Tuesday, September 29th, 2015 Edition by Peoples Media Limited

www.peoplesdailyng.com

Vol. 14 No. 59

Monday, September 29, 2014

. putting the people first

168 Days after Will the abducted Chibok schoolgirls ever be rescued?

Thul-Hijjah 5, 1435 AH

N150

Jonathan’s campaign banners adorn >> page 2 London buses

2015:

Jonathan lied on sole candidacy – Dr Ardo By Ali Abare Abubakar

member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the party’s stakeholder in Adamawa State, Dr Umar Ardo, has faulted recent claims by leaders of the party, including President Goodluck Jonathan

to the effect that Jonathan’s adoption as the sole candidate of the party was in line with standard democratic tenet in America where incumbents were given the right of first refusal. Dr Ardo stated this in a statement issued to journalists yesterday in Abuja.

While noting that it is demonstrably false for Jonathan and the party’s hierarchy to make such claims, Ardo maintained that all through the democratization process of America’s presidential system, and especially as partisan politics gained pre-eminence, incumbents have been severally

challenged in nominations. He declared that the Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, former National Chairman of the party, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Gov. Godswill Akpabio, Chief Edwin Clark, and even

President Jonathan, who were all reported to have laid claim to this assertion lied. Citing copious examples from history, Dr Ardo argued that the claim by the leadership of the PDP before, during and after adopting Contd on Page 2

London bus carrying campaign poster of President Goodluck Jonathan, in London.

Six killed in fresh Taraba attack Probe Synagogue building collapse, NLC to FG >> page 5

Insurgency: 3.3m Nigerians internally displaced-Report >> page 3

>> page 2

Adamawa guber: INEC clears 7 candidates for bye- election >> page 31

PEOPLES DAILY, monDAY, september 29, 2014

PAGE 2

News

CONTENTS

News 2-10 Editorial 12 Op.Ed 13 Letters 14 Opinion 15 Politics 16-18

2015: Jonathan lied on sole candidacy-Dr Ardo Contd from FrontPage Jonathan as sole candidate in the 2015 general election, was not only patently false but also showed that public policy arguments are not thoughtful and well grounded. “The truth is that the right of first refusal as propounded by the PDP is not the norm in America’s democracy; it is in fact alien to it. If the party wants to adopt President Jonathan as its sole candidate because of some vested interests, it is free to do so within the provisions of the

Business 19-22 Stockwatch 23 S/Report 24-25 Feature 26 Education 27 Health 30

law; but to ride such false and unsubstantiated claims on the back of America so as to ‘justify’ its action is what the Yorubas would quip as ‘iro nla’” he stated. Ardo equally dismissed the claim that President Barrack Obama was unchallenged in the Democratic Party’s presidential primaries in 2012, stating that Obama was actually challenged by John Wolfe Jnr, a renowned lawyer from Tennessee, in the 2012 presidential primaries, even though Obama roundly defeated him.

“In fact, on many occasions, political parties often bypassed leading candidates including interested incumbent presidents in favour of more popular candidates,” he added. It could be recalled that the PDP had adopted President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate for the 2015 election, a new development in the ruling party since 1999 when the country attained democratic governance from the military. The decision was announced

at a NEC meeting chaired by Adamu Mua’zu, the national chairman of the party, and attended by Jonathan, Vice President Namadi Sambo, Senate President David Mark; his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu; and deputy speaker of the federal House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha. Mixed reactions have continued to trail the PDP NEC decision. However, Jonathan is yet to officially declare interest in seeking reelection, even when he has thanked the PDP for endorsing him as sole candidate.

The attack, according to Hausa service of the BBC monitored in Jos, which took place on Saturday evening, occurred between the villages of Unguwan-Kwalla and Dampar, all in Ibbi LGA of the state. The Taraba state Police Command, through its spokesman, DSP Joseph Kwaji, confirmed the incident, but said

that only one person was killed while many were wounded. He, however, said that the attack was waged by the suspected armed robbers. The BBC reported that the attacked persons, who were on their back to Dampar town from a market place, were suddenly ambushed by the gunmen in Unguwar - Kwalla village.

Earlier on, an eyewitness, who claimed to have sighted the corpses from the attack, alleged that the killing was communalrelated. Recall that in recent time, communities of Ibbi and Wukari have been facing serious security challenges, whereby many have been killed with several others injured.

of the dailies that ACF claim we rejected their recommendation when in actual sense we were the ones begging for contributions” Governor Aliyu said the security committee was given 90 days to submit its report to the NSGF; its terms of reference include liaising with stakeholders in the northern states, particularly the affected states, and get to the root of the security challenges and proffer solutions. He also added that the committee was mandated to dialogue with any identified groups with a view to negotiating the way out of the menace and liaise with the federal government and

deliberate on the best approach in resolving the security challenges. He insisted that unprovoked allegations against the NSGF after all it has done fighting insurgency in the North is unfair, saying what is expected of anybody or group are words of encouragement, contribution, commendation not accusations. He urged the ACF to shun utterances that might give impression they are gravitating towards politicizing the Boko Haram malaise adding that already people are linking the next presidential election to insecurity in the North, regardless of the direction it takes. Aliyu therefore insisted that for the avoidance of doubts, the NSGF was indeed responsible for the security roadmap tailored at putting an end to insurgency in the North.

Six killed in fresh Taraba attack

From Ado Abubakar Musa, Jos

o fewer than six people were reportedly shot dead with many wounded in a fresh attack by unknown gunmen at Unguwan - Kwalla village, in Ibbi local government area of Taraba state.

Boko Haram: ACF statement on Northern Govs unfortunate – Aliyu

From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

T Why we’re mired in poverty – Page 4

Metro

Int’l 38 S/World

Digest

Sports 41 Columnist 48

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he Chairman Northern States Governor’s Forum (NSGF) and Governor of Niger state Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu has described the statement credited to Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) claiming Northern Governors rejected their recommendations on how to end Boko Haram insurgency as unfortunate. The Chairman of the NSGF, in a statement, signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Israel Ayegba Ebije insisted Northern Governors made wide consultations based on variant experiences, especially in

flash-point areas, towards charting a security roadmap for the region on how to end insurgency. “We consulted with sociopolitical groups towards ending Boko Haram insurgency and other security malaise in the North. We inaugurated a committee, extended the period of that committee to accommodate all the views. Ibrahim Coomassie, chairman of ACF is aware of our effort.” “Let me therefore intimate that we forwarded our recommendation to the Federal Government, as part of our effort towards ending insurgency in the North. I was indeed shocked to read in one

2015: Jonathan’s campaign banners adorn London buses

By Our correspondent

mages in possession of Peoples Daily have revealed that the 2015 campaign train of President Goodluck Jonathan has moved to London with banners bearing the president’s photographs adorning mass transit buses in the city.

Double decker buses that daily convey commuters across the city of London were sighted with campaign posters calling on London residents to support the president. It was not clear whether the campaign banners were placed at the instance of the president or some private organisations

canvassing for support for the president’s 2015 reelection bid. It is also not certain whether the Nigeria embassy in London has a hand in the campaign, but the question on the lips of many, is Why should the president seek the support of London residents for a mandate he seeks in Nigeria?

Questions were also raised as to why the said banners should bear the Nigeria coat of arms. Observers are also raising questions of legality of the president’s campaign banners in London, especially regarding the source of funding of the project, whether it is sponsored with government funds or not.

complained of repeated backache and was taken to the hospital by his wife on Saturday night where he died at about 3:00 a.m. on Sunday. As news of his death spread, his house at Aladesanmi area of Abeokuta was besieged by sympathisers, including fellow journalists. Some of Mr. Suleiman’s former colleagues have been reacting to his death. “I am still in shock. Highly unbelievable! Toba gone? Is it

a dream? My friend and dear brother…is gone? Just like that? And I was looking forward to seeing him in Abeokuta pretty soon before this dastardly act,” Femi Shodunke, a former colleague of the deceased, said. In his reaction, a former Chief Press Secretary in Ogun State, Adegbenro Adebanjo said, ‘The gentleman, the peacemaker, may his gentle soul rest in peace and may God grant friends, family members and colleagues fortitude to bear this huge loss.”

In his condolence message, a former Ogun State-based journalist, Olasunkanmi Ibikunle, said “This is unbelievable! Easy going newshound!! One of those that made Ogun State Correspondent Chapel great during my stint as a correspondent in the State…Toba rest in perfect peace!!!” Also reacting, a former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Ogun State, Kayode Samuel, said “Speechless!!! May his soul rest in peace.”

Nigerian journalist, Toba Suleiman, is dead

r. Suleiman was the Ekiti State Correspondent of ThisDay newspapers before his death. He died at Sacred Heart Hospital, Lantoro, Abeokuta, Ogun state few hours after he was admitted having complained of a backache. The deceased worked in Ogun State before he was transferred to Ekiti about eight years ago; although his immediate family still resides in Abeokuta. According to PREMIUM TIMES Mr. Suleiman had

News

PEOPLES DAILY, monDAY, september 29, 2014

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Insurgency: 3.3m Nigerians internally displaced - Report From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

he 2014 report of the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre and Norwegian Refugee Council has said that no fewer than 3.3 million Nigerians are internally displaced, occasioned by insurgent activities in the country. The report said the figure account for 10 percent of the 33 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) all over the world, a situation the report describes as worrisome and requires urgent

attention. This revelation was contained in a text of a press conference, which according to the group, is about the ‘deteriorating state of insecurity and humanitarian crisis in Nigeria, caused by the failure of leadership and the abuse of our politics.’ The report, with theme: “Nigeria, A Country In Crisis”, presented by a group, known as #Nigeria Unite, and a copy of the text made available to newsmen in Kaduna at the weekend, by a northern youth group known as

Arewa Citizens Action for Change (ACAC) . The report, jointly signed by Rev Peter Ichull, Olarewaju Suraju, Mariya Ibrahim Baba and Gloria A Kilanko, stated that “Firstly, the enormous humanitarian crisis of IDPs and other victims of the violent insurgency in Nigeria need international support and assistance. “This situation is entirely as a result of the activities of the three versions of Boko Haram. Since May, the situation had deteriorated precipitously with

hundreds of thousands more refugees wandering into the neighbouring countries of Niger, Cameroon and Chad. “Secondly, if liberal democracy which enables free, fair, credible and non-violent elections fails in 2015, such failure will likely endanger the unity and survival of Nigeria as we know it today. We do not care who wins any election, but we must let Nigerians themselves decide. “Thirdly, Nigerians are increasingly being militarised and divided along ethnic,

religious and sectional lines. Fourthly, the current leadership lacks the capacity, morality, sincerity and political will to investigate and prosecute alleged sponsors of Boko Haram. “We appeal for understanding and help from the international community for Nigeria to survive. The international community must, as a matter of urgency investigate, with all available international mechanisms, the recent attempts by some private Nigerians to launder money and purchase arms from South Africa under the cover of government. “We appeal to the United Nations, the United States and the international community as a whole to take the insecurity situation in Nigeria seriously. “In addition, the international community should be concerned with the corruption, money laundering and the humanitarian tragedy that has been allowed to fester in the country”, the group stated.

Jonathan playing dirty politics with Chibok girls’ plight - APC From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

T L-R: Former Head of Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan, former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, Deputy Senate President Ike Ikperemadu, Senate President David Mark, President Goodluck Jonathan, First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, president’s mother, Madam Eunice Jonathan, and others, during the 54th Independence Anniversary church service, yesterday at the National Christian Centre, in Abuja. Photo: Joe Oroye

Judicial workers put strike on hold By A’isha Biola Raji

he Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) has deferred plan to resume its suspended industrial action initially scheduled for October 2, 2014. According to the National president of JUSUN, comrade Marwan Mustapha Adamu, who disclosed this in Abuja, the plan is emphasise on their demand for the realization of the Federal High Court judgment, on the financial autonomy of the Judiciary. The president also condemned the attack on a Judge in Ekiti state by hooligans, calling on the authority to probe the matter and make sure that those behind the ugly situation receive adequate punishment. He said the union would soon take decision on the matter, which according to him should not put the Judiciary in a bad light before the international community. “The decision of the union to shelve the plan strike by the first

week of October was premised on the ongoing discussion with stakeholders to resolve the impasse,” he said. Comrade Marwan Adamu however described as “unfortunate”, the statement credited to the Governor of Lagos state, Babatunde Fashola that “the Judiciary’s autonomy is not realistic”. He said, “These comments are regarded as unfortunate and embarrassing, coming from a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who should be at fore in protecting the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria. “The Judiciary, being his primary constituency as “lawyer”, it is rather absurd for Chief Fashola (SAN), now Governor, to sit in his Government House (chambers) and say that the workability of the Constitution of Nigeria which he swore to uphold and, the obedience, compliance with or and implementation of an order/ judgment of a competent Court is not realistic and or unrealistic.”

Tanker drivers block Kaduna expressway to protest assault on colleague by soldiers

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

here was pandemonium and confusion yesterday in Kaduna, as trailer and tanker drivers blocked the western by-pass expressway, to protest the manhandling of a colleague by soldiers at a check point along the busy road. An eyewitness, who identified himself as Musa Abba, said trouble started around Kawo junction, when the driver of the of the trailer was stopped very close to the Kawo overhead bridge and in the process of interrogating him about what was in his trailer’s trunk. However, according to the witness’ report, a senior military personnel drove past and the soldiers stood at attention to salute, adding that the driver seized the prevailing opportunity to move his vehicle forward even when the soldiers were shouting at the top of their voices.

“The driver moved his vehicle toward Mando road and when he got to the roundabout, he negotiated and moved towards the Eastern by-pass, on Nnamdi Azikiwe express way, whereby they caught up with him and one of them pulled out a jack knife which he used to puncture the trailer’s tyres. This did not go down with the other drivers on the express way and, as a mark of registering their protest, they turned-off the engines of their vehicles, thereby causing large traffic build-up. All effort to reach the Army authority in Kaduna was not successful and the Army Public Relation Officer did not respond to text massages. As at the time of filing this report, the drivers were still seen on the road and they said they will only move when they get justice for their colleague. Commuters coming in from Abuja were forced to follow alternative route.

he All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the Jonathan administration of seeking to negotiate the timing of the release of the Chibok girls to create a maximum public relations boost for itself, rather than out of a genuine concern for the girls who are now in their sixth month in captivity. In a statement issued in London yesterday, by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the clearest evidence of the government’s manipulation of the girls’ release came during President Goodluck Jonathan’s recent visit to New York to attend the UN General Assembly. ‘’Apparently assured, somehow, that the girls were about to be released, the administration had set up an elaborate publicity event in New York, rented the necessary crowd and booked back-to-back interviews with the international media to enable the President to luxuriate in the girls’ release. This event was billed for the five-star Pierre Hotel in Manhattan, close to the UN Headquarters. APC condemned the shameless politicization of the plight of the Chibok girls, saying since the incompetence of the Jonathan Administration led to the abduction of the girls in the first instance, it must not seek to make political capital out of their release. ‘’What should be paramount is securing the release of the girls as soon as possible, not securing their release to fit with a schedule that benefits Goodluck Jonathan politically. For the girls, their parents and indeed all good people of Nigeria, this abduction saga has been a nightmare. It is time for it to end,’’ the party said.

Page 4 Report

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, september 29, 2014

Why we’re mired in poverty By Ochiaka Ugwu

here is no doubt that over 60 percent of Nigerians are currently swimming in poverty with most of them living below one dollar a day which is the standard used by the United Nations in measuring poverty index in the globe. It has been reported that Nigerians are caught up in poverty due to faulty statistics, $60 billion foreign and domestic debt, dilapidated infrastructure and more than 40 percent work force being unemployed. More so, the oil has made the system sluggish since almost all our consumer goods and foods are imported making us a consuming economy instead of a producing one. Amidst the persistent economic growth mantra broadcasted by Minister of Finance and coordinating Minister of the Economy by Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, majority of the population remain wracked by poverty, with one in every five African lacking food, clean water, Medicare, as shown by a current survey of the African continent with two in five Africans as Nigerians. This report shows that the much touted growth is not trickling down the ladder to the down trodden or the actual growth fathomed by the government is baseless. According to the largest survey of African citizens, it suggests the over much publicized growth is not trickling down to the poorest citizens or that actual growth rates are inflated, said Carolyn Logan, assistant professor of political science at Michigan State University and deputy director of the survey, called the Afrobarometer. “The survey results show there is disconnect between reported growth and the persistence – in both frequency and severity – of poverty among ordinary citizens,” Logan said. “It’s evident that African governments need to focus as much attention on poverty reduction efforts as they are on growing their economies.” The fifth round of the Afrobarometer, which comes out every several years, was released in Johannesburg. Thirty-four countries were surveyed – up from 20 countries during the last round of surveys in 2011-12 – making it the most comprehensive look at life in Africa since the Afrobarometer was started in 1999. The release of findings on poverty and economic conditions is the first of seven release events in African cities up through Dec. 12. Future topics include democracy, corruption and Internet usage. According to the current findings, 17 percent of Africans say they frequently go without food, 22 percent lack clean water on a regular basis, and 20 percent often go without medical care. About 50 percent do without these necessities at least occasionally. The problem is particularly

News

PEOPLES DAILY, monDAY, september 29, 2014

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Peoples Daily staff loses wife, Mallama Bilkisu Aminu Ahmed,40 From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

he death has occurred of Mallama Bilkisu Aminu Ahmed on Friday night at the age of 40years. Mallama Bilkisu Aminu Ahmed is the wife of Ahmed Idris, a staff of Peoples Media Limited and the People’s Daily newspaper state correspondent in Kebbi state. Late Bilkisu died after child birth at Government Hospital in Minna, who until her death, was

a staff of Niger State Television (NSTV), Minna attached to the office of the Deputy Governor, Hon. Ahmed Musa Ibeto. She has since been buried on Saturday 27th September 2014 according to Islamic injunctions in Minna leaving behind four (4) children who are 3 boys and a girl, although the child she delivered before her death was lifeless. The three days Fidau prayer comes up today Monday 29th September, 2014 at family residence, Masaga Bida by 10am.

Soldiers molest Gombe Journalists over minister’s visit

From David Hassan, Gombe

G Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

President Goodluck Jonathan striking in West Africa and East Africa, and less so in the northern and southern regions of the continent. In addition, 53 percent of Africans rated their national economy negatively. And 38 percent said their national economy has gotten worse in the past year. Moreover, Africans give their governments failing marks for economic management. Fifty-six percent say they are doing a bad job of managing the economy and even higher numbers rate them poorly for improving the living standards of the poor (69 percent), creating jobs (71 percent) and narrowing income gaps (76 percent). Economic experts have warned that the level of poverty in Nigeria will continue to rise unless there is a deliberate effort to create other sources of revenue, cautioning against excessive borrowing from developed countries by Nigeria and its counterparts in the African continent. They stressed the need for the country to put in place measures

“

to develop their resources to be able to compete favourably in the international arena. The country presently, has a dysfunctional economy, they emphasized there is an urgent need for a clear understanding of economic direction and structural adjustment that would create other avenues for further revenue. It was said to be abnormal situation for the economy to grow without impact on the average Nigerian, especially when viewed in the light of the recent report of the Nigeria Bureau of Statistic, NBS, where over 90 million Nigerians are said to be living below poverty level. Rural poverty is also wide spread owing to the fact that rural infrastructure has long been neglected, thereby encouraging rural urban migration. As a result, the number of men migrating from rural areas in search of employment has increased, and the number of households headed solely by women has grown substantially. Investments in health, education and water supply have been focused largely

on the cities. As a result, the rural population has extremely limited access to services such as schools and health centres, and about half of the population lacks access to safe drinking water. Neglect of rural infrastructure affects the profitability of agricultural production. The lack of rural roads impedes the marketing of agricultural commodities, prevents farmers from selling their produce at reasonable prices, and leads to spoilage. Limited accessibility cuts small-scale farmers off from sources of inputs, equipment and new technology, and this keeps yields low. As the population swells and puts pressure on diminishing resources, escalating environmental problems further threaten food production. Land degradation as a result of extensive agriculture, deforestation and overgrazing are already severe in many parts of the country. Drought has become common in the north, and erosion caused by heavy rains, floods and oil pollution is a major problem in

Economic experts have warned that the level of poverty in Nigeria will continue to rise unless there is a deliberate effort to create other sources of revenue, cautioning against excessive borrowing from developed countries by Nigeria and its counterparts in the African continent.

the south south and south-east. Poverty and violence are often closely interconnected. Both religious and ethnic tensions continue to brew in different parts of Nigeria, erupting into outbreaks of violence and leading in turn to a situation of escalating poverty and malnutrition. The move towards political liberalization has allowed militants from religious and ethnic groups to express their frustrations more freely, and with increasing violence. Thousands have died over the past years in clashes between different ethnic and religious groups and separatist bids for independence. Since 1999, violence between interest groups has become increasingly common. Government at all levels as their part of social contract and contribution to the development of the economy, should build a new economic system that would play a catalyst role in the productive sector of the economy apart from the recent economic policies. They should concentrate in building a new economic model, the type that will contribute meaningfully to the economy to make it job creating. Nigerians are optimistic the economy would recover fully with the right policies in place and with the political will to prosecute it. The agricultural sector of the economy that contributes 42 per cent to the Gross Domestic, GDP that is being neglected today should be revived to provide jobs to our teeming youth. It was even affirmed by the former Central Bank Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi that Nigeria was a poor oil producing country, and he stated that statistics have shown that in Nigeria, it is one barrel of oil to 80 Nigerians, whereas in Saudi Arabia it is one barrel to three persons.

ombe based journalists who were on the convoy of the Minister of Transport, Alhaji Idris Abdullahi Umar on Friday were molested and threatened with guns by armed military men around the 301 Artillery Regiment Quarter Guard Biu road in the state capital. The Minister was on a oneday working visit to the state to inspect Gombe portion of the Kuru – Bauchi – Gombe – Maiduguri corridor of the on-going railway line rehabilitation. One side of the road which had been blocked since the June 8, 2014 attack on the Quarter Guard by soldiers was cleared for the Minister by the Army personnel at the Timber Market junction but denied journalists in his convoy passage, despite the inscription of Correspondents’ Chapel on the bus. An attempt by Danjuma Williams of the National Mirror who was on the wheel, to demand an explanation was resisted and

rudely rebuffed by the soldiers. The subtle appeal immediately degenerated into a commotion as the unpalatable utterance by the security agents soon became shoves followed by threats to shoot if the newsmen spoke any further or got closer. Angered by the threats, the journalists then gladly presented themselves to be shot but for the timely intervention from the mobile policemen, traders at the market and other well-meaning individuals to quell what would have generated ugly headlines. The blocked road has since continued to cause untold hardship to commuters and other road users who have to go through bad roads and longer journey to circumvent the obstacles. It was only after Friday’s incident that some concerned individuals revealed that traders at the Timber Market were plotting for the relocation of the quarter guard before they had to allow them use their shops about two weeks later.

FOSSRA raises alarm over activities of on-line fraudsters By Mahmud Jika

he Forum of Spokespersons of Security and Response Agencies (FOSSRA) has issued a warning over the increasing activities of swindlers that engage the use of unverified websites and fake social media platforms to defraud unsuspecting public and spread false information. At the end of its monthly meeting which was held at the weekend in Nigeria Customs Headquarters Abuja, the Chairman of the Forum, Major General Chris Olukolade noted that most victims of the swindlers were applicants that are often tricked into paying money under the guise of getting employment in return. The other common victims include buyers and intending investors While urging relevant institutions including regulatory bodies and security agencies to intensify efforts in curtailing the

excesses of the internet scammers and online fraudsters, the forum warned the public to be wary of enticing and unbelievable offers by verifying claims on social media platforms and emails. Citing instances of multiple fake social media platforms often created in the names of public agencies and officials, the Forum said those were some of the ploys used by the fraudsters to confuse the public. “Public information are always issued with verifiable sources while such agencies would normally not request any payment either for employment or services through the social media.” In his opening address, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi who was represented by the Deputy Comptroller General, Finance Administration, Mr John Atte urged the forum to sustain the existing synergy in the management of public information, especially in the light of the present global security challenges.

Officers and men of Nigerian Navy and Air Force, during a joint route march, on Saturday in Abuja. Photo: NAN

Tata sponsors 600 weddings in Katsina From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

philanthropist in Katsina State, Alhaji Abdullahi Umar Tata has sponsored the mass wedding of 600 couples in Funtua Senatorial zone in Katsina State. Presiding over the wedding ceremony at the Zaria Road Juma’at Mosque in Funtua, Tata said that 550 Muslim Faithful’s and 50 Christians from across the 11 local governments in the state

took advantage of the initiative. He added that he took over the responsibilities of all the marriage requirements which include a N20, 000 bride price, marriage gifts and furniture for all the couples to enable them settle down. Tata disclosed that part of the criteria for selecting the beneficiaries include maturity, less privileged and having basic knowledge of Islam, adding that all those selected have fulfilled the requirements.

He said that he took the initiative as part of his contribution to support those in need of marriage but could not afford the financial burden and to help in reducing immorality in the society. Earlier in his remarks, the state chairman of Jama’atu Izalatul Bid’ah, Sheikh Yakubu Musa Hassan, praised the initiative of the sponsor of the mass wedding, Tata, calling on wealthy individuals to emulate him.

working against the principles of Democracy in the interest of his alleged ally, Hon. Ajadua. “Our Democracy must not be toiled with, as it is the government of the people, by the people and for the people. When other people are not given the opportunity, where then is the democracy?” The statement queried, adding that “ As such it is the people that have the final say on who to represent them, not the Governor and his cohorts in Asaba government house”, the statement added.” It noted that it was the function of the citizenry to inform INEC and the leadership of PDP about the matter. “If no one tells the Governor, the least electorates in the constituency will, that is why it is been brought to the notice

and attention of the independent National Electoral Commission, as well as the Hierarchy of the national executive and working committees of the PDP to probe the continuous tenure of Hon. Ajadua. It further called on the leadership of the PDP to intervene on the matter before it gets out of hand. “Our prayers are that the PDP national leadership should, immediately set up a high powered committee of reputable PDP stalwarts to investigate and submit their findings to the chairman for action, if not, the chances of the PDP, with a long known face like that of Hon. Ajadua can lead to a failure for the party in the 2015 election.” The statement noted.

Delta state citizens accuse Uduaghan of monopolistic leadership By Evelyn Okakwu

he Delta state government and the leading Peoples Democratic Party have been charged to adopt the true principles of democracy and desist from imposing the leadership of constituencies on the people of the state. In a statement signed by a leading member of the Oshimili North Local Governmnet Area (LGA) of the state, Mr Vitalis Curtis, Governor Emanuel Uduaghan was accused of imposing Hon. Barr Pat Ajadua as a member of the state House of Representatives since the year 2003. The statement accused the Delta state governor of

Kaduna: Community seeks govt. assistance over incessant killings

ollowing the recent killing of the Village Head of Ungwan Muazu District, who was also a member of Zazzau Emirate Council, Alh Kabiru Y. Buhari by unknown gunmen, residents in the area have called on Kaduna state government to come to the rescue of the people, saying activities of gunmen in the area is becoming unbearable. A Community leader in the area, Mallam Muhammed Graba, said in recent times the

area has suffered several attacks by unknown gunmen. Most recent are the killings of a petrol station manager, and the carting away of undisclosed amount of money, and that of a lecturer with the Shehu Idris College of a Health Technology, both of which occurred in Kinkinau GRA,Ungwan Muazu District, Kaduna. He said the government and security agencies should come to the rescue of people in the area.

The remains of late Alhaji Kabiru Y. Buhari and car were discovered by a combined security and community search team on his farm near Maigiginya in Nariya, Kabala West, in Kaduna South Local Government Area with gunshot wound on his head. The district head of Ungwan Muazu, Alh Ahmed Aliyu Idris in an interview with newsmen after the burial, said Zazzau Emirate has lost a dedicated council member.

