Wednesday 25th June, 2014 Edition by Peoples Media Limited

www.peoplesdailyng.com

Vol. 13 No. 92

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

. . . putting the people first

Sha’aban 27, 1435 AH

72Days

CBN rolls out Bomb attack won't deter cash-less policy me from school nationwide Tuesday – Kano victim << page 3 >>

N150

Since the abduction of 200+ Chibok schoolgirls

<< page 6 >>

Again, Boko Haram ‘agrees to swap Chibok girls for detainees’ >>Pg 2

Gunmen kill 38 in Southern Kaduna From Muhammad Ibrahim, Kaduna

nknown gunmen Monday night attacked two villages in Southern Kaduna, killing at least 38 people and injuring many others in the areas. The attacks, which occurred in

Ankpon village in Nandu district and Kabamu village in Fadan Karshi, both in Numana district of Sanga local government area of Kaduna, forced residents to run to nearby villages. There were however disputes over the exact casualty figure within official circles. Chairman

of Sanga local government area, Emmanuel Adamu, n whose domain the killings took place said a total of 38 were mowed to death, but the Kaduna state Police Commissioner, CP Umar Shehu, insisted that only 18 persons were killed, even as his command recovered an AK-47 rifle and

about 158 rounds of ammunition from three suspects arrested. But some other sources indicated that the casualty figure could be higher than the officials have pointed out. Briefing journalists after the attack, Mr. Adamu, who said the victims included both women and

children, 21 people were killed in Fadan Karshi, while 17 others were killed in Nandu village. While explaining that the attacks were carried out in the two places simultaneously, the council chairman called on residents in the areas to remain calm and law Contd on Page 2

Defection of 5 govs: PDP loses round one By Edoamaowo Udeme

L-R: Minister of Oil and Gas of Libya and President of OPEC, Dr Abdel Bari Ali Al-Arousi, Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum Resources and Alternate President of OPEC, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, EU Energy Commissioner, Günther Oettinger, and OPEC Secretary General, Abdalla Salem El-Badri, during the 11th EU-OPEC Energy Dialogue Ministerial meeting, yesterday in Brussels.

ive governors who dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) last year for the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday floored the ruling party in the first round of a case challenging the legality of their defection. The governors who defected include those of Adamawa, Murtala Nyako; Kwara, Abdulfatah Ahmed; Rivers, Rotimi Amaechi; Sokoto, Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko and Kano’s Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso. The PDP instituted a legal action challenging the legality of the defection by the governors to the APC, and prayed the court to declare their seats vacant. The matter was however rejected by the court for the failure of the PDP to properly serve the originating summons and other court Contd on Page 2

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

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News

CONTENTS News 2-10 Editorial 12 Op.Ed 13 Letters 14 Opinion 15 Metro 16-18 Business 19-22 Stockwatch 23 S/Report 24-25 Property 26 Motoring

Arts

Again, Boko Haram ‘agrees to swap Chibok girls for detainees’ By Tobias Lengnan Dapam with agency report

resh revelations yesterday indicated that the Boko Haram sect is willing to release the over 200 abducted Chibok schoolgirls in exchange for 70 of its members currently in detention. The sect also maintained its earlier request for amnesty to its members. The revelation was made known to Aljazeera English by a lawyer close to the terrorist group, Hajiya Aisha Wakil. She said the sect told her that the request is the only conditions for release of the abducted girls. Peoples Daily recalled that sect in April kidnapped over 200 female students in Government Secondary School Chibok, Borno State. Out of the hundreds of girls lured into the insurgents’ vehicles, some managed to escape as they were being driven away while others later escaped from their captives’ den. The total number of escapees has been put at 57. However, despite outcry from well-meaning Nigerians and international organisations, the sect remained adamant. Hajia Wakil, who is also

known as Mama Boko Haram, because of her closeness to members of the sect, said: “And they want to be given amnesty, rehabilitated, and allowed to come back home and move freely. I told them not to hold the girls as ransom and to give me the sick ones – and that was where we ended up. The girls are a growing burden to them, and if the demands are not met…” While speaking on her relationship with the sect, the lawyer said: “I don’t agree with what they are doing, but I speak to them because I am their mother. Sometimes they call me Um el Salam [Arabic for mother of peace]. These are Nigeria’s lost boys. My hope is that the government listens to them. “I’m still with them after all these years because I didn’t betray them. I didn’t betray the government. I didn’t betray the military – I’m just in the middle grasping for peace”. On how the schoolgirls were being treated, Hajiya Wakil said: “I know that Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’ awatiwal-Jihad (original Boko Haram fighters led by Mohammed Yusuf) don’t touch women or elderly ones”. But she added that Boko Haram had evolved over the years and the girls were abducted by mem-

bers, who deviated from the sect founder’s original teachings. “I have spoken to them about the girls and the situation to plead for their release. When this first happened, they told me the girls were well but some sick. They need medication. They are giving them antibiotics but they cannot buy food to feed them. They are attacking villages for supplies”. Hajia Wakil, who was a member of the Sheik Ahmed Lemu-led Presidential Committee on Conflict Resolution, said she knew many members of the sect, especially those born in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. “I know all the boys from here. I held them when they were born”. Meanwhile, the Nigeria's security agencies are hoping to cash in on the fast-approaching month of Ramadan to secure the release of the kidnapped schoolgirls. Ramadan, expected to start by June 28, is the holiest month in Islamic calendar during which all Muslims are expected to be sober and exhibit more religious piety, a senior military officer told TheCable on Monday. In the insurgents since their operation hardly struck during Ramadan. “We know the location of the girls. That is not the problem. The real issue is if we carry

out any military operation to rescue them, it would be tragic,” he added. He said the Ramadan period offers a “rare opportunity” to secure the release of the girls who were abducted while writing their final exams. The source did not expatiate on how the government hopes to use the Ramadan window to get the girls released ─ the official position is that there will be no negotiation with terrorists ─ but he hinted at some concessions being granted to the third party negotiators. The government has been engaging with third-party or “back channel” negotiators to discuss with the Boko Haram leaders, according to various reports. It was recently reported that President Goodluck Jonathan had initially agreed that some noncombatant Boko Haram sympathisers should be released in exchange for the girls but pulled the plug at the last minute. The story was neither denied nor confirmed by the federal government. An Australian, Dr Stephen Davis, also said recently that he was involved in the negotiation for the release of the girls. He said the signs were encouraging, but there has been no progress reported since then.

in connection with the crisis. They were arrested with AK-47 (riffle) and about 158 rounds of ammunition. “We have deployed more security personnel to the area and the situation is under control as I speak to you now”, he said. He said investigation into the cause of the attacks has since commenced while those arrested were being interrogated to get further details on their involvement in the incident. Meanwhile, the Kaduna state governor, Ramalan Yero, has described the attack as a provocative attempt by some unpatriotic people to cause

confusion and unrest in the area. A statement signed by Director-General, Media and Publicity to the governor, Ahmed Maiyaki, said Yero condoled with families of victims of the attack. “We call on people in Fadan Karshi and other parts of the state to remain calm as security forces have already been deployed in the area to maintain law and order. We should remain united and resolute in resisting obvious attempts by agents of darkness to create confusion and sow seeds of discord in our state”, the statement said. However, in another statement signed by its convener,

John Danfulani, the Concerned Realists of Southern Kaduna Forum, warned that the insecurity ravaging the region should be isolated from politics. He advised government to handle the issue of insecurity in the area with utmost sincerity, justice and honesty, contrary to what he said was being witnessed presently in the state. “The security situation in Southern Kaduna is given less attention and concern, while it is degenerating and human lives are greatly being wasted with impunity”, the group said.

Gunmen kill scores in Southern Kaduna Contd from Front Page

NSA orders investigation over harassment of Tambuwal – Page 5

Int’l

S/World

Digest 36 Politics 37 Newsxtra

Sports 41 Columnist 48

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abiding. He assured that the security agencies were already tracking the attackers, even as he said that measures have been adopted to forestall recurrence. However, the Kaduna state police command has dismissed the casualty figure bandied by the local government chairman, saying the number of those who died in the attacks was not up to the 38 claimed by Adamu. CP said: “I can confirm the death of 18 persons and several others wounded; we have also arrested three persons

Defection of 5 govs: PDP loses round one Contd from Front Page

processes on the defendants. Justice Gabriel Kolawole, while ruling on the disputed mode of service of court summons on the governors adopted by PDP, held that the party failed to follow the procedures allowed by law in reaching the defendants since December 10 when the court action was instituted. The court agreed with lawyers to the governors that they have not been served with court papers and as such the court cannot assume jurisdiction until the plaintiff (PDP) has done the needful and put its house in order on the effective service of court summon. The purported service of court process allegedly effected at No. 40 Blantyre Street, being the new office of the APC was declared illegal, invalid, defective and was dismissed by the court for not having the court endorsement. Justice Kolawole held that the issue of service of originating summon by the plaintiff on the defendant was fundamental before any court can take further

action against any defendant adding that the service done by PDP was not in conformity with the procedure of the court. The judge adjourned the case sine die (indefinitely), pending the time the plaintiffs will comply with the law in the service of the originating summon on the sacked governors while asking PDP to formally write the court and attach the evidence of proper service of court processes on the defendants before any action could be taken against them. The PDP had claimed that in line with the court order obtained on December 13, 2013, the originating summons was taken to No. 6, Bissau Street, Wuse Zone 6, but it discovered that the APC had vacated the office and relocated to No. 40, Blantyre Street, Wuse II, also in Abuja, as the party’s new office. PDP claimed that the originating summons and other court papers were subsequently taken to the new office for onward delivery by the APC to the governors. But Justice Kolawale agreed

with the governors that the service at No. 40, Blantyre Street was invalid, ineffective and faulty because the order of the court for service did not tally with the address. The judge said that what the plaintiff (PDP) ought to have done was to return to the court to legally vary the order of service before it can be effective on No. 40, Blantyre Street, being the new APC national secretariat. PDP, while instituting the case, purportedly served the court process on No. 6, Bissau Street, Wuse Zone 6, Abuja, the former office of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and in a desperate move, the party moved the court summons to No. 40, Blantyre Street, Wuse II, Abuja, believed to be the national secretariat of the APC, but which could not be delivered to the defendants. In apparent reaction to the newspaper publications on the legal action, counsel to the governors stormed the court under protest challenging the purported service of court papers

on the governors. The governors insisted, in their different reactions, that the appropriate places to serve them with the court summons are their offices in their respective state capitals. The governors further insisted that no legal action has been instituted against them until they have been properly served with court summons and other processes. But PDP stood its ground that the governors were just evading court papers that have been delivered at the APC national secretariat, being their new political party. Justice Kolawole said that the PDP would have done well if the service of the originating summons had been served to the affected states since such service can hardly be faulted in law. He therefore ordered PDP, represented by Alex Izinyon SAN, to do the needful before the case could be resuscitated by the court for adjudication.

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesDAY, june 25, 2014

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News

Gov Ahmed reshuffles cabinet From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

he Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed has approved the appointment of Hon C. T Ayeni as the new Deputy Chief of Staff, Government House, in a minor cabinet reshuffle designed to re-align his team for higher performance. The Secretary to State Government(SSG), Alhaji Isiaka Gold, who unveiled the changes, in a statement issued in Ilorin, said Hon Ayeni, former Senior

Special Assistant, Agriculture, replaces Mr. Leke Ogungbe, who is now the Special Adviser, Budget Monitoring. Gold also announced the redeployment of Engineer Seye Ogunbiyi, former Special Adviser, Budget Monitoring to the new position of Special Adviser, Agriculture. While urging the appointees to execute their new assignments with the usual diligence and commitment, Alhaji Gold stressed that the new appointments are with immediate effect.

Niger govt docks 8 Islamic sect leaders From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

E A fuel tanker gutted by fire, yesterday at Ijesha Bus Stop, in Lagos.

Impeachment saga: Police deploy personnel to guard residence of Adamawa lawmakers From Umar Dankano, Yola

s the Adamawa state political atmosphere is already tensed due to the move by the state lawmakers to impeach Governor Murtala Nyako and his Deputy, Barrister Bala James Ngilari, police authorities have drafted its personnel to guard residences of the legislators for fear of the unknown. Investigation by Peoples Daily in Yola revealed that most of the lawmakers who zoomed to Abuja last week after passing the motion to serve Governor Nyako and his Deputy with notice of impeachment are yet to return for fear of people’s anger over what they described as diversion

of progress in governance. An impeccable source in the House of Assembly, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told journalists that policemen had been taken to the respective lawmaker’s residents to encourage them to return home. However, despite the security presence, many of the lawmakers are yet to return home while those that returned did not sleep at home. At the Assembly’s emergency sitting on Monday, only 10 out of the 25 lawmakers showed up for the session, where they adopted the votes and proceedings of the House’s last sittings. When contacted on deployment of policemen, the Adamawa Police Command Public

Relations Officer, DSP Othman Abubakar, said he was just arriving office and needed time to confirm if there was anything like deployment of policemen to residence of lawmakers but did not responded as the time of filing this report. Reacting to the development, the chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Mr. Solomon Kumangar said he is not aware of such happenings but opined that, considering the security situation in the zone, no chance should be taken. Kumangar explained that, the effort, if at all it is correct, is an added personal security which is needed given the current situation.

learning infrastructure under the State`s Eko Secondary Education Project was achieving its purpose, as it had significantly improved student`s performance. “Some people have made unsubstantiated allegations against us that we have stolen World Bank money. But in this government our collateral is our collective integrity. We have nothing to hide; that is why when we marked our every 100 days in office, we give account to the people because we have nothing to hide. “The results of our N13.5 billion World Bank Education loan are in the open for everybody to see. And those who are managing the funds are providing the details of how they are spending the loan. “So nothing really to hide

.The money is not in our hands, it is in the hands of the schools and the funds is been used judiciously `` he said. Fashola said explained the World Bank intervention was to improve teaching and learning infrastructure in schools, with a view to raise education standards. The government said the deployment of the funds had helped improved students’ performance in public examinations as performance had improved from 7 per cent in 2009 to 41 per cent in 2013. While saying he was satisfied with the results of the intervention so far, Fashola charged teachers to work towards achieving 61 per cent WAEC performance in the nearest future.

How we spent $90m World Bank education loan, by Fashola From Ayodele Samuel & Akilani Abdullah, Lagos

agos state governor, Babatunde Fashola yesterday gave hint on how the $90million (N13.5billion) World Bank Loan on Education granted the state in 2009 was spent, saying his government had nothing to hide on the Fund. Fashola speaking at the launch of a book titled: ‘Eko Project: A Legacy of Excellence,’ in Agege local government, said that the concerns raised in some quarters that the world bank loan had not been spent in an open manner was unfounded, saying “the funds had been deployed judiciously for the development of education.” He explained that the loan, obtained to fund teaching and

ight leaders of the Islamic sect, identified as Madinatu Muheenu Hamdallah, recently dislodged by the Niger state government in Lapai local government area of the state, have been charged in a Minna Chief Magistrate court II for unlawful preaching and illegal operation of Islamic school in the state. The eight accused persons were docked on a 2-count charge under section 23 of the Islamic preaching law of Niger state for operating illegal Islamic school without licence from the relevant authority and engaging in preaching without licence from relevant authority punishable under the same section of the Islamic preaching laws of the state. The accused persons, who pleaded not guilty to the offense, included Mohammed Abubakar, Musa Hamza, Yusuf Usman, Aliyu Mohammed, Abubakar Hamza, Umaru Mohammed, Alfa Mohammed and Aliyu Abubakar.

The sect leaders were said to have been arrested by the State Security Service (SSS), although the sect leaders were denied bail by the court as the state solicitor, Barrister Sulieman Buhari argued that investigation into how the accused persons got huge sums of money in their accounts was ongoing. He argued that it was necessary to for the SSS to investigate the source of the funds in the accounts because of prevailing security situation in the country. However, the defence counsel, Barrister Aliyu Ebo argued for the bail of the accused person, insisting that the offense for which they were charged was minor and bail able according to law. The Chief Magistrate, Hajiya Maimuna Talatu Abubakar, while adjourning the case to July 30, ordered that the suspects be remanded in Minna prison and directed the SSS to complete investigation into the case in respect of their accounts in various banks before the next adjourned date.

Court of Appeal orders reinstatement of deposed Emir of Akko

he Court of Appeal sitting in Jos yesterday ordered the immediate re-instatement of the banished Emir of Akko in Gombe State, Alhaji Muhammad Ahmad. Presiding Justice Ridwan Abdullah, in the judgment, said government had no cogent reason for deposing the Emir and banishing him to Bauchi State in 2004. The court also dismissed an appeal filed by Alhaji Umaru Muhammad, who was appointed Emir of Akko after the deposition of Ahmad. The judge said the deposition was an infringement on the fundamental rights of the Emir as enshrined in the constitution and that the government did not state any reason for its action. He said that the appointment of another Emir by the government was null and void since there was no vacancy at the time. The court granted reliefs sought by Ahmad and declared his arrest, detention, banishment and exile to Bauchi

State in 2004 unconstitutional, unlawful as well as null and void. It further ordered exemplary damages of N52 million to be paid to the deposed Emir for wrongful arrest, detention and exile to Bauchi state. It also ordered N10 million general damages to be paid to the Emir. Ahmad had told the court that he was invited to a meeting by the Attorney-General and the Governor on that fateful day and was abducted after being served a letter informing him of his deposition. He said he was taken by security agents and dumped on the street of Bauchi and warned never to return to Gombe state. The Emir said he was paid stipend of N50,000 monthly for his upkeep which was stopped when he sued the government. Muhammad, the incumbent Emir, had joined Ahmad, the Attorney-General and the Gombe State Government as respondents in the suit challenging re-instatement of Ahmad.(NAN)

News

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesDAY, june 25, 2014

PAGE 5

ICPC nabs 42 year-old pure water seller who became pensioner By Umar Muhammad Puma

he Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has dragged one Mr. Abiodun Osagie, his wife Mrs. Regina Osagie and Mr. Oladimeji Bello before an FCT Abuja High Court for allegedly diverting pension funds into private accounts using various banks and fake identities, in violation of the provisions of the ICPC Act 2000. In a statement by the Resident Consultant Media and Events, Folu Olamiti, said Mr. Abiodun Osagie, who is currently with the Police Service Commission, while his wife Mrs. Regina is now with the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, and Mr. Oladimeji Bello a staff with the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation (OHSF), was part of the Pensions Management Committee set up after the dissolution of the Maina-led Pensions Reform Task Team (PRTT) and allegedly abused his office by

re-inserting the ghost names into the pension list. Similarly, the commission had also arraigned Mr. Abiodun Osagie’s sister-in-law, Mrs. Philomena Ayodele, a 42 year old housewife and a pure-water seller, who has been enjoying pension for six years without having served for one day in the Federal Civil Service. Mrs. Ayodele was arrested on July 19, 2013, at Keystone Bank, Mararaba Branch while trying to withdraw her monthly ‘pension’. In her statement, she was alleged to have confessed that it was Mr. Abiodun Osagie who approached her and requested for her bank account details in order to enable them pay monthly pensions into her account. She alleged that she had been collecting the pension money from her account and the proceeds were usually shared by them. The arraignment of the suspects marks the end of a ninemonth undercover investigation

by ICPC of corrupt practices in the Pensions Department of the OHSF. “In the course of the investigation, the ICPC team visited the residence of Mr. Osagie and a list containing several names and account numbers in banks was retrieved. These accounts were opened with fictitious names and had as beneficiaries Mr. Osagie’s wife Mrs. Regina Osagie, his sister-in-law Mrs. Ayodele and other relatives. The ICPC detectives also discovered that all these accounts had pensions funds credited into them on a monthly basis since 2008 until their arrests in 2013. According to him, the payments were done in such a way as not to attract attention, but that the Special Squad, set up in the Financial Investigations Unit, under the direct supervision of ICPC chairman, was able to piece the puzzle into a meaningful pattern that exposed the perpetrators through deductive investigations.

Before pensions management was moved to the Pensions Transitions Administration Department (PETAD), a review of the pension processes in the OHSF ordered by ICPC had started

yielding very positive results following the full support of the immediate past and current Heads of Service. The court is yet to set a date for hearing.

From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

(MDAs). Other measures put on hold include request for review of salaries allowances by labour unions, reduction of approved allowances for ad-hoc committee by 50% in addition to restrictions on fresh employment. The statement reminded that the circular under reference is still in force and advised the affected parties to ensure its strict compliance. He said the measures will be reviewed as soon as the state’s economy improves and called for the support and understanding of everyone under the present circumstances. The statement said the measures were as a result of the shortfall of resources that accrue to the state government from both the Federation Account and internally-generated revenue.

Economy: Bauchi govt suspends foreign trips contracts, scholarship

auchi state government has suspended all forms of awards of scholarship, foreign trips contracts, as measures aimed at addressing current economic downturn bedeviling the state. A statement, signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Ishola Michael Adeyemi, which was made available to newsmen yesterday, in Bauchi, said the measures, according to the circular, with reference number G/SS/OFF/S/130/.ii, dated 17 June ,2014 signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Aminu Hammayo, include the suspension of awards of contracts, foreign trips for training overseas scholarship award and unnecessary expenses by Ministries, Department and Agencies

Ramadan: Zamfara govt to feed 150,000 - Gov. Yari

he Zamfara Government yesterday says it will feed over 150,000 people during the upcoming Ramadan as part of its welfare package to the citizens. Gov. Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara made this known in Gusau, when he distributed foodstuffs and clothing to 8,500 orphans through the State Zakkat and Endowment Board. Yari said the gesture was aimed at assisting the needy to enable them to perform their

Speaker House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu waziri Tambuwal signing a condolence register of the late Senator Dahiru Awaisu kuta, yesterday at the National Assembly Abuja, in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

NSA orders investigation over harassment of Tambuwal From Muhammad Ibrahim, Kaduna

isturbed over the alleged harassment of the Speaker of House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal by soldiers stationed at a conference venue in Kaduna on Monday, National Security Adviser ( NSA) to President Goodluck Jonathan, Colonel Mohammed Sambo Dasuki has ordered for an investigation into the matter. It could be recalled that the Speaker’s car was searched by soldiers as he tried to enter a venue of the international conference in Kaduna, where he was to deliver a

speech. Peoples Daily gathered from a top security source, who denounced the purported story in the national dailies that soldiers insisted on searching the official vehicle of the Speaker Tambuwal. “There was no attempt by soldiers and other security agents to search the Speaker’s vehicle and all dignitaries and participants were accorded due respect” he said. According to him, the presence of security agents at the venue was for the safety of the top dignitaries including Governors of Kaduna; Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, Niger; Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu and the Deputy Governor of Plateau states

as well as the NSA, service chiefs and traditional leaders had their vehicles searched. “Detectives from the Department of State Services were trying to verify whether or not it was the actual vehicle of the Speaker and he hurriedly disembarked and walked to the hall. The service chiefs parked their vehicles 300 meters away from the venue and walked,” he said. The source further added that Speaker Tambuwal was fully aware of security protocols because “anytime he comes to Mambilla Barracks for Friday prayers his vehicles are verified. It is customary”.

Ramadan fasting and Sallah celebrations in happy mood. He further said the state government would also distribute clothing materials to about one million people, including over 600,000 females and 375,000 males. Yari pledged that government would continue to initiate programmes and policies that have direct impact on the people. The governor also promised to sustain the assistance. (NAN)

FG develops 30-year integrated infrastructure master plan

he National Economic Council (NEC) yesterday considered the final draft of the National Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan (NIIMP) meant to accelerate infrastructure development in the country. Addressing State House correspondents on the outcome of the NEC meeting in Abuja, the Supervising Minister/Deputy Chairman, National Planning Commission (NPC), Amb. Bashir Yuguda, said the master plan was formulated to span for 30 years. According to him, the master plan beginning from 2014 to 2043 will focus on key areas of infrastructure including energy, housing, agriculture, ICT, roads, and security. “The idea of the Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan is to focus on key areas of infrastructure: energy, transport, which includes

rail, roads and aviation. “We are also focusing on ICT, Housing and security. We also have water, agriculture and mining”, he said. He said the document was designed to raise “infrastructure stock as a percentage of GDP from current 35 per cent to a minimum of 70 per cent”. He said the meeting noted that Nigeria’s core infrastructure level was significantly below the target benchmark level, and identified the required investments to improve infrastructure in line with the country’s growth aspirations. Yuguda said the document, which would be resubmitted to NEC before the final approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), also provided for short and medium-term priorities to guide project selection with the first-term covering the next five years. (NAN)

Peoples Daily, wednesDAY, june 25, 2014

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News

Bomb blast won’t deter me from returning to school, says Kano attack victim

From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

burnt”, he also narrated. In the same vein, the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II has described the increasing spate of

terrorist activities in the country as worrisome, saying it demands urgent action against the extremists. Sanusi, who spoke to newsmen at

the Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital, shortly after he visited the victims of the Monday blast in the Kano school of Hygiene, which

claimed eight lives, said the attack is evil because the students targeted are innocent citizens trying to better their future. He added that the people of the state should thank the almighty God for reducing the magnitude of the attack, which was not the aim of the terrorist that set out to kill more. He commended the management of the hospital for their effort of taking care of the victims, whom he said were responding to treatment, even as he expressed sadness over the unfortunate incident calling on the people of the state to pray to God against any form of crisis in the state and the entire country. Sanusi, who expressed happiness that the burns on the victims’ skins did not penetrate deeply into their flesh, said “I pray to Allah for this horrific thing not to happen again in Kano and other parts of the country. “May the soul of the deceased rest in peace and I wish the injured ones a quick recovery. I also condole with bereaved parents of the victims, may Allah give them the fortitude to bear the loss”, he said.

From Edwin Olofu Kano

for their effort of taking care of the victims, whom he said are responding to treatment.

