Monday, October 20, 2014. Edition.

Vol. 14 No. 74

Monday, October 20, 2014

..

. putting the people first

Thul-Hijjah 26, 1435 AH

189 Days after

N150

Will the abducted Chibok schoolgirls ever be rescued?

2015: Jonathan woos PDP govs ahead of declaration l Moves against endorsement of candidates l Plans safe exit for 2nd term governors

>> page 2

Kano state Governor, Engineer Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (left), Presenting souvenir to His Eminence, Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie (middle), during the governor’s consultative visit to prominent Christian leaders on his presidential aspiration in 2015, recently in Lagos. With them is Mr. Ladipo Esq. Johnson (right).

Despite ceasefire

From Ado Abubakar Musa, Jos and Mohammed Kandi

Boko Haram attacks Michika again, kills five

>> page 2

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he dreaded Boko Haram sect yesterday attacked Gerta and Fina villages of Michika local government area of Adamawa state, killing five residents and setting ablaze many houses, including the house of Gerta village head.

7 months after, Kwankwaso Borno visits Xtian re-open schools leaders, sues for November unity >> page 3

>> page 31

A victim of the attack who spoke on the Hausa service of the BBC monitored in Jos revealed that the insurgents who stormed the area in the afternoon of Sunday arrived on bikes in large numbers.

He said, “The gunmen in their large numbers stormed Gerta in Contd on Page 2

Lets salvage the North, Shettima tells leaders >> page 5

PAGE 2

News

CONTENTS

News 2-10 Editorial 12 Op.Ed 13 Letters 14 Opinion 15 Politics 16-18 Business 19-22 Stockwatch 23 S/Report 24-25 Education 27 Health 39-30

Peoples Daily, monday, october 20, 2014

2015: Jonathan woos PDP govs ahead of declaration G

By Lawrence Olaoye

overnors on the platform of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday were locked in a strategic meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan at the Aso Villa in Abuja.

Although newsmen were barred from assessing the First Lady wing venue of the meeting, it was learnt that top on the agenda of the meeting was to iron out the controversies around endorsement of candidates by the governors who are serving out their terms on the platform of the party.

It was also learnt that the meeting deliberated on how to ensure safe landing for those

outgoing governors who are bent on getting the party’s nomination for the PDP tickets in their respective Senatorial districts.

It was gathered that the inconclusive meeting between the PDP’s leadership and the governors last week Wednesday where they were given conditions for them to get automatic nominations prompted the parley ahead of Jonathan’s formal declaration for the Presidency any moment from now.

The PDP leadership had insisted that those governors eyeing the Senatorial tickets of their region must forget about nominating successor for there to be a fair playing ground for other members of the party, especially for those

serving Senators they are planning to supplant.

This arrangement, according to a source in the party’s leadership who craved anonymity, did not go down well with the governors who are regarded as the field Marshall’s of the party at the state and local levels.

The meeting with the president, who is regarded as the supreme leader of the ruling party, the source stressed, was to deliberate on the impasse and possibly find a way of placating those serving Senators who are resisting their governors’ plot to take over from them.

Those in attendance at the meeting as at the time of filing this report include the governors of

Kebbi, Kaduna, Gombe, Adamawa, Bauchi, Ondo, Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Cross River, Katsina, Abia, Niger, Taraba, Bayelsa.

Deputy governors of Kogi, Nasarawa were equally in attendance.

Indications emerged recently that there was a succession battle raging between PDP governors seeking automatic ticket to contest the senatorial slots in their various states against serving senators nursing the ambition of seeking reelection.

A meeting convened by the National Chairman of the party in Abuja last Wednesday had failed to resolve the vexed issues of automatic ticket and endorsement of candidates.

Boko Haram attacks Michika despite ceasefire, kills five

$9.3 arms deal: FG risks UN accountability hurdle – Page 4

Metro

32

Int’l 35-38 S/World

39

Sports 41 Columnist 48

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Contd from FrontPage the afternoon and later moved to Fina all in Michika. Michika has been under the control of Boko Haram, with people living in some surrounding villages.

“In the attack, the insurgents killed five people. Two of them were slaughtered. They burnt down many houses including that of the village head. One of the people killed was my brother “, he added.

This development is coming few days after the Federal Government announced the ceasefire agreement between it and Boko Haram.

When BBC asked the victim on whether there was security presence during the attack, he said, “There were no security personnel in the villages when the insurgents stormed the area, because the whole of the Local Government Council (LGC) has been under the Boko Haram siege. Asked who the attackers were, he emphatically alleged that the attackers must have been Boko Haram insurgents as the

LGC is in their control.

He further said that many people have fled to the bush for their lives, adding that they had been crying of hunger Meanwhile, a member of the Boko Haram sect, Danladi Ahmadu, has alleged that most attacks credited to the group are not carried out by any of their members, claiming that his members are being framed by the military who get compensated by perpetrating same and hanging it on sect members.

Ahmadu, who spoke with the Hausa service of the VOA recently, informed that he was speaking from Cameroon, Nigeria and Chad, and maintained that the group was innocent of some of the crimes it was being indicted for.

According to the Boko Haram spokesman, “I am also very sure that some of the attacks being linked to our group are not true and we have evidence to show that some attacks have been carried out by the Nigerian Army, not our members.”

He added: “Whenever they

detonate bombs and kill people, they said its Boko Haram even as we know nothing about some of the attacks. We consider all those accusation as defamation of character and for some attacks they carry out in order to destroy our name. We have also heard that each time they did that, their allowances are increased.”

As part of efforts to foster peace deal between the group and the Federal Government, Ahmadu said, “we were involved in a meeting with the Chadian President early and late September, and Hassan Tukru was part of the meeting where it was decided that both our members and the Nigeria government embrace peace.”

“In fact, as part of the deal, Tukur requested that the abducted Chibok girls should be release to him so that he will present them to the government during the meeting,” he said.

He further appealed to his members to embrace peace and

surrender their weapons saying “I want to appeal to our members to abide by the seize fire deal and stay wherever they are for now so that we all can live in peace. I must say that what is happening in Nigeria currently is very bad. Allah has destined that this will happen but I am appealing to all our members to drop their weapon.”

He added that “I want to remind our members that this group is an Islamic group and I am asking members to stop attack because we realized that any mayhem perpetrated is hanged on Boko Haram and this is true.”

We were involved in a meeting with the Chadian President early and late September, and Hassan Tukru was part of the meeting where it was decided that both our members and the Nigeria government embrace peace. In fact, as part of the deal, Tukur requested that the abducted Chibok girls should be released to him so that he will present them to the government during the meeting.

Ebola: Lagos to deploy health workers to Sierra Leone

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he Lagos State Government on Sunday said it was finalising arrangements to deploy some health workers who helped in the containment of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the state to Sierra Leone.

The Governor, Babatunde Fashola, made the announcement in Ikeja while speaking at a programme to commemorate the 2,700 days of his administration in office.

The governor said the health workers were to replicate the state’s containment strategies in SierraLeone.

Mr. Fashola said although Nigeria was, as of now, free from the disease, there was still the risk of new infections from cross-border movements.

He, therefore, said the state’s planned mission to Sierra Leone was not only to assist the country to overcome the great health challenge,

but also reduce the risk of the disease to countries within the sub-region.

Sierra Leone accounts for a substantial number of the over 4,000 global Ebola deaths.

“Lagos is free from Ebola, Nigeria is free from Ebola. But that does not mean there cannot be another case.

For as long as people are moving from countries to countries, the risk of infections is still there,” Mr. Fashola said.

“That is why I appeal to the Federal Government to continue to scrutinise people travelling into Nigeria from land, sea and air from regions where the problem is still ravaging.

“That is why some of the things the commissioner for health will be announcing very soon is the arrangements we are making to send some of our health workers and volunteers to go and help out in Sierra Leone.

“That is the only way we, the whole of Africa and the World can be safe.”

The governor expressed optimism that EVD, just like other infectious diseases like Cholera that had once ravaged humanity without remedy, would soon get a cure.

He said Nigerians needed not live in fear of the disease coming back into the country but urged them to take precautions that would guard against new infections in the country.

Mr. Fashola said the state government had taken a number of initiatives to prevent a return of Ebola in the state.

Some of the strategies, according to him, include the deployment of screening equipment to schools and hospitals and the construction of sanitary facilities in schools.

Others are training and retraining of personnel on infectious diseases diagnosis and the sensitisation of

residents on how to be safe from the problem.

Mr. Fashola also announced that he had appointed Dr Oluwakemi Sekoni his Scientific Adviser as a move to enhance better response to Ebola disease and other infectious ailments.

The governor said the responsibilities of the new adviser would include providing public information about infectious diseases for effective response.

Others are actions and coordinating science-based research on food sufficiency, air pollution and helping in all other things that were likely to improve the general wellbeing of Lagos residents.

“Today, I am announcing the appointment of Dr. Oluwakemi Sekoni as my Chief Scientific Adviser.

She would be presented at a formal induction ceremony shortly,” he said.

(NAN)

News

PAGE 3

Peoples Daily, monday, october 20, 2014

After 7 months, Borno re-open schools Nov

L-R: All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Aspirant, former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari, and APC Presidential Aspirant, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, during APC Northern Stakeholders Meeting, on Saturday in Kaduna.

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Imminent demolition of Mosques in Abuja stirs controversy

By A’isha Biola Raji

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he impending demolition of the only two mosques in Wuye , following a notice from the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) is currently brewing controversy.

The plan to demolish the mosques in the expansive Wuye district of Abuja is not going well with the Muslim community in the area as they have no other option.

Yesterday at a media briefing in

Abuja, the Chairman of the Muslim Community, Alhaji Abdulrasheed Oyetunji said the community had received a letter two days ago, from officials of FCDA asking them to vacate the two mosques; as they are located on a road under construction.

Alhaji Oyetunji said, “The Honourable Minister of FCT, Senator Bala Muhammad generously approved allocation of land for the community but some interests are still opposing

it. “While we appeal to the federal government, especially through the FCT minister to kindly suspend the planned demolition pending the resolution of issues delaying the building of the new mosque on the land approved for the project.

“As a Muslim community, we have ensured peaceful coexistence in Wuye District through propagation of religious tolerance, mutual respect and also sustaining mutual relationship

with security agencies “If the two mosques are demolished, we will have nowhere to pray as congregating outside the designated places of worship may create suspicion from security agencies especially in this volatile period.

“We strongly appeal to the Hon Minister to kindly save our mosques that have been in existence for more than a decade from demolition or give us time enough to find alternative space,.

he Borno State Government, Sunday, in Maiduguri said that public schools in the state will reopen in November.

The Chairman, Committee on the Resuscitation of Primary School Education, Mohammed Dongel, stated this at a meeting and said that the schools would reopen in the first or the second week of the month.

Public schools were closed down on March 14 after deadly attacks by Boko Haram insurgents on schools in neighbouring Yobe.

“We hope to reopen all public schools by the first or second week of November God willing.

“By then we hope to have put in place all necessary infrastructure and instruction materials for conducive teaching and learning,” he said.

Mr. Dongel said that the committee would also introduce measures to enhance school enrolment in the state.

“We plan to introduce various measures to encourage parents to send their children and wards to school.

“The measures will also help entice pupils who are enrolled in school to remain,” he said.

Mr. Dongel said that the committee would pay periodic visits to schools to ensure implementation of government plans on increased school enrolment.

Governor Kashim Shettima had last week inaugurated a 19-Man Committee on the Resuscitation of Primary School Education in the state.(NAN)

Presidential aide abruptly closes poll as Jonathan marginally overtakes Buhari

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he Special Assistant to the President on New Media, Reno Omokri, on Sunday night suddenly closed an online poll he organised almost immediately President Goodluck Jonathan overtook former Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari, in the survey, Premium Times reported yesterday.

At the end of the poll, the president got 13,111 votes representing 49.3 percent, while Mr. Buhari got 12,875 votes, representing 48.41 percent. The president had less than one percent lead over Mr. Buhari.

Six hundred and nine voters,

representing 2.29 percent of the total votes, were undecided.

Sources close to Mr. Omokri said he decided to hurriedly close the poll in apprehension that Mr. Buhari’s supporters might charge back online to vote the former head of state to an unassailable victory.

Mr. Omokri did not indicate the duration of the poll in the beginning and rushing to close it after the president got a slim lead is like changing the rules in the middle of the game, said Femi Falade, a development expert and school owner in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.

“That’s clear rigging,” Mr. Falade said.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported how Mr. Buhari led in the polls for three days in what is seen as an embarrassing and unforeseen outcome for the president’s camp.

Several aides and loyalists of the president were mobilised extensively to reverse the trend in the last 24 hours.

Insiders in the president’s camp said presidency and administration officials as well as the top hierarchy of the governing Peoples Democratic Party felt “deeply embarrassed” by the direction of the poll and mobilised supporters of the president in and outside Nigeria to quickly get online

and vote in his favour.

“Phone calls were made to supporters of the president in the Transformation Ambassador of Nigeria (TAN), Goodluck Support Groups (GSG), Gejites and other groups sympathetic to the president,” one of our sources said.

A source close to the creator of the poll, Mr. Omokri, also told PREMIUM TIMES that the presidential aide has a mandate to ensure the poll did not close until Mr. Buhari is “roundly defeated”.

Most online polls have time frames within which they are conducted. The poll by news

website, Sahara Reporters, ran for 24 hours. But Mr. Omokri’s ran for four days and closed abruptly.

Despite the efforts to garner support for the president, which has seen his fortune leaping from 2,455 votes, representing 26.75 percent as at last night, to 12,016 votes, representing, 48.46 percent as at 4:27 p.m. on Sunday, Mr. Buhari remains in the lead.

The former head of state, who led the president with 6,411 votes, representing 69.87 percent on Saturday night, was seen leading with 12,198 votes, representing 49.2 percent at 4:27 p.m. on Sunday.

Let’s Salvage the North,Governor Shettima tells leaders From Femi Oyelola,Kaduna

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orno State governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, has called on the northerners to come to the rescue of the region, irrespective of their religion and ethnicity in other to return it back to its lost glory.

He stated this in an address he delivered at Northern Stakeholders Interactive meeting of the All Progressive

Congress (APC) held in Kaduna over the weekend.

Governor Shettima who spoke on behalf of the other APC governors at the venue, said it is time for the region to summon courage and come together, to salvage the country, as Nigerians go into another round of election next year, adding that the north has the number and was in a position to make or mar the future of this country.

According to the governor, the north in the best of times was the least in all indices of economic development, let alone now that insurgency is ravaging some parts of the region, saying that “we are now the poorest of the poor. Poverty has no religion, it has no ethnicity, therefore, we must reach out to other parts of the country, so that by 2015, other Nigerians can join forces with us

to salvage the country.

“We must not fight over political offices within the party. We must not allow our aspirations as individuals to jeopardize our collective resolve to salvage the country. We have the number and we are in the position to make or mar the future of the generation yet unborn in this country.

“The north is in shambles.

Citizens have become refugees

in their country. There is need to produce the next President from the north. But this is not without challenges, requiring vigilance and courage.

There is need to bury our differences and become united to confront the challenges ahead. If we can summon courage to come together irrespective of our religious and ethnic differences, we are poised to forming the next government, come 2015.”

PAGE 4

Peoples Daily, monday, october 20, 2014

Page 4 Report

$9.3 arms deal: FG risks UN accountability hurdle

By Ese Awhotu

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ndications have emerged that series of petitions from concerned Nigerians and organizations, both international and local may elicit a United Nations intervention in the ongoing row over the recent arms deals and cash seizures involving the federal government of Nigeria, private businessmen, a prominent pastor and head of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Ayo Oritsejafor.

The United Nations (UN) recently declared that all actors involved in arms trade must be held accountable and the trade in arms should comply with vigorous, internationally agreed standards.

The UN made the declaration when it announced that a treaty designed to regulate the multibillion-U.S. dollar international arms trade will enter into force in December after it was ratified by the 50th country.

The announcement marked a milestone in the history of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). Less than two years after its adoption by the General Assembly, the World crossed the threshold of 50 ratifications needed to trigger the Treaty’s entry-into-force.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in his message to a high-level event in September on the ATT that the Treaty’s entry into force will occur on December 24. “This will occur on 24 December,” he said. “We can look ahead with satisfaction to the date of this historic new Treaty’s entry into force.”

Eight countries deposited their instruments of ratification with the UN chief, including Argentina, Bahamas, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Czech Republic, Portugal, Saint Lucia, Senegal and Uruguay, while two states, Georgia and Namibia, signed the treaty.

In a message delivered by his High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Angela Kane, Ban said the need for the ATT remains abundantly clear.

“Deadly weaponry continues to find its way into irresponsible hands.

Unscrupulous arms brokers defy UN arms embargoes. Ruthless leaders turn their arsenals on their own citizens. Ammunition depots are poorly guarded. Stateowned weapons go missing.

Civilian airplanes end up in the crosshairs. End-use certificates are not standardized and can be easily forged. Pirates wield grenade launchers and machine guns against merchant ships.

Drug- traffickers outgun police forces,” Ban said.

“Just as with other commodities, the trade in arms should comply with vigorous, internationally agreed standards,” he stated. “ “Now we must work for its efficient implementation and seek its universalisation so that the regulation of armaments as expressed in the Charter of the United Nations can become a reality once and for all,” the UN

President, GoodLuck Jonathan chief added.

The ATT was adopted by a vote in the 193-member UN General Assembly on April 2, 2013. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Iran and Syria voted against the measure, while Cuba, India, Russia and China were among the abstaining states. China insisted that the treaty should be reached through consensus and accepted by all parties.

The ATT, which will enter into force 90 days after the date when it gets 50 ratifications, regulates all conventional arms within the categories of battle tanks, armored combat vehicles, large-caliber artillery systems, combat aircraft, attack helicopters, warships, missiles and missile launchers and small arms and light weapons .A diaspora group, Nigeria Unite Group, had petitioned the Office of the Secretary- General of the United Nations (UN) on the alleged $9.3million arms deal.

The group in a petition by the Coordinator and Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Hussaini and Francis John, said the arms deal was a violation of the principles enshrined in the global Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).

The statement said: “Although the government has admitted knowledge of the deal, it has denied any complicity in

“

CAN President, Ayo Oritsejafor the attempt to commit a crime enshrined in the global Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). Moreover, the explanations given by the two Nigerians and one Israeli arrested by the South African investigators are flawed and riddled with discrepancies.”

The body said the manner of the transaction and the channel the money passed through, called for questioning, adding that government was covering up the arms contract with an unauthorised agency.

It said that the UN should act on its petition to enable Nigerians know the truth.

The UN apparently remains the last court for those seeking better explanation and thorough investigation on the aborted South Africa arms deal, other than the one given by the Nigerian presidency, especially with the ongoing Boko Haram bloody activities and the pending 2015 general elections.

The All Progressive Congress.

APC has specifically alleged that the arms to be procured, if at all, were not meant for any Boko Haram fight as claimed by the government but perhaps a ploy to stockpile arms for the private militia of the PDP ahead of next year’s general elections.

A worrisome development is a report by South Africa’s Auditor-General which has revealed a serious lack of controls

over exports of its vast array of conventional weapons, which a non-governmental organisation monitoring the trade attributes to governments “couldn’t be bothered” attitude.

“The Auditor-General demonstrates that South Africa’s arms control regime is in a state of advanced crisis, with the upshot that South African arms sales may be fuelling brutal dictators and rogue regimes,” a spokesman for the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA), David Maynier, said in a statement.

Maynier’s statement brings to the front burner APC’s fears as to why the Nigerian government chose to deal with an arms contractor with questionable registration in South Africa.

The current face off in Nigeria between the PDP and the APC and other individuals and organization has been seen by many as politics, but beyond politics lies issues of human lives and properties. Considering the number of people that have died in Nigeria over militancy and insurgency, there is apparent need for concern. The Nigerian government must move fast to justify its actions regarding the arms deal even when it has told the South African government that the transaction was legitimate.

Reports indicate that the federal government has opened

“Deadly weaponry continues to find its way into irresponsible hands. Unscrupulous arms brokers defy UN arms embargoes. Ruthless leaders turn their arsenals on their own citizens. Ammunition depots are poorly guarded. State-owned weapons go missing. Civilian airplanes end up in the crosshairs

diplomatic talks with South Africa on how to resolve the stalemate on the seized funds by first providing it with data and documents on the transaction process.

Reports also said that the South African government only faulted the non-declaration of the cash by the delegation from Nigeria. However, the current row in the National Assembly has exposed a fresh can of worms.

There were disagreements among two principal officers of the House, Minority Leader, Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila and the Deputy Majority Leader, Honourable Leo Ogor, who recently engaged each other in an open war of words over the killing of a motion by members, on the $9.3 million cash-for-arms deal.

This is even as the House of Representatives directed its Committee on Ethics and Privileges to probe 50,000 dollars bribe allegedly offered the PDP lawmakers in the house.

Rep. Aliyu Madaki (APCKano) on had alleged that PDP members were offered the bribe.

The member said that it was to kill a motion to probe the 9.3 million arms deal.

Responding to Madaki’s allegation, the Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha, said that Madaki would appear before the Ethic and Privileges Committee to prove his allegation.

Ihedioha, who described Madaki’s allegation as “grievous and regrettable”, said he (Madaki) risked suspension if he failed to prove the allegation.

It would be recalled that a motion to probe the incident was voted out without debate.

This development caused APC lawmakers to walk out during the plenary While the presidency has exonerated Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor of complicities in the said deal and also given itself a clean bill. The South Africa has also promised to refund the seized funds.However,some Nigerians are at the door step of the UN to seek thorough investigation into the matter along the rules of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).Nigerians await UN reaction.

News

Peoples Daily, monday, october 20, 2014

PAGE 5

NGO educates 100 youths on drugs abuse in Sokoto From Raji Bello, Sokoto

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Sokoto-based NonG o v e r n m e n t a l Organisation, Unity, Peace and Mobilisation has sensitised no fewer than one hundred youths on the dangers associated with hard drugs abuse in the state.

The one-day anti-drugs sensitization campaign was tagged, ‘Drugs to Fruits.’

The State Chairman of the association, Alhaji Nura Attajiri said that the campaign was part of efforts to complement the government efforts in dealing with the menace of drugs consumption and trafficking.

“The event is to encourage the youths to shun drugs and migrate to the consumption of fruits. As leaders of tomorrow, the youths will then be useful to themselves, their families and the society,” he added.

Also speaking, the state chairman of the Jama’atul Nasril Islam (JNI) Alhaji Bello Nagwari advocated for an improved funding of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to fully tame the menace of drugs abuse and addiction in Nigeria.

Another speaker at the event, Mrs Salamatu Ibrahim, a Nutritionist at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, extolled the virtues of fruits in boosting the health and immunity of the human beings.

First Lady donates bags of rice to Kwara PDP Women From Olanrewaju Lawal,Ilorin

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he Nigerian First Lady, Mrs. Patience Goodluck Jonathan has donated three lorry loads of food items to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) women and youths across the sixteen local government areas of Kwara State.

The food items which arrived Ilorin at the weekend were handed over to the state chairman of the party, Chief Iyiola Oyedepo Akogun and his other Executive members.

While receiving the items, Akogun commended the First Lady for the ‘good gesture’ and assured her of a fair distribution of the items to all concerned.

“We are grateful to our mother for reaching out to us. We are happy for this timely gesture to our party members and other members of the public.”

Members of Kano Civil Society Forum (KCSF) in a group photograph with Kano state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adenrele Shinaba, during their visit to commissioner, at the weekend in Kano.

FG, Boko Haram ceasefire deal deceptive – Activist Sani From Ado Abubakar Musa, Jos

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Human Right Activist and chairman of the Civil Liberty Organisation, Comrade Shehu Sani, has said that the official announcement by the federal government that Boko Haram had agreed with it on ceasefire deal which signals ending the five year’s insurgency in the North- East zone was political and deceptive.

Comrade Sani who was once selected by Jonathan’s administration early this year to be among government’s agents to negotiate with the sect but rejected

it on the grounds that government was not sincere, refuted the ceasefire declaration on the Hausa Service of the BBC monitored in Jos, arguing that in any declaration of ceasefire between a government and a group, the two parties involved always came together and seen by the public at a venue deliberating on the issue in orer to authenticate a claim.

This according to him would help to clear people’s doubts, adding that the individuals involved must be seen by everyone who might have double thoughts in the process.

He said, “The declaration of

the ceasefire deal between the FG and Boko Haram is deceptive because Nigerians have not seen the government representatives and that of Boko Haram discussing the deal on either the television or at least viewed pictures on newspapers at a venue, to show us that the agreement is true.

“A critical issue is not always solved in a hidden manner. The two parties involved should at least be seen. This would help to eliminate any doubts from the minds of the people “ , he added.

Sani however noted that the issue of “ceasefire deal “ between Nigerian authority and that of

Boko Haram was not the first of its kind, saying that the government had severally made such claim but nothing positive was done in respect of the that claim, adding that it is still an old story.

Sani further alleged that there was no good intention to solve the Boko Haram insurgency in the country and to end it, there must be good intention and will by the government.

Sani also noted that the “socall ceasefire “was always heard from the government but the other party (Boko Haram) had never made any announcement in relation to the matter.

Let’s Salvage the North- Gov Shettima tells northerners From Femi Oyelola,Kaduna

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orno State governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, has called on the northerners to come to the rescue of the region irrespective of their religion and ethnicity in other to return it back to its lost glory.

He stated this in an address he delivered at Northern Stakeholders Interactive Meeting of the All Progressive Congress (APC) held in Kaduna over the weekend.

Governor Shettima who

spoke on behalf of the other APC Governors at the venue said it is time for the region to summon courage and come together, to salvage the country, as Nigerians go into another round of election next year, adding that the north has the number and was in a position to make or mar the future of this country.

According to the governor, the north in the best of times was the least in all indices of economic development, let alone now that insurgency is ravaging some parts of the north, saying that “we

are now the poorest of the poor.

Poverty has no religion, it has no ethnicity, therefore, we must reach out to other parts of the country, so that by 2015, other Nigerians can join forces with us to salvage the country.

“We must not fight over political offices within the party.

We must not allow our aspirations as individuals to jeopardize our collective resolve to salvage the country. We have the number and we are in the position to make or mar the future of the generation yet unborn in this country.

“The north is in shambles.

Citizens have become refugees in their country. There is need to produce the next President from the north. But this is not without challenges, requiring vigilance and courage. There is need to bury our differences and become united to confront the challenges ahead. If we can summon courage to come together irrespective of our religious and ethnic differences, we are poised to forming the next government, come 2015.” He appealed

while presenting the keynote address during the 21st National Council on Works themed: ‘Funding Road Development in Nigeria: A Panacea for Economic Transformation’, held at Asaba in Delta State during the weekend.

According to him, the federal government has invested huge sums of money in the maintenance, rehabilitation,

reconstruction, and construction of roads and bridges across the country; these developments cost the federal government huge sums of money.

Onolememen said government is worried over the trend, “more so, when it is situated against the backdrop that over 90% of freight transportation in our country is by road, using trailer trucks

and tankers that are more often overloaded”.

“While the cumulative project cost of our on-going federal roads projects nationwide stands at about N1.765trillion, the asset value of our road network is estimated at aboutN7trillion.

These huge investments and assets need to be protected”, he said.

FG to tackle overloading on major road corridors

By Miriam Humbe

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he Minister of Works, Arc. Mike Onolememen has decried the negative impact of overloading on our major road corridors saying it is depleting the nation’s road assets and there is need to reverse the negative trend.

Onolememen said this

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Peoples Daily, monday, october 20, 2014

Hajj Update

Hajj accommodation providers lose SR3bn

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usiness people owning property in Makkah and Madinah catering to Hajj pilgrims claim they lost SR3 billion this year because of a glut of accommodation in the

Two Zamfara pilgrims give birth in Makkah

two cities.

They claim that the oversupply of accommodation can be attributed to the irregular entry of certain companies in the two cities, and government construction of large hotels.

The Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Riyadh, Makkah and Madinah will discuss this issue at a forum in Makkah on Nov. 15, Al-Shareef Abu Rayash, chairman of the Makkah

Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s real estate committee, told Arab News on Thursday, saying 30 experts would speak at the forum.

Abu Rayash said that four committees would petition the government to intervene. The situation was grave and could lead to further losses for them.

He described the situation as a recession.

“Because of this, rents

in Aziziah dropped from the previous SR7,000 per pilgrim to SR2,000. This is in addition to the launch of a prominent ministry’s project to construct 24 hotels in the Kudai area, apart from the current construction of a chain of hotels.”

He said individuals and endowment property operators would be forced out of the market if this situation continues.