Peoples Daily, monDAY, september 29, 2014

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Hajj Update

Adamawa pilgrims hold plane hostage in Kano From Umar Dankano, Yola

he A c ti ng Go ve r n o r o f Adamawa state, Umaru Fintiri has condemned the unruly behaviour of some of the state’s pilgrims who held a plane hostage in Kano. Speaking through a statement by his principal special assistant (Media), Babayola Muhammadu Toungo, Fintiri said the behaviour was uncalled for because the pilgrims had been “earlier briefed on the travel arrangement and the efforts the government is making in collaboration with the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) to ensure that no pilgrim from Adamawa State is left behind.” The statement said, “The Adamawa state government wants to express its displeasure with the unruly behaviour of some of its intending pilgrims who held hostage a plane at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano. “Much as the government sympathises with the plight of the pilgrims, it finds it reprehensible for those embarking on a spiritual journey to behave in a manner comparable to children. The pilgrims who held the plane hostage in Kano were earlier briefed on the travel arrangement and the efforts the government is making in collaboration with the NAHCON to ensure that no pilgrim from Adamawa state is left behind. “Those taken to Kano were informed that they would be airlifted from the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia via a different aircraft from the one that ferried them from Yola to Kano. And that the plane that took them to Kano was to come back to Yola and pick about five hundred and eighty passengers to Jeddah. This was explained to them in no uncertain words. “Yola International Airport has no landing capability for a plane the size of the Boeing 747 in the night and therefore the need for the plane that went to Kano to be back in the day. By holding the aircraft hostage in Kano, the pilgrims have unwittingly distorted a carefully reworked schedule that shall ensure that all of them are airlifted before the closure of Saudi airspace. Continuing, Fintiri said, “Though government is still working round the clock to make sure all the intending pilgrims are airlifted, government expresses its disappointment in the strongest terms possible of the behaviour of our pilgrims. Pilgrimage is supposed to be a spiritual journey and one is expected to be spiritually ready for such a trip. A pilgrim is supposed to be an epitome of piety, comportment and orderliness but not certainly what was displayed in Kano. As ambassadors of Adamawa state, all are expected to be embodiment of decency and decorum. The acting governor however appealed “to all our intending pilgrims to be law abiding both here and in Saudi Arabia as we again reassure them all will be airlifted.”

Hajj: Pilgrims in Makkah after Madinah T he convoys under the direct supervision of the Governor of Madinah, Prince Faisal bin Salman, left the City of Madina after Friday prayers. Government agencies have stepped up efforts to ensure efficient completion of procedures at arrival and departure points and to ensure that pilgrims were provided with comprehensive services. More than 700,000 pilgrims have arrived in Madinah, including about 250,000 who were already in the city awaiting their departure. Until early Friday, 430,000 pilgrims had arrived at Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz Airport through 1,650 flights. The city has also been receiving hundreds of convoys coming from Jordan and Palestine daily. The number of pilgrims arriving from Eastern Europe has declined due to ongoing turmoil

in Iraq and Syria, previously their main connection points into the Kingdom. Thousands of intending pilgrims from Africa have also landed in the holy city; Nigeria was among the large contingents that arrived Makkah.. Mohammed Al-Bijawi, Head of the region’s Haj Ministry branch, said that the ministry has stepped up efforts at departure and arrival centers, as well as along the Makkah-Madinah highway and all other roads leading to Makkah in order to keep pace with the flow of pilgrims into the Kingdom daily. He said field teams with qualified personnel have been trained to rapidly complete arrival and departure procedures. Al-Bijawi said the ministry’s monitoring committees have completed inspection visits to stations, service offices and housing sites to ensure overall performance is at par with this year’s operational

plans and directives. He said emergency teams have completed more than 2,000 site tours across gathering points and housing sites for pilgrims to ensure that safety procedures are in place in accordance with Civil Defense directives. Road security teams have been working around the clock to monitor the movement of pilgrims, with field teams deployed at numerous speed checkpoints to ensure safety, security and assistance. The General Syndicate of Cars in the region has been welcoming pilgrims at Madinah airport and directly supervising H aj transport compa n i e s i n Madinah in coordination with local organizations and the local ministry branch. The General Directorate of Health Affairs, meanwhile, is continuing efforts at providing comprehensive health services

across seven hospitals in Madinah, he said. A total of a 1,000 clinical beds, including 135 beds for intensive care services, are available for pilgrims. Additionally, 20 health centers have been set up around the Prophet’s Mosque, at housing sites, at entrances and exits in Madinah, and along main roadways to and from the city, as well as air, land and sea ports. A health work force of extensive medical, technical and administrative expertise has been trained to provide health and preventative services to pilgrims arriving in the city, confirmed AlBijawi. Preventive treatment has been provided for 64,038 pilgrims so far. In addition, 43,611 pilgrims have been administered polio vaccinations.

Haj convoys left Madinah for Makkah under the supervision of Madinah Gov. Prince Faisal bin Salman after Friday prayers. (Arab News photo)

News

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Court sentences driver to 3-day community service for traffic offences By Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

n Agbor Magistrate court in Delta state has sentenced one Sylvester Okoh to a three day community service on a three count charge of reckless driving, obstruction and refusal to

obey traffic rules. The magistrate, Mr. Carl Moteke who handed down the order yesterday said the driver, Sylvester Okoh, 41, could in the alternative pay N20,000 option of fine to the Delta state government. According to him, “The

punishment include sweeping the entire Agbor roads and magistrate court for three days or pay N20,000 option of fine to the Delta state government for the three-count charges. The magistrate however warned the convict to always obey

traffic rules for safety of other road users. The prosecutor, Sergeant Felix Eboigbe said that Sylvester Okoh, who lives in Agbobi community, drove recklessly in his Mazda 626, with registration number AA 261 XL around Agbor roads in

reckless manners. He said the offence contravenes Section 19, vol. 25, Road Traffic Laws Delta State 2014, adding that the law states that the offender is liable to pay N100,000 fine or two months imprisonment or both.

Bizarre: Son impregnates mother in Delta From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

19 year old Abel (surname withheld) recently promoted to SS 3 in one of the secondary schools in Asaba, Delta state has allegedly put his mother into family way after he had carnal knowledge of her few months ago. Reports said that the boy popularly called Ekenem was said to have consulted a native doctor, who allegedly prepared a love charm for him that was used for his mother, one of the matrons in the college where he is a boarding student. Although sources said the act committed by the boy still remain a misery to people in the area, but the father of the boy, a Port Harcourt based business man is said to have reported the matter to the police. Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Celestina Kalu, who confirmed the report, disclosed that the boy has been arrested over threat to life and other

related acts, adding that the police were still investigating the circumstances of the pregnancy. It was reliably gathered that the husband of the woman had been away for some time outside Port Harcourt, upon interrogation he said that he was not in any way responsible for the pregnancy. But the victim, the suspect’s mother, while speaking to journalists, said, “I did not know how it happened, but all I can say is that a young man who looked like my son suddenly found his way into my life at the wee hours and I was speechless”, adding that the whole exercise had remained inexplicable. Expectedly, when it was discovered that it was not the husband who was responsible for the pregnancy, the doctor who carried out the pregnancy test on her but does not want his name in print said, “upon completion of the pregnancy test, the suspect confided in him about the love portion that hs used for his mother”.

Speaking to journalists at the police headquarters, the suspect said, “I am deeply sorry for all that has happened, I did not mean to do this, I saw myself falling in love with her after the love portion prepared for me; I have to confess, because I know by so doing God

will touch her heart and I know she will forgive me; I suddenly found that I was making love to my mother when I thought the love portion will not work and after the revelation, I threatened to kill her and the matter was reported to the police and I was arrested”.

Man, 55, docked for damaging property worth N1.77m

or allegedly stealing building materials and damaging a fence valued at N1.77 million, a 55-year-old man, Sikiru Rufa’i, was on Monday charged before an Apapa Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos. Rufa’i, who resides at Owode Town, Lagos, is facing a four-count charge of conspiracy, stealing, unlawful damage and breach of peace. The prosecution said the accused conspired with others still at large to destroy a fence and 25 bags of cement, all valued at N1.77 million property of Mr. Tunde Ajiboye. Insp. Festus Osaghale told the court that the accused also stole building materials worth N55, 000 belonging to the complainant, Ajiboye. ``When Ajiboye confronted Rufa’i for stealing the materials and damaging his property, the accused brought thugs to terrorise him.”

He alleged that the accused committed the offences on May 13 at No.8, Muyibi St., Owode Town, Lagos. The offences contravene Sections 166, 285, 348 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011, according to Osaghale. The accused, however, entered a plea of `not guilty’. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 285 stipulates a three-year sentence for stealing, while Section 409 prescribes a two-year jail term for conspiracy. Section 348 provides two years imprisonment for unlawful damage of property. Ruling on the bail application of the accused, the Chief Magistrate, Mrs A.K. Sonubi, granted Rufai a bail in the sum of N250, 000 with one surety in like sum. Further hearing in the case has been adjourned till October 28.(NAN)

Housing scheme: Kriston-Lally threatens to sue NLC …We shall meet in Court – NLC By A’isha Biola Raji

Pilgrims urged to pray for world peace By Mahmud Jika

ilgrims who have come for Hajj this year were urged to pray for global peace and stability during the annual event, the largest gathering witnessed by humanity. This call was made by a

prominent Indian Muslim Leader, A.P Abubacker Musliyar, who also double as General-Secretary of the All -India Muslim Scholars’ Association. “We have to pray to God, the creator of universe, to solve problems facing people all over the world to help them live in

peace and stability. This should be our main prayer during this Hajj”, he stated. He emphasized the role of Hajj in strengthening unity and solidarity among Muslims. “All pilgrims wear the same form of clothing and say the same prayers. They glorify God, seek

His pardon and blessings and rejuvenate their faith to lead a new life for the benefit of humanity”, he added. He commended Saudi Arabia’s leadership role in combating terror, stressing that the entire Muslim nation should stand by the Kingdom.

in place to deal with emergencies in general, including rains and floods. The plans were worked out in coordination with concerned parties such as the Civil Defense and the Ministry of Transport, he said. He said contracts for maintenance of water disposal networks in Makkah and other

Holy Sites were operational. The validity of the contracts ranges between 3 and 5 years, he said. Referring to other projects aimed at serving pilgrims during the current Haj season, he said the 4th Ring Road is being implemented by the Makkah municipality which links the holy sites with the old Jeddah-Makkah

Road. The new road will open next week. Al-Bar said some 2,500 tons of waste are expected to be removed every day from Makkah on normal days. In Arafat and Mina, the volume of waste is expected to rise to 10,000 and 8,000 tons per day, respectively, he said. (Source: Arab News)

Makkah emergency rain plan ‘stays in place’

ayor of Makkah, Osama Al-Bar, has refuted media reports that there have been changes to emergency plans related to possible flooding during the current Hajj season. Recent forecasts have predicted possible light-to-medium rains. Speaking to Arab News, Al-Bar said certain plans were already

developer, Kriston-Lally Plc, partnering with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the provision of affordable houses for Nigeria workers, has said the company is preparing a legal action against the NLC as the latter is going against MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) terms. In a statement, made available yesterday by the Group Managing Director /Chief Executive Officer (GMD/CEO) of the company, Alhaji Mustapha Umar Madawaki, he said the action became crucial due to the reimbursement of all costs and money invested by Kriston-Lally shareholders and stakeholders in the project, plus damages. According to Alhaji Umar, in March 2013, Kriston Enterprises, of which Kriston Lally is a legal affiliate, went into an MoU and subsequent contractual agreement with the NLC. He said, “Everyone knows that Kriston-Lally was the development partner, while NLC was the promoter of the project, adding that this led to the NLC encouraging its members to join the affordable housing project and to pay

deposits of not less than 10% into the Project account under the X-Path system of Zenith Bank Plc. “Kriston-Lally is preparing legal action against NLC for the reimbursement of all costs, money invested by Kriston-Lally shareholders and stakeholders in the project, plus damages. NLC never provided a plot of land and apparently had no intention or ability to do so. NLC basically scammed us either as part of one of their political games or so that certain NLC leaders could benefit personally from the project,” the statement read. According to GMD, there is a part of the contract which NLC has declined to mention to the public, “this part of the contract is absolutely fundamental, not only to the success of the project but it is fundamental to the very beginning. In his reaction, the General Secretary of NLC, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson said the congress would respond consequently, should the matter go to Court. He said NLC had earlier structured that no subscriber should pay money into the said Bank Account for the project due the inability of the KristonLally to deliver to the workers the houses as agreed in the MoU.

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Peoples Daily, monday, september 29, 2014

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News

$9.3m saga: Muslim lawyers demand thorough investigation

By Mashe Umar Gwamna

he Muslim Lawyers Association of Nigeria (MLAN), Abuja chapter has called on the Federal Government to thoroughly investigate the controversial $9.3 million, which was discovered in a private jet belonging to Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor.

In an interview with Journalists, Chairman of the association, Barrister Abdullahi Awal Mohammed said the investigation would not only be in the best interest of Nigerians, but will vindicate the federal government of insinuations that it was a part of Boko Haram sponsors. Barrister Mohammed also said

that it was unfortunate that such an issue is coming up at a time when the country is facing some turbulent trials, which has equally caused the Nigerian youths to lose interest in the government and the country as a whole. Mohammed added that the claim that the seized money belongs to federal government, and that it was meant to purchase

arms does not hold water, as according to him, everyone knows that has not been the appropriate process for such a business. He further advised the government to be sincere and explain how the money got to South Africa in the first place and why it is yet to demand the seized money from the South African government.

the foundation as honorable and apt at this time, noting too the experience and integrity of Engr. Chenge who has excelled as first female MD, Lower River Basin Authority. Senate President Sen. David Mark who was represented by Senior Special Assistant on Liaison Chief Adakole Elijah said the foundation which seeks to

emancipate the downtrodden is a great contribution to human and societal development and growth. F o u n d e r o f t h e nongovernmental organization Engr. Roseline Ada Chenge explained that the foundation which she started some years ago, aims to empower the gifted individuals in the society who are most times neglected.

A statement by the Secretary General of the NGO, Ben Konya at the weekend said, “We applaud the gallantry of our armed forces under the able leadership of the Commander-in-Chief, and we view these successes as testament to the courage, sustained will and resolve of the President Jonathan Administration to defeat terror.” The statement said when the President asserted last month that government would defeat terror, and that he would lead Nigerians to

achieve that, he assured Nigerians that insurgency will ultimately be defeated in our land. “Today, with the spate of arrests of masterminds of every bombing, the recapture of Boko Haram bases in Sambisa, Balmo and Gwoza, the capture of Boko Haram’s self-confessed ‘chief Butcher’-Zakari Mohammed, the elimination of the face of Boko Haram -‘AbubakarShekau’, the continuing surrender of hundreds of insurgents, among others,

even some of the ardent critics now admit that the peace and tranquility in the North East have vastly improved,” the statement said. “With these successes, which we see as just the beginning steps in winning the undoubtedly difficult war against terror in our land, there could not have been a better present for this Eid-El Kabir and Independence celebrations,” the statement added. While expressing gratitude and

appreciation for the gallant men and women of our armed forces, who continue to make huge sacrifice for our security, the statement called on all Nigerians to increase support and encouragement for Nigerian troops. “Our organisation will in the days ahead, in partnership with other willing patriots, launch a support initiative to support our troops and their families. That is a duty we owe our fatherland,” the statement said.

for peace”. According to the chairman of the occasion, Dr Paddy Njokwu, the group, added to the UN’s theme of this year’s Universal Peace Day, which was; “The right of people to peace” to emphasize the role of citizens and stakeholders in the attainment of peace. In his words; “Peace is built, not switched on; it is not the exclusive preserve of government, but also of the people.” Also speaking at the event, the

representative of the UN Secretary General, Dr Aisha Audu Emeje, called on stakeholders to take the plight of the displaced serious to avoid future complications. “We should strive to care for the displaced people because if we do not, we will be breeding a new set of insurgents, gradually,” she noted. Addressing the challenges of nations in the quest for peace, the Sudanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Tajesir Ali, said a major

step forward is for Nigeria to carry out a ‘SWOT’ analysis, identify its Strength, Weaknesses Opportunities and Threats. He said a close analysis of this will go a long way to bring about peace in the country. The program, which was aimed at enlightening Nigerians on the various roles of stake holders in the quest for peace would serve as a means of rewarding 38, Nigerians with various awards for their role in the struggle for peace in Nigeria.

Jonathan’s aide advocates concern for gifted persons

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

pecial Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Interparty affairs, Sen. Ben Obi, has stressed the need for professionals to be in the vanguard in engaging naturally gifted individuals in the society to achieve their dreams. Sen. Obi who said this yesterday in Makurdi at the formal

launching of Engr. Roseline Ada Chenge, Managing Director of the Lower River Basin Authority, Divine Foundation, lauded her commitment to transform the lives of gifted persons, adding that there is a linkage of his foundation with the transformation agenda of the President which aims at transforming the Nigerian society. He described the concept of

Group charges Nigerians to work together for peace igerians have been enjoined to crave for peace individually and collectively, rather than rely solely on government for the attainment of peace. The call was made at a program organised, yesterday in Abuja by the Universal Peace Federation, UPF to commemorate this year’s Universal Peace Day, with the theme; “Right of the people to peace and the responsibilities of leaders

By Albert Akota he National Coordinator of the National Youths Summit, Norbert Onaga, yesterday said that no less than five thousand Nigeria youths are currently undergoing empowerment training at the youth’s summit in Abuja. He said the three days programme would focus more attention on empowering the youths in their respective fields, adding that this year’s edition would feature foreign facilitators and delegates from UK, Ukriane, South Africa, Kenya and Ghana. According to him, the event was organized by Golden Heart Foundation with support from the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Office of the Special Assistant to the Presidency on Youth and Student Matters, National Youth Council of Nigeria and the Nigerian Students’ Leadership Forum to ensure youths cut across six geo-political zones of the country were empowered adequately. “This year’s edition will feature foreign facilitators and delegates from UK, Ukriane, South Africa, Kenya and Ghana, the training sessions will run morning and evening, 9am and 4pm respectively, registration, accommodation, transport and accommodation are free, our utmost desire is to see our youths doing well in their various chosen careers. Meanwhile the Minster for Youth Development, Mr. Boni Haruna has charged National Youth Summit to empower youths meaningfully for the interest of the country as well as their immediate family. He pleaded his support to the summit that had its first edition in 2007 and runs concurrently on youth empowerment and capacity building. This year’s centenary edition themed “Generational Shift” was to mark the new generational youths who must be properly equipped and positioned. The event is billed to end this Saturday with a gala night tagged: Unity Concert and Award Nite featuring J-Martins, Timi Dakolo, Samsong, Klint De Drunk, Roy, Phil Roberts, Osama, Mr. Steve, MC Olivia and others.

L-R: Representative of Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trustfund (TETFUND), Mr. Oladipo Salawu, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Prof. Aloysius Uzuagulu, representative of TETFUND BOT Chairman, Mr. Olusegun Jeboda, and representative of the Acting Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr. Joel Ogohi, during the TETFUND/FIRS 2014 South-East joint interactive forum, yesterday in Enugu. Photo: NAN By Evelyn Okakwu

5,000 youths undergoing training at National Youth Summit

NGO commends Jonathan on war against insurgency

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

he Citizens’ Cultural Renaissance Initiative, a socio-cultural NonGovernmental Organisation for the mobilisation of citizens for national integration and cultural rebirth, has commended President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, on the recent spate of success scored by the Nigerian military against insurgents, especially in the North eastern part of the country.

Peoples Daily, monday, september 29, 2014

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PEOPLES DAILY, monday, september 29, 2014

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COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, AZARE P. M. B. 044 BAUCHI STATE (OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR)

EDITORIAL

INVITATION FOR PRE-QUALIFICATION AND TENDER

A. 2013 SPECIAL INTERVENTION PROJECTS a. Construction of Female Students Hostel b. Construction of Perimeter Wall Fencing c. Drilling and Connection of 3 Nos. Motorised Borehole d. Procurement of 1 No. 18 Seater Toyota Bus with A/C PRE-QUALIFICATIONS 3. Reputable and technically competent Contractors with verifiable tract records of performance on similar jobs are hereby invited to apply. All applications for Pre-qualifications must be in line with due process guidelines: a. Evidence of Incorporation (CAC) Certificate b. Evidence of TAX Clearance Certificate for the last 3 years c. Evidence of Financial Capability and Banking support d. Evidence of Registration with the College e. Company Audited Account for 3 years prepared by Chartered Accountants and Duly Signed f. Evidence of similar projects executed g. Annual Turnover h. VAT Registration and Evidence of Past VAT Remittances i. Evidence of payment of Education TAX (as applicable) j. Original copies of the documents above MUST be produced for scrutiny opening session 3. TENDER Consequently, only Contractors that were successful in Pre-qualification will be allowed to Tender. Tender documents are available for purchase at non-refundable fee of N50, 000.00 (Fifty Thousand Naira only) from the date of this publication. 4. SUBMISSION OF COMPLETED PRE-QUALIFICATION TENDER DOCUMENTS The above documents MUST be submitted in sealed envelopes clearly marked “Pre-qualification to tender” and separately “Tender Documents” for each job in view, as itemized above and shall be delivered to: THE REGISTRAR, COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, P. M. B. 044 AZARE BAUCHI STATE Not later than two weeks from the date of this publication. The documents shall be opened on Friday 17th October, 2014 at noon in the College Conference Room. NB Please note that the College reserves the right to verify any claim by the bidders and shall not be liable to accept the lowest bidder.

Ali Ahmed Adamu Registrar

FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY ADMINISTRATION (FCTA)

FCT COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, ZUBA P.M.B. 61, GARKI – ABUJA

INVITATION FOR TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL BIDS IN RESPECT OF 2011/2012/2013 MERGED TETFUND INTERVENTION The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) has approved the utilization of the 2011/2012/2013 Intervention in Library Development Fund for the project named below:Lot 1. Lot 2. Lot 3. Lot 4.

Books and Reference materials (Serials No.1) Books and Reference materials (Serial No. 1) Book Shelves (Serial No. 2) Computer systems, Accessories, Upgrading of E-library, e-books, photocopier etc (Serial Nos. 3 – 17)

2.In view of the above, the College wishes to invite competent, reputable and interested contractors to come forward for the bidding process. 3.PRE-QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS/CRITERIA The pre-qualification requirements/criteria include the following: i. Certificate of incorporation with Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC); ii. Evidence of Tax Clearance Certificate for the past three consecutive years; iii. Evidence of VAT Registration and Evidence of past remittance; iv. Job profile that have direct bearing with the job which pre-qualification is sought; v. Evidence of financial capability to execute the job (current Bank reference); vi. Evidence of Compliance with 2004 Pension Act (Pension Certificate); vii. Company audited Accounts for the past three (3) years; viii. Company profile indicating Names and Qualification of key personnel. 4. SUBMISSION OF TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS Competent and interested contractors are to submit both Technical and Financial Bids in respect of the projects advertised. The bid documents are ready for collection on payment of a non-refundable fee of Ten Thousand Naira (N10,000.00) only per lot into the Account No. 2008695800 of First Bank, Zuba Branch. Both documents (Technical and Financial) duly marked should be addressed to: THE REGISTRAR, FCT COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, ZUBA – ABUJA. not later than 12:00 noon on Monday 10th November, 2014. 5.OPENING OF TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS All submissions received will be publicly opened on Monday 10th November, 2014 at the College conference room by 2:00p.m. 6.PROSPECTIVE TENDERERS ARE REQUESTED TO NOTE THAT: i. Only companies whose Technical Bids scaled through the pre-qualification stage will have their financial Bids opened. All companies who failed to scale through this preliminary stage will have their financial documents dropped; and ii. Prospective Tenderers are advised to come along to the venue of the opening with originals of the following documents for sighting: (a) (b) (c) (d)

Certificate of Incorporation (CAC); Tax Clearance Certificate; VAT Certificate; and Receipt of payment of Tender fees.

SIGNED: MUHAMMAD M. LIMAN Registrar

Jonathan and his Chad visit

resident Goodluck Jonathan’s recent visit to Chad over Boko Haram is a welcome development. Hitherto, Nigeria had behaved as if we could go it alone in the fight against the deadly insurgency. Now the reality has dawned on us. We unilaterally closed our borders to our north-east neighbours without proper consultations and with a little care of how it hurt their economies. The President’s gesture even if it has come a little too late must be accepted as better late than never. Pictures from the meeting by our President and Idris Derby of Chad showed that the only Nigerian who accompanied our President to the talks was the former Governor of Borno state, Alhaji Modu Sheriff, popularly known as SAS. Sadly, our President’s decision to portray this man as his confidant, even if it makes the Chadians happy, did not go down well with many Nigerians. Since the Boko Haram insurgency exploded in Nigeria, most analysts of its origins have pointed fingers at the former governor. General Jeremiah Useni, a former national leader of the ANPP, the party that sponsored Sheriff’s election as governor, revealed that he had used thugs, named ECOMOG, to prosecute his election battles into office way back in 2003. On a visit to Borno, he noticed the romance between his party’s candidate and the dangerously armed killer squad and went ahead to warn

him about the security implications of a man of his status associating with such criminal bands. Sheriff, he said, responded that the criminals were good for securing votes. The thugs codenamed ECOMOG later melted into Boko

“

The College of Education, Azare intends to carry out Construction and Procurements as part of the TETFund Special Intervention Projects for 2013.

Still, we believe that the President made a grievous mistake in associating with his friend Sheriff on such a serious national duty. Rightly or wrongly, the man has been smeared by the Boko Haram scourge . . . Haram. It is also alleged that prior to his election as governor in 2003, Sheriff had reached an agreement with the founding leader of Boko Haram, Mohammad Yusuf, that he would implement “full Sharia” once he took office. This agreement led to Yusuf’s nomination of one of his trusted lieutenants, BujiFoi, to be made commissioner in charge of religious affairs. Sheriff’s failure to implement “full Sharia” in Borno led to a parting of ways between him and the group, the subsequent resignation of Buji

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from his cabinet and his summary execution by security forces. Furthermore, In October 2012, Sheriff was allegedly arrested by Cameroonian security forces over his connections with Boko Haram. He was subsequently released on the intervention of the Nigerian government. Currently, there is a raging controversy in Nigeria over his links with Boko Haram. Dr. Stephen Davies, an Australian who claims he is negotiator with the Boko Haram on behalf of the federal government, says leaders of the group confessed to him that Sheriff was their sponsor. Sheriff has vehemently denied the allegation, though, threatening to sue the Australian. Under the prevailing circumstances, we find it odd that Sheriff was the best person our President should showcase in any efforts to find a solution to the Boko Haram scourge. To be sure, He is a friend of the President and a fellow party man. He is also believed to have invested his stupendous wealth in Chad, thus giving him leverage with the leaders of that country. It is believed that if he pulls out his investment in that country, its economy may collapse. Still, we believe that the President made a grievous mistake in associating with his friend Sheriff on such a serious national duty. Rightly or wrongly, the man has been smeared by the Boko Haram scourge and except the President wants to share in the oozing stench that follows him everywhere he goes, he should just let Sheriff go.

