Friday, February 20, 2015. Edition.

Friday, February 20, 2015 Jumada Al-Awwal 1, 1436 AH

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Hisbah uncovers homosexuals, lesbians hideout in Kano >> page 3

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Buhari addresses global community in UK

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N150 Vol. 15 No. 61

ASUU threatens to sue IGP over killing of Prof. Falaki

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CAN collected N7bn for Jonathan’s campaign- Pastor l Says money routed through Oritsejafor >> page 2

R-L; All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, House Minority Leader, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, and party chieftain, Senator Olorunnimbe Adeleke Mamora, during General Buhari’s meeting with APC House of Representatives members, yesterday at the Presidential Campaign Council Office, in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Nigeria war planes bomb Sambisa Forest- DHQ l Scores of Boko Haram members killed l Jonathan vows to rout insurgents >> page 2

312 Days after Polls: Troops Will the abducted Chibok deployment splits Reps schoolgirls ever be rescued?

>> page 2

PAGE 2

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, February 20, 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 M/Earth 26 Update 28 Feature 30

CAN collected N7bn for Jonathan’s campaign-Pastor From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

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Borno-based Pastor, Kallamu Musa-Dikwa yesterday told journalists in Kaduna that the money given to pastors by President Goodluck Jonathan to vote against the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari in the 2015 election was actually N7b and not N6b as alleged by governor Rotimi Amaechi, who doubles as the Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Organization.

The allegation caused uproar among the Christian clerics, with the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and the Northern States Christian Elders Forum (NOSCEF) asking Amaechi to name the church leaders who collected the 6 billion naira.

But reacting to Northern States Christian Elders Forum, who challenged Amaechi to name those pastors involved in the bribery scandal, Dikwa, who is the Executive Director of the Voice of Northern Christian Movement said that the said money was channeled through the Pastor

Ayo Oritsejafor-led Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

He said CAN got the said money (N7b) on January 26, 2015 and Disbursed N3 million to State Chairmen of the CAN across the country.

Dikwa, who was an Associate Pastor with the E. Y. N. Church (Enklesiyan Yan’uwan A Nijeriya), Farm Centre Dikwa Road, Maiduguri, Borno State, under Rev. Emmanuel Kwajihe between 2002-2004, said CAN had started threatening Christians in the state (Borno) that they must reelect President Jonathan in the rescheduled election.

“It was N7 billion that was given to the CAN leadership by President Goodluck Jonathan, while they later disbursed N3 million naira to the State Chairmen of the CAN. “The money was handed over to the CAN Leadership on 26th January, 2015.

“Actually President Jonathan is using CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oristejafor, and it was the CAN President that collected the monies and shared N3 million naira to the CAN executives in each State.

“And some Pentecostal Bishops including Bishop Oyedepo also collected his share.

Actually, the money is not N6b, it is N7b. This is what I know. One of the CAN officials from Abuja told me that they have collected the money. The corruption in CAN is terrible. They are corrupting the body of Christ because of Money.

“They are now threatening Christians in Borno State that they will deal with anybody who refuses to vote for Jonathan.

And the CAN officials are now campaigning that if Buhari emerges President he will Islamize Nigeria; and that Osinbajo collected monies from Islamic world; and that the same Osinbajo will resign soon after Buhari wins to give way for Tinubu to emerge Vice President.”

While stating that Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor CAN President, Bishop David Oyedepo of Living Faith Church and one Pastor Bosun Emmanuel got parts of the money, Pastor Dikwa insisted that CAN is now threatening Christians in Borno to vote for President Jonathan by all means.

He added: “Oyedepo

threatened to open the gates of hell for those who do not want to vote for Jonathan. We wonder if Oyedepo has the key of the gate of hell in his breast pocket.

That will be strange indeed. Just because of N7billion bribery Oyedepo ran-mad.

“And at the same time, CAN is threatening Christians in Borno if they fail to vote for Jonathan.

And same CAN continues to blackmail Prof. Yemi Osinbajo that Islamic world has bought him with millions of dollars, all these is because of N7billion bribery that they have received from Jonathan.”

However, CAN yesterday denied the allegation saying that it was a complete lie.

Mr. Sunday Oibe, Public Relations Officer, PRO of Northern CAN who spoke on behalf of CAN, said the allegation was designed to rubbish the integrity of CAN and make it morally incapable of leading Nigerian Christendom in this trying times.

Oibe affirmed that Pastor Ayo Oristejiafor was not capable of collecting money on behalf of CAN to share for electoral purposes.

Polls: Troops deployment splits Reps

By Umar Muhammad Puma

M NNPC forensic audit report: Reps urges FG to make report public – Page 19

Metro

32

Int’l 39 S/World

39

Digest 40 Sports 41 Columnist 48

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embers of the House of Representatives yesterday disagreed with one another over a motion seeking to stop the federal Government from deploying the military during the conduct of the 2015 general elections.

The motion which was sponsored by the Minority Leader of the House, Rep Femi Gbajabiamila (APC, Lagos) was aimed at calling lawmakers’ attention to the need to stop what he called; ‘’an unconstitutional

deployment of military personnel for election purposes’’.

Gbajabiamila in his motion prayed the House to set up an Ad-hoc committee that would investigate the role played by the military personnel and any other persons who featured in the said audio tape on Ekiti election and report to the House within 4 days; The motion also called on the federal government not to deploy military personnel during the upcoming elections in compliance with the decision of a Federal High Court in Sokoto until such decision is set aside.

However, the motion was challenged in a point of order moved by Rep Karimi Sunday, (PDP, Kogi) citing order 9 rule (7) (5) of the House which stated that the House cannot comment on any matter that’s pending in court and which in the opinion of the Speaker will prejudice the Judicial outcome of same.

Rep Sokonte Davies, (APC, Rivers) and Gbajabiamila once again countered Karimi’s Point of order by citing same rule 9 and 58 saying that Rep Karimi’s breached the rules preventing a member raising a point of order from

debating or reading from a text speech as he was doing.

Their points of order were sustained by the Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal who also appealed to lawmakers on the need to seek legal counsel on the matter.

Tambuwal said “In view of the sensitivity of this matter and the unfolding events in the country, I want us to take this matter very seriously. Therefore, I would urge that the Committees on Rules and business, Justice & Judiciary to meet on this matter and come back to advice the House on it by next week’’, he ruled.

Nigeria war planes bomb Sambisa Forest-DHQ

By Joy Baba-Yesufu

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he military high command has once again confirmed death of a large number of terrorists in Sambisa Forest and parts of Gwoza after a concerted air campaign by the Nigerian Air Force is ongoing in furtherance of the mission to clear terrorists from all their enclaves.

The air strikes which yesterday targeted the training camps and logistics dumps of the terrorists in Sambisa Forests and parts of Gwoza have been highly successful as it achieved the aims with required precision.

A statement signed by the Director of Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade said the death of a large number of terrorists was recorded while many others were also

scampering all over the forest and out of the struck bases. He also said details of casualty will be determined in subsequent phases of the operation.

Olukolade further said the strikes continue in other locations of the operations heralding the advancement of troops and other elements of the mission.

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has assured Nigerians of defeating the Boko Haram sect as he inaugurated four of the Nigerian Navy Ships (NNS).

“Let me use this platform to promise my Nigeria country men and women that we will rout Boko Haram,’’ Jonathan said in Lagos yesterday at the Naval Dockyard Ltd in Victoria Island venue of the inauguration.

“Our capacity has increased sufficiently and our officers and

men are doing wonderfully well in the north and we must conduct our elections as scheduled by INEC. “I commend the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Usman Jibrin, Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh and other service chiefs, officers and ratings who have made this inauguration possible.’’

The President said the four ships being inaugurated are part of a total of eight ships that are expected to be commissioned into the NN fleet in 2015.

According to him, ships inauguration gave him the opportunity to once again reaffirm his confidence in the competence and commitment of the officers and ratings in the Nigerian Navy Jonathan disclosed that crude oil theft had reduced significantly saying that as the lead maritime security agency, the NN deserves

all the support it needs to effectively carry out its statutory responsibilities.

The ships; NNS Centenary, NNS Prosperity, NNS Okpabana and NNS Sagbama were handed over to their commanding officers.

The NNS Centenary’s main mission will include maritime surveillance, EEZ, patrol and response task and protection of offshore resources and infrastructure.

The Centenary is to also provide aid to civil authority when called upon to do so in period such as civil unrest and natural disaster among others.

NNS Sagbama is a river town patrol vessel, while NNS Prosperity is to be enrolled into the NN as a training ship for junior officers and ratings,’’ he said.

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, February 20, 2015

News

Hisbah uncovers homosexuals, lesbians’ hideout in Kano From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

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ano State Hisbah command said it has discovered three notorious hotels where alleged homosexuals, lesbians and prostitutes are lodged in the state’s metropolis, saying it would soon embark on the offensive to stamp out the illicit acts if the hotels’ proprietors did not take heed to its warning.

Speaking to news men in Kano yesterday, the deputy commandant special services, Barrister Nabahani Usman said that the crackdown followed the intelligence report the command

received from its surveillance unit on the illicit acts being perpetrated in the hotels, adding that it is also worried by the increasing spate of immoral acts allegedly committed in the state.

According to him, the Command has seen the compelling need to invite the owners of Prime and Global hotels where the illicit acts were reported to have been committed at, to keep them posted on the latest development before launching the offensive, adding that the decision to officially invite them was for them to know what is on ground.

He however stated that the K ano H is bah Com m and was established by law as an additional impetus to the Shariah legal system, adding that the command’s corps has been empowered by law to descend on any place where immoral acts are committed.

“We decided to summon these hoteliers to a meeting so as to inform them about what we are planning to do. Thank God they honoured our invitation and they have agreed to take action.

But if at all they fail to take any action, then we will not hesitate to descend on them. Our scope of

operations is wide and we are ever ready to fish out whoever is found to be violating the provisions of Sharia law in the state, as enshrined in Section 7 (1) of the Kano State Hisbah board law, 2003.” He said Usman maintained that the command is not acting on hearsay since it had a special surveillance unit that is furnishing it with intelligence information before raiding a place, noting that the prostitution and other immoral acts prohibition law, 2000 by the State government guides their operations.

It could be recalled that the

command had recently scuttled a same sex marriage that was planned to take place at a secret location in the state, which was vehemently castigated by the entire Muslim community in the state.

Tricycle, motorcycle operators assures Jonathan of 10 million votes

By Ayodele Samuel

L-R: Chairman, Senate Committee on Navy, Senator Chris Anyanwu, Chief of Naval Staff, ViceAdmiral Jibrin Usman, President Goodluck Jonathan, PDP Chairman, Alhaji Ahmadu Adamu Muazu, and Minister of Defence, General Aliyu Gusau (rtd), during the inauguration 4 warships by the president, yesterday in Lagos.

Photo: NAN

Terrorists groups not connected to Islamic faith-Obama

By Evelyn Okakwu with agency report

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resident Obama on Thursday challenged the idea that terrorist groups like al Qaeda and the IslamicState are connected to the Islamic faith during remarks at the White house Summit to Counter Violent Extremism.

“The notion that the West is at war with Islam is an ugly lie,” Obama said. “And all of us regardless of our faith have a responsibility to reject it.”

Speaking at the State

Department on the third day of the summit, he called on countries to address the conditions, or “political grievances,” that terrorists exploit such as human rights violations, lack of free speech and tension between social groups.

President Obama says ISIS ‘Not Religious Leaders, They are Terrorists The president said that the coalition of 60 countries that has been conducting air strikes against ISIS “will not relent” to destroy the organization in Iraq and Syria.

“These terrorists are desperate

for legitimacy,” Obama said, which is why he said they target Muslim communities.

ABC news reports that Obama said both wealthy and developing nations need to take steps to improve the economic situation around the world, though he said poverty alone does not prompt someone to become a terrorist.

Obama said many people in countries with small Muslim populations get a distorted impression from news coverage.

He specifically called out groups like women and young people to

help prevent potential recruits from joining terrorist groups.

“Young people are not tapped for hate; it doesn’t come naturally to them. We adults teach them,” he said.

Obama continued to say that everyone has to work to bring more positive attention to the Muslim community.

“Groups like al Qaeda and ISIL peddle the lie that some of our countries are hostile to Muslims,” he said, adding that “we can’t allow cycles of suspicion to tear at the fabric of our cultures.”

KNSG signs MoU with 2 NGOS to tackle VVF From Edwin Olofu, Kano

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he Kano State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with two Non-Governmental Organisations to support Visco Virginal Fistula (VVF) patients in the state.

The State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajiya Binta Tijjani, who made this known to reporters yesterday in Kano, said that the two NGOs are Forward

Foundation and African Fistula Foundation.

The Commissioner said the partners would take care of the treatment of the patients in addition to empowering them after the treatment to enable them start small businesses for self-reliant.

She added that after the treatment the patients would also receive training on some skills and teach them how to read and write.

According to her, the NGOs would conduct sensitisation awareness on the dangers of prolong labour and the need for pregnant women to attend ante-natal clinic.

Also, the Kano State Government has converted Imam Wali Conference Hall situated at forestry in Gwale Local Government Area of the State to a General Hospital.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Local Government,

Alh Abba Ladan Kailani, while presenting keys and other document of the hall to the Ministry of Health yesterday, said the development was part of government’s effort to reposition its properties for maximum utilization of the premises.

He added that the premises will henceforth be under close watch of the State Ministry of Health.

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he National Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners’and Riders Association, NACTOMORAS,has promised to mobilise nothing less than ten million votes for President Goodluck Jonathan during the March 28 presidential election.

The National President of the Association, Alhaji Sani Mohammed Hassan gave the assurance yesterday while speaking at a rally organised by members of the NACTOMORAS in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

Hassan explained that the road show was the Association’s little way of showing appreciation for President Jonathan who he said has done a lot for members of the NACTOMORAS. “We have over 9 million members that we are controlling in the country. Apart from that, we also have people we are partnering with our transport sector like dealers, importers and the spare parts sellers and those that are selling food to our members. Our mother-in-laws and our fathers-inlaw, all of them are going to team up with the association and vote massively when the presidential election comes on March 29 for President Goodluck Jonathan.

“By the grace of God, we are going to mobilize nothing less than ten million votes for him”, he assured.

According to Hassan, keke operators were having problem “here and there before now and the President assisted us with some number of keke that we distributed to all the states of the federation and that served as a big relief to all our members.

While addressing the gathering, a representative of the presidency, Mr. Jide Oluwasanmi, stated that it was indeed great and impressing that keke operators and okada riders are standing up for Jonathan.

The pro-Jonathan road show, which began at the popular Kabusa junction in a long convoy of tricycles (popularly referred to as keke), passed through Galadimawa roundabout before being converging on Area 1, Garki, Abuja.

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, February 20, 2015

News

NYSC, Mercy corps partner on adolescent girls’ education

By Albert Akota

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Global Humanitarian agency, Mercy Corps, has gone into partnership with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to implement a project tagged: “Educating Nigerian Girls in New enterprises (ENGINE)” Mercy Corps is the lead implementing partner for ENGINE, which is a multi-donor funded programme supported by DFID, Coca Cola Export Company and the Nike Foundation.

The programme seeks to improve the learning outcomes and economic status of marginalised adolescent girls aged sixteen to nineteen in the northern Nigerian states of Kano and Kaduna as well as the Federal Capital Territory and the Metropolitan city of Lagos.

The NYSC and Mercy Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding Wednesday on the partnership that will involve the engagement of female Corps members to deliver extra hours of classes to girls in schools that have been selected for the programme in the affected states.

Speaking on the occasion, the NYSC Director-General Brigadier General Johnson Olawumi, noted that the presence of the Scheme in all the nooks and crannies of the country makes it an attractive implementation partner for projects of such nature.

Olawumi, who stressed that the issues of development should not be left to the government alone, commended the Mercy Corps for its good works in Nigeria.

The Director-General further remarked that partnering with Mercy Corps would enhance the NYSC Scheme’s visibility and also help the Corps in achieving its goals.

While assuring of the Scheme’s commitment to the success of the project, he charged the Mercy Corps to ensure that is played its own part of the deal as contained in the Memorandum of Understanding.

In her address, the Country Director of the Mercy Corps, Iveta Ouvry, said the objective of the organization, which is working in over forty-two countries, was to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build, secure productive and just communities among other foci.

Ouvry said the partnership with the NYSC to educate Nigerian girls was meant to empower the target group as part of effort to transform communities.

Earlier, the Acting Director of Community Development Service and Special Projects in the NYSC Headquarters, Mrs. Victoria Okakwu had explained that under the project, trained Corps members would put in two hours every week to teach young girls in Science subjects. She added that they would also coordinate the girls into saving groups and monitor their progress:

L-R: Rivers state APC Chairman, Mr. Davies Ikanya, Deputy Chairman, Mr. Peter Odike, and Treasurer, Mr. Abinye Alex, briefing journalists on the attack of APC members, yesterday in Port Harcourt.

Photo: NAN

No bail for political thugs in Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara-AIG

From Ocheiga Enoch Oloche

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he Zone 10 Police Command of the Nigeria Police Force, Sokoto, say it will no longer grant bail to any thug arrested with weapons during political rallies. The AIG in charge of the zone, Mr Bala Hassan, made the disclosure in Sokoto on Thursday at a stakeholders meeting with the leadership of the political parties.

“Henceforth, any thug arrested with a knife, cutlass or any other type of deadly weapon will be

charged to court.

Mr bala Hassan said, “We will, however, ensure thorough investigations to ensure that anyone indicted is duly prosecuted,’’ Hassan said. The AIG also promised that the police in the zone would provide a levelplaying ground for all the political parties. “This is to ensure the protection of lives and property before and after the forthcoming polls. “We will not fold our arms and allow such thugs to unleash terror before and after the

elections,’’ he added.

Also, the state Police Commissioner, Mr Salisu Fagge, vowed that the police would work round the clock to ensure the conduct of violencefree campaigns and elections.

“Politicians must respect the rules of the game by obeying the laws of the land and the electoral act.

“The police will not allow anybody to trample on the Public Order Act, otherwise it constitutes a breach of peace and unity of the state and Nigeria in general,’’

five districts that excelled in Zakkat collection in 2013 and 2014.

He noted that this would go a long way in assisting the less privileged persons in the society.

Abubakar maintained that the payment of Zakkat was a plausible panacea to the social problems of poverty and unemployment.

In his remark, the Commissioner of Relgious Affairs,

Alhaji Tukur Alkali who spoke through his Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Bello Wamakko promised that the state government will continue to effectively fund the activities of the committee.

The Chairman of the Zakkat committee, Alhaji Lawal Maidoki disclosed that the committee has collected over N77.6 million as Zakkat in the last two years.

Fagge, warned.

The proposed signing of a peace accord by the gubernatorial candidates of the two political parties was botched due to their absence at the meeting. They are Sen. Abdallah Wali of the PDP and Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal of the APC, who is also the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The anticipated signing of the peace accord was thereafter deferred to a yet-to-be-disclosed date as agreed by the political parties.

The State Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Kabiru Aliyu, and his All Progressives Congress (APC) counterpart, Alhaji Aminu Bello, commended the police for convening the meeting.

Sultan urges wealthy Muslims on Zakkat donation

From Raji Bello, Sokoto

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he Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III has appealed to wealthy individuals in the state to pay their Zakat contribution so as to help the needy.

Sultan gave the charge in Sokoto, yesterday during the maiden merit award ceremony for

Buhari addresses global bodies, top politicians in UK

By Umar Muhammad Puma

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he Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari has left Abuja yesterday on a short working visit to the United Kingdom.

A statement issued and signed by the Director Media and Publicity of Buhari Campaign Organisation, Garbai Shehu said

in the course of this visit, General Buhari is expected to hold meetings with key members of the British political establishment and interact with some global institutions with stakeholder interest in the affairs of Nigeria.

General Buhari would hopefully give a talk at the prestigious foreign policy hub, the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatam House in London.

According to Maidoki, “over N 26.1millon was collected in 2013, while over N 51.5 million was collected in 2014. The zakkat which was collected in 61 districts included cash and value for food items and livestock,” he added.

Maidoki also commended the state government for solely sponsoring the routine and special activities of the committee.

Brooks investment donates relief materials to IDPs in Adamawa From Umar Dankano, Yola

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s part of its corporate social responsibilities, Brooks Consolidated Investment Limited, a Jos based company has distributed assorted relief materials worth thousands of Naira to internally displaced persons, IDPs at the Damare, NYSC camp in Girei Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

The Chief Operating Officer of the Company, Mr. Samuel Ijesimiel said the gestured was aimed at alleviating the suffering of the IDPs who have suffered

much from the ungodly activities of the Boko Haram Insurgents especially in the North East zone of the country While commiserating with them, over lost of loved ones and properties, Ijesimiel said the token was a way in which the company wishes to come to the assistance of the IDPs. He urged them to take their plights in good faith just as he reminded them that prayer is the best weapon for situations of disaster, adding that they should not look at the quantity of the items but the intention behind it.

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, February 20, 2015

PAGE 5

News Election: Court struck-out suit seeking Jonathan’s disqualification

By A’isha Biola Raji

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Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday struck out the suit seeking to disqualify President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the March 28, 2015 presidential elections.

The counsel to the plaintiffs, Alex Akoja of Yusuf Ali chambers had informed the court of the plaintiffs’ instruction to withdraw the suit.

The plaintiffs, Prof. Tunde Samuel, Dr Junaidu Mohammed, Mr Rasak Adeogun and Yahaya Ezeemoo Ndu had, in their suit asked the Court to restrain the

President from contesting the elections.

Though with an application by the plaintiffs for the withdrawal of the suit yesterday, the trial Judge, Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed struck out the suit and awarded a cost of N50, 000 to President Goodluck to be paid by the plaintiffs.

In an originating summons issued by Malam Yusuf Ali (SAN), the plaintiffs contended that

Jonathan was ineligible for reelection because to do otherwise is to allow him spend more than eight years allowed in office as president.

They asked the court to declare that by virtue of the provisions of the constitution it was unconstitutional, unlawful, illegal and not permissible for any person to occupy the office of the president of Nigeria for more than a cumulative and aggregate period

of eight years when the country was not at war.

They also asked the court to hold that having regards to the constitution, Jonathan was not eligible to seek re-election into the office of president for another term of four years from 2015 as that would have permitted him to occupy the office of president for more than eight years.

They asked the court to declare that in computing the period

APC accuses NIMASA of sponsoring hate campaign against Buhari

IGP warns officers over planned strike

By Joy Baba Yesufu

By Umar Muhammad Puma

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he Inspector General of Police, IGP suleiman Abba has warned officers who are planning to embark on industrial action of the dire consequences of breaching extant rules and regulations.

The warning is coming at the heels of a media publication “Policemen Threaten Strike over unpaid salaries”.

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

Ojukwu said the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force is mindful of its responsibility towards the welfare of the workforce; part of which is promotion and recognition of hard work.

“As is expected, every promotion attracts some financial benefits, and which have been deeply considered in the course of processing and approving the promotions.

“For the avoidance of doubt the Nigeria Police Force is working assiduously with relevant government departments and agencies to effect the payment of the promotion arrears.

Meanwhile, all promoted officers have since January 2015 been enjoying the salaries attendant on their new ranks.

“It needs be stated for the umpteenth time that the Nigeria Police Force is founded on the bedrock of discipline and loyalty. The Police Regulation has provided enough windows for aggrieved officers to ventilate their grievances” the statement said.

The statement also said the IGP assures officers and men of the Nigerian Police Force of his commitment to their welfare saying that all hands must be on deck to sustain measures put in place to ensure a safe and secured nation.

already spent in office as president

by Jonathan, the period from 6th day of May, 2010 to 28th May 2011 should be reckoned with.

Also, they sought a declaration that having spent a period of more than four years in office as President from 6th day of May, 2010, Jonathan is without competence, authority or entitlement to contest for the same office for another term of four years.

T

Minister of Youth, Mr. Boni Haruna (middle) emotionally touched after seeing the level of destruction at Hajiya Zainab Abdullahi’s house, yesterday at Mararaba Mubi in Adamawa state. With him are Hajiya Zainab, the victim (left), and NEMA Leader of Assessment Team, Mr. Musa Zakari (right). Photo: NAN

Guild of editors loses former vice president, north

By Evelyn Okakwu

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he Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has announced the passing of one its former VicePresidents, Malam Saleh Mahdi, of Borno State Radio and Television, Maiduguri.

Saleh, a staff of the Borno State Radio and Television, Maiduguri, died on Wednesday after a brief illness. He is survived by a wife and eight children.

His remains have been interred at his Maiduguri residence, in accordance with Muslim rites.

Saleh was Vice President (North) of the NGE between 2004 and 2005 and was later elected as a member of the Standing Committee in Bauchi, in December, 2005. He was reelected to the position in 2006 for another two years.

His last outing with the Guild was at its 2013 Convention, in Ibadan.

Reacting to Saleh’s death, the NGE President, Mr. Femi Adesina, said he was benumbed when he heard the news of his death, describing him as a most committed member of the Nigerian Guild of Editors.

“It is a very sad development.

“I remember Saleh as someone who would attend any programme of the NGE in whatever part of the country, despite being based in Maiduguri.

He was as constant as the Northern Star; and that is why when he could not come to Katsina for our annual conference last August, it was very strange, and a number of us placed phone calls to him.

“The insurgency was particularly fierce at the period, and he explained that getting out of Maiduguri was difficult and dangerous.

He promised to see us at the next outing. That next time would

not come, at least, not for Saleh. He has gone the way of all flesh. How we will miss him! May God accept his soul,’’ Adesina prayed.

In his reaction, Mr. Sabastine Abu, a member of the Standing Committee of the Guild, said: “This is a sad one. I spoke with him only 10 days ago. I called his phone without response this morning to inquire about Borno situation as I have always done without any clue he had passed on.

“Very sad indeed. I met Saleh Mahdi as a Reporter for Borno TV and Radio in 1991, precisely 24 years ago when I was posted as Correspondent for Daily Times.

Since then we became friends. He was an easy going, peaceful and unassuming gentleman. May his soul rest in peace.’’

For Mr. Ken Ugbechie, another member of the Standing Committee of the Guild: ‘’Another good man quits the stage’’.

he APC Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCPCO) says it has evidence that a top management staff of the Nigerian Maritime Administration & Safety Agency (NIMASA) is behind the dirty campaigns of hate against the presidential candidate of APC, General Muhammadu Buhari and his family aired in the recent documentary by AIT and NTA. The APCPCO’s Director of Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu said that the Campaign office has confirmed that the agency was indeed the sponsor of all the dirty campaigns against the APC presidential candidate on AIT, NTA and several other media platforms.

This, according to Shehu, contravenes the NIMASA Act, the Public Service Regulations, and the INEC Act 2010 as amended, among others.

The APCPCO decried the situation where a government agency uses public funds to sponsor a campaign of calumny against its candidate, which it said is not only illegal, but should also be condemned and investigated by the joint committees of the national assembly on marine transportation.

If these claims were not found to be true by the joint committee, the statement said, disciplinary action should be taken against the agency and its leadership “It is a well known fact that the Director General of the Agency, Mr. Ziakede Patrick Akpobolokemi was President Goodluck Jonathan’s and a wellknown ex-militant’s errand boy.”

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, February 20, 2015

PAGE 6

News ASUU threatens to sue IGP over killing of ABU Prof. Falakin From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

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cademic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has threatened to sue Inspector General of Police over what it termed brutal killing of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Professor of Agronomy and Director, Institute for Agricultural Research, Professor Ahmad Mustapha Falaki by Men of Nigeria Police in Kano State last week.

The Union stated this in a statement signed by Dr Muhammad Kabir Aliyu and Dr Liman Almustapha Chairman and Secretary respectively.

“The entire membership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria branch received with shock the brutal killing of one of its members, Professor Ahmad Mustapha Falaki in the hand of Nigeria Police. Professor Falaki was a dedicated Professor of Agronomy

and Director Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) of ABU and also former Country Director of SASAKAWA project in Nigeria.” It said.

The union said that the Police had allegedly killed the Professor who was trying to identify himself by showing them his ABU identity card and report to them that his car was snatched at gunpoint at Fala village by gunmen and labeled him as Boko Haram member who attacked a Police Station in Kibiya town also in

Kano State.

“Professor Falaki was on an official assignment from Ahmadu Bello University when his was snatched by gunmen at fala, where he said to have spent more than two hours making calls to offices in ABU and his family on his predicaments when suddenly, some persons who identified themselves as Police men appeared on the scene and allegedly killed him in pursuit of Boko Haram members who had laid siege on Police post in Kibiya

L-R: Member, House of Representatives, Hon. Zephaniah Jisalo, FCT Permanent Secretary, Engineer Obinna Chukwu, Minister of State for FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, Chairman, Abuja Municipal Council Area (AMAC), Hon. Micah Jiba, and Managing Director, Aso Savings and Loan Plc, Alhaji Hassan Usman, during the commissioning of Karu Community Plaza, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Nine passengers killed in fresh Plateau attack From Ado Abubakar Musa, Jos

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o fewer than nine passengers were reportedly killed and burnt in Kassa village of Barikin Ladi Local government area of Plateau state.

The Police Public Relation Officer in Plateau, Mr. Emmanuel Abu, confirmed the incident but said only three passengers were killed in the attack, saying that the remaining seven passengers were not found yet.

The nine passengers who

were said to have been on their way to Mangu and Barikin Ladi towns were reportedly attacked on Tuesday afternoon by a group of people in the said area and killed nine of the ten passengers in the car.

Mallam Sa’adu who was the only escapee told journalists that the incident occurred on Tuesday when they were on their way to Mangu town.

The escapee narrated that, “We were on the way to Mangu suddenly a group of people stopped our car and started cutting us with

machetes. Luckily for me, I pushed one of them and began to run. They followed me but could not catch me. Before they knew anything there was a security checkpoint in my front where I stopped and reported the incident. That was how I escaped the attack.”

Asked how many they were in the car and where the car was heading to, the escapee said, “ We were ten in the car, some of us were to alight in Barikin Ladi while some in Mangu town. We don’t know the circumstances behind the attack.”

Sa’adu further said the situation

of the remaining passengers and their whereabouts was still unknown but report from the area revealed that the bodies of the passengers were later burnt in Bisici, a village near where the incident took place.

Abu added that investigation was currently taking place to identify the culprits and bring them to book.

Recall that in recent time, there were several cases of attacks and killings in some villages of Barikin Ladi local government area were many lives were lost.

Lagos: Customs intercepts 1,071 cartons of smuggled frozen foods From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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he Customs headquarters monitoring team led by Assistant Comptroller of Customs, Abdullahi Kirawa had on Tuesday intercepted a Mercedes Benz truck with suspected offending goods along the Oshodi Expressway.

Reacting to the development, the Controller Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ Turaki Usman

Adamu, stated that the truck with registration number AGB 217 ZD was trailed from unapproved route in the axis, having being placed on surveillance by the operatives of the Headquarters Monitoring Team Seme Axis.

He stated further that the intercepted vehicle had 1,071 cartons of assorted foreign frozen with Duty Paid Value of N5,783,400 and 40 cartons of ceramic tiles with of N62,400 and 8 bath tubes with

a DPV of 240,000 used to conceal the contraband products.

He noted that the nefarious attitude and ingenuity of smugglers to device such means of concealment makes the seizure very symbiotic.

Adamu however commended the team for deploying effective intelligence in effecting the Seizure and charged them to remain focused and resilient in their anti-smuggling mandate.

He said that the FOU ‘A’

and the teams are working harmoniously in ensuring that all flanks and suspected areas used by smugglers are completed blocked. He pointed out that the Federal Operations Unit will continue to play a leading role in anti-smuggling in view of the need to continually meet and surpass our operational benchmark.

