Saturday 23rd November, 2013 by Peoples Media Limited

INTERVIEW Nigerians want country 2014 budget restructured, true What are Jonathan, NASS federalism, state up to? >> Pages 7,8,9 Police —Okunrounmu >> Pages 2,3 COVER

NEWS

Recently kidnapped Sokoto bizman, Dankure, dies >> Page 6

>>Page 6 weekend.peoplesdailyng.com

. . . Putti ng the p e o p l e fi rs t

Atiku in secret meetings with IBB, Abdulsalami, Aliyu Vol. 3 No. 66

SATURDAY 23 — SUNDAY 24 NOVEMBER, 2013

MUHARRAM 20 - 21, 1435 AH

N150

>>Page 11

How 24 year old boy died in police custody

>> Pages 4,5

Former military President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida receiving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar during the former Vice President’s courtesy visit to his house in Minna on Friday.

Jealousy: Woman bathes co-wife with hot water, engages lawyer to defend >>Page 16 her

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

Interview

Nigerians want country restructured, true federalism, state police, says Okunrounmu Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on National Dialogue, Senator Femi Okunrounmu says responses across the country on what should constitute the thrust of the proposed dialogue was overwhelming and ranges from weakened federal centre, true federalism, to state police and how to tame corruption. He was guest of the AIT programme and our Assistant Editor Patrick Andrew followed the interview. Here is the excerpt….

lot of people have said that they have not seen the impact of previous conferences, knowing that how do we reconcile all of that and build trust that this time they will be ahead away? These so-called previous conferences were not conferences by the people of Nigeria. They were conferences arranged, tele-guided and manipulated by the government to achieve pre-determined results. If you start from the Murtala/Obasanjo conference of 1978, the Abacha one, the Obasanjo conferences: they were all government arranged tele-guided conferences designed to suit certain pre-determined purposes, which they already had in mind. The people of Nigeria were not free to talk about all the things they had wanted to talk about. For example, the Murtala/ Obasanjo one already suggested that they should go and consider presidential system of government because they were about to transit into civilian regime and they were already practicing unitary form of government and the nearest thing they could think of was the presidential system of government where most of the authority will be concentrated on the centre. So they were tele-guided in terms of what they could recommend. Also, members of the committee were not picked by the people but by the government. So, when you want the people of Nigeria to talk government does not bring candidates and say they are the people of Nigeria talking, they are simple the people representing government. The same thing applies to the Abacha conference. Abacha picked most of the delegates while some were done by election but the majority of them were selected by the government. The same thing was done in Obasanjo conference where Obasanjo and state governments picked most of the delegates and gave them so many no-go-areas. They could not question this and they not could question that. Those were very different conferences. But for the first time since we had our independence, that the Nigerian government is allowing the people to design the conference for themselves. This conference will be designed by Nigerians, structured by Nigerians. Nigerians will be free to talk about anything that they want so that they can think harmoniously as various people of Nigeria. But if I recall the political constitutional conference delegates were chosen from a cross sections

and members of the traditional rulers, youth, stake-holders were invited to the conference. So when you said Nigerians were not represented in previous conferences I am forced to ask: How do we begin to move away from the norm, how do we choose those who will reflect the opinions of Nigerians at this conference? I am assure you belong to a community and belongs to an association in the area where you come from. If you want to have a town hall meeting you know how you choose those you want to represent to you. I am just giving an example. This time we want Nigerians to choose their own representatives. But how would that be? That is part of our terms of reference. When we have made our recommendations we shall let Nigerians know. But Nigerians will choose their own representatives to the conference. It is not government that will do that. Even if government is going to choose some it will be very tiny minority that government will choose, if at all. But most of the delegates will be chosen by you so that they will be your representatives. Nigerians in Diaspora have said that they are not represented in the National Dialogue and would want to have a voice, how are you going to work that in? But the conference has not started. There is no doubt that when it starts Nigerians in Diaspora would be represented. So they cannot complain now that they don’t have a voice in the conference because the conference has not started. We are still planning how the conference will be structured. So when the conference is convened and they are not represented then they can complain, but there is no doubt that all Nigerians will be represented. All interest groups, Nigerians in Diaspora, they too are Nigerians, have

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stake in the future of Nigeria, so they will be represented as would anybody with a stake in the future of Nigeria. This National Dialogue there is so much discordant tunes about whether or not Nigeria should have a national dialogue. Some Nigerians have expressed concern about the sincerity of the dialogue. One of those was the governor of Edo state, Adams Oshiomhole, and also the All Progressive Congress (APC). They are not comfortable because it is coming at a time when Nigeria should be preparing for the 2015 elections. What do you have to say on this? The governor of Edo state Adams Oshiomhole is also an APC governor so you are talking about APC governors in general. Note that what the governor of Edo state said is the same thing that the governor of Lagos state said. And if you talk to any of the APC governors it is probably the same thing that they will say. So they have taken a party position that they are not in favour of the conference. That it is coming at a wrong time, that it is a diversion. ut, there is a popular saying, which I am sure you are familiar with: why a politician thinks of the next election, a statesman thinks of the next generation. This conference is to determine the future of the next generation of Nigerians, how we will have to live together happily and harmoniously not just of the next election. The APC is just being shortsighted. May be they think they are going to win the next election. That may be their mind set whether it is realistic or not. Of course, every politician thinks he is going to win. That’s same with the APC. They probably think the next election is theirs to win and so anything they think will disrupt their victory is a barrier. So they are thinking of the next election only, which they don’t even have any guarantee that they will win.

There are some things that run across the length and breadth of the country. These includes the structure of the country, … the concept of federalism. Are we really running a federal government? People want us to re-examine it. If we want a federal government, then how can we make our government truly federal?

President Goodluck Jonathan Ironically, these same APC governors, and Bola Tinubu in particular, they had been at the forefront agitating for this conference to be held. But it’s the timing that they are not comfortable with? That’s exactly what I am saying, what is affecting them is the next election. Statesmen do not think about the next election but the next generation, the generation of your grandchildren. It is clear they have chosen election over the next generation. That’s where the saying comes in that a politician thinks of the next election only. A statesman thinks of subsequent generation. So, it is important for us to think of the institutions that we have to build so that the next generation of Nigerians up to 200 years will have a happy country. That’s more important than the next election. One of the fears expressed by skeptics is the outcome of the dialogue: whether it will be subjected to a referendum or sent to the National Assembly. What should we expect because a lot of people are divided over this? Of course, here there is division of opinion. I don’t want to tell you what I feel because it will be pre-judicious to our committee. But there are people who say the recommendations should be sent to the National Assembly and

there are others who say it should be subjected to a referendum. hese are the divergent view points. It is left for us at the committee to look at the merits and demerits of both, look at the consistency with which they were canvassed, what the desire of the people is and what would make them fulfilled and happy, then we make our recommendation. For now, our committee is yet to make a recommendation on either of them. What is the urgency of this National Dialogue based on your observations and interactions with people? I asked this because Gov Fashola did say that you don’t need a dialogue to determine how many houses we need, put food on the table nor do we need a dialogue to determine what roads to construct? What’s the population of Lagos? Between 12 to 15 million people. The Lagos state governor is one but important man, who has one vote. The people of Lagos do not agree with him on the issue of the dialogue. But do we need a dialogue to …. Cuts in The people of Lagos do not agree with their governor. All those APC

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Interview Nigerians want country restructured, true federalism, state police PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

Gov. Adams Oshimohole

Contd from Page 2 governors who say they are against the conference their people don’t agree with them. Their people have been turning out in large numbers to express support for the conference and to tell us what they will like to get from the conference. I insist that this conference is more important to the lives of their children and their children children. Putting food on the table may simple thing, but the constitution has a lot to do. Without it you cannot get a government that will make it possible to put food on the table easily. So many things contribute to good governance, the kind of government you get: Whether you have a good government depends on the type of constitution that you have. So, if you don’t have a constitution by which you can get good governance, you cannot put food on the table. The constitution determines the framework; the platform to have good governance. If the state government does not money to perform any of its functions the people will suffer because it is the constitution that determines whether the state government will get access to funds or not. These are what will be considered at the national conference. It is reported that some people have come to submit memorandum secretly, tell us about that? Yes, persons from the states of these APC governors. Many of these governors can be very autocratic once they say no we don’t support the conference, their people are afraid to openly express their opinions because they fear repercussions from these governors. You seem to have lot on the APC, are they the only ones opposed to the conference? Yes, they have come to oppose the conference. How about the civil society groups? I am aware of any civil society group that have come out as the APC

Sen. Femi Okunrounmu governors to say they are against the conference, no. It’s the APC governors, led by Tinubu, who have come out to oppose the conference. But their people are submitting memoranda to us. It doesn’t take much to know that Lagos people are in support of the conference no matter what their governor says. Because the creation of 53 so-called local development areas, which basically are local government, but because the constitution does not allow states to create local government they cannot call them local government, is one of the matters the people of Lagos want a change to. Recall that for many years Lagos could not be given funds for local government because the constitution does not support it. Uptil now, the local governments created by Lagos state have not been endorsed by the National Assembly and they have been agitating. Lagos have been agitating and Tinubu, in particular, has been in the forefront that these local governments should be recognised. If a man had been fighting for something for 30 years and all of a sudden another man came and says ‘what you have been fighting for I am ready to give it to you’ and he says ‘no, I don’t want it, it is the wrong time’. Will you behave like that? What are the main thrusts of the submissions: fiscal

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federalism, state police, weak centre, devolution of power? I am glad that you mentioned some of these things. It shows that you are aware of the agitations of Nigerians, and these are popular demands. There are some things that run across the length and breadth of the country. These includes the structure of the country, you can call it restructuring if you like, the concept of federalism. Are we really running a federal government? People want us to re-examine it. If we want a federal government, then how can we make our government truly federal? Many people from north to south, east to west want us to look at the type of government we are running. Some want to know whether we should not even re-examine the type government, whether we want presidential system or not, whether we shouldn’t consider parliamentary system. People are asking these questions more and more. These are relevant to good governance and the food on the table that you talked about. The issue of corruption is agitating the minds of the people. They want to know how to minimize corruption in the society. Nigeria have more than 200 ethnic nationalities, some have a population of more than 10 million, some have less than 100,000. So a lot are worried about ethnic marginalization

The APC is just being shortsighted…. Of course, every politician thinks he is going to win. That’s same with the APC. They probably think the next election is theirs to win and so anything they think will disrupt their victory is a barrier. So they are thinking of the next election only, which they don’t even have any guarantee that they will win.

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Sen. Bola Tinubu or lack of representation, especially with regard to representation at the National Dialogue, how is that going to happen? I think what they ethnic minority wants is that they too are Nigerians and that their voices should be heard. Of course, Nigerians are not just Yorubas, Igbos and Hausas. The Efik man is a Nigerian, the Ibibio man is a Nigeria, the Chambars in Taraba state are also. They want to be represented and heard. At the last constitutional conference, we did see a situation where there were no-go-areas, areas that people could not go to as far as discussion was concern. Now, were there any suggestions during your interface with the people that they should be no-go-areas? To begin with, the president did not give us any no-go- area. In fact, those who are asking that they should be no go areas are only supporting the president. We told people everywhere that we went that the president did not give us any no-go-area. So, there is nothing that is no-go-area for the conference. People are free to suggest anything they want the conference to talk about, nothing is foreclosed and people put it into effect as they suggested all the things in their minds. What makes you so sure that this conference will be different from the past conferences and how can we trust them? Of interest is that most are in support of the dialogue. They believe dialogue is necessary. As for trust I don’t fault any Nigerian that express distrust because all past leaders had not given us reasons to trust them. A person arranged a political conference in 2005 and because of third term agenda the whole thing was dumped. I think we should give President Jonathan the chance to demonstrate his sincerity on the conference. Have you come up with a nomenclature for the conference: is it a national discussion, constitutional conference, or a souvereign national conference?

When we have submitted our recommendations to the president he will brief the press and let you know what we have recommended. How will interest groups, traditional institutions, and professional associations and youth groups be represented? I have already said that the traditional institutions will be represented, but when it comes to the NBA they are a professional body we cannot say every professional group should be represented because we all belong to one profession or the other: teaching is a profession, street cleaning is a profession, so we cannot say every professional group should be represented. Every Nigerian belongs to an organization or another so will be represented. Including youth and women? Yes, women. They are too important and constitutes more half of the population. What will happen to the recommendations of the national conference will it go to the national assembly or be put to the test through referendum as suggested by some. What exactly is the committee working at to ensure that the will of the people is truly represented at the end of the day? These are the opinions that we have got. We have received lots of memoranda saying that all the recommendations of the people be subjected to a referendum. We have also received submissions that the decisions be sent to the National Assembly. There is no unanimity, but I cannot tell you what decision we are going to reach as a committee because we have not yet reached that decision. When we do that we shall submit it to the president. When are you submitting the report to the president? We have a time limit to our assignment. Assuming we are given an extension of time, we are asking for extension of time, even if we are given an extension of time, I believe in at most two weeks our committee will submit its report.

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Special Report

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

How 24 year old boy died in police custody in Kano From Edwin Olofu, Kano

rom what looks like a mere family dispute, it turned out be a tragedy for the family of Alhaji Abdullahi Dangi of Sheka, Tudun Maliki quarters in Kano metropolis. The journey to sorrow for the family began last month during the Eid-el Kabeer celebrations when niece to Abdullahi Dangi’s wife, Sa’a Garba fagge, visited his house to celebrate sallah with the rest of his family. Sadly, 24 year old Hassan Abdullahi Alfa was billed to start his university education outside the shores of this country in Cairo early next year, before his dream was cut short by death. Hasssan was involved in a sharp disagreement with Sa’a over trivial issues which later snowballed into an armed robbery case that eventually ended his life while in the custody of the Kano state Special AntiRobbery squad (SARS) in the headquarters of the Kano state Poliec Command Bompai, Kano. Our correspondent who visited the residence of 62 years old, Alhaji Alfa Abdullahi Dangi of Sheka, tudun Maliki quarters in the Kano metropolis met him weeping profusely while narrating the ordeal. Alfa Abdullahi said “It was not a crisis to me, it is just a family matter but accidentally some people used this opportunity to destroy my family and God willing, they will not achieve their desire. This girl is a niece to one of my wives and recognises me as her father as she calls me daddy. She had come to my house to celebrate sallah with the rest of my family and on the sallah day, she came to me and sought for permission that she wants to invite islamic singers to play at the house for sallah celebration and that I should give her N1,000 for the invitation. I granted her the permission and told her that I could only give her N500 because I don’t have money, that she should go inside the house and gather the remaining N500 from my wives which she did.” Continuing he said “ On the fateful day, I had an appointment at BUK and I didn’t return back home until after 6:00pm. I heard music sound as I approached my residence and when I drew near the house, I

saw islamic musicians playing in front of my house. My neighbors then called me and complained about the performance that exceeded up to maghrib prayer (sunset prayer) time. “ I apologised for the inconvenience and told them that I thought the event would take place before maghrib and i quickly went to stop the musicians from performing, not knowing that they would continue after the prayer.” “When they returned and continued with the performance, I rushed to stop them, telling them that people are complaining. Then the musicians told me that I am not the one who invited them so I should go and talk to Sa’a because she was the one who invited them. I said they are right and went to look for her. “I then called and asked her to tell them to go but she declined, saying that they are not committing bad act so there is no reason to stop them. I then told her to go to somewhere and continue the performance. Then she spoke to me in bad manner, saying that her father also owns a house that I should not brag with my house. I said ok you should move to your father’s house and do it there.” He recounted. lfa Abdullahi added that it was at this point that his two sons, Auwal Abdullahi Alfa and the late Hassan Abdullahi Alfa became provoked, noting that he gave them a word of caution not to react. Alfa said “The girl went to police station and lodged a complaint. I was told that police had came and arrested my two sons that were involved in the fight. When I came out of my house, I saw a Toyota Hiace with plate number of Fagge LG and my sons were already inside it with two police men and men of vigilante group. I even asked my wife, the girl’s aunt, to follow them before I realised that the vehicle doesn’t belong to our LG’s police station. I then told them that my sons would not follow them because the police didn’t belong to our area police station, let the girl go and report at sheka station. They then drove the boys and left. I don’t know where she got those police.” At this point the presumed family dispute has taken a twist, when the police allegedly slammed a case of robbery against them, a case which the

The late Hassan Abdullahi Alfa father of the deceased denied vehemently. Continuing: Alfa added that “An hour later, as I was in my room upstairs, I heard my wives shouting “ La’ilaha illah...police sun shigo mana gida”, meaning “ there is no God but Allah...see police in

our house.” I then came out of my room when I saw five police men inside my house and one of them in mufti, holding a walkie talkie phone and a siren device in his both hands. I approached him and asked him why he entered my house. He said “I am the D.P.O Sheka di-

vision. I sent my boys to arrest your sons but you forcefully didn’t allow them to go”. I then told him that the police men came inside the vehicle belonging to Vigilante group that is why I refused to allow my sons Contd on Page 5

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

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Special Report

How 24 year old boy died in police custody in Kano Contd from Page 4

o follow them because I don’t know where they are taking them to. “Then the D.P.O. said “I have the right to enter every house as I am backed by law.” I then told him that you are backed by law but you are Muslim and Islam doesn’t allow entry into one’s house without permission. Then he said “If I deem it right, I could call JTF now.” “When Sa’a’s uncle who lives near Alfa’s house heard the matter and was furious as he just bumped into my house, not knowing the police men were inside and started beating her up. It was then the DPO, thinking that the man was just a mob that came to attack the girl, he just switched on the siren and spoke in the phone that he needed reinforcement because he was attacked by armed robbers. Instantly, about four police vehicle stormed this area and the police took strategic places. The boys were then arrested and taken to the police station. We then followed them to the police station and the girl claimed that her things, including her handsets were missing and that she wants them back.” He said. “ It was then my neighbour, Maikudi, pleaded with the DPO to settle the matter there because it is a family matter. The DPO refused by saying “ I had already informed all the divisions across the 44 LGs that I was surrounded by armed robbers and I had to go back and settle it.” He continued” later in the evening, Maikudi went to the division again where the DPO told him that he would release Auwalu, one of the arrested boys. Then Maikudi said the DPO should rather keep both of them. When the DPO asked why, Maikudi said because Auwalu is the girl’s cousin while Hassan is the son to her aunt’s co-wife and this could bring another trouble in the family.” Alfa said that “The following morning, when we went to

the station, we saw writing on the blackboard that the boys are thieves because when the girl lodged her complaint at the station, she claimed that her two handsets were missing. Before we went there to settle the matter at the station, to our dismay, he told us that they were referred to Special AntiRobbery Squad, Kano (SARS) on Friday, 18th October 2013. Pathetically, Alfa said he was there when his sons were tortured at the State C.I.D. He even heard them screaming as he was sitting in one office. “ I was there when my sons were tortured and I even heard them screaming because I could recognise my sons’s voices.” lfa also said that it was later the O. C., SARS asked them to settle the matter there and that the boys should not be kept in the cell. “To sympathise with me, and because we were familiar with the officers there, the O.C. SARS asked me to settle the matter there and that my sons shouldn’t be kept in cell, they should be kept in one office, but they didn’t know that the damage has already been done as my sons were brutally tortured. They carried the boys unconsciously and laid them on the ground. They also told me to come the next day for bail and I said ok.” Narrating further, Alfa said “ the next day, early morning around 4:11 am, I received a call from SARS that I should come and take my son because he is vomiting blood. I said from where are you calling me, he said from SARS. As I went to take the boy to hospital, the OC SARS said we should settle the matter there and I said ok. We were summoned by the OC and the girl claimed her two handsets costs N85,000 and N25,000 respectively before we later found that the phones cost N 12,000 only. She then said she didn’t want the money but her phones should be retrieved. I then pleaded with the police to let me go with my sons, I would take care of their situation. It was them they

IGP Mohammed Abubakar

told me that they took Hassan to the Murtala Muhammad Hospital and that they bought him drugs which they gave him orally and asked me to pay for the drug. How would you give drugs orally to an unconscious person?” “ We then took the boy to Almu Memorial Hospital after we lost bed at Murtala Muhammad Hospital and Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital are on strike. After scannings and other medical checkups he died at the hospital of head injuries he sustained during the interrogation. None of them called to condole with me or console me after I informed them that the boy is dead. Contrary to the police claim that the deceased Hassan is suffering from epilepsy, Alfa refuted that claim, saying that his deceased son was suffering from demonic attack and that we have the traditional medication for that attack and when

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lhaji Abdullahi Dangi

brought to test the medicine on the deceased, it didn’t work as he was already dead. Before we confirmed that the boy was beaten up by the police, it was the doctor that confirmed to us that this boy was severely beaten up. “I initially rested my case to God but SARS have now taken me to court by arresting me in the night that I failed to produce bail for the children while they are the ones who provided unsolicited bail to the boys. I also want to confirm if my sons are real armed robbers as stated by the police because all I know my sons are innocent.” rked by the manner Hassan died in detention, Kano state civil society of Nigeria had through A.A Umar & CO petitioned the Inspector General of Police to intervene in the matter. “From all the evidence at our disposal, we have reached the irresistible conclusion

that Hassan Abdullahi Alfa was, indeed, murdered by your men at the Special AntiRobbery Squad, Kano. We hereby give you notice that if after (21) days of the receipt of this letter through courier (DHL EXPRESS), you have not squarely disciplined and prosecuted the culprits, we shall proceed to the next level of our struggle to ensure that the helpless soul of Hassan Abdullahi Alfa fervently begging for justice gets one.” The petition stated. When contacted, the Police Public Relation Officer, ASP Magaji Musa Majia, denied the allegation “The alleged suspects did not die in our custody, the deceased suspect fellill while in detention and was granted bail and was subsequently taken to hospital where he gave up. “Our duty is to protect lives and properties; in that case, we will not be responsible for killing innocent citizen.”

Contrary to the police claim that the deceased Hassan is suffering from epilepsy, Alfa refuted that claim, saying that his deceased son was suffering from demonic attack and that we have the traditional medication for that attack and when brought to test the medicine on the deceased, it didn’t work as he was already dead. Before we confirmed that the boy was beaten up by the police, it was the doctor that confirmed to us that this boy was severely beaten up.

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

News Jonathan recovers, attends London investors meeting

he President, Goodluck Jonathan has presided over a session at the Honorary International Investor Council, HIIC, in London yesterday after full recovery from his brief illness. The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, had issued a statement telling Nigerians that the President was receiving medical attention in London, and was advised to rest for a few days. The President, who had departed Abuja on Wednesday to preside over a three- day meeting of Nigeria’s HIIC, was reported to have taken

ill on Thursday and checked into a London hospital. However, Mr. Abati via Twitter yesterday morning, said the President had recovered and was set to preside over the HIIC meeting. At the meeting, the president apologised to the council members for his absence the previous day. He then stated that his administration had attained significant momentum on the drive to attract new investors into the country and would continue to encourage existing investors. “In 2014, we must not lose this momentum, but rather broaden our interventions to address

other difficult issues like the high cost of financing in the country, and the dearth of adequate skills. “This 15th meeting builds on the last conversation we had in Abuja and begins to address the fundamental issues constraining competitiveness and investment in Nigeria. Competitiveness ultimately drives profitability, which is what investors are seeking worldwide,” he said. He, however, noted that to be competitive, long-standing issues needed to be addressed and courageous reforms introduced. “In building a truly competitive environment for business, we are addressing the fundamental issues

such as internal security and power supply head-on. For the first time in Nigeria’s 53 year history, we have successfully privatised the electric power industry. We are bringing capital, technology, and operational excellence into the sector.” He disclosed that 11 distribution companies, and four generation companies were privatised, with over $3 billion (N476 billion) realised for government. He said that investors were responding positively to the opportunities in the power sector and that government expected significant investments in the sector going forward.

Nigeria’s development frustrated by ethnicity, regionalism, says Tukur By Lawrence Olaoye

ational Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, yesterday ascribed the dearth of infrastructural development in the country to ethnicity, regionalism, nepotism and religion. Tukur, in a statement he released from China where he was on official invitation to assist in strengthening Diplomatic ties and promotion of trade and investments between the country and Nigeria, said the nation has abundant human and natural resources to attain high level of infrastructural advancement like China. He urged the nation’s leaders to show commitment to the process of genuine infrastructure development in the country. Tukur urged Nigerian leaders to launch the initiatives by applying the model of developments handed over to them by the developed countries where they visit very often. He described the level of infrastructural development in China as awesome, stressing that China has been able to attain high level of

development in all areas of human endeavour just within a period of 40 years by being focused and disciplined. He said the reform he was attempting to introduce in PDP had been geared towards giving the party a new orientation meant for members to see the Nigerian government as their own with the mindset to collectively develop it. He said, “When we leaders travel out, we see a lot of mind blowing developments and when we get back home, we simply relax and do nothing to infuse the sense of development in our people. That is the reason we have remained were we are “What we see here in China is awesome, we are talking about the level of infrastructural development, well organized social setting, and the infectious discipline by the Chinese. Though we have our values in Nigeria too, but some of us feel that we still have a lot to learn from China and we have to intensify the process at every point in time. That is why we are in China to forge a synergy with the government and the ruling party in the areas of economic development that would be mutually beneficial”.

Gunmen kill three in fresh attack on Yola From Umar Dankano, Yola

ear has gripped resident of the ancient Jimeta-Yola town following fresh attack on the town leading to the death of three people while several others sustained various degree of injuries. The attack came barely less than a week after the National Assembly approved the extension of the emergency rule in Adamawa State. Residents of the state capital expressed reservation saying the reason behind the emergency rule was defeated if such attacks could be launched on the state capital despite the high presence of security operatives who have been manning strategic positions in the town. Eyewitness es told PEOPLES DAILY correspondent that the

attackers who stormed the area in a commando manner, were unchallenged as the operation lasted despite the proximity of the area under attack to a military check point. The attack which occured at Kasuwar Gwari, was targeted at the members of Civilian JTF who are on the prowl for Boko Haram insurgents, eyewitnesses said. ‘’ The attackers numbering about eight struck the popular market, and only shot those that are identified as members of Civilian JTF”. Efforts to speak with the Brigade Commander of the 23rd Armoured Brigade, Brigadier General Fattai Oladipo Alli could not yield results as journalists who were in his office to seek clarifications over the development were told that he was too busy to talk to the press.

Gov. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso of Kano state , inspecting the progress of work at the multi-billion naira flyover being constructed at Kofar Nasarawa, on thursday in Kano city. Photo: Govt. House, Kano.

700,000 persons infected with HIV/AIDS in Benue From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

ver 700,000 persons out of a population of 4.3million people are said to be living with HIV/AIDS in Benue State. The state co-ordinator of People Living With HIV/ AIDS, PLWHA Mr. Syephen Yongo who disclosed this at a one day HIV/ AIDS Review Meeting of Media Forum organized by the Ministry of Information and Orientation

in conjunction with the Benue State Action Committee on AIDS, BENSACA, noted that of the number, only 50,000 people living with the virus are members of the Benue Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in the state. Mr. Yongo called for attitudinal change towards the disease and advised the public to stop discriminating those living with the disease in order to reduce its spread. The PLWHA co-ordinator

disclosed that his association has sent an anti Stigmatization bill to the State House of Assembly that also seek punitive measures against willful infection of innocent people by those already living with the virus. Benue State has continued to rank tops in HIV/AIDS prevalence in the country with a sentinel rate of 12.7. This is as a result of high rate of prostitution especially amongst teenage girls.

Recently kidnapped Sokoto businessman dies From Mahmoud Sokoto

Muhammad,

Sokoto-based multimillionaire, Alhaji Abu Dankure, who was kidnapped at gunpoint by unknown kidnappers two weeks ago, died in the early hours of yesterday at his residence. Alhaji Dankure died around three o’clock in the morning. Late Dankure had been battling the high blood pressure even before he was kidnapped. A source revealed to our

reporter in Sokoto that Abu Dankure complained of minor fever and headache before he was taken to Usman Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital(UDUTH) Sokoto for medical examination, where he gave up. Though, until the time of filling this report, no official statement came from the family or the government, Peoples Daily Weekend findings revealed that since Dankure was released after the kidnap, he looked healthy and was carrying out his normal business until Thursday

when he was advised to go for treatment and examination. Alhaji Abu Dankure was last month abducted by gunmen in Sokoto and freed after the alleged payment of N50 millionransom. His family coughed out N30 million while the state paid N20 million. The most popular local millionaire of Sokoto has been buried in Sokoto yesterday. Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wammakko of Sokoto, who is also his associate, yesterday expressed shock over the demise of Abu Dankure.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

2014 Budget

What are Jonathan, NASS up to? For the second time in two years, Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan is poised to present the 2014 budget but technical obstacles which were ordinarily surmounted in the past, are about to stall presentation. Why are the executive and the legislature up in arms this time. In this analysis, News Editor, Abubakar Ibrahim and Bureau Chief, Adesoji Oyinlola (Lagos) and correspondents Ikechukwu Okaforadi & Umar Muhammad Puma (Abuja) take a critical look at the issues with unanimity that the political climate towards the 2015 polls may influence the early or late passage of the budget.

President Goodluck Jonathan

PAGE 7

y tomorrow (Sunday), political watchers will be waiting with baited breath to hear the outcome of the meeting between President Goodluck Jonathan and the seven rebel Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) governors popularly called the G7. It is common knowledge that consequent on the outcome of the August congress of the party, the battle for its soul accentuated with demands for return of democratic values, ouster of Bamanga Tukur, the National Chairman, lifting of suspension on some members and of course, assurance from the president not to run for a second term. The war also went to the National Assembly with members balkanized along intra-party loyalties. And so for aborting his plans Tuesday for the second time in two weeks, to present the 2014 Appropriation Bill to the joint sitting of the National Assembly, rumours have been further fuelled that all is not well between the President and the National Assembly. Apart from the sharp disagreement on the oil benchmark for the 2014 budget, one other factor that probably forced President Jonathan to stay away from the National Assembly is the intractable crisis rocking the PDP, leading to a split in the rank of the party boasting to be the biggest political party in Africa. A member of the upper chamber of the National Assembly who confided in this paper noted that this is the first time President Jonathan will be visiting the National Assembly since the beginning of his face off with the G7 governors and the Kawu Barajeled faction of the PDP and as such, the presidency dread a repeat of what happened during PDP’s last convention when some members of the party, including the G7 governors and other prominent members of the party staged a walk-out from the Eagle Square venue of the convention to kickstart a parallel convention while the President was making his speech. Budget presentation and passage has remained one critical aspect of the Nigeria’s economy which has attracted widespread dispute between the President and the parliament. This dispute, more often, has resulted in budget delay or outright failures. The last year’s budget presentation by President Goodluck Jonathan, experienced similar difficulty before it was eventually passed by the parliament and subsequently signed by the President. However, unlike the 2013 budget which saw sincere commitment by both the parliament and the executive towards its early passage, the 2014 budget started on a very unimpressive note, which till now, still hounds its successful resolution and passage by both arms of government. It would be recalled that in September, the Chairman of the

Cover Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Itah Enang, raised an alarm that the National Assembly was yet to receive the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and the Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) from the executive. MTEF and FSP are important documents, which contain the critical budget parameters like the oil benchmark, exchange rate and barrels of oil per day, borrowing rate, interest rate, Foriegn debt, projected non oil revenue, among others. Based on this alarm raised by a ranking senator, there were speculated reports that the 2014 budget will be delayed, which may result in another budget failure as was the case with the 2013 budget. Even though in the Second week of September, shortly after the parliamentarians returned from their annual break, the Presidency sent the MTEF and the FSP, but that was not capable of shelving the crisis which would mount against the 2014 budget. It would be recalled that President Jonathan in the MTEF and FSP he sent to the National Assembly, pegged the oil benchmark at $74 per barrel, for the 2014 budget. International Brent Crude sells at $110 per barrel at present. In the same vein, he placed daily barrel production at 2.3883 million, at an exchange rate of N160 per dollar. Whereas the gross federation revenue for the 2014 is placed at N10.519.27 trillion, N6,814.43 trillion is gross oil revenue, while non-gross oil revenue is N3,288.58 trillion. Meanwhile, oil benchmark has been the greatest bane of executivelegislative harmony in the recent history of Nigeria’s political economy. s democracy demands, a joint session of the National Assembly Committees on Finance and Appropriation, met and picked figures different from the oil benchmark projected by the President. After a joint consideration of the MTEF and the FSP by the relevant standing committees of both chambers, the Senate adopted $76.5 oil benchmark, while the House of Representatives adopted $79 per barrel. Reacting to this discordant tune in oil benchmark in the National Assembly, Jonathan suspended the 2014 budget presentation indefinitely. In a letter he sent to the parliament, President Jonathan said, “considering the fact that, whereas the distinguished Senate has approved the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) based on a benchmark of $76.5 per barrel, the Honourable House of Representatives has used a benchmark of $79 per barrel.” Based on the foregoing, he said “it is not feasible for me to present the budget in the absence of a harmonised position on the MTEF. In the circumstance, it has

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

Cover What are Jonathan, NASS up to?

