peoples daily newspaper, wednesday 12, september, 2012

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Vol. 9 No. 23 Wednesday, September 12, 2012 Shawwal 25, 1433 AH N150. . . putting the people first

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PD INDEX 11th Sept., 2012

Gun running allegationdog interior minister,

Abba Moro

Bankers C’tteedeny EFCCallegation

>> PAGE 2 >> PAGE 3

Reps to probePHCN fundsin UK bank>> PAGE 40

L-R: Nigerian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Ambassador F.A Rotimi, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu,Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, and a member of the House, Hon Daniel Reyemeju,during the opening of the 58th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Conference, yesterday in Colombo, SriLanka.

Woman delivers strange creature in churchFrom Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

Contd on Page 2

By Lawrence Olaoye

Contd on Page 2

The ruling PeoplesDemocratic Party (PDP)yesterday declared that

there would be no automaticticket for any of its electedofficials including PresidentGoodluck Jonathan and stategovernors under its platform.

The party in a statementissued by its National PublicitySecretary, Chief Olisa Metuh,debunked allegations makingthe rounds that the party isundergoing another process ofConstitutional amendment toguarantee automatic tickets tosome incumbent office holdersfor second terms.

The authors of the ‘alienidea’, according to the party

Members of WorldLiberation Ministrylocated along old

Sapele-Benin express road wereyesterday thrown into confusion

when a woman delivered a horse-like creature, causing a stiramong the congregation.

The pony-like creaturewhich was allegedly deliveredduring the prophecy service ofthe church, was however dead

by the time journalists visitedthe church.

The identity of the “mother”who purportedly delivered the“pony” was not yet known butsome church members toldreporters that she started

screaming during the prayersession and then bleeding fromher private part before the horse“appeared”.

General Overseer of thechurch, Evangelist Rev. Silva

2015: No free tickets forJonathan, govs – PDP

CONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSNews 2-11

Editorial 12

Op.Ed 13

Letters 14

Opinion 15

Metro 16-18

Business 19-20

Motoring 24

Property 25

Arts 29

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PDM revitalization:Can these old politicalallies reunite?, Page 4

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Politics 40

Sports 41-47

Columnist 48

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012PAGE 2

Gun running allegation dog interior minister

Contd from Page 1

2015: No free tickets for Jonathan, governors – PDP

Contd from Page 1

Woman delivers strange creature in church

are insinuating that the PDPwanted to model its internalnomination process after thepractice in the United States ofAmerica.

The party, Metuh said, hadreceived several calls fromconcerned party members andas such needed to set the recordsstraight to avoid ambiguities.

He clarified that “The Partyis not involved in any process

to amend its Constitution at themoment. The 2012 amendedcopy is now the grand norm ofthe Party and we intend tostrictly abide by its provision.The PDP does not exist solely forthe purpose of perpetualamendments of itsConstitution.

“We have already made ourposition known that holders ofelective positions can onlysecure another term based ontheir performance and their

acceptance by the people in afree and fair primary electionwhere all party members shallbe guaranteed a level playingground. The PDP under AlhajiBamanga Tukur shall nevershort circuit the will of itsmembers under whateverguise,” the party assured.

Metuh stated further “Wealso wish to make it clear thatthe PDP has its ownconstitution where processesfor candidates’ selection are

clearly spelt out. We aretherefore only bound by theprovisions of this constitutionand not the conventions ofany other party, anywhereelse in the World. We are nocopycats.

We therefore urge ourmembers to disregard this ideaas we suspect that it ishandwork of mischief makerswho are desirous of causingdisaffection among ourmembers.”

Wealth, said he was still amazedat what came out of the woman.

He told journalists thatduring prayers a revelationcame that there was a womanwith an issue and thatsomething was blocking herwomb.

Evangelist Silva said asprayers intensified, the womanstarted screaming and bleedingstarted when the object came

out. But he couldn’t confirmwhether the ‘horse’ was dead oralive because he didn’t go nearit.

According to him, “I can’tdescribe the object. We haveseen people vomited severalthings during our service butnot this type of thing...”

People rushed to the churchto catch a glimpse of the ‘horse’when news of the deliveryfiltered into town.

The minister who insisted

that there have been severalprophesies and healings whenasked whether the object wasalive, said: “I wouldn’t know, Iwas not focusing on her and Ididn’t go back to her after theprayers. I have been in myoffice administering andcounseling members.

“We have been havingseries of miracles in thischurch, but this was a surpriseto members who were presentthat morning. I was amazed

that it’s quite different fromwhat we have been seeing,during our prayer sessions…”

The woman was said tohave gone for medical checkupbut Silva promised to make heravailable to journalists.

Meanwhile, elders andleaders of the Evboriariacommunity where the churchis located, have launched aninvestigation into the incidentwhich they termed anabominable act.

By Richard Ihediwa, UcheNnorom, & Lambert Tyem

Interior Minister, ComradeAbba Moro may be in fortrouble following

speculations that there aremoves to remove him from officeover allegations of illegalpossession of firearm and freshgun running allegation leveledagainst him.

A group, National Anti-Terrorism and Peace Network(NATPN) is raising the dustagainst the embattled ministeras it averred that he wasarrested in Abuja and chargedto court for illegal arm possessionwhen he was Chairman ofOkpokwu Local GovernmentArea, a position he held between1999 and 2007.

The group in an unsigneddocument also alleged that theminister has involved himself infresh arms offence as theyaccused him confiscating a largecache of arms and ammunitionsimported into the country by theFederal Government toempower the Nigerian Securityand Civil Defence Corps(NSCDS).

Already, the group has sinceMonday been circulating amemo, purported to have beenwritten by the Department ofState Security Service (SSS) tothe Office of the NationalSecurity Adviser (NSA)admitting that that it clearedMoro for ministerialappointment in error and thatPresident Goodluck Jonathanhas been advised to sack him.

But the SSS last night toldPeoples Daily that it did notauthor the said memo.

The group, in a letter it iscirculating on the internet andto some internationalorganizations said securityagencies were aware of the saidcourt case even before he wascleared as minister.

It alleged that Moro faced atwo-count charge of unlawfulpossession of firearms andunlawful possession of liveammunitions adding thataccording to the charge read atthe court, he was found inpossession of a Nigerian Air Forceservice pistol with registrationnumber: NAF30358 and sevenlive ammunitions discovered bythe SSS on routine check.

The group argued that thecase was on going adding that assuch Moro has a moral burden

to hold the position of theminister in the country.

The said memo, dated April24 2012, with the name anddesignation of the authorconcealed with ink marks statedthat Moro was charged to courtand that there was no NolliProseci to indicate that the casehas been dropped adding thatthere must have been an intensepressure on the Service byhighly placed political officeholder to clear him during hisministerial nomination process.

Calling on PresidentGoodluck Jonathan to order athorough inquest into theactivities of the minister, thegroup said it is aware that thePresident has been advised bythe NSA to relieve Moro of hisduties as minister.

The statement by the group,which is being circulated ononline media reads in parts: “Weare imploring the governmentof President Goodluck EbeleJonathan to as a matter ofurgent national concern causefull investigation of the activitiesof the Interior Minister.

“The recent disappearance ofa large cache of fire armsimported into Nigeria for theNigeria Security and CivilDefence Corps (NSCDC) allegedto have been confiscated by thesaid Comrade Patrick Abba Moroas Minister of Interior. Oursources within informed us thatMoro’s response to this grievouscriminal offence was that he hasthe powers as Minister topersonally retain some arms onbehalf of the Federal

Government but this he has donein order to arm another set ofyouths in north central Nigeriain preparations for the 2015general elections.

When contacted last night,SSS Spokesperson, MarylynOgar noted she was not aware ofthe said case and that the Servicedid not author the said memo.She pointed out that the styleand language of the memo werenot that of the SSS.

Reacting to the issue, theminister described theallegations as ‘tissue of lies’ and‘political deceit’ perpetrated byprofessional political fraudsters.

In a press statement signedby his Special Assistant onMedia, Mr. George Udoh, said theminister said he had for a longtime been given a clean bill ofhealth by the same Federal Highcourt, Abuja on the issue ofpossession of arms.

Condemning the allegations,the Forum of Idoma Professionalsin Diaspora (FIPID) has describedit as reckless, wicked, maliciousand false. They described theallegation as part of a wicked plotto pull down a good man whodemonstrated deep love forpeople and unalloyed loyalty tohis principal, the President of theFederal Republic of Nigeria.

The group’s coordinatorBarrister Paul Ejembi in pressconference in Abuja yesterday,described the National Anti-Terrorism and Peace Network asa faceless evil group and Idomahaters bent at tarnishing theimage of the minister so as tobring him down.

Interior Minister, ComradeAbba Moro

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012 PAGE 3

$15m Ibori bribe: Courtorders IGP to investigateUba, AchigbuThe Chief Magistrate Court,

sitting in Wuse Zone 6,Abuja, on Monday, made an

order directing the Inspector-General of Police to conduct athorough criminal investigationagainst Sen. Andy Uba and

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin Chibuike Achigbu over allegationssurrounding the controversial$15million Ibori bribe.

The Court, presided over byChief Magistrate Okagu made theorder following a Direct CriminalComplaint filed before the courtby a Lagos based lawyer, FestusKeyamo against Uba and

Corruption: Bankers’ c’ttee deniesEFCC allegation, endorses N5,000 note

Achigbu.Keyamo accused the duo of

conspiracy, abetment and briberyin respect of the $15 million Iboribribe.

The court has ordered theInspector-General of Police to reportback to the court with his findingson September 26, 2012.

Lead counsel to formerManaging Director,Intercontinental Bank Plc,

(now Access Bank), ErastusAkingbola, yesterday berated an IkejaHigh Court over what he termed thehandling of the proceedings of the trialof his client by the trial judge, JusticeHabeeb Abiru.

Chief Felix Fagbohungbe, who

From Francis Iwuchukwu, Lagos is leading other lawyers in the trialof Akingbola, complained of thejudges' interest to hear the defence'scase when the judge overruled hisrequest for an adjournment tocontinue leading Akingbola's co-accused, Bayo Dada, in evidence.

He had said he wanted anadjournment to carry outinvestigation on "certain things".

But Justice Abiru who hadearlier in the proceedings expressed

dissatisfaction over the manner inwhich the defence have beenconducting their case, saidFagbohungbe's request for anadjournment was unnecessary.

According to Justice Abiru, "Sincemorning you have been with thewitness and you spent five minuteson each question. You delayed theprogress of the court and now you areseeking for adjournment, in respectof investigation. No there is no

N47.1bn theft: Akingbola's counsel, judge in hot exchange of wordsadjournment”.

"Since the last adjourned datein July, you should have donewhatever investigation youwanted to do. You had July,August and even September beforeyesterday's sitting..."

However, Fagbohungbe said,"My Lord, it is like you are angrywith me. It is like you want to behearing one side of this case. I’mnot asking for too much. I was only

asking for tomorrow."Afterall, you granted my

learned friend (counsel for theEconomic and Financial CrimesCommission) when he requestedfor an adjournment yesterday(Monday) till today (Tuesday)".

The judge Abiru adjourned tilltoday for continuation of cross-examination upon the request ofthe EFCC counsel, Mr. EmmanuelUkala.

The recurrent ethno-religious crisis in TafawaBalewa local government

area of Bauchi state left threepersons dead and seven reportedlyinjured in the an incident that sentmany running into the bush tosave their lives.

However, the Bauchi statepolice command confirmed that 2people were killed while 3 wereinjured in a fresh attack in TafawaBalewa on Monday night.

The Commissioner of Police,Mr. Mohammed Ladan,confirmed that the incidentoccurred around 3.30pm whenthe bus was coming from Bauchito Tafawa-Balewa loaded withpassengers.

Eyewitness accounts said thegunmen appeared from the bushand ambushed their victims usingguns and other weapons beforethey disappeared into the bush.

The incident, according to asource, caused seriouspandemonium among residents ofthe Tafawa Balewa area, who alsoaccused Yuguda administrationfor lack of political will to containrecurrent attacks in the area.

3 killed 7 injuredin fresh TafawaBalewa attackFrom Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

The Inspector-General ofPolice, MohammedAbubakar, has said the

prevailing security challengesfacing some northern states wouldsoon be a thing of the past.

Abubakar, who gave theassurance when he paid a courtesyvisit to Governor Rabiu MusaKwankwaso of Kano state yesterday,said the force is doing everythingpossible to bring an end to the situation.

He revealed that he was inKano as part of his on-the-spotassessment tour of securitysituations in some parts of thecountry, especially in the north,noting that normalcy is graduallyreturning to Kano.

According to him, commercialactivities are now picking up inKano, promising that the policeforce under his leadership wouldcontinue to do everythingnecessary to ensure sustainablepeace and stability in the state.

Securitychallengesfacing northwill soon beover, says IGPFrom Edwin Olofu, Kano

The Bankers Committee – aplatform for congregation of banks’chief executives, has denied theallegation by Economic andFinancial Crimes Commission(EFCC) that it was shielding andhiding information on clientsfacing fraud related investigation.

However, the body pledged itscooperation to EFCC in overcomingshortcomings capable ofundermining prosecution of casesinvolving fraud and moneylaundering.

The response came on heels ofalarm raised by the anti-graftagency that banks areimpediments to its effort atcombating fraud cases by shielding

By Abdulwahab Isa their corrupt clients as well asdeliberately hiding relevantinformation on them.

EFFC chairman, Mr. IbrahimLamorde made the assertion onMonday in Abuja at a meetingwith officials of the CharteredInstitute of Bankers of Nigeria(CIBN).

Responding to the EFCC claimat an interactive session withfinance correspondents at the endof Bankers’ Committee sessionyesterday in Abuja, GroupManaging Director of United Bankfor Africa Mr.

Phillips Oduoza said bankswould reach out to EFCC to clarifyareas where they needcooperation.

“When we saw the publications

that banks are not forthcomingwith information, as an industry,we would like to engage EFCC toknow the specific areas because weall stood for anti-moneylaundering; we all

stood for Know Your Customer(KYC); we all stood for financialreporting. So it is important for usto engage EFCC to know areas ofimprovement”, said Oduoza.

In another development, thecommittee debunked speculationsthat the introduction of singleN5,000 note would ignite inflation.Making known the position ofBankers’ Committee on CBN’scurrency restructuring bid at apress briefing yesterday, GroupManaging Director of United Bankfor Africa Mr.

SERAP tells FGto repatriateAlamieyeseigha'sloot from US

The Socio-Economic Rightsand Accountability Project(SERAP), yesterday,

charged the Federal Ministry ofJustice and the Attorney Generalof the Federation (AGF),Mohammed Adoke (SAN), to seekfrom the United States'government, repatriation offorfeiture order on USD 401,931 inassets belonging to DiepreyeAlamieyeseigha, the formergovernor of Baylelsa state who hasbeen convicted of moneylaundering and unjust enrichmentwhile in office as governor.

The group in an open lettersigned by its executive director,Adetokunbo Mumuni, arguedthat, “On June 28, 2012, the USDepartment of Justice obtained thefirst forfeiture judgment everissued under the new KleptocracyAsset Recovery Initiative againstMr. Alamieyeseigha.

"The initiative is designed totarget and recover the proceeds offoreign official corruption thathave been laundered into orthrough the United States.

"The Nigerian government hasnot yet made a request for therepatriation of the stolen wealth…”

The group urged thegovernment to use the repatriatedassets to set up a trust fund for thebenefit of those it termed themillions of vulnerable anddisadvantaged Nigerians who arethe victims of high level corruption.

From Francis Iwuchukwu, Lagos

L-R: Director, Banking Supervision, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mrs. Tokunbo Martins, Group Managing Director, UnitedBank for Africa Plc, Mr. Phillips Oduoza, and Director, Corporate Communication, CBN, Mr. Ugochukwu Okoroafor, duringa news conference on the Bankers Committee Meeting, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: NAN

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

Princewill, Chief Bode Ajewole andother members met in theYar’adua Center, Abuja to re-strategize and reshape the politicaldestiny of the PDM.

But reacting to thespeculations that Atiku may havedumped the group, hisSpokesperson, Mallam ShehuGarba, said nothing could befurther from the truth. Heinsisted that the former Vice-President was still part of the groupjust, explaininghis principal couldnot attend the Abuja reunionparley because he was in Yolabutwas adequately represented byhis old time political ally,AlhajiLawalKaita at the meeting.

Although several reasons havebeen adduced to the suddenresurgence of interest in the PDMrevitalization project, Atikuclarified that the ultimatepurpose of the exercise was toprotect the interests of itsmembers. He denied thespeculation making the roundsthat the PDM was beingresuscitated to checkmatePresident Goodluck Jonathan’s2015 ambition. He said “No, that’snot the reason and we are notaware of such plans by thePresident. As I said, the aim of therevival meeting is to reposition thepolitical association so as to protectthe common interest of themembers.”

But there are fears that therejuvenation of the PDM may betermed as an anti-party conductsince most members of the politicalgroup are active members of thePDP, which has outlawed caucusesin its fold. This, according to theparty, is to ensure that the general

interest of the party is notsacrificed on the altar of groupinterest. The party alsoarguedthat it would be counter-productive to the efforts beingmade by the party’s nationalleadership to create unity ofpurpose should caucuses loyalonly to their leaders be allowed tothrive in the PDP.

But, reacting to the fears in theparty that revitalizing the PDMamounts to resuscitation ofcaucuses in the party, Atiku saidPDM was not a caucus,but aninterest group within the PDP. Itis just as situation “where peoplewith common interest decide tocome together to protect theircommon interest.”

Also reacting to the PDP’sposition on caucuses within itsfold, a prominent politician,TundeOdanye said “It is difficultto completely rule out a situationthat may enable people of likeminds to meet. This is the case inother democracies. It is normal forpeople of like minds to gravitatetogether. But my take is thatwhatever would strengthen andadvance the party is welcome, butif some elements want to use such

PDM revitalization: Can theseold political allies reunite?The dynamism of the nation’s

politics resurfaced last weekwhen old political ‘foxes’ got

together in Abuja to plot therevitalization of a politicalmachinery that coalesced withother groups in 1998 to form whatis today known as the PeoplesDemocratic Party (PDP).

The defunct PeoplesDemocratic Movement (PDM),formed by the late Gen. ShehuMusa Ya’adua, was a strongpolitical platform, with presenceall over the country.It played apivotal role in ensuring the successof the ruling party in most statesof the federation in the 1999general elections. The PDM thenhad tentacles spread across thecountry with quality politiciansin its fold. The movement wentinto hibernation and melted intothe larger picture, the PDP,immediately it was formed on the31st of August, 1998.

Since the formation of thePDP, members of the Yar’adua’spolitical family have since goneunderground only to regroupalbeit anonymously when theinterest of any of them isthreatened. The conviviality ofmembers of the group was sostrong that it provided theleverage for its leader, formerVice-President Atiku Abubakar,to survive the politicalpersecution he suffered under hisboss, former PresidentOlusegunObasanjo.

The group, during the run-upto the PDP Presidential primariespulled all required strings toensure Obasanjo’s emergence asthe Presidential candidate andsubsequently, the President. It wasthe need to show appreciation tothe contribution of the group tohis success that made Obasanjo toanoint Atiku as his running mateeven when the latter had alreadywon as the governor of Adamawastate. Similarly, notablestakeholders in the PDM attainedprominent political heights inObasajo’s government on thestrength of the contribution of thegroup to the success of the PDP atthe 1999 general elections.

The camaraderie amongmembers of the group washowever shattered during the PDPPresidential primaries thatproduced President GoodluckJonathan as the flag-bearer of thePDP. The ranks of the group wereinfiltrated and its leader, Atiku,having been betrayed, was left inthe cold. Although the formerVice President has yet to openlydeny the group based on hisexperience in the 2011 PDPpresidential primaries, tonguesare waging that he may not befavourably disposed to the effortsto revitalize and re-energise thepolitical machinery.

Atiku’s absence at the recentmeeting held by some strongstakeholders in the group in Abujatends to give credence to thespeculations that he may have lostinterest. PDM stakeholdersincluding the former Chairmanof the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT),Chief Tony Anenih, formergovernor of Kaduna state, AlhajiKaita Lawal, Ambassador YahayaKwande, Dame Titi Ajanaku,Chief Dubem Onyia, SenatorAbubakar Mahdi , Prince Tonye

THE PAGE 4 REPORTBy Lawrence Olaoye

Prince Tony AnenihAlhaji Atiku Abubakar

forum for some selfish reasons,then, it must be seen as a problem.We do not want that.”

There are however fears thatthe PDM may not be able to strikethe right cord in the nation’spolitical calculation becauseseveral of the stakeholdersinvolved may find it difficult tosurrender personal ambition togroup interest as it had been pre1999. There are indications thatthose who are currently comingtogether have personal interestsand ambitions that may bedifficult to mortgage. This is evenmore so when those that workedagainst the interest of the group’spatron in the 2011 PDPPresidential primary are stillmuch within the fold.

It is not particularly clearwhether Atiku would still have thecapacity to hold together a groupthat has been so divided byinfiltrators who are only waitingin the wings to re-enact the samefeat in 2015. This is because somepoliticians, who are holdingcontradictory political views,especially as it concerns the 2015Presidency, are very activewithin the fold.

While some of the new PDMmembers are of the view that thePresidency should return to theNorth in 2015, others evenwithin the fold are rooting forJonathan’s second term agenda.The point of agreement betweenthese two folds remains thepolitical puzzle the old allies areexpected to solve.

That the old political war-horses may not find a commonground when it matters most isunderscored bythe fact that thestakeholders are yet to agree onthe mode of the group operations.While some are said to be contentwith the group to operate underthe umbrella of the mother party(PDP), others are said to bepushing for a pull-out so that thegroup would form a brand newpolitical party ahead of the 2015general elections.

Although the ruling partyseems unperturbed by thepolitical development, there areindications that the PDPleadership would stop at nothingto ensure that the effort to createa caucus within its fold do notsucceed. Already, talks areongoing at the highest echelon ofthe party to ensure reconciliationof aggrieved members with aview to repositioning the party forit to prosecute the 2015 electionwith a united front. Nevertheless,the PDP would have to do more,especially by making its politicaloffice holders more responsive,otherwise, its leadership mayhave to contend with a possibilityof a division and eventual break-up should the PDM associates finda common ground to revitalizethe group.

“Nevertheless, the PDP would have to do more,especially by making its political office holdersmore responsive, otherwise, its leadership may

have to contend with a possibility of a division andeventual break-up should the PDM associates find

a common ground to revitalize the group


Maje explosion:Victims threatento sue Conoilfor damagesBy Stanley Onyekwere

From Muhammad Adamu,Kaduna

The body of the KadunaRefining andPetrochemical Company

(KRPC) Deputy Manager whosevehicle plunged into the river ninedays ago has been recovered bylocal divers from Lokoja, Kogi stateand the Nigerian Inland WaterAgency (NIWA) on Monday. Asenior official of the NNPC said

yesterday in Kaduna.The decomposed body of the

deputy manager was recoveredtrapped in the front passenger seatof the vehicle.

Only the vehicle driver’s bodywas earlier recovered by workersof the Nigerian National PetroleumCorporation (NNPC) deployedfrom Port Harcort last week.

The combined team of rescueoperators had failed to recoverthe remains of two workers KRPC

Nine days after, body of NNPCmanager recovered in Jere river

and a relative whose vanplunged into a river from the topof a bridge in Jere village nearAbuja.

The NNPC in Kaduna hadconfirmed the death of two of itsstaff and one other passenger in anauto-crash at Jere bridge alongKaduna Abuja expressway.

The Public Affairs Manager ofKaduna Refining PetrochemicalCompany (KRPC), MalamAbdullahi Idris, confirmed the

incident, which he said happenedpenultimate Friday around 8 pm.

Idris gave the names of the twostaff as Jibril Sulaiman, DeputyManager Finance, his driver,while the third person was thenephew to Sulaiman.

He said the victims were ontheir way to Abuja from Kaduna,when their Toyota Hilux vanplunged into a river near Jere,Kagarko local government area ofKaduna state.

From Mohammed Adamu,Kaduna

Unknown gunmen lateSunday night made awaywith Honda Civic 2007

model and the 10-year-old daughterof a chieftain of the Action Congressof Nigeria (ACN), about 20 metersto her residence in Kaduna.

It was learnt that the gunmenwho had trailed the politician,snatched the vehicle at gunpointand shot sporadically in the air toscare away nearby traders.

The victim, Honorable HadizaIbrahim Arab, 2011 Kaduna StateHouse of Assembly candidate ofthe CAN, told our correspondentthat the gunmen ambushed herwhile she was inserting the keyinto the ignition.

“I just raised my head to find aman pointing a pistol at me andordered that I come down from thecar and hand over the keys quietly.

It was around 10:30pm when Ileft my neighbours patent shopvery close to my house.

“They ordered me to leavebehind my two GSM sets and mydaughter who was lying down onthe back seat.

“I was shouting to them to allowme pick my daughter as they

Gunmen snatch ACN chieftain’s daughter, car in Kadunacontinue to shoot in the air and gotaway with the car, my daughterand my two hand sets, while thetraders and passersby scamperedfor safety.

“They later freed my daughterafter several calls to them throughmy number pleading for her release.

“Later on, the phone numbers

went dead, but my daughter wasreleased without any harm”.

Kaduna state police commandspokesperson, DSP Aminu Lawan,confirmed the incident, sayingthat the motorcycle abandoned bythe gunmen is with the police andinvestigation has alreadycommenced.

A resident in the area toldnewsmen that the robbers whocould not gain entrance to the houseexchanged fire with policemen onguard duty at the house.

The source who declinedidentification said the robbersstormed the house at about 3amyesterday after successfullyseizing a policeman’s rifle.

Our reporter gathered that thegang of robbers have beenterrorising the area and the

neighbouring communities in thepast. The robbers were alleged havebeen coming to the area fromKaduna. However, two of therobbers were said to have escaped.

Confirming the incident onphone, the Kaduna state policecommand's spokesman, DSPAminu Lawan denied thestatement that the robbers seizeda police officer's rifle. He explainedthat the two rifles recovered belongto the bandits.

The police in Zaria,yesterday, gunned downtwo notorious armed

robbers in a gun battle betweenthe police and armed robbers atUngwar Fatika in Zaria City, Zarialocal government area of Kadunastate.

Sources say the robbers triedto strike the residence of the retiredAssistant Inspector General ofPolice, Alhaji Murtala Abbas at theearly hours of Tuesday.

…as police shoot 2 robbers in Zaria

NAPTIP still baffled at release of 267 trafficking victims — Official

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

Some victims of theSeptember 2 explosion fromthe ill-fated petrol-tanker

which killed three persons anddestroyed properties in Maje, nearSuleija, have threatened toinstitute a civil suit against ConoilPlc over alleged deliberate anticsby the company to avoid paymentof compensation to them.

The victims who made thethreat in an interview with ourreporter on Sunday, argued thatfrom the inscription on the ill-fatedtanker they have every cause tobelieve that Conoil owns it, hencethe talk of instituting a courtaction against the company ifnothing was done to show concernfor their loss.

One of the victims, AlhajiDanhiru Lada, who heads anIslamic school, Madarasatul NurulA Mahadi, said “the incident hasaffected us negatively in the areaof our economic wellbeing as someof the affected buildings served asworkshops and factories where weearn our daily bread but now someof us are forced to stay idle”, helamented.

On his part, Joshua Ayo, anelectronics trader who allegedlyN143, 000 in cash and goods worthover N750, 000 from his shop barelythree weeks after it was opened, saidhe has been rendered jobless as helost everything in the process”.

Minister’s visitto spouse’svillage stalledby bad road

The Minister for WaterResources, Mrs. SarahOchekpe at the weekend

experienced difficulty traveling toher husband’s village, Emichi inOtukpo local government areadue to the impassable road.

Emichi village is one of thevillages in Nigeria that iscompletely neglected as it lackselectricity, pipe borne water andany medical facility.

Mrs. Ochekpe who was in Benuestate to commission two waterprojects in Katsina-Ala and AnyiininLogo local government areas, hadplanned to visit her husband’s villageto greet her in-laws. However, theenthusiasm of the people to see theirdaughter-in-law waned when shereceived news that she could notreach the village due to the terriblestate of the road which has even beenmade worse by torrential rains in thestate this year.

The minister’s convoy had toturn back and she headed back toher hotel room in Otukpo town.

The National Agency for theProhibition of Trafficking inPersons (NAPTIP), said efforts

to investigate how 267 victims andsuspected traffickers were releasedhave not yielded any results.

Mr. Orakwe Arinze, the

Assistant Director Press and PublicRelations of the agency, gave theinformation in an interview withthe News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)in Abuja yesterday.

Arinze said that both victimsand suspected traffickers were on

July 29, released on “humanitariangrounds” based on the orders of theKogi state government beforeNAPTIP could evacuate them.

“Investigations into the releaseof the 267 victims and thesuspected traffickers from police

custody in the state have notyielded much result.

“This is because the record ofthe released victims and traffickersare unknown”, Arinze said.

He, however, said plans wereunderway by the agency to make

sure there was no repeat of such anincident.

NAN recalls that on July 26,267 victims and suspected traffickerswere intercepted by the JTF, led byLt. Col. Gabriel Olorunyomi, alongItobe-Ajaokuta road in Kogi. (NAN)

L-R: Former Vice-President, Chief Alex Ekwueme, former Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyali,former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Muhammad Lawal Uwais, and Minister of State for FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide,during the presentation of public service award to Justice Uwais yesterday in Abuja. PHOTO: MAHMUD ISA


L-R: Minister of works, Architect Mike Onolememen, Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry,Mrs. Ngozi Unogu, and Managing Director, Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA),Engineer Gabriel Amuchi, during consultative meeting with road contractors and the launchof Project Safe Passage on Federal Roads, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-owo

Oil theft: Police intercept 17 truckswith petroleum products in KogiBy Lambert Tyem

The Nigeria police havesmashed a syndicatewhich specialises in

vandalisation of oilinstallations especially NNPCpipelines across the country.

Police spokesman, FrankMba said the police on theSeptember 8 and 9, nabbed thesyndicates at Agayin, Ajaokutalocal government area of Kogistate. He said this was in itscontinued determination toensure the protection of oilinstallations, especially NNPCpipelines.

"This fit was recorded by

the newly constituted IGP'sSpecial Taskforce on AntiPipeline Vandalisation headedby ACP F.T Ibadin, whoworking on informationreceived on 7th September,2012 from a good-spiritedNigerian, stormed Adogovillage with officers and menof the taskforce on 8thSeptember, 2012 anddislodged the vandals", Mbasaid.

He said the vandals whotook to their heels on sightingthe police, abandoned 17 trucks,majority of them already loadedwith stolen petroleum products.

He further disclosed that a

Honda car, a Volkswagen Golfcar, some offensive weapons andother equipment used by thesuspects to siphon petroleumproducts from vandalisedNNPC pipelines were alsorecovered.

The Special Taskforce alsoarrested one Stephen Amana ofAdogo village who confirmed toown one of the trucks. Mba saidthe taskforce's timely responseled to the recovery of the itemsand the arrest of the suspect.

He further stated that theforce will leave no stoneunturned in forestallingfurther vandalisation ofpipelines by hoodlums.

You are corrupt, catholicbishops tell govs, others

Catholic bishops in thecountry have expressedworries over the high rate

of corruption amonggovernment officials and calledon President Goodluck Jonathanto take decisive steps to check thetrend.

But in a swift reaction, Abiastate governor, Theodore Orjifired back saying it is not onlygovernors and politicians whoare corrupt but that the entirecountry must takeresponsibility.

The clerics opened theCatholic Bishops Conference ofNigeria (CBCN), in Umuahia,Abia state capital on Sunday,lamenting that there wasunbridled corruption andimpunity among the politicalclass.

President of the conference,Ignatius Kaigama, who spoke themind of the clerics, expressedsadness at the inability of thegovernment to stop the malaise,which he said was manifest atall levels of leadership in thecountry.

"Unbridled corruption andimpunity among the nation'spolitical class is worrisome,particularly as the

By Richard Ihediwa with agencyreport

mismanagement (of the nation'sresources) is at all levels,especially the recent fuel subsidyand pension funds scam", he said.

He also lamented the currentsecurity challenges facing thecountry saying they weredesigned by some unpatrioticelements to create distrust,disharmony, and disintegrationamong Nigerians.

The president of theconference said Nigerians must"collectively resist thetemptation to pitch northernNigeria against southernNigeria, Muslims againstChristians by the terroristgroup".

Speaking at the event,President Goodluck Jonathanwho was represented by theMinister for Labour andProductivity, Emeka Wogu,underscored the need for thechurch and government tocollaborate in order to enhancethe development of the country.He urged them to continue topray for peace, progress andunity of the country.

However, Anambra stategovernor, Peter Obi,acknowledged the allegation ofmassive corruption among thepolitical class, and said it wastime for Nigerians to go aftercorrupt politicians.

Edo community protests encroachmenton their communal land" by OilNewcross Petroleum CompanyLimited.

In a petition through theirlawyers, Messrs Omo-Osagie andCo. to Assistant Inspector Generalof Police, AIG, Zone 5, thecommunity warned againstpossible threat to peace in the areaif the continuing acts of the oilcompany to forcibly enter intoand dispossess them of theircommunal land are not stoppedforthwith.

They recalled that on the 27thof August, 2012, the companybrought a team of workmen,policemen from the Delta PoliceCommand, one of its CommunityRelations Officers, along withvehicles and two into IwevboQuarters of Obagie-Nunuamepreparatory to commencingwork.

The action of the oil company,they said, is a violation of a courtorder issued by a Federal HighCourt sitting in Benin City in Suit

Obagie-Nunuame, oil andgas community inOrhionmwon local

government area of Edo state arefighting an ongoing battle to putan end to what they termed as'illegal encroachment on theircommunal land' by Oil NewcrossPetroleum Company Limited.

