Spokesman of the AfDB presidentelect, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Tuesday.

He said that Adesina was prepared to bring to bear, his

experience as Nigeria’s immediate past Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development at the continental level by enhancing the nutritional value of African foods. ``Nutrition issues are very broad-based and there are so many drivers of nutrition development. ``His (Adesina) involvement and knowledge about this will also benefit Nigeria very greatly. ``Take for instance; he started on the issue of high energy nutritious foods and also linking that with poverty, especially in

some part of the country like in the North East and North West. ``And then of course linking it with the fact of this insurgency which is actually displacing a lot of people. He is going to be involved in support in the area of nutrition too. ``And then of course, issue of gender, his intervention as agriculture minister, has been gender sensitive. ``It has taken into consideration, the peculiarity of gender issue and the relative disadvantage of women when it comes to issues of access to

land or property title. ``So matters relating to gender will actually be part of his priority as the bank’s president, which also Nigeria will stand greatly to benefit from.’’

Oyeleye said that Adesina would also address issues of environment frontally. ``If you don’t take a very good care of the environment, you really would not be able to make much out of it.

(NAN)

ormer Agric Minister and African Development Bank (AFDB)President Elect, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina has stated his committment to make power, food and agriculture his major priorities in Africa.

Dr. Adesina said this on Friday, at the Send Forth Ceremony held in his honour by the management of Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The former Minister, who noted that Africa would become a global power house in food and agriculture, maintained that Africa would be green in his tenure.

Dr. Adesina disclosed his readiness to build an Africa with shared prosperity, where peace and stability reigns. According to him, “poverty cannot be a comparative advantage in Africa”.

He also said that his being elected as AfDB President should be seen as a call to serve and to take on the responsibility to lead Africa.

Adewunmi further thanked the former President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and President Muhammadu Buhari and the entire people of Nigeria for their tremendous support towards his election.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary FMARD, Arc. Sonny Echono, stated that the ceremony has provided an opportunity for development partners, stakeholders and clients of the ministry to thank the former minister for his tremendous achievements in the agricultural sector in Nigeria.

He said the turnout of great Personalities at the ceremony was a pointer to the quality of the former minister.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, JUNE 16, 2015

Feature

Page 30

Amnesty Report: Is the military guilty as charged?

A recent report of Amnesty International indicting Nigerian Armed Forces of war crime has continued to draw reactions from Nigerians. Opinions are however divided on whether the Nigerian military is culpable as pronounced by the international body. Ochiaka Ugwu takes a look at the most talked topic in the nation today.

T

he Amnesty International, a human right group based in London had in a report released early this month alleged that the Nigerian military had engaged in violation of human rights in form of extrajudicial killings in the fight against insurgents in Nigeria’s North-East, calling for the investigation of some top military officials, both serving and retired.

According to the statement read by Research and Advocacy Director for Africa at Amnesty International, Netsanet Belay which was also posted on their website last week, a research titled “Stars on their shoulders.

Blood on their hands: War crimes committed by the Nigerian military” which was carried out by the association, showed that top Nigerian military hierarchy committed what they termed as war crimes. The statement stated that since March 2011, more than 7,000 young men and boys died while in military detention and more than 1,200 people were unlawfully killed since February 2012. The London based rights group says as the fight against Boko Haram continues; young men are arrested indiscriminately by military officers and are tortured or out rightly executed without any evidence to prove that they were indeed Boko Haram members.

Expectedly, the military has denied the allegations saying it was blackmail targeted against Nigeria and its armed forces who have been working tirelessly to rid the nation off the dreaded Boko Haram terrorists.

However, this is not the first time AI or other rights organisations will call for investigations into alleged extrajudicial and the indiscriminate killing of civilians

by Boko Haram and the Nigerian military. Human Rights Watch and other rights groups had published detailed reports of the killings and destruction of property of those suspected of being members of Boko Haram by the military.

But many Nigerians have come hard on the report of the international rights body as it concerns the integrity of Nigerian military establishment. They contended that the body had not showed much concern for the innocent Nigerians killed by the Boko Haram terrorists.

They also urged the rights

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh group to equally carry out more social responsibilities to ensure that Nigerians see the group as not being against the government of Nigeria and fight against the insurgents. A lot of Nigerians are asking about what the Amnesty International had done to remedy the situation in Nigeria.

They noted that AI has not reported much around the issues of local and national security. They have not reported the communal killings in most Nigerian states.

Upon the fact that we still need to look into their allegation, we need to encourage Amnesty to talk about the issue of the killing of Nigerians everyday by terrorists.

So it would not sound like Amnesty

“

Chief of Army Staff, General Kenneth Minimah

international is against Nigerian military that has started making some progress towards giving the terrorists a bloody nose by destroying most of their camps and upstaging them where they have established their hegemony in the states of North East zone.

Many have wondered why the AI’s investigations and prosecutions have all concerned situations in Africa. The body has indicted mostly African nations, and has opposed efforts

by African governments to avoid AI involvement in several situations.

Moreover, for no reason the body has declined to investigate crimes allegedly committed in Venezuela and by British soldiers in Iraq. The

Libya quagmire is growing by the day. These actions among others have led to charges, particularly among Nigerians, that the AI is targeting Africa inappropriately.

Critics of the AI’s actions in Nigeria assert claims based in morality, legality, and sociological legitimacy. First, critics accuse the AI of acting immorally by discriminating against Nigeria and Nigerians in deciding which situations to investigate and prosecute. The AI’s focus on Africa has prompted many within and beyond Nigeria to ask why it is only Africans facing condemnation when crimes are widespread in other parts of the world.

Some have gone so far as

The ideal thing is that if anybody has credible evidences against the military, the people responsible should be asked to come and defend themselves and give their own account which must be verifiable.

to accuse the body of being a western oriented institution peddling a Western agenda that seeks to control Nigerian politics through their investigations and recommendations. This perception of the body held by some Nigerians and non-Nigerians alike as well as some individuals in countries where the AI is operating should not be ignored. There is need for a stronger complementarity agenda and more substantive engagement with Nigerians, civil society and victims if the body is to be successful and effective in promoting human right in Nigeria.

Even the authenticity of the report is still in doubt as most people have questioned its source.

The rights group claimed it got evidences from non-members of the terrorist group who had been accused of being members of Boko Haram. These claims have been faulted, as Nigerians have not stopped questioning how the rights group verified the identity of the whistle blowers.

How are they sure that the persons giving them evidence are not members of the Boko Haram or their sympathizers. We are all aware that we have basic security issues that start from identification of who is a Nigerian to who is a member of the Boko Haram.

Indeed, the Amnesty group cannot be the accuser and the judge at the same time. The Nigerian government and the National Assembly have to respond to the report by examining it critically without fear or favour in the interest of human right in our dear nation.

They can decide if the content of the report is what should be considered.

After the Nigerian authority must have looked into the report vigorously, if the Nigerian Army had done anything wrong, they should be investigated and the ri gh t deci si on s ta ken . They should not in any way dampen the moral of the military boys who are staking their lives for the nation in a quest to protect the territorial integrity of Nigeria by not allowing the report to affect the activities of the military in the war against terror.

The ideal thing is that if anybody has credible evidences against the military, the people responsible should be asked to come and defend themselves and give their own account which must be verifiable.

Agreed that the Amnesty International is a respected and credible organization across the world, so their report should be looked into and investigated.

Commendations should also go to the military for its response to the allegations. It has been suggested that a research institution should be set up to look into such crisis and react proactively because every human being, including the criminal arrested, had a right that the military and other security agencies must respect in the course of providing security.

In spite of the report, Nigerians in their millions have urged the military to up their ante in counterterrorism operation in the North East by prosecuting the fight with respect for human rights.

PAGE 31

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, JUNE 16, 2015

Day teenagers displayed cultural prowess at Centre for Arts, Culture in Abuja Feature

By Stanley Onyekwere

I

t was thrilling fanfare at its best, when hundreds of teenagers thronged the Cyprian Ekwensi Centre for Arts and Culture, in Area 10, Garki District, in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), for an annual cultural competition for teens, as they portrayed the essence of Nigeria’s cultural diversity with ease.

The teens, drawn from various public and private schools in the nation’s capital, who stormed the arena, dressed in variety of indigenous attires, turned the place to cultural fanfare of a sought, to the admiration of guests and spectators there.

Precisely, there were about 400 participants from private and public schools, namely: Things to Come school, Pace Setter’s College, Anglican Girls Grammer School, Solid Rock International school, Oloye Comprehensive College, JSS Apo Resettlement, JSS Apo quarters, JSS Jabi, JSS Maitama, JSS Idu- Koro, JSS Garki Area 10, JSS wuse Zone 6, JSS Area 11, JSS Area 1, JSS Lifecamp JSS Gwarinpa and JSS Asokoro, all in the FCT. The annual cultural competition with the theme: “Understanding Cultural Diversity”, organized by Teenz Global Foundation (TGF), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) based in the FCT, was the third edition, featured drama presentation, song presentation, cultural contest, reading/ numbers competition, dance competition respectively. The NGO, has been working with a peculiar target group of young people between the ages of 10-19, to empower them with knowledge and life skills” At the end of the contest, winners emerged in this order: 1st place- Abiola Taiwo - JSS Garki Area 10, 2nd - Anwar M. Yahaya - JSS wuse zone 6, and 3rd - Eze Peace Chinasa - JSS Jabi, respectively in the cultural contest Others were Daura Nasiru Fatima - Pace Setter’s College, Onwuzurike Bethel - Anglican Girls Grammer School, and Azeez Wasilat - Things to Come School, whom took 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions in the reading competition.

Also, in numbers counting contest, Adio Daniel - JSS Apo Legislative Quarters took 1st position; the 2nd place went to

Teens performing drama at event.

Adela Damen - JSS Asokoro, while Aderanti Kehinde - Oloye Comprehensive College, came 3rd.

However, this year’s competition, which coincided with the 2015 United Nation’s World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, annually held on May 21 to help people learn about the importance of cultural diversity and harmony, seemed more than just a show of cultural prowess.

For the teens, the 3rd edition of the TGF cultural completion, served as a forum for the teens, to not only have fun, but to undoubtedly showcase their unique cultural heritage to the world.

Also, the teenagers used the occasion to add their voices to the quest for the promotion of peaceful co-existence among different ethnic groups in the FCT and country at large.

Interestingly, most of the teens were particular about encouraging young people to

learn and speak their indigenous languages very well, in order to the advance their cultural values and norms, needed to promote peace in the society.

While calling parents and other stakeholders to help entrench the understanding of cultural diversity among younger

generations, for the overall development of the society, the teens thanked the organisers, for their insight.

According to a 12-year old indigene of Nasarawa state, Mohammad Anuwal, a student at JSS Wuse zone 6, in form one: “what he admires most about his

“

As a catalyst for youth development and civic engagement, culture plays an essential role in promoting sustainable social and economic development. Youths can act as a bridge between cultures and serve as key agents in promoting peace and intercultural understanding

people’s culture is the communal lifestyle, whereby different families irrespective of their social status often share and merry together especially during festive periods.

Asked how fluent his speaks his dialect, said “ I speak my local language very well and like to do so always, because my parents used to teach me and my siblings at home; and I used to communicate in my local dialect with my other relative and friends alike.

“So, my advice for teens like me and other people in the country is that they should learn to speak their indigenous languages very well, so that they can further advance their cultural values and norms.”

“I’m dressed in Igbo attire, to show the world the willingness of Nigerian’s to live in unity as one people, thereby promoting peace and prosperity in the nation.”

