Peoples Daily Newspaper, Tuesday, May 15, 2012

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Vol. 8 No. 37 Tuesday, May 15, 2012 Jimadal Akhir 24, 1433 AH N150. . . putting the people first

>> PAGE 2 >> PAGE 2 >> PAGE 7 >> PAGE 9

NAF ready tocrush insurgency,says CAS

Nigeria agrees tosend troops toG/Bissau, Mali

Yobe govt earmarksN50m for victims ofPotiskum attack

8 killedin Zamfararobbery

Power outage: 50 trapped in Lagos airport lifts

2015 will be bloody,warns Gen. Buhari

Military hardware inaugurated during the opening of a combat arms training week, yesterday, in Bauchi. Photo: NAN

From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

A power outage yesterdayleft over 50 airport users,including air

passengers, trapped lifts at theinternational wing of the

Murtala Muhammed Airport(MMIA) in Lagos.

This happened few weeksafter electricity supply to theinternational terminal andrunways at the NnamdiAzikiwe International Airport,

Abuja, went off long enough toprevent aircraft from landing.

The incident sparkedoutrage at the NationalAssembly which summonedthe supervising aviationminister to explain why it

happened.The Lagos incident which

occurred as a result of thepower seizure by the PowerHolding Company of Nigeria(PHCN) and the inability of thebackup generating sets to work

left a sizeable number of usersthanking their stars forsurviving the sad experience.

Some of the victims ofyesterday’s power disruptiontold our reporter it was an

Contd on Page 2

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CONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSNews 2-11

Editorial 12

Op.Ed 13

Letters 14

Opinion 15

Metro 16-17

Business 19-22

S/Exchange 23

S/Report 24

Newsxtra 27

Agriculture 29

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7 members of CPC inKatsina kick againstdismissal, Page 39

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Digest 36

Politics 37-40

Sports 41-47

Columnist 48

PAGE 2 PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MAY 15, 2012

2015 will be bloody, warns Buhari

NAF ready to crush insurgency, says CAS

Power outage: 50 trapped in Lagos airport liftsContd from Page 1

From Agaju Madugba, Kaduna

experience they expected tohave again in their lifetime.

Yetunde, a cleaner with oneof the cleaning firms within thefacility, said “it is a miracle wesurvived this incident,” someof those we were inside the lifttogether, were already callingtheir families and saying theirlast wishes or prayers shouldthey not come out alive.”

A member of staff of theagency who did not want hisname in print told our

correspondent that it was ashameful occurrence“especially when we were atthe peak of operations insidethe airport.”

Eyewitnesses told ourreporter that the outage whichoccurred about 12 noon localtime lasted for 45 minutes beforepower supply was restored.

One of the engineers whosimply identified himself asAdedamola said they had toforce the lifts open for thetrapped victims during the

duration of the darkness asairport users were shouting andwailing while others screamedand banged the lifts located atthe different fingers of theterminal.

Adedamola said that a teamof engineers had to climb thesixth floor of the terminal to workon the lifts thus forcing them opento enable the passengers andothers trapped inside to escape.

Countless empty bottles ofwater and sachet water wrapslittered the premises of the

terminal when our reporterarrived the scene as some said thewater was used to resuscitatethose who almost fainted whileothers used the liquid to washtheir bodies of sweat immediatelythey came out of the hot lifts.

When our reporter called theGeneral Manager, Public Affairsof the Federal Airport Authorityof Nigeria (FAAN) Mr. AkinOlukunle, to speak on thesituation, his calls were notanswered.

Former Head of State, Gen.Muhammadu Buhari ,who was the presidential

candidate of Congress forProgressive Change (CPC) in theApril 2011 elections, has warnedthat there would be bloodshed inNigeria in 2015 if the generalelections that year do not turn outto be free and fair.

“Except there is justice in theconduct of the elections, blood willflow because there will bebloodshed between the dogs andthe baboons,” Buhari saidyesterday when a delegation ofCPC members from Niger statepaid him a courtesy visit inKaduna.

He lamented the magnitude ofcorruption and the insensitivityof Nigeria’s leadership, andwarned that “there is a storm ofawareness and God willing, by

2015, something will happen.They either conduct free and fairelections or they go a verydisgraceful way.”

Buhari also spoke about thenation’s current securitychallenges, especially in the northand regretted that “the north ishandicapped” even as hedescribed the federal governmentas insensitive.

As he put it, “the north doesnot own the police, the soldiers orthe Central Bank of Nigeria andsince the leaders now do not listento anybody but do whatever theywish, there is nothing the northcan do.

“I will like to quote ProfessorAngo Abdullahi who said thatthere are three Boko Haramsincluding the original one led byMohammed Yusufu who waskilled and his supporters tried totake revenge by attacking lawenforcement agencies and

politicians.“There is another developed

Boko Haram of criminals who stealand kill while the biggest BokoHaram is the federalgovernment”.

Buhari also spoke on thepetroleum industry, noting thathe was quite knowledgeable aboutthe affairs of the sector. He wasfederal Commissioner ofPetroleum in the late 1970s.

He said “the currentleadership of the country hasdestroyed the petroleumindustry. This kind of things canonly happen under the type ofNigeria current leadership.

“Nowhere in the world cansuch things happen now andnowhere in the world cangovernment increase the cost ofpetroleum products with morethan 120 per cent. It is mostinsensitive. Besides the air peoplebreathe, the next important thing

to them is petroleum products.“Unfortunately for me, I know

more about petroleum industrythan others in governmentbecause I was there for over threeyears as a leader.

“We started with the Port-Harcourt refinery producing60,000 barrels per day. It wasupgraded to 100,000 barrels perday. Another one was built therealso in Port-Harcourt producingover 150,000 barrels, making atotal of 250,000 barrels per dayslated purely on Nigeria crude andthere was even a time, we wereexporting 100,000 barrels perday of refined products but thiscurrent leadership has destroyedthe industry.”

From Agaju Madugba, Kaduna

The Nigerian Air Force iscombat-ready to crushany insurgency in the

country, Chief of Air Staff, AirMarshal Mohammed DikkoUmar, declared yesterday inKaduna.

According to him, the AirForce would complement effortsof other security services aimedat protecting the lives andproperty Nigerians.

Umar spoke whilecommissioning two blocks of 18flats airmen accommodation,10 room self-contained airmentransit quarter and upgradedofficers mess projects, executedby the 335 Base Services Groupof the Nigerian Air Force,Kaduna.

“The Air Force is bettertrained and equipped to tacklethe problem of insurgenceresulting from activities ofterrorist groups in parts of thenorth”, he said.

“As you can see, I amcongratulating my men ontheir performance. We aretraining and equipping ourpersonnel to ensure that we key

into the efforts of the otherservices.

“As you know, it is not theAir Force alone that is keepingpeace in the country. It is ajoint operation with otherservices - Nigerian Army,Nigerian Navy, Police, and theDepartment of the StateSecurity Services as well otherorgans or security agenciesacross the country”.

He added: “We are in jointefforts to see that we containthis security challenge. As youcan see, our aircraft areserviceable.

“I can tell you want we havenow is incredible. More than99 percent serviceable.Aircraft that you will seetomorrow and I am surethroughout the week, some ofthem are involved in tacklingthis security challenge. And ofcourse, we have also our airmen and women who are on theground helping the Army,Navy and the Police to tacklethis challenge.

“I am indeed delighted to behere among you this morningto commission these projects forthe use our officers and air men

at 335 BSG.“It gladdens my heart to see

that my hardworkingpersonnel are being rewardedfor the excellent work they aredoing the Nigerian air Forceand for this country.

“I want to say that when wecame on board, one of our keydrivers in our vision ispersonnel motivation and youcannot motivate personnel ifyou do not ensure that you takeadequate care of their welfareand their well-being.

“And that is why we decidedto expend resources to ensurethat we build and upgradefacilities on the base.

“I want to assure you thatwe shall continue to look intoyour welfare by ensuring thatwe build more accommodationfor our airmen and women anindeed our officers and otherfacilities and infrastructuresthat will make your work mucheasier.

“I want to admonish you toremember that these facilitieswere built with resources andthe resources were not alwaysavailable.”

Nigeria agreesto send troopsto G/Bissau,MaliBy Abubakar Ibrahim

Nigeria will deploy troops toGuinea-Bissau this week,Defence Minister Bello

Haliru Mohammed said yesterdayat a meeting of EconomicCommunity of West African States(ECOWAS) defence chiefs in Abuja.

Nigeria, considered the region’spowerhouse, remains “committed”to its pledges to deploy troops toGuinea-Bissau and Mali in the wakeof coups in both countries, he said,adding: “Our troops are ready.”

“In Guinea-Bissau, we willdeploy before the 18th of thismonth,” he said, without statinghow large a force would be sent tothe former Portuguese colonywhose government wasoverthrown on April 12.

“In Mali, we await the signalsfrom (the regional grouping)ECOWAS. We have all our forcesand equipment ready for airlift,”Mohammed added.

West African leaders decided ata summit in Abidjan on April 26 todeploy between 500 and 600 troopsfrom at least four countries —Nigeria, Togo, Ivory Coast andSenegal — to Guinea-Bissaufollowing the coup there.

The summit also decided todeploy a regional force to Mali wherea coup overthrew PresidentAmadou Toumani Toure on March22.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MAY 15, 2012

N7bn suit: FG accuses Northof sleeping over rightsThe Federal Government

yesterday, told the SupremeCourt that the governments

of the 16 Northern states slept overtheir rights, by filing their suitseeking for the payment of N7billion outstanding value of theassets of the defunct NorthernStates Marketing Board (NSMB)out of time.

Sixteen of the 19 states in theNorth are asking the Supreme

Court to compel the FederalGovernment to pay them N7billion as outstanding value of theassets of the defunct NSMB.

The board was said to havebeen taken over by the FederalGovernment in 1977 from thethen North-Western, North-Central, Kano, North-Eastern andCentral-Western states.

The states as presentlyconstituted comprise Adamawa,Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa,Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi,

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin Kogi, Kwara, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobeand Zamfara who instituted thesuit had named the AGF as thedefendant.

In a preliminary objection tothe governors’ suit filed by Mr. AdeOkeaya-Inneh, on behalf of theAttorney General of the Federation(AGF), he said the northerngovernors’ statement of claim isstatute barred by virtue of section7(1)(e) of the Limitation Act.

AGF said the cause of actionupon which the plaintiffs’ suit is

predicated are letters dated July27, 1983 and August 13, 1984 intheir statement of claim datedFebruary 17, 2011.

“Since the plaintiffs institutedthis action by way of civilsummons on February 17, 2011in consequence thereof, the saidaction is at variance with section7 (1)( e) of the Limitation Act.

“Whenever a party’s action isstatute barred, the party wouldlose his right of action and lose theright of enforcement,” he said.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria(CJN), Justice Dahiru Musdapherwho led a seven-man panel ofjustices adjourned the matter toSeptember 20, 2012 for mention.

From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

Unilorin 44sacked lecturersseek prison termfor VC, 3 others

Following the expiration ofits 2-week ultimatum to theFederal Government to take

concrete action on the report of theHouse of Representatives subsidyprobe report, the Save NigeriaGroup (SNG), yesterday headed forthe court to challenge what itdescribed as delay in the adoption

of the report by the Executive.Speaking in Lagos, the

convener of the group and theSenior Pastor of the Latter RainAssembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare,said the group is also among otherthings seeking the judicialinterpretation of section 80 and81 of the 1999 constitution whichdeals with appropriation andspending from the Federation

From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos Account from a Federal HighCourt in Lagos.

Bakare while acknowledging allthat has been said in the last twoweeks in response to the group’sthreat to stage protests said, “it is toshow that we are a responsibleorganisation prepared to exhaust asmany options as are available to us,only opting for public protests as avery last resort.”

