Thursday 30th January, 2014

www.peoplesdailyng.com

Vol. 12 No. 88

Thursday, January 30, 2014

. . . putting the people first

Rabiul Awwal 29, 1435 AH

N150

Niger govt seals 26 Rivers police release Boko Haram: US illegal hospitals>> Pg 3 300 northerners>> Pg 4 to help North >> Pg 6

Defection from PDP:

Mark, Mu’azu, govs in secret meeting  Saraki, Adamu, Goje, Abe, 7 others join APC  You’re still PDP senators – Senate Leader >> Pg 2

APC Reps threaten to block 2014

By Patrick Andrew & Umar Muhammad Puma

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Yobe state Governor, Malam Ibrahim Gaidam (seated), signing into law the state’s 2014 Finance and Appropriations Bill passed by the state House of Assembly, yesterday at the Government House, in Damaturu. With him are Speaker, state House of Assembly, Hon. Adamu Dala Dogo (right), and Secretary to the State Government, Engineer Babagoni Machina (left).

n apparent compliance to their party leadership’s directive, All Progressives Congress (APC) members in the House of Representatives yesterday vowed to block the passage of the nation’s Appropriation Bill proposed by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Minority Leader of the House, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila (APC Lagos), while briefing newsmen in Abuja yesterday insisted that opposition lawmakers would not support the 2014 Budget.

“We will not support a budget that does nothing for the people we represent; we will not rubber stamp a budget that seeks to borrow more money at ridiculous rates and further impoverish the country.

“We intend to continue to protest the culture of impunity, immorality and illegality this govContd. on Page 2

14-year old student dies in police custody in

>>>>> Page 7

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

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News CONTENTS News

2-10

Editorial

12

Op.Ed

13

Letters

14

Opinion

15

Metro

16-18

Business

19-22

Stockwatch S/Report

23 24,25

M/Earth

26

Update

28

Feature

30

Why I dumped APC -Shekarau –Page 6

Int’l

31-34

S/World

35

Digest

36

Politics

37-38

Newsxtra

39

Sports

41

Columnist

48

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Mark, Mu'azu, govs in secret

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

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pparently worried by the gale of defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), its new National Chairman, Alhaji Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu, in company of PDP governors yesterday met with members of the party’s caucus in the Senate at the official residence of Senate President David Mark, in Apo, Abuja.

The meeting, which was at the instance of the new chairman was a consultative meeting aimed at finding common grounds to resolve the lingering crisis rocking the party.

The meeting came hours after 11 aggrieved PDP senators submitted a joint letter to officially notify the Senate of their intention to defect to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

The list of the defectors include Bukola Saraki (Kwara Central), Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa West), Danjuma Goje (Gombe Central), Magnus Abe (Rivers South East), and Umaru Dahiru (Sokoto East).

Others are: Wilson Ake (Rivers West), Jubrilla Bindowo (Adamawa North), Aisha Jummai Alhassan (Taraba North), Mohammed Shaaba Lafiagi ( Kwara North), Ali Ndume ( Borno South), Ibrahim Abdullahi Gobir (Sokoto East).

Unconfirmed reports indicate that the letter to the Senate President on the defection contains the names of 16 senators, five of whose signatures were not captured in it.

The five senators are Saidu Alkali (Gombe North), Basheer Mohammed (Kano Central), Ahmed Zanna (Borno Central), Ahmed Barate (Adamawa South) and Mohammed Maccido (Sokoto North).

However, all through the three hours within which the Senate session of yesterday lasted, there was no mention of the defection letter or issues, as the parliamentarians devoted all the time deliberating on the 2014 Budget.

The Senate President did not read any letter at the beginning of the plenary as required by the rules of the Senate.

Also, contrary to expectations, the eleven aggrieved PDP Senators who were alleged to have defected to the opposition APC, throughout yesterday’s plenary sat at the PDP section of Senate Chambers as they made their contributions on the 2014 Appropriation Bill debate.

When contacted, the Senate spokesperson, Enyinnaya Abaribe, confirmed that no letter to that effect was read on the floor of the Senate.

Even though he failed to confirm the rumours that the eleven PDP senators had turned in a joint letter announcing their defection to the APC, Abaribe maintained that until any such a letter was read on the floor of the Senate, it is deemed that there was no defection in the Senate.

Yesterday’s secret meeting at Mark’s residence had in attendance governors Henry Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa, Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu of Niger, Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom, Theodore Orji of Abia and Ibrahim Shema of Katsina.

Others were Liyel Imoke of Cross River, Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta, Idris Wada of Kogi, Mukhtar Ramalan Yero of Kaduna and the deputy governors of Sokoto, Taraba and Jigawa states.

Members of the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) who accompanied Mu’azu to the

meeting were Deputy National Chairman, Uche Secondus, National Secretary, Oladipo Wale, Women Leader, Ambassador Kema Chikwe, the spokesman of the party, Chief Olisah Metu, amongst others.

Leader of the Senate, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, who spoke on behalf of the senators during an opening ceremony, pledged the loyalty of the lawmakers to the new leadership of the party.

“I pledged that in us, the PDP Senate caucus, you will find very loyal party men and women. We will work with you, we will stay by you, we will partner with you to reinvent PDP,” Ndoma-Egba assured.

The leader acknowledged that PDP as a party was passing through challenging times but said, “the good news is that the challenges are about to end while those of the other parties are about to begin”.

He pleaded that such meetings should hold very often so that members would compare notes and nip problems in the bud before they blossom in the public.

He assured that, “PDP is as strong as it has always been and will be stronger.”

Akwa Ibom governor and chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum (PDPGF), Akpabio, who responded on behalf of the governors, described the meeting as a special one for them, noting that, “It is an uncommon gathering in an uncommon period in the history of this uncommon party, which is facing uncommon challenges and seeking uncommon solutions.

“Our meeting today is to strengthen you (senators) and to assure you that you are not alone. Whatever the outcome of this meeting, the governors will

ensure its full implementation,” Akpabio said.

Mu’azu, in a short remark before the meeting went into closeddoor, assured that such consultative meetings would henceforth become regular so that members would use it to “touch base and interact with one another.”

He expressed concern about the difficulties executive bills often suffer at the National Assembly, saying that, “there is no reason why executive bills cannot be discussed with the PDP lawmakers before they are introduced in the floor so that such bills will enjoy smooth sail”.

According to the PDP chairman, “If we do not continue to consult with one another, we will continue to disagree with one another”.

He admitted that there is opposition now in Nigeria, saying after the 2015 elections, the PDP will want to maintain its dominance in the polity.

Responding on why the defecting senators were absent from the meeting, Ndoma-Egba said it was because they were not chanced, and not because they were defecting.

The senate leader also said even if they were defecting, they must follow due process adding that for now, there was nothing yet about defection in the Senate.

In the meantime, the Senate President is said to have scheduled a meeting with the aggrieved PDP senators, after which the letters on their defection may or may not be read in the Senate chamber.

Nevertheless, with the 11 senators defecting, the APC now has 44 members while the PDP has a majority of 62 senators; Labour Party has two senators with All Progressives Grand Alliance’s (APGA’s) one member.

APC Reps threaten to block 2014 Budget Contd. from Page 1 ernment insists in entrenching in our system; we intend to insist on good governance; we intend to stand firm on our oath of office to defend the constitution and discharge our legislative duties in the interest of the people of Nigeria.

“Indeed we refuse to support a budget that comes in with a huge deficit. We certainly do not agree with a budget that allocates a pitiable 25 percent for capital expenditure which capital component will only be implemented 30 percent whilst recurrent will be implemented 100 percent”, the House minority leader said.

Commenting further, Gbajabiamila said: “We refuse to participate in what has become an annual ritual and approving a document in the name of passing a budget that tells a lie about the true state of our finances and liquidity and where our revenue is being deflated by about N500 billion annually through the fraudulent and indiscriminate grant of waivers”.

The leadership of the APC had last week directed its members in the National Assembly to block all legislative proposals, including the budget and confirmation of all nominees to military and civilian positions to public office, until the rule of law and constitutionalism are restored in Rivers

state in particular and Nigeria in general.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, lawmakers have accused the Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of foisting policies of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank on Nigeria.

Besides, most of the senators who spoke during debate on the budget yesterday, called for substantial increase of the 23 percent capital allocation, which they described as “grossly inadequate” and a far cry from what the nation needs to meet its capital projects expenditure.

APC senators, in their contributions, insisted that the Appropriation Bill be returned to the Executive for lacking necessary indices for rapid socio-economic development.

Before the debate on the Bill, Senate President David Mark had cautioned his colleagues to make their contributions from a nationalistic perspectives, and not from party leanings.

“Let us look at this budget from a national perspective, rather than political party perspective”, Mark urged.

Opening the debate yesterday, Senate Deputy Leader, Abdul Ningi (PDP Bauchi Central) cautioned against dependence on IMF and World Bank policies, stressing that such were alien

and ineffectual and have failed to impact positively on the economy and the lives of the citizenry.

“Unlike the ‘home-grown economies of India and China, which are waxing stronger by the day, the economic policies of the West are collapsing”, he averred.

In his contribution, Senator Smart Adeyemi (PDP, Kogi West) said Okonjo-Iweala should be told in clear terms that the economic policies of the IMF and the World Bank could not work in Nigeria.

“The IMF and World Bank policies cannot work 100% in Nigeria. The policy must be reviewed. We don’t need IMF commendations. What we need is what will impact on the lives of Nigerians. We need to concentrate on key areas such as power and other sectors as well as work on budget management”, he stated.

Similarly, Prof.

Olusola Adeyeye (APC, Osun Central) lent support to the call to jettison the Bretten Woods policies, and accused the finance minister of confusing Nigerians with what he sarcastically called ‘Okonjonomics’, asserting that it has “woefully failed to ginger our domestic economy and lives of Nigerians.”

In the view of Senator Kabiru Gaya (APC, Kano South), the distribution of the allocation in the budget is worrisome and un-

acceptable, and therefore called on the Executive to swap the figures for capital and recurrent.

“The federal government budget is the reverse of the Rivers state budget. I wish the budget will be 74% capital and 26% recurrent”, Gaya said.

Senator Gbenga Ashafa (APC, Lagos East), in his statistical analysis, could not help but note that the capital expenditure in the last three years had witnessed downward swing.

“The capital allocation for 2011 was 31 percent, 28 percent in 2012 and in 2013, it came down to 23.7% while it is 23.4 percent in 2014”, he said.

Ashafa further observed that the 2014 budget estimates negated the requirements of the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA), and went on to describe the Appropriation Bill as an “illegality”, even as he called on the Senate to return it to the ‘sender’.

Also, Senator Femi Olaleye (APC, Oyo Central) faulted the Bill for failing to reflect the principles contained in the FRA, especially as its affects Section 41 (2) which makes it compulsory for agencies of government like the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to submit their earnings to the federation account for disbursement to the three tiers of government. Debate on the Bill continues in the Senate today.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

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News

Defection: Atiku’s S/ South associates split between APC, PDM

L-R: FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, Minister of Special Duties, Alhaji Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, and Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Zainab Maina, during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, yesterday at the State House, in Abuja.

Photo Joe Oroye

By Lawrence Olaoye, Abuja & Osaigbovo Iguabaro, Benin

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Niger state govt closes 26 hospitals, 25 medicine stores From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

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he Niger state ministry of health and hospital services has closed down 26 private hospitals and 25 medicine stores for quackery and dealing in fake drugs.

The state commissioner of health, Dr. Ibrahim Babaminin Sule stated this yesterday while addressing journalists on the activities of the ministry adding that 10 of the hospitals were permanently closed while the activities of the remaining 16 were being

NTI purchases fire service ambulance vehicles to serve communities From Muhammad Ibrahim, Kaduna

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ational Teachers Institute Management yesterday commissioned nine vehicles, including an ambulance to serve the immediate neighbouring communities of the institute.

According to the institute’s management, seven of the vehicles would be used for monitoring of the institute’s activities within and outside the state.

Speaking while commissioning the vehicles, NTI Director General, Dr Aminu Ladan Sharehu said when he came on board as NTI DG he met lots of challenges which include inadequate vehicles. " The ambulance would serve the institute and the neighbouring communities.

You may recall that we had a fire incident in the institute which could have been checked if we have the vehicles we have now.” he said.

investigated by experts from the ministry.

He said doctors operating the shut hospitals were not qualified to practice and that those caught have been handed over to relevant authorities for appropriate action.

He explained that in 2011, 320 private hospitals were registered in the state adding that the figure rose to 360 this year.

The commissioner expressed the determination of government to eradicate the sale of fake drugs in the state, explaining that 25 patent medicine stores have been

closed for selling fake drugs in the state.

He said the state government hospitals have been repositioned to adequately provide medical services to the people, adding that the hospitals have been fully equipped while 168 doctors were in the state employment.

He said two new hospitals will be built in Lemu and Agwara areas of the state this year and warned quacks to stay off the health sector, adding that government was determined to root them

out of the state.

Sule said the state has achieved 78% polio immunisation coverage adding that it hopes to achieve over 80% this year, as doctors’ exodus from the state has been drastically reduced because of narrow difference in payment of the state doctors and that of federal government.

He called on the media and general public to be constructive in their criticism in order to achieve better performance.

Police arrest 5 for robbery, Bauchi monarch gang-rape in Ogun warns journalists Ogunnaike, Abeokuta against inciting reports From James en of Nigerian Police Command had arFrom Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

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he Emir of Bauchi, Allhaji Rilwan Suleiman Adamu, has warned journalists against reports that are capable of causing disharmony among the citizens in the state and the country at large.

The monarch who gave the warning when the newly inaugurated leadership of Nigeria Institute of Public Relation (NIPR) Bauchi state chapter, paid him a courtesy visits in his place yesterday, said that professionals such as Public Relations practitioners and Journalists have responsibility to bring unity and peace to the society.

According to him, “society relies on you to bring peace and unity among the citizens through vibrant reportage, sensitization, educating and enlightening the public.”

The Emir encouraged members of the Institute to bring out their wealth of experience in the performance of their duties toward creating mutual understanding among politicians, ethnic groups and religious leaders.

Rilwan Adamu pledged to give the Institute all the necessary support they need to improve the society saying, “together we are working towards keeping peace and unity of our people.”

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of Bauchi state chapter of the NIPR, Mallam Hassan Alhaji Hassan, said they were in his palace to seek his blessing and intimate him on the activities of the Institute in the state.

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rested five middle-aged men who allegedly gang-raped a 33 year old lady after robbing her of her valuables to the tune of N2. 1 million.

The five suspects, whose names were given as Opeyemi Abisola, Nnamdi Sunday, Olatunji Awe, Sunday Fayomi, and Michael Sunday were arrested on Tuesday at Olodo village in Odeda local government area of the state.

A statement issued in Abeokuta by the Command's Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Muyiwa Adejobi said a team of the Anti Robbery Policemen attached to the State Command Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Eleweran led by Sergeant Adebayo Oyesomi came across the victim while on normal routine patrol along Obada/ Ewekoro/Ifo/Sango road on Monday evening after her release by the suspected armed robbers.

"She narrated her ordeals in the hands of the hoodlums and volunteered to assist the police to apprehend the suspected armed robbers. The police team later arrested five of the men at Olodo after a rigorous search the following day, (Tuesday)".

Adejobi in the release further explained that the victim, who had left Lagos for Idiroko in Ipokia local government area of Ogun State was taken to an unknown destination at Olodo Village where the hoodlums gang-rapped her after a merciless beating.

He listed items collected from their victim to include, cash sum of N1. 808, 000, her gold jewelry valued at N200, 000: 00, wrist watch worth N5,000 and mobile/ blackberry phones, all valued at N2, 187, 500 from her.

ssociates of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in the South-south geopolitical zone were yesterday splitted between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) as preferred platforms to contest the 2015 general elections in place of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The leadership and stalwarts of the APC had recently at a courtesy call on Atiku invited him to join the opposition.

The former Vice President had then asked them to give him some time to consult with his supporters across the country before taking a decision.

He had commenced extensive consultations at home and abroad and last week stepped up the tempo with consultative meetings in Kaduna, Abuja and Enugu.

A snap vote at the end of Atiku's consultative meeting with his associates and political leaders in Benin City, Edo State, however, showed a near-tie by the attendees in their choice of a party to defect to.

At the end of the vote, which followed the well-attended stakeholders meeting Atiku held with his associates at the Protea Hotel, 47% were inclined to his movement to the APC as against 48% for PDM. Only 5% wanted his continued stay in the PDP. Atiku had in his remarks to the meeting recalled that his political struggles, which commenced during the military regime, have always been about advancing the cause of democracy.

He noted that the PDP, which he co-founded, is now a shadow of its past and has little regards for promoting internal democracy.

Noting that the decision to defect is one of the most difficult political decisions he has to make, the Turaki Adamawa said it was imperative that he consults with his associates who have over time made good the support base he has.

He assured that the decision he will make at the end of the consultative process will be predicated on the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians.

"The most important thing is the future of Nigeria and its people and not about (me)," he said.

Earlier, Governor Adams Oshiomhole had extolled Atiku for his "enormous capacity to listen, engage and consult but without any bitterness."

Atiku held private meetings with Governor Oshiomhole at the Government House and with interim National Vice Chairman (South-South) of the APC, Chief Tom Ikimi at his residence.

The consultations continues with today in Ibadan with a stakeholders meeting for the SouthWest associates.

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News

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

PDP govs visit Mu'azu, pledge loyalty

Rivers police release 300 northerners  I didn’t join PDP for appointment – Bafarawa

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

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he Rivers State Police Command yesterday released 300 northerners suspected to be members of the dreaded Boko Haram in its custody.

Information made available to newsmen yesterday indicated that the suspects were released at about 3.45pm on the directive of the State Police Commissioner, Mr. Joseph Mbu. Meanwhile, no reason was given for the release of the suspects as at press time.

It was also learnt that the Police did not find anything incriminating on the suspects.

Nineteen of the men arrested were said to be under investigation, including one that was alleged to be in possession of expended ammunition.

The House of Representatives had on Tuesday directed its committees on Defence and Internal Affairs to investigate the arrest of 320 northerners by the Rivers state Police on the suspicion that they were members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect.

The committees were mandated to conclude their investigations and make appropriate recommendations to the House within one week.

In a motion moved by the Deputy Minority Leader of the House, Hon. Abdulrahman Suleiman Kawu (APC, Kano) under matters of urgent importance, noted that on Sunday, January 26, 2014, the Rivers state police command arrested about 320 persons suspected to be members of the violent sect in the state.

While stating that the arrest sparked “a furious debate in the polity and raised tension in security circles in the state”, he further noted that “the suspects, men and women, were arrested in the early hours of Sunday in a convoy of 17 buses at the border between Rivers and Imo states”.

Kawu said he was “disturbed that the arrest of the 320 men and women has raised several issues that require immediate attention of every well-meaning Nigerian for the security, economy and political well-being of the country and its citizens, and that the arrested persons were in Rivers for legitimate business as most of them were petty traders and menial job seekers in search for means of livelihood in their fatherland”.

The lawmaker said he was worried that such manner of arrests and injustice portend obvious danger capable of breeding political instability to the already overheated polity as the suspects were known to be “law abiding citizens whose nature of business is well known”.

Citing Section 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) which guarantees that every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to move freely throughout Nigeria, he noted that this was not the first time the said suspects were in Rivers state; having been there severally in search of a legitimate means of livelihood.

By Lawrence Olaoye

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overnors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) control states yesterday paid the newly appointed National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu, a solidarity visit and pledged unalloyed loyalty to his leadership.

Similarly, the former Sokoto state governor, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, who recently dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) also paid a solidarity visit to the party’s chairman and explained that he neither joined the PDP because it is a ruling party nor to crave for political appointment.

The leader of the PDP governors’ contingent and the AkwaIbom state governor, Godswill Akpabio, in his speech observed that there has never been any

such visit before where the governors would come as a body to pay solidarity visit to the party’s chairman.

According to him, the symbolic visit only underscored Mu’azu’s acceptance by the generality of the governors.

He said since the new chairman assumed the leadership of the party, the fortunes of the PDP has turned around for good.

He said: “On behalf of the 18 PDP Governors, we are hoping that with your intervention and the intervention of the NWC that our number will be increased by bringing backs some of our brothers who crossed over to the other side.

“We are very certain that under your able leadership, the party can only wax stronger. As field commandants in our various states, we are here to pledge our unalloyed support to the NWC under your

leadership and also our unalloyed loyalty and support to President Goodluck Jonathan and leader of our great party and to reassure you that the states are safe and that PDP will win 2015 election in all ramifications.”

Responding, Mu’azu described the governors as garrison commanders in their various states.

“I want to appeal to you all to continue to appeal to your colleagues that had decided to leave home, some of them to an unknown destination to please come back home for the doors are still wide open and our house is big enough for all of them to come in.

“In a family like ours, there is bound to be conflict but the ability to resolve it, is what will stand us out. I therefore want to appeal to you, to please speak to your colleagues to come back home,” he said.

The governors that paid the visit include those of Akwa Ibom, Abia, Bayelsa, Kebbi, Niger, Jigawa, Cross River, Gombe, Katsina, Delta, Kaduna, Kogi, Plateau, as well as acting Governor of Taraba State and the deputy Governor of Sokoto State.

However, Governors of Benue, Enugu, Ebonyi and Bauchi states reportedly excused themselves due to earlier scheduled appointments.

Meanwhile, Bafarawa has pledged to work for PDP in Sokoto state and across the country in the 2015 general elections.

The former governor said though he has always been in the opposition since he joined active politics in 1976, he resolved to dump the APC because he wanted to contribute to nation’s building on the platform of the ruling party.

…No automatic ticket for anyone – Mu’azu

By Umar Muhammad Puma

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ational Chairman of the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu, has rejected the call for automatic ticket as requested by PDP caucus in the House of Representatives.

Mua'zu, while answering questions after his meeting with PDP leadership and caucus of the Party

in the House of Representatives, said, "Automatic ticket is giving by parties that are undemocratic. We have a democratic process and we will go through that. Those who deserved it will surely be there".

On whether the leadership of the party is panicky over lost of the party majority in the House of Representatives, Mua'zu said, "does the Speaker, me or any governor look panicky, if I may ask?"

The meeting was chaired by Interim National Chairman of the party, Ahmadu Adamu Mua'zu, and has in attendance the Speaker of the House of Representatives Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, his Deputy Emeka Ihedioha, Governor of Kaduna state, Ramalan Yero, Governor of Kebbi state, Saidu Nasamu Dakingari, Governor of Akwa Ibom Godwill Akpabio, and Governor of Katsina state, Shehu Shema.

Others are, Delta state Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, Governor Cross Rivers state, Liyel Emoke, Governor of Abia Theodore Orji, Governor of Niger state Babangida Aliyu, Governor of Ondo state, Olusegun Mimiko who is from a Labour Party (LP), and Governor of Anambra state Peter Obi, Taraba acting Governor Garba Umar, Deputy governors of Kogi, Jigawa, among others.

L-R: Secretary, Northern Elders Council (NEC), Chief John Mankilik, Chairman of NEC, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, members of the Council, Dr. Mohammed Shata, Senator Saidu Kumo and Ambassador Adamu Aliyu, during a press conference on the state of the nation and the activities of the Council, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

No nation can fight terrorism, piracy alone, says US envoy

U

S Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle yesterday said no country could tackle piracy and terrorism without international collaboration.

Entwistle made the disclosure in Lagos when he visited the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear

Adm. Samuel Alade.

According to him, the visit is part of preparations for the annual multinational sea exercise in the Gulf of Guinea, billed for the second quarter of the year.

The ambassador, who noted that piracy and terrorism were international crimes, said the U.S

was conscious Nigeria’s challenges and therefore, ready to partner with Nigeria to overcome the challenges.

Responding, Alade commended the U.S. government for the cooperation, saying the Nigerian Navy was benefiting a lot from the partnership.

He said the Nigerian Navy was preparing for the multinational sea exercise and had been consulting with its U.S. counterparts. ``The final preparation forum billed for next week is expected to be a good forum where issues will be tabled,” he said. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

PAGE 5

News

We are committed to promoting human rights – NHRC

L-R: Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshall Alex Badeh, Chairman, House Committee on Defence, Hon. Bashiru Adamu, and Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice-Marshal Adesola Amosu, during the screening of the newly appointed Service Chiefs by the committee, yesterday at the National Assembly, in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

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‘Corruption delays tobacco control bill’ From Ayodele Samuel & Akilani Abdullah, Lagos

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ack of political will and tobacco industry interference has been the major obstacles hindering the passage of the National tobacco control bill.

Stakeholders and human right activist from Environmental rights action/friends of the earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) and civil society legislative advocacy centre (CISLAC) made this known at a press conference in Lagos.

ERA/ FoEN,Director, Corporate Campaign Akinbode Oluwafemi, said lawmakers should put aside party sentiments and personal interests to confront a common challenge which tobacco

menace poses to the nation. They have also been charged to prioritize health of the citizens by speeding up work on the bill to finally make it law.

Oluwafemi said "BATN has gone beyond its annual so-called farmer's day event in Iseyin and donation of cottage industries in ogun, Ondo and other states around. The company is now oiling its so-called corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives to go for the kill, which is to effectively thwart legislation that would regulate the marketing, sales and distribution of its lethal products in Nigeria."

"It may interest you to know that during the yuletide, we continued to unearth and document the

subtle and very deliberate activities of the tobacco industry aimed at confusing the Nigerian pubic and thwarting any form of regulation. It may also come to you as a surprise that BATN had targeted the visits to the Lagos state government to thwart the bill passed on January 21, 2014 by state House of Assembly prohibiting smoking in public places."

While lamenting on the mayhem tobacco poses to the health of Nigerians and its environs, national coordinator Coalition Against tobacco, Toyosi Onaolapo ,said family members are addicted to smoking and thereby loosing many citizens to tobacco-related illness.

She said "we need to emphasize and re-emphasize to our poli-

ticians and our lawmakers that people continue to die daily, young people are dying young because they are addicted to smoking and we kept saying this young people are the future, so If we keep losing them to a company whose profit is not retained in Nigeria and even Nigeria economy is not generating a notable tax from, so what will the future holds for us as a country?

We therefore have enough reasons to be united and come together to lure the National Assembly to fasttrack the passing of the bill into law."

She however commend Lagos state of assembly for prohibiting smoking in public places and urged the state governor sign the bill in to law urgently.

Rainy season cassava farmers to access N10bn loans from FG

By Mohammed Kandi

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resident of Nigeria Cassava Growers Association (NCGA) Pastor Segun Adewumi, yesterday said the association will begin the disbursement of soft loans to farmers as soon as the rainy season commences.

The Federal Government had supported the cassava bread ini-

tiative with N10 billion, which is to empower cassava growers and processors in the country.

Pastor Adewumi disclosed this yesterday in Abuja while giving an update on the country's cassava project, as well as reacting to some comments allegedly credited to Mr Shadrack Madlion, that the initiative would fail and that there was no need to commit such fund in the project among others.

He described the comments as a "demonstration of prejudice", saying that through the initiative, a total of 5, 000 additional bakers will be trained - “six in every LGA." Hepointed out that by this development, "we will save 20% of jobs that are being exported to USA and Canada as well as the import of $4 billion of wheat every year.”

Also speaking, a cassava farm-

er based in Kebbi state, Abubakar Abdullahi, stressed the need for government to provide more funds for cassava farmers to enable them increase the production.

According to Abdullahi, "at least, 10 trailer load of Gari (cassava product) is being moved out to some local markets on weekly basis and all of these are produced by our farmers."

he National Human Rights Commission has reiterated its commitment to the promotion of human rights in the country.

The Executive Secretary of the commission, Prof. Bem Angwe said this yesterday when he received in audience the founder of a human rights group (Next to None) Barr Ndukwe Sam Obuh in Abuja.

Prof. Angwe said: “we are committed to promoting human rights in Nigeria at this critical moment when you have gross insecurity and political tensions in the country”.

He commended Barr Obuh for founding the foundation in order to help the less privileged in the country to know their rights.

“This initiative will enable Nigerians to rise and demand that they be respected and accorded all the rights due to them. And when they are so empowered, they will demand for good governance and accountability”, he said.

The human rights boss enjoined Nigerians not to abdicate the power given to them by God. In his opening remarks, the founder of Next to None, Barr Ndukwe Obuh, thanked the commission for accepting to partner with them in expanding the frontiers of human rights in the country.

He said: “I got the inspiration to see how I could liberate my people, the downtrodden who are going through excruciating pains.

We intend to show a thought-provoking movie that would in turn expose the new trend of human trafficking as well as torture in our prisons and police stations”.

High point of the event was the array of super stars that graced the occasion as the foundation’s ambassadors. They include: former coach of the Super Eagles, Coach Samson Siasia, Ex- Goalkeeper Peter Rufayi, Nollywood actors, Zack Orji, Bruno Iworha and Emmanuel France as well as Zaki Azay.