Senate President, David Mark

Contd from Page 7 become necessary to defer the presentation of the 2014 Budget to a Joint Session of the National Assembly until such a time when both respected chambers would have harmonised their positions on the MTEF.” It would be recalled that the 2014 budget submission to the parliament had been shelved by President Jonathan for two consecutive times, primarily due to shortcomings on the part of the legislature. The first reason was because of the inability of the National Assembly to conclude deliberations on the MTEF and FSP, while the second reason was because of the disagreement between the Senate and the House of Representatives to reach a consensus on a common oil benchmark for next year’s budget. Meanwhile, there are divergent speculations over the genuine reason why the President has suspended the budget indefinitely. There are views that claim that the crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are the major reason behind the inability of President Goodluck Jonathan to present the 2014 budget. According to the story, this would be a retaliation to the insult meted out on the Kawu Baraje faction of PDP and the G7Governors, when they came to brief the leadership of National Assembly on the crisis in the ruling party. It would be recalled that a free for all broke out at the House of Representatives when a member from Bayelsa State, Mr. Henry Ofongo, was punched and shoved repeatedly by his colleagues for daring to oppose the visit of the nPDP. His jacket was pulled off by some members. ost of the members who crowded Ofongo, were from Kano State, including Mr. Aminu Suleiman, Mr. Baballe Mukhtar, Mr. Ali Madakaki and Mr. Ado Doguwa. Mr. Dakuku Peterside and Andrew Uchendu, both from Rivers State, also

Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal

shoved Ofongo, preventing him from moving close to the high table. In the ensuing fracas, other members , who were in solidarity with Ofongo, attempted to throw chairs. One of the lawmakers, who lifted a chair but was prevented from throwing it, was Mr. Ini Udoka from Akwa Ibom State. Mr. Emmanuel Okon, also from Akwa Ibom State, joined the fighting on the side of Ofongo. Udoka and Okon, like Afongo, are proBamanga Tukur-led National Working Committee of the PDP lawmakers. The governors in the New PDP that visited the lawmakers were Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto); Babangida Aliyu (Niger); Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano); Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers); Sule Lamido (Jigawa); Murtala Nyako (Adamawa); and Abdul-Fatai Ahmed (Kwara). Members of the Senate were also not left out of the crisis that greeted the visit of the nPDP to the National Assembly. The PDP crisis also resonated in the Senate when two members openly disagreed over the status of the nPDP in the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly. Senate President David Mark saved the embarrassing situation from festering as he deftly averted a possible fisticuff between the New and old PDP in the House during the recent visit by the former. There was a stand-off between Senators Smart Adeyemi and Danjuma Mohammed Goje over factions in the PDP. Goje announced the birth of the New PDP while Adeyemi demanded him to withdraw the statement believing there is no faction in the PDP or in the Senate chamber. Goje’s refusal resulted in

“

tension and stalemate in the House. Trouble started during a motion on the demise of former Ondo State governor, Dr. Olusegun Kokumo Agagu, when Senator Goje got up to pay tribute to a former colleague. Goje recalled how he and Agagu served as ministers of state for power and steel in the Obasanjo administration. In the course of his tribute, Goje referred to himself as a member of the New PDP which he said was formed in 1998 under the chairmanship of Alhaji Kawu Baraje. This time around, according to a source, the efforts by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, to pacify the aggrieved members into allowing Jonathan to present the budget, did not yield fruit, as they insisted on taking their pound of flesh when the President comes. Another unconfirmed source said the aggrieved Baraje faction of the House of Representatives had given to the Speaker a condition that those members who booed Baraje and the G7 governors, should set up a committee to visit and tender an unreserved apology to the leaders of the faction. They demanded that the apology must be published in the national dailies and broadcast station, and be given very wide publicity, but the faction of members loyal to President Jonathan refused to undertake such move. From another point of view, a source who did not want to be named confirmed to Peoples Daily that Jonathan may have decided to postpone the budget presentation because some members of the opposition are not too comfortable with the implementation of the 2013 budget.

Continuing, the source said a deal has been struck by the New PDP, other liberal-minded main PDP members as well as the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) members, to ensure that nothing was dropped from the oil benchmark passed by the House.

According to another source, “it is because of what happened on September 17, when New PDP leaders who came last time and two factions of the PDP engaged in a free-for-all. We don’t want that to happen again”. Following the incident, some New PDP members reportedly promised to do same to Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and President Jonathan should they come to the House for anything. “I was in my house when a member called me that the president would not be coming any longer because he learnt that we are going to harass him. You remember what happened when our leaders led by Kawu Baraje came here. They harassed them and cause commotion. So they’re afraid that we’ll do the same thing to the President,” said the source. serving Senator from one of the South west states said some of the scenarios reeled out as capable of stopping the President’s visit to the National Assembly are scaring enough to even a man whose heart is made of steel. Meanwhile, Chairman House of Representatives committee and media, Rep. Zakari Mohammed disputed the claims by the President on the oil benchmark, citing example with the last year when the House passes its MTEF and the Senate did not, and still went a head to receive the budget estimate. “The bases for Mr. President position is that unless we have a harmonized position, but what I’m trying to let Nigerians know is that it is not our fault that the budget is not presented, if we have to go by the relevant laws of the fiscal responsibility Act, section 11, 1 a b and c, the coming of the MTEF to National Assembly is delayed, initially it was supposed to come six month earlier and we received it only on 17th September”. “But we will still go a head and do the consideration of the MTEF, but of course everybody is going to do his own part of the bargain as the law permit”. On when the House is expected to

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

PAGE 9

Cover What are Jonathan, NASS up to?

Members of the House of Reps in a rancorous session

Contd from Page 8 commence the harmonization with the Senate, Zakari said, “the procedure is very clear, we would raised a conference committee of the House and of course the Senate, which would take some few days for them to work on. I’m sure that as these things role by, as a responsible institution we are definitely going to follow these issues with so much interest”. When asked on the alleged plan by the opposition to boo the President over the poor performance of 2013 budget, Zakari denied having such plan by any opposition member. According to him, “this is an allegation, and I don’t want to act on allegation and speculation, the House is made up of responsible people who hold the office of the President in high esteem, the office of the President is an institution that must be respected”, he said. Conversely, a source said some New PDP lawmakers had allegedly connived with the opposition to frustrate any move by the Presidency to push the House of Representatives into backing down on the $79 per barrel it adopted as the oil benchmark for 2014. Continuing, the source said a deal has been struck by the New PDP, other liberal-minded main PDP members as well as the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) members, to ensure that nothing was dropped from the oil benchmark passed by the House. In what look like a confirmation of the lawmakers stiff stand on the

$79 oil benchmark, Minority leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila said progressive lawmakers insisted on the benchmark because there is no basis for change. bajabiamila in a statement explained that the MTEF is a 3 year rolling plan and not an annual plan or guide to the budget. According to him, MTEF was conceptualized as the basis for the budget in the next 3 years and unless there is a major and compelling reasons for a change in assumption and projections in any given year, there cannot and should not be any material change to the MTEF especially within its first year. Besides that, the House of Representatives has cast doubt over earnings from crude oil for this year especially the fate of surplus earnings since the crude price hovered around $100 and above. The House on Thursday ordered another round of investigation into crude oil sales and remittances by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. The focus of the fresh investigation is on the “volume and value of crude oil sales and remittances” by the corporation from January 2013 to date. The investigation, which will last four weeks, is to be conducted by an ad-hoc committee of the House following a motion moved by Mr. Haruna Manu, who raised the alarm that about $13.9bn crude oil revenue could not be accounted for by the NNPC. Manu, who quoted from statistics allegedly generated by the NNPC, told the House that the

value for crude sales from January to August stood at $20.9bn but only $7bn was remitted to the Federation Account by the corporation. “This shows that $13.9bn is not accounted for and it raises questions about how it was spent”, Manu said,adding that from September to date, the corporation had not given an account of crude oil sales. However, on his part, Jonathan’s Chief Political Adviser, Ahmed Gulak, debunked claims that the budget presentation was cancelled because of alleged plans by lawmakers loyal to the factional PDP group otherwise known as New PDP to boo or embarrass the President during the event. According to Gulak, “This is not true. First, the President is not scared of anybody and secondly, the PDP is one strong united party and as such, no one can embarrass the President in the National Assembly. “These people are not on ground. They do not even know how to do political calculation properly. They should stay in their states and develop them and make

“

impact in their respective states instead of doing things that will not profit them.” He also advised aggrieved members of the party to seek redress through appropriate channels or leave the party honourably. Recall that there was an uproar in the House on Thursday, two weeks ago when some members of the House led by Rep Ali Madaki (PDP, Kano) attempted to stop Jonathan’s budget presentation as a result of poor budget implementation. While the lawmakers argued that the 2013 budget implementation is below 40 percent, minister of finance had said it was above 70 percent. owever, a lawmaker who is a supporter of the president told our reporters that if Tambuwal did not do anything to stop the New PDP members from their planned action, the House would be ungovernable for him. He added, “Yes, I heard that they’re planning to embarrass the president when he comes. The Speaker must do something about it, because if he allows them, we’ll make the House ungovernable for him in the next one year.

However, a lawmaker who is a supporter of the president told our reporters that if Tambuwal did not do anything to stop the New PDP members from their planned action, the House would be ungovernable for him.

“You know it’s all about this New PDP leaders who came last time and there was a fight. We don’t want to join issues with anybody, but we’ll wait for them and see. How can some few people say the president should not come?” The two factions of the PDP engaged in a free-for-all on September 17 when leadership of the New PDP under the leadership of Kawu Baraje visited the House. Following the incident, some New PDP members reportedly promised to do same to Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and President Jonathan should they come to the House for anything. The crisis also stalled sitting of the House for weeks as the leadership of the House was forced to send committees on oversight functions for three weeks. Another reason given by a source was that the National Assembly staff planned to use the opportunity to protest during Jonathan’s budget presentation over unpaid salaries and allowances. Owing to that, the management of the National Assembly did not take any security chances. In a statement on Monday, it ordered all banks and eateries within the premises to close shop. It also directed workers below Grade Level 14 not to resume duties until 2pm when the budget presentation at the joint sitting of the Senate and House of Representatives would have been rounded off. With all eyes transfixed at the political brinkmanship supposedly tearing the major administrative actors, how much effect would it have had on probity and good governance as we approach the 2015 polls? Only time will tell.

PAGE 10

News

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

NBA wants referendum on confab decision, doubts INEC’s 2015 readiness From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia

he Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has said it would support the national conference being proposed by President Goodluck Jonathan only if the report of the conference shall not be altered by government but subjected to a referendum. The NBA gave the condition yesterday in a speech delivered by its president, Okey Wali

(SAN), in an opening address he delivered at the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the association, holding at the Taal Conference Hotel, Lafia, Nasarawa state. While commending President Jonathan’s independent day declaration that there will be a national dialogue, the NBA, however, warned it would only support it if the report from the conference shall be final, binding and validated by Nigerians

through a referendum. In its annual state of the nation address, the NBA decried the elevation of political activities by elected officials over the provision of leadership and good governance, stressing that a situation where elected political office holders devote more time to political activities and meetings, cannot be right. “Our nation continues to trudge on slowly but surely; we have all witnessed acts that are

Trade and Investment Minister Olusegun Aganga left President Goodluck Jonathan and the Co ordinator of the Council, Baroness Lynda Chalker Making her Opening Remark at the Honorary International Investors Council HIIC Meeting on Firday at the London Hilton

Bello is Wakili Odeyi of Ebira

lhaji Yunusa Bello has been crowned the Wakili Odeyi Ani of Ebira in Karu local government area of Nasarawa state. The leader, whose enthronement was marked with traditional dances and other religious celebrations by his people, promised to carry the symbol and cultural heritage

of the Ebira in Karu with pious dignity adding that he would endeavour to be fair to all as their head. “My people believed in me, that was why they gave me a job to do and I have accepted to serve them. I will carry the symbol Ebira and uphold our traditional and religious values with dignity. I promise to stick

not only heating up the polity, but we have observed practices that are antithetical to the principles of the rule of law and respect for human rights”, the NBA president stated. The NBA noted that visionary leadership is time consuming and important, adding that the association refused to join those who choose to play politics with everything including the lives of fellow human beings and events of serious national significance by reducing it to primordial politics. Reviewing the just concluded governorship election in Anambra state, the NBA expressed doubts over the efficiency of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying that the inconclusiveness of the election and the serious operational and logistics challenges that gave rise to the supplementary elections, have created doubts in the minds of Nigerians, regarding the preparedness of INEC to conduct acceptable elections in 2015. The association urged that all officials identified to have compromised their oath of office and official functions in the conduct of the Anambra election should be arrested and prosecuted, calling on the INEC and the National Assembly to move fast and finalize the promulgation of the Electoral Offences Commission Act to deal with the arrest and prosecution of electoral offenders.

to my oath of office,” he assured stressing values that bind them together must be sustained. He called on all Ebiras to remain united and work for the harmonious existence of all Nigerians. He for the people and thanked the Etsu karu, Governor Alhaji Umaru Tanko Almakura and the entire nation as a whole.

Unijos wins 8m dollars World Bank grant for research

he University of Jos has received an eight million dollar grant from the World Bank to establish an African Centre for Excellence for research on the production of drugs from plants (phytomedicine). The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof Hayward Mafuyai, made the fact known in Jos yesterday when he briefed newsmen on the research activities of the institution. He said that the award was given based on the university’s entry in the call by the bank for research initiatives from African universities. ``We competed with about

52 universities in Africa and we were lucky to win the grant. The grant was given to the university to conduct researches to produce modern drugs from plants in Africa ``The grant will be used to conduct researches on different leaves, roots and plants so as to extract their medicinal contents for the use of human beings. ``The team of researchers from the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science will carry out the research. The money will be released to the researchers in phases so as to complete the work without hitches, `` he said The vice-chancellor also said

that the university emerged as the best in the category of universities in the country during the second Education Innovation Exhibition announced in Abuja on Wednesday, Nov. 13. He said that “the Federal Ministry of Education in collaboration with Federal Ministry of Science and Technology organised the exhibition. ``The team of researchers from the university has produced some drugs for the use of Nigerians. Our researchers have produced anti-hypertension, antidiabetes, anti-malaria drugs and anti snake venom. ``We have sent the newly de-

veloped drugs to some overseas universities for further verification on their potency,`` he said Mafuyai said that the institution had also signed a Memorandum (MoU) of Understanding with the university of Cape- Coast in Ghana to train its staff. ``The MOU is signed for initial three year duration for the purpose of mythology: to develop and carry out conservation based training,`` he said. The vice-chancellor appealed to philanthropists to come to the aid of the university so that it could become the best in the country.

Group wants constitution translated into major languages By Patrick Andrew

nless Nigerians adopt an inclusive attitude towards governance, maladministration, orchestrated by poor leadership and corruption, will remain a sore thumb in the nation’s political space. Also, unless the Nigerian constitution is translated the major local languages of the people the document would remain foreign instrument to the majority of the citizens. These were the conclusions drawn by the Nigerian Economic and Political Action Committee (NEPAC), a non-partisan organization which wants to ensure that citizens accept a regime of “knowledge” by sharing with others and embracing fundamental obligations” that will advance the course of democratic government. The organization, which was launched recently, believes Nigerians are duty bound to assist the nation and fellow citizens to generate credible leaders that nurture the dreams and aspirations of the citizens to fruition through conscious developmental programmes. “Despite its huge natural resources and human endowment, the nation is being grounded by the yokes of unemployment, lack of electricity, housing, healthcare. These problems continue to be entrenched and indeed exacerbated by institutional corruption, tribal and religious violence and undemocratic institutions and economic and social injustices,” Dr. Godson Nnaka, the Interim Director General of the organization said in a statement. NEPAC, the statement said, will fill a “functional gap and provide a credible alternative to citizens ignorance, apathy and reclusiveness,” adding that it is poised, as the first true political action committee, willing to raise logistics in support of visionary candidates seeking elective political offices irrespective of political or religious affiliations. Further, the organization said rather than being quick to blame the government and political office holders, citizens must raise to the challenge of electing persons they feel are capable of delivering service equitably. Accordingly, it says it would embark on “translation of Nigerian constitution into major native/local languages to enhance citizens’ knowledge of the foundational document governing our lives in Nigeria. It added to sustain the drive for accountable leadership citizens must come together to bridge the gap between government and the led. Speaking during the launching, former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national publicity secretary, Prof. Rufai Alkali, said citizens should mobilize and insist on good governance through participatory action rather than indulging in blame game and tribal/religious sentiment. Also, former national secretary of Alliance for Democracy, Dr Udenta Udenta, urged citizens to form action committee through they would canvass for good governance and resist the passive attitude of staying aloof from national political matters.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

PAGE 11

News

NDDC board: Monarchs urge Jonathan to beware of saboteurs From Adewinle Adegoke, Akure

he traditional rulers in Ondo State have appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan and the National Assembly to be wary of the activities of some unscrupulous politicians from the Niger- Delta region who are out to discredit some nominees on the board of the NDDC in order to pave way for their candidates because of their selfish interests. Traditional Rulers from the oil producing communities of the state also hailed the nomination of Dr. Enikuomehin as the state representative on the NDDC board. The Alagho of Odonla and the National Deputy Chairman of Traditional Rulers of Oil Producing Communities of Nigeria (TROPCON), Oba Elias Ikuomola who spoke on behalf of the traditional rulers in the area thanked the state governor, Dr. Olusegun

Anambra supplementary guber election holds Nov 30 By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

hairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega yesterday disclosed that supplementary election in Anambra state will hold on Saturday 30th November, just as the commission said about 183 election offenders that were arrested for various miscellaneous electoral offences have been arrested and would face prosecution. “It was thorough accreditation that we did that aided the arrest of those of them from Osun State, they forged the documents they had with them, they did not come to Awka to collect their accreditation, rather they camped in Owerri, some of them have been arraigned before a Magistrate Court” He noted that that notwithstanding calls from certain quarters for total cancellation of the election held on 16 November, he however stressed that “in spite of all accusation and complaints, there is no substantial evidence to support outright cancellation”. Jega explained that the call by the All Progressive Congress (APC) for the cancellation of the election, premised on the party’s petition to the commission is not tenable and would not make INEC to cancel the Saturday 16 th November election. “All the allegations by APC were repetition by the APC candidate, Chief Chris Ngige that has already been replied to by INEC. The allegation of disenfranchisement by APC will be investigated. We will leave no matter uninvestigated. The petition does not warrant the cancellation of the election. Jega however regretted the shortcomings of the commission in the Anambra election “We regret shattering the expectations of Nigerians, but we did our best under very difficult circumstances to have free, fair and credible election”.

Mimiko for the nomination of Dr. Benson Enikuomehin for the NDDC job expressing hope that his reappointment on the board will bring more development to the area. Oba Ikuomola said the entire Traditional Rulers from the oil producing area of the state had unanimously endorsed the nomination of Dr. Benson Enikuomehin who he said performed creditably well when he was in the commission during Larry Konye’s led board. They appealed to members of the National Assembly from the state to speak with one voice and rise in support of Enikuomehin’s nomination The monarch explained that the transparency, steadfastness and accessibility nature of the nominee when he was on the board, encouraged them to rally round him as he never handled issues related to the welfare of the people in the area with levity.

L-R: . Deputy Commissioner, Finance and Administration, National Insurance Commission, Mr George Onekhena; Minister of State for Finance, Dr Yerima Ngama; Commissioner of Finance, Mr Fola Daniel and Managing Director, Islamic Finance Institute of South Africa, Dr Zayad Muhammed, at the takaful and micro-insurance stakeholders workshop, yesterday in Lagos.

Atiku in secret meeting with IBB, Abdusalami, Aliyu From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

ormer Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was on Friday sighted at Minna, Niger state capital, ahead of the 25th Coronation anniversary of the Emir of Minna, Alhaji Umar Farouk Bahago which comes up today, Saturday, November 23, 2013 at his palace ground. Upon his arrival at about 12 noon, the Adamawa state born politician and alleged arrow head of the recently formed Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM, and his convoy went to pay a courtesy visit on the state Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu at his private residence at Tunga community of the township. Peoples Daily Weekend findings reveal that after a closed door meeting with Aliyu, which lasted for about 35 minutes, Atiku and

his retinue of aides and associates proceeded to the Up Hill residence of the former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida to pay homage to the former Nigerian leader. It was further gathered that the former Vice President’s convoy arrived the Up Hill residence of General Babangida at about 12:45 pm after which he was received by his host as they both proceeded to the inner chambers of the Mosque inside the palatial building. It was no sooner than Atiku who was dressed in a white guinea brocade {Babanriga} and a white pair of leather slippers to match arrived at the Minna home of the Babangidas that they were joined by a former Military Head of State, General Abubakar A. Abdulsalam who was chauffer driven from his nearby house also on the hill top into the expansive compound in a black colour BMW Car at about 1:

pm. Journalists who were resident at Minna and its environs got wind of Atiku’s arrival at the Up Hill residence of the former Military President , and trooped to the place in the hope of having a brief interview with the visitor with regards to the lingering crisis in the PDP and the way out including the Federal Government’s extension of an additional three months state of emergency at Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states. Concerted efforts by Journalists to speak with Alhaji Atiku before he went for Friday Jumat prayer with the two former leaders at the Central Mosque, Minna was quite unsuccessful, as some eagle eyed Security aides to General Babangida politely informed the Journalists to delegate few of their colleagues to wait behind inside the compound to book interview appointment with former

Vice President while the rest of the newsmen should go out of the compound. The Journalists quickly obliged and went out of the compound quietly with the view to contact Mr. Shehu Garba, the Media Aide to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar on the possibilities of getting interview appointment with the latter shortly after the Jumat prayers on Friday. The trio of Atiku, Babangida and Abdulsalam proceeded to the Friday Jumat prayer at about 1: 45 pm at the Central Mosque Minna in a convoy of about 20 vehicles convoy , just as some of the journalists and their camera men laid siege outside the entrance gate of General Babangida’s Uphill residence Minna, hoping that they might still be lucky to be there until the return of the leaders from the Mosque to the house, but all in vain.

Kwankwaso signs Kano Justice Reform bill into law From Edwin Olofu, Kano

o fast track the administration of justice and ultimately reduce congestion in prisons in Kano state, Governor, Rabi’u Kwankwaso has signed into law the state Justice Reform bill sequel to its assent by the state legislature. Kwankwaso who was spoke shortly after signing the bill yesterday at the Government House in Kano, explained that it was aimed at ensuring that people get justice expeditiously, since justice delayed is justice denied.

He lamented how people spend years awaiting trail owing to bottlenecks in the judicial system, explaining that the law will eliminate most of the bottle necks and ease work for judicial officers. Governor Kwankwaso added that his administration recently constructed and furnished new magistrate and Shari’ah courts across the state to ensure smooth dispensation of justice and urged judicial officers to reciprocate the gesture by being above board in the discharge of their duties. In a related development, the

chairman, Kano state Task Force on Drugs and state NDLEA Commandant, Garba Ahmed has presented the task force’s interim report to the state governor. The chairman disclosed that in the past two months, it has been able to confiscate about 655kg of illicit substances along with a court order to destroy some of them. He added that about 163 people were also arrested on drugs related offences out of which 45 were prosecuted and convicted. The chairman added that the task force also sent 35 drug-dependent

people to the psychiatric hospital at Dawanau while 60 others are awaiting evacuation to Kiru Reformatory. Receiving the report, Kwankwaso urged traditional, religious and other leaders to step up efforts in tacking the menace of drug abuse in their respective communities. He then thanked the Task Force on Drugs for doing a job well-done urging it not to relent in prosecuting the anti drug war. The state government, he assured, will continue to support them to succeed in their assignment.

PAGE 12

Photo Splash

People admiring one of the 37 turbines at the 10 mw power windmill project at Rimi, Yesterday in Katsina state.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

Cartons of frozen poultry products seized by the Nigeria Customs Service at Seme border on Thursday, in Lagos

Corps marshal, FRSC, Osita Chidoka (l), Representative of the Minister of Works, Mr. Bala Danshehu (2nd-L) and other officials of the ministry, during an advocacy visit of stakeholders on bicycle transportation in Nigeria to the Minister of Works. Yesterday in Abuja

Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA) official arrests a commercial bus driver in front of the National Stadium at Surulere, on Thursday in Lagos,

Rubbles from demolished illegal structures at Dutse, on Thursday in Abuja Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

PAGE 13

News

NSUBEB to sanction saboteurs of basic education policies From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia

he Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board has threatened to prosecute any of its staff members found to be collaborating with local education authority staff to frustrate government policies and programmes.

The board made its resolve known via a press release in Lafia yesterday, signed by its secretary, Ahmed Yakubu Ubangari. The statement said the board, following discoveries that despite Governor Umaru Tanko Al-makura’s effort to uplift basic education in the state, an alleged cabal with-

in NSUBEB, together with their collaborators in the LEAs, has continued to frustrate this laudable effort. To this end, the statement added, the board has already constituted a committee to investigate those involved and their level of their involvement to enable

it prosecute them in accordance with relevant laws. The statement equally alleged that the said cabal in NSUBEB with their collaborators in the LEAs and the ministry for local government and chieftaincy affairs is specialized in illegal recruitment of primary school

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in a handshake with HRH Emir of Minna Alhaji Umaru Bahago and center is General Abdusslami Abubakar during a special Jumat service to mark the 25th anniversary of the Emir of Minna's reign on the throne, on Friday in Minna..

Gov. Dankwanbo receives Igbinedion varsity Ph.D award

ov. lbrahim Dankwambo of Gombe will be among the 12 people who will be awarded doctorate degrees of the Igbinedion University, Okada in Edo on November 30. The university’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Eghosa Osaghae, made this known at a news conference to herald the 11th convocation of the institution on Thursday in Okada. He said Dankwambo, who would be awarded Doctors of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Accountancy, `had successfully defended his thesis.’’ He said the university would also conferred honourary doctorate degrees on Mr Kingskey Kuku, Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Amnesty and Rev. Mathew. (NAN)

FCTA begins demolition of illegal structures in Kuje

he Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Department of Development Control on Friday demolished some illegal structures in Prison Command area of Kuje, Abuja. Head of Public Relations of the department, Mr Kalu Emetu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the structures being demolished in Kuje were built on sites allocated for Abuja rail track. He advised Abuja residents to always make proper enquiries about lands they intend to acquire. ``We do not remove structures for the fun of it. The structures being demolished in Kuje were built on the rail track and now that work is progressing on the railway, the structures have to go,’’ Emetu said. Some affected residents of Kuje, however, lamented their loss as a result of the demolition. Mr Abakan Mandi, an elder of a demolished church, ‘Household of Total Liberation Church’’, said that the demolition caused hardship to members of the congregation. Mandi said the church received demolition notice on November 6 but did not expect the exercise to

commence so soon. ``Some people came around and said that our church was built on rail track and that they wanted to clear the area for the rail track, and they started demolishing everywhere,’’ he said. He said that the church acquired the land from some indigenes of Kuje and regularised the papers in Kuje Area Council. Another resident, who is also a civil servant, Jacob Adamu, lamented the loss of his house which he said he saved for several years to build. “I have been saving for several years just to build this house so I can accommodate myself and my family. Where do I start from now,’’ he lamented. Mr Paul Ajifowowe, also a resident of Kuje, said that indigenes of the area took advantage of delay in constructing the rail track to start allocating the land to people. He said the earlier settlers in the area were resettled by government only for the indigenes to sell the land to unsuspecting buyers. ``Since the designing of the rail track, the initial allocations were revoked and the affected people were relocated to other areas.

teachers since 2007. This discovery was made sequel to innumerable complaints by teachers on stagnation in their promotions and non-implementation of their wages in line with their grade levels. Preliminary investigations also revealed that those illegally recruited get their promotions and salary upgrades as and when due. Similarly, the cabal and their collaborators in government and political circles have allegedly constituted a stumbling block to the laudable education policies by the present administration for their selfish ends. For instance, despite the directive for the full implementation of the epayment policy in the state, the compliance level is still negligible because compliance would expose their corrupt practices and the corresponding corrupt benefits. Reading the riot act to those specialized in this criminality, the chairman of the board, Mallam Abdulkarim Mohammad Abdullahi, said when the committee, which has Alhaji Umaru Husseini and Habila Alaku as chairman and secretary respectively, make public their report, those indicted must be prosecuted unlike previous practices which allows the perpetrators of such crimes go without retribution.

OAU Professor of Nuclear Physics missing in Akwa-Ibom

By Mike Etim, Uyo

he Academic Staff Union of Universities, Obafemi Awolowo University Branch, ASUU-OAU, has announced the missing of one of its Academic Staff, Professor James Bolarinwa Olomo in Eket Akwa Ibom State. Giving insight to Professor Olomo’s movement in a statement signed by the Chairman ASSU-OAU, Ile Ife, Professor Adegbola Akinola in Uyo yesterday, Professor Olomo, a Professor of Nuclear Physics, Obafemi Awolowo Univer-

sity was said to have travelled to Eket, Akwa Ibom State on Thursday November 17, 2013 purportedly as a Radiation Safety Adviser, (RSA). Olomo, the statement said he lodged in Hotel Farlem located at No. 8 Archibong Street Afaha, Eket between the 17th - 20thOctober 2013. According to the statement, Professor Olomo was reported to have left the hotel early in the morning of October 20 and had since not returned even to retrieve his personal effects which he left in his hotel room.

CHANGE OF NAME I FORMERLY KNOWN AS GRACE AYUBA MANGA NOW WISH TO BE CALLED AS GRACE AYUBA OF SALKA, NIGER STATE. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC TO TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME I FORMERLY KNOWN AS MISS RAFIA YAHAYA SAHABI NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AS MRS RAFIA YAHAYA SAHABI. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. UDUS, NYSC AND GENERAL PUBLIC TO TAKE NOTE.

PAGE 14

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

Crime Cycle

Stanley Onyekwere pmlcrimecycle@gmail.com 08138559513

How bizman got remanded over alleged murder of friend T A

3 tenants get 14 days community service for keeping dirty surroundings

n Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Thursday remanded a businessman at the Ikoyi Prisons, over the alleged killing of his 45-year old friend, John Ansah. The accused, Folarin Adetokunbo, 30, who resides at No. 32, Adebanjo St., Mushin, Lagos, is facing a one-count charge of unlawful killing. The Chief Magistrate, Mr. Olatunbosun Abolarinwa, said the accused should remain in prison, pending advice from the Office of the State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the plea of the accused was not taken by the court. The Prosecutor, Insp. George

Nwosu, told the court that the accused committed the offence on November 4 at about 11.30 p.m. at Itamaga plank market, Lagos. He said that the accused and the deceased were friends. According to the prosecutor, a disagreement ensued between the accused and the deceased, which resulted in a fight. “The accused turned to the deceased, gave him a fist blow and he fainted immediately; but he was, however, confirmed dead in the hospital”, Nwosu said. The prosecutor said that the offence contravened Section 221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. The case was adjourned till December 23, for proper hearing.

Man bags 8 months for duping pastor, others of N427, 000

n Osogbo Chief Magistrates’ Court, in Osun state has sentenced one Abiodun Ejileye, 47, to eight months in prison for defrauding a pastor and his members of N427, 300. The Chief Magistrate, Mr. Olusola Aluko, convicted and sentenced Ejileye, after he changed his plea from not guilty to guilty to the two-countcharge of fraud and stealing. Ejileye who on first arraignment on April 9, pleaded not guilty to the two-count-charge of fraud and stealing, changed his plea to guilty on Thursday when his case was called for hearing. Aluko, however, gave the convict an option to pay a fine of N20, 000. The Prosecutor, Insp. Isiaka Ajadi, told the court the convict committed the offence between

January and August 2012 at Okini in Osogbo. Ajadi said that the convict formed a social club known as Oloruntobi’ Social Club, under the pretence of securing agriculture loans for members. He said the convict admitted one Pastor Adesugba Samson and 36 members of his church into the club and deceived them into making contributions. The prosecutor said that Samson on behalf of other members of the club gave the convict N427, 300. Ajadi said the offence contravened Sections 419 and 390(9) of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol 11 Laws of Osun State, 2003. The convict, who had no legal representation, begged the court for leniency, promising to pay back the money he fraudulently collected from his victims.