Abu Rayash accused some

From Mohammad Ibrahim, Makkah

Several hotel chains in the city plan to raise their current capacity from 500,000 to 2.2 million rooms.

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wo Zamfara state female pilgrims (names withheld) at the weekend, delivered in Makkah, where they performed this year’s hajj exercise.

Peoples Daily leant that the babies and their mothers are in good health condition.

It was gathered that the two female pilgrims may have skipped medical screening to come to the holy land with nine months pregnancy which is against the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON)’s policy.

Peoples Daily investigation showed that one of the women is related to a serving commissioner in the state while the other is related to a business tycoon in Gusau town.

Commenting on the issue while speaking with newsmen shortly after Juma’at prayer at Ka’abah Mosque in Makkah, NAHCON Head of Media, Alhaji Uba Mana said the state no doubt, will be sanctioned for allowing the pregnant women to come to Saudi Arabia under their condition.

According to him, for each of the birth, the state will lose14 hajj seats next year which means the state will lose 24 seats out of the total hajj seats to be allocated to them next year.

Alhaji Uba Mana also denied the speculation among Nigerian pilgrims that 8 Sokoto female pilgrims were killed by a Lift Service at their hotels, describing the rumour as baseless. According to him, no Nigerian pilgrim was killed in a lift system as far as the commission is concerned.

On the number of Nigerian pilgrims that died during the hajj exercise, he said over 20 pilgrims died and all have been buried according to Islamic rites.

The head of the media further

government agencies of not planning properly. The situation would worsen because several hotel chains in the city plan to raise their current capacity from 500,000 to 2.2 million rooms, he said.

The Hajj Ministry’s plan not to increase the number of pilgrims in coming years would be another blow to the sector, he said.

(Source: Arab News)

(Source: Arab News)

Muttawifs ask Saudi govt to reconsider age limit

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uttawifs are calling on the Haj Ministry to reconsider the decision of restricting the work of muttawifs to those below the age of 60 only. They argue that the decision taken earlier this year has prevented hundreds of muttawifs from carrying out their businesses, despite having decades of experience in the field.

According to Khaleel Bahadar, a member of the private T a w a fa I n st it u t io n o f A r a b pilgrims and head of the field group of the Egyptian pilgrims, it was a hasty decision but it has prevented many muttawifs above the age of sixty with valuable experience and expertise from providing services this year.

He said the decision was made without discussing the matter with the muttawifs, who are the concerned party.

The decision comes in line

with a process of evaluation being undertaken to improve services to pilgrims by the Haj Research Center which is conducting a study concerning the development of the Tawafa business and its regulatory organizations.

Bahadar said a better approach would be to evaluate the work of muttawifs at the end of each season instead of excluding them on the basis of age, because such services need years of cumulative experience.

Bahadur said the plan of the Haj Ministry to keep a large number of the pilgrims for a third day in order to decrease t h e co ng e s t io n a t t h e H o l y Mosque, describing the plan as wise and effective. He said the organization received an overwhelming response by the pilgrimage affairs offices to keep pilgrims in Mina, especially t h o s e f r o m E g y p t , T u nis ia ,

Morocco, Algeria and Sudan.

He said 40 percent of Arab pilgrims coming from abroad remained for a third day in Mina, while 60 percent left early after the second day.

He said the institution is seriously considering, in cooperation with the Ministry of Haj, to provide benefits and advantages to pilgrimage affairs offices that keep the largest number of pilgrims in Mina for the third day.

He stressed that there is always coordination and cooperation with pilgrimage affairs offices regarding the plans and programs for pilgrimage movement, as well as a range of training courses and workshops.

Movement schedules to Al-Jamrat Bridge take into account the requirements of the pilgrims’ departure times, he said, pointing out that these

schedules were issued since the beginning of Dul Qadah to allow the pilgrimage affairs offices and muttawifs to alert pilgrims in advance about these schedules.

He denied claims that some pilgrims are left without housing in the holy sites camps, pointing out that the decision to reduce the number of pilgrims by 20 percent has contributed to the availability of suitable space for the pilgrims, and that there are no recorded cases of over-congestion or squatting at camps.

The institution is particularly interested in providing highly developed services to pilgrims, said Bahadur, as well as increasing coordination with the pilgrimage affairs offices and all relevant authorities to improve services.

(Source: Arab News)

Peoples Daily, friday, october 17, 2014

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Peoples Daily, monday, october 20, 2014

Peoples Daily, monday, october 20, 2014

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Peoples Daily, monday, october 20, 2014

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News

Ebola containment: Jonathan cautions politicians against unruly comments

By Lawrence Olaoye

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resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday cautioned politicians in the country against playing politics with the nation’s recent victory over the dreaded Ebola disease.

Jonathan, who spoke while launching the Tony Elumelu Nigeria Empowerment Fund at the Presidential Villa, noted that the Federal Government did a lot in the battle against the disease.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) had recently taken on the federal government over the containment of the disease, saying that the President and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cannot appropriate the credit

The opposition party said the two states hit by Ebola, Lagos and Rivers, are APC states, stressing that the promptness, purposefulness, doggedness and determination shown by the governors contributed largely to the successful containment of the disease.

Jonathan said, “I am quite pleased with what is happening because I have realized over the period that government alone cannot solve human problems. Anything done by government once you involve the private sector and the civil society there is always a difference.

“The most recent one is our ability to manage Ebola.

People are trying to play politics with it which is quite unfortunate. But we had assistance from international

donors, our development partners participated in terms of giving protective gear and various suggestions.

“The federal government did a lot of things in terms of logistics, moving people from one part of the country to the other, quarantining people within their residences and getting doctors or medical experts to follow up. We did not arrest anybody, moving people from Port Harcourt to Lagos for treatment and so on. A number of things were done”, Jonathan said.

The President who announced the sum of N250 million as support to the fund commended Elumelu for the initiative to provide interventions that would rebuild the economic resilience of local

communities affected by conflicts and natural disasters.

He noted that the Elumelu Empowerment Fund would also provide interventions focused on the medium and long term needs of post-conflict and post disaster communities which would be achieved by revitalising their socioeconomic and environmental fabric as it relates to the four core pillars - social welfare, enterprenurship, reconstruction and environmental management.

Speaking earlier, founder of the foundation, Elumelu, said the fund is a non-profit organization which seeks to partner with local citizens to transform communities that have been ravaged by natural disasters, hazards, and conflicts

L-R: Public Relations and Marketing Manager Transcorp Hilton Hotels, Mr. Shola Adeyemo, Chairman, Photojournalists Association of Nigeria (PJAN) Abuja chapter, Mr. Abayomi Fayese, Chairperson, House Committee on Diaspora, Hon. Abike Dabiri, and Special Adviser on Media to Senate President, Mr. Kola Ologbodiyan, during the opening ceremony of the Photo Exhibition tagged “Democracy Archives” at Transcorp Hilton Hotels, recently in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

resident Goodluck Jonathan has heaped encomiums on former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, describing him as a worthy, steadfast and iconic feature of Nigerian history.

In a congratulatory letter to General Gowon on the occasion of his 80th birthday, President Jonathan

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said that the nation will always owe the former Head of State a huge debt of gratitude for successfully managing and guiding Nigeria through an unfortunate civil war out of which it emerged as an even stronger and more united nation.

“As you deservedly celebrate this noteworthy anniversary on Sunday, October 19th, 2014, I join your family, friends, protégés and well-wishers

in celebrating you and thanking Almighty God for the unique and richly fulfilled life He has blessed you with these past 80 years.

“Over the years, you have continued to use your exalted position to engender bridges of love and harmony across the country; availing successive governments of your wise counsel, and demonstrating your unwavering faith and willingness

to partner with us in our quest to bequeath to our collective posterity, a nation of which we can all be proud.

Nigeria owes you a huge debt of gratitude,” President Jonathan wrote.

The President wished General Gowon very happy 80th birthday celebrations and prayed that Almighty God will continue to bless, guide and protect him.

Vanguard senior photo journalist bags award of excellence From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

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he North West senior photojournalist with Vanguard newspaper and founding member of Kaduna Correspondents Chapel, Chief Olusegun Ajayi has bagged an award of excellence from the Ogale Progressive Union in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi state for his contributions to the community and steadfastness in his chosen profession.

Criminal investigation: Kogi CJ calls for collaboration between police, law officers From Omale Adama, Lokoja

Gowon at 80, a steadfast icon of Nigerian history-Jonathan P

By Lawrence Olaoye

into thriving and economically sustainable communities.

According to him, the fund would create opportunities and empower people in affected communities across the country to rebuild their lives and businesses, and instill a sense of economic empowerment for the long-term.

Elumelu further said that the fund would have a lasting impact by making social investments and grants in select communities that empower individuals, foster an enabling environment and support a generation of entrepreneurs who can lift themselves and their communities out of poverty and onward and upward into prosperity.

He also announced a N1.5 billion donation from The Tony Elumelu Foundation and Heirs Holdings’ companies to seed the fund.

While announcing the award during the chapel meeting yesterday, Chairman of the Correspondents Chapel Kaduna state, Mallam Garba Mohammed said Chief Olusegun Ajayi has been a committed member of the chapel who has helped in the training of many photo- journalists, not only in Kaduna state but in the North West Zone.

In his remark, the Secretary of Nigerian Union of Journalist, Kaduna State Council, Chief

Dominic Uzu said time has come for journalists to appreciate their own adding that the media are quick to celebrate other professionals but forget their own.

He therefore commended the Correspondents Chapel for associating with one of their own as he received an award of excellence Chief Olusegun Ajayi fondly called Olu by colleagues was one of the first photo journalists in Kaduna state.

He started his career at

Transworld Film and Photo Agency as a photo journalist in 1974 and was promoted to press photographer in 1975 a position held till 1983.

He joined the Vanguard Media Limited in 1986 and briefly moved to Guardian as Deputy Chief Photographer, but was recalled by Vanguard Media Limited as Chief Photo journalist, North West Zone, a position he held up till today. He is married to Mrs Roseline Adunni and has four children.

hief Judge of Kogi state, Justice Nasiru Ajanah has tasked law officers in the dispensation of justice to always collaborate with the police to ensure thorough investigation of cases for prosecution.

Justice Ajanah, who made the call during a courtesy call on him by the Executive Officers of the Law Officers Association of Nigeria on Friday in Lokoja, said this would help to ensure smooth administration of criminal justice.

He stressed the maxim of “Justice Delayed is Justice Denied”, saying that reports reaching him revealed that most of the criminal cases pending in courts were not properly prosecuted as a result of improper investigations.

The Chief Judge regretted that delayed investigations had often resulted in unnecessary incarceration of the innocent making them to suffer for no reason.

Chief Ajanah therefore advised the law officers to always liaise with the prosecuting police officers to ensure thorough investigation of allegations.

The Chief Judge commended the association for coming together to tackle their issues from a common front saying that they should not fail to keep him informed about their up-coming fund raising.

Speaking earlier, chairman of the association, Mr Abdullahi Zakari said that the courtesy call was to enable them acquaint the Chief Judge with the activities of the Association.

The visit, he said, was also to congratulate him on the recent national award of CON conferred on him by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Mr Zakari said that the association comprised of lawyers from the state Ministry of Justice and were out to ensure the welfare members.

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Peoples Daily, monday, october 20, 2014

Money Sense

Small scale business ideas and investment opportunities in Nigeria

By Ajaero Tony Martins

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lternative Power Installation As the world goes green, and Nigeria battles her power supply challenges; there is an already established opening in Nigeria’s power sector. Even though the government has taken steps to deregulate the power sector by granting licenses for Independent Power Plants, granting a free import duty for the importation of power generation equipment and commissioning several power projects, this will never hamper the growing demand for alternative power generators such as solar panels, wind mills, Inverters, etc. You can either make money by importing and retailing these materials or you can choose to focus on installations.

Plantation Farming Do you have a fertile vacant land and you know that you won’t be developing any structure on it in the nearest future? Then why not start a livestock farming, crop cultivation or plantation farming.

There are a lot of cash crops you can plant, nurture and forget; and they will keep providing you with steady returns annually. Examples of crops you can start a plantation around are Orange, Plantain, Kola nut, Oil palm, Cocoa, Cassava, Yam, etc.

Bottled water production I get calls from individuals almost on daily basis who are interested in setting up a “sachet water” (Pure water) production plant. Now let me tell you the honest truth, the sachet water or pure water business is saturated and the business may die off very soon. Why did I say this? Well, I got information from a reliable source that there is a long term plan to ban the production of sachet or nylon water; so as to stem environmental degradation and checkmate blocked drainages. So

Man feeding his chicks once this bill is passed into law, the sachet water production industry is toast. The only solution I foresee that can keep this business afloat is the establishment of a nylon recycling plant. However, to avoid being a victim of this yet-to-be proposed policy, it is advisable you venture into bottled water products and establish yourself as a brand.

Alternative Power Installation As the world goes green, and Nigeria battles her power supply challenges; there is an already established opening in Nigeria’s

power sector. Even though the government has taken steps to deregulate the power sector by granting licenses for Independent Power Plants, granting a free import duty for the importation of power generation equipment and commissioning several power projects, this will never hamper the growing demand for alternative power generators such as solar energy, wind mills, Inverters, etc. You can either make money by importing and retailing these materials or you can choose to focus on installations.

Cold Room (Frozen Food) Despite the high number of livestock farmers in Nigeria, frozen fish and chicken are still being smuggled into the country through the border because there is a market for it. Some people don’t want to go through the stress of killing and preparing fowls for eating, so they prefer to buy ready-made frozen birds.

With the right plan and a strategic location, you can make millions by investing in building and operating a cold room.

In conclusion, the investment

…and 5 things all great Managers do I f it seems like your boss isn’t cut out for their job, you’re probably right.

Despite the importance of putting the right people in charge, companies fail to choose the managerial candidate with the right talent for the job 82 percent of the time, according to new research from Gallup. The research revealed that, overall; just 1 in 10 people possess the talent needed to manage others.

The study’s authors said that while many workers are endowed with some of the necessary traits, few have the talent needed to help a team achieve excellence in a way that significantly improves a company’s performance.

“These 10 percent, when put in manager roles, naturally engage team members and customers, retain top performers, and sustain a culture of high productivity,” the study’s authors, Gallup managing partner Randall Beck and Jim Harter, chief scientist in Gallup’s workplace management practice, wrote in the research. “It’s important to note that another two in 10 people exhibit some characteristics of basic managerial talent and can function at

Youths learning to become Managers a high level if their company invests in coaching and developmental plans for them.”

Gallup listed these five talents of great managers.

• They motivate every single employee to take action and engage employees with a compelling mission and vision.

• They have the assertiveness to drive outcomes and the ability to overcome adversity and resistance.

• They create a culture of clear accountability.

• They build relationships that create trust, open dialogue and full transparency.

• They make decisions based on productivity, not politics.

“Very few people can pull off all five of these requirements of good management,” the study’s authors wrote. “Most managers end up with team members who, at best, are

indifferent toward their work or, at worst, are hell-bent on spreading their negativity to colleagues and customers.”

The research suggests that companies miss the mark on hiring managers because the conventional selection process is ineffective.

When Gallup asked U.S. managers why they believed they were hired for their current role, they commonly cited their success in a previous non-managerial role or their tenure in their company or field.

“Most companies promote workers into managerial positions because they seemingly deserve it, rather than have the talent for it,” the authors wrote. “This practice doesn’t work.”

Researchers say the good news is that sufficient management talent exists in every company.

“It’s often hiding in plain sight,” the authors wrote. “Leaders should maximize this potential by choosing the right person for the next management role using predictive analytics to guide their identification of talent.” www.businessnewsdaily.com

opportunities in Nigeria are not limited to the list above. With a little digging and research, you will surely uncover more of these opportunities. However, the point I want to stress is that having the capital to invest in these opportunities does not mean you will succeed at it.

More important than your capital and the business opportunity is to make sure you have adequate understanding about the industry you intend investing in. Knowledge and experience are the prerequisites for low risk investing. www.MyTopBusinessideas. com

Money Tip

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reate your own digital product This business idea involves creating your own digital product. This could be an EBook, a membership site, video series, software or anything that somebody could download.

A lot of people are afraid of this idea as the thought of creating your own product can be very daunting.

However, it is not as difficult as you think it is and with the right training anyone with basic computer skills can do this.

Quote It’s good to have money and the things that money can buy, but it’s good,too,tocheckuponceinawhile and make sure that you haven’t lost the things that money can’t buy – George Horace Lorimer

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Peoples Daily, monday, october 20, 2014

EDITORIAL Understanding where Mugabe is coming from corrupt nation in the world” has become so clichéd that it has lost its meaning. What is new though which Mugabe is reluctant to admit is that his own country has upstaged Nigeria on Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index. While Nigeria is ranked 163rd, Zimbabwe is 170th, third from

“

W

e all know that Zimbabwe’s old man, Robert Mugabe, now 90, and in power since 1980, has no stomach for the niceties of political diplomacy. To him, a spade is a spade and he calls it that. Not too long ago, he described a gay Zimbabwean as worse than an animal, and Western leaders who say his country is Nineteen Eighty Four because of his despotic rule are “scoundrels”.

Recently, the Zimbabwean leader tongue-lashed Nigeria and its people. In an expansive mood at a birthday bash his military chiefs hosted for him, Mugabe lamented that his country men and women were becoming like Nigerians who must be “corruptly paid for everything”. He said, “Are we now like Nigeria where you have to reach your pocket to get anything done. You see, we used to go to Nigeria and every time we went there we had to carry extra cash in our pockets to corruptly pay for everything. You get into a plane in Nigeria and you sit there and the crew keeps dilly dallying without taking off as they wait for you to pay them to fly the plane.”

Firstly, we want to tell Mr. Mugabe that he didn’t say anything that has not already been said about Nigeria and its people. The phrase “Nigeria is the most

We want to put Mugabe’s uncharitable comments about Nigerians and their country down to senility and much more. There is a Nigeria complex that is uniquely Southern African the bottom. Mugabe is believed to have corruptly enriched himself while the masses of the country’s population languish in abject poverty. That is one of the reasons why he has hung onto to power for over three decades now – preferring to die in office to transferring power to another man, not even one from within his ZANU-PF party.

Nigerians know that their leaders are highly corrupt, stealing billions earned from

OUR MISSION “To be the market place of ideas and the leading player in the industry by putting the people first, upholding the truth, maintaining the highest professional and ethical standards while delivering value to our stakeholders”

the country’s only export commodity, oil, while the rest of the population is left impoverished. But they do not need the leader of a sister African country to rub that fact painfully in. Zimbabwe is not just a sister nation, but one that owes Nigeria a huge debt of respect. No country contributed to its victory over white settlers in its liberation struggle as did Nigeria. We trained the elite corps of its military and civil service and offered financial and diplomatic assistance, this in spite of the fact that Nigeria was not a Front Line state.

We want to put Mugabe’s uncharitable comments about Nigerians and their country down to senility and much more. There is a Nigeria complex that is uniquely Southern African. Black Zimbabweans, South Africans, Angolans and Namibians loathe being reminded that their liberation from white settler rule would have been delivered had Nigeria and Nigerians not thrown their financial, moral and diplomatic might behind the liberation movement in Southern Africa. We respect that sensibility; that is why Nigeria and its leaders do not make much song of our contribution to the liberation struggles in those countries.

But it has to be a two-way thing: we respect you, you respect us too.

OUR PEOPLE

OUR VISION

Chairman Malam Wada Maida, Oon, Fnge Director/Editor-in-Chief Rufa’i Ibrahim Managing Editor Abdul-Azeez Abdullahi

Chief Operating Officer Ali M. Ali

Deputy Manager, Production Abdul-Rauf Musa

Editor, Daily Hameed M. Bello

Manager, administration Hassan Hammanyaji

Head, Lagos Bureau Adesoji Oyinlola

Acting Editor, Weekend Lawal Sabo Ibrahim

“To be a reputable, profitable, innovative and technologically reliant media company offering world class services and products”

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Peoples Daily, monday, october 20, 2014

Opinion

APC leaders and the anti-Metuh fixation I

By Richard Ihediwa

n recent times, there has been a series of personal attacks sponsored in a section of the media by some All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders in a spirited plot to discredit officials of the federal government and those of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The overall Machiavellian purpose of these attacks by the APC leaders is very clear: to bring respected officials of the federal government and the PDP to public odium.

Typical of a desperate opposition, as the 2015 general elections approach, the APC leaders have scaled up these attacks. In the last couple of months, they have engaged an army of heavily paid consultants masquerading as columnists and writers in local and foreign media to sustain this devious enterprise by employing their stock-in-trade of lies, insults and blackmails.

This is in addition to the unleashing of APC thugs in the social media who use multiple accounts with pseudonyms to attack PDP, its people-oriented programmes and post lies and insults against President Goodluck Jonathan.

Of particular note is the endless personal attack on the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh. In the last few months, the APC has concentrated its onslaught against the PDP spokesperson and the reason is not far-fetched. Since his emergence as PDP spokesperson, Olisa Metuh has become for members of the opposition party, a thorn in the flesh for matching their propaganda machinery by effectively projecting the positive image of the PDP while exposing the many inherent negatives of the APC. The APC is distraught because Metuh has been able to adequately communicate the unique selling points of the PDP and the major difference between its content and character and those of the APC. They are bitter because their party has been appropriately and correctly profiled by Metuh as an anti-Nigeria platform which does not have the interest of the people

at heart.

While effectively projecting the PDP as a national and democratic party, committed to the overall national interest without regard to ethnic and religious considerations, Metuh has further succeeded in presenting the true picture of the APC as a sectional and undemocratic party, completely lacking in ideology, promoting division among Nigerians; a party of frustrated and corrupt dictators seeking a platform to actualize their ethnic, religious and pecuniary agenda.

He has succeeded in exposing the hidden links between the utterances of the APC and the insecurity that has claimed the lives of thousands of innocent citizens.

The APC leaders have been having sleepless nights because Metuh not only stripped their party of its fake messianic robe, making a public display of its true identity as a party on a mission to destroy Nigeria, but also showed that it is no alternative to the PDP, a message which has stuck, forming a strong foundation for informed electoral choices for 2015 general elections based not on propaganda but on reason and facts as was the case in the June 21 Ekiti state governorship election.

It is against this backdrop that the PDP National Publicity Secretary has become a critical assignment for the APC. He must be stopped. Having failed to silence him through a series of threats and litigations, the APC leaders have now resorted to a well-funded campaign of calumny in an attempt to discredit and cow him to silence so as to effectively deny the PDP a credible voice to project its image, defend its policies and programmes and highlight the performances of its elected officials.

Characteristically, Metuh has maintained his high moral ground of decency and equanimity in the face of the attacks by APC leaders.

He has refused to join issues with them or to allow himself to be distracted. However, it is very important to place on record that there is no statement by Metuh on APC or its leaders that has not been based on facts. This explains the reason APC leaders and their paid

writers have continued to indulge in stretching their imagination but always end up with insults and threats.

The questions are: is the APC not a private estate of few politicians who have instituted a reign of impunity and brazen dictatorship within its fold? Are APC leaders not running their party like a rebel group? Are they not engaged in actions and utterances that promote division and violence in the country? Have they not been deliberately dishing out lies and fabrications in their statements to incite Nigerians and discredit the PDP led-administration?

Since its registration on July 13, 2013, the APC has never purposefully and constructively engaged and challenged the PDP on issues. Instead, in its 15 months of existence, it has issued hundreds of press statements all of which have been devoted to attacking government officials and those of the PDP as subterfuge to cover their heinous plot against the nation.

APC leaders have continued to promote violence through their utterances as a means to achieve political control. The statement by their National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun that his party will set up a parallel government should it lose in the 2015 presidential election (bear in mind that APC’s understanding of ‘rigging’ is where they lose) not only betrays their inner agenda but also confirms Metuh’s position that the APC is promoting a Janjaweed ideology.

This is in addition to inflammatory statements by other APC leaders, including its Deputy National Secretary, Nasir El-Rufai, who was widely reported to have declared that the 2015 elections will be bloody and for which he was questioned by the Department of Security Services.

Metuh has been able to prove that we have an opposition party which seeks to weaken critical institutions of government, make them vulnerable and set the stage for the materialization of their ignoble plans. The publishing of negative advertorials and articles in local and foreign media by the APC; and the sponsoring of pockets of anti-government protests across the

country confirm his position.

Nigerians may recall the sustained vitriolic attacks and campaign of calumny against the legislature at the national and state levels with the APC issuing statements labeling them as corrupt and falsely accusing them of receiving millions of dollars to do PDP’s bidding.

A typical example of the lies that constantly lace APC statement was its news release of June 19, 2014 where it averred that a plane carrying Kano state Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso to attend its rally in Ekiti was denied landing permission in Akure, only for Kwankwaso’s Director of Press Affairs, Baba Dantiye to announce that his boss was at another event in Kano on that day and had no plans to travel to Ekiti state.

Having been completely exposed, APC leaders are very bitter with Metuh. They are now desperate and want to use every means including circulating negative publications to stop him. Of particular reference is a publication in a section of the media by Sunday Dare, the Special Assistant to the former Governor of Lagos State and APC leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. A similar article written by one Tobi Idaomi appeared in some online news sites.

This is in addition to attacks by paid bloggers and APC social media thugs.

Typical of the APC, the Dare article, meant to be a response to the well-articulated PDP statement wherein it urged Nigerians to quit the APC because of its anti-democratic stance and the dictatorial tendencies of its leaders, left the issues and dwelt on insults.

Tinubu and his co-travelers in APC must be extremely bitter because Metuh’s well-researched statement issued on Saturday, September 6, 2014 completely exposed their despotic tendencies. Instead of responding to the issues raised in the PDP statement, Tinubu’s handlers went wild with abuses further confirming Metuh’s position that the APC is a party of intolerant politicians.

The questions Nigerians must ask are: why has Tinubu refused to answer Metuh’s query regarding how he emerged the leader of APC?

Was he elected? Does this not show the APC as an undemocratic party “where despots crown themselves national leaders without recourse to appropriate democratic process?”

Tinubu should answer Metuh on why he barred a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Bamidele Opeyemi from contesting the June 2014 governorship election in Ekiti State on APC platform. He should explain the role he played in stopping former Senate Minority Leader, Olorunnimbe Mamora, from recontesting the Senate seat in 2011.

Yes. Tinubu should reply Metuh. Did he not impose his son in-law, Hon. Oyetunde OladimejiOjo as a member representing Ijero/Efon/Ekiti West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives?

Did he not impose his sister in-law, Lola Fibisola Akande as a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly and his daughter, Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, to replace his late mother, Abibatu Mogaji, as President-General of the Association of Nigerian Market Women and Men? These and many more were issues raised in the PDP statement which Tinubu’s media office failed to address. In fact, they will be rendering better service to their master by helping him provide answers to Nigerians on the widely reported allegations of monumental fraud and massive looting of Lagos state’s resources leveled against him.

In any case, the APC must understand that no amount of sponsored media attacks, blackmails, insults and threats will subdue the resolve to stand for the truth, which Olisa Metuh now personify in the current political scenario. Indeed, nothing will deter him from continuing to be of service to our dear fatherland by exposing the evil machinations of the APC until they heed calls by well-meaning Nigerians to learn to conduct themselves in a manner expected of responsible citizens and stakeholders in the Nigerian project.

Richard Ihediwa is Special Assistant to PDP National Publicity Secretary.

As Buhari gets set to run for President again

By Abbas Yushau Yusuf

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ctober 15 2014 marked yet another milestone on the political Journey of former Head of State General Muhammadu Buhari when he declared to contest stand as a presidential candidate in the 2015 general elections. Nigeria’s political history will be fully written without a mention of Buhari, who like the late political sage Chief Obafemi Awolowo, has offered himself several times to lead his nation, including the Late Malam Aminu Kano, SGIkoku, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe.

The sea of personalities that greeted the declaration at Eagle Square inspired hope on the teeming Nigerian Masses who have seen a messiah in the Lanky General who served his country deli gently as a soldier and as a Public Servant, when I sighted the Likes of Chief AuduOgbeh a vibrant politician since the days of

the second republic i felt a sigh of relief that the General had started smelling Victory as he will not find it difficult in taking the two third of votes cast in the 36 states of the federation as stipulated in the 1999 constitution of Nigeria.

Having the likes of Audu Ogbeh in the Generals Campaign Trail is a good omen due to the fact that he came from a region which is the citadel of dividing Nigerians along Ethnicity and religion that is the Middle Belt, Politicians mostly from the south use that region to scatter the votes of a Presidential candidate Mainly from the Northwest by using religion to manipulate the voters.

The General had contested thrice on the Platform of ANPP and CPC but due to the electoral System in Nigeria where the ruling party mobilise the Government machinery for rigging, its no longer News that he was not declared winner.

