Tuesday, April 28th, 2015 Edition

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Tuesday, April 28, 2015 Rajab 9, 1436 AH

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$370m Abacha loot in Luxembourg account – Swiss envoy >> page 6

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Jonathan sacks NHIS boss, appoints Akingbade ag DG >> page 3

N150 Vol. 16 No. 06

Boko Haram is fraud, says Buhari >> page ??

Looting allegation

Probe me when you take over, Jonathan tells Buhari l Orders release of audit report on ‘missing $20bn’

New members of House of Representatives, during the induction course for National Assembly members, yesterday in Abuja.

APC, PDP Reps lay claims L to speakership slot

>> page 2

Photo: Mahmud Isa

By Umar Muhammad Puma

awmakers in the House of Representatives yesterday disagreed over constitutional provision that the ruling party should produce the Speaker of the House, as Peoples Democratic Party caucus insisted that neither the constitution nor the House rules mentioned that.

Contd on Page 2

379 Days after Ex NDDC commissioner jailed 3 yrs Will the abducted Chibok >> page 5 for stealing transformers schoolgirls ever be rescued?

PAGE 2

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, APRIL 28, 2015

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

19-22 23

S/Report 24-25 Feature 26 Defence 27 Agric 29 Feature 30

Looting allegation: Probe me when you take over, Jonathan tells Buhari

By Lawrence Olaoye

F

ollowing allegations of last minute looting of the nation’s resources, rushed privatization of key institutions and hurried recruitment into public service by the All Progressives Congress (APC) against the outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, the President has challenged the Presidentelect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, to probe his decisions when he eventually gets into power by May 29.

This is coming as the President ordered the release of the report of the forensic audit of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) conducted by Price Waterhouse Cooper (PWC) on the alleged missing $20 billion oil funds.

Jonathan’s Special Adviser on media and publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, who briefed State House Correspondent yesterday, said the the government regretted the allegations made by the APC spokesman, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, insisting that

Jonathan’s tenure ends on May 29 and as such would not shirk in its responsibilities of providing good governance to the country.

He said “Without any prejudice whatsoever to the freedom of the incoming administration to do as it pleases, within the confines of extant laws when it assumes office, the Jonathan Administration will continue to discharge its responsibility to govern until May 29, 2015.

“In continuing to fulfil the obligations of his office however, President Jonathan has not, and will never condone any form of unscrupulous conduct on the part of state officials.

As Alhaji Mohammed threatened in his statement, the incoming administration will be perfectly within its rights to review all actions of the present government as it may deem fit.

We see nothing wrong with that. After all, the present Administration reviewed the actions of previous governments on assumption of office with resultant benefits for policy and project implementation.”

He however promised not

to create any problem for the incoming administration as he stated “President Jonathan will also never authorise any attempt to create any problems for the incoming administration as the APC spokesperson, who ought to know that the outcome of the March 28 presidential elections does not imply a cessation of governance.”

He continued “The Jonathan Administration which continues to do its best to ensure a smooth and peaceful handover over of power to the President-Elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, deeply regrets the unfairness and combative frame of mind reflected in Alhaji Mohammed’s statement.

“President Jonathan has done his best in the past five years to discharge his constitutional responsibilities for good governance and effective leadership of the nation.”

Reacting to the Buhari’s resolve to revisit the issue of the missing $20 billion oil funds which the government has consistently denied, Jonathan said the issue had been laid to rest with the submission of the reports forensic

audit of the NNPC by the PWC. According to him “President Jonathan is also deeply concerned by the continuing suggestions that his administration still has anything to hide about the unproven allegation that about $20 Billion is unaccounted for by the NNPC during his tenure.

To lay the matter to rest, President Jonathan in line with Section 7(2) of the NNPC Act, has directed that the full report of the PWC Forensic Audit of the NNPC accounts be released immediately to the public so that all Nigerians will be properly informed on the matter.”

Although the release of the forensic audit is being ordered belatedly by the President, Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, had last week explained that no money was missing.

She insisted that the PWC forensic report only revealed that certain $1.48 billion was transferred from the NNPC to its subsidiary, the NPDC, and that she had directed that the money be paid into government coffers.

President.

Impeachment: Adamawa Assembly under lock and key From Umar Dankano, Yola

Constitution amendment: NASS talks tough on President’s legal action.

Page 4

Metro

32

Int’l 39 S/World

39

Digest 40 Sports 41 Columnist 48

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T

he Adamawa State House of Assembly activities faced another setback on Mondayas the assembly complex remained under lock and key for the second week running due to the leadership crisis between lawmakers loyal to the state governor and those loyal to the speaker of the House.

The House which was scheduled to seat last week shifted its sitting to Monday 27 following threats by 11 lawmakers loyal to the governor who allegedly sponsored moves to impeach the Speaker, Hon Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri who has been running

a battle of supremacy with the governor, Bar Bala James Ngilari.

However, some lawmakers and staff who showed up for work on Monday were denied entry by policemen who said there was directive not to allow anybody in.

A statement from the 11 lawmakers signed by their spokesman, Umar Abdulkareem representing Nassarawo/Binyeri, called for the opening of the House for normal legislative business.

“We members of the Adamawa House of Assembly under the leadership of Hon Jerry Kumdisi wish to categorically state that Adamawa state House of Assembly complex which is under seal should be unsealed to enable

the house to resume its legislative functions.

“By tradition the chamber is the designated place for legislative business even though the hose can sit in any part of Adamawa state to legislate for good governance, peace and stability of state.

“The stalemate in the House is as a result of leadership high handedness and maladministration by Ahmadu Umar Fintiri.

“We therefore urge the good people of Adamawa state to be calm and remain law abiding as this stalemate will soon be resolved.”, the statement said.

When contacted on the development, the Speaker of

House, Ahmadu Fintiri, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Solomon Kumangar, did not give any reason for the closure of the House but insisted that there was no stalemate in the House.

“The House of Assembly as currently is, the Speaker does not wish to join issues with anyone.

He also wishes to notify the public not to be misled by rumours of any stalemate”.

However, investigation by People’s Daily in Yola revealed that the continuous closure of the assembly complex was ordered by the state governor who wanted to stop the house from suspending those loyal to him.

on how the National Assembly leadership emerges.

In the House of Representatives, the PDP has about 140 lawmakers, as against the All Progressives Congress (APC) 200 lawmakers.

PDP members in the incoming 8th Senate, would occupy 49 of the 109 seats, APC has 60 members.

Although, none of the PDP members has come out for the position but there is strong indication that one of them may be pushed forward to contest with any candidate that may come from APC.

There were also indications that they may use their strength to prevent any candidate the APC may want to foist on the members just as it happened with the emergence of the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal as against the party candidate.

While confirming the development, the deputy leader of the House, Hon Leo Ogor who spoke with newsmen at the venue of the ongoing retreat organised for new lawmakers by the National Assembly Institute of Legislative Studies said that there was nowhere in the constitution that prevents other parties from

contesting for the position.

Citing section 50 of the 1999 constitution (as amended), Ogor told newsmen that the National Assembly leadership in the 8th Assembly was not the exclusive preserve of the majority APC. He quoted section 50. (1) states: (a) a President and a Deputy President of the Senate, who shall be elected by the members of that House from among themselves; and (b) a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall be elected by the members of that House from among themselves.

APC, PDP Reps lay claims to Speakership slot

Contd from Page 1 he PDP caucus argued that there was nothing stopping any of the PDP lawmakers from contesting for the coveted seat or any of the presiding officer positions.

It was reliably gathered that at one of the PDP caucus meeting, it was discussed and resolved that PDP should produce a common front and try and reach out to All Progressives Congress, APC members who may want to align with their cause.

Going by its numbers, the PDP caucus will play a major role

T

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, APRIL 28, 2015

News

Xenophobia: Jonathan denies recalling Ambassador from South Africa

By Lawrence Olaoye

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan has denied insinuations that the nation’s envoy to South Africa has been recalled on the ground of recent xenophobic attacks in that country.

Briefing newsmen at the Presidential Villa yesterday, Special Adviser to the President on media and publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said there was a mix up and misinformation on the matter.

He said, “The truth is that Nigeria has not recalled his envoy from South Africa.

What has been done is to invite the Charge De Affairs in that country for routine consultation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Recall of envoy is a serious and sensitive matter that has not happened.”

The South Africa government had condemned in strong terms the purported recall of Nigeria’s Ambassadors from the country.

…Appoints former Anambra gov, Peter Obi SEC chair, confirms Gwarzo

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resident Good Jonathan has approved the appointment of Mr. Peter Obi, former Anambra state governor, as the chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, The President has equally approved the confirmation of Mr. Mounir Haliru Gwarzo as Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

President-Elect General Muhammadu Buhari (middle), Nassarawa state Governor, Alhaji Tanko AlMankura (4th left), Senator Abdullahi Adamu (3rd left), and other members of Nassarawa state delegation, during their congratulatory visit to the president-elect, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Adamawa lost N7.3bn to insurgency, says gov Ngillari

By Umar Dankano, Yola

A

damawa state government has revealed that properties worth N7.3 billion were destroyed by Boko Haram insurgents in five local government areas of the state.

Governor Bala James Nggilari made this known at a stakeholders meeting on Internally Displaced Persons ( IDPs) organized by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in conjunction with the Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (ADSEMA) yesterday in Yola.

Represented by the Secretary to the State Government,(SSG),Mr Ibrahim Welye , Ngilari said that the affected local governments included Mubi North, Mubi South, Maiha, Gombi and Hong.

Ngilari said that most of the IDPs had lost their entire properties to the insurgency hence the need for government

and other well meaning Nigerians to come to their aid.

Ngilari noted that although seven local government areas of the state were affected by the Boko Haram onslaughts, but the tentative estimate of destruction of properties of five local government areas is N7.3 billion.

However, he revealed that the state government was still compiling that of the two local government areas of the state and also pledging that the Adamawa state government was looking forward to using the roadmap for safely return of the IDPs. The Director- General of NEMA,Alhaji Muhammadu Sani Sidi,in a statement at the occasion said the agency had to organize the stakeholders’ meeting in view of the spontaneous and uncoordinated movement of the IDPs back to their communities as a result of the relative peace gradually returning to their areas.

Sidi who was represented by a director of the agency, Alh AlHassan Nuhu, said that the development has been generating concern amongst humanitarian actors in the state and thus the need to put together a proper IDP returns planning matrix, a return standard operating procedure (SOPs) that would be endorsed by all humanitarian working groups in the state.

The director - general pledged that the resolution arrived at the meeting would go a long way in filling the missing gaps in the process and also provide a durable solution to the IDPs as they return.

He said, while deliberating on the issues, the stakeholders should be mindful of the requirement of honour, respect, dignity and rights of the IDPs in conformity with the internal standardized convention and the guiding principles on the internal displaced.

PDP chieftain seeks quick passage of DESOGPADEC bill From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

A

chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State, Chief Ladina Yebu, has urged support for the prompt passage of the bill seeking to amend the Delta state oil and Gas Producing Areas and Development Commission (DESOGPADEC).

Chief Ladina Yebu assured that the bill would help to reduce communal crisis and ensure

that those from oil producing communities get the full benefits of their natural resources.

Speaking during an interactive session with reporters, Yebu declared that the bill currently before the state House of Assembly, was intended to correct the defects of the Act that presently regulates the activities of the commission.

He commended the foresight of the state Governor, Dr.

Emmanuel Uduaghan Yebu, the former Special Assistant to the Governor said, “I commend the Governor for his courage and relentless efforts geared towards revamping the Oil Producing Area Development Commission in order to put it in the position to discharge its set goals for the benefits of the people of the oil producing areas in the state.”

Terrorists’ sympathisers are fabricating stories to encourage them-DHQ

By Joy Baba Yesufu

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he Defence Headquarters,DHQ, has described reports by some media outfits claiming that terrorists are now in control of Mafa in Borno State are false.

According to a DHQ statement

by Chris Olukolade, Major General, Director Defence Information, “The truth is that an attempt by a group of fleeing terrorists who strayed towards the town and engaged in their typical suicide attack was duly repelled by troops. Similarly, the claim by some media organisations that terrorists chased out troops and took over Marte cannot be verified as troops were busy elsewhere during the said attack.

“However, all efforts to track the terrorists who were reported to have attacked the town have not indicated their presence as claimed. Surveillance activities are however ongoing although there has been no indication of the large number of terrorists as being claimed in some reports attributed to anonymous sources.

The terrorist are certainly no longer capable of that level of coordinated action by thousands of terrorists as reported.”

He said troops have not retreated from Sambisa forest as claimed by same sources. Rather, the operation is progressing and gaining increasing momentum towards clearing all terrorists hideouts in the forest.

“It is noteworthy that it is becoming common for stories of attacks on some remote settlements to be fabricated and attributed to anonymous or unidentifiable source in remote places. This is apparently the work of terrorists sympathisers or propagandists.

“Military operations to eliminate all terrorists hideouts are going on well and the terrorists are being seriously decimated.

They will continue to be pursued and prevented from constituting danger to civilian population in their desperation for survival, suicide or publicity.” He added DHQ advised the media to ignore fabrication being churned out by some terrorists sympathizers trying to encourage the terrorists who are in disarray.

“The truth is that the operation to decimate them from Nigerian territories is progressing well.

The military will not be dissuaded by the resurgence of false reports on the operations. The progress will be prosecuted as necessary.”

Ondo deputy governor impeached

By A’isha Biola Raji with agency report

E

mbattled Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Alhaji Alli Olanusi, was impeached yesterday by the state House of Assembly.

Olanusi impeachment came on the heels of defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) few days before the 2015 general elections.

He had earlier defected with the State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko,

from the Labour Party to the PDP. In the heat of the defection, the House of Assembly mandated the Chief Judge of the state to set up a seven-man panel to probe based on various allegations including financial misconduct.

The set panel had submitted its report on Friday, declaring the Deputy Governor guilty. Before submission, counsel to the deputy governor had walked out on the panel calling it a sham. The panel is however insisting that it has given the opportunity of fair hearing to the parties concerned.

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, APRIL 28, 2015

Page 4 Report Constitution amendment: NASS talks tough on President’s legal action

By Ali Abare Abubakar & Ikechukwu Okaforadi

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he National Assembly has raised concerns over the decision of President Goodluck Jonathan to institute a legal action against the recently conducted constitution amendment by the lawmakers.

Speaking yesterday at the International Conference Center (ICC) in Abuja, during the induction ceremony of the newly elected lawmakers, the Senate President, David Mark, said the decision of the President to resort to Court action as a way of addressing the crisis between the executive and the legislature on the amendment of the Constitution is uncalled for since the document is still a Bill.

“The President has taken the Bill to the court. It is a Bill at the moment, unless it is signed, I really don’t see why that should be taken to court; but it is democracy, so anybody can go to court”, Mark said.

According to Mark, the said litigation against the bill by the President is strange to the Senate and by extension, the entire National Assembly because “the President as allowed and practiced in any Presidential democracy like ours, will sign the bills that he wants to sign, the ones he doesn’t want to assent to, he will return to us and we will do the needful.

“Now, on the bill in question, the matter is said to be in court but I really don’t see why it has to be in court at this stage because it has not been signed into law or vetoed to be so by the legislature, but anybody can go to court and we will see what will be the outcome later”.

Also speaking, the Deputy Senate President, Ike EKweremadu, in his own reaction, declared the said litigation as nonexistent as far as the National Assembly is concerned.

According to him, no court process on the issue has been served on the National Assembly and even not the letter Bayo Ojo was said to have written to NASS in that respect has been received.

He said: “The National Assembly has not been served any court notice on Constitution Amendment. I am here to speak on behalf of the leadership at the National Assembly.

“As I speak to you, there is no court process that has been served on National Assembly.

So as far as I am concerned, there is nothing in court. We also read in the papers that Bayo Ojo wrote a letter on behalf of the government, asking us not to deliberate on the matter pending the matter in court. I want to also say that no letter was received from Bayo Ojo or anybody whatsoever. It’s just cheer media

President Goodluck Jonathan

propaganda.

“But I want to assure Nigerians that the National Assembly will continue to do everything constitutionally possible in giving them the constitution they want by resisting any move from any quarters against its success”, he said.

Recall that the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, had on the instruction of President Jonathan instituted a suit at the Supreme Court last week against the National Assembly to prevent further legislative action on the bill which he had vetoed in an earlier letter he wrote to the lawmakers.

The Federal Government in the suit specifically wants the court to restrain the National Assembly from taking further actions on the Bill, including overriding the President’s veto.

In a related development, it was discovered that out of the 109 Senators that make up the Senate, 76 are first time senators, just as a total of 301 lawmakers were elected into the House of Representatives for the first time out of the total number of 360 members in the House.

In view of the above scenario, the Senate President, who lamented the failure of experienced and ranking members of the National Assembly to get re-elected, said “Obviously when people are new to a system, it takes time for them to adjust, learn the procedure and even find their way round

Senate Presiddent David Mark

the National Assembly building.

“So it will be a very slow start obviously. If the members returning are more, things will start a lot quicker but it will be slow because it will be a learning process for about 70 per cent of the members are new.”

Ekweremadu also cautioned the new law makers against the danger of allowing an external body to influence their decision on who leads the two chambers of the National Assembly.

“In the past, some Nigerians tried to impose principal officers on the NASS. We recall that when Ghali was having issues in the House, they were able to resolve it because there was no external influence, but we had a running battle with the executive when Patricia Etteh was Speaker because of the support of the executive and we saw what happened. So it is advisable to allow the legislators to elect their principal officers without interference.

“In the National Assembly, we have laid down provisions for principal officers and one is the issue of ranking. As a new legislator you have to accept this provision, that ranking officers are elected because tomorrow you may be a beneficiary, so it is good for this provision to be sacrosanct”, he said.

Also yesterday, the book titled ‘Constitutional Review in an Emerging Democracy: The Nigerian Experience’, authored by the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, was unveiled.

The book co-authored by the Lead Consultant to the Senate Committee on Constitution Review, Offornze Amucheazi, the book looks at the modalities, processes and the challenges of constitutional review in Nigeria.

Unveiling the book, the Senate President, David Mark, commended the Ekweremaduled Committee on Constitution Review for working hard to break the jinx of reviewing the 1999 Constitution.

He noted that the book provides sufficient insight and guide into the Constitution amendment projects, which was undertaken by the National Assembly, especially since 2007.

Speaking on the purpose of the book, Ekwermadu said the Committee decided to put its experience in writing so as to preserve institutional memory, which will serve as a guide for future amendments.

He added: “The Constitution is a legal document and it is dynamic, just as the society itself is dynamic. So, at some turns in the history of a people, they decide to look at their Constitution. We decided to put in a book form, how we were able to actualise the amendments and then the values they have added to our country”.

Ekweremadu recalled that the National Assembly was able to carry out an extensive electoral reform and build sufficient capacity for election management in the 2010 Constitution amendment,

which he noted, had paid off in the 2011 and 2015 elections, both of which were adjudged to be free, fair and credible.

Reviewing the book, a Professor of Law and Director, Legislative Services at the National Institute for Legislative Studies, Okechukwu Oko, said Ekweremadu conducted the affairs of the Senate Committee on Constitution Review with “intelligence, dexterity, on principles and patriotic basis that transcended personal, partisan or sectional interests”.

He also described the coauthor, Professor Amucheazi, as a “meticulous, erudite and outstanding legal scholar, who has the real capacity for larger insights into society’s pressing problems”.

He added: “The book offers rich, detailed, and insightful accounts of constitutional review in Nigeria and provides the public with basis for evaluating the constitutional review process.

“The authors approached the issue of constitutional review from a prognostic perspective, addressing what Nigerians can learn, to enable them respond more intelligently and effectively the next time we need to amend the constitution”, he said.

Recommending the book to all as a great tool for building a greater Nigeria, Professor Oko also described the book as systemic, historical, dynamic and philosophical in outlook.

PAGE 5

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, APRIL 28, 2015

News Ex- NDDC Commissioner jailed three years for stealing transformers

By Joy Baba Yesufu

A

former Commissioner representing Akwa Ibom State on the board of the intervention agency, Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Pastor Godwin Moffat Eyo was yesterday convicted and sentenced to three years imprisonment by an Akwa Ibom State High court for stealing 56 transformers meant for oil producing communities in the state.

The convict who was

prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a 56-count charge that borders on stealing and conversion of 56 electricity transformers released to him

by NDDC for distribution to communities in Akwa Ibom state, was found guilty on 37 of those counts by Justice Idongesit Ntem B. Isua and sentenced to three years imprisonment on each of the counts. He was however discharged and acquitted on 19 counts. The sentences are to run

concurrently.

The convict was said to have applied for 90 (Ninety) electricity transformers and 4 generators from NDDC for Akwa Ibom State sometime in February, 2006. Approval was given for 70 (Seventy) transformers but he diverted same to his house in Eket on the pretext that there was no space to accommodate the newly issued 70 units of transformers at the NDDC office in Uyo. He thereafter sent only 14 Units to NDDC office in Uyo while he

withheld 56 units which he could not account for till date.

According to a statement by Wilson Uwujaren ,Head, Media & Publicity in Abuja on Monday, the 56 transformers are valued at Two Hundred and Twenty million, One hundred and Seventy Six thousand, Three hundred and Twenty Naira (N220, 176, 320).

One of the count reads, “That you Pastor Godwin Moffat Eyo being a former Akwa Ibom State representative on the Board of the Niger Delta Development

Commission (NDDC) on or about 14th April, 2006 at Uyo in the Uyo Judicial Division did fraudulently steal a 300 KVA/33/0.415 Transformer Serial No. 1712496 valued at Four Million, Eighteen Thousand, Five Hundred and Sixty Naira (N4,018,560.00), property of NDDC and thereby committed an offence of stealing contrary to Section 399 and punishable under Section 404 of the Criminal Code Cap. 38, Volume 2, Laws of Akwa Ibom State, 2000”.

Experts urge Zamfara govt. to diversify economy From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

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two-day Economic Resilence Meeting (ERM), has called on Zamfara state government to renew commitment towards the development of tourism, and embarked upon agenda for the mechanised agricultural as well as solid minerals development, being only alternative to tackle current economic situation in the northern part of the country.

This was part of resolutions contained in a communiqué issued after the meeting in which the stakeholders unanimously agreed that the state government should consider economic diversification as a necessary alternative to the drastic fall in the monthly federal

L-R: Chairman, Jaiz Bank Plc, Dr Umaru Mutallab, Vice-President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, and Managing Director of the bank, Mr. Muhammed Nural-Islam, during their visit to the vice-president, yesterday at the State House, in Abuja.

Photo:JoeOroye

Ogun signs first rail contract with Chinese company

From James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

O

gun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun on Monday signed a multi billion naira contract agreement with a Chinese company to construct intra and interstate rail network system in the State .

At the agreement signing ceremony between the state government and China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) held at the Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan Abeokuta; Ogun state capital, Amosun noted that the fastest way to transform the State is through infrastructural development.

The contract signing ceremony which had in attendance, the Chinese Consul-General, Lin Kan, CCECC Chairman, Cao Baogang and the company’s Managing Director, Li Qinyona, the governor described the rail

project as total redesigning of Ogun state, reiterating that his administration would continue to initiate projects capable of enhancing infrastructural development of the state.

He said, “If you go to China today, the only reason why they are now rated one of the economic power of the world is because they have infrastructures in place. Without infrastructure, nothing can happen. If you go to Dubai today, you will see infrastructure there. Go to Europe; in France, everywhere, infrastructures must be there.

Without infrastructure, there can’t be any development”.

“When there is infrastructure you will have a positive impact on curbing security challenges”, he affirmed.

Amosun explained that “infrastructures that we are doing, aside from the fact that infrastructure will give

us development, when the infrastructure is been done our people will be the beneficiary of it. They will be working alongside those people that will be helping us and one thing that this will do for us, is transfer of technology which is very kin for me. We are not expecting that even after all these infrastructures are there, that they will be coming to maintain it for us”.

The governor explained that the rail system will connect locations within the Abeokuta metropolis and will extend to other locations like Sagamu, Ijebu-Ode, Agbara and IdiIroko, positing that this will greatly reduce pressure on roads in the state, especially when both the intra and intercity rail projects are completed.

On his part, the Chairman of CCECC, Cao Baogang disclosed the project will be completed in three years.

allocation following crises in the international oil market.

The communiqué which specifically urged the state government to compliment the mission of the world bank and Sokoto Rima River Basin Development Authority in effort to revive Bakolori irrigation project so that all year round rice production could be ensured.

On the tourism development, the stakeholders were of the view that the state government begins path finding for ways of reviving Kalale Lake, Kuyambana game reserve, Kwatarkwashi mountain, Lake NATU and many other tourist attraction centres with a view to making it formidable sources of more revenue for the state government.

Boko Haram claim to being a religious group a fraud - Buhari

By Umar Muhammad Puma

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resident-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari says the Boko Haram will be denied a recruitment base the moment our local communities realize that its claim to being a religious group is nothing but a fraud.

“The fraud called Boko Haram can be defeated by denying it a recruitment base,” General Buhari told visiting leaders of Nassarawa State who came to congratulate him on his emergence as Presidentelect.

“No religion allows for the killing of children in school dormitory, in markets and places of worship. They have nothing to do with religion. They are terrorists and we are going to deal with them as they deal with terrorists anywhere,” he announced.

Buhari said he is greatly pained by the destruction of schools in the North-eastern part of the country, an action he said could deny thousands of youngsters access to education and a better future unless something was done urgently to avert this tragedy.

“The worst thing anybody can

do is to deny children access to education. That will be destructive to their lives and we are not going to allow that to happen,” the President-elect assured.

He announce that his government will help the states to get more money to improve infrastructure by ensuring that all federally collectible revenues are paid directly into the federation account and each tier of government given its due share.

“As at now, the government does not even know how many revenue accounts it has. We will give all the tiers what is due to them but will hold them to be accountable as we would the federal government.”

Buhari while describing Nassarawa state as his own “political laboratory”, meaning the only CPC-controlled state of the 36 others adjudged the experiment as having been a success.

“From one state, I now have 22 political laboratories.”

He commended Governor Al-Makura for surviving his many impeachment plots, saying “without Nassarawa, there would not have been an APC.”

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, APRIL 28, 2015

News $370m Abacha loot in Luxembourg account , says - Swiss envoy

By Umar Muhammad Puma

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witzerland Ambassador to Nigeria, Hans Rudolf Hodel, said his country with a request from Nigeria has helped in tracing about $370 million Abacha loot to an account in Luxembourg.

Addressing journalists in Abuja yesterday when he meet with the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, Mr. Hodel said Nigerian government has requested the Swiss authority to look for Abacha money and about $370 million dollars has so far been found in an account in Luxembourg.

“Recently, there was a request

by Nigeria to the Swiss authority to look for Abacha money, an amount of $370 million has been found in an account, but in Luxembourg. That is now between the Abacha family and the government. They have tried to find a deal so that this money can also come back.

“The Swiss government is not involved. The Nigerian

government has asked for legal assistance. When the government makes a request to my government, we work together on it. But this case is different. That is the Abacha family directly with the Nigerian government finding a deal. So, the Swiss government is not involved and the money is in Luxembourg. They have asked for legal assistance and we have provided them with this information. It is not a classical case, we would have preferred a classical case where we can give the money back and make sure that it is used in the interest of the people. Now it is up to the Nigerian government.

He said his country will no longer receive money’s from individuals without prove that the money is legal, saying the situation has changed and the policy is no longer the same.

“Our laws are there to help all countries which are fighting corruption. We will help this government. If you remember,

many years ago we gave back the Abacha money to Nigeria.

The situation in Switzerland has changed. The policy is no longer the same. In the last, people come to deposit money in Switzerland without too much controversy.

Now, it is not possible to deposit money in Switzerland because of legal origin.

“Before the bank has to prove that the money is illegal.

But now, before you deposit money in Swiss bank, you have to prove that you have earned that money legally. If you are a wealthy businessman, you have have money in billions legally, but if, for example as a Journalist, you come to Switzerland with two million dollars and say you earned it because you did a very good job, nobody will believe you.

On Billatera relation to Nigeria, the Ambassador said, “Even if the relation are perfect there is alway room for improvement. Investors are looking towards Nigeria and it is a good example Nigeria gave to

the world by its peaceful election.

I congratulate the President -elect for this fantastic election and indeed the whole Nigeria people which has shown the world what they are capable of doing and with this election Nigeria has become an example not only to Africa but to the whole world on how election can be conducted. I think Nigeria can be proud on the image of the country got improve in the last few days and weeks, me as Ambassador is proud to serve in this era.

Meanwhile, Business mogul, Prince Arthur Eze, has said with the emergence of Muhammadu Buhari as President, most of the oil companies who left Nigeria are gradually coming back.

Arthur who accompany, the Managing Director CEO of Total upstream company of Nigeria Elizabeth Proust to congratulate Buhari on his victory said “We are glad that General Buhari is one of the most discipline leader that we have in Africa and particularly in

Nigeria. He is going to organize this country so that you will see all these poor people again. Things will change in this country. It is God that Is giving power, and God has giving it to Buhari.

“He is coming to change our economy especially the oil sector, as you can see, most of the oil company who left Nigeria are now coming back.

Asked why he visited Buhari, when he was a close associate of President Jonathan.

“You know General Buhari has been President of Nigeria and also a former oil minister, he know the oil industry very well, he is a man who has ability to take a decision.

He has been in the system for a very long time that is why God brought him back.

Five suspects held for diverting petrol tanker From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

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Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Dr. MacJohn Nwabiala (right), and Registrar, National Examination Council (NECO), Professor Monday Joshua (left), inspecting students that sat for Federal Unity Colleges entrance Examination, at the weekend in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Ilorin violence: Kwara community leaders support govt. on peace From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

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he people of Ilorin represented by community and village heads otherwise called the Magajis and Alanguas have expressed support for the state government in its effort to rid the state of activities of hoodlums and ensure peace and security in the state.

