Monday, December 22nd, 2014 Edition by Peoples Media Limited

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Monday, December 22, 2014 Safar 30, 1436 AH

. . . putting the people first 252 Days after Will the abducted Chibok schoolgirls ever be rescued?

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N150 Vol. 15 No. 18

US-based Nigerian health workers >> page 3 face quarantine

Insurgency: Borno govt insists on Sheriff â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s link l

Jonathan responsible for killings - APC >> page 2 Amnesty funds tear Tompolo, Delta community apart

>> page 5

Borno State Deputy Governor, Zannah Umar Mustapha (3rd left), assessing cooking areas at an Internally Displaced Persons (TDP) camp, during one of his regular visits to all IDP camps, at the weekend in Maiduguri.

Bulet coy slams N100bn suit U against Unity Bank

By Aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;isha Biola Raji nity Bank Plc has been dragged before a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court by Bulet International (Nig) Ltd over a N100 billion libel suit.

The first plaintiff is an internationally acclaimed building and civil engineering construction company, while the second plaintiff is its Chief Executive, Alhaji Contd on Page 2

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Peoples Daily, monday, December 22, 2014

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

19-22 23

S/Report 24-25 Feature 26 Education 28 Health

Fund raising: PDP governors’ N1.05 billion of poverty – Page 4

Metro

Int’l 39 S/World

Sports 41 Columnist 48

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2015: Al-makura announces Silas Agara as running mate By Ali Abare Abubakar

overnor Umaru Tanko Almakura of Nasarawa State has announced Mr. Silas Agara as his running mate ahead of the 2015 general elections. Until recently, Agara, an economist by training, has been a commissioner twice in the state, was appointed Special Adviser to Governor Al-makura and only recently, emerged the All Progressives Change (APC) candidate for the Federal House

of Representatives into the Akwanga/Nasarawa-Eggon/ Wamba Federal Constituency. Al-makura made the announcement yesterday via a press release issued to journalists signed by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mallam Yakubu Lamai. According to the statement, Governor Al-makura reached the decision to pick Agara as running mate “After wide ranging consultations with citizens and political stakeholders in

Nasarawa State and in tandem with the inclusive attitude of Governor Umaru Tanko AlMakura and the democratic culture of the APC.” Part of the statement reads: “Agara grew up in the bold and unbridled culture of student union activism but has always remained humble and level headed. Agara is passionate about serving the disadvantaged in society and has held the position of Vice President, Economics Students Association

SPS Keffi and member Students Union Parliament in University of Jos. “Silas Agara understands the unwavering commitment of Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura to institute a government of transparency, rapid development, financial probity and discipline and provide a voice for the voiceless in Nasarawa State as he has served as Deputy Director General of Ta’al Campaign Organization from 2010 to 2011.”

Contd from Cover Isma’ila Isa, who is a former minister of water resources and ex-president of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN). Trouble, it was gathered, started when in 2013, Unity Bank commenced debt recovery action against Bulet at the FCT High Court and the case was dismissed on 24th February, 2014 for lack of reasonable cause of action by the court. While the said suit was still pending, Unity Bank, through its Lawyer, I. H. Yamah, wrote letters to Bulet’s tenants and clients, including the Federal Ministry of Finance, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Australian and American Embassies as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,

conveying an auction sale notice (threatening to sell the property being occupied by the tenants). The plaintiffs said the defamatory publications were false, malicious and baseless and calculated to mislead the public. In the said letters, Unity Bank alleged that it loaned the plaintiff N6.856 billion, adding that the bank was in possession of perfected legal mortgage over the landed properties occupied by the tenants, warning them not to have any commitments to their landlord. The Bank, in 2014, further instituted another suit, which was still pending in court and being challenged by Bulet for non-disclosure of reasonable cause of action, in which ruling has been fixed for February

2015. The plaintiffs said that while awaiting the ruling, the bank went ahead again to publish public notices and articles in numerous newspapers as well as on its Internet outlets, specifically addressed to the CBN containing list of alleged debtors, of which the plaintiff’s names were added. According to the plaintiffs, the letters, newspaper reports and public notices by the bank were meant to convey that the plaintiffs are bankrupt and irresponsible and took the bank’s credit facility with intent to defraud the bank. The plaintiffs said that the letters and public notices were understood by the public that Unity Bank gave N6.8 billion

credit facilities and was in custody of perfected mortgage instruments, which exposed the plaintiffs’ tenants to auction sale of their home and offices. According to the plaintiffs, in a 17-paragraph statement of claim, “the defamatory publications are false, malicious, baseless and calculated to mislead the public while injuring the reputation of the 1st plaintiff brought the 2nd plaintiff into scandal and ridicule his character as a statesman.” The plaintiffs stressed that the bank never granted them any N6.8 billion credit facility as alleged. As at the time of filing in this report, Unity Bank was yet to file a defence and efforts at getting the bank to comment on the matter proved abortive.

From Ado Abubakar Musa, Jos

departure of Davies, he (Davies) has reaffirmed that if Ihejirika and Sheriff deny his claims, they should go to court, adding that, the International negotiator has claimed that he had evidential facts to prove his report beyond any doubt if need arose. Gusau said: “We are surprised at what Sheriff is saying; if he disputes that Davies’ report was not true, he should have sued him. Davies has said he had all the necessary facts to present to prove Sheriff’s involvement in the Boko Haram group.” The reaction by Shettima’s aide came after Sheriff granted an interview on Saturday on a morning programme of the BBC Hausa Service, where he boasted that the truth has been unfolded since he had been exonerated by the said arrested suspects, alleging that Davies’s report was a cock and bull story planned by some people from Borno to tarnish his image and reputation. Asked on whether or not Sheriff is communicating with Shettima, Gusau said, “ I do not know if they are communicating or not.” On whether Shettima accepts Sheriff’s advice that would help to move the state forward, Gusau said, his boss

Bulet coy slams N100bn libel suit against Unity Bank

Insurgency: Borno govt insists on Sheriff’s link

he Borno Government insists that former governor Ali Modu Sheriff, has links with Boko Haram sponsorship even though the Department of the State Security Service (DSSS) has cleared him and the former Chief of Army Staff, General Azubuike Ihejirika. The state government made this declaration through the media aide to Governor Kashim Shettima, Malam Isa Gusau, on the Hausa Service of the BBC monitored in Jos yesterday. He said if Sheriff’s claims that the allegations filed by the Australian negotiator, Steven Davies were purported and unfair, why didn’t he sue the latter for redress, especially as the negotiator had earlier challenged him to do so. Gusau further restated that one of the seven suspects recently paraded by the DSSS, had worked with Sheriff when he was the governor of the state and has a very good relationship with him, stressing that Sheriff was the one who insisted that that person should be enrolled to work in Shettima’s administration. He noted that before the

Gov RamalanYero would listen to him and work together to salvage Borno State. Jonathan responsible killings - APC

for

Following the recent abduction and killing of some residents of Gumsere village, in Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State, the opposition All Progressives Congress, (APC) , has reiterated that the continued massacre of people and destruction of properties in the northern part of Nigeria was due to the refusal of Jonathan-led administration to act on the previous advice offered

by the party. The APC said this through its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in an interview on the English Service of the Voice of America, monitored in Jos. He noted that the APC had severally advised President Jonathan on how go about ending Boko Haram insurgency but he turned deaf ears to the party’s advice, stressing that if the APC’s presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) was given the mandate come 2015, he would surely put an end to the bedevilling activities of the dreaded sect. “We, in the APC, have severally given the necessary advice to the government on how to tackle insurgency in the North-East but the government refused to act on it. So the government is careless and should be responsible and be blamed for what is happening,” Muhammad said. He said: “The use of force to end insurgency in the NorthEast is not the solution. Let there be dialogue with the aggrieved members of the group, but not fighting. The dialogue would help to understand where the group is heading to.”

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Peoples Daily, monday, December 22, 2014

News

Only continuity can ensure lasting development - Obasanjo From James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta with agency report

ormer President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that the only way to ensure enduring infrastructural and human capacity development in Nigeria

was for every government to build on the projects and the ideas of the preceding government. According to Obasanjo, most of the failures witnessed in the country stemmed from the refusal of successive governments to continue institutional and policy

frameworks and projects put in place by their predecessors. The former president reportedly took this position during a courtesy visit paid him at his Hilltop House, Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Friday, by the Good Governance Group (3Gs),

whose convener is Mr. Seyi Gambo. The 3Gs, in a statement yesterday, quoted Obasanjo to have argued that some of the projects initiated under his regime both as a military head of state and a civilian President,

Wednesday last week, the presiding judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, also halted the House’s probe of the N10billion the minister reportedly spent on maintaining a private jet, Challenger 850, for her trips. The judge held that the summons of the House to the minister to answer questions

on the jet was “invalid” on the grounds that the House resolution was neither published in the journal of the National Assembly nor in the official Gazette of the Federal Government. But, House spokesman, Rep Zakari Mohammed, (APC Kwara), said the house would definitely appeal the judgment, saying

that lawyers to the House were reviewing the decision of the court and would enter the appropriate appeal against the judgment. Mohammed said, “There is a possibility that our lawyers will appeal the judgment and whatever I say could be considered as prejudice,” he added.

Private Jet scandal: Reps to appeal court ruling

By Umar Muhammad Puma

he House of Representatives said it would appeal the judgment of an Abuja Federal High Court, which prevent it from summoning the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke. In a judgement given on

including the Operation Feed the Nation and the reforms in the rail transportation and power sectors, could have been beneficial to Nigerians if they had not been abandoned by successive governments. The former President also said that the government must encourage the private investors in the country arguing that “the bigger private operators would be able to encourage price reduction on commodities.” Obasanjo however called on the government to set up AntiTrust Commission, to protect Nigerians from oppression by big entrepreneurs, saying, “I will never go against Nigerian entrepreneurs getting big but I will go against them becoming oppressive.” Earlier in his speech, Gambo had said that the visit was to share from the experience of the former President, who during his tenure tried to entrench good governance by paying all the country’s debts and initiating “many developmental policy reforms.”

US based Nigerian health workers face quarantine By Doyin Ojosipe, with agency report

L-R: Bruno Tin Land; Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Abdu Bulama; Director, Human Resources Management of the Ministry, Mr. Musa Shaba; Alistair Hide, Leader of Monsanto delegation from Poland, and Natalia Voruz, during a visit to the ministry, recently in Abuja. Photo: Minister’s office

Nigerian power sector worse under Jonathan – Buhari

By Umar Muhammad Puma

residential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Muhammadu Buhari has challenge President Jonathan to come out and explain to Nigerians why the country is still in darkness despite billions of dollars spent on power by his administration. In a statement issued by his aide, Dr. Chidia Maduekwe, of the Buhari Support Organisations (BSO) said Jonathan had in the past made promise to Nigerians that 10,000MW will be generated before now and that he would not run in 2015 with assurance those four years was enough for him to

fix power sector’s problem. According to Madueke, available power in Nigeria is 41% less than total installed capacity, Corruption, poor maintenance management, inadequate funding and lack in energy remix were found to be the cause. “The ordinary Nigerian on the street knows that he or she is not better off today with stable electricity as against four years ago when Jonathan mounted the saddle. Most people will admit that they had better stable supply of electricity four years ago .The Jonathan administration had projected that 10,000MW should be generated before now. While the CPC manifesto

promised Nigerians 15,000MW if Gen Buhari was voted into power in 2011. “The General Muhammadu Buhari and indeed the Nigeria public is right to question why we are still in this epileptic mess of electricity supply after sinking well over $20billion into the power sector over the period in question. Corruption infested administration of Goodluck Jonathan makes every right thinking Nigerian to bury their head in shame when compared to south Africa of just 50 million people and has an estimated supply of over 50million MW” “On per capita consumption basis, Nigeria is ranked at 178th

position with consumption of 106.21KWh per person, this is well behind Gabon with 900,000 population consuming 283.6 KWh, Cameroon 176.0KWh and Kenya 128.68KWh . The statement said PDP-led government will only lead Nigeria into a demographic disaster with its current failed energy policy. “It is certainly not in PDP character to suddenly improve and this situation if not addressed will only push the county into the demographic disaster that currently looms eminent. The TAN continuity mantra is therefore a prescription for a demographic disaster.” He observed.

igerian health professionals based in the US will be quarantined for 21 days after a return from a medical mission in Abia state, the team leader has said. The 75-man team, which consisted of doctors, nurses and pharmacists, had left the US for Abia in Nigeria on a one week free medical services. The health professionals have treated not less than 6,200 patients while about 74 free surgeries have been carried out by the group. Leader of the health team, Dr. Christian Ike, had expressed dissatisfaction over the stigmatization of Nigerians in foreign countries, even when Nigeria has been internationally certified free of the deadly epidemic. It will be recalled that barely two weeks ago, about 30 Nigerian students were humiliated and deported back to the country by the Sudanese government, when they were singled out, haven seized their passport, and were forced to pay not less than $500 dollars each for which to claim their passports all but after returning to Nigeria. Briefing newsmen at Umahia, Dr. Christian Ike also said, that the team’s gesture was part of their contribution to nation building and to also support the Abia state government. The Dr also disclosed that the team which was made of 24 doctors, 21 pharmacists and 30 nurses has also contributed about $420,000 to the course of the project.

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Peoples Daily, monday, December 22, 2014

Page 4 Report

Fund raising: PDP governors’ N1.05 billion of poverty By Ochiaka Ugwu

t is possible that the 21 Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) governors like their principal in the presidential Villa, President Goodluck Jonathan are quite comfortable with the precarious state of Nigerians which is degenerating on daily basis with little or no effort to remedy the situation. To say that they merry while Nigeria continues to degenerate will not be out of place. These leaders, it seems, are yet to realize that the tea party is over and Nigerians are hungry and at the same time angry. Going by their choice of priorities, both also continue to betray an alarming lack of touch with public expectations that is both shocking and equally annoying. It could even make one to say they are suffering from political schizophrenia, meaning they have lost touch with reality and even the people they claim they govern. The way these governors in particular continue to operate and even dictate policy with a casual arrogance, I am tempted to believe these governors are under illusion that they are the decider and controller of the peoples’ destiny. Some are even seeing themselves as emperors that have carved out fiefdoms; whereas they are the states while their words are law. They simply could do no wrong. If that is the case then I certainly want to know the rationale behind the 21 governors of the ruling party donating a whopping N1.05 billion in their party’s presidential fund raising. This is in the face of austerity measures introduced by the federal government occasioned by oil down turn in the international market. All these states no doubt are still trying to grapple with the reality of economic down turn which has greatly diminished their monthly allocation from Abuja. It is unfortunate that regardless of not being able to pay civil servants in some of their states, these governors, while exhibiting the highest level of sycophancy on Saturday night went ahead to donate N1.05 billion to their party ahead of the 2015 elections. The donation was part of the N21.2 billion raised by the party at its fund raising dinner held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The Bauchi State governor, Alhaji Isa Yuguda who spoke on their behalf said each of the governors contributed a total sum of N50 million to make the amount N1.05 billion. Going by Yuguda’s statement in a

PDP chair, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu

President Goodluck Jonathan programme that was broadcast live in major national televisions, the money was collected randomly not considering the financial situation of the state in question or the living conditions of the inhabitants of these states. In several states, including PDPcontrolled states like Akwa Ibom, thousands of civil servants have not been paid salaries; sometimes for up to four months. States like Enugu has endemic poverty as one of its cardinal programs which has made it possible for poverty to be working in the streets giving people plate numbers. Alhaji Yuguda did not explain why the governors felt more obliged to donate funds to the party when majority of the people are wallowing in abject poverty. Even pensioners who used their productive years in working for the progress of the country are still expectant that their gratuity will be paid, while others have died while waiting for the reward of their labour which they believe should not be in vain. A state like Benue owes workers for almost seven months. For how long will we keep on giving privilege to over privileged? We are cutting budgetary allocations, increasing taxes, but still we are busy abusing our common

patrimony. In the first place, who approved this money for disbursement in the states or could it mean the chief executives can spend the tax payers’ money without recourse to due process or even without the peoples’ consent. Because, I will bet you that no discerning mind will approve money that will help in perpetuating an arrangement that has continued to pauperize him, if the power of approval will be thrown open or placed in public domain. It remains a paradox that despite the fact the states are crying of depleting resources with a larger proportion of its inhabitants living in abject poverty, the governors are busy fretting away their wealth in the most dishonest way. This misplacement of priority could well be responsible for the rising poverty in Nigeria with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) saying that almost 100 million people are living on less than $1 a day, despite acclaimed growth as the Africa’s largest economy. The fact is that percentage of Nigerians living in absolute poverty - those who can afford only the bare essentials of food, shelter and clothing - rose to 60.9 percent in 2014, compared with

Chairman, NGF, Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu 54.7 percent in 2004, and has kept on increasing by the day. Although Nigeria’s economy is projected to continue growing, poverty is likely to get worse as the gap between rich and poor continues to widen. Today, poverty is clearly very visible in rural areas with governors killing the rural economy which would have lifted a whole lot of Nigerians from poverty. In rural communities, poverty is clearly one of the most profound problems being grappled with and contributing substantially to the erosion and undermining of the foundations of peaceful co-existence and stable national development. It is increasing, and deepening by the day engulfing an overwhelming majority of Nigeria’s population. Poverty seems to have defied solutions in spite of the massive investment of resources and targeted program to deal with it, hence it has become severe, acute and chronic, contributing significantly to underdevelopment, generalized insecurity and instability in the country. The failure to achieve the desired poverty eradication by successive targeted program is largely due to lack of political will by these governors towards promoting rural economy. It is

as a result of complete neglect by these governors to poverty eradication that led to growing discontent and social injustice among the rural people of Nigeria who constitute the vast majority of the population of this country. They purposely refuse to implement an action plan that would have spread prosperity in their states especially in rural areas where it is wide spread. They forget that to achieve the important objective of eradicating poverty, actions need to be taken on several fronts simultaneously in an integrated manner to break the vicious circle of poverty and underdevelopment in rural areas mostly. This issue is not negotiable if the issue and challenges of poverty eradication in Nigeria must be addressed sustainably and effectively. Finally, these governors should stop spending their time on frivolities, but should focus more on peoples’ oriented program by engaging in all round development that will benefit the people especially in rural communities. Studies have shown that development of rural economy is the most effective strategy for eradicating rural poverty which many see as the greatest problem facing the nation.

Peoples Daily, monday, December 22, 2014

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News Boko Haram: Immigration deploys 2,000 border corps By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

inister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, said the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has deployed more than 2,000 members of the newly trained border patrol corps to secure the most porous and vulnerable boundary areas of the north. Moro, who stated this at the weekend during a chat with newsmen, said the new border patrol unit will reduce the number of illegal immigrants who sneak into the country through unofficial routes. “The 2, 000 specially trained border corps members are the first batch of about 10,000 officers expected to be trained in unique border patrol techniques to effectively protect the nation’s land borders. This is a new development by the Nigeria Immigration Service and is going to help greatly in securing the country.” The minister further said that “a number of officers and men would be steadily raised to beef-up the corps into a standard unit”. Moro added that the border corps will be assisted by modern surveillance equipment, including tracker helicopters to ensure water-tight protection of borders to effectively reduce illegal immigrants entering the country. On jail break, the minister said the Federal Government has approved new administrative policies and strict prison residency rules to reduce the number of jailbreaks in the country. He said everything humanly possible would be done to enhance security in the prisons especially the level of involvement of some prison officers. The minister said that the federal government is committed to the prisons reform and would not allow officers with criminal tendencies to thwart its efforts. “A prison staff was once caught after he helped inmates smuggle an AK47 riffle into the prison with the hope of facilitating a jailbreak. Despite the overwhelming evidence against the officer, the only punishment the culprit received from the prison high command was a transfer instead of sack or prosecution. I have already ordered a fresh investigation in to the case. I will not allow this type of criminal activities by officers to continue.”

L-R: Director General, Department of State Service (DSS), Mr. Ekpenyong Ita, chatting with former Chief of Defence Staff Admiral, Ola Saad Ibrahim, and representative of Ooni of Ife, Oba Kole Ojutalayo, during graduation ceremony of the Executive Intelligence Management Course, at the weekend in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

Amnesty funds tears Tompolo, Delta Community apart

From Osa Eresoyen, Asaba

alpable tension and fierce war have enveloped the surroundings of a prominent ex-militant warlord and former leader of the defunct Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, following recent boats he purchased. Although Tompolo, while speaking to our correspondent on telephone has raised the alarm that politicians were out to tarnish his hard-earned image ahead of the 2015 elections, while according to him, he is not a politician, but a concerned Nigerian citizen and a

business man. Peoples Daily reliably gathered that Tompolo is not in charge of the said boats as alleged, as the boats were handed over to NIMASA, which in turn involved the Nigerian Navy in their usage and operations. The Niger Delta warlord, in his reaction to media reports, denied that he had acquired some gun boats from Norwegian government with the assistance of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), ostensibly for the policing of the nation’s waterways. Tompolo, not only exonerated himself from such media reports, but insisted that the latest onslaught on him was a mastermind by some

Niger Delta ethnic chauvinists, adding that, “I am not surprised that this blackmail is coming at this critical time that Nigeria is facing serious security challenges, even as the most decisive moment for the nation, which is the 2015 election gets closer. “For one, the initial reaction was to just ignore this cheap blackmail and forge ahead with personal commitment, but the propensity with which these lies are daily peddles requires a bit of clarification to the Nigerian public; clearly the intent of those behind the malicious media report is to weigh me down and paint me as someone with the desire to wage

war against the Nigeria state, by painting a picture of an arms build-up in the Niger Delta as 2015 approaches”. On the issue relating to the alleged purchase of war boats, the ex-militant said, “It is a smack of ignorance on the part of those who had taken an ignoble delight to embark on this despicable path; it is pertinent for the ignorance of those behind this blackmail to be exposed; the truth is that these boats in question had been in the care of NIMASA of two years now; and for the avoidance of doubt, the boats are not war ships or gun boats, as being erroneously spread by mischief makers. “The boats, as acquired, are neither equipped with war arsenals nor ammunition carrier; they are simply boats equipped with modern surveillance devices to track oil thieves and in the process, increase the nation’s revenue base, through NIMASA”.

Ulama Council decries incessant bomb explosions

From Ado Abubakar Musa, Jos

he Plateau State Chapter of Ulama Council yesterday lamented on the incessant bomb explosions and massacre of people in country, calling on the Nigerian government to take swift action to end the five years insurgency bedeviling mostly Nigeria’s north.

The Ulama Council, which stated this in a press release, signed by the Secretary General of the council, decried in a laud voice the menace of killing innocent people and destruction of their properties. Part of the release reads: “We observe with dismay the recent bomb blast at the terminus market in Jos and the spate of bomb blast ravaging the country in the

states of Kano, Borno, Yobe and Adamawa respectively. “It is not only condemnable but also very callous. “Islam the religion of peace totally condemns the killing of innocent souls whether that of Muslims, Christians or pagans. It says that if you take a life unjustly, it is as though you have taken the life of the nation. The perpetrators

and killers have no basis in any religion. It is contrary to what the Holy Book teaches”, the statement added. The council, however, in its sympathy, commiserated with the families of the victims of the various bombings and killings in the country, praying that the Almighty Allah restore peace and harmony in the country.

Tinubu inaugurates 60-bed hospital in Edo

Osibanjo chosen by God -Timi Frank

From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

By Umar Muhammad Puma

ormer Governor of Lagos state, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has inaugurated a new 60bed Specialist Hospital, built by the Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s government. The 3-bedroom doctors’ quarters and 2-bedroom nurses’ quarters was built along within the hospital complex in Ewohinmi, Esan SouthEast local government area of Edo state. Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who is the national leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) inaugurated

the project, said the initiative has introduced infrastructural development revolution to Edo state. Tinubu said: “What you have in Edo state is common sense development revolution. Good security, employment, potable water supply, agriculture, good road infrastructure, vocational job to train and develop your mind and become independent in life. That is common sense development revolution. Governor Oshiomhole said the hospital project is one of the dreams of this administration to extend development to the rural communities.

eputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank said that he believe that the choice of Osinbajo as Vice Presidential candidate was chosen by God, because the time of change is now. “When people ask why we take time in choosing our Vice President, I want to say that the delay was because we wanted to give the best candidate to Nigerians; it was because we wanted to follow a proper democratic process and never wanted to an imposed Vice

Presidential candidate or one that will be handpicked by any individual. Addressing journalists at the weekend, Timi said the party has consulted widely both within and outside the party before the choice of Osinbajo, adding: “We consulted with people and Osibanjo emerged. You know that it was not just Osibanjo being considered. There were other persons and at the end of the day, we all unanimously agreed to settle for Osibanjo because this is the time we need change. This is the time we need men of integrity and experience and the time to balance political situation”.

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Peoples Daily, monday, December 22, 2014

News Terrorism, not here to stay – Minimah

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna and James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

he Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Kenneth Minimah has said that, terrorism is a global security threat, which is not meant to stay in Nigeria, but pass to other parts of the world. He said, terrorism did not start in Nigeria, as many other countries of the world have had to contend with same challenge in the past. The Nigerian Army Chief stated this during the graduation of 151 armed forces officers from Junior Course 78/2014 at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji, Kaduna state. According to him, “You must have noticed that, the global security environment of the 21st century is becoming increasingly complex, with many, national, regional and transnational threats that undermine national and international security across the regions, sub-regions and the entire landscape of the world. And of course Nigeria is not an exception. “Today, we have terrorism on our soils. Many nations, including ours have had to contend with asymmetric threats that are mostly intra-state in nature. “Terrorism did not develop here, it only came here and we pray it will also pass through here and go to some other place where it is going.” Lt. Gen. Minimah said. He charged graduating students drawn from the three services of the Nigerian Armed Forces, that after their training, much is expected from them in the nation’s efforts to rid its soils of terrorism. General Minimah, who was the Guest of Honour at the graduation, however commended the Directing Staff and Management of the college for transforming the officers

...Wife calls for prayers against insurgency

into very useful human resources for national development. Earlier in his welcome address, the Commandant of AFCSC, Air Vice-Marshal John Chris Ifemeje, said the 21 weeks’ intense training and academic activities was designed to equip the officers with the appropriate skills to function as grade 3 Staff Officers and Junior Commanders in their various services and in tri-service establishments. Among the 151 graduands were 59 Nigerian Army officers, 45 Nigerian Navy officers, 28 Nigerian Air Force officers and 11 non-military officers from Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA),

Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), Department of State Services (DSS) and Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC). Meanwhile, Wife of the Chief of Army Staff, Mrs. Felly Minimah at the weekend charged wives of men and officers of the Nigerian Army to go into fervent prayers against the continued attack by the Boko Haram sect. Minimah, who is also the National President of the Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association made the call at 32 Brigade, Alamala Baracks in Abeokuta; the Ogun State capital. Speaking during the commissioning of an acquisition

centre and donation of relief materials to wives of officers who lost their lives in active service, she explained that the prayer was to seek a divine intervention towards an end to the insurgency in the Northern part of the country, especially in the North - East. “We should all pray for our husbands every day, so that this problem of Boko Haram will end. All these problems should stop, so that we don’t lose our husbands. I appeal to all of you to let us pray. When you wake up every day, especially those of you whose husbands are fighting Boko Haram you should pray that this Boko Haram problem end very soon.”, she said.

Non-Government Organisation (NGO), All Children Charity International Foundation (ACCIF) has called on the Federal and state governments to give better treatment and attention to the less-privileged in the society in order to make them feel belonging. The Founder of the group, Barrister Ranti Daudu stated this during a Christmas fiesta for the

From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

n early morning auto crash, which occurred at Ugbowo Lagos road at the weekend, has left at least 1,200 poultry birds dead. No life was lost in the accident, which occurred at Adolor juncture in Egor local government area of Edo state. The truck driver, who was said to have driven the previous night on Benin-Ore Lagos Expressway, dozed off before losing control and skid into a ditch, according to Ms. Amenze, a trader. ``I pity the driver, so many birds died. This is a big shortage’’, she stated, while weeping. While some sympathizers attempted to take the injured driver to hospital for treatment, other women queued round the scene waiting to take home the dead birds.

Defeated PDP Senatorial candidate Inuwa’ honours coordinators, supporters From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

A patient receiving medical attention during a free medical care by the Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta, Operation Pulo Shield to Igbomatoru community, yesterday in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. Photo: NAN

Orphans and less-privileged deserve better attention, says Group From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

1,200 poultry perish in Edo auto crash

less privileged held in Kaduna over the weekend. “We are going to spend billions of Naira this year to celebrate the Christmas and the New year, but has it come to our imagination that there are children scattered in different Orphanage home and desperate in need of attention. “The Fiesta, with theme: ’Walk in my shoes’, is calling on Nigerians to put themselves in the place of the children and imagine what they are passing

through. “The rich in the society needs to know that wealth is not about what the numbers of money in their account or the amount of properties they get, not the numbers of lives they positively touch; so it is high time we all start remembering the orphans and the less-privileged in the society”. Mrs. Daudu, who said that in kaduna state alone there are about 4750 orphans in various orphanage home is a matter of

concern to the nation. She advocated for grants from the Federal and state government, in order to help the orphanages, as being practiced in developed countries. In his own remark, the former president of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Prince Lanke Odogiyion said the plight of orphans and vulnerable children should be a matter of concern to all and that this can be shown by supporting them and no amount of support is too small.

he defeated Kaduna Central senatorial zone candidate, Ahmadu Inuwa has organised a thank you celebration to all his coordinators and supporters, despite his lost in the just concluded Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries. In the event which attracted all the campaign coordinators in the 7 local government areas that comprised the Kaduna central senatorial zone, also witnessed the launching of a popular song composed El- Ma’az NDC. Dr Ahmadu Inuwa lost in the senatorial primaries to Senator Ahmed Aruwa who will face APC’s candidate, Comrade Shehu Sani. In his speech, the celebrant Dr Ahmadi Inuwa expressed his profound gratitude to all coordinators and his thousands of supporters who worked tirelessly to him through during the campaign.

Oil price fall: Nigeria risks economic crunch in 2015 - Kwara Speaker From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

he Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Barrister AbdulRazaq Atunwa has called upon States and Federal Government to rescue Nigeria economy from collapse due to fall in oil prices at the international market.

Atunwa noted that most of the states in Nigeria would suffer economic crunch from February 2015 if there was not urgent preventive measures from stakeholders. The Speaker, who stated this while speaking with Journalists in Ilorin, observed that many oil producing countries which

suffer from the current fall in crude oil price were not much affected as Nigeria. Atunwa, called for better management of Nigeria’s economy to rescue the country from total economic strangulation. “The Federal Government has not been prudent in the

management of the resources, finances of Nigeria and, therefore, within the past few months of the fall in the crude oil price, the economy is in trouble. “Any prudent financial manager will know that you must save for the rainy day; failure to do that will spell

doom, which is precisely what we are now facing in Nigeria. “The economy has been mismanaged; we have been pervaded by corruption and leakages. There have been malfeasances in office and all these contribute to the financial gloom, which we are about to face”, he added.