CJN Mariam Aloma Muktar

How Gunmen kidnapped industrialist, kill driver in Osun

renowned entrepreneur and the Managing Director of Yinka Oba Foam in Ilo, Osun, Mrs. Olayinka Obaleye, was reportedly adducted by suspected kidnappers, killing the driver in the porcess. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the incident happened in front of the foam factory at Ilo, Obokun Local Government Area of Osun, adding that the assailants killed Obaleye’s driver during the attack. A source, who pleaded anonymity, said that Obaleye and her workers had already finished the work for the day, adding that they were about to leave the factory’s premises when the assailants struck. The source added that the suspected kidnappers, who were armed with guns, waylaid the business tycoon; grabbed her and whisked her away to an unknown destination. However, Mr Abubakar Saliu, a security man at the factory, who spoke to NAN, said when Obaleye wanted to go home, another security man went to open the gate for her. Saliu said that just as he went

inside the factory building to switch off the electrical appliances; he suddenly heard gunshots and he rushed out to know what was amiss. He said that on getting out, he met a food vendor screaming ``trouble, trouble’’, adding that he later found Obaleye’s driver, identified as Alhaji Kamal, in the gutter soaked in his blood. Saliu said that at that point in time, the abductors had already ferried Obaleye away to an unknown destination, while the other workers, including the factory’s manager, had fled. The Commissioner of Police in Osun, Mrs Dorothy Gimba, confirmed the incident through the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Folasade Odoro. She said that detectives from the state police command had been deployed to hunt down the abductors, with a view to securing the freedom of the businesswoman. Gimba said that investigations into the matter had already started so as to get reliable information which could aid efforts to unravel the mystery surrounding the incident. (NAN)

Driver docked over alleged theft of tricycle

driver, Olayinka Olarinde has appeared before an Isheri Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, charged with stealing a tricycle, valued at N400, 000. Olarinde, 32, who lives at 43, Oshogun BusStop Alapere Ketu, Lagos, is facing a charge of stealing. He, however, denied the charge when it was read to him. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Prosecutor, Insp. Nurudeen Thomas, told the court that the accused committed the offence on September 18, at Oriola Bus Stop in Alapere, Ketu, near Lagos.

He explained that the accused stole a tricycle marked AAD 27 BW, belonging to one Rasak Abubakar. Thomas also informed the court that Abubakar employed Olarinde as a driver to the tricycle in July. “He was shuttling from Alapere to Osoogun Bus Stop Ketu, Lagos, but after a month, Olarinde came back at 11a.m to tell the owner that the tricycle had been snatched at Oriola Bus Stop. “Investigations conducted by the police, however, revealed that nothing of such happened in the area,” Thomas said. The Prosecutor said that the offence contra-

vened Section 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State. According to the report, the accused in his self-defence, however, told the court that he was sedated. “One of the passengers offered me a drink which I drank, everything that happened afterwards was like a `trans’; and I met myself on the ground at the bus stop with many people surrounding me,” he said. The Magistrate, Mrs. Olajumoke Olagbegi-Adelabu, however granted bail to the accused in the sum of N200, 000 with two sureties in like sum. She adjourned the case till January6, for continuation of hearing.

hree tenants of No. 8, Ogunyemi St., Ajangbadi, Lagos, were sentenced to 14 days community service, with an option of N4,000 fine each, for keeping a dirty environment. Magistrate T.O. Shommade of the Ojo Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, handed down the sentence when the accused pleaded guilty to afour- count charge of keeping dirty surroundings. The tenants, Grace Onah, Comfort Ejembi and Occasion Anni of No. 8, Ogunyemi St., Ajangbadi, had admitted the charge when it was read to them, but asked the court for leniency. Prosecutor Mr. Abdulrazak Akande, had earlier told the court that the accused were living in a dirty compound that could lead to an outbreak of cholera, according to a news agency report. Akande added that the accused had defective doors leading to their toilets and bathrooms, adding that the situation violated the users’ privacy. “They failed to provide soak-away pits for proper disposal of waste and waste water in their home and also failed to patronise an approved refuse collector,” Akande said.

2 traders jailed one year each for stealing

Wuse Zone 2 Senior Magistrates’ Court has sentenced two traders, Abubakar Abdullahi, 31, and Sati Danbauchi, 26, to one year’ imprisonment for theft. The Senior Magistrate, Mr. Aminu Eri, who sentenced them after they pleaded guilty to the charge, however, gave them an option to pay N200 fine each. The prosecutor, Cpl. Francis Tanko, told the court that Nonso Nnatuanya of Bola Estates, Gishiri by Nicon junction, Abuja, lodged a report against the accused at the Wuse Police Station on Oct. 17. He said that Abdullahi, who was a neighbour to the complainant, dishonestly stole one Hp Laptop with CDrom, dvd player, a flash drive, wrapper and two handbags, all valued at N33,000.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

PAGE 15

News Extra

How crude oil is stolen, refined, sold in Niger Delta Ogala Times

Emmanuel,

Premium

he business of oil theft and illegal oil refining in the Niger Delta region has become so brazen and networked, involving communities, government officials, oil workers, and security agencies that it is difficult to properly classify the sabotage as a crime, a new report by Stakeholder Democracy Network indicates. The oil is being stolen at an industrial scale. Moderate estimates suggest 150,000 barrels of crude oil are stolen every day in Nigeria. The vast majority of this is sold internationally. But at least one in every four barrels of crude oil stolen everyday ends up in the Niger Delta region where it is refined at illegal refineries by locals who claim proceeds supplant non-existent government welfare package and help support their families; in the process destroying the environment and threatening legal oil refining. The report claims the illegal refining industry is worth several billions annually, and Nigeria’s politicians and security officials are among those profiting. Oil and gas experts, and Niger Delta activists believe oil theft and local refining is growing rapidly, with suspicions that as the 2015 general elections gets closer, it will boom. The SDN report is the first study that explains how illegal oil refining in the Niger Delta operates and what is driving its rapid growth. It also analyzed the political, economic and societal drivers, networks and impacts and nature of local oil refining How it works The illegal petrol refining industry in the Niger Delta is organized like the legitimate, applying the same basic technology – distillation. The illegal refineries do not drill, but tap from the established oil companies at the point of transporting the crude from one point to another. According to the report, the installation of pipes is done with great dexterity and mostly at night. Skilled welders, many who were previously contractors for the oil companies and are now formally unemployed, typically carry out this installation. “The most skilled operators can install taps both on dry land and underwater. They often work in small teams of 3 to 6 people and can set up a tapping point in just a few days,” the report said. Installing is a dangerous step. The pipes could explode while high in pressure. During the tapping process, the pressure on pipes must be reduced before a tap can be installed, and oil companies’ control room staff provide this service, the report stated. The installation of taps is the beginning of the illegal refinery production chain, and operated by an organized “union” criminal

Illegal refining site gang that boasts of support from community members and staff of tapped oil companies; and security officials posted to the area to stop the crime. “We have unions here, you don’t just come into the community and start refining,” one of those interviewed told SDN. Oil theft “unions” serve to organize the placement of an illegal tap for an average fee of N1 million. Control room operators, for a fee of N900 thousand, would inform the union members when pressures are being reduced for routine maintenance, to allow tap installations. The union also provides an informal control on illegal pipeline activity across the region, like the petroleum ministry would do in the formal oil and gas industry. The union also provides new entrants with personal connections to rogue actors within the JTF whose protection is needed to ensure a steady supply of crude. The report says Nigeria’s security forces are neck deep in stealing oil in the Niger Delta. When installed, each tap point is owned by a consortium of three key parties – security, technical capacity and operational access.

Drums of refined products

Running the tap Once the tap is installed, a small team of around five workers guards and operates the tap, using the oil pressure and a rubber hose to siphon crude oil from the tap into a boat – called Cotonou Boat – built to receive oil. Tap operators well are guarded and dangerous for outsiders. “They are well protected either by armed local boys or the JTF,” the report said. An average tap point spends N200 thousand on security monthly. Operating a tap point is the most lucrative segment of the illegal oil theft business. They earn as much as N165 million per month supplying both local refiners and international oil thieves. Distribution Distributors, riding in Cotonou Boats, transport the stolen crude, once filled, from the point of tapping, through the creeks where they supply a small quantity to illegal refineries -camps – scattered around the creeks of the Niger delta. A bulk of the stolen crude, up to 75 percent is transported to oil tankers waiting off the coast for national, regional and possibly, international markets.

“When shipping stolen crude, distributors tend to avoid middlemen. This keeps costs low and margins high,” the report said. The local transport vessels can be owned by the tap owner, a local refiner or by other individuals engaged in export oil theft. Within the first half of this year, the JTF said 861 giant Cotonou boats have been “scuttled.” Refining When the stolen ‘black’ arrives by boat from the tapping point, camp workers transfer the cold crude oil to a storage tank using a rubber hose and pump. The most common storage tanks are large locally made “GEEPEE” tanks. In some camps open-air pits are also used for storing stolen crude. Some camps are set-up like a well run small company employing a wide variety of workers, including women. Average camps employ between 12 to 20 workers. “I have an escort boat (deck man) paid N20,000 per trip, my camp manager is paid N100,000 a month, camp security is N2000 per person and I have three people on security,” one camp owner told SDN. The basic refining technique,

Route to the illegal refineries

first used during the Biafran Civil War, is what the camps apply. These techniques were most recently used by members of militant camps between 2005 and 2009, providing fuel and cash to support the Niger Delta insurgency. In Bayelsa, gangs can set up camps with N250,000. In Delta state, a camp may cost from N750,000 – N1 million. In Rivers state, the camps are more established and may cost up N3 million to set up. The report suggests former militants brought back refining skills from militant camps. “Now illegal refineries are a core part of the local economy of many Niger Delta communities, and refined products from them find their way at least as far as Lagos and into other licit distribution networks,” SDN said in the report. The report described camp owners as the least profiting, earning up to N1.2 million per month. Distribution If you buy diesel in the Niger Delta region, or in Lagos, there is a possibility that you bought an illegally refined type. The bulk of petroleum product produced at illegal refineries in the Niger Delta is diesel – 41 per cent – and waste, 55 percent. Petrol, kerosene, and bitumen are produced in very little quantity. Distributors get into the towns to sell their products at N100 a litre to traders and filling station owners, or go to the high sea and sell to other middlemen with big vessels at N15,000 – N18,000 per drum (200 litres). A large distributor makes up to N13.1 million monthly, the report said. After the tapping point, distribution is the second most profitable area of the oil theft business. Many refiners also give their host communities’ small quantities of kerosene for lighting and cooking at no charge. “We give out kerosene and fuel to our people here at home and fuel our community generator with our diesel. We don’t sell at home, we dash,” one of the refiners told SDN.

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

News Extra Jealousy: Woman bathes co-wife with hot water, engages lawyer to defend her From Ado Abubakar Musa, Jos

inta Usman who is the victim of this tragic incident is a 30 years old woman. The story of Binta is an obvious case of a human wickedness to a fellow human. She found herself in her current situation on the 26th October, 2013. The horrible incident happened to her in her matrimonial home when her cowife visited the house she is residing in, at Anguwan Kwanu quarters in Barikin Ladi local government area of Plateau state. Binta Usman and Hauwa Babangida are the two wives of Jibril. While the former is the second wife, the latter is the first wife of Jibril. For peace to reign between the two wives, Jibril rented a separate house for Binta, the second wife, at a location of about 1km away. Although Binta has been married to Jibril for over a year, they are yet to be blessed with a child. The enemity and hatred between the two women, according to Binta, began when Jibril intended to marry her as his second wife. She explained that her co-wife has tried in vain to put a stop to the marriage, adding that on many occasions when the husband went to seek her hand in marriage, Hauwa would always follow him to destabilize the smooth discussion between Binta and Jibril at Binta parents’ house. According to Binta, despite the unhidden hatred that Hauwa had towards the marriage, that did not discourage her to go ahead with the relationship since Islam legalises polygamy, added to the fact that the decision to marry lies with Jibril, and not Hauwa. When Binta was asked how the incident occurred, she narrated that, “on Saturday morning, October 26 2013, I went to visit a relative. When I returned home, I saw my co-wife at my residence, together with other two women who are my next-door neighbours. Immediately I entered the house, I extended my greetings to all of them. co-wife was like waiting for me to be back. “Habitually, anytime she came to see her friend (one of my nextdoor neighbours), she would always insult me out of jealousy. The tradition of her unhidden hatred was maintained that time. I kept quiet in order to maintain my usual tolerance and not aggravate the situation. I inculcated the habit of leaving the house anytime I realized her presence. Because the more she sees me the more she insults me. All these were not enough for her to allow me resting. “The incident occured when I was about to perform my ablution

Binta in pains to observe prayer. Suddenly she started insulting me, but I remained calm until the insult reached its peak and became intolerable. Then I asked her to get out of the house since I had never for once gone to her house and insulted her. She quickly reacted that she would not go out since it was not my father’s house. Within the blink of an eye, she took a bucket of boiling water which was being prepared for a nursing woman in my compound and poured it over my body”. According to Jibril Usman who is the husband of the two women involved in the incident, the tragedy took place in his absence and when he got wind of it, he became disturbed, and instantly went back home to get to the roots of the matter. On getting home, he sympathized with Binta and took her to the hospital for medication but was later taken to a herbalist for traditional medication. The husband said that the suspect had seriously regretted what she did, adding that she has not been able to visit Binta and see her situation because of the fact that Binta’s relatives would take a revenge. But according to Binta who is currently receiving treatment at her uncle’s house in Jos, her co-wife had never for once visited her, adding that it was a clear indication that Hauwa has no regret for her actions.

Binta added that, “my co-wife has completely ruined my life. And what annoyed me most was that my next-door neighbours who were present during the incident could not prevent Hauwa from pouring the boiling over me.” She alledged that the two women had long conspired with Hauwa even before the incident to disorganize her stay with Jibril. owever, when asked why she commited the act, Hauwa said her lawyer has cautioned her against talking to the media since the case has been taken to the court. Following the occurrence of the incident, Hauwa who was the prime suspect was arrested by the police. The investigation police of-

“

ficer at Barikin Ladi Police Station, said the suspect has confessed to the crime she had committed but the police denied the allegation of granting a bail to the suspect. The family of the victim had earlier accused the police handling the case of granting Hauwa a bail which enabled her to remain at her matrimonial home. When Binta was asked whether she would return to her husband’s house after recovering, she said, “It is for God. If Allah has destined I will return to his house, I have no choice. And if he refuses to welcome me, no problem. My prayer is that Allah should choose the best for me. Although I have asked him to divorce me but he refused, saying it is death that would do us part. What

Binta added that, “my co-wife has completely ruined my life”. And what annoyed me was my next-door neighbours who were present during the incident could not prevent Hauwa from pouring the boiling over me. She alledged that the two women had long conspired with Hauwa even before the incident to disorganize her stay with Jibril.

pains me the most has been that my husband, having known that I was cheated, does not care for me by neglecting his primary responsibilities as a husband such as feeding, maintenance and even my current medical expenses. “My co-wife who has committed this terrible act gets more concern than me who is suffering”. The worst part of it again is that when she was detained at the police station, he was among those that worked for her bail”. Now that the case is in the court and both parties have engaged the services of lawyers, what is Binta’s prayer and hope? Binta responded that for whatever the case may be, I want my co-wife to be punished for what she has committed accordingly”. It is the punishment that would teach her a lesson to avoid committing such an act. If she is left freely considering her behaviour, she can do more than what she did to me. And that will not only serve as a deterrent to her but to all other people who have similar behaviour. lready Hauwa has confessed to her crime to the police but engaged the services of a lawyer. The question now is that, is Hauwa expecting the final judgment to be in her favour at the end of the hearing or she employed the service of the lawyer just because it is her constitutional right?

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

PAGE17

Feature

Tackling executive, legislature squandermania

A session of the Federal Exeuctive Council By Ajim Udeh

t is with a heavy heart and grief in the total collapse of leadership and the perversion of lawlessness and damning corruption at the highest levels of government that I address you in this open letter as a concerned Nigerian in the Diaspora. Ordinarily, one would start the address with something like “distinguished members of the senate and house”, etc. However, given the fact that this institution has become a place where people congregate and plot to siphon money from the public treasury while the vast majority of Nigerians suffer, it would be improper for me to extend such special courtesy to such a group of people. But to the few good ones amongst you, I would like to extend the distinguished courtesy to you while all the same encouraging you to continue to strive to distinguish yourselves in finding lasting and tangible solutions to Nigeria’s problems and the culture of corruption that is punctuated by the most egregious and blatant abuse of power by politicians and top government officials ever known in the history of this country, and the total neglect of the average Nigerian. It is very troubling that the upper chamber is being populated by dishonest people that none of us would dare entrust to manage any of our business ventures or even take care of our children. We are all living witnesses how some of the most corrupt governors have used their political power to get them (s)elected into the Nigerian Senate. A chamber that should only be occupied by people of integrity is now home to some of the most corrupt people Nigeria has ever produced. This level of corruption is not limited to the senate. Indeed, the Senate has led the way for the House to follow,

nor is the presidency any better. That’s not the example this body and Nigeria’s leaders should be setting for our children and posterity. The highly bloated salaries and allowances you have awarded yourselves at the expense of the citizenry is a prime example of how out of touch you are with reality and an average Nigerian. When your basic salary is more than a member of The Congress of the United States of America, and your combined salary and so-called allowances tops the salary of the President of the United States of America that makes $400,000.00 (four hundred thousand US Dollars) while the vast majority of Nigerians suffer, then something is seriously wrong with this country called Nigeria! We simply cannot afford to continue on this destructive path any longer. I’d like to make my points based on Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs.. Abraham Maslow (1901-1970), an American psychologist, developed a hierarchy of human needs, a theory of psychological human needs predicated on the fulfillment of these needs from the very basic physiological needs and culminating in self-actualization. 1. Physiological (physical survival) Needs: water, food, and shelter. 2. Safety Needs:physical security and protection, employment and/or economic security, security of health, etc. 3. Love & Belonging (or social needs): family, relationships, affection. We want to feel fulfilled and cared for. 4. Self Esteem (Ego): achievement, reputation, status, prestige, completion of important projects, recognition from others, etc. 5. Self Actualisation: (reaching our highest potential) personal growth, fulfill-

ment, innovation and creativity. Ladies and Gentlemen of Nigeria’s National Assembly, I used the Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs to hopefully draw your attention to the biting poverty that is persistently present – and getting worse – in today’s Nigeria, a country that has been blessed with plenty and yet is miserably poor. To those of you who may have any conscience left, I ask that you take time to address the real needs of the populace. After all, you were all (s)elected to serve your fellow compatriots and not participate in the looting of the public treasury as is currently the case. It is a shame that Nigeria, with all our wealth in natural and human resources, does not have stable electricity. This is very important as irregular power supply hurts business investment and operation and unnecessarily adds thousands – if not millions – of Naira in a company’s overhead. But that is not what I’d like to focus on even though power supply is a very important component in the development of our country. I’d rather focus on three areas that I hope will benefit everyone if the National Assembly has the guts to do what is right in the eyes of God and man, and in the service of your fellow citizens. I offer these in form of legislative bills you should introduce, legislate, and implement without further delay. The Legislative Salary and Allowance Act of 2013: Only in Nigeria is a legislator, once elected and sworn into office, becomes an instant millionaire! This is wrong as it is immoral but not beyond redemption. But it highlights why people will kill, bribe, and rig to become one of you. This piece of legislation would: 1. Peg NASS salaries at no more than N12m per annum for the next 53 years. It is a travesty that most Nigerians are living in

abject poverty and the people s/elected to cater for their well being and interests stuff their bellies fat at our expense. It is unfair as it is immoral, if not outright criminal. 2. Abrogate any and all housing allowances at all levels of government. NASS should live like the rest of us. When you get a job, the job doesn’t pay for your apartment. That’s how regular citizens live. You pay for your rent out of your salary. NASS should do the same. Since you’ve driven Abuja rent out of the reach of ordinary Nigerians, why not taste the fruits of your labour by living and paying for rent like the rest of us? 3. End forthwith any and all vehicle allowances at all levels of government. However you get to work once you get a job is left up to you. You take a taxi or walk or use okada services or ride your motor bike. 4. Eliminate any and all furniture allowances to NASS and top government officers. However a member of the National Assembly furnishes their house or apartment should come from their salaries just like every ordinary citizen does when employed. 5. End or Twist Constituency Allowance: The constituency allowance could be a good and positive thing, except that not a kobo goes to any project in the various constituencies. Instead, legislators use this money to further enrich themselves at the expense of the people. My proposal: All NASS members must provide bona fide and verifiable projects executed with the constituency allowance or (a) pay it back. (b) Take the money and give it to another NASS member who is delivering for their constituency in same state, (c) prosecute NASS members who provide false projects for verification and they must be thrown

Continued on page 47

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

Feature

Scars, bruises of Jos crises

By Ado Abubakar Musa and Evelyn Okakwu

he scars of war in any society have never been easily discarded or hidden for obvious reasons. Social conflicts which eventually lead to war caused no little socioeconomic dislocation. It derailed development focuses and programmes and, therefore, always had devastating effect on all spheres of the society that had experienced such conflicts. In Nigeria, the devastating effects of the unending crises in several parts of the country are obvious and so cannot be over-emphasized. Various reports in the past have shown that the season of violence in the country has done more harm to the country’s socioeconomic cum political life than good. In this report, Ado Musa and Evelyn Okakwu look at the many sides and adverse effects of the internecine conflicts in Jos. In doing this, they have opted to take a clue from the Rio’s Declaration of 1992 on the effect, thus: “Warfare is inherently destructive of sustainable development.” The conflict in Jos, the capital of Plateau state, hitherto a peaceful city blessed with a natural sceneries and all-year-round beautiful weather, conflict has caused no little social dislocation that its scars are palpable in all nooks and crannies. According to Barrister Auwal Sabo Abdullahi, the Secretary General of Ulama’u Council, Plateau state was known as the home of peace and tourism until the state began to experience protracted crises, which has lasted for over a decade. Barrister Auwal noted that the 12 years of unending crises in the state has turned the people against one another. The breath of hate turned a people formerly bonded together as a family into monsters who seek the slightest opportunity to destroy each other on the grounds of religious, ethnic and political differences. Further, the barrister said, “various reports have revealed that the state has been negatively affected in virtually all works of life”. Narrating the effect of the crises on the economy

of the state, Ado said that the Jos crises led to the destruction of the Jos ultra-modern market, which is the only market in West Africa with more than 5000 stalls. With the destruction of the market the economic lives of the people who hitherto earned a living by doing legitimate businesses in the market collapsed. Some were dislocated for life: unable to fend for themselves and families, became destitute with fatal consequences. Yet, several of their peers who could not stomach theirs losses opted to seek greener pastures in neighbouring states. In essence, they took their entrepreneurial skills and drive to other areas meaning that the development processes, which ought to have contributed to the growth of Jos as well as improved the socioeconomic wellbeing of its residents, now became the gains of the cities to which they moved. Alh. Musa (Mai Yadi) who was a victim of Jos was a business man in the Terminus market. He spoke on the effect of the burning of the market. “I was a millionaire prior to the destruction of market, now I am a taxi driver”, barely struggling to eke out a living under terrible condition. The Jos conflict has truly taken a toll on the lives of the traders who used to depend on the market for their livelihood. It did not only affect the residential businesses of the indigenes in the state but people from other states who used to come to the market to purchases which they later sold in their locality”. But the indigenes alone were not the victims of the destruction that afflicted Jos. In fact, reports have it that the level of damage done to the nonindigenes was also appalling. Jos, which was known for its natural and pleasant weather, its habitual calmness and possesses an attraction that drew tourists to it lost its adore. Rather, it became a a replica of a Dungun; a burning furnace for those who knew the situation in the state. The destruction of the Jos UltraModern Market therefore threw the state backward economically as reports revealed that the market provid-

ed 40 per cent of the states’ internally generated funds. The damage caused by the crises were not only confined to the burnt terminus market but also other markets such as Faringada, Katato, New Market, Gadabiu Market with telling spillover effects on micro businesses which provided no little economic succour to low-income earners. apturing the sad consequences the needless conflict between persons who had lived for years without any social segregation, Barrister Solomon Dalong, a human right activist, observed that “the crises have generated adverse consequences on the state. So many people have left the state. The economic activities have been crippled. Also, the crises have scared away many investors from coming to the state for investment and it is the environment that paid the highest price of the crises”. The conflict in Jos forced those with needed capital for all kinds of businesses to abandon the state. It also harmed the confidence of prospective investors who are scared to come to Jos to explore the huge potentials in solid minerals and cash crops which are abundant because its pleasant weather. The conflict interrupted and in fact punctuated social relationships. Of course, humans are social animals that by nature have an inherent tendency to interact and relate. However, under the tense atmosphere that the conflict brought, interaction and mutual relationship among people difficult, everyone became suspicious,

“

meaning that social life ended. In came mutual suspicion, dip seated hatred, disunity, intolerance. The situation is such that at the slightest provocation desperate measures are taken to revenge, avenge and hurt the feelings of one another whether deserved or not. History, however, showed that they tolerated ones religion and ethnicity irrespective of any difference. Christians live in the predominant Muslim society and vice-versa. But the results of the crises have negatively transformed the situation where confidence and trust no longer existing. According to Dalong, an indigene; “The lifestyle that was in existence in the city and most parts of the state has been shattered. People now live in a compartmentalized settlement known as “separate settlement”. That is Christian live separately and Muslims live separately. Despite the fact that the situation in Jos is a bit conducive now, the peaceful atmosphere is quite temporal because it is practically impossible to either find any Muslim in a Christian settlement or find any Christian in a Muslim settlement. Even the aesthetics of the state was not left out as the many beautiful structures that once made the State look good and attractive to investors have been destroyed by the crises. Politically, prior the disturbances in the state, people did elect their leaders regardless of their ethnic or religious affiliation. However, as a result of the crises, the basis for political support in the

The basis for political support in the state has now been made a matter of religious affiliation. The prevailing tendency now is for people to vote individuals not on the basis of the person’s integrity and credentials, but religion and tribe.

state has now been made a matter of religious affiliation. The prevailing tendency now is for people to vote individuals not on the basis of the person’s integrity and credentials, but religion and tribe. Same religion, no pedigree of achievements or even a proclivity for performance, is the chief plate form for any individual to secure elective office. Leadership qualities: competence, fairness, vision, and proven record of accomplishments thus take sudden flight whereas nepotism and religious fanaticism form the major plank for consideration. According to the secretary of the Ulama’u Council said, “Politically, the crises have divided people of Plateau state. People tend to look at politician from the angle of who they are not from the angle of what they are. If somebody contests for a seat in an election, the question people ask is where is the person coming from? “What is his tribe? What is his religion? That is their consideration and not minding what the person is capable of doing. They look at trivial issues which have to do with either the person’s religion or ethnicity and by doing so you would find out that the politics of the state has been affected.” evertheless, Dalong suggested that the solution to the effects of war on environment lies on the political will of leadership. The leaders must rule justly. Leaders must see themselves as fathers to all. Leaders must be equitable in the distribution of scarce resources. Leaders must be very fair in the management of public affairs. “We all know that the most pressing problem we have in Nigeria today is the issue corruption. However, added to it now is yet another problem, which is the issue of discrimination. This is either on the grounds of ethnicity, religion or tribe, despite the fact that the constitutional provision practiced by the country prohibits this. If we must avoid man made crisis, definitely, our leaders must be transparent accountable and just in the management of public affairs,” the Jos indigene adds.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

PAGE 19

Tourism

Wiki Warm Spring: Yankari’s tourist high point Y

ankari National Park is a large wildlife park located in the south-central part of Bauchi State. It covers an area of about 2,244 km² (870 mi²) and is home to several natural warm water springs such as the wiki warm spring, and a wide variety of flora and fauna. Its strategic location in the heartland of Nigeria makes it a unique way for tourists and holiday makers to watch wildlife in its natural habitat and isone of the most popular ecodestinations in West Africa. The open country and villages that surround Yankari National Park are populated by farmers and herders, but there has been no human settlement in the park for over a century. There is, however, evidence of earlier human habitation in the park, including old iron smelting sites and caves. Yankari National Park lies in the southern part of the Sudan Savannah. It is composed of savannah grassland with welldeveloped patches of woodland. It is also a region of rolling hills, mostly between 200m and 400m. Kariyo Hill is the highest point at 640m. Annual rainfall in the park is between 900mm and 1,000mm. The rainy season is from May to September. Temperatures range between 18C and 35C. During the dry season, the harmattan wind blows from the Sahara, often bringing dusty skies and night temperatures fall as low as 12C. The hottest period falls in March and April, when temperatures can rise above 40C in the day. In the dry season, larger wildlife in the park depend on the Gaji river and its tributaries for survival. This river is the only watershed and cuts the park in two. Marshall estimated the area of the Gaji River Valley used by elephants in the dry season at about 40 km². This increases the chances of seeing elephants at this time of year. The Park’s main entrance is at Mainamaji village, about 29 km from Dindima. It is located within the Duguri, Pali and Gwana districts of Alkaleri LGA, Bauchi State. This LGA has a population 208,202 people occupying a total land area of 7,457.78 km². The whole park lies on the Kerri formation, of Tertiary age, which is composed of sandstone, silt stones, kaolinites and grits. Underneath this lies the Gombe formation, of Cretaceous age, composed of sandstones, silt stones, and ironstones. The valleys of the Gaji, Yashi and Yuli Rivers are filled with Alluvium of more recent age. Sandy loans and clayey soils of riverine alluvium occur in the valley of the Gaji Yashi and Yuli Rivers. East of the Gaji valley is a 5–7 km wide band of very poor sandy soils that support a shrub savanna formation Yankari has rich wildlife re-

sources. The park is an important refuge for over 50 species of mammal including African Bush Elephant, Olive Baboon, Patas Monkey, Tantalus Monkey, Roan Antelope, Western Hartebeest, Lion, African Buffalo, Waterbuck, Bushbuck and Hippopotamus. It also has a large and diverse freshwater ecosystem around its freshwater springs and the Raji River. There are also over 350 species of bird found in the Park. Of these, 130 are resident, 50 are Palearctic migrants and the rest are intra-African migrants that move locally within Nigeria. These birds include the Saddlebilled Stork, White-rumped Vulture, Guinea fowl, Grey hornbill, and the Cattle Egret. Yankari is recognized as having one of the largest populations of elephants in West Africa, estimated at more than 300 in 2005. The growth of the elephant population has become a problem for surrounding villages at times as the animals enter local farms during the rainy season. The elephants have also stripped the park of many of its baobab trees. More than 330 species of birds have been recorded in the park. Due to underground geothermal activity, Yankari National Park also features four warm water springs. The camp is named after the most well known of these, the Wikki Spring, from the local Duguri language with “Wikki” meaning “where are you?”. The Wikki Warm Spring is the largest spring and is about 13.0 metres wide and 1.9 metres deep. It daily flows 21,000,000 litres of clear, spring water into the Gaji river. The spring has a constant temperature of 31.1°C through the year during both day and night and has been developed for recreation. The other warm water springs are Dimmil, Gwan, and Nawulgo springs. A fifth spring, Tungan Naliki, is the only cool spring in the park.Yankari is located in Africa Nigeria The “Wikki Camp” is the tourist centre of the Park. Located about 42 kilometers from the main entrance gate, the camp is built beside, and named after, the Wikki warm spring, which is open for swimming 24 hours a day. There are 110 furnished chalets with varying size and quality, ranging from the ‘’presidential’’ suites to the youth hostel, all of which are being upgraded in phases. The camp also provides a restaurant, bar and conference centre. Daily safari trips depart at least twice from the camp. The museum in the camp is well stocked with a variety of skins, tusks, bones and fully mounted stuffed game from the park. It is educational while also acting as a conservation centre, displaying hunting gear and traps taken from poachers.