Speaking on behalf of the Magajis and the Alanguas during a solidarity visit to the Kwara

State Governor, spokesman of the association who is also the Magaji Nda of Ilorin, Alhaji Salihu Woru Muhammed said the group condemned the fracas which ensued in parts of Ilorin metropolis between men of the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the street urchins which led to arson and destruction of vehicles allegedly by the urchins.

Muhammed called for severe punishment for the perpetrators

of the violence while government should initiate strategies that will avert future occurrence.

While responding, the State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed reiterated that his administration will not tolerate acts of criminality by street urchins, popularly called “good boys” and promised that his administration has set up an enlightenment committee on how to end thuggery while an empowerment scheme would be instituted for the transformation

of the youths to responsible citizens.

The Governor added that those with criminal tendencies should realize that the campaigns and elections were over and purposeful governance has taken the centre stage again.

“We will ensure that criminality is not given any room in the State. If anybody under any guise is found wanting, he will be brought to book”, he assured the community.

olice in Benin have arrested five persons for allegedly diverting a truck loaded with 60 litres of Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS).

Edo state Public Relations Officer of the Command, DSP Stephen Onwochei disclosed this at a briefing yesterday at the police headquarters in Benin City.

Onwochei gave the names of the suspects as: Shuaibu Abu, Ibrahim Mohammed, Sunday Shuaibu, Alloy Imoh and Ilyasu Seidu.

He explained that the police command had received information that a mark truck conveying 60,000 litres of petrol from Lagos deport to Abuja have been hijacked by unknown gunmen at Aviele community in Edo State.

He noted that, “Upon investigation, we discovered that the truck driver marked: GDD 246 YE belonging to “Capital Oil and Gas” - one Alloy Imoh connived with some of his gang to sell off the product.”

According to Onwichei, the company uses their tracking device and also informed the police through telephone.

“And on receipt of the information, operatives of the command swung into action, recovered the said truck in Kogi State and arrested one Shaibu Abu - a driver seen with the Truck.

“During interrogation, Shaibu made confessional statement and open up; which led to the arrest of one Ibrahim Mohammed who wanted to receive the said product through his phone number and the original driver of the truck,” he said.

PAGE 7

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, APRIL 28, 2015

News

Police smash 4-man robbery gang near Onitsha

T Representative of the Chief OF Army Staff, Major-General Bamidele Ologundudu (left), receiving desert shirts from Founder, Support Our Troops Foundation (SOTF), Mrs. Funmi Ogbue (middle), during presentation of desert shirts to Nigerian Army by the foundation, yesterday in Abuja. With them is a Trustee of the Foundation, Mr. Femi Defila (left). Photo: NAN

Police arrest 60 over NDLEA, drug addicts clash in Kwara

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wara Police Command on Sunday said it arrested 60 suspects connected with Saturday’s clash between officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and drug addicts in Ilorin.

The spokesman of the command, Mr Samuel Okasanmi, announced this while addressing newsmen in llorin on Sunday.

He said police had launched a manhunt for the ring leader of the disturbance.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that three people are feared dead and property worth millions of naira destroyed when suspected touts went on rampage in some areas of Ilorin.

The alleged ringleader of the crisis allegedly led a gang on a reprisal against some operatives of the NDLEA. Okasanmi said the NDLEA operatives were part of the team that raided marijuana smokers’ spot at Idi-Ape- Baruba area on

Friday.

He said many houses and motorcycles were burnt and damaged during the incidence.

The police spokesman said the command had ordered a thorough probe into the immediate and remote causes of the incidence while those found culpable would be prosecuted.

NAN reports that residents of the areas are still living in fear.

Many residents who fled their homes are yet to return as they are taking refuge at

different parts of the town.

Many domestic animals were not spared as several of them were slaughtered by the hoodlums during the attack.

There was no presence of policemen or security operatives in uniform in the affected area on Sunday when a NAN correspondent visited the area.

Some of the residents, however, appealed to the government to provide adequate security to the residents to avoid a recurrence. (NAN)

Kenny K’ore’s twin sister kidnapped

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he twin sister of gospel artiste Kenny K’ore, has been kidnapped!

On Friday, April 16, 2015 Ms. Taiwo Oluwatoyin Akinbode travelled to Port Harcourt, Rivers State for a job prospect when she fell into the well-set trap of kidnappers.

A ransom of N5m is being

demanded from the family so as to release her.

It was a well-laid job opportunity scam on the internet that attracted the unwary woman to PH - and her current ordeal.

A source close to the family claimed Taiwo’s two phones had gone quiet, except when

the brother was called to make ransom demands. On a number of occasions, the unfortunate woman was heard wailing for help as she was apparently being tortured.

The family has contacted the police in Lagos and Port Harcourt, the Anti-kidnapping

Unit in Lagos and PH, SSS, NIA, AIG, and IGP’s office, but all have proved abortive.

According to the source, “We are asking that well-meaning Nigerians support our dear brother, and his family in prayers, and in anyway possible to get his sister back safe and sound”.

Ortom condemns Fulani herdsmen attacks on Guma, Agatu From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

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enue State Governor-elect, Dr Samuel Ortom, has condemned the renewed violence in Agatu and Guma local government areas of the State which claimed over 30 lives.

Dr. Ortom who made the condemnation while reacting to reports of the recent clash between communities in Agatu as well as attacks on three (3) communities in Mbadwem council ward of Guma local government area last Saturday

described the development as sad, unfortunate, avoidable and reprehensible.

He appealed to security agencies to redouble efforts to stop further escalation of the situation.

The governor-elect pledged that when he assumes office, he would collaborate with relevant authorities to find a permanent solution to the crisis.

The former Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment lamented that the violence which usually took a toll on human lives

and property further compounded the abject poverty of the people in the affected areas and sets the clock of development backwards.

He commiserated with the families of those who lost loved ones in the areas and prayed that God would comfort them even as he appealed to governments at all levels, individuals and organizations to provide support that would cushion the effect of the crisis and mitigate humanitarian problems.

Dr Ortom noted with concern the concerted influx of herdsmen into all

parts of the state this year and called on security agencies, traditional and community leaders to be proactive in forestalling further attacks and promoting peace building and mutual coexistence efforts.

While emphasizing that peace was imperative for development, he noted that the solution to the incessant clashes between farmers and herdsmen remained the establishment of ranches, adding that communities must imbibe dialogue and other legal ways as means of resolving conflicts.

he Police in Okpoko community near Onitsha have smashed a four-man armed robbery gang that has been terrorising residents of the area.

Confirming this on Sunday, Mr Emeka Ugwu, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Okpoko, said the gang was led by one Abuchi.

Ugwu said the hoodlums met their waterloo following a tip-off by a public-spirited individual.

He said that the police trailed members of the gang for over one week before they arrested them.

He said one AK 47 rifle; wraps of cannabis and objects suspected to be charms, among others, were found in their possession. ``Residents of Okpoko have heaved a sigh of relief since the arrest of the four-man armed robbery gang, led by one Abuchi. ``This was made possible by information volunteered to us and we acted promptly,’’ he said.

The DPO said that the suspects have been transferred to the custody of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) in Awkuzu. (NAN)

Police kill two in protest against Burundian president’s third term bid

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urundian police shot dead two protesters and wounded at least one other on Sunday, in demonstrations against the President Pierre Nkurunziza seeking a third term, the Red Cross said.

Witnesses said police used water cannon, tear gas and in some cases live bullets to disperse demonstrators across Bujumbura.

The authorities earlier banned all protests either for or against President Pierre Nkurunziza’s renewed candidacy.

Critics say Nkurunziza’s renewed candidacy would violate a constitutional limit of two terms.

African leaders and Western nations have urged Nkurunziza not to run again.

U.S. and the European Union have indicated they could take punitive steps if violence erupted as a result.

“We counted two protesters killed by police, four others were injured and one is in coma in hospital after being hit by a bullet,” Alexis Manirakiza, Burundi Red Cross spokesman said.

However, Police had no immediate comment on the casualties.

Burundi’s ruling CNDD-FDD party nominated Nkurunziza as its presidential candidate on Saturday.

Those opposed to it say this not only violates the constitution, which limits leaders to two terms in office, but also goes against the spirit of a 2000 peace deal.

The peace deal has kept Burundi calm for a decade since a civil war between ethnic Hutus and Tutsis ended in 2005. (Reuters/NAN)

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, APRIL 28, 2015

News

Kwankwaso honours five artisans for returning $40,000 picked on the street From Edwin olofu, Kano

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overnor of Kano state, northwest Nigeria is set to honour five young artisans who returned $40, 000 they picked on the street to the state headquarters of the Hisbah Board which identified the owner

of the money and handed it over to him.

Speaking to journalists on Monday, Director-General of Kano state Hisbah Board, Alhaji Abba Sa’ad Sufi said the young men demonstrated the real teachings of Islam by returning such a huge amount of money

translating to about N9 million.

Sufi further stated that such character was in line with the vision and mission of Hisbah which pivots around raising the stake morality in the society.

“We ensure that our people, particularly, the youths are not being carried away by social vices.

It is part of the responsibility of the Hisbah to ensure that our people engage in doing good deeds, instead of engaging in vices that do not give glory to the Almighty Allah.”

The Hisbah boss gave the names of the good Samaritans to include Rabe Ammani,

L-R: Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-General Kenneth Minimah, German Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Micheal Zenner, and Commandant, 1 DIV., MajorGeneral Kenneth Osuji, during the inauguration of Nigerian Army PeaceKeeping Medical Centre, yesterday in Jaji, Kaduna state.

Photo: NAN

Abdulkadir Abubakar, Janadu Abdullahi, Bello Umar and Tahir Muhammad, all between the ages of 20 and 25 years, adding that one of them was a cart pusher, while the other four are local barbers.

According to him, when the money was returned to the Hisbah office, “we immediately took all the necessary steps to identify the owner. At the end, a man came to our office and identified himself as a business man dealing in Bureau De Change. He told us he bought the said Dollars from the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“We deployed a team from our intelligence department to the CBN and after all verification, it was confirmed that the man is the owner of the money and we handed it over to him. This is just one out of such cases we have been handling; and we are very happy that people have reposed confidence in the Kano Hisbah and Insha Allah, we will continue to carry out our responsibilities with the fear of God and to the benefit of the people of Kano” Sufi added that though the owner of the Dollars compensated the five good Samaritans with a token, Governor Kwankwaso has decided to celebrate them, by giving them awards for being good ambassadors of the state.

Jonathan sacks NHIS boss, appoints Akingbade

By Lawrence Olaoye

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resident Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has relieved the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Dr. Femi Thomas of his appointment with immediate

effect.

The President has also approved the appointment of Mr. Olufemi A. Akingbade as Acting Executive Secretary/ Chief Executive Officer of the NHIS. Mr. Akingbade who hails from Ekiti State and holds a

Bachelors Degree in Computer Science as well as a Masters in Business Administration was the General Manager, ICT in the NHIS until his new appointment.

President Jonathan has also approved the confirmation of Mr. Mounir Haliru Gwarzo as Director-General of the

Securities and Exchange Commission.

Mr. Gwarzo who has been acting as Director-General of the Commission, was appointed to the Board of the Securities and Exchange Commission as Executive Commissioner in January, 2013.

A statement by Reuben Abati, Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity) on Monday said that the President has also approved the appointment of the former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi as Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

matter of urgency.

He said the APC - led government should not completely do away with all the PDP ministers because according to him there are incorruptible characters within the losing party.

He said, “Nigerians believed the President-elect has the capacity and the will to make Nigeria realise its vision and mission; they expect to get nothing less from him. I therefore call on General Muhammadu Buhari to revoke all public organisations that were privatised by the past administrations especially those that were sold to individuals under President Goodluck Jonathan.

“Buhari should make the revocation as a matter of priority as soon as he assumes office because these privatised public firms belong to the masses, they need to enjoy the dividends

of democracy from the public institutions.

“He should tackle insecurity with all sense of emergency. Peace is a prerequisite for development in all its ramifications. Nigeria needs strong, well informed, capacitated and motivated security operatives, committed to protecting the Constitution of the Federal Republic and its provisions and the practices of their professions.

“He should fight corruption decisively; persons accused of corruption should have the onus to prove otherwise. All public officers should swear an oath of allegiance against corrupt practices, with stiff penalties for any breakers of this oath.

“He should begin the economic reconstruction and development, and the plan should include the revamping of the Lake Chad Basin and the completion of

the Mambilla Hydro Power project. The reconstruction of all devastated towns, villages, roads and all public infrastructures are imperative.

“He should also focus on agriculture as the prime-mover of the economy and to diversify our economy. Follow through the gains made recently in the sector with an extensive programme for dry eason/irrigation farming, aquatic and animal husbandry supported by quality extension service.

“He should make Agriculture attractive to the youth as a source of economic empowerment and employment and, provide sustainable food security and value chain development for economic growth. Encourage value addition to realising export potential and introduce minimum prices guaranty for farm produce and sustained agriculture.

“Education and healthcare are fundamental to national development. We cannot develop beyond our level of education or health, which no doubt have been seriously challenged. Hence, the quality, practicality and accessibility of both sectors and their delivery systems deserve change in earnest, and the President - elect should take note of this point as well.

“I call on all Nigerians to assist in making the work of governance easy for the elected president. We must be law abiding, disciplined and with a strong sense of duty to the nation to encourage the leaders to perform very well under this administration The President - elect should not completely do away with all the PDP ministers because some of them are men of honour and integrity whom the coming President should be able to work with them “ .

Revoke privatized firms, APC chieftain tells Buhari From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

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Kaduna based chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Mr. Ashafa Ayuba has called on the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari to revoke all public firms privatised by the past administrations, particularly under the out-going President Goodluck Jonathan.

Speaking in a chat with the media in kaduna yesterday , Ayuba said Buhari should make the revocation a priority as soon as he assumes office to allow the masses enjoy what belonged to them so that they could appreciate dividends of democracy.

The APC chieftain also outlined insecurity, agriculture, education and other developmental areas for the President - elect to focus on as a

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, APRIL 28, 2015

Page 9

News

Kano bridge tragedy: Senator Gaya commiserates with families

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

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he tragedy that struck in Kano over the weekend where a pedestrian bridge fell on a taxi, killing about seven people in the Kano metropolis has

been described as a national loss.

A statement signed by the Special Assistant to Senator Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya, (Kano South) and senator elect, Prince Idris Afegbua, Senator Gaya, described the situation as tragic

and a loss not to the immediate families of the victims or the state but the entire nation.

The senator said that what has happened is like throwing stone into a market where anybody could be a victim adding that a

taxi that is plying the road in a metropolitan could be conveying anybody from anywhere.

A pedestrian bridge in the Dorayi area of Kano under construction by SOJECT Nig Ltd collapse on a taxi

conveying passengers and killed seven people.

Senator Gaya heartily commiserates with the immediate families, the state government an entire nation. He prayed for the repose of the souls of the victims.

despatched to the scene of the incident.

Kabara said the cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained, as the fire started around 9:00 am and it took his men four hours before they could put off the raging fire.

Meanwhile, a mysterious fire has reportedly gutted the hostels of Government Girls Science College Garko, in Garko Local Government area of Kano State, forcing the school authorities to send the affected students back to their respective homes.

Our reporter gathered from

a source within the school that the incident occurred since Monday, 20th April, 2015 but the authorities of the school preferred not to expose the matter on the pretext that is it not An SS1 student, who craved for anonymity, said the fire broke in the morning, during the school hours when students were taking lessons at classes, adding that they noticed a thick smoke renting the sky from the direction of a hostel called Khadija hostel.

She further revealed that

the students were terrified and started running helter skelter towards the hostel and screaming for help.

under control.

He added that normalcy had since returned in the school and the students are now being taken back to the schools.

When contacted, the Director General, Kano state Fire Service, Nasiru Kabara, confirmed the incident, saying the situation was put under control by their men from Kibiya Local Government area.

He added that he would contact the Kibiya division for more information but could not get back to our reporter as at the time of filing this report.

Fire guts oil coy, girls science school in Kano From Edwin Olofu, Kano and Mustapha Adamu, Kano

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n early morning fire in the ancient city of kano on Monday, destroyed properties worth over 320 million naira at the Noma Oil and Cake Company in mission road along industrial area of Bompai area in the metropolis.

Eye witness account in the company who pleaded anonymity told reporters in Kano on Monday that the fire which started around 9:00 am lasted four hours.

According to the witness, the fire which started engulfed the factory, because it is an oil and cake company the fire rages as they were all helpless, only ran away for their life.

It was further gathered that, it took the men of the state fire service four hours before they could put off the fire.

“The company which used to produce cooking oil and cakes for animal feeds has been closed for over 10 years now and nobody can tell you the cause of the fire, we just saw the fire when it started”.

Confirming the fire incident to reporters, the Director of the State Fire Service, Alhaji Balarabe Kabara said property worth over 320 million naira were destroyed in the company.

Kabara said the items destroyed in the company’s ware houses include pomade, plastics plates and dishes among other items.

He explained that, five fire fighting vehicles were

“ It was after seeing the magnitude of the fire, our school officials placed a distress call to men of Fire Service, who rushed to the scene and put out the fire.” She said However, a staff of the school, told our reporter on condition of anonymity that the incident is not as worse as the students were narrating, adding that everything has been taken

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Lagos state Ministry of Home Affairs and Culture, Mrs. Grace Oladimeji, Commissioner in the Ministry, Mr. Oyinlomo Danmole, and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mrs. Oluranti Odutola, during a news conference to mark the 8th anniversary of Governor Babatunde Fashola’s administration, yesterday in Lagos.

Photo: NAN

Lagos govt. procures 100 vehicles for traditional rulers

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he Lagos State Government on Monday said it had procured no fewer than 100 vehicles for the use of traditional rulers and chiefs across the state.

Mr Ademorin Kuye, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, made the disclosure at the 2015 Ministerial Press Briefing in Ikeja.

He said the vehicles, which had since been presented to the traditional rulers, were to ease the movement of the beneficiaries in the discharge of their duties.

Kuye said the government was committed to the welfare of Obas in the state, and would continue to take steps to demonstrate it.

“With these vehicles and more that we have provided for our

Obas and Chiefs, we can boldly say our traditional rulers are the most taken of in the whole of the country.

“We see traditional rulers as partners in progress and we will continue to do our best to make them comfortable,’’ he said.

Kuye said government was building new palaces and renovating old ones to enhance the comfort of traditional rulers.

He said that the palaces of the Alara of Ilara, the Ayangburen of Ikorodu and Suenu had just been furnished for the comfort of the respective traditional rulers.

Giving other statistics, Kuye said the government processed no fewer than 44 applications for the recognition and upgrade of chieftaincy stools in the last one

year.

The commissioner said the state’s Chieftaincy Standing Tribunal of Enquiry had commenced inquiry into applications for upgrade to Obaship from various divisions.

He said the government gave approval and recognition to seven new chiefs and Baales in Epe/ Ibeju division of the state within the period under review.

Kuye gave the new chiefs as Prince Adewale (Iwajoba of Akodo), Rafiu Bello (Baale of Okun-Ise), Raufu Mustapha (Baale of Okun-Tiye) and Raufu Alaka (Olisa of Orimedu).

He said the others were Lamoriu Adekoya (Apebi of Orimedu), Babatunde Lamidi (Aro of Orimedu) and Kabiru Ganni

(Losi of Orimedu).

The Commissioner said Gov. Babatunde Fashola had presented staff of office to Prince Mufutau Ogunnukan of the Muja Ruling House as the Adegbajo of OdoIgbajowo in Eredo Local Council Development Area.

“Chief Adisa Awoyemi, Oroja of the Fafunmi Ruling House, had also been presented staff of office as Oba of Meiran in Agbado –Oke-Odo area of the state, “ he said.

According to Kuye, no fewer than 27 chieftaincy matters have been referred to the Standing Tribunal of Enquiry for adjudication.

On boundary issues, Kuye said the government successfully resolved the boundary and land

conflicts involving the Onilogbo of Ilogbo-Eremi, Phillip family and Bambgose Idolabumo Ruling House of Ilogbo-Eremi in Badary area.

He said the government had also received the report of the committee set up to look into the remote and immediate causes of the civil disturbances between two in Ijede Local Council Development Area.

“The findings and recommendations had been analysed. The Ministry had communicated directives to all the MDAs mentioned in the recommendation such that amicable solution could be fast tracked as this will engender harmonious existence between the two communities” he said. (NAN)

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, APRIL 28, 2015

News Gov Amosun to Nigerians: Let’s all stick to one Nigeria dream From James Ogunnaike,Abeokuta

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gun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has called on patriotic Nigerians to stick to the dream of building one- nation at this crucial time of history without any form of segregation.

Amosun who made the call at the National Youth Service Corps’ (NYSC) 2015 Batch A Pre-orientation course held in Abeokuta, said there was no better time for Nigerians to be united than now.

The governor who recalled that he observed his one year compulsory national service in Benue State, commended the

founding fathers of the NYSC for the initiative, pointing out that, the scheme had helped a great deal in fostering unity.

He charged that the nation as a whole should be wary of tribal sentiments and other things that engender division, adding that “we should take one another as brothers and sisters regardless of where we come from”.

While assuring that the present administration in the State will continue to support the scheme, the state’s helmsman harped on the need to re-strategize and optimize the NYSC for optimal performance.

“I don’t know of any other thing that unites us as a country than the NYSC. And there should be no better time than now for us

Pensioners of Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund (NISTF), during the peaceful protests over nonpayment of their arrears of 53.4 per cent increment, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

Guild of editor’s election: Information minister congratulates Adesina

By Evelyn Okakwu

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nformation Minister Sen. Patricia Akwashiki has congratulated Mr. Femi Adesina on his re-election as the President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors.

A statement from the office of the information minister said this was contained in a letter signed by the Minister to the newly elected President of the Guild.

It said the re-election of Mr.

Adesina, unopposed by members of the Guild, was a demonstration of the confidence they had in his ability to continue to lead the influential group of news editors.

According to the statement; the Information Minister said as a core professional with enormous experience and exposure in the media, Mr. Adesina had the onerous responsibility to rally members of the Guild to continue to promote the tenets of

democracy and national cohesion in order to consolidate the nation’s democratic experience and strengthen the bond of unity and corporate existence of Nigeria.

The statement reminded the re-elected President of the Guild of Editors that for the nation to achieve development, the media ought to play a leading role in promoting good governance at all levels, as well as strengthen their role in agenda setting and oversight.

It said Sen. Akwashiki is hopeful that Mr. Adesina will bring his professional expertise to bear on the task of insulating the media from political interference and infiltration by quacks.

It said the Minister assured him of the support of the Federal Ministry of Information and partnership with the Nigerian Guild of Editors to promote good governance, free press and democracy in Nigeria.

African PR association to brainstorm on conflict resolution in Cameroon

By Etuka Sunday

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frican Public Relations Association (APRA) would meet in May in Cameroon to celebrate its 40th anniversary and educate practitioners on conflict resolution.

The 27th international conference scheduled from May 12-14, 2015 in Yaoundé, Cameroon, under the theme, Africa Trending: Contemporary Challenges, Opportunities in Reputation and Crisis Management’, the conference, is expected to draw attendees, speakers and facilitators from all over Africa, Europe, Asia and North America.

Speakers would deal in diverse topics as Global Tendencies in the PR Industry, Developing a Communications Strategy, Reputation

Management, Effective Internal Communications/Employer Branding, Leadership & Communication as well as Crisis Communication Theory, Case Study and a group crisis simulation exercise.

A statement by APRA Secretary General, Yomi Badejo-Okusanya said the conference would parades an array of renowned speakers, including Erastus Mwencha, the Deputy Chairperson, African Union Commission, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, Cameroonian Minister of Communications, who is keynote speaker and Dr. Roger Hayes, a leading international public relations and public affairs professional and former Global President of the International Public Relations Association (IPRA).

“We are expecting over 200 delegates from all over the world, we will also host some of the

best renowned Public Relation practitioners and we look forward seeing a lot of participates from Africa and particularly Uganda,” Okusanya said.

Among the speakers is Robyn de Villiers, Chairman and CEO of Burson-Marsteller Africa who has over 25 years of strategic communications experience advising clients across multiple sectors and including from privately-owned companies to multinationals, NGOs and government bodies.

Also speaking at the conference is Jeremy Galbraith who, in 2014, was named by The Sunday Times and Debrett’s as one of the UK’s 500 most influential people, and ranked among the top 20 influential professionals in the PR field.

Jeremy has spent the past 20+ years helping leading companies, organisations, CEOs, Presidents,

Prime Ministers and regulators position themselves with almost every type of stakeholder as well as manage critical issues.

Jean-Léopold Schuybroek is the Founder and Honorary Chairman of the Interel Group, which is a fully integrated, international consultancy specializing in strategic communications, public affairs and association management.

APRA, formerly known as the Federation for African Public Relations Association (FAPRA), is a non-governmental, non-political, and non-profit making professional association established to foster unity via interaction and exchange of ideas amongst public relations practitioners in Africa as a whole and through communication, promote social, political and economic integration on the continent.

to take one another as brothers and sisters regardless of where we come from. We should be wary of segregation. One Nigeria dream should be our watchword at this crucial time,” he said.

Speaking earlier, the NYSC Director -General, BrigGeneral Johnson Bamidele Olawunmi, lauded the governor for being supportive to the scheme since the inception of his administration in 2011, noting that, Amosun’s sterling performance resulted in the overwhelming support he enjoyed during the election.

Adamawa deputy gov-elect assures of Ganye-Jada, Toungo road construction

From Umar Dankano, Yola

T

he people of Mayo-Belwa, Jada, Ganye and Toungo Local Government Areas of Adamawa State have course to smile as the Deputy Governor-elect, Mr. Martin Babale has assured the people of the reconstruction of the federal road linking them soon.

“The construction of MayoBelwa-Jada- Ganye road linking Toungo federal road would be among the first assignment of the in-coming administration”, said Babale Babale made the pledge during a courtesy homage visit to the paramount ruler of the Ganye chief dom, Gangwari Ganye, Alhaji Umar Adamu Sanda in Ganye town stressing that the project is among the top priorities of the new government under governor Elect Senator Muhammadu Jibrilla Bindow.

He urged the people of the chiefdom to cooperate with incoming government which is loaded with people oriented programmes for accelerated development.

According to the Deputy governor elect, the people of the Chiefdom comprises Ganye, Toungo and Jada local government areas are now well enlighten against any political sentiment that would create division among them.

Babale observed that in Ganye Chiefdom, history had shown that people of the area irrespective of their religion background were living in peace with one another, noting that, the era of luring people into religious politics in Ganye Local Government Area is over.

Responding, the Gangwari Ganye observed that Mr. Babale was the first elected deputy governor to emerge from the chiefdom and told him that people expectations from their administration is high.

Sanda enjoined his subjects to support the deputy governorelect for the development of the area, saying that this is a golden opportunity for chiefdom to benefit from the dividend of democracy.

Page 11

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, APRIL 28, 2015

EDITORIAL

Drop that foreign loan bid

S

ince Nigeria’s exit We believe this is no time to rush to must be made by those in take loans, foreign or domestic. from the Paris Club authorities to ensure that Whether or not we need a loan debt conundrum in such loans are not diverted to or any time in the future is a 2005, its foreign and personal use or spent on ‘white decision that should be left to domestic debt profile elephant’ projects. the new administration that the We believe that the regulatory is rising again. Naturally, March 28 presidential election everyone except this Jonathan agencies, including the Federal government is disturbed. The Ministry of Finance and the authorities believe our debt Debt Management Office burden is still manageable, (DMO), should ensure that maintaining that national monies borrowed are deployed income is growing at the to those projects capable of We believe this is no time to same level as the debt stock. making life more meaningful However, experts do not share and fulfilling for the common rush to take loans, foreign the government’s optimism. man who will ultimately be Only recently, the Federal or domestic. Whether or not made to pay to offset the debts.

Executive Council (FEC) we need a loan or any time The regulatory agencies must approved fresh foreign loans ensure that those sourcing running into several billions of for funds have the capacity to in the future is a decision US Dollars for ‘developmental pay without having to turn the that should be left to the projects’ even in the twilight next generation of Nigerians of the present administration. to slaves of creditors. This is new administration that This is not the first time the more so as monthly allocations the March 28 presidential nation would be accessing to states of the federation loans from multinational have continued to dwindle in election will usher into financial institutions, but the the face of sliding national timing this time is not simply incomes as a result of the price office right. At a time the Jonathan volatility on the international government should be winding oil market. will usher into office. Caution We also believe that state down, the decision to take a must be taken so that the nation foreign loan is suspect. More governors should be more is not taken back into the dark so as this is an election year. proactive and resourceful not period of indebtedness when Agreed, there is a strong case only in investing borrowed Nigeria attained a pariah status. for solving the nation’s funds in sustainable and income Our pre-2005 financial situation, dire infrastructural deficit. yielding projects, they are also when the country wallowed in And yes, governance is a challenged to look inward and debts owed by past leaders with continuous process. But why expand their capacities for no definable strategic projects wait till late in the day to internally generated revenues. to point at, is still very fresh in borrow to tackle this problem?

It is trite that excessive reliance our memories. While borrowing Again, why choose an election on cheap funds sourced from domestically and externally season to borrow. Is it truly a the money market could end for developmental projects, development loan or money up constipating the system and especially at favourable rates, meant to fund the President’s be counter productive. may not be abominable, efforts re-election campaign?

“

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PAGE 12

Opinion

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, APRIL 28, 2015

Regulating the direct to home satellite television business

By Uddin Ifeanyi

T

he recent bobbery over DStv’s a direct to home satellite television broadcaster decision earlier this year to raise its subscription rates underscored how poorly the larger number of our people understand the business environment. On reflection, this is not surprising, when you consider that it was not until the mid-1980s influenced by the outcome of the debate organised by the Ibrahim Babangida administration over whether our then ailing economy should accept the stringent conditions attached by the IMF to the bridging loan we were seeking — that we grudgingly reconciled with the idea of the market as an engine of economic growth. Before then, a strong leftwing mindset — the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic was only just then in its death throes favoured the nanny state as the provider of choice.