Another teen, of Kaduna Continued on page 33

PAGE 32

Photo Splash

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, JUNE 16, 2015

A local manicurist attending to a customer, yesterday at Area 1, in Abuja.

A man pushing a wheel barrow loaded with goods, yesterday on Airport Road, in Abuja.

A Mercedes car loaded with plastic water pipes, yesterday along Shehu Shagari Way, in Abuja.

A farmer on working on his farm, yesterday at Gudu village, in Abuja.

A radio mechanic repairing his clientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s radio, yesterday at Jabi Motor Park, in Abuja.

Photos: Joe Oroye

PAGE 33

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, JUNE 16, 2015

Metro Continued from page 32

extraction, Hashanah Ilyasu, “I understand culture as the total way of life of a given people; and relating to Nigerians, it refers to the way we dress, the food we eat, and the way we are really.

“So participating in activity like the TGF cultural competition, in addition to helping us understand and appreciate our indigenous way of life, would further advance the course of unity in diversity that we all craving for.”

In the same vein, a 14-year old, Chisom Okafor , who revealed that she started speaking Igbo, her parents native language fluently at nine, was quick to point out that, her mum made it compulsory that nobody speaks English in her home again excerpt Igbo language , and that was how she got used to the language.

“Then, if by chance I or any other person spoke English language, the persons was punished serious by my mum, for really doing so. So she made sure that everybody understands and speaks Igbo language, because my dad was also Igbo; and there was no problem following the order.

“Although, I can’t actually write in Igbo language fluently, but I’m happy that I understand and speak it very well,” Miss Okafor said.

On how culture can be harnessed for peace and development of the country, she says “young generation could be encouraged to imbibe more cultural values and norms, as well as respect other peoples’ cultures, through cultural activity like TGF annual competitions for teens.

“Like what is happening in the country now (insecurity), we need unity to be able mount united front to eradicate insurgency from our land; in order to have the desired peace, so as to progress as a people.”

A cross section of participants at the event.

Day teenagers displayed cultural prowess at Centre for Arts, Culture in Abuja Earlier in her remarks, the Founder, TGF, Ijeoma Idika-Chima, said the 2015 Teenz Nigeria Project is aimed at promoting peace, social integration, indigenous languages and intercultural dialogue among

A cross section of paticipating students.

young people within the society.

She added that the most interesting as of this year’s edition of the TGF’s cultural competition is that it coincides with the UN World Day for Cultural Diversity as well as relates to

global citizenship education and intercultural understanding for sustainable development.

“This day provides us with an opportunity to deepen our understanding of the values of cultural diversity and learn to live together better.

“Our identities lie in the uniqueness and unity of our cultures; we must work together to achieve growth and build our nation,” she stressed.

In a goodwill message, UNESCO’s regional Director, Sossou Benoit, noted that cultural diversity in society like Nigeria is manifested in people of different ethnic origins, languages, dressing, arts and other traditional or practices that are either similar or very different for each group.

Benoit, who was represented

by Gloria Iyayi, UNESCO Culture Unit, said the UN initiates young people to cultural principles that can transform societies, through active partnership in both on the ground and normative actions, as the youth constitute the most active sector of the entire population of the FCT and country at large.

The UNESCO scribe noted that understanding cultural diversity is one of UNESCO core activities to promoting peace in

the world by building policies through a participating process with stakeholders in both the field of youth and sports, supporting youth development and civic engagement.

Benoit added that as an integral part of the society, the family plays a vital role in empowering the youth, they understand diverse cultural practices, and learn more from other ethnic groups from their immediate environment; and in schools, through cultural activities, inclusion in school curriculum and other forms of cultural interactions.

“As a catalyst for youth development and civic engagement, culture plays an essential role in promoting sustainable social and economic development. Youths can act as a bridge between cultures and serve as key agents in promoting peace and intercultural understanding.

“As youths, understanding our cultural diversity increases our empathy for each other and establishing an inter-culturally sensitive environment will promote peace. Therefore, it is a must to apply equality of status to everyone, every tribe and every community irrespective of gender or colour,” Benoit stressed.

PAGE 34

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, JUNE 16, 2015

Money Sense

Rainy season businesses you can start now (III)

R

epair pot-holes: You can start a mini-roadconstruction business repairing pot holes. A lot of pot holes will continue to increase in size during the rainy season. Some products make potholes repair easier than others. Asphalt makes the process significantly easier. No special equipment is needed with asphalt. You can start making money with the local government area in your locality. You can even negotiate with the unit or National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in your area or discuss with the landlords association or the local government chairman. You can charge as much as N20, 000 to N100, 000 or more, depending on the intensity of the project.

Own a warehouse: A lot of retailers have been keeping goods in shops before now but during the rainy season, most of them will be forced to take their goods to warehouses to protect their goods from unexpected rainfall. Prior to opening a warehouse business in your area, it is paramount to find out how many competitors you have. Gain knowledge of how existing firms have positioned themselves in the market place and then design your business in a way that sets you apart from others. You can charge daily, weekly or monthly.

However, make sure you inform your retailers in your areas that don’t have a shop before now that you can provide them a secured place for their goods in your warehouse. They would be ready to pay for your services Produce shower caps for women: This business can be started with very low capital.

Purchase some yards of plastic materials which are clear, opaque or semi-transparent or can have pretty designs on them. Measure the distance around the head where the shower cap is expected to end.

Add one inch to this figure for overlapping purposes.

This will be the shower cap circumference.

Purchase elastic, less than one inch wide, and cut to the shower cap circumference. The elastic can be sewn on the outside or inside of the shower cap edge, or the elastic can be pinned down, sewn, and then one or two folds (or rolls) made, then sewn again to “case in” the elastic inside the edge of the plastic cap. You can sell for N50 or more depending on the quality of the nylon you are using.

Set up an NGO for climate change disaster and relief services: This

Repairing a pot-hole

type of NGO is going to be busy in the rainy season, providing supportive services for Nigerians who live in flood prone areas. The NGOs in this sector will be responsible for educating Nigerians in these

areas on how to avoid flood disasters and also provide weather report and analysis so that they will prevent flood occurrences in their regions.

Such an NGO will receive regular funds from foreign

donors. You can make money from this by affiliating with already existing NGOs abroad.

They have regular source of funding and they will be happy to have an affiliate agency here in Nigeria or Africa.

Make mosquito repellant lotions: Earlier on we talked about Making Mosquito nets for sale. But you can also produce mosquito repellant lotions so repel mosquitoes which are in abundance in the rainy season.

There a couple of different formulations you can make for your natural mosquito repellant.

In general, what you are doing is diluting an essential oil that the mosquitoes find distasteful or which confuses them so they can’t bite you. The oil doesn’t mix with water, so you need to add them to other oils or to alcohol. It is important to use an oil or alcohol that is safe for your skin. You can sell in a small bottle after production for N100 to N300 depending on the size.

Produce agro products for local and foreign consumption: Local products like cocoa, kola nut, banana, chili pepper, Shea nut, okro, melon are products that you can start selling during this rainy season. All you need to do is to locate the exporters and start earning finder’s fee. If you have a small farmland, you can sell to retailers and start making money that exceeds your imagination.

The rainy season is an all year round event, so if you have the time and some money to invest in a business idea then check above the one that best describes your dream business or starting point. Discover the money making possibilities of each one and use them as your keys to success.

Concluded EzineArticles.com/ expert=Jerry_Asemota

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, JUNE 16, 2015

Page 35

International international_peoplesdailyng@yahoo.com

ANALYSIS

By Areej Abuqudairi

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mman, Jordan - More than a month has passed since columnist Jamal Ayub, a Jordanian citizen, was arrested for publishing an online article for Al-Balad News criticising the Arab-led military coalition against Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Ayub is still awaiting a trial date at Jordan’s state security court. After two weeks of interrogation in detention, military Judge Ali Mubaideen charged Ayub with “jeopardising the country’s relations with a neighbouring state” under Jordan’s new anti-terrorism law.

Ayub’s case is far from unique: He is the third journalist to be tried under the new law since the beginning of the year.

Critics and analysts say his case is part of a wider crackdown on press freedom that followed the Arab Spring - a crackdown that has intensified following Jordan’s role in the war against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Syria and Iraq. “Now we live in the Arab Autumn. The situation is grimmer than ever for press freedoms in Jordan,” Nidal Mansour, the head of the Amman-based Center for Defending Freedom of Journalists (CDFJ), told Al Jazeera.

CDFJ documents abuses against journalists in Jordan, and the Arab world more broadly.

Its most recent report, “Press Freedom in Jordan: Dead End”, reflects the reality of declining press freedom in Jordan since the Arab Spring.

Although the country is considered by regional standards to be “relatively free” and has no documented cases of journalists being murdered or kidnapped within its borders, journalists say press freedoms have suffered as security has become the nation’s priority. “There is no systematic torture against journalists in Jordan and we know that in comparison with the region, we assume a good position,” Mansour said. But on the other hand, Mansour added, Jordan is a “stable country and a comparison of the situation of press freedom with war-torn countries is not exactly fair”.

CDFJ’s report, which surveyed 505 Jordanian journalists, said most journalists stated that government interference in media affairs has risen. According to the report, journalists believed that the government and intelligence forces controlled media, whereas the audience’s influence on media was negligible.

In 2011, when what became known as the Arab Spring uprisings began, Jordan’s King Abdullah II called for “skyhigh” freedoms. Although the government initially loosened its grip on media, it later reversed its stance, failing to translate the king’s words into action.

Situation ‘grimmer than ever’ for Jordan press freedom

In 2011, when the Arab Spring uprisings began, Jordan’s King Abdullah II called for ‘sky-high’ freedoms.

The Jordanian government’s biggest assault on press freedom took place in 2013, when the government blocked 304 news media websites using a controversial publication law.

In 2014, the CDFJ documented 153 violations of press freedoms in Jordan, compared to 112 violations in 2013. The most common infraction is barring journalists from reporting.

Authorities bar journalists from reporting, the report stated, either by blocking their access to necessary data, or simply by issuing legislation banning journalists from writing about certain subjects.

In December 2014, Jordan’s Public Security Directorate issued a decree banning journalists from publishing any news about it or its personnel without permission. A similar order by the armed forces issued in March 2014 banned news websites in particular, from publishing any news related to the Jordanian army.

The army, along with the royal family and religious affairs, are the three biggest taboos in Jordanian media. The CDFJ study found that 95 percent of the reporters said they practice self-censorship. “This is the chilling effect of arrests, because journalists watch others [who are] tried and imprisoned. They feel afraid to write,” said veteran journalist and columnist Daoud Kuttab.

Jordanian officials say the arrests of journalists stem from their concern for the stability of the country. “Ideally, no

journalist should be arrested,” Mohammad al-Momani, Jordan’s minister of media affairs, told Al Jazeera. “But if they deliberately report false information that destabilises national security, they will be sent to court, which will take necessary actions.”

Momani said the government is aware of the challenges blocking progress on press freedom - the biggest of which, he claimed, is the “level of professionalism of the local press”. To raise the level of professionalism, Momani said the Jordanian government is working with local and international NGOs and holding training workshops.

Meanwhile, journalists claim that the government is using arrests as a tool to pressure the media. Nidal Salameh, managing editor of Jerasa News, an online news publication, was arrested last August and held for three weeks for alleged connections with Hamas. But during his

detention, Salameh said he was “only interrogated over his reporting on the Israeli attack on Gaza last year”.

“They interrogated me as if I were a criminal, when I was just doing my job,” he told Al Jazeera.

Mansour believes that these types of arrests, in which no court referrals are made, are “a form of pre-emptive punishment”, he told Al Jazeera.