The leaders of the communityequally tasked the FederalGovernment to persuadeInspector General of Police tourgently intervene into what ittermed as "illegal encroachment

No. FHC/B/CS/225/2010between Pa IguagbonwenEgharevba and Others vs. TotalE and P Nigeria Limited andOthers which admonished allparties to maintain the status quoduring the pendency of the suit.

"There is now a palpable fearand apprehension in ObagieNunuame community, and ifthis situation is not quicklyaddressed, it could get out ofcontrol. Our clients have beenpushed to the wall and are

increasingly being left with noother option but to protect anddefend themselves against thethreat of violent attacks from thethugs and hoodlums who nowroam their community. If JohnPalmer, New Cross PetroleumLimited are not restrainedforthwith from their acts oflawlessness, it shall becomeincreasingly difficult to restrainthe youths of the communityfrom taking the law into theirhands".

From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

Nasarawa to open up rural areas for tourism

Governor Umaru Tanko Al-makura of Nasarawastate has said his

administration would open uprural areas across the state byconstructing roads in order toattract tourists and facilitateeasy transportation.

The governor made thedeclaration in Tungan Nupawa,Lafia East development area,shortly after delivering a highpowered boat, which hepersonally donated to the state

fortunes of the state, stressingthat tourism is one such venturethat if properly harnessed, hasthe potential to transform thestate.

He said it is a part of the focusof his administration afterproviding infrastructure andsocial development to also boosttourism, saying that informedhis visit to Tunga, with a view toutilise the inherent potential ofthe river that used to be a meansof transportation to places as faras Ibi in Taraba, as well asMakurdi in Benue.

and which was shipped from theUnited States-based Taal Resorts.

Al-makura while lamentingthe neglect of the rural areas,announced that work would sooncommence on the Assakio-Tungaroad, leading to the River Tunga,where he said a tourist spot and afish farm will be established.

Recollecting with nostalgiawhen as a young man in the 80s,he visited the area in company offriends for picnics, the governorstated that it has becomenecessary to exploit all avenuesthat will boost the dwindling

From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia

Oyerinde: Suspect gets bail

Human rights activist,Rev. David Ugolor, heldin connection to alleged

murder of the principalprivate secretary of Edo stategovernor, Mr. OlaitanOyerinde, was yesterdayadmitted to bail by Benin HighCourt, Criminal Division 1presided over by Justice PhilipImoedemhe.

The accused who wasearlier arraigned andremanded in prison custody bythe Oredo Chief MagistrateCourt sitting in Benin City on31stAugust, this year,alongside nine other suspects,was granted bail in the sum ofN1 million, a surety withlanded property in Benin Citywith two recent passports.

The summons to admit tobail sought by the counsel tothe accused, Olayiwola Afolabiand two others who relied onSection 118 (2) of the CriminalProcedure Law CAP. 49, Vol.

11, laws of former Bendel stateof Nigeria, now applicable toEdo state, argued that theevidences advanced before thecourt by the respondent(Police) were not enough to holdUgolor, hence the Departmentof State Security Service hadestablished a case of robberyand conspiracy.

But the bail application wasvehemently opposed by thestate counsel, Mrs. Adekumbi,who said police are yet tocomplete investigation on themurder case which Ugolor wasfingered.

Delivering his ruling,Justice Philip Imoedemhe heldthat the police have notprovided sufficient evidence,stressing that the statement ofthe first accused, one GarubaUsman Maisameri whereinUgolor's name was mentionedwhich are part of the evidenceadduced by the respondent,were not enough reasons to keepthe accused in perpetualdetention.

From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin


L-R: Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Ado Muhammad,Chairman, Expert Review Committee (ERC), Nigeria, Professor Oyewale Tomori, and Professor Umaru Shehu, during the 24th meeting ofthe ERC on polio eradication and routine immunisation in Nigeria, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

to patients in a facilityadjudged as one of the busiestgovernment hospital in thestate.

“Murtala MuhammadHospital, the largest and busiestGovernment Hospital in thestate has less than 65 Doctorsworking within it and it isestimated that with thecurrent exodus rate, less than40 Doctors will be working inthis facility by the end of theyear”.

The Chairman hinted thatthere is low morale amongdoctors under the employmentof the state Government, addingthat Kano state remained theonly state in the North westregion yet to implementCONMESS despite severalagreement and undertakingwith the medical practitioners.

He pointed out that the

NMA urges Kano to declarestate of emergency on health

The Nigerian MedicalAssociation (NMA) hasurged Kano state

government to declare state ofemergency in the health sectorto halt brain drain in existinggovernment hospitals.

Chairman of the localchapter of NMA, Dr. Shehi AliAbubakar said the sector haswitnessed the disengagement ofover 100 medical doctors in thelast six months, attributing themass exodus of doctors to federalInstitutions and neighbouringstates to the “systemic decay inthe available facilities”.

Dr. Abubakar disclosed thata pediatric ward at MurtalaMuhammad Hospital has beenclosed down due to lack ofmanpower, stressing that atpresent only 65 doctors attend

precarious situation in theexisting state governmentHealth facilities had pilepressured on the Aminu KanoTeaching Hospital originallydesigned for tertiary Institutionas a research based facility nowhandling patients from primaryfacilities.

Dr Abubakar who assuredthe general of public theirreadiness to carry on withservices to humanity, howevercalled on Governor Rabiu MusaKwankwaso to urgently fix theinfrastructure decay and as wellcommence full implementationof CONMESS to health workers.

Effort to reach theCommissioner for Health, Dr.Abubakar Labaran Yusuf tocomment on the issues raised bythe NMA, was not successful ashe was not responding to callsput to his phone line.

From Edwin Olofu, Kano

Rector of the FederalPolytechnic, Offa, KwaraState, Dr. Mufutau

Olatinwo has charged theNational Diploma I (ND I)students preparing for thecompulsory four-month StudentIndustrial Work ExperienceScheme (SIWES) to be goodambassadors of the institution byrepresenting the Polytechnicpositively at their various placesof positing during the schemebilled to start soon.

He gave the advice duringYear 2012 SIWES OrientationLecture Programme organizedby the Liaison Office of theinstitution .

The Rector, who spoke

through the Dean, School ofEnvironmental Studies, BuilderAnthony Otunola, informed thestudents that the scheme was animportant aspect of theircurriculum that should be takenseriously.

He enjoined the students toundergo training in anorganization relevant to theircourse of study and to live aboveboard during the period.

Corroborating the Rector, theIndustrial Trust Fund (ITF) AreaManager in Kwara state, Mrs.Kayode Arotoye, warned them totake the training seriously asfailure to meet up with therequired score would make themrepeat the scheme on their owncost.

She stated that ITF was

established in 1971 with theprimary objectives of promoting,facilitating and encouragingacquisition of knowledgeespecially the practicals.

Also, Mr. Timothy Bankole,who spoke on behalf of SIWESCoordinators in the Polytechnic,urged the students to participateactively in all activities oforganizations they are posted to.

Also, present at theorientation programme were theLiaison Officer, Mr. OlasunkanmiAzeez, representative of theDirectorate of Student Affairs,Mrs. Janet Adetoyi, SIWES AreaAccountant, Mrs. Akpata, Headof Training, Mr. Olodeokuta andMrs. Onigbogi Muraina, SIWESAccountant, from ITF, Ilorinoffice.

Poly Rector counsels SIWES students From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

Jonathan tocommissionJigawaprojects– Lamido

President GoodluckJonathan is expected toperform the official

commissioning ceremony ofthe Jigawa state multi billionNaira State secretariat, newNYSC orientation camp andthe Bamaina School for thetalented situated in the state.

Disclosing this yesterday,Governor Sule Lamido whojust returned from an officialtrip with the President alsostated that the presidentwould also perform the groundbreaking ceremony of thestate’s airport and the FederalUniversity Dutse.

Lamido who said thisduring an inspection tour ofthe projects, assured that theedifices would be ready forcommissioning in the nextthree weeks.

Lamido who looked elatedwith the news, said the HighCourt edifice would be co-commissioned by theformer and current ChiefJustices of the Federation,Dahiru Musdapher andAloma Mukhtar.

According to the governor,execution of the projectsdepicts how dear the state isto him and that it should beseen as a token contributionto its growth anddevelopment.

From Ahmed Abubakar, Dutse

Group laudsminister forbeinggendersensitive

By Joy Baba

Niger, PHCNpartners forpower supply

Niger State Governmenthas reaffirmed itsdetermination to assist

the Power Holding Company ofNigeria (PHCN) towardsimproving power supply in thestate so that businesses will notcollapse.

The Permanent Secretary,Power and Energy under NigerState Ministry of Works andInfrastructural Development,Engr. Yahaya Daudu made thisknown recently at a quarterlystakeholders meeting on powerin the state, saying that themeasure was necessary in viewof the teeming consumersdepending on PHCN for theirsocio-economic activities.

“No responsible governmentwill ignore the power sector beingcatalyst for survival ofbusinesses”.

He said the role of thegovernment as an interventionforce to salvage the sector in itsnumerous challenges ofdistribution, generation andtransmission, would assist inovercoming the erratic poweroutrages and stabilise businessventures.

The Permanent Secretaryfurther vowed that thegovernment would ensurethat both towns and villagesin the state were electrified,adding that ruralelectrification projects wereeither at their various stagesof completion and awaitingcommissioning.

Earlier, Engr. E.J Udoh ofShiroro Hydro Stationdisclosed that a total of249,299.2MWwas generatedand sent to the national grid,while 79,513MW was the totalenergy consumed in July bythe state.

From Iliya Garba, Minna

The West African WomenAssociation (WAWA) hasapplauded the Minister of

Foreign Affairs, AmbassadorOlugbenga Ashiru for ablyrepresenting women in the lastambassadorial nominations inNigeria.

This was contained in apress release signed by theministry’s spokesperson, Mr.Ogbole Amedu Ode.

According to the release,the chairperson, regional bodyof WAWA stated this when sheand members of her team paida courtesy call on the minister.

In his response,Ambassador Ashiru said thatwomen were well representedin the last ambassadorialnomination in linewith President GoodluckJ o n a t h a n ’ s g e n d e requality policy. He promisedthat the Ministry would do itsbest to assist the organisation.


L-R: Niger state Governor, Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu (on wheel), his Deputy, Hon. Ahmed Musa Ibeto, test driving, after the commissioning of ward developmentprojects vehicles, yesterday at the government house, in Minna.

L-R: Deputy General Manager, Research and Development, Nigeria ElectricityRegulatory Commission (NERC), Engineer Chinedum Ukabiala, and Chairman of NERC,Dr. Sam Amadi, during a press briefing on improvement in power supply, yesterday inAbuja. Photo: Justin Imo-owo

R-L: National Woman Leader, Niger Delta Youth Movement, Ambassador MarianOnuosah, decorating the Matron of the movement, Mrs. Merit Gordons Obua, duringthe investiture dinner for the matron, yesterday at the State House, in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

L-R: Executive Secretary, Subsidy Re-Investment Project (SURE-P), Mr Nze Nwankpo,SURE-P Project Director, Dr. Ugo Okoli, and team leader, maternal child health, DrLawrence Ezenwa, during national primary health care development agencyorientation exercise for midwives in south-east, yesterday in Enugu. Photo: NAN

L-R: Zimbabwe Deputy Prime Minister, Mrs Thokozani Khupe, and Vice- PresidentMohammed Namadi Sambo, during the Deputy Prime Minister's visit yesterday tothe state house, in Abuja. Photo: Joe Oroye


Don’t discriminate,cleric urges Christians

The Ondo State Chapter of theLabour Party (LP) at theweekend raised alarm over

series of attempts allegedly by theopposition parties in the state toincite workers of the State-ownedAdekunle Ajasin University,Akungba Akoko and the RufusGiwa Polytechnic, Owo against thestate government.

The LP, in a release issued by

its Publicity Secretary, Mr FemiOkunjemiruwa in Akure notedthat opposition political parties inOndo State had taken “theirmorbid agenda to ‘capture’ Ondopeople and bring them intosecond slavery to the campusesof the higher institutions in thestate”.

He disclosed that there weredesperate moves at disruptingacademic activities in theinstitutions to create the

impression that enough was notdone by the Labour Partygovernment.

According to the LPspokesperson, “the latest in thisgame of fallacies is the two-dayprotest by some staff of AdekunleAjasin University for some non-descript claims which provided thecloak for the selfish agenda of somemisguided politicians who cannotunderstand why universitiesshould be spared the type of

From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos instability spurned by their brandof politics.

“The Labour Party notesthat not only are salaries paidas at when due in theseinstitutions, but that tuitionfees in higher institutions in theother South-west states areseveral notches higher thanthat paid at Adekunle AjasinUniversity and otherinstitutions in the state.

“Whereas students of Adekunle

Ajasin University, for instance,pay tuition fee at less thanN25,000 per annum, theircounterparts in the Southwestregion pay between N150,000 andN400,000. We wonder what theseopposition parties have to offer tohigher education in Ondo Stateother than to charge high schoolfees and totally abolish some ofthese schools as have been done inother South-west states whichthey control”.

LP raises alarm over plans to disrupt peace in Ondo schools

NYSC robbery saga:Journalists demandinvestigation

An assistant priest at St.Mathew Catholic churchAbattoir, Jos, Rev. Fr.

Mathew Danboyi has urgedChristians in Plateau state not todiscriminate in their dealings withother people.

Danboyi, who gave the advicein Jos while delivering a sermonsaid, “all human beings are equal;no one should be placed over andabove others”.

“No matter your status in life,

do not discriminate because thisworld is a circle”, he told thecongregation.

The cleric also urged thefaithfuls to shun nepotism andreligious bigotry, and to show loveto Muslims and other Nigerians “sothat the country could achieve thedesired peace”.

He added that if both Christiansand Muslims put their differencesaside, work together and imbibethe spirit of unity of purpose “the

land of Plateau will experiencemonumental growth anddevelopment”.

“If Christians and Muslims onthe Plateau will jettison the notionof disunity, and come together withthe agenda of love for one another,killing of one another will soon be athing of the past,” he noted.

He said that God did not makea mistake by bringing bothChristians and Muslims togetherto live in the state . (NAN)

The Kogi State governmentwill soon commence therehabilitation of Obajana-

Egbe road once it gets the nod ofthe Federal Road MaintenanceAgency (FERMA) and the FederalMinistry of Works as well as thecollaboration of Obajana Cementfactoy.

Capt Idris Wada made thepledge yesterday while expressingoptimism that the State wouldwitness meaningful physical

development very soon, enjoiningthe people to be patient with thepresent administration.

The governor described Mopaas a cradle of great men and leaderswho have distinguishedthemselves in Nigeria andcommending the people’sdisposition to communal efforts atdevelopment, which were visiblein the provision of schools, marketsand other infrastructure.

Capt Wada commended thedaunting efforts to providewater by the Mopa Welfare

Association as a reflection oftheir self development efforts,added that at a time whenurbanisation and civilisation islosing popularity in Nigeria,Mopa people have remainedunited and peaceful.

In his speech, Chairman,MopaWelfare Association, Elder M.F.Ayenigba, said the Associationwas established to serve as arallying point for unity anddevelopment and called forsupport in achieving communaldevelopment.

From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

Obajana road for construction soon if…-Wada

Following last Thursday'sattack on some youth corpsmembers in Jalingo, Taraba

State, the Young JournalistsForum (JYF) has called on the stategovernment to immediatelyinvestigate the matter and bringthe assailants to book within fourdays.

In a statement signed by itsSecretary, Zacheaus Somorin, JYFstated that the state governor, likehis counterparts within theregion, always paid lip service tothe security of the corps memberssaying the attack would have been

another major national tragedy.Somorin pointed out that the

state, instead of employingteachers, like its counterparts, usecorps members, on a yearly basisto fill the gaps despite being poorlypaid and exposed to danger.

'' It gives credence to the realitythat some parts in North are notsafe to engage youth corpsmembers'', the statement said.

The attackers had reportedlystormed the Family House of theRedeemed Christian CorpersFellowship (RCCF), held the corpsmembers hostage for hours, takingaway laptops and about 24 mobiletelephone sets.

From Yusha’u Alhassan, Jalingo

Communities in the statehave been told to imbibe theconcept of community

development as a fast way ofdeveloping the state.

Kogi state governor, Capt IdrisWada, stated this at the 2012 MopaDay celebration and fund raisingfor the completion of a modernmortuary under construction.

The governor said at a time hisadministration works towardspublic private partnership inproviding infrastructure in thestate, the Mopa Welfare Associationhas taken the lead in community

development.Governor Wada who stressed

his administration's resolve tocomplete the ongoing Mopatownship roads, noted that thetechnical hitches surrounding thecompletion of the contract has beenovercome.

In his speech, Chairman of the2012 Mopa day occasion, Dr SethAbel Maiyekogbon, called forconcerted efforts aimed atresuscitating moribund industriesin the area and appealed to sonsand daughters of the area at homeand in diaspora to seek ways ofreturning home and join in thetask of building the area.


Wada urges citizens toembrace community work

A 13 member delegation ofthe state House ofAssembly headed by the

Speaker, Alhaji Adamu AhmedSarawa departs for Sri-Lanka toattend the 58th CommonwealthParliamentary Association (CPA)Annual Conference 2012 whichopened in Colombo, the country’scapital on Friday.

The entourage which wouldspend seven days in Sri-Lankainclude members representingAuyo, Taura, Hadejia, Gwaram,Miga, Roni, Babura,Guri, Gumel,Kiyawa and Jahun constituencies

as well as the clerk of the House,Alhaji Sabo Wada Ringim.

The Association would givemembers the opportunity to enactlaws that would improve thenorms and culture of the membercountries as well as discuss the ruleof law and human rights, role ofparliaments, conflict resolutionand peace- building, gender-responsive governance, terrorism,and youth unemployment..

A statement by the PublicRelation Officer of the House,Babangida Usman said thedelegation would depart thecountry through LagosInternational airport.

From Ahmed Abubakar, Dutse

13 MPs depart Jigawa formeeting in Sri-Lanka

Oyo state Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi (right), welcoming Minister of Women Affairsand Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina (left), during her visit to the governoryesterday in Ibadan. With them is the state Commissioner for Women Affairs, CommunityDevelopment, Poverty Alleviation and Social Welfare, Mrs. Atinuke Oshunkoya (middle).


Be yourself, and you’ll besomebody- Bliss Carman: Poet

Quote

Money tips on UK tuition costsYou have just seen your son

or daughter off to his or hernew school in the UK.

Expectedly you are excited but asyou exchange experiences withfriends and family, you discoveryour son's/daughter's fees arehigher than some others. But it istoo late and you are not alone.

Investigations show thatNigerian parents hardly give athought to, or engage in schoolsfees comparisons whilesearching for a UK school fortheir children.

For some, it is the fact thatthey do not know that whilequality or standard may bewithin a short band, tuition feeson the other hand can vary. Andnever measure the standard your

child will eventually receive bythe amount you are being chargedas tuition.

Tuition fees in UK schools arerising ahead of the rate of inflationthis year, so it would do you a lot ofgood to seek ways of making somesavings.

Typically, tuition fees willrange from £8,500-£11,500 for anA-level term and there are schoolsat the lower end of the bankdelivering splendid teaching andwith a great A Level pass rate aswell.

So, assume you are paying£1,000 more per term. At N260per pound sterling, you will wasteaway some £6,000 or N1,560,000for a two year A level course.

So, when you go searching for

a UK school, make sure your choiceschool passes the tuition test, andtwo things to keep in your mind.One, tuition fees can varyconsiderably from school to school,even among those in the samelocalities.

Two, don't be fooled. Standardsor the likely grades your childrenwill end up with are nevermeasured by the size of the tuitionfees.

Even if you are rich, there aremore efficient ways of spendingyour money. Firstly, you can savethe £6,000 towards universitycosts for your child.

You can pass it on to charityand if you insist on giving it to theschool, there are better ways ofdoing this.

CloseoutExplosion.com, aNew York wholesaleclothing business that

exports brand name clothing,shoes, and handbags to Africa,including Nigeria, has publisheda report on how to use Facebook tosell clothing in Nigeria.

The ideas in the report can alsobe used by other African basedretailers to sell wholesale clothing,shoes, and handbags to theircustomers. Facebook has millionsof users either located in Africa, ormembers who are originally fromAfrica, including Nigeria, that livein other countries such as theUnited States and the UK.

The report contains practicaland innovative ideas for usingFacebook to advertise wholesaleproducts to a member's friends, andto other potential retail andwholesale buyers. Facebookmarketing is now used by manyinternational businesses to bothconnect and develop relationshipswith their customers.

Because there are options forpromoting a business for free onFacebook, the social online websiteis suitable for Nigerianentrepreneurs just starting out,and for established boutiqueslocated as far as Lagos and Abujato stay in front of their shopperswhen they decide to make theirbuying decisions.

"As a business that focuses onthe wholesale to Nigeria market, Istay on top of various marketingplatforms. I have found Facebookto be an effective method forreaching Nigerian customers thatare looking to buy wholesaleproducts from the United States.

The report will be updated toreflect new information that canhelp resellers in Nigeria use thesocial media giant to grow theirretail and wholesale businesses,"said Donny Lowy, who has a NewYork wholesale dress and suit

warehouse with many Nigerianrepeat wholesale buyers.

For example, a Nigerianfashion designer exhibiting at theNigeria Fashion Show can useFacebook to set up a page whereshe can update pictures of herdesigns for customers that cannotvisit the the show. A Nigerianboutique that sells wholesale worksuits to bankers in Lagos can use itspage to update its "friends" when itreceives a new shipment from itsAmerican wholesale suit supplier.

Facebook also has a pay per clickand pay per impressionadvertising option through whicha Nigerian business can sendpotential customers directly to itswebsite. This feature can be usedby everyone from independentkiosks in downtown Lagos toshopping malls in Abuja to dressshops in Port Harcourt.

Whether a Nigerian selects touse the free Facebook advertisingoption, or the PPC option, CloseoutExplosion Inc presents ideas that areuseful. Social media advertisingand general Internet advertisingcan be very effective, which is whyDonny Lowy has published hisFacebook advertising tips. Heknows from personal experiencethat online marketing works whichis why he recommends it to hisNigerian customers who are veryInternet savvy.

Another reason whyC l o s e o u t E x p l o s i o n . c o mrecommends utilizing Facebook tosell wholesale merchandise, isbecause especially in a country likeNigeria where relationships areoften based on tribal and socialassociations, it is very importantto be able to display oneself inpublic, so that customers canassociate a real person with thebusiness from which they arebuying their Tahari suits, JonesNew York dresses, and BCBG shoes.

(Source: www.prweb.com)

How to use Facebookto sell wholesalemerchandise in Nigeria

Tips to extend the life of your car (III)5. Go easy when you're

stuckWhen stuck in mud or snow,

don't make the problem worse bydamaging an expensivecomponent. Gently rocking in anattempt to free the car is fine. Butif it looks as though you're reallystuck, don't keep at it. Throwingyour car from forward to reverserepeatedly, as well as spinningtires at high speeds, can generatelots of heat and spell trouble fortransmissions, clutches, anddifferentials. It may be cheaperin the long run to call the towtruck rather than risk big repairbills down the road. It's a good ideato carry a traction aid in thetrunk, such as sand, gravel, orcat litter.

6. Lighten up your keychain

Does your car key share a chain

with a dozen or more other keys?That's a pretty heavy load hangingoff the car key when it's in theignition. The weight, combinedwith bouncing while you drive,can wear out the tumblers insidethe ignition and eventually leadto ignition switch failure.

To add years of service to yourignition switch, purchase alightweight key chain that allowsyou to separate your ignition keyfrom the others. Drive with onlythe ignition key in your ignition. Ifyour ignition key "sticks" when youtry to turn on the car, it's awarning that your ignition switchis about to fail. Replace it before youget stranded.

7. Choose a good car insurerSometimes, no matter how

careful you are, disasterinevitably strikes - typically in theform of an accident. Make sure thatyour car will be repaired to the bestpossible standard by finding aninsurer that will pay for parts fromthe original manufacturer andguarantee the repairs itauthorizes.

8. Keep an auto logKeep a pad and pencil in the

glove compartment and use themto record your gas fill-ups andmileage. If you notice that your gasmileage worsens, mention it toyour service man. It may be anearly warning sign thatsomething is wrong with your car.

9. Preserve your car duringlong-term storage

If you are not going to use yourcar for more than a month, store itproperly to prevent unnecessarydamage and repairs upon yourreturn.

10. Park in the shade"Of course, a garage is always

the ideal place to park your car.But if one isn't available, minimizeinterior damage from UV sunlightand heat by always trying to parkyour car in the shade. If no shade isavailable or if you find parkingunder a tree results in birddroppings, use a car shade tominimize the sun's impact. As abonus, you'll have a cooler car tostep into on hot sunny days.

Concluded


Lagos’ new traffic controllegislation

Lagos state Governor,Babatunde Raji Fashola, lastweek signed the Lagos Road

Traffic Bill into law. He explained itwas in a bid to ensure safety andorderly flow of traffic in the state. Healarmed the people with horrificstatistics to underscore upward risein accident rates resulting in injuriesand deaths.

The new law spells out a numberof actions taken by motorists thatconstitute offences and thesanctions that follow them. Thesecould be fines or imprisonment orboth. For instance, articulatedvehicles or trailers (apart from fueltankers and long buses) areprohibited from plying the roadsbetween 6 a.m. and 9.00 p.m.Commercial motorcycle operatorsare not to use major trunk roadssuch as Ikorodu, Oshodi-IyanaIpaja, Lagos-Badagry and Lekki-EpeExpress, Funsho Williams Avenue aswell as Apapa-Oshodi Express.

The law also bars motoristsmaking phone calls, eating, countmoney or any other act that iscapable of distracting them whiledriving. Pedestrians are restricted tousing pedestrian overhead bridges;this effectively makes crossing of theexpressway an offence.Violation ofthese laws attracts sanctions,ranging from N30, 000 to N50, 000fines to imprisonment of up to threeyears. There is a strong possibility ofthe offender forfeiting his vehicle tothe government.

“it is doubtful if theexisting infrastructure in

the state would beadequate to provide back-up to the new law. Prisons

in the state are alreadyoverpopulated; the slow

pace of prosecution will beanother cog in the wheel

of the new legislation

There have been mixed reactions tothe law. While some see it as being“draconian”, many others havebecome resigned to welcoming it, ifindeed it will be the solution to Lagos’notorious traffic logjam. There is,however, a consensus on theharshness of the maximum three-yearprison term.

We at Peoples Daily believe that thegovernment means well with thispiece of legislation. Anybody, whetherNigerian or foreigner, familiar withthe gridlock on Lagos streets whereyou sit in a vehicle for hours insweltering heat, will readily welcomeany strategy at all that will facilitatethe smooth flow of traffic , bothhuman and vehicular. The status of

Lagos as a mega city does underlinethe need people to move freely,whether they are out for business orpersonal activity.

It doesn’t take an oracle to tellthose responsible for this problem:illiterate molue (commuter bus)drivers and ubiquitousmotorcyclists. To be sure, apart fromtheir nuisance value, the latter servealso serve a utilitarian purpose –taking people to destinations thatbuses and taxi-cabs cannot go.

Our reservation about the new lawis the sincerity of the Lagos stategovernment; instead, it is what itsofficials who will implement will doon the road. This, we mean officials ofthe Lagos state TransportManagement Agency (LASTMA)notorious for their highhandednessand extortionist conduct. Also, it isdoubtful if the existing infrastructurein the state would be adequate toprovide back-up to the new law.Prisons in the state are alreadyoverpopulated; the slow pace ofprosecution will be another cog in thewheel of the new legislation.

We urge the government to takequick measures to address theseconcerns before setting in motionthe machinery for theimplementation of the law. One ofsuch measures should beconsultation with all stakeholderson how best to proceed. Residents ofLagos need to be assured that thosewho are law-abiding have no causefor anxiety.

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EDITEDITEDITEDITEDITORIALORIALORIALORIALORIAL


My heart bled profuselywhen I read thismorning that Boko

Haram militants burnt downGwange 3 primary school inMaiduguri , Borno State . Myheart bled because I still find itdifficult to believe that thisterrible crime against humanitywill be committed in the 21st

century. It shows the level theseguys have sunk into-thebottomless pit, the point of noreturn and the land of the dead.

The CBN Governor, AlhajiLamido Sanusi, tells us thatBoko Haram came into beingin the North because of povertybut here are these elementsvery busy destroying the basicfoundation and the bridge to getout of poverty. This is comingat a time when the whole worldhas discovered that the gapbetween education anddevelopment is a closed one.Without knowing it the BokoHaram militants are busytelling the world that theyshould be forgotten and left to

rotten. 1969 NigerianEducational Research Counciltitled A Philosophy forNigerian Education states thatprimary Education should serveto help the child realize his fullpotential; help him to relate toothers in an atmosphere ofmutual understanding;promote effective citizenshipthrough civic responsibility;promote self and nationaleconomic efficiency; facilitatenational consciousness in thearea of national unity andsurvival; promote social andpolitical awakening; and reatescientific and technologicalawareness.

There are also goalsconsidered appropriate forNigerian secondary schools anduniversities which time andspace will not permit me to recallhere. It may sound foolish andmere waste of time in the 21st

century to try to educate theNorthern Boko Haram on themeaning of education but let mebe foolish here if I can to convinceeven one Boko Haram memberto stop this brigandage.

Socrates says “The aim ofeducation is to dispel errorand discover truth” HerbertSpenser says “To prepare us fora complete living is thefunction which education hasto discharge” while John HenryPestalozzi says “Educationmeans a natural, progressiveand systematic developmentof all the powers”

When the North launchedthe battle to resolve the BokoHaram criminality recentlywith 41 wise-men committee, Iheaved a sigh of relief that we

Why on earth would anybody burn down a school?By Joe Igbokwe

The Ethiopian tale can betterbe told by Ethiopiansthemselves, partially or

impartially, depending on theside of the divide the story-tellerbelongs. But as observers andanalysts we can as well tell thestory to the best of our knowledgewith the objectivity it deserves.

Ethiopia is a unique countryin many ways: history, culture,language, religion and people.The late Emperor Haile Selassiewas in power in 1935 the Italiandictator Benito Mussoliniordered his forces to invade theEthiopian territory. Theinvasion succeeded in the longrun after the Ethiopian armyput up a heroic fight losingthousands of men in the processand forcing the Emperor intoinvoluntary exile. However, theItalians were rattled in 1941when the Ethiopian forces aidedstrategically and militarily bythe Allied forces defeated themwith the exiled Emperorreturning to his city and to histhrone. Emboldened by theirtriumph over the colonialistforces Ethiopia annexed theformer Italian colony of Eritrea.

Due mainly to old age andeconomic problems a civil unrestbegan in the 70’s, and followingthe civil discontent the agingEmperor Selassie was removedfrom his position. And to governthe country a provisionaladministrative council ofsoldiers, known as the “Derg”(committee) which was socialistin name and military in styleseized power. Then Lt. Col.Mengistu Haile-Mariam becameHead of State and Chairman ofthe “Derg” after eliminating twoof his predecessors. Mengistu, aMarxist, became an autocratand began the militarization of

the country with solid militarybacking of the defunct USSR andCuba sidelining America. But thedictator was challenged by anarmed rebellion by landowners,the royalists, and the nobility.Eritrea was home to thedissidents.

As Mengistu tried to rule amidgeneralised insurrectionsdroughts and famine affectedmillions of people leaving closeto a million dead! And in 1989,the Tigrayan Peoples’ LiberationFront (TPLF) merged with otherethnically-based oppositionmovements to form theEthiopian Peoples’Revolutionary Democratic Front(EPRDF). In May 1991, EPRDFforces advanced on Addis Ababa.The dictator was forced to fleethe country to asylum inZimbabwe, where he still residestoday. With President RobertMugabe still in power in HarareMengistu cannot be afraid ofjustice placing him where heought to be: behind bars!

Enter Meles Zenawi!Following the fall of the “Derg”in 1991 Eritrea separated fromEthiopia. In 1994 a newconstitution was written thatformed a bicameral legislatureand a judicial system ofgovernment. An election washeld in May 1995 in which MelesZenawi was elected the PrimeMinister and Negasso Gidada waselected President.

Meles the maverick, Zenawithe charismatic former rebelleader turned democrat, MelesZenawi the Ethiopian strongmanis no more! He has gone to thegreat beyond at 57! Meles waspronounced dead in a Belgianhospital where he went for amedical treatment for anundisclosed ailment. He wasburied last Sunday amidwailings and spontaneous show

of love by his people. PresidentGoodluck Jonathan (decked inhis famous ‘resource control’Ijaw hat) was among worldleaders (including the wantedwar criminal from SudanPresident Omar el-Bashir) thatattended the funeral to pay theirlast respect to a man reputed forhis fearlessness, candour andreforms. The US, a strategic allyof the fallen leader, sent her UNAmbassador Susan Rice.

When we talk about thedeceased Ethiopian PrimeMinister we remember otherAfrican remarkable rebels;rebels with a cause: GuillaumeSoro of Cote d’Ivoire, late JonasSavimbi of Angola, late ‘Ikemba’Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu ofNigeria, late John Garang ofSudan and Charles Taylor ofLiberia. These are (were)dedicated rebels whose rebellionbrought about change ordestruction to their variouscountries. We recognize themhere because to wage a rebellionagainst any incumbentestablishment in any country isnot for the faint-hearted! Somehad died trying to bring aboutchange as they deemed itinevitable or necessary.

This year alone four Africanleaders had died ‘suddenly’ aftersome brief illness: Malam BacaiSanha (Guinea Bissau), Binguwa Mutharika (Malawi), JohnAtta-Mills (Ghana). Zenawi diedof some ‘infection’ that took himaway from Africa to a Belgianhospital; when he failed to attendthe AU summit in his countryand capital city some weeksback tongues started wagging asto his state of health given thehyper-prime-ministership hesuperintended.