Peoples Daily, monday, December 22, 2014

PAGE 7

News Five MAPOLY students arraigned for illegal arms possession From James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

ive students of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic Abeokuta were on Friday arraigned before a Magistrate Court, in the Ogun ctate capital, for unlawful possession of firearms belonging to a prohibited secret cult. The accused persons are Olawale Olaniyi, Adeyemi Azeez, Olufalo Bidemi, Osilaja Hammed and Bashorun Sodiq. They are facing a three-count charge,

which ranged from conspiracy, unlawful possession of firearms and belonging to a secret cult. The charge read that the accused, on August 5, 2013 at Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokut,a in the Abeokuta Magisterial District belonged to a group called Black Axe, a secret cult society, contrary to Section 3 and punishable under Section 5 of the Secret Cult (Prohibition and Special Prohibition) Laws of Ogun state, 2006. The accused persons were

also alleged to be unlawfully in possession a locally-made gun, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 3 of the Firearms Act (Cap 28) Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2004. The arraignment of the accused was based on the legal advice of the Director of Public Prosecution in a letter with reference number AB11/ S.9631A/12 dated July 21, 2014, which recommended the trial. When the charge was read to the

accused, they pleaded not guilty. Two counsels, Bolarinwa Odeyale and B.O Sa’idu appeared for the accused. Odeyale pleaded for renewal of the bail earlier granted the accused before their case file was sent to the DPP but the court noted that it could only be granted if a new application was filed or the sureties came forward to update the bail application for the benefits of the accused.

Odeyale was able to perfect his argument and prayers in favour of three of the accused; Olawale Olaniyi, Olufalo Bidemi and Bashorun Sodiq, who were granted bail. Two others, Adeyemi Azeez and Osilaja were ordered to be remanded in prison for their inability to meet the bail conditions. The case was adjourned till February 19, 2015.

Gunmen shoot 2 policemen in Nasarawa

From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

unmen, suspected to be armed robbers, have shot two police officers in Nasarawa State during a stop-and-search operation on a highway on Saturday morning. Though reports claimed the policemen were killed, the police authorities denied the claim, saying they only sustained injuries. Three officers were recently killed by men of the underworld, at the `Many Have Gone` area in the NasarawaEggon local government area. Investigations revealed that the incident took place when the officers were on routine

assignment, while some Police sources said that the two officers were shot in the chest and stomach respectively. Both officers were attached to Operation Nasara section of the state Police Command. According to one of the witnesses, there were five officers on duty that night and two of them were shot, while the remaining three escaped. The Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in-charge of Operations, DCP LongLong, has, however, ordered that the three officers be detained at Nasarawa-Eggon Police station pending further investigation into the incident.

Remnants of a barge seized for involvement in oil theft set ablaze by the Task Force, yesterday in Okirika waterways, Rivers state. Photo: NAN

2 sentenced to death for Niger: Customs releases N1.3m illicit drugs stealing fowls in Osun to NDLEA, NAFDAC for destruction

From Tope Musowo, Ado-Ekiti

ustice Jide Falola, of an Osun State High Court sitting in Okuku, has sentenced two robbers to death for stealing fowls. The convicts, Olowookere Segun and Morakinyo Sunday, were found guilty of forcefully breaking into the house of one Mr. Balogun Tope, a police officer attached to Divisional Police headquarters, Okuku, in April 2010 and carting away some of his belongings. The convicts were charged with conspiracy, robbery and stealing contrary to Section 6(b) and 1(2)(a) of Robbery and Firearm (Special Provisions) Act, cap R 11 Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2004 and Section (390)(1) Criminal Code Law, Cap 34, Laws of Osun State, 2002. The prosecution team, led by the state Solicitor-General, Mrs. Abiola Adewemimo, called six witnesses and tendered several exhibits during the prosecution. The prosecution told the court that on November 13, 2010, men were sighted around Balogun’s home armed with cutlass and a Dane gun, and that while two of them were arrested, others escaped. The convicts were said

to have confessed that they stole the complainant’s fowls, adding that they had been in his house before to steal. Adewemimo said: “They also stated that they had earlier robbed Alhaja Umani Oyewo in her house and stole broilers, eggs and kegs of vegetable oil from the house”. In his judgment, Justice Falola convicted them on only three counts: to death for conspiracy; life sentence for robbery, and three years imprisonment for stealing. Justice Falola recommended that the governor can decide to commute the death sentence to 10 years’ imprisonment, considering the convicts’ ages.

From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

he Nigeria Customs Service Area office has released various illicit drugs seizure to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), for destruction, in Minna the Niger state capital.. Customs Area Controller incharge of Niger, Kogi and Kwara zones, Mr. Mohammad Biu, who disclosed this while handing over the drugs to NDLEA and NAFDAC, noted that it was in accordance with the law. “This is part of established synergy with other security agencies which will assist them

carryout proper investigation since it is not in our purview to investigate such matter. “Hence we are handing over these items for proper investigation and prosecution” he stated. Biu intimated that the Customs intercepted seven cartons of Tramol, Tramadol and Jonaviga tablets, worth N1.2 million, along Mokwa Kaduna road, in Niger state. He added that the Service also recovered cannabis sativa worth N100, 000, in Babana area of the state. The Customs Controller stated that no suspect was arrested during the two seizures, as the suspect conveying the marijuana on a motorcycle

abandoned it and fled, while the bus used to convey the drugs was seized as no passenger claimed ownership. While receiving the drugs on behalf of NAFDAC, the Unit Head of the agency in Niger, Mr. Dadi Mullah, commended the Customs Service for mopping-out the illicit drugs from the market. Mullah assured the Customs that the drugs would not be seeing anywhere again as the agency would get authorization from the Federal Ministry of Environment to destroy them. Also speaking, Mr. Aloye Isaac, who represented the state Commandant of NDLEA, said the essence of the exercise was to take the drugs out of circulation.

along Ibokun road, Oke-Baale, Osogbo and was heading home in an unregistered Lexus ES 330 ash-coloured saloon car, before her attackers doublecrossed her and whisked her away in their vehicle. Eyewitnesses account revealed that Funmilayo engaged the hoodlums in hot altercation when she was double-crossed and reportedly hit one of them with her fist.

In the ensuing battle, the attackers smashed the rear windscreen of her vehicle and dragged her into their red coloured vehicle and drove her away, leaving her two children in the car. Detectives from the state Police Command were immediately contacted and on arrival at the scene, rescued the two children in their mother’s car, while another detachment

was on the trail of the suspects. When contacted, the State Police Commissioner, Abubakar Marafa, confirmed the incident through the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mrs. Folasade Odoro, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP). Marafa said he had directed detectives to ensure that they rescue the woman unhurt, adding that all strategies had been deployed to that effect.

Gunmen abduct OSUN varsity ASUU chief’s wife From Tope Musowo, Ad-Ekiti

un-wielding men at the weekend whisked away the wife of the chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Osun State University (UNIOSUN) chapter, Oluseye Abiona. The woman, Funmilayo, was said to have closed from her shop located at the junction leading to the university,

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Peoples Daily, monday, December 22, 2014

News

No society can afford to neglect its women, youth - Mrs. Yero

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

he wife of Kaduna state governor Hajiya Fatimah Muktar Ramalan Yero has said no society can afford to neglect of its women and youth because the cost of doing so will be too enormous for the society to bear. She made the assertion in Kaduna yesterday, during the graduation ceremony of 50

women who were trained in different skills by her foundation. The Kaduna state First Lady further disclosed that the women, who are seen as mothers and wives, have great influences on their husband and children and can go a long way in moulding them into profitable or destructive elements in the society. “It no longer a secret that the insurgency in the country is still continuing because there

are always youths that are ready to offer themselves as fighters and suicide bombers. Some of these youths would have been profitable to the society if they are adequately taken care of. “ That is why our Foundation, ‘Soul Aid Foundation ‘ is focusing on youth and women development, in order to stop or at least reduce the restiveness among the youth and make the women better wives and mothers

in the society “ she said Speaking earlier, the Managing Director of Soul Aid Foundation, Hajiya Hadiza Mohammed said fifty women have successfully completed their training in kitting, soap making and cream making. “ We not only train them in skill acquisition, but the Foundation also support them with a start-up pack, to enable them to be self-employed and

employers of labour”. In his own remark, the sole administrator of Igabi local government area, Alhaji Isa Abubakar Mustapha said the choice of Rigasa as the pioneer place for the Soul Aid Foundation has shown that the area is not associated with violence but that good things can come out of the area if properly tapped.

We are creating conducive environment for 2015 polls -DSS By Joy Baba with agency report

L-R: General Manager, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Alhaji Ghazali Inuwa, presenting Award of Excellence to Overseer, Kaduna State Pilgrim Welfare Board, Alhaji Muhammed Kabir Kasimu, during the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Kaduna chapter dinner and award night in commemoration of the 2014 NUJ Press Week, at the weekend in Kaduna. Photo: Bashir Bello

denial in a phone call to our reporter said he was not given anything to withdraw from the contest has been speculated in some media (not Peoples Daily). Sama’ila Yakawada who sought to know the source of the allegation in the phone call also asked “ who told you people i was given money to step-down for Governor Yero?”. A three times guber contestant, Yakawada said his withdrawal from the race was based on his conviction and principle

but expressed dismay that for anybody to think that he was bribed with 100 million Naira to withdrew was mischievous and falsehood. There were media reports that Yakawada and two other contestants that jostled for Kaduna number seats on the tickets of PDP withdrew after pocketing 100 million Nara each. It was alleged that the money was given to them by the Vice President, Namadi Sambo on the

eve of the primary election. It was also said that some of those who agreed to withdraw would be made campaign Director of Governor Yero campaign organization to be announce soon. Yero, who later won the election conducted between him and Gen. Haruna Zego Aziz (rtd), the only aspirant who insisted in contesting the primary for refusing to step down for Yero, was defeated by 99% votes cast.

miles) southeast of Maiduguri, the Borno state capital. “What they are doing now is to assemble the aged people — both men and women ... and then they just open fire on some of them,” said Muhammed Gava, a spokesman for civil defense groups in the area. More than 50 people had been killed at Government Day Secondary School in Gwoza, he said. A villager who had fled said more elderly people

are being gathered and shot at Uvaghe Central Primary School. The villager spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of endangering his trapped parents. Government officials did not immediately comment on the reports. The military authorities said soldiers are patrolling “in search of terrorists” and “to verify abductions” Friday around the village of Gumburi,

where witnesses say extremists kidnapped at least 185 people a week ago. Nigeria’s military and government have been criticized for their failure to rescue 219 schoolgirls kidnapped from a town near Gumburi in April. In separate attacks Friday, witnesses said Boko Haram struck at Damagum and Mamudo towns, in Yobe state, bombing government buildings, the police station and military

barracks. The extremists suffered a setback when they attacked soldiers guarding a power station in Borno state, according to an engineer, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. He said soldiers were warned in advance that the extremists were advancing and engaged the militants in fierce fighting that killed at least 70. (Source: Associated Press)

I did not withdraw from guber race for N100m - Kaduna PDP aspirant

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Governorship aspirant for Kaduna State on the platform of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the just concluded primary election Alhaji Sama’ila Lawal Abdullahi Yakawada has denied collecting 100 million Naira to withdraw from the race during the recent PDP primary elections in Kaduna state. The aspirant who made the

he Department of State Services (DSS) has said it is creating the right and conducive environment for the conduct of the 2015 general elections. The service said it will not allow divisive politicians and terrorists to truncate the nation’s democracy or undermine national security during the exercise. The DSS Director-General, Ekpeyong Ita, who said this during the graduation ceremony of Executive Intelligence Management Course, at the weekend, in Abuja, stated that the DSS has trained its personnel and other senior executives of other government agencies and equipped them with requisite knowledge, exposure and expertise to ensure a safe and stable environment in which the political processes can find a full expression. According to him, in response to prevailing threats to national security, the DSS has engaged in comprehensive measures to combat the security challenges, continuous human capacity development, extensive intelligence collection programmes, and collaboration with stakeholders both within and outside the country. “Our intelligence collection efforts have made threat indicators more explicit and are also geared towards ensuring the success of government policies and programmes,” Ita added. He stated that Nigeria is on the path of growth and development, adding that “no machination by uninformed terror elements, or unscrupulous politicians with divisive tendencies and other criminals elements shall succeed against the collective will of the people to remain united.”

Extremists in Nigeria lining up elderly and shooting them

slamic extremists in northeast Nigeria are turning their guns on elderly people, killing more than 50 last week, in a new tactic that has instilled more fear in areas the militants call an Islamic caliphate. Residents from five villages say people too elderly to flee Gwoza local government area are being rounded up and taken to two schools where the militants open fire on them. The villages are about 130 kilometers (80

Peoples Daily, monday, December 22, 2014

PAGE 9

Peoples Daily, monday, December 22, 2014

PAGE 10

News

ICON to revive Nigeria’s cultural heritage - Leader

Bauchi Police intercepts trailer with INEC empty ballot boxes

By Evelyn Okakwu

Non-Governmental Organization, ICON Nigeria has stated its commitment towards reviving the dwindling cultural heritage of the nation. Speaking at a press briefing with journalists in Abuja, the leader of ICON Nigeria, Eng.

Lagosians assured of hitch –free yuletide

From Matthew Aramunde & Lucky Lawal, Lagos

n the face of the present security situation, most especially in the northern part of the country that has raised apprehension amongst Nigerians and Lagosians in particular; the Lagos State Police Commissioner, Kayode Aderanti has assured Lagosians of a hitch- free yuletide. In an exclusive chat with our correspondent in his office at the Lagos Police Command, the Police boss reiterated the Command’s resolve to prevent crime and criminality at all times, revealing that in the spirit of the festive season, the Command has evolved security strategies aimed at achieving its plan to provide maximum security during the period. To achieve the said strategies, Aderanti said, officers and men of the command are on round the clock surveillance at events centre, shopping malls, the beaches and other areas that could attract the gatherings of persons, including fun seekers. He further revealed that the efforts of his men on surveillance will be complemented by motorized patrol teams manned by men in uniform and plain clothes. These set, he noted, will patrol the streets of Lagos and that while in the course of carrying out that assigned duties, will intermittently pay routine visits to event centers and other known red spots within the metropolis. On the issue of the banned fireworks that is already being abused even with few days to Christmas by some Lagosians, Aderanti said the ban is still in place, stressing that the command will not take kindly to anyone caught flouting the order. He, therefore, advised parents and guardians to caution their wards as the law enforcement officers will not take kindly to such abuse of the law He therefore assured Lagosians to go about their civil duties without fear, while extending the commands season’s greetings to all residents

Mohammed Sa’ad said his organisation plans to revive the culture of communication in Nigerian dialect and highlight the hidden treasures in Nigeria’s tourist sites, as well as develop other programmes as means of attracting greater attention to the sector. He said the group plans to bring together young women in its upcoming event, tagged; ‘ICON events Nigeria reality contest and beauty pageant’, which will take place next year, as a way of educating the Nigerian woman and the nation at large. “Nigerian culture is going through a gradual phase of erosion; while other countries of the world try to make their culture universally acceptable, Nigerian children are gradually contributing to the extinction of the Nigerian language. The programme, therefore, aims at ensuring that parents and Nigeria, in general, wake up to the necessity of restoring the dwindling fortunes of our cultural heritage, by staging programmes that will foster greater interest and participation of youths in the sector.” Representing Nigeria’s institute of arts and culture, Mr. Kayode Aiyegbusi said Nigeria could harness the technological advancement of the world towards developing its cultural heritage. He said with the advent of the Internet, nothing stops Nigeria from making its local dialect accessible globally, adding that developing nations of the world, like China, have since adopted the strategy. He affirmed governments’ support and called on Nigerians to contribute significantly towards reversing the dwindling cultural heritage of the nation

From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi he Bauchi state Police Command has warned politicians against spreading false information that will incite the general public, just as it said it intercepted a trailer with empty INEC ballot boxes. The Police said it intercepted a trailer, loaded with over 1550 empty ballot boxes, at 7:30 am, on Saturday, at a check point in Darazo local government area of the state. However, while the items were off loaded at the police station, Government Reserved Area (GRA), it was discovered that the vehicle was carrying empty transparent ballot boxes. Investigations revealed that

the vehicle took off from Lagos state and was heading to Gombe state, but was intercepted at a check point in Darazo local government area, following a tip-off received by the Police. The Police spokesman, DSP Mohammed Haruna gave the warning at the weekend in Bauchi. According to him, such a rumour was not only misleading but a figment of the imagination of mischief makers who want to cause disharmony among the peace loving citizens of Bauchi State in particular and the nation at large. DSP Haruna said, “Members of the public are hereby urged to disregard the rumour and go about their lawful business, as the Command is working tirelessly to ensure safety and

security in the state.” Responding over the incident, the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain and a member of Buhari Campaign Organization in Bauchi, Alhaji Aliyu Sa’idu confirmed and said, “After off-loading the items we are convinced that the boxes are empty; we initially gathered that the boxes were loaded with thumb-printed ballot boxes. He called on the INEC to always inform the political parties and the press about all their activities in order to avoid this kind of situation, saying “If we must have credible and acceptable election people, especially the political parties should be involve in INEC activities. Our initial curiosity has been satisfied”.

L-R Rev. Timothy Akanbi, Mr. L. Daramola, and Deacon D. Lemuel, displaying the 2015 Calendar, during the launching ceremony, yesterday at the Faith Baptist Church, Lugbe, in Abuja. Photo: Joe Oroye

North needs enlightenment on conflict reduction -Bauchi SSG From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

he Secretary to the Bauchi State Government (SSG), Alhaji Mahmud Maijama’a, has stressed the need for people in the Northern part of the country to be adequately enlightened in order to reduce conflicts resulting from crave for personal interests among them. Alhaji Maijama’a expressed the belief that such conflicts are coming to achieve personal interests which probably are not good for development and growth. “The northern part of the country is having a lot of problems in terms of conflict and we need to educate people;

I believe that the conflicts are coming mainly to achieve some personal interests, which is not good for development”, he said. The Bauchi chief scribe, in an interactive session with Arewa Youth Forum (AYF), a Nongovernmental organization on: ‘Conflict Mitigation and Peace Building’, held in Bauchi at the weekend, assured the forum members of the state government’s full support in the drive for peaceful co-existence and development in communities of the state. The SSG, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry for Budget and Planning, Mohammed Aminu Ibrahim, expressed delight that

AYF has realized diversity in communities, which he said, could be used as strength rather than weakness in any given community. Alhaji Maijama’a told the organization that Bauchi state government is proactive on any issue relating to development partners coming to the state, and assured the AYF of necessary logistics assistance in the efforts to mitigate conflicts among people in communities across the state. The AYF Project Manager, Mr. Abdiel Kude had earlier said that the conflict mitigation and peace building project designed by his organization will be executed in 4 states of Bauchi, Kaduna, Taraba

and Nasarawa, in partnership with the US embassy in Nigeria. He explained that the pilot phase of the project, which will kick-off next month, with the training of 48 facilitators from the 4 states in Bauchi has the sole objective of engaging communities in on-going dialogues to address critical foundations of community life. The AYF project delegation similarly paid advocacy visits to the offices of Bauchi state chairman of the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), Alhaji Bala Ibrahim Sani, and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bauchi, where it was received by the state’s secretary, reverend Vincent Bature.

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Peoples Daily, monday, December 22, 2014

News

Villagers, farmers laud World Bank over roads From Umar Dankano, Yola

he villagers and farmers of Mayo- Lamja village have expressed appreciation to the World Bank and French Agency for habitation of their feeder road linking them to other parts of Mayo- Belwa local government area, in Adamawa state. The commendation was dropped by the leader of Mayo-Lamja Women Farmers Corporative Association, Mrs. Dorothy Colman, in an interactive session with journalists recently, stressing that the development was taking a right decision at the right time, considering the untold hardship farmers are experiencing when transporting their farm products

after harvest. Mrs. Colman explained that the World Bank and the French Development Agency have offered $ 243 million in grants for construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of rural feeder roads in four Nigerian states. The four participating states under the agreement are Adamawa, Enugu, Niger and Osun, which are expected to pay three percent of the total project costs under as counterpart funding.

According to Colman, the rehabilitation of the roads which is twenty kilometer off Mayo-Belwa - Jalingo highway has eased the transportation problem of the farmers in the area especially in transporting their farm produces. “Before the rehabilitation of the road, the mode of transporting our farm produces was a big challenge. “But now, we found it much easier to transport our goods and even to interact with other

parts of the state because of the reduction in cost of the transportation by fifty per cent.” Colman stated. She called on the federal and state governments to extend the rehabilitation project to link with Tola town up to Jada local government area in the state. She explained that among the major farm productions in the area include maize, Yam, Rice and groundnut, cattle rearing, vegetable and mongo among others

Ogun reads Riot Act on female genital mutilation

Killing of Bauchi AG is barbaric, says HOS

From James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

he Bauchi State Head of Civil Service; Mr. Abdon Dalla Gin (Kaigaman Dass) has described the killing of the former Accountant General of the state, Alhaji Muhammad Bappah Tilde as barbaric and most regrettable. He made the comment on Thursday, when he led a management team that paid a condolence visit to the families of the deceased on behalf of the entire Civil Servants of Bauchi State. The Head of Service, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, General Administration, Alhaji Ahmed Saleh Jarmajo said the entire civil servants and citizens of the state received the news of the demise of the Board member of the state’s Pension Board with sorrow, grief and sympathy. He however prayed to God Almighty to grant eternal rest to the deceased and extended his heartfelt condolences to the entire family for the irreparable loss and urged them to have courage, strength and fortitude to bear the loss with patience. Meanwhile, the management has also paid a sympathy visit to the residence of the Deputy Accountant-General, Administration, Alhaji Ibrahim Sule, whose house was gutted by fire recently and prayed to God to reward him abundantly and prevent future recurrence. Responding, on behalf of the families of the former Accountant General, the elderly son, Alhaji Bala Bappah Tilde and the Deputy Accountant General Administration Alhaji Ibrahim Sule respectively commended the Head of Service for showing concern to their flight and prayed to Allah (SWT) to reward him abundantly.

However, the chairman state project monitoring Committee of RAMP-2, Engr. Denis Chinda, confirmed that a total of N91, 000.000 was spent on the rehabilitation of that particular road. “Under the scheme, 500 kilometers of rural roads would be constructed in state.” Chinda said. He said under the project, ten people were recruited for the rehabilitation of the road and were on twenty thousand naira monthly salary.

Dr Adesida Temilade (right), deworming children at the internally displaced camp, in Abuja, during a free medical outreach and distribution of relief materials in the CAMP, on Saturday, organised by an NGO, Save Lives Foundation. Photo: NAN

Disaster management a collective responsibility- Rep

From Matthew Aramunde, Lagos

he Chairman House Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness, Hon Ifedayo Abegunde has said that disaster is a collective responsibility of government and the people, even as he noted that government has been working tirelessly with National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). He made a two day retreat organized by the National Emergency Management Agency to keep members of the committee abreast on the activities of the agency and its enormous challenges and to enhance the capacity and knowledge of members in disaster management which took place at the Sheraton Hotels, in Lagos. Apparently worried by the disturbing security challenges

that the country is currently going through, he noted that the country is witnessing a new dimension of disaster occasioned by incessant attack on schools, towns and communities most especially in the northern part of Nigeria by members of Boko Haram. He decried the situation where the cumulative effect have led to the internal display, loss of lives and properties, starvation and hunger which he noted have consequently overstressed the merger resources of the agency through the provision of relief materials to the affected people. In the area of minimizing Disaster Risk Reduction in line with the current reality, Ifedayo posit that it is expedient that all security agencies should live up to the expectations of the teeming Nigerians in the discharge of their statutory responsibilities in checking the influx of alien into the country

in order to curtail the menace posed by Boko Haram. He called on the federal government in the face of alarming rate of disaster incidents in the country, to increase the annual budgetary allocation, most importantly the overhead cost for training and re-training of the agency’s staff in the search and rescue operation. Earlier on in his welcome address the DirectorGeneral National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Muhammad SaniSidi, who was represented at the occasion by Mr. Akeem Akingbloa, said, “The rationale behind the retreat is to further explore the need to create continuous platform for the Honourable members and the management of NEMA to exchange information, ideas and strategies in realizing our collective mandate”.

he Ogun State government has read a riot act to those who engage in the traditional practice of performing Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and other forms of domestic abuse on women folk in the State, saying perpetrators of the illegality would henceforth face with a year jail term, without an option of fine, if found guilty. The Ogun State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Elizabeth Sonubi said this while speaking with journalists as part of activities commemorating the year 201416 Days Activism Campaign on the Elimination of Gender Based Violence, particularly against the girl-child and the entire womenfolk. She described female genital mutilation, which is also known as ‘female circumcision’, as a common harmful tradition practiced on the girl-child and the womenfolk whereby the female genitals are partly or entirely removed with the belief of affecting a woman’s sexual urge, which is medically untrue. The Women Affairs Commissioner that the female Genital Mutilation Law or Female Circumcision prohibition Law which was enacted in 2006, was already in force across Ogun State and it prohibits any person from cutting or mutilating the female private part, organ or clitoris in any manner. She revealed that the tradition which is commonly practiced in some communities in Ipokia, Yewa North and South local government areas of the State needed to be curtailed immediately before it becomes an albatross that would continually affect the psyche and development of the womenfolk. Mrs. Sonubi noted that Senator Ibikunle Amosunled government frowns at the illegality and has promised not to condone anyone found wanting in this regard, revealing that perpetrators of the act would be arrested and prosecuted as from the second week of January 2015.

PAGE 12

Money Sense

Peoples Daily, monday, December 22, 2014

The 3 decisions that will change your financial life

here’s nothing worse than a rich person who’s chronically angry or unhappy. There’s really no excuse for it, yet I see this phenomenon every day. It results from an extremely unbalanced life, one with too much expectation and not enough appreciation for what’s there. Without gratitude and appreciation for what you already have, you’ll never know true fulfillment. But how do you cultivate balance in life? What’s the point of achievement if your life has no balance? If you make these decisions unconsciously, you’ll end up like majority of people who tend to be out of shape physically, exhausted emotionally and often financially stressed. But if you make these decisions consciously, you can literally change the course of your life today. Carefully choose what to focus on At every moment, millions of things compete for your attention. You can focus on things that are happening right here and now or on what you want to create in the future. Or you can focus on the past. Where focus goes, energy flows. What you focus on and your pattern for doing so shapes your entire life. Which area do you tend to focus on more: What you have or what’s missing from your life? I’m sure you think about both sides of this coin. But if you examine your habitual thoughts, what do you tend to spend most of your time dwelling on? Rather than focusing on what you don’t have and begrudging those who are better off than

you financially, perhaps you should acknowledge that you have much to be grateful for and some of it has nothing to do with money. You can be grateful for your health, family, friends, opportunities and mind. Developing a habit of appreciating what you have can create a new level of emotional well-being and wealth. But the real question is, do you take time to deeply feel grateful with your mind, body, heart and soul? That’s where the joy, happiness and fulfillment can be found. Consider a second pattern of focus that affects the quality of your life: Do you tend to focus more on what you can control or what you can’t? Figure out what does this all mean? Ultimately, how you feel about your life has nothing to do with the events in it or with your financial condition or what has (or hasn’t) happened to you. The quality of your life is controlled by the meaning you give these things. When something happens that disrupts your life (a car accident, a health issue, a job loss), do you tend to think that this is the end or the beginning? If someone confronts you, is that person insulting you, coaching you or truly caring for you? Does a devastating problem mean that God is punishing you or challenging you? Or is it possible that this problem is a gift from God? Your life takes on whatever meaning you give it. With each meaning comes a unique feeling or emotion and the quality of your life involves

where you live emotionally. I always ask during my seminars, “How many of you know someone who is on antidepressants and still depressed?” Typically 85 percent to 90 percent of those assembled raise their hands. How is this possible? The drugs should make people feel better. It’s true that antidepressants do come with labels warning that suicidal thoughts are a possible side effect. But no matter how much a person drugs himself, if he constantly focuses on what he can’t control in life and what’s missing, he won’t find it hard to despair. If he adds to that a meaning like “life is not worth living,” that’s an emotional cocktail that no antidepressant can consistently overcome. Yet if that same person can arrive at a new meaning, a reason to live or a belief that all this was meant to be, then he will be stronger than anything that ever happened to him. When people shift their habitual focus and meanings, there’s no limit on what life can become. A change of focus and a shift in meaning can literally alter someone’s biochemistry in minutes. So take control and always remember: Meaning equals emotion and emotion equals life. Choose consciously and wisely. Find an empowering meaning in any event, and wealth in its deepest sense will be yours today. Once you create a meaning in your mind, it creates an emotion, and that emotion leads to a state for making your third decision: What will you do? The actions you take are

powerfully shaped by the emotional state you’re in. If you’re angry, you’re going to behave quite differently than if you’re feeling playful or outrageous. If you want to shape your actions, the fastest way is to change what you focus on and shift the meaning to be something more empowering.

Two people who are angry will behave differently. Some pull back. Others push through. Some individuals express anger quietly. Others do so loudly or violently. Yet others suppress it only to look for a passive-aggressive opportunity to regain the upper hand or even exact revenge.

technology and customer-service prioritization. Those working at Casualist firms miss the mark completely in most areas. None of the professionals working in companies of this ilk strongly agree their company ensures that customer-service efforts capture consumers’ satisfaction. The use of a “light’s on, but no one’s home” care strategy is one reason why representatives at these companies see their customerservice performance worsening. Casualness can be a sign of flexibility and the ability to handle surprises. But overdone, casualness can leave customers with unresolved issues and agents unsure of how to proceed.

3. The stickler On the opposite end of the spectrum is the company that becomes overly bogged down by rules, procedures and a formalized approach to customer service. Stickler organizations focus solely on following a welldefined protocol, emphasizing that their representatives be adept at accurately explaining corporate policy and point of view. While rules can be good, companies also need to be flexible to meet the needs of every customer. The customer cares less about the corporate policy and more about an experience that’s not one size fits all. www.entrepreneur.com

...avoid these 3 customer-care traps W

ith the end of the year rapidly approaching, most companies are busy putting the final wrapping on their 2015 fiscal plans and stuffing their strategies with sales and marketing programs to bring joy to their CEOs. But perhaps the most important part of these annual corporate traditions is the building and maintaining of a solid customer base. While this is true for companies of any size, entrepreneurs especially depend on growing and nurturing a loyal customer base in order to stay in business. So whether your business is still in its infancy or in the middle of a full customer-

engagement evaluation, figure out which persona your company tends to have. See below for the common traps to avoid when executing a service strategy.