The Emir expressed sadness over the unfortunate incident, calling on the people of the state

to pray to God against any form of crisis In the state and the entire country.

ne of the victim of the explosion that rocked Kano State Health School, Nafi’u Musa Gwarzo, has vowed to continue his career in education despite the yesterday’s bomb attack by Boko Haram in the school. Gwarzo, who is receiving treatment at the Murtala Muhammad General Hospital in the Kano city, told our reporter that although he was newly admitted in the school, the attack will not stop him from realising his dream of becoming a health worker in the state. Narrating his ordeal, the 22year old student said that he went to the school to collect his admission letter and was with his friend when the explosion occurred as they were preparing for the afternoon prayer. “I went to the school to collect my admission letter which I have been waiting to collect for weeks ago. After we finished ablution for afternoon prayer, we saw our provost alighting from his car and students gathered to hear his address. “As we were approaching the place where the provost was standing, I just heard a very loud sound and I fell down fainted. I didn’t know where I was until I saw my self here in the hospital bed”, he narrated. Gwarzo, who was devastated by the situation, said he is recuperating as the doctors are taking good care of them,even as he described the incident as predestined. Another victim, Iliyasu Idris Abubakar, who graduated from the school’s department of Food Hygiene, said he went to see his final year project supervisor when the explosion occurred. “I have graduated from the department of Food Hygiene with a certificate programme. I went there to see my project supervisor for correction. After I asked his whereabouts and his colleague told me he wasn’t around, I just stood briefly to wait for him. As soon as I stood there, the explosion occurred. I just fell to the ground with my body burnt. You can see how my skin is

Victim of Monday bomb blast at Kano School of Hygiene, Nafiu Musa Gwarzo, receiving treatment, yesterday at Murtala Muhammed Hospital, in Kano. Photo: Edwin Olofu

..As Kano emir visits patients, decries rising spate of terrorism

mir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi II has described the increase in the spate of terrorist activities in the country as worrisome that demand urgent action against the extremist. Sanusi was speaking to newsmen at the Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital, shortly after he visited the victims of Monday’s blast of School of Hygiene in Kano metropolis, which claimed eight lives, said the attack is evil because the student targeted are innocent citizens trying better their future. He added that the people of the state should thank the almighty God, for reducing the magnitude of the attack, which was not the aim of the terrorist that set out to kill many. He commended the management of the hospital

Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi 11 (left), consoling one of the victims of Monday bomb blast at Kano School of Hygiene, during the emir’s visit to victims, yesterday at the Murtala Muhammed Hospital, in Kano. Photo: Edwin Olofu

Outrage over sentencing of Aljazeera journalists in Egypt By Maryam Garba Hassan with agency report

utrage from different parts of the world has continued to trail the verdict passed by an Egypt court in Cairo on 3 Aljazeera journalists arrested and held since December, 2013 in a Cairo prison, as part of crackdown on supporters of ousted President Morsi. The verdict has sparked international outcry and condemnation of the North African country from journalists, world leaders and activists who expressed disappointment with the judgment passed by the judge. The trio including CanadianEgyptian acting Cairo bureau chief Mohammed Fahmy and Egyptian producer Baher Mohammed were

arrested on December 29 after a raid on their Cairo hotel room they were using as an office and denied the accusations, saying they were just doing their job. Thethree Al Jazeera English journalists were convicted in Egypt on Monday, of aiding the Muslim Brotherhood, spreading false news and endangering national security. The journalists and their supporters have said they were simply doing their jobs, covering the wave of protests led by the Brotherhood against the militarybacked government installed after Morsi was ousted on July 3, by thenarmy chief, Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, who is now the president. Two defendants among 14 others on trial in the case were acquitted, including the son of

Mohammed el-Beltagy, a senior figure in the Muslim Brotherhood. Prosecutors were criticized for presenting evidence that was purportedly made up or irrelevant to the case, like videos of Greste’s old news reports from other countries. Greste, a native of Australia and a former BBC correspondent, and Fahmy, a journalist formerly employed by CNN, was sentenced to seven years behind bars while Mohamed was sentenced to a decade seven years for one charge and three years for a second. However, the Egyptian President Sisi, late yesterday dashed hopes of a prompt resolution, declaring that local authorities will not interfere in judicial matters. A government official in Egypt

said Mr. Sisi cannot legally pardon Greste until a final ruling from the appeal court. Egypt is facing threats to its aid payments and a tourism boycott amid international outrage over the verdict. According to reports, presently there are 167 journalists imprisoned around the world, including the three Al Jazeera journalists sentenced Monday, according to Reporters Without Borders. China has the largest number of journalists behind bars, with 32, followed by Eritrea (28) and Syria (16), the media freedom organization says. Twenty-eight journalists have been killed doing their jobs this year, the group says.

Reporters without Borders ranks Egypt 159 out of 180 countries for media freedom. According to the Committee to Project Journalists, at least 14 journalists are imprisoned in Egypt and more than 65 journalists have been detained since Morsi was ousted in July. David Cameron said that he was ‘completely appalled’ by the verdicts against the journalists while Foreign Secretary William Hague summoned the Egyptian ambassador in London for crisis talks. Calls to boycott Egypt and cut aid over jailing of the three Al Jazeera journalists has been made. On Monday, Canadian Minister of State Lynne Yelich said in a statement that Canada is “very disappointed with the verdict.”

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Peoples Daily, wednesday, june 25, 2014

News Alleged child rapist to face trial over sexual assault, defilement

our months after arraignment over allegations of defiling three minors, Godspower Eva, 52, is to be tried over alleged sexual assault and defilement of minors before a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos. Eva, a security guard, living at 23A, Adebayo Doherty Road, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos State, is standing trial on a four-count charge of attempting to defile, sexual assault and defilement of minors. At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, the Magistrate, Mrs. Yewande Aje-Afunwa, said that the court had received legal advice from the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on the matter. The advice directed that Eva be tried for unlawful sexual assault and defilement of minors, she said. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that, at his arraignment on March 19, the prosecutor, ASP Godwin Anyanwu, had told the court that the accused committed the offences on Feb. 17, at his residence. Anyanwu alleged that the defendant took advantage of four girls of ages - 14, 12, 10 and nine years , respectively, and sexually assaulted them. ``Eva, on Feb. 17, had sexual intercourse with three minors of ages -12, 10 and nine years, in his room, after promising to give them N100 each, ``He conspired with their 14-year-old classmate, whom he had earlier also defiled, to invite the other three girls to his house. ``He bribed them with N100 each,” the prosecutor said. Anyanwu said that Eva was apprehended at the instance of one of the parents of the defiled minors, who reported to the police after her child confessed her ordeal. Eva, however, denied the charge. The prosecutor said that the offence contravened Sections 409 and 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. She had also referred the allegedly defiled minors to the Clinical Psychologist at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, (LASUTH), Ikeja, Lagos State, for counselling. (NAN)

N47bn fraud: Notice of appeal stalls Akingbola, aide’s trial J ustice Lateef Lawal-Akapo of an Ikeja High Court on Monday adjourned further hearing in the N47.1 billion theft charge against former managing director of defunct Intercontinental Bank Plc, Dr Erastus Akingbola and his aide, Bayo Dada due to his pending application before the Court of Appeal, Lagos. Justice Lawal-Akapo subsequently adjourned the matter till July 11, 2014 for argument after Akingbola’s counsel, Chief Wole

Olanipekun, SAN, informed the court that the defence had already filed an application asking the court to stay further hearing in the trial and that the appeal court has fixed July 3 for hearing of the case. He submitted that it will be in the interest of justice for the lower court to wait for the outcome of the proceedings. Same applications were also filed by Akingbola’s co-defendants — Mr. Bayo Dada, General Manager of Tropics Securities Limited.

According to the lawyer, the application was premised on Akingbola’s appeal against Lawal Akapo’s ruling on May 2, 2014 where the court assumed jurisdiction of the criminal case, adding that application for stay had been served on the prosecution and the defence was waiting to file its reply on points of law. He, therefore asked the court for an adjournment and also to vacate the July 24 and 25 trial dates fixed for the matter.

Counsel to the second defendant (Dada) Professor Taiwo Osipitan, SAN, aligned himself with Olanipekun’s submissions, adding that the court should adjourn pending the hearing and determination of the suit at the Court of Appeal. Opposing the application, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) counsel, Mr. Godwin Obla insisted that the practice encourages day-to-day hearing of cases before it.

Director, Defence Information, Major-General Chris Olukolade (2nd right), and Deputy Director, Public Relations, Department of State Services (DSS), Ms. Marilyn Ogar (left), decorating the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Frank Mba with his new rank, yesterday in Abuja. With them is IGP Mohammed Abubakar (right). Photo: NAN

Court remands sales boy, bizman in prison over culpable homicide in Kogi From Omale Adama Lokoja

n 18 year-old sales boy, Chukwuma Matthew and his businessman friend, Mohammed Ibiyomi, 22, have been remanded in prison custody on the orders of a Lokoja Chief Magistrate Court. over alleged culpable homicide. They were alleged to have stabbed one Isah Musa to death with a knife at a nite club. Chief Magistrate Alhassan Hussein gave the order yesterday, upon arraignment of the accused, who pleaded not guilty to the charge of Criminal Conspiracy and Culpable Homicide contrary to

section 97(1) and 221 of the Penal Code Law. According to the First Information Report (FIR) read by the Prosecuting Police Officer, C.S. Ayabatu (Insp.), Mathew of Sarkin-Noma area and Ibiyomi of Angwar Kura street, all in Lokoja, allegedly committed the offence on May 24. Ayabatu told the court that one Fatai Jubril, of Felele area in Lokoja, reported the matter at ‘B’ Division Police station and later, at Department of Criminal Investigation, Lokoja. He said that, on the same date, while the accused and others were clubbing at Olympic Hotel, Lokoja,

one OJo (aka) 2face, surname unknown, conspired with a group of boys and stabbed the deceased (Musa) with a knife on his neck. Isah, he said, was rushed to Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja where he later gave up the ghost as a result of the injuries he sustained adding that investigation led to the arrest of the accused while others remained at large. Ayabatu told the court that investigation into the matter was on-going and objected to admitting the accused to bail, more so as other accused persons were still at large. He urged the court to remand them in prison custody, saying

they would jeopardize police investigation if granted bail. Chief Magistrate Hussein, in his ruling said the punishment for the offence of Culpable Homicide, which is contrary to section 221 of the Penal Code law slammed against the accused persons, was capital and the highest known to law. Hussein said, “There is every likelihood that they may not spring up for their trial” and therefore, upheld the submission of the prosecution and ordered that the accused be remanded at the Federal Prisons, Koton-Karfe. He adjourned the case to July 27, for further mention.

27-year old man docked over alleged rape

27-year-old man, Bayo Lawal, charged with rape of a minor was on Tuesday arraigned at a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos. Lawal, who resides at 16, Afolabi Street, Ikotun, Lagos, was alleged to have defiled the minor, a five-year-old girl, in an uncompleted building in the area. The prosecutor, ASP Godwin Anyanwu, told the court that the

accused allegedly committed the offence at about 11 a.m. on May 25. According to Anyanwu, the girl was playing within their compound when the accused called her and lured her away. ``Lawal took the five-yearold girl to an uncompleted building beside her home and had sex with her. He attempted to escape through the window when he heard the child’s mother calling her,” he told the court.

He said that when the girl came out of the building, she was soiled with semen, adding that the girl’s mother immediately raised alarm and the accused was apprehended. The prosecutor said that the offence contravened section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. Section 137 prescribes life imprisonment for anyone found liable of defilement of a minor. Lawal, however, pleaded not

guilty to the charge. The Magistrate, Mrs Yewande Aje-Afunwa, granted the accused bail in the sum of N1million with two sureties each in like sum. Aje-Afunwa also ordered that the accused should deposit N200,000 with the court’s Deputy Registrar. He adjourned the case to July 14 for legal advice from the state’s Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). (NAN)

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Peoples Daily, wednesDAY, june 25, 2014

Peoples Daily, wednesday, june 25, 2014

PAGE 9

Confab okays voting rights for Diaspora By Patrick Andrew

ome 2015 Nigerians in the Diaspora would enjoy their franchise if the recommendation of the National Conference is adopted and implemented before the elections. Yesterday, following lively debates on sundry recommendations made by the committee on Foreign Policy and Diaspora, as well as the suggested amendments, delegates resolved that Nigerians living abroad should not be denied participation in electing the leaders at various levels. Accordingly, they voted unanimously in favour of the recommendation and slight amendment adduced by the delegates and went further to plea with the electoral bodythe Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to begin to necessary modalities for the exercise preparatory for its adoption. Peoples Daily recalls that delegates had during the debate on the recommendation poured encomium on the tremendous contributions of Nigerians living abroad. Some delegates asserted that as much as $20bn was yearly contributed to the development of the country by Nigerians in diaspora. In one of such arguments, Eddie Erabge said in some of the presentations at the Conference held a wrong notion of Diaspora noting that Africans in the

L-R: National Conference delegates, Hajiya Maryam Jummai Bello, Otunba Olusegun Osoba, and Mrs. Sarah Benjamin, after the conference proceedings, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

Diaspora have been involved in building the continent and these led to some of the major milestones in the continent including independence to some countries in Africa. He claimed that Nigeria has failed to position itself for direct foreign investment and disagree with those

saying that the country has no claim to the permanent seat at the Security Council of the United Nations, adding that Nigerians in diaspora should be encouraged to do more for the country. Similarly, Andrew Haruna said while teaching abroad, he wanted to

showcase the Nigeria heritage in Europe; but he found that Nigerian scholars were highly respected. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make the best use of our brains but the environment is not conducive. This report that supports the integration of Nigerians in Diaspora is a

welcome development.â&#x20AC;? He called for a strong academic exchange between our home and our missions abroad, saying that if the academias at home work with their colleagues abroad, it would change some of the stereotypes held against the country.

Delegates vote against Bakassi reclaim

By Patrick Andrew

elegates to the National Conference yesterday u n a n i m o u s l y voted against reclaiming Bakassi which was ceded to the Cameroons by the International Court of Justice at The Hague, in 2008. The delegates, who debated on the recommendations of the Committee on Foreign Policy and Diaspora, said the

Federal Government must respect the verdict of the International Court of Justice and thus work in tangent with the international community. The Ibrahim Gambariled committee had recommended that the federal government should commence the processes for reclaiming the area in what many delegates thought would be a breach of international justice and an affront on The Hague.

But, they resolved that since Nigeria was signatory to international treaties especially those bordering on rule of law and the ICJ resolutions and judgments, efforts should be made to respect its verdicts, though painful it might be. However, delegates recommended that the federal government must not turned its back on the plight of the resettled Bakassians but endeavour to cater for their welfare by providing

the necessary amenities and thus ensure that they were adequately resettled. Accordingly, the conference recommended that the federal government should properly relocate and resettle them by ensuring that they were given a new lease of life in their respect settlements. They decried the prevalence of neglect and lack of basic provisions in areas where they have been resettled noting that

it was these unpleasant treatment coupled with the discomfiture that arose from their dislocation that has necessitated call for the country to reclaim the area in violation of the verdict of the Hague. Consequently, the conference recommended that the government must step up its efforts at resettling them properly by creating a livable environment and ensure that they relocate their lives and move on.

Peoples Daily, WEDNESDAY, june 25, 2014

PAGE 10

News

Arigbabuwo is not our leader, says Northern Yoruba Council From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

he Yoruba Community Council in the 19 Northern states and Abuja has disowned the purported leader of the council Alhaji Mohammed Arigbabuwo who has been parading himself as Yoruba Leader in the North in

order to defraud people. The Council stated this in a press statement, signed the Public Relation Officer of the council Alhaji Yunus Alao Muibi and made available to the media in Kaduna, yesterday. The Council said Arigbabuwo as never a member of the Yoruba Community Council and the

only elected President-General and leader of the council is Alhaji Abdul-Ganiyu Ishola Oguntoyinbo. It, therefore, threatened to sue him if he persists. The statement added that the said Arigbabuwo’s mission was to cause disharmony among the Yoruba community.

“He has been going about requesting for funds and other things under false pretence that, he is a Yoruba leader, all just to cause disharmony among the Yoruba. “Mohammed Arigbabu wo has been making embarrassing statements which are calculated to embarrass the generality of

NGO supports leprosy patients with free essential drugs, foodstuffs in Sokoto

Judge hands off suit to bar NBC from regulating state govt- owned media By Edoamaowo Udeme

From Raji Bello, Sokoto

non-governmental organisation (NGO), based Sokoto state, ‘Give Care to Young Lives’ (GYL), has disbursed various foodstuffs and drugs to the leprosy patients residing in the state. The donations, which included bags of rice, beans, essential drugs, as well as cash estimated N550,000 were handed over to the patients as beneficiaries. Presenting the items yesterday, at the state leprosy’s General Hospital Amanawa, the Zonal Coordinator of the NGO, MrAmeh Jerry said the initiative was part of the passion of reaching out to the needy in the society. He said the presentation was not the first of its kind, as the organisation had carried out similar gestures at the past. He said the periodical donations such essential drugs to the hospital was borne from the fact that the centre receive the highest number of leprosy patients on daily basis. The coordinator explained that the organisation accords high priority to the welfare of indigent and called on other donors to complement their efforts. His words: “Our organisation is coming to the society in a different dimension. Not only in the area of welfare but to also empower the less privileged. We are planning to engage the young ones among them in the area of farming and other vocational trainings.” In his remarks, the Chief Nursing Officer in-charge of the hospital, Alhaji Shehu Dambuwa thanked the organisation and promised to disburse the materials among the beneficiaries judiciously. Also speaking, the chairman of Coalition of NGOs in state, Comrade Ibrahim Shuni applauded the initiator and promised to encourage such donation among other nongovernmental organisations in the state.

the Yoruba Community Council. “Mohammed Aribgabuwo has no inherent rights to undermine the authority of the duly constituted Yoruba Community Council. Importantly, all entreaties made to him to see reasons were ignored”, the statement read. The council however called on all Yoruba community members in the North, the state Presidents and Obas to stay away from Arigbabuwo, adding that, the council will not hesitate to take legal action against him if he doesn’t desist from such impersonation of highest order.

Chairman, House Committee on Education, Hon. Aminu Suleiman (right), in a hand shake with Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Julius Okojie (left), after the committee adjourned meeting with some agencies in education sector, yesterday in Abuja. With them is a member of the committee, Hon. Abdulmalik Cece (middle). Photo: Mahmud Isa

Nigeria elected into UN committee of experts on PWDs By Maryam Garba Hassan

igeria has been elected into the United Nations (UN) Committee of Experts on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), in recognition of its commitment to addressing plight of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and involving them in national development endeavors. A statement issued yesterday in Abuja, by the Director Press, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Saghir el Mohammed said the country’s candidate and former President of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities, Barr. Danladi Basharu, was elected into the 18-member Committee at the just-concluded 7th Session of the Conference of State Parties to

the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities held at UN headquarters, New York, from 10-12 June, 2015. According to the statement, the election which was the highpoint of the Conference now places on Nigeria the responsibility of working with other member nations of the committee to guide the global implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of PWDs. It said leader of Nigeria’s delegation to the Conference and Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Dr. Habiba Lawal, said Nigeria’s candidature stood out due to its enviable records of support and care for the PWDs. Dr. Lawal, who also praised the efforts of Nigeria’s Mission in New

York towards the success of the exercise, commended other African member-countries for their support and encouragement. According to her, “the election of Nigeria into the prestigious Committee will attract greater international support and technical assistance towards addressing the plight of over 22 Million PWDs in the country. “It also places an additional burden on Nigeria to ensure the timely passage into law, of the National Disability Bill now before the National Assembly.” The statement said Nigeria signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2007 and its Optional Protocol in 2008, and subsequently ratified the two instruments in 2010, thereby committing itself to the provisions of the documents.

IGP decorates 9 newly promoted officers

he Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, yesterday in Abuja decorated nine newly promoted senior officers. The decorated officers included the Force spokesman, Mr. Frank Mba, and one AIG, Mrs. Grace Okudo. Mba was decorated as Assistant Commissioner of Police. The force spokesman and other eight officers were among 210

senior officers promoted by the Police Service Commission on June 10. Abubakar described the newly decorated officers as men who had worked very hard and deserved to be elevated. He stressed that promotion was one area of incentive to encourage officers and men to do more in service to their fatherland. The IGP, however, said that it

also come with added challenges and responsibilities, charging them to live up to expectation. ``We expect you to provide leadership in all aspects of your action. ``We shall not hesitate to do otherwise (demote you) when you abandon those responsibilities that you are supposed to discharge and your behaviour became negative,’’ he said. (NAN)

ustice Gabriel Kolawale of the Federal High Court, Abuja yesterday declined to preside over a suit seeking to bar the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) from regulating and control of state government –owned broadcast media in the country. The judge said that his reason for refusing to adjudicate on the suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2751/14, filed by an Abuja-based lawyer, Abubakar D. Sani against the NBC, was personal but did not elaborate. However, the judge said he will remit the suit’s case file back to the Chief Judge for re-assignment to another judge for adjudication. He advised the plaintiff and counsel representing the NBC to check with the court’s Registrar at a later date to find out which of the court the suit is assigned to. Sani told journalists, after the court session, that he was surprised at the development as the case was only for mention yesterday. “I am at loss like anyone in the audience as to why the judge declined to adjudicate on the matter other than personal reason”. In the suit, Sani had invited the court to determine the following questions: “Having regard to the provisions of item 66 of the Exclusive legislative List and Section 7 (5) and item 1 (b) of the Fourth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which respectively empower; the National Assembly and Local Government councils to regulate broadcasting media (radio and television stations,(etc) except those owned by state governments and collect licence fees for owning radio and television sets; whether to the extent that sections 2 , 9 (1) (a), (6), 14 (2) (a) and 15 of the national Broadcasting Commission Act 1992 which empower the defendant to regulate such media owned by state governments and collect licence fees for radio and television are not at ultra -vires the National Assembly, invalid, null and void on the grounds of inconsistency”. He also seeks perpetual injunction restraining the defendant by itself, agents , servants or officers from continuing to regulate and control state government –owned broadcast media.

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, june, 2014

Page 11

CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA

New Requirements for BDCs The Central Bank of Nigeria, in a bid to correct observed deficiencies in the operation of Bureaux de Change (BDCs) in Nigeria which have led to gross inefficiencies and sharp practices in the foreign exchange market, has taken steps to check the growing incidence of rent-seeking, depletion of external reserves, financing of unauthorized transactions and dollarization, among others. Consequently, the following circular shall henceforth guide the operation of Bureau de Change business in Nigeria: NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR THE OPERATION OF BUREAU DE CHANGE IN NIGERIA Background: In line with the powers vested on it by the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 17 of 1995 and the BOFI Act of 1991, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) licenses and regulates Bureaux de Change (BDC) operations in Nigeria to achieve the following objectives: i. Provide access to foreign exchange to small-scale end-users; ii. Serve as tools for the management of exchange rate; iii. Assist in the fight against illegal financial activities; iv. Facilitate economic activities; and v. Provide economic data for policy decisions. However, the CBN has observed with grave concern the deficiencies in the operational effectiveness of BDCs, which runs counter to the aforementioned objectives. In particular, the Bank has observed the following unintended outcomes: i. Avalanche of rent-seeking operators only interested in widening margins and profits from the foreign exchange market, regardless of prevailing official and interbank rates; ii. Weak and ineffective operational structure, resulting in the subsector completely abandoning the objectives for its establishment; iii. Depletion of the country’s foreign reserves, in view of the unusually large number of BDCs; iv. Potential financing of unauthorized transactions with foreign exchange procured from the CBN Window; v. Gradual dollarization of the Nigerian economy with attendant adverse consequences on the conduct of monetary policy and subtle subversion of cashless policy initiative; and vi. Inadequate level of minimum paid-up capital. The required minimum paid-up capital of BDCs is set at N10 million. While the capital requirements of all other CBN-regulated entities have been reviewed upwards over the years, the one for BDCs has remained the same; and vii. Prevailing ownership of several BDCs by the same promoters in order to buy foreign exchange multiple times from the CBN Window, which is clearly related to the low level of capital requirements for licensing BDCs. Expected Role of BDCs: The CBN’s expectation is to have BDCs that are properly structured, effectively regulated, and well-capitalised to meet the objectives for which operators are licensed. In particular, the CBN envisages the following: i. The emergence of well-capitalised and structured entities that can effectively perform the roles of Bureau De Change in the economy; ii. Partnership between BDCs and renowned companies engaged in inward and outward money transfers in Nigeria. It is in expectation of this collaboration that the CBN as at 18 June 2014, approved the “Guidelines for International Money Transfer Services in Nigeria”. Under the Guidelines, Western Union, Monegram and RIA Financial Services have been authorised to carry out inward and outward money transfer services in Nigeria. iii. Creation of robust and sustainable business franchises that are not dependent on rent-seeking activities but are properly situated to compete in the foreign exchange market, and deliver superior values and returns. New Requirements: In view of the background and vision provided above, and in order to ensure that only genuine companies operate as BDCs in Nigeria, the CBN makes the following modifications to the “Bureaux De Change Guidelines”: i. The minimum capital requirement for the operation of BDCs in Nigeria is reviewed to N35 million; ii. The mandatory cautionary deposit is reviewed to N35 million and shall be deposited in a non-interest yielding account in the CBN upon the grant of Approval-in-Principle; iii. The following fees shall apply to the licensing of BDCs: Application Fee—N100,000.00; Licensing Fee—N1 million; and Annual Renewal Fee—N250,000.00; and iv. Ownership of multiple BDCs is not permissible, and would be punishable if detected. All existing BDCs and those currently operating with a Final Approval Letter are required to comply with the requirement on mandatory cautionary deposit by 15 July 2014 while all current applications are expected to comply with these new requirements. Furthermore, the compulsory membership of the Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON) is no longer a requirement for the licensing of BDCs. Signed Kevin N. Amugo Director, Financial Policy and Regulation Department

PAGE 12

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, june 25, 2014

EDITORIAL

Review presidential scholarship award criteria out of which only 623 applicants attended and sat for the qualifying tests, the commission left out 17 states of the federation on the list of 104 awardees it selected. Based on the obvious lopsidedness which drew the ire of many Nigerians, the House of Representatives, through its Committee on education, summoned the NUC executive secretary and instructed that the process be halted and reviewed to reflect the federal character

“

n Monday, June 9, the National Universities Commission (NUC), presented letters of award to 104 beneficiaries of the Presidential Special Scholarship Scheme on Innovation and Development (PRESSID). The presentation of the award letters was done despite the controversy that trailed the selection process, and in defiance of an order by the House of Representatives that the NUC should put the process on hold. The PRESSID has been designed to annually select Nigerians who are below the age of 30, who obtained First Class degrees in specified fields, including medicine and specialized engineering. Successful candidates are to study in the USA, the UK, Canada and Australia and will major in disciplines such as sciences, basic medical sciences, special aspects of biology, economics, engineering and technology as well as medicine, among other fields where Nigeria has deficit of specialists. The overall objective, therefore, is to address these shortfalls by training professionals for various fields, including the nation’s universities where statistics show that the majority of lecturers lack PhDs. A laudable initiative, many Nigerians admit. However, in selecting the first set of beneficiaries, the NUC, which coordinates the scheme, failed to reckon with the need to ensure equitable distribution of the slots, notwithstanding the imperative of merit. Thus, after it advertised and harvested 2000 applications

Let us borrow a leaf from the United States. Though already advanced in science and technology, it still implements a form of affirmative action for its nationals that are disadvantaged by the system. principle. Chairman of the House committee, Rep Aminu Suleiman, while giving the suspension order on May 22, expressed disbelief that not a single individual in 17 northern states met the requirement, with the 19 states of the North producing only seven out of the 104 successful candidates. The committee said

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

that no policy, no matter how well intended, should jettison the constitutional provision of federal character, stressing the need to strike a balance between merit and geographical spread, in the interest of equity and unity in the country. But presenting award letters to the beneficiaries, supervising minister of education, Nyesom Wike, maintained that the selection process was purely based on merit. Re-echoing the minister’s position, the NUC executive secretary, Julius Okojie, insisted that due process was followed in the selection of the successful candidates. While submitting that merit must not be sacrificed on the altar of regionalism, we, like many other Nigerians, insist that the NUC be guided by the need for balanced development of the country in subsequent selection exercises. This, we believe, must not be ignored as it forms part of the national consensus on inclusiveness and balance of competing demands by the various groups and areas that make up Nigeria. Let us borrow a leaf from the United States. Though already advanced in science and technology, it still implements a form of affirmative action for its nationals that are disadvantaged by the system. It is quite obvious that some states, especially in the North of the country, are educationally disadvantaged, but it is unbelievable that 17 states of the region cannot produce candidates that are qualified to benefit from the scheme.