Activists say violations of press freedom in Jordan go unpunished amid the absence of a system to protect journalists. Last year, Jordanian police assaulted five journalists as they were dispersing a crowd of protesters near the Israeli embassy.

Journalists filed a complaint, only to find themselves under investigation by a police committee. The investigation’s report cleared the officers, and accused journalists of practising their profession without a license as they are not members of the

“

To date, more than 17 Jordanian online news websites have shared Ayub’s article.

Given what he sees as the decline of press freedom in Jordan, Mansour does not foresee major changes happening in the near future: “We cannot really make a leap in this. We have to go step by step, and our next will be fighting against trying journalists in state security court

country’s Press Syndicate.

Jordan’s Publication Law defines a journalist as a member of Jordan’s Press Syndicate. The syndicate has strict criteria for membership which excludes freelancers and journalists working for international news agencies.

CDFJ estimates that around 500 journalists in Jordan - almost one-third of those working in the kingdom - are not members of the syndicate, and thus are at risk of being arrested for “impersonating a journalist”.

The ongoing unrest in the region, analysts say, has caused the international community to turn a blind eye to Jordan’s violations of press freedoms.

“Jordan can do whatever it can, and rights remain on the margins to maintain security,” Kuttab said.

Jordan is an ally of the United States, and is currently playing a major role in the war against ISIL in Syria and Iraq. Despite the crackdown on media outlets, Jordanian authorities have refrained from censoring content itself.

To date, more than 17 Jordanian online news websites have shared Ayub’s article.

Given what he sees as the decline of press freedom in Jordan, Mansour does not foresee major changes happening in the near future: “We cannot really make a leap in this. We have to go step by step, and our next will be fighting against trying journalists in state security court.”

Source: Al Jazeera

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, JUNE 16, 2015

Page 36

International

Chad suicide attacks kill many in N’Djamena

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Mokhtar Belmokhtar: Top Islamist ‘killed’ in US strike

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okhtar Belmokhtar was killed in the eastern city of Ajdabiya, a statement from Libya’s government said.

The US says Belmokhtar was targeted and the strike was successful, but it is assessing the operation’s results and would give details “as appropriate”.

Born in Algeria, Belmokhtar was a former senior figure in al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), but left to form his own militia.

He gained notoriety with the attack on the In Amenas gas plant in Algeria in 2013, when about 800 people were taken hostage and 40 killed, most of them foreigners, including six Britons and three Americans.

The US has filed terror charges against him and officials said they believed he remained a threat to Western interests.

“Belmokhtar has a long history of leading terrorist activities as a member of AQIM, is the operational leader of the al-Qaeda-associated alMurabitoun organisation in north-west Africa, and maintains his personal allegiance to al-Qaeda,” said Pentagon spokesman Col Steve Warren.

Dead, or maybe still alive, either way the fact that the US is still hunting Mokhtar Belmokhtar illustrates the breadth and tenacity of the US counterterrorism effort.

While the focus is now very much on combating Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, the US struggle against al-Qaeda franchises continues both in the Middle East (Libya in this case) and to a growing extent in sub-Saharan Africa too.

Belmokhtar masterminded the attack on the Amenas gas plant in Algeria in 2013 in which 40 people were killed, including three Americans.

He was targeted not in a drone strike but an attack launched by two F-15 aircraft.

Libya looks set to be an area of renewed concern for the Americans, the instability prompted by the removal of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 providing a rich vein of ungoverned space in which various Islamist militants, including Islamic State are establishing a significant presence.

The Libyan government said the strike came after consultation with the US. Their statement said it resulted in the death of the “terrorist Belmokhtar”.

Libya has been in chaos since the ousting of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

Its internationally recognised parliament is operating in exile in the eastern port of Tobruk.

A rival parliament, the Islamistdominated General National Congress, is nearly 1,000km (620 miles) to the west in Tripoli.

Rival militia have been battling to fill the power vacuum, with Islamic State militants battling other Islamists in the east.

ttackers on motorcycles blew themselves up outside two police buildings, say witnesses.

A government minister blamed Nigeria’s militant Islamist group Boko Haram in an address on state TV, Reuters news agency reports.

The group has not said if it was behind the attack.

But it has often carried out

suicide bomb attacks during its sixyear insurgency in neighbouring Nigeria.

Boko Haram had “made a mistake targeting Chad”, and would be “neutralised”, said Communications Minister Hassan Sylla Bakari, quoted

by Reuters, adding that four of the attackers had been killed.

Chadian forces have played a key role in helping Nigeria fight the

jihadist group, and the headquarters of a regional force is being set up in N’Djamena.

The group has never targeted N’Djamena before, but this attack should not come as a huge surprise given Chad’s role in fighting the insurgency, reports the BBC’s Will Ross from Lagos.

Boko Haram gunmen have previously been active around Lake

Chad close to the Nigerian border.

The Nigerian army has begun moving its headquarters from the capital Abuja to Maiduguri, the north-eastern town at the heart of the insurgency, which lies 250km (155 miles) west of the Chadian capital.

Video statements from the Islamist group have previously criticised and taunted Chadian President Idriss Deby.

Uganda’s Amama Mbabazi challenges President Yoweri Museveni

Amama Mbabazi was sacked as prime minister in 2014 after three years in the job.

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r Mbabazi made the announcement on You Tube, saying he wanted to breathe “new life into our system of government”.

President Museveni has been in power since 1986 and is expected to seek a fourth term in next year’s poll.

He sacked Mr Mbabazi last year,

which some saw as a move to get rid of a potential rival.

Mr Mbabazi said he will first seek the nomination to become the candidate for the governing National Resistance Movement (NRM).

President Museveni has already been endorsed by the party’s

national executive committee but that needs to be approved by a party congress.

It is at that meeting, expected later this year, that Mr Mbabazi will formally challenge the president.

BBC Focus on Africa editor Rachael Akidi says that Mr Museveni has never faced a

credible challenge within the party.

The former prime minister is thought to have some sway amongst ordinary members as he served as the NRM’s secretary general and was one of the key strategists behind Mr Museveni’s long rule, the BBC’s Catherine Byaruhanga in Kampala says.

Wanted Sudan leader Bashir flies out of S/Africa

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he Pretoria High Court was due to decide whether he should be handed over to the International Criminal Court, which has charged him with the crimes.

Mr Bashir was in Johannesburg for an African Union (AU) summit.

A news conference will be held in Sudan’s capital upon his arrival.

A South African judge, Dunstan Mlambo, said the failure to arrest Mr Bashir had violated the country’s constitution.

Mr Bashir had been barred by a court order from leaving the country until the arrest application had been considered.

The Sudanese leader is accused of committing war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide during the Darfur conflict.

The UN says that about 300,000 people in Sudan have died since

fighting began in 2003. More than 1.4 million people are thought to have fled their homes.

Government forces and allied Arab militias are accused of targeting black African civilians in the fight against rebels.

A number of African countries have in the past decided not to cooperate with the ICC. The court has been accused of racism and bias against African leaders.

So as things stand, Mr Bashir appears to have left South Africa with the blessing of the African Union, our correspondent says.

On Monday, UN SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon said the ICC’s warrant for the arrest of Mr Bashir must be implemented by countries who have signed up to the court’s statutes.

As a member of the ICC, South

Africa is obliged to arrest anyone charged by the court.

The South African press has been considering the repercussions of the attempt to arrest Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who had been attending an AU summit.

IOL News said Mr Bashir’s departure would leave “a major constitutional and diplomatic crisis and a big question mark over South Africa’s continued membership of the ICC”.

The Cape Times said the decision to invite the Sudanese president, despite his indictment by the ICC, had “exposed the fact that the AU considers the ICC largely irrelevant”.

“This has the potential to sound the death knell of the ICC,” the newspaper said, adding that the arrest “would set a precedent for other leaders on the continent who could be

subject to the criminal jurisdiction of the ICC for their actions”.

Before the summit, the ICC issued a press statement urging the South African government “to spare no effort in ensuring the execution of the arrest warrant”.

Julian Nicolls, a senior trial lawyer at the ICC, told the BBC that the court would continue to seek Mr Bashir’s arrest, and warned that South Africa could be punished for defying the court’s orders.

“We will evaluate what action to take next regarding South Africa’s failure to arrest and transfer Mr Bashir,” he said.

Kenneth Roth, the director of advocacy group Human Rights Watch, tweeted that South Africa appeared to have “shamefully flouted” the ICC and domestic court to free a man “wanted for mass murder of Africans”.

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, JUNE 16, 2015

International

Islamic State conflict: Syrian Kurds move on Tal Abyad T

housands of civilians have fled to a nearby border crossing with Turkey, and some have managed to cross to safety.

The advance by the Kurdish Popular Protection Units (YPG) has been supported by Syrian rebel groups and US-led coalition air strikes.

Tal Abyad is strategically important for both sides.

For the IS militants, it controls a major supply route to their headquarters at Raqqa, 80km (50 miles) to the south, reports the BBC’s Jim Muir in Beirut.

For the Kurds, capturing Tal Abyad would help them link up the other pockets they control along the Turkish border, from Iraq in the east to Kobane in the west, which has long been their dream, our correspondent adds.

On Sunday evening, a YPG commander said its fighters had advanced to within 50m (165ft) of the outskirts of Tal Abyad, following three days of heavy clashes during which they seized a belt of villages previously held by IS. The US-led air strikes have helped prevent IS bringing in reinforcements from Raqqa.

The jihadists blew up two bridges on the main roads to the south-east and south-west of Tal Abyad, but that failed to stop the Kurds.

The Kurdish assault and threat of air strikes prompted thousands of civilians to flee their homes and head to the border with Turkey over

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Hong Kong police arrest nine over ‘bomb-making plot’

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Thousands of civilians from Tal Abyad have fled the violence. the weekend.

However, the refugees were stranded at the border fence after Turkey closed Akcakale crossing, saying it would only allow them to enter in the event of a humanitarian tragedy.

On Sunday afternoon, dozens of refugees managed to cross through holes cut in the fence before being rounded up on the Turkish side of the border by Turkish soldiers, who fired water cannon and tear gas to keep them at bay.

Later, refugees were seen

passing through Akcakale after local officials said they had been given permission to reopen the crossing by the government in Ankara.

YPG have been moving into IS territory on either side of Raqqa province since forcing the jihadists to withdraw from Kobane in January.

The US deputy special presidential envoy for the international coalition against IS, Brett McGurk, said on Sunday that the Kurds were “really giving a beating” to IS. However, Turkey’s President

Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he was troubled by the Kurdish advance, claiming it might “lead to the creation of a structure that threatens our borders”.

The YPG is the armed wing of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Unity Party (PYD), which is itself an offshoot of the banned Turkish Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

Although Ankara considers IS a threat, it also fears that Turkish Kurds will cross into Syria to join the YPG and then use its territory to launch attacks on Turkey.

Nepal earthquake: Damaged historic sites reopened

mong them was Kathmandu’s historic Durbar Square or “noble court”, which was badly damaged.

Unesco has raised some concerns over the safety of reopening the sites. But media reports quote officials as saying the necessary measures are in place.

More than 8,000 people were

Asia & Middle East

killed and the destruction was widespread.

Six of the seven Unescodesignated World Heritage sites closed after the earthquakes were reopened on Monday, Tourism Minister Kripasur Sherpa told AP. Shortly after the quake, Unesco’s director-general Irina Bokova described damage to the Kathmandu valley as “extensive

and irreversible”. It sent a team to assess the damage and is continuing to monitor the situation.

On 11 June Unesco issued a statement asking the public to be extra cautious at the sites.

Security will be in place, tourists will be given guided tours and signboards will indicate specified routes to cause minimal

disturbance to structures, officials are quoted as saying in local media.