1. Traditionalist There’s something to be said for the tried-and-true approach to customer service in which the relationship is king. But an overemphasis on conventional person-toperson customer engagement does not come close to areas of growing consumer interest: innovation, self-service and the use of contemporary technology. A Traditionalist company is one that’s all about the relationship but not the

technology. Only 5 percent of the survey respondents linked with this type of company persona strongly agreed that their organizations deploy newer technologies ahead of customers’ demand for their use. This can be a major pitfall, since many customers increasingly prefer self-service applications to resolve issues, and the expense of providing a one-to-one real-time touch point for each client can be high. \ 2. The casualist The most dangerous trap of all may be an overly casual approach to customer service; in everything from leadership involvement and metrics to

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Peoples Daily, monday, December 22, 2014

EDITORIAL

Good policy but bad officials

he Lagos State vehicular. The status of Lagos as N30,000 to N50, 000 fines to Government today a mega city does underline the imprisonment of up to three years. has in place a road need for people to move freely, There is a strong possibility of the traffic law. Governor whether they are out for business offender forfeiting his vehicle to Babatunde Raji or for personal activity. the government. Fashola, who signed the Lagos There have been mixed reactions to It doesn’t take an oracle to tell those Road Traffic Bill into law, responsible for this problem: the law. While some see it as being explained that it was in a bid illiterate molue (commuter “draconian”, many others have to ensure safety and orderly bus) drivers and ubiquitous become resigned to welcoming it, flow of traffic in the state. He motorcyclists. To be sure, apart if indeed it will be the solution to alarmed the people with horrific from their nuisance value, the statistics to underscore upward latter also serve a utilitarian rise in accident rates resulting purpose – taking people to in injuries and deaths. destinations that buses and taxiThe new law spells out a number cabs cannot go. of actions taken by motorists Our reservation about the new law that constitute offences and is not the sincerity of the state the sanctions that follow government; instead, it is what its them. These could be fines or officials who will do on the road. imprisonment or both. For We mean officials of the Lagos instance, articulated vehicles or State Transport Management trailers (apart from fuel tankers Agency (LASTMA) notorious and long buses) are prohibited for their highhandedness and from plying the roads between 6 extortionist conduct. Also, a.m. and 9.00 p.m. Commercial it is doubtful if the existing motorcycle operators are not to infrastructure in the state would use major trunk roads such as be adequate to provide back-up Ikorodu, Oshodi-Iyana Ipaja, to the new law. Prisons in the Lagos-Badagry and Lekki-Epe state are already overpopulated; Lagos’ notorious traffic logjam. Express, Funsho Williams the slow pace of prosecution will There is, however, a consensus Avenue as well as Apapa-Oshodi be another cog in the wheel of the on the harshness of the maximum Express. new legislation. three-year prison term. The law also bars motorists We at Peoples Daily believe that We urge the government to take making phone calls, eating, quick measures to address the government means well with counting money or any these concerns before setting this piece of legislation. Anybody, other act that is capable of in motion the machinery for whether Nigerian or foreigner, distracting them while driving. the implementation of the law. familiar with the gridlock on Lagos Pedestrians are restricted to One of such measures should be streets where you sit in a vehicle using pedestrian overhead consultation with all stakeholders for hours in sweltering heat, will bridges; this effectively makes on how best to proceed. Residents readily welcome any strategy at crossing of the expressway an of Lagos need to be assured that all that will facilitate the smooth offence.Violation of these laws those who are law-abiding have flow of traffic , both human and attracts sanctions, ranging from no cause for anxiety.

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Our reservation about the new law is not the sincerity of the Lagos state government; instead, it is what its officials who will do on the road.

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Peoples Daily, monday, December 22, 2014

PAGE 14

Opinion

Why I remember Sir Ahmadu Bello now By Muktar Yakubu

he anniversary of the death of Premier of the old Northern region and Sardaunan Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello,does not fall due until January 15. However, happenings in our country today, including pervasive corruption in public life, have compelled to reflect on the life this great Nigerian, popularly referred to ‘Gamji dan kwarai’. The late Wada Nas described him “a politician of distinction, unaffected by selfishness, dedicated to service and committed to unity and the brotherhood of the human person’’ On 15thJanuary, 1966 the Sardauna was killed by misguided military officers mostly Igbos, as a result of failed coup d’état. The Ahmadu Gamji dan kwarai was a fundamentalist for unity, an embodiment of democracy and civilization. He dedicated his life for service to humanity and he died in such. He worked assiduously for unity of Nigeria and North in particular. Under him, the North was a united entity with no reference to tribe or religion, people in the region came to be associated with northerners as a tribal name, rather than reference to a particular region, religion or

race as the current situation. In his time the north was a magnet; attracting all sphere of human being. The over two hundred tribal groups considered themselves as northerners with any rancor, different from the current situation, in which people make reference to race or region. Today the North has becomes a disjointed family. People no longer fight for unity and progress of the region but self-aggrandizement. Sir Ahmadu was a liberal person who believed in freedom of worship for every Tom, Dick and Henry. He did not allow his selfish interest to override public wishes. Before I proceed I would like the reader to see what he can make of one Sir Ahmadu Bello’s speeches: ‘’Here in the Northern Nigeria we have People of Many different races, tribes and religious who are knit together to common history, common interest and common ideas, the things that unite us are stronger than the things that divide us. I always remind people of our firmly rooted policy of religious tolerance. We have no intention of favouring one religion at the expense of another. Subject to the overriding need to preserve law and order, it is our determination that everyone should have absolute liberty to

practice his belief according to the dictates of his conscience…” Some say Gamji was a jihadist, anarchist, regionalist, religionist etc. I cannot say you should not criticize him, but the fact remains that he was a noncontroversial figure and a liberal person who looked at individuals rather than where they came from. It was the same Sardauna who you ascribed with all sort of names that recognized an achievement made by a Christian Plateau boy and finally sent him outside country to study mining engineering. Also, same Gamji bought the first Bible

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for the late Chief Sunday Awoniyi former Chairman of Arewa Consultative Forum. I heard that Baba Ahmadu Ahmadu Bello did become angry with Christians who didn’t go to the Church, he even drove some to the churches. The same Sardauna had at his midst the like of Michael Audu Buba, from Plateau, Edward Maminso from Adamawa, Jolly Tanko Yusuf from Taraba, Mr. Achimugu from Kogi and several other notable Christian ministers who had very close political relationship with him. His deputy the Makaman Bida was not a

It was the same Sardauna who you ascribed with all sort of names that recognized an achievement made by a Christian Plateau boy and finally sent him outside country to study mining engineering. Also, same Gamji bought the first Bible for the late Chief Sunday Awoniyi former Chairman of Arewa Consultative Forum.

Hausa/Fulani but Nupe. I am calling on Ahmadu Bello’s critics to continue with their criticism. As words cannot destroy greatness nor can they bring down a steady fence. I heard that “one only criticize when he/she has nothing to say about him/herself. So please, criticize Ahmadu but know that your criticism is worthless if you have not done better than Gamji. It was he who was reported to have told Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe and Chief Obafemi Awolowo “Don’t envy the unity of the North but worry about the division in the South so that we can have a united South and a united North in a united Nigeria”. It was upon this that he once advised Dr. Nmamdi Azikwe that for us to achieve unity in Nigeria we need to appreciate our differences so that we can live of them. The same Ahmadu Bello you call a corrupt and greedy person left only a traditional house; he owned neither a car nor a bank account despite his influence. The Sardauna issued a query to a minister, who was a party officer, for failure to account for 50 kobo! Yakubu via yakubumuktar@yahoo.com

How APC primaries became a model for democracy By Ali Abubakar

he recently concluded party primaries conducted by political parties ahead of the 2015 general elections, particularly those conducted by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition All Progressives Change (APC) were supposedly carried out in fulfilment of the Electoral Act 2010 (As amended) which stipulates in Section 87 the procedure through which candidates should emerge democratically. However, the outcry that greeted the primaries, especially those conducted by the PDP, has left many to believe that the process of picking candidates for the next election was far from satisfactory, rather the entire exercise was marred by intimidation of candidates and delegates who were forced to do the bidding of the powers that be in some instances and in others, outright imposition of candidates. In sharp contrast, the primaries conducted by the APC across the states, culminating in the national convention that saw the emergence of General Muhammadu Buhari as the party’s presidential candidate, have been hailed even by ardent critics of the party. For many, the APC primaries were a total break from the past and a clear manifestation of what internal party democracy is. The self acclaimed largest party in Africa, the PDP, indeed has a lot to learn. But it seems, as it has always done, the party has squandered the opportunity to

make amends in its determination o do the bidding of its paymasters. The general discontent among its members currently is a pointer to a major crisis brewing within the ruling PDP, with many aggrieved aspirants who felt short-changed in the process crying foul and threatening to leave the party and to equally ensure the failure in the coming elections. Investigations across the states have shown that many of the governorship aspirants in states like Adamawa, Enugu, Rivers Taraba, Sokoto and Kebbi have allegedly vowed to frustrate the ambitions of socalled anointed candidates and work against the success of the party in favour of the opposition party wherever they can do so. Commenting on the botched PDP primaries for instance, former Governor of Edo State and Chairman of the Law Reform Commission, Prof. Oserheumen Osunbor, while delivering a speech recently in Abuja, called for a new order to achieve transparent and credible elections next year, stressing that the conduct of the current party primaries to pick their candidates for the forthcoming election was far from satisfactory. “What would ordinarily be a simple process of nominating candidates through internal mechanism at party primaries has become a major source of acrimony among major political parties. More often than not, party candidates emerge through imposition and manipulation by party leaders who hijack election materials and compromise party

officials sent to conduct primaries with little or no regard for the preferred choice of rank and file party members” Osunbor said. On his part, Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, demanded the cancellation of the senatorial primaries of the PDP conducted in Cross River central senatorial district. In a letter of appeal addressed to the PDP Electoral Appeal Panel, dated December 8, he said; “The exercise was fundamentally and fatally flawed as it fell short of the minimum integrity for an electoral process. The exercise was in complete disregard of the PDP’s guidelines for primaries in the following: the delegates list; accreditation, violent atmosphere, non-display of sensitive materials and non delegates voting’’. In another letter, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Cross Rivers State, Mr Mike Igini, also kicked against the primaries, saying that it was “far below the standards of 2011 and this is not encouraging. The list of delegates used for the primaries was not made public. This was imperative as two lists were in circulation.” A governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, Mr Seyi Makinde, described the party’s primaries that produced Senator Teslim Folarin as the candidate of the party for the 2015 governorship election as a charade. Makinde, while addressing journalists in Ibadan, noted that: “the process by which some group of people within the party decided to

circumvent the court judgment by using statutory delegates instead of ad-hoc delegates to conduct the primaries is also a breach of the party’s electoral guideline. Consequently, it is a breach of the Electoral Act (2010). “I am a law-abiding citizen of this country and a law-abiding member of the party and I also believe PDP is a law-abiding party. I am very sure President Jonathan, as the leader of the party, will not lend his name to the charade in the name of PDP party primaries. As far as the law is concerned, PDP is yet to elect its candidate for the 2015 governorship election in Oyo State,” he said. On the other hand however, commendations have continued to trail the APC primaries across the states and the national convention of the party that saw Buhari emerge as its presidential candidate. Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State described the exercise as a model for democracy in Africa. He said that the primaries, which was won by retired Major General Muhhammadu Buhari was free, fair and credible. “As we celebrate these women, we are also sending out a statement to the whole of our nation that in this state and in this city, that our integrity is more valuable to us than all of our personal lives. We are building a country that our children will be proud to inherit from us and that one day they can look back and say thank you for helping us build this country. From this city,

we have sent a strong message about the politics that we will also play. If I am not mistaken, our gubernatorial primaries had the largest number of aspirants but we conducted it without rancour. “None of the candidates who contested have come out to say that the primaries were rigged or that there were more voters than those who were accredited. A candidate has emerged and we are moving on. From Lagos, against all the odds, we played host in the last 48 hours to a party’s national convention and primaries that were a model for democracy for the whole of Africa. They are very strong statements that we are sending out that we can live by example. They are statements that make us stand tall”, Fashola said. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar who lost the presidential ticket to General Mohammadu Buhari said: ‘’The APC has demonstrated, through the transparent process, the party’s commitment to democracy and rule of law. It has demonstrated its respect for people and their choice through the ballot box. I sincerely thank the Convention Committee for putting together a hitch-free convention. My dear friends, we have voted, a winner has emerged. I pledge my commitment to this party, and to campaign vigorously for our candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and all APC candidates to ensure victory in the 2015 elections. Abubakar, a public affairs commentator, wrote from Wuse 2, Abuja.

Peoples Daily, monday, December 22, 2014

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Comment

How workable is free federal university education in Nigeria? By Kolawole John Rotimi

ustralians will remember Gough Whitlam as the man who gave them a free university education. Whitlam’s abolition of university fees cemented him as a labour folk hero. In a pre – election speech in Bankstown in 1972, Whitlam said: “We believe that a student’s merit, rather than a parent’s wealth, should decide who should benefit from the community’s vast financial education” Provisions of food, shelter, and healthcare are all necessary for alleviating poverty, but the most sustainable way to help improve the people’s standard of living in the longer run is to provide qualitative education for citizens. Education in a broad sense is a process by which an individual acquires the many physical and social capabilities demanded by the society in which he/she is born into to function. Usman Bilal from Bayero University’s Department of Sociology said, “Education is regarded as a means through which persons acquire knowledge under formalized rules and regulation. An educated person is an individual who is believed to be an agent of change impacting positively in societal growth and development. Through education, which is a secondary form of socialization, an individual gets oriented as regard to behaviour that poses

great risk to his or her wellbeing”. Education help in changing the lives of the citizens; people are knowledgeable on social issues, and it also facilitate development and self-reliant which will help to promote better livelihood of the citizens. In an ideal sense, education is an ultimate value and hence, through the provision of social service, it is an agent of change, just as a diseased mind is handicapped in the coordination and direction of the bodily activities. Therefore, the single most significant complex of social control tools for national development is found in the education system, be it formal or informal. The development of a country is measure by the country encouragement or support for education of her citizen for this reason education is a right of any citizen in a country. Our country is one of the wealthiest in the world, blessed with immeasurable mineral resources both on land and in sea, and to exploit all this mineral resources education of our labor force is inevitable. Our past heroes/ nationalists were able to make us the nation and freedom we have today all because of the value and power of education. According to Enoh (1996:309), “Education for national development should aim at total development of the individual, equip recipients with necessary attitudes, knowledge and skills; discover the gifted in the society and develop the spirit

of self-reliance as well as inculcate problem-solving and survival skills”. University education is the bedrock of research for development, therefore if our government can invest in it I am sure that it will solve many problems mostly unemployment issues. Christopher Adinya of the Department of Electrical Engineering said “Nigeria is blessed with a lot of mineral resources and they need qualified and trained people who are citizen of the country to use their knowledge and skill to explored this resources so therefore free federal university education in Nigeria will definitely make the beneficiary feel a sense of responsibility for its country and pay a return by engaging more people as a form of self-reliant”. Destiny Okayi from the Mass Communication Dept. is of the

Today, student political activities on campuses are beginning to take the shape of national politics and gradually becoming serious issues to contend with by managements of higher institutions of learning. Students’ attitudes have become somewhat more conservative politically. Self-help groups have expanded significantly on campuses. Students’ political bodies have been concerned not only with the quality of campus life and with student service enterprises, but also with the representation of students in a wider forum. Students’ political bodies are mainly concerned

with ensuring that students’ interests are respected. These bodies also oppose tuition increases at public universities; argue against restrictions on student’s rights and so on. In 1981, there was crisis in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where students died and the vice-chancellor of the university dismissed. In 1984, many tertiary institutions rioted over the proposed introduction of tuition fees and the scrapping of catering services. This led to the closure of many universities for months. In 1988, students rioted over the removal of subsidy from

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opinion that “if some notable states government in Nigeria can promote some forms of free university education in Nigeria, states like the Imo and Kano I see no reason why federal level cannot do better. He further said “incessant increases in federal universities school fees is becoming a thing of major concern for students who are schooling from family aid, and those sponsoring themselves. “For these reason government introductions of free university education will no drought make the youths feel concern on issues that will bring about development and social change by paying back their skills, Knowledge, acquire for the development of the country which will critically bring a reduction in poverty, drugs abuse and other related social problems in the country”. Paul John Aladi from the

University education is the bedrock of research for development, therefore if our government can invest in it I am sure that it will solve many problems mostly unemployment issues.

department of History said “The bygone leaders and lecturers from this university once said that during their days as student in this university they were taking good care of by the federal government by giving them three square meals and even a very low school fee which is more or less free, almost all of them are now back paying back for the good gesture shown to them by the government by becoming a lecturer and others in other field of life. However, today’s picture is more gloomy than it was before. Nevertheless, if free education is introduce in all federal university the student will one way or the other want to come back and pay in return for the good gesture shown to them. For instance, “U win” a programme meant to support young entrepreneurs in Nigeria by the federal government under the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan. Therefore, if free federal university education is implemented in the federation, it will create a sense of responsibility in the heart of the beneficiary, thereby motivating them to contribute their quota to nation building…” Therefore, “the harvest of tomorrow is what is planted today…” Rotimi is a level four student of the Department of Mass Communication, Bayero University, Kano

Curbing student unrests on campuses

By Musa Dankaka

igher education ought to instill not only knowledge but moral values in students. Accordingly, tertiary institutions are meant to impart knowledge, critical and analytical skills, appropriate values, norms and attitudes on individuals. The National Policy on Education (2004) highlights the aims of higher education to include: the development of the intellectual capacities of individuals to understand and appreciate their environments; the acquisition of both physical and intellectual skills which will enable individuals to develop into useful members of the community and the acquisition of an objective view of the local and external environments. Politics is a social relationship involving intrigue to gain authority or power and which overwhelms almost all facets of human life. Student political activities in campuses of Nigerian universities, polytechnics and colleges of education seem to be creating tension and unrest in the academic environment. Over the years, vices such as cultism, drug abuse and prostitution were major issues of concern on campuses of higher institutions in Nigeria.

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petroleum and allied products, which led to the closure of many tertiary institutions for a period of six months. The introduction of the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) also generated crisis in many tertiary institutions in Nigeria. In 2003, there was crisis in almost all the tertiary institutions in Nigeria as a result of increase in the prices of petroleum products. Recently, there were reported cases of violent demonstrations alleged to be kick-started and fueled by student union leaders in tertiary institutions. In May 2014, the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) was shut down

To rescue our institutions from this tragedy and to maintain peace and order in tertiary institutions, there should be sustained cordial relationship between the authorities and students of universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

after a violent demonstration by students because of the tuition hike by the management of the institution. To rescue our institutions from this tragedy and to maintain peace and order in tertiary institutions, there should be sustained cordial relationship between the authorities and students of universities, polytechnics and colleges of education. The involvement of students in decision making processes can also serve as an effective strategy for curbing students’ crises. Dialogue can be another effective measure of curbing students’ crises. School authorities should be more democratic and diplomatic in handling students’ affairs. In addition, tertiary institutions should offer courses on conflict management and resolution, peace education, civic education, good governance, basic and human rights, social justice, respect and the rule of law, and virtues of peace, tolerance, patience and respect for life, among others and students should be mandated to take these courses. Dankaka wrote in from Bayero University, Kano

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Peoples Daily, monday, December 22, 2014

2015: Nigerian politicians are accidental politicians - JNI

From Ado Abubakar Musa, Jos

s the 2015 elections draw nearer, Nigerian politicians have been described as accidental politicians who have no focus in the country’s politics. The National Secretary General

of Jama’atu Nasrul Islam, Dr Khalid Aliyu has said. Dr Khalid who said this yesterday during the closing ceremony of the 29th annual Qur’anic competition held at the Jos Central Mosque, in Jos, the Plateau State capital, also explained that the country’s

politicians were materialistic and power acquisitive rather than working for the interest of the masses, adding that he wondered if Nigerians politicians really have the knowledge of the Nigerian constitution. He further called on the Nigerian citizenry that as the February 2015 poll

was fast approaching; voters should be wise while electing who would sincerely represent them at all levels. In furtherance of that, Aliyu urged Muslims across the country to hugely engaged in the Holy Qur’anic recitation just as he said, regular recitation of the glorious Qur’an would help to wipe

Abia Guber: Youths caution PDP over Ikpeazu’s nomination

2015: Arewa group raises alarm over plot to shortchange region By Stanley Onyekwere

socio cultural group, Arewa Youth Integrity Forum has raised an alarm that a cabal within the All Progressives Congress (APC) has hatched a plan to short change the northern geo-political zone for another eight years by planting General Muhammadu Buhari who is too old and weak to coordinate the affairs of the nation. This, the group feared would pave way for Pastor Osibanjo who is much younger, active and belongs to the cabal to take over power thereby making it possible for power to return to the south again for another eight years. National President of the Forum, Mallam Hamid Usman, in a media chat yesterday in Abuja, frowned that the alleged plot is a fallout of series of meetings between a former President and some powerful forces in the APC and have already started playing it out to demonstrate their disdain for the north and its people. Stressing further, Usman insisted that it has become very obvious that those who abandoned very energetic young aspirants like Kwankwaso and Nda Isaiah or even a more connected Atiku Abubakar are out to repeat the selection of an ailing governor in 2007 knowing fully well that age and health are very important in the discharge of national duties. “In the first place they went for a candidate who claimed that he couldn’t afford his nomination form yet he is still their choice because he has no stamina of himself which is a better deal to finance him to power and easily push him out barely 6 months into the tenure which is worst than what happened to Yar’Adua.”

away the current security challenges as well as other societal problems, adding that people should at all the times have respect for the Holy Qur’an. The Secretary General however called on Muslims to be co-operative, patient and forgiven among the Muslim Ummah.

By Ochiaka Ugwu

L-R: Senate President David Mark, Vice-President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, President Goodluck Jonathan, National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Ahmadu Adamu Muazu, Chairman, PDP Board of Trustee, Chief Tony Anineh , Deputy Speaker House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioaha, and Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, during the party fund raising dinner, on Saturday at the State House, in Abuja. Photo: Joe Oroye

Tarzoor attributes victory as PDP flag bearer to God

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

overnorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Terhemen Tarzor, has attributed his victory at the party’s gubernatorial primaries of December 8 as destined by God, noting that he did not have the resources to compete with others

aspirants. Tarzor who spoke on the occasion of a thanksgiving mass organized at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cathedral, Makuri, in honour of his son, Tansi Oryiman Tarzor, who was born on the day he was elected governorship candidate of the PDP, asked the members to pray for the realization of his ambition.

Responding, the cathedral administrator, Very Rev Father Titus Imojime, advised Mr Tarzoor to learn a lesson from King David’s failed plan to build a house for the Lord. Imojime averred that David consulted with Prophet Nathan without hearing from God and asked Tarzor to first present his intention to God.

… As Benue APC re-affirms Ortom’s candidacy

he All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State has reaffirmed the nomination of Chief Dr Samuel Ortom as the governorship candidate of the party in the 2015 general elections. A statement jointly signed by state Chairman, Comrade Abba Yaro, Publicity Secretary, Baba Ayemti and Organizing Secretary, Titus Zam, and made available to journalists in Makurdi yesterday, disclosed that the APC national headquarters in Abuja

has already formally forwarded Chief Dr Ortom’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). “This is to inform all members and supporters of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Benue State that Chief Dr Samuel Ortom is the duly nominated candidate of the party for the 2015 general elections, having met all the requirements of the party. His name has been formally forwarded to the INEC by the national headquarters

of APC Abuja”, the statement read. According to the party chieftains, it became necessary to issue the statement in order to put paid to the misinformation being circulated by certain people that the APC in Benue State has problems with the nomination process. They appealed to supporters and the general public to work hard for the success of Chief Dr Ortom and other APC candidates in the 2015 polls.

s controversy continues to trail the just concluded Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial primaries in Abia State , the PDP Youth Vanguard, (PDPYV) Abia State chapter has cautioned the leadership of the party over the nomination of Okezie Ikpeazu as the party’s flag bearer in the state. In a press statement signed by its state coordinator, Mr. Nicholas Ahamaefule and made available to Peoples Daily, the group drew the attention of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) on the alleged inaccurate tax records of the party’s standard bearer. The group claimed that the nomination of Ikpeazu as the party’s candidate without a verifiable and valid tax record is capable of robbing the party victory at the court if it went ahead to field him in next year’s gubernatorial election. It however warned the party hierarchy of the danger of fielding a candidate whose tax records cannot be verified. “We therefore urged the party leadership to verify the tax record of its Abia State gubernatorial candidate with the view of averting any legal tussle after the election”. Ikpeazu who emerged the Abia State gubernatorial candidate in an election described as free and fair is said to be enmeshed in a fresh controversy over his tax records. But when contacted the Okezie Ikpeazu campaign organisation denied any complicity in its candidate’s tax records.

PAGE 17

Peoples Daily, monday, December 22, 2014

Politics

2015: Transforming Katsina State is possible – Masari From Mohammad Ibrahim, Kaduna

L-R: Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal; Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, and Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC) Sokoto, Alhaji Suleiman Isa, during the presentation of Kia cars to chairmen, secretaries and other party officials, last Friday in Sokoto. Photo: NAN

Bode George needs rehabilitation - Group From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

socio-political body, Group of Concerned Lagosians (GCL), loyal to the immediate past Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro has replied the former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George urging him to seek rehabilitation over his post traumatic stress arising from his stint in jail. George had on Friday described Obanikoro as a lunatic over his desire to seek justice and redress in the allegedly rigged governorship primaries of the PDP.

In a statement signed by Mr. Yinka Sotade, the group said that for the need to set the records straight, engaging Chief Bode George in an exchange of words would mean painfully indulging a man in desperate need of social rehabilitation after a traumatic stint in jail. The statement reads in parts: “Indeed, there is nothing unexpected about the recent tantrums by Chief Bode George targeted at Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, considering the ignoble role he played in the fraudulent outcome of the Lagos PDP gubernatorial primaries. For whatever it is worth, it is to Chief

Bode George’s credit that his family name is tainted and now constitutes a generational blemish as Nigeria’s leading metaphor for gross moral deficit, lack of integrity and public dishonor. “As Chief Bode George embarks on his feeble attempts at painting a picture of Senator Obanikoro that exists only in his perverted imagination, let someone remind him that the post-traumatic stress disorder that comes with a time in jail would take more than just an unholy alliance with a pharmacist to heal. “It is instructive to state here that not only is Senator Obanikoro

properly raised in the best of Yoruba tradition, he owes a large part of his successful public service career to a childhood and education built on godly principles and sound moral values; qualities evidently lacking in the life of the man known as Chief Bode George. “Senator Obanikoro in his entire life and public service career has never been accused, arrested or convicted for fraud whether at home in Nigeria or abroad. Senator Obanikoro has been happily and responsibly married for 34 years while Chief Bode George and his Man Friday, Seye Ogunlewe are known as serial wife abusers.

3 names submitted for Niger deputy Gov From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

he search for a running mate for the Peoples Democratic Party PDP candidate for Niger State governorship in 2015 general election, Alhaji Umar Mohammad Nasko may soon be over with 3 names submitted for selection to that effect. Investigations by our reporter revealed that the three (3) names were those of the Commissioner for Local Government and

Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Liman Mohammed Isah Kantigi, the Commissioner of Agriculture and Rural Development who is also overseeing Ministry of Tertiary Education, Professor Mohammed Kuta Yahaya and the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Idris Saidu Ndako Kpaki. Analysts are of the opinion however that Liman Kantigi as deputy to Umar Nasko could be dangerous and disastrous to the state as he is seen to be a dictator

and can never be absolutely loyal, obedient or respect him as a person therefore his emergence cannot be appreciable to the state. On the only professor who has served Governor Aliyu diligently, who has every attribute to be the governor if the governorship was to be zoned to Niger South in the next political dispensation but unfortunately it is not, Prof. Kuta Yahaya who many said can make things happen, a democrat and manipulator, intelligent and

educationist, he is full of ideas but can he be controlled by Umar Nasko if he eventually emerged as his deputy in 2015. The last man standing, the present SSG, Ndako Idris Kpaki is a reserved person, patient, trusted and much reliable if he eventually emerged as deputy governor to Umar Nasko, accordingly he is seen as the best amongst the three who might not have problems with Umar Nasko if he wins the governorship in next year election.

ormer Speaker House of Representatives now a governorship candidate under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari said transforming Katsina State is possible as he urged its citizens to unite and vote for his party come 2015 election. According to him, his party is not afraid of the sitting governor as they prepared to take over the leadership of the state. Alhaji Masari disclosed this while addressing Katsina and Daurawa indigenes resident in Kaduna at the weekend. Masari expressed worry over the level of poverty among the people of the state, saying majority of the people in Katsina are hungry because of lack of good leadership in the state. He said the state is now backward in virtually all aspects of life, saying if elected as the governor of the state he intend to bring back the good image of the state. “Transforming Katsina is possible but we must elect right leaders to govern us. Presently we know that our educational sector has collapsed where the children of the rich attend different schools from that of the children of poor. Today, most of the leaders don’t send their children to public schools and public hospitals. “We must change that attitude because we intend to bring sanity into the system. If we are elected our children and that of the poor will attend same public schools and public Hospitals. In fact, we will not appoint anybody into public office who will go against our decision to send his child to public schools and hospitals,” he said, He added that this change is possible but because bad leaders occupied positions they made it to look as if is not possible. The governorship aspirants also added tasked the indigenes of the state to learn to hold their leaders accountable for mis-governance as he tasked the people to unite and love each other “If we truly love Katsina State we must love each other. This is the only way we can forge ahead. We must find a way to empower our youths so as to be self dependants,” he said. He also called on them to make sure they collected their PVCs to enable them to vote for the right leaders.

PDP demands probe of Edo council’s allocation From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

eoples Democratic Party (PDP), Edo State chapter yesterday demanded the probe of allocations to 18 Local Government councils in the state since November 2008 when Comrade Adams

Oshiomhole became the governor of the state. It described the governor’s request for N2 billion loan requests as unwarranted, pointing out that “the move is in total agreement with the PDP position that the state is broke.” Addressing newsmen recently in

Benin City, the state PDP Chairman, Chief Dan Orbih alleged that the governor has received over N160bn as allocation for local governments in the state in the past six years and regretted that “what get to the councils barely pay staff salaries.” Orbih who further disclosed that

each local government gets N150m monthly from the federation coffers called on the anti-graft agencies to audit the council’s accounts. The PDP chairman also took a swipe at the state assembly members for voting against local government autonomy bill and urged Edo people

to vote for credible representatives at next year’s general elections. On the return of two PDP state legislators to the All Progressives Congress (APC) faction of the assembly, Orbih said: “they went there on a private visit. Anybody can visit anywhere”.