Zenawi would beremembered by both Ethiopiansand other Africans and non-

Africans alike for his strongviews and convictions. He wouldbe remembered for the reformshe brought about in his country.He would be remembered for thewar he waged with Eritrea, abreak-away country led by hisformer comrade and fellow rebel,President Isaias Afewerki. Hewould be remembered for histoughness against islamicterrorist groups and gangs.Americans would not forget thelate PM’s indefatigablecontribution to the global waragainst terror. Meles played hispart, his role with manifestdignity whileu n c o m p r o m i s i n g l ymaintaining the sovereignty ofhis old country. We shall all misshim!

Deputy Prime MinisterHailemariam Desalegn (47) hasbeen sworn in as acting primeminister by parliament. Like inGhana and Malawi thetransition was handled withdignity and in accordance withthe constitution whoseimmutability remains acardinal principle in anymodern democracy. With whatwe have seen thus far in Accra,Lilongwe and now Addis Ababathe African democraticexperiment bears certain roomfor hope and improvement.

The international humanrights groups had in varioustimes criticized Meles’ handlingof dissent at home. After thedisputed 2005 polls in which hewas re-elected the security forceskilled some protesters androunded up numerous oppositionleaders. Besides, severalopponents and journalists werearrested under a 2009 anti-terrorism law. For someEthiopians the late Zenawi wasa tyrant who tolerated little orno opposition and the West looked

The Ethiopian tale of visionary leadershipBy SOC Okenwa

will soon see light at the dark endof the tunnel. I still believe so andI pray that they will succeed tosave what needs to be saved ofthe North. Wise people say thatwhen schools are built, theprison gates are closed. Thosewho destroy schools should goand build more prisons.Northern leaders have a choiceto make here.

I repeat once again that whenthere is a problem to be solved,the man who proffers solution tothe problem becomes the leader.We are waiting patiently to see

the other way hypocriticallywhenever he unleashed hisforces against the opposition. Butto others he remained a nationalhero who dreamt about change.

Ethiopia, despite beingstatistically one of the poorestcountries in sub-Saharan Africa,boasts one of the best-managednational airlines in Africa, ET. Iremember taking an ET Lagos-bound flight in December 2004.The air hostesses were elegantand stunning in their naturalbeauty! We were taken good careof but because it was somehowan emergency home-coming dueto an impromptu appendicitisattack I was unable to taste, eator drink anything aboard. Andin Lagos the appendix wasremoved from my abdominalsystem same evening in anurgent surgical operation.

Good night Meles! Sleep wellin the natural state you came in!This is wishing your soul a safereturn journey to your Maker,and your body to dust! Life goeson in Ethiopia as it has continuedin Ghana post-Atta-Mills, inMalawi post-Mutharika and inGuinea Bissau post-Sanha.Despite controlling andcommanding a strong nationalwar-weary Army and men andwomen for years (discountingthe gold and silver he possessed)as an over-bearing but effectiveleader PM Zenawi still kicked thebucket thus givingincontrovertible credit to themortality status of all livingthings.

If the surviving Africanleaders and rulers could learn alesson or two from the Zenawireformist pedigree and above all,his dust-to-dust mortalexperience, Africa would becomea much better place.

SOC Okenwa can bereached on ...

“When the North launched the battle toresolve the Boko Haram criminality recently

with 41 wise-men committee, I heaved asigh of relief that we will soon see light at thedark end of the tunnel. I still believe so and I

pray that they will succeed to save whatneeds to be saved of the North

the new leaders in the North whowill call these criminals to order.The Northern Nigeria as it istoday is finished, desolate, downand out. Northern Nigeria hasnot only become anembarrassment to Nigeria , ithas become an embarrassmentto Africa and the world.

Northern Nigeria hasbecome a land where all thedevils in the world have madetheir homeland. It is now a landthat devours its inhabitants, theland of blood suckers, a killingfield, a land where life is nasty,brutish and short, the Island ofPatmos , a no man’s land, theland of the dead, the haven wherecriminals speak for decent menand women.

Blind men can never be theAnya Ndi-Ugwu ji ahu uzo.Crippled men cannot be theAkwa-Akwulu Ndi-Ugwu.Deaf and dumb men can neverbe the Okwuluoha Ndi-Ugwu.Mad men can never be theAgbawodikeizu or EbubedikeNdi-Ugwu.

Joe Igbokwe resides inLagos


Air crashes, weekends and sacrificial circlesPeoples Daily welcomes your letters, opinion articles, text

messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All writtencontributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters - 150words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your name anda 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: let [email protected]

SMS: 07037756364

WRITE TO USBy Femi Fani-Kayode

Every single major aircrash in Nigeria in thelast 10 years has taken

place on a weekend. EAS Airlinecrashed in Kano on June 4th2002 resulting in the loss of 77souls. This took place on aweekend. Bellview Airlinescrashed in Lisa village just outsideLagos on 22october 2005resulting in the loss of 117 souls.This took place on a weekend.Sosolisso Airline crashed in PortHarcourt on 10 December 2005resulting in the loss of 108 souls.This took place on a weekend.ADC crashed in Abuja on 29thOct. 2006 resulting in the loss of105 souls. This took place on aweekend.

A Nigerian military planecrashed in Oko village, Benuestate on Sept. 17 2006 with theloss of 15 Generals of the NigerianArmy. This took place on aweekend. Wings Aviation Airlinecrashed on March 15th 2008 in

Cross River state with the loss of 3souls. This took place on a weekend.In 2009 and 2010 there were aseries of small light aircraftcrashes, an Air Force jet crash andhelicopter crashes in Kano, Lagosand Kaduna that took place eachresulting in the loss of life. Theymostly took place on a weekend.

An OAS Helicopter crashed in

Ife Odan in Osun state on 29thJuly 2011 resulting in the loss ofthree lives. This took place on aweekend.

On June 2nd 2012 A Nigeriancargo plane shot off the runwayinto the highway behind Accra’sKotoko International Airportresulting in the deaths of 10Ghanaian souls that were driving

past the airport in a bus. This tookplace on a weekend. The followingday on June 3rd 2012 Dana Aircrashed into a residential area inthe suburbs of Lagos resulting inthe loss of 176 souls. This tookplace on a weekend.

Curiously the Dana crash ofJune 3rd 2012 took place exactly10 years and one month (less oneday) after the EAS crash of 3rdMay 2002 took place. Thisclearly represents the end of a 10

On June 3rd 2012 at about4 pm I got a BB message,that a plane came down

in a residential area somewherewithin a Lagos suburb, I initiallydismissed it as another of theusual silly BB messages,especially as our dear NTA wasbusy showing us the wonders ofcassava bread and how the vicepresident loves to wash downthe bread with water from somemiserable borehole. But try as Idid to ignore the message, mysoul was troubled and I had tocall a few people and it wasfinally confirmed that oneaircraft actually came downand after about an hour offrantic calls, I got pictures andmessages confirming the crashof Dana Air MD 83 with 153souls on board and yet to bedetermined number of peoplewho perished while sitting inthe homes, some have neverbeen to an airport in their lives,let alone enter an airplane.

So began the horse tradingand denials, anger, grieve etc Iwill not bother you with thehistory, health or otherwise ofthe ill fated aircraft, much hasalready been written aboutthat, what I want to do is bringto your attention salient issuesthat have been ignored in thecacophony and outrightmisinformation being peddledby officials of the ministry ofaviation and Dana Air.

Firstly experts all agreedthat the two engines of anaircraft should not fail at thesame time, especially since it hasbeen claimed that the aircraftwas in a good condition. Theonly reason that can be adducedfor a double engine failure isproblem associated toadulterated fuel. I have beenreliably informed that throughan informal arrangement, SPGis the main supplier of aviation

fuel to local carriers who wish toremain in the good books of theminister for aviation. Findingfrom NTSB also prove that thetwo engines can only fail at thesame time if the fuel isadulterated or of low quality.Nigerians, draw your ownconclusions.

Since 2002 we have had seriesof air crashes and if you start tocount from the Sky power of Jan5 2000 until the wing aviationcrash of 2008, with six people onboard and the plane was notfound until about 6 months later,the number of people that diedamount to 600, while thenumber of people that diedbetween 2008 and 2012 was200. So between 2002 (EAScrash) and 2012 (Dana crash),800 people have died in the air.This number does not includethose that died in the Skypowercrash of 2000. There seems to bea spiritual dimension to it, but Iwill keep that for another day,what is peculiar about all thesecrashes is that we have been fedwith lies, fake reports anddeafening silence of complicity byNigerian officials.

During the senate committeesitting that probed the Borisadeand Fani-Kayode’s tenure onaviation, some interesting thingswere made public. It became apublic knowledge that all of theprevious air crash reports hadbeen doctored and the onlyauthentic report, usually carriedout by NTSB (NationalTransportation Safety Board)were never made public. It wasrevealed that both the Sosolisoand ADC crashes were avoidablecrashes, while the Bellview planehad a bomb on it. (Let thepresidency disprove me and bringout the NTSB report on Bellview).

Also note that Femi FaniKayode upon his appointment asthe Aviation minister,discovered these problems of fake,doctored and inadequate reports

on air accidents and that waswhy he created AccidentInvestigation Bureau, AIB, anindependent accidentinvestigation board, headed byOduselu. This body had a directreporting line to the presidencyand the minister of aviation;therefore the NCAA cannottamper with nor interfere withtheir job. But curiously, Oduselu,the head of the AIB was relievedof his duty six months before theill fated Dana crash, while theAIB was completely sidelined inthe investigation of the DANAcrash, the minister; Stella Oduahconstituted a kangaroocommittee to look into the remoteand immediate causes of theaccident. How convenient?

It might also interest you, myreaders, to know that DANA Airagainst all standard practice hasnot paid out compensations tomost families of the bereaved as Iwrite, 3 months after the ill fatedaccident; rather they are incourt, actively conniving withthe Federal Government ofNigeria to stop the coronerinquest into the accident. I amyet to be aware of any other placein the world where an airlinerwill be actively blocking aninquest into the cause of a crash

of one of their aircraft.Stella Oduah recently told us

that in standard best practice,you don’t withdraw anairliner’s license due to accidentsand my investigations agreedwith her submission, but whatshe failed to tell us is that, thoseother countries have an efficientsystem, where officials are notbribed, nor do ministers forceairlines to buy aviation fuelfrom their private companies.Standard best practice allowsparticular airline to continueworking, even after an accidentbecause all their fleet areproperly managed and therecords are made public. But inNigeria where everything isshrouded in mystery, airlinesare normally grounded untilproper checks are conducted andinvestigations are concluded.This was why Sosoliso and ADCwere never allowed to fly againin Nigeria. I therefore found itamusing that madam Oduahsuddenly remembered standardbest practice when the inquestand investigation to Dana crashhasn’t been completed.Standard best practice wouldhave been to pay compensationsto the families of the bereavedon time. I dare Madam Stella

Oduah to make public the NTSBreport if her hands are clean.

Another danger in ouraviation industry is playingpolitics and giving patronage toa few people without regards tothe welfare and safety of themajority. EAS airline was takenover by Jimoh Ibrahim anotherserial undertaker, but was foundto be unsafe and the thenminister of aviation, Femi FaniKayode, withdrew its license andgrounded the airline in 2007. Isit not curious that the sameJimoh Ibrahim was suddenlyallowed, by the current regime,to take over the national carrier,Virgin Nigeria, later re-brandedas Air Nigeria? We are allwitnesses to the damage Mr.Ibrahim has wrought on thatcarrier in just a few years of histake over. How else do you defineincompetence, unpatrioticselfishness, greed and officialwickedness?

There have been too manycrashes in Nigeria, involvingsmall planes like bigger airlinersand we wonder what ishappening. But it is very clearthat Nigerian officials are asculpable as hell in all theseproblems. some people haveeven claimed that it is deliberatebloodletting by some powerfulpeople, this I can’t confirm thatbut what I can confirm is thatmost air accident reports aredoctored and the NTSB reports,usually carried out byAmericans, are neverimplemented because they oftenimplicate powerful people. Myadvice to air traveller is to prayand ask God for protection andavoid travelling on Saturdaysand Sundays as much as youcan. The pattern of majoraccidents from ADC, Sosoliso,Dana etc, has shown that thereis a greater risk of an air crashon a weekend than on a weekday.

Abayomi Oyalowo is onTwitter@Ayourb

DANA Air: The good, bad and uglyBy Abayomi Oyalowo

year sacrificial cycle. Anothercurious fact is that there had beenan earlier ADC Airline plane crashon 7th November 1996 in which142 souls had perished. Exactly10 years (less 9 days) later, on29th Oct 2006, another ADCAirline plane crashed again withthe loss of 105 souls. This againrepresents the end of a ten yearsacrificial cycle.

Femi Fani-Kayode is aformer aviation minister.

“Curiously the Dana crash of June 3rd 2012 took placeexactly 10 years and one month (less one day) after the EAScrash of 3rd May 2002 took place. This clearly represents theend of a 10 year sacrificial cycle. Another curious fact is thatthere had been an earlier ADC Airline plane crash on 7th

November 1996 in which 142 souls had perished. Exactly 10years (less 9 days) later, on 29th Oct 2006, another ADC

Airline plane crashed again with the loss of 105 souls

“Another danger in our aviation industry isplaying politics and giving patronage to a few

people without regards to the welfare andsafety of the majority. EAS airline was taken

over by Jimoh Ibrahim another serialundertaker, but was found to be unsafe and

the then minister of aviation, Femi FaniKayode, withdrew its license and grounded

the airline in 2007


As heinous, scatterbrained,and morally bankrupt asMuammar Gaddafi was, it

is hard to believe a life so awashwith megalomania hadunexplainable spurts ofillumination. While the “UnitedStates of Africa,” as proposed bythe former Libyan leader wasoverly ambitious andimpractical, the spirit behind theintent underscores a strongundercurrent that’s so far keptAfrica the poorest and mostunderdeveloped place on ourplanet. It is indeed true: A housedivided against itself cannot andshould not stand.

The concept of African unionis one that has stayed with us fora while now. From Haile Selassieof Ethiopia to Kwame Nkrumahof Ghana to Gamal Abdel Nasserof Egypt, the call for African statesto consolidate both sociopoliticaland economic assets andliabilities has been a gospel thathas endured generations. FromBob Marley to Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, the proposition that Africa’sprogress is inextricably linked toa united front has energizedmany-a-tuneful ballads.

Yet, if there’s anything we asa people have failed soconvincedly at, leaders andcitizens, it is this attempt at union.

In decades past, we created theOrganization of African Unity(OAU); an institution thatbecame so inept and inadequateat resolving many continentalissues that it behooved Gaddafi, aleader not renowned for hisingenuity, to save our collective

reasoning. At which point, uponcompletion of the Lomé Summitin 2000, we set course to scrap thefloundering excuse of aninstitution and rewrote the courseof our unity. The African Union(AU) was born the subsequentyear: new sets of rules, new vision,new structures.

It’s been over a decade since wecharted this new course, but oldhabits prove hard to shake. Wehave seen an institution unable tobring an end to mass murders inDarfur and the Nuba Mountains,stop Joseph Kony and his Lord’sResistance Army from ravagingour collective consciousness withacts even the Devil dare not speakof, decapitating poverty burningacross the landscape like wildfire,and the impossibility of self-determination for millions ofAfricans shackled underautocratic and repressive regimes.

While it is easy to fault Africanleaders who comprise thisinstitution, I have come to admitthe primary culpability of thecommon African.

It is not uncommon tooverhear in conversationsbetween groups of Africans of howsome deem it anathema to liaisewith peoples of different cultureand creed within the sameborder. Furthermore, what I havefound more particularlydistressful is this egregiousperception among some, sub-Saharan Africans matter-of-factly, that Africans to the north

are somehow geographically of usbut not from us. For me, noargument can be moreperplexing.

The belief that the nation statesof Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt,Algeria and others, byconsequence of their proximity toAsia, are for all intents andpurposes non-African, contributesimmeasurably to the truncationof our mobility via the unityroadmap. And, this belief, in turnfeeds a cycle where some citizensto the north feel a total sense ofdetachment from brothers andsisters below the Sahara. It is of notethat sub-Saharan Africans arequick to claim Pharaohs’ Pyramidsas tribute to Africa’s legacy, yet,find it convenient incontemporary times to dislocatethe region from its place on the

continent.It is a belief riddled with holes

and fallacies. The problems thatbefall North African states are thesame that afflict those below theSahara. Our afflictions andstrengths are not by the longeststretch of the imaginationmutually exclusive. They are,evidently, commondenominators in our daily lives.Before the revolutions of 2011,dictators populated North Africajust as much as they now still doin sub-Saharan Africa. The civilwars that have come to dot theAfrican landscape are not specificto one section of the map; rather,they are equal opportunityemployers. It is unfortunate thatpoverty does not discriminate oroscillate its intensity betweennorth and south; maybe folks

Africa divida campaigning on either side of thedivide might have had anargument.

Our indestructibility isshared. It is the reason for ourresilience in our many centuriesof hardship and challenges. Healthy competition amongAfrican states is important, but anorth side-south side rivalry is ano zero-sum game: it sacrificesbrotherhood on the altar of self-indulgence and pettiness.

It therefore comes as nosurprise that we breedincompetent leaders, who go to theAU Headquarters built by Chinafor Africans in Addis Ababa, andaccomplish no worthwhile unityagenda outside of opulent living,defending one another’s eternaltenure in office, andmasquerading as a collective voicefor peoples they care little about.

By our own complacence, wehave allowed and encouragedWestern entities to subjugate usinto divisions by churning outanecdotes and statistics, often,under such labels as “sub-SaharanAfrica,” as though figures fromthe north are immaterial to awholistic understanding ofAfrica. There’s no denying theprofoundness of certain of ourdifferences, which, are usuallyalong the lines of culture,language, and creed—but whatsiblings in a large family are byforce of nature born with samepreferences and idiosyncrasies? Itis said that a rising tide lifts allboats … for Africa; this tide isunquestionably a strong andcommitted sociopolitical andeconomic union.

Pelumi Olatinpo blogs atwww.RestlessChronicles.com

Nigeria’s EconomicManagement Team ischaired by President

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and itincludes Vice PresidentMohammed Namadi Sambo whoserves as the Vice Chairman.Other members are FinanceMinister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Minister of NationalPlanning, Minister of Trade andInvestment, Minister of Power,Minister of Petroleum Resources,Minister of Agriculture, Ministerof Works, Minister of Education,Minister of Health, Minister ofState, Finance, Minister of State,Health, and Governor, CentralBank of Nigeria.

The team also includes ChiefEconomic Adviser, SpecialAdviser, Monitoring andEvaluation, Director General,Budget, Director General, DebtManagement Office, DirectorGeneral, Bureau for PublicProcurement, Director General,Infrastructure ConcessionRegulatory Commission, Director General, Bureau of PublicEnterprises, Adviser onAgriculture and Governor ofAdamawa state, Adviser onFinance and Governor ofAnambra state, Adviser onEconomy and President, NigerianEconomic Society, Mr. AtedoPeterside, Chairman of theFederal Inland Revenue Service,

Director General, Security &Exchange Commission, President– Manufacturing Association ofNigeria and Africa’s richest man- Aliko Dangote, controversialbanker, Mr. Aigboje AigImoukhuede and oil oligarch,Femi Otedola.

President Jonathaninaugurated the NationalEconomic Management Team(NEMT) with a charge to fast trackthe economic development of thenation. He said “as a governmentwe have made substantial gainsin our objective of accelerating thepace of economic development inour country over a short period oftime; I believe that with theeconomic management team inplace, and with the commitmentof its members, we will be in avantage position to achieve a lotmore”.

He further charged membersof the team to “combine theirindividual strengths, to generateideas and initiatives in line withour goal of transforming everysector of Nigerian life and society,particularly the economy”.

Is it not laughable that aneconomic management team willconsist of oligarchs like AlikoDangote, vulture capitalists likeFemi Otedola, and profiteers likeAig Imoukhuede? What sort ofadvice will they give thePresident? Perhaps, the people canexpect to hear stories of importwaivers, petroleum subsidy

fraud, and the stripping of ournational assets. I am particularlydismayed at the way they all cameout to dismiss citizens’ concern asit relates to the proposed N5000banknote and the coinage of N100,N50, N20, N10, and N5banknotes. Regrettably, PresidentGoodluck Jonathan has allowedbuccaneers and vulture capitaliststo hijack his administration andderail his agenda.

The National EconomicManagement Team in Nigeria issimilar to the Council ofEconomic Advisers (CEA) in theUnited States. It is an agencywithin the Executive Office of thePresident and it advises thePresident of the United States oneconomic policy. It is a misnomerin Nigeria that a similar advisory

body is called a managementteam and peopled byquestionable characters.

It is curious that no memberof academia is part of the so calledNational Economic ManagementTeam. Take the case of the UnitedStates where past and presentmembers of the Council ofEconomic Advisers are renownedeconomists and policy wonks. The current Chairman of theCEA is Alan Krueger and a formerprofessor at Princeton.

Unlike its Nigeriancounterpart, The Americancouncil of Economic Advisers wasestablished by the United StatesEmployment Act of 1946 toprovide US Presidents withpurposeful fiscal analysis andadvice on the growth and

An economic team of oligarchs, profiteersBy Abdulmumin Yinka Ajia

By Pelumi Olatinpo

execution of a wide range ofinternal and global economicpolicy issues. Some of itsinfluential past chairs are: AlanGreenspan and Arthur F. Burns.While influential past membersare: James Tobin and NobelEconomist, Paul Krugman.

It is clear from the foregoing thatits Nigerian version cannot achieveeven a miniscule of the goal thathas been set for it. This is not as aresult of a dearth of qualifiedpersonnel in Nigeria but becausetime and again Nigeria’s electedofficials has shirked theirresponsibility to the Nigerian peopleand have a penchant forconstituting irrelevant committeesand loading such with incompetentindividuals. Take the case of theFederal Capital Territory, dirty,chaotic, and leaderless.

The biggest problem in mypolitical party, the Peoples’Democratic Party lies in itsinability to manage the politicalsuccess that comes out of its abilityto cobble together a winningcoalition. Those of us on the left tocenter of the party will continueto call out the leadership to thisglaring inadequacy. The proposedcurrency restructuring agenda isdead on arrival and posterity willnot be kind to those who are benton mortgaging the future of thenext generation of Nigerians.Abdulmumini Yinka Ajia isreachable [email protected]

“Unlike its Nigerian counterpart, The Americancouncil of Economic Advisers was established by theUnited States Employment Act of 1946 to provide USPresidents with purposeful fiscal analysis and advice

on the growth and execution of a wide range ofinternal and global economic policy issues. Some ofits influential past chairs are: Alan Greenspan and

Arthur F. Burns. While influential past members are:James Tobin and Nobel Economist, Paul Krugman

“It’s been over a decade since we charted this newcourse, but old habits prove hard to shake. We haveseen an institution unable to bring an end to mass

murders in Darfur and the Nuba Mountains, stop JosephKony and his Lord’s Resistance Army from ravaging ourcollective consciousness with acts even the Devil darenot speak of, decapitating poverty burning across thelandscape like wildfire, and the impossibility of self-determination for millions of Africans shackled under

autocratic and repressive regimes


Five months after theChairman of AbujaMunicipal Area Council

(AMAC), Hon. Micah Jibacommissioned the New GarkiFish Market at the Aporesettlement area for traders,99 per cent of the shops in themarket are yet to be occupiedby traders in the area due towhat investigation by PeoplesDaily revealed, is largely dueto the exorbitant rent thecouncil administration isdemanding from pettytraders.

This is as the traders, whoare expected to take up shopallocations in the marketwhich is also intended toaccommodate traders in otherfood items like rice, beans,yams, provisions etc, havestay put on street corners androad corridors in the area,thereby constituting trafficcongestion and littering theareas.

People Daily gathered thatthe administration is givingout the open stalls to pettytraders at N60,000 perannum while the lock-upshops cost N200,000.

When the AMAC chairmanled top officials of the councilto unveil the market, he toldthose present at the ceremonythat the essence of the marketwas to discourage traders inGarki, Apo and Akpajenyacommunities from engagingin street trading and hawkingat unauthorised points in theareas.

However, the aim of theproject, it would appear, hasbeen defeated as traders haverejected the market as a resultof what a few tradersoperating at open spaces in themarket attributed to high costof rent being charged by theAMAC administration.

A visit to the marketyesterday by ourcorrespondent revealed thisshocking reality as all thelock-up shops in the marketremain inhabited whilevirtually all the open stallswere vacant.

A few traders were seenoperating on open space insidethe market, but the marketwas completely dry as it didnot wear the usual hustlingand bustling characteristicstypical of a market.

Investigations by ourcorrespondent revealed thatthe few traders that werefound in the market wherethose who upon thecommissioning of the markethad assumed that it was soonto become a full fledgedmarket like any other marketsin the FCT.

Unfortunately to thecontrary, things are notmoving well as they hadexpected, a development thathas made them to regretleaving the streets were theyhad been operating.

Peoples Daily investigationrevealed that if the situationof the area does not amelioratewithin the shortest period, thefew traders found the marketmay soon jet out back to thestreet as they are seriouslylamenting the effect this hasbeen having on theirbusinesses.

Apparently, frustrated, itwas also gathered that theAMAC chairman has nowtaken it upon himself to visitsome of the traders on thestreet, who were hitherto notgiven allocation in themarket, to woo them in to themarket as the original alloteeshave refused to inhabit it, tono avail.

He was however, able toconvince the chairman of agroup of street traders at ZoneA junction in Apo, Pastor PeterOgoh to move into the market.

Confirming this, Ogoh, whois now, the chairman of theNew Garki Fish Market toldPeoples Daily that “about twoweeks ago, the AMACchairman visited us and spokewith me that he would like usto quit the place we were usingbefore which I was a chairman.So that was how we now came

here”.The restaurant operator

lamented that they arealready facing harassmentsfrom the

Allotees, who havecontinued to invade themarket to threaten them toquit as according to them, thechairman has no right to invitepeople to occupy their shops.

Exorbitant rent: Traders desertNew Garki Fish Market

Further confirming theemptiness of the market hesaid: “I wish the chairman cancome and help us to address thisissue because ever since theycommissioned this marketpeople are not willing to enterbecause they said that theprices of the stalls are too muchso the petty traders cannotafford to pay”.

By Josephine Ella

“If they don’t allow us tosell, how do they think themarket will work? Since I cameto the market, I have not beenable to sell anything but whenI was on the street by this timeI know what I would have sold,”he lamented.

Also lamenting thesituation, the Chairman of theMeat Sellers Association in themarket, Ahmad Yunusa saidthat he relocated to the marketfour months ago after thecommissioning butunfortunately, “those thathave the allocation are notcoming to take their shops”.

Worse of it all is that furtherinvestigation has revealed thatthose that have the shopallocations are people who donot need them as they are saidto be looking for traders theycould sell the shops to at ahigher rate, to have complicatethe issue.

To lend credence to this,Yunusa confirmed this saying,“actually, those that aresupposed to have the shop don’thave them. Those that have theallocation are nowhere to befound. Some people that havethe allocation are selling it, butthe petty traders cannot havethem that is the reason themarket is empty. People do noteven know that we are sellinghere”.

This was as he listed badroad, absence of electricity andwater as some of the challengesthe market is facing.

The traders were allunanimous in the call on theAMAC chairman to find asolution to the issues at hand tosave them the economic losswhich has been taking it tollson them.

“The market is not fastgrowing at all. Sales are verypoor. There are no customersand traders are afraid that ifthey come here they will notsell so they have refused tocome. AMAC should dosomething about this fastbecause it is affecting us,” atraders who simply gave hername as Mrs Agnes said.

When contacted, thecouncillor representingNyanya ward in the AbujaMunicipal Area Council(AMAC), Hon SuleimanMuhammed said that the shopsin Apo resettlement fish marketwere allocated to traders at anaffordable rate, but some of theallotees rented it out at a veryhigh rate.

He said that some of thetraders deserted the market tosell their wares elsewherebecause the area is not wellpopulated, saying that it wasnot the fault of the AMACadministration that shops inthe market which had beenallocated for years andcommissioned for even moremany months now have beendeserted.

Side view of the deserted open stalls at the new Garki fish market at the Apo resettlement area

AMAC Chairman, Hon. Micah Jiba


Naval officers invade workshop,beat mechanic to comaA motor mechanic at Area 1

in Garki, Abuja, SundayFaleh has narrated how a

six-man-gang of Naval officers invaded his workshop and beathim to a state of stupor forconfronting a Naval personnel,who attempted to smoke asubstance suspected to beMarijuana at his workshop.

The Naval official, simplyidentified as Nasiru M was said tohave taken shelter under theshade of the workshop oppositethe Commerce Plaza, two weeksago during a down pour when heattempted to smoke the substance wrapped in a whitepaper.

Trouble started when themechanic, popularly known aspastor told him that he was notpermitted to smoke at theworkshop.

Narrating the incident tojournalists, the victim saidNasiru had approached hisworkshop from the Durumi axisof the road leading to Area 3 Busstop, wearing a light blue shirtand Navy blue trousers smokingas he attempted to take cover inhis workshop that morning ofTuesday 28, August 2012.

Suspecting he was smokingMarijuana, Sunday said hepolitely told him that “we do notallow smoking of Marijuana inthis business premises” andrequested that he should leave theshop, a request Nasiru obliged buthesitated and insisted, statingthat he will not leave until hefinished smoking the bannedsubstance.

An argument was said tohave ensued between Nasiru andSunday, who insisted that theNaval personnel action ofsmoking Marijuana in his shopwould not be condoned by him asit was his place of businesspointing out that it would presenthim in bad light to his customers.

The mechanic told journalists that seeing that Nasiru wasunyielding, consequently, one of his boys at the workshop reachedout and snatched the substance,a move that provoked Nasiruwho descended on the boy beatinghim and daring him to touch himwhile on uniform.

Outrage by the effrontery ofthe boy, Nasiru was said to havetoren the boy’s cloths, aftertearing his own uniform astrategy allegedly deployed byhim to feign being mal-handledby the auto-mechanics and leftthe scene promising that he willcome back, Sunday narrated.

Not certain what wouldfollow after the threat, themechanic said that he reportedthe incident to the Garki PoliceStation where he was advised toabandon his workshop for hissafety.

This was only for the gang toreturn shortly on the“retaliatory and rescue mission”allegedly ordered by the Naval

Taxi operators in theFederal Capital Territory(FCT) have bemoaned the

constant harassment by somehoodlums who paradethemselves as members of thetaxi drivers association.

The Chairman of theassociation under the umbrellaof the Taxi Cab branch in Areaone, Abuja, Mr. Sunday Olamidein an interview said that he hadreceived several calls on dailybasis on the operations of themiscreants parading themselvesas union members.

Olamide called on securityagents to help sanitise someaffected areas such as Jabi, AreaOne, among others.

” Our major challenges isthat some touts are claimingthat they are our members butwe are trying to sanitize them,if law enforcement agents canhelp us ,we will be very gratefulbecause these people arecheating our original members,claiming that they are also ourmembers which is not true,” hesaid.

Speaking on what is requiredof every member who operates ataxi cab in the FCT, Olamideexplained that they will need toregister with the national body, acquire the union sticker andalso their Identity Card.

high command which left himunconscious for a long time.

He said he had left the workshop to attend to hiscustomers for whom he had gonehad to buy a fan belt, only to be attacked by six Naval Ratingsamongst whom was Nasiru, onhis way back to the workshop.

”I was giving the beating ofmy life. They collected the fanbelt and use it along with stick tohit me until I fainted,” Sundaysaid.

When contacted through hismobile phone, one of theaccomplice who would not givehis name on belief that he wasadequately masked behind theSIM 08065909771 which he haduse two days later to inviteSunday to the NavalHeadquarters to make statementand retrieve the phone justifiedtheir action.

Justifying the reprisal attackby the Naval gang of six, the

accomplice of Nasiru toldjournalists that “what evengives him the guts to go and beatup a soldier? It is even a nationalabuse for somebody to beat up asoldier and tear off his shirt,anytime you call me I will beready to come and defendmyself”.

The accomplice maintainedthat the action was strictly arescue mission and “even if I amcalled upon, I will come and tell thetruth”.

Our correspondent who wasamong the journalists that visitedthe workshop, saw the damagesthe gang inflicted on bothwindshield of a white NissanSunny, with Abuja registrationnumber plate AL 181-YAB and theworkshop.

But the Naval high commanddenied any knowledge orinvolvement of its personnel in anysuch reprisal as “nobody has madesuch report to us. And the Nigerian

Navy did not order such reprisal.”Director of Information NavalHeadquarters, Cmdr. Kabir Aliyutold journalists in his office.

“The Nigerian Navy does notcondone any form of indiscipline.Whoever does anything such asthis one is on his own. You havejust informed me and the matterwill be investigated. When weinvestigate and confirm it to betrue such personnel will be dealtwith according to the laws of theNigerian Navy, Aliyu said.

The gang of six Naval Ratingshad seized Sunday’s phone whilehe was unconscious and wentaway with it as they could not takehim with them due to theresistance by the other auto-mechanics at the scene of theassault.

While he was still recoveringfrom the battery he had sufferedfrom the Naval assault team,Sunday told the caller that hewould not be able to oblige thatinvitation as he was still in painsand yet to recover from the assaultthey meted out to him two daysearlier.

Reacting to the allegationslevelled against him, Nasiru M.told journalists that he was onlysmoking cigarettes at workshopand not the suspected bannedsubstance Sunday and hiscolleagues had claimed.

This was as he insisted thatthe Sunday must come to theNaval headquarters to makestatement and collect his phonewhich they had seized.