This socialist worldview was in clear evidence in the popular response to DStv’s subscription rate hike. At least in its social media incarnation, opposition to the hike ranged from the

quasi-rational (insisting that government promote competition in the domestic market for direct to home broadcast), to the downright communist (an insistence that government put a lid on how much DStv may charge its Nigerian subscribers).

Each of these perspectives is worth looking at in more detail.

First, it is not true that there is no alternative to DStv’s offering.

Arguably, the most serious such competitor was HiTV a few years back. Such was the strength of this competition that it ensured the separation of Nigeria from DStv’s traditional bid for an African license to relay matches from the English Premier League (EPL).

Having secured the right to relay matches to Nigeria as a separate bid process, HiTV then bid up the cost of this right, high enough, in the second year of its operations to drive DStv out of the broadcast of EPL matches in Nigeria for at least a season.

Now, with its costs sky-high, HiTV still thought it possible to undercut DStv further by underselling it priced its decoders and subscription at a giveaway.

Of course, the leftwing crowd applauded to high heavens.

But in less than four years, i.e. between August 1, 2007, when it launched its direct to home satellite technology, and November 2011, and having set cash aflame each year of its operations, HiTV proved that populism does not a business model make.

Today, much of DStv’s elevated cost for broadcasting the EPL matches is the result of HiTV’s competitive activism.

Unfortunately, domestic management of the economy has not helped. In naira terms, DStv’s costs in pounds sterling (that is only for the EPL matches, of course) could only have gone up as the naira has lost ground against other major trading currencies. I have had people argue that DStv has not bid for new licencing rights recently and so cannot justify its new subscription levels on this basis. But it would eventually have to and it would need cash to do this. It helps to remember that HiTV was hung on the petard of bank loans, when time came for it to renew its EPL license.

Having learned from the

misfortune of HiTV’s attempt to assault the DStv franchise, would-be competitors to the latter have kept their business models focused on low cost and market penetration pricing. The list of these competitors is impressive: Startimes, Consat Cable Network, CTL, Metro Digital, Daarsat, Montage Cable Network, Mytv, and Trendtv. If you remove the argument that DStv is taking Nigerians for granted only because it has no competitors, then what remains of the campaign against the satellite broadcaster is either the requirement to cap its price, or one for its eventual nationalisation.

The latter is as dumb as it comes across, and the former only slightly so. The argument for price control is credible where a private provider, DStv in this case, exploits its status as a natural monopoly to charge prices higher than the market would ordinarily have set.

HiTV’s brief existence is the most fundamental proof that DStv’s operation in this country is not a natural monopoly. Can we prove the charge that DStv is involved in price gouging? Not when we do not know what its cost structure

is. However, we all know that Nigeria, for a variety of reasons, is a high cost economy. This latter is the one reason why comparisons between DStv’s operations in this country and in South Africa may be completely misplaced.

In the end, there is another argument that can be made for government’s intervention in the direct to home television business.

This is the one that sees government investing in infrastructure that helps bring down costs in the industry. I concede that given the many infrastructure constraints that we face as a country, this one might be the least important of them. However, this is where the convergence of telecommunications and the internet work best.

All government need do is to make it easier to bring our digital infrastructure up to scratch, either by waiving costs related thereto, by subsidising the laying by private sector entities of fibre-optic cables, or by laying these cables itself.

Then, service providers may more readily bundle services such as voice, video, and data in an offering that DStv may not be able to match.

Buhari and the National power question

By Adeolu Ademoyo

T

he Jonathan presidency failed a major test of inclusion. This failure is one of the reasons for its loss at the 2015 polls. Misled b y t h e aw e s o me a n d c r u d e power of the Nigerian state, the Jonathan presidency excluded vital sections of the Nigerian society in the power and economic equation. Such failure of inclusion at both formal and substantive levels, and failure to unite the country is often a regular feature of the backward sections of the Nigerian political class. It is an extreme poverty of vision, a wretchedness often exhibited by sections of the political class across Nigeria. It is the pitfall of Nigerian governments; it is also the pitfall of the country.

Sadly, the Buhari presidency may be set on that same path of politics of exclusion if care is not taken.

The incoming Buhari presidency may be treading this wrong path of exclusion of vital sections of the country like its predecessor as voting patterns during an election is often wrongly cited as the “justified” basis of such exclusion of other geo-political groups in the country. But the Nigerian presidency must be seen in its actions and policies as the presidency of all Nigerians, and NOT that of who voted for the president or a governor, and this ought to be on equitable grounds, regardless of the

voting pattern in an election.

So, the recent voting pattern notwithstanding, the Buhari presidency needs vision and tact not to repeat the backward policies of exclusion under the Jonathan presidency. The politics of winner-takes-all is morally illegitimate in a multinational democracy such as ours – a democracy that must aspire to be a modern democracy based on a well articulated ethics of inclusion.

So, the Buhari presidency must in deed and action distance itself from the Jonathan politics of exclusion of other national groups for the following reasons.

A section of the coalition around Buhari during the campaign and election made a high sense of morality the basis of support for him. Members of this section are not cardcarrying members of APC. Therefore they are able to defend the nation, independent of political affiliation. Because a morally correct position cannot support exclusion, this section of the coalition around Buhari will continue to hold Buhari responsible on a high moral ground. One of these moral demands therefore is that Buhari presidency must not use the voting pattern in the last election to allocate and dispense political and economic values. If Buhari does this, that will be the beginning of the end of his presidency.

This is because Buhari will be excluding critical sections of the country such as the South East and South South. And it will be un-acceptable.

Second, enlightened selfinterest is a morally legitimate position in a modern democracy.

Hence if we are to keep the crude, and rude politics and bad ethics of the Jonathan presidency away for some time, Nigerians must encourage the Buhari presidency to tread the path of inclusive politics and ethics. This is because as it is becoming clear with the card reader, which reduced the incidence of rigging at the election, any Nigerian government that fails to unite the country will potentially lose at subsequent polls. Some of us will go all out to oppose such government. So, for the Buhari presidency, the honeymoon is over as we look towards 2019 polls.

The meaning of this is that for Buhari, it is time to walk the talk of change. The talk of change without visible deed is meaningless. Regardless of the voting pattern in the last election, one of the areas the change mantra must be seen in

“

deed is in the South East and South South question. Unlike the clearly un-ethical Jonathan presidency, which threw moral caution to the winds behaving as if power resides in a section of the country, the Buhari presidency must not act or give the impression that power resides in geographical sections that gave it more votes. Rather democratic power resides in Nigerian people and not in some ethnic groups.

But, while it is true that the voting pattern would have made the task of unity easier for members of the political class in their calculations, however voting patterns should not be mystified and turned into a crude albatross on the neck of the country. The material conditions of Nigerian people and our unity (rather than some voting pattern) should be made the ground for the equal allocation of political and economic opportunities.

The final argument against excluding any national group

The meaning of this is that for Buhari, it is time to walk the talk of change. The talk of change without visible deed is meaningless. Regardless of the voting pattern in the last election, one of the areas the change mantra must be seen in deed is in the South East and South South question.

in the country is a political one. On political grounds, we have ceased to be partisan voters after the last election.

Thus, it goes against common sense to continue to see each Nigerian merely as a voter who voted for either APC or PDP. Rather, post-election, we are Nigerians, full stop, and not “voters”. The view that we are still voters who voted APC or PDP would be the un-acceptable conclusion if the Buhari presidency uses the voting pattern in the last election to allocate political and economic opportunities.

Nigeria is bigger than any presidency. And a presidency is a mere tool with which to build the Nigerian state. So, there is nothing wrong for the Buhari presidency to rise above crude Nigerian politics once-and-for-all and strive for the ideal to unite all sections of the Nigerian community on equal grounds, regardless of the often-cited so-called voting pattern.

To strive for this ideal is the path of honour, it is what will signal the real change we all fought for. A departure from this ideal will be the end of the honeymoon with Buhari and the need for Nigerian people to start the battle against a move to take us back to the crude and backward politics and ethics, which defined the Jonathan presidency.

Adeolu Ademoyo, aaa54@cornell.edu, is of the Africana Studies and Research Center, Cornell University.

PAGE 13

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, APRIL 28, 2015

Comment

Youth demography and the test of leadership

By Taiwo Odukoya The glory of young men is their strength. (Proverbs 20:29).

O

n April 18, 2015, a Mozambican, Emmanuel Sithole, put a human face to the recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa. Sithole was innocently walking along the road when he was attacked, beaten and stabbed to half an inch of his life. He died hours later in a hospital. Hours after his death, pictures of the incident and his story hit the internet, followed by the arrest of the suspects; all of them aged 18-22.

Underpinning the mindless attacks on black immigrants in South Africa is a desperate youth crisis.

Recent statistics put South Africa’s youth unemployment level at 64%, but this is not a problem peculiar to the Rainbow Nation. Against the backdrop of

the violence in South Africa was the death of about 700 African immigrants trying to cross the Mediterranean into Italy, a good number of them, most likely, young people, fleeing the harsh conditions of their existence in search of something better.

A 2014 report by the African Economic Outlook estimates that 53 million of Africa’s 200 million young people between the ages of 15 and 24 are in unstable employment and 40 million young Africans are out of work. And while 18 million of them are looking for a job, 22 million have already given up. The International Labour Organisation estimates that over 77 million youths are out of work globally, hinting at a global youth crisis.

The consequences of this epidemic are evident, not just in xenophobic outbursts in South Africa, but also in the swelling bulge of disillusioned youths that feed the monstrosities

of Boko Haram, Al Shabaab and ISIS. And so it is with a renewed sense of urgency that leaders across the continent, and indeed the world, must meet the growing scourge of youth unemployment.

Underpinning almost every violent revolution is a dissatisfied and idle youth population.

Incoming governments, federal and states, across Nigeria have promised to hit the ground running posttransition. As they do so, it is worth remembering that the National Bureau of Statistics puts the figure of unemployed youths in Nigeria at over 25million, and millions more will keep emerging from tertiary institutions across the country without the requisite skills and networks to find or create productive outlets for their energies and talents.

The fate of the nation will

literally rest on leadership’s ability to convert a potential catastrophe into an economic opportunity. We have on our hands a demographic blessing, a potent source of innovation, resilience and ambition to irrevocably transform our fortunes as a nation and set us on a path to greatness.

The truth is, Nigeria has never wanted for thoughtful plans. What has often been lacking is the leadership will to execute them. It is my firm belief that the incoming government has a definite plan for Nigeria’s swelling youth population. It is our fervent hope that it will put this at the heart of its agenda and pursue it with all the sense of importance and urgency that it deserves.

Generally speaking, any leadership worth its salt in the 21st century will make youth development and

empowerment a priority. To ignore the youths will be to court a treacherous legacy.

The importance of a multipronged youth development and empowerment strategy that encompasses education, technology, agriculture, financing and entrepreneurship cannot be overemphasised; one that has adequate youth input in its planning and execution. The youths must be challenged.

They want to be involved.

It was the bestseller author James Michener that said, “For we know that when the young are properly challenged, they will rise to the occasion and they will prepare themselves for the great work that remains to be done.”

Nigeria and indeed the rest of the continent can rise to the full stature of its potential. But it cannot do it without the youths.

An open letter to General Buhari, APC (I)

By Muhammad Ajah

I

want to start this special letter which is open on one part and secret on the other part by explaining the inherent oxymoron.

The voting pattern in Nigeria today is open secret. That is why I am writing to our President-Elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, and the now crowned largest political party in Africa, the All Progressives Party (APC), with this open secret method. During the just concluded general elections thathave, for the first time in the last few decades in Nigeria, represented the minds and voices of the majority of Nigerians, most Nigerians changed the voting pattern to open-open balloting. This was occasioned by the confidence the Nigerian populace had developed in the electoral process, a process that that had signaled the weakening of electoral frauds and manipulations.

The electorate overcame the fear of the consequences of openly casting their votes and even announcing their choice candidates before other members of the electorate. It was shocking to hear that during the 28th March presidential polls many Nigerians collected or were forced to collect money from agents of some political parties, around the pooling units as against the electoral procedures, voted for their Presidential choice and openly tore the money after voting in the presence of the bribe givers. What a new trend in our democracy!

The open part of my letter, thus, is that I want to most sincerely congratulate General Muhammadu Buhari four times for his victory in the last four presidential elections.

Three times were his victories in the 2003, 2007 and 2011 elections which he, as a patriot and patient servant of God and humanity and for the sake of Nigeria and the citizenry, allowed the riggers to have their ways. He did not contest the 1999 elections so it is not in focus. We can recall that

the Supreme Court gave a minority judgment after the 2007 presidential polls were massively rigged in favour of the ruling party.

The fourth congratulation is for the 2015 elections which saw rigging reduced to the barest minimum and his emergence as clear evidence that his presidency and leadership of the nation had been long awaited. So I say congratulations to GMB for the victory of Nigerians at the polls and for the political platform APC whose brooms have, according to military tactical maneuvers, reorganized themselves from merger of some most focused political parties in Nigeria, to sweep corruption and corrupt leaders off the nation’s governance. I congratulate the VicePresident elect, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, the chairman of the party, John Oyegun, the director general of GMB campaign organization, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, the untiring but most brilliant party spokesman of our time, Alhaji Lai Muhammad and all other APC stalwarts who have put in their best in ensuring that the peoples’ needed President, GMB, was triumphant in the March 28 polls. My special congrats go to the intelligent, ebullient and bulldozing force of the party, Asiwoji Bola Ahmad Tinubu who I present the award of the best Nigerian mathematician Professor Chike Obi for the 2015 general elections. If Rtd. General Ibrahim Gbadamasi Babangida was the Maradona of the Military era, Bola Tinubu is the Pele of Nigerian politics of today. I also hail former President Olusegun Obasanjo who will never compromise anything for the unity of Nigeria.

I wish also congratulate my fellow Nigerians for ensuring that their will manifested this time. It was not a do or die affair as it used to be before but a vote and live to ensure that your vote counts. I commend the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under the “jegatic” leadership of Professor Attahiru Jega for the

innovations in the electoral system including the introduction of the Personal Voter’s Card (PVC) and card readers machines (CRM) which have tracked down electoral malpractices to a very large extent. How great and humble Jega has proved the Nigerian professors despite the eyesore displayed by one or two Professors during the collation of the presidential polls results at the International Conference Center in Abuja. Nigeria needs the “jegalization” of most of the government systems.

The educational system should be “jegalized” by appointing those uncommon professors who were returning officers at the 2015 Presidential elections (exception of one or two) to man the educational sector as Ministers or commissioners in the educational sector. The oil and gas as well as the solid mineral sectors should be “jegalized” by the use of patriotic Nigerian engineers and implementation of the local content programme. The power sector demands ‘jegalization” to the fullest. I suggest that the incoming government should constitute a Federal Government Advisory Council (FEGAC) or Federal Government Think-Tank Council (FEGTANK) led by Professor Attahiru Jega. The FEGTANK should be responsible for mapping out programmes for government to implement. The Council should tackle the rots in all the sectors one by one and propose to government the practical ways to solve them.

I want to commend the outgoing President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for creating the environment which saw the demise of the one-time overbearing party in Africa, the Peoples Democratic Party which many Nigerians believed was actually a peoples deceiving party due to the rots recently exposed and its inability to deliver Nigeria. President Jonathan made it possible for states like Bauchi, Kano and a very lot more to detest PDP and welcome APC. However, he made it more possible

for the party to fail by engaging the services of failed politicians who spoke carelessly before and throughout the electioneering stages.

Needless mentioning names but the President-Elect and APC can learn big lessons from these episodes.

The governorship and state assembly elections on 11th April, 2015 have exposed the uncommon love Nigerians have shown for General Muhammadu Buhari and the APC. During the 28th March President polls, Nigerians defiled rain and heat of the sun, intimidation in some quarters, shortcomings from INEC in terms of late arrival of electoral materials, bamboozling by agents of parties and frustration as tactics to disenfranchise them. They stood very long in queues, voted wisely in turns and waited patiently even in the nights until their votes were counted and announced. But there were reported cases of low turnout of voters across the nation for the state/assembly elections, meaning that Nigerians were keener in the victory of GMB and in uprooting the PDP at the national level.

The secret parts of my letter are these; it is the assertion of one of the prominent sons of Nigeria Sir Ahmadu Bello that conscience is a wound that only the truth can heal. Therefore the consciences of Nigerians had been under harm for many years and the truth/ reality of 2015 general elections has come to heal them. How herculean this task of healing the wounds of Nigerians can be! I can define Nigerians as people who love good but are most impatient to actualize the good they love and yearn for. They have very fantastic laws but are either not upright or rigid in enforcing the laws of their land especially as the laws relate to the political class. So I will number my secret points for our PresidentElect.

First, GMB is tested and trusted, no doubt. He is the antithesis of graft/economic

indiscipline, nepotism, tribalism, religious bigot, social disorder, name them. But he is not going to be the only person to govern Nigeria during his first tenure of four years. His rigidity in the fight against corruption must not be compromised. It is good news to Nigerians that while the former government throughout its years could not identify what corruption was, not to talk of fighting it, GMB has already drawn a battle line for it and has promised to conquer it or at least reduce it to the barest minimum. And since it has been the bane of Nigeria’s development, the expectations that Nigeria will witness tremendous physical transformation, not paper transformational agenda, are high. The sayings that those living in glass house should not throw stones and that those who seek equity must come with clean hands have played Nigerian fortune a great deal. It has been proved that our leaders lived in glass houses, in the world of fantasy and had soiled their hands in the murky soil of vintage Nigerian politics.

That is why corruption had been seen or made by them a monster that could not be practically killed.

GMB, we know you as a member of a different category of the Nigerian political class. We know you as a man of his words. There is no need checking the pages of your leadership in the past.

Second, GMB has displayed his ability to work with non-Muslims, be they Christians or free thinkers.

But I feel obliged to warn against compromising religious ethics for mere worldly chase.

Muhammad Ajah, is a journalist and writer and an advocate democracy and the rule of law based Email:mobahawwah@ yahoo.co.uk, 08055247005

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, APRIL 28, 2015

PAGE 14

News

Okorocha promises to work with opposition for greater Imo

G

ov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo and winner of Saturday’s governorship election has extended a hand of fellowship to his opponents for a better state.

Speaking at a thanksgiving service organised by his supporters in his honour at the Victory Chapel Church in the Government House, Owerri on Sunday, Okorocha expressed appreciation to God and to all who contributed to his success story in his four years as governor.

He thanked the people of Imo for their overwhelming support at the polls which according to him led to his victory.

He described his victory as a victory for the people irrespective of political affiliations.

Okorocha urged his opponents to accept the outcome of the election and to join him to make the state better.

The governor said he was not in governance to amass wealth but to serve God and humanity, explaining that within four years, he was able to tackle insecurity, kidnapping and armed robbery in the state and created an enabling environment for businesses. ``In the next four years, my first focus remains education, second is industry and third is tourism. ``We will develop tourist sites to generate revenue for the state; to build industries that will create jobs for the Imo youths,” he said.

Okorocha said he is in the business of governance to leave a legacy and make a difference.

He described the presidentelect, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, as a man of vision and called on Nigerians to support him.

Meanwhile, it was celebration galore in Owerri and its environs as APC supporters trouped out to celebrate the victory of the party.

The celebration caused traffic snarls on major roads and streets in Owerri, especially around the Government House Roundabout by Okigwe Road.

There were also displays by tricycle riders while APC faithful carried brooms, the symbol of the party, as part of the celebration. (NAN)

By Lawrence Olaoye

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan has extended sincere condolences to the government and people of Nepal over the loss of thousands of lives in the devastating earthquake that has occurred in the country.

President Jonathan notes that the tragedy has caused deep sorrow, not just for the Nepalese but all humanity.

Jonathan commiserates with Nepal over devastating earthquake “The President assures the government and people of Nepal of the deepest sympathy and solidarity of the people of Nigeria as they mourn those who lost their lives to the earthquake and begin the onerous task of rehabilitating

survivors and rebuilding affected parts of their country.

“President Jonathan also assures the Nepalese government of Nigeria’s preparedness to join other sympathetic nations in assisting the people of Nepal

to overcome the damage and destruction caused by the earthquake.” A statement from Reuben Abati, Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity) quoted the President as saying yesterday

contested under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party( PDP) and lost to Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Ibrahim of the All Progressives Congress( APC) who was declared winner of the election to represent Yamaltu west at Gombe state House of Assembly.

Our source who is a resident in the community alleged that , “ Following the defeat of the speaker at the poll, he shamefully ordered irate youth to vandalized some of the boreholes in the community, alleging that the affected community failed to vote him into power during the general election.

However, the speaker is said to have donated boreholes to the community to help alleviate the suffering of the people, noting that the donation of boreholes in the areas by the speaker was a symbol of campaign promise he made to the people.

The affected communities which include Lubo among others were said to have called on member elect, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Ibrahim as a matter of urgency to assist and restore back boreholes in the affected communities as the speaker is not longer interested in carrying everyone alone.

According to the source, the speaker who was earlier at Gari

Bappi in Lubo community in order to canvass votes to enable him secure a ticket that would guarantee his success into the state House of Assembly pledged to support the community with a borehole.

He said the speaker made an agreement with the people which he promised to construct a borehole in the community if people of the community agreed to support him win the election however the speaker was unable to secure votes in the area as they said he got fifteen votes which attracted him to order for the removal of a borehole that he earlier promised the community.

Gombe speaker orders removal of boreholes in Gari Bappi From David Hassan, Gombe

T

he former chairman of conference speakers of Nigeria and the current speaker of Gombe state House of Assembly Rt Hon. Inuwa Garba has ordered the removal of boreholes in Gari-Bappi of Gombe state.

It was also gathered that the affected community had failed to vote him into power during the state assembly general election that was conducted in the country.

The speaker who represents Yamaltu west constituency in Gombe state House of Assembly was said to have

L-R: Director, Disaster Risk Management, NEMA, Alhaji Alhassan Nuhu, Secretary to Adamawa state Government, Mr. Ibrahim Wuye, District Head of Jimeta, Alhaji Muhammadu Baba-Paris, and Executive Secretary, Adamawa state Emergency Management Agency, Alhaji Haruna Furo, during a multistakeholders meeting on Internally Displaced Persons’ home-return process, yesterday in Yola.

Photo: NAN

NATA crisis deepens in Niger, forms parallel exco From Yakubu Mustapha,Minna.

T

he crisis that is currently rocking the Niger state chapter of Nigeria Automobile Technicians Association (NATA) has deepened with the recent formation of two splinter groups.

The two groups have accused each other of causing crisis.

The group led by Mallam Nojeeb Bello were elected and sworn in as new executives on 13th March, 2014 after the first election in January was canceled for lack of due process.

The chairman, Mallam Bello

in a statement accused one Mr Ayuba Oluobor who is a former state secretary of the association for making every possible effort to cause crisis in the association, warned the parallel group to desist from parading self as executive of the said association.

It accused the National President, Mr Omonayin for taking side and saying that any pronouncement by him to dissolve the executives will amount to contempt of court since there is subsisting court case on going at a high court in Minna on the same issue.

But in a swift reaction by

the acting chairman of the association, Comrade Ayuba Abraham Oluobor in an interview said that the election held was illegal as the former chairman, Alhaji Jamiu who wanted to install a successor for selfish reasons was expelled from the association and published on a national daily on Monday 28, 2013 therefore not competent to oversee or participate in the association activities.

Ayuba noted that the election was later nullified by the electoral committee chairman for not following the constitution and bye- law of the association.

He therefore confirmed a formal letter by the national body to lead the state association in acting capacity which was signed by the National President, Mr Ajayi Omonayin and his secretary.

The acting chairman noted that the president intervened by the group who is been teleguided

by Mallam Jamiu is frustrating the process because he lost election at zonal level. Charged all members of the association to accept to go in to elections through the laid down due process of the constitution and bye laws as such will bring a lasting peace and development in the association.

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, APRIL 28, 2015

Speaker: APC youths drum support for Rep Dogara

Central re-run Amori defeats Omo Agege in Delta election From Osakhare Erese, Asaba

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

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A

group under the auspice of Coalition of North Central, North East and North West All Progressive Congress(APC) Youth for Positives Change has called on all elected members of the Federal House of Representatives from the Zones to come together and ensure that Rep Yakubu Dogara emerges as the speaker of the lower chamber in the interest of the Zones.

This was contained in a press state signed by Mr. Philip Bako and Alhaji Abdullahi Sani Bello Secretary and Chairman of the group respectively and made available to the media in Kaduna yesterday.

According to Alhaji Sani Bello, as youths who yearned for a positive change and who put in everything at their disposal, laboured and sacrifice all, day and night for the change to be realized, they deemed it wise not to sit back and rest knowing that there are yet so much grounds to cover to make the desired change complete and sweet.

The statement reads in part “Pursuant to this, we travelled far and wide holding extensive consultations amongst ourselves as youths from the North Central, North East and North West geo-political zones to seek the understanding of our brothers on the need for the zoning of the Speaker of the House of Representatives to the North East and particularly, to Bauchi State.

“We therefore wish to commend and appreciate the understanding of our brothers from the North Central and the North West geopolitical zones who have assured us of their overwhelming support for the candidature of Hon. Yakubu Dogara for the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives.

We also wish to call on the other members-elect of the House from the South West, South South and South East geo-political zones to reason with us on this demand.

“Hon. Yakubu Dogara represents Tafawa Balewa/ Bogoro Federal Constituency, a 3rd timer and a ranking member of the House. Barrister Dogara is currently the Chairman, House Committee on Management and Services.

“The Coalition of APC Youths for Positive Change in the North Central, North East and North West therefore wishes to throw its full support for Hon. (Barr.)

Yakubu Dogara for the position of Speaker, House of Representatives for the sustenance of an already existing vibrant, Nigerian people oriented House of Representatives nurtured by the out-going Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.

L-R: Senators-elect, David Umaru, representing Niger east Senatorial District, and AbdulAziz Murtala Nyako, representing Adamawa Central, during a gala night organised by National Assembly for the newly elected members to kick off their induction certificate course, on Sunday in Abuja.

he People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the Delta Central Senatorial district, Chief Ighoyota Amori has emerged winner in the rerun election held in the district on Saturday.

The rerun election was necessitated by the cancellation of results that emanated from some units and wards in the senatorial district in the March 28 National Assembly elections. The Returning Officer of the senatorial district, Prof. Prekeyi Tawari-Fideyin, while announcing the result, said Amori secured 116, 723 of the total votes while the candidate of Labour Party, Obaisi Ovie Omo-Agege polled 76,635 votes.

She stated that the All Progressives Congress, (APC) candidate, Chief Halims Agoda polled 16,489 votes.

With this result, the PDP has secured the three senatorial seats of Delta State at the National Assembly.

It would be recalled that Chief Peter Nwaoboshi and Senator James Manager won the senatorial elections held in Delta North and South respectively on March 28, 2015.

I’m going on four years sabbatical – Gov Aliyu

Stories from Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

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iger State Governor, Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu has disclosed that he will be proceeding on a four year sabbatical from politics at the end of his tenure as governor to bounce back in 2019.

Aliyu made the disclosure

in Minna yesterday after commissioning some projects constructed for the newly established Niger State University of Education and the Niger State College of Education both in Minna.

The governor said after the handover to the APC Governor on May 29, this year he will not be politically visible “until 2019

when I will come back in a big way”.

He however did not say in what role he will be coming back into the politics of the country in 2019 but he has been a serious advocate of a reorganization of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which suffered a serious defeat in the general elections held recently in the country.

Aliyu has asked his colleagues who lost in the election not to allow their defeat to make them jump ship to the new party that will be at the helms of affairs in the country on May 29.

He spoke against allowing the APC to turn Nigeria to a one party state which he argued will not be democratic and will also be against the political growth of the country.

…As he urges Nigerians to pray for APC gov’t to succeed

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iger State Governor, Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu has charged Nigerians to pray for the success of the incoming APC administration of Presidentelect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and states governors in the country, insisting that doing otherwise is tantamount to a failure of the nation.

Aliyu made the call in Minna yesterday after commissioning projects executed by the managements of the Niger State College of Education and that of the newly established University of Education both in Minna insisted that some of them saw the victory of APC coming when

the ruling party lost five governors to the than opposition APC. “We should all pray for the success of the APC government at the federal level and those that will take over in the states; we should not pray for their failure because failure will be failure of the community”.

Aliyu said the society will benefit the most from the success of the new leadership to be installed in the country which therefore requires the support and prayers of all Nigerians.

As a result, Governor Aliyu said there must be a virile opposition meaning all those that lost out in the last general

elections especially in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party should not run into the APC, as one party state will be undemocratic and inimical to the political growth of the nation.

He said PDP members should join hands to rebuild the party so that it will be formidable enough to confront the APC in the 2019 general elections.

Aliyu blamed the defeat of the PDP at the federal level and in most states on the defection of 5 PDP governors to the opposition APC the merger of most of the then opposition political parties.

On the projects inaugurated in the institutions, Governor Aliyu

said they will assist to facilitate the take-off of what he called “the premier University of Education in the Northern part of the country”.

Earlier in his speech, Chairman of the Governing Council of the College of Education, Professor Mohammed Daniyan told the gathering that 6 of the projects were embarked upon for the University of Education while 4 others will be made available to the College of Education.

About N1bn was sourced from the special education intervention funds and from internally generated revenue for the execution of the projects.

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, APRIL 28, 2015

El-rufai, Buhari gov’t’ll not disappoint NigeriansAPC Chieftain

L-R: Adamawa state GovernorElect, Senator Muhammed Jibrilla, PresidentElect, General Muhammedu Buhari, and APC, Director Contact and Mobilisation, Mr. Boss Mustapha during a congratulatory visit Adamawa state delegation to the presidentelect, on Sunday in Abuja.