Officials at Nepal’s Department of Archeology estimate that 12bn Nepali rupees (£75.5m; $117m) will be required to rebuild the country’s damaged monuments, and that completing the reconstruction might take as long as five years.

olice in Hong Kong say they have arrested nine people on suspicion of conspiracy to manufacture explosives.

The arrests come in the same week that lawmakers are due to vote on a controversial political reform plan.

Police spokesman Ng Wai-hon did not make a direct connection between the arrests and the vote but said at least one of the suspects belonged to a “radical group”.

Hong Kong has seen large-scale protests for greater democracy in recent months.

In April Hong Kong’s government unveiled a highly controversial proposal for selecting the city’s next chief executive in 2017 which would involve candidates being vetted by a committee made up largely of proBeijing members.

Democracy activists have said they are opposed to the proposals and prodemocracy legislators have vowed to vote them down.

Thousands of people barricaded parts of Hong Kong for more than two months in protest when the proposals were first announced last year.

Police said items seized in the raids included air rifles, a formula for making smoke grenades, face masks and maps of locations in central Hong Kong.

Police said some of the substances were seized at an abandoned TV studio with other raids taking place at suspects’ houses.

Pro-democracy activists, some of whom are known as “localists” because of their anti-Beijing stance, have distanced themselves from the alleged plot.

“Police said localist activists are making bombs, but I am not sure if it’s real or not. We have nothing to do with that,” Jon Ho of the Hong Kong Localism Power group told AFP.

Calls grow for Australian boat payment inquiry

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he opposition accused the government of misusing public funds, calling for a review by the chief auditor.

PM Tony Abbott has refused to deny allegations that officials handed over thousands of dollars to people smugglers trying to reach Australia.

The UN has expressed its alarm at the allegation, if indeed true.

It said UN staff had received reports that the crew of the boat had been given thousands of dollars last month by an Australian naval vessel to turn around to Indonesia.

On Saturday, the Indonesian government said that if Australia did pay to turn a boat full of asylum seekers back to Indonesia, it would mark “a new low” in its handling of immigration.

Foreign ministry spokesman Armanatha Nasir also said Australia was on “a slippery slope” with regard to its push-back policy.

On Monday the Sydney Morning Herald reported that opposition Labor leader Bill Shorten had written to the auditor

PM Tony Abbott said Australia had developed “incredibly creative” approaches to stopping asylum boats.

general to request an investigation.

The auditor general, if he takes up the case, can only review the financial propriety of the use of public funds.

The migrants - from Bangladesh, Myanmar and Sri Lanka - were reportedly heading to New Zealand and are being held on the remote Rote island about 500km (310 miles) north-east of Australia.

They told police that an Australian navy ship intercepted them at sea, and an immigration official on board paid them each A$5,000 ($3,900; £2,500) to turn back to Indonesia.

Local police chief Hidayat told AFP news agency: “I saw the money with my own eyes. This is the first time I’d heard [of] Australian authorities making

payments to boat crew.”

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and Radio New Zealand reported similar allegations from passengers.

Ministers in the Australian government have come out with varying responses. Some have denied the allegations, others refused to comment, while Immigration Minister Peter Dutton at first denied the allegation but then said the government did not comment on specific cases.

The leader of the Green Party has asked police to investigate whether bribing people smugglers would be in breach of Australian or international law.

Although the controversy continued through the weekend, the government has denied acting illegally.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, JUNE 16, 2015

Page 38

International

Mexico’s south-west braces for Tropical Storm Carlos

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esidents of south-west Mexico are preparing for the arrival of Tropical Storm Carlos.

Schools were ordered to stay closed and shelters have been set up in the states of Guerrero and Michoacan.

Carlos was downgraded to a tropical storm on Sunday, but

meteorologists said it could again reach hurricane-level strength by Tuesday.

Guerrero was badly hit by Tropical Storm Manuel in September 2013, with thousands of people left stranded.

Guerrero state officials said more than 500 shelters were ready to

receive residents.

Acapulco, the largest city in the state, closed its port.

The Miami-based US National Hurricane Center said that Carlos was 205km (125 miles) off the coast of Acapulco at 09:00 GMT on Monday, moving west-northwest at a speed of 9 km/h.

The storm had maximum sustained winds of 70mph (113km/h).

The Center warned that heavy rainfall could cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides.

Following Tropical Storm Manuel, a mudslide swept through the village of La Pintada killing dozens of residents.

Georgia flood: ‘Up to 20’ missing as Tbilisi cleans up

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p to 20 people are missing after a deadly flood swept through Georgia’s capital Tbilisi, officials say, with some zoo animals still on the loose.

As a clean-up operation began on Monday, they said the death toll rose to 13, including three zoo employees.

The disaster has left dozens of families homeless and caused disruption to the city’s main infrastructure.

Heavy rains caused the River Vere - normally little more than a stream - to burst its banks and flood the capital.

Raging floodwaters rose to the rooftops of enclosures at the zoo, drowning hundreds of animals and sweeping many out of their enclosures.

Some Georgians have been angered over reports that some of the zoo animals were shot dead after escaping from the zoo.

As the search for survivors continued on Monday, an elderly man was pulled out from inside the rubble of his destroyed house, government spokeswoman Manana Tokmajishvili said.

One resident, Aleko Korkotashvili, told AFP: “I saw a man clutching at a lamp pole in the middle of a violent torrent. He was screaming, asking for help, but we were unable to help him.”

Tbilisi zoo director Zurab Gurielidze said that of the three people found dead inside the zoo on Sunday none had been killed by animals.

As many as 300 animals are believed to have died in the flooding, zoo officials said, adding that a number of lions, tigers and

Flooding has caused to chaos to Tbilisi’s roads and local infrastructure jaguars remained on the loose.

Many Georgians have been venting their anger on social media over the killing of one of the zoo’s favourites - a white lion cub called Shumba - who was found killed near its zoo den, reports BBC Monitoring’s Marica Knezevic.

However, the zoo’s director told Rustavi-2 there was no official order to kill the animals.

Two bear cubs were reportedly found alive several miles away from the zoo on Monday, and returned to their enclosures.

A bear found clinging to an airconditioning unit of a building and a hyena discovered on someone’s balcony were both recaptured on Sunday. A hippopotamus was also cornered in one of the city’s main squares and subdued with a tranquiliser gun.

Hundreds of people, who were granted the day off work and school, joined the clean-up operation that commenced on Monday - also a national day of mourning.

Thousands of people have been left without water and electricity

while others have had to be airlifted to safety.

Roads have been destroyed, and small houses and cars swept away.

Coffins in a city cemetery were reportedly washed out of the ground and left lying on the mud.

Finance Minister Nodar Khaduri warns the damage cost could be higher than the original estimate of $15m (€13m), according to the AFP news agency.

In May 2012, five people were killed in Tbilisi after another river flooded.

Vatican ex-envoy Wesolowski faces child sex abuse trial

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he Vatican is to put its former envoy to the Dominican Republic, Jozef Wesolowski, on trial on child sex abuse and child pornography charges.

Pope Francis has also accepted the resignations of a US archbishop and his deputy, accused in Minnesota of having ignored a priest’s child abuse.

Jozef Wesolowski is accused of sexually abusing children in the Dominican Republic from 2008 to 2013. He is under house arrest in the Vatican.

The trial is to begin on 11 July.

W e s o lo w s k i , 6 6 , is a lso charged with possession of child pornography, dating from his return to Rome in 2013.

The moves are seen as part of

a crackdown by Pope Francis on clerics and employees of the Church who exploit minors.

Last year, the Pope compared the actions of those who commit such crimes to a “satanic mass”.

Wesolowski, who is originally from Poland, was recalled from the Dominican Republic in 2013, after allegations surfaced accusing him of abusing Dominican boys.

He had spent five years in the Caribbean country as the papal envoy.

He was defrocked in June last year after he was found guilty by a Church tribunal - he is the highest-ranking church official to be defrocked for such abuse.

He will now be tried by a Vatican criminal court.

A Vatican statement said the IT systems used by Wesolowski would be scrutinised.

He has been under house arrest in the Vatican since September.

The Vatican said at the time of his arrest that he had not been placed in a police cell because of his poor health.

If found guilty, he could face between six and 10 years in prison.

The Vatican also accepted the resignations of an archbishop in the United States and his deputy following accusations that their archdiocese covered up the sexual abuse of children.

They are Archbishop John Nienstedt and Auxiliary Bishop Lee Anthony Piche from the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

John Nienstedt said in a statement that his leadership had drawn attention away from the good works of the church but stressed he was leaving “with a clear conscience”.

Their resignation comes after prosecutors charged their archdiocese with “turning a blind eye” to repeated reports of inappropriate behaviour by a priest who was later convicted of molesting two boys.

Neither man was named in the indictment.

Prosecutors accuse the archdiocese of failing to respond to “numerous and repeated reports of troubling conduct” by Curtis Wehmeyer, a former priest currently serving a five-year prison sentence for molesting two boys.

Europe and Americas

Jeb Bush: I’m ready to lead the US

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ormer Florida Governor Jeb Bush has pledged to fix America as he launches his bid to become the Republican nominee for president.

In a video released hours ahead of his official launch in Miami, the 62-year-old brother of ex-president George W Bush declared: “I’m ready to lead.”

He also promised to protect the country’s most vulnerable and remove the barriers to social mobility.

But doubts persist among conservatives in his party.

And early polling suggests that he has yet to dominate a wide field of Republican candidates.

In his latest video, entitled The Greatest Century, he strikes a very optimistic note, saying: “I see a great country on the verge of its greatest century, and I’m ready to lead.”

Although his campaign becomes official on Monday, it’s been no secret for many months and his team is well on the way to raising a $100m war chest.

During a tour of Europe last week, Mr Bush warned he would not waver from his core beliefs, even if some are unpopular in his party.

“I’m not going to change who I am,” he said. “I respect people who may not agree with me, but I’m not going to change my views because today someone has a view that’s different.”

In a separate video, called Making A Difference, he champions the rights of women, ethnic minorities and the disabled.

“My core beliefs start with the premise that the most vulnerable in our society should be in the front of the line and not the back,’’ he says.

“What we need is new leadership that takes conservative principles and applies them so that people can rise up.”

A Spanish language video was also released, demonstrating his strong Hispanic links - his wife Columba is Mexican and he speaks good Spanish.

But in recent weeks he has found himself on the defensive over the Iraq War - led by his older brother, President George W Bush - as he stumbled to clarify his position.

The issue brought into focus the problems he may face over his famous surname and the baggage that comes with it.

He becomes the 11th Republican to declare, with Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and Florida Senator Marco Rubio among his biggest rivals.

On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton is the clear frontrunner. This raises the possibility in 2016 of another Clinton-Bush race like that of 1992, when Mrs Clinton’s husband Bill beat Jeb Bush’s father, President George HW Bush.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, JUNE 16, 2015

Page 39

Strange World

Mother loses High Court battle to use her dead daughter’s frozen eggs to give birth to her own grandchild

A

mother desperate to use her dead daughter’s frozen eggs to give birth to her own grandchild has been denied the chance, following a High Court battle.

A judge was told the woman’s daughter who died from cancer, and can only be referred to as ‘A’ for legal reasons, had longed to have children.

The High Court heard she had asked her mother to ‘carry my babies’.

The unnamed mother, 59, and her husband - referred to as ‘Mr and Mrs M’, challenged an independent regulator’s refusal to allow them to take the eggs of their ‘much-loved and only child’ to a US fertility treatment clinic to be used with donor sperm.

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) said the eggs could not be released from storage in London because A did not give her full written consent before she died at the age of 28 in June 2011.