Abuja taxioperatorsbemoan activitiesof imposters

By Josephine EllaBy Adeola Tukuru

The Federal CapitalTerritory(FCT) WaterBoard has said that the

N852.77 million Abajitreatment plant would treat5,000 cubic metres of waterdaily, when completed.

Director of the Board, MrJibril Ibrahim, said this in Abajiduring a facility tour bymembers of the reconstitutedboard of the organisation.

He said that the contract forthe project, which was awardedin 2011 to CGC Nig. Ltd., wouldsoon be completed.

Also speaking during the tour,the FCT MDG representative, MrAbubakar Pai said theComprehensive Water SupplyScheme for Abaji and itsenvirons was conceived by FCTMDG, FCT Water Board and theAbaji Area Council.

He said the project whencompleted, would providepotable water for Abaji and thesurrounding communities,especially Nuku, Amarati andAjana among others.

Pai said the treatment planthad reached 96 per centcompletion, adding that all thestructures were ready except afew things, including the boosterpump station.(NAN)

‘Abaji treatmentplant to treat5,000 cubic metresof water daily’

“The Nigerian Navy does not condone any form ofindiscipline. Whoever does anything such as thisone is on his own. You have just informed me and

the matter will be investigated. When we investigateand confirm it to be true such personnel will bedealt with according to the laws of the Nigerian

Navy

The victim of Naval personnel asault, Sunday Faleh


1. Young children displayingtheir God’s given talent in apublic function, recently inGarki, Abuja

3. A dry cleaner ironing hisclient’s cloth, in Apo village,Abuja.

2. Young girls hawkingwalnuts, in Area 1, Abuja.

4. A tailor taking his serviceto his clients' doorstep, inNyanya.

Photos: Justin Imo-owo

5. Keke NAPEP driver andfriend sleeping in the tricycle,in Garki, Abuja.1

2

3

4

5


Management Tip of the DayWhy projects work better than interviews

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an hour-long interview?Probably not. No amount ofinterviewing, referencechecking, and psychologicaltesting is a substitute foractually working with a

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candidate on a real project.Next time you’re hiring,consider giving your topcandidates a constrained projectto execute. Ask them to redesigna social media campaign,document a tricky bit of software,edit a keynote presentation, orproduce a webinar. Look at the

Insecurity: Closure of roads killingbusinesses in Kano, says MAN

L-R: Delta state Governor, Chief Emmanuel Uduaghan, Commissioner representing Akwa Ibom state in Revenue Mobilisation, Allocationand Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Senator Ibok Essien, and RMAFC's chairman, MR ELIAS MBAM, during RMACC officials visit on thegovernor, on Monday in Asaba. Photo: NAN

Security measures beingtaken to forestall threatsagainst security formations

in Kano have been described tohave negative impact on tradeand business activities in the citycreating further securitychallenges in the state.

The Vice-President ofManufacturers Association ofNigeria (MAN) in charge ofNorth, Alhaji Ali SafiyanuMadugu made this observationduring an interview with PeoplesDaily in Kano.

Madugu, who stated thatcomplete blocking of some roadsin the city by security operativeswith a view to protect theirformations that are dotted withinresidential and commercial areasof the city has forced manybusinesses to close downcompletely.

The result of this, according tohim, is that most of the businessesaffected have sent many out oftheir jobs which by implicationcreate more and moreunemployed people in the society.

In the last nine months, sincethe January coordinated bombexplosions in the city, he said,many roads remained closedcompletely which seriouslyaffected all the businesses aroundpolice formations as people are notallowed to go near them forwhatever reason.

The industrialist stated that itis evident that such formationsspread across the residential andcommercial areas of the city havebeen the major target of theattackers they have become aburden to people living or doingbusiness around them since theycan no longer live or do businessagain.

He therefore, urgedauthorities concerned to look intothe situation especially peopledoing business around theseformations with a view to allowingthem to come back to their

business and trade positions so asto reduce the level of poverty thathas pervaded the state now.

He added that, if it meansrelocating all the police formationsto the outskirts of the city and taketo patrolling the city till such timethat security improves let it be soand allow trade and businesses tocontinue to thrive.

He explained that he is notsaying that security measuresshouldn’t be taken when andwhere necessary, but that

measures taken especially in someareas of the city at the momentneed to be relaxed or even removedcompletely.

In his response, the actingspokesman to the Kano statePolice Command, ASP MagajiMusa Majia told Peoples Dailythat security measures arerelaxed when and wherenecessary in the city.

The police, he said, haveremoved security check pointsin many areas in the city and

results and decide whichcandidates were able to deliverreal value. This doesn’t justbenefit you as the hiringmanager. Candidates will learnwhat it’s like to really work withyou and your company.Source: Harvard BusinessReview

From Bala Nasir, Kano

No staff killed inNigeria - MTN

Mobile services providerMTN yesterday deniedthat any of its staff had

been killed in attacks ont e l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n sinfrastructure in NorthernNigeria last week.

The South African group‚which has operations across theAfrican continent‚ said it had“noted with great dismay”erroneous information circulatedby some media of the purportedkilling of MTN staff in Nigeria inthe attacks.

“MTN would like to correct thisby stating that ‘No MTN staff waskilled’. We are at a loss as to thesource of this highly erroneousinformation‚” said MTN Groupspokesperson Rich Mkhondo.

He said the damage totelecommunications facilities wasconfined to certain parts ofNorthern Nigeria and “only ourcustomers in those parts mayhave experienced servicedisruptions‚ which are beingquickly resolved”.

NNPClaunches KeroDirect Schemein Kebbi

The Nigeria NationalPetroleum Corporation(NNPC) in charge of Kero

scheme yesterday launched theNNPC Kero Direct Schemeaimed at selling the commoditydirect to the people at theregulated price of N50 per liter.

Speaking to journalistsduring the occasion at the Emirof Gwandu's palace, the NationalCoordinator of the scheme, RtdHon. Barrister Ben ChucksNwosu said that Kebbi state willbenefit a total of 1000 liters ofkerosene, which has beensupplied to state under thescheme.

He said the FederalGovernment scheme was meantto make available the scarcecommodity to the common manand also check desertificationespecially in the North.

According to Nwosu, "Mr.President, in his magnanimity,wants to touch the lives ofcommon Nigerians through thedirect sales of the product at N50per litre and also the programmewas conceived to checkdesertification. Adequatemeasures have been taken toguard against hijacking thecommodity by politicians andblack marketers", he said.

Speaking earlier, thePermanent Secretary in chargeof Ministry of Commerce, Alhaji.Abdullahi Gebe said that thestate government have takenmeasures to ensure prudent saleof the product according to thestipulated price of N50 per literto the every households.

From Ahmed Idris, Birnin Kebbi

that Kano people can testify tothat even as reviews are carriedout on all the existing ones afterwhich some are relaxed or evenremoved from time to time.

He called on the people of thestate to continue to be patientas police don’t just introducesecurity points toinconvenience them but thatthey rely on securityintelligence to adopt thesemeasures wherever they areseen to be imposed.

Two customers of Unity bankare to receive two brand newcars as reward for

participating in the bank’s savingspromotion. The winners willemerge from the second nationaldraw of the savings promotionholding on Saturday, in Lagos.

The event is scheduled to takeplace at Planet OneEntertainment centre,Maryland, Lagos and will bewitnessed by Journalists,customers of the bank, officials ofthe National Lottery Commission,Consumer Protection Council ofNigeria (CPC) and other members

of the public.The first national draw was

held at the Yar’adua Centre inAbuja in July at which a customerof the bank in Maiduguri, Bornostate won the star prize ofHyundai Verna car. Thecustomer has since takenpossession of the car.

According to the Media andExternal CommunicationsManager of the bank, SaniMohammed Zaria, consolationprizes of fridges and generatorswill also be given to otherqualifying participants at thedraw. He disclosed that 3,750savers qualified for the nationaldraw from all the operational areas

of the bank nationwide.He also intimated that Unity

bank has three more cars andother consolation prizes to give outin the course of the savings promoscheduled to end later in themonth.

The three cars will be givenout to winning customers at thegrand finale of the six month longpromotion popularly known asAim, Save and Win.

The bank has also held zonaldraws in the five zones of the banknamely, Lagos & West, Central,North-West, North-East andSouth-South in its bid to bring thereward programme down to thegrassroots.

2 cars up for grabs in Unity bank Save & Win promoBy Abdulwahab Isa


Arik Air

Arik Air and LufthansaTechnik have sealed anew partnership deal

that will maintain the safeoperations and supportfurther growth of theNigerian airline.

During a meeting held atArik Air corporate head officein Lagos last Tuesday, the twoorganisations agreed tostrengthen their partnershipthat was first consummatedabout five years ago.

Under the newpartnership, LufthansaTechnik and Lufthansa Citylinewill continue to providetechnical support to Arik Airin the areas of linemaintenance, basemaintenance, materials andpool parts among others forthe next five years.

Air Nigeria

Air Nigeria terminatedoperations yesterday,citing "staff disloyalty

and environmentalchallenges".

Stranded passengers atLondon Gatwick were told tocontribute extra £40 each forthe purchase of fuel as therewas none left to fly theaircraft. It launched dailyflights between Lagos andGatwick in May, usingA330-200 aircraftconfigured for 295passengers.

The carrier, formerlyVirgin Nigeria, wasestablished in 2004 whenthe Nigerian governmentand Virgin signed an MoU,but Virgin sold its minoritystake two years ago.

China

On Monday, Beijing hasinvited foreign jointventures to bid for

shale gas exploration licencesin a new tender process, amilestone policy change thatwill allow foreign energycompanies to play a greaterrole in developing China’srich potential reserves ofshale gas.

China’s shale gas reservesare estimated to be thelargest in the world,according to the US EnergyInformation Administration,and if they are successfullydeveloped it could radicallyalter energy markets in theworld’s biggest energyconsumer.

The ministry said thatChinese-controlled foreignjoint ventures would beallowed to bid in the tenderprocess, which covers 20shale gas blocks in southernChina.

COMPANYNEWS Distractions can’t stop NAMA from ensuring

safe, secure air navigation in Nigeria – MD

Nigerians and indeed theworld were taken abackwith recent report in

national newspapers thatNAMA has been losing revenuebecause foreign airlines thatusually overfly the nation’sairspace now divert to othercountries due to safetychallenges in the country’sairspace?

A lot of persons, bothprofessionals and nonprofessionals alike, withulterior motives have beencontacting the press for theirself-seeking interests andtaking an uninformed positionas regards the recent Danaplane crash and our airspace,which in recent time receivedthe world acclaimdistinguished SafetySignificant ImprovementAward.

But one of youremployees who lead theNational Union of AirTransport Employees(NUATE) has a statementcredited to him on the issueaffirming the authenticityof the report?

Firstly, it must be statedthat NUATE is a junior staffassociation in NAMA, thougha few members of staff who arein the senior categories are alsomembers of that union. Theycould therefore lackinformation on the workingson developments within theagency. But information onthe efforts the managementhad put in place to addressvarious challenges in Nigerianairspace is always availablefor everybody to check and toask questions where there isany doubt.

NAMA recently concludedthe implementation of thetotal radar coverage ofNigeria’s airspace, which ofcourse provides total radarcoverage for Nigeria;therefore, it is totallyimpossible for any aircraft toenter the Nigerian airspacewithout the knowledge of theAir Traffic Controllers asclaimed. It is impossible andan aberration, not in thesedays and this age will anyaircraft enter our airspacewithout it been captured.Statistics available show thatthe frequency of internationalaircraft movement increasedby 12 .8 % from January toJune, this year.

Secondly, you will alsorecall that the HonourableMinister herself led the team

for the last final Bilateral AirServices Agreement (BASA)negotiation in Dubai, theUnited Arab Emirates, whichhas given rise to the recentapprovals for even Etihadwhich has launched its flightoperation to Nigeria. Revenueby over-fliers as a matter of factincreased by 5 %, resulting in 8%passenger movement over theNigerian airspace. NAMA hasinvested huge resources inproviding adequatecommunication for theNigerian airspace.

What particular areasdid you look into in terms ofthis investment?

This include a total VHFcoverage geared towardsproviding total Very HighFrequency radio coverage forthe airspace which has just beencompleted. This project has beenactivated and it would enhanceredundancy in all the areas ofc o n t r o l l e r / p i l o tcommunication in any part ofthe Nigerian airspace. Thisinfrastructure are verifiable,available and they are tangible.

The agency also recently

concluded her WGS-84PROJECT, World GeodeticsSurvey-84 which will enablefull implementation of thePerformance Based AirNavigation (PBN) system thatmakes it very easy for pilotsto carry out trajectoryapproaches to our airports. Itis a satellite-based systemwhich is where the world ismoving to.

But some alluded to thefact that the securitychallenges in some part ofthe North pose a challengeto installations there?

I can confidently tell youthat in spite of the security andpower challenges in most of ourinstallations, NAMA hascontinued to provide servicesfor the expeditious movementof aircraft flying to and withinour airspace. We know thesituation in Maiduguri; weknow the situation in Yola,Talatan-Mafara, and Numan.The two airports areundergoing installations whilesecurity and power remains achallenge but those serviceshave remained uninterrupted

Against the backdrop of recent media reports that the busy Nigeria airspace hasbeen deserted by foreign airlines as a result of poor communication between thepilots and controller within the airspace, the Managing Director of the NigerianAirspace Management Agency (NAMA), Engineer Mazi Nnamdi Udoh, in thisinterview with our Suleiman Idris, claries on the rumoured story, amongst otherissues. Excerpts:

because we have to employ allthat is available within thecountry in terms of providingsecurity to those sites.

So, if my statistics say that Ihad an increase of 12.8percent, I do not know of anylegitimate reason Air Francewould say it’s avoidingNigerian airspace. The truthremains that Air France goesto Port Harcourt, goes to Abuja,and comes to Lagos and forcrying out loud, it must be fora reason.

One of the news reportsquoted your AssistantStation Manager (ASM) inKano through a memo thatsome of the technicalequipments are indeplorable condition. If ittrue, what have you done inthat respect?

The truth of the matter isthat there was an internalmemo in Kano for an ASM andhis men and don’t forget, thiswas during the installationphase and of course we said thatthis project is at a test run. Ifan internal memo has beenwritten to a manager to informhis men about the status, Iwouldn’t be able to defend himor whoever that thought sucha memo is for publicconsumption because the truthis, as a manager you have tolook after your installation, youhave to look after your projectand at some stages you will sayno, no, no it’s not there yet, it’sthis Direct Broadcast to tuneand I think that is a stagemaybe someone could havewritten a memo and what I sawof course is the head of AirTraffic Services and what is hisresponsibility before he signswhat is called 5x5. We measurefidelity of the radio in strengthof 1, 2 to 5 so, before youachieve 5x5, you have to alignantenna.

I think it’s borne out ofmischief for anybody to do that;I mean if I query my Directorof Finance today that whyhaven’t you paid salaries?, Iwant salaries to be paid, I thinkthat’s the only way to getresult; I want to see to it thatwe need to just inform thepublic that the airspace is supersafe and not worry about whomis witch hunting with aninternal memo as the case maybe.

Above all, our statistics showthat we have about 500movements a day in Nigeriaand that is why we areforecasting growth for 2013-2015. If all the BASAagreement that is waiting iscompleted, Nigerians should beexcited because every othercountry in Africa and beyondis asking for Bilateral AirServices Agreement withNigeria. We have the volumeand we have the people and wehave to merge the economicdemand with our safety.

Engineer Mazi Nnamdi Udoh


Assop Falls

It is located 61 kilometres fromJos-Akwanga road in BarkinLadi Local Government Area

of Plateau state . It is a crowdpulling weekend picnic resortsurrounded by beautiful rocksand trees.

The overlooking viewpoint ofthe falls is also a frequent

location for television soaps, filmand various commercialproductions like T.V adverts,calendars, postcards, posters etc.

Tourist can engage inswimming, rock climbing ,picnicking, etc, in a peacefulnatural and adventurousenvironment. Thatched roundhuts are available for relaxation.Bar services are also available.

Some Tourist destinations across Nigeria

Assop Falls

Riyom Rock, Jos, Plateaustate

This beautiful rockformation is one of thenumerous formations

found in North-Central Nigeriaespecially in Plateau State. TheRiyom rock is one of nature'smost spectacular rockformations, located 25kilometers South-West of Jos,near Riyom town.

Obudu Cattle Ranch

Obudu Cattle Ranch islocated in Cross Riverstate towards the

Nigeria-Cameroon border in theSouth-East. The Ranch is over1,524m, has temperate weathercondition to ensure greenvegetation and grazing of cattleround the year. The Ranch is atourist delight as a result of itsdivergent attractions. There area natural swimming pool, horseriding, beautiful waterfall tobehold, gorilla camp, birdwatching, sporting facilities andaccommodation.

Assop Falls

Obudu Cattle Ranch

Birnin Kudu Rock Painting,Jigawa state

Birnin Kudu RockPainting, Jigawa state

Birnin Kudu town lies inthe South of Jigawastate. Birnin Kudu is

noted for the presence of rocks.Fascinating are the ancientpaintings on these rocks. Thedifferent paintings areeloquent information on thestyles of the early settlers in thearea.

Olumo Rock (Tourist Centre)Abeokuta

Olumo Rock is a massiveoutcrop of granite rocks ofprimitive formation from

which Abeokuta (meaning underthe rock )the capital of Ogun statederive its name.

Abeokuta lies south-west ofNigeria and is 100 kilometresfrom Lagos. To the North, some 70

kilometres away is the city ofIbadan the capital of Oyo state.

The climate is hot and humidwith an annual rainfall of 47inches. The Rock is sacred to theEgba of Abeokuta because it wasthe place where they found refugefrom their attackers during thedays of internecine wars.

By l83O, the main body of theEgba has already settled at the siteof the Olumo and the refuge

provided by the rock marked theend of their wonderings andstruggles for existence.

From that time onwards theyhave regarded Olumo Rock astheir protection shrine and somade annual sacrifice to its deity.The importance of Olumo Rock tothe Egba is conveyed in theassertion that Abeokuta was thegift of the Olumo, as Egypt wasthe gift of the Nile.

Olumo Rock (Tourist Centre)Abeokuta


Flight SchedulesAeroLos-Abj: 06:50, 13:30,16:30, 19:45 (Mon-Fri/Sat/Sun); 12:30 (Sun); 16:45(Sat)

Abj-Los: 07:30, 13:00,19:00 (Mon-Fri/Sat); 10:30,14:30, 19:30 (Sun), 18:30(Sat)

IRSLos-Abj: 9:45, 11:45, 2:45,(Mon-Fri); 9:30, 12:45 (Sat &Sun)

Abj-Los: 11.30, 3:45, 4.45(Mon-Fri); 12.00, 14:30,(Sat/Sun)

Los-Kano: 6:15 (Mon-Fri);16:30 (Sat & Sun)

Kano-Los: 07:30 (Mon-Fri),10:30 (Sat & Sun)

ArikLag-Abj: 07:15, 09:15,13:45, 15:50, 18:45 (Mon-Fri); 7:15, 10:20, 2:20 (Sat &Sun)

Lag-Kad: 10:00, 15:10 (Mon-Fri)

Lag-Kano: 12.20 (Mon-Fri);

Gadget Guide

The Zik, designed by PhilippeStarck, is nothing short of amiracle: a Bluetooth

headphone that's actually-getthis-intuitive. Instead of Tic-Tac-sized buttons that all feel the sameto your blindingly gropingfingers, it uses touch controls:stroke the right ear cup's surfaceup or down to tweak the volume,

forward and back to change thetrack. Take the Zik off your earsand the music stops, and viceversa. Plus it has activenoisecanceling and a smartphoneapp that lets you tweak thesound. Which, oh yeah, is prettydamned good.

Price: $400 (N64,000)

Parrot Zik headphonesHere are the coolest, prettiest, techiest gear you’ll be stocking up on this season

Your average wirelessspeaker is just that: a singlepoint of sound. But the

Swedish-born Nocs blend ourhigh-tech audio present with ourhi-fi audio past simply by beingtwo separate speakers. Thatmeans you get powerful, punchy

stereo sound-as in, it feels likeJack White's band is playing on astage in front of you, not in a smallbox on your mantle. The NS2uses Apple's Air Play, so you canwirelessly stream tunes to themfrom any iDevice or computer.Price: $400 (N64,000)

Parrot Zik headphones

You're traveling for work: doyou bring the iPad or thelaptop? Dilemma solved

with Logitech's Bluetoothkeyboard, which lets you getsome real work done on Apple'stablet. Bonus: it doubles as amagnetically attached cover.

Price: $100 (N16,000)

(Source: GQ.com)

Logitech ultrathin keyboard cover

For the last few years we'vebeen rambling on about thebenefits of the

interchangeable lens camera(ILC, if you wanna show off in acrowd of nerds). You get all thekiller photo-taking power of abulky procamera-includingswappable lenses and a bigsensor-in a smaller body. ExceptMarc Newson, designer of the

Yeah, this is a little bit of déjàvu. But we can't say itenough: when you're

carrying around a beautifulcamera, the cheap strap thatcomes in the box won't do. TannerGoods knows how to make leathergear that lasts-and unlike yourcamera, you won't want toupgrade this strap in a few years.Price: $82 (N13,440)

Tanner Goods camera strap

16.3-megapixel K-01, missedthat last part of the memo.Instead he created somethingthat looks part PlaySkool, partpop-art. It's bigger than theaverage ILC, sure, but it's alsomore intuitive and looks a hell ofa lot cooler hanging around yourneck.

Price: $749 (N119840)

Pentax K-01 camera


The formula for a successfulcompact crossover is simple:plenty of space for five

passengers and their stuff, lots ofutility, fuel economy that makesthe old Tahoe a distant memoryand inoffensive, unremarkabledesign. The 2013 MitsubishiOutlander -- the end of the line forthe current-generation model --nails much of those criteria withthe exception of the last. With itssharply creased exterior styling,the Outlander was not designed toslip quietly through the schooldrop-off area.

Assertive styling and handlinghave made the Outlander a solidoutside pick in years past, but weexpect the redesigned model duein late 2013 to get in step withtoday's leading crossovers byoffering greater versatility, a nicercabin and higher fuel economy.

In the meantime, theOutlander remains a good choicefor buyers with performance-oriented criteria, including sportyhandling and V6 power. The 2013Mitsubishi Outlander is alsoamong the roomiest cargo haulersin its class, and it offers plenty ofstandard and optional features,including a rear-seatentertainment system as well as anavigation system and 40GBmusic server.

The Outlander's fateful flaw,however, is its cabin, which isfunctional in a sporty sort of wayyet doesn't offer the premiumaspect of the competitors in thisclass. The Outlander's puny,rickety third-row seat is anotherdrawback. Although theOutlander is billed as a compactcrossover with seating for up toseven passengers, you'd never putfriends back there unless youwished to end the friendship. Thearea is cramped and the seat itselfis lightweight and flimsy. Kidswon't fare much better, either.

The Outlander doesn't get theattention it deserves, though. It'sone of a handful of smallcrossovers to offer a V6 option,which increases towing capacity to3,500 pounds. Its tail/liftgatecombination is surprisinglyuseful. And the Outlander handlesmore like its quick-witted LancerEvolution relative thancomparable cushy crossovers.

At the same time, theOutlander has been outpaced in asegment that evolves quickly. The

player and an auxiliary audioinput jack.

The SE adds 18-inch alloywheels, foglights, turn signals inthe mirrors, keyless ignition/entry, upgraded gauges andupholstery, automatic climatecontrol, heated front seats, slidingsecond-row seats, third-row seats,steering-column-mounted paddleshifters, a six-disc CD changer andthe Fuse hands-free link systemthat integrates voice controls foriPod and Bluetooth devices.

All Outlander GT models arepowered by a 3.0-liter V6 andcome with all the above-mentioned features plusautomatic xenon headlights,automatic wipers, satellite radio,chrome accents and soft-touchdash and door trim. The AWD GTalso includes an active frontdifferential, hill start assist and anadvanced AWD mode selector.

SE models are eligible for thePremium package, which adds asunroof, an auto-dimmingrearview mirror, a rearview

Honda CR-V and Ford Escapewere both recently redesigned,and the Toyota RAV4 should bowlater this year with new sheetmetal and hardware. The spaciousChevrolet Equinox, the handsomeKia Sorento and new Mazda CX-5are also all worthy considerations.Overall, we like the MitsubishiOutlander but we also think themajority of small crossovershoppers will likely be happierwith one of the aforementionedrivals.

The 2013 MitsubishiOutlander is available in threetrim levels: ES, SE and GT.

The entry-level ES is equippedwith a four-cylinder engine andcomes standard with 16-inch steelwheels, roof rails, heated sidemirrors, LED taillamps, air-conditioning, cruise control,remote keyless entry, full poweraccessories, a leather-wrappedsteering wheel with audiocontrols, cloth upholstery,reclining rear seats and a six-speaker sound system with a CD

camera, a nine-speaker RockfordFosgate premium sound systemwith satellite radio and the soft-touch interior trim. The Touringpackage is offered on GT models;it features most of the amenitiesin the Premium package and addsleather upholstery (front- andsecond-row seats), heated frontseats and a power-adjustable

driver seat.A hard-drive-based navigation

system with real-time traffic anddigital music storage is availableas a stand-alone option for alltrims, as are rear parking sensors,LED interior lighting, a tow hitchand harness, a rear entertainmentsystem and remote engine start.

The Mitsubishi Outlander ESand SE are powered by a 2.4-literfour-cylinder engine that makes168 horsepower and 167 pound-feet torque. The GT has a 3.0-literV6 that's good for 230 hp and 215lb-ft of torque. Four-cylinderOutlanders come standard with acontinuously variabletransmission (CVT), while the V6-powered GT uses a traditional six-speed automatic. Both havemanual-shift capability.

All-wheel drive is offered as anoption on the SE and GT, while theES is front-wheel-drive only. TheAWD system offers differentdriver-selectable modes tooptimize traction in varyingconditions. The GT's all-wheel-drive system features an improvedfront differential, plus additionaldriving modes.

In Edmunds testing, theOutlander GT accelerated fromzero to 60 mph in 7.9 seconds,which is about average for a V6-equipped crossover SUV in thissegment. EPA fuel economyestimates for the 2WD MitsubishiOutlander are 23 mpg city/28mpg highway and 25 mpgcombined with the four-cylinderengine, and 19/26/22 with the V6.The AWD four-cylinder gets 22/27/24 mpg, while the AWD V6gets 19/25/21 mpg.Source: Edmunds.com

Mitsubishi Outlandercomes with assertive style


[email protected]

Integax boostsmortgagedevelopment withRent-to-Ownscheme

A well-designed kitchen has minimal clutter and maximum efficiency. Whether you're redecorating or totally remodeling,here are some great ideas to make your small kitchen look larger and more beautiful.

Space-saving tricks for small kitchens

Think Upward

The designer of thissmall kitchenextends the kitchen

upwards to ensureaccommodation of stuff

and to avoid clutter. HomeDepot designer EmilyO'Keefe added cabinetrywith period charm to thissmall kitchen. "Since spacewas tight, I went up,stacking the cabinets," she

says. "The ceilings are 11feet high, but not everycabinet touches the ceiling- that way they look morelike furniture." Its a smartidea worth trying in yourown kitchen.

MirrorsWork Magic A kitchen with a

m i r r o r e dbacksplash as in this

picture gives the illusion ofmore space. The kitchenopens up to the living room

Escaping the rental prison throughIntegax Owner-Occupier Program• Move in as a tenant, become the landlord• Homes at Jabi, Suncity, kubwa, Mpape in Abuja• From studio apartments, up to luxury duplexes

By Udenna Orji

A first of its kind housingfinance scheme has beenlaunched by award-

winning developer, IntegaxJubilation Homes Limited.Called Jubilation LandlordsOwner-Occupier Program, thescheme turns your rents fromexpenses to ownership down-payment and enables you tobecome the owner of the housewithin 5 - 10 years. Under thescheme, you choose any houseof your choice, pay 5% of thevalue, live in it, pay rents andwithin 5 - 10 years, the housebecomes yours.

You can live in the house,resell it or even let it out. The

on one side and the familyroom, where we eat andwatch TV, on the other.The idea is that it shouldbe an extension of both ofthese spaces.

developer's head-office at 14Isoka Street, Off Kigali Street, OffNouakchott Street, OppositeDBM Plaza, Wuse Zone 1, Abujahas become a beehive of

Pg 26

INSIDE

activities as prospectivehomeowners besiege thereputable developer to choosehomes in their various estates.Considering the rush for this

homeownership plan, Abujaresidents seem to be asking,"Why rent when you can rent-to-own a Jubilation home?"

The company's varioushousing schemes have freedmany Abuja residents from therental prison and they areproud homeowners today.

Integax Jubilation HomesLimited can be reached on0 8 0 3 2 4 9 6 3 5 9 ,0 7 0 3 8 0 8 4 6 1 1 ,0 8 0 3 8 3 8 8 8 2 7 ,0 8 1 8 6 5 7 0 3 3 0 ,08033570426, 08068702118or atwww.integaxjubilationhomes.com.Some Integax Jubilation homes


Integax boosts mortgagedevelopment with Rent-to-Own schemeBy Udenna Orji

The gale of change blowingthrough Nigeria'sgrowing mortgage sub-

sector has raised another notchwith the introduction of a Rent-to-Own housing finance modelby Integax Jubilation HomesLimited. Called, JubilationLandlord's Owner-OccupierProgramme, this housingfinance model is the first of itskind in Nigeria. Under thisprogramme, with only 5%investment, a subscribersecures a home under a rent-to-own programme thatconverts your rents toownership equity until thehome becomes yours within 5- 10 years.

There is also the company'sBuildEasy Flexi-Pay Scheme.This is a scheme for servicedplots of land in their welldesigned estates with first-class infrastructure. Thisscheme allows you to invest byinstallment on a plotallocation or more in any oftheir estates under thescheme, over a period of time.You will take possession forconstruction on meeting thetarget of just 40% of theexpected total investment oneach unit. The company'svarious housing schemes havefreed many Abuja residentsfrom the rental prison andthey are proud homeownerstoday.

These housing financemodels are some of the manyhousing finance innovationsthat developers have beenthinking up which have beenhelping to deepen the mortgagesector and boosthomeownership in Nigeria.

Last June, Nigeria's solesecondary mortgage banker,the Federal Mortgage Bank ofNigeria (FMBN) launched anelectronic collection platformto drive its National HousingFund (NHF) collection fromcontributors and NHFdesignated banks.

Tagged "NHF e-CollectionPlatform", the product isdesigned to among otherthings check sharp practiceswithin the mortgage industryand enhance fundmobilization under the NHFscheme.

This came coming soonafter the recent increase in thecapital base of mortgage banksby the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN). The nation's apex bankincreased the capital base ofmortgage banks from 100million Naira to 2.5 billionNaira for mortgage banks thatwant to operate within a stateand 5 billion Naira for thosethat want to operatenationwide. The increase hasstarted a flurry of activities

• With only 5% investment, you secure a home under the rent-to-own programme• Your rents are converted to ownership equity until the homebecomes yours within 5 - 10 years.

and unease in the industry assome weak mortgage banks arenow in search of funds torecapitalize or partners tomerge with.

Market watchers say moreinnovations and changes areexpected in the industry as theFederal Government preparesto execute the new Housingand Urban DevelopmentPolicy approved last week bythe Federal Executive Council(FEC)

The Managing Director ofthe FMBN, Mr. Gimba Ya'uKumo while commenting onthe new product said "the e-collection platform will addressa number of problems facingthe NHF scheme such asrefusal of some employers todeduct their employees' NHFcontributions, failure of someemployers to remit NHFcontributions after deductingsuch contributions from theiremployees and failure of someemployers to provideremittance schedules toFMBN. All these sharppractices enable someunscrupulous employers oflabour to misappropriate NHF

monies or even embezzle suchfunds"

How does the new FMBN e-collection platform work? Assoon as an employer instructsa designated NHF collectionbank to pay the monthlysalaries of its workers into theworkers' individual bankaccounts and the bank makesthe payments, the NHF e-collection platform willautomatically deduct 2.5 % ofthe basic salary of each worker(being the NHF component ofthe salary). The deductedcomponent (i.e. the 2.5% NHFcontribution from eachworker) is also automaticallyand instantly channeled intoa dedicated NHF collectionaccount generated by the e-collection platform. Equallygenerated are details of eachworker's contribution history,including the worker'sidentity and amountcontributed so far. FMBNinstantly credits eachcontributor's NHF accountwith the amount remitted forthe month.

Explaining further, Mr.Kumo said "the platform, for

example, will make it easy forNHF contributors to checktheir NHF contributions usingthe NHF e-cards on any ATMmachines nationwide, theamount of money they havecontributed to the NHFscheme and thus be in aposition to know if theiremployers are making theappropriate NHF remittancesas and when due".

A top executive atmortgage bankers, ResortSavings & Loans Plc, Mr. AliuOshoke told Peoples Daily that"What FMBN has done is toturn the usual pass book intoan electronic card. Thoughyou cannot withdraw with thiscard, with it you will knowdetails of your contributionsunlike before when you did nothave any details. With thisnew card, you can go to anyATM or computer withinternet access, log onto theFMBN portal and see details ofall your contributions". Headded that the e-collectionplatform would help inmobilizing more funds underthe NHF scheme as it wouldcheck sharp practices by some

stakeholders.Mr. Geofrey Ozoani, Group

General Manager of masshousing developer, El-SalemNigeria Limited while hailingthe new NHF e-collectionPlatform said "it will createmore awareness of mortgagesamong Nigerians. There is aburning need to createawareness to Nigerians aboutmortgages and Nigerianmortgage institutions. Evencontributors to the NationalHousing Fund do not knowwhat they are contributingfor".

The NHF Act No.3 of 1992which set up the NationalHousing Fund schemestipulates that a Nigerianworker earning the minimumnational wage and above perannum in either the public orprivate sectors of the economyshall contribute 2.5% of his/her basic monthly salary tothe Fund. The Fund provideslong-term loans to mortgageinstitutions for on-lending tocontributors to the Fund forthe purpose of building,purchasing and improvementof residential houses.