From Mohammad Ibrahim, Kaduna

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Photo: Mahmud Isa

2015 election a temporary setback – Prof Alkali

By Ahmed Abubakar

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pecial Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali, has described the outcome of the 2015 general election as a temporary setback for and not final destination for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Speaking to journalists in Abuja, Prof Alkali appealed to the supporters of President Jonathan to use this transition period as a time for self reflection to heal and restrategize.

“I wish to appreciate and thank all the groups and individuals that have contributed one way or the other to support President Jonathan during the election. We should all see the outcome of the presidential election as temporary setback not

…Says PDP must re-strategize a full-stop in a long sentence of the political history of this great country Nigeria”.

The Special Adviser said that though the President and the PDP lost in the election, that it was only a bus-stop but certainly not a terminus, as all the supporters of Dr. Jonathan still remain the most critical political assets of the PDP and awaits the direction of the party.

“It is conceivable that as a result of this unprecedented setback, our members and supporters may lose focus, hope and direction and even be tempted to engage in divisive activities, nonetheless, we should be more united than ever before as the task

now is to join hands together to strengthen the party” Prof. Alkali stated.

Prof Alkali called on all the supporters of President Jonathan nationwide, especially the men and women that contributed to the campaigns and stood for the President in the just concluded presidential election, to remain calm and resolute as the country prepares for the May 29th handover to the incoming administration.

Responding to questions on the decision of Mr. President to concede to his opponent even when the entire result of the election was not announced, the Political Adviser said, “Our President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, has displayed and establish

an exceptional legacy that will remain permanent not only in Nigeria but in the whole of Africa. The President’s actions to call and congratulate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari before the final results were announced shows that Dr. Jonathan is a man of his words and is leaving an indelible mark in the sands of time”.

He expressed appreciation to the supporters of the President and everyone for their individual and collective support and urged them to have faith in the PDP. The Presidential Adviser further advised those promoting chaos and disaffections in the country to desist from it because according to him, Nigeria has shamed all doomsday Sayers.

Politician drums support for Gaya as Senate Leader From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

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he aspiration of Senator Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya from Kano South to serve as Senate Leader has been described as timely and a viable step into the right direction.

This was contained in a statement made available to newsman in Gusau, Zamfara State

capital, by an APC chieftain, Alhaji Baffah Ila, a one-time aspirant that vied for Kano House of assembly from Gaya local government area.

According to him, this is possible following Gaya’s good record of service in the Senate within his eight years considering his personality, vision as well as being a man who has no amount of tribal or religious sentiment across

all his affairs.

“In all the six geo-political zones of the country, the lawmaker received people in need of different assistance. In another development the lawmaker had contributed immensely towards the APC success since during the merger issue to presidential, national assembly, gubernatorial and state assembly elections.

Ila is of the believe that should the Senator be given the chance to be the Senate leader, Gaya will definitely make impact in the country’s current political and economic challenges, adding that Kano State is known to be under serious political challenge upon which he struggled to ensure victory for the APC in all the elections conducted in the state.

hieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kaduna, Dr Yahaya Ishaq (Mai Shanu) said President-Elect, General Muhammadu Buhari and Governorelect of the state, Malam Nasiru El-Rufai’s government will not disappoint Nigerians.

According to him, their election would deliver dividends of democracy to doorsteps of all citizens of the country and state in general.

Dr Ishaq also reiterated the belief in many quarters across the country that the coming administration of General Muhammadu Buhari would make a lasting impression of turning around the long time decadence in governance of the country.

Addressing journalists in the state where he highlighted some benefits Kaduna people stood to gain from Malam el-Rufai’s administration to include among others, sincerity and transparency in governance.

“True restoration of Kaduna State architectural and natural beauties, putting the governed first as a priority in execution of projects with direct impact on the masses which he said were key elements of success by any government in democratic settings.

“The era of impunity, massive institutional looting of peoples resources is over in Nigeria and Kaduna State in particular. These two men General Buhari and Nasiru el-Rufai have been tested in the past with more difficult assignments and they have discharged their duties creditably.

“Therefore I see no reason why they should not even do better now.

Considering the hard won battle fought on their behalf by the masses that were yearning for change, positive change in every aspect of their lives, because every fabric of the society is in a state of decay and collapse.

“Social, educational, economic, human and material aspect of a typical Nigerian has been in a state of decadence. I sincerely believe the masses, especially the state people will not be disappointed in the incoming Governor in the person of Malam el-Rufai, whose watchwords in public service have been focus, commitments and sincerity of purpose in discharge of his primary responsibilities to the people at all times”, Dr Ishaq said.

I’ll remain in politics till my death -Bamanga Tukur

By Ahmed Abubakar

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he immediate past Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur has wished for himself to remain in an active politicking till his last moment on earth.

Dr. Tukur was reacting to a publication in one of the national

newspapers captioned “Politicians Jonathan retired” with the subtitle “PDP leaders whose lights fade with President’s defeat” in which his name and pictured appeared.

According to Dr. Tukur in a statement signed by his special adviser on media, Prince Oliver Okpala that he is in politics to serve the nation and give his best to the

nation and does not see any reason for retirement when the nation is in dare need of the experience and wisdom of veteran politicians and elder statesman of his like.

The elder statesman remarked that “politics is a game in which individuals choose on their own to participate and be involved and so the issue of retirement does not

arise”.

He said that he will remain in politics in order to continue to advise young politicians on the need to institutionalize party discipline, supremacy and internal democracy in our body politics.

Dr. Tukur emphasized that so long as things has not been put in its rightful place and perspective,

elder statesmen like him will remain in politics to bring sanity and show the way forward to our young politicians.

The elder statesman advised young politicians to always seek and corporate with elder statesmen in terms of advise and performance in the overall interest of the corporate existence of the country.

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, APRIL 28, 2015

Kofare community drags Adamawa Dep Gov before ICPC From Umar Dankano, Yola

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he Adamawa State Deputy Governor, Sa’ad MC Tahir has been dragged to the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) by residents of Kofare “A” Ward in Yola South Local Government Area of Adamawa State for alleged blockage of access way to the ward thereby causing untold hardship to residents.

In a petition addressed to the chairman of ICPC by counsel to the community, Augustine Sambo Esq of Yelli Chambers, and made available to journalists in Yola yesterday in which the community accused the Deputy Governor of using his office to take over the land which they noted initially belong to him but was taken from him by government three years ago on grounds of overriding public interest which resulted in paying him compensation by the then Nyako administration.

“Sir, it will be recalled that sometimes in February 2012, the Kofare Ward community made a complaint to the Ministry of Land and Survey concerning the difficulty the community was having regarding easement from the area through to the Numan road in Jimeta-Yola.

“The Ministry of Land and Survey, upon the receipt of the community’s complaint, set up a committee to access compensation to be paid to the owner of the plot of land on grounds of overriding public interest.

“The Adamawa State Government conveyed approval for the creation of right of easement on the property owned

by Sa’ad M.C Tahir”, the petition said.

It noted that on 6th March 2012, the Ministry of Land and Survey forwarded a detailed assessment for compensation to the tune of N3, 617, 600 to Tahir who was duly paid. “ His Excellency, Sa’ad Tahir, soon upon his appointment to the office of the Deputy Governor of Adamawa State have used the instrumentality of his office to close the access-way, which was granted by the Government of Adamawa State after due administrative process”, the petition stated.

Our correspondent in Yola reported that all documented evidences four in number attached to the petition as Appendixies;1,2,3and 4 showed the entire transaction between the community and the Deputy Governor.

All efforts to get the side of the Deputy Governor probed abortive as his Press Secretary, Mallam Abubakar Dasin promised to get back to this reporter after consulting his boss but couldn’t at the time of filing in this report.

L-R: Senators-Elect, Abiodun Olujinmi, Monsurat Sunmonu, and Jonah Jang, during the induction course for National Assembly members, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Kwara PDP senatorial candidate files petition against Saraki From Olarewanju Lawal, Ilorin

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he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senatorial flag bearer for Kwara Central in the March 28th polls, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq and his party have filed a petition before the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Ilorin, the state capital challenging the election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Dr. Bukola Saraki.

Abdulrasaq and PDP as 1st and 2nd petitioners respectively in their petition with reference number: NAT/LEG/EPT/ IL/2/2015 dated 13th April, 2015, alleged that the election of the APC flag bearer was invalid “by reason of corrupt practices or noncompliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act”.

They further alleged that the election was characterized by abnormalities, manipulation and

By Doyin Ojosipe

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ome All Progressives Congress (APC), youths in Ekiti State, under the aegis of Ekiti APC Youths Congress (EAYC) have said the Senator representing Ekiti Central, Babafemi Ojudu must be blamed for the party’s loss in the Presidential, National Assembly and House of Assembly elections.

The youths, who also demanded a refund of the over N200 million allegedly collected by the Senator for the House of Assembly election, raised the alarm that Ojudu’s desperation to wrestle the APC leadership from former Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi was killing the party in

irregularities.

The petition filed through their counsel, Ambali Abdulkadir Mujahid, Esq. and made available to journalists in Ilorin, joined the APC, INEC and the State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) as 2nd, 3rd and 4th respondents respectively.

The petitioners, therefore, prayed the tribunal to declare the election of the 1st respondent void and declare the 1st petitioner as the winner of the polls.

Other reliefs sought by the petitioners through a motion exparte filed before the three-man tribunal headed by Hon. Justice J. J. Majebi include an order of the tribunal to inspect the electoral materials before the pre-hearing session.

They also urged the tribunal to grant leave to the petitioners, their counsel, or agents to inspect and make copies of all polling documents or packets relating

or pertaining to the 28th March, 2015 Kwara central senatorial election comprises of Ilorin West, East, South and Asa local government areas of Kwara State.

“An order compelling the 3rd and 4th respondents to make available to the applicants or their counsel or agents Certified True Copies (CPC) of all such polling documents or packets in the prescribed form used and/or purportedly used for the 28th day of March, 2015 in Kwara central senatorial election.

“Leave and order of this tribunal permitting applicants’ forensic experts to inspect, by way of machine/electronic scanning, all ballot papers and other electoral materials which were used for the conduct of the senatorial election in Kwara central on March 28th, 2015”, they urged.

The motion also sought “Leave and order the tribunal permitting

hand writing and forensic experts to conduct an inspection of Form EC8A, EC8B, EC8C, EC8D, EC8E and all other forms, ballot papers and material used and/or purportedly used for the conduct of the senatorial election in Kwara central.

“An order directing the 3rd and 4th respondents to confirm in writing the unavailability and the reason for the unavailability of any such electoral forms or other polling documents relating to or pertaining to the senatorial election for Kwara central in Kwara State which by law are in the custody of the 4th respondent directly or through the 4th respondent or any other agent of the 3rd respondent”.

The tribunal, however, granted all the reliefs sought by the petitioners in their motion ex-parte, while the tribunal is expected to begin its sitting today, Monday, 27th April, 2015.

Ekiti APC youths blame Ojudu for electoral loses, demand refund of N200m election fund Ekiti State.

In a press statement issued today and jointly signed by Mr Tope Ogunkuade and Comrade Tunji Adeleye, Convener and Secretary respectively, the EAYC alleged that over N200 million sourced by Senator Ojudu for the House of Assembly election was pocketed by him, in collaboration with his ally, Kayode Afolabi.

They called on national leaders of the party, especially Senator Bola Tinubu to intervene in the party crises, saying; “The way our party is going in Ekiti State, we will self-destruct very

soon.”

The statement read; “We are concerned about the survival of our party in Ekiti State and if the party must not collapsed, the selfish activities of Senator Ojudu must be curbed.

“Apart from sourcing funds running to several millions of naira, Senator Ojudu has also polarised the party in the state by sponsoring another dissident group within the party called APC Action Group.

“The Senator has also been going about destroying our leader, Dr Kayode Fayemi, even when

it was the unpatriotic activities of people like Ojudu that caused us the loss of the governorship election.

“For instance, why didn’t Ojudu seek re-election if he knew that he had electoral value?

Among the three senators of the APC, he was the only one that did not re-contest. Rather, he pocketed millions of naira released for the elections and he has also pocketed N250 million that he got for the impeachment of Governor Ayodele Fayose” the group stated.

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, APRIL 28, 2015

8th Senate: Why there is need for cohesion Analysis

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

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undits are of the view that there is no contention to the fact that any ruling party in Nigeria is certainly the largest political party in black Africa.

As the All Progressives Congress (APC) prepares to assume power in Nigeria arising from the just concluded 2015 general election, analysts maintain that the party should know and hold sacred that the change that it has brought also carries with it some leadership burden.

Political watchers opine that as the country takes the role of being a political role model in Africa, the APC’s leadership should be aware of how daunting it is to lead Africa’s most populous nation, as all eyes will be on the party to provide the country with the desired type of leadership in the three tiers of government to accelerate development.

It is expected that as the party is the first in the history of Nigeria to defeat an incumbent government in an election, it will consolidate that position to develop the serene countryside in leaps and bounds, against the backdrop that the party is known for rooted internal democracy hence the peaceful and coordinated presidential primaries in Lagos last year that ended peacefully.

The zoning posts in the leadership position of the party in the National Assembly are a welcomed one. For instance, the party has zoned the seat of senate presidency to the NorthCentral geo-political zone; while the office of majority leader is ceded to the North-West. These two offices are paramount to the success of the 8th senate in particular and the preparedness of party consolidates itself in power beyond 2015.

A nongovernmental organisation, League of Concerned Patriots (LCP) while commending the incoming ruling party for its foresightedness for zoning the positions, however sounded a word of caution.

President of the group, Alhaji Ibrahim Sabon-Birnin warned that much as the zoning was commendable it will only be meaningful if credible senators are elected to the offices. SabonBirnin said, “as the senator representing Kano south, Senator Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya is aspiring for the office of the senate majority leader, the APC will only be justified for supporting him for his loyalty to the party and his untiring effort to see that the party come into being.”

Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya

Sen. Ahmad Rufai Yarima

Sen. Abu Ibrahim

Sen. Marafa Kabir Garba

Much as the touted believe in the former Kano State governor for the office of the majority leader lays credence, other distinguished senators from the zone that are credible for the job also abounds. For instance in line with Chapter II (2) of the senate rule, Senators Ahmad Rufai Yarima (Zamfara West), Marafa Kabir Garba (Zamfara Central) and Abdullahi Ibrahim Gobir (Sokoto East) are eligible and are rumoured to be interested in the senate top job, but their antecedences show that they are only aspiring to serve but are not in the race for “do or die.”

Ahmad Rufai Yarima is a founding member of the party who was arrested on 9 March, 2013 when he accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of bias to register the then newly formed All Progressives Congress (APC) in a Hausa programme on Federal Radio Corporation that the party will embark on a peaceful protest at the Eagle Square in Abuja. It is on record that former Zamfara State governor is a dogged

defendant of the masses, it was why when he intended to run for the presidency under the All Nigeria People’s Party in April 2007, he withdrew to back the candidature of the now presidentelect, Muhammadu Buhari. This is an indication that Yarima is a patriot who is mindful of the overall interest of the people than self, a northerner who be ranked in the order of the founding father of the region, Alhaji Sir Ahmadu Bello.

Senator Marafa Kabir Garba (Zamfara Central), apart from being a senator of the federal republic, has been in public offices where service to humanity is not introductory to hm. His legislative interest among others is peace, unity and progress, which is much more of a national symbol that won’t allow him a trait of personal interest and protection. His mission for seeking public service is to “contribute in the building of one united Nigeria based on justice, equity and fairness to all,” this makes him a man who will not stand in the way of the people because of self and therefore

could be willing to concede self interest to building one strong and indivisible Nigeria. Abdullahi Ibrahim Gobir (Sokoto East) is an erudite engineer who doesn’t seem to be in politics for self serving because the former president of Nigeria Society of Engineers Sokoto branch is comfortable in all ramifications to take the senate job as a matter of “If don’t get I destroy” approach.

Also Senator Abu Ibrahim (Katsina South) is a force if Chapter II (2) of the same rule is applied. The rule 2, sufficiently said, “the following order shall apply: (i) senators returning based on number of times re-elected; (ii) senators who had been members of the House of Representatives; (iii) senators elected as senators for the first time.” The rule further states that only senators who have been returned based on number of times re-elected should form the nucleus of the leadership of the new senate. It is therefore imperative that the trend of the rule does not cajole the leadership of the party to make choices for APC to present the nation with a

senate that its leadership quivers.

Critical analyses of the senators angling for the senate job from the zone may suggest that Senator Kabiru Gaya should be supported because he has an edge. The former Kano State governor is not regarded as a senator from Kano State but a senator of the “federal republic.” Yes it is true that all senators are senators of the federal republic, but like George Orwell said in his book Animal Farm, “All animals are equal, but some are more equal than the others.”

Gaya stands tall in that order in the north, south, east and west of the country. In his first term at the senate between 2007 and 2011, there was no council area in the 44 local governments of the state that did not benefit from the magnanimity and philanthropy of his constituency projects. This is a feat that is yet to be equalled.

Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya was elected to the Senate for Kano South in 2007. Upon inauguration, he was appointed to committees on Gas, Local and Foreign Debts, States & Local Government, and Upstream Petroleum Resources and Works. In a mid-term assessment of the performance of senators, This Day newspaper noted that he sponsored the Finance Management and Accountability Bill, 2009, and the Millennium Development Agency Bill, 2009. He co-sponsored five motions and contributed well to debates in plenary. In May 2008, as chairman of the Senate committee on works, Kabiru Gaya lamented that some roads projects across the country were going very slowly, but said the Senate would not subscribe to the idea of privatising Nigerian roads, this is a struggle for national interest.

In November 2009, he supported a motion by the Kano chapter of the ANPP to allow then state governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, to nominate the ANPP candidate for the 2011 governorship elections.

His selflessness will the Nigeria senate with him as majority leader an arm of the government that will not only be nostalgic at departure but will have the APC leadership of the upper chamber a senate to be surpassed. Gaya is not a new comer to the senate in rules and procedures; he was the Senate’s Deputy Minority Whip from 2007 until 2011.

He is a senator who thrives in the emancipation of the people.

He demonstrated this by visiting prisons in his state to pay fines to release from various prisons across the senatorial district, inmates who could not pay fines that they were charged. Records are replete with reasons why he is endeared to the people.

If elected Senate Majority Leader, his tenure will witness robust a senate.

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, APRIL 28, 2015

NERC develops framework for consumer advocacy group

By Etuka Sunday

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he Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) yesterday unveiled a plan for the development of a framework for engaging consumer advocacy groups in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

This, the Commission said became necessary because of the observable gaps in the market especially in the area of knowledgeable, credible, and broad-based advocates or advocacy groups for electricity consumers.

Speaking at the Consumer Advocacy Groups Consultative Meeting in Abuja, the Chairman, NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi said, electricity consumers are huge

and scattered therefore weakens the robustness of regulatory framework.

Amadi said, the meeting which was first of its kind, was aimed at engineering a process that would help set up advocacy network using the consumers because of the recognised gap in the balance of power in the electricity market.

He said the advocacy groups would protect the interest of the consumers by bringing to account the regulator and the operators.

The 6-page proposed document for the development of the Nigerian Electricity Consumer Advocacy Network (NECAN), was presented to consumers drawn from across the states of the federation.

Presenting the proposed

document, NERC said in furtherance of its consumer protection mandate, it has “taken the strategic decision to pro-actively empower electricity consumers so that they can be better placed to make informed inputs into the regulatory process, be better enabled to advocate for their interests on the basis of knowledge and reason, and be in a stronger position to influence outcomes in the sector.”

The Commission gave the objectives to include: “to provide a structured platform for electricity consumers to be better organised, sensitised and constructively engaged in the electricity decisionmaking process; enhance the voice, bargaining power and agency of electricity consumers as critical stakeholders in the

regulatory process; “Improve the capacity of electricity consumers to make informed and fact-based contributions to consultative and deliberative aspects of decisionmaking; reduce the scope for conflicts in the sector by ensuring greater understanding and proactive engagement between operators of the electricity sector.”

Meanwhile, some of the industrial consumers expressed fears that the residential consumers especially artisans may lack professional/technical competence to join the network.

On the independence of the network, consumers also expressed fears that they may not have the full independence as required to carryout the work effectively.

However, NERC

assured it would not interfere with their work.

Nevertheless, they advised that since the regulators are also consumers, there should be legal backings to ensure that they don’t form alliance to influence the process to their advantage.

They also lamented that the rural communities in Nigeria are always left out by NERC in terms of information dissemination, pointing that even the advocacy meeting was organised without the rural consumers.

Amadi agreed that the commission has not been fair to consumers at rural areas with regards to information dissemination about meetings, but however, assured that they would also be captured in the plan advocacy network.

L-R: Commissioner FOR Market Competition and Rates, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Mr. Patrick Umeh; Deputy General Manager, Engineering, Mr. Abdul Mohammed, and NERC Chairman, Dr Sam Amadi, Participants, at the Consumer Advocay Groups Consultative meeting organised by Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

BPE issues RFPs to 7 prequalified bidders for Terminal ‘B’ Warri Old Port T

By Etuka Sunday

he National Council on Privatisation (NCP) has directed that the seven prequalified bidders that successfully met the 70 percent scores from the evaluation of Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for prospective Concessionaires for Terminal B Warri Old Port

are to be issued with the Request for Proposals (RFP).

A statement by the Head, Public Communications, BPE, Chigbo Anichebe said, the Council under the Chairmanship of Vice President Namadi Sambo directed the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) to issue the RFPs to the prequalified bidders.

The bidders are: Bright

Ocean Integrated Services, Transnet Rosehill Group, Solent Stevedores International, Neon Adani Ports Consortium, Marine Infrastructure Consortium, Ecomarine Consortium and Global Infrastructure.

It would be recalled that following the approval of the NCP, advertisements seeking EOIs from prospective

Concessionaires for Terminal ‘B’ Warri Old Port were placed in some selected National Dailies on June 23, 2014 and bids were received on August 7, 2014.

At the close of the submission, 13 EOIs were harvested and subsequently evaluated. The evaluation was based on responsive test and detailed assessment test of the 13 EOIs.

Only seven applicants passed the assessment.

The evaluation committee recommended 70% as the minimum pass mark and further recommended that the seven successful applicants that met the minimum pass mark and above be prequalified to move to the next stage for the issuance of the Request for proposal (RFPs).

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, APRIL 28, 2015

ENERGY FG urges power assets owners to meet energy needs of customers

By Etuka Sunday

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L-R: Director, Commercial Law Department, Ministry of Trade and Investment, Mrs. Nima Salman Mann, Minister of Trade Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, Chairman, Intellectual Property Committee Section on Business Law, Mr. Afam Nwokedi, and Chairman, NBA Abuja chapter, Mr. Agada Elachi, during the World Intellectual Property Committee Section on Business Law, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Nebo urges Buhari to prioritise renewable energy sources as solution to vandalism

By Etuka Sunday

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he Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo has urged the in-coming administration to open its doors to other sources of energy, such as Coal-to-Power, Solar Powered Plants, Waste - Power as solution to persistent vandalism in the sector.

Nebo said such step would help stop the abysmal sabotage that was crippling government’s dogged efforts at improving the epileptic power supply which currently characterized the sector in Nigeria.

A statement issued by Grace Njoku for Deputy Director, Press, quoted the Minister to have made the call while speaking at the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NOVARTUS Gas Limited and the Government for the generation of power through renewable energy sources across Nigeria.

He stated that Renewable Energy sources are very critical

to the nation’s survival as there are no threats of vandalism as currently experienced with the gas-pipelines, yet it could give the required leap to the supply chain of electricity.

The Minister said that he was aggrieved at the constant bursting of pipelines by miscreants everywhere in the creeks, and explained that the scourge had forced the power supply to hover around 3,600MW despite efforts being made by the present administration to improve on its generation capacity, stressing that, “our vulnerability to sabotage with regards to pipeline vandalism is so high”.

According to him, a policy for Nigeria on Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency will soon be approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC). The document he said will provide the structure and framework and would also contain incentives to be enjoyed by would-be investors, desirous of producing power using renewable energy sources.

He further said that the proposed document will give needed impetus to all stakeholders who are interested in solving the energy gap puzzle in Nigeria.

He assured that when it is operational, more opportunities would open-up in small and medium sized hydros, biomass, wind and solar power, hence in no distant future, there would be an end to the country’s epileptic power problem.

He called on the Consortium to visit Vietnam with a view to understudy her small hydro technology which he said; was recently discovered, he described it as the most potent method of energy sourcing in the world.

He stated that, “using small hydros, Vietnam provides energy in her remote areas for small clusters of industries and farming communities”, this is just as he said that such technology, if employed, will contribute immensely in the quest for greater access to power for all Nigerians in the urban and

rural areas.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Group, Engr. Obi Nwasike stated that the persistent efforts made by the present administration to change the near collapsed state of the nation’s power sector as well as the recurrent sabotage by vandals to frustrate the efforts of Government in increased power generation is not new to anyone, hence all hands must be on deck in solving the crisis.

He expressed delight however that the nation is blessed with vast resources which can be harnessed for stable, efficient and cleaner energy – a necessary prerequisite for the development of any country.

To this end, he assured that his Group will harness the abundant Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) which adorn our cities, occasioned due to increasing population and rising industrialization and expressed that the electricity supply challenge will be reduced to a barest minimum in no distant time.

he Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo has urged owners of Generation and Distribution Companies to work hard by evolving ways of boosting electricity supply nationwide.

A statement by the Deputy Director, Press, Timothy Oyedeji quoted the minister to have spoken to them in Abuja.

The development the statement said was coming on the heels of additional generation capacity occasioned by the recent commissioning of National Integrated Power Projects (NIPPs) in Alaoji and Olorunsogo. “”This is also in view of plans for imminent commissioning of other NIPP plants, following the completion of these projects.

“Setting the Agenda for the meeting, the Minister described the Distribution Companies as the vital link in the service delivery chain.”

He expressed the strong commitment and willingness of the Government to continue to support the operations of the Generation and Distribution Companies to actualize the plans to meet the energy needs of customers in both private and public sectors.

The Minister pointed out the need for synergy among all power sector stakeholders.

Professor Nebo, while addressing issues raised by the investors, said that the case was being made for Government to keep faith with the contractual commitment of further reduction in both commercial and technical losses, which have been a big problem in the sector over the years.

He also commended the new owners for the commitment and focus in revamping and upgrading inherited facilities which has resulted in substantial increase in delivery capacities.

On their request for cost reflective tariffs from Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the Minister assured them that Government is mindful of its impact in the survival of the entire sector, hence will do all it can to address the problem.

Brent crude steadies above $65 as U.S. rig count offsets strong dollar

B

rent crude reversed early losses to steady above $65 on Monday as signs that U.S. shale output may have started to decline offset the effects of a strong dollar.

The number of active U.S. rigs drilling for oil has fallen for a record 20 weeks in a row to its lowest since 2010, according to data from oil services company Baker Hughes, fuelling expectations of a drop in U.S. production.

“We believe that the increase

in U.S. oil production will slow and that it could also decline in the short term,” Germany’s Commerzbank said in a note on Monday.

Brent LCOc1 edged up 6 cents to $65.34 a barrel by 1328 GMT (9.28 a.m. ET), having touched a low of $64.60 on dollar strength earlier in the session.

U.S. crude Clc1, called WTI, was up 37 cents at $57.52 a barrel, having slipped to $56.71 earlier.

The dollar was trading 0.1

percent higher against a basket of currencies .DXY, easing back from 0.3 percent earlier in the day. A strong U.S. currency makes dollartraded commodities such as crude oil more expensive for holders of other currencies.

Fighting in Yemen raged on as Saudi Arabia continued its air strikes against Houthi militia forces in Aden.

While Yemen itself is not among the biggest oil producers in the region, Gulf producers ship oil

along the Gulf of Aden on Yemen’s southern coast and through the narrow straits of Bab el-Mandeb, between Yemen and Djibouti.

Analysts at Bank of America Merril Lynch raised their oil forecast for Brent and WTI. “The market seems to have found a spot price low, and we lift our end of 2Q15 targets for WTI and Brent to $59 and $63 a barrel,” they said in a note. “We revise up our 2016 Brent forecasts to $62 from $58, but remain

bearish relative to the forward due to the big oil overhang.”

Saudi Arabia’s Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi told officials in Beijing that the kingdom is ready to supply China with additional oil if required, the Saudi Press Agency said on Monday.

Hedge funds and other money managers raised their bets on rising Brent crude prices for a fifth week in a row to a new record, exchange data showed on Monday.

(Reuters)

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, APRIL 28, 2015

ICT Cisco supports United Nations’Nigeria girls in ICT

C

isco , as part of a global mentoring initiative to support and complement the United Nations’ Girls in ICT Day’ last week an annual day of activities organized by the International Telecommunications Union aimed at improving the understanding of careers in ICT among girls. Cisco has supported Girls in ICT since its inception in

2011.

Girls ages 13-18 from Nigerian Naval Secondary School, Queens College, Federal Science and Technical College and Federal Government College, Ijanikin, Lagos were invited to participate in Girls Power Tech mentoring opportunities with Cisco employees, allowing girls to make informed career

choices about working in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM).

They also experienced Cisco technologies first hand and met with other Girls participating in Girls in ICT Day across the region via Cisco TelePresence.

The day’s agenda included an Executive welcome by the General Manager, Nigeria, Ghana,

Liberia and Sierra Leone, Mr. Dare Ogunlade, group mentoring, an immersive telepresence experience, a learning session regarding the Internet of Everything and the IoT Young Women’s Innovation Challenge, and a site tour.

Globally and in Nigeria, there is a massive shortfall projected in the numbers of workers trained for careers in ICT. Cisco’s ‘Girls Power Tech’ is focused on encouraging girls and young women in more than 50 countries, and 80 Cisco offices, to discover opportunities opened by careers in ICT. Often students are discouraged from pursuing careers simply because they either do not know anyone who works in these fields or they do not understand what people in these fields do.

That’s why Cisco’s handson mentoring is so important.

Mentoring also provides meaningful experiences for employees, with employee volunteers reporting higher level of engagement, loyalty, and longevity.