A mother desperate to use her dead daughter’s frozen eggs to give birth to her own grandchild has been denied the chance, following a High Court battle Mr Justice Ouseley, sitting in London, was told A would have been ‘devastated’ if she had known her eggs could not be used.

But the judge ruled the HFEA had been entitled to find the daughter had not given ‘the required consent’.

He declared there had been no breach of the family’s human rights.

He said: ‘I must dismiss this claim, though I do so conscious of the additional distress which this will bring to the claimants, whose aim has been to honour their daughter’s dying wish for something of her to live on after her untimely death.’

Refusing permission to appeal against his ruling, the judge said he had ‘much sympathy’ for the parents but was not persuaded an appeal would have any prospect of success.

It is still open to the couple to ask the Court of Appeal itself to hear their case, if they so decide.

The judge ordered them to pay £10,000 towards the HFEA’s legal costs.

It is thought that if the case had been won, Mrs M could have become the first woman in the world to become pregnant using a dead daughter’s eggs.

A HFEA spokeswoman said: ‘This is a very sad case, and the ruling must be heart-breaking for the couple.

‘The case was about whether the couple’s daughter had given fully informed consent for her mother to use her eggs after her death.

I want you to carry my babies.

I didn’t go through IVF to save my eggs for nothing. I want you and dad to bring them up, they will be safe with you High Court heard A shared her wishes with her mother, Mrs M ‘Our committee considered this case on three separate occasions, considering very carefully the new evidence given each time, but decided that there was not the kind

of fully informed consent required by the law.

‘The judge has decided that, as distressing as this is for the couple involved, the committee’s decision was correct.’

In a one-day hearing in May, Mrs M told the court that A had ‘suffered terribly’ but was clear ‘she wanted her genes to be carried forward after her death’ and regarded the eggs as ‘living entities in limbo waiting to be born’.

She had her eggs frozen following her bowel cancer diagnosis at the age of 23, and asked her mother to act as surrogate hoping she would recover.

Later she accepted she would never see her child, and she died

in June 2011 aged 28.

Her parents want to take the eggs to New York, where a clinic has indicated it is willing to provide fertility treatment with donor sperm at an estimated cost of up to £60,000.

The case came to court after the HFEA refused to issue a ‘special direction’ allowing the eggs to be removed from storage at IVF Hammersmith, which is based within Hammersmith Hospital in west London, and exported to America.

The daughter, referred to only as ‘A’ for legal reasons, died in 2011 from bowel cancer. The court heard she had been desperate to be a mother and had asked her

mother, referred to as Mrs M, to ‘carry my babies’ The HFEA’s statutory approvals committee (SAC) decided in 2014 there was insufficient evidence to show the daughter wanted the eggs used in the way her parents suggested after her death.

The daughter completed a form giving consent for her eggs to be stored for use after her death.

But she failed to fill in a separate form which indicated how she wished the eggs to be used, the court heard.

Jenni Richards QC, appearing for the parents, asked the judge to rule the HFEA was wrong not to allow her parents access to the eggs.

A 30-stone motorist who killed a jogger when she ran a red light begs judge not to jail her claiming she is ‘too fat for prison’

A

30-stone motorist who killed a jogger when she jumped a red light has begged a judge not to send her to jail because she is too fat.

Unemployed Linda Ann Jenns mowed down 45-year-old Paul Stinton in her white Ford Kuga after ignoring the red signal in Ashford, Kent.

The 49-year-old begged to be spared prison after being convicted of causing his death by dangerous driving at Canterbury Crown Court.

Her barrister Ian Bridge said ‘morbidly obese’ Jenns hoped to get a gastric band and would not be able to cope with life behind bars.

He said she had a stroke seven years ago and at the time of the crash was receiving treatment for her weight problem.

Mr Bridge said she had lost between five and six stone and was hoping for a gastric band to be fitted which would have increased her life expectancy quite dramatically.

‘As it is she is grossly overweight, morbidly obese and since the incident has put on even more

weight,’ he said.

‘She is a person for whom a prison sentence would be extraordinarily difficult and I don’t think I exaggerate when I say she might not get through it.’

Judge Heather Norton adjourned sentence for two weeks pending medical reports and granted Jenns bail.

But she warned Jenns, of Ashford, Kent, that she faced ‘an almost certain’ jail sentence for the offence - and also gave her an interim driving ban.

The jury had heard evidence from a number of of motorists and shoppers waiting near a retail park, on a wet winter’s day in January 2014.

One of them, Debbie Lange told the court: ‘I was sitting talking with my daughter when a grey van came hurtling past my car in the outside lane of the dual carriageway.

‘It shook my car which made me look up and it went through the red light. Two seconds later a white car came past at speed and straight through the red traffic light.

‘I then noticed something flying up in the air. I wasn’t sure what it was until I saw some arms and legs.

‘I said to my daughter: ‘My goodness, did you see that?’ I realised then it was a person.

‘I hadn’t seen him before but I had noticed that there were some people at the lights waiting to cross.’

Prosecutor Simon Taylor told the jury - which had been reduced to 11 after a juror recognised one of the witnesses - that some estimated Jenns’ speed at up to 70 mph.

But he said the Crown accepted that expert evidence indicated that Jenns was travelling at within the 40 mph speed limit.

He told the trial: ‘We say that she drove at a speed which was too fast for the road conditions or contrary to traffic signals on the traffic lights.

‘It is the Crown’s case that it was the driving as a whole which fell far below the standards of a competent and careful driver.’

Mr Stinton was taken to hospital

by Air Ambulance suffering from head, chest, neck and abdominal injuries and died three weeks later.

Linda Ann Jenns, 49, has been found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving

Page 40

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, JUNE 16, 2015

Digest Why we should be eating carbs

By Dr Sally Norton

W

e know that a healthy, balanced diet is the key to a healthy body.

But it can be tough knowing exactly which foods are the healthiest for us, with the constant barrage of new studies and research branding certain foods as either hero or villain when it comes to our health.

One food group that has been given a pretty bad reputation over the past few years is carbohydrates.

The common perception now is that the fewer carbs we eat the better, with some of us avoiding

the food group altogether… but is this really a healthy option for our bodies?

Well, frankly, no.

Of course, we know that starchy, refined carbohydrates aren’t great for us – and we do eat far too much of them, so cutting back is a definitely a good thing.

But should we cut out carbs out altogether?

Carbohydrates can help us feel full and provide us with a lot of healthy nutrients and essential fibre – we just need to make sure we are eating the right sort.

Vegetables are a great source, and another particular group that is being seriously neglected is

Dr Norton urges people to replace refined carbohydrates like white bread for wholegrain alternatives.

Dr Sally Norton says though many people avoid carbohydrates in the hope of losing weight, it is vital to incorporate the food group into your diet. She advises opting for whole grains, such as quinoa, pictured.

wholegrains.

A study that I read recently, from the British Journal of Nutrition, found that 80 per cent of us are simply not eating a healthy level of wholegrains – and one in five may not be eating any at all.

Not that I’m surprised, with so many people demonising all carbs, or, when they do indulge, choosing the more popular, starchy white carbs.

So what’s the difference between the two, and why does it matter?

Grains are made up of an inedible, protective husk and a kernel which has three layers – bran, germ and endosperm.

Wholegrains contain all three parts of the kernel – and so keep

the maximum nutrients.

Processing these grains to make refined carbohydrates means removing the bran and the germ, which contain a whole host of antioxidants, B vitamins, protein, minerals, healthy fats and fibre, leaving only the endosperm.

Refining means that about 25 per cent of protein is lost, along with at least seventeen key nutrients.

It is possible to add back some vitamins and minerals to enrich these refined grains. But, why not stick to the unadulterated and healthier wholegrain in the first place.

What’s more, products made from refined white carbs are more likely to contain higher levels of fat and sugar, but, because they’re

refined, they’re not as filling.

That means we eat larger portions in order to feel full - no help for our weight-loss attempts.

And it explains why so many of us will feel bloated, or sluggish after eating a huge bowl of white pasta or rice.

In contrast, wholegrains are higher in fibre - meaning we will feel fuller for longer, with smaller amounts.

Importantly, though, wholegrains have been linked to all kinds of health benefits, including lower body weight, body mass index (BMI) and cholesterol levels, as well as reduced risk of diseases such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and certain cancers too.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Are your sleeping habits putting you at risk of a stroke?

By Jenny Hope

G

etting too much - or too little - sleep more than doubles the risk of a stroke among people with high blood pressure, say researchers.

People with hypertension – the medical term for high blood pressure – already have a higher risk of stroke than those with normal blood pressure.

But a new study suggests persistent sleep problems are another risk factor affecting them.

Dr Oluwaseun Akinseye, of Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, and colleagues analysed almost 204,000 hypertensive adults in the US using data from the National Health Interview Survey.

They found the lowest risk of having a stroke was among people with high blood pressure who were enjoying a regular seven to eight hours.

The risk among these ‘healthy sleepers’ was five per cent.

The study found the risk for

stroke was almost 14 per cent among long sleepers, who had more than eight hours.

Insufficient sleepers who managed less than five hours had a stroke risk of 11 per cent.

Another group of short sleepers who got between five and six hours a night had a risk of six per cent.

The researchers then compared the stroke risk among people getting too much and too little sleep with those in the

study found to be getter ‘healthy’ amounts of sleep – seven to eight hours a night.

The ‘insufficient’ and ‘long’ sleepers had an 83 per cent and 74 per cent increased risk for stroke compared to ‘healthy’ sleepers.

The findings were presented today an American Society of Hypertension meeting in New York.

Six million Britons are taking drugs to control their blood

Warning: Getting too much - or too little - sleep more than doubles the risk of a stroke among people with high blood pressure.

pressure which is an important risk factor for early death, heart attacks and strokes.

People with high blood pressure are advised to change their lifestyle and eat less salt, lose weight, drink less alcohol, eat more fruit and vegetables and exercise more Research suggests seven and a half hours of sleep a night is the optimum level for good health, with both too much and too little

sleep causing health problems.

Research from Cambridge University found people who sleep for more than eight hours a day on average had a 46 per cent higher than average risk of having a stroke.

Scientists at Surrey University found just one week of poor sleep can disrupt hundreds of genes linked to stress, immunity and inflammation.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Benefits: Researchers found the lowest risk of having a stroke was among people with high blood pressure who were enjoying a regular seven to eight hours

SporT 41 Page

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, JUNE 16, 2015

sports@peoplesdailyng.com, SMS- 08142929046

The match between Super Eagles of Nigeria Vs Chad during the Afcon qualifier 2015, march end 2 - 0 Nigeria won at Ahmadu Bello stadium Kaduna photo: Bashir Bello

Red card: I’m not blaming Onazi, I may have done worse-Keshi

By Albert Akota

S

uper Eagles head coach, Stephen Keshi, at the weekend in Kaduna said he would have reacted in a more ferocious manner if he was in the shoes of midfielder, Ogenyi Onazi.

Keshi said he was not going to blame him for his reckless actions that forced the referee to show him a straight red card, leaving Nigeria to finish with 10 men against Chad in an African Cup of Nations qualifier played at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna

state.

“I m not blaming Onazi for his action, I would have probably done worse if I were in his shoes,” Keshi said, absolving the player of any blame in the incident, even though he acknowledged that he should not have retaliated.

“But we will likely miss him for two or three matches, because it was a straight red card,” he added.

Speaking on his team’s performance, he said he confident that the team would do well in future matches. “We are not making up excuses. Rather, it is a fact that this is a new team, and

we will need to play together for some time to get things right.