Since the president needs the vote of Every Nigerian to occupy the Presidential Villa General Buhari has no axe to grind this time as his party the APC has representation in Every Geopolitical Zone in Nigeria.

The Southwest that formed the chunk of Southern votes had most of its states controlled by the APC. And with the alliance by the alpha and omegas of the southwest politics the victory for the APC in the forthcoming presidential elections is a forgone conclusion.

In the history of elections in Nigeria there was no politician that garnered the massive support General Muhammadu Buhari had since his entry to the murky waters of Nigerian Politics.

According to columnist Jideofor Adibe, after the 2011 presidential election. ‘’The call for the arrest of General Buhari by Pastor Ayo ortsejeifor is myopic due to his cult like following in the North’’ Adibe

was referring to CAN president to Shelve his call on Buharis arrest due to the violence that greeted the 2011 polls.

While others who are terrified by the General’s mass appeal say he is the political Idol of Northerners, with someone who won the heart of the young, the old, the middle aged and at the age of 72 winning the presidency will be an easier task. The labelling of the General as a religious bigot by some sections of the press has been laid to rest as Chief Audu Ogbeh a Christian From Benue state debunked the claim. The performance or Justice of any leader has nothing to do with his religious faith .

All over the world leaders have performed wonderfully well without mentioning their religious ascription coming into view. When General Buhari served as Chairman of the PTF he worked tirelessly to provide services for every

part of the country whether the area is either dominated by christians or Muslims.

Sam Nda-Isiah a presidential Contender on the APC platform once refuted claims on his popular Column that he is surprised on those who tagged General Buhari as a religious bigot. ‘’when Soldiers staged a coup against President ShehuShagari and decided to Install Buhari, he decline to accept the offer and directed them to appoint his senior Major General Domkat (a christian)Bali, when Bali was approached he also decline and supported Buhari.

What remains is the December 2nd Presidential Primary when the General is expected to slug it out with his counterparts. We Look forward to Buhari Presidency when Nigerians irrespective of Religion and ethnicity will feel the Impact of Nigerian Projects at their homes, pockets and places of work.

Abbas Yushau Yusuf viaAbyushau2@gmail.com

Peoples Daily, monday, october 20, 2014

PAGE 14

Opinion

The President Nigeria needs in 2015

By Idongesit Mbat

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n every democratic state, a time comes when citizens file out to elect their president.

Come 2015, all things being equal, this democratic ritual will take place in Nigeria. Nigerians and the rest of the world have expressed both hopes and fears for 2015. Many predictions have also been made about this important year, which is largely regarded as a redefining year in Nigeria’s history. I believe so too.

Whenever elections draw near, Nigerians are usually enthusiastic for a change but often times fail to determine the direction of the change because at such times, virtually every political discussions and decisions are based on sentiments, especially the choice of candidates. This is most unfortunate. I pray and hope that in 2015, this syndrome should not be allowed to resurface if we truly want to have a president who will lead the onerous task of rebuilding a once strong, united and prosperous nation.

As we march on to 2015, we must recognize that the position and the person of the president is very critical to the survival of Nigeria. This is the man (or woman) who will lead one of the most populous countries on earth. This is a country, filled

with ‘milk and honey’, but a vast majority of its citizens are wallowing in abject poverty.

With enormous resources, Nigeria is a country the world has been awaiting to receive into the comity of economically prosperous nations.

The character, pedigree and posture of the president will greatly determine how his cabinet members, governors and other elected or appointed officials will conduct state affairs. This is most important for us as a people. Many believe the problem of Nigeria is bad leadership. I believe so too.So who do we elect to lead Nigeria in 2015?The most important attributes of the president we should choose in 2015 are vision, courage and sincerity.

The wisdom to combine these attributes is also a crucial necessity.

To lead Nigeria at this time is like going to a battlefield. No one goes to war without preparation.

In recent history, Nigeria has produced ‘emergency leaders’ who emerged by circumstances beyond their control or by a consensus of a few and who suddenly found themselves in the seat of power against their dreams. How can such leaders have vision? Where would that vision come from? From the godfather, perhaps. But can a man successfully run another

man’s vision? Developing a vision for a country is neither a task to be performed at an overnight political party meeting few days or weeks to election nor is it something cabinet members can craft at a dinner party after taking power.

In advanced democracies, successful leaders long dream of leading their countries and as such prepared themselves physically, emotionally, mentally, politically and spiritually for the challenges ahead. Unfortunately, this has been our undoing. Without vision a leader will remain floating in the waters of uncertainty and indecision and eventually get drowned in the ocean of confusion created by political friends and foes whose main desire is to make personal gains out of the State. In 2015, Nigeria needs a visionary leader whose vision will not focus on the federation account and the ‘sharing formula’ but who can positively visualize and position the Nigeria of our dreams many decades ahead.

Since leading a country is like leading a war, the position of the president is not for the feebleminded. A president needs courage to drive his vision for the country. Not only that but because so many things are not right in this country, we need a courageous leader who will not

care whose ox is gored in the process of fixing Nigeria. We want a president who will not only be bold enough to look his party chieftains in the faceand tell them to return their loot, but will also go ahead to prosecute them without fear of ruining his personal interests. We need a president who will behave like a bulldozer without becoming a despot and whose driving force will be sincere love for the country and humanity. We need a man of strong faith in the country and who believes in the rule of law and equity.

You will agree that the greatest leadership problem we face in Nigeria is corruption.

Internationally, even reputable Nigerians are looked at as common criminals. This is most regrettable. If we have to change Nigeria and put it back on the path of progress, we must wage serious war against corruption.

Remember, I said earlier that leading a country is like going to war. This will be the first war our next president will have to lead.

Corruption is the enemy of the nation. It must be uprooted.

Generally, wars are led by men of valour, but to successfully lead the war against corruption, valour alone is not enough. Sincerity is needed too. This is important because the enemies of the nation are numerous, strong and mighty

and are always ready to fight back. A president who leads the war against corruption without sincerity will only end up filling his house with the spoils from the enemies’ camp. In 2015, how do we identify a sincere candidate? Will it be by his words or by the party he belongs or by his electoral promises or where he comes from? No, but by his pedigree and antecedents because “by their fruits you shall know them”.

If you look closely into our history books, you will find three categories of leaders. First, we have had leaders with no vision and sincerity but courage. They did not achieve much. Second, we also saw leaders with a reputation of sincerity but no vision and no courage. They did not go far. The third category are leaders that had neither vision, sincerity nor courage. This is not to be desired in 2015. Therefore, we must all arise and support and vote for and enthrone the president who possesses and upholds these virtues – vision, sincerity and courage. We need a disciplined and passionate leader with wisdom to move Nigeria to the next higher level.

We need a leader who will bring respect not disgrace or reproach to our green passport.

Idongesit Mbat is on linkedIn

Arrested for feeding widows and orphans

By Stephen Davis

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t is now well known that I have been working for the release of the Chibok girls and the other at least 300 girls who have been captured by Boko Haram in this last 12 months. I have visited many villages and towns attacked

by Boko Haram, I have seen first-hand the devastation and talked to families of the attacks.

These are tragic stories of loss of life, slaughter, rape and the worst abuses of human life one can imagine. In the mist of this ongoing tragedy there are people who have courageously helped to support the work of finding kidnapped girls and boys and helping them receive medical care and food until a more permanent solution can be found to their situation.

In Maiduguri there are small groups of young men and women who go out into the community each week to provide food to the widows whose husbands have been killed by Boko Haram. Others repair the humble shelters used by widows and orphans to shelter from the rain. These humanitarian efforts are undertaken with the meagre funds these generous local people have from their equally meagre salaries. One such group of community servants is the Shehuri North

Community Development and Youth Empowerment Association in Maiduguri. It is a registered association with very admirable goals. In an overview of the group its mission is stated as: To promote peace, unity, love and understanding in our community.

• To assist the people of the community such as widows, orphans, and the less privilege by upgrading their standard of living.

• To assist in sending the orphans and any interested fellow within and outside the community to Western and Islamic Schools to acquire a reputable education and knowledge that will prepare them to be useful members of the community.

• To empower youths in our midst by creating suitable job opportunities.

• To enter into association with any local, regional and international organization, engaged in assisting community development.

I heard of this group while seeking the handover of Chibok captives in Borno State a few months ago. I met with the group in Maiduguri to learn more of their community work. I was convinced of the outstanding humanitarian work of this group with such meagre funding from

their own private resources.

It is quite an amazing story how this group has managed to find girls who have escaped from Boko Haram camps and support them and their families with food and medical care until the girls can be connected into Federal Government support through the President’s Victim Support Funds chaired by General (ret.)

Danjuma.

The Shehuri group has made formal application for funding to continue the victim support work and the additional work they do in locating and verifying the identity of escaped girls for relocation and protection from the Federal Government.

This week we learn that the State Security Services has arrested many of these fine young community workers on the pretext that they are Boko Haram sympathisers.

A tweet from someone known as Aye Dee posts a photo of me with the management board of the Shehuri North Community Development and Youth Empowerment Association whom Mr Dee says “were hired to play the part of Boko Haram fighters/ commanders in the Stephen Davis saga of being in contact with the terrorist organisation”. Nothing could be further from the truth!

What a monstrous fabrication! Mr Dee may be misinformed from his

SSS source as these photos were taken from the phone of one of arrested community workers. The photo for which Mr Dee claims proprietorial rights and one of several taken on that occasion was taken on my camera and is printed here in full detail.

Mr. Dee is correct in saying that I have contributed some funds to the organisation which has found its funds stretched as more escaped girls are being supported. I have also provided a photo of the rice distribution which these workers conduct and to which my funding has been applied. The escaped girls are in great need of trauma counselling.

As most are not Chibok girls there seems to have been little media interest in telling their stories and assisting them.I am in no doubt that President Jonathan wishes to provide support for any victim of Boko Haram and particularly for captives who have escaped Boko Haram camps regardless of whether they were captured at Chibok or any other village in Nigeria.

On hearing of the arrest of members of the Shehuri North Community Development and Youth Empowerment Association I immediately sent a message to the DG-SSS. I have not yet had a reply but am very hopeful that as he is well aware of my work in seeking the release of the captives

and arrest of the sponsors of Boko Haram he will equally be aware of the innocence of these community workers and their outstanding service in providing food, shelter and medical support for the escaped girls and restore their families into a stable community life.

If the DG-SSS would care to check with the office of General (ret.) Danjuma and Ambassador Gana I am sure he will find these facts as I have set them out to be supported and thus enable the immediately release the members of the Shehuri North Community Development and Youth Empowerment Association.

I am optimistic that General (ret.) Danjuma, as Chairman of the President’s Victim Support Fund, will also find the case for acknowledging the valuable work of these community workers deserving of his support.

These are people we should be honouring for their outstanding, selfless work conducted at considerable risk to their lives, not arresting and incarcerating.

Dr. Stephen Davis is an Australian academic and priest who covertly helped negotiate peace deals with insurgents in the Niger Delta and in the North East of the country at the behest of the Federal Government. of Nigeria.

Peoples Daily, monday, october 20, 2014

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Comment

A time lost is lost forever

By Saidu Abdurrahman

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n life, there is this precious thing called “time” and it wait for no man. “The only reason for time is so that everything doesn’t happen at once” To everything in life there is a time.

Some years ago, you were given birth to, after sometimes you started crawling, learning how to stand on your foot, learning how to walk. Then childhood to adolescent, adolescent to adulthood, this is telling you that life itself goes with time.

In every man’s life, he passes through a moment of happiness and sadness, tears and laughter. So also in academic pursuit, Nursery to primary

to junior secondary to Senior secondary schools respectively.

Then to higher level of tertiary institutions, in all of these levels, there is a time of gaining admission, a time to read and the time for examinations.

The deadline in reading culture and failure in examinations written in schools, especially in Nigerian universities today can be attributed to so many factors such as social vices. Today, most students do not read extensively instead they do what is called “skimming reading” and as a result they fail, forgetting that heaven help those who helped themselves.

One common language students use if they did not

perform well is “the lecturer failed me or gave me low grade”.

And if they perform well it is “I made it, I worked for it or I deserve more than that”. This is a false statement as most of the students now failed to cultivate the habit of effective reading instead they wait till the dying minute and do what is called “fire-brigade approach to reading”.

When the outcome of the examination is out (result), you hear students lamenting and making all sort of comments and complains on how lecturer(s) failed them or how wicked the lecturer is, forgetting that they are the architect of their failure.

The invention of social media

contributed a lot to massive failure of students during examinations in the Nigerian universities as students misuse the social network. A student that is expected to be reading for at least 3 to 4 hours in a day end-up spending most of his time on social network such as Facebook, BlackBerry Messenger (BBM), twitter, whatsup, 2go chats and many more online-communuties, and at that blamed lecturer(s) for failing him whereas he designed his failure by himself.

Students now have the habit of reading less and playing much more, forgetting that a day of judgment awaits them in the examination hall where you be left alone with your question

paper and answer booklet to recall all that you have spent your precious time on.

The popular saying that “time wait for no man” should always be at the back of our minds. For time, when spent can never be reversed. A wise and careful use of time will lead to better grade(s) for students.

“A word is enough for the wise” make judicious use of the precious time you have now.

Saidu Abdurrahman, Department of Mass Communication, Bayero University Kano

Boko Haram: Negotiation as an Option

By Bámidélé Adémólá-Olátéjú

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errorism is achieving political agenda through violence. The politics of power is the reason behind the argument of not negotiating with terrorists. The protagonist point of view is that negotiating with terrorists rewards violence and discourages political change through peaceful means. They argue that negotiation weakens the negotiating government’s democratic structures, sets a dangerous precedence and undermines international effort at eradicating terrorism. The terrorists’ ability to undermine government’s legitimacy as the guardian of public peace and as a trustee of the democracy is why the agents of government always find themselves in an awkward position when secret negotiation falls flat. No one illustrates this better than Marylyn Ogar, whose misteps in her partisan blindfolds is legendary.

The dirty and murky boiler room deals, involving third party negotiators with government approval, are a potent indicator that governments most often negotiate with terrorists contrary to their admissions. Marylyn Ogar and her bosses cannot claim ignorance of Dr. Stephen Davis.

They also know most if not all the sponsors of Boko Haram. They are not exposed because Nigeria is one big corrupt jungle where power is sought by a clique to corner the commonwealth. The unwritten rule remains: ‘I will not hurt you as long as we protect each other’. Make no mistake about it, Boko Haram are backed by political juggernauts who are bent on having a Nigeria of their own construct. The reluctance to name, shame and try them for their crimes lends credence to the facts.

Why is the Nigerian government denying Dr. Stephen Davis? The Australian negotiator has clearly brokered deals for government with Niger Delta militants before; documents and pictures exists to prove it.

Apparently, he decided to go public because this government lacks the capacity and political will to name, shame, prosecute and bring the sponsors and the chief perpetrators to justice. With a castrated military, I understand the frustrations of Dr. Davis.

There seem to be no other way.

Nigerians are crushed helpless by the devastating, cruel, daily deaths and the loss of towns and villages to the Islamic Caliphate of Boko Haram.

What to do? Clearly, the government knows what we don’t know. It is near certain that the sponsors will never be tried in this country even if all of them get named. The best Nigerians can hope for within the country’s border is a press conference to deny their involvement and a few crocodile tears and the macabre dance of death will continue unless the alleged sponsors venture out of this country. I have always believed in not negotiating with terrorists. But in the case of Boko Haram versus the Nigerian Army, what are the options? Under the prevailing circumstance, I have assumed a more realistic posture and have revised my priors. The Nigerian military cannot defeat Boko Haram. The military has been decimated by decades of

“

corruption, dis-incentivization of meritocracy, cronyism and contract splitting. Given Nigeria’s adverse circumstances, negotiation may be the best, if not the only way of avoiding an undesirable outcome of a bloody country-wide war.

Nigeria is not the United States or France which dare proclaim ‘we don’t negotiate with terrorists’. The United States has the best military in the world; its superior airpower will destroy Boko Haram in a nanosecond. The opposite is what Nigeria has. The Nigerian Armed Forces tanks, armoured personnel carriers and other military equipment do not justify the budget allocated to the defence ministry year after year. The Air Force actually has one operational fighter jet while the Presidential fleet has a dozen aircrafts. The once proud and competent military has been crippled and has become a huge joke.

This war cannot be won by executive fiat or by wishing. No one can legislate patriotism and competence for fractious armies with low morale. The military must be invested in and changed, and change takes time. On the fighting capacity of the military, the country is sadly a decade

late and several billion dollars short. It will take more than 10 years of rigorous training, policy redirection and monitored funding to bring back the military to its former glorious height.

Nigerians must be prepared for a slow and painful process of balkanization if negotiation is taken off the table. In the case of Boko Haram, given a weak military, ethnic and religious schisms, Nigeria is better served by employing careful negotiation as a means of constructing an outcome that is better than what obtains now and the evil that lies ahead. Make no mistake about it, Boko Haram are backed by political juggernauts who are bent on having a Nigeria of their own construct. The reluctance to name, shame and try them for their crimes lends credence to the fact.

Negotiation is uniquely suited to Nigeria because the country, since the Maitatsine uprising, has spent the last 34 years fighting itself one way or the other. The denial and unwillingness to face the truth lies in the explanation and interpretation of the various levels of violence in the nation. Going through history, it is often difficult knowing where to begin. Violence has become the reference point

Nigeria is not the United States or France which dare proclaim ‘we don’t negotiate with terrorists’.

The United States has the best military in the world; its superior airpower will destroy Boko Haram in a nanosecond. The opposite is what Nigeria has. The Nigerian Armed Forces tanks, armoured personnel carriers and other military equipment do not justify the budget allocated to the defence ministry year after year. The Air Force actually has one operational fighter jet while the Presidential fleet has a dozen aircrafts. The once proud and competent military has been crippled and has become a huge joke

for Nigerian politics, society, and economy as referenced by electoral violence, ethnic strife, sectarian violence and economic sabotage in the Niger Delta. The arguments against negotiations are based on narrow political considerations, statements of principle, and personal opinions, profiteering from misery, rather than well-rounded, pragmatic recommendations.

Given the current status of Boko Haram, President Jonathan has two essential alternatives to negotiating with the terror group. The first alternative would be to examine their demands, negotiate what can be met and opt for conditional amnesty. The second option is for the military to submerge itself in total confrontation with Boko Haram, seeking their comprehensive defeat or surrender. No country wins a war by being indifferent to its people and their suffering.

The public is getting increasingly weary of the ongoing carnage in the conflict. Shekau’s public statements point to his preference for a confrontation strategy and further escalation of the conflict leading to seizure of many more territories. Is that Nigeria’s preferred option?

“Negotiation is an intricate exercise that begins with utopia and that which is desirable, continues with that which is possible, and reaches that which is viable, passing by that which is necessary.” I’m in favour of negotiations, but it can only help buy more time. The outcome of the National Conference shows the dearth of statesmen in Nigeria. Nigeria is not ready to take the bitter pill towards a just and equitable nationhood.

There is no short cut to unity until there is a political agenda based on substantial agrarian reform, redistribution of wealth, state ownership and exploitation of natural resources, and higher investment in education and health sectors.

Bamidele AdemolaOlateju via Twitter:@ olufunmilayo

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Peoples Daily, monday, october 20, 2014

Peoples Daily, monday, october 20, 2014

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Peoples Daily, monday, october 20, 2014

2015: Kwara North traditional rulers endorse Gov Ahmed

L-R: Senate Majority Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, Vice-President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, Kaduna State Governor, Alhaji Mukthar Ramalan Yero, Bayelsa state Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson, Taraba state Acting Governor, Alhaji Garba Umar, Adamawa State Governor, Mr. Bala Nigilari, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim and Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Alhaji Mohammed Kachala, during the rally organised by the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria to support President Goodluck Jonathan’s presidential bid,in 2015, on Saturday at the Eagle Square, in Abuja.

From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

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Photo: Joe Oroye

Niger APC, PDP bicker over appointment of LG caretaker committees From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

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he Niger state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned the appointment and inauguration of caretaker committees to run the affairs of the 25 local government areas of the state.

This was contained in a press statement issued in Minna yesterday by the APC State Publicity Secretary Mr Jonathan Vatsa describing the action of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led government of Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu as not only unconstitutional but a naked show of impunity, a trademark that has become the identity of the ruling party in the state.

“We view the excuse of closeness to 2015 general elections advanced

by Governor Aliyu as the reason for the non-conduct of elections into the 25 local government councils untenable and unacceptable. We ask, whose responsibility it is to

conduct local government elections and general elections? Is it that of the governor?”

Vatsa challenged the Niger State Independent Electoral Commission (NSIEC), the statutory body saddled with the duty of conducting the elections into the councils to come out and tell the people of Niger state why it cannot conduct local government election having known that council’s life span is only 3 years.

He explained that Governor Aliyu was afraid of going into Local Government elections for fear of defeat, hence the appointment of an unconstitutional caretaker committees to continue to do his bidding and to use them for rigging in 2015 general elections. “the Chief Servant should be told that he will meet his political waterloo at the polls as the people of the state have come to realize that the last over 7 years has been deceitful.

“All Progressives Congress is ready for local government election

and demanded that NSIEC should do what is right by conducting elections to the 274 wards and 25 local government councils of the state now.

Responding, Publicity Secretary of PDP Alhaji Mohammed Hassan Saba, stated that the APC have no knowledge of the local government law, because the 2001 Niger state local government law section 97 as amended gave the Government the authority to appoint caretaker chairmen.

“Their tenure has expired and they can not continues, it is not even in our advantage to dissolve them if not by law to do so the, Governor acted accordance to the law” Saba stated.

Meanwhile, Chief Press Secretary to the Niger State Governor, Israel Ebije while reacting to the statement by the APC said, “For emphasis sake, Niger state has broken record as one of the few states in the federation that has conducted elections for local governments since the past 7

years. Dr. Aliyu’s administration has always advocated for democratic local government and have been consistent in its position in that direction.”

“Niger state government indeed remains a leading example when it comes to true tenets of democratization of local government up to ward level in Nigeria since 2007.”

Ebije said the inauguration of caretaker committee chairmen to oversee affairs of local governments in Niger state upon expiration of the term of the immediate past leadership is within the ambit of the law adding that the state government has not breached the constitution.

Ebije stated the APC should be thankful to the Aliyu led administration for insisting that every eligible voter have a permanent voters card before any election is conducted in the state to prevent a situation voters would be disenfranchised.

raditional rulers from Kwara North Senatorial zone have endorsed the State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed for second term.

The traditional rulers said their action was due to his various people oriented developmental programnes, especially in their zone and pledge to continue their support for government in nurturing the state through growth and development.

The traditional rulers, led by Etsu Patigi and vice Chairman of Kwara State traditional council, Alhaji Ibrahim Chatta Umar, gave this endorsement when they paid a congratulatory visit to Governor Ahmed at the government house in Ilorin on his recent awards, both at home and in far away France.

While speaking on behalf of other traditional rulers from the zone, Alhaji Chatta Umar commended Governor Ahmed for his numerous achievements in the areas of health, education and youth empowerment.

Umar also appreciated the governor for appointing appreciable number of people from the Senatorial district into his government.

The traditional rulers prayed God to grant the governor electoral success in the 2015 elections so that he could deepen the delivery of democratic dividends in the state.

In his reaction, the Governor attributed the success of his administration to the support given it by traditional rulers in the state, promised to strengthen existing relationship between the two institutions with a view to addressing issues relating to youth, women and children.

Governor Ahmed assured the Kwara North traditional rulers that work would commence on the KishiKaiama and Ilesha Baruba-Gwanara roads to ease the transportation challenges confronting the people of the areas.

Former Deputy Gov James Bawa Magaji Joins gubernatorial race From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

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ormer Deputy Governor of Kaduna State during late Dabo Lere’ tenure, James Bawa Magaji has joined the 2015 gubernatorial race in Kaduna as he picks the form to contest the election under the platform of Labour Party (LP).

Speaking at the occasion, LP National Vice Chairman in charge of North-West zone, Umaru Mohammed said with the block votes of Southern Kaduna, LP is sure of taking over Kaduna in 2015.

“We are determined to produce a governor in Kaduna state and that is why the party searched for a credible candidate in person of James Bawa Magaji. He is going to take LP to victory in 2015. We are sure of that with the support and block votes from Southern Kaduna. Our members of different fate in the Northern part and electorates determine and willing to get a purposeful leadership in Kaduna State must support our party.

On his part, Kaduna State LP Chairman, Barr Bello Magaji said his party will take over Kaduna because there won’t be internal democracy in

other political parties.

“We are worried about the inability of Kaduna State to experience development since the coming of this government. We have a credible candidate the people of Kaduna State can rely on. As it is done all over the world, Labour Party will provide a purposeful leadership with James Bawa Magaji as governor. Don’t be deceived, with the candidate we have, we are sure of taking over Kaduna,” Magaji said.

State Secretary of LP, Comrade Okekere Solomon said the choice of James Bawa Magaji was an advantage

holding to the fact that both the PDP and the APC were poised in fielding their gubernatorial candidates from the Northern part of Kaduna, thereby, blocking the chances of people from the South.

“PDP and APC are moving towards one direction, that is fielding their governorship candidate from Zone 1 adding that since the demise of Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, there is no development in Kaduna State.

“We don’t just want the next Kaduna State governor to come from our party; we want fairness and rapid development. If you look at it,

since democracy returned in 1999, Southern Kaduna has always been the deciding factor of who becomes the Kaduna State governor. But in spite of this, the mandate they got was just two years and Yakowa died. The entire people of Kaduna State and Southern Kaduna in particular can still repeat the massive votes they gave Yakowa.

“Southern Kaduna has always been producing good leaders and we are happy that the most credible politician in Kaduna state that will carry everyone along is now our gubernatorial candidate comes 2015,” Solomon said.

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Peoples Daily, monday, october 20, 2014

business@peoplesdailyng.com 08142929046

Ikeja Disco targets 500,000 pre-paid meters installation by 2017 From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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n other to ensure effect billings on electricity supply consumption to customers, the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) has announced plans to roll out about 500,000 electricity prepaid meters to customers who are presently being billed without meters through estimation in the next three years.

The MD/CEO of IKEDC, Mr Abiodun Ajifowobaje, disclosed this at the weekend during the inspections of the management team to the company’s customer’s forum interaction meeting held in 15-business district units of IKEDC.

Ajifowobaje said that plan has been concluded to ensure effective metering of customers within the network, adding that official roll out of the meters we kick start before December.

According to him, two main challenges has been confronting the company, which is, effective metering of customers within the network and quantum of energy received from the national grid by the company, which has been at the front burner and we are looking for way to finding lasting solution to it.

Ajifowobaje, said that the company, instead of receiving energy daily supply of 1,250 mega watts from the national grid, is actually receiving between an

average of 350 to 450 mega watts.

He also decried the spate of vandalism on the company’s installations and facilities.

“I am however happy to report that IKEDC is involved in ongoing talks with several partners to explore supply from embedded power generation, Independent Power Projects and other sources to improve supply. ``We are equally working on a robust metering model that will promote transparency in billing and eradicate energy theft, this, posed serious challenge us but before December we are going to come out with policy on way to improve power supply to customers. ``we have carefully studied

with the challenges facing maters and we have come out with comprehensive approach on effective metering. ``Even now that we have not officially roil out meters, the company had installed over 5,000 pre-paid meter to customers at no cost since we took over the company,’’ he said.

Ajifowabaje, said that about 136,000 customers within the company had been installed with pre-paid meter to date, while about 36,000 were caught and discovered to have been bye-passing meter which posed a serious challenged to the company.

He said that customers with obsolete and malfunctioning

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, SEPLAT Petroleum Development Company Plc, Mr. Austin Avuru, Chief Executive Officer, Rand Merchant Bank West Africa, Mr. Michael Larbie, Group CEO, UBA Capital Plc and Chairman of the Session, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Sanni, Chairman Capital Market Association/Managing Partner Alliance Law Firm, Barr. Uche Val Obi, Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mr. Oscar Onyema, and Chief Executive Officer, AIICO Pension Limited, Mr. Eguarekhide Longe, during the panel discussion on “Transformation of the Nigerian Stock Exchange” at the Capital Markets Solicitors’ Association, 2014 Annual Business Luncheon, recently in Lagos.

Power: Dagogo out, Oke in as acting Chairman PTFP

By Etuka Sunday

I

n a bid to join the Rivers State gubernatorial race, the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Power (PTFP), Engr. Beks Dagogo-Jack has resigned his appointment.

As a result, a senior officer of the Team, Engr. Clement Oke has been appointed to act in

that capacity.

Addressing newsmen at the PTFP headquarters in Abuja, Dagogo-Jack said he is leaving the task force ‘on a high note to join the race for the governorship of Rivers State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.