He warned smugglers to stay away from the Zone or face the wrath of his operatives.

town, “The late Professor Falaki identified himself by presenting his ABU identity card and Drivers License, his Driver did same but for some inexplicable reasons, these Policemen ignored the identification insisting that for all they cared the deceased and his entourage were members of Boko Haram who had escaped from Kibiya, they then began to strike them with machete, clubs and gun butts.

“Professor Falaki was struck a fatal blow and died on the scene, his brother, Abbas sustained deep cuts to his head and trunk, the Driver was unharmed at this point but was later beaten after he was apprehended by the Police, the died body of Professor Falaki later was transported to Murtala Muhammed Hospital in Kano by same Police assailant.” The statement reads The Statement further added that the killing of Falaki was a clear case of deliberate murder by the police of an innocent citizen carrying out his lawful duties.

The Union called on Inspector General of Police to immediately arrest the culprits in order to bring them to justice, adding that anything short of that will leave it no other avenue than to seek redress through other legal means available to it including industrial action.

It however, stated that act would not be accepted to it’s members and by extension to any lawful Nigerian that the Police will go round killing innocent and patriotic Citizens in the name of fighting insurgency.

Katsina police recover 533 rustled cows From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

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he Deputy Commissioner of Police, Katsina State, Mr. Bala Zama Senchi has disclosed that within the last two months the command had recovered 533 rustled cows from various parts of the state.

Addressing newsmen on the successes recorded by the command, yesterday in Katsina, Senchi further disclosed that 141 sheeps were also recovered while 15 suspects were arrested in connection with the crime.

The deputy commissioner stated that the rustlers have further devised another method of moving the rustled cattles by using young children, adding “they will hire these children to move with the rustled cattle”.

He added that the trick of using young children by the criminals was to use them as decoy in an event the boys were stopped by the security agents.

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, February 20, 2015

PAGE 7

News

NDLEA seizes over 8 tons of Indian hemp in Kaduna From Femi Oyelola,Kaduna

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he National Drug Law and Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Kaduna State command has paraded an Indian hemp suspect, Mr Ejiro Young Kehinde and made seizure of 780.5 bags of Indian hemp weighed at 8 tons, 241.9 kg.

Parading the suspect and the seized Indian hemp in Zaria yesterday, the NDLEA Commander in charge of the State, Mr Samuel Azigi said, the agency have been trailing the suspect following an intelligent report of his activities in the illicit business.

He said, on the 7th February,

2015 at about 5am in Kakau village along Abuja road, the suspect was arrested and the Indian hemp was found stocked in his warehouse and all the rooms in the building and somewhere also kept in the soak away of the building.

The commander disclosed that the seizure was the largest from the northern region since the establishment of the agency, putting the highest seizure within the region of 3 tons.

He lamented that it was more worrisome that the illicit drug was to be distributed within the week the election was to hold before it was shifted.

According to him, the impact

would have been colossal on the youth who take such substance and would have perpetrated violence under such influence, if the Indian hemp had gone into circulation at such election period.

To this end, he called on politicians to avoid using youth as political thugs while going on their campaigns, just as he appealed to parents to always monitor the activities of their children.

While assuring that the agency will not relent in carrying out their constitutional responsibilities, he appealed to the state government to assist the agency with more logistics

particularly patrol vehicles in order to cover the state more effectively.

He said, while investigation was ongoing, the suspect will be charged to court and should he be found guilty and convicted, the house and vehicles will be forfeited to the federal government.

The commander disclosed that the suspect live in his personal house, although he said no arm was found with him, he said three vehicles, an Honda Hala, 18 seater bus and a truck was found in his house have been equally seized.

The suspect, Mr Kehinda who said he hails from Edo state but resident in Kaduna state since 2011 confessed that he was

pushed into the illicit business out of frustration.

He said, purchase the Indian hemp from Edo state and that his customers could be anybody who knows that he deals in such business.

Mr Kehinde also confessed that he also takes Indian hemp from time to time to make him happy and feel good.

Although, he said he is married, he exonerated his wife from the business, saying, “my wife did not know that I deal in Indian hemp before we got married, and when she eventually found out, she has been appealing to me to stop the business.

Bauchi Chief judge convicts man 15 yrs imprisonment over rape of minor From Ahmed Kaigama,Bauchi

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hief Justice Rabi T Umar of Bauchi State High Court number four has sentenced a middle aged man to 15 years imprisonment and fine of (N3000) over rape of minor.

The convicted Adamu Abdullahi was arraigned before

the court by State Director Public Prosecution, Barrister Dauda Yakubu over rape of seven year old girl Fatima Abubakar contrary to section 282 of the criminal law punishable under section 283 to live imprisonment.

In her judgment, Justice Rabi said the accused was found guilty on the ground that his voluntary confessional statement corroborated with the oral evidence tendered by the victim, she explained clearly how the convict forced her in

to his room and had her canal knowledge as a result which she was injured in her private part.

She said medical examination released from the hospital confirmed the injury she sustained in her private part was as a result of rape.

After pleading for leniency by counsel to the accused Dahiru Abdulhamid, Justice Rabi sentenced the accused to 15 years imprisonment from the date he was arraigned in court on 5th March 2012 with a three thousand Naira fine, (N3000).

Police arraign 2 men for alleged housereaking; theft

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he police on Thursday arraigned two men: Joseph Mason and Solomon Daniel, before a Wuse Zone 2 Senior Magistrates’ Court, on a three-count charge of joint act, house-breaking and theft.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Abdullahi Alhassan, told the court that one Totyon David of Mabushi, reported the matter at the Mabushi Police Station on Feb. 6.

Alhassan said that the two suspects, also of Mabushi, entered the complainant’s compound and broke into his apartment.

He told the court that the accused persons stole a laptop and one digital camera, all valued at N89, 000 He said that the offences contravened Sections 79, 346 and 288 of Penal Code.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.

Senior Magistrate Folashade Oyekan, granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N100, 000 each, and two sureties each in like sum.

Oyekan ordered that the sureties must reside within the jurisdiction of the court.

She adjourned the matter till March 25 for hearing. (NAN)

Four warships inaugurated by President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday in Lagos. Photo: NAN

25-year-old vigilante, suspected robber killed in gun battle From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

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member of vigilante group operating in a joint police/ vigilante patrol team has lost his life in a gun battle with some unknown gunmen, suspected to be armed robbers, on Bayanga-Dogonruwa feeder road in Bauchi State.

One of the suspected armed robbers also lost his life in the exchange of fire between them and the joint patrol team.

A statement issue and

signed by the Bauchi State Police Command Public Relation Officer, DSP Haruna Mohammed, made available to journalists in Bauchi yesterday, said the patrol team was ambushed by the gunmen on Tuesday at about 6:20pm at the boundary between Ningi and Toro Local Government Areas of the state.

The PPRO identified the slain vigilante group member as 25-year-old Musa Wakili from Bayanga village in Toro LGA. He said “On the 17/2/2015

at about 18:20 hrs, joint police vigilante group while on patrol along Bayanga Dogonruwa feeder road, boundary between Ningi and Toro LGA were ambushed by unknown gunmen suspected to be armed robbers leading to a fierce exchange of gun battle.

“As a result, one of the attackers whose identity is yet to be ascertained was shot dead while a vigilante man, Musa Wakili male and 25 years of Bayanga Village of Toro LGA died due to gunshot injuries he sustained during the encounter

and the rest fled into the bush with bullet wounds,” the PPRO stated in the statement.

According to him, exhibits recovered included two AK 47 rifles with beech numbers 563747269 and 197527681; 21 rounds of .9mm life ammunition; two magazines; the sum of N7,140 and Etisalat recharge cards valued at N1,600.

He then stated that the case was under investigation and intensive patrol was ongoing in the area in order to apprehend the fleeing perpetrators.

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, February 20, 2015

News

FAAN reads riot act to debtors

From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

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he Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) yesterday vowed to go tough on its debtors warning that it’s period of grace to companies to settle their balances has elapsed.

The agency manages 22 airports across Nigeria on behalf of the federal government, but the exact amount of debts owed was not disclosed by FAAN FAAN spokesman, Mr. Yakubu Dati told journalists late Thursday evening the authority wishes to notify all

its debtors, including airlines, concessionaires and other service providers, at all Nigerian airports, that the authority will soon publish a list of such debtors in major Nigerian newspapers as a prelude to other measures designed to help the Authority recover all its outstanding debts.

“All affected customers of the Authority are hereby advised to approach the Authority’s Debt Recovery Department at its headquarters or Airport Managers across the country with relevant documents for reconciliation of accounts with the Authority.” He said in a statement.

He explained that the authority is constrained to take the measure because the level of indebtedness to the authority may soon begin to take a toll on its services which should not be allowed to happen, in the overall interest of safety and security at airports.

management team assumed office, last December, the FHA had a virtually collapsed corporate structure”.

“The staff of the authority was poorly motivated”. This he said created an atmosphere of mutual suspicion, between the members of staff and management which contributed to the militating factors against the authority’s

growth.

Other problems mentioned by the FHA leader included the housing projects located at unviable locations. “The motivation for choosing such sites was not economic. There were no buyers, because the housing units were priced beyond what made sense for prospective home owners”.

Faced with this situation,

he said the IMT has held consultations with all the staff at a general meeting with the various segments of and two unions.

The meeting he said was aimed at reassuring the stake holders about the need to remain confident in the authority, as well as to educate them on the need for the restructuring and the revitalization of the authority, as

approved by government, to get it back on track.

“We have also taken the initial step of creating the central land and property registry by collapsing the ICT and estate register and moving it to the office the chief executive. This step we are certain will protect the integrity of the authority’s vital property documents” he added.

Minister tasks FHA stakeholders on commitment to revitalization

By Evelyn Okakwu

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he Minister of lands housing and urban development, Akon Eyakenyi has called on all stake holders in the Nigerian housing sector to cooperate with the management of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) in ensuring a productive restructuring of the agency.

Addressing stake holders at a retreat to strategize for effective restructuring and commercialization of the FHA, with the theme: “Towards revitalizing the federal housing authority for effective housing delivery” Eyakenyi called on stake holders to be actively involved in bridging the current gap between espected targets and actual outcomes by the authority. “To bridge the current gap, the determination of all stake holders is very necessary”.

Speaking earlier at the event, the chief executive officer of the FHA, Prof. Mohammed AlAmin said the newly inaugurated management has been battling to address some major challenges of the authority.

“When the authorities interim

Oyo: Disables demand ministry, political offices at local level.

From Seyi Ojelade, Ibadan

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onference of Disability Persons in Oyo State on Thursday demanded creation of a Ministry for Disability and Office of the Personal Assistant to the Chairmen of Local Government in all the 33 council areas in the state.

The State Chairman of Persons with Disability, Arch.

Adetunji Somorim stated this during a consultative meeting with Governorship Candidate for Labour Party. Otunba Adebayo Alao-Alao held at SDM House Ibadan.

Persons with disabilities urged Otunba Akala if elected to separate Ministry for Disability from that of Ministry of Women Affair and ensure that only disability persons with relevant qualifications are employed to work in that ministry.

“We want you to fast-track the passage of Disability Bill, give us automatic employment for those who have relevant qualifications into state civil service” they urged Akala

L-R: Director General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri, Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochepke, and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Istifanus Musa, during an investiture ceremony of NOA Wage Peace 2015, yesterday at the ministry, in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-wo

National eye centre staff calls off 4months strike

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

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fter four months of shutting down the hospital, staffs of National Eye Centre, Kaduna have gone into agreement with the hospital management to call off the strike.

Speaking after the resolution of the meeting at the hospital premises yesterday, the Chief

Medical Director of the centre, Dr. Godwin Adejo commended the joint workers union for agreeing to call off the strike.

He confirmed that, the management and the union have signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to implement the agitations of the union as soon as possible.

The CMD therefore pledged the

management’s readiness to respect the agreement reached with the joint staff union to prevent future recurrence of the strike.

Also speaking to newsmen, Chairman of the union, Comrade Ibrahim Wambai Usman said, the union resolved to call off the four months old strike due to intervention of various stakeholders and health of their patients.

According to him, “we have gone into agreement with the management and that is why we have decided to call off the strike.

And we have also considered the health of our patients,” he said.

Part of the agreement according to Usman was improvement of staff welfare packages and upgrade of the hospital facilities, among others.

Immigration service arrest 120 Nigeriens in Kwara From Olanrewaju Lawal,Ilorin

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he Nigeria Immigration Service,Kwara State Command has confirmed that it has deported 120 irregular immigrants to their various countries.

The Public Relation Officer (PRO) of Nigeria Immigration Service, Kwara State Command, Mr. Adeyemi Adesola who disclosed this in Ilorin while speaking with Journalists on Thursday said many of them were from Benin Republic, Niger

Republic and were arrested in Offa and Kaima towns respectively.

He said: “It is our usual mopup exercise. Periodically we go in the state and make sure that we rid illegal or irregular immigrants in the state.

“We have 120 of them. 23 from Benin Republic, 97 from Niger Republic.

This morning our men went out on our usual raid, and they were able to fish out these ones in Offa, Kaiama and Ilorin. Also coincidentally this morning during the raid in Ilorin, we

noticed a lorry conveying about 46 passengers suspected to be Nigeriens. They moved in, intercepted the vehicle and at the end of the day, our profiling revealed that they are truly from Niger.”

The Command spokesman who said the suspected Immigrants did not have their travel documents, added that the mop up was a routine of the Command to ensure that the state was free of irregular immigrants.

Adesola said that 46 of irregular immigrants were from

Katsina and they were on their way to Osun State.

“During our raid this morning, coincidentally we pounced on them and discovered that they are none Nigerian. From our profiling, some of them are going their for the first time and some have been there for a while, not up to a year. They have been doing menial jobs. Those going for the first time also claimed that they were going to do menial jobs. But we are ready to make sure that we return them back to their countries.”

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, February 20, 2015

Page 9

HOW TO FILE YOUR TAX RETURNS ON THE FIRS ELECTRONIC PLATFORM REQUIREMENTS FOR E-FILING • The Taxpayer must have registered and obtained TIN before accessing the e- filing platform.

• A duly completed access form obtainable from the FIRS site or the Tax Office where the taxpayer affairs are handled must be completed and submitted.

• The access creation takes cognisance of the type of access rights given to User by the Chief Executive Officer [CEO] or Managing Director [MD] or Principal Officer of the Company. The User’s credentials/profile in this case would have been spelt out on the access form that was completed by the CEO/ MD or Principal Officer of the Company. The User may include an employee and or a Tax Consultant.

• The access right delegated to the User may be withdrawn through notification to the Tax Office by the CEO/MD or Principal Officer of the Company.

• Upon submission of the access form, the assigned officer of the Taxpayer Service Unit in the Tax Office creates the User using the User’s profile stated on the access form.

• The details on the access form is used to generate User ID[i.e. Username and Password] • It is required that the Password is instantly changed upon first log in.

• The information given in the access form will determine which of the access rights the user is entitled to. These include - View only - Declare (i.e file returns) - TIN Validation - Submission and upload of supporting documents (tax and non-tax related) - TCC Validation • It requires access to internet gateways such as; internet explorer not below 10, google chrome or any fire fox etc.

STEPS TO FILING TAX RETURNS 1.Download the e-filing access application form from http://www.firs.gov.ng/ Tax-Management/Pages/ITAS-e-Filing-Platform.aspx 2. Complete the form and indicate your desired access right.

3. Return completed form to the FIRS office where your tax matters are treated.

4. Obtain your username and password from the tax office having used the information on your form to generate it.

5. log on to e-filing platform either from the FIRS site stated above or through the address https://efiling.firs.gov.ng.

6. Change your password upon initial log in.

7. Upon successful log in, you are positioned on the e-filing page to file any declarations/returns which need to be filed.

8. To start your declaration, click on the “View all declarations to be filed” hyperlink or on the “Taxpayer Service” tab to select the tax types you want to file and double click on the plus (+) sign.

9. Click on the “File now” hyperlink.

10.On the tax return form displayed, identify relevant Line Details to complete or schedule to upload.

11. Enter the amounts for the required form lines in the filing currency previously authorized for the tax account for which you are filing or you can upload csv filefor both the formlines and/or schedule. The upload from csv file is explained in note 1 after step 18 below.

12. Click on the “Submit declaration” button.

13. Verify and ensure that the amounts entered are correct,if not click “back” to go back and make corrections.

14 Click on “Yes” for the returns to be submitted.

15 Click on “End Declaration Process” hyperlink.

16. View Filed Declaration page which gives you a summary of your declaration; the document number is displayed at the top right hand corner.

17. Copy the document number which is required at the bank to settle the tax liabilityor you print the submitted declaration by clicking the print button for you to see the filed declaration with document number on it.

18. Contact itas.change@firs.gov.ng; itasproject@firs.gov.ng; 08115900301; 08115900021 for further enquiries.

NOTE: A. CSV configuration for shedule upload in SIGTAS and E-filing THE SCHEDULE PREPARED IN EXCEL FILE MUST BE SAVED IN CSV FILE

• The CSV - Comma Separated Value is used to import information or data in excel to the system.

• Before saving any excel file for CSV upload, the computer system must be in decimal separator configuration.

• To configure a system to decimal separator, you click file at the menu bar, click on options and select advance on the second screen.

• Check the decimal separator box and enter a comma ( , ). The system is now on decimal sepeaator. This is done only once for a system • There and then you save the excel with csv dos[disc operating system], comma delimited and others excluding Macintosh. This is the only csv version that does not work with SIGTAS. • The CSV can work with or without labels. If it is with labels, it means information to be uploaded must have headings at first column and first row, but where labels are not checked in, it will exclude the first row and first column that carry the headings.

B. • • •

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS FOR E-FILING Internet Explorer not below 10 Google Chrome and Any Fire Fox

C. TRUNCATED DECLARATION PROCESS This may be caused either by network/power failure, session time out or the e-filer who may discontinue the declaration process to seek further clarification or gather additional information. In either case, the e-filer can relog-in and continue from where he/she stopped by clicking on “in progress” and complete the declaration.

Taxes that can be filed using e-filing Platform for now • Petroleum Profit Tax • Education Tax • Companies Income Tax • Value Added Tax • National Information Technology Levy • Capital Gains Tax

DOCUMENTATIONS REQUIRED WHEN MAKING E-FILING Beside system requirements earlier mentioned, the following documents are required when conducting e-filing: • Relevant Tax Returns • Relevant Excel Schedules saved in appropriate CSV file BENEFITS OF E-FILING E-filing platform provides the following benefits: • Self-service Platform using a personal computer, laptop, tablet or any device with a connection to the internet, from the comfort of your home, work or any place that is convenient to you.

• It saves your time and money as the returns are filed online. You do not need to produce hardcopy returns and transport yourself to tax office to submit tax returns.

• Promotes voluntary compliance due to its convenience.

• Keep your information secure and confidential. The e-filing environment is secured and safe with your User ID and password, ITAS/ SIGTAS platform will ensure that your tax information will be safe and confidential.

• The system takes all submissions by taxpayers as self assessment • The system does the calculation at back-end for you. The Declaration [Tax Return] Forms are system driven, that is the formlines are linked to back-end computation and helps taxpayers to avoid common errors like using wrong rates and committing arithmetical mistakes.

• Promotes transparency and boost taxpayer confidence and trust in the system • Saves taxpayer the rigours of going to tax office to confirm TIN and apply for TCC • Taxpayer can update her profiles without going to tax office to do so • Taxpayer can use message centre to make enquiries and receive instant reply for tax office • Tax account balance can easily be queried from the e-filing environment before taxpayer applies for Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC)

PAGE 10

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, February 20, 2015

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, February 20, 2015

News NCPC boss commends philanthropist for sponsoring 2014 pilgrims

By Evelyn Okakwu

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he executive of the Nigerian Christian pilgrim’s commission, John Kennedy Opara has extended gestures of appreciations to aphilanthropic Nigerian for sponsoring pilgrims to Israel during the 014 pilgrimage exercise.

A statement by the head of media and publicity NCPC, Celestine Ogugua said the gesture was aimed at encouraging greater participation of well-meaning Nigerians, in aiding spiritually thirsty people, who maybe unable to finance themselves to the holy land for spiritual growth.

The statement noted that the NCPC boss appreciated the Chief Executive Officer of A-Z Petroleum Products, Chief Dr. Alenxander Chika during a meeting in Abuja.

It added that the Easter pilgrimage would be mainly for self-sponsored pilgrims, stressing that it would also avail the commission the opportunity to let those who could not make it to the 2014 pilgrimage, visiting the holy land this year.

“The NCPC is using pilgrimage as a tool for moral and spiritual transformation.

Pilgrimage is for those who are spiritually rich, but materially poor. This is the only way we can encourage Christians who are faithful”, the statement noted.

According to the statement, Dr Okafor promised to keep up the habit of sponsoring pilgrims to the holy land, since it’s the only place that the direct link of the world to the bible.

It added that the recipient encouraged Christians to be generous in helping fellow Christians attain such stage of spirituality adding that; “No matter the level of wealth one acquires in life, if you cannot touch lives, then you have not achieved anything in life”.

L-R: Bauchi state Commissioner for Health, Dr Sani Malami, Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Adamu, and Galadima of Bauchi, Alhaji Ibrahim Jahun, during the inspection of Bauchi state new General Hospital by the emir, yesterday in Bauchi.

Photo: NAN

Kano trains, posts 7000 security operatives to schools

By Maryam Garba Hassan

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ano state Governor and APC Senatorial candidate in the state, Engineer Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has disclosed that in his effort to ensure safety of students in all the schools in the state, his government has trained 7000 men and women as security operatives.

The governor made the disclosure yesterday in Abuja while fielding questions from the media at the end of the courtesy

visit he paid to the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Prof.

Suleiman Elias Bogoro at the headquarters of the agency.

Kwankwaso said the 7000 men and women so far trained have been deplored to all the primary, secondary schools and tertiary institutions in the state.

He said the training received by the security will no doubt ensure safety of pupils and students in the school as well as protect lives and property of citizens in the state.

He said the visit paid to the

leadership of the agency was to seek for more intervention for the tertiary institutions in the state as the state government cannot do it alone even though a lot has been achieved in the education sector by his administration.

In his remarks, ES of the agency, Prof. Suleiman Bogoro, who thanked the governor for his commitment toward the education sector in the state commended Kwankwaso for his commitment toward the upliftment of the education

sector and for adding value to teaching profession in Kano.

Bogoro said the Governor should have been out campaigning but he chooses to be at the agency in his quest to add value to the sector in the state.

He said approval for the establishment of TETFund zonal offices in the six Geo political zones in the country has been given as requested by the governor.

According to him, the North East zonal office will be situated in Kano.

TETFund to establish zonal offices in six geo political zones

By Maryam Garba Hassan

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he Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has given the approval for the establishment of Zonal offices in the six Geo political zones in the country.

Executive Secretary of the agency, Prof. Suleiman Elias Bogoro, disclosed this recently in Abuja when the Governor of Kano Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso paid

him a courtesy call in his office in Abuja.

Bogoro said the idea was suggested by the governor and after due consideration the agency approved of the idea.

He said the zonal office in the North Western part of the country will be sited in Kano.

He assured the Governor that the two Kano state owned universities established by the present administration in the

state and other qualified ones will be given attention by TETFund.

Kwankwaso while commending the agency for responding promptly to his request, said the zonal offices when established will go along way in making the impact of TETFund felt in tertiary institutions.

While outlining his achievements in the education sector in the last 3 and the half

years in office, the Governor said out of the first set of 197 students the state gave scholarship to study in Kampala, Uganda, 50 made first class, 808 made second class lower division while only one student failed as a result of health challenges she faced during her studies in the country.

He said 2014 Kano state indigenes are currently studying in 18 countries across the world.

Lagos: Train collides with inter-state commercial bus From Matthew Aramunde, Lagos

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n Iddo –Lagos bound train in the early hours of yesterday morning, collided with an inter-state commercial bus at the Ikeja railway crossing line.

The inter-state bus with registration number SMK 788KE, belonging to a commercial motor company Chukwubukem Motors, was said to be heading

towards the motor company’s motor station at the Iyana-Ipaja a suburb of Lagos from the Ikeja direction when the accident happened.

According to an eyewitness who spoke with our correspondent at the scene of the accident, but proffered anonymity, said the bus who was coming behind a black salon car as they approached the railway crossing line failed to heed the warnings of the Policemen around

the vicinity who attempted to flag him down to warn him of the approaching train, but rather than heed their warnings, he thought he could quickly sneak through as did the black saloon car that was ahead of him who had already crossed the line, but miscalculated the distance between him and the train and so was not that lucky as the saloon car as the train rammed into it sending it crashing as the train dragged it along The transit bus

was dragged along to about three meters from where it rammed into it before disentangling itself leaving the damaged bus by the side of the rail line, where scores of early morning risers on their way to work formed small company to discuss the unfortunate incident. The driver however escaped unhurt.

When our correspondent visited the Railway Corporation Station at Ikeja, he was directed to talk with officials at the

Corporation Headquarters at Iddo by an official who said he was not competent to speak on the matter even as he warned motorist including pedestrians to exercise some measure of precaution whenever they are either approaching railway crossing or walking across it. He stressed that they should desist from wanting to “quickly sneak through” as they might not be too accurate in their presumed timing of a coming train.

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Current Issues

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, February 20, 2015

Let’s face reality from political blame game

By Nuratu Abdur-Rashid Oyetunji

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he debate over the postponement of the elections began after the response of National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki at a lecture in London’s Catham House on January 22, 2015. He is not known for any penchant for frivolity or undue partisanship in matters of national importance.

While buttressing challenges of insecurity, corruption, and preparation towards the forthcoming elections, he was quoted to have said that if in one year, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) can only distribute 30 million permanent voters’ cards, he does not see how the same body would distribute another 30million in 2 weeks.

In the heat of the brouhaha, there are obvious fact that the electoral body was not prepared for the elections. Finally it had to reschedule the general Elections originally fixed for February 14 and 28 to March 28 and April 11, 2015. The Chairman of the body Professor Attahiru Jega cited security concern for the postponement. Any number of reason could be given for postponement but none would ameliorate the disappointment of Nigerians.

This postponement has brought unnecessary criticisms from the international community who have ignored our peculiarities. For instance, the

National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki U.S Secretary of State John Kerry said he was deeply disappointed by the decision. Adding that “it was critical that the government do not use security concerns as a pretext for impeding the democratic process.” Similarly the British Foreign Secretary Phillip Hammond also echoed the sentiment when he said that “security situation should not be used as a reason to deny the Nigerian people from exercising their democratic right”.

Meanwhile the Citizen Initiative for Security Awareness (CISA) at a press conference organised by I-Nigeria Initiative in Abuja, expressed

its disappointment with the postponement of the election but insisted that the “six weeks is not six months”. The Co-ordinator of CISA, Chidi Omeje said despite the disappointment they believe without equivocation, that the intervention and position of the National security Adviser and the relevant security agencies on this issue was guided by altruism and the larger interest of the nation and not in any way for partisan consideration. He also went further to say that we Nigeria know where our shoe pinches us and so we should be wary of insincere advice by those who has predicted the

disintegration of the country.

I also share this sentiment in cautioning hostile foreign interferences in domestic affairs.

We are living witnesses to the nonchalant attitudes of the U.S government to the increasing security challenges the Boko Haram insurgency has imposed on Nigeria. Our foreign allies should provide more concrete support to Nigeria’s war against terrorism beyond the current non-committal posture and grandstanding on electoral processes.

While the western power are being critical of Nigeria, our neighbours too are not being fair to us going by the alleged remarks by Defence Minister of Niger who boosted that Nigerien soldiers are not cowards like Nigerian soldiers.

It was not surprising that Defence Spokesman Gen. Chris Olukolade has to angrily reply by saying that “It is sad that a few partisan elements join the poor country to insult our troops. We don’t cross our boundaries. It is unacceptable for any foreign government to say our soldiers ran. Some rushed to the press with the Nigerien gaffe hoping to embarrass our military or government. But nobody will disrespect my Mother! Poor Niger!

For those who believe that criticising their government or doing the bidding of foreigners, they may be advised to change their orientation. It is also necessary to draw their attention

to the advice of a prominent Sierra Leonean politician, Omar Bangora to Nigerians when she said religious and political leaders are trying to divide Nigerians between religious lines and we are helping them do that rather than standing up and say we are all Nigerians never mind our tribe, region or religion. She said the foreign powers pushing the government to take certain decisions would abandon us when we start killing each other and they would reject us from running to their countries. So we need to be careful.

She relieved the 11 years’ war in Sierra Leone, where she was also a victim saying that the sierra Leonean civil war was not even based on religious or tribal differences but the country was worst for it in over a decade.

She said “The worst conflicts are those based on tribal and religious differences. See Central Africa, Bosnia. My heart bleeds when I read what you guys are saying because I know what this will lead to. You will be the losers!”

This is not time for playing hide and seek. It is the period for actions, real actions against unnecessary excuses and blamegames by all sides. Nigerian must unite and be patriotic on national issues

a fair conduct of an election in the troubled North-East region requires extra-ordinary security measures. And this is exactly what the security chiefs had promised to provide, thus wrote INEC chief, Attahiru Jega urging a delay on the grounds that the military could not provide nationwide election security because all available resources were being deployed to the northeast to fight Boko Haram.

Despite sustained military offensives in flushing out of terrorists from their camps through combined efforts of Multinational Joint Task Force comprising Nigerian, Chadian, Cameroonian and Nigerien troops, the Boko Haram still carried out another attack in Gombe on Saturday February 14, 2015, the initial Election Day that was rescheduled. Certainly, if the election was held, the attack might have been more deadly and probably would have affected other communities and towns if it was not shifted.

Sentiment aside, the increasing security challenges require more cautions. The adjustment of the dates of the conduct of election is necessary to guarantee reasonable level of security as well as allow other voters who have not collected their permanent voter cards

do so before the re-scheduled dates for elections. However, the government should not use this as a pretext to manipulate the election process to give any undue advantage to some politicians to edge out others.

The consequences of such actions may severely threat political stability and oneness of our dear nation. This is the major fear of Nigerians.

There was Nigeria. There is Nigerian and there should be Nigeria after the elections.

Therefore political leaders in the ruling and the opposition parties must understand that their actions will go a long way towards sustenance of democracy in a united nation.

After the elections, winners and losers must emerge and our nationhood will continue. It is necessary to warn unpatriotic individuals and militants who are threatening to cause confusion and civil unrest during and after elections if their preferred candidates lose, such reckless and inciting statements should be avoided for national peace.

Sovereignty and togetherness of multi-ethnic Nigeria at this critical time requires all hands on deck for free, fair and transparent elections.

Yusuf An-Nuphawi Wuye District, Abuja

Nuratu Abdur-Rashid Oyetunji Finance Quarters wuye, Abuja nuratu_abdur@yahoo.com

Beyond doubts over elections

By Yusuf An-Nuphawi

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ore questions continued to be raised than answers as Nigerians bemoan postponement of the general elections earlier schedule to hold this month. There are various conspiracy theories, insinuating that President Goodluck Jonathan, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Service Chiefs are hobnobbing for egocentric agenda over the elections. There are also claims that the elections may either be rigged or there could be imposition of an interim national government.

Those in the ruling party and the federal government have argued that rescheduling of the general elections was in the best interest of the nation and was never driven by any ulterior motives.

There could not have been a better avenue to clear the cloudy issues surrounding the postponement than a nationwide presidential media chat, hosted by the President himself which was broadcasted live. President Jonathan used the opportunity to assured of the citizens that a new democratically elected government will be sworn in on May 29 and he remained committed to the sanctity of the

INEC chairman, Attahiru Jega new election dates.