FMBN MD, Gimba Ya`u Kumo Minnister of Housing and Urban Development, Ms. Ama Pepple


SPL brings SteelMaster Building Systems into Nigeria

Nigeria’s housing industryis about to rise a notchhigher with the entry

into the country of therevolutionary SteelMasterBuilding Systems.

Considering Nigeria’shousing deficits now put at 20million units, and theworrisome scarcity and highcost of building materialsespecially cement, individuals,corporate organizations andgovernment institutions will nodoubt find the beauty, strength,longevity and diverseapplications of SteelMasterbuilding systems highlyfunctional, irresistible and cost-effective.

Represented in Nigeria andall of West Africa by housingtechnology giant, Steel-TechProjects Ltd (SPL), SteelMasterbuilding systems aremanufactured by SteelMaster,an American companysupplying the highest qualityprefabricated steel buildingsacross the globe for over 28years. These uniqueaesthetically inviting steelbuildings are located in everystate in the Unted States and on6 continents and in over 40

countries. The company is themost reliable and largest globalproducer for steel archbuildings and roofingmaterials. The construction ofSteelMaster building systems isfast, simple and very efficient.

SteelMaster steelbuildings,metal buildings andprefabricated buildings are

designed for a broad range ofresidential and commercial usesincluding garages, carport,workshops, agriculturalstorage, airplane hangers,government buildings, militarybuildings, commercialbuildings, roofing systems,batting domes, retail stores,architectural, athletic

facilities, specialty buildings,Industrial storage buildings,housing, custom buildings,green buildings, commercialwarehousing etc.

According to the managingdirector of SPL, Mr. Agodi Kanu,“the beauty of it all is that itsmaintenance-free. You don’thave to treat it, paint it or

Experts identify obstacles to housing development in NigeriaEstate surveyors and real

estate practitioners whoconcluded a two-day

international conference onhousing held at Lagos haveidentified the following asobstacles to housing developmentin Nigeria.Low Income

Nigerians have a per capitaincome of about $1000, abouthalf our National per capitalincome in 1975. Despite the highoil revenue of the last threedecades, poverty has remainedwith us in Nigeria. Poverty inNigeria used to be rural-basedbut between 1985 and 1992, thenumber of the poor in ruralareas fell sharply from 25.3million to 22.8 million whilethose in urban centers rose from9.7 to 11.9. A low income is a bigconstraint in accessing

affordability because mortgageis all about the ability to serviceloan when due. For this reasonthe majority of Lagosians live inrooming houses (73 per cent) astenants. Singapore which wasour peer in the early sixties hasmanaged to house up to 85percent of its citizens in owner-occupied flats and houses.Dearth of Long-Term Funds

High rates of interest andinflation have been typicalfeatures of our volatile economysince the introduction ofStructural AdjustmentProgramme (SAP) in 1986. TheNaira has suffered extensivedepreciation averaging 45percent per annum between1987 and 1993, from anexchange rate of N1.0 to $1.0 in1987 to N120.0 to $1.0. Becausemost of our building materials

have traditionally beenimported, the effect of thisdepreciation has been a rapid risein cost of construction. Interestrate has been similarly high attimes as high as 72 percent in1995: became stable around 18percent after conclusion of thebanking consolidation; but nowon the rise again as a result ofcurrent global financialmeltdown. The combined effectof these has been a sharp rise onthe price of homes. The inabilityof Nigerian banks to harnesssavings from the people has beena major reason for the lack oflong-term funds in the economy.The commercial banks havetraditionally served only themercantile class and lately theoil and manufacturing sector.

The Primary MortgageInstitutions and microfinance

teams are recent efforts toharness savings from the massesbut they are mainly urbanbased and operate more or lesslike banks with very highappetite for quick profit.High Cost of Construction

Our refusal to build houseswith locally available materialshas been a major cog in thewheel of housing delivery. Alook at our urban centers willshow that our houses are builtmostly of imported materials(cement, iron rods, aluminumroof).Low Level of EconomicActivity

Statistic recently release byNigerian InsuranceCommission indicates that onlyabout 15 million Nigerians arein regular employment. Thevast majority are still employed

Stories by Udenna Orji

in subsistence agriculture or inmenial services like okadariding. The level ofindustrialization is low so also iscommerce which is characterizedby street trading. Though the oilindustry is strong but it isunfortunately not linked to thelocal economy. The combinationof these factors is that thedisposable income of the averageNigerian is low to build a house orqualify for mortgage assistance.Access to Land

The main objective of the LandUse Act was to facilitate access toland by the generality ofNigerians. Unfortunately the acthas had the opposite effect.Though it has made it easier forthe elite to acquire land, it hasmade it much harder for themajority of Nigerians to accessland.

maintain it. With a steelmaster,you just enjoy it. TheGalvalume-Plus coatingprovides years of maintenance-free use. The sizes arecustomizable to your specificneeds”.

Kanu who is a respectedname in the housing technologymarket noted that SteelMasterMetal Workshops are globallysought-after by all types ofprofessionals including wood-workers, metalshop owners,classic car professionals, health-care experts, oil and gasindustry operators as well asnumerous types of businessesaround the globe.

“SteelMaster workshops,pre-fabricated workshops andmetal shops are the perfect placeto organize, store and protectyour valuable tools andmachinery as well as providecomfort, security and durabilityagainst fire, hurricane winds,snow and other destructiveweather elements. With 100%usable space, you have theflexibility to truly customize theinside of your shop. You caneasily hang lighting, runconduit, build shelving, add aloft, insulate and/or heat/coolyour building”, Mr. Kanu said.

An All-steel home by SteelMaster

An All-steel home by SteelMaster


FOR SALEGET PROPERTY WITHIN 72 HOURSDo you want to rent, lease or buy property in Abuja? Within72 hours (i.e. 3 days) U D Bond Ltd will give you the exactaccommodation of your specification. Whether residential,office, industrial or commercial, including undeveloped plotsof land in Abuja and its environs. U D Bond is also a reliabledealer and supplier of cement, blocks, aluminium windows/doors, marble and granite and electrical materials to theconstruction industry. Join the many who are benefitting fromour vast network and excellent services,Call: 08033603119, 08059984545

URGENT SALE BY LANDLORD2 Units of newly and beautifully finished 2 bedroom bungalowseach with two toilets in a serene and secured area at Kuchikau11, beside TOTAL Filling Station, Abuja-Keffi Expressway,near Goshen City (Living Faith Church) at only N4millionand N4.5 million respectively. Call: 08033603119 for enquiriesand inspection.

Undeveloped Plots of Land For Sale1. 4,885.33m2 at CBD (Commercial) N600m2. 4,191.45m2 at CBD (Commercial) N600m3. 3,426m2 plot with an uncompleted structure

at Aso Drive (Residential) N1.1b4. 3,111m2 plot at Aso Villa (Residential)

N350m5. 2,100m2 plot at Aso Villa (Residential)

N250m6. 1,900m2 plot at Asokoro (Residential)

N300m7. 2.5Ha plot by AYA Asokoro (Hotel)

N2.5b8. 1,588m2 plot at Asokoro (Residebtial)

N200m9. 2.6 Hectares plot Hotel/Kukwaba

N600m10. 3,110m2 plot (Commercial) Sector Centre A

N80mCALL Osas: 08033175443, 08056666642

Houses for Sale

1. Tastefully finished five bedroom duplex (2nos)comprising 2 bedroom BQ, a gate house inGwarinpa, Abuja.Complete with bullet proof-doors, borehole,interlocking tiles and barbed wire.Price: N150m Asking each.

Call: Ade: 08037039006; Godwin : 07054526472

2. Description: 3bedroom detached bungalow with2bq, fenced, interlocking tiles, borehole,securityLocation: EFAB Estate, LokogomaPrice: N40m (Asking)

3. Mini Estate with 1 Ultra-Large 3 bedroombungalow with 2bq, 3Nos. 2 bedroom flats, 3Nos.1 bedroom flats, 6Nos. room and parlor, 6Nos.stores in a fenced compound.Location: MararabaPrice: N50M (Asking)

4. Description: 6Nos. 2 bedroom flats and 2Nos.3 bedroom flats.Location: MadallaPrice: N35m (Asking)

Call: 08058850677, 07063621021

Dubai has long been theregional hub for the oil-rich Gulf states, but the

ambitious city state is never oneto rest on its laurels.

The emirate has for yearsbeen touting itself as the centralnode for 2bn people, spanningthe Middle East, thesubcontinent, central Asia andeastern Africa. Now, even WestAfrica, an eight-hour flightaway, is on its radar.

Paris and London have longbeen the hub for western Africanstates, but Dubai is now givingthese established centres a runfor their money. Emiratesairline's Dubai-Lagos flight isrenowned for constantly beingpacked.

Some banks, such asStandard Chartered, havechosen to cover some businesslines in sub-Saharan Africa fromits regional headquarters atDubai's financial centre.

Luring talent to thecomfortable Dubai lifestyle iseasier than some Africanpostings, while reaching variousoutposts of the continent can beeasier from the city's thrivingairport than other hubs, such asJohannesburg and Nairobi.

Dubai: African hub,Nigerian bolthole

As Chinese and Asian firmschose Dubai for their regionalheadquarters, often thesebusinesses are not only targetingthe Gulf, but looking to use thecity as a launchpad into sub-Saharan Africa as well. And theinvestment flows are going bothways.

As Abu Dhabi basednewspaper The Nationalreports, Nigerians are floodingDubai's property market,especially as it starts to showsigns of recovery after four yearsin the doledrums.

It isn't exactly a new trend.Even at the property market'snadir, after the real estate crashwiped more than 50 per cent offaverage valuations in theautumn of 2008, Nigerianswere known as likely buyers.One real estate agent said at thetime that Nigerians were theonly nationality buyingproperties as the market wentinto free fall.

And the Nigeria-Dubaiproperty love-in is still goingstrong as the property marketin general improves. Jones LangLaSalle in a recent second-quarter report noted that villaprices in Dubai had risen by

around 20 per cent over lastyear, while apartments inpopular buildings are flat on theyear.

For those seeking a bolt-holeaway from the corruption anddanger of Nigeria, properties inDubai are a good option: fewquestions are asked of buyers.

As such, they are joining along list of nationalities whohave turned to Dubai as aninvestment haven, especiallywealthy investors from unrest-hit regions of the Middle East,such as Egypt, Libya and Syria.

In the past six months,Nigerians are registered behindsales of $52.5m, according to theLand Department.

Some real estate agents,however, place the size ofinvestment in much greaterfigures, as much as $6bn overthe past three years. Dubaiproperty brokerage The FirstGroup opened offices in Nigeriathree years ago and nowNigerians account for 60 percent of its sales.

It's more good news forDubai's property market, whichstill needs a boost to help itrecover from the slump. Source:Financial Times


Of Writers, Writing onConflicts and Wars in Africa

By Ikhide R. Ikheloa (Nnamdi)

BOOK REVIEWBOOK REVIEWBOOK REVIEWBOOK REVIEWBOOK REVIEW

Forgetting is the finalinstrument of genocide. Towitness genocide is to feel not onlythe chill of your own mortality, butthe degradation of all humanity…even the most brilliantphotography cannot capture thelandscape of genocide.- SimonNorfolk

The writers Okey Ndibe andChenjerai Hove are two ofAfrica’s finest thinker-

writers. They are awesomewordsmiths, word cannon ballsboom fiercely out of their fecundminds pulverizing their targetswith uncanny accuracy. Theywrite with an uncommonsensitivity to the issues thatAfrica faces. This they do withrespect and compassion and oneis taken by the honesty andindustry that they bring to theircraft. They have just co-edited aslim volume of essays, Writers,Writing on Conflicts and Wars inAfrica, published by Adonis &Abbey Publishers Ltd. It is alargely academic but highlyaccessible treasure trove ofreflections on war by an army ofmostly African writers who havebeen affected by Africa’s myriadwars and genocides. In about 200pages and sixteen chapters(including the introduction), thereader comes face to face with theanxieties, nightmares anddreams of sixteen diverse andeclectic artists. These are issuescovering past and present warsall over Africa; Biafra,Zimbabwe, the hell delta ofNigeria, Darfur, the Congo,South Africa, etc. Kudos to Ndibeand Hove for ensuring that thesewriters are a judicious mix of theknown and unknown. Theresulting essays are refreshingand filled with uncommoncandor. The references alone areinvaluable. I wrote downpassages in the book that spoketo me and then I walked amongthe words, talking to them. I wasshaken to my soul’s roots. Eventhe cover is evocative in what itdoes not say. It is an image ofbeautiful children born intowars they did not ask for. Thereare all these children muggingfor the camera with Africa anddecay as a surreal backdrop.

As an aside, this compilationof essays came out of a workshopattended by the just-departedpoet-warrior Dennis Brutus. Inthe book, Ndibe and Hove recallhis spirit with eerie nostalgia:“Dennis Brutus, the SouthAfrican poet whose back bearsthe scar of an apartheid bullet,lent a measure of revolutionarygravitas and hard-earned moralcapital to the workshop. WhenBrutus spoke or read his poems,his voice, though slightlyenfeebled by age, still rang outwith stunning range andpower.” (p11)

This book is severalconversations burning at once.The writer Yvonne A. Owuorstarts the conversations rollingin a piece she admits is a rant. Itis a rant pregnant with profoundgems. She questions why theWest glorifies its own wars withstories of valor and views Africa’s

The book front cover

wars as savage and barbaric,pointing out that there havebeen equally gory examples todraw from in the West. Again,Chinua Achebe, in his seminalvolume of essays Home and Exile,reminds us of the proverb: “Untilthe lions produce their ownhistorian, the story of the huntwill glorify only the hunter.” Iagree. Africans must tell theirown stories or risk the totalannihilation of their humanityby the other. We should writeabout our own humanity, forwar is about the sorting ofindividuals into bins of identityand differences and the huntingdown of those anxieties that lurkbehind ancestral masks.

This book is a defiant ode tothe power of the word and Hovecaptures it neatly: “Those yearsof war… gave me scars andsmiles. Scars because real bulletspierced and tore apart the bodiesof real women, children andmen. Smiles, for, in the midst ofdeath and pain, I saw children,women and men who proudlyshowed human resilience evenin the face of death as theyfought for the restoration of theirdignity.” (p38)

The last chapter, Reflectionson Inyenzi is an evocative essaybearing a conversation betweenthe writers Karin Samuel andAndrew Brown. Brown wrotethe book Inyenzi: A Story of Loveand Genocide based on theRwandan genocide. That

chapter alone is worth the priceof the book. It brings to greatclosure several issues engaged bythe other writers in the book. Insimple, almost clinical prosethat flogs the reader’s consciencewide awake, the writers weavefascinating images of war andone is reminded of the starkness

of images of apartheid’s warhoused in South Africa’s HectorPieterson museum.

This is a slim book bearingweighty reflections onconventional wars in Africa.Wars still rage on in Africa, mostof them wreaking havoc belowthe radar of our uncritical eyes.Every day alien religions wakeAfrica up and rape her withimpunity and send her to bedsobbing inconsolably.Capitalism marches throughAfrica unchallenged reducingher millions of victims to needysupplicants to the God of moreand more. We should reflect onwhy Africa is in this condition.The book does not. It is not acriticism; a book can only do somuch. Africa is enduring manywars and while this book focuseson conventional wars, I proposethat today’s most devastatingwars are the unconventional. Ifwe don’t focus on those we maybe writing our way toirrelevance. Why is the worldindifferent to the travails ofAfrica?

In the book, Lauryn Arnott’sdrawings are harrowing in theirdetail and they nicelycomplement the writing. But itis not enough. In the age of theInternet, the book is dying a longslow death and it is no longer arobust medium for expressingthe horrors of war or the joys oftriumph over adversity. I dreamof creating a virtual museumdedicated to Africa’s suffering –a total convergence of all mediaand all voices singing with oneearth-shaking voice of thehorrors that we have seen andheard. And the griots Ndibe andHove would be the leaders of thatmother of all projects.

Let’s accept someresponsibility. Owuor makes thisprofound observation: “This

war, this violence is ours. Oursis the hateful thing – a roamingstain that prowls through thesociety and sows seeds of chaos –that thing that appalls ourwithin-ness. And horrifies uswith the blood it wastes.” (p21)However the book is virtuallysilent on the crucial question:Why are things the way they arein Africa? There are manyquestions folded into thatquestion. What is it with Africaand conflict? Why are weconstantly forced to question andjustify our humanity? What isthe role of the writer in shapingevents in today’s Africa? Why dosome of our writers turn Goebbelson the people? What is the bestmedium for forcing the people tofocus brightly on the fires thatburn so fiercely all aroundAfrica? Is this generation ofAfrican writers self-absorbedand narcissistic and why? Hasthe African writer deserted therole of the writer as the land’sconscience, priest and town-crier? We must seek answers tothe why even though it mightfrighten us.

The Internet, that new worldthat holds the promise ofliberation from hell on earth, isright now busily retrievingAfrica’s brightest and best mindsfrom Africa and dumping themin Europe and America. Virtually all of Africa’s bestthinkers are writing aboutAfrica from the outside lookingin. Thanks to technology, sadly,this exodus includes thosewriters who physically live inAfrica.

Hope Eghagha in his essayevokes the spirit of the poet-seerChristopher Okigbo using linesfrom Okigbo’s Hurrah forThunder:

The smell of blood alreadyfloats in the lavender-mist of theafternoon

The death sentence lies inambush along the corridors ofpower;

And a great fearful thingalready tugs at the cables of theopen air,

A nebula immense andimmeasurable, a night of deepwaters –

An iron dream unnamed andunprintable, a path of stone

This poem was written fourdecades ago; one could arguethat it seems prophetic todayonly because the situation inNigeria is heading South fast andthe future is certainlyfrightening. But then thequestion is why this constancyof turmoil. Okigbo would notknow; he was murdered byNigerian troops on Biafran soilin a war he did not ask for. Thisbook is one more compellingproof that the sacrifices of Okigboand other African thinkershunted down and slaughteredfor owning words have not beenin vain. I salute Okey Ndibe andChenjerai Hove.

Source: Africanwriter.comOkay Ndibe, a co-author of the book


PEOPLESPEOPLESPEOPLESPEOPLESPEOPLESPOEM OFPOEM OFPOEM OFPOEM OFPOEM OF

THE WEEKTHE WEEKTHE WEEKTHE WEEKTHE WEEK

It is my prideTo be and not to beThe giant of the day

The mentor of all seasonand

The orthordous word ofnation

To be and not to beOh! Oh!! Oh it is all my

prideFor a nightingale to pass

An elephant wayShaking it's bom bom t

the iroko treeAsking for more space.

it is my pride and not myproud

To be and not to beWhere I am and not to beThe master tape of my

day.

Oh! it is my pride and notmy proud

To change my tone ofyesterday,

To command the daffodiltree to dance on my

birthday,To remind the moon of

it's promisefor the jealous stars.

Oh! like an evil loveDo! Do!! Oh do without

faithit is my pride and not my

proudIf who i am can lead me

to where am up toIt is my pride and not my

proud.

Title: Self PrideBy Arthur ApehALexanra Ojima

QQQQQUOUOUOUOUOTETETETETE

The artwork tells the historyof a people or a nation in amost succinct way. Experts

say that it has the potential togenerate employment and boostwealth creation.

Practising artists alsoacknowledge that the professionis a lucrative one and want thegovernment to further strengthenthe sector.

An Abuja-based artist, MrGbenga Sentoris, says artwork, ifproperly harnessed by thegovernment, can generate abouttwo million jobs.

Sentoris says artwork hasbrought him a fortune anddescribes it as a “lucrativeventure which requires a lot ofpatience.

“I am surprised when I seesome of my colleagues in theprofession ending up as teachers;you must endure to make abreakthrough.”

Sentoris notes that “Nigeriansappreciate artwork if they aregood “and would not mind payingfor them as “good artwork sellsfaster”.

Mrs Gloria Asare, a Ghanaian,scores Nigeria’s artwork high.Asare who deals in ceramic potsand clothing, says that she “makes the highest sales inNigeria.”

“I can say that Nigeria is mybiggest market. She also praisesNigerians for cherishing theirculture.”

Mr Stephen Eruada, PublicRelations Officer, Art and CraftsVillage, Abuja says that theFederal Government should putthe necessary measures in placeto exploit the huge potential of artand crafts to boost economicgrowth.

“There is no way Nigeriawould industrialise withoutartwork in the lead.”

He notes that Nigeria as acountry, has experts in the artindustry who can not only think,but also be creative.

Eruada says that the cars, ear-rings and even the shoes we wear,are all artistic work and that thegovernment should do everythingwithin its powers to encourage thegrowth of the sector.

Mr Abdullahi Muku, Director-General, National Gallery of Art,restates that promotion ofartwork would help diversify theNigerian economy.

The director-general says thediversification of the country’seconomy through the promotionof art and culture is in line withthe Federal Government’sTransformation Agenda.

“We paid visits to most of theembassies requesting that we doan art promotion together; I amgrateful that this has come tofruition.

“The Nigerian Governmentwould want to see a situationwhere we can improve on thisexhibition and make a travelling

Generating employmentthrough artwork

“If you work hard on yourjob, you can make a living.But if you work harder onyourself than you do onyour job, you can make afortune”–– Jim Rohn

“Exhibitions attract touristsby bringing people of the worldtogether not only to see work ofart, but also to buy them.

“We as exhibitors have alsotaken our work outside thecountry to attract foreigners,thereby creating political,economic and social relationshipswith these countries.”

Odu stresses the need for theyouth to imbibe the culture ofusing their skills to developthemselves rather thandepending on elusive paid jobs.

He also advises the youth toacquire modern art techniqueseither through education orapprenticeship.

According to him, this willfurther improve the potential ofNigerian youths to contribute tonational development.

Mr Obinna Amoke, a memberof the association, says that artexhibitions help to promote andshowcase the culture of the nationwithin and outside the country.

He advises the government topay more attention to artwork.

“We have invitations fromwithin and outside the country toexhibit our artwork and for peopleto see what Nigerians are doing inthe industry.

“Our art reflects what is goingon around us, especially ourculture which is part of us and wehave been able to market itthrough the channel ofexhibitions to promote the cultureof the people.”

The potential of the art sectoris well known, governmentshould, therefore, create morewindows for the country’sartwork in order to boost revenuegeneration and employment.

Source: NAN

By Femi Ogunshola

DG National Gallery of Art, Abdullahi Maku

exhibition to participatingcountries.”

Jaques de Labriolle, FrenchAmbassador to Nigeria, notes thatChina took the leadership positionin an art market in 2011 inNigeria because of its interest inartwork.

He urges Nigeria to takeadvantage of the vastopportunities in the market todiversify its source of income.

“There is no state in Nigeriawhich does not have within itsuniversities or polytechnics, afaculty or school dedicated to

artistic education and with suchstructured environments, lie thestrength of Nigerian creativity.”

Mr Harrison Odu, President ofProfessional Artists of Nigeria(PAF) notes that art exhibitionsare effective strategies to bringcountries together.

He says that constantexhibitions encourage strongerrelationships among countrieswhich in turn, results in thedevelopment of tourism.

He says exhibitions generallypromote the economic, politicaland social lives of the people.

Traditional artworks


Cuba’s Obini-bata dancers thrill Nigerian audience

Ever been to Cuba? Perhapsnot. Cuba, an islandcountry in the Caribbean is

very rich in cultural heritageincluding exquisite cuisine, danceand tourism centre that havecontinued to trill estimated2million tourists every year.

Last week, Cuban voices echoedin Nigeria as the Cuban Embassyin Abuja showcased the Obini- Batadance, one of that nation's mostcelebrated dances which is alwaysaccompanied with great pomp andpageantry.

The Obini-Bata is an all femalemusicians and dancer's troupefrom Cuba. The culture of Batadrumming originates withAfricans who were brought to Cubaas slaves. Obini means "woman" inthe Yoruba language of Nigeria,and Bata is the name given to thehourglass-shaped drums thataccompany Yoruba dance andsong.

However, women havehistorically been banned from

playing the Bata. At some point, itwas decided to sanctify the Batadrums for the purposes of playingthem in Afro-Cuban religiousceremonies. Justifications forprohibiting women from playingthe sacred drum included beliefsabout women bleeding, and beingsubject to mood swings andgenerally unsuited tocommunicate with the deities. Ofcourse there is no inherent reasonwhy women cannot play thesedrums and the ban is simply aninherited form of genderdiscrimination.

Speaking at the event theCuban ambassador to Nigeria H.E.Hugo Ramos Milanes said theObinni- Bata is the main musicalgroup that plays the Cuban musicusing Bata drum. He went furtherto say that Nigeria has contributedimmensely to the development oftheir culture and nationalitynoting that it is a special feat to bothcountries.

In his response, the Minister ofCulture and Tourism, Mr EdemDuke said by expression of music,

Brazilian President DilmaRousseff

How to get Brazil VisaA.Original, signed

passport with at least 6months of remaining validity.

B. Passport-type photograph: 1

C.Payment Authorisation.Complete and sign the Credit CardAuthorization Form.

D. Driver's license. Copy ofdriver's license, state issued ID, or majorutility bill (Water, Gas, Electric,Sewage), showing the applicant's nameand current address.

E.Itinerary. A photocopy of roundtrip tickets or a letter signed by a travelagent with confirmed round trip tickets.Itinerary is not acceptable unlessshowing ticket numbers and that theticket is paid for. If you will be enteringand/or exiting Brazil by LAND pleasesubmit:

o Ticketed flight itinerary showingflights into and out of the region.

o A letter addressed to the "Consulateof Brazil, Visa Section" explaining exactlyhow, when, and where you will beentering and leaving Brazil.

o A copy of your most recentmonthly bank statement.

If you will be entering and/orexiting Brazil by SEA please submit:

o Official receipt or boarding passfrom the Cruise line listing the applicantas a passenger and showing that the

balance has been paid in full.o Official daily port itinerary from

the cruise line listing the applicant as apassenger and showing the portlocation for each day of the cruise.

F.Yellow Fever Vaccination.If the applicant has traveled within thelast 90 days to any of the Yellow FeverCountries an International Certificateof Vaccination for Yellow Fever will berequired.

G. Conference or Seminar. Ifattending a conference or seminar, aletter of invitation from theorganization in Brazil which is hosting

the event and a day-by-day itineraryof the event.

H.Bank statement. Copy of theapplicant's most recent monthly bankstatement. The statement must clearlyshow the applicant's name as theaccount holder, the balances of theaccounts, and the date of the statement.

Important notice: The passportMUST contain two blank visa pagesside by side for the visa to be issued. Ifnecessary, Visa HQ can assist withgetting extra visa pages added to theUnited States passport.

Additional required documents forminors (under 18):

- Notarized Application Form. Theform must be signed by both parentsand the signatures must beNOTARIZED. Both signatures must fitinside the signature box.

- Birth Certificate. A NOTARIZEDcopy of the applicant's birth certificate.

- Letter of Consent. A NOTARIZEDletter of consent, signed by both parents.

- Polio Vaccination. For applicantsbetween the ages of 3 months and 6years, a certificate of vaccinationagainst Polio is required. If the childcannot be inoculated, please submit anotarized letter from the child'sphysician.

Source: Brazilian Embassywebsite

Obini-bata dancersMinister of Culture and tourism, Mr. Edem Duke, Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Hugo RanosMilanes at the event. Photos Joy Baba

fusion of culture and resonance ofhearts of people long divided bygeographical boarders arereconnected within the continent.'We reconnect mother land' he alsosaid.

He went further to say thatwhat is presently being celebratedis womanhood. "Tonight mostespecially we celebratewomanhood; we celebrate a groupof women performance ofdistinction, of elegance andindescribable beauty. Here we havewomen of African extraction,dexterous women, beautifulwomen with pulsating dance steps,

with dexterous demeanors. Moreimportantly these women haveexpressed themselves throughmusic and dance. And they haveperformed unbelievably well" theminister said.

Duke also noted that the drumsused by the Cuban dancers arereplicated everywhere in Nigeria.The rhythm of the music is playedby the men in the Ekpe Society inCalabar and environs which is calledthe Abaqua in cuba and in few otherplaces in the Africa in Diaspora he said.He further used the opportunity toplead with the Nigerian Governmentto replicate FESTAC '77, a challenge

he said is heavy in the hands of Nigeriabut not impossible. "As we look towardsthe celebration of 100 years of Nigeriain 2014, I want to plead with the headsof missions who are gathered here andthrough you to others who are nothere, to help us put in our plans thepossibility of replicating FESTAC '77once again, if not to honour theamalgamation of Nigeria in 2014 butto all in the African Renaissanceagenda. It will be such a wonderfulopportunity to gather again in thecapital of the biggest black nation onthe face of the earth to celebratehumanity and to celebrate our loveto one another" the minister said.

[email protected]

Stories by Joy Baba

Mark cautions Zimbabweover ill treatment of Nigerians

Worried by the alleged illtreatment being givento Nigerians in

Zimbabwe, the President of theSenate, David Mark, hasappealed to the government ofZimbabwe, to improve on theirhospitality to Nigerians andother foreigners resident in theircountry.

Speaking when he playedhost to the Deputy PrimeMinister of Zimbabwe, Mrs.Thokozani Khupe, in Abuja,Mark reminded the governmentand people of Zimbabwe of theneed to accommodate othernationals, just as he advocatedfor true democracy that isrepresentative of the people inthe country.

He stressed that recentreports show that Nigeriansconsistently face humiliation intheir daily activities, either withthe immigration or othersecurity agencies in Zimbabwe,appealing that the action shouldbe addressed in order tostrengthen the already existingbilateral relationship betweenthe two countries.

Senator Mark thereforeassured the people of Zimbabwe

of Nigeria's support to enthronetrue democratic practice in theircountry, saying "Nigeria willcontribute towards ensuring thattrue democracy reigns inZimbabwe."

Earlier, the Deputy PrimeMinister of Zimbabwe, Mrs.Thokozani Khupe, said her visitwas to intimate the President ofthe Senate on the establishmentof a Global Power Womennetwork; a body to champion thecause of women across Africancontinent.

She stressed that theorganization will look at theplights of women in the societyand collectively fashion out plansat combating the challenges facingwomen.

Speaking further, khupe calledfor the support of leaders in Africafor the association's initiative in thefight against maternal mortality,HIV/AIDs, rape and all forms ofsocial vices militating againstwomen in our society.

Meanwhile, she disclosed thatNigeria's Minister of State forForeign Affairs, Professor ViolaOnwuliri, is the new President ofGlobal Power Women Network,adding that the maidenconference of the association willhold in Abuja, in May, 2013.

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi


Somali election of HassanSheikh a ‘great step’

International leaders,including British PrimeMinister David Cameron,

have hailed the election of HassanSheikh Mohamud as a "great stepforward" for Somalia.

Mr Cameron congratulatedMr Mohamud on his victory andwelcomed the role played by hispredecessor, Sheikh SharifSheikh Ahmed.

However, Islamist militantssaid the election was organisedby the "enemies of Somalia".

Somalia has suffered 20 yearsof war.

Accepting his defeat, formerPresident Ahmed said it was thefirst fair election in Mogadishu for42 years - since Mohamed SiadBarre took over in 1969.

President Mohamud, amoderate Islamist academic, wassworn in immediately after itwas announced that he hadbeaten Mr Ahmed by 190 to 79votes in a ballot of newly electedMPs.

"I promise that Somalia willreclaim its place in the worldcommunity as of today - and todo that, we must ensure that wemove forward," he said in hisvictory speech.

Both the British primeminister and UN envoy toSomalia Augustine Mahigawarned there was still much todo.

"Somalia's leaders must nowwork together to build a morerepresentative and transparentsystem, tackle corruption andstrengthen security andstability," said Mr Cameron, whohosted a major conference ontrying to bring peace to Somaliain February.

Mr Mahiga said the Somalipeople had "taken a great stepforward on the path to peace andprosperity".

EU foreign policy chiefCatherine Ashton has called up Somalis are celebrating

Swedish journalists Schibbye and Persson leave EthiopiaTwo Swedish journalists

freed by the Ethiopiangovernment have left

the country, a spokeswomanfor Sweden's foreign affairsministry has told the BBC.

They have gone to a secretlocation to rest, she added.

It was not known whenthey would return to Sweden,she said, adding it would beup to them to make that

decision.Martin Schibbye and

Johan Persson were jailed lastyear after being captured withrebels in eastern Ethiopia.

The two left the Ethiopiancapital, Addis Ababa, late onMonday after their release.

Prime Minister MelesZenawi pardoned thejournalists before his deathlast month.

Schibbye and Persson werecaptured in July 2011 byEthiopian troops during aclash with fighters of theOgaden National LiberationFront (ONLF), which Ethiopiaregards as a terrorist group.

They were in the remotesouth-eastern region ofOgaden, populated mainly byethnic Somalis, to investigatethe activities of a company

Deadlinelooms forstriking SouthAfrica miners

Striking miners in SouthAfrica could face the sack ifthey defy a union agreement

to return to work for another day.They have been given until

Tuesday afternoon to return to work.The bulk of the 3,000 members

of the Association of Mineworkersand Construction Union (AMCU) -who led the so-called wildcat strike -have continued their protest.

South Africa's labour mediationcommittee has extended thedeadline to Tuesday for workers atthe world's third largest platinummine to return to work in order forsalary negotiations to start.

The workers, who have been onstrike for a month, have vowed tostay off the job until they receivewages of $1,500 a month, doublewhat they now earn.

The committee says its"facilitation is dependent on a returnto work by all workers" andthreatened to leave the miners todeal with Lonmin managers.

Only about 1,700 workersclocked in for their shift on Mondaywhile thousands marched for higherwages after the committee earlierissued a Monday deadline.