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Peoples Daily, Wednesday, June 25, 2014

PAGE 13

Opinion

As national security takes on local politics By Hamid Hendrix

he unprecedented nature of the security challenges posed by the Boko Haram insurgency has heightened public concern and interest in the usually detached issue of overall management of national security. The apparent difficulty of sustained conventional defence and security operations against the insurgents coupled with the unimaginable massacres and wanton destruction of property and other terrorist atrocities swayed public perception and understanding and triggered frenzied criticism of the military operations. However the radical response of the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, comprising a candid dissection and comprehensive appraisal of the new challenges as a launch pad for the acclaimed Soft Approach to Counter-Insurgency, significantly restored public morale and enthusiastic support. Of particular interest was the priority rightfully accorded the innovative approach to checking the social and economic factors that tend to create enabling environments for insurgency and terrorism to sprout and thrive which is a major thrust of the Soft Approach. Expectedly, Nigerians have witnessed re-assuring reversals in the murderous rampages of the terrorists as the military engagements yield desired results even as the vulnerable segments of the society get carried along in the on-going subtle strategy of keeping idle minds away from the devil’s workshop. Further evidence of the vitality and resourcefulness

now powering functions of the office of the NSA came in the form of the recently concluded All Nigeria Political Parties and Political Stakeholders Summit held on June 12, 2014 in Abuja. The summit was not the jamboree usually associated with parley of politicians but a serious meeting of political leaders convened just as the political temperature was rising with 2015 election fever and inordinate ambition beclouded nationalistic passions on the political arena. That the NSA was able to bring leaders of opposing political parties together in a cordial environment for sober reflection on the salient issues beyond the mundane issues of crass competition for “lucrative” political offices and settling scores, was no mean achievement in such circumstance. The importance of the meeting and the level of endorsement it earned from the nation’s political leaders and other stakeholders was personified by the attendance list, which was topped by President Goodluck Jonathan who declared the summit open and included former heads of state, such as Generals Buhari and Abdulsalami Abubakar(who chaired the occasion), representatives of all the major political parties and stakeholders , INEC Chairman Professor Attahiru Jega, members of the diplomatic corps, international development partners, security, military and law enforcement agencies, academics and civil society community. The keynote address by Professor Jega was aptly focussed on “Interparty Collaboration, National Stability

and Democratic Consolidation”. The Summit which was organized in collaboration with the Special Adviser to the President on Interparty Affairs, Senator Ben Obi to provided a forum for political parties to freely express themselves and interrogate the contentious issues that heat up the polity but more importantly, it was designed to facilitate strengthening of the institutional and other basis for collaboration among Nigerian political actors and parties and reinforce the key ingredients of the all but forgotten Code of Political Conduct subscribed by all political parties in 2011 and re-committing politicians to its guiding principles. The renewed focus on the desirability of the conduct of politicians and parties being in compliance with the Code of Political Conduct was a timely and necessary reminder against the prevailing perception and practice of politics as an allcomers-anything-goes vocation for position-seeking politicians without the slightest regard for the national interest. It is pertinent to point out that it has taken the patriotic zeal of the NSA to initiate such a precautionary process to apply the brakes on the politicians’ rollercoaster of unbridled partisan antagonism already posing additional hazard on the peace and stability of a nation reeling from terrorist insurgency. The extreme extents of subversive activity by politicians in the name of “opposition” and “pressure,” especially in connection with the on-going efforts to counter the insurgency is truly getting out of hand.

The Summit proved to be another successful strategic outing of the office of the NSA to isolate and highlight major aspects of the issues impinging on national security today for an all-inclusive interactive public discourse aimed at corrective consensus building to check the unsavoury impact of the issue at stake. Among the significant outcomes were the endorsement of interparty collaboration among all political parties as an Inclusive mechanism for political stability and consolidation of democracy, exposure of total disregard by all parties of the Code of Political Conduct and a felt need to resuscitate commitment to upholding its guiding principles henceforth. An appreciation of the essential role of political parties as vehicles for political socialization for enlightened citizens requiring broad constructive engagement and deliberate efforts to make politics noble and trustworthy and counter the “dirty game” public perception was also stimulated. The Summit articulated wellthought out recommendations distilled from an appraisal of the germane initiatives stemming from interactive discourse on five sub-themes taken up in lead papers ably presented by Ambassador Dele Cole, Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah, Monsignor Obiora Ike, Professor Oshita Oshita and Dr Abubakar Sadeeq. They included a call on political parties to recognize and acknowledge their immense responsibility in a democracy, renewed emphasis on democratic consolidation through interparty collaboration as a condition for national stability and the dire need to regard succession and

leadership recruitment process as an effort to bring in the best to lead and not for incumbents to insist on choosing for the electorate. The Summit also charged political parties and stakeholders to act and speak as one and pool resources together to forestall breach of national security while complementing government efforts to counter terrorism. It also enjoined them to uphold the principle of according due honour, protection and respect devoid of partisan or primordial sentiment to an elected and sworn-in President who represents the symbol, heart and soul of the nation. Hardly any dimension to the political problems that constitute formidable challenge to the stability of the nation escaped thorough analysis and diagnosis in the context of its implications on preserving national security. In the run up to the 2015 elections, the necessary advisory for positive contribution of the political class towards ensuring peace and success could not have come at a better time and it is hoped that the politicians will remain as committed and patriotic back in their arena as they were during the Summit. The office of the NSA has served them a timely sensitization session on the crucial role assigned to them in a democracy to place the nation’s interest above their personal partisan agenda. The generality of Nigerians anxiously look forward to a departure from do-or-die and nihilistic opposition politics typical of election fever periods. Hamid Hendrix is a public affairs commentator in Kaduna

with any kind of moral or social currency. They were designed to hoodwink the masses and gain access to the treasury. That is why we have policies that gut education but increases defence spending so the military fat cats cream us off. The health care system is broken but importers of fake, expired and substandard drugs are thriving. We have crumbling infrastructure, where available, but contractors have their accounts awash with cash. The land use act, designed as a program to enhance food security and accessibility to land for industrial and residential purposes, has been twisted essentially as a land grab scheme where top military figures fleeced locals out of their land and complicating land issues. There isn’t a single policy since the late 1970s that is not steeped in moral failing while being dressed up in moral righteousness. It is a very strange thing that a people who are so steeped in public display of religiosity and who most fervently want to project morality are those who are helping to sustain an immoral system and finding loopholes to derail the implementation of whatever good policy there is. Anywhere, energy is the engine for economic growth but as long as generators can be bought, no one deems it necessary to confront the power issue headlong and demand real change. The economy lies prostrate chiefly because of epileptic power supply leaving

people without a key ingredient in employing their creativity and ingenuity. The middle and top classes are completely disconnected with the bottom who they treat with utter disdain. The bottom is the war front where there is constant battle for survival. The bottom is where the infrastructure of the stomach is important than physical infrastructure as revealed by the election of Ayodele Fayose in Ekiti-State. The bottom is where the language is survival. The bottom is the biome of neglect. What to do? This country’s middle class must save this country to save themselves. The middle class must embrace a traditionalist philosophy. Adam Smith in “The Theory of Moral Sentiments,” developed a crucial policy question: How do you embed people in relationships that will discourage selfish behaviour and emotionally reward virtue and self-control? Nigeria’s middle class will be better served to adopt the traditionalist philosophy of building and strengthening institutions that breed responsible people instead of undermining them as long as their own basic comfort is guaranteed. Elect the right people to build institutions and strengthen old ones instead of distributing cash, money, rice and clothing. The tone and nature of politics in this country can and will change if the middle class stays engage in the political process. Nigeria can be a better country if the middle class believes that there is more to life than owning

a house, car, generator, borehole, guards, maids and enjoying vacations. The Ekiti election once again exposes the ugly soft underbelly of the aloof middle class. Political office holders are not elected on Twitter, Facebook or on cable channels in the comfort of our homes while we flip channels looking for our favourite program. We can elect the right leader only when we go out to vote. How do you encourage equal access to education for every child by not electing someone who believes in education and has a workable plan? How can you get young men to stay back in the villages, farm and be useful instead of drifting into the world of cult, kidnapping and all forms of violence without people who can get the process going? How can you build a nation that cares for the vulnerable among us without electing someone who shares your belief into a position where it can be done? We want a nation held together by shared beliefs. We want a nation where people flourish because they have been encouraged by society to adopt certain habits and behaviours that advances everyone fair and square. Nations who have had these done definitely have a politically engaged and active middle class with heightened sense of values. Nigeria is all too sick and getting sicker. Politicians in the executive arm and their minions loot because the civil servants, who are in the middle class, allow

it. The top military brass creams off defence budgets because the officers cadre let it pass. The Judiciary subverts justice because they are given to inducement. Law enforcement takes bribes and they are the middle class. The legislatures do not legislate because they are in bed with the executive and separation of powers is alien to them and voter apathy makes it possible for charlatans to be elected into high office. Apart from the Judiciary, other arms of government are subject to elections but the middle class does not vote. They are too pedantic, self-conceited and self-opinionated with a certain uneducated arrogance to “waste” a few hours on a line with peasants and “ruffians” to vote. The battle is between cutthroat free-market capitalism on a pedestal of indifference on one hand and social philosophy on another. The first step is to acknowledge that there is a moral crisis in this country. A frightening crisis of voter apathy has enveloped us leaving a small section of the citizenry to elect those who determine what gets done and for whose benefit. Who is causing this crisis? It is the amoral collective of this nation known as the middle class. They are the ruiners of this nation and that includes you. Yes, you! Bamidele AdemolaOlateju is on olufunmilayo@ gmail.com

Nigerian middle class is an amoral collective By Bamidele Adeola-Olateju

igeria has afoot a debilitating moral crisis with the middle class as the causative agent. The steady decline leading to the crisis had always been there. However, it is only now that it is exacting its detrimental cost. The crisis of public morality in Nigeria doesn’t lie in the symptoms like stealing, corruption, greed and all those social ills that define us as a people. The major problem is the disengaged educated elite – the middle class. The middle class is an amoral collective – the ruiners of this nation. At issue are their sociopolitical indifference, I-betterpass-my-neighbour mentality, general apathy and a certain exaggerated sense of comfort and worth. At issue also is their complicity in entrenching the deep rot in their country – tolerating, aiding and abetting a decadent and exploitative system and a set of policies and politics that has been used and still being used to batter and browbeat their fellow Nigerians. These policies, as they are often coined since 1978, are dressed up with catchy titles like “Operation Feed The Nation” (OFN), “Green Revolution”, “Structural Adjustment Program” (SAP), “Vision 2010″, “Vision 2020″, “Economic Growth and Debt Payment”, “Seven-Point Agenda”, “Transformation Agenda” etc. All of these were never imbued

Peoples Daily, Wednesday, June 25, 2014

PAGE 14

Opinion

Shema, Katsina and challenges of development By Aliyu Isa

here is a silent revolution in Katsina State, which will, sooner or later take the whole country by surprise. From all indications, the state governor, Ibrahim Shehu Shema, is intoxicated with ideas of youth empowerment, a situation that is rapidly changing the state for good. More than 40,000 youths across the 34 local government areas in the state are beneficiaries of a zero interest loan scheme. This is aimed at supporting their trades within a period of three months. Under the poverty alleviation initiative of the governor, about 200 youths from each local council area will benefit from this gesture for a period of three months. And he has promised that it would be sustained until most youths and women in the rural areas are fully empowered. Similarly, 5,471 families have benefitted so far from the state government’s Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programme at the cost of N520 million. This is aimed at providing cash support to poor households for their children’s education. Through this programme, Governor Shema wants to ensure that every child in the state has access to education. 70 ALLO model schools were built across the 34 local government areas of the state to support almajiri education. Presently, the ALLO schools have a total student population of 17,091. Feeding, working materials and clothing were provided free to pupils and their teachers. Also, over 2, 000 tricycles (Keke NAPEP) were purchased and distributed to 60 youths in each local government

in the state. The scheme has, no doubt, impacted positively on economic activities in all the council areas of the state. One of the visible gains of this initiative is the relative peace in the state. While beneficiaries are full of joy and praise for the administration of Shema, those that are yet to benefit are also waiting patiently for their

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turn. The Katsina Youth Craft Village was also established to train youths in various skills that will make them self-reliant. This training institute has the capacity to train over 2, 000 youths annually. So far, activities at the village have attracted a positive attention within and outside the country, including the commonwealth secretariat. In addition to this, at least 5,000 youths were offered opportunities to acquire various skills at the 10 basic apprentice training centres in some of the local councils in the state. Furthermore, about four years ago, the Governor Shema administration sponsored a sizeable number of youths to study high tech welding for oil pipelines at the Nigeria Naval Engineering Training College, Sapele in Delta State. It is of great interest to note that these youths have completed their training and secured employment in various oil-related industries in and outside the country.

The Islamiya school system is not left out. About 400 graduates of this system have so far benefitted from the state government’s education scholarship abroad. These beneficiaries, who are now reading Medicine, Nursing, Arabic Computing, Arabic Calligraphy and other related courses in Sudan, now serve as role models to others. During the duration of their courses, the state government will pay their school fees, transportation, accommodation and monthly allowances. It is very unusual for a state government in this country to use multi-facetted approach to tackle the menace of youth unemployment. But the Katsina State government has done it successfully. Governor Shema truly deserves commendation from all the stakeholders in Nigeria’s developmental drive. It is quite clear that what is obtainable in most states in the country is noise without action. This is not the trend in Katsina

State, which has the slogan, “Others make noise, we act.’’ In every ramification, Governor Shema is an icon of performance, yet he doesn’t sing his own praises. He is a quiet achiever. A visit to Katsina state will, no doubt, change the mind of this governor’s

critics. He has really performed creditably. In the last seven years, there has been free education in all the state-owned primary and secondary schools. This includes the payment of WAEC, NECO, NABTEB fees for indigenes and non-indigenes in such schools. Fees are also highly subsidised in state-owned tertiary institutions, including the state university. Those who closely observe political activities in Nigeria will agree that Governor Shema’s brand of politics is premised on high sense of responsibility. He has also distinguished himself in prudent management of resources. More so as a disciplined administrator and politician, he has never used abusive words or foul language against his critics and opponents, even in the face of unwarranted provocation. As a testimony to the governor’s probity and accountability, former

chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), Justice Emmanuel Ayoola, without mincing words, recommended Katsina State as a model. Ayoola, who was in the state for a town hall meeting, later took tour of projects executed by the state and local governments, after which he said he was “extremely sure there is hope for Nigeria in the fight against corruption and the institutionalisation of good governance.” In recognition of his selfless service to the people, Governor Shema was again recognised as a guest of the Nigeria-US Binational Commission, during which he discussed extensively, his experience in an effort to ensure good governance in an unbalanced federal system. The commission invited only two out of the 36 governors in the country, namely, Shema and Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State. It is widely believed that Fashola is doing wonderfully well in Lagos State. During the recent visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to Katsina State, he could not hide his feelings when he saw the numerous projects executed by Governor Shema despite the scarce resources available to the state. President Jonathan summarised his remark by saying that if other governors in Nigeria had emulated Shema, Nigeria would have become a positive reference point. One can, therefore, comfortably say that Nigeria needs true leaders like Governor Shema. As the 2015 general elections draw near, the electorate must be wise with their votes. Aliyu Isa wrote from IBB Way, Katsina

The civil service in an age of open government By Tunji Olaopa

ince the 80s, and on a massive global scale that was motivated by the democratic awakening, the civil service finally has come to the awareness of the need to transcend its bureaucratic culture that gives it a bad name. The un-salutary reputation which the bureaucracy acquired over the long years of its evolution all around the world, and transformation was, ironically, a far cry from the philosophical insights that motivated the beginning of the civil service as the guardian of the public interest. The commencement of the democratic waves of the 90s decreed that the dysfunctional bureaucracy confront a modernising imperative. This imperative demands that one redirects the civil service away from its crippling bureaucratic culture towards a more democratic and entrepreneurial and technocratic organisation with the capacity to deliver national goals. The best way to do this, using Kolind’s lifecycle metaphor, is to facilitate the transition to a ‘second cycle’ which requires attaching the dynamite of innovation to the ‘great rock in the tide line’ in order to give it the necessary push to perform. The modernising imperative therefore serves two

significant purposes: first, to regain the vocational import of public service, and second, to prepare the bureaucracy for modern challenges. The question then is: How does a bureaucratic administrative civil service structure respond to the challenge of modernisation? The first condition for modernisation is to target the loci of the governance or the centre of public administration. Public administration as governance derives from the recent transformation of the economy and government of industrial societies that has led to (a) a radical change in the internal modes of functioning; and (b) the expansion of governmental activities into a ‘governance network’ that brings in non-state actors into the governance system. The second condition demanded by the modernising imperative is the urgency of opening up the government within the framework of an ‘open society’. Both conditions are interrelated because governance requires the participation of non-state actors and the entire citizenry through a technologically-motivated open platform that facilitates transparency, collaboration and participation. The open society or open government paradigm has philosophical antecedent. Immediately after the horrors

of the Second World War, the Austrian philosopher, Karl Popper, wrote a classic: Open Society and Its Enemies (1945). The open society and open government dynamics speak to the need for eternal vigilance of the human race that guides their freedom and creativity to foreclose the multiplication of the Hitlers of this world and specifically, those that Popper regarded as Totalitarian ideologues namely, Hegel, Marx and Plato. And, the urgent and constant need to innovate and recreate ideas, paradigms and institutions in a way that transform our individual and collective wellbeing. The recent uproars generated by the Arab Spring in the Middle East constitute a negative indication of a refusal to open up the government or the society to constant interrogation. In administrative reform terms, the ‘open society’ imagery simply challenges our civil services into a persistent and creative rethinking of our institutional and structural dynamics in a manner that transform the system into a world class performance mode. It insists that the principle that government—not just its laws and policies, but the reasons and processes of decisions that generated those policies and the flows of money that fund their implementation—should be open.

Open government gives the civil service clear advantages: (a) First, it is a critical attempt to challenge administrative closure that locks the people out of decisions and processes that governs their lives; (b) Second, open government deals with bureau-pathology by reversing the obscurity of brilliant public servants whose creative initiatives are usually left to disappear within the vast hierarchies that define the bureaucracy; (c) Third, open government helps the government redirect its citizens’ trust and respect; and (d) Lastly, the open government initiative enables the civil service to transcend itself away from its acute analogue/hierarchical/ opaque status to becoming a cutting-edge digital/network/ open system that works. The governance and open government reform demands a reassessment of administrative reality especially within a third world context like Nigeria where our postcolonial predicament has left us burdened and in anguish. However, our reassessment goes deeper than opening up the processes and functioning of government. Gary Francione, the American philosopher, counsels that ‘If we are ever going to see a paradigm shift, we have to be clear about how we want the present paradigm to shift.’ The open government initiative is just

one indication of where we want to go. Other indication of needed transformation will necessarily include: From resource-based to competency-based HRM; from ‘input-process’ to ‘output-results’ orientation; Weberianism to a new institutional philosophy tantalisingly typified by the assumptions of neoWeberianism; rules-compliance to a value-based PS rooted in spirituality-underpinned professionalism; and the need for a Nigerian Public Service Charter that leverages the African Public Service Charter as the basis for a governance-aware civil service. What will constitute the difference between the performance stature of our civil service system now and of the future will depend on our capacity to modernise; our capacity, that is, to sustain the degree to which we can achieve the transition from Civil Service 1.0 to a fully digitised Civil Service 2.0. It is that transition that constitutes the bulk of our challenge for the simple reason that the system has remained enmeshed in the crippling bureaucratic culture too long. The civil service is a vocation that we urgently need to reinvent. Dr.Tunji Olaopa is a Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Communication Technology (tunji.olaopa@commtech. gov.ng)

Peoples Daily, Wednesday, June 25, 2014

PAGE 15

Comment

Ekiti election: I raise my head higher By Kehinde Okonugta

irstly, let me congratulate Mr. Ayodele Fayose on his emergence at the Ekiti poll. Without mincing words and from all the pieces of information at my disposal, I didn’t hear that the activity in any polling unit was disrupted, therefore it is commonsensical to accept that the major verdict of the Ekiti people, which is that Dr. John Kayode Fayemi is not good enough for them, in good fate. It is also important to congratulate him, his followers and other numerous Ekiti people who believed so much in him and in his ideology. Yes, the election process was tough, but here we are, it is over. I appreciate everyone who stood by us in the pursuit to ensure that Dr. Fayemi re-emerged. I thank those who criticised us and called us names. I thank friends and families who kept believing in us even when it looked windy and weedy. Sincerely, lessons have been learnt and taught. Only God crowns, but I owe my appreciation to Dr. Kayode Fayemi in whom I have learnt more above governance, state politics and the people, even as a non-appointee of his government. Yes, I saw his programmes, what he had for the people and I was obviously okay with them. Most of them fixed up with my idea and my perception about the road we can take as a people towards actualising our goal of a better Nigeria. Since it is important I set the

record straight, I wish to state for record purpose that the result of the poll is a reflection of what we cherish in this part of the world. It is undisputable that JKF lost at the poll not because he under-performed, but because he was perceived to be far from the people. Yes, I also agreed, but refused to go by, but this is Nigeria. May be an American or a Russian who only cares about the security of himself and his people would not have given a damn about his disposition, so far the state is developing. May be a French man would not have cared about such, so far he goes to work and makes his money. May be our priorities in this part of the world are different, but this is my country, I appreciate people for their belief, my country is my country and I shall forever hold her in high esteem. The future of Ekiti now lies in the hand of someone the people had tested before. The destiny of Ekiti now lies in the hand of their REBIRTH FAYOSE. Surely, every society deserves the leaders they have. May be Dr. John Kayode was wrong not to have walked on the street. May be he was wrong to have bluntly asked the teachers to write the competence test. May be he was wrong to have accepted the centralisation of fees payable by EKSU students. May be he was wrong not to have ordered an early reversal of students’ unions proscription. But the Dr. Fayemi that I know is not a typical Nigerian politician who pretends and loses his principle on the obvious quest for popularity and

pretentious populism theory. Definitely from what I know about him, Dr. Fayemi is not a typical Nigerian politician. Just like Mallam El-rufai called himself an accidental public servant, I confidently say, JKF is an accidental politician. Whether we like it or not and for those who care to listen, JKF will go on October 16th, but he has made his good marks. He will go, but know he will forever be remembered for his principle and what he has achieved and will still achieve before he finally quits. I know in programmes, it is obvious to the world that he has tried, but then , here we are, the people want a governor that will eat with them on the street and treck with them in the market square. But I know, in future the people will come to realise how lucky they were to have had someone like him governed them. I know he will leave office but won’t carry the Governor’s office at the Oke-Ayooba to his compound in Isan-Ekiti, Ibadan or any other place. The roads he has constructed and renovated will live with the Ekiti people. I know the world class renovated ikogosi warms spring will remain the property of Ekiti. I know his OPERATION RENOVATE ALL SCHOOLS IN EKITI will remain a legacy in Nigeria. I know while I cannot be proud I used a Desktop computer or a phone when I was in secondary school, an SSI student can be proud to tell his future children that he used a laptop in school when he/she was in Secondary school. This

is a legacy that will not only live with our younger generation, but a challenge that is posed to our leaders that yes! If an 8 year old American child can successfully operate a computer, our younger children here can also do that. There is a legacy of commitment to the agricultural sector and I know the YCAD programme shall remain with the people of Ekiti state. I appreciate his philosophy as an upright public servant, I know history has absorbed him well. For the several chats I had with my friends, my lecturers, my bloods, I appreciate. Obviously, either now or later, it is certain some day, people must demand for change and for the diverse reasons many have sought it now, either for selfish reason or in the interest of the state, our conscience will remain with us. I am only glad, JKF didn’t lose on the plata of under-performance. He lost on his objectivity. He didn’t mix up politics with governance as people expected. As a young man, I preferred who tripped more for good governance than the cheaply politics, I chose to support him. I know that it is with good governance that we can have our future secured. I will never regret my support for him. He knew that it is only with good governance that the problem of poverty can be reduced and sooner or later majority of our youths can be properly employed. I was proud to support this master plan and my conscience is

clear for life. Today, I accept every responsibility for my action. I thank God for a day like this. I thank God for the decisions I took amidst odd reactions. I know history has absorbed me and I can raise my head high. To the people who were co-travellers in the struggle, I appreciate you all and to those who were opposed to our belief, it is well. May be someday, we will come to realise the consequence(s) of our efforts today. I shall continue to pray and work for the progress of my country. Once again, I wish Mr. Ayodele Fayose and the people of Ekiti well. Regardless of the outcome of the election, I like to re-state that we will never rescind on our decision to ensuring that our country becomes better. JKF and his wife ‘Erelu Bisi Fayemi’ remain my golds and I remain un-apologetic to anyone. I prefer to continue on this minor and rough road which I hope in many years to come will yield good for us. In the face of adversaries, wants, happiness, consistency and courage to stand by one’s belief makes one a man of dignity and valour. I now understand what politics is in Nigeria, it is clear to me that people like us do not fit into the crumple political system of Nigeria. Kehinde Okunuga via kennyokunuga@gmail.com