The president further reassured Nigerians through his Spokesman, Ruben Abati that he would continue to give the greatest possible support to INEC and other relevant federal agencies to ensure that the rescheduled elections are successfully conducted.

While we expressed our misgiving and doubting the ability of our military to make Boko Haram a thing of the past, the National Security Advisor (NSA) retired Colonel Sambo Dasuki assured the citizens that elections will not be postponed again as the military are expected to destroyed all camps of

terrorists within six weeks.

Notwithstanding that he was cynically criticized, Colonel Dasuki, during a speech in London on January 22 was the first official of the administration to canvass the postponement idea, he had based the call on shortfalls in the distribution of the permanent voter cards and other security implications.

Debunking allegation of attempt to impose an interim government in the country, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adokie said “the contraption called ‘Interim National Government’ is alien to Nigeria’s constitutional framework and the arrangement should not be promoted by well– meaning Nigerians under any guise or circumstance. Nigerians are therefore enjoined to continue to rely on the Constitution, which contains adequate provisions on how the democratic process can be activated to elect their leaders from time to time.”

Conscious minds were pre-informed before the official announcement of the postponement that in addition to difficulties in distributing voter identity cards by INEC, the rampaging activities of the Boko Haram insurgents had reached such an astronomical extent that

PAGE 13

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, February 20, 2015

EDITORIAL

Find Prof. Falaki’s killers

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he family of him to death. The account killing, noting that they P r o f e s s o r contradicts that given by suspected extra-judicial A h m a d the deceased’s brother, killing.

M u s t a p h a Malam Abbas Mustapha, “It should be thoroughly Falaki, the who said the police investigated and any director, Institute of watched as the mob person who has a hand Agricultural Research attacked them, despite in it be appropriately (IAR) of the Ahmadu identifying themselves dealt with as provided Bello University (ABU) by law. The report of in Zaria, who was the investigation should slain while returning be made available to from Bauchi state on members of the family It should be Saturday, has faulted and his employers”, it thoroughly the police version of his said. death. investigated and The family asked the In a petition titled: police to also retract any person who “Extra-judicial killing their earlier claim that of Professor Ahmad the deceased and the has a hand in it Musatapha Falaki” sent others were members of be appropriately to the Inspector General Boko Haram. of Police, Suleiman We urge the police IG dealt with as Abba, the family said to urgently find the based upon the accounts true killers of Falaki provided by law. of survivors of the attack and bring them to and other witnesses, the face justice, rather as not belonging to the account given by the than sweep the matter Boko Haram sect. police was false. under the carpet. This According to the petition The police had claimed is necessary to unravel signed by Aminu that before it could reach the vague circumstances Mustapha Daneji, the late the late Falaki to rescue surrounding the death professor’s family wants him, a mob, comprising of the distinguished the Inspector General of of villagers, had stabbed Professor.

Police to investigate the

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, February 20, 2015

PAGE 14

Opinion

I leave NSA out of Sokoto politics

By Musa Zakari Wamakko

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s a bonafide indigene of Sokoto state and one who is very much in tune with political cum social developments in the state, I feel very disappointed when one Muhammed Kabir Hassan wrote an offensive article entitled “Sokoto under siege by NSA” in the Peoples Daily of February 17.

Most of the arguments of the writer, in his attempt to criticise the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, expose him as a sponsored hatchet writer engaged to smear the hard-earned reputation of an intelligent prince of Sultanate Caliphate.

The only thing one could easily decipher from the write-up is the warning that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) should “not arrest key players in the opposition APC.” The writer admitted that “some prominent figures in APC in Sokoto state have been invited by EFCC and may face arraignment or be detained…”Why should the writer and his sponsors be jittery over an invitation from anticorruption agency if the invited guests do not have skeletons in their cupboards?

I feel compelled to offer my

personal thoughts on this and other prevailing negative political developments capable of plunging the state and her people in a deep mess if left unattended to.

This is certainly not the time to keep a distance from Sokoto’s political circle. Should sane minds refuse to openly name and shame individuals with evil intentions masquerading as genuine leaders, we should know we are headed for destruction.

Our dear Sokoto state, the very revered seat of the Caliphate and home to respected personalities like the late Sardaunan Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello and former President Aliyu Shehu Shagari, is daily occupying the news headlines for the very wrong and bizarre reasons. No thanks to the not-too-palatable activities of some politicians who are bent on grabbing power by all means.

We are about losing those very things we hold so dear to our hearts to tactless politics and crass desperation for power. Those core values of honour, integrity, resilience, discipline , unity and honesty which define us as people are now being threatened by narrow considerations, sectional agenda and self-seeking dispositions of some of us.

Strangely, we now prefer to

wash and dry our dirty linens in public, instead of resolving them in the closet. A stranger dimension to this madness is the resolve to flood newspaper pages with articles to malign, rubbish and ridicule their perceived or imagined political opponents. These practices are no doubt very alien to us as a people. Campaigns in Sokoto state have ceased to dwell on core issues of developments. Rather, campaigners have resolved to openly attack their political opponents. If these developments do not worry any sane mind, then I wonder what should worry us as a state.

Very ferocious, spurious and unverified stories are daily planted in the press to ridicule some Sokoto indigenes holding political offices at the Federal level. Strangely, even those who have chosen to remain apolitical have become victims of serial attacks. We cannot afford to keep quiet and watch desperate politicians employ unsavory tactics in their desperate bids to attract supporters to their folds. An average Sokoto man is independent-minded. He believes strongly in the fact any man whose sole intent is to calumnise his opponent for purely political reasons doesn’t deserve his

attention.

As an avowed advocate of politics without bitterness, responsive and responsible governance at all levels, I totally condemn ongoing plans to discredit certain personalities who have blatantly refused to pander to the whims of selfappointed political deities in our dear Sokoto state. These characters are bent on attacking anyone who prefers to either remain apolitical or pitch tent with the ruling Peoples Democratic Party. Politics offers us unbridled freedom to make choices as well as align with ideologies that best suit us. Coercing others to join your train or agree with your political ideology hook, line and sinker is a big sin in the sight of God and crime against humanity. People should be allowed to exercise their right to freedom and association.

Having tried rather unsuccessfully to ‘deal’ with some politicians in the PDP fold in Sokoto state, enemies of the state have turned their attention to the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, a son of the state, who they serially accuse of “working against his own state and people”.

The media is daily awash with concocted stories packaged to dress the NSA in undignified

robes. The question that keeps agitating the minds of most Nigerians, especially indigenes of Sokoto state is: what are Sambo Dasuki sins?

Why are some characters bent on distracting Col. Dasuki from faithfully coordinating various operations aimed at flushing out insurgents from our land? Let’s leave him out of partisan politics. This plot to discredit his personality has fallen flat on its face. We should be very mindful of our utterances, especially on claims that cannot be substantiated.These self-seeking individuals want the NSA to clamp down on their perceived political opponents, a task that no sane mind would ever consider doing. Security establishments or agencies exist to protect citizens and not to be used as tools for intimidation. Certainly, these are unrealistic expectations. We are not in a lawless society where personal interest overrides public considerations. Sokoto indigenes should be allowed to align with any politician or political party of their choices. Politicians shouldn’t overheat the polity with very reckless, inciting and unsavoury comments.

Musa Zakari Wamakko lives on Dendo Street, Sokoto.

Campaign adverts: Watching what you say

By Habib Yakoob

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erhaps, no presidential campaign in the history of this nation has produced as many political advertisements as that of the 2015. I am yet to arrive at any scientific explanation for this proliferation, but my quick assumptions include the common belief of politicians in the power of the media in political campaigns; the burning desire of media campaign teams to justify their pay; and the amount of funds at the campaign teams’ disposal. If you take a cursory look at the pages of newspapers, you will easily notice that of the political parties in this contest, the PDP tops the frequency table of advert placements, followed by the APC, possibly in the ratio of 4:1. Of course the PDP started running massive campaign adverts long before the APC; and as we move closer to the Election Day, I expect the volume of their adverts to swell and their ingenious attacks on personality to double. APC will try to match its rival to keep up the tempo, but God knows it can hardly close the yawning gaps cut by the PDP. Characteristically, these adverts run from acclaims of candidates, defence of candidates against certain allegations and attacks on opponents.

Obviously, substantive issues are maltreated in these adverts; and generally, contents are petty, inane, bizarre and rabidly

offensive as they seek to hit below the belt. But this article is not an analysis of the quality of the adverts; that task should be reserved for another day. At the moment, what interests me are those adverts that tend to recall the words and public statements made in the past by one party chieftain either for or against the candidate or party he now unabashedly finds awful or wonderful.

Let us begin with the All Progressives Congress (APC).

But before then, let me quickly point out that where the said comments were made, when, why and how were not captured in the adverts I reference here, since those to whom these words are ascribed have not categorically denied making them; and particularly, since one of the subjects is well known for hypocrisy, and his video gone viral I feel protected.

In 2007, when Buhari was the presidential candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), and contested the presidential election with former PDP’s Olusegun Obasanjo, then Lagos state governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu called him (Buhari) a “destabilisation agent, and far worse than Obasanjo.”

Similarly, in 2011 when Buhari was the presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), former minister of the Federal Capital Territory, now gubernatorial candidate of

the APC in Kaduna state, Nasir el-Rufai, asked Buhari to “retire, it is time for a new generation of leaders.” The aforementioned comments or innuendoes formed part of the PDP adverts in which a query was raised as to whether “these men” could have changed overnight. Perhaps by far the most alarming of these comments are those of the PDP’s campaign spokesperson, Chief Femi FaniKayode, who had said so many terrible things against his present boss and party. No politician ever had such notorious penchant for white-washing something he so absolutely condemned just a few minutes ago or vice versa as FFK. In one of the APC adverts featuring him, chief FFK was quoted as saying: “The problem that we have is the president (Goodluck Jonathan) himself”; “When the president is defeated he will declare himself winner, the same way it happened in the NGF. He will try to split the country the same way he did to NGF”; “In 2015, if the PDP loses to APC and they are trying to plan this kind of game with Nigerians, they will know we all own this country”; “(PDP is a) self-evident sinking ship.”

It is the same “sinking ship” captained by the same “powerhungry” president that FaniKayode now proudly associates with. I have had the privilege of watching the video clip and I wonder why the sponsors of

that advert failed to include one of the stunning support lines

by FFK for the APC, when he called on Nigerians to rally round Buhari, Tinubu and APC to push the PDP away. At the time these statements were made, with haughty insouciance, I imagine that the speakers were eager for unrestraint publicity to be given to them; but now, political exigencies have exposed the stupidity of their wisdom, and I think each time they stumble into that advert on the paper, they aggressively flip over the page.

The moral content of most of our modern-day politicians is suspect. It is warped and conditioned by the politics of “a-loaf-of-bread”. Whatever will help put food on his table, or give him a sense of recognition and notice-me-now status, the average Nigerian politician embraces with tenacity. Then, whatever stands in opposition to his cause, he attacks without restraints. This attitude is particularly evident in those who switch parties easily as they see everything unwholesome in their old fraternity and all good in their new world until the table turns again.

A friend once told me the story of a certain PDP chieftain who defected to another party a couple of years ago; and at a conference to announce his defection, he had called the PDP a “party of armed robbers.”

Some years later when he was edged out of his new party, (I

can’t remember which, again), he unashamedly returned to the “Umbrella”. At a press conference, made up of the same newsmen whom he once told the story of the armed robbers in the PDP, he was asked him whether he was fully armed with AK 47 or RPG to defend himself. Our politician did not understand the import of this question immediately, until he was reminded that just a couple of years ago he had described this party as a nest for armed robbers, and it was at this point that he flared up questioning where the newsman got the audacity to interrogate him about such words. This group of politicians are everywhere in our midst; and the sad thing about them is that they don’t feel as much shame as they should when confronted with their hypocrisy.

On the 2015 campaign trail, there is no doubt that several of such comments are made on daily basis by our politicians, who feel that what matters is the moment and the fortune it may bring to them. They will say whatever strays to their mind because they want the peoples vote, forgetting that tomorrow will ever come at all. But if theyhave any principles, they may be saved from the embarrassing situation that comes with saying something today and not been able to defend it tomorrow.

Habib Yakoob, wrote in from University of Abuja.

PAGE 15

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, February 20, 2015

Comment

Yero and battle for Kaduna’s soul

By Barnabas Musa

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hen the bells for the polls toll in few weeks’ time, all eyes will be on Kaduna state, not because it may have any bearing on national politics but because it will be interesting to see how the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) fares a g a i ns t t h e o p p o s it io n Al l Progressives’ Congress (APC), fronted by a man who has long abhorred the PDP, Mallam Nasir el Rufai. Long before battle lines were drawn, el Rufai has made his dislike for the PDP public; not because he wishes to dislike them for the sake of it. It is clear that, many a time, he had had some very controversial run-ins with the ruling party, even when he was a member of the ruling government! But this is not about el Rufai. This is about Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, the man who will be looking to consolidate on what

he has spent time doing in the last two years. True, he was called upon to lead a bereaved state when he least expected it following the death of his boss in an air mishap.

Yero has striven to maintain a balance between the people of Southern Kaduna and other parts of the oncepeaceful state. He learned the ropes so fast on how to lead a state with different voices, but, while his performance have not been exactly stellar, he has made a bright start; one which only continuity can help get better. Yero has reached out to all dormant aspects of the state’s economy; from the re-awakening of the state’s collapsed industries, to increased provision of infrastructure entrenchment of social security, a penchant for sincere development of the state’s education structure, youth and women empowerment via skills’ acquisition, improved

health care delivery, sports development, increased public awareness on peace building and neighbourliness…the list is, I daresay, endless.

Recently, though, the battle for the soul of the state in the guber election has taken on new dimensions. In recent times, several faceless arm chair critics have inundated various media platforms (social media, specifically) with numerous frivolous accusations against the Yero administration. This is inspite of the fact that, in the last two years, a huge regard for simple human ethics of fairness and objectivity has returned and the prevailing atmosphere is one which has not been experienced in a long time. Worse (and most bizarre), they wrongly accuse the administration of Yero of lacking an agenda and focus for the development of the state.

To lead this five-part

clarification (rather than respond to any critics), it is pertinent to review the security situation in the state since the emergence of Yero as governor of the State. The Nigerian Constitution clearly provides that security is paramount responsibility of government at all levels. If this is true, then the administration of Yero has performed above average in its clearly defined cardinal objective of securing the state.

To remind some forgetful heads, Kaduna was fast becoming a major theatre of terrorists’ activities pre-Yero era. Several people were killed across the state beginning with the post- presidential election violence of 2011 to the many bomb blasts.

Yes, el Rufai is a good man and he is popular among the elite in Kaduna, he has a good record while he was a minister of the FCT and all that…but Yero is no underdog; he is the seam that has held the fragile

clothe called Kaduna together in the last couple of years.

Pray, tell, if that is no feat, then, what is?

More so, his endorsement by the PDP and several indigenous groups is proof that there is more from the well where his current strides were borne. No, this is not about the politics of religion. It is not the politics of ethnicity. It is, also, not the politics of the incumbent versus the in-coming. It is the politics of the man we know, one who administers the state with fairness, equity and justice, instead of one who will come to rule in a democratic dispensation.

Yero is everything and more which many of those angling to govern Kaduna State are not and, thus, he deserves another shot at the seat of the governor – if a number of things are taken into consideration.

Barnabas Musa wrote in from Kaduna

Of Yobe and imperative of quintessential governor

By Hassan Gimba

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resident Dwight Eisenhower, a former president of the United States of America, once said that “The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army, or in an office.”The above quote readily comes to mind each time one tries to ponder over the political developments in Yobe State since 1999 when Nigeria returned to uninterrupted democracy.

From 1999 to date, Yobe State has been governed by three chief executives - Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim (the socalled father of Yobe politics), Senator Mamman Bello Ali of blessed memory and Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam, the incumbent governor.

While Bukar Abba lived out the entire stretch of his constitutionally allowed eight years in office, his predecessor Mamman Bello Ali’s tenure was cut short by his death barely two years into his tenure. He was succeeded by his deputy, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam, who completed his first tenure, then contested for a fresh mandate in 2011 and will be going for yet another term, if he wins the forthcoming April 11 2015 governorship election.

Interestingly, all three happened to be in the same political party, the All (Nigeria) People’s Party (APP/ANPP), which later coalesced in a merger with other Nigerian opposition parties to form the present All

Progressives Congress (APC).

That is to say the APC/APP/ ANPP have been ruling Yobe State for about a decade and a half of the state’s democratic experience.

In any clime, 14 years is more than enough for a government of one political party ruling a state to take stock of its achievements and even beat its chest that it has indeed put on ground something worthy of mention when it comes to transforming the state and bringing the dividends of democracy to the doorstep of the people. As a matter of emphasis, their achievements should be their campaign materials.

But the reverse seems to be the case in Yobe State.

Sadly, the ruling APC still have to compete for space with the opposition parties in pasting campaign posters and banners, not showcasing what the party in government has done, but filled with endless promises

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of what it will do, should it be elected back to office.

It is sad to have to point out here that despite APC’s years of being in power in the state, Yobe remains on the lowest rung of the ladder in the ranking of states’ developmental indices in Nigeria.

Despite the universal accord that no society develops without qualitative and even compulsory education for the youth, the performance of Yobe State students was the worst in the recent post primary exams results released by both the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examination Council (NECO).

This is just to mention the least about how bad the situation is in Yobe State today.

Yobe State remains a very rural state, despite the multibillion naira investments the previous and present governments of the state have

sunk into what they called socioeconomic and infrastructural development programmes.

This takes us back to the quote of President Eisenhower, where he ruled out success in governance once a leader in power lacks unquestionable integrity and knowledge. What about the qualities of the leaders?

Taking a step back to the political development of Yobe State, it is very instructive to note that while the state continued to return an ANPP government since 1999, one politician has featured in challenging the incumbents at the polls more than any other politician of the opposition the state.

Adamu Maina Waziri has vied to govern Yobe State by taking over from the ANPP (APC) since 2003. Even though he has not recorded success at the polls, his party and a chunk of Yobe

It is sad to have to point out here that despite APC’s years of being in power in the state, Yobe remains on the lowest rung of the ladder in the ranking of states’ developmental indices in Nigeria.

Despite the universal accord that no society develops without qualitative and even compulsory education for the youth, the performance of Yobe State students was the worst in the recent post primary exams results released by both the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examination Council (NECO). This is just to mention the least about how bad the situation is in Yobe State today

State’s citizenry have continued to endorse his emergence as the candidate of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

A little research conducted by this author revealed one reason why the polls have not so far favoured him; the Fear Factor.

There is fear in Yobe State that given his frank nature and straightforward attitude of addressing issues that pertain to the wellbeing of the generality of Yobeans, Waziri might unsettle certain unprogressive antics that currently benefit a selected few within the establishment class.

There is fear on the part of some corrupt politicians in the state. There is even more fear amongst some few corrupt top civil servants in the state, who had colluded with some unscrupulous politicians to shortchange civil servants of their welfare packages. There is fear that once Adamu Maina Waziri emerges governor of Yobe State, mediocrity will be banished.

Samuel Johnson, the British writer, poet and journalist once said, “Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful.” It is an obvious fact that since 1999, Yobe has been saddled with either leaders who have knowledge but lack integrity or vice versa. That was why the state was pushed to the precipice of collapse. But the hope of the people of Yobe remains kindled, because waiting to take over is Adamu Maina Waziri.

Gimba wrote in from Abuja.

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, February 20, 2015

OBJ has torn PDP’s future, not his membership card -Ibadan Community From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

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eadership of Ibadan People Association (IPA) has described the action of former President Olusegun Obasanjo who recently dumped the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as healthiest development to Nigeria’s democracy.

National President of the association, Comrade Abdulhakeem Adegoke Alawuje said, “What Obasanjo tore is beyond his PDP membership card, he has torn the future of PDP in Nigeria”.

Alawuje who spoke to newsmen in Kaduna yesterday said, “That a former President and founding father of PDP could come out and have his membership card torn in the public is a sign that PDP ship is sinking”.

According to him, “whether we like it or not, Obasanjo remains a respected elder statesman in the country. He is not an ingrate like some people described him, because he has warned the sitting President severally on the level of injustice in the party and after failing to address them, Obasanjo felt there is no point remaining in such party”.

The IPA Chairman also described the development of the opposition All Progressives Congress and the massive support of Nigerians for General Muhammadu Buhari as the will of God, which President Goodluck Jonathan is trying to appeal by postponing the 2015 general elections.

“What we have witnessed recently, particularly the way and manner by which Nigerians are supporting the APC and General Buhari is God’s judgement against Jonathan.

But unfortunately, instead of Jonathan to accept the will of God, he is now trying to appeal by using the likes of Ayo Fayose, Buruji Kashamu, Femi Fani Kayode, Doyin Okupe and Olabode Judge as his evil agents.

“But, what we want to assure all Nigerians is that, the will of God will prevail over the evil of man.

And that will of God is for General Buhari to emerge the next President of this country, because what we are experiencing now is natural revolution, which has gone beyond Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Rotimi Ameachi, Babangida or Olusegun Obasanjo”, he said.

He however called on all Nigerians irrespective their ethnoreligious background to support the APC Presidential Candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari to rid Nigeria of corruption, which has been the cog in the wheel of Nigeria’s progress.

L-R: INEC Enugu state Head of Voter Education, Dr Chiebonam Ekwo, Head of Operations, Dr Nwele Uguru, and Resident Electoral Commissioner, Professor Chukwuemeka Eze, during a news conference on 2015 elections, on Wednesday in Enugu.

Photo: NAN

I’m ready for any court case - Ortom

By Ocheiga Enoch Oloche

T

he governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Benue State, Chief Dr Samuel Ortom, has disclosed that he was ready for any court case and would willingly accept court papers any time, any day.

He made the disclosure yesterday, while answering questions from journalists at the NKST Church High Level, Makurdi after he had attended the ordination of pastors.

They had sought his views on the orders of the Makurdi Federal High Court today that he be served papers in a case instituted by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against him.

Chief Dr Ortom stated that as a law abiding citizen who had committed no crime and has always played by the rules he was not scared of any litigation adding however, that no bailiff had approached him with any papers on the matter although he has been accessible all this time.

According to him his lawyers

were also standing by to respond to any issues the PDP had rose in the suit once the papers in which their cause has been disclosed are received but wondered why they would institute a case against him when he had left that party.

The former Minister of State, Industry, Trade, and Investment drew the attention of the journalists to his recent statement in which he alerted members of the public about plans of the ruling party to attack him from several flanks.

He said these include

litigation, physical attacks on him, his supporters and campaign offices as well as concerted smear, mischief and calumny targeted at intimidating him and dampening the spirit of APC and the electorate.

Chief Dr Ortom stated that the desperate measures arose from the dwindling electoral fortunes and imminent defeat awaiting the PDP at the forthcoming polls judging from the soaring popularity and acceptability of the APC throughout the state.

El-Rufa’i’s free education, deceitful – PDP Chieftain From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

A

chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kaduna State, Alhaji Ahmad Hassan Rufa’i has faulted the promise made by Malam Nasir El-Rufa’i, gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that education would be free if he is elected governor, describing it as deceitful and a ploy by the politician to exploit the gullibility of the people and win votes.

Apparently responding to a phone-in-radio programme monitored in Kaduna recently, where El-Rufa’i said his children and that of other public servants in the state would attend public schools if he is elected governor, Hassan Rufa’i said

that the good people of Kaduna State should not be deceived by the ranting of the APC guber hopeful who had foresaw defeat come April 11th and therefore, resort to making phantom promises that could not be achieved.

El-Rufa’i, he alleged, was now desperate for power in the state and had forgotten that the people of Kaduna were enlightened enough to judge from amongst those who could provide sincere leadership in the state devoid of the antics of desperate politicians.

According to him, although education in the state was not completely free, the incumbent administration had provided palliatives and enabling learning environment in public schools that made it so easy to enroll in government

owned schools at all levels.

Kaduna State, he said, had never have it so good in the education sector because the Yero administration had not only revamped schools and made teaching profession exciting through regular training and incentives for teachers, but had afforded students from less privileged background the opportunity to enjoy scholarships and pursue academic courses of their choice within and outside the country.

This development, he said, was unprecedented.

“How can Malam El-Rufa’i say that his children, that of political appointees and top civil servants will go to public schools if he becomes governor? Since when has he been in government in a very superior capacity and has never thought of

that policy, why now? I was made to understand that his children studied overseas. Is it now that he is looking for votes that he will change that life style and perhaps, commence a process of chasing private schools out of business?”

“He said he went to a public school in the 60s together with the children of ministers, virtually all schools in that era were public owned and well equipped unlike in subsequent years when economic recession had hit many countries of the world. So what point was he driving at? That he would upgrade infrastructure and provide conducive atmosphere for learning, he must be missing in action as the Yero government has not left any stone unturned in that regard” the chieftain said.

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, February 20, 2015

Reps urge police to probe attacks on political rallies

By Umar Muhammad Puma

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he House of Representatives has condemned the recent attacks on political rallies in Rivers State and urged the Nigerian Police Force to investigate, arrest and prosecute those involved in all forms of political violence across the country.

The House in a motion under matters of urgent national importance, moved by Rep Robinson Uwak (APC Akwa Ibom), noted that on the 17th of February 2015, guns were fired and multiple explosions were set off at the National school field, Okrika venue of the APC political rally in Rivers State, which caused the loss of many lives including the lives of security agents and damage to the school building and its facilities.

He expressed concerned about reports that suggested that the rally was disrupted by hoodlums of a rival party who attacked the ground with assorted sophisticated firearms, this he said, despite that Section 40 of the Constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended has affirmed that “every person is entitled to assembly freely and associate with other persons and in particular he may form or belong to any political party, trade union or any other association for the protection of his interest”.

He maintained that with the spate of the political violence across the country, security agencies are not doing enough to ensure that the rights of citizens are protected.

He further informed the House that the attack took place in spite of the warning by local politicians against the All Progressives Congress (APC), rally in Okrika an attack of such magnitude was carried out without proper reactionary measures by the police and other security agencies.

He said such an open audacious attack could encourage further political violence if the perpetrators of such heinous attack are not brought to justice immediately regardless of their political affiliation.

The motion was unanimously adopted by the House and the motion was referred to the House Committee on Police Affairs for further legislative inputs.

APC uncovers plot to use religious sentiments in election From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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he All Progressives Congress (APC) has alerted Nigerians to a fresh plot by desperate politicians to circulate leaflets, in mosques and churches, asking Muslims to only vote for Muslims in the forthcoming elections.

In a statement issued in Lagos yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the plot is in line with the track record of those who have consistently used religion to divide Nigerians in order to feather their political nest.

“They are hoping that by

further inflaming passion with the highly emotive issue of religion, they can revive their shriveling political fortunes.

That is why they have devised the latest strategy of pitching Christians against Muslims through the circulation of satanic leaflets. Nigerians should not be taken in by this cheap plot,’’ it

All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives members, during a meeting with APC Presidential candidate General Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday at the Presidential Campaign Council Office, in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

said.

APC reminded Nigerians of the most recent attempt to use religion as a tool to win votes, when Vice President Namadi Sambo said the PDP has more Muslims than the APC, and that the APC vice Presidential candidate is a pastor who runs 5,000 churches.

“It must baffle every right thinking Nigerian what the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria stands to gain by his resort to base instincts. It is more baffling against the background of the fact that it was his party, the PDP that first labeled our party, the APC, as a Muslim party. ‘’Not even when the APC elected a Christian as its National Chairman, supported by many party officials who are also Christians, did they back off from their incautious claim. It did not occur to them that our party is more religiously diverse than they have sought to portray it to Nigerians,’’ the party said.

It said while the APC has been campaigning on issues of relevance to Nigerians, including how Nigerians will be put back to work, how the citizens will be better protected, how they will be weaned from their forced dependence on electricity generators and how the party’s Governors have delivered the dividends of democracy in their states, those on the other side have been trading in negative and inciting campaigns of the most primitive kind.

Educate your supporters against violence now, Pastor tells politicians From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

T

he pastor of the Light House Church in Kaduna, Joseph Onilede has called on politicians to take advantage of the shift in election date to educate their supporters against all forms of electoral violence before, during and after the elections.

Onilede made this call when he, in company of other pastors of the church, paid a courtesy visit to Sabon Gari Police Division in

Kaduna.

He said, “Politicians should see the extension as an opportunity to educate their loyalists and followers not to fight or kill on their behalf because that is not what election is all about. The politicians should be sincere with the voting public and educate them on how elections should be conducted,” he said.

He however stressed that no politician should feel comfortable with people fighting or killing on

his or her behalf. “At the end of the day, if the entire city is leveled, what will the politician govern?

People don’t have to go to polling units with arms or dangerous weapons to defend their votes.

When you tell people who are not enlightened to defend their votes, they will take the defense of votes to the extreme and that will lead to something entirely different,” he said.

The pastor also appealed to politicians to stop heating up

the polity, saying it is out rightly unfair, unnecessary and will end up tilting towards dividing the people. “The politicians are only dividing us to take advantage of us,” he reiterated.

The Divisional Police Officer of the Police Division, Sanusi Muhammad said that the church had come to appreciate efforts of the police and to form a bond of friendship with the police on how to bring peace and development to the area.

You are guilty on religious politics, PDP tells APC

By Ahmed Abubakar

T

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said the alert by the All Progressives Congress (APC) that certain desperate politicians were planning to circulate leaflets in mosques and churches to urge Muslims to vote only Muslims in the coming elections is an unintended leak from the APC’s

massive arsenal of religious bigotry and viscous divisive politics.

A statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Olisa Metuh, yesterday, said the APC whose presidential candidate stands to benefit from such unpatriotic conduct and who together with his party has consistently been aligned to such insensibilities is scared of the

possible backlash and desperately looking for a scapegoat.

“Here is the APC running with the hares by pretending an ally of the people while ravenously hunting with the hounds by harvesting from the fissures on our fault lines, all in an attempt to sell the unmarketable in its presidential candidate.

“Such a barefaced, thoughtless

statement from a political party notorious for false alarms, deceit and pernicious propaganda is another auspicious window into the warped mindset of the party that flaunts messianic wherewithal.

“The PDP needs neither religious nor ethnic cleavages to campaign and win the 2015 presidential elections. Our history of consistency in form, structure

and core values as well as track record of delivery, which have endeared us over the years to Nigerians have not changed. We therefore remain the best and do not need recourse to narrow politicking especially when our presidential candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan epitomizes the unity, progress and prosperity of the nation” the party stated.

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, February 20, 2015

Polls: Nasarawa First Lady urges women to collect PVCs

Labour Party Governorship Candidate, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, meeting with People Living with Disabilities in Oyo state, yesterday in Ibadan.

By Ali Abare Abubakar with agency report

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Photo: NAN

INEC is ready for free, credible elections – REC From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

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he newly deployed Resident Electoral Commissioner in Bauchi State, Professor Hamman Tukur Sa’ad has assured the people of the state of the commission’s readiness to conduct a free, fair and credible election next month.

Sa’ad gave the assurance when he led a team of INEC officials in the state on courtesy call on Governor Isa Yuguda yesterday at the Government House.

He said “nobody should have

any fear that his or her vote will not count. I have conducted election in Borno in 2011 and when I was leaving the state, all political parties and stakeholders were all happy because I gave everyone a level playing field.

Expressing his happiness to be posted to Bauchi state, the REC promised that he will abide by the oath of his office and make sure that no one is shortchanged in the forthcoming election.

Sa’ad solicited for the support and cooperation of the people and government of Bauchi State in order

to ensure that the elections were not only credible but violence free.