“But I have a lot of confidence in this team, and we will continue to re-build in order to get better,” he said.

Eagles had to overcome an average first half performance to win the 2017 AFCON qualifier.

A commanding second half performance however resulted in two goals to ensure the game’s full points were in the kitty at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium.

Keshi said the team’s first half performance was lethargic because he had three new

defenders and needed to study their quality of play to make the team stronger.

He however said the team’s defenceline was powerful and expressed the hope of working more on the team for proper blending.

The head coach expressed satisfaction with the team’s victory, saying they played to instructions; exhibited good discipline and did all they practised at training.

“The game was competitive, but I am happy we came out victorious because that will

Nkwocha may Ibrahimovic has equal Enyeama’s ego like Ronaldo record today – Zidane >>>Pg 42

>>>Pg 43

enhance our performance in our next match.

“In the first half, there were a lot of precautions, mistakes and anxieties. But after the half-time we had to make the substitutions, and those of Rabiu and Odion changed the game for us and led us to victory,” he said.

Speaking on Aaron Samuel’s injury, the coach said the striker had a muscle tear which he and his technical crew colleagues hoped was not pronounced.

“We can’t say much on that for now, until we have a scan,” he said.

Table Tennis: Nigeria finishes second in Egypt tournament >>>Pg 44

Sport

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, JUNE 16, 2015

PAGE 42

Nkwocha may equal Enyeama’s record today

By Albert Akota

S

uper Falcons’ forward Perpetua Nkwocha will win her 101st senior cap for Nigeria if she tastes action in today’s FIFA Women’s World Cup Group D clash with the United States of America in Vancouver.

This will bring her at par with Super Eagles’ goalkeeper and skipper Vincent Enyeama, who won his 101st cap in the 2-0 defeat of Chad in Saturday’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Kaduna.

The elegant striker, who won her first cap for Nigeria in a friendly with Ghana’s Black Queens in Lagos in May 1999, won her 100th cap when she came in for Desire

Oparanozie against Australia in Winnipeg on Friday.

Before the 3-3 draw with Sweden in Winnipeg on Monday, June 8, Nkwocha had been one of only two Nigerians to score at the FIFA Women’s World Cup since Nkechi Egbe netted a famous equalizer against Brazil in the quarter finals of the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup in the United States of America. That match, played in Washington, went to extra time before the Brazilians triumphed.

The Falcons notably failed to score a single goal at the 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup finals, also staged by the United States, following the sudden outbreak of

LMC suspends 9 stadia from hosting league matches

By Albert Akota

F

ollowing reports of the various teams that assessed stadium facilities during the three-week break of the Glo Premier League, nine of the 20 clubs have had their home grounds placed on suspension by the League Management Company (LMC).

The clubs have thus been directed to choose alternative home grounds from Match Day 12 while they fix the problems recorded against their playing turf.

Salihu Abubakar, the LMC Chief Operating Officer, said the decisions were reached at the recent LMC Board meeting in Abuja which amongst other deliberations assessed the reports as it concerned the state of the playing pitches. The LMC Board also gave the clubs a deadline of 45 days to work on other aspects of the facilities that were found to be below requirement.

Mr. Abubakar said the reports were classified in three parts: grounds that had approval, grounds with minor problems for which the club has been given one week to fix, and grounds with extensive problems for which the clubs have been asked to fix

Salihu Abubakar

within two weeks.

Those granted full approval to host matches include Enyimba International Stadium, Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Liberation Stadium, Oghara Township Stadium and Warri Township Stadium. Others are Sani Abacha Stadium, Akure Township Stadium, Aper Aku Stadium, Lekan Salami Stadium and Ilorin Township Stadium.

Four clubs were directed to effect minor repairs on their pitches for which another round of inspection would be carried out on the club’s invitation after Match Day 12. The clubs are Heartland, FC IfeanyiUbah, Wikki Tourists and Abia Warriors.

Five other clubs whose grounds were adjudged to be in great disrepair have had their ground suspended to host games in the next two weeks starting following which progress of the repairs would be reviewed at the invitation of the clubs.

The clubs are Giwa FC, FC Taraba, El-Kanemi Warriors, Akwa United and Nasarawa United.

“What we have done is to allow them time to fix the identified problems and if they get it right, the suspension will be lifted but if they don’t, it stays,” explained Mr. Abubakar.

He added that alternative stadiums including those not hosting league games currently were inspected and recommended for the clubs to host their games.

The alternative venues include the Abuja National Stadium, UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar, Uyo International Stadium and Karkanda Stadium in Katsina.

Others are Otunba Dipo Dina Stadium in Ijebu Ode, Pantami Stadium in Gombe, Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos and Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna.

“The clubs are free to choose any of these recommended venues for their home games until their grounds are re-certified,” Mr. Abubakar added.

SARS epidemic in designated host nation China. Cynthia Uwak scored the Falcons’ only goal at the 2007 FIFA World Cup, in a 1-1 draw with Sweden in Chengdu.

Nkwocha scored Nigeria’s only goal at the 6th FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany four years ago, netting in the 1-0 defeat of Canada in Dresden on July 5, 2011. But the Falcons failed to progress after earlier losing by the same margin to France and host Germany.

Not only did Nkwocha become Nigeria’s first woman ‘Centurion’ when she came in for Oparanozie against Australia, in a surprise 0-2 defeat, she also became the oldest player in the history of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, at 39 years and 19 days. The previous older of the record, Meg of Brazil, was 39 years 18 days when she featured at the 1995 finals in Sweden.

In her meritorious 16-year international career, Nkwocha was also named African Woman Player of the Year on four occasions.

In Vancouver today, Nkwocha looks to make history with the Super Falcons, at the same BJ Place venue that will host the Women’s World Cup final match on July 5.

She will also be hoping to work wonders with the Falcons, not only to accomplish a first ever defeat of the USA at the Women’s World Cup, but also to sail into the knock out stage for the first time since 1999, and for only the second time ever.

Perpetua Nkwocha

FIFA bans Njoku for three matches

By Albert Akota

S

uper Falcons defender Ugo Njoku has been handed a three-match ban by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee for an elbowing incident in the Super Falcons’ Group D match against Australia in Winnipeg on Friday.

Njoku was involved with Australia’s Sam Kerr in the match, which the Matildas won 2-0 thanks to a brace by Kyah Simon.

Although Australia did not complain about the incident, the

FIFA Disciplinary Committee took the decision after sitting down on its own to review the incident.

It means the 20 -year old strong defender, a member of Nigeria’s silver –winning squad at last year’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup also staged in Canada, will miss Tuesday’s potentially –explosive tie with the USA in Vancouver, and two other matches.

The referee did not punish Njoku, who was also in the Nigeria U-20 squad that reached the FIFA U-20 World Cup semi finals in

Ugo Njoku

Japan in 2012, for the incident.

It would be recalled that France’s Camille Abily was involved in a similar incident with England defender Laura Bassett in their Group F clash in Moncton on Tuesday, June 9, which France won 1-0 thanks to a first-half goal

by Eugenie Le Sommer.

The referee also did not punish the French player, the English FA did not protest and the FIFA Disciplinary Committee did not review the incident.

PAGE 43

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, JUNE 16, 2015

Sport

Manchester City to launch €55m for Sterling bid

M

anchester City is set to make a new offer worth €55 million for Liverpool forward Raheem Sterling.

Liverpool rejected an initial offer of €34.5m plus €6.9m in add-ons off-hand from City last week.

But City is set to return with an improved bid of €48m plus performance-related add-ons, which could total in excess of €6.9m.

City are reluctant to spend in excess of €55m to sign Sterling, who looks certain to leave Liverpool after his agent, Aidy Ward, declared he would not be signing a new contract at Anfield.

Sterling’s current deal, which

he signed in 2012, expires in 2017, and the 20-year-old has rejected the offer of a €138,000-a-week deal to stay at Anfield.

As well as Sterling, Goal understands that City also remain interested in Hoffenheim star Roberto Firmino.

The Brazilian’s agent, Roger Wittmann, confirmed on Monday that the 23-year-old will be moving to a Premier League club this summer.

Manchester United has been heavily linked with Firmino, who would be available for a fee in the region of €20.7m, but have moved to distance themselves from reports of an agreement to sign the Brazilian.

Ibrahimovic

Ibrahimovic has ego like Ronaldo – Zidane

Z

inedine Zidane believes Zlatan Ibrahimovic has the same strength of ego as Cristiano Ronaldo and believes it is key to the success of the game’s best players.

The Sweden international has been embroiled in numerous controversial incidents throughout his career, including a notable spat with former Barcelona boss Pep

Guardiola.

But Zidane believes his bold personality has made him the player he has become and compared his mindset to Real Madrid star Ronaldo.

“I don’t think Ibrahimovic is a problem,” the Real Madrid Castilla coach told RTL. “He has done great things with Paris.

“He has an ego, but on the field he behaves like a champion.

It’s part of his character. No-one

will change his personality, like Cristiano Ronaldo.

“Sometimes he shows an arrogant side, but when you know him he’s not like that at all. He’s quite nice.

“I don’t know Ibrahimovic but you need players like him.”

Ibrahimovic’s contract with PSG expires in June 2016, meaning he could depart the club he has scored 106 goals in 126 appearances for on a free transfer next summer.

Hangeland signs new Palace deal

B

rede Hangeland has agreed a new deal with Crystal Palace, which will keep him at Selhurst Park for another season.

The Norway international joined Palace last year following his release from Fulham and made 14 Premier League appearances, helping them to a

10th-placed finish.

Hangeland had looked set to leave, having been included on the released list, but has put pen to paper on a new deal.

“I’m delighted to have signed with Crystal Palace for the new season,” the 33-year-old told the club’s official website.

“I have really enjoyed

Raheem Sterling

Howedes rejects two offers from England

working under Alan Pardew and we have a very talented squad who are all a really good bunch of lads to be around.

“These are very exciting times at the club and I look forward to playing a part in making next year another successful one.”

Benedikt Howedes

B Crystal Palace defender Brede Hangeland

enedikt Howedes has turned down two offers from abroad to remain at Schalke, according to the club’s general manager Horst Heldt.

The centre-back, 27, has been linked with Manchester United in recent weeks, while his Germany team-mate Mesut Ozil backed him to be a success if he moved England.

Howedes reportedly had a €17 million release clause in his contract that could have been activated prior to expiring on Monday.

Heldt said: “He had two offers from abroad. We are happy he decided to keep on playing for Schalke.”

Howedes, who can also operate at left-back, has spent his entire career at Schalke, where he was signed as a 13-year-old in 2001. He has since gone on to win 32 caps for Germany and was a member of the squad that lifted the World Cup in Brazil last summer.

His current deal with the Gelsenkirchen side expires in 2017.

PAGE 44

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, JUNE 16, 2015

Sport

NRA suspends three referees NNWL indefinitely

By Albert Akota

A

s part of it billing to keeping it members free of corrupt practices, the Nigerian Referees Association (NRA) has slammed an indefinite suspension on three of it referees officiating in the Nigeria Nation-

wide League.

In the letter addressed to affected referees on June, 12 and copied to the chairman, Nigeria Nation-wide League and the chairman, NRA and signed by NRA secretary, Prince Morrof Oluwa, the three referees were suspended indefinitely for gross incompetences.

The letter reads in part, “I a directed by the working committee of the aboved name association to inform you that Ilugbo Adeyemi that officiated the match between Juvenile FC, Ilaro and COD FC, Lagos in the week one of the Nigeria nation-wide League has been suspended indefinitely for gross

incompetence.”