The new acting Chairman, Engr. Oke has over 35 years

Blue chips dragged down market by 5.5% >>Pg 21

experience in the oil and gas sector, with his team facilitating interaction between the NNPC Gas and Power Directorate Gas Aggregation Company of Nigeria (GACN) and gas supply companies to collate and analyse data.

He also worked to identify lapses in gas supply to power with the current review of domestic

CBN to secure N200bn interests on enterprises devt >>Pg 20

gas price to $2.50 to attract more gas supply to electricity Generation companies (Gencos).

Oke was the head of the Fuelto-Power team charged with monitoring and facilitating gas producers and transmission companies in the developing and supplying of natural gas and alternative fuel for the power sector.

meters would also have them replaced, adding that the company had made significant progress in its quest to ensure a robust metering system that would enhance accuracy in billing.

The IKEDC boss said that the management has come out with a robust methodology plan that will address all challenges facing byepassing of meter by customers.

The IKEDC boss said that additional security will be added to the new pre-paid meter planed to be installed in area that is observed that usually tempering with the meter. ``Our first phase plan is to ensure that about 300,000 pre-paid meter is roll out by December, while about 500,000 to 600,000 meter is targeted to be installed and replaced faulty ones in the next three years.

Speaking on challenges facing the company on vandalism, Ajifowobaje stated that IKEDC, buoyed by over N1 billion released by the board to drive quick wins had been spent to date d on rehabilitation of vandalised transformers, replacement of undersized overhead conductors, completion of abandoned distribution projects and reduction in estimated billing issues.

According to him, IKEDC had also centralised its billing system to drive accuracy and introduced the Automatic Meter Reading system which drives remote access to meters for efficiency and effective monitoring. ``We have injected about N1billion to improve electricity supply through the completion of the ongoing network expansion and rehabilitation projects within its network.

The IKEDC boss said about 40 vandalised transformers had been repaired and installed to boost electricity supply, while about 115 abandoned transformers projects were almost completed in various sites.

He said about 40 transformers that were faulty had been rehabilitated, while the 52 vandalised transformers had been restored back to the system.

CBN Exchange Rates

as at 17th OCTOBER, 2014 Buying

$ € £ Riyal YEN CFA

154.7 256.94 212.44 41.25 1.49 0.30

Google to hit $1trn market cap by 2020

155.74 258.60 213.81 41.52 1.50 0.32

>>Pg 22

Page 20

Money Market

Peoples Daily, monday, october 20, 2014

CBN to secure N200bn interests on enterprises devt

By Etuka Sunday

T

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), said plans are ongoing to take the funding of small enterprises a little higher by getting customers interest in the recent N200 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund (MSMEDF).

Arising from its Bankers’ Committee meeting in Abuja, it expressed worries that small and medium businesses do not have the adequate financing needed to play the required development trajectory role.

Addressing newsmen shortly after the meeting, the Group CEO/ Managing Director, Zenith Bank, Peter Amamgbo said some of the planned initiatives to get people show interest in the fund include; establishing a mobile collateral registrar where small particularly retail customers can register movable assets as collateral or security instrument to secure loans from banks.

He said, the movable assets which will represent house assets as the case may be will make customers to be interested in the policy.

He further said that the initiative takes care of all interest parties both the bankers and customer’s interests, and that the mobile collateral registrar will be electronic monitored by any customers within the country even if you are in the rural area because it provide data base for all customers.

It will be recalled that CBN in order to unlock the potential of Nigerian MSMEs last July initiated the N220 billion funds as an innovative way of improving their access to finance;

shoring up their potentials for job creation, and enabling them reduce poverty within the country. MSMEs are globally recognized as the critical engines of economic growth due to their potential to create jobs, boost production, generate income, and reduce poverty.

Speaking on the Banks Verification Identity, BVI

Scheme, Group Managing Director/ CEO, Stanbic IBTC Mr. Yinka Sani said that the scheme is aimed at reducing the risk in customers’ accounts.

According to him, “it mitigates risks to customers, provides easy access to lending and wants customers to visit banks and ensure that their data are taken”.

He said that the initiatives also provides customers window of opportunities to forward complain when the need arises.

He also added that the response to BVI is strong and it would end by the end of the year.

Other aspect that was unfold to the media was the charges on ATM of N65, that the charges is effective when a customers

used the machine thrice and no charges is effective when a customer use it banker ATM. On the POS it was disclosed that no charges is charged on it because it was electronic payment. The bank committee emphasized that where a bank charges on POS such a customer is to write to the designated bank and copy the CBN for action.

L-R: Chief Risk Officer, Access Bank Plc, Greg Jobome, Managing Director, Digital Jewels, Adedoyin Odunfa, Group Deputy Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, Obinna Nwosu, and Acting Deputy High Commissioner and Director, UK Trade & Investment, Nigeria Mike Purves, during Access Bank ISO 22301 BCMS Certification ceremony, recently in Lagos.

Access Bank gets ISO BCMS Certification From Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

A

ccess Bank Plc has been awarded the International Organization for Standardization, ISO, 22301:2012 certificate for ‘Societal Security Business Continuity Management Systems.’

The award was presented to the bank by the British Standard Institute, BSI, after about three months of rigorous business impact analysis across all the departments of the bank.

Speaking during the presentation of the certificate in Lagos, Group Deputy Managing Director of Access Bank, Mr. Obinna Nwosu, said the certification is based on international best practices deployed by the bank to manage business continuity.

According to him, the ISO 22301:2012 specifies

requirements to plan, establish, implement, operate, monitor, review, maintain and continually improve a documented management system to prepare for, respond to and recover from disruptive events when they arise.

He said, “The ISO 22301 standardization certification will help improve the bank’s business by ensuring planned, effective Business Continuity Management at all levels, including: Organization-wide identification and understanding of critical business processes and the impact of disruption, timely and orderly responses to incidents/business disruptions. ”Access Bank deserves the certification which is coming on the heels of the bank’s recognition earlier in the year, as the best Nigerian company in corporate citizenship in the first ever competitive index on corporate social responsibility in

Nigeria by the CSR-in-Action. “We also won the Best Bank in CSR at the recently held Business Day award as well as being rated B by Fitch and A+ by Agusto & Co.” Nwosu commended staff of the bank’s operational Risk Management, Information Technology, among others, for their commitment to the project and concerted effort in achieving the feat, adding that the Board and Management of the bank is committed to business continuity across the Bank.

Speaking in the same vein, Mrs. Ojinika Olaghere, Executive Director, Operations and IT, Access Bank, assured all its stakeholders that that the bank will sustain the certification.

She explained that the award is not only for the bank, but for Nigeria, saying, “this is just the beginning of more things to come for the bank.”

Speaking at the event, Mr. Mike Purves, Acting Deputy High Commissioner and Director, United Kingdom Trade and Investment, expressed satisfaction that the British Standard Institute is helping to improve standard in Nigeria.

He further stated that the award is not just significant to the bank, but to Nigeria, as it will help boost Nigeria’s reputation in the global financial landscape by showing to the whole world, especially international investors, that the country is prepared to test itself and do business in line with international best practices.

In her own view, Mrs. Adedoyin Odunfa, Managing Director, Digital Jewels, commended the bank for its willingness to display responsible performance in all its businesses activities, instead of aggressive performance.

She explained that the ISO

22301 is suitable for use in businesses of all sizes across all sectors, as it will help protect the organization against the threats specific to its business.

She said, “These could include natural disaster, information technology failure, staff illness, terrorist threat or a disruption in supply chain. ISO 22301 will provide you with a framework for assessing critical suppliers and their associated risks, assessing current business practices and planning contingency measures.

“When incidents happen, the organization will be prepared and able to respond effectively. It will also be able to reduce downtime having identified alternative arrangements. With ISO 22301, organizations will not only significantly help reduce the risks to their businesses, but will also help will help achieve operational resilience.”

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Peoples Daily, monday, october 20, 2014

Capital market

Blue chips dragged down market by 5.5%

Stories from Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

E

quity transaction on the floor of the Nigeria Stock Exchange last week closed on a bearish trend as the market indicators ended flat.

Specifically, the Market Capitalization of listed equities depreciated by 5.55% to close on Friday at N12.613 trillion from N13.354 trillion it opened with while NSE All-Share Index dropped to 38,197.73 basis points from 40,444.39 basis points recorded the previous week.

Similarly, all the indices depreciated during the week with the exception of the NSE ASeM Index that closed flat. The NSE Index dropped by 116.18 basis points to 1,728.41, NSE Banking index fell by 31.65 to 384.31, NSE Insurance Index decreased by 0.42 to 145.33, NSE Consumer goods index went down by 59.00 to 960.20, NSE Oil/Gas index declined by 30.59 to 420.28, NSE Lotus II went down by 143.64 to 2,533.81, NSE Industrial goods 187.95 to 2,535.90 points Review of activity in the market showed that a turnover of 1.885 billion shares worth N23.733 billion in 24,705 deals were traded by investors on the floor in contrast to a total of 1.351 billion shares valued at N14.471 billion that exchanged hands in 14,680 deals the previous week The Financial Services Industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 1.446 billion shares valued at N14.789 billion traded in 13,653 deals; thus contributing 76.68% and 62.32% to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

The Conglomerates Industry followed with a turnover of 172.117 million shares worth 1.091 billion in 1,835 deals.

The third place was occupied by Services Industry with 88.966 million shares worth N281.340 million in 912 deals.

Trading in The Top Three Equities namely- FBN Holdings Plc, Access Bank Plc and Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc (measured by volume) accounted for 581.406 million shares worth N4.992 billion in 5,534 deals, contributing 30.84% and 21.04% to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

Further review revealed that Thirteen (13) equities appreciated in prices during the week lower than nineteen (19) equities of the preceding week. Sixty-nine (69) equities depreciated in prices higher than thirty-eight (38) equities of the preceding

week, while one hundred and eighteen (118) equities remained unchanged lower than one hundred and forty three (143) recorded in the preceding week. gainers 7UP Bottling Company Plc led gainers table for the week in per centage form, increasing by 10.24 per cent or N0.15.13 kobo to close at N162.86 kobo, Ikeja Hotel Plc followed with a gain of 8.65 per cent or N0.23 kobo to close at N2.89 kobo while Mansard Insurance Plc grew by 8.33 per

cent or N0.23 kobo to close at N2.99 kobo. Other companies appreciated in price were Academy press 4.55 per cent, UPDC Real Estate Investment Trust 3.69 per cent, R.T. Briscoe Nigeria Plc 3.49 per cent, May & Baker Nigeria Plc 3.45 per cent, International Breweries Plc 3.28 per cent and Courteville Investments Plc. On the contrary, United Bank for Africa topped losers table dipping by 16.69 per cent or N1.06 kobo to close at N5.29 kobo, Transnational Corporation

of Nigeria Plc 14.57 per cent or N0.80 kobo to close at N4.69 kobo while Oando Plc loss 14.40 per cent or N3.60 kobo to close at N21.40 kobo. Other stocks that depreciated in price were Seplat Petroleum Development Company Limited, Caverton Offshore Support GRP Plc 13.

64 per cent, Royal Exchange Assurance Plc 13.56 per cent, Lafarge Africa Plc 13.23 per cent, Dangote Sugar Refinery 12.96 per cent, Livestocks Feeds Plc 12.34 per cent, Port Land Paint and

Products Nigeria Plc 12.00 Also traded during the week were a total of 5,407 units of Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) valued at N316,261.62 executed in 15 deals compared with a total of 3,651 units valued at N165,346.40 transacted last week in 10 deals.

Similarly, a total of 200 units of Federal Government Bonds valued at N215, 666.23 in 2 deals were traded this week. There were no transactions on bonds last the week

The Nigerian Stock Exchange

Forte Oil grows by 33%

F

orte Oil PLC (formerly AP Plc) has recorded a turnover of N122.5 billion, in its unaudited result for the financial period ended 30th September, 2014 representing a growth rate of 33 per cent when compared with N92.1 billion recorded in the same period of 2013.

Profit after tax equally grew to N4 billion from N2.7 billion posted in 2013.

Forte Oil, had in the half year ended 30th June, 2014 achieved a 152 per cent surge in its profit before tax to N4.19 billion compared to N1.66 billion recorded in the same period of 2013.

In the same vein its revenue surged by 33 per cent to N79.61 billion as against the N59.96

billion achieved in the previous year.

Interestingly, the company has so far recorded year-to -date (YTD) share price appreciation to the tune of a 111.05 per cent, from N92.87 per share at the beginning of 2014 to N206.30 per share at the close of business last week thus gaining promotion of the NSE to the league of Highly Priced Stock This excellent performance recorded within the period the company ascribed to strong three year transformation programmes initiated into its operations.

The Group Chief Executive Officer, Forte Oil Plc. Akin Akinfemiwa while commenting on the result declared, “ the success achieved by Forte Oil

presently which showed strong growth performance across its bottom-line is the outcome of transformation initiatives embarked upon by the company in the last three years.

Akinfemiwa highlighted the transformation programme to include increased profitability in the company and capital reorganization exercise. Others are Forte Oil inclusion into the Morgan Stanley capital International (MSCI) Frontier Market Index and inclusion into the NSE high priced stock rank , expansion of retail network among others.

“We are very pleased with our audited H1 results for 2014, which exhibits consistent and sustainable growth for both

revenue and profits.

This performance is an affirmation of the resilience of our businesses and a true test of our business transformation strategy despite the adverse impact of petroleum product scarcity experienced in the first quarter of the year.

Superior contributions from our power and upstream services divisions continue to strengthen our market dominance in our quest to be the foremost energy solutions provider. As we enter the final phase of our business transformation we are confident of building a long term successful company and making Forte Oil Plc the investment of choice through positive actions that boost investor confidence at all times”, Akinfemiwa assured.

Page 22

Peoples Daily, monday, october 20, 2014

Business

Google to hit $1trn market cap by 2020

G

oogle Inc. was predicted to be the first $1 trillion company by market capitalization, ahead of the current front-runner Apple Inc. Colin Gillis, a technology analyst at BGC Partners , said Google’s market value will exceed $1 trillion in 2020. As of Friday’s close, Google sported a market cap of about $375 billion, meaning its share price (recently at $554.20) would have to jump to nearly $1,500

for the market cap to surpass $1 trillion.

“Google is positioned to be the first company on a U.S. listed stock exchange to have a market capitalization exceed one trillion dollars, an event that could happen by the next decade,” Mr. Gillis wrote to clients last week.

He has a buy rating and $650 price target on Google.

“The company is taking the cash flows from its performance

marketing business (the best in the world in our view) and chasing after large markets such as content, operating systems, enterprise computing, robotics and automation.”

To pull off the feat, Google first has to eclipse Apple.

That’s no easy task, as Apple’s profit, revenue and market cap tower over Google’s. Google also trades at a more expensive price-to-earnings ratio than Apple at the moment.

In its fiscal 2013 which ended last September, Apple reported full-year profit of $37 billion and sales of $170.9 billion. In 2013, Google reported net income of $12.9 billion on revenue of $55.5 billion. Apple’s market cap, at about $600 billion, is more than $200 billion higher than Google’s.

Google’s Class A shares recently fell 0.2% at $554.07.

(Wall Street Journal)

L-R: Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya, presenting a gift to Lagos state Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke Adefulire, during the deputy governor’s visit to the headquarters of Airtel Nigeria, recently in Lagos.

NCC allays fears on telecom equipment hazards From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

T

he Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) has again allayed fears on any risk to human life as a result of radiation emanating from telecommunication infrastructures like Mast and Towers located in the country.

The Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau. Maryam Bayi stated this at the 67th edition of Consumer Outreach Program held at ancient Mapo Hall, Ibadan tagged “The Effect of Telecom

Infrastructure on Human Health”.

Bayi, who was represented by Deputy Director, Consumer Affair Bureau, Mr Femi Atoyebi said all telecom equipments copming to the country are being typedapproved by the Commission to ensure compliance with international standard on health and safety.

He said, for services to be provided in all nook and crannies of the country, telecom infrastructures are required and must be in place.

The Commission urged the entire public to allow service providers to site Mast and Towers

within their communities adding that research conducted by World Health Organization and other organizations has not yet shown any risk to life as a result of radiation emanating from these infrastructures.

Atoyebi explained that developed countries usually installed these telecom infrastructures on top of high-rise buildings as a way to control their indiscriminate installation within the public or residential areas but its inadequate hinders this option in the country.

He assured that these items

cited in cities conform to the guidelines and standards of the Commission concerning all matters on radio frequency.

Market men and women, artisans and residents of Ibadan city commend the Commission for bring the program to their town called for frequent such in local government area across the Oyo state.

The event had in attendance, representatives of police, agencies, ministries, religion organizations, student bodies, traditional rulers and all service providers in the country.

‘We’ve invested $5bn in local content devpt’

T

he Executive Secretary of Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Mr. Ernest Nwapa, said the board had invested $5bn in the country’s economy.

Nwapa explained that the fit was achieved as a result of the board’s insistence that oil and gas manufacturing companies are located in the country to ease the availability of facilities.

Speaking during the inauguration of Benkline Workshop in Port Harcourt on Saturday, Nwapa promised that the Federal Government would support every investment in the country.

He stated that the government was ready to confront any opposition to investment in the nation’s economy, adding that the amount of investment expected within the next five years would be enormous.

The NCDBM boss expressed the need for investors to do their businesses in a legitimate manner in order to ensure the sustainability of their investments.

He said, “This government is going to support every investment that is made here.

If you tally the total value of where we have visited to commission facilities in the last four years, you will have $5bn worth of investments in this economy, just by insisting these things are done in our economy.

So you can imagine where we would be in the next five years.

“Our commitment is that any investment that is made in Nigeria, we would wrestle anybody to the ground to make sure that work is put in there.

If you want to continue in this business, you must do it the way it is done or even better than in other jurisdictions. That is the only guarantee that will make you have a sustainable business.”

Describing Bekline Nigeria Limited, an oil and gas equipment and service provider, as a trail blazer in original equipment manufacturing and services, Nwapa stated that the organisation was ahead of the b“We are challenging the indigenous producer to begin to partner and patronize local service companies so that the market will expand. The market in Nigeria is big on its own but we often fail to realize that Nigeria is often seen as salvation location by other African countries.”

“The partners we have today; FRAMO and Eurofiliales have done a lot for the growth of the company and we cannot be grateful enough.” (Punch)

Peoples Daily, monday, october 20, 2014

Stock Watch

Report as at Friday, October 17, 2014

PAGE 23

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Peoples Daily, monday, october 20, 2014

Peoples Daily, monday, october 20, 2014

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Peoples Daily, monday, october 20, 2014

FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY ADMINSTRATION (FCTA) P.M.B, 24 GARKI, ABUJA. 09-3141266, FAX: 09-3141266 ABUJA – TEL.09 3141266

INVITATION TO TENDER FOR THE 2014 EDUCATION SECRETARIAT PROJECTS The FCT Education Secretariat is inviting competent and interested companies to submit Technical and Financial Bids for the listed projects under the FCT Education Secretariat and its Agencies.

A. EDUCATION SECRETARIAT LOT AA1: RENOVATION OF MULTIPURPOSE HALL AT SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF, KUJE LOT AA2: RENOVATION OF SICK BAY AT SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF, KUJE LOT AA3: RENOVATION OF ADMIN BLOCK AT SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF, KUJE LOT AA4: CONSTRUCTION OF LIBRARY BLOCK AT SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF, KUJE LOT AA5: RENOVATION OF MALE HOSTEL AT SCHOOL FOR THE HANDICAPPED, KUJE LOT AA6: RENOVATION OF STAFF QUARTERS AT SCHOOL FOR THE HANDICAPPED, KUJE LOT AA7: RENOVATION OF DINNING HALL AT SCHOOL FOR THE HANDICAPPED, KUJE LOT AA8: CONSTRUCTION OF LIBRARY BLOCK AT SCHOOL FOR THE HANDICAPPED, KUJE LOT AA9: WATER RETICULATION AT SCHOOL FOR THE HANDICAPPED, KUJE LOT AA10: PROVISION OF FOOTBALL FIELD AT SCHOOL FOR THE HANDICAPPED, KUJE LOT AA11: CONSTRUCTION OF 1NO BLOCK OF 2 BEDROOMS SEMIDETACHED BUNGALOW AT SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND, JABI LOT AA12: RENOVATION OF ADMIN BLOCK AT SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND, JABI LOT AA13: RENOVATION OF 2 NO HOSTEL BLOCKS AT SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND, JABI LOT AA14: RENOVATION OF SCHOOL CLINIC AT SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND, JABI LOT AB1: CONSTRUCTION OF 1 BLOCK OF 3 CLASSROOMS WITH OFFICE AT LEA NOMADIC GABA LOT AB2: CONSTRUCTION OF 1 BLOCK OF 3 CLASSROOMS WITH OFFICE AT LEA NOMADIC COMMUNITY KAWU LOT AB3: CONSTRUCTION OF 1 BLOCK OF 3 CLASSROOMS WITH OFFICE AT LEA PRIMARY SCHOOL IBWA II LOT AB4: RENOVATION OF BOY’S HOSTEL AT GSS KUDURU LOT AB5: RENOVATION OF FEMALE HOSTEL AT GSS GWAGWALADA LOT AB6: RENOVATION OF GIRL’S HOSTEL AT GSS DOBI LOT AB7: CONSTRUCTION OF HOSTEL AT GGSS DUKPA LOT AB8: RENOVATION OF 1 BLOCK OF GIRL’S HOSTEL AT GSS RUBOCHI LOT AB9: CONSTRUCTION OF BOY’S HOSTEL AT GSS DOBI LOT AB10: RENOVATION OF BOY’S HOSTEL AT GSS TUNGAN MAJE LOT AB11: RENOVATION OF 1 BLOCK OF 8 CLASSROOMS AT GSSS TUNGAN MAJE LOT AB12: RENOVATION OF 1 BLOCK OF 4 CLASSROOMS AT GSS MABUSHI LOT AB13: RENOVATION OF SCHOOL HALL AT SCHOOL FOR THE GIFTED GWAGWALADA LOT AB14: RENOVATION OF PROCUREMENT UNIT AT JSS GARKI LOT AB15: RENOVATION OF PROJECT OFFICE, AREA 11 GARKI LOT AB16: FENCING OF SCHOOL PREMISES AT GSS GWARGWADA LOT AB17: COMPLETION OF PERIMETER FENCE, GATE & GATE HOUSE AT GSS GAWU LOT AB18: COMPLETION OF PERIMETER FENCE, GATE & GATE HOUSE AT GSS KABUSA LOT AB19: COMPLETION OF PERIMETER FENCE, GATE & GATE HOUSE AT GSS DANGARA LOT AB20: COMPLETION OF PERIMETER FENCE, GATE & GATE HOUSE AT GSS SHERE LOT AB21: COMPLETION OF PERIMETER FENCE, GATE & GATE HOUSE AT GSS KARSHI LOT AB22: COMPLETION OF PERIMETER FENCE, GATE &

GATE HOUSE AT GSS KWALI LOT AB23: COMPLETION OF PERIMETER FENCE, GATE & GATE HOUSE AT GSS DOBI LOT AB24: LANDSCAPING OF SCHOOL PREMISES AT LEA ZHIGAKUCHI LOT AB25: CONSTRUCTION OF 1 BLOCK OF 3 CLASSROOMS WITH OFFICE & STORE AT LEA DEBI LOT AB26: PROVISION OF BOREHOLE, GROUND AND OVERHEAD WATER TANKS AT GSSS ABAJI LOT AB27: COMPLETION OF ADMIN BLOCK AT GSS ZONE 3, WUSE LOT AB28: REHABILITATION OF A BLOCK OF 36 CLASSROOMS AT ARMY DAY SECONDARY SCHOOL MOGADISHU CANTONMENT LOT AB29: REHABILITATION OF A BLOCK OF 24 CLASSROOMS AT ARMY DAY SECONDARY SCHOOL MAMBILA BARRACKS LOT AC1: PROVISION OF PLASTIC FURNITURE TO FCT SECONDARY SCHOOLS LOT AD1: CONSTRUCTION OF PERIMETER FENCE, GATE AND GATE HOUSE AT PROPOSED KOICA MODEL SCHOOL, AIRPORT ROAD PLOT 70 2.45HA LOT AD2: CONSTRUCTION OF PERIMETER FENCE, GATE AND GATE HOUSE AT PROPOSED KOICA MODEL SCHOOL, AIRPORT ROAD PLOT 235 1.90HA LOT AD3: PROVISION OF BOREHOLE, GROUND AND OVERHEAD WATER TANKS AT PROPOSED KOICA MODEL SCHOOL, AIRPORT ROAD PLOT 70 2.45HA LOT AD4: PROVISION OF BOREHOLE, GROUND AND OVERHEAD WATER TANKS AT PROPOSED KOICA MODEL SCHOOL, AIRPORT ROAD PLOT 235 1.90HA LOT AD5: PROVISION OF ACCESS ROAD TO THE PROPOSED KOICA MODEL SCHOOL, AIRPORT ROAD LOT AE1: PROVISION OF KNOWLEDGE TABS (LAPTOP) FOR FCT SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN AMAC. LOT AE2: PROVISION OF KNOWLEDGE TABS (LAPTOP) FCT FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN GWAGWALADA AREA COUNCIL. LOT AE3: PROVISION OF KNOWLEDGE TABS (LAPTOP) FOR FCT SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN BWARI AREA COUNCIL. LOT AE4: PROVISION OF KNOWLEDGE TABS (LAPTOP) FOR FCT SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN KWALI AREA COUNCIL. LOT AE5: PROVISION OF KNOWLEDGE TABS (LAPTOP) FOR FCT SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN KUJE AREA COUNCIL. LOT AF1: PROCUREMENT OF IRON BUNK TWIN BEDS AND MATTRESSES FOR FCT SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN AMAC LOT AF2: PROCUREMENT OF IRON BUNK TWIN BEDS AND MATTRESSES FOR FCT SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN BWARI AREA COUNCIL LOT AF3: PROCUREMENT OF IRON BUNK TWIN BEDS AND MATTRESSES FOR FCT SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN GWAGWALADA AREA COUNCIL LOT AF4: PROCUREMENT OF IRON BUNK TWIN BEDS AND MATTRESSES FOR FCT SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN KWALI AREA COUNCIL LOT AF5: PROCUREMENT OF IRON BUNK TWIN BEDS AND MATTRESSES FOR FCT SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN KUJE AREA COUNCIL B. FCT COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, ZUBA LOT BA1: PROVISION OF STREET LIGHT AND UPGRADING OF LIGHTING FACILITIES AT COE, ZUBA LOT BB1: CONSTRUCTION OF PERIMETER FENCE AT THE EXISTING SITE OF COE, ZUBA LOT BC1: MAINTENANCE OF ROAD AND DRAINAGES AT THE EXISTING SITE OF COE, ZUBA C. FCT DEPARTMENT OF MASS EDUCATION LOT CA1: RENOVATION OF LIBRARY AT VTC KARSHI 2.

PREQUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS 1.

Evidence of Incorporation/Registration of the Company with Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC);

Signed Management

2.

Photocopies of three (3) years current Tax Clearance issued by the FIRS (2011, 2012 and 2013); 3.

Photocopy of Value Added Tax (VAT Certificate; 4.

Company resume including details of key staff to be deployed for execution of the contract and GSM phone number(s) / E-mail addresses; 5.

List of Equipments to be used for the project and their locations. State whether the Equipments are on lease, hire or owned by the company with evidence; 6.

Evidence of execution and experience of similar work (s) done by the contractor, stating contract sum and showing evidence of award and timely completion; 7.

Evidence of financial capability from company’s Bankers; 8.

Certificate of compliance with the PENCOM Act 2004 in line with provision of section 16, subsection 6b of the PPA 2007; 9.

Evidence of Registration with ITF and Remittance made to date; and 10.

Sworn affidavit in line with section 16, sub-section 6(e-f) of the Public Procurement Act 2007.

3.

COLLECTION OF TENDER DOCUMENTS Interested companies should collect tender documents from the Procurement Unit, Education Secretariat, Ayangba Streert Beside Mangal Plaza, Garki-Abuja, upon the presentation of evidence of payment of N20,000.00 (Twenty thousand naira) only non-refundable tender fee in FCTA Account No. 051503010000426 with Fidelity Bank Central Area Garki.

4.

SUBMISSION OF DOCUMENTS

The pre-qualification and tender documents in three (3) copies each (one original and two copies each), should be clearly sealed and labeled (Technical and Financial) separately and the envelopes be put in another envelope that should also be sealed and labeled: “Tender for…………………………… (LOT No. and Agency)”, all pages duly endorsed by the bidders, and addressed to: Head, Procurement Unit, FCT Education Secretariat.