Iraq: America is walking on pins, needles (2) By Wumi Akintide

raqis had to know today they were better off under Saddam Hussein, sad to say. I was for 2 years the Secretary to the Joint Economic Commission of Nigeria with the rest of the world for a short time under a retired Federal Permanent Secretary otherwise known as “Tripple A” Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji and Ogbuefi Gilbert Chikelu in the Nigerian Ministry of Economic Planning. Iraq was to be one of the countries my Commission was hoping to hold some bilateral meetings with just like Nigeria did with some of the African countries like Chad, Niger and few others in the West African sub region. I had the privilege of visiting Baghdad a few times at the height of Saddam Hussein’s power and I saw a little bit of how much esteem the guy was held by many of his people if not all of them, even though he belonged to the minority Sunni Sect. The guy managed to hold the country together thru an iron fist, some might argue but Iraq under him was a lot more stable than she is today. I can tell you that Iraq was definitely a force to reckon with in that region if not the whole

of the Middle East. Even Saudi Arabia was so scared of Saddam Hussein and so was Iran and most of the major players in that region at the time. Not anymore! Saddam became powerdrunk like Adolf Hitler before him who was legitimately elected German leader in 1933 but turned a dictator in less than 5 short years with his ambition to proclaim the Germans as the superior race over and above any other race in the world. That ambition drove him to challenge the whole of Europe into a world war he actually believed he could win before Winston Churchill working in collaboration with FDR and Stalin joined the other European leaders to confront and defeat him and his military in what has now become the epic centre of that was in Omaha Beach in Normandy, France some 70 years ago. Saddam Hussein had failed to learn any lesson from Adolf Hitler and he paid with his own life. He had decided to bite more than he could chew by falling into the trap set for him by the United Kingdom, Tony Blair and the United States George Bush and the so-called coalition of the willing who had earlier on driven him out of Kuwait in the

Gulf War. His quick defeat in that was followed by the coup de grace when they built a strong world coalition including many of his Arab neighbours to destroy his county in the Iraq War by disgracing him out of office, and erasing all of the legacies he might have had as the victorious leader of Iraq who actually confronted mighty Iran with some help from America. In the final analysis, Saddam Hussein lost everything and the beautiful country he had led for several decades by doing what Nouri Al Maliki the American-sponsored Prime Minister of Iraq could not do when he chose to lead his majority Shiite sect in a way that totally alienated the Minority Sunni and some elements of the Kurds to the north of Baghdad. It does not bode well for America at all today when more Iraqis now thought they were better off and they enjoyed more peace and stability under Saddam Hussein than they now do under the stability promised them by America. The ISIS terrorist group, the successor to the Al Qaeda in that region is today taking advantage of the mayhem and the civil war in Syria and part of Lebanon and Iraq to further destabilize the

region based on sectarian rivalry and polarization that have existed between the Shiite Muslims, the Sunni and the Kurds for several centuries. It is an instability that may well end the survival of Iraq as a sovereign state and further compound the Palestinian/Israeli conflict that had been a bone of contention since the creation of the State of Israel in 1948. How many wars can America fight and sustain. It is a legitimate question to ask? I have never seen President Obama more subdued but careful and restrained in his answers to all of the questions he was asked as his hastily convened Press Conference yesterday at the White House to try and chart a way forward for America and Iraq in the unfolding crisis in Iraq which could possibly drag America into another protracted civil war in that region for another 10 years or more. Boko Haram is currently tearing Nigeria and the Cameroons apart and America again is expected to intervene there to bring back the Chibok girls and to restore some measure of stability in those countries. There is problem brewing in Libya and even in Egypt, the leading Arab nation that has been a major ally of America

since Camp David. The world is in turmoil everywhere you look and Republicans want America to be involved in each theatre of war all in the name of being the only super power who can do it. It makes no sense. The Muslim nations don’t share the American values that Americans are ever so proud to talk about. They regard some of those values as a taboo or abomination to say the least. There are no less than 1.2 billion Muslims around the world that America has to contend with. American would be living in a fool’s paradise to continue to believe they can impose their values on the rest of the world. My hypothesis is that America is spreading her resources too thin by believing or claiming to be the custodian of morality in the world and by wanting to intervene in every major crisis everywhere around the world. America must learn to let go on many of those interventions or involvements to sustain her credibility America is weakened and diminished not by Barrack Obama as alleged by Dick Cheney and his fellow Republicans. America is diminished and weakened by biting more than it can chew. Period Concluded Dr. Wumi Akintide is on linkedIn

Peoples Daily, Wednesday, June 25, 2014

PAGE 16

FG commissions 5 staff housing estates

Members of Apo Trades Association (ATA) protesting yesterday, in front of the premises of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), in Wuse zone 6, over non issuance of land documents for their new site in Wasa district.

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

he federal government has commissioned five new estates built for public servants in the FCT, financed by the Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board, as part of its corporate social responsibilities. There were a total of five estates commissioned with a total of 400 housing units for various categories of public servants to further cushion the housing challenges in the Territory. Commissioning the estates, the FCT minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, who was represented by Engr. U.J Jibril, encouraged the Board to explore this new housing policy for more funding for the public servants housing scheme. He used the occasion to appeal to the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Ahaji Bukar Goni Aji , to ensured that he secured a large expanse of land along Kubwa Road provided by the FCT in 2011 for the provision of mass housing which was highly beneficial to Public servants in the FCT. On his part, the Head of Civil Service of the Federation Alhaji Bukar Goni Aji, thanked President Goodluck Jonathan for the giant strides in the promotion of welfare of the public servants, which is a major component of the priority areas of this administration. He said several housing policies had been instituted in the past by successive administrations but could not achieve the desired result as a result of numerous challenges. Earlier, the executive secretary of the Board, Dr. Mrs. Hannatu Adamu Fika, said the commissioning of the estates was a sign post that the present administration’s policy is workers friendly and that it believes in the ability of Public servants to effectively participate in the delivery of transformation agenda. She reassured the administration of public servant’s loyalty and commitment for effective and efficient service delivery in return for the motivation provided by the government. Some of the beneficiaries expressed their gratitude to the government and promised to contribute their quotas to the transformation and reform initiative of the present administration.

Photo: Stanley Onyekwere

Apo dealers storm AMMC, demand release of documents for new site at Wasa By Stanley Onyekwere

ome aggrieved businessmen and artisans under the umbrella of Apo Trades Association (ATA) yesterday stormed the premises of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), demanding the release of land documents for their new site at Wasa District, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The traders, who stormed the area at about 11 am, in a peaceful protest, carried placards with inscriptions such as: “Pls Coordinator, we beg you in the name of God, we need our land documents”, “We started this journey since 2011, and up till now we are still hearing stories, pls we need our documents now”, and “Since January 2014 your directors promised to show us our site, up till now nothing, pls we have spent over N60,000,000.00.” Chairman of the Association, Chief Chimezie Ifeh, decried that

since 2006 they have suffered a lot at the current place where they operates, in the name of demolition, in Abuja. He said sometime in 2011, they wrote a letter to the FCT minister; who graciously listened and approved allocation of a land for them at Wasa district; and directed the director of the Department of Urban and regional planning to provide the site to them. “We have artisans and other people dealing in motor spare parts, auto mechanic amongst others, who build shops in Apo site, which they demolished in 2006, during which they (development control) only gave 24 hours to vacate the place, and since then they have not given us any other place. “Since then, we have been going there, discussing with them but because of the usual nonchalant tendencies attached to government work, they keep wasting time on the matter, but unfortunately for us we have

gone so far. We have spent a lot of money on it. “Why we came here to protest is because the time given to us has elapsed. We had taken them to the National Assembly, in 2013, and they gave us three months that the documents will be ready; and the three months expired on September last year, and since then we have been going to the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, asking them how far with the matter? “Although, we are still operating at the old site, but sometime this year they (Development Control) wanted to demolish it and we said no, because the agreement we reached at the National Assembly was that they cannot remove us there until they have given us a permanent place. “They said we should be patient, and we continued being patient, but whenever we meet them, they would tell us another story. We went to Urban and planning yesterday (Monday),

and they told us that all the land documents are here (AMMC), and when we get here they told us that the documents are not with them,” he said. Addressing newsmen after a quick crisis control meeting with the leaders of the association, Head, Public Relations, AMMC, Mrs. Grace Zamani, said that the said land papers are not with them, adding that all their grievances are based on false information and miscommunication. She however said the council has already assured them that whenever the land documents come to them, the will be called upon to collected them, noting “until then, nobody is going to doing anything to them, as everything has to be completed, so they have to be patient.” “The said land papers are not here, it is still with the authorities concerned. And as long as it is not yet here, we can’t tell you where it is, but ones it lands here, they will call them and issue the papers to them”, she explained.

Organisation advocates special budgetary allocation for orphanages By Usman Shuaibu

he village director in charge of SOS children’s village, in Dukwa, Gwagwalada area council, of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Yusuf Mohammed, has called on the government of to allocate some percentages of its annual budget to orphans, to boost their morale in the society. Mohammed, who made the call

during the remembrance ceremony of the founder and African Child Day celebration, in Gwagwalada, said that the provision of the budget for vulnerable and abandoned children in the orphanage homes was necessary as they needed all the love and care from the government. According to him, statistics have shown that there are over 20 million orphans in the country and the government needed to make special allocation for their

upbringing, especially in the aspect of education. He noted that every child deserved the best education, calling on the government to increase its support in the interest of the abandoned children. Earlier, the Principal of Hermann Gmeiner Junior Secondary School, Mr. Godwin Otulu, described the founder as one who has passion for vulnerable and abandoned children.

He pointed out that the founder would always be remembered for his care and love for the less privileged children, saying that SOS Children’s villages currently cut across the 132 countries. Peoples Daily reports that that the founder of SOS Children’s Village, Hermann Gmeiner, was born on July 23, 1919, and his remembrance day coincides with African Child Day celebration, celebrated every June 16.

Peoples Daily, Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Metro

PAGE 17

A young man hawking toiletries, yesterday at Apo Quarters, in Abuja.

A woman standing by the road side looking for commercial vehicle, yesterday at Lugbe Airport Road, in Abuja.

A pick-up van conveying electricity poles to a destination, yesterday at Federal Housing, in Abuja.

Refuse gradually taking over a major road, yesterday at Lugbe, in Abuja.

A middle-aged woman spreading grains on the floor, yesterday at Utako Area of Abuja. Photos: Joe Oroye

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Peoples Daily, Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Metro

Diasporas adopt Kuje School for Deaf as CRS project By Stanley Onyekwere

here is a sign of respite for teachers and students of Kuje School for the Deaf, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as a diaspora group, the Nigeria Diaspora Alumni Network (NiDAN), has adopted

NDE trains 50 unemployed youths in FCT By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

he National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), said it is currently training Fifty (50) Unemployed youths in Agriculture as a Business Enterprise under the 2014 Rural Agricultural Development Training Scheme (RADTS) in the Territory. The NDE Coordinator in the FCT, Mr. Romiluyi Oludare Newton, disclosed this while addressing participants at the new NDE Modern Multipurpose Skills Acquisition Centre located at Kuduru village in Bwari area council of the FCT. He said that the training will last for three months and will comprise of one month theoretical, while the remaining two months will be used for practical attachment that will established large scale farms around the territory. According to a statement signed by its Head, Information and Public Relation, Abdulrahman Mohammed, the training is the second to be held at the centre. Newton said the Directorate is now laying more emphasis on nurturing Entrepreneurs in the Agriculture sector who can manage the whole labour value chain from production and marketing to distribution. He revealed that after the practical attachment and Certification, the participants will be encouraged to key into the Directorate’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Nigeria Agricultural Bank for start-up loans.

them as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project. To this end, the Network will install new Information Technologies (IT) equipment for the school as well as repairing all 16 computers that have not been functional over some period. The adoption followed NiDAN’s several visits to the school on a fact finding mission, after of which it decided that their IT and teacher training needs were paramount and warranted at least one year’s support if not more. “These kids have no visual aid; they need access to computers with interactive teaching aid, and projectors. We will provide all these and also assist the teachers by providing additional skills for special needs teaching. “Teachers will take part in a half-day training session,

provided by professional teacher-training specialists from the network,” says NiDAN’s chairman, Prof. Manny Aniebonam. According to a statement issued by NiDAN’s Spokesperson, Christine Shuaibu, yesterday, the official launch will take place by early July, but prior to that date, its members will be putting on their ‘Do it Yourself’ (DIY) gear and grabbing their paint and brushes to give the Library a mini make over. “This will ensure that the kids have a very conducive environment to learn, which is so important for all children, talk less of those with hearing impairment,” the statement said. The computer programs will be donated by Global Distance Learning Institute (GDLI) managed by AfriHUB Nigeria Ltd, which according the group

will greatly enhance the learning experience for both the students and children. “We are delighted that we have chosen Kuje School for the deaf as one of our CSR projects,” as the aim of NiDAN is to give back and make a difference in our own little way,” the statement quoted the Chair of NiDAN event committee, Ms Badewa Adejugbe-Williams. Peoples Daily recalls that NiDAN came to limelight in 2011, when they organised one of the most successful Youth Empowerment events, with feedback from over 500 participants. This was followed last year by a Youth Empowerment Program (II), which focused on developing entrepreneurs where they were taught for free, a variety of career skills ranging from fish farming to event management.

Some executives and members of the Nigeria Diaspora Alumni Network (NiDAN), pose in a group photograph with some teachers and students of Kuje School for the Deaf, Abuja, during a visit to the school on a fact finding mission, recently

Contractor docked over failure to settle house rent

ne Mr. Emmanuel Joseph, 50, of Kabayi Village, Mararaba, has sued one Blessing Edward, 45, before a Mararaba Chief Magistrates’ court for allegedly failing to settle her eight months’ rent. Counsel to the plaintiff, Mr. Joseph Abonyi, told the court that the annual rent payable for the defendant’s one room-selfcontained apartment was N70, 000. Abonyi said that the last time the defendant paid rent for her apartment was on Feb. 29, 2013 and that the payment covered only a period of six months.

He alleged that the defendant’s rent expired in September, 2013, and had since refused to renew her rent. He said that the rent owed amounted to N46, 664 and prayed the court to assist him to recover the rent and the property from the defendant. According to the Abonyi, his client had so far spent N20, 000 as legal cost for the case and urged the court to recover the cost from the defendant. Abonyi tendered the receipt of six months’ rent, which the plaintiff issued to the defendant the first time she paid the house rent in

2013 as evidence in court. Edward, a contractor of the same address as the complainant, who represented herself in the court however denied the allegations. She told court that she paid for a year and six months when she entered the house. Edward said that she was surprised when she came to court and saw only six months receipt tendered by the plaintiff as her only payment. In his cross-examination, Abonyi asked the defendant for the number of payment receipts she had received from the plaintiff since she started living in his

house. The defendant told him, she was given only one receipt of six months’ rent by the plaintiff. Edward told court that she did not collect the receipt for the one year rent she paid to the plaintiff because of their cordial relationship. Abonyi, upon completing his cross-examination, asked the court for a new hearing date to allow him to prove his case against the defendant. The presiding officer, Mr Habila Abundaga, then adjourned hearing in the matter until July 21. (NAN)

Environment: FCT residents applaud AEPB By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

ome residents of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have applauded the management of Abuja Environment Protection Board (AEPB), for sustaining a clean and sanitized environment during this rainy season. The residents who spoke to Peoples Daily said in spite the recurring downpour, the AEPB has shown a lot of commitment towards sustainable city sanitation. A resident, Gideon Ibrahim , who noted that the AEPB workers are doing a great job, says “I live at wuse, and early morning hours close to my street, you can definitely see AEPB women sweeping the streets, and you still see them in the afternoon hours picking dirt and cleaning the environment. The environment in this area is so clean. “I just came back from the UK for holidays, there places that are not clean too, talk more of sweeping it. Seriously, the management is trying, the AEPB contractors usually come around too pack our waste every Monday and other days, even in the rains. So, let honour them for that, as they put more effort to keep the FCT environment clean.” Another resident, Sarah Philips, said the AEPB are really achieving their goal of maintaining a clean healthy and environment in FCT. “I believe they still have challenges they are facing, from residents that is affecting their capacity to keep focus on their goal. They are tackling unhealthy practices that come with the downpour of rains in the environment and render services to the residents, in order to have healthy environment. “Therefore, we as residents need to play our part to help have a clean sustainable city.” She said. Similarly, one Rabiu Bala , praise the AEPB because of the use of its mobile court to prosecute defaulting members of the society , saying “this has made residents to clean their immediately environment.” He however urged the management of AEPB to employ more hands and contractors, so as for them to meet their goal of attaining a sustainable green and clean city. Also, another resident, Shola Ajani, who opined that AEPB has tried to keep a clean hygienic environment during this wet season should be commended, said the management should do something about stagnant water in some parts of the city.

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Peoples Daily, wednesday, june 25, 2014

business@peoplesdailyng.com 08142929046 etuka2012@gmail.com 08066605655

NNPC GMD charges PENGASSAN on industrial harmony

Stories by Etuka Sunday

he Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum

Corporation (NNPC), Engr. Andrew Yakubu yesterday urged the leadership and members of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior

Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) to sustain the industrial harmony between it and the management of

the NNPC. Engr. Yakubu made the call during the opening ceremony of the 4th triennial national delegates’ conference of the Association

From Left: The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Engr. Andrew Laah Yakubu exchanging warm hand shake with the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu and the President of PENGASSAN, Comrade Babatunde Ogun during the 4th Triennial National Delegates’ Conference of the Association on Tuesday in Abuja.

215mw Kaduna power plant ready for commissioning December-VP

he Vice President, Namadi Sambo has expressed satisfaction at the level of work achieved on the 215mw Kaduna Power plant. A statement signed by Bashir Bello on behalf of the Senior Special Assistant to Vice-President on Media & Publicity quoted Sambo to have given the comment during an inspection tour of the project located in Kudendan industrial area. According to him, he has been reliably informed and has confirmed that the project was about 84% completion and by December this year, power would be generated from the power plant. “I want to assure all Nigerians that Mr. President is keeping his transformation agenda and his promise to the people in Kaduna State and to the people in the

northern part of the country and that we are doing everything to transform this part of the country and to ensure that power is provided to the industrial area of this part of Nigeria,” he said. A representative of Sewa Ltd, the consultancy firm handling the project, Mr Iian Appleby who briefed the Vice President said the EPC Contract as a whole cost N23 billion and would meet the December timeline when it would be commissioned on a start up with diesel fuel. Appleby noted that the 215mw plant is a dual fired station with eight turbines capable of being powered by Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO) andLiquiefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). “Generally, mechanical process of the turbine installation is far reached and the civil works is

FG orders employment of more fire fighters to meet standards >>Pg 20

at 80 percent,” he added. He stated that a 132/32KV transmission station is also being constructed alongside a 33KV distribution line which is about 83 percent completed, and switch yard that is 82 percent finished. While the substation will evacuate power to the industrial area and Mando substation, it will also link up to Gurara line as a feeder to the national grid, he stated. The Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo commended the Vice President for his visit to the site adding that it will result in significant power stability in the axis adding that similar project in Taraba state will be happening soon. Namadi who also acknowledged the support of the Kaduna state government towards the project and the presence of the

CIIN harps on insurance sector’s need for relevance

Acting Governor of Taraba State said Kashimbilla Hydropower in the state is almost completed. He said the 40mw multipurpose dam will cater to irrigation and check flooding arising from any overflow from Cameroon. He added that the Water Resource Ministry has completed the design and survey for the construction of Mambilla hydropower project still in Taraba state. “It will start soon and when completed, it will bring in 3050mw, to be the largest power plant in West Africa,” Namadi said. Meanwhile, in his remarks, the Chairman Senate Committee on Power Senator Phillip Aduda expressed his satisfaction with the level of work done on the project, which he said on completion would bring about more industrialization and revamp the economy.

>>Pg 21

in Abuja. A statement by the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, NNPC, Ohi Alegbe quoted Yakubu to have commended the Association for the cooperation and support extended to him and his management team since their assumption of duties, noting that the synergy has led to the growth of the entire petroleum industry. Engr. Yakubu stated that over the years, PENGASSAN has contributed immensely to the stability and growth of robust industrial relations in the country by demonstrating a very high sense of cooperation and maturity in the conduct of its affairs. The NNPC GMD expressed gratitude to the outgoing central working committee of the Association for their loyalty and constructive dialogue and enjoined the delegates to elect credible leaders to steer the affairs of the Association, going forward. In his keynote address, the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu described the role of PENGASSAN as pivotal to the national economy and urged members of the Association to continue to maintain the industrial peace in the petroleum sector. Earlier, the outing President of the Association, Comrade Babatunde Ogun said the oil workers’ unions are fully committed to the growth of democracy and good governance in Nigeria and called on the National Assembly to expedite action on the passage of the Petroleum Industrial Bill which is geared towards enthroning transparency in the petroleum sector.

CBN Exchange Rates $ € £ Riyal YEN CFA

as at 24th JUNE, 2014 Buying Selling

154.7 256.94 212.44 41.25 1.49 0.30

155.74 258.60 213.81 41.52 1.50 0.32

Peoples Daily, wednesday, june 25, 2014

Page 20

Aviation

he federal government has directed that additional fire fighters be engage in order to meet the global standard and requirement for the country’s airports operations and also form part of manpower and human capacity development for the industry. Supervising Minister for aviation Dr. Samuel Ortom gave the directive in Lagos when he inspected facilities at the terminals in Lagos where he affirmed

FG orders employment of more fire fighters to meet standards that the ministry would take steps to address human capacity and upgrading, adding that FAAN has been directed to employ more of the fire staff that had retired. The Acting General Manager, Fire Service, Rindap Domtur, had drawn the attention of the minister to the inadequate manpower challenge the fire department

faced. According to Domtur, the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos, a Category 9 rating has only 160, far below the requirement approve for such by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), standard. Also, he informed the minister that no staff had gone for

3 FAAN staff bag international airport managers’ certificate

he Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria FAAN said the agency has recorded milestone in its capacity building effort as 3 of its staff has graduated from the Airport Management Professional Accreditation Programme (AMPAP). It said the certification programme which they commenced in 2012, was concluded in February 2014, thus making the successful candidates Certified Airport Managers. Managing Director FAAN, Engr. Saleh Dunoma while presenting the candidates with their certificate, said the management would ensure it workforce is constantly improved through training. Dunoma added that staff should also be exposed to foreign training and not restricted to Nigeria alone, in order to bring them at par with their foreign counterparts in aviation. Those who completed the AMPAP, in line with the Global ACI/ICAO objectives are the Chief of Staff to the MD, Mr. Kabir Mohammed, Mrs Vivian Menyanga of the Training Department and Mr. Emmanuel Chidera Emmanuel of the Airport Operations Department.

NAMA affirms facilities in good order, assures travellers of safety

igeria airspace is adequately The Managing Director of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, (NAMA) Engr. Ibrahim Abdulsalam told journalists that “all communication, navigation, surveillance and air traffic management facilities of the agency are working at optimal levels” saying the travelling public are assured of their safety. The czar at an Aviation family forum organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations in honour of Mr. Basil Agboarumi who was recently elevated to the position of General Manager, Corporate Communications of Skyway Aviation Handling Company limited (SAHCOL). Engr. Abdulsalam added that the agency has completed the installation of new Solar Runway Lighting systems at the Lagos and Port Harcourt International airports to further enhance safety of flight operations at all times and in all weather conditions. He said NAMA “upholds the highest standards in air traffic management as the vision of the agency is to be one of the leading air navigation service providers in the world’’. He commended NIPR for its professionalism, excellence and transparency saying “through various trainings, workshops and seminars, NIPR has moulded icons whose contributions to the Nigerian economy have been legendary producing the likes of Mr. Agboarumi who is a valuable product of this reputable institute’’. National President of NIPR, Dr. Rotimi Oladele said that ‘’there is a visible indicator that the aviation industry is growing but there is need to support the industry to grow through aggressive information management’’. He said Nigeria aviation of tomorrow ‘’should be based on information management as business can only thrive on accurate information and that is why Public Relations cannot be relegated -NIPR should be a role model”. “Modesty is important for PR personalities. We must build the reputation of Nigeria and all the Chief Executive Officers in the aviation sector must be part of it” Oladele told the gathering.

recurrence training in the past two years to revalidate their certificate, adding that ICAO requires each staff to revalidate his or her licence every two years. FAAN managing director, Saleh Dunoma affirms the agency fire service is short of staff. “We will take due process to temporarily re-absorb some FAAN

Fire Service retirees across the country to occupy some post. In aviation, we take issue of safety and security as priority” he said. Dunoma noted the agency currently has a total of 600 fire staff across the nation’s airports while it requires strength of 1,500 personnel for effective performance.

Dana Air set to recommence daily flight service to Uyo

...set N9, 000 as introductory fare

igeria domestic carrier Dana Air has announced the resumption of its direct flights from Lagos to Uyo airport, the Akwa Ibom state capital on Friday, June 27, and also provide onward link to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, from Uyo. The airline said in line with its commitment to encourage air travel, it has set an introductory online web fare starting at N9, 000 for one-way booking across its existing route network on its website to stimulate both leisure and business travels. Chief Commercial Officer of Dana air, Mr. Obialor Mbanuzuo told reporters the airline is working with the objective of integrating most major cities in Nigeria into its route network and said Dana Air is constantly reviewing its operations with a view towards exceeding the high expectations of its guests. “At Dana Air, we recognize the importance of Akwa Ibom state in the socio-economic development of Nigeria as a tourist destination and oil producing state, and the need to offer choice of travel to open up accessibility. We are confident that our recommencement of flights between Lagos and Uyo as well as onward connections between Uyo and Abuja will make the state even more attractive to investors”, he said. He also disclosed that the decision to recommence operations into Uyo is hinged on the airline’s commitment to offer comfort and convenience to passengers in Akwa Ibom and it’s adjoining cities.