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

Homes

Keep air in rooms fresh and dust-free W

ith the harmattan season biting harder, the dry air filters into the rooms making the home dusty. Also, when you close up your home against seasonal cold or heat, you also reduce the amount of ventilation and fresh air getting to your living spaces. In this restricted environment, the amount of dust in your indoor air could increase. You could see more dust on your shelves and furniture, and may experience dust-related aggravation of allergies, asthma or other respiratory conditions. Keeping your indoor air dust-free requires some extra attention and effort, but the results can be fresher air in your home and a more comfortable living area. Here are some tips for reducing the amount of dust inside your home. • Remove clutter – Shelves full of souvenirs, figurines, or other small items attract dust and make it difficult to clean them and the shelves they’re on. Pack some of these items away and keep shelves accessible for easy dusting. Display special items inside a closed glass case or shelf. • Clean electronics – Televisions, computers, DVD players, stereos and other home electronics readily attract dust, so clean them often, front and back. • Wipe down appliances – Refrigerators, clothes dryers and other appliances quickly accumulate dust behind and on top of them, and on their back panels. Wipe these areas clear of dust regularly. Keeping these items dust-free will increase their useful life. • Clean, dust and vacuum bedrooms – Dust is produced in part by our dead skin cells, and by tiny particles and fibers from our clothing, blankets and bed linens. Dust and vacuum your bedroom at least as often as you do your living room. • Clean soft furniture – Carpets, curtains and upholstered sofas and chairs accumulate a lot of dust. Clean and vacuum these items regularly. • Use a system – When cleaning and dusting, be methodical and use a system that covers every area in the room. For example, dust from one side of the room to the other, and then vacuum in the same sequence. www.diylife.com

Keep bathrooms fragrantly fresh

Keep clutter away in the kitchen

Well dusted sitting room

The bedroom

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

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I never slept with Jim Iyke, says Ghanaian actress Samonas >>P34

band s u h y m if e v I wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t lea r woman e h t o n a s e t a impregn >P37 -Daramola >

Ex-banker, Cecilia Ibru resurfaces, embraces social life

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

Fitness

5 keys to remove excess fat in the body T

he truth is: most people really don’t know what “cellulite” actually is, or, what causes this odd appearance of the lower body trouble zones. This is no surprise as there actually is no such thing as ‘cellulite’… So how do we get rid of something which doesn’t exist?” Here’s the answer: “The word “cellulite” is not found in the dictionary. It was cleverly made-up several decades ago, in a European beauty-spa, specifically to DESCRIBE the bumpy, shadowy and dimpled appearance of skin in the lower body trouble zones of the female body. (butt, hips, thighs, legs)” The beauty spas then started cashing-in and profiting big-time by marketing “beauty” services and products to get rid of “cellulite”. And if you’re like most women who’ve been challenged by this issue, then you probably already know all of those passive and superficial beauty treatments do not get rid of the dented shadows and mushy dimples on your buns, legs and thighs. However her are five ways that you can remove this excess fat in your body 1: You cannot get rid of them by rubbing odd gel, lotion or goopy cream Cellulite is not a skin problem. It’s an underlying structural issue that can only be corrected by reversing the cause of atrophied muscle fibers directly beneath your “cellulite” trouble spots.” Since the squishy dimples and shadows are a superficial symptom of a problem below the surface; it’s impossible for the creams, lotions or gels, no matter how expensive, to have any physiological impact on the cause of the issue…” 2: Risky and expensive ‘medi-spa treatments’ can only reduce your bank account – not your cellulite problems Painful, dangerous and uncomfortable services ranging from endermologie to bodywrapping have been proven to be totally ineffective when it comes to treating cellulite. However, advertising and marketing loopholes allow these services to be cleverly marketed to desperate women who are at wits end with the unattractive dimples and shadows on the lower-body problem areas.” 3: It is not hereditary Falsely believing this will prevent you from getting rid of your

cellulite. So, don’t entertain this nonsense for 1 second. These two ridiculous myths are often passed around by ‘neighborhood know-it-alls’ – and many women actually believe these myths – especially if they haven’t found the right way to get rid of the cellulite. What’s even more alarming are the number of doctors who also believe in and foster these 2 demoralizing falsehoods. es – it is common to see a mother and daughter, both with the lower-body “orange peel” look, BUT this doesn’t mean cellulite is genetic – it simply means both women have not found a way to lift, tone and firm the muscle layers under the dimpled, saggy skin.” 4: Regardless of your age you can get rid of cellulite Since cellulite is a structural issue (muscle) – it can be fixed with simple and unique body movements which target the cellulite areas.” These types of moves can be followed by any woman, regardless of her age or fitness level. And it doesn’t matter if the cellulite started in the early teen years – or after pregnancy – or after menopause – it’s still a structural issue that results from soft, un-toned

muscles underneath the saggy, dimpled, shadowy skin.” 5: Use a series of simple, yet specifically targeted lower-body movements” These unique movements fo-

“

cus on lifting, shaping and toning the muscle layers so they gently push outward against the skin – to bring back the smooth, tight and sexy appearance, while burning off any excess flab, if there is

Cellulite is not a skin problem. It’s an underlying structural issue that can only be corrected by reversing the cause of atrophied muscle fibers directly beneath your “cellulite” trouble spots.”

any.”

his is how regular women reverse the cause of cellulite dimples and shadows… AND, if there happens to be any excess fat in those zones – it will be burned off as fuel by the muscles. This bonus of losing any unhealthy excess body-fat is nice because it reveals a great body and it works wonders for your health profile.” BUT you won’t learn about these unique slow-tempo movements in the gym or your local health club.” These body movements are NOT done with typical weights and machine type exercises.”

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

Womanhood

Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar: The star of many ‘firsts’ By Miriam Humbe

n Monday, July 16, 2012, President Goodluck Jonathan announced the appointment into office of the 13th Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN. The process of the assumption of office of Justice Mariam Aloma Muktar as the nation’s 13th CJN began with President Jonathan’s nomination of Justice Mariam Aloma Muktar for the position in a letter to the Senate. With this historic move, Justice Mariam Aloma Muktar attained the highest peak in her law career which spanned into more than four decades. She is also the very first woman who will occupy the position since the nation had its first indigenous CJN in 1958. Her appointment therefore marked the commencement of a new phase in the judicial history of the country. Interestingly, Justice Muktar is unarguably a woman of many firsts; she is indeed a personification of the proverbial ‘heads and never tails’, an achiever in her own right. In the lifespan of her career life, she has held many ‘firsts’ positions. She is the first female lawyer from Northern Nigeria, first female judge of the High Court in Kano State judiciary, the first female justice of the Court of Appeal of Nigeria, the first female justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and the first female Chief Justice of Nigeria. Born on November 20, 1944, Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar was called to the English Bar in November, 1966 and to the Nigerian Bar in 1967. President Goodluck Jonathan swore in Mukhtar as the 13th indigenous Chief Justice of Nigeria, and conferred on her the Nigerian National Honour of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) Mukhtar who hails from Kano State attended St. George’s Primary School, Zaria, St. Bartholomew’s School, Wusasa, Zaria, Rossholme School for Girls, East Brent, Somerset, England, Reading Technical College, Reading, Berkshire, England, and Gibson and Weldon College of Law, England, before being called to the English Bar in absentia in November, 1966. Mukhtar began her career in 1967 as Pupil State Counsel, Ministry of Justice, Northern Nigeria and rose through the ranks. She worked in Office of the Legal Draftsman, Interim Common Services Agency, Magistrate Grade I, North Eastern State Government, 1971, Chief Registrar, Kano State Government Judiciary, 1973, Judge of the High Court of Kano State, 1977—1987, Justice of the Court of Appeal of Nigeria, Ibadan division, 1987—1993, Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, 2005—2012 and incumbent

Justice Mariam Aloma Muktar Chief Justice of Nigeria. Described variously as being a “liberal, highly principled, calm, and with an aversion to acts inimical to due process and the course of justice”, her appointment is viewed by many as a right step to steering the ship of the Judiciary from the shore of public disrepute where it got abandoned in the past.

“

Seen as an introvert and a true picture of what a modern judge should be, Justice Muktar exhibited part of her attributes when, alongside Justices George Oguntade and Walter Onnoghen, almost voided the outcome of the 2007 election that brought the late President Musa Yar’Adua and now President Jonathan to power.

While the quartet of Justices Kutigi, Katsina-Alu, Niki Tobi and Dahiru Musdapher (outgoing CJN) dismissed the appeal by then presidential candidate of the All Nigerian Peoples’ Party (ANPP), Justices Mukhtar, George Oguntade and Onnoghen held a dissenting view. They maintained that the allegation of substantial non-compli-

In the lifespan of her career life, she has held many ‘firsts’ positions. She is the first female lawyer from Northern Nigeria, first female judge of the High Court in Kano State judiciary, the first female justice of the Court of Appeal of Nigeria, the first female justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and the first female Chief Justice of Nigeria.

ance with the Electoral Act 2006 was proved by the petitioner. Justice Muktar, who hails from Kano State, was born on November 20, 1944. She attended St. George Primary School, Zaria and St. Bartholomew’s School, Wusasa, Zaria, Kaduna State. She attended the Rossholme School for Girls, East Brent, Somerset, England; Reading Technical College, Reading, Berkshire, England and Gibson and Weldon College of Law, England. Justice Muktar was called to the English Bar in November, 1966 and to the Nigerian Bar in 1967. She began her career as Pupil State Counsel, Ministry of Justice, Northern Nigeria, 1967, Office of the Legal Draftsman, Interim Common Services Agency, Magistrate Grade I, North Eastern State Government, 1971, Chief Registrar, Kano State Government Judiciary, 1973, Judge of the High Court of Kano State, 1977-1987, Justice of the Court of Appeal, 1987-1993, during which she served in the Ibadan division of the court. A life member of the International Association of Women Lawyers, Justice Mukhtar, on her assumption of office on July 16, became the nation’s first woman to occupy that position. She is however, expected to vacate the seat on November 20, 2014 upon attaining the mandatory 70 years. She has also served as judge of the high court of Kano state, Justice of the Court of Appeal, and presiding justice of the Court of Appeal , from 1993 to 2005, prior to her appointment at the Supreme Court of Nigeria. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Fellow of the institute of Arbitrators; she was also made a life Bencher in 2007. In the course of her career, she has received several awards; a Gold Merit Award for Contribution to the Development of Law in Kano State (1993); recognition by the International Federation of Women Lawyers (in 1989 and 2003); she was inducted to the Nigerian Hall of fame (2005). It was in 2006 when she was Conferred with the National Honor of Commander of the Order of Niger (CON Her predecssors in the office of CJN from pre-independence days till date are as follows: Justices Adetokunbo Ademola 1958–1972, Teslim Olawale Elias, 1972–1975, Darnley Arthur Alexander, 1975–1979, Atanda Fatai Williams, 1979–1983, George Sodeinde Sowemimo, 1983–1985, Ayo Gabriel Irikefe, 1985–1987, Mohammed Bello, 1987–1995, Muhammad Lawal Uwais, 1995– 2006, Salihu Moddibo Alfa Belgore, 2006–2007, Idris Legbo Kutigi, 2007–2009, Aloysius Katsina-Alu, 2009-2011 and Musdapher 2011-2012.

PAGE 24

Kiddies World SIGHTS AND SOUNDS

ABCDE

Joseph and Barbara

Queen Amina of Zaria

With Nami Hassan Kadir namy.kadir@yahoo.com 08130693795.

HIS AND HER’S CORNER

Early history of Zazzau (Zaria emirate)

ur most important source for the early history of Zazau is a chronicle composed in the early twentieth century from oral tradition. It tells the traditional story of the foundation of the Hausa kingdoms by Bayajidda, a culture hero and gives a list of rulers, along with the length of their reigns. According to this chronology, the original Hausa or Habe kingdom is said to date from the 11th century, founded by King Gunguma. This source also makes it one of the seven Hausa Bakwai states. Zazzau’s most famous early ruler was Queen (or princess) Amina, who ruled either in the midfifteenth or mid-sixteenth centuries, and was held by Muhammed Bello, an early nineteenth century Hausa historian and the second Sultan of Sokoto, to have been the first to establish a kingdom among the Hausa. Zazzau was a collection point for slaves to be delivered to the northern markets of Kano and Katsina, where they were exchanged for salt with traders who carried them north of the Sahara.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

According to the history in the chronicle, Islam was introduced to the kingdom around 1456, but appears to have spread slowly, and pagan rituals continued until the Fulani conquest of 1808. At several times in its history, Zazzau was subject to neighboring states such as Songhai, Bornu and Kwararafa. In December 1808 the kingdom was captured in the Fulani jihad. The Hausa ruler had escaped to Abuja, where he established a state now known as the Suleja Emirate, retaining his independence and the title of “Sarkin Zazzau”. The ruler of the modern Zazzau Emirate also uses the title “Sarkin Zazzau” or “Sarkin Zaria”. After the jihad, the culturally similar but pastoral or nomadic Fulani inter-married with the more settled Habe farmers, and the people of the Emirate today are generally known as Hausa-Fulani. The government of the Zaria Emirate differed from other emirates created at this time in that offices were rarely hereditary, but were appointed based on merit or obligation.

Mickey and Minnie mouse

Superman Tom and Jerry

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

Kiddies World

PAGE 25

With Nami Hassan Kadir namy.kadir@yahoo.com 08130693795.

ABCDE

MODEL OF THE WEEK

AFRICAN TALES

The election of the King Bird (the black-and-white Fishing Eagle)

nce upon a time, there was a king called Essiya, who, like most of the Calabar kings in the olden days, was rich and powerful; but although he was so wealthy, he did not possess many slaves. He therefore used to call upon the animals and birds to help his people with their work. In order to get the work done quickly and well, he determined to appoint head chiefs of all the different species. The elephant he appointed king of the beasts of the forest, and the hippopotamus king of the water animals, until at last it came to the turn of the birds to have their king elected. Essiya thought for some time which would be the best way to make a good choice, but could not make up his mind, as there were so many different birds who all considered they had claims. There was the hawk with his swift flight, and of hawks there were several species. There were the herons to be considered, and the big spur-winged geese, the hornbill or toucan tribe, and the game birds, such as guinea-fowl, the partridge, and the bustards. Then again, of course, there were all the big crane tribe, who walked about the sandbanks in the dry season, but who disappeared when the river rose, and the big black-and-white fishing eagles. When the king thought of the plover

tribe, the sea-birds, including the pelicans, the doves, and the numerous shy birds who live in the forest, all of whom sent in claims, he got so confused, that he decided to have a trial by ordeal of combat, and sent word round the whole country for all the birds to meet the next day and fight it out between themselves, and that the winner should be known as the king bird ever afterwards. The following morning many thousands of birds came, and there was much screeching and flapping of wings. The hawk tribe soon drove all the small birds away, and harassed the big waders so much, that they very shortly disappeared, followed by the geese, who made much noise, and winged away in a straight line, as if they were playing “Follow my leader.” The big forest birds who liked to lead a secluded life very soon got tired of all the noise and bustle, and after a few croaks and other weird noises went home. The game birds had no chance and hid in the bush, so that very soon the only birds left were the hawks and the big black-and-white fishing eagle, who was perched on a tree calmly watching everything. The scavenger hawks were too gorged and lazy to take much interest in the proceedings, and were quietly ignored by the fighting tribe, who were very busy circling and swooping on one another, with much whistling going on. Higher and higher they went, until they disappeared out of sight. Then a few would return to earth, some of them badly torn and with many feathers missing. At last the fishing eagle said— “When you have quite finished with this foolishness please tell me, and if any of you fancy yourselves at all, come to me, and I will settle your chances of being elected head chief once and for all;” but when they saw his terrible beak and cruel claws, knowing his great strength and ferocity, they stopped fighting between themselves, and acknowledged the fishing eagle to be their master. Essiya then declared that Ituen, which was the name of the fishing eagle, was the head chief of all the birds, and should thenceforward be known as the king bird. From that time to the present day, whenever the young men of the country go to fight they always wear three of the long black-and-white feathers of the king bird in their hair, one on each side and one in the middle, as they are believed to impart much courage and skill to the wearer; and if a young man is not possessed of any of these feathers when he goes out to fight, he is looked upon as a very small boy indeed.

CREATIVITY

How to make a toy car that moves by itself

o make a toy car that moves by itself, you will need a sheet of art foam, some cardboard, two straws, a balloon, glue and masking tape, a pen, scissors, a craft knife, a compass and a pen. You will also need things to decorate it with. Make the body with your art foam by folding it in half. Draw a rectangle nearly as big as your sheet. You will need room for a two inch half circle a 1/3 inch circle, so measure those out first. Draw Ã‚Â«? squares near the bottom of the rectangle. Then, cut it all out. When this is done, draw wheels and cut those out, then make axles. When you are done with all this, assemble and tape the balloon to it.

Othniel Sahjeeh M. Mangwa

ACTIVITIES Using the right colours, shade the image below. Describe the action and show your work to your teacher for correction. Cheers!

PAGE 26

Dating

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

Responses to: 5 things you should know before dating a journalist CJ Rogers says: I think you mean “better writer than me”, no? Shanellekaul says: I actually didn’t write this one – it’s by Tom Chambers, and I think that grammar flub was an intended joke!

In the last edition of the paper, we published an article with the title, “5 things you should know before dating a journalist”. The article attracted a number of reactions which we deem necessary to convey to you.

Anita Busch says: And, you must be okay with not knowing who they are talking to on the phone. Acceptance of secrecy. No, he/she is not cheating but doing their jobs. Journalism is their mistress. melissag659 says: I can’t resist replying to CJ Rogers…actually, the author of this post is correct to say “You are a better writer than I” In this situation, what the author intends to say is “You are a better writer than I AM”, so shortening it to “than I” is correct. The following “grammar joke” (I know–you didn’t think there were such things!) explains it: “My husband likes tennis better than I” (= my husband is a bigger fan of tennis than I am) “My husband likes tennis better than me” (= my husband likes tennis more than he likes me–maybe I should consider a divorce!) Please blame the inordinate amount of SAT tutoring I have done recently for my fixation on correcting that bit of trivia. Please heap existential praise on whoever came up with the above “grammar joke” from a list I once found. Also–the irony of having this conversation on a blog post about journalists is not lost on me… PS–my favorite from that list? The butler stood at the door and called the guests’ names The butler stood at the door and called the guests names. Which would lead to an embarassing evening? mzansilive.com says: Hahahahha Melisssa… Butler calling guests names. I like the piece though…I agree with the author. @nashontado says: Richard Quest would have something to say about this article Sir. Arnold. says:

I was once dumped because of my writing..Tom Chambers could not have put this better.. Nice read so I decided to share. Enjoy. Priyanka says: I think my parents need to read this too! And not all of us are the Clark Kent type A-scribe says: I wonder what will happen if both are journalists? Just musing. BTW, I too, am, a journalist.

“

Gurdeep says: Hi, I am a journo and I have a journo spouse. My six year old too wants to become one, So it is actually fun having journalist spouse. He tends to understand you better. The better wavelength, better are the results.

have at investigating things, its only an additional benefit for him to have us — coz we ‘Simplify’ your complicated life! (Journalists are complicated people themselves. u need to have the knack of understanding them in d first place.

Tinheart says: As a journo I totally agree.

Onald Kerabatsos @Papakila says: “Towards” is a word. To shut one’s partner up over it on one’s authority as a journalist is the

ilky87 says: Given the kind of expertise we

Given the kind of expertise we have at investigating things, its only an additional benefit for him to have us — coz we ‘Simplify’ your complicated life! (Journalists are complicated people themselves. u need to have the knack of understanding them in d first place

apex of assholery. This is funny as a parody of what dicks journalists can be but unfortunately it seems the author is not only serious, but thinks it will get him laid. Ollin says: I am an Engineer by trade and my girlfriend, who is a journalist, sent this to me I suspect to “warn” me. Of what I am yet to determine. Because all in all, I would not trade her for the world; my relationship with her is anything but boring! I can relate to most of the points mentioned, although I still need to see her write about me. She is smart, intelligent, can hold herself in any conversation, can conjure up a mean plan and is sexy as hell. I guess she’s my Clark Kent after all, my very own Super Girl. Zir says: In my opinion..journalist are most selfish guys and opportunists. what i have observed.. they dont have emotions and they think they are above everything.. (Source: shanellekaul. wordpress.com)

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

PAGE 27

Music

Why Terry G launched album in Abuja

he singer with the stage name Terry G is Gabriel Amanyi, who has considerable street followers judging from his type of music. In this interview with Nigeriafilms.com he talked about his life, music and other issues. Excerpts How is your latest album doing? Well, if I should put it this way it’s at least selling more than pure water because at the moment it has been very exclusive. The fact that people have been receiving most of the songs shows that the album is getting attention. So most of the songs in the album are already hits and it’s doing well in the market. So can you tell us the title of the album and some of the hits songs inside? The title of the album is “Book of Ginger”, it has like 21 to 22 tracks in the album it is a diversified album where I took time to explore some other parts of me not just what the English people know me for but talks about me personally and musically. It has live songs of RnB and atmosphere’s different messages Why did you lunch the album in Abuja when most of your fans are in Lagos? Yea , but You know we had some challenges when I was trying to come up with the album as well as the lunching. I have this ground in Nigeria that I have to take some time to breakthrough some other parts of my marketing. There was a time I tried to use Eko Hotel but the bills were too high for me. Again, when I even wanted to partner with some brands, they made it too outrageous for me, so I couldn’t afford it. But I didn’t want to give up because I have never done a lunching in my life before so I decided to move it outside Lagos. If I try to convince people that it will be success, probably they would give me a chance, so I decided to do it over there. It’s actually been working because after the lunching they heard me and now we are getting proposals from brands. We will be working together now very soon in Lagos. We also learnt you are going on European tour, can you tell us more about it? Yes , but it actually has to do with my management. I go for an event but I only know it’s Europe tour. It will be close to a month and it’s going to be fun. So what’s happening to your record Label? So far, I’ve always represented TGP Entertainment record. It’s a label I owned and all I do is just work with the management personnel. We’ve been doing well. We in the board have tried to bring brands on board but there were some issues which popped up then. We are working hard on other acts apart from mainly just doing collaboration and sharing a lot on the street. For now, I am the only one on the

record label although my younger brother is under my label. I don’t want him to flaunt it because I want him to create his own brand as well. We are still looking for the right artiste to sign on because we do not want to do something that we will start regretting in future So what is new about Terry G?

“

So many things: Now, I have a child. I’m a father. His name is Amaniyi Rex, and with him added to my life he has given me a new life, which is becoming a father. And this has made me to see the other side of life. It has put me in place, because when you are thinking about tomorrow, you will want to be more responsible.

Everybody around me knows because drinking exhausts the energy and I’m this energetic artist that must not take that kind of risk. People also know me as an energetic performer so anytime I go on stage I have to deliver

His birth has helped me a lot, move away from the odds of negativity, to compose myself and think of the future. Also, I am focusing on concert and trying to work on our brand by making it accessible and also trying to shoot musical videos. Why the new look, because we thought that will be the end of Terry G? I think it was my fault because I had a picture that showed a particular way that I parked my hair. However, the picture wasn’t showing my dreadlock. People thought that I have had hair cut. But I never cut my hair. But can you change your style? Change is constant and that’s one thing about life but for now base on the fact that I portray this image I don’t think for now I will You seem to be on a low key of recent, what is happening? It’s just that it gets to a level where maturity comes in and you just have to slow down on some things unlike when one was still a teenager. So now that one is mature those things one used to do then become distractions. I am more responsible since I had my kid. I look at life differently because it;s worth a lot for one to be responsible. People will like or want to learn from you. Besides, music is no more mere pleasure but business Many believe for you to be on high tempo performance you must take something to be high, is it actually true? It is not true. Most people around me will testify to that. The only thing I do is I just smoke my cigarette before going on stage and the only thing I don’t do is I don’t drink before I go on stage. Everybody around me knows because drinking exhausts the energy and I'm this energetic artist that must not take that kind of risk. People also know me as an energetic performer so anytime I go on stage I have to deliver So how are you rocking fatherhood? It has been fun and I think I am now cool it has given me the chance to relax and think of a positive life as a father. It has helped me to scare away negative friends and is still building as well So when are you going to take your baby mama to the altar? Yea, we are making plan for that and when it is time we will let you know How exactly did you meet your baby mama? I met her in the United Kingdom. There was a concert I attended in London. It was my first major performance in London. That was where we met. I met her through a friend and we just started chatting. What actually happened was that she got amazed knowing I was Terry G. She wanted to know about me but when she saw the other side of me, she got interested and realised the difference between Gabriel and Terry G. Now we are going to transform the relationship to a family. I’m more responsible with her beside me.

PAGE 28

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

Interview Leaders must set service delivery targets for themselves, says AMAC Exec. Sec. The longest serving Local Education Authorities Secretary (LEAs) in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) Mrs. Grace Adayilo has advised political office holders to set service delivery targets for themselves and to be focused. Women, in spite of everything, in Jonathan’s government have done well. She spoke with group of journalists. Excerpts.

s the longest serving LEA Secretary of Education in AMAC, can you let us into the secret of your success? It is often said that nobody is an Island, what this means to me is that, people must work with others to succeed in life. I have learned that in life, nobody is irrelevant in the society, the community or the country at large. There is a strong spirit of team work and I believe that’s the challenge. All that I have done have been because of the contribution of everybody I have worked with, and still do. Whatever one has been able to do derives not from own power but those that I have had the opportunity to work with. I have received different awards during the course of my service to the nation, but let me tell you that all are due to the caliber and contributions of the people I happened to work with. What are the challenges and your secret for addressing them? The secret is very simple all in positions of authority must have a target. They must map out action plan and vision, which he or she intends to execute to the benefit of the people who elected him or her, without this, such becomes a failure before the people. It is vision that makes one to focus and be led to foresight and ultimately the wisdom to achieve set targets. So, vision derives from wisdom should drive those in leadership positions to deliver service to the people. Leaders should ask themselves, what do people want from me as their leader? Leaders without vision cannot never achieve success or attain anything for the benefits of the people they represent. That is the solution to the consistent leadership failure in our community and the country today. At the council level, we have endeavoured to be responsible to the communities under us. Since, we are responsible, we frown at situations where some children roam the streets while the school is in session. We see no justifiable reason for that and have worked to minimize it.

How is your relationship with the teachers, the pupils and students? I made it my goal that each teacher, student and pupils are my responsibility, that I am accountable to them. That has to do with leadership and sense of responsibility. Let leaders be responsible to their followers and that could help to improve our governance. Leaders should be conscious of the fact that they are in positions of authority today because people elected or appointed them to serve for that particular purpose. For me, I am where I am today to serve people and without the people I have no reason to be there. I want to say that I see every person around me as my sons or daughters, no matter their positions: whether teachers or pupils. I see them as my children who deserve mother care and mentorship. Little wonder they address me as ‘mummy’. What would you say are some of your numerous achievements for the council? don’t want to blow my trumpet myself, I want people to visit my office and if need be investigate to see if I have impacted positively on the people or not. I don’t want to be a judge in my own matter or case. By their fruits you shall know them. To whom much is given much is expected. Madam you believe in team work, how do relate with those who may want to constitute drawback to your set targets? Most often, by your action you show people who you really are and wants to do. I don’t claimed to be perfect, I know my limitations and that is what every leader must know. Don’t pretend to be what you are not; just do things the proper way and that is all. I know what to do at every particular time, may be that is why I am the longest LEAs secretary in the council. There have been positive achievements which are visible and tangible for all that care to see and touch. We all must use the op-

Mrs.Grace Adayilo portunities we have to work for the betterment of this country. President Jonathan and his cabinet are doing their part, why can’t we do our own because if all in their respective offices and positions are doing what they ought to be doing much of our problems might have been solved in this country. I think it is not right for everyone to wait for the man on top to be directly responsible for everything. You recently embarked on massive tree planting ex-

“

ercise within the council’s environs, what prompted you to do so? e all know the importance of green environment. When the environment is green, the atmosphere would be able to produce good oxygen for human consumption. Green environment is conducive for reading and learning. All the students and teachers would concentrate when the atmosphere is good. Harsh environment is inimical to learning,

Most often, by your action you show people who you really are and wants to do. I don’t claimed to be perfect, I know my limitations and that is what every leader must know. Don’t pretend to be what you are not; just do things the proper way and that is all. I know what to do at every particular time, may be that is why I am the longest LEAs secretary in the council.

that’s why we decided to make our surroundings green. We shall plant more trees for the benefit our environment and people in general. How will you asses President Goodluck Jonathan administration? I think people must learn to lend their support to the president, because every country has it peculiar challenges unless that country is not made up of human beings. The president is a person like us, he needs support and commendation not destructive criticism. If all in positions of authority were doing their best, some of our problems may have been gone before now. Some believe the president must do everything, which is impossible. The country is faced with several problems just like other countries in the world. Our own is even minor compared to some others. All hands must be on desk to tackle our problems irrespective of our leadership positions. Since nobody has monopoly of wisdom team work is very important for any administration to succeed.

Compiled by MIRIAM HUMBE

Fashion

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

Incredibly elegant in red on green T

he green colour ordinarily thought of as a secondary colour because it is created by mixing two primary colours, blue and yellow which are opposite each other on the colour wheel but are considered to be complementary colours. The high contrast of the complementary colours of green and red creates a vibrant look especially when used at full saturation. The complementary colours are tricky to use in large doses, but work exceptionally well when you want to achieve that look that makes you outstanding. Green colour is splendidly gorgeously on the red carpet and is a day or night colour any time. When combined with matching jewelleries, accessories and tingly red lipstick, the green and red colours are simply the most amazing combinations ever.

PAGE 29

Pots & Pans PAGE 30

Rich, appetising breakfast M

ake breakfast a delightful and enjoyable experience with petite but lovely and highly nutritious things on your menu. With a blend of beans and pap made from corn, maize or millet, you get a perfect combination for a meal to keep you alive the whole day. Also, for the vegetarians, some fruit cocktail will just do the perfect trick. Bon appetite…..

Fried Bean Balls [Kosai] and pap [akamu] How to prepare: Peel off the skin of the beans and rinse thoroughly until the beans are skin-free Rinse again Soak beans in hot water for about 30 minutes to soften Blend beans with chopped bell pepper, chopped onions, scotch bonnet pepper, and everything else adding small amounts of water as needed Blend until a smooth thick paste is

formed Stir the paste continuously for about 10 -15 minutes (optional). This step introduces some air bubbles into the mixture and makes the kosai a little softer Heat the oil until really hot and taste the kosai which should bob to the surface and bubble on the sides when spooned into the oil. Using a tablespoon, add the mixture in small balls to the oil Dot not overcrowd the pan, otherwise the kosai will get really soggy Fry until golden brown Do not allow the oil to get too hot. Adjust temperature as needed (you will know the oil is too hot when the akara turns golden brown, but does not cook on the inside) Then flip to the opposite side Wait for that side to turn golden brown too Bring out and leave to cool Enjoy warm kosai, with Akamu [pap], Custard, or freshly baked bread.

Kosai - Fried Bean Balls with pap

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

With Hajiya Ramatu Usman Dorayi

Diced fruit cocktail

ruit cocktail is often sold canned in most climes and is a staple of cafeterias. It can also be made fresh. The use of the word “cocktail” in the name does not mean that it contains alcohol, but refers to the secondary definition “An appetizer made by combining pieces of food, such as fruit or seafood”. Fruit cocktail is sometimes used as breakfast, lunch or dinner. Fruit cocktail basically contains a certain percentage distribution of pears, grapes, cherries, peaches, and pineapples to be combined as fruit cocktail. It mostly contains fruits in the following range of percentages: • 30% to 50% diced peaches, any yellow variety • 25% to 45% diced pears, any variety • 6% to 16% diced pineapple, any variety • 6% to 20% whole grapes, any seedless variety • 2% to 6% paw-paw, any light sweet or artificial red variety Canned fruit cocktail and canned fruit salad are similar, but fruit salad contains larger fruit while fruit cocktail is diced.

Rich bowl of diced fruit cocktail

PAGE 31

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

Profile

His Royal Highness (Dr.) Umar Farouq Bahago Con Emir of Minna

wenty five years ago, Minna Emirate began a new page in its history and evolution. On that Saturday, the humble, gentle Umar Farouq Bahago was declared the new Emir of Minna ascending to the throne of his father Ahmadu Bahago, who without doubt, had become an Icon as a traditional ruler, a leader of his people, an Islamic crusader a rallying point and a profound lover of his people’s culture and traditions. This was the enormity of the responsibility which the amiable Umar Farouq was destined to step into. To inhabitants of the Emirate, the Selection of Umar Farouq was not surprising, because as he grew up before their eyes, he had exhibited potentials to earn their respect, admiration and love as a future and worthy son to step into his father’s throne. Born on 5th March 1957, Umar Farouq Bahago had his early education at the then Central Primary School Minna now IBB Primary School from 1963. Between 1970-1974 he was at Sheikh Sabbah College, now Sardauna Memorial College Kaduna. On September of 1974 he join the service of North Western State Government as Agricultural Assistant with the Ministry of Agriculture. The young princes desire to improve himself and his enormous thirst or education saw him admitted into the school of agriculture of the famous Ahmadu Bello University Zaria where he graduated with an ordinary National Diploma in General Agriculture. Not satisfied, Prince Farouq Bahago decided on further studies and this led him to the College of Agriculture Kabba for his Higher National Diploma. While there he distinguished himself by Winning Best Student prizes in practical animal science and rural economics. By 1983 Alhaji Umar Farouq Bahag had become an Agricultural Superintendent at the then Niger State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources. The Prince’s outstanding performance in the Ministry got him call up to serve d contribute in fashioning out the State’s fifth development plan with regards to his line of specialization. In 1986 he was promoted to the rank of principal Agricultural Superintendent, a position he held until that day when he was anointed to become the Emir of Minna.