PAGE 18

Peoples Daily, monday, December 22, 2014

Politics

‘Nashuni’s candidature best for Katsina’ INTERVIEW

ow the PDP primaries in Katsina State were concluded, but some aspirants who lost victory seems to be aggrieved over the outcome of the elections. What can you say about it? I am calling on the defeated Peoples Democratic Party aspirants and their supporters to eschew anger of defeat and work for the victory of the party in forthcoming 2015 polls, so that he wins the elections. Politicians must not only believe that one person wins elections among many, but be seen to be doing so by embracing the winner and working for the party to win elections without rancour that could lead to its failure during polls. In truth, it is very absurd and disappointing to fail elections, but that should be the beginning of every struggle because whoever believes in success must believe in failure. This is a lesson in life. Our aspirants should eschew bitterness of defeat and move on in support and loyalty to the PDP. It is a testimony of a good democrat and an exhibition of a sportsmanship. The emergence of PDP gubernatorial candidate, Alhaji Musa Nashuni is good for the party, and the state as a whole. He is eminently qualified because he is a complete gentleman. I am certain Governor Shema has made a wise choice and for the good of the state. What remains for all PDP members is to support him with all sincerity, so that he wins the election, since ideals and philosophies of the party is what everyone of them stand for. Just recently, there was outcry in a statement credited to Governor Shema, in which he referred to the opposition party members as cockroaches that should be crushed. How would you react to this? Yes, Governor Shema was quoted out of context. The opposition misconstrued what he meant and made a political capital out of it. There is a saying in Hausa, dokin mai baki ya fi gudu, meaning empty vessel

Mal. Ayuba Gambarawa is the Chairman, Katsina Spotslight Football Club. He is a fan of Governor Shema whom he calls his mentor and role model on account of his tremendous achievements in all sectors. In this interview with Ese Awhotu, he defended Shema’s decision to support Katsina state PDP governorship candidate, Musa Nashuni and other burning issues.

makes the loudest noise. Those who are making the hullabaloo are empty and could not match let alone defeat the legacies of Shema’s administration in Katsina State. That is why they are ready to misinterpret his remarks with a bad intent. But honestly, they ignored his tremendous feats. Why the opposition and the media should deliberately ignore and refuse to report the killing of a PDP supporter at Karofi village when the campaign of Aminu Masari of APC visited recently? Why? So, these are the issues. All those calls by some persons for the State House of Assembly to impeach Governor Shema over the comment are rattling of a person seeking public attention, which will not hold water. I am calling on the public, including foreign missions in this country to ignore and disregard these calls and publications calling for Shema’s impeachment and regard it as a distraction to cause, giving a dog a bad name to hang it, and score cheap political points. It’s all political for which our country is known for. Many governors are being accused of non performance in the administration of their state; can one say the same in respect of Governor Shema?

Mal. Ayuba Gambarawa To say it all, anybody who is criticising Shema is either of the three - an ignorant person or an envious person or a hypocrite who knows, but choose to ignore the Shema revolution in Katsina State. Though pages of newspapers cannot contain his laudable achievements in all sectors, let me

“

Governor Shema was quoted out of context. The opposition misconstrued what he meant and made a political capital out of it. There is a saying in Hausa, dokin mai baki ya fi gudu, meaning empty vessel makes the loudest noise. Those who are making the hullabaloo are empty and could not match let alone defeat the legacies of Shema’s administration in Katsina State

say mention just a few. Without fear of contradiction, Governor Shema has not just achieved laurels but launched a revolution that transformed the state for decades to come. For instance, in the education sector, despite the population explosion in students/pupils enrolment, he has constructed over 200 new secondary schools across the state, equipped and funded them appropriately in the last 7 years. To boost primary education, he has been providing the state counterpart funding of SUBEB which earned him the best state SUBEB performing governor with a trophy and 100 million prizes from UBEC Abuja. Not done yet, he has so far sent over 330 candidates abroad to study courses in medicine, nursing, Arabic computer calligraphy and editing, pharmacy, etc. He established a French language Centre in Katsina capital. He constructed 250 bed-capacities Specialist Orthopedic Teaching

Hospital, including staff quarters, school and teaching facilities, the first of its kind in Africa. He completed the multi-billion naira abandoned Olympic size stadium in the state capital. Governor Shema has constructed a 49.6 kilometre six lane dualised ring road around the state capital. He dualised major roads in the old seven LGAs of the state – Daura, Kankia, Dutsinma, Funtua, Mani, Malumfashi, Katsina. In the area of mass housing, Governor Shema has constructed 30 blocks of houses with a mosque and shopping mall in all the 34 LGAs, totaling 1,020 housing units. He constructed a total of 776 housing units within the state capital, and his administration is currently constructing an additional 250 duplex housing units and has commenced the Katsina State housing projects in Abuja. To crown it all, the projects are too numerous to mention. As I said earlier, time and space would not permit me to enumerate all the laudable achievements of this noble, tested and trusted man. But there are complaints from some PDP members on the choice of Musa Nashuni as governorship candidate, in your opinion what do think informed Governor Shema’s decision to support him? It is because he believes Nashuni to be eminently qualified to protect and preserve the legacies he laboured for 8 good years to establish in our state. That is why I said in the beginning of this interview that it is a wise decision. Nashuni has been in Shema’s administration from its inception to date. And besides he is gentleman who is capable to deliver and continue with the good policies and programmes of development. I am calling on all politicians to see reason in Shema’s decision and support Musa Nashuni during forthcoming elections.

Bauchi youths, govt in tango over PDP guber candidate From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

auchi Youth Foundation (BAYOF), a nongovernmental organization with over 18, 000 memberships across the state has kicked against the emergence of Mohammed Auwal Jatau as the Bauchi PDP gubernatorial flag-bearer for the February 2015 general elections,

just as another youth forum said Jatau is competent The youth organization has appealed to the state Governor, Isa Yuguda to review, re-consider and re-strategize for the sake of PDP on what will be best for Bauchi State ahead of the coming elections. BAYOF in a press conference in Bauchi weekend, asked

Governor Isa Yuguda to invite all the PDP governorship contestants in the state to hear their grievances and chart a way forward for the party against its likely extinction in Bauchi. The state coordinator of the foundation, Saleh Jibrin Barde described the Bauchi PDP gubernatorial flag-bearer, Mohammed Auwal Jatau as

incompetent for the state plum job, and therefore not the best candidate for BAYOF. According to the coordinator, unless things change for the better, the Bauchi youth will find another political party where they think they can have a credible candidate who will provide more dividends of democracy to Bauchi.

However, in a swift reaction the Chairman of the Bauchi Forum for Youth and Good Governance, (BFYGG) Kabiru Ali, said the allegations leveled against Auwal Jatau are malicious, as according to him, the PDP guber candidate “has all the credentials and experience to govern not only the state but the country at large.”

Page 19

Peoples Daily, monday, December 22, 2014

Kebbi sets to get Dangote’s $9bn agric investment From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

ebbi state is in line to get investment worth over $9 billion in its rich agricultural produce from the Dangote group. The state governor Alhaji Usman Saidu Dakingari said the President of the group and

Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote has expressed his plans to cultivate and develop farmlands and food processing factory in Kebbi state. Dakingari said for such investment to materialise his administration has to provide enabling environment as incentive to prospective

investors who want to take advantage of the huge agriculture potential of the state. He also said it was to encourage investment in the agro-allied potential of the state that prompted his administration to build the Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport in Birnin Kebbi for easy

movement of businessmen who wish to invest in the state. “for years Kebbi has been exporting onions to Morocco and other countries in Africa and the Middle East but farmers and farm produce buyers face hardship evacuating the produce from the state,but air freighting of farm produce direct from

L-R: Chairman, Airtel Nigeria, Justice Alfa Belgore (rtd); Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, and Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya, during the premiere of Airtel Touching Lives TV series, at the weekend in Lagos.

Why we restructured- NAHCO By Etuka Sunday

he Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO aviance) has cleared the air on the reasons why it undertook its recent restructuring. The Company said in a statement in Lagos that the exercise was carried out in order to reposition the company for a more dominant role in the Nigerian aviation industry. The Manager, Corporate Communications & Branding of the Company, Mr Tayo Ajakaye was quoted in the statement as saying that although the number of staff asked to go was really small compared to the huge working population of the company, the workers unions in the sector were carried along during the entire process.

He said about 11 managerial staff were affected in the process. Ajakaye recalled that between September 12 and 14 this year, a retreat was held by the senior management of the Company with Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) on the board’s decision to reposition NAHCO aviance for emerging opportunities in the sector. At the retreat, it was agreed that the Company was top heavy and that there was the need to trim down the managerial staff for the Company to respond positively to strategic investments being made in the company by its shareholders. Ajakaye said it was on the basis of this that some of the managerial staff were asked to

UBA launches new alert innovation across Africa

go after a befitting severance package had been agreed on with the unions. Ajakaye denied insinuations that all 11 staff were sacked pointing out that a few of them were redeployed to other units where their services would be more relevant to the Company, but instead of moving, they elected to resign. The nahco aviance spokesman berated people whom he said had been going round some newspapers houses and spreading falsehood against the company. He said it was laughable that some staff whose names are being added to the list of those disengaged by the alarmists are actually still in the service of the Company. He maintained that before the decision to let go was finally

arrived, the files of the concerned staff were looked into and it was found that a few of them were given illegal employment while one or two others have disciplinary issues. He added that unlike the propagandists would like the world to believe, there is no tension whatsoever in nahco aviance as all management and staff were busy trying to clear the backlog of cargo in the tarmac and its warehouse occasioned by the closure of the warehouse for two weeks by the Nigeria Customs Service. He said the Company is looking inwards and realigning its human resource to move it to the next level adding that although the restructuring is continuing, the other phases of the exercise would not involve the loss of jobs.

AACN new boss pledges support to capital market >>Pg 20

>>Pg 21

the state would create bigger market for farmers who will have the opportunity to choose the market that is most profitable and earn more for their efforts.” He told reporters. Dankingari said “ Dangote’s company approached Kebbi state and expressed the desire to put an investment of about $9 billion, in sugar cane, rice and maybe ranching. I have seen such investment in Kenya and other places like Namibia. Meat produced from these countries are processed and exported overseas to Europe. If people like Dangote come in and say this is possible; we have fruits, onions; we have one of the best markets for onion in Kebbi State. These days we produce watermelon too, we produce mangoes and all these are things that can go overseas,”. He said the state has the clement weather to flowers for export and with the airport in the state, warehoused farm produce could be exported any time from the state to the countries where they are needed. “At present there is a farmer just around the airport that has started warehousing; he will build warehouses for both export and import. These are things that will not happen in one day but the airport is futuristic. In the last two weeks, we started flying in and out of Kebbi, today the aircraft that we started with was full all the time and at times we had to leave passengers behind. So, by God’s grace, we are likely to improve and get a better aircraft and we are sure we will take 60 per cent of the passengers in Sokoto,” he said. The governor said commitment and prudence are the factors that made the airport possible, adding that there is a plan to invite international carriers like Ethiopian Airlines, Emirates Cargo to use the airport for their cargo operations. “The cost of the project is within the range of about N17 billion and when we were building the airport I said it is futuristic, we want the best out of the airport and I also want a situation whereby we can lease it out. You just talked about states not having funds; maybe airlines like Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines can lease this kind of airport and make use of it for cargo and passenger operations. If you have regular flights no matter where you drop cargo or passengers they can connect to wherever they want to go to. And with airlines like Emirates, I am sure they can make this place busy and connect even West Africa from here like Niger, Cotonue, Ivory Coast and other countries like Morocco, Libya, and Algeria are shorter from Kebbi State than any other place around here,” the Governor said.

Page 20

Peoples Daily, monday, December 22, 2014

Business

UBA launches new alert innovation across Africa

Stories from Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

ustomers of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc in the 18 African countries where the bank has operations can now receive transaction alerts on their twitter handle as direct messages a feat the bank says is an innovation to be launched first from the pan-African bank and currently the only bank in Africa to offer this service. “What we have done is take social media banking to a new level. Twitter is increasingly

becoming a popular means of communication especially among the young adults. As a highly innovative bank, we are giving the Millennials, who are increasingly banking with us an option to get transaction alerts on their preferred platform” said Rasheed Adegoke, UBA’s Director, Information Technology. Before now customers can only receive transaction alerts as text messages on their mobile phones and as e-mails. The UBA Twitter Notification Service will not however, replace the current SMS alerts system

in place for all of the bank’s customers, but will complement it for added convenience for all those who subscribe to the service. UBA customers seeking to receive twitter powered transaction alerts through their twitter account should visit the UBA Group website or the UBA twitter page to register. On the UBA Group website, customers will be requested to click on the Twitter notification service page, and enter their account number then click on submit. Follow the displayed instructions to log into their

personal account and enable access. Once this process is completed, the customer will start receiving transaction alerts securely. The alerts will only be seen by the receiver, since it goes into his or her direct message box, just like an SMS message going to a phone. The introduction of this service reinforces UBA’s growing presence and engagement with its numerous customers on social media. UBA has been acknowledged as one of Nigeria’s leading banks in the social media space. In February 2014, a social media report by Alder Consulting ranked the bank among the top three, in effective use of social media in Nigeria. UBA is active on Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, Instagram and Google plus and

runs a corporate blog. With a customer base in excess of seven million, UBA has invested heavily in building a robust and secure e-Banking platform that supports its e-banking operations globally through strategic partnerships with various local and international organizations. The UBA Group is a highly diversified financial services provider, with business offices in New York, Paris and a subsidiary in London. A leading player on the African continent, UBA has significant market share and operations in 19 different African countries. The Group has a strong retail franchise across the continent offering its more than seven million customers a bouquet of products and services tailored to meet their different financial needs.

UBA Capital: shareholders approve change of name

T L-R: Minister of State for Power, Hon. Mohammed Wakil; Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Godknows Igali; Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke; Head of Engineering, SCC Nigeria Ltd, Mr. Efem Frank; Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe, and Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, inspecting the progress of work at Kashimbila multpurpose dam, last Friday in Taraba state. Photo: NAN

ICAN, NNDC collaborate to enhance accounting education in North

he Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria is partnering the New Nigeria Development Company to boost the quality of accounting education in the northern part of the country. The partnership according to the institute would be achieved through ICAN Students’ Special Project. Following this, it said ICAN would sign an agreement with the NNDC in Kaduna. The institute further noted that the agreement will be signed by the President, Mr. Chidi Ajaegbu, and the Group Managing Director, NNDC, Mr. Ahmed Muhammed. According to Ajaegbu , “The SSP was introduced to the NNDC by ICAN in 2006 and both parties entered into a Memorandum of Understanding which led to the immediate establishment of three ICAN/NNDC study centres, namely: the NNDC/ICAN study centre, Kaduna; the NNDC/

ICAN study centre, Kano; and the NNDC/ICAN study centre, Ilorin. “Since the inception of the project to the May 2014 diet of ICAN examination, the three centres have produced a total of 539 chartered accountants. This is broken down as follows: ICAN/ NNDC study centre, Kaduna – 211; ICAN/NNDC study centre, Kano – 191; and ICAN/NNDC study centre, Ilorin – 137.” The ICAN president said under the enhanced agreement, which would become effective after the signing of the agreement on Friday, the NNDC/ICAN study centres would be extended to all the 19 states in the North. According to him, the move is meant to address the lopsided nature of students’ enrolment and poor performance in accounting examinations in the area. Ajaegbu said the agreement also provided that ICAN would continue to set standards tailored towards the peculiarities of the NNDC locations to ensure

continuous implementation of the goals and objectives of setting up the centres. It would also manage the centres and give periodic situation reports on them. On its part, the NNDC would mobilise adequate number of students for each diet of ICAN examination as well as provide incentives to students to promote their sustained interest in the programme, the group stated. It added that a good number of other state governments had since signified interest in partnering ICAN and the NNDC to establish the study centres in their states. Among them are Sokoto, Gombe, Katsina and Jigawa states. He said, “The SSP as an ICAN initiative was borne out of the desire of the institute to assist would-be chartered accountants from disadvantaged areas of the country to attain their dream of becoming members of the institute.”

he board and management of UBA Capital has gotten the approval of the shareholders to change the name of the company to United Capital Plc. The approval was given as a special resolutions passed by the shareholders at the firms extraordinary general meeting(EGM) held in Lagos . The change became necessary to reflect its separate identity from United Bank for Africa Plc while a special resolution was equally passed allowing the amendment of the memorandum and articles of association. The resolution read, “That the memorandum and articles of association of the company be amended accordingly.” Other resolution also passed by the shareholders was reviewing the company’s expansion plan, the ‘Regional Business Expansion Across Africa’ for which it has earlier raise funds via rights. The resolution allowed the change of use of rights issue proceeds. It read, “That on the recommendation of the directors that in view of the health concerns in some parts of Africa and subject to obtaining the requisite approvals and amendments by the Securities and Exchange Commission and other regulators, the board of directors be and is hereby authorised to discontinue the regional business expansion across Africa as approved in the rights circular of 2013 and transfer the sum of

N402.3m originally meant for the Regional Business Expansion Across Africa into the working capital of the company.” UBA Capital, a financial and investment services group, was a subsidiary of United Bank For Africa Plc until 2012 when the bank decided to operate as a standalone commercial bank. This diversion became necessary following directive from the Central Bank of Nigeria, mandating commercial banks to divest from their non-banking business. In January 2013, the Nigerian Stock Exchange four billion ordinary shares of the company was incorporated into its Daily Official List at N1.16 per share. According to the Exchange, the company, which is listed in the other financial services subsector of the financial services sector, currently has a market capitalisation of N9.120bn and six billion shares on issue. The company paid had paid its shareholders N1.5bn , representing 25 kobo per share, as dividend for the 2013 financial year after its gross earnings and profit after tax rose by 241 per cent and 106 per cent for the year. It was a year in which the company repositioned itself for growth, according to the Group Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Sanni. “2013 was a year of laying a solid foundation for the legacy we are building as Africa’s leading investment banking group,” she said.

Page 21

Peoples Daily, monday, December 22, 2014

Capital Market

NSE: Investors lose N829bn in 10 days Stories from Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

ransaction on the floor of the Nigeria Stock Exchange has continued on a bearish trend as the market indicators depreciated significantly. Specifically, Market Capitalization of listed equities depreciated by 1.49% to close on Friday at N10.006 trillion from N10.156 trillion it opened with while the NSE All-Share Index equally dropped by 1.49 per cent to close at 30,306.51 basis points from 30,763.38

basis point recorded the previous week. Similarly, all the indices drifted lower during the week with exception of the following indices: NSE Insurance Index, NSE Industrial Goods Index and NSE ASeM Index that rose by 1.81%, 0.96% and 6.72% respectively. However, the NSE 30 index fell by 18.58 basis points to 1,378.87, NSE Banking dropped by 11.29 to 312.66, NSE Consumer goods index went down by 4.98 to 783.47, NSE Oil/Gas index declined by 12.01 to 366.79 points, NSE

Lotus II decrease by 15.72 to 1,972.13. Review of activity in the market showed that a turnover of 5.409 billion shares worth N46.470 billion in 22,986 deals were traded by investors in contrast to a total of 1.810 billion shares valued at N28.918 billion that exchanged hands last week in 20,677 deals. The Financial Services Industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 4.991 billion shares valued at N37.070 billion traded in 13,641 deals; thus contributing 92.26% and 79.77% to the

L-R: 1st Deputy Vice-President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Deacon Titus Soetan; ICAN President, Mr. Chidi Ajaegbu; Executive Director, Personal and Business Banking, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Mr. Obinnia Abajue, and Head, e-Business, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Mrs. Oluwatobi Boshoro, during the launch/unveiling of the ICAN-Stanbic IBTC Bank credit card, recently in Lagos.

AACN new boss pledges support to capital market

he Association of Assets Custodians of Nigeria has pledged commitment to work with relevant stakeholders to ensure that foreign investors have a better understanding of investment strategies and processes in the nations capital market. The new President of the association, Mrs Kemi Adewole, in her acceptance speech noted that by providing the investors with information about positive developments in the market, they would be better position to see through the negative news about insecurity and the likes and realise that they stand to get strong returns on their investments in the long run. “Over the years, we have worked closely with the registrars, the stockbrokers, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Nigerian Stock Exchange, the

Central Bank and the Central Securities Clearing System. “Over that time, we found out that everybody is working but then we need to also work in concert. That we have been able to achieve. We have been able to ensure that foreign portfolio investors at least have a better understanding of investment strategies and processes in Nigeria.” We have been able to put them in touch with key policy makers to ensure that even if policies are not changed, at least the policy makers know how foreign portfolio investors are thinking and what they would like to see in the market. In the last two years, we have tried to work with market operators on a number of initiatives. At the moment we are working with the central bank and the FMDA; we are looking at the CCI process with the central bank

and we are trying to see how that process can be more efficient”, she assured Until her election, Adewole was the association’s vicepresident. She said, “Nigeria receives its share of publicity and sometimes a lot of that publicity is negative. So, what we try and do as the Association of Assets Custodians is to ensure that the international community does not only have a lot of information, it has the right information. Then we make ourselves available to clarify whatever issues foreign portfolio investors may have with investing in the country.” Adewole, who said the journey of the association so far had neither been easy nor rough, stressed that the association, which was established in 2009, started at the right time in the country.

total equity turnover volume and value respectively. The Conglomerates Industry followed with a turnover of 186.245 million shares worth N723.491 million in 1,400 deals. The third place was occupied by the Consumer Goods Industry with 92.022 million shares worth N4.550 billion in 3,784 deals. Trading in the Top Three Equities namely- Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, FBN Holdings Plc and Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc (measured by volume) accounted for 3.961 billion shares worth N29.085 billion in 4,493 deals, contributing 73.24% and 62.59% to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively. Twenty-three (23) equities appreciated in price during the week higher than ten (10) equities of the preceding week. Fifty-one (51) equities depreciated in price lower than sixty-eight (68) equities of the preceding week, while one hundred and twenty three (123) equities remained unchanged higher than one hundred and nineteen (119) recorded in the preceding week. E-Tranzact International led gainers table in per centage terms, appreciating by 15.29 per cent or N0.39 kobo to close at N2.94 kobo, Omoluabi Savings and Loans followed with a gain of 14.29 per cent or N0.10 kobo to N0.80 kobo while Wapic Insurance advanced by 10.53 per cent or N0.06 kobo. Other

companies that recorded price appreciation were Beta glass company (Nig) Plc 10.25 per cent, Honey Well Flour Mill Plc 9.03 per cent, Mansard Insurance Plc 8.62 per cent, Fidson Healthcare 8.41 per cent, Custodian and Allied Plc 5.23 plc, Cement Company of Northern Nigeria Plc 4.75 per cent and Smart Products Nigeria Plc 4.72 per cent. On the other hand, Champion Breweries Plc topped losers chart for the week, dropping by 29.58 per cent or N2.05 kobo to close at N4.88 kobo, Flour Mills Nigeria Plc trailed with a loss of 18.82 per cent or N8.82 kobo to close at N35.50 kobo while PZ Industries 18.49 per cent or N5.69 kobo to close at N25.09 kobo. Other companies that recorded price depreciation were R.T. Briscoe (Nig) Plc 15.85 per cent , Dangote Flour Mills Plc 14.05 per cent, Presco Plc, Pfizer Products Plc 12.79 per cent, AIICO Insurance 11.69 per cent, Livestock Feeds Plc 10.30 per cent Also traded during the week were a total of 28,556 units of Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) valued at N531,541.14 executed in 21 deals compared with a total of 1,299 units valued at N452,196.95 transacted last week in 21 deals Similarly, a total of 9,000 units of FGN bonds valued at N9.849 million were executed in 5 deals compared with a total of 800 units valued at N825,011.67 transacted last week in 1 deal.

Flour Mills lists key growth strategies

he Chairman Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, Mr. John Coumantaros, has stated that the company will continue to investment in human capital development, recruitment as well as building stronger brand as key initiative for growth. “With over 12,000 people and multifaceted operations in food, agro-allied and supporting business, we can only be as strong as the weakest link in our chain. Our success depends our collective commitment to the vision and working together to achieving it,” he added. Coumantaros, who assured shareholders of improved returns on investment while speaking at the employee award forum held at the company’s headquarters in Lagos, noted that the company has been positioned to create more value for its shareholders. Coumantaros, who took over from his father and founder of the company, George Coumantaros, in October, assured the employees and shareholders of the company

that he would not deviate from the core values the company rode on to emerge as a leading player in the country’s economy. Stressing that the company’s rise to prominence was due to the efforts of dedicated employees and loyal shareholder, the Flour Mills chairman said the company would continue to commit itself to human capacity development initiatives as it looks forward to a more robust future. He explained that the company had grown from a single-site mill to a key player in the economy, creating over 32,000 jobs; over 12, 000 direct jobs and 20,000 indirect jobs. He said, “Looking at these intimidating accomplishments, I can only feel humble at the prospects of leading such a highly successful organisation into the next chapter of our history. There might be challenges, but there are also fantastic opportunities for all. The tasks ahead require continued hard work, commitment and resolute focus to get the job done.”

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Peoples Daily, monday, December 22, 2014

Business

FG to commission Kashimbila dam by February 2015

By Mohammed Usman

he Minister of Water Resources, Mrs Sarah Reng Ochekpe, has said that kashimbila multi-purpose dam project would be commissioned early February in the year 2015. The minister who stated this while fielding questions from press men during the inspection of the project, expressed satisfaction with the level of project completion so far. “..And we are happy today as we stand with you here the project is at 95% completion. we have already set the processes that will lead to the commissioning of the

project in early February in 2015, all things being equal.” Ochekpe who emphasized the enormous tourism potential of the project, stressed that they would want to maximize every opportunity available to utilize the potentials of the dam. She thanked President Goodluck Jonathan for his effort to see the completion of the project and its effective usage. While fielding questions too, the minister of power, Mr. Chinedu Nebo said that the increase of stipulated 10MW to 40MW was part of the maximization of available resources. Nebo said that the transmission

infrastructure of the hydro power section of the dam would strengthen Taraba, Benue and Plateau states and so forth. Also, the minister of tourism, Mr. Edem Duke, who emphasized the uniqueness of the kashimbila dam in the continent of Africa, said that the project team has developed the master plan as to how to integrate the tourism into the project, adding “A number of the facilities that are already on ground are enough to jump start the tourism elements and other kind of adventure. The dam which treated water supply to its immediate environs was said to be 60,000CU.M per

day, was as a result of anticipation of the environmental disaster that may follow the breakdown of Lake Nyos in Cameroon which may flood states like Taraba, Benue, Cross river and delta with poisonous water. It could be recalled that in August 1986, there was eruption of Lake Nyos in Cameroon which released poisonous gas and causes extensive flooding that led to the death of about 1,700 people, 4000 herds of Cattle, 330 sheep and thousands of other livestock in the villages of Cham, Nyos and subum just downstream of the lake, hence, the kashimbila dam was conceived and started in 2010.

Officers of the Nigeria Customs Service Anti-Smuggling Team in charge of Jigawa, Kano, and Katsina, off loading an impounded trailer fully loaded with second hand clothes and other textile materials smuggled through Geidam/Yobe boarder, at the weekend in Kano.

Debour Nig Ltd rewards staff for hard work ...Reiterates commitment to staff welfare

From Tope Musowo, Lagos

ebour Nigeria Limited,a building construction company with its headquarter in Lagos has reiterated its commitment to improve the welfare of its staff members. The Managing Director of the company. Engr. Jimoh Gbadebo in his address at the end of the year programme organized in Lagos said the significance of the event is to reward hard work among the members of staff and appreciate his clients for job well done for their outstanding contributions in the last one year ,which he said has become an annual

programme to merry and get together every year. Engr. Gbadebo said “we have taken giant strides in the last few years, growing from strength to strength with excellent service delivery resulting in increase in the company’s clientele base. It has been an excellent season for us and we must appreciate our partners; the staff, our suppliers and numerous clients without which there would be no Debour Nigeria Limited” Addressing news men after the progamme, the MD said he was proud to say he has the best members of staff and the day presents him an opportunity to celebrate their

outstanding contributions as some outstanding members of staff received certificates of excellence and other incentives in recognition of their contributions in helping the company to achieve its goals. In response to the MD’s good gesture, Mr Chidozie Onuoha, from Hira Industry in United Arab Emirate, UAE and Rev. Folarin Fabiyi,the senior pastor of Decross Gospel Mission Lagos who both described Engr. Jimoh Gbadebo as a humble, reliable and generous man lauded his efforts at improving his staff’s welfare, particularly in the area of human capital development, as the company is preparing to

send some members of staff for further training both locally and internationally. Engr. Jimoh expressed optimism on what the new year promises for the company as they would be starting with new contracts from different companies, meanwhile, all the members of staff with their families that came with them went home with wonderful christmas packages to enjoy the xmas holiday. Also briefing news men after the event, Egr. Jimoh Gbadebo,the CEO of the company said the significance of the event was to reward hard work and commitment.

Adamawa govt presents N100bn budget to assembly From Umar Dankano, Yola

he Adamawa State Government has over the weekend presented a budget estimate of N100, 890,536,900.00 as proposed annual budget for the 2015 fiscal year before the State House of Assembly. Governor Bala James Ngillari while presenting the budget christened, “Budget of Consolidation and Hope”, noted that strict fiscal measures are employed to ensure its success. Ngillari stated that the Budget is articulated on the current economic indicators of $ 65 per Barrel , 7.9% inflation rate and 10% GDP projection economic growth rate. “The projected oil price is based on the current oil price volatility in the world market. out of this total proposed budget estimate, the sum of N42.589 billion which is also represent 42% of the total proposed budget is equally being earmarked for Capital development Programmes and Services in the State,” he explained. The governor noted that the sum of N45,821,260,800 would be derived from the statutory federal allocation, N15,981,709,400 from the Value Added Tax, while the sum of N26,597,595,600 would be derived from capital receipts, excess crude N 2,000,000,000.00, ecological fund 500,000,000.00, petroleumsubsidy-SURE-P 664,000,000.00, state of emergency (Security) N1,000,000,000.00 totaling N100,890,536,900.00 accordingly. He noted that the sum of N58b has been earmarked as recurrent expenditure while N42b has been set aside for capital projects. Ngillari noted that stringent fiscal control mechanisms are employed to ensure that all loopholes and leakages are blocked in order to ensure high performance of the budget. Responding to the presentation at the floor of the house, the Speaker Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri said they will scrutinize the budget page by page in order to expunge all loopholes before approving it. He urged the government to expand its IGR base, adding that the house will synergize with the state government to ensure that the IGR profile of the state is enhanced as a way of improving the economy of the state especially in view of the dwindling oil revenue that is currently prevailing at the international market.