He continued: “However, allwe have heard hitherto has beenmere rhetoric with no concreteactions from constitutedauthorities. It is not lost on us thatthe President, under whose watchN3 trillion was stolen, has notdirectly addressed thismonumental scandal exceptthrough remarks on his behalf bypresidential aides. An ethical

Subsidy probe report: SNG heads for court, says protest last optionpresident ought to have made anational broadcast on this series ofevents unrivalled anywhere in theworld. Yet, we are ready to extendthe rope to see what comes of theEFCC’s promise within areasonable time. We will watchevery step they take with our firmresolve that this report will not gointo the mortuary of probereports.”

The State Security Service(SSS), yesterday claimedignorance of an alleged N40

million aid from Algeria to fundthe activities of the Boko Haramsect.

Spokesperson of the Service,Mrs. Marilyn Ogar, whencontacted, said she did not havesuch information.

Police spokesman, CSP FrankMba when contacted, initiallydeclined comments, saying he wasin a noisy area.

Subsequently, he failed torespond to several calls made to hiscell phones.

SSS deniesknowledge ofN40m BokoHaram fundingBy Lambert TyemPresident Goodluck

Jonathan yesterday urgedWest African Defence Chiefs

to ensure that peace and securityare sustained in the sub-region.

The President who made theappeal during a courtesy visit toState House by Chiefs of Defence

Staff in West Africa who are inAbuja for their 30th OrdinaryMeeting, stressed that the strengthof any nation depends on the mightof its military and “security is veryvital to the integrity of nations.”

President Jonathan whilecommending the defence chiefs fortheir role in ensuring the currentrelative stability in the sub-region

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem enjoined them not to relent.“Though there are challenges in

some areas, the stability of countriesin the Economic Community of WestAfrican States (ECOWAS) sub-region is commendable. We haveprogressed significantly comparedwith what we had 20 years ago,”the President said, adding that “wehave to continue to ensure peace,

security and stability.”President Jonathan who noted

that the whole sub-region hasembraced democratic governance,expressed appreciation to themilitary chiefs for joining handswith civilian authorities to addressthe challenges in a few countries inWest Africa such as Mali and GuineaBissau.

Jonathan tasks West African defence chiefs on security

L-R: Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Works, Senator Bashir Mohammed, Chairman of the committee, Senator Ayogu Eze,Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen, and committee member, Senator Bukar Ibrahim, during a national workshop on “AttitudinalChange Course on Management and Financing of Roads in Nigeria”, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: NAN

President GoodluckJonathan has signed the Billfor an Act entitled,

Retirement Age of Staff ofPolytechnics and Colleges ofEducation (Harmonisation) Act,2012.

The law harmonises thecompulsory retirement age of

staff of Polytechnics andColleges of Education to be 65years and exempts them fromthe Public Service Rule whichrequires a person to retirefrom

the Public Service after servingfor 35 years.

According to a statement

signed his spokesman, Dr. ReubenAbati, President Jonathan has alsoassented to the Bill for an Act tofurther amend the Universities(Miscellaneous Provisions) Act No.11, 1993.

The new Universities(Miscellaneous Provisions)(Amendment) Act, 2012,

limits the tenure of principalofficers of universities to a singleterm of five years, whileincreasing the compulsoryretirement age of staff in theprofessorial cadre and non-academic staff in Nigerianuniversities to 70 and 65 yearsrespectively.

…Amends retirement age of tertiary institutions’ staff

The 44 sacked lecturers of theUniversity of Ilorin, whowere reinstated by the

Supreme Court have applied for anorder of the Ilorin Federal Highcourt to commit to prison the ViceChancellor and three other officialsof the university for “neglectingto obey the judgment of theSupreme Court contained in itsjudgment delivered on December11, 2009.”

The Supreme Court had in thejudgment reversed the sacking ofthe lecturers by the university in2001 but the lecturers areclaiming that the school hadrefused to grant them all what theyare entitled to such asaccumulated annual leaves andpromotions as reportedly containedin the judgement.

The applicants’ grounds ofapplication include that: TheSupreme Court delivered itsjudgement in this case on appealon 11/12/2009 wherein it restoredthe judgment of the High Courtthereby granting them all theirreliefs".

“The judgment debtors haverefused to grant the judgmentcreditors their annual promotionsfor the period they wereunlawfully dismissed.

“Forms 48 and 49 have beenserved on the judgment debtorsand they still persist in theirdisobedience.”

The motion on notice signed bythe applicants' counsel, ToyinOladipo is slated to be heard onMay, 25.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MAY 15, 2012PAGE 4

Kano state deputy governor,Dr. Abdullai Umar Ganduje, yesterday,

clarified that there was no riftbetween the governor, AlhajiRabiu Kwankwaso and themembers of the state House ofAssembly.

Responding to questions fromnewsmen over the speculationsthat the state governor was atloggerheads with the lawmakers,the deputy governor whorepresented his boss at the retreatheld for the lawmakers in Abuja,said “You can see there is noproblem in Kano state; that’s why

No rift between Kwakwanso andKano Assembly members, says deputy

The Court of Appeal sittingin Lagos, yesterdaystruck out the application

filed by Daar CommunicationsPlc, asking the court to stayexecution of a judgementdelivered by Justice MohammedIdris of a Federal High Courtsitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.

The Federal High Court,Ikoyi, had in its judgment orderedDaar Communications to pay thesum of N7.5bn debt to Fidelity

N7.5bn debt: AppealCourt strikes outDokpesi’s application

Speaker, Kano state House of Assembly, Hon. Gambo Salahu (right) in a handshake with the state’sDeputy Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje (middle), during the opening ceremony of a retreat formembers and staff of the state House of Assembly, yesterday in Abuja. With them is the DeputySpeaker, Hon. Isyaku Ali Danja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

Bank Plc.At the hearing of the

application for stay of executionof judgment, the appellate courtpresided over by Justice HelenOgunwumiju, observed that theapplication filed by DaarCommunications was not signedby a legal practitioner.

In his submissions, counsel toFidelity Bank, Dr. Joseph Nwobikeprayed the court to strike out theapplication for incompetence.

Earlier, counsel to theappellants, Olumide Adefila had

The Supreme Court yesterdayslated July 30, 2012 forjudgement in the suit

brought before it by the Cross Riverstate government claiming the 14oil wells ceded to it by the formerPresident Olusegun Obasanjo.

At the resumed hearing of thematter yesterday, counsel to theappellant, Yusuf Ali (SAN) prayedthe court to compel both theFederal Government and AkwaIbom state government to respectthe sharing formula put in placeby former President OlusegunObasanjo on the 90 oil wells whichhad been a subject of disputebetween Cross River and AkwaIbom states.

Cross Rivers state had draggedthe Federal Government and theAkwa Ibom state to court on groundthat some of the oil wells ceded to itby the agreement reached at ameeting called by the formerpresident in 2006 were notreleased to it.

Ali submitted that formerPresident Obasanjo through aletter dated October 31, 2006 hadshared the oil wells between the twostates given 76 to Akwa Ibom and

Supreme Court slates July 30 todeliver judgement on oil well suit

14 to Cross River.Ali prayed the court to allow the

appeal and grant all the reliefssought for by the applicant.

In his submission, counsel to theAkwa Ibom state government,Chief Bayo Ojo, submitted that theissue before the court was whetherCross River is a littoral state or notas at present.

He further argued that thehanding over of the westernBakassi to Cameroun in August 14,2008 removed Cross River frombeing a littoral state and hencecould not benefit from the oil wells.

He therefore urged the court todismiss the appeal.

Counsel to the FederalGovernment, Damien Dodo, on hispart, argued that the matter wasbefore the court as at the time theformer president wrote the lettersharing the oil well and that thecourt did not embrace that letterwhen it sat on the matter in 2005.

He further argued that theNational Boundary Commissionand the Revenue AllocationMobilisation and FiscalCommission acted ultra vires in allmatters that led to the instant suit.

He therefore urged the court todismiss the appeal.

By Lawrence Olaoye we are here and you can see ussmiling”.

Kwankwaso in his speech readon his behalf by his deputy,challenged the lawmakers toalways have the interest of thepublic behind all their actions.According to him, the lawmakersshould concern themselves withmaking laws that would ensurethat dividends of democracy aredelivered to the people.

The Speaker of the Assembly,Hon AbdulAzeez Garba Gafasa inhis speech, equally appealed to thegovernment to consider moretraining programmes for thelawmakers in order to enable themperform their statutory functions.

A Bureau De ChangeOperator, AlhajiAbubakar Kalidu yesterday

told an Abuja Chief MagistrateCourt sitting in Wuse Zone II howsome members of staff of the UnityBank Plc allegedly conspired todefraud him of N25 million.

Alhaji Kalidu, a prosecutionwitness who was led in evidencetold the court that one Yusuf Musaintroduced Latifat Lawal to him asa staff of Unity Bank in their bid tobuy 157, 282 US dollars with itsnaira equivalent in the tune of N25million.

The prosecution witness, whois also the complainant in thematter, said he paid the suspects’N155, 150 as commission on thetransaction, adding that, “Afterfinishing with the 4th accusedperson (Latifat Lawal), I gaveone Umar Abubakar the accountnumber of Datman Ventures totransfer N8 million to, which he

How bank staff defraudedme of N25m, by victim

confirmed was done with theletter-head paper of the companyas requested.

“The owner of the account alsoconfirmed the receipt of theamount in his account, only forYusuf Musa to call me that therewas a problem as Latifat toldhim that the 2nd accused personstole the money with which hebought the dollars.

“After a while, Latifat nowcalled to tell me that the 2ndaccused person stole bank’smoney to buy the dollars andthat the bank, on discovering it,retrieved the money and frozethe account”, he told the court.

He said he took the complaintto the Inspector General of Policeafter efforts to get the accountopened and the money paid backfailed.

While been cross examinedby the counsel representing theaccused persons, Sunday G.Kekere-Akpe, Kalidu told thecourt that Unity Bank has never

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin bought dollars from his BureauDe Change and that Yusuf Musais not an agent of the bank but aBureau De Change Operatorwho can get customersanywhere.

He equally said the 4th accusedhad never brought a documentfrom the bank requesting for thepurchase of dollars, adding that,“our business of buying and sellingof dollars is not done like that, itdoes not require signing ofdocuments”.

The suspects, AsiaUchechukwu; Nancy Yusuf Dogo;Latifa Oyizu Lawal and DayyabuSanusi standing trial for criminalconspiracy, cheating and criminalbreach of trust by the police, havebeen granted bail after pleadingnot guilty.

Chief Magistrate OyeyipoAdemuyiwa Olakunle adjournedtill June 8, 2012 for continuationof hearing and ordered theprosecution to come along with allits witnesses.

From Francis Iwuchukwu, Lagos

The Minister of Women Affairsand Social Development,Hajiya Zainab Maina, has said

that states that did not pass the ChildRights Act that was federallydomesticated in 2003 into law, willbe penalised.

The minister made thedisclosure while fielding questionsfrom the media at the end of herpresentation at the on goingMinisterial Platform incommemoration of DemocracyDay and the 1st anniversary ofPresident Goodluck Jonathan inoffice, yesterday in Abuja.

According to her, only 23 statesand the FCT out of the 36 states ofthe federation passed the law whileKebbi, Sokoto, Borno, Yobe, Bauchi,Zamfara, Enugu, Kano, Adamawa,Gombe and Bayelsa states are yetto pass the Act into law.

The minister said otherachievements recorded under herregime with some initiated by her

predecessors, were the ministry’spartnership with the police toaddress the rampant cases of rape,violence against women,prostitution, hawking by childrenand trafficking and theestablishment of more Gender Desksin police stations across the countryto handle such cases.