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Opinion

PEOPLES DAILY, Monday, September 29, 2014

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Opinion

The $9.3m palaver, Oritsejafor and Nigerian Christians

No doubt, Akunyili was an achiever but…

By Bitrus Gwadah

By Kingsley Igbokwe

egarding the above subject matter, the following facts have since been established. An aircraft owned by one Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, the current President of the Christian Association of Nigeria ( or what is left of it), flew into the Republic of South Africa and landed in one of its private airports. aircraft had three passengers, and upon a search, was found to be carrying, inter alia, the sum of $9.3million in cash. The cash was not declared either in Nigeria or upon landing in South Africa in violation of the local laws of both Nigeria and South Africa, and international laws and conventions. Accordingly, the South African authorities arrested the vessel and detained both the illicit cargo and the suspicious passengers. When questions were raised by the South African authorities and Nigerians: Pastor Oritsejafor, through his PR wizards has admitted ownership of the aircraft, but denies all knowledge of its cargo, it’s passengers and it’s mission in South Africa. He claims that the aircraft was leased to a company in which he ( Pastor AYO ORITSEJAFOR) owns substantial shares, and the aircraft had then been subsequently hired by those

found in it in South Africa. The Federal Government of Nigeria then stepped in to fill in the blanks. It says the aircraft was on a mission to purchase arms and military equipment to enhance the prosecution of the war against the Boko Haram insurgents in Nigeria. The FGN further named the organization in South Africa who had the supply contract, and to whom the $9.3million was being delivered. The FGN affirmed that the $9.3million belongs to the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. he South African authorities then disclosed that the named vendor/ contractor was neither known nor licensed to deal in the equipment the Nigerian Government was talking about. On his part, Pastor Oritsejafor continues to play Ananias. The CAN leadership and members continue to play the proverbial monkey. While the elephants dig deeper into their positions, the matter is having a field day in the Peoples Court. Many less informed Muslims have since come to the conclusion that this is what they have suspected all along: these Christians have been amassing arms to kill Muslims. Like, “haba. We have been telling you all this time and you will not believe. Now nko?” The Catholic

community have rushed to an established alibi - we suspended our participatory membership of CAN SINCE THE imposition of Pastor Oritsejafor. But Bishop Kaigama helped the matter somewhat by adding that Pastor AYO was not acting on behalf of Nigerian Christians. A certain ubiquitous group of CHRISTIAN/MUSLIM Initiative has since surfaced, in defense of “THE PASTOR AYO ORITSEJAFOR WE KNOW.” The “knowledge” was attested to by two ALHAJIS and one USTAZ. ( my friends who are exemplary Muslims were very embarrassed by the content of the paid advert). Is there anything our Nigerians will not sell for money? Senators shot down debate on the matter, citing security concerns, amid allegations of bribes having been given and taken. Other Nigerians have called for a probe of the entire saga. While I appreciate the concern of those calling for a probe, I should ask them to point out how many probes ordered by Governments in this country have ever been published or the results acted upon. In this case the FGN will more than welcome the idea of a probe, because it saves both time and face. I do not support a probe. Instead, I will like to directly appeal to the Nigerian Christian

community, those who understand what it means to be “CALLED BY HIS NAME”, to act. First, let us together reflect, very briefly on the facts. Pastor AYO ORITSEJAFOR HAS LIED. His CAN image launderers have lied. There is no Christian worthy of that name that can sincerely defend Pastor AYO on what the facts reveal. Christians, remember what the Ananias couple told the disciples and the instant consequences that befell the couple. Our lord says in the Bible ...”i am against those ... who cause my people to err by their lies and by their recklessness”. In the book of Jeremiah, God set out the following characteristics of the kind of leaders He would replace andthen punish: “Leaders who destroy their people instead of developing them. Leaders who scatter their people instead of uniting them in a cause.Leaders who abandon their people instead of remaining responsible.Leaders who act in self-serving and unjust ways instead of standing for the truth.Leaders who lie as though there was no God. Leaders who lead their people astray instead of guiding them into security.Leaders who foster evil and deceit instead of integrity and honesty.Leaders who fill people with false hope rather than speaking God’s word.”

God didn’t merely threaten to remove bad leaders, but he also promised to raise righteous leaders to guide the people in the right way. So, Nigerian Christian leaders, how about it? Those so called elder statesmen who are Christians, those political leaders who profess to represent Christ, but who have maintained a deafening silence should accept the challenge and speak up. Judgement should begin in the house of the Lord. Where are the Jerry Ganas and the Okos and the Danjumas and the Marks? Ask the Venerable Pastor AYO ORITSEJAFOR, IN THE NAME OF THE ONE WHO WILL JUDGE US ALL, TO RESIGN his position as President of CAN, so that this useful organization can rediscover its objects and ideals for the good of Nigerians. His congregation can keep him if they so desire, but other members of can, on the authority of the word of god, do not want him as president. Nigerians are watching, the world is watching. Have we not been laughing stock long enough? In the matter of the $9.3million and Pastor AYO ORITSEJAFOR, the ball is in the Court of Nigerian Christians. What would be the verdict? Bitrus Gwadah via b2gwadah@yahoo.com).

Why Jonathan may be returned to power By Abdulbaqi Aliyu Yari

ith elections just 5 months away , the chances of President Goodluck Jonathan returning in 2015 are becoming more and more clearer. This is because, up to now, no formidable opposition has been put in place to defeat PDP come 2015. While I am not a lawyer, but I am fully aware of the fact that section 137 (1) b has explicitly stated 8 years as the maximum years a person can serve as the President of Nigeria. Shall in case the court later after hearings and every thing allowed the president to stand in the elections, then he may have a return come 2015. The major opposition party is yet to chose either consensus or through election the person to fly its flag in 2015. Among all those seeking for the party’s Presidential candidacy, only General Muhammad Buhari can make a very good show in 2015. Besides, others will only ridicule the party with the exception of 2 that may do something but not tangible. Despite the fact that currently, people of Nigeria are not happy with 15 years of PDP rule. More so, President Jonathan popularity may be at all times low now. With all the insecurity and disappearance of billions of dollars, Nigerians are really unhappy with the development as many see the

leader as weak. But still, for for those that are aggrieved with Jonathan, if Buhari did not emerge as the APC candidate, the consider Jonathan back in 2015 as he is still a force to reckon with. Even with Genaral Muhammad Buhari, President Jonathan may still come back as some elements within the opposition are not up to seeing the success of the party or simply because of corruption they will compromise. Politics is a game of numbers, strong campaign, popularity,

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incumbency, determination and willingness to succeed and win elections. Many of these factors are right inside the hands of Mr President. So for anybody to wrestle power from him, they need to have a critically studied workable plan to unseat Jonathan. Even in the so called developed countries, the power of the incumbency is a major plus advantage to serving Presidents that want to return after election. Never in Africa a serving President contested an election and was defeated and

accepted the election as free and fair. We all saw it what happened with Lauren Gbagbo even after been declared defeated, he still holds power and nearly caused a civil war. Another reason why Mr. President may return is the artificial divisions that existed in Nigeria. Religious, sectional and ethnic divisions among Nigerians will be another advantage factor for Jonathan. Even in the North, he will definitely have some states, while the last elections

Politics is a game of numbers, strong campaign, popularity, incumbency, determination and willingness to succeed and win elections. Many of these factors are right inside the hands of Mr President. So for anybody to wrestle power from him, they need to have a critically studied workable plan to unseat Jonathan. Even in the so called developed countries, the power of the incumbency is a major plus advantage to serving Presidents that want to return after election. Never in Africa a serving President contested an election and was defeated and accepted the election as free and fair. We all saw it what happened with Lauren Gbagbo even after been declared defeated, he still holds power and nearly caused a civil war

according to the results, General Buhari did not have a single vote in some South – south states. Mr. President has established Nigerian institutions. Even though he has been promising free and fair elections, but still the MDAs are answerable to him. That is a major factor. The expensive campaign by the President and his party may win the election for the President. Just recently, over 8 thousand campaign groups were screened and registered for President Jonathan. Those groups will be of help to him when the court (law) allowed him to stand in 2015. Finally, if the remaining 5 months can be fully utilized using all means available and necessary by the President, then his popularity may improve and Nigerians may approve his return and rate him well. Because he is still the President. All this country’s resources are in his hands. Improvement in power supply, employment, transparency , accountability, sincerity, education, Agriculture, finance and above all security of lives and properties, if the above and a lot other can be improve by Jonathan then he will find his return to the Aso villa come 2015. Comrade Abdulbaqi Aliyu Jari wrote in from Katsina

s a public analyst keeping tab on current affairs particularly in the Health Sector, I was shocked when I read a tribute written by one Lorretta Epuechi, entitled ‘Dora Akunyili: A woman of courage’. There was nothing wrong in paying tribute to a woman who has rendered meritorious service to the nation. But Lorretta showed strands of ignorance and her depth of misinformation on the chronicle of events at NAFDAC particularly as it pertains to the introduction of the Truscan and the Short Message Service (the GSM Scratch and Text Service) in the fight against counterfeit drugs. It is an urgent matter of concern that Epuechi has breached the tenets of factual and objective writing by propagating falsehood and misinformation without adequate research and facts finding. Going down memory lane, I remember vividly that shortly after the current DirectorGeneral, Dr. Paul Orhii assumed office in 2009, he introduced the Truscan and the Short Message Service along many other cutting-edge technologies such as the RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), the Black Eye, the Mini lab and the recently introduced mobile water technology that checks the quality of water on the spot. These are just to mention a few of the innovative technologies introduced by Dr. Orhii in winning the war against drug counterfeting. There is a religious saying that a labourer is worthy of his reward. And another saying that honour is given to whom honour is due. No doubt the Amazon, late Prof. Dora Akunyili served NAFDAC in the best of her

capacity and made NAFDAC a household name with constant and tireless service to curb the menace of drug counterfeiting and other unwholesome regulated products. While her successor, Dr. Paul Orhii has also not rested on his oars. He has worked doggedly and relentlessly to achieve the same goal and took NAFDAC to greater height. He may not have adopted the same strategies as his predecessor but he has introduced a more 21st century compliant strategy, which is the use of cutting-edge technologies to detect counterfeit drugs, alongside the usual traditional methods of fighting drug counterfeiting. I remember that in 2009 Dr. Paul Orhii assumed duty; few months later he introduced and launched the Truscan device in the presence of the

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Minister of Health, Prof Christian Chukwu with other government dignatories and stakeholders. If Nigerians would recall prior to 2009 when Dr. Orhii assumed duty as NAFDAC Boss, nobody ever heard or saw a handheld device such as the Truscan and MAS (Mobile Authentication Service) deployed to detect counterfeit medicines on the spot. With Dr. Orhii, the trend has changed, with the introduction of cutting-edge technologies in the fight against drug counterfeiting which has earned him both international and local awards, honours and recognitions. Once again Nigerians can justify their big brother role to Africa, as countries such as Kenyan, Seirra Leone, Uganda and Cameroun have come to learn from Nigeria and take a clue on how NAFDAC

is winning her war against drug counterfeiting under the able leadership of Dr. Orhii with the use of Truscan. NAFDAC under Orhii was the first regulatory Agency to deploy the use of Truscan to detect counterfeit drugs. In recognition of Dr. Orhii’s efforts in the use of the cutting- edge technologies to fight the incidence of counterfeiting, Dr. Orhii was invited by the US Council of Foreign Relations more than four times between 2010 and 2013 to speak on how NAFDAC is winning the war against drug counterfeiting with the use of Truscan and other cutting-edge technologies. Interestingly, part of the DG’s lecture was used by the Council of Foreign Relations in its report to President Obama which also formed part of the US President’s submission at the G8 summit held in 2012. Also in

There is a religious saying that a labourer is worthy of his reward. And another saying that honour is given to whom honour is due. No doubt the Amazon, late Prof. Dora Akunyili served NAFDAC in the best of her capacity and made NAFDAC a household name with constant and tireless service to curb the menace of drug counterfeiting and other unwholesome regulated products. While her successor, Dr. Paul Orhii has also not rested on his oars. He has worked doggedly and relentlessly to achieve the same goal and took NAFDAC to greater height. He may not have adopted the same strategies as his predecessor but he has introduced a more 21st century compliant strategy, which is the use of cutting-edge technologies to detect counterfeit drugs, alongside the usual traditional methods of fighting drug counterfeiting

2013, the US Senate of the State of Georgia passed a resolution commending Dr. Orhii for his outstanding achievements in the use of cutting-edge technologies to fight drug counterfeiting. NAFDAC’s success under the able leadership of Dr. Orhii in the fight against drug counterfeiting was also recognized by the DirectorGeneral of World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Margaret Chan who revealed that there is a remarkable reduction in the incidence of counterfeit malaria medicines in Sub-Saharan Africa including Nigeria. Impressed with Dr. Orhii’s performance, President Goodluck Jonathan conferred on him the national honor of the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) in 2012. Dr. Orhii’s quest to eradicate drug counterfeiting and his introduction of the Truscan, MAS and other cutting-edge technologies has proved effective in the fight against counterfeit drugs globally and has made Dr. Orhii the global leader and champion of the fight against drug counterfeiting. It was in recognition of this superlative performance that Dr. Paul Orhii was appointed first chair of the World Health Organization (WHO)’s International AntiCounterfeiting Task Force known as New State Mechanism on Spurious, Substandard, Falselylabelled, Falsified Counterfeit (SSFFC) medical products. Dr. Orhii has received over 50 national and international awards for his ground breaking efforts in the introduction of anti-counterfeiting cutting edge technologies. Kingsley Igbokwe resides in Abuja.

World Environmental Health Day: A celebration of inequalities? By isah Adamu

he World Environmental Health Day (WEHD) was declared for commemoration in 2011 by the International Federation of Environmental Health (IFEH) to bring world attention to the vital role of environmental health profession and services to the improvement of health and well-being of the earth’s inhabitants. The Council of the International Federation of Environmental Health Proclamation of 26th September 2011 as the foundational World Environmental Health Day which would be commemorated every September by diverse interests with stakes in Environmental Health the world over. In that famous declaration, the IFEH Council considered various fronts from which the noble profession of Environmental Health positively impacts, central to which is the continuing threats to human health posed by pollution, climate change, urbanisation, globalisation and poverty, among others and the urgent need to adopt a preventive approach so as to maintain and improve the quality of the natural environment, air, water, food, housing and communities in order

to reduce the impact of disease and the public health. There is no gain-saying to stress the need identified by the Federation in addressing the hydra-headed problems associated with climate change, urbanisation and excruciating poverty to which the developing world is seriously exposed especially the sub-Saharan Africa where our dear country is located. The urbanisation occasioned by the Industrial boom of the early 19th century in Europe set the stage for the complex interaction between Man, his environment and Etiologic Agents of diseases. In the process, diseases hitherto unknown emerged including Plague and Cholera and devastated a sizeable population. In Great Britain, the Cholera outbreak in Northern London was traced to contamination of sources of drinking water with human excrements. The Poor Law Commission which investigated the matter resulted in the enactment of the Public Health Act in 1848 which introduced a brand new public servant – the Nuisance Inspector responsible for monitoring human endeavours for the purpose of tracking infractions in daily life that could harm human

health. This further gave rise to the metamorphosis of the Nuisance Inspector to that of Public Health Officer in 1950s, and finally the Environmental Health Officer in 1972 – spanning over a century. It is important to note that it did not end with just the change of nomenclature but rather encompassed the birth of a profession amidst the array of professions flourishing in Britain and elsewhere in Europe namely the Environmental Health Profession. This resonated to Nigeria where the Sanitary Attendants changed to the Sanitary Inspectors who worked in the then British colonies making the Senior Municipal Sanitary Officer a statutory member of the Legislative Council in 1913 on the amalgamation of both the Southern and Northern Protectorates of Nigeria. Like in Britain the transformation continued until the mid 1980s culminating in the designation, Environmental Health Officer (EHO). This leads us to ask what environmental health means. Simply put, it refers to the control of all factors in man’s physical environment which exercise, or may exercise, a deleterious effect on his physical development,

health or survival. This for sure is one of the integral parts of Public Health which aims at promoting health and prolonging life of the human being. In Nigeria this noble profession is composed of these components: waste management; food control and hygiene; pest and vector control; environmental health control of housing and sanitation; epidemiological investigation and control; air quality management; occupational health and safety; water resources management and sanitation; noise control; protection of recreational environment; radiation control and health; control of frontiers, air and sea ports and border crossing; pollution control and abatement; educational activities (health promotion and education); promotion and enforcement of environmental health quality standards; collaborative efforts to study the effects of environmental hazards (research); and environmental health impact assessment. (EHIA). The Federation, in supporting the World Health Organization’s declaration through the World Health Assembly resolution (WHA65.8) which welcomed WHO’s move

to facilitate equitable access to health by all through “allfor-equity” and “health-forall” global actions, therefore decided to focus attention in this respect hence this year’s WEHD theme “ADDRESSING ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH INEQUALITIES”becomes very relevant most especially in Nigeria where the health sector is prepondently turned to medical circle with the Nation paying dearly for this. The WHO declaration significantly focuses most attention to the Social Determinants of Health as emphasized by the Commission which did the study and prepared its report from which the resolution was arrived at, that health equity was not only achievable but was the right thing to do. That is why Nigeria’s standing on the WHO Country profiles is nothing but discouraging as the gap between the poor and the rich, the educated and non-educated; the urban-based and the ruralbased is so wide. These combine to paint a rather gloomy picture of Nigeria’s morbidity and mortality indices. Isah Adamu wrote in from Kaduna.

PEOPLES DAILY, Monday, September 29, 2014

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Comment

Peoples Daily, Monday, September 29, 2014

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Jega and the polling unit conundrum By Kayode Ojo

hairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Attahiru Jega, has landed himself in hot water. Coming off the remarkable successes of the Ekiti and Osun gubernatorial elections, Jega misjudged the mood in the country and proposed the creation of 30,027 additional polling units, with a lopsided distribution of 21,615 in the North and a mere 8,412 in the South of the country. Of course, many Nigerians of Southern extraction are rightly enraged as they suspect that, in proposing the new polling units, Jega is acting out a Northern script to rig the 2015 general elections. One of the more coherent objectors to Jega’s new polling units is the Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly (SNPA). In a number of public publications, the group is demanding Jega’s resignation for “obvious inclination to ethnic chauvinism and protectionism.” The SNPA also say they are opposed to the process of creating the new polling units “as it lacks any fundamental basis.”Considering that Jega hitherto enjoyed widespread respect and significant

goodwill, the call for his resignation by a group whose chieftains include former Vice President Alex Ekwueme and South-South Leader Chief Edwin Clark deserves careful scrutiny. This is more so as Jega, if rather belatedly, has defended himself, saying: “For the avoidance of doubt, the Commission has not yet created the additional polling units. It has simply approved the framework and guidelines to facilitate the creation of these additional polling units by the Resident Electoral Commissioners and the state officers of INEC.” Be that as it may, the SNPA is still insisting on Jega’s resignation. According to the group, Jega’s explanations are “Characteristic of an unrepentant, arrogant, insensitive and impervious dictator.” The SNPA further argues that: “Contrary to the averment of Prof. Jega that no polling unit has been created and allocated, it is reported (Nigerian Pilot of Wednesday, September 10, 2014, pp.16) that the Resident Electoral Commissioner of Zamfara State, a state whose registered voters has been grossly depleted by half as a result of the Automated Fingerprint Identification System

(AFIS) [emphasis by SNPA] has already inaugurated a Committee to distribute Jega’s additional 1,163 polling units for the state.” What is most striking in this issue is that Jega himself has conceded that, following the use of AFIS, the total number of registered voters in the country has actually reduced. In his words: “At the end of the general registration of voters in 2011, the Commission announced that the data of 73. 5 million eligible voters had been captured – warts and all; that is, including the records of multiple (Emphasis: not “ghost”) registrants. At the conclusion of data deduplication with the Automated Fingerprint Identification Software (AFIS), by which cases of multiple registrations were eliminated, the figure came down to 70,383,427 registered voters.” In view of Jega’s own submission, it is only logical to question the need for additional polling units when the total number of registered voters in the country is now actually lower than it was before AFIS. This is where the whole matter takes a befuddling and somewhat sinister turn. The post-AFIS reduction of registered voters is at the heart

of the commonsensical and ethical conundrum which Jega faces in his irrational yearning to create new polling units. At this juncture, any discerning mind begins to wonder if in reality Jega is not guilty of the “ethnic chauvinism and protectionism” he has been accused of. For, on the face of it, Jega’s desire to increase polling units in the country — and disproportionately favour the North by an alarming margin while doing so — flies in the face of sound reasoning and shows a shocking disconnection with reality when the INEC chairman himself reports a lower number of registered voters after the AFIS cleanup. Furthermore, it is pertinent to once more recall that Jega recently received kudos from the majority of Nigerians for holding credible gubernatorial elections in Ekiti and Osun states. In both instances, no single complaint was reported about overcrowding at the polling units, one of the spurious reasons Jega has tardily advanced for proposing additional polling units. Considering his stature and position, Jega would have fared better if he had simply owned up to his error rather than offer such an untenable explanation for his gaffe.

The question now is: what needs to be done? With only a few months to go before the electioneering season of 2015 is well under way, it is simply not realistic or prudent to go shopping for a new INEC chairman now. For that reason, the best cause of action is for Jega to apologise to the Nigerian people for his misguided attempt to compromise the 2015 elections before a single vote has been cast. More importantly, he should jettison the idea of new polling units while the status quo ante must be retained. As a professor who taught many students for many years prior to his appointment, Jega is no doubt aware that a teacher may teach his students remarkably well throughout his career, but what almost always comes to define the teacher — and what many students reminisce about at school reunions — is the single, spectacular error the teacher may have made in class. Jega has had a worthwhile tenure thus far at INEC. He should not mar his legacy with a colossal blunder that not only smacks of regional bigotry but may very well derail the 2015 general elections as well as throw the country into chaos. Kayode Oj via linkedin.

Jonathan’s endorsement is reward for mediocrity By Joe Igbokwe

gainst all sound reasoning, permutations and calculations from all those who wish Nigeria well that the leadership of PDP will rise above mediocrity, and impunity in choosing its flag bearer in 2015 presidential elections, the never do wells gathered last week to endorse President Goodluck Jonathan as the candidate of the party. To make matters worse, the leadership of PDP said there will be no Presidential primaries since President is their sole candidate who cannot be challenged. I consider this an act of desperation, a celebration of impunity and it supports Senator George Akume’s assertion that “the chain of ethical liability is unbroken” in Nigeria In 1999 Nigeria generated about 4000mw of electricity and nearly after 16years we are still under 4000mw. Now, are we making progress that we need to sustain this continuity? Security of lives and property was 90% efficient in 1999 and today that great progress has been eroded, trivialized, decimated and desolate. We have lost more lives to carelessness in the last 16years than under military from 1985 to 1999. As I write this our nearly 300 Girls are still in captivity. Boko Haram has

killed more than 3000 innocent Nigerians. Now are we making progress in the areas of security to warrant this continuity mess? Matters were not helped when the president has been changing Service Chiefs at the drop of a hat as if one is changing slippers. When you have such instability in the nations Security architecture then everything is lost. Recently, the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS announced a job vacancy for 3000 people and nearly six million Nigerians applied. NIS tried to do an open aptitude test in public spaces and the bizarre arrangement backfired. Nearly 30 Nigerians died as result of stampede that greeted the awkward and primitive arrangement. Not only that the recruitment turned tragic, we at once exposed our low and miserable lazy attitude and conduct to world and our image nosedived and morals approached zero level. Again in the face this mounting unemployment situation can Nigerians believe this continuity brigandage? From the Presidency to the National Assembly dominated by the PDP, from the Petroleum Industry to the Aviation Industry, from the Ministry of Works to the Civil Service as a

whole, from the Defense Ministry to the External Affairs etc, its corruption and impunity all the way. A quantum of Nigeria’s budgetary allocations every year end into the private pockets. Recently they took a private jet belonging to Pastor Oritsejafor and loaded it with 93million dollars for onward delivery to South Africa for an unknown transaction. If not for the prying eyes of the South African Security personnel’s nobody would have known anything about it. Even as I write this there has not been any serious explanation on how we got to this sorry pass that we have to traffic and abuse the United States dollars. Now in the face of this outright provocation can you subscribe to this continuity madness in the 21st century? Why should we talk about continuity in the face of abysmal performance in the midst of plenty? Why must PDP continue to talk about continuity when all our infrastructures across the country have broken down with no hope to fix them in sight? How can we still be talking about retaining a non-performer and an incompetent leader in a nation of nearly 160 million people? Do we know that a day is very important in the life of a country, like Nigeria talk less of when you have to waste four

or eight years in the hands of a totally helpless and hopeless leader? How can the leaders of a very important country in Africa continue to travel abroad for mere medical check-up when we have the capacity to build at least six world class hospitals in the six zones of the country? How can we continue to lose students to quack universities in Ghana when we can build world class universities in Nigeria and invite other Africans to come here to study? How can we continue to take the insult that none of our universities can be rated high in Africa talk less of the world? I can go on and on. Hello Nigerians, we just have to get up and go. I do not know about you but I cannot trust President Jonathan with another four years of mediocrity and impunity. I cannot trust President Jonathan with another four years of incompetence and timidity. I cannot continue to stomach this foolish idea that President Jonathan is what Nigeria needs now to get to the Promised Land. I cannot continue to be led to believe that in a nation of 160million people President Jonathan is the best we can throw up. The President has tried his best and he has to be voted out for the Nigerians to breathe fresh air. Besides his inability to

provide leadership to Nigeria in hours of need, his inordinate ambition to continue beyond 2015 remains the greatest threat to the corporate existence of Nigeria as a political entity. Our diversity and political arrangement for peace and unity of this country does not support this. Through actions and deeds President Jonathan has divided Nigeria along religious and ethnic lines, he has pitched his Ijaw people against other Nigerians through patronage and lack of political will to call his people to order. He has not shown love to other Nigerians to prove that he is the president of all. President Jonathan has not been able to prosecute one high profile corrupt person since 2009. We have not been lucky in the department of leadership since PDP came to power in 1999. The world mocks us that we assume that somebody is in charge of Nigeria when nobody is really in charge. Given the sordid pictures painted above I submit that the endorsement of President Jonathan to continue to rule Nigeria beyond 2015 is an endorsement of mediocrity. Nigeria can do better than this. Case rested! Joe Igbokwe wrote in from Lagos.

President’s aide throws weight behind Benue female guber aspirant From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

enue electorates have been advised to support the only female aspirant vying for the governorship seat of the state Engr. Roseline Ada Chenge to offer effective service. Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Inter-party affairs Sen. Ben Obi who gave this advice during the formal launching of Engr. Ada Chenge’s Divine Foundation for gifted persons held at the weekend in Makurdi, said she possesses the experience and integrity to lead the state. Sen. Obi also explained why the clamor for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan, stating that it is because of his transformation agenda that has witnessed development in various sectors of the nation. He lauded the initiative of Engr. Chenge in setting up the foundation, noting that such is rare while likening it to the transformation agenda of the President. The President’s aide urged well meaning Nigerians, especially professionals to be in the vanguard in engaging naturally gifted individuals to achieve their dreams and impact on the society. Also speaking, Former NAWOJ president Evelyn Onyilo challenged the women to rise up and take their place in the political landscape of the country in 2015, maintaining that President Goodluck Jonathan has provided the platform with the 35% affirmative in elective appointments for women in his cabinet. Senate President Sen. David Mark represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Liaison, Chief Adakole Elijah said the foundation which seeks to emancipate the downtrodden is a great contribution to human and society development and growth. He also lent his support to the aspiration of Engr. Chenge to govern the state in 2015. Founder of the nongovernmental organization, Engr. Roseline Ada Chenge explained that the foundation which she started some years ago, aims to empower the gifted individuals in the society who are most times neglected. She said the foundation identifies naturally talented persons and provides them the avenue to showcase their talent for the benefit of the society. Engr. Chenge who is the first female Managing Director of the Lower River Basin Authority, called on the Benue people to unite and ensure that a woman emerges governor of the state in 2015.

2015: Talba House 2 House campaign group endorses Jonathan From David Hassan, Gombe

he Talba House 2 House campaign group in Gombe state has pledged support to re-elect President Goodluck Jonathan for second term in office. The group stated this at the weekend during the inauguration of its executives that was held at the school of Nursing and Midwifery conference hall Gombe.