Peoples Daily, monday, December 22, 2014

Stock Watch

Report as at Thursday, December 18 2014

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Peoples Daily, Monday, DecEMber 22, 2014

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Special Report

Christian pilgrimage: The exodus to Israel and effects on Nigeria

By Evelyn Okakwu

ilgrimage has often times been regarded as having a pictorial characteristic with the very essence of live which is a journey back to the author of creation. Often times, life has been described as the journey to eternity; the only means of returning to God at the end of time. Therefore, when people embark on a spiritual exodus for the sole aim of acquainting themselves with the account of creation; the closeness to God; as explained by pilgrims is to feel a pinch of what the life beyond, holds for all men. Over 2000 years since the coming of Christ, Christians have continued to troop in and out of the land of Israel, popularly regarded as the home town of the bible, to catch a glimpse of the presence of Jesus, on earth. Israel is regarded as the home of the bible because it embodies the geographical location where a majority of the significant events characterising the presence of God had taken place among men. From the time of the Old

Testament when the battle for supremacy began among the kings of Israel and their neighboring towns, the promised land of the bible had recorded significant accounts of God’s divine interventions, on their behalf; to prove to them that he, (God) was almighty and that he would never forsake his chosen people. A significant example was the account of the battle between Elijah and the prophets of Baal, recorded in the Boible, in the 1st book of Kings Chapter 24; where Elijah called down fire, from heaven to prove to the prophets of Baal and their leader queen Elizabeth that they were serving a false God. This took place at Mount Carmel where God answered the prayers of his prophet Elijah and destroyed the prophets of Baal to prove to Queen Jezebel that he was the Almighty. “Shortly after fire came down from heaven and consumed the sacrifice, altar and even the water, prepared by Elijah, he had the prophets of Baal slaughtered at the Brook Kishon”. At this site, the statue of Elijah is erected, while

slaying the prophets of Baal to commemorate the historic event for all ages. Also the coming of Christ; his birth, suffering and death which all took place at about the same country; are significant traces to historic sites attractive, even to none Christians across the world. The various sites and the structures depicting the events have further enhanced the beauty, not only of tourism, to Israel, but also of prayers in a place symbolic of the presence of God the son on earth. The upper room; for instance where Jesus had appeared to his disciples and the blessed virgin Mary, still holds its characteristic features of the decent of the Holy Spirit; as pilgrims took turns conceding to the touch of the God, during prayers at the building commemorating the venue of the Pentecost on earth. Also the place of the visitation which bears the statue of the blessed virgin Mary and that of her Aunt; Elizabeth, who was six months pregnant at the time of the visit was experienced with significant interest by most pilgrims who confessed to not

President Goodluck Jonathan, praying at the wailing wall in Israel

knowing much about the song of the blessed virgin recorded in the book of Luke 1, 42-55 where she sang shortly after the visit of the angel Gabriel. According to a pilgrim, who preferred anonymity; “My experience hear is very significant because prior to this time I never knew that Mary had a place where she said something like what is recorded on this wall in the bible, but I knew about her visit to Elisabeth shortly after the visit by Angel Gabriel to her”. Indeed that visit which

signifies the annunciation of Christ’s coming to this world was not without a commemorating church which is today called the cathedral church of annunciation. According to history, the Basilica of annunciation was built at the very spot where Jesus was conceived, after the visit by angel Gabriel. “The current church is a two-story building constructed in 1969 over the site of an earlier Byzantine-era and then Crusader-era church. Inside, the lower level contains the Grotto of the

Annunciation, believed to be the remains of the original childhood home of Mary”. “Under Roman Catholic canon law, the church enjoys the status of a minor basilica. A historically significant site, considered sacred within some circles of Christianity, particularly Catholicism, and the basilica attracts many Catholic, Anglican, and Eastern Orthodox Christian visitors every year”. “The first shrine was built sometime in the middle of the 4th century, comprising an altar in the cave in which Mary had lived. A larger structure was commissioned

Nigerians praying at the wailing wall, also called the western wall

by Emperor Constantine I, who had directed his mother, Saint Helena, to found churches commemorating important events in Jesus Christ’s life. The Church of the Annunciation was founded around the same time as the Church of the Nativity (the birthplace) and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher (the

“

tomb)”. Images of the angel Gabriel informing the virgin about the plan of God, as well as that of the that of the fall of Adam and eve, which necessitated the intervention of a messiah and the gruesome killing by king Herod upon discovering that a greater king had been born, were all carved on the

Indeed that visit which signifies the annunciation of Christ’s coming to this world was not without a commemorating church which is today called the cathedral church of annunciation Prominent Nigerians including the CAN President, praying in Israel

John Kennedy Opara, NCPC boss

door leading into the cathedral church of annunciation. Inside; aesthetic features of the building were enhanced with various pictures of Mary, dressed in attires, commemorating the cultures of the countries whose funds were jointly used in completing the building. The Holy sepulcher; where Jesus was laid, after his death had also another great attribute signifying the divine plan to redeem the world through his son Jesus Christ. Built at the place, described as the center of the world; where a historic opening is made, somewhere on the roof of the building. Every 29th of July, the opening, which is like a small door is made to permit sunlight radiation down the sepulcher from heaven above. Similarly, the place of the crucifix designed with various religious ornaments created the necessary spiritual atmosphere of a place where the messiah gave his life for the redemption of mankind. As explained by Mrs Rahila Danjuma; “The most touching

site for me is the place where Jesus died. I am a mother and I know it’s very hard to see your child even sick; let alone watching him die without been able to do anything. So for me this place where Jesus died and his mother had to carry his dead body in her hand made me feel really touched”. “I know it must have been hard for her, despite the fact that it was the plan of God; only God can explain the pains of a mother at the loss of her own child”. “Also the simplicity of the manner with which Christ took everything comes to mind. Although he was so hurt that it felt like he was all alone, yet he summited; he remained obedient till the very end. To think that on this very place, Christ gave up his spirit so that we will have the spirit of him who came to give us life, makes me the impact of the suffering of Christ and reminds me of the need to do what is necessary to make the sacrifice of Christ worth it”. She says she has always prayed to God for the visit and sees it as the fulfillment of a

live long dream “This visit to the holy land is a dream come true as the biblical account of the account of creation and redemption now seems more real than I have always known. I have always prayed that God will give me the privilege of making it to this precious land. And I am sure that I have been touched because of the many places I have been to”. Other sites worthy of note were the Gethsemane garden where Jesus had prayed and sweated blood before the great tribulation, (Mathew 26, 36-56). In this garden is a tree, known to have existed, probably during the time of Jesus. History has it that from the time when its life span became a subject of documented evidence till date, over 1, 400 years had passed. Since the tree had existed long before that time, it is consequently concluded that the tree may have been part of those in the garden, when Jesus Christ prayed there 2000 years ago. Furthermore, the last original jug recovered during the archeological excavation of the wedding church in Cana is another site that boosted the hope of many praying for miracles in the marital lives. People took turns to pray for their desires in marriage and even gave donations, booking for special prayers for same. Speaking during the earlier preparations for the pilgrimage, the Executive Secretary John Kennedy Opara of the commission had stated that; “This year’s pilgrimage is particularly important because it is the eve of our election year when pilgrims will go and pray for the peace of Jerusalem, as well that of Nigeria and above all to pray that God will keep us as one”. Consequently; a day with Jesus was set aside for every batch of this year’s pilgrimage to Israel to pray for the coming election season and indeed for the future of Nigeria. As expressed by the Nigerians, it is the hope of all, that as we continue the earthly strive for righteousness, that the God of goodness wil rekindle his light in the hearts of all Nigerians.

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Peoples Daily, monday, December 22, 2014

Feature Villagers losing their land to Malawi’s sugar growers

By Ed Butler

ur parents had worked it, their parents before them. Then the police came with sticks and guns. They left us with nothing”. Shaba was just one of hundreds of smallholder farmers we met in Dwangwa, telling stories of forced evictions allegedly at the hands of local police and the Cane Growers Trust, a group set up to promote sugar production in this part of central Malawi. Crowds of locals had gathered to meet us when we arrived. “We now have to survive on casual jobs, farm labour,” says another woman, Eunice. We met dozens of families with land circling this town in central Malawi, who said they had been driven out to make way for larger, industrial farm-projects. The locals say it is part of the so-called Smallholder Outgrower Scheme launched in the area in 2006. Bigger farms Malawi, with the help of international development aid, has been encouraged to diversify its crop yield away from tobacco, which makes up some 70% of the country’s foreign earnings. The idea has been to encourage local farmers to grow cane and sell it to big sugar-refining factories, like the one in Dwangwa, run by the South African firm Illovo. Shaba Shirwa Shaba Shirwa says he was pushed off his land by the police The problem is that the economics of sugar production with its demand for irrigation and other inputs, only lends itself to larger plots. Most Malawian farmers manage plots of less than a hectare, growing subsistence crops like rice and cassava. But the injection of outside money has been an incentive for wealthy locals to buy the support of police and village chiefs to legitimise wide-scale evictions, say critics. “These intermediaries have been captured by the s u g a r industry” says Dr Blessings Chinsinga, a Malawian political scientist who has studied the land seizures. Our attempts to get a comment from the local police or the main village chief accused of facilitating the land-seizures came to nothing. The local Cane Growers Trust denied any wrongdoing, saying simply that its “noble objective and duty is to develop sugarcane farms for use by the community”. For its part, Illovo told us that it “does not engage in ‘land grabs’ and never has”. In a statement the company said: “Land is an extremely contentious issue in Malawi, particularly in the Dwangwa area, and we have certainly not been involved in depriving any farmers of their land. “Since Illovo acquired a

Shaba Shirwa, a scruffy, diminutive 26-year-old, steps up from the crowd. “This was our customary land,” he says.

The EU has been one of the main sponsores of sugarcain cultivation in Malawi.

“

Reforms are meant to guarantee the tenure of poor farmers, but campaigners say the passage of Malawi’s new land law has been held up because many of the country’s political elite are themselves profiting from land-seizures.

majority shareholding in the Malawi operation from Lonrho in 1996, it has not expanded its land holdings beyond the areas that were leased to Lonrho back in the 1970s.” Death threats. However, the Reverend Augustine Kalirani, an Anglican priest, who represents some of the dispossessed farmers, says that court documents dating back to 2008 demanding that the land be restored to its original owners have been ignored. Augustine Kalirani The Rev Augustine Kalirani says he has received death threat. He also says

he has received death-threats for attempting to get the land back. Two local farmers have died resisting recent land seizures in the town. Malawi’s Agriculture Minister, Dr Alan Chiyembikeza, told us he had not received a specific complaint about the land seizures in Dwangwa, but insisted the government’s Outgrower Project was not hurting poor subsistence farmers “The new programme diversifying into sugar production is not aimed at Dwangwa but at other areas.

“We are currently reviewing our land laws so that land rights are honoured - we are in the process of reviewing the law to finalise the whole process.” Reforms are meant to guarantee the tenure of poor farmers, but campaigners say the passage of Malawi’s new land law has been held up because many of the country’s political elite are themselves profiting from landseizures. “The elites who are supposed to be driving these reforms have a huge stake in the status quo. They have acquired huge tracts of land,”

says Blessings Chinsinga. Since a global spike in the cost of food in 2008, international companies have bought hundreds of thousands of hectares of land across a number of African countries. Africa is believed to contain the best commercial opportunity for developing new industrial yields. However, there has been widespread concern about the impact of such acquisitions on poor African farmers, many of whom depend on the same land for their survival. The EU has been one of the main sponsors of sugarcane cultivation in Malawi EU subsidies. Some campaigners have been especially critical of the role of aid donors in Malawi’s Outgrower Scheme. The European Union and African Development Bank have been among the scheme’s sponsors over the last nine years, although AfDB has since pulled out following criticism of the way the policy is applied. The EU continues to subsidise infrastructure projects, like new roads, and irrigation schemes around the development of the sugar scheme. It is planning to offer a further 10m euros (£7.9m; $12.5m) in grants in 2015, though not, it says, in the Dwangwa area. “The over-all objective is to reduce poverty in Malawi”, says the EU’s Jenny Brown in the capital Lilongwe. “We believe we have improved the lives of smallholder farmers who we have helped but we are awaiting an end-of-term review from our schemes in the south of Malawi to see the impact they have had.” I asked her whether the EU should have a clearer sense of the impact of such projects, before initiating them. “The feedback we are getting is that they want to join these sugar schemes”, she tells me. “It is incumbent on the Malawian government to introduce the new land bill which is where the problems come through.” Aid impact Recent revelations of corruption and mismanagement have already caused western donors to suspend direct budget support to the Malawian government in 2012. Mathilda Niankoma Mathilda Niankoma says she will fight to defend her land Campaigners are now saying that donors should pay closer attention to the effect their direct aid is having on some of the world’s poorest farmers. Meanwhile, local subsistence farmers in Dwangwa say they fear further land seizures in the future. Mathilda Niankoma is one the smallholder farmers. She is struggling to support seven children on a plot of just a single hectare. She says she plans to fight to the death rather than give up her land. “I cannot lose this battle, I will stand my ground whatever comes - death or life - I will fight to defend my land.” Source: BBC

P A G E

Peoples Daily, monday, December 22, 2014

Education TETFund spends N19b on lecturers’ capacity building By Maryam Garba Hassan

hairman, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Board of Trustees, Musa Babayo has described 2014 as a fulfilling one, with the agency’s level of interventions in the education sector. Babayo said beyond the massive intervention by the agency in terms of infrastructural development, especially in Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education, a total sum of N19billion was spent to facilitate academic staff programmes for selected lecturers drawn from all the tertiary institutions across the

country. He agency’s Chairman Board of Trustees, made disclosed this in Abuja at its 3rd Long Service Award ceremony organised for staff of the agency who had spent ten years and above in the service. He said the decision to organize the capacity building programmes for the lecturers was informed by the need to shore up intellectual capacities of some of the academicians adding that sooner than later Nigerians would begin to feel their impact within the academic system. Babayo said academic staff training and development program represents the single largest capacity building program ever

funded by a public sector such as TETFund. “We have to date invested from January to get along over N19billion on capacity building across all the 71 federal and state public Universities , 51 federal and state public Polytechnics, 61 federal and state Colleges of Education” he stated. To revamp technical education at the tertiary level, the Board chairman said N15.4billion went into the construction and equipping of laboratories in state and federal polytechnics nationwide, within the year under review. He said staff expected to man the new facilities had also been trained so as not to jeopardize the

objective of the project. Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of the agency, Suleiman Bogoro said the year 2015 will witness further consolidation on the modest achievements so far recorded and strive to hit over ten thousand mark of academic staff training both locally and internationally, for masters and PhD in diverse fields. “When we hit the over ten thousand mark of academic staff training both locally and internationally, for masters and PhD in diverse fields, I can tell you that is an area we are very happy about that we are turning over, a number of academics, lecturers specifically in public tertiary

Senior Lecturer, Federal Polytechnic Bauchi , Umar Pam, (3rd left) presenting recognition award to the representative of Emir of Azare, Alhaji Abubakar Umar, during Federal Government College (FGC) Azare OldStudents Association, 2014 Gala Nite, last Friday in Bauchi. Photo: NAN

NECO sustains standard without compromise, says Prof. Okpala Stories From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

ational Examinations Council (NECO) Registrar Professor Promise Okpala, has said despite the dwindling revenue drive from the registration of candidates for its examinations the Council cannot afford to compromise standard in whatever way. Okpala made this known in Minna, at a recent lecture series, with the theme: “From Assessment of Students in Public Examination

to Assessment of Educational Process in Nigeria: A Critical Appraisal. He said the major constraint in NECO is resources and the drastic drop in the number of candidates for the examination in recent time. He said the organisation is financially handicapped but not in experience as he pledged to bring innovation to play a role in NECO and to address the setback it suffers due to financial predicament to carry out such mandate. He said the basic concern is that of who sponsored examination and

why they sponsored such exams for instance, some state government paid for the examinations for their respective candidates he said. The guest lecturer who is a professor of Educational Evaluation, Institute of Education, University of Ibadan and former acting Executive Secretary of UBEC, Prof. Charles Onocha called on students in the country to fully prepare themselves before going in to examinations they are expected to write. Onocha urged parents to pay more attention to their wards while

teachers should go beyond the syllabus and students to acquaint themselves to internet materials where they can down load books, educational materials for them to excel in education. He said for students to improve in learning and skills tremendously, especially in English Language they must embark on reading newspapers, magazines, books from library. He commended examination bodies in the country for maintaining standard, especial NECO thereby urging for improvement.

8 Almajiri schools to become operational in Niger by January, says Ministry

iger State Ministry of Basic Education has disclosed that 8 integrated Almajiri schools is to begin operations in the three senatorial zones of the state by January 2015. The Ministry said the schools which will have a total intake of 400 students will be sited in Pago near Minna, Oduoye quarters in

the state capital Suleja, Mokwa, Gulbin-boka, Kontagora and 2 in Bida town of the state. The Commissioner for Basic Education Alhaji Danladi Abdulhamid who disclosed this to newsmen at the end of the State Executive Council meeting, said the Special Committee set up by the government and headed by the Emir of Suleja Malam

Mohammed Awwal Ibrahim, recommended the location of the schools to the government. Abdulhamid who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry Alhaji Shuaibu Bako, said the state government has released N20m out of the N30m approved for the takeoff of the schools. He said the National Council

on Education has commended the Niger state government for accessing funds from the Universal Basic Education Matching funds for the development of primary schools in the state. According to Abdulhamid, the funds accessed and the grants from the state government was responsible for the facelift primary schools in the state witnessed.

institutions that are acquiring higher qualifications at a faster rate. “Certainly, with the benefit of reflection, one would see that, if you knew the public tertiary institutions 5 to 10 years ago, you will see what they are today, it is a story of manifest transformation coinciding with the Present administration idea of doing things the way it ought to be, doing those things that will raise the competitive status of our public tertiary institutions, the Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education”.

Shekarau queries contractors at Federal Varsity, Kashere From David Hassan, Gombe

inister of Education Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, has queried contractors handling project at the Federal University, Kashere, IN Gombe state. Shekarau said the contractors handling the project at the university have failed to perform credibly for the development of the institution. The minister made the disclosure in Gombe when he paid a one day working visit to the university. He said there is need to summon the contractors handling the project at the university to testify why the contract is not completed. He said he is not satisfied with the level of job done by the contractors at University adding that the contractors had not done enough for the benefit of the school even as he said the contract at the university was expected to be completed in 2013. He said government had made strategic plan to ensure that education which is the engine room of the nation have sense of belonging in the society. Speaking further, the minister advised students to take their studies seriously and urged them to shun all kinds of evil while on campus, stressing that government would do everything possible to ensure that they equip the University with the necessary facilities to alleviate their suffering. He called on students to be good ambassadors of the school, noting that there is need for them to conduct themselves in an orderly manner to achieve their goal in the institution. Meanwhile Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo has pledged support for the University which he said his administration would contribute immensely for the development of the institution. The governor who described education as ‘the bed rock’ in any society emphasized that students studying in the institution should do everything possible to see themselves as agent of change in the society adding that there would be no future leaders if the youth fail to take their studies seriously.

Peoples Daily, monday, December 22, 2014

PAGE 28

Education

From James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

s part of measures to ensure improved qualitative teaching and learning in public secondary schools across Ogun state, the State Teaching Service Commission is planning to recruit no fewer than 1000 teaching and 200 non-teaching staff respectively in 2015 fiscal year. The Commission’s FullTime Commissioner 1, Timothy Adebowale, made this known in Abeokuta while defending

Commissioner lauds Ondo school for Physically Challenged

Ogun to recruit 1000 teachers in 2015

the year 2015 budget estimate before[M1] [M2] the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation at the State House of Assembly. He said the Commission would ensure even distribution of teachers across the four divisions of the state as well as prompt payment of salaries

and allowances which represent about 90% of the Commission’s budget. Adebowale assured that the Commission was poised to maintain discipline among teachers through a periodic monitoring of teachers in their various schools, adding that the agency would also ensure a

cordial working relationship with teachers. Oh his part, the state Commissioner for Education Science and Technology, Segun Odubela, said his Ministry has earmarked a total sum of N600 million for the renovation of additional 300 public schools across the state in the coming year.

L-R: Former, Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Professor Mahmood Yakub; Chairman, House Committee on Education, Hon. Aminu Suleiman; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr. Macjohn Nwabiala; TETFund Chairman, Board of Trustees, Dr. Musa Babayo, and TETFund Executive Secretary, Professor Suleiman Elias Bagoro, during the 3rd long service award, send off and end of the year party organised by TETFund, recently in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

From Tope Musowo, Ondo

ormer Commissioner for Education in Ondo state and one time Commissioner for Information, Mrs. Olufunke Iluyemi, has lauded Ayofunke Ogunrinde School for the Physically Challenged for giving hope to the neglected and the less privileged. Iluyemi while speaking at the annual Christmas Party organised by Ayofunke Ogunrinde Foundation for the poor and the physically challenged in Ondo community tasked other rich Nigerians to emulate the philanthropic gesture of chief Dele Ogunrinde, the founder of the foundation which she described as a beckon of hope for the downtrodden in the society. Speaking with news men after the progamme, Chief Dele Ogunrinde, an educationist, philanthropist and an advocate of Technical and Vocational Education, described the annual event that started twelve years ago as one of the ways of achieving the objectives of the foundation which is to cater for the joy and happiness of the less privileged and to give them a sense of worth and belonging in the society. Ogunrinde spoke on the ongoing multi- million naira project of the school for the Physically Challenged that will soon be ready for commissioning as part of his commitment to continue giving hope and future to the neglected in the society, He said plans are already on ground to ensure that these laudable programmes out live him. High point of the event was the rendition of carol songs by the children of the less privileged who are at present beneficiaries of the Foundation’s full scholarship programmes from primary to tertiary institution while their parents continued to pray for the founder as they collected their Christmas packages.

Odubela said the renovation was in addition to 100 public schools earlier renovated by the administration at its inception. He said the year 2015 estimates had been structured in such a way that would facilitate prompt and quality Service delivery and to facilitate the ‘Mission to Rebuild’ agenda of the state government.

Sokoto Poly, SSCOE on indefinite strike From Faji Bello with agency report

he Joint Consultative Forum (JCF), comprising of Academic Staff Union of Sokoto State Polytechnic, Shehu Shagari College of Education and College of Legal Studies have embarked on strike for non-implementation of the Consolidated Polytechnics

and Colleges of Education Academic Staff Salary Structure (CONPCASS) by the Sokoto State government. The Forum of the three tertiary institutions in the state also resolved not to lift the suspension indefinitely, sequel to the expiration of the 18-days ultimatum given to the state government to respond to its demands.

However, the state’s Head of Service, Alhaji Bature Shinkafi, said the strike action embarked upon by the lecturers was illtimed, warning that the state government would not hesitate to adopt “no work no pay” policy on erring staff. Addressing newsmen in Sokoto on Friday, Chairman of the Forum, Alkasim Yusuf Yabo, said the academic staff of the

three institutions embarked on the industrial action due to the inability of the state government to respond to their demands since 2009. Yabo explained that the Forum had embarked on the strike action for a month in 2013, but was prevailed upon by the state government to suspend it, lamenting that after a year and five months nothing was done.

‘You may attract funds outside govt allocation’, Shekarau tells VCs By Maryam Garba Hassan

inister of Education, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, has said Vice Chancellors and other stakeholders in the education can attract funds outside government allocation for the development and improvement of other physical infrastructural facilities that will promote effective teaching and learning in Nigerian Universities. The Minister disclosed this at the just concluded one day retreat for Vice Chancellors, other stakeholders, Budget Monitoring Committees and Directors of Physical Planning of Nigerian Public Universities,

Organised by the Implementation Monitoring Committee on the Needs Assessment Intervention in Nigerian Public Universities in Abuja. He said the stakeholders should be prudent in spending, and must ensure value for money as funds allocated by government is limited. He said because funding remains a major operational constraint in the sector, as it is clear that the actualization of the reform objectives cannot be sustained without adequate funding. Shekarau said the stakeholders have a strategic role to play in facilitating the required transformation of the tertiary

education sub-sector to actualize the present Government’s Transformation Agenda and provide easy access to education without compromising standards and quality. He however expressed optimism with the composition of participants at the retreat which he described as appropriate and represents the best personnel capable of working assiduously to realize the goals. He said government is not resting on its oars to ensure that universities in the nation are citadels of learning and ivory towers. He called on the stakeholders to work hard adding that their score cards at the end of their

tenures of office will be assessed by Nigerians. ‘Therefore, be courteous, effective, efficient, responsive and responsible in the discharge of your duties to your immediate community, which is the University’, he said. He further called on them to keep abreast with the current laws, best practices, Government policies, white papers, circulars, gazettes and other relevant documents that will help in decision making. He said appointments of the stakeholders into the Budget Monitoring Committee and other official positions as Vice Chancellors and Directors of Physical Planning

Page 29

Peoples Daily, monday, December 22, 2014

Healthy Living

Athlete’s Foot

ow you treat athlete’s foot (tineapedis) depends on its type and severity. Most cases of athlete’s foot can be treated at home using an antifungal medicine to kill the fungus or slow its growth. The disease is a common and contagious dermatophyticfungal infection of the skin that causes scaling, flaking, and itching of the affected areas. The disease is typically transmitted in moist communal areas where people walk barefoot, such as showers or bathhouses, and requires a warm moist environment such as the inside of a shoe to incubate. Globally, fungal infections affect about 15% of the population and affects one out of five adults. Athlete’s foot is most common among adolescentsand in individuals who wear occlusive shoes. Studies have demonstrated that men are infected 2–4 times more often than women. The condition typically affects the feet, but may infect or spread to other areas of the body such as the groin and tends to spread to areas of skin that are kept hot and moist, such as with insulation, body heat, and sweat. Causes The fungal agents responsible for infection may be picked up by walking barefoot in an infected area or using an infected towel. Infection can be prevented by limiting the use of occlusive footwear and remaining barefoot. Athlete’s foot is most commonly caused by the fungi Trichophytonrubrum or T. mentagrophytesbut

may also be caused by Epidermophytonfloccosum. Most cases of athlete’s foot in the general population are caused by T. rubrum; however, the majority of athlete’s foot cases in athletes are caused by T. mentagrophytes. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS Athlete’s foot may be divided into three different presentations: interdigital, plantar (moccasin foot), and vesiculobullous. Cases of interdigital athlete’s foot (between the toes) caused by Trichophytonrubrum may be asymptomatic or have pruritic erythema, scaling, flaking, and maceration (softening and whitening of skin that has been kept wet) of the interdigital spaces between the toes. A complex variant of interdigital athlete’s foot caused by T. mentagrophytes is characterized by pain, maceration of the skin, erosions and fissuring of the skin, crusting, and an odor due to bacterial infection of the skin. Plantar athlete’s foot (moccasin foot) is asymptomatic, slightly erythematous plaques to form on the plantar surface (sole) of the foot that are often covered by hyperkeratotic scales. The vesiculobullous type of athlete’s foot is usually caused by T. mentagrophytes and is characterized by a sudden outbreak of itchy blisters and vesicles on an erythematous base, usually appearing on the sole of the foot. DIAGNOSIS Athlete’s foot can usually be diagnosed by visual inspection

of the skin, but if the diagnosis is uncertain, direct microscopy of a potassium hydroxide preparation of a skin scraping (known as a KOH test) can confirm the diagnosis of athlete’s foot and help rule out other possible causes, such as candidiasis, pitted keratolysis, erythrasma, contact dermatitis, eczema, or psoriasis. Dermatophytes known to cause athlete’s foot will demonstrate multiple septate branching hyphae on microscopy. A Wood’s lamp (black light), although useful in diagnosing fungal infections of the scalp (tineacapitis), is not usually helpful in diagnosing athlete’s foot, since the common dermatophytes that cause this disease do not fluoresce under ultraviolet light.[11] TRANSMISSION The fungi that cause athlete’s foot require warmth and moisture to survive and grow. There is an increased risk of infection with exposure to warm, moist environments (e.g., occlusive footwear) and in shared humid environments such as communal showers, shared pools, and treatment tubs.[10] Due to their insulating nature and the greatly reduced ventilation of the skin, shoes are the primary cause of the spread of athlete’s foot.[6] As such, the fungus is only seen in approximately 0.75% of habitually barefoot people.[16] Always being barefoot allows full ventilation around the feet that allows them to remain dry and exposes them to sunlight, as well as developing much stronger skin and causes the fungus to

Health Matters Dr. Longwap AbdulAziz Saleh

e-mail: longwapabdul@yahoo.com, Text: 08039537913

be worn off and removed before it can infect the skin. This even further minimizes the chances of infection as it ventilates the warm moist pockets of skin between the third, fourth and fifth toes in shoe-wearing people. Athlete’s foot can also be transmitted by sharing footwear with an infected person, such as at a bowling alley or any other place that lends footwear. A less common method of infection is through sharing towels. The various parasitic fungi that cause athlete’s foot can also cause skin infections on other areas of the body, most often under toenails (onychomycosis) or on the groin (tineacruris).

doesn’t improve, your doctor may prescribe oral antifungal medicine (pills). Oral antifungal pills are used only for severe cases, because they are expensive and require periodic testing for dangerous side effects. Athlete’s foot can return even after antifungal pill treatment. Even if your symptoms improve or stop shortly after you begin using antifungal medicine, it is important that you complete the full course of medicine. This increases the chance that athlete’s foot will not return. Reinfection is common, and athlete’s foot needs to be fully treated each time symptoms develop.

Prevention

Toe web infections

There are several lifestyle modifications that can be practiced to prevent athlete’s foot. Effective preventive measures include keeping the feet dry, using socks made of synthetic materials designed to remove moisture, wearing well ventilated footwear, changing socks frequently, and wearing sandals while walking through communal areas such as gym showers and locker rooms. Recurrence of athlete’s foot can be prevented with the use of antifungal powder on the feet.

Toe web infections occur between the toes, especially between the fourth and fifth toes. This is the most common type of athlete’s foot infection. • Treat mild to moderate toe web infections by keeping your feet clean and dry and using nonprescription antifungal creams or lotions. • If a severe infection develops, your doctor may prescribe a combination of topical antifungal creams plus either oral or topical antibiotic medicines. Moccasin-type infections Moccasin-type athlete’s foot causes scaly, thickened skin on the sole and heel of the foot. Often the toenails become infected (onychomycosis). A moccasintype infection is difficult to treat, because the skin on the sole of the foot is very thick. • Nonprescription medicines may not penetrate the thick skin of the sole well enough to cure moccasin-type athlete’s foot. In this case, a prescription topical antifungal medicine that penetrates the sole, such as ketoconazole, may be used. • Prescription oral antifungal medicines are sometimes needed to cure moccasin-type athlete’s foot.

Athlete’s foot treatment How you treat athlete’s foot (tineapedis) depends on its type and severity. Most cases of athlete’s foot can be treated at home using an antifungal medicine to kill the fungus or slow its growth. • Nonprescription antifungals usually are used first. These include clotrimazole, miconazole, terbinafine, and tolnaftate. Nonprescription antifungals are applied to the skin (topical medicines). • P r e s c r i p t i o n antifungals may be tried if nonprescription medicines are not successful or if you have a severe infection. Some of these medicines are topical antifungals, which are put directly on the skin. Examples include butenafine, clotrimazole, and naftifine. Prescription antifungals can also be taken as a pill, which are called oral antifungals. Examples of oral antifungals include fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (Sporanox), and terbinafine (Lamisil). For severe athlete’s foot that

Conclusion If you notice any redness, increased swelling, bleeding, or if your infection is not clearing up, see your health-care professional. If a bacterial infection is also occurring, an antibiotic pill may be necessary. If you have fungal nail involvement, are diabetic, or have a compromised immune system, you should also see your physician for treatment.

