Wednesday, December 27, 2017 Edition

Wednesday, December 27, 2017/ Rabi’ul Thani 8, 1439AH

Vol. 27 No. 94 N150

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I’m not quarrelling Buhari not meddling Lake Chad Basin with Secondus, PDP in contracts award revitalization talks hold govs - Atiku - Presidency in Abuja February pAGE 17

pAGE 5

pAGE 2

Kano APC crisis:

Ganduje asks Kwankwaso to apologise to Buhari page 5

Speaker House of Representatives Hon. Yakubu Dogara (middle) flanked by his wife, family members and Orphan children, cutting the Cake to mark his 50th birthday celebration with Orphans at Treasure Orphanage Homes, yesterday in Nyanya Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Ex NSITF chief, Ngozi Olojeme held for alleged $48.5m graft >>>page 7

Fuel scarcity: Marketers accuse NNPC of dishonesty

>>>page 5

1350 Days after

The nation awaits rescue of the remaining abducted Chibok schoolgirls

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PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, december 27, 2017

News CONTENTS News 2-14 Editorial Op.Ed

11 12-13

Politics 15-17 Stockwatch Business Metro

18 19-20 21

World Analysis 22 Africa New

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World New

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Lake Chad Basin revitalization talks hold in Abuja February

By Lawrence Olaoye

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari has approved the hosting by Nigeria of an international conference on saving the Lake Chad.

According to a statement made available to newsmen yesterday

by Buhari’s Spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, the conference is to revitalize the basin’s ecosystem for sustainable livelihood, security and development.

This is the first time an international conference on Lake Chad is being organised the sixmember countries of the region.

The three-day conference will consist of two days of technical sessions and one day high level meetings between February 2628, 2018 and it will take place in Abuja.

The high level meeting is expected to have in attendance all of the Presidents and Heads of government of the member-

states, namely Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon, Central African Republic and Libya The key partners coming together in hosting the conference are Nigeria, the United Nations Educational,Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO, the Lake Chad Basin Commission, LCBC and relevant donors including, prospectively, the African Development Bank, AfDB, the World Bank and the governments of Germany, China, Canada and the European Union,EU. The main objective of the international conference is to create global awareness on the socio-economic and environmental challenges arising from the shrinkage of the Lake Chad, threat to livelihoods including insecurity with a view to developing a comprehensive program for action to save the lake from extinction.

Specifically, the conference is

expected to discuss and develop consensus on the different options to restore Lake Chad, including the Inter-Basin Water Transfer project from the Ubangi River in Central Africa to the Lake Chad.

Experts, researchers and resource persons are expected to exchange knowledge and share information on water resources development and management in a crisis environment and to garner political and financial support for the restoration option identified for the restoration of the lake.

Among the expected outcomes of the conference is a roadmap for the implementation of the recommendations of the conference that should lead to the restoration of the lake; restoration of fishing and irrigated farming as a way of alleviating poverty, strengthening climate resilience in the basin, creating employment, leading to

reduction of terrorist activities and increasing the revenue of the population and that of the Lake Chad basin countries.

The lake Chad Basin, which is shared by Algeria, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, Libya, Niger, Nigeria and the Sudan is about eight percent of the size of the African continent, with a population of about 40 million inhabitants.

Its surface area has shrunk from 25,000 square kilometers to just 2,500 sq.kms, roughly 10 percent of its original size.

This development has adversely affected the economic, social and cultural environment of the area. As at today, the lake is a source of insecurity, instability, and the loss of livelihoods.

Since coming to office, President Muhammadu Buhari has used every available speaking opportunity at the international level to raise awareness of the need for action to save the Lake.

$24bn feed Africa strategy and the march to stem migration Pgae 4

Property

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Feture 26 Sports 29-31 Back Page

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Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Adamu (2nd right) presenting Christmas gift to the Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Bauchi State Chapter, Rev Ray Maina (3rd left) and other members during a visit of a delegation of the association to the Emir’s Palace, yesterday in Bauchi.

Photo: NAN

Kaduna residents mark low keyed Christmas, boxing day From Femi Oyelola Kaduna

T

he Christmas and Boxing Day celebrations in kaduna state was low keyed as most residents stayed in door after the Church services.

Some of the residents who spoke to our correspondent said the economy situations in the country were responsible for the low celebration.

According to Bishop Timothy

Yahaya of Anglican Church, the celebration reflected the mood the country is in .

The cleric said the high cost of materials in the country forced the citizens to make do with what they have.

He also disclosed that the security situation in kaduna state is not helping matters.

“On the Christmas Eve people were killed in a local government area of the state, during Christmas Carol . Every

well meaning people see no reason to celebrate but mourned with the bereaved, “ he said Similarly Ladi Mattew a civil servant said she decided to stay indoors because of the high transport fare .

“We initially planned to visit my family at Maraban Rido in Chikun Local Government Area but the high transport fare charged by motorists made me to change my mind..

An event manager, Silas

Haruna told our correspondent that he rented a venue for Boxing Day party but the attendance was poor and he has to cancel the show.

Many joints that usually boom during celebration like this are ghost of its self.

The Gamji Park was closed down because of security challenges.

However, the kaduna metropolis was peaceful during the celebration.

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PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, december 27, 2017

News

Ag News Editor, Ese Awhotu

Fuel scarcity, a shame - Osinbajo

By Lawrence Olaoye Abuja

V

ice President Yemi Osinbajo has described the ongoing fuel scarcity across the country as a shame of the nation.

According to a statement made available to newsmen by his media aide, Laolu Akande, Osinbajo said this in his interaction with Nigerians in Lagos after touring the filling stations in some parts of the state.

Osinbajo, who said the government was feeling the

pains of Nigerians who are being subjected to undeserved hardship by the fuel scarcity, assured that government official were working round the clock to restore normalcy in few days.

Osinbajo said “It’s such a shame that Christmas has been, to some extent, with this sort of discomfort. This is deeply regretted, and l know that, with the resilience and strength of people in Lagos and the Nigerian people, we would see ourselves through this and will enjoy our Christmas and have a great new year.”

He however assured that “the Buhari administration is doing everything possible to quickly resolve the fuel shortages experienced by Nigerians.”

He had an unexpected stopover to Oando Filling Station at Lekki area of Lagos State on Christmas Eve. He also stopped at Hayden Petrol Station on the Island.

In a chat with Nigerians from all walks of life on Sunday evening during the stopover, the Vice President noted that the Federal Government was moving as quickly as it could to solve

the fuel crisis and reduce the difficulties Nigerians were facing as a result.

He said, “We are trying to move as quickly as we can.

Obviously, people have gone through a lot of pain and anguish in the past few days, and that is deeply regretted. We were trying to do what we can to move as quickly as possible and there is certainly enough products to be able to solve the problem.

“We will be able to solve the problem; the short period of scarcity is quite a bit of burden, but we know that so long as

products are enough and the trucks coming out and feeding the stations, this will be over very soon. I am going around with the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources here in Lagos to ensure that first, the trucks are being loaded from all the depots, and also looking at the filling stations to see that things are moving on very well.

“The GMD of the NNPC is also working in Abuja to see that that things are moving quickly, and we are moving around the country. So we expect that it will be resolved very quickly.”

Buhari felicitates with Dogara at 50

By Lawrence Olaoye

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari, on behalf of the Federal Executive Council and all Nigerians has felicitated with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, as he turned 50 years yesterday.

According to a statement made available to newsmen by his Special Assistant on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, Buhari joined the National Assembly, the Nigerian Bar Association, friends and family of the erudite and charismatic leader in celebrating the years of remarkable achievements and awards that have culminated into this golden jubilee.

The President extolled Dogara’s humility, simplicity and discipline in providing exceptional leadership for the lower house for over two years by diligently bridging the gaps and creating a harmonious atmosphere for debates and exchange of ideas for national development.

The President affirmed that the Speaker’s personal attributes of selflessness, maturity and friendliness have substantially eased the relationship between the Executive and the Legislative arm, resulting in the passage of bills that directly impact the livelihood of Nigerians.

Recalling his personal interactions with the Speaker, and having followed his political trajectory in the House of Representatives, Buhari believed that Nigeria’s future can only be secured with great leadership by younger Nigerians, who are fired with the zeal to build one great nation that everyone can call a home.

Fun Seekers at the Palms Mall Ring Road to mark this year Boxing Day, yesterday in Lagos.

Photo: NAN

FG probes alleged N2.5bn fraud at UNIBEN, Auchipoly By Osaigbovo Benin

A

Iguobaro

visitation panel set up by the Federal Ministry of Education has concluded plans to meet with the management of the University of Benin and the Federal Polytechnic Auchi both in Edo state over allegations of N2.5 billion scam.

This followed briefs from the Ministry at Abuja to look into the many allegations of fraud involving the two institutions and the nine other universities and Polytechnics which the ministry oversees in the country .

The Minister of Education Mallam Adamu Adamu had inaugurated the visitation panel few days to Christmas in Abuja, and listed the other affected institutions as Federal

University Dutsin-Ma, Katsina state, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike in Abia state and University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.

Other institutions to be visited by the panel, are the Federal University Kashere, Gombe state, University of Abuja, FCT and University of Nigeria, Enugu state, Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo state, Federal Polytechnic Oko, Anambra state, Yaba College of Technology, Lagos state and University of Calabar, Cross River state.

While at the University of Benin the panel is expected to see firsthand, all the documents relating to the allegation of graft which formed the series of petitions by some members of staff, received by the Minister, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)

and the Independent corrupt practices commission (ICPC).

The allegations range from procurement fraud to overtime racket and grand looting of Internally generated revenue running into millions of naira, with the active backing of the Governing Council of the University.

In the petitions the staff have labelled the university, “a cesspool of corruption”, even as they called on the President Muhammadu Buhari to beam his searchlight on the decay in the University which has the Emir of Kano, HRH Mohammad Sanusi II, as Chancellor.

The petitioners allege a “N320 million promotion arrears paid to staff in 2017”, which was alleged to have been diverted at a time most members of staff have not had their appointments confirmed or promoted.

They have also referred to a N132 million procurement fraud in three batches two in 2016 involving the sum of N63 million and N96 million with the third involving the sum of N231million purportedly spent on a contract for printing of security and nonsecurity documents which were actually contrived.

Another petitioner alleged that of the sum of N1.7 billion Internally generated revenue (IGR) mostly from consultancy services to federal, states and Local Governments in the Country estimated at N700 million was remitted to the treasury single account (TSA).

Efforts to obtain reactions from the spokespersons of University of Benin and the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi proved abortive as phone calls put to them went without any response.

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PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, december 27, 2017

Page 4 Report

$24bn ‘feed Africa strategy’ and the march to stem migration

By Ese Awhotu

A

s Nigeria and other African nations move to stem migration considered as one of the major challenges currently facing the continent, adopting a strategy to achieve this has been in the front burner.

As at 2015, the number of international migrants, persons living in a country other than where they were born reached 244 million, according to UN statistics.

Going by the UN data this figure includes almost 20 million refugees.

The rise in the number of international migrants reflects the increasing importance of international migration, which has become an integral part of our economies and societies. Well-managed migration brings important benefits to countries of origin and destination, as well as to migrants and their families,” said Mr. Wu Hongbo, UN Under-SecretaryGeneral for Economic and Social Affairs, the importance of international migration.

The new UN dataset, “Trends in International Migrant Stock: The 2015 Revision,” shows that the number of international migrants has grown faster than the world’s population. As a result, the share of migrants in the global population reached 3.3 per cent in 2015, up from 2.8 per cent in 2000. There are, however, considerable differences between large regions of the world. In Europe, Northern America and Oceania, international migrants account for at least 10 per cent of the total population. By contrast, in Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean, fewer than 2 per cent of the population are international migrants.

A report by theguardian.com tagged, ‘1m African migrants may be en route to Europe, says former UK envoy’ indicated that as many as one million migrants were already on the way to Libya and Europe from countries across Africa.

The report attributed this to the former head of the British embassy in Benghazi.

The warning by Joe WalkerCousins, head of the UK’s Libya mission between 2012 and 2014 comes as European governments struggle to find a response to the flow of migrants from the Mediterranean, and the appalling conditions in detention camps run by traffickers or the Libyan government.

The theguardian reports that more than 590 migrants have drowned on the central Mediterranean route in the first three months of this year, and the overall number reaching Italy from Libyahas risen. The International Organisation for Migration estimates 21,900 refugees reached Italy in the first three months of this year, up from 14,500 last year.

It added that a total of 181,000 refugees reached Italy from Libya last year, and with little sign of an effective unity government being formed in Libya to combat the militia-organised trafficking, mainstream European politicians are facing a massive challenge.

Last year 179,000 of the 181,000 African refugees in Italy were picked up outside Libyan coastal waters either by the Italian navy, the EU border agency Frontex or by NGOs.

In November, this year, 26 dead teenage girls bodies were recovered in the Mediterranean Sea..

The girls, aged 14-18, were believed to have been migrants from Niger and Nigeria who had embarked on the treacherous route to Europe from Libya.

To stem this trend by making the African continent more developed and food sufficient, the African Development Bank, AfDB had recently announced a US $24-billion Feed Africa Strategy to make Africa self-sufficient in food production within 10 years, drive agro-industrial development, and make the continent competitive in global food and agriculture markets.

Adesina said at a side event during the Borlaug Dialogue International Symposium in Des Moines, Iowa, USA, that AfDB’s Feed Africa strategy had launched the Transformation of the African Savannah Initiatives (TASI) to help unlock the potential of the Savannas of Africa.

According to him, the initiative would start by bringing approximately two million hectares of savannah in eight African countries – Ghana, Guinea, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Uganda, Kenya, Zambia and Mozambique.

These countries come under the cultivation of maize, soybean and livestock production in optimum conditions.

“Success in this endeavour requires that we wake up the savannas of Africa. ”When we do so, African agriculture will indeed rise up from its slumber. “Let’s wake up Africa’s savannas and turn them into the new wealth zones of Africa and unleash Africa as a global powerhouse in food.

Together let arise and feed Africa.

“Valuable research must meet the needs of farmers and agri-businesses in ways that exponentially increase productivity and improve the quality of lives of our rural poor.

“Africa must learn from the experiences that have worked elsewhere while tailoring the interventions to the specific realities of Africa.

“We must ensure that small, medium scale and large-scale commercial farmers co-exist in a way that allows opportunities for all.

“Partnerships in research and development will be crucial,” Adesina said.

The AfDB has called on African countries to reconstruct rural areas from zones of economic misery to zones of economic prosperity.

AfDB President Dr. Adesina Akinwumi

The bank believes that this will in turn expand economic opportunities for African youth, leading to improvements in their lives, thereby stemming migration.

It noted in a statement on the occasion of the International Day of Migrants posted on its website, that greater economic opportunities will motivate African youth to stay on the continent and live a meaningful life.

“More than ever before, Africa must rapidly modernize its agriculture and unlock its full potential,” the AfDB said.

According to Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank, the future of Africa’s youth does not lie in migration to Europe, but in a prosperous Africa.

Addressing the challenges of food insecurity is critical in addressing the more complex issues of migration and displacement. Reducing intercommunal conflict over scarce resources such as water and pasture for animals is also key.

“This requires new agricultural innovations and transforming agriculture into a sector for creating wealth. We must make agriculture a really cool choice for young people,” said Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank.

“

This requires new agricultural innovations and transforming agriculture into a sector for creating wealth. We must make agriculture a really cool choice for young people,” said Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank

Speaking at the recently concluded 12th African Economic Conference of the African Development Bank, UNDP and UN Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa, December 4-6, 2017, Richard Joseph, a Professor of International History and Politics at Northwestern University, observed how population growth in many African countries continue to exceed income flows.

“Out-migration in such circumstances becomes an option despite the appalling risks,” he noted.

Three challenges, a lack of economic opportunities, conflict, and extreme conditions brought about by climate change are key sources of fragility that often result in the forced migration of peoples desperately seeking alternatives.

President Adesina describes these factors as a ‘triangle of disaster’ that drive conflict and extreme violence, which in turn fan economic or forced migrations as reflected in rural-urban, intra-African or international migrations, leading to significant local and international challenges.

According to the UN, the challenges and difficulties of international migration require enhanced cooperation and collective action among countries and regions.

Khaled Sherif, the Bank’s VicePresident for Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery adds that food security and rural development is interlinked with migration, fragility and resilience, said “We acknowledging that youth constitute the majority of African migrants, and for this reason, we have also implemented a Jobs for Youth in Africa Initiative. Our aim is to expand economic opportunities for male and female African youth, in order to create improvements in other aspects of their lives,” he said.

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PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, december 27, 2017

News

From Edwin Olofu Kano

K

ano state government has demanded unreserved apology from the former governor of the state Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso for allegedly masterminding the attack on the person of President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

Speaking to newsmen at Kano State Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Kano State Commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammad Garba, said the Group , basically acted the script of their Abuja-based leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso whose plot to destabilize the All Progressive Congress in Kano state has been roundly defeated.

“It is also on record that Kwankwaso and his Kwankwassiyya Group, consumed by the tall dream of becoming ‘President’ has unjustifiably maligned President Buhari at every giving opportunity.”

Kano APC crisis: Ganduje asks Kwankwaso to apologise to Buhari He said the Kano state government has condemned in the strongest terms, the unsavoury remarks and imprecation against President Muhammadu Buhari and the national leadership of the All Progressive Congress by the Kwankwassiyya Group, hiding under the guise of concerned members of the All Progressive Congress in Kano.

“It is on this note that Kano state government seriously frowns at statements credited to the spokesman of Kwankwassiyya Group, Aminu Abdulsalam who did not only maliciously accused President Buhari of fueling crisis in Kano APC, but also used derogatory words and attacked

the personality and hard-earned integrity of Mr. President. Kano state government strongly warn against such act of incivility by a person or group of persons against the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the party’s leadership and other respected political office holders.”

Garba said that, the Kano state government, therefore, demand that the Group tender unreserved apology to President Buhari and APC national secretariat, without which the APC national leadership should invoke the party’s constitution and take appropriate disciplinary measures against them for insubordination and engaging in anti-party activities.

Garba said the same Kwankwasiyya group who benefited from the APC are now deriding the APC national leadership which gave them ample opportunities to play the god and even at many occasions recognized their favoured candidate, Umar Haruna Doguwa as the chairman.

The Commissioner commended and congratulated party faithful who exercised patience and remained calm all through the days this same Kwankwassiyya Group struggled to destabilize the party in the state through blackmail, cheap propaganda and misrepresentation of facts.

He added that an authentic

leadership has emerged through the instruments of the party’s constitution and due process followed, it is expected that the Kwankwassiyya Group, if truly they are members of APC, should rally round the new leadership and display total loyalty to the party rather than blackmailing the party’s national leadership and President Muhammadu Buhari, who everyone knows, has no business with party infighting.

We made efforts to contact Kwankwaso’s men for his response to the issue but to no avail. Repeated calls to his spokesman, Aminu Abdulsalam bid not yield result as his phone rang and he did not answer.

Fuel scarcity: Marketers accuse NNPC of dishonesty

By Ese Awhotu with agency report

T

he Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association, DAPPMA, yesterday said despite Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) claims, their depots are empty.

The association expressed concern over the inability of NNPC to send petrol to its members’ depots.

DAPPMA’s Executive Secretary, Olufemi Adewole, in a statement in Lagos, urged NNPC to help the association so as to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians.

“Our members’ depots are presently empty. However, if the PPMC/NNPC can provide us with petrol, we are ready to do 24-hour loading to alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians and for the fuel queues to be totally eliminated.

“We, petroleum products marketers, do empathise with all Nigerians who are going through difficulties at this time by spending hours on fuel queues because of the current fuel scarcity due to no fault of theirs.

“DAPPMA members import about 65 per cent of the nation’s total fuel consumption, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) imports about 15 per cent and PPMC/ NNPC import the balance of 20 per cent.

“However this scenario changed drastically due to several challenges faced by marketers,’’ he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN reports that the DAPPMA official claimed that their members pay PPMC/NNPC in advance for petroleum products.

He said fully paid-up petrol orders which have neither been programmed nor loaded is in excess of 500,000MT (about 800,000,000 litres).

He said the current import price of petrol is about N170 per litre, with NNPC, which absorbs the attendant subsidy on behalf of the Federal Government, as the importer of last resort.

Adewole said the exchange rate of the dollar to the Naira is N306 for petrol imports and the interest rate Nigerian banks charge is above 25 per

cent.

“Landing cost of PMS in Nigeria is above N145 per litre which means any of our members that imports will have to resort to subsidy claims, a policy already jettisoned by the government.

“It is on record that any time NNPC assumes the role of sole importer; there are issues of distribution, because it is marketers who own 80 per cent of the functional receptive facilities and retail outlets

in Nigeria.

“While we cannot confirm or dispute NNPC’s claim of having sufficient product stock, we can confirm that the products are not in our tanks and as such cannot be distributed.

“If the products are offshore, then surely it cannot be considered to be available to Nigerians,’’ he said.

Adewole, however, assured that fuel marketers remain committed

to the progress of the nation and its citizenry as therein lies their own profitability and fulfilment.

Meanwhile, a combined team of the NNPC, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and security agents on Sunday uncovered illegal reservoirs of fuel in Abuja.

Speaking at the site of the mini depot, the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Maikanti Baru, said it was saddening to make such

discoveries in the city centre when less than 500 meters away, motorists were on endless queues.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that hundreds of jerry cans, 200-liter drums, and 500 liter tanks were uncovered in a sting operation by the team in the city centre.

According to him, the perpetrators have caused untold pain and hardship on Nigerians during a crucial season as Christmas.

L-R: Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, FCT Chapter, Rev Sampson Jonah; President of the FCT Baptist Conference Rev Israel Akanji; FCT Minister, Malam Mohammed Bello; Deputy Chief Imam, National Mosque, Ahmad Onilewura; President Muhammadu Buhari; Executive Secretary, Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission, Rev Tur Ujah; Catholic Bishop of Abuja Diocese, John Cardinal Onaiyekan; Primate, Church of Nigeria, (Anglican Communion) Most Rev Nichola Okoh during a Christmas Homage to the President by FCT Residents at the Presidential Villa on Monday in Abuja.

Photo: NAN

Buhari not meddling in contracts award - Presidency

By Lawrence Olaoye

T

he Presidency has said that President Muhammadu Buhari will soon inaugurate the National Council on Public Procurement (NCPP) in line with the Public Procurement Act, 2007.

Mallam Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on media and Publicity, made this disclosure in a response to a report by an online medium yesterday.

The NCPP is required by law to handle all matters of government procurement, against the current practice whereby the Federal Executive

Council (FEC) awards contract. Shehu told the medium that the issue was discussed by the cabinet recently.

Shehu said “I just read your story on Premium Times, lumping the Buhari Administration along with the others as violating the law by failing to inaugurate the National Council on Procurement.

“It is true you have followed up with us on the issue for several weeks but it is equally true that your interest in the issue has given us the impetus to follow up relentlessly with our bosses.

“This issue came up at the last meeting of the Federal Executive Council, FEC, and a decision was

taken that the Council be inaugurated as soon as possible,” he said.

Shehu, however, asserted that contrary to what obtained in previous governments, Buhari does not award contracts by himself.

“He does not meddle in the processes leading to award of contracts and does not forward a list of preferred bidders to Ministers as had been the practice in the past,” he said.

The Public Procurement Act, which was signed into law by late President Umaru Yar’Adua on June 4, 2007 provides for the establishment of the NCPP, and the Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP, as the regulatory

authorities responsible for the monitoring and oversight of public procurement as well as harmonising existing government policies and practices.

The Act was put in place to allow transparency and ensure public participation in government procurement.

Yar’Adua, who signed the Act into Law, however, failed to inaugurate the NCPP until his death in office.

His successor, Goodluck Jonathan, who stayed in office for six years also failed to inaugurate the council.

Buhari has till date also followed the same path in violating the law.

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, december 27, 2017

PAGE 6

News

Shi’ite, Christians agree to sustain peaceful coexistence in Kaduna From Femi Oyelola Kaduna

T

he members of Islamic Movement In Nigeria (IMN) and the Christians Communities in kaduna state yesterday promised to ensure that the principle of peaceful coexistence is established in the state.

The two groups agreed on this after the IMN members visited some Churches to join them in the Christmas celebration.