She said one of the majorachievements of the ministry wasthe establishment of the forum offemale Ministers and SpecialAdvisers to the president, whichshe said was formed as a strategyto scale-up response on AffirmativeAction, gender mainstreamingand gender focused budgeting andtake-off of Gender Units in the MDAsas well as to further provideNigerian women in governanceand politics with a platform to meet,share ideas, compare notes on theirexperiences in governance andstrategise properly in meeting thechallenges of mainstreaminggender issues in nationaldevelopment.

Child Rights Act: Non compliantstates to be penalised, says ministerBy Maryam Garba Hassan

sought for adjournment to enableparties resolve the matteramicably.

Adefila informed the courtthat the chairman of DaarCommunicationS Plc, ChiefRaymond Dokpesi and theManaging Director of FidelityBank met at the weekend andagreed to resolve the matteramicably.

In his reply, Dr. Nwobike toldthe court that he was not aware ofany plan to settle the matter outof court.

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin


NDLEA records first creamycocaine seizureFrom Suleiman Idris, Lagos

The National Drug LawEnforcement Agency(NDLEA) has recorded the

first seizure of creamy cocaine inthe country.

The 9.500kg cocaine whichlooks like ice cream was beingsmuggled into the country in fourbig coolers by an unrepentantsuspected drug trafficker who iscurrently facing trial over unlawfulimportation of one kilogramme ofcocaine from Brazil in 2010.

The re-arrest of the 50-year-old at the Murtala MohammedInternational Airport (MMIA)Lagos has generated mixed

reactions on the adequacy of thelegal framework and justicedispensation in drug control.

The suspect, MartinIkechukwu was caught with9.500kg of creamy substance thattested positive for cocaine on hisway from Sao Paulo, Brazil.Operatives of the NDLEA detectedthe drug following suspicion on thefour giant size water coolers.

Four (4) parcels each of creamycocaine were found to have beenindustrially strapped round thebody of the four coolers. In all a totalof 16 parcels weighing 9.500kgwith an estimated street value ofover 90 million naira wererecovered during search at the

arrival hall of the airport.NDLEA Airport Commander,

Hamza Umar who confirmed thearrest explained that thecommand has been grapplingwith the problem of re-arrest ofsuspected drug traffickers who arereleased on bail.

“The re-arrest of personsundergoing trial for drug relatedcharges is one of our numerouschallenges. This suspect was firstarrested on 23rd of February 2010for ingesting one kilogramme ofcocaine and there are several caseslike this,” Hamza noted.

Commenting on the arrest anddrug seizure, Chairman/ChiefExecutive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu

Giade said that the arrest showedthe extent to which drug baronscan go in attempt to prevent drugsfrom being detected.

According to the NDLEA boss,“while this arrest reflects the levelof desperation by drug barons, ithas also raised questions on theissue of bail for drug traffickers.Certainly, the accused isunrepentant and has shown noremorse because he was firstcaught with 1kg and went back tosmuggle 9.500kg of cocaine evenwhen the first case is ongoing. Weshall pursue this case to a logicalconclusion and use it as deterrentto others”.

The NDLEA is alsoinvestigating the circumstancesunder which the suspect acquirednew travel documents as well ashis accomplices.

Two killed asrival thugsclash in Benin

From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua,Katsina

No fewer than two personsdied and 45 others gotinjured in an accident

involving a J5 bus conveying abride and Volkwagen Golf car.

An eyewitness told our

correspondent that the accidentoccurred on Sunday evening at‘Yartafki village along Funtua-Zaria road.

The source disclosed that theGolf car coming from the Zaria endof the road had a head-on collisionwith the bus coming from Funtuawhich conveyed the bride while

An Edo state IndependentNational Electoral Com-mission (INEC) ad-hoc staff

was stabbed to death while amember of a rival Drivers WelfareScheme in the state, OmosighoWilfred, was also killed during amayhem that lasted about threehours yesterday.

Several others whose identitiescould not be ascertained, were saidto be lying critically injured andin coma, in various hospitals in thestate capital.

Supporters of the ActionCongress of Nigeria (ACN)allegedly unleashed mayhem atINEC office complex in protest overthe attempt by the commission toorganise a fresh voters’ registrationexercise ahead of the July 14, 2012governorship elections in the state.

The ACN alleged that theprocess was a design by INEC andPDP to rig the forthcomingelections.

Meanwhile, aggrievedmembers of the welfare schemeyesterday stormed the secretariatcomplex of the Nigeria Union ofJournalists (NUJ) Edo state councilwith the deceased body of theirmember.

Members of the ACN duringthe protest called on the chairmanof INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega,to order the immediate evacuationof all the DDC machines in thecustody of the office of thecommission in Edo state to allowpeace reign in the state.

From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

A doctorate student of theBenue state UniversityMakurdi, Mr. John Tor Viha

Gber was yesterday allegedlystabbed to death by one Mr. Akaaat Logo 1 area of Makurdi, theBenue state capital.

Sister to the deceased, MissJanet Gber narrated that Mr. Akaacame into their compound,claiming that the father of thedeceased had sent him to pick amotor spare part from the house.

Janet said his brother refusedto oblige Akaa’s request,contending that his father neverinformed him that Akaa wouldcome and pick something from thehouse.

According to her, Gber’srefusal resulted in a disagreementthat attracted neighbours, whosought to know what washappening.

It was in the process ofexplaining that Akaa was said tohave removed a knife and stabbedGber in the back and on the head.He died few minutes later in anundisclosed hospital.

The State Police PublicRelations Officer (PPRO), Mr.Alaribe Ejike who confirmed theincident, said that the police hadsince arrested the culprit andwould charge him to court soon.

PhD studentstabbed todeath in BenueFrom Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

Federal Road Safety Corps(FRSC) in Kogi state has saidat least 131 persons lost their

lives to highway accidents fromJanuary to April this year.

Michael Olapade, SectorCommander of the Federal RoadSafety Commission (FRSC) in thestate revealed yesterday in Lokojawhile speaking with newsmen in

his office.Olapade said 1,582 passengers

were involved in 189 road accidentsthat happened across the statewithin the period under review.

He added that 748 of themsuffered various degrees of injurysaying: “Out of the 1,582 peopleinvolved in the accidents, 131 died,748 got injured while the restescaped unhurt.

“Thirty-one persons died in

accidents that happened inJanuary, 46 in February, 26 inMarch while the month of Aprilrecorded 28 deaths.”

Olapade attributed theaccidents to over-speeding,dangerous driving, tyre burstsand brake failure among othersand pointed out that most of themwere avoidable and could havebeen averted but for carelessnessand non-adherence to traffic rules.

He warned motorists to desistfrom reckless driving, alwaysobserve traffic rules and codes andabove all, minimize their speed tomanageable level to save the livestheir passengers and theirs.

The sector commander hintedthat the command had stepped upits public enlightenment campaignin its resolve to reach out to motoriststo educate them on the need tochange their driving attitudes.

131 perished on Kogi highway in 4 months, says FRSC

2 die, 45 others injured in Katsina auto crashattempting to dodge amotorcyclist.

Our correspondent who visitedthe Funtua General Hospitalwhere the dead and the injuredwere taken met a confusedsituation as relatives of mournedthe victims.

The dead and the injured were

conveyed to the hospital by the rescueteam of the Federal Road Safety Corps(FRSC), Funtua Command.

Confirming the incident to ourcorrespondent, the unit commanderof the command, Alhaji Umar Betaranoted that of the 45 people that gotinjured in the accident, 23 wereserious while 22 were mild.

L-R: Ondo state Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, President Goodluck Jonathan, and Akwa Ibom state Governor, Chief GodswillAkpabio, after the inauguration of Agricultural Transformation Implementation Council, yesterday at the State House, in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye


Malam Lawal Tudun-Wada, attacked by a gang of armed robbers at the weekend Tudun Malamai inFuntua, receiving treatment, yesterday at Funtua General Hospital. Photo: NAN

CNPP berates PDPover plot to kill Labour

Insecurity caused by badgovernance, says Amaechi

forthwith."CNPP National Publicity

Secretary, Osita Okechukwu,in a statement said: "Ourworry stems from the fact thatto factionalise the LabourMovement, which played amajor role in reclaiming ourdemocracy from militarydictatorship and which alwaysstood with the people in wagingwars of attrition against anti-people's policy, a metaphor ofthe PDP-led FederalGovernment of Nigeria in thelast 13 years, will be a nationaldisaster".

"Is it not paradoxical thatthe government is afraid of aLabour Movement whichmany patriots accuse offraternising with PresidentJonathan's government as

evidenced by the abruptstoppage of the January 2012fuel subsidy mass action andwhich has neither supportednor joined with the SaveNigeria Group's agitation forMr. President to immediatelysack and prosecute all thoseindicted by the House ofRepresentatives Report andrecover the stolen subsidyfunds? This smacks of fledglingdictatorship", it said.

CNPP also bemoaned how,since 1999, the PDP devotedhuge resources to killing theAlliance for Democracy, AllPeoples Party and otherdemocratic institutions,instead of utilisingunprecedented oil revenue toprovide electricity, modernrailways and social services.

The Conference of NigerianPolitical Parties (CNPP)has expressed outrage

over news from the NigeriaLabour Congress (NLC) thatthe Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) Federal Government hasperfected plans to create aLabour Centre with the intentof killing the labour movementin Nigeria.

CNPP also challengedPresident Goodluck Jonathanto call to order "thoseunpatriotic, undemocratic andanti-labour elements in hisparty and government whoseplan is to factionalise andindeed kill the LabourMovement in Nigeria to stop

From Ayodele Samuel andOjebola Matthew, Lagos

The River's state GovernorMr. Rotimi Amaechi hasattributed the current

spate of insecurity bedevillingthe entire country to badgovernance .

The governor who statedthis yesterday at stateGovernment House, Qutseduring a working vis i t toJigawa state , saidinsurgencies either from theSouth or North wereattempts to resist badgovernance .

According to him, "eitherway one looks at it, whetherit is the militants or the 'BokoHaram', it is a group of peoplethat are resist ing the

From Ahmed Abubakar, Dutse overwhelming pressure ofbad leadership".

Amaechi who is thechairman of the NigerianGovernors' Forum, observedthat the Jigawa stategovernor has made landmarkachievements towardsupl i f t ing the state throughthe prudent use of the publicfunds.

He said, " from what Ihave so far seen from theroad construct ion whi le Idrove into the state fromKano, I must commend AlhajiSule Lamido for his doggednessby sticking to his policy ofputting the "Talakawa" first.

He said, "My visit to Jigawawould provide me with theopportunity to learn from the

experience of the governorwhom I am advising to let theworld see what he has doneagainst the backdrop of thosecalling state governorsthieves", he said.

Earlier on, Alhaji SuleLamido who went downmemory lane narrated howJigawa state was created outof necessity than design.

Governor Sule Lamidourged governors from theSouth-South to pay similarvisits to the North in order todisabuse the minds of thoseportraying the north as aninsecurity prone area.

He advised governors to dowhatever is possible, to addressthe current securitychallenges in the country.

Kogi taskforce onsanitationprosecutes 30persons

No fewer than 30 personswho contravened the Kogistate government's

sanitation and beautification lawsand the building of illegal structuresin the state capital have beenprosecuted and fined.

Magistrate AbdullahiSuleiman, fined the culpritsamounts ranging from N1,000 toN5,000 as first offenders forcontravening law No Hl 03 of 2011and PHC CAP 109 of 1963.

The prosecutor, ShaibuIbrahim, said those arrested werecaught displaying wares along thestreets despite several warnings,which is tantamount todisobeying constituted authority.

Speaking at the courtpremises, the Acting GeneralManager, warned that henceforth,dropping refuse on road dividewould attract sanction while callingon the people to cooperate withgovernment in ensuring a cleansociety.