Peoples Daily, monday, December 22, 2014

Page 30

Healthy Living

Ibuprofen, other NSAIDs may be risk to health S By Doyin Ojosipe

tudies have shown that habitual use of ibuprofen and some other Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) could put their users at health risk as they may develop irregular heart rhythm, which may in turn, affect pumping and flow of blood; this could lead to stroke and heart failure. According to experts, this group of drugs may also be linked to gastrointestinal disorder like stomach ulcers as well. Although, it was noted that most patients affected are either aged or have some other kind of ailment which could be triggered by the consistent use of some of the painkillers. In their research, Arthritis patients who took the drugs for a year in UK had recorded four avoidable deaths caused by fatal heart attacks. A report published in the independent noted that, though the discovery had lead to a production of another painkiller

known as Vioxx, similar risk as all NSAIDs have also been recorded, “Now, however, the study’s authors believe that high-dose treatments with older NSAIDs – like daily 150mg prescriptions of diclofenac or 2,400mg prescriptions of ibuprofen – could be as big a risk factor for heart attacks as Vioxx. All NSAIDs, the authors said, double the risk of heart-failure and produce a two- to four-times increased risk of gastrointestinal complications,” it added. Author of the research, Professor Colin Baigent of the University of Oxford’s Clinical Trial Service Unit and Epidemiological Unit, had recorded that thousands of patients suffering from osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, had relied on high intake of ibuprofen, diclofenac or other NSAIDs to relieve them of their pain. As reported in the independent, “The study, which analysed 639 random drug trials and gathered data on more than 350,000 patients, found for every 1,000 arthritis sufferers, the rate of people suffering a “major vascular event” such as heart attack, stroke or death increased from 8 per 1,000 to 11 per 1,000 with longterm, high-dose use of common NSAIDs.” However, General practitioners who have commended the research said, the research should be used in context as when the painkillers are taken in proper doses and with care, the result may be different.

Why is fiber diet so important?

’ve since come to appreciate that the type of fiber in your diet, as well as your gut health, play a major role in harnessing fiber’s health potential while avoiding its potential pitfalls. Before I explain, let’s go over a bit of fiber basics… It is actually because your body can’t digest fiber that it plays such an important part in digestion. Soluble fiber, like that found in cucumbers, blueberries, beans, and nuts, dissolves into a gel-like texture, helping to slow down your digestion. This helps you to feel full longer and is one reason why fiber may help with weight control. Insoluble fiber, found in foods like dark green leafy vegetables, green beans, celery, and carrots, does not dissolve at all and helps add bulk to your stool. This helps food to move through your digestive tract more quickly for healthy elimination. Many whole foods, especially fruits and vegetables, naturally contain both soluble and insoluble fiber. 9 health benefits of fiber There’s no shortage of research showing how fiber may boost your health. Some of its top potential benefits include:

• Blood sugar control: Soluble fiber may help

to slow your body’s breakdown of carbohydrates and the absorption of sugar, helping with blood sugar control. • Heart health: An inverse association has been found between fiber intake and heart attack, and research shows that those eating a highfiber diet have a 40 percent lower risk of heart disease. • Stroke: Researchers have found that for every sevengrams more fiber you consume on a daily basis, your stroke risk is decreased by 7 percent. • Weight loss and management: Fiber supplements have been shown to enhance weight loss among obese people, likely because fiber increases feelings of fullness. • Skin health: Fiber, particularly psyllium husk, may help move yeast and fungus out of your body, preventing them from being excreted through your skin where they could trigger acne or rashes.

• Diverticulitis: Dietary fiber (especially insoluble) may reduce your risk of diverticulitis – an inflammation of polyps in your intestine – by 40 percent. • Hemorrhoids: A high-fiber diet may lower your risk of hemorrhoids.

• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): Fiber may provide some relief from IBS. • Gallstones and kidney stones: A high-fiber diet may reduce the risk of gallstones and kidney stones, likely because of its ability to help regulate blood sugar. What are the healthiest sources of fiber? Assuming your gut is generally healthy; I believe most people need upwards of 32 grams of fiber a day. Most Americans get nowhere near this amount. As the New York Times reported:7 “...the current average fiber intake in the United States is about 13 grams a day for women and 17 for men. Increasing these amounts by seven grams a day would bring them close to the recommended levels of 21 to 25 grams for women and 30 to 38 for men. ‘Seven grams a day increase is an achievable goal…’ ‘You’re talking about... increasing vegetable and fruit by two portions a day.’” If your diet could use more fiber, resist the urge to fortify it with whole grains. Instead, focus on eating more vegetables, nuts, and seeds. The following whole foods, for example, contain high levels of soluble and insoluble fiber. mercola.com

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Peoples Daily, monday, December 22, 2014

Politics Extra

Kwara PDP is confused - Saraki From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

L-R: Abia State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji; his Deputy, Sir Emeka Ananaba; former National Chairman

Youth assembly organises debate for Zamfara politicians From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

he Zamfara State wing of the Northern Youth Assembly (NYA) has concluded arrangement to organize a political debate titled‘’ Speak for yourself’ with a view to avail the teeming electorates an opportunity to know the manifestoes, aspirations and visions of politicians vying for various political posts across the

state. According to a statement by the association through its Chairman, Mannir Haidara Kaura, the debate is expected to engage all the Zamfara gubernatorial candidates, Senators, members House of Representatives from the state early January in Gusau, the state capital. “The aim of organising such a debate which is politically the first of its kind in the state, was to facilitate

realisation of good leaders for the people of the state, the amount of commitments towards rapid development of the state, socially and economically”, the statement added. Haidara, who is to preside over the planning committee declared that consultations over the success of the programme is ongoing as the leaders of the political parties and their candidates in the state were

willing to take part, adding that the planned debate would create avenue upon which the people of the state would assess the quality of leaders they would vote for. He further noted that the assembly would partner other NGO’s and Civil Society groups across the state to ensure sustainability of democracy in the state, the delivery of its expected dividend through the planned programme.

2015: APC will win Kogi, says party chieftain From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State, Alhaji Yerima Abass Mekafi has assured that the party will take over the state in the next general election. Mekafi, a staunch supporter of a former governor of the state, Prince Abubakar Audu, said the state will return to the progressive fold,

insisting that the PDP government has brought untold hardship to the people of the state. Maikarfi who spoke with newsmen in Lagos said the party under Abubakar Audu will deliver the state to the APC at both presidential and legislative elections next year. “Things would begin to change for us in Kogi State from the next election; I can assure you that with

Prince Audu, APC will win all the elections in Kogi State. “Because the people are tired of PDP rule they want change, they have seen the difference and are ready to embrace change “Audu as a great grassroots mobilizer and actualizer has gone round Kogi State to preach change and the people have accepted APC, they have promised to dislodge the PDP with their votes,” Mekafi said.

Describing Prince Abubakar Audu as the face of the party in Kogi State, he said the leadership of the party under Audu has fielded competent candidates that would actualize the party’s manifesto. “Today we don’t have any rancor in our state, our candidates emerged through transparent primaries, that signal that we are going to the election united,” he added.

Boko Haram: Mark hurries NIMC DG on ID cards distribution By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

enate President, David Mark, has told the Director General of National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Chris Onyemenam, to hasten the registration and distribution of the biometrics national identity card to Nigerians, saying it is veritable in the effort to fight terrorism in the

country. In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, Mark made this plea while receiving his National identity card from the Director General of the identity commission in Abuja. He also said the identity card has other advantages, including capacity to guide government in accurate planning, prevention of insecurity and

the influx of illegal immigrants. He said the card is essential, urging that it should be given to all Nigerians as urgently as possible, saying “Most of the challenges we are facing today especially insecurity would have been minimized if we had a good national identity card. “I hope that this new improved national identity card would curb the ills of the past and give Nigerians a

sense of national pride.” The Senate President expressed the hope that the current effort to truly identify Nigerians would be successful, but pleaded with Nigerians not to abuse or subvert the project. The new multipurpose National Identity card, he noted, would address so many imbalances especially the issue of population figure of Nigerians.

he immediate past governor of Kwara State and Chairman, Senate committee on Environment and Ecology, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has said that the attitude of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is yet to show any seriousness on its part to give the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) a fight in the 2015 general elections. Saraki, stated this while speaking with journalists after a prayer session to mark his 52nd birthday in Ilorin at the weekend, decried conflicting statements from leadership of the PDP over the result of the party’s governorship primary elections. “I don’t know who the opposition party’s candidate is in the coming election. There’s conflicting statements on who is the candidate as one faction of the state executives said the national leadership of the party will decide, while another one said the result is already out. It shows what they are. They are not ready to govern with the way they go about their activities. “We are not concerned; we are rather concerned about delivering more of dividends of democracy to our people. That’s why I said that the best birthday gift they could give me is to use their voters cards to reelect Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and vote in all our candidates in the 2015 general elections”, he said. Also, the Kwara State chapter of the APC has cautioned the opposition PDP from overheating the polity in the state with the way the result of last governorship election was being handled. A statement by the publicity secretary of the party, Sulyman Buhari, made available to journalists in Ilorin at the weekend alleged that there were reports of pockets of violence across the state including an attack on a former PDP governorship aspirant by some party thugs. “The fact that the State Executive Committee (SEC) of Kwara PDP issued a communique and the Chairman of PDP, Mr Iyiola Oyedepo issued a contrary press statement yet on the same subject matter is a signal that Kwara PDP have been divided and destroyed beyond redemption. “It is of particular concern to the people of Kwara State that Kwara PDP is being remote-controlled from Abuja and Otuoke as shown when PDP chairman said, “The state chapter of the PDP lacks the power to recognise any candidate except the ones duly announced as winner by the National Working Committee (NWC)”. “It should surprise Kwarans that while our great party, the APC, conducted primary elections and made formal declaration of candidates’ names within the boundaries of Kwara State, PDP candidates will emerge not through elections but by mere announcement from Abuja according to PDP Chairman.

Page 32

Director of FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Mohammed Bashir (R) receiving his Staff of Office, during his turbaning as the Salanken Nasarawa by the Emir of Nasarawa Alhaji Hassan Ahmed at the Emir’s palace in Nasarawa, on Saturday. Photo: Stanley Onyekwere

Yuletide: Proprietress urges FCT Minister to assist less privileged By Usman Shuaibu

he proprietress in charge of the Poorest of the Poor Home (Anawin home) in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Rev. Sister Oresoa Selo – Ojeme, has appealed to the minister of the FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed as

well as government at all levels to come to the aid of the less privileged ones in the society, especially the abandoned children at the orphanage homes. Making the appeal during an interview with Peoples Daily in her office in Gwagwalada, last week, the proprietress also called on the Minister to give priority

attention to the education of the less privileged children in the territory. She further urged the Minister to cater for the welfare of the orphans, so as to make them feel the impact of the government at their door steps, especially during festivities like Christmas. She requested the Minister

and authorities of the six FCT area councils to join hands to build orphanage homes where many abandoned babies would be kept for safety and proper care. She called on many spirited individuals as well as highly placed individuals in the society to provide basic amenities across the orphanage homes in the

territory, to enable the managers of such homes to carry out their duties diligently. The Proprietress of the Home, however, appealed to the Social Welfare unit of Gwagwalada Area Council to work hand in hand with her in order to rescue a lot of disabled persons in the area.

Filindabo community begs AMAC Chair for water By Usman Shuaibu

he Village Head of Filindabo community, Dei-dei in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Mohammed Danyibe, has called

on the AMAC Chairman, Hon. Micah Y. Jiba to sink boreholes, to put an end to the lingering water problem facing the entire residents of Dei-Dei , especially during the dry season. Danyibe, who made the call in an interview with Peoples Daily in

his palace in Dei-Dei , pointed out that the whole Dei-Dei village was being neglected in terms of social amenities, by the government of the day. Further calling on the present leadership of the Area Council to gear up towards providing

facilities to a lot neglected villages in AMAC, the community head also urged the chairman to take traditional rulers along in the affairs of the government. However, the village head said he would continue to co-operate with the administration of AMAC

for overall development of the area. He added that efforts would be intensified to mobilize the people of his community to support government’s policies and programmes whenever the need arises.

How FCTA spent N100M to protect teachers, students from Ebola By Stanley Onyekwere

he Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) expended a whooping N100 million naira for the procurement of Ebola kits and information materials distributed among its schools, to ensure the safety of pupils, students, teachers and administrative staff in the sector, in the wake of outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease that hit the country earlier this year. This was disclosed by the Executive Secretary, FCT

Education Secretariat, Mallam Kabir Usman, during the Secretariat’s 2014 annual media luncheon held at the Education Resource Center, Wuse Zone 7, Abuja. He noted that Education Secretariat, in conjunction with the FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat, trained its teachers on preventive measures against the dreaded disease and how to properly use the various equipment that were distributed. According to the secretary, however with the expected

exhaustion of these kits by March 2015, the relevant agencies in education sector of FCT should make provision for such, because 2015 budget may not have been passed before March 2015. “The Hon. Minister approved for immediate release the sum of N100 million for the purchase and distribution of anti- Ebola kits and information materials to all schools. “Prior to the resumption therefore, all our schools where fully equipped with temperature scanning machines, hand

sanitisers, information handbills and posters on the disease and so on. “In conjunction with the Health and Human Services Secretariat, we trained our teachers on preventive measures in fighting the disease and how to properly use the equipment that were distributed” “We have enough to take us till March 2015, but I don’t know whether the budget would have been passed in March, I will expect the agencies to make provision (for additional Ebola kits before the 2015 budget is passed.

“Although the virus has been eradicated in Nigeria, we are not resting on our oars as the distribution of these materials will continue until the health authorities tell us it is safe to stop,” he stressed. Commending the Minister of FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed for his unwavering commitment and support in this regard, he lauded the efforts of all school principals and heads,who ensured that their students and pupils were fully sensitised on precautionary measures against the Ebola Virus Disease.

Peoples Daily, monday, December 22, 2014

Page 33

Photo Splash

An auto mechanic in his workshop, on Saturday, at Gudu Mechanic Village, in Abuja.

A wheelbarrow pusher waiting for clients, yesterday at Galadimawa, in Abuja.

A girl hawking sachet water, yesterday along Old CBN, in Abuja.

A young man pushing a cart, yesterday at National Assembly quarters, in Abuja.

A middle-aged woman carrying a sack loaded with plastic bottles, on Saturday at Gudu market, in Abuja. Photos: Joe Oroye

Peoples Daily, monday, December 22, 2014

Page 34

Metro

When SDS remembered physically challenged persons in Abuja FEATURE

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna It was all smiling and dancing galore when the Social Development Secretariat (SDS), of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) feted some physically challenged persons in Abuja, penultimate week. The gesture, which was a show of love and affection towards them, coincided with the 2014 Day of the Physically Challenged Persons. More so, it was to help the beneficiaries (the disable) join others in marking this year’s Christmas, that the Secretariat provided them with food items, and clothing materials to among other things. Specifically, items distributed to the persons living with one form of physical impediments included bags of rice, beans, salt, corn, millet, red and groundnut oil, as well as assorted clothing materials. Interestingly, the expression of sad and gloomy look on their faces turned into smile and joyful countenance, just as they sighted theitems on display at Old Parade Ground, the venue of the event. Also, they were overwhelmingly inspired by the sounds of good music playing at the arena,despite their condition they were dancing and leaping for joy, as they are being remembered. Peoples Daily observed that, they were not just wearing a fake smile-just to appear be happy before the guests but their happiness springs up from the depth of theirheart, just like waters from the fountain, indicating how pleasant they felt being remembered by the SDS. Most importantly, their smiles reminds them that hope is not lost, but that life ismeaningful as reflected in the kindness being shown to them. Speaking at the event, Secretary of Social Development Secretariat, Blessing Onuh, reiterated that it is the mandate and responsibility of the Secretariat, at the departmental level, to take care of people livingwith disabilities

A cross section of physically challenged persons, during the SDS’s distribution of assorted food and clothing items to them, recently, in Abuja. in the FCT, especially during the commemoration of the Physically Challenged Day. She added that in commemorating the Day, the Secretariat decided to dole out the assorted clothing and food items to the beneficiaries, as a way of spicing up their lives and giving them more hope- that they are not forgotten. “Aswe celebrate the 2014 Physically Challenged Day, and offer more hope to physically challenged personswe need them to totally cooperate with the secretariat-by promisingthey will stay away from begging on the streets”. “They should have that understanding that there are so many risks insending their wards out for streets begging. “But caring for children should be your priority and primary focus, as every person has one form of responsibility or the other,” she stressed. Onuh, who further disclosed that the FCT Administration has many empowerment centers

Executive Secretary, Social Development Secretariat (SDS), of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Mrs. Blessing Onuh, (middle) presenting a bag of rice to a physically challenged man.

with free enrollment across the Area Councils, said the displaced persons areencouraged to pick up forms to enroll themselves to be empowered especially at the center in Bwari, which has graduated over 200 of them with start-up cash of one hundred thousand naira each to help themstay away from the streets, through starting their own small scale businesses. She appreciated the FCT administration for giving the secretariat theneeded support to contribute and provide the needs of physicallychallenged persons, which is in line with the transformation agenda of President Good luck Jonathan. She thereforeurged all wellmeaningpeople to contribute their quota by in helping people living with disabilities in the society. While distributing the gift items, representative of the Minister of state for FCT, Mrs. Uche Nwafor, pleaded with the physical challengedpersons to cooperate with the FCT administration policies which aredesigned to empower and equip them for a better future rather thanstaying

out on the streets. “The issues of people living with disabilities are very paramount tothis administration that is the reasons we want to offer them qualitylife. “These gifts we are given them are part of the giant strides ofthe FCT administration to meet residents’ needs. Similarly,the Coordinator, Society Against Prostitution and Child Labour in Nigeria (SAPLN), a nongovernmental organisation, Grace Adogo, noted that the Organisation appreciates the FCT administration through the Secretariat for giving them the opportunity to cater forthe physically challenged persons by giving them hope with food item sand skills acquisition. She revealed that SAPLN has launched buses that willpatrol the city center picking people with disabilities that refused to cooperate with administration. On her part, Director, Social Welfare Department, Folashade Ayiyeka, said that the physical challenged persons are very dare to thedepartment. According to her, the

Some of the items distributed to the beneficiaries.

Department has many graduates, who have utilized the available opportunity. “The FCT administration has offered to the physically challengedpersons, not only with food stuffs, but it has also equipped withskills acquisitions like: teaching them how to make soaps, beads among others, to help them become more useful to their families and the nation. Ayiyeka however pleaded with the FCT administration to build a clinic orhospital at the location of the displaced persons facilities, where their healthsituations can be check up and be treated, as most of them aresuffering from various illnesses. She also advised people with disabilities to shun street begging; instead the skills they have acquired should be used as small scaleenterprises to enhance their livelihood. She added that if they cooperatewith the relevant authorities, more beautiful things like meeting their needs will always happen to them regularly. Not left out, the Public Relation Office (PRO) of the Abuja Disabled Emirate Council, Suleiman Abubukar, said “we indeed appreciate thesocial development; they are our parents and they have done a lot ofkind gestures to physically challenged persons in the FCT”. One of the beneficiaries, Adebayo Kayode, decried that the right of people with disabilities isalways trembled upon, as often they are not being considered when seriousdecision of citizens are taken in the country. He says,“We praise the social development for a work well done, but thekey issue here is empowering us, because when the food is finished, we will still go back to street begging. “Therefore, am pleading with the FCT administration to give those among usthat are graduates jobs, to ease our plight. “We are not treated as citizens of this country, our human right is being played upon andpeople undermine people with disabilities as if we do not have anything to offer.” Another beneficiary, Fatima Bamdamis, said it is not the first time Social DevelopmentSecretariat has given them this kind of opportunity, to make their lives more meaningful in thesociety. “When all these items are distribution to various groups of displacedpersons, some of us our leaders do not usually offer us with any of the items. “We are calling on the secretary of socialdevelopment, to look in to the matter, because most of us havechildren, that is why most times even, when this food stuff and othermaterials are given, we still hangout on streets begging to make endmeets,” she stressed.

Peoples Daily, monday, December 22, 2014

Page 35

International international_peoplesdailyng@yahoo.com

Renewed hope for justice in Colombia ANALYSIS

After nearly 50 years of internal armed conflict, an international court’s ruling offers Colombia a chance to heal.

n December 10, Colombia received a judgement of transcendental importance from the Inter-American Court on Human Rights (IACHR), a treaty-based regional tribunal based in Costa Rica that hears cases of human rights violations in the Americas. The court found Colombia responsible for grave human rights violations committed during one of the darkest chapters of its recent history: the siege of Colombia’s Palace of Justice, home to the Supreme Court. On November 6 and 7, 1985, members of a guerrilla organisation called M-19 seized control of the Palace of Justice building in the centre of Bogota, along with approximately 250 hostages. Members of the Colombian security forces had previously received intelligence information about a possible attack on the palace by the M-19, yet two days before the event all security was purposefully withdrawn, leaving soon-tobe hostages - including judges, cafeteria workers, and visitors unprotected. Inside Story - Is there hope for Colombia’s peace talks? hat followed remains burned in the memories of many: Colombia’s military retaliated brutally and disproportionately against the M-19 attackers, without any willingness to negotiate or any respect for the lives of the hostages. Tanks and heavy artillery were called in and ordered to fire on the palace, starting a fire that nearly consumed the entire building. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Reyes Echandia frantically called then President Belisario Betancurt by radio to request a ceasefire to save the lives of those trapped inside the building. His call was ignored, however, and he died shortly thereafter, along with over 90 others, including civilians and magistrates. When the military operation ended, many of those who had survived the siege ultimately fared no better. Eleven civilians and one guerrilla member who managed to leave the palace alive were forcibly disappeared by security forces. Two others were killed and an additional four were tortured. A magistrate of

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights found Colombia responsible for human rights violations in the Palace of Justice siege case

the State Council, who also left the palace alive, was tortured and extrajudicially executed and his remains returned to the building to make it look like he had been killed in the crossfire. The IACHR established all these events after years of litigation, including witness testimony and thousands of pages of evidence. On this basis, the court held Colombia responsible for forced disappearance, torture, and extrajudicial execution. In addition, the IACHR found that Colombia violated its international obligations and the human rights of the victims by failing, during almost three decades, to properly investigate and bring to justice those responsible for human

rights violations. An opportunity to heal his decision arrives at a critical point in Colombia’s history, as the government tries to turn the page on nearly half a century of internal armed conflict through peace talks with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and National Liberation Army (ELN). In this context, there is a vibrant debate on what it is needed to achieve peace. We support the view that moving forward requires the Colombian government to actively look for the disappeared, establish the truth of what happened, and prosecute all those responsible for gross human rights violations.

“

By complying with the court’s ruling, Colombia will show a genuine commitment to justice and respect for the victims of the internal conflict. People & Power - Colombia: The End Game oreover, its institutions will be strengthened; the judiciary would pursue the necessary investigations; the security forces could break the pacts of silence that perpetuated impunity; and the victims would regain trust in the state that has failed them for decades. What this means for the rest of the Americas The decision made by the IACHR also sends a clear message

In conclusion, the court’s decision offers Colombia and all of the Americas an opportunity to end impunity for international crimes and to forge a future of greater peace, transparency, and accountability, and ultimately of stronger democracies

to the rest of the hemisphere on the intrinsic relationship between democracy and respect for human rights. First, governmental and judicial authorities must prioritise and guarantee the protection of the citizens they serve, even in times of conflict or social unrest. Second, countries that use forced disappearances, torture, and executions as methods to extract information from or deal with individuals perceived as threats to security undermine the rule of law and ignore international legal obligations agreed upon by the international community. Third, as reiterated by the IACHR, if forced disappearances, torture, and executions were or are used - regardless of context - impartial and expedient investigation and prosecution of those responsible must follow. In the wake of grave human rights violations, the state has a responsibility to guarantee the right to truth and justice for victims. Without acknowledgement of their suffering, a country cannot move forward towards strengthening its democratic institutions. In conclusion, the court’s decision offers Colombia and all of the Americas an opportunity to end impunity for international crimes and to forge a future of greater peace, transparency, and accountability, and ultimately of stronger democracies. Courtesy; Aljazeera

PAGE 36

Peoples Daily, monday, December 22, 2014

International

Egypt jails Suez Canal official for espionage

S Leone to withdraw Somalia troops over Ebola

ierra Leone is withdrawing its troops from Somalia after the African Union blocked the West African country from rotating its soldiers over fears for the Ebola virus. Sierra Leone sent 850 troops to Somalia for a 12-month deployment to fight the al-Qaedalinked rebel group, al-Shabab, in Somalia in 2013. Their rotation was delayed after a group of 800 soldiers, who were waiting to replace their comrades in Somalia, were quarantined after one of the soldiers was tested positive for Ebola. “They have to go. We wish they could have stayed but they have been here long. And there is no rotation possible because of the nature of the situation,” Maman Sidou, the AU’s special representative for Somalia said during a farewell event for the troops held in the port city of Kismayo on Friday. In August, Somali’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said no new troops from Sierra Leone will be deployed to his country after calls by activists and a campaign on social media by Somalis calling for a halt to the deployment. “This is something that is beyond the control of Republic of Sierra Leone, beyond the control of AU and beyond the control of the Federal Republic of Somalia; but we have clearly stated that we are very grateful for their contribution. They came to Somalia at a very difficult time. They are leaving Somalia in a much, much better situation,” President Hassan said during the heavily guarded farewell ceremony. The African Union which has more than 22,000 troops in Somalia from Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Uganda, Burundi, Nigeria and Ghana said the departing soldiers will now be replaced by troops from countries that already have boots on the ground, until the virus has been fully contained. The troops will withdraw from Somalia in January.

n Egyptian court has jailed a Suez Canal shipping services manager for 10 years on charges of spying for Israel about naval movements through the strategic waterway, state media has reported. The court in the canal city of Port Said also handed down life sentences in absentia to two Israelis it found guilty of being the Egyptian’s handlers, the official MENA news agency reported late on Saturday. The court found that Mohamed Ali Abdel Baki had passed on information damaging to national security about the movements of Egyptian and foreign warships, particularly Iranian ones. Abdel Baki had also divulged detailed information to his handlers about Port Said and its management, the court heard. He had first made contact with the Israeli security services over the internet in 2011 and met the two Israelis convicted of being his handlers at the embassy in Bangkok the following year.

Prosecutors charged that in addition to spying for Israel, Abdel Baki had also offered to provide similar information about naval movements and deployments to its regional foes Iran, Syria and Lebanese Shia group Hezbollah.

In February 2011, two Iranian warships entered the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal for the first time since the Islamic revolution of 1979, prompting Israel to put its navy on high alert.

Iranian warships made a similar deployment through the canal in February 2012, sailing past the coast of Israel and making a port call in Latakia in allied Syria before returning to Iran.

The shipping manager passed on information about movements of Egyptian and foreign warships

Tunisians choose president in run-off elections

is opponent, Moncef Marzouki, is a 67-year-old human rights activists forced into exile by the Ben Ali government. He has been interim president since 2011 and is more popular in the conservative, poorer south. After casting his ballot, Mr Marzouki said Tusinians “should be proud” of themselves “because the interim period has come to a peaceful end”. Voting is well under way at a school-turned-polling station in the Tunis suburb of Kram, not too far from the presidential palace in Carthage. At least 10 members of the Tunisian security forces are deployed here, checking bags and ID before people are allowed to enter. Many voters have brought their children, who are playing in the courtyard while the parents are queuing. Slightly more than two hours after voting started turnout here was under 20%.

The process is being scrutinised not just by international election observers, but also by thousands of Tunisian observers, who are walking around in blue vests and filling in forms. “I am not just proud, I am very, very proud,” said a 65-year-old man who has just arrived. “I never voted under dictatorship, this is the first time for me.” Presidential powers Mr Marzouki is likely to attract support from the moderate Islamist Ennahda party, which has played a key role in Tunisian politics since the Arab Spring but has not fielded a candidate. Whoever wins faces restricted powers under a constitution passed earlier this year. The president will be commander-in-chief of the armed forces but can appoint or sack senior officers only in consultation with the prime minister. The president will also set

Beji Caid Essebsi, who leads a secularist party, has support in the wealthy, coastal regions foreign policy in consultation with the prime minister, represent the state and ratify treaties. Tunisia has boosted security for the elections and closed border posts with Libya, which has been plagued

by unrest. In the build-up to the vote, a video emerged of Islamic State militants claiming responsibility for the 2013 killings of two Tunisian politicians.

US delivers Apache helicopters to Egypt

he United States has delivered 10 Apache attack helicopters to Egypt in recent weeks after lifting part of a freeze on aid to the North African nation, a US official said. US Secretary of State John Kerry had promised Cairo’s new leadership that the aircraft - aimed to join operations in the Sinai Peninsula - would be delivered soon. “They got there a few weeks ago,” a US senior administration official told AFP news agency on Saturday. Kerry announced in June that he

was “confident” Egypt would receive the helicopter gunships soon, and reiterated that in a phone call to Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. The US annually allocates some $1.5bn in aid to Egypt, including $1.3bn in military assistance. That was frozen in October 2013 on condition that democratic reforms be enacted after the July 2013 military-led overthrow of elected president Mohamed Morsi and subsequent crackdown on his followers. Washington said in April it

planned to resume some of the annual aid for “counterterrorism” efforts in the Sinai Peninsula. ‘Human rights violations’ US President Barack Obama spoke to his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on Thursday and expressed concern over mass trials and the continued detention of journalists and peaceful activists. During a telephone call, the White House said, Obama encouraged Sisi to “invest in the political, economic, and social aspirations of the Egyptian people”.

Egypt’s military has been battling an insurgency in the Sinai Peninsula since it overthrew Morsi. The government declared a state of emergency in parts of northern Sinai after an October 24 suicide attack near El-Arish killed 30 soldiers in the deadliest assault on security forces since Morsi’s ouster. Rebel groups claim their attacks are in retaliation for a government crackdown targeting Morsi’s supporters that has left hundreds dead and thousands jailed.

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Peoples Daily, monday, December 22, 2014

International

Sony hack: US mulls putting N Korea back on terror list

resident Barack Obama has said the US is considering putting North Korea back on its list of terrorism sponsors after the hacking of Sony Pictures. A decision would be taken after a review, he said, calling the attack an act of cyber-vandalism, not of war. North Korea denies the attack over The Interview, which depicts the fictional killing of its leader Kim Jong-Un. Sony cancelled the Christmas Day release after threats to cinemas. It is considering “a different platform”. Costly In a CNN interview, President Obama described the hacking as a “very costly, very expensive” example of cybervandalism. He said US officials would examine all the evidence to determine whether North Korea should be put back on the list of state sponsors of terrorism. “I’ll wait to review what the finding are,” Mr Obama said, adding that he did not think the attack “was an act of war”. President Obama: “I don’t think it was an act of war, I think it was an act of cyber-vandalism” North Korea had been on the US list for two decades until the White House removed it in 2008, after Pyongyang agreed to full verification of its nuclear sites.

North Korea strongly objects to the film’s portrayal of its leader On Saturday, the US also asked China to curb North Korea’s cyberattacks. So far there has been no response from Beijing - North Korea’s main ally. North Korea’s communications run through China. The FBI said on Friday that North Korea had carried out last month’s cyber-attack, in which script details and

private emails were leaked. The US defended its findings on Saturday, with US National Security spokesman Mark Stroh saying: “We are confident the North Korean government is responsible for this destructive attack.” “If the North Korean government wants to help, they can admit their culpability and compensate Sony for

the damages this attack caused,” he said. The Interview features James Franco and Seth Rogen as two journalists who are granted an audience with Mr Kim. The CIA then enlists the pair to assassinate him. The film’s cancelled release drew criticism in Hollywood, with some calling it an attack on the freedom of expression.