Mr. Imoh Akpan, CSR

Manager, English West and Central Africa, said that, “the technology industry in Nigeria has never been more dynamic or more exciting. Now, more than ever, we need to be doing all we can to build the diverse talent pipeline that will lead our industry into the future.

Cisco’s Girls Power Tech allows young women to explore the incredible opportunities available to them in the technology sector and helps to build the skills and the mindset needed to be our leaders of tomorrow.”

“It’s important for Cisco to help build the diverse talent pipeline that can capture the amazing opportunities of the 21st Century’s Internet of Everything economy.

We are proud to sponsor Girls Power Tech as part of our overall global mentoring efforts and thank our Cisco employee volunteers for inspiring the next generation of ICT talent in Nigeria,” Ogunlade concluded.

Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone from Etisalat. Enjoy high speed mobile broadband on any of our Easyblaze plans. Visit www.etisalat.com.ng for details.

NBC appointS Inview technology for Digital Switchover

By Chris Alu ational Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has selected Inview Technology to provide the country’s national digital TV system, as it prepares to switch from analogue to digital.

The agreement comprises settop box software and integrated broadcast services for Nigeria’s Freeview and Freesat digital terrestrial and satellite networks.

NBC’s services will include interactive advertising, push video-on-demand, an electronic programme guide, and a range of broadcasting applications such as news, public service information and audience measurement services.

“Thirteen companies originally bid for the digital TV system and we are confident that by appointing Inview we can provide a smooth switchover to digital terrestrial broadcasting, and create the biggest TV platform in the African continent” stated Emeka Mba, director general of the broadcasting commission.

Nick Markham, chairman of Inview said: “NBC are being extremely forward thinking in their planning for digital switchover in Nigeria.

Inview’s technology allows upgraded services from launch of digital TV straight through to high-end hybrid services and future proofs the Nigerian DSO platform.”

the depth of investment in our network infrastructure. With this, our enterprise customers can be assured that all elements of the critical infrastructure in our data centre are capable of enterprise-grade performance in terms of power, security, cooling and disaster mitigation in the event of a fire outbreak”.

Also, Mr. Austin Okere, chief executive officer, CWG Plc disclosed the future direction of the company, tagged CWG 2.0, saying, “We consider the refocusing of our business into a subscription based model as a

dual advantage play. In addition to being a more sustaining strategy, it maximizes our social impact investing on the economy of Africa, and helps to create jobs by empowering entrepreneurs.

This in essence defines the new CWG PLC, which we have christened CWG 2.0”.

In the IDC report, it expects that by 2019 Cloud IT infrastructure spending to be $52 billion, or 45% of total IT infrastructure spend; public cloud will represent about $32 billion of that amount, and private cloud will account for the remaining $20 billion.

N

SAMSUNG GALAXY S6 EDGE

Nigerian firms jostle for $32Bn data centre market

A

data centre is a dedicated space where companies can keep and operate most of the ICT infrastructure that supports their business.

At the moment, there are some top 10 operators in Nigeria including: 21st Century Technologies, Rack Cente, Vodacom Business, Computer Warehouse Group (CWG), MainOne, and MTN Business Lagos Datacenter.

Others are: Globacom, Lagos Datacenter and Broadbased Datacenter.

Most of data centres have achieved Tier III Certification.

In terms of benefits accruable to the investors and the market, an International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Cloud IT Infrastructure Tracker indicates that total cloud IT infrastructure spending including server, disk storage, and ethernet switch, will grow by 21% year-over-year to $32 billion in 2015, accounting for approximately 33% of all IT infrastructure spending, which will be up from about 28% in 2014.

Private cloud IT infrastructure, mostly data centres, spending will grow

by 16% year-over-year to $12 billion, while public cloud IT infrastructure spending will grow by 25% in 2015 to $21 billion.

For the full year 2014, cloud IT infrastructure spending totaled $26.4 billion, up 18.7% year over year from $22.3 billion; private cloud spending was just under $10.0 billion, up 20.7% year over year, while public cloud spending was $16.5 billion, up 17.5% year over year.

Michael Ikpoki, chief executive officer, MTN Nigeria, said that “The Tier III Certification award mirrors

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, APRIL 28, 2015

Business

Airport Police command sensitizes personnel ahead of ICAO security audit

From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

T

he airport command of the Nigeria Police has charge its personnel on the need to optimally secure Nigeria airports to meet global standard ahead of the security audits of the airports by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) later in the year.

At a seminar to sensitise the command on competence in Lagos, NPF said nothing will be left behind to achieve effective policing of the aviation sector.

ICAO, the global aviation regulatory body will undertake the security competence of selected airports in Nigeria by June this year.

Commissioner of Police, Airport Command, Mrs. Dorothy Gimba said the seminar was encompassing as it touched on crime prevention, procedure and team building, as tools to accomplish organisational goals.

She explained that the two day seminar with the theme “Improving the Aviation industry through optimum

development of her security personnel,” was meant to upscale the competence of the policemen attached to the aviation sector in carrying out their duties within the sector.

The command chief also explained that retirement plan was incorporated into the seminar because of its prospect in enhancing performance.

“The primary aim of this seminar is to scale up the participants competences in carrying out their duties within the aviation sector.

Dorothy described

aviation as “not only a highly specialized sector, but one that is multifarious, the sector is a multi agency environment which demands for collaboration and cooperation in order to form a synergy that would ensure seamless operational environment for optimum performance.”

Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the airport, Col. Carl Onalo (retd) said the agency will provide accommodation for men of the command to boost their morale.

He disclosed that the

Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) would soon commence housing scheme and welfare package for the police officers.

Participants were drawn from the Nigeria Immigration Services (NIS), Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), National Drug Laws Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Aviation Security (AVSEC) Directorate of FAAN and Airport Fire and Rescue Services (AFRS) as well as SAHCOL and NaNNAHCoaviance Plc.

Saudi high oil output based on demand, market ‘excellent’- Oil Minister

S

audi Arabia’s high crude oil production policy is based on the status of global demand and the top oil exporter is keen to maintain its market share, the kingdom’s deputy oil minister said on Monday.

Speaking to reporters in Saudi Arabia, Prince Abdulaziz

Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz described the oil market as “excellent”, suggesting the OPEC heavyweight was comfortable with current global conditions.

“As the minister mentioned, the kingdom responds to demand and supplies oil to wherever the demand is and

whoever asks for it,” he said.

“We care about our market share, we care about maintaining our customers and we care about the stability of the market.”

Prince Abdulaziz was referring to previous comments made by Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi who said last

week that the kingdom was producing near-record levels of crude in April at around 10 million barrels per day.

“I have said many times we will always be happy to supply our customers with what they want. Now they want 10 million,” Naimi told Reuters in

L-R: Representative of Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service, Mr. Wale Adeniyi, representative of Vice Chairman, World Customs Organisation (WCO), Mr. Ebenezer Tafili, WCO Regional Development Officer, Mr. Bernard Zbiden, and Regional Officer for Capacity Building, Mr. Suleiman Sangare, during the 4th meeting of Experts of the Conference of Directors-General of Customs, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: NAN

the South Korean capital.

OPEC had said its overall output surged to 30.79 million bpd in March, up 810,000 bpd from the previous month, with demand higher than expected due to lower prices.

Yet there are some worries that growing output from Saudi Arabia and other members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) could snuff out a recent rebound in oil prices, at a time when oil markets have staged a fragile recovery.

Oil prices have almost halved since June last year in a drop that deepened after OPEC refused to cut production in November to maintain its market share against other competing sources of supply.

Prince Abdulaziz declined to comment on a recent meeting in Riyadh with Venezuela’s oil minister. The Latin American nation, dogged by a slowing economy and soaring inflation, is among OPEC members most deeply hurt by weaker oil prices.

OPEC meets on June 5. Iran and a Libyan OPEC official have urged the group to consider output cuts, while Kuwait - in a view expected to be shared by other Gulf OPEC members has said the policy will remain unchanged. (Reuters)

ERM urges Zamfara to diversify economy

From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

A

two-day Economic Resilence Meeting (ERM), has called on Zamfara State Government to renew commitment towards the development of tourism, and embarked upon agenda for the mechanised agricultural as well as solid minerals development being only alternative to tackle current economic position especially in the Northern part

of the country.

This has been a resolution contained in a communiqué issued after the meeting in which the stakeholders unanimously agreed that the state government should consider economic diversification as a necessary alternative to the drastic fall in the monthly federal allocation following crises in the International Oil Market.

The communiqué which specifically urged the state government to compliment

the mission of the world bank and Sokoto Rima River Basin Development Authority in effort to revive Bakolori Irrigation Project so that all year round rice production could be ensured.

On the Tourism development, the stakeholders were of the view for the state government to begin pathfinding for ways of reviving Kalale Lake, Kuyambana Game Reserve, Kwatarkwashi Mountain, Lake NATU and many other tourist

attraction centres with a view to making it formidable sources of more revenue for the state government.

It further urged the State government to set up an Economic Management Team (EMT) comprising Experts, Technocrats and elder statesmen of proven integrity that can track development in the state economy.

The forum also appealed to the State Government to expedite action to submit to the State

House of Assembly the proposed Ten Years State Strategic Development Plan as promised by the State Governor during the 2015 Budget Presentation.

While commending the State Government for recognising the contribution of the Civil Society Groups and media as partners in progress, the communiqué called on the state government to continue to sustain the mutual working relationship for the betterment of the people of the state.

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, APRIL 28, 2015

Stock Watch:

Monday, April 27, 2015

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Peoples Daily, TUesday, April 28, 2015

PAGE 24

Special Report

Unholy alliance: Is Islamic State strengthening Boko Haram?

I

mages posted on IS-linked social media accounts refer to Boko Haram as the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (Iswap) - a catchy name aimed at showing that it has expanded beyond the Middle East and North Africa.

IS accepted a pledge of allegiance from Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau in March, giving the group its first foothold in sub-Saharan Africa in its efforts to create a global caliphate.

The latest images glorify Boko Haram fighters, describing those killed in battle as martyrs.

Unlike most previous pictures of people Boko Haram claims as its members, the young men are not masked and their faces are clearly visible.

Growing alliance: Boko Haram has previously referred to itself as Iswap in its increasingly sophisticated propaganda material.

But it is unclear whether Mr Shekau approves of the namechange, in an organisation with a diffused leadership structure.

He still calls Boko Haram by its official name Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad, which in Arabic means “People Committed to the Propagation of the Prophet’s Teachings and Jihad”.

Boko Haram is a nickname, given to it by Nigerians when it was formed in 2002. In the regional Hausa language, Boko Haram means Western education is forbidden. It reflected what was then the

The Islamic State (IS) has released a new video, eulogising Nigeria’s Boko Haram, in the latest sign of closer ties between the two militant groups. main focus of the group.

If IS becomes more active in Boko Haram’s affairs, the group’s tactics could change and give the conflict in Nigeria a new dimension.

But Boko Haram has in recent months encountered a revitalised Nigerian army which, with the backing of regional forces, has regained dozens of towns in the northeast.

‘Toughest battle’ The jihadists have since retreated to the vast Sambisa forest - one of its last major hideouts.

However, it would be naive on the part of Nigeria’s authorities to think it is on the brink of victory.

Even before it began its quest to control territory last year, Boko Haram had already established itself as a deadly group, carrying out numerous attacks across northern Nigeria.

And Nigerian troops are

Its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, has accepted a pledge of allegiance from Boko Haram

Previous videos have not shown the faces of those claimed to be Boko Haram fighters already encountering a mineinfested forest, slowing down their offensive against the group.

It is likely that Boko Haram fighters understand the terrain of this expansive and largely dense forest better than the military does.

So the Nigerian military is likely to face its toughest battle yet. In the past, it made exaggerated claims of success and promises that it could not deliver on.

For instance, it promised to secure the freedom of the more than 200 Chibok girls captured by Boko Haram - and even announced that a ceasefire had been negotiated with the

militants to pave the way for their release.

More than a year later, the girls are still in captivity and fighting has continued, killing thousands of people and destroying whole villages in the north-east.

So, military officials have become more cautious in their public statements. They cannot afford to over-promise and under-deliver once again.

However, following the launch of an official Twitter feed for the Nigerian jihadist group Boko Haram in January, there have been multiple signs that the group’s media operation has been influenced by the expansionist Islamic State (IS,

formerly Isis or Isil).

The group, which refers to itself as Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad, had not previously maintained an established online channel for its propaganda or any official social media presence in any language.

But on 18 January, an Arabic-language Twitter account purporting to be the official outlet for a new Boko Haram media group called AlUrwah al-Wuthqa was launched and immediately promoted by key pro-IS media operatives.

Since then, the group has used the feed to publish a stream of propaganda, including

IS militants want to create a caliphate which stretches across the world several new videos, although there has been some disruption to its media activities following the suspension of the original account by Twitter.

Signs of Islamic State influence The increased sophistication and organisation of the propaganda that followed the launch of the Twitter account bore signs of the influence of IS, which has honed its social media exploitation over the past year.

This appeared to indicate that the group may have been assisted by IS media operatives,

or influenced by IS in an indirect way.

Boko Haram has followed the example of IS by publishing branded photographs of its militants and the areas under its control to illustrate its successes on the ground.

The Twitter feed has also been posting a stream of short statements about the group’s activities, claiming operations in a timely manner, in the mould of Islamic State’s oneline tweeted claims.

The videos released so far via the new Boko Haram Twitter account have been

more slickly crafted than the group’s standard grainy offerings, with professionally designed graphics and highquality opening sequences.

This improvement and the use of multiple languages and well-presented subtitles - using English, Arabic, French and Hausa - suggested the group may have had outside help from IS media operatives.

Arabic-language jihadist anthems have also been used, one of which has been routinely used in IS propaganda.

The latest video, showing the beheading of two Nigerian

“spies”, bore remarkable similarities to IS beheading videos. The staging, slow motion techniques and sound effects made the film look more like an IS production than a traditional Boko Haram video.

Another of the films was billed as the first in a series entitled Message from a Mujahid, which featured a militant from the group defending the group’s ideology, tactics and plans. IS itself has a series of videos with the same title featuring its militants speaking to camera.

Not as sophisticated as IS But despite the marked improvements in quality, Boko Haram’s overall media package remains some way off the sophistication of IS’ output.

Boko Haram has also been referring to itself repeatedly as an Islamic State or “Islamic State in West Africa”.

However, this did not suggest that Boko Haram was necessarily positioning itself as part of the wider IS caliphate.

The group is still using its traditional Arabic name to promote its material and its branding remains distinct from that of IS. Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau declared an “Islamic State” in northern Nigeria in August last year

and praised IS for its military advances the previous month.

But he has never spoken clearly about any ties between the two groups.

One of the strongest signs of Islamic State influence lies in the concerted efforts to promote the new Twitter feed by a senior pro-IS media operative, known on Twitter as Abu-Malik Shaybah al-Hamad, who claimed to have been in contact with the Boko Haram general command.

His apparent lines of communication with the Boko Haram leadership could point to a media cooperation link between IS and the Nigerian group, although Al-Hamad insisted that he had heard from the group’s leaders that it had “not yet” pledged allegiance to IS. Inconsistencies and disruption Since the launch of the Boko Haram Twitter account, there have been inconsistencies in the group’s media operation, suggesting that a lack of professionalism may persist among those responsible for publishing the group’s propaganda.

For example, a new video featuring Shekau giving a speech in Arabic appeared online on 9 February but was not distributed via the new

“

IS accepted a pledge of allegiance from Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau in March, giving the group its first foothold in sub-Saharan Africa in its efforts to create a global caliphate Boko Haram focused on bombings and assassinations before starting to seize territory

Boko Haram continue to mount attacks northern Nigeria, including on this bus in Potiskum in February

Twitter feed.

The video’s Arabic-language credits contained a number of serious spelling mistakes, including the name of the group itself and its new media group Al-Urwah al-Wuthqa, and the overall quality was far lower than the videos released via the Twitter account.

Boko Haram’s new Twitter feed has also suffered disruption.

The account has been suspended a number of times, reappearing swiftly but without the original tweets.

Despite general improvements in the timeliness of its output, there have been delays in publishing some videos. The latest beheading video came out five days after being trailed, while an earlier film entitled Ubat al-Daym (Refusers of Injustice) was officially released with a delay of two weeks.

Since the original Twitter account was suspended, the feed has been less prolific.

Links between Boko Haram and Islamic State The exact nature of any connection between Boko Haram and Islamic State remains unclear.

In a recent edition of its English-language magazine Dabiq, IS acknowledged having received pledges of allegiance from jihadists in Nigeria.

But it made no mention of Boko Haram or any other group and indicated that further conditions needed to be met before IS would consider announcing an official branch in the country.

For its part, Boko Haram has included excerpts from IS leadership messages in its own propaganda videos.

But there has been no evidence of any formal ties between the two groups, and while the signs of media cooperation have been compelling, they remain inconclusive.

Source: BBC

PAGE 26

Feature

“We will not forget Garissa.”

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his statement summarises the mood in Kenya three weeks after the attack on Garissa University College in the north-east of the country, which killed 148 people.

Ever since the country’s first major terror attack - the 1998 bombing of the US embassy in Nairobi - Kenyans have stoically absorbed the impact of each assault with a three-step reaction: Shock, anger, and then a shrug.

‘Defiant church’ First there is shock at the audacity of the attackers.

Then there is anger that the attack was not prevented or at least responded to speedily by the security forces.

And finally there is a shrug of the shoulders and all is forgotten - until terror strikes again.

However, the attack on Garissa has changed everything.

There is an active campaign to ensure that Garissa is not forgotten and actually marks a turning point.

The church in Kenya is fighting back.

Since the attack, Sunday sermons have adopted a message of defiance.

‘Spiritual warfare’ On the radio a few days ago, I heard one prominent bishop tell his congregation to stand strong in the face of attacks by the militant Islamists.

The bishop explained how he had been contacted by a Canadian journalist who wanted his reaction to news that a number of Kenyan Christians are now opting to learn the shahada, which is the Muslim proclamation of faith, just in case they are caught up in an attack.

His response and advice to his followers was simple: “Stand by your faith.”

The Garissa massacre was the deadliest attack by al-Shabab in Kenya During a recent memorial

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, APRIL 28, 2015

Garissa attack: How it has changed Kenya

In our series of letters from Africa, Joseph Warungu senses a new wind blowing across Kenya following the attack by Somalia-based al-Shabab militants on Garissa university earlier this month

A student mourning the death of her colleagues

“

Ever since the country’s first major terror attack - the 1998 bombing of the US embassy in Nairobi - Kenyans have stoically absorbed the impact of each assault with a three-step reaction: Shock, anger, and then a shrug.

service for the victims of the Garissa University attack, which was broadcast live on radio, one

the country’s socio-economic growth and stability by attacking the future professionals.

And in deliberately isolating Christians it aimed to force a religious divide.

The Kenyan church has therefore collectively gone on its

knees to seek divine intervention.

And it is pushing political leaders to take a stand.

‘Political suicide’ The country is sailing in unchartered waters and everyone is desperate for a solution to prevent another Garissa.

Those who survived fled Garissa, fearing another attack religious leader after another said the same thing: “Enough is enough”.

One cleric said that although the Christian faith teaches them to turn the other cheek when attacked, “we’ve now run out of cheeks.”

The church in Kenya wants to redefine the war on terror.

It is not just an attack on innocent people. It is not a military

combat.

It is not a political fight. It is spiritual warfare.

‘Divine intervention’ Kenyans’ reaction is different now because the Garissa attack was different.

In killing the youth, the militants wanted to kill Kenya’s future by destroying the parents of tomorrow.

It was also aimed at disrupting

Satellite image of Garissa versity

Kenya is a multi-faith nation.

Muslims, who comprise 11% of the population, sit side-by-side with Christians.

Hindus, Sikhs and many other faiths also have space at the table.

It would therefore be political suicide for any leader to attempt any kind of campaign that divides people on religious grounds.

And with just two years to the next general election, the timing is awkward.

Indeed one goal of the militants is to incite religious hatred.

‘Thriving in corruption’ But in neighbouring Somalia, the majority of those who die at their hands are Muslims.

The Kenyan security crisis is therefore complex and defies cosmetic solutions.

At a military and administrative level, President Uhuru Kenyatta has taken a stand.

He has pledged to keep Kenyan military boots on Somalia soil.

He has also appointed a new man, with hopefully new ideas, to lead the Kenya Defence Forces.

At citizen level, Kenyans entering public buildings including schools, offices and churches continue to dutifully submit themselves to routine security checks at the entrance.

On the spiritual front, Muslim religious leaders have closed ranks with their Christian counterparts to display a united and determined face against terror.

But terrorism has a welcome home in other realms.

The youth with open minds and idle hands who see no hope and no future in a country of massive inequalities and high unemployment will continue to be easy candidates for recruitment.

Terrorism also has a great appetite for corruption.

It thrives in corrupt systems that conveniently look the other way as the ingredients of terror are prepared for deployment.

A country where many leaders and policy-makers believe in a manifesto of “my stomach shall prevail” will always be vulnerable.

So, will there be another Garissa?

Sadly, yes.

Garissa university campus 1. Militants enter the university grounds, two guards are shot dead 2. Shooting begins within the campus 3. Students attacked in their classrooms while preparing for exams 4. Gunmen believed isolated in the female dormitories 5. Some students make an escape through the fence Source: BBC

PAGE 27

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, APRIL 28, 2015

Defence

Nigerian army detains 10 counter terrorism police officers

T

en counter-terrorism police officers attached to the Nigeria army peacekeeping forward operation base in Abuja are currently unlawfully detained at a military barrack in Gwagwalada, Abuja a report has alleged.

The personnel were locked up since Tuesday without food and medical care for refusing to wear military fatigues for an operation they feared could be illegal.

According to the detainees, they were alledely detained on the instruction of a Colonel Kal eja y e , h e a d o f t h e a rm y forward operation base, because they refused his directive to “impersonate” soldiers by wearing their uniforms for training in Kaduna State.

Some of the detainees told PREMIUM TIMES the Colonel wanted to send them for training at War College, Jaji, Kaduna State, without the knowledge of the Nigeria police authority that deployed them in the first instance.

One of the policemen said he and his colleagues were kept in a cell without food or water for three days, and that they were denied health care.

“We told them that as policemen, we are not entitled to wear military uniforms, unless, we need a corporate signal from our IGP or our authority at force headquarters, that will enable us to go for the operation,” he said.

“Even as I’m talking to you, our luggages are in Jaji now, so we told the Colonel that, as a policeman, we have our own law, you have your law, and we cannot do anything without signal.”

The source said after their complaint, the colonel gave an order that they be moved to the police headquarters in Abuja.

Midway, they were instead taken to an army barrack in Gwagwalada, called Special Force barrack, 172 battalion.

“From there, they now moved us to Gwagwalada in one bush, and the barrack is under construction.

So when we got there, we said

we are not entering into this cell except a senior police officer is here with a detention order.

“Before we knew it, they mobilized more troops about 50, with arms, and started molesting us, beating us, to the extent that some of our men were wounded, some complained that they have ulcer, they did not answer. They just packed all of us inside the cell, no toilet, no food, where we are sleeping is where we pee,” he told PREMIUM TIMES. The police officers were part of the team sent to Russia for counter terrorism training, this paper understands.

Since their return December 2014, they had been camped at the UN peace-keeping camp in Abuja, before they were given instructions to dress as soldiers for training.

The officers were nominated by the National Security Adviser’s office for the Russian course. The latest returnees were the third batch, numbering between 45 or 46. Only 10 were asked to wear uniforms.

PREMIUM TIMES could

not establish the exact details of the training or assignment in Jaji. Pressed on the nature of assignment they were instructed by the army to go for, the police officers, who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES, said.

“Because we don’t know that is why we insist(ed) that the police authority must be aware before we proceed for any movement or put on military uniform because we believe that wearing army uniform without approval is tantamount to impersonation, illegal and unconstitutional,” he said.

The spokesperson for the Nigeria Police, Emmanuel Ojukwu, confirmed that the police were aware of the matter and were investigating it.

“We are aware and we are looking into it, that’s all I can say, “Mr. Ojukwu said on the phone, before abruptly ending the call.

This paper could not reach the Army spokesperson, Sani Usman, a colonel, as repeated calls to his telephone lines were unanswered.

Chief of Army Staff, General Kenneth Minimah

… As right group berates army

A

rights group, Committee for Democracy and Rights of the People, CDRP, has described as “unlawful, unwarranted and totally unacceptable” the detention of ten counter-terrorism police officers attached to the Nigeria Army peacekeeping operation in Abuja.

PREMIUM TIMES had exclusively reported the detention of 10 counter terrorism police officers since Tuesday without adequate care for refusing to wear military fatigues for an operation they feared could be illegal.

According to the detainees who spoke with this paper, they

were detained on the instruction of a Colonel Kalejaye, head of the army forward operation base, because they refused his directive to “impersonate” soldiers by wearing their uniforms for training in Kaduna State.

Speaking to PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday, the Acting National coordinator of CDRP, Saka Waheed, said the detainees are human and citizens of Nigeria before they are police officers and whatever crime they may have committed in the eyes of Nigeria Army they should be treated based on Nigerian laws.

“The detention of the policemen is a confirmation of institution

disagreement and self-serving superiority of one outfit over another” Saka said.

“What is the offence of these officers that warrant detention without due clearance from the Force Headquarters? Who authorised their deployment to Jaji?

“Why take them to a military base in Gwagwalada instead of force headquarters? So many questions begging for answer.

“Their detention even raises an institutional culpability on the part of Nigeria Police,” it said while calling for the immediate and unconditional release of the ten officers.

“We also implore the Nigerian police and Nigeria army and by extension all other paramilitary to synergize their operations for effective security of nation” Mr. Saka said.

After his earlier confirmation of the detention of the police officers, the police spokesperson, Emmanuel Ojukwu, on Saturday told PREMIUM TIMES that the police was still investigating the detention. The Army spokesperson, Sani Usman, who has refused to comment on the matter, referred all enquiries to Mr. Ojukwu.

Culled from PREMUIM TIMES

Army retires 31 generals from service

By Joy Baba-Yesufu

T

he Nigerian Army over the weekend pulled out 31 Generals from Service and also called for the archiving of the experiences gathered in the ongoing counterterrorism and counter-insurgency operations against Boko Haram in the North East.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Kenneth Minimah by the Army Chief of Policy and Plans, Maj-Gen. Ugo Buzugbe, speaking during the Pulling Out Ceremony at Mogadishu Cantonment, Abuja, urged serving Officers to imbibe the virtue of loyalty to the nation being exemplified by the retiring officers.

He said the ceremony was to honour some of their colleagues who were retiring after serving meritoriously adding that it was a thing of pride to have joined the army served meritorious, and retiring hale and hearty in one piece.

According to him, the ceremony was to honour some of their colleagues who were retiring after serving meritoriously.

“As long as we have conflict that will demand the military involved some of us are ready to pay the supreme price as that is what service in the army is all about”.

“The only way to surmount the roughness of the profession, because it is rough most of the time, is by training and being professional on the job, this is sacrifice that requires loyalty, commitment and hard work.

Service in the military is service to humanity because it is only the profession that you pay the supreme price” On behalf of the retired officers, Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Bassey (Rtd) said there is indeed no substitute to sound professionalism in the conduct of your duties, no matter its nature or degree of importance.

The current security challenge that the Nigerian Army currently faces comes to mind as we retired officers follow the trend of events that affect our constituency-the military.

He said the army must therefore sustain the current momentum and put this difficult moment of our national history behind calling on officers to remain loyal and to be extra vigilant always and that they must demonstrate total commitment to their duty to the nation irrespective of the circumstances. 17 Major Generals and 14 Brigadier Generals were pulled out on the occasion.

PAGE 28

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, APRIL 28, 2015

Agriculture Agrobusiness: Transcorp’s Teragro signs MOUs Akwa with Benue state government on citrus farming Ibom fishermen urge Mobil to clean up oil spill

By Doyin Ojosipe

T

F

ishermen in Ibeno, Akwa Ibom, have urged Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN) Unlimited to urgently clean up the oil spill which occurred from its facility in the area on April 19.

The sp o ke sp e rso n o f t h e fishermen, Mr Johnson Harry, made the call at Ibeno in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday.

The spill from MPN’s Qua Iboe Terminal (QIT), Ibeno, discharged crude into the Atlantic shoreline, c overi ng 15 .7 ki l o m et re s i n Mkpanak and environs.

Harry said that since the spillage occurred, the company had yet to commence the clean-up.

He urged the company to ensure that the clean-up was thorough and met international standards.

The spokesperson said that the spill had caused some damage to the ecosystem and had deprived fishermen in the area of their only source of livelihood.

“We want MPN to do a satisfactory job this time. We don’t want a situation where they will engage some local companies or a group of youths just to pick water sachets along the shoreline.

“Right from the 2008 oil spill till date, there has not been any proper clean-up of spill site by MPN; I doubt whether they will act differently this time,” he said.

On his part, Mr Ogechukwu Udeagha, MPN’s Manager (Media and Communication), said that the multi-national had “observed intermittent patches of an oil-based substance along the shoreline of Ibeno beach.”

Udeagha added: ``Internal investigations indicate that the NNPC/MPN joint venture facilities have been operating normally. ``We continue to work with the relevant authorities to investigate the possible source. ``An emergency response team was immediately dispatched by joint venture operations to the shoreline and samples of the substance collected for fingerprint analysis to determine its source.’’

He further said that the co mpany w as c ommit t ed t o maintaining safety, health and environmental standards in its operations.

NAN

he Agribusiness subsidiary of Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc (Transcorp), Teragro Commodities Limited has revealed plans to partner with the Benue state government on production of citrus.

According to Transcorp, the company has signed a Memorandum Of Understanding with the state government to lease lands which will be used in large scale farming of the citrus fruits.

Managing Director and CEO, Teragro, Mrs. Dupe Olusola who explained that the company

has been into processing of oranges and mangoes for local consumption also said, that the signing of the agreement, represents an expansion of Teragro’s current operations in Benue State, which had previously been focused in Makurdi.