Also, in the second letter from the same source same date; the letter reads, “The following referees: Tete J, Cephase (CR) and El Mustaphar Amore AR 2 that officiated the match between FC Abauja versus Dreams Internationa FC, Makurdi in the week three of the NNWL have

been suspended indefinitely for gross incompetences.

Meanwhile, the executive secretary of the NNWL, Olushola Ogunnowo has reiterated the league committment to punish any official, club or supporters found wanting as the league gradually enters its climax.

Table Tennis: Nigeria finishes second in Egypt tournament W

By Albert Akota

ith four gold and three bronze medals, Nigeria finished second behind host Egypt at the ITTF World Junior Circuit in Egypt.

The host finished ahead of others with seven gold medals while Slovenia won three gold medals to settle for third spot on the medal table.

Over 15 countries from Africa, Europe and Asia took part in the one-week championship held at the 6th October Hall in Cairo.

Nigeria made the second spot on the final day of the championship with Esther Oribamise, Abayomi Animasahun and Amadi Omeh claiming gold in the cadet and mini-cadet event.

Animasahun defeated Egypt’s Yehia Saad 3-0 in the mini cadet boys’ singles final, while Amadi Omeh increased the gold to two when he also accounted for the 3-0 defeat of Egypt’s Marwan Abdelwahab in the cadet boys’ singles final.

The star player for Nigeria was Oribamise who had earlier failed to excel in the junior girls’ event but had to measure up in the cadet girls’

singles when she beat Egypt’s Rolan Hesham 3-0 to clinch the third gold for the West African country.

In the cadet girls’ doubles, Oribamise partnered Tunisia’s Fadwa Garci to beat Egypt’s Roa Amro and Farida Badawy 3-0 to add to her medal haul in Cairo.

An elated Animasahun said: “I give God all the glory for being able to achieve this in my first international appearance. I listened to my coaches and I ensured I followed them and this is one of the reasons I was able to win medal in Egypt. I am so happy for this medal.

It was not easy at all during the fiveday tournament. The competition gets much difficult as it progresses from one level to another, but I am happy that I achieved something.”

Oribamise said: “I did not believe I could salvage anything in this competition because I was hopeless after a poor showing in the junior girls’ events. I did not also believe that it will end up in my favour in the cadet event. I thank God for my medals because it is through Him I was able to achieve this. I tried all through the competition to give a good account of myself because many people were looking out for me.”

Fury banned for over speed

Tyson Fury

H

eavyweight boxer Tyson Fury has been fined and banned after admitting driving at 90mph in southern Scotland.

He had previously admitted the charge by letter at Dumfries Justice of the Peace Court but failed to turn up after being ordered to appear personally.

That led to a warrant being issued for his arrest and a weekend in police custody.

He received a two-month driving ban and £400 fine for the offence committed near Carrutherstown in November.

His father and manager, John Fury, told the court he took the blame for his son’s failure to appear on two previous occasions.

“There had been a change of address and, as his manager, I am responsible for dealing with matters like that and hadn’t picked up his mail,” he said.

Esther Oribamise

Pearson feared amputation after falling in Rome 100m hurdles

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lympic 100m hurdles champion Sally Pearson feared her left hand would have to be amputated after she fell at the Rome Diamond League event on 4 June.

Pearson’s lower arm turned blue after her fall, which caused what doctors described as a “bone explosion”.

The Australian, 28, had surgery on her left wrist in Italy but will miss August’s World Championships in Beijing as she requires another operation.

Pearson, who won gold at London 2012 and added the Commonwealth title last year, fell after hitting the fifth hurdle of the race in Rome.

Asked about missing the chance to regain the world title she first won in 2011, Pearson said: “It’s very disappointing but this will be a very good mental and physical break leading into the Olympics next year.”

Sally Pearson

Konjuh wins Nottingham Open title

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Ana Konjuh

eenager Ana Konjuh won her first WTA title by beating Monica Niculescu in the final of the Nottingham Open.

Croat Konjuh, 17, dropped her first set of the tournament on her way to a 1-6 6-4 6-2 victory.

Romania’s Niculescu, who beat top seed Agnieszka Radwanska in the semi-finals, won the first five games in a onesided opening set.

But Konjuh, ranked 87th in the world, recovered to lift the inaugural Elena Baltacha Trophy.

The trophy is named in memory of the former British number one, who died of cancer last year, and the grass-court event marks the beginning of the build-up to Wimbledon, which starts on 29 June.

Rain delays had caused the final to be played on Monday, and also forced Konjuh to play twice on Sunday, including a semi-final win over fifth seed Alison Riske.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, JUNE 16, 2015

Sport

PAGE 45

P-i-c-t-o-r-i-a-l

Stade Francais hand Clermont Auvergne their 11th loss in 12 French finals with a 12-6 win at the Stade de France.

Côte d’Ivoire and Gabon played out a goalless draw in Libreville on Sunday evening, in their Group I opener of the 2017 AFCON qualifiers.

Togo’s Emmanuel Adebayor says he is unsure about his international future after being stripped of the captaincy against Liberia.

Three men from London, including a former British boxing champion, planned to travel to Syria to fight with Islamic State (IS), a court has heard.

Egypt enjoyed a 3-0 victory over Tanzania in Alexandria in their opener of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, JUNE 16, 2015

PAGE 46

Sport

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tephen Morga’s hope of playing professional football after several failed attempts has ended in regrets. A captain of the stateowned football team, Nasarawa United, from 2009 to 2012, he is currently, according to him, owed N8.4million by the state.

“I captained the team from 2009 to 2012 but signed for the club in 2008; they didn’t pay me the sign on fees,” Morga said “We brought glory to the state team by taking them to the Premier League.

When we asked for our money they refused to pay us our money and ejected us from the club. All efforts to get our money have proven abortive.”

Morga and his colleagues, which include 35 players and coaches all former members of the club, have lamented that they are collectively owed almost N100 million by the Nasarawa state government; a situation that has reduced them to struggling to fend for their families.

Nasarawa United, one of the 20 football teams currently participating in the Nigeria Premier League, was established in 2002 with its base in Lafia.

In 2004, the team graduated to the premier league and since then, has been performing well.

However, in the 2008/2009 season, the club had some financial problems leading to the exit of many players.

Some of the players said there was no medical treatment for them when the club faced the cash crunch, but in spite of this they still managed to qualify the team for the elite league.

“We gave our all to them; our devotion and seriousness,” Morga said. “Medically, no one took care of us. Even when we were injured we always looked for ways to support ourselves.

Despite all the endurance, they didn’t pay our money. Then we qualified the team for the premiership and they sacked us because we requested that they pay our outstanding money.

“One of us was really sick at a time. He had to depart camp to treat himself and came back after treatment; it was that bad.

Another player had an accident, he was permanently injured and can never play again, yet the club refused to pay him.”

Morga also lamented that his sign-off fees of N5.45million was still not been paid, six years later. the sign-on fees for these players vary from N1million to about N2million. Another player, Atu Yepu, who played for the club from 2010 to 2012, lamented that he was owed N2.5million.

“They are not ready to pay me,” he said. “We have been to the (state government.) We heard they released the money to the special adviser to the state governor on sports (now Deputy Governorelect, Silas Agara.)

He has been telling people and journalists that he has settled us. Silas Agara said he has paid us imagine? I am suffering, my mother is sick to the point of death now and I cannot help her and my money, my sweat, is hanging with him.”

How Nasarawa United ruined players, coach over unpaid sign-on fees, salaries

The story was the same for Danlami Mohammed, who signed on in the 2009/2010 season for N2.2million.

“I have the evidence here,” he said displaying his contract. “They have said not said anything to me and the chairman of the club (Isaac Danladi) is not saying anything.

That is why I am here to report to the NFF.” Mr. Danladi joined the club in 2010 as the team manager. He is currently the club chairman and chairman, Club Owners Association.

In 2013/2014, the Nigeria Football Federation instituted the League Management Company to oversee the Premier League.

At its inception, the LMC scrapped sign-on fees because clubs owed players backlog of unpaid salaries. It then mandated that the sign-on fees be added to players’ salaries. It also stipulated a minimum salary of N150, 000 monthly.

Morga explained that, before the overhaul by the LMC, he earned N55, 000 monthly as a team captain. “My salary was regular but the sign-on fees totalled N8.4million.”

The situation is however not limited to players. A former coach of the club, Sylvester Ekoja, who handled the team in 2013/14 season also narrated his plight.

“In 2013/14, we brought the team to the Premier League, and up till date they have not paid us our money,” he said. “I have tried and even went to meet a first class chief and after that the money was actually released.

The Special Adviser (Mr. Agara) always asked me to wait.

He always said he would call me.

They owe me N6.4million for two years.”

The failure of the Nasarawa state administration to pay the players has seen many of them turn to menial jobs for survival.

Morga currently works as a mason and he plans on going back to school. Mohammed says he needs money to start a business.

“As you see me now, look at the back of my shirt, it is faded,” Mohammed said at the NFF headquarters in Abuja, where the aggrieved players and coach had gone to report their plight to the NFF Players Arbitration Panel.

“I took my time to come to the NFF to protest because I am tired.

I have a child and wife and it is not easy. If I get this money now, I can establish a business and get a better life for my family and enrol my son in a good school.”

Another player, Abbah Abdullahi, narrated how he lost his wife due to a lack of funds to pay her medical bills. He is now left to cater for two young kids.

“How do I start my story,” Abdullahi said. “I begged them to pay me, nobody answered me. I was thrown out of the Government House (Nasarawa State) when I went there to get money to pay for the operation on my late wife. She died days later.”

The players accused Mr. Agara of lying to them.

“They told us the money has been paid to the club and we were informed at the (Nasarwa State) secretariat to meet Silas Agara and

Isaac Danladi which we did but they kept denying us,” Morga said.

“All Silas Agara does is tell lies about the things he didn’t do.

We have gone on radio and television and they said nothing will happen, is it not Nigeria?

Imagine! Isaac Danladi even said on the radio that he didn’t know us.”

When contacted Mr. Agara, he said the players have been paid and should be ignored.

“It is not true that we owe these players,” he said. “We have paid them since and I don’t expect such reactions from them.”

Mr. Agara said the players should show proof that they are being owed.

“Can they prove it?” he asked.

“If they can show me proof, why not? But it’s a lie, don’t mind these people.”

Mr. Agara, however, ignored request for proof from the state that the players were paid.

Taking up his challenge, the players marched to the NFF with the original copies of their contracts.

“Silas Agara has been busy lying to everyone that he has paid us,” Morga said. “He is a big liar.

How could he be saying such untrue things? Everyone who knows him knows that he tells a lot of lies.

This is our sweat and we want it. How many times have I gone to meet him one on one to ask for our money? He has been blabbing and saying we should hold on.

Now he says he has paid, haba.”

The chairman of the club, Mr. Danladi said that he is not ready

to comment because the case is before a judiciary body at the NFF. “I cannot talk about that issue,” he said. “I cannot be joining issues with players on the pages of newspapers. The info that I have is that they have been to (NFF Players Arbitration Panel) and it is not fair for me to talk about it as a lawyer.”

The Nigerian Football Federation, which administers Nigerian football, meanwhile, siad that it is aware of the problems faced by the players.

The general secretary of the NFF, Sanusi Mohammed, confirmed the receipt of a petition written from the aggrieved players.

“Well, I received a petition from the players lamenting their unpaid allowance,” he said. “I think it is most unfortunate.

There is a committee that handles players’ issues and I cannot make a decision. We have forwarded the petition to them and let us see what they can do.”

A member of the arbitration panel, Sunday Ajayi, told PREMIUM TIMES that they had failed to reach a decision because the Nasarawa United officials have refused to appear before the panel.