Group jubilate defection of APC lawmaker to PDP in Nasarawa From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia

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afia was agog yesterday when hundreds of youths took to the street to jubilate over the defection of a member of the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Haruna Kigbu [APC, Lafia/Obi) who, on Tuesday, returned to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The youths carrying placards first converged at the Dunama

Primary School along Shendam road before moving to the palace of the emir of Lafia, HRH Alhaji Isa Mustapha Agwai I, dancing and singing, as they paid homage to the royal father. From the emir’s palace they went round the city.

The youths, according to sources, came from the same constituency as the defected federal lawmaker. They carried placards with various inscriptions, some of which reads; “God has answered

our prayers, Kigbu has left the APC”, “Haruna Kigbu RIP” and “RIP PDP in Nasarawa”.

Leader of the group, Mohammed Sokoto, told journalists that they are supporters of All Progressive Congress (APC) from Lafia/Obi, and have come out to celebrate the defection of their representative at the national assembly from APC to PDP. He described Kigbu as unfit to represent the people of the constituency as according to him,

“since his election, Kigbu has remained silent while his colleagues continuously engage in fruitful deliberations in order to bring development to their various constituencies.”

On whether the defection of the lawmaker could affect the fortune of the party in the state, Mohammed Sokoto dismissed the assumption, stressing that with the present development in Nigeria PDP has collapsed and could hardly constitute a threat

to APC. “It is good riddance to bad rubbish. Besides, since his election, it is on record that Kigbu has not been able to actively participate in the debates of the House. He is more like a spectator. We will not miss him at all.

Influential people like senators and governors have defected to APC. Therefore, for someone like Kigbu to move from APC to PDP is an inconsequential matter”, Sokoto added.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

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News

Why I dumped APC-Shekarau From Edwin Olofu, Kano, By Umar Muhammad Puma

...As Kano APC Reps disassociate selves from defection

he All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), presidential flag bearer in 2011 election and two-term governor of Kano State, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, has formerly dumped the All Progressive Congress (APC) for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Shekarau, who made the announcement of his defection to PDP yesterday at a meeting with the defunct ANPP stakeholders at his Mundubawa residence in Kano metropolis, said his defection has become necessary because the APC lacked sincerity and structure.

“APC is today six-month old since its formal registration on the 1st July, 2013, but within these six months, there is nothing to show on ground. Not a single member of APC has been registered, not a single leadership structure exists anywhere within the state. No structure of interim leadership at ward, local government and state level”, he said.

Shekarau who was the head of the merger committee of the defunct ANPP lost interest in the activities of the APC after his political arch rival, Kwankwaso assumed the leadership position of the party in Kano state.

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The former governor also stated that within the period of six months, they have noticed various unconstitutional decisions by the leadership of the party which did not go down well with most members which prompted them to write a petition, but stated that it was later ignored by the party leadership.

Meanwhile, Lawmakers in the House of Representatives from Kano state have disassociates themselves from Shekarau’s defection to PDP. Briefing reporters on their stand, Deputy Minority Leader of the House, Rep. Abdullrahman Kawu Sumaila (APC Kano), maintained

that the APC remains the best political party in the country and they will remain in the party.

According to him, “eleven members of the APC who were members of the defunct (9 ANPP and 2 CPC), in the House of Representatives from Kano State have reaffirmed their stance on the current wave of defections and political realignment in the polity especially Kano State”.

He stressed that the birth of APC became imperative due to the fact that the PDP led government has held Nigeria and Nigerians to ransom for almost 16 years without any visible development.

L-R: Members representing Kano state in the House of Representatives, Hon. Sani Mohammed Aliyu, Hon. Tijjani Abdulkadir, Deputy Minority Leader in the House, Hon. Suleiman Kawu, and Hon. Nassir Ali Ahmed, during a press briefing by the members to renew their support to All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday at the National Assembly, in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

By Etuka Sunday

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he United States yesterday condemned the Sunday attacks of Boko Haram in Borno and Adamawa states where death toll has risen to over 130.

US in a statement by the Department Spokesperson, Jen Psaki said the US will investigate the attacks, saying, “We support Nigerian authorities as they begin

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

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he Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) Plc. will on March 18, 2014 open its defence before an Abuja High Court, in the N10 million suit slammed against it by one of its customers, Ibrahim Lamidi Victor.

The plaintiff, who is a quantity surveyor, had dragged the bank to court for allegedly refusing to credit his foreign domiciliary account with the bank with $15, 000.00 he deposited with Opebi branch of the bank in Lagos on 15thNovember, 2012.

In a statement of claim, Victor

Book Haram: US to help north to investigate these attacks, and urge citizens to support their efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The statement further said “the United States remains committed to supporting the people of northern Nigeria in their struggle against violent extremism

and to helping the Government of Nigeria as it works to counter the threat posed by Boko Haram and associated groups Attackers armed with guns and explosives reportedly killed 22 people at a busy church service in Waga Chakawa village in Adamawa state on Sunday morning, before

burning houses and taking residents hostage during a fourhour siege, witnesses said.

The spokesman for the Catholic Diocese of Yola, Reverend Father Raymond Danbouye, confirmed to Reuters news agency that 22 people were killed in the attack and have been buried on Monday.

Inadequate enlightenment hampers integrated Qur’anic education in Nigeria – Dr. Shehu From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

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university lecturer, Dr. Salihu Shehu, has indentified inadequate enlightenment and resistance among primary and secondary school stakeholders as a strong factors impeding integrated Qur’anic education in Nigeria Dr. Shehu disclosed this yesterday in Bauchi while presenting a paper at the two days symposium on interpreting Qur’anic Education (!QE) with the theme; Supporting the Integration of Qur’anic Education in Nigeria, which was organized

by Bauchi and Sokoto states with the support of USAID and Northern Education Initiative NEI. Dr. Shehu said that government officials, stakeholders and community leaders place more emphasis on quantity instead of quality in terms of implementing integrated quranic education in Nigeria. Dr. Shehu, who is the Director Institute of Continuing Education Bayero University Kano, also pointed out that there was no measure for sustainability of the system, stressing that it is very important to stimulate and restore community participation in the quoranic education in the country.

He therefore recommended that current integration drive should be seen as genuine and purposeful educational Endeavour which must not only be supported but should be incorporated within the mainstream of educational policies In his remark, Dr Abdullahi Dabo, Chairman of Bauchi state Universal Basic Education SUBEB reiterated the commitment of Bauchi state government to integrate quoranic teaching in the entire education system in the state.

According to him, “we will like to see how our children rooming on the streets could be engaged with skills acquisition and at the end of the day would be in a position to earn good livelihood”

Customer slams N10m suit against GTBank averred that he opened the said account in foreign currency to enable his clients outside the country easy access to transferring money to his account, adding that he had the brief of a client based in London to construct a three-bedroom flat for him at Galadimawa Cadatral Zone CO7 District of Abuja.

He further averred that, shortly after the withdrawal of the said $15, 000.00 and while in the same banking hall in Lagos, he could not agree on terms with his business partner who accompanied him to the bank.

The plaintiff averred that, “When the business with the partner fell through, he immediately filed in two separate tellers and deposited the $15, 000.00 to the defendant’s branch.

The defendant dully accepted the said $15, 000.00 back in two separate tellers of $10, 000.00 and $5, 000.00 respectively”.

According to the statement, the plaintiff said he became worried that after three clear days of the transaction, his account was not credited and he did not receive alert to that effect, adding also that, “to

his chagrin, he was informed that the dollars he withdrew and also deposited back at Opebi branch of the defendant was a counterfeit”.

He said, upon enquiry, he was directed to the defendant’s regional branch office in Garki, Abuja and was told that the bank has commenced investigation into the matter, pointing out that he had, through his counsel, written letter to the Opebi branch of the bank and had travelled to Lagos severally to resolve the matter so that he can access the account to no avail.

“The plaintiff avers that since the

letter of the defendant dated 12th December, 2012 alleging counterfeit dollars, coupled with the oral answer he received when he made enquiry after three days of depositing the money, he had suffered untold hardship, psychological trauma and embarrassment from his client.

He is therefore praying the court for an order compelling the bank to credit his account of the sum of $15, 000.00, the interest on the said sum, N10 million as general damages and N500, 000.00 as cost of instituting the suit.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

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News

14–year old student died in police custody in Kaduna From Muhammad Ibrahim, Kaduna

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ension was high at Bakin Ruwa a suburb of Kaduna metropolis when a 14 year old student, Hassan Ibrahim allegedly died while in police custody at gidan Gayu police station in Kaduna.

The tragic incident occurred last week Friday when police raided a shop where the deceased went to pass the night along Kagoro close in Tudun Wada.

According to sources in the area, the teenager was arrested alongside his friends on that day but was the only person that died.

A source in the area who does not want his name on print told Peoples Daily that the deceased was tortured by the police. “He was arrested alongside a friend of his called Daddy but Daddy was later released by the police and he was the person that told us that Hassan died in custody. This is why we believe the police might have killed him”.

The deceased’s father, Malam Ibrahim told Peoples daily that, “I was at home on Friday night when I received the sad news that my son who was the second to my 19 children died in police custody after he was arrested with his other friends. How can they be so cruel to kill a 14 year old boy just like that?” he asked.

“I am demanding for justice from all those that matters I want the incident to be fully investigated because this is pure extra- judicial murder,” he said emotionally.

According to the father, a police officer also came to tell him that his son died and that his body has been deposited at Gwamna Awon hospital and that the family are free to go and retrieve it for burial.

When contacted the state commissioner of police, Olufemi Adenaike said he was out of town but will provide details on the allegation when he returns, but the Public Relations Officer of the command in a telephone interview earlier denied the allegation.

Nasarawa state Governor, Alhaji Umaru Tanko Al-Makura (middle), in a group photograph with pupils of Government Junior Secondary School, Kofar Hausa, during the governor’s visit to the school, yesterday in Keffi, Nasarawa state.

30-year old man who killed mother dies in hospital

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thirty year old man, Elisha Habu who allegedly killed his fifty six year old mother in Gomu village of Karim-Lamido Local Government has died in a Specialist Hospital Jalingo.

Investigation by our reporter reveals that Elisha Habu a deranged person killed his mother, Sifin Habu when she came to feed him

without realizing that the rope used to tie his hands had loosen, and he struck her with wooden stool on her head which led to her death.

Late Elisha Habu was charged to a Jalingo Chief Magistrate Court for culpable homicide under section 221 of the penal code but the Chief Magistrate, Dikko Ismai granted the plea of the relations of

the accused and released him on medical grounds.

In another development, Taraba state police command has been called upon to investigate how an alleged homosexual left the custody of the police.

A trader at the Lau motor park, Musa Abubakar made the call in an interview with our reporter

saying that the gay, Ibrahim Jauro Tukur sexually assaulted a thirteen year old boy by the river bank at Unguwan Karofi in Jalingo.

Investigation by our reporter revealed that the gay escaped to the office of the vigilante group at Lau motor-park after being chased by angry people who spotted him having sex with the boy.

Taraba: Rampant cases of armed banditry in Karim Lamido From Yusha’u Alhassan Jalingo.

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he rampant cases of attack on wealthy individuals by armed bandits in Karim Lamido Local Government area of Taraba State has become a source of concern to the people of the area.

Our reporter who visited the area reports that traders and petty business men are attacked in their house at night and wounded, their shops burgled while cash properties worth millions of naira

carted away by the bandits.

Narrating his ordeal, a recent victim of the attack, Isma’ila Sulaiman of Sabon-gari Jen Village in Karim Lamido Local government said at about midnight last Monday, the bandits who were about fifteen in number broke in to his bedroom with guns and machetes, overpowered him and wounded him, while his younger brother, Maimuri was also wounded on the fore head by the robbers.

The victim who said the

bandits looked like Fulani nomads and speak Fulfulde revealed that it was the third time his shop was burgled by the thieves in recent time.

Sulaiman called on security agents in the area to intensify patrol, particularly at night to stop the constant harassment of the people by armed robbers.

Another victim, Ishaka Alhaji Gambo, a trader in Karim Lamido town said some few weeks back, over ten armed bandits carrying guns and other dangerous

weapons stormed his house at about one O’clock in the morning, ransacked all the rooms and carried away huge sum of money, but did not hurt anybody.

When contacted the Divisional Police Officer, DPO in Karim Lamido Local Government Adeniyi Adeyinka said the robbery attack was reported to his office a day after the episode, and no arrest was made so far, adding that, there were so many problems in area which the Police had to contend with.

Police feared killed in youths’ clash over hunting dog’s death From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

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nknown Police officer drafted to settle violence among the Youths of Abayawo and Dada areas of Ilorin-West local government area of Kwara state was killed during a cross fire.

The dog belonging to the youths of Dada area was learnt to have been beaten with harmful substances by youth of Abayawo on Tuesday during their hunting and died on Wednesday morning.

It was learnt that the Youths engaged themselves with dangerous weapons on Wednesday over the death of the hunting dog.

There was pandemonium in the area as some of the youths confronted each other and allegedly exchanged gun shots among themselves.

Unconfirmed report indicated that while the Nigeria Police, Kwara State command drafted its officers to the trouble scene, unnamed officer caught during the exchange of bullets of locally made guns, died before he could be given first aid treatment.

It was gathered that the incident angered anti-riot police officers drafted to the area and home searching were carried out which led to burning of motor cycles and destruction of properties.

Some residents of the area who spoke with journalists under condition of anonymity said many residents were beaten to stupor by the police who came to restore peace in the area.

Some also accused the police of breaking into their privacy, bringing out motorcycles found in their compound and burning them.

When our correspondent visited the area about 11am, five Police Hilux vans were seen along the road with armed police men restricting vehicular movement.

Some anti-riot police officers who sighted our correspondent said “don’t stay here, we can’t guarantee your security because one police officer has been killed now”.

The residents however appealed to the state government to come to their aid and assist those who lost their valuables in the clash. About 20 motorcycles were reportedly set ablaze during the fracas.

While contacted on phone by our correspondent, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Kwara State Commmand, ASP Ajayi Okasanmi confirmed the incident but denied the death of Police Officer, saying, only one Police Officer was injured and he is currently receiving treatment in hospital.

PAGE 8

Photo Splash

L-R: Plateau state Governor, Mr. Jonah Jang, Speaker, Plateau state House of Assembly, Hon. Titus Alams, and Acting Chief Judge of Plateau state, Justice Pius Damulak, during the swearing-in of the Acting Chief Judge, yesterday in Jos. Photo: NAN

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

A spectator guarding his bicycle during the final of Super 4 Glo Pre-League Tournament between Eyinmba FC and Kano Pillars, on Tuesday in Abuja. Eyinmba won 1-0.

Photo: NAN

Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Adamu (middle), in a group photograph with members of National Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Bauchi state chapter, during their visit to the emir in his palace, yesterday in Bauchi.

Photo: NAN

Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission, Professor Bem Angwe (3rd left), with human rights ambassadors during their inauguration, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: NAN

L-R: Supervising Minister of Foreign Affairs, Professor Viola Onwuliri, Nigerian Ambassador to Ethiopia, Ambassador Paul Lolo, Deputy, Ambassador Peter Iyamabo, and Director, Corporate Services, NEPAD, Mr. Bankole Adeoye, during the 30th meeting of NEPAD Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee, yesterday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Photo: NAN

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

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PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

News

Cybercrime: Jonathan proposes death sentence for offenders

By Umar Muhammad Puma

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resident Goodluck Jonathan has proposed death sentence for perpetrators of cyber crime through a draft law that empowers security agents to intercept any electronic communication between individuals and seized usage data from internet service providers and mobile networks.

Jonathan made this proposal in the Cybercrime Bill, 2013 which he forwarded to the House of Representatives last week.

The bill proposes life imprisonment for any person that accesses or causes to be accessed, any computer or computer system or network for

purposes of terrorism.

It also imposes a 10year jail term or N20 million fine or both for any person convicted for producing child pornography for the purpose of its distribution; offering or making available child pornography and distributing or transmitting child pornography.

The bill also provides that if anybody engages in sexual activities with a child where use is made of coercion, the person shall be liable to 10 years imprisonment or N15 million fine or both, if convicted.

It said those involved in, “Procuring child pornography for themselves or another person and those possessing it in a computer system or data storage medium”, shall be liable to five

years imprisonment or a fine of N10 million or both upon conviction.

The Cybercrime Bill, 2013 provides further in Section 18, racist, gender and xenophobic offences, where it says any person who uses any computer system or network for the purpose of promoting or causing or threatening another person for reasons of race, sex, colour, descent, national or ethnic origin among others, shall be jailed for a term not less than five years or to a fine not less than N10 million or to both.

On ‘cyber-squatting,’ it states that a jail term of three years or N7 million fine or both will be imposed on a person if such unauthorized access is done to obtain computer data, securing

access to any programme, commercial or industrial secrets or confidential information.

Also, the bill provides a three year jail term or a fine of not less than N7 million for those convicted for unauthorized modification of computer data. Unlawful interception of communications also attracts a 2-year jail term or a fine of N5 million or both on conviction.

However, in subsection (4 and 5), it provides for at least 5-year jail term or a fine of N10 million respectively if, in the case of subsection (4) there is a substantial damage as a result of the misuse, or the person uses any automated means in perpetrating the act, for subsection (5).

It provides further for a jail term of not less than one year

Court orders service on Tambuwal in lawmakers’ suit against PDP, Mark, others

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

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s a result of the refusal of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal to appear yesterday before a Federal High Court, Abuja in a suit which had him and his party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as defendants, the court had ordered that a hearing notice be served on him by the bailiff.

Hearing in the matter was stalled yesterday due to the absence of the Speaker.

The trial Judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed ordered parties, in the suit instituted by some law makers, majority of who were members of the ruling PDP, to hand all, “processes (court documents) yet to be served on the 3rd defendant (Tambuwal) to the court’s bailiff, who shall ensure that he is served between now and Friday.”

The judge’s order was informed by complaints from lawyers in the matter, including plaintiffs’ lawyer, Mahmud Magaji (SAN) that they had difficulties serving Tambuwal with court processes.

Lawyer to Senate President, David Mark (2nd defendant), Ken Ikonne frowned at Tambuwal’s failure to either be in court or send a representative, even after he (the lawyer) went the extra step to personally effect service of processes on the Speaker.

The inability of other parties, particularly the plaintiff, to serve Tambuwal stalled move by chief Joe Kyari Gadzama (SAN), lawyer to PDP and its ex-Chairman, Bamaga Tukur to argue his application seeking the reversal of the defection of some former PDP law makers to All Progressive Congress (APC).

Gadzama’s application, seeking the nullification of the defection, is principally hinged on

the argument that the defection took place after the court had ordered parties to maintain status quo pending the determination of the case.

The judge, who ensured that one of the court’s bailiffs was in court to hear his pronouncement, ordered parties to hand all processes intended for Tambuwal

to the bailiff, who shall serve the Speaker between now and Friday and adjourned to February 5, 2014 for hearing of Gadzama’s application.

L-R: Vice- President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, being welcomed by President Alassane Ouattara of Cote d’ Ivoire, during the vice-president’s visit to the Presidential Palace, on Tuesday in Abidjan.

Photo: NAN

NCPC boss charges youths on unity

By Evelyn Okakwu

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he executive secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), Mr. John Kennedy Opara has called on youths to use their strength to foster unity and national development.

He said this while receiving

the national executive members of Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN) in Abuja.

Opara said youths are solid forces whose strength can only come from unity.

The NCPC helmsman also commended Mr. President over his recent assent of

the anti-gay marriage bill, adding that gay marriage is against creation and should be condemned in totality.

He assured the National Executives of YOWICAN that the commission would introduce Youth Pilgrimage in its Calendar of activities to give youths the opportunity to go on Holy Pilgrimage.

or a fine of N2 million for “any person who, by means of a public electronic communications network persistently sends a message or other matter that (a) is grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character or causes any such message or matter to be so sent; or (b) he knows to be false, the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety to another or cause.

Gaidam signs Yobe’s 2014 Budget From Uche Uche, Damaturu

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obe State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam yesterday signed into law, the 2014 finance and appropriation bill.

The budget size of N102.89 billion was retained while a slight adjustment was made to the capital and recurrent expenditure respectively.

Speaking during the occasion, the state governor expressed optimism that the high prospects of generating more internal revenue following the positive impact of the improvement in the security situation in the state, would give room to financing all the projects appropriated for in the bill.

He equally expressed the believe that rigorous implementation of the budgetary provisions in keeping with the ideals of probity, accountability and transparency by all ministries, departments and agencies would ensure the attainment of the budgetary objectives.

He said government would further strengthen the monitoring mechanism to ensure that all projects are monitored effectively and efficiently in the course of the implementation.

In order to achieve the desired objectives of implementing the budget, the governor ordered that no request for payment shall be honoured which does not carry the due process certificate which shall be issued if the payment to be effected complied with provided guidelines.

Speaking earlier, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Honourable Adamu Dala Dogo revealed that the capital expenditure was slightly raised from N67.43 billion or 66% to N67.86 billion or 67%, while the recurrent expenditure was slightly lowered from N35.47 or 34% to N35.03 or 33%.

He urged all ministries and departments to access funds for capital projects on quarterly basis in order to achieve the desired objectives envisaged in the year.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

PAGE 11

Money Sense

Retiring at 27: Ambitious, lazy or crazy?

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was 21 at the time with only one year of operating my own thriving business, Renters Warehouse, under my belt.

I don’t know why the word “lazy” gets such a bad rap, I’m a big fan of lazy.

Here’s why: Lazy is a smart man’s motivation to get from point A to B as quickly as possible.

A lazy person knows there’s lots of life and fun to be experienced, so finding the shortcuts through the slough just makes a lot more sense than dragging your feet down a long road.

Lazy can help you build a multi-million dollar business in a few short years and reach retirement in your 20s. At least, that’s how I decided to do it.

Believing I only have one shot in life (to live once), I could not be more motivated to craft the exact life I want to live. I mean, what did I have to lose?

With retirement as my starting point, I decided N1,120,000000 after tax was the number and age and 27 would be the deadline.

The numbers for my property management company were already looking good and the trajectory was definitely heading towards my seemingly lofty ambitions. It was time to walk the walk.

I meticulously set forth to build a business that I could exit when the time was right, with employees and management that were just as vested in the longterm vision as I was.

Money Tip: Swap extraneous spending for smart longterm moves.

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ou can live another month without a new DVD player, but servicing your car or fueling your Generator could net you a nice savings through fuel efficiency and keep you from having to shell out for expensive repairs later.

Quote The world turns on a dime, the same now as it always has, which is to say, money makes the world go ‘round. It’s also what makes the world go spinning out of control – Joe Murray

With my self-imposed retirement goal nipping at my heels, I focused on building “bench strength” at Renters Warehouse.

This meant having a president groomed to be CEO, an office manager capable of becoming my operations manager and a litany of cross-trained employees that were hungry for professional growth.

Transparency being paramount, I empowered key executives by giving them full access to the books, called on them for crucial management decisions and made sure they had a hand in the branding, funding and hiring decisions early on.

Woven into our company culture was the idea that leadership comes from all corners. It wasn’t long before the encouragement to step up would inch me closer and closer to stepping down.

After talking such a big game for seven years, the time came to meet this retirement I had envisioned for myself. It didn’t come with that big blast of confetti you might have imagined. If anything, the dawning of this new era came with apprehension, and of course, a little fear.

By 2013, I had built a business I was proud of and now had a net worth of just under N3,200,000000. Months past my 27th birthday, I was on vacation with my wife in the Virgin Islands.

Caught working with my laptop, a very important interrogation took place: “Didn’t you say you were going to retire when you were 27?”

It was time to move on.

You can imagine that telling people you’re planning to retire after less than a decade of work can get you some disapproving looks. I probably couldn’t sound lazier if I tried.

All too often, people associate retiring to handing in the office keys for hammocks and golf courses. What about those who grow to love their office just as much as a golf course? I refuse to believe it has to be all or nothing.

Retirement means I can choose when I want to work and when I want to golf. Maybe next week I venture off to Peru and the following week I plan a media tour to expand our franchise awareness. Designing each day of your life is a privilege. It’s a privilege earned through the proficiency in which you design your team and your company’s culture.

Call me lazy or ambitious, just don’t call me on vacation, or my wife might have a few words for you. Who knows, it might be just what you need.

Brenton Hayden

…3 obstacles to early retirement and how to overcome them

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any of us dream of leaving the workplace while in our 40s or 50s instead of sticking it out until age 65. In fact, the 2011 Employee Benefit Research Institute’s Retirement Confidence Survey found that 16 percent of retirees left the work force before age 55, and another 15 percent did so before turning 60. Early retirement is a tempting goal, but it can be tough to achieve.

“Retirement is ultimately a mathematical equation involving current income, current expenses, savings rate and future expenses, the more you can make now, and the more of that money you save, the sooner you can retire.”

There are four major obstacles to early retirement: • You have less time to earn money: If you start working at age 20 and retire at 65, you have 45 years to produce income. If you retire at 45 instead, you have only 25 years to achieve the same results.

• Your investments have less time to compound: Just as early retirement gives you less time to earn money; it also gives that money less time to grow. That means

a smaller nest egg when you call it quits.

• You’ll be drawing on your savings longer: The average Nigerian lives to be nearly 80. If you retire at 65, your savings need to last 10 to 20 years; if you retire at 45, they need to last more than twice as long.

This is not to say you shouldn’t plan to retire early. It’s a laudable goal, and one you should set for yourself. But if you’re serious about early retirement, you need to be particularly smart with tomorrow’s money, today.

It is suggested that for many, semi-retirement, in which you continue to work part-time or seasonally, is a good compromise.

“Semi-retirement is less strain on your retirement portfolio and might give you access to other benefits, such as health insurance.

Though semi-retirement may be more realistic than early retirement, it’s still not for the faint of heart. You have to work hard to make it happen.

You’ll need: • Ample savings: Semi-retirees plan far in advance, building a large nest egg before they make the leap.

• Modest living: The less you can live on now, the sooner you can retire. Living below your means is like saving for retirement twice.

• Ongoing work: Though semi-retirees don’t have full-time jobs, they keep working for a variety of reasons. The added income means they don’t have to tap into their savings as soon (or as deeply), and the work gives them the chance to spend time with others while doing something worthwhile. According to the Retirement Confidence Survey, 23 percent of retirees worked for pay in 2011.

• Purpose: Most important, semi-retirees tend to pursue projects and passions that align with their core values, which makes those extra years of work that much more meaningful.

The bottom line: Whenever you decide to do it, retirement can be whatever you want it to be.

You can go back to school, travel the world, work part-time on a pet project or write the great American novel. But in order to afford any of these things then, the time to start planning is now.

PAGE 12

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

EDITORIAL

We want to believe CDS Badeh but…

CDS’ pledge, said Badeh knew the weight and implications of his remarks. “The statement is coming from the person appointed to fight the (Boko Haram) menace. We need to give him our support and be positive that the insurgency will soon end.”

No doubt, those Nigerians who have lost relations, businesses and property in the sectarian violence do want to see an end to it and a return to normal life in the three states. Certainly, a new military

“

N

ew Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Marshal Alex Badeh, took office last week, giving weary Nigerians something to cheer them up. He pledged to end the 3-year-old Boko Haram insurgency in the North-east in April this year.

“The security situation must be brought to a complete stop before April, 2014”, he declared confidently as he took the oath of office.

He said the insurgency which has taken hundreds of lives and destroyed several places of worship and schools where “western curriculum” is taught, must end to avoid “constitutional problems” such as having to return to the Senate to ask for an extension of emergency rule in the three states worse hit by the sectarian violence – Borno, Yobe and Adamawa where Badeh hails from. President Goodluck Jonathan first imposed the state of emergency in May, last year and extended it by another six months in November. The CDS wants to avoid another time extension. “We don’t want to go back to the Senate to beg and lobby” he said.

The government appears to share Badeh’s optimism, which is an indirect indictment of his predecessor, Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim and the three service chiefs under him for under performance in the counterinsurgency effort. Minister of the Interior, Comrade Abba Patrick Moro, reacting to the

We share the CDS’ optimism and pray that he and his team succeed where others have failed woefully helmsman, untainted by the controversies that have dogged the counter-insurgency campaign so far and a native of one of the affected states, does inspire public hope and expectations. Moreover, Badeh has wasted no time in getting the three service chiefs (Navy, Army and Air Force) to hit the ground running. “If three of you have already met even before the takeover, then I can only say that this thing is already won”, he

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said.

However, we dare remind the new CDS that putting the insurgents to the rout will require more than tough words and a sincere wish, as our experience with the sect in the past three years has amply demonstrated. He must recognize that Boko Haram has since metamorphosed into an international franchise used by different groups, including local politicians, for different purposes. We recall that former Inspector General of Police, Mr. Hafiz Ringim, in 2011 vowed to crush the insurgency. He failed and nearly lost his life in an attack on Force headquarters, Abuja by the sect’s foot soldiers.

He survived but lost his job on January 25, 2012.

Badeh, we must admit, did well to qualify his optimism.

“If we do our work cohesively, I can tell you we shall finish that thing in no time”. This is important. That the insurgency has festered, if not blossomed, after three years and in spite of the army getting a new division in Maiduguri, says a lot about a lack of team spirit or esprit de corps in the military joint task force (JTF) that is prosecuting the offensive against Boko Haram.