And dropped in the Tenders box stationed in the Procurement Unit, Ayangba Street beside Bataiya Plaza, Area 11, Garki-Abuja within the official hours (9:00am to 4:00pm).

5.

CLOSING AND OPENING All submissions must be received at the address on or before 12:00 noon on 1st December, 2014. All bids shall be publicly opened on the same day immediately ofter the closure of bid submission at the FCTA Education Secretariat Procurement Unit, Ayangba Street opposite Mangal Plaza, Area 11 Garki in the presence of Bidders or their representatives.

6.

Please note: i.

Contractors can only apply for a single project listed in Lots A - C ii.

Late submission will be rejected. iii.

This advertisement to tender shall not be construed to be a commitment on the part of the Education Secretariat nor it entail the submitting tenderer to make any claim(s) what-so-ever and or seek any indemnity from the Secretariat by virtue of such tenders having responded to the advert. iv.

Bid should be very clear about the bidder’s areas, proven competence and interest. v.

Tenders’ register must be signed on the submission of Tender(s) vi.

Education Secretariat, May at its own discretion, reject any bid which does not conform to the basic bidding rules. vii.

The Secretariat may request for the Original copies of Documents presented and may embark on Due Diligence where necessary. viii.

Interested members of the public especially representatives of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) are by this notice invited to witness the opening of Tenders but shall adhere to the Code of Public Procurement Observers issued by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).

Peoples Daily, monday, october 20, 2014

FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY ADMINISTRATION (FCTA) P.M.B. 24 GARKI, ABUJA. 09-3141266, FAX: 09-3141266 ABUJA- TEL. 093141266 INVITATION FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR THE PROVISION OF CONSULTANCY SERVICES FOR FCT EDUCATION SECRETARIAT, ABUJA The FCT Education Secretariat is inviting competent and interested Firms (Consortium) to submit Expression Of Interest (EOI) for Consultancy Services. The services required are as follows: LOT A1 – ENHANCEMENT OF CAPACITY TRAINING FOR PROCUREMENT PROFESSIONALS.BACKGROUND The Procurement Unit of the Education Secretariat is desirous of engaging suitable and qualified consultants for intensive training of its Procurement Officers on the effective implementation of procurement processes and utilization of the latest trend in Public Procurement to suit and adapt to the peculiar needs of the Education Sector in the FCT so as to meet international standard.

LOT B1 - CONSULTANCY SERVICES FOR THE CONDUCT OF BIOMETRIC DATA CAPTURE OF PUPILS AND STUDENTS IN PUBLIC BOARDING SCHOOLS OF THE FCT AND ISSUE OF ID NUMBER THAT ARE FLEXIBLE AND SUSTAINABLE. BACKGROUND – FCT Education Secretariat is desirous of engaging suitable and qualified consultants for the conduct of Biometric Data Capture of pupils and students in Public Boarding Schools of the FCT and issue of ID Numbers with smart cards. This project intends to stem up the security challenges in the FCT and Nigeria in general and to curtail incessant access to Public Schools in the FCT. Hence, the Biometric Database should allow for the issue of a unique primary key for identification, authentication and verification of pupils and students in Public Boarding Schools of the FCT. LOT C1: PROVISION OF GEOLOGICAL AND GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS AT KOICA MODEL SCHOOL, AIRPORT ROAD PLOT 70 (2.45HA) PLOT 235 (1.90HA) BACKGROUND – The FCT Education Secretariat in collaboration with KOICA is desirous of engaging suitable and qualified consultants who will conduct geological and geophysical survey so as to investigate the proposed model school land and its surface soils and rocks for environmental concerns and hazard reductions.

The goal of the survey is to build some base maps and models, including topography, stratigraphy, rock distribution and geological structure delineation, etc. such that will aid in the construction of the school.

2.

ELIGIBILITY FOR CONSIDERATION Interested consultants must provide information on their expertise and experience with any prior similar assignments; experience in similar conditions; availability of appropriate skills among staff, etc, to indicate that they are qualified to perform the services. Other eligibility requirements as basis for prequalification include: I. Evidence of incorporation/Registration with Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC); II. Photocopies of three (3) years current Tax Certificate issued by the Federal Inland Revenue Services; III. Photocopy of Value Added Tax (VAT) Certificate; IV. Certificate of compliance with the PENCOM Act 2004 in line with provision of section 16, subsection 6b of the PPA 2007; V. Provide information on expertise and experience in similar conditions; availability of appropriate skills among staff; organogram etc.

VI. Bank reference from reputable Bank(s); VII. Evidence of financial viability; VIII. Company audited accounts for the last three (3) years from a Chartered Accounting Firm; and IX. Sworn affidavit in line with section 16, sub-section 6(e-f) of the Public Procurement Act 2007.

3.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA The responses will be reviewed and those consultants deemed best qualified will be short-listed according to the following criteria: I. In-house capacity (in Nigeria and global network) to complete the work streams; II. Successful track record in conducting similar multidimensional projects (policy reform in academic system, IT and improvement in education system); III. Appropriate experience in Africa and particularly, in Nigeria.

4.

SUBMISSION OF EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI) a) It should be noted that Consulting Firm can only apply for a single project listed in paragraph 2 (marked lot A-C). One original, two (2) hard copies and one (1) soft copy of responses must be delivered in a clearly sealed and labeled envelope marked: “Expression Of Interest for…………………………… (LOT No. and title of work)” all pages duly endorsed by the bidders and Addressed to: Head, Procurement Unit, Education Secretariat, Area 11, Garki-Abuja And dropped in the Tenders box stationed in the Procurement Unit, Ayangba Street beside Mangal Plaza, Area 11, Garki-Abuja within the official hours (9:00am to 4:00pm). b) Education Secretariat reserves the right to verify any information provided or to request additional information after EOI packages are received. It also reserves the right to reject any or all submissions. Consultants would be selected in accordance with International Best Practices. c) The Secretariat may request for the Original copies of Documents presented and may embark on Due Diligence where necessary. d) It should also be noted that Tenders’ Register must be signed on submission.

5.

CLOSING AND OPENING All submissions must be received at the address within the official hours (9:00am to 4:00pm) on or before 3rd November, 2014. All submissions shall be publicly opened on the same day immediately ofter the closure of submission at the FCTA Education Secretariat Procurement Unit, Ayangba Street opposite Mangal Plaza, Area 11 Garki. Representatives of companies are advised to be at the Bid opening.

SIGNED: MANAGEMENT

P A G E

Peoples Daily, monday, october 20, 2014

PAGE 28

Education

National Library and its challenges The library connects us with the insight and Knowledge… of the greatest minds that ever were, with the best teachers, drawn from the entire planet and from all our history, to instruct us without tiring, and to inspire us to make our own contribution to the collective knowledge of the human species. I think the health of our civilization, the depth of our awareness about the underpinnings of our culture and our concern for the future can all be tested by how well we support our libraries.” - Carl Sagan, Cosmos.

By Ambrose Inusa Sule

T

his indelible statement by one of the world’s greatest minds, celebrates the compelling ways libraries should be sustained in the 21st century. Just as in the world around us, libraries are in the midst of transformation, as some people wonder if Public Libraries still matter, in a world beyond books.

If judged by our usage, libraries are more relevant than ever.

Libraries have always evolved to meet the needs of society. This is why libraries are embracing new technology while staying true to what they’ve always been: institutions of learning, advancement, and community revitalization.

According to Robert Kiyosoki, the author of “Rich Dad, Poor Dad,” once said that “If you want your intelligence to grow, go to a library, a bookshop or a school”.

He opined that, “To be effectively competing as part of the global economy, we must become an intelligent society and to become that, we must be a people that read.”

It is therefore an understatement to say that the way of life of a nation is influenced by the percentage of its citizen who is literate. Cuba, for example, is adjacent to the US and has the highest rate of literacy in the world.

This is one of the reasons why Cuba has a vibrant economy despite decades of diplomatic conflicts with the strongest nation in the world.

Therefore, a reading nation is an informed nation. But Nigeria can not be regarded as a reading nation because the younger generation of Nigerians does not consider reading a leisure activity. The poor reading habits of these younger Nigerians affect their performances at school and during examinations.

It has been proved that children/ students with poor reading habits do engage in anti-social behaviours such as school violence, bullying, and examination malpractice.

Being a former British colony, Nigeria’s literacy culture ought to be as standardized as that of the Britain. About 99 percent of British citizens can read and write. The same cannot be said of Nigeria.

So, past efforts of setting up a national library in Nigeria to encourage reading habit, besides being the memory and databank for learning and remembering processes of the nation, forms part of the general information on the development of libraries in any country round the world.

The Ford Foundation, the Nigerian Library Association, and the 1959 library advisory committee of the West African Library Association, Nigeria’s pre-

Minister for Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau independence federal parliament and government made varying contributions to the establishment of the National Library of Nigeria.

The National Library of Nigeria came into effect in the mid-1960s, with the enactment of the National Library Act of 1964. Prior to the passage of the National Library act, a series of educational conferences conducted in Ibadan, had laid the intellectual basis for the creation of a network of libraries funded by the government to provide accessibility of educational materials to Nigerians.

In 1970, a new legal precedent was set with the creation of the National Library decree, which was partly enacted on the advice of the board which wanted to expand the library to other state capitals in order to create a network of repositories of knowledge.

Although, the role of libraries in national development worldwide is not self–evident; same dogged the National library with challenges of recognition, funding, and public support since its inception.

The National Library of Nigeria, noted as “A” grade parastatal under the federal ministry of education has since over the years built on its original mission. Today, it is a vital organ that acts as the intellectual memory and databank for learning and remembering processes of the nation, providing the intellectual ammunition to aid government officers in policy implementation.

It is instructive to note that, the NLN which supposed to be a reference library is the only national library in the world that operates from more than one geographical

location. As at today, the National Library operates in 25 out of the 36 states of the federation.

It is not known to many that today, the NLN is one of the largest depositories of knowledge in the country, by receiving copies of books published in the country by both the government and private authorities.

It also collects books on contemporary or new ideas from international organizations. Its responsibilities also include the issuance of the ISBN and ISSN to publishing organizations, a process which is today cumbersome in the absence of appropriate enabling technology at the state offices.

It can not be said that with its statutory functions, it has always been Uhuru; like every organization, the NLN has tried to stay afloat with all the challenges, but has not been able to effectively expand to all the 36 state capitals of the federation as designated by the library decree of 1970 due to inadequate funding.

Many years after its establishment, its operations, personnel, working facilities, status as government parastatal, annual budget allocation, management patterns, and statutory instruments have not improved phenomenally or changed due to inadequate funding. Whereas the cardinal objective for establishing the library remains dynamic in view of the influence of new media technologies or modern library services.

With all the enormous challenges, it is gratifying to note that the need to promote

effective reading habits among the general populace of Nigeria has been receiving attention from the National Library of Nigeria by sponsoring the readership promotion campaign in the country under its present leadership. This is done as part of the strategies to ginger up the reading culture in Nigeria.

What seems to have been one of its most daunting challenges is the lack of Headquarters building which has made its operational coordination and service delivery almost impossible. Since the relocation of National Library of Nigeria from Lagos to Abuja, it has been operating in a rented premise.

There is no doubt that it is receiving the attention it deserved to enable NLN meaningful prosecutions of its crucial programmes.

But in spite of the daunting challenges facing the organization, the NLN has always been in the vanguard to rejuvenate, inculcate and inspire Nigerians to read more regularly in line with the vision statement of building an informed and enlightenment citizenry through the provision of information resources that are readily available and easily accessible.

Mallam Habeeb Jato Director/ CEO NLN, who runs an open door policy and a team player, has always decried the dearth of reading culture in Nigeria. He once said that, “As the world is moving towards the knowledge based economy; the NLN as the nation’s apex intellectual memory and databank of learning, would continue to promote reading culture in Nigeria, in continuation of the pet project “Bring Back the Book” by President Goodluck Jonathan.”

He promised that, “NLN will always be in the vanguard to

“

rejuvenate, inculcate and inspire Nigerians to read more regularly in line with the vision statement of building an informed and enlightenment citizenry through the provision of information resources that are readily available and easily accessible”.

The National Library no doubt, has continued to embark on readership promotion campaign in its branches for children who are the future leaders of tomorrow and the objective was to sensitize, inform, educate and advance the knowledge and creativity of the youths via various literary activities.

The problem with the above objectives is that the readership promotion campaign has been restricted largely to Abuja, Lagos, and some few state capitals. The impact has not really been felt in other parts of the country because the National library has not been adequately funded to put the campaign in prints or electronic media.

Jato on several occasions, has personally donated books to schools, mostly during the reading promotion program. His advice always is that, “Childhood is the appropriate period to set the building blocks and ultimately give the road map on how to shape a better future. It is time to show children love as well as explore the potentials available considering the challenges”.

With the ongoing transformation agenda by President Gooluck Jonathan, the need to justify library services to contemporary policy makers and society at large is more urgent than ever before.

Ambrose Inusa Sule, Journalist writes from Abuja.

According to Robert Kiyosoki, the author of “Rich Dad, Poor Dad,” once said that “If you want your intelligence to grow, go to a library, a bookshop or a school”.

Page 29

Peoples Daily, monday, october 20, 2014

Healthy Living

Bad postures that can affect your health

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osture must be given the same importance as other healthy choices like exercising, eating right, resting well, etc. You cannot think of being fit and healthy without giving due importance to your posture.

One of the biggest advantages of maintaining good posture is that is makes you more energetic, healthier, and enables you to move gracefully. Good posture is more about being conscious of yourself and in rhythm with your entire body. When your body is properly aligned, your bones, rather than your muscles support your weight and thus strain and effort on the body is greatly reduced. Read

more about right posture during weight training.

When you intentionally or unintentionally repeat poor posture every day, your body’s structure slowly changes and adapts to it, resulting in misalignment and pain. There are some common postural mistakes that we all make without realizing it.

Here we look at 5 common bad postures and the simple home exercises you can do to correct them.

Bad posture 1: Hunchback Cause: Sitting for long hours with bad posture. For instance, sitting hunched over a computer

screen.

Pain: Neck, shoulder, and back.

Problem: The bad sitting posture causes the chest muscles to tighten leading to an excessively curved back in the upper back or thoracic region. The muscles of the upper back loosen and eventually weaken.

Solution: The following exercises are very effective: Upper back foam rolling to increase the mobility of your upper back. Lie on a foam roller placed in the middle of your back and perpendicular to the spine.

With your face facing upwards, keep your hands behind your head and bend your upper back over the

roller five times. You can repeat for each segment of your upper back by adjusting the roller. Read more about artificial rollers for flexible back.

Prone cobra to strengthen the weak muscles in your back. Lie with your face down, arms at the sides, and palms down. Slowly lift your chest and hands off the floor, and press your shoulder blades together, keeping your chin down.

Hold this position for five seconds.

Do this ten times. Repeat two to three sets daily. Here are more yoga poses for upper body strength.

You can also try bhujangasana for strengthening the back Bad posture 2: Rounded Shoulder Cause: Sitting with a bad posture while typing, or imbalanced exercise regime involving excessive chest pressing.

Pain: Neck, shoulder, back Problem: Sitting in that position results in the chest muscles tightening, causing the shoulders to rotate forward internally. The muscles of the upper back weaken and loosen.

Solution: Stretching to relax the tight chest muscles: Place your arm against the wall on the side of a doorway in a high-five position, with your elbow bent 90 degrees. Take a step through the doorway and you will feel a stretch in your chest and the front of your shoulders. Hold this position for 30 seconds. Repeat 2 to 3 sets of this, four times daily. Here are some exercises to get a sculpted chest Exercise to strengthen the muscle of the back (trapezius): Lie

This condition, which occurs when there isn’t enough saliva in the mouth, can accelerate tooth decay.

“It isn’t a disease in itself, but rather a symptom of some underlying and more concerning issue,” says Dr Nader. “It often results from certain drugs or medications, treatments for cancer, or from auto-immune diseases such as AIDS.” Dehydration, nerve problems, Parkinson’s disease and diabetes are other significant medical conditions that can result in dry mouth.

Grinding teeth Grinding your teeth (bruxism) might simply be an indication that

your teeth are misaligned or fillings are too high. But it’s also common in people who are emotionally stressed, angry or anxious, the cause of more serious health issues.

“Some of the many factors believed to trigger bruxism in susceptible people include mental concentration, stresses such as illness, nutritional deficiency or dehydration, or drug misuse, particularly amphetamines,” concludes Dr Lester.

Inflamed gums Gum inflammation (gingivitis) is easy to treat but, if unaddressed, can lead to more serious periodontitis.

Symptoms include bad breath, bleeding, swollen and receding gums, and eventually tooth loss.

Considerable research links periodontitis to a risk of heart disease and strokes. “An increase in cavities and gum disease could also be a sign of high blood glucose,” says Steven James from the Australian Diabetes Council. “People with diabetes have an increased risk of oral complications, so it’s vital that both diabetes and oral health are managed.”

Mouth ulcers Mouth ulcers are usually caused by burns or bites and last just a few days, but ulcers that don’t clear up need medical treatment. They might

indicate infectious diseases such as herpes simplex (cold sores), syphilis, cancer of the lip, or various autoimmune diseases.

Other irregularities on your lips, gums, tongue and insides of your mouth could be signs of oral cancer. These irregularities include red or white patches, permanent ulcers, hard spots and numbness.

If they don’t heal within a few days it’s advisable to see a doctor as soon as possible. Oral cancers can occur on the lips, tongue, pharynx and oral cavity and are life-style related.

More than three-quarters of oral cancers are caused by excessive tobacco and alcohol consumption.

Tooth decay

on the floor, face-down, and place both arms at a 90 degree angle in a high-five position. Maintaining the same angle at the elbow, lift both arms by dragging the shoulders backwards and pressing the shoulder blades towards each other. Hold this position for five seconds. Repeat 2 to 3 sets of this, four times daily. Here are some exercises for strengthening the back.

Diet is a significant factor in tooth decay so, if you’re losing teeth or have a lot of caries that require fillings, consult a nutritionist about a balanced diet.

Medications can also be harmful to dental health.

“Estimates suggest that about 40 per cent of people take at least one type of medicine that could damage their teeth,” says Dr Rosemary Lester, Acting Chief Health Officer for Victoria. “These include antihistamines, aspirin, asthma medications and syrups, as well as illegal drugs.”

Bad posture 3: OverPronated Feet Cause: Pregnancy, obesity, inappropriate footwear can weaken the arch resulting in over-pronation of the foot and sometimes flat feet.

Pain: Medial knee pain, hip pain, and low back pain.

Problem: It adds pressure on the foot, tightens the calf muscles, and may rotate the knees towards each other. It often results in conditions such as Metatarsalgia (pain in the toes of the feet), heel spurs (growth of an extra bone from the heel), plantar fasciitis (pain in the sole of the foot), and bunions (a condition where the part where the great toe joins the rest of the foot, points outwards).

Solution: The best solution is orthotics (devices used to correct the alignment), especially if the arch has fallen or you have a ‘flat foot’. If the arch is weak, walking or running barefoot may help in strengthening the arches. However, orthotics is the best option, so consult your doctor before proceeding. www.thehealthsite.com

Dangers of poor dental health

F

or many of us, our mouths are the most overlooked part of our body when it comes to wellbeing, yet dental hygiene can be vital to our overall health.

Beyond regular brushing and occasional visits to the dentist, few of us take much notice of our dental health.

Yet what takes place within our mouth (that crucial, bacteria-laden intake point for our nourishment and air supply) can indicate serious underlying complaints.

These five dental issues can tell us a lot about our overall health.

Dry mouth

www.bodyandsoul.com.au

Page 30

Healthy Living

Peoples Daily, monday, october 20, 2014

15 Healing power of honey

1

.Respiratory diseases and heart related ailments (a) Cough: Grind some bitter kola and garlic and mix the powders to 33cl bottle of natural honey.

Adult: 3 teaspoonfuls 3 times daily.

Children: 1 teaspoonful 3 times daily. (b) Cold: Mix honey with lime orange.

Adult: 3 teaspoonfuls 3 times daily Children: 1 teaspoonful 3 times daily (c) Asthma: (I) Mix castor oil with honey; mix one bottle of castor oil with 5 bottles of honey (using the castor oil bottles to measure i.e. ratio 1:5). Then stir well and pour into bottle.

Dosage: Adults take 1 desert spoonful morning and evening.

Children: 1 teaspoonful morning and evening Note of warning This preparation is NOT to be taken by pregnant women (II) Mix the white fluid of snail with honey to form syrup, one until white fluid from snail with five unit of pure undiluted Honey. Stir well and pour into a bigger bottle.

Adult: 3 teaspoonfuls 3 times daily Children: 1 teaspoonful 3 imes daily (d) Heart weakness: Garlic (Ayu) is an all-purpose herb. Grind some garlic and mix in honey.

Adult: 3 teaspoonfuls 3 times daily Children: 1 teaspoonful 3 times daily Garlic and ginger (Atare in Yoruba), grind them nd mix all in undiluted honey.

Adults: Take one (1) tablespoonful in the evening 2. Diabetes Get bitter leave (Ewuro in Yoruba) use water and garlic (Ayu in Yoruba) squeeze out the water, add little (Kannun) and lime juice.

Dosage: 1 glass 3 times daily.

Also Diabetic patient should abstain from taking sugar and form the habit of taking a big spoonful of

Due to the osmotic pressure on human body honey is capable of extracting pathogens from rashes or measles, small pox and chicken pox.

The rashes soon dry up after applying honey to the affected are a ofthe body.

8. Tiredness Whenever you feel tired and cold put two-desert spoonful of honey into a glass of warm water and drink.

9. Malaria (a) Ewe Akintola in Yoruba or shell leave is uttermost effective for malaria.

The leaves, flowers and soft stem can be boiled for steaming and drink freely while fever is on.

Some quality (according to your taste) of honey can be added to it.

Take one or two glasses daily. (b) An unpopular but effective herb for malaria is the root of “EWEDU” which finds its way to the dustbin. (Ewedu is that drawing vegetable eaten by Yoruba’s).

This is boiled and taken as tea.

Boil much at time and sieve into a flask. Add honey to taste. Drink three to four cups daily.

Treat children’s cold, stuffy nose with honey undiluted honey three times a day for three months.

3. Ulcer treatment Honey is an alkaline substance. It reduces the sources of the stomach and smooths the ulcer. To make it more successful, the honey should be taken two hours before meal and gulp warm water.

In addition, ulcer patients should eat foods containing vitamins A, C and E, which soothe stomach ulcers. Some of the food that contain vitamin A

are wheat, green peppers, liver, eggs, tomatoes, green vegetable, vitamin C is contained in fresh oranges, grape fruits, lemons, cucumbers honey arlic, carrot leave and all fruits.

Also vitamin E is found in pears, potatoes, lemons, carrot, corm oil, what, germ, local rice, pumkin seed, nut and raspberry leave.

4. Cardiac problems Grind 10 bulbs of garlic and 10 bulbs of onions; mix thoroughl with 3 litres of undiluted natural honey.

Dosage: 3 spoonful 3 times daily for adult only.

5. Tuberculosis Grind ginger, garlic and bitter kola and mix 50cl of undiluted honey Dosage: 3 spoonfuls 3 times daily for 2 months (Adult only).

6. Blood tonic and blood purifier Prepare a cup of pineapple juice. Add mashed banana, one raw egg. Mix the mixture very well and add 33cl of honey and mix thoroughly. One spoonful to be taken at night before going to bed.

7. Measles, Small pox and Chicken pox & rashes Regular usage of honey will serve as preventive measure for Measles, small pox and chicken pox. Rub undiluted natural honey on the affected part of the body.

10. Stomach problems (a) Stomach ache: Take two desert spoonful of honey after each till it stops. (b) Stomach cancer: Mix 33cl of honey with33cl of the warm cow milk, add a desert spoonful of dried banana skin powder, stir it and drink the mixture.

It should be epresented two times a day for a period of two months. (c) Diarrhoea: Mix a teaspoonful of garlic powder with a cup of tomatoes juice and half cup of honey together with a little quantity of salt.

Adult: one desert spoonful 3 times daily Children: one teaspoonful 3 times daily. (d) Constipation: Mix a

teaspoonful of grinded garlic with a cup of fresh cow milk and add some quantity of honey to for syrup.

Adult: Take two desert spoonfuls every morning for five days.

Children: Take one desert spoonful every morning for five days.

11. Hair breakage Mix honey either olive oil, of the same quantity, mix it with egg yolk and treat your hair with it.

After fifteen minute, wash it with warm water.

This should be repeated every month.

12. Mouth diseases Mix undiluted honey with small quantity of salt and limejuice and use it to wash your mouth three times daily.

13. Sperm booster Grind soya beans together with groundnut then add to pap to be taken together with roasted plantain.

After food take carrots and make sure you take two spoonfuls of undiluted honey.

14. Pain in the ear If there is pain and disorder in the ear use the pure juice of onions as drops two or three times daily alternative, some drops of honey in the ear with cotton wool in it can also give instant relief.

15. Bed wetting Normally children control their bladder after two years of age. One solution to enuresis is to give the child a teaspoonful of honey when going to bed. It serves as a holder and anaesthesia to explain while sleeping.

Mail online

Page 31

Peoples Daily, monday, october 20, 2014

Politics Extra

Resign and contest Bauchi Guber poll, stakeholders urge FCT Minister

By Umar Muhammad Puma

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L-R: Publisher, National Mirror Newspapers, Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim and Akwa Ibom state Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, during their meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan, recently at the State House, in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

2015: Kwankwaso visits Christian leaders in Lagos, appeals for unity From Edwin olofu, Kano

K

ano state governor Rabiu Kwankwaso visited some of Nigeria’s prominent Christian leaders in Lagos state, over the weekend, as part of his ongoing consultation with opinion leaders across the country, over his presidential ambition in 2015.

A Press statement release signed by his director of press and public relations Halilu Ibrahim Dantiye made to newsmen in kano stated that Kwankwaso informed the religious leaders that he visited them as part of his on-going consultation regarding his presidential aspiration on the platform of the APC. “Nigeria is a multi-religious and multi-cultural country and all of us are yearning for good leadership that will restore our country back on the track of progress. We must, therefore, come together as one to bring about

the much needed positive change in this country”, he asserted.

Kwankwaso said as a presidential aspirant, he is carrying everybody along irrespective of religious or cultural affiliation, stressing, however, that as people who command respect in the society, the clerics must be consulted on issues of governance and leadership.

“Let me say that this visit is part of our consultations to vie for the presidency of this great country.

People from across the country have been urging me to contest but as critical stakeholders in the scheme of affairs, I believe your wise counsel cannot be ignored”, the governor maintained.

“Religious and cultural differences should not deter us from seeking good leadership at the centre and indeed at all levels – a leadership that will address our current security and economic challenges and make our

unity stronger”, Kwankwaso stated.

In their separate remarks, the Christian leaders described the visit as the first of its kind, pointing out that it is a testimony to the dynamism and open mindedness of Kwankwaso.

They acknowledged that Nigeria is indeed in a critical stage in its sociopolitical development, promising to pray for him and for continued peace and prosperity in the country.

The clerics visited were retired Arch. Bishop of Lagos and former National President of CAN, His Eminence, Anthony Olubunmi Okogie, the Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, the Most Reverend Samuel Chukwuemeka Kanu Uche, Chairman, CAN, Lagos state Very Rev. Stephen Tunde Adegbite, and the Dean Emeritus and Bishop of Lagos Anglican Communion, the Most Rev. Dr. Ephraim Adebola Ademowo.

We will crush APC in Kaduna state - says PDP From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

T

he Publicity Secretary of the People Democratic Party (PDP) in Kaduna State Barrister Ibrahim Mansur has boasted that his party will crushed the main opposition party in the state, the All Progressives Congress without any hindrances.

Barrister Mansur who is one of the State officers supervising the sale of Nomination Forms to aspirants who are aspiring for different position in the State and national offices, stated this while speaking to the journalist at

the party secretariat yesterday.

“The the party has put in place mechanism to ensure that internal wrangling in the party is address to pave way for victory at the poll.

“You are aware of our party stand on endorsement of candidates, we did not want to imposed anybody on the people rather we want the people to come out with the accepted choice because this is the only way we can solve the problems of wrangling in the party.

“Even the number one seat in the country is available for aspirants to vie for it is the party delegates that

will select the best candidates that they feel would deliver the dividend of democracy to them.

“The party is also spreading its tentacle to all the Zones in the country all the Zones are important to us and we cannot afford to lose any, that is why the Chairman has put in place a reconciliation team to ensure that all aggrieved persons are brought to a round table to address the grievances.