Olushola also said that the company is ready to help Nigeria tap into the opportunities presented by agribusiness while earning high revenue from agricultural produce as it was discovered with crude oil.

In her words, “The untapped opportunities in agriculture are huge and we are committed to ensuring that Nigeria can once

again generate high revenues from agriculture as it did before the discovery of oil. The new farming land will ensure we can do our part to bring those untapped opportunities to fruition.”

The state’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Donald Gbugho who signed on behalf of the State Government including the Permanent Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Neeyum Tsavnum said it was another great move for the Benue people as far as agricultural development is concerned.

He also thanked the company for unbelievable concern showed

towards the people of the state by creating jobs to tackle community youth unemployment.

He said, “Teragro has contributed immensely to growth in Benue State. They first addressed community and youth unemployment by creating jobs and now, the company is taking a step forward by beginning proper farming, through expert agricultural investors who are standing by with improved varieties of oranges, which the Ushongo people and Benue State at-large can benefit from. This is truly a significant step in the development of agriculture in Benue and in Nigeria.”

A typical tomatoe market

Commercial Agriculture: 2, 516 farmers benefit from project in Kaduna, says Commissioner

By Doyin Ojosipe with agency port

N

ot less than 2, 516 farmers have reportedly benefited from various services under the Commercial Agriculture Development Project (CADP) in Kaduna State says state, Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Isaac Bodam.

While noting that the state has done well in production of maize, he said, the project was meant to promote and support three value

chains which are, fruits dairy and maize in the areas of production, processing and marketing.

In his words, “The mandate of commercial agriculture project in the state is to promote and support three value chains namely: dairy, fruit and maize in the areas of production, processing and marketing.

“It is therefore of interest that the state has done fairly well in the area of maize production with a total of 2, 516 farmers as direct beneficiaries that cultivated 12, 717

hectares in the past three years.

“They also recorded an average yield increase from 2.2 tonnes/ha to 3.5 tonnes/ha.”

The state commissioner, who expressed satisfaction with the realignment and restructuring of the programme for two more years, in order to increase the number of beneficiaries, however maintained that not many of the farmers have benefitted in the areas of fruits and dairy chain. ``In the areas of dairy and fruits value chains, not many of the

farmers have benefited Speaking in a review meeting of the project Friday, He said it was important the youths in the rural areas benefit from the project to enable them create and sustain self employment and economic prosperity The Programme Manager, Abdulkadir Kassim further said that the programme had been restructured and extended by two years to focus more on issues of processing, packaging and marketing.

Small farm owners to benefit from IFAD’s N1.5b funds

By Doyin Ojosipe with agency report

T

he International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has said that small farm owners who are into production of production of rice and cassava are meant to benefit from the N1.5 billion fund set

aside for small farmers.

The IFAD Country Portfolio Manager, Mrs Atsoko Toda said the organization had decided to focus on rice and cassava because of their increased capacity to increase total volume of food available to the people.

Toda revealed that the use of processors will be encouraged to

produce polished stone free rice in order to encourage Nigerians patronize rice produced in the country Speaking at a two day workshop held to train small holder farmers, she said that apart from the funds being available to small farmers to enable them access fertilizers and agro chemicals including

improved cuttings and certified rice seeds, the funds are also meant to train small farmers on sustainable agricultural practices and techniques, adding that they will also learn how to add value to rice and cassava productions in order to bring about income, wealth creation and to possibly provide jobs for youths.

Page 29

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, APRIL 28, 2015

Agriculture

News analysis: appraising Federal Government’s commitment to farming

By Naomi Sharang

U

narguably, the recent release of N26 billion by the Federal Government for the 2015 dry season farming programme in the country is a boost to agricultural sector.

President Goodluck Jonathan, who announced the release during the 2015 Agrifest in Abuja, said that the funding was to further empower farmers to produce more food for the nation.

He also said that government would expand irrigation facilities across the country, observing that dry season farming had changed the fortunes of farmers, especially in the northern parts of the country.

Jonathan observed that the Federal Government had transformed agriculture as the country was producing more food than ever before.

According to him, Nigeria’s national food production has expanded by 21 million metric tonnes within the past three years while the food import bill has declined from N1.1 trillion in 2009 to N634 billion in 2013.

To further boost food production in the country, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, recently said that the grassroots had been sensitised to the current advocacy by the government to create wealth via viable farming.

He said that the Federal

Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development would work closely with all states government to ensure capacity-building for the farmers at the grassroots.

Attesting to this assertion, some of farmers in the grassroots said that they had benefited immensely from the Federal Government’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA).

Malam Mustapha, a cotton farmer in Katsina State, said that the Federal Government had tremendously supported farmers in the state. ``In the first year of the ATA, farmers were getting three bags of fertiliser per hectares,’’ he said.

This feat notwithstanding, Mustapha observed that the rural farmers did not have enough market for their produce. ``Our problem is that we have the cotton but nobody is interested in buying it; this is the biggest worry of any farmer,’’ he said in an interview.

Sharing similar sentiments,

“

another farmer, Malam Sulaiman, called on government to support farmers in creating market for their produce.

Apart from these challenges, observers note that in spite of the success of ATA, prices of foodstuff have continued to increase.

A trader in Abuja, Mr Henry Igwe, attributed the increase in the prices of foodstuff to the inability of youths to embrace full scale agriculture and poor access roads to grassroots farms.

In perceptible response to this, Akinwumi said: ``Today, our youths are busy on the farms, growing food in the wet season and the dry season. ``We have improved food security of 40 million persons in rural farm households. There is new lease of life and vibrancy all across our rural areas. ``Between 2012 and 2014, Nigerian farmers produced an additional 21 million metric tonnes of food, exceeding the 2015 target of 20 million metric

tonnes. ``More than three million farm jobs have been created as youths who used to go from the north to work in the south, often as labourers’ or night guards, don’t do that anymore.’’

In his view, Dr Abdu Omar, the Director for ATA in Katsina, said that the bureaucracy in government activities was becoming a big challenge to the success of the programme.

According to him, the programme is threatened by bureaucracy that causes delayed delivery of inputs, especially in the seed and fetiliser sector of the programme. ``Inputs that are supposed to get to farmers in February or March may not come till June or July, long after farmers may have used alternative resources,’’ he said in an interview.

Irrespective of complaints, agricultural and industrial analysts commend Nigeria’s ATA programmes for stimulating

To further boost food production in the country, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, recently said that the grassroots had been sensitised to the current advocacy by the government to create wealth via viable farming.

awareness about the existing potential of Nigeria’s food and agricultural value chains.

They observe that Nigeria requires major sustained investment and a longer period to fix its infrastructure and modify its agricultural policies to grow a world class agricultural sector.

They also commend the activities of the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme as one of the many critical components of ATA. According to them, the scheme is to provide affordable agricultural inputs such as fertiliser and hybrid seeds to farmers to increase their yields.

They observe further that the thrust of the scheme is to enhance the capacity of the farmers who cannot afford a bag of fertiliser and seedlings. `` With good planning and the needed resources, Nigeria has what it takes to multiply its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) just with cassava products alone,’’ they observe.

All in all, concerned stakeholders in agriculture hold the belief that if the Federal Government continues in solving the problems of farmers, by 2020, the country will witness a gross decrease in the importation of foodstuff.

(NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, APRIL 28, 2015

Feature

Page 30

Togo election: Will Gnassingbe dynasty retain power?

President Faure Gnassingbe is looking to continue his family’s 48-year rule of Togo in elections on Saturday, 10 years after violence marred the handover of power from his father.

Organisers hope to avoid the violence that flared after the 2005 poll

A

lthough still seen as the favourite, he may face a bigger challenge than in

the past.

Who are the main candidates?

• Faure Gnassingbe Eyadema (Union for the Republic) Faure Gnassingbe, 48, has been in power since his father Gnassingbe Eyadema died in office in 2005 after ruling Togo with an iron fist for 38 years.

His campaign has been stressing Togo’s recent respectable economic record, as well as his government’s extensive infrastructure projects, especially road construction.

• Jean-Pierre Fabre (Combat for Political Leadership Change in 2015)

benefits have mainly gone to a wealthy minority, while most ordinary Togolese still suffer from high poverty and unemployment rates.

2011 statistics show 58% of the population lived on less than a dollar a day, and while official figures put the jobless rate at 6%, many believe the actual figure is much higher.

Unemployment disproportionately affects the young, who make up a rapidly growing percentage of Togo’s population.

Is the vote likely to go smoothly?

Observers believe the main contest is between President Faure Gnassingbe (r) and Jean-Pierre Fabre (l) An economics graduate and former newspaper editor, Jean-Pierre Fabre started his political career in the opposition movement against Gnassingbe Eyadema, and unsuccessfully stood against Faure Gnassingbe in 2010.

Campaigning at the head of a coalition of opposition parties, he has promised to end what he calls officials’ impunity, corruption and disregard for the law, and to use the proceeds of economic growth to reduce widespread unemployment and fund improved public services.

• Aime Tchaboure Gogue (Alliance of Democrats for Integral Development) • Gerry Taama (New Togolese Commitment) • Mouhamed Tchassona Traore (Patriotic Movement

Jean-Pierre Fabre supporters hope he can improve on the 34% of the vote he received in 2010 for Democracy and Development) What are their chances?

No opinion polls are published, but most observers think the election will be a two-horse race between Faure Gnassingbe and Jean-Pierre Fabre.

In 2010, official results gave Faure Gnassingbe victory, with 61% of the vote

“

With Faure Gnassingbe, Togo is “on the way to progress”, according to his posters

The 2005 elections were overshadowed by fraud allegations and violent protests which left at least 400 people dead.

Five years later, the opposition unsuccessfully contested official results that handed Mr Gnassingbe a second term, while international observers judged it “acceptable”.

Last year, opposition protests failed to bring about constitutional changes limiting the president to two terms in office - a move that would have prevented Mr

against 34% for Mr Fabre.

Although the president is again the firm favourite, many observers think the result could be closer this time.

What are the main issues?

Togo’s GDP has more than doubled since 2005 and economic growth reached 5.6% in 2014.

But critics say the

Many young Togolese get by with low-paid jobs or go abroad for work

Gnassingbe from standing.

Western observers see it as encouraging that, so far, the campaign has been peaceful.

The president of Togo is elected by universal adult suffrage for a fiveyear term. About 3.5 million people are entitled to vote. To win, a candidate has to come first among all candidates in a single round of voting; he or she does not need to gain more than 50% of the vote, and there is no second round.

How does the vote work?

The president of Togo is elected by universal adult suffrage for a five-year term.

About 3.5 million people are entitled to vote.

To win, a candidate has to come first among all candidates in a single round of voting; he or she does not need to gain more than 50% of the vote, and there is no second round.

The West African regional bloc Ecowas and the African Union are deploying observers.

The election was postponed from 15 April in response to allegations of irregularities on the electoral register.

Source: BBC

PAGE 31

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, APRIL 28, 2015

Petrol: Black market boom amid persisting scarcity in Abuja Feature

By Stanley Onyekwere

T

here is no gain saying that as the persisting fuel scarcity continues taking its toll on the residents of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), some seasonal illegal fuel hawkers besieging the streets are smiling to the bank, following a boom in the ‘black marketing’ of the product.

Overtime, there has been rapid increase in number of petrol hawkers, who are catching on the development to make brisk business, by servicing motorists lacking the patience who cannot wait to buy the product, after waiting on the long queues at the few petrol stations having the scarce commodity.

Peoples Daily observed that since the scarcity started two weeks ago, a lot of hawkers have flooded virtually all the streets of the nation’s capital, selling product to desperate motorists, in search of the product.

Recall that despite the conclusion of the keenly contested 2015 general elections in the country, the persisting long fuel queues that resurfaced at petrol stations in Abuja; have further bolstered activities in the petrol black market, just as it widens commuters’ groans, as the situation continues biting tougher on traffic system in the Territory.

Further checks revealed that

A petrol hawker discharging the content of his ten litre- gallon into the car of a customer. just petrol filling stations within the city and those owned by some major marketers in the outskirts of the FCT sold petrol at the stipulated N87 per litre.

Expectedly, illegal hawkers of petrol in jerry cans cashed in on the scarcity and sold the product between N170 and N200

per litre. For instance, 4 litre and 10 litre gallons are sold at N1,000 and N2,000, respectively.

And these prices could be or bit less, depending on the buyer’s bargaining power and knowledge of how business is carried out in the oil black market sector.

And for whatever reason,

Some commuters stranded in near Edo line, along Arab-Jabi axis, in Utako District.

activities of these illegal hawkers of petrol have been allowed to continue around empty filling petrol stations in the city; including even areas, where government offices like the Police Head Quarters and a garden beside FCT minister’s office, in Area 11, Garki District of the FCT.

A taxi driver, Emma Oke who was seen on a long queue at the NNPC mega station in Central Area of the metropolis, lamented that he had spent more than four hours on the queue, just to buy the product.

“I joined this queue in the last four hours from inside Wuse Zone one and I don’t even know when it will get to my turn. ‘’We had thought that this fuel scarcity will fizzle out in a matter of days, but for three weeks now, the fuel queues have persisted.

“Some of us the commercial driver who buys the product every day, now spend precious hours on the queue under the harsh sun the buy this product.

“But I hope it will not continue in this era of ‘change’ as promised the incoming administration,” he stressed.

However, a petrol black marker, who hawks the product along the Ahmadu Bello way by Banex junction, Wuse 2, said he craves for the continuity of the scarcity.

This is because, according to him, the scarcity had provided the opportunity of making some good money on the daily basis selling the product. ‘’Since the beginning of this scarcity, I make 8 to 10 thousand on daily basis, after settling the people that I need to settle.

“Some of these ‘big men’ don’t have the time to join queue to but fuel, so they prefer to buy from us Continued on page 33

PAGE 32

Photo Splash

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, APRIL 28, 2015

Gbagyi women coming back from farm, recently at Gwagwalada, in Abuja.

Business activities on a major road, on Saturday at Mararaba.

A vulcanizer on the move, on Saturday at Apo mechanic village, in Abuja.

Local magicians entertaining guests, during the public function, recently in Tudun Wada along Abuja-Keffi Road.

Mechanics on duty, recently, at Apo mechanic village, in Abuja.

Photos: Mahmud Isa

PAGE 33

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, APRIL 28, 2015

Metro

Petrol: Black market boom amid persisting scarcity in Abuja

Continued from page 32

no matter the cost, because they believed that time is money.

In the same vein, a motorist spotted while patronizing a petrol hawker, said that he had resorted to buying “in the black market’’ for the past since the return of the scarcity in the FCT. He decried that the government has not been able to resolve the issues that always result to scarcity.

Continuing, he says: “I wonder how these black marketers are getting the product, because fuel stations kept telling us that they don’t have the product, but they kept selling to people with jerry cans whom they have mutual arrangements. ‘’In the past few weeks, I have been compelled to change my fuel pump and other parts in my car, as a result of the bad fuel that I bought along the road in Garki recently.

“We have had enough of the scarcity; government should help us overcome this suffering. People now spend precious hours to buy fuel for car and for generators because there is no constant power supply.”

However, checks revealed that at most of the petrol stations selling the product within the city centre visited recently, motorists were trapped in long queues, with their vehicles blocking the entire road, thereby forcing other motorists to drive against the traffic, resulting to hitches on vehicular and human movement in the affected areas.

Checks revealed that at most of the petrol stations selling the product within the city centre visited recently, motorists were trapped in long queues, with their vehicles blocking the entire road, thereby forcing other motorists to drive against the traffic, resulting to hitches on vehicular and human movement in the affected areas.

Some boys hawking petrol in jerry-cans attending to a motorist, by a major roadside along the Nnamdi Azikiwe expressway, in Abuja.

Unsurprisingly, just as the persisting scarcity extends, many commuters are left stranded at various bus-stops due of lack of commercial vehicles, while the few onesstill plying the road jerked up their fare by more than 50 per cent.

Many observers attributed the current hike in transport fare in theFCT to motorists in the city having to queue for hours at petrolfilling stations in an unending search of petrol, resulting to fewercommercial vehicles on the road, leaving commuters stranded in the metropolis.

Notwithstanding, it was

gathered that the scarcity was caused by refusal oftanker drivers to lift petrol product from various depots, due totheir better experiences in states where there were pockets ofviolenceduring the just concluded gubernatorial and State Assembly elections,leading to loss of their trucks and products in the process.

It would be recalled that the fuel queue vanished from the fillingstations immediately after March 28 Presidential and Parliamentaryelections, but returned few days to the just concluded April 11 polls.

Some petrol hawkers making brisk business at a notorious black market spot along Bannex plaza axis, in Wuse II, Abuja.

And the queue, which reemerged in handful petrol outlets- like a widefire has continued to spreadthrough the city.

It was observed that most of the filling stations that were havingfuel before the Easter Holiday had become withered, as the April elections approached further.

Narrating their ordeals, a cross section of the motorists told Peoples Daily that they werehaving difficult time at filling stations, before they could get fuelto purchase the product.

For some motorists, to avoid the hardship from having queue in search of thescarce product, they always resort to visiting fuel outlets outside the Abujametropolis, especially those situated along Zuba-Gwagwalada Road, Abuja-Lokoja Expressway and Abuja-Keffi Expressway, where the productare found with less struggle.

They however, bemoaned that most petrol outlets, especially in Zuba, Masaka, Suleija and even as far as Keffi, are still selling at a very exorbitant prices between N110 andN120 per litre, which is far above the regulated pump price rate.

Another motorist, Eze Hope, who resides in Garki Village, said ever since long queue resurfaced at petrol stations in Abuja, in order for him to buy petrol, he wakes up as early as 3:30 a.m. every day to join the queue at a ConOil petrol station opposite the NNPC towers in Central Area of the city. He bemoaned that in spite of having

to constantly deny himself enough sleeping time, in order to be make it early at the filling station for petrol, he ends up wasting no fewer than 5 hours to finally buy the product.

It is disheartening that for the past a week plus, I have been denying myself adequate sleeping time, in search of petrol, still I end up getting to office very late.

“For whatever reason, the fuel scarcity is biting harder especially in the city, as the number of filling stations having and selling the product keeps declining.

“This is why stakeholders especially the government should please ensure to urgently intervene, before the situation gets out of hand,” he pleaded In the same vein, a motorist, Uko Emmanuel, who was seen on a long queue at AA Rano filling station in AYA, Asokoro District, said he previous night meanderedround filling stations in Utako and Gwarinpa Estate, but could not getpetrol as most of them refused to sell.

“We have these black markers having the petrol in abundance while we the motorists with our vehicles either lacking the commodity or get trapped at the filling stations, all because it seemed to be nowhere to be found.

“Severally, I have witnessed these men selling petrol in jerry cans just walked into a jam packed petrol station, and get the product supplied to them with ease after tipping off the pump attendants there, while many of us on the queue just watched haplessly,” he added.

PAGE 34

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, APRIL 28, 2015

Money Sense

How to find the perfect business partner

Q

: I have a great idea for a business, but I’m young and I don’t have a business background. I’d like to find a business partner who can bring that knowledge to my business so I can be the idea/visionary guy. Where do I start looking for a business partner?

A: You get brownie points right off the bat for realizing that you can benefit from experience.

In order to persuade someone to sign on and share their experience, you’ll need to meet them, get them to trust you and demonstrate your willingness to listen, learn and make good on your commitments.

There are a million places to meet business partners, but you want the ones most likely to bear fruit, so think from the end forward.

• Where do you already

have trust and credibility that you could parlay into contacts?

• Do you have hobbies or nonbusiness interests where you have credibility and could ask people for an introduction?

Networking through people you have a relationship with is one of the best ways to find potential partners. Personal introductions carry a certain level of trust, so start searching for introductions to likely partners. Let people close to you know that you’re looking for a partner. Ask for introductions. People are often willing to share their networks when it seems like a “win-win” for everyone involved.

Part of building trust is treating others with respect.

So when someone opens his or her card file to introduce you, make sure to follow up with the

introducer. Send a thank-you card the next day, preferably handwritten on expensive paper.

Then jot a note in your calendar to call back a few weeks later and let your introducer know the results of the contact.

Your personal network is a good source of introductions, but the local business community also has resources to offer. Your local business paper will have a calendar of networking events. Check them out and start searching for your prospective partner. A Chamber of Commerce can be a good place to meet businesspeople, as can specialized networking groups.

For example, the Center for Women and Enterprise is a great group in Boston where women can network and find mentors.

If you identify someone specific you’d like as your

partner, ask your network for introductions. You would be surprised how often you’re just a couple of introductions away from almost anyone. One entrepreneur wanted to meet one of the richest men in the world to fund his company. It took eight months of nurturing relationships and asking for introductions, but he got the meeting, made the sale and now has a board member so prominent that he can attract virtually anyone else to his venture.

If you don’t already have a business network that knows you’re credible, consider networking through volunteer organizations. Nonprofits and trade organizations are eager for competent volunteers. Show up, do good work and you’ll establish credibility with the

Instead of building our ideal custom website for big bucks, we put up a Squarespace site -- and invested just a few hours into doing so. Instead of spending money on marketing, we went to trade shows to network -- often finding ways to attend for free.

When testing new concepts that required ad spend, like Google Adwords for example, we would build $5 campaigns instead of $500 campaigns.

We were able to learn from our mistakes at a lower cost and stay dynamic.

Being flexible is better than being right Influencer marketing was

brand new and basically untested when we first started the company two years ago. Whatever longterm commitments we made -- a lease, building technology, signing up for a SaaS tool; we asked if it would still be useful if we pivoted in another direction and how quickly could we recoup the cost if not.

Always staying flexible allowed us to be dynamic and adapt with emerging market trends.

Build a smart team At first, we didn’t have the funds or the resources to attract experienced talent. We started by hiring people who could quickly

learn a task and solve problems.

The result for us was a team that took a very fresh approach to some of the ad industry’s oldest rituals and problems. We learned as we went, and team members were quickly switching and taking on new roles based on skill and performance. By hiring people who could handle any challenge or task thrown at them, we were able to keep our core team strong as the market changed and shifted.

Be passionate, and start networking In business, it’s important to hang with the right crowd.

These people can be board

other volunteers and with the organization’s board.

When people experience your results firsthand, it’s a powerful relationship-builder.

While I highly recommend getting involved in nonprofits you’re passionate about, for the purposes of meeting a prospective partner, volunteer for organizations likely to give you contact with the kind of people who can help with your venture. This is a relationshipbuilding initiative and should be treated as part of your business efforts.

Once you’ve found a prospective partner, it’s time to shift into romance mode. Find out what’s important to that person and begin getting them psyched about your venture. Demonstrate that you produce results, respond to them quickly and listen to their advice.

Once you’ve found them, help them meet their own goals through going into business with you. It may take awhile to find the perfect person, but there’s no substitute for having strong experience on your team from its day of conception. www.

LeadershipDecisionworks. com

...and how to build a successful startup and keep it afloat

By Eric Dahan

T

he business world is in a constant state of evolution.

From fledgling startups to well-established ventures, companies today need to be ready to pivot as unpredictable markets could demand a shift in a business model. At times, it can seem difficult (even impossible) to weather these extraneous forces -- especially as a new venture. Here, tips on how to start your company in the face of uncertainty and keep it going come what may.

Act small, dream big When starting a new venture in an emerging market or with an untested model, it’s important to keep costs as close to zero as possible. Those who’ve bootstrapped their company know this better than anyone.

When we started InstaBrand, we worked out of my dining room for months to keep overhead costs down. We started with only a few hundred dollars, and it was very, very carefully spent. Instead of hiring developers or bringing on a technical co-founder, the entire system and workflow were built in Google Docs -- the “personal” version. (We didn’t want to pay $5 for the “business” version.)

Keeping costs close to zero gave us something others didn’t have -- time. We could run our bootstrap operation indefinitely, and every dollar we brought in was a dollar used to grow the company. $5 mistakes While trying to grow our business model, we made a lot of small mistakes. But those mistakes turned out to be the keys to our success.

members, advisors or friends.

Find people who have realized success in their lives and can teach and guide you. Surround yourself with a diverse group so that you have different experiences and skill sets to draw upon.

You don’t need to wait until you have funding, a cool office space or a rockstar team to start approaching these people. All you need is passion. Be passionate about what you do, believe in yourself and everything else will fall into place. Don’t be afraid to reach out and don’t be shy. It will cost you only your time -- and it will be time well spent.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, APRIL 28, 2015

Page 35

International

Aid begins to arrive in Nepal after deadly quake international_peoplesdailyng@yahoo.com

I

ANALYSIS

nternational rescue and relief teams are converging on Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, even as hopes fade that more survivors will be found in the aftermath of a massive quake Saturday that has claimed more than 3,700 lives.

The capital’s airport was so congested with military planes attempting to land that a flight carrying 70 members of Japan’s national search-and-rescue team circled futilely and eventually had to be rerouted to Kolkata for refueling.

The quake triggered a deadly avalanche on Nepal’s Mount Everest.The quake triggered a deadly avalanche on Nepal’s Mount Everest.

The crew has been warned to expect a “chaotic situation” at Kathmandu’s airport, where a control tower was evacuated during aftershocks and where people trying to leave the country have crowded the facility.

The U.S. Geological Survey expects further moderate tremors in the area this week. Ongoing aftershocks pushed Kathmandu residents to sleep in the streets for a second night Sunday, fearing further structural collapse. Some huddle under tents, tarps or other improvised shelters.

Huge tented camps are springing up in Nepal’s main towns, but similar assistance has yet to reach remote areas.

Fears of shortages, disease loom More than 48 hours after the magnitude 7.8 earthquake shook Nepal, rescue teams are scrambling to reach those who need aid, amid looming fears of epidemics and mounting shortages of food and water.

Nepal’s chief secretary, Lila Mani Poudyal, appealed again for urgent help from the international community, saying they need everything from dry goods to tents and paramedics to expert teams to cope with the aftermath.

Citing Nepali government sources, the United Nations said 35 of the country’s 75 districts are affected. Some 30 million people live in Nepal.

UNICEF says nearly 1 million children need the agency’s assistance.

It is the worst disaster in living memory for most Nepalese. On Monday, distraught people prayed and waited for news of their loved ones as rescuers used everything from pickaxes to bare hands to sift the rubble.

A young couple in Kathmandu told reporters they were out of the house Saturday when the quake struck, and they still didn’t know the fate of the two young

The earthquake rocked the mountainous region in the ancient capital city children they’d left at their home, will not support the tourism chest, badly chest injuries,” said now buried. The father waited on industry that Nepal depends on, Dr. Ganesh Gurung, vice counselor mounds of rubble, saying he wants compounding the humanitarian of the National Academy of Medial Science. to find his children, dead or alive. tragedy.

Communications systems from Hospitals inundated Nepal’s capital and other towns Hospitals in the Kathmandu rural areas have been knocked out all have such heart wrenching stories. Mass cremations were area have been overwhelmed with and landslides have likely cut off many villages. The death and conducted on Monday as the death the many injured residents.

“There are a lot of patients injury tolls are expected to rise toll continued to rise.

Oxfam executive Helen Szoke who have got a devastating when word comes in from those told VOA the earthquake has injury, including head as well areas.

On a website established by the given Nepal what she described as the amputation of the limbs, as a “double hit.” She said the whole limb amputations. A lot International Committee of the country’s destroyed infrastructure of devastating injuries including Red Cross, hundreds of Nepalis

Military personnel clearing the debris at the site of the quate

and foreigners are reported missing by their loved ones. Far fewer have checked in on the site to report they are alive.

Disaster response teams arriving Disaster response teams from various countries, including the United States, have deployed to the region to help search, rescue and recovery efforts.

The United States pledged an immediate $1 million for disaster relief and activated an elite Virginia-based earthquake rescue team. The 56-member unit deployed Sunday along with several USAID officials en route to Nepal.

The Virginia Task Force, an elite search-and-rescue team from Fairfax County near Washington, was “bringing search capability, digging capability, the ability to get to people who are entombed in the rubble, extricated from the rubble and handed over to qualified medical care,” said Chuck Ryan, deputy fire chief.

India’s foreign secretary, SubrahmanyamJaishankar, said three tons of supplies and 40 members of India’s National Disaster Response Force were flying to Nepal. The country is also evacuating its nationals by air.

India’s foreign secretary, SubrahmanyamJaishankar, spoke of heavy traffic on highways leading to Kathmandu, saying that while roads are open, “the traffic is moving very slowly. It is clogged with vehicles ... we are trying to piece together the picture, but it is a very, very difficult situation.”

China, Germany, Canada and Israel are among the countries also sending disaster personnel to the area.

Devastating to region The earthquake rocked the mountainous region minutes before noon local time on Saturday, flattening historic structures of wood and brick in the ancient capital city. At least 180 people were reported dead when the city’s iconic Dharahara Tower, a UNESCO world heritage site, collapsed.

To the east of Kathmandu, avalanches shook Mount Everest – the world’s highest peak – killing at least 18 climbers and burying entire base camps.

By early Sunday, sources reported to VOA deaths and extensive property damage in the Tibet Autonomous Region, hundreds of kilometers north of Kathmandu.

Scores of people were killed in India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and elsewhere along the remote NepalChinese border region report additional casualties.

Saturday’s earthquake was the strongest in 81 years in Nepal, when an even mightier jolt in 1934 killed more than 10,000 people.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, APRIL 28, 2015

Page 36

International Reports: 2 Burundi protesters killed in clashes with police A

Togo President takes early lead in vote tally

T

ogo’s President Faure Gnassingbe took an early lead in the first results from Saturday’s presidential vote released on Monday.

Results from six of 42 voting districts showed Gnassingbe with 64 percent, ahead of 33 percent for his nearest rival, Jean-Pierre Fabre, the head of the election commission said.

The rest of the votes were shared between the three other candidates, election commission chief IssoufouTaffaTabiou told reporters. More results are due later in the day.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon praised Saturday’s vote and called on the country’s political leaders to “continue to maintain the peaceful atmosphere” of the election process.