Again, we share the CDS’ optimism and pray that he and his team succeed where others have failed woefully. However, he should not be surprised if the reality he will confront forces him to scale down his hopes.

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PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

PAGE 13

Opinion Lamido and politics of ideology

By Adamu Mhd Usman

P

olitics, they say, is unpredictable. That is why those who analyse it would warn that nobody should come to any conclusion until the last word has been spoken or action taken on any political development.

Alhaji Sule Lamido is one of the most experienced politicians in Nigeria, and is arguably the most successful of the state governors that held sway in Jigawa State since its creation in 1991. So he is well equipped to seek the nation’s highest political office.

The Jigawa state governor is presently challenwging his party, PDP of lack of internal democracy and following the rule of law and some or many people may be correct on their opinion of alluding Lamido’s support for Jonathan in 2011. Even in various interviews granted by Lamido, he did not at all for once deviate from his stand on Jonathan’s candidacy of 2011. In Daily Trust of Thursday, December 23, 2010 page 4, Lamido was quoted as

saying “Yes, we resolved as a party to uphold our victory of 2007 by further supporting the Jonathan ticket in 2011. He is our own and we can’t disown him, if anyone feels he has a candidate, let it be, but we in PDP, our own is Goodluck’’.

May be so many of those who accused Lamido have short memory or they are ignorant of Lamido’s political participation, internal democracy, rule of law and his principles of nationality.

If not that, they would have not accused him of supporting Jonathan in 2011. He has been

“

consistent too. He supported a Hausa/Fulani man from North/ West, Malam Aminu Kano of People’s Redemption Party (PRP) in 1979. Lamido supported an Igbo man, from the South/East, Chief Nmadi Azikwe of Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP) in 1983 to be Nigerian president. He supported Olu Falae a Yoruba man, from South/West to be Nigerian president under Social Democratic Party (SDP) in 1993. Lamido also supported Chief Olusegiun Obasanjo also a Yoruba man under People Democratic Party (P.D.P) in 1999

and 2003. Lamido also supported the Late Yar’adua, a Hausa/ Fulani man in 2007. So, what was wrong in him supporting Jonathan, an Ijaw man from South-south in 2011?

Lamido has dined, but not wined, with the high and mighty all over the world. There is nothing he has not seen. He will keep on working for Nigeria to become efficient and great.

These are some of the culture he imbibed, learnt from the late Aminu Kano and he is not going to depart from it. Lamido should be given a breathing space. Let

Lamido has dined, but not wined, with the high and mighty all over the world. There is nothing he has not seen. He will keep on working for Nigeria to become efficient and great.

These are some of the culture he imbibed, learnt from the late Aminu Kano and he is not going to depart from it.

Lamido should be given a breathing space. Let him be. All this campaign of calumny in the media will not make him to slow down on the good things he has been doing.

him be. All this campaign of calumny in the media will not make him to slow down on the good things he has been doing.

Sule Lamido has made a lot of sacrifices for this country, Nigeria. His contributions have re-united and re-awakened Nigeria. And his agitation for change is because the present administration from above has disappointed them as a party.

I must conclude with Nelson Mandela words: “The important thing is to give happiness to people.” In his speech at Dublin Castle, Republic of Ireland, the U.S President, John Fitzgerald Kennedy (1917-1963), once said: “Democracy is a difficult kind of government. It requires the highest qualities of selfdiscipline, restraint, a willingness to make commitments and sacrifices for the general interest, and it also requires knowledge.”

May God guide our leaders right and bless Nigeria.

Adamu Muhd Usman is reachable on amu3333@ yahoo.com

NESREA and the Nigerian environment

By Jude Gbemudu

T

here has been a significant improvement in the Nigerian landscape since the coming of NESREA, an acronym for National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency.

Ever since the agency has wasted no time in stamping its authority on the Nigerian landscape—locally and internationally so much that from the little mustard seed it was at inception, the agency has grown to become iconic getting involved in the hubbub of the cleanup exercise not through the barrel of the gun but via dialogue, collaboration and where impossible—penalties!

Now the crack surfaces of environment disobedience have sufficiently thawed to allow for better environmental practice!

The polemics of corporate individualisms has disappeared giving way to collective partnership something that has been alien and even none existent in Nigeria. The more seen of this excellent display by our generation, the less work will be for incoming generations who are at this rate guaranteed a bright future!

Never have such determination from so few created such a vast impression knowing the reputation of Nigerians to resist change. No facet of the Nigerian environment landscape was spared in the last seven years.

Take for example the issue of second hand Electronics. Once the Agency got its bearing right and beamed its search light there, that sector has never been the same. The market has been comprehensively reinvigorated.

Now people remember albeit not with nostalgia the days reminiscent when importation

and distribution of second hand electronics are rampant – ubiquitous everywhere. The Agency went further to enact the Electrical/Electronic Sector Regulations, 2011 under which it introduced sanity into that sector.

Known for its thoroughness, they would let Nigerians know the hazardous contents some of these seemingly harmless Television sets, Refrigerators, Cathode Ray tubes, batteries that contain lead.

Because Nigeria happens to be a place where change is difficult to achieve and the toga of business as usual hangs practically everywhere, it wasn’t unexpected that the Agency would come face to face with resistance. One area is the Nigeria’s sea ports where those who had enjoyed feeding fat using the Seaports as dumping ground for toxic materials, e-waste, started crying wolf and calling NESREA names when the Agency clamped on them. But NESREA remained resolute and would not budge!

While the battle was raging in that frontier, NESREA would later turn its attention to another volatile front: the indiscriminate manner telecommunication operators function in Nigeria erecting base stations, mast heads where ever pleases them inside residential compounds without appropriate setbacks, and regard for safety of life

“

and property. By the time the agency introduced the National Environmental (Standards for Telecommunications and Broadcast Facilities) Regulations, 2011 it was time to show that this was not another jejune effort.

The agency wasn’t interested in dancing “azonto”, with tax payer’s money and so began it purge of that sector breaching even the areas considered as sacred— untouchable. The big wigs who had operated unhindered with near disdain were surprised to see how quickly they were disarmed and dislodged. NESREA wasted no time in straightening all the crooked areas.

Today, there is sanity in that telecommunication sector, NESREA was telling the truth and they saw it. Now prospective violators have packed their baggage and left town! NESREA successfully got Nigeria’s suspension lifted from CITES and even enacted the National Environmental (Protection of Endangered Species in International Trade) Regulations, 2011. This is a huge boost to Nigeria’s International partners.

The director-General had shown exemplary gait, if nothing else, she wasn’t one to pursue the ivory honoris causa when Rome was burning!

She has made NESREA so active along with her assemblage

of complimentary staff such that through dint of hardwork, commitment and focus the Agency has prevailed with her mandate and has been everything but a failure. Now a nation known for “anything goes” is now one of “rule of law”. If anything, this is as much an indication that President Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda is on course as it is a confirmation that hard work pays. The process of carrying out her statutory responsibility and curbing Nigeria’s environment of pollutants and hazardous wastes though not an easy task has been less arduous.

It is now compulsory for Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) approval before any major industrial activity. Same applies to Environmental Audit Report (EAR) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Sanitation and Waste Control is now taken seriously through constant sensitization and mass awareness, Nigerians have been told to up their consciousness – to utilize waste bins, protective gloves, and keep their environment clean.

The Agency also veered into the aspect of Noise Standards and Control through another Regulations produced in 2009.

It is now an offence to blare your music and even allow your loudspeakers to disrupt tranquil

Today, there is sanity in that telecommunication sector, NESREA was telling the truth and they saw it. Now prospective violators have packed their baggage and left town! NESREA successfully got Nigeria’s suspension lifted from CITES and even enacted the National Environmental (Protection of Endangered Species in International Trade) Regulations, 2011. This is a huge boost to Nigeria’s International partners. The director-General had shown exemplary gait, if nothing else, she wasn’t one to pursue the ivory honoris causa when Rome was burning!

environment. There are now penalties, fines and various fees for offenders or violators.

Perhaps it is in the construction sector where NESREA showed that it cannot be taken for granted. The deep chasm exhibited by some quarry operators for decades blasting improvised explosives (IED’s) with impunity and leaving behind gullies as death trap without any remedial plan were challenged and brought to book.

In one instance an incredulous official had watched in awe as his company was shut down for violations until his construction company paid the requisite fine for that offence. Many of them had treated abatement notices served on them to remediate with distain until the hammer descended. Even those involved in environmentally sensitive commodities such as ozone depleting substance (ODS) including toxic chemicals have been fished out and dealt with.

Having come this far, the question now is what more can be expected from an Agency of this stature and magnitude of performance? The answer is for the Federal Government to continue supporting them in whatever form and guise because there is still a lot to be done. To be fair, this is the time for other Agencies to emulate and follow the examples of NESREA and collectively move the nation forward. The era of gerrymandering is over. It is time to sit up and perform the task of nation building and leave a better future for upcoming generations.

Can anyone then say NESREA does not deserve accolades? They sure do!

Jude Ggbemudu is an environment consultant based in Benin City.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

PAGE 14

Opinion

The sweet song from Davos

By Abba Adakole

F

or die-hard critics of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, anything that tends to suggest that his administration is doing well or that Nigeria is moving forward, should not be allowed to fly. There are those who belong to the group called “Nothing Good,” meaning that “nothing good comes out of Nigeria,” as long as Jonathan remains President. Critics of this category no longer hide themselves.

Prominent among them are Lai Mohammed, Nasir el-Rufai, Femi Fani-Kayode and Sam NdaIsaiah, and they hate the person of Jonathan with a passion.

For these insufferable critics, merely seeing Jonathan, his top officials and private sector captains in green-white-green muffler, with other world leaders and experts at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, was enough source of agony. Their anguish multiplied when they heard Jonathan confirm to participants from all over the world what they already knew – that with an average growth rate of seven percent, Nigeria was among the fastest growing economies of the world; that there were improvements in all the sectors, and that the country was now one of the safest and most profitable foreign investment havens in the world.

The focus of the conference was economic inclusiveness and ways in which growth in all countries

could be sustained and made to have positive impact on the lives of the citizenry. In articulating the Nigerian situation, Jonathan and his men talked about the Government’s transformation agenda in such areas as Agriculture, Power sector reforms through privatisation and innovations in the manufacturing sector, including the automotive

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industry.

With emphasis on inclusive economic growth, the President assured the world of Nigeria’s efforts at resolving the problems of poverty and financial inequality. He told participants that the nation’s economic agenda was geared towards job creation, increased access to education and, therefore, wealth creation. At the end of the Conference, nobody was left in doubt about Nigeria’s role as the driver of economic growth in Africa.

Irrespective of our political persuasions, we have no choice but to commend the President and his men, especially the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and

Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina and Nigeria’s topmost business man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, for doing Nigeria proud at the forum.

This should be one of the activities in which politics must give way for an objective appraisal in the common interest of all Nigerians.

When foreign investments flow into the country, they are to the benefit of all, whether members of the PDP, APC or LP. Sadly, however, the President’s critics see things differently.

For then, the message delivered

by President Jonathan was not what he should have told the

international community.

This group of Nigerians do not accept the reports by the World Bank which puts Nigeria’s average economic growth rate at seven percent, and which says categorically that “foreign direct investment into Nigeria in 2013 makes the country an

investors’ destination of choice.”

Gladly, however, the truth will always prevail. Not only did the President’s performance at Davos signal a bright future for the Nigerian economy, it also confirmed the forecast by the renowned economist, Jim O’ Neil, who coined the term MINT (Mexico, India, Nigeria and Turkey) as growing rapidly to become alternative economic powers in the world. Such a prospect ought to be heart-warming to all well-meaning Nigerians. Yes, but not to NdaIsaiah, one of Jonathan’s die-hard critics who would prefer to remove Nigeria from the list, changing it to MIT rather than MINT – as long as

Jonathan remains President.

The Davos visit was, particularly, important for the Jonathan administration. The growth of the Nigerian economy, insofar as inclusiveness is sustained and the benefits filter to all Nigerians, should be our primary concern, not whether or not it suits the desires of some self-centred critics. Given the character of third world economies, generally, domestic performance is determined mainly by international forces, especially in terms of investment and confidence building. It is to strengthen these areas that President Jonathan and his team went to the Davos Forum.

And, it is for this same reason that Nigeria has been able to secure the opportunity to host the African Edition of the World Economic Forum, in May 2014, in Abuja, Nigeria.

Those who believe that nothing good comes out of Nigeria should be persuaded to change their negative orientation and join President Jonathan in planning for the May event. It is for our common interest that we work together in building a strong, viable and sustainable economy for ourselves and for generations to come. When that ultimate goal is achieved, it would, really, not matter who the President is or where he comes from.

Abba Adakole is on Facebook. com

‘Nigeria’ in Cape Town

By Dele Agekameh

S

aturday, January 25, 2014, was a day that put all Nigerians on edge. That evening, Nigeria’s home-based Super Eagles had taken on their Moroccan counterpart in the third edition of CAF African Nations Championships quarter-final football match at Cape Town Stadium in South Africa. The game witnessed a shower of goals. It was exactly 40 minutes on the clock when a Moroccan attacker put the third goal in Nigeria’s net. Chigozie Agbim, the Nigerian goalkeeper, like the rest of his team, seemed to be flailing in vain, inexorably towards an ignominious exit from the tournament. A thrashing, whitewash, spanking or mauling, if you will, as they say in sporting parlance, was firmly on the cards in this encounter.

Here were Nigeria’s hopefuls starring at an even more embarrassing defeat at the tournament designed for the participation of only those players who ply their trade in their countries. In fairness, the Eagles had started the match well enough.

There wasn’t really that much difference between them and the Moroccans before the Moroccans first goal in the 33rd minute. And in truth, anybody who saw how naively, especially defensively, the team handled that crazy sevenminute period between the 33rd minute and the 40th minute, would have been well-justified to feel sorry for Nigeria for what was still to come.

But how did things come to this sorry pass? There were several questions, and there seemed to be few more logical answers than to admit that the Eagles had been

shambolic while the North Africans had been clinical in those frenetic seven first half minutes. As the horror show unfolded, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, the coach of the Nigerian side, largely remained his usual inscrutable self, giving little away emotionally. But how dare he remain so stoic, so calm amidst the debris that his team was quickly becoming in this game? Perhaps, he was convinced, like many followers of football know too-well, that even the most one-sided football matches can rapidly become a game of two halves. In this case, a team which seems to be struggling badly in one half suddenly finds enough verve to turn the table in every sense in another half.

After trailing behind by three goals to nil, the Eagles simply had to get back to reckoning, meaning that something had to give tactically and personnel-wise. The Eagles’ first goal came four minutes into the second half, a minute before the first Nigerian substitution was made. It was evident that ‘The Big Boss’, as Keshi is fondly called, gave two or so key instructions to his boys during the half-time rest: “press harder and higher up the pitch and; get the ball to the feet of Ejike Uzoenyi, an artist of a footballer, who, barring some rotten luck, should be packing his luggage to board the plane to the Brazil 2014 World Cup. Such has been the manner the young man has held this tournament by the scruff of its neck.

And for the trick with Uzoenyi to work, he was further instructed to stay on the right side of attack, of course with some licence to roam, even though he is more comfortably left footed. This position gave him a similar role to that being increasingly given to naturally-

gifted left footed players like Lionel Messi who can frequently cut in from the right to devastating effect. This, coupled with the faster movement of the ball by the Nigerians in attack as well as better organisation across the pitch, gave the Moroccans too many different questions to answer, completely different from what they faced in the first 45 minutes.

As the game wore on, the legs were gone from under the Moroccans even though they still managed a few flitting chances. The equaliser may have been too long in coming after which the match went into extra time, but there was no stopping the Eagles from soaring.

The raw strength of the Nigerians, their never-say-die attitude and extra class both on the bench especially with ex-internationals as the coaching crew, as well as the finesse, purpose and vision of Uzoenyi, saw them to victory.

At the very top level of organised football, it only happens once in a long while that a team is able to come back and level the scores in a match where it is already losing by three goals or more after the first 45 minutes. Arguably, the most famous contemporary example of such three-goal comebacks by a top-level football team and one of the most referenced ones was recorded by the English club, Liverpool, when they came back to beat Italian outfit AC Milan on penalties in the final of the UEFA Champions League in Istanbul, Turkey in 2005.

Nigeria, of course, had a couple of similar ‘previouses’ in this regard. There was the gutsy come-from-behind 4-3 victory against Brazil in the semi-final at the Atlanta 1996 Olympics during which the Kanu Nwankwo-led

“Dream Team” rallied from 3-1 down to prevail. But by far the most remarkable of such feats by a Nigerian team was the match against the then-USSR, where Mutiu Adepoju, Christopher Ohenhen and Samson Siasia and co won on penalties after a 4-4 draw having been 4-0 down (2-0 down in the first half) at a point during the match. That match is romantically referred to as the Miracle of Darman in Nigerian sports speak.

So the onus was on this selection of players to perform their 21st Century version of the Darman Miracle. Fittingly, what followed was not the Miracle of Darman.

It was simply the Miracle of Cape Town.

I tried to apply my best bodylanguage reading skills to interpret the scenes that followed between Keshi and his coaching staff as well as some of the players after the match. Following the final whistle, the coaching staff all, together with the players on the substitutes’ bench, first made a bee-line towards the pitch and then as if by prodding, all, one after the other, turned back to Keshi. The triumphant coach was still calm on the bench whereas other coaches would have been beside themselves with joy after such a hard-fought victory. They all then seemed to whisper words that seemed to say to the coach that he was spot on with certain decisions or conclusions he had come to even when his team were losing. I guess Keshi, in his characteristic confident manner, had calmly told the players and coaches that even at 3-0 down, Nigeria would still win the match if they approached it with certain catalysts. Those catalysts, it appears, were duly applied and the rest is history.

Whatever the interpretation, the

victory of the Super Eagles certainly boils down to team character and the will to fight, even against seemingly insurmountable odds.

It is much like the Nigerian spirit which enables the people to always weather all storms, man-made or natural. Although it had seemed – pretty much like many aspects of our national life – as though the players would once again, throw away an opportunity after doing the hard part of getting through a tricky qualifying group, in the end, a sheer force of character and togetherness saw them safely through. It was indeed a performance with a lot of ‘Nigerianness’ in it. Players of different religious persuasion, socio-cultural backgrounds and ethnic identity came together to serenade the spectators with Skelewu, Azonto, Etigi or Kukere in the joy of a football match. It makes one wonder why the rest of the Nigerian society keeps ignoring the lessons of sport, especially football, in acts of unity and togetherness for the ultimate peace and prosperity of the country.

Again, bear in mind that the current renaissance in Nigerian national football, especially at the senior national team level, has come mostly because the coaching of the teams has been handed over to ex-football players who have played at the highest level of the game. Now, why can’t we always try and put people who have the know-how in other public positions in our national life rather than dead woods and spent bullets?

Remember, when you ask a carpenter to do the job of a tailor, you are likely to get an upholstering at the very best!

Dele Agekameh’s professional profile is on linkedIn

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

PAGE 15

Comment My fear about 2015

By Godwin Onyeacholem

W

ith its relentless perpetuation of unsavoury politics, the current People’s Democratic Party (PDP) government has, more than any other administration, continued to inject a lethal dose of cynicism into Nigerians, so much so that there is an intense feeling of anger in this environment. This makes it impossible to ‘see hope,’ like former president Olusegun Obasanjo did at the peak of his swagger during his dreadful second coming. Battered and callously denied the fruits of a resource-filled country, Nigerians dwell in misery and see nothing in the horizon other than despair.

This general disillusionment has been compounded by the fact that the man most Nigerians expected to act as a calming influence; the one they looked up to as a kind of fitting relief to the unfolding horror provoked by the so-called largest party in Africa, has turned out an unspeakable disappointment. In his glory days, Attahiru Jega, professor of political science and chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, was a foremost symbol of wellarticulated defiance issuing from the ivory tower. General Ibrahim Babangida and the lackeys who

helped prop up his regime in those heady days are not likely to forget Jega, the fire-spitting president of Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, who led fellow lecturers to cause that regime much trouble.

Jega’s appointment as INEC chairman received spontaneous widespread approval cutting across class, ethnicity and religion. Even opposition parties commended Jonathan and flowed with sentiments which hailed Jega as a ‘man of integrity.’ With him, virtually every Nigerian was confident that henceforth, elections would not only be free and fair, they would also be credible. How wrong they were! Those who anticipated a reprise of that principle of forthrightness in Jega’s new assignment were naive. They forgot where he was coming from; that as VC of a federal university he was already a political appointee, subject to the whims and caprices of those who appointed him.

Always having an eye for a willing tool, the PDP duly found the right person. And to the utter amazement of a gullible public who mistook him for the redeemer of Nigeria’s contaminated electoral process, Jega has steadily lived up to the ruling party’s expectation.

The signs were always there in the run-up to the 2011 general

elections. One of them was the outright rejection of the idea of electronic registration of voters mooted by the defunct Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, to clean up the first platform of vote rigging which political parties often adopt in any election. Jega said time was too short for that.

In the end, there was hardly anything to cheer in the 2011 general elections. Only the courts in some cases offered a redeeming feature. The whole process was reminiscent of Iwu’s era. All those nasty features for which Jega’s predecessor was severely criticised remain in place in a more ingenious dimension. In the same brazen fashion, voters’ registers are still being manipulated; ballot boxes are still being snatched and stuffed with votes for a designated party, usually PDP; opposition party agents are still being intimidated, beaten and chased out of polling units; voting still goes on in secret places and figures are still randomly allocated in favour of the ruling party with the active connivance of INEC officials and security agents. Even for places where no single vote was cast!

The overall picture has been one of shame, dejection and fury.

Not too long ago, it was on this same sub-region that the world saw a genuinely free and fair election in Senegal where the

opposition candidate defeated a sitting president. This is a scenario the ruling party, in an ungodly alliance with INEC, has ensured will never happen in Nigeria. Jega has so far proved that not only does INEC have something to hide, but is also working hard to prolong the stay of PDP as the ruling party. Recall that he dodged the invitation of then CPC to produce for forensic scrutiny at the Court of Appeal the ballot papers which he claimed earned PDP the presidency. That singular act effectively killed the case. And nothing indicates as yet that this will not happen again.

And here is the rub: As long as Nigerians continue to allow a sitting president to singlehandedly appoint a chairman of INEC whom he would regularly summon like a school boy to his office, or who on his own keeps a habitual date in Aso rock villa to pay nauseating homage to his benefactor, opposition parties will never get justice from the electoral system. And with the level of desperation now exhibited by the PDP, all efforts by the opposition to reclaim victory through the courts will be decisively blocked henceforth. The story of Edo, Osun and Ekiti states has taught them a bitter lesson.

No matter the promises made by Jega or anybody,

Nigerians will not witness free and fair elections in 2015.

However, unlike Nasir el-Rufai, one would not speculate on what would happen afterwards.

Interestingly, not even the INEC boss’ brain wave, which ensured only his professorcolleagues in the universities are returning officers in most of the elections, has lent any credibility to the voting process.

Indeed when next another professor is introduced as chairman of INEC, Nigerians must not forget to allow some degree of distrust.

He may be a great professor, but the plain truth is that Jega has not exhibited the basic dignifying features of a dispassionate intellectual, which includes the fairness and impartiality he promised Nigerians in his job as election arbitrator. And as he forges ahead, he will do well to pay attention to an extract from a perceptive speech by a US business executive, Charles Sanford Jr., which underscores the point that intellectual honesty is more than what’s legislated, it is inherent in the best people, those who take broader view of their action than simply ‘What’s in it for me?’

Godwin Onyeacholem can be reached on gonyeacholem@gmail.com

The gay lobbyists deserved what they got

By Bamidele AdemolaOlateju

W

e must acknowledge that the Nigerian gay lobby overreached itself on the gay agenda. They imported the pressure tactic that worked very well in Europe and America to Nigeria and they deserve the rotten egg thrown on their faces. America did not become tolerant of gays “by fire by force”, it was gradual. America’s intolerance of homosexuality melted away gradually and turned the corner when the 81million strong millennials (children born between 1982-2002) who don’t care a hoot about anyone’s sexual preference started coming of age.

By contrast, Nigerians are deeply religious and very conservative. In this country, Christians and Muslims are given to traditional mores that teaches homosexuality as an evil that should be punishable by death.

The Pew Research Center in a survey of 39 nations established that Nigerians are the least tolerant of gays. 98 percent of the respondents surveyed agreed that society must reject homosexuality. Given the disposition of this ultra majority against homosexuality, was it wise to push the gay agenda in such a wholesale imitation of the American gay coalition method?

It is prudent to understand history and appreciate how long it took America with all its democratic structures to become more tolerant of gays.

Even as a firm believer in mankind’s inalienable right to free expression, association and belief I feel “one kind” if I see Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender(LGBT) people holding hands. I confess I haven’t seen them kissing even in the United States except in pictures and movies and I still feel “one kind” when I am confronted with such scenes. We must refrain from the argument that homosexuality is an orientation that people are born with like hair and eye colour. It will hold no water for Nigerians.

Nigerians do not believe in

“

Darwinian or nebulous scientific logic. Nigerians will tout their holy books far better than any American Christian Right fanatic would. I also believe the genetic line of argument defeats the cause of LGBT people the world over because it embraces the implication that since people are born gay, it is normal and morally acceptable.

The problem with using the genetic argument is that whatever tendency we might be born with must be considered normal. This “normal” includes serial murder, stealing, lying, hate, covetousness, pedophilia, addiction, rape and so on.

As a consequence, there are two holes in the genetic basis argument. One, if sexual “orientation” is inherited,

monozygotic twins (identical twins who share the exact same genetic information) should exhibit the highest correlation for same-sex preference while half siblings and unrelated siblings should have the lowest.

Unfortunately, the sampled universe of research data has shown no remote significant correlation in several studies that has been undertaken.

Instead, studies established that if same-sex erotic preference has a genetic component at all, it is overwhelmed by other factors “in specific and circumscribed social structures.” In like manner, one can argue that since homosexuality does not produce offspring, one would think the homosexual genetic component in the human

Even as a firm believer in mankind’s inalienable right to free expression, association and belief I feel “one kind” if I see Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender(LGBT) people holding hands. I confess I haven’t seen them kissing even in the United States except in pictures and movies and I still feel “one kind” when I am confronted with such scenes. We must refrain from the argument that homosexuality is an orientation that people are born with like hair and eye colour. It will hold no water for Nigerians.

genome would die off. It hasn’t happened yet.

Second, if being born gay means homosexuality is morally acceptable, one can argue that homophobia must also be morally acceptable as an “orientation”. After all heterosexuality and its accompanying homophobia, where expressed, has more claim to genetic basis because heterosexual behavior produces offspring that transmits the homophobic genetic code while homosexual behavior do not.

Will it be acceptable then if heterosexuals argue in favour of homophobia as an “orientation” that is genetic, if they tout it as normal behavior, insist that it is not subject to disapproval, argue that homophobia must have civil rights protection and given prominence as acceptable behavior in schools and in the media?

Will it be okay if straight people label homosexuals who accuse them of being homophobic as heterphobes? Should pedophiles, who consort with young boys, be considered as having a legitimate sexual “orientation” with its accompanying moral propriety? If no, is it not duplicitous to say only homosexual attraction is genetic and morally good while pedophilia is not? If so, why the double standard?

Bamidele Ademola-Olateju is on twitter@olufunmilayo

PAGE 16

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

Electricity: Community begs Gwagwalada council for transformers

R

Some motorcycles impounded by officials of FCT Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS), after a recent raid in some parts of Abuja, for violating the law prohibiting their operations within the city centre.

Photo: Stanley Onyekwere

FCTA counsels residents against patronising hawkers, prostitutes

By Stanley Onyekwere

T

he Permanent Secretary, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Engr. John Chukwu, has advised residents of the territory not to patronise street traders and commercial sex workers, among others, as the government intensifies its effort to rid the city of all illegal structures and unwarranted activities.

Also, the permanent Secretary urged them to stop giving alms to beggars, destitute who are being brought into Abuja and exploited by some selfish and unscrupulous elements.

Chukwu however,

… Removes 2,000 shanties in two weeks threatened that anybody found wanting would be prosecuted in accordance with the law of the land, saying “it has not been business as usual, since the FCT minister read the riot act to some of its Secretariats, Departments and Agencies (SDAs), to embark on intensive cleanup of the city.’’

This advice is coming on the heels of the removal of more than 2,000 shanties and illegal structures across the 250 square kilometers of the city, by a joint clean up task force of the SDAs, in the last two weeks.

According to a statement signed by the Chief Press

Secretary to the FCT minister, Muhammad Sule, the exercise was a swift response to the said riot act by the Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed.

It said, the Permanent Secretary, who is heading the taskforce, disclosed that they had dislodged all illegal mechanic colonies from Murtala Muhammed Expressway near Dantata & Sawoe Junction, down to Gudu District (Apo), including road verges and undesirable trees in the area.

Likewise, the SDAs removed several broken down vehicles along the roads and crannies of the Abuja metropolis as

well as illegal Block Molding Industries scattered within the city.