The Shi’ite who were at the ECWA Church Marafa Estates said Islam is a religion of peace and living in peace with one’s neighbours is one of the directives of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) The leader of the team Dr Shuaibu Musa said “ We are here to merry with you on the birth of he whose return has been

foretold by our Prophet to herald the appearance of the awaited one Imam Mahdi “I will protect their religion and their Churches wherever they are found.

“We therefore hold these covenant that is why our leader Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky showed us that Christians are not our enemy but our brothers and neighbours “Together we can champion unity among all religious people and take unified stance against aggressive leaders “The Church should join the struggle against oppressors and tyrants right away.” He said.

In his remarks Rev. Sule Mashan said all human beings are created by God and in his wisdom make some Christians and others Muslims. He therefore called for understanding among the two religion followers.

The Group then proceeded

to Christ Evangelical and life IntercessoryMinistry Sabon Tasha-Kaduna in Chikun Local Government Area where they continued the celebration.

They were joined by others Muslims from Katsina, Kano,Zamfara and Sokoto states The General Overseer of the Ministry Pastor Yohanna Buru expressed his gratitude for the astonishing turn out of Muslim youth including their scholars at the church’s for Christmas service with such a large numbers of women Muslims and children ,to promote peace and unity.

He said the numbers of Muslims attending Christmas services with the Church is increasing year-by-year as a result of better understanding and religious tolerance, “we must remember that we are from one family, because

Adams and eve were our father, we all have our holy scriptures “Bible and qur’an “and we also believed in paradise and hell fire ,therefore, we must be our brothers keepers, to live in peace and harmony,” he said In his own Remark an Islamic Scholar, Sheikh Halliru Marayu says, Nigerian must team-up and unite the Country stressing the need for forgiveness among Nigerians.

He urged Christians to used the lesson learnt from Jesus Christ to live in peace and harmony with every human kind Maraya added that “Any Muslims that doesn’t believe in Jesus Christ is not a complete Muslims, while calling on government at all levels to immensely allow Nigerians o practice their religious freedom like every other citizens

Enugu State Cultural Troupe performing at the 2017 Calabar cultural carnival, yesterday in Calabar.

Photo: NAN

Niger LG boss laments ‘one chance’ killings From Yakubu Minna.

T

Mustapha

he Chairman of Tafa Local Government in Niger State, Alhaji Ado Abubakar has lamented over the recent killings carried out by persons operating with commercial vehicles, known as “one chance” drivers in the area.

Abubakar in an interview with journalists after a meeting with about 360 political appointees from 10 wards of the council, said that the trend was alarming due to difficulties in tracking and preventing the menace.

Reports revealed that a suspected one chance driver was set blaze by irate mob last Friday at the Madalla Market along the Abuja-Kaduna Highway.

“It is becoming an issue for us now because we called on

whenever a corpse is discovered in the bush. Most of the victims are strangled to death and then thrown into the bush by the perpetrators.

“This is a challenge to the council because this incidence always begins from the Zuba park where people board vehicles. So, it is difficult for us to monitor and curtail. But we are working with security agencies to come up with measures to tackle this,” he said.

The chairman also called on residents of the area to be vigilant about security during and after the Christmas and New Year festivities to avoid being infiltrated by undesirable element.

He charged residents to be their brothers keepers and report all suspicious persons and movements to the security

agencies and traditional leaders close to them.

“When you participate in ensuring the security of lives and property, the dividend is always positive. Through giving useful information to relevant authorities a lot is done security wise.

“The council is working with all security agencies to keep the relative peace enjoyed by residents of Tafa Local Government Area. We give logistical support to them including the vigilante groups.

Recently we donated some motorcycles to vigilante members to assist them in movement.”

Abubakar also said that his administration was curtailing the farmer and herdsmen clashes through community dialogue and sensitisation that has yielded the much needed positive results.

He said attention is paid to any new herdsmen coming into communities, adding that this has led to proactive measures taken by the council and security agencies in preventing conflicts between the two groups.

At the stakeholders meeting, decision was also taken to endorse the candidature of Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger in 2019 election. The unanimous endorsement was taken after the Chairman moved the motion.

The meeting also endorsed Abubakar for the 2019 election as chairman or any position he may contest for.

The chairman described the political endorsement as a vote on confidence on the development programmes and projects of the APC-led state and local government in the last two years.

How Cholera outbreak in Borno was successfully contained - WHO

By Ese Awhotu with agency report

A

five-month long cholera outbreak in Nigeria’s conflict-affected Borno state has been successfully contained, the United Nations health agency has announced.

According to the UN World Health Organization (WHO), the feat is a “major accomplishment” in the region hit hard by violence perpetrated by the Boko Haram terrorist group that has displaced millions and driven hundreds of thousands to severe food insecurity.

“No single measure would have worked on its own. This was a joint effort employing a range of tools by many partners under the leadership of the state Ministry of Health,” Wondimagegnehu Alemu, the head of WHO programmes in the country, said in a news release Saturday.

The end of the outbreak (which began in August) was formally announced by the Nigerian Government on Thursday after no new cases had been reported in two weeks.

According to a statement by UN on its website, a massive oral cholera vaccine campaign – the first of its kind in the country, providing some 1.8 million doses to immunize some 900,000 people between September and December – played a key role in containing the deadly disease.

In addition to the campaign, a WHO-supported early warning and surveillance system provided vital data on suspected cases in different locations, ensuring effective and targeted interventions.

Response efforts also included providing safe chlorinated water, setting up treatment centers and laboratory testing, community outreach on methods to disease prevention, and working with local media to spread awareness on cholera and its symptoms.

However, due to the ongoing conflict, many people across northeastern Nigeria remain cut off from basic healthcare and routine immunization services.

Health conditions in many camps for internally displaced persons are sub-standard.

Future risks of disease outbreaks, therefore, cannot be ruled out, warned WHO. “While the achievements of the cholera programme in Borno state are a significant milestone, cholera is endemic to northeastern Nigeria and future outbreaks remain likely,” said Dr. Alemu.

“We must be vigilant to the warning signs that could signal another outbreak of cholera or other epidemic-prone diseases.”

PAGE 7

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, december 27, 2017

CRIME News

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he former campaign chief of Nigeria’s ex-president Goodluck Jonathan has been arrested for allegedly stealing $48.5m from state coffers to fund his failed 2015 re-election bid, an official said Tuesday.

Ngozi Olojeme was head of Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) and siphoned off this amount from the fund, an official from the national anti-corruption agency EFCC told AFP.

Former NSITF chief, Ngozi Olojeme, held for alleged $48.5m graft

“She is in our custody for an alleged fraud totally $48,485,127 belonging to NSITF,” he said, and added that the EFCC had also seized 38 properties traced to Olojeme.

“The properties have been placed

under an interim forfeiture in line with a court injunction pending further investigation and trial,” he said.

Key members of the Jonathan administration have been arrested

and charged with corruption by the government of President Mohammadu Buhari, who won the 2015 election.

Buhari’s electoral pledges included a promise to rid Nigeria

Armed robber mistakenly shoots partner during robbery

Representative of Bauchi State Governor, Mss Rifkatu Danna (left) presenting gifts to widows, Hajara Bitrus and Jemima Ayuba, at Boi Local Government Area on Monday in Bauchi State. Photo: NAN

A

n armed robber died from his partner’s bullet during a foiled robbery attack on one Francis Chibueze, along Bakery road, Azikoro village, Yenagoa.

Confirming the incident on Sunday, the spokesman of the State Police Command, Asinim Butswat, told the News Agency of Nigeria that the armed robber mistakenly shot and killed his partner.

“On December 22, at about 8 p.m., a gang of two armed robbers attacked one Francis Chibueze of Bakery Road, Azikoro Village, Yenagoa.

“As they were trying to attack their victim, one the robbers mistakenly shot and killed his partner, while the victim, Chibueze, escaped unhurt.

“The deceased armed robber was identified as Thankgod Smith, a 25 years old man, and the partner who shot him is Peter Napoleon, 23,’’ Mr. Butswat told NAN. He said the suspect came to the Azikoro Police Station on December 23, and turned himself in.

The spokesman said the suspect confessed to the armed robbery and killing of his gang member.

“The suspected armed robber led Police detectives to an uncompleted building on Bakery Road, Azikoro Village, where the gun was recovered,” he said.

(NAN)

of endemic corruption which has stunted its growth.

Critics have accused Buhari of a witch-hunt as only members of the opposition have been targeted in the corruption campaign.

Vigilante reaffirms support for security agencies in fight against crime From Mohammad Ibrahim, Kaduna

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ommander General and Founder of Vigilantes Group of Nigeria (VGN) Alhaji Ali Sokoto has vowed that the organization will continue to support security agencies, Police in particularly in fight against crimes in local communities and the country in general.

The Commander said Nigeria as a nation needs to be supported

by VGN in the fight against criminals.

Speaking at a news briefing at the weekend in Kaduna, Alhaji

Ali lauded the National Assembly members for supporting the Bill to make VGN a paramilitary agency in the country. “ We gathered here to express our appreciation to members of National Assembly for allowing our Bill to scale through third reading.

“VGN will continue to support the fight against crimes in this country. We are also appealing to President Buhari to ascent the bill so that we can equally give our contribution towards providing security to our local communities,” he said.

Alhaji Ali therefore appealed

to their members Nationwide to be united and continue to do their work in the development of the country, security wise.

Also in his remarks, VGN Chief of Staff, Navy Captain Abubakar Umar Bakori RTD said the aim of creating VGN was to compliment the Police and other Security agencies to fight crimes in local communities.

“Every Nigeria know that there are lot of agitation for community policing in this country presently and we believe that this Bill if finally ascent too by the President will help provide security in our communities.

“The President is aware of the role played by VGN in making our communities crimes free even before he became the president.

So, with the passage of our bill both States and FG can use the VGN in fight against crimes in the country,” he said.

According to him, presently VGN members are being used in some states to provide security in communities where the police couldn’t go.

He added further that the bill if it becomes law will enable VGN to create more job opportunities to teaming unemployed youths across the country.

6 killed as gunmen invade Benue community at Christmas From Uche Nnorom Makurdi

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ot less than six persons were reportedly killed on Christmas eve as unknown gun men invaded Utonkon village in Ado local government area of Benue state.

The attackers also, left several others seriously injured while many have declared missing.

However, the Benue state Police command confirmed two (2) deaths in the attack.

Our correspondent gathered from an eyewitness that the armed men numbering over four(4) stormed the community on motorbikes while some of the locals were busy sharing meat they had bought for the Yuletide celebration.

According to him, “I had gone to the village to visit a friend at about 2pm when suddenly, we saw about four (4) men on motorbikes, armed with pump action riffles shooting sporadically at the people who were busy sharing the meat

they bought for the Christmas festivity.

“People were scampering for safety, women and children were crying and running into nearby bushes to take cover but about six(6) persons were not so lucky as they were gunned down in cold blood.

“The armed men at a point came down from their bikes and started moving from one compound to another, as if they were searching for something or

somebody, shooting at anything in sight including animals.”

“Shortly after, they all mounted their bikes and fled.

“As we speak, the injured have been rushed to the General hospital in Igumale while the injured are also receiving treatment.

“Presently, Utonkon village is in mourning, the people are fleeing their homes to neighbouring villages for safety for fear that the attackers may return and cause more mayhem.”

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent, ASP, Moses Yamu who confirmed the incident said only two(2) deaths were recorded during the attack while five others sustained injuries.

Yamu said, “the information at my disposal indicated that the attack was carried out by two yetto- be identified gunmen who stormed the village on motorbikes.

But investigation into the matter has commenced.”

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, december 27, 2017

PAGE 8

News Troops repel B/Haram attack on Molai in Borno From Mustapha Isah Kwaru Maiduguri

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esterday’s peaceful Christmas festivities in Maiduguri, Borno state, was suddenly disturbed by the reports of Boko Haram insurgents attacking Molai, a village 5km away from the state capital.

Our correspondent reports that he attack began at about 5.30pm when distant sounds of gun shootings pierced through the cold hazy weather in to township.

Several military patrol vehicles and members of the youth vigilante popularly known as Civilian JTF were seen trooping to the area.

Fleeing residents of the area told newsmen that the attack was being launched by a large number of Boko Haram gunmen.

Though details of the attack was not immediately available as at press time, residents said large number of insurgents, armed with assault rifles and explosives attacked a military location, leading to a gun-duel.

Sources said the residents were thrown into intense fears following endless sounds of gun shots and explosives.

“When the sounds becomes

more horrifying we have to abandone our homes and carry the little of our belongings and flee into the town for fear of the unknown”, the resident said.

Member of the vigilante group who spoke on condition of anonynimity said the attack was anticipated during the Christmas Day celebrations.

He explained that warning was sent into the city long before now that the attacks on the city during the Yuletide would come from two directions and one of them was Molai along MaiduguriBiu highway.

“As I am talking to you now the

attack is on, but thank God that our soldiers have been effectively mobilised towards that area and they are currently engaging them.

We knew it would come because there was a rumour about it that Boko Haram would attack during Christmas and they would do so from Molai and the airport axis”, the vigilante members noted.

Residents living close to the area, mainly women and children fleeing the direction on tricycle moving at neck breaking speed against the traffic of soldiers and Civilian JTF trucks that were heading towards the battle area.

A panicked driver ran out

of control and ran into another oncoming vehicle forcing all of them into a ditch near Sheraton Hotel.

The attack happened as the Chief of army staff, lieutenant general, Tukur Buratai visited Gwoza in Borno state to celebrate the Christmas with troops on the front line.

However, reports said yesterday that the attack has been successfully repelled by soldiers.

A witness, Aji Maina, told the News Agency of Nigeria that the insurgents attacked and shot sporadically, a situation which

made the villagers to scamper for safety and flee their homes.

Mr. Maina said that the residents of Molai and adjourning villages had to run into Polo and other areas of Maiduguri for safety.

He, however, said that soldiers deployed to the area engaged the insurgents and repelled the attack.

“The insurgents attacked the ED security section, torched houses and motorists caught in the cross fire.

“At present, no one can ascertain the extent of damages or casualties in the attack.

Fuel scarcity sabotage against Buhari’s govt -Bishop From Femi Oyelola Kaduna

T

he Bishop of Kaduna Diocese Anglican Communion Bishop Timothy Yahaya has said the current fuel scarcity lingering in the country is an act of economic sabotage by some few individuals in order to discredit the present administration and put Nigerians into unnecessary hardship.

He stated this while speaking to newsmen after the Christmas Christmas he delivered in Kaduna yesterday.

Bishop Timothy added that since those behind the fuel scarcity did not mean well for the country, the government should take stiff action to curtail them.

He suggest that there should be 24hours selling of fuel in all filling stations across the country because he said it is when the filling station closed selling to the public that they now turn to the black marketers and sell every fuel in the station to them.

Children having funs at Millennium Park, during the Boxing Day Celebration, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Ekweremadu donates relief items to Gombe IDPs, fetes Enugu widows

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

T

he Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, has donated gift items worth millions of naira to Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in Gombe State during the Christmas holiday.

This was even as the Senator and his wife, Lady Nwanneka Ekweremadu, feted 250 widows from Enugu and distributed wrappers and food items to them.

At the first presentation, which was to IDPs from Borno and Yobe States, Ekweremadu, represented by his Special Assistant on Political Matters

and former Chairman of Conference of State Legislatures of Nigeria, Rt. Hon. Inuwa Garba, assured the IDPs that the National Assembly and President Muhammadu Buhari administration were working hand-in-hand to totally end insurgency so they could return to their homes to resume their normal lives.

“But until we achieve that, you deserve all the support the government, kind-spirited Nigerians, and the international community can offer to ameliorate your challenges and put smiles on your faces”, he said.

Presenting the second batch

of gift items, Ekweremadu, represented by the Senator representing Gombe South Senatorial District, Senator Joshua Lidani, enjoined the IDPs not to lose hope.

Receiving the items on behalf of the excited IDPs, the Chairman of IDPs from Borno and Yobe States, Alhaji Abba Jatau Danbuwa and the Chairman of IDPs from Adamawa residing in Southern Gombe State, Mr. Michael Ntebuwa, expressed profound gratitude to Ekweremadu for consistently reaching out to Nigerians in various IDP camps in the North East.

Meanwhile, in Enugu, where the Senator and his wife, Lady Nwanneka, hosted the 2017 edition of Christmas with Widows, 250 widows drawn the five Local Government Areas of Enugu West Senatorial District, smiled home with gifts of N10.000 cash, a bag of rice, and wrappers each.

Speaking on the occasion, which has been the family’s tradition since 1997, Lady Nnwaneka Ekweremadu said reaching out to the less privileged and giving back to society every yuletide was aimed at ensuring that the joy of Christmas went round.

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, december 27, 2017

Page 9

News

Yuletide: Gunmen kill 6 in S/ Kaduna

From Femi Oyelola Kaduna

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he people of Ungwan Mailafiya in Kwagiri District of Gwong Chiefdomn in Jema’a Local Government Area kaduna State yesterday celebrated what was discribed as black Christmas as six people were killed and several others injured by gunmen who stormed the community on Christmas Eve. This comes after an earlier attack resulting to four deaths, while many sustained various degree of injuries in Nindem Community of Godogodo Chiefdom, Reacting to the incident a member representing Jema’a Local Government at the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Honourable Labari S. Tella called on security agencies to sit up, while calling the people to be vigilant.

According to him the unprovoked attack on Nindem Community and Ungwan Mailafiya in Kwagiri District of Gwong Chiefdom is barbaric and should be condemned by all civilized people.

“Such acts should have been forgotten with the stone age but it is unfortunate that the perpetrators are carrying on with reckless abandon,” he said.

He said the dead bodies have been moved to the mortuary while those who sustained injuries are responding to treatment at Ibrahim Yakowa Memorial hospital in Kafanchan.

Police arrest counterfeit drugs kingpin in Kaduna From Femi Oyelola Kaduna

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he Kaduna state Police Command has arrested one Emmanuel Igboanu AKA Bute-Bute for being in possession of adulterated counterfeit drugs.

The Police Public Relations

Officer ASP Aliyu Mukhtar stated this in a statement made available to the media in kaduna yesterday.

The statement added that the suspect was nabbed at the Salon Gari Central Market Zaria around 11:45 am on 22nd December.

The drugs which includes 250,000 packets of Amocloxin were hidden in large cartoons.

The suspect is now in custody and the drugs will soon be sent to laboratory for scientific analysis.

“Preliminary investigation shows that the drugs are

counterfeit and sub standard “The Command is taking the fight against drugs dealers to their dens because of the negatives impact they are having on our people especially the youth and unsuspecting citizens,” the Police said.

Stop opening new universities, Iwuanyanwu advises FG

E

mmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, University of Calabar, has advised the Federal Government to stop establishing more universities and enhance the standard of existing ones.

Mr. Iwuanyanwu gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Atta Ikeduru, Imo, on Tuesday.

He said that instead of frequent approval of new universities, the government should concentrate on improving standards in the existing ones to produce quality graduates.

Mr. Iwuanyanwu said the standard of education in Nigerian universities had dropped when compared with what obtained more than 40 years ago.

“During our days in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, before the outbreak of the civil war, Nigerian universities were rated among the top universities in the world but the situation today is something else. ”Government must do something to change the university system, ‘’ he said. Mr. Iwuanyanwu said the quality of education was central to the advancement of the nation, adding that emphasis must be placed on specialisation by universities for expected gains in the education sector.

He expressed support for the restructuring of the country with a view to tackling

Kebbi gov urges Christians to preach peace From Ahmed Idris Birnin Kebbi

religious in the state.

G

overnor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State has urged Nigeria Christians to pray for the unity of Nigeria as they are celebrating Christmas with their respective families.

In a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Mu'azu Dakingeri said that Governor Bagudu assured Christians that his administration would work harder to maintain harmonious co- existence in the state and promote moral virtues with good neighbourliness among it citizens.

According to him " the Governor urged Christians to preach peace and unity among the adherence of various faiths in the spirit of brotherliness and togetherness ".

He added that Governor Bagudu assured them Kebbi state government would continue to protect rights and privileges of all followers of different

corruption, repositioning the local government administration and power sector.

“I must commend President Muhammadu Buhari for his courage in embarking on anti-corruption fight.

“Buhari embarked on War Against Indiscipline as Head of State and now fighting corruption as a civilian president.

“All I want Buhari to do is to extend the anti-corruption fight to all sectors not at the level of leaders alone because a policeman collecting N50 from drivers

on the road is involved in corruption.

“The one giving gift to somebody in office is also involved,” he said.

The pro-chancellor said there must be ethical revolution in order to eliminate corruption for Nigeria to get things right.

On the lingering petrol scarcity, Iwuanyanwu advised the Federal Government to construct refineries in all the 36 states as a way of ending the recurrent challenges associated with short supply of petroleum products.

(NAN)

TENDER NOTICE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA ON BEHALF OF DMO OFFERS NIGERIAN TREASURY BILLS Notice is hereby given by the Central Bank of Nigeria on behalf of DMO that the Federal Government of Nigeria Treasury Bills of 91, 182 and 364-day tenors amounting to N11,769,538,000, N33,925,693,000 and N115,845,406,000, respectively would be issued by Dutch auction on Thursday, January 04, 2018.

All Money Market Dealers should submit bids through the CBN S4 WEB INTERFACE between 9.00 a.m. and 11.00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 03, 2018.

Each bid must be in multiple of N1, 000 subject to a minimum of N50, 001, 000. Authorized Money Market Dealers are allowed to submit multiple bids. A bid may be for authorized Money Market Dealers own account, Non – Money Market Dealers or interested members of the public. The result of the auction would be announced by 11.30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 03, 2018. The Bank reserves the right to reject any bid.

Allotment letters would be issued for successful bids on Thursday, January 04, 2018, while payment for the successful bids should be made to your account with Central Bank of Nigeria not later than 11.00 a.m. on Thursday, January 04, 2018.

The Bank reserves the right to vary the amount on offer in line with market realities prevailing as at the period of auction of the Nigerian Treasury Bills.

Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu

GOVERNMENT SECURITIES OFFICE CENTRAL BANK OF NIGERIA ABUJA.

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, wednesday, december 27, 2017

PAGE 10

News

Kebbi govt marries out 4 female orphans From Ahmed Idris Birnin Kebbi

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ebbi State Government has married out four female orphanage girls from Birnin Kebbi Orphanage Home.

The wedding Fatiha took place yesterday at the Emir of Gwandu Palace with the state Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu serving as Wali to the four brides.

The ceremony which was witnessed by hundreds of people across the state was sponsored by the entire state government and taking to their grooms houses.

The Chief Imam of Wala

Juma’at Mosque, Mallam Ahmed Rufa’i, Chief Imam of Emir’s Palace Juma’at Mosque, Mallam Muhammadu Lawali, Mallam Salisu Fana and the Chief Imam of Yar-Yara Juma’at Mosque, Liman Laba solemnized the marriage.

Speaking to newsmen shortly after the wedding Fatiah, Governor, Abubakar Mu’azu Dakingari said Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu who sponsored the entire wedding expressed appreciation for the large turn-out of people, friends and well-wishers.

Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu gave an assurance that his administration was committed to

the welfare of the less privileged in the society calling on husbands to strictly maintain the rights and privileges prescribed to married couple by the noble Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W).

The Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Muhammadu Iliyasu Bashar urged well to do individuals in the society to support orphans and keenly monitor the behavior of their wards and children as well as discourage drug addiction among youths.

Traditional rulers, he said have adopted measures to parley with parents, youth leaders, opinion leaders and security agencies to check-mate the proliferation of

drugs and intoxicating substances in towns.

Forty thousand naira was paid as dowry for the marriage between Gaddafi Muhammadu Fana and Zara’u Musa through his Wali Salisu Fana, while Lawal Yahaya Mera who wedded Zainab S.T Bello paid twenty thousand naira dowry through his Wakil Alhaji Bashir, Dan Malikin Zauro.

Mallam AbdulMuminu Abdulmumin Aguji who took Rabi’atu A. Adamu as wife paid forty thousand naira dowry by his Wali Ibrahim Abdllahi Kofar Guga Katsina while thirty thousand naira dowry was paid for the marriage

between Nafi’u and Zainab through his Wali Alh. Idris Umar Magajin Bunga.

Also in her remarks, the Acting Permanent Secretary Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development Hajiya Hassana Hassan Wara thanked the governor for supporting the less privilege while assuring him of their readiness to support and cooperation towards actualizing his dream.

She said that three females were married out while one boy also got married and all of them were graduate from Colleges of Education and universities.