An observer from the regional bloc ECOWAS said Sunday there was no major incident in the voting.

Togo’s Independent National Electoral Commission has until six days after the polls closed to announce the results. Officials said turnout among the 3.5 million eligible voters was between 53 and 55 percent, which is far lower than the nearly two-thirds of voters who took part in the 2010 presidential election.

President Gnassingbe is seeking a third five-year term, which would keep his family in power for nearly 50 years. He assumed office in 2005 upon the death of his father, GnassingbeEyadema, who ruled the former French colony for 38 years. Rights groups have criticized Togo for using violence against protesters.

Opposition leader Jean-Pierre Fabre, who also ran for president in the last election, is expected to come in second in the single-round presidential poll.

Given Togo’s history of postelection violence -- hundreds died in clashes after the 2005 vote -- diplomats and observer teams have called on leaders to maintain the peaceful atmosphere.

Security forces stepped up patrols as results were ferried to the seaside capital, Lome, for compilation.

The ballot was delayed by ten days to allow election experts to clean up the voter rolls, which the opposition said contained numerous errors that might favor the incumbent

riot police officer sprays teargas on residents participating in street protests against the decision made

by Burundi's ruling party to allow President Pierre Nkurunziza to run for a third five-year term, in the capital Bujumbura Police in Burundi's capital, Bujumbura, clashed Sunday with protesters demonstrating against President Pierre Nkurunziza, who is seeking a controversial third term, killing two people, the Red Cross said Sunday.

Clashes erupted in several parts of the capital, Bujumbura, as police fired tear gas to break up crowds and prevent them from entering the city's center.

“We counted two protesters killed by police, four others were injured and one is in coma in hospital after being hit by a bullet,” Alexis Manirakiza, Burundi Red

Cross spokesman told Reuters.

Witnesses said several people were wounded while dozens of others were arrested.

The government banned any demonstrations about the ruling CNDD-FDD party's nomination of Nkurunziza for a third term.

Police had no immediate comment on casualties, according to Reuters.

Nkurunziza's eligibility comes down to a legal argument about the wording of a formative peace agreement and the country's constitution.

Burundi's existing political structures were founded on the 2000 Arusha agreement, which brought to an end the civil war between Hutu and Tutsi factions that killed up to 300,000 people.

That agreement said the president could serve no more than two terms in office.

But, the 2005 constitution states the president must be elected through “universal direct suffrage” - interpreted to mean a popular vote.

Nkurunziza was elected by parliament to his first term, so his supporters argue he is eligible to run again.

There is concern in Burundi that Nkurunziza's ambitions for the constitutionally questionable third term in office could reignite violence in a country still regaining its footing after years of civil war.

Nkurunziza has faced revolt from within his own party over his presumed candidacy. Seventynine members of the ruling party wrote the president last month, asking him not to seek office.

The influential Catholic Church in Burundi also has joined the growing chorus of civil society

and opposition groups urging Nkurunziza not to run.

His government has been under fire from rights groups and the international community for excluding the opposition and silencing voices of dissent.

Rights groups have accused the ruling party of arming its youth wing, known as the Imbonerakure, and using them to attack opponents in the past.

Human Rights Watch last month said members of the group assisted the police and military in executing 47 people following a confrontation with an unnamed armed group in northwestern Cibitoke province.

Jean Claude Nkundwa, a peace activist in Bujumbura, said he fears that armed groups could be exploited to keep the president in power.

A riot police officer sprays teargas on residents participating in street protests against the decision made by Burundi's ruling party to allow President Pierre Nkurunziza to run for a third five-year term, in the capital Bujumbura

Liberia’s anti-corruption chief vows intensified effort

T

he chairman of Liberia’s Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) has said under his leadership the commission will not just investigate alleged corruption cases, but will see to it they are fully prosecuted.

James Verdier said the commission is prepared to act on alleged corruption cases, even if the Ministry of Justice does not act within three months.

Last week, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf suspended the managing director and comptroller of the National Port Authority (NPA), Matilda Parker and Christina Pealay.

The action followed the findings of an LACC investigation.

One report suggested the alleged scheme involved more than $800,000 in fraudulent contracts.

Verdier said his commission began the investigation after it was tipped off by a whistleblower.

“The case has to do with the management of NPA, specifically the comptroller and the managing director paying out sums of money to an expert contractor to remove wreckage from the Port of Greenville (Sino County) and to conduct security assessment into all ports of Liberia,” he said.

Verdier said his commission found out that the memorandum of understanding for the contract was bogus.

As a result, a certain sum of money was allegedly being paid

out to an unqualified person not to remove wreckage, but for other reasons.

“Our finding shows that this money of more than $800,000 over a period of less than six months was actually converted for private uses.

And so, based on the findings, we recommended to the president that a strong action be taken to remedy the situation,” Verdier said.

The LACC has been criticized in the past for failing to prosecute individuals accused of corruption and who had been suspended by Sirleaf.

Verdier said the LACC will pursue the legal process going forward.

“The law establishing the LACC provides that, after an investigation, the LACC submits its report to the Ministry of Justice and the ministry, along with LACC, or alone, can decide what do with that report. And so, at this point, this report has been forward to the Ministry of Justice and we’re hoping and waiting to see that our two institutions can collaborate in terms of pursuing prosecution,” Verdier said.

He also said his commission has brought charges against some members of the Board of Directors of the National Oil Company of Liberia, who allegedly bribed some members of the legislature last year to pass favorable oil laws.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, APRIL 28, 2015

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International Asia & Japanese PM’s visit to US highlights Middle East Islamist evolving security, economy rebels

J

apanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is in Boston at the start of a four-city U.S. visit that will include talks with President Barack Obama at the White House Tuesday and an unprecedented address to a joint meeting of the Congress Wednesday. The visit, coming on the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, is underscoring the changing security and economic relationship between the United States and Japan.

Abe’s visit takes place as senior U.S. and Japanese officials unveil updated defense guidelines reflecting Japan’s greater role in its own defense. U.S. National Security Asian Affairs director Evan Madeiros said Friday the revision, the first since 1997, will significantly expand Japan’s role in the alliance and provide a

mechanism for Japan to provide a wider range of support to US forces.

Japan’s U.S. ambassador, KenichiroSasae, told the Centers for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) the new guidelines will be followed by security legislation in line with last year’s Cabinet decision to change the interpretation of Japan’s postwar constitution to allow it to engage in collective self-defense operations.

“For Japan, this change in our thinking on collective defense is a sea-change. It is coming after 70 years of trust and the legislation will establish a framework for Japan to further collaborate with the United States,” said Sasae.

Temple University Asian Studies professor Jeffrey Kingston in Tokyo called Abe’s

new “proactive pacifism” initiative a massive transformation in Japan’s security policy and said a rising China is driving this change.

“Back in 1997, China’s defense budget was $10 billion. Last year, it was $144 billion and there’s been a lot of saber-rattling over disputed territories between the two countries. So, the rising China narrative and concerns about its hegemonic ambitions in Asia are pushing the United States and Japan closer. And, Abe is keen to secure a U.S. commitment to back it in the event of some contingency over the disputed islands in the East China Sea,” said Kingston.

But, Kingston added, domestic support for the proactive pacifism policy is weak, with 23% public approval against 68% opposition.

He said the new defense guidelines could commit Japan

to more than the parliament and the public support, and that could cause bilateral tensions.

Kingston said Abe’s negotiations with the U.S. on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) a free-trade agreement involving 10 other Pacific nations - hold both economic and geopolitical importance for Japan.

Yoichiro Sato, a security studies professor at Japan’s Ritsumeikan Asia-Pacific University, said Abe’s historic address to a joint meeting of the Congress may improve chances of congressional approval of presidential fast-track trade promotion authority.

“If that happens, this visit may contribute to speeding up the signing of the TPP,” said Sato.

S. Korea's park accepts PM's resignation in Illegal funds scandal

S

outh Korean President Park Geun-hye accepted the resignation on Monday of her prime minister, who had offered to step down over an allegation that he took illegal funds from a businessman who committed suicide in a scandal that threatens to weaken Park.

Park, whose ruling Saenuri Party faces a general election early next year for control of the 300-seat parliament, has seen her public support rating dip below 40 percent in recent weeks.

The main opposition party has called for the dismissal of Park's chief of staff and for an independent prosecutor to investigate claims made by the businessman, Sung Wan-jong, that he had given funds to Park's aides and key members of her party.

Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo has denied he received campaign funds from the businessman, but pressure mounted for him to step down after news reports showed he had known Sung well.

That was despite his claim that he barely knew the construction

company boss who was himself a former lawmaker and was close to politicians.

On Monday as he departed the post, Lee apologized for the controversy but did not directly mention the allegation against him or repeat his denial.

“There is a lot I want to say but I will leave behind a void with the belief that the truth will one day surely be told,” he told government officials at a departure ceremony.

Sung, who was under investigation for fraud and bribery, was found earlier this month hanging by his necktie from a tree.

Park's current and past chiefs of staff have denied accepting money from him. Park has not been personally implicated in the scandal.

Political contributions in excess of 100,000 won ($93) were made illegal under a campaign finance law passed in 2004.

A public opinion poll released on Monday put her support rating at 36.8 percent, sliding again after recovering slightly in March.

South Korea's Prime Minister Lee Wan Koo

Bali Nine convict marries girlfriend as execution looms

O

ne of the two Australian men condemned to be executed in Indonesia within days has reportedly married his girlfriend in prison.

Andrew Chan, 31, could die as soon as tomorrow and wed in front of a small group of family and friends as his final wish.

His brother was at the ceremony on the high-security Nusakambangan Island in Java, were Mr Chan and Myuran Sukumaran are due to be executed by firing squad.

Michael Chan said his brother married his Indonesian girlfriend, named as Febyanti, on Monday

and they still hope they will not be parted.

“It’s tough times but it’s happy times at the same time,” he told reporters on the mainland.

Sukumaran, 34, has reportedly requested to spend his last days before his execution painting for as long as possible.

Art has become his passion since being imprisoned in 2005 and he was mentored by awardwinning Australian artist Ben Quilty.

His oil paintings have since been exhibited in galleries around the world, including in London at an Amnesty International

exhibition marking his birthday earlier this month.

Sukumaran’s lawyer was seen taking his latest works out of the prison on Monday, including a dark piece entitled “Self Portrait.

Time is Ticking” showing him against a black background, shot through the heart.

That is where 12 guns will be aimed if his death sentence is carried out. The condemned are given the choice of standing, sitting or kneeling and then blindfolded before they are shot.

Only three guns are loaded with live ammunition so the executioner remains unknown.

Sukumaran and Chan were

given the legally required 72 hours’ notice of their executions on Saturday, meaning they could go ahead as early as Tuesday night.

A painting seen leaving the prison yesterday was entitled “72hrs Just Started”, while others were signed “A Bad Sleep Last Night” and “A Strange Day’.

Indonesian authorities have insisted the executions will go ahead as planned this week, rebuffing last-minute appeals from Australia and the Philippines to spare their nationals and ignoring a decision by the Constitutional Court to hear a final challenge.

capture army base in Syria’s Idlib province

A

coalition of Islamist rebels seized an army base in northwestern Syria at dawn on Monday after a suicide bomber from al-Qaida’s Nusra Front drove a truck packed with explosives into the compound and blew it up.

The capture, reported by a rebel commander and social media videos showing militants inside the base, brought the coalition closer to seizing most of Idlib province and moving toward Latakia, the ancestral home of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

The army had been using the Qarmeed camp to shell rebel-held towns and villages in the strategic agricultural region bordering Turkey. Controlling it should help the rebels tighten their siege on the major Mastouma army base nearby.

Syrian state media said the army killed scores of Nusra fighters and dozens of Islamist suicide bombers from Russia’s Chechnya region in fighting near the base, but did not say the compound had fallen to the militants.

“A truck with two tons of explosives penetrated one of the entrances of the camp that made it easier to take over the camp,” Sheik Husam Abu Bakr, a rebel commander from Ahrar al-Sham movement said via Skype.

The coalition of hardline Sunni Islamist rebels includes Nusra, Ahrar al-Sham and Jund al-Aqsa, but not the rival Islamic State group that controls large tracts of Syria and Iraq.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which collects information from both sides of the conflict, said two suicide bombers blew themselves up at the gates of the camp.

“This was one of the major bases of the regime in Idlib and had lot of weapons,” said Observatory head Rami Abdul Rahman, adding at least seven tanks, large ammunition caches and scores of rocket launchers were seized by the rebels.

Syria has recently stepped up its accusations that Turkey is aiding the rebels and allowing thousands of radical foreign jihadi fighters into the country, which made it possible for them to seize the city of Idlib last month.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, APRIL 28, 2015

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International MH17 disaster: Germany ‘failed to warn of Ukraine risk’

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he German government was told of the risk of flying over eastern Ukraine shortly before flight MH17 was shot down last July, but failed to pass on the alert, reports say.

Diplomatic cables sent two days before the crash said the situation had become "very alarming", German media say.

The cables cited the downing on 14 July of a Ukrainian air force plane at a height of about 6,000m (20,000ft).

Flight MH17 was brought down three days later, with the

loss of 298 lives.

The Malaysia Airlines plane had been flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur and 196 of those on board were Dutch.

A Dutch-led international inquiry says one of the main scenarios for the disaster was that the plane was shot down by a Russian-made Buk missile launcher.

Investigators have appealed for witnesses to the launcher's arrival in a rebel-controlled area shortly before the crash. Their final report is due to be published

in October.

According to German public TV channels NDR and WDR and SueddeutscheZeitung, the foreign ministry cables had assessed the downing of the Antonov military plane on 14 July 2014 as a significant development because of its altitude at the time.

The Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 had been flying at 10,000m (33,000 ft) when it was hit.

German intelligence had repeatedly warned of the risk to aviation security, the report adds.

And yet, a Lufthansa source tells German media that no

communique was given to the airline of a change in the situation.

Three Lufthansa planes flew over the area on the day of the disaster - including one 20 minutes beforehand - and it was pure chance that none was hit, the report says. Other German airlines had been avoiding the region for some time.

"If the government had given our company a warning with an advisory of 'new status', then certainly Lufthansa would not have flown over eastern Ukraine any more," the source said.

Dutch investigators returned to the crash scene this month to try to identify more victims

EU-Ukraine summit to deepen ties as shelling worsens

E

U leaders are in talks with Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko covering trade and peace efforts, as heavy shelling intensifies in the east.

EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and European Council President Donald Tusk are at the Kiev talks.

Ukraine wants EU peacekeepers to help enforce a ceasefire agreed with pro-Russian rebels. But the EU is reluctant to engage in such a mission.

International observers report intense shelling near the city of Mariupol.

On Sunday tank and mortar rounds pounded Shyrokyne, a village held by government forces near Mariupol, a strategic government-held port city.

The OSCE observers said it was the most intense shelling since fighting began in the area in mid-February.

Heavy weapons including tanks were spotted in rebel-held areas nearby, the OSCE said. Such weapons were supposed to have been pulled back under the truce agreed in February.Ukrainian government troops in Peski - a bitterly contested village near Donetsk.

The Kiev talks are the first between MrPoroshenko and EU leaders since a key EU-Ukraine association agreement was signed last June.

A joint press conference is expected at 16:15 local time (13:15 GMT).

The EU agreed to delay

implementing the deal with Ukraine until January 2016, in response to Russian complaints.

Russia is suspicious of the agreement, arguing that free trade could turn Ukraine into a conduit for cheap goods flooding into Russia.

The EU is anxious for Ukraine to enact far-reaching economic reforms to tackle unsustainable debts, inflation and widespread corruption.

Reform of the heavily subsidised energy sector is a priority, BBC economics expert Andrew Walker says, as energy inefficiencies are a big drain on the national budget.

But peace and stability are the short-term priorities for Ukraine, he says.

The heavily armed rebels refuse to recognise Kiev's authority and the West accuses Russia of arming them and sending in regular soldiers.

Russia denies that, insisting that any Russians on the rebel side are "volunteers".

MrPoroshenko says EU or UN peacekeepers are needed to ensure proper monitoring of frontline areas and the rebelcontrolled border between Russia and Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

"In the buffer zone unarmed OSCE employees today have great difficulty performing their duties," he told the private Ukraina TV channel.

Europe and Americas

Clinton foundation admits ‘mistakes’ in US tax filing

T

he Clinton Foundation is acknowledging that it made “mistakes” in its financial reports on the donations made by foreign governments while Hillary Clinton was secretary of state. The matter has threatened to become a political problem in the early days of her campaign for president.

In a statement Sunday, acting chief executive Maura Pally said the foundation “will likely” have to refile its U.S. tax returns for several years after a review of its donations is completed. She said the foundation’s total revenue on the tax forms was accurate, but that it had mistakenly lumped in the foreign donations with other contributions even as it had disclosed the information on the foundation’s web site.

Political critics have questioned the Clinton Foundation’s transparency, citing the possibility of conflicts of interest with her actions as the country’s top diplomat from 2009 to early 2013. Pally said the foundation, whose anti-poverty and health care initiatives stretch throughout the world, is committed to transparency in its disclosure of donations.

But she said the names of donors to a Canadian partner of the foundation will remain secret because under Canadian law all charities are prohibited from disclosing the names without their prior permission.

Pally said the foundation going forward will only accept donations from “a handful of governments.”

“When Hillary Clinton was appointed Secretary of State, we took unprecedented steps to avoid potential conflicts of interest by going above and beyond what is required of any philanthropy and instituted voluntary annual disclosure of all donors on our website,” Pally said.

That donor list includes contributions of between $10 million and $25 million from Saudi Arabia, Norway, Australia and the Dominican Republic. Kuwait, Ireland and the Netherlands have contributed between $5 million and $10 million, while Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have each given between $1 million and $5 million, according to the foundation.

Pally also pushed back at specific criticism of donations linked to a Canadian mining executive, whose company, including one of the largest uranium mines in the U.S., was sold to Russia’s atomic energy agency when Clinton was secretary of state.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, APRIL 28, 2015

Page 39

Strange World

3 young women jailed in Russia for twerking next to monument A

court in southern Russia has sentenced three young women to brief jail terms for making a video showing them twerking next to a World War II memorial.

Russia celebrates the 70th anniversary of the Allies’ victory in the World War II next month, an emotionally charged holiday the Kremlin has been using for propaganda purposes.

The sentencing in the Novorossiysk district court of a 19-year-old woman to 15

days in jail and two women in their 20s to 10 days comes after prosecutors launched a probe into a video showing a group of women twerking next to the memorial on the Black Sea. Twerking is a sexually provocative dance involving thrusting of the hips.

Prosecutors said in a statement Saturday that five women were found guilty of “hooliganism” and two of them were spared jail because of poor health. Hooliganism is the charge that sent two members of punk

band Pussy Riot to prison for two years for an impromptu protest at Moscow’s main cathedral in 2012.

Prosecutors in Novorossiysk also said they were pressing charges against the parents of one underage girl who was twerking with the others girls for “the failure to encourage the physical, intellectual, physiological, spiritual and moral development of a child.”

This is a second twerking scandal in Russia in less than two weeks.

Investigators last week launched a probe into a dance school in the city of Orenburg after a YouTube video of female school girls dressed as bees and twerking in a sexually suggestive Winnie the Pooh routine sparked outrage. The dance school was temporarily shut down while officials in this southern city not far from the Kazakh border ordered an inspection of all dance schools in the region.

Woman who hit Venezuela leader with mango rewarded with new home

A

woman who bashed President Nicolas Maduro on the head with a mango has been promised a new house for her troubles in a surreal tropical tale that has gone viral in Venezuela.

The 52-year-old president was driving a bus through a crowd last weekend in the central state of Aragua when someone in the crowd tossed the fruit at him.

"It says: 'If you can, call me'," the former bus driver said later during the week, as he displayed the fruit with a name and phone number scrawled on it on television.

"Marleny Olivo had a problem with her house. (Officials) called her. She was scared. She couldn't believe it was true. ... I've approved an apartment for you, Marleny, as part of the 'Grand Venezuelan Housing Mission'," he added, vowing to eat the mango.

Venezuela's ever ebullient cybersphere did not miss a beat, with the president's populist gesture drawing admiration and derision, plus plenty of jokes.

"If for a mango they give you apartments, then you know what to do: throw him a pineapple!" quipped Dolar Today, a website that quotes the black market for dollars and is hated by Maduro.

Like his predecessor Hugo Chavez, who died in 2013, Maduro collects heaps of petitions during

trips, although most are scribbled on paper rather than hurled at him on fruit.

In a habit that delights many poor supporters but irritates critics, Maduro - like Chavez - often personally gives away homes, appliances or pensions to low-income Venezuelans.

However, lacking Chavez's charm and good fortune with high oil prices, Maduro's popularity has plummeted since he took office.

Roughly 28.2 percent of Venezuelans approved of his management of the country in April, according to pollster Datanalisis. That was up from March's 24.7 percent, likely due to his campaign against U.S. sanctions on seven government officials, but still nearly half the level when he became president.

The survey also said 45.8 percent plan to vote for opposition candidates in this year's parliamentary election, while only 25 percent support the ruling Socialists.

Shortages of food and medicine caused by strict currency controls have taken a heavy toll, particularly the poor, who traditionally have supported "Chavismo."

"A mango shortage is coming, let's line up to throw them at Maduro and get a new house!" one Twitter user joked.

Manure Expo: Manure than you can Handle!” It will appear on the front of a T-shirt.

But contestants are vying to land a spot on the back of the T-shirt, which event organizers say will display 10 of the “crappiest” also-rans. Writers of the 10 alternate slogans get a free T-shirt.

Many entries, predictably,

D

eputies in Florida say a thief worked for 15 minutes to drag a cooler full of Good Humor ice cream past a sleeping clerk at a gas station near Fort Lauderdale.

Surveillance cameras captured a man walking up to the Oakland Park store at 4:09 a.m. on April 2 to find the clerk sleeping.

Authorities say the man opened the ice cream cooler, peered at the clerk, looked directly into the camera and flashed a middle finger.

After a few minutes, he carefully pulled the $2,500 cooler through the store’s doors.

Authorities arrested Dennis Norman on grand theft charges on April 22. He was released from jail on $1,000 bond. There was no phone number available for Norman.

Swedish police on vacation break up fight on New York subway

N Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro

Manure trade show’s slogan contest produces pile of entries E ntries are piling up for a slogan contest being held this year by the North American Manure Expo.

The trade show, now in its 13th year, showcases the latest technology in manure handling, treatment and application.

It’s being held in July in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.

An official event slogan has already been settled on: “2015

Thief sneaks ice cream cooler past sleeping store clerk

contain a vulgar substitute for “manure.”

Here are 10 (printable) entries from the approximately 200, that were submitted by Thursday: —Manure Expo, where nobody stands behind their product.

—You provide the creek. We provide the paddle.

—Keep your friends close, and your manure further.

—The future of what’s left behind!

—We do doo. Do you?

—Manure Happens (to be Nutritious!)

—Been there, Spread that ... @ the North American Manure Expo —Proud survivor of North American Manure Expo ... It got deep.

—Heaping piles of fun!

ew York City Police Commissioner William Bratton is thanking four Swedish law enforcement officers who broke up a fight on the subway.

Erik Naslund, Samuel Kvarzell, Markus Asberg and Eric Jansberger were headed to see a Broadway performance of “Les Miserables” on Wednesday when a brawl broke out between two men on a crowded train.

Police say the four held one of the brawlers until New York Police Department officers responded and took him to a hospital. The Swedish officers went on their way. But witnesses captured the scene on video.

Bratton said Friday that he’s grateful the Swedes stepped in and broke up the fight.

The four men were treated to a tour of NYPD headquarters Thursday and were getting a ride on a police boat Friday.

Page 40

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, APRIL 28, 2015

Digest

The disgusting truth about dry shampoo shampoo no more than twice a week, and washing product out thoroughly in between applications - to avoid clogging scalp pores in the white stuff.

While the evidence is still out about the scientific cause, hairdressers can agree, when it comes to dry shampoo it’s definitely about quality over quantity.

‘I recommend using salon quality products over cheap

supermarket brands - they are made from quality ingredients and last longer,’ said James Burrows, owner and head stylist at Mr Burrows.

‘It’s best to avoid any products that are overly powdery or heavily fragranced.’

Burrows also noted that preexisting conditions or allergic reactions to cheaper, less reputable brands may also play a role.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Don’t overdo it: While many women admit to depending on dry shampoo to refresh their hair between washes, hair experts have revealed the unsavoury and harmful side effects of overuse

How much is too much? Celebrity stylist Renya Xydis Xidis recommends ‘using dry shampoo no more than twice a week, and washing product out thoroughly in between applications’

By Andrea Magrath

D

ry shampoo has become a staple product in many women’s beauty cabinet.

The saviour of lank, flat hair that is perhaps a day past its date with the shampoo bottle, it promises to add volume, soak up grease and freshen locks.

So effective it is, that many women admit to being a little too dependent on the hair version of the ‘shower in a can’... and hair experts have now revealed that over-using dry shampoo can have very harmful side effects.

Dandruff is one of the more minor, but certainly unpleasant side effects of coating hair in the

powdery substance.

‘Dry shampoo is designed to draw moisture away from the scalp so excessive use will definitely leave you with a dry and flaky scalp,’ Sydney-based celebrity stylist Renya Xydis told Daily Mail Australia.

According to celebrity stylist Benjamin Mohapi, dry shampoo can actually do the opposite of refreshing your scalp.

‘Overuse of dry shampoo can leave the hair looking dusty and a build-up of product on the scalp can lead to blocked pores - causing pimples or even cysts,’ he told Marie Claire.

And while many of us depend on a spritz of dry shampoo to bring

life back to a limp ‘do, overuse can do the opposite, preventing you from styling hair properly.

‘The downside to using spray regularly also means it builds up a coating on the hair shaft which in turn means you can’t style hair as you normally would,’ said Anthony Nader, owner and stylist at Raw Hair.

Nader says less is definitely more. ‘Go easy and start off with only a little bit of spray on the areas you need to soak up - keeping it approximately 10 cm away and then massaging it into your roots to soak up the natural oils.’

The big question is, how much is too much?

Xidis recommends using dry

Bad hair day: Using too much of the product can lead to dandruff, interfere with styling, and blocked pores that cause pimples and cysts

SporT 41 Page

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, APRIL 28, 2015

>>>Pg 43

sports@peoplesdailyng.com, SMS- 08142929046

>>>Pg 42

>>>Pg 46 Real Madrid Flying Eagles officials I enjoyed every single moment remain world best, impressed with with football, says World Cup facilities Okocha says Hernandez Mayweather calls for son to retire after fight >>>Pg 44

Super Eagles

NIKE gives NFF $750,000 worth of jersey for national teams

By Albert Akota

W

orld’s leading brand, NIKE is to supply kits to the value of $750,000 to the various National Teams of Nigeria in the first year of the contract recently signed with the Nigeria Football Federation.

Details of the contract, signed at The Soho Hotel, Richmond Mews, London on Thursday showed that the products value would increase in the second year, with American company NIKE committed to supplying kits to the value of $1million to the Nigeria National Teams.

NIKE will supply kits worth

the sum of $1million to the National Teams in the year 2017 and 2018.

The three-and-half year contract was signed by NFF President Amaju Pinnick and General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi, with Tina Salminen, NIKE’s African Football Sports Marketing Director, representing the American behemoth.

There are also various bonuses specified for any of the National Teams that qualifies for major international championships, with the Super Eagles to earn up to the sum of $500,000 at the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals in Russia.

“We are comfortable with the contract, because NIKE came across during the negotiations as being fluid and ready to listen to our demands. That is always the key aspect; you always need a partner with a listening ear.

“Nigeria football is happy to associate with a global leader and I am much convinced this is just the beginning. As we go along, NIKE may also be willing to partner with some of our domestic Clubs and even the League Management Company.”

However, Pinnick has underscored the importance of applying scientific approach and modern technology to all

sectors of football development in the country.

He insisted that football has been taken over by science and only those countries that quickly comply would be counted among the top performers in the game.

“Coaches are driven by science, referees are driven by science and the players are also helped a great deal by science.

That is why, at the inception of this administration, we talked at length about our determination to apply science to whatever we would be doing.

“You build capacity off the field, which have impact on the field, through science. We have sent a total of 30 referees

to go and see how it is done in societies with great football culture, such as the United Kingdom, and we are sending another batch of 20 in a couple of weeks. We have also sent coaches to the United Kingdom for the same purpose.”

Pinnick praised the achievements of the previous administration headed by Alhaji Aminu Maigari, for its tremendous achievements in adequate preparation of National Teams for international championships, and ultimately winning several laurels, saying the new team was now left with the task of taking things to the next level.

Sport

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, APRIL 28, 2015

PAGE 42

Flying Eagles officials impressed with World Cup facilities

F

Ibrahim Aliyu Auwal be the case when the entire team arrive there in late May.” Nigeria will play their entire first round group games in New Plymouth beginning with the

showdown against Brazil onJune 2.

Auwal expressed confidence the Flying Eagles will make history in New Zealand.

“We respect all the

By Albert Akota

T

he Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has said they will not be making announcements on Stephen Keshi’s assistants just yet, as he begins work into his new 2-year contract to continue as the Super Eagles coach.

Daniel Amokachi has been Keshi’s first assistant since he took over in November of 2011, and has taken charge of the team in the Big Boss’s absence.

But strong indications from the Glass House suggests the former Everton of England striker will not be retained following a reported falling out with Keshi, with Salisu Yusuf penciled as Amokachi’s replacement.

But the NFF have

By Albert Akota lying Eagles secretary Ibrahim Aliyu Auwal has said he has been most impressed with the facilities he saw at the team’s New Plymouth venue for the FIFA U20 World Cup in New Zealand.

Auwal was in New Zealand on the invitation of FIFA to inspect facilities that will be at the disposal of African champions Nigeria during the World Cup, which begins on May 30.