Chukwu, reiterated that the cleanup though statutory for the FCT Administration, the SDA’s would continue with this joint exercise until the Federal Capital City is rid of all illegal structures and activities.

He warned that the Abuja Master Plan must be religiously adhered to in consonance with the dreams of the founding fathers of the territory; stressing that “Parks must be used for what they were designated for as well as all other areas”.

AEPB mobile court convicts 9 residents for sanitation offences

T

he Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) mobile court has convicted nine of the 16 residents of Area 2, Garki, Abuja, who were arraigned before it for various sanitation offences.

The16 residents (offenders), all of Jalingo Street, Area 2, were charged with poor sanitation, lack of waste bins

and open dumping of refuse in residential areas.

The Prosecutor, Samuel Uwota, said the offences contravened sections 17 and 35 of the AEPB Act, 1997, and that the offenders were arraigned before the court for failing to comply with “abatement notices’’ issued to them.

Magistrate Aminu Abdullahi, who presided over

the matter, ordered them to pay N6, 000 fine each and issued arrest warrants on the remaining seven offenders, who failed to appear in court.

Abdullahi ordered the police to produce them in court during its next sitting.

Meanwhile, the AEPB Director, Mrs. Aisha Adebayo, advised Abuja residents to imbibe proper sanitation habits.

“We advise residents to ensure proper sanitation to reduce the outbreak of diseases.

They should also procure proper waste bins for their houses for effective waste management.’’

She pledged the commitment of the board to ensure the cleanliness of the city and urged FCT residents to cooperate with the agency.

(NAN)

esidents of Angwan Dodo have appealed to Chairman of Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, Alhaji Giri Abubakar, to boost electricity supply in the area.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Angwan Dodo, a highly populated area in Gwagwalada, has been suffering from inadequate power supply for some time now.

Some of the residents who spoke with NAN said the community needed additional transformers to boost power supply in the area.

A resident, Emeka Okoroafor said he had lived in the area for three years, adding ``there is only one transformer serving the highly populated area.

Okoroafor said the people have been suffering from poor power supply and this has affected the economic development of the area.

“The power we get is very poor; sometimes, it is not even useful because of the low voltage. Most of the times, we do not see the light at all.

“This is really affecting the economic development of the area. We want the chairman of the council to use his good office to give us more transformers.

“We are tired of paying huge amount for electricity bills for energy we did not consume’’, he said.

Another resident, Maureen Gayi, who corroborated Okoroafor’s statement, added that the community has never enjoyed stable light for a long time.

“The average electricity supply we get is about one to two hours after every four days. We really need the council’s assistance’’, she said.

When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of Abuja Electricity Company, Gwagwalada, Sodangi Hawa, said they were working on a plan to bring in more transformers.

She assured the Angwan Dodo residents and the entire people of Gwagwalada of adequate power supply as soon as the transformers and metres were installed. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

PAGE 17

PAGE 18

INSIDE FCT COURTS

Bizman docked over N.8m fraud

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

Metro

Court grants bail to 2 applicants arraigned for causing hurt

A

n Abuja Grade 1 Area Court, sitting in Kado, yesterday, granted bail to two applicants, Lumi Silas and Ikechukwu Philip, charged with

joint act and causing hurt.

Silas and Philip, of no fixed address, had pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge leveled against them.

The judge, Ahmed Ado, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N20, 000, with one reliable surety in like sum who must be resident within the

T

he police have arraigned a businessman, Yusuf Hussaini, 36, of Army Quarters, Kubwa, Abuja in a Wuse Zone 2, Chief Magistrates’ court, charged with N800, 000 land fraud.

The Prosecutor, Cpl. Emmanuel Adikwu, told the court that on July 19, 2013, one Ms Lauretta Ajoiyi, of No 38, Aguyi Ironsi St., Maitama, Abuja, reported the accused at the Maitama Police Station.

He told the court that Ajoyi had reported that sometime in July 2012, she had entrusted the accused with the original copies of her F01 land document, file number EN 21187–F01 3654.

Adikwu said that Ajoyi had given the accused the documents to help her photocopy and return the original copies back to her.

He said that instead, the accused dishonestly kept another copy with him and sold the land for N800, 000 and converted the money to his personal use.

Adikwu told the court that the accused is standing trial for the offence of criminal breach of trust, contrary to Section 312 of the Penal code.

If convicted, the accused faces seven years in prison or could be given an option of fine or both.

The accused however, pleaded not guilty.

The Counsel to the accused person, Mr. Joel Onumina, applied for the bail of the accused, under section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution which presumes an accused innocent until otherwise proven.

He said that his client was a responsible businessman who operated a business and had his family within the jurisdiction of the court and so, would not jump bail.

Onumina prayed the court to admit his client to bail on liberal terms.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr. Anthony Ogboi, granted the accused bail in the sum of N500, 000 with one surety in like sum who must reside within the jurisdiction of the court.

He said that both the accused and the surety must deposit their passport photographs with the court’s registry.

Ogboi adjourned the case to February 18 for continuation of hearing. (NAN)

A young man and woman hawking sachet water, yesterday at Zone 11 bus stop, in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

court’s jurisdiction.

He later adjourned the case to January 31 for further hearing.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Sgt. Simon Ibrahim, had told the court that the ACCOS 17 Police Patrol Team at Berger Junction in Abuja had arrested the accused on January 12.

Ibrahim said members of the patrol team had reported at the Utako Police Station that the two men attacked one yet-to-beidentified person.

He said the victim of the accused, whose name was unknown up till when the case was mentioned, was rushed to hospital unconscious.

The prosecutor said the offence contravened the provisions of sections 79 and 247 of the Penal Code.

Section 79 states that, ”when a criminal act is done by several persons in furtherance of the common intention of all, each of such persons is liable for that act in the same manner as if it were done by him alone.’’

Also, Section 247 stipulates that “whoever causes grievous hurt shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years and shall also be liable to a fine.’’

(NAN)

Housewife to spend 6 months in prison for stealing laptop A n Abuja Upper Area court has sentenced a housewife, Halima Mohammed of no fixed address, to six months’ in prison, for stealing a laptop and a shirt.

The Presiding judge, Mr. Adamu Wakili, sentenced Mohammed after she pleaded

guilty to the charge of criminal trespass and theft.

Wakili, however, gave the convict an option to pay N8, 000 fine, and warned her to desist from committing crime.

“Based on your admission of guilt, I hereby sentence you to six months in prison but with an

option to pay a fine,’’ he said.

Earlier, the prosecutor Sgt. Ambi Ayuba, had told the court that one Sgt. Kenny Dodo of the National Defence College, Abuja, reported the matter at the Durumi police station on January 21.

He said that the convict

trespassed into the National Defence College Quarters, Apo, Abuja, and stole an HP laptop and a shirt valued at N150, 000.

He said that the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 342 and 288 of the Penal code respectively. (NAN)

Trader jailed 6 months for stealing motorcycles

A

trader, Rashidi Idris of no fixed address, is to spend six months in prison for stealing two Jincheng motorcycles, following his conviction by a Gudu Upper Area court, Abuja.

The Presiding judge, Mr. Adamu Wakili, sentenced Idris

after he pleaded guilty to the charge of theft.

Wakili, however, gave the convict an option to pay a fine of N5, 000 and warned him to desist from committing crime.

He said the court gave the convict an option to pay a fine because he was a first time

offender.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Sgt Ambi Ayuba, had told the court that Mr. Peter Iroh of Area 1 Garage, Abuja, reported the matter at the Durumi Police Station, Abuja, on January 21.

He said Idris stole two motorcycles belonging to Usman

Musa and Sulieman Adamu, both of Area 1, Garki, Abuja.

The prosecutor added that the two motorcycles were recovered from the convict during investigation, noting that the offence contravened the provisions of Section 288 of the Penal Code. (NAN)

Tiller docked for stealing phone worth N20, 000

A

44-year old tiller, Dominic Mark, was on Tuesday dragged before an Abuja Senior Magistrates’ court, for allegedly stealing a Nokia cell phone worth N20, 000.

Mark, 32, of No. 7, Gwarimpa Estate, is arraigned for stealing a Nokia cell phone, belonging to one Yakubu Abdullahi.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Salisu

Mohammed, told the court that Abdullahi of Works and Housing, Gwarimpa Estate, Abuja, lodged the complaint at the Gwarimpa Police Station, Abuja, on January 23.

He said that sometimes in the month of October 2013, the accused stole the complainant’s phone at a public function.

He said that on January 23, Mark was arrested by the police

and the phone was found in his possession.

Mohammed said that the offence contravened the provisions of Section 287 of the Penal code.

After the charges were read to him, the accused pleaded not guilty.

The Senior Magistrate, Mrs. Asmau Akanbi, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N50,

000 and one surety in like sum.

She ordered that the surety must be resident within the court’s jurisdiction and must have traceable and verifiable home and work addresses.

The Magistrate also ordered that the surety must have a reasonable means of livelihood and adjourned the case to February 3 for hearing proper.

(NAN)

PAGE 19

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

INSIDE

Isa_abdulwahab@yahoo.com, Isaabdulwahab@gmail.com 08033045613

Sanusi attributes infrastructure deficit in Nigeria to absence of low-interest finance - Pg 21

Youth urged to maximize YouWiN for economic freedom -Pg 20

L-R: Special Adviser to Lagos state Governor on Central Business District, Mrs Derin Disu Lagos state Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, Chairman, Honeywell Group, Dr. Oba Otudeko, and former Lagos Attorney-General, Mr. Supo Sasore, during the 2014 Lagos Central Business Districts Stakeholders’ Forum, yesterday in Lagos.

Photo: NAN

Fraud: Ex NAICOM commissioner Chukwulozie, bags 15–year jail term

A

n Abuja High Court yesterday sentenced Okechukwu Chukwulozie, a former Commissioner of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) to 15 years in prison over N10.4 million fraud.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), in 2007 charged Chukwulozie, his wife, Angela; and a former Deputy Commissioner in charge of Finance and Administration, Adedolapo Ogungbe on 15 counts of N10.4 million fraud.

Delivering judgment, Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi, said that the court sentenced Chukwulozie to three years on each of the five counts he is convicted for and it will run concurrently.

Oniyangi, who did not give the convict an option of fine, held that the ICPC had proved all the ingredients of Section 19 of the the ICPC Act against him.

“The ICPC has proved beyond reasonable doubt that a commissioner of NICOM, Chukwulozie, demanded fifty per cent of fees paid to liquidators of

Gateway Insurance Plc. “Beyond reasonable doubt is the standard of evidence required to validate a criminal conviction.

Generally the prosecution bears the burden of proof and is required to prove their case.

“The prosecution has presented to court evidence to support its charges against the convict.

“In this case, they have done so.

The court hereby sentences you to three years each on each of the five counts level against you, which will run concurrently.

However, Mudashiru, held

Pencom pays N968m to 5,666 military retirees

A

total of 5,666 military personnel and those of other security services received N968.92 million as pension payment in the second quarter of 2013, the National Pension Commission (PenCom) has said.

In the latest edition of “Penlife”, a quarterly publication of PenCom, it said that the payment covered

personnel of Military Pension Board, State Security Service and Defence Intelligence Agency.

The commission stated that it had also begun the process of paying more personnel of the services.

The agency confirmed receiving data from the respective organisations.

The commission said it was

processing 35,122.for payment, made up of 18,924 Army pensioners, 7,222 for Navy and 8,976 State Security Service pensioners.

The commission also said that it had received report from Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) confirming the disbursement of N4.58 billion to 32,206 contributors through their banks. (NAN)

that the ICPC had failed to prove its case against the second (Angela) and third accused (Ogungbe) persons.

“The court discharges the second and third accused persons charged with aiding and abetting the crime.

“You are hereby discharged and acquitted,’’ he said (NAN)

NCAA deploys more CPD officers to airports -Pg 22 Exchange Rates CBN as at 28th JANUARY, 2014 Buying

Selling

$

154.7

155.7

€

256.46

258.12

£

211.11

212.47

Riyal

41.26

41.52

YEN

1.50

1.51

CFA

0.303

0.323

MANAGEMENT TIP OF THE DAY Taking over from an incompetent team leader

B

ecoming the leader of an existing team can be challenging, but taking over from an incompetent leader is especially difficult.

Even if you find your new team in disarray, you’ll get better results from your team members if you invest the time to appreciate and respond to their needs and concerns before making changes.

By understanding what they have experienced, you’ll better understand the issues that must be addressed to move forward— and your curiosity will show your interest in your people’s well-being, another value that may have been lacking in the previous leader.

Source: Harvard Business Review

PAGE 20

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

Business

Youth urged to maximize YouWiN for economic freedom

By Stanley Onyekwere

I

n order to attain economic freedom, the youth in the country have been urged to avail themselves with the many opportunities provided by the Federal Government’s Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria (YouWin).

Senior Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Islamic affairs and State House Mosque, Tahir Umar Tahir has advised in Abuja.

Speaking yesterday he said, “If the youth will be very much

involved in what is on ground in the area of youth empowerment; the many problems facing the nation will be over.”

YouWiN is an innovative business plan competition of the federal government of Nigeria, aimed at job creation through supporting enterprising young men and women to establish their own businesses that will enable them employ others.

Receiving some students under the auspices of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Zone A, who paid him a courtesy call in his office,

the President’s aide, said the government is very committed to ensuring that the youth become economically empowered, so that they will be much useful and become the vehicle of the Transformation agenda of Mr. President.

“Mr. President has created the You-win project, which basically youths and women are the most beneficiaries of the programme, so I’m calling on youth to avail themselves with this opportunity, so that they will be very much empowered”, Tahir added.

NANS delegation bestowed on Tahir, an award of excellence as an icon of community development.

Presenting the award, the leader of the students’ delegation, Yusuf Lawal, told the President’s Aide that the gesture was in recognition of his outstanding achievements, in the area of youth and women empowerment.

It would be recalled that the First edition of YouWin created about 22,000 jobs while the second edition which was focused mostly on women created an additional 5,000 jobs.

L-R: Executive Director, Convention on Business Integrity (CBI), Mr. Soji Apampa; Executive Director, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Haruna Waziri and Secretary, Mrs. Josephine Igbinosun, during a press briefing on corporate governance rating system, yesterday in Lagos.

Photo: NAN

Nigeria Customs promotes 773 junior officers to stave off disquiet

By Dapo Olalekan

I

n what seems like a second leg to its recent promotion of senior officers of the service, the Nigeria Customs Service has again released a list of seven hundred and seventy three (773) newly promoted officers.

Even though our correspondent gathered that the promotion list was hurriedly released as the House of Representatives showed an interest in the delay of the list,

about four hundred and six (406) of the officers were those recruited in 2009.

A breakdown of the promotion list which was sighted at the port in Lagos showed that fifty four (54) Assistant Controllers were promoted to the rank of Deputy Controllers. Fifty six (56) Chief Superintendent of Customs were also promoted the rank of Assistant Controllers.

Also, ninety seven (97) Superintendent of Customs were promoted to Chief

Superintendent of Customs while forty two (42) Deputy Superintendent of Customs were to Superintendent of Customs.

About one hundred and eighteen officers (118) made it from Assistant Controller 1 to the post of Deputy Superintendent of Customs while about four hundred and six (406) were promoted from Assistant Superintendent grade 2 to Assistant Superintendent of Customs grade 1.

An inside source at the

customs told Peoples Daily yesterday that if the promotion had not been effected, there would have been problems within the services.

“The junior officers that were promoted now are the ones that will remain in the service for the next fifteen to twenty years when the senior officers must have retired, it is out of them that the next Comptroller General will be picked” he said.

According to him, the last promotion examination was conducted April to June 2013.

Sifax Group rewards Staff with Cash, gift Items for long service

I

ndigenous Company; Sifax Group, owners of Port and Cargo Terminal at the Tin Can Port, has rewarded eleven of its staff who have served in the conglomerate with a Sifax long service award.

At a celebration party held at the Rockview Hotels, Apapa Lagos on Tuesday, the staff were rewarded for having worked diligently and kept fate with the company over the years.

Speaking at the celebration, Executive Vice Chairman of Sifax Group, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi represented by Dr. Folake Rogers of the Djibouti Consulate, said the award was an indication that the rewarded staff had been doing their jobs very well for many years.

“Today, we are celebrating commitment and productivity, and I am very sure that your families will also be proud of you” she told the awardees.

“This award is an indicator that someone is doing a good job.

Today we have a combination of how well and how long. We are celebrating continuous diligence and productivity”, She said.

Afolabi, who commended the awardees for their dedication to work, challenged other staff to put in their best for the overall growth of the Group.

Also speaking during a brief opening speech at the party, Executive Director Human Resources, Sifax Group, Dr. Phil Ofulue pointed out that the essence of the award is to motivate the workers, even as the company continues to match on.

“We have come a long way at Sifax Group, in a situation where other companies have layed off their workers and owed salaries, Sifax Group has continued to match on, all is going well with Sifax, and this is like a thanks giving for us” Ofulue said.

The staff were presented with a Haier Thermocool Chest Freezer in addition to signed cheques from the company at undisclosed amounts.

The list of the awardees includes; Shofu Taiwo Adedotun who served the company for 20years, Mr. Yahkubu Eruobodo for 15years, Mr. Olumayo Adeolu, Mr. Adegoke Funsho, Mr. Adesina Adegbesan, Mr. Ahmed Adekunle Ibrahim, Mr. Ladan Paul.

Others includes; Mr. Ekwuruke Ifeanyi, Mrs. Ojih Christiana, Mrs. Okinedo Efemena Mabel and Mr. Kazeem Wole Oladapo who served for 10 years respectively.

Speaking on behalf of the awardees, Mr. Shofu Taiwo Adedotun who has put in 20 years at Sifax appreciated the efforts of the organization and support from colleagues in the course of the job.

According to him “I thank God for the journey mercies in SIFAX and my colleagues. When we started the job we did not collect any money but we kept pressing on and today we have good stories to tell”, he said.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

PAGE 21

Pension&insurance Mutual Benefits opens Niger Republic subsidiary from Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

I

n line with company’s expansion plan targeted at enhancing shareholders’ value, a Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc has acquired a license to operate a subsidiary in Niger Republic under the name, Mutual Niger.

Speaking during the firm’s 18th annual thanksgiving service in Lagos, the Group Managing Director, Mutual Benefits Assurance, Mr. Akin Ogunbiyi, disclosed that the new company has commenced operation since

January 2, 2014, following an approval by the country’s insurance regulator.

According to Ogunbiyi, Mutual Benefits realized the growth potential in Niger Republic following its discovery of several mineral resources in commercial quantities, and decided to take position to be part of the growing economy.

“If you look at a recent World Bank report, Niger has been identified as going to be the fastest growing economy in the West African sub-region in the

next few years. Niger, you will recall, had in the last four to five years discovered minerals; not just discovering them, but in commercial quantities, and has become a centre of attraction for most investors in the Western world,” he stated.

He noted that it was not difficult getting the operational licence because of Mutual Benefit’s pedigree, which he noted had been tested in Cameroon, where it operates a partnership.

Ogunbiyi further stated that the firm had proven itself as a company

with integrity, professionalism, dynamism and leadership, because it picked a company that was down, and in less than three years, it moved to the top position in the Cameroon market.

“I can tell you that Mutual Benefits of last year is not the Mutual Benefits of today. The company today boasts staff strength of 5,000 and a growth of 40 per cent in all indices in the 2013 financial year.”

“In 2013, we actually recorded about 40 per cent growth in all indices,” he said.

L-R: Head, Information Unit, National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Enugu state, Mr. Gerald Ndubisi, Head, Small Scale Enterprises, Mrs. Nneka Onyeji, state Coordinator, Mr. Eke Iroegbu and Head, Finance and Accounts, Mr. Sylvester Okpe, during the NDE micro credit review meeting, on Monday in Enugu.

Photo: NAN

Sanusi attributes infrastructure deficit in Nigeria to absence of low-interest finance

G

overnor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has attributed the infrastructure deficit being recorded in the country to absence of long-term low-interest financing.

Sanusi said this on Wednesday in Abuja when members of the board of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) visited him.

He said a major gap in the country’s financial system was the absence of long-term lowinterest financing, pointing out that countries worldwide which finance infrastructure usually provided such facility.

“People need to look at how some countries did it. In China, they set up state-owned banks and

those banks lend money at seven to nine per cent for 10 to15 years for the building of infrastructure. ``Sometimes, the loans go bad and when they build up the bad loans, the Chinese government will issue a bond, recapitalise the banks and they will continue lending,’’ the CBN governor said.

Sanusi said the funds used would be recovered from the industry and income taxes after building the infrastructure.

He said infrastructure development was the surest way to diversify the income base of the country.

The CBN governor said the apex bank had pushed about N850 billion in long-term lowinterest fund into the economy. ``This was done under the

bank’s intervention scheme in the power, aviation and agriculture sectors,’’ he said.

Sanusi admitted that the N220 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Fund was yet to be disbursed to entrepreneurs, but assured that action would be taken on it shortly.

He advised that the Federal Government must ensure that funds in the capital market and the pension funds were used to fund infrastructure development in the country.

The CBN governor also said he planned setting up a ``policy think-tank’’ for Africa after he had left office in June, saying this would help to facilitate the continent’s development.

“When I leave office, one of my real objectives is to set up a

policy think-tank for Africa and, for me, this is the kind of issues I like to engage in. ``In Abuja, we have just realised that the biggest deficit facing African countries is a policy deficit and not money deficit, because we have got the money all over,’’ he said.

Sanusi said it was unfortunate that Nigeria would have more than 25 billion dollars in pension funds and not one million dollar of it could be put into infrastructure development. ``Something is definitely wrong,’’ he said.

Earlier, the Chairman of ICRC board, Sen. Ken Nnamani, had commended the apex bank for its support in developing a draft infrastructure finance policy for the country.(NAN)

Premium pension pledges commitment to sustain profitability

P

remium Pension Limited has rolled out plans geared towards sustaining profitability notch recorded by the firm for the year 2014 and beyond.

In view of this, the Chairman, Premium PFA, Alhaji Aliyu Dikko, disclosed to journalists in Lagos that the firm has put in place strategies that will position the company as one of the global best player in world.

According to him, “Our mission

is to achieve superior customer satisfaction in active and retirement life through best practices defined and driven by our core values of care, integrity, transparency, ethics and professionalism.

“Our performances to date, when placed in juxtaposition with the strategy we developed in 2008, reveals a mixed bag of areas where the benchmark were not attained and areas where targets were

exceeded.”

He stated that the strategy defining exercise had the principal objective of leading the firm to its set vision and mission by defining ways of developing a strong investment management policy with state of the art investment management tools that would produce superior returns to the clients.

Dikko restated the need to consolidate on the company’s zero

tolerance for non-compliance and further sharpen the risk management policy and best practices in internal control processes and procedures.

Also speaking the Managing Director, of the company, Mr. Wilson Ideva, noted that the firm was already occupying an enviable position in the industry and had the potential to be unassailable with the right strategies.

GNI settles N833.1 m claims in 2012

G

reat Nigeria Insurance Plc said it had paid claims amounting to N833.1 million to its various customers in 2012 financial year.

Reviews of the company’s performance showed that its profit after tax stood at N903 million, representing a surge of 119 per cent, a significant improvement over N399 million written in the previous year.

The Managing Director, GNI, Mrs. Cecilia Osipitan, while commenting on the company performance said that the results had been approved by the industry’s regulatory body, the National Insurance Commission adding that the International Financial Reporting Standard-compliant results showed a sustained growth for the company.

“The results showed an efficiently managed company that was able to make this profit with this level of gross premium income,” she said.

The gross premium as of the end of 2012 stood at N2.88 billion from a turnover of N2.4 billion in the previous year, indicating a 16.5 per cent increase while the total assets recorded 13.8 per cent growth at N8.432 billion in the period under review from N7.26 billion in 2011.

The firm said its retail products sold under the e-business platform experienced growth.

Some of the products are the Fireproof to cover loss of properties through fire; Great Savers Delight, a savings investment scheme; Motorflex, which is an improved version of the Third Party Motor Insurance Policy; and GNI Personal Accident Insurance product, which is for injuries sustained in accidents.

Osipitan said these were the outcomes of the re-engineering process and customer centric focus of the organisation, and the consistent human capital development of its employees.

She added further that the company had ensured that strict compliance with business ethics was paramount to the sustainability of all its goals.

The GNI boss said the firm had initiated series of plans, which included changes in the Information Technology software.

“New software has been purchased with the employees undergoing local and international trainings to guarantee positive turnaround time impact,” she added.

PAGE 22

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

Business

NCAA deploys more CPD officers to airports Stories from Suleiman Idris, Lagos

T

he Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority said it had deployed over 52 Consumer Protection Officers across major airports in Nigeria to facilitate a seamless relationship between airport users and the airlines and other services providers.

The officers were posted to the airports after successfully completing their On The Job Training called (OJT).They were deployed to join officers already on ground at the airports.

The airports involved included the three wings of the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos, Abuja, Kaduna, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Gombe, Mallam Aminu Kano airport, Ibadan, Owerri and Asaba airports.

NCAA DG, Capt.

Fola Akinkuotu said the decision to train more officers and their posting was to provide support to the transformation agenda of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

He said with airport remodeling there should be a corresponding increase in the number of CPD officers at the airports to attend to passenger complaints.

Meanwhile passengers at the terminals who spoke to Peoples Daily commended the agency for the Consumer Protection Directorate initiative and the way it has been mediating on complaints from air travelers.

They spoke at a one day awareness and sensitization campaign at the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), the international wing and the MMA2 terminals in Lagos The agency noted that the essence of the campaign drive was to adequately educate, inform

and enlighten the flying public of their inherent rights and responsibilities and that of the airline operators.

“At the end of this campaign, which is directed at the expected escalated volume of passengers anticipated at our airports in this yuletide season, passengers will be in a better position to know when to be compensated by any airline when there is a breach of trust”, it noted.

A statement from the GM public affairs of the agency Mr. Fan Ndubuoke adds that “to seek compensation, this awareness will show them the appropriate authorities and the steps to take to seek redress from any erring airline.

The exercise is also aimed at Cargo Consolidators, Car Hire Operators and Concessionaires to ensure that passengers get value for their money.”

Aviation master plan, FG establishes social contract with workforce

T

he federal government has said the success of the country’s aviation master plan initiated in 2012 would be a mirage if the workforces of the sector are not adequately motivated and carried along.

The government explained that to achieve the desire goals of turning around the state of the industry, which was left to rot for over 3 decades, a social contract with workers becomes imperative.

Minister of aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah, who spoke at an interactive session with staff of the ministry in Lagos, affirmed that like a compass, the master plan which was unveiled in April 2012 has brought about significant progress in

infrastructural development in the sector.

She admonishes the workers from the parastatals to work together to reposition the sector “to become a world class provider of safe, secure and comfortable air transport sector that is self-sustaining and pivotal to the socioeconomic growth’’ of Nigeria economy.

According to her, the forum provided the platform sensitise aviation sector workforce on the Master Plan for the Sector, its implementation strategies, deliberating on its short, medium and long term initiatives and establish a social contract between the leadership and its foot soldiers.

She reiterated that “the compass guides our path to the true, real and sustainable development of the sector. It makes adequate provision for a programmed development of critical infrastructure in the industry, caters to the safety and security needs of the sector as well as the welfare/capacity building requirements of staff.

“It has the potential to attract the much-needed Foreign Direct Investment into the sector and help grow the economy. And above all, the Master Plan provides the surest path to the self-sustainability of the sector, leading ultimately to better condition and standard of living of the sector workforce.”

117 days after, DANA Air resumes flight operations as inspectors undertake test flight

E

xactly 117 days after the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) inspectors temporarily banned its aircrafts from the Nigerian skies, DANA Air on Monday resumed scheduled operations with a team of safety and aircraft inspectors from the NCAA onboard the MD 83 plane where they undertook a test flight.

The aircraft took off from the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos to Abuja.

Feelers indicate

resumption of DANA Air could raise stakes in the area of competition among domestic air travel, as the airline offered the lowest fare on resumption.

Chief Operating Officer/ Accountable Manager, Mr Yvan Drewinsky who spoke to journalists before the departure at the MMA2 departure hall said the airline had closed all the identified open items fingered in the audit carried out by the NCAA. He n said issues identified in the NCAA audit had nothing to do

with safety, but bordered in operational procedures and processes.

He further explained that the closure of all the open items was what led to the lifting of the suspension on its operations and assured that the airline would not treat the safety and comfort of its clients with levity.

The Dana COO added that while on suspension, its technical crew members embarked on training and re-training in South Africa, in order to remain current on the job.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

PAGE 23

Stock Watch

Report as at Wednesday, January 29, 2014

PAGE 24

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PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

Special Report

Do children make successful entrepreneurs?

By Alison Gee

L

eanna Archer from New York started selling home-made hair products when she was eight. Today, her company, Leanna’s Inc, has gross annual sales of about $500,000 (£300,000).

Her first product was based on a recipe from her Haitian greatgrandmother. “So many people I knew w anted to use the same products that I was using in my hair and it sparked an idea in my mind to market the product,” she says.