DPR sanctions filling station, dispenses fuel for free in Ogun

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Scene of youths clash on Monday in Bwari Area of Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

Be vigilant against substandard products, emir urges Nigerians From Ahmed Kaigama,Bauchi

T

he Emir of Bauchi Dr. Rilwanu Sulaimanu Adamu has underscored the importance of traditional rulers as key stakeholders in the fight against substandard products in the country.

The emir stated this while declaring open a stakeholders workshop organized by the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) with a theme “Reduction of Substandard Goods in Nigeria” on Thursday in Bauchi.

The emir who was represented by Barden Kudu of Bauchi Dr. Hayatu Mustapha described the workshop as timely saying “ SON should also from, time to time, be organizing

similar workshops for community leaders too, because of our strategic importance and closeness to our respective communities”.

The emir also enjoined Nigerians to be vigilant in identifying substandard products around them and in the markets pointing out that , “ it is only when we are in tune with what is happening around us that we can be able to know that there is fake products in our markets”.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Director General of SON Mr. Anthony Osita Aboloma, said the objective of the Workshop was to bring together stakeholders from the North Eastern part of the country and that it is hoped that at the end of the workshop participants will be

well inform about the activities of SON in mitigating the circulation of Substandard products in the market.

While calling on participants to be participatory at the workshop, the DG, who was represented by an Assistant Director Operations, SON headquarters Abuja, Alhaji Adamu Abba (Galajen Bauchi), said “ it is expected that at the end of the workshop you will be taught the various techniques of detecting Substandard products and it is also hoped that you would also try to proffer ways on how to curtail the presence of those products in our markets and other places”.

In her vote of thanks at the end of the one day exercise, the state coordinator of SON Engineer Hauwa

Hussain, thanked Bauchi state government, Bauchi emirate council, other traditional institutions in the state, security agencies and the media for the support the SON office in Bauchi has been receiving in carrying out its mandate of mitigating the circulation of Substandard products.

Engineer Hussain further said ,“to our very important participants, I urge you to please put what you have learn here today into use, especially the techniques of detecting fake products and report it to our office. The fight against the selling of Substandard products is a collective responsibility that cannot be left alone with SON and I am appealing to Nigerian consumers to shun such unwholesome products”.

here was wild jubilation on Monday at Mani Petrol Station, Mowe, Ogun State as the Department of Petroleum Resources, sanctioned the owner and instructed him to dispense fuel for free to motorists.

News Agency of Nigeria, reports that Head of Operations, DPR office in the state, Kasali Akinade, had earlier visited the station to warn the owner to start selling at the approved pump price.

NAN also reports that DPR officials had to return to sanction the owner because he refused to comply with their earlier directive.

Speaking with journalists, Kasali said it had become imperative for him to make the station a “scapegoat” so as to serve as a deterrent to others around the area.

He wondered why people would want to make life difficult for fellow citizens, saying the department has zero tolerance for such act of indiscipline.

“We got a tip-off that they are hoarding and selling at N220 per liter. We came here and instructed him to start selling at the approved pump price and forgave him for what he did.

“But as soon as we left his station, he reverted back to the old price and even stopped selling.

We had to turn back and make a scapegoat out of him.

“This will serve as a deterrent to others because we treated him as a gentleman at first, but he decided to sabotage the efforts of the federal government,” he said.

He advised other marketers to quit short-changing the public, saying if they had any grievances, they should channel it to the appropriate quarters rather than taking it out on the masses.

Some customers who spoke with NAN expressed their joy at the DPR’s intervention, saying they needed such acts while also advising proper monitoring on the part of the authorities.(NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, december 27, 2017

PAGE 11

EDITORIAL

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Merry Christmas

oday marks the season of Christmas. As What are these “challenges of the moment”?

Number one is mass unemployment. The the word implies, it is a time of solemn National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported festivities commemorating the birth Friday that 30 million Nigerians have lost of Jesus Christ. Though not specified in the their jobs or have not held down a job at Bible, the Holy Christian Writh, the birth of all. About half this number, was recorded Christ is accepted generally in Christendom between 2015 and June, this year. Naturally, to be December 25. However, his miraculous this has led to a rise in crime such as birth was prophesied long ago by angels and kidnapping for ransom.. There is a marked the early prophets of God. He was to come desperation for survival which we see in the as the Messiah of humanity held down by growing number of young Nigerian men and a corrupt world system over which Satan, women “irregularly migrating” in search of the Devil, presides. Therefore, Christmas celebrates the birth of this Saviour who lends His name to a faith that originates in Him.

“

In Nigeria, hundreds of millions of the Christian faithful are marking Christ’s birth with worship services in churches, exchanges of gifts and vistis to hospitals and orphanages to comfort the sick and the less privileged. In deference to the solemn occasion, the Federal Government has declared today and Tuesday as a public holiday.. In a goodwill message, released on Saturday, President Muhammadu Buhari said: “The commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ is an important opportunity for us to show love to one another and encourage unity by spending quality time with our friends, families and the less-privileged.

By the same token, and keeping with the spirit of the season, our gallant troops serving in the frontlines in the fight against insurgency; those wounded, lying in the hospital, as well as civilians who have suffered the brunt of evil and wicked elements these past years, deserve our fervent goodwill and sustained prayers

“It is also an occasion to draw inspiration from the exemplary lifestyle and teachings of Jesus Christ, who constantly stood for what is right, true and honest...The Holy Book describes Christmas as a festival of peace, joy, healing, hope and fulfilment.

It kindles great expectations in the heart, irrespective of the challenges of the moment.”

“greener pastures”. President Buhari has urged “them to shun the allure of embarking on such perilous journeys.” Only jobs created at home can hold these desperadoes back.

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

The second challenge, according to Buhari, is the Boko Haram insurgency in the country’s northeast. Now in its 10th year, it has claimed hundreds of lives, displaced millions and destroyed the economy of the

OUR PEOPLE Chairman Malam Wada Maida, Oon, Fnge Chief Operating Officer (Ag) Editor, Daily

Hameed M. Bello Manager, administration Hassan Hammanyaji

region. Recently, the government received an approval to spend another $1 billion dollars to retrain and equip troops fighting the insurgents. In his Christmas message, Buhari implored Nigerians “to support and pray for Nigerian soldiers who are engaged in the fight against insurgents and those engaged in bringing peace to the country.

“By the same token, and keeping with the spirit of the season, our gallant troops serving in the frontlines in the fight against insurgency; those wounded, lying in the hospital, as well as civilians who have suffered the brunt of evil and wicked elements these past years, deserve our fervent goodwill and sustained prayers. The personal fortitude of these individuals will continue to inspire us to victory as we turn the tide against the enemy and annihilate those who work against the unity of our nation.”

These difficult times, indeed, require an outpouring of love, comfort and support for one another. Of late, in this country, religious festivals have lost their spiritual flavour.

Community spirit and fellowship that Christ taught and lived out have been replaced by individualism and commercialism. Intense competition for wealth and power has eroded the moral and spiritual fabric of the society. Today, Christmas is no more than a season to engage in unbriddled revelry and debauchery, drink driving - this often kills and maims. We make haste to ask for a return to the original spirit of Chritmas.

The Church needs to do a soul-search to see where it has got it wrong, so much so that many people are leaving the “light of the Gospel of Christ” and returning to the “darkness” from which He called His followers.

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PAGE 12

Opinion

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, december 27, 2017

A Glimpse into Yakubu Dogara’s Golden Heart

By Turaki Adamu Hassan

A

s I clock 50, what is uppermost to me, really, is not longevity, I want to see how well I have invested the 50 years that God has given me. You know, when you are alive, you can choose to invest in yourself, or in others. I think honour is when you serve others,” so said Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, the 14th Speaker of the House of Representatives at a charity football competition organized to raise funds for Internally Displaced Persons and the less privileged last week in Abuja and today is his golden jubilee. Hewas born on December 26, 1967 at the then Tafawa Balewa province, North East Nigeria.

The story of Hon. Dogara’s 50 year sojourn on earth is that of abundance of the grace of God almighty whose unfailing love and mercy have been all sufficient in his life. It is a true story of how the invisible hands of the almighty and His guardian angels have been watching and guarding him all the way. His life journey is a manifestation of God’s unfailing love.

In all his adult life, Dogara has never celebrated his birthday. He had always said that he won’t celebrate until he reaches 50 years of age and all efforts and attempts to make him do anything symbolic of celebration proved abortive. Principled as he is, he has faithfully kept to his resolution. I could recall that on December 26, 2015, at around 9am at his family home in Gwarangah, Bogoro local government area, Bauchi State, his wife, Mrs. Gimbiya Dogara, prepared a cake on a table for him to cut and all of us waited so we could join him but to our utter shock, as soon as he sighted the cake, he turned away from it went on to greet visitors in the living room. She then beckoned on their eldest daughter who joined her to cut the cake on his behalf.

That is the character and person of Hon. Dogara. His yes is yes, his no is no and people who know him will tell you that if he gives you his word, you cannot only take it to the bank but you can as well go to bed and sleep with your two eyes closed. His integrity and credibility are his greatest assets and this has been attested to by all and sundry including the general overseer and founder of Living Faith Church, Bishop David Oyedepo, who two months ago said, “I have zero doubt about his integrity, I will stand with him anywhere.”

To mark his golden jubilee today, instead of the pomp and pageantry that usually charaterise birthdays of people of his status, the Speaker has rather opted to hold a thanksgiving service in the church and visit 19 orphanages and motherless babies homes where he will wine and dine with the children, speak to them and give them words of hope and encouragement in life and also offer his token donation of food, clothing, and other items. This moved Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man to extoll the virtues of the Speaker and commended him for choosing to celebrate his birthday by embarking on philanthropic and humanitarian activities to help the IDPs and less privileged.

The man, Dogara, is a natural born leader whose sterling qualities are exceptional. He is one man who grew steadily through hard work, discipline, prudence, fear of God, honesty and can best be described as a bastion of hope, courage, and an epitome of humility to anybody who comes close to him. In his public and private utterances and conduct, he remains a unique individual and is made so by his uncommon humility, courage, honesty, credibility and integrity.

Whilst he acknowledges God’s divine grace and favour over his life since childhood, Dogara never took it for granted that this divine grace may abound as an upright man. A highly devoted Christian who fears God and does not take that which is not his, he is also a prudent manager of resources and at the same time, a generous man.

Friends, foes, and even his worst critics, admit that he is an embodiment of leadership.

No wonder, Nigeria’s eminent jurist and legal luminary, Professor Ben Nwabueze, said that each time he sees and listens to the Speaker presiding in the House, it gives him hope that all is not lost in Nigeria and that we still have people who can be entrusted with the affairs of Nigeria.

To Dogara, public office should never be used for personal elevation or gain but should be seen as a call to duty, to serve God and humanity. It is his philosophy and belief that leaders are like the moon whose light should radiate and reflect in their followers like the stars and that leadership is not a zero-sum game and that the primary purpose of government in a democracy is to serve the common good of the people. Every government decision must be one that is anchored on delivering greater good for

Time to roll up our sleeves ​​​​​By Babafemi Ojudu

O

ne of the things I love doing is driving through the streets and towns of Ekiti State. It was a dream when I was a boy with no hope of ever getting behind the wheels of a car. It’s a hobby now that I am an adult.

I love to drive as the soft morning breeze wafts through the air. Ekiti is a small state blessed with green vegetation. The morning air is pure and does wonders to the soul. Our elders used to say if you listen well, you could hear the voice of the angels whistling through the winds.

You can drive the length and breadth of my beloved State in an hour. If you’re an indigene of Ekiti or a resident of the state or someone who has had the good fortune of visiting with us, you will know what I mean. You think better driving the length and breath of the state as the sun rises over those glorious hills and mountains. Our towns have different names, from Omuoto Efon, from Emure to Iye but we are one.

I enjoy the easy banter with folks in the towns and villages. Our people are welcoming and prosperous. All they need is a chance, an opportunity. It takes me back to a time not too long ago, a time when boys could dream of bright futures and girls shaped their destinies.

I am a poster child for what is possible ​​ in Ekiti. I was born with little. Try hard as my parents did, we couldn’t afford much. But, we had

something money couldn’t buy. We had hope.

And, it wasn’t just me. It was most of the kids I know on the streets and in school. We knew if we kept good grades, we will keep moving forward. ​​But, those days are long gone. These days, driving through the streets is not the joy it once was. You have to cut through the cloud of gloom and doom that hangs over the state. Then you have to deal with the hopelessness etched across the faces of the children, youth and elders. ​​This is not the Ekiti of my youth. It is not the Ekiti of my dreams. And, we don’t deserve to live in this Ekiti fostered by a man who forgot the spirit of brotherhood that moved the state to the cusp of greatness before the vultures came. ​​The future of any society lies in its children and youth. Sometimes I wonder what sort of future are we leaving to them. Our fathers laid a great foundation for us to build a better future.

That future is today. But, has our leadership in Ekiti laid a good foundation for the children and youth of today? Can the emperor really say he’s leaving the leaders of tomorrow a fair legacy? ​​I talk to a lot of the youth. A lot of times they seek me out – all over Ekiti and outside the state. I get tons of emails from many outside the country. Sometimes I seek them out. And they all have two questions – how did we get here? How do we get away from here?

How do you sow hope in the midst of crushing bleakness? How do you tell a child to

the greater number of the people. To achieve this, it is his conviction that education must not only be free and compulsory, but also of the highest possible standard. It must also be given priority over and above all other considerations as the cornerstone of development of every society without which no progress can be made at both societal and individual levels.

It is also his belief that democracy – which is the best system of government to have ever been invented by mankind – should deliver on its promises of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And honest that he is, he would openly admit that the challenges confronting Nigeria is a direct result of failure of leadership.

Thus, leaders, according to him, must collectively admit that they have failed the people and then chart a new course for the socio-economic and political development of the nation.

His dream, vision and aspiration is that sooner rather than later, a better Nigeria will emerge where both the haves and the have-nots will have a place that will accommodate them in the system; where a room will be available for all.

These are his thoughts, this is his vision, and what he wants to see come to reality in our nation. He is not a man of just words but also of action and the House of Representatives under his able leadership is making giant strides and has broken all previous records of performance since independence in 1960. In two years, about 200 bills were passed, work is in progress on 1000 others, over 1000 resolutions addressing different spheres of our national life have been passed, in addition to almost a thousand public petitions from Nigerians which have been addressed. This has surpassed records by all previous assemblies and was made possible by Speaker Dogara’s foresight when he commissioned a team of legal luminaries and experts to reform Nigeria’s outdated and obsolete laws that dates back to 1800s.

He believes and practices politics of give and take, consensus building and compromiseaccommodating both friends and foes-putting aside that which is personal for the collective interests of all.

The Speaker strongly believes in dialogue, negotiation and consensus building, which are the cardinal pillars of his leadership. His quality of being peaceful and one who strongly believes in building bridges of friendship and love across

the divides have in no small way, helped in bringing the desired stability in the House. He has continued to enjoy enormous support and loyalty from his colleagues, who acknowledge his transparency and open-door policy.

The Speaker pushed for passage of the #NotTooYoungToRun bill aimed at reducing the minimum age required by law to stand for elections in Nigeria. He is also a strong advocate for the autonomy of local governments in Nigeria. As a legacy and to his eternal credit, his North East Development Commission Bill is now an Act and the Commission that pioneer the work of rebuilding the region has been created.

The Speaker’s honesty, patriotism, sterling leadership qualities and political sagacity are being recognised, commended, thus earning him awards and honours and recognitions too numerous to mention.

Even President Muhammadu Buhari was full of praises for the Speaker after working closely with him in these past two years. He has said that the Speaker’s performance had reinforced his confidence in the country’s youths, noting especially that “with Dogara’s performance as Speaker, fears that the country’s younger politicians have been pushed into background are unfounded.”

Indeed, if the President could give this testimony, what more can one say about such an unassuming personality, master tactician, progressive, vibrant politician, erudite scholar of high repute and lawyer per excellence, who has achieved these feats and greatness through hard work, honesty, and fear of God as is required of leaders in these trying times in Nigeria.

One of Nigeria’s shining stars, Hon Dogara prides himself as a beacon of hope, icon of transparency and progressive leadership. He is a determined go-getter, an embodiment of moral rectitude, epitome of humility and repository of knowledge and a man of destiny and as Josiah Holland Gilbert of blessed memory prayed about 200 years ago, we too in this challenging pace in our nation can only borrow his prayers and say God give us more men like Yakubu Dogara and recite the lines: “GOD, give us men! A time like this demands strong minds, great hearts, true faith and ready hands; Men who possess opinions and a will; Men who have honor...”

hold on a while longer and that better days are coming? How do you convince the youth that there’s something at the end of the dark tunnel and it’s not the brainless insanity of the last few years?

It’s tough to preach hope when the emperor who specializes in doom snatches opportunities provided to the youth and children and dump them in his basket of failures. Take the case of the Home Grown School Feeding Program of the federal government for example. This was a nobrainer. The federal government had designed the programme to encourage kids to go to school by providing them a free meal, nourish them and improve their performance. It was designed to increase school enrollment and encourage local farmers to go back to farm and increase food production.

Our kids in Ekiti were denied that opportunity until I started screaming for all to hear. I had to challenge the Governor in the presence of the Vice President about it for reason to sink into him. And, it’s not just our children that were losing out. The entire state was. We have lost dozens of months where our farmers could have earned income providing the food for the children, our caterer could have been employed cooking the food and the lives of the people would have been tremendously better.

I often wondered what would have happened if I was born into this age of gloom, when the only thing that seems waiting at the end of the tunnel is doom. These kids know leaders who are everything but leaders. I knew leaders who

were men and women of honor. Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Pa Adekunle Ajasin. Mrs. Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti. Professors Banji Akintoye andSam Aluko. Ewi Aladesanmi Anirare. Lady Deborah Jibowu.

These kids these days have not been that lucky, especially in the last few years. So, when some kids came to me the other day lamenting our great State and the future, how they love the State but don’t like the way it’s been dragged through the mud, how they’re tired of being the laughing stock of the nation, my heart bled for the State. But, that wasn’t all of it. One of the kids asked me, what would I tell the children of Ekiti.

How can I convince the youth that tomorrow will be better? It was a question that gnawed at my soul. These are kids who just want their state and their leadership to do right by them. They don’t want too much. They just want to be able to live in a land of opportunity because they know when there is hope, with their sweat and determination they will create plenty.

I told them what my father once told me.

That when all the chips are down, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and go to work. I am rolling up my sleeves and getting ready to go to work. With our sweat and determination we will make Ekiti great again. I told them to spread the news – tell every kid in Ekiti it is time to roll up their sleeves and sing songs of freedom. Hope is coming to Ekiti.

Jesus Saves!

Babafemi Ojudu is a Public Affairs Analyst.

Hassan is the Special Adviser on Media & Public Affairs to the Speaker

PAGE 13

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, december 27, 2017

Comment

Jungle Justice and case for sustaining Nigeria’s institutions

By Mike Imafidor

I

have followed with nostalgia, the recent and ugly trend resurfacing in Nigeria; where people deliver judgements, and execute same on the streets without any sort of trials. Death penalties are now being dished and served hot like “akamu” on a hot afternoon in Sokoto.

Only recently, young boy was beaten and burnt to death in Lagos. On the morning of Friday, 2nd of December 2016, two persons, alleged to be armed robbers were also lynched and burnt in Anambra. Numerous cases abound such that time, space, and memory will fail me if I begin to mention.

Just pause and take a moment to reflect; if you find yourself in a position of being robbed, and you could overcome the robber and apprehend him, what will you do? Let’s go further by assuming this was your third experience with robbers and in the earlier experiences they had succeeded. I can’t assume what you will do, but one thing I know, if you hand over this robber to the appropriate authority – which is the best thing to do-, you will feel unsatisfied, because you do not trust the system to deal appropriately with the issue.

The big question that then bugs my mind is “whose responsibility is it, to develop the required trust for the system”. When you see well known burglars and thieves parading your street on a Sunday morning, only after being arrested the Thursday before, having been caught in the act. How would this influence your trust for the system to deal with deviant behaviours that are against the social contract we all signed for?

Can this lead us to the natural state of mankind as described by Thomas Hobbes in Leviathan, where life was “poor, nasty, brutish, and short”.

My sense is that our institutions have failed in checkmating societal ills and thus stimulating a return to a “banana republic”.

Much of Nigeria’s history is replete with falling living standards, armed conflicts, political disorder, health challenges, and poor state of human development. This provides a prima facie case, and an indictment on poor institutions of governance to adequately deal with, and manage societal ills.

As early as 1989, the World Bank had in its long-term perspective study argued that of Nigeria’s development problems are underlined by a crisis of weak institutions; and more specifically, a governance challenge. Past and even present development performance indicators reveal that the country lags greatly behind most developing countries within Africa and even beyond.

This is despite implementing series of economic reform agendas in which their direct impacts were to stimulate development in the country. The World Bank Global Development Report (2016), puts Nigeria as one of the top ten (10) countries in the world with the highest number of poor. With a poverty rate of 46 percent, Nigeria is put only ahead of three countries -Madagascar, Mozambique and Congo Democratic Republic.

In Nigeria, economic rents, which perpetuate on the cover of ethnicity and religious bigotry take precedence over productivity.

The unbridled taste to promote corruption and the redistribution of wealth in favour of certain ethnic and political groups is a pure manifestation of the inability of institutions in Nigeria to play its expected role.

In the Nigeria context, it is very common to hear such phrase as the “Nigerian factor”.

This factor simply implies that standards have been reduced or compromised by the basic institutions in service delivery. This factor has also succeeded in making nonsense of accountability in the country.

This factor has worsened and weakened institutions, such as the legislative, executive and the judicial institutions where rule of law and the devotion to formal rules are not strictly observed; where political patronage is typical practice, where the independence and professionalism of the public sector has been weather-beaten and where civil society lacks the means, or the will to bring public pressure to bear.

According to the Fund for Peace – which is an independent, nonpartisan, non-profit research and educational organization-, a failed nation is characterized by social, political, and/ or economic failure. In their 2016 rankings, Nigeria is the 13th most fragile state in from 17th in 2014 out of 178 countries listed.

Nigeria scores 103.5, out of a maximum score 120 (being a totally failed state) and falls in the same group of “high alert” countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Haiti, Zimbabwe, Burundi, Pakistan, and Guinea. Although the credibility of the FFP’s methodology has been called into questions, the results present a real cause for concern, given the recent happenings and trends in the country.

When institutions, which are supposed to be at the apogee of nationhood, are now being slaughtered on the altar of corruption, weak governance, ethnicity, and religious bigotry, what you get is the lynching and burning to death of a seven year old boy in Lagos on the 16th of November 2016, of two alleged armed robbers in Anambra on the 2nd of December 2016, in Aluu

Why most students fail at first year in varsity

By Emmanuel Onyekwere

F

ear of failure is one tendency that is innate and predominant in every human being irrespective of how influential or powerful, and no matter how much a person has achieved there is this inevitable “failure-phobia” in him/ her, people avoid failure even to the most ignoble degree of it. Failure however does not mean the same to everybody, to every person it has a meaning which is peculiar to him/her, but instantaneously it instigates a negative feeling in everybody. No definition would be given to failure to make it appealing to the ear. It is something every sane person is afraid of and tries in different capacities to avert. No one wants to be known as a failure hence no one dreams or plans to fail.

The aspiration of every student is the opposite of failure, which means graduating with a good grade (first class).

So many factors are responsible for the failure of students at their first year (in the University) but the contributions of the students are apparent and massive (thereby speeding up the rate at which they fail). The new students (freshers) fertilize the factors that pull them down and prevent them from doing well in their first year in the University.

The factors that militate against the success of first year students are numerous that I cannot dare mention all in this piece otherwise it would become voluminous, indecipherable and uninteresting hence the most common factors are as follows; Peer pressure, Impressive/Irrelevant reading, Abuse of freedom, Trusting the untrustworthy, Low self-esteem among others.

PEER PRESSURE I intend not to restrict Peer pressure to just pressure from your mates and colleagues but it extends to the pressure coming from your seniors in the department and faculty. As a fresher, they will tell you a lot about the department, the lecturers and the courses; how wicked and parsimonious some lecturers are. The misleading part of it is that they would tell you a course you can never pass or even if you pass, it would be with a very poor grade

(does it mean you must fail because they failed).

A fresher under such pressure otherwise called orientation may never do well.