Speaking through the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and state chairman of the Talba House 2 House campaign group, Barr Abdullahi Jalo said arrangement has being put in place to ensure that President Goodluck Jonathan is re-elected into office for the second term. According to him, Talba House 2 House campaign group has already strategized on how to go about the re-election of

President Jonathan, adding that the group had equally set up a plan to build a centre where it would accommodate youths across the state with a view to train them in skills acquisition to enable them to become self reliant. He said the group is working hard to ensure that youths who were neglected in the last administration have sense of belonging in the society, stressing that the present administration is

committed to rehabilitating them without hindrance. Also speaking at the event, the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Gombe state Mr. Baba Sabulu Shuaibu who was represented by the Public Relations Officer of the party, Alhaji Mohammed Musa Gadam reiterated the party’s commitment to him would do its best to ensure that the partyhave cordial relationship with the group.

L-R: President Goodluck Jonathan, and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman, Alhaji Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu, during the PDP SouthSouth zonal rally, on Saturday in Benin.

Ekiti Crisis: Sen. Saraki wants Jonathan to protect judiciary, cautions parties against anarchy From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

he immediate past Governor of Kwara State and Senator, representing Kwara Central Senatorial district, Dr. Bukola Saraki has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to rescue Ekiti State from anarchy and protect the judiciary. Saraki, in a statement personally signed by him and made available to journalists in Ilorin said the current crisis in Ekiti State ‘is a big threat to democracy’. “The current security situation in Ekiti State today is a big threat to our nascent democracy, political stability and judicial independence. Above all, it is an affront to our peaceful co-existence in our immediate environment and to our nation in general. “I am personally worried and concerned as a Nigerian and as a stakeholder in the Nigerian polity. Whether the Ekiti State crisis is APC or PDP driven or is

as a result of an act of commission or omission, or whether it is government, group of people or individually driven, I must say without any ambiguity that this is totally unacceptable and should be dealt with immediately and decisively. “A situation where the independence of our judiciary, its institutions and the office of our respected judicial officials are not safe to discharge and practice their constitutional responsibility and professional roles respectively calls for a signal that anarchy is about to set into our polity. “It is unfortunate that at a time when we as a nation are battling a high rate of insecurity and insurgency across the country, such assault is being unleashed on a Judge of a High Court on official duty. This brings a deeper thought to the level of leadership we are providing to this country. “It is appalling that the Federal government, the Presidency and

the ruling party; the Peoples Democratic Party-PDP, has either refuted, neglected or failed to make a formal pronouncement on the attack on one of the High Court judges in Ekiti State. This is a sign of bad leadership. A precarious situation of this nature should not be sacrificed for political expediency. This is unacceptable. “The National Judicial Council, National Judicial Institute, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the Body of Benchers and other related judicial bodies must also condemn this act and show concern in respect of this barbaric attack on one of their own.” The APC chieftain added that “a situation where the Federal Government, the Presidency and the party that forms the government at the national level deemed it not to be concerned and decided to keep mum over the unwarranted attack on our judges is an act of dereliction of duties and responsibilities. “ An attack on one judicial

officer is an attack to the entire judicial institutions and all that represent it. An attack on a judicial officer is an attack on our democracy and its institutions, an attack on any judicial officer is an attack to the last hope of common man, while an attack on a judicial officer is an attack to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which we all swore to defend and protect. “I hereby call on the Federal Government, the Presidency, NJC, NJI, NBA and other relevant private and public institutions to make a pronouncement forthwith without delay and condemn this criminal atrocity and act of affront to our collective sensibility. This act must stop and government must stop it. What impression are we giving the outside world where the sanctity of the rule of law has been undermined? It should not be under any guise. This is not about politics, it is not about election neither is it about any personality” Saraki stated.

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, september 29, 2014

Page 17

ANOTHER FEATHER TO YOUR CAP

MUTAWELLEN SOKOTO

When The People Are Down And Demoralised, A Leader Emerges To Take Them To The Promised Land. Your Appointment As The Mutawallen Sokoto By The Historic And Respected Sokoto Caliphate Has Added Another Feather To Your Cap. It Is A Big Testimony To Your Sterling Leadership Qualities. You Will Fly Higher.

RT HON AMINU WAZIRI TAMBUWAL CFR SPEAKER, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

DR. GEORGE AKUME SENATE MINORITY LEADER

Peoples Daily, Monday, September 29, 2014

PAGE 18

Politics

Zamfara NUJ cautions political parties against thuggery From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

he Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Zamfara State chapter yesterday called on political parties warming up for the 2015 general elections to for the sake of peace, unity and prosperity

of the state and nation at large, avoid use of innocent youth in thuggery to achieve their desires. Speaking with Peoples Daily at the state union’s secretariat in Gusau, the state capital, the council chairman, Comrade Ibrahim Muhammad Kanoma, recalled that

the level of resorting to thuggery by politicians since 1999 may have inculcated in the teeming youth across the state with militancy which constitutes a setback to the development of the state and the country. Comrade Kanoma, who

attributed the current security situation across the country to the failure of politicians to imbibe real democratic tenets, also challenged registered political parties as well as INEC to put their house in order with a view to delivering quality service to the people.

He urged politicians in the quest to achieve rapid development capable of changing the fortunes of the state and county, to facilitate human development projects and to engage the youth in legitimate businesses, thereby reducing the rate of crime in the society.

Adamawa ByeElection: “Sen Jibrilla is still a PDP member” alleges Sen Barata From Umar Dankano, Yola

The executives of Gombe state and local government coordinators of Talba House to House in support of Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo in 2015 election being inaugurated, on Saturday in Gombe. Photo: NAN

2015: We’ll only support northern candidate – Arewa youth

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

he Arewa Youth Stakeholders Forum has described the recent endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan as the preferred candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the ‘Joke of the Decades’, saying the Northern Region will only support a candidate from the North during the election. The Group stated this at a summit held in Kaduna over the weekend. The Summit which has in attendence representatives of the various youth groups noted that there is the need for the North to

screen all presidential aspirants from the region in order to come up with a consensus candidate. The group emphasized the need to have a credible candidate who would contest on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which is seen as the only alternative platform for the region to challenge the incumbent President. In his remark, the Guest Speaker, Mallam Hassan Ibrahim, said that with the array of aspirants from the North jostling to succeed President Jonathan, like the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, General Muhammadu Buhari, Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso

and a host of others, there is the need to scrutinize all of them based on their contributions to the development of the North and thereafter make a good choice. According to Mallam Hassan the argument was that the North has been marginalized for a long time by present and past leaders, and now needs a trusted leader who would address the issue of insecurity, poverty and unemployment in the region. “To achieve this, the youth said that the North must seek the support of their brothers and sisters from other parts of the country, using all democratic and peaceful means. “The North faulted the PDP

for endorsing President Jonathan as the sole presidential candidate of the party in 2015, stating that such endorsement negates the principles of true democracy and rule of law” he said. The youth advised the President to concentrate on tackling the various challenges facing the country adding that this is not the first time that a group from the North would come up with this type of consensus arrangement. In 2011, a group of northern political leaders endorsed former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, as the region’s sole candidate who contested against President Jonathan during the PDP primary.

Youth group endorses Ewuga for Nasarawa assembly seat By Ali Abare Abubakar

head of the 2015 elections, a youth group, Nasarawa Eggon Progressives Movement, has endorsed Sir Francis Ewuga (KSM) to contest for the seat of the Nasarawa Eggon east constituency in the Nasarawa State House of Assembly. The endorsement took place

at the Chris Abashi Tourist Resort, Endehu, near Akwanga when youth groups in their hundreds led by their leaders who include Daniel Kudu and Fimba Wulko unanimously passed the endorsement with a voice vote. Speaking to journalists shortly after the endorsement, president of Akun Youth Council, Abimiku Adda (Esq.), said the endorsement is to inspire Sir Ewuga to contest

for the Nasarawa Eggon east state constituency seat on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), come 2015. The youth president gave reason for their action to bad governance being experienced in the constituency and coupled with the ideal chance of the endorsee to change the political scenario in favour of the youths as well as the spirit of dexterity seen

in him (Ewuga) to serve his people diligently. His words: “Our collective move to endorse Ewuga to contest for the state assembly’s seat in our constituency is to allow a youth to emancipate the area from the hands of bad leadership and shackles of bad government as being witnessed since the advent of the present democratic dispensation.”

enator Ahmed Barata of Adamawa South Senatorial District who recently announced his return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the floor of the senate has said that his colleague, Senator Bindow Jibrilla and the gubernatorial candidate of the APC is still considered a PDP member. Barata who contested the APC primaries with Bindow told newsmen in Shelleng, his local government area that both of them were PDP members as they did not follow the due process required by law for a lawmaker to defect. Barata explained that it was based on that that he announced his reaffirmation as a member of the PDP on the floor of the senate. “If you observed me on the floor of the senate, what I did was to reaffirmed my position because the electoral act said a member cannot defect from his party through his ward, local government or state”, Barata said. He said a lawmaker can only defect by standing on the floor of the House to formally announce his defection for it to be formally captured in the votes and proceedings of the House. “This is why my colleague in APC who is the gubernatorial candidate will find it difficult because up till this moment he has not declared formally on the floor of the House. “If you have observed during the PDP governorship primaries, my name and that of Bindow are listed as delegates of PDP”, Barata said. Reacting to the allegation, the Director Media and Publicity of Bindow Campaign Organization, Mr Mathias Yohanna, described Barata’s claim as unfortunate. Yohanna said Barata who contested and lost to Bindow at the APC governorship primaries was being economical with the truth. “ Bindo is a bonafide member of the APC and he had formally written to the PDP of his defection long ago”, Yohanna said. Yohanna who announced the formal flag-off of the APC campaign on Monday in Toungo Local Government area said the party which has strong grassroots followership in Adamawa is the party to beat. “The PDP had been ruling in Adamawa for the past 15 years with nothing to show. People are yearning for change”, Yohanna said.

Page 19

Peoples Daily, monday, september 29, 2014

business@peoplesdailyng.com 08142929046

Customs seizes 11,000 bags of smuggled rice in Lagos From Ayodele Samuel,Lagos

ver 11,000 bags of imported 50kg parboiled rice have been seized by antismuggling officials of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) attached to the Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone ‘A’, Lagos. The 11,264 bags of illegally imported 50kg Foreign parboiled Rice was valued at N56,320,000.00 with a Payable Duty of N39,424,000.00 and a Duty Paid

Value (DPV) of N95,744,000.00 . The contraband items were seized in the wee hours of Tuesday in the remote jungle of Igbesa creek in Lusada area of Ogun State, where daring smugglers created an improvised warehouse used to store illegally imported items before taking them to the market. According to FOU’s spokesman, Uche Ejesieme, the seizure remains the highest recorded in a singular operation in the history of the antismuggling unit.

He added that the Controller of the unit, Turaki Usman, and his team comprising the Deputy Comptroller in charge of Enforcement, Orobiyi Felix, other senior officers and men of the unit got wind of the illegal warehouse via high level intelligence. “We immediately swung into action and that led to the huge seizure,” he said. Ejesieme further explained that the volatile nature of the area made officials of the FOU to seek

the assistance of neigbouring commands from Seme, Idiroko and other security agencies including the Nigerian Navy, Army and Civil Defense Corps to provide the needed support before storming the place to evacuate the contraband items. Ejesieme quoted the controller as saying that “our men are everywhere within our jurisdiction. No hiding place for smugglers. They should either quit this illegitimate trade or face the full wrath of the

L-R: NDIC MD/ CE Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim, and Director of Access Bank Plc., Dr. Mahmoud Isa Dutse, during the NDIC sensitisation workshop for Primary Mortgage Banks, recently in Lagos.

AEDC moves to bridge metering gap ...To roll out 100,000 meters yearly, says MD

By Etuka Sunday

he Managing Director of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), Mr. Neil Croucher has said that in order to start addressing the metering gap in its coverage area, the company will rollout 100,000 pre-paid meters yearly. Speaking to newsmen in his office at the weekend, the AEDC CEO said: “We inherited a huge metering gap with different billing system that do not communicate with one another. Indeed, there are five different vending platforms, which we’re trying to harmonise them so that they can

communicate with each other; meaning that customers can buy their electricity token from any part of the areas covered by AEDC. “The operation of five different vending platforms have their challenges, which were not in the interest of our customers and our operation”, Mr Croucher stressed. He said, “in order to achieve this, we have an arrangement to install 100,000 meters a year in order to wipe out the backlog (in our coverage area) as quick as possible”, adding that: “after securing the (metering) platform, we can then introduce our e-payment solution through which customers can purchase power either through internet, cellphones, e-banking,

E-payment will lead to low lending rate-CBN >>Pg 21

etcetera”. The AEDC boss further explained that the company is planning to migrate from the manual billing system it inherited to the modern one.”In the next few weeks, we should have the single (vending) platform commissioned and then rolled out to our entire supply area. “Also on the billing system, we also have six billing centres that would also communicate with each other and give us a centralized data base”, Mr. Croucher added. In line with the proposed billing system, he also announced plans for a new meter reading system that will capture data electronically and automatically upload same into

NSE: indicators close flat

>>Pg 20

the company’s billing system thus eliminating estimated billing and ensuring the integrity of bills. Responding to a question on allegations that the Discos’ indebtedness to Nigerian banks is suffocating the banking sector, the Abuja Disco boss said: “I think it is important to separate the company, Abuja Electricity Distribution Company from its owners. “AEDC has not obtained any loan and so we don’t have loan repayment issue or debt overhang on our necks, though we would be taking loans in the process so that we would be able to fund the many projects which are required”, he affirmed.

law. We’re here to discharge our duties and promote legitimate trade,” he said. He stated that the Seizure was effected by Lagos Roving Team Operations headed by AC Adamu Abubakar Mohammed, comprising other officers/men of the Unit. Prior to this interception, the Controller confirmed that they relied on intelligence report which posited that smugglers were planning to use the creeks to bring in large quantities of Rice from Benin Republic. Sequel to this development, the Controller and the Team Leader fashioned out operational modalities to ensure that there was no leakage of information to the targeted group (smugglers). “We must place on record that they have attacked Customs Patrol Teams that attempted in the past to stop their nefarious activities. It is therefore not surprising to see the renewed vigour and dexterity of the FOU ‘A’ operations particularly the Lagos Roving Team led by AC Adamu Abubakar Mohammed. The Controller added. “On arrival at the scene of crime, we started evacuation, even though we faced challenge of unmotorable terrain. On completion of evacuation, we destroyed the instrumentality of crime i.e the wooden boats, their storage facilities, and out board engines etc. This is aimed at frustrating their future attempts” he stated. “It is actually amazing to understand the naivety of the Baale of the Community who from all indications seem not to know that smuggling is an Economic crime. He told us point blank that smuggling is their only means of survival as the proceeds therefrom are used for developing their community. I was perplexed at that and I want to use this opportunity to urge the media both print and electronic to embark on mass education and sensitization using local dialects to disseminate information on the dangers of smuggling” he noted. It is instructive to point out that the FOU ‘A’ had to roll out its Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) for these operations in view of the volatile nature of the terrain.”

CBN Exchange Rates

as at 26th SEPTEMBER, 2014 Buying

$ € £ Riyal YEN CFA

154.7 256.94 212.44 41.25 1.49 0.30

155.74 258.60 213.81 41.52 1.50 0.32

Rail services’ll soon commence on PortHacourt, North East lines-FG >>Pg 22

Peoples Daily, monday, september 29, 2014

Page 20

Money Market

NSE: indicators close flat Stories from Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

quity transaction on the floor of the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE) last week closed on bearish trend as the market indicators ended up flat. The Market Capitalization of listed equities dropped by -0.56% to close on Friday at N13.478 trillion from N13.554 trillion it opened with while NSE All-Share Index equally closed at 40,819.72 basis points from 41,049.28 basis points recorded last week. Consequently, three indices appreciated during the week. NSE Insurance index appreciated by 5.25 basis points to 149.16 points, NSE Consumer index 0.74 to 1,010.92 points and NSE oil and gas index 7.16 basis points to 451.76 points while others the NSE 30 Index, NSE Banking Index, NSE Lotus Islamic Index, NSE Industrial Index, and NSE ASeM Index fell by 0.68 per cent, 2.00 per cent, 0.16 per cent, 0.16 per cent, 0.28 per cent and 0.45 per cent respectively. Similar, a turnover of 1.586 billion shares worth N26.921 billion in 22,238 deals were traded by investors in contrast to a total of 3.752 billion shares valued at N62.116 billion that exchanged hands in 22,109 deals the previous week. The Financial Services Industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 1.113 billion shares valued at N8.765 billion traded in 11,102 deals; thus contributing 70.19% and 32.56% to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively. The Conglomerates Services Industry followed with a turnover of 158.526 million shares worth 989.503 million in 1,640 deals. The third place was occupied by Consumer Goods Industry with 92.421 million shares worth N5.864 billion in 3,307 deals. Trading in The Top Three Equities namely- UBA Capital Plc, Transnational Corporation Of Nigeria Plc and FBN Holdings Plc (measured by volume) accounted for 450.010 million shares worth N2.946 billion in 3,889 deals, contributing 28.37% and 10.94% to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively. Thirty-three (33) equities appreciated in prices during the week higher than thirty-two (32) equities of the preceding week. Forty-five (46) equities depreciated in prices lower than fifty-one (51) equities of the preceding week, while one hundred and twenty-one (121) equities remained unchanged over one hundred and seventeen (117) recorded in the preceding week. The review of the transactions for the week showed that 33 equities appreciated in prices during the week compared with 32 companies of the preceding week. The result further indicated that 46 companies recorded price depreciation against 51 equities of the preceding week, while 121 equities remained unchanged compared with 117 recorded in the

preceding week. May &Baker Nigeria Plc led gainers table for the week in percentage terms, growing by 36.43 per cent or N0.15 kobo to close at N1.91 kobo, A.G. Leventics (Nigeria) Plc followed with a gain of 16.67 per cent to or N0.22 kobo to close at N1.54 kobo while Mansard Insurance Plc appreciated by 16.28 per cent or N0.42 kobo to close at N3.00. other companies that recorded price appreciation were 7UP

Bottling Company Plc 10.25 per cent, Custodian and Allied Plc 8.86 per cent, Guinness Nigeria Plc 8.57 per cent, Vono Products Plc 8.33 per cent, Royal Exchange Assurance 7.84 per cent, Champion Breweries Plc 7.78 per cent, FCMB Group 7.49 per cent. On the contrary Ikeja Hotel Plc topped losers chart, dropping by 29.30 per cent or N0.63 kobo to close at N1.52 kobo, Trans National Express Plc trailed with a loss of 17.18 per cent or N0.28

kobo to close at N2.12 kobo while Jos International Breweries Plc declined 13.82 per cent or N0.34 kobo to close at N2.12 kobo. Other companies depreciated in price were Learn Africa Plc 12.50 per cent, Premier Breweries 9.57 per cent, Avon Crown & Containers 9.14 per cent, Access Bank of Nigeria Plc 7.19 per cent, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc 6.19 per cet, Cutix Plc 5.21 per cent and PZ industries 5.15 per cent Also traded during the week

were a total of 113,744 units of Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) valued at N2.427 million executed in 22 deals compared with a total of 40,862 units valued at N992,697.40 transacted last week in 14 deals. Similarly, there were a total of 100 units of Federal Government Bond valued at N104, 398.48 executed in 1 deal compared with a total of 420 units valued at N480, 609.28 executed in 3 deal transacted last week.

Mijinyawa Executive Director (Operations). The suspension, the firm said took effect from last week. This is the fallout of the company’s board meeting held on the 22 September 2014 to consider the draft audited accounts of the company for the year 2013. The company however noted that it was observed that the performance of the company for 2013 Audited account fell short of satisfactory explanation by

Executive Management. The Board also set up a special committee to investigate the reasons for the consistent poor performance of the Company for the past three (3) years. Time frame for this investigation was three weeks from the date of the Board meeting. The Board appointed the following to oversee the offices pending the conclusion and submission of the report by the committee, Mr. Olugbenga

Olasogba Acting Managing Director, Mr. Michael D. Dogo Acting Executive Director (Operations) and Mrs Nkiru T. Achara Acting Executive Director (Human Resources & Administration). The Board also appointed Ms Halima J. Wushishi as Acting Company Secretary/Legal Adviser. The National Insurance Commission (NICOM) has also been notified of this development.

Unity Kapital suspends CEO, others

he board of Unity Kapital Insurance Plc. last week suspended three key Executive Management staff following a poor financial performance by the company. According to a statement from the company made available to the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE) the affected staff include Mr. Kins U. Ekebuike , Managing Director/CEO, Mr. John A. Oyidih Executive Director (Finance & Administration) and Mr. Lawal

Oando revenue dips by 23%

ando Plc has posted a revenue of N499 billion in its audited result for the financial period ended December, 2013 representing a decline of 23 per cent when compared with N650 billion written in the same period of 2012. According to the companys fillings with Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE), Profit Before Tax stood at N713 million against N14.17 billion recorded in 2012. Profit/Loss After Tax From Continuing Operations equally 4.6 billion in the period under review compare to N5.5 billion of 2012 . However, Profit for the year from Discontinued Operations increased to N6.07 billion 2013 against N5.3 billion of 2013. The firm, in H1 of 2014 posted an impressive N24 billion operation profit and a N9 billion profit after tax, a 145% and 110% increase from H1 2013 respectively. The company is paying a dividend of N1 per share based on a 2013 dividend of 30 kobo and 2014 proposed interim dividend of 70 kobo. These impressive results indicate the company is beginning to reap the rewards of its landmark $1.5 billion acquisition of ConocoPhillips entire Nigerian business, which has transformed its status into Nigeria’s largest indigenous oil and gas producer. With the acquisition now complete and immediately cash generative the company’s upstream subsidiary Oando Energy Resources has a total hydrocarbon production capacity of approximately 45,000 boe/d, 2P Reserves of 230.6MMboe and 2C Resources of 547MMboe, and expects annual revenue of over $600 million, and annual free cash flows of $150 million. Commenting on the results, Oando Group Chief Executive, Wale Tinubu said, “Our strategic refocus on the higher margin Upstream foresees immense value add for our stakeholders in the near term. We have succeeded in repositioning ourselves within the sector, and through future acquisitions and innovative efficacy we will seek to up our market share in sub-Sahara’s Upstream sector within the next five years to 100,000 boe/d in net production.” Oando has also made significant progress in extracting value from its legacy assets. OML 125 production increased by 17% to 651,000 bbls, while OML 56 production increased by 30% to 171,000bbls compared to last year, significantly impacting revenue and profit streams. The company’s midstream business Oando Gas and Power is currently undergoing an extension

of its natural gas distribution network by 8km from Ijora to the Marina business district in Lagos state, positioning the company to benefit from the growing demand for gas and power infrastructure in the country. In the downstream, the company recently completed construction of the

Apapa Single Point Mooring (ASPM) Jetty, a first in Africa. The project is expected to improve overall downstream efficiency through cost savings on imports and the elimination of the current high cost of lightering and demurrage. The cost saving across the industry is estimated to be in excess of $120 million per annum.

Peoples Daily, monday, september 29, 2014

Page 21

Capital market

E-payment will lead to low lending rate-CBN Stories from Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has assured that Nigeria, like every country of the world migrating from manual to e-banking will lead to low lending rate. The Director, Banking and Supervision, CBN, Mr Dipole Fatokun who gave the assurance in Lagos noted that with the deployment of e-payment, the cost to serve which currently reducing in Nigeria will continue to go down as cost of processing cash and other cost that are associated with manual transactions will be avoided . He noted that when the cost is eliminated, it makes the bank to be more efficient and more impactful on the economy thus translating to lower lending rate . He further described e-payment to be more profitable, Less stressful, more convenient and time saving. Comparing e- payment to one of the manual banking method, the use of cheque, Fatokun stated that e-payment remained more convenient than the cheque thus resulting in decline in the use of cheque. “Most people now don’t even use cheques again globally, the global trend is that the usage of cheque is declining. In fact we some jurisdictions, cheque is no more in use, because of the level of sophistication they have arrived at on e payment. But the truth is even in Nigeria the use of cheque is coming down because most people fine it more convenient both for the payer and receiver to use e payment. That is why more people will even prefer to do it electronically order than issuing cheques and the truth is

that issuing cheques also come with it cost which higher than using e payment because of the cheque book, because of printing, its stamp duty, the security features, everything added together makes it more expensive than the e payment. So both rich and the poor can use it but of course E is the better”, he assured. On measure to tackle obstacles challenging e-payment, he stated is working towards ensuring that

appropriate technology such as the chip+PIN for card transactions, are deployed, adding that the apex bank is mandating all banks to comply with requirements for highly secured online payments platform by implementing cutting edge electronic banking security solutions including but not limited to the implementation of hardware tokens, behavioural monitoring, SMS/Email transaction alert, and anti-phishing solutions.

Furthermore, Fatokun assured that CBN in collaboration with the Bankers Committee is implementing an industry-wide anti-fraud system to manage risks, minimize fraud and respond promptly and adequately to emerging fraud trends even as he stated that the Nigeria Electronic Fraud Forum had continued to explore options at improving strategies for tackling fraud in the Nigerian payments landscape.

“Similarly, we are encouraged by the progress the country is making on infrastructural issues especially with the Power reform which has led to the privatization of the distribution and generations companies. We are hoping that as electricity improves, our drive for electronic payments will benefit especially as telecom infrastructure will be positively impacted thereby resolving connectivity issues

L-R: President, Lagos Chambers of Commerce AND Industry, Alhaji Remi Bello; Senate President David Mark, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, and UNIDO Representative in Nigeria, Dr Patrick Komawa, during the Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry’s democratic transition lecture, last Friday in Lagos. Photo: NAN

Ecobank, MasterCard deal to enhance usage in 28 African countries E cobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) has entered agreement with MasterCard with a deal that will enable consumers use their MasterCard prepaid, debit and credit cards at Ecobank’s Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and Point of Sale (PoS) terminals in 28 African countries. The development stemmed from the multi-country licensing agreement signed by MasterCard and Ecobank in January 2014. The deal gives MasterCard cardholders’ access to more than 2,500 ATMs and allows them to pay for goods and services in over 20,000 shops, hotels, restaurants and other outlets across Africa. MasterCard, in a statement

said: “Expanding MasterCard’s acceptance in 28 countries across Ecobank’s network is a significant milestone for us as we work together to accelerate the adoption of electronic payments and create a cashless society in Africa. This partnership has combined MasterCard’s global payment technology with Ecobank’s unrivalled pan-African footprint to give their cardholders more convenient, secure and reliable ways to pay. It added: “With this partnership, Ecobank subsidiaries now accept MasterCard-branded cards in Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic (CAR), Chad,

Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.” Speaking on the partnership, Ecobank’s Group Executive/ Head of Domestic Bank, Mr. Patrick Akinwuntan said: “This partnership forms part of our broader retail banking strategy of providing Ecobank customers with enhanced service levels, which exceed their expectations. Our unique platform gives our customers easy access to their Ecobank accounts when travelling, be it on business or

for pleasure, without the need for carrying cash. “The combination of a rapidly expanding middle class and steadily improving financial literacy, supported by robust technology, is increasing the appetite for card usage in Africa. Governments are rapidly driving the conversion from cash to electronic payments as they too realise the benefits of a cashless society, namely increased transparency, cost effectiveness, financial inclusion, foreign investment and economic growth”, he added. According to him, the increased number of MasterCard acceptance locations in Africa means that more cardholders and

merchants would be introduced to the security and convenience of electronic payments, while enjoying protection from the risks and costs associated with cash. “This is especially important in many African countries where cash has been the prevalent or only payment option”, he stressed. The two organisations said they are also exploring joint business development opportunities across West, Central, East and Southern Africa and will soon add a further four African markets to those already accepting MasterCard-branded cards, namely Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, São Tomé and Principe and South Sudan.