Archer uses natural ingredients in her growing range of products Archer gave some free samples to people she knew. “After they used it and they liked it, they came to me and said, ‘You know what, I have $20 (£12) - how much of that product will that get me?’ And that’s where the idea to start the business actually came from.”

She started mixing the ingredients in the basement of her home

If you think kids do nothing but play computer games and watch TV, think again. Some as young as eight, have started their own businesses and are already on the road to commercial success.

Four young people explain how they became entrepreneurs at an early age. on her own - now there are eight people involved and they are hoping to expand out of the basement this year.

One of her biggest challenges was to be taken seriously. “But as I got older, people started to realise that this was not just a phase - it was something that I was working and developing and I was the driving force behind it.”

Archer is now 18 and is studying Political science at university. She wants other youngsters to know that “everything seems impossible until it’s done, so if you find something that you’re passionate about pursue it”.

Anshul Samar was 12 years old when he came up with an idea to make learning chemistry fun.

Over the next two years the Californian schoolboy

Ludwick Marishane, left, at his cleaning up outfit

worked on his card game, Elementeo, which brings the elements of the periodic table to life.

It went on sale when he was 14 - he made 5,000 games to start with which sold out. Since then he has produced an updated second version and has developed an Elementeo app.

“Even from the beginning I always wanted to take this to become something big,” he says.

“You’re never too young to take your idea and make it into something cool,” says Samar Samar had a rare lung disease when he was 13, but he didn’t let this stand in his way: “While I was in bed and I missed a lot of school, that was actually the time in which I developed a lot of Elementeo.”

As a child he felt he had nothing to lose: “Even if something does mess up, you still have your skateboard in the garage and school to go to the next day - things just kind of kept going.”

Samar had a lot of support from his community. “There was a group that gave me a small $500 (£300) grant... that was really the inspiration that got me started - someone from outside said, ‘Hey even if you’re just a kid we believe in your passion and we believe in your idea.’”

Samar is now at

Leanna Archer, hair care queen, started mixing ingredients for her hair care products at home, since she was eight.

Stanford University.

“School is my first priority and always has been - with things like Elementeo, they’re just a

“

Archer is now 18 and is studying Political science at university. She wants other youngsters to know that “everything seems impossible until it’s done, so if you find something that you’re passionate about - pursue it

Anshul Samar, Chemistry genius

lot of fun and the fun and learning tend to balance themselves out.”

When South African Ludwick Marishane, was 17, he came up with the idea of DryBath - a gel to replace soap and water.

He has spent the past six years developing the product and has raised funds through business competitions.

The gel is now on sale and Marishane has won awards along the way.

“You have to think about people who use the bucket bathing method

- this is the way I stayed clean and this is how almost half the world stays clean,” he says.

“The water [in the bucket] gets extremely soapy; therefore it becomes really tough for you to rinse the soap off.

You have to kneel - it’s a really undignified way of staying clean.”

He says DryBath changes all that - you put the gel on your body and rub it off with your hands. “If you’re really dirty - you’ve got mud, dust etc on your skin, you can wipe it off with

Archer now 18, uses natural ingredients in her growing range of products

a damp cloth and you’re clean.”

When it came to getting feedback for his ideas, his father helped him to develop a thick skin. “Whenever I tried to do something, he was the one who provided me with the most critical feedback.”

“I learned from a very young age not to take feedback to heart, especially if it was negative - just to take it for what it is and work and improve on it,” he says.

Ilwad Elman was born

“You’re never too young to take your idea and make it into something cool,” says Samar, now older

in Somalia but spent her childhood in Canada her family moved there after her father was assassinated when she was three.

When she was 19, she decided to return to Mogadishu. “There were only about four districts that were controlled by the government - the rest was taken over by al-Shabab at that time so the crossfire and the front lines were literally in my backyard,” she says.

She became a social entrepreneur working

with her mother to set up ‘Sister Somalia’, an organisation that provides counseling, medical services, education and business starter kits to women who have survived sexual violence.

She has helped 1,600 women set up their own businesses including shops, courier firms and food import companies.

She has also helpe d former combatants to start afresh.

“It was really difficult for some people to see a young person in a

Ilwad Elam, now a young woman social entrepreneur

position to lead… I even at times had people walk out of meetings just because they couldn’t handle the idea of a young person trying to convey these messages to them,” says Elman.

“There is life beyond the bullets… people are very entrepreneurial, people are very motivated and there is opportunity for change,” she says.

The entrepreneurs featured spoke to Newshour on the BBC World Service

PAGE 26

Mother Earth

The dying zoo culture in Nigeria

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

Ambrose Inusa Sule,

mnes

ENVIRONMENT WATCH globenviron@yahoo.com 0703-441-4410 (sms only)

By Ambrose Inusa Sule

W

ild animals have fascinated human observers since time immemorial.

And safely caged animals inspired the interest of naturalists, and fed the curiosity of the masses.

In the past, wealthy aristocrats used to showcase exotic beasts in their menageries.

From the beginning, zoological gardens in Nigeria followed the modern trend of displaying animals in naturalistic, ‘open’ exhibits with hidden A carmel in a cage in Kano Zoological Garden. barriers, moats, and glass between the animals and visitors. That way the general public would be able to see the kind of live animals they wouldn’t have been privileged to see.

In the recent past, these zoological gardens were serene and beautiful environments that were quite inviting.

They were created as tourist centers; providing education, information and entertainment to both students and the general public. They were also the first choice for honeymoon for the newly wedded. Apart Animals are starving in some Zssoos across the country. from displaying animals for teaching, research and the entertainment and conservationists in with high patronage and was one of the things that of visitors, the zoo is recent time.

The zoos across the made UI, an important fun for the conservation of country are suffering environment. endangered species.

There were shops at It is therefore surprising various forms of neglect; some, cramped, the zoo premises with a that the menageries, in zoological gardens and unsuitable and unhygienic variety of food and kiosks zoos in Nigeria today, are in conditions for the animals, that offered snacks. There dire need of rehabilitation; and speculation about the were also numerous picnic seeking the attention of veterinary efficiency at spots located within the government, corporate the zoos, as many animals Zoo where visitors relaxed bodies and well meaning are faced with starvation, in the shade of giant trees.

And secure parking space diseases and death. individuals.

The University of Ibadan was available at the main The zoos that had a large collection of various is not only the oldest entrance. Security staff animals, and used to be Nigerian university; it also was on duty at all parking tourists haven for both accommodates the oldest facilities and were always local and international zoological garden within on duty 24 hours a day for fun seekers, are now the an ambiance of learning in visitors convenience.

But today, the number the country. The zoological shadows of their past.

The utter neglect of garden was a popular site of visitors to the zoo has The animals zoological gardens that where many people went decline. were meant for tourism, for relaxation and to view started dying one after the relaxation and education, the wild animals in a safe other and were not replaced. and the declining zoo environment. With a wide Some of the animals initially survived culture in Nigeria has array of exotic species from that drawn a lot of criticism different places in and out became malnourished and from the zoo community of Nigeria, It was popular subsequently began to

The Zoos are suffering various forms of neglect

die. Subsequently, the zoo became a shadow of its glorious past.

The situation at the UI zoological garden is the same all over the country.

From Ibadan to Benin, Jos to Port Harcourt and in most places where zoos are located, the story is the same: one of caging animals without the needed care.

The zoos are bedeviled by too many challenging problems, such as mismanagement, lack of government funding, the apparent understaffing, and the activities of land speculators that have led to a massive encroachment to zoo lands in some cases.

The keepers are said to be buying water from hawkers to feed the animals, while toilets are shut for absence of water. The zoos that

have not been getting government attention in the area of funding; most of the activities going on in the zoos are through the revenue generated by the zoos and support of individuals and corporate organizations.

In spite of the mounting challenges, gardens still offers place for tourism; even as they continued to retain their status as botanical gardens and arboretum to researchers, students, teachers as well as recreational park to tourists and fun seekers.

If the federal government is interest in boosting tourism in Nigeria, the urgent thing to do is to provide adequate funding for these gardens to come alive again, since the first choice for tourists across the world still remains the parks.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

PAGE 27

Mother Earth

Dealing with conjunctivitis during harmattan season

By Abiemwense Moru

M

iss Susy Attah, a Senior Secondary School student, said that she contracted conjunctivitis (a common eye infection) during the 2012 harmattan season.

Attah said that the infection came with itching, redness of the eyes, accompanied by occasional discharge. ``I felt very uncomfortable because of the pain and I could hardly open my eyes. ``What pained me most was that my siblings started getting infected too before I went to the hospital for treatment,’’ she said.

Attah said that she also suffered some stigma because of the eye infection, as people started avoiding contacts with her. ``I became a lot better after seeing an ophthalmologist who gave me proper treatment,’’ she said.

Mr. Pete Akpan, a trader, recalled that when he contracted conjunctivitis, popularly known as ``Apollo’’ (red eye), he did not know what to do initially.

He recalled that his friends advised him to use the traditional method of treating the eye infection, adding, however, that the eye problem soon became worse. ``I patronised the traditional medicine peddlers because of my friends’ advice. ``I was asked to use onions and sugar solution but I added salt to the solution to quicken the healing process. ``It was when the pain became more severe that I knew that I was in great danger; so, I decided to visit the eye centre, where I was told that my eye problems had developed some complications,’’ he said.

Akpan said that the ophthalmologist advised him to always consult medical professionals whenever he had any health challenge, instead of patronising traditional medicine practitioners. ``The doctor told me that I almost lost my eyes due to carelessness and ignorance; he also educated me on how to protect my eyes from infection, especially during the harmattan season,’’ he added.

Dr Chioma Okoye, a consultant with Garki Hospital Abuja, warned people against using traditional medicine to treat conjunctivitis, saying it could cause untold damage to their eyes.

She said that conjunctivitis was an inflammation or

Dry season infection of the conjunctiva, which was the outer layer of the eye, just beneath the eyelid. ``Conjunctivitis can come in the form of redness of the eye, profuse discharge in the eyes and itching. When the conjunctiva is irritated, it causes discomfort to the eyes. ``People tend to patronise traditional medicine practitioners for eye care and this is wrong,’’ she said.

Okoye said that such practice could be dangerous to the eyes because the traditional medicine practitioners were not trained to treat eye infections. ``I heard that people use salt, water, urine, onion and sugar solution, including breast milk, to take care of conjunctivitis. ``This is wrong because it can complicate simple conjunctivitis and bring up something else,’’ she said.

Okoye explained that when people with eye infections such as conjunctivitis patronised traditional medicine practitioners, the herbal extracts could be dangerous to the eyes when applied. ``Governments need to set up primary health care centres in faraway villages across the country and these centres should have capable professionals who can medically take care of the eyes. ``Doctors and nurses should be employed in rural areas, so that people there will not

have to patronise traditional medicine practitioners for treatment,” she said.

Okoye said that if the government was able to put all the necessary health facilities in place, the people would have easy access to good medical services. ``Government should make eye treatment facilities available in the rural areas, so that the rural folks will not have to use sugar solution, onion and urine or breast milk to treat their eyes. ``The best thing to do when you start feeling irritation in your eyes is to locate an eye clinic or hospital for immediate attention,’’ she said.

The consultant said that people should the people to shun self-medication, while making tangible efforts to protect their eyes from any harm.

Okoye, however, underscored the need for good personal hygiene in all eye care efforts, advocating constant washing of hands, while avoiding touching the eyes unnecessarily.

She advised those with eye infections to avoid sharing items like towels and handkerchief, adding that those who were free from infections should also avoid contacts with infected persons.

She advised people with eye infections to always use cotton wool for their eye care because

cotton wool could be easily disposed of. ``If you expose yourself to the agent that causes the initial infection like dirty environment and excessive itching; it can bring it back, the best way is to treat the eye infection and maintain proper hygiene. ``Traditional care givers should desist from treating eyes because eyes are vital organs which should not be toyed with,’’ Okoye said.

Dr James Asoka, the Medical Director, Sheffi Hospital, Egbeda, Lagos, said that health challenges such as pneumonia, asthma and nasal congestion usually cropped up during the harmattan season because of the dusty environment. ``People should wear warm clothing to minimise the likelihood of contracting some of these diseases, `` he said.

Besides, Asoka said that the skin should be well-protected against the effects of harmattan, which could cause damage to the body as well. ``It is also safer sometimes to wear sunglasses to protect the eyes during the dry season, as the winds are quite dusty and harsh, so as to prevent eye infections,’’ he said.

Sharing similar sentiments, Dr Olaleye Adewale, a medical doctor at the General Hospital, Gbagada, Lagos, said that people should always keep away from dusty environment to

guard against ailments. ``People should ensure that their windows are regularly closed to avoid dust which can trigger health conditions such as asthma. ``Due to the dusty atmosphere, there is also a need for people, particularly those hawking food such as fruits, to imbibe healthy food preservation culture, so as to prevent food-borne diseases. ``Fruits and vegetables should be properly washed before eating. Our drinking water containers should also be properly covered,’’ Adewale said.

Nevertheless, Dr Femi Alade, a pharmacologist with the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Lagos, said that harmattan was part of nature. ``The season brings about a general drop in the temperature, poor visibility caused by the dusty haze and a complete adjustment in the dressing patterns of individuals. ``People should adapt to this weather by adopting personal and collective measures to minimise the health hazards that could occur,” he said.

All in all, the experts stress the need promote personal hygiene, while seeking proper medical attention for all their ailments, particularly eye infections, during the dusty, dry season.

Source: NAN

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

PAGE 28

Emergency Update Corpers trained on ambulance and emergency services

P

revention is better than cure, is a popular adage on the need for precautionary measures including, education, training and skill acquisition against any untoward development.

In realisation of the need to equip its manpower to discharge their duties effectively, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has continued to train corps members serving with the Agency. The National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) has always been a viable ground for the Agency as a vehicle for the enlightenment of the populace as youths are an essential segment of the population and a vanguard for desired change in communities.

The agency trained the 80 corps members on Disaster prevention and Risk Management while 45 corps members were also trained on Ambulance services so as to assist the emergency response team of the agency.

On the first group, the DirectorGeneral of NEMA, Muhammad Sani Sidi, represented by Mr. Daniel Gambo, the Agency’s Director of Training said the aim of the training was to teach the corps members basic mobilisation and sensitisation skills to promote community resilience to disasters at the grassroots level. The training was designed to empower the youths with skills for community engagement which would create disaster awareness among the people in their communities.

He said the increase in global disasters has necessitated a paradigm shift in disaster management with emphasis on risk reduction and adoption of preventive measures to minimize losses, following the famous quote ‘prevention is better than cure’. The training would promote the resilience of Nigerians to some common disasters that affect people at grassroots level.

The corps members were trained on relevant aspects of disaster management as well as basic first aid procedures.

Following the deployment of Mobile Intensive Care Unit (MICU) of which the Agency commissioned its first Ambulance Bay along the Airport Road, Abuja to deploy ambulances to strategic locations within Abuja and environs, it had become necessary that emergency responders got more assistance. This brought about the training of the second group to join the emergency response team that operate the ambulance services. The DG, represented by the Agency’s Director of Search and Rescue, Air Commodore Charles Otegbade, said the emergency response capability of the agency was being repositioned to be more proactive in responding to emergencies.

The participants received training on casualty handling, prehospital trauma and moving of

NEMA trains NYSC members to boost ambulance service equipment to scene of incidence.

Administration of basic life support and first aid treatment of burns, fracture, bleedings, spinal and head injuries as well as cardiac arrest and unconsciousness and also on the basic components of the MICU and its operations.

The Head of NEMA’s MICU, retired naval commander Bala Alti advised the officers to use their judgment and avoid heroic rescues that would endanger their lives and must show confidence while attending to victims.

Through these trainings,

the agency remains on top of its mission to coordinate resources towards efficient and effective disaster prevention, preparedness, mitigation and response in Nigeria. The Agency assured that it would continue to explore all avenues to ensure

sufficient awareness of disaster prevention and management.

The participants also pledged that with the knowledge and skills gained, they would in turn educate their immediate communities and impact the people to build community resilience to disasters.

The Imperative of post disaster assessments

By Adedoyin Adewumi

T

he growing trend of disasters in Nigeria has implications for national sustainability. This is because disasters, irrespective of the causal factors are associated with diverse externalities such as mortalities, loss of income, farmlands, infrastructure and livelihoods.

For a country like Nigeria, whose economy at best times has placed us in the rank of ‘growing thirdworld economy’, to face extra challenges in the way of natural disasters, it is imperative that the effect of disasters on the economy is assessed. Major natural disasters, like the flooding of 2012 can and do have severe negative short-run economic impacts, which overtime will have adverse longer-term consequences for economic growth, development and poverty reduction. Natural disasters with the wreckage they wrought end up putting pressure on the budget with both fiscal short-term impacts and wider long-term development implication as reallocation of resources is the primary fiscal response to disaster. Therefore, it necessitates a good look into.

In view of the foregoing therefore, a Post-Disaster Needs

Assessment and Recovery Framework (PDNA/RF) are necessity components towards mitigating the effect of the disaster as well as determine the scopes and planning against reoccurrence.

Need Assessment and Recovery Framework comprise an approach to harmonize the assessment, analysis and prioritization of damages, losses and needs by a range of stakeholders which may include the United Nations agencies and programmes, the World Bank, donors, nongovernmental organizations in support of the national government.

A PDNA is a government-led exercise, with integrated support from the United Nations, the European Commission, the World Bank and other national and international actors. A PDNA pulls together information into a single, consolidated report, information on the physical impacts of a disaster, the economic value of the damages and losses, the human impacts as experienced by the affected population, and the resulting early and long-term recovery needs and priorities.

The Director General of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Muhammad Sani-Sidi has called for a broader

assessment of the economic impact of natural disasters in the country. The Agency regretted that the limitations to such assessment restrict the level of information available to policy makers on the nature and scale of vulnerability of many economies to natural hazards.

Represented by the Assistant Director(Audit) of the agency, Edosamwan Osaze, at a workshop on Economic and financial Impacts of Natural DisastersAn Assessment and Options for Mitigation in Enugu, the NEMA chief noted that the cumulative consequences of disasters on a country’s development are often ignored, and thus, not made provisions for. He therefore urged that the economic and financial impact of natural disasters with emphasis on assessment and options for mitigation in relation to Disaster Risk Reduction and Management must be thoroughly examined.

The recurrent disasters have effects on the rate and pattern of development of any country, Nigeria not exempted.

The long-term, cumulative consequences of disasters on a country’s development are more difficult to determine and are typically ignored, apart from

speculative comments on possible detrimental effects. Yet, in reality, most disasters, being linked to atmospheric and hydrological processes, are recurrent, striking at infrequent intervals.

In all these, information is key, quality and reliable information is needed in making the assessment, as this will help in having a solid idea on how much effect natural disaster have on the growth and development of the nation. It is necessary that a full reassessment of the economic and financial impact of a major disaster should be made 18-24 months after the event that is then taken into account in reviewing the affected country’s short-term economic performance and assistance strategy.

Governments need appropriate risk management strategies for future disasters that includes making provisions for the occurrence of further disasters, including the broadening of the basis of funding.

Negative impacts can be mitigated by resilience resulting from both economic transformation and public action for disaster reduction.

Adewumi Adedoyin, is of the Youth Against Disaster Initiative, Abuja

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

PAGE 29

Emergency Update

NEMA calls for collaborations in disaster management

T

he National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has called on state governments to help in equipping offices within their domains.

The NEMA Zonal coordinator for south-south, Mr Emenike Umesi, made the call in PortHarcourt ecently. He said that proper staffing and equipping of NEMA would ensure more efficiency in delivering its mandates.

He said that the state

governments should complement Federal Government’s efforts in the provision of orking tools such as vehicles. He said that the state government could also help in the training and retraining of NEMA personnel.

He said that 2013 was a busy year for the agency as it carried several activities to promote nvironmental safety and awareness.

“We have carried out a lot of activities in the zone. We have

several sanitisation programmes on mergency management with National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

“The agency had a total of 29 sensitisation activities in Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Cross River and Akwa Ibom in ollaboration with the NYSC group. We also held a total of 20 workshops in Rivers, Edo, Bayelsa, cross iver and Akwa Ibom.

“There were 27 reported incidents of fire outbreak in

Visit of delegation from Islamic Development Bank, (IDB) to NEMA

Rescue efforts during NEMA emergency service

A child crawling out of a NEMA tent at a displaced persons’ camp after a disaster

which NEMA intervened, while there were 35 looding incidents, 30 wind storms and rainstorm incidents in the zone.

“There were 15 communities who report oil spillage to the agency, among other incidents reported to us. There may be other incidents, which were not reported to us or might have been treated at local government levels or handled by the state fire services,” Umesi said.

He said that the number

of disasters in the zone had reduced and urged members of the public to avoid actions that could trigger disasters. “We have not recorded any major incident this season after the December fire rush and we pray that this development will endure,” he said.

He assures that with the cooperation of state of governments and other stakeholders, NEMA would be more efficient in 2014.

The DG NEMA, Mohammad Sani Sidi addressing officials of the Agency

NEMA rescues victims of last year’s flood in Bayelsa

Collaborating with humanitarian agencies to tackle natural disaster

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PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

News Feature

Gaidam: Promoting Islam through Hajj support From Uche Uche, Damaturu

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ne of the five cardinal principles of Islam is the performance of pilgrimage, hajj. It is recommended that every Muslim who has the means and is healthy and sane should undertake pilgrimage at least once in his or her lifetime, in conformity with the injunctions of the Holy Qur’an and the traditions of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

However, some Muslims, due to poor financial situation find it difficult to perform this important exercise in their life time.

It is based on this understanding that the Yobe State government, under the leadership of Governor Ibrahim Gaidam considered it necessary to give Muslims the support to enable them meet this obligation as a beneficial and important injunction upon them.

Among the yearly assistance rendered to the state pilgrims, include the provision of free vehicles to convey pilgrims to the Hajj camp, to the Maiduguri airport for screening and, the airport tarmac for subsequent departure to the Holy Land in addition to subsidising of male uniforms and female Hijabs.

Others include the subsidising of befitting accommodation near the Masjid in Makka to assist the pilgrims perform their religious obligations with ease, free Ihram to both male and female pilgrims and the distribution of 300 Saudi Riyal to each pilgrim for the purchase of befitting rams for sacrifice.

The state government also sponsors medical teams each year to cater for the health of the pilgrims both in Nigeria, and at all points of the Hajj rites, including the sponsorship of officials, guides ,and an Ulammahs to counsel and assist other agencies in taking maximum care of the pilgrims. The assistance rendered to pilgrims go a long way in giving them a sense of belonging as well as enable them perform the hajj rituals with peace of mind and comfort.

To achieve the objectives of the hajj exercise, the state government approves the

Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe state.

appointment of Amirul Hajj team each year, with the mandate to lead the state pilgrims for the exercise, oversee their welfare right from the camp to the Holy land and all places of rites.

Other responsibilities of the team include insuring that pilgrims are disciplined and law abiding in order to safeguard the image of the state and the country at large.

This arrangements and assistance have yielded positive results as was seen from the success recorded during the 2013 Hajj exercise, as reported to the Governor recently by the team leader, Honourable Adamu Dala

Some Nigerian female pilgrims in 2012

“

The state government also sponsors medical teams each year to cater for the health of the pilgrims both in Nigeria, and at all points of the Hajj rites, including the sponsorship of officials, guides ,and an Ulammahs to counsel and assist other agencies in taking maximum care of the pilgrims.

Dogo, who is the Speaker, Yobe state House of Assembly, while presenting the report of the Hajj exercise.

He reported that due to the strict adherence of the state pilgrims to the rules and regulations of the Yobe state pilgrims commission, to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the pilgrims were adjudged to have behaved well and were most disciplined among others.

He stated also, that no state pilgrim was returned to Nigeria as a result of the famous Mahram issue nor was any of the female pilgrims delivered in the Holy Land, adding also that no Yobe state pilgrim was convicted of any crime or stayed back in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as in the case of some pilgrims in the country who absconded.

He equally pointed out that Yobe state pilgrims were amongst those whose behaviours were remarkably commended by the officials of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, the Maiduguri zonal office of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, other hajj stakeholders as well as the Saudi authorities.

Note worthy he said, was the commendation from the Head of MUTHAWIFFS Service providers for Africa non-Arab Countries, Mr. Abdul-Wahid, who nominated Yobe state as one of the Best amongst all countries and organisations from Africa non-Arab countries in terms of good conduct and behaviour during the 2013 hajj operations.

He disclosed that the head of the Service Providers officially invited officials of the state pilgrim’s commission in his office in Makka, where he honoured them with befitting gifts which were given to the most honoured countries, states, organizations or individuals, who excelled in their fields of endeavours.

Abdul-Wahid in his remarks informed the officials that from the onset of the 2013 hajj operations, the report he received from the field officers, service providers left him with no doubt about the good conduct and behaviour of the Yobe state pilgrims, which he said excelled throughout the period resulting in the successes recorded by the state.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

PAGE 31

International

Back from the brink in Ukraine?

ANALYSIS

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n January 28, Ukraine stepped from the brink of a disaster, at least temporarily. The national parliament met for an extraordinary session and cancelled the package of antidemocratic laws it adopted with massive procedural irregularities on January 16. Popular outrage at these laws galvanised protests, turned them violent, and threatened geographic breakup of Ukraine. Protesters in western and some central regions took over government buildings and vowed to recognise the People’s Council - a de-facto parallel government proclaimed by protest leaders on January 19 - and not the authority of the government of President Viktor Yanukovych.

Prime Minister Mykola Azrov, particularly despised by protesters, also stepped down on the same day and the president accepted his resignation. Negotiations are still underway both on the terms of amnesty for arrested protesters (dozens have been detained since protests turned violent on January 19), and on possible changes to the constitution to reduce presidential powers. The parliament has also extended its extraordinary session to continue the search for a political solution out of the current crisis.

These steps are a welcome diffusion of the crisis that threatened the very existence of Ukraine as a state. They also indicate that the government may be finally ready to take the protesters seriously and acknowledge the depths of popular discontent with Yanukovych’s autocratic and corrupt rule.

Up until now, the authorities pretended to carry on with business as usual while insisting that the protesters are a minority of radicals, while life in Ukraine outside of the Independence Square (the Maidan) continues as normal [Ua].

Unfortunately to reach this point, it took two months of protests that paralysed the centre of the capital; street clashes never seen before in Ukraine; at least five protesters and two policemen dead; hundreds of people injured; dozens of journalists beaten by police, takeovers of government buildings across the country; and violence and torture unleashed on protesters and activists by the police and unidentified thugs-forhire often working in tandem with police [Ua].

The situation remains fragile, but if a search for a solution continues at the political level, the most important elements of a comprehensive solution would be constitutional reform reducing presidential powers. Since coming to power in free elections in February 2010, Yanukovych

Ukraine parliamentarians rise for the country’s national anthem

gradually rolled back Ukraine’s democratic process. The most significant blow to democratic power-sharing in Ukraine has been the procedurally dubious annulment by the Constitutional Court in September 2010 of the 2004 constitutional reform that established parliamentarypresidential system in Ukraine.

The 2004 reform - itself adopted as a compromise to resolve the crisis following rigged 2004 presidential election and the “Orange Revolution” - created an imperfect balance of power between executive and legislative authorities. This in turn prevented any one party, business clan, or individual from usurping political power in the country. By rolling back the reforms, Yanukovuch sought to monopolise control of Ukrainian politics.

Super-presidency has been a successful strategy for consolidation and maintenance of political power for virtually all autocrats in the former Soviet space, including in Ukraine’s neighbouring Russia and Belarus.

In Ukraine, however, historicallyformed cultural divide between the north-west and the southeast of the country presents any president with latent, if not active, opposition in roughly half of the country. In this socio-

political reality, only true power sharing at the top can give the governing elites lasting legitimacy nationwide.

Ongoing negotiations include a possible return to the 2004 Constitution and the parliamentary-presidential system. The negotiators should consider the abolition of the post of presidency altogether and the establishment of a parliamentary form of government in Ukraine.

This may be the best institutional solution for the long term for several reasons.

First, it avoids the dual executive model which, while more pluralistic than superpresidential system, can lead to conflict between similarly and independently powerful prime minister and president and generate political stalemate.

This is exactly what happened in Ukraine during 2005-2010, when the country lived under parliamentary-presidential model. During that period, the government was virtually paralysed by perpetual conflict between then President Viktor Yushchenko and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

Secondly, a move to parliamentary system would be a compromise by all political actors involved in the current

“

conflict, and thus is more likely to be accepted since there will be no obvious winners and losers.

All three leaders of the opposition – Vitaliy Klytchko, Arsenii Yatseniuk, and Oleh Tyahnybok have presidential ambitions - and so does President Yanukovych since he is nearing the end of his first term in office. The inability of the opposition leaders to agree on a single candidate to challenge Yanukovych caused much frustration among protesters.

It also complicated possible defections by dissatisfied business elites from the Yanukovych camp, as there is no one who can credibly give guarantees to those who would contemplate defecting, and no clear camp for them to defect to.