A second aspect of it is the pressure that comes from peers, your fellow fresheners (claiming to know the school system even better than those that have spent couple of years in the University). They know everything about academics and almost everything you do is wrong. As a result of this many fresheners begin to doubt themselves; you are no longer convinced about yourself, they make you feel amateur, your ‘wonderful’ ideas are no longer celebrated. You’ve totally lost confidence in your abilities. At this point you’d start keeping malice with yourself, condemning yourself and the good things God endowed you with. This is when you begin to chase shadows.

IMPRESSIVE OR IRRELEVANT READING Impressive reading is the type of reading you do knowing for sure that you are not really reading anything but reluctantly continued because you want to impress someone; you want to be called the ‘Guru’, book warm’, ‘bookish’ and so on. You forfeit your night rest reading when you know you don’t understand when you read at night. The level and time of understanding differs, some read and understand at night while some do so during the day, some read for longer period of time while some can read for shorter period of time and still grab everything. Not everybody can read throughout the night (otherwise called TDB; i.e. Till Day Break); my former roommate tried it and after the TDB he slept and missed the Exam for which he did the TDB, funny right?

Irrelevant reading on the other hand is the habit of reading outside the scope of the study in hand. Because you want to be called ‘Prof.’ you’d carry heavy textbooks that are voluminous and irrelevant to your present course of study, you end up learning nothing and asking unconstructed and extraneous questions in class.

ABUSE OF FREEDOM Freedom they say intoxicates even more than strong wine. First year students abuse the freedom

they have; freedom to go to any place of their choice and come back at wish and do whatever they want; this freedom however poses a huge threat to their level of concentration in school. Away from home, just you and your independence, boyfriends and girlfriends, making new friends, sleeping whenever and wherever you want to, parties and drinks; all of these distract freshers and their inability to manage them appropriately has a negative impact on their first year result. It is disgraceful that a first year student who is yet to see his/her result already has girlfriend/boyfriend, go to parties and clubs and drink out their senses; what would be your excuse if you fail?

Secondly, it would either be because the fresheners are frenzied with been independent, the university party life and all the new exposures, they then slack off in school and in studying they lose focus. Also it could be that they are not ready to take University seriously or they are too immature to manage life away from home. They find it difficult to balance social life, freedom, and responsibilities of the school. They are either mentally or emotionally unprepared, but many of them are just lazy and take the university as one big party and don’t like the lecture side of it (as many would say “school sweet but na exam spoil am”).

TRUSTING THE UNTRUSTWORTHY It is among freshers that you find the ‘serious students’ who have no time for God: they are always in class trusting so much in their intellect which then makes serving God an extra burden and mere waste of time; “the school should be bookish and not religious” while your colleagues are in class reading you are in church; “what a waste of time” many would say. Anything you do without God is just same as going to farm without cutlass trusting your bare hands to cut down those giant trees in the farm. Some believe their success to be dependent upon the amount of time they spend in class rather than with God; you need God as much as you need to read.

In most cases, it is not just that the freshers are irresponsible or easily distracted by everything going on around them, it may as well be as a result

community on the 5thof October in 2012, the Zaria Massacre on the 12th of December 2015, and a whole lot of similar occurrences that are happening daily. In the words of Chinua Achebe, things are indeed “falling apart”, and the centre is losing its grip unconsciously.

The role of institutions in the peaceful progress of a state and stemming this ugly tide cannot be over emphasised. They are the very foundations of our democracy and are at the core of any reform or policy. Some studies have even shown that nations with strong institutions are two times as efficient and grow three times as fast, in per capita terms, as countries with weak institutional endowments.

Daron and Acemoglu in their award winning book “Why Nations Fail”, also pointed out the key role institutions play in the survival and growth of a state. They noted that the quality of institutions overrides geography and integration (i.e., international trade) in explaining crosscountry income levels.

Going forward while few economist have argued that governance reforms in strengthening institutions should not be the priorities of African countries such as Nigeria, since according to them, to trigger economic growth and development in Africa, a ‘big push’ is needed, and that it requires massive investment in support of infrastructure and health care. While this argument might seem tenable in Nigeria where massive infrastructural investment is required to grow businesses, weak and extractive institutions cannot provide the platform for investment to incubate to the desired value.

Mike is a Research and Policy Analyst with Adams and Moore Nigeria. of the new lifestyle and educational change that many of them find very difficult to adapt to. Many of them fail to understand that University classes are different from secondary school classes. I have come across intelligent students who could not learn how to learn. You have to learn from lectures, talk to lecturers and ask questions where necessary and relevant, if you are not prepared, you have to adapt and learn how to be prepared (pretty quick) or you will be left behind. Higher education is more than just what you learn in the classroom, it’s about maturity and learning how to learn.

LOW SELF-ESTEEM After 2 to 3 weeks in school many freshers lose confidence having seen fashion, the beautiful faces, the so called intelligent ones and the big boys and girls, they start denigrating themselves, having seen those who cat-walk better than they do, those high-class ladies with eye-catching make-ups, guys with better swag; expensive clothes and shoes. This new feeling drives them crazy, they start chasing shadows and desiring to be like a certain individual and behave like a certain person. Some even forget why they are where they are; aspiring to obtain a degree in the science of imitation at the detriment of their academics, they lose their self-esteem and sacrifice their modesty at the shrine of immorality and their vision and mission at the altar of lust just because they want to ‘belong’.

Many of the freshers are intimidated by the saucy words and remarks of the old cargos in the university. The freshers are often called Jambites, JJC, village boys or girls and many other comments meant to cage their spirits and limit their potentials as new students. All of the above have no effect except we decide to work by them or regard them as important, when you disregard any saucy comment, trust me it will never come back to hurt you but when you allow them they will incapacitate your potential and affect your personality even when you claim to have forgotten them they keep re-echoing, constantly reminding you that: you are in part one oo, you are Jambite ooo, you are JJC and so on, and by that you compromise and desist from doing the needful.

Emmanuel Onyekwere is a Public Affairs Analyst.

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, december 27, 2017

PAGE 14

News

Hajj: Ensure pilgrims get their refunds, board warns registration officers

From Mohammad Kaduna

Ibrahim,

K

aduna State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board Overser, Imam Hussaini Sulaiman Ikara has warned registration officers responsible for payment of refunds to 2016/2017 state pilgrims to ensure all the affected pilgrims receive their refunds after full identification.

He also urged the pilgrims to comply with modalities of the payment for accountability and transparency.

The warning came as the board is set to commence refunds of over N140 million Naira to pilgrims who performed pilgrimage in 2016 and 2017 from Thursday, 28 December 2017.

The Overseer made this known in a statement signed by the Board’s

Public Relations Officer, Yunusa Muhammad Abdullahi made available to news men at the weekend.

The statement said that each 2016 pilgrim will be paid N1,265:65 kobo, while 2017 pilgrims are to receive N12,862:08 kobo as refunds for transportation, feeding and other services not rendered to them during the Hajj periods.

The overseer explained that 29

intending pilgrims who were unable to go on pilgrimage in 2017 will be refunded all their money with the exception of administrative charges including cost of main and hand luggage as well as the uniform which had already been given to them.

Imam Husaini Ikara called on the affected pilgrims to contact their registration officers with InternationalPassport that has either

2016 or 2017 Hajj visa beforebeing paid.

Imam Hussaini Ikara said that the refund was money the Board received from National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) earlier this month for services not rendered by the various service providers to the pilgrims at the Holy Land during the pilgrimage.

Gov. Okowa mourns Jerry Ojugbeli, condoles Ndokwa nation From Osakhare Erese Asaba

D

L-R: Deputy National Chairman, All Progressives Congress (South), Chief Segun Oni; Deputy High Commissioner, British High Commission in Nigeria, Mrs Harriet Thompson; Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi; Author of “Loud Whispers”, Erelu Bisi Fayemi; Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Hon Abubakar Bawa Bwari; and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulure; during the Abuja Reading of “Loud Whispers” at the Thought Pyramid Art Centre, recently in Abuja

Fuel scarcity: Osinbajo spends Christmas at petrol depots

T

he presidency said Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will be visiting fuel depots in Lagos on Monday to monitor the loading of trucks and to ensure steady supply of petrol to designated filling stations.

This information is contained in a tweet on the twitter handle of the presidency, @NGRPresident.

The post read: “This morning the Vice-President is visiting fuel depots in Lagos to monitor the loading of trucks, and to ensure distribution is going on without a hitch.’’

The News Agency of Nigeria recalled that the vice president had on Christmas Eve made an unexpected

stopover to some filling stations at Lekki area and Lagos Island to see that things were moving on very well.

“It is such a shame that Christmas has been, to some extent, with this sort of discomfort. This is deeply regretted.

“And l know that, despite the resilience and strength of people in Lagos and the Nigerian people, we would see ourselves through this and will enjoy our Christmas and have a great New Year,” Mr. Osinbajo said in a statement issued by his spokesman, Laolu Akande, on Monday.

According to the vice president, the Buhari administration is doing everything possible to quickly resolve

the fuel shortages experienced by Nigerians.

It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari had on Sunday sympathised with Nigerians over their suffering occasioned by the scarcity of petrol across the country.

The president, who was reacting to the long queues of motorists at various filling stations across the country, in a statement personally signed by him and posted on his twitter handle, said the scarcity was regrettable.

He stated that he was being briefed regularly on the matter by the NNPC and assured that the situation would improve positively in the next few days.

President Buhari disclosed that he had already directed the regulators to step up their surveillance and bring an end to hoarding of the products and price inflation by marketers.

NAN reports that fuel scarcity during festive periods is a recurrent feature in Nigeria, although it disappeared in the last two years. The scarcity is said to be caused by greedy marketers who tried to take undue advantage of the high inter-state movements during the season.

In some states a litre of fuel rose to between N200 and N300 or above per litre as against the official pump price of N145.(NAN)

From Osakhare Erese Asaba

presented with free medication for common ailments like cold, HBP Screening, arthritis pains, pneumonia and blood sugar level screening, among others while those with visual impairment were provided with medicated glasses.

Addressing the inmates before the commencement of the Free Medical Programme wife of Delta State Governor and founder of 05 Initiative Dame Edith Okowa represented by the D.G. Mrs. Kewve

Agas re-affirmed the commitment of Delta State government to meet the health needs of the populace.

She charged the inmates to take advantage of the medicare to tackle their health concerns just as the founder of Dr. Isioma Foundation Dr. Isioma Okobah said the programme was packaged through a partnership arrangement to give succor to the inmates.

Dr. Okobah said the free medical outreach would address

health challenges facing the prisoners assuring that the policy objectives of the Delta Government to provide efficient, quality and affordable health delivery for the people was irreversible.

She called on Deltans to embrace the Health Care Programmes of government and patronize public health facilities across the state to address their health concerns.

The Deputy Controller of

elta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa has expressed sadness over the untimely death of Mr. Jerry Ojugbeli, a driver to the Deputy Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly.

Mr. Ojugbeli died from injuries sustained from Canon gun shot at the Ndokwa West PDP Local Government Council Elections Campaign Flag off rally at Kwale on Thursday.

Governor Okowa in a condolence statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Charles Aniagwu condoled with the family, Deputy Speaker, the people of Umusadege, Kwale and the entire Ndokwa nation over the untimely demise of Jerry Ojugbeli.

Governor Okowa, while commiserating with the family of the late Ojugbeli, urged them to take solace in God, adding, “His untimely demise is not only painful but regrettable, adding “the late Ojugbeli was a diligent man who approached his work with the seriousness it deserves.

“On behalf of the government and people of Delta State I mourn the untimely demise of Mr. Jerry Ojugbeli whose accidental death was caused by a loose cannon shot at the Ndokwa West PDP Local Government Council Election Campaign Rally.

The Governor who bemoaned the loss of the party faithful prayed God to grant his soul eternal rest and grant speedy recovery to all those who sustained injuries during the incident.

“He was a dedicated worker and party faithful whose untimely death is regrettable and there is no doubt that he will be sorely missed,” Governor Okowa said.

1,250 inmates get free medical treatment in Warri, other prisons

N

o fewer than one thousand inmates at the Warri Federal Prison received free treatment and medication courtesy of the partnership between the 05 Initiative, Dr. Isioma Okobah Foundation and medical students from the Georgia State University, Atlanta Georgia USA. At the ceremony, the inmates were examined, treated and

Prison in charge of Warri Prison Sir Solomon Airiohuodion expressed appreciation to the partners for their kind gesture saying that they have not had it so good.

During a similar visit to the Kwale Prison over 250 inmates were treated by the medical team.

The Deputy Controller of Prisons in charge of Kwale Mr. Ogude Ikem Charles thanked the team for the visit.

PAGE 15

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, december 27, 2017

Ex-PDP Masari attacks Atiku as ex-Katsina governor speaker dumps PDP for APC dumps G party for APC

T

he ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in Taraba State has lost one of its prominent politicians, a former acting governor of the state, Sani Danladi, to the opposition All Progressive Congress, APC. Mr. Danladi, alongside his supporters, will today in his Bachama ward, Karim Lamido Local Government Area, announce his move.

“Yes as I am talking to you now, we are on our way to my local government where I will this Tuesday defect to APC, from ward level to local before state,” the former acting governor told PREMIUM TIMES in a telephone interview.

His exit came barely one month after the former state acting governor, Garba Umar, defected to APC. Messrs. Umar and Danladi hail from the same local government and constituency.

Mr. Danladi, who was recently removed from the Senate as lawmaker representing Taraba North, following a Supreme Court verdict , was said to be at loggerhead with Governor Darius Ishaku.

He has, however, denied this.

“I’m not at loggerhead with anyone, but politics is all about interest, and this is where my people want me to go and bring change in the political landscape of our dear state.”

For now, his exit is seen as a blow to the fortunes of the PDP in Karim Lamido, and Taraba even as a PDP leader says the action won’t change anything for the APC in the state.

“No, we are not rattled at all, let him go, PDP wishes him luck,” David Dogo a PDP chieftain in the state said.

Mr. Danladi, a grassroot politician, started out as a counsellor, then chairman and finally deputy governor of the state during the late Governor Danbaba Suntai administration.

Though he was later impeached, he won his case at the Supreme Court and was reinstated as deputy governor.

He eventually became governor in an acting capacity and then emerged the PDP flag bearer in the controversial Wadata Plaza primary election for the seat of the senator to represent Taraba state, Northern Senatorial District, until a Supreme Court judgment ruled in favour of Shu’aibu Isa Lau.

overnor Aminu Masari of Katsina State has described the recent defection of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as an exercise in futility.

Mr. Masari made the statement in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria NAN in Maiadua, Katsina State.

He said the defection of the vice president would not in any way affect the electoral success of the ruling APC, stressing Atiku had just answered his popular name.

He said the APC was aimed at repositioning the nation by creating leaders that would champion the positive cause of the nation and that “about 65 per cent of our political appointments were allocated to the youth”.

Mr. Masari said the era of “do or die politics was over as individual character and his performance speak for him in a political warfare, not unnecessary pride and display of

wealth.”

He said APC in the state and federal levels would not be deterred by elitist tendencies, adding that “we are set to receive more defectors into the party by next year as many influential members of the opposition would be joining us soon.”

He said the party was willing and ready to accept and accommodate any individual who sought to defect into its fold, stressing politics was a game of number.

He said his administration had, in the last two years, constructed many roads, schools, hospitals and intensified efforts on security in the state.

Mr. Masari was in Maiadua Local Government Area to receive the former speaker of the state, Yau GojoGojo, who defected to APC from the PDP. Mr. GojoGojo made the declaration in Maiadua, Katsina

State where he was officially received

by Gov. Aminu Masari and other top APC officials.

He said as a politician, he was satisfied with the leadership style of the APC, especially the transformation on security, agriculture, infrastructure and human empowerment, stressing the two years of APC at both federal and state levels were eventful.

He said he was also moved into the APC by the performance of Mr. Masari, especially on prudence, accountability, security and education.

The former legislator promised to uphold the constitution of the APC as well as campaign vigorously to ensure its success in future elections, stressing “I would be very hardworking and accessible to our members”.

In his address, Mr. Masari commended the former speaker for taking such a bold decision at the

right time, while assuring him of every support from the party and the government hierarchy.

He said APC was not doing magic but was all out to correct the ills of the past through agricultural transformation, youth empowerment, promotion of security and infrastructure.

He cautioned the youth against drug abuse, indiscipline and misuse of the social media platforms to abuse elders.

He said the youth were the future leaders and it would be suicidal if they resorted to inimical practices.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that top party members and the Secretary to the State Government, Mustapha Inuwa, were among thousands of people who attended the event.

Mr. GojoGojo served as the speaker throughout the tenure of former governor Ibrahim Shema.

(NAN)

L – R: Sectary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Celebrant & Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara and his Wife ,Mrs. Gimbiya Dogara, during the Church Service to mark Dogara’s 50th Bithday celebration at Living Faith Church, Winners Chapel, Goshen, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa,

Dogara challenges Nigerians on less privileged

By Umar Muhammad Puma

T

he Speaker House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara has called on Nigerians to continue to support less privileged and orphans to achieve their destined position and contribute to nation building.

Dogara gave the charge when he visited two orphanage homes in Abuja as part of activities lined up for his 50th Birth Day celebrations.

While challenging the orphans not to be distracted by the situation they found themselves in, Mr. Dogara said supporting the less privileged will bring development

to their respective societies and the country at large.

“We are here in response to the higher call of duty to support the less fortunate and less privilege in society.

For the young people who are in this Home, I want to encourage you that there is no one who can stop you from rising to the top, only you can stop yourselves.

All you need is discipline, the gift, the talent, time and opportunity are equally give to all of us by God. The circumstances of your birth or the situation in which you find yourselves does not change the fact

that God Has deposited talent in us.” Dogara admonished.

Also speaking, the administrator of the Abuja Children Home, Hannatu Attah stressed the need of policy to provide free medical service and education to orphans across the country.

Mrs Attah said “As you are aware being an orphanage we relied heavily on the support we received from good spirited individuals in the society.

However, when we take our children to the hospitals for medical treatment or schools for admission we are charged as other families.

We will appreciate a policy that will give orphanage free access to medical treatment and admission in schools at all levels.”

Apart from Abuja Children Home and Treasure Orphanage Foundation all in Karu, a suburb of the Nigerian Capital Abuja, Mr. Dogara presented relief materials worth millions of Naira to seventeen other orphanage centres in the FCT. The theme of the celebration was “Going To Charity” in which the Speaker dedicated all proceed of the celebration to support the Internally Displaced Persons and less privilege in the society.

PAGE 16

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, december 27, 2017

POLITICS

2019 election: Reps propose new laws on campaign spending

By Our Correspondent

P

residential candidates in Nigeria will now spend within one billion naira during campaigns and will end up in jail if they exceed the amount.

While Governorship candidates will spend not more than N200 million, Senators N40m, House of Representatives contestants shall not exceed N20 million.

These are new proposals by the House of Representatives with penalties ranging from a fine of N500,000 to N50 million or a prison term of up to 10 years for offences.

According to the proposal obtained by Punch, a convicted offender may also pay both fine and be sentenced to a prison term.

The electoral offenders shall be tried not in conventional courts but by a Commission/Electoral Tribunal to be established specifically for the purpose of handling election-related offences in the country.

It also said donations to candidates shall not exceed N1 million.

Presidential election violators shall face a fine of N1 million or imprisonment of 12 months or both.

For governors, the fine is N800,000 or a prison term of nine months or both.

In the case of senatorial election, the fine for a violator is N600,000 or a prison term of six months or both.

House of Representatives members, who breach the law, shall pay a fine of N500,000 or face a prison term of five months or both.

These provisions are contained in two harmonised bills – ‘A Bill for an Act to Establish the Electoral Offences Tribunal for the Purpose of Trying Electoral Offences’; and ‘A Bill for an Act to Establish the Nigerian Electoral Offences Commission Charged with the Responsibility of Prohibition and Prosecution of Electoral Offences ’ – now before the House.

The House Committee on

Electoral Matters had worked on the bills and laid the report before the House for consideration.

The newspaper reports that the report was scheduled for consideration on December 21, but had to be stood down till January 16, 2018 when lawmakers would have reconvened after the Christmas and New Year festivities.

Under the proposed law, unauthorised printing, distribution, importation or destruction of ballot papers and result sheets attract a jail term of 10 years.

The offender has an option of a fine of N50m.

The provision adds in Sub – Section 3 of the bill, “An attempt to commit any offence under this section shall be punishable in the same manner as the offence itself.”

Offences relating to registration of voters, including double registration, forgery and mutilation of registration documents, attract a jail term of 12 months or a fine of N1 million or both.

In the same vein, anybody who forges a nomination paper or “signs a nomination paper, consenting to be a candidate at an election, knowing that he is ineligible to be a candidate at that election, commits an offence.”

The bill adds, “A person who commits an offence under Sub – Section (1 ) of this section is liable on conviction to a maximum term of imprisonment of two years.”

The bill further provides that “improper use of voter’s card”, such as giving it to another person for proxy voting or selling or buying of the card , attracts a jail term of 12 months or a fine of N1 m or both.

Offences like “disorderly behaviour at political meetings” or being in possession of offensive weapons attract a fine of N500,000 “or imprisonment for 12 months or both.”

Section 10 of the bill prescribes penalties for the offence of “impersonation and voting when not qualified .”

Sub – section 10 (1 )(e- f ) reads , “Any person , who votes

What Uche Secondus should do for PDP – Dayo Adeyeye

By Lateef Ibrahim

F

ormer National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Adedayo Adeyeye, has urged the new National Chairman of the Party, Uche Secondus, to end impunity and foster internal democracy.

Adeyeye, in a statement during the Christmas break, also urged him to end imposition of candidates and godfatherism in the party.

According to the statement signed by the Prince Adedayo Adeyeye Movement (PAAM)’s Director of Media, Niyi Ojo, the erstwhile PDP spokesman said next year’s PDP governorship primary in Ekiti State is a litmus test for Secondus’ leadership capacity.

Ojo said: “We believe that his victory at the national convention was a sign of good things to manifest in PDP, such as total end to impunity and imposition of candidates.

“The new era should witness the birth of internal democracy and an end to godfatherism in our party. Prince Secondus has a litmus test with the forthcoming governorship primary election in Ekiti State early next year.

“A level laying field should be created for all aspirants without any undue advantage to any person no matter how highly placed. This is a task that must be accomplished for PDP to have formidable fronts to confront general elections.”

Voters queuing to vote during the Presidential Run-Off Election in Monrovia, yesterday in Liberia.

Photo: NAN

or attempts to vote at an election, knowing that he is not qualified to vote at the election or (f ) induces or procures any other person to vote at an election, knowing that such a person is not qualified to vote , commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a maximum fine of N500,000 or 12 months’ imprisonment or both.”

Sub – section 10(2 ), adds “Any person, who commits the offence of impersonation or who aids, abets, counsels or procures the commission of that offence, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a maximum fine of N500,000 or imprisonment for 12 months or both.”

Offences like polling officers failing to discharge their duties, delivering false results , delaying voting and announcing false results attract a fine of N500,000 or 12 months’ imprisonment or both.

Sub – section 11 (5 ) provides, “Any Returning Officer or Collation Officer, that delivers or causes to be delivered, a false Certificate of Return , knowing same to be false, commits an offence and on conviction shall be liable to a maximum imprisonment of three years without an option of fine.”

Bribery or inducing voters with money attracts a penalty of N500,000 or 12 months’ imprisonment or both.

The bill provides that both the giver and the receiver of the money are liable.

On acts of violence or disorderly conduct on election day, the bill provides, “Any person, who, at an election, acts or incites others to act in a disorderly manner , commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a maximum fine of N500,000 “ or imprisonment of 12 months or both.”

Any act that results in injury to any person or losses or intimidating voters to vote against their wish attracts a penalty of N1 m or a jail term of three years.

Group initiates recall process of Senator Ibrahim for kneeling before Saraki

M

embers of the Kwara South Unity Forum, in Kwara State have commenced the recall process of the senator representing the Kwara South Senatorial District, Rafiu Ibrahim, for kneeling before the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.

A copy of the petition it sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, was made available to journalists in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

The letter, dated November 13, was also sent to the office of the Senate President.

It was received and acknowledged at INEC on November 14 and the office of the President of the Senate on November 17.