Pyongyang accused the United States of launching such a human rights “racket” against the DPRK, which it claimed is a “dangerous politically-motivated attempt to invent an excuse for mounting an invasion of the DPRK.” “It is the most vivid manifestation of the U.S. harsh hostile policy toward the DPRK aimed at isolating and stifling it at any cost,” the DPRK foreign ministry was quoted by the official KCNA news agency as saying in a three-point statement.

In the statement, Pyongyang completely rejects the human rights resolution passed by the UN General Assembly, which it said fails to reflect the actual human rights performance in the DPRK and thus can never be valid. It also said that all the agreements signed between Pyongyang and Washington have become “dead papers” including the Joint Statement of the Fourth Round of the Six-Party Talks signed in 2005 in Beijing, in which both countries agreed to respect

each other’s sovereignty and exist peacefully together. Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula has lost its meaning as the U.S. hostile policy aimed to invade the DPRK under the excuse of the human rights issue has grown clear, it noted. It warned that the army and people of the DPRK will shatter the human rights “racket” launched by hostile forces with “unprecedentedly toughest counteractions” to firmly defend its socialist system. Source; Xinhua

Women ‘punished’ for marrying non-Jordanians

haled al-Maani sat neatly on one of the brown velvet mattresses lining his parents’ living room in southern Marka, Jordan, flipping through his schoolbooks. The 13-year-old told Al Jazeera he “hated” school five years ago, when his teacher asked him to return textbooks she gave to him by “mistake”. He was not entitled to them, she said, because he was Egyptian. “But my mother is Jordanian,” Khaled explained. It was the first time he had encountered the reality that in his family of eight, only his mother was a Jordanian citizen, while he and his six siblings - despite being born and raised in Jordan - remained

Roadside bomb kills Afghan civilians in Kunar

Pyongyang to strengthen national defence

he Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) said Saturday that denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula has “lost its meaning” amid U.S. hostile policy and that it will further bolster all national defense capabilities including nuclear power. On Thursday, the United Nations General Assembly voted in favor of referring the DPRK to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in a resolution initiated by the European Union and Japan.

Asia & Middle East

“second-class citizens”. While Jordan’s citizenship law states that “children of a Jordanian [man] are Jordanian regardless of where they were born”, Jordanian women cannot pass on their citizenship if married to non-Jordanian men. Khaled’s mother, Laila al-Maani, and thousands of Jordanian women have staged more than 50 protests over the past decade at sites ranging from government offices to the Royal Court, demanding full rights for their children. Last month, the government finally responded to their campaign, rejecting their demands of full citizenship for their children and instead implementing a scheme of “benefits” to “ease”

the children’s access to some

services.

Women demonstrate for their children’s rights regardless of their fathers’ nationality

t least seven people including children were killed when a roadside bomb struck a vehicle in eastern Afghanistan, officials said, the latest civilian casualties which soared to a record high this year. The explosion occurred late Saturday when the pickup truck was driving from Asadabad, the capital of Kunar province, to Nari district close to the border with Pakistan. “Last evening a pickup truck, with women and children onboard, was blown up by a roadside bomb, that killed seven people including two little girls,” Nari police chief Mohammad Yousuf told AFP news agency. He blamed the Taliban for the blast, which also left three women wounded. Mohammad Rahman Danish, the district chief of Nari, confirmed the incident, which highlights worsening violence as US-led troops leave Afghanistan after more than a decade of fighting. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast, but roadside bombs are the Taliban’s weapon of choice in their battle against the US-backed government and foreign forces, that also increasingly kill and wound civilians. A UN report released on Friday said civilian casualties hit a record high this year, with 3,188 civilians killed and 6,429 injured by the end of November. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) report warned that civilian casualties were expected to exceed 10,000 by the end of the year, making it the deadliest year for noncombatants since the organisation began issuing its authoritative reports in 2009. Compared to 2013, this year also saw a 33 percent rise in casualties among children and a 12 percent increase among women. While ground fighting between troops and armed groups and Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) remained leading causes of deaths and injuries, the Taliban were accountable for 75 percent of all civilian casualties, the report said. NATO is wrapping up its combat operations on December 31, but a follow-up mission of about 12,500 US-led NATO troops will stay on in Afghanistan to train and support the local security forces now responsible for fighting the Taliban.

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Peoples Daily, monday, December 22, 2014

International Europe and Americas

Pornographic videos flood YouTube

he BBC’s Interactive reporter Siobhan Courtney talks about the investigation into the ‘video attack’. Video-sharing website YouTube has removed hundreds of pornographic videos which were uploaded in what is believed to be a planned attack. The material was uploaded under names of famous teenage celebrities such as Hannah Montana and Jonas Brothers. Many started with footage of children’s videos before groups of adults performing graphic sex acts appeared on screen. YouTube owner Google said it was aware and addressing the problem. Disturbing videos The BBC was made aware that scores of sexually explicit and inappropriate material was uploaded. In one video titled Jonas Brother Live On Stage, a user posted a comment saying: “I’m 12 years old and what is this?” Under other uploaded videos, online users posted comments such as: “Take the tags off, you’ll get us caught.” Another said: “Your gonna kill us all!” As the disturbing videos were being uploaded, many viewers added them to their favourites and rated them highly. One user believed to have uploaded some of the pornographic material videos is Flonty, whose profile states that he is 21 and from Germany. He told the BBC: “I did it because YouTube keeps deleting music. It was part of a 4Chan raid.” 4Chan is a bulletin board focusing on Japanese manga and anime but some of its more extreme sections have been described on online messageboards as “sick” and “horrifying stuff”. “Anything and everything can, and usually does, happen here. We have our very own unique culture, and there is no group quite like us anywhere out there”. Community guidelines When asked if he was concerned that children can freely watch such inappropriate material on YouTube, Flonty replied: “Children will find inappropriate material around the internet anyway. “This kind of raid showed how easy it is to upload porn to a website that millions of people browse on a daily basis”. Google spokesman Scott Rubin told BBC News: “We are aware of the slew of pornographic videos that were uploaded. “We are addressing them as we would any video that violates our community guidelines. “In addition, any account we discover that has been set up specifically to attack YouTube will be disabled.”

Raul Castro says open to reciprocal dialogue with US

uban leader Raul Castro told parliament on Saturday that his government is willing to have reciprocal dialogue on any topic with the United States. “We reiterate our willingness for respectful and reciprocal dialogue concerning disagreements,” Castro

said when closing the twice-yearly session of the National Assembly. “We have strong convictions and a lot of concerns about what happens in the United States on democracy and human rights,” he said. Cuba, however, will maintain contacts with the U.S. government in a “constructive

and mutual respect spirit.” He also insisted Cuba would not give up its socialist principles. “In the same way that we have never demanded that the United States change its political system, we will demand respect for ours,” Castro said.

His address to the National Assembly follows simultaneous television announcements by both governments Wednesday that Cuba and the United States will reopen embassies and exchange ambassadors for the first time in more than 50 years.

Cuban leader Raul Castro (L) speaks at the closing of the twice-yearly meeting of the National Assembly in Havana, Cuba,

Obama condemns murder of New York police

S President Barack Obama has condemned the killing of two New York police officers shot by a man who then turned his gun on himself. “I unconditionally condemn today’s murder of two police officers in New York City,” Obama, who is on Christmas holiday in Hawaii, said on Sunday. “Officers who serve and protect our communities risk their own safety for ours every single day and they deserve our respect and gratitude every single day.” The officers - Rafael Ramos, 40, and Wenjian Liu, 32 - were ambushed and fatally shot in their marked police patrol car by a 28-year-old man named Ismaaiyl Brinsley, said William Bratton, the commissioner for the New York

Police Department. Reports said Brisnley was apparently seeking revenge for the death of an unarmed black man during an arrest attempt. Al Jazeera’s John Terrett, reporting from New York, said Brinsley had posted “very vicious, anti-police messages” on social media before the attack, the first in which NYPD officers had been killed by gunfire since 2011. Eric Holder, the US attorney general, promised the support of the Justice Department throughout the investigation. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said: “Although we’re still learning the details, it’s clear that

this was an assassination, that these officers were shot execution style.” Bratton said after the attack Brinsley fled into a nearby metro station and died there from a selfinflicted gunshot wound to the head. Police said Brinsley had shot and wounded his girlfriend in Baltimore before driving to Brooklyn. Bratton added that the gunman had made online posts that were “very anti-police”. Anger against police The shooting comes at a time when police in New York and nationwide are being heavily criticised for their tactics following the chokehold death of Eric Garner, an unarmed black man who was stopped by police for selling cigarettes illegally.

The shooting comes at a time when police in New York and nationwide are being heavily criticised for brutality

Mother charged in Australia child deaths

n Australian woman has been charged with the murders of seven of her children and her niece, whose bodies were found inside her home, police have said. Mersane Warria, 37, was charged on Sunday with eight counts of murder in a bedside hearing at a hospital in the northern city of Cairns where she is recovering from stab wounds, Queensland state police said. Police were called to the home in

the Cairns suburb of Manoora on Friday morning after receiving a report of a woman with serious injuries. When they got to the house, they found the bodies, along with Warria, who was suffering from stab wounds to the chest. Police have not said how the children died, but Queensland Police Detective Inspector Bruno Asnicar said they were examining several knives in the home that may have been the weapon used

to kill them. Officials were still trying to determine exactly what happened inside the house, and had collected more than 100 witness statements, he said. A coroner was conducting autopsies, but police would not be releasing the results as the case was now a matter for the courts, he said. The children, four girls and four boys, ranged in age from 2 to 14. Warria is the mother of seven of

them; the eighth is her niece. Police were not looking for any other suspects and planned to oppose any request for bail, Asnicar said. Asked how the children’s five fathers were coping with the tragedy, Ascinar replied: “I don’t think we need much imagination to understand how they are feeling.” A hearing was scheduled for Monday, but Warria was excused from attending.

Peoples Daily, monday, December 22, 2014

PAGE 39

Strange World

Guy Makes a Living Storing Students’ Mobile Phones in His Van while They Attend School W

hen New Yorker Jhonn de La Puente realized that many high school students aren’t allowed to bring their personal cell phones to school, he hit upon a simple yet brilliant business model – a cell phone storage van. The 42-year-old now runs a company called ‘Safe ‘n’ Secure Cellutions LLC’ – it consists of a modified Ford E250 parked outside Brooklyn’s Prospect Heights High School complex, which houses four different public high schools. Right before they enter school, students queue up outside the van to deposit their phones through a small mail-slot on the side. They are handed colored tickets that they can use to retrieve the phones as they leave school at the end of the day. The service costs them anywhere between $3 and $5 per week. Puente, a Crown Heights resident, has put a lot of thought and effort into creating the van – he said that he designed and customised it himself, adding security cameras, storage racks and a cash lock box. “I even did research on the average height of high school students to get a median height to put this window at,” he revealed. “It was really important to me that it was the right level so they could see my face and so that I could interact with the customers.” Along the van’s walls, he installed dozens of shoe organizers to create a neatly organised phone storage

system. The plastic pockets on the organizers are large enough to hold smartphones, mp3 players and flip phones – they can accommodate up to 100 devices per day. Puente said that he spent about $4,000 on overall customisation, of which $200 were spent on the organisers alone. The van is extremely popular with high school kids, mainly because most of them have to go through lengthy commutes to and from school – often taking over 40 minutes. And thanks to Safe ‘n’ Secure, they get to use their phones during this time, rather than leave the devices at home. Puente has first-timer customers

sign waivers, stating that they will abide by the company’s rules and regulations. “This way, they know our rules and we also have any info we need (school name, school year, phone number, emergency number, email, etc.) in case we need to get in touch with the kids. But he does accept responsibility for any lost or stolen phone. “If a phone is missing, that means we gave it away – I would buy them a new phone.” But, he insists that “that has never, ever happened.” As brilliant as Puente’s business is, sadly, he might have to shut it down sometime soon. He is facing his own

share of problems – he does operate the van with a general business license, but a representative from the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs said that a general vendors license would be needed for cell phone storage businesses. He also added that general vendors cannot operate out of parked vehicles. That makes Puente eligible for $100 fines from the NYPD. And the ban on cellphones inside public schools in New York might end very soon, which is good news for students, but not for the business. Puente said that he has mixed feelings about the issue. “Honestly, I see both

sides of the issue,” he explained. “As a parent, I am for the mayor lifting the ban. I have to be in contact with my kids after school, to find out where they are. But as a business owner, this would be really hard.” Puente’s isn’t the only business that’s going to be affected. At least a dozen other vans will have to go if the ban is lifted, and several local restaurants and delis that offer cell phone storage will also have to shut the service down. This would result in a significant loss in revenue. Hopefully, guys like Puente will be able to use their sharp business acumen to come up with a new business model.

This College of Wizardry in Poland is as Close to Hogwarts as You’ll Ever Get The College of Wizardry, a recent event organised by Denmark’s Rollespils Fabrikken and Poland’s LARPing communities, gave Potterheads the opportunity to experience the world of Harry Potter by actually being a part of it. This, they claimed, was a whole lot more fulfilling and exciting than visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park, in Orlando. Through the event, they brought Potterheads from 11 different countries together to celebrate their love of the wizarding world. Close to 200 live-action role players (LARPers) participated in the first session of the fictional Czocha College of Witchcraft and Wizardry – it was the largest and most intricate J.K. Rowling-themed LARP adventure

in history. The LARPers played the role of teachers, students and other characters from Hogwarts. While they obviously could not bring magic to life, they worked hard to make almost every other aspect of Hogwarts real. They started with the setting – the medieval Czocha Castle located in the Polish countryside. Once the location was decided upon, they started adding various elements to make the experience as authentic as possible. For instance, the school sorts its students into five different houses – Durentius, Faust, Libussa, Molin, and Sendivogius. When the sorting is complete and the school session starts, students are expected to work hard towards completing the S.P.E.L.L (Senior Protective Enchanter’s Lifelong License). The

school also has a range of professors – from the bumbling, absent-minded ones to the sharp-tongued strict ones. No Hogwarts experience would be complete without the wizarding sport of Quidditch, which is a big part of the Czocha College of Witchcraft experience. The organizers admitted that what they’re doing is simply an extension of every Potter-fan’s daydreaming. “It’s essentially the same as when kids use curtains as robes and sticks as wands and run around pretending to be witches and wizards,” they wrote on their website. “Except we’re grownups with nicer costumes and a lot of experience in designing interactive experiences with each other,” they added. Indeed, the uniform at Czocha consists of finely tailored robes and ties that

are issued to each participant in the colors of one of the school’s five houses. “We want drama, escalation of conflicts, and de-escalation back to normalcy again,” they explained. Polish LARPers had been meaning to organize a massive Harry Potter LARP for ages, and they were finally been able to fulfill their dream in collaboration with the Danish Rollespils Fabrikken group. The Danes are believed to be the true kings of LARPing. With 10,000 of them involved in the hobby, LARPing is the third-most popular organised activity (only behind soccer and handball) in Denmark. For the Harry Potter simulation they set up in Poland, they have followed the Nordiclarp movement, which is all about creating an

authentic world and then dumping characters in without a script. There’s no prompting, and there’s no guarantee that the good guys will win. There’s just no telling how a scenario will play out. The organizers hoped that this freedom will make the castle feel a lot like a real Hogwarts. The first College of Wizardry experience took place in November and lasted four days. Admissions are open for future semesters, and unlike the ‘real’ Hogwarts, muggle students (who must be 18 or older) can apply. The next session is scheduled to be held between April 9 and 12 and April 16 and 19 next year, for a fee of 280 euro ($345) per person. They plan to invite 114 participants for each session as well additional nonparticipant observers. Interested?

PAGE 40

Digest

Would you drink coffee with butter? By Madlen Davies

new craze has coffee drinkers blending two tablespoons of butter into their morning brew in the hope of boosting energy levels, losing weight and feeling mentally alert. The fad has taken the U.S. by storm and is now gaining traction in the U.K, with big coffee shop chains adding their own versions of the buttery coffee to their menus. Known as ‘fat black’ and ‘paleo coffee’, it was formulated by American health guru Dave Asprey who discovered yak butter tea while traversing the Tibetan mountains. Adding two tablespoons of unsalted butter - made from grass-fed cows - and a dash of coconut oil to morning coffee can provide six hours of energy, burns fat and improves cognitive function, American health guru Dave Asprey claims Writing on his website, Mr Asprey said: ‘I learned about the power of butter at 18,000 feet of elevation near Mt. Kailash in Tibet. ‘I staggered into a guest house from the -10 degree weather and was literally rejuvenated by a creamy cup of yak butter tea.’ Mr Asprey says the coffee will give you energy for ‘six hours if you need it’, programs the body to ‘burn fat for energy all day long’ and ‘improves cognitive function’. The drink is made from a strict recipe of organic black coffee made from his trademark ‘low toxin beans’, which Mr Asprey claims are ‘cleaner’ than regular

Adding two tablespoons of unsalted butter - made from grass-fed cows - and a dash of coconut oil to morning coffee can provide six hours of energy, burns fat and improves cognitive function, American health guru Dave Asprey claims coffee. A dash of medium-chain triglyceride oil – a supplement made from refined coconut oil - is then added. This ‘improves brain energy’ Mr Asprey says. Next, two tablespoons of unsalted butter, preferable from grass-fed cows are melted in, and the mixture is whipped up into a froth. According to Mr Asprey, butter contains all the benefits of healthy milk fat with none of the damaging proteins found in cream, making for ‘the creamiest, most satisfying’ cup of coffee. Advocates swear they feel mentally alert and top of their game, able to fire on all cylinders. The drink is made from a strict recipe of organic black coffee made from his trademark ‘low toxin beans’, which Mr Asprey

claims are ‘cleaner’ than regular coffee It is used by ‘recording artists before they go on stage, world champion athletes, and some of the world’s top executives’, Mr Asprey claims. But others have described the taste as too rich and oily, leaving them feeling sick and uncomfortable. Critics argue the underlying science is shaky, and fear bulletproof coffee is one of the greatest marketing cons of the century. In fact, a study published in Anthropologist journal in 2004 found that Tibetan women who drank large amounts of butter tea stood a greater chance of becoming obese, ‘increasing their risk for other health problems’. Nutritionists also warn those

who drink the coffee are replacing their more traditional, nutritious breakfast, with something that is low in essential nutrients. And some argue butter is high in saturated fats, which raises the level of cholesterol in your blood and therefore increases your risk of heart disease and stroke. Apparently the drink is consumed by ‘recording artists before they go on stage, world champion athletes, and some of the world’s top executives’, Mr Asprey claims However, others say studies have shown saturated fat has been unfairly demonized. Research published in the American journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2010 found no

evidence saturated fat is associated with an increased risk of heart disease. And while butter and coffee may sound like an unlikely combination, it has actually been consumed around the world for years. Aside from the Tibetans Mr Asprey encountered, who do indeed drink yak butter and tea at high altitudes, Ethiopians commonly add spiced butter into their coffee. And in Singapore, coffee beans are often stir-fried with butter in a wok before being consumed. Source: Dailymail.co.uk

The drink is made from a strict recipe of organic black coffee made from his trademark ‘low toxin beans’, which Mr Asprey claims are ‘cleaner’ than regular coffee

Why airline pilots have a higher risk of skin cancer By Anna Hodgekiss

irline pilots are at risk of deadly skin cancer because they are exposed to cockpit radiation similar to levels from tanning beds. Pilots flying for an hour at 30,000ft get the same amount of radiation as 20 minutes on a tanning bed. And researchers believe the levels could be higher when pilots are flying over thick clouds and snow fields, which can reflect UV

radiation. The dangerous exposure occurs because airplane windshields do not completely block UV-A radiation as they are made of polycarbonate plastic or multilayer composite glass. UV-A radiation can cause DNA damage in cells and its role in melanoma - a lethal type of skin cancer - is well known, according to the report published online by JAMA Dermatology. Air crews also face an increased risk of exposure to

Pilots flying for an hour at 30,000ft get the same amount of radiation as 20 minutes on a tanning bed

cosmic rays - X-rays, gamma rays and subatomic particles - from space. Researchers from the University of California measured the amount of UV radiation in airplane cockpits during flights. The cockpit radiation was measured in the pilot seat of a general aviation turboprop airplane through the acrylic plastic windshield at ground level and at various heights above sea level. Sun exposures were measured in San Jose, California, and in Las Vegas around midday in April. They then compared them with measurements taken in tanning beds. While short-wave UV-B ultraviolet radiation cannot easily penetrate glass and plastic windows, long-wave UV-A is much more likely to get through. Both kinds of UV can cause skin ageing and cancer. The researchers conclude: ‘Airplane windshields do not completely block UV-A radiation and therefore are not enough to protect pilots. ‘UV-A transmission inside airplanes can play a role in pilots’ increased risk of melanoma (malignant skin cancer).’ Research has shown that

The dangerous exposure occurs because airplane windshields do not completely block UV-A radiation compared with the general population, airline pilots and flight crews may be twice as much at risk of melanoma. Writing in the journal Jama Dermatology, the authors, led by Dr Martina Sanlorenzo, from the University of California at San Francisco, add: ‘These levels could be significantly higher when flying over thick cloud layers and snow fields, which could reflect up to 85 per cent of UV radiation. They now recommend that further studies are carried out

to check what levels of radiation other airline workers are exposed to. They add: ‘We believe that better UV protection on aircraft windshields is necessary to offer cabin crew a hazard-free work environment.’ The authors said they ‘strongly recommend’ that pilots and cabin crews use sunscreens and periodically get their skin checked. Source: Dailymail.co.uk

SporT 41 Page

Peoples Daily, thursday, monday, December october22, 2, 2014 2014

sports@peoplesdailyng.com, SMS- 08142929046

Why fans attack referee in Abuja during NNL’s match A

Referee from Anambra State, Charles Ozigbo received the beating of his life over the weekend at the Fifa Goal Project Tech-

nical Centre in Abuja during the National League Week 30 tie between Ranchers Bees and Kwara United after he was pounced on by fans allegedly loyal to Kaduna

based Bees. The initial game between the two teams was abandoned in the 62nd minute at 2-2 at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna

some weeks ago after Afonja Warriors’ players had to run for safety over threat on their lives from home fans who wanted Ranchers Bees’ return to the top

Charles Ozigbo

Real Madrid wins FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco 2

>>>Pg 43

22 Elders FC doles out food items, gifts to widows, orphans at Mpape >>>Pg 42

flight at all costs. Hell was let loose when the referee awarded a penalty against Ranchers Bees and their fans invaded the pitch to pounch on Ozigbo who was beaten to a state of coma before he was eventually rescued by the secretary of the FCT Football Association, Usman Haruna. “It was a pitiable sight to behold for lovers of Nigerian football. You will notice from the beginning that there was tension everywhere on the part of Ranchers Bees. All their movement before the start of the match was highly suspicious,” Kwara United’s head of protocol Demola Kiyesola recounted the incident to Goal. “They didn’t come for the pre match meeting and they didn’t come with their official team bus. What we saw was them coming out from bush around just before the game started. “They (fans of Ranchers) were causing trouble from the start of the game because they never saw anything good in the match officials handling of the match. “The infringement given to us was the straw that incited the Ranchers Bees’ fans. They beat the match officials and the policemen that came to maintain law and order.” Kiyesola said they have left everything in the hands of the league organizers to look at the match report of both the match officials and the match commissioner with the video evidence too and then decide what next to do. Ranchers Bees needed a draw to qualify for the premier league after many years in the lower league while a win would see Kwara United gain an instant return to the top flight after a season in the lower cadre.

Don’t rely on foreign based players, NFF warns Siasia >>>Pg 43

Peoples Daily, monday, December 22, 2014

Page 42

Sport

22 Elders FC doles out food items, gifts to widows, orphans at Mpape By Albert Akota

he 22 Elders FC in Abuja has set to alleviate poverty among widows and orphans at Mpape by presented foodstuffs, gifts to them for this yuletide season. The widows were given different type of foods such as bag of rice, oil, beverages, indomie, toiletries,

spaghetti and among other household items. Speaking to newsmen after presenting the food items to the widows in their various homes at Mpape, in Abuja over the weekend, chairman of the club, Ejimonye Isaac said the club sees Christmas and New Year celebration as a period of sharing love with needy and decided to cater for the widows

and their orphans. He said the one year old club was established primarily to play football and keep fit among its members as well as providing succour to the under-privilege ones in the community as corporate social responsibility. “Our aim of coming together is to play to keep fit, but beyond playing to keep fit there is need to assist

the people of the community. As a way of reaching out to the people of the community is what we are doing today and it is also our social corporate responsibility to where we live, “he said. Also, vice chairman of the club, Adegboye Babanire assured the widows and their orphans that the club will continue to support them, stating that caring for them is a

22 Elders FC squad

continuous thing. According to him, the club will in the nearest future embark on awareness campaign to sensitise people of the community on their personal hygiene. “I think it is just the beginning of good things we set to do as a club. Our motto is one love through exercise and we are out to correct some social vices in our society, particularly where we stay. Anything good had to start with small step and what we have started today is a small step in the right direction. We hope to see a society where people are very happy. We know the issue of corruption, robbery and some social vices exhibited by young people in our society today and these some of the things we might look for in the near future to settle. “We are barely a year and three months old, but what we were able to achieve within this short period is alarming. Come 2015, we will be a more purposeful club and we shall embark on awareness campaign to educate people issues that concern everybody like personal hygiene. Though we are satisfied of Ebola free but it is still an issue that we need to be caution about and as well as HIV and AID. One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Charity Justin, commended the club their kind gesture, saying she was not expecting them to come her aid. “I did not expect this at all and I really appreciate what you people have done for me and my children. It show to me that even though my husband had left me and my children, I believe I still have many husbands who will care for me and my children and I thank the club, “ she said.

Jonathan deserves Amuneke picks 100 players 2nd term, says Yobo from open screening in Abuja

resident Goodluck Jonathan has done very well in implementing the transformation agenda and should be re-elected in 2015, former Super Eagles captain, Joseph Yobo has said. Yobo, made the declaration,

Yobo.

after holding closed door meeting with the President at the State House. He led his group, PDP Ward 2 Initiative to the President’s office. The ace defender told State House correspondents after the meeting that he has endorsed the President for the second term. His words, “I am here to endorse Mr President for his re-election. He has done so well for the youth. I stand here as a youth to say that he deserves second term to push forward the good work he has started. “I believe in the legacy of the transformation agenda, and that is why this ward 2 ward initiative is building on that legacy. The President has done so well. “The youth now have their own power, they have their own belief and they should understand that they have their rights in their own hands. They should follow what Mr President has said. “The youth should come forward and believe in Mr President. Everybody should come out to vote for him; he is your choice. “As an individual and as a face of the youth, I recognise what he has done. The future is for the youth. We need to stand up and look into the future, not just now”.

By Albert Akota

fter a massive turnout by budding youngsters at the camp of the Golden Eaglets for the open screening, a hundred players have been identified as potential players by the technical crew of the national U-17 led by Emmanuel Amuneke. An average of 300 players were screened daily and national team handlers have been able to separate the grain from the chaff from what is just the first stage of a tedious process for a place in the squad. “We thank everyone that had come and the one-week open screening has reinforced our belief that there is abundance of talents in Nigeria,” Amuneke said. It was gathered that this is only the first stage of the exercise which is squarely based on the innate quality of the players as well as right disposition during the screening .Officials informed that the players so selected would be further scrutinized to authenticate their document before undergoing the mandatory Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Test. “The whole idea of this screening is to have a pool of players that can be good additional to the squad even after the African Championship in

Niger,” reasoned Amuneke. “This team is work in progress and by the grace of God, we shall pack the plane successfully after Chile in 2015.” Meanwhile, the Golden Eaglets would continue their build up towards the continental cadet championship at the NFF/FIFA Goal Project in Abuja today. According to the team’s administrator, Tayo Egbaiyelo, the team would only break from their routine training session on

designated public holidays during the festive period in view of the short time before Niger 2015 slated for February 15 to March 1st. Incidentally, draws for the competition would be held at the CAF Headquarters in Cairo, Egypt on Sunday with the eight qualifiers including defending champions, Cote d’Ivoire, Niger (hosts), Cameroon, Guinea, Mali, South Africa, Zambia and Nigeria drawn into two halves of four teams each.

Emmanuel Amuneke.

Page 43

Peoples Daily, monday, December 22, 2014

Sport

eal Madrid defeated San Lorenzo of Argentina 2-0 to win the FIFA Club World Cup and secure their fourth trophy of 2014. The Spanish giants dominated the final with Sergio Ramos, who had been an injury doubt because of a hamstring strain, and Gareth Bale getting on the scoresheet. Real added the year-ending trophy to the Champions League, Copa del Rey and European Super Cup titles they had already secured in 2014. They will also end the year on top of La Liga. Saturday’s triumph was also their 22nd consecutive win in all competitions, and they now have in their sights the mark of 26 straight wins achieved by Johan Cruyff’s Ajax side in 1971-72. Ramos opened the scoring after 37 minutes when he rose above the San Lorenzo defence to send a thumping header past goalkeeper Sebastian Torrico from a Toni Kroos corner. Bale made it 2-0 six minutes into the second half when he collected a pass from Isco and fired the ball straight at Torrico. But the Argentine ‘keeper made a terrible hash of the Welshman’s tame shot and fumbled the ball over the line. Real ‘keeper Iker Casillas was relatively untroubled, called into

Real Madrid wins FIFA Club World Cup in Morocco

serious action for the first time well after the hour mark to keep out an Emmanuel Mas drive. At the other end, Karim Benzema went close to a third Real goal but his touch went wide of the post. Cristiano Ronaldo had a quiet night and failed to get on the end of a Benzema cross in the 80th minute. In the last minute, San Lorenzo’s Juan Mercier unleashed a powerful, long distance drive which was saved by a diving Casillas. Earlier, New Zealand’s Auckland City claimed third place after defeating Cruz Azul 4-2 in a penalty shoot-out to become the first Oceania team to win a medal at the tournament. The two sides were locked 1-1 at the end of normal time with defender Ryan de Vries’ goal in first-half injury time equalised by Joao Rojas’ close-range effort just before the hour mark for the Mexican side.

Villa draw costly to title hopes - Van Gaal

In the shoot-out, Sanni Issa scored the eventual winner for the semi-professionals from Auckland. The Kiwis had made the third-

place play-off by beating Moroccan side Moghreb Tetouan 1-0 and then seeing off African champions Setif of Algeria by the same score. They narrowly missed out

on a place in the final when they conceded an extra-time goal in a 2-1 loss to San Lorenzo.

Real Madrid

Don’t rely on foreign based players, NFF warns Siasia

he General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation Musa Amadu has warned Dream Team VI coach Samson Siasia on the invitation of overseas based players, insisting that it will be very difficult to get the players released for their programs. Amadu, who had earlier said that European clubs are not obliged to release their players to the Dream Team for competitions outside the FIFA free window, also wants the Beijing 2008 Silver winning coach to focus more on

the home based players and take a cue from his predecessor, Austin Eguavoen. “Like I have told you before, the European clubs are not obliged to release their players for any competition outside the FIFA window and I’m sure the coach (Siasia) understands that too. We at the NFF will work hard to ensure we get as many of them as possible, but he must also learn from the mistakes of Austin Eguavoen the last time. “He depended too much on the overseas based players and when

they didn’t show up, it became a problem because the competition didn’t fall into any of the FIFA free windows. But I’m happy he has started working with the home based lads and we will do everything possible to provide all the support he needs,” Amadu added. The Dream Team VI has gone on break for the Christmas celebrations, but is expected to resume back in the first week of January.