We are more particular about Zone three where we usually have our block votes from. Very soon you will see a new road map that will ensure victory for PDP in Kaduna State,” he said.

eoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders, youth and women groups as well as associates, friends and supporters of Bala Mohammed from across the 20 Local Government Areas in Bauchi state has urged the FCT Minister to heed their call and contest the 2015 gubernatorial election.

The group who converged at Bauchi the state capital, call on the Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed to return home immediately and contest the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

“We the stakeholders and pressure groups insist that the FCT Minister is needed at home to transform Bauchi State the same way he transformed the FCT through his numerous peopleoriented projects and programmes.

Some leaders of the group, who spoke at the occasion were a member of the board of trustees of PDP, Alhaji Kaulaha Aliyu, a former member of House of Representatives, Hon. Auwalu Abdu Gwalabe, Alhaji Babayo Ahmed, Sarkin Fada Miri, Alhaji Usman Banki, Alhaji Mohammed Yau Gital, Hon. Riskat (aka Baby) and others maintained that Senator Bala Mohammed was greatly needed to bail out Bauchi State from the scourge of underdevelopment, unemployment, educational backwardness and other challenges.

The rally was attended by thousands of supporters of the Minister, speaker after speaker insisted that the minister that the FCT Minister must hearken to the call of his people to serve and deliver them from backwardness.

They called on the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Ahmad Muazu and the State Governor, Malam Isa Yuguda to come out openly to support and endorse the Minister to contest the governorship on the platform of the ruling party.

According to one of the speakers, Alhaji Babayo Ahmed, said they were very optimistic that the FCT Minister would accept their call to contest stressing that he is the only person that can easily coast to victory at the polls on the ticket of PDP. Alhaji Ahmed who is also the Katukan Misau said that there was no difference between the Bauchi Central and the Bauchi South senatorial districts stressing that the six Local Government Areas that comprise the Central District are part and parcel of Bauchi, Ningi and Misau Emirates which cut across the two districts. He described the FCT Minister as the most popular, acceptable and capable candidate that Bauchi State can boast of. He therefore enjoined him to quit the FCT Ministerial seat and return to Bauchi to serve his home people who are in dire need of his sterling leadership.

PDP administration is evil and heartless, says Bauchi APC guber From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

G

ubernatorial aspirant of the opposition All Progressive Congress (APC) in Bauchi state Engr.

Nuhu Gidado has described the PDP led administration as evil and heartless to the citizens at all levels of governance.

Engr. Nuhu Gidado stated this yesterday while briefing journalists on his intention to run for the state governorship seat at the NUJ secretariat in Bauchi. He said no effort could qualify Nigeria to say we are in the learning process because of the heartless governance of the ruling party.

He pointed out that its very unfortunate that Nigerians cannot move freely because of the high rate of insecurity in the country while leaders at all levels of government cannot move freely in the society as a result of bad governance.

“At the moment, the horrific,

maladministration by our present leadership has made governance of our state yearn for holistic rescue mission as many might have lost hope and many are still weary from the ever growing level of official neglect, corruption with utter impunity which has almost sent Bauchi state into bankruptcy and to the more even scary national deterioration of our homeland security. It is therefore imperative to come together to chart a course that will arrest the current scourge” he said.

Engr Gdado who contested during the 2011 general elections attributed his failure in the election to the activities of some stakeholders from Bauchi North senatorial district who conversed for a consensus candidate.

“My decision to pick up the ticket to battle for the APC ticket is with assured that if I’m voted into power during the next year’s election, i will overhaul the system to provide positive governance,” he said.

Kwara PDP women wing seeks unity, more positions From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

W

omen wing of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Kwara State chapter at the weekend appealed to the aspirants in the party to work for the unity and allotted more political positions to the women.

The party women, who assembled in Ilorin under the banner of Kwara Central Senatorial district noted that only President Goodluck Jonathan administration fulfilled promise to women by appointed many of them in his cabinet.

Speaking at the event, Wife

of PDP gubernatorial candidate ,Hajia Kafayat Sulyman Ajadi charged women in the state to vote emass for the candidate that has agenda for women and children in the state.

Ajadi who said 2015 election in the state must be different said women must not scatter their

votes stressing that they should elect leaders that would be control.

Earlier, the Women leader, Alhaja Kuburat Abdullateef in his remark said the purpose of the forum was to unite women and ensure that they get more political positions for their colleague in the forthcoming election in the state.

She said if women contest for House of Representative, Senates and House of Assembly, and Governor,the lives of Children and entire women would be change.

Other gubernatorial aspirants in PDP were represented while Kwara South and North Senatorial districts also joined the forum.

Peoples Daily, monday, october 20, 2014

Page 32

Abuja natives hail Bala for dropping Bauchi guber bid

S

ome Abuja natives under the umbrella of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Original Inhabitants Youths and Women Empowerment Association, has joined others to commend the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, for purportedly dropping his Bauchi governorship bid and concentrate on the rapid development and transformation of Territory.

They hailed the Minister for harkening to the voice of Abuja natives and others to shelve his gubernatorial bid, describing the decision as an outstanding act of patriotism and sacrifice, adding that it is truly an act in national interest for the minister to shelve his ambition to lead his people back home in Bauchi in regard to overriding national interest.

In a statement issued at

the weekend, in Abuja by the President of the association, Commandant Isaac David, the group also praised President Goodluck Jonathan for reposing confidence in the Bauchi-born Minister.

The association therefore pledged the support of the vast majority of FCT indigenes for the Minister and the President Goodluck Jonathan

as they implement the ongoing transformation agenda, as with the implementation of various developmental programmes to their logical end would result in Abuja being transformed into a first class global mega city.

“There is no denying the fact that Abuja is now on a fast lane to comprehensive economic, social, infrastructural and physical development under the leadership

of President Goodluck Jonathan and Senator Bala Mohammed.

“The various multi-billion dollar projects currently going on, such as the light rail, the land swap, centenary city, Abuja Industrial Park, Abuja City Centre, Jabi Lake Resort, World Trade Centre, Aerotropolis City, the new City Gate and several others would certainly transform Abuja into the foremost capital city on the African continent and one of the top 20 mega cities in the world within the next four years.

“The acceptance of the FCT Minister to stay behind and continue with his good works in FCT is the best to have happened to the new federal capital city; because the various programmes and policies put together by the Minister would surely transform Abuja into the gateway for Nigeria’s much-awaited economic and socio-political development, which would see the country graduate from a third world country to a mega industrial nation,” the group said in the statement.

… As FCT minister approves resignation of aide on security matters

One of the affected squatters inside an abandoned half-built structure, located on Oke Agbe Street, Garki, Abuja, taking her belongings outside the premises of the site, when officials of the Department of Development Control sealed up the building, at the weekend.

Photo: Stanley Onyekwere

Devt Control ejects squatters inside uncompleted building at Garki

Stories by Stanley Onyekwere

I

n furtherance to its bolstered effort towards maintaining the aesthetic status of structures and reducing incidence of building collapse in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), officials of the Department of development control, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), at the weekend ejected some squatters inside an abandoned half-built structure, in Garki area of the Territory.

The officials, who were accompanied by a detached team of police officers, after rejecting the occupants of the abandoned structure located on Oke Agbe Street, Garki, which hitherto served as a living home and business centre to the affected place, also sealed up the

premises, by pasting its notice on the gate of the building.

However, at the time of the eviction, most of the squatters were absent, while a few of them present were allowed to remove their belongings from the building, before the officials locked up the site.

Speaking to newsmen at the site, the Development Control’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Kalu Emetu, said that the exercise was part of its precautionary measures against the reoccurring incidence of avoidable building collapse in the Territory and country at large.

He said that the Department on discovering that the ejected illegal squatters hitherto had taken over the two storey building, which the developer (name not given) , abandon­ ed

after completing decking work, adding that the state of structure had become deteriorated.

According to him, the abandoned structure with many squatters living inside not only deface the beauty of the neighbourhood, but poses a serious human and environmental dangers to a lot of people living in the area.

He noted that the growing number of squatters in abandoned structures around the nation’s capital city centre poses a serious security threat to residents of the Territory, hence the FCT administration’s intensified clamp down on the menace.

“We don’t intend to inflict pains on residents, but we won’t allow illegalities to go on unabated, especially in the housing sector.

We want to prevent avoidable tragedies from happening in the FCT,” the PRO stressed.

He said the developer of the property is expected to come to the Department, before a structural integrity test or any other action would be carried out on the site.

Some of the ejected squatters with their property now outside the site, who spoke to PeoplesDaily, with despair on their faces, said they were taken aback, as there no prior quit notice served on them, as some of them were paying a N2, 500 per month while others pay accumulative of the money as annual rent.

They complained that following the sudden nature of the incident, they have been thrown into a state of hopelessness, as most of them had nowhere to relocate to.

M

inister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed, has approved the formal resignation of Colonel Abdullahi Sokyara Kudu (Rtd), as his Special Adviser on Security matters.

A statement by Chief Press Secretary to the FCT Minister, Muhammad Sule, yesterday, said the resignation, which is with immediate effect, is to enable the former Special Adviser ample opportunity to pursue his political ambition.

According to the statement, the Minister, who seized the opportunity to thank Colonel Kudu for his immense contribution to the development of the FCT, particularly the new security protocol that is about to come to effect, wished the former Special Adviser well in his future endevours.

“Meanwhile, the former Special Adviser on Security has expressed his gratitude to the FCT Minister for giving him the opportunity to serve in that capacity in his Administration.

“Colonel Kudu pledged his continued loyalty and support for the FCT Minister and will always be available at any given time his professional advice is required,” the statement said.

Peoples Daily, monday, october 20, 2014

Page 33

Photo Splash

A pick up van overloaded with construction equipment, yesterday at Utako, in Abuja.

Unity Drama Troupe entertaining guests at a public event, on Saturday in Abuja.

A man hawking clothes in front of Garki Market, on Saturday in Abuja.

A commercial motorcyclist transporting a passenger carrying planks on his head, yesterday in Abuja.

Gbagi Woman fetching water with locally made pot, yesterday at Kuzape village, in Abuja.

Photos: Justin Imo-Owo

Peoples Daily, monday, october 20, 2014

Page 34

Metro

A young man taking care of his rams, yesterday at Kwali, in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

tasks Wowo joins race to wrest Author govt on good policies FCT Senate slot from Aduda

By Usman Shuaibu

By Stanley Onyekwere

B

arely a week, after quitting his position as the Senior Special Assistant to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Political, Budget and National Assembly, Senate Usman Jibril Wowo, at the weekend, finally made clear his interest in contesting for the lone Senate office of Abuja, the nation’s capital.

Wowo, who has repeatedly refused to acknowledge or dismiss his interest for the position, formally picked the nomination/ expression of interest form to contest the only senatorial FCT seat in the National Assembly, under the platform of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) posing a challenge to the current occupant, Senator Philip Aduda. .

It was gathered that the SSA resigned his political appointment few days earlier before picking his nomination form that ended all speculations that surrounded his ambition to be the Senator of the FCT. Addressing Journalists after

picking the nomination form in company of his Director General Wowo Network, Abbahassan Grema, the immediate past SSA to FCT minister, pointed out that he has decided to join the race because of the perceived disconnect between the electorate and serving lawmaker, even as he assured that he will bridge the gap if elected.

“There is a disconnection between the electorate and the serving lawmaker. He has decided to stay away from his people and the party that brought him to power.

“I ‘m in the race to bridge this democratic gap.

My election will define a new era of good representation in the upper chamber of the National Assembly,” he affirmed.

He however called on his supporters to be civil as respect for the electorate and the electioneering process is the hallmark of democratic practices, which he represents.

“My advice to my supporters is that they should maintain peace at all times election

process is not about violence, it is about decorum and peaceful change and transition. What we are about to do is to ensure that people go about their lawful businesses unperturbed and our aim and mission is that the FCT progresses,” Wowo stressed.

He stressed that his entrance into the race marks a new era for the FCT PDP, its leadership and the residents of the territory whom he seeks to serve though an open door policy that would grant access for two way communication from the people to him and responses form him to the people for the good of all.

Wowo thanked the screening committee of the party for what he described as level playing ground to all the aspirants, assuring that the party will capture the Federal Capital Territory in all the elections in 2015.

The former ANNP political chieftain in the FCT who is popular amongst the grass-root moved to the PDP after several persuasion and consultation with directed his supporters who have not registered to own the

permanent voters Card (PVC) which forms the prerequisite to cast their ballots.

He told the people that if he gets elected into office, he will promote the culture of partnership between the FCT and various business entities in the territory for the benefit of the residents even as he would facilitate effective coordination of legislation that would improve the quality of life of Abuja Residents and the city in general.

Wowo said “gone are the days where an elected person will disconnect himself from members of the party and from all the people. With the picking of this form today, I want to say that PDP as a party in the FCT has turned a new leaf and would win the elections in the FCT.” Earlier, the chairman of the screening committee, Alhaji Saidu Danmasani assured the aspirant that the party will fair to all the aspirants, stressing that internal democracy has been the defining success of the party in recent time.

AEPB mobile court convicts 18 persons for sanitation offences

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

A

buja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), said its Sanitation Mobile court, sitting in Choose Estate, Lokogoma, has convicted 18 persons for various sanitation

offences.

The offences, according to a statement issued at the weekend by the Board’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) Sam Musa, included: lack of waste bin, dirty environment and rearing of

animals in residential premises.

It said the act was contrary to AEPB act no 10 of 1997.

The statement said out of the 64 persons that were arraigned before the court presided over by Magistrate Jubril Kutigi, three discharged while 42 received a

seal up order, for not appearing in court.

The statement quoted the Director of the Board, Baba Shehu Lawan, saying “the exercise will cover the whole FCT, especially those without waste bins will be prosecuted accordingly.”

A

n author based in Kuje Area council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Sunday Okwu Ojor, has called on the government to implement good policies that will touch the lives of FCT residents and the country as a whole, at all times. who made the call in an interview with newsmen during the unveiling of his book entitled “The Wrong Side of Rights” and presentation of merit awards to some distinguished personalities at the weekend, in Kuje, noted that it was only right policies that could transform the Territory and the nation at large for the better.

He urged the government at all levels to always expedite action on provision of amenities, and adequate supervision of the contractors whenever laudable projects were given to them to execute, so as to avoid shady work.

He further appealed to those in positions of authority to provide purposeful leadership capable of satisfying the aspirations of Nigerians, pleading with the give to place emphasis on the needs of the citizens.

According to him, as an author he would continue to write books that would be of great benefit to his fellow citizens, and urged media professionals to have the determination to writing books instead of only concentrating on news reporting aspect of the field.

He therefore, advised the residents and other Nigerian citizens to cultivate the habit of reading books always in order to update their knowledge.

On his remark, the chairman of the occasion, Sir Moses Agbakwu, commended the author for writing the book to educate people.

Peoples Daily, monday, october 20, 2014

Page 35

International international_peoplesdailyng@yahoo.com

Starved, worked, beaten; The forgotten women of the ‘war in the East’ ANALYSIS

T

he Narrow Road to the Deep North is a magnificent novel and a worthy winner of the Man Booker Prize. Its story of Tasmanian army surgeon Dorrigo Evans and his fight to save the men under his command from starvation, disease, and the relentless brutality of their Japanese captors, will stay with me for the rest of my life.

The book is a powerful addition to the canon of films and literature that dramatise the horrors of life as a POW in the Pacific War. Bridge On the River Kwai, Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence, The Railway Man and the soon-tobe-released Unbroken, about the Olympic runner and Japanese camp survivor, Louis Zamperini, all focus on the suffering of Allied soldiers in the Far East.

Indeed, when we reflect on that part of World War Two we think, automatically, of these brave military men, of whom there were 132,000. Yet there were 130,000 Allied civilians in the region - predominantly women and children - who also endured appalling privation and cruelty, but whose story is barely known.

Once Japan had conquered South-East Asia, the Europeans, Americans and Australians who had been living there as planters, teachers, missionaries and civil servants were rounded up and trucked away to the 300 “civilian assembly areas” - in reality concentration camps - that the Japanese had created. Ten thousand British were interned in China, Singapore and Hong Kong, while 3,000 Americans were interned in the Philippines, at Santo Tomas.

By far the largest group were the 108,000 Dutch civilians, 62,000 of them women and children, who were sent to camps on Java, Sumatra, Borneo and Timor.

Their ordeal was to last three and half years and would claim the lives of 13,000, due to starvation, exhaustion and disease. Yet when I published my novel, Ghostwritten, about the internment on Java of a Dutch girl and her family, the most frequent response from readers to this part of wartime history was: “I had never heard about this.

You have to be over 45 to remember the 1980s TV drama, Tenko, about a group of British and Australian women interned in a camp on Sumatra, which is also the setting for the 1997 film, Paradise Road, about American and Dutch women struggling to survive in a camp in Palembang.

But where the Thai-Burma Railway continues to fascinate writers and historians, with two Hollywood films and a major novel this year alone, there’s little awareness of what the civilians endured.

For most, a near paradisal life in the tropics had come to an abrupt end with the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbour in December 1941,

Richard Flanagan’s The Narrow Road to the Deep North has won this year’s Man Booker Prize. But there’s more to the “war in the East” than the horrors of the Burma railway says novelist Isabel Wolff. followed soon after by the Fall of Singapore. While the Allied troops were sent to slave on construction projects in Burma, Singapore and Japan, the civilians were imprisoned in what were, for the most part, segregated camps.

The men’s camps, for men and boys over the age of 15, were in former government buildings and disused barracks, while the women and children’s camps were fencedoff areas of cities such as Batavia (now Jakarta) and Bandung. In camps like these women and children were crammed, 50 or 60 at a time, into houses that would normally have accommodated one family.

With such chronic overcrowding, poor sanitation was the norm, and dysentery and typhus flourished, along with scabies, bedbugs and lice.

Education was banned - children would write their numbers with a stick in the dirt - and females aged between 11 and 60 all had to do “useful work”. Many women

were “furniture ladies”, whose job was to empty houses of furniture, then take it to another, already emptied house, for the future use of the Japanese.

Working in pairs, they would lift tables, cupboards and even pianos on to a “buffalo” cart. But instead of the cart being pulled by a buffalo the women would have to put on the harness and haul it themselves. Others worked in the dapur or central kitchen where they would chop firewood and scrub the old oil barrels that were used as giant saucepans. Some repaired the hated gedek - the fence - while others had to scoop sewage out of the overflowing latrines or make coffins for the ever increasing number of dead.

In addition to this distressing, undignified and exhausting work, the women were subjected to constant brutality. To look a soldier in the eye, or fail to bow to him instantly would incur a vicious slapping that could break a nose, or loosen teeth. At Tenko,

“

or roll call, which took place twice a day, the internees had to stand for hours in the blazing sun, with no hats allowed and not even the elderly or children allowed to sit down.

UK Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg’s mother, Hermance, was in Camp Tjideng in Batavia, with her mother and sisters.

She remembers having to bow deeply towards Japan at Tenko, “with our little fingers on the side seams of our skirt. If we did not do it properly we were beaten.” Another punishment, head shaving, was so common that the women would simply wrap a scarf round their bloodied scalp and carry on.

Worse even than these sanctions was the fear of starvation as the rations of what passed for food - tapioca gruel - dwindled to half a cup per person a day.

Desperate to keep their children alive, women would catch frogs, lizards and snails and boil them in a tin cup on the back of their

Working in pairs, they would lift tables, cupboards and even pianos on to a “buffalo” cart. But instead of the cart being pulled by a buffalo the women would have to put on the harness and haul it themselves.

irons.

The more daring risked being savagely beaten or even executed, as they crept to the gedek to trade their meagre possessions with local people for a banana or a couple of eggs. The internees became so obsessed with food that they would feverishly swap recipes, writing out the ingredients, discussing the method then mentally savouring the delicious dish that they would never get to eat.

Amid all this, the greatest fear for mothers of boys was that their sons would be taken away. The age at which boys were transferred to men’s camps dropped from 15 at the start of the war, to 13 then 11, until by 1944 boys of 10 were being transported. As they waited to climb on to the lorries they would cling to their mothers, not knowing whether they’d ever see them again.

By the time liberation came on 15 August 1945, the degradation of these women was complete.

Like the POWs in their loin cloths, they had virtually no clothes, many wearing old tea towels for bras, and “sandals” fashioned out of strips of rubber tyres.

Like the POWs they were skeletally thin, half-blind with malnutrition and, as with the POWs, huge numbers had died.

I have no wish to diminish the heroic Prisoners of War that Flanagan has written about with such brilliance, or ever to forget what they endured. But thousands of women and children also lived with hunger, disease, cruelty and death, and we should remember their ordeal, and their courage, too.

Courtesy; BBC

PAGE 36

Peoples Daily, monday, october 20, 2014

International

Mass jail break as DR Congo violence worsens

Liberia’s Ellen Johnson Sirleaf urges world help on Ebola

A

l Ja z e e ra’s Malcolm Webb, reporting from east DR Congo, said the Congolese army and the town’s mayor confirmed the raid, but that there were conflicting reports as to who was responsible for the incident late on Saturday night.

The North Kivu province of eastern DR Congo has been hit by gruesome violence over the last 10 days, with officials and local rights groups saying that about 80 people have been killed.

The blame for many of the attacks has been levelled at the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF),

a secretive Ugandan rebel group hiding out in the neighbouring country. It has terrorised the area for much of the last two decades.

On Thursday, about 26 people were slaughtered with machetes in Beni, while 50 km away in Eringeti, another 24 people, mostly women and children, were killed when

L

iberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf says the whole world has a stake in the fight against Ebola.

In a “letter to the world” broadcast on the BBC, she said the disease “respects no borders”, and that every country had to do all it could to help fight it.

President Johnson Sirleaf added that a generation of Africans were at risk of “being lost to economic catastrophe”.

The Ebola outbreak has killed more than 4,500 people across West Africa, including 2,200 in Liberia.

International donations have so far fallen well short of the amounts requested by UN agencies and aid organisations.

In the worst-affected countries - Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone about 9,000 people have been found to have the Ebola virus, which kills an estimated 70% of those infected.

The letter, commissioned by the BBC and read out on the World Service’s Newshour programme, starts with the words “Dear World”.

She goes on to say that the fight against Ebola “requires a commitment from every nation that has the capacity to help - whether that is with emergency funds, medical supplies or clinical expertise”.

“We all have a stake in the battle against Ebola,” she says. “It is the duty of all of us, as global citizens, to send a message that we will not leave millions of West Africans to fend for themselves.”

She said it was not a coincidence that Ebola had taken hold in “three fragile states... all battling to overcome the effects of interconnected wars”.

Liberia, she noted, had about 3,000 qualified doctors at the start of the civil war in the late 1980s - and by its end in 2003 it had just three dozen.

“Ebola is not just a health crisis,” she added. “Across West Africa a generation of young people risk being lost to an economic catastrophe.”

The latest crisis in West Africa is the worst-ever Ebola outbreak.

The virus spreads between humans by direct contact with infected blood, bodily fluids or organs, or indirectly through contact with contaminated environments.

Donors have given almost $400m (£250m) to UN agencies and aid organisations, short of the $988m requested.

Separately, the UN has also appealed for donations to a $1bn Ebola trust fund, intended to act as a flexible source of back-up money to contain the disease.

Armed men have raided a jail in the town of Butembo in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, releasing all 370 prisoners, military sources told Al Jazeera.

militia entered the town and used machetes, axes and hoes to kill them.

“The Congolese military said the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) were responsible for the jailbreak but the mayor of the town says the attack on the prison was conducted by ordinary bandits,” Al Jazeera’s Webb said.

“The mayor said the attackers were speaking Nande, suggesting they were Mai Mai (fighters) or bandits, and not ADF fighters who who were more likely to speak Luganda or Swahili.”

Luganda and Swahili are the most common languages in Uganda.

Local government officials told Al Jazeera that the region’s jails only held about 74 ADF fighters because they are known to fight to the death rather than face capture.

Whoever is responsible for the incident, it will add to a growing sense of fear and insecurity in a region where hundreds of people have already fled their homes to escape the violence of the last 10 days.

No one was injured in the attacks and by Sunday morning around 20 of the escapees were re-arrested.

Six Egyptian soldiers killed in Sinai attack

A

t least six Egyptian soldiers have been killed in the Sinai Peninsula, in the most recent of attacks targeting government troops in the eastern restive region.

A remotely detonated roadside bomb exploded on Sunday as an armoured vehicle responsible for protecting a natural gas pipeline passed by, sources said.

Hundreds of soldiers and police officers have been killed in attacks since the army-led overthrow of president Mohamed Morsi in July last year.

A month after Morsi’s unseating, the army launched a military

campaign to stamp out militias that have penetrated the neglected Sinai region, taking advantage of a security vacuum that accompanied years of political instability.

Most of these attacks, including an assassination attempt targeting the interior minister in Cairo last year, were claimed by Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, the most active armed group in Egypt.

The group has expressed support for the Islamic State in Iraq and Levant, although it has not formally pledged its allegiance.

The attacks have largely targeted policemen and soldiers, as the group

says it seeks to avenge a bloody police crackdown on supporters of Morsi, in which over a thousand were killed in street clashes, and thousands more were imprisoned.

The latest Sinai attack came amid continuing turmoil in several university campuses across Egypt with students protesting against increasing security measures and the incarceration of hundreds of their colleagues.

Local media reported on Sunday that tear gas canisters were fired by police at crowds of pro-democracy students in Minya University in upper Egypt.

Clashes were also reported to have erupted between students and security forces in the university of the central district of Tanta. Al Jazeera was unable to independently verify these reports.

Students belonging to the Students against Movement, which is closely affiliated to Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood, has been mobilising for daily protests since the previous academic year.

Thousands of students were jailed last year, of whom more than 900 remain behind bars. At least 19 students have been killed in the violence.

Anni Dewani murderer dies in South African prison

A

man jailed for the murder of Anni Dewani has died in prison, South Africa’s correctional services department has said.

Xolile Mngeni, who was convicted of killing Mrs Dewani while she was on honeymoon in 2010, had been serving a life sentence for her murder.

His death comes amid the trial in Cape Town of Briton Shrien Dewani, who denies arranging his wife’s murder.

Mngeni died in the hospital section of Cape Town prison, officials said.

South Africa’s correctional services department has said it will make a full statement about

his death on Sunday.

The death of Mngeni comes 12 days after Bristol businessman Mr Dewani went on trial.

Mr Dewani, 34, faces five charges including murder and lying about the circumstances of his wife’s death.

He denies any involvement in the killing, which happened in the Gugulethu area of Cape Town.

Reports suggest prosecutors in South Africa had spoken to Mngeni but had not planned to call him as a witness in the trial because of the poor state of his health.

Mngeni, 27, had been diagnosed with a rare brain tumour, which was removed in 2011. His trial was repeatedly delayed while he

had surgery.

He was denied parole in July this year after officials ruled he

could receive appropriate medical care at Goodwood Prison, in Cape Town.

Xolile Mngeni, pictured in court, was jailed for the murder of Anni Dewani in 2012

PAGE 37

Peoples Daily, monday, october 20, 2014

International Asia & Middle East

Kuwait urged to stop stripping citizenship Y

Yemen’s Houthi rebels storm governor’s house

K

uwaiti authorities should immediately stop stripping nationals of their citizenship because they exercise free speech or other legitimate human rights,” New York-based HRW said in a statement.

They should “reinstate the citizenship of people whose citizenship has been withdrawn on those grounds,” it added.

The oil-rich country, where citizens elect their parliament and which is traditionally seen as one of the more tolerant Gulf monarchies, was damaging its reputation, HRW said.

In the past few months, Kuwait has revoked the citizenship of 33 people and most of their family members.

HRW said that at least three of the cases appeared to be politically motivated.

In July, Kuwait withdrew the citizenship of the family of Ahmad Jabr al-Shemmari and shut down his satellite television station and newspaper, as the country was hit with a new wave of anti-government protests.

In August, Kuwait revoked the citizenship of a former Islamist opposition politician and his brothers and sisters, in addition to 10 activists, including leading cleric Nabil al-Awadhi.

Also stripped of his nationality

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on Kuwait to stop targeting opponents through revoking their citizenship and to reinstate the nationalities of 33 people affected by the practice. was Saad al-Ajmi, spokesman of the Popular Action Movement, a nationalist opposition group.

A government stateme nt last month said some of those who lost their citizenship had been naturalised because of fake documents.

Others had dual citizenship,

which is outlawed in Kuwait, and some had their nationality revoked for security reasons, the statement said.

“The Kuwaiti authorities seem to think they can use the cover of the nationality law to target their critics and deter dissent,” said Nadim Houry, deputy Middle East

director at HRW. “But Kuwait’s real message of official intimidation has rung out loud and clear,” he said.