He added that cause of election related violence is due the perception by the public that results did not tally with their vote, adding that if INEC gives the opportunity to have that perception then there will be violence.

Pointing out that the state government is supposed to be part of the team to ensure free and credible election, the INEC boss promised to work as a team to make sure that everybody is given his/her dues, adding that once this done there will

be no violence.

Responding, Governor Isa Yuguda assured INEC of the cooperation of his government to make the forthcoming election in the state one of the best in the country.

“We in Bauchi State from 2007 have a history of credible and transparent elections because we believe that it is the will of the people that should prevail.

On distribution of PVC, Yuguda revealed that 84 percent of success has been achieved in the distribution in the state, adding that this is unprecedented in the country.

…As Yuguda solicits support from electorate in Bauchi south

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overnor Mallam Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State has appealed to the electorate in Bauchi south senatorial district to vote for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the forth coming general elections.

The director general of the ‘Yuguda For Senate’ campaign organization, Alhaji Bala Abdullahi Maiauduga stated this yesterday while briefing newsmen in Bauchi on the chances of Yuguda to win the Bauchi South senate seat.

“PDP in Bauchi is Yuguda

since its inception in 1999, I was the former treasurer of the party, I know it was Yuguda who led to the success of PDP in Bauchi, and because of his benevolence, kindness , integrity and his love for the people of Bauchi State and Nigeria,make the people of the state always support their Governor they will not betray him, because he was the only one who live with Bauchi people , he sat with them and solve their problems even before he joined active politics, unlike Abuja politicians who only do everything for their personal gains and none

of them ever come to meet with the people” Maiauduga said.

He added that Yuguda’s performance as a governor of the state in the last eight years will be an added advantage to him, since according to him, the electorate knew his intervention in the areas of education, health care, agriculture, human empowerment, civil service interventions, tourism, investment, economic development and all other human endeavors that touched the living standard of the people, with presently over 3000 youths and elders groups support

Yuguda to contest for the senate.

Maiauduga expressed confidence that since people of Bauchi South invited the governor to contest they will not let him down.

The director general said already the governor had intensified campaign to win the election and assured that people of Bauchi will vote for Yuguda as the most credible candidate for the seat.

He said the incumbent senator representing Bauchi south, Adamu Ibrahim Gumba supports Yuguda’s candidature.

Oyo assembly sacks LG caretaker chairmen From Seyi Ojelade, Ibadan

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embers of the Oyo State House of Assembly yesterday sacked all the caretaker chairmen in the 33 Local Government Areas in the state.

The Speaker of the House, Hon.

Monsurat Sunmonu disclosed this during plenary, saying the sack takes immediate effect.

The House ordered the Head of Local Government Administration to take over affairs of their respective councils.

It would be recalled that the

tenure of the caretaker chairmen expired on February 10, 2015.

Instead of the much expected tradition of tenure extension, the House asked the chairmen to step-down immediately.

The assembly also summoned the Auditor General

of the local government to appear before the House next Tuesday to give audited report of the councils The Auditor General is expected to give report of four years financial account of the 33 local governments.

he Nasarawa State First Lady, Hajiya Salamatu Almakura, yesterday urged women in the country to use the opportunity of the postponement of election by INEC to go and collect their Permanent Voters Card (PVC).

Al-makura made the appeal while playing host to some women groups which paid her a courtesy visit in her office in Lafia.

She said the women would only be eligible to exercise their civic rights in the 2015 general elections when they were armed with the PVCs. “The importance of having the permanent voter cards in any election cannot be overemphasised, hence, there is the need for all women to collect the PVCs and contribute to good governance”.

“We need to participate in the exercise and collect our PVCs so that we can vote in the 2015 general election”, “Our PVCs are our right, so we should all use the opportunity of the shift in the date of the general elections and collect our cards,” Al-makura added She reminded the women that INEC had insisted that only people with the PVCs would be allowed to cast their votes in the 2015 general election.

The first lady challenged women to contest for elective positions in order to have a say in the affairs of the state and the nation at large, adding that women play important roles in the success of every election and encouraged them to maintain the tempo. ``If more women contest for elective positions, it will help in the realisation of the 35 per cent affirmative action,” she said.

Al-makura urged women not to allow selfish politicians to use them and their children to foment trouble during and after the 2015 general elections for the overall development of the country.

She appealed to the people of Nasarawa to support Gov. Tanko Al-Makura’s administration so that it could continue to deliver more dividends of democracy to the electorate.

Mrs Hanatu Ayas, speaking on behalf of the women groups, thanked the first lady for her women and children oriented projects in the state and called for their sustenance.

Ayas promised her that she would carry the message to every nook and cranny of the state.

(NAN)

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, February 20, 2015

NNPC forensic audit report: Reps urge FG to make report public

By Umar Muhammad Puma & Patrick Andrew

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he House of Representatives has urged the federal government to for the purpose of accountability and In compliance with the freedom of information act, make the full report forensic audit report on the NNPC available to the public account committee for the benefit of the House.

The House in a motion under the matters of urgent national importance moved by Rep Femi Gbajabiamila (APC Lagos), said the former governor of the central bank of Nigeria had in 2013 alleged that huge amount of money in the sum of USD 20 billion was missing from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), an allegation that generated so much agitation from the general public.

He said on the April 2014 the Presidency through the minister of finance announced

…Sets up committee on sliding oil price

the engagement of a reputable international firm, Prince Water House Coopers to carry out a detailed forensic audit on the account of NNPC. He expressed concerned that on the second day of February 2015, the audit report was formally presented to the presidency by the audit firm, but up till now neither the general public nor the National Assembly has been briefed in the details with regards to the content of the audit report.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives yesterday set up a 17 member special committee to liaise with the Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Ngozi OkonjoIweala, to consider the sliding oil price at the international market and work out modalities to containing it.

It was revealed after the

members had a 3-hour executive session where the House resolved to set up the committee that would iron out the grey areas about the budget together with the finance minister as well as the budget office.

The 2015 budget of the federal government was still yet to be passed by the National Assembly owing to the challenges associated with the changing oil prices. The executive had however retrieved the budget twice because of the slide in the oil price. The first time the budget was presented a bench mark of $75 dollars was used while the current bench mark is $63.

Speaker Aminu Waizri Tambuwal said at the end of the meeting that uring the closed-door session, “during the closed-door session, we took time to discuss the 2015 budget, MTEF and all the parameters that are related to the

budget. We agreed that we should set up a special committee to meet with ministry of finance on the issues related to that.”

The committee, to be headed by the House’s appropriation committee chairman, Rep John Enoh (PDP, Cross Rivers) also has finance committee chairman, Abdulmumini Jibril (APC, Kano as member.

Other members are Rep Yinka Ajayi, Rep Bimbo Daramola, Rep Jerry Manwe, Rep Linus Okorie, Rep Ibrahim Babangida and Rep Yakub Dogara.

Others include Rep Tajudeen Yusuf, Rep Nnenna Ukeje, Rep Pat Asadu, Rep Nicholas Ossain Rep Babatunde Adajare, Rep Seconte Davis, Rep Isa Gusau, Rep Abubakar Momoh and Dan Akpan.

Okonjo-Iweala had on December 17 presented a slashed

estimate of N4.357 trillion from the earlier proposed N4.661 trillion in the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), when oil price was pegged at $75 per barrel.

A revised MTEF was however sent to the lawmakers a day before the presentation of the budget, which pegged the oil price at $65.

Per barrel.

Presently, the international crude price stands a little above $52 per barrel, representing a difference of $13 in the pegged oil price as contained in the MTEF. The 2015-2017 MTEF was not passed by the lawmakers before they received the budget proposal, against the traditional passage of the benchmark well before the presentation of annual budgets.

There was no timeline given to the committee upon which they would submit their report.

L-R; Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility, Etisalat Nigeria, Oyetola Oduyemi; Programme Manager, Child Life Line, Boye Matuluko; Legal Services, Etisalat Nigeria, Bunmi Sanya; Specialist, Corporate Social Responsibility, Etisalat Nigeria, Chukwuweta Uraih and Analyst, Corporate Social Responsibility, Etisalat Nigeria, Sunday Aranmonise at the presentation of gifts to Child Life Line, Gbagada, as part of the Etisalat Re-Gift Programme, held in Lagos on Tuesday.

Lagos records 83% budget performance in 2014 From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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agos State Governor Babatunde Fashola yesterday said the state 2014 budget recorded 83 percent performance, two percent less than the cumulative record for 2013.

The state in a bid to sustain the tempo of infrastructure provision retained the budget size for Year 2014 which was N489.69 billion

for the current year.

Speaking at the fourth quarter budget Performance Review Session Ikeja, Fashola added that in the year under review, the state budget recorded 77 percent in its fourth quarter performance.

The state Year 2014 budget had performed 76 percent in the first quarter,106 percent for second quarter while the budget recorded 84 percent performance in the third quarter of year 2014.

He said that the impact of the budget especially in the fourth quarter would be seen in the completed court buildings in Epe and Ikeja and the solar powered projects in the primary schools and Primary Healthcare Centre, PHCs and others.

Speaking on the current budget, Fashola “our priority is to do more on what we have done well previously. And do less of those things that we haven’t done

well.”

The governor noted that his government would emphasize more on settling many obligations, adding “inspite of the difficult financial situation to contractor to accelerate and complete more ongoing projects like the housing scheme, road construction.”

According to him, “We are issuing more contracts to support small businesses in the state. And some of the contracts were the

maintenance contracts for about 666 public schools.”

Explaining the content of the contracts, he said “they range from N2 million and N5 million.

The contracts were issued to graduates from our technical and vocational centres that have formed small businesses. And for members of the society who bided for the contracts. We believe that this will help them to survive in this crunch economic time.”

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, February 20, 2015

Business

Wamakko pledges to attract more investors to Sokoto From Raji Bello, Sokoto

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okoto state governor, Alhaji Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko said his administration is committed to create an enabling environment

for business activities to flourish in the state.

The governor stated this yesterday during the flag off ceremony of a flight operation commenced by Azman Air Service in the state.

He explained that within the last seven years, his administration had supported various commerce-oriented programmes for indigenous investors in the state.

The governor noted that the

introduction of the flight services would not only increase the tempo of trade and commerce but also ease the movement of goods and services in the state.

“The commencement of the airline’s operation as part of

L-R: Mr Samba Sivarao, GM KVT India, Ambassador Abubakar Cika, Chairman KVT Nigeria after the licence issuance event at NERC Headquarter, Abuja

NERC issues two on-grid licences

By Etuka Sunday

T

he Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) yesterday issued two on-grid electricity generation licences to KVK power Nigeria PVT Limited and Aluminum Smelter Company of Nigeria Plc to generate electricity from solar and gas-flared respectively KVT Power on-grid power is to be located in Yabo, Sokoto state having met the requirements for the grant of 50 MW on-grid generation with no objection received from the general public to their application, the licence has thereby been issued.

In the same vein, Alscon

application for an on-grid electricity generation in respect of a 360MW gas-fired plant at Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom and a permit in respect of a 180MW Captive Power Generation in the same location was approved and issued after the review of an objection to the license issuance by BFI Group, found not to be affecting the grant of the license.

A statement by the Head, Public Affairs Department, NERC, Dr. Usman Abba Arabi quoted the Chairman Chief Executive of the Commission, Dr Sam Amadi to have congratulated the two licencees for successfully going through the process leading up to the licence issuance; a process he

described as necessary. “ Our system is to ensure that whoever is licenced is able to carry the construction to completion.

What we can tell the licencee is that we will support you in any way we can as you make progress’’ Amadi said.

He also said that the Commission would be available to assist the licencee when the need for power purchase agreement arrives.

Chairman, KVK Nigeria, Ambassador Abubakar Cika, who was elated by the licence received, commended the transformation agenda of the President Jonathan administration in reforming the power sector. He said that it was

unfortunate that there have been lots of negative comments from different quarters about the sector; with people failing to realize that Rome was not built in one day. He said that KVT is in collaboration with Indian partners.

Alscon Managing Director, Dr Oleg Suistunov in his remark, said that it is difficult to generate power without a licence which makes the licence an important certificate to enable them proceed to the next stage on power generation.

He said ‘’ Now we can support our community, we can support Akwa Ibom in providing electricity’’.

The Commission has so far issued four licences this year.

our continued efforts to create an enabling environment for business activities to flourish in the state,” the governor noted.

He described the partnership between the airline and the Sokoto state government as a good step in the right direction, reiterating that the commencement of flight operations would boost commerce in the state.

In his remarks, the President of Azman Air, Dr. Abdulmunaf Yunus, said the flights which would be on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday of a week.

He added that the fares for Kano, Kaduna, Abuja en route was pegged to a fixed cost N18,000 to and N25,000 to Lagos, one way only.

Yunus further explained that the airline decided to commence operation in Sokoto due to the fact that northern routes were not being serviced by current airline operators.

He disclosed that Azman Air started operation with two Boeing 737-300 aircraft with a capacity to carry 124 people, adding that three aircrafts were expected to arrive the country by May 2015.

“We are planning to commence regional flights to some African countries in the next three months by the time the three new aircrafts arrive in the country by May 2015,” he said.

Yunus stated that the Azman Air had already engaged 500 people since it commenced operation in the country last year.

Also speaking, the Managing Director of Azman Air, Alhaji Faisal Abdulmunaf, said the airline commenced operation in 2014 with two Boeing 737300 aircraft with capacity of 12 business class and 112 economy.

His words: “We decided to begin flight operation that will connect passengers from Sokoto to Kano, Kaduna and Abuja because we studied the aviation industry and discovered that most northern routes are not being serviced by the existing airlines.”

He added that with the commencement of flight operation in Sokoto, there would be no need for chartered aircraft for individuals wishing to travel to Kano and Kaduna states.

Naira devaluation, defective Govt. policies hamper national business growth-SMEs Operators

By Evelyn Okakwu

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mall and Medium Enterprises operators in the country have said that the devaluation of naira by the Central Bank of Nigeria was affecting businesses negatively.

The operators stated this in Abuja when Wuse Market Shop Operators and Traders Cooperative Society, paid a visit to the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ABUCCI).

The traders led by led by the President, Mr Chinedu

Agabaenwere, who said the devaluation of naira had posed a great challenge to small business operators in the country, said the situation was making them bankrupt.

“The situation is really affecting the small business operators, let assume you bought your goods at the black market exchange rate of N168 per dollar before devaluation and finish selling the goods at that old price.

“And now you want to replenish your stock you can imagine the difference in the exchange rate

which is now hovering around N215 per dollar at the black market.

“So that particular amount of money you have then cannot get you the same quantity of goods now the situation has put operators in a very difficult condition,” he said.

He said the operators have to source for more fund to keep the business going.

The president said another challenge facing the operators was unfriendly government policies which he said hampered the growth of SMEs.

“Government policy is another challenge there was a time we were having problem with the Nigerian Customs Service when they began to harass us in the market by intercepting and seizing our goods.

These are the goods that must have been cleared from the wharf!

“We have to meet the customs and expressed our displeasure over it, that they should not be disturbing innocent traders in the market or on the road when such goods had been cleared.

He therefore called on the government to put in place policies

that will ensure growth of SMEs and success of the economy.

The President of ABUCCI, Mr. Tony Ejinkeonye, in his remarks commended the traders for their initiative and assured them of the Chamber’s cooperation.

“We assured you of collaboration in terms of advocacy and legislation.

“If you can articulate your challenges we are ready to pass them to the relevant authority to advocate for a better legislation for traders especially within Wuse market,” he said.

Page 21

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, February 20, 2015

Business

Lubricants Stakeholders vow to deal with adulterated oil marketers From Matthew Aramunde, Lagos

L

ubricants producers, marketers and their allied stakeholders have vowed to deal with the escalating scourge of adulterated engine oil by some unscrupulous elements in the society as to curb its damaging effect on the economy of Nigeria.

At a forum with the theme “Combating Engine Oil Adulteration in Nigeria” held under the aegis of the Consumer Rights Awareness Advancement and Advocacy Initiatives (CRAAI) in conjunction with the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON), it was unanimously agreed upon by all present that a halt to what they described as embarrassing at this time of the nation’s history has become imperative.

In his welcome address, the Chairman Mr. Moses Igbrude noted that CRAAI’s desire in organizing the event is to provide a voice and platform for the consumers to express

their views, interact and engage the producers, manufacturers of goods and services as well as relate with various governmental regulatory authorities in Nigeria.

“One of the aims of today’s interactive forum is to help the ordinary consumers by providing answers on how to indentify genuine lubricant from adulterated one, what makes a base oil different from a lubricant, how does an adulterated oil affect our machines, what are the cost implications on the consumers, producers and the Nigeria economy and what are the way forward,” Igbrude said.

He bemoaned the negative impacts of engine oil adulteration in the automotive industry and the threat to the consumers as well as the Nigeria economy and so stressed that the involvement of all stakeholders in a continuous enlightenment, education and awareness creation is the sure way of addressing issues of substandard, fake and adulteration in the Nigeria

economy.

While giving her presentation the Director-General of Consumer Protection Council Mrs. Dupe Atoki express fear about the crippling effect on all strata of the society of the frighteningly escalating menace of engine oil adulteration noting the infinitely wide spectrum of its use that cuts across the domestic use for generators sets, cars, ships and boats in the marine sector, trains and even aeroplanes.

She further noted that as a body saddled with the responsibility of protecting the consumers through the elimination of sub –standard and hazardous goods and services from the market place, the body can also carry out thorough investigation, arrest and prosecution of such manufacturers and purveyors of these product and the sellers.

The representative of Total Nigeria Plc Mr. Emmanuel Emere observed that the Nigeria lubricant market is enormous but stressed that effective realization

will depend on the ability of the authorities to provide the enabling environments.

He noted, fully equipped monitoring body that will ensure that lubricant standards are upheld by all manufacturers and/ or marketers, curbing the activities of adulterators and counterfeiters, better public infrastructures and policies to ensure healthy competition(proliferation and influx of imported low quality finished leading to underutilization of available local capacity).

Speaking further, Emere said substandard and adulterated lubricants cause substantive damage to engines and equipments and subsequent failure of equipment and that the attendant consequences of adulterated lubricants are loss of man hours and machine time, loss of job, inefficiencies, environmental pollution, health hazards and loss of business and destruction of the source of livelihood of genuine practitioners

L-R: Women Leader, Kure Ultra-Modern Market Traders Association, Mrs. Florence Anthony, Branch manager, First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited, Mr. Ibrahim Danbachi, Head of the Traders Association, Alhaji Garba Shehu, FCMB Zonal Head, Kaduna, Mr. Gambo Wuryo, Dagacin Minna, Alhaji Umar Sarki Shaba, and Turaki Minna, Alhaji Yusuf Babamallam, during the launch of FCMB Personal Account Product, on Wednesday in Minna, Niger state.

Delta spends N23.6bn on IPP Project From Osakhare Erese, Asaba

T

he Delta State Government said it has spent N23.6billion on its Independent Power Plant (IPP) project located at Ogbara in Ethiope West local Government Area of the State.

The State’s Commissioner for Energy, Mrs Gloria Okologbo, announced this on Tuesday during the budget defence session with the State House of Assembly Committee on Finance and Appropriation in Asaba.

She said, a total of N23.6 billion had been spent on the project by the state government, including the amount paid to the contracting firm and civil works on the project.

Okologbo said that the project, which was awarded in 2009 at a cost of N21.5billion, was later reviewed upward to the tune of N23.6billion.

The commissioner said that project civil works was 70 per cent completed and that most of the equipment for the IPP project had been procured and

awaiting installation.

According to her, the delay in the installation of the equipment is due to lack of access road to the project site.

She however appealed to the committee to appropriate more funds to the ministry for procurement of more transformers for communities in the state.

Responding, the Chairman, Finance and Appropriation committee, Hon. Daniel Mayuku, expressed concern over the delay in the completion of

the IPP project and advised that necessary steps should be taken to complete it.

Meanwhile the Directorate, Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) led by its Permanent Secretary, Sir Eddy Ogidi- Gbegbaje, and the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Dr. Chris Ekiyor and the Directorate for Multi-lateral Relations and Abuja Office led by its Commissioner, Mr. Joel Bisina also appeared before the committee.

in the industry.

“Genuine lubricants can be differentiated from adulterated and/or counterfeit ones through several means like the packaging, the content, price and source,” Emere noted.

The highlight of the event was the demonstration of the effect of adulterated lubricants on engine equipment by Engineer Ogbemi whose years of experience in the handling of engine equipment and the usefulness of genuine lubricants he brought to fore.

Aviation ministry commissions staff welfare buses

By A’isha Biola Raji

T

he minister, Osita Chidoka had on Wednesday commissioned staff welfare buses.

In a statement signed by Iyogun Asobumeh Sunday, Principal Information Officer for Assistant Director Press, the minister said the initiative is a landmark of the Goodluck Jonanthan’s effort to be workers friendly, to support the Nigerian workers and to support local industries.

According to Osita, by providing the buses, the President has created jobs for Nigerians in Nigeria and also mobility for the staff of the ministry of aviation in a safe and secured manner.

Saying the provision of the staff welfare buses is a reaffirmation of President Jonathan transformation agenda and a proof that the government has the Nigerian worker in mind, he said the idea of creating jobs is embedded in building local industries and creating jobs for Nigerians in Nigeria.

Osita admonished the workers to use the buses effectively, safely and sustainably.

Responding to the gesture, the Chairman of the aviation Joint Unions, Hector Nnadi, thanked the minister for the purchase of the buses and asked him to carry the staff appreciation to the President.

Hector said, “The provision of these buses is our own dividend of the President’s administration and we are happy about it. We thank the president for all the projects he has done in the aviation sector.”

The Chairman however said like “Oliver twist”, the staff are appreciative of what the government has done, but that more should be done.

Page 22

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, February 20, 2015

Analysis

By Etuka Sunday

S

ince the advent of mobile telecommunication services in Nigeria for more than a decade now, it has been a litany of worries, complaints and reports from subscribers about series of abuse, misdeeds and unwholesome practices either perceived or actually meted out to them by respective network operators.

From exploitative call charges and exorbitant rates for sms, multiple deductions and failed delivery of messages, to generally poor services and annoyingly flambouyant promos (weighed against abysmal service quality), the average consumer has often felt abandoned to the mercy of some brusque and bruising entrepreneurs with no hope for a respite of any sort. But some respite has always been in the background all along.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the telecom industry’s regulator, is encouraging aggrieved subscribers to explore options such as petitioning their network service providers in the first instance; and where they fail to get a satisfactory response, to take up the second option of reporting the matter to the NCC through its toll free number, 622.

Executive Vice-Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Eugene Juwah, has at various industry stakeholders’ fora called the attention of telecom subscribers to this ‘window of opportunity’.

Subscribers residing in Abia State where the commission recently held a public interaction forum have also been made aware of the existence of this channel through which they could seek redress.

The NCC took advantage of the trade fair organized by the Aba Chambers of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ACCIMA) to educate telecom consumers.

Juwah, who was represented

by NCC’s Deputy Director of Consumer Affairs Bureau, Dr. Femi Atoyebi, stated that it is difficult to regulate unsolicited text messages coming to mobile telephone subscribers despite public outcry about the issue of late. He however, explained that not all the unsolicited messages are sent by service providers, adding that there are third parties responsible who use the service providers’ platforms to send such unwanted messages to the public.

As self-help, the commission has suggested to mobile telephone service providers to install anti-spam devices on their networks to be able to address the menace of unsolicited text messages. Many consumers complain that they continue to suffer from a flood of unsolicited adverts and sms from their operators and want the regulator to help put a stop to the practice.

Juwah said that NCC sustains liaison with the service providers to ensure improved mobile telephone services but

Poor Services: Why awareness on 622 toll free number needed for telecom consumers to seek redress

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Building pointed out that to sustain this, subscribers and service providers should reciprocate by not only demanding for their rights, but also fulfilling their obligations. He encouraged subscribers to continue to insist that they are served well and as well help to ensure that facilities around their localities are protected from vandalism.

“When facilities are vandalised and power is disrupted, it results in disruption of service/service failure”, he warned.

In January, the commission had warned that it would not hesitate to penalise network providers who failed to keep its regulation on unsolicited messages to subscribers. It’s Director for Public Affairs, Tony Ojobo, said the commission would not support network providers to send unsolicited messages to subscribers on the ground that it infringed on their right to privacy.

According to Ojobo, the commission is working tirelessly to ensure that such practices are curbed. Unsolicited messages pose challenges and allow subscribers no choice to receive or not, popping into peoples’

devices with characteristic nonchalance and impunity. “We have had series of meetings with the stakeholders and telecom operators on this issue; we cannot deny the fact that we had received series of complaints from subscribers; we are quite aware of it. We are in the process of Vast Technical Frame Work to keep track of those sending these unsolicited messages and to see that they are properly sanctioned,” Ojobo said.

The NCC has a data base which it uses to monitor the operations of service providers and consequently has records of all complaints. The commission says sanctions against service providers are resorted to if and when after a long period, the service provider fails to address the quality of service complained about.

It behoves on the commission to create more public awareness on the existence of the short code 622. The practice of privacy invasion through unwanted message is one which has often pitched the telecom subscriber against the operators, with the former having the impression that the regulator and the operator are (in a manner of

Executive Vice-Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Eugene Juwah expression) acting in conspiracy.

Nigerians are a bit relieved now that the regulator is waving the red flag on unsolicited messages, just as it has intervened to bring down the cost of voice call and sms which

hitherto, were outrageous. The operators can channel their efforts towards improving and sustaining better service quality because this remains an indispensable part of their business success.

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, February 20, 2015

Stock Watch

Report as at Thursday, February 19 2015

PAGE 23

Peoples Daily, Friday, February 20, 2014

PAGE 24

PAGE 25

Special Report

A tough choice in Nigerian elections Recent public polls show an election too close to call with each party commanding about 42 percent of the vote.

O

luwaseyi Adepoju is a political man but he won’t be voting in Nigeria’s elections, now slated for March 28 after being postponed.

There’s simply no good choice to be made, he said.

And even if there were, he lost faith in his country’s political system long ago.

Leaning forward, he pointed to a scar on his forehead. “You see this? This was from the last election.”

He was working for the Independent National Electoral Commission in Lagos state during the presidential vote in 2011, which was seen - by local standards - as relatively free and fair.

There, he was exposed first hand to the corruption of power-hungry party men, who one-by-one came to him with “envelopes” in the hope of persuading Adepoju to doctor the figures.

But he couldn’t be bought.

The repayment was a beating by thugs, who attacked him on the street as votes were being counted.

“This was from the butt of a gun,” Adepoju explained, tracing the line of his wound with a finger.

The coming vote pits the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which has led Nigeria without serious opposition since the return from military rule in 1999, against the two-year-old All Progressives Congress (APC).

In Nigerian personality politics, that means a choice between President Goodluck Jonathan, the nice-but-dim incumbent, and Muhammadu Buhari, an iron-fisted former military leader whose campaign has focused on anti-corruption measures and tighter security.

Buhari also contested elections in 2003, 2007 and 2011. But never has he stood on such a strong platform.

Recent public polls show a

Members of the Nigerians United for Democracy Movement hold signs during a rally to protest against any further election postponement in Abuja on February 14 [REUTERS]

competition too close to call, with each party commanding about 42 percent of the vote.

Devil and the deep blue sea Low levels of education across much of Nigeria, and a lack of “ideas” politics, means much of the vote will play out along religious and ethnic lines.

Jonathan, a Christian southerner, is strongly supported in his home in the oil-producing Delta region.

Buhari, a Muslim northerner, will win easily in the predominantly Islamic swaths of the north.

Yet, Nigeria also has a good share of swing voters, many of whom, like Adepoju, are left cold by the choices on offer.

“I voted PDP last time, because I believed in what they were saying,” said Emmanuel Essien, a Lagos-based driver. He was disappointed over progress, but did not see APC as a better alternative.

“I don’t like what any of these guys are saying.”

The reputation of Jonathan, who came to power when President Umaru Yar’Adua died in office, is tainted almost beyond repair.

He is seen as weak and easily manipulated. Many locals say his government is the most corrupt yet.

Last year, the central bank governor was fired when he waved the red flag over $20bn in missing oil revenue.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said a forensic audit

by PricewaterhouseCoopers

accounting firm, which found $1.48bn had not been remitted, cleared it of wrongdoing, though this referred to another shortfall.

Separately, t he coffers of the oil savings account have fallen from $9bn in December 2012, to $2.5bn in early 2015 , despite buoyant oil prices over much of that period.

Security situation

In the northeast of Nigeria, the devastation wreaked by Boko Haram’s attempts to establish an Islamic state has become synonymous with the government’s failings.

Some 18,000 people have died in the fighting, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. Yet there has been a lack of will to tackle the insurgency. Soldiers still go

Some say the strong hand of the former military ruler Buhari is just what Nigeria needs to defeat corruption and terrorism [EPA]

to battle poorly armed.

When President Jonathan visited Borno state in January, it was the first time he’d set foot in the region since 2013.

Many Nigerians wonder how things could get worse.

“The country’s not working,” said Leke AyoOsitelu, an e-commerce worker in Lagos. “This has

been the worst government ever.”

Twenty-six year-old Deji Fakoya agreed.

“The present government seems to be clueless,” he said, adding he would prefer to be led by the “more experienced” and “stricter” Buhari.

He is too young to remember the short military rule of Buhari, which lasted 20 months from 1983.

During that time, the major-general earned a reputation as strict on corruption and security - at

serious cost.

His rule was repressive and bleak.

Journalists and businessmen were detained.

All public discussion of a return to civilian rule was forbidden. Furious officers flogged Nigerians who did not form orderly queues. In one case, a citizen was executed for a crime which did not carry the death penalty when he committed it.

Years later, Buhari declined to appear in front of a commission of inquiry set

“

President Goodluck Jonathan

General Muhammadu Buhari

up to reconcile the abuses of the past.

“He refused … even though complaints that were tabled against him involved a career of gross abuses of power and blatant assault on the fundamental human rights of the Nigerian citizenry,” the Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka wrote in 2011.

Many of his supporters conveniently shrug off this past, or pin wrongdoings on his then-deputy, the despotic Tunde Idiagbon .

In part, that may

The reputation of Jonathan, who came to power when President Umaru Yar’Adua died in office, is tainted almost beyond repair.

He is seen as weak and easily manipulated. Many locals say his government is the most corrupt yet

be because civil society organisations say today’s democratic system will not permit such transgressions. “ Buhari was head of military government, it is hard to pin the human rights abuses specifically on him,” said Professor Adigun Agbaje, director of the Lagosbased Obafemi Awolowo Institute of Government and Public Policy .

“It is more important to work for change now than to think of 30 years ago.”

Buhari’s campaign team have worked hard to position him as the harbinger of that change, and most people do believe he will try to crack down on government corruption, and get a handle on the insurgency.

Yet the APC is made up of many of the old political elite.

If Buhari’s credentials on transparency are strong, those of several of the members surrounding him are not.

“I think Buhari is honest about anti-corruption, but there will be major difficulties implementing measures, especially given some personalities on his team,” said Malte Liewerscheidt, senior Africa analyst with the risk consultancy Verisk

Maplecroft.

Election evasion?

It is not only the choices that are depressing, but the credibility of the vote too.

Cynics such as Adepoju were given another reason to doubt their young democracy recently when authorities announced the poll would be delayed by six weeks.

Nigeria has delayed votes in the past, but this decision raised alarm bells because it was incited by the armed forces.

Days before the election was set to take place, military authorities said they would not provide protection for the vote across northeast Nigeria, because they were too busy fighting Boko Haram fighters.