Peoples Daily, monday, september 29, 2014

Page 22

Business

Rail services’ll soon commence on PortHacourt, North East lines-FG From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi & David Hassan, Gombe

edral Government has assured that effective rail system will soon commence on PortHacourt, (North East) Gombe Yobe Borno rail line in its effort to improve transportation system in the country Minister of transport Senator Idris Umar has stated this during inspection tour Of the ongoing rail line rehabilitation in the North-east axis at the weekend in Bauchi, saying that about 3,505 km has been successfully completed. According to him.What we are doing is to ensure that by December, 2014 rail transport services commences from Port-Harcourt to Gombe states, hopely by that time the current security challenges is over, Idris said “this would also extend same service to Maiguduri, but for now, we are restricted to stop at Bajoga in Gombe state” The Minister had express delight with the level of the work carried out by the contractor which he added is in tandem with the contractual agreement explaining

...Vows to boost economy federal government would not relent in its commitment to revamp the rail transport services in the country. Senator stress that when rail line are completed would restore the economic value of the affected states regretting that road transport has been responsible for untimely death among Nigerians. Also speaking during the inspection tour the Director-General Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) Engineer Adeseyi Sijuwade said already the rehabilitation work from Kuru in Plateau state to Bajoga in Gombe state is at the final stages aimed to boast rail services. The DG pointed out that in order to curb the menace of crime and robbery, the corporation had involve police and other security agencies to accompany train cargos to various destination to ensure safety of passengers. He assured that the corporation would provide descent service to passengers as federal government has procured

modern air condition cargo’s which is ready for delivery to the NRC explaining that staff welfare is now the priority of the corporation to ensure productivity. Asijuwade maintain that NRC has introduce new package as bonus determine to motivate staff for better services saying there the management and the railway staff Union are in cordial relationship. Meanwhile in Gombe, the Minister of Transport, Sen. Idris Umar solicited support to boost Railway transport which according to him would help in developing the nation economy. While inspecting Railway track at the Nigeria Railway Co-orporation in Gombe, the minister said, the administration of President Jonathan is capable of restoring the lost glory of Railway lines that have being abandoned for years without proper maintenance. He assured Nigerian that arrangement has been put in place

to ensure that Railway lines that had been abandoned for years to come back to life. Speaking further, the minister affirmed that the present administration is working tirelessly to ensure that the abandoned trains across the country would be back on tract inorder to reduced the suffering of the people from transportation. According to him, People have started enjoying from the gesture where the present administration had put Railwaylines in good shape for easy transportation from Lagos to Kano, adding that from Kuru to Maiduguri would be a thing of the past. The minister who was satisfied with the work done at the Gombe Railway terminus called on the contractors to put more effort to ensure that they beat the date line given by the government even as he said the government are committed to complete the project before the end of this year.

L-R: Acting DG, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Engineer Benedict Adeyileka, General Manager, Public Affairs, Mr. Fan Ndubuoke, Director Human Resource, Mr. Austin Amadi, and General Manager, Servicom, NCAA, Mr. Adekola Johnson, during the NCAA press conference on celebrating the Federal Aviation Administration Category 1 Certification, recently in Lagos.

Maltreatment: NCAA reads riot acts to foreign airlines From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

he Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) yesterday warned foreign airlines that Nigeria will no longer condone any maltreatment of Nigerians who fly their aircraft from any part of the world. The authority said the riot act steams from recent incidents involving a Delta Airline station Manager in Nigeria who was reprimanded for disobeying the agency’s regulations claiming he is obliged to obey only the United

State rules governing the airline’s operations. Acting Director General of NCAA, Benedict Adeyileka disclosed that the regulatory body has received complaints in recent time of ill treatment by foreign carriers on Nigerians affirming that it has strengthen disciplinary arms to forestall further breach of regulations and abuse of passengers’ right. Speaking to journalists in Lagos on the retention of the United State Federal Aviation Administration Cat 1 status, he explained that

the audit will boost investors confidence in Nigeria. Adeyileka charge other airlines to take the advantage and fly into continental United State as a means of creating job opportunities in the sector. “We should encourage other airlines to fly into continental United State, let us stop creating employment for others and start creating employment for our country. We are underperforming but we can do better. The DG said NCAA will assist Arik Air, the only Nigerian carrier

operating into US to operate profitably, he said it represent the country and must be given incentive to perform better. Representative of Arik Air, Captain Ado Sanusi said the opportunity will afford the airline to increase it flight operations and introduce new aircraft into different route into America. “We will continue to play our role as we have seen this as a national call. We plan to introduce direct flight to Houston, Washington and operate a daily flight into JFK” he said.

CWG Academy trains 500 on ICT, extend to new frontiers From Ayodele Samuel,Lagos

omputer Warehouse Group CWG Academy said it has trained over 500 ICT professionals into various fields of industry in the last four years. The academy with headquarters in Lagos said it has been extended to the other operational bases of the Pan African Company, in Accra, Kampala, Port Harcourt and Abuja, with plans to incorporate Cameroon by the first half of 2015. CWG Chief Executive Officer, Austin Okere said the goal of the CWG Academy is to bridge the workforce knowledge gap in Africa by equipping fresh graduates with the required skills that will make them employable or become successful entrepreneurs. He said of the over 500 graduates from the Academy, about 85 percent have been employed in leading companies such as IBM, CWG, MTN, Standard Chartered Bank, StanbicIBTC, Chevron, Cadbury, Etisalat, Ericsson and Unilever among others, while about 10 percent have opted to become technology entrepreneurs. Okere said “the project which started modestly as a means of maintaining the steady supply of high skilled engineers to the CWG enterprise has grown in leaps and bounds to become a succor for ambitious trainable youth, who would otherwise be locked out of reaching their full potential”. Austin added “since industry has come to be dependent on our highly trained and qualified graduates, we shall be formalizing their placement through an online site currently under construction. We believe that this initiative shall contribute to the key aspiration of Africa, being inclusive growth and job creation”. According to Mr. Philip Obioha, Chief Operating Officer of the Group “the CWG Academy plays a major role in preparing African Youths for the New Digital Economy, and is indeed a commendable effort worthy of emulation”. CWG Academy alumni, Ezekiel Oyerinde a Storage Systems Specialist with IBM West Africa as says “as a graduate of Biochemistry but ventured into IT after school. Though, I have gone to a couple of Computer schools, the CWG Academy was the opener for me into the world of endless possibilities in IT”. Similarly, Dominic Julian currently working as a sales Executive in one of the IT Companies in Nigeria, attributed his career development to his encounter with the CWG Academy. She listed benefits of training at the CWG Academy are multifold; “firstly, it enables the graduates to be employable in any world class organization. Secondly, the academy offers participants the privilege to become experts using a combination of intensive classroom work, practical training and live project attachments”.

Peoples Daily, monDAY, september 29, 2014

Stock Watch

Report as at Friday, September 26, 2014

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Peoples Daily, Monday, September 29, 2014

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Special Report

Could Kugbobokun be part of Federal Capital Territory? A

buja, the Federal Capital Territory is no doubt a beautiful place, not only in Nigeria but in West Africa and Africa at large. The well planned city can boast of beautiful scenery; green areas and other beautiful edifice. Being the city of power, Nigerians from all over the country throng into the city scrambling for whatever they can get. It won’t beat one’s imagination that, before Abuja became capital city, some indigenous people have been in existence in the now flowing town. Considering the history of how Abuja was carved out of the name of man who was known as Abubakar, who was the brother of Sulaiman from Suleja, a prominent town in Niger state. Since Abuja became the capital city of Nigeria, indigenous occupants have continued to remain in satellite towns and in some cases; some have been made to move further into the suburb in order to pave way for development. One of such satellite towns is Kubwa in Bwari Area Council. It would however not be news that a lot of people, who know Kubwa and frequent the town, would not even realise there is a settlement called Rugbobokun; just few meters away from Kubwa. Rugbobokun can be described as a man, sitting under cherry tree and still crying of hunger. It is a settlement that lacks all the social amenities one can think of, water, electricity, and most importantly, the only major road leading to the community is in a sorry state. The community can only boast of one primary school being funded by Universal Basic Education (UBE). The sorry state of Kugbobokun when it comes to development is what have called the attention of Centre for Family Health Initiative (CFHI) to frequently pay visit to its inhabitants and try to change their orientation, most especially as it concerns education. Despite the difficulty encountered, the centre persistently pay visit to this community. As a NonGovernmental Organisation, it organised recently, child rights promotion at the community. Under the theme, ‘Protecting Children is

Though Abuja is said to be the fastest growing capital city in the world with people from all Africa and beyond trooping in to partake in the overall activities shaping the city, but this cannot be said of Kugbobokun a village located near Kubwa satellite town of the city. A’isha Biola Raji reports.

The only road leading to Kugbobokun village

The only water source in Kugbobokun

everyone’s business, the NGO in collaboration with NSCDC (Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp) and Nigerian Police Force charged parents in the community to provide basic needs for their children giving priority to education. Moreover, the villagers were made to understand with the help of an interpreter the content of the child right Act which centres on all forms of child abuse; which include denial of child from shelter, food and basic education. Inaugurating child protection committee in the community, the Project Officer of the NGO, Ms

Omoera Victoria said the aim of the organisation is to help communities rediscover themselves in the area of selfhelp and that since inception; the NGO has been supporting over 4000 children across Abuja and Nasarawa state. Though the community was advised to work hard and train their children up to University level, some of the villagers who spoke with Peoples Daily reporter, said they can only achieve this if government can remember them by providing them with necessary amenities especially good road network. However, against all the

odds; bad road, lack of potable water and electricity, some teachers posted to the school still strive to make it there to teach the children. One of such teachers is Ms Esther Medugu who based on commitment even pay from her pocket, school fees for indigent junior secondary school students to ensure that their educational pursuit was not disturbed.

It would take the reader, a visit to Kugbobokun before they can understand what a journey it is from Bhiazin where Medugu lives to Kugbobokun. The slippery, sloppy nature of the road and the stream that runs across without bridge is better imagined than seen. This natural national award winner, an icon in her capacity who has been plying

the difficult road to impart knowledge on children is however not deterred by language barrier or the poor condition under which she works. She said what keeps her going is commitment and empathy, “A lot of time, we walk from the other village where we live in order to make it to Kugbobokun. “I have been doing this for three

years. “When I got here, the children could not read, write or speak English; I had to look for an interpreter but now, they can communicate fairly well in English and I can now communicate with them. Pleading to the local government leadership, she said the major challenge they are facing is road. “Sometimes, I get information to go back from across the river as it

sometimes overflows and since there is no bridge, crossing it can sometimes be difficult.” According to Jibrin Baba Angulu, community representative, he commended CFHI for bringing awareness into their community. He said, “I feel happy about the initiative. “I have learnt a lot; that we should avoid sending our children to sell groundnut.”

Angulu however has a message for politicians. “Government should remember there are human beings here, they should take care of us.” The community according to Angulu has not witnessed such awareness program. “Before now, we did not know what child abuse is all about, if

it happened, we did not know the implication but with this enlightenment program, a lot of us have realised the dangers facing our children and their future if we do not change some of our lifestyle,” he said. He begged government to consider their plight and not to only visit them during election campaigns. He said, “Let government know that we have so much challenges, any city you look at must have been a village before it developed into a city. “We also crave such development. “We only get to see them during campaign that is when they realise we exist. “We only know chairmanship candidates for election but don’t get to see them again after they have won”. He especially called on the Chairman of Bwari Area Council to come to their aid. “We need the Chairman to come and see what we are going through, the only road leading to our village is bad, let him come and see for himself. “Whenever the stream water is full, there is no movement; sometimes, it can take three days to go down as there is no bridge. We cultivate yam but a lot of time, we don’t get to transport our produce to market due to the condition of the only road leading to our village. We do not even have electric pole not to mention electricity, no water; cattle drink water in the morning to

remain for us in the evening,” Angulu lamented. He said since before independence, the community has remained the same without any visible development. “I was born in 1952 and this community have remained like this. “We have been participating in elections but have no dividend of democracy as it is,” he complained. Speaking on how the villagers received the message, Pastor Musa Ishaya, Pastor of Anglican Church described the outreach by CFHI as simple technique that will bring overhaul into the lives of the villagers. Describing what he understood by child abuse, he said “Child abuse is giving child chores that are above his/her capacity which include using them as house helps.” He encouraged parents to train their children so they can bring succour to Kugbobokun. “One day, we will have good water to drink because these children will bring development to the community,” he maintained. Patience Iliya, mother of two said, “We have been told to take care of our children and not to let them wander about in the night as it is dangerous for them especially girl child. “My children are in school and from what I’ve heard today, I will make sure they are well educated so I can also benefit.”

“

FCT Minister, Sen. Bala Mohammed

Inaugurated child protection committee including the village Head, members of the village, CFHI staff NSCDC and NPF reps.

Ms Esther, the teacher, standing in front of one of the dilapidated school building

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Peoples Daily, monday, SEPTEMBER 29, 2014

Feature Nigeria’s internet warriors In our series of letters from African journalists, writer and novelist Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani looks at the online battle hotting up ahead of next year’s elections in Nigeria. When it comes to providing work for idle minds, the devil seems to have a particular fondness for Nigerian youths, especially around election times

“

Increased armed robberies, kidnappings and assassinations in different parts of Nigeria after elections have also been linked to youths with weapons who find an alternative use for them.

In the past, ballot boxes were sometimes seized by youths trying to manipulate the votes By Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani

ost elections conducted in Nigeria over the past decades have been characterised by thuggery. Politicians turn to the country’s pool of unemployed millions to r ecruit young people who will aid their democratic ambitions. These youths are then trained and empowered to manipulate the electoral climate. Their job description includes anything from intimidating political opponents to seizing ballot boxes and clobbering uncooperative electoral officers. But times are definitely changing. Rather than supplying them with machetes, missiles and matches, Nigerian politicians are now arming their hirelings with laptops, smart phones and internet connections. Political thuggery has gone digital. As Nigeria gears up for the 2015 general elections, squads of young people are being recruited across the nation to storm cyberspace: To harass, intimidate and persecute their employer’s opponents or those with views that oppose his ambitions. For many Nigerian youths,

being an “internet warrior” is a full-time job. Some work from home; others work from an office - many work round the clock. I spoke to a 28-year-old chemistry graduate who patrols the online war front for one of Nigeria’s popular politicians. Every morning, he gets dressed and embarks on a 20-minute drive to work, where he sits in an office with dozens of

other young people on the same mission as himself. With a burst of laughter, he summarised his job description in three words: “Distort public opinion”. He and his colleagues have about 10 different pseudonyms each for news websites and blogs, but fewer for Facebook and Twitter. They bombard articles about their politician with positive

comments, and blast those of his opponents with negative posts. An electoral official moves ballot boxes in Port Harcourt - April 2007 In the past, ballot boxes were sometimes seized by youths trying to manipulate the vote “I usually use corruption and ethnicity to attack,” he said. Some months ago, he was engaged in the exact opposite: Maligning his current employer. At the time, he was working

The Niger Delta militants grew out of the remnants of young men armed by campaigning politicians

in an enemy camp, but the pay and conditions were not as favourable as those offered him now. “They had promised us jobs,” he said, “but when the time came, they offered all the positions to people from their constituency.” No broken bones Another young man told me that certain online platforms, especially newspapers, block any comments his team members post in support of their candidate. Others allow support for his principal, and disallow negativity from enemy camps. It all depends on whose payroll the newspaper’s online editor has been signed. These internet warriors, while not stealing ballot boxes or bullying electoral officers, are manipulating the electoral climate. Public opinion is being rigged. At this rate, the forthcming elections will be full of manysurprises, especially for those who depend on online forums to gauge Nigerians’ sentiments on any issue. Meanwhile, the multitude of Nigerians who actually go out to stand in the rain or sun for hours to vote on election day, often do not have internet connections in their shacks. Being an internet warrior certainly comes across as a more acceptable form of thuggery than ripping shirts and hurling stones in the streets. Brain instead of brawn. No bones broken, no limbs amputated, no blood shed, no lives lost. Broken promises The pseudonymous adversaries may even be best friends. At the close of business, they shut their laptops and meet at the pepper-soup joint down the road for a stout, the day’s vicious tasks safely behind their screens. But what will become of all these recruits when the 2015 battles have been lost or won? Despite the promises that may have been made to them, not all will be given better jobs or government appointments. The Niger Delta oil militants who terrorised southern Nigeria a few years ago were reported to be thugs used during election campaigning who suddenly found themselves jobless - but adequately armed after the ballots had been cast. Some of the Boko Haram insurgents currently terrorising the north were also born out of a similarly expired campaign contract. Increased armed robberies, kidnappings and assassinations in different parts of Nigeria after elections have also been linked to youths with weapons who find an alternative use for them. I wonder what these armies of young Nigerians will do with their laptops, smart phones and internet connections after the 2015 electoral battle - which many politicians view as “Armageddon”; is over. Source: BBC

PEOPLES DAILY, Monday, SEpTEMBER 29, 2014

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Education From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

iger state Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Alhaji Bashar Nuhu, has said that a new policy for the award of scholarship to students in institutions of higher learning has been introduced. A statement issued at the weekend by Nuhu, stated that according to the new policy, the scholarship will now be given to students in public institutions which marked departure from the previous practice where all categories of students enjoyed government scholarship. The policy provided for various types of scholarships and covers all courses such as NCE, Diploma, predegree HND, 1st degree, Masters Degree Phd and Post Degree professional programmes. According to Nuhu, the state government has also introduced special merit award for students who made 7A(s) and maintain a high grades during their university education, which he said will help to ensure students pay more attention to their studies.

Niger govt introduces new scholarship policy

The Commissioner said before the policy was put in place, a stakeholders’ forum which included academics retired professionals, Unions and representatives of Parents Teachers Association

was held in Minna, who gave the scheme their approval. He disclosed that another policy which aims at driving the tertiary education sector and guiding the establishment of private tertiary

institutions in the state have been approved by the state executive council. The two policies according to him, aimed at giving tertiary education sector focus and

direction in line with the national policy on education and the needs of the state as well as harmonize divergent views towards producing enduring and result oriented education sector.

UniAbuja matriculates 200 students of Institute of Education By usman Shuaibu

niversity of Abuja has matriculated 200 sandwich students of the Institute of Education of the university, at the weekend. Delivering his key note address at the occasion, Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Michael Adikwu, warned the matriculating students of the 2009/2014 academic session against anti-social vices and any negative act capable of hindering the progress of the university. He advised the students to obey the laid down rules and regulations guiding the university at all times. He said his administration would not hesitate to address the pending issues affecting the institution. He said some of the challenges facing the university ranging from non-availability of basic facilities, shortage of hostel accommodation, lecture halls, laboratory spaces and transportation among others have been long and therefore, needs urgent attention to bring an end to the problems. He reiterated the university’s committed to do its best to overcome some of the major problems within the shortest possible time as the institution has embarked on renovation works to move the university to the next level. Acting director in charge of the Institute, Dr. Patricia Ojiah, assured the students that the management of the university will do everything possible to address the problems affecting the sandwich programme.

Matriculating students at the institute of Education, University of Abuja, taking their oath on Saturday.

Photo: NAN

Kebbi Fed Poly matriculates 4,374 students From Ahmed Idris, Birnin Kebbi

aziri Umaru Federal Polytechnic, BirninKebbi, Kebbi state has matriculated a total of 4,374 fresh students for its 2014/2015 academic year. Delivery his speech at the matriculation ceremony, the newly appointed Rector of the institution, Arch. Muhammad Sani Aliyu, said discipline and

dress code are ethics of the polytechnic which every new students of the school must abide by. He said the problem of indecent dressing in the institution has become a very disturbing trend adding that the unfortunate situation has prompted the management of the school to come up with a dress code for the students and appointed a “Dress Code Task

Force” to ensure its compliance. The Rector regretted that it was unfortunate that some students have continued to abuse the dress code principle, adding that “henceforth, Heads of Departments, Lecturers, Senior Staff and the Polytechnic Security Personnel are mandated to turn back any student who violates it. On Examination malpractice, the Rector said the worst enemy of any institution of learning is

examination malpractice. He said the Polytechnic will continue to apply severe sanctions against any staff or students found to have engaged in or aiding and abetting examination malpractices. Aliyu therefore warned staff and students to stay away from social vices such as drug abuse and cultism, and that anyone caught will face the wrath of the law.

Award-winning Canadian documentary, filmmaker joins AUN Faculty By Maryam Garba Hassan

top Canadian communication expert, Don North, has joined the faculty of the American University of Nigeria’s School of Arts and Sciences this Fall to teach in the Communications and Multimedia Design program. A statement by Daniel Okereke, Executive Director Office of Communications and Public Relations, said while pronouncing the arrival of Prof. North to the university, President Margee Ensign, said that at this critical moment in Nigeria’s history, it is important to train communication

students in investigative, objective news writing and multimedia skills. According to the statement, besides years of professional writing experience, North holds the Advanced International Reporting qualification of the Columbia School of Journalism, New York. In 1984, he was an Associate Professor of Journalism at the Ryerson College, Toronto, Canada. A veteran documentary filmmaker, Prof. North has participated in training journalists for the Voice of America in Serbia, Afghanistan, Indonesia, and Montenegro. In 1996 he was sent to train journalists in Bosnia from

the Institute for War and Peace Reporting, London. He has worked for the ABC News and NBC News and has filmed, produced, and directed more than 30 documentaries/TV programs. The stamen said Prof. North won the Best of Show at The Aurora Awards in 2005, with his documentary “Remembering Saddam,” and subsequently won Best Reporting Award at the Overseas Press Club. At the New York Film Festival, he won a Gold Medal with his “Time of the Jackals.” At the Berlin Film Festival, he won the Gold Medal for another of his works, “Siege of Beirut 1982.”

In print, North told the story of his own career in Inappropriate Conduct: Mystery of a Disgraced War Correspondent. At a welcome dinner with senior management and faculty at the President’s house, Prof. North reflected upon his professional principles, emphasizing that every story should be factual and checked. He also reflected on a quote from media guru and Canadian communication scholar Marshall McLuhan who said, “I have deep and abiding belief in man’s potential to grow and learn, to plumb the depths of his own being and to learn the secret songs that orchestrate the universe

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Healthy Living

PEOPLES DAILY, Monday, SEpTEMBER 29, 2014

Experts make case for improved access to contraceptives

From Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

s Nigeria joined the rest of the world to celebrate the world contraceptive day today, experts have urged government to increase access to family planning commodities on this year’s World Contraceptive Day. This will ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, The need to increase the use of contraceptive among sexually

active people in Nigeria is critical to reducing unwanted pregnancy and unsafe abortion. According to the Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS 2013) about 23 percent of teenage girls between age 15 and 19 are already mothers or pregnant with their first child while half of the women age 25-49 years were already married by age 18 and 61 percent were married by age 20. Also, the sexual and

reproductive behavioural pattern of Nigerians shows that women and men tend to initiate sexual activity before marriage. These lifestyle, coupled with high fertility and low contraceptive prevalence rate typically lead to unintended pregnancies, close births spacing and high-risk births. According to the Advocacy Advisor,Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI), Mrs. Charity Ibeawuchi,

“the young persons who form the majority among the women of reproductive age should be encouraged to space pregnancies and childbirths. The adolescents and youths in Nigeria are faced with gross challenges of sexual and reproductive ill-health as a result of their inability to access relevant information and services. In particular, adolescent girls are more vulnerable to health problems arising from underParticipants of the project star-up meeting; in the middle of the front row is the President/ CEO of ARFH. Prof O.A Ladipo. To his rigth are the Vice President: Chief Mrs. Grace E.Delano followed by , UNFPA representative: Olanike Adadeji AND Representative of the Registrar Council of Community Health Extension Practitioners in Nigeria.To his left, are Dr. Bose Adeniran, Coordinator Reproductive Health, Federal Ministry of Health, Representativeb of Local Government service commission Kaduna state and Deputy Director, Primary Health Care, Edo state: Dr. Abey. in the second row are the Director, Public Health, Kaduna state, Dr. Ado Zakari Moh’d, nrepresentative of KADSPHCDA, ARFH’s Diretor of Programs: Mrs. Kehinde Osinowo, Oyo State Family Planning coordinator:Mrs. Stella Falaye among others.

Bill/Melinda Gates foundation constructs health facilities in Zamfara From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

he Zamfara state government in collaboration with Bill/ Melinda Gates Foundation have embarked on construction of a special maternal, newborn and child health facilities across the 14 local government areas of the state. The state commissioner of health, Kabiru Ahmad Janyau, announced this over the weekend at a meeting with Save the Children Advocacy platform, said, the project was initiated to be executed from the 2012 foundation’s award won by the state for being the best performing state on routine immunization among the North West states. the health commissioner, who was represented by the Director,

Primary Health Care service (PHCS) Alhaji Yusuf Mafara, said the contract has been awarded for the constructions of 13 MNCH modern health facilities, in each of the 13 out of 14 local government areas in the state, while a befitting staff quarters contract was awarded in the remaining local council that already has a befitting MNCH facility in the selected community. He added that, as part of the two organisations strategies to ensure qualitative work is done, no part payment was processed to any contractor, until his first phase of work is recommended by the supervising consultant engineers. The commissioner further explained that, works on new health facilities had already reached advance stage across some benefiting communities, while

some are at foundation level of the project, adding that, contracts have also been awarded for the construction of boreholes at the premises of new facilities that do not have functional water source. He said that, two companies were selected from the tender advertised and opened to handle the supply of modern tricycle ambulances that will be distributed to all the 14 modern health facilities. Earlier, the Save the Children state advocacy Officer, Mr Ibrahim Isah, said his organization is committed to advocating for the provision of strengthened health care services for children of the state, particularly on immunization against childhood infectious diseases and nutrition services to improve the nutritional status of children. He added that, the meeting

was necessary in order to generate update on the money realized from the foundation’s award and counterpart funds released by the government to access the 2012 Nigeria immunization Challenge launched by the Bill/Melinda Gates Foundation. n a related development, Society for Family Health in conjunction with the state government and Nigerian Governors Leadership Immunization Challenge Grant Management Project (NGLICGM), has also organized a workshop training for 14 Local Councils Health Educator and Two Civil Society Organizations in the state that will support the implementation of the strategies developed towards behaviours change of the benefiting communities under Maternal Newborn and Child Health matters.

age child bearing, unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortion, sexual exploitation and abuse which consequently contribute to the high maternal morbidity and mortality.” Mrs. Ibeawuchi urged the Nigerian Government and other key stakeholders to take cognizance of the challenges associated with being an adolescent and young. “We must increase commitment to such investments that effectively equip and increase the potential of young people to safeguard their future” she said. The World Contraception Day (WCD) is celebrated around the world each year on September 26th. It is a worldwide campaign whose vision is a world where every pregnancy is wanted. Launched in 2007, its mission is to improve the awareness of contraception and to enable young people to make informed decisions on their sexual and reproductive health.

Ekiti state school of nursing matriculates 50 students From Tope Musowo, Ado-Ekiti

he school of Nursing and Midwifery at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Ado- Ekiti, has matriculated about 50 student nurses, even as it celebrated its 11th matriculation ceremony. Speaking at the occasion, the Principal of the school, Mrs. Bamigboye Theresa Olaitan urged the new students to work hard, so they could scale through the selection process as laid down by the nursing and midwifery council of Nigeria, adding that nurses should not forget the fact that the nursing career is a humanitarian profession which requires a reasonable level of human relations, hence the need to adhere strictly to the professional code of conduct. Mrs. Bamigboye used the occasion to laud the efforts of the Chief Medical Director of EKSUTH, Dr. Kolawole Ogundipe and Ekiti State Government for various developmental projects going on in the school, while reminding the management of other accreditation requirements as recommended by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria during the last accreditation visit to the school. The Principal further advised the incoming students to be of good behaviour and make the best use of the opportunity by living as disciplined, dedicated and responsible persons. She also warned the students to shun all acts that could spell doom for their academic progress, and also desist from any distraction which may retard their academic pursuit or extend their training period such as pregnancy in training, considering the stress associated with the nursing training and family demands.