Reacting to the continuousdisobedience to the ban on streettrading, the secretary,beautification committee, AdaviAbraham, appealed to the people tomake use of the neighborhoodmarket provided by thegovernment as the presentadministration was ready to ridLokoja of filth.

UNILAG declares3-day mourningfor late VC

The University of Lagos(UNILAG), has declaredthree days of mourning in

honour of its late Vice-Chancellor,Professor Adetokunbo Sofoluwe, whopassed away at the Lagos UniversityTeaching Hospital (LUTH) onSaturday.

During the mourning period,which commenced from MondayMay14 to Wednesday May 16, alllectures, statutory meetings andother university activities at itsthree campuses would not hold.

According to hospital sources, theVC suffered a heart attack while inhis office at the Department ofComputer Science but managed tocall his doctor from the medicalcentre who came to his rescue andbrought him to the medical centrein an ambulance.

He was subsequentlytransferred to LUTH where he wasdiagnosed as having myocardialinfraction.

He was resuscitated before beingtransferred to the high dependencyunit in ward E8 of LUTH.

Unfortunately, he suffered asecond heart attack and all efforts toresuscitate him were unsuccessful.

Post mortem examination hassince been carried out and this hasconfirmed the cause of death.


Army to opendog trainingcentre inLagos

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.General Azubuike Ihejirikahas reiterated the

commitment of the Nigeria Army tobrace up for the security challengesin the country.

The COAS disclosed this in Bauchiyesterday while declaring open theCombat Arms Training Week heldat the Armoured BrigadeHeadquarters, Bauchi, with thetheme 'Repositioning the CombatArms through Training andRetraining and Equipment to meetContemporary Challenges'.

Ihejirioka revealed plans by thearmy to use trained dogs to detectexplosives and narcotics to help fightterrorism and other crimes.

The Army Chief said thediscarded Dog Unit of the armywould be revived by convertingarmy structures in Iyana Ipaja,Lagos to a Dog Training Centre.

He said that a 48 carriagewas being constructed toaccommodate the speciallytrained dogs each of whichwould have its own room andparlour as well as air-conditioner.

He disclosed that already, thefirst, second and third sets of officersand soldiers to handle the dogs hadbeen sent overseas for training.

According to him, trainingvillage for its officers and men wouldhave a feel of real war time situation,adding that troops have been sent tothe United Kingdom and Pakistan tosee the structures there, to enable thearmy have the best of such facilities.

FRSC appointsAkpabio, LagossectorCommander

The Federal Road SafetyCorps (FRSC), hasappointed Nseobong Charles

Akpabio, as the Sector Commanderof the Lagos State Command, to takeover from Corps Commander,Jonas Agwu.

A statement issued yesterdayby the Corps Education Officer(CEO) of the Lagos State Sector,Esther Sonusi, indicated thatAkpabio, was one of the pioneer staffof the FRSC, and a highly decoratedofficer, who holds National HonoursAward in the rank of Member ofthe Order of the Niger (MON). Hewas the immediate past CorpsPublic Education Officer at theNational Headquarters, Abuja.

"He served the Corps in variouscommand and staff appointmentsincluding the Sector Commanderin Akwa Ibom, Imo, Enugu,Ebonyi, Kaduna and Benue statesin addition to the Federal CapitalTerritory, Abuja and Head of theCorps' Command Administrationand Strategy in the OperationsDepartment, NationalHeadquarters supervising over200 FRSC Commands nationwide",the statement added.

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

From Ayodele Samuel andOjebola Matthew, Lagos


Benue medical students protestdelay in accreditation of courses From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

L-R:ExecutiveChairman,Economicand FinancialCrimesCommission,(EFCC), Mr.IbrahimLamorde,CountryHead, OpenSocietyInitiative forWest Africa(OSIWA), Mrs.AdaoraIkenze, andAdvocacyOfficer ofOSIWA, Mr. IloJude Udo,during theirvisit to theEFCCheadquarters,yesterday inAbuja.Photo:Mahmud Isa

Daily Times: Group urgesJonathan to sanction AGFFrom Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

The South East Forum forJustice and EconomicEmpowerment (SEFOJE)

has called on President GoodluckEbele Jonathan to sanction theAttorney General of the Federation(AGF) and Minister for Justice,Alhaji Mohammed Adoke formisleading the FederalGovernment and the generalpublic on the privatisation of DailyTimes of Nigeria as well as takingactions that have militatedagainst efforts at gainfuloperations of the publishingorganisation.

In a statement signed

yesterday by the ExecutiveSecretary of the socio-politicalgroup, Arch. Desmond ElugwuOkere, it wants the minister sackedfor his role in the crisis that hasconstituted hindrances to theprogress of Daily Times newspapersand other related acts it said wererepugnant to government’sprinciple of Justice, rule of law,equity and good conscience.

The group noted that thedecision of the Justice Minister toinstitute criminal proceedingsagainst the Anosike brothers andtheir company, FolioCommunications when theInspector General of Police whowas said to have directed that the

case was civil in nature, wasunexpected from a Minister ofJustice.

“We are quite aware that thecase which the AGF institutedagainst the Anosikes and theircompany, Folio CommunicationsLimited, has been dismissed incourt because the AGF and all hisgang members cannot musterenough facts to prosecute the case.We are also aware of the plot bythe oppressors to look for loopholeson which they would re-start thecase, all in desperate bid tocontinue to keep Daily Timesstagnant. We have also gonethrough the many revelationsfrom an article written by one Mr.

Bonaventure Melah andpublished in several newspaperswith the title: ‘How FederalGovernment Frustrates Investorsin Nigeria.

”It is our considered opinionthat rather than blame theFederal Government on thismatter, the AGF should besanctioned for misleading both theFederal Government and thegeneral public into thinking thatthe process leading to the sale ofDaily Times Plc was flawed whenin actual fact all required dueprocesses were met and that thishas been the position of the Bureauof Public Enterprises (BPE) on thematter.

Medical students of theBenue StateUniversity, yesterday,

staged another protest againstthe state government over thedelay in accreditation of coursesat the College of Health Sciences.

The students who trekkedfrom the school that is over10km from the town, convenedat the Government Houseroundabout decked in their whiteover-alls but were prevented bysecurity operatives who wieldedguns and tear gas from gainingentrance into the GovernmentHouse.

They claimed that they wereon appointment to see GovernorGabriel Suswam who was inAbuja attending a meeting.

Miss Catholic YouthOrganisation (CYON),2012, Archdiocese of

Lagos, Miss Chioma Okose,yesterday, advised youngwomen to dress decently in orderto protect the dignity ofwomanhood.

Okose told the News Agencyof Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos thatwomen have lost their dignitydue to increase in indecentdressing among the youth.

“The pride of young ladies islost with the incessant craze forfashion and modernisation, weshould not expose our bodies,’’ shesaid.

She said that beauty contestsshould be carried out withoutexposing the sacred parts ofbodies, adding that, it should bea show of talent and not bodies.

“Beauty contests shoulddisplay more of the intellect ofyoung girls and not concentrateon showing those parts thatshould not be made public,’’ shesaid.

Okose advised religious bodiesto promote decent pageantswhich should change theconcept and tradition of exposingbodies during beauty pageants.

The Chaplain, CatholicYouths Organisation, LagosArchdiocese, Rev. Fr. AndrewOgidan told NAN that theChurch condemns indecency infemale dressing. (NAN)

Indecentdressing destroyswomanhood,says MissCatholic Youth

Probe Lamurde killings, group urges AdamawaAssembly

A socio-cultural association,Pene Da Bwatiye,yesterday, urged the

Adamawa State House ofAssembly to institute a high-powered probe into thecircumstances surroundingSunday’s attack by allegedFulani mercenaries on 12villages in Lamurde localgovernment area of the state.

Addressing a press conferenceat the NUJ secretariat, Yola,Prince Hebron Fada, president ofPene Da Bwatiye Association, an

umbrella body housing all Bataand Bachama kingdoms inAdamawa state, claimed thatgovernment did not respond toreports of an impending attackmade to it.

“The security committees ofNuman and lamurde localgovernment areas had metseverally and using laid downchannels, communicated to thegovernment and all indicatorspoint to the fact that this attackwas in the offing”, Fada stated.

The group howeverexpressed dismay that evenwith such security reports,government failed to deploytroops into the area, alleging

that “No security steps weretaken and it seemed thatgovernment deliberately turneddeaf ears and blind eyes to whatseemed obvious, in surreptitioussupport of the act seen asretaliation”.

Reacting on the Lamurdemassacre, Governor MurtalaNyako through the Secretary tothe State Government, Mr.Kobis Aris Thimnu, describedthe attack as unfortunate,bizarre and uncalled for,insisting that “no responsiblegovernment will sit and allowits citizens to take up armsagainst themselves no matterthe provocation”.

Yobe govt earmarks N50m for victims of Potiskum market attackGovernor Ibrahim Gaidam

of Yobe state has approvedthe payment of over N50

million as compensation tovictims of the recent PotiskumInternational Cattle Marketcrisis.

A statement signed by thegovernor’s Special Adviser onPress Affairs and Information,Abdullahi Bego said the payment

of the compensation, which willbe made this week, followsverification work done by theState Emergency ManagementAgency (SEMA), in collaborationwith the leadership of the CattleMarket Association.

According to Bego, thefamilies of each of the 63 peopleconfirmed to have died as aresult of the attack will receive

N600, 000 bringing the total toN28, 800, 000 while owners of15 vehicles and three tricyclesburnt during the attack willreceive a total of N5, 850,000.00 which represents 60% ofthe original costs of the burntitems.

The statement added:

“Owners of 49 cattle that wereburnt will receive N3, 433, 250.The sum of N10, 000 will go toeach of the owners of 738 MarketShades that were burnt duringthe attack which totals N7, 380,000.00. The 26 water and bean-cake vendors who lost items willalso receive N10, 000.00 each.

People who lost goats in the goatmarket close to the cattle marketwill receive a total of N2, 727,810.00 which is 60 percent of thecost of the lost goats”.

“Five cattle dealers willreceive N1, 560, 000.00 as aresult of loss of items belonging toother people in their possession”.

The College Provost, Dr.Shima Gyoh appealed to themto go back so that the issues couldbe amicably resolved.

Speaking with journalists onthe matter, Secretary to theState Government, Dr. DavidSalifu, assured that governmentwould ensure full accreditationof courses in the medical collegein few weeks time, disclosingthat the Out-PatientDepartment, as well as the X-raydepartments were alreadyfunctioning.

From Blessing Tunoh, Yola


4

2 3

1

2

3L-R: Lagos state Governor, Mr.Babatunde Fashola with Dr. FunmiSofoluwe, widow of late Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos(UNILAG), Professor AdetokunboBabatunde Sofoluwe, during thegovernor’s condolence visit.

1An ‘almajiri’ sleeping on a culvert onShendam road, yesterday in Lafia,Nasarawa state. Photo: NAN.

4

ECOWAS Chiefs of Defence staffduring their meeting with PresidentGoodluck Jonathan, yesterday atthe State House in Abuja. Photo: JoeOroye

A man sleeping on an articulatedvehicle’s tyres, yesterday in Lagos.Photo: NAN.


8 feared dead in Zamfara robbery attack

No fewer than eightpersons, including fourpolicemen, were feared

killed in a shootout between thepolice and a gang of armedrobbers at Dansadau in Marulocal government area ofZamfara state.

A resident of a nearbyvillage along Dansadau-Gusauroad, Aliyu Na-Allah, told theNews Agency of Nigeria (NAN)yesterday, that the incidentoccurred in the early hours ofSunday.

He said, “I heard sporadicshooting from a distance.