Since that Unique and memorable day which we are today commemorating, as a silver Jubilee of this charismatic traditional rural, His Royal Highness Alhaji Umar Farouq has relentlessly continued to pursue with zeal and determination the up-liftment of Minna Emirate, and the Gbagyi Traditional Institution and Culture. This he has been able to achieve transparently, by being accessible to his subjects and his embrace of all and sundry with in his Domain without ambiguity. In the course of his Unique twenty five reigns, Minna Emirate has continued to receive and accommodate peacefully, people of diverse culture, religion and language. Consequent upon this is the noticeable physical development and the attendance economic growth. It is worthy to mention today the success recorded by His Royal Highness Doctor Umar Farouq Bahago particularly in the area of Education. This however, is not surprising, knowing the value which the Emir accords education and the way he has consistently encouraged his subject to pursue both western and Islamic education. he Minna Emirate Education Foundation, spearheaded by him to arrest the stagnation and decay of Western Education in the Emirate and improve the quality of the Youth in the Emirate through provision of qualitative and functional education, has extensively contributed in transforming the Emirs Vision into an attainable objective. Thus far, this initiative has rekindled the aspirations and hope of several indigent students through financial support to them to pursue further education in higher institution across the country, while those with qualification deficiency have been counseled. Equally too blocks of classrooms have either been constructed or rehabilitated by the foundation in all the Distributs of the Emirate. Doctor Umar Farouq Bahago, has within the past twenty-five year’s created viable platforms for effective administration of the Emirate through the installation of more village heads with the support of the present administration in the State. This we must acknowledge as commendable as it will no doubt assist in maintaining the existing peace, supervision and community policing in the Emirate. As we commemorate this auspicious event we must not forget

to appreciate the fact that no success is without its challenges, the success of His Highness the Emir of Minna Doctor Umar Farouq Bahago is no different. This understandable is inherent in the leadership of humanity. As the population continues to rise due to migration of people from all parts of the country, the problem of harmonious integrant has become herculean and challenging. Most often, however, it is said inability to surmount challenges of a society or a people could be hinged on the quality of leadership. Minna Emirate fortunately cannot be said to be lacking on this score, with a programmatic, focused, humble, brave but gentle traditional ruler in the person of Doctor Umar Farouq Bahago. What is necessary and is required, is for the people of the emirate to individually initiate programmes that would help increase the socio-economic development of the area, and as individuals, uphold and protect the culture, traditions and their language in a most programmatic manner. After all, it is said, God made us into tribes and nations so that we understand over selves better. The people must also believe more in the traditional rulers’ around the to arbitrate in misunderstandings that could be settled out of courts like marital conflicts, land disputes, farmers-nomads conflicts etc. this way, the rate of litigations and the cost associated with such would be greatly reduced. The community leaders in their various levels must also on this part see themselves as representatives and eye of the Emir in their communities and as such carry themselves with the same characteristics of integrity, honest, humility and fairness that is found in his highness, Doctor Umar Farouq Bahago. That way, they would be able to sustain the love, trust and admiration of those they are turbaned to rule.

“

His Royal Highness (Dr.) Umar Farouq Bahago Con On the issue of immunization against polio and other childhood killer disease, Doctor Umar Farouq Bahago has thus far stemmed the tide at which parents in the past refuse to allow their children and wards benefit from this government laudable programme. The Emir of Minna has continued to embark on enlightenment and sensitization on the dangers of refusing to allow children benefit from this vaccinating and through that, corrected the misinformation earlier held by parents on the programme. It is commendable to note that the Emirs doggedness in this regard is paying off with more positive response from parents. He has constantly directed that traditional rulers in his domain should assist and ensure officials of the immunization programme get the attention they need in their wards and communities. In the twenty five years in the reign of Doctor Umar Farouq Bahago, we cannot but applaud this amicable monarch, who has brought the vibrancy of his youth to manifest in the socio-economic

The Minna Emirate Education Foundation, spearheaded by him to arrest the stagnation and decay of Western Education in the Emirate and improve the quality of the Youth in the Emirate through provision of qualitative and functional education, has extensively contributed in transforming the Emirs Vision into an attainable objective.

life of the acknowledged citadel of Gbagyi people. Doctor Farouq Bahago has remained the epitome of accommodation, vanguard and zealous promoter of peace and harmonious co-existence of the people of diverse background that populate Minna Emirate as a place of convergence. Twenty five years ago, Minna could be defined as Mobil old Central Market by Abdu Street, old Night Market, Limawa and Sabon Gari, today we are all witness to tremendous expansion in the size and volume of Minna The transformation of Minna, from a small town to a city and the attendant growth in business and other commercial activities is no doubt due to influx of people who find Minna, as ideal for settling. This itself is the product of the peace that is engendered as traditional to the emirate this we can rightly ascribe to Umar Farouq Bahago. herefore as we commemorate, this monarch’s Unique reign, it is pertinent on the people of the Emirate to continually support this leader, whose priority and concern has always been and would continue to be their betterment in furtherance of peace that has subsisted in the Emirate and upholding the pride, dignity of the Gbagyi people, their tradition; culture and customs. We cannot exhaust what is and will be written on the success of Doctor Umar Farouq Bahago as Emir of Minna, this little we have is just an appreciation of diligence and service to a people by a noble monarch Allah Ya Ja Zamanin Sarki Shekwo Mwasa O Dadai

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

Fiction

Treacherous: The answers come trickling in ...continued from last week

“Fine,” she said and turned around to sit on the bench and I sat beside her. “The Woodsons and our family have been living here for 20 years... well almost!” She sighed. “When Rose came here, we became friends very quickly and not just us but even our kids... Alice found her best friend in Lily. They both spent the best days of their childhood together.” “Wait, who was Lily?” I asked. Katherine became quiet. “Lily was Mr. Woodson’s eldest daughter. She was very close to her dad. She was a beautiful girl, she was just like you... she had blonde hair. Oh and she was so innocent. I still cannot forget her smile.” “What happened to her? Where’s she now?” “She died.” “I can’t believe this... they had a daughter!” “Mr. Woodson was completely shaken after the accident. He refused to believe that she died... he just went mad and why wouldn’t he? They didn’t even find her dead body... they said it went deep down in the sea... and.” Katherine was choked. I put a hand on her shoulder and tried to calm her down. “Can I know what happened after that?” “Nothing important but yes... the Woodsons became quite shelled. Rose stopped speaking to me and gave a very harsh look at Alice whenever she saw her. Maybe Alice reminded her of her loss.” I went towards my house and gave her one last glance and mouthed thank you. So I guess my personal investigation is finally bearing fruits and I know that Lily’s got something to do with all the questions in my mind. When I got down I saw that Mr. Woodson was already leaving for his office and there was no one at the breakfast table. I was confused. Then Mr. Woodson noticed me and exclaimed, “Here you are.” “Have you noticed the time?” He asked. I looked up at the clock and realized that it was half past 11. “I’m sorry for keeping you waiting. Have you had your breakfast?” I asked making a puppy face to get some sympathy. “Why! Did you think that we all would have kept waiting for you?” Rose said emerging from her bedroom. “Um... no!” “Well, we’ve had our breakfast and if you wish to eat something, you can ask Maria to cook it. I’m accompanying your dad to his office today, and after that I have to attend a tea party in which Annabell would be accompanying me as it’s a mother-daughter special evening... that means you’ll be alone in the house so be careful and remember not to open the door for anybody else but us.” I quickly nodded at her. Then she left with Annabell and Mr. Woodson, and closed the door behind her. I smiled to myself and felt a lot happy... ‘cause today I will be making the most discoveries as I can in my investigations. So after having a hearty breakfast, I headed straight to see Maria to execute my plan. I entered into the kitchen and talked with Miss Maria. “Hello Maria.” I said as I stood next to her.

“Good morning miss... do you need anything else.” She replied. “Um... actually I am here to ask you a favour.” “What is it?” “Actually I needed to get something from the market so...” “ Ma’am, Mrs. Rose has asked me not to allow you to get out of this house.” “Oh... but I need something urgently...

“

oh! I have an idea, can you go to the market and buy me what I need?” “But.” “Don’t worry, it won’t take long and I’ll take care of the house... let me just do one thing I’ll ask the driver to take you in the car, that way you’ll not have to wait for any taxi.” “Oh that’s so nice of you miss. Where am I supposed to go?” “Oh... there’s this store in the upper east side where I have given my dress for alteration and today is the last day to pick up otherwise it’ll be sold.” I said. “Fine I’ll go.” She said taking a piece of paper from my hand which had the address of the store where she was supposed to go... a store which she’ll never be able to find... at least not until the entire fuel tank of the car is empty. After Maria left, I quickly went to Mrs. Rose’s bedroom. Yes... the door was locked but I had a hairpin to unlock it. Yeah! I learned that from movies too. I went inside the bedroom and looked around. ‘Where should I start looking from?’ I wondered. The cupboard! I quickly opened up Mrs. Rose’s cupboard and shuffled through all the shelves but couldn’t find anything... then I looked down and noticed that there was a locker there... I tried to open it but it was locked and I didn’t know the key code, and I knew that trying something randomly would just be a waste of time... so I decided to search Annabell’s room instead. I made my way upstairs to Annabell’s room and it was unlocked. I went inside and searched through all the possible storage areas... and then I found something! There were a lot of pill bottles hidden in Annabell’s closet... I took one of them which was empty and put in my pocket. Then I started going through all the documents. There were several medical reports and phone numbers of different doctors along with their names. I quickly penned down the names and phone numbers of the doctors that were there in the list, and then took her reports to my room and hid them under my pillow. So now the question was why was Annabell taking all these pills and does anybody know anything about it except the obvious Rose! Well, now my aim was to extract all these medical information and I knew from where I would be able to do so... Google! I heard the doorbell ring and I quickly locked my room and went downstairs to open it. “Must be Maria.” I murmured. But I was wrong, standing on my door was no one else but Alice. “Hi.” She said. “I’m here to...” “Apologize?” I completed her sentence.

I made my way upstairs to Annabell’s room and it was unlocked. I went inside and searched through all the possible storage areas... and then I found something!

“So can I come in? Well, actually I saw the Woodsons leaving the house in the morning... thought I can finally talk to you when they’re not here.” “Sure... come in.” I took her in and then closed the door and locked it. Then we sat on the couch with some lemon soda to sip. “So... how are you finding everyone here?” Asked Alice. “Strange! I told you the other day.” “Oh! I forgot... so I hope it’s not too late to help?” “No... absolutely not... in fact you have come here at just the right time.” “Ok, now let’s come to the point.” “Ok.” “Can you tell me something about Annabell? Like you’ve watched her grow up right? Has she ever acted strange?” “Well no... Actually I don’t know her very well. When she came here she was very young and quite inert I should say... so we never really did get along you know... it was always Lily for me. Yeah! I know my mother has told you everything.” “Yes, she has... but wait.” I said after scrutinizing her words in my head, “You just said when Annabell came here... what did you mean by that? Your mother said when the Woodsons moved here only Lily was there and as far as my calculations go, Annabell wouldn’t have been born by then.” “No... actually Annabell moved here after Rose.” “What do you mean by that?” “Don’t tell me you don’t know?” “What? Just be clear.” “Well... Rose is Mr. Woodson’s second wife. She was Lily’s stepmother and when she came here, Annabell didn’t come along but after a few years Annabell came here.... just a year before Lily’s accident actually.” “So who’s Annabell?” “Well, she’s Rose’s daughter... real daughter. My mother told me that Rose had been fighting to get Annabell’s custody from her ex-husband and that’s why Annabell moved in the Woodsons family later on... that is after Rose got her custody.” “This means Annabell is not Mr. Woodson’s real daughter.” “Yes.” “Alice... I need to tell you something, but promise you won’t tell this to anybody else.” “Promise.” “Just wait.” I rushed upstairs to my bedroom and brought all the medical reports and showed it to Alice. Alice looked at them and said, “I seriously don’t know the meaning of all these medical terms... tell me how can I help you.” “Alice I don’t have any access to the Internet in this house... so can you just Google something and find anything relevant, and one more thing if you can just try to call these doctors maybe we’ll know something.” “You know what... I would have never got my hand into this matter if it wasn’t for you. But for you I’ll do whatever I can... you remind me of Lily.” She smiled but I could see tears forming in her eyes. “Thanks.” “I’ll be going now... but don’t worry I’ll surely find out something very soon.” “Ok... goodbye.” I said. “Bye.” She said and then left the house. To be continued...

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

She abandoned me for another man

This is a true story of a young man who got broken hearted because of love

met Genevieve, a lavishing beauty of about 26 year s old. She was a cute young lady (though she was 25 years at the time) and fresh from NYSC sometime in August 2008. The event was her mother’s send off get-together party in Osun state. She was Ibo, and so was I. I had been single and searching for quite some time before that time. Unlike me of previous years, life had simply taught me to appreciate whatever I have and never to take anyone, especially a woman, for granted. Thus, for a long time before we met, I had kept to myself in emotional matters; very careful not to go into any relationship I could not continue with to the end. So when we met, I was not only very single, but also seriously searching. I’d been sent to Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) by my employers in Cross-river state for a program few months before this time, and I’d since met with her elder brother who is resident in Osun state with whom we had already become close friends. That was how I was invited to his mother’s send off party. The only mystery I was yet to discover was the fact that he had such a very lovely sister. He knew I’d been looking for my better half, and he also knew about my uncompromising stance towards members of the opposite sex - that I would rather remain alone than enter into any relationship I could not carry to the end. I so much abhorred deceit in matters of the heart. This happened to be my emotional state of mind when I met his sister at their mother’s send off. Few days after that meeting, their whole family including Genevieve, relocated to Owerri. And soon, I finished my course at OAU and went back to Calabar. We had only the phone calls to connect us as her parents would have none of her visiting any man who is not her brother. We liked each other, and soon fell in love; although we hardly saw each other. The separation was hurting, and most nights she’ll call and cry for my touch on the phone. I could not do much as I was not my own employer, and besides I was not yet fully prepared financially. I begged

her to wait for me; to wait till December 2010. She agreed, and I was highly elated. But then that’s when we started quarrelling over little things right there on the phone. It was terrible. I’d be so angry, I’d shout at her and she’d also be angry and shout back. We’d bang the phone, then I’d cry and call her back to ask for forgiveness. Sometimes, she’d be the one to ask for forgiveness. It was all so frustrating and worst of all, day in day out, we never saw. The contact was always the phone. Unfortunately, I came to Owerri in a capacity in which I could not move around on my own, so I called for her to come so we could see since I could not leave where I was. My phone battery was down at the time. There obviously was a misunderstanding because she never came. I stayed three hours in Owerri before my group left. It was so hurting that she didn’t show up, so I sent her a not-so-kind text message as we left Owerri. She called immediately, but we quarrelled. It turned out she had been try-

“

But then that’s when we started quarrelling over little things right there on the phone. It was terrible. I’d be so angry, I’d shout at her and she’d also be angry and shout back. We’d bang the phone, then I’d cry and call her back to ask for forgiveness.

ing my phone line which was switched off because my battery was low, and so she decided not to come. he experience hurt me so much that; that same day, I met and talked to a young lady more out of frustration than because I wanted to. And before I knew what was happening, we started dating. Her name was Ella. Ella stayed in Port-Harcourt at the time, so it was still a phone relationship. I guess Genevieve noticed

a change in me because she stopped quarrelling, and surprisingly decided to pay me a visit in Calabar. And true to her word, she came visiting. But I felt so guilty that I confessed, and told her about Ella. But I insisted that she doesn’t stay in my town, and had never visited me. This was my worst mistake. I guess lying at times may be worth it, but I loved her so much that I just could not lie to her. I asked her forgiveness, begged her to forget all that had happened, persuaded her to re-

kindle her faith in me, and prepared to break up with Ella. But while all of this was going on, suddenly, the worst happened. fter she went back to Owerri, my love stopped calling me. I was now the one calling. Her voice became cold each time I called, and to my greatest misfortune, I called two days ago and insisted she tell me what was now wrong. She told me the most heartbreaking story I ever heard in my entire life. She told me that another man had come to see her parents, and that next week is her official premarriage introduction. Dear reader, I am so devastated. I have cried and pleaded with her to stop the marriage plans and give me a second chance all to no avail. She said her mind is made up and there is nothing anyone can do to persuade her to the contrary. The truth is that, I love her so much; and without her my life will be meaningless. Strangely, as it is, my feelings are nothing but a dream which may never be realised. allnigeria.com

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

Entertainment Xtra

I never slept with Jim Iyke, says Ghanaian actress Samonas G

hanaian actress, Nikki Samonas has for the first time opened up about some controversial related scenes with Nigerian ‘bad boy’ actor Jim Iyke. In an exclusive interview with UTV, she denied allegations that she had sex with Nigerian actor Jim Iyke in a movie as it was being rumoured. “Yes! Jim Iyke and I have done a lot of movies together. It is through Jim Iyke that I shot my first movie in Nigeria. Yes we starred in a particular movie and a movie is a movie. It is make believe so whatever you saw in the movie is make believe. We did it that way to show people that things like this happen but it doesn’t mean it really happened”. About what went on between her and Jim Iyke both on and off the cameras she emphasised was

Hunger Games: Catching Fire’s Sam Claflin thinks he’s not hot enough

n Catching Fire, the character Finnick Odair is described as the most handsome character with the strongest physical traits of all. Finnick is obviously an imaginary character, but Sam Claflin who plays the exalted role, thinks he is not hot enough to play Finnick. However, a source said; “we certainly beg to differ, since after a casting process that may have included options of veterans such as Armie Hammer, Garrett Hedlund and Taylor Kitsch, the role went to Sam Claflin”. Recently, Claflin opened up to Elle UK about the insecurities that came with playing such a majestic role. he was quoted saying, “When I first found out I’d got Finick, I went on the Internet to see people’s reactions. And I’m on Twitter so people were sending me their reactions. Some were harsh than others.” He also added, “I’m seriously insecured about my body. I’m not someone who’ll take my top off on the beach. I’ll wear a vest.”

only for the time they were working together like actors do. “After the movie came out there were rumours that we were dating. No! There was absolutely nothing going between us. I never dated Jim Iyke and I never slept with Jim Iyke. I haven’t done anything like that with him, whatever I have done with Jim Iyke is strictly business so what you see us doing in the movie is make believe”. Asked if this movie affected her in anyway; she said most of her family members, friends and even the media felt disappointed when they saw the video. This was because they thought it was a private affair which has been recorded and leaked on the internet but she tried to explain to those who complained to her that it was just a scene from a movie. As to whether she is still close to Jim Iyke, Nikki disclosed that it’s been a while since she communicated with him adding that the movie brought some misunderstanding between them which she refused to give details of. The movie titled “My first wife” raised a lot of controversies after it was released some years back with critics bemoaning how Nikki allowed the Nollywood actor to fondle her body and the extent of exposure all in the name of acting.

Hollywood beauty Sharon Stone wants to work in Bollywood

ndia Today has revealed that American actressproducer, Sharon Stone, is currently in Mumbai for a fund-raising event, to be in a Hindi movie. “I would love to be in one of the Hindi movies and, of course, I have seen many films. The language is different, but I like it,” Stone told reporters during the gala event organised by international organisation amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, in Mumbai. Asked if she had learnt any Hindi, Stone said:

“I have learnt to say ‘Namaste’.” “I love Indian food, I love spicy food. It’s fantastic. I got up today morning at 4 and went for a walk; it’s a moment that you feel. It’s a whole different feeling -- I went to a temple, it was great,” the actress said. Asked if she would visit again, she replied: “If you welcome us, we will be coming back. If you want us, we will be back.”

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

Bollywood/Hollywood

Scarlett Johasson’s best actress win for voice – over irks critics

ndia Today has reported that shortly after Scarlett Johansson won the Best Actress Award at the Rome's film festival recently, the jury's decision backfired. It said the decision backfired not because the festival was only eight years old, but because Johansson only provided a voice-over for a computer program in the Spike Jonze film 'Her', where she starred Joaquin Phoenix as a man who recently came out of a divorce and falls in love with her voice. The actress didn’t appear in person in the film, and only lend her voice to a character. The other case the critics have made was the fact that the movie would eventually get dubbed in other languages, which in itself nullifies the whole point of the award. Meanwhile, reports also claimed that Megan Ellison, the producer of ‘Her’, is keen that Johansson be given an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress as well.

‘Spider-Man’ to End broadway run

he $75 million musical that made headlines with its costly delays and string of accidents will play its final performance at the Foxwoods Theatre in early January. Hollywood Reporter has said that the most expensive musical in Broadway history will end its run in January, when Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark called it quit at the Foxwoods Theatre, a little over three years since its first problem-plagued preview. While no official announcement has yet been made, news surfaced in The Wall Street Journal that the $75 million mega-production would bring down its final curtain early in the New Year, looking for greener commercial pastures with a Las Vegas berth in 2015. Those plans were confirmed by Jeremiah J. Harris, lead producer on the show with Michael Cohl. The superhero musical began previews in November, 2010, becoming an instant international media fixation with its string of cast and crew accidents and the abrupt dismissal of its original director and co-creator, Julie Taymor. It was significantly overhauled during previews, with performances shut down to accommodate rewrites and new staging. Taymor co-wrote the original book with Glen Berger, while music and lyrics were composed by U2 members Bono and The Edge. Following Taymor's acrimonious split from the production, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa was brought in to work on the script, while Philip William McKinley was hired to fine-tune the direction. Taymor's credit as director was subsequently restored following

settlement of her suit against the production. Despite dismissive reviews from most major outlets both for Taymor's original version and for the modified production that finally opened in 2011, box office was stellar for the first year and a half, with media attention regularly pushing weekly grosses to $1.5 million or more. During its strongest period, Spider-Man more than once topped the $2 million mark; in the week ending Jan. 1, 2012, it set a new record for a single-week Broadway gross, earning $2.9 million. However, those figures dropped once initial curiosity began to wear off, slipping beneath $1 million in late August this year and remaining below that threshold ever since. Given that the show needs to make an estimated $1.2 million a week to cover running costs, the writing has been on the wall for some time. During the week ending Nov. 17, Spider-Man grossed $742,595, playing to 75 percent capacity houses. While the show has been seen by close to two million people in New York, with a total gross of $203 million to date, the production is not expected to recoup its Broadway capitalization. Producers are hoping that Las Vegas, where running costs generally are lower than New York, will prove a good fit for the show, with international stagings also said to be in the works. Another giant musical spectacular, the Australian production King Kong, was rumored to be eyeing the Foxwoods as one of the few Broadway venues large enough to house the elaborate show.

Animation film Mahabharat's movie trailer out

ndia Today has reported that Producer Jayantilal Gada recently released the trailer of his ambitious 3D animation project: Mahabharat. It added that the grand epic that has seen countless versions over the years, has got its first ever animation makeover. This also marks the epic tale’s first move towards the big cinema screen. The high budget film reportedly came with an enviable cast of actors - Amitabh Bachchan has lend his voice to Bhishma, while Sunny Deol does the same for Bheem, Draupadi owes her voice to Vidya Balan, and Yudhistir to Manoj Bajpai. Also, actor Ajay Devgan has lend his voice to Arjun, Anil Kapoor voices Karna, Jackie Shroff voices Duryodhan and Anupam Kher will be heard playing Shakuni. The other interesting bit about the film is the fact that the characters bear a strong resemblance to the actors lending them their voices. This, of course, was a planned effort on the makers’ side.

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

PAGE 37

Entertainment Flakes

Eith FUNSHO AKINWALE PHONE NO: 08051101191

2faceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ex- baby mama, Sumbo Ajaba pregnant with 3rd child

ne of the baby mamas of pop star, 2face Idibia, Sumbo Ajaba, is now pregnant for husband, David Tunde Adeoye. The couple married in 2013 in Lagos after a report had it that she got married secretly in South Africa. Ajaba had a relationship with 2face before she married Pastor Adeoye. Her romance with the Benue born star produced two kids.

Top comedian, Seyi Law opens nite club in Lagos

opular comedian, Seyi Law,has opened a lounge named Xcess Lounge and a Comedy Bar in Ikorodu, a Lagos state suburb, where he intends to stage series of comedy, musical and fashion events on a daily basis.

Biyi Samuel set to premier new movie

ollywood actors and actresses and those who make things happen in the entertainment industry will soon have an addition to the various events which have been uplifting the industry. Star actor, Biyi Samuel, has concluded plans to bring top Nollywood stars and prominent marketers together to premier a multi million naira movie titled Abigeal, at the Etal Hall and Hotel located on Kudirat Abiola Way, Oregun,Lagos. While speaking with Entertainment Flakes recently, he disclosed that the event was conceived to appreciate the efforts of those who have contributed to the growth of entertainment industry through hard work and dignity.

King Sunny to perform at Tiwa savage wedding today

he King of World Beats, Chief Sunday Adegeye, better known as King Sunny Ade, is billed to perform at the traditional wedding of Tiwa Savage and her manager turned fiancee, Tunde Balogun, popularly called Tee Billz. The wedding will hold on Saturday, November 23,at The Ark Vicinity, Lekki, Lagos State. The much awaited wedding ceremony promises to be a grand one as many are already sitting on the edges of anticipation to attend the high profile wedding

Ex-banker, Cecilia Ibru resurfaces, embraces social life

he embattled former Managing Director of the defunct Oceanic Bank, Cecilia Ibru has resurfaced after several years in oblivion. The pretty wife of Olorogun Micheal Ibru was said to have staged a comeback when she stormed the wedding ceremony of Eyituoyo, son of the Vanguard Newspaper publisher, Sam Amuka Pemu to former Miss Oladele Adeshina. The wedding took place last week at Yaba Baptist Church, Yaba, Lagos state. Ibru, who was decked in a golden lace, brown headgear and dark eye glasses was full of life throughout the event. She was seen exchanging pleasantries with other eminent personalities at the wedding ceremony. Other top celebrities at

the wedding included Lagos state governor,Babatunde Raji Fashola, Governor Amaechi of Rivers state, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim,the Secretary of the Federation, and Mr Biodun Shobanjo among others.

I wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t leave if my husband impregnates another woman -Daramola

ollywood star actress, Foluke Daramola, in a recent interview, disclosed that she would not leave her controversial husband, Kayode Salako if he impregnates another woman. Daramola in her words said:"As it is now if Kayode goes ahead and impregnates a woman, do I have to leave him because of that? Yet I am not even pregnant". If I decide to leave my home because my husband is dating another woman or put her in a family way, who will lose, my husband or me? At the end of the day, it is the woman that owns the home and you hold it the way you want to hold it". So if my husband is misbehaving and I decide to quit, I shouldn't blame another person for coming in". It would be recalled that Daramola had married Salako in a controversial circumstances which later turned messy as she was alleged to have snatched the handsome school proprietor from his estranged wife, Bukola. During the heat of the controversies, Daramola claimed she didn't snatch Salako from his wife as widely claimed. However, against all odds, the two lovebirds got married in a traditional wedding in Lagos and have since been living as husband and wife. So strong was the love that they both traveled to Canada for their honey moon.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

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LETTERS

Keshi: Pragmatic patriotism in action By Emmanuel Onwubiko

or four months and still counting, all federal and state government run (public) universities have been shut down as a result of the industrial action by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). One among many pecuniary issues/ grudges that precipitated the prolonged forced shut down [which has become the mother of all strikes in Nigeria] was lecturers’ agitation for enhanced allowances and wages. Ironically, the university teachers have the sympathy of some persons over the federal government’s unwholesome breach of a binding agreement reached with the university teachers in 2009. Other persons are worried that these academics have allowed the love of money to becloud their sense of reasoning. One among the germane reasons that the university teachers still enjoy some form of limited sympathy from some Nigerians is because of the rot in the public university system but again, this systemic and institutional rot was partly created by some illegal activities of even the university teachers themselves. These include but not limited to gross professional indiscipline; sexual harassment of female teachers and bribefor -higher- marks syndrome. Some of these lecturers have been accused of also doubling as privately hired tutors in some privately run universities that are in session even as children of poor families in public universities are shut out of university education for four months now. In saner climes, the public intellectuals and academics are some of the most respected patriots of their respective nations because they basically put the interest of public good, the good of their students and the good of humanity at heart even before their pecuniary benefits before doing their best to build a better society. But in Nigeria, those who ought to have shown the patriotic light are not prepared for this but have invented a new phrase that the reward of a teacher is on earth and not just in Heaven.

WRITE TO US

Peoples Daily Weekend welcomes your letters, opinion articles, text messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters - 150 words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your name and a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be addressed to: The Editor, Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, 35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja. Email: opinion@peoplesdailyng.com adverts@peoplesdailyng.com pictures@peoplesdailyng.com contact@peoplesdailyng.com The narratives above are necessitated by the uncommon patriotism in generous supply in the public life and service of the current Nigeria’s national football coachMr. Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, who against all odds has brought back smiles to the faces of Nigerians at a time that over 100 million Nigerians are said to be in destitution (apologies to recent world Bank report). Keshi or the ‘Big Boss’ as he’s fondly called, is about the only Nigerian public worker who would be owed over 7 months salaries and allowances yet continues to deliver results even when his employerNigerian Football Federation- are in criminal breach of an extant contract. Keshi is being owed five months salary arrears (also members of his technical crew) but he has remained magnanimous and resilient and has gone ahead to secure Nigeria’s qualification for the 2014 senior World Cup finals in Brazil. He neither engineered any strike action nor did he ever contemplate sabotaging Nigeria’s qualification to the World Cup as some Nigerians in his shoes would have done if owed for this long stretch of accumulated wages. If you doubt Coach Stephen Keshi’s profound patriotism, then take a walk to the office of the Nigerian Minister of Labour and Productivity, Mr. Emeka Wogu, to read his ministerial briefing presented

on July 23rd 2013 and see the high cases of industrial disputes that he has had to confront within a short time. In the report, he presented to the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), we learnt that Nigeria ranks among countries with the highest industrial disputes in the world. Wogu had written thus; “Generally, the ministry within the year; accomplished the following: receipt and resolution of labour complaints from all states of the federation; 213 number of labour complaints and trade disputes were declared and 174 of the declared trade disputes were resolved through mediation and conciliation by the Minister of Labour & Productivity in the exercise of the statutory powers conferred on the office. While 25 cases were resolved through referral for Arbitration/Judicial Adjudication, and 14 cases were still on-going.” Just before Nigeria divested ownership of publicly built electricity power plants to some choice ‘buyers’ in the private sector with effect from October 2013, workers of the now defunct National electricity power Authority (Power Holden Company) threatened to undermine the privatization process except their accumulated finaicial settlements/pay offs were met. The Nigerian government coughed out N360 billion to pay off the agitated former public electricity workers before

the full privatization of electricity took effect. These erstwhile public electricity workers who got generous financial settlements do not wish to become as genuinely patriotic as Stephen Keshi. This is because they are aware that most of public officers award themselves generous allowances and salaries far and above what the law says. Keshi and his crew members, who still do wonderful things for Nigeria amidst financial constraints, are indeed uncommon heroes and patriots, if indeed patriotism still means the love of one’s country far and above the love of self. It is not in doubt that patriotism is the rarest virtue in Nigeria much more than virginity because even with the fast decline in moral values, there are still many young women who have chosen to remain virgins. For instance, in the United States, engagement in public service such as holding public offices are mostly done by public spirited individuals who have achieved fame, fortune and a place of pride in their chosen careers. But in Nigeria, most people go into politics and public life with the polluted and corrupt mindset of self aggrandizement/ enrichment by outright theft of public fund meant for building infrastructure and providing basic urgent social services such as health care. Keshi is worth being celebrated as a hero and a great patriot who should be taught and indeed become a major chapter in the social and educational curriculum in public schools to children as part of civic education so our children who are growing up under this absolutely money suffocating/conscious environment could learn and accept the fact that patriots who give their time, talents and gifts to the service of nation and public good do not end up not being celebrated. For Coach Stephen Okechukwu Keshi born on January 23rd 1962, my word of encouragement is that he should continue to be who he is-great patriot and an uncommon pragmatic demonstration of patriotism. Emmanuel Onwubiko: blogs @ www.huriwa.blogspot.com; http://www.huriwa.org

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

Opinion

Transportation: As Abuja unveils multi-billion dollar investment potentials... Abdulrahman Hamid-Issa

t is indubitable that Abuja is the fastest growing city in Africa today. On the global scale, the Nigerian capital city ranks third in growth speed. The hosting of the first Abuja Transportation Investment Summit on November 25, 2013 at the nation’s leading hotel, Transcorp Hilton, Abuja is bound to set in motion the process that would result in the ultimate introduction of a world class multi-model transportation system in FCT via combined inflow totalling well over $30 billion within the next decade. Already, a consortium of reputable players in the private sector of the nation’s economy led by the likes of Dangote Group, Africa’s largest conglomerate, the Innosons Motor Manufacturing Company of Nnewi, Nigeria’s leading indigenous automobile manufacturing company and the China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) among others are supporting the FCT Administration in providing the requisite funds for the hosting of the epoch-making summit. The huge gathering of global transportation experts promises to attract veritable investors from Europe, America, Asia and other developed continents of

the world. The Transportation Secretariat of the FCT Administration under Engineer Jonathan Ivoke Achara has been up and doing to ensure that the set target was achieved, that is pulling credible investors from across the nation and the world to invest in the ever expanding transportation sector of FCT, a Territory whose current population has been put at well over six million people. This population estimate is in tandem with the fact that Abuja is ballooning in size on daily basis. A dynamic, responsive, most up-to-date and effective Mass Transit System is therefore a sine qua non to carter for the growing population of Africa’s hottest conference hub. It is a fact that multi-model Mass Transit systems worldwide come at huge costs with wide array of infrastructure required to develop them usually overstretching State’s budgets, hence the need to attract private investments in the development of the vital public transportation sector. Thus the planned summit is aimed at highlighting the investment potentials in the following areas: Rail mass transit system; Bus mass transit system; Organised taxi system; Development and Management of Parking Systems; Development of trans-

portation centre, sector centres and terminals etc. The huge transportation investment summit is planned to be a syndicated event involving experts, investors, banks and other financial institutions, policy makers, political leaders and development partners. There will be presentations on the funding options and investment procedure approved by the Federal Government of Nigeria. The trail-blazing event will be rounded off with a networking dinner at the same Transcorp Hilton Hotel. As at date thousands of invitations have been dispatched and lots of favourable responses are tumbling in for the summit. For Abuja, acclaimed to be one

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of the fastest growing cities in the world, greater participation in the transportation sector is required to cater for the city’s ever growing population. And the reality is that the huge cost and infrastructure required to develop the city makes it imperative that huge indigenous and foreign investments need to be attracted in the Abuja Mass Transportation System. All in all, the planned investment summit is aimed at highlighting the potentials in Rail Mass transit System, Bus Mass Transit System, Organized Taxi System, Development/ Management of Parking System, development and management of Terminals and Lorry Parks. The investment summit is in-

The planned investment summit is aimed at highlighting the potentials in Rail Mass transit System, Bus Mass Transit System, Organized Taxi System, Development/ Management of Parking System, development and management of Terminals and Lorry Parks.

deed a welcome move. The investment opportunities under the FCT Rail Mass Transit scheme are very extensive. They span provision of actual construction of no fewer than additional ten rail routes, train coaches for the rail lines, development of railway stations including provision of facilities and structures like terminal lounges, shopping malls and motor vehicles park and ride systems. Concerning the Organized Taxi System, the investors are expected to provide efficient technology-driven systems that will be amenable to computer and latest ICT. Already, the FCT Administration has set in motion the process that would usher in computerized road worthiness test for all vehicles in FCT. Potential investors in the area of development and management of terminals and lorry parks would similarly use the opportunity of the transportation investment summit to display what they have in stock for FCT. Doubtless, the growing interest of multi-national investors and developers in Abuja is a testimony to the rising profile of the Nation’s Capital. Abdulrahman Hamid-Issa wrote from Suleija, Niger State.