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Peoples daily, Monday, september 29, 2014

Healthy Living

4 Foods that burn belly fat

he secret to lasting weight loss does not come down to complicated calorie-counting and weight-loss gimmicks. Instead, it’s about working with your body’s natural hunger and sleep rhythms to curb cravings, burn fat, and send your energy levels soaring. Research shows that our bodies’ inner eat-and-sleep clocks have been thrown completely out of whack, thanks to cues we send it all day with the wrong foods. The result: You’re caught in a “fat cycle”: a constant flow of hunger hormones that makes your cravings almost irresistible. But if you tune into your body’s natural eat and sleep schedules, you can actually, finally, say “goodbye” to your belly pooch. Eat these foods to sleep better, lose more weight, and melt your belly fat. Here’s how to get started! Fish When your diet is deficient in omega-3s, a very common nutrient in fish, your pineal gland, a gland in your brain that helps regulate your nervous system—is thrown off, leading to alterations in the production of melatonin, your sleep hormone. People with an omega-3 deficit don’t sleep during their usual rest periods, which can lead to things like unhealthy late-night eating. Fish is also rich in protein, which previous research has shown can satiate your appetite. You even burn more calories digesting protein than you do when you eat fats or carbs. Plus, eating more omega-3s can boost heart health and lower your risk of dementia. Nuts

These legumes are a great source of mood-boosting magnesium. And eating more of it can help people who have sleep troubles doze peacefully through the night, according to a 2010 study published in the journal Magnesium Research. One group of the 100 tossers-and-turners over age 51 was given 320 milligrams of magnesium a day, while the other group was given a placebo. After seven weeks, those taking the magnesium were sleeping better—which research shows can lead to less overeating

and weight gain. As a bonus, the women had lower levels of dangerous inflammation, a rogue reaction by the immune system that is implicated in heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease. Milk It turns out that milk may really do a body good when it comes to belly fat. A 2010 study by researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham found that among a group of more than 100 premenopausal women,

fat was significantly reduced in those who consumed the most calcium-rich foods. In fact, for every 100 milligrams of calcium they consumed per day (that’s half cup of soft-serve frozen yogurt), they lost an inch of intra-abdominal fat—the really bad stuff tucked in and around your internal organs that has been linked to higher rates of heart disease and cancer. Calcium can also help you sleep if you tend to be awakened by muscle soreness or cramps—the mineral, along with calcium, helps relax

muscle nerves and fibers. Cherries Around bedtime munch on a few tarts Montmorency cherries. These cherries are one of a number of plant-based sources of melatonin, the sleep hormone. While there’s no evidence that they’ll help you nod off, studies have found that foods like these (such as bananas) can raise melatonin levels in the body. Not only does melatonin help you sleep, but it’s a powerful antioxidant, which can also promote weight loss.

shorter, less angled, and floppier than an adult’s, which means that both fluid and germs are more likely to get trapped in the middle ear. In addition, a child’s immune system is still developing, so she has a tougher time than an adult in fighting off viruses and bacteria. How can parents identify an ear infection? Because infants and toddlers don’t yet have the language skills to let you know how they’re feeling, detecting an ear infection is especially hard. “Older kids will come to you and say, ‘My ear hurts,’” says Max M. April, MD, chair of the committee on pediatric otolaryngology for the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery. “An infant obviously isn’t going to be able to do that.” So what can parents be on alert for? “In general, a fever above 102 degrees F. is one of the hallmarks of an ear infection in a nonverbal child,” Dr. April says. Ear tugging is not a reliable sign, but ear infections are painful, so your child’s tears or increased irritability may be a symptom. Also, if your baby becomes more upset when she’s lying down, an ear infection may be to blame, because that position puts pressure on the Eustachian tubes. Other indicators of an ear infection can include

difficulty sleeping, diminished appetite, vomiting, or diarrhoea. And you may notice that your child doesn’t hear well; she may not respond to sounds around her as she normally would, for example. Rest assured -- her hearing will come back once the infection is gone and her ear is free of fluid. A definite red flag: fluid or pus draining from your child’s ear. This can signal a perforated eardrum, a condition that can develop if the

fluid in the middle ear puts so much pressure on the eardrum that it bursts. Although a burst eardrum may sound scary and can be very painful for your child, the hole is not serious and will usually heal by itself. How can I ease my child’s ear infection pain? To lessen your child’s discomfort from an ear infection, your pediatrician may recommend acetaminophen or ibuprofen. But

avoid over-the-counter eardrops unless your doctor recommends them, as they can cause permanent damage if your child’s eardrum is perforated. Also steer clear of flying on a plane when your child has an ear infection because the change in air pressure can significantly increase pain or even rupture the eardrum, Ellen M. Friedman, MD, says.

How to tell if it’s an ear infection N

ext to the common cold, ear infections are the most common disorder in children,” says Margaretha Casselbrant, MD, PhD, chief of the division of pediatric otolaryngology at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. The painful facts are that more than 80 percent of children will be diagnosed with an ear infection by the time they celebrate their third birthday, almost half of these kids will have suffered from three or more ear infections by age 3, and the prime time for ear infections is between 6 and 24 months. Why are kids prone to ear infections? First, a quick explanation: Ear infections occur when fluid gets trapped in the middle ear (an air-filled space located behind the eardrum) and becomes infected by bacteria or a virus. This is most likely to happen when the Eustachian tube (a narrow passageway that connects the throat to the middle ear) becomes blocked. Typically, this blockage is caused by swelling or congestion from a cold, which is why an ear infection often develops on the heels of a cold. Allergies can also cause inflammation that obstructs the Eustachian tubes. Anatomy is a contributing factor as well. A child’s Eustachian tubes are

www.parents.com

Page 30

Healthy Living

Peoples daily, Monday, september 29, 2014

10 Habits that tamper with your fertility W

all the time.

e all know poor health choices can lead to difficult pregnancy experiences, but some experts say there are a few little-known improvements you can also make. “For couples trying to conceive, making some changes for the new year can have a huge impact,” said Dr. Edward Marut of Fertility Centers of Illinois in a statement. Marut says simple things like changing your diet, reducing the stress about having baby and adding in more snooze time can all help boost your chances of getting pregnant. And when it comes to what to eat (and what to avoid), some diets work better than others. One study showed eating a Mediterranean diet full of high fibre foods and vegetables can increase your chances of having a baby. Another Harvard study found men who are looking to boost fertility should lay off bacon and processed meats. But besides your diet, there are other habits that get in the way. Here are Marut’s top 10 bad habits to break in 2014 for both your overall health and chances of having a little one. Stressing about timing Temperature charts and home ovulation kits won’t add anything but stress to your life if you’re are having intercourse two to four times per week. Remember: if you have regular periods, your fertile zones are days 12 to 16. If your cycles are irregular, see a reproductive endocrinologist for additional support. Ignoring your BMI number The body mass index (BMI) is calculated using a person’s height and weight, and is used to indicate if you’re overweight,

Avoiding the doctor If you’ve been trying to get pregnant for a year and you’re under 35, or if you’ve been trying for six months and you’re over 35, it’s time to talk to an expert. Doctors will be able to advise you on simple changes you can make to help achieve conception. Still smoking cigarettes We all know smoking is bad for you, and there are numbers to prove it. A report by the British Medical Association showed smokers may have up to a 10 to 40 per cent lower monthly fertility rate. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine has estimated that up to 13 per cent of infertility may be caused by tobacco use. Smoking at least five cigarettes per day has been associated with lower fertility rates in both males and females. On top of this, smoking, whether tobacco or marijuana, is also associated with miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies, pregnancy complications and stillborn births — and these apply to the male partner as well.

underweight, obese or normal weight. Extra weight causes hormonal shifts that can affect ovulation and semen production, and can make achieving a pregnancy more difficult. However, being underweight can cause irregular or absent periods. The ideal BMI falls in the 20 to 25 range. The good news? Losing as little as five per cent of your body weight can significantly improve fertility potential in overweight patients.

Eating junk food You are what you eat. If you’re trying to get pregnant you should try to limit or cut out processed foods, sweets, and saturated fats. Make meals that include fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins, and don’t overdo carbohydrates. At the same time, don’t punish yourself if you have a craving. A little bit of fun food never hurts, and may relieve the urge to feast on guilty pleasures

Too much coffee Even though up to two cups of coffee a day have been shown to be safe during pregnancy, having more when trying to conceive may be counterproductive. One study showed that “women who consumed more than the equivalent of one cup of coffee per day were half as likely to become pregnant, per cycle, as women who drank less.” Instead, drink decaffeinated or half-caffeinated coffee, and remember there is caffeine in tea, pop and chocolate as well.

Using water-based lubricants If you’re trying to conceive, water-based lubricant may be working against your efforts. Some lubricants may inhibit sperm movement by 60 to 100 per cent within 60 minutes of intercourse. In other words, these tiny swimmers can’t win the race and reach the prize if they can’t move. Inconsistent sleep If you aren’t getting enough sleep every night, no amount of “catch up” snooze time can make up for lost rest. Research shows that the hormone leptin, which has a critical role in female fertility, is reduced when the body is deprived of sleep. Rest for at least seven hours per night and be aware of your body’s needs . Not seeking support One study showed women with infertility felt as anxious and depressed as those diagnosed with cancer, hypertension, or recovering from a heart attack. If you’re concerned about your fertility, don’t go at it alone. Talk to your partner, see a counsellor or find a support group with people on the same boat. One in six couples experience difficulty when trying to conceive, so the chances are high others can relate. “Saving Up” for ovulation There is no need to “save up” sperm for sex during ovulation, experts say, or have intercourse multiple times per day leading up to ovulation. Don’t let trying to conceive interfere with having a pleasurable sex life. Aim to have sex at least two to four times per week or whenever you and your partner are in the mood. www.huffingtonpost.com

Health benefits of Ginseng herb A

nutritious herb, Ginseng is a slow-growing perennial plant with fleshy roots that typically grows in Northern China, Korea, and eastern Siberia. While it also is believed to be a powerful natural aphrodisiac and tonic, here are the plant’s top health benefits: Aids in type 2 diabetes: Studies on American Ginseng have found that the intake of ginseng may improve blood sugar control by creating sugar-lowering effects in fasting and after-meal blood sugar levels. The effect was noticed even in average blood sugar levels over a three-month period. For weight control: An extract from the ginseng berry is believed to be effective against obesity and helpful with weight control. Ginseng tea works as a natural appetite suppressant. Physical/mental health stimulant: Ginseng is believed to be a good tonic that benefits one’s stamina and helps boost energy levels. It helps athletes use oxygen more effectively, and it is believed to regulate metabolism,

which can increase energy levels. Consumption of ginseng can also help athletes lower their recovery time and reduce stress. In addition, ginseng tea can act as a stimulant for the brain cells and help improve concentration and thinking ability. 4 Male sexual functions: Consuming ginseng tea can help men lessen the symptoms of sex related conditions like erectile dysfunction. Korean Red Ginseng has long been used to stimulate male sexual function. However, be sure to discuss this with your doctor before taking; ginseng may interact with other drugs or cause allergic reactions. 5 Menstrual problems: Young women who suffer from menstrual cramps and distress are advised to take American Ginseng Tea. It is also believed to lessen stomach pain associated with menstruation. www.newsmax.com

Peoples Daily, Monday, September 29, 2014

PAGE 31

Politics Extra

Lagos 2015: Group endorses Jimi Agbaje

L-R:Chairman, Girei Local Government Area, Hon. Mohammed Saidu Chairman, Mubi South Local Government Area, Hon. Ahmed Ardo Gudu of Adamawa state, during the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) rally in support of the re-election of President GoodLuck Jonathan, recently in Gombe.

From Akilani Abdullah, Lagos

Socio-political group, The Ambassadors, has backed the aspiration of Mr Jimi Agbaje to contest for the office of the governor in Lagos State in next year gubernatorial election. The group, in a statement issued in Lagos by its National Coordinator, Comrade Opeyemi Ahmed, stated that from all indications, Mr Jimi Agbaje appeared better prepared to fly the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), flag in Lagos State and advised other aspirants on the platform of the party to work with him for the PDP to be able to win in the 2015 elections. The Ambassadors disclosed that it will soon embark on house to house and market to market campaign to mobilize the people across the 20 local governments in the state in support of Agbaje’s gubernatorial ambition. The group made it known that the endorsement of Agbaje as its candidate was borne out of his credibility and political relevance in the state, adding that only the caliber and candidature of Agbaje can win for PDP in Lagos.

INEC clears seven candidates for Adamawa bye-election From Umar Dankano, Yola

he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cleared seven political parties and their candidates for the October 11 Adamawa state Governorship bye-election. A notice of the final list posted at the Yola INEC office signed by the Adamawa state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Barrister Kassim Gaidam listed the names of candidates cleared, their running mates and political parties. The candidates as contained in the list were; Sen Mohammed Jibrilla of the All Progressives Congress (APC) with Martins Babale as his running mate and Aminu Hamman-Joda of All the Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) with Elisha Jalo as his running mate. Others are; Aminu Dahiru of KOWA party with Elon Ramond as his running mate and Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with Jingi Kindamwe as his running mate. Abdulnasir Umar of the Mega Progressives People Party (MPPP) was cleared with Ta’aziya Ishaya as running mate while Mohammed Adamu of the National Conscience Party (NCP) was cleared with Serah Daniel as running mate.

2015: PDP’ll win all S/south states back, Jonathan boasts ...as Mu’azu challenges opposition on choice of candidate By Lawrence Olaoye

resident Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday assured supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-south region of the country that the party would win in all the states of the zone in the 2015 general elections. Jonathan made the declaration at the Unity Rally of the party in the zone held in Benin, Edo state capital. The President, in his address, said the zone used to be for the ruling party until recently when it lost Edo and Rivers states to the opposition. He said “In the South-south at the beginning of this democracy in 1999, we know the whole region

was PDP, but today two states are out. But from 2015 to 2016, we will get all our states back. Edo state has returned to the PDP. In Rivers state, the opposition exists only on billboards, the state belongs to the PDP. So, allow their billboards to stay. We know the party that is controlling Rivers state. All what we need is unity.” Jonathan also cautioned the party members who are interested in contesting for one position or the other to be cautious and exercise restraints in their activities so as not to injure the unity of the party in the course of pursuing their personal ambitions. He said “We are here for unity rally in Edo state; we are not here for campaigns. We would come back for campaigns. We are here for unity

rally because we must bring all our members together, especially now that elections are coming. Elections are coming, we have different interests. So, we use this platform to appeal to our people at every level of election that so many people would be interested in these positions, but only one person would go at a time. But, we belong to the same party. So, when we are struggling to get to these positions, we should be careful so that we don’t create enemies for ourselves,” the President cautioned. Jonathan also told the party supporters projects executed by his administration including the rehabilitation and construction of roads with the commissioning of Benin-Ofosu road in the state. The National Chairman of

the PDP, Alhaji Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu, in his remarks, challenged the opposition to bring out their best candidates to slug it out with Jonathan at the 2015 Presidential election since the party had decided to hand its ticket to the President. “Recently, all strata of our party decided to endorse our President as the candidate of our party. What is intriguing to me is that the opposition of our government was proving they know our constitution more than us. I advise them to shut up and mind their business. Let’s see how they go about their own. For us, we have decided. It is up to you (opposition) to bring up your best to come into competition with ours. I want to assure you that the PDP is the party to beat,” Mu’azu boasted.

Sanga killings: Yero’s visit not politically motivated – Ben Bako From Bashir Bello, Kaduna

aduna state Commissioner for Information and Home Affairs, Mr. Ben Bako has dispelled the rumour making the rounds that Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero’s visit to Fadan Karshi, Sanga local government area of the state to condole the victims of the recent attacks by unknown government in the area was politically motivated. The Commissioner who was speaking to newsmen in his office at the weekend said what happened in Sanga is highly condemnable, because human life is sacred and killing a soul should worry even the worse sadist let alone a state

governor who has his people at heart. Mr. Bako expressed regret that the visit was misunderstood by some people who tried to play politics with human lives. But however said the people of Sanga were happy with the governor’s visit. According to him, the district head of Lumana who spoke during the governor’s visit said they were worried because they have not seen their governor when this sad event took place, but seeing the governor has brought succour to them and cushioned the effect of the sad incident that happened. The Commissioner further said that the state government is doing its best in curbing the security

challenges facing the state and pleaded for understanding by all in the state. He said Governor Mukhtar Yero is the leader of the state, but not the Police Commissioner, The GOC or head of the Civil Defence, but he is only coordinating the activities of these security agencies in the state to curtail security challenges. He explained that if the past leaders of the state were unable to meet all the needs of the state for the period they found themselves in the seat of power Governor Ramalan Yero too would only do his best, but cannot solve all the problems in the state. He called on leaders of the southern Kaduna people to provide

the right leadership for the youth of the state while tasking the youth to tread with caution, be patient and respect leaders no matter where they come from. He urged the people of Southern Kaduna to distant themselves from politicians who play politics with bitterness. He explained that the unity of the state should go beyond politics, because what unites the people is bigger than politics that is about to separate them. He said though everybody has the right to protest if he felt aggrieved through any means, he however condemned the protest through nakedness of women. He said all the religions of the world condemned nudity of any kind.

Peoples Daily, MOnday, September 29, 2014

PAGE 32

Peoples Daily, MOnday, September 29, 2014

PAGE 33

Photo Splash

FCTA begins installation of traffic control room project By Stanley Onyekwere

L-R: Pheranzy Offshore Operation Manager, Amb, Chiedu Ezeude, receiving, a Meritorious Award, from Etsu Kwali, HRH Amb, Shabba Nizazo and HRH Nwaogbehi xiii of Usomini Clan Ogba. River State, King Allen Okrigwe, during United Nations International Day of Peace Commemorating 2014, at Sheraton hotel Abuja, at the weekend.

AEPB sacks ‘illegal’ food vendors, others at Jabi Park By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

he Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) at the weekend sacked illegal food vendors and other traders operating inside Jabi Motor Park, in Utako District of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The exercise, which was part of the Board’s monthly

sanitation programme, as part of its efforts towards to promoting a sustainable environment and city management, specifically targeted , at ridding the FCT of illegal traders and food vendors operating in restricted areas in the city. Speaking to journalists during the exercise, the acting Director of the Board, Lawan Shehu Baba, said “open spaces

in the park are not meant for food vendors and hawkers, as it is for passengers and motorists”. According to him, “many hawkers and baggers use the park as their tourist area.” He however, urged the management of the park to cooperate with the AEPB reinvigorated goal of sanitising the nation’s capital. Meanwhile, Shehu also

visited Garki Area 7, to check bleeding on man-hole silage, to enable the Board to rectify problems in the sewage lines, to ensure free flow of liquid waste in the area. Earlier, the Chairman of the park, Muhammed Salihu, pleaded with the AEPB, to assign its officers to constantly visit the park, so as to ensure that the rules are not violated by traders.

World Bank pledges N2bn to boost community development projects in FCT

By Stanley Onyekwere

he World Bank Assisted Community and Social Development Project (CSDP), in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has received a boost as the Bank pledged its counterpart fund of about two billion naira to implement the Community based projects in Territory between 2014 –2017. According to the Bank, out of the said amount, N340 million would be released this year, to strengthen the implementation of the rural development projects in the FCT. This was disclosed by the World Bank Task Team leader

of the CSDP, Professor Foluso Okunmadewa, during a meeting with Board of Directors of the FCT CSDP, held in Abuja, to strengthen on-going partnership between the FCT Administration and the World Bank, to develop FCT rural communities. Kunmadewa said the project was initiated ten years ago in Nigeria to assist communities lacking basic social amenities like water, electricity and access roads and so on, stressing that “the programme was designed to allow the benefiting communities have a say, contribute and participate in the execution of the projects’’ “Some of the States on the

Project are doing well with timely release of their counterpart funds by their Government and implementation of the community-driven development projects. “FCT Administration only came in late 2013 and the Administration has recorded commendable progress in all the six Area Councils of the FCT. We need to encourage the FCT CSDP through timely release of Funds,” he explained. Professor Okunmadewa urged the FCTA and other benefiting states to carry out peer review, to enable them compare notes and know where there are gaps and other

challenges. He lauded the World Bank assisted CSDP project, noting that if it was embraced and implemented in the North Eastern Part of the country the problem of insurgency would not have emerged On his part, chairman of FCT Board of the CSDP, Alhaji Salihu Hussaini Ashara, thanked the World Bank for the support and collaboration, aimed at bringing smiles to faces of the rural dwellers. He therefore pledged the commitment of the Board to work with the Bank and other stakeholders to implement the project in the FCT.

n a bid to tackle headlong all traffic problems in Abuja, the Federal Capital City, the FCT Administration said it has commenced the installation of Control Room project, aimed at enhancing traffic management and security of commuters in the Territory. The FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, made this disclosure at the weekend, after meeting with some senior officials of the FCT Transportation Secretariat, in his office. The Minister said that the project, which is in tune with the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan and the Transportation Master Plan of the Federal Capital Territory, is 65 percent completed. However, Mohammed revealed that the FCT A has upgraded a total of 28 out of the 74 existing traffic light installations from the old technology of incandescent light to Light Emitting Diode (LED) with Solar back-up to drastically reduce traffic light problems associated with those powered by conventional electricity supply. He added that twenty additional new intersections have been earmarked for traffic light installation before the end of the year 2014; while 1,200 additional road traffic signs have been installed of various types and sizes. He disclosed that more roads have been marked in the city and they include Tafawa Balewa Way; Lome Crescent Street; F.O.Williams Street; Babangida Aliyu Street; Nouchott Street; Kashim Ibrahim Way; Sabo Ago Way; Deji Omotade Street; Wada Aliyu Street as well as Ahmadu Bello Way. Also, the minister reiterated the commitment of his Administration to provide sufficient number of High Capacity Buses for scheduled bus transit services in and around the 8,000 square kilometers of the FCT. “Due to Biometric data capture of drivers earlier embarked upon by his Administration, issues of identification, safety and security is today better addressed. “FCTA has so far granted licenses to seven companies under its Operators License Scheme namely AUMTCO, FABREM, AUTOSTAR, NURTW, RTEIN, SECDA, TUC; while PAT and PRINTFIELD are yet to be licensed. These companies under the Operator’s License Scheme on daily basis deploy an average of 216 high capacity buses and 4,250 taxis,” the minister was quoted yesterday, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Muhammad Sule.

FRSC officer and police man at the scene of an accident, yesterday at National Stadium, in Abuja.

A labourer carrying plank on his head, yesterday at Gudu Mechanic village, in Abuja.

Labourers collecting sand, yesterday along Airport Road, in Abuja.

Young men hawking children’s toys and snacks, yesterday at the Galadimawa junction, in Abuja.

Refuse gradually taking over a major road, yesterday at the Lugbe Market, in Abuja. Photos: Joe Oroye

Peoples Daily, MOnday, September 29, 2014

PAGE 34

Metro

Tenement rates: Examining FCTA’s move to halt collection by area councils Analysis By Stanley Onyekwere

ising from its weekly Executive Committee (EXCO) meeting, on Monday, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed, warned chairmen of the Territory’s six area councils, to forthwith stop illegal collection of tenement rates or any other such taxes from owners of property and businesses within their respective domains. This move, the minister said was to ensure that Abuja residents not double taxed, in the process, stressing that area councils have no reason to collect such rates, as they run the markets, parking facilities and the motor parks in the domains, where they generate revenue. Specifically, the minister Mohammed issued a directive to the authorities of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) to immediately stop illegal collection of tenement rates or any other such taxes from the residents. Mohammed, who frowned at the trend, directed that the FCT permanent secretary should write to the chairman of AMAC, to ensure that all illegal the rates-be it tenement, shop or whatever should not be collected by anybody on behalf of the council. Briefing newsmen in Abuja, last week, after the meeting, the minister, who spoke through the Coordinator of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), Reuben Okoya, stressed that the directive also extends to other chairmen of other area councils in the FCT. According to him, residents of the Territory have suffered from such illegal tax charges and collections by officials claiming to representatives of the various councils. He revealed that there are complains about certain people claiming to be AMAC representatives going around collecting tenement rates ranging from N40,000 to N100,000 per house in the city. Warning that the FCT Administration we would no longer condone such illegal collections, the minister pointed out that anybody caught collecting such rates, would be dealt with, and the full wrath of the law will be brought on their heads. “In some cases you find touts going around collecting rates illegally, but it beholds on

FCT Minister, Sen. Bala Mohammed

the FCT Administration to work in collaboration with security agencies to stop such and arrest people that are involved into such activities. “It was brought to the notice of FCT, and after discussing it extensively, the minister then directed that permanent secretary should write to the chairman of AMAC, to ensure that no illegal rates should be collected by anybody on behalf of the council. “Tenement rates have their own ways of being collected by the FCT administration, so the minister was very unhappy, and so were the entire executive committee. “And what the committee did was to write to AMAC chair, to say any rate you are collecting that is not backed by law, stop it; but any rates that you are collecting legally, you should continue. “The minister said that, from now on, he is going to take up himself to make sure rates that paid in the FCT are legal rates, not illegal rates; so, we encourage citizens to ensure that they pay their rates to the right people, and as at when due,” Okoya quoted the minister. Ultimately, he said by the end of last week the letter ought to have gotten to the AMAC chairman, who is expected to raise an enforcement team, to make sure such illegal collections are immediately stopped forthwith and

Minister for State, Oloye Jumoke Akinjide

AMAC Chairman, Micah Jiba

accordingly. Furthermore, the minister argued that the FCT area councils get their normal allocation every month, still the FCTA also gives back 10 % of the revenue it generate internally to the councils. “FCT is the only territory where the minister, being the governor does not keep any part of the councils’ revenue, rather he pays to them. “If the councils are saying that if they don’t collect some rates that they would die, then we have think about it twice,” he stressed. He therefore advised shop owners or traders to always

investigate and ensure that whatever rates or whoever they are paying to is right or wrong. “If you are a shop owner or trader, when somebody comes to collect money from you, you ought to stop and find out who that person is, by asking for necessary identification, or at least go to the respective area council’s secretariat, and pay your rates and collect your receipts,” he said. But, without pointing the fingers directly to anyone, both the FCTA and other relevant authorities cannot continue claiming ignorance over the existence of such illegal charges

amongst others that perpetually subject the residents of the Territory to a lot of exploitations and nightmarish experiences in the hands illegal agents. Also, the FCT administration can’t sit and lay accusations here and there, as there is no need apportioning blame to any arm of the government, because they are all part of the whole system. Be that as it may, there is no doubt that the area councils may not act accordingly, to stop milking the helpless people of the FCT, under the disguise of boosting their internally generated revenue base, hence the need to follow up this directive, and even extend it to other government establishments. Certainly, what this directive presupposes is that irrespective of how good their (council chairmen) motive for the collection of various taxes from property owners and businesses in their domains, they must seek legal appropriate legal backing for whatever public interest they may want to pursue. And as it stands, the whole idea of this show of concern would go a long way towards ensuring that citizens are not forced to continue paying rates that they are not supposed to pay ( charges not backed by the law), especially when they are paying to people claiming to be representatives of the various councils.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2014

Page 35

International Paris won’t be bullied anymore over French hostages international_peoplesdailyng@yahoo.com