DAILY POST reports that the President of the group, John Adegboye, while addressing journalists during a media briefing at Ijagbo in the Oyun Local Government Area of Kwara State, alleged poor representation

by Ibrahim.

He also accused Ibrahim of “disregarding members and elders of the senatorial district while taking directives from external personalities.”

He said issues critical to the growth and development of Kwara South, were allegedly being openly disregarded and dismissed by the senator.

Adegboroye further alleged that Ibrahim was abusing their democratic rights and intelligence and was not sufficiently addressing

human capital development in the area.

He stated, “A situation whereby, a man we voted for, now comes out openly and with audacity, to state that he needs to consult ‘his boss’, who isn’t even from Kwara South, is nothing but a violation of our human and democratic rights.”

According to Adegboroye, it was wrong for Ibrahim to kneel before Saraki.

He said, “We find it demeaning, insulting and outrageous that our senator acted as an escort and body guard to the wife of the Senate President when she was arraigned in court on charges of money laundering by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

“This unnecessary show of subservience has been interpreted to imply a situation in which we are not the people in control of our destinies. We cannot accept this anymore.

“It is therefore under these circumstances that the good people of Kwara South today decide to intimate the generality of Nigerians about our intention to recall Senator Rafiu Ibrahim from the 8 th National Assembly.

“We affirm that the Kwara South Unity Forum has instituted recall proceedings against the senator representing Kwara South Senatorial District. The days of ‘shadow democracy and indirect rule,’ whereby a few individuals become more important than the entire electorate, are over.”

PAGE 17

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, december 27, 2017

2019: APC stakeholders in Tafa endorse Gov Bello

From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

T

he All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders from Tafa Local government area of Niger State have endorsed the candidature of Governor Abubakar Sani Bello for 2019 governorship election.

The endorsement came barely three months after the APC from Niger North, in Kontagora, the political zone of the Governor also endorsed him for second term, amidst indications of strong opposition from the People Democratic Party PDP from the zone.

However, the Niger State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain and governorship aspirant, Engr Hanafi Mua’zu Sudan, who came second in the 2015 gubernatorial primary election has begun his underground campaign - an indication of interest from the zone.

The political stakeholders, made up of 360 political appointees from 10 wards in Tafa local government of Niger East, stated after their meeting that the decision was based on the good stewardship of the Governor for the past two years.

The unanimous endorsement was taken after the Chairman of the council, Alhaji Ado Abubakar, moved the motion that the governor should be given a vote of confidence based on his achievements so far.

He stated that despite pockets of security challenges ranging from kidnapping, herdsmen/farmers clashes and armed robbery, as well ‘one chance’ crime in an area from his council, the Governor has lived up to the expectation of the people and tackled most of the challenges with the political will desired.

The chairman also described the endorsement as a vote of confidence on the development programmes and projects of the APC-led government from federal to local government in the last two years.

Consequently the meeting also lauded the effort of the local government council in creating cohesion among stakeholders in the area.

POLITICS

I’m not quarrelling Seconds, PDP govs - Atiku

By Ali Alkali

F

ormer vice president Atiku Abubakar has yesterday debunked report that he was already having problems and engaged in behind the scene battle with the Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, Prince Uche Secondus and governors of the party.

A statement sent to press by the Atiku Media Office, “It has come to the notice of the Atiku Media Office that there is a statement purportedly attributed to His Excellency Atiku Abubakar currently making the rounds on social media.

“We wish to state for the records that the purported statement aimed at pitching the Waziri of Adamawa against the National Chairman

of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, PDP NEC, PDP Governors and stakeholders of the PDP is contrived and baseless.

The statement insists that the Wazirin Adamawa “enjoys excellent relationship with Prince Uche Secondus, the Party’s NEC and all serving PDP Governors and stakeholders of the party.”

The purported statement attributed to Atiku in the social media, reports him saying, “I am surprised over what’s happening in PDP today. A governor is now in total control of the entire structure of the party. PDP is under the control of a small boy; and he does what he likes without respect for the founding fathers of the party.”

The social media story also

reports Atiku narrating how and why he decided to dump the ruling APC for PDP. “I rejected the offer from some of our party leaders until I was finally persuaded by former President Goodluck Jonathan to return PDP and to help build the party ahead of 2019 elections. Goodluck also assured me in one of our meetings, that the leadership of the Party has resolved to endorse and support me as PDP 2019 Presidential candidate, “unopposed” since it was zone to the North. I accepted the request due to the respect I have for former President Goodluck Jonathan and my Love for Nigeria.”

It can be recalled that Waziri Atiku Abubakar formally joined the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, early this month after he

dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress.

He is expected to contest the 2019 presidential election, even though he said last week that he has not made up to contest for the presidency yet.

But considering the fact that there will be many PDP stalwarts from the North who are eying the big presidential seat, it is only a matter of time before Atiku faces the other party’s Northern political heavyweights for either a fight or compromise.

The first huddle for Atiku to scale is likely the new leadership of the party which might have emerged with the support of those who also want the presidential ticket of the party.

L-R: Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers; wife of a former Governor of Rivers, Justice Mary Odili; and her husband, Dr Peter Odili, during a Christmas Church Service at the Christ Church on Monday in Port Harcourt. Photo: NAN

Niger Commissioners: Dikko community canvasses support for nominee, as others protest theirs From Yakubu Minna

T

Mustapha,

he people of Dikko community in Gurara local government of Niger State had rally support for its commissioner nominee, contrary to many other constituencies who protested against their nominees to the State Assembly in Minna.

The Community members were seen marching in their numbers to the assembly complex to declare their support and appreciation for nominating one of their sons to serve in Governor Abubakar Sani Bello’s cabinet.

Earlier, they sent a letter to the

governor dated 5th December, 2017 titled “Appreciation for the nomination of Barr. George Sabo Koce for office of Commissioner Niger State.”

The letter, sent by the Dikko Community Development Association reads in part: “We hereby present our timely and endless appreciation to you Sir, the Governor of Niger State for the honour, privilege, favour, opportunity afforded to Diko community of Gurara LGA by nominating Barr. George Sabo Koce for appointment as Commissioner into your cabinet.”

Against the backdrop of a petition by some purported APC group and published in a

National Newspaper not (Peoples Daily) against his nomination by the APC officials and members, in a letter submitted from such petition to the lawmaker representing the Council in the House of Assembly Hon. Binta Mammam.

Presenting the letter on behalf of the group a frontline politician in the area Abubakar Suleiman Jatau Diko who led the rally in an interview however disassociated themselves, said ‘the petition was shrouded in secrecy and believed to be ill motivated for some section or sinister interest and therefore absurd’ he stated.

Jatau added that they were in the House of Assembly to only

submitted their letter to their representative on their stand and not to held meeting with anyone period.

Responding during an interview, the House of Assembly member representing Gurara constituency, Hon. Binta Mammam confirmed to have received the said petition and assured to do the needful to ensure peace in the area.

The group however accused the lawmaker for not leaving to their expectations in the house hence are waiting for her in the primaries and election come 2019 as she will not come back just like Hon. Afiniki Dauda, they emphasized.

PAGE 18

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, december 27, 2017

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0.71 0.71 0 0.71 0.71 LAWUNION 0.00 0 0.84 0.84 0 0.84 0.84 LEARNAFRCA 0.00 0 0.56 0.58 0 0.60 0.60 LINKASSURE 0.02 0 0.82 0.82 0 0.86 0.86 LIVESTOCK 0.04 0 2.01 2.01 0 2.01 2.01 MANSARD 0.00 0 2.88 2.88 0 2.88 2.88 MAYBAKER 0.00 0 2.00 2.00 0 2.00 2.00 MEDVIEWAIR 0.00 0 0.70 0.70 384 0.70 0.70 MEYER 0.00 0 170.00 170.00 0 170.00 170.00 MOBIL 0.00 0 0.53 0.53 0 0.53 0.53 MORISON 0.00 0 27.46 27.46 0 27.46 27.46 MRS 0.00 0 0.50 0.50 0 0.50 0.50 MULTIVERSE 0.00 0 3.74 3.90 0 3.75 3.75 NAHCO -0.15 0 18.34 18.34 0 18.34 18.34 NASCON 0.00 0 140.28 142.50 0 142.19 142.49 NB -0.31 0 6.30 6.63 0 6.30 6.30 NCR -0.33 0 0.75 0.75 0 0.75 0.75 NEIMETH 0.00 0 1.41 1.41 0 1.41 1.43 NEM 0.00 0 1,464.05 1,464.05 0 1,464.05 1,464.05 NESTLE 0.00 0 0.50 0.50 0 0.50 0.50 NIGERINS 0.00 0 1.30 1.35 0 1.30 1.30 NPFMCRFBK -0.05 0 5.99 5.99 0 5.99 5.99 OANDO 0.00 0 71.25 71.25 0 71.25 71.25 OKOMUOIL 0.00 0 72.00 72.00 0 72.00 72.00 PRESCO 0.00 0 22.50 22.50 0 22.50 22.50 PZ 0.00 0 4.88 4.88 0 4.88 4.88 REDSTAREX 0.00 0 0.50 0.50 0 0.50 0.50 ROYALEX 0.00 0 0.50 0.50 0 0.50 0.50 RTBRISCOE 0.00 0 540.05 540.05 0 540.05 540.05 SEPLAT 0.00 0 0.50 0.50 0 0.50 0.50 SKYEBANK 0.00 0 100.00 100.00 0 100.00 100.00 SKYESHELT 0.00 0 40.92 40.92 0 40.92 40.92 STANBIC 0.00 0 0.96 1.00 0 0.99 1.00 STERLNBANK -0.01 0 0.50 0.50 0 0.50 0.50 THOMASWY 0.00 0 230.00 230.00 0 230.00 230.00 TOTAL 0.00 0 3.50 3.50 550 3.50 3.50 TOURIST 0.00 0 7.21 7.21 0 7.21 7.21 TRANSCOHOT 0.00 0 1.36 1.37 0 1.40 1.43 TRANSCORP 0.03 0 0.75 0.75 0 0.75 0.75 TRANSEXPR 0.00 0 1.06 1.06 0 1.06 1.06 TRIPPLEG 0.00 0 16.90 16.90 0 16.90 16.90 UACN 0.00 0 2.80 2.80 0 2.80 2.80 UAC-PROP 0.00 0 10.17 10.16 0 10.20 10.28 UBA 0.04 0 7.53 7.92 0 7.78 7.78 UBN -0.14 0 3.51 3.57 0 3.53 3.55 UCAP -0.04 0 41.99 40.20 0 41.99 41.99 UNILEVER 1.79 0 0.50 0.51 0 0.51 0.51 UNITYBNK 0.00 0 2.40 2.38 0 2.40 2.40 UPL 0.02 0 2.94 2.94 0 2.94 2.94 VITAFOAM 0.00 0 43.40 43.50 0 43.48 43.50 WAPCO -0.02 0 0.50 0.50 0 0.51 0.51 WAPIC 0.01 0 0.50 0.50 0 0.50 0.50 WEMABANK 0.00 0 25.37 25.62 0 25.38 25.59 ZENITHBANK -0.24 0 Copyright © 2017 NgTradeOnline

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Stock Close Loss CILEASING 1.33 -0.07 INTBREW 51.96 -2.73 DANGSUGAR 20.57 -1.08 NCR 6.30 -0.33 CHAMPION 2.00 -0.10

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PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, december 27, 2017

SEC, IST partner to curb market Infractions

By Etuka Sunday

T

he Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has expressed readiness to partner with relevant bodies in its quest to ensure zero tolerance on infractions in Nigeria’s capital market and to ensure that perpetrators of fraudulent acts are brought to book.

Acting Director General of SEC, Dr. Abdul Zubair stated this when the chairman and members of Investments and Securities Tribunal (IST), visited him in his office in Abuja.

Zubair said the present management of SEC has zero tolerance on infractions adding that anyone that flouts the rules will be made to face the consequences of such actions.

He told the IST team that the SEC has been embarking on a number of initiatives to protect the investors in the market and ensure that they reap the benefits of their investments.

“SEC has rolled out a number of initiatives and campaigns which have been yielding results. These initiatives are to ensure that investors are aware of what to do to protect their investments”, “The e-dividend is one of such campaigns

and we enjoin investors to key-in so that they can reap the benefits of their investments” he added.

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the Investment & Securities Tribunal (IST), Isaiah Idoko-Akor Congratulated the Acting DG on his assumption of office and expressed the confidence of the Tribunal in his ability to move the market forward.

He commended the SEC for all it has been doing to support the Tribunal in the discharge of its duties and craved for more support to avoid hitches in the Tribunal carrying out its assignments.

“IST is serving the market, it is very important to the market and that is why we commend SEC for its support to the IST “ However, IST needs to be strengthened to be able to carry out its functions effectively. As the market is expanding, we also need funds to expand our operations to be able to serve better” he said.

Akor, while commending the SEC on the various initiatives it has rolled out, also called for increased enlightenment and sensitisation of the investing public especially as it relates to seeking redress on issues relating to the capital market.

Ecobank Group Gets $200m Syndicated Loan Facility From Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

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cobank Transnational Incorporated, has announced the closing of a $ 200 million 5- 7 year syndicated debt facility with FMO, the Dutch development bank.

It is the second syndicated loan facility for the Ecobank Group arranged by FMO in recent years. In a notification to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), ETI said it would use the facility to provide funding to a number of subsidiaries across its network of 36 African countries.

“In line with the Ecobank Group’s strategic development objectives, at least 75 per cent of the loan facility will be directed to SME’s across various sectors of the economy,” the bank said.

Commenting on the loan facility, Ecobank Group Chief Executive Officer, Ade Ayeyemi, said: ” “ETI is pleased to conclude this financing arrangement with FMO, who have been able to bring a significant number of players to the financing table. The transaction will greatly enhance our capacity to serve our SME clients, who continue to be a very important market segment for us.”

Also speaking, Chief Executive Officer at FMO, Jürgen Rigterink, said: “FMO is proud to have arranged this successful syndicated loan agreement for our long-standing partner Ecobank Group. Through this investment we support small and medium-sized enterprises in some of the most under-banked countries in Africa. Although SMEs in these countries provide the majority of jobs, their access to finance remains limited. We are really happy to bring new investors to these markets and help to spur economic growth where it is needed most.”

FMO arranged the syndication and kept a stake of $ 58.5 million for its own account with other DFIs and impact investors providing contributions as follows: DEG – Deutsche Investitions-und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH (EUR 21 million), Proparco (EUR 21 million), Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries – BIO ($15 million), Development Bank of Austria – OeEB (USD 15 million), Blue Orchard ($30 million), Symbiotics ($21.5 million) and Oikocredit ($10 million).

Ecobank Transnational

Incorporated, the Togo-based holding company of the panAfrican Ecobank Group,Thursday announced the closing of a $ 200 million 5-7 year syndicated debt facility with FMO, the Dutch development bank.

It is the second syndicated loan facility for the Ecobank Group arranged by FMO in recent years. In a notification to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), ETI said it would use the facility to provide funding to a number of subsidiaries across its network of 36 African countries.

“In line with the Ecobank Group’s

strategic development objectives, at least 75 per cent of the loan facility will be directed to SME’s across various sectors of the economy,” the bank said.

Commenting on the loan facility, Ecobank Group Chief Executive Officer, Ade Ayeyemi, said: ” “ETI is pleased to conclude this financing arrangement with FMO, who have been able to bring a significant number of players to the financing table. The transaction will greatly enhance our capacity to serve our SME clients, who continue to be a very important market segment for

us.”

Also speaking, Chief Executive Officer at FMO, Jürgen Rigterink, said: “FMO is proud to have arranged this successful syndicated loan agreement for our long-standing partner Ecobank Group. Through this investment we support small and medium-sized enterprises in some of the most under-banked countries in Africa. Although SMEs in these countries provide the majority of jobs, their access to finance remains limited. We are really happy to bring new investors to these markets and help to spur economic growth where

it is needed most.”

FMO arranged the syndication and kept a stake of $ 58.5 million for its own account with other DFIs and impact investors providing contributions as follows: DEG – Deutsche Investitions-und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH (EUR 21 million), Proparco (EUR 21 million), Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries – BIO ($15 million), Development Bank of Austria – OeEB (USD 15 million), Blue Orchard ($30 million), Symbiotics ($21.5 million) and Oikocredit ($10 million).

L-R: Coordinating Director Operations, Securities and Exchange Commission, Mary Uduk, Chairman Senate Committee on Capital Market, Sen. Mustapha Bukar, Acting DG SEC, Dr. Abdul Zubair and Coordinating Director Corporate Services SEC, Mr. Isiaka Tilde, during a meeting between Senate Committee on Capital market and SEC, recently in Abuja

El-Rufai lauds Medview Airline on direct flights to Jeddah From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

K

aduna state Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has laud the bold move of indigenous carrier Med-View Airline to fly Muslim Ummahs directly into Jeddah in Saudi Arabia for the lesser Hajj, a major relief for travellers.

The Nigerian leading airline commenced direct flight to Jeddah in the holy land on Sunday with the inaugural flight taken off from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), the operational hub of the airline in Lagos and routed via Kaduna and Kano in the North West.

The Boeing 737-800 aircraft conveying the passengers has a full load mostly Muslim Ummah traveling to the Kingdom of Saudi

Arabia for lesser Hajj.

The flight was welcomed with a ceremonial water shower at Kaduna International Airport by the officials of the Airport Fire Service in commemoration of the inaugural flight to Kaduna.

Before now, the airline has been operating scheduled flights from Lagos – Kano to Jeddah but has now added Kaduna state to the Jeddah network amidst excitement from tour operators in the region.

The CEO, Alhaji Muneer Bankole who spoke at a brief ceremony in Kaduna before proceeding to Jeddah via Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano said the airline was pleased to expand its frontiers in Kaduna state.

Bankole disclosed that the new Jeddah flights would be operated

on Sundays and Thursdays and continue throughout summer and Ramadan, saying, “This is a golden opportunity for our people to enjoy direct flight to Jeddah without any hassle.”

He commended the Kaduna state government for its support to the airline as well as the tour operators who believe in the airline’s capability to offer better alternative to foreign carriers.

Chief of Staff to Kaduna State Governor, Mohammed Bashir Seidu who was on board the flight to Jeddah alongside some senior government officials, said the state is more proud of Med-View Airline.

He said, “Med-View is the pride of the nation now and Kaduna state is more proud than any state or even Nigeria because earlier before now, the airport was virtually

empty without any activity.

“Then after the flights diversion from Abuja to Kaduna early this year, airlines began to fly the routes. Med-View started operating the domestic flights.

Now all of a sudden, the airline has inaugurated international flight from the airport. We are proud of that. Activities have resumed in Kaduna. You have seen economic activities being boosted, everything is now moving. We are really very happy.”

He described the flight operations as excellent and prompt.

“I was on board also from Abuja to Dubai and I’ve seen the operation is perfect, very unlike the tradition of some airlines that keep shifting the flight time. I can say it’s wonderful. It was prompt”, he said.

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B u s i n e s s

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, december 27, 2017

NGO invests $9bn on Social Services in 30 years From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

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n NGO, Development Exchange Centre (DEC) based in Bauchi has said to have expended the sum of N9 billion on provision of social services to two hundred and fortythree (243) communities in 20 states of the federation in its 30 years of operation.

The Executive Director DEC, Mrs. Titi Yakubu dropped the hint during the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the organization in Bauchi, said in three decades, eight thousand five hundred (8500) farmers were supported with agricultural inputs worth one hundred and ten million naira (N110m), while forty-seven thousand (N47000) trees were planted within communities of its operation to check desertification.

Yakubu said as part of efforts to promote economic well-being of women and the vulnerable groups, DEC had established one hundred and seventeen (117) micro-finance branches with about one hundred and twenty-five thousand, eight hundred and forty-one (125,841) active borrowers across the 20 states.

On Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Mrs. Yakubu said DEC had nine hundred and fifty-five (955) toilets, trained three thousand (3000) hygiene club kids and constructed seventy eight (78) water points.

“We are seriously concerned about the poor health situation in the rural areas and this informed our decision to construct the seventy eight (78) water points that now provide one hundred and sixty thousand (160,000) people with access to safe water” she said.

Mrs Titi enumerated the organization’s achievements to include facilitating enrollment of seven thousand, three hundred and ninety-two (7392) girl-child into schools, training of 3000 women under the adult literacy scheme and equipping of two thousand, six hundred (2600) women with vocational skills.

Ms. Yakubu commenting on politics said “our organization has trained one thousand, two hundred (1200) female politicians and fifty (50) Community Based Organizations (CBOs) on conflict based management. DEC believes that it is only when peace reigns that development can take place”.

She thanked both pioneer and current staff of DEC for establishing an organization that has impacted positively in the lives of millions of Nigerians, saying “the legacy of socio-economic development which you have put in place will

remain indelible in the minds of beneficiaries of these services”.

In her remark, the special guest of honour who is also the wife of the state governor, Barrister Aisha Mohammed Abubakar commended DEC management for its innovative

ideas and enviable achievements in education, healthcare, water and sustainable environment, good governance and peace building, microfinance and institutional development.

She said her pet project, the

Brilliant Girl-Child Education (BGCE) initiative has benefitted from DEC’s activities saying “my NGO has aligned itself with DEC and gained expertise in skills, mentoring and coaching programme, delivery and planning

Commercial motorcyclists queue for petrol at a filling station on Monday in Ibadan.

strategy. DEC has remained a major partner and stakeholder to BGCE initiative”.

Highlights of DEC’s thirty (30) years anniversary include award to pioneer staff and some beneficiaries of the organization’s loan schemes.

Photo: NAN

TCN regrets fire outbreak at Dan Agundi substation

By Musa Adamu

T

ransmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has expressed its regrets on the fire incident that affected a 60MVA Transformer at Dan Agundi Substation in Kano on Thursday, 21st December, 2017 at 1.30pm.

It said the incident had led constraint in power supply to some sections of Kano for two days.

It however, revealed that already in collaboration with Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDC)Limited had transferred some of the loads of the affected areas to Dakata substation and the balance to the unaffected 60MVA Transformer at Dan Agundi Substation.

It said this move had significantly mitigated the problem.

It said: “TCN has also

...says efforts on to restore supply inaugurated a committee to review protection systems of the company’s installations nationwide in order to forestall such ugly incidents in the future.”

According to the TCN, a contractor has commenced installation of the third 60MVA Transformer in the substation to increase the transformer capacity of the station when the fire incident happened.

“As result of this development the Management directed the Regional General Manager of Kaduna to take over the installation of the additional Transformer from the contractor to fast track it.”

It added that it was collaborating with Kano state government to remove structures under the Kumbotso-Dan

Agundi132kV line Right of Way (ROW).

“Once the illegal structures under ROW are cleared, the Kumbotso-Dan Agundi 132kV line would be re-conductored to increase the capacity of the line to provide adequate power to the substation at Dan Agundi.

“TCN intends to upgrade Dan Agundi and Dakata 132kV Substations with additional 100MVA Transformers under NETAP (financed by the World Bank) but for that to happen the two 132kV lines from Kumbotso must be re-conductored.

“The installation of the two 100MVA Transformers at Dan Agundi and Kumbotso in addition to the completion of New Kano 330kV Substation at Rimin Zakara

and the completion of Walalambe will provide the enough redundancy in Kano in line with standard N-1.”

It further warned that those who illegally built houses and live under high voltage transmission power line were not only risking their lives but constraining development of critical infrastructure in Kano and other parts of Nigeria.

“TCN wishes to assure the Kano Electricity Distribution Company and its numerous customers that the implementation of Transmission Rehabilitation and Expansion Program would resolve most transmission constraints and TCN intends to implement it religiously for the development of the nation.”

Page 21

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, december 27, 2017

Stories by Onyekwere

T

Stanley

he FCT Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat (ARDS) looks to take thousands of youths into selected agricultural value chains in 2018, in the Territory.

To this end, the Secretariat said it’s already working closely with the six FCT Area Councils to ensure it reaches out to greater number of youths in the territory.

The Secretary for ARDS, Nzekwe Stanley Ifeanyichukwu dropped this hint during the secretariat’s end-of-year media briefing.

He said the Secretariat had also ensured the revival of some of the agric programmes which would ensure the youths interact with farmers.

“This is to help them key into the various Federal Government programmes, to ensure their successful implementation in the FCT. “One of such programmes is the Accelerated Agricultural Development Scheme.

“We have indicated our interest to be part of the scheme which will take effect in 2018.