“While Kuwait continues to strip people of citizenship for no good reason, its reputation as a tolerant country will continue to nosedive.”

paralysed parts of the region for three weeks, were “out of control”.

The protesters want fully democratic elections, and are angered by the Chinese government’s decision to vet candidates for the 2017 polls.

Police and protesters have scuffled amid tense stand-offs in recent days.

Student leaders and Hong Kong officials have agreed to negotiations on Tuesday, which will be broadcast live on television.

Speaking on local television, Mr Leung said that Occupy Central, one of the main groups involved in the protests, was “not entirely a domestic movement, as external forces are involved”, although he declined to give details or name the countries he thought were involved.

Mainland Chinese officials have frequently warned against “foreign interference” in Hong Kong, while Chinese state media have accused the West of “instigating” the protests.

Protesters and student leaders have denied any outside involvement.

Analysts have argued that China could be making allegations of

external interference to discourage foreign governments from supporting the protests.

Tens of thousands took part in demonstrations earlier this month, demanding full democracy.

While protest numbers have dwindled, pro-democracy activists remain at protest sites at Admiralty, on Hong Kong Island, and Mong Kok, a residential and shopping area in Kowloon.

Mr Leung said the protests had “gone out of control even for the people who started it... they cannot end the movement, which is a major concern”.

He would not confirm whether the government would attempt to clear the demonstrations again, but said: “We need time to talk to the people, particularly young students...

What I want is to see a peaceful and a meaningful end to this problem.”

The Taliban have been launching attacks ahead of the planned withdrawal of most foreign forces at the end of 2014.

Under new agreements that Afghanistan signed with the US and

Nato, about 12,000 foreign troops will remain in the country beyond 2014 to train and assist Afghan forces.

There will also be a separate USled force dealing with the remnants of al-Qaeda.

Hong Kong protests: leader says ‘external forces’ involved

H

ong Kong leader CY Leung has accused “external forces” of involvement in the territory’s pro-democracy protests.

In a television interview, Mr Leung also said the rallies, which have

Police were showing solidarity for colleagues in Ghardaia where security forces are regularly attacked

emen’s Houthi rebels have stormed the office and home of the governor of Sanaa, after blowing up the house of a politician in Ibb province, where they had agreed to a ceasefire with local tribesmen, officials said.

The rebels struck the house of a senior member of rival political group, the al-Islah party, in Yarim in Ibb province, just hours after signing the truce, while Iran gave its public backing to the Houthis.

The Houthis have now taken control of Yarim, located about 170km south of Sanaa, where they encountered no resistance from the army.

The AP news agency reported that the politician was not at home at the time of the attack, which set off clashes that left 12 people dead.

Yarim has a population of more than 100,000 and lies along the main road to Yemen’s southern provinces In Sanaa, the Houthis also stormed government buildings, calling for the resignation of the governor, who they accuse of corruption.

Sunday’s developments reflected the growing strength of the Houthis, who overran the capital Sanaa last month and captured a Red Sea port last week, along with a province south of the capital.

Al Jazeera’s Omar al-Saleh, reporting from Sanaa, said that there is a common belief that there is a hidden alliance between the Houthis and former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, a Zaidi Shia Muslim who stepped down in 2012.

“They believe that without the backing of Saleh, the Houthis would not have been able to take the capital and other parts of the country,” alSaleh said.

The fighting came as newlyappointed Prime Minister Khaled Bahah returned to Sanaa from New York where he served as the country’s UN envoy.

The rebels had rejected the appointment of another candidate.

Late on Saturday, Ali Akbar Velayati, a spokesman for Iran’s Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said in a meeting with a group of Yemeni clerics in Tehran that “the Islamic Republic of Iran supports the rightful struggles of Ansarullah [or the Houthis] in Yemen, and considers the movement part of the successful Islamic Awakening”.

Al-Saleh said that Tehran’s comments would not come as a surprise to many Yemenis, including politicians, who have consistently said that Iran backs the Houthis.

Hundreds of Taliban launch deadly Afghan attacks

H

undreds of Taliban fighters have launched two deadly attacks in Afghanistan, local officials say.

In Logar province, in the east, at least four soldiers were killed when

militants attacked security posts.

In the central province of Ghor, up to 500 Taliban attacked two villages, a senior official told the BBC. The number of casualties is still unclear.

Yemen’s newly appointed PM Khaled Bahah

PAGE 38

Peoples Daily, monday, october 20, 2014

International Europe and Americas

EU exit would leave Britain with zero influence, says Barroso

T

he UK would have “zero” influence if it voted to leave the EU, the outgoing president of the European Commission has said.

Jose Manuel Barroso said Britain could not negotiate with the US and China “on an equal footing” on its own.

He also said free movement of people within the EU was an “essential” principle that could not be changed.

Conservative Party chairman Grant Shapps said Mr Barroso was “out of touch” and an “unelected bureaucrat”.

Mr Barroso was asked about Prime Minister David Cameron’s stated intention to negotiate a better deal for the UK in Europe, ahead of an in/out referendum.

The prime minister has said he will “not take no for an answer” and “get what Britain needs” on the question of freedom of movement.

If the Conservatives remain in power, a referendum would be held by 2017, Mr Cameron has said.

Speaking on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, Mr Barroso, whose term of office ends this month, said he believed Mr Cameron wanted Britain to remain in the EU. “Britain is stronger in the European Union,” Mr Barroso said, pointing to the Ebola crisis as an area where Britain would not have the same level of influence if it was outside the EU. “David Cameron wrote to all of us about Ebola... What would be the influence of a prime minister of Britain if it was not part of the European Union?

“His influence would be zero.”

Mr Cameron has said he wants to curb migration within the EU and last week pledged to have “one last go” at renegotiating the rules for Britain.

The Conservatives lost the recent Clacton by-election to the UK Independence Party, which wants the UK to leave the EU. Mr Barroso would not comment on a report in the Sunday Times that the government could limit the number of national insurance numbers given to low-skilled immigrants.

But he said that while the EU was willing to discuss benefit fraud and sham marriages, an “arbitrary cap” on migration would “not be in conformity with European rules”.

He said Mr Cameron had previously asked him to enforce the free movement principle between Spain and Gibraltar.

Jose Manuel Barroso

Catholic Church criticised for gay U-turn T he spiritual leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics had called for the Church to take a more merciful approach to gays, unmarried mothers and remarried divorcees, but on Saturday, bishops failed to approve the section on ministering to gay people, originally titled “welcoming homosexuals”.

Gay activists were disappointed after hopes the Pontiff would bring groundbreaking change at a conference of bishops.

The bishops failed to approve even a watered-down section on ministering to homosexuals that stripped away the welcoming tone of acceptance contained in the draft document.

The revised paragraph referred to homosexuality as one of the problems Catholic families have to confront.

“Once more, members of the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church have erred on the side of hypocrisy and fear,” Lisbeth Melendez Rivera, from the prominent US gay group Human Rights Campaign, told the AFP news agency.

But others saw pluses at the two-week assembly, known as a synod.

“Even if the text wasn’t approved, and that is a shame, it will have effects. The debate will continue,” Elisabeth Saint-Guily, the co-president of a Christian gay

group in France said.

Speaking at the ceremonial closing of the synod on Sunday, Pope Francis said the Church should not be afraid of change and new challenges.

“God is not afraid of new things. That is why he is continuously surprising us, opening our hearts and guiding us in unexpected ways,” the pope said.

After an initial draft of the synod’s final document was released on Monday, conservative bishops had vowed to row back on the upbeat tone, saying it would create confusion among the faithful and threatened to undermine the traditional family.

The fallout showed a deeply divided Church on some of the

most pressing issues facing Catholic families, and caused at least one head to roll.

Outspoken conservative US cardinal Raymond Leo Burke, currently head of the Vatican’s top canon law court, told Buzzfeed that he was being removed from his job to be made patron to the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, an honorary post.

Activists and human rights groups have lashed out at the Catholic Church’s failure to open its doors to gay people, but praised Pope Francis for getting bishops to confront “taboos.”

Turkey on high alert against Ebola at border crossing

T

urkey has taken necessary measures against deadly Ebola virus at Kapikule crossing of its border with Bulgaria, a Turkish high-ranking official said on Sunday.

A well-trained medical team is located at the border crossing to prevent the ingress of Ebola as part of national action plan

against the disease, semi-official Anadolu Agency quoted Governor of Edirne province Dursun Ali Sahin as saying.

The measures are taken only at Kapikule crossing with assumption of threat merely could appear in western border, he added.

The Tu rkis h g ove rnm e nt

closely follows the refugees in the country and there has been no problem at all so far, Sahin noted.

A woman from Ivory Coast was hospitalized at Istanbul’s Sabiha Gokcen Airport last week with suspect of Ebola, but she has been diagnosed with Malaria, according to Istanbul governorate.

No patient in Turkey has been

diagnosed with Ebola so far, according to officials.

The Ebola disease has killed 4,555 people since the world’s worst outbreak on record began in West Africa in March, with Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone being the worst-hit countries, according to the World Health Organization.

Castro offers to co-operate with US on Ebola

A

Fidel Castro, the 88-year-old former Cuban leader, has said his country is ready to work with the US in the battle against Ebola, saying that such co-operation would be in the interest of “the peace of the world”.

ccess to the BBC’s Englishlanguage website has been blocked across China, the corporation has said.

BBC Global News director Peter Horrocks said it appeared to be “deliberate censorship”, adding that the BBC was complaining to the authorities.

Other major news websites were functioning as usual, and the reason for the blackout remained unclear.

Since the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the BBC’s Englishlanguage site has been generally available.

However, other BBC services including its Chinese-language

news website has been blocked largely since it was launched.

BBC World TV - as with all overseas broadcasters - suffers intermittent blackouts particularly when reporting China stories.

Mr Horrocks said: “The BBC provides impartial, trusted news to millions of people around the world, and attempts to censor our news services show just how important it is to get our accurate information to them.”

The last time the BBC’s English-language website was disrupted was during the corporation’s coverage of activist Chen Guangcheng’s escape from house arrest in April 2012.

PAGE 39

Peoples Daily, monday, october 20, 2014

Strange World

Revolutionary invisible umbrella shelters you from the rain with bursts of air

A

team of engineers in China is currently involved in developing something called the ‘Air Umbrella’ – a revolutionary new device that uses blasts of air to shield people from the rain. The high-tech umbrella, shaped like a plastic microphone, is capable of producing horizontal gusts of air that repel raindrops, creating a dry, one meter wide circle around the user’s head.

There is a small catch, of course

– the device works only for a short while. In true Cinderella style, the ‘magic’ wears off at the stroke of the 30th minute – the umbrella stops producing air and you’ll be drenched in no time at all. So you’d probably want to use it only if you’re confident you can get out of the rain in 30 minutes or less.

Well, looking past that tiny flaw, you’d have to agree that the Air Umbrella is an ingenious invention. It does sound super-

cool to be able to deflect the rain with blasts of air, creating the illusion of an invisible umbrella.

The product is the brainchild of a group of graduates from Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics – they’ve set up aKickstarter campaign to raise funds, and they’ve already collected $60,0000, exceeding their target of $10,000 with seven days to go. “Air is everywhere on the earth. The flowing air can change the moving path of

the object. The faster the air moves, the greater the energy is,” the engineers explained on the Kickstarter page. “The jet airflow can isolate some objects. So when we make use of the airflow, we can protect ourselves from the rain drops. Then the airflow forms an umbrella without a visible cover.”

The Air Umbrella consists of three ‘sections’ – a motor near the head, a lithium battery at the center, and an controller with a switch at the bottom. According to their demo video, the product will be available in three variants – a ($88), b ($98), and c($108). These are early bird prices, but once it hits the market, the average price of an air umbrella is expected to be about $200. Air Umbrella-a is compact in design and can only operate for 15 minutes before running out of charge, while b and c can last for 30 minutes each, with the latter featuring an

extensible handle.

The ingenious device is suitable for two people to use under moderate to heavy rainfall.

However, since raindrops are blown about 50 to 70 centimeters away by the air, passers-by who get too close to the use might end up getting soaked by the deflected downpour. The developers aren’t too bothered about this, though – they say that most people would carry their own umbrellas anyway, and if they aren’t, they’re probably already getting drenched in the rain.

The air umbrella does make a bit of noise, because of the incorporated motor, but that should be drained out by the sound of the rain, they say. The video also states that engineers are working on improving the appearance, handiness, and battery life of the product.

Italian village plagued by mysterious fires has been puzzling scientists for years

F

or 10 years, the residents of the Sicilian village of Canneto di Caronia have been utterly spooked by hundreds of mysterious, unexplained fires that seem to erupt out of nowhere. The bizarre phenomenon, which has seen a sudden surge this year, includes spontaneous combustion of mattresses, beds, cars, and devices like fridges and mobile phones, even when switched off.

The episodes have attracted the attention of geologists, physicists and volcanologists for several years, but no one has been able to provide an accurate scientific explanation so far. Naturally, the villagers are blaming supernatural entities like UFOs, poltergeists, or other demonic forces. And with no other logical reason in sight, one tends to wonder if they actually might be right.

It all began in January 2004, when, without any apparent cause, appliances (including a cooker and a vacuum cleaner) in several houses began to catch fire. Wedding presents, random pieces of furniture, and even a water pipe erupted into flames. In response, the local electric company tried cutting off the power supply to Canneto, but that made no difference. The village was evacuated and a through investigation was conducted, but the experts and authorities simply failed to locate the problem.

Even with the arrival of volcanologists from the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, and a team of experts from the Italian Navy, no viable solution was found. Understandably, the villagers were terrified, and a few of them even suggested calling in a

priest to conduct an exorcism. Months went by, and a period of calm followed, when most of the villagers returned to their homes.

Unexplained fires still occur from time to time, and the villagers have pretty much learned to live with them.

Other bizarre events have taken place

as well - there were unexplained leaks from water pipes of three different houses, a vanity mirror in a bathroom caught fire three times in 35 hours, and an entire plantation of eggplants developed rainbow-like colors, making them unfit to be sold.

Air conditioners have

spontaneously melted, car glasses have imploded, hard drives have been erased, automatic gates started opening and closing randomly, and animals have died mysteriously. Without any science to explain these events, it’s easy to see why the whole affair appears sinister. I’d be pretty terrified too if I were living in Canneto.

In April 2005, the Italian government created a special Task Force (of high-ranking army officers, engineers, architects, geologists and physicists) to investigate the situation in the sleepy little village. The group conducted an extensively thorough analysis – aerial photo-remote sensing, assessment of geophysical and geochemical data, detection of magnetometric and electromagnetic fields, radio-electric spectrum monitoring, and more. The results, however, were inconclusive.

In 2007, an Italian newspaper published a leaked interim report from the Civil Protection Department, concluding that the only plausible explanation was ‘aliens’, because the fires were ‘caused by high power electromagnetic emissions which were not man-made and reached a power of between 12 and 15 gigawatts’.

A year later, the case was dismissed following further investigation – they just attributed it to an ‘unknown electromagnetic radiation’.

PAGE 40

Peoples Daily, monday, october 20, 2014

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sports@peoplesdailyng.com, SMS- 08142929046

I was not sacked - Keshi E

rstwhile Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi has said that he was not sacked as the head coach of the Super Eagles because he had no contract with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

The new NFF board under Amaju Pinnick last Thursday showed Keshi the exit door as national team coach, despite his side’s 3-1 home win against Sudan that kept the Super Eagles in the running to defend their African title.

The former Togo and Mali manager said that he is surprised on how the news was disseminated that he was sacked as the Nigerian manager. “I am not happy with the way media people are reporting this to the public, because I don’t understand how you would fire someone that has no contract.

“My contract expired after the World Cup in Brazil, and I never made any effort for my contract to be renewed because of so many issues on the ground.

“I have accepted my fate, and I would move on with

Keshi

my life, but I want to make it clear that I was never sacked because I had no contract,” Keshi stated.

It has been widely reported that Keshi had revealed that three African countries have showed interest in him to be their national team coach, but Keshi revealed that he never said such.

“I have never told anybody that three African countries are looking for me, and as far as I’m concerned, no nation has called me for any talk,” he added. The Super Eagles must win their next two games against Congo and South Africa to have any chance of qualifying for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations, and Keshi believes Nigeria would qualify for the championship.

“I know Nigeria would qualify for the 2015 Nations Cup because we have the players that can do the job, but they need a lot of encouragement and support from Nigerians and I wish them good luck in their next two games,” Keshi said.

2014 kaduna international polo tournament—Yero assures of security From Femi Oyelola,Kaduna

A

head of the 2014 Kaduna International Polo Tournament which kicks off in two weeks time, Kaduna state Governor Mukhtar Yero of has assured the polo club of adequate security for the duration of the annual tourney.

Speaking during the cheque presentation on Saturday night at the Ahmadu Yakubu Polo ground Murtala Square Kaduna, Governor Yero who was represented by the Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Hon Bashir Zuberu said the state government would render all necessary assistance required to make the tournament a suc-

cess.

“Governor Yero is a member of Kaduna Polo Club and he is committed to ensure that the tournament is well organised and Kaduna state government would ensure maximum security for the people that would attend the tournament. Governor Yero would be present on the opening and closing ceremony of the tourney. We would contribute more than the major sponsors to ensure that this is the best edition of the tournament.”

President Kaduna Polo Club, Alhaji Shehu Muazu expressed appreciation to the Kaduna state government for approving a second polo ground for the club and for

Patrick confident on Eagles’ 2015 AFCON qualification

building a stable for the club.

Tournament Manager, Alhaji Ibrahim Abba said the 2014 tournament will be used to commemorate Nigeria’s centenary celebration adding that it would be exciting and interesting with polo players expected from within and outside the country. He said the prestigious high goals Georgian Cup will be the main attraction.

Polo Captain, Mohammed Baba Kyari said the 2014 tourney would also serve charity purposes as less privileged children from Jamiyar Matan Arewa and Adonai orphanages would be brought to the club to render charity assistance to them.

Greek club banishes player over Ebola

Kaduna State Governor, Mukhtar Ramalan Yero

Super Falcons ready for Banyana Banyana, coach believes

Peoples Daily, monday, october 20, 2014

Page 42

Sports

Patrick confident on Eagles’ 2015 AFCON qualification F

ormer Nigeria international Pascal Patrick has expressed optimism that the Super Eagles will qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, following Wednesday’s 3-1 defeat of the Jediane Falcons of Sudan.

The reigning African champions have so far struggled in the qualifying series but got their first win of the campaign over Sudan this past Wednesday.

But despite still being behind Congo and South Africa in Group A, Pascal believes the win over Sudan has opened the door for all the teams in the group and according to him, Nigeria should be one of the teams.

“That win over Sudan has really opened the door because

it means any of the four teams can still qualify,” he said.

“And Nigeria certainly can still qualify, we just have to win the remaining games and that will leave us on ten points and with a very big chance of qualification.

“It wasn’t the best of starts to the qualifying campaign, but the good thing is that we were able to beat the Sudanese, else it would have been a different ball game entirely.

“So now we must focus on winning the other games.”

The Super Eagles will conclude their qualifying campaign with games against Congo and South Africa on the 15th and 19th of November respectively and know the importance of getting wins in those fixtures.

Ambrose denies quitting Super Eagles

S

uper Eagles and Celtic defender Efe Ambrose is unhappy over reports that he might quit the Nigeria senior national team.

A close source to the player revealed Ambrose’s unhappiness insisting that the player is still committed to playing for Nigeria.

“He is angry it came out that way because it isn’t true,he is a team player who has never ranted about been benched,” the source said.

“I willl like to make it clear that he is still committed to playing for Nigeria and will continue playing untill his

By Albert Akota

T Pascal Patrick

Super Falcons ready for Banyana Banyana, coach believes

services are no longer required.”

On the 26 year old’s unhappiness about been dropped in favour of a defensive midfielder, he insisted that Ambrose accepted the manager’s decision in good faith.

“He said it on camera after the game that it’s the coach decision and he has no complaints about being dropped why wasn’t that published?”

“At Kaduna United he saw worse and never ranted about it for one day, are you aware he was benched several times at Kaduna united despite being an Olympic silver medallist?

he Nigeria Football Federation has approved Sunday, November 23 as the date for the grand finale of this year’s Men and Women Federation Cup competitions.

The NFF Executive Committee endorsed the date and observed that holding the finale on this date would still leave enough time for Nigeria’s flagbearer in the 2015 CAF Confederation Cup to register for the competition.

The grand finale of the 2014 Men and Women Federation Cup competitions had suffered a couple of postponements due to the crises that rocked the Nigeria Football Federation for three months.

Cup holders Enyimba FC of Aba will confront Dolphins FC of Port Harcourt in the men’s final while Rivers Angels of Port Harcourt and Sunshine Queens of Akure face off in the women’s final, to be played same day at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.

Already, the Lagos State Government, through the Honourable Commissioner for Sports, Hon. Wahid Enitan Oshodi has pledged to ensure even greater glamour for the grand finale, which the Centre of Excellence has consistently and creditably hosted for a number of years now.

Nigeria to host CAF 2014 Awards

T

Edwin Okon

By Albert Akota

H

Efe Ambrose

NFF sets Federation Cup grand finale for November 23

ead Coach of Super Falcons of Nigeria, Edwin Edem Okon has declared his team’s readiness to face perennial rivals, Banyana Banyana of South Africa at the ongoing Africa Women’s Championship in Namibia.

Speaking after the Falcons watched South Africa maul Algeria 5-1 to setup the semifinal clash, Okon said his side were never worried about who they would face at the knockout stage but were focused on taking it one game at a time.

“We have watched the South Africans play and are ready to

face them in the semifinals. We were never worried about who we will face in the semis because my girls are focused and ready. They know the task at hand so we will approach the game with all sense of business,” said Okon.

Similarly, team captain, Evelyn Nwabuoko has said that the team was out to avenge the semifinal defeat by South Africa in the last AWC in Equatorial Guinea.

“Our girls are all aware about what happened last when we met and we will never allow that to happen when we meet them on Wednesday. We are focused and will go all out for victory,” she enthused.

he 2014 Glo-CAF Awards will take place on Thursday, 8 January 2015 in Lagos, Nigeria.

The Awards evening will see players and officials rewarded for the various achievements this year.

15 categories including the African Player of the Year award will be unveiled alongside of the biggest legends in the African game.

Some of the other awards that will dish out on the night are African Player of The Year (Based in Africa), National Team of The Year, Club of The Year, Referee of the Year and Coach of The Year.

Two new categories have been added to the event, Goal of the Year and Save of the Year, however, those awards will be decided by the public.

This is third time the awards have been hosted in Lagos, having previously hosted the event in 2008 and 2013

Page 43

Peoples Daily, monday, october 20, 2014

Sports

Greek club banishes player over Ebola A

Greek club has told a Sierra Leone player not to return to the club over fears that he may be bringing in the Ebola virus.

John Kamara said his club side Pas Lamia told him to stay away after the 26 year old was involved in this week’s African Cup of Nations (AFCON) Qualifiers with Cameroon.

Kamara insisted that he has been tested for the potentially-fatal virus and been cleared, but the Greek health ministry have advised the second-tier side to exile Kamara from their training base. “[The club told me] I shouldn’t be with the team for 15 to 21 days as I went to Africa to play and because of the Ebola virus,” Kamara told BBC Sport.

“They made it clear I should stay indoors or I should travel abroad to see my family and not go to training.

“The last time I was in Sierra Leone was for the World Cup qualifiers against Tunisia and Cape Verde. [While we were in Cameroon] they checked our temperatures every morning and every evening.

“I have told the club I am ready to undergo any medical they want me to do - as far as I am concerned I don’t have the Ebola virus. I don’t understand it but I have to respect their decision.”

No case of Ebola has been reported in Cameroon while Kamara has not been to Sierra Leone since the outbreak of the syndrome in the West African country.

Rabiot snubs Arsenal for Roma

Kamara

Portia hits 100 goal mark

P

ortia Modise scored her 100th goal for Banyana Banyana to become the first female football player in South Africa to achieve this feat in the history of women’s football in the country.

Modise scored a brace against Algeria in a 5-1 victory on Saturday evening that saw South Africa qualify for the

Rabiot

A

rsenal appear to have been beaten to a deal for Adrien Rabiot, after the Paris Saint-Germain man admitted a desire to join Roma.

The 19-year-old was linked with the Gunners throughout the summer and although a move failed to materialise, he looks set to depart PSG in January. And despite strong ongoing interest from Arsenal, the teenager looks to favour a move to Serie A side Roma. ‘Roma are a great club,

their project is enticing’ he said.

T he French star has been on the radar of the Premier League’s top clubs, with Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal, champions Manchester City and current league leaders Chelsea all linked with a bigmoney bid for the 19-year-old.

But it is understood that the teenager has shunned advances from the Premier League’s finest and has already agreed a precontract deal with Roma.

semifinals at the ongoing Africa Women’s Championship in Windhoek, Namibia.

The 31-year-old, who is the most capped South African player with 117 appearances under her belt, expressed joy at her achievement that has seen her rewrite history.

She is the only South African to score 100 goals for a

Modise

national football team and this includes the men’s national football team Bafana Bafana.

Born in Soweto, Modise played for the under-19 side Basetsana Basetsana at the age of 13 and captained it before she was summoned for Banyana Banyana at the age of 15 in 2000.

Page 44

Peoples Daily, monday, october 20, 2014

Sports

Davydenko retires at 33

R

ussian Nikolay Davydenko, former world number three has announced his retirement from tennis.

The 33-year-old announced his decision at a press conference during the Kremlin Cup in Moscow on Thursday.

The Russian, who has not played since the French Open, said: “Unfortunately, for some years now, I have been struggling with injuries.

“It’s hard for me to talk about it. I have been thinking when to announce it. The time has come. I have my whole life to live. I officially announce my retirement from professional tennis.

“I decided to retire in June after Roland Garros. I felt I could not play at the level I used to play at. I practised twice a day but I felt I couldn’t achieve the result I wanted. But I was waiting for the moment when I would wake up and say to myself it was enough.”

At 5ft 10in and 11 stone, Davydenko cut a slight figure in the modern game but overcame his physical disadvantage with superb fitness, dogged determination, speed and terrific ball striking. He first broke into the top 10 in 2005 and was a virtual ever-present for the next five years.

The best week of his career came in 2009 at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, the first year it was held at London’s O2 Arena. Davydenko beat Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Juan Martín del Potro to become one of the tournament’s more unlikely winners.

He also won three Masters series titles and reached four grand slam semi-finals, losing three times to Roger Federer and once to Mariano Puerta, as well as helping Russia win the Davis Cup in 2006.

Davydenko

Alonso leaves Ferrari Froch to fight Chavez in Las Vegas

F

ernando Alonso is leaving Ferrari at the end of this season, the company’s former president Luca Di Montezemolo has confirmed.

Alonso’s departure is an open secret in Formula 1 but the team have not yet announced it, nor their decision to replace him with Sebastian Vettel.

Di Montezemolo told Italian television: “Fernando is leaving for two reasons.

“One, he wants another environment. Two, because he is an age when he cannot wait to win again.”

Alonso, 33, asked Di Montezemolo in the summer to be released from his contract, after losing faith that Ferrari could produce a winning car in the near future.

The Spaniard has been with Ferrari since 2010, and has finished runner-up in the world championship to Red Bull’s Vettel three times in the last four years.

He lost out in the final race in both 2010 and 2012.

Di Montezemolo, who was speaking on a television show looking back on his 23 years with Ferrari, said: “He was disappointed.”

Froch

C Alonso

arl Froch is close to sealing the dream Las Vegas fight with Julio Cesar Chavez Jnr that will complete his career bucket list. The 37-year-old has given thought to retiring since his stunning stoppage of George Groves in May, not least because his hopes of boxing in the world’s fight capital had apparently died with Chavez’s

reluctance to face him.

The talks with the Mexican former world champion resumed at the weekend, however, and further significant discussions are scheduled for later this week. Froch’s promoter Eddie Hearn had said that the fight would likely mean Froch vacating his IBF super-middleweight world title, for which James DeGale is the

mandatory challenger. But he would then stake his WBA belt against Chavez for a multimillion payday in Vegas.

Froch said: ‘I’ve said before if I can’t fight in Vegas I’ll probably call it a day. It has to be big, and Chavez Jr is that man, and I have had a good chat with my promoter and we are making good progress with that fight and hopefully we’ll have an announcement soon.”

Page 45

Peoples Daily, monday, october 20, 2014

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

NATIONAL SHEEP AND GOAT DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (NASHGODAN)

AUCTION! AuCTION!! AUCTION!!!