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (HEAD QUARTERS) STATE SECRETARIAT COMPLEX, GWADANGAJI BIRNIN KEBBI, KEBBI STATE P.M.B 1070 BIRNIN KEBBI

TENDER NOTICE INVITATION TO TENDER The Kebbi State Ministry of Education wishes to invite interested and qualified Contractors to submit their applications for prequalification for the execution of the following Projects. 1. Up grading of Government Day Secondary School at Kane Jantullu KBSTB/MOE/184/2013. SCOPE OF WORKs 1. Adminstrative Block 1 2. Block of 4 classroom 2 3. Student hostel 2 4. Multipurpose Hall 1 5. Laboratory 3 6. 3bedroom staff quarters 1 7. 2bedroom staff quarters 5 8. Vip toilet 10 9. School mosque 1 10. Well fence gate and gate house 2600 11. Supply of classroom furniture dining hall teachers staffroom furniture bed and mattress.. QUALIFICATION FOR BIDDING Interested Companies, Firms and Individuals Contractors are invited to submit prequalification documents before obtaining Tender Documents as follows: a) Company Profile b) Certificate of incorporation by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) c) Evidence of Registration with Kebbi State Tenders Boarder (STB) d) Evidence of Technical, Operational and Managerial Capabilities. e) List of similar jobs secured and completed. f) Financial Capability from a reputable Bank. g) Current tax clearance for 3 years. All prequalification document listed above should be submitted to the office of the permanent Secretary Ministry of Education immediately after this advertisement. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 1. Tender information and instructions shall be given only to Companies/Contractors that have been screened and found suitable. 2. Only per-qualified Companies/Contractors will be eligible to collect Bidding Documents from the office of the Secretary State Tenders Board on Payment of non-refundable Tenders fee of Twenty Five Thousand Naira. (N 25,000.00) only. 3. Completed Tenders Documents should be returned to the Secretary, State Tenders Board on or before the 4th of July, 2014. Signed DR. Abdullahi S. Gobir Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education Kebbi State.

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Peoples Daily, wednesday, june 25, 2014

Pension/Insurance CIIN harps on insurance sector’s need for relevance From Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

orried by the insurance sector low contribution to the Gross Domestic Product especially going by the recent economy rebasing, an insurance expert has called on operators in the sector to be responsive to the pon-going process of transformation in the Agricultural, Power, Transport and Financial Services sectors to promote the sectors relevance. The immediate past President, Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), Mr Fatai Lawal gave the admonition while declaring open the 2014 Annual Education Conference of the Institute held in Lagos. Speaking at the event which marked the end of his tenor as the President of the institute having served for one year, Lawal stated that CIIN as an Institute, have strived in the last one-year to reinforce the platforms for the promotion of an all-inclusive insurance education which involves widening the horizon of members through appropriate

learning experiences and the development of competences in the critical areas of Risk Management, Financial Inclusion and Good Corporate Governance which are essential for the growth of our industry According to him, the choice of the Conference theme: ‘Redimensioning the Insurance Industry Contributions to the National Economy’ was a clarion call for Insurance practitioners to re-tool their skills, knowledge, and expertise to engender greater relevance in the new scheme of things. The choice of the Conference theme, he said was also borne out of the Institute’s commitment in providing ample opportunities for continuous professional education and the need to continuously engage insurance managers in the constructive revaluation of the contributions to the nations economy in the everdynamic business environment. “The contributions of our industry to the GDP must remain our collective concern. It is clearly illogical for our sector to remain

an insignificant contributor to an economy that is now tagged the largest in Africa following the rebasing of the country’s GDP”, he said. Lawal noted that institute have also been privileged to receive greater support and encouragement from the National Insurance Commission in the promotion of the strong benefits of financial inclusion products such as Micro insurance and Takaful Insurance for the benefit of our nation’s critical mass. Similarly, he said, the institute focus on the promotion of insurance education was extended to the secondary and tertiary institutions of learning, as a vital step in entrenching insurance in the consciousness of the emerging population as a worthwhile course of study and career path. He opined that the choice of the Conference sub-theme: Paradigm shifts in Insurance Education for greater relevance”, was apt as education remained the bedrock for all human

endeavors and critical for the sector against the background of palpable public education gap and the less than optimal financial literacy index in the nation. Lawal further stated that inclusion of insurance this year as one of the subjects, which were examined during the School Certificate examinations, was a welcome relief and a reinforcement of the inclusion of insurance in the curriculum of secondary education by the Federal Ministry of Education, four years ago. “I am happy that, as an Institute, we were able to support this bold measure with the production of an Insurance Textbook for Senior Secondary Schools and therefore expect this to become a useful manual for insurance studies across Nigeria”, acclaimed. He assured that the annual conference remained a platform for the exchange of views on the issues pertinent for our sector’s growth and development.

L-R: Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, Ondo state Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, during the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting, yesterday at the State House, in Abuja. Photo: Joe Oroye

Stanbic IBTC Pension to take awareness to P’Harcourt From Ngozi onyeakusi, Lagos

tanbic IBTC Pension Managers Limited has pledged its commitment for continues creating of awareness on the Contributory Pension Scheme in Port Harcourt. The firm, which said it would have an extensive public awareness campaign

within the place said, last year, it introduced a comprehensive engagement initiative aimed at highlighting the significance of early retirement planning with the theme, ‘Life renewed at 55 and beyond’, which was organised in Lagos and Abuja. According to The Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Pension, Dr. Demola Sogunle, said that the

awareness campaign would provide a veritable platform to appeal to Nigerians, especially those resident in Port Harcourt and its environs, to recognise the country’s CPS as a powerful tool to set future goals and create the comfort and security necessary to enjoy fulfilment in retirement. Sogunle said it had an obligation to highlight the

benefits of the CPS, which presents a clear path for employees to maintain a stable standard lifestyle after retirement. He said the platform would also create an opportunity for the company to forge closer ties with its customers as well as to enlighten the public on developments in the pension industry.

Wiggle becomes NIA chairman . ..as association holds 43rd AGM From Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

anaging Director of Linkage Assurance Plc, Mr. Godwin U. S. Wiggle will be sworn in as the new chairman of the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) at annual general meeting which holds tomorrow in Lagos. According to the DirectorGeneral of the Association, Mr. Sunday Olorundare Thomas, the occasion will avail the out – going Chairman Dr. Remi Olowude, OON the opportunity to address the general Assembly of insurers of his stewardship and developments in the insurance sector. The representatives of member companies of the Association will also be electing a new Deputy Chairman and other Principal Officers of the Governing Council. The General Assembly will also consider the following: 1. Presentation of Chairman’s Statement and Report of the Governing Council 2. Consideration and Adoption of the Audited Accounts for Year ended 31st December 2013 and the Hon. Treasurer’s Report thereon; 3. Appointment of new Auditors; 4. Election of officers to fill vacant positions in the Governing Council; and 5. To consider and if thought fit, approve the following as a special resolution to alter the Articles of Association of the Nigerian Insurers Association: i. that a new Article 6 (4) be inserted as follows: “The Governing Council meeting shall be held on the last Thursday of every month except the month of December of every year. If, however, for any reason a change in the meeting date is deemed necessary, not less than five (5) members shall consent to the change which must be communicated to the Governing Council members at least 7 days prior to the Governing Council meeting before notice of such change shall be communicated to all Governing Council members. Failure to obtain such consent shall render the change of date ineffective.” Thomas added that “this year’s Annual General Meeting will provide the needed opportunity for the Association to present a scorecard of its activities in the last one year as well as release vital statistics on the performance of the insurance industry.

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PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, june 25, 2014

Peoples Daily, wednesDAY, june 25, 2014

Stock Watch

Report as at Tuesday, June 24, 2014

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Peoples Daily, Wednesday, June 25, 2014

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Special Report

2015 elections: Nigerian youths demand paradigm shift By Kate Obande

advocate group -- to provide opportunities for young people to get together and discuss topical issues in their localities and proffer solutions. However, Miss Bushrah Yusuf, a journalist, urges the youth to vote rightly and set aside every form of religious and ethnic sentiments in efforts to provoke positive changes in the country. ``We are expecting a positive turnaround in our country’s affairs but we ought to be the agents of change. ``So, we must stand up for the change by voting for the right candidates,

s the movement towards the 2015 general elections reaches a crescendo, the citizens are eagerly looking forward towards the election of credible leaders into different positions of authority. While most citizens pray for the election of trustworthy leaders who will pilot the affairs of the nation in the next four years, Nigerians youths, however, express some reservations. Some concerned youths note that in previous elections, young Nigerians were only engaged as thugs by some unscrupulous politicians to foment trouble. They recall that some youths were also used to perpetrate electoral crimes such as ballot boxes’ snatching, harassment of political opponents, as well as riots and other forms of electoral violence. Although available statistics show that Nigerian youths constitute 43 per cent of the nation’s population, most of the young citizens are largely unemployed and marginalised in the country’s political calculations. However, the youth have somewhat resolved to rectify the situation in the forthcoming general elections in 2015. They have vowed to resist the often-recycled retrogressive leaders of the country, while restructuring the nation’s political climate. Mr Jude Imagwe, the Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Youth and Student Matters, says that in 2015, Nigerian youths will brace to their expectations in efforts to transform Nigeria, He, nonetheless, urges the youth to take advantage of their numerical strength by voting in credible leaders who would facilitate the transformation of the country.

irrespective of religious and ethnic sentiments; we must also eschew election violence,’’ she says. Nevertheless, Mr Danielson Bamidele, the Secretary, Coalition of Nigeria Youths for Good Governance, insists that government and non-governmental organisations should mobilise Nigerian youths to refrain from violence and any form of electoral malpractices in 2015. He underscores the need for the youth to get involved in intellectual and leadership activities as the 2015 election approaches, instead of being used as thugs.

“

Some Ekiti youths discussing last Saturday governorship election, on Sunday at Okeiyinmi in Ekiti state.

Imagwe insists that through such concerted efforts, peace would reign in the country, while the dream of a better future for Nigerian youths would be achieved. ``Going by our numeral strength, we, the youth, dominate the electorate. ``Let us translate our superiority in numbers into voting in credible leaders who can stimulate the country’s transformation; those who can facilitate the fulfilment of our dreams. ``Above all, let us tell those persons, who feel that the only time we can be called upon is the time of destruction and violence, that enough is enough. ``Let us stop being used as agents of destruction, because the future of Nigeria belongs

to our generation; we have more at stake than the older generation that wants to use us to destroy our country. ``So, the elders should allow us to enjoy peace and they give peace a chance,’’ he says. Sharing similar sentiments, Mr Kenneth Okoineme, a Policy and Campaigns Officer for ActionAid, an international organisation, says that young Nigerians must find a way to redefine the agenda for the country’s development. He stresses that the youth should use their numerical strength to set the agenda for good governance in Nigeria via their active participation in the country’s political processes, including elections. ``One of the challenges

we have as youths is the kind of orientation we have today; we have a lot of young people who are

not interested in how the country is being governed. ``We must provide spaces and platforms for

INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega

the youth to come together and talk about nationbuilding strategies,’’ he says.

Photo: NAN

Okoineme says that Actionaid is using a platform known as ``Activista’’ -- a youth

APGA National Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh

It is unfair, since my days in the primary school, our teachers made us to believe that we were the leaders of tomorrow and we eagerly looked forward to the fulfilment of that prophecy

APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun

Bamidele argues youth leaders to channel their energy into worthwhile ventures which would promote the inculcation of leadership qualities in young Nigerians, while grooming them for leadership positions in the country’s state of affairs. Mrs Cornelia Paul, a 42-year-old school teacher, particularly decries a situation where youths are not encouraged to take up leadership positions in the country even when they are duly qualified for the posts. ``It is unfair, since my days in the primary school, our teachers made us to believe that we were the leaders of tomorrow and we eagerly looked forward to the fulfilment of that prophecy. ``But now, I’m almost a grandmother and my grandfather’s mates are still willing to rule us forever. ``They should please step aside and give the young ones a chance, the youth should at least constitute 30 per cent of the country’s ruling class,’’ she says. However, Paul is not alone in the calls for more involvement of the youth in the country’s governance. Dr Mourtada Deme, Project Director, United

Nations Development Project (UNDP), made a similar call at a recent national youth conference on Democratic Governance and Development in Abuja, He particularly urged Nigerian youths to participate in political activities. While decrying the exploitation of youths by politicians, Deme advised political parties to strengthen youth participation in politics, saying: ``Genuine political parties do not need a youth militia wing’’. On the whole, observers believe that with the right information and environment, young Nigerians can thrive better in the political arena, as partners in the nation-building efforts. They, nonetheless, note that factors such as unemployment, poverty and educational deficiencies are still militating against youth development aspirations in the country. ``If these factors, among others, are effectively tackled, Nigerian youths will be able to play dominant roles in the nationbuilding efforts,’’ some of the observers say. Source: NAN

PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu

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Peoples Daily, WEDNESDAY, june 25, 2014

Property

Concessionaire, consultants review new model for TBS redevelopment project

arring any unforeseen circumstances, one of the nation’s historical monuments, Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Lagos, which has been in the eye of the storm, may soon witness construction activities, if feelers from the concessionaire, is anything to go by. As part of its readiness to kick-start actual construction activities, the concessionaire last week held an extensive meeting with various consultants handling various aspects of the proposed project. At the meeting held within the Concessionaires Board Room, located at the Complex, on TBS Value Engineering Session, there were the architects, structural engineers, electrical and mechanical engineers and their civil engineer counterparts, environmentalists, among others. Essentially, the parley was meant to basically review the project brief, where each consultant gave report on their work and their readiness to resume work at short notice, once the coast is cleared. Besides, the optimist is based on the recent unfolding developments. Just recently, the Presidency, represented by the

Minister of State on Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Orton, including the representatives of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), visited the TBS to meet the management of TBS, Messrs BHS International, on what officials described as “on the

spot assessment” of the project. According to The Guardian’s investigation, the project brief had it that the overall concept of the project is to provide for socio-economic development as done worldwide. These include the renovation

and expansion of the current 375 shops/offices complex to provide modern shopping complex that compares favorably with internationals standards. Secondly, there is going to be the provision of automated prefabricated two level underground

car parks of about 10,000 spaces under the existing parade ground; provision of two-level underground car parking under the existing parking to the rear; Provision of a huge Shopping Mall of about 1,500 shopping/ office spaces; Provision of five star hotels with all tourism and entertainment potentials capable of create accommodation and all that would measure up to world standards for high brow customers. Others include the construction of 1,500-Capacity Auditorium; Construction of office complex; Construction of Events hall with Restaurants and snack bars, and construction of “Observatory Towers”. Among what were discussed last week were how to protect the Tafawa Balewa Square Parade Ground and VIP stands, owing to its historical importance. Work done on the project so far revealed that, in addition to maintenance of the present structure of the complex, the followings are being done pending the time the execution of the projects go full blast. One, licensed land surveyor was engaged for the preparation of comprehensive perimeter and topographic survey plans of the entire complex.

Experts back Confab to expunge Land Use Act from Constitution

s the National Conference votes this week on whether the contentious 1978 Land Use Act, which was allegedly ‘smuggled’ into the 1999 Nigerian Constitution by General Olusegun Obasanjo (rtd), should be expunged from the statute books or retained, built environment experts have called on delegates to the conference to vote in favour of its expurgation. The experts explained that removing the Act from the Constitution, would make its amendment less cumbersome. According to them, the law which was made about 36 years ago, should be reviewed in line with prevailing economic realities. They maintained that its retention in the Constitution would make the amendment almost impossible. The experts spoke against the backdrop of a statement credited to a group in the Conference which vowed to resist the removal of the Act from the Constitution. It could be recalled that the Committee on Land Tenure Matters and National Boundaries, had earlier recommended the removal of the Act which has been abused by many State Governors, from the Constitution. But some delegates have vowed to resist this with all vehemence. These delegates also declared

their readiness to ensure that the “draconian recommendation” by the Conference Committee on Land Tenure Matters and National Boundaries, does not sail through at the plenary. Speaking on behalf of the ‘pro-poor’ delegates at the National Conference, a delegate representing Ondo State, Mr. Remi Olatubora alleged that the poor masses of Nigeria would further be pauperised if the Land Use Act is eventually removed from the Constitution. Olatubora, who is also the leader of Ondo State delegates to conference, said: “This particular

draconian recommendation of the committee is against the poor masses of this country; it is a coup against the poor masses of this country and we must all stand against it”. According to him, the recommendation was a decoy for the few rich persons in Nigeria to take over the entire land space and make the poor owners of land their laborers. He alleged that hundreds of land speculators have besieged Abuja, lobbying delegates with cash and other inducements for them to support the removal of the Land Use Act from the nation’s

constitution. But the representative of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, NIESV at the Confab, Mr Emeka Eleh debunked the claims of the pro-poor group, saying they are ill-informed. Eleh who is the immediate past President of NIESV, told Vanguard Homes & Property that all the built environment experts at the Confab have spoken with one voice to demand the removal of the Act from the Constitution. He wondered how somebody in his right mind would say that retaining the Act in the Constitution is a propoor decision.

Surveyors to explore new technology at Malaysia congress By Aminu Imam

ne of the oldest professional groups, Nigeria Institution of Surveyors (NIS) has concluded arrangements to join their counterparts at the 37th General Assembly of the federation of International surveyors holding in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. NIS President, Ben Omo Akhigbe, who is expected to deliver a paper on the role of surveyors

in examining and combating insurgency in Nigeria, cited the current challenges of terrorism in the North Eastern part of the country to have necessitated the need to adopt survey technology in addressing the security challenges in the country. He told newsmen ahead of the General Assembly that the Nigerian delegation would add their voices in proffering solution to security challenges in the country include, the Chairman 7th Commission,

Angela Etuonovbe, who is also to present papers at the International Conference with delegation drawn from across countries of the world. Akhigbe added that the aim of the conference is amongst others to expose Nigerian surveyors to current technological development in the different fields of the profession, particularly on the use of survey data to curtail crimes as well as terrorism, which has as its theme: ”Engaging the challenges, Enhancing relevance”.

He posited that all efforts to amend some contentious sections of the Act, as recommended by estate surveyors and valuers and relevant stakeholders failed because it was entrenched into the 1978 Constitution and has remained there till date. Previous constitutional reviews carried out by National Assembly in the past, did nothing to either expunge the Act from the Constitution or amend its contentious sections because the politicians were only interested in amending the electoral act and other sections they had interest in. The former NIESV President further posited that the clamour to remove the Act from the constitution is not a ploy to whittle down its efficacy but an attempt to make its amendment, as the need arises, less cumbersome. “Amending the Land Use Act is a very tedious process because it is part of the Constitution. The Act should be removed from the Constitution so that those sections that we consider the major problems like the consent provision can be amended,” he said. Lagos State Chairman of NIESV, Mr. Stephen Jagun argued that there would be no meaningful growth in the real sector if land continues to be under the firm grips of state.

Peoples Daily, WEDNESDAY, June 25, 2014

P A G E

Property

Firm test-runs new home ownership concept with 100-unit estate By Suleiman Idris, Lagos

romoters of up-scale affordable homes, Gran Imperio Group (GIG), have launched a new concept for home ownership. The concept, which is known as essential homes, will offer ‘clean and comfortable homes’ to prospective individual home-owners and corporate organisations. The concept is being testrun with 100 unit-South Pointe Estate to be sited on a three hectares parcel of land at Lafiaji in the Lekki peninsula part of Lagos. The Lagos-based real estate development firm has also concluded plans to deliver South Point II, which would be built on five hectares parcel of land. The proposed estate comprises 40 units of onebedroom bungalows, 60 units of two -bedroom bungalows, 48 units of three- bedroom

bungalows and 48 units of fourbedroom bungalows. The company also plans to embark on the development

of Lakeview Park II, which is located on almost two hectares of land. Disclosing these facts to

World Bank invests $9.5 million into Jabi Lake Mall in Abuja By Stanley Onyekwere with agency report

lans by investors to construct a one-stop leisure, restaurant and retail destination in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have received a boost from the largest global development institution that focuses exclusively on the private sector, which announced a $9.5 million investment in Jabi Lake Mall to support demand for modern business infrastructure and retail space in Abuja. The investment by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group will assist the US$120 million retail centre project to create about 350 construction jobs and 900 long-term, retailsector jobs. The project’s primary sponsor is the Actis Africa Real Estate Fund II. Duval Properties is the joint venture partner alongside Actis. Essentially, Jabi Lake Mall follows the success of other Actis malls in Nigeria, namely The Palms and Ikeja City Mall in Lagos. The Jabi Lake Shopping Mall is being built on five hectares of land on the Jabi Lake waterfront at Jabi. Once complete, it will be Nigeria’s largest shopping mall with over 30,000 square meters of shopping space. Jabi Lake Mall development and construction is managed by Laurus Development Partners. The project team comprises MDS (architecture), Chapman BDSP (MEP); L&S Consulting (structural engineering), Davis Langdon and Tilliyard (quantity surveyors / cost

consultants) and MIC Mobility in Chain (traffic consultants). Construction began on the project in late 2013 and is expected to be completed in 2015. On completion, Jabi Lake Mall will create links to the local economy throughout its construction and operation. It will create new sales channels for Nigerian retailers, including local small and medium enterprises. Its construction will provide business opportunities for local suppliers of food, construction materials and services, and will serve as a catalyst for urban development in the area around the mall. IFC Country Manager for Nigeria, Solomon AdegbieQuaynor said, “Our investment is part of IFC’s strategy to help strengthen business infrastructure, contribute to economic growth, and increase job opportunities in Nigeria. Actis is a strong partner in this regard, that can also transfer best modern retail practices.” Director, Actis Africa Real Estate Fund II, Ms. Amanda Jean Baptiste said, “Investing in the Jabi Lake Mall demonstrates Actis’s commitment to developing world-class retail destinations and adding to the domestic infrastructure in Nigeria, as well as our support for the growing demands of a rapidly changing economy. Our partnership with IFC will help us draw on their expertise in international best practice in the environmental and social aspects of the project that affect property development.”

newsmen, the company’s Managing Director, Mr. Adeyeye Ogunwusi said also unveiled plans for its 1.9 hectare-Golden

Leaf Estate, which upon completion, will accommodate 72 families. Specifically, the estate will consist of 36 three and 36 fourbedroom bungalows. Mr. Ogunwusi who said his passion to relieve the burden of homelessness among middleclass Nigerians was one of the reasons his company decided to undertake Essential Homes project. The company, he said, plans to deliver the first phase within 100 days. The GIG boss who disclosed that a 26.5 hectares parcel of land has also been secured to construct 848 housing units, to be named Y’hello Estate. A breakdown shows that the estate would comprise 60, 288, 264, and 236 of one, two, three and four bedrooms in the Lafiaji area of Lekki peninsula. Similarly, the company has acquired 90.4 hectares of land within Abraham Adesanya Estate in the Lekki corridor to build 554 housing units.

Property of the Week Promenade residences, Lokogoma District

The development consists of 600 units residential estate; a combination of one bedroom flats to five bedroom duplexes in 8 quadrants across a sprawling 200,000 m2 land. Located at Lokogoma District, Abuja, Promenade Residences promise to be the epitome in modern contemporary living blending the outdoors and indoors. The 9th quadrant called The Square

romenade Residences is a family retreat with peaceful views, manicured promenade and landscape gardens all conveniently located near Apo District, Durumi District, Garki District, and within easy reach of the international airport and the Central Business District. Designed by Ngonyama Okpanum Associates, the promenade project offers Flexibility, form and functionality. Space and energy efficiency, public space integration, excellent landscaping design as well as functional overall plan is prevalent. The design is purposefully modern in keeping with Nigerians changing and more sophisticated tastes; while keeping the synergy of the natural environment and also capitalising on various efficient construction systems.