Supporters of the government say the postponement will enfranchise citizens.

At the beginning of February, some 20 million voter cards were still to be distributed.

But for those who doubt their leaders’ good intentions, it casts an ominous glance back to the military government days.

Parallels have been drawn to 1993, when military rulers annulled the outcome of a democratic vote.

This week, a former president and PDP member Olusegun Obasanjo formally endorsed Buhari, expressing concerns that a “script is being played”.

The Financial Times quoted him as saying: “I sincerely hope that the president is not going for broke and saying, ‘Look ... it’s either I have it or nobody has it’... I hope that we will not have a coup.”

APC’s supporters are concerned.

“The military should have no role in determining the issue of elections,” said Shehu Usman, who organised an all-singing, all-dancing rally last weekend.

“People know what they are trying [to do].”

Nigerians are left praying that elections go ahead on March 28, even if their choices are bleak.

In his office on the Lagos mainland, Fakoya smiled as he recounted a joke made by his friend.

“We are sick of this corruption now,” he said.

“At least show us a different kind. At least be original.”

Source: Al Jazeera

PAGE 26

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, February 20, 2015

Islam

Reclaiming Islam from ‘Muslims’ Allah says:

“(They are) those who have been expelled from their homes In defiance of right,- (for no Cause) except that They say, “Our Lord is Allah.. Did not Allah Check one set of people by means of another, there would surely have been pulled down monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques, in which the name of Allah is commemorated in abundant measure. Allah will certainly aid those who aid His (cause); for Verily Allah is full of strength, Exalted in Might, (able to enforce His Will).” [alHajj: 40]

I

n the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. All Praise is due to Allah! We

islam explained

By Husain Zakariyya Yawale

+234-8052952900 (sms only) islamexplained35@yahoo.com praise Him and we seek help from Him. We ask forgiveness from Him. We repent to Him; and we seek refuge in Him from our evils and bad deeds. Anyone who is guided by Allah is indeed guided; and anyone who has been left astray, will find no one to guide him. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah, the Only One without any partner; and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and

final messenger to mankind. May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon His last and final Apostle, his Household, his companions and all his followers till the end of time.

Traditionally whenever Islam is the main theme of discussion, it is usually defined as ‘peace’.

That is Islam is a peaceful religion. This definition is but an apologetic delineation. It does not convey the full meaning of it.

It is lopsided and inadequate.

Islam is not only a peaceful religion, it is the only religion that brings about peace even where there is commission between brothers. The Qur’an testifies, thus: “If two parties among the believers fall into a quarrel, make ye peace between them: but if one of them transgresses beyond bounds against the other then Fight ye (all) against the one that transgresses until it complies with the command of Allah; but if it complies then make peace between them with justice and be fair: for Allah loves those who are fair (and just).”[al-Hujrat: 9] This trend has continue for many centuries after the demise of the Prophet of Islam, may Allah’s peace and blessing be upon him.

However, the present Muslims have deteriorated to an abysmal level never recorded in the history of Islam. The most recent disheartening event that Islam many centuries backward was the trap set which they fell in woefully and foolishly. since 9/11, Muslim leaders who have access to the national media have told us that Islam is the religion of peace and that violence does not represent the essence of Muhammad’s religion.

Even President Bush and Britain’s Prime Minister Blair have repeated this assertion, saying that Islam has been “hijacked” by a few violent fanatics. Is this true?

Sadly it is not, for empirical, observable facts demonstrate beyond doubt that Islam at its founding is filled with violence

Violence has no place in Islam

By Mohammad Irtaza

V

iolence has no place in Islam. This is the reminder of the Qur’an — “We made a covenant with you, that you shall not shed your blood, nor shall you evict each other from your homes. You agreed and bore witness.” (Qur’an, 2:84) The traits of the believers are reflected not in violence as understood from these verses: “They avoid gross sins and vice, and when angered they forgive. They respond to their Lord by observing prayers (Salat). Their affairs are decided after due consultation among themselves, and from Our provisions to them they give (to charity). When gross injustice befalls them, they stand up for their rights. Although the just requital for an injustice is an equivalent retribution, those who pardon and maintain righteousness are rewarded by God. He does not love the unjust.

“Certainly, those who stand up for their rights, when injustice befalls them, are not committing any error. The wrong ones are those who treat the people unjustly, and resort to aggression without provocation. These have incurred a painful retribution. Resorting to patience and forgiveness reflects a true strength of character.” (Qur’an, 42:37-43) Innocent people are victims of violence. Killing innocent people is prohibited and condemned (Qur’an, 17:33; 6:151; 25:68).

One such verse states, “You shall not kill any person, for God has made life sacred except in the course of justice. If one is killed unjustly, then we give his heir authority to enforce justice. Thus he shall not exceed the limits in avenging the murder; he will be helped.” (Qur’an, 17:33) Suicide bombing, which is part of violence, is also prohibited as understood from this verse: “O you who believe, do not consume each other properties illicitly; only

mutually acceptable transactions are permitted. You shall not kill yourselves. God is Merciful toward you.” (Qur’an, 4:29) Grossness of murder can be understood from this verse: “Because of this, we decreed for the Children of Israel that anyone who murders any person who had not committed murder or horrendous crimes, it shall be as if he murdered all the people.

And anyone who spares a life, it shall be as if he spared the lives of all the people. Our messengers went to them with clear proofs and revelations, but most of them, after all this, are still transgressing.” (Qur’an, 5:32) The Qur’an does not promote fighting but friendship with those who do not fight with believers on religious issues: “God does not enjoin you from befriending those who do not fight you because of religion, and do not evict you from your homes. You may befriend them and be equitable toward them. God loves the equitable.” (Qur’an, 60:8) The Qur’an promotes peace and it shows the way to establish the same: “If they resort to peace, so shall you, and put your trust in God. He is the Hearer, the Omniscient.”

(Qur’an, 8:61) Another verse states, .”..

Therefore, if they leave you alone, refrain from fighting you, and offer you peace, then God gives you no excuse to fight them.” (Qur’an, 4:90) As the part of the peace process, the Qur’an urges on the polite treatment of captives: “They donate their favorite food to the poor, the orphan, and the captive; We feed you for the sake of God; we expect no reward from you, nor thanks.” (Qur’an, 76:8-9) The Qur’an teaches us how to treat the non fighting enemies in their territories: “If one of the idol worshipers sought safe passage with you, you shall grant him safe passage, so that he can hear the word of God, then send him back to his place of security. That is because they are people who do not know.” (Qur’an, 9:6) The Qur’an teaches us to honor covenants with others: “You shall fulfill your covenant with God when you make such a covenant. You shall not violate the oaths after swearing (by God) to carry them out, for you have made God a guarantor for you. God knows everything you do. Do not be like the knitter who unravels her strong knitting into piles of flimsy yarn. This is your example if you abuse the oaths to take

advantage of one another. Whether one group is larger than the other, God thus puts you to the test. He will surely show you on the Day of Resurrection everything you had disputed.” (Qur’an, 16:91-92) We may need to fight back only when gross injustice is committed: “You may fight against those who attack you, but do not aggress. God does not love the aggressors. You may kill those who wage war against you, and you may evict them whence they evicted you. Oppression is worse than murder. Do not fight them at the Sacred Masjid, unless they attack you therein. If they attack you, you may kill them. This is the just retribution for those disbelievers. If they refrain, then God is Forgiver, Most Merciful.

You may also fight them to eliminate oppression, and to worship God freely. If they refrain, you shall not aggress; aggression is permitted only against the aggressors.” (Qur’an, 2:190-193) Battle is needed only when peaceful solution fails: “If it were not for God’s support of some people against others, there would be chaos on earth. But God showers His grace upon the people.” (Qur’an, 2:251) The Qur’an allows to fight only if the terms of the treaty is violated: “If they

violate their oaths after pledging to keep their covenants, and attack your religion, you may fight the leaders of paganism; “You are no longer bound by your covenant with them that they may refrain.” (Qur’an, 9:12) It is the duty of every believer to support people like these and relieve them from oppression. War should be tolerated only to drive away aggression and tyranny: “Permission is granted to those who are being persecuted, since injustice has befallen them, and God is certainly able to support them. They were evicted from their homes unjustly, for no reason other than saying, “Our Lord is God.” “[They are] those who have been evicted from their homes without right, only because they say, ‘Our Lord is Allah.’ And were it not that Allah checks the people, some by means of others, there would have been demolished monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques in which the name of Allah is much mentioned. And Allah will surely support those who support Him. Indeed, Allah is Powerful and Exalted in Might.” (Qur’an, 22:39-40) Victory should not lead to expansion or dominance but to advocate and establish righteousness: “They are those who, if we appointed them as rulers on earth, they would establish the contact prayers and the obligatory charity, and would advocate righteousness and forbid evil. God is the ultimate ruler.”

(Qur’an, 22:41) The ultimate victory belongs to the righteous: “We reserve the abode of the Hereafter for those who do not seek exaltation on earth, nor corruption. The ultimate victory belongs to the righteous.” (Qur’an, 28:83) Last but not least, this is the important commandment of God: “You may fight in the cause of God against those who attack you, but do not aggress. God does not love the aggressors.” (Qur’an, 2:190) Source Arabnews.com

P A G E

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, February 20, 2015

ANALYSIS

B

ut the loan would not be a renewal of the current bailout agreement, which includes strict austerity measures.

On Monday night, Greece rejected a plan to extend its €240bn (£178bn) bailout, describing it as “absurd”.

Greece is likely to run out of money if a deal is not reached before the end of February.

“We should extend the credit programme by a few months to have enough stability so that we can negotiate a new agreement between Greece and Europe,” Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis told Germany’s ZDF. On Tuesday, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras called for a vote in the Greek parliament on whether to scrap the austerity programme on Friday, the same day as the eurozone deadline.

Bank deposits “We will not succumb to psychological blackmail,” Mr Tsipras told parliament.

“We are not in a hurry and we will not compromise.”

US investment bank JP Morgan claimed over the weekend that €2bn worth of deposits was flowing out of Greek banks each week and estimated that if that were to remain the case, they would run out of cash to use as collateral against new loans within 14 weeks.

JP Morgan’s estimate is based on a calculation that a maximum of €108bn of deposits is left in Greek banks.

The most up-to-date figures from the Greek central bank show deposits dropped 2.4% month-onmonth in December to €160.3bn from €164.3bn, marking the third monthly fall in a row.

Government spokesman Gabriel Sakellaridis confirmed that meant Mr Varoufakis would be asking for a six-month extension to Greece’s current loan.

Mr Sakellaridis told Greece’s Antenna TV: “Let’s wait today for the request for an extension of the loan contract to be submitted

by Finance Minister Varoufakis.

“All along deliberations are going on to find common ground, we want to believe that we are on a good path. We are coming to the table to find a solution.”

But he added the Greek government would not back down on issues that it considered nonnegotiable.

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble dismissed the Greek proposal, telling broadcaster ZDF on Tuesday evening: “It’s not about extending a credit programme but about whether this bailout programme will be fulfilled, yes or no.”

Mr Schaeuble added: “I don’t have any new information, but there is no loan agreement, it’s an assistance programme. And in this seemingly unimportant detail lies the key: Greece would like to receive credit, but not fulfil

International

Greece confirms loan extension request

Greece will ask the eurozone for a six-month extension of its European loan on Wednesday, a Greek government official has confirmed.

the conditions to allow Greece to recover economically.”

Friday deadline The Greek stock exchange rose 3% on Wednesday in morning trading in Athens as news of the loan extension application emerged.

Meanwhile, the European Central Bank (ECB) meets later on Wednesday to decide whether to continue providing emergency finance to Greece’s struggling banks.

Germany is said to be pressuring the ECB not to allow any extra emergency funding, as part of efforts to convince Athens to agree to extend its international bailout.

The eurozone has given Greece until Friday to decide if it wants to

continue with the current bailout deal.

Greece wants to replace the bailout with a new loan that it says would give it time to find a permanent solution to the debt crisis.

Dutch Finance Minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem, who is also chairing the Eurogroup meetings of eurozone finance ministers, warned on Monday night there were just days left for talks.

Mr Dijsselbloem said it was now “up to Greece” to decide if it wanted more funding or not.

The apparent deadlock in Brussels is hardly surprising, because the two sides have very different goals.

The Greek government wants to scrap the current bailout

“

deal, because of the very painful programme of spending cuts and other austerity measures that come with it. Instead, it wants a bridging loan to help it meet its short term needs, while a new deal is hammered out. Having been elected on an anti-austerity ticket, it can’t afford to back down, or it will be accused of betraying Greek voters.

But other members of the eurozone, and Germany in particular, have a very different agenda. They want Greece to accept an extension to the current deal - with the rather uncertain promise of “flexibility” if it plays ball.

They don’t want to show any signs of weakness, because of the signal that could send to

Dutch Finance Minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem, who is also chairing the Eurogroup meetings of eurozone finance ministers, warned on Monday night there were just days left for talks.

anti-austerity movements in countries such as Spain, Portugal or Cyprus.

It would also be politically toxic in Germany, where many voters dislike the idea that they are paying for Greece’s mistakes.

That doesn’t mean a compromise is impossible. It simply means any deal would have to be presented as both an end to the current austerity programme and a continuation of it. A political fudge, in other words - and Brussels has plenty of experience in putting those together. So a short-term solution is possible, but far from certain.

Greece has proposed a new bailout programme that involves a bridging loan to keep the country going for six months and help it repay €7bn (£5.2bn) of maturing bonds.

The second part of the plan would see the county’s debt refinanced. Part of this might be through “GDP bonds” - bonds carrying an interest rate linked to economic growth.

Greece also wants to see a reduction in the primary surplus target - the surplus the government must generate (excluding interest payments on debt) - from 3% to 1.49% of GDP. In Greece last week, two opinion polls indicated that 79% of Greeks supported the government’s policies, and 74% believed its negotiating strategy would succeed.

Source: BBC

PAGE 28

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, February 20, 2015

International WHO warns unsafe procedures hurting anti-Ebola efforts

Malawi Parliament criticized over marriage bill

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alawi’s parliament has passed a revised marriage bill, raising the legal age of marriage for girls from 15 to 18.

The revision comes after years of controversy, and the issue is still far from settled.

The Marriage, Divorce and Family Relations bill, which was passed last week, seeks to replace a widely criticized old law which allowed 15-year-old girls to marry with parental consent.

First drafted in 2006, the bill has undergone several changes to differentiate it from the old law, which rights campaigners said contributed to a high number of school dropouts and early marriages among girls.

Lawmaker Jessie Kabwila.a spokesperson for the leading opposition party in parliament, the Malawi Congress Party, said the bill will have a positive impact.

“This bill illustrates, aims to fight the problem that is the root of high rates of school drop-outs, fistula, high mortality rates, poverty, HIV and AIDS and other forms of abusive and oppressive conduct that lead to girls getting married early,” said Kabwila.

Under the new law, anyone marrying a girl younger than 18 will serve a minimum jail term of 10 years.

Traditional leaders are unhappy with the new law - they say the legal age for marriage should be higher.

Many have established laws in their own districts setting the minimum marriage age for a girl at 21.

Traditional Authority Kachindamoto told VOA that 18 is still too early for a Malawian girl to marry because at this age she is still in secondary school.

She said the chiefs will push for further amendments to the law.

Traditional Authority Chowe, of Malawi’s southern district of Mangochi, agrees.

“In fact, as chiefs we are advocating for 21 years because we thought 21 years will be more ideal.

The girl child would have grown well and by the time she is 21, she should have finished her form 4 [secondary education] so we were looking along those lines,” said Chowe.

Girls themselves are also divided on the bill.

ShareefaSayini told VOA that 18 is an appropriate year for a girl to get married because “this is the time a girl can fully enjoy marriage and also a way of avoiding all sorts of temptations that befall adolescents.”

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he World Health Organization says antiEbola efforts in West Africa are being undermined by unsafe burials and a failure to identify dozens of Ebola cases.

Health officials have warned for months that to stop the Ebola virus from spreading, suspected cases must be isolated and tested, and those killed by Ebola must be buried by workers wearing special protective gear.

But the WHO’s Ebola situation r e p o r t s a y s i n t h e week ending February 15, there were 39 unsafe burials in Guinea along with 45 in Sierra Leone.

Ebola in West Africa, deaths and confirmed casesEbola in West Africa, deaths and confirmed cases It says there were an additional 40 cases in which people were confirmed to have Ebola only after they died, away from treatment facilities.

The U.N. agency said the fact they were not isolated put members of their communities at greater risk for exposure to the virus.

Health officials in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone have

built networks to trace suspected Ebola cases and bring them to special facilities for testing and treatment.

The WHO says various communities in Guinea and Sierra Leone continue to resist containment measures and

cooperation with health workers.

The WHO reported a number of what it called security incidents in both countries last week.

Fifty-two new Ebola cases were reported in Guinea last week, along with 74 in Sierra Leone. Liberia, the third country heavily affected

by the outbreak, reported only two new cases in the four days up to February 12.

The total number of Ebola cases since the outbreak began last year now stands at more than 23,000.

The total number of deaths is up 9,365.

A Liberian school teacher (L) takes the temperature of students arriving for morning lessons at school, as part of the Ebola prevention measures at the BW Harris High School in Monrovia.

Burundians celebrate as journalist Bob Rugurika freed

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housands of people have taken to the streets of Burundi’s capital Bujumbura to celebrate the release of a prominent journalist controversially charged with the murder of three Italian nuns.

Crowds sang and danced after Bob Rugurika entered the city on Thursday after being freed on bail.

Such huge demonstrations in

defiance of the government are rare in Burundi.

It will now be under further pressure to properly investigate the murder of the nuns, observers say.

Lucia Pulici, 75, Olga Raschietti, 82, and BernadettaBoggian, 79 were killed at their convent in Bujumbura in September.

‘Free at last’

Burundi has seen two days of spontaneous protests in support of the journalist

MrRugurika was arrested about a month ago after his station, African Public Radio (RPA), broadcast the purported confession of a man claiming to be one of the killers.

It was also alleged that the man was acting on the orders of senior intelligence officials - an allegation denied by the government.

The authorities then charged MrRugurika with complicity in the murders, “breach of public solidarity” and disclosing confidential information about the case.

His arrest sparked outrage among many Burundians and rights campaigners.

Hundreds of people crammed into dozens of cars and motorbikes followed MrRugurika when he drove into the city after bring released from a prison some 50km (30 miles) away, AFP news agency reports.

I have no words to thank the Burundian population,” MrRugurika said in a radio broadcast.

“Thanks to your support, your commitment... I’m free at last.”

BBC Burundi analyst Prime

Ndikumagenge said spontaneous demonstrations also broke out on Wednesday when the court ordered MrRugurika’s release on bail, set at around $9,500 (£6,000).

The protests suggest that people are angry with the government, and this will worry it ahead of parliamentary and presidential elections due in May and June, he says.

People are also demanding an independent investigation into claims and counter-claims over the killing of the nuns, our reporter says.

One allegation is that the nuns were murdered after they became aware of illegal military training received by government supporters.

However, when the nuns’ bodies were discovered last year, the Italian Catholic diocese of Parma said the deaths appeared to have been “the tragic outcome of an armed robbery by a mentally unbalanced person”.

Burundi, one of the world’s poorest nations, has been struggling to overcome the legacy of a 12-year civil war between rival ethnic groups

US to support Cameroon military in Boko Haram fight

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he United States will help Cameroon’s army secure equipment to fight Boko Haram, its embassy in Cameroon said on Wednesday, as it deepens its commitment to countering the jihadist group.

Boko Haram militants have killed and kidnapped thousands in a six-year insurgency in Nigeria

and are stepping up cross-border attacks on neighbors despite a major regional offensive against them.

In the latest strike, guerrillas ambushed an army patrol near the town of Waza in Cameroon this week and an intense gun battle ensued, killing five soldiers.

“My government is working on a logistic pipeline of material that

will enhance Cameroon’s ability to defend itself from Boko Haram,” U.S. ambassador to Cameroon Michael Stephen Hoza said in a notice published in a local paper on Wednesday.

He did not elaborate on what would be provided, saying only that it would be “equipment necessary to defend the country.”

Earlier this week, the commander of U.S. Special Forces operations in Africa pledged to help African nations in the fight against the group.

Major General James Linder said the United States would provide technology allowing African partners to communicate between cellphones, radios and computers.

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, February 20, 2015

International

Jordan urges UN Security Council action on Libya J ordan circulated a draft United Nations Security Council resolution late Wednesday that would lift an arms embargo against the Libyan government, work toward halting the flow of weapons to militants, and push for Libya’s internationally recognized government to return to the capital in Tripoli.

The council met earlier for emergency talks on the situation in Libya, where militias and two parallel governments have left the country in a persistent state of instability following the 2011 ouster of leader Moammar Gadhafi.

The session came days after Islamic State militants released a video showing the beheadings of 21

Egyptian Christians who had been kidnapped in Libya.

Libyan Foreign Minister Mohammed al-Dairi called the situation in Libya “disastrous,” and told the council that the world has a responsibility to preserve peace and stability.

“Libya needs a decisive stance from the international community to help us build our national arms

Egyptian Foreing Minister SamehShoukry speaks during a Security Council meeting on the situation in Libya

capacity, and this would come through the lifting of the arms embargo on weapons so that our army can receive material and weapons so they can deal with this rampant terrorism,” he said.

The foreign minister stressed Libya is not asking for international military intervention.

The U.N.’s special envoy to Libya, Bernardino Leon, spoke to the council by teleconference, saying that addressing the political crisis remains the most important priority.

“The savage terrorist acts highlight once again the imminent danger confronting Libya, its people and the wider region unless there is a swift agreement among the main parties in the country of resolving the political crisis and bringing an end to the military and political conflict,” he said.

Libya has been under an arms embargo since 2011. The internationally recognized government now operating out of Tobruk has been able to petition a U.N. committee to ask that certain weapons sales be approved, but there remains some unease in lifting the embargo with fears that the arms could end up in the hands of the many militant groups operating in Libya.

Qatar pulls envoy to Egypt in airstrike dispute

Q

atar recalled its ambassador to Egypt for “consultations” on Thursday in a widening rift over Egypt’s air force carrying out airstrikes against Islamic State militants in Libya earlier this week.

Egypt conducted the bombings Monday hours after a video

emerged showing militants beheading 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians.

But Qatar expressed concern about the Egypt’s decision to respond with unilateral action in Libya.

In turn, Egypt’s delegate to

the Arab League, Tarek Adel, was quoted by the state-run MENA news agency as saying that Qatar’s objection showed that it is “supportive of terrorism.”

The two countries have had periods of strained relations, particularly after Egypt’s President

Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, then the military chief, led the ouster of President Mohamed Morsi in 2013.

Qatar has been a haven for members of Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood, a group that has been banned in Egypt and labeled a terrorist organization.

Thai Ex-PM indicted over failed rice subsidy program

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hai authorities Thursday indicted former prime ministerYingluck Shinawatra over a bungled rice buying scheme during her time in office. Yingluck failed to appear at the indictment hearing in Bangkok, but her lawyer says she was not obliged to appear and has no intention to flee the kingdom. Her supporters say the charges against her are politically motivated.

The indictment of the last elected prime minister of Thailand had been widely expected.

After delivering boxes of documents to the SupremeCourt, the attorney general’s office announced that Yingluck Shinawatra had been indicted for “dereliction of duty.”

If convicted of criminal negligence and failure to prevent corruption, she could be sent to prison for a decade. The government, now under military control, is also considering a civil

suit against the ex-prime minister to seek $18 billion in damages.

The charges stem from a bungled government scheme in which rice farmers pledged crops in exchange for being paid above the market rate. The subsidies resulted in massive stockpiles of rice, some of it rotting in warehouses and accusations that billions of dollars had been wasted. But the former prime minister has repeatedly emphasized that she did nothing wrong.

The director general of the investigation department of the attorney general’s office, Surasak Threerattrakul, said the Supreme Court will decide March 19 whether to pursue the case.

Surasak said Yingluck would be required to appear at an initial court hearing. The judges at that time would decide whether to grant bail or detain the defendant.

Yingluck’s attorney, Pichit

Chuenban, said his client will fight any criminal charges.

The lawyer said Yingluck has reaffirmed “that when she gets the copy in detail of the indictment and the first hearing is set, she will be

present at the court for the process of justice.”

The junta last month denied the former prime minister permission to travel to Hong Kong to ensure she was in Thailand to face charges.

Thailand’s Attorney Director General, Department of Special Litigation ChutichaiSakhakorn (R) holds filed charge papers as Director General, Department of Investigation, SurasakThreerattrakul looks on at the Supreme Court in Bangkok

Asia & Middle East

Australian David Hicks ‘relieved’ after terror conviction quashed

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ormer Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks has expressed relief after a US court quashed his terrorism conviction.

The Australian pleaded guilty at the base in 2007 to providing material support to terrorism.

But a US court struck the conviction down on Wednesday, saying the charge was not a war crime and so should not have been heard at a military court.

Mr Hicks was captured in Afghanistan in 2001, where he attended al-Qaeda training camps and met Osama Bin Laden.

‘No laws broken’ David Hicks told a news conference in Sydney that he had been waiting for the decision for years. “It’s a relief because it’s over,” he said.

“It is just unfortunate that because of politics, I was subjected to five and a half years of physical and psychological torture that I will now live with always.”

Mr Hicks said he would not seek an official apology but suggested he should be compensated for medical treatment needed to “fix myself from torture”.

“It is being kept in metal rooms in freezing conditions for years, it is not being able to move or exercise,” he said.

“The body deteriorates over five and a half years, even without the added torture, such as stress positions, being beaten.”

His lawyer Stephen Kenny, meanwhile, said the decision confirmed that Mr Hicks’ actions had not been illegal at the time.

“He wasn’t doing anything that was a breach of Australian, international or US law.”

US civilian courts have ruled that the charge of providing material support for terrorism cannot be considered a war crime in cases that were brought for actions before 2006, when new laws were adopted.

‘Revelled in jihad’ But John Howard, Australia’s prime minister while Mr Hicks was in Guantanamo Bay, said he was “not owed an apology by any Australian government”.

“The US verdict is about the legal process in that country,” his spokesman said.

“Nothing alters the fact that by his own admission, Hicks trained with al-Qaeda, met Osama Bin Laden on several occasions describing him as a brother. He revelled in jihad.”

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, February 20, 2015

Page 30

International

Ukraine denounces rebel seizure of key town

U

kraine President Petro Poroshenko said the takeover of a key eastern Ukrainian town by proRussian rebels is a violation of an internationally brokered cease-fire and he called for clear “guarantees” in case further violations happen.

Poroshenko made the comments Thursday during a phone call with the leaders of Russia, Germany and France, according to a statement by the president’s office.

Kyiv on Wednesday ordered thousands of Ukrainian troops out of Debaltseve, a strategic rail hub that links the separatist-held areas in Urkaine’s Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Poroshenko told the leaders “not to pretend that what happened in Debaltseve was in line with the Minsk agreements” that were reached last week and went into effect Sunday.

In a statement, Ukraine’s defense ministry said that 13 soldiers had been killed and 157 wounded during the withdrawal.

It also said that 82 soldiers were missing, and more than 90 had been taken prisoner by the separatists.

He also called on the proRussian separatists to release all Ukrainian soldiers, hundreds of which were thought to have been captured by the rebels during the withdrawal from the eastern city.

V

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko told a late-night meeting of his national security council that six soldiers were killed during the withdrawal from Debaltseve and more than 100 were injured.

Peacekeeping mission Poroshenko has called for an international peacekeeping mission to restore calm to the area. The appeal was rejected Thursday by both rebel and Moscow leaders.

VitalyChurkin, Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations said the proposal suggests Kyiv is trying to undermine the ceasefire reached last week in Minsk, Belarus.

“When someone starts to propose some schemes instead of doing what had been agreed, it primarily arouses suspicion that they want to undermine the Minsk agreements,” Churkin was quoted as saying by the Russian stateowned TASS news agency.

Denis Pushilin, spokesman for the so-called Donetsk people’s republic, also said Ukraine’s request for international peacekeepers

“violates the set of measures aimed at implementing Minsk’s February 12 peaceful settlement agreements,” according to the Interfax news agency.

The White House said Wednesday that it is “crystal clear” that Russia and the separatists in eastern Ukraine are not living up to the cease-fire agreement, and warned this puts them “at risk of greater costs.”

Germany rejects Greece’s extension proposal

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reece formally asked its European creditors on Thursday for a six-month extension of the debt-ridden country’s bailout package, according to a eurozone official.

Jeroen Dijsselbloem, who heads the eurogroup of finance ministers, said on his Twitter account he “received [the] Greek request for [a] six months extension,” but provided no further details.

Speaking anonymously, EU officials later said that eurozone finance ministers would meet Friday to discuss the extension request.

Europe and Americas Paris Metro racist abuse victim calls for Chelsea fans’ punishment

Reacting to Greece’s request, Germany said it is not a “substantial” proposal for a solution.

A spokesman for German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble elaborated that “in truth it aims at bridge financing, without meeting the requirements of the program. The letter does not meet the criteria agreed upon in the Eurogroup on Monday.”

Germany, the main European creditor, has repeatedly said that any extension of loans was “inextricably” linked to the reforms agreed to by the previous

Greek government. In general, Germany has firmly held the position that aid for struggling countries must come with strings attached.

Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis said he is optimistic Greece would receive the extension and avoid possible bankruptcy.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew spoke to Varoufakis by telephone Wednesday, urging him to work for a compromise.

The Treasury Department said Lew told his Greek colleague that “failure

to reach an agreement would lead to immediate hardship in Greece and that the uncertainty is not good for Europe.”

Greece has until the end of the month to pay back its European lenders or negotiate a new deal. Failure could mean default and exit from the eurozone.

Greece’s new leftist Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras campaigned on promises of renegotiating the $270 billion bailout package. He said the terms agreed to by the former center-right government have made life difficult for many Greeks.

Kerry lays out US plan for countering extremism

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A girl holds up a poster with pictures of the 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians beheaded by Islamic State in Libya, as they gather in a gesture to show their solidarity, in front of the Egyptian embassy in Amman

iolent extremism represents the biggest challenge in the 21st century and success in fighting it requires “showing the world the power of peaceful communities,” U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry wrote in an op-ed article published by The Wall Street Journal.

Kerry, who is taking part in a threeday conference on countering violent radicalism in Washington, wrote: “Success requires showing the world the power of peaceful communities instead of extremist violence. Success requires offering a vision that is positive and proactive: a world with more concrete alternatives to the nihilistic worldview of violent extremists.

“Success requires empowering leaders from Los Angeles to Lagos, Paris to Peshawar, and Bogotá to Baghdad to take the reins in this effort—because terrorists don’t exist in a vacuum,” he wrote.

Obama to speak President Barack Obama also plans to speak before representatives of more than 60 nations at the U.S. State Department as part of the final day of the summit.

During an address Wednesday before a group of community and religious leaders, Obama called on them to help fight “false promises of extremism” and reject the notion that “terrorist” groups represent Islam.

ideo from The Guardian shows Chelsea fans pushing the man and chanting “We’re racist we’re racist” The man prevented from boarding a Paris Metro train by Chelsea football fans chanting racist slogans has called for them to be punished.

The 33-year-old, named as Souleymane S, told France’s Le Parisien: “These people, these English fans... should be locked up.”

A video shows him trying to get on a Metro carriage but being pushed off.

A group of people can be heard singing: “We’re racist, we’re racist and that’s the way we like it.”

The footage was obtained by the Guardian, which reported that the incident happened at RichelieuDrouot station in the centre of the French capital on Tuesday ahead of a Champions League match.