“It is coordinated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and it aims at creating 10,000 jobs for youths in the Area Councils,’’ he explained.

The ARDS boss therefore assured that the secretariat would actualise the programme within the shortest possible time, saying working with relevant stakeholders would aid the scheme’s actualisation.

According to him, “Our mandate in the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat is tied to the Agricultural Promotion Policy (APP) of the Federal Government.

“This is predicated on working with key stakeholders to build an agri-business economy capable of delivering sustained prosperity by meeting domestic food security, generating exports and supporting sustainable income and job growth.

The secretary said

2018: ARDS to engage more youth in farming the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat had also made concerted efforts to raise the standard of services, as

well as facilities, in the various abattoirs in the territory.

He added that the secretariat had also started the

rehabilitation of dilapidated facilities, in addition to the provision of new ones in the abattoirs.

He however, thanked the Minister of the FCT, Muhammad Bello, for his role in bringing development to the territory.

FCT-IRS takes over tax collection from FIRS

T

he Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) will henceforth cease to be the collecting agency for taxes and levies in the FCT, paving the way for the Federal Capital Territory Inland Revenue Service (FCTIRS) to assume these duties.

This was disclosed in a joint statement on tax collection in the Territory, signed by the Executive Chairmen, FIRS and the FCT-IRS, Tunde Fowler and Abdullahi O. Attah, respectively, in last week.

In particular, the statement stated that these changes are with immediate effect.

The statement reads: “the FCT-IRS shall henceforth administer the following taxes and levies in the Federal Capital Territory: Personal Income Tax (PIT); Pay As You Earn (PAYE) in respect of all individuals resident in the Territory under employment in both the public and private sectors.

“Direct Assessment in respect of all self-employed individuals and enterprises resident in the Federal Capital Territory.”

It adds that other taxes to be collected also by the FCT-IRS are the FCT Property Tax; Stamp Duties (SD), Withholding Taxes

(WHT), and Capital Gains Tax (CGT) in respect of all individuals and enterprises resident in the Federal Capital Territory.

Others include all other taxes and levies the FCT-IRS is empowered to collect by law.

The statement said these taxes shall be collected through approved Collecting Banks and other electronic payment platforms and channels and paid into the Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service Account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The statement however noted that all PAYE deductions of the

Children catching fun at B10 Leisure Park during the Boxing Day celebration, yesterday in Abuja.

Armed Forces, Police Personnel and staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall continue to be collected by the Federal Inland Revenue Service and subsequently remitted to the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federal Government.

It further added that Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC), for Taxes hitherto paid to FIRS, shall henceforth be issued by FCTIRS subject to confirmation of payment.

It therefore enjoined all taxpayers in the nation’s capital to comply with these changes with immediate effect.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Pastor urges Christians to eschew playing religion

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enior pastor, Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), Wuse II, Abuja, Rev. Dr. Barje S. Maigali has called on Christians to stop playing religion, in order to avoid a fatal ending in life.

In particular, cleric advised them to allow themselves to be revitalized by the holy spirit for the good of mankind and advancement of the kingdom of God. The cleric, who gave the charge while delivering a sermon on the topic: A fatal

ending, on Sunday, chiefly anchored his message on the book of Judges, chapters 20 and 21 respectively.

According to him, the manifestations of fatal ending are: Spiritual and moral anarchy in the land; death of the spirit of hospitality; prevalence of homosexuality; prevalence of rape and murder (Desecration of the sanctity of life); and self destruction.

“When the people of God abandoned

or reject God, these things happen to them.It is difficult for us to be hospitable, because of death of moral and spiritual uprightness.

“It is common knowledge that today, we have churches that are divided among tribes, creed and social status.

“We are good in religion but very bad in spiritual living, we speak spiritually but our lives show carnality,” he stressed.

He continues: “Let’s stop playing

religion, and let our lives be revitalized by the holy spirit for the good of mankind and advancement of the kingdom of God. He therefore called for Christians to regularly test their spiritual life, to ascertain the spiritual level their lives.

“We must check and examine our lives daily, so as to escape the fatality of life without God.God loves and wants to use us to advance His purpose on earth,” he stressed.

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, december 27, 2017

Page 22

world news

international_peoplesdailyng@yahoo.com

et Orbi: Pope calls Brexit: German minister sees Urbi for peace for Jerusalem model for Turkey and Ukraine P A “smart” Brexit deal could serve as a model for the EU’s future relations with other non-EU states, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel says.

Turkey and Ukraine were two states that could benefit from the template, he told Germany’s Funke media group.

He did not see either joining the EU any time soon, so alternative forms of closer co-operation were needed.

The UK’s future relationship with the EU, which it is due to leave on 29 March 2019, is still being negotiated.

The two sides agreed this month on the three “divorce” issues that took up the first phase of negotiations: how much the UK owes the EU, what happens to the Northern Ireland border and what happens to UK citizens living elsewhere in the EU and EU citizens living in the UK. In June 2016, the UK voted in a referendum to leave the EU after more than four decades of membership.

What did Sigmar Gabriel say?

“If we can reach a smart agreement with Great Britain that outlines its relations with Europe after Brexit, then that could serve as a model for other countries,” he said.

He foresaw a “new, closer form of customs union” with Turkey, provided the situation in that country changed.

That would appear to conflict with the UK’s aim to leave the EU’s customs union as well as its single market.

Germany is concerned at Turkey’s human rights record under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, particularly the recent arrest of several German-Turkish nationals.

“It’s a good sign that several detained Germans have been released,” Mr Gabriel said, but he added there was still great concern over imprisoned journalist Deniz Yucel. “The Turks know how important

Sigmar Gabriel is foreign minister in Germany’s current, caretaker government his fate is for us,” he said.

What EU agreements exist with Turkey and Ukraine?

Under a specific customs union agreed in 1995, goods may travel between the two areas without customs restrictions although it excludes unprocessed agricultural products.

Talks on accession, however, have not moved since 2005.

An association agreement currently exists between Ukraine and the EU which fosters political co-operation and trade.

What will the ‘Brexit model’ be?

Nobody yet knows but the UK is leaving both the EU’s single market and customs union.

Agreement was reached on 8 December to move talks forward on to a proposed transition period after the UK leaves, and the future relationship.

Brexit Secretary David Davis has called for a free-trade deal with no tariffs,

like the deal struck between Canada and the EU. But unlike the Canada deal, he also wants financial services included in the tariff-free area.

One headache for negotiators is the Irish border and how to maintain the flow of trade between Northern Ireland, which is part the UK, and the Irish Republic, which is in the EU. Will Germany’s position change?

Mr Gabriel, from Germany’s social democrat SPD party, is foreign minister in the caretaker coalition government led by conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel.

After the inconclusive German general election in September, when Mr Gabriel’s party fared badly, Mrs Merkel failed to form a new coalition without the SPD. The SPD is now preparing for talks with Mrs Merkel on a new coalition.

Meghan Markle joins royals for Christmas service

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rince Harry’s fiancee Meghan Markle has joined the Royal Family for the Christmas Day service at the Queen’s Norfolk estate.

The couple arrived at a carol service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham along with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

The Queen returned after missing last year’s service due to a heavy cold.

Princes Philip and Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall also attended, along with other members of the family.

After the service, Ms Markle joined members of the family in greeting the crowds - some of whom had been waiting outside since 05:00 GMT. If royal tradition from previous years was followed, the family will have exchanged presents on Christmas Eve and awoken to a stocking of small gifts and fruit at the end of their beds.

The Queen and Prince Phillip also attended an early Holy Communion service at the church.

They will return home for a traditional turkey lunch, before watching the Queen’s speech together.

This year, the Queen will pay tribute to London and Manchester for the manner in which they dealt with this year’s terror attacks, as well as praising the Duke of Edinburgh for his support in the year of the couple’s 70th wedding anniversary.

Meghan Markle arrived at the church on the Sandringham Estate looking every inch the future royal.

She walked along in the heart of her new family between her fiance Prince Harry and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

She smiled at the crowd, which in some places, was five deep, some of whom had queued

William, Kate, Meghan and Harry from 2.40am to be a part of the royal Christmas celebrations.

When they left church, Meghan and Harry walked over to a couple of ladies who had been waiting.

Meghan smiled as Prince Harry complimented them on their Christmassy coloured clothes and told them the royal children were so excited it was hard to keep them under control.

The Americans in the crowd were especially thrilled to see her, mainly from the bases at Mildenhall and Lakenheath, happy at the prospect of one of their compatriots marrying into a British institution in May next year.

One was so excited that he brought an engagement ring all the way from Wisconsin for his girlfriend and proposed to her in the queue. She said yes!

ope Francis has used his traditional Christmas Day message to call for “peace for Jerusalem” and dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians.

Acknowledging “growing tensions” between them, he urged a “negotiated solution... that would allow the peaceful co-existence of two states”.

US President Donald Trump recently announced that America recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

The controversial move drew international condemnation.

Last week, UN members decisively backed a nonbinding resolution that said any decisions regarding the status of Jerusalem were “null and void” and must be cancelled.

Palestinians want East Jerusalem as their future capital, and all countries

currently keep their embassies in Tel Aviv.

The Roman Catholic leader gave his Urbi et Orbi speech, which in Latin means “To the city and world”, in Saint Peter’s Square.

“On this festive day let us ask the lord for peace for Jerusalem and for all the Holy Land,” he told the crowd.

“Let us pray that the will to resume dialogue may prevail between the parties and that a negotiated solution can finally be reached, one that would allow the peaceful co-existence of two states within mutually agreed and internationally recognised borders.”

The pontiff’s speech touched on other pressing international issues, from the migration crisis to the conflicts in Syria and Iraq, from Venezuela to North Korea.

Moscow subway bus crash kills four people

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bus left a road in Moscow before ploughing into a subway entrance, leaving at least four people dead and 15 injured, Russian officials say.

Footage shows people scattering as the bus ran down wide steps before being brought to a halt by the tunnel’s roof.

The incident occurred near Slaviansky Boulevard station in western Moscow.

There is no suggestion it was a terror attack. Russian investigators said the driver told police the vehicle had started to move suddenly.

He tried to apply the brakes but they did not work, the investigative committee said. The crash happened in icy conditions.

The number of people killed was unclear. Health officials said four people had died while interior ministry spokesman Col Yuri

Titov said the accident had claimed five lives, Interfax news agency reported that the bus was not even a year old. Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin told reporters at the scene that an inspection of the entire Moscow bus fleet has been ordered.

It is not clear if any of the people who died were inside the bus when it crashed.

Security camera footage broadcast on Russian television showed a number of people being struck by the bus as it went down the steps.

A preliminary examination showed the driver of the bus was sober, news agencies said. He has been held by police.

In July 2014, 21 people were killed when a train derailed near the same station after braking abruptly.

The driver is being held by police

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, december 27, 2017

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The mystery of South Africa’s golden harp

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n 1962 Igor Stravinsky, the Russian-born composer and conductor, went to South Africa to conduct the state broadcaster SABC Symphony Orchestra in a series of concerts. It was the height of apartheid - and the regime believed classical music was the domain of white people. The BBC’s Sophie Ribstein takes a walk down memory lane to see if a certain imposing harp was used in the concert.

It was like travelling back in time.

The walls were covered with the brown carpet, the architecture was brutalist.

As I walked down the long dark corridors of the headquarters of the SABC - South Africa’s state broadcaster - I could have been stepping into the 1970s, when the apartheid regime occupied the building and the airwaves.

SABC was once the core of the racist state’s propaganda machine.

I then turned a corner, pushed past a metal blue gate, walked into the music library... and everything changed.

I had come to see a relic from that era - a rare, golden concert harp, beautifully sculpted by the famous American harp maker Lyon and Healy.

This exceptional instrument once shone from the grandest stages in the country.

The principal harpist of the SABC orchestra would play it at classical music concerts - that, in those days, only white people were allowed to attend.

Now, the majestic harp was standing silent, under a dust cover in the corner of a room that also belonged to the past.

I’m a harp player myself, and I had heard about this instrument

from the man who made my own harp back in France.

I delicately unwrapped it, sat down and embraced it to my right shoulder.

My heart was pumping. I started to play and as my fingers danced from one string to another, the sound was so pure and profound, I felt both thrilled and content.

Its angelic tone had survived, the bass notes still resonant, the higher octaves still crystal clear.

When apartheid ended in the early 1990s, the SABC’s “white” orchestra was disbanded, and its remains were left in the library.

Alongside the instruments, were hundreds and thousands of music scores, many of them hand-written, among other relics from that time.

On the wall, I spotted a set of black and white photos… of Igor Stravinsky in South Africa.

Why, I wondered, had this famous Russian composer decided to come here? The year was 1962 and the country was in turmoil because of the repressive segregationist regime.

I later learned that Stravinsky had been invited to conduct the SABC orchestra, but what was remarkable about his tour, is that he had insisted on also performing for a black audience - and the authorities allowed him to, in KwaThema, a township 40km (25 miles) outside Johannesburg.

“I just want to perform for human beings,” the composer had explained.

I wanted to know what Stravinsky’s black audience made of it all. How had they even heard of him, at a time when the government considered classical music the domain of white people only?

Prince Thethe has vivid memories of the concert.

This exceptional instrument once shone from the grandest stages in South Africa I met the tall, charismatic, 82-year-old choir master in the massive, cold hall in KwaThema where Stravinsky performed.

His warm presence filled the empty space.

“It was the first time I stood close to an orchestra! I could not believe it!

As Stravinsky’s hands went up, the audience went berserk,” he told me, almost jumping on stage, imitating the great maestro.

“There was ululating, there was whistling! But as soon as the music started, you could hear a pin drop.”

During apartheid, he explained, just entering a sheet-music shop was taboo.

I pictured the scene in my head: A thousand people gathered in this hall, listening to each note, watching every move of the musicians and the diminutive Russian conductor.

And right at the back of the orchestra, had the golden harp been there too?

When a BBC colleague found, by chance, the recording of that concert in the SABC archives, we listened carefully to The Fireworks Suite, to

extracts of Pulcinella and Petrushka.

The tape had probably not been heard for 55 years. We were overwhelmed. But, there was no sign of the harp on the recording. It was a tantalising, unresolved mystery.

And so, contemplating that history, I sat behind my instrument at home one day and played a very short piece of music: A canon composed by Igor Stravinsky at the end of his trip.

He based it on the notes “S, A, B, C” - S being the equivalent of E flat - to thank the orchestra for inviting him.

Liberia election run-off: Ex-footballer up against vice-president

L

iberians are choosing a new president in a run-off vote between Vice-President Joseph Boakai and former international footballer George Weah.

Mr Weah, 51, won the first round, but did not secure the required 50% of the vote for an outright victory.

Legal challenges delayed the vote to replace Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa’s first elected female president.

Liberia, which was founded by freed US slaves in the 19th Century, has not had a smooth transfer of power in 73 years.

More than two million people are eligible to cast their ballots in the nation of 4.6 million people. Polls will close at 18:00 local time (the same time GMT).

Who are the contenders?

The contest between Mr Boakai and former topflight footballer Mr Weah has been a stop-start exercise beset with legal wrangling, the BBC’s Umaru Fofana reports from the capital, Monrovia.

Mr Boakai, 73, has been Liberia’s vice-president for 12 years but does not seem to enjoy the support of his boss, our correspondent says.

“This is a great day because it is a test of democracy,” he said after casting his vote.

Mr Weah is hoping that it will be third time lucky.

The former AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain player defeated Ms Johnson Sirleaf in the first round in 2005 but lost to her in the subsequent run-off.

In the following election’s runoff, in 2011, when he ran as a running mate to the opposition candidate, his coalition boycotted the vote, citing irregularities.

Why was the vote delayed?

A representative for the opposition Liberty Party, Charles Brumskine, who came third in October’s first round, challenged the result, saying it had been marred by “massive fraud and irregularities”.

But earlier this month the Supreme Court ruled that evidence of fraud was insufficient to merit a re-run of the opening round, and the run-off, originally due on 7 November, was announced.

Why the day after Christmas?

By law the elections must be held on a Tuesday and before the end of December, our correspondent writes.

The day after Christmas ended up being the only available date after another legal challenge, this time by the vice-president.

Mr Boakai insisted that the voters’ roll had not been cleaned up as ordered by the Supreme Court.

That ruling was only handed down last Thursday, so some in this

What you need to know about Liberia’s election Christian-majority country have put festivities on hold until after the polls.

“Those celebrations will happen on 29 December,” said one university student.

Will the vote be fair?

Weah supporters alleged some ballot-rigging, although there was no immediate official confirmation.

George Weah himself said, after casting his vote, the election had been “peaceful and good”.

Goodluck Jonathan, the former

Nigerian president, who is an observer at the election, told the BBC he was certain it would be free and fair despite “some challenges”.

Ms Johnson Sirleaf praised a violence-free electoral process, saying “the ballot box has replaced bullets and electoral disputes are settled through the courts”.

Why is this election so important?

This will be the first time for many generations that Liberians witness a transfer of power from one elected

leader to another.

Ms Sirleaf took office in 2006, after her predecessor, Charles Taylor, was forced out by rebels in 2003, ending a long civil war.

Taylor is currently serving a 50year prison sentence in the UK for war crimes related to the conflict in neighbouring Sierra Leone.

The result of the election is expected later this week.

Source: BBC

PAGE 24

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PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, december 27, 2017

A SI A

Yemen TV presenter announces brother’s death on air surrender to the sadness,” he recalls. “How can I not announce that he was martyred when it was because of my work as a journalist?”

Mohammed says that being apart from his family at this time is particularly difficult because they had not come to terms with the death of his brother Ahmed in September 2015 before learning that Amin had been

killed.

It was a few months after he had arrived in Riyadh and Mohammed was preparing to go on air when he learnt that Ahmed had been killed on the frontline in Marib.

Mohammed did not imagine that two years later, he would once again be steeling himself to announce another loss from a TV studio abroad.

Attack fears prompted UAE-Tunisia female passenger

A

The prison building and a perimeter wall were heavily damaged in the air strike

I

t was one of the most difficult news bulletins that Mohammed alDhabyani had presented.

His voice cracked as he told viewers that his brother Amin’s body had arrived home in the southwestern Yemeni province of Dhamar.

He paused and regained his composure before then describing in detail how his brother had died.

Amin, he said, was one of dozens of detainees killed last week in air strikes on a military police camp run by the rebel Houthi movement in the capital, Sanaa, by a Saudi-

led coalition that is backing Yemen’s government in the country’s civil war.

Mohammed is a presenter with Suhail TV and relocated with the Yemeni private satellite channel to Saudi Arabia after its offices in Sanaa were attacked on several occasions.

Suhail TV was one of many media outlets forced to close or move after the Houthis and their erstwhile allies - forces loyal to the late ex-President Ali Abdullah Saleh - seized Sanaa in September 2014.

Amin, 28, was detained by the Houthi fighters in

August in the shop the city where he worked as a graphic designer.

His younger brother Mamoun, who was also seized but was later released, said they were told that they were being detained because their brother was a journalist opposed to the Houthis.

Mohammed says that when he heard that that the coalition had bombed the military police camp in the Shaub district where Amin was being held he was terrified, gripped by a sense of shock and fear.

Other members of their family desperately searched

Sanaa’s hospitals for Amin, clinging to the hope that he had survived.

The military police camp was struck several times by coalition warplanes in the early hours of 12 December.

The United Nations says at least 45 people were killed and 53 others injured, all of them loyal to President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi.

On Sunday, as hundreds turned out in the Dhabyani family’s village to receive Amin’s body, Mohammed felt that he owed it to his brother to announce his death on television.

“I thought, I can’t

Iraq Christmas service takes place in Mosul after IS defeat

A

Christmas service at a church in the Iraqi city of Mosul has taken place for the first time since militants from the so-called Islamic State (IS) were driven out of the region.

Under IS the public performance of any Christian rituals was dangerous and difficult.

Many Christians fled persecution, with IS forcing worshippers to convert to Islam, pay a tax or face death.

Iraqi forces defeated IS in Mosul in July.

Earlier this month, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider alAbadi declared the threeyear campaign to expel IS from Iraq had been successful.

During the service, armoured vehicles sat outside Saint Paul’s church

row between Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates was triggered by fears of terrorist attacks, Tunisia says.

Since Friday, Tunisian women have reported being banned from Emirates flights to the UAE. In response, Tunisia suspended Emirates airlines flights from landing in Tunis.

A Tunisian official said UAE authorities had received “serious security information about the possibility of a terrorist attack” by female Tunisian passport holders.

A spokeswoman for the Tunisian presidency, Saida Garrach, said that UAE carrier Emirates had received “clear instructions” to deny Tunisian women access to its planes.

She said that the information indicated that, with jihadists returning from Syria and Iraq, there was “a possibility of a terrorist attack involving either Tunisian women or women carrying a Tunisian passport”.

She added that while

Tunisia understood the concerns of the UAE, it could not “accept the way Tunisian women have been treated”.

President Beji Caid Essebsi also said that the rights of Tunisian women could not to be violated “whatever the justification”.

The UAE had said on Sunday that “security information necessitated taking specific procedures” without mentioning a possible terrorist attack.

But female travellers from Tunisia said they had been given no reason for not being allowed to board Emirates Airline flights to the UAE. The Tunisian government said their officials had to intervene on a number of occasions to help female passengers stranded in its capital Tunis and in Abu Dhabi.

Amid growing anger, Tunisia suspended Emirates airlines flights to Tunis.

Tunisia’s transport ministry said the ban would remain in force until an “appropriate solution” had been found.

The service at St Paul’s church in Mosul was the first Christmas service in years and, inside, white sheets covered up bombed-out window frames.

Despite the end of IS rule, the security situation in the city is still tense.

The patriarch of Iraq’s Chaldean Catholic Church, Louis Raphael Sako, requested that followers

pray for “peace and stability in Mosul, Iraq and the world”.

Farqad Malko a Christian who returned to the city after the defeat of IS, said the service was “important to relaunch Christian life”.

Saint Paul’s is the only functioning church in

Mosul, and is only open thanks to the efforts of volunteers, the AFP agency reports.

Before the advance of IS in 2014, church leaders estimated Mosul had a Christian community of 35,000.

Source: BBC

Women holding Tunisian passports said they were prevented from boarding flights to the UAE

PAGE 25

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, december 27, 2017

Motoring

It’s slower, cheaper and has fewer cylinders, but can Jaguar’s nimble F-Type prove less really is more for sports cars? We test it

By Rob Hull A four-cylinder engine in a Jaguar is nothing new.

T

he British marque might be better known for having thunderous V12 powerplants under the bonnet in the past but it’s been stuffing reduced-cylinder motors into its cars since the X-Type saloon arrived at the turn of the century.

However, this is the first time the brand with the leaping cat has plonked a four-pot into one of its sports cars. And not just any sports car – the glorious looking F-Type that until now has boasted a traditional Jaguar soundtrack of gargling V6 and V8 orchestras.

So the big question that needs answering is: when it comes to cylinders, is less really more? Rob Hull spent a week with the new 2.0-litre model to find out.

Irrespective of what lurks beneath the traditional lengthy hood, the F-Type is – in my eyes – the best looking sub-£100,000 new car on the market today.

Parade your 2.0-litre Jag down the tarmac catwalk and even the modestly-trained eye will struggle to tell it apart from the V6 and V8 that have come before it.

So what’s the tell-tale sign for those not in the know?

The giveaway that you’ve scrimped on cylinders is the single exhaust outlet. Located centrally and in the shape of the kind of vacuum nozzle used to reach tight corners, it stands apart from the double oval exhaust tips of its gruntier siblings (positioned together centrally with the V6 and split for the V8).

While the entry-spec model does lack the outright ferocity of the V-mounted motors in the pricier pair, it still isn’t short on horsepower.

Using the same Ingenium powerplant that’s already available in the XE and XF saloons and the F-Pace SUV, it produces a respectable 296bhp.

By today’s standards that’s merely hot-hatch territory. But two decades ago that would’ve trumped the 5.3-litre V12 engine in the XJ-S on sale at the time.

Why is Jaguar down-sizing engines?

Like every other car manufacturer, Jaguar must be feeling the increasing weight of Euro emissions standards on its shoulders.

Ministers are desperate for an electric-vehicle takeover – by 2040 in the UK – and automakers are expected to make their combustionengined cars cleaner with every year and decade that passes, as low and zero-emissions targets creep closer.

Even for mainstream manufacturers, like Ford, Renault and Vauxhall with town-focussed small eco cars and spindly running costs, it’s an uphill battle.