Peoples Daily, WEDNESDAY, june 25, 2014

PAGE 28

Motoring

BMW M6 provides power capable of thrilling driver

he allure of a good grand touring car is pretty powerful. Just picture driving one through California’s wine country while enjoying the car’s sumptuous luxury, sleek design and copious comfort features. A BMW 6 Series coupe or convertible could fill the bill, of course. But so could the 2015 BMW M6, and it goes even further by providing sensational power capable of thrilling any driver. The M6’s twin-turbocharged V8 engine is good for a rather outlandish 560 horsepower and 500 pound-feet of torque. Nail the gas and you’ll hit 60 mph in just a little more than 4 seconds. Achieving this is quite easy thanks to the M6’s standard quick-shifting automated manual transmission, but BMW still offers a traditional manual transmission at no additional cost. Other strengths for the M6 include a luxurious interior, easy-to-use technology features and lots of room up front. It’s also extremely comfortable and surprisingly quiet -- an ideal combination for long road trips. A full-color head-up display, adaptive LED headlights, a

16-speaker sound system, sun-reflective leather in the convertible, and heated and ventilated “active” seats that work to decrease fatigue on long trips are just a few of the luxury items that contribute to a great driving experience. As with all grand touring coupes, though, the 2015 BMW M6 does make some compromises in the way of practicality. The backseats are nearly unusable for adults and even cramped for small children, which is surprising given the M6’s significant size. At the same time, its grand dimensions and hefty weight hamper its athletic aspirations. While the M6 is highly entertaining to drive, it feels much more at home on a long, gradual bend than a series of sharp chicanes. Rivals include other highpowered grand tourers like the Jaguar XKR, Maserati GranTurismo and MercedesBenz SL-Class. The latter’s retractable hardtop means you don’t have to choose between a coupe and convertible. And while it’s not strictly a grand touring car, the 2015 Porsche 911 shouldn’t go unnoticed. It,

too, is wonderful to drive, offers four seats and can be equipped in a variety of extremely lavish configurations. All would make a grandtouring holiday (or even just the daily slog) a truly special experience, but know that the BMW M6 is an extreme version of an already great car. The 2015 BMW M6 is available as either a coupe or convertible, both of which are offered in a single, very well-appointed trim level. A four-door sedan, the M6 Gran Coupe, is also available and it’s covered in a separate review. Standard features include 19-inch alloy wheels, adaptive suspension dampers, automatic adaptive xenon headlights, LED foglights, heated and powerfolding mirrors, automatic wipers, front and rear parking sensors, auto-dimming mirrors and automatic soft-close doors. Coupe models come with a carbon-fiber roof, while the convertible features a poweroperated fabric top and a glass rear window that can be raised independently of the top to serve as a wind blocker. On the inside you get dualzone automatic climate control,

keyless ignition and entry, leather upholstery (sun-reflective leather seats for the convertible), 14-way power heated front seats (with four-way lumbar support, adjustable bolsters and memory functions), a power tilt-andtelescoping steering wheel, and extended leather and carbonfiber interior trim. Electronic features include Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, BMW’s iDrive interface (includes a 10.2-inch display), a rearview camera, a navigation system, real-time traffic, voice commands and a 16-speaker Harman Kardon surround-sound audio system with satellite and HD radio and USB/iPod integration. Also included are driver-adjustable settings for the suspension, transmission, steering and engine in varying degrees, from comfort to all-out performance. An optional Competition package provides a freerbreathing exhaust system that yields 15 additional horses; lightweight alloy wheels; revised tuning for the suspension, steering and rear differential; retuned stability control that provides a higher threshold for intervention in the M Dynamic mode; and a black chrome finish for the tailpipes. The Executive package includes adaptive LED headlights, automatic high beams, a heated steering wheel, ventilated fatiguepreventing “active” front seats, a head-up display (available separately) and a power rear sunshade (for the coupe only). The Driver Assistance Plus package includes a lane-departure warning system, frontal collision warning, a blind-spot monitor and a camera system with topdown and around-the-corner views. Other options include various 20-inch lightweight alloy wheels, carbon-ceramic brakes, a premium 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, enhanced smartphone integration and a night vision system with pedestrian detection. Powering the rear-wheeldrive 2015 BMW M6 is a twinturbocharged 4.4-liter V8 that produces a prodigious 560 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque. An available Competition package gives the M6 an additional 15 hp. A seven-speed automated manual transmission with shift paddles is standard and a traditional sixspeed manual is available as a nocost option. An automatic stopstart engine function to conserve fuel at stoplights is also included. In Edmunds performance testing, a convertible M6 with the auto-manual transmission sprinted to 60 mph in a mere 4.2 seconds. We expect the lighter coupe to be marginally quicker. The EPA estimates fuel economy for both the coupe and convertible at 16 mpg combined (14 city/20 highway) for the automatic, and 17 mpg combined (15/22) for the manual transmission. Source: Edmunds.com

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Peoples Daily, WEDNESDAY, june 25, 2014

Arts & Culture

Nigeria’s film industry and nation building

FROM THE LIVE STAGE with Patrick-Jude Oteh 0803 700 0496, 0805 953 5215 (SMS only)

Some feedbacks on fundraising

Chief Executive, Diamond Music Entertainment, Julietta Ofuyeta (left), addressing participants at the Talent Hunt audition, recently in Abuja. Photo: NAN By Kingsley Okoye

he nation’s entertainment industry in the last two decades is said to be one of the viable sectors which has provided platform for the emergence of various entrepreneurs. Analysts have repeatedly argued that the nation’s film industry has contributed to nation building, and capable of becoming a major driver of economic growth and job creation, if the potential inherent in the sector are adequately harnessed. In Nigeria, film has been used to highlight the cultural heritage, political needs and aspirations of the people. Dr Danjuma Dadu, Managing Director of the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) said that the nation’s movie industry had promoted and united the various socio-cultural groups in the country. He said the movie industry through its story lines had served as a connecting cord that had united Nigeria in the last two decades. Dadu said the movie industry had promoted global peace, progress, as well as contributed significantly to the growth of the economy, through various productions. He pointed out that the industry over the years had showcased the creative ingenuity of numerous young Nigerian actors and actresses, who were making significant impact in the industry The managing director also noted that the industry had made laudable strides as an important player in the global audio- visual industry, and boosted the image of the country globally. ``Movie production has driven the Nigerian state to her level of greatness,’’ he said.

Prof. Oyedele Enoch of Department of History, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, on his part, said efforts should be intensified to produce movies that would inform, educate and provide advice on how to address the many development challenges in the country. ``Film makers must tailor movies produced to foster economic, cultural, social and political consciousness of the people so as to give a voice on how best to increase development,’’ he said. Oyedele also recalled that the colonial administrators used movies to accelerate development in their various colonies. He said the film makers should consolidate the growth of the industry by making movies that bordered on promotion of national interest. The don said that synergy between government and stakeholders in the industry would enable movie producers, key into government policies on transformation and nation building. Oyedele said the popularity of Nigerian films had made it a medium for reinforcing information meant to promote certain facts on nation building. It was to boost the contributions of the sector to the national economy that prompted President Goodluck Jonathan to announce a N3 billion cash grant to the movie sector. The aim was to further consolidate the role of film as a change agent and harnessing of the huge potential inherent in the sector. This gesture was considered by many as a fair recognition of the sector’s importance and as well as consolidate the administration’s efforts at diversifying the economy. The Nigerian film industry

known as Nollywood is reputed to be the third largest movie industry in the world and it tells the Nigerian story in creative and innovative ways. It produces about 50 movies per week, second only to India’s Bollywood; more than Hollywood in the United States. Although its revenues cannot be compared with that of Bollywood and Hollywood, Nollywood still generates impressive revenue annually. Sani Danja, a Nigeria artist believes that although the industry is rated third in quantity and quality, more needs to be done in area of recouping of investment for industry practitioners. He said that could be done through restructuring of the methods of distribution of Nigeria movies. Danja said movies produced in Nigeria should be marketed legitimately in Nigeria and other countries of the world. Zik Zulu, President of Movie Producers Associations of Nigeria , said a new crop of film makers have over the years brought some level of professionalism into the industry; this, he said, had led to significant growth of Nollywood, and by extension Nigeria. He added that the industry could be further developed for nation building through the enhancement of capacity of stakeholders in the industry. Perceptive analysts say that in a heterogeneous country like Nigeria, film industry must be seen as an institution where cultural values, development initiatives and aspirations are propagated. They say that movies that evolve workable measures that would further consolidate the growth of the Nigerian state should be encouraged and promoted. Source: NAN

ran into a storm of troubled calls and mails last week. What was in contention was the fact that I said that theatre artists are the most unpredictable and unhelpful people that we encounter while trying to fundraise. I still maintain this. And like I told some of them, come out into the field and see the facts of the situation. It is very disheartening that many years after the idea of an endowment fund for the arts was muted, nothing has been done what with all the numerous theatre artists who have held sensitive positions and still do hold sensitive and important positions in the country. What format will the endowment for the arts take – it is sincerely very simply really. There is a block fund which is placed in investments and even a fixed deposit and it is the profits that are shared amongst the arts organizations that are working or those that can prove to the distinguished management of the fund that they are working. In the absence of an endowment fund, it means that the principal point of sourcing for funds is through individuals or the corporate world which because of the amount of planning that goes into fund disbursement takes a lot of time. Now one would have thought that theatre artists in such places and who have access to some individuals would be helpful but most times this is not the case and this is the base of my argument. Those of us on the field know some of these stories. How do you explain a situation where a fellow artist continues to avoid your calls and does not make the attempt to return the calls? What do you make of a situation where a fellow artist wants to watch plays for free but you know he can readily afford a ticket? And when you refuse you get the tongue lashing reserved for kindergarten kids? What do you say to a fellow artist who attends your performances and when you ask for access to certain people or certain occasions, the answer you get is ‘let me get back to you’ or who does not sign your contact database but rather tells you that he will collect your card and get back to you? These are a little of the stories from the field. I can understand why there has been so much excitement over this kind of thinking. Recently, a friend ‘got’ a job that she had been chasing for over a year. As soon as a fellow artist got wind of the source of the job, off to the office he went to bid for the same job but at a far, far lower rate. He eventually got the job and what my friend got was the mere promise of the next time! Who was responsible for the decision to commit such a dishonourable act? A fellow artist. Now there was in the course of the exchanges that those of us on the field are not usually forthcoming. I would have thought that if one is on a monthly salary and someone is on the field and is not sure of the source of the next job for the next one or two years, surely the person on the field demands some form of sympathy? But this is not how the world functions. We were also accused of not reaching out enough but my response to that was if the idea of reaching out is to wait in an office for the next ten hours and this goes on for three days without stop is the idea of reaching out then I think and believe that that idea of reaching out is sadistic in nature. I have another friend who only works when she has her own money. She said she simply got fed up of waiting and hanging around people and it got to a point she just did not know anymore what she was waiting for – was it the person or was it the job? These are simply some of the reasons why the live stage arts sector is in such dire straits. There are simply too many stories. But all this will change. No one ever said that fundraising is easy or that people part with money with no reasons. There must be a reason to give. There are a lot of Nigerians who are now seeing the relevance and the eternal beauty of the arts and they are willing to support as many initiatives as possible. They will do this and it will no longer matter who has a theatre background or who has a commerce background. It is only a matter of time and I am very optimistic.

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Arts & Culture

Peoples Daily, WEDNESDAY, june 25, 2014

How the colour-blind see art with different eyes By Tim Masters

n its latest exhibition, the National Gallery examines how generations of painters have created and used colour. But how do people who are “colour-blind” view art? Visitors to the Making Colour exhibition, which opened in London this week, can feast their eyes on the rich tones of lapis lazuli, vermilion and verdigris. In the National Gallery’s colourthemed show, the paintings include a blue room containing Claude Monet’s Lavacourt under Snow (1878-81) and - in the red room Edgar Degas’s Combing the Hair (La Coiffure) from 1896. But to anyone who has a colour vision deficiency, commonly known as colour blindness, the bold reds that dominate the Degas work may look very different. The subject of colour blindness is tackled in an interactive part of the exhibition devoted to the science behind colour vision. The retina at the back of eye contains light sensors called cones. The three cone types - red, green and blue - are stimulated by different wavelengths of light. Most colour-blind people have three types of cone, but they are sensitive to a different part of the spectrum. By Tim Masters - who has first hand experience of colour blindness The earliest sign that I was colour-blind was, according to my parents, when I drew a picture of Doctor Who’s Tardis - and made it shocking pink. When I tell people I’m colourblind some assume I see the world in black and white. That’s far from the truth. I can see rainbows. I just don’t see them in the same way as most people. Walking around the Making Colour exhibition, I was dazzled by the ultramarine blues and daffodil yellows. But was that a big patch of green in Degas’s La Coiffure? The sign said it was red, but my eyes said something different. Apart from a fashion faux pas involving some burgundy trousers, I’ve never found my colour blindness to be much of a problem. It’s never detracted from my enjoyment of art. Just don’t ask me for sartorial advice - or to repaint a police box. Joseph Padfield, a conservation scientist at the National Gallery, is one of the experts who devised the interactive show. It uses cutting edge LED technology to replicate different light conditions that can change the way the brain perceives colour. Through a neat piece of video trickery at the exhibition, the reds in the Degas hair painting can be made more vivid by changing the colours that surround the artwork. “The reason why we can almost make the painting dance is that

A riot of red: Edgar Degas’s Combing the Hair (La Coiffure) is part of the Making Colour exhibition

These works by Justin Robertson show how he moved from contrasting colours towards real world colours not all of the red pigments are the same,” Mr Padfield explains. “But under certain light conditions they will all look the same - even to people with normal colour vision.” According to the Colour Blind Awareness organisation, colour blindness affects approximately 1 in 12 men (8%) and 1 in 200 women in the world. In Britain there are approximately 2.7m colour blind people, most of whom are male. Am I colour blind? Can you see a number in the image above? If not, you may suffer from colour blindness. Most people inherit deficient colour vision from their mother, although some people become colour-blind as a result of disease, ageing or through medication. Most colour-blind people still see a world of vibrant colour. The most common form results in confusion between red and green. Does it matter that they don’t

see works of art in exactly the same way as others? “Art is about individual taste,” says Kathryn Albany-Ward, who founded Colour Blind Awareness. “Everyone knows someone who’s colour-blind and think they get on fine.” Her concern is that a lack of knowledge about the condition in schools can lead to colour-blind children feeling a lack of confidence in the classroom - especially when it comes to art. “If they haven’t had their crayons marked up with the right colour they might colour the sky partly blue and partly purple. “It’s that kind of issue that can make people embarrassed. Children at school can be laughed at and it puts them off art potentially.” One colour blind-man who wasn’t put off is artist Justin Robertson, who is based in Fife, Scotland. He’s been making a living from mainly Pop Art-style creations for 10 years but admits he spent the early years working mainly

in back and white due to a lack of confidence about colour. The colours he has problems with are red, brown, blue, purple, green and yellow. “About three years ago I started experimenting with skin tones,” he says. “I do still get stuff wrong. I did a Paul Weller painting last year. I thought I’d got the skin tones - and it turned out he was green.” His art tutor at college encouraged him to use his colour blindness as a unique selling point. “It has been hard over the years - not being able to offer customers portraits in colour has held me back, but now that’s changed and I can offer the same kind of service as other artists,” he says. “I’ll try my hand at anything. I haven’t had a complaint yet.” As the science experts at the National Gallery point out, people shouldn’t really be called colourblind - they just “see the world differently”. Source: BBCNews.com

POEM OF THE WEEK Going all the way with it Head bowed at the desk. Stop talking. You’re no longer special. Notebook in hand. Rilke and Hemingway In my head. Always in my head. Their empires have become mine. Their knowledge has become mine. What masters of observation, lessons, intimacy. Their breath has become my breath. They cut me with their small details Because they were both tough in their own way. I wonder what they thought of the feminine writer. The female poet suffered too. They sowed brave seeds and planted weather. She discovered that clay was grand. And having a husband and children too. These poets they feel things. They see things. They are prophets and chefs too. Memorising recipes in the kitchen. And their words come to them in whispers, mother-tongue. Men of that generation thought it was strange For a woman to write, to have that kind of knowledge. And if women weren’t brave enough they gave it all up. Stupid stars how I love them. How I love to worship them. Diamonds that are broken off into pieces. What is poverty anyway? It is not a crime. I don’t want love, any of it and that is the truth. I don’t want to be worshipped or admired. And that is also the truth. Ship the news off. Insomnia means nothing and everything to me. In youth perhaps I was more beautiful then Than I am now. Now I live with regret. And it is bitter like thoughts of suicide. Watching someone bleeding to death is a horrible bore. Or even in the sight of yourself in the eyes of someone you love. Can I get anything useful from it I ask myself? Here bleeding is a metaphor for such is war and battles. The written word, love at first magical sight. Loneliness, morning, waking up alone, the sight of a lake No people swimming in it or on it in sight. No beasts about. And when you remember and when you remember not to forget. There was no fish on Easter Sunday. Daddy was very upset, sad even. After leaving Mr Hughes there was nothing left of me. But love can do that to you.

QUOTE He knew everything about literature except how to enjoy it.” - Joseph Heller

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

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International

Egypt: A new dawn for autocracy ANALYSIS

rancois-Marie Arouet, better known by his nom de plume, Voltaire, is often attributed as having said: “I disagree with every word you utter but will defend to the death your right to say it.” In fact, the remarks came from Evelyn Beatrice Hall, an English author describing Voltaire’s passion for freedom of speech. Freedom of speech is not just important; it is essential to any democracy. A free press does not simply report on issues of the day, it is there to ensure that governments are held accountable to its people and that the people have a voice. The decision issued on June 23 in Egypt is a further erosion of that accountability. In fact, it is the last nail in the coffin for democracy in Egypt. The three Al Jazeera journalists who have been detained in inhuman and degrading conditions in Egypt have been convicted and sentenced to serve at least seven years in detention on charges of aiding terrorists and endangering national security. The conditions under which they were tried were a flagrant denial of justice and demonstrate the military regime’s iron rule. There have been countless trials of late in Egypt that have flown in the face of justice. Numerous trials have shown that the judicial system is being used as a tool of the state to silence dissent, and to punish those who may have a different point of view than the farcically elected government. A new blow This decision, however, strikes a new blow. The trial and subsequent decision to convict shows just how far along the road to an authoritarian state Egypt has reverted. Arguably what is of equal importance perhaps is to assess how the international community has reacted to the descent into chaos and authoritarian rule. What Egypt needs now is for the international community to take note of the very dangerous path the current government is taking. Regrettably, it would appear that despite the concerns raised by the military coup, there is nonetheless shameful hypocrisy displayed by both the European Union and the US. Both applauded the cry for change in Egypt. Both applauded the first free and independent elections in which President Mohamed Morsi was elected, and yet, neither condemned

the coup d’etat nor the subsequent military actions that have left hundreds, if not thousands, dead. Thousands have been arrested and hundreds sentenced to death, yet where is the condemnation of the undermining of the rule of law, and dismantling of fundamental rights? No such condemnation was forthcoming. Bizarrely, it appears that the position was seen as quite the opposite. Baroness Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy for the European Union, noted that she was happy with the steps taken by Egypt towards

democracy. How is it possible that anyone can behappy with such steps, when the reality is that such steps mean the punishment of dissent, the restriction of the free press, and the arrest and detention of those who report something that the state does not like? It is shameful to advocate for such an approach. Farcical process This is the position that we are faced with in Egypt. The US and the European Union seemingly now support an authoritarian regime that seized power by force, that cannot argue that it now has a mandate from the people given

“

that the election process was so fundamentally flawed to be rendered farcical. One must ask the question as to how the West can support a regime that detains and imprisons journalists for merely reporting on the current situation. Is this really the sort of regime that the international community should be given credibility to? Is this really the sort of regime that the international community should be supplying weapons to? It is noted that the US recently recommenced the supply of military aid to Egypt despite the oppression of its own people and despite the

Arguably what is of equal importance perhaps is to assess how the international community has reacted to the descent into chaos and authoritarian rule.

lack of basic democratic rights for its people. The foreign policy of both the US and the European Union towards Egypt is assisting authoritarian rule and is giving credibility, on the international stage, to a regime that has become dictatorial. The decision today by the court must serve as a wake-up call for the international community. The three Al Jazeera journalists were imprisoned for seven years and three more convicted in their absence were sentenced to ten-year terms. This is not a progressive government. The rule of law has now collapsed. The international community must raise its voice and diplomatic relations must be severed until the judgements are overturned and the journalists are released. The US must immediately freeze military aid. The European Union must immediately withdraw its support and publicly condemn the recent verdicts. The only reaction justifiable from the international community now, is a dramatic rethink of its policy towards Egypt. There is no other option, because to tolerate is to encourage. Courtesy ; Aljazeera

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

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International

More than a dozen killed in CAR attack

he attack comes two weeks after fighting between Christian militias and Muslim gunmen in the area killed 21. Ahmt Nadjad, a spokesman for the Seleka, a Muslim rebel coalition that overthrew the government in 2013, said the Christian anti-Balaka militia attacked the village of ArdoDjobi early on Monday, killing 18 members of the Fulani tribe. One militiaman also died. Ibrahim Saleh, a resident of Bambari, confirmed the figures to the AP news agency. Christian militias have sought revenge for attacks carried out during Seleka rule. The sectarian violence has killed thousands and forced nearly one million people to flee their homes.

‘Several dead’ in Kenya coast attack’

ive people have been killed by unknown attackers in a village on Kenya’s coast near Mpeketoni town, where at least 65 people died in attacks last week, a government official said. “I am aware that a gang that is unknown attacked Taa village in Witu division yesterday (Monday) night and killed five people,” the Lamu County commissioner, Stephen Ikua, told Reuters news agency. The “attackers used machetes and other crude weapons ... the victims have cuts and injuries,” Taa village chief Kaviha Charo Karisa told Reuters. Taa village is about 40km from Mpeketoni village where last week’s deadly attack took place. Somali armed group alShabab said it carried out last week’s attacks on the Mpeketoni area, although the Kenyan president, Uhuru Kenyatta, dismissed the claim and said local politicians were behind it.

Congo switches off to watch the World Cup W

orld Cup fever has forced the Democratic Republic of Congo’s national power firm to tell customers to switch off everything but the TV, so that there is enough electricity for everyone to watch the games. Even though The Leopards - Congo’s national side - did not qualify for the tournament, football fans across the nation crowd around TV sets for each match, putting the country’s creaking power grid under strain. The national electricity company, SNEL, asked customers on Tuesday to turn off as many things as they could - including fridges, cookers and lights - so the country did not suffer blackouts during match times. SNEL representatives also appear on state television before matches to ask viewers to turn off all unnecessary devices. The DRC has a very limited power supply, and just nine percent of Congolese has access to electricity. The country’s main hydroelectric power station, at the Inga dam, is in disrepair and power cuts are common across the country. Eric Mbala Musanda, SNEL’s managing director, said: “We

have limited supply compared to the demand, but there are many ways to find a balance. If the demand is high compared to the supply, we have to find ways to bring down the demand.” The request has annoyed some in Kinshasa. “We don’t understand how ...

we are being asked not to put our lights on at home, not to use our fridges or anything electronic in our homes,” said Michel Wandji. “They are simply skirting their responsibilities.” But others have welcomed the decision. “During the day it’s always good to switch off

the lights, so that you can conserve power,” said Fabrice Mayama. SNEL has also set up 16 large screens in towns across the country and promised another 12 for the capital in an effort to allow people to watch matches in an energy-efficient way. The national electricity company has set up 16 large screens across the country

Sisi ‘will not interfere’ in court verdicts

gyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has said that he will not interfere with judicial verdicts, following an international outcry over lengthy prison sentences given to three Al Jazeera journalists on Monday.. “We will not interfere in judicial

rulings,” Sisi said in a televised speech on Tuesday at a military graduation ceremony. “We must respect judicial rulings and not criticise them even if others do not understand this.” The guilty verdicts were announced on Monday by a Cairo

judge against Peter Greste, Mohamed Fahmy, and Baher Mohamed. Greste and Fahmy were sentenced to seven years in prison, while Baher Mohamed was sentenced to an additional three years for possession of ammunition. Mohamed was in possession of a spent bullet casing he had found on the ground during

a protest. Other Al Jazeera journalists who were tried in absentia, including Sue Turton and Dominic Kane, were sentenced to 10 years. The journalists - an Australian, a Canadian-Egyptian and an Egyptian - were convicted of aiding a “terrorist organisation”, a reference to the banned Muslim Brotherhood. The sentences were widely criticised by rights groups and Western governments, with the US secretary of state John Kerry calling them “chilling and draconian” and the British foreign minister, William Hague, saying he was “appalled”. The UN warned of “a risk that miscarriage of justice is becoming the norm in Egypt”. Egypt’s foreign ministry said on Monday it rejected “any comment from a foreign party that casts doubt on the independence of the Egyptian judiciary and the justice of its verdicts.” Sisi was elected last month, less than a year after removing Mohamed Morsi, a member of the Brotherhood, following mass protests against his rule.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

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International

Explosion rocks Lebanese capital The explosion was caused by a car bomb near a cafe that was showing the World Cup

suicide bomber has blown up his car in southern Beirut near a security forces checkpoint, killing himself and

damaging a nearby cafe, security sources said. Lebanon’s health minister said the blast on Monday night also injured 15 people.

on Nizami. Thousands of extra security officials were deployed across the country ahead of the verdict.

The explosion was reported to have taken place in a district of the Lebanese capital mainly inhabited by supporters of the Shia group Amal, an ally of the

Hezbollah movement. It was the second explosion in a week. On Friday, a suicide bomber detonated his explosives-laden car near a police checkpoint in eastern Lebanon, killing a policeman and wounding several other people. The bombings, coupled with the arrest in Beirut of alleged militant sleeping cells on Friday, sparked fears of renewed violence in a country which has been buffeted by the conflict in neighboring Syria. Syria’s civil war has spilled into neighboring Lebanon on multiple occasions and inflamed sectarian tensions. A series of car bombs have struck Shia areas across Lebanon, killing dozens of people. However, the last explosion to hit Lebanon before Friday’s occurred on March 29, when a suicide bomber in an explosivesladen car targeted a Lebanese army checkpoint near the Syrian border, killing three people. Hard-line Sunni groups have claimed responsibility for the attacks against Shia areas, saying they are meant to punish Hezbollah for fighting alongside the Assad regime in Syria. After Friday’s bombing, troops began enforcing strict measures at all entrances to Beirut’s southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold, setting up checkpoints and searching cars.

Bangladesh defers verdict on Jamaat leader

angladesh’s war crimes court has postponed a verdict on the leader of the country’s largest Islamist party for alleged crimes committed during the 1971 independence struggle, according to local media. Motiur Rahman Nizami, 71, faces 16 charges including mass killings, rape, arson and genocide, relating to violence committed by a militia. The court deferred the verdict after prison authorities informed the International Crimes Tribunal that Nizami was sick, the Daily Star newspaper reported. The head of a three-judge panel, M Enayetur Rahim, said a new date for the verdict will not be set until the judges see a detailed medical report

Similar verdicts last year, which included the execution of a senior Jamaat leader, sparked nationwide protests in which 200 people were

Nizami, the president of Jamaat, faces 16 charges including mass killing, rape and arson

killed. Nizami, the president of Jamaat-eIslami, pleaded not guilty and accuses the country’s secular government of using the special war crimes court to target opposition leaders. Prosecutors said Nizami was one of the chief architects of the mass killings of Bengalis in the 1971 independence war against Pakistan. The government says three million people died in the war. Independent researchers put the estimate between 300,000 and 500,000. “He established the al-Badr forces during the war to support the Pakistani army,” prosecutor Mohammad Ali told the AFP news agency.

Israel pins Golan attack on Assad forces

srael’s foreign minister has accused forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad of being behind an attack that killed an Israeli boy on the occupied Golan Heights. “I hope Damascus got the message. I think Israel responded exactly as we should have. Avigdor Lieberman, Israel foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman’s comments came on Tuesday, two days after an anti-tank missile was fired from Syria across the frontier fence, killing Mohammed

Qaraqara, 13. “We got all the analysis, all the intelligence and it was clear it was Syrian authorities, Assad’s forces, who fired on the Israeli boy ... and they must pay the price,” Lieberman told Israel Radio. It was the first time an Israeli official had said publicly who they believed was responsible for the attack, which Israel had earlier described as intentional and the most serious on the frontier since the start of the three-year-old Syrian conflict. The attack prompted a military

response from Israel, with tanks firing across the border and air raids against Syrian army positions. A monitoring group said the strikes killed 10 Syrian soldiers. “I hope Damascus got the message,” said Lieberman. “I think Israel responded exactly as we should have, in this case and all others. We cannot just gloss over an Israeli citizen, a boy, being murdered in cold blood with no one being held responsible.” The Syrian army has a presence on the Golan Heights, but many

areas are controlled by rebels, including armed groups hostile to Israel. The Syrian conflict has spilled over into bordering countries and escalated regional tensions. Shelling from Syria has occasionally hit the Golan, including in what Israel has said were deliberate attacks on its troops. Israel captured the western part of the plateau from Syria in a 1967 war and annexed it in a move that has not been recognised internationally.