Zahra: Chief cop’s Jewel of inestimable value By Rogers Edor Ochela

t has often been said that prominent men and women the world over are usually thoroughbreds and are profound achievers: their stories, full of successes, are underpinned by their pedigree and unrelenting quest to always go the extra mile to achieve unprecedented goals. Before she got married to the incumbent Inspector-General of Police, MD Mohammed recently, Zahra F.I. Bunu had accomplished a lot in life, her gender notwithstanding. Armed with an intimidating academic resume, she traversed the private sector like a colossus. Born on the 4th January, 1980, to the family of one-time minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Sheriff Bunu, the young lady, had after her primary education, proceeded to the Air Force Girls Military School, Jos (Jan 1991-July 1996). Zahra’s thirst for further education found expression at the famous Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (1998-2004) from where she bagged Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) Civil Engineering. Not quite satisfied with the academic laurel in her kitty, she took a long haul to University of Loughborough, Leicestershire, Britain where

she capped her academic efforts with a Masters degree in Construction Management (2004-2005). Thus, Zahra did not stumble on success: she worked assiduously and painstakingly to earn it. This explains why her rise in all the places she has worked was somewhat phenomenal. She started her working career as Assistant Civil Engineer with the German conglomerate, Julius Berger, Nigeria (April 2000-July 2000); Engineering Department, Cachez Turnkey Projects (October 2002-March 2002); Architectural Department, Cachez Turnkey Projects (May 2003-November 2003). From February 2006 to March 2009, she held the fort at project management/procurement department in Sahara Group Ltd, where she assisted in the coordination, supervision and management of construction processes from conceptual stage to the final construction and on target. Between April and December 2009, the seemingly adventurous engineer took her professional experience to the oil sector, where she berthed in the Marketing/ Operation Department of Mediterranean Oil & Gas Ltd. There, her major assignment was managing product sourcing/procurement and logistics, combining it also with business development and

product marketing. From available records, her stewardship at the Mediterranean Oil & Gas Ltd spoke volumes about her versatility as an enterprising engineer. She equally served at variously at Impresit Bakolori (February 2010-June 2010) and Afren Nigeria. At Afren Nigeria where she still works, Engr. Zahra served as Liaison Officer, External Relations Advisor, External Relations Manager, in the Business Development Department. Her schedules at the company includes: promoting Afren’s corporate image, providing regular Intel on all requests, approvals, regular provision of real-time Intel on current industry, political and general activities in the Senate, House and government as it affects the com-

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pany. Managing of Abuja location and assuming full responsibility for all external communiqué, internal e-newsletter and sponsorship are also her responsibility. Now, as the jewel of the nation’s number one cop, she has been entrusted with additional responsibilities by the reason of being the National President of Police Officers Wives Association (POWA). As POWA President, it is expected that she will not only build on the legacies of her predecessors, but also initiate her own policies and programmes that will advanced the course of the association. On this note, she needs all the support she can get from other members of the association. She must also be humble enough to seek advice from her predecessors

Zahra did not stumble on success: she worked assiduously and painstakingly to earn it. This explains why her rise in all the places she has worked was somewhat phenomenal.

in office. All these will help her to succeed in her new role at POWA. soulmate Also, as the closest person to IGP, MD Abubakar, it is equally expected she will manage the home front with the dexterity of a professional bricklayer in order to give her spouse the much needed peace of mind to tackle the daunting challenges of the Nigeria Police fearlessly. Those acquainted with her pedigree will readily agree that she possesses enough intellectual nay physical capacities to assume her new roles equanimity. No doubt, by virtue of her current status, favour seekers and lobbyists will besiege her house with reckless abandon. But a word of advice here: she should tactfully rebuff such pressures to forestall distracting influences on her spouse. Like one of her admirers who pleaded anonymity said: ‘’Mrs. Zahra Mohammed has over the years shown that she has the correct mix of tact, patience, maturity and firmness to handle the homefront well’’. What more can one say. This writer wishes her a happy nay fruitful marital life! Ochela, a media consultant is a staff of The Dawn Newspaper and can be reached via edorochela@yahoo.co.nz

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

Comments

Sports: As Nigeria wins more laurels

By Labaran Saleh

igeria is indeed having all well on the sporting front. The country’s sports men and women are not only breaking age long seemingly unbreakable records, but are equally setting mind-blowing ones at different competitive sporting events within and outside the shores of Africa. With these unrivalled accomplishments in sports in the last two years, it won’t be out of place to unequivocally affirm that Nigeria is gradually taking its pride of place on the enviable list of top-rated sporting nations across the globe. If successes in sports are solely judged by the number of trophies a country turns in over a short period of time, then Nigeria is eminently qualified to stand shoulder to shoulder with world renowned sporting nations like United States of America, United Kingdom, Brazil, Canada, China and France. Nigeria, in decades, has never had it so glorious, awesome and spectacular in sports. It has been sweet smell of victory for Nigeria and Nigerians. Aside proving pundits wrong by lifting the 2013 edition of the coveted African Cup of Nations trophy in South Africa, Nigeria has recorded victories in several sporting events in the last two years. It is hard to forget the

glory, pride and recognition our para-lympian team to the London 2012 Olympics brought to us as a nation. Our representatives at various international sporting engagements like football, athletics, special sports amongst others have shone brightly with medals to show for them. Just recently, our highflying, young, talented and vibrant Garba Manu led Golden Eaglet team shook the world when it superbly won the 2013 edition of the FIFA Under 17 World Cup in Abu Dhabi in faraway United Arab Emirates (UAE). As you read through these lines, Nigeria and Nigerians are still been celebrated by the world. The victory was a prove of the can-do spirit of Nigerians. Despite initial hiccups, the young lads went ahead to affirm Nigeria’s superiority in the round leather game. While we continue to shower encomiums on our patriotic young men and women who flew our flag in various sporting events across the world, it is instructive we applaud the President Goodluck Jonathan led government for according sports huge priority. Except for the days of late General Abacha where Nigeria won multiple laurels in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics in the USA, Nigeria has never had it so good as we are presently witnessing. The successes so far recorded by our

various teams are clear manifestations of the unprecedented support, consistent encouragement and unrivalled attention that the Jonathan led government accords sports generally. We cannot but admit the obvious fact that Nigeria has got back its winning streak as seen in the number of trophies and medals it has recorded in the last two years. Undoubtedly, the transformation wind is blowing our sports sector into mouthwatering success. Without doubt, the road to this era of loads of accomplishments in sports was not without thorns, curves, distractions and confusion. While we continue to bask in the euphoria of this glorious sporting moments, we must not lose touch of the fact several sacrifices were made, stones were turned, toes were stepped on and plans were up-

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turned to arrive at this moment. The Jonathan administration inherited a sports sector that achieved more failures than victories. It met on ground a sports community where its administrators were more present in courtrooms than on the field of play. These unhealthy practices had negative effects on sports generally as Nigeria was relegated to the trenches and trailed behind less endowed sporting nations like Niger, Chad, Liberia and war torn Somalia. Our sports managers were still neck deep in needless squabbles over struggle for personal interest when the Super Eagles managed to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. Expectedly, the team so fumbled, wobbled and failed to even qualify from the group stage. The Super Eagles finished bottom of Group B at the tournament after draw-

It is gladdening the success we are recording so far as Nigeria may soon become the best sporting nation not only in Africa but among the Commonwealth and ultimately rule the world.

ing with South Korea and losing to Argentina and Greece. The Lars Lagerback’s led side had been expected to fight to make the second round, but they fell far short of that target. It was indeed a sad moment for sportsloving Nigerians. Obviously angered by the dismal performance of the Super Eagles at the mundial, a visibly angry president Goodluck Jonathan withdrew the Super Eagles from international competition until 2012. This move, according to the President was to enable Nigeria puts its football house in order. After wide and extensive consultations with relevant stakeholders in the sports sector, sports administrators have played down on politics and now more focus on the sports sector. It is gladdening the success we are recording so far as Nigeria may soon become the best sporting nation not only in Africa but among the Commonwealth and ultimately rule the world. Therefore our recent qualification for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil is another testimony of the fact that Nigeria is set to prove book makers wrong. While it is not yet uhuru for us in sports, but we can confidently say that we are on the right path. Labaran Saleh Garki II, Abuja salelabaran@yahoo.com

Anambra election: Reassessing the electoral body By Moshood Isah

ecently my attention was drawn to a news report that security agencies may be working towards unravelling some politicking in the country where there are unnecessary and unfortunate bickering within the PDP as the ruling party and the inter-party rivalry that are taking negative dimensions. I strongly believe security agencies have role to play in protecting the nascent democracy from the antics of politicians who engage in distractions rather than serving the populace with positive programmes and projects. The recent altercation in Anamra is another typical instance. I was not in Anambra to witness the recent gubernatorial polls in the state, but the scoops from friends, updates on the media and numerous comments on social network (especially twitter) are enough to convey the wrong message. Different opinions abound depending on individual bias towards a particular party but it all boils down to one thing: the election was far below average when defining a free and fair election. While candidates of the opposition parties, i.e. All People’s Congress (APC), People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and the Labor Party (LP) are all calling for the cancellation of the results, the leading and

incumbent party, All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) is happy with the present outcome of the election. This is basically normal in every election in Nigeria, in the sense that losers are always bad losers, but with comments from eye-witnesses and protests from some disenfranchised voters, it could be said that the election was not fair. Already some aggrieved parties and individuals are calling for the resignation of Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof Jega over the tussle. No doubt INEC is still far away from conducting a free and fair election in the country. There are little positives to take away from the Anambra elections. The fact that election results were cancelled in about sixty-five polling units goes a long way in sending a message that is determined to deliver credible elections to the people. It is pertinent to say that INEC officials are just like every other human being that could be vulnerable to temptation, especially electoral hazard in Nigeria. Officials can be threatened by party hoodlums to compromise the electoral process. This explains why elections had to be cancelled in some polling units. More so, the fact that individuals can be dubious and greedy, also explains why an electoral officer was arrested for trying to maneu-

ver election result for a particular party. Thus no matter the efforts of the body to deliver a transparent election to the people, there are always sabotages, that even Jega admitted within and outside the body, mostly sponsored by party stalwarts to frustrate the effort of the electoral body. We have also witnessed protestations from different groups including women taunting Jega for accepting some of the results, not minding the fact that the INEC chairman is not the returning officer of the election. All the same, he is always the culprit if anything goes wrong with elections in the country. Election in a complex country, like Nigeria, filled with religious and ethnic extremist goes beyond the electoral body alone. Patri-

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otic citizens in concomitance with incorruptible security personnel can only compliment a credible electoral body. Imagine yourself as a polling officer and the security personnel attached to you to a polling station are already negotiating with the highest bidders on how to rig election on their behalf. The same security who man is supposed to protect you in cases like this is already luring you into it. It is so difficult not to compromise in such situation. In a scenario where as a polling officer, you stood your ground to foresee a fair poll, you become at the mercy of desperate, and wicked party officials and their hoodlums. Furthermore, even if you dance to their tune and later report irregularities in the unit, your life still remain at risk, till you

The people are the omega of credible election anywhere in the world. Voters’ apathy is the number one opportunity for election riggers to find their way. Prospective voters hardly turnout in mass to vote in most elections in the country.

are haunted down. Thus security men have a major role to play in delivering credible election in the country. In as much as securities have a stake in conduction of a free and fair election, the people are the omega of credible election anywhere in the world. Voters’ apathy is the number one opportunity for election riggers to find their way. Prospective voters hardly turnout in mass to vote in most elections in the country. This provides avenue for dubious electoral officers and party agents to transact ballot papers. More so any other manipulation that would happen on the election field is always with the consent of the people. This is especially if the manipulation goes in favor of the popular party in the unit. Thus at the end of the day people still ultimately blame INEC and its leadership if anything goes wrong. The Anambra poll is a wakeup call to all stakeholders, ranging from citizens, voters, security men and every other person that dreams of a free fair and credible election in Nigeria. Let’s have it at the back of our mind that, no amount of electoral reform will ensure credible poll if bad citizens are bent on sabotaging the effort of the electoral body. Moshood Isah Sapele street Garki, Abuja Moshoodpm@gmail.com

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

UK Visa bond: A welcome withdrawal Joshua Okonkwo says: Had they sustained this bond, a simple response from Nigeria would have been to demand a £300,000 bond from UK residents wishing to visit Nigeria. It’s very simple, use multiplier effect. It is not a one-way traffic, and we know that the Brits have huge business interests in Nigeria

Nigeria and its 170 million people Errol says: Hi there mates, nice paragraph and good arguments. I am really impressed by this.

Jonathan’s minister took $250m bribe, Gov Lamido alleges Henrola says: Gov Lamido, Nigerians are not fools, if you know you are fighting for Nigerians, say name of the minister that took bribe or rest your case. Truth Power says: My argument here is that, if the PDP is not Jonathan’s as alleged by Lamido which is correct, then, who will sack those the G7 want sacked? Secondly, if they are sacked and they take the party to court, I think there will be more trouble for PDP than what the G7 is doing now. Having said this, I want the

PAGE 41

Online Comments

governor to concentrate efforts on assisting his two sons now in SSS custody. The happenings in Lamido’s family is a clear indication that his children must have inherited the indiscipline virus from him.

Again, Yarima leads Islamic clerics to Jonathan Sani Abubakar says: He should remember that the world is not permanent place to anybody. Where is his former Commissioner for Finance?

G7-FG face off: Bankers being held for money laundering – SSS Okoddy says: Please send them to prison without delay. Is it really true that skipping breakfast will make you ill? Uguma says: Breakfast in the morning is the best thing that can happen to anybody. For you to be alert and productive in whatever you do, you need to eat breakfast.

Things to watch out for when buying a franchise Jeff Lefler says: When you say “This whole research takes about 2 months, so please be patient, it can be an arduous process.” I don’t think you should sound apologetic for stat-

Sen. Ahmad Sani Yarima

ing that fact. A franchise investor will, most of the time, invest their life savings on a 10+ year commitment. This easily justifies the 2+ month process. Potential Franchisees need to perform proper research and that takes time and energy. Seeking advice from consultants, lawyers and other professionals in the franchise industry is good. Visiting franchise locations and speaking with as many current or past Franchisees is great. A franchise investor needs to trust the intuition and the only way you can assess whether a particular franchise is the right fit is to do the research. Don’t be afraid to walk away and start the process over again if you run into challenges or uncover concerns that you do not like. Jeff Lefler, CEO, FranchiseGrade.com

Gov Wada’s convoy kills ex ASUU President Thomas Ayan. says: Dr. Iyayi, may your soul rest in peace. This incident confirms the brevity and the futility of all human endeavours on this planet. Cyril Oleh says: Is there something they are not telling us in Kogi government house? In 2012, Governor Idris Wada lost his ADC to his convoy crash. Now this! How many more to go in this annual sacrifice?

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

Monique says: After looking into a handful of the blog posted on your blog, I honestly like your way of blogging. I added it to my bookmark site list and will be checking back soon. Please, visit my website as well and tell me how you feel. Norberto says: I’m impressed, I must say. Rarely do I encounter a blog that’s equally educative and amusing. Let me tell you, you have hit the nail on the head. The issue is something not many people are speaking intelligently about. Now, I’m very happy I found this during my search for something on the subject. Agustin says: Hello, I desire to subscribe for this weblog to obtain up-to-date updates. What can I do? Please help out.

PST M.A. says: I think it is good to end the four months strike in the interest of our youths. Government should please keep to the agreement

How to make a liver cleansing Detox juice Muscle and fitness says: Excellent blog here! Also your site loads up very fast! What host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host? I wish my site loaded up as fast as yours.

N13bn FHA Confab’ll cause scam: Reps summon confusion, Anyim, Okonjouncertainty —Kwankwaso Iweala, others

Tinuwe says: What do you mean by unity? Was there ever unity in this geographical expression called Nigeria? Stop deceiving yourself. We need SNC or else to your tent o Israel for gone are the days when a particular dominated. We are all wise now.

FCTA registers Strike: FG’s offer 114,337 farmers splits ASUU in 2 years V says:

Gov. Sule Lamido

Obafemi Awolowo University voted for the suspension of the strike, but with certain conditions. Two conditions!

Please get your facts right.

Saad a Usman says: Don’t give a dog bad name because you want to hang it. SSACTAC, FHA is of the view that the House Committee on Public Account should dig deep to determine whose responsibility is it to provide infrastructure in Gwarimpa and why is the agency was not invited? Our union is aware that some people are not pleased with the resolutions on social housing bill in the senate and can go to any extent to discredit the only agency of Govt that is saddled with the responsibility of providing houses to Nigerians.

PAGE 42

Interview

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

Jhelil Tafawa Balewa: Patriotism, civic education mandatory for Nigeria’s development

igeria as a country is said to lack true patriots. Even though there are few among the populace, the proverbial majority always carries the vote. This may have been what led a prolific writer of blessed memory to come to the conclusion that the problem with Nigeria is (good) leadership. Understandably, this is the principal reason why the country has remained grossly underdeveloped 53 years after independence, despite its abundant natural resources. Recently, at a stakeholders’ forum organized by Nakowa Nigeria, an NGO in Abuja, this writer had the privilege of interacting with a medical doctor-cum politician and son of Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (Nigeria’s late Prime Minister), Dr. Abdul Jhelil Tafawa Balewa. The occasion was also to honour Dr. Balewa, National President of the NGO, who turned 56 on that day. Dr. Balewa who said he had spent 39 out of his 56 years in the United States of America, spoke with such patriotic nostalgia, that astounded his audience.

On Ethnicity Dr. Balewa said Nigeria’s core problemwas that the citizens don’t aspire to be Nigerians, but rather align with their ethnic lineages, advising that “we must develop love for one another. For as long as we are calling ourselves names, we will not move forward. We need to start owing some responsibility to ourselves. We should forget our tribal or linguistic differences. If we don’t love one another, we cannot expect to be loved by others.” He said he is part Yoruba and part Fulani, and speaks both Fulfude and Yoruba fluently which makes him a complete Nigerian. On Zoning Dr. Balewa said the concept of zoning is defective. According to him, what happens if the zone that is supposed to produce a particular candidate does not have a qualified person? “I am a Northerner. Even though the North has ruled for about 38 years since independence, the South has better opportunities for education than the North. So, for me, it does not matter which region rules at which point in time. Nigeria started with Indonesia, but today, Indonesia has left Nigeria far behind.” This, according to him, is that Nigerians are more concerned about which region produces the president of the country than developing Nigeria as a nation. For instance, he said, in Bauchi where the first Prime Minister, Sir AbubakarTafawaBalewa hails, many people cannot afford shoes or a decent meal. On Civic Education For the masses of Nigeria to be able to contribute to the development of their country, Dr. Balewa said they should be taught civic education. He said: “We need to know our responsibility to the government and the government should know their responsibility to us. When we know it, we should not keep quiet. We should get in touch with our Senators/legislators and know precisely what is happening. This will be better done in groups, because politicians like crowds. We should go to the grassroots andfind out what is missing from the people. Our politicians are good at showing off.E go better will not work for us. We should always know what is happening in our state of origin, because charity begins at home.” Dr. Balewa posed these questions: How

Dr. Jhalil is son of Nigeria’s first Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. He studied Medicine in the United States and also has a Master’s degree in Enzymology and a Doctorate degree in Nuclear Chemistry. In this recent encounter with Gabriel Gwajime, Dr. Jhalil speaks on how he feels Nigeria can move forward.

Dr. Jhalil many Nigerians know how much their governors or legislators earn? How come elections no longer take place at the local government level which is the closest to the grassroots? How come almost everywhere you go today, governors appoint and dissolve at will, caretaker committees to run local governments? If governors appoint local government chairmen, why won’t they dance to the tune of the former’s music? On Indiscipline Dr. Balewa wondered why Nigerians have thrown away etiquette. “At the airport, people fight with air hostesses. This is due to impatience and disorderliness. We know what is right; let us do the right thing. We don’t need to go back to the military era of War Against Indiscipline to be able to do the right thing. We should try little kindness to one another.” He regretted that Northerners no longer cultivate groundnuts. On Standard of Education Dr. Balewa said the standard of education in Nigeria today is nothing to write home about. “What can we beat out chest about? Education needs a rebirth in this country today. Nigerians no longer want to think outside the box. “Some of our graduates cannot read or write. Nigeria must not develop through producing graduates only. Where is the middle class?” He regretted that we no longer have vocational schools in Nigeria. “We’ve not been taught how to take care of ourselves. No entrepreneurship skills are taught even to graduates.”

On Patriotism Dr. Balewa observed that Nigerians are wonderful people and Nigeria could be the best country if we make it so. He advised that every Nigerian should be proud of his country any time anywhere. He further observed that Nigeria should be an example for other developing countries to follow. “In my 39 years abroad, I was enthusiastic and romantic about Nigeria, but when I came back, I realized that Nigerians at home never felt the same way. “Wherever you go in the world, you see Nigerians doing very well. But when they come back home, the situation is not the same again. “How come we can only assemble (and not manufacture) cars in Kaduna and Aba? What is wrong with our country? Why can’t we get it right?” For answers to some of these questions, he referred his audience to a keynote address he recently presented at the AfeBabalola University,Ado-Ekiti, entitled, “No River Without Source.” He advised Nigerians to always read wide to be able to know where their sources are. Dr. Balewa said Lord Lugard, who amalgamated the Southern and Northern Protectorates to become Nigeria in 1914, did his best, but when Clifford came, that was the beginning of Nigeria’s problems. For instance, he said, in the olden days, “our leaders used to know every member of the community. But today, the situation is not the same.” On the Civil War Dr. Balewa said there was absolutely no need for the civil war which consumed the

lives of many Nigerians, for according to him, it was avoidable.He went on to recall that after the civil war, the regions were self-sufficient, but the mistake central government made was that it said they were going to reconstruct the Eastern Region. According to Dr. Balewa, by saying they would reconstruct the South East, the central government killed the psyche of such Nigerians, who during the civil war, were developing a lot of armaments.

On Women Development Dr. Balewa observed that women in Nigeria have not been given their due because “men have always been so oppressive.” Through this, he said, Nigeria has lost too much brain power. According to him, 35 per cent appointment of women into positions was not enough – “What do we do with the rest percentage of qualified women? Is there anyone that is not born of a woman? According to population figures, women constitute 52.7 per cent in Nigeria; so if we only appoint 35 per cent, what happens to the remaining 17.7 per cent? “Personally, since my mother who was my heroin died in 1982, I’ve done much for women to honour my mother. But many people will think I am advocating for women because I have six daughters. But for their information, four of my daughters are already medical doctors.” He also called on Nigerian parents to always train their daughters to improve their lifestyles through qualitative education: “So that, even after they get married, their husbands will be proud of the parents.” He advised that if Nigeria does not make laws that its women should be productively engaged, it’s the nation that will lose. On Govt’sUse of the Media Dr. Balewa observed that Nigerian leaders were not adequately making effective use of the media. “Without the media, no idea can be disseminated. The governed will not appreciate what the leaders are doing. It’s through the media that you can explain to the people what the government is doing.” On Nakowa Nigeria Dr. Balewa described Nakowa Nigeria as a neutral organization that hopes to improve on Nigerians’ mindset. He defined politics as “being able to take advantage of your environment without being offensive to the environment,” as well as “doing it in a symbiotic way.” According to him, Nakowa Nigeria was founded to checkmate the lost values of love and peace that do not exist in Nigeria today. He further enumerated the aims of the NGO thus: Working towards the protection of Nigeria’s sovereignty, integrity and respect for its citizenry at home and abroad; promoting national peace, unity and security; achieving national economic and political stability; promoting religious harmony and ethnic tolerance; reckoning with global prestige; being proud to bea Nigerian anytime anywhere; desirous of being a key player for a changed Nigeria where equal rights and opportunity shall prevail. On Readiness to Serve After presenting his “blueprint” about Nigeria, Dr. Balewa was asked if he would oblige if called upon to implement it, he said: “I will welcome the invitation with the blink of an eye,” concluding that “You can only get to the stars if you can pass through thunder and brimstone.”

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

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News Extra

Party of seven! World’s first surviving septuplets turn 16 By Lydia Warren

octors were unsure if they were going to make it past their first few days, but now the McCaughey septuplets are celebrating turning 16 - and planning driving lessons, college degrees and careers. Kenny, Kelsey, Natalie, Brandon, Alexis, Nathan and Joel, the world’s first septuplets to survive infancy, are marking the milestone on Tuesday, November 19 at their home in Carlisle, Iowa. ‘It’s sad how quickly it’s gone,’ their mother Bobbi told a local newspaper of the past 16 years. Bobbi and her husband Kenny famously declined selective reduction after learning they were pregnant with seven children following fertility treatment, saying it was ‘in God’s hands’. ‘I will always remember the day we found out there were so many,’ Bobbi told the Des Moines Register. ‘It wasn’t like “yoohoo!” There were so many doubts. To a lot of people this might sound trite, but God determined the outcome.’ Learning they had septuplets on the way sparked international headlines that would chart the children’s every move. After the babies were born nine weeks prematurely in Des Moines in 1997, joining their big sister, Mikayla Marie, news crews swarmed their modest one-floor home. Amid the media frenzy, President Bill Clinton personally called the family to congratulate the family, Oprah welcomed them on her show and companies and strangers scrambled to help out the couple. Among the donations, they received a 5,500 square foot home, a van, a year’s worth of Kraft’s macaroni and cheese, diapers for the first two years and full college scholarships for any state university in Iowa. During the early months, the septuplets drank 42 bottles a day and went through 52 diapers. But over the years, the media coverage has waned and the coupons for free food have run out - encouraging the family to be frugal. And from their early teenage years, the septuplets have been helping out the family by carrying out chores, such as their own laundry. The family still lives in the same house that was donated after the births and continues to use the same van. And while the four boys and three girls are looking forward to being 16 and driving, their father, who still works at a metal coating plant, warned that they can only have cars once they get jobs. He is also up against other teenage challenges.

‘The biggest challenge is making sure they keep up with certain things but not keep up with certain things, trendy things,’ Kenny said of his teenagers. ‘Three of them have cellphones and a couple have iPads.’ The family has saved to cover braces for several of the children and the medical needs of Alexis and Nathan, who were born with forms of cerebral palsy. Both of the children had surgeries, including a spinal surgery to help Nathan walk, over the years but they are doing well, the Des Moines Register reported. Alexis has also started taking part in beauty pageants for special needs children, taking the 2013 Teen Miss Dreams Made True award in Carroll. ‘It feels really awesome,’ Alexis told the Carrolls Paper at the time. ‘I love just interacting with all the girls because they’re really nice.’ Amid the life lessons and support from their parents, the teens are also battling classes at school. Last year they began high school and have become fully immersed in activities; all are part of the band and perform at halftime at football games. Five have run cross country, another wrestles, one plays soccer and another enters speech contests, while six were on the honor roll, the Register reported. ‘It’s fun to see the work pay off,’ Bobbi said of her children. s their lives have become busier, they have fallen from television screens and magazines - from Time magazine to Dateline NBC - that they regularly graced throughout their childhoods. While Bobbi said she missed the media, the children are less bothered. ‘It was kinda cool but in other ways I never liked it, all these cameras following you around everywhere,’ Nathan said. The family are also well aware that they luckily avoided the days of reality TV and didn’t get sucked into appearing with their children on a show to help pay the bills. Putting their former celebrity behind them, the children are now considering their futures. Brandon plans on going into military service after school, while Kenny hopes to work in construction, Nathan in science, Joel in computers, Kelsey in cosmetology and Alexis and Natalie in teaching. But while they admit it’s a transition phase, they know one thing for sure. ‘You never have to worry,’ Kenny Jr. said, ‘that you are alone.’

Early days: Bobbi McCaughey, pictured in 1998, used fertility treatment and had refused selective reduction

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Helping hand: Mikayla, who was nearly 2 when her siblings were born, is pictured helping her mother

Celebration: The McCaughey septuplets (with their parents, Kenny and Bobbi, center, and their big sister Milayla, back left) are turning 16 on Tuesday. They are the world’s first surviving septuplets

Babies’ day out: She prepares to take out her nine-month-old babies with the help of friends in 1998

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Archive

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

The Bahamas, a nation with 700 Islands Introduction he Bahamas, a nation made up of a chain of islands south and east of Florida. The Commonwealth of the Bahamas, as the country is officially known, is an independent member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The location, climate, and geography of the Bahamas combine to make the islands a popular tourist destination. The country’s southerly latitude and proximity to the warm waters of the Gulf Stream produce a pleasant climate year-round. A wealth of beautiful beaches facing bluegreen waters adds to the idyllic picture. The islands entice thousands of visitors from the United States and more distant countries each year. The first place Christopher Columbus landed when he came to the New World in 1492 was an island of the Bahamas. Columbus claimed the island for Spain and named it San Salvador. Historians are not sure which island Columbus landed on, but they think it may have been present-day San Salvador (formerly Watling Island) or Samana Cay.