English fans In the interview with Le Parisien, Souleymane S said he had not been particularly surprised by the abuse because he “lives with racism”.

The father of three, a FrenchMauritanian born in Paris, said he had not understood what the fans were saying but that he knew he was being targeted because of the colour of his skin.

Paul Nolan told Radio 4’s Today programme it was a “threatening” scene Transport officers arrived but only wanted to make sure there was not a fight taking place.

He said he had no idea he was being filmed, and had not told anyone about the incident.

“What could I tell my children?

That daddy was shoved around on the Metro because he is black?

“That would be pointless.”

But he said that now the incident had emerged publicly he had the confidence to file a police complaint.

“These people, these English fans, need to be found and punished, and should be locked up,” he added.

“What happened should not go unpunished.”

Hate speech UK Prime Minister David Cameron said the incident appeared to be “extremely disturbing and very worrying”.

It follows long-standing controversy over racism in football generally.

Although the episode is believed to have involved British fans, the comments made by Souleymane S also come amid disquiet over increasing intolerance in France.

Publishing a report on Tuesday, Nils Muiznieks, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, said France needed to take “urgent” action to combat abuse.

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, February 20, 2015

Akala campaign office attacked From Seyi Ojelade, Ibadan

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A group of Igbo people protesting, over non release of their Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) at INEC office, yesterday in Lagos. Photo: NAN

Al-makura’s wife concludes state wide sensitization campaign on election violence

By Ali Abare Abubakar with agency report

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asarawa State First Lady, Hajiya Salamatu Al-makura said she has concluded a state wide campaign to sensitize the people of the state on the need to shun violence before, during and after the forth coming general elections.

Al-makura told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lafia on Wednesday that, “I had gone round all the 13 local governments and 16 Development Areas and visited all the nooks and crannies of the state in this direction”.

“The focus of my campaign was the youths, where I admonished them to shun all forms of violence, before, during and after the general election as well as enlighten the people on the need to go and collect their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs)”.

“The youths are most vibrant section of the population of the country who are also in the majority, as such they should not allow any selfish politician to use them to perpetrate violence”, she added.

While expressing regret that some selfish politicians

were using the children of other people rather than their own to perpetrate such heinous violent act, the state’s first lady also warned that there were some unpatriotic Nigerians were unleashing terror and violence on their fellow compatriots in the bit of seeking transient power.

“As a mother, it worried me so much if I see how some desperate politicians risk other people’s children’s life in the name of politics and either hide their owns at home under security or send them abroad for safety for just some little token amount”, Al-makura frowned.

She also has appealed to eligible voters in the state to protect their votes during the 2015 general election, appealing to all eligible voters to protect their votes and to ensure that their votes count during the general election in order to ensure good governance for the overall development of the country.

According to her, the era in which voters would vote and leave their polling units was gone and she urged the voters to vote only candidates of unquestionable characters in order to enjoy more dividends of democracy. (NAN)

Southern Kaduna civil societies drum support for Yero From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

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oalition of sixteen civil societies from the southern part of Kaduna State yesterday affirmed their support for the incumbent governor of the state and governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Mukhtar Ramallan Yero.

The Secretary General of the coalition, Dr. Ben Kumai Gugon disclosed this during a press conference held in Kaduna yesterday.

According the Dr. Gugon, the group which now goes by the name Dallatun Mandate took out time to brainstorm on the way forward for the Southern Kaduna people and the concession was that they should support

continuity for the betterment of the people.

“Our group is made up of professionals in different fields of human endeavours and seasoned politicians with tested integrity of Southern Kaduna extraction.

It is against this backdrop that the group has been working assiduously in generating interest, conscientizing the electorate and building synergy with various civil society organizations to ensure his successful re-election.

“Having considered the massive achievements of the Governor Yero’s administration in infrastructural development, education, security, and job creation in Kaduna State since he became the Executive Governor, the group has embarked on aggressive campaign and

advocacy to woo support for the Yero-led government to enable him continue to improve and consolidate on his achievements beyond the 2015 election.

“As a geopolitical zone that places high premium on education, the pronouncement made by Governor Yero on the establishment of the proposed Kaduna State University of Science and Technology from the existing Kafanchan campus of Kaduna State University, the ongoing road construction in various parts of the region and public support for the creation of Gurara State are major motivation and boost to the people of the region which has been the driving force responsible for the unalloyed support.

“One of the major goals of the coalition is to pursue the

estimated one million votes of non-Kaduna natives resident in Kaduna State. We want to assure them that their investments and properties will be secured under a new tenure of Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, as he has showed in his two years of power.

We want them to understand that all they have toiled for would not be put to ruins, as Governor Yero sees their presence as crucial to the growth, development and wellbeing of Kaduna State. If there are short comings in the manner that some property have been developed, we have the assurance of Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, that it would be looked into with a humanely, a civilized and non-punitive measure to addressing the problem” he said.

he campaign office of the Labour Party gubernatorial candidate in Oyo State, Otunba Alao Akala was on Wednesday night attacked by hoodlums believed to be sponsored by political opponent of the former governor.

The office which was located at Mokola Area was said to have been stormed by scores of people with dangerous weapon chanting anti Akala song and trying to gain entry into the office.

The security man who raised the alarm was pursued as the invaders fired several gunshots into the air to scare residence of the residence or anybody who may want to resist them.

Though they were unable to gain entrance into the office but the glass at the main entrance was damage.

The security man on duty simply identified as Clement while narrating his ordeal said “they came with bikes and fired several shots in the air, I raised alarm and they pursued me in attempt to kill me but I managed to escape” Spokesperson for the former governor, Barr Abraham Ojo while confirming the incident, said the attack was part of the antics political opponent who is jittery about the soaring image of Otunba Akala.

“Their mission is to vandalize the property and attack supporters of Otunba Alao akala as they have been doing in some days, adding that Akala will not be intimidated by their treat.

He however urged the security operatives to investigate the attacks and be more firm in their effort to resist any violence from the opposition Similarly, Team Akala a support group for the aspiration of Otunba Adebayo Alao Akala has condemned the act, describing it as an act from a jittery opponent.

The team’s coordinator, Prince Niran Adeyoju in a press statement made available to pressmen in Ibadan pointed accusing finger on the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who have been threatening violence for some moments now.

“The PDP governorship candidate who was going about with hundreds of hoodlums on Tuesday displayed his political immaturity when he ordered his hoodlums to attack people on Alao Akala campaign convoy”. Despite the presence of heavy security at Oja Oba, the hoodlums still shot in the air and attacked some of our people.

PAGE 32

Traders evacuating their goods before demolition of their shops, on Wednesday at Kuje Main Market, in Abuja.

Photo: NAN

Akinjide unveils multi-billion Naira community plaza, market in AMAC

Stories by Stanley Onyekwere

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he minister of state for the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, yesterday commissioned N3.51 billion community plaza and market projects, in Karu and Lugbe, in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).

While the total sum of N2.17 billion was used for construction of about 1000 shops in the market tagged Lugbe Relocation Market’, the total cost of the Karu project (with only over 397 units of shops completed, being phase 1 of the project) is N1.34 billion.

According to the minister, who made the disclosure of the

cost of the two projects, while commissioning them in Karu and Lugbe respectively, they were initiated and facilitated by AMAC through the Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.

She pointed out that the occasion was another landmark achievement by the AMAC administration, which shows that the chairman has faced up to the challenge of rooting out dilapidated structures and replacing them with standard ones.

“The projects you have seen here are standard and they are for Nigerian traders.”

“And these developments indeed satisfies the yearning of the people and the expectations of traders who have craved for better

service and improved facilities in the area councils,” she stressed.

The minister urged the beneficiaries of the projects to ensure that their allocated shops and the general business premises are always kept clean.

While commending the AMAC leadership for the initiative taken to realize the projects, Akinjide urged other FCT area councils, and local government chairmen in the country at large to emulate the trend.

Earlier, the AMAC chairman, Hon. Micah Jiba, said the projects would improve the council’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) base and increase commercial Interaction in the councils, especially its satellite

towns.

He however assured stakeholders and prosperous allottees of the plaza and market, that no one will be left out, as due process will be followed in the handling of the projects.

Thanking the FCT Administration for always supporting effort by the council to bring about transform in the area, the Chairman noted that the projects will be a model that will be admired by all.

On his part, Managing Director, Del-Trazi Limited, the developer of the Karu Community Plaza, Charles Ezeani, said the construction started in 2009 with an area of 6.04 hectares comprising of 1, 289 proposed

shops.

“Only 397 shops are being commissioned in Karu, in the phase 1, but the phase II shall be completed in three months.

“There are also special spaces such as restaurants, cold rooms, meat shops, laundry, toilets, banking hall, clinic, fire/police station etc. that can make it compete with any international market in West Africa,” he stressed.

Also, in his goodwill message, Chief of Karu, HRH Emmanuel Kyauta Yepwi, commended the efforts of the AMAC in bringing developmental strides to Karu; saying that “this is how I want to see Karu; this is in line with the urban renewal.”

FCTA engages 34 coys for waste management

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n what appears as a swift to the public outcry for a decisive action against environmental abuse by some residents of the Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the FCT Administration has engaged the services of 34 environmental sanitation companies, aimed at intensifying efforts in waste collection in city centre and satellite towns.

This, according to the Satellite Towns Development Department (STDD), will complement the effort of the existing waste management companies in timely evacuating waste, especially in the satellite towns.

According to Deputy Director of the STDD, in charge Environment Unit, Olawowu lateef, noted that the waste management companies, in an agreement with

the FCT administration expressed commitment to duty.

He assured that all the needed equipment will be deployed to sanitize Abuja, especially the satellite towns, where environmental abuses are very conspicuous.

He however pleaded with the FCT Administration to ensure prompt payment of the waste management companies, to

encourage diligence, commitment and sincerity in their duty of keeping the FCT environment clean.

Also, he stressed the need for residents especially those living along Nyanya - Karshi axis to desist from patronising local waste hawkers who have no proper means of disposing the waste.

“As a result, they dispose the

waste in the various drainages along that road, and it had resulted in the blockage of the drainages, which had contributed to flooding as recently experienced in the past,” he pointed out.

He therefore warned waste hawkers to desist from blocking the drainages with waste collected, while restating that task force team will not relent in prosecuting anyone found engaging in such act.

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, February 20, 2015

Photo Splash

PAGE 33

Traffic officer on duty, yesterday in Abuja.

Scavengers in search of valuables, yesterday at Karu refuse dumps, in Abuja.

A man selling beverage drinks and snack, yesterday along Wuse Zone 5, in Abuja.

Hawkers at Nyanya, yesterday in Abuja.

A commercial motorcyclist carrying passenger, yesterday in Mararaba.

Photos: Mahmud Isa

PAGE 34

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, February 20, 2015

Metro

Residents groan under epileptic power supply in Abuja Feature

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

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here is no gain saying that Electricity which is vital for economic and domestic activities in any society, has become a very scarce commodity for residents and business owners in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Ordinarily, with recent increase in electricity tariff that took effect from January 1, 2015, many had hoped that power supply should be gradually stable, at least in major cities like Abuja, but the reverse seemed to be the case, as many residents in the Territory are groaning under perennial darkness.

Despite the privatization of the recent power sector, there has been continuous shortage supply of the essential commodity in the metropolis.

Check s revealed that the shortage of power supply has forced many residents to consistently rely on alternative energy source like generators, inverters and solar energy for their daily usage.

According to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), the poor power supply being experienced in the FCT and its environs was as a result of the short fall in loading allocation to it by the system operator.

Also, AEDC explained that the average daily allocation to the company from February 1to February 13 was 290megawatts as against 390 in January.

It added that in spite the shortfall in power allocation to the company, it was compelled to give special consideration to certain strategic institution in Abuja that required uninterrupted power supply.

“As a result of the foregoing, when there is limited power available to AEDC there is extensive load -shedding to other customers in the FCT as well as other states in the company ‘s area”he said .

“The company would continue to optimise its load-shedding ensuring that electricity consumers were given fair consideration in the distribution of energy,” the Managing Director of AEDC ,Mr. Neil Croucher, stressed.

However, a cross of some residents, who decried the situation, said it is worrisome and needed urgent attention by those concerned, in order meet their yearnings, thereby ameliorating peoples’ plights.

They insisted that there is the need for the relevant Power Distribution Company to quickly address the issues causing the poor supply of power and unnecessary billing of customers in the FCT. According to the residents, if there is a shortfall in energy distribution in the FCT, AEDC should ensure to give a fair

A Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) staff on duty at Gudu District, in Abuja, recently. consideration to all residents in the Territory.

A residents in Wuse 2 axis Mr. kunle Taiwo laments: “Well, unfortunately the electricity supply in the FCT ,as far as the city is concern it has not improved much.

“This is because in our area here, you can get light within 2 hours in a day, and the operators of the light take it away , and by stroke of luck it might be brought back in 8-hours’ time.”

He recalls that “during the military regime, Abuja city had 24 hours electricity supply; it was during the Abacha regime that the condition of electricity supply started changing drastically.

“The federal government has privatization of the sector, yet we keep experiencing shortage of power supply to our homes and business places.

“But my wish is that the distributors of electricity should be able to pay greater attention to Abuja city, because t is the image making of the nation , and the international communities are here, they should help improve on our image before them.”

Also, he called on the government to look into the distribution system, by increasing the level of supply to Abuja.

So far, the tariff so far has not change, it is very good, but it is more expensive because it is pay as you go, and the meters move very fast.

“They equally need to review it (the tariff) ,even though I have complained to them (AEDC), because I have industrial meter I don’t use much things , and the rate of the consummation is too fast for me.

“They should provide the appropriate meters to residents, and stop giving that of industrial apartment to them, this is my appeal to distribution company (Disco),” Taiwo pointed out.

Another resident, in Wuse Zone 2, Vayunamu Bawa, also decried that the electricity supply in Wuse is very poor.

“We have being experiencing a huge shortage in the electricity supply and to this effect; it affects our day to day activities in the area

“Electricity is a necessity and so far, the supply has been epileptic; it is supposed to be getting better but it seems the supply is getting worse by the day,” he expressed.

Similarly, one Mr. Keinda Ossini, who resides at Jabi, confirmed that power supply within the area is a bit poor, saying if only the AEDC will be more balanced in its sharing formula; it will go a long way to reduces extra expenses by residents on generators and power inverters.

Also, Mr. Peters Omo, who lives at Mpape, explained even though AEDC rotates power supply in the area, at times some residents enjoy it much more than the others.

He said while in some parts of

“

FCT is experiencing the shortage of power supply is the autumn generated was less, so the company (AEDC) cannot go outside what they have generated, when there is no extra electricity anywhere

Mpape, where there is light but the voltage is usually very low, but the billing would remain very high.

“With all this issues one still pay high bills on energy, which we have not enjoy ,it is very unfortunate, but the NERC and the AEDC should urgently do something about this rotational sharing formula.

In the same vein, a businessman in Lugbe axis (around Airport road), Mr. Gabriel Chelsea, also acknowledges that “the distribution of electricity within the FCT, for some of us businessman ,this issue of lack of consistent power supply had made some of us depend soly on generators and power inverters solar energy, including for our domestic needs.

But, another resident in Karu, who simply identified herself as Mrs. Christy says: “We usually have light in Karu , so all this AEDC trouble we do not experience it , daily we can get electricity supply in much longer hours.

“One does not bother about power supply, because one is assured that at any point in time, he or she wants to use the light it is available for domestic usage and other commercial services .”

Not left out, an energy analysts, Mr. Sunday E., noted that electricity moves in chains from generation to transmission to distribution, the distribution company generates it in g-watts or autumn that they (electricity generation companies) have.

“So they distribute what they generate to the distribution company, the ones the generation companies have is the one they will share it to the power distribution company to supply to the residents.

“This is because, the work of the distribution company is just to give out to residents those their consumers for final usage, as they are the final point in the chain.

“The transmission company shares the electricity base on the allocation and the autumn of power being generated by the generation company; if they produce more they distribute more, and if they produce less, then they share less to the Disco.

“FCT is experiencing the shortage of power supply is the autumn generated was less, so the company (AEDC) cannot go outside what they have generated, when there is no extra electricity anywhere,” he explained.

He added that another thing responsible for the current situation is that enough strong transmitting facilities are not yet in place, that’s why “what we generating we are unable to transmit, because of the weaker facilities in the country.

“For instance, instead if you are producing 10,000Mage watts; and you cannot give out exactly it means you are not serious about the business; but I believe that AEDC is working on it seriously to meet its consumers demands.”

Page 35

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, February 20, 2015

Strange World Three-breasted woman speaks out, ‘I know my breasts are real’

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Jasmine claims her third breast is real

he three-breasted woman, has spoken out for the first time, claiming ‘I know my breasts are real’ Jasmine Tridevil (which we’re thinking *may* not be her real name) hit the headlines in 2014 after pictures emerged of her posing in a three-breasted bikini top.

However just days later it was claimed that her third breast was a hoax.

This claim was seemingly backed up when Jasmine reportedly claimed a ‘3 breast prosthesis’ was stolen when her bags went missing at Tampa Airport – although she now claims this was a mould of her chest she’d had made for a fan.

Speaking publicly for the first time, the 21-year-old from Tampa, Florida, has stated in no uncertain terms: ‘I know my breasts are real and I do not care what anybody thinks.’

The wannabe pop star went on the explain that the surgery cost her £12,000 and took and hour and a half

KWARA STATE UNIVERSITY, (KWASU)MALETE P.M.B 1530, ILORIN

OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR

REF: KWASU/ADM/044/VOL.XI/204 INVITATION FOR PRE-QUALIFICATION OF CONTRACTORS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF 2014 TERTIARY EDUCATION TRUST FUND SPECIAL HIGH IMPACT INTERVENTION FOR PROGRAMME AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE TEACHING AND LEARNING ENVIRONMENT PHASE 5

INTRODUCTION The Tertiary Education Trust Fund has granted Approval –In-Principle to Kwara State University, Malete for the implementation of projects under 2014 Tertiary Education Trust Fund Special High Impact Intervention for programme and improvement of the Teaching and Learning Environment Phase 5 2.0 THE PROJECTS Interested and competent contractors with requisite experience in the handling of similar projects are therefore, invited to submit pre-qualification documents for the following projects:LOT 1: Construction of the University Main Library LOT 2: Procurement of Furniture for the Main Library LOT 3: Procurement of Equipment and Furniture for the Centre for Innovation in Teaching and Research.

3.0. REQUIREMENTS AND ARRANGEMENT OF PRE-QUALIFICATION DOCUMENTS The required pre-qualifications documents should be arranged in the following orders: i.

Evidence of incorporation or Business Registration with Corporate Affairs Commission ii.

Article and Memorandum of Association iii.

Registration with relevant bodies at State/Federal levels iv.

Evidence of Compliance with the Provisions of the Industrial Training Fund(ITF) Amendment Act 2011 in respect of contribution to the Fund where applicable v.

Evidence of Certificate/Exemption from PENCOM in compliance with Pension Reform Act 2004 vi.

Company’s Audited Account for the last three years vii.

3 year Tax Clearance Certificate viii.

Evidence of payment of Education Tax ix.

Evidence of Financial Capacity and Banking support x.

Company’s Technical Qualifications and Experience of key staff xi.

Verifiable list of similar and other jobs successful executed stating: Client locations, Letters of Awards, Cost, Practical Completion Certificates and Photographs attached xii.

Equipment and Technology Capacity (where applicable) xiii.

Evidence of Trade/Technical partnership or affiliation with manufacturers (where applicable) xiv.

Contract Registration with KWASU in the appropriate category xv.

Annual Turnover of the Company xvi.

VAT Registration and evidence of remittances xvii.

Satisfactory history with KWASU (if any) xviii.

Full details of Company Profile 4.0 SUBMISSION OF PRE-QUALIFICATION DOCUMENTS All Pre-Qualification Documents are to be packaged In Wax-Sealed envelopes marked “IMPLEMENTATION OF 2014 TETFUND SPECIAL HIGH IMPACT PHASE 5”and submitted To: The Registrar, Kwara State University, Malete not later than two weeks from the date of this advertisement.

5.0 PLEASE NOTE THAT i.

A nonrefundable processing fee of N25,000 must be paid to the University ii.

This advertisement is not an Invitation to Tender. Full tendering information and instructions shall be sent only to the Companies that are found pre-qualified and screened. iii.

The University will not go into correspondence on account of unsuccessful applications.

SIGNED SURAJUDEEN O. OYEBODE REGISTRAR

to complete.

Talking about her reasons for getting this unusual augmentation, Jasmine explained she hoped her third boob would make her less attractive.

She explained: ‘The reason I got a third breast is because I wanted to make my self unattractive towards men, ‘Sexually I just did not want to be approached by men anymore.’

And although Jasmine couldn’t be happier, she claims that finding a surgeon to perform the unusual procedure wasn’t plain sailing.

She explained: ‘There was one surgeon who hung up on me. I think that a lot of them thought I was prank calling them but I was serious they just did not take me seriously.’

She went on: ‘There was another surgeon who told me I was crazy and said I should check myself into a mental hospital.’

And a series of surgeons weren’t the only people to react negatively to her plans.

Jasmine revealed that she hasn’t spoken to her mother since having the surgery, and claimed ‘The world hates me I get nothing but negative comments,’ She went on: ‘They think I’m an attention whore and it’s true – I do love attention and I’m not ashamed of it because every entertainer is an attention whore whether they like to admit it or not.’

But despite declaring herself an ‘attention whore’, Jasmine – who works as a dominatrix – has refused numerous offers to put an end to speculation with a topless photo shoot.

She said: ‘I could never consider doing a topless shoot – it’s against the way I was raised.’

Asked whether she regrets the surgery, Jasmine stated: ‘Getting a third breast was not always my plan – I just had the idea two years ago.’

She concluded: ‘I never thought that I would ever change my body I was always happy with myself – I guess I just changed.’

Dinner to die for: Only woman on Georgia’s death row makes HUGE last meal request of two Whoppers, two large fries, bell peppers, salad with boiled eggs, cherry vanilla ice cream - and the list goes on...

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eorgia’s only female death row inmate has submitted a rather lengthy list for her last meal ahead of her execution later this month.

Kelly Renee Gissendaner, 46, will become the first woman to be executed in seven decades in the state when she receives a lethal injection on February 25.

She requested a last meal of cornbread with a side of buttermilk; two Burger King Whoppers with cheese; two large orders of fries; cherry vanilla ice cream; popcorn; a salad with boiled eggs, tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, carrots, cheese and Newman’s Own buttermilk dressing; and lemonade The feast will be consumed in the hours leading up to her execution at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson.

A rough estimate shows that the food contains more than 4,200 calories.

Gissendaner was convicted of killing her husband in February 1997.

She was sentenced to death in November 1998 after she was found guilty for persuading her boyfriend to kill her husband, Douglas Gissendaner.

Gissendaner, who is incarcerated at Arrendale State Prison, is the only

Kelly Renee Gissendaner (above), 46, who was convicted of killing her husband in February 1997, is scheduled to be executed on a date between February 25 and March 4 woman of 84 inmates facing the death penalty in the state, figures showed from a report

by Georgia’s Department of

Corrections last year. She is set to be the 14th woman executed in Georgia since 1735, according to the AJC.

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, February 20, 2015

Page 36

Digest

Want to quit smoking?

I quit and I haven’t looked back. The programme, which I have now put into a book, involves a series of exercises that gradually build on one another. Here are some simple exercises you can do now to introduce you to some of the key ideas, and help you start gently thinking about your relationship with cigarettes.

Time to quit: Dr Max Pemberton has developed a programme involving a series of exercises that gradually build on one another to help you start gently thinking about your relationship with cigarettes

I

loved smoking. Or at least I thought I loved it. As a doctor, I knew how bad it was for me, but that didn’t stop me doing it. In fact, if simply knowing the health risks of smoking stopped people doing it, then no doctor or nurse would ever light up a cigarette – and that’s simply not the case.

Throughout my 20s I told myself I’d give up one day. Then my 30th birthday came and went. It was several more years before I realised that if I didn’t make a concerted effort, I’d be smoking until I died.

But the thought of stopping smoking made me profoundly sad. I didn’t want to stop doing something that I enjoyed so mu c h . I w a s i n a m u d d l e . I loved smoking, but I knew it was killing me.

And then one day on my way to work, I heard my thoughts out loud for the first time. My gran and aunt had just died from lung cancer and this had brought on

Myth: There is nothing inherent in a cigarette that calms us. In fact, smoking raises blood pressure and heart rate, so, if anything, it contributes to stress

a new round of nagging from my mother about my smoking habit.

I needed to make sure that I definitely loved it enough that I wouldn’t mind dying for it.

For many years I have worked with drug addicts. Lots of the things I was hearing myself say were horribly similar to the things I’d heard my patients say.

I had helped get them out of their predicaments using cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), so surely I could use this to help get myself out of my one.

CBT works by inviting the patient to examine aspects of their life that are causing them difficulties or problems, and to challenge some of the unhelpful thoughts that they have and that are contributing to the problem Using my experience of working with drug addicts, I developed a CBT-based programme to help me change my thinking about smoking. It worked.

Exercise 1 Write a list of what you love about cigarettes, and why. It doesn’t matter how daft some of the things are. It’s important that you start to examine what you think cigarettes give to you.

Do they make you feel more confident or more relaxed?

What do you think you get from smoking – after all, it must give you something, otherwise why do it?

Exercise 2 Now write down a list of all the things that prevent you from stopping smoking. This might be harder than it sounds.

Smoking is something we can do without really thinking about it most of the time, and it’s easy for us to create myths and illusions around why we should keep doing it. What it is that truly prevents you from stopping? And what is it that

scares you? Write down your list, and, as always, you can add to it later as things occur to you.

These are your reasons NOT to quit, or ‘Reasons to continue’.

Exercise 3 Go back to the list that you made in Exercise 1. Now, I want you to write down all the things that NOT smoking would give you. What are the benefits?

Why stop smoking? What are your reasons for wanting to no longer smoke? We’ll call this your ‘Quit list’.

It might not seem like it now, but everything you wrote down in Exercise 1 is an illusion. These ‘reasons you smoke’ might seem very real, but they are not.

Instead, everything on this list is your mind’s attempt to justify something that doesn’t make sense.

We all know that smoking is bad for us. It costs an incredible amount of money and, ultimately, it’s likely to either kill or disable us. In the mind, this sets up a bit of a quandary. We want to do it but we know it is bad for us and we shouldn’t do it.

In psychology, this problem is called ‘cognitive dissonance’ – when our thoughts are in conflict with one another.

Part of becoming a smoker is that your mind finds ways to resolve this dissonance so that you can continue smoking without experiencing the mental conflict.

It does this by coming up with ‘cognitive distortions’ – arguments that, on the face of it, might seem logical and that a l l o w y o u t o ke e p s m o ki ng .

Part of the path to becoming a non-smoker again is picking apart these arguments that your mind relies on to justify you smoking. Every single reason that smokers give to rationalise why they smoke is based on

false logic.

For instance, nicotine doesn’t actually relieve stress.

It’s not very good at staying in the body for any length of time, so smokers spend most of their days in a constant state of mild withdrawal.

This low-level discomfort is only relieved by smoking, but shortly afterwards the withdrawal begins again.

The situation is accompanied by the growing, niggling feeling that at some point we need to smoke a cigarette – so, when we do, we feel that this has helped us with our stress levels.

There is nothing inherent in a cigarette that calms us. In fact, smoking raises blood pressure and heart rate, so, if anything, it contributes to stress. It doesn’t help us relax or concentrate; it doesn’t make us more focused or less bored.

All smoking does is momentarily address the mild nicotine withdrawal that smokers spend the majority of their lives experiencing. With this in mind, I want you to do one final exercise.

Exercise 4 Imagine that you are a lawyer in a legal case. First of all, put the case forward for continuing smoking. You already have the information for this from Exercises 1 and 2. Imagine putting forward this argument

in front of a judge and jury, and be as persuasive as you can be.

Use emotive phrases – play on their emotions. Cigarettes are on trial and you are defending them.

Now switch sides and imagine that you are the prosecution barrister. Put forward the argument against smoking, as you outlined in your ‘Quit list’ in Exercise 3. You need to convince the judge and jury that the arguments in support of continuing to smoke are a load of nonsense.

The cases you make in Exercise 4 reflect what goes on inside your head when you smoke. Hopefully, you can also see how exercises like these are able to make you think objectively about the whole situation – this distance is what you need to start the process of stopping.

There is one positive to smoking: even now, when I find myself doubting my abilities or facing something I think is daunting, I remind myself of the incredible achievement of stopping which I did entirely on my own – just me and my brain.

Quitting smoking has given me new self-confidence. And you can have that feeling as well. All you have to do is stop smoking. Trust me, it’s the best thing you’ll ever do.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

He says: ‘Smoking is something we can do without really thinking about it most of the time, and it’s easy for us to create myths and illusions around why we should keep doing it’

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, February 20, 2015

Page 37

Parent-Child Relations

. . . A guide to raising children

Common misconceptions, pitfalls, and myths to avoid in raising a child (II)

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n reality parents need to understand the child’s psychology, which is not easy. It is easier to understand the biological needs of the baby (i.e. if a baby is hungry you feed it, if it is tired you rest it, or if it has filled its diaper you clean it). The psychological needs of the baby are harder to understand. It is difficult enough for adults to understand their own adult psychology, even though they may know themselves better than others.

BUYING CHILDREN WHATEVER THEY WANT Parents should not rush to buy their children whatever they want; they should not indulge their child’s every whim. Parents are not there to wait on their children hand and foot but to teach them, to give them chores, and to help them understand that life is about giving and taking.

This pitfall happens almost imperceptibly as parents become accustomed to buying things for the baby and, before they realize what is happening, are inundated by demands for clothes, CDs, DVDs, and toys by the child who is now older.

Some Myths of Parenthood Debunked Raising children needs to be sufficiently romanticized so as to attract a sufficient number of spouses into the full-time role of parents, because society cannot continue without new members.

Some parents may believe that child rearing is all fun, that good parents will produce good children, that love and intuition are enough for successful parenting, that children will appreciate the sacrifices parents make for them, that parenting comes naturally, and that family values are easy to instill. These beliefs do not reflect the realities of parenthood. Below we have summarized and paraphrased some of the widely held beliefs of parenthood (myths) that are not supported by facts.

(Knox and Schacht 1997) PARENTING IS REALLY FRUSTRATING, SOMETIMES There are times when parenthood seems nothing but feeding the mouth that bites you.

Myth 1: Rearing children is always fun. Future parents see television commercials of young parents playing with their children in the park, and they think that this is what child rearing is all about: endless fun. The truth is somewhat different.

The idea of fun implies that one can take it or leave it, whereas parents must stay with the children and continue to look after them, whether they are enjoying the experience or not.

Once they have begun, they cannot quit when they feel like it.

Myth 2: Good parents inevitably produce good children. Many people assume that children who turn out “wrong” (drug users, thieves, prostitutes, or scam artists) have parents who did not do a good job. We tend to put all

the blame on parents when children fail. However, many good parents who have done their best may have children who do not turn out well (for instance, think of Prophet Noah’s son). Conversely, it is also often the case that parents may be bad whilst the children turn out to be good (for instance think of the prophetic cases of Moses, who was brought up in the house of the Pharaoh, and Abraham, whose father turned against him).

Myth 3: Children are appreciative. Most parents think that if they give the children all they need, the children will recognize the sacrifices of the parents.

This is not always true. Parents who give their children love, care, and nurturing may not be appreciated by their children.

Some parents assume that their children will appreciate them if they give them material things (like clothes, games, computers, and cars). That assumption is frequently wrong. Some children think that they are entitled to everything that their parents are giving them, and feel no responsibility to appreciate what their

“

parents have done for them.