For brands like Jaguar, where the mastery lies with high-performance luxury cars, it’s like trying to climb Everest in ice skates.

One of the easiest solutions to comply with these pollution regulations is for car makers to offer smaller-capacity engines to haul down the average emissions outputs of their range, thus keeping the likes of Chancellor Philip Hammond happy – for the time being anyway.

But we also shouldn’t

Is less really more? We spent a week at the wheel of Jaguar’s F-Type Convertible with the latest 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engine to find out if it’s worth the £56,000 asking price underestimate cunning marketing when it comes to car selling.

Jaguar knows the F-Type is one of the most revered cars in showrooms today. Introduce a cheaper version and sales figures are almost certainly going to rise.

Is it a significantly more affordable F-Type then?

This new 2.0-litre engine has dragged the cost of the coupe towards the £50,000 mark and prices for the convertible – which I had on test now start from £56,280.

That said, it barely trims the asking fee of the lowest-priced V6powered option. Stump-up an extra £3,000 and you can add an extra litre to the capacity of your engine and bask in six-cylinder chorus.

Like-for-like, there’s little to split the four and cheapest six in terms of on-paper performance and running costs, too. The V8 is almost twice as expensive to buy and run, however.

This suggests that Jaguar believes the 2.0-litre has something to offer other than a slightly more affordable passage into F-Type ownership. So should you pocket that extra £3,000 or stretch to a ‘proper’ V-powered Jag? The most manageable F-Type yet Let me get one thing straight – I’ve never really categorised the F-Type as a full-on sports car before.

With the hefty V6 and V8 anchoring the front end, it isn’t the most fleet-footed two-seater on sale and tends to understeer as soon as that gorgeously sculpted nose gets the faintest whiff of a corner. It’s more of a burbling GT car than a hardened apex-clipper, if you ask me.

But this 2.0-litre version has changed all that.

With the new powerplant shaving 52kg off the weight of the six-cylinder car – the equivalent of slinging a flyweight boxer off the bonnet – and even more off the V8, the fourcylinder F-Type instantly feels more agile, especially in slower turns.

Getting out of a corner is easier too, thanks mainly to the sub300bhp power output that’s made the performance more attainable to those that don’t possess the reflexes of Lewis Hamilton.

Punch the accelerator pedal at the exit of a bend and the rear tyres cling on for dear life, launching you out of the turn with barely a hint of drama.

Jaguar only started using 4-cylinder engines in its cars in the early 2000s.

In fact, the diesel X-Type (pictured) was the first to have a 4-pot engine

The 2.0-litre engine is far less intimidating than the 3.0-litre V6 unit and the almighty 5.0-litre V8. It makes the car that bit more usable and easier

Inside, there’s very little to tell the car apart from the rest of the range. The engine sound is the biggest giveaway

PAGE 26

F EATURE

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, december 27, 2017

The Indian teenagers who were expelled from school for hugging

A

hug between two teenagers in southern India has snowballed into a national controversy after their school expelled them for a “public display of affection”. The BBC’s Ashraf Padanna spoke to them.

After she had sung on stage in a competition at St Thomas Central School in Kerala, the 15-year-old asked her friend, a boy of 16, how she had done. He hugged her, congratulating her on the performance.

“It [the hug] lasted only for a second or two,” the girl, who did not want to be photographed for this article, told the BBC. “There were a lot of students and teachers around, and I didn’t feel [I had done] anything wrong.”

But one of the teachers reportedly complained to the principal and, in the girl’s words, “all hell broke loose”.

The following day, on 22 July, the pair were suspended indefinitely. Then, four months later, on 22 November, the boy was expelled. Neither has been named in the media.

“Schooling is also about the reformation of the child,” principal Sebastian T Joseph told the BBC. “We have given him a chance to apologise, but he and his parents had absolutely no remorse.”

But the boy said he had apologised “immediately”.

The girl never rejoined school because ccording to the school’s records, she was not even enrolled yet.

She had recently moved from Dubai, where her father had been working, and joined St Thomas school in June. The paperwork related to her admission was still incomplete when the hug sparked a furore.

Both students were however asked to appear before a disciplinary committee that the school formed to investigate the “charges”.

The BBC has a copy of the so-called

The school has drawn criticism for its decision to expel the students for hugging charge sheet drafted by the school - it accused the two students of engaging in an “indecent, immoral and undisciplined public display of affection” in front of other students and teachers.

It also alleges that their personal blogs and Instagram accounts included “conversations and photographs” that were “intimate, explicit, vulgar, obscene and objectionable”.

“My Instagram account is private and only my followers can see my stories,” the boy told the BBC. “There’s nothing vulgar or obscene as mentioned in the charge

The girl said the school has violated her right to education

sheet.”

He said that he had responded to the allegations by explaining that the hug was meant to be congratulatory and there was no other motive behind it.

The girl alleges that committee members had copies of photos they had posted on Instagram and called them abusive names.

“An official on the panel called me a bitch in heat,” she said.

By the time the committee found them “guilty”, they had already missed more than four months of school.

During that time, the boy’s parents had appealed to the Kerala child rights commission, which ordered the school to revoke the suspension.

But the school petitioned the Kerala high court, which upheld the order expelling the boy on the grounds that the school had the right to protects its “standard and reputation”.

His parents are now waiting for the court to reopen after the annual Christmas vacation so they can appeal.

“We are pinning our hopes on the judiciary,” said the boy’s father, who has not been working since his son was suspended so he could be home to sort out the problem and support his son.

He said school officials were not among his son’s or the girl’s followers on Instagram - yet, he alleged, they somehow saw their photos, made copies of them and even submitted them in court.

“Were they snooping on them?” he asked, adding that they would raise the issue of privacy in court.

His wife and he are also concerned that their son will miss the exam at the end of the year, which would affect his chances at gaining admission into college since this is his final year of schooling.

School authorities told the BBC that they had allowed the boy to transfer to another school and that it’s up to the central education board - which is an independent body - to decide if he can appear for the exam.

Meanwhile, the school has drawn criticism for what is being seen by many as a peculiar and harsh response.

And, on Thursday, the boy’s received a letter from the principal inviting them to a meeting on 3 January so they can reexamine the “issue”.

But the girl’s situation is still unclear.

Her parents are not sure if they will also approach the court.

Although she doesn’t want to continue studying at St Thomas school, she said she hopes they will allow her to appear for the annual exam so that she doesn’t lose a whole year.

“I want to study on a better campus in a safer environment, where they won’t treat you in a demeaning manner,” she added.

She said she has already applied to another school but was denied admission because of the “incident”.

“They [St Thomas school] have violated my right to education and my right to privacy,” she said.

Source: BBC

“

The boy has not attended school for more than four months now

During that time, the boy’s parents had appealed to the Kerala child rights commission, which ordered the school to revoke the suspension.

But the school petitioned the Kerala high court, which upheld the order expelling the boy on the grounds that the school had the right to protects its “standard and reputation”

PAGE 27

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, december 27, 2017

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bauchi state notice IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE PROBATE DIVISION, BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE WHEREAS the Person/Persons whose names is set out in the First Column hereunder died intestate on the dates and at the place stated in the column. AND WHEREAS the Person/Persons whose address and claimed relationship to the Deceased Person/Persons is set out in the Second Column hereunder has applied to “High Court of Justice, Bauchi for grant”. LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION of the property/ies of the Deceased NOTICE is hereby given that LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION will be granted to such Person/Persons unless NOTICE TO PROHIBIT THE grant thereof is filed in the Probate Registry High Court of Justice, Bauchi State of Nigeria, within TWENTY ONE DAYS (21) from the date of the publication of this legal Notice.

SCHEDULE NAMES OF THE DECEASED PERSONS S/N 1. MANGA ADAMU OF BAUCHI STATE WATER BOARD DECEASED WHO DIED ON THE 3RD SEPTEMBER, 2014 AT ATBU TEACHING HOSPITAL BAUCHI STATE 2. AHMAD IBN SHEIK OTHMAN OF FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC BAUCHI STATE DECEASED. WHO DIED ON 9TH DECEMBER, 2017 AT ATBU TEACHING HOSPITAL BAUCHI STATE. 3. ABDULLAHI GARBA OF BAUCHI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, BAUCHI STATE DECEASEDE. WHO DIED ON 16TH OCTOBER, 2017 AT ATBU TEACHING HOSPITAL BAUCHI. 4. SULE SABO OF UNGUWAN YAMMA KAFIN MADAKI, GANJUWA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, BAUCHI STATE DECESASED. WHO DIED ON 19TH SEPTEMBER, 2017 AT GENERAL HOSPITAL K/MADAKI BAUCHI STATE. 5. NUHU MIJIN YAWA OF NPF EDO STATE COMMAND BENIN CITY. DECEASED. WHO DIED ON 28TH SEPTEMBER 2017 AT SPECIALIST HOSPITAL BAUCHI. 6. IBRAHIM YAHAYA OF MUSTAPHA ABDULKADIR STREET, GIADE LGA BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. DECEASED, WHO DIED ON THE 5TH MAY, 2013 AT GENERAL HOSPITAL GIADE. BAUCHI STATE. 7. ADAMU JIBO DASS OF YALWAN MAKARANTA BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE DECEASED. WHO DIED ON 10TH JULY, 2015 AT YALWA MATERNITY BAUCHI. 8. ELIAS EZEKIEL MANZO OF SUM TAFAWA BALEWA LGA, BAUCHI STATE DECEASED. WHO DIED ON 23RD AUGUST, 2015 AT GEN. HOSPITAL TAFAWA BALEWA. 9. ADAMU MOHAMMED MADACHI OF BAUCHI MADACHI KOFAR FADA KATAGUM LGA BAUCHI DECEASED. WHO DIED ON 17TH OCTOBER, 2010 AT FMC AZARE. 10. SALE DATTI OF AZARE, KATAGUM LOCAL GOVERNMENT, BAUCHI STATE. DECEASED. WHO DIED ON 10TH OCTOBER, 2012 AT HOME. 11. AHMED MOHAMMED OF UNGUWAR HARDO RAILWAY ROAD BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE, DECEASED. WHO DIED ON 2ND NOVEMBER, 2017 AT MILITARY HOSPITAL BENIN CITY. 12. MUSA MADAKI OF GRA BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. DECEASED. WHO DIED ON 26TH NOVEMBER, 2017 AT ATBUTH BAUCHI. 13. SARKIN TASHA OF DARAZO DIGGIM LGA BAUCHI STATE. DECEASED. WHO DIED ON 30TH MARCH, 2012 AT GENERAL HOSPITAL DARAZO. 14. DR. SHUAIBU YUSUF OF FEDERAL MINISTRY OF AGRIC LIVESTOCK PROJECT UNIT BAUCHI. DECEASED. WHO DIED ON 29TH JANUARY, 2002 AT RIMI CLINIC BAUCHI. 15. ADAMU MUSA OF NIGERIA POLICE FORC E KANO DECEASED. WHO DIED ON 23RD NOVEMBER, 2015 AT SPECIALIST HOSPITAL BAUCHI. 16. CHRISTIANA UWAECHINA OBIAGELI OF FASAHA ESTATE NEW GRA BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. DECEASED. WHO DIED ON 15TH JUNE 2017 AT ABUJA. 17. SARATU MUSA OF INKIL KARA BAUCHI LGA BAUCHI STATE. DECEASED WHO DIED ON 29TH MAY, 2007 AT SPECIALIST HOSPITAL BAUCHI 18. ERNEST UDEH OF FADAMA MADA BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE DECEASED. WHO DIED ON 30TH DECEMBER, 2013 AT HOME. 19. MUHAMMAD MUHAMMAD OF ATBU BAUCHI, DECEASED WHO DIED ON 5TH NOVEMBER, 2017 AT ATBUTH BAUCHI 20. BITRUS EZEKIEL OF NIGERIAN POLICE FORCE DECEASED. WHO DIED ON 27TH SEPTEMBER, 2017 AT GENERAL HOSPITAL BAYARA. 21. SULE PANKSHIN OF PANKSHINPLATEAU STATE DECEASED. WHO DIED ON 15TH JANUARY, 2017 AT HOME 22. USMAN LAMIDO OF NITEL DECEASED. WHO DIED ON 08TH DECEMBER, 2011 ATBUTH BAUCHI. 23. SHUAIBU JIBRIN OF BAUCHI DECEASED WHO DIED ON 16TH JANUARY 2016, AT AMSAD CLINIC BAUCHI. 24. USMAN M. MAIUNGUWA JALAM OF BAUCHI STATE DECEASED. WHO DIED ON 26TH MARCH, 2014 AT KANO 25. KABIRU ADAMU OF AZARE, BAUCHI STATE DECEASED, WHO DIED ON 18TH APRIL 2017 AT AMINU KANO TEACHING HOSPITAL KANO STATE. 26. YAHAYA SULAIMAN OF UNGUWAR KURMI BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. DECEASED. WHO DIED ON 18TH MAY, 2017 AT HOME. 27. AHMED ALHAJI GAMBO OF HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT BOARD BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE DECEASED WHO DIED ON 01ST AUGUST, 2017 AT AMINU KANO TEACHING HOSPITAL 28. HASHIMU YUSUF OF FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC BAUCHI DECEASED WHO DIED ON 07TH JULY 2017 AT HOME 29. JIBO MOHAMMED OF FEDERAL SECRETARIAT BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE DECEASED WHO DIED ON 04TH AUGUST, 2017 AT HOME 30. ALHAJI ISA YALWA OF RAILWAY ROAD BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE DECEASED WHO DIED ON 26TH OCTOBER, 2006 AT HOME 31. HARUNA YUSUF IDRIS OF FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC BAUCHI DECEASED WHO DIED ON 30TH NOVEMBER, 2017 AT ATBUTH BAUCHI 32. LPC WAZIRI PADA OF 323 ARTILARY BRIGADE AKURE, ONDO STATE DECEASED WHO DIED ON 11TH OCTOBER, 2017 AT MAIDUGURI, BORNO STATE 33. CHARITY AYUBA BASU OF NIGERIAN PRISON SERVICE KADUNA DECEASED WHO DIED ON 28TH NOVEMBER, 2017 AT SPECIALIST HOSPITAL BAUCHI 34. ALIYU ADAMU OF MAGAMAN GUMAU BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE DECEASED WHO DIED ON 27TH MARCH 2017 AT ATBUTH BAUCHI 35. PETER ZAWARANG OF RAMADAN PRESS LIMITED BAUCHI DECEASED WHO DIED ON 9TH OCTOBER, 2017 AT TARABA STATE SPECIALIST HOSPITAL 36. YALWAJI MOHAMMED OF UNGUWAN RIJIYAN MAIFADA AZARE, KATAGUM LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA DECEASED WHO DIED ON 2ND FEBRUARY 2012 AT HOME 37. BABAJI AMADU OF GENERAL HOSPITAL ALKALERI DECEASED WHO DIED ON 17TH APRIL, 2016 AT GENERAL HOSPITAL ALKALERI 38. UBAYO MATO MOHAMMED OF BSADP STAFF QUARTERS, BAUCHI DECEASED WHO DIED ON 8TH NOVEMBER, 2017 AT HOME 39. MUHAMMED YUNUSA OF FEDERAL MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT BAUCHI DECEASED WHO DIED ON 13TH AUGUST, 2004 40. MU’AZU BAPPANI OF AZARE LGA BAUCHI STATE DECEASED WHO DIED ON 16TH MAY, 2017 AT GENERAL HOSPITAL AZARE 41. STEPHEN KASUWA TOKATDA OF NATIONAL IDENTITY MANAGEMENT COMMISSION DECEASED WHO DIED ON 5TH MARCH 2013 AT GENERAL HOSPITAL PANKSHIN 42. MUHAMMED AHMED OF DOYA QUARTERS BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. DECEASED WHO DIED ON 23RD SEPTEMBER, 2014 AT HOSPITAL 43. ALHAJI YAHAYA RABE OF SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL BAUCHI DECEASED WHO DIED ON 20TH DECEMBER, 2012 AT GENERAL HOSPITAL DASS 44. YUSUF IBRAHIM OF SHARIA COURT OF APPEAL BAUCHI WHO DIED ON 23RD MARCH 2011 AT HOME BAUCHI

NAMES OF APPLICANTS HAUWA’U ABUBAKAR OF UNGUWAR SARAKUNA BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE AND MUHAMMAD MANGA ADAMU (MINOR). THE WIDOW AND THE SON OF THE DECEASED PERSON. MOHAMMED SAGIR AND SHEHU AHMAD OF GIDAN ALKALI AMINU GOMBE ROAD BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. THE BROTHER AND FATHER OF THE DECEASED PERSON. KHADIJA ABDULLAHI OF ZUNGUR KOGI BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. THE DAUGTHER OF THE DECEASED PERSON. ISAH SULE OF SHIRA LGA BAUCHI STATE. THE SON OF THE DECEASED PERSON. ABDULRASHEED NUHU OF GITAL VILLAGE TAFAWA BALEWA. THE SON AND NEXT OF KIN OF THE DECEASED PERSON. BABA IBRAHIM OF MUSTAPHA ABDULKADIR STREET GIADE BAUCHI STATE. THE SON AND NEXT OF KIN OF THE DECEASED PERSON. MARYAM ADAMU OF STATE LOWCOST BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. THE DAUTHER AND NEXT OF KIN OF THE DECEASED PERSON. KYAWA SOLOMON OF BOGORO LGA BAUCHI STATE. THE WIDOW AND NEXT OF KIN TO THE DECEASED PERSON MOHAMMED SHAMSUDDEN ADAMU OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT EDUCATION AUTHORITY KATAGUM LGA BAUCHI STATE. THE SON AND NEXT OF KIN TO THE DECEASED PERSON. ADAMU DATTI OF AZARE KATAGUM LOCAL GOVERNMENT BAUCHI STATE. THE SON AND NEXT OF KIN OF THE DECEASED PERSON. LAWAN AHMED OF MAI UNGWAN KANDAHAR RAILWAY, BAUCHI STATE. THE BROTHER AND NEXT OF KIN TO THE DECEASED PERSON ISHAKU AGADA IZANG OF ATBUTH BAUCHI. THE SON AND NEXT OF KIN TO THE DECEASED PERSON

BABANGIDA MOHAMMADU OF DIGGIM KARI LAGO DISTRICT DARAZO LGA BAUCHI STATE. THE SON AND NEXT OF KIN TO THE DECEASED PERSON

BASHIR SHUAIBU YUSUF OF MAKAMA NEW EXTENSION BAUCHI .

THE SON AND NEXT OF KIN TO THE DECEASED PERSON

FIDELIS ADAMU OF YALWAN KAGADAMA BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. THE SON AND NEXT OF KIN TO THE DECEASED PERSON UWAECHINA EMMANUEL CHIBUZOR AND UWAECHINA EMMANUEL IRUCHUKWU OF FASAHA ESTATE NEW GRA BAUCHI. THE HUSBAND AND SON TO THE DECEASED PERSON GLORIA ADAMU OF INKIL VILLAGE BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE, THE DAUGHTER AND NEXT OF KIN TO THE DECEASED PERSON SOLOMON AMACO UDEH OF AHMADU BELLO WAY, BAUCHI, BAUCHI SATE. THE BROTHER AND NEXT OF KIN TO THE DECAEASED PERSON

AMINA GARBA OF GUBI DAM ROAD BAUCHI BAUCHI STATE, THE WIDOW AND NEXT OF KIN TO THE DECEASED PERSON BITRUS SUNDAY EZEKIEL OF SABON KAURA BAUCHI. THE SON AND NEXT OF KIN TO THE DECEASED PERSON YAKUBU SULE NSHEM OF COCIN PANKSHIN PLATEAU STATE. THE SON AND NEXT OF KIN TO THE DECEASED PERSON LADAN USMAN OF SHADARKI DARAZO LGA BAUCHI STATE. THE SON AND NEXT OF KIN TO THE DECEASED PERSON ALIYU SHUAIBU OF WUNTI DADA JOS ROAD BAUCHI STATE. THE SON AND NEXT OF KIN TO THE DECEASED PERSON UMAR USMAN M. MAIUNGUWA JALAM OF TIRWUN MAIDUGURI ROAD BAUCHI STATE. THE SON AND NEXT OF KIN TO THE DECEASED PERSON

UMARU ADAMU OF GAMBAKI MADANI DISTRICT, KATAGUM LGA BAUCHI STATE. THE BROTHER AND NEXT OF KIN TO THE DECEASED PERSON SAIDU SHUIBU SULAIMAN OF KOFAR DUMI BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. THE NEPHEW AND NEXT OF KIN TO THE DECEASED PERSON ABDULLAHI AHMAD GAMBO OF LIMAN KATAGUM BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE THE SON AND NEXT OF KIN TO THE DECEASED PERSON MUHAMMAD HASHIMU OF LUSHI YELWA BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE THE SON AND NEXT OF KIN TO THE DECEASED PERSON SALISU JIBO MOHAMMED OF BEHIND FEDERAL SECRETARIATE BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE THE SON AND NEXT OF KIN TO THE DECEASED PERSON

ABUBAKAR ISA YALWA OF RAILWAY ROAD BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE THE SON AND NEXT OF KIN TO THE DECEASED PERSON HAMZA YUSUF HARUNA AND UMAR YUSUF HARUNA OF NASSARAWA BAUCHI THE SONS AND NEXT OF KIN TO THE DECEASED PERSON PADA BALA WAZIRI OF RAFIN ZURFI, BAUCHI LGA BAUCHI STATE THE BROTHER AND NEXT OF KIN TO THE DECEASED PERSON GENESIS DANLADI BASU OF RAFIN ZURFI, BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE THE BROTHER AND NEXT OF KIN TO THE DECEASED PERSON ABDULBASID ALIYU ADAM OF UNGUWAN NASARAWA MAGAMA GUMAU TORO LGA BAUCHI STATE. THE SON AND NEXT OF KIN TO THE DECEASED PERSON

ESTHER PETER OF TIRWUN WARD BAUCHI STATE, THE WIDOW AND NEXT OF KIN TO THE DECEASED PERSON

DAHIRU MOHAMMED MUSTAPHA OF RIJIYAN MAIFADA AZARE, KATAGUM LGA THE SON AND NEXT OF KIN TO THE DECEASED PERSON YAHAYA BABAJI AMADU OF ALKALERI LGA BAUCHI THE BROTHER AND NEXT OF KIN TO THE DECEASED PERSON MURJANATU UBAYO MOHAMMED OF FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE THE WIDOW AND NEXT OF KIN TO THE DECEASED PERSON

ABDULSALAM MUHAMMED AND AMIRU MUHAMMED OF GUDUN FULANI BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE THE SON AND NEXT OF KIN TO THE DECEASED PERSON ALHAJI MOHAMMED BAPPANI OF KAFIN KUKA AZARE BAUCHI STATE. THE SON AND NEXT OF KIN TO THE DECEASED PERSON LADI STEPHEN AND BENJAMIN NENBUN STEPHEN OF TUDUN WADA TAFAWA BALEWA LGA BAUCHI STATE. THE SON AND WIDOW TO THE DECEASED PERSON AL’AMIN MUHAMMED OF DOYA QUARTERS BAUCHI, BAUCHI STATE. THE SON AND NEXT OF KIN TO THE DECEASED PERSON ILIYA ALHAJI YAHAYA OF BAUCHI STATE SPORT COUCIL THE SON AND NEXT OF KIN TO THE DECEASED PERSON ABDULMUMMUNI YUSUF OF AZARE, KATAGUM LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, BAUCHI STATE THE SON OF THE DECEASED PERSON

Date at Bauchi this 27th day of December, 2017

Probate Registrar, High Court of Justice, Bauchi Bauchi State

Signed: Adamu Mohammed Kafin Madaki Esq Chief Registrar High Court of Justice, Bauchi.

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, december 27, 2017

PAGE 28

Healthy Living Institute focuses on headquarters, HIV campaign in schools

I

nstitute of Human Virology, Nigeria has listed two major projects paramount in its agenda – inauguration of its N2 billion seven-floor twin tower building and the shifting HIV/AIDS campaign to schools.

The building situated in Airport road in Abuja would be inaugurated in the first quarter of 2019.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Institute, Dr Patrick Dakum, said the construction of the building had reached the fourth floor.

He said that the fight against HIV/ AIDS would be intensified, targeting the schools next year.