Getting rid of the post of the presidency altogether would be a compromise for the opposition leaders, demonstrating their willingness to give presidential ambitions for the longterm stability of the country.

Parliamentary system itself would also ensure political survival of elites in the Yanukovych’s party since they will be virtually guaranteed seats in the future parliament based on stable electoral support the Party of Regions in the south and east of the country.

The negotiators should consider the abolition of the post of presidency altogether and the establishment of a parliamentary form of government in Ukraine.

These political prospects may make them more willing not to m back any further use of force or b other steps favoured by “hawks” o around president Yanukovych tthat would escalate tensions.

Thirdly, a move to parliamentary system could p be face-saving for Yanukovych b himself who, as a part of this h compromise, could remain president for several more p months, possibly till the end m of his term a year from now. o Keeping office but with reduced powers could be presented as an p acceptable compromise to the protest movement which has been p demanding the president’s ouster d but does not have ways to force it. b For Yanukovych himself, sstaying in office for now provides ttime to negotiate terms of exit ffor himself and his family.

Furthermore, as the head of the Party of Regions that maintains sstrong support in the east of tthe country, he and his party could come back to politics in parliamentary elections.

Yet another benefit of a parliamentary system is that it ensures that all parts of the Ukrainian society are represented in political power. Up until now the president would be elected by one or the other half of the country. Thus there was always the danger that the new president would be seen by the losing half as not representing them.

Ukraine’s regional divisions, which are destabilising in a presidential system, can prove to be stabilising in a parliamentary system. The geographic divide would ensure that in the parliament any majority will always be narrow and opposition strong. To prevent narrow majority from usurping political power - this danger exists in a purely parliamentary system minority in the parliament should be legally given formal guarantees, for example control of some power ministries, of the institutions regulating the media, and seats in constitutional and other higher courts.

A move to a parliamentary system should come in combination with other important reforms.

It is important to implement a judicial appointment system to end the total control of the courts by the president. There needs to be a new electoral code that would create political balance in election authorities at all levels and a new electoral law based on open list proportional representation.

Finally, political commitment by all key players is needed in order to work towards broad cultural and budgetary autonomy for Ukraine’s diverse regions. All this could not only be an acceptable compromise to end the current crisis, but a recipe for a democratic and peaceful future in Ukraine for years to come.

Source: Al Jazeera

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PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

International South Sudan ‘coup leaders’ face treason trial ‘Cash Gate’ trial begins in Malawi

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trial looking into the biggest financial scandal in Malawi’s history is began yesterday in the capital, Lilongwe.

At least 68 prominent figures stand accused of stealing funds in what has been dubbed “Cash Gate” by the media. It is estimated that more than $100m over a 10year period has been lost.

President Joyce Banda, who has appointed international investigators to probe the allegations, has said that about 30 percent of the country’s budget could have been looted.

Donor countries are withholding millions of dollars in financial aid pending the investigation. Western donors provide about 40 percent of the country’s annual income.

“People are awaiting the outcome of this case with great intensity, knowing as they do that in the past cases such as this have simply disappeared,” Al Jazeera’s Mike Hanna, reporting from Lilongwe, said.

“People want to know if this case will go through and whether people will be held responsible.”

Allegations of the massive looting of government funds surfaced after the shooting of budget director Paul Mphwiyo in September.

Mphwiyo, who survived the attack, had reportedly planned to reveal a corruption ring.

Banda dissolved the cabinet in October and sacked the powerful ministers of justice and finance.

The president, who took office after the death of her predecessor in 2012, faces presidential, parliamentary and local government elections in May.

S

even South Sudanese rebel leaders face charges of treason over an alleged coup attempt that sparked weeks of fighting, the authorities have said.

Justice Minister Paulino Wanawila said those facing trial included former Vice President Riek Machar, who has not yet been captured.

The government had previously indicated that it might grant an amnesty, after signing a truce last Thursday.

Correspondents say the charges could jeopardise the ceasefire deal.

Mr Wanawila said treason charges would be brought against four men who were already in custody, plus three men on the run.

“If someone violates the law you don’t go and torture that person, you prosecute that person according to the law,” he said.

The government confirmed that some of those detained after the fighting broke out have been released.

It underscores the animosity between the government of President Salva Kiir and the rebels, many of whom are loyal to Mr Machar.

Although both men have supporters from across South

Wanawila

Sudan’s ethnic divides, divides fighting has often been communal, with rebels targeting members of Mr Kiir’s Dinka ethnic group and government soldiers attacking Nuers.

Mr Kiir accused Mr Machar and other former officials of attempting a coup after fighting broke out in the capital Juba on 15 December, something Mr Machar denies.

While Mr Machar fled, 11

officials arrested Rebels have officials were arrested. made their release a condition of any peace deal.

On Wednesday, the government announced that seven of those officials have now been freed and flown to Kenya, but the other four will be put on trial.

The seven men targeted for trial include: Riek Machar, whose sacking as Mr Kiir’s deputy sparked much of the unrest, Pagan Amum,

Libya deputy PM escapes assassination attempt

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ibya’s state news agency has said that the country’s deputy prime minister has escaped an assassination attempt in Tripoli, the capital.

LANA said that Al-Sadik Abdel-Karim was heading to a meeting of the interim parliament yesterday when

he came under fire from unidentified gunmen. The car was damaged but he survived, the agency said.

Officials told the Reuters news agency, however, that the attack happened as he was about to enter the interior ministry, which he also heads.

Assassinations and bombings targeting security officials, journalists and others have been regular occurrences in Libya in the two years since the 2011 overthrow of longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi.

In the absence of a strong police and military, the

government relies on armed groups that include many antiGaddafi fighters.

But many of those groups resist the government’s authority, and are blamed for attacks, human rights abuses, and contributing to general lawlessness in the country.

CAR crisis: UN ‘may need 10,000 troops’

French troops in the CAR capital Bangui

T Banda

former secretary general of the ruling party, Former National Security Minister Oyai Deng Ajak, Former ambassador to the US Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, Chief rebel delegate Taban Deng, who signed the ceasefire Both sides say they are committed to the ceasefire, but there is still fighting in some areas, and the United Nations has described the situation as “fragile”.

he UN believes at least 10,000 troops will be required in any force sent to end unrest in Central African Republic, the French UN envoy says.

Ambassador Gerard Araud described the situation in CAR as

“very, very dire”.

His comment comes after the UN Security Council approved a resolution allowing European troops to use force in CAR. About a million people - 20% of the population - have fled their

homes during months of religious violence, after rebels seized power last March.

Speaking to reporters, Mr Araud said the African Union force in the country, intending to reach 6,000 troops, “is considered now too

low because frankly the situation is very, very dire and the country is huge”.

The UN Security Council resolution, which was passed unanimously, allows reinforcements to use “all necessary measures” to protect civilians in the country, which has been in near anarchy since its president was overthrown 10 months ago.

In addition to the use of force, the resolution allows for sanctions against the ringleaders of groups blamed for massacres and human rights abuses.

Security Council members have been alarmed by the vicious cycle of vengeance between Muslim and Christian militias in the Central African Republic, says the BBC’s Nada Tawfik in New York.

There is concern that without a stronger international response - the situation will degenerate into a countrywide religious divide and spiral out of control, she adds.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

PAGE 33

International Thailand to deploy 10,000 police in capital to secure voting

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hailand’s government will deploy 10,000 police in the capital for Sunday’s election, which protesters have promised to disrupt as part of their drawn-out attempt to topple Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

The government decided on Tuesday to press ahead with the February 2 election, which the main opposition party plans to boycott and despite warnings that it could lead to more violence without resolving an increasingly bitter political divide.

“Even though protests are going on, I believe you can go out and vote. I ask everyone involved in the election, particularly security forces, to ensure that people can out and vote,” Yingluck told reporters yesterday.

Riot police officers stand guard near barb wires in Bangkok

Labour Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, who is in charge of a state of emergency imposed last week, told reporters 10,000 police would be mobilized in the capital on polling day.

“Those who are thinking o of going and shutting polling stations in the morning should tthink twice because the police w will not allow them to,” he told rreporters.

Protesters prevented early vvoting at many polling stations iin Bangkok last Sunday and they h have vowed to do so again.

The protesters took to the streets in November in the latest eeruption of a political conflict that h has gripped Thailand for eight yyears. It broadly pits Bangkok’s middle class and royalist eestablishment against the mainly p poor, rural supporters of Yingluck and her brother, ousted former p premier Thaksin Shinawatra, w who lives in self-imposed exile.

The protesters accuse Yingluck o of being a puppet of Thaksin, a man tthey say is a corrupt crony capitalist w who used taxpayers’ money to buy vvotes with costly populist giveaways.

Asia & Middle East

Syria talks agree on basis for peace talks - Opposition

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he two Syrian delegations at peace talks in Geneva have agreed to use the “Geneva communique”, a document agreed by international powers in June 2012, as the basis for peace talks, an opposition spokesman Louay al-Safi said yesterday, in an apparent step forward for the talks.

“We have agreed that Geneva 1 is the basis of the talks,” he said, referring to the communique agreed in Geneva in June 2012.

“The regime has accepted but it wants the transitional governing body to be discussed at the end.

We want it at the beginning... we want to discuss its size and responsibilities.”

There was no immediate confirmation from the government or from the United Nations.

Pakistan PM vows to continue Taliban talks P akistan has reiterated the government’s commitment to a dialogue-first approach to the violence, while clarifying that “terrorisim and dialogue cannot go together.”

In an address to the National Assembly yesterday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced the formation of a four-member committee of non-parliamentarians to initiate dialogue between the government and the Tehrik-eTaliban Pakistan (TTP).

He did not give a timescale or outline the mandate of the committee.

“I am trying to do this in the spirit of unity and hope we will move forward in that spirit [with other parties],” he said. “This game of fire and explosives must end now.”

Sharif’s government has been under fire for failing to make a strong response to the upsurge in violence, particularly against military personnel.

Responding to the formation of the committee, TTP spokesperson Shahidullah Shahid told Al Jazeera that a Taliban leadership meeting would be convened in the coming days at an undisclosed location to discuss the offer.

He said that there was “no rift” between the Taliban’s leadership and that the group was united under new chief Mullah Fazlullah.

The TTP also claimed responsibility for deadly attacks earlier yesterday on security forces in the southern city of Karachi.

Three members of the paramilitary Rangers were killed

in separate attacks in Karachi, Pakistan police said.

Senior police officer Amir Farooqi said attackers threw a grenade at a vehicle carrying Rangers in the Nazimabad neighbourhood, killing one of them.

Minutes later, a roadside bomb wounded three security personnel in the same area, he said.

Farooqi added that about an hour later, a suicide bomber blew himself up outside the headquarters of the paramilitary Rangers, killing one Ranger and a private guard.

“The suicide attacker walked in and tried to enter into the gate when he was intercepted by the security officials and he blew himself up,” Farooqi told AFP. Some of the attackers were

detained by Rangers, although it is not clear which incident they were involved in.

Karachi is the capital of southern Sindh province. It has been the scene

hinese officials are taking measures to prevent the spread of H7N9, a deadly strain of bird flu that has already killed 22 people this year.

Three members of the same Chinese family contracted H7N9 in Hangzhou, the capital of the eastern province of Zhejiang, the worstaffected by the current spike in cases.

Local authorities are set to close live poultry markets in major cities, according to reports in official media.

Live poultry trading will be halted in cities in coastal Zhejiang province from February 15, and neighbouring

Shanghai will stop trading for three months beginning tomorrow.

So far this year, China has confirmed 110 human H7N9 cases, including 22 deaths, according to an AFP news agency’s tally of reports by local authorities.

By comparison there were 144 infections and 46 deaths in all of 2013, according to official figures.

Zhejiang alone has seen 53 cases this year, almost half the national total, and 12 deaths.

On Tuesday, Hong Kong’s only wholesale poultry market began culling 20,000 chickens and

of scores of such attacks against security personnel in recent years.

The injured were taken to the nearby Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for treatment.

Musharraf

China on high alert over new bird flu cases C

Chinese health workers carry a chicken out of a rubbish bin

suspended imports of fresh poultry from mainland China for three weeks after the discovery of the H7N9 bird flu virus in a batch of live chickens from the southern province of Guangdong.

The government order took effect on Tuesday, two days before the start of the Chinese New Year, when poultry sellers generally anticipate a surge in sales.

China’s human H7N9 outbreak began in February 2013 and sparked fears the virus could mutate to become easily transmissible between people, potentially triggering a pandemic.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

PAGE 34

International Europe and Americas

Ex-president warns Ukraine ‘on brink of civil war’

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kraine’s first postindependence president has warned the country is on the “brink of civil war” as parliament debates an amnesty for protesters.

Leonid Kravchuk, president from 1991 to 1994, opened the debate in parliament by urging everyone involved to “act with the greatest responsibility”.

President Viktor Yanukovych wants any amnesty to be conditional on protesters leaving official buildings - a proposal rejected by the opposition.

They want Mr Yanukovych to resign.

Hundreds of anti-government protesters - many wearing helmets and carrying baseball bats and other makeshift weapons - have taken to the streets in Kiev again, a BBC correspondent in the city reports.

They won significant concessions on Tuesday after parliament scrapped a controversial anti-protest law and Prime Minister Mykola Azarov and his cabinet resigned.

Leonid Kravchuk told MPs that “all the world acknowledges and Ukraine acknowledges that the state is on the brink of civil war”.

“It is a revolution. It is a dramatic situation in which we must act with the greatest responsibility,” he said in an emotional address that earned him a standing ovation.

“We need to ease the confrontation between the sides and agree a plan to solve the conflict. We need to work on this plan step by step to ease the confrontation.”

To underline the importance of the session, former presidents Leonid Kuchma and Viktor Yushchenko were also present.

Parliament is considering an amnesty for the scores of protesters who have been detained since demonstrations began in November.

Adjourning the session for a break, speaker Volodymyr Rybak admitted there were “several unresolved issues” but said discussions between the two sides would continue.

In an emergency debate on Tuesday, MPs voted to repeal antiprotest legislation, which among other measures banned the wearing of helmets by protesters and the blockading of public buildings.

Kravchuk

Berlin, Washington still ‘far apart’ on NSA

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erlin and Washington are still “far apart” in their views on the U.S. National Security Agency’s (NSA) mass surveillance of Germany but they remain close allies, Chancellor Angela Merkel told parliament yesterday.

In the first major policy speech of her third term, the conservative leader said nobody doubted that domestic and allied foreign intelligence agencies helped to protect the German people from terrorism and crime.

“But does that make it right for our closest allies, like the United States or Britain, to access all imaginable data - arguing that it helps their own security and that of their partners?” she said towards the end of a onehour speech to the Bundestag.

“Can it be right that it’s not just about defending against terrorist threats but also to gain advantage over their allies, for example, in negotiations at G20 summits or U.N. sessions?”

“Our answer can only be: ‘No, that cannot be right’.”

Merkel warned that ceding to the temptation to “do everything

that is technically do-able” led to mistrust between allies which would eventually undermine their mutual security.

“Our views are today far apart,” said Merkel, who has spoken with U.S. President Barack Obama about former NSA contractor Edward Snowden’s revelations of American

and British surveillance of allies.

Obama told German TV earlier this month the two countries’ close friendship must not be damaged “through surveillance measures that obstruct our trusting communication”.

“As long as I am the President of the United States, the German

Chancellor need not worry about that,” Obama said one day after announcing U.S. security reforms that banned eavesdropping on allied political leaders like the chancellor.

The NSA is likely to be on the agenda of Merkel’s meeting with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in Berlin on Friday.

Merekel (R) listens to Obama during a press conference

Mexico to integrate vigilantes into security forces

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exican vigilante groups in western Michoacan state have agreed to join the official security forces after weeks of taking the law into their own hands.

The “self-defence” groups have recently taken over a number of towns

in their attempt to drive the Knights Templar drug cartel from the area.

The government announced on Monday that the vigilantes would now be integrated into units called Rural Defence Corps.

The vigilantes had clashed with

Mexican vigilantes

government troops sent to disarm them.

The “self-defence” groups have accused the government of not doing enough to protect locals from the cartels, which extort local businessmen and farmers.

Thevigilanteslaunchedanoffensive earlier this month, moving close to the stronghold of the Knights Templar cartel in the town of Apatzingan.

Interior Minister Miguel Angel Osorio Chong said the new units would be “temporary” and “under the control of the authorities to co-perate with the troops”.

The federal government envoy to Michoacan, Alfredo Castillo, said the agreement marked an important development in the fight against crime.

“This is the start point of the new dynamic in which we are going to work together, the state and federal

governments, with civil society,” said Mr Castillo.

One of the vigilante leaders, Estanislao Beltran, said his group was keen to speed up the process.

“We are going to dedicate ourselves to regularising our status, having a legal status,” said Mr Beltran.

Many vigilantes groups had refused to lay down the weapons and vowed to continue fighting against the criminal organisation until their leaders are captured.

On Monday, Mexican officials announced an important development, the arrest of the Knights Templar cartel leader DionicioLoya Plancarte, known as El Tio (The Uncle).

The government had a 30m-peso ($2.2m; £1.3m) bounty on his head for drug and money-laundering crimes.

Interior Minister Miguel Angel Osorio Chong lauded the arrest.

Snowden gets Nobel Peace Prize nomination

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Norwegian member of parliament nominated former U.S. National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden for the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize yesterday, arguing that his release of classified documents made the world a safer place.

Baard VegarSolhjell, a former education and environment minister for the Socialist Left party, said Snowden’s revelations deepened the public’s understanding of the extent to which states spy on their own

citizens.

“There is no doubt that the actions of Edward Snowden may have damaged the security interests of several nations in the short term,” Solhjell and fellow MP SnorreValen said in a joint statement.

“We are, however, convinced that the public debate and changes in policy that have followed in the wake of Snowden’s whistle blowing has contributed to a more peaceful, stable and peaceful world order,” they said.

“His actions have in effect led to the reintroduction of trust and transparency as a leading principle in global security policies.”

Snowden, living in temporary asylum in Russia after disclosing U.S. government secrets on surveillance programs and other activities, faces criminal charges in the United States after fleeing last year first to Hong Kong and then Russia.

Thousands of people around the world are eligible to nominate candidates for the Nobel Peace

Prize, including any member of any national assembly. There were 259 nominees for last year’s prize, which was won by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons for its efforts to eliminate Syria’s chemical arsenal.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee will collect nominations for the 2014 prize up to February 1 and finalize its list on March 4, when the committee holds its first meeting of the year and members submit their own nominations. The winner will be announced on October 10.

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PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

Strange World Chinese students tie hair to ceiling to prevent sleeping while studying

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ow this is what I call pure genius. Why didn’t I think of this when I was a college student struggling to stay awake all night? As you can see in the pictures, these Chinese university students have resorted to tying up their hair using clothespins. Every time they nod off, the pins will pull on their hair, jerking them awake.

The technique became popular after two students at the

Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University in Fujian province uploaded pictures of themselves on Weibo. Chen Tang, 20 and her roommate Huang Lu, 21, had been struggling with a huge workload and needed a quick fix to fight the urge to nap.

They had tried the regular methods – caffeine, push-ups and cranking up the air-conditioning – but none of that worked. That’s when they decided to hit the history books for a solution. Chen

and Huang read about two famous Chinese scholars who practiced extreme methods to keep their minds alert.

One would stab himself with needles every time he started to get drowsy, while the other would tie his hair to a beam in the ceiling so that it pulled every time he nodded off. Chen saw merit in the second method and decided to give it a try.

“Chen is so keen to succeed that she decided to give the hair

A Chinese student studying with her hair tied to the ceiling

Chinese student with their hair tied to the ceiling

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elf-help gurus have been telling us about the power of positive thinking for years. Now, the results of an experiment might just prove that they were right all along.

Dr. Masaru Emoto, a researcher and alternative healer from Japan, has researched the effects of positive and negative thoughts on materials such as water and cooked rice. The results are pretty amazing.

Dr. Emoto shot to international fame in 2004, when he was featured in the documentary film What the Bleep Do We Know. In that film, he demonstrated through experiments that human thoughts and intentions could cause a great deal of change to the molecular structure of water. His discovery was path breaking, given the fact that human bodies are made of almost 70 percent water.

Now, Emoto is in the news again for a similar experiment, conducted with cooked grains of rice. He placed portions of the rice in two containers – one labelled ‘thank you’ and the other, ‘you fool’. He then instructed school children to read the labels out loud every time they passed by them during the day. After 30 days, the container with the positive thoughts had its rice almost intact, while the other one had moldy and rotten rice.

For his previous experiment with water, Emoto had arranged for a group of 2,000 people in

trick a try, as you can see her hair is more than long enough,” said Huang, who posted the pictures online. “As we didn’t have a beam in our dorm, she used the clothes dryer and claims it worked really well.”

Chen said that the trick helped her clear her mind. She plans to use it more often in the future.

“The preparation is boring, but the hanging hair practice makes it interesting and I really feel much

more energetic by studying this way,” she said.

After Huang put up the pictures, the hair-hanging technique seems to have gone viral. Weibo is now full of photographs of Chinese students emulating Chen. Some of them used clothespins and others used scarves. There’s even this one girl with a noose tied around her neck, and another guy sniffing his shoe– I suppose they will do just about anything to avoid failing.

ignored the third. After a month, the rice that was thanked began to ferment with a strong, pleasant aroma. The insulted rice turned black, while the ignored rice began to rot.

It’s hard to say if Emoto’s

research is actually scientific in nature, but it looks like he’s really on to something here. Perhaps we ought to say nice things to our food every day to keep it fresh. Now why didn’t the guy who invented refrigerators think of that?

Researcher uses experiments to prove thoughts, intentions alter physical World Tokyo to focus positive intentions towards water samples that were placed inside an electromagnetically shielded room in California. The ‘before’ and ‘after’ photographs of the frozen water molecules were simply astounding. While the former were haphazard and had no structure, the latter had formed beautiful patterns.

Critics of Emoto’s work have pointed out that the capturing and selection of photographs may have been biased. In reply, he said: “This is one of the most difficult areas to clarify. However, from continuing these experiments we have come to the conclusion that the water is reacting to the actual words. For example, for our trip to Europe we tried using the words ‘thank you’ and ‘you fool’ in German. The photographers on our team did not understand German and yet we were able to obtain exactly the same kind of results.”

Emoto also said that the crystalline structure of water, called clusters, break whenever negative language is used. Using positive, beautiful words creates small,

tight clusters which generally last longer.

In another version of the rice experiment, Emoto had three beakers of cooked rice. He said ‘thank you’ to one, ‘you’re an idiot’ to the second, and completely

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

PAGE 36

Digest

Olive oil may keep your bones strong

Osteocalcin may help prevent insulin resistance

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live oil is good for the bones, suggests a study from Madrid University.

In a two-year project, researchers found that people who consumed more olive oil had higher levels of osteocalcin.

This is a protein secreted by bone-forming cells. High levels of osteocalcin are a marker of strong bones.

One theory is that osteocalcin

By Emma Innes

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veryone knows they should avoid ‘bad’ cholesterol but new research suggests even ‘good’ cholesterol is not as innocent as it may seem.

U.S. researchers have discovered that so-called ‘good’ cholesterol can turn bad.

They say the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) – or ‘good’ cholesterol – can become dysfunctional, lose its protective properties and start to encourage inflammation and the clogging of arteries.

may help prevent insulin resistance, where the body becomes immune to the effects of the hormone. This has been linked to weaker bones.

Another study, from the University of Athens, found a diet high in olive oil and low in red meat was linked to healthier bone density in women throughout adult life.

The researchers say antioxidants may be responsible.

The incidence of osteoporosis

is lower in the Mediterranean, where the traditional diet is rich in olives and olive oil.

Retinitis pigmentosa is a leading cause of blindness in 20 to 60-year-olds, but until recently there has been no treatment for it.

Now scientists have developed a ‘gun’ that sends a small electrical current into the back of the eye to treat it.

Retinitis pigmentosa gradually destroys the cells of the retina, the light-sensitive area at the back of the eye.

The new treatment called transcorneal electrical stimulation - works by stimulating the growth of new cells.

Results of a pilot study showed that patients receiving stimulation had a 20 per cent improvement in their field of vision.

A full trial is under way at Oxford University, with patients receiving the treatment for 30 minutes every day for six months.

Altering what you eat for just one day can change the balance of bacteria living in your gut, say researchers.

As well as helping with digestion, ‘good’ gut bacteria are thought to improve your overall health.

In a new study from Harvard, published in Nature, 11 volunteers aged 21 to 33 swapped their diet every four to six days.

They ate their normal diet

for the first few days, then only animal-based foods, then only plant-based ones.

After just one day on the animal product diet, their stools showed an increase in Bilophila, bacteria associated with the bowel condition colitis.

When on plant food, the

changes took longer, but also produced more bacteria linked to gut function.

The researchers believe it suggests that certain medical conditions could be treated with dietary changes.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk.

Participants’ stools showed an increase in Bilophila, associated with the bowel condition colitis (pic posed by model)

When ‘good’ cholesterol turns bad The researchers, at the Cleveland Clinic, say the benefits of ‘good’ cholesterol have been reported extensively but that all clinical trials of drugs designed to raise ‘good’ cholesterol levels have failed to show that it improves heart health.

They also note that recent research has demonstrated that a protein abundant in ‘good’ cholesterol is present in diseased artery walls.

As a result, the team, led

by Dr Stanley Hazen, section

‘Good cholesterol’ - such as that found in olive oil and avocados - can turn bad and cause arteries to become clogged

head of Preventive Cardiology & Rehabilitation in the Miller Family Heart and Vascular Institute at the Cleveland Clinic, decided to establish whether ‘good’ cholesterol is as good as it seems.

‘Good’ cholesterol contains a protein called apolipoprotein A1 (apoA1). This protein gives ‘good cholesterol’ its cardio-protective qualities.

However, Dr Hazen and his colleagues discovered that in the

People who have higher blood levels of dysfunctional ‘good cholesterol’ are at greater risk of heart disease

a artery wall a large proportion of a apoA1 becomes oxidised and no llonger contributes to cardiovascular h health, but rather, contributes to tthe development of coronary artery d disease.

The team developed a method ffor identifying dysfunctional ‘good ccholesterol’ and tested the blood of 6 627 heart patients.

They found patients with higher b blood levels of dysfunctional ‘good’ ccholesterol were at greater risk of h heart disease.

It is not fully understood how or w why the ‘good’ cholesterol transforms iinto the harmful kind.

‘Identifying the structure of d dysfunctional apoA1 and the process by w which it becomes disease-promoting iinstead of disease-preventing is the

first step in creating new tests and treatments for cardiovascular disease,’ said Dr Hazen.

‘Now that we know what this dysfunctional protein looks like, we are developing a clinical test to measure its levels in the bloodstream, which will be a valuable tool for both assessing cardiovascular disease risk in patients and for guiding development of HDL-targeted therapies to prevent disease.’

‘Good’ cholesterol is thought to be boosted by eating beans and lentils, oats, garlic and onions, oily fish, olive oil and avocado.

‘Bad’ cholesterol is found in a range of foods including eggs, butter, cheese, fast food and processed meats.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

Katsina PDP chieftain lauds Bafarawa’s return to PDP From Muhammad Kaduna

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Ibrahim,

eoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain in Katsina State, Alhaji Dalhatu Kanti Dabai, yesterday lauded the former Sokoto state governor, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa for dumping the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He said that despite the challenges facing the party, it will come out of it strongly come 2015. According to him, he was optimistic because of the recent appointment of the party new chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu.

He said “ At the beginning of the political crisis in the party, my heart kept beating everyday because the situation is worrisome. But now, as I watched the situation and with the recent development, I was encouraged to see victory at the next election.

I am sure that despite the challenges facing PDP, the party will come out of it strongly.

“It is also not fair for anybody to criticize all the people in the party because we still have good people among us. This is why I feel with the recent development in PDP the party will come out of its ordeals.

I am sure with the caliber of its new chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu the party will do well.

“I know him personally, I know him when he was a governor in Bauchi state so I know what he can do and cannot do. The man has this charisma as a leader that gives him respect among his peers in the party,” he said.

The party chieftain also attributed the return of former Sokoto State governor, to PDP as Mu’azu’s victory.

According to him, it was a great achievement for the party and the new chairman.

He therefore appealed to PDP members in Katsina state to rally behind the party come 2015 so that the party could form another government in the state and country in general.

He warned the opposition parties, particularly APC, saying they should be ready because PDP as a ruling party can not be defeated easily as the party has provided good governance to Nigerians.

PAGE 37

Yakasai group debuts, decries provocative statements by elders

By Lawrence Olaoye

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new socio-cultural group, Northern Elders Council (NEC) chaired

by Alhaji Tanko Yakasai was yesterday unveiled in Abuja decrying the spate of provocative and inciting pronouncements from elders

in the country.

The group, according to Yakasai who briefed newsmen yesterday, was formed with the aim of seeking to promote peaceful co-existence, ethnoreligious harmony, democracy and development, good governance and accountability to the people of the north and

the nation in general.