“In the day time when theshootings subsided, we weretold that the gun battle wasbetween a gang of armedrobbers and the policemen whowere patrolling the area.

“We equally learnt thatfour of the policemen werekilled, while two of the armedrobbers also died in theshootout.

Sources close to the policeheadquarters also said that two

vigilante group members, whowere on the spot to assist thepolice died while five otherpolicemen were still missing.

The sources, who spoke oncondition of anonymity, saidthat the robbers laid ambushfor the police patrol team andopened fire on spotting them.

The Public Relations Officerof the Zamfara PoliceCommand, ASP Amiru Sanusi,who confirmed the incident,said he had no details of thenumber of casualties in the

shootout.NAN recalls that armed

banditry around Dansadauarea between September 2011and May had resulted in thedeath of more than 40 persons,including a number ofpolicemen.

NAN also recalls that aerialsurveillance introduced by theformer Commissioner of Policein the state, Mr. Tambari Yabo,did little to reduce theprotracted insecurity in thearea. (NAN)

Disaster Risk Reduction(DRR) will soon beincluded in educational

curriculum to impart to studentsat primary and secondary schoollevels the basic knowledge on howto reduce the chances of disasteroccurrence within theirenvironments.

Director-General of theNational EmergencyManagement Agency (NEMA),Muhammad Sani Sidi, disclosedthis while presenting awards tothe winners of a quiz competitionon DRR organised for selectedsecondary schools within the FCTby NEMA.

He said NEMA is collaboratingwith the Federal Ministry ofEducation, UNESCO, to introduce

Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)courses in the curriculum ofprimary and secondary schools toachieve the objective, adding thatthe agency is alreadycollaborating with six universitieson the possibility of offeringMaster’s Degree programme indisaster management.

He said that disastermanagement has become thebusiness of every individual;hence the quiz competition wasaimed at creating awareness ondisaster reduction and responseamong students.

“There is no better way tocreate awareness on disastermanagement than to start fromthe schools”, he said.

He pledged the agency’ssupport for the activities of DRRclubs in secondary schools, urgingmembers to spread the awarenesscampaigns on DRR to their schoolsand homes.

Earlier, Mr. Jimoh Abubakar,the NYSC corps member, whoinitiated the idea for thecompetition, said it was aimed atbringing the school clubs togetherto sensitise them on DRR,commending the DG for hissupports and cooperation.

Meanwhile, at the end of thecompetition, GovernmentSecondary School (GSS), Garki,emerged winner, GovernmentSecondary School (GSS), TudunWada, came second, while ReginaPacis College emerged to the thirdposition.

Disaster riskreduction to beincludedin schoolcurriculum, saysNEMABy Ikechukwu Okaforadi

L-R: Minister of National Planning, Dr. Shamsudeen Usman, Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, and Minister of Women Affairs andSocial Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina, during the ministerial press briefing to mark the 2012 National Democracy Day and the firstanniversary of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

The ongoing trial at a LagosHigh Court sitting in Ikeja,before Justice Lateefah

Okunu, of former ManagingDirector of FinBank Plc, Mr.Okey Nwosu and three otherdirectors of the bank was stalledyesterday as a result of the factthat three of the defendants areseeking settlement with theprosecution.

The troubled bank boss isstanding trial alongside DayoFamoroti, Danjuma Ocholi andAgnes Ebubedike on a 26-countcharge instituted by theEconomic and Financial CrimesCommission (EFCC), borderingon alleged stealing and illegalconversion of the sum of N16.2billion belonging to Fin Bank.

Counsel to Danjuma Ocholi(the third defendant), DareOgunlesi, told Justice Okunuthat events have overtaken theprosecution’s stance that courtshould adjourn till Tuesday forthem to produce their witnesseswho will be coming from outsideLagos because their settlementissue is already before thePresidency.

“Events have overtaken thestance of the prosecution inasking for adjournment so thatthe trial can continue.

“Our letter for settlement ispresently before the Presidencyfor approval and the AttorneyGeneral is aware of this.

“My lord, it will serve nouseful purpose, if we proceed totrial tomorrow and thePresidency accedes to thesettlement, it will be a waste ofthe court’s time because thecharge will need to be amendedas the present charge involvesthe four defendants,” he stated.

Even, counsels to DayoFamoroti and Agnes Ebubedike(the second and fourthdefendant), Mr. YemiSowemimo and Ayodeji Adedipe,aligned themselves with theposition of the third defendant.

They all told the court thatthey are already pursuingsettlement and would want thecourt to give them a chance towork things out.

But reacting, counsel toEFCC, Rotimi Jacobs, whileconfirming the attempts atsettlement, stated that his handsare tied as he could not producehis witnesses before the court.

”It’s my inability to producewitnesses that has put me in atight corner. I confirm that wemet on issues of settlement”.

“I will plead with the court togive us the rest of this week toconclude on settlement so that ifit fails, trial will commence nextweek.”

However, Ogunlesi opposedthis application on the groundthat the settlement could not beresolved in a week as thepresident is presently out of thecountry and Jacobs himself isalso very busy.

In her ruling however,Justice Okunnu held that otherdefendants cannot be held toransom or denied speedyhearing because some want toreach an agreement onsettlement, adding that thecharge can be amended at anypoint later and commencementof trial does not affect settlementagreement.

Justice Okunnuconsequently adjourned thematter till Tuesday, May 22,2012 for continuation of trial.

From Francis Iwuchukwu, Lagos

Nwosu: Possible settlement stalls trial

Teaching hospital appeals for security againstincessant raids by robbers

The Chief Medical Director(CMD) of Abia StateUniversity Teaching

Hospital (ABSUTH), Aba, Dr.Uwa Iweha, has expressedconcern over incessant attacksby armed robbers on patientsand workers in the hospital.

Iweha told newsmenyesterday in Aba that he hadinformed the police requesting

for assistance, due to thefrequency and brazenness ofthe attacks.

He said the most recentincident occurred at about 2a.m. on May 10, when therobbers ransacked two wardsat the old site of the hospitalduring which theydispossessed many members ofstaff and patients of cash,

mobile phones and jewelry.“We are still wondering

what the situation could havelooked like had the robbersdecided to go with any of thenewly delivered babies at thecentral delivery unit”, Iwehasaid.

He said that only recently,students residing at the femalehostels at the School ofNursing, at its old site, wereattacked by the robbers.

He said that the banditsalso struck in broad daylightat the House Officers’Quarters at the permanentsite at Abayi.

“Considering that ABSUTHis a health institution whichmakes it difficult to restrictentry of all sorts of people, letalone to police, this spate ofarmed robbery attacks in theinstitution is a most saddeneddevelopment,’’ he said. (NAN)


LG dissolution: Crisiscontinues in BenueCrisis has continued to brew

in Benue state over thedissolution and constitution

of new local governmenttransition committees.

Last weekend, Governor GabrielSuswam through his deputy, ChiefSteven Lawani announced thedissolution of 19 local governmenttransition committees. But Lawaniwas accused of doctoring the list byensuring the retention of hisprotege, Mr. Robert Idoko who is a

year old in office for Okpokwucouncil.

Peoples Daily investigationreveals that there was high levelof insecurity in Okpokwu LGA overthe weekend as members of thePDP caucus expressed bitterness atthe retention of the chairman aswell as the names submitted asmembers of would-be committeeby the state PDP chairman, Mr.Emmanuel Agbo who also hailsfrom the area.

A reliable source who would notwant his name in print, said the

crisis which engulfed the area ledto the deployment of men of theBenue state Police Command toquell the disagreement.

He said the two factions - Agboand Obande Obeya camps heldseparate meetings and came outto engage each other in a hotexchange of words.

“Agbo is insisting that his list isthe authentic one and should beapproved while the other camp isagainst him imposing people on theLGA. So as it stands, there is astalemate in Okpokwu”, the source

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi said.Similarly, serious trouble

erupted in Kwande localgovernment area where the statePDP secretary, Mr. Bem Dzoho wassaid to have sent thugs to harass theformer Speaker of the State House ofAssembly and now FederalCommissioner representing theState at the Federal Civil ServiceCommission, Mrs. Margaret Icheen.

Mrs. Icheen and others who arevehemently opposed to the list ofcommittee members, were lockedout of the caucus meeting.


Govt, NULGEto checkcorruptionin Kogi

Plans to establish aprogramme in Aero SpaceTechnology (AST), at the

Kogi State Polytechnic Lokoja, bythe Centre for Satellite TechnologyDevelopment, Abuja, have beendescribed as novel.

Governor Idris Wada made theassertion when he received themanagement, Centre for SatelliteTechnology Development in hisoffice in Lokoja.

He said that the high premiumplaced on education by hisadministration, is to underscore its

importance and the effect it has onthe sustainable development ofevery nation.

“It would be a laudableinitiative by the Centre for SatelliteTechnology Development forchoosing the state polytechnic toestablish the National DiplomaProgramme, that will make thepolytechnic a model.”

Earlier, Dr. Spencer Onuh,Director of the agency, describedAero Space Engineering, as amarketable field, stating that ifestablished, Nigeria intends tocapture the African market.

The director commended the


polytechnic for having the necessaryengineering facilities to enhance thatof the agency, adding that it wouldfurther attract facilities worthN400million for the successfulcommencement of the programme.

Mr. Onuh called ongovernment to support thecollaboration effort in establishingthe department as it would serveas a flagship programme for AeroSpace Engineering in Nigeria.

In his speech, the Rector Kogi statePolytechnic Lokoja, Prof. MatthewAjibero said facilities at the Itakpecampus of the institution wereenough to commence the nationaldiploma programme for Aero SpaceTechnology and Engineering.

Wada lauds plan to establish aero spacetech course at Kogi poly

A woman with her quadruplets at a roadside, yesterday at Orile Iganmu bus stop, Lagos. Photo: NAN

To make local governmentadministration virile andviable, the Kogi state

government has promised topartner with the Nigerian Unionof Local Government Employees(NULGE), to make it productiveand check corruption.

The state Governor, Capt. IdrisWada, represented by his deputy,Arc Yomi Awoniyi, made thepledge when he received inaudience, the newly electedexecutives of NULGE, in his officein Lokoja at the weekend.

The governor called on the newexecutives to think of doing thingsdifferently towards adding valueto council administration in thestate rather than resort toconfrontation and agitation.

He acknowledged theimportance of local governmentadministration with a promise tostop it from business as usual.

Earlier in his speech, the re-elected chairman, Comrade TomAbutu, commended the steps so fartaken by the presentadministration in putting the stateon the path of sustainable growthand solicited for the fullimplementation of the N18,000minimum wage for councilworkers in the state.

The Executive Secretary,Bauchi State PrimaryHealth Care Development

Agency, Nisser Umar, hasattributed recurrence of polio casesin some parts of the state to difficultterrain and uncontrolledmovement of people.

Umar made the declarationwhen he spoke with the NewsAgency of Nigeria (NAN)yesterday in Bauchi.

“We haven’t had polio foralmost 24 months, but in relativeterms, we are still observingdecline in polio; we should thankGod that we are having only twocases in more than 28 monthsnow.

“It is a sad development but thenet polio cases are flying over thelast two years and I think we lookedbackward to see why we got thosetwo cases.

“And we realised those areaswere too hard to reach and therewere some oversights and theseperhaps were the reasons why wegot those two cases.

“We’ve missed some cases; thisis expected because we havedynamic population; we havepopulation that are coming into thestate at one time and leavinganother time. So, we don’t haveabsolute control on our populationtarget mobility.

“So we can’t say for sure thatwe are going to have 100 per centcoverage and in that circumstanceit’s going to be unrealistic for us toassume we get completely 100 percent coverage.” (NAN)

Difficult terrainhampers fightagainst polioin Bauchi

Research Coordinator andSenior Programme Officer,Plateau Institute of Human

Virology (PIHV), Mrs. SophiaOsawe, has said that the institutewill begin trials of theadministration of HIV vaccine in2015.