“The playing pitch is superb, so too the team’s hotel, which we will share with Hungary. The weather will be a little bit cold by the time of the World Cup but overall I expect a very successful tournament,” said the Flying Eagles official, who was also interviewed by one of the local newspapers there.

“Everybody was warm and I believe that will also

NFF keeps Keshi in dark over assistants refused to deny or confirm the reports, with first vice president Seyi Akinwunmi saying they will only announce Keshi’s assistants in ‘due time’.

“We are not presenting any assistant coaches now, we have only presented the chief coach and that is how it is.

“We’re not naming any backroom staff at the moment but I assure you we will do that in due time, but it’s just about the chief coach for now.

“When the time comes you will know, so just be patient,” Akinwunmi said.

Meanwhile, some changes were made to the backroom staff two months ago, with the team’s media officer, equipment manager and coordinator all replaced.

teams we will face, but they won’t stop Nigeria from taking the trophy back home. We are optimistic we will conquer the world in New Zealand,” he predicted.

Oshoala nominated for BBC award

N

i g e r i a n youngster, Asisat Oshoala, has been nominated for the first ever BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year award alongside four other women football players.

The BBC World Service announced the five nominations on Sunday evening including Spain’s Veronica Boquete, Germany’s Nadine Kessler, Brazilian Marta and Kim Little from Scotland.

“This award is a very good thing for women’s football – it can really help us by encouraging other countries to support their ladies and treat them the same way they treat the men,” said the excited Oshoala.

The 20-year-old Oshoala, who features for Liverpool Ladies FC in the FA Women’s Super League in England, came to the limelight at the 2014 Fifa Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Canada where she netted seven goals winning the Golden Shoe Award.

Her first tournament

goal was a 59th minute winner to guide the Falconets past England 2-1 before she scored a brace to ensure a 4-1 victory against New Zealand in the knockout stage.

In the semifinals, her flair and ability to finish in the final third saw her net a remarkable four times in a massive 6-2 win against North Korea to progress to the final against Germany.

Even though they lost 1-0 to the Europeans, Oshoala had made her mark and she became the first African player to bag the Golden Ball Award.

This brilliant performance earned her a place on the senior team and saw Nigerian head coach, Edwin Okon, select the youngster in the starting XI ahead of four-time African Women’s Footballer of the Year Perpetua Nkwocha.

Oshoala netted her first senior team goal in a 6-0 emphatic win over Zambia in a Group A match before scoring a brace to eliminate South Africa 2-1 in the semifinals guiding Nigeria

to the Fifa Women’s World Cup for a record seventh time.

Her fourth and final goal at the two-week tournament was an addition to teammate Desire Oparanozie’s opening strike as Nigeria defeated Cameroon 2-0 to win their eighth record

continental title. Oshoala was named the best player of the tournament.

On January 23 this year, Oshoala signed for Liverpool Ladies FC in the FA Women’s Super League from Nigerian side River Angels and scored her first goal in a 2-1 win

Stephen Keshi

CHANGE OF NAME I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS miss Hassana machu Goroh NOW WISH TO BE ADDRESSED AS mrs. Hassana Usman Goroh,all former documents remain valid.GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE

Asisat Oshoala

over Birmingham on April 1 before setting up Fara Williams.

To celebrate her nomination for the BBC Award on Sunday, Oshoala netted Liverpool’s opening goal before setting up

Norwegian Line Smorsgard as the Merseysiders defeated Manchester City 2-1 to send them to third place on the table standings with six points behind table leaders Chelsea (12) and Arsenal (10).

Moses upset Togolese star at Tombim Abuja Open

By Albert Akota

M

oses Michael, winner of last year’s Abridged Governor’s Cup, has caused the first upset at the ongoing Tombim Abuja ITF Futures.

The player, who recently returned from a nine-week

tour of Egypt, defeated Kokou Missodey, ranked 1564 in the world 6-1, 6-2 to cement his place in the second round of the moneyspinning tournament.

Henry Atseye also routing Borges Pereira Kevin from Brazil, 6-1, 6-1 in a one-sided affair at the Package B of the National

Stadium, Abuja, venue of the competition.

Playing at the centre court, Atseye gave his opponent no breathing space as he quickly raced to a 4-1 lead before finishing him in less than two hours under intense heat.

Thomas Otu ensured a hat-trick of wins for Nigeria

as he was responsible for the scalp of Merunka Stefan, a Croatian player ranked 2184 in the world.

Moses told our correspondent after the win that, “I was happy with the win, but then I think I have improved on my game since my last tournament.

CHANGE OF NAME I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS suleiman mohammed NOW WISH TO BE ADDRESSED AS suleiman mohammed usman ,all former documents remain valid.GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE CHANGE OF NAME I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS ahmed mohammed NOW WISH TO BE ADDRESSED AS ahmed mohammed usman ,all former documents remain valid.GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE CHANGE OF NAME I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS abdul-rahman mohammed NOW WISH TO BE ADDRESSED AS abdul-rahman mohammed usman ,all former documents remain valid.GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE

PAGE 43

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, APRIL 28, 2015

Sport

Gorowa threaten Zimbabwe with FIFA over unpaid salary

F

ormer Zimbabwe coach Ian Gorowa is threatening to report the country’s football association (Zifa) to Fifa, in a bid to recover money which he claims is owed to him.

Football’s world governing body recently expelled the Warriors from the 2018 World Cup qualifiers as punishment for failing to pay former coach Jose Claudinei Georgini.

Gorowa was in charge of the Warriors in 2013 but quit the following year after Zimbabwe failed to qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations finals.

He claims he is owed close to $100 000 in salary arrears which he says he has failed to recover despite repeated reminders to Zifa as well

as the country’s sports ministry.

“Zifa owes me close to $100 000 due to unpaid dues of eight months. My next action is to go to Fifa because it looks like I have exhausted all channels,” Gorowa said.

Zifa spokesman Xolisani Gwesela admitted the association owed Gorowa money in unpaid salaries.

Gorowa believes Zimbabwe still has the potential to become a football powerhouse but says Zimbabwean players need to be adequately financially rewarded for their efforts.

Gorowa says he now has no intention of returning to football in Zimbabwe, claiming Zifa is “chaotic and directionless.”

Javier Hernandez

Real Madrid remain world best, says Hernandez

M Ian Gorowa

Ethiopia appoint Sahle as new manager

Yohannes Sahle

E

thiopia has appointed Yohannes Sahle as the new national team coach.

Sahle replaces Portuguese Mariano Barreto, who paid the price for failing to qualify the team for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

“I’m delighted to be given this role. I’m really grateful for the people. I will serve Ethiopia with dignity and my full potential,” Sahle said.

The 49-year-old’s first task is to prepare the team for the 2017

player. I’m not sure if that’ll be for a long time so I want to make the most of the minutes I am with the best team in the world.”

Real have an option to buy the striker at the end of the loan deal.

The Mexico international scored five goals in his first 24 Real games, mostly from the bench. But he scored the only

anchester United’s Javier Hernandez says his loan club Real Madrid are the “best team in the world”.

The 26-year-old, on a seasonlong loan, has scored three goals in his last two games - taking advantage of injuries to Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema.

He said: “I am a Madrid

Nations Cup qualifiers, starting in June.

Sahle is an Ethiopia-born US citizen who had a successful playing career in the mid 1980s with the top Ethiopian teams before leaving for America.

He returned to Ethiopia in 2010 to take the technical director role at Ethiopian Football Federation.

Later he managed the U-17 national team and his last role was as coach of Dedebit, one of the top teams in the Ethiopian Premier League.

goal against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday and then twice in Sunday’s 4-2 win over Celta Vigo.

The European champions trail leaders Barcelona by two points going into the midweek fixtures. Barca host Getafe on Tuesday, with Real hosting Almeria on Wednesday.

Sturridge adds to Liverpool woe

B

rendan Rodgers admits that Daniel Sturridge may not return to competitive football until next ason.

Sturridge has missed Liverpool’s last three games with a hip injury, with Mario Balotelli, Fabio Borini and Rickie Lambert deputising in his absence.

Sturridge has been limited to just 18 appearances in all competitions in 2014-15 and Rodgers is refusing to put a timescale on the 25-year-old’s return, though he concedes the striker may be sidelined for the remainder of the campaign.

“It has been difficult for Daniel, of course,” Rodgers told reporters.

“Daniel is a good lad who obviously wants to play, wants to be working and helping the team.

Daniel Sturridge

Klopp may replace Guardiola at Bayern

G

Jürgen Klopp

erman icon and Bayern Munich legend, Franz Beckenbauer has stated that departing Borussia Dortmund coach, Jürgen Klopp may take over managerial duties from current incumbent, Pep Guardiola.

Beckenbauer believes that Klopp could take over from Guardiola if he leaves any time soon.

“Of course I could imagine Klopp as Guardiola’s successor,” he said.

“When I was president, we often talked about Klopp and believe he would fit very well at Bayern.”

Klopp confirmed that he will leave Dortmund at the end of the season and Guardiola has confirmed that he will stay at Bayern until his contract runs out in 2016, but the Spaniard has opened talks with his club regarding a new contract.

Beckenbauer went on to say that he doesn’t think Guardiola will want to leave Bayern, however, saying that the former Barcelona coach is happy at the club.

“I can’t imagine that Guardiola would leave in 2016,” he added. “He likes Munich. He has had success with the team and he knows that he can succeed in the future. He has everything he wants.”

PAGE 44

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, APRIL 28, 2015

Sport

Klitschko ponder Fury as next challenger

W

Floyd Mayweather

Mayweather calls for son to retire after fight

F

loyd Mayweather should retire after Saturday’s superfight against Manny Pacquiao, according to his father.

Mayweather, 38, has said he will fight one more time after the clash with Pacquiao at the MGM Grand

in Las Vegas.

The unbeaten American’s fight with Pacquiao is the fifth of a six-fight contract with broadcaster Showtime.

WBA and WBC champion Mayweather has won all 47 of his fights, 26 by knockout, in his 19-year

Rose wins Zurich Classic by one shot

E

ngland’s Justin Rose birdied the last two holes to win the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

It was a seventh PGA Tour title for the 34-yearold, who won by one shot from American Cameron Tringale, 27, with Boo Weekley, 41, a further stroke behind.

Rose carded a 66 in a

professional career.

After his defeat of Oscar de la Hoya in May 2007, Mayweather relinquished his WBC light-middleweight title, only to come out of his brief retirement in July to announce his fight with Britain’s Ricky Hatton.

Mayweather also retired

in 2008 but returned 21 months later in May 2009 to fight Juan Manuel Marquez.

The fight against Pacquiao is expected to be the richest in the history of boxing and they will walk away with about £200m between them.

Nishikori wins Barcelona Open to retain trophy

weather-disrupted final round in Louisiana.

The world number nine, runner-up at the Masters, posted a 22-under-par total of 266, but had to wait for the last groups to finish before celebrating.

Tringale, one of five players to hold at least a share of the lead in the final round, eagled the par-five seventh on the way to a 65.

l a d i m i r Klitschko said Britain’s Tyson Fury is set to be his next challenger after retaining his world heavyweight titles for the 18th time in a row.

The 39-year-old Ukrainian, who holds the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO belts, secured a unanimous points victory over American Bryant Jennings at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Saturday.

Klitschko, competing in a record-equalling 27th heavyweight title fight, was awarded victory over Jennings 116-111, 116-11 and 118-109.

Klitschko relied on his heavy jab to pile up points

Kipchoge, Tufa win 2015 London Marathon

K

enya’s Eliud Kipchoge won the men’s London Marathon, with Ethiopia’s Tigist Tufa victorious in the women’s race.

Kipchoge, the 5,000m world champion in 2003, finished five seconds in front of another Kenyan athlete, Wilson Kipsang.

Britain’s Paula Radcliffe, the women’s record holder, finished the race in her last competitive London Marathon.

In the men’s wheelchair race, Britain’s six-time winner David Weir came second as he lost out in a sprint finish to American Joshua George.

Kipchoge and Kipsang were level with 600m of their race left before the former moved ahead to win the event for the first time, clocking two hours four

Justin Rose

D Kei Nishikori

e f e n d i n g champion Kei Nishikori beat Spain’s Pablo Andujar to retain the Barcelona Open title.

Japan’s Nishikori, 25, won 6-4 6-4 to claim his ninth ATP World Tour title.

“I’m very happy,” he said. “It was one of the best tournaments so far this year.

I always love playing here.”

Earlier Britain’s Jamie Murray and Australian partner John Peers lost

3-6 7-6 (6) 9-11 to Croatia’s Marin Draganja and Henri Kontinen of Finland in the men’s doubles final.

Andujar defeated Fabio Fognini and David Ferrer on his way to the final and immediately broke Nishikori’s serve in Sunday’s match.

However, Nishikori, ranked fifth in the world, broke straight back and eventually ground out a hard-fought victory.

against his previously unbeaten 30-year-old opponent.

Jennings fought defensively for the first third of the bout with his gloves held high over his face, only occasionally springing into offensive action.

In the middle third of the 12-round bout, the American turned more aggressive, scoring with some rights into Klitschko’s ribs and by the ninth round had caused a cut under Klitschko’s left eye.

Klitschko responded by throwing more combinations, following up his stiff jab with a dangerous right and finished strongly, landing a big right hand in the final seconds

Eliud Kipchoge

minutes 42 seconds.

Kipsang, the 2012 and 2014 winner, came home ahead of world record holder Dennis Kimetto, who completed a Kenyan onetwo-three.

In the women’s race, 2014 Shanghai Marathon winner Tufa sprinted clear to finish in 2:23:22 and comfortably beat Kenya’s two-time London winner Mary Keitany.

The Ethiopian was among a group of nine athletes with three miles to go before she and compatriot Tirfi Tsegaye broke away from the rest.

Tufa, 28, then moved clear alone to win by 18 seconds from Keitany, the 2011 and 2012 winner.

Tsegaye was third with Sonia Samuels, the first British athlete to finish, 16th in a time of 2:31:45.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, APRIL 28, 2015

PAGE 45

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, APRIL 28, 2015

PAGE 46

Sport I enjoyed every single moment with football, says Okocha

A

legend of Nigerian football, former Paris Saint-Germain playmaker Augustine “Jay-Jay” Okocha was back in France last week for the 12th Match Against Poverty.

Answering the call of Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo, the men behind this unique initiative, the 41-year-old lit up the starstudded event and showed he had lost none of his magical skills.

Sitting down for an interview with FIFA.com, the inimitable Jay Jay also showed that his sense of humour remains very much intact. Displaying a love of life and for the game, the Nigerian great, who appeared in three FIFA World Cup™ competitions and won the CAF African Cup of Nations in 1994 and Olympic gold two years later in Atlanta, remains as much of an entertainer as he always was.

What does it mean to you to take part in a charity match like this?

This event means a lot to me. It’s an opportunity for us footballers, who’ve enjoyed all the advantages life has to offer, to give something back to people in need. It’s a great and beautiful initiative.

How much pleasure do you get from being able to play again in front of a large crowd?

A lot. It’s a special feeling and it’s something you miss. It’s wonderful to have the chance to relive it all again, to run and play, to express yourself on the pitch, and all without any pressure on you either. I was very excited about it.

What’s your happiest memory of your career as a player?

I’ve got quite a few and it’s impossible for me to pick out one in particular. Every second I’ve spent on the pitch is a good memory for me, every moment when I’ve been able to express myself with the ball.

I enjoyed every single moment of my footballing career, for every club I played with. I’ve got nothing but good memories.

You played for Eintracht Frankfurt, Fenerbahce, Paris Saint-Germain, Bolton Wanderers and Hull City during your career. Is there one club that’s especially close to your heart?

Yes, there is one that is particularly important to me… just don’t expect me to tell you who it is (laughs)! I don’t want to disappoint the other clubs, who also mean a lot to me. I’m keeping my secret.

And do you have a favourite

Jay Jay Okocha

goal out of all the ones you scored?

Yes, the one I got for Frankfurt against Karlsruhe in 1993 stands out a little for me. I was very young and I hadn’t made a name for myself yet. Klaus Toppmoller was my coach at the time and he started me on the bench for that game, which I wasn’t especially pleased about.

We were 2-1 up when he finally decided to put me on. We were under pressure and my job was to keep the ball, but we put a break together and I suddenly found myself in the opposition penalty box with four or five defenders facing me. I just dribbled with the ball, going one way and then the next before putting the ball past the keeper, who was none other than Oliver Kahn.

That goal said a lot about

how skilful you were, but do you feel you missed out on achieving something big in your career?

Yes, I feel like that about Nigeria, especially the 1994 World Cup. I really think we could have sprung a surprise, but at the time we didn’t know just how good we were. It was our first world finals and we settled for that. Looking back, though, I’m convinced we had the potential to shock the whole world.

What does football mean in Nigeria?

It’s a religion in my country.

It unites the whole country as one. If the football goes well, then everything goes well. It’s more than a game, more than a sport.

It’s part of our culture.

What’s your view on the

state of the game in Nigeria?

You can’t be completely satisfied with the situation at the moment. We’re lacking a bit of consistency, but there’s plenty of work being done at the top.

We’ve been through some tough times, but the good thing is that we’re a big country with a lot of talented players. We just need to get the right structures in place so that the light can shine for good.

And what about African football? Do you think African teams are closing the gap on the big European and South American sides?

I think so, but the problem is that we still settle for very little. We celebrate a World Cup quarter-final place when it’s not enough. You have to go further.

The gap has closed a lot, though.

African teams are getting harder and harder to beat, and that’s a fact.

Nigeria won the last FIFA U-17 World Cup and their U-20 side are the reigning African champions in the age group. Are we seeing the emergence of another golden generation?

I think so, but we have to make sure that these youngsters can kick on. If we’re going to do that, we must give them support and encouragement. If we don’t give them the right backing, then it’s just going to be the same old story. We have youth teams that have shone in the past but which haven’t been able to push on at senior level.

Let’s try and protect this emerging generation of players and help them mature. I think it’s important that we set up structures that allow us to achieve the kind of continuity we’ve

always needed.

Can you see a new JayJay Okocha coming along in that new generation?

One thing’s for sure: there’s an awful lot of talent among those youngsters. No two players are the same, though. Every player has their own attributes, characteristics and flaws, and their own story too.

Are you thinking of going into coaching one day?

No, not for the moment. I’m more interested in the executive positions. I prefer to be the one who appoints them and tells them what to do (laughs)!

You see yourself as the presidential type, then?

Why not? Yes. In fact, I’ve just been named the chairman of the Delta State Football Association, which I’m delighted about. Who knows what the future has in store, though?

Jay Jay Okocha

PAGE 47

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESday, APRIL 28, 2015

1

Leisure

Funny Jigsaw mystery

.

You breathe on average about 5 million times a year.

2. Months that begin on a Sunday always have a Friday the 13th in them.

3. You are born with 300 bones, by the time you are an adult you will have 206.

4. The average lead pencil will write a line about 35 miles long or write approximately 50,000 English words.

5. One fourth of the bones in your body are in your feet.

6. The average person spends 2 weeks of their lifetime waiting for the light to change from red to green.

7. It takes more calories to eat a piece of celery than the celery has in it.

8. The present population is expected to rise to 15 Billion by the year 2080.

9. The largest recorded snowflake was 15 inches wide and 8 inches thick.

10. The tip of a bullwhip moves so fast that the sound it makes is actually a tiny sonic boom.

11. Native Americans used to name their children after the first thing they saw as they left their tepees after their children were born, hence the names Sitting Bull and Running Water.

12. The Matami Tribe of West Africa play their own version of football, instead of a normal football they use a human skull.

13. Coca-Cola would be green if the food colorant wasn’t

Say what?

added.

14. During the 17th Century, the Sultan of Turkey ordered his hole harem of women to be drowned and replaced with a new one.

15. Coffins used for cremation are usually made with plastic handles.

16. “Almost” is the longest letter in the English language with all the letters in alphabetical order.

17. Human thigh bones are stronger than concrete.

18. Cockroaches can live several weeks with their heads cut off.

19. It is impossible to sneeze with your eyes open. We dare you, give it a try!

20. A Ten Gallon Hat will only hold 3/4 of a Gallon.

21. Of all the words in the English language, the word “SET” has the most definitions.

22. It is against the law to burp, or sneeze inside a church in Nebraska.

23. In 1386 a pig in France was executed by public hanging for the murder of a child.

24. Earth is the only planet not named after a god.

25. The world’s oldest piece of chewing gum is over 9,000 years old!

26. Scientists have tracked butterflies travelling over 3,000 miles.

27. The silkworm consumes 86,000 times its own weight in 56 days.

28. If removed from the stress of the modern world, the average human would sleep about 10 hours a day.

SUDOKU EASY 222

Before we crucify Buhari…

Contd from Backpage

SUDOKU EASY 221

Postscript Although there is no reason to despair about the capacity of modern ‘democracy’ to deliver the goods in the very long run, there is instead ample reason to be cautiously optimistic. It is wiser to seek first the kingdom of the ‘intangible’ benefits of ‘democracy’ like liberty, freedom and such other egalitarian democratic rights, and to hope that someday its ‘tangible’ benefits like water, electricity, roads etc, shall be added unto them. Meaning that as ‘virtue’ is said to be its own ‘reward’, cautious optimism requires that we simply see ‘democracy’ also essentially as its own ‘reward’. The specter can even be gloomier if you mind others like Al Smith, the American politician who suggests that: “All the ills of democracy can be cured by more democracy” Said David Ingram those who propounded the system of ‘democracy’ had discovered that their “optimistic faith in the capacity of ordinary citizens to exercise judicious self-rule, (was in collision) with their pessimistic

appraisal of a humanity driven by self-interest”. Much as man has the strength to do justice, so does he also have the weakness to enjoy in-justice.

And this perhaps was what the Theologian Reinhold Niebuhr meant when he said that although it is “Man’s capacity for justice (that) makes democracy possible” it is his “inclination to in-justice (that) makes democracy necessary.” Therefore even for the fundamental reason that it is only in a ‘democratic environment’ that the selfish interest of man may be curbed and that ‘in-justice’ also may be supplanted by ‘justice’, ‘democracy’ is necessary.

Nor was it without profound ideological purpose that Abraham Lincoln at his First Inaugural said that “This country, (America) with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it.

Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it, or their revolutionary right to dismember or overthrow it.”

Again therefore, in the right of the people to change their governments (by due democratic process of election or by the

‘un-due’ revolutionary option of overthrowing it), lies another fundamental virtue of ‘democracy’; -in fact the profoundest dividend of democracy. And herein lies the importance of regularly-held, free and fair elections in a ‘democracy’.

It holds the key to the credibility of representative government.

And so since the ‘Midas Touch’ of instant development belongs to the ‘benevolent dictator’ and not to the sincere ‘democratic President’ on what scale then should a President be weighed in a democracy? On the scale, first, of how democratic it is in its respect for the democratic rights of citizens, its respect for the institutions of democracy and its respect for the ‘due process’ in all its executive actions.

In addition to these if all we get from Buhari in the next four years is a Government that is not itself corrupt and that does not condone corruption, a Government that has not any ‘special interest’ itself and does not cater to any ‘special interest’, and a Government that elevates the public good over and above private or sectional good, then the electoral revolution of March 28 would be worth the efforts.

www.peoplesdailyng.com

. . . putting the people first

tuesday, april 28, 2015

QUOTABLE QUOTE One of the damages that the PDP government has done to this nation was the destruction of our armed forces.

– President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari

SPORTS Before we crucify Buhari… latest

Chelsea to play Sydney FC in Australia

C

helsea will play a friendly against Sydney FC in June on their first visit to Australia in 50 years, with many of their top players making the trip, the A-League club said yesterday.

The match, at Sydney’s 83 000-capacity Olympic Stadium on June 2, comes just days after the end of the English Premier League season.

Chelsea is currently 10 points clear at the top of the table with five games left.

Sydney FC remains in the hunt for a third A-League crown and will play in a home final in next month’s playoffs.

“Australia is uncharted territory for the modern Chelsea, and I can’t wait to see our many fans there as we show our appreciation for their longdistance support of the club,” Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck said in a statement.

Many of the team’s big names will take part, including John Terry, Didier Drogba, Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas.

The game will be Chelsea’s only match in Australia and will be played just days after Sydney meet Tottenham Hotspur at the same venue on May 30.

Chelsea’s match extends a busy off-season schedule of European giants playing in Australia with Manchester City, Real Madrid, Roma, Liverpool, Villareal and Spurs already confirmed for friendly games.

I

n the ‘My Take’ Column of 11/03/10, I did a three-part series titled: ‘NASS and the Dictatorship of the Legislature’.

In it I tried to warn enthusiasts of the much touted healing powers of ‘democracy’ not to get too carried away. I argued, based on research and on practically existential evidence that ‘democracy’ is often not as timeously provident as democratic societies would want it to be.

Many political philosophers and social scientists have in fact debunked the much-touted credentials of ‘democracy’ as the only socio-empirically proven prerequisite to ‘good governance’.

Yet many others, in repudiation of the mythical healing ability of ‘democracy’, have rather praised the practical provident nature of non-democratic, dictatorial systems of governance especially where such systems are run benevolently.

Evidence abound historically of benevolent dictatorships – some even despotic in nature- that have achieved ‘good governance’ and have brought about the development of societies faster than some of the most organized contemporary so-called liberal democracies. And the reasons are not farfetched: dictatorships are not usually encumbered by some of the complex procedures, rituals and rites that modern ‘democracies’ have deliberately made themselves captive of or hostage to.

On the contrary dictatorships enjoy free reigns –even if unsystemically. And a dictator is in fact a practical fulfillment of John Austin’s idea of the ‘theoretical sovereign’ who is described as the ‘un-commanded commander’.

By the way the question whether nations are best governed by ‘strong rulers’ (who command but are not themselves commanded) or by ‘servant-leaders’ (who are subject to the ‘will of the people’) remains as schismatic as it was in the Classics when Plato ennobled the right of the ‘Wise’ –or the

“

Diego Costa

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dankande2@gmail.com ‘Philosopher-king’- to rule.

A democratically elected President although he is the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of his country; he is by no means an ‘un-commanded commander’; because he too is subject to the command –if not of men like him- at least of the ‘law’ in Statute put together by men like him. As a matter of fact, by Austin’s yardstick the definition of ‘law’ itself is simply the ‘Command of the un-commanded Commander’. And because his ‘word’ is deemed to be instant law, whatever he ‘commands’ to be done therefore has an uncanny ability to immediately materialize without the rigors of preexisting procedures such as approval by a legislature.

But not so the ‘command’ of a democratically elected President; whose ‘word’ in the first place is no instant ‘law’. His ‘command’ must itself issue from pre-existing law. Thus where the ‘sovereign’ in a ‘dictatorship’ can be said to exist before the ‘law’ because he is the creator of law, same cannot be said in a democracy where the ‘law’ pre-exists the President because he too is created by law.

Therefore unless what an elected President ‘commands’ to be done represents the state of the ‘law’, it is no law; and no citizen, in a democracy, is obligated to act except on the ‘lawful command’ of the President.

Thus whereas ‘dictatorship’ -even where it is superbly benevolent and instantaneously provident- remains an enemy of the ‘civilized world’ simply because it subjugates the peoples’

‘will’ and their right to govern themselves, ‘democracy’ on the other hand is its own enemy for the reason that it glorifies the tedium of ‘due process’ even in the face of clear short cuts to meeting the immediate needs of society.

Perhaps it is the reason Walter Winchell said that “too many people expect wonders from democracy, when the most wonderful thing is just having it!”

In fact French philosopher and author of ‘The Social Contract’ Jean-Jacques Rousseau was even more pessimistic: he said that “In the strict sense of the term, there has never been a true democracy, and there never will be”.

Nonetheless whether ‘democracy’ is “just a slogan” as Mikhail Gorbachev had argued or that it is “that fatal drollery called a representative government” as Benjamin Disraeli described it, may seem neither here nor there; but truth is: there is an apparent disconnect between ‘democracy’s essentially snail-slow pace and society’s very urgent need to depart the muddy morass of underdevelopment and to draw from the mythical honey pot of democratic ‘good’.

Thus like I said earlier, the greatest crime of ‘democracy’ is its penchant for what many perceive as ‘time-wasting due processes’; ranging from the Legislative Due Process, (a hub of multi-partisan conflict of interests which can unnecessarily delay passage of the budget bill), to the ‘Executive Due Process’, (a bastion of bureaucratic bottle neck which inexcusably can delay the implementation of the budget law) and the Judicial Due

A democratically elected President although he is the CommanderIn-Chief of the Armed Forces of his country; he is by no means an ‘uncommanded commander’; because he too is subject to the command –if not of men like him- at least of the ‘law’

Process, (a theatre sometimes of the legally absurd) which may take eternity to resolve whether the President has power to spend under a particular subhead of the budget or not.

The question then arises: ‘where will such conflicts, bottlenecks and schisms leave the popularly elected President who is eager to hit the ground running and to deliver on the promises he has made to the people?’ The President in a democracy has not the democratic sleight of hand to work magic. He makes neither law nor does he decide what is law from what is not. The Executive which he heads is in fact only primus inter pares in relation to two other constitutional co-equals, namely the Legislature and the Judiciary.

And as the Judiciary has neither money nor power to enforce its judgment; as the Legislature has neither money nor power to implement the laws that it makes; so is the Executive (which has both money and power), bereft of authority to execute what projects it desires.

Thus idyllic as it may seem as a system, ‘democracy’ is slow and frustrating –more often agonizingly so. And like I said it is this inherent flaw in ‘democracy’ which tends often to confer angelic virtue on otherwise obnoxious systems of governance –not excluding despotism- for the simple reason that they are either benevolent in action or expeditious in delivery –or both.

In fact Political philosopher James Africanus Beale Horton said that “where the aim is to bring up the governed rapidly to advancement in industrial pursuits, education and general social condition, a little despotism is absolutely necessary”.

Cond on Page 47

DAN GAYE Ex-NDDC commissioner jailed three years for stealing transformers – News

‘Stealing is now corruption’

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