Di Maria

anchester United cannot drop points to sides such as Aston Villa if they are to challenge for the Premier League, according to manager Louis van Gaal. His side could only draw against 10 men at Villa Park, leaving them seven points behind leaders Chelsea. After the draw at Villa - earned with Radamel Falcao’s secondhalf equaliser - Captain Wayne Rooney told reporters it was only the media talking about a United title challenge. Van Gaal himself had been coy on hopes of a 21st league crown after victory over Liverpool last

weekend, a sixth successive win that lifted them to third in the table. But they could not equal the seven-game winning sequence achieved on their way to the title under Sir Alex Ferguson early in 2013, despite facing 10 men for over 25 minutes in the Midlands. United fell behind to a smart Christian Benteke strike having dominated possession and ended the game with 65% of the ball overall. Despite the dismissal of Gabriel Agbonlahor for a heavy challenge on ex-Villa winger Ashley Young, they were unable to turn possession and territory into a winner.

Amadu

Page 44

Peoples Daily, monday, December 22, 2014

PUBLIC NOTICE SOCIETY FOR INFORMATION AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY INFORMED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED SOCIETY HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. OLAYINKA OLUFISAYO GOODMAN 2. USMAN ABDUL WAHEED 3. AKIOKPO ELIZABETH OGHENE 4. PASTOR ADEBOLA ALABA KAZEEM 5. ISAAC MOSES THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1.TO PROMOTE PEACE AND UNITY AMONGST THE YOUTH IN THE SOCIETY. 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: SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE GREEN CENTRE FOR ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE PRACTITIONERS

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY INFORMED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED CENTRE HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR ADDITIONAL TRUSTEES AND ADDITIONAL AIMS AND OBJECTIVES UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 1 OF 1990.

THE OLD TRUSTEES ARE: 1. DARLINGTON CHUKWUDI OKAFOR 2. ODEWADE SUNDAY OLADIMEJI 3. MRS GOODNESS IHUOMA AKABOGU 4. ENGR. PETER ADEBIYI ADELAKUN 5. MRS GLORIA ODINACHIA THE NEW TRUSTEES ARE: 1. DR. OLUKIRAN EMMANUEL GBENRO 2. DR. OLUWOLE BANKOLE THE NEW ADDED AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. TO PROMOTE AND ESTABLISH EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE. 2. TO OFFER ACADEMIC PREPARATION TO STUDENTS IN ALL AREAS OF ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE. ANY OBJECTION TO THE ABOVE 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.

PUBLIC NOTICE ORPHANS AND HUFFAZ EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION This is to inform the general public that the above named foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) Abuja for registration under part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act No. 1 of 1990.

TRUSTEES ARE: SURAJO USMAN KAMBA .....Chairman SADDIQ MARAFA DIGGI UMARU USMAN KAMBAZA NASIRU ABUBAKAR KIGO UMAR KABIRU WASAGU BELLO ABDULLAHI BAKO FARUKU MUHAMMAD AWWAL ADAMU LABBO JEGA ..........Secretary AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1-To contribute to the general development of education in the society 2-To promote and protect the interest , welfare and education of orphans Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Maitama, Abuja, within 28 days of this publication. Signed: SECRETARY

Signed:SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE

LITTLE LILIES OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY FOUNDATION

FRIENDSHIP WITH CHRIST HOME FOR THE POOR (removal of trustees) THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REMOVAL OF TRUSTEES TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named CLUB has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under part C of the Companies and Allied Matter Act 1990.

This is to inform the general public that the above named Foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for Registration under Part “C” of the Company and Allied Matter Act No. 1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. EJIDIKE IMMACULATA OGONNA 2. OVILI CALISTER CHINWE 3. OKEKE EMMANUEL UCHENNA AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To operate orphanage home 2. Providing sponsorship for education of all types for Orphan. 3. To care for the needy in the communities.

THE REMOVED TRUSTEES ARE: 1.IGNATUS IBEKE 2. ONWUDINJO ROSELYN CHINYERE. THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES REMAIN THESAME.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General Corporate Affairs Commission Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS CHANGE OF NAME REMOVAL AND APPOINTMENT OF TRUSTEES 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: Bright Egualeona

SIGNED: DR.TOCHUKWU FRANCISCA ANOJULU ( CHAIRMAN )

PUBLIC NOTICE JESUS THE TRUTH& LIGHT MINISTRY INTERNATIONAL

The general public is hereby notified that the above named MINISTRY 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.

NAME OF TRUSTEES: 1. Pastor Johnbull Ogbomo - Chairman 2. Pastor (Mrs.) Favour Ogbomo 3. Deacon Emonyon Festus - Secretary 4. Pastor Omonlogbe Austine AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To organize indoor and outdoor fellowship programmes, outreach crusades, revivals, seminars and workshops, house to house evangelism, television and radio ministering. 2. To preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ in all parts of the country and allover the world. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Signed: SECRETARY. (08078833880)

- Chairman - Secretary

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE 1. To foster peace and love among members of the club. Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission (C.A.C) P.M.B 198, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

PUBLIC NOTICE

WOMEN WITHOUT WALL INITIATIVE

GREENFIELD CANCER PATIENTS CARE AND LIFE SAVING FOUNDATION

This is to notify the general public that the above named INITIATIVE has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Amendment of Constitution and Re-Appointment/Newly Appointed Trustees under Part ‘C’ of Companies and Allied Matters Act. of 1990. Newly Appointed THE TRUSTEES ARE: Prof. Muslih Yahya Re-Appointed Hajia Salamatu Hussaini Suleiman Dr. Iko Ibanga Hajia Bilkisu Yusuf Senator Patricia Akwashiki Prof. Nenfort Gomwalk Lady Elizerbeth Soremekun Pastor (Mrs) Esther Ibanga

AIMS/OBJECTIVES REMAIN THE SAME Any objection to this Amendment should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this Publication. Signed: Secretary

The General Public is hereby notified that the above named FOUNDATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja, for Registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act,1of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Dr. Fatima Uba-Agbamu - Chairman 2. Mr. Elvis Agbamu 3. Mrs. Felicia Aibangbe 4. Mr. Sanusi Uba 5. Mr. Usman Uba THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To cater for patients and person living with cancer. 2. To source for funds to assist the treatment of patients and persons living with cancer ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR – GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET.PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: BARR. PATRICK UCHE OKAFOR(08061354198

PUBLIC NOTICE

SAINT MARY’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL OLD STUDENT ASSOCIATION, IWO

VICTORIOUS FRIENDS CLUB OF NIGERIA

The General Public is hereby notified that the above named ASSOCIATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja, for Registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act,1of 1990.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named CLUB 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. Pastor Daro Sunday 2. Mr. Obiwusi Babatunde 3. Engr. Mutiu Popoola 4. Pharmacist Adebayo Femi 5. Dr. Adiatu Ismaila 6. Dr. Olanrewaju Ogunmodede 7. Chief Mrs. Bola Adebisi

NAME OF TRUSTEES: 1) Basil Ogbuefi 2) Friday Ani 3) Chijioke Osita 4) Azuka Okafor 5) Udoka Nwoye 6) Emos Atuegbu 7) Paul Obinwanne 8) Victor Eze 9) Ikechukwu Okoye 10) Matthew Chikezie

DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: THE ESQUIRE PRATICE (LEGAL PRATITIONERS & PUBLIC)

The Trustees are: 1. Ikechukwu Onuoha 2. Okwudiri Nwaga 3. Okwuchukwu Nweke 4. Chukwuma Okoye 5. Chukwuma Nwaokpo 6. Chukwudi Okeke 7. Okwunna Igbokwe 8. Emmanuel Ezebue 9. Chika Ejike 10. Livinus Ezike

SIGNED: SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. To promote love, unity, progress and social well-being of its members. 2. To provide free educational aid to the students of the school. 3. To undertake activities deemed fit and proper for the promotion of the aims and objectives of the association. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR – GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET.PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28

SOCIAL MARSHAL LIBERTY CLUB IBADAN OYO STATE

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To care for d welfare of members Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs Commission plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Signed: SECRETARY

LOSS OF DOCUMENT This is to notify the general public of the loss of right of occupancy in respect of plot No. 236 FHA Phase1 Lugbe Abuja belonging to Mohammed D. Abubakar of plot 5A Lephalela Street, Off Ganges Street Maitama Abuja. All efforts made to trace the said document proved abortive. If found, please return to the nearest police station. AGIS and the general public should hereby take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I FORMERLY KNOWN AS okafor ngozi rosemary NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS nwinyi ngozi glory. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. kanam l.g.a plateau and THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

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Peoples Daily, monday, December 22, 2014

LOSS OF DOCUMENT

This is to inform the general public of the loss of ORIGINAL OFFER OF TERMS OF GRANT/CONVEYANCE APPROVAL in respect of plot numbers EA14 – EA25, measuring about 50 hectares within Jikoko Layout, belonging to Savannah Quarry Ltd. All efforts to trace the missing documents proved abortive. If found, please return to the nearest Police station. LOSS OF DOCUMENT This is to inform the general public of the loss of original Certificate of Occupancy in respect of plot No ba/6922 located at makama area of bauchi state belonging to comfort adeyimi f. of nigerian television authourity(nta) bauchi. All efforts made to trace the said Document proved abortive. If found kindly return to the nearest Police Station. General public to please take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly known as Nnamdi Abigail Ogochukwu now wish to be addressed as Omale Abigail Ogochukwu.All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known as BLESSING NDENYANG GIDEON. now wish to be known as BLESSING CHARLES IGBANKWE. All former documents remain valid, FEDERAL ISLAND REVENUE, All authorities concerned and the general public to take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as MISS DANLADI BENILINDA EZEKIEL .now wish to be known and addressed as BENILINDA DAGULENG ISHAKU.All former documents remain valid,general public should please take note.

LOSS OF DOCUMENT This is to inform the general public of the loss of original Certificate of Occupancy in respect of plot No 487 at layout no.dcna(dp)res/29 at yalwawa. dutse lga.of jigawa state belonging to jibrin idris of no. a2_7.malam inuwa dutse housing estate,jigawa state.All efforts made to trace the said Document proved abortive. If found kindly return to the nearest Police Station. General public to please take note.

LOSS OF DOCUMENT THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF THE LOSS OF ORIGINAL CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY (C OF C) IN RESPECT OF PLOT NO.KT 12902 belonging to SARKI SURAJO PETROLEUM LTD in the name of ZAIHAB INVESTMENT over property at Dogon Awo Maska Funtua, issued by Katsina State Ministry of Lands & Survey got LOST. ALL EFFOT MADE TO TRACE THE MISSING DOCUMENT PROVED ABORTIVE. IF FOUND, KINDLY RETURN TO THE NEAREST POLICE STATION. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE.

OSUN STATE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, ILESA P.M.B 5089, ILESA INVITATION FOR PRE-QUALIFICATION AND TENDER The Osun State College of Education, Ilesa is inviting competent and interested Tenderers for pre-qualification to tender for theunderlistedTertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) 2013 Special Interventions projects LOT NOS PROJECT DESCRIPTION TENDER FEES LOT 1 Construction and furnishing of School of Early Childhood Education Lecture Theatre and Staff Office Complex #50,000.00 LOT 2 Procurement and installation of IT equipment for the 250 Seater Capacity Computer Based Testing auditorium #25,000.00 LOT 3 Procurement of 70 Nos of Furniture items for Academic staff use #25,000.00 LOT 4 Procurement of one Toyota Hiace Bus for Teaching Practice #25,000.00 The pre-qualification documents which must be well bounded and arranged in this order must contain the following; a. Evidence of Company Registration with Corporate Affairs Commission b. Company’s Tax Clearance for the last three (3) years with Evidence of payment (2011,2012 & 2013 c. Evidence of payment of Education Tax in the last three (3) years d. Evidence of Company Registration with the College e. Verifiable list of similar and the jobs successfully executed with their locations f. Verifiable list of plants/machinery with years of manufacture and locations of the equipment to be used for LOT 1 project. Please state whether the equipmentare on lease, hired or wholly owned by the company with evidence of purchase where applicable. g. List of key staff with their Curricula Vitae and relevant positions that will execute the project h. Company’s financial details and audited accounts for the three years (2011,2012&2013) i. Value Added Tax Certificate (VAT Certificate) with evidence of payment. j. Evidence of Pension Scheme for Company Staff with evidence of payment. k. Evidence of Compliancewith Industrial Training Fund Act 2001 (As Amended) l. An affidavit disclosing whether or not any officer of the relevant committees of the Osun State College of Education, Ilesa or the Bureau of Public Procurement is a former or present Director, shareholder or has any pecuniary interest in the bidding company. SUBMISSION OF PRE-QUALIFICATION/TENDER DOCUMENTS The relevant pre-qualification and tender documents should be neatly package in binders and sent in separate sealed envelopes for the project and clearly marked at the top left corner “PRE-QUALIFICATION” OR “TENDER” DOCUMENTFOR THE PROJECT ON THE YEAR 2013 TERTIARY EDUCATIONTRUST FUND (TETFUND) SPECIAL INTERVENTION with LOT No clearly indicated at the top right corner of the envelopes The companies submitting the Pre-qualification and Tender documents should write the names and mobile phone numbers of a contact person at the bottom left corner of the 2 envelopes for prompt communication. Bid document containing specifications on the project can be obtained from the Director of Works of the College upon payment of appropriate non-refundable tender fee on Bank draft payable to “The Bursar, Osun State College of Education, Ilesa, Osun State’ The package should be delivered to the address given below not later than two(2) weeks from the date of this publication (4.oopm on the closing date) The Secretary Tenders Board Osun State College of Education P.M.B. 5089, Ilesa NOTE: i. The Pre-qualification and Tender documents will be opened by 10.00am at the College Board Room on 8thJanuary, 2015 All those who had submitted their documents by the deadline are hereby invited to attend. Only the Tender documents of prequalified contractors will be opened. ii. Interested Contractors must note that Osun State College of Education and its Consultant reserve the right to verify claims made in the Pre-qualification document submitted to them.

Signed Bursar and Secretary to the Tender

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Peoples Daily, monday, December 22, 2014

PUBLIC NOTICE

PEAK MINDS INTERNATIONAL CLUB

The general public is hereby notified that the above named church has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration under Part “C” of the Company and Allied Matters Act of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE 1 Okpara Bethel Nnaemeka - chairman. 2 Onyerisara Godwin Ikechukwu. 3 Ayika George Ifeanyi. 4 Ejimbe Chioma Favour - secretary .5 Anyanacho Obinna Oscar.

THE TRUSTEES ARE 1. Pastor paul joseph 2. Dr. Pst. Gabriel Robert Okayi 3. Dr. Sam Abah 4. Mr. Joseph Akogwu 5. Mr. Salifu Abutu Isaac 6. Rev. Stephen Chusunum Odeh 7. Elder Peter Ojoma Ede.

Signed GODSON ANI ESQ . 08036372532

PUBLIC NOTICE

WOMEN WITH DISABILITY SELF RELIANCE CENTRE:

GOD OF ANOINTING BREAK THE YOKE MISSION

The general public is hereby notified that the above named centre has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration under Part “C” of the Company and Allied Matters Act of 1990.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named mission has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration under Part “C” of the Company and Allied Matters Act of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE 1 Risikat Oluwatoyin Mohammed-chairperson .2 Mrs Rasheedat Abiodun Popoola- sebretary. 3 Mrs Nimata Tinuke Adebisi-member. 4 Mr Rafiu Mohammed-member.

THE TRUSTEES ARE 1 prophet joseph Oteikwu Monday-chairman. 2 Akor Emmanuel- secretary. 3 Sunday Ajefu Matthew-Trasurer. 4 Adolphus Obia Moses-Elder. 5 Rev.Dr. Aniekan Matthew Idiwgafa-patron.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Street Maitama, P.M.B 198Garki, Abuja within twenty eight days from the date of this publication.

AIM AND OBJECTIVE To preach the gospel of jesus christ.

Signed Secretary

PUBLIC NOTICE

NETWORK FOR HUMAN AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

CONVENANT FOR SOUL RESCUE CHURCH WORLD WIDE

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Obioha Elenwoke 2. Kelechi Cajetan Emeh-Peace 3. Nkemakolam Ebubedike 4. Kemnechem Chika Mbata 5. Nnamdi Elvis Onuoha 6. Chidi Onyeananam 7. Okwuchi Ihenacho 8. Nobleman Emmanuel Eleanya 9. Uche Nwankwo The Aim And Objective: 1.To strenghten the ambition of members in productive spheres of life. 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: Ugwuoke Martins Chijioke. 09094386312.

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: (1) OYELADE MICHAEL ILORI (2) OYELADE MORENIKE MARY (3) AWOLUSI OLUWAFEMI JIMOH (4) OLUPONA AMOS KOLAWOLE THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1.TO PREACH THE GOSPEl OF JESUS CHRIST. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE

OLD NAME: AGBOR ”N” IGIDI YOUTHS ASSOCIATION NEW NAME: AGBOR ”N” IGIDI ASSOCIATION

Kpekpe Transport Of Pessu Market Association

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ASSOCIATION HAS APPLIED FOR CHANGE OF NAME REMOVAL AND APPOINTMENT OF TRUSTEES TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990. THE TRUSTEE: 1.MR. MIKE NWOKORO - REMOVED THE NEW TRUSTEE: 1.MR. JOE OSAZUWA - APPOINTED

THE OLD TRUSTEES ARE: 1.MR. BARTH IBEGBULEM 2.MR. RAPH OZEGBE 3.MR. FRANK ODEH

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES REMAIN THESAME. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS CHANGE OF NAME REMOVAL AND APPOINTMENT OF TRUSTEES SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

GOD’S RIGHT HAND CHURCH INT’L.

The general public is hereby notified that the above named club has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration under Part “C” of the Company and Allied Matters Act of 1990.

AIM AND OBJECTIVE 1. To enlighten members of the club and the public on the recipe of success and greatness in various spheres of life. 2 .To organize seminars, conferences and conventions that will be focused on inspiring and motivating children and youth to success and excellence in career. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Street Maitama, P.M.B 198Garki, Abuja within twenty eight days from the date of this publication.

AIM AND OBJECTIVE 1. To foster unity among members.

PUBLIC NOTICE

The General Public is hereby notified that the above named Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, No 1 of 1990.

Trustees: 1.MARTINS ADEKUNLE STANLEY 2.,MR GODDY JALLA, 3.MR AMAYE ADANORITSEWO GODWIN 4.,EDOMI AKOMA IGBAYE 5.,MRS MERCY OLOWU, 6.MR ALADETAN CHRISTOPHER MOYE. 7.EBIETO EMMANUEL AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1.TO OWN AND MANAGE BOAT TRANSPORT, 2.TO OBEY FEDERAL,STATE AND LOCAL LAWS. 3.To promote the socio cultural intellectual and recreational interest of its members. Any objection to this Application should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs, plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: J.E.AKINBOLA

AIM AND OBJECTIVE To preach and teach the word of God. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Street Maitama, P.M.B 198Garki, Abuja within twenty eight days from the date of this publication. Signed pst. paul joseph

PUBLIC NOTICE

FAITH POWER SOUGHT-OUT MINISTRY

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED MINISTRY HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: (1) TOWOJU SAMUEL OLUSOLA (2) TOWOJU DORCAS OLUWATOYIN (3) OLAWOLE SEGUN OLANREWAJU (4) KOLAWOLE OLUWATOBA JOEL THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1.TO PREACH THE GOSPEL Of Jesus. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUYI IRONSI STREET PMB 198, MATIAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE JAMA’ATUL NASIRUL YATAMAH FOUNDATION

The general public is hereby notified that the above named Foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Alhaji (Engr) Muhammadu Lamidi Yusuf 2. Alhaji (Dr) Muhammad Burimah Lawal 3. Alhaji (Dr) Abubakar Saddiqu Rajab 4. Alhaji Bello Tijjani Saddique The Aim and Objectives are: 1. To help the less privileged persons in the society. Any objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General Corporate Affairs, plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Signed: Sam T. Ani 08065475774

LOSS OF DOCUMENT This is to inform the general public of the loss of original Certificate of Occupancy in respect of plot No A01/1509 located within Cadastral Zone Garki I Abuja with file No. KD30660. All efforts made to trace the said Document proved abortive. If found kindly return to the nearest Police Station. General public to please take note. Signed UMAR IMAM YAHAYA CHANGE OF NAME

formerly known as UMMA ADAMU now wish to be known and addressed as UMMA ADAMU ALIYU all former documents remain valid Teachers service board, Katsina state ministry of Education and the general public should please take note.

Peoples Daily, monday, December 22, 2014

Funny Jigsaw mystery

2. Gangsta: In 1984 under the disciplinary Buhari/ Idiagbon government, there was a sophisticated attempt to kidnap and repatriate ex-civilian regime minister of transport, Umaru Dikko from the UK, anesthetized in a freight crate, for the embezzlement of $1bn under the Shagari regime. 23. Valor: Part of the ‘Forgotten Army,’ Nigerians volunteered to fight with the allied forces among the 81st and 82nd West African Divisions, in the Second World War. 24. The Adubi war in 1918 was a major uprising by 30,000 Abeokuta Ebga warriors against the colonial government for colonization, taxation and slave labor. One British was killed and rail and telegraph lines destroyed. The British rewarded their soldiers with medals for quelling the uprising. Awape Adediran a Molashin/ Kingmaker was imprisoned for his active involvement. 25. Activist Mrs. Fumilayo Ransome-Kuti travelled widely, including to the Eastern bloc (Hungary, USSR and China where she met Mao Zedong). These interactions angered Nigeria, Britain and America. America called her a communist and refused her a U.S. Visa. 26. Mrs. Fumilayo Ransome-Kuti, legendary Fela’s mother, was one of the delegates that negotiated Nigeria’s independence in Britain. 27. Once upon a time, the north was the more literate part of Nigeria. According to Lord Luggard, there were 25,000 Qur’anic Arabic schools with about 250,000 pupils in the north. 28. Sardauna of Sokoto said he preferred foreign workers to

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Leisure

Igbo’s because he felt Igbo’s are domineering. This was while Nigeria existed as regions with regional administrations. 29. Kaduna Nzeogwu killed Sardauna in Nigeria’s first military coup. 30. In 1966, a mischievous Igbo owned bakery allegedly made a loaf of bread with a label that depicted Nzeogwu as the Saint in the ‘Saint George and the Dragon’ medieval tale, killing Sardauna, the ‘dragon,’ this labeled bread provoked deadly anti-Igbo riots.

Say what?

SUDOKU EASY 208

At least we hope the cemetery is a dead end—otherwise, we’ll need to turn that zombie sign back on in this locale.

PHOTO OF THE DAY

SUDOKU EASY 207

These mother and the cub Kermode bears were photographed by Kyle Breckenridge at the Great Bear Rainforest in British Columbia, Canada. Source: Dailymail.co.uk

www.peoplesdailyng.com

. . . putting the people first

monday, december 22, 2014

QUOTABLE QUOTE Keshi is my brother, I love him and I like him and every day I will talk good about him,” Amodu said of Keshi. [But] if I were him, I would say the situation today did not permit that I continue on the job. I would have just said ‘thank you, Nigerians, sorry I’ve failed. – Amodu Shuaibu, Technical Director, NFF and former Super Eagles coach

SPORTS Obama gave us five, at last latest

My Eagle’s invitation was divine- Ameh

uper Eagles new invitee Wilfred Angel Ameh has described his recent invitation to the home based Super Eagles team that would face both Coted”ivoire and Mali in a friendly match early next year as a divine called. The Kogi United left wing midfielder said though he least expected the invitation now, but he would surely justify the confidence the Super Eagles handlers have in him necessitating the invitation. The former TEAP FC of Abuja player said he has all it takes to compete favourably in the team, saying that God who made his invitation possible would surely perfect it.

Reason and solidarity have prevailed. We were released from a total isolation in the “hole”, where we were kept for four weeks. We were deprived of incoming mail, newspapers, our legal papers, radios and consular visits were not authorized. Needless to say, there was no access to telephones. After 15 days of these conditions I was permitted a visit with my lawyer under the strictest security. We talked through a glass on telephones. So, our preparation for the appeal has been deeply affected. You might know or you can imagine the many other cruel conditions of sensory deprivation.Yet we knew that through those days, Cubans and thousands of friends around the world in solidarity were demanding a stop to these arbitrary measures because there are men in struggle against injustice everyday ,who unite their voices calling for peace and justice…

Muhammad Ali

hose were the words of Antonio Guerrero R. in a letter to me dated 12 April, 2003. Antonio was one of the five Cuban patriots who in their fightagainst international terrorism got arrested, tried and given harsh prison terms by authorities in the US. They became an ingrained part of the fabled Cuban resilience against injustice and were known internationally as the Cuban Five. The other four were Gerardo Hernández, Ramón Labañino, Fernando González and René González. Following the Cuban revolution of 1959, anti-Cuban terrorists stationed in Southern Florida embarked on attacks, arson, sabotage, murder, and the use of biological weapons against Cuba. The repeated refusals by the United Nations and the US government to take actions to prevent such attacks made a group of unarmed volunteers from Cuba to move to the United States to monitor the activities of the mercenary groups. In September, 1998 five of these men were arrested and their ordeal began.The US government which says it is leading the war against terrorism arrested and imprisoned men who were fighting side by side with her.It is, however, a typical reflection of the contradictions that have trailed American/ Cuban relations since Fidel Castro seized power on New Year eve in 1958. Two years after that historic event, America elected into office John F. Kennedy, a youthful 43-year old, as President. Castro and Kennedy’s rise to power was evidence that

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564 385 292 327 454

Ali hospitalized with pneumonia

oxing legend Muhammad Ali was in stable condition after being hospitalized with a “mild” case of pneumonia, his spokesman Bob Gunnell said. The 72-year-old Ali was admitted Saturday and isn’t expected to remain in the hospital long, Gunnell said. “He was admitted earlier this morning and because the pneumonia was caught early, his prognosis is good with a short hospital stay expected,” he said. Gunnell said Ali is being treated by a “team of doctors” but did not go into detail or say where Ali was admitted. Ali appeared in public in September when he attended the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards in Louisville, Kentucky where he keeps a home.

8620 9705 9046 1969 0344

Monday Column Emmanuel Yawe royawe@yahoo.com 08024565402

Obama a new generation of leaders had come to town in both countries. Both leaders sought sweeping reforms in Latin America even as they disagreed on the details. The emergence of a Communist government 90 miles off the American coast sent cold shivers to Washington. Castro did not help matters by expropriating American owned property and embarking on frequent and vigorous denunciation of the US. What caught the attention of many Latin Americans was his seeming ability to defy the US and get away with it. He stimulated revolutionary fervor throughout the continent. Kennedy responded with what he called “the Alliance of Progress”. Early in his Presidency, he invited the Latin American Diplomatic corps to the White House and unveiled the program. It was his answer to the economic and social injustices that have produced the stark contrasts with roots that nurture revolutions in Latin America. At that meeting, he made the immortal pronouncement: “Those who make peaceful change impossible will make violent change inevitable.” But there was another key element which Kennedy, for obvious reasons, did not allude to in his address to the Latin American diplomatic corps - a plot to overthrow and assassinate Fidel Castro. That plot failed. The Bay of Pigs invasion was, in

fact, the most disastrous military humiliation of the US in modern times. Things got worse with the Cuban missile crisis. The US imposed chocking economic sanctions on the tiny and already impoverished island, covering trade and diplomatic embargo, travel and financial restrictions all enforced by a military blockade against Cuba. In desperation, Cuba turned to the Soviet Union in the days of the cold war. It was the generous subsidies from the Soviet Block that helped to sustain the Cuban revolution until the collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe and the USSR. Cuba was left to fend herself - alone. Against all odds, Cuba between 1959 and today is a story too good to be true. From the depths of national illiteracy, Cubano’s as they proudly call themselves have lifted themselves up to almost 100% literacy level today. Education is free and compulsory from primary to secondary level. It is free but not compulsory at the university level. Cuba has the highest literacy level in the world today according to UNESCO. Health care is free for all Cubanos. According to the World Health Organisation, Cuba has the best health delivery system in the world. Cuba is the only country in the world that has brought HIV/ AIDS to its knees within its borders. Housing for all citizens is available and certainly affordable. Barack Obama’s victory at the polls in 2008 raised the hopes of many who believed that given his disadvantaged background, he wouldresolve one of the last vestiges of the cold war conflict – the Cuban problem. As President, Obama encouraged these hopes in the beginning when he lifted all restrictions on Cuban American visits soon after taking office. His new policy boosted contact between the two countries and as many as 400,000 Americans visited Cuba in 2011. The policy would have certainly ensured a better understanding of Cuba by Americans. Unfortunately, Obama soon

Published by Peoples Media Limited, 35, Ajose Adeogun Street, 1st Floor Peace Park Plaza, Utako, Abuja. Kano office: Plot 3, Zaria Road, Opposite Kano State House of Assembly. Lagos Office: No.8 Oliyide Street, off Unity Road, Ikeja, Lagos. Tel: +234 814 292 9046. Cell: +234 802 443 2099; 803 7007 759. e-mail: contact@peoplesdailyng.com; pmlnewsdesk@gmail.com ISSN: 2141– 6141

changed gear. He stepped up financial sanctions against Cuba under the anti-terrorism laws and in his re-election year issued additional tough travel guidelines.These new guidelines brought huge negative effects on the progress made after his initial policy thrust. An opportunity for this breakthrough was offered to Obama early in the life of his administration in 2009 by Latin American nations. Voting at a meeting of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Honduras, they overwhelmingly rejected the nearly 50-yearold US policy towards Cuba by revoking the 1962 suspension of Cuba from the multinational group.The vote was largely a diplomatic test for Obama by the Latin American countries who were charmed by his electoral campaign that had “change” as its mantra. It was a test Obama failed, rather woefully. But halfway into his second term today, Obama has now made a second first in the history of the Presidency of the United States. Last week, he released three of the five prisoners – two had earlier served out their sentences and were released. In the Cuban capital, Havana, crowds took to the streets to celebrate the release of the three and the prospects of a lifting the trade embargo. President Obama has not only given Cubanos and the rest of the world five; he promises even more. In his words, “In the coming months, we will re-establish an embassy in Havana and carry out high-level exchanges and visits between our two governments as part of the normalisation process.”Before these landmark decisions, we were almost getting tired of hearing that he was the first black President of the US. Obama has now resolved a problem that all other American presidents before him allowed to fester even before his birth.

DAN GAYE

I get contradictory advice on issues – Jonathan

Can someone define cluelessness?