Osawe told the News Agency ofNigeria (NAN) yesterday in Josthat the institute had received afour-year grant from the Instituteof Human Virology, Maryland,U.S.,to carry out the study towardspreparing for the trials.

“Already, we are conducting astudy using discordant couples (onepositive, the other negative) whoare living together, in preparationfor the trials.

“We are using that scenariobecause it provides the mostnatural exposure to the virus.

“We are recruiting thenegative partner; while we dothat, we would monitor them andsee their retention rate. We willthen plan to administer thevaccines using a very stringentprocess.

“We prefer that they aretogether because the individualcannot just miss an appointment,so we intend to see how wellvolunteers can stay in the study.

“We will follow up on them toknow how many of themcontracted HIV in the next twoyears and how many of themdidn’t; this study would enable usget a comprehensive data that wewould give to the FederalGovernment to enable us get thego ahead to administer the trialvaccines,” she said.

She explained that the medicalworld, in a bid to eliminate orreduce cases of HIV and AIDS,would move from the drugs to thevaccine stage, adding that thevaccines were at theirrudimentary stages.

According to her, the institutehas also begun on-groundpreparations for the effectiveadministration of the vaccine toensure that the best of service wasdelivered.

“We are getting our laboratorystaff, clinical team and the nurseswell prepared to administer thevaccine and the laboratory is alsobeing upgraded to be of internationalstandard,” she said. (NAN)

PIHV to beginHIV vaccinetrials in 2015

Gunmen raid villages in AdamawaUnidentified gunmen on

Sunday raided Burukutuand Suwa villages in

Lamurde local government areaof Adamawa state.

Spokesperson of AdamawaPolice Command, Mr NemuelYoila, confirmed the attack, butsaid that he was yet to have detailsof the casualty figure.

He said the affected areas hadbeen secured, but could also notconfirm whether any arrest hadbeen made.

Reports from the affectedvillages, however, indicatedthat several people lost theirlives and many housesdestroyed, with residents fleeingthe area.

The attack is coming barelytwo days after a committee set upby the state government toinvestigate the January sectarianviolence in Lamurde and threeother local government areassumitted its report.

The other three localgovernment areas are Numan,Girei and Guyuk. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MAY 15, 2012 PAGE 11

A 90-year-old member of thedefunct Action Group (AG),Wahab Adepoju Aileru, has

emerged as the first traditionalruler of over 100-year-old Oluga-Kemta town of Ogun state,following his coronation and official

presentation of staff of office onSaturday.

The ceremony is scheduled tohold at the palace of the paramountruler of Egbaland in Abeokuta,before the new royal father moveto his own palace in the communitylocated in Odeda local governmentarea of the state.

Oba Aileru, who was one of

the apostles of late ObafemiAwolowo during the hey days ofAction Group, at a pressconference disclosed that 17villages were under hisjurisdiction, adding that beforehis upgrade to obaship status bythe government he had been thevillage head of the communityfor over 20 years.

“I have been Baale (villagehead) for over 20 years before myupgrade as Oba by the stategovernment; I have 17 villagesunder my domain. Mycoronation will take place on May19, 2012, at Alake palaceground, while reception willfollow at African Church PrimarySchool Field, Oluga-Kemta”, he

said.Oba Aileru disclosed that the

state governor, Senator IbikunleAmosun will lead the governmentdelegation to the ceremony, whileother notable personalitiesexpected include former Ogunstate Governor, Aremu OlusegunOsoba, traditional rulers and hostof others.

90-year-old emerges ruler of 100-year-old townFrom Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji,Abeokuta

200 motorcycles impounded as govtclamps down on achaba in Jalingo

More than 200motorcycles belonging toboth private and

commercial riders wereimpounded on Saturday forcontravening the curfew imposedby the Taraba state governmentas commuters groan over lack ofother visible means oftransportation.

It would be recalled that sequelto the terrorist attacks in Jalingo,the state capital, Governor

Danbaba Suntai had in addition tothe curfew, imposed a ban onmotorcycle riders popularly calledAchaba.

Residents of the town who havebeen forced to resort to trekking arelamenting that the ban is causingeconomic hardship on the people.

The dusk to dawn curfewimposed by the Taraba stategovernment following variousbomb attacks in the state capitalwas no longer effective before theban on achaba.

Investigation by our reporters

revealed that both commercialand private motorcycle ridershave been carrying out theiroperations without hindrance bysecurity agents.

A concerned citizenMohammed Usman who spoke withour correspondent, condemned thetrend saying that the curfew wasfor the good of the citizenryconsidering the security problemsin the state brought about by therecent bomb blast in Jalingo.

He said evil doers usemotorcycles to perpetrate their

From Yusha’u Alhassan, Jalingo criminal activities stressing thatit was mandatory for motorcycleriders to comply with thegovernment order to ensure acrime free society.

A civil servant John Michaelsaid the recent armed robbery inJalingo at the Oando filling stationwhere millions of naira and othervaluables were carted away wasperpetrated by men of theunderworld on motorcycles.

However, the Taraba stateCommissioner of Police MammanSule said the curfew was still in

Ogun and Lagos states havejointly resolved to andreaffirmed their

commitment toward totaleradication of polio.

This was disclosed at a polioadvocacy campaign held at Ogijoin Sagamu town of Ogun state bythe governors of the two states,Senator Ibikunle Amosun of Ogunand his Lagos counterpart, Mr.Babatunde Raji Fashola.

They gave the assuranceduring the campaign with thetheme: ‘Youth against Polio’ whichattracted stakeholders includinggovernment functionaries fromthe two states, internationalpartners, health workers andnursing mothers.

In his speech, Amosun describedthe youth as a potent force in thefight against polio anddissemination of the polio campaignnoting that Ogun and Lagos statesrecorded high numbers of visitorsand would set an example for therest of the country in the fightagainst child killer disease.

Similarly, Lagos stategovernor, Mr. Babatunde RajiFashola, urged local governmentauthorities to be active in the fightagainst polio observing that avaccinated child is immuneagainst the disease.

Ogun, Lagosfight polioFrom Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji,Abeokuta

The Trade Union Congress ofNigeria (TUC), Riverscouncil, has condemned the

registration of another labourcentre in the country, the NewsAgency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

The state TUC chairman, Mr.Chika Onuegbu, told NANyesterday in Port Harcourt thatthe creation of another labourcentre would be disadvantageousand a waste of resources.

According to him, the plan bypoliticians to weaken the tradeunion movement is not the wayout of corruption and is capable ofweakening the transformationagenda.

“It is important for the FederalGovernment to demonstrate itsseriousness on the fight againstcorruption and insecurity in thecountry.

“And as such, PresidentGoodluck Jonathan should distancehis administration from thecontinued plot by some politicaljobbers to weaken the Nigerianlabour movement. (NAN)

Fuel subsidy:TUC condemnsregistration ofanother labourmovement

As part of the NationalOrientation Agency’s “Dothe right thing: Transform

Nigeria” campaign, the agency isset to partner with the US basedGlobal Enterprise Institute to hosta two-day seminar in Abuja onethical re-orientation with thetheme, “Ethics First.”

The Director General of theNOA, Mr. Mike Omeri, made thisknown when a delegation from theinstitute led by Mr. Jim Corbettvisited his office to fine tunearrangements for the seminarwhich is scheduled to commencenext week.

Omeri, said the seminar whichwould serve as a follow-up to thelaunch of the “Do the right thing”campaign, would focus oninculcating positive principles inthe leadership of various sectors ofthe society.

He said while every Nigerianand friends of Nigeria have roles toplay in achieving the mandate oftransforming the country, leadersat various levels of society shouldparticipate significantly in thechange process by providingpurposeful guidance to theirfollowers, which he said, necessitatedthe proposed engagement withcommunity, sectoral and opinionleaders through the seminar.


NOA to partner US GlobalEnterprise Institute on ethics

The Oyo state governmenthas signed a Memorandumof Understanding (MoU)

with an Australian consortium forthe exploration of mineralresources in the state.

Governor Abiola Ajimobi andother top government officialssigned on behalf of the stategovernment, while Dr. DapsyOlatona signed on behalf of MM&E,the Australian Company.

The relationship would alsoinvolve the production of fruitjuice, development of farmsettlements across the state, as wellas vocational training for studentsin tertiary institutions.

Speaking at a brief ceremonyat the Executive Chamber of theGovernor’s Office, Ibadan, Sen.Ajimobi said with the signing of theMoU, the various mineralresources which abound in thestate would be fully explored for thegrowth and development of Oyostate.

He told the investors to fashionout a programme ofimplementation to enhance theexploration of the resources.

Gov. Ajimobi, who describedthe signing of the MoU as a step inthe right direction, commendedthe investors for their interest inthe areas of agriculture andmining, which he said the statehad comparative advantage.

From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

Oyo, Australian firm sign MoU onmineral exploration, farm settlements

L-R: Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Dr. Chinyere Ezeaka, Associate Professor in ChildHealth, University of Ghana Medical School, Prof. Onike Rodrigues, Board member, Nestle Nutrition Institute of Africa (NNIA), Prof.James Renner, and Business Manager, Nestle Nigeria, Mr. Mazhar Qureshi, during a workshop on maternal and infant nutrition,yesterday in Ibadan. Photo: NAN


Gov. Fashola’s false stepThe Lagos state government

under Governor Raji Fasholahas continued to blaze the trail

in good governance that hasimpacted positively on the state. Hehas thus far proved to be one with avision of what he wants to achieve inoffice and has gone about it withgusto. The result is the enviabletransformation Lagos state hasundergone under him, and it isevident for all to see. However, onemajor glitch of the Fasholaadministration is its inability toresolve once and for all the recurringimpasse between it and the doctors inits employ.

As happened last year, doctors inthe state had embarked on a three-day warning strike action to presshome their demand for theimplementation of the ConsolidatedMedical Salary Structure [COMESS].The doctors argued that since thestate government, along with otherstates of the federation, signed thebasic minimum wage for doctors lastyear, it was obligated to pay theCOMESS. Therefore, after talksbetween them and governmentofficials failed, the doctors begantheir warning strike.

But in a swift reaction, the stategovernment announced the sack ofabout 1000 of the striking doctorsand began the process of employingtheir replacements. In a letter issuedto them, which was signed by theChief Medical Director of the Lagosstate University Teaching Hospital,Professor David Oke, the governmentaccused the doctors of failure torespond to queries issued them and

“We believe that the stategovernment can and will be

able to pay, and shouldtherefore do so withoutdelay. The government

cannot justify the enormousresources it expends onpoliticians and its officials

and yet brazenly neglect itsworkers whose calling is to

save lives

absenting themselves from dutywithout permission, hence theirdismissal. The government followedthat up with the eviction of some of thedoctors from their official residences.In its defence, the government insiststhat it is unable to pay the COMESSdue to financial constraints.

We are concerned that the crisis hasremained unresolved for this long andworried that the Lagos stategovernment did not seem to have fully

exhausted all avenues to resolve thematter before taking the rather drasticaction of sacking the doctors. Thedoctors are within their rights as aunion to agitate for improved welfareand the warning strike was alegitimate step taken to press hometheir demands. Rather than thearbitrary sack, the government shouldhave sought legal redress to prevent

the warning strike and the eventualescalation of the crisis. Withoutdoubt, the sack action has strongimplications.

It is in doubt if the newly employeddoctors have the experience and thecapacity to attend to the manypatients that have been leftlanguishing in hospital wards, somewith life threatening illnesses. It isalso unlikely that the governmentwould get the required number ofdoctors to replace the sacked ones,the implication of which is that thefew new doctors may be overwhelmedby the sheer number of patients thatneed their urgent attention.