Yakasai said “the founding fathers of our nation manifested tact, wisdom, courage and moderation in their conduct of public affairs. They had tackled major challenges without inflammatory and inciting statements with wisdom and maturity. People cannot be

L-R: Ambassador Sule Buba, former Kaduna state CPC Chairman, Alhaji Ahmadu Yaro Coca Cola, Kaduna state APC Interim Chairman, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, and former Kaduna state PDP Chairman, Alhaji Audi Yaro Makama, during the defection of PDP chieftains to APC, on Tuesday in Kaduna.

L-R: PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu, Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, and his Deputy, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, during the national chairman meeting with PDP Caucus members in House of Representatives, on Tuesday night at the National Assembly, in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

leaders and elders when they promote hate, incitement, intolerance and violence. It is unacceptable to allow some people to exploit the situation, to create disharmony, hate and general instability in the polity.”

The group also expressed concerns hat Soren politicians are making frantic efforts to drag traditional rulers in the country into political controversies in the country.

According to Yakasai, he new group came into bein after due consultations with critical stakeholders in the north and it was not meant to rival the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF).

He group also expressed concerns on the security challenges fact the nation including the Boko Haram menace in the north and the violent crimes of arme robberies and kidnapping in some other parts of the country.

The group which stated that it rejects any manner of intimidation, provocation, threats and violence in any part of the country also extended its hands of fellowship to all Nigerians who share in its philosophy and belief in dialogue, bridge building, consensus, mutual respect and understanding.

2015: Dump Sambo, group tells Jonathan

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head of 2015 Presidential election, Coordination of the Northern Emancipation Network, Malam Abdul-Azeez Suleiman has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to dump his vice, Arc. Namadi Sambo, if he intends to win the election in the north.

In a press statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, Suleiman pointed out that the Jonathan/Sambo ticket is proving a hard to market in

tne northe because of Sambo’s failure sale to carry the region along or save the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the region.

He said several efforts to shore up support for the embattled vice president, who is struggling to reclaim the control he never had in the North, are becoming worthless daily.

“A ready example is when members of a powerful delegation from the North-West

were visibly upset on perceiving that their mission which was meant to be a goodwill visit to the president was hijacked by the vice president’s camp as proof of his endorsement and clout.

“Part of the antics of the VP’s handlers was that most of the delegates to that meeting were not allowed to tell the President the home truth about the state of the party in the north by revealing that Sambo has been

aloof on matters relating to the zone since his emergence in the top post,” Suleiman said, adding that the North had not felt the impact of the nation’s number two man.

He said it was wrong for the President to be deceived by the VP’s men into believing that Sambo is in-charge of the region and still enjoys widespread support irrespective of the gale of defection from his PDP to the opposition APC recently.

INEC to blacklist parties with “perpetual leadership” in Zamfara

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he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will stop all official communication with political parties operating through caretaker committees over a long period in Zamfara.

Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in his office in Gusau yesterday, Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC),

Alhaji Jibrin Zarewa noted with dismay that such parties had refused to organise elections as stipulated by law.

He disclosed that 11 out of the 19 existing political parties in the state were guilty of the offence adding that they had been operating under certain individuals.

These individuals, the INEC boss said, had been serving as

caretaker committee members in the past seven years.

He said that the caretaker leaders had also refused to set up chain of leadership of the parties; from ward to state levels.

Zarewa also stated that all the affected parties had no functional offices adding that “INEC has been dealing with them as if they are individuals operating from private

residences”.

“The affected parties cannot present candidates for election if they do not have their elected officials in place before the general elections,” he said.

The REC advised political parties in the state that have not conducted their state congresses to do so before the end of March or face the commission’s sanctions. (NAN)

PAGE 38

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

Politics Group urges youth participation in electoral process

By Umar Muhammad Puma

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outh all over the country have been urged to participate actively in the nation’s electoral process.

The call was made at the stakeholders three-day National Youth Conference on the 2015 Elections themed “Road map for 2015 Election: Amplifying Youth Voices” organised by the Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement (YIAGA), Youth Alliance on Constitution and Electoral Reform (YACORE)

and the Democratic Governance for Development (DGD) Project of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

Project Director of the DGD, Dr. Mourtada Deme, said though most African countries have government ministries and departments with explicit mandate of addressing youth issues, this has not positively affected their participation in governance and electoral processes. He pointed out that any country’s democracy not including the youths, who are

over half of its population, has failed to meet the basic tenets of qualifying to be in democracy.

“An inclusive democratic society needs to ensure that its youth participate in all its affairs, that young people’s views are included in development policies and that they develop leadership skills.

In many African countries, youth have either remained marginalised or have not played a role in the political process.

This is due to institutional and policy constraints of the state

and the society. To overcome the obstacles to youth participation in fundamental political and democratic processes require carefully conceived strategy and concerted efforts to achieve meaningful change,” Deme said.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth Development, Dr. Henry Akpan, said the nation’s nascent democracy has been able to stand the tide of time due to the continued role of the youths.

“Recent statistics revealed that Nigeria’s electoral

demography is largely dominated by young people between the ages of 18-35 years.

Nigeria’s electoral process is becoming more transparent, open and accountable as more young people pick interest in who governs them and how they are being governed by those they give their mandate,” Akpan said.

National Coordinator of YIAGA, Samson Itodo and chairman, Partners for Electoral Reform (PER), Ezenwa Nwagwu among others also spoke at the event.

2015: posters flood Kaduna From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

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L-R: Adamawa state Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC) Interim Management Committee, Mr. Kobis Thimnu, Secretary, Ambassador Fati Ballah, and Organising Secretary, Alhaji Abdullahi Bakare, during the committee’s maiden meeting, yesterday in Yola.

Photo: NAN

2015: Gombe APC urges INEC to conduct credible election From David Hassan, Gombe

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ll Progressives Congress (APC) in Gombe state yesterday urged Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to do everything possible to ensure that it conducts credible election in 2015.

Speaking through its chairman in the state, Barr. Magaji Doho, lamented that the nation can only witness credible election if INEC allows fairness and justice to prevail at the general elections.

According to the party, in recent

time, the nation had suffered setback in election procedures, noting that there was need for INEC to look into the matter in order to enable them overcome the problem.

Doho said “politics is a game of number; if someone is defeated at the poll, accept the defeat and work together in order to sustain the dividends of democracy in the country.”

He pointed out that in 2011 general elections, mayhem erupted across the country, where many lives were lost, due to lack of free and fair elections in the country stressing

that something must be done to ensure that electorates are allowed to elect candidates of their choice.

Speaking further, the chairman explained that there was need for a changeable that was why the APC came on board with a new policy in order to see that the public benefit from commonwealth.

He assured Nigerians that APC will not intimidate or harass anybody as the party has resolved to carry everyone along in order to ensure sustainability of the citizenry with a view to move the country forward.

Nasarawa LG election: Group urges politicians to engender unity From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia

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group, Grassroots Political Initiative for Peaceful Coexistence and Sustainable Democracy (G-PIPS), has called on politicians to foster unity in Nasarawa state by shunning acts capable of undermining the peace presently enjoyed in the state.

G-PIPS made the call in a press statement made available to journalists in Lafia yesterday, signed by Yasir Arafat and Barrister

Anyuabaga Alumbugu, president and secretary respectively.

With the local government election in the state fast approaching, the group called on the people of the state to embrace peace and shun political violence, as well as politics of ethnicity or religion and to imbibe the culture of doing what is right.

“We must always bear in mind that violence is an anathema to peaceful co-existence which militates against the consolidation of democracy as well as retards

development”, part of the statement reads.

G-PIPS further urged the people, particularly youths to champion the cause of peaceful co-existence and avoid being used as agents of destruction but to consider themselves as stakeholders in the development of the state.

The group therefore called on politicians to shun acts capable of undermining the peaceful coexistence in the state by being law abiding to constituted authorities.

erhaps in a sharp reaction to the recent report that Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero has been tipped as a successor to Dr. Sanusi Lamido, the Governor of Central Bank, his supporters have flooded major streets of Kaduna with the governor’s posters. Some of inscriptions on the posters include “2015: Yero is our choice” and “we need a silent achiever like you.”

The posters can be seen in places like Luggard Hall round about, the Kaduna State House of Assembly premises, Independence Way, Ali Akilu road, Isa Kaita road, Constitution road and Junction road. Kachia road, Ibrahim Taiwo road and Nnamdi Azikiwe road, were also not left out as the posters adorn both private and public places, electric poles, among others.

Investigation revealed that the posters were placed by some

youths in the early hours of yesterday.

One of the youth, Suleiman Idris who spoke to this reporter said the youth of Kaduna state came out to lend their support to the Yero project because of his effort in the peace process in the state.

According to him, the move is to encourage the good people of Kaduna state to remain firm, unshakable and rally round the governor come 2015.

Similarly, Director General of Yero Project, Alhaji Musa Mubama, said the new move to support Governor Yero in the 2015 election was because of his great stride in the state that is visible in all aspect of the state.

One of the sponsors of the posters of the Governor, Hon. Isyaku Dogo Makama, said he was moved to support governor Yero’s 2015 reelection project because the youthful leader of Kaduna state is a man of the people and lover of peace.

Only INEC can recall Ajibola, othe rs – Kwara PDP From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

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wara State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) has said that members of All Progressive Congress(APC) in Kwara state can not recall Sen. Simeon S. Ajibola representing Kwara South Senatorial district in the National Assembly.

The Chairman, Caretaker Committee, Hon Solomon Edojah, who stated this in Ilorin on yesterday while briefing Journalists after the Committee’s meeting noted that only Independent National Electoral Committee( INEC) has that power to recall a serving representatives.

Edojah who denounced threats to some of PDP representatives and political office holders that refused to defected to APC said the ruling party has recaptured all his supporters stressing that they have regained their freedom and

have nothing to fear about.

Speaking on strength of PDP in Kwara State, Edojah said his Committee has realised that the ruling party has tremendous supporters in the state contrary to impression published in some newspaper.

He noted that their supporters cut across all the 153 wards in the state adding that the party would win any elections based on what they saw on ground.

The Committee Chairman said the door of the party is open to all the defectors in the state saying “we shall hold grand reception for all of them which will be attended by PDP national leaders”.

On the PDP secretariat, he disclosed that the party has opened new secretariat for all members of PDP who cherish freedom stressing that Kwara state is no more under bondage but under different leaders who are working for a common goals.

PAGE 39

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

News Extra

Industrial Court frowns at dismissal of security men Nasarawa to From Ado Abubakar Musa ,Jos

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ustice Rabi Gwandu of the National Industrial Court, Jos, has frowned at the non debriefing of dismissed security personnel in the country and said it was risky to the society.

Gwandu, presiding over a matter of wrongful dismissal from the police instituted by an Assistant Commissioner of Police, George Ozioko against the InspectorGeneral of Police and the Police Service Commission, expressed her displeasure at the trend.

According to her, dismissed security personnel should not be left to roam the streets without some sort of rehabilitation like in other climes.

“It is dangerous and unleashes potentials of danger in the society,” she said.

She noted that the dismissed personnel so unleashed on the society without debriefing constituted serious threats to the rest of the civil populace.

Gwandu called on concerned authorities to revisit the issue where personnel’s were dismissed and just left to their whims without some forms of mitigation.

She further frowned at the attitude of the police authorities to litigation and court processes, which she said was unacceptable and less than desirable The judge said that the police had failed to put up an appearance in the matter since the case was transferred to her court.

Gwandu said this was the fourth time the case has come up for hearing without the police putting up an appearance or filing its brief in defense.

While adjourning the matter to Feb. 27 for continuation of hearing, she said: “I note with nostalgia the incessant absence of the police at

hearing sessions”.

She threatened to continue hearing into the matter if at the next adjourned date, the police failed to file its appearance and to go ahead and deliver judgment accordingly.

Our correspondent gathered that Ozioko, an ACP compulsorily by the police authority in 2009, among other reliefs, wants the court to set aside his dismissal and to order his reinstatement.

Counsel to Ozioko, Mr. Martin Omowho, had at the hearing told the court that the police had consistently shunned summons to appear in court to defend the action.

Kano state Governor, Engineer Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (6th left) and his Deputy, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje ( 5th left), in a group photograph with teachers and pupils of the newly introduced boarding primary, Shehu Minjibir Primary Boarding School, yesterday at Minjibir Local Government Area of Kano state.

Why we reintroduced boarding primary schools in Kano - Kwankwaso

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ano state government has re-introduced boarding primary education as part of moves to revitalize education from the grassroots.

The state governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso stated this while symbolically declaring open Shehu Minjibir Primary Boarding School, flagging-off of training of teachers at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) and launch of e-learning programme for students of Governor’s

College, Kano.

A statement by Kwankwaso’s spokesman, Halilu I. Dantiye, said the governor explained that his administration decided to reintroduce boarding primary schools, which were disbanded in the state over 40 years ago, because they not only provide dynamic learning atmosphere but also offer ample opportunity for the students to study, engage in extramural activities and build strong social interactions.

Governor Kwankwaso disclosed that the school was constructed by government at the cost of N300 million, adding that 140 students have been enrolled as its first batch of students.

He revealed further disclosed that two additional such schools would be opened at Rano and Dambatta with a view to having a public boarding primary school in each of the three senatorial districts in the state.

On the Mass Teachers in-

Service Degree Program, the governor said over 300 teachers would be supported to pursue degree and postgraduate programmes at NOUN, adding that more would benefit from the scheme subsequently.

One of the pupils of the new school, Ado Ahmad acknowledged that they were enjoying learning at the school because of the facilities put in place, adding that feeding, electricity and water supply in it are standard.

Teachers’ professional dev: Kaduna SUBEB signs MoU with COE From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

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he Kaduna state Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the College of Education, (COE), Gidan Waya on Teachers’ Professional Development (TPD).

Speaking while signing the MoU, the Chairman of SUBEB, Ishaya Dary Akawu said the training program was borne out of

the need to upgrade the capacity of it teachers for effective lesson delivery in the classrooms.

According to Akawu: “A lot of people have talked about collapse of educational system and most people have traced it to the primary school level. The faults have always been put at the doorsteps of the teachers and the biggest challenge is the inability of teachers to deliver in the classroom.

“Our main objective here is to raise the capacity of our teachers.

We focused on building the capacity of education managers especially the headmasters at school levels and District Officers and School Support Officers at LGEA level so that they can provide useful guidance and support to schools through effective leadership.

“We also discover that just training the management whether at SUBEB or LGA level, head teachers and teachers was not enough, the community

must be carried along, so the training programme involved communities through the School Based Management Commutes, SBMCs”, he said.

The chairman pointed out that about 8,000 teachers have benefited from the ‘cluster method’ of training in the state and this has yielded tremendous improvement with better impact on pupils and teachers making the schools perform tremendously well in the state.

spend N40m to train 1,470 youths From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia

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s part of its youth empowerment scheme, the Nasarawa state government is spending N40 million to train 1,470 youths drawn across the 13 local government areas of the state.

Special Assistant to Governor Umaru Tanko Al-makura, Murtala Adogie, disclosed this to journalists on Monday, at the commencement of a two-week training session for the youths, holding at the Chindo Yamusa NYSC orientation camp in Keffi.

He said 100 youths were selected from each of the 13 local government areas, with another 147 drawn from the major urban centers of the state.

Adogie disclosed further that the youths, after undergoing a strict screening exercise, including a medical check up to ascertain their health status, would undergo paramilitary training to prepare them for the work ahead.

One of the trainees, Gambo Ismaila from Obi local government area, showed appreciation for the gesture by the government to train them and give them a means of livelihood.

IG redeploys 4 DIGs, 3 AIGs

By Mashe Umar Gwamna

T

he Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, on Tuesday, redeployed four Deputy InspectorsGeneral of Police (DIG) and three Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIG).

A statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Frank Mba, said DIGs Michael Zuokumor, would head Operations Department; Jonathan Johnson, Department of Information and Communications Technology; Abdurahaman Akano, Department of Research and Planning and Atiku Kafur, Department of Training.

It said further that the redeployment of the senior officers followed the retirement of two DIGs, who were in charge of Operations and Training, on Jan. 16.

The statement said that AIGs Kakwe Katso and Fana Salisu, were posted to the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Jos, and Works, FHQ, Abuja, respectively, while Musa Daura, heads Zone 6 Police headquarters in Calabar, Cross River state.

It also said that Mr Adeola Adeniji, a Commissioner of Police would hold forte at Zone 4 headquarters, Makurdi.

PAGE 40

Photo Splash

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

L-R: Minister of Labour, Chief Emeka Wogu, Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, and Minister of Mines and Steel, Architect Mohammed Sada, jointly briefing journalists after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, yesterday at the State House, in Abuja.

From left (front row): President, Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, Chairman, Inter-Party Advisory Committee, Dr Yunusa Tanko, former Senate President Ken Nnamani, and Deputy Chief Of Mission, U.S. Embassy, Maria Brewer, back row: Special Adviser to THE President on Inter-Party Affairs, Senator Ben Obi, Country Representative, International Foundation for Electoral Systems, Gloria RichardsJohnson, and Director, Ken Nnamani Centre for Leadership and Development, Professor Ebere Onwudiwe, during the opening of national stakeholders forum on Electoral Reform, on Tuesday in Abuja.

R-L: United States Consul General to Lagos, Mr. Jeffrey Hawkins, National Leader, All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, new United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. James Entwistle, APC Interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, and APC Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, during US ambassador’s visit to Tinubu’s office, on Tuesday in Lagos.

Borno state Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima (middle), sympathising with a childvictim of the last Sunday’s attack by unknown gunmen in Kawuri, Konduga Local Government Area of Borno state, where about 70 persons were killed and 200 houses destroyed, during his visit to the victims, on Tuesday at the General Hospital, in Konduga, Borno state.

Youths carrying placards and jubilating after defection of a member of House of Representatives, Hon. Haruna Kigbu from the All Peoples Congress APC to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday in Lafia.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo and NAN

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

World Cup hard ticket submission ends tomorrow

PAGE 41

AFN expects high standard for Commonwealth Games

T

he Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) said on Tuesday that its standards for qualification for the Commonwealth Games would boost Nigerian athlete’s performance at the competition.

The Commonwealth Games are scheduled to hold from July 23 to Aug. 3 in Glasgow, Scotland.

Navy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama, the Technical Director of AFN, made the assertion in Abuja with newsmen.

Nesiama said the standard would also enable athletes to prepare adequately for the Golden League.

“The qualifications standard has two aspects.

One has to do with the Commonwealth Games.

“The second is the standard for the Golden League. This year we have set a standard that will determine each athlete’s qualification to earn prize money in the course of the league.

The male sprinters expecting to make it to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow must run 10.25 secs, while the standard for the girls in 100m is 11.45 secs.

The AFN has also set 20.80 secs as the benchmark for those wishing to compete in

G Aminu Maigari Stories by Albert Akota

T

he Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has said the submission of hard ticket application forms for the group matches of the 2014 FIFA World Cup would close on Friday.

The NFF disclosed the closing date in a statement by its Assistant Director, Media, Ademola Olajire in Abuja.

It quoted the association’s Director of Marketing, Adama Idris as saying that those who have obtained the hard ticket application forms should submit on or before Friday to process its confirmation.

“We advise that the submission of all completed application forms be done latest by Friday, because the process for ticket confirmation by the world football governing body, FIFA, will commence immediately.

“All the stages have

timelines and it is pertinent that we don’t miss any of these timelines.

“The NFF may not be able to provide any match ticket for anyone who fails to submit properly completed application form by Friday,’’ the statement said.

It noted that that no payment is required for this phase in the process.

The statement said that no one is required to make any payment while submitting the completed application form.

It also said that they were only required to make payment after their request had been processed and approved by FIFA. The 20th edition of the Mundial will hold in 12 Brazilian cities from June 12 to July 13.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria has been drawn in Group F with Argentina, Iran and Bosnia- Herzegovina.

hana booked a date with Libya in the African Nations Championship with a 4-1 penalty shoot-out victory over Nigeria at the Cape Town Stadium.

The much anticipated clash between the West African rivals began on a very competitive note with the Black Stars going for the attack right from the blast of the referee Sikazwe’s whistle.

Ghana launched the first real threat as Bansey eased past two Nigerian defenders to hit his shot at Agbim’s goal but his effort went just two wide.

In the fourth minute, the stadium was thrown into confusion as Nigeria’s stand-out man in this competition Ejike Uzoenyi went unconscious after having a collision with a Ghanaian defender in an attempt to win an aerial ball.

The Black Stars were in cruise control for more than 15 minutes of the first half but rarely threatened the Nigerian goalkeeper thanks to a more composed defence anchored by Kunle Odunlami.

Super Eagles first chance to score came in the 10th minute when Abubakar Ibrahim almost converted a freekick taken following Yahaya Mohammed’s foul on Abdullahi Shehu of Nigeria.

Few minutes later- in the 26th minute to be precise, Nigeria very nearly went ahead through

the 200m in the male category.

Similarly, those competing in the female category have to clock 23.55 secs for the same distance.

The benchmark in the 400m is 45.65 secs for male athletes and 52.40 secs for the females.

Male athletes competing in 800m must return a time of 1.47.50 secs to qualify, while the females will return 2.02.80 secs.

The AFN has set a standard of 13.90 secs for the males in the 110 hurdles and 13.50 secs for the women’s 100m hurdles.

For 400m hurdles, the men must run 50.50 secs and the females 57.90 secs, while the set standard for high jump is 2.17m for males and 1.80m for the females.

“These are geared at enhancing the performance of our athletes to make them more competitive and focus on performances rather than coming with positions, especially in the league.

“It is also to encourage them to prepare harder and be ready for the league season,’’ Nesiama said.

Eric Campbell, the Performance Director of AFN, said setting the standard was a goal which the athletes had to meet before they can represent the country.

Ghana beat Nigeria 4-1 on penalty to face Libya in final Abdulahi as his long range missile bounces off the Ghanaian cross bar a result of a counter-attacking move orchestrated by Ugonna Uzochukwu after the Black stars’ corner was cleared away by Egwuekwe.

Ghana looked weighed down by the almost tangible sense of expectancy among a partisan crowd packed into the Cape Town as dangerman Uzoenyi mesmerized the Michael Akuffo anchored backline.

On resumption of the second half, Nigeria looked more dangerous in the attack but failed to could not convert chances their came their way as they preferred to shot wayward at Stephen Adams’s goal.

Maxwell Konadu’s men were reduced to 10 men in the 64th minute as Kwabena Adusei got his second caution of the night

Blessing Okagbare “The federation has set a goal which is good for the athletes to know what they need to do so that Nigeria will do well at the Commonwealth Games,” he said.

Campbell also noted that the qualification standard is not for only athletes in camp but for any other athlete that can meet up the standard.

Keshi following a rough challenge on Nigeria’s Abubakar.

Keshi brought on Barnabas Imenger for Ifeanyi Ede to who had a below par performance to take advantage of the opponent’s deficit but the Black Star looked rock solid as they thwarted every attacking moves of the Eagles.

Uzoenyi picked out Kwambe’s clever run in behind the Ghana defence with a measured chip into the area and the Nigeria No.7 controlled the ball on his chest before flicking it goalwards.

Stephen Adams saved well with his outstretched left arm but Imenger was not on hand to slice home the rebound.

With both sides horribly devoid of ideas, extra time appeared inevitable. Imenger was the culprit in the first half of extra time as he failed on three occasions to put Nigeria ahead.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

PAGE 42

Sports

Pillars open title defence with Giwa FC

By Albert Akota

D

efending champions Kano Pillars will open their title defence on Sunday, February 23 against newly promoted Giwa FC. Pillars, who finished third in the just-concluded Super 4r where they won just a game, will travel to Jos to face the NNL Champions.

Giwa FC official Sammy Adesoji said that there is no cause for alarm that they will be ready to face Pillars in the league opener.

“All the teams that will play in Premier League have same ambition of lifting the trophy, so every game will have high tempo.

“We are opening the season at home against champions Pillars. No cause for alarm as we will be ready for them as we will go for three points,” Adesoji maintained.

A

LMC threatens to frustrate clubs over players’ salary default

T

he League Management Company (LMC) said it would dissatisfy clubs over default in the payment of the agreed N150, 000 minimum wages for Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) players.

The Chief Operating Officer of the company, Salihu Abubakar, disclosed this in Abuja after the LMC conducted the draws for the new league season.

He said that adequate measures would be taken to ensure clubs comply with the agreement.

“We will be conducting sports check on the clubs during the season; that means that we can go and ask for their books and confirm if the players have been paid.

CHAN 2014: ‘Eagles performance reflection of local leagues growth’

“We can dissatisfy the club if it fails to pay its players during the season,’’ he said.

The LMC’s threat followed the 2013/2014 NPFL draw conducted which paired pre-season football tournament winners, Enyimba FC against Sunshine Stars FC of Akure.

The pairing, which looked like the star match of the week, would see Enyimba play their first away game of the season, while Rangers International FC, Enugu would host Nembe City FC. The NPFL matches expected to begin on Feb. 21 would see league debutantes Giwa FC host Kano Pillars, while Warri Wolves welcome El Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri.

It would be a battle of the South and North as new comers

Enyimba skipper Udoji is presented the trophy by LMC boss Nduka Irabor

Abia Warriors play host to Kaduna United, while Akwa United FC play Gombe United in Uyo. Bayelsa United and Sharks FC of Port Harcourt would face each other in the battle of the SouthSouth, FC Taraba and Nasarawa United would slug it out up North.

Elsewhere, Heartland FC of Owerri would wait to confront Dolphins FC in Owerri, while Crown FC of Oshogbo travel to Makurdi to face Lobi Stars FC. Abba Yola, the Chairman of Kano Pillars FC in a separate interview said, their first game against league debutantes Giwa

FC was a ``blessing in disguise.

“We are happy and excited with the draw, having going to play our first match with a newcomer.

“Away will help us to discover how strong the debutantes and the old teams are,’’ he said.

Isaac Danladi, the Chairman of Nasarawa United, said his team would ensure it picked its three points against NPFL debutantes, FC Taraba.

“The league is going to be exciting because I am playing my first match away to FC Taraba and we are looking at that match with great expectation,’’ Danladi said.

NNWL partners with FIFA on grassroots development

T

he Executive Secretary, Nigeria Nationwide League (NNWL), Mr Olushola Ogunnowo, in Abuja said the league was partnering with FIFA on a grassroots development programme.

Ogunnowo, said the project was a nationwide health campaign for youths using the league as a vehicle.

“The project, which is known as, `The 11 for Health`, aimed at delivering health education programmes to the youth population of Nigeria.

“The football for health programme will convey health education programmes to youths in their schools using the football environment to improve their knowledge, attitudes, skills and behaviour towards diseases.’’

This, he contended, would reduce the future incidence of communicable and non-communicable diseases in the country’’, he said.

He explained that the league management became interested in the programme after its medical officer, Dr Olajide Adebola, who is also on the FIFA medical network, made it known to them.

“He made us realise that there were some projects that FIFA was involved in for grassroots leagues like ours, called ``the FIFA 11 plus.

“So, we wrote to FIFA through the NFF and they were so interested in assisting us and responded positively.

“They were so excited that the NNWL was ready to be part of the project and I am pleased to inform you that we have already started working with them on the project’’, Ogunnowo said.

former Golden Eaglets’ Coach, Fanny Amun, says the creditable performance of the Super Eagles at the ongoing African Nations Championship (CHAN) was a reflection of the country’s leagues development.

Amum made the assertion to newsmen yesterday in Lagos.

Amun said that he was impressed with the quality of the Eagles’ play, adding that their performance had given football fans the hope that leagues in the country were developing.

“First and foremost, the performance of the Super Eagles at the CHAN is a reflection of the tremendous improvement of the leagues, especially the professional league.

“And it shows that making the national team will now be a stiff competition among the homebased Eagles and the foreignbased ones,’’ Amun said.

He said that though the team might not lift the competition’s trophy, they had proven their worth as players with potential.

The former coach said that with what the players showcased so far in the competition, foreign clubs would bid for them.

“Whether or not they lift the trophy, their quality is not in doubt. I know foreign clubs will be demanding for some of them by the end of the championship,” he said.

Amun commended the Stephen Keshi-led technical bench for the effort they had made in building a team of such quality.

The Eagles are appearing for the first time in the competition which is in its 3rd edition started on Jan. 11 and will end Feb. 1.

Week 1 Fixtures Giwa FC vs Pillars Ranger vs Nembe Abia Warriors vs Kaduna Wolves vs El Kanemi Bayelsa vs Sharks Sunshine v Enyimba Lobi vs Crown Heartland vs Dolphins Akwa vs Gombe FC Taraba vs Nasarawa

PAGE 43

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

Sports

Newcastle chase Lyon midfielder N ewcastle has bid for Lyon midfielder Clement Grenier as they attempt to replace the departing Yohan Cabaye before Friday’s transfer deadline.

The size of the Magpies’ offer for the 23-yearold is unknown at this stage.

The France international has scored 12 goals in 89 appearances for Lyon.

Cabaye is expected to complete his move to Paris St-Germain yesterday for about £20m as

Borussia Monchengladbach striker Luuk de Jong has a medical at Newcastle before his initial loan move.

Grenier is one of a series of potential targets for Newcastle but his current boss Remi Garde hopes he will not be sold this month.

Newcastle counterpart Alan Pardew has urged owner Mike Ashley and director of football Joe Kinnear to reinvest a significant proportion of the proceeds from the Cabaye deal.

Clement Grenier

Ince set for Hull, Sunderland talks

Solskjaer confirms Zaha deal done

C

ardiff manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirmed his club will sign Wilfried Zaha on loan from Manchester United for the rest of the season, with Brazilian full-back Fabio also arriving from the Old Trafford club.

Solskjaer used his contacts at his former club to tie up deals for the duo who have struggled to force their way into the first team plans of United boss David Moyes this season, with the deals going through after his side’s 2-0

defeat at Old Trafford.

Former Stoke striker Kenwyne Jones is also close to sealing a move to Cardiff, with Solskjaer convinced the trio can lift his side off the foot of the Premier League in the coming weeks.

Solskjaer is eying up a bumper month for his new Cardiff side as they look forward to games against relegation rivals Norwich, Swansea, Aston Villa and Hull in February, suggesting the moment has arrived for his players to rise to the challenge.

Wilfried Zaha

Manchester City launch late €46m bid for Mangala

M

anchester City have launched a stunning lastditch £38 million [€46m] bid to sign Porto defender Eliaquim Mangala.

The France international has long been a target of City, with their interest dating as far back as Roberto Mancini’s reign as manager.

Current boss Manuel Pellegrini first scouted the 22-year-old last summer and even failed with a late €36m enquiry on the back of Mangala’s breakthrough season of 2012-13, when he made 36 appearances and kept 25 clean sheets in all competitions.

However, Pellegrini has continued to keep tabs on the defender’s progress, sending scouts to watch him alongside team-mate Nicolas Otamendi in Porto’s 2-0 defeat against Benfica earlier this month.

And the Chilean has given the green light to City launching an ambitious big-money move for the player this week after being given encouragement that Porto could be willing to sell.

Martinez hopes Lukaku will stay at Everton E

Nwankwo joins Spanish side Cordoba

Thomas Ince lackpool winger Thomas Ince is expected to hold talks with Hull and Sunderland on Wednesday as he prepares to make a decision on his future.

The England Under-21 international has been given permission by the Championship side to discuss a loan move with Premier League clubs.

He began his career at Liverpool, making one substitute appearance in the League Cup before joining Blackpool in August 2011.

Ince has scored 33 goals in 113 matches for the Seasiders and was the subject of January interest from the Reds last season, while he turned down a move to newly-promoted Cardiff in the summer for family reasons.

He has not featured in either of Blackpool’s two matches since his father, Paul, was sacked as manager on 21 January.

B

Liverpool wants major signing

L Eliaquim Mangala

Romelu Lukaku verton manager Roberto Martinez says he is prepared to “fight” to keep Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku beyond the summer.

Lukaku, 20, has scored nine

goals in 17 Premier League appearances since arriving from on a season-long loan in September.

The Belgium international is due to return to Stamford Bridge at the end of the season, but the Sunday Mirror reported at the weekend that Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is prepared to sell him in order to fund a bid for Paris Saint-Germain’s Uruguay international forward Edinson Cavani.

Everton would struggle to afford the reported price tag of 23 million pounds for Lukaku, but Martinez would be interested in a longer deal if it could be done.

In the meantime, though, Everton’s manager is keen to see the Belgium international aid the push for a Champions League place over the final four months of the season.

Obiora Nwankwo

N

igeria’s Obiora Nwankwo is now a player of Spanish Segunda side, Cordoba for the rest of the season.

The 22-year old midfielder terminated his contract with Romanian side FC Cluj where he joined in 2013 from Parma of Italy.

In Romania, he made 11 appearances for the Railwaymen before calling it quit.

He is expected to make his debut for Pablo Villa’s side away to Deportivo Alaves at the de Mendizorroza Stadium on Sunday. Cordoba is eight on the Segunda log with 33 points from 23 games.

Obiora is yet to play for the Super Eagles since winning the Africa Cup of Nations with Stephen Keshi’s men in South Africa.

iverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is hopeful of making a significant breakthrough in the transfer market before Friday’s deadline.

Dnipro’s Ukraine winger Yevhen Konoplyanka is among a number of names linked with a move to Anfield.

The Reds maintained their push for a top-four finish in the Premier League with a 4-0 derby win over Everton.

Two goals from Daniel Sturridge and one apiece for Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez saw Liverpool thrash their rivals to move three points clear of fifthplaced Tottenham and four ahead of Everton in sixth.

Following the win, Rodgers defended the club’s transfer policy after a proposed deal to sign Mohamed Salah from Basel ended with the attacker joining Chelsea in an £11m deal.

Liverpool are now unbeaten in the last 14 Premier League Merseyside derbies at Anfield, with Everton’s last away win coming courtesy of a Kevin Campbell goal in 1999 “I came here because of the collective effort to try and turn the club’s fortunes around and the owners have been brilliant.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

PAGE 44

Sports

Grand National winner, Encore, retire due to injury

A

Jade Etherington (L)

Etherington claims World Cup trophy at 2014 Sochi

B

ritish visually impaired skier Jade Etherington and guide Caroline Powell landed their first IPC World Cup win with downhill success in Tignes.

They finished more than two seconds clear of American Danelle Umstead, who was

guided by husband Robert.

Etherington and Powell, named in the British team for March’s Winter Paralympics in Sochi, were competing in their first downhill of the season.

Powell guides Etherington, 22, by issuing directions via a headset.

Russian swimmer tests positive for steroids

S

wimming’s governing body has suspended London 2012 bronze medalist Yuliya Efimova for a doping offence.

Fina says the Russian tested positive for the steroid DHEA on 31 October in Los Angeles, where she trains at the University of Southern California.

The former world 50m breaststroke record holder won World titles in the 50m and 200m in Barcelona last August.

uroras Encore, the 66-1 winner of the 2013 Grand National at Aintree, has been retired after fracturing a leg.

The 12-year-old, trained by Sue and Harvey Smith, sustained the injury while finishing last in the Skybet Chase at Doncaster.

It was announced that he would not race again after having screws inserted during an operation.

“These things happen. I just want him home to have a happy retirement,” Sue Smith told the Yorkshire Post.

She added: “They got him up successfully after the surgery and he was staying overnight in the operating box. Fingers crossed it’s still early days.

“He won a National for us. It doesn’t get bigger than that. He

Auroras Encore

doesn’t owe us anything. This is a racing injury and I’m afraid that it is what you have to expect from the job on occasion.

Ridden by Ryan Mania, Auroras Encore won by nine lengths in last year’s Grand National at Aintree and was

If a doping offense is proven, Efimova, 21, is likely to keep her medals because the positive test came later.

Her suspension remains in effect until the Fina doping panel meets to rule on the case.

Efimova, who won Olympic bronze in the 200m breaststroke, denied Plymouth-based Lithuanian Ruta Meilutyte a gold medal in the 50m final in Barcelona when she beat her by 0.07 seconds.

between a 20-1 and 33-1 shot to retain his crown.

Auroras Encore was the first Yorkshire-trained winner of the National since Gerry Scott’s Merryman II, trained by Neville Crump, triumphed in 1960.

Ronnie O’Sullivan

Sullivan fines for Twitter comments

W

orld snooker champion Ronnie O’Sullivan has been ordered to pay £8,000 over comments made on Twitter and to a senior referee.

O’Sullivan was fined £6,000 and ordered to pay £1,000 costs over three posts on the social media site.

The 38-year-old made match-fixing claims later retracted - and suggested pills could improve his form and posted an offensive tweet.

Governing body World Snooker has also warned Yuliya Efimova

PUBLIC NOTICE UPENDI CARG FOUNDATION WE WISH TO BRING TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED BODY HAS APPLIED TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE CORPORATE AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. AISHA IDRIS OTHMAN 2. PATRICK NWAKEDI EMETER 3. MARYAM IDRIS OTHMAN 4. CHINEZE LOVE EMETER 5. IDRIS WAZIRE OTHMAN 6. SAMIRA OPARA 7. MAIMUNA SANDA ALIYU 8. MARGRET OROKONWO OPARA 9. AISHA ALHAJI GARBA SANDA AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO IMPROVE THE LIVING STANDARD OF HELPLESS YOUTHS AND CHILDREN THROUGH AWARENESS AND CREATIVE MOVEMENTS. 2. TO SUPPLY HEALTH AID AND EDUCATE THE LESS PRIVILEGE THROUGH SEMINARS AND OTHER SUCH FORUMS. 3. TO PROMOTE THE PROGRESS OF EDUCATION BY SUPPLYING BOOKS TO SCHOOLS FOR LESS PRIVILEGE. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED BARR. (MRS) SHEHU I. ALFA (SOLICITOR ABUJA)

O’Sullivan about his future behaviour following that incident, which happened in Barnsley during qualification for the German Masters.

O’Sullivan, who won his fifth Masters title on Sunday, admitted the offence and later apologised, citing the hot conditions at the venue and that he felt unwell on the day.

He denied bringing the game into disrepute over the Twitter comments, made in September and October 2013, but was found to have breached the governing body’s rules.

Cavet set to compete for 2014 Sochi in France

B

en Cavet, a mogul skier from Sussex, has been selected to compete for France at the Winter Olympics in Sochi.

The 20-year-old moved to France aged 10 and took French nationality in 2012 as he was

unable to gain funding from UK Sport for his chosen event.

Cavet, from Crowborough, has competed for France on the World Cup circuit this season.

Maidstone-born Cavet moved to France CHANGE OF NAME as his father is a ski I FORMERLY KNOWN AS MURTALA IBRAHIM NOW instructor in Les Gets.

WISHES TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MUSTAPHA He lives in La Cote IBRAHIM. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID, d’Arboz, in south-east LERE L. G. CONCERNED AUTHORITIES AND THE France, and currently GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE. represents the Chatel club.

CHANGE OF NAME He came second I FORMERLY KNOWN AS JAMES MOMOH NOW in the junior world WISHES TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED championships in 2011 AS SUNDAY JAMES OBINNA, ALL FORMER and won the French DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID, THE GENERAL national championships PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE. in 2012 and 2013.

Great Britain has not selected any athletes for the moguls, with Ellie Koyander missing out on a place in Russia.

Cavet could represent Great Britain in the future, but in order to do so he would be forced to sit out two seasons of competition under International Ski Federation rules.

Ben Cavet

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

PAGE 45

Sports

P-i-c-t-o-r-i-a-l 1. Wing Chris Ashton and scrumhalf Ben Youngs have been left out of England’s opening Six Nations match in France.

2. Tyson Fury and Dereck Chisora could fight each other again in a WBO title eliminator in June at West Ham’s Upton Park.

3.American Scott Stallings birdied the 18th hole to win the Farmers Insurance Open in California by one stroke.

4. Jose Mourinho says it is “fantastic” Arsene Wenger is getting a new deal despite a lack of trophies 5. Manchester United welcomed new signing Juan Mata in a 2-0 win at Old Trafford

1

3

2

4

5

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PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

Sports

Winning trophies make a footballer legend, says Cannavaro W

ith a successful playing career spanning two decades and replete with silverware and memorable moments, there were reasons aplenty for Fabio Cannavaro to be chosen as one of Final Draw assistants for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil.

Topping the list, however, was his inspirational performance as captain of the Italy side that claimed the coveted Trophy at Germany 2006, which also led to the centreback winning the FIFA World Player of the Year award.

Caught up with the 40-yearold Italian on Brazilian soil and, in addition to touching on the past, present and future of this iconic former defender and aspiring coach, sought out his unique insights on the countries which had the biggest impact during his stellar career.

What comes to mind when you think about football in Brazil?

When you talk about Brazil, you talk about football. We’re talking about one of those countries where football is different: it’s seen as a spectacle, a reason for living. I’m proud to be Italian, but there are different ways of seeing the game.

I’m also proud because I know that, of the five world titles Brazil have won, two of them came against us [in 1970 and 1994]. That makes me proud. Brazil is football.

What do you think ranks as Italy’s greatest strength when the national team crosses the white line onto the pitch?

We’ve got a lot of technical ability but, more than anything else, we show a lot of heart, sacrifice and a willingness to win at all costs. We’re willing to play ugly if necessary.

For us, winning is everything: that’s our secret. We’ve got the willpower to overcome difficulties and obstacles – that’s something Italy’s always had and it’s something to be proud of.

There’s been a lot of talk about how the Italian national team has changed and become more adventurous since Cesar Prandelli took over. Do you agree?

Italian football has changed a lot, but not just through Prandelli. If you look at the past 20 years of European competition, some of the best football’s been played by AC Milan.

The national team too, the one I played in that won the 2006 World Cup, for example.

We finished some games with four forwards, two midfielders one of whom was [Andrea] Pirlo, who was attack-minded and two attacking fullbacks in [Gianluca] Zambrotta and [Fabio] Grosso.

But people always remember the Italy side of the 1930s, when

catenaccio was the prevailing trend.

Nowadays we still know how to defend, but we can attack too. We have more of the ball.

We weren’t Italian enough. We should have been well not dirty, but certainly more cunning, nastier even.

We threw away that final in the last 30 seconds.

Fabio Cannavaro on Italy’s defeat to France in the UEFA EURO 2000 final

if they lose their thirst for victory, things could go badly wrong.

And that [thirst] is not that easy to hold onto, though I believe that anyone who’s tasted victory – who’s been in the centre of the field with his team-mates, having brought joy to his whole country would want to do it all over again, would be willing to suffer and find their motivation. On top of that though, they’ll know that the more you win, the more people want to beat you.

As one of their contemporaries, are you surprised to see the likes of Pirlo and Gianluigi Buffon still playing an important role as international level?

I’m not surprised, no, as for us Italian players working hard and making sacrifices is part of who we are.

We train really hard. We’re professional off the pitch too, 24 hours a day. And that’s the result: seeing players like Pirlo and Buffon still involved at 35 or 36. That’s normal in Italy.

Some of the biggest points of your international career came against France, what are your overriding memories of those games?

My generation had a major footballing rivalry with France, because we always seemed to meet them at the most decisive moments.

Sometimes I came off secondbest, but the last – and the most important [the Final of Germany 2006] – couldn’t have gone any better. That said, I still can’t stomach what happened to us in the final [of UEFA EURO 2000] in Rotterdam, because we weren’t Italian enough.

We should have been… well not dirty, but certainly more cunning, nastier even. We threw away that final in the last 30 seconds [Editor’s note: France equalised in second-half injury time, before winning in extra time through a David Trezeguet golden goal]. Even so, it was always genuinely enjoyable to play against them, because they had an extraordinary generation of players, such as [Zinedine] Zidane, [Lilian] Thuram, [Didier] Deschamps, [Thierry] Henry, Trezeguet... Every time we met them it was tough, but exciting too.

The current World Champions, Spain, have developed a lot during your career, what do you think is behind that?

I had the pleasure of living in Spain and so I was able to enjoy the way they live football over there: the laid-back way they prepare for games, without so much stress, without so much pressure.

Of course winning still matters, but it’s also about having fun it’s different. The Spanish have been lucky because, as well as having a

How do you look back on the last edition of the World Cup in South Africa?

Fabio Cannavaro generation of phenomenal players, they were able to unearth a mean streak too. Spain have always had topquality, talented national teams but they were never able to take that next small step up and be real winners.

However, over the last six or eight years they’ve won nearly everything and it’ll certainly be difficult to get the better of them this year too.

When you moved to Spain in 2006, could you already see that this generation had what it took to become so successful?

Yes, you could see that incredible players were coming through and that there were years of work behind that change [to a more ruthless mentality].

Later I’d joke around with Iker Casillas and say “you guys might have won the EURO [2008], but one day you’ll see how much being a world champion changes your life”.

And that’s how, by becoming tougher, meaner, they won the World Cup and became an almost unbeatable team. And the problem is that the generation coming through is as strong as the current one, so the other countries will have it tough.

Are Spain your favourites to win Brazil 2014?

They’re definitely one of the favourites: they’re the team to beat.

They’re a battle-hardened side, while they’ve got youngsters in the mix too.

This La Roja squad suffered arguably their most resounding defeat against Brazil, in the final of the FIFA Confederations Cup 2013. What’s your insight on that reverse?

These things happen, nobody’s invincible. Once you start thinking that you are, that’s when you get caught out.

The Spanish players need to be aware that they’ve got huge individual quality and a great coach but that,

In footballing terms, 2010 was a strange year in Italy’s history. We went into the tournament with a group of young players and a sprinkling of veterans from [Germany] 2006.

But then [Gennaro] Gattuso hurt his knee, Buffon had a back problem, Pirlo was injured.

We played our biggest games without that nucleus and suffered for it [Editor’s note: Italy finished bottom of Group F]. That’s because you need strong characters at a World Cup. I subsequently went back for the Final, to take the Trophy back for the first time, as the captain of the winners of the previous tournament.

That was a beautiful moment, beautiful but sad, having to say goodbye to the Trophy after four years… It was a nice moment.

For you personally, how much does it mean to become a world champion?

I always say that once someone wins a Champions League, a UEFA Cup or an international competition then he can consider himself a good player, even a top one.

But once you win a World Cup, you become a legend. That sums up just how much a player’s life changes once he’s a world champion.

After South Africa 2010 you moved to the United Arab Emirates. How was that experience?

I went to the Emirates [to join Al Ahli in 2010] to try a new footballing experience.

After a year there I had a knee problem and, after sitting down with the club president, we decided my role should change.

I signed a three-year contract, with the first two to allow me to get settled and pick up my [UEFA] coaching licenses the ‘B’, ‘A’ and ‘Pro’.

Last year, when the new coach [the Romanian Cosmin Olaroiu] arrived, I agreed to work with him as an assistant.

That [coaching] is where my future lies, or at least I hope so. I want to be a coach because I think it’s the closest thing to what I’ve been doing my whole life.

I hope to be able to use the experience I’ve gained over so many

years to help bring on young players.

I dream of one day becoming a good coach, good enough to take charge of a national team and, who knows, win a trophy or two.

During your playing days, you gained a lot of respect through your leadership skills.

Are those skills applicable once you’re part of a coaching staff?

A coach’s role is different. A football player has to be more selfish in terms of how he prepares for a game, without needing to worry too much about those around him, but a coach needs to know how to motivate everyone and perceive certain situations. It’s a role that I really enjoy.

I’m studying a lot, I’ve got my own ideas about the game, and the fact that I played club football in Spain really helped me broaden my sporting knowledge.

My contract as an assistant coach runs out in June 2014 and after that I want to be a head coach.

I’d particularly like a role abroad, as I enjoy meeting new people and experiencing different cultures.

Which coaches had the biggest influence on you as a player?

Marcello Lippi and Fabio Capello: it was no accident that I was very successful under them. They’re both guys who taught me a lot, while I also worked with the likes of Arrigo Sacchi, Giovanni Trapattoni.

I hope to able to draw on the best of them all so I can share it with my future players. When you’re lucky enough to coach top-level players, you need to know how to handle them, how to get the best out of each one at any given time.

I was fortunate enough to have coaches who were particularly good at that, but the most important thing is being both honest and coherent.

Does the fact you were a successful player help or hinder you?

At first it’s going to help me, because people remember what you’ve achieved. But if, when the time comes to talk to your players, you can’t get your message across, you’ll lose them in two minutes that’s what players are like. I hope to be up to the task.

I’m passionate, I’m working really hard I’ve spent the last two years studying – and I enjoy preparing training sessions, ironing out mistakes and getting in amongst the players.

It’s a new page [in my footballing life]. As a player I didn’t have the ability to be a classy No10: I was someone who needed my teammates and always had to give my all. When I’m a coach, I hope to be able to instil that will to win in my players.

PAGE 47

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

Some Interesting Facts

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igeria, with a 2013 estimated population of 174,507,539 is the most populous Black nation and the 7th most populated nation in the entire world, trailing after—from least to most—Pakistan, Brazil, Indonesia, USA, India and China (1.3bn).

• Nigerians are 1/5th the total population of Black Africa.

• Nigeria, with 521 languages has the fourth most in the world. This includes 510 living languages, two second languages without native speakers and 9 extinct languages.

• The Portuguese reached Nigeria in 1472. In 1880 the British began conquering Nigeria’s south. The north was conquered by 1903.

• Wole Soyinka is a Nigerian Nobel laureate. He wrote ‘Telephone Conversation!’

• With a net worth of $16.1bn, Nigeria’s Aliko Dangote is the richest Black person in the world.

• Yoruba and their bloodlines worldwide have the highest rate of twinning (having twins) in the world.

• The 2006 Census found Nigerians to be the highest educated ethnic or racial group in America.

• The Northern knot, Arewa insignia has Christian origins, investigation

by Ibraheem A. Waziri revealed. It is adapted from the Church Celtic knot.

• Pre-tribalism: Malam Umaru Altine, a northern Fulani man was the first elected Mayor of Enugu, in the east, and was even re-elected for a second term.

• Pre-tribalism: John Umoru, from Etsako in today’s Edo State (Western region) was elected for the House of Assembly to represent Port

Harcourt in the Eastern Nigerian House of Assembly.

• The Colonial Cantonments Proclamation of 1914 established ‘foreign quarters,’ ‘Sabon Gari,’ institutionalizing the Sabon Garuruwa system of ‘foreigner’ residential segregation in Nigeria.

• Crispin Curtis Adeniyi-Jones (1876-1957) who the street in Ikeja, ‘Adeniyi-Jones’ was named after, was a medical director from Sierra Leone (a Saro). As a co-founder of NNDP, he won one of the Lagos 3 legislative council seats in 1923 and represented Nigerians for 15 yrs.

Leisure

• Saros was the name given to 19th and 20th century ‘Creole’ African literati migrants from Sierra Leone.

• Amaros was the name for repatriated Brazilian and Cuban slaves; the ‘Aguda’ people of Lagos today. This Brazilian community includes deportees of the brave “Malê Revolt” in Portugal.

• British colonization was not all voluntary ‘happy slave trade,’ but involved brutal terror against non-cooperation and stiff opposition.

Captain Lord Esme Gordon Lenox, ‘With The West African Frontier Force,’ describes: “…we stormed down to Amassana, which was a town supposed to be friendly and fined them 25 goats and 20 chickens for nonassistance, then returned to Agbeni and burned half…October 1st was spent in continuance of yesterdays incendiraism by burning every town or farm we could see. I shudder to think of how many houses we have destroyed in these two days. On our way back to Egbbeddi in the afternoon we passed

by Sabagreia and told our old friend Chief Ijor that most likely we should burn down Sabagreia the next day…”

Say what?

SUDODKU SUDODKU EASY 30

Problems With Elephants

PHOTO OF THE DAY

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www.peoplesdailyng.com

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2014

SPORTS LATEST

Manchester City upbeat despite £51.6m loss

M

anchester City missed the Financial Fair Play (FFP) target despite halving their losses last season.

City has posted a net loss of £51.6m, down from £97.9m, but remains confident Uefa will not punish them despite exceeding the £37m threshold.

If a club fails to meet FFP they could be banned from the Champions League.

Following these results, City is now confident of meeting Uefa’s FFP guidelines despite missing the £37m threshold for acceptable losses.

The first FFP reporting period is due to end in May this year. Uefa says it is prepared to punish those clubs who fail to abide by the strict criteria and it is being billed by some as a test of the body’s resolve.

As it is, despite finishing over the £37m figure, City are confident their spending on youth development and infrastructure - which is exempt for FFP accounting purposes will enable them to comply.

But City expect once cash spent on youth development and facilities, which is exempt from the FFP calculation, is included they will be under the limit.

Uefa has introduced a cap to the amount a club is allowed to lose in order to create a more level financial playing field.

City’s financial report for 2012-13 reveals the club, who were Premier League champions in 2012, generated an annual turnover of £271m, the second-highest in the league.

City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said there was a “renewed sense of confidence for the future”, with success on and off the pitch having generated “significant commercial opportunities for the organisation and underpinned a strong momentum for the years ahead”.

They lie two points adrift of leaders Arsenal but go on top in Tottenham defeat yesterday.

The club, who posted losses of £197.5m back in 2011, have also now paid off all their debts, which were £58m a year ago.

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QUOTABLE QUOTE I knew you since when I was a deputy governor; I knew you when I was a governor; I interacted with you while I was Vive-President, and now as President. I believe you’re one of the best that can handle the affairs of PDP now.

– President Goodluck Jonathan to new PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu

Nigeria in the eye of O’Neill

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t is bewildering how we reason. A certain economist who goes by the name Jim O’Neill says Nigeria, along with Mexico, Indonesia and Turkey are the next economic power houses and some of our leaders are jumping for joy. These listed countries are called MINT, a name coined from the first letter of their individual names. ’MINT’ is not O’Neill’s label.

He merely popularized it. That credit goes to Fidelity, a Boston based asset management firm.

According to Wikipedia, “the term is primarily used in the economic and financial spheres as well as in academia. Its usage has grown specially in the investment sector, where it is used to refer to the bonds issued by these governments.’’

I am not surprised that O’Neill popularized MINT. He has a history of lumping countries together and giving them a befitting acronym. He, it was that came up with ‘BRIC’ later ‘BRICS’ consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China and latterly South Africa.

This is not the first time a foreigner or a foreign firm would see the ‘potential’ in our country’s economy and predict a rosy future. Except that Nigerians in the category of hewers of wood and fetchers of water have not seen this ‘rosy’ future. It had been more like a nightmare for them mired in the mud under the iron heel of rapacious leaders.

This has been the story of my country in the last 50 years. It has always been the ‘potential’.

The potential has effectively remained the ‘potential’. The challenge had always been one-leadership. A selfless leadership that will transform this ‘potential’ to real development. Regretta-

“ 311 689 292 327 454

THURSDAY with

Ali M. Ali aliyumaliyu@yahoo.

Jim O’Neill

bly, the quality of leadership has steadily degenerated over time.

Coups and counter coups by self seeking elements have given rise to clueless characters superintending over our nation’s affairs with a ‘it -is -our-turn-to-rule mindset. Tied to that, is unbelievable disposition to kleptocracy by successive leaders. Our leaders have demonstrated unbelievable propensity for theft.

Worse, the crooks supervising our common till lack shame and are not averse to standing truth on its head. They have serially ganged raped the economy and pretend to transform.

The index for a galloping economy was always compelling.

Look at the enthralling manifestation. A huge population.

Countless natural resources.

Vast agricultural land. And a relatively sound infrastructure.

In the 60s and early 70s, Nigeria was a dream. The dream of all investors.

The debilitating civil war notwithstanding, it didn’t dim the promise that the country, lumped in the same group with the Asian tigers would be the biggest economy on the continent. And with that, a leading economy in the world. Some of the Asian tigers have fulfilled their destinies. Singapore, South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

These are giant economies today.

The transformation of tiny Singapore is particularly instructive. At the onset of its metamorphosis, Singapore, a multi racial country unlike Nigeria, lacked the advantages we had and still do. We, for instance, are not multi –racial. We are big. Singapore was, still is, a tiny island. Its present population is not more than five million. When it started its determined match to greatness, under a determined leader, Lee Kuan Yew, he avoided what Nigerian leaders routinely turned to as a veritable tool of statecraft-sectionalism.

Today Singapore “is one of the world’s leading commercial hubs, with the fourth-biggest financial centre and one of the five

With poor infrastructure, and increasingly corrupt civil service, an increasing illiterate population and universities churning out half baked graduates, I am doubtful of a rebirth that will transform the nation into a powerhouse by 2020 which is just six short years away!

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busiest ports. Its globalized and diversified economy depends heavily on trade, especially in manufacturing, which constituted 26 percent of Singapore’s GDP in 2005” according to Wikipedia.

In the 60s, Malaysia imported palm kernel seeds from Nigeria. Today that country is major exporter of palm oil in the world.

And Nigeria? It is still the ‘potential’ In the 70s, we were told that Nigeria was among the ‘newly influential states’ (NIS).Among such states were the Asian tigers.

It was projected that in 25 years or there about, these NIS were going to be leading economies.

But forty years down the road, Nigeria’s is far from prediction.

Presently, fears are being freely expressed that the country may not meet the millennium development goals.

With poor infrastructure, and increasingly corrupt civil service, an increasing illiterate population and universities churning out half baked graduates, I am doubtful of a rebirth that will transform the nation into a powerhouse by 2020 which is just six short years away!

Presently the economy operates at the level of consumption.

We all know that real development in anchored in manufacturing. But our numerical strength has turned the nation to a dumping ground. All sorts of products, most of them harmful to the economy, have found ready market here. I don’t see reason to jump for joy on account of MINT. All hope is not lost. Let’s start with good governance. Let those calling the shot start by not stealing and encouraging corruption. I strongly believe this could be the foundation for rebirth and fulfilling what have been prophesized years ago.

Eagles-Better luck next time

S

o hard fighting Eagles have fallen to Ghana? It was a brave fight. I lost hope when we missed our scoring chances. I dreaded a penalty shootout. Our goal keeper needs some more polish. Still it was a gallant performance. I guess bad luck was responsible. We outplayed the Ghanaians in every department except scoring. Sorry Eagles, better luck next time.

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