Asia & Middle East Final cargo of chemical arms leaves Syria

he last of Syria’s declared chemical weapons have been shipped from the country and are en route for destruction at sea, according to the world’s chemicalweapons watchdog. A Danish ship is now to take the chemicals for transhipment in Italy’s port of Gioia Tauro to the US ship Cape Ray for destruction at sea, while some chemicals are to be destroyed at sites including in the US and Britain. “As we speak, the ship [carrying the last chemicals] has just left the port,” Ahmet Uzumcu, head of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), said in The Hague on Monday. “Removing the stockpile of precursor and other chemicals has been a fundamental condition in the programme to eliminate Syria’s chemical weapons programme. “While a major chapter in our endeavours closes today, OPCW’s work in Syria will continue.” The Syrian Foreign Ministry confirmed on Monday that “the final cargo of chemical agents has today been taken outside Syrian territory”. Syria had previously shipped out 92 percent of its stockpile of chemical weapons under the terms of a UN-backed and US-Russiabrokered agreement last year. But the remaining eight percent of the stockpile remained at one site and Syria said it was unable to transport it to the port of Latakia because of security concerns. In his remarks on Monday, Uzumcu described the disarmament mission as “a major undertaking marked by an extraordinary international cooperation. “Never before has an entire arsenal of a category of weapons of mass destruction been removed from a country experiencing a state of internal armed conflict”. Sigrid Kaag, the Dutch head of the joint OPCW-UN mission, also lauded the end of what she called “the most operationally challenging task within the effort to eliminate the Syrian chemical weapons programme”. Referring to an investigation into alleged use of chlorine in Syria’s conflict, Uzumcu said it will Last week, an OPCW investigation team said chlorine, which Syria was not obliged to hand over, has recently been used in Syria “in a systematic manner”. Assad’s government and rebels have both accused the other of using chemical agents in the bloody uprising that began in March 2011. Syria did not have to declare its stockpile of chlorine - a weak toxic agent that can be considered a chemical weapon if used offensively - as part of the disarmament deal as it is widely used for commercial and domestic purposes.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

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International Europe and Americas

France aims to stabilize jobless rate at below 10% in 2014

Two feared dead as German planes collide T

wo people were feared dead after their light aircraft collided with a German air force Eurofighter jet during an exercise they were both taking part in over central Germany, officials said. The pilot and passenger aboard the Learjet were missing after their small plane crashed in a hilly rural area close to several homes and burst into flames on Monday. The accident happened around 1240 GMT in the OlsbergElpe district of North RhineWestphalia state, about 420km (260 miles) southwest of Berlin. The German military jet and a second Eurofighter taking part in the exercise were able to land afterwards at an air base near Cologne.

ogged by rampant unemployment, France is aiming to stabilize the jobless rate at below 10 percent by the end of 2014, French Labor Minister Francois Rebsamen said on Tuesday. “In 2013, the unemployment rate was at 9.7 percent. This year, we will try to hold it below 10 percent,” the minister told Radio Classique. Rebsamen added the government would start reducing millions of jobless claims by 2015 once this goal is achieved. For the January-March period, 2.8 million people or 9.7 percent of the active population were without work, unchanged from the last quarter of 2013, data from the national statistics institute Insee showed. Under fire for failure to bring down the alarming jobless trend, the French government proposed a 30 billion euros (40.87 billion U.S. dollar) cut in labor charges to encourage recruitment. The government is aiming to create 45,000 additional “jobs for the future,” which will recruit poorly-qualified young workers from disadvantaged suburbs and rural areas. The scheme is expected to bring the total number of statesponsored posts to 95,000 this year. In a recent report, the National Professional Union for Employment in Industry and Trade (UNEDIC) forecast a continued rise in joblessness with an additional 103,200 jobseekers expected this year and 60,000 job claims in 2015. (1 euro = 1.362 U.S. dollars)

The accident happened in the Olsberg-Elpe district of North Rhine-Westphalia state

EU grants Albania Putin, Obama candidate status discuss Ukraine crisis over phone T R he European Union (EU) granted Albania candidate status Tuesday, setting the Balkan country on the path to membership of the regional bloc. “Congratulations on candidate status just agreed ... (It is an) acknowledgement of reform efforts, encouragement for more,” EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule wrote on Twitter. Albania first applied to join the EU in 2009, but has been rejected three times due to the slow pace of its economic and political reforms. Last December, the EU postponed its decision on Albania’s candidacy, seeking a longer track record in Albania’s

fight against organized crime and corruption. Early this month, the European Commission recommended granting the status in a progress report. According to the report, Albania has acted decisively in the fight against corruption and in structural reforms, important legislative reforms have been seen in the fight against organized crime, and investigations have yielded positive results in the fight against drug trafficking and other areas of serious and organized crime.

ceasefire came on the first day of talks between a former Ukrainian president, the Russian ambassador, European officials and the eastern separatists who have declared independence. While the government side was nominally not represented, Leonid Kuchma, Ukraine’s former president, attended the discussions at the request of the sitting president. The negotiations were launched in line with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko’s peace plan, which started on Friday with a week long unilateral ceasefire in the fighting that has killed more than 350 people and forced tens of thousands to flee their homes. Alexander Borodai, one of

the rebel leaders who took part in Monday’s talks in Donetsk, said the rebels would respect Poroshenko’s ceasefire, which lasts through 0700 GMT on Friday. The fighters had previously demanded the Ukrainian military withdraw its troops from the east as a condition for any talks, so Borodai’s statement represented a softened stance that raised expectations that the ceasefire could hold. Even before the group made their pledge, the government said that there had been no fighting in the east since Monday morning. Since the ceasefire was declared on Friday, the Ukrainian government has accused the rebels of firing at

Source; Xinhua

ussian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Barack Obama discussed in a phone conversation the Ukraine crisis and ways of settlement, including Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko’s peace plan, the Kremlin said Monday. “Putin stressed that a real cessation of hostilities and a start of direct negotiations between the conflicting parties would be of paramount importance to normalize the situation in southeastern Ukraine,” the presidential press service said. “He noted the importance

of an immediate resolution of humanitarian issues, including urgent aid to the suffering citizens.” Putin and Obama also expressed serious concern about the deteriorating situation in Iraq. Putin stated his support for Iraq ‘s struggle to restore peace and security in the country, according to the press service. The talks also touched upon the situation in Syria, following the complete removal of chemical weapons materials from that country on Monday, as well as the Iranian nuclear program. Source; Xinhua

government positions, while the fighters blamed Ukrainian forces for failing to honour the promise to halt hostilities. Poroshenko has said government troops would fire back if attacked. The rebels, who have declared regions on border with Russia independent and fought government troops for two months, also promised to release observers from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe who have been held hostage. “This will be one of the steps that will improve the mutual understanding of both sides,” said Alexei Karyakin, a representative of the rebels in the Luhansk region.

Vladimir Putin

Rebels agree to respect Ukraine ceasefire

ro-Russian fighters in eastern Ukraine have agreed to respect a ceasefire declared by the Ukrainian president, raising hopes for an end to months of fighting that has killed hundreds and ravaged the country’s industrial heartland. The announcement on Monday came as the Russian and US presidents traded demands over the conflict. Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president, urged direct talks between the government and the rebels. Barack Obama, US president, warned Putin that Moscow would face additional costs if it did not help ease the crisis. The rebels’ pledge to respect the

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014

Page 35

Strange World

Colour-obsessed real estate agent surrounds himself with red and white

n a bid to make himself instantly recognizable, an Indian real estate agent has surrounded himself with the colours red and white. The man is so obsessed with these colors that they feature in all his clothes, in his car, and his home. He even buys his toothpaste in a red-and-white tube, with a toothbrush to match! 52-year-old Sevenraj, a real estate agent based in Bangalore, developed a fixation with red and white after he realized that it was a great gimmick to get people to notice him. His inspiration comes from Mahatma Gandhi, who was always clad in white. “Mahatma Gandhi is recognized by his glasses and bare torso with a white towel, so I had to do something similar to be

recognized by one and all,” he said. “During my childhood, I was thinking, I want to be a unique person in the world,” he explained. “So I thought, everybody wears white dress, why not change that a little bit? So then I thought that red and white make a great combination… ‘Red and White, Ready to Fight’, like that. Now, if you see, my car is red and white, my house is red and white, and anywhere if I go, people notice, ‘Oh! This is Sevenraj.’” Everything in Sevenraj’s life is red and white; even his wife and kids dress in the same colors. The interiors of his Bangalore home are completely done up in red and white, so are his office and his car. His suits, furniture, stationery, socks, handkerchief and underwear are

all of the same colors as well. He’s even managed to find a cell phone, a wrist watch and glasses that are red and white. Sevenraj has created an identity of his own in Bangalore, by incorporating red and white in almost every aspect of his life. He is a local celebrity of sorts now, and his family is referred to as the ‘Red and White Family’. Surprisingly, his wife Pushpa, 42, his son Bharath, 17, and daughter Maneesha, 15, don’t seem to mind going along with his unique fixation. In fact they always make it a point to attend important occasions together, dressed in the family colors of red and white. They appear to be happy and excited about the fact that people recognize them wherever they go.

Sevenraj and family

Apart from his fascination for read an white, Sevenraj is quite obsessed with the number seven. His father, wanting to choose a name that was free of religious or cultural connotations, named him Seven – simply because he was the seventh child in the family. And all his life, Sevenraj has taken the number very seriously. He now has seven buttons on his jacket and his phone number ends in 777. He speaks seven languages and the number seven is stitched into the headrest of his car. It is also proudly displayed

on the lapels of his red-and-white blazer. Before he turned to color, Sevenraj tried a number of different ‘looks’ when he was younger. At one point, he used to sport long, waistlength hair, and there was also a time he wore it up in a turban like a Sikh. But he finally settled for colors, a decision that has suited him quite well so far. Sevenraj and his family have received widespread media attention in Bangalore, and he has also been featured in India’s Limca Book of Records.

South African homeless man refuses to beg, makes a living by selling books

hilani Dladla, a homeless man living on the streets of Johannesburg, is probably the last person you’d expect to be a bookworm. Yet, the 24-year-old is quite a voracious reader. And instead of begging like other homeless people, he has chosen to make a living by reviewing and selling books. South African director and cinematographer Tebogo Malope played a tremendous part in bringing Philani’s unique and inspiring story to the world. Malope, 29, recorded an interview with Philani called the ‘Pavement Bookworm’; the videos have gone viral since he put them up online last year. The two-part interview features Philani speaking about the books he has read and why he likes them – the man is so full of infectious joy as he discusses his love of reading. His sense of passion and appreciation of books is extremely rare, especially for someone who leads a difficult life. Philani seems unfazed by his own living conditions, he only wants to tell the world how

great it is to read. On a typical day, Philani stops at various streets in Johannesburg with a pile of books; on request, he will review the books, the authors and even the publishers. “He has read all the books in his collection and is always seeking for more to read,” said Tebogo. “He then sells some of his books as a way to raise money for himself and some of his homeless friends.”

It is seriously amazing to watch him talk about books. His favorite author, he said, is John Grisham, because he “touches on social justice and I think that’s the one thing lacking in the world.” What I found most amusing was his review of the Jodi Picoult novel, My Sister’s Keeper. “You know, when you got a car. But this car, it always gives you problems. Now, you go maybe buy a second-hand car just to take some parts from that and fix this one. This lady, she was suffering from leukemia. So her parents decided to give birth to another sister, so she’s gonna be like a donor,” he explained wisely. Philani began to appreciate books when he managed to rescue himself from drug addiction by reading selfhelp books. “I hate drugs, because I know what drugs can do to you,” he said. “And drugs can turn you into a money-making machine. You can work four hours, you get four hundred, and go spend that four hundred in four minutes. So, four hours, four hundred, four minutes, all gone. Just imagine,

all that effort.” He points out that reading, on the other hand, can never hurt you. “I promise, reading is not harmful,” he said. “There’s no thing as harmful knowledge, this thing is only going to make you a better person. Reading is good for kids, for adults, for grannies, for people in old age homes. You can go to old age homes and see how many people read. That shows that you can never get enough of knowledge,

because these people they are old, but they still read every day.” Philani is especially concerned that kids these days do not read enough. For kids, he says, he doesn’t mind giving his books away for free. “You come here, you see kids, they are busy with their BBMs. All they care about is blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. But you’re not acquiring any new knowledge, you’re not gaining anything. It’s just to kill time.”

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Peoples Daily, wednesDAY, june 25, 2014

Digest

eenagers who are physically fit do better in exams, new research suggests. And those who are lazy see their performance in the classroom suffer. It has long been known that physical fitness in childhood and teenage years is beneficial for both

Teenagers who are physically fit do better in exams Muscle strength is not linked to academic performance but cardio-respiratory capacity and motor skills are.

physical and mental well-being throughout life. But a growing body of evidence suggests it may also play a key role in brain health and academic performance. In a new study, published in the Journal of Paediatrics, researchers studied the influence of the different components of physical

fitness on academic performance. They looked at the influence of cardio-respiratory capacity, muscular strength, and motor ability. Cardio-respiratory capacity is aerobic fitness - it reflects the heart and lungs’ capacity to supply the body with fuel and oxygen during exercise. Motor ability refers to skills involving muscle control such as speed, agility and coordination. Irene Esteban-Cornejo, of the Autonomous University of Madrid, said: ‘Because these physical fitness components are highly associated with each other, it is important to differentiate which physical fitness components are important in relation to academic performance.’ The study sample included more than 2,000 Spanish children and teenagers, aged from six to 18, with detailed information on physical fitness, body composition, and academic performance. The researchers found cardio-

respiratory capacity and motor ability, both independently and combined, were related to academic performance. However, the link between academic performance and physical fitness was stronger for speed, agility and coordination. In contrast, children and teenagers who weren’t as fit or dextrous had lower grades. Muscular strength was not associated with academic

performance. Dr Esteban-Cornejo added: ‘Having high levels of cardiorespiratory and motor fitness may, to some extent, reduce the risk of school failure.’ As a result, she said efforts should be made to promote physical activities for children and teenagers in a bid to improve their grades. Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Fitness may play a key role in brain health and academic performance, new research suggests

Watching TV ‘has no benefits for toddlers’ the effect of television just being on in the background and children playing on the floor their focus of attention is likely to be less good.’ ‘However, there are mitigating things. If you sit down and watch the television alongside your child, if you talk them through what’s happening, that definitely mitigates any negative consequences.’ Watching the same programme over and over is also helpful, as it gives developing brains time to process the information and anticipate what is going to happen

next. However, a lot of children’s TV is badly made. Professor Murray, of Reading University, said: ‘A lot of children’s television is so poorly designed it could do better. ‘Loud and flashing and fast things and we know from studies that children’s attention is not able to grasp things happening that quickly.’ Despite her concerns, she is not in favour of an outright ban.

Warning: Leading expert Lynne Murray has warned that toddlers who watch lots of TV do worse at school and even sets left on in the background can be harmful

oddlers who watch lots of TV do worse at school – and even sets left on in the background can be harmful, a leading expert has warned. Lynne Murray, a professor of developmental psychology, said that two large-scale reviews from the US made it ‘absolutely clear’ that watching television has no benefits for under-twos.

And if you look at the research in detail, children who spend a lot of time in front of the screen have poorer vocabulary and do worse academically – even when other factors such as socio-economic class and parenting are taken into account. In her new book, the Psychology of Babies, Professor Murray said that the respected American Academy of Pediatrics advises

against under-twos watching TV at all. Not only are loud, fast-moving programmes difficult for the young mind to follow, they can disrupt play and prevent children interacting with siblings and parents. Even a television set left on in the background can be damaging. Speaking at her book launch, the professor said: ‘If you look at

Positives: Professor Murray said watching the same programme over and over is helpful, as it gives developing brains time to process the information and anticipate what is going to happen next

Peoples Daily, Wednesday, June 25, 2014

PAGE 37

Zamfara lawmaker empowers women From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

member of the House of Representatives from Zamfara state representing Gusau and Tsafe federal constituency, Engineer Ibrahim Shehu Bakauye, has distributed materials to 240 women from the 14 local government areas of the state. This disclosure was made by the Coordinator of women affairs of his governorship 2015 ambition, Sadiya Yahaya. She said the decision to offer the assistance came following state government failure to fulfil its promise made during campaign days that it would embark on women empowerment. Sadiya further disclosed that, “Ibrahim Shehu was approached severally by numerous groups of women who have waited enough for the assistance being promised by the state government as soon as Governor Yari was sworn-in, but no sign of that up till now”. Among the materials distributed were 2000 sewing and grinding machines, 150 set of furniture and mattresses for women engaged for marriage. Others were financial assistance which involved 20 women from each of the 14 local government areas of the state that would collect the sum of 10,000 naira each to run small scale business. Shedding light on the development, the state Coordinator to the lawmaker’s movement on his gubernatorial ambition by 2015 under the platform of PDP in the state, Nasiru Abubakar Milo, said the gesture would be continuous so as to cover the larger percentage of the women disappointed by the state government.

Senate President, David Mark (right), signing condolence register of the late Senator Awaisu Kuta, at the National Assembly, yesterday in Abuja. With him are the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu (2nd right), and Senate Leader, Senator NdomaEgba (2nd left). Photo: Mahmud Isa

NASS holds valedictory session for late Senator Kuta

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

ational Assembly has scheduled today to observe a valedictory session in honour of late Senator Dahiru Awaisu Kuta, who until his death, represented Niger East Senatorial District in the Senate. Following the announcement of his death, both chambers adjourned yesterday’s plenary abruptly following a motion to that effect raised by the Senate leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba. Adjourning plenary shortly after returning from their two weeks third quarter break, the Senate President, David Mark and the Speaker of House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, proceeded separately

to sign the condolence register displayed at the National Assembly lobby. Late Kuta had died early hours of 12th of June, after a brief illness at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Lagos state, and had since been buried in accordance with the Islamic rites. In the Senate, shortly after its resumption, the Senate leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, moved for the adoption of the votes and proceedings of their last session. Having adopted the votes and proceedings of their last session, the Senate leader announced the demise of the late Kuta while the Senate was on recess, and moved the motion that the plenary adjourn till today. “While we were on break,

tragedy befell this chamber with the sudden death of our dear colleague. Senator Dahiru Awaisu Kuta, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Character, died on the 12th of this month in Lagos on his way for medical treatment abroad. “Distinguished Colleagues, may I, in line with our tradition, move that this Senate do adjourn plenary till tomorrow (25th June 2014) in honour of our departed colleague”, the Senate leader, Victor NdomaEgba said. Accordingly, the Senate adopted the motion as put to it for approval by the Senate President, David Mark, who added that the sitting today would be devoted solely for valedictory session in honour of late senator Kuta. Mark said today’s valedictory

session would be graced by the Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu and family members of the late senator. Shortly after leading other Senator to sign the condolence register, Mark said “In Kuta, Nigeria and indeed the Senate has lost a very patriotic citizen who at all times, joined hands with other patriots to move the country forward through whatever national assignment given to him. “Specifically, the late Senator Kuta made the Senate committee on Federal Character to be very vibrant and responsive to its legislative responsibilities in terms of making relevant agencies under it to reflect equity in federal appointment and distribution of resources”, he said.

INEC fixes July 18 to begin distribution of permanent voter cards in Kwara

hief Timothy Ibitoye, Kwara Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), yesterday said the commission would commence the distribution of permanent voter cards in the state from July 18. Ibitoye said this at the inauguration of a 13-member Inter-Agency Advisory Committee on Voters Education and Publicity (SICVEP) in Ilorin. He said that the exercise would last till July 28, after which he said, the commission would embark on continuous voter registration. The REC said that the

committee members were drawn from the Federal and State Government Agencies as well as professional bodies, to assist the commission in the public enlightenment of voters. Ibitoye listed six terms of reference of the committee to include ensuring inter-agency cooperation in voter education and promoting partnership. Others are ensuring proper coordination and monitoring of voter education activities, standardising and streamlining voter education messages and materials. Ibitoye said that though the

commission had partnered other agencies in the past, this was the first time it would be engaging a wider range of agencies. According to him, the purpose of broadening the committee in the task of education and enlightenment is to reach the electorate, particularly at the grassroots. Ibitoye described the activities of the committee as part of the commission’s effort of ensuring credible elections. The REC said the commission had discovered that there had been a lot of invalid ballot papers at the

end of voting during the previous elections. According to him, the large number of invalidated ballot papers has been cause of public criticism of previous general elections. A member of the committee, Alhaji Abdulfatai Adebowale, in his response, advised the commission to translate its awareness messages into various local languages spoken in the state. Adebowale, who is also the General Manager, Kwara State Television Corporation, said that this was to bridge the gap

of information and education between the commission and the public. Members of the committee comprise representatives from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) and National Orientation Agency (NOA). It also includes Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ministry of Women Affairs, INEC Administrative Secretary and Head of the Voter Education and Publicity as members. (NAN)

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Peoples Daily, Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Politics

2015:PDP has no opposition in North-east- Babayo INTERVIEW

our party in the North-east has lost many of its members to opposition APC, do you think these would affect the party’s electoral fortune in the region? For us in the Northeast region, our party and President Jonathan do not have any opposition. The President is fully accepted in the north east particularly in Taraba state. Our party has no problem. If an election is to be conducted today in Taraba, I confirmed, I believe and I tell you Jonathan will get 99% of the total votes in Taraba. Our Acting Governor, Umar is also accepted in Taraba and there is no speech the acting governor will make on politics without mentioning Jonathan. So, I confirm to you that Jonathan is fully accepted in Taraba state; he has no problem as it is now. If you look round, there is no corner of Taraba, especially the state capital, where you will not see his picture with the acting Governor and I tell you basically that the PDP has no rival in Taraba state. So, Jonathan belongs to PDP, our acting governor belongs to PDP; I don’t think the duo or the PDP has any problem in Taraba state or in any North east state. Many of those who defected to other parties are already knocking our door to come back. It’s only the PDP that can win election in these region; any other party will only

Alhaji Babayo Umar, former Commissioner for Revenue Matters in Taraba state, an elder stateman and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the North East, in this interview with Ayodele Samuel, said President Jonathan and his party has no opposition in the North East region.

come second. Our people here are for PDP any day, any time; we’ve already won everything here, so there is no problem. But if you say Mr. President does not have rivals in Taraba state, why is it that the Ag. Governor is facing fierce opposition even within his party? All these things you are saying are politics; politics is always like that. It’s not always that people come together at the same time, but along the line, before the coming election, we will harmonize everything. Because we are all PDP and non of all these people who are fighting the governor are saying anything about the government or anything will leave the party. So definitely there will be reconciliation and the party will move on, I assure you. As party men, we always meet and we always see each other in order for the party to achieve progress. We have to come together and we’ve been advising and I think we are winning. Most of those people who defected are coming to us before because we belong to PDP and we have only one party and there is no other party in Taraba state. Definitely there must be that rivalry. This one wants to become this, that one wants to become that and this is what is bringing the rancor

Alhaji Babayo Umar to the party. Otherwise, since the creation of Taraba, we all belong to the PDP and we have been in PDP in every election that took place in this country. Taraba has been given 98% or 99% of its votes to PDP and this, to me, is Politics and we’ll harmonize every interest before the election. So, there is no problem. As an elder-statesmen, what’s your view on crises

in some parts of Taraba state It’s pitiable that very few areas in state are having communal crises at this time when we should all be united for the development of our various communities. Development won’t come when we are fighting each other and destroying our properties. I want to call on are parties to embrace peace. It’s a normal thing to have

disagreement but we must learn to live peacefully with everybody irrespective of religion or tribe. We are all Tarabians and the state belongs to every one of us. The state government under the Ag. Governor is putting a lot of strategies and programme in place to ensure that peace returns to all crisis area in the state. He has deployed more security agencies and resources to those areas and he has given prompt attention to the issue of security in the state. He made sure things have been normalized in those area. So, you can see all these crises areas are now peaceful and they have now changed; but the traditional rulers and community leaders in these area should do more to ensure peace reign. How do you think government can handle this insurgency? It has been suggested by many people that to bring these insurgent problem in the northeast to an end, there must be dialogue. We have to sit down with them; know their problem; why are they doing like that? So, my only advice is for the government to come to dialogue with them and know their problem and I think with these, we’ll be able to solve this problem.

North-east students hail Alkali’s appointment as President’s Political Adviser From Akilani Abdullah, Lagos

he North East Students Forum has applauded the appointment of Professor Rufa’i Alkali as President Goodluck Jonathan new Special Adviser on Political Affairs, saying his appointment will be a positive political impact.

The Forum Chairman, Comrade Auwal Jibrin Mohammed, in a statement said the concerned and regard shown by Jonathan for identifying with prominent sons and daughters from the north east geo political zone is indeed a giant stride towards the transformation agenda of

the present administration. The students said Alkali has exhibited rare maturity, loyalty and discipline in previous national assignments to the country. The students described the political scientist as a “development thinker” who believes in channeling his

intellect into areas that will have positive impact on the larger society. “While congratulating Prof. Alkali, a political scientist and former national publicity secretary of the Nigerian ruling party, PDP, we urge him to continue with his noble contribution with his wealth of

knowledge as he previously did in the other offices held in time past “ The students said Alkali came into office at a time when his political knowledge was needed to stabilize the polity as activities were gathering fresh momentum ahead of 2015 general elections.

2015: PDP’s ambition to govern Kwara will remain a wish - APC From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

he All Progressives Congress (APC), Kwara state chapter, has said that the schemings of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to take over power by 2015 from the party would remain wishes that would never come to reality. The party in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Sulyman Buhari, yesterday in

Ilorin said PDP was not on ground stressing that it has lost control over the grassroot supporters. The party’s spokesperson said that the Saraki political dynasty, which has championed the collective course of the people of the state for decades, has continually won elections in Kwara state will deliver 2015 elections for the APC. “With a tested and trusted political leadership of over 40

years with massive grassroot followership in Kwara state, the wish of the PDP to win election in Kwara State will remain a wish even after the 2015 elections,” he said. The party queried: Who will deliver Kwara State for the PDP in 2015? Is it the nocturnal or parttime politicians in the PDP? Or is it the Abuja-based politicians who lack basic understanding of our people? Is it PDP leaders that

lacked grassroot supports? “None of their leaders can win councillorship election on their own. The PDP has no political structure in Kwara State. All the people parading themselves as PDP leaders in Kwara State are lightweight politicians who rode on the strength of Saraki political dynasty to get to political offices. Interestingly, they left the dynasty without gaining the requisite experience and knowledge about

Kwara State and her people. “Since their exit, they have lost grassroot supports. Saraki political dynasty is about grass root development and the welfarism of Kwarans. Come 2015, with Saraki political dynasty coupled with the strong determination of Kwarans to maintain a sustainable level of peace and development, the APC will win all elections in Kwara State.”, the party added.