ANALYSIS

rench authorities have confirmed the death of Herve Gourdel, a French tourist hiking in mountains in northeastern Algeria. Gourdel was kidnapped and beheaded by Soldiers of the Caliphate (Jund al-Khilafa), a group that has declared allegiance to the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). The atrocious act was clearly aimed at reducing the support of the French public for President Francois Hollande’s decision to strike ISIL positions in Iraq, as proven by footage of the cowardly act labelled “A Message in Blood for the French Government.” It is very unlikely however that this murder will have any impact on France’s participation in the strikes. France became the second western country to attack ISIL militants when Rafale fighter aircraft raided an ammunitions depot near Mosul on September 18. Hollande adamantly confirmed his commitment to the international coalition and his rejection of negotiations with the kidnappers in his speech at the United Nations General Assembly on September 24. This approach marks a new development in France’s strategy towards its citizens who are taken as hostages. Traditionally, Paris made every effort to protect its citizens kidnapped by terrorist groups. France was recently criticised by US President Barack Obama for paying ransoms in exchange for their release, although Paris vehemently denies this. Cynical public relations The liberation of hostages has often been used as a cynical public relations tool to boost popularity. In May 1988, four days before the second round of upcoming presidential elections, Prime Minister Jacques Chirac paraded in front of cameras alongside French hostages freed from Lebanon. He did so hoping to edge in front of rival candidate Francois Mitterand in the popular vote. Hollande’s approval ratings have hit rock bottom, he has not budged from his strong offensive position towards ISIL. His decision to side with Obama gained rare bipartisan support in France. Although Hollande’s approval ratings have hit rock bottom, he has not budged from his strong offensive position towards ISIL. His decision to side with Obama gained rare bipartisan support in France. While David Cameron suffered a “humiliating defeat” in the House of Commons when he asked for support for

French Mayor Henri Giuge holds a portrait of Herve Gourdel during a tribute in Saint-Martin-Vesubie

targeted strikes in Syria last year, the only criticism from the French opposition has been that Hollande is not going far enough. Former Prime Minister Francois Fillon objected to limitations on fighting ISIL in Iraq and encouraged Hollande to not shy away from strikes inside Syria. There are several reasons for this determination. First, Hollande, as well as political leaders from the right, are happy to build on the conflict in the Middle East to snatch back public attention which has turned towards former President Nicolas Sarkozy, who recently announced his political comeback. While the former

president has pointed to his successor’s lack of leadership, Hollande is attempting to prove Sarkozy wrong. Second, France and other European countries have every reason to be on the offensive in their fight against ISIL. The risk of terrorist acts at home is real. More than 700 French citizens are estimated to have been indoctrinated online, joining jihadists in Syria. The danger for France is that those individuals will eventually return to perpetuate terrorist actions on French soil. Blow to French interests Since French gunman Mohammed Merah, a selfstyled al-Qaeda jihadist, killed

“

seven people in southwestern France in 2012, terrorist threats have only increased in Europe. Governments have subsequently scrambled to prevent a surge in lone-wolf terrorism. French security forces have managed to dismantle several terrorist cells already, but were not able to prevent one of their nationals, Mehdi Nemmouche, from killing three people during an attack at the Jewish Museum in Brussels in May. Nemmouche, who was later arrested in Marseille, served in Syria as a hostage torturer before his return to France with the intent of organising terrorist attacks. Finally, France cannot afford propaganda to strengthen

Former Prime Minister Francois Fillon objected to limitations on fighting ISIL in Iraq and encouraged Hollande to not shy away from strikes inside Syria.

the appeal of terrorist groups in West Africa and the Mediterranean. ISIL’s presence in Algeria is also a blow to French economic interests in the region, such as oil and telecommunications. Compared to the small population of US or British citizens in these countries, more than 40,000 French citizens currently live in Algeria and more than a million Algerian immigrants live in France. If the integration of this community in France has been relatively successful and an asset for Franco-Algerian relations, memories of the dreadful hours of the terrorist attacks in France in the 1990s by the Algerian Groupe Islamique Arme, are still very fresh in French memory. This troubled history as well as the importance of French economic interests in Algeria explain the firm tone of the French authorities. The same reasons motivated Hollande’s intervention in quashing forces fighting for al-Qaeda in Mali. France has much more to lose or risk than any other country and her commitment to reducing ISIL’s influence is unlikely to decrease. Courtesy; Aljazeera

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2014

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International Liberia’s chief medical officer under Ebola quarantine

Cuba sends 300 more doctors to fight Ebola

uba says it will send nearly 300 more doctors and nurses to West Africa to help fight the Ebola epidemic. The Cubans will work in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia, Regla Angulo, head of the Cuban medical relief agency, said in a statement on Friday. The announcement means that up to 461 Cuban medical personnel would have been sent to help address the epidemic spreading across West Africa. Angulo said the staff were currently undergoing intense training ahead of their deployment, working in a mock field hospital of the kind they expected to find in the region. Cuba’s decision comes as health experts from 16 European countries urged their governments to massively scale up manpower and resources to fight the Ebola epidemic, now threatening “the entire world”. European countries should urgently send trained medical staff, field laboratories, protective clothing, disinfectants and basic tools such as electricity generators, 44 public health professionals and academics wrote in The Lancet medical journal. “After months of inaction and neglect from the international community, the Ebola epidemic in West Africa has now spiralled utterly out of control,” said their open letter. “Today, the virus is a threat not only to the countries where the outbreak has overwhelmed the capacity of national health systems, but also to the entire world. “We urge our governments to mobilise all possible resources to assist West Africa in dealing with this horrific epidemic.” On Thursday. US President Barack Obama said the global community had not done enough to respond to the crisis. “There is still a significant gap between where we are and where we need to be,” Obama said on Thursday while addressing a highlevel UN meeting on Ebola. Margaret Chan, director of the World Health Organisation, addressed the Ebola meeting before Obama. Chan said the virus was “still running ahead, jumping over everything we put in place to slow it down”. The American government has dispatched 3,000 US troops to Liberia to set up facilities and form training teams to help treat patients.

iberia’s chief medical officer has put herself under quarantine for 21 days, after one of her assistants died from the deadly Ebola virus. Bernice Dahn, a deputy health minister, said she had no symptoms but wanted to take every precaution. The World Health Organisation (WHO) says more than 3,000 people

have died from Ebola in West Africa. Liberia has been the worst hit by the disease, accounting for 1,830 deaths - 150 in the last two days alone. Health workers have been particularly vulnerable to the virus, which is spread by the infected bodily fluids of patients. Health organisations

recommend isolating people for at least 21 days, which is the maximum incubation period for the virus. Ms Dahn told the BBC on Saturday that she herself had decided to go into quarantine and wanted to abide by that rule. She said she had not come into contact with any other infected people, apart from the office assistant

The outbreak has overwhelmed Liberia’s health services

who died this week, but wanted to take every precaution. Ms Dahn, who represented Liberia at international Ebola conferences, has also instructed her staff to stay at home for the same time period. The WHO highlighted the risk of infection for health workers trying to stem the outbreak in its latest report released on Friday, It said 375 workers are known to have been infected, and that 211 have so far died from the virus in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. The deaths and sickness have made it even more difficult for the already weak healthcare systems in the affected countries to cope with the outbreak. There is a severe shortage of hospital beds, especially in Liberia. The latest WHO figures indicate that more than 6,500 people are believed to have been infected in the region in the world’s most deadly Ebola outbreak. On Friday, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) pledged to send $130m in emergency aid to the countries worst hit by the virus: Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone.

Egypt court adjourns Mubarak retrial to Nov. 29

n Egyptian court on Saturday postponed until Nov. 29 its verdict in the retrial of former president Hosni Mubarak over charges of killing protesters in 2011. Mubarak, former interior minister Habib el-Adly and six senior police officials are accused of ordering the killings of more than 800 protesters during the 18-day uprising that toppled Egypt’s long-time ruler. Mubarak was sentenced to life in prison in 2012, but he appealed the ruling, and the court ordered his retrial which began in April 2013. Although the case was postponed several times, Saturday’s hearing was particularly shocking to many Egyptians

who expected to hear the verdict. In justifying the postponement decision, presiding judge Mahmoud Kamel al-Rashidi said the court needed more time to review some 160,000 court documents. However, November’s expected ruling could be appealed and in this case the Court of Cassation would take over the case and its decision would be final. Mubarak, his two sons, Alaa and Gamal, along with fugitive businessman Hussein Salem, are also facing corruption charges, including squandering public funds and exporting Egypt’s natural gas to Israel at a price lower than international market rate.

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International

Top India politician Jayalalitha jailed for corruption

Jayalalitha has been prominent figure for years, acquiring reputation for enjoying lavish lifestyle

ne of India’s most colourful and controversial politicians, Jayaram Jayalalitha, has been sentenced to jail for four years on corruption charges in a case that has lasted for 18 years. The chief minister of the southern state of Tamil Nadu was found guilty of amassing wealth of more than $10m (£6.1m)

which was unaccounted for. She has to pay a 1bn rupee ($16m; £10m) fine and resign as chief minister. A former actress, her life has been marked by a series of high and lows. The verdict was delivered by a special court in Bangalore amid tight security. Along with three others, Jayalalitha was sentenced to an

immediate jail term, and was due to be sent to Parappana Agrahara prison in Bangalore. But she complained on chest pains and giddiness after the verdict was delivered, the Times of India reported, and was sent to the prison hospital for assessment. The prosecution argued that Jayalalitha and three others committed an offence against

society , t h e I nd i a n E x p r e s s reported. The court has sentenced all four accused to four years in prison each, with Jayalalitha also facing a 1bn rupee fine ($16m, £10m). The others have been ordered to pay a fine of about $1.6m each. If any of the four fail to pay their fine their jail sentence will be extended by a year. It said that supporters of AIADMK party were forcibly dispersed by police as they tried to make their way to the court. The BBC’s Jill McGivering says that Jayalalitha is a legendary figure - a flamboyant former film star who has been central to south Indian politics for three decades. The corruption case focused on her personal wealth and was brought by a rival political party, Jayalalitha has always argued that it was politically motivated. Known by her followers as Amma or Mother, she inspires intense loyalty, even adoration. But she has been associated with a lavish lifestyle. Her foster son’s wedding almost 20 years ago broke world records for its sheer scale including 150,000 guests.

Iran to counter IS militants in Iraq if threatened: commander

I Medical workers carry former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak from a helicopter to his hospital in Cairo, Egypt, Sept. 27, 2014.

South African college in ‘blackface’ scandal

L-R: Consultant, Primus International Super Specialty Hospital Abuja, Dr. Mustafa Kapadia, Chief Joint Replacement Surgeon, Dr. Anil Joshi and Consultant Urology and Kidney Transplant, Dr. Brijesh Sharda, during the press conference on 2014 Free Consultation Health Camp, at Primus International Super Specialty Hospital, at the weekend in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2014

South African university is investigating white students accused of racism for painting themselves in dark paint and dressing up as Venus and Serena Williams at a costume party. Stellenbosch University said on Thursday that it was informed about a photograph on Twitter that showed two students posing as the tennis siblings. It noted social media reaction that mentioned “blackface”, which was common in old American minstrel shows featuring white performers as stereotyped black characters. The two students and another student who posted the photograph

said they aimed to portray two sports stars without “malicious or racial intent,” and they regret their judgment error. The student council said some students believe the three should be expelled, while others dismissed the incident as a mistake that should not be taken seriously. It was the second case of “blackface” to hit South Africa in as many months. In August, the University of Pretoria (UP) expelled from its residence two white students who had been photographed smeared with black paint and dressed as domestic workers.

ran will target Islamic State militants “deep inside the Iraqi territory” if they intend to approach the Iranian borders, a senior Iranian commander was quoted as saying by Press TV on Saturday. “We will not allow the IS terrorist group to approach the country’s borders. We are fully prepared to counter them,” Commander of the Iranian Army’s Ground Forces, Brigadier General

Ahmadreza Pourdastan, said on Saturday. “If the IS terrorist group intends to come near the country’s borders, we will target them deep inside the Iraqi territory.” The commander added that Iran has deployed ground forces in western border regions to beef up the security there, and that those forces have high operational capability and would “nip the threats in the bud.” Earlier this month, Iran’s

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that the remarks by U.S. officials regarding the formation of a so-called international coalition to fight IS militants are “absurd, hollow and biased.” The United States is seeking to expand its military presence in the Middle East region by declaring war on IS terrorists, Khamenei said. The IS has d rawn alarm

after overrunning vast swaths of territory in Iraq and Syria in a bid to set up their own nation- state and rule it by radical Islamic laws. The terrorists have killed children, executed prisoners and enslaved victims. They have also sent shock waves across the world after beheading U.S. journalists and posting videos of their horrific deaths online. Source; Xinhua

Japan’s Mount Ontake volcanic eruption traps hikers

everal climbers have been injured in Japan after Mount Ontake volcano erupted, sending huge plumes of ash and stones into the sky. Witnesses heard a “thunderlike” boom before the eruption at the 3,067m (10,120ft) peak, situated between Nagano and Gifu prefectures. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says the army will help rescue some 150 climbers sheltering in lodges near the summit. Officials have warned residents within a 4km radius of the risk of debris. Mount Ontake last erupted in 2007. “It was like thunder,” a woman who runs a lodge

near the summit told Japanese broadcaster NHK. “I heard boom, boom, then everything went dark.” “There are 15cm (six inches) of ash on the ground,” she said. Some climbers have managed to descend. “I escaped with my bare life,” one told NHK. “Immediately after I watched the eruption, I rushed away but I was soon covered with ash.” Two of those injured have fractured bones caused by flying rocks, NHK said. Three people are missing, believed buried under volcanic ash, it said. A fourth was rescued but remains unconscious, the broadcaster added, citing police.

Kiso Prefectural Hospital, near the mountain, said it had dispatched a medical emergency team.

“We expect a lot of injured people so we are now getting ready for their arrival,” said an official at the hospital.

Residents over a large area have been warned of risk of falling stones

Asia & Middle East

Syria forces recapture key city near Damascus

he Syrian government forces on Saturday completed its control over the sprawling city of Adra north of the capital Damascus, the state news agency SANA reported. In a statement, the Syrian military said the recapture of Adra came after “a series of precise and focused operations,” adding that the troops are currently haunting down remnants of the “ terrorist” groups in the surrounding orchards. Adra is administratively part of Damascus’ sprawling suburb of Douma, which has for long fallen to an array of rebel militias. The military’s general command said that recapturing Adra was crucial, given its strategic location as one of the entrances to Damascus that also overlooks the international highway connecting the capital with the central and northern regions in Syria. The military statement said the victory in Adra is part of the ongoing wide-scale offensive the Syrian troops have recently waged to clean the eastern and northern countryside of Damascus from the rebels. Earlier in the day, opposition activists said the rebels had withdrawn from Adra towards rebel-held Douma.

Hong Kong smashes suspected smuggling of iPhones

ong Kong Customs said on Saturday that it foiled an attempt of smartphones smuggling by a seven-seater private vehicle at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point on Friday. Customs officers intercepted the outgoing vehicle for inspection at Shenzhen Bay Control Point Friday afternoon. A total of 71 smartphones of latest-models, including 67 iPhone 6 and four iPhone 6 Plus, and 60 used phone monitors with a total value of about 400,000 HK dollars (about 51,612.9 U.S. dollars) were found being concealed in the car. The 31-year-old driver was arrested and put on bail pending investigation. The private car was seized for further examination. Within the past five days, Hong Kong Customs smashed a total of three cases of suspected smuggling of the latest smartphones by crossboundary vehicles with a total seizure value of about two million HK dollars. These included a case of suspected smuggling of smartphones by a seven-seater private vehicle at Shenzhen Bay Control Point on Sept. 24, and another case of suspected smuggling of latest smartphones and integrated circuits by false compartment of a container truck at Lok Ma Chau Control Point on Sept. 22.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2014

Page 38

International Europe and Chelsea Clinton gives birth Americas 26 more victims of to baby girl Charlotte MH17 crash identified

his week another 26 victims of the MH17 flight disaster in eastern Ukraine have been identified, resulting in a total of 251 identified people now, the Dutch Ministry of Security and Justice declared on Friday. Of the 26 new identifications 19 persons had the Dutch nationality. At the request of the embassies of the countries concerned, the specific nationality of the nonDutch victims was not made known. A team of specialists in the army barracks in the city of Hilversum have the task of identifying the victims of the crash. It may take several more months before every victim will be identified, if that will happen. During the crash on July 17 a total of 298 people died, of which 196 had the Dutch nationality. On July 23 the first aircraft with remains and bodies of the victims arrived at Eindhoven Airport, followed by several other flights. The coffins were brought to the Corporal Van Oudheusden barracks in Hilversum for the identification of the victims. Also on Friday Dutch PrimeMinister Mark Rutte said he is not optimistic about getting back more human remains and personal belongings of the victims of the crash. On August 5 the Netherlands stopped the recovery and repatriation mission on the crash site until further notice due to the deteriorating security conditions in the area. “Right now, I am not optimistic that we can return for the winter,” Rutte said in Dutch TV show Nieuwsuur. “But it remains our ambition to return before the winter. That’s our priority.” Source; Xinhua

helsea Clinton, daughter of former US President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, has given birth to a baby girl. “Marc and I are full of love, awe and gratitude as we celebrate the birth of our daughter, Charlotte Clinton Mezvinsky,” Ms Clinton tweeted.

Ms Clinton, 34, married Marc Mezvinsky in 2010, and announced her pregnancy in April 2014. The baby arrives as Hillary Clinton considers a presidential bid in 2016. She is seen as the leading Democratic contender for nomination to succeed President Barack Obama, and has said that she will make a decision on whether

to run from around the beginning of 2015. Bill Clinton served as the 42nd US president, from January 1993 to January 2001. The former first daughter has often been tipped to follow her parents into politics. Chelsea Clinton, educated at Stanford, Columbia and Oxford

Universities, runs the Clinton Foundation with her parents. Her husband Marc Mezvinsky is an investment banker. Ms Clinton stepped down from a $600,000 (£370,000) a year position as NBC special c o r r espondent in August to concentrate on her pregnancy, motherhood and philanthropic work.

Chelsea Clinton’s baby daughter is the first grandchild of Bill and Hillary Clinton

NY postman Joseph Brucato ‘hoarded’ a tonne of mail

New York postman hoarded as many as 40,000 pieces of undelivered mail in his home, car and work locker over nine years, prosecutors have said. Joseph Brucato, 67, was arrested on Wednesday after a supervisor saw undelivered post in his personal car, where it was forbidden by policy. Postal investigators subsequently found 2,500lb

(1.1 tonnes) of mail dated as far back as 2005. Mr Brucato’s lawyer said in court his client suffered from depression. But the lawyer did not give a reason why Mr Brucato had allegedly taken the letters. As a condition of his release pending a court hearing, Mr Brucato was ordered to “abstain from excessive alcohol consumption”.

According to court records, Mr Brucato became a postman in 2001 and had been assigned a regular route in the New York borough of Brooklyn for the past 11 years. When confronted by postal investigators about the undelivered mail in his vehicle, Mr Brucato said he had been keeping mail there for six months and “on some days... did

not deliver the mail intended for his route for various personal reasons”, according to a federal criminal complaint. A search of Mr Brucato’s residence, vehicle and locker at work found even more mail that investigators said was post marked as early as 2005. The hoarded mail was bound for businesses and residents in the Flatbush neighbourhood of Brooklyn.

Catalonia president signs independence referendum decree

he president of the Spanish region of Catalonia has signed a decree calling for a referendum on independence.

Artur Mas wants Catalonia to hold a Scottish-style vote on 9 November, but does not have the backing of the central government in Madrid.

Mr Mas emerged smiling after the move which Madrid will seek to block

Spain quickly denounced the move, calling the plan unconstitutional. Catalonia, which includes Barcelona, is one of Spain’s richest and most highly industrialised regions, and also one of the most independentminded. On 19 September Catalonian lawmakers voted by a margin of 106 to 28 in favour of authorising the referendum, known locally as a “consultation’ Mr Rajoy and the Spanish government believe any vote would be illegal. Two hours after Mr Mas signed the decree, Spanish Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz made Madrid’s position clear: “This referendum will not be held because it is unconstitutional,” she said. The prime minister is expected to take action at a special cabinet meeting early next week, and is likely

to take the dispute to the country’s Constitutional Court. However, Mr Mas says he can use local laws to hold the vote. The decree was signed at a short ceremony and will serve as a message of intent to Spain’s central government, says the BBC’s Tom Burridge in Madrid. The question now will be on how far the Spanish government is prepared to go in order to stop a referendum, our correspondent adds. Mr Mas has previously insisted that the pro-independence movement will prevail, even if it faces stiff opposition. “Catalonia wants to speak,” he said after signing on Saturday. “Wants to be heard. Wants to vote. Now is the right time and we have the right legal framework to do so.” Soon after the decree was signed, the Catalan hash tag

EstemConvocats9N (“We called it for 9 November”) became the highest trending topic on Spanish Twitter. Until recently, few Catalans had wanted full independence, but Spain’s painful economic crisis has seen a surge in support for separation, correspondents say. There is resentment over the proportion of Catalan taxes used to support poorer regions. The pro-independence movement in Catalonia believes that the region can go ahead with the independence vote after the decree is signed. Earlier this month hundreds of thousands of Catalans formed a “V” for “vote” along two of Barcelona’s main roads calling for their right to vote. Juan Arza of the Societat Civil Catalana, a civil society movement which opposes nationalism, told the BBC why he opposed the vote.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2014

Page 39

Strange World

Russian student covers her car in one million swarovski crystals

1-year-old Daria Radionova has been attracting a lot of attention on the streets of London with her swanky, crystal-encrusted car.

The Russian student apparently wasn’t content with her Mercedes CLS 350; she wanted something more ‘unique and special’. So she spent £20,000 (a little over $30,000) to coat the luxury

vehicle in a million Swarovski crystals. The sparkly car is currently parked outside the Levin Hotel in Knightsbridge, in West London. The neighborhood is well-known

for rich Arab kids speeding around in their garish supercars during the summer. Among the well known cars in the area are a gold Range Rover, and an assortment of Rolls Royces, Ferraris, and

Lamborghinis. Daria had to do something different if she w She recruited a special team from Russia to work on her pet project – it took them two months of 12-hour workdays to complete the job. “I am really happy with it and looking forward to driving it around,” she said. Cleaning the car hasn’t been a problem – a regular sponge and soapy water do the job quite well. She keeps a small bag of spare crystals inside the car, just in case one on the exterior falls off. Now that the car is ready, it has been getting a lot of attention – people on the street are stopping to take a closer look and click pictures. “It has only just been finished and everywhere I go people stop to have a look at it. It gets lots of attention from people walking by and in cars. Sometimes I think they might crash.” A manager at the hotel said: “We have a lot of unusual cars like Ferraris parked outside but I think this one has got the most attention.” Not all the attention is positive though, some people are viewing it as rather excessive and unnecessary. But Daria isn’t concerned about that: “Haters and jealousy will always be around successful people,”

Kazakh woman says 8-inch-long beard is the secret to her long happy marriage

hile some men struggle to grow beards, here’s a 65-yearold woman who managed to sprout one that’s a whopping eight inches long. Her unusual facial hair has made Mukhtabor Toraeva a celebrity in her hometown of Turbat , in southern Kazakhstan. But what’s really bizarre is that she says the beard is the secret to her successful 42-year marriage. “My husband married me when my beard had already started to grow,” she explained with pride. “He loves it and we now have a son, a daughter, and six grandchildren. Although beards run on my side of the family, my daughter does not have one and although both my mother and grandmother have them, they are not as fine as mine. Theirs reached only six inches.” Mukhtabor said that she started growing her beard when she was 25 years old, and that people have always admired h e r f o r i t . H e r f ri e n d s a n d relatives appreciate her, as do the strangers she meets when she travels to the neighboring Uzbekistan. She added that people often want to take pictures with

her to show to their wives or mot he rs . “ I wou l d say my beard at least helps me to cross the border easily and without complications,” she added, cheerfully. And when the local media picked up her story, she

became quite popular across the region. Kazakh Women’s Rights campaigner Aisara Baiseitova said: “It’s really impressive to see such a genuinely lovely person so happy with the ways she looks.

There is so much pressure on women today to look glamorous and sexy, and to shave every part of their bodies. Seeing and listening to this woman should be inspirational to all.” She does have a point there –

most women consider body hair unappealing and put themselves through painful procedures to get rid of it. So it’s refreshing to hear of Mukhtador and her husband, who seem to be quite happy about the whole affair.

PAGE 40

Peoples Daily, monDAY, september 29, 2014

Digest

Checking work email at home can cause heart problems

Checking your work email at home, or taking a call from your boss at the weekend could be damaging your health, experts have warned. German researchers argued recreational time completely free of work is essential to help the body recuperate. File picture

hecking your work email at home or taking a call from the boss at weekends could be damaging your health, experts have warned. A study of 57,000 people found that more than half worked outside their normal hours - a trend driven by the ease of accessing work documents on smartphones and computer tablets. The researchers found that those who worked in the evenings and at weekends were more likely to complain of insomnia, headaches,

fatigue, anxiety and stomach problems. Muscular problems and cardiovascular issues were also linked to working outside of normal hours, the German researchers found. The scientists, whose work is published in the journal Chronobiology International, call for far stricter rules to stop work invading people’s home life. They said technological advances have created an ‘always-on’ culture which is ramping up pressure for

people to be constantly available to work. And they argued that recreational time completely free of work is essential to help the body recuperate. The authors, from the Society for Labour, Industrial and Organizational Psychological Research in Oldenburg, Germany, based their findings on two major surveys of workers across Europe. They wrote: ‘Information and communication technologies, such as computers and smartphones... have

cravings and more snacking. However, the researchers advised that taking exercise, avoiding alcohol and getting a good night’s sleep could strengthen this area of the brain, allowing people to overcome cravings and the temptation to eat more easily. The study used a method called continuous theta burst stimulation, which uses weak electric currents using a rapidly changing magnetic field to cause activity in specific parts of the brain with no discomfort. This temporarily reduced activity in the participants’ left dorsolateral cortex. After receiving theta burst stimulation, participants not only reported greater food cravings for calorie-dense food, but ate more junk food during a taste test than when they received a bogus stimulation. Lead author Cassandra Lowe, doctoral student in the University of Waterloo School of Public Health and Health Systems said: ‘This

is the first study to demonstrate that taking the prefrontal cortex temporarily offline results in increased snacking,’ Professor Peter Hall, of the University of Waterloo senior author on the study added: ‘It

the potential benefit and the potential inherent danger of making it possible for employees to be available any time and anywhere. ‘This changes not only our work organisation, but probably also our patterns of social participation and integration.’ They added: ‘Free time should be free time, otherwise it must be expected that it cannot fulfil functions of recovery and recuperation.’ Lead author Dr Anna Arlinghaus, a public health expert at the, said: ‘Our findings indicate that even a small amount of supplemental work beyond contractually agreed work hours can lead to health issues. ‘The correlation is very strong.’ Some large companies and even governments are beginning to raise concerns about the burden of mobile working. Separate research, carried out by technology retailer Pixmania in 2012, found that access to a smartphone adds two hours to the working day. More than 90 per cent of office workers have an email-enabled phone, with a third accessing them more than 20 times a day, the research found. German car maker Daimler last month installed software on its 100,000 employees’ computers that automatically deletes emails if they are away on holiday. Daimler spokesman Oliver Wihofszki said: ‘The idea behind it is to give people break and let them rest. Then they can come back to work with a fresh spirit.’ Managers at Deutsche Telekom agreed to stop sending emails to staff during evenings, weekends and holidays, while in 2011 Volkswagen announced company servers would

stop routing emails to employees’ BlackBerrys in the evening. France recently introduced rules which safeguard people working in the digital and consultancy sectors from work email outside office hours. And the German government is looking at similar measures. Dr Arlinghaus said: ‘Employers should start to look at how they can minimise their employees’ supplemental work. ‘It often needs to start at the top, with bosses taking the lead and attempting to change the culture at work. ‘Not every country will implement regulations like France, so companies should look to make improvements of their own accord.’ Source: Dailymail.co.uk

The study found workers who checked their email at home were more prone to cardiovascular problems, headaches, anxiety, stomach problems and muscular complaints. File picture

PEOPLES DAILY, MONday, SEPTEMBER 29, 2014

has long been thought that the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex helps to keep automatic, or kneejerk, reactions in check,’ ‘We discovered that when you temporarily dampen the operation of this particular part of the brain,

Canadian researchers found that dampening the operation of the part of the brain responsible for control led to participants experiencing more cravings and eating more junk food

sports@peoplesdailyng.com, SMS- 08142929046

By Taofeek Lawal

he Match Day 29 game between Warri Wolves and Abia Warriors fixed for Sunday afternoon at the Warri City stadium has been postponed. The clash has been moved to todayat the same venue owing to the heavy downpour in the oil-rich Warri City. Sources in Warri confirmed that the Warri City Stadium is currently waterlogged and the Centre Referee Amoo from Kwara State who is meant to handle the game has pushed the game to 9am today. Wolves are hoping for a double over Coach Ladan Bosso’s men after they won the reverse fixture by a lone goal off the boots of Austin Amutu. The Warri team occupies the 4th position on the league table.