Hundreds of striking minersmarched on Monday in defiance ofthe agreement signed by the minemanagement and the mainNational Union of Mineworkers(NUM).

Al Jazeera's Mike Hanna,reporting from Marikana, said:"One group of miners continueto insist they will not return towork until an agreement isreached on increasing theirwages."

"It's once again one group ofstriking miners coming upagainst mine owners. No progresswhatsoever in weeks of negotiationsin a bid to end the strike," he said.

Tensions have been high at themine since 34 of the protestingworkers were shot and killed bypolice last month.

Meanwhile, firebrand politicianJulius Malema has called for anational strike in all South Africanmines to demand the removal ofthe leadership of the NUM.

Thousands of striking minersat a gold mine in Driefonteinblowing on vuvuzelas, whistles,and carrying traditional sticksresponded enthusiastically toMalema's comments on Tuesday.

"There must be a nationalstrike. They have been stealingthis gold from you. Now it is yourturn. You want your piece of gold.These people are making billionsfrom these mines," Malema said,referring to black elite and the whiteminority that controls the economy.

Somalia's new leader tocongratulate him, according tothe AFP news agency.

However, the al-Qaeda-linkedgroup al-Shabab still controlsmany southern and central partsof the country, and has stagedfrequent suicide attacks in thecapital since it was driven out ofMogadishu last year by AfricanUnion troops and pro-government forces.

"We will only recognise aprocess run by Somalis and notmanipulated by Ethiopia,Burundi, Kenya, Uganda,Djibouti and the West," al-Shabab spokesman Sheikh AliMohamud Rage told the AFP newsagency.

"Hassan is operating under aconstitution drafted by the

enemies of Somalia, who have anefarious geopolitical agenda,especially neighbouringcountries.

Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, 56,is a civic activist who founded auniversity in Mogadishu and hasworked for several national andinternational peace anddevelopment organisations.

He has links to al-Islah,Somalia's branch of the MuslimBrotherhood, which is stronglyopposed to al-Shabab.

He stayed in Mogadishuthroughout the years of conflict,unlike many intellectuals, and hehas previously held a post ingovernment.

Like former President Ahmed,he is from the Hawiye clan - oneof Somalia's biggest.

BBC Somali analyst MaryHarper says President Mohamudcould represent a different kindof future for the country becausehe is not associated with theviolence and corruption of thepast.

Nevertheless he faces massivechallenges on multiple fronts, sheadds. Firstly, he will have to dealwith the powerful politicians wholost the elections; then he has totry to reunite a country tornapart by two decades of civilconflict, much of which iscontrolled by al-Shabab.

Since the overthrow ofPresident Siad Barre in 1991,Somalia has seen clan-basedwarlords, Islamist militants andits neighbours all battling forcontrol.

Kenya’s Tana clashes: President Kibaki imposes curfewViolence has continued in

Kenya's Tana River areadespite a dusk-to-dawn

curfew after the deaths of 112people in weeks of clashes.

Three more people,including police officers, aresaid to have died in the latestattacks.

They were carried out byhundreds of men with guns,spears and machetes, the RedCross said.

Two communities with ahistory of rivalry over accessto water and land have beenengaged in tit-for-tat raids.

President Mwai Kibakiordered a curfew to be imposedlate on Monday in Tana RiverCounty.

But the Red Cross says houseshave once more been set on fire,

forcing people to flee on Tuesday.The BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse

in Kenya says there is a widerissue than the rivalry betweenthe two groups - competition forresources in a country of deep

Many houses have been burnt down during the violence

inequalities.He says the fear is that, as

Kenya approaches elections nextMarch, that competition couldlead to more of the widespreadviolence seen after the last poll

in December 2007.Some 38 people including

children and police officers werekilled on Monday, after the deathsof more than 50 people last monthand another 12 last week.

Police spokesman Eric Kiraithesays 112 people have been killedsince the latest round of attacksbroke out in late August.

The Orma and Pokomocommunities have a long historyof tension over access to land andwater in this ecologically richarea.

The Pokomo are mostlyfarmers, while the Orma aresemi-nomadic cattle-herders.

The long-standing rivalrybetween the two communitieshas been made worse by aninflux of weapons fromneighbouring Somalia.

affiliated with the Swedish oilfirm Lundin Petroleum.

They have always arguedthey were in Ethiopia just todo their job.

They appealed forclemency following theirconviction in December 2011for supporting the ONLF.

Mr Meles, who was inpower for 21 years, died lastmonth after a long illness.


Occupy activists forced from Hong Kong plaza

Police have forced out theremaining Occupyprotesters from an open-air

plaza at banking giant HSBC's Asianheadquarters in Hong Kong, morethan ten months after the activistspitched their tents in the heart of thecity's financial district.

Many Indians see Trivedi's arrest as an attack on freedom of expression

The protesters scuffled with policeon Tuesday, as they resisted a courtorder to leave the site by August 27.Some were carried away forcibly andtaken outside a perimeter, wherethey were let go.

At around midday, officersentered the plaza and linked arms toform a human wall around the dozenor so protesters to move them out.

Authorities pulled down the tents

and removed furniture, carpets andpersonal belongings, drawing angrycries from demonstrators beneath theiconic 47-storey building.

HSBC obtained permission froma court last month to take back thespace, which the bank owned butthat also serves as a publicpassageway.

Echoing the global Occupymovement against corporate greed

and economic inequality, the HongKong encampment attracted acommune of occupiers includingstudents, young professionals,activists, the unemployed andhomeless.

The protest came at a time ofgrowing resentment in the city ofseven million at what many see asexcessively close ties betweengovernment and big business, but it

failed to gain traction. Since they started on October 15

last year, the number of occupiershad dwindled from the 100 or so whohad first pitched tents, paling insignificance to the tens of thousandswho have taken to Hong Kong's streetsthis year to protest againsteverything from perceived Chinesemeddling in local affairs to highproperty prices.

Protesters from the Occupy movement have occupied the area for over ten months (REUTERS)

Asia andMiddle East

Several cars were completely destroyed by the force of the blast

India sedition cartoon: Courtgrants Aseem Trivedi bailA court in India has granted bail

to an anti-corruptioncartoonist arrested on sedition

charges, after an application from amember of the public.

The Bombay High Court saidthat Aseem Trivedi could be releasedon bail if he paid 5,000 rupees ($90;£67).

But it is unclear if Mr Trivedi willaccept the bail. He has said he willnot hire a lawyer or apply for bailhimself until the charges aredropped.

He was held over cartoons whichallegedly mocked India'sconstitution.

Many Indians see his arrest asan attack on freedom of expression.The cartoonist has beenparticipating in the anti-corruptionmovement led by campaigner AnnaHazare.

Mr Trivedi was remanded incustody until 24 September whenhe appeared in court on Monday.

But on Tuesday a member of the

public, apparently unrelated to MrTrivedi, made a bail application tothe Bombay High court on the basisthat drawing cartoons was notadequate grounds to be charged withsedition.

Mr Trivedi was arrested onSaturday for a series of cartoons. Herefused to apply for bail at Monday'shearing, and said if telling the truthmade him a traitor then he washappy to be described as one.

In one of his cartoons, thecustomary three lions in India'snational emblem are replaced withthree wolves, their teeth drippingblood, with the message "Long livecorruption" written underneath.

Another cartoon depicts theIndian parliament as a giant toiletbowl.

Government officials say thatwhile they are in favour of freespeech, there is a thin line betweenthat and insulting national symbols,the BBC's Sanjoy Majumder in Delhireports.

A rocket fired by anunknown group on theUS-run Bagram airbase in

Afghanistan has destroyed amilitary helicopter on the eve ofthe anniversary of theSeptember 11 attacks, killingthree Afghans, officials say.

The Chinook helicoptercaught fire and was destroyed asit prepared to take off late onMonday from Bagram air base,the largest US military base inthe war-torn country, a NATOmilitary spokesperson said onTuesday.

"They were preparing for anoperation," the spokespersonsaid, adding the helicopter washit by "indirect fire".

Three Afghans were killedand several Afghan and foreign

Deadly rocket fire hits Bagram airbase"service members" werewounded, the spokesperson said,but gave no further details.

Roshana Khalid, aspokeswoman for the Parwanprovince where the base islocated confirmed the incidentand said three Afghanintelligence agents were killedand two senior security officialswounded.

They were to conduct ananti-Taliban operation in anarea near Bagram, she said.

"The helicopter waspreparing to take off when arocket fired by insurgents hit it.There were Afghan and [NATO]coalition personnel on board.Three Afghan intelligencepersonal were killed," Khalidsaid.

Yemen's defence minister hassurvived an assassinationattempt which killed at least 11

people, including seven of hisbodyguards, security officials say.

The attack targeting Maj GenMuhammad Nasir Ahmad took placenear government offices in centralSanaa.

The explosion was caused when acar bomb detonated when the minister'smotorcade passed.

It comes a day after the second-in-command of Yemen's branch of al-Qaedawas reportedly killed.

"A booby-trapped car waited for themotorcade of the minister near thegovernment offices and, as soon as itmoved, it exploded,"

"A security car was totally destroyed

Yemen minister survivesassassination attempt

and all its occupants were killed, but theminister survived because his car isarmoured."

Officials say this is the fourthassassination attempt against thedefence minister since a newgovernment was formed last December.

No-one has yet claimedresponsibility for the blast, though al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)has carried out a number of attacks inthe past.

The group was formed in January2009 by a merger between two regionaloffshoots of al-Qaeda in Yemen and SaudiArabia.

It blames the defence minister forlaunching the campaign that drovethem from their strongholds in the southof the country.


Inmate found dead at US GuantanamoA prisoner has been found dead

at the Guantanamo Baynaval base, two days after he

was apparently found unconsciousin his cell at the isolated, high-security prison, the US militaryhas said.

The unidentified prisoner'sname and nationality were notdisclosed pending notification offamily, military officials said onTuesday.

The detainee was found"unconscious and unresponsive"by guards during a routine check,the US Southern Command said.

"After extensive lifesavingmeasures had been performed, thedetainee was pronounced dead bya physician," it said in a statement.

The prisoner was the ninthdetainee to die at the facility sinceit was opened in January 2002 tohold men suspected of terrorismor links to al-Qaeda and theTaliban.

Of the 779 men held there, 167remain.

A medical examiner was sentto the base to determine the exactcause of death, and an investigationwill be conducted by the NavalCriminal Investigative Service.

His remains will be returnedhome after the autopsy.

The man died in Camp 5, amaximum security facility thatholds those accused of breakingcamp rules. He was "in disciplinarystatus" after recently assaulting aguard with a "cocktail" of bodilyfluids, a military official said.

Camp Five is a facility that"houses those detainees deemed tobe the highest threat to themselves,other detainees or guards", said JoseRuiz, a spokesman for the Miami-based Southern Command.

Two of the earlier deaths werefrom natural causes and six weredesignated as suicides, most of themby hanging.

The dead man was not among

the small group currently facingcharges in the war crimes tribunalat the Guantanamo base in easternCuba, and he had not beendesignated as eligible forprosecution, said Navy CaptainRobert Durand, a spokesman for thedetention operation.

About half of the Guantanamodetainees have been cleared forrelease, but it was not known if he

was among that group.Most of the prisoners currently

at Guantanamo are housed in Camp6, a facility that allows communalliving arrangements among theinmates and is designed for lessintensive monitoring by guards.

The prisoner had previouslybeen a hunger striker whose weightdropped low enough that he wasforce-fed nutritional supplements.

Europe andAmericas

UK home of Alps shooting victims evacuatedMost of the prisoners currently at Guantanamo are housed in Camp 6, a communal livingfacility [Reuters]

US teachersstrike forsecond dayin Chicago

Yanomami 'massacre' report dropped by Survival International

Members of the community told reporters there had been nokillings

Thousands of schoolteachers in the US city ofChicago have gone on strike for

a second day, putting a strain onRahm Emanuel, the city's Democraticmayor who formerly served as chiefaide to President Barack Obama.

Up to 26,000 teachers and theirsupporters took to the streets duringthe Monday evening rush hour afterfailing to reach a settlementdemanding better pay, healthbenefits and more resources to servestudents.

The strike in a district where thevast majority of students are poor andminority put Chicago at the epicenterof a struggle between big cities andteachers unions for control of schools.

David Vitale, Chicago SchoolBoard president, said board and unionnegotiators were yet to bargain on twoof the biggest issues, performanceevaluations or recall rights for laid-offteachers.

Karen Lewis, president of theChicago Teachers Union, confirmedthis was due to the district notchanging its proposals over the strikeaction which was voted for by 90 percent of the city's staff body earlier thisyear.

"This is a long-term battle thateveryone's going to watch," said EricHanuskek, a senior fellow in educationat the Hoover Institution of StanfordUniversity.

"Other teachers unions in theUnited States are wondering if theyshould follow suit."

Chicago is the third-largest USschool district and the walkout hascreated a problem for parents whohave been left struggling to place theirchildren with alternative supervision.

The strike by has created a politicalheadache for Emanuel just as he'sdecided to take a larger role in hisformer boss's campaign.

Up to 350,000 children inObama's hometown have been put atrisk and city officials admitted thatunsupervised children living in areaswith a history of violence wereexceptionally vulnerable.

Authorities investigating themurder of a British-Iraqi familyin the French Alps called in abomb squad after findingsuspicious items at their home in

Surrey, England.Investigators also ordered onMonday a temporaryevacuation of neighboringhomes and extended the police

Campaign group SurvivalInternational, which hadurged Venezuela to

investigate reports of a massacre ofYanomami people in the Amazon,says it now believes no attack tookplace.

Survival reached this viewafter speaking to its own sources,the group said.

Reports emerged in August thatillegal gold miners had killed up to80 people.

Venezuelan officials said a teamsent to the area had found no bodiesand no evidence of an attack.

The attack was alleged to havehappened in the remote Irotathericommunity, close to the borderwith Brazil.

Survival carried reports from

Yanomami organisations whichdescribed how illegal gold minershad set fire to a communal house,and how witnesses said they hadfound burnt bodies.

There were said to be threesurvivors.

On Monday, SurvivalInternational said this account didnot appear to be correct.

"Having received its owntestimony from confidentialsources, Survival now believesthere was no attack by miners onthe Yanomami community ofIrotatheri," said a statement fromStephen Corry, SurvivalInternational's director.

Yanomami in the area, wheremany illegal gold miners areoperating, had heard stories of a

cordon as a precaution, AlJazeera's Peter Sharp reported.British police said in a statementthat the bomb squad had beencalled in "due to concerns arounditems found at the address" inClaygate. But they added thatthe items "not hazardous."As this developed, police alsoreported that a seven-year-oldsurvivor, who could providecrucial new leads to theinvestigation, had come out ofcoma on Sunday."The little girl has come out ofthe artificial coma but she isunder sedation and her speech isnot yet audible," prosecutor EricMaillaud told the AFP newsagency.She was shot in the shoulder andbeaten around the head,

suffering a fractured skull.Last week, three members of theal-Hilli family were found deadnear the village of Chevaline inFrance, close to the Annecy Lakeand the Swiss border. Saad al-Hilli, his wife Iqbal and hismother-in-law were discoveredlifeless inside their car. A passingFrench cyclist identified asSylvain Mollier was also killed.The al-Hilli daughters, 7-year-old Zainab and 4-year-old Zeenawere also shot but survived withserious injuries. The elder Zainabwas rushed to the hospital, butZeena spent eight hours hidingamong the bodies of threedeceased adults.The nature of the shooting - withwitnesses targeted and thevictims in the car each

Three members of the al-Hilli family were shot dead while onvacation in the French Alps [AFP]

killing in July and this wasreported, by some, as havinghappened in Irotatheri, Mr Corrysaid.

"We currently do not knownwhether or not these stories weresparked by a violent incident, whichis the most likely explanation, buttension remains high in the area."

The Venezuelan governmentsaid teams sent to investigate thereports had found no evidence of anattack.

Indigenous rights campaignerssaid the Venezuelan officials mighthave failed to find the communityin question, which is based in aremote jungle location.

Journalists were then taken tothe area on Friday and Saturday,where Yanomami villagers said

there had been no violence."No-one's killed anyone," a

Yanomami man said through atranslator. "Here we are all fine."

The Yanomami number anestimated 30,000, with theircommunities spanning theVenezuela-Brazil border area.


Southern whites troubled byRomney’s wealth, religion

Sheryl Harris, a voluble 52-year-old with a Virginiadrawl, voted twice for

George W. Bush. Raised Baptist,she is convinced -- despite allevidence to the contrary -- thatPresident Barack Obama, apracticing Christian, is Muslim.

So in this year's presidentialelection, will she support MittRomney? Not a chance.

"Romney's going to help theupper class," said Harris, whoearns $28,000 a year as activitiesdirector of a Lynchburg seniorcenter. "He doesn't know everydaypeople, except maybe the personwho cleans his house."

She'll vote for Obama, shesaid: "At least he wasn't broughtup filthy rich."

White lower- and middle-income voters such as Harris arewild cards in this vituperativepresidential campaign. With onlya sliver of the electorate in playnationwide, they could be adeciding factor in two southernswing states, Virginia and NorthCarolina.

Polling data compiled over thepast several months shows that,across the Bible Belt, 38 percentof these voters said they would beless likely to vote for a candidatewho is "very wealthy" than onewho isn't. This is well above the20 percent who said they would beless likely to vote for an African-American.

At the Democratic conventionlast week, Obama mocked theGOP's "tax breaks formillionaires" as "the sameprescription they've had for thelast 30 years."

A former private equityexecutive with a net worth of some$250 million, Romneyvehemently disputes insinuationsthat he has paid less taxes thanrequired by law. He calls theattacks an effort "to divertattention from the fact that thepresident has been a failure whenit comes to reigniting theAmerican economy."

The GOP nominee's lucrativebusiness career, which he touts far

more than his record as governorof Massachusetts, does resonatewith many Southernconservatives. "I don't like to seethe wealthy punished for theirsuccess," said Cory Beaver, 26, ashe waited on customers at aLynchburg restaurant. "Obamaleans toward socialism."

Romney's opposition to gaymarriage and his commitment toreversing the Supreme Court'sdecision granting women the rightto abortion also gain him moresupport in the Bible Belt than inother regions of the country.

Large swaths of northernVirginia, which includesWashington, D.C. suburbs, andthe Tidewater region, with itsheavy military presence, see thefederal government as morefriend than enemy.

Mitt Romney Speaks at Mansfield, Ohio during a campaign rally

US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2012

sweltering afternoon."Romney took a lot of

businesses that were failing andturned them around," he said,adding: "I don't see big business asevil. Obama is using class warfarewith his ads about Romneywanting to give tax breaks tomillionaires."

Obama's plan is to extendBush-era tax cuts for families withincomes under $250,000 a year,while Romney and congressionalRepublicans support an across-the-board extension.

In a poll data, 35 percent of thewhite Southern group saw Romneyas having a "better approach" totaxes, while 25 percent thoughtObama does.

Paradoxically, the same groupagreed by more than 4 to 1 with thestatement: "The wealthiestAmericans should pay highertaxes," which is Obama's campaigntheme.

The apparent contradiction inpublic attitudes about tax policymirrors widespread confusion overthe Affordable Healthcare Act,which Romney has promised torepeal.

Overall, 54 percent ofAmericans -- and a decisive 69percent of white low- and median-income Southerners -- opposedObamacare, according to theReuters/Ipsos data. But whenasked about specific parts of thelaw, the results largely favored thepresident. Both groups opposedthe provision that would requirethem to buy health insurance.However, by more than 2 to 1, bothsupported making businesses withmore than 50 employees offerinsurance and forcing insurancecompanies to cover people withpreexisting conditions.

If Obama has fed classresentment with attacks onRomney's taxes and his mixedrecord at Bain Capital, the GOPis tapping into a different strainof white middle-class rancor -- onedirected toward low-incomerecipients of government aid.

A Romney ad asserts that"Under Obama's plan, youwouldn't have to work andwouldn't have to train for a job.They just send you a welfarecheck." Independent fact-checkerssay the ad distorts theadministration's plan to give statesmore flexibility on work rules -- arequest that came from Republicangovernors.

"I don't believe in freehandouts," said Robert McCanna,a former accountant. "Obama ispitting blacks against whites."

Retired truck driver LyleCampbell interjected, "If I wasblack, I would get anything I want."

Just up the street, however,Sheryl Harris, the senior centeractivities director, sees the electionthrough the lens of class, not race."Romney didn't get to the top of thepile by being a nice guy," she said."To make the money he makes youhave to step on a lot of people ...Democrats are more interested inhelping the lower and middleclasses."

At Liberty's Maycommencement, Romney, aMormon, sought to stake outcommon ground withfundamentalist Christians.Without directly mentioning theChurch of Jesus Christ of LatterDay Saints, as the Mormon churchis formally known, he told thecrowd of 34,000: "People ofdifferent faiths, like yours andmine ... can meet in service, inshared moral convictions aboutour nation stemming from acommon worldview."

however, 35 percent of votersoverall, and the same proportionof lower- and middle-incomewhite Bible Belt voters, say theywould be less likely to vote for acandidate who is Mormon.

Many evangelicals who wouldnormally vote Republican say they

view Mormonism as a cult."Mormons don't believe like

we believe," said DiannaMcCullough, a retired factoryworker, as she tossed salad in aTree of Life Ministries soupkitchen. "Like the wives --Romney's probably got more thanone."

Still, she is undecided in theelection. "The gay marriage thinghurts Obama," she said. "It'sAdam and Eve, not Adam andSteve."

The president has said hesupports gay marriage, whereasRomney, in his speech at Liberty,drew his biggest applause with theline, "Marriage is a relationshipbetween one man and onewoman."

"Abortion and gay marriage --where they stand on morality,that's big for me," she said.

Democratic TV spots inVirginia and other battlegroundstates portray Romney asoutsourcing jobs to China andMexico when he was chiefexecutive officer of Bain Capital -- a charge he calls "deceptive anddishonest."

The GOP nominee's attacks on"big government" as "hostile and"remote" appeal more strongly towhite low- and median-incomeSoutherners than to the nation asa whole. The deep cuts in thefederal government's domesticprogram pushed by his vice-presidential nominee, Paul Ryan,reinforce the message.

"Other than the military,everything that's government-controlled is screwed up," saidWilliam Clarkson, a retiredpostman who was rooting for theLynchburg Hillcats, the city'sminor league baseball team, on a

Will Americans stick with Obama?The US unemployment rate

registered a drop onFriday, but mainly because

so many have simply given uplooking for work.

Barack Obama was aware ofthe new figures as he took to thestage at the Democratic NationalConvention in Charlotte, NorthCarolina, on Thursday night topromise that he could still fulfillhis pledge of hope he made in2008.

The US president spared noinsult against his Republicanopponents, taking on their plansto improve the economy andcriticising their foreign policycredentials.

"You don't call Russia our No1 enemy - not al-Qaeda, Russia -unless you're still stuck in a ColdWar mind warp. You might not beready for diplomacy with Beijingif you can't visit the Olympicswithout insulting your closestally," Obama said.

When he ran for president fouryears ago Obama presentedhimself as a symbol of change.

On Thursday night however hepledged to be a pragmatic leader

who was willing to compromiseeven with his fiercest critics on theright.

"And the truth is, it will takemore than a few years for us tosolve challenges that have built upover decades. It'll requirecommon effort, sharedresponsibility, and the kind ofbold, persistent experimentationthat Franklin Roosevelt pursuedduring the only crisis worse thanthis one… And by the way, thoseof us who carry on his party'slegacy should remember that notevery problem can be remediedwith another governmentprogramme or dictate fromWashington.

He went on to say: "We knowthat churches and charities canoften make more of a differencethan a poverty programme alone.We don't want handouts forpeople who refuse to helpthemselves, and we certainlydon't want bailouts for banks thatbreak the rules."

"President Obama has beenjaded by his experience of dealingwith the very difficult Americansystem, even when he had a

super-majority there are so manyways that the minority can veto anagenda in Congress…[but] I don'tthink that Obama has a plan for ifhe wins big."

Among Barack Obama'skey pledges:

• To create one million newmanufacturing jobs by 2016

The US unemployment rate registered a drop last week, butmainly because so many have simply given up looking for work.

• To double exports by the endof 2014

• To cut net oil imports in halfby 2020

• To reduce US deficit by morethan $4 trillion

• He used the word 'change'seven times on Thursday night. In2008 he said it 32 times.


People can be fat and fit – studyNearly half of fat people are

just as healthy as slimpeople - and at no more

risk of developing heart problemsor cancer, researchers claim.

Doing exercise can offset thedangers of being obese, theresearchers found.

The study - which is thelargest of its kind - abolishes thenotion that obesityautomatically leads to ill-health.

It shows that some fat peoplemanage to remain‘metabolically healthy’ eventhough their body mass indexwould suggest they are not.

They have less risk of dyingprematurely than unhealthyobese people and up to half therisk of developing or dying fromheart disease or cancer.

Other research suggests that,among those with heartproblems, those who areunderweight or even normalweight are actually worse offthan those who are fat.

Overweight and obese peopleshould not fight the flab afterhaving a heart attack becausethey are more likely to outlivetheir leaner counterparts, thenew data says.

The controversial findingscome as Britain grapples with anobesity epidemic, with almost aquarter of Britons classified asobese and around halfoverweight.

But an international study of43,265 people shows people canbe obese but metabolicallyhealthy and fit, with as muchchance of keeping cardiovasculardisease and cancer at bay asnormal weight people.

Obese people who aremetabolically healthy don’tsuffer from conditions such asinsulin resistance, diabetes andhigh cholesterol or blood pressureand are fitter, as measured byhow well the heart and lungsperform, than other obese people.

The new study, whichrecruited Americans between1979 and 2003 who underwentfitness tests, found 46 per cent ofthe obese recruits weremetabolically healthy.

They had a 38 per cent lowerrisk of death from any cause than

their metabolically unhealthyobese peers, and the same risk ashealthy, normal weightparticipants.

The risk of developing ordying from heart disease orcancer was reduced by between30-50 per cent for metabolicallyhealthy, obese people, comparedwith fat unhealthy people, andwas similar to those of normalweight.

Study leader Dr FranciscoOrtega said ‘It is well known thatobesity is linked to a large numberof chronic disease such ascardiovascular problems andcancer.

‘However, there appears tobe a sub-set of obese people whoseem to be protected fromobesity-related metaboliccomplications.

‘Our study suggests that

People can be obese but metabolically healthy and fit, found aninternational study.

Despite what someresearch has suggested,women with migraines

may have no greater risk ofbecoming overweight thanother women do, a large studyfinds.

Some studies, though not all,have found a connectionbetween excess pounds and ahigher rate of migraine. Butthey have mainly studied peopleat one point in time - leaving itunclear whether the pounds orthe migraines came first.

“Our study should bereassuring that havingmigraine is not associated withfuture increase in relative bodyweight or obesity,” researcherDr. Tobias Kurth, of the Frenchnational research institute

INSERM and the University ofBordeaux, told Reuters Healthby email.

In the new study,researchers looked at data fromthe Women’s Health Study, along-term clinical trial thatbegan following thousands ofU.S. women in the mid-1990s.

Overall, women who hadmigraines at the outset were nomore likely than other womento become overweight or obeseover the next 13 years. And theaverage weight gain in bothgroups was almost identical, ataround 10 pounds.

“We do not see convincingdata that migraine should beconsidered a risk factor for thedevelopment of obesity,” Kurthsaid.

greater among women with ahistory of migraine, and the riskof becoming overweight wasonly slightly higher - 11percent.

Severe migraines did notseem to carry a risk of extrapounds, either, Kurth’s teamfound. Women who hadmigraines weekly to daily wereat no greater risk of becomingoverweight or obese than thosewhose migraines came a fewtimes a year.

The study did not look at thequestion in the other direction:Are overweight or obese womenat increased risk of migraines,or more severe ones?

“This is still possible,” Kurthsaid. “In fact, several studieshave now shown that obesity is

Migraines not tied to greater weight gainFat but fit? Dr Ortega said not allobese people have the sameprognosis

associated with increasedmigraine frequency.”

There is also some evidencetying obesity to an elevated riskof developing migraines in thefirst place, Kurth said.

But, he added, theprevalence of migraine hasremained stable in recentdecades, while obesity rateshave soared. So it would notseem “reasonable” to assumeobesity is causing cases ofmigraine, Kurth said.

A limit of the study, theresearchers say, is that all of thewomen were at least 45 yearsold at the start, and still normal-weight at that point. So it’s notclear if the findings would be thesame for young women.

Source: Reuters.com

metabolically healthy but obesepeople have a better fitness levelthan the rest of obese individuals.

‘We believe that getting moreexercise broadly and positivelyinfluences major body systemsand organs and consequentlycontributes to make someonemetabolically healthier,including obese people.

‘In our study, we measurefitness, which is largelyinfluenced by exercise.’

Dr Ortega is a researchassociate at the Department ofPhysical Activity and Sport,University of Granada, Spain),and at the Karolinska Institute inSweden, but the investigationtook place at the University ofSouth Carolina, USA.

Dr Ortega said ‘Physiciansshould take into considerationthat not all obese people have thesame prognosis. Physician couldassess fitness, fatness andmetabolic markers to do a betterestimation of the risk ofcardiovascular disease andcancer of obese patients.

‘Our data support the ideathat interventions might be moreurgently needed in metabolicallyunhealthy and unfit obesepeople, since they are at a higherrisk. This research highlightsonce again the important role ofphysical fitness as a healthmarker.’

The findings are publishedonline today in the EuropeanHeart Journal.

A second study whichanalysed data from 64,000 heartpatients in Sweden provides newevidence supporting the ‘obesityparadox’, which means fatpatients with heart disease have‘paradoxically’ better outcomesand survival than thinnerpatients.

The greatest risk of dying wasamong the underweight andmorbidly obese, who have thevery highest levels of obesity.

The lowest risk of death wasfound among overweight andobese patients, said researcher DrOskar Angerås, consultantcardiologist at the SahlgrenskaAcademy, University ofGothenburg.

He said it was well known that

In theory, migraines couldcontribute to weight gainindirectly. Frequent or severeheadaches could keep a personfrom regular exercise, forexample.

But the new findings,reported in the journalCephalalgia, do not support thattheory.

The results are based on19,162 female healthprofessionals who were age 45or older, and normal-weight,when they entered the study.Almost 3,500 reported a historyof migraines.

Over the next 13 years, 41percent of those women becameoverweight, while about 4percent became obese. The oddsof becoming obese were no

maintaining a healthy weightcould help avoid heart problems.

But advice to overweight andobese patients who have alreadydeveloped heart problems to loseweight was wide of the mark as itmight have a ‘negative effect’.

Excess weight may helpbecause patients have morereserves to fight chronic diseasethan thinner patients.

Amy Thompson, SeniorCardiac Nurse at the BritishHeart Foundation (BHF), said:‘In the majority of cases, obesityis an undeniable risk factor fordeveloping coronary heartdisease. However, these studies

remind us that it is not alwaysyour weight that’s important,but where you carry fat and alsohow it affects your health andfitness.

‘It is particularly importantto be aware of your weight if youare carrying excess fat aroundyour middle. The fat cells hereare really active, producing toxicsubstances that cause damagewhich can lead to heart disease.Maintaining a healthy diet withlots of physical activity can helpto slim you down as well as reduceyour risk of heart healthproblems.’

Source: Dailymail.co.uk


Yuguda’s frequent travels to wooinvestors-Information Commissioner

How will you respondto the allegation thatYuguda and his men

siphoned public funds forpersonal use?

All of you know hisExcellency even before hebecame the governor of BauchiState, he was rich. Since I knewhim, he has been very honestand trustworthy and there hasnever been any day that hisExcellency takes a kobo singlekobo from government pursefor his personal use and hedoesn’t give chance foreverybody to do that. He knowsthat he will be questionedabout it on the last day and hetook all precautions to makesure that he did not touch orembezzle government funds.Please check your record verywell, you are closer to him andyou have seen what is goingon. How can you say he tookmoney from the government?Where is the money that he isgoing to take? Please tell thesepeople that this government isa transparent and accountablegovernment; we don’t do thiskind of mess; we don’t knowanything about that. Soanybody going about pressconference to make wildallegation is telling lies. Theyare mischievous and theattempt is to blackmailcredible people; but it’s nottrue, go and tell them.

70% contract money hasbeen paid on Airport project,CPC alleged that the ChiefPress Secretary said 60% ofthe project has beencompleted while whatcontrary.

That is total ignorance onthe projects. There areequipments and theseequipments are about 40% ofthe project which cannot beinstalled until the building iscompleted. There areequipments which have beenpaid for since he is talking onnot only the structure on theground.

But why is it that most ofthe projects awarded by theadministration like roads,hospitals are still ongoingdespite the fact that youhave paid 70% downpayment?

Where you see a projectongoing may be is due to onereason or the other because ofthe terrain or because of heavyrain or because the contractorswere looking for somecomponent to be fix. Where wehave such problems, we stopthe work and continue later.Our major concern is to makesure that the contractorscontinue to work on site, not tostop the work. And one thingyou will appreciate, theseprojects were the projects thatall past governors thatgoverned Bauchi state areafraid to touch. We are happyGovernor Yuguda awarded thecontracts and we are makingprogress

The renovation of thestate House of Assemblyand Ningi Burra, AlkaleriFutuk roads contract arestill ongoing, but 70% downwas paid but each time thegovernor visits the projectshe always say Allah ya isainstead of him to prosecutethe contractor

When he said Allah ya isahe is saying it to the cheaters ,not to himself. When issue likethis arises, you have to look at

two things: the money youpaid and the job to be done. Thebest option is to see thecontractors continue to workand if you revoke the contractand award it to someone,sometimes there may beunnecessary litigations whichwill affect the state becauseonce we enter into litigation,it will affect the work andstate will lose. When he saidAllah Ya Isa he is saying it tothe cheaters. In order to makethem rethink that they willone day assemble and bequestioned by Allah. Apartfrom that, we continue topursue the contractors, invitethem for discussion andencourage them to continuewith the work. The mostimportant thing is they are

Engineer Mohammed Damina

still on site continuing with thework. Slow and steady, we willcomplete all before the end ofthe administration.