Peoples Daily, Wednesday, June 25, 2014

PAGE 39

News Extra

Kebbi deputy gov bags project award From Ahmed Idris, Birnin Kebbi

ebbi State Deputy Governor Alhaji Ibrahim K. Aliyu has yesterday received the Expanded Social Marketing Project in Nigeria (ESPMIN) Ambassador Award. Presenting the award on Monday, at the Ministry of Health Hall Gwandagwaji, the state’s Project Officer, Aliyu Jibril Guraguri said that the award confirmed on the deputy governor was based on his fatherly contribution and advice given to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the state. ‘’He merits the Ambassador Award; he is a father who deserve to be given this prestigious recognition today’’, he stated. The project officer said that ESMPIN is a 56.3 milliondollar project, whose objective is to support Nigeria’s quest for attaining the Millennium Development goals (MDGs), of reducing maternal and child mortality in the country. He explained that Kebbi state is among the fifteen states of federation that the association for reproductive and family health was being implemented, pointing out that his team has trained and deployed 450 Communitybased Development Associations (CBDAs) and 100 WHC, who create demand and provide quality, non-prescriptive services to the project communities in the state.

Ramadan: Kaduna govt to sanction erring preachers

he Kaduna state government has warned that it would sanction any preacher found sending hate and inciting messages during the Ramadan fast. Permanent Secretary, Bureau for Religious Affairs (Islamic Affairs), Alhaji AbdulRahman Mahmud, gave the warning on Monday, in Kaduna, at an interactive session with Islamic scholars ahead of the month of Ramadan. The meeting was convened to also unveil guidelines and procedures for preaching on radio and television in the state. Mahmud said that the state had established laws on preaching, and advised the clerics to focus on areas that would create stability, unity and mutual respect in the society. He said the law stipulates a twoyear prison term for any preacher convicted of espousing hatred and violence among the people. Mahmud urged Islamic scholars to use the period of Ramadan fast to pray for the restoration of peace and stability in the country. He cautioned them against petty rivalries, and urged them to work towards ensuring unity among Muslims in the state.

Sambo tasks contractor to complete Kudandan Power Plant on time

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

ice President, Architect Mohammed Namadi Sambo has challenged handlers the Kudandan Power Plant to complete the contract on time and ensure that the standards and instruments used for the projects met international requirement. He stated this while carrying out an on-the-spot-assessment project in Kaduna on Monday. According to the V-P, the Kudandan Power Plant is one of

• As residents express dismay over power outage the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP), which is expected to generate 275 megawatts into the National Grid and will serve as a life-line to restore the comatose industry in the state. Arc. Namadi Sambo added that the provision of uninterrupted power supply is a major project in the President Goodluck Jonathan Transformation Agenda and that hopefully, Nigeria will soon

experience uninterrupted power supply. In his own remarks, the Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo commended the contractor for keeping to the contract standard and added that the contract is 70 percent completed and that he has been assured by the contractor that the contract will be delivered on the agreed date.

L-R: Immediate past President, Nigerian Academy of Engineering (NAE), Professor Ayo Ogunye, presenting Outstanding Engineering Agency of the Year 2013 Award to Executive Vice-Chairman, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Engineer Dr. M.S. Haruna, recently in Lagos.

Meanwhile, electricity consumers in Kaduna state has expressed dismay over the power outage that has bedeviled them for the past 4 weeks, which has almost grounded economy activities in the state. Investigation by this reporter revealed that some parts of the metropolis and environs have been thrown into perpetual darkness. Area affected by this power outrage includes Malali, Kawo, Hayin-Banki, Unguwar Dosa, Barnawa, Sabon-Tasha, Television village and Mando. A resident, Malam Usman Umar, who is a welder, said the power shortage has affected his business because, according to him, he has a lot of job on hold but that he cannot execute them because of the epileptic nature of power presently. Similar, Madam Vivian Joseph, who runs a cold store in Malali, said she has to sell her frozen chicken at giveaway prices because of the power outage. She called on the government to, as a matter of urgency, address the power problem in the metropolis, in order for people like her to continue and stay in business. A source close to the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KEDC), who would not want his name on print attributes the power outage to a recent windstorm that affected distribution line. According to him, engineers from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) are working round the clock to restore full power supply.

Academy confers merit award on NASENI From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

he Nigerian Academy of Engineering (NAE) has pronounced the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) “Outstanding Engineering Agency of the Year 2013”. According to the Academy’s statement of award, issued last week, at a colourful event, held

in Lagos, NASENI, through its Advanced Manufacturing Technology (AMT), programmes and projects has contributed immensely to national development and transformation agenda of the present administration in all sectors of the economy” The immediate past president of NAE, Prof Ayo Ogunye, who conferred on NASENI the coveted Merit

Award as “Outstanding Engineering Agency of the Year 2013” said the honour was in recognition of NASENI’s contribution to Engineering Research and Development (R&D) advancement in Nigeria and also its activities to uplift the image of the Engineering Academy. Responding on behalf of the Agency on the conferment of the Award, the Executive Vice

Chairman/CEO, NASENI, Engr. Mohammed Sani Haruna listed the recent achievements of the agency to include among others: design and manufacturing of the first EMR100 Rotary Furnace in Nigeria, design and manufacturing of the first Made - in- Nigeria Motorcycle; NASENI M1, design and manufacturing of the first Made-In-Nigeria Tricycle (Keke- NASENI).

Nasarawa distributes relief materials as Taraba ‘refugees’ vow not to return From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia

ictims of last week’s civil disturbances in Wukari and Ibi local government areas of Taraba state have vowed not to return home, saying, as Nigerians who have the liberty to live in any part of the country, Nasarawa state is their new home. The leader of the internally displaced persons (IDPs), numbering over 2,000, Mohammed Madaki, made the remark on Monday, at the palace

of the Emir of Lafia, during the presentation of relief materials provided by the state government to ameliorate their suffering. He called on the state government to urgently put modalities in place towards ensuring that they are duly registered as voters so as to enable them exercise their franchise in the forthcoming general elections, adding that they would remain law-abiding. Presenting the items, the Secretary to the State Government,

Hajiya Zainab T. Abdulmumin, who represented Governor Umaru Tanko Al-makura, said the displaced persons would be provided with temporary shelter at Shabu, before they relocate to the permanent settlement for internally displaced persons in Shinge area. She noted that Al-makura’s prompt response to their plight is in keeping with his government’s posture towards ensuring that the poor are well catered for and urged the displaced to remain

peaceful and law abiding. Hajiya Zainab also took liberty of the occasion to extend Al-makura’s sympathy to the displaced, and commiserated with those who lost their loved ones and property, urging the people to accommodate the IDPs, particularly as the month of Ramadan approaches. Items presented to the displaced persons include 100 bags of rice, 22 bags each of millet, maize and beans, 19 bags of sugar as well as the sum of N2 million.

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Photo Splash

Peoples Daily, Wednesday, June 25, 2014

L-R: Bauchi state Commissioner for Health, Dr Sani Malami, Bauchi state Governor, Malam Isa Yuguda, Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Ado Muhammad, Bauchi state Chairman, Polio Immunisation and Emir of Dass, Alhaji Usman Bilyaminu, and President, Global Development, Bill and Malinda Gate Foundation, Dr Chris Elias, inaugurating Bauchi state Polio Emergency Operation Centre, yesterday in Bauchi.

L-R: President, Resident Doctors, Federal Psychiatric Hospital (FNPH) Yaba, Dr Olusegun Akinwotu; Speaker/Facilitator, Dr Joshua Olufinlade, and Vice-President, FNPH, Dr Oyetayo Jeje, during a health awareness campaign against substance abuse for bus drivers, yesterday at Sabo Motor Park, in Lagos. R-L: Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Muhammadu Bashar, presenting a copy of the holy Qurâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;an to Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, during the Emir of Kanoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s visit to Birnin Kebbi on Monday.

L-R: Rivers state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mrs. Ibem Semenitari, Rivers state INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Aniedi Ikoiwak, and INEC Administrative Secretary, Mr. Evurulobi Chinedu, during the inauguration of National Inter-Agency Advisory Committee on Voter Education and Publicity Rivers state chapter, yesterday in Port Harcourt.

L-R: National Vice President, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) North Central Zone, Rev. Yakubu Pam, and chairman, Niger state chapter, Rev. Tolorunleke Emmanuel, addressing a news conference after a meeting of PFN chairmen and secretaries on the abducted Chibok school girls, yesterday in Jos. Photos: NAN

SporT 41 Page

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, june 25, 2014

sports@peoplesdailyng.com, SMS- 08142929046, 08036258222, albertakota@yahoo.com

Eagles plot Argentina’s fall to end jinx that Bosina want to throw the group open, Keshi according to Alaiya, said that the issue was clearly for FIFA to deal with. The President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Aminu Maigari, on his part urged the Eagles to go all out against Argentina today to ensure the qualification of the team into the Round of 16. According to him, he would be delighted with a favourable outcome as the match-day would coincide on his birthday. “My birthday is on the day we are playing Argentina, and I will feel special if we defeat the Argentines. “But more than that, a place in the Round of 16 will bring joy to the Nigerian delegation here in Brazil as well as to our people back home. “We have so many reasons to go all out today for victory. The Argentines have always beaten us at the FIFA World Cup, though narrowly each time. We also need to show our true strength as the champions of Africa,” Maigari said. The Eagles also lost to Argentina at the 2002 Korea/ Japan World Cup and 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Nigeria has lost 1-2 to Argentina in Boston, USA on

Lionel messi against Super Eagles

By Albert Akota with agency report

hen the Super Eagles file out at the Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre, it will be with an objective to make certain their qualification into the Round of 16 at the ongoing World Cup in Brazil. The Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi, was quoted to have made this objective clear to

his players. “We have come a long way. We have won one match, got a draw from another. Our chances are brighter now in the group. “We shall go out there to put up a fight of our lives. In terms of technical preparation for the game, we are ready,’’ Ben Alaiya, Media Officer of the Super Eagles, quoted Keshi as saying. In response to a question over rumours

Keshi’s sentiment may ruin Eagles’ World Cup chances – Onigbinde

s the Super Eagles prepare to face Argentina in the last group match of the Brazil 2014 World cup, former Super Eagles Gaffer, Adeboye Onigbinde has stated that the current crop of players in the team could go as far as winning the World Cup if their handlers could shun personal sentiments in player’s selection before any match. Stephen Keshi-led technical has faced criticism in his selection before the team’s previous games. For Coach Onigbinde who took charge of the team during 2002 World Cup finals in Korea, the present Eagles squad have put up a good show so far in

Brazil but need to remain focused and determined to fight on. Speaking to newsmen, the erstwhile Shooting Stars tactician hinted “I don’t believe in mathematics in football. The Eagles team are on the right path. All they need to do is to keep the fate. “Their performance against Bosnia was better than what we saw against Iran. Let’s hope the keep it up. They just need to play their next game and pick a draw to qualify for second round. “Anything is possible in football. When I say this People think otherwise but the fact remains that Nigeria is capable of winning the cup depending on how the team is handled.

June 25, 1994, and was again pipped 1-0 courtesy of a Gabriel Batistuta goal in Ibaraki, Japan on June 2, 2002. When both sides met in South Africa four years ago, an early goal by Gabriel Heinze condemned the Eagles to a 1-0 defeat. However, at the Olympic Games, the story was not the same, in Atlanta ‘96 in the U.S., Nigeria had beaten them to win the Olympic Games gold medal, a victory that left the Argentines flustered for many years. Argentina U-23 team evened-up the Olympic record with 1-0 victory over Nigeria at the final of the 2008 Olympic Games in China. The sweet memories of the 4-1 defeat the Eagles handed down to Argentina in a friendly in Abuja on June 1, 2011. But importantly, the 3-2 defeat by the U-23 team that gave Africa the first Olympic football gold, in Atlanta, 18 years ago. The victory over BosniaHerzegovina in Cuiaba, Brazil had taken the reigning African champions to second place in the pool with four points. The Eagles must still avoid defeat against the two-time world champions in Porto Alegre to be certain of a place in the knockout stages.

Angry Keshi blasts Nigerians

urious Nigeria Coach Stephen Keshi has lashed out at the country’s football fans, saying it is a shame they have abused him personally because of the team’s showing at Brazil. The Super Eagles and coach Keshi came under heavy fire from angry fans after they could only manage a 0-0 draw with Iran in their opening group game at the World Cup in Brazil. But Keshi has taken serious exception to the fans’ rage, saying there was no justification for them to insult his person. “I am disappointed, totally disappointed (by the personal attacks), but it’s their thing, no wahala (no problem),” blasted Keshi in Brazil. “It’s a shame, just a shame that we keep doing the same thing and then they come back and they say they are sorry. Sorry for abusing my mum? Sorry for abusing my siblings? For what? That I am representing Nigeria?” AfricanFootball.com

can recall that ‘Big Boss’ Keshi has already fired a salvo at his fellow former football stars that tore at his team and tactics in Brazil. He said he had expected much better from them as they ought to know better about the game than the man on the street. Nigeria takes on Argentina today in Porto Alegre and if they avoided defeat, they will qualify for the knockout rounds of the World Cup for only the third time in their history.

Stephen Keshi

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesDAY, june 25, 2014

Page 42

Sports

Nigeria referee will officiate at 2018 World Cup – NRA

he president of the Nigeria Referee Association (NRA), Ahmed Maude has declared that the Association is working assiduously towards ensuring that Nigeria Referees officiate at the next FIFA World cup in Russia. Speaking with newsmen in Brazil, Maude said that they have put a lot of programs in place which he maintained has been producing promising and young Referees for the Nation. He argued that it is not a thing of joy that no Nigeria Referee is officiating at the Brazil World cup. “Well, I am not so happy that our Referees are not officiating at this World cup and we are not just sitting down doing nothing about it. We have put structures in place to see how more qualified Referee capable of officiating at major football tournaments would be produce. It is just a matter of time, we shall get it right, just be patient with us,” Maude said. “Though, my tenure as NRA President will come to an end next year but I can tell you that whoever will take over from me will continue in the good work to

produce more qualified Referees for the Nation. As you can see now the program is already yielding result as we now have young Referees officiating in the Nigeria Premier League and they are doing well,” he concluded. Meanwhile, the Nigeria Referee boss has extolled the performances of the Referees officiating at the ongoing FIFA World cup in Brazil despite the seeming mistake that have been made by some of them. He stressed that the fact that some Referees made some mistake should not be taken to mean that the performances of the Referees whom he said are given their best to ensure that the matches go smoothly are bad. “I think the Referees are doing so well at the World cup and they should be praised for doing a good job and not condemned. It is not easy to hit 100 percent performance in officiating matches, so if a Referee gets 70 percent I think he deserves to be praised. Mistakes are unavoidable in this business,”

Nigeria referee

Eagles to spoil Messi’s birthday with defeat today

Messi

he Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi has said his side will play for a win in today’s last group game against Argentina in Porto Alegre in order to spoil Lonel Messi birthday.

“My team and I want to wish him a very happy birthday. We want to wish him a healthy long life, all his heart’s desires but in as much we wish him birthday, we want to be happy by beating him in today’s clash,” Keshi said. The Eagles need just a point to reach the second round for the first time in 16 years. However, a defeat will see them through if Iran fails to beat Bosnia in the other encounter. Expected to garner support from Brazilians against their arch-rivals who expect 80,000 supporters from across the border, the 51-year-old said his boys will not be intimidated by the predominant support base that Porto Alegre will offer to the Albiceleste. “We’re here to play; if we have the support of the Brazilians we

will appreciate it. But we are not looking at that, we are just here to win our game,” Keshi told journalists. It is the fourth time both teams will meet in the World Cup, with the South Americans having won all three previous encounters. All attention is on one man, Captain Lionel Messi who has scored twice already and is familiar with the Nigerians. The talisman got a birthday message from the Nigeria coach. Goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, who gave a yeoman performance against Messi at the 2010 World Cup also praised the player but said he is not up against one man but the whole Argentina frontline. “He’s one of the best players in the world and has made a lot of progress since the last time we met,” Enyeama said.

AFN predicts better performance at Commonwealth Games

he Technical Director of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Navy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama says that the impressive performance posted by some athletes at the recently concluded national trials in Calabar portends a good outing for Nigeria at the forthcoming Commonwealth Games. New champions emerged in a number of events such as the men’s 100m and 200m, 100m hurdles, 110m hurdles, men

and women’s 400m, women’s 400m Hurdles and the men and women’s long jump amongst others and Nesiama believes that this is a good omen ahead of next month’s Glasgow games. He said, “The winners were very unpredictable; it was not like before when you could almost tell who would win an event especially in the sprints and it is a good sign. We set a standard for qualification and at this moment, over twelve athletes have met this standard, which is good news. I’m sure

this will be a good outing at the Commonwealth Games from what I can see. “The weather was very good although the wind didn’t favour the athletes in the men’s 100m final. So we are hoping that subsequently, we will get better winds so that the athletes can get the best of the environment. “Be that as it may, a lot of them made very good times so whatever time they ran either in the heats or semis will be considered since it is within a competition”, he said.

Nicola Rizzoli

FIFA picks Italian referee for Nigeria, Argentina match

he World Football Governing Body (FIFA) has picked Nicola Rizzoli of Italy to oversee the Group F match between Nigeria and Argentina today at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The 33-year-old Italian had been in charge of the Spain versus Netherlands match June 13, which ended with the Dutch mauling the then defending champions 5-1. Rizzoli has previously taken part in the FIFA Club World Cup and FIFA U-20 World Cup. He also presided over the final of the Europa League 2010 and the final of the Champions League 2013.

Meanwhile, Carlos Velasco will referee the BosniaHerzegovina versus Iran match, which will kick off at the same time in Group F. The 43-year-old Spaniard, who refereed the Uruguay versus England match on June 19, has previously officiated at matches in the UEFA EURO 2012. He was also at the FIFA Club World Cup 2013, among other competitions. Their appointments were on the list of referees FIFA announced for the Brazil 2014 matches 41 to 44. These are the final matches in the preliminary round for Group E and Group F.

PAGE 47

Peoples Daily, wednesDAY, june 25, 2014

Leisure

Some Interesting Facts

he shape of plant collenchyma’s cells and the shape of the bubbles in beer foam are the same - they are orthotetrachidecahedrons. Emus and kangaroos cannot walk backwards, and are on the Australian coat of arms for that reason. Cats have over one hundred vocal sounds, while dogs only have about ten. Blueberry Jelly Bellies were created especially for Ronald Reagan. [link] PEZ candy even comes in a Coffee flavor. The first song played on Armed Forces Radio during operation Desert Shield was “Rock the Casba” by the Clash. [link] Non-dairy creamer is flammable. [link] The airplane Buddy Holly died in was the “American Pie.” (Thus the name of the Don McLean song.) Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history. Spades - King David, Clubs - Alexander the Great, Hearts Charlemagne, and Diamonds - Julius Caesar. Golf courses cover 4% of North America. The average person will accidentally eat just under a pound of insects every year. Until 1994, world maps and globes sold in Albania only had Albania on them. The value of Pi will be officially “rounded down” to 3.14 from 3.14159265359 on December 31, 1999. The Great Wall of China is the only man-made structure visible from space.

A piece of paper can be folded no more then 9 times. The amount of computer Memory required to run WordPerfect for Win95 is 8 times the amount needed aboard the

space shuttle. The average North American will eat 35,000 cookies during their life span. Between 25% and 33% of the population sneeze when exposed

to light. The most common name in world is Mohammed. Mount Olympus Mons on Mars is three times the size of Mount Everest.

Say what?

SUDOKU

SUDOKU EASY 104

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Inventor, Manuel Alvarez-Icaza creates bizarre unicycle with no pedals he says will help tackle congestion in cities. Source: Dailymail.co.uk

www.peoplesdailyng.com

WEDNESDAY, june 25, 2014

SPORTS latest

Keshi hits back at Okocha’s ‘destructive’ comments

oach Stephen Keshi has hit back at criticism of his World Cup tactics from former Super Eagles captain Jay-Jay Okocha. “People have a right to their opinions, but some people enjoy being destructive,” said Keshi. “When people, who should know better, like ex-footballers, criticise the team, I don’t enjoy it at all.” Nigeria is guaranteed to qualify from Group F if they avoid defeat by Argentina today. Eagles last qualified for the knockout stages in 1998 - they have failed to do so in their past two World Cup finals appearances It was Nigeria’s 0-0 draw with Iran in their opening match of the tournament that brought stinging comments from Okocha, who played 75 times for his country and now sits on the technical committee of the Nigeria Football Federation. Speaking as a television, Okocha said: “Keshi did not do enough work on the team. The tactical play was so bad, I hold Keshi responsible for this. Meanwhile, speculation that Keshi has agreed to take over as the new boss of Bafana Bafana has been rejected by the South African Football Association. Safa said in a statement that there was no truth in reports that Keshi had signed a twoyear contract, insisting no decision has been made over the appointment of a new coach and would not be made until after the World Cup.

Federer, Nadal through to second round

even-time champion Roger Federer eased into the second round at Wimbledon after beating Italian Paolo Lorenzi in straight sets. The Swiss fourth seed was barely troubled in a 6-1 6-1 6-3 win over a player who has never won a match at a Grand Slam in 13 attempts. World number two Rafael Nadal was forced to work harder to beat dangerous Slovak Martin Klizan 4-6 6-3 6-3 6-3. The Spaniard will face Lukas Rosol, who upset him in 2012, in the second round.

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. . . putting the people first

QUOTABLE QUOTE Terrorists capitalize on the lingering pastoralist- farmer conflict to form a hybrid type of insurgency whereby they masquerade as pastoralists to wage war against the state. – President Goodluck Jonathan

The North grabs its fate with both hands A

common narrative among lazy commentators and the apologists of our often criticized government is one that accuses “Northern leadership” and their (Islamic) apex religious leadership of not doing much more than criticize, comment or condemn the executive leadership, without being proactive” to end the “senseless menace that has plagued Nigeria’s North, largely unabated for four years (please read “Why We Failed To BringBackOurGirls,” Dr. Prigirino Brimah, Saharareporters). In addition to politicians, there are activists and rights groups that have bought into this erroneous thinking. But contrary to this type of thinking, there are many groups and societies that are involved, in the nation’s interest, going beyond the criticism of the lack of government action, to identify real solutions to the problems of violence, banditry, criminality and terrorism but because they don’t have the state power to enforce their point of view, all they can do is to write and talk, which is itself an activity protected by the constitution. One such group that has been active in meetings, seminars and workshops in search of peace in the North and Nigeria as a whole is the Arewa Research and Development Project, ARDP (ardpng.org). At a recent workshop in Kaduna, the group brought together an array of active and not-so-active security personnel, journalists, academics, politicians and businessmen to brainstorm on the issue of “Security and Human Rights in Northern Nigeria.” It turned out to be a big opportunity for some of this country’s forgotten heroes, men who had played important roles in keeping the country as one,

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ACF chair, Ibrahim Coomassie but who, regrettably today are sidelined, and are therefore helplessly watching as a set of selfish and greedy political elite tries to undo all of that good work. The interesting aspect of this get-together was the common thread of strong optimism, almost echoed to a fault about the future of Nigeria that ran through the entire conversations. General Emmanuel Abisoye went down the memory lane discussing his role as the General Officer Commanding the 3rd Infantry Brigade, with overall responsibility for the entire eastern borders of the country, spanning from Maiduguri to Calabar, the entire length of which he said he literally walked on his

foot. He spoke with nostalgia, confidence and competence about how things are now different, considering especially our seeming helplessness and such question as a so-called mystery of the Boko Haram insurgency in that region. It was an equally good opportunity for such veterans as General Paul Tarfa, General John Shagaya, General Saleh Maina, General Jonathan Temlong, Colonel Hamid Ali, Assistant InspectorsGeneral of Police Bashir Albasu and Lawal Idris (both retired) Col. Aminu, Col. Bello Fadile, Col. John Ubah, the Secretary of the ACF and A.A. Gadzama, the immediate past Director-General of SSS, among many others to bring their thoughts together on how the North can be cured of these problems. As to be expected, the National Security Adviser, NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki made a presentation. The Convener of the ARDP, Dr. Usman Bugaje who called this meeting in collaboration with others, including the Centre for Democratic Research and Documentation of the Bayero University, Kano, and the Centre for Peace Studies of the Usmanu Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, outlined the objective for this workshop as an attempt “to bring Northern leadership and expertise together to brainstorm on these important, nay compelling security problems facing the country, with a view to proffering

A popular local proverb says it takes two hands to clap and only one to slap. The conclusion from here is that northerners are taking their destiny in their own hands by first uniting themselves, and then working with federal government to bring peace and settlement in the region.

solutions that will complement and reinforce what government and non-government actors are doing”. Among the many recommendations they issued at the end of the workshop, they called on the movers and shakers of the North and their citizens to work for mutually rewarding ties with government, to complement each others’ efforts in combating the terror ravaging the region. They appealed to Northerners to unify themselves as a step to securing the unity of Nigeria although, the unity of Nigeria they warned, “will not be at all costs”. They called for a marshal plan and recovery programme for the North, taking note of the fact that poverty and neglect account for the crises facing the region to a large extent, although these themselves cannot explain, let alone justify violence in any form. They made the far-reaching recommendation of extending the NYSC to two years, so as to include one year of military service and asked for the setting up of committee to monitor human rights of the civil population, and to audit the conduct of the military in regard to the observance of the rules of engagement. Knowing that the North has its own problems, the meeting called for measures to address issues of corruption and the lack of will. They also asked that the North be treated fairly in the affairs of Nigeria, “like any other region of the country in terms of employment opportunities, appointment and scholarship grants like the Niger Delta.” The communiqué also strongly disagreed with the malicious linkages of Islam with the bandits who merrily kill, kidnap and trample on innocent persons and businesses, as well as the psychological war against the North and the country as a whole using the social media. A popular local proverb says it takes two hands to clap and only one to slap. The conclusion from here is that northerners are taking their destiny in their own hands by first uniting themselves, and then working with federal government to bring peace and settlement in the region. But where this partnership and support are not forthcoming on the part of government, the communiqué gave clear indication that the region will think up other alternatives. What are these alternatives? This workshop did not elaborate.

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