“We waited for reactions from the officials of Nasarawa United; you know players sometimes, some will come and lie and some will speak the truth,” he said.

“Whenever the officials come they will tell us why they have not been able to pay the players. We did not see them at the last sitting and next sitting we hope to see them and hear them out.”

PAGE 47

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, JUNE 16, 2015

Some Interesting Facts 1. Walt Disney was afraid of mice.

2. The site with the highest number of women visitors between the age of 35 and 44 years old: AlkaSeltzer.com 3. The king of hearts is the only king without a mustache.

4. Pearls melt in vinegar.

5. It takes 3,000 cows to supply the NFL with enough leather for a year’s supply of footballs.

6. Thirty-five percent of people who use personal ads for dating are already married.

7. The 3 most valuable brand names on earth are Marlboro, Coca-Cola, and Budweiser (in that order).

8. Humans are the only primates that don’t have pigment in the palms of their hands.

9. Months that begin on a Sunday will always have a ‘Friday the 13th’.

10. The fingerprints of koala bears are virtually

Leisure

indistinguishable from those of humans, so much so that they can be easily confused at a crime scene.

11. The mask worn by Michael Myers in the original “Halloween” was actually a Captain Kirk mask painted white.

12. The only two days of the year in which there are no professional sports games--MLB, NBA, NHL, or NFL--are the day before and the day after the Major League All-Star Game.

13. Only one person in two billion will live to be 116 or older.

14. When the French Academy was preparing its first dictionary, it defined “crab” as, “A small red fish, which walks backwards.” This definition was sent with a number of others to the naturalist Cuvier for his approval. The scientist wrote back, “Your definition, gentlemen, would be perfect, only for three exceptions.

The crab is not a fish, it is not red and it does not walk backwards.”

15. Dr. Jack Kevorkian first patient has Alzheimer’s disease.

PHOTO OF THE DAY

SUDOKU

SUDOKU EASY 251

The tribe’s beliefs centre around a combination of animism and Islam, with their relationship with the ocean and its inhabitants being at the heart of their existence.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

SUDOKU SOLUTION 250

Buhari’s baptism of fire Cond from Backpage

high crimes and misdemeanor are committed by so called representatives of the people in the guise of legislating for public good”.

Thus what the framers of the doctrine of separation of powers worked to guard against –namely power concentrating in one armnonetheless is still practically unavoidable. Essentially the lawmaking role of the legislature, its powers of oversight over the Executive, of authorization of spending and of removal of the President, all combine to place the legislature as first among three equals. That in addition to all these the legislature is also made to operate in a manner that makes it almost entirely un-amenable to the scrutiny especially of the Executive arm is potentially harmful to the system’s operation.

I observed that “In Nigeria for example virtually all the separated or shared powers by the three arms of government now find absolute expression

in the lawmaking arm. NASS constitutionally enjoys at once full legislative, quasi-judicial and quasi-executive powers, and the combined effect of which in our case serves as an intoxicating force for bad instead of a sobering stimuli for good as it does in other climes. This triple powerpotential is either to be deftly managed or tamed by a strong President who is sometimes even ready to be extra-constitutional to defend the system and to protect the people. In the absence of a ‘strong president’ an unrestrained and un-restrain-able legislature, notwithstanding it is controlled by the ruling party, is bound to be dictatorial and to stand right in the way of good governance.

In fact I also observed that the right of the legislature to equally initiate bills plus its power to override presidential veto and thus make to become law any un-assented (vetoed) bill, all constitute proof enough of the absoluteness of the legislature’s law-making authority. It is also evidence of the practical fallacy of the claim that the President is

indispensable in the chain and process of law making or that he is the legislature’s “sole agendasetter and the continuing initiator of legislative subject matter”.

Thus in the title: ‘Buhari and the Eight Parliament’ I argued that “although executive dominance of the legislature is not an absolute necessity in the mutually beneficial relationship between these two arms, conversely such dominance where it bears neither malice nor mischief, is not entirely an enemy of the democratic process. In fact where such dominance is used to great effect by wise Presidents it can only add value to democratic good governance.

I closed my argument in the title ‘BUHARI: BEWARE PARLIAMENT’ with the warning: “The President-elect must begin to plan how he’ll deal with his NASS. He must not be carried away by an APC-majority. The NASS is a woman of easy virtue.

It must be put to purgatory first to flow with Buhari”.

Need I say that the President, it appears, has not done that?

www.peoplesdailyng.com

. . . putting the people first

tuesday, june 16, 2015

QUOTABLE QUOTE There was nothing that people did not say about the past administration. It is not former President Goodluck Jonathan that is not good but the people around him.

– Wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari

SPORTS Buhari’s baptism of fire latest

Malaysia to send Oniya’s corpse to Nigeria

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he remains of T-Team skipper, David Faramola Oniya of Nigeria, who died after collapsing on the field due to heart complications during a friendly match against Super League side Kelantan at the Sultan Mohd IV Stadium in Kota Baru, Malaysia at the weekend, will be sent back to Nigeria.

Terengganu state Youth, Sports and Human Resource Committee chairman Datuk Rozi Mamat said Oniya’s family had been contacted in Lagos and informed of the player’s death.

Rozi said they (Terengganu) were also in touch with the Nigerian Embassy to expedite the process of sending home Oniya’s remains to Nigeria for burial.

“The procedures at the Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital (HRPZII) in Kelantan have been completed and we have contacted Oniya’s father in Nigeria and his wife in Uzbekistan…his father wants his son’s remains to be sent to Nigeria.

“We will make the necessary arrangements as soon as possible. All the costs involved will also be absorbed by us,” he said.

The 30-year-old Oniya who was playing in his first season in the Premier League in Malaysia collapsed barely three minutes into the game and was rushed to the Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital.

It took the driver several minutes to bring the ambulance out, but by that time Oniya was already unconscious.

The late Nigerian footballer, David

Advert: 0806 business: 0704 news: 0814 lagos: 0805 0803

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s soon as General Buhari became President-Elect from the first week of March 2015, I did four quick titles in a sequence: ‘Before We Crucify Buhari’, then ‘Buhari: Beware Parliament’, followed by ‘Buhari and the Eight Parliament’ and then ‘The Judiciary Waiting for Buhari’. All four titles were intended to appraise the theoretical assumptions and practical realities about the three key components of government, namely: ‘democracy’ and ‘the democratic process, the ‘legislature’ and ‘the legislative process’ and ‘judiciary’ and ‘the judicial process’.

Whereas in the first and the fourth titles I tried to provide basis for caution in our proclivity to over expect quick democratic dividend or a sudden regime of speedy dispensation of justice, in the other two titles I warned that the Legislature, unless it is handled firmly, could be a systemic drag rather than incentive to our democracy.

And whatever it becomes, I said, would depend on the President’s ‘strong’ or ’weak’ initiative in the legislative process.

I suggested that for the President-elect there was no better institution to begin to worry about as he prepared to come into office than the legislature which -as I argued- is one institution that has “more capacity for selfserving legislative rascality than for public-spirited democratic good”. I observed that in mature, especially presidential systems, strong and weak Presidents are usually judged “almost exclusively by the deftness of their initiative in the legislative process”; because even in the constitutionally-guaranteed requirement of ‘checks and balances’ among the three arms of government, the parliament, by the very nature of its powers and functions, is hardly ever amenable to or tolerant of checks by the other arms nor is it usually disposed to balance in the equation of their disparate powers.

And I advised that there was “no time more auspicious than (long before inauguration) to alert the incoming President about this enigma called ‘parliament’, so that for a man with purely military background and with no antecedent of democratic culture, Buhari could begin to ask the right questions about what approach to deploy both theoretically and practically, in how he would relate with this vital arm of government.

Whereas a jackbooted approach would be normatively

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TuesDAY Column Mohammed Adamu (08035892325 sms only)

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President Buhari out of place and practically unsustainable, a non-interferingapproach on the other hand (although not normatively wrong), would be a terribly selfharming option! Rather than portray the President as respectful of democratic limits, Executive non-interference in the affairs of parliament can only betray a weak presidential initiative to the legislative process and by implication a weak presidency.

It is in tactfully striking a delicate balance between these two extremes that ‘strong presidents’ in a presidential democracy live up to their Executive billing. Their strength manifests more in thinking ‘independently’ but acting ‘interdependently’ with other arms of government than when they allow the reverse to be the case. A servile theoretical interpretation and application of the doctrinaire notion of ‘independence’ of the arms of government is not any more practicable than the doctrine of ‘sovereign equality’ of nations has been in international politics. The theoretical concept of the ‘independence’ of the arms of government as conceived especially by Rousseau has long been found to be a practical misnomer, because by and by what exists in practice between and among the arms of government is functional ‘interdependence’.

Thus it is not undemocratic for a president to be interested in who is elected to head any of the

two chambers of the Legislature.

Democracy in addition to whatever it has come to be associated with -theoretically and practically- is also about consensus-building.

When parties who have the democratic right either to vote or to be voted for, freely and consensually agree about who to govern their affairs, it obviates the need for ‘voting’ -unless ‘practical voting’, in the circumstance, is a substantive requirement of law.

And so between a President, a ruling Party and majority of its members in the Legislature, a consensus about how to share elective offices whether arrived at ‘unanimously’ or achieved by the will of a ‘simple’ or ‘special majority’, whether by ‘acclamation’ or by ‘shadow election’, is nonetheless democratic and in fact can sometimes even be binding in law.

While appreciating the framers’ raison deter for the creation of the doctrine of Separation of Powers -an ingenuous device designed to eliminate the possibility of ‘power’ uniting in one arm of governmentI did cite the opinion of many theorists who think that “it is essentially in the effort to make Parliament free and illimitable (not limited by any) that legislative dictatorship - which Lincoln said is the worst form of dictatorship- often finds a fertile ground. I quoted David Ingram’s views in this regard where he said: “The American founders believed that a constitution that placed unlimited power in a legislative majority will inevitably result in tyranny, instability and lawlessness.”

Democracy is governed as much by laws as by time-honored conventions. Most of the powers that presidents in presidential democracies wield reside often more in conventions than in the Constitution. Woe betides the president who insists in the strict application of letters of the law in his dealings with the legislature to the utter disregard of the sanctuary of un-written conventions which –often through the ferment of ‘democratic age’ can also have the force of law.

Conventionally there is hardly any more effective moderating or mitigating force to keep the Legislature in check than a ‘strong President’ who -even in the absence of Constitutional guarantees- enjoys the liberty of ‘democratic convention’ to act, sometimes even extra-legally- in order to whip a dictatorshipbound Parliament into line.

Alternatively a pre-emptive President who has, ab initio, put in place a strong and formidable initiative in his Executive’s approach to the legislature may not even require a resort to convention or bareknuckle extralegal approach to the legislature.

More so if such a president enjoys the partisan accommodation of a legislative leadership which he has lobbied to bring about and which is favorably disposed to his Executive concerns at the parliament”.

I had observed that “Whereas it is in order that the legislature is considered the touchstone of democracy and the heart and soul of public freedom, yet its inadvertent elevation –in theory and in practice- as ‘illimitable’ is hugely ironic not only because it confers on a practically fallible institution a toga of infallibility, but because it also creates around that infallibility a ring of immunity even against the rights of other two arms to subpoena it to the all-important task of mutual checks and balances”.

It is inevitable, I said that “these falsely arrogated virtues of ‘illimitability’ and ‘infallibility’ have always resulted also in the grandeur of self-arrogated ‘irreproachability’ which is the high station that many an overindulgent parliament operates from –namely a false moral highground atop which often

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DAN GAYE OPC pulls out of NNPC pipeline surveillance

They were sacked de !

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