But there are allegationsthat when you pay 70%,government officials collectbetween 30% or 40%, andleave the contractors withthe balance as published insome reports?

Who made the allegations?The opposition CPCThis is blatant lie, mischief

aimed to dent our image. Whenwe are paying we paid themoney to contractors. They areaccountable and once we paidthe money to you, you are tobe held responsible. If to say thecontractors tell you suchthings then they have a caseto make but for the CPC, it’sjust criticism that can’t holdwater.

The CPC in its pressconference alleged that Yuguda is wastinggovernment funds ontravelling to the extent thathe doesn’t stay in the state.What is your reaction tothat?

Governor Isa Yuguda is notwasting time in Abuja but heis pursuing matters of stateinterest. He is busy pursuingthings for the progress ofBauchi state. For instance, theissue of a Kidney Center which

is going to be established inBauchi very soon, is the effortof the governor since you can’tsit in Bauchi to talk toimportant personalities thatwill bring development toyour state. The solarelectricity was also launchedrecently in Bauchi; you can’tsit down here and talk toGerman Embassy in Abuja orin Germany; you can’t sit inBauchi and call this people tocome and invest in Bauchi.You have to go about andmobilize them so that we willget the dividends ofdemocracy in the state. Thatis the essence of going aboutinviting people to come andinvest in the state; he is goinglobbying for the developmentof the state because once theyagree to invest ,all problemslike Sara Suka and manyproblems will be solvebecause of employmentopportunities since they sayan idle man is a devilworkshop. If they areemployed they help todevelop the state. See theissue of teaching hospital, theagitation for teachinghospital started since 1976but it wasn’t successful untilwhen the presentadministration came intopower. This is also part of theadvantages of going aboutlobbying since you can’t sitin your room and lobbypeople. He is fighting for usoutside.

Any message to thepeople of the state?

The people of Bauchi stateshould continue to be patient,support and appreciate theefforts of the governor totransform the state anddeliver dividends ofdemocracy to their doorsteps. Apart from humandevelopments in which wehave made so manyinterventions by sendingtheir children back to school,creating so many jobopportunities in which over50,000 youths were trainedon various skills, we have alsorenovated and upgraded over1000 primary health carecenters. We have constructedmany general hospitals andwe have renovated allsecondary schools in the statewhich were neglected sincefirst republic, about 35 yearsago. We are now on legacyprojects like buildingInternational Airport, IPPpower plants, building stateuniversity, Specialist Hospitaland many other projects. Iassure all that the ongoingprojects will be completedbefore the end of theadministration.

INTERVIEW

Engineer Mohammed Damina,Bauchi state Commissioner ofInformation, in this interview respondsto allegations of corruption madeagainst his principal, Governor IsaYuguda, by the opposition CPC just as hedefends his boss’ frequent travels out ofthe state. Our Correspondent, AhmedKaigama, was there. Excerpts:

“We are now on legacy projects likebuilding International Airport, IPP power

plants, building state university,Specialist Hospital and many other

projects. I assure all that the ongoingprojects will be completed before the

end of the administration


2015: Jonathan's adoption bySouth/south a ruse, says Buhari

Presidential candidate of theCongress for Progressive Change(CPC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari,

yesterday described that the purportedadoption of President Goodluck Jonathanas the Presidential candidate of the PeoplesDemocratic Party (PDP) in the 2015Presidential election a ruse.

Buhari spoke in his Kaduna residencewhen he received the party's CPCgovernorship candidate for the October 20election in Ondo state, Prince SojiEhinlanwo. Ehinlawo was accompaniedon the trip to Buhari's residence by CPC'sNational Publicity Secretary, RotimiFashakin and other party officials.

"I don't take the decision of South-southleaders seriously. South-south people saidit is Jonathan or nothing. I know they aremembers of the Peoples Democratic Party,let them vote for him in a free and fairelections; let us see if they can give himthe ticket against other geo-political zones.Let them give him the primary ticketfirst, let them vote for him when 2015comes and let us see if he would win,'Buhari said.

The CPC leader also urged the elites toshun apathy in the interest of sustainingand stabilising the nation's multi-partydemocracy, saying, "It is also up to theelites to participate and ensure thatelections are free and fair.

"It is not necessary for them to be cardcarrying members of political parties.They know how to participate, theyshould not sit and look, they can go to theirconstituencies to identify and enlightentheir people on the need to entrench freeand fair election to stabilise the country"Buhari counseled.

While lamenting the non-prosecution

Face your legislative duties, group tells Kogi NASS members

A youth group, Peoples AssemblyNetwork, has called onlawmakers representing Kogi state in

the National Assembly to face their legislativeduties instead of intruding into governance atthe state level.

The group in a communiqué issued after aworkshop said that the national legislatorsshould think about how to improve theirimmediate communities rather than passing

blames, noting that their own failures werenoticeable than the past leaders they claimedto be denigrating.

In the communiqué signed by IlyasuMuktar, the group said the recent comment bySenator Nurudeen Abatemi about formergovernor of the state, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris,concerning insecurity in the Kogi Central wastantamount to setting people against themselveswhich would breed ill-wind

The group noted that Capt Idris Wada isworking to ensure peace across the state with the

of those indicted in pension, subsidy andother scams, he said it is only in Nigeriathat people who worked for 10 to 35 yearsretired and many of them die on queuewhile trying to collect their entitlementsthat have been stolen by some serving andretired government officials.

"Why are those officials not prosecutedto retrieve the stolen money? It is only in

Nigeria that fraud of these magnitudestake place and this incompetentgovernment is doing nothing about it,' helamented.

Buhari also commended Ehinlanwo forthe sacrifice he made by leaving his plumjob at the European Commission to contestthe election and contribute to the growthand stability of the nation's democracy. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

in the South-West has said thatAction Congress of Nigeria (ACN)

leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu mustapologise to Nigerians for bringing thecountry into disrepute with his lie thathe was specially invited to attend theUnited States Democratic PartyConvention.

Reacting to claim by the ACN that PDPwas carrying out a smear campaignagainst Tinubu, PDP National Vice-Chairman (South-West), Chief SegunOni's Media Aide, Lere Olayinka said theACN should rather advise Tinubu to gofor deliverance so that he can be purgedof the spirit of lies that has made him tolie about everything, including hispaternity.

Olayinka said; "For those of us thatwent to proper schools, there was thisstory called 'puro kin niyi, ete nii muwa'(if you tell lie to be acknowledged, youwill be disgraced ultimately). That isexactly what is confronting Tinubu now.

"Or was it PDP that made Tinubu, inhis characteristic manner to lie that hewas invited and given a 'Gold Card' toattend the Democratic Party Conventionwhen in actual fact, he bought hisinvitation with $5,000?

"Was it PDP that made Tinubu to liethat he attended Government College ,Ibadan , which he never attended? Was italso PDP that made him to lie that hisprimary and secondary school certificatesgot burnt, and also made it impossible forhim to go to back to 'St. John PrimarySchool, Aroloya, Lagos' and GovernmentCollege, Ibadan that he claimed heattended to collect another certificates?

"Now that Tinubu is being faced withthe consequences of his world of lies, is itPDP that must be blamed?

"To us in the PDP, the most honourablething for these fraudulent elements in theACN to do is to own up to the fakepersonality that Tinubu, their leader hasbecome and apologise to Nigerians forridiculing the country with their lies ofTinubu's invitation by Obama?"

Tinubu mustapologise toNigerians overfalse claim onObama's invitation- S/West PDPFrom Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

Chairman, interim management ofJemaa Local Government inKaduna state, Mr Yunana Barde, has

resigned his position to contest the council’schairmanship.

“Yes, I am contesting the chairmanship ofJemaa Local Government; as the constitutiondemands, I have resigned my chairmanship ofthe caretaker committee to present my self beforethe electorate for a democratic mandate,’’ Bardetold the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) inKafanchan on Monday

The Kaduna State Independent ElectoralCommittee has already fixed Dec. 1, 2012 for theLocal Government Council polls.

Barde, who is contesting on the platform ofthe PDP, said that he was eyeing the seat to affordhim the opportunity to consolidate on hisachievement after more than one year aschairman of the caretaker committee team.

He identified his ability to install lasting peacein troubled Kafanchan as one of his key

achievements, and explained that he achievedthat by bringing all stakeholders to see the need toaccept each other and live as one family.

“I made it a point to preach the need to live inunity. I also made the people to accept that theymust live together being citizens of one country asdestined by God.

“In the course of my pursuit of peace, I realizedthat most of the trouble in Kafanchan was usuallybrought in by people from outside, so I made it apoint that community leaders must strive to knowany stranger among them and understand his orher mission.

“I also spoke with the youths groups andconvinced them that no one can be bigger thanthe government. I also told them that it was intheir interest that peace is maintained becausethey still have more time ahead of them and shouldnot use their hands to destroy their future,’’ hesaid.

He identified the movement of the Kafanchanmarket from its former location to a more spacious

Jemaa LG caretaker committee chairman resigns to contest chairmanshiparea, as the most challenging moment of his 15-month service as caretaker committeechairman.

“We also wanted to make out better streetsand build a modern motor park. Really, it was noteasy, but I am happy that the traders and otherstakeholders eventually bought into my idea andwe moved the market to a better place.’’

On his focus when elected as council chair,Barde said that he would pay special attention tosecurity, unity and development of the area.

“The potential in Kafanchan and Jemaa as awhole is enormous; if we can achieve permanentpeace and unity, the coast will be very clear for asound development that would launch Jemaainto a great path of growth and prosperity,’’ hesaid.

He said that Kafanchan, as the headquartersof the South of Kaduna state, required someaesthetic beauty and would therefore be given afacelift, while many of the main streets were indire need of drainages. (NAN)

security structures currently in place, stressingthat all those insulting and trying to causedisaffection in the state were people who have nobusiness in Kogi state.

While calling on all sons and daughters ofKogi at home and in diaspora to emulate thehumility, discipline and resourcefulness of lateSenator A.T Ahmed, Dr S. Achema and Chief S.Awoniyi for their selfless service in working forunity and progress of the state, the group urgedtrue sons of the state in whatever position to thinkabout development and stop passing blame.


From Muhammad Adamu, Kaduna

Gen. Muhammadu Buhari

Bola Ahmed Tinubu


The controversy whichtrailed the purportedelection of Chairman and

Secretary of Inter Party AdvisoryCouncil (IPAC) last month inAbuja, has taken a new twist as29 registered political partiescalled on the IndependentNational Electoral Commission(INEC) to wade in and arrest thedeterioration of the Council.

The parties which met on theauspices of 'Friends of IPAC', calledon INEC not to recognize or relatewith persons purportedly elected

on the above date, since, theyalleged, the process of theirelection did not conform with theINEC's requirements andguidelines, as stipulated in theIPAC's Establishment Clause,Section C, Subsection II (Page 14)of the Political Parties Code ofConduct 2011.

While arguing that theattempted election was flawedbecause it contravened theinstrument governing both thestructure and operations of IPAC(Parties Code of Conduct 2011),the 29 political parties called onINEC to immediately commence

consultations with the politicalparties and IPAC Secretariatwith a view to organize a legallyacceptable election to thepositions of Chairman andSecretary.

According to theirSpokesman, Demian UzomaOgbonna, who doubles as theChairman of Peoples ProgressiveParty (PPP), "The conveners ofthe last month purportedelection led us to believe thatINEC was going to be at themeeting to perform its role asanticipated by the Code ofConduct.

IPAC election crisis deepens asparties call INEC intervention

PDP Woman Leader and ex-officio member in theNorth-West Zone, Ms Naomi

Waziri, has lauded KadunaGovernor Patrick Yakowa’s“fairness to the womenfolk’’, andadvised other leaders to emulatehim.

“Governor Yakowa has beenvery nice to women in Kadunastate. He has been very faithfulto the promise to give 35 per centof appointments to women inemployment and appointments,’’Waziri told the News Agency ofNigeria (NAN) in Kafanchan,Kaduna state, on Monday.

She declared that womengroups were “generally veryhappy’’ with the Yakowagovernment because “for the firsttime, here is a leader that givesthem priority in whatever hedoes’’.

Waziri, currently asupervisory councilor in theinterim management committeeof Jemaa Local Government, saidthat the governor had alwaysdeclared women as “the mostreliable’’ people he would want to

PDP woman leader says Yakowa “very fair to women’’

There are indications thatthe House ofRepresentatives may have

resolved to postpone itsresumption date to the 25th ofSeptember.

This is coming shortly after theSenate last week announced itsdecision to shift its resumptiondate by a week till same date.

Although the reason for theshift is not yet clear, there areindications that the leadership ofthe House may have resolved toshift the date so as to enablelawmakers' allowances to be paidinto their accounts before theirresumption after a long break.

Apart from the financial issue,it was gathered that some of thelawmakers who are not aroundhave impressed it upon theleadership to shift the datepending their arrival into thecountry.

Although efforts made to getthe House spokesman to commenton the development was futile,there are indications that theconsideration of the MediumTerm Expenditure Framework(MTEF) in preparation for the2013 budget would engage theparliament.

The lawmakers are alsoexpected to review the 2012budget performance in order toascertain the levelimplementation by the executive.Others issues expected to take thecentre stage in the parliamentinclude the controversialintroduction of N5000 note by theCentral Bank of Nigeria (CBN);the clamour for the governmentto rescind its decision to cede theBakassi Peninsula to Cameroonamongst others.

work, and expressed gratitudethat her colleagues had neverdisappointed him.

She also praised Yakowa’s wife,Amina, over the recentdistribution of variousempowerment items towardmaking self-reliant.

“In Kaduna South senatorialzone, for instance, 890 womenreceived assorted items likesewing machines, knittingmachines, cash and othermaterials to start their businesses.

“Many of such women havesince opened their shops and arealready doing well, while workinghard to meet the First Lady’scounsel to strengthen theirbusiness outfits so as to empowerand employ more women towarda better society,’’ she said.

Waziri also spoke on her recentempowerment scheme throughwhich she opened and stockedshops for 12 women and one man.

“From my savings over timeand meager allowances as acouncilor here, I spent N1.2million to build 13 shops atNgaskiya village, near Fadan-

Kagoma in Jemaa LocalGovernment.

“I also purchased assorteditems worth N1.8 million andshared among the shops which Igave to the beneficiaries toempower them and minimise thepoverty in the area.

“What I want to do is to helpthose in the grassroots at mysmall level here, while the biggertasks will be handled by the localand state governments. I found,at a point, that the women wereborrowing to meet basic needs likesalt and pepper and felt I shouldlift them up.’’

Waziri said that she hadopened accounts for thebeneficiaries into which they areexpected to deposit at N1,000every Monday, stressing thatthey could only be allowed towithdraw if it was to expand thebusiness.

“I have also told them to makesure that they empower or employat least one person in the next oneyear so that the society would beblessed by their blessings,’’ shesaid.

Reps to shiftresumptiontill Sept 25

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

L-R: SenatePresidentDavid Mark,presentingSouvenir toZimbabweanDeputy PrimeMinister andPresident ofGlobalpowerWomenNetworkAfrica, MsThokozaniKhupe, duringher visit tothe SenatePresident, onMonday inAbuja.

Photo: NAN

"Accordingly, we honouredtheir invitation, but as it turnedout, INEC did not attend tosupervise the purported election,in fact, INEC did communicatedagainst the election in a letterdated 24th August 2012, but theorganizers neglected it."

They regretted that after theelection, IPAC has become adriftand divided, with no clearleadership for the body,emphasizing that it would notaugur well with Nigeria'sdemocracy if a body so vital toparty's well being is debased forselfish gains.

On her experience as a LocalGovernment administrator, shedescribed the challenge as “ahuge eye opener’’, and identifiedacute shortage of funds as themajor problems of the councils.

“Most of the time, the localgovernment has to borrow to paysalaries. We have found thatthere is syndicate that makes itdifficult for the local governmentsto get the monies allotted to them.We have reported to the stategovernment and we are happythat the matter is beinginvestigated.’’

Waziri lauded Yakowa’scommitment to a better KadunaState via the massiveconstruction of roads, bridges andthe provision of electricity andother infrastructure to the ruralareas.

“The beauty of it is that he hastouched all areas, from education,to sports, health and social welfare;my counsel to the residents ofKaduna is to strive to give peace achance so that we shall gain fromthe largesse democracy has tooffer,’’ she said. (NAN)

By Lawrence Olaoye

Former Deputy Chief of Staffin the Presidency, PrinceOlusola Akanmode, has said

that bthe issue of growth anddevelopment should not be left tothe government and fewindividuals but should be for all.

Akanmode who stated this asa guest speaker at the fundraising for a modern mortuaryby Mopa Welfare Association inMopamuro LGA called on allNigerians to go back to the olddays when everyone was achange agent.

Akanmode called on thepeople to strive to sustain thelegacies of the past leaders ofMopa, whom he described aszealous and passionate in thedevelopment of the area.

He expressed gladness at thecommitment of Mopa sons anddaughters in ensuringaccountability and judicious useof the funds realized for thepurpose intended.

Development isbusiness for allsays AkanmodeFrom Sam Egwu, Lokoja


2015: Senator Aruwa dumps ANPP for PDPAn erstwhile chieftain of

the All Nigeria People'sParty (ANPP) in Kaduna,

Senator Muktar MohammedAruwa, formally joined thePeople's Democratic Party (PDP)yesterday, at a programme at theMurtalla Square which attractedGovernor Patrick IbrahimYakowa, among other prominent

members of the PDP.Sources close to the PDP

leadership described Aruwa'smovement as fundamental to thereported bid by Yakowa to contestthe 2015 governorship election inthe state.

But some members of theANPP who had earlier decampedto the PDP are apparentlyaggrieved saying that Yakowa didnot extend a similar gesture of

Plateau LP Senatorial candidate vows to continue predecessor's legacy

The candidate of the LabourParty in the forthcomingplateau North Senatorial

bye-elections, Hon. LumhumbaAdeh, yesterday vowed tocontinue with good legacy of lateSenator Gyang Dantong if elected.

According to him, he contestedthe last election on the same LPplatform and the rules of the

party stipulated that since hecontested last election and did notleave the party, nobody shouldcontest the ticket with him.

According to him, "I am hereto declare my intention for thePlateau North Senatorial seat, andif voted in to office I will continuethe good works that the lateSenator Gyang Dantong".

The LP candidate howeverdescribed the death of late Senator

Dantong as unfortunate,regrettable and sad lamentingthat late Dantong had beenpassionate about restoringpermanent peace to the state andthe country.

He said "we all have to workand bring back peace to all ourcommunities". He pledged towork hard to ensure that theyouths and women areempowered by providing jobs

Reps to probe N572million PHCN pension money discovered in UK Bank

The House ofRepresentatives hasvowed to commence a probe

into the 2.2million British pounds(N572m) of Power HoldingCompany of Nigeria (PHCN) pensionmoney discovered in an unutilizedBarclays Bank account in London.

Chairman, House CommitteeChairman on Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa made this known yesterdaywhile speaking at the commissioningof the Ikeja Forum Office forElectricity Complaints.

Dabiri-Erewa said the Housewill immediately, after resumptionfrom recess, begin enquiry into thesaid sum reported to have beenunutilized for over 20 years with

efforts to retrieve same meeting therocks.

The lawmaker who representedthe House Committee Chairman onPower, Patrick Ikhariale, said "Thisshould not be swept under the carpet.We will ensure that the issue is notswept under the carpet. It is inhumanand wicked to keep pensioners moneyin a foreign bank. And we will not sitback and watch that remain in thatbank".

Meanwhile, Minister of state forPower, Darius Ishaku, saidgovernment has commenced movesto retrieve the money and put it touse for the benefit of the workers inthe PHCN.

"The panel that was set uprecently by the President submittedtheir report yesterday (Monday) and

this was one of the discoveries by thepanel that is, the offshore amount.

'We are still negotiating with theNigeria Labour Congress (NLC) andwith this discovery, another windowhas been opened. The window showsthat we have some funds somewhere.At the end of the day, we will makeuse of the funds. The fund is in theadvantage of the negotiation that isongoing between the FederalGovernment and the NLC".

Ishaku also said the Ministry wasdoing everything within its powersto sustain the improvement in thepower sector, saying that it iscurrently generating about 4300megawatts of electricity acrossNigeria.

He said currently, Lagos wasenjoying 1124 megawatts of

electricity, assuring that the capacitywill improve overtime. Dousing fearsof power supply droping after therainy season, Ishaku said "the rainthis year has been good and we aredrawing from it. We hope and we areworking hard to make sure that whenthe rain stops, we will be able toequalize the difference in power fromour thermal stations. We are workinghard to improve on this".

Senate Committee Chairman onPower, Senator Philip Aduda, whilecommending the initiative of theForum Office to attend to thenumerous complaints by consumersof electricity, urged the NationalElectricity Regulatory Commission(NERC) to harmonise thecontroversy surrounding estimationof electricity bill by providing metres.

Kwankwaso pledges toimplement ECOWAS agreements

Ousmane, the Minister of Livestockin Niger Republic and Leader ofDelegation, reaffirmed thecommitment of his country towardthe promotion of trade andcommerce between Kano State andNiger Republic.

He commended Kwankwaso forinitiating the summit, saying theforum would go a long way instrengthening the long-standingrelationship between Nigeria andNiger Republic.

The theme of the conference was:"Towards Strengthening TheBilateral Relationship Between KanoState and Republic of Niger".

The conference was attended byprominent personalities, includingthe Inspector-General of PoliceMohammed Abubakar, theGovernor of Niamey, Zinder, Maradi,among others. (NAN).

From Nankpah Bwakan, Jos

"flamboyant" reception to them.But one of the PDP sources who

pleaded anonymity describedAruwa as a big fish who is expectedto contribute immensely towardsefforts to ensure that Yakowa scalesthrough in 2015.

Aruwa who representedKaduna central zone in the Senatebetween 1999 and 2007 said he leftthe ANPP with no fewer than 600members even as he explained his

decision was part of that the reasonsthe north lags behind other parts ofthe country in terms of generaldevelopment.

According to him, "if we lookcritically, development has beenmore in the east and west than inthe north. Currently, althoughinsecurity is widespread nationally,the situation in the north is worse.After making this analysis, Iwondered whether the northernhabit of forming several politicalparties is not at the root of our under-development and insecurity.

"With the north having about220 ethnic groups out of 240(nationwide) and with the majorreligions having reasonable roots inthis region, not much can beachieved by having several partiesin the region.

"The PDP provides the rightplatform towards which northernNigeria can be guided with a viewto realize its development potentials.If the need to acceleratedevelopment in the north is acrime, then I plead guilty ascharged," he declared.

From Agaju Madugba, Kaduna

opportunities for them includingthe provision of portable drinkingwater to the rural dwellers anddecent environment.

He said "as the flag bearer ofthe Labour Party, I am set todrive the zone into the social,political and economicmainstream in order to catch upand reap the benefits of a fastchanging and expanding globalsystem".

From Bimbo Ogunnaike, Lagos

L-R: Former Bauchi state Director of Press, Alhaji Maigari Khanna, receiving handover note fromhis predecessor, Alhaji Usman Ali, as the caretaker chairman of Shira Local Government Area inBauchi on Monday. Photo: NAN

Governor Rabi'uKwankwaso of Kano statesaid yesterday that his

government would implement allregional and bilateral agreements bythe Economic Community of WestAfrican States (ECOWAS) affectingits territory.

Kwankwaso made the pledge atthe opening ceremony of the 1STKano/Republic of Niger Trade andInvestment Forum, in Kano.

He said the implementation ofthe agreements was necessary inorder to ensure socio-economic andcultural development of the people ofKano state and Niger Republic.

''Kano and Niger Republic have along standing cordial relationshipsince the Trans-Saharan trade.

''So, there is need to revive therelationship for economic growth anddevelopment of Nigeria and NigerRepublic,'' he said.

Kwankwaso said the conferencewas important for both Kano Stateand Niger Republic and commendedNiger nationals resident in the statefor living peacefully with their hosts.

Earlier, Mamman Alhadji

The Conference of NigeriaPolitical Parties (CNPP) onTuesday in Abuja called for a

deliberate and sustained waragainst corruption for theemergence of ``true federalism'' inthe country.

The National PublicitySecretary of the conference, MrOsita Okechukwu, made call in aninterview with the News Agencyof Nigeria, (NAN).

Okechukwu attributed thecountry's under development tocorruption, adding that the FederalGovernment could harness thematerial and human resources ofthe country to fight the menace.

Okechukwu said truefederalism was obtainable beforethe civil war in 1966 when thedefunct regions ``did so well'' unlikethe current dispensation.

On fiscal federalism, thepolitician said "the power at thecenter is so much as governmentat that level is encroaching intoallocation of states''.

He added that the situation hadresulted to unfair revenueallocation formula where theFederal Government was takingabout 52 per cent of federationrevenues.

``If the Federal Governmentwas to share the amount cominginto its coffers, then developmentwould be realised in the variousstates that make up the federation.''(NAN).

CNPP callsfor ‘truefederalism’


The current hue and cry about recalling Mikel Obi and Osaze odemwingie to the Super Eagles hasbeen dismissed as unnecessary by a member of the Nigeria Football Federation’s technical crewand former Africa Player of the Year, Victor Ikpeba.

The mercurial finisher in his hey days said he believes that Nigeria could proceed with its rebuildingprocess under Stephen Keshi without the presence of the duo in the team.

Ikpeba made this statement as a guest analyst in a football magazine show, Monday Night Football,on SuperSport 3.

The winner of the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations was responding to Keshi leaving out the duo from the2-2 draw in Monrovia against Liberia at the weekend in the 2013 AFCON qualifying.

“Nigeria can do without Mikel and Osaze. Nigeria is bigger than the two players and after all bothplayers were part of the team that played against Guinea last year. And what happened?” said Ikpeba.

“Keshi tried to call the players and their response wasn’t the best and he had to take a decision. If I amKeshi I don’t think I will call them to the team again.”

Ikpeba also defended Keshi’s building process with the Super Eagles and believes the 2-2 draw inMonrovia guarantees Nigeria a “70 to 80 percent chance” of reaching next year’s edition of NationsCup, in South Africa.

“Stephen Keshi is on the right path with the team and what he’s doing with the team is very brave.And I must say the 2-2 draw against Liberia is a good result because it gives Nigeria a 70 to 80 percentchance of qualifying for the 2013 Nations Cup,” said the former Nigerian striker.

Nigeria will play hosts to Liberia in the return leg of the 2013 Afcon qualification in Calabar onOctober 14.

Piqued by the failure of some foreign-based players to work in sync with boththe Nigeria Football Federation (NFF)

and the Super Eagles’ technical crew in thequest to rebuild a new-look Super Eagles,

Head Coach Stephen Keshi, haspromised a surgical overhaul ofthe present squad to make wayfor as his dreamed of SuperEagles.

Keshi, who lambasted someplayers for being ‘unprofessional’following an avoidablegoalkeeping error that allowedthe Lone Stars of Liberia to levelup in the first leg of the finalphase of the 2013 Nations Cupqualifier, said he wouldsoon produce a truly new-lookSuper Eagles that would meetthe expectation of the people.

“I understand theapprehension of Nigerians. I willgive the country a new-lookSuper Eagles. And we will scoregoals aplenty,” Keshi saidstressing that it would requirehard work, commitment anddedication from all involved inthe rebuilding process.

However, keshi reiterated hiscall for understanding andpatience from soccer fans stressingthat it would be impossible toaccomplish the set targetespecially should harsh criticismcontinue to trail the team.

He added that such wouldrather distract than allow forconcentrated efforts at forging aformidable squad. “What I havealways asked for is patience, Ineed lots of it to succeed,” he said.

Meanwhile, Keshi hasdebunked reports that he singledout goalkeeper VincentEnyeama to blame for the drawagainst the Lone Stars of Liberia.The Eagles, it would be recalledwere leading 2-1 when thegoalkeeper committed anunforced error by letting the ballslipped off his hands into the net.

“I never at any moment saidthat Enyeama, who remains our

first choice keeper caused us thedraw in Liberia and in fact Ithink that he is one of the best inthe world but at times like thesepassion rules over reason, but wemust not bring individualplayers into our poorperformance, it’s a collectivefailure to win”, Ben Alaiya, theteam’s Media Officer, quotedKeshi as saying.

However, Peoples Daily Sportsrecalls that Keshi had been hardon some of the players for beingunprofessional and lacking theneeded commitment and vim torise to the challenge of winningmatches.

It was obvious his anger wasdirected at Enyeama, whosefault led to the equaliser and wasthe case in Malawi whencommitted similar blunder todeny Nigeria the maximumpoints less 45 seconds to the endof the game in Blantyre.

Also, Keshi had lashed out atEmmanuel Emenike and JosephYobo whose performances werebelow par in the Saturday gamein Monrovia.

Nonetheless, yesterday Keshiseemed to have retracted whenhe said no single individualshould be held responsiblebecause it requires collectiveeffort to achieve success orfailure.

In another development, thecoach has promised early releaseof team list of players that wouldbe needed to play the decisivereturn leg match in Calabar onOctober 13.

”The list of invited playerswill be made public early enoughand we are assure that we willnot only win but win well andplead with Nigerians includingenemies of the team for support”.

We don’t need Mikel or Osaze, says Ikpeba

Again, Keshi promisesnew-look Super Eagles... Says team not Enyeama to blame for Liberia drawBy Patrick Andrew

Keshi standing and shoutinginstructions to players

Mikel Obi Osaze Odemwingie

President Goodluck Jonathan is likely to host theTeam Nigeria Paralympic contingent to justconcluded London 2012 Paralympic Games.

Unlike their able-bodied counterparts who won nomedal in spite receiving enormous support, theparalympic athletes won a total of 13 medals; six gold,five silver and two bronze medals, a result that sawNigeria being thrid in medal log for Africa and 23 inthe overall.

According to Citizens News, the National SportsCommission (NSC) has decided to reward all themedalists with cash rewards based on the medalswon.

According to Team Nigeria’s Chef De Mission toLondon 2012 Paralympics, Dr Simon Ebhojiaye, theNational Sports Commission, NSC has directed thateach gold medalist gets a cash reward of 7,500 dollars,while silver medalist gets 5,000 dollars and the bronzemedalists also collect 2,500 dollars.

The gold medalists at the reception included EstherOnyema, Ivory Nwokorie, Loveline Obiji, GraceAnozie, Joy Onaolapo and Yakubu Adesokan. Thesilver medalists were Ifeanyi Nnajiofor, Lucy Ejike,Anthony Ulonna, Obichukwu Ikechukwu andFolashade Oluwafemi Ayo.

In a related development, Nigeria’s HighCommissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr DalhatuTafida (CFR), hosted Nigeria’s Paralympic team to acivic reception, at the Abuja House, 2-3 CampdenHill, W8 7 AD, London. Tafida commended the teamfor their performance.

Dr Tafida later presented a gift to Team Nigeria inappreciation of their heroic performance at London2012 Paralympics.

According to him “This reception is a testimony tothe importance we attached to the Paralympians inpromoting the image of Nigeria, and I am alsodelighted that we won 12 medals at the Games andmore importantly, our athletes against all odds alsoset new world records,

“Yakubu Adesokan even lifted almost four timeshis own weight, it was highly commendable,” Tafidasaid.

Team Nigeria finished on the 22nd position in theworld, and placed third in Africa’s medals chart.Tunisia was the first African team with nine gold,five silver and five bronze medals. Followed by SouthAfrica.

Jonathan to hostParalympicathletes Satunday


Wesley Sneijder,

Fabio Capello's Russia kept their 2014 World Cupqualifying campaign firmly on track with adecisive 4-0 victory over Group F rivals Israel

yesterday.An Alexander Kerzhakov brace and goals from

Alexander Kokorin and substitute Viktor Fayzulinensured Capello's side have a maxium six points fromtheir first two matches.

It was the former England coach's second competitivegame in charge after Friday's 2-0 win over NorthernIreland in Moscow, while Israel are still looking for theirfirst win after drawing 1-1 against Azerbaijan on Friday.

The Israelis proved no match for the 13th-rankedRussians who were all over a side 71 places behind themin the Fifa rankings from the outset at the Ramat Ganstadium with Kerzhakov having two early shots at goal.

The Zenit St Petersburg striker's determination soonpaid off however and he got the visitors off the mark afterjust seven minutes, with the 29-year-old's free-kickleaving Dudu Aouate with no chance in the Israeli goal.

Dynamo Moscow forward Kokorin claimed his firstinternational goal when he added a second after 18minutes.

The 21-year-old took advantage of some disarray inthe Israeli back line with two defenders colliding as theyscrambled to prevent Vladimir Bystrov from getting a

to add a second after 29 minutes but his header wasdeflected away from goal.

Israel battened down the hatches in the dying minutesof the first half but a determined fightback saw effortsfrom Bebras Natcho, Mahran Radi and captain YossiBenayoun all miss chances their target.

After the break Kerzhakov grabbed his second on 64minutes and was followed by Fayzulin whose volley froma Samedov cross on 77 minutes sealed victory with hissecond goal of the campaign.

It was a convincing performance from Russia, whohave not reached a World Cup finals since 2002, andhad struggled to see off Northern Ireland at theLokomotiv Stadium.

Capello's side next take on Portugal, their biggest rivalsfor an automatic spot in the World Cup, in just onemonth. Israel next play Luxembourg.