Myth 4: Parenting comes naturally. Some people believe that there is no need for formal training in parenting. In many countries there are more driver education courses than parenting courses.

There are clear differences between novice and expert mothers. Novice mothers are less able to understand their children’s goals and needs, and do not know what behavior to expect of the children as they grow older. Expert mothers, on the other hand, understand better the way children think and behave.

Without training, people tend to duplicate the mistakes of their own parents.

Myth 5: Family values are easy to instill. To many, family values mean the following: • Respect for elders and other people.

• An appreciation of differences between people.

• The ability to calmly discuss differences and find cooperative ways to resolve them.

• Sticking with something good, even when it is difficult to

do so.

• Making and keeping commitments.

• Maintaining personal integrity at all times.

• Helping others and serving the community.

Obviously, all the above and many more values cannot be easily taught.

Myth 6: Intuition, common sense, and love are enough. Parents need education and skills as well. Parenthood is an endless series of small events, periodic conflicts, and sudden crises, which call for timely responses.

Responses bring consequences, since each response affects the child’s personality, for better or for worse. Correctly responding to a child’s needs is a skill that must be learned.

A child’s character is shaped by experiences with different people and situations. Character traits cannot be taught arbitrarily. No one can teach loyalty by lectures, courage by correspondence, and manhood or womanhood by osmosis. Character building requires knowledge of child psychology and the phases

A child’s character is shaped by experiences with different people and situations. Character traits cannot be taught arbitrarily. No one can teach loyalty by lectures, courage by correspondence, and manhood or womanhood by osmosis. Character building requires knowledge of child psychology and the phases of child development.

of child development. Parents want their teenagers to have compassion, commitment, and courage. To do this, parents need to learn the right methods to translate desired ideals into successful outcomes.

Myth 7: The Misconception of Self-Martyrdom. Some parents believe (out of their good feelings) that they should burn themselves out for the sake of their children. Furthermore, they think that religion requires them to do just that. The fact is that wealth and children are to be considered a joy and ornament for parents, not a form of torture and suffering.

Wealth and children are an adornment of this world’s life: but good deeds, the fruit of which endures forever, are of far greater merit in your Sustainer’s sight, and a far better source of hope.

(Qur’an 18A6) Parents, particularly mothers, are not supposed to enact unlimited sacrifice for their children, acting like servants for their needs. Mothers should be helped and served as well. They have to take care of themselves first, then the children.

Myth 8: The Top Responsibility for the Parent Is His/Her Relationship with the Children.

On the contrary, the first responsibility is to one’s own self, not one’s relations with others.

On a Day when everyone will [want to] flee from his brother, and from his mother and father, and from his spouse and his children: on that Day, everyone will have their [own] concerns.

(Qur’an 80: 34-37) Strike a balance between yourself, your children, and your Creator. The Prophet $ said: Your spouse has a right over you, your body has a right over you, your Creator has a right over you, so give each their right. (ALBUKHARI) This includes parents taking care of their health, enjoyment, lawful desires, friendships and vacations.

Feature

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, February 20, 2015

Page 38

Understanding a little of the migrants’ pitiful journey C linging to the safety bar of the top bunk in the hot and airless cabin, I decide I want to die. For 24 hours now the sea has boiled beneath us, catapulting us upwards on the swell and then crashing back down, the 5m (15ft) waves squeezed and squashed under the ship’s hull with the juddering force of a pneumatic drill.

The metallic stench of bile and acrid engine fuel is choking me I’ve been sick so many times now that I am shaking. And there’s no getting off - we’re on board an Icelandic coastguard vessel in the middle of the Mediterranean, part of a mission run by the EU’s border agency, Frontex, to intercept a cargo ship which is suspected of having migrants hidden in its hold. I try to imagine them, three to five hundred of them perhaps, crammed into the bowels of the boat with no space to lie down, the waves smashing them against the hull and scattering them like skittles.

“I never thought I’d see anything like it,” crew member Andri Johnson had told me when we’d sat together on deck near the port. Last month Andri was part of the rescue team which saved hundreds of migrants on a rusty decommissioned cargo ship which had been abandoned by its crew off the Italian coast. He spoke hesitantly, not because of a lack of fluency in English, but because he clearly didn’t welcome revisiting dark memories. His young, moonshaped face gave him a curious look of purity and innocence.

“When I boarded the ship and saw the dirt, the lack of hygiene and the women and children so dehydrated who’d had no food and water for days... it was just so terrible and so moving. You know I have such a good life and to see those people struggling...” He trailed off and looked down at the deck. “We can’t give up you know,” he said firmly. “These people need

A small multinational fleet patrols the Mediterranean, hoping to intercept and rescue the thousands of refugees trying to reach the coast of Italy. It can be a thankless task. Emma Jane Kirby writes

More than 580 people - mostly from Syria - disembark in Italy after being rescued by Frontex last December

“

I try to imagine them, three to five hundred of them perhaps, crammed into the bowels of the boat with no space to lie down, the waves smashing them against the hull and scattering them like skittles.

The Icelandic coastguard vessel Tyr, off the coast of Sicily

our help.”

The problem is too many people need Frontex’s help. More than 19,000 migrants have arrived on Italy’s shores since last November.

Frontex which doesn’t have any operational equipment of its own, relies on EU or Schengen member states (like Iceland) to lend it the planes, ships and helicopters it needs for operations. It currently has a handful of resources to cover the huge Mediterranean sea.

On the ship’s bridge, Capt Einar Valsson shows me the course he is plotting to intercept the suspicious cargo ship. I’m alarmed when I realise it’s over 100 miles out to sea.

The captain shrugs.

“When the distress call comes, we have to answer that call. We come from Iceland,” he reminds me. “A small country of 300,000

people. One life is very important for us - we can’t just leave people in the Mediterranean.”

But people are being left, no

Migrants packed like goods

matter how many rules Frontex is bending. Aid agencies say that last week’s tragedy, in which more than 300 migrants drowned off the coast of Lampedusa, shows how woefully inadequate the mission is.

When the emergency calls for help sounded, both of Frontex’s large vessels, including the Icelandic one I’d been aboard, were in port and too far away to help. Twenty nine migrants who were rescued by a small vessel died of hypothermia on the way back to shore. Doctors on the scene claimed if they had been picked up by a big naval or coastguard ship, they probably would have survived. Italy decided to end its Mare Nostrum mission after its EU partners refused to share the high costs of running the operation. Ironically it’s those same reluctant EU partners who are now being relied on to offer handouts to Frontex.

After 29 hours of misery, Captain Valsson finally steers us into the safety of Pozzallo port. It’s been a frustrating mission for him by the time he’d caught up with the suspicious cargo ship, it had moved to international waters meaning his crew did not have the right to board and inspect it. No-one can now be sure if it was hiding migrants in its hold - the ship has plotted a new course towards the Canary Islands.

“This,” he says, gesturing towards the water, “is what we call a pig of a sea. Tomorrow, it will be worse.”

Tomorrow, right now, more desperate people will be stepping into dinghies, inflatable rubber boats, handing over money for a place in the engine room of a rusted cargo ship. I understand a little now of how pitiful their journeys will be.

I daren’t guess as to how they will end.

Source: BBC

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, February 20, 2015

Page 39

Weekend Revue

With Tobias Lengnan Dapam lovelengz@yahoo.com 07036990957

Diamond Hitz top 5 After last week’s Valentine that songs recorded by Diamond Music Entertainment (DME), forced music lovers to stay glued to their radio sets, Weekend Revue has penned another set of songs capable of causing another traffic.

Leading the chart this week is ‘Girl on fire’ by Jayson Gold. The song is an Afro ~ Pop music, trending and making waves in the country. Jayson Gold is one of DME’s most creative upcoming artistes.

At no 2 is Maloro (Don’t go thinking about it ) by Veteran Nigerian Musician, Daddy Fresh. The song is an Afro Dance hall music that could make music lovers swing with the waves at any time.

Coming at no 3 is ‘Praise Medley’ by Phil Roberts’.

The gospel music is a combination of different praises. The artiste is already a point of reference in the music industry. He is compared to some of the finest gospel artistes in the country.

At no 4 is Blaqboi with ‘Akoya’ (Attention). The song is a romantic R&B music with syntilating lyrics that could revive music lovers from their slumber.

Gloria Ibru, occupies no 5 with ‘Sugar mama’. The song has calypso flavour that reminds music fans of the yesteryear kind of music.

My grandmother once employed Obasanjo’s father - Seun Kuti

S

ince former Nigeria’s President, Olusegun Obasanjo, publicly announced he was no longer a member of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and thereafter tearing his membership card into pieces, he has continued to be lashed out at by various Nigerians.

One of those who have slammed Obasanjo is son of Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Seun, who said the former Nigerian leader’s father was an employee of his grandmother, Olufunmilayo Anikulapo- Kuti, Nigeriafilms.com has said.

It said revealed that Seun revealed on his instagram page that; “We rise from the ashes always; fresh and stronger. The Kuti’s family is a Phoenix, ya heard. What Obasanjo won’t tell you is that the woman he killed once employed his father in her farm and gave livelihood to his family. Now e dey tear ID card as if” In his words on Instagram, he said, “the spot where justice was murdered. Can Obasanjo tear this from the pages of history?

Tomorrow marks the 38th anniversary of the burning of ‘Kalakuta’ and the murder of Olufunmilayo Anikulapo-Kuti. Bringing my family down to its knees and never recovered financially but we are gifted and always have found pleasure in those things money can’t buy.

“What most people don’t know is that Fela used to go around his friends’ houses to ask for money to just survive in the aftermath of this barbaric act. We shall get justice one day and not for the millions of naira looted (Fela had 2 million naira in cash looted on that day, 1977 value. Do the Maths), 36 cars burnt and millions destroyed but for the death of Africa’s most illustrious feminist advocate, foremost female politician. confidant of chairman Mao and Kwame Nkrumah.

The first black woman to visit China. Oh she will get justice. Know your heroes.

“You tore down the Kalakuta republic who gives a f*ck about your f*cking PDP card. Have u taken responsibility for your actions? This is your democracy Obasanjo. U set the precedence and now blame people who followed your footsteps.

“Just the way you blamed the unknown soldiers who followed your orders. Grow a spine and take responsibility. ‘Agbe oshi’ (Useless farmer)”.

Page 40

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, February 20, 2015

Weekend Revue One Direction’s Niall Horan kissing a girl has caused quite a stir

O

ne Direction fans have tweeted words of support for Niall Horan, after he was spotted kissing a girl in Australia.

The 21-year-old Irish singer, who has been performing Down Under with the boyband, was pictured locking lips with a mystery brunette, later named as Sydney student Melissa Whitelaw, who is also 21.

Melissa is a friend of the group, who was previously seen joining Niall and his bandmates – Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson and Harry Styles – on tour.

The photos soon sparked a frenzy on Twitter, with the hashtag CongratsNiallandMelissa trending worldwide.

Some fans took the news Niall might be off the market a little harder than others.

While Niall has yet to comment on the photos, Melissa appears to have acknowledged them, but is keeping tight-lipped on her relationship status with the boyband member.

The controversy came a day after Niall’s bandmate Louis sparked speculation over his sexuality when he was apparently overheard saying, “I’m gay, isn’t it unfortunate?”

Bobby Kristina abused drugs and was suicidal – ex boyfriend reveals

Bobby Kristina’s former boyfriend, Zack Jafarzedeh obbyKristina’sformerboyfriend, Zack Jafarzedeh has revealed she was high on prescription medication - Xanax - when she was found unresponsive in her bathtub on January 31 in Atlanta. bZack, 24, disclosed the new information to UK’s Daily Mail, adding that Bobbi was also reeling from a huge fight she had with alleged husband, Nick Gordon few days earlier.

It was also discovered during Zach’s chat that Bobbi, 21, had been abusing the Xanax drugs since she was only 16 and she was also suicidal.

He however mentioned that he believes she may have fallen asleep in the tub but did not rule out the possibility she was trying to commit suicide, because of the alarming similarities to the death of her mother, Whitney Houston, in 2012.

Even though Zach admitted that Bobbi’s hubby, Nick, was arrogant and fierce, he doesn’t think he harmed her.

He said: “I know they got into a fight a few days before and she was really depressed aboutthatandprobablytookafewXanax and bathed and fell asleep. She would take more than she was prescribed of the Xanax.”

B

Niall Horan

Will Smith gives update on ‘Bad Boys 3

W

ill Smith has revealed that the green light has yet to be given to Bad

Boys 3.

The US actor is expected

to reprise his role as detective Mike Lowrey alongside Martin Lawrence as his partner Marcus Burnett in the third instalment, which has been in development for over six years.

Martin Lawrence and Will Smith

“We’ve been thinking about it. There is a screenplay, but I don’t know how far (it is at),” Will said.

He added: “We haven’t decided to make it yet but everybody’s into it so it could happen.”

Both Bad Boys films, which were directed by Michael Bay and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, have been box office hits since the first film was released in 1995. The sequel followed in 2003.

Martin hinted that the third film would get the goahead when he appeared on Conan O’Brien’s talk show last August, saying: “I just talked to Jerry. He said it’s real, they’re working on the script, getting closer. It all looks good.”

And Jerry said in July 2014:

“Well, we’re working on an outline right now. Hopefully we’ll get a screenplay in the next three months. And that will become a movie I hope.”

Will, who has starred in box office hits such as Independence Day and Men In Black and next stars in Focus, revealed his priority is not on “Big Willie weekends” any more.

“Starting with Focus, I’ve decided I’m going to work a lot over the next couple of years and look at things more like an exploration.

It’s more about the people and having fun than about trying to make blockbusters,” he said.

Focus, which also stars Margot Robbie, opens in UK cinemas on February 27.

Pharell, Snoop Dog to release collaboration album, ‘Bush’

S

noop Dogg and Pharrell Williams have teamed up for a collaborative album, according to Snoop.

“It’s a great record me and Pharrell did from top to bottom,”Snoop Dogg said in an interview with MTV’s Nadeska Alexis. “It feels good and I’m happy to be back in the studio working with one of my favorite producers and homeboys.”

Snoop also said that the album is set to be a departure from the material the duo has done in the past.

“It’s different,” Snoop said.

“It’s completely different than anything we’ve ever done. It feels good, sounds good, and looks good.”

Stevie Wonder and Charlie Wilson are among the featured guests slated to appear on the album.

The album title and release date has not be revealed.

Snoop and Pharrell have made some big hits including: ‘Drop It

Like It’s Hot’, ‘Beautiful’, ‘That Girl’ and more.

Snoop Dogg and Pharrell Williams

SporT 41 Page

Peoples Daily, PEOPLES DAILY, friday, thursday, February october 20,2, 2015 2014

sports@peoplesdailyng.com, SMS- 08142929046

LMC will take players welfare serious in 2014/15, says Irabor

Footballers

By Albert Akota

T

he chairman of the League Management Company (LMC), Nduka Irabor says they are putting up new measures to address the trend of poor welfare of players among teams in the upcoming 2014/15 Nigeria Professional Football League season.

Irabor, who assured of improved organisation and competitive field when the new NPFL season resumes on March 7, also urged football-loving Nigerians to show more support in helping to grow the domestic league.

“I’m happy that during the break I was getting messages that people can’t wait for the league to resume,” Irabor told media after the draws of the NPFL fixtures for the new season.

“We are hoping to give Nigerians something better,

but just urge Nigerians themselves to come out more than they have been doing before to support the league.

“I can assure you of something, If you pay people well, consistently and at when due they will give you optimum performance,” he enthused.

“I’m sure that the new measures we will introduce will take care of players’ welfare. If it works which I think it will, you will see a much more improved standard of play.

“This season for instance, we are going to insist on the performance guide but where that contraption does not work, we will deduct points from teams that fail to pay their players with in the space of 60 days.

“You cannot owe players more than three days, if you do we will deduct three points from you,” he continued.

The former lawmaker said the exit of the league’s tal-

Wikki Tourist begin NPFL title chase with 3SC >>>Pg 42

ented players to sometimes obscure leagues abroad is a good development considering the improved standard of living of players.

“Why would I, it is labour migration. You are producing stars to go and earn more money. Until we are in the position of paying them as well as they earn outside, we are happy to see them go, it is no loss at all.

“We want them to earn more money. Don’t forget the economic effect is more than throw the ball around and kicking it. We want those participating to enhance or improve their standard of living,” he concluded.

In the opening games of the 2014/15 NPFL season, league champions Kano Pillars will begin their chase for a fourth straight title at Heartland in Owerri while runners up Enyimba will start their bid to reclaim the title in Aba against Akwa United.

Irish Open 2015: Garcia, Els meet at Royal County Down

>>>Pg 43

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, February 20, 2015

Page 42

Sport

Wikki Tourist begin NPFL title chase with 3SC

W

ikki Tourists captain and right back, Mustapha Ibrahim has expressed satisfaction with the new league season match day 1 clash against promoted side, 3SC. The League Management Company (LMC) draw for 2014/15 Glo Premier League season pitched together the promoted and returnees sides for match day 1 clash on Saturday, March 07 at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium (ATBS), Bauchi.

Ibrahim said the season’s opening clash against the Oluyole Warriors will greatly test the side preparedness and resolve for a successful top flight campaign.

“I’m extremely happy with the opening fixture that paired us against fellow promoted as well

as returnee side, 3SC. “It’ll serve as good test on the plans we have on ground as well as our readiness for a successful campaign in the top flight.

“We’ve rookies among our midst who are yet to test top flight action in their football career so the match will be good for their psyche and stability.

“Again the first home match will help us to ascertain the level of support we’ll get from our teeming supporters in the course of the season.

“3SC are not newcomers to us as both sides played in the top flight two seasons ago so we understand their pattern and style of play.

“Though many chances would’ve taken place from the last time we encountered them in competitive match same as ours,

too.

“We’ve new players and technical adviser as well as new attitude and mentality, these factors are certain to come handy when we start league campaign against 3SC and subsequently.

“I’m quite positive for a winning start to our campaign with the quality of training the new helmsman is giving us it’ll be tough for any side to overrun us.

“We’re back to the Nigerian top flight to challenge for the title and never to add up to the numbers,” said Ibrahim to supersport.com.

Wikki Tourists are among the sides that gained promotion to the elite league in the out gone 2013/14 Nigeria National League (NNL) season. Others are Kwara United, 3SC and Gabros FC (Ifeanyi Uba United FC).

Match Day 1 Fixtures Enyimba Wikki Tourists El-Kanemi Warriors Sharks Dolphins Giwa FC Heartland Bayelsa United Gabros FC FC Taraba

vs vs vs vs vs vs vs vs vs vs

Akwa United Shooting Stars Nasarawa United Sunshine Stars Kwara United Abia Warriors Kano Pillars Lobi Stars Warri Wolves Ranger

Crisis rock Kano FA elections over statute

By Albert Akota

A

ggrieve football stakeholders in Kano state have petition Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) over a statute allegedly singled handed maneuvered by the state FA Chairman.

According to the spokesman of the stakeholders, Alhaji Ibrahim Farouk Gesha, said that the statute was manipulated by the incumbent FA Boss just for his personal interest rather than carry other executive members of the association in deliberation.

Alhaji Farouk Gesha said that the Article 31 of the statute for state FA 2010, it is mandatory for the state executive committee to convene state ordinary general

assembly, regretted the way and manner the state FA leadership failed to do so for over eight year.

He explained that despite the demand made by some members and stakeholders to pursuit the state FA to organize such meeting but they refuse to so which deny both the statutory members of the Association and the entire football family in the state an opportunity to contribute in running the football administration in the state.

He appealed to the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) and the state government to intervene in this regard In order to bail out the association from its present predicament as well as allowed levelled playing ground to all interested candidate in the state

Enugu FA expels Ray Nnaji Wikki Tourists

Kano Pillars begin title defense against Heartland

R

eigning Nigeria Premier League Champions, Kano Pillars will be starting their title defence away from home against Heartland FC of Owerri.

This is according to the draws for the 2014/15 League season, which was conducted in Abuja on Wednesday.

Pillars have dominated the domestic scene for the past three seasons and will be hoping to start on a bright note against Heartland as they seek a fourth consecutive League title.

On their part, Enyimba, who finished behind Pillars last season, will be starting out with a home game against Akwa United FC.

For the newly promoted duo of Kwara United and Shooting Stars, they will be marking their return to elite division with away games against Dolphins FC and Wikki Tourists respectively.

As stated by the League Management Company, Week One matches for the 2014/15 league season will be played on March 7 and 8.

Barrister Ray Nnaji

By Albert Akota

T Kano Pillars

he Enugu State Football Association says it has expelled Barrister Ray Nnaji “from all football and football –related activities forthwith.”

Rising from its meeting of 18th February, 2015 held at the FA Boardroom inside the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, the FA lambasted Nnaji for “very unwholesome activities amounting to gross breach of extant Laws, Rules, Regulations and Ethos of football in words, deeds and actions.” He was expelled, according to the FA, “in

accordance with article 65 (2b) of the FIFA Statutes 2014 and article 34(l & m) of the NFF Statutes 2010.”

The communiqué, among other points, also conveyed “appreciation to the Government and good people of Nigeria in general and Enugu State in particular for their good understanding of the silent revolution taking place in Nigeria football.”

The Enugu FA also reposed “explicit confidence in the activities of the 2015 Enugu State Football Association Electoral Committee,” ahead of the Enugu State FA elections slated for Thursday, February 26.

Page 43

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, February 20, 2015

Sport

Clarke named Europe’s Ryder Cup captain for 2016

N

orthern Ireland’s Darren Clarke will captain holders Europe in the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine, United States.

A five-man panel selected the 46-year-old ahead of Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez and Thomas Bjorn of Denmark.

Clarke has won the tournament four times as a player and was a non-playing vice-captain for wins in 2010 and 2012.

Clarke succeeds Irishman

Paul McGinley, who led Europe to a five-point victory over the USA at Gleneagles in 2014.

The 2011 British Open champion has lost just once in the seven times he has been involved in the Ryder Cup, when the US won at Brookline in 1999.

After a quartet of victories as a player - in 1997, 2002, 2004 and 2006 - Clarke helped successive captains Colin Montgomerie and Jose Maria Olazabal achieves success.

Murray reveals motivational notes

M

Irish Open 2015: Garcia, Els meet at Royal County Down

S

Murray

otivational notes written by Andy Murray before his Rotterdam Open quarter-final defeat

by Gilles Simon have been published on Twitter.

The handwritten instructions - found and photographed by Dutch sports journalist Wilfred Genee - show tips such as “be good to yourself”.

The notes, apparently written on the back of a letter

Sergio Garcia & Ernie Els

to Andy from a fan, also gives him tactical advice including “keep going for your serve”.

Despite the notes, Murray lost 6-4 6-2.

Murray reached the Australian Open final in January, losing to Novak Djokovic 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (4-7) 6-3 6-0.

The world number four underwent back surgery towards the end of 2013 and experienced a lacklustre 2014.

Watson out in first round at Dubai Tennis Championship

ergio Garcia and Ernie Els are the latest big names to confirm their participation in this year’s Irish Open at Royal County Down.

World number one Rory McIlroy announced the addition of the duo to the Royal County Down field on his Twitter account on Tuesday.

McIlroy’s charitable

Purdy retires after losing vision in left eye

F

ormer British welterweight champion Lee Purdy has retired after losing vision in his left eye.

The 27-year-old was injured in a defeat

by Leonard Bundu in December 2013, and after a series of operations has decided to quit boxing.

Purdy’s most highprofile fight was as a replacement for Kell Brook against Devon Alexander almost two years ago.

H

The Colchester fighter lasted seven rounds against the IBF world champion before being pulled out by his corner. Purdy, who says it could take up to 18 months before he discovers how his long-term vision has been affected, won the British welterweight title in 2011 and later went on to hold the IBF international belt at the same weight.

He retires with a record of 20 wins, five losses and one draw from his 26 professional fights.

Ricky Fowler looks forward to returning to Royal County Down to play in the Irish Open World number seven Garcia, 35, took his first European Tour victory as a 19-year-old in 1999 when he held off Angel Cabrera to win the Irish Open at Druids Glen.

The Spaniard was beaten in a play-off by Ireland’s

Kozlova of Ukraine.

The world number 43 was broken four times in the match, with her 20-yearold opponent wrapping up victory in an hour and 37 minutes.

Watson lost in the first round of her last event, the Australian Open.

Lee Purdy (L)

Padraig Harrington at the 2007 Open Championship and finished joint-second with Fowler in the major at Royal Liverpool last summer behind winner McIlroy.

Els, 45, won the US Open title in 1994 and 1997 and also triumphed at the 2002 and 2012 Open Championships.

Garcia will be making his first appearance on Northern Irish soil as a professional.

Sotherton’s Commonwealth Games gold medal stolen

Kelly Sotherton (centre) won the medal in Melbourne in 2006

A

Commonwealth Games gold medal belonging to the athlete Kelly Sotherton has been stolen in a burglary at her home.

The former heptathlete and 400m runner has tweeted news of the theft.

West Midlands Police

confirmed that a gold medal, laptop and money were stolen overnight from an address in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands.

Sotherton won heptathlon gold in 2006 in Melbourne, but retired due to injury just before the 2012 London Olympics.

Baseball steroid scandal: Clinic owner jailed for four years

A

Watson

eather Watson made a disappointing return to the WTA Tour as she lost in the first round of the Dubai Tennis Championships.

Watson suffered a 6-4 7-5 straight sets defeat against world number 132 Kateryna

foundation will be the tournament’s official host.

The Northern Irish star has already convinced Rickie Fowler to commit to the 2831 May event.

Lee Westwood and defending champion Finland’s Mikko Ilonen will also be in the field along with Northern Irish major winners Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke.

nthony Bosch, the former owner of a Florida clinic at the centre of baseball’s most recent steroid scandal, has been jailed for four years.

He pleaded guilty in October to conspiracy to distribute testosterone to athletes from the now-closed Biogenesis of America clinic.

One customer was New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez, who was suspended for 211 games in

August 2013. he ban was cut to 162 games on appeal but he missed the entire 2014 season. Thirteen other players were also suspended, with bans ranging from 50 to 65 matches. Bosch and Rodriguez are both expected to testify if Rodriguez’s cousin Yuri Sucart and ex-University of Miami pitching Coach Lazaro Collazo go on trial, for conspiring to distribute steroids, as scheduled in April.

Page 44

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, February 20, 2015

PUBLIC NOTICE POWER & AUTHORITY OF CHRIST INT’L CHURCH

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THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ASSOCIATION HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION IN THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.AGHA EMMANUEL OGBONNIA - CHAIRMAN 2.NKAMA RICHARD OGBONNIA - SECRETARY 3.EGWUONWU EMMANUELA CHINYERE - FINANCIAL SECRETARY 4.KENNEDY UCHE AJAERE - MEMBER 5.OKOLI ELVIS UGOCHUKWU 6.CHRISTIAN OGBAELE 7.MARTINS NZEWI 8.OKOH IFEANYI 9.IBE NWACHI 10.SAMUEL ADAMS 11.ANOZIE CHUKWU ESQ - LEGAL ADVISER THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.TO FOSTER AND PROMOTE THE INTEREST OF WOOD CUTTERS AND MARKETERS IN NIGERIA. 2.TO EXCHANGE INFORMATION,KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE AMONG MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION. 3.TO WORK WITH INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION RELATING TO FINISHED WOOD DEALERS.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION SIGNED: IKEMEFUNA CHAMBERS 08037890421

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.MR. KELVIN IKEJE - CHAIRMAN 2.MR. MIKE CHIBUNDU 3.MR. ALIU OLUWOLE - SECRETARY 4.PASTOR PAUL IMOUDU 5.MR. MAXWELL AMADI 6.PASTOR CHRISTIAN ELIJAH 7.MR. UWEM IKPAT THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.TO PROMOTE LOVE,UNITY AND TRUE UNDERSTANDING AMONG MEMBERS. 2.TO PROMOTE AND PROTECT THE INTEREST OF ALL MEMBERS AND SHOW CONCERN TO THEIR WELFARE. 3.TO RENDER SELFLESS SERVICE TO MEMBER WELFARE, RELATIONSHIP AND SECURITY FOR HER MEMBERS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION SIGNED:

BARR. JOHNSON OSHOMA

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1.TO PREACH THE GOSPEL. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION SIGNED: BARR. EUGENE EGU FOR: EQUINOX SOLICITORS, ABUJA 08092145386

PUBLIC NOTICE SUBSTANCE COMMUNICATINING MINISTRY INT’L

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED MINISTRY HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION IN THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.PASTOR (BARR.) JOHNSON OSHOMA - CHAIRMAN 2.PASTOR (MRS.) KATE EKHAESOMI 3.MRS. EGO OSHOMA - SECRETARY 4.REV. EMMANUEL AMEH 5.PASTOR (ENGR) FRANKLYN OGOLEH THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.TO PREACH THE FULL GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST IN ALL PARTS OF NIGERIA AND BEYOND THROUGH CRUSADES,SEMINARS,CONFRENCES, REVIVAL MEETING, RETREATS,RADIO,TELEVISION AND GOSPEL MUSIC. 2.TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN CHURCHES, MISSIONS,SCHOOLS, BIBLE SCHOOOLS, HOSPITALS AND ORPHANAGES AS WELL AS ORGANIZING CONFERENCES/SEMINARS THAT PROMOTE MORAL ATTITUDE AND GROWTH OF THE SOCIETY. 3.REACHING OUT TO PEOPLE LOST IN SIN, SICKNESS, POVERTY OR BEEN HELD CAPTIVE WITH THE MESSAGE OF THE TRUTH. 4.TO OWN PRINTING PRESS AND EDIT,PRINT,PUBLISH,DISTRIBUTE AUTHORITATIVE BOOKS OR BOOKLET, TREATISE, TRACTS, MAGAZINES AND ANY SUCH LITERATURE PROPAGATING THE BELIEF OF THE MINISTRY. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION SIGNED: BARR. JOHNSON OSHOMA

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

DIVINE HOPE LIFE FOUNDATION

AFRIPEACE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION

Winning Health Centre for Research and Development

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION IN THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.OKOI MARK ETOWA 2.NWAFOR INNOCENT CHUKWUEMEKA - CHAIRMAN 3.OGBONNA JULIUS CHIJIOKE - SECRETARY 4.ORAKA ELIZABETH 5.YUSUF JAMES JEB THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1.TO ASSIST THE LESS PRIVILEGE IN THE SOCIETY. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION SIGNED: BARR. JOSIAH KINGSLEY 08038823363

PUBLIC NOTICE AKINSEMOYIN ROYAL FAMILY OF LAGOS FOUNDATION

tHIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION IN THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.UWAZIE ERNEST. E 2.EKENYERE ANTHONIA IJEOMA 3.OBIJI LEONARD CHUKWUEMEKA 4.IWUAMADI SUNDAY CHIMAOBI 5.UWALEME NZUBECHI PANTALEON

6.EZEKA PHILIP 7.OKORIE EUPHEMIA 8.ASOBO CORDELLIA 9.DURU UZOCHUKWU KEVIN

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT THOUGH CONFLICT RESOLUTION,LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE EDUCATION. 2.TO PROMOTE NON VIOLENCE AND PRO-SOCIAL BEHAVIORS AS WELL AS POSITIVE ATTITUDES AMONG STUDENTS THE YOUTH AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION SIGNED:BARR. OHAKWE O. E

PUBLIC NOTICE VOICE OF DISABILITY INITIATIVE

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION IN THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED INITIATIVE HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION IN THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.DR. (PRINCE) ABIODUN SULE AKINSEMOYIN 2.ALHAJI (PRINCE) NURUDEEN OLATUNDE BASHORUN 3.ALHAJA (PRINCESS) WUSAMOTU GIWA 4.ALHAJI (PRINCE) SHAMUSIDEEN OREDOLA SARUMI 5.ALHAJI (PRINCE) SURAKAT ALABI OSHODI 6.ALHAJI (PRINCE) SAMINU LAYIWOLA OLORUNNIFELA AKINSEMOYIN - CHAIRMAN 7.PRINCE ABDUL RAZAK TOLANI OSHODI - SECRETARY 8.ALHAJI (PRINCESS) YEMISI LAMIDO WILLIAMS 9.PRINCESS GBEMISOLA APATA 10.PRINCESS SAFURAT BALOGUN-DANIJU

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.BARR. SAMUEL O. ADEDOYIN 2.BARR. OLOWONONI EMMANUEL 3.JOSIAH CHIJIOKE NWAJOR 4.NNADI CHINEMEZE SUNDAY 5.MRS. MIRIAN GEORGE 6.DR. CHIKE UWAEZUOKE 7.EDEH CATHERINE CHINYERE 8.MUHAMMED UMAR 9.REV. FR. CHIME MICHAEL

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1.TO CATER FOR THE WELFARE OF MEMBERS.a ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION SIGNED: SOLICITOR

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.TO AGITATE FOR THE PROMULGATION OF THE DAPD BILL INTO ACT. 2.TO ADVOCATE FOR AN INCLUSIVE SOCIETY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITY. 3.TO PROMOTE IMPLEMENTATION OF NATIONAL POLICY ON EDUCATION. 4.REACHING OUT TO WOMEN AND CHILDREN WITH DISABILITY. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION

SIGNED:SECRETARY

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION IN THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: Rev. Ben Akhigbe II. (Chairman) 2. Dr. Edugbo Oronana Paul (Secretary), 3.Mrs. Blessing Oghale Edugbo The Aims And Objective: 1.To promote health research, advocacy, and implementation of health Programmes.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION SIGNED:SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE urhobo progressive union youth wing abuja

this is to inform the genera l public that the above named has applied for registration in the corporate affairs commission under part c of the companies and allied matters act no. 1 of 1990. the trustees are: 1.mr efe emorhokpor - president 2.prince anderson osiebe - secretary 3.mrs edith edirne onakpo - member 4.mr cyril okpogoro - member the aim and objective: 1.to promote urhobo culture among the youths. federal capital territory. any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the registrar-general corporate affairs commission, 420, tigris crescent, off aguyi ironsi street pmb 198, maitama, abuja within 28th days from the date of publication signed: secretary 08069259045

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PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

mose-jane development initiative for health and peace

ANIETIENTE-ABASI WORLD POWER GOSPEL FOUNDATION

this is to inform the genera l public that the above named initiative has applied for registration in THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERA L PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION IN THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.MRS. JIMOH BOLADE ALABA 2.DR. ABDULLAHI ONIMISI JIMOH 3.MRS.FOLASHADE FOLUSO OFI 4.MRS.OLAIYA OLAYINKA ABE THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.TO PROMOTE DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE THROUGH HEALTH AND EDUCATION. 2.TO CATER FOR THE WELFARE OF ITS MEMBERS. 3.TO ASSISTMEMBERS WHO ARE SICK,POOR OR IN NEED AND TO STAND BY MEMBERS WHO AND TO STAND BY MEMBERS WHO ARE IN DIFFICULTIES. 4.TO GREAT ATMOSPHERE OF LOVE ,HARMONY AND FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION OF TALENTS AND GIFT. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION SIGNED: SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE GREENLANE UNIVERSAL FOUNDATION.

this is to inform the genera l public that the above named foundation has applied for registration in THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.ANUMATA ONYENKACHI KINGSLEY- FOUNDER 2.OCHE NATHANIEL OGUCHE-SECRETARY 3.ECHETA CHINEYE AUGUSTINA-FINANCIAL SECRETARY 4.AJOKU OGECHI MARGARET- TREASURER 5.AKINMOLADUN OLUWATOMI 6.MICHAEL EMPEROR M ARTINS 7.MICHAEL DEBORAH FLORENCE 8.ANUMATA CHINEDU JOSHUA 9.OKOH IRE GRACE 10. ANUMATA CHIEMEKA JEREMIAH. THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.To empower the less privileged,Orphans and temporary Displaced persons.