Geography The Bahamas comprise an archipelago of about 700 islands and islets and nearly 2,400 cays (pronounced “keys”). The Biminis, the westernmost of the group, are about 97 km (about 60 mi) east of Miami, Florida. The Bahamas make up the northern end of an island chain called the West Indies that stretches through the Caribbean Sea all the way to South America. There are lots of cave systems both above ground and underwater. The largest islands include New Providence, Acklins, Andros, Cat, Crooked, Eleuthera, Grand Bahama, Abaco, Great Inagua, Harbour, Long, Mayaguana, and San Salvador. The total area of the country is 13,939 sq km (5,382 sq mi). The Bahamas has a tropical climate, although rainfall is lower than in many of the other islands of the Caribbean region. The winter months are especially dry, which accounts for the islands’ popularity as a destination for winter sun-seekers. From August to November hurricanes sometimes sweep across the Bahamas. Storm surges can wash completely over many of the lower islands. Individual islands usually go several years, however, without experiencing severe weather damage The people The population of The Bahamas (2008 estimate) is 307,451. The number of tourists that visit the Bahamas each year is more than four times greater than the population of the islands. Only a few dozen of the islands are inhabited. More than half of Bahamians live on New Providence. The country’s capital, Nassau (population, 2003, 222,000), is on New Providence. The only other large town is Freeport (26,574), on Grand Bahama. The majority of the population is descended from African slaves and settlers from Britain, Bermuda, and the United States. About 85 percent of the population is black. There are no surviving descendants of the original Native American inhabitants who lived on the island when Columbus landed. Most of the population is Protestant, but Catholics make up about a fifth of the population. English is the official language. The majority of the population speaks Bahamas Creole English, an English-based Creole that is also spoken in some parts

Nassau, Bahamas: The capital and largest city of the Bahamas, Nassau thrives on an abundant tourist trade, including visits by many major cruise lines. Nassau features attractions such as scenic beaches, luxury resorts, a warm climate, and historic buildings. A British colony from 1717 until 1973, the Bahamas retains aspects of its colonial heritage. SIME/Gräfenhain Günter /4Corners Images of the United States. History At the time of Columbus’s landing in 1492, the Bahamas were inhabited by a group of Arawak Indians known as the Lucayans. Over the following decades, the Spanish carried off many of the original inhabitants to serve as slaves on other islands, and the native population was eventually decimated. Europeans did not establish a permanent settlement in the Bahamas until the mid-17th century. The first permanent European inhabitants in the Bahamas were the British, who settled Eleuthera and New Providence in 1647. During its early years the settlement was repeatedly attacked by the Spanish. The islands were later the stronghold of buccaneers and pirates, notably the infamous Blackbeard. The Bahamas were ruled by the proprietary governors of the British colony of Carolina from 1670 to 1717, when the British crown assumed direct control of civilian

and military affairs. n 1776, during the American Revolution, Nassau was held for a short time by American naval forces. After the revolution the islands became a refuge for American colonists loyal to Britain. Descendants of African slaves imported by the loyalists now account for more than three-quarters of the population. Spain held the islands in 1782 and 1783; they became a British colony in 1787. After slavery was abolished in 1833, both the economy and the population declined. An epidemic of cholera in the middle of the century further reduced the population. Prosperity returned temporarily during the American Civil War (1861-1865), when the islands became a station for Confederate blockaderunners, and again during Prohibition (1920-1933), when rum-runners found them a convenient base. More recently, drug smugglers have used the islands as a base just as the pirates of previous centuries did.

Aquarium The Atlantis Aquarium on Paradise Island is one of many tourist attractions in The Bahamas. The aquarium provides an opportunity for people to observe marine and aquatic animals in naturalistic enclosures similar to the animal’s actual habitats. M. Timothy O’Keefe/Bruce Coleman, Inc.

Cruise Ships at Nassau More than a million tourists visit The Bahamas each year. For those arriving on cruise ships, the port of Nassau is the gateway to this Caribbean paradise. Tourists rarely leave empty-handed. Handcrafted souvenirs, such as straw hats and baskets made from palm thatch, are popular with the oceangoing crowds. Chuck O’Rear/Woodfin Camp and Associates, Inc.

Nassau’s Old Harbor Lookout Nearly all major historical events in The Bahamas took place on New Providence. Nassau, on the isle’s northern coast, was founded by the British in the 17th century and became a haven for buccaneers and pirates. The British built several stone forts near the city in the 18th century. The old lookout is the highest point on the flat limestone island. Steve Bly Photography

Biographies

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

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Abraham Lincoln

INTRODUCTION braham Lincoln (1809-1865), 16th president of the United States (1861-1865) and one of the great leaders in American history. A humane, far-sighted statesman in his lifetime, he became a legend and a folk hero after his death. Lincoln rose from humble backwoods origins to become one of the great presidents of the United States. In his effort to preserve the Union during the Civil War, he assumed more power than any preceding president. If necessity made him almost a dictator, by fervent conviction he was always a democrat. A superb politician, he persuaded the people with reasoned word and thoughtful deed to look to him for leadership. He had a lasting influence on American political institutions, most importantly in setting the precedent of vigorous executive action in time of national emergency.

EARLY LIFE Abraham Lincoln’s ancestry on his father’s side has been traced to Samuel Lincoln, a weaver who emigrated from Hingham, England, to Hingham, Massachusetts, in 1637. The president’s forebears were pioneers who moved west with the expanding frontier from Massachusetts to Berks County, Pennsylvania, and then to Virginia. Abraham’s father, Thomas Lincoln, was born in Rockingham County in backcountry Virginia in 1778. In 1781 Thomas Lincoln’s father, who was also named Abraham, took his family to Hughes Station on the Green River, 32 km (20 mi) east of Louisville, Kentucky.In1786 a Native American killed the first Abraham Lincoln while he was at work clearing land for a farm in the forest. Thomas Lincoln continued to live in Kentucky. He saw it develop from a frontier wilderness into a rapidly growing state. But like his ancestors he pre-

ferred the rugged life on the frontier. In a brief autobiography written for a political campaign, Lincoln said that his father “even in childhood was a wandering labor boy, and grew up literally without education. He never did more in the way of writing than to bunglingly sign his own name.” Despite Thomas Lincoln’s apparent shiftlessness, he became a skilled carpenter, and he never lacked the basic necessities of life. At one time he owned title to two farms. He always possessed one or more horses. He paid his taxes, and, like his neighbors, he accepted jury duty and militia duty when called. On June 12, 1806, Thomas Lincoln married Nancy Hanks. Little is known about Abe Lincoln’s mother except that she came from a very poor Virginia family. She was completely illiterate and signed her name with an X. After their marriage the Lincolns moved from a farm on Mill Creek in Hardin County, Kentucky, to nearby Elizabethtown. There Thomas Lincoln earned his living as a carpenter and handyman. In 1807 a daughter, Sarah, was born. In December 1808 the Lincolns moved to a 141-hectare (348-acre) farm on the south fork of Nolin Creek near what is now Hodgenville, Kentucky. On February 12, 1809, in a log cabin that Thomas Lincoln had built, a son, Abraham, was born. Later the Lincolns had a second son who died in infancy. When Abraham Lincoln was two, the family moved to another farm on nearby Knob Creek. Life was lonely and hard. There was little time for play. Most of the day was spent hunting, farming, fishing, and doing chores. Land titles in Kentucky were confused and often subject to dispute. Thomas Lincoln lost his title to the Mill Creek farm, and his claims to both the Nolin Creek and Knob Creek tracts were challenged in court. In 1816, therefore, the Lincolns decided to move to Indiana, where the land was surveyed and sold by the federal government.

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809, near Hodgenville, Kentucky. This cabin, similar to the one in which the future president was born, stands in the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site in Kentucky. William Bake

Abraham Lincoln

Lincoln’s Second Inaugural: United States President Abraham Lincoln gave his second inaugural address on March 4, 1865. Lincoln can be seen standing just to the left of the white lectern, center, reading from his notes. His assassin, John Wilkes Booth, observed from the balcony behind the president. Culver Pictures

Lincoln Is Killed: On April 14, 1865, in Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C., actor John Wilkes Booth shot United States President Abraham Lincoln in the head. The President died the next day at 7:20 am. Corb

Discussing the Proclamation: This painting by F. Carpenter portrays President Lincoln discussing the Emancipation Proclamation with his cabinet. The proclamation, formally issued on January 1, 1863, officially declared all slaves in rebel territory to be “forever free.” Corbis

Mary Todd Lincoln: Mary Todd Lincoln has been described as a short, lively woman who came from a prominent Lexington, Kentucky, family of slaveholders. Her husband, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, is supposed to have said that while God made do with one d, the Todds demanded two. THE BETTMANN ARCHIVE

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

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International

Maduro: World’s most ‘powerful’ president? By Hassan Haruna Ginsau

enezuelan President Nicolas Maduro receives the document approving a law which grants him with decree powers in Caracas, November 19, 2013. After a second and final vote on Tuesday, Venezuela’s National assembly granted President Nicolas Maduro wide- ranging powers which will allow him rule by decree for a year. Decree powers are often given during states of emergency in a country. Venezuela, though not in the best possible shape is far from emergency mode. President Maduro though argues the powers are necessary in the fight against corruption and in the reviving of Venezuela’s economy which is in a downward spiral. The “decree powers” basically mean that Maduro can now make laws on his own without approval from congress.Though rule by decree is obviously prone to the shortcomings of the ruler in power, it is also highly efficient, cutting out bureaucracy and politics, not to talk of the weeks or months it would normally take to pass a law. After Tuesday’s vote, National Assembly President Diosdado Cabello led a march of more than 2,000 redshirted supporters from the legislature to the presidential palace to deliver the text of the decree law to Maduro. Addressing a crowd smaller than the ones his ever popular predecessor “el Commandante” Chavez was accustomed to drawing, Maduro reiterated a pledge to use his expanded powers to keep prices low across industries and limit profit margins to 30 percent. He also vowed to start 2014 with a full surface attack on corruption. The leader secured just enough votes for the measure to pass after a dissident lawmaker was recently stripped of her seat, flexing his ‘powers’ beforehand perhaps? The legislative process leading up to Tuesday’s vote was marred by controversy after the congresswoman was stripped of her immunity from prosecution over corruption charges, allowing for her substitution by a pro-government lawmaker who gave Maduro the crucial 99th vote needed

to prevail. Maduro’s main rival and Venezuela’s main opposition leader Henrique Capriles lambasted the manoeuvre as a naked power grab and vowed to retaliate with a strong performance from opposition candidates in the upcoming Dec. 8 municipal elections. “I’ll give it to you really straight so it registers,” Capriles warned Maduro in a message on Twitter. After the December elections “we’re going for you and your disastrous government, constitution in hand.” any people other than Caprilesunderstandably view these decrees as too authoritarian, memories of the Reichstag Fire Decree of February 28, 1933 come to mind, when German President Paul von Hindenburg issued a decree suspending basic civil rights indefinitely, as a result handing Nazi authorities the power to constitutionally suppress or imprison their opposition, which in turn paved the way for the one-party rule of the Third Reich. God forbid any repeat of course! For years now, Venezuela has sustained its vast social spending program, costly price and labour controls, and foreign aid strategy with its oil revenue (barely). Now with Venezuela reaching deep into the coffers of its state owned oil company PDVSA and central bank, inflation has been rising at the rate of 50% a year and the Bolivar is rapidly losing value. Corruption has been a perennial problem in Venezuela and was a primary campaign issue for the late Chavez when he was first elected in 1998. Also, due to the weak role agriculture plays in the country’s economy, consumer goods are scarce, with Venezuela having to import most of the products its citizens consume. Maduro’s mentor and predecessor, Chavez, has in the past used similar decree power tactics to promulgate dozens of laws that dramatically boosted state control over the economy. Chavez was granted executive power by the National Assembly to rule by decree for 18 months in early 2007. He intended to nationalize Venezuela’s telecommunications and power

President Nicolas Maduro industries and end foreign ownership of oil refineries as part of his Bolivarian Revolution. Unlike the charismatic Chavez, who had near-absolute command over his party, doubts about Maduro’s leadership have risen.This week’s approval by Venezuela’s congress will boost Maduro’s political confidence ahead of next month’s municipal elections, with many previously seeing him as weak and riding the ‘Chavez wave’ when he defeated opposition leader Henrique Capriles by a razorthin margin in April’s presidential election. During his address following the handing of powers he had this to say;“They underestimated me; they said Maduro was an amateur, what you’ve seen is little compared to what

“

we’re going to do.” “I am planning a ground-shaking offense against corruption from January 2014. With the Enabling Law I’ll go with everything, there will be no repentance,” he stated. ince first requesting the Enabling Law last August, Maduro has publically floated a number of new legislation he hopes to pass, ranging from increasing the maximum penalty for corruption charges from 8 to 20years, to the creation of new dedicated teams within the public prosecutor’s office to investigate economic crimes. In what may be a preview of more shock measures to come, Madurolast week ordered the military to seize dozens of appliance stores, slash prices on imported electronics, and

Many people other than Caprilesunderstandably view these decrees as too authoritarian, memories of the Reichstag Fire Decree of February 28, 1933 come to mind, when German President Paul von Hindenburg issued a decree suspending basic civil rights indefinitely, as a result handing Nazi authorities the power to constitutionally suppress or imprison their opposition, which in turn paved the way for the one-party rule of the Third Reich. God forbid any repeat of course!

arrest more than 100 business owners for alleged price fixing. Such actions have rallied Maduro’s less rich working class supporters. Even some of Maduro’s opponents in government were in his support when they flocked to the electronics chains to grab some discounts. The powers will not however be all encompassing, as according to Article 1 of the legislation passed by the National assembly, Maduro’s decree powers will be limited to the “fight against corruption” and in “defence of the economy”. Over the next year the decree powers can be rescinded at any time by the assembly, and the Enabling Law itself imposes constitutional restrictions on the president. Maduro will also not be able to rule without the National assembly, as the assembly will continue to convene as usual and pass legislation. However, according to constitutional lawyers, the Enabling Law will not only make it easier for Maduro to tackle corruption and the economy, but also to promote workers’ rights and food sovereignty. Handing the president decree powers are no assurance to fixing Venezuela’s economic and corruption related problems, as Maduro (a former bus driver) has no real financial or crime fighting experience. With a sound, and more important, an honest team backing him though, a lot can be done to curb Venezuela’s woes.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

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Feature

Tackling executive, legislature squandermania Continued from page 17

out of NASS upon conviction and refund the stolen monies. You can agree with me that ending these outrageous allowances would free up money in the millions—if not billions of Naira—to invest in, say, technical education which will for sure spur entrepreneurialship and create jobs for the teaming unemployed graduates. Or invest the money in the provision of clean water in every sector and village in Nigeria. Imagine how many lives would be saved from water borne diseases! War Against Corruption Act: This anti-corruption law would seek to abrogate the immunity clause that was infamously written in the constitution by the same corrupt minds that seek to take advantage of it today. No Nigerian should be above law be it a governor – and there are many such corrupt governors around, a legislator at any level, the President or any member of the executive branch or the judiciary. Make Nigeria proud by launching a real campaign against corruption beginning with the very symbols of corruption, the National Assembly consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate, the Presidency, and the Judiciary! The judiciary, the third but very important arm of government, is not exempt from corruption. As a matter of fact, Nigeria’s judiciary is one of – if not the most – judiciary in the world. But it is hard to even think about dealing with the corrupt judiciary without first addressing the very source of that corruption: the National Assembly and the Presidency. You will do Nigerians lots of proud by cleaning house from within and then sanitizing the judiciary for the betterment of, and justice for, all. This singular act will undoubtedly go a long way in attracting business investment in Nigeria. Bribery and Prohibition Against Public Office Act: Sequel to the War Against Corruption Act would be the bribery and prohibition act that would decidedly deal with bribery at all levels of government and the private sector, and sanction both the giver and recipient of bribes. 1. Prescribe punishment for both the giver and receiver of bribes for a minimum of 3 years in prison for the general public, and 7 years for elected officials and public servants, including judges and justices of Nigeria’s judicial system. 2. A life-time ban from holding any pub-

lic office to any public official convicted of bribery. 3. Strip judges, justices, and attorneys found guilty under this provision of their legal license in addition to a lifetime ban on practicing law or holding any public office. 4. A fine of up to N10m depending on the egregiousness of the crime, especially members of the judiciary, the legislature, and the executive branch, including the presidency. The fine would be in addition to the mandatory seven-year imprisonment and a life-time ban from public service. 5. Immediate removal from office will be triggered automatically upon conviction. My fellow citizens and Members of the National Assembly, we must deal forthrightly with the physiological and safety needs of Nigerians to avert possible future unrest in Africa’s most populous nation. Our survival depends on food, water, and

shelter – the physiological needs on Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs. Most Nigerians can barely afford these basic needs. Where there is food, clean water and/or shelter are lacking. Even food grown goes to waste as there are no means to preserve food for long-term consumption or marketability. At this age in our history, this is simply unacceptable. Nor is it acceptable that access to safe drinking water is but an illusion to the vast majority of Nigerians, as thousands die every day due to preventable waterborne diseases. We can – and must – do better than this. I, like the vast majority of Nigerians, pray for selfless and servant leadership to reign as opposed to the greed and selfishness that is so pervasive and prevalent today, from the presidency down to the local government council level. Finally, the safety of Nigerians should be a top priority of any government in power. Where Nigerians are unsafe to go about their daily businesses, be it on the farm or marketplace, the government has failed in

its primary responsibility and oath of office to protect its citizenry. Basic physical security is necessary to employment and economic security and health of Nigerians, or any nation for that matter. When such is lacking, it creates a void where rogue elements come in to fill the vacuum. We do not want a situation where, in the words of WB Yeats, “Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world.” This is a challenge to every Nigerian, but especially those in power to do the right thing by Nigerians and usher in good governance for the benefit of all. While I seriously doubt that the National Assembly will do the right thing, I sure hope and pray that they prove me – and the millions of Nigerians who think like me – wrong! What a joyous day that would be! *Ajim Udeh is a political commentator and founder of Benue Watch. You can reach him at ajimudeh@gmail.com.

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Business

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

Stevedores are marine whistle blowers, says Sunmola

t seems your association is not popular in the maritime industry? If freight forwarders can be profiled, why not stevedores? Even transporters are being profiled above stevedoring, and these are the first contact of operation in the port, because without the goods coming out of the vessel no one can work on it. Without the goods being placed for examination by customs no one can work on it at the port, stevedoring activities is an integral part of maritime operations and I keep saying this everywhere, but I don’t know the way our Nigerian press are organized. At occasions where we have stakeholders meetings we see tons of your people but that is the end, the National Association of Stevedoring Companies wants to relate with the press and its environment. It is a key operator in the maritime industry, and it is important that our views, our problems and our progress are showcased in the press, we should have a relationship. What is the relationship between your association and the Maritime Workers Union? We are their employers, we employ the dockworkers to do what they are doing, but the dockworkers have their own organization which is the maritime workers union of Nigeria. Stevedores have been accused of collaborating with jetty owners to perpetrate illegality, how true is it? We have never. A bonafide member of National Association of Stevedoring Companies will never collaborate with anybody to falsify or to hide things or jetty owners from what they are supposed to do. Our job, which many people do not know, is that we are whistle blowers that expose security breaches. We have done this in recent past where the issues of stolen products have been uncovered, where the issues of arms have been hidden in our day to day tallying job but we uncovered it. Such a company cannot be a member of our association, this is why we keep saying that government should engage us properly because we are the ones that are

The National Association of Stevedoring Companies is an umbrella body for all stevedoring companies operating in Nigeria, Peoples Daily Weekend Correspondent; Dapo Olalekan met with the president of the association, Mr. Bolaji Sunmola, who was recently elected to pilot the affairs of the association. In this interview, Sunmola speaks on how port reforms had affected stevedoring operations and other dock labour issues in Nigerian ports. Enjoy the excerpts.

Bolaji Sunmola mandated, regulated to do this job and we have our checks and balances. But when you go and pick one mushroom company that is not known and you call them stevedoring company then you are on your own. So we have never had such cases of collaboration because we put ourselves in check. Are you aware of the increase in illegal discharge of petroleum product at private jetties? It is true. This is so because the jetty owners have refused our members to take full charge of their statutory operations at the jetties. If you look at these jetties you will find that they are the ones refusing the services of the steve-

doring companies. They are hell bent in standing against the full take-off of our operations because they have many skeletons in their cupboard; we have been saying this to government in many of the forum we have attended. This is the main reasons why the jetty owners do not want us. That’s the reason they come up with all forms of flimsy excuses. Before any vessel can be discharged, a stevedore must be onboard apart from any security agency that may be there, we have the right to be onboard because part of what we are suppose to do is to take record of all discharge and of all loading. How has Port Concessioning affected stevedoring op-

erations in Nigeria? The powers-that-be knows what they did with the concessioning. The reform dissipated our numbers and took our jobs away from us and gave the job to quacks and people who did not know about the job. Stevedoring is a standalone operation. It is an integral part of major operations in the port. I do not know anywhere in the world where concessioning has been done and stevedores are done away with. Yes, we are talking about capacity building, it does not come overnight. It is a collaborative thing, we are here and we are ready to learn and improve ourselves to ensure that our service delivery keeps increasing, for example, many years back our ports were porous where we had wharf rats, but the same workers some of which there are no longer having the same attitude. How strong is your relationship with terminal operators? It is a cat and mouse game. They don’t want us to do our job, and we are saying that we must do it because it is statutory. The NPA is still the master stevedore and they have appointed us as their agents to carry out these functions for them. What is the wages of the stevedore like now? Like I said, it has been reformed and it is very high, it is comparative but they are earning living wages. I don’t want to say minimum wage, it is much more above the national minimum wage, which is N18,000. But this is nothing compared to minimum that goes to the workers and we still feel they are being short paid, even with what they are getting because we are still battling the issue of rates. The port workers of today are professionals; we have graduates that are dock workers.

BOI urged to relax stringent loan conditions

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

he Bank of Industry (BOI) has been called upon to consider relaxing some of the stringent conditions that have over time created difficulties in access to finance by Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The Director General of Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Alhaji Bature Masari, made this call in a welcome address at a retreat for SMEDAN management staff held in Kaduna yesterday. According to him access to fi-

nance has remained a critical challenge to expansion and creation of small business enterprises, a situation which has forced prospective enterprises with fantastic business ideas and bankable business plans not to see the light of the day. “I would therefore use this opportunity to urge the Bank of Industry (BOI), our sister organization and reliable partner in the implementation of NEDEP, to consider relaxing some of the stringent conditions that have over time created difficulties in access to finance by SMEs,” he said. Alhaji Masari added that SMEDAN

is a key stakeholder in the implementation and execution of federal government programs which is targeted at creating five million jobs between 2013 and 2015. “It is heart worming to inform you that in line with our total commitment of National Enterprise Development Programme (NEDEP), SMEDAN has opened office in all the 36 states of the federation, conducted baseline survey of unique products in 22 states across the country,” he said. In his remarks, Kaduna State Governor, Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, said the recent inau-

guration of the state chapter of NEDEP confirms the state’s willingness to partner with the Federal Government in encouraging small and medium entrepreneurs in the country. The governor who was represented by the Permanent Secretary who is also overseeing commissioner of Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Alhaji Tijani Ahmed Musa added that the state has reached advanced stage in its discussion with Bank of Industry in order to provide loans to SMEs in the state.

Group frowns at nomination of woman to head FIRS By Miriam Humbe

he Niger Delta Pressure Group has faulted President Goodluck Jonathan decision to nominate a woman Mrs Mfon Akpan as Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). The aggrieved group wondered why President Jonathan should prefer a woman instead of a man to oversee the affairs of the highest revenue generating body in the country. A press statement signed by the President of the group, Imabong Okon, wondered why the president opted for a woman, who may easily be distracted, instead of nominating from an array of available competent men to administer a sensitive financial parastatal like the FIRS. He urged the senate not to accept the nomination of the President, stressing that consideration be given to gender since the immediate past chairperson was a woman. The group alleged that the Finance minister , Okonjo Iweala ,must have misadvised the president and therefore appealed to the president to immediately withdraw the nomination of Mrs. Mfon Akpan in the interest of the nation. Further, the group said even the United States government that we seem to emulate could never appoint a foreign-based professional to oversee the affairs of the equivalent of the FIRS for security and national interest. “How come our own technocrats are unconcerned of our sovereignty, national security and territorial integrity? This is insensitivity of the highest order on both the part of the President and the Finance minister “. The group however commended the First Lady’s 35% affirmative action, stating that “this is not to say that we should be gender sensitive”.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

Side Talk

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By Jacinta David

n side talk this week, the focus is on the killing of innocent Nigerians by a set of people more propelled by lawlessness and reckless behavior than by the rule of law which should guide every Nigerian. On Tuesday, November 12, one of Nigeria’ academic leaders and indeed an elder states man was killed by a set of people working as a convoy for the governor you already know. According to our source, the reckless driver of the State governor ran into the bus ferrying the former ASUU leader, just because they were on a very high speed. The news about the kind of death this late professor was forced to meet should not come as a surprise to anyone who knows, or has been observing the manner with which most official convoy of prominent people in the country move while conveying their bosses. The story is certainly no longer news how official convoys act on roads as if the legal access to every road has only been granted to their boss and the life of everyone else, (including theirs) was inconsequential. According to the reports reaching us, a reliable friend and client of the late professor and a senior advocate of Nigeria said the driver that killed the professor must be arrested and prosecuted because the Drivers in governor ‘W’s’ car are according to the SAN: “notorious for causing fatal accidents.” Others who spoke on the issue according to reports also wanted the driver of the car that killed the professor prosecuted and, if possible, Nigerians should frustrate any future attempts by the governor to seek election into any public office.” That report failed to specify what future position the people were talking about because the governor is already occupying a public office at the moment. Although the angle taken by these people is a little different from that of the senior advocate of Nigeria, SAN who wanted only the driver to be persecuted forgetting that he is working under the supervision of someone. Also reacting, an ASUU leader in Lagos had this to say: “The convoy of the State governor in its usual manner, has cut short the life of one of our best. It is a very sad day for ASUU”. The question then is, If indeed all these people knew that this governor and most of his other counterparts have the culture of moving around Nigerian road in such reckless driving convoys, what have they been waiting for to bring up the issue of stopping this bloody anomaly? Why hasn’t ‘anyone made a strong case that would propel action towards stopping such ill mannered policy? Oh sorry! I almost forgot that Nigeria is such a Nation in which those whose voices would have made

Killer convoys and the rest of us

Late Festus Iyayi

a difference are themselves neck deep in the crime. According to our source, the deputy governor of the State had also come out unhurt earlier this year when his convoy caused another fatal accident along Abuja-Lokoja Expressway. Even the governor himself has reportedly been involved in three accidents for the same reason since inception of office. A case of a state whose leadership cannot be reckoned with in terms of reckless and irresponsible driving you would say. You think that is bad news. Well listen to this. More than 200 accidents have been caused by reckless driving by State leader’s convoys across the country. The only Governor exempted from this bloody mayhem is the governor of Lagos state whose actions have earned the admiration of many Nigerians including yours sincerely. The governor, according to our source, goes about driving himself most of the times and neglecting the luxury of using sirens. However back to the case of our late professor, some have described it as an example of the effect of a nation’s failure to take care of its heroes as promised in our National Anthem. A comment by one of those confronted by our source goes thus: “Why should an elder who led the association almost three decades ago cramp himself into a bus and set out for a journey of more than 14 hours by road to attend NEC meeting? Even

leaders of road transport workers will not do that.” Some of the governors who have in the past been involved in similar accidents are follows. The leader of the South-South State also known as the Heart beat of the Nation had in the month of April 2012 killed 4 journalists among others due to a fault caused by the reckless driving of his convoy. nd from the North central, the State who’s Initial is the alphabet N was involved a car accident which killed three of his Aids as a result of the reckless driving of his convoy.

Gov. Fashola

Even the former governor of the North central state also known as KD who goes by the Initials P.Y, had in November last year killed an orange seller as a result of an accident caused by the reckless driving of his convoy. Also in the eastern part of the country, the leader of the state which starts with the alphabet ‘I’ also killed a motorcyclist as a result of the reckless driving of his convoy. Here is a list of comments from some concerned Nigerian on the issue on line: “I am still waiting for Governor ‘I’ ‘W’ to make any categorical statement

on this. It will show he is a responsible citizen. The blood of the professor will keep crying for vengeance”. “These so-called Nigerians who were mistakenly voted into power are the real Boko Haram. They go about with sirens blasting our ears off, refusing to fund schools and now tactically killing our lecturers! They think we don’t know what’s going on. As far as I’m concerned this was clear murder! They will fail. God will expose them for who they truly are. Nonsense!“This incident must make every Nigerian to stop and think: Why must these leaders be riding in a convoy and at such speed? Do these leaders realize that such speed contravenes road traffic rules? Every driver owes a duty of care to other road users; this is the law of negligence. At the least K State is liable to huge damages to the Professor and his family.” “Perhaps the death of this man would stir the president into action to stop these road terrorists with the tax payers uniforms, guns and vehicles. They occupy the whole public road and come to your lane to even chase you into the ditch. May they never see peace as long as the children and the widow of this man remain. It is terrible.” This country has never seen such lawlessness in time of peace and democracy. WAKE UP MR PRESIDENT!!!!!!! “Let his death be properly investigated by a foreign body. I REPEATLet his death be properly investigated by a foreign body. Let it be confirmed that the accident was not constructed and that he truly died due to the accident.” “Prof, you have made your contributions to your fatherland. And they were good. Rest in Peace, Prof ; Rest in Peace.

Gov. Idris Wada

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

Sports Kano Pillars Coach Ganaru says he was forced to resign

Kogi to honour two Golden Eaglets From Omale Adama Lokoja

By Patrick Andrew with agency report

ano Pillars’ most successful coach, Mohammed Babaganaru, says he was forced to resign his appointment with the club yesterday. The coach, he led the team to achieve back-to-back win of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) said he compelled to take the action, “by some people who do not respect me”. The coach, who was rather emotion, regretted that in spite of his commitment and dedication to the club and state in general some elements did not find pleasure in his hard and selfless work adding that he has opted to leave to allow them run the business of the club in whichever way they so desire. “I have resigned as coach of Kano Pillars and have tendered my resignation letter to the general manager of the club today (Friday),”Babaganaru disclosed. “I love Pillars but I was pushed out of the club by some people who do not respect me and never appreciated my efforts. I was forced to quit so as to keep my dignity.” “There are some on the management board of the club who are after me. This could only be because of personal interest or personal hatred because I did not have problems with the previous management,” he concluded stressing that he hopes the man-

Coach Mohammed Babaganaru agement will allow room for whoever comes to work. Also, the coach confirmed to a wire service that he was on his way to Nasarawa United where his services are being courted. “I have agreed terms with Nasarawa United and will sign a contract on Monday. I’m even

taking a pay cut so as to quit Pillars,” he said. The former El Kanemi Warriors coach was at Pillars for five seasons during which he was assistant coach for three seasons and won the league title in the two seasons he was in charge of the club.

Vincent Enyeama named Lique 1 best player

Vincent Enyeama

he Nigeria goalkeeper has been recompensed for his outstanding performance at Lille since his promotion to first choice keeper Super Eagles' first choice keeper and Africa's current best, who mans the post for Lille , Vincent Enyeama, has won the French Ligue 1 player of the month award for October,. The 'Magnet' defeated Paris Saint Germain stars Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edinson Cavani to clinch the periodic accolade for outstanding performance in the premier division. The 31-year-old, who joined the French outfit from Israel’s Hapoel Tel Aviv in 2011, was promoted to first choice goalkeeper this season and has been fantastic in goal since the beginning of the campaign, keeping a clean sheet across 675 minutes already. Enyeama raked 71% of the votes far ahead of Ibrahimovic, who scored 19% and Cavani, 10%. He will receive his trophy on Sunday before his side’s clash with Toulouse in match day 14. The former Enyimba guardian also figures on the Confederation of African Football's (CAF’s) list of nominees for the 2013 African Footballer of the Year award.

Akinjide Idowu

overnor Idris Wada has declared that Kogi state will honour the two indigenes of the state who were members of the victorious Golden Eaglets squad that won the Under-17 World Cup in United Arab Emirate (UAE), recently. The governor, who disclosed this at a meeting with sports stakeholders in the state, in Lokoja, said the U-17 team that had done the nation proud should be rewarded and honoured. Central defender of the Eaglets, Abubakar Aliyu and the central midfielder, Akinjide Idowu are from Ankpa and Yagba-East local government areas of the state, respectively. ‘’In this country, we are so blessed that we take a lot of things for granted. But I don’t want us to take it for granted here”, he said adding that a date will be fixed to honour the “boys.” On the 2-2 draw friendly match between Nigeria and Italy played at the weekend in London, the governor said the match was an eye opener to the Super Eagles’ handlers. Wada, who was a player in the “Mosquito Rovers”, a junior team of Government Secondary School (GSS) Dekina in his days, particularly observed leakages in the defence and wants that department fortified. He repudiated assault on referees and advised supporters’ clubs to stop assaulting referees and called on clubs’ officials educate fans against taking laws into their hands. The governor said it was because of such unpleasant scenarios that made him to give directives for the provision of protective bars at the state’s new 25,000-capacity Confluence Stadium in Lokoja.