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ASSOCIATION HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: Jazuli Muhammad Bichi Dr Afusat Jagun Jibril Prince Bassey S. Inwang Mr Igwe Ezoha Alh.Ilyasu Gital Dr. Ronald K. Kparevzua Muhammad Kabir Adam Abdullateef Ahmad THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1.To fostering peace, avoiding violence through sensitization among citizens as well as serving as a common speaking voice on all developmental issues in the state and the nation at large.

2. To visit relevant stakeholders with the aim of setting in place a complaint mechanism to monitor some of the Right violations by security operatives, hence the purpose for the advocacy.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRARGENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: mUH’D K. ADAM

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

PRAISE OF GOD’S GOODNESS MINISTRY.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC FOR AUCTION SALE OF BER VEHICLES AT HQ.NAF LC, IKEJA BASE, LAGOS. DATE: 22/10/14 TIME: 10:30 AM AUCTIONER:MUSTAPHA BAKO AUCTIONEERING SERVICES, CONTACT: 09094435433

This is to inform the general public that the above named “MINISTRY” has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja for registration under the part C of companies and allied matters Acts, 1990.

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

TRUSTEES ARE:1. PASTOR TITUS OKON UDOH - President.

2. PASTOR {MRS} CHIDINMA S. UDOH 3. PASTOR KINGSLEY I . NDIJEGO 4. BROTHER BENJAMIN C. EMEZUTE 5. BROTHER ONYINYE J. UGOCHUKWU. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To preach the gospel of the lord Jesus Christ to the whole world.

2. To promote the advancement of Christian religious activities generally.

3. To engage in Christian educational and missionary activities.

4. To establish seminaries for the training of preachers.

5. To hold series of worship for members in church building and other appropriate places.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, P.M.B 198, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguyi Ironsi Street Maitama Abuja, within {28} days of this publication.

Signed by; Barr. Onyekachi Uko.

THE GREAT LINA FRIENDS INTERNATIONAL CLUB

omesede igbinedion foundation

YAKUBU AND MARY MAGAJI FOUNDATION

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY INFORMED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED CLUB 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 foundation HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1 OF 1990.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.miss. omosede gabriella igbinedion 2. lady cherry igbinedion 3. miss. ivie natashe olga igbinedion 4. miss. orobosa sophia cherry igbinedion

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.Michael Magaji 2.Christopher Magaji 3.Lydia Magaji 4.James Magaji

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1.TO provide charitable services to the less prrivileged

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. promotion of education in Nigeria as well as granting of scholarship and educational support for indigent and less privileged people.

2. Support capacity building as well as entrepreneural skill development for the poor and less privileged.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. OKENZE CHIDI THADDEUS - CHAIRMAN 2. ANORUO PRINCE OBINNA - SECRETARY 3. HON. ONUOHA CHINEDU FELIX 4. NNADI OKECHUKWU HENRY 5. ISSAC IKECHUKWU LUIS 6. ISSAC KENNETH UZOMA 7. AMATU IKECHUKWU 8. NWOSU KELECHI 9. TIMOTHY KINGSLEY CHIBUEZE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1.TO PROMOTE LOVE,UNITY AND UNDERSTANDING AMONG THE MEMBERS. 2.TO PROTECT THE INTEREST OF ALL THE MEMBERS. 3.TO CATER FOR THE WELFARE OF THE MEMBERS ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRARGENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, GARKI, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: C.D.C ANYAEGBUNAM ESQ

PUBLIC NOTICE ABOKOWOICHO EMPOWERMENT INITIATIVE THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED INITIATIVE HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1) PAUL ONOJA - PRESIDENT 2)PHILIP ONOJA 3)PETER ONOJA - SECRETARY 4) CHRISTIANA ELEOJO ONOJA THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To help the less privileged in the society. 2. To give scholarship to indigent students. 3. To help widows and orphans 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, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: PATRICK OFFIAH.

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: akinlabi victor shina

SIGNED:SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

ABA GREAT GARMENT PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION

DISCLAMER! DISCLAMER!! DISCLAMER!!!.

This is to inform the general Public that the above named Association has applied for registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under Part “C” of the Company and Allied Matters Act No. 1 of 1990.

TRUSTEES: 1. INNOCENT EGWUONWU 2. BEN EME JOHN 3. OKEH JOSIAH EGU 4. LAWRENCE EJEAGHA 5. SUNDAY OGUAMA AJA 6. OTTAH IHEJIKA 7. IMO OTTAH NNANNA 8 .CHINYERE AWAH 9. EMEKA EVURULOBI 10. SAMUEL CHIKA ONYEJELEM

- PRESIDENT - VICE PRESIDENT - SECRETARY - FINANCIAL SECRETARY - TREASURER

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To promote and encourage the production of quality garments.

2. To foster peace, love and progress among the mebers of the Association.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission 42, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguyi Ironsi Street, P.M.B 198, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

PUBLIC NOTICE

ORBIT OF PEACE INTERNATIONAL MINISTRY

IPENT 3 LOKOGOMA OWNERS AND RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION

TRUSTEES: 1.PASTOR ANYAELE CHUKWU -PRESIDENT 2.DEACONESS CHINEMEREM CHUKWU -VICE PRESIDENT 3.DEACONESS EKEOMA AKACHUKWU -TREASURER AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1.To provide spiritual upliftements for members.

2.To.preach the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ in all parts of the country and all over the world.

3.To organize indoor and outdoor fellowship programmes,outreachs ,crusades, revivals, seminars and workshops, video, television and radio ministering.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission 42, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguyi Ironsi Street, P.M.B 198, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Signed: IRONUAH ESTHER AMARACHI

This is to Notify the general public that the TITLE DOCUMENTS in the name of EMMANUEL MANASA(blonging to MR PHILIP OLATUNJI IMOUKHuEDE & MRS CHRISTIANA IMOUKHUED) In respect of House No 19 AMEH OBONI STRET,GWARINPA,ABUJA.Were fraudulently procured by RAYMOND SEGUN IKHA ZUANGBE(A.K.A)RAYMOND IKHAZ ANYONE who Does business in respect of the property with RAMOND IKHAZ,Does Soat at His or Her own Risk.

SIGNED: Barr.Tomy Eseigbe.

08034569338

Signed: IRONUAH ESTHER AMARACHI

PUBLIC NOTICE This is to inform the general Public that the above named Ministry has applied for registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under Part “C” of the Company and Allied Matters Act No. 1 of 1990.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ASSOCIATION HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.BARR. OGUGUO ANTHONY ONUNEKWU - CHAIRMAN 2.MR. OLOWU DANIEL ALEXANDER - TREASURER 3.DR. TOOCHUKWU CHIBUEZE OGWUELEKA 4.AIR COMODORE IFEZUE HENRY CHUKWUKA 5.MR. AKILA MAIKENTI 6.BARR. PAUL OMACHI SULE 7.ARC. TAOFIK OLAWALE ISOLA THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. TO CATER FOR THE WELFARE AND INTERESTS OF MEMBERS. 2.TO PROMOTE UNITY,PEACE,UNDERSTANDING AND HARMONIOUS LIVING AMONG MEMBERS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: BARR. CHINYERE MONEME

PUBLIC NOTICE

DIVINE CONFIDENCE ASSEMBLY

The general public is hereby notified that the above named Organization has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for the registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act no 1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.APOSTLE BENSON OKHIONKPAIMWONYI 2.NOSAKHARE 3.DORIS NOSAKHARE 4.EDITH ABU Aim and objective: 1.To preach the gospel.

2.To carry on the work of evangelism.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, P. M. B 420 Maitama Abuja within twenty eight (28) day from the date of this publication.

Signed: Secretary

Page 46

Peoples Daily, monday, october 20, 2014

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

YAKWO CLOSE NEIGHBOURHOOD ASSOCIATION

ISAAC SOKUNLE OGUNTOYINBO FOUNDATION FOR EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH & SCHOLARSHIP

This is to inform the General Public that the above named ASSOCIATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under Part ‘C’ of the Companies And Allied Matters Act, 1 of 1990.

PUBLIC NOTICE

CHURCH OF CHRIST RIVERS STATE

The general public is hereby notified that the above FOUNDATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under the Companies and Allied Matters Act No. of 1990

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Gen. Kyuka GwazeAchi 2. Pastor James Gomina 3. Deacon Tunde Latopa

The Trustees are: 1. Abayomi Bolarinwa - Chairman 2. Moses Olajide Iyaola - Treasurer 3. Oladapo Oguntoyinbo - Secretary

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To promote the interest and welfare of members.

Aims and Objectives: 1. To fund empowering programs and award scholarships to brilliant and disciplined indigent students.

2. To develop transparent techniques for awarding scholarships and funding research.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420, Tigris crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from this publication.

Signed: SECRETARY

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off AguyiIronsi Street, Maitama, Abuja Within 28 days of this Publication.

This is to notify the general public that the above named CHURCH has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part ‘C’ of Companies and Allied Matters Act. of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Okere Christian 2. Joseph Akpan Etefia 3. Ekeogu Chukwumerije Uzoma 4. Isaiah Samuel 5. Ufford Friday Ntakpan

6. Johnson Francis 7. Takrih Godpower Samuel 8. Adighi Umeka 9. Uchey Darlington 10.Ewulonu Polycarp Odinakachukwu

AIMS/OBJECTIVES: 1. To preach the gospel 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, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this Publication.

Signed: BARR. VINCENT O. ENEMOSAH

Signed: SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE DIAMONDPEACE RESOURCE FOUNDATION

This is to notify the general public that the above named FOUNDATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part ‘C’ of Companies and Allied Matters Act. of 1990.

FEDERAL NEURO-PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL P.M.B. 1322, BAGA ROAD, MAIDUGURI

PRE- QUALIFICATION AND TENDER NOTICE 1. PREAMBLE: The federal neuro-psychiatric hospital, Maiduguri is inviting contractors to bid in the pre-qualification and to tender for 2014 capital projects. i.

Lot 1: Extension / Renovation of NHIS clinic. ii.

Lot 2: Rehabilitation of two(2) Wards. iii.

Lot 3: procurements of Hospital Beds. iv.

Lot 4: Construction of Occupational therapy Department 2. i. ii. iii. iv. v.

GROWING POTENTIALS FOR SUSTAINANCE

This is to inform the General Public that the above named ORGANIZATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under Part ‘C’ of the Companies And Allied Matters Act, 1 of 1990.

4.

SUBMISSION OF TENDER DOCUMENTS: All the completed tender documents must be sealed and marked ‘‘Confidential 2014 Capital projects’’ and return to the above office not later than 12:noon two weeks from the date of this publication. The documents will be opened at 12:30 pm at the conference hall of the hospital.

FLORISHING GRACE MINISTRY

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 28 days of this Publication.

PUBLIC NOTICE

3.

TENDER DOCUMENTS: Tender documents are obtainable at the office of the head of procurement unit upon payment of non refundable fee of (N20,000.00) only.

PUBLIC NOTICE

AIMS/OBJECTIVES: 1. To promote peace and reconciliation in the troubled zones of Nigeria, Africa and the world.

Signed: SECRETARY

PRE- QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: Certificate of incorporation (C.A.C) Tax Clearance Certificate for last three (3) years.

Evidence of Registration with PENCOM List of similar job executed previously VAT Registration Certificate

SIGNED: MANAGEMENT

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Amb. Maria Bassey Williams 2. Mary Brian Esema 3. Pastor Onah David Adikwu 4. Amb. AdamuDatitjo Maidawa 5. Amb. Fatima Muhammed Bukar 6. Usman Hassan Darma

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Oghenekume Christopher Ekama 2. Ukandu Ibekwe 3. Mrs. Grace Ekama 4. Daniel Kalu Tasie 5. Imadonmwinyi Ewansetin Desmond (ACA) AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To provide training on management skills to small scale entrepreneurs.

2. To provide basic accounting training to small and medium scale entrepreneur.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420, Tigris crescent off AguiyiIronsi street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from this publication.

Signed: OMOIGU OSARUMWENSE MARVELLOUS

PUBLIC NOTICE ANNAS WIDOWS FOUNDATION

The general public is hereby notified that the above MINISTRY mentioned INITIATIVE has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration in accordance with Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act LFN (cap 20)

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

MEMBERS OF TRUSTEES 1. Pastor Omoigui Osarumwense Marvellous 2. Reverend Osatohanmwen Isreal Osagie 3. Bro. Odutayo Patrick Olumide 4. Pastor Omoigui Loveth Esosa 5. Sis. Agbonlahor Patience

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.Pastor (Dr.) Dokunmu Olufunke Olaide-Chairman 2.TurtonAdetayo David -Secretary 3.Mrs. Kofoworola Olugbesan 4.Mrs. Ariyo Olawumi Elizabeth 5.Mr. Paul Inalegwu Oche

AIMS &OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. Propagation of the gospel of salvation in Christ Jesus.

2. To teach and orientate Christians for Heavenly kingdom.

3. To present Jesus Christ as light of the world.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To assist and empower widows in all ramification

Any objection should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Off AguiyiIronsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPERATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THIS PUBLICATION.

Signed: PASTOR OMOIGUI OSARUMWENSE MARVELLOUS

SIGNED: Secretary

PUBLIC NOTICE

This is to Notify the general public that the TITLE DOCUMENTS in the name of EMMANUEL MANASA(BELONGING TO MR PHILIP OLATUNJI IMOUKHUEDE & MRS CHRISTIANA IMOUKHUEDE)In respect of House No 19 AMEH OBONI STREET GWARINPA,ABUJA,Are missing. signed: Barr.Tony Eseigbe.

08034569338 CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known as miss elagbaje eunice onyanta. Now wishes to be known as Miss. elagbaje anita onyanta. All former documents remain valid.General public please take note

PAGE 47

Peoples Daily, monday, october 20, 2014

Tribute General Yakubu Gowon at 80 (1)

By Adamu Fika, CFR

O

n October 19, 2014, General Yakubu Gowon clocked 80 years of a life well spent in the pursuit of peace.

Here’s to the health of a leader and a great and remarkable human being.

I first met General Yakubu Gowon in January 1950 when he was admitted into form III at Barewa College Zaria. I was in form V then and both of us were in the same boarding house (Dan Hausa House). Gowon was an all round student both academically and physically in the field of sport and athletics. He was the goal keeper of the college and the undisputed champion of the pole vault and hockey, as well as the college’s leading the long distance runner.

In his final year, he was appointed the House Captain; and one of his duties as House Captain was to ensure that the Muslim students under his care woke up to attend the congregational prayers early in the morning.

Yakubu successfully completed his secondary education in December 1953. By that time, the military career had become one of the career opportunities available to finalists of Barewa College.

As far as back 1949 two of the final year students of the college, namely Zakariya Maimalari and Lawan Umar had enlisted into the Army and eventually became the first Africans ever to attend the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst in England. The following year, in 1950, Kur Mohammed and Abogo Largema followed the footsteps of Maimalari and Umar.

In 1952 Yakubu Pam also enlisted in the Army and trained at Sandhurst. So in 1953 it became the turn of Yakubu Gowon and a few of his classmates who attempted to enlist in the Army but only Yakubu eventually made it to Sandhurst and was commissioned into the Nigerian Army.

My friendship with Yakubu, which started in the college, continued after both of us had passed out of the college. I spent ten years of my 13 years as an educationist in the public service of Northern Nigeria in Zaria and Kaduna; and that made it possible for contact between us to continue, and whenever he came to Kaduna or Zaria, he visited me at home.

When in April 1965, he visited Zaria and Kaduna to see friends and relatives and bid them farewell on his way to the UK for another course, he visited me at Federal Training Centre where I was the principal. He left Nigeria by sea in May of 1965; and I still have the postcard he sent me when he reached Accra. Our friendship was strengthened when I took for my second wife a classmate of his wife at Queen of Apostles College Kaduna, the present Queen Amina College (QAC).

General Gowon then a Lt. Colonel returned to Nigeria about the mid January 1966 two days before the first military coup, on a

Yakubu Gowon day when all his senior colleaguesMaimalari, Kur, Largemo and Pam( senior military officers from the north) were murdered in cold blood. His friends and relatives were worried about his fate before but it turned out that he was alive.

He was saved by the fact that the coup plotters were not aware of his return to the country.

Although Nigerians were told that it was a mutiny and that the coup had failed. General Ironsi seized the power from the remnant of the erstwhile civilian administration of Tafawa Balewa. In spite of the assurances by Ironsi that the military would stay only for a short period, in May 1966 he announced the dissolution of the federal structure and turned Nigeria into a unitary state. This he did against all advice from all quarters, including three of the four regional governments.

Following the counter coup In July 1966, General Gowon was appointed the head of the military government and Supreme Commander of Nigerian Armed Forces, a title he inherited from Ironsi.

But he immediately dropped the title of Supreme Commander and adopted Commander in Chief in line with the universally accepted practice. He also returned the country to federal form of government.

The Eastern Regional Government refused to recognise General Gowon as Head of State and the relationship between Eastern Region and the rest of the country became strained. In early May 1967, the Eastern Region declared itself the Republic of Biafra and on May 27, Gowon ordered ‘police action’ against the Eastern Regional Government, and simultaneously announced the creation of twelve states in the country. One of the reasons for the creation of the states was to constitutionally remove Calabar, Ogoja and Rivers provinces from Eastern Region, in accordance with the expressed desire and wishes of the people.

The police action marked the beginning of the Nigerian civil war, which was to last up to December 1969, although it would officially ended on the January 15 1970. No doubt, Gowon’s strength of character was tested during this period.

Almost the entire international community not only supported Biafra but was also hostile to Nigeria. Among the major powers, only British Labour Government under Harold Wilson stood firmly

by Nigeria. On the African continent Niger Republic and Cameroon assisted Nigeria greatly, while Nigeria’s principal enemies were Tanzania under Julius Nyerere and Ivory Coast under Felix Houphouet Boigny, the two of the only four that recognised Biafra. But in spite of the international pressure, Gowon

“

maintained his cool and prosecuted the war as humanely as possible. He issued a code of conduct to the government, in accordance with the Geneva Convection. The war itself was fought without resorting to conscription, and without external assistance of any kind. No external loan was taken as the resources used in the fight were mobilised within the country and the internal loan that could be said to have been taken consisted of deductions from the salaries of workers at the end of the war.

At the end of the war, General Gowon declared “No Victor, No Vanquished.” The late Chief Sunday Awoniyi wrote a citation on General Gowon’s 70th birthday in which he lauded his conduct that had “such magnanimity, such large heartedness [as] is unprecedented in the history of civil wars; [and] with great zeal and urgency, he set about the task of reconciliation, reconstruction and rehabilitation. He showed great courage and resilience; and it is to his eternal credit that in spite of great pressure, he stood his ground and refused to be vengeful. There were no trials, no executions. No legal encumbrances and political disabilities were imposed on anyone or on any part of the country” Formation of Federal Executive Council When he announced the creation of twelve states, he also announced the formation of a new Federal Executive Council with majority civilian membership. He chose the twelve ministers

Following the counter coup In July 1966, General Gowon was appointed the head of the military government and Supreme Commander of Nigerian Armed Forces, a title he inherited from Ironsi.

(then designated as commissioners) very carefully from among Nigerians of proven integrity with considerable experience of public service either as politicians or top civil servants on the basis of at least one from each state.

The ministers appointed were Chief Obafemi Awolowo who was also named as the vice chairman of the Council, as well as commissioner for finance, representing Western State. Others were, J.S Tarka (Benue/Plateau), Aminu Kano (Kano), Dr Joseph Adetoro(Kwara), Mr Femi Okunnu (Lagos), Chief Anthony Enahoro (Mid West), Dr R.A.B. Dikko(North Central), Alhaji Ali Munguno(North East), Alhaji Yahaya Gusau(North West), Mr Wanike Briggs(Rivers), Dr Okoi Arikpo( South East). He recalled Dr T.S. Elias and reappointed him the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

After the coup of January 1966, Dr Elias had to vacate office as the Attorney General of the Federation; and in his place, General Ironsi appointed his kinsman, C. C. Mojekwu, as Attorney General.

The Cabinet was backed up by an experienced and committed team of technocrats led by Mr H.A. Ejueyitchie, the Secretary to the Government and Head of the Federal Public Service.

While the war was being prosecuted and satisfactory progress was being made, General Gowon ensured that the life of the ordinary Nigerian citizen and his welfare were not unduly disrupted and so the normal activities of government continued unabated. This was done through the continued implementation of the first six-year National Development Plan. The Plan was due to end on 31st of March 1968, but General Gowon approved its extension to 31st of March 1970 Rehabilitation, Reconciliation and Reconstruction With the war successfully prosecuted, General Gowon and his team of ministers gave full attention to the normal government business of protecting life and property as well as providing economic amenities and social services to the populace. An ardent believer in strict adherence to rule of law, General Gowon saw to it that every decision and every action of government was covered by the law. He ensured that legislations were passed to facilitate implementation of government policies, decisions and programmes.

Establishment of National Economic Council While recognising and accepting the reality of the autonomy of each government on matters within their respective competences, Gowon realised the need for regular consultations among the governments and coordination of their activities in certain respect, accordingly, and he spearheaded and supported the creation of the NEC as “a forum in which the Federation and Regions might meet to discuss the many economic problems common to each, notwithstanding their separate constitutional functions, and such of their development policies as may have consequences reaching beyond their respective constitutional spheres; without however encroaching upon the duties entrusted by the constitution to the respective Governments”

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monday, october 20, 2014

SPORTS latest

Iheanacho, Martins, Uche set for Eagles’ return

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he quintet of Chinedu Obasi, Haruna Lukman, Kelechi Iheanacho, Obafemi Martins and Ikechukwu Uche are set to be invited for the Super Eagles’ last qualifying matches for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations against Congo and South Africa.

The aforementioned players couldn’t get into Stephen Keshi’s teams despite their impressive performances for their respective clubs and despite incessant calls to have them included but it seems all five of them will be a part of the team that will announced by interim coach, Amodu Shuaibu for the November fixtures.

A list of 24 players is expected to be announced before the end of October and sources have reliably informed SL10.ng that there will be some changes to the teams Nigerians have been used to under Keshi.

“Most of the players from Keshi’s team will still be there but the likes of Haruna, Obasi, Iheanacho, Martins and Uche will be included provided they aren’t injured before the final list is compiled.

If eventually these players are invited, it will sound like a good music to the ears of most Nigerians as they have always clamoured for the invitation of such players.

The Super Eagles are third in qualifying group A with four points in as many games, and play Congo and South Africa in their last matches, with Amodu Shuaibu in-charge on an interim basis after Stephen Keshi was asked to step down from his interim role.

Keshi has had a running battle with Villarreal striker Ikechukwu Uche hence his continued absence from the Eagles under Keshi, his last appearance being the final of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

The ‘Big Boss’ alluded to Obafemi Martins as being too old, while also alluding to Kelechi Iheanacho as being too young.

Chinedu Obasi was invited a couple of times but never made the team due to injuries and passport issues, while Haruna Lukman was never given a look in by the ‘Big Boss’.

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QUOTABLE QUOTE In deciding on an appropriate response…I will place the greater interests of national harmony, cohesion, unity, security, political stability, progress, equity, justice and fairness above any personal ambition or sectional agenda.

-President Goodluck Jonathan 0n his 2015 plans

Adamawa and Ekiti: a tale of two states

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one of the thirty five federating units that make up the Federal Republic of Nigeria can compete with Adamawa State when it comes to men and women of ‘timber and caliber’ in politics.

I dare make this assertion because for over three decades, I have associated with the state as a news reporter.

I first stepped foot in Yola one hot Sunday afternoon as a young reporter in 1980.

I had a glimpse into the practice of government in Ondo state where I did my National Service in Adekunle Ajasins Governors Office but it was in Yola that I saw government at work at very close quarters.

Gongola was the only State where all the five registered political parties of the second republic were represented in its House of Assembly. At a time when the UPN would not touch the NPN with a long spoon at the National level, Gongola members of the two parties in the House collaborated to elect a UPN Speaker, Godwin Puldu and his NPN deputy, MaigariAhmadu.

I met Yerima Bwala, the Nigerian revolutionary who worked closely with Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, popularly known as Mahatma Ghandi - the only Nigerian who had close contact with the preeminent leader of the Indian independence movement.

They were together when Ghandi was shot on that ghastly day - 30th of January 1948. He came back to Nigeria and with the revolutionary spirit fired by his Indian experience teamed up with MallamAminu Kano to form the Northern Elements Progressive Union, NEPU. In the early 80’s when I met him, much of the revolutionary energy was sapped by the vicissitudes of wrenching political battles; he was an odd figure in the NPN. In the First Republic, the most powerful Minister was AlhajiMuhammaduRibadu from Adamawa, referred to by his cabinet colleagues as the ‘power of powers’.

In a down to earth interview with Peter Enahoro in 1983, President ShehuShagari confessed that of all the NPC members of parliament, the man with the strongest character was Ribadu. So single minded was he that even their powerful leader, the Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello feared him.

My most enduring experience with Adamawa in the 80s was my meeting with a veteran of the minority struggles of the North in the 50’s and 60’s.

Senator Gayus Gilama – THE

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8620 9705 9046 1969 0344

Monday Column Emmanuel Yawe royawe@yahoo.com 08024565402

Governor of Adamawa State, Mr. Bala Ngilari

Governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose

DISTRIBUTOR OF ROCK BEER - as a giant bill board in Numan proudly announced was for many years the political torch light of the Bachama people. He took more than casual interest in the young Tiv reporter he met at his political meeting in Numan.

An invitation to his house followed and he almost drowned me in what he called ‘mineral water’. As I drank one bottle after another, he regaled me with stories of the epic battles he fought with J. S. Tarka for the emancipation of Northern minorities.

It was Tarka, he confessed, who introduced him to Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

At the time of our meeting, Tarka had parted ways with Awolowo and was late but he was still with the man - one of the two Senators elected from Gongola State on the ticket of the UPN. I was in Adamawa for a greater part of the Babangida Presidency. I can dare say that Babangida virtually handed over his government to the people of Adamawa.

Consider these statistics: MohammaduGamboJimeta, Inspector General of Police; Ibrahim Alfa, Chief of Air Staff; MurtalaNyako, Chief of Naval Staff; JibrilAminu, Minister of Education and later Petroleum; General AbdullahiShelleng, MD Nigerian Ports Authority; etc.

All of them from Adamawa!

For a state that has produced such intimidating political heavy weights to have descended in the abyss of political abracadabra

we are witnessing today is very tragic! I can not help but remember the immortal words of Charles Dickens: “ It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way” That is the Adamawa of today. It is just as well that the quotation comes from Charles Dickens Novel – A Tale of Two Cities. The contradictions in Adamawa are only comparable in superlative degrees with the ones in Ekiti. In fact I was initially tempted to caption this piece ‘A Tale of Two States.’

In the late 70’s I found myself in the old Ondo state, doing my service to Nigeria. There was no better place for a young man than in a state that produced King Sunny Ade and Orlando Owo, some of the greatest musicians that Nigeria has ever given to the world. The old Ondo was populated with men full of talent – Peter Obe, the incomparable photo journalist and Augustus Adebayo, the extra ordinary civil servant, former Head of Service in the old Western Region, who taught me public administration in school; the most famous duo that IgbaraOke community in Ondo produced.

Owo town did not only

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produce a world class musician, it produced the legendry AdekunleAjasin with whom I spent one whole educative year in his governor’s office. It was in his house in Owo that a decision was taken in 1951 to promote the Egbe Omo Oduduwa cultural movement into a political party – the Action Group.

Now the elected governor of Ondo State, he was prepared and in fact did give his best in this last bus stop of his political and biological life.

Ondo state was also home to the Ekiti’s who immediately caught my attention.

Like the Tiv, they ate pounded yam abundantly in the morning, in the afternoon and would not go to bed without a dinner of pounded yam.

They were and still are a very energetic and intelligent people. In a very Ekiti home I visited, there was a professor; sometimes two, sometimes three, sometimes four and most times five professors – all in one family.

With the return of democracy in 1999, I thought the Ekiti state will show us the way in how to behave properly in politics.

Democracy itself is to me the greatest civilization invented by man. But alas, Ekiti is not different from Adamawa and certainly not different from Nigeria where abundant resources, both human and material are wasted, with glee.

The latest National embarrassment comes from Ekiti where party hot heads are on the loose, roaming the courts in the state and giving some Judges public thrashing.

These are the type of stories we used to hear from Idi Dada Amin’s Uganda and Jean BedelBokasa’s Central African Empire in the 70’s. If at the time I was in old Ondo state I saw in my wildest dream such rascality coming to Nigeria, I would have woken up immediately to declare; “Not in Ekiti, Not in Ekiti”. But here we are today.

DAN GAYE Buhari leads in polls organized by presidential aide-News

-That aide is planted by the opposition