To empower the youths and women to be self-reliant and productive.

3.To provide empowerment via seminars, trainings, conference,workshops,symposium, meetings and skills Acquisition.

SIGNED BAR Nneka Daisy Okpara.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS

CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION SIGNED: SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. EVANG AKPAN ANIETIE FRIDAY 2. ETUK DORATHY DAVID 3. PASTOR (MRS) NTIENSE ANIETIE AKPAN 4 .ONOMO VICTOR OKON 5. AKPAN GLORY FRIDAY 6 .IDONGESIT ISONG AKPABIO 7 .SYLVIA UDOKA AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1 .TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. 2 .TO HELP THE NEEDY. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION SIGNED: F CHUKWUEZUGO UGWU ESQ. 08035486222.

CHANGE OF NAME

We, formerly known as Samson Olanrewaju Adediran Aderonmu and Miss Ibijoke Tinuola Alege now wish to be known as Pastor Israel Olanrewaju Adediran Aderonmu and Mrs Treasure Tinuola Ibijoke Aderonmu.

All previous documents bearing earlier names remain valid. The public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I FORMERLY KNOWN AS RABE AUDU. NOW WISHES TO BE KNOWN AS RABE ABDULLAHI.ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAINS VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE. CHANGE OF NAME

I FORMERLY KNOWN AS MUHAMMED AHMED.NOW WISHES TO BE KNOWN ASHASSAN HARUNA.ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAINS VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE. PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE LORDS DIVINE RESTORATION PROPHETIC MINISTRY

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

TRUSTEES 1. Rev. Prophet Emmanuel Nnamdi Oranu - General Overseer 2. Mummy Goodness Amuche Oranu - Treasurer 3. Sis. Gloria Uche Nweke Secretary AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To preach the word of god to the world.

2. To win souls for Christ.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION SIGNED: SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE

OHAJI/EGBEMA ELDERS FORUM

VISIONS FOR PEACE INITIATIVE

This is to inform the general public that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part ‘C’ of the companies and Allied matters Act 1990.

This is to inform the general public that the above named INITIATIVE has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part ‘C’ of the companies and Allied matters Act 1990.

This is to inform the general public that the above named FOUNDATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part ‘C’ of the companies and Allied matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE 1. Rev. Dr. Prince Gill Ogbonna - President 2. Chief Nwogu Samuel - Secretary 3. Elder Orie Roland 4. Cletus Opara 5. Elder Celestine Peter 6. Nze Ambrose Alameziem Ukah 7. Chief Augustine Amadi 8. Elder Hilary Iheanyichukwu Aguguo 9. Chief Benjamin Onunwa

THE TRUSTEES ARE 1. Mr. Oluseye Alfred Winjobi 2. Mrs. Olawumi Helen Babalola 3. Mrs. Olanike Rhoda Awokoya 4. Miss Mafumay Elheruo Jike 5. Mrs. Oluwasey Omolola Adebisi

THE TRUSTEES ARE 1. Chief Felix Idiga - Chairman 2. Mrs. Chinyere Ada Idiga - Member 3. Ikechukwu F. Idiga - Member 4. Mrs. Juliet Idiga - Member

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To protect the dignity of Ohaji/Egbema citizen both home and abroad.

2. For propagation, promotion and preservation of Ohaji/Egbema culture heritage.

Any objection to the application should be forwarded to the registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off AguiyiIronsistreet, Maitama Abuja PMB 198, within twentyeight (28) days from the date of this publication.

Signed: SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE NEKITA HOPE FOUNDATION

The general public is hereby notified that the above named FOUNDATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part ‘C’ of the companies and Allied matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE 1. Francis Nwosu 2. Nwankwo Chigozie Chibuzo AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To combat sexual violence, rehabilitation of victims of sexual violence.

2. To prevent reoccurrence of sexual violence.

Any objection to the application should be forwarded to the registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off AguiyiIronsi street, Maitama Abuja PMB 198, within twenty-eight (28) days from the date of this publication.

Signed: ONONAMADU OLUCHI EVE 08064357480

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To promote capacity building through education and empowerment at the grassroots.

2. To fight against violence.

3. To promote respect for human rights and co-operation between citizens and Law Enforcement Agencies.

Any objection to the application should be forwarded to the registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off AguiyiIronsistreet, Maitama Abuja PMB 198, within twentyeight (28) days from the date of this publication.

Signed: BARR. IFEOMA UZOEFUNA 08037765104

PUBLIC NOTICE CENTRE FOR COMMUNICATION PROGRAMS (CCP) NIGERIA The General Public is hereby notified that the above named CENTRE has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for change of trustees under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, No. 1 of 2004.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Ike Osakwe - Chairperson - Re-Appointed 2. Susan Krenn - Re-Appointed 3. Kareem Tejumola - Re-Appointed 4. Moji Makanjuola - Newly Appointed 5. Babafunke Fagbemi - Newly Appointed 6. Hajia Hadiza Babayaro - Newly Appointed 7. Mairo Mandara - Resigned 8. Babatunde Ahonsi - Resigned 9. Mabiala Maumba - Resigned AIMS AND OBJECTIVES REMAIN THE SAME ANY OBJECTION TO THIS CHANGE SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR – GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: OLUWAKEMI MAKUN

JAFAC FOUNDATION FOR THE NEEDY

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To render humanitarian services to the needy especially women and children.

2. To provide social rehabilitation through vocational training centres and provide relief projects that enhance personal and domestic prosperity such as small relief initiatives to alleviate poverty.

3. To promote the best living conditions for the needy, elderly, youth and family through health and social education, environmental and related development.

Any objection to the application should be forwarded to the registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off AguiyiIronsistreet, Maitama Abuja PMB 198, within twentyeight (28) days from the date of this publication.

Signed: AMECHI UDOGARANYA ESQ AMECHI UDOGARANYA & CO NO. 13 AJOKU STREET, OWERRI IMO STATE (08060555727

PUBLIC NOTICE THE PROMISE LAND OF CHRIST COVENANT MINISTRY, ERI-LOBA WORLD WIDE

The General Public is hereby notified that the above named MINISTRY has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for Registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, No. 1 of 2004.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Primate Samuel Olarewaju Bamgbose- Chairman/President 2. Pastor (Mrs.) Bola Bamgbose - Secretary 3. Prophetess Taye Oyebola - Treasurer 4. Femi Olanipekun - Financial Secretary 5. Timothew Oloyede Okiki Jesu - Auditor THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To worship God. 2. To preach the good news of Jesus Christ.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off AguiyiIronsi Street, P.M.B. 198, Maitama, Abuja within Twenty-Eight (28) days from the date of this publication.

SIGNED: SECRETARY

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PEOPLES DAILY, friday, February 20, 2015

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

ERNEST & IBRAHIM FOUNDATION

TEENSFORTH DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE

The general public is hereby informed that the above named FOUNDATION has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration under part “C” of Companies and Allied Matters acts 1990.

The general public is hereby informed that the above named INITIATIVE has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration under part “C” of Companies and Allied Matters acts 1990.

DR. JOHN LAWANI MEMORIAL MEDICAL FOUNDATIONIHIMA

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Mr. Ernest Obinna Nwosu 2. Dr. Abiyemi Benita Awoh 3. Mrs. Nancy Oranusi 4. Mazi Raymond Nwosu

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Bimpe Nafisat Mohammed 2. Esther Ezomo Igbabese 3. Voke Otitigbe

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Amb. S. A. Lawal 2. Adinoyi Ojo Onukaba 3. Ibrahim Sadik 4. Dr. Tony Balogun 5. Mrs. Mosumola Lawani 6. Dr. Abdulkarim Ibrahim

Aim and Objectives are: 1. To provide access to education for the less privileged.

2. To equip youth for leadership, governance, patriotism and national development.

Aim and Objectives are: 1. To develop the mindset of teenagers.

2. To aid teenagers discover their purpose.

3. To help teenagers create their vision from their purpose in life.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off AguiyiIronsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within twenty-eight (28) days of this publication.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off AguiyiIronsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within twenty-eight (28) days of this publication.

SIGNED: Secretary

SIGNED: SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

AHMAD IBN HANBAL FOUNDATION

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To bring health awareness to the door step of every Nigerian.

2. To educate people on how to stay healthy and health matters generally.

3. To preserve a healthy and sustainable environment.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B 198, GARKI ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

OGOIKEHIN OLORUNJOBA MINISTRY

PUBLIC NOTICE

KINGS SANCTUARY COMMUNITY CHURCH

The general public is hereby notified that the above named FOUNDATION has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under the part ‘C’ of the Company and Allied Matters Act, of 1990.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named ministry has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under the part ‘C’ of the Company and Allied Matters Act, of 1990.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named CHURCH has applied to Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under the part ‘C’ of the Company and Allied Matters Act, of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Hadi Suleiman Abubakar 2. Musa Yusuf 3. Prof. Mujtaba Suleiman Abubakar 4. Yahaya Abubakar 5. Abubakar Sadiq Umar 6. Bala Lawal

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Olorunjoba Ogoikehin Kabiyesi-Eleda 2. Oyewole Ruth Olapeju 3. Oyewole Ifeoluwa Iyewoaye

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Oletu Ajiri Godspower 2. Oletu Patricia Pudigha 3. Masoje Roseline Okeoghene 4. Okweni Obokparo 5. John Dennis

AIMS/OBJECTIVE: 1. To support access to education in underprivileged rural communities in Nigeria.

2. To support the development of human capital.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off AguiyiIronsi Street, Maitana, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

AIMS/OBJECTIVE: 1. To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.

2. To be used as a forum to encourage miracle and religion 3. To encourage the study, understanding and practical application of Bible truths in everyday life.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off AguiyiIronsi Street, Maitana, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

AIMS/OBJECTIVE: 1. To organise crusade, seminars, workshop and revival services for the work of the gospel.

2. To preach the gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off AguiyiIronsi Street, Maitana, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: SECRETARY

Signed: GBENGA ADESINA, ESQ 08056014326

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

BETHANY CARE FOUNDATION

GLOBAL SPHERES CHILDREN’S MUSEUM AND SCIENCE CENTRE

HEALING BALM GOSPEL MINISTRY INTERNATIONAL

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION IN THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.PASTOR JOSEPH NEWMAN OKORO - PRESIDENT 2.CHIGOZIE NNAEMEKA UBANI. - GENERAL SECRETARY 3.ABO PIUS ADONE - TREASURER 4.FELICIA ABIOSE - FIN-SECRETARY 5.PRAISE OKORO - MEMBER

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION IN THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.MRS. OLUBUKOLA ENITAN OLUFEMI 2.MR. SOLOMON OLUFEMI 3.MR. OYELEKE AJIBOYE

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.TO OFFER, PROVIDE AND RENDER AN INTER-SECTORAL AND INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENTAL SOCIAL SERVICE. 2.TO MEET THE HUMAN AND SOCIAL NEEDS OF VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES, IN PARTICULAR TEENS AND YOUTH AND THEIR RESPECTIVE COMMUNITIES. 3.TO INCULCATE A CULTURE OF INTEGRITY AND SOUND MORAL CODE. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION

SIGNED: PASTOR JOSEPH

SIGNED:BARR. CHRISTIE MAKAR 08036473014

LOSS OF DOCUMENT

SIGNED:IBRAHIM YUSUFU NO 4 PEACE DRIVE CENTRAL AREA ABUJA TEL:08034516063

LOSS OF DOCUMENT This is to inform the general public of the loss of ORIGINAL LAND DOCUMENTS OF PLOT NO. 945, FILE No. GAC/FCDA/LP & S/ AN1170 dated 12/01/99 Cadestral Zone, Gwagwalada expansion. Extension 0407 granted her by Patience Emelumba (donor) of Finance Department FCDA Abuja. All efforts made to trace the said document proved abortive. If found please return to the nearest Police Station. General public to please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1.TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ORIGINAL CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY WITH FILE NO_MFCT/LA/91/PL 755. IN RESPECT OF PLOT NO_1422 AT KATAMPE DISTRICT.BELONGING TO ALH. DANBAWA A. ABDULLAHI.GOT MISSING.ALL EFFORT MADE TO TRACE THE SAID DOCUMENTS PROVED ABORTIVE.IF FOUND PLEASE CONTACT THE NEAREST POLICE STATION OR AGIS.

I FORMERLY KNOWN AS FUNMILOLA OLADEJI OLAJUYIN.NOW WISHES TO BE KNOWN AS OGHENEBRORHIE DICKSON FUNMILOLA OLADEJI. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAINS VALID. All AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

I formerly know as farida bashar now want to be known and addressed as farida Kabir. all former document remain valid general public should take note.

Signed: BARR. NGOZI SOLOMON-BALOGUN

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION IN THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.MR. MICHEAL AKINLEYE 2.MRS. ESTHER AKINLEYE 3.DR. ADESEGUN AKIN-OLUGBADE 4.PASTOR ITUAH IGHODALO 5.MRS. ADEDAYO BENJAMINS -LANIYI 6.MR. IBRAHIM TAFA BALEWA THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.TO ESTABLISH FACILITIES FOR CHILDREN LEARNING PLAY,OPTIMAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. 2.TO ADVANCE PLAY AS AVENUE FOR CHILDREN MUTUAL INTERACTIONS,COLLECTION WELLBEING AND PROSPERITY. 3.TO ADVANCE THE SOCIAL,ECONOMIC AND CUTURAL WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN THROUGH ‎THE REALIZATION OF THEIR DEVELOPMENT,ASPIRATIONS, NEEDS AND COMMON GOOD. 3.TO SECURE THE ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF CHILDREN PLAY, RESEARCH,MUSEUM AND SCIENCE CENTRE. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRARGENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION

SIGNED: FEMI ALEMEDE & Co. LEGAL PRACTITIONERS & NOTARY PUBLIC, SUITE 33 YASUHA,BEHIND AP PLAZA,WUSA 11, P.O.B.10395, ABUJA TEL: 08034521888

LOSS OF DOCUMENT

This is to inform the general public of the loss of original certificate of occupancy (C OF O) issued by Kaduna State Development Property Company (KSDPC), BELONGING TO UMAR MUSA OF NO. d3 Gambia Road Malali Kaduna.

All effort made to trace the missing document proved abortive. If found, kindly return to the nearest police station. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

PAGE 47

PEOPLES DAILY, friday, February 20, 2015

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

This is to inform the general public that the Katsina State Education Fund wishes to make the following changes in the composition of the Board of Trustees as a result of death and retirement of the members as follows:-

CANNAN LAND OF FAITH GLORIOUS ASSEMBLY CHURCH

ASSOCIATION OF KADUNA STATE INDIGENEOUS PASTORS

Hon Justic Haruna Dandaura - Deceased Amb. Muhammad Lawal Rafindadi- “ Alh. Iguda Inuwa - “ Alh. Ahmad Daura ( Sa’in Daura) – “ Engr. Usman Abubakar- Retired Alh. Umar Ali Bindawa – Transfer The above deceased and retired members of the Board of Trustees are to be replaced with the followings:Alh. Nalado Yusuf Daura ( Sarkin Sudan Daura) Alh. Sule Usman Mani Alh. Ahmad Ali Muhammad Hajia Adama Sule Bakori Hajia Wasilat Sani Saulawa

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED church HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THEN COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

This is to inform the general public that the above named Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act No 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. EZEOMA AUGUSTINE CHUKWUMA. 2. EZEOMA DUMEBI CHRISTIANA, 3. ANWAEGBU EMMANUEL DUBEM. 4. ANIENYE CHUKWUDI GODWIN.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1) PASTOR. SETH KOKS AKUTSON 2) REV. SAM PRAISE TETE 3) PASTOR.(MRS) PHILOMINA KINGJAMES 4) REV. DAUDA DONNY HARUNA 5) REV. CALEB MUSA AMBI

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: to preach the gospel of jesus christ.

Any objection to the registration of this change by the Fund could be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Area 11 Garki, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OFTEN PUBLICATION.

Shehu Mamman Executive Secretary

SIGNED: barr. Tony okoye

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1) Bringing about cordial relationship amongst Pastors.

2) Educating Pastors on the need for peaceful coexistence.

3) Praying and bringing deliverance to the land.

4) Raising the next generation leaders.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 TigrisCrescent, Off Aguyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: JOHN AKU AMBI ESQ 08028411247/ 07053518135

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

WHITEFIELDS GOSPEL ASSEMBLY

TREASURES OF CALVARY GLORY ASSEMBLY

ASSEMBLY OF THE SAINTS GOSPEL APOSTOLIC MINISTRY

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY INFORMED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1 OF 1990.

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY INFORMED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED assembly HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1 OF 1990.

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY INFORMED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. OZOYA IMOHIMI 2. EHIZUA IMOHIMI 3. STELLA IMOHIMI (MRS)

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. REV. PHILIP CHUKWUJI OBACHA 2. FAVOUR CHIDINMA OBACHA 3. PROPER DUMEBI OBACHA

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO PROPAGATE, SPREAD AND ADVANCE THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. 2. DISCIPLE NATIONS FOR HIM & TEACH THE TRUTH OF THE HOLY BIBLE. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, GARKI, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: BARR. GRACE OSE INEGBENEBOR 08036333921

PUBLIC NOTICE HUMILITY AND RIGHTEOUSNESS MINISTRY

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY INFORMED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. EVANGELIST PATRICK UYI EKUNWE 2. PASTOR PAUL EKUNWE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO PROPAGATE THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST ALL OVER THE WORLD. 2. TO PREACH SALVATION AND WIN LOST SOULS FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD. 3. TO ESTABLISH CHURCHES ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD FOR THE PURPOSE OF EVANGELISM.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO PREACH AND TEACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST TO ALL NATIONS. 2. TO ORGANISE AND TRAIN THROUGH PROGRAMMES, OPEN AIR SERVICES, MISSIONARY WORKS FOR PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, GARKI, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: BARR. GRACE OSE INEGBENEBOR 08036333921

PUBLIC NOTICE BESTWAY PEOPLES SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE.

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY INFORMED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED initiative HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1 TOMIPIRIYA DANIEL BESTMAN 2 FAVOUR OMEREJI 3 BESTMAN KATE DANIEL MONIBO. AIMS AND OBJECTIVE: 1 TO PROMOTE THE WELFARE OF THE LESS PRIVILEGED

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, GARKI, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, GARKI, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED: BARR. ODUM EMEKA HENRY

SIGNED: secretary

PUBLIC NOTICE MUSLIM UMMAH & SUNNAH MOSQUE WUSE ABUJA

PUBLIC NOTICE STRENGTH OF WOMEN INITIATIVE

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. OLUSEYI SAMUEL OSHO 2. OLUFUNKE INUMIDUN OSHO 3. OYEWOLE JOSHUA FAPOHUNDA 4. MICHEAL OSHO 5. CHUKWUENYEN ENOCH ONYENEKWE 6. OLUDARE AKANBI 7. MRS ESTHER AKANBI 8. EMMANUEL OLUWAFEMI OLOWONONI AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO PROPAGATE THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST ALL OVER THE WORLD. 2. TO ORGANIZE SEMINARS, CRUSADE, OUTREACHES, EVANGELISM, SYMPOSIA AND OTHER CHRISTIAN PROGRAMMES AIMED AT PROPAGATING CHRISTIAN FAITH. 3. TO PREACH SALVATION AND WIN LOST SOULS FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD. 4. TO ESTABLISH CHURCHES ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD FOR THE PURPOSE OF EVANGELISM. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, GARKI, ABUJA WITHIN 28

DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED: BARR. FIDELIS IMAFIDON

PUBLIC NOTICE GABRIEL OLUBUNMI FAKEYE FOUNDATION

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION IN THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.MRS. GRACE ADELOKUN FAKEYE 2.ESTHER TEMIDAYO FAKEYE 3.ELIZABETH OLUWAYEMISI BABA-YEMI 4.PETER OLUMIDE FAKEYE 5.DEBORAH Aanuolawa FAKEYE 6.MARY OLUWATOSIN FAKEYE 7.GRACE OLUTOLA FAKEYE 8.FUMILAYO FAKEYE THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.TO PROVIDE WELFARE TO THE LESS PRIVILEDGED IN THE SOCIETY. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION SIGNED: SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE EXCELLENT DAUGHTERS OF RUTH FOUNDATION

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION IN THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED INITIATIVE HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION IN THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION IN THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.Samaila Adamu- Chaiman.

2.Ibrahim Baba- Secretary.

3.Saidu Muhammed - member.

4. Mukthar Hassan Aliyu- member.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.CHIEF (MRS) ELIZABETH IFEYINWA JIBUNOH - FOUNDER/ INITIATOR 2.MRS DATA EDNA OKORODUDU 3.MRS ADA ALFA 4.ADAODI MADUNEME 5.CHUKWUEMEKA ANDREW-KEHINDE JIBUNOH

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.MRS. CHIOMA KALU 2.MRS. EBERE ENOGWE 3.MRS. MARYLENE UCHENNA OGBONNAYA 4.MRS. OGECHI CHINEDU - OBIORA

Aims And Objective: 1. To promot unity Among musliem Utah.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION SIGNED:SECRETARY

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.TO ESTABLISH A SUPPORT BASE FOR WOMEN TO UNLEASH THEIR POTENTIAL. 2.TO PROVIDE SKILLS TO ENABLE WOMEN OWN PROFITABLE SMALL SCALE BUSINESS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION SIGNED: CLEMENT GBADAMOSI ESQ 08036179886

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1.TO CARE FOR THE WIDOWS IN THE SOCIETY. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION SIGNED: ANACHUNA HARRISON 08037739212

www.peoplesdailyng.com

friday, february 20, 2015

SPORTS latest

Chelsea suspend three fans after Paris

C

helsea have suspended three fans from attending Stamford Bridge for their involvement in a racist incident on the Paris Metro prior to the club’s Champions League last-16 clash with Paris SaintGermain.

A statement read: “Chelsea Football Club is suspending three people from Stamford Bridge as a result of investigations into the incident on the Paris Metro on Tuesday evening.

“If it is deemed there is sufficient evidence of their involvement in the incident, the club will issue banning orders for life.

“We have received substantial information to date following our witness appeal and we are grateful to the many Chelsea supporters who have provided information so far.

Minister: Rwanda must qualify for 2019 AFCON

T

he Rwanda Minister of Sports and Culture, Joseph Habineza has said he expects the national football team, Amavubi to qualify for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).

Habineza said although the team will also participate in the 2017 Afcon qualifiers and could easily qualify, he thinks the best time they should make it since younger players would have matured is 2019.

“I am not saying that Rwanda won’t be involved in the qualification campaign of 2017 Africa cup of nations or that the National team won’t be competitive enough but the FA won’t have any excuses if the country does not participate in the 2019 Afcon,” said Habineza.

Advert: 0806 business: 0704 news: 0814 lagos: 0805 0803

. . . putting the people first

QUOTABLE QUOTE They [PDP federal government] think they are wise by postponing the elections, but they are not. APC has won the elections except they rig on the other side.

–All Progressives Congress [APC] National leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu

GMB: In defence of uprightness, integrity

I

am a Nigerian and very proud to be one. I am, however, appalled by the direction in which our dear country is going.

A nation where honest men and women of integrity are vilified and denigrated while thieves and people of dubious character are celebrated and treated as heroes is a nation that has lost its soul. It is now virtually a crime to live an honest life above board because then you are looked down upon and called unprintable names, while murderers and robbers hold their heads high and are treated with utmost respect by our society. Something is obviously wrong with this scenario and everything must be done to restore normalcy otherwise our children of tomorrow will live in a society that has lost all its moral values.

I am not a practising politician, but I am a personal friend of General Muhammadu Buhari and the things that have been said about this exceptional Nigerian will make the stomach of anyone who truly knows him turn. I do not know of any other Nigerian who can stand up to him when it comes to character and integrity. It therefore appalls me when people whose only credentials are that the EFCC has stopped chasing them because they know how to double speak now have the audacity and effrontery to question the character of a man like General Mohammadu Buhari. I do not say it lightly when I say General Buhari is an exceptional Nigerian and an incident which I want to share here with Nigerians gave me that conviction a long time ago and greatly influenced my own life as a public servant.

I lived in the UK in the 90s and in the late 90s I was encouraged

“

564 385 292 327 454

8620 9705 9046 1969 0344

Friday Column Noble Abe

Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to return to Nigeria by my friend General Mohammadu Buhari. It also coincided with the time when he was Chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF). I used to spend most of my time in Nigeria with him and his family and I noticed that his two grown daughters who were undergraduates at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria were always at home because of the unending strikes in Nigerian universities at the time. I did not like the situation, so on one of my visits I got the prospectus and brochures of some educational institutions in the United Kingdom and decided to encourage him to send these kids to institutions in the UK where they could school without interruption.

Because of how busy he was at the time, it sometimes took days to find a moment alone with him. I finally did find a

moment alone with him and I brought up the issue of his kids always being at home because of strikes by teachers and suggested his sending them to the U.K to school. I quickly brought out the brochures and prospectus and I believed I made a very strong case. He then asked me what the cost would be and thinking the cost would not be an issue since I was speaking with the head of one of the most powerful and richest institutions in the country at the time ( as well as a former Head of State of Nigeria), I boldly opened the cost pages of the brochures and tried to work out the cost to him.

What he said at the time stunned me. The General turned to me and asked me where I expected him to get that kind of money and I could not believe the question as I am sure many Nigerians will not believe. First,

I could not believe that as PTF chairman he would find the school fees an issue. After all, he was presiding over what was unarguably the richest public institutions in the country at the time and others in his shoes would have found a way to “afford” it from their public offices.

I could not believe that as PTF chairman he would find the school fees an issue. After all, he was presiding over what was unarguably the richest public institutions in the country at the time and others in his shoes would have found a way to “afford” it from their public offices. But not General Buhari. What he did at the time made me see him as an exceptional Nigerian and you are all free to confirm or verify this. He sold the only property he owned on Victoria Island at the time and it was with that fund that he sent his kids to school. I do not know of many Nigerians who as PTF Chairman would have done what he did and from then on, General Buhari became my hero and the epitome of integrity and honesty in public office to me.

General Buhari I know will never come out to claim a qualification he does not possess and for charlatans and people of questionable character to call for is arrest for forgery is a great insult to integrity and honesty in itself.

I know that Nigeria has become a country where anything goes, but insulting our heroes because of politics should not be one of them.

This is just one instance, as there are several instances that I can site here, but time and space will not permit me. So let’s put politics aside and celebrate our heroes because I do not know of any man of greater integrity than General Muhammadu Buhari (GMB).

Dr. Noble Abe, Chairman, Mac-Canon Industries and former MD/CEO, Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority

DAN GAYE

CBN devalues naira to 198 per dollar – News

It means more homes will now eat once a day.

Published by Peoples Media Limited, 35, Ajose Adeogun Street, 1st Floor Peace Park Plaza, Utako, Abuja. Kano office: Plot 3, Zaria Road, Opposite Kano State House of Assembly. Lagos Office: No.8 Oliyide Street, off Unity Road, Ikeja, Lagos. Tel: +234 814 292 9046. Cell: +234 802 443 2099; 803 7007 759. e-mail: contact@peoplesdailyng.com; pmlnewsdesk@gmail.com ISSN: 2141– 6141