Warri Wolves line up

Crown fire Akpokona LMC banish Nembe to Benin City

rown FC of Ogbomosho had ended their relationship with their head

strongly engrained - and quite universal - preferences for high calorie foods start to hijack people’s thought patterns and even their eating patterns.’ H e a dded that the study highlight’s how brain health can be important for control, especially in the context of dieting. He said: ‘The research suggests that the best solution to effective self-restraint lies in maximizing brain health. Interventions aimed at enhancing or preserving dorsolateral cortex function in healthy populations may reduce the likelihood of obesity and other chronic conditions,’ ‘In the end, if you want to improve your self-control when it comes to snacking, structuring your environment to avoid temptations is crucial; but beyond this, the key is to keep your brain in shape, so that you are up to the task when you encounter temptations. Let’s face it, they are everywhere.’ Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Wolves, Abia Warriors game postponed

Can’t stop eating junk food? Blame your brain verindulging on junk food could be partly caused by lapses in the part of the brain responsible for control, a new study has revealed. Canadian researchers found dampening the operation of a the ‘dorsolateral prefrontal cortex’ led to people reporting more food cravings for high-calorie foods and eating more junk food during a taste test. The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is involved with the brain’s executive functions, which allow them to engage voluntary control over their behaviour. This part of the brain helps to keep automatic, or knee-jerk reactions, such as food cravings, in check. Previous studies have shown that boosting activity in the prefrontal cortex reduces cravings for unhealthy foods. But this is the first study to show that reducing its activity levels in this area of the brain, or ‘taking it offline’ leads to more

SporT 41 Page

Akpokona

coach, Lawrence Akpokona. Akpokona was relieved of his appointment following unimpressive results in the Glo Premier League in recent weeks. “Yes, he has been sacked, but there is no replacement yet for him. Our next match (against Nembe City) on Sunday will be handled by Oseni Babalola,” Crown FC spokesman, Oyekunle Oyeleye said. Akpokona was due for sack following a scandalous defeat to Kaduna United penultimate week. It was also learned that Crown FC had planned to sack Akpokona before their 1-0 win over El-Kanemi Warriors over the weekend. “The club actually sacked Akpokona because of the 5-0 loss to Kaduna United. He was nearly made not to sit on the bench against El-Kanemi but somehow that did not happen. “That 5-0 defeat should not be blamed on coach Akpokona because the travel plan was wrong before that game. We got to Kaduna like around 9pm or 10pm, a day before the match and had no time to rest. So fatigue set in and that was why we lost that much,” one of the players was quoted as saying.

he League Management Company (LMC) has ruled that Nembe City will play their next three home matches in Benin. These decisions and others including a financial fine on Nembe City were reached in the aftermath of the inconclusive Match Day 27 fixture between Nembe City and Lobi Stars at the Krisdera Stadium, Omoku, Rivers State. The league body found that the match was discontinued as a result of fans invading the pitch in protest of extra time penalty awarded by the center Referee against Nembe City. It noted that it was the action of the fans and not the protest of Nembe City players, who though initially protested the penalty award that caused the pitch invasion and inhibited the continuation of play. It further observed that

play could not have resumed even if Nembe City players returned within five to twenty five minutes as stipulated by the Rules when the fans refused to vacate the pitch and accordingly fined the club N500, 000 for the unruly conduct of its players, officials and fans. The LMC therefore ordered that the botched match will be

concluded at a neutral venue on a date preceding the 2014 Federation Cup finals. The match will be re-started from the time it was halted and with the same result that prevailed at the time of the disruption. The LMC said these immediate actions are without prejudice to the Organizing and Disciplinary Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

LMC Chairman, Hon. Nduka Irabor

Gabonese official heaps praises on Eaglets By Taofeek Lawal

ssono, a Gabonese U-17 official has admitted his team lost to a superior side after the Golden Eaglets overturned a 2-1 loss to triumph by 5 goals to nil in Calabar on Saturday.. “It was a very good game but we actually came

here with the mind to play well. Our team is young and it was difficult for them to play here because it was difficult to play against Nigeria here,” he said. “Nigeria is one of the best teams in Africa and I want to say that we lost to a good team. I want to wish Nigeria luck at the classification in Niger because

we know Nigeria is in the best position to go to the African Cup and Good luck to Nigeria,” he stated. The Eaglets sailed through on a 6-2 aggregate over the weekend. The Emmanuel Amuneke tutored boys have qualified for the African edition to be hosted by Niger Republic next year.

PEOPLES DAILY,MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2014

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Sports

By Albert Akota

olden Eaglets have made Nigerians proud as they have shown that no one has the right to mess with Nigeria especially after the Gabonese fans called the Eaglets ‘Ebola Nigeria’ in the first leg in Libreville. The young Nigerian Boys thrashed their Gabonese 5-0 at the U. J Esuene Sports Stadium in Calabar in their second legfinal qualifier towards African Under-17 Championship. Nigeria qualified on a 6-2 aggregate and secured a ticket to next year’s Championship to be hosted in Niger between February 15 and March 1. Ebere Osinachi and Kehinde Ayinde got a brace each after Captain Kelechi Nwakali had grabbed the curtain raiser from e spot. Nigeria started the game cautiously as the Gabonese soaked the initial pressure but

Eaglets hit Gabon to qualify for African U-17 Championship

it was not too long before the visitors were put in real danger when Suleiman Abdullahi sprinted and waltzed through the right wing and pushed the ball on the path of Kingsley Michael only to be brought down in the box by Gabonese goalkeeper Noubi Fotso in the box. Captain Kelechi Nwakali scored the resultant penalty kick as he sent the Fotso the other way for Nigeria’s first goal in the 19th minute. Eleven minutes later, the second goal came through the right flank yet again when Samuel Chukwueze’s pull out found Ebere Osinachi who wasted no time before pushing the ball into the net.

NFF crises: Maigari heads to court

Coach of Eaglets, Emmanuel Amunike

Alkali wants hitch free elections in Warri

By Albert Akota

head of next Tuesday’s elections, member of the NFF congress and chairman of the Nasarawa State Football Association, Mohamed Alkali says they are expecting a hitch-free process during the elections. Elections into the executive board of the NFF has been scheduled for Tuesday September 30, during the General Assembly Aminu Maigari

By Albert Akota

etermined to go ahead with elections into the Executive Committee of Nigeria Football Federation scheduled for Warri, Delta State on September 30, outgoing President Aminu Maigari, has filed a suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja. Joined as Applicants in the Suit No: /ABJ/CS/686/14 are: Christopher Green, Musa Amadu and Shehu Dikko against the State Security Service and the InspectorGeneral of Police. Their Counsel, Festus Keyamo, has consequently written to the Director General of the State Security Service and the Inspector General of Police, stating thus: “Our client informed us that upon their arrival from the FIFA World Cup Competition in Brazil on 4th July, 2014, they were arrested by your men and operatives and detained at the SSS headquarters. “Our clients further briefed us that subsequently, they have been receiving series of invitations from both the State Security Service and the Nigeria Police and that when they honour those invitations despite their busy schedules, they are detained for hours without any information as to the reason for their invitation.

“Owing to the foregoing and acting on our clients’ instructions, we have instituted an action in the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking declarative and injunctive reliefs for the enforcement of our clients’ fundamental rights. “We are by this letter giving you notice of the pendency of this suit and respectfully urging you to desist from carrying out any action that will undermine the authority and jurisdiction of the court which is now seised of this matter. Please find attached a copy of the originating processes in this suit. “We hope you realise that any action on your part in form of continuous invitations, harassments, arrests and detentions will undermine the authority of the court in this regard. “We understand that these various harassments are designed to scuttle the Nigerian Football Federation Congress slated for the 30th of September, 2014 in Warri, Delta State, and your actions are at the behest of those who intend to scuttle the congress as they do not mean well for Nigerian Football. “Kindly note that if your actions precipitate a crises that bungles the Congress, our clients shall not be held responsible for any fate that befalls our football from FIFA.

of September 20, and Alkali, one of the eligible voters says he expects the very best candidates to emerge after the elective congress. “We do not envisage any hitches, we hope to have a hitchfree process on Tuesday and we also believe that only the best candidates shall emerge,” he said. “We need to move our football forward and to do that, we have to vote in only the people we believe can move the game forward in the country and hopefully,

that is what we shall achieve on Tuesday,” he added. The electoral committee have already cleared seven candidates for the position of President, and they are, Shehu Dikko; Abba Yola; Amanze Uchegbulam; Dominic Iorfa; Taiwo Ogunjobi; Amaju Pinick; and Mike Umeh. Those cleared for the position of first Vice President are, Seun Akinwunmi; Emeka Inyama; Shehu Adamu; and Suleyman Muazu.

Garba Lawal slams Keshi again

ith reactions still trailing the list of invited players for the Super Eagles ahead of next month’s 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Sudan, former Nigeria international Garba Lawal has once again blasted Out-of Contract Super Eagles Coach Stephen Keshi for his selection policy, describing it as ‘experimental’. The former Super Eagles midfielder has been a stern critic of Keshi’s and has never hidden

his concern over Keshi’s system and types of players invited to the team. Lawal had said on Thursday that Keshi ‘needs to change’, referring to the 52-year-old’s style of inviting players to the national team. And following the announcement of the 24-invited players for the Sudan games, Lawal has gone on to say the list only shows Keshi has only been experimenting. “I don’t know what the Coach thinks, but the way I see it, we

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Peoples Daily, monDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2014

Sports

Wenger hopeful of Arsenal’s revival

rsene Wenger is confident Arsenal can rekindle the art of winning after a series of frustrating Premier League draws but their quest may be hindered by a “worrying” injury crisis. The Gunners are unbeaten in six Premier League games this season but have won just twice, dropping a host of points from winning positions to leave them six behind leaders Chelsea. Against north London rivals Tottenham on Saturday; Arsenal dominated possession but failed to break down the visitors’ stubborn and resolute rearguard. Once again, they had to settle for a point after Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

cancelled out Nacer Chadli’s opening goal. “The positive is that we are unbeaten, but the negative is that we have missed four points from the quality of the games we have played,” Wenger said.”We have to keep that unbeaten record and I think at some stage we will win the games instead of drawing.”Against Tottenham, we would have won had we not conceded the first goal.” Influential midfielders Aaron Ramsey and Mikel Arteta limped off on Saturday and have been ruled out of next Sunday’s trip to Chelsea and the crucial midweek Champions League clash with Galatasaray.

Arsene Wenge

Sakho apologizes Mata on Valencia’s radar to Liverpool fans V

iverpool and French defender, Mamadou Sakho has apologised for leaving Anfield ahead of the Merseyside derby on Saturday, after the French international was left out of Brendan Rodgers’ squad to face Everton. Pictures have emerged of Sakho leaving the stadium and heading to his car before the match kicked off, and the 24-year-old posted a statement on social media on Saturday night to apologise to his club and the supporters for what he described as ‘a bad choice’.

keep experimenting. I don’t know when we will stop experimenting with players because I believe that if your team isn’t working, you change your style but it seems like he wants to hold the country to ransom,” he said. “The selection process shouldn’t be restricted to a group of players, but should be made open. Nigeria is not just some individuals, but for everybody, but I just don’t understand, I just don’t understand,” he said with a disappointed tone.

‘I really want to apologise to the club, the supporters and every person who felt offended when I left the stadium this afternoon,’ Sakho wrote. Sakho has made five appearances in all competitions for the Reds so far this season, featuring in half of Liverpool’s six Premier League matches. He joined the club from Paris Saint Germain last summer for £18 million, but has been battling with Skrtel for a space in Liverpool’s back line after the arrival of Lovren from Southampton in July.

alencia are lining up a January bid for their former star Juan Mata. he La Liga side, who are set to be taken over by Singapore billionaire Peter Lim, are ready to offer £30m for the Man United playmaker having played his part in the loan captures of Alvaro Negredo and Rodrigo from Man City and Benfica respectively. The 26 year old played his part in Man United’s thumping 4-0 win over QPR but was then left out of Louis van Gaal’s starting eleven for fixtures against Leiceter City and West Ham, which may leave the former Chelsea man considering his options. Man United paid a then club record fee of £37.1m to sign Mata in January and could apparently accept offers of around £30m for Mata and the Spanish international may be open to a move back to the Mestalla. Whilst Mata may not have proven a spectacular signing as yet the pint sized attacking midfielder has nonetheless racked up eight goals and four assists in 18

Premier League starts. Valencia have started the current

campaign well, winning four of their opening five La Liga fixtures.

Mata

Martinez shower praises on Jagielka

verton manager Roberto Martinez has heaped praise on Phil Jagielka after the defender score a stoppage-time equaliser in Saturday against Liverpool to see the Merseyside

Derby end 1-1. Jagielka fired home a half-volley into the top corner from 25 yards out in the last minute of injury time to cancel out Steven Gerrard’s free kick. The 32-year-old had endured a

Stephen Keshi Sakho

Martinez

difficult start to the season, having lost his place in England’s side for this month’s matches with Norway and Switzerland. “When you see someone like Phil Jagielka taking responsibility, someone who has got a lot of unfair criticism from the outside, that’s a real example of how to face adversity, take responsibility and no-one deserves more than him the feeling of scoring such a special goal in front of the Kop,” Martinez told reporters. “That’s as good as I’ve seen. I don’t think I’ve seen a better strike in live football. When you see him connecting with the ball, I think the body is leaning back a little bit, and you’re thinking it has to be an incredible strike to put it in the top corner. “It helps that it’s in the last minute, it’s at Anfield and it’s for my team that’s why maybe it’s the best strike I’ve ever seen.” The result means Everton 13th in the table, one place behind local rivals Liverpool.

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Peoples Daily,MONday, SEPTEMBER 29, 2014

Sports

Abraham beats Smith to title L

iverpool boxer Paul Smith put in the performance of his career but lost out on points to Germany’s Arthur Abraham in their WBO supermiddleweight bout. The 31-year-old caused the defending champion all sorts of trouble throughout the fight in Germany. Smith, the British champion worked hard throughout, setting the tempo from the start but Abraham put in a strong last round and two judges gave it 117-111 and the third 119-109. Afterwards Smith described the scoring as ‘disgusting’. “That’s twice I have been on the end of a wrong decision and it has shattered my world,” he said. “I knew I had the beating of him but I did a lot right and was outworking him in every round.”I believed I had done enough and won the fight but the judges didn’t. I feel robbed.”

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, SEpteMBER 29 , 2014

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Sports

P-i-c-t-o-r-i-a-l

1.Rooney had a typically wild game, scoring United’s opener and then adding to their stress with his dismissal. 2.Lille goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama has been recalled by Nigeria for next month’s AFCON qualifiers against Sudan after he missed matches against Congo and South Africa in September 3.The Frenchman believes his Arsenal side did well to create as much as they did against opponent’s content to sit deep and play on the counter

4. Liverpool boxer Paul Smith loses on points to Germany’s Arthur Abraham in their WBO super-middleweight bout.

Murray wins Swimmer expelled for Shenzhen Open stealing camera A

5.Northampton extends their Premiership dominance over Bath to seven wins with a tense 31-24 victory at Franklin’s Gardens.

Abraham (left) getting punches from Smith

ndy Murray saved five match points before going on to beat Tommy Robredo 5-7 7-6 (11-9) 6-1 in the Shenzhen Open final in China. The Scot was broken in the first game of the match and also at 5-5 on his way to losing the first set. Murray was 6-2 behind in the second set tie-break before valiantly recovering to win it 11-9 and force a decider. He broke a tiring Robredo three times in the third as he won his first title since winning Wimbledon last

year. Murray said: “I got lucky, basically, at the end of the second set. I fought hard, tried my best and thankfully managed to turn it round.” The victory moves Murray up to 10th in the rankings in the race to reach the ATP World Tour Finals in London during November, with the top eight qualifying. The 27-year-old is now 105 points behind Tomas Berdych, who is currently eighth, and is next scheduled to play at

apan has expelled one of its top swimmers Naoya Tomita from the Asian Games after he was allegedly caught stealing a camera. Tomita, the 200m breaststroke champion at the 2010 Games, was caught on surveillance cameras putting a South Korean journalist’s camera in his bag. “It is a violation of the most basic code of conduct,” said Tsuyoshi Aoki, the head of Japan’s delegation. The 25-year-old has been told he must pay his own airfare home from the Games in South Korea. Team bosses say Tomita could face criminal charges over the theft of the eight million won (£4,700) camera. “I can’t recall anything like this ever happening before with a Japanese athlete at the Asian Games and we offer our deep apologies,” added Aoki.

Tomita

Kimetto breaks world record

Kimetto Murray with his trophy

enya’s Dennis Kimetto has broken the marathon world record in Berlin, winning the race in a time of two hours, two minutes and 57 seconds. The 30 years old broke away in a seven-man group that included fellow Kenyans Emmanuel Mutai and Geoffrey Kamworor. Kimetto shook off Mutai with just under three miles remaining to become the first man to run a marathon in less than two hours and three minutes. “I feel good because I won a very tough race,” said Kimetto. “I felt good from the start and in the last few miles I felt I could do it and break the record.” The previous world record had been set on the same course 12 months ago by Kimetto’s compatriot Wilson Kipsang, who ran 2:03:23. Kimetto, who won marathons in Tokyo and Boston last year, had promised to attack the record in Berlin if conditions allowed.

PAGE 47

Peoples Daily, monDAY, september 29, 2014

Some Interesting Facts

here are around 200 corpses on Mount Everest. George Washington grew marijuana in his garden. Bruce Lee was so fast that they had to slow the film down so you could see his moves. The phrase “Beam me up, Scotty” was never actually spoken in any Star Trek television episode or film. New Mexico law states, that females may not appear unshaven in public. 75 percent of Japanese women own vibrators. The global average is 47 percent. In the months before he died, Elvis Presley ate an average of about 65,000 calories each day. That’s the equivalent if the maximum recommended daily caloric intake of 26 adult men or 108 Big Macs. Picasso carried a revolver loaded with blanks, which he would fire at people who asked him what his work “meant”. 80% of American husbands, and 50% of wives, say they’d marry the same partner again. Andrew Johnson was drunk when he took the vice-presidential oath of office in 1865. All polar bears are left handed. Mel Blanc (the voice of Bugs Bunny) was highly allergic to carrots. The moon actually has mirrors on it. They were left there by astronauts who wanted to bounce laser beams off them, so that the distance to the moon can be measured.

You are more likely to be killed by a champagne cork than by a poisonous spider. There are 336 dimples on a regulation golf ball. Fifteen people are known to have been crushed to death by tilting a vending machine towards them in the hopes of a

www.peoplesdailyng.com

Leisure

free soda can. If you take any number, double it, add 10, divide by 2, and subtract your original number, the answer will always be 5. On average, each American consumes approximately two hundred and sixty pounds of meat in a year.

75% of men believe that they should pay for the majority of dates, at least untill a relationship is established. Emus and kangaroos cannot walk backwards. Some toothpastes and deodorants contain the same chemicals found in antifreeze.

Say what?

SPORTS latest

Why Keshi snubs Ideye from Eagles

SUDOKU SUDOKU EASY 155

PHOTO OF THE DAY

romwich Albion record signing Brown Ideye was one player, who could do no wrong in the eyes of Coach Stephen Keshi of the Super Eagles. Ideye in the past two years of Keshi’s tenure was a subject of criticism from all corners due to his poor goal return, but Keshi stuck by his man until shortly before the World Cup when all of that changed. A high profile omission from Nigeria’s team to the World Cup, Ideye was hoping his move to the English Premier League from Dynamo Kiev of Ukraine will help him revive his National team career, but so far that has not been the case forcing into an inquest on what might have gone wrong with his near perfect relationship with Stephen Keshi. Our curiosity was further enhanced after he was once again snubbed in the list of players for matches in the AFCON 2015 qualifiers against Sudan in Abuja and Khartoun. Ideye played a fast one on his former agent and Keshi’s close friend Yomi Bremner Itshekure over a bonus of over 200 thousand dollars inserted in his contract at Dynamo Kiev. The money in question was meant to be shared by Ideye and Yomi, who helped him secured a move to Dynamo Kiev if the striker scores above 10 goals in a season. In back to back season in his first two years, Ideye achieved the feat but when the bonus was paid to him, the Nigerian schemed Yomi out, leaving the gentleman with a hole in his heart and pocket. The 25-year-old also replaced Yomi as his agent further infuriating Keshi who felt for his close friend Yomi and subsequently resulted to punish Ideye by leaving him out of the Super Eagles. NPFL Results Nembe City 1-1 Crown FC El-kanemi 1-1 Sharks Sunshine Stars 0-0 Akwa Utd Kaduna Utd 3-0 Gombe Utd Dolphins 2-1 Nasarawa Utd Giwa FC 2-0 Bayelsa Utd Kano Pillars 2-0 Lobi Stars Rangers 1-0 FC Taraba Enyimba 0-0 Heartland Warri Wolves Vs Abia Warriors (postponed)

A lioness in Masai Mara: ‘I want to see everything - the more outside my everyday or off the beaten track the better,’ says photographer Andrei Duman. Source: Dailymail.co.uk

. . . putting the people first

monday, september 29, 2014

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QUOTABLE QUOTE The situation has obviously moved beyond mere insurgency. We must never allow any part of Nigeria to be subjected to perpetual fear and nightmares, which the entire North-east seems to have been boxed into. – Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Abdulwaheed Omar

Overcoming the Jonah syndrome T

he Jonah syndrome, simply put, is the fear of realising one’s own fullest powers. It is the evasion of growth. As the Psychologist Maslow puts it “it is the evasion of the full intensity of life.” President Jonathan can be said to have suffered or still suffering from this syndrome. After being elected the President, speculations became rife if he will run for another term in office. The perplexing thought for many was, if Jonathan contest and subsequently win another presidential election, he will in actual fact be the President for nine years, exceeding the maximum eight envisaged by the constitution; the first of its kind in Nigeria. Just imagine how life and nature mocks the rules of men. Media chat after media chat, journalists sought to extract an answer from the President, and in the midst of the Boko Haram attacks and the general turmoil in the country; of the talk of the gentleman agreement and zoning, the President deemed it reasonable to be evasive. I recall the insistence of one of the journalist—a man of Northern extraction—in his questions, couching and posing the same question in different ways. Having sensed that he will not get a direct answer, he insisted “Mr President will you run?” The Jonah syndrome, then seen, from this electoral and political point of view is partly a justified fear of being torn apart, of losing control, of being shattered and disintegrated, even of being killed by a mere proclamation. For some people, especially those of the cited journalist leaning, the evasion of proclamation, of setting low levels of aspiration,

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Monday Column Anosike Wilson

President Goodluck Jonathan the fear of doing what he is capable of doing, voluntary selfcrippling, mock-humility are, in fact, defences against grandiosity. In the eyes of these people, Jonathan is nothing but a coward. He doesn’t have the strength to support the consequences of a proclamation. He thinks that a mere proclamation will bring the nation to a halt. However, like the biblical Jonah who earnestly sought to flee from his call for a proclamation, the dice is cast. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) - the selfproclaimed largest party in Africa, like the whale of the biblical Jonah- not only swallowed but has vomited Jonathan onto the dry land; at the centre of Nigerian electoral Niniveh. In other words,

without any criticism, any serious rebutting, the party has adopted Jonathan as their candidate for the presidential elections come next year. For many, like the earlier journalist who talked or talks about the President’s body language, the PDP says that the era of speculation is over. They now have their answer. The President is running! Thus, like the character in the Jonah’s narrative, it is left for President Jonathan to make a proclamation—fast. This act of adoption by the PDP renders superfluous the recent “bring back Jonathan campaign.” The act throws light on the dissimilarity of such campaign and other “bring back campaigns”

On a continuum with the Jonah syndrome is the “wrecked by success” syndrome. It is said, especially by Sigmund Freud, that certain people cannot stand success after they have achieved it. They will quickly give it up or break apart. In other words, success is too much for them. They cannot comprehend their peak experience; like John they cannot stand the full revelation. They literarily go to pieces! The prophet Jonah was even ached—a rare one. He suffered a melancholy due to the conversion wrought by his proclamation. Though, in the end, he was chided for being so dumb. President Jonathan is on the race track, fully kitted and warming up. Published by Peoples Media Limited, 35, Ajose Adeogun Street, 1st Floor Peace Park Plaza, Utako, Abuja. Kano office: Plot 3, Zaria Road, Opposite Kano State House of Assembly. Lagos Office: No.8 Oliyide Street, off Unity Road, Ikeja, Lagos. Tel: +234 814 292 9046. Cell: +234 802 443 2099; 803 7007 759. e-mail: contact@peoplesdailyng.com; pmlnewsdesk@gmail.com ISSN: 2141– 6141

like “bring back our girls” and “bring back the book.” In effect, Jonathan is not held captive by any so called pre-arrangement of the party, be it “zoning” or “one term” etc. Their answer to the ridiculous “Bring back Jonathan campaign” is “Jonathan make a run.” Jonathan’s political destiny, at least at the level of party politics, is now a question of selfdestination. On a continuum with the Jonah syndrome is the “wrecked by success” syndrome. It is said, especially by Sigmund Freud, that certain people cannot stand success after they have achieved it. They will quickly give it up or break apart. In other words, success is too much for them. They cannot comprehend their peak experience; like John they cannot stand the full revelation. They literarily go to pieces! The prophet Jonah was even ached—a rare one. He suffered a melancholy due to the conversion wrought by his proclamation. Though, in the end, he was chided for being so dumb. President Jonathan is on the race track, fully kitted and warming up. The PDP has signaled to their competitors that they are set for the upcoming presidential election; even when a crack is being insinuated in the team—that is what of SAMBO? Are we going to see a lone star? Or is the Vice a silver lining? The party has come out to denounce this as the handiwork of detractors courtesy of Metuh. The Party has the confidence that the Jonathan/ Sambo team will rake in the votes. As the political arena heats up, the big question left for Jonathan is this, “can this constriction of the field of play; this improvisation of the props of theatre just for one man, not prove in the end to be a “wrecked by success” syndrome. We urge the masses to critically examine this constriction, improvisation and proclamation by the PDP for President Jonathan. We remind them that February 14 is the action of the Polling Booth, and faced by the consequence of this particular proclamation, we exclaim show them our “conversion.” Anosike Wilson is on Twitter:@anosikewilson

DAN GAYE

NUC: Fake professor to be charged to court – News

Like fake Shekau, Like fake prof