Considering the enormousfinancial resources of the stategovernment, it is somewhatuntenable that the Fasholaadministration would claim it cannotpay the COMESS. According to Dr.Saheed Babajide, the President of theAssociation of Resident Doctors,LASUTH, only N10 million is requiredto pay the COMESS. We believe thatthe state government can pay, andshould therefore do so without delay.The government cannot justify theenormous resources it expends onpoliticians and its officials and yetbrazenly neglect its workers whosecalling is to save lives.

The negative global attention theaction of the state government hasattracted to the country isunacceptable and we urge GovernorFashola to immediately rescind hisdecision and go back to negotiatewith the doctors in order to reach anamicable solution and resolve thecrisis for good, for the good of all.

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EDITEDITEDITEDITEDITORIALORIALORIALORIALORIAL


It is with a rude shock that theconcerned people of Tarabastate read the advertorial

signed by some NationalAssembly members from thestate: Senator EmmanuelBwacha, Hon Isyaka Bawa, HonJerry Manwe, Hon Sam Tsokwa,Hon Haruna Manu and HonIbrahim El Sudi, under the aegisof “Taraba Lawmakers Forum”.The advertorial was meant to bea rebuttal of Senator AishaAlhassan’s interviews she grantedto some newspapers. As anindigene of Taraba State and akeen and interested observer of thepolitics of my state and indeedNigeria, I had the opportunity ofreading the two interviewsgranted by Sen. Aisha Alhassan(Taraba North, PDP).

In the interviews SenatorAisha merely said what she feltabout the state of affairs in Tarabastate without mincing words. Oneexpects that if some other personslike the “Taraba LawmakersForum” feel differently from herviews, such persons wouldadvance factual and cogentarguments to counter herpositions. Unfortunately, nofactual rebuttals were presentedin the rejoinder by the so called“Taraba Lawmakers Forum”.

It is expected that aslawmakers, they are betterpositioned to know that everyindividual reserves the right tohis/her opinion and the right tocriticize those entrusted withpositions of leadership. There isnothing wrong with SenatorAisha drawing the attention ofthe world to Governor DanbabaSuntai”s recklessness. Shemerely exercised her right tocriticize within the ambits of thelaw! So, if some other people wishto differ they should present theirarguments based on truth,issues, facts, and intelligence.Rather, being the sycophants

that they are, they threwcaution, decorum, intellect andcivility to the dogs and resortedto use of gutter language andabusive words in their desperatebids to please their benefactor,Governor Danbaba Suntai. Forthe benefit of readers not wellaware of the political happeningsin Taraba State, let mesummarizes the major pointsraised by Senator Aisha Alhassanin her two interviews: That therewas never any election (or aconsensus agreement) in all the168 wards, 16 LGAs, 3 Zones andState level during the recentlyconcluded PDP Congresses. TheGovernor in his characteristicarrogant and dictatorial mannermerely appointed his hatchetmen (“Taraba LawmakersForum” inclusive) to compile listsof people who would be loyal tohim to fill various party positionsfrom ward level to the state level.We expect the lawmakersdefending Danbaba to refute thisby citing an instance whereelection took place or who wasadopted by consensus. Rather,they resorted to cheap blackmailand name calling quiteunbecoming of lawmakers. Intheir folly, they forgot that evenINEC had written to PDP NationalHeadquarters asking for thecancellation of the bogey congressin nine states including that ofTaraba. That Danbaba Suntairelocated the State NYSCorientation camp and StatePolytechnic to his remote villageof Suntai thereby sinking Billionsof Naira in one Ward to thedetriment of other 167 wards.

(This is in addition to a stadium,an aerodrome, guest houses,farm house, banking facility andmarket constructions). Whatkind of nepotism is this? WhichGovernor in Nigeria has done athing like this and whathappened to the principles ofFederal Character and evendistribution of development? Yetsome self centered errand boysare defending this injustice!That rather than concentrate ongood Governance, Gov Suntai isbusy globetrotting and flying ina privately acquired aircraft.Again, is this not the truth?Every Tarabian knows that thereason why Danbaba constructedan aerodrome in Suntai is for hispersonal use and never for anynational or internationalinvestors or tourists. Neither canwe be fooled that an aerodromein Suntai of all places is meant toease transportation problems inthe state. That Gov Suntai spentso much time and resourcestraining to be a pilot, at theexpense of quality governancetime and resources. Here tooeveryone in Taraba knows thisto be true. So, what is wrong withour Senator pointing it out? Didwe elect a governor to come anduse our resources to buy aircraftand learn to fly? Certainly, thisunethical and immoralbehaviour can only be toleratedby Emma Bwacha and his co-travellers, who sometimes enjoysfree rides in Danbaba’s aircraft!But any other persons with somedecency know this to be wrong.Imust state here that rather thancastigate Sen Aisha for telling

the bitter truth against theirpaymaster, Emma Bwacha,Isyaka Bawa, Haruna Manu, ElSudi, Sam Sokwa, and JerryManwe should hasten to seek theforgiveness of their constituentsbefore the wrath of the peoplecatches up with them. For it isnot only condemnable but alsounforgiveable of them to writethat “We are proud of ourGovernor and his administrationand we have no apology forthat.....Under the able leadershipof Gov Suntai, the state hospitalshave regained their glory ascentres of care and healing. In thesame vein, hundreds of roadshave either been constructed orrehabilitated. Farmers in Tarabaare now more empowered thanever before”

What a shame that it is onlyin Taraba that members of theNational Assembly will stoop solow as to tell lies on the pages ofnewspapers! Obviously this is thecase of a Senator not beingdistinguished and HouseMembers not beinghonourable.The truth aboutDanbaba”s woefulmismanagement of our resourcesis not hidden to anyone inTaraba. Even visitors to the stateoften wonder if we have agovernment in place. But thosefew unpatriotic individuals whobask in the euphoria of DanbabaSuntai’s largess andunwholesome practices wouldstop at nothing to defend him.They don’t care if the entire stateis simmering in the heat ofGovernor Suntai”s deliberatepolicy of marginalization and

huge tolerance for unwholesomedeals.

For us in Taraba state, we takeconsolation in the fact that atleast there are two DistinguishedSenators (Tutare and Aisha) andone Honourable Member(Aminu Malle) who have chosenthe path of decency andrighteousness and opted to be theDavids of our time fighting theGoliath (Danbaba and hissycophants ). Surely, it is thepromise of God that David willtriumph over Goliath for, truthalways reins over falsehood. Andone with God is always majority.

The efforts of DistinguishedSenators Aisha and Tutare, andAminu Malle will forever beappreciated by the people ofTaraba and no effort to castigateor malign them on the pages ofnewspapers will yield any fruit.For every right thinking manand woman in Taraba stateknows where the truth lies.

As for the rest of the hypocritemembers of NASS who see nothingwrong in thievery, wastefulness,intimidation, nepotism, selectiveappointments on the basis ofreligion, etc; they are left forposterity to judge them. After all,is it not God that is the mostconclusive of all Judges? Thanksto God that the sorry situation inTaraba is well known to the PDPheadquarters, and the entirenation. We also thank God that2015 will be the day of reckoningfor them and their paymaster,Danbaba.Musa Agyo resides at 16 GindiriStreet, Garki, Abuja. Email:[email protected]

Taraba lawmakers ordefenders of falsehood?

By Musa Agyo

Throwing the baby away with the bath water? (III)By Kayode Oladele

One very vital point is thatthe defendant mustrequest a speedy trial. In

the same vein, dismissal forviolation of speedy trial rightsmust be based upon a motion bythe defendant, not by the courtSuo motu (on its own motion) justbecause the judge was in a wayannoyed with the slow speed of theprosecution. The Court indismissing a case for violation ofspeedy trial rights of thedefendant must consider whethersuch violation has prejudiced thedefendant. In United States v.Loud Hawk, 474 U.S. 302 (1986),the Court held that a 90-monthdelay occasioned by interlocutoryappeals did not weigh against theprosecution for the purpose ofspeedy trial rights of thedefendant. The US Supreme Courtfurther held that the possibility ofprejudice occasioned by the delaywas not sufficient to establish aSixth Amendment speedy trialviolation. Moreover, the courts ofappeals routinely reject SixthAmendment speedy trialchallenges in the absence of ashowing of prejudice to theDefendant. Even where the Judge

is inclined to dismiss a casepursuant to the speedy trialviolation, the Judge must considervarious factors in determiningwhether to dismiss with prejudiceor without prejudice. One of thefactors includes the seriousness ofthe offense, the circumstancesleading to dismissal, and theimpact that a new prosecutionwould have on the administrationof justice and the criminal justicesystem.

A defendant’s right to a speedytrial has constitutional andstatutory foundation.

Unfortunately, under theNigerian legal system, there is noConstitutional provision thatguarantees a defendant’s right tospeedy trial or provides for specifictime limits for the computation oftime within which a criminal trialmust occur unlike in otherjurisdictions such as the UnitedStates where the SixthAmendment to the Constitutionsets forth rights related to criminalprosecutions. There is no statuteto determine the computation oftime - when the speedy trial periodwould run and expire such as theUnited States’ Speedy Trial Act of1974 that establishes time limitsfor completing the various stages

of a federal criminal prosecution.Therefore, criminal trials in

Nigeria can take several years toconclude and in some cases, at theinstance of defendants themselveswho encourage such prolongeddelay in the hope that they willbenefit from it one way or anotherin the final analysis. For example,after about 159 months (overtwelve years) of trial, MajorHamza Al-Mustapha, the formerChief Security Officer to the lateHead of State General SaniAbacha and Lateef Shofolahanwas on January 30, 2012,sentenced to death by hanging bya Lagos High Court over themurder of Kudirat Abiola, wife ofthe acclaimed winner of the June12, 1993 Presidential election,Chief Moshood Abiola.

In Akingbola’s case, it isevidently clear from the rulingand the history of the case thatthe Judge was dissatisfied withthe conduct of the prosecutionteam; hence, the learned trialJudge dismissed the case withsanctions for what he described asabuse of Court process andviolation of the defendant’s rightto a speedy trial.

Abuse of court process andviolation of the Defendant’s

speedy trial rights are too weightyallegations which are today, someof the banes of the rule of law inNigeria and one should applaudthe judge for his fearlessness indismissing the case and metingout appropriate sanctions to theerring prosecution team in thisregard.

The rule of law and abuse ofcourt process cannot co-existsymmetrically in the same legalsystem as both are intrinsicallycontradictory in terms havingdifferent properties andrelationships. According to theobservation of Lord Goldsmith:“The rule of law is not simplyabout rule by law; such aproposition would be satisfiedwhatever the law and howeverunfair, unjust or contrary tofundamental principles, providedonly that it was applied to all. Therule of law comprehends somestatement of values which areuniversal and ought to berespected as the basis of a freesociety”.

However, while analyzing thenegative effect of the doctrine ofabuse of process on the rule of lawin the Brooks case, Sir RogerOrmrod held inter alia that: Itmay be an abuse of process if: “the

prosecution have manipulated ormisused the process of the court soas to deprive the defendant of aprotection provided by the law orto take unfair advantage of atechnicality, or on the balance ofprobability the defendant hasbeen or will be prejudiced in thepreparation or conduct of hisdefense”.