The CEO explained that the institute would work closely with the school authorities and the students.

Dakum called on the Nigerian youth to practise full abstinence from sex to avoid getting infected with HIV. He said that the youth must be determined, resilient and empowered with knowledge on what HIV and prevention is all about, to enable them to have focus and keep their dreams alive.

He also stressed that the youth were the leaders of tomorrow and should ensure an AIDS free nation, adding that IHVN would be available to mentor students to achieve an HIV free country. ”Nigeria has made tremendous effort in the fight against HIV. We were formally at 5.8 per cent but today it has reduced to 2.9 per cent, so we have achieved a great deal. ”We targeted the schools this year

Graph showing progress towards 90/90/90 targets UK

and we will work closely with the school authorities and the students,” he said. ”Although there is still much to be done, because it is the youth that are becoming more infected, so we need strategies to help them stay negative and prevent themselves from becoming positive.

Dakum, therefore, urged Nigerians to spread the massage of HIV across their neighbourhood as every individual has a role to play in the fight against the spread and to stop stigmatisation.

He said the institute had been partnering effectively with the Federal Government in the treatment of HIV/ AIDS and other opportunistic infections.

Dakum said the institute had been engaged in the treatment and management of HIV/AIDS patients and other related ailments in 35 states and FCT. “We have become a partner with the Federal Government in the management of infectious diseases throughout the country by providing support and treatment for the

control of infectious diseases,’’ he said.

He explained the institute was established in 2004 with the support of the Institute for Human Virology in Baltimore led by Professor Robert Gallow, who codiscovered the HIV virus.

Dakum said that the IHVN had extended its scope from working for the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS treatment to the treatment of tuberculosis as well as other allied diseases as cervical and breast cancer.

Smokers: Tomatoes, apples can repair damaged lungs

S

mokers who quit smoking and live on a diet high in tomatoes and fruits, particularly apples, have better chances of restoring their lung functions impaired by smoking, a new study finds.

The study, published in the December issue of the European Respiratory Journal, said former smokers who eat more tomatoes and fresh fruits on a regular basis saw a slower natural decline in lung function over a 10-year period.

The study was conducted by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

According to it, adults who on average ate more than two tomatoes or more than three portions of fresh fruits and vegetables a day had a slower decline in

lung function, compared to those who ate less than one tomato or less than one portion of fruits, respectively, on a daily basis.

Lung function starts to decline at around age 30 and poor lung function is linked to higher risks of death from all diseases, including chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, heart disease and lung cancer.

“A diet rich in fruits can slow down the lung’s natural aging process even if you have never smoked,” said Vanessa GarciaLarsen, the study’s lead author, who is also an assistant professor in the Bloomberg School’s Department of International Health.

Garcia-Larsen and her team examined

diet and lung function of more than 650 adults from Germany, Norway and Britain in 2002 and performed lung function tests on the same group of participants 10 years later.

The researchers found a more striking diet-lung-function among former smokers, who had around 80 ml slower decline over the 10-year period because their diets were highly rich in tomatoes and fruits.

Such a result suggests that the nutrients in their diets are beneficial to repairing the lung damage done by smoking.

“Eating more fruits on a regular basis can help attenuate the decline as people age, and might even help repair damage caused by smoking,” Garcia-Larsen said.

(Xinhua/NAN)

Weekly fish consumption linked to better sleep, higher IQ

C

hildren who eat fish at least once a week sleep better and have IQ scores that are 4 points higher, on average, than those who consume fish less frequently or not at all, according to new findings from the University of Pennsylvania published this week in Scientific Reports, a Nature journal.

Previous studies showed a relationship between omega-3s, the fatty acids in many types of fish, and improved intelligence, as well as omega-3s and better sleep. But they’ve never all been connected before. This work, conducted by Jianghong Liu, Jennifer PintoMartin and Alexandra Hanlon of the School of Nursing and Penn Integrates Knowledge Professor Adrian Raine, reveals sleep as a possible mediating pathway, the potential missing link between fish and intelligence.

“This area of research is not welldeveloped. It’s emerging,” said Liu, lead author on the paper and an associate

professor of nursing and public health. “Here we look at omega-3s coming from our food instead of from supplements.”

For the work, a cohort of 541 9- to 11-year-olds in China, 54 percent boys and 46 percent girls, completed a questionnaire about how often they consumed fish in the past month, with options ranging from “never” to “at least once per week.” They also took the Chinese version of an IQ test called the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for ChildrenRevised, which examines verbal and nonverbal skills such as vocabulary and coding.

Their parents then answered questions about sleep quality using the standardized Children Sleep Habits Questionnaire, which included topics such as sleep duration and frequency of night waking or daytime sleepiness. Finally, the researchers controlled for demographic information, including parental education, occupation

and marital status and number of children in the home.

Analyzing these data points, the Penn team found that children who reported eating fish weekly scored 4.8 points higher on the IQ exams than those who said they “seldom” or “never” consumed fish. Those whose meals sometimes included fish scored 3.3 points higher. In addition, increased fish consumption was associated with fewer disturbances of sleep, which the researchers say indicates better overall sleep quality.

“Lack of sleep is associated with antisocial behavior; poor cognition is associated with antisocial behavior,” said Raine, who has appointments in the School of Arts and Sciences and Penn’s Perelman School of Medicine. “We have found that omega-3 supplements reduce antisocial behavior, so it’s not too surprising that fish is behind this.”

Pinto-Martin, who is executive director of Penn’s Center for Public Health Initiatives, as well as the Viola MacInnes/ Independence Professor of Nursing and a professor of epidemiology in Penn Medicine, sees strong potential for the implications of this research.

“It adds to the growing body of evidence showing that fish consumption has really positive health benefits and should be something more heavily advertised and promoted,” she said. “Children should be introduced to it early on.” That could be as young as 10 months, as long as the fish has no bones and has been finely chopped, but should start by around age 2.

“Introducing the taste early makes it more palatable,” Pinto-Martin said. “It really has to be a concerted effort, especially in a culture where fish is not as commonly served or smelled. Children are sensitive to smell.

PEOPLES DAILY

Sports

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29

sports@peoplesdailyng.com, SMS- 08142929046

wednesday, december 27, 2017

Scrabble Federation sets new heights for 2018

Scrabble players inn action

By AmaechiAgbo

T

he Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF) has reviewed its activities for the year 2017 and also its proposed programmes of activities for 2018.

After extensive deliberations, certain observations and decisions were noted and taken.

According to a communiqué signed by Akintunde Akinsemola, the Chairman of NSF’s Publicity Committee, made available to newsmen, the Board appreciated all members of the Scrabble family for their support and cooperation in the execution of the mandate through the various successful tournaments and retreats all over the country.

It specifically identified with the following events regardless of whatever shortcomings experienced, the National Championship, the National Youth games in Ilorin, Wellington Classics, the Godswill Akpabio lnternational Classics, the

WESPAC, Kenya.

The Board also recognised the outstanding performance of our players in recent past especially the international outings of the former World Champion Wellington Jighere, Moses Peter’s laudable feat at WESPA tourney in Kenya, Team Nigeria’s back-to-back overall first place in Australia and Kenya.

Two others were mentioned for special recognition which included MSI Category B World Champion, Jack Mpakaboari, as well as, our indomitable Malaysia Team of Chux Ehibudu, Dayo Tayo, Raymond Gbaraba etc The Board also noted the immense contribution of the many social media platforms and their members in propagating the game to all nook and crannies of the country e.g. Nigeria Scrabble friends, Arewa Scrabble Friends, Nigeria Scrabble Veteran, NASTO etc.

The Board appreciated sincere and honest contributions geared towards the

enhancement of Scrabble administration in the country. It assures members of its willingness to accept constructive criticism devoid of sentiments and personal insult.

It also appeals to administrators of various platforms to moderate and if necessary sanction those who abuse the codes of conduct of membership.

It also noticed with serious concern the negativity of posting on Facebook that seek to destroy the image of the country and urged restraint.

The Board established the following committees to help in running the affairs of the federation which includes Finance, Technical, Welfare, Ethics and Discipline, Youth, Marketing and sponsorship, as well as, Publicity.

Membership of the committees shall be extended outside board membership.

Some other resolutions that the Board reached include sending the President to Akwa Ibom to seek a final resolution on unpaid balances of prize monies within a

definite timeline.

The Board also resolved to take stringent measures to curtail issues of non-payment of prize monies, by making sure that there is strict adherence to rules governing tournaments organisation.

The Board agreed to welcome suspended members who are willing to comply with the minimum requirement for such. Rotimi Odulele was cleared to participate in NSF organised competitions.

The Board resolved to suspend Kabir Olaiya the only player that has not remitted his WESPAC winning percentage if he fails to do so on or before the 30th of December, 2017.

The Board fixed for congress, training and certification of new Adjudicators and Tournament Directors for March 2018, during the National Championship.

The Board also agreed to publish account on the earnings and expenditure which shall be provided to congress as required by Law.

Eagles play like Chelsea - Moses believes

>> Pg. 30

PAGE 30

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, december 27, 2017

S p Croatia to scout Nigeria stars Iwobi, Moses against Poland

C

roatia manager Zlatko Dalić has revealed that scouts representing their national team will be present at the Municipal Stadium in Wrocław when Nigeria faces Poland in a pre-World Cup friendly on March 23.

The likes of Chelsea’s Victor Moses and Ola Aina, Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi and goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa are in line to be called-up for the friendly in three months time.

The Croatians battle Nigeria in their opening game of the 2018 World Cup and it is becoming clearer that they want to beat the Super Eagles before their second match in the group vs Argentina.

The Croatian Football Federation is planning to hire a coach from Rijeka, who has close links with Football College Abuja, to monitor the players in the Nigeria Professional Football League ahead of the World Cup. Asked if he has knowledge of Argentina, Nigeria and Iceland, Dalic told Sportske Novosti: ‘’We’ll follow everything, especially Nigeria. They play March 23 in Poland; some of the scouts will go and watch them. ‘’In Nigeria there are many Croatians working, especially from Rijeka, we will have to hire someone to watch the local league. I’ll have all the information in time.’’

Croatia and Nigeria trade tackles at Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad on June 16, 2018

r

t

Eagles play like Chelsea - Moses believes

N

igeria star Victor Moses has compared the Super Eagles’ self-belief to that of Premier League champions Chelsea.

The 27-year-old has enjoyed a great 2017, playing a huge role in the Blues’ title triumph before helping Nigeria secure safe passage to the 2018 World Cup. The versatile Chelsea star made the five-man shortlist for the Confederation of African Football and BBC African Footballer of the Year awards.

“I must have done well. It felt good to be nominated.

I’ve worked so hard. It’s a bit crazy and shows how far I’ve come,” Moses told the Daily Star.

“It’s been a great year for me. I’ve really enjoyed it, but want to keep it going.”

He added: “Nigeria was the first African country to qualify for the World Cup. “We are like Chelsea. We believe in ourselves. Chelsea has loads of games of coming up. We’ve got a great squad, and the manager we have here, we know what we are capable of.”

Moses is in line to make his 100th appearance for Chelsea later today when Brighton & Hove Albion visit Stamford Bridge.

Morata, Alonso earn Chelsea win against Brighton

S

econd-half goals from Alvaro Morata and Spanish compatriot Marcos Alonso earned Chelsea a 2-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion yesterday, moving the Premier League champions to within a point of second-placed Manchester United.

Chelsea coach Antonio Conte, who this month said his side were no longer in the title race given the dominance of runaway leaders Manchester City, said the Londoners were determined to fight for their place in next season’s Champions League.

Morata, returning to the team after a one-match suspension, and Alonso both scored with headers to breach Brighton and Hove Albion’s disciplined defence after a fallow first half.

Spearheaded by the lively Eden Hazard, Chelsea enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and seldom looked vulnerable to a Brighton team who sought to thwart their hosts at every opportunity.

Less than a minute into the second half, Morata sprang to meet Cesar

Azpilicueta’s diagonal ball, reviving an all-Spain partnership that has resulted in the defender providing six assists for the striker so far this season.

Chelsea wrapped up the match 13 minutes later when Alonso glanced in a near-post header from a corner by a fourth Spain international, Fabregas, to make it 2-0. It was Alonso’s fifth league goal of the season.

The win increased pressure on second-placed Manchester United who could only manage a 2-2 home draw with Burnley.

Yafai to fight McDonnell for WBC International super-bantamweight title

Britain’s Gamal Yafai (left) is unbeaten in 13 fights

G

amal Yafai will attempt to defend his WBC International superbantamweight title against fellow Briton Gavin McDonnell in Sheffield on 3 March.

The fight is on the undercard of Kell

Brook’s light-middleweight bout against Sergey Rabchenko at Sheffield Arena.

Yafai, 26, has won all 13 of his fights, while 31-year-old McDonnell has won 18 and lost one of his 21 bouts.

“I know I’m good enough for the big

nights and this is certainly a big fight,” said Yafai.

“It’s experience against youth, but I bring something different to the table than what he’s seen.”

McDonnell lost on points to Mexican

Rey Vargas when they met for the vacant WBC super-bantamweight title in Hull in February.

McDonnell said: “These domestic dustups are the type of fights which get the bit between your teeth.”

PAGE 31

PEOPLES DAILY, wednesday, december 27, 2017

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The Fifa trial with the drama of a Mafia movie

By Richard Conway

“There are mysteries to be solved; there are whodunits. This isn’t one of them.”

T

he closing argument of Assistant US Attorney Sam Nitze in summing up a month’s worth of startling evidence in Brooklyn was very clear.

“Some things are just the way they appear,” he said.

The trial of two former South American football officials, accused of rampant corruption while leading their respective football federations and at Fifa, the sport’s world governing body, is now over.

The wait continues for the third man Manuel Burga - with jury deliberations over a conspiracy charge set to get underway again on Tuesday.

After days of lengthy deliberations the jury agreed with Nitze and the US government’s accusations against Jose Maria Marin and Juan Angel Napout.

Who are the indicted Fifa officials?

Throat-slitting gestures This case though has been likened to one involving the Mafia.

It’s easy to see why. Some of New York’s most infamous mobsters would no doubt be proud of the tactics apparently employed in recent weeks.

The only difference is that this trial involved members of the so-called “football family” and not gangsters from the Gambino or Lucchese clans.

It began in November when prosecutors sought an anonymous jury, claiming alleged attempts to intimidate witnesses and obstruct justice, and swiftly progressed in the first week to claims in court that Burga made throat-slitting gestures toward the prosecution’s star witness.

It was, according to Burga’s lawyer, a simple misunderstanding. His client was merely scratching a rash on his neck and was not threatening the man delivering devastating testimony against him. The judge disagreed.

Juan Angel Napout of Paraguay and Jose Maria Marin of Brazil are far from household names in Europe.

And yet, following these guilty verdicts, they join a long and tawdry list of executives we now understand used football as their personal cashpoint.

They stand in disgrace alongside many

others who viewed the sport as a gilt-edged opportunity to command multi-million dollar bribes in return for handing out lucrative rights’ contracts to anyone willing to grease their palms.

They once rubbed shoulders with the game’s greatest players, had the best seats in the stadium, travelled first-class and stayed at the finest hotels.

They are now facing up to the prospect of significant time in American penitentiaries, enjoying radically different conditions to the luxury lifestyles they once enjoyed.

The case has been touched by tragedy too.

An Argentine government official, Jorge Delhon, who helped administer the country’s state owned portfolio of domestic TV football rights, killed himself just hours after being named in court as receiving millions of dollars in bribes.

Calls to pop stars & Qatar questions The court has also witnessed a number of bemusing moments.

One came when the prosecution called Kevin Jonas, of the American pop band the Jonas Brothers, to establish that a Paul McCartney concert in Buenos Aires had taken place. Napout had not only denied receiving $10,000 worth of tickets but also the very existence of the event.

Fifa will hope to contain the fallout from these verdicts but it may not be over the worst just yet.

Marin’s successor as head of the Brazilian football federation, Marco Polo Del Nero, was provisionally suspended

by Fifa last week following evidence presented in court that he was complicit in bribe taking.

He has remained in charge despite being wanted on charges of corruption by US authorities since 2015.

Then there were the repeated references during court testimony of alleged payments made to the men on trial, and other officials, in connection to the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Those providing the evidence were unable to say what the payments were for.

Tournament organisers in the Gulf country have denied any wrongdoing and say they stand by the integrity of their successful bid to host the competition.

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EKWULOBIA DEVELOPMENT UNION

Jose Maria Marin (pictured), Juan Angel Napout and Manuel Burga - have at Fifa during the time period the three Is this really a ‘Fifa trial’? defendants were senior officials.

These guilty verdicts are the result of Taking part in bribery schemes, they many years of investigation work. say, was a question of grabbing what It was back in May 2015, in a dramatic you could. Those involved saw it as their dawn raid at a Zurich hotel close to Fifa’s hill rightful spoils for successfully navigating top headquarters, that the world became their way to the top of the snakes and aware of on-going efforts by American law ladders board, they claim. enforcement to ensnare football and TV Fifa’s current leadership says things executives enriching themselves through have changed since 2015. Those days have football. gone they insist, marked with a series of 42 people were indicted. 24 of those sweeping changes in corporate governance. caught have pleaded guilty, cooperating Speaking to me in his New York office with prosecutors in the hope of securing one of the organisation’s current vicereduced sanctions and sentences. presidents, Sunil Gulati, believes reforms The results of the investigation are starting to take hold and the culture is prompted massive upheaval at Fifa, with changing. its beleaguered president Sepp Blatter “We still have work to do. It’s going to eventually succumbing to huge pressure take time,” he said. “The tone at the top has and agreeing to stand aside in what was been set but for that to now get through the supposed to be an orderly transition of entire system it’s going to take time. power.

“You can ruin your reputation in a day He was however denied the graceful and it takes a long time to get it back. Fifa’s and triumphant exit he so desperately behaviour has improved dramatically and craved.

I think that will continue. But it will take Blatter remains under investigation by time for people around the world to accept Swiss authorities having been banned from that. football for six years by Fifa over allegations “We’ve come a long way but there’s still of financial misconduct involving Uefa’s some distance to go. As behaviour changes, former president Michel Platini. as people’s attitudes change - and that’s not Insiders at the world governing body just at Fifa. It’s at the confederations and at have privately complained in recent weeks member associations - that’s when we can that the ‘Fifa trial’ is a misnomer. They say there’s been a huge step forward.” have railed at how the trial involved fraud And yet doubts remain in the minds concerning Latin American TV rights’ of many about Fifa, especially given the deals and that the organisation itself was curious dismissal of the organisation’s at arms length to it all. independent ethics and governance chiefs And yet others, now departed from in May and the excuses that were provided their roles, speak of the tone set by the both then and now. senior executives and former presidents Source: BBCNEWS.COM

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. . . putting the people first

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

SPORTS latest

Kane sets Premier League goal record

H

arry Kane set a new record for the most Premier League goals in a year and will finish as Europe’s leading scorer for 2017 after the Tottenham Hotspur forward hit a hattrick in his side’s 5-2 rout of Southampton yesterday.

Kane’s 22nd-minute header at Wembley was his 37th goal of the year, moving him past Alan Shearer’s previous Premier League record, which was set when he played for Blackburn Rovers in 1995.

But Kane wasn’t happy to settle for that milestone and he scored twice more to claim his eighth treble of the year.

His second goal took him to 55 for club and country in 2017 – lifting him above Barcelona’s Lionel Messi to become Europe’s top-scorer over the last 12 months in the five major countries (England, Spain, Italy, Germany and France).

Messi, who has 54 goals this year, can’t catch Kane as Barcelona don’t play again until 2018.

Kane admitted he was keen to break Shearer’s record after he moved level with the former England star with a hat-trick in Tottenham’s win at Burnley on Saturday.

The 24-year-old reached his landmark 37th goal in 36 league appearances, while Shearer played 42 times when he set the old record with 36 goals.

Other high-scoring Premier League stars over a calendar year include Robin van Persie, who notched 35 for Arsenal in 2011, and Thierry Henry, who struck 34 times for Arsenal in 2004.

Kane’s heroics were the highlight of a memorable Boxing Day for Tottenham as Dele Alli and Son Heung-Min also got on the scoresheet.

Southampton, without want-away defender Virgil van Dijk, had escaped early on with Kane and Eric Dier coming close the opening goal.

Taye before Taiwo and Oduamadi

Advert: business: news: lagos:

“Our choice should be swift, clear and unambiguous. We are going right, and it leads us straight to Aso Rock. Already we have given the ruling APC quit notice and we have no intention of withdrawing it.”

—Prince Uche Secondus, National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The Ghost of Christmas C by hristmas celebration is more of a social activity aimed at keeping the memory of Jesus Christ than a doctrine enshrined in the Holy Bible. However, the instructive aspect about celebrating Christmas is the aspect of propagating the word of God by showing love to humanity through acts of kindness, sharing of gifts and compassion.

Sadly, the beauty of Christmas has continued to decline in Africa, sounding more like a broken banjo with a single string as hunger, terror, poor leadership continue to be our own Grinch stealing the fun in the yuletide season. In Nigeria, the fiesta is no longer what it used to be. Social, political and economic factors have left nothing but ghost of Christmas celebration.

In the past, approximately two decades ago, major religious celebrations in many parts of the country are jointly celebrated.

The Muslims, Christians support each other in their major festivities. It was always a feasting period especially for the younger ones who freely ate meals and collected gifts from family friends. As a child, we knew families where the best meals come from. We often waited anxiously to have a taste. We had neighbors we were always certain would give us cash gifts – interestingly, some were non Christians. Most radio and television stations competed among themselves on who played the best Christmas carols the most, a competition, which often starts in November every year. Today, it has been replaced with news about politicians, terrorism, and many more woes fast becoming part of our daily life in Nigeria.

The dearth of celebrating Christmas has indeed changed the way and manner we used to know it. It is now a ghostly celebration caused by ghastly accident of series of poor leadership, sore ethno-religious political campaigners. Many parents cannot afford new cloths or meals to commemorate the celebration. Neighbors are no longer friendly, as ethnicity, religious trenches have further broken down the core of unity

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WEdnesDAY Column

Israel A. Ebije ebijeo5@gmail.com or @ebijeisrael.com

that existed in the past. Children can no longer roam the streets over fear of kidnappers, people cannot travel over perennial fuel scarcity. A look at faces in churches during Christmas services across the country reflects gloom. Parents are desperate, children are disappointed and government in a constant state of confusion.

It is instructive to intimate that the way and manner Christmas is celebrated reflects the mood and probably the well being of Nigerians. The festivity coincides with every end of year occasion for all regardless of religious belief.

Christmas is also celebrated at a time every employer of labor

“

allow workers to enjoy a well deserved holiday which extends to the new year. The recent economic crunch has made it impossible for Nigerians to travel or be part of family or community based celebration.

For many Nigerians, travelling every end of year is not only symbolic, but the only time of the year convenient to see their loved ones. A bitter Christmas holiday may translate to a rocky new year. In the 1980’s, civil servants in Nigeria used to smile home with bags of rice, cartons of milk, salt etc each time festivities of major magnitude like Christmas, Sallah are celebrated. Two decades afterwards, most

It is instructive to intimate that the way and manner Christmas is celebrated reflects the mood and probably the well being of Nigerians. The festivity coincides with every end of year occasion for all regardless of religious belief

of them do not have salaries for more than one year. They cannot even travel on account of excessive hike in fares as a result of end of year fuel scarcity. If an average Nigerian living in a civil part of the country celebrates physically and emotionally Christian/Muslims festivities, then a failed Christmas is indeed bad for all regardless of religious foundation.

Nigerians expected change in 2015. Nigerians are still expectant. The concept of change should begin within us, then it will percolate to government officials. Sadly, a hungry man is never an agent of change. Nigerians are no longer happy people.

They cannot be guaranteed of their salaries, meaning their happiness is mortgaged.

They watch helplessly as their children turn to armed robbery or prostitution to survive. They watch helplessly as old useless politicians continue to re-circle themselves while the younger ‘godfather propelled’ politicians display heights of foolishness in leadership. Nigerians are suffering but can always struggle to survive once government provides social amenities.

Where there is no salary, no amenities, no respite for the overtly expensive food situation accompanied with hike in prices of staples, Christmas for all is simply a mess.

Ebije can be reached via; ebijeo5@gmail.com or @ ebijeisrael

DAN GAYE

2019: Ekweremadu lists what PDP must do to regain power – News

Is sharing money on the list?

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