The FIFA QualityProgramme forFootball Turf relies on

the expertise of qualified testinstitutes to perform the testsof all football turf fields thatare looking to obtain FIFArecommended certification.In order to guarantee a highquality of testing as well asgood reproducibility betweenFIFA accredited testinstitutes, FIFA carries out aso-called round robin everyyear to ensure that allparticipating laboratories

Capello's Russia hammer Israel

impressive as he bagged atreble whileRamires, Lucas, Hulk, anown goal from Liu Jianyeand an Oscar penaltycompleted the rout.

Brazil tried to attack from theflanks, especiallythrough Neymar and Hulk,while Oscar was responsible oftwo assists for the two openinggoals. In the 22nd minute,Ramires combined

Neymar’s hat-trick sees rampant Brazil rout China

Annual FIFA field test for football turf totake place in October

Neymar recorded ahat-trick tohelp Brazil thrash

China 8-0 in an exhibitionmatch in Recife.

Brazil had little difficultyestablishing control overtheir beleaguered opponentsand the five-time FIFAWorld Cup winners ran riotin the second half, scoring sixgoals. Thet a l e n t e d N e y m a r w a s

with Oscar and beat Chinakeeper Cheng Zeng, while threem i n u t e slater Oscar assisted Neymar,who finished off a counter-attack.

They failed to add to theirlead before half-time butneeded just three minutesafter the intervalas Hulkteed up Lucas to

make it 3-0. In the 51stminute, Neymar’s strikefrom outside the box thencannoned off the crossbarand into the path of Hulk,who gratefully slotted home.

It was 4-0 but more goalswere about to come, as twominutes later, Marcelocrossed the ball from the left

a n d N e y m a r w a sunmarked to score the fifthgoal of the match. Anotherp r e s e n tfrom Oscar toNeymar allowedthe Santos striker tocomplete his hat-trick in the71st minute.

Liu then fired past his ownk e e p e rbefore Oscar completed thescoring from the spot after

Yu Yang needlessly elbowedMarcelo inside the area.China had only oneopportunity to find the net,with Yang’s free-kick headedaway by Sandro.

The last time Brazil scoredeight goals was on 20 May2006, when they defeated alocal team in Lucerne,Switzerland, before the FIFAWorld Cup in Germany.

meet the requirements set bythe programme.

The round robin is carriedout on two football turf fieldswhich are tested by allparticipating labs accordingto the current handbook oftest methods: all FIFAaccredited test institutesmust participate in order torenew their accreditationbut the process is equallyopen to any applicantinterested in obtaining FIFAaccreditation for the testingof football turf fields.

The next field test roundrobin is set to take place from9-12 October 2012 inParis, France. Any testinstitute interested in joiningthe process can [email protected] for furtherinformation andregistration.

All further details on theround robin and theapplication process for testinstitutes can be found in thedocument ‘Application asFIFA-accredited TestInstitute’.

free shot on goal.Bystrov was replaced

by Alexander Samedovas a result of thecollision.

Kokorin had a chance

Michel platini

European soccer’s governing body (UEFA)yesterday revealed that it has withheld the prizemoney of 23 clubs for violating its financial fair

play rules.The action was the first sanctions under the rules and

means that clubs would have to deal with the rules whichsome had thought would be difficult to enforce.

Among the clubs under investigation are AtleticoMadrid- the defending champions of the Europa Cupand Malaga of Spain, Portugal’s Sporting, DinamoBucharest and Rapid Bucharest of Romania andTurkey’s Fenerbahce

The clubs, all participating in 2012/13 UEFA clubcompetitions, were found to have overdue payments toother teams, their own employees or social/taxauthorities and their payments would be withheldsubject to further investigation, UEFA said in astatement.

UEFA approved the introduction of the far-reachingfinancial fair play rules in 2009 in a bid to reduce debtand introduce better and more transparent financialdealings among clubs playing in its competitions.

According to the statement, ”The clubs participatingin UEFA club competitions had to provide informationregarding the status of any overdue payables as at 30June 2012.

“The CFCB investigatory chamber has identified thatimportant overdue payables towards other clubs, and/or towards employees or social/tax authorities existedin 23 cases.”

Transfer fees and outgoing payments have beenmonitored since the start of the 2011/12 season withclubs tasked with breaking even in 2012 and 2013 andbeing assessed during the 2013/14 season.

UEFA wields big stick against 23clubs, withholds prize money

Bayern Munich willreceive more than•3 million from

UEFA for releasing theirplayers for Euro 2012.

A total of 575 clubs willreceive payments, withReal Madrid, Barcelona,Manchester City andJuventus all due to receivemore than •2 million.

The compensation,which totalls •100 million,has been allocated inaccordance with therenewed Memorandum ofUnderstanding, signed bythe European ClubAssociation and UEFA inMarch.

K a r l - H e i n z

Rummenigge, the CEO atBayern and the ECAchairman, said: “TheEuropean Club Associationis pleased that itscontribution to the successof UEFA Euro 2012 hasbeen recognised and justlyrewarded by UEFA. Thisshows the excellentrelationship that existswithin the football familyin Europe, as we work handin hand to shape the futureof our game.”

The payments mark asignificant increase on Euro2008, when only 180 clubsreceived funds. It is intendedthat •150 million will bedistributed at Euro 2016.

UEFA president MichelPlatini added: “I amdelighted that we are ableto provide clubs withfinancial benefits fromUEFA Euro 2012 to rewardtheir contribution to thecompetition.

“We witnessed a trulyfantastic UEFA EuropeanFootball Championshipfinal round this summer,and I am pleased that theclubs can now also beassociated with the event.”

The top five clubs tobenefit are:

Bayern Munich(•3,095,393)

Real Madrid(•2,996,585)

Barcelona (•2,210,202)Manchester City

(•2,069,465)Juventus (•2,023,012)

FIXTURESRomania vs AndorraGeorgia vs SpainBulgaria vs ArmeniaTurkey vs EstoniaNorway vs SloveniaBosnia-Herz vs LatviaSlovakia vs LiechtensteiSerbia vs WalesSweden vs KazakhstanHungary vs NetherlandsSwitzerland vs AlbaniaSan Marino vs MontenegroAustr ia vs GermanyBelgium vs CroatiaItaly vs MaltaN Ireland vs LuxembourgGreece vs LithuaniaScotland vs MacedoniaEngland vs UkraineFrance vs BelarusPortugal vs AzerbaijanGreece vs LithuaniaPoland vs ModolvaPortugal vs AzerbaijanG e r m a n y v s

.... Pays Real, Barca, ManCity, others •100m

LOSS OF DOCUMENTTHIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC OFTHE LOSS OF ORIGINAL C OF O NO. BA/15327ISSUED IN THE YEAR 1998, LOCATED ATMAKAMA S. 30 BELONGING TO ONE MRS.FATSUMA USMAN ‘F’ OF KAROFIN MADAKI WARD,BAUCHI STATE. ALL EFFORTS MADE TO TRACETHE MISSING DOCUMENT PROVED ABORTIVE.IF FOUND, PLEASE CONTACT THE NEARESTPOLICE STATION. THE GENERAL PUBLIC TOPLEASE TAKE NOTE.

World Cup 2014 Europe qualifiers

Netherlands, Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal, OlivierGiroud, France


France’s Christophe Lemaitre, last month hailed as Europe’sbest chance to break the Jamaican-US Olympic sprinthegemony, brought his disappointing season to an end on

Sunday with a victory in the men’s 100 metres at the Rieti IAAFWorld Challenge meeting in Italy.

Lemaitre, the French record-holder in the 100m with a best of9.92sec, clocked 10.04sec to finish ahead of St Kitts and Nevisveteran Kim Collins (10.09sec) and Norway’s Ghana-born JaysumaSaidy Ndure (10.14).

His winning time meant that the 22-year-old Frenchman failedto register a sub-10sec time this season, which has been in greatcontrast to that of 2011.

Lemaitre, the defending two-time European double sprintchampion, finished fourth in the 100m in the Daegu worldchampionships a year ago and then claimed bronze in the 200m ina French record of 19.80sec.

He skipped the 100m at the London Olympics, but after clocking20.03 in the semifinal could only finish sixth in the final of the200m in 20.19sec, with the top four finishers going under 19.90sec.

Men’s 100m1. Christophe Lemaitre (France) 10.04 2. Kim Collins (St Kitts and Nevis) 10.09 3. Jaysuma Saidy Ndure (Norway) 10.14Men’s 400m1. Calvin Smith (U.S.) 45.12 2. Rabah Yousif (Sudan) 45.20 3. Rusheen McDonald (Jamaica) 45.46Men’s 800m1. Taoufik Makhloufi (Algeria) 1:43.74 2. Edwin Kiplagat Melly (Kenya) 1:43.81 3. Andrew Osagie (Britain) 1:45.06Men’s 1500m1. Silas Kiplagat (Kenya) 3:31.86 2. Collins Cheboi (Kenya) 3:33.97 3. Mohamad Al-Garni (Qatar) 3:36.70Men’s 3000m1. Collis Birmingham (Australia) 7:37.77 2. Robert Curtis (U.S.) 7:43.65 3. Conseslus Kipruto (Kenya) 7:44.09Men’s 400m Hurdles1. Omar Cisneros (Cuba) 48.60 2. Mamadou Kasse Hane (Senegal) 49.63 3. Michael Bultheel (Belgium) 49.98Men’s Triple Jump1. Benjamin Compaore (France) 17.17 2. Aliaksei Tsapik (Belarus) 16.48 3. Gaetan Saku Bafuanga Baya (France) 16.30Men’s Hammer Throw1. Krisztian Pars (Hungary) 79.22 2. Olexiy Sokyrskiyy (Ukraine) 76.43 3. Sergej Litvinov (Russia) 75.21Women’s 100m1. Aleen Bailey (Jamaica) 11.21 2. Ivet Lalova (Bulgaria) 11.24 3. Tezdzhan Naimova (Bulgaria) 11.26Women’s 400m1. Kaliese Spencer (Jamaica) 50.63 2. Christine Day (Jamaica) 51.97 3. Patricia Hall (Jamaica) 52.48Women’s 800m1. Francine Niyonsaba (Burundi) 1:57.65 2. Mariya Savinova (Russia) 1:59.18 3. Winny Chebet (Kenya) 1:59.37Women’s 1500m1. Mary Kuria (Kenya) 4:08.76 2. Anna Pierce (U.S.) 4:11.20 3. Hannah England (Britain) 4:11.50Women’s 3000m1. Vivian Jepkemoi Cheruiyot (Kenya) 8:49.17 2. Sylvia Kibet (Kenya) 8:49.38 3. Buze Diriba Kejela (Ethiopia) 8:50.94Women’s 400m Hurdles1. Muizat Ajoke Odumosu (Nigeria) 54.74 2. Natalya Antyukh (Russia) 55.63 3. Hanna Titimets (Ukraine) 56.27Women’s High Jump1. Svetlana Shkolina (Russia) 2.01 2. Anna Chicherova (Russia) 1.97 3. Olena Holosha (Ukraine) 1.89Women’s Pole Vault1. Anastasia Savchenko (Russia) 4.46 2. Roberta Bruni (Italy) 4.26 3. Aleksandra Kiryashova (Russia) 4.11Women’s Shot Put1. Valerie Adams (New Zealand) 20.77 2. Cleopatra Borel (Trinidad and Tobago) 18.52 3. Evgeniia Kolodko (Russia) 17.81Women’s Hammer Throw1. Anita Wlodarczyk (Poland) 74.52 2. Tatyana Lysenko (Russia) 73.52 3. Kathrin Klaas (Germany) 72.36

Lemaitre again missessub-10 sec time

Aleen Bailey Ajoke Odusumo Christophe Lemaitre

Bob Bowman, the former coachof American swimmerMichael Phelps, the most decorated

Olympian of all time, will offer hisexpertise in a review of the Britishswimming results at London 2012.

Team GB's swimmers won threemedals - two bronzes and a silver - at theOlympics, half of their medal haul inBeijing, and emerged without anOlympic champion at the AquaticsCentre.

British Swimming may face a

RESULTSfunding cut after falling short of theirtarget of 5-7 podium finishes, with onlyRebecca Adlington and MichaelJamieson leaving London with medals.

The governing body announced lastmonth that it planned to carry out areview in the wake of the "disappointing"set of results.

"Following our disappointment at notmeeting our high expectations we'llundertake a thorough debrief,"performance director Michael Scott said.

Bowman will join two-time German

Olympic medallist Thomas Lurz andHarlequins director of rugby ConorO'Shea on the panel.

"We're sure he will make a massivecontribution," said British Swimmingchief executive David Sparkes ofBowman's involvement.

The panel will be chaired byindependent member of the BritishSwimming Management Board CraigHunter, with Scott completing the line-up. The results are expected to be releasedin October.

Phelps coach to help British swimming review

Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia wonthe gold medal in the Women’s10,000m Final on Day 7 of theLondon 2012 Olympic Games atOlympic Stadium on August 3, 2012

Ethiopian long distance ace andthree-time Olympic goldmedallist, Tirunesh Dibaba, will

this Sunday take part in her first evermarathon championship- the BupaGreat North Run on September 16.

It will be her latest attempt atimproving on her silver warescollection after her 10,000m victoryin last month’s London Games, whereedged her compatriots to clinch theOlympics gold medal.

Dibaba will make her debut overthe distance from Newcastle to SouthShields, where the elite field includesreigning Olympic and WorldMarathon champions Tikki Gelanaand Edna Kiplagat.

Her appearance in the IAAF GoldLabel Event is a clear indication thatthe 27-year-old Ethiopian, after ahighly successful track and crosscountry career, now intends to switchher attention to road racing -including a high profile marathonnext spring.

Dibaba has limited experience ofroad racing, having mainly competedover only 5k in recent years, but in arare outing at 15k in 2009 she set aWorld record of 46:28 in Nijmegen.

Now Dibaba is taking the first stepforward to emulating the

Bloodied Manuel Charr

Manuel Charr’s handlers havelodged a protest against the resultof his fight against Vitali

Klitschko.The German heavyweight’s

management said in Berlin on Tuesdaythey were protesting to the WBC on atechnicality because the ring doctortreated Charr in Klitschko’s red corner,not Charr’s blue corner. The bout inMoscow was stopped in the fourth roundwhen Charr, 27, was bleeding from a cutnear his right eye. Klitschko thereforeretained his WBC heavyweight title.

“The protest is motivated by a clear andindisputable violation. The official ruleswere given to both teams the day beforethe fight in a meeting,” said Pit Gleim,boss of Diamond Boy promotions, whomanage Charr.

The protest has only a slim chance ofbeing successful. Thomas Puetz, presidentof Germany’s Professional BoxersFederation, has already said there was norule violation after the fight.

Charr, a Beirut-born former kickboxer,suffered the first defeat of his 22-fightcareer.

“I can’t sleep since Saturday night. Myvictory was stolen from me. We have tobox again,” Charr wrote on his Facebookpage.

After being knocked down in the secondround, Charr was well beaten by theveteran champion.

Dibaba to contest first ever Half Marathon

Charr’s handlerslodge protest

CHANGE OF NAMEI, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS SALISUUSMAN, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN ANDADDRESSED AS SALISU ADAMU. ALL FORMERDOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. TAFAWA BALEWALOCAL GOVERNMENT AND GENERAL PUBLICSHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAMEI, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED ASSHA’IABU ISAH, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN ANDADDRESSED AS NURADDEEN MUHAMMAD. ALLFORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. ITAS/GADAU LOCAL EDU. AUTHORITY AND GENERALPUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

achievements of hercousin Derartu Tulu,who moved from thetrack to road racing,then proved herlegendary status withwins including theTokyo, London andNew York CityMarathons.

Britain’s Jo Paveyand Freya Murray,and Portugal’s JessicaAugusto, the 2009Bupa Great North Runwinner in 2009, arealso in the field.


No, not only Andy Murray but Britainthat have waited for 76 years for thisto happen. The Scotsman eventually

realised a kingdom’s dream by winning amajor grand slam after many years of near-misses and great expectations.

The 25-year old finally ended his barrenrun at the fifth attempt, beating defendingchampion and w orld number two Djokovic7-6 (12-10) 7-5 2-6 3-6 6-2 in a contest atFlushing Meadows that lasted almost fivehours.

The last British man to win a Grand Slamtitle was Fred Perry, who won the US Openin 1936, 76 years ago. Ever since, a successorhad been anticipated and Andy seemed themost likely replacement for Perry, who woneight majors, but had lost in his four previousGrand Slam finals.

Andy also lost in four.This summer, it seems the jinx was at its

cul de sac. Andy did Great Britain proudwith a much-desired London Olympics goldmedal in singles final only ast month. Thatperhaps, was the icing on the cake. The realduece was to come later.

Before then though, Andy had endearedhimself to the wider British public with hisemotional, outburst-alas pensive-after theloss to Roger Federer at the Wimbleddonfinal. That game was as pulsating as ever ashe took Federer to a great length, foughtgallantly and stood shoulder to shoulder tothe World No 1 before graciously bowing out.

He wept and a sympathetic Britain weptalongside him. So did his fans across the globe.Encomiums poured in, but he was barelyconsoled.

Back in January, when Andy stretchedthe rave of the moment Novak Djokovic to afive-hour tennis duel in the semi-final of theAustrialian Open, egged-on by the presenceand savvy of his coach-the legendary IvanLendl, it became obvious that perhaps daysfor a grand slam conquest were not far off.

The style, gut, tenacity and renewedconfidence in depth and serves rekindled thequest for a top mark performance insubsequent matches.

Then came the win against Federer at theOlympics. That win - a first against Federerin a best-of-five set encounter - providedrenewed impetus for another tilt at a GrandSlam at the US Open in New York.

Andy’s nemesis, Rafael Nadal’s absencemeant a huge bulwark was lifted off his pathand only himself could have hindered hisadvancement to the final where the fatewould clearly lie in his hands for a make ormar opportunity for a Grand Slam podiumhonours.

At last he did enjoy the long awaitedpodium klieg-light, the smiles, and positiveraving headlines with the spoil of war tuggedunder his armpit.

“It is hard to explain. It has been a long,long journey to this point, so I don’t know if itis disbelief or whatever, but I am very, veryhappy on the inside. I’m sorry if I’m notshowing it as you would like.”

He need not plead. He was emotionalwithout being demonstrative, he was saggedfrom a tedious battle of wit, strength andnerves, and he conquered not just anybodybut one of the greatest on the roll call of thegame’s elitist club: Novak Djokovic.

Recall that Novak silenced Nadal six timesin a year, dethroned him and then stoppedthe resurgence of former longest servingworld number one Roger Federer, whose 336weeks as the top notcher in the game hasremained legendary.

His seemingly lack of emotional dischargemay have arisen from first shock, disbeliefand awe that what had hitherto beenHerculean did not just crack up but fallen

like a pack of cards.“I’ve been reminded of that (to end

Britain’s lengthy wait for a male Grand Slamwinner) most days of my life for the last fewyears. It’s great to have finally done it and Idon’t need to get asked that anymore.”

And so rather than basked in the aura ofthe moment he just opted to take more thana cursory glance of the reaction of an eagernation.

“I think everyone is in a little bit of shockthat it has happened. I’ve seen my mumafter I’ve lost Slam finals and she has beenreally upset. Everyone’s really happy,” saysAndy.

Looking back at how it all happened, heputs up a feel-good posture and relished themoment when speaking with the media hewas quoted to have said.

“To come back in the next Grand Slamand to win it in a five-set match againstDjokovic on a hard court - he hasn’t lost for acouple of years on a hard court in a GrandSlam - is unbelievable,” Andy said.

And of his major tonic for success atFlushing Meadows, Andy told the media.

“I’m very, very happy to come through.If I had lost this one from two sets up, it wouldhave been tough to take. I have worked hardall the time, even after the tough losses. Ihave had a fairly solid team around me aswell for a long time,” he said in a deservedmoment of chest thumping and exuberance.

Sir Alex Ferguson on Andy Murray’sUS Open win

“I’m really proud for the boy. That was areal test of a champion for me. I lovewatching tennis. It was more nerve-wracking than a Premier League match. I’musually in control of my own situation but Iwasn’t in control tonight.”

He also credited coach Ivan Lendl afterteaming up with the former world numberone and eight-time Grand Slam winner inJanuary.

“Having Ivan Lendl around has definitelyhelped, not just me but the rest of the teamas well, having someone of his experience,especially in these situations,” said Murray.

“He’s got his name on that trophy threetimes and made the final eight times in arow. It really helps having him around.”

Murray said he also hoped his win

“inspires some kids to play tennis” and “takesaway the notion that British tennis playerschoke or don’t win”.

He also insisted British tennis was “in agood place right now” and praised theachievements of Laura Robson, with whomhe won Olympic silver in the mixeddoubles, and junior Liam Broady.

“Laura’s done very well, the Olympics wasgreat for us and Liam Broady was in thefinal here in the juniors,” said Murray. “Ihope it stays that way.”

At last, Andy Murray wins a Grand Slam“It is what I have been workingtowards for the last 10 years of mylife. It means the world to me,” saysAndy Murray

By Patrick Andrew

Journey to US Open glory

beat Alex Bogomolov Jr (Russia) 6-2 6-4 6-1 Round 1

beat Ivan Dodig (Croatia) 6-2 6-1 6-3 Round 2

beat Feliciano Lopez (Spain) 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-5) 4-6 7-6 (7-4) Round 3

beat Milos Raonic (Canada) 6-4 6-4 6-2 Round 4

beat Marin Cilic (Croatia) 3-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 6-0 Quarter-final

beat Tomas Berdych (Czech Rep) 5-7 6-2 6-1 7-6 (9-7) Semi-final

beat Novak Djokovic (Serbia) 7-6 (12-10) 7-5 2-6 3-6 6-2 Final

Murray's previous major finals

Wimbledon 2012: lost to Roger Federer 4-6 7-5 6-3 6-4

Australian Open 2011: lost to Novak Djokovic 4-6 2-6 3-6

Australian Open 2010: lost to Roger Federer 3-6 4-6 6-7 (11-13)

US Open 2008: lost to Roger Federer 2-6 5-7 2-6

Andy with crown

Andy after delivering the killer serves that ended Novak's dreamand actualised his ownAndy after delivering the killer serves that ended Novak's dreamand actualised his own


P I C T O R I A L1/ Barcelona forward Lionel Messi hassaid that he puts the team's successover personal accolades following adisappointing trophy haul last season.

2/ McLaren will not impose teamorders on Jenson Button in favour ofLewis Hamilton, despite Button'sdwindling title hopes.

3/ Qualifying matches for the 2014FIFA World Cup took place across, Asia,Europe, South America, as well asNorth, Central America and theCaribbean yesterday.

4/ Camelot will face a maximum of 10rivals in the St Leger at Doncaster onSaturday as he bids to win a historicTriple Crown.

5/ Andy Murray says his US Openvictory is "what I have been workingtowards for the last 10 years of mylife".

6/ South Africa preserve their 1-0series lead over England as the secondTwenty20 at Old Trafford is abandoneddue to rain.

7/ Rory McIlroy insists that he is yetto decide whether he will opt torepresent Britain or Ireland at the2016 Olympics.

1 2

3

5

6

7

4


Quick CrossWord (25)ACROSSGroundsmen (4-7)8 Brought on (7)9 Kilns for hops (5)11 __ the Duck, TV puppet (3)12 Detection devices (7)13 Simultaneous discharge of artillery (5)14 Detect (6)16 Tart-tasting (6)19 Mode of speech (5)21 Voucher for a plane trip (3,4)23 Word of assent (3)24 Be a success (2,3)25 Noticeable interim period (4,3)26 As far as this is concerned (2,4,5)

DOWN2 Attached item (3-2)3 Evict (4,3)4 Most senior in years (6)5 Walks heavily (5)6 __ up, produced hastily (7)7 Becoming part of a liquid (10)10 Fried sausage-meat and breadcrumbsnacks (6,4)15 Very fine floaty fabric (7)17 Made from pottery (7)18 Over the hill (4,2)20 Gold, frankincense and __, gifts of theMagi (5)22 Loafer (5)

* Thomas Edison, light bulb inventor, was afraid of the dark.

* During your lifetime, you'll eat about 60,000 pounds of food. That'sthe weight of about 6 elephants.

* Some ribbon worms will eat themselves if they can't find any food.

* The world's oldest piece of chewing gum is 9000 years old.

* In space, astronauts cannot cry, because there is no gravity, so thetears can't flow.

* About 3000 years ago, most Egyptians died by the time they were 30.

* More people use blue toothbrushes than red ones.

* Your ribs move about 5 million times a year, every time you breathe.. Source: Weird facts

FACTS

Yesterday’s answer

J O K EJ O K E

The Faith HealerTwo women were sitting in the doctor's waiting room comparing notes on their various

disorders."I want a baby more than anything in the world," said the first, "But I guess it is impossible.""I used to feel just the same way," said the second. "But then everything changed. That's

why I'm here. I'm going to have a baby in three months.""You must tell me what you did.""I went to a faith healer.""But I've tried that. My husband and I went to one for nearly a year and it didn't help a bit."The other woman smiled and whispered, "Try going alone, next time, dearie."

A manhawkinghoneyalongZadawaroad, inMisaulocalgovtarea ofBauchistate.Photo: NAN

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Published by Peoples Media Limited, 35, Ajose Adeogun Street, 1st Floor Peace Park Plaza,Utako, Abuja. Lagos Office: No.8 Oliyide Street, off Unity Road, Ikeja, Lagos,Tel: +234-09-8734478. Cell: +234 803 606 3308. e-mail: [email protected];[email protected] ISSN: 2141– 6141

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

QQQQQUOUOUOUOUOTTTTTABLE QABLE QABLE QABLE QABLE QUOUOUOUOUOTETETETETEThe honours award has lost its sense of honour; it

is no longer given to people who havedistinguished themselves in service to this

country but those who serve only the current PDPgovernment — Alhaji Balarabe Musa,— Alhaji Balarabe Musa,— Alhaji Balarabe Musa,— Alhaji Balarabe Musa,— Alhaji Balarabe Musa,

on this year’s national honours liston this year’s national honours liston this year’s national honours liston this year’s national honours liston this year’s national honours list

R/Madrid reject•95m bid forRonaldo

Dada J.P. Vaswani wrotethat there is no perfectpeace anywhere, even for

the rich and the powerful. He citedmany examples. Here are a few.

An Indian girl got a gift of a goldtrinket. She became sooverwhelmed that she never hada good sleep thereafter. On almostevery hour, she woke up to look atthe trinket which she kept underher pillow, making sure that it wasthere.

A rich man had a securityguard who was mostlyinattentive. He was advised to testthe guard with a gift. He gave thisguard the kind of money that henever gave him. The guardremained awake and alertthroughout.

Seeking power is like going towar. In the words of the AmericanGulf War hero (1990), GeneralNorman Schwartzkopf, “if a soldieris obsessed with the fear of death,he needs not join up in the firstplace.” So is it with politics; if youdon’t like being criticized by thoseyou lead, why seek their votes inthe first place?

I am trying to address theworry of our President, Dr.Jonathan Goodluck whocomplained recently that he wasunhappy with public criticism. InHausa, we say in ba ka son kuda,jefar da mangoron (if you don’twant flies, throw away themango). At the conference of theNigerian Bar Association, NBA hecut a picture of a hurt andhandicapped government goingdown a slippery slope withoutbrakes. He told the conference thathe was the world’s most criticizedleader and that come 2013, hewould become the most praisedleader.

Taking off from there, his spinspeople have embarked upon loudutterances, trying to tell the peoplethat the President can do no wrong.Contrast this with anotherincident that happened. ThePresident of the United States,George W. Bush had gone to theUnited Kingdom in 2003 to helpTony Blair, the British PrimeMinister with public opinion,which had been very unfavorabletowards the Iraq war. As the U.S.President was stepping out to 10Downing Street, a man in thecrowd aimed an egg at thePresident’s face, narrowly missing

price of petrol in January this year.From that time, there has come,in a quick succession, a plethora ofscandals from the Stock Market tothe oil industry. No one wouldblame the citizens for thinkingthat government in power in thelast few years has only been lootingand covering up anything thatcomes to the surface. The recentscams in the oil sector haveprojected the government in avery bad light. Most citizens of thisunhappy country are enragedthat tribalism and regionalchauvinism, problems of the 60sare hibernating with their stripesand in their full colours because thepolitical weather is supportingtheir growth.

I have read all sorts ofColumnists and in particular FemiAdesina, The Sun and OlusegunAdeniyi, ThisDay as well as severalnewspaper editorials on thePresident’s outburst and they allseem to be saying one thing: Theonly effective answer to mediacriticism is to arrest the sense ofdrift that has enveloped thecountry; that there is no amountof self – righteous outrage that canchange things for the betterwithout the government settingitself to the task at hand ofproviding good governance andarresting this drift.

Government is wrong to allowits spin masters to open a war withthe media on account of theirsiege mentality. They are equallywrong to insult the intelligence ofbloggers. These guys are aware ofthe type of leadership and thepolicy paralysis that has grippedthe country. The emperor isnaked and this is clear to all exceptthose who thrive in super-sycophancy.

While it is true that the mediaintrude excessively intoeverything, disrespecting even theprivacy of individuals, the remedyto this will take a long time to come

Unsettled Real Madridstar Cristiano Ronaldohas been informed by

president Florentino Perez thathe had a •20 MILLION-a-yearoffer to leave.

ABC says in that infamousSeptember 1 meeting at theSantiago Bernabeu, Ronaldowas told by Perez and Vice-president Jose Angel Sanchezthat an unnamed club hadmade a •95 million offer for himand was willing to pay theformer Manchester United star•20 million-a-year.

Perez would not name theclub, though its suggested withthe French and Russianmarkets still open at the time,PSG and Anzhi were the mostlikely suitors.

A day later, Ronaldodropped his bombshell,admitting he was “sad” withhis situation at Real.

Accordingly, this may haveinfuriated CR7 to act the wayhe acted by refusing to celebratehis goal and referring to theclub matter as ‘unprofessional’without actually giving detailsof what he meant and why.

Keeping mute though led toflurry of speculations with someboldly declaring that he neededmore money while othersthought he was angry for notbeing named the best player inEurope. That honour went toAndre Iniesta.

Now, though it seemsRonaldo may have wanted totake his services elsewhere evenas Real Madrid insisted on tyinghim down and reminding himof the euros 20m that wouldhave to be paid to Man Unitedshould he moved.ResultsCyprus 1 Iceland 0Israel 0 Russia 4Romania 3 Andorra 0Georgia 0 Spain 1Bulgaria 1 Armenia 0Turkey 3 Estonia 0Norway 2 Slovenia 1B/Herz 4 Latvia 1Slovakia 2 Liechtenstein 0Serbia 6 Wales 1Sweden 0 Kazakhstan 1Germany 2 Austria 1S/Marino 0 Montenegro 6Hungary 1 Netherlands 4Switzerland 2 Albania 0Italy 1 Malta 0Greece 2 Lithuania 0N/Ireland 1 Luxembourg 1Belgium 1 Croatia 1Sweden 2 Kazkhastan 0England 1 Ukraine 1

www.peoplesdaily-online.com

. . . putting the people first

it. It broke on his chest. Bushresponded to this incident at a pressconference where he told reportersthat “this is the beauty of ourdemocracy. In other countries, thatman would have been shot andkilled on the spot.”

Again, compare our own casehere. In the run-up to the 2011Governorship election, a formerNigerian President, GeneralOlusegun Obasanjo had gone toOwerri to shore-up the saggingfortunes of the then Governor,Ohakim who was much disliked bythe people. As the two leaders drovepast a crowd, a man aimed a sachetof water at President Obasanjo. Thepolice went into overdrive andarrested those that they couldcatch in the vicinity. Prominentamong those caught was PrinceEze Madumere, the present Chiefof Staff, Government House,Owerri. They were kept indetention before being chargedwith attempted murder! PrinceEze became a free man only afterhis principal and now Governor,Rochas Okorocha was declared thevictor in that election.

President Jonathan’s imagehas been taking a beating in themedia and the credibility of hisgovernment has nosedived sincehis unilateral decision to withdrawthe fuel subsidy and increase the

Sorry, President, noperfect peace here

given the slow speed ofinternational jurisprudence incatching up with the speed of theinternet. Information now travelsin myriad and mysterious waysthrough the newspapers, 24-hourTV and radio; the internet and thehand-held phone. And if anyonebothers to look around, they willsee that other world leaders areequally being attacked by thesocial media through criticalreviews. If you don’t agree withtheir comments, ignore them or ifyou can’t, give your rejoinder. Asformer South African PresidentThabo Mbeki observed, “the era ofthe internet is the biggestheadache of leaders because thepeople have instant access toinformation.” The first principle ofany democratic country is thetolerance of criticism. Thegovernment has a fiduciaryresponsibility to govern in the bestnational interest, not that of aregion or tribe. The President, whois the butt of all criticism, is himselfa public figure who must beaccountable to the people. If he isbeing criticized, he should take itin a sportsmanly spirit and try toimprove instead of shooting themessenger. He should govern withvision and put the country aheadof personal adherence to power atall cost.

As the other writers Imentioned earlier argued, thisgovernment should focus on theeconomy and the well-being of thecitizens and not to worry aboutwhat is being written against it.Let them work for the bettermentof the country. The President mustrealize that respect is earned, not athing to be begged for. You don’tdemand to be praised. No, not in acountry like Nigeria where citizensare not all sycophants. Thiscountry is blessed with many whohave vision, courage and guts, andfor which we should be grateful.

To stand before the public tocomplain that too much criticismis being made by the angry peopleof this unhappy country is asinsulting as it is a reflection of theinferiority complex prevailing inthe government system. Evenwith a Rhino skin, PresidentJonathan must absorb this realityof democracy. Leaders are fairgame in this system that holdelected officials accountable to thepeople.

President Goodluck Jonathan

MUSINGSMUSINGSMUSINGSMUSINGSMUSINGSBy

Garba Shehu

[email protected]

peoples daily newspaper, wednesday 12, september, 2012

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