The abuse of court process inNigeria has in most cases led tosituations where judicial decisionsare influenced by extraneousconsiderations such as politicalequations and relationships,economic factors and powerstructures. Hence, even the mostbrilliant legal analysts may notbe able to predict the outcomes ofany case no matter how well cutand dry it is, thereby tinkeringwith the doctrine of predictabilityand fairness which the rule of lawimposes. The presence of abuse oflegal process in any legal systemalso makes the operation of the ruleof law very vulnerable,subjective, permeable andoutcomes largely biddable andcommercialized. Instead of beingan integral part of the success ofdemocracy, abuse of court processcan easily turn the judiciary into

Continued on page 15


The subsidy probe and matters arising

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WRITE TO US

One thing that many Nigerianswill remember for a long timeto come is the revelation from

the ad hoc committee on subsidyreport, headed by Hon Faruk Lawan,especially its impact on the generalityof poverty stricken Nigerians who arebeing exploited daily by the so-calledleaders who only care about theirindividual benefits. The massivecorruption that regularly take placein the fuel subsidy scheme has unevenconsequences against the mostvulnerable groups in the society,namely, the poor, women andchildren. What actually caught theattention of many Nigerians was thepayment of N999 million made 128times within 24 hours to some oil andother companies in the name ofsubsidy by then Accountant Generalof the Federation, now Gombe stateGovernor, Alhaji IbrahimDankwambo.

According to a 200-page reportof the House of Representatives,corruption in the fuel subsidy schemedrained $6.8bn from the country’streasury over a three-year period.This has resulted in increasedspending on oil hand-outs between2009 and 2011. Fuel subsidies, part

of a decades-old programme meantto keep fuel prices low for millions ofordinary Nigerians, jumped to N2,587 trillion from N384 billion withinthe same period.

Curiously however, less than 72hours after itsdeliberation on thereport, the House ofRepresentativesexonerated theformer AccountantGeneral ofFederation withoutany convincingexplanation fordoing so, therebyputting a questionmark on theintegrity of thereport. The questionbegging for ananswer is why theHouse hurriedlyexonerated theAccountant General instead ofinviting him to appear before it inorder to clear the air about theallegations leveled against him.Many Nigerians would no doubtwant to know how transactions of

that magnitude took place under hiswatch without due respect for the ruleof law simply to satisfy the inordinategreed of some high-ranking publicofficials and their cronies in theprivate sector.

The report also indicted theNigerian National PetroleumCorporation (NNPC) as the key culpritin the subsidy scam being single-handedly responsible for most of theshady subsidy deals in cohorts with

some 72 fuel importers.On its part, the Federal

government has yet to showsufficient political will to effectivelyaddress the allegations and bringsuspected perpetrators to justice.

There ares e v e r a lo b s t a c l e sincluding butnot limited toi n a d e q u a t efunding forinvestigationsand judicialprocedures,p o l i t i c a li m m u n i t yf r o mprosecution forsome keyfunctionaries ofgovernmentand theg e n e r a l

culture of impunity, militatingagainst successful and effectiveinvestigation as well as prosecutionof those indicted on corrupt practices.The government also has notdeveloped an effective and

transparent regime for the recoveryof the alleged stolen funds.

It is quiet disturbing andshocking that a negligiblepercentage of Nigeria’s over 150million people would hold the entirecountry to ransom by cornering thecountry’s resources for theirpersonal use thereby underminingthe economic prosperity andviability of Nigeria. The Leadershipof the green chamber deservescommendation for initiating thesubsidy probe and the Faruk Lawancommittee for its courage to comeout with the report against all odds,otherwise Nigerians would neverhave known about the massive andscandalous rip off associated with thefuel subsidy.

Nigerians eagerly wait to seewhat would become of the report.Would the Federal Government takea decisive action against those indictedwithout fear or favour or just allow itto die like the power probe report,which allegedly indicted topgovernment officials? Only time willtell.

Umar Mohammed Puma livesin Abuja.

I write this letter to the memory ofour father, Dr Nnamdi BenjaminAzikiwe, the late Owelle

Osowanya 1 of Onitsha and firstPresident of Nigeria, who left ussixteen years ago on the 11th of May1996 and was buried on hisbirthday, the 16th of November. Ifthe Great Zik were here today, hewould call a world press conferenceto task Nigeria on peace,compromise and patience, which heoften called surulere, so that thenation he gave his all to cobbletogether from a mosaic of ethnic andcultural groupings, may endure. Ifthe Great Owelle and pathfinder ofNigeria had spoken ten times urgingcompromise, he surely would speakagain after the National Presidentof the Christian Association ofNigeria (CAN), Pastor Oritsejafor,issued what he called the “finalwarning” to the Federalgovernment in respect of theatrocities of the Boko Haram sect.

Pastor Oritsejafor (in fairness to

him) is obliged to be distraught withthe calamity which has befallencorporate and visible Christianity inthe northern part of Nigeria. Hisfrustration can never bemisunderstood. The CAN presidentissued the final warning after theBoko Haram sects attacked theChristian worshippers at the BayeroUniversity, Kano (BUK) on Sunday29th April, 2012 in which twoprofessors (teaching and trainingMuslims and northerners too) andmany others were mowed down bygunmen while worshipping in thechurch.

Notably, before the finalwarning by Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor,the Archbishop of the CatholicDiocese of Maiduguri in Borno state,Archbishop Oliver Doeme, had inAbuja lamented that Catholics inMaiduguri Diocese had becomeendangered species as they arepursued and killed by the Bokoharam openly and discretely.

However, in the maze of all theoutcry and lamentation by wellmeaning Nigerians over the

mayhem caused by the Boko Haramsect, His Eminence, SultanMuhammad Sa’ad Abubakar IIIstands out. If Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwewere here now, I believe he wouldurge Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor forrestraint and to reflect on the gospelof the Sultan which His Eminencegave on the 27th of December 2011after he visited President Good LuckJonathan to commiserate over thedastardly bombing of worshippers atSt. Theresa’s Catholic Church,Madala – near Abuja.

Addressing State Housecorrespondents after his meetingwith President Jonathan, the Sultansaid: “we came in here to felicitateand commiserate with Mr.President over the unfortunateincident that happened (thisperiod). We have had very positivemeeting with Mr. President on somany things and how to move thiscountry forward, how to make ourcountry stable and to approachthose challenges that are facingNigeria on a common ground.

“I want to assure all Nigerians

that there is no conflict betweenChristians and Muslims, betweenIslam and Christianity. It is aconflict between evil people and goodpeople and the good people are morethan the evil doers. The good peoplemust come together to defeat theevil ones and that is the message.We want to assure all Christianbrethren and leaders that we standon the path of truth according toour religion that we will continue towork in sha Allah, for the greatnessof this country.

“As I said there is no conflictbetween Islam and Christianity andI want to assure that we will do allwe can in the best of our ability tosolve the numerous problemsconfronting our country”, sointoned His Eminence, SultanAbubakar the III who is clearly agood man.

I was in Sokoto on Thursday, 8thof September, 2011 to witness thecoronation of Dr. Mathew Kukah asthe New Catholic Bishop of Sokoto.My spirit of journalism stole me outof the Trade Fair Stadium to the

Important gospel according to Sultan Abubakar IIIBy Francis John Ekemezie

By Umar Mohammed Puma

Palace of His Eminence, the Sultan.And the good man was there, as busyas the bee, hosting many eminentChristian leaders who were Sokotofor Bishop Kukah’s enthronementand at the Sultan’s palace to payrespect to the foremost MoslemLeader in the country. I can attestthat the Sultan’s gospel for peace isreal and not a shibboleth but acredible roadmap for dialogue andnational syllogism.

If father Azikiwe were here, hewould no doubt implore PastorOritsejafor to regard the “finalwarning” as part of a continuum.Father Azikiwe would also imploreall Nigerians to remember that fouryears, eight years or even a decade,in the context of a nation, is but astraw in the woodland of time,“united Nigeria being our souvenirand our collective trophy, withcharity to all and malice towardsnone”, being the Azikiwe mantra.John Francis Ekemezie wrotefrom Awka, Anambra State. E-mail:[email protected]

From the days of Jesus Christ inthe Bible it has beenestablished that good men

must come to grief with their goodwork. This aptly describes thepresent travails of Dr. MatthiasOyigeya in the hands of mischiefmakers who have capitalized on hisunassuming nature to ruin his hardearned reputation at the FederalMedical Centre, Makurdi.

It has been argued in so manyquarters that there is nothing thatcan ever force the centre to work tomeet the health needs of the peopleof Benue state irrespective offinancial commitment bygovernment or the administrativewill of the management, becausesome persons have installedthemselves as emperors to frustrateanybody that comes in to head theinstitution as Chief ExecutiveOfficer, not minding his or her stateof origin. For a long time, these‘cabal’ have continued to pose asthreats to current challenges in thehealth sector and government

reforms that are designed to positionthe institution for effective servicedelivery to the people of Nigeria.

Ninety days our people say arefor the thief but one day for the owner(poor masses) and that day was 1stJuly, 2008 when late PresidentUmar Musa Yar’Adua appointed Dr.Matthias Oyigeya as the ChiefMedical Director of the centre.Many stakeholders saw hisappointment as a demonstration ofthen President Yar’Adua desire to seeto the secondary health needs of thepeople of Benue State andneighbouring towns in view of thepeople’s population and FederalMedical Centre, Makurdi being theonly tertiary health centre situatedaround the vicinity.

Undoubtedly, the hospital cabalsare the exact set of people looking forthe head of Dr. Matthias Oyigeya,the Chief Medical Director of theFederal Medical Centre, Makurdi togive to their beautiful daughters as abirthday gift like the big head of John

the Baptist in the Holy Bible. Thecabal wants to crucify Oyigeya fordaring them and restoring the hopesof many families who have visitedthe new Federal Medical Centre,Makurdi under his stewardship. Theseevil men have made it a point thatmoney allocated for rehabilitation ofstructures and expansion purposesmust be shared into their privatepockets. The cabal has been infuriatedwith the fact death rate has largelyreduced since Oyigega has providedaffordable drugs and equipments tocarter for the sick. As if it was notenough for the Medical Director, heignored their wise counsel that onlytheir brothers should be employed todo cleaning services around thehospital when our widows are beggingfor food to eat. He went further tocomplete all on-going projects at theApir permanent site of the centre andthereafter transferred most majorunits of the hospital to a befittingstructure that suits the name and thefunctions.

My perusal of the documentwhich they call a petition before amember of the House ofRepresentatives is that Oyigeya’ssky rocketing achievements inoffice are enough reasons to fetch himre-appointment for 2nd term by Mr.President who is interested inconsolidating on transformationand destroying every form ofcabalocracy within our democracy.To these hawks, re-appointing aperforming Oyigeya that is a plusto public good is a minus to themand total declaration of war againsttheir greedy empire for anotherfour years. I hope the voice of reasonwill prevail on them soon that thisera of Transformation underPresident Goodluck Ebele Jonathanis a season of war against every formof cabalocrcay.

Dr. Matthias Oyigeya hasdefiled their temple that was builtby sharing taxpayers’ money andfor this reason their god is alsodemanding for his head or nothing

less. These evil men are moredesperate than cabals except for thefact they are ideologically bereavedand have no torch with present dayrealities. The FMC Cabal as they havebeen code named by staff andpatients that visit regularly areready to do anything to teachOyigeya a lesson of his lifetime butthe people are watching and will riseup in his defence. We respect theirconstitutional right to achievegreatness by any means but not atthe detriment of patients that areundergoing life threatening painsalready. They could do it to us inother areas but let them leave ourhospitals alone. His blood will be toobitter for them to leak because everyhome is singing to God to spare hislife for bringing standard andaffordable health care services to thereach of the common man.

Agbese Philip, PresidentGeneral, Nigerian UnemployedYouth Forum contributed thearticle from Makurdi.

The cabal in Federal Medical Centre, MakurdiBy Philip Agbese


Throwing the baby away with the bath water? (III)an institutional obstacle andconstraint to democracy.

To this effect, both thedismissal of the case againstAkingbola and the sanctionsagainst the prosecuting attorneysmay be justified even though, theJudge