Nigeria league season kicks off after CHAN - official

he 2013/2014 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season is most likely to kick off only after next year’s CHAN in South Africa, according to a top source at the NPFL secretariat. The 2014 CHAN, which Nigeria have qualified for the very first time, will begin on January 11 and end on February 1. Earlier proposals were that the league season will begin next month. A row over the tenure of the League Management Board (LMC) and a new licensing agreement for clubs by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) are believed to have pushed behind the start of the new season. An official said: “The new season will now most likely begin after the CHAN because there are several issues to be resolved, from the LMC tenure to the new licensing agreement by CAF. “CAF, for one, have given a December 31 deadline for this agreement to be adhered to.” The Annual General Assembly of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will take place in Warri next week and these issues are expected to be addressed. FIFA have already ordered that leagues across the world be rounded up before the June kick-off of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. A shortened league season from February will most likely mean that midweek matches will be played so as to meet up this FIFA deadline. Last season ended in October with Kano Pillars retaining the championship. Kano Pillars are the defending champions and will along with last season’s runners-up Enyimba represent Nigeria in next year’s CAF Champions League.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

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Sports

West Ham, Chelsea clash in London derby C

helsea will look to return to winning ways in the Premier League when they visit West Ham United at Upton Park tonight. The Blues fell further behind in the race when they were held to a 2-2 draw by West Bromwich Albion in their last league encounter and are currently in fourth place with 21 points. The Hammers on the other hand are currently languishing in 16th place on the table with 10 points following the 3-1 away loss at Norwich City. However, winger Matt Jarvis believes his side could pull off another upset against their London neighbours having defeated them 3-1 at the same venue last season. The Hammers have a long injury list which includes the likes of Andy Carroll and George McCartney, but French midfielder Alou Diarra is hoping to feature on Saturday following his return from a knee injury. The Blues on the other hand will be without fullback Ashley Cole, who aggravated his rib injury while on duty with the England national team.

Weekend Fixtures Barclays Premier League Everton v Liverpool Arsenal v Southampton Fulham v Swansea City Hull City v Crystal Palace Newcastle United v Norwich City Stoke City v Sunderland West Ham United v Chelsea Spanish La Liga Barcelona v Granada Real Sociedad v Celta Vigo Almeria v Real Madrid Atletico Madrid v Getafe Sunday Levante v Villarreal Rayo Vallecano v Espanyol Elche v Valencia Sevilla v Real Betis Monday Malaga v Athletic Bilbao

Everton, Liverpool confident ahead of derby

iverpool will look to climb to the top of the Premier League table when they visit Everton for a derby clash today. The Reds are currently in second place on the table with 23 points, two less than leaders Arsenal and a win would send them to the top spot. Brendan Rodgers’ side bounced back from the 2-0 loss to the Gunners to beat Fulham 4-0 in their last encounter and midfielder Jordan Henderson believes they can claim their eighth win of the season if they play well. “Everton are a brilliant team with some really good players,” he said. “They have done really well so far this season and have beaten some big teams, including Chelsea at home. The Toffees go into this clash on the back of consecutive 0-0 draws against Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal palace and are currently in sixth place on the log with 20 points. A win for Roberto Martinez’ side would propel them into third place and the Spaniard says he is ready for his first Merseyside derby. Everton will be without Ivorian striker Arouna Kone, who recently suffered a knee injury, while Liverpool fullback Jose Enrique is also set to miss the game with a similar injury.

Barca begin run without Messi, Valdes, 5 others

arcelona could be without seven first-team players as they look to consolidate their position at the top of La Liga at home to Granada today. The Catalans will begin a run of eight games across three competitions before Christmas without four-time World Player of the Year, Lionel Messi, who tore his left hamstring in Barca's last outing away to Real Betis a fortnight ago. The La Liga champion's injury crisis has deepened with Victor Valdes, Dani Alves, Jordi Alba remain out due to injury while.Gerard Pique, Cesc Fabregas and Xavi Hernandez are doubts. Valdes' absence means that 38-yearold stopper Jose Manuel Pinto will start in goal for the next six weeks. And defender Javier Mascherano is confident Pinto's experience will be key in deputising for the on-form Valdes With such a raft of injuries, coach

Gerardo Martino may be forced to hand 21-year-old Sergi Roberto his first start of the season in midfield. Neymar, meanwhile, will carry the significant burden of compensating for the loss of Messi in attack. . Should Barca slip up at the Camp Nou on league duty for the first time in over a year, Real Madrid will be confident of cutting their six-point deficit on the leaders when they travel to Almeria. Los Blancos will be able to unleash the on-fire Cristiano Ronaldo fresh from his hat-trick that sealed Portugal's place in the World Cup with a 3-2 win over Sweden in midweek. Ronaldo has also scored nine times in his last four games for Madrid and will look to continue his lethal partnership with Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema in attack. However, Real suffered a serious in-

jury blow during the international break as Sami Khedira suffered cruciate ligament damage that is likely to keep him out for the rest of the season. Brazilian midfielder Casemiro is expected to make his first start of the campaign in the German's absence. Coach Carlo Ancelotti also has a problem at left-back as both Marcelo and Fabio Coentrao are sidelined for the next few weeks through injury. Second-placed Atletico Madrid are also in action on Saturday as they host Getafe at the Vicente Calderon. Atleti's top-scorer Diego Costa is not expected to be fit, though, as he is still struggling with the thigh injury that prevented him from making his Spain debut in the world champions' friendly encounters with Equatorial Guinea and South Africa in the past week.

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

Sports

…Southpaws clash for IBF belt Rios set to retire Pacquiao Sunday Y

randon Rios will show whether Manny Pacquiao still has a future in boxing when they meet in Macau tomor-

row.. Pacquiao, a former champion in eight divisions, has to win the fight for the vacant WBO international welterweight title to prove he is not over the hill. And he has to win well, too. The 34-year-old Pacquiao has a professional record of 54-5-2, including 38 wins inside the distance. But he lost on points to Timothy Bradley in June last year and was knocked stone cold in the sixth round by Juan Manuel Marquez in December. Rios comes in with a record of 31-1-1, with 23 knockouts. The man from Oxnard in California is a former WBA lightweight champion but suffered his first defeat in March this year when Mike Alvarado beat him on points in a return match. In their first fight he knocked out Alvarado in the seventh round. There are definite signs that Pacquiao has slowed down. He has not won by a knockout in his last six fights, which brought him four points victories and two defeats. His combination of power and speed,

and the use of angles around the ring have been missing for too long now. The last time he won inside the distance was against Miguel Cotto in November 2009. To get back on track, Pacquiao has to move as he used to do and to avoid the power shots from Rios. Rios, 27, who has a slight advantage in height and reach and likes to brawl. But against The Filipino he will have to tighten up his defence. Rios has not fought at the same level as Pacquiao, who is expected to win a makeor-break fight. Genaro Rodriguez will be the referee and the judges are Lisa Giampa, Michael Pernick and Manfred Kühler. On the same card Evgeny Gradovich (17-0; 8) from Russia and Billy Dib (36-2; 21) of Australia meet in a return match for the IBF featherweight belt. In March this year Gradovich outpointed the 28-year-old Dib to take the title. Gradovich, 28, was an outstanding amateur with a reported record of 126-24 record. In their first fight he outworked Dib in most of the rounds. He could do it again. Also on the bill is a heavyweight bout between Andy Ruiz (20-14) and Tor Hamer (21-2; 10). It is scheduled for ten rounds.

oan Pablo Hernandez, a Cuban, will make the third defence of his IBF cruiserweight belt against Alexander Alekseev, from Uzbekistan, is the mandatory challenger in Bamberg tonight. The 29-year-old champion has a record of 27-1, with 13 wins inside the distance. The challenger stands at 24-2-1, with 20 knockouts. Both are southpaws. Their fight will stir some interest in South Africa because Alekseev stopped Daniel Bruwer in a fight for the vacant WBC international cruiserweight title during an unbeaten six-bout run recently. Hernandez, who fights out of Germany, won the IBF title in October 2011 when he beat Steve Cunningham on a technical decision. The fight was stopped after Hernandez was cut in a clash of heads in the sixth round. Cunningham took a count in the first round. In a return match in February last year, Hernandez won on a unanimous decision. Seven months later he retained the belt by beating Troy Ross on points.

Sports, democracy are interrelated - Jerry Gana

rof. Jerry Gana, a former minister of Information, said yesterday that there was a connection between democracy and sports as both demanded that participants played to the rules. Gana made the observation at the launch of the ``Democracy Indoor Game’’ in Abuja where he said that Nigerians were the major players in the game of democracy and as such should endeavour to play by the rules. ``The purpose of this game is to popularise the various elements in a democratic system, so that the tenets of democracy and values can be understood by the ordinary citizen. ``The game is really teaching Nigerians and democrats elsewhere to play the game of democracy properly and according to the laws, values and principles of democracy,’’ Gana said. He said that equal right, freedom of expression and association, popular will of the people and good governance were some of the principles of the game of democracy. The Chairman, Democracy Game Committee, Prof. Adekunle Akinyemi, said the game had been designed with the names and pictures of over 500 leaders and citizens. He also said that the game incorporated the three tiers of government and the

Sharapova takes on Groeneveld as coach

our-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova has hired Sven Groeneveld as her new coach for the 2014 season. The Russian world No 4 made the announcement on her Facebook page on Thursday after being without a coach since parting ways with Jimmy Connors in August. Connors lasted just a month after joining the 26-year-old following the Wimbledon tournament in July. "I'm happy to announce my official partnership with Sven Groeneveld," Sharapova wrote. "We've been working together since I got back on the court and after seeing him on the opposing side for so many years, I'm excited to have him become a part of my team. "It has been a very seamless transition and I have had a lot of fun with the hard work we have put in so far. Looking forward to the year ahead." Groeneveld has previously worked with other top players in Monica Seles, Mary Pierce and Ana Ivanovic. Sharapova withdrew from the US Open with a shoulder injury and has not played since. She is scheduled to return to competition at the Brisbane International tournament as she finalises her preparations for the Australian Open, the year's first grand slam.

The Ring magazine rates Hernandez the No 1 cruiserweight in the world. He will have a slight reach advantage against Alekseev, who fought at the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004. Alekseev, 32, has been a professional since January 2006. His defeats, to Victor Emilio Ramirez and Denis Lebedev, were both inside the distance. He is unbeaten in his last six fights but the streak included a majority draw over twelve rounds against Firat Arslan in May last year. Some observers felt it was a poor decision because Arslan probably did enough to win. There was also a controversial decision in Cheju, Korea, earlier this week when Koki Kameda retained his WBA bantamweight title. The Japanese fighter beat Jung-Oh Son on points. Two judges scored it for Kameda, 114.5-114 and 115-112, and the other favoured Jung-Oh 115.5-113.5. Kameda was knocked down in the tenth round.

three arms of government. Prof. Joel Adeyanju, a member of the committee, said that the game was not like football where a selected group of players, trade tackles for results. Adeyanju explain that the democracy indoor game was a game that would guide the populace on how to live peacefully. ``This game is aimed at making democracy a household word. It will make everybody to participate effectively; our children will know more about democracy. Market women and artisans will know more about it. It is equally talking about the rules and laws. ``This game we are talking shows how important the judiciary is; you can summon and challenge anybody but before you challenge, you consult the court. After challenging, you go back to court and the court will tell you whether what you have done is right or wrong,’’ Adeyanju said.

Preparations for COPA Lagos 2013 in top gear, says official

inetic Sports Ltd., the organisers of COPA Lagos International Beach Soccer, yesterday said preparations were in top gear for the third edition of the tournament. The tournament has been scheduled to hold from Dec. 13 to Dec. 16 at the Eko Atlantic Beach in Lagos. ``Having organised two successful editions, this one can only get better, considering the enormous experience we have gathered from staging the last two events,’’ Samson Adamu, the company’s CEO told NAN. He said the organisers had been recording successes in securing sponsorship deals for the tournament, disclosing that FCMB Plc still remained their main partners, alongside other supporting sponsors. ``But we are not limiting our scope. We want more corporate organisations to partner with us. The more the merrier,’’ Adamu said. On whether the late camping of the Super Sand Eagles could affect the performance of the defending champions, the official said he believed the team handlers have a defined programme. ``As organisers all we need to do is to provide world-class pitch for them to play. It’s left for the teams to decide how far they want to go in the tournament,’’ he added. Senegal, Germany and Lebanon have been invited to participate at the four-team tournament. Super Sand Eagles were champions of the 2011 and 2012 editions of the competition. (NAN)

Weekend Digest

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

Cigarette-smoking toddler who shocked the world with his 40-a-day habit has given up... now he’s addicted to food • • • • •

Aldi Rizal was pictured chain-smoking cigarettes aged just two Outcry led to Indonesian’s government trying to tackle the problem Since then Aldi’s tried to kick his 40-a-day habit and learn to be normal But he’s since developed food cravings while quitting smoking Now, a new documentary series has revisited the family two years on

By Leon Watson

t the age of two he shocked the world after being pictured chain-smoking cigarettes. Two years on he’s now a normal, cheeky five-year-old - and, while he’s managed to kick the habit, he now has another addiction. Food. Aldi Rizal became an international media sensation when he was discovered in a poor village in Sumatra, Indonesia, puffing on a cigarette while riding his tricycle. The outcry led to the Indonesian government launching a campaign to tackle the problem of children smoking and organising special rehabilitation treatment to help Aldi quit. Aldi was taken for play therapy sessions in the capital Jakarta for two weeks to take his mind off his 40-a-day habit and learn to be a normal toddler for the first time. A new documentary series revisits the family two years on to find out how Aldi is getting on and reveals he has managed to stay off the cigarettes, but is still dangerously unhealthy. During his rehabilitation treatment, Aldi saw psychiatrists who encouraged his mother to keep him busy with playing and taught her about the dangers of smoking. One of them - Dr Kak Seto - still sees Aldi and his family at regular intervals to ensure he is not falling back into old habits. His mother Diane Rizal, 28, said: ‘There are many people still offering Aldi cigarettes, but Aldi no. He says “I love Kak Seto. He would be sad if I started smoking again and made myself ill.” ‘He would bang his head on the wall if he couldn’t get what he wanted. That’s why I get him cigarettes in the first place - because of his temper and his crying. ‘Now I don’t give him cigarettes, but he eats a lot. With so many people living in the house it’s hard to stop him from getting food.’ Aldi also helps his mother and father Mohamed out on their market stall, where his bright bubbly character and cheekiness wins him lots of attention. ‘I feel happy when people want to speak to him because the know him,’ admitted Mrs. Rizal. ‘But I feel annoyed when they refer to him as ‘the smoking kid’. It makes me feel like they are accusing me of being a bad parent.’ Mr. and Mrs. Rizal decided to take Aldi to a nutritionist for medical checks and now they’ve been given advice on how to put him on a healthier diet so he can start to lose some weight. ‘Aldi is very overweight, his weight doesn’t match his age,’ said nutritionist Fransisca Dewi. ‘His ideal weight is 17kg to 19kg. He’s 24kg already. ‘I think it is difficult for them. The mother says Aldi is a spoilt kid. If Diana wants to forbid him eating, it will be hard. ‘She will need the cooperation from the entire household. One obvious thing is they let him have too much condensed milk. He drinks three cans a day and eats too many carbohydrates.’ Pediatrics specialist Dr William Nawawi is also concerned that smoking at an early age has made Aldi more likely to suffer weight issues.

Toddler Aldi Rizal stunned the world when it was revealed he had a 40-a-day smoking habit at just two years old

Now Aldi has picked up a new addiction to food. His huge appetite has seen him gorge on junk food and fatty snacks

Trying to be normal: Aldi was taken for play therapy sessions in the capital Jakarta for two weeks to take his mind off his 40-a-day habit

Destructive: The youngster was discovered in a poor village in Sumatra, Indonesia, puffing on a cigarette while riding his tricycle

Aldi’s addiction to fatty foods sees him drinking three cans of condensed milk a day (he is pictured centre)

Aldi weighs nearly four stone, double what he should be for a child his age, and medics have urged his mother to put her son on a diet He explained: ‘Nicotine can increase the endocrine hormone in the body. This condition can cause resistance to insulin. ‘The blood will not be able to break glucose from food. This will make Aldi become bigger and bigger.’ Now, Aldi is back at home in his fishing village and is on a strict diet with lots

of fresh fruit and vegetables and smaller portions. Mrs Rizal must also persuade Aldi’s siblings and the rest of the family not to give in and provide him with junk food when she is not around. Doctors hope that if Aldi can lose around half a stone to a stone, his weight

will eventually even out as he starts to grow taller. It is thought one-third of children in Indonesia try smoking before the age of ten. The Government has launched efforts to tackle the problem. Source: Dailymail.co.uk

PAGE 54

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

Healthy Living

Wellness

Diabetes and sleep

elcome dear readers to a beautiful weekend with me on Wellness column. Thank you for your participation during the World Diabetes Day activities and your comments and contribution to the article of last weekend on the same matter. The awareness programmes carried out by various groups working in Diabetes must be appreciated and commended and I will like to further call on the Government to provide support to champion this noble initiative of reducing the prevalence rate of diabetes in our dear Country Nigeria. This weekend, we shall take a look at the relationship that exists between Diabetes and sleep. Sleep can be defined as a state of natural physiological narcosis, a condition second to death. It is a natural process that the Lord almighty introduced to calm the system of a living being, however, a situation exists whereby people tend to work towards cheating nature by avoiding sleep. For you reading this article, you may have avoided sleep sometimes in your life either by refusing to sleep or use of certain enhancers or teas, the reality is what extent of damage are you causing the body when you avoid sleep and how much have you invited diabetes with your actions? Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by increased blood sugars. The lack of insulin or insulin resistance is capable of causing this abnormally. Research has shown that lack of sleep leads to in-

With Isaac Yakubu Akogu

www.diabetesguidenigeria.blogspot.com, 08176179496, diabetesconcepts@gmail.com

the long run would lead to insulin resistance, a precursor in developing type 2 diabetes. It is therefore advisable to start going to bed on time, watch less T.V at night and build a habit of going to bed at

least 2 hours earlier than usual. Also staying up late often leads to overeating. For parents with school age children, it is good to inculcate the habit of going to bed early enough to help the child develop

and the buildup of cortisol leads to insulin resistance and abnormal blood sugar levels especially in people living with Diabetes. THE BENEFITS OF GETTING ENOUGH SLEEP For a person who is staying up too late and require to get up earlier than he would naturally like to, it’s important to know that the body responds by building up the level of cortisol which in

well and avoid building up high levels of cortisol which can predispose the child to type 2 diabetes resulting from insulin resistance. ntil I come your way next week with other interesting article, I urge you to get in touch with me with your comments and contributions via the number shown above and endeavour to get enough sleep to keep healthy.

Sleep is good for the Body’s metabolic system

sulin resistance, which is one of the primary factors for weight gain because it implies the body requires more insulin to maintain healthy blood sugar levels and the resultant effect will be increase in weight gain due to insulin’s fat storing capabilities. t’s been observed that just four days in a row of inadequate sleep can make the fat cells in the abdominal area insulin resistant and reduced total body insulin sensitivity, all these points to the results of several research that shows consistent sleep deprivation leads to weight gain. HOW DOES LACK OF SLEEP AFFECT BLOOD SUGARS? From our discussion in the previous paragraphs, lack of sleep leads to in-

sulin resistance which results in increase in blood sugar levels due to the body being insensitive to the actions of glucose regulatory hormone like insulin and this is as a result of over production of a hormone called Cortisol. The body of a healthy human produces about 25mg of cortisol daily but under any kind of stress, the body will produce more in an effort to reduce inflammation in the body

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It’s been observed that just four days in a row of inadequate sleep can make the fat cells in the abdominal area insulin resistant and reduced total body insulin sensitivity, all these points to the results of several research that shows consistent sleep deprivation leads to weight gain.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 23 - SUNDAY 24, NOVEMBER, 2013

PAGE 55

Never Quit Because of the Giants (IV)

lory be to God! It’s a privilege to bring the Word of God to you again today. And I believe that God will speak to you as I bring you the concluding part of this series. Last week, I showed you some practical things you need to do not to quit because of the giants which could be some difficult situations, difficult people, demonic opposition etc. Here are some practical things I said you must do: *Preserve your faith in God *Believe in His plan and purpose for your life *Don’t take counsel with your fear *Keep praying *Keep moving *Be careful who and what you listen to. *Avoid negative speaking; avoid backward talking *Remain focussed and steadfast. In conclusion today, I want to tell you two more things you need to do. Be blessed as you read in Jesus’ name. Be thankful to God. Learn to show gratitude to God remembering all His kindnesses in the past, His miracle, His deliverances. You need to keep your memory fresh and alive to defeat your current giants – this attitude gives you a winning mentality. That was what David did, and the God that helped him to kill the bear and the lion also helped him to kill Goliath. God that defeated the past giants will deliver the current giants into your hand. Psalm 100:4 says, “Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and bless his name.”(NLT) Psalm 103: 2 says forget not his benefits but the children of Israel forgot all that He had done for them in the past. That was why they couldn’t believe Him to

Acts 8:4; 11:19-24; Psalm 68:11; Mark 16:15,16,20; Luke 8:38-40; John 1:40-49; 4:28-30,39-42; 1 Peter 1:1-5; 2 Peter 3:9; Acts 17:6,30,31.

“A

nd at that time there was a great persecution against the Church which was at Jerusalem; and they were ALL scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the Apostles.” Persecution dislocated the believers. They were driven away from their houses and dispossessed of jobs and properties. They lost much of this world’s goods but the suffering did not lead to backsliding. Instead of backsliding, their loss turned them to courageous preachers. “Therefore...” (Acts 8:4; 14:1-3; 26:21,22). The word ‘therefore’, means that their preaching was because of their scattering abroad. Persecution should never lead the believer to compromise,

make them overcome the giants. Only Caleb and Joshua had faith in God to keep His word to give the land to them. But you ought to be able to say what David said: “What shall I render to the LORD For all His benefits toward me? I will take up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows to the LORD Now in the presence of all His people.” (Ps 116:12-14 NKJV) If you are guilty of not remembering God’s power, all His deliverance, you will tremble before every giant! Rejoice always. Phil 4:4 says rejoice in the Lord always. Is 12:3 says with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. Neh 8:10 says the joy of the Lord is your strength. But the devil always wants to steal the joy of the children of God because he knows that if he can achieve that, he can deny us of the strength that we need to fight him. Don’t let any negative situation cause you to be sorrowful. Choose to rejoice in the Lord even when the circumstances do not call for joy. Count it all joy all the same. (James1:2) No matter how big the giant against you is, never lose your joy. Prophet Habakkuk’s words become very helpful here. He says, “Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls — yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills.” (Hab 3:17-19 NKJV) God never tells us to be sorrowful because of a giant – a problem we are confronting or is

confronting us. He always tells us to rejoice – even the barren is told to sing or rejoice. Not because of the barrenness but because of the goodness of God and what God will do for her. “Sing, O barren, You who have not borne! Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, You who have not labored with child! For more are the children of the desolate Than the children of the married woman,’ says the LORD.” (Is 54:1 NKJV) Gal 4:27 also makes reference to this Scripture. Rejoicing for you should not be a factor of what happens to you or what doesn’t happen. It should be a discipline flowing from a decision you have made. I love how The Message translation renders 1 Thes 5:16. It says, “Be cheerful no matter what.” Don’t let any giant steal your joy. No giant should make you miserable. God will make you victory over every giant you may face in life. Put your trust in God. CONCLUSION If you are serious about possessing your Promised Land – fulfilling your destiny, you must never quit. Nothing can be truer

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From the Pulpit GREEN PASTURES By Pastor T. O. Banso

cedarministryintl@yahoo.com GSM: 08033113523 than the maxim that quitters don’t win and winners don’t quit. Paul J. Meyer says, “Ninety percent of all those who fail are not actually defeated. They simply quit.” Don’t quit even if you have not achieved your goal yet. Thomas Edison who invented the electric light bulb after one hundred unsuccessful attempts which he described as a “one thousand step process” rather than failure one thousand times says, “Many of life’s failures are just people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” Confront your giants, never contemplate giving up. Never quit because of the giants! TAKE ACTION! If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus.

Many of life’s failures are just people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” Confront your giants, never contemplate giving up. Never quit because of the giants!

I urge you to take the following steps:*Admit you’re a sinner and you can’t save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start to attend a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching church. There you will be taught how to grow in the Kingdom of God. Kindly say this prayer now: “0 Lord God, I come unto you today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and resurrected the third day. I confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour and surrender my life to him today. I invite Jesus into my heart today. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank you Jesus for saving me and making me a child of God” I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible believing, Bible teaching church in your area where you will be taught how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things becoming all God wants you to be. I’ll be glad to hear from you.

Gospel proclamation by God’s people fear of man or backslide. It should always drive us to greater prayerfulness, consecration, heavenly-mindedness and courageous preaching. The Lord had commanded, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” They had been negligent and disobedient. Scattered abroad by persecution, they “went everywhere preaching the word.” Their salvation was real and genuine. They knew the value of their souls and counted earthly loss or gain to be nothing in comparison to ‘eternal life’ which they possessed. “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” They were persecuted but they kept preaching to offer salvation to sinners. GLORIOUS

By Pastor W.F Kumuyi

PATTERN FOR GLOBAL PENETRATION Acts 8:4; Luke 9:6,59-62; 10:1-3,17-20; John 4:34-38; 1 Thessalonians 1:6-10; 1 Corinthians 9:16-22; Matthew 24:12-14; Romans 10:17,18; 2 Corinthians 5:10,11, 17-20; James 4:17. “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” is a command, Christ’s

command. Christ gave that command to all believers, not only to the Apostles. All those Apostles have died but believers are still alive to obey Christ’s commands. Even if pastors, ministers and all other believers are obeying Christ effectively, you must still render obedience to the Lord. He commands us to love God and our neighbours. Even if all

other believers love as He has commanded, their obedience will not excuse you. You still must do as He commands. Personal evangelism is every believer’s duty and responsibility; nothing else, however good and commendable, can be an acceptable substitute. Personal salvation, church attendance, Bible reading and praying, heart holiness, faithfulness in Christian work in the church are all good and necessary; yet, “preach the gospel” is a command that must be obeyed. Our obedience to a few of God’s commandments must not be used as excuse for disobeying another commandment of God. Faithfulness in the church will not excuse unfaithfulness at home, at work, in the society, in the community. Everywhere you go, “preach the gospel to every creature.”

BIG PUNCH We appeal to Mr President to disregard the misleading advice of the hawks around him and make himself an agent of peace and unity, both in the NGF and the PDP. He should rise above narrow partisanship and see himself as an impartial father eager to reconcile his feuding children. Anything short of this will not only tarnish his reputation but also have dire implications for national peace, unity and progress. —The new PDP on Jonathan’s refusal to recognize Amaechi

SATURDAY 23 — SUNDAY 24 NOVEMBER, 2013

The vision of Jerusalem

he Caliph, Umar, entered Jerusalem in absolute humility and solemnity just as he saw Prophet Muhammad enter Mecca, less than a decade ago. He is a liberator, not a conqueror. He entered Jerusalem armed with a Vision of Jerusalem defined and shaped by Islam, just as he had in his grasp, as he strode the streets of the Holy City, the power to remake the world, which in fact was the most pressing task before him. He is here to make decisions and policies which will not only transform the City but change for ever the future of Judaism and Christianity and Islam, as well as the shape of the world and its civilizations. In the second installment of our discourse on Jerusalem we examine how the Caliph remade the Holy City according to the principles and standards set by Prophet Muhammad. We refer substantially to Karen Armstrong’s Jerusalem:One City Three Faiths and ‘Jerusalem: the problems and responsibilities of sacred space,’a paper published volume 13 of the journal of Islam and MuslimChristian relations. After receiving the keys of Jerusalem, the Caliph, Umar, asked to see the Holy Sites. The Patriarch Sophronius took him first to Anastasis, the complex of buildings commemorating what Christians regard to be the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. At the Church of Holy Sepulcher, while Umar was standing beside what, to Christians, is the tomb of Jesus Christ the time for Muslim prayer came around, and Sophronius invited him to pray where he was. Umar courteously refused; neither would he pray in Constantine’s Martyrium. Instead he went outside and prayed on the steps beside the busy thoroughfare of the Cardo Maximus. He explained to the patriarch that had he prayed inside the Christian shrines, Muslims might in future feel inclined to convert them into an Islamic place of worship to commemorate their caliph’s prayer there. Later he prayed in the Nea and, again, was careful to ensure that it would remain in Christian hands. The Caliph then asked to see the sight of Prophet Muhammad’s Ascension. He was shocked to find that the holiest place in Jerusalem, where the Great Temple built by King David and King Solomon once stood, had been converted first by Pagan Persia to humiliate the Christians, and then by Christian Byzantium to humiliate the Jews, into a stinking refuse dump. With bare hands, the Caliph reverently

began to clear the refuse, and the Muslim army followed suit. The Caliph then began the task of reconsecration and restoration by laying the foundations Al Aqsa Mosque, the spot of Muhammad’s Ascension and the Done of the Rock. In the light of the present conflict, Armstrong has observed, it is ironic that this project of building and reclamation was greeted by Jews with gratitude and acclaim: some even hailed the Muslims, who had purified this sacred site, as the precursors of the Messiah. The Ascension defines not only the status of Jerusalem in Islam but also the Muslim Vision of Jerusalem, a vision, in the words of Karen Armstrong, of ‘generous pluralism.’ She writes: ‘’The account of this profound mystical experience...tells us that Muhammad was miraculously conveyed from Mecca to Jerusalem in the year 620, in company with Gabriel, the angel of revelation. When he arrived at the Temple Mount, the Prophet was greeted by all the great prophets of the past, who welcomed him into their midst. Then, he began his ascent to the divine presence, through the seven heavens; at each stage he met and conversed with major prophets: with Jesus and John the Baptist, Moses and Aaron and Enoch, and, at the threshold of the divine sphere, he met Abraham, the father of Jews, Christians and Muslims.’ Further: ‘Muhammad did not therefore arrive on the Temple Mount as a solitary worshipper, but was warmly greeted by his prophetic predecessors.The Islamic vision of Jerusalem was warmly affirmative of other traditions, as is the Quran, which repeatedly states that the revelation to Muhammad does not cancel out the revelations made to other prophets in the past, but is a continuation of a universal religious quest. Muhammad’s Night Vision is a vision of harmony, as he and his fellow-prophets confirm one another’s insights.’ y restoring the Holy Sites the Caliph had sought to restore the pristine character of Jerusalem which had remained buried for centuries under the debris of oppressions, forced conversions, massacres and profanities. ‘Some of the worst atrocities in Jerusalem’s tragic history have happened when people have felt so possessive about its holiness that they have put their yearning to own or to gain access to its great sanctity ahead of this concern for justice and equity,’ Karen Armstrong asserts almost echoing the Islamic perspective. ‘The holiness of Jerusalem is not simply a prize to be gained, but

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attention to Jews who, as a religious community,ł had at this time no presence whatsoever in Jerusalem, where they had been forbidden to live permanently as citizens, most especially by Christian Roman Empire and its successor, Byzantium. The Caliph invited the Jews to Jerusalem. Seventy Jewish families came from Tiberias and established a quarter for themselves

A view of the city of Jerusalem an imperative to righteous and compassionate action. The city must be an objective correlative on earth, of the justice of God.’ Islam’s historic intervention would restore the sanctity of Jerusalem as the City of God, and, as such, the city of harmony, inclusion, integration, justice and purity. The Caliph, thereafter, issued his historic proclamation, acknowledged by some scholars as, in effect, the first international guarantee of the protection of religious freedom. It reads, in part: ‘In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate. This is an assurance of peace and protection given by the servant of Allah Umar, Commander of the Believers, to the people of Jerusalem. He gave them an assurance of protection for their lives, property, churches and crosses as well as the sick and healthy of the City and all its religious community. Their

churches shall not be occupied, demolished nor taken away wholly or in part. None of their crosses nor property shall be confiscated. They shall not be coerced in their religion nor harmed.They shall pay poll tax as inhabitants of cities do. Whosoever wishes to leave shall be guaranteed safety for his life and property until he reaches his destination. Whosoever stays shall be safe...This assurance is under the covenant of Allah, is the responsibility of His Prophet, of the Caliphs, and of the Faithfuls.’ The proclamation, as John Gray, an English historian, puts it, was ‘less of a treaty imposed by a conqueror than a guarantee by a victorious faith confident in its inherent strength and conscious of its responsibilities.’ aving secured the rights of Christianity to its holy sites and legacies as well as its presence in Jerusalem for ever, the Caliph then turned his

at the foot of the Temple Mount, now the Noble Sanctuary. The Caliph, within a space of a few days, had made Jerusalem a City for Mankind, accommodating the spiritual quests of all the great faiths, thus fulfilling the Vision of Muhammad, the will of God. For the next four hundred and sixty years, Jews, Christians and Muslims lived together as a Community of Faith, contributing mutually to the religious, cultural and intellectual development of the city. ‘From the very earliest days of the city’s history, the holiness of Jerusalem was seen as a summons to justice and compassion, to a recognition of the sacred rights of others,’ Karen Armstrong concludes her submission with a sense of nostalgia. ‘Today we need a vision like the Muslim vision, which does not deny the presence and devotion of others, but which honors their rights and celebrates plurality and coexistence as essential to the holiness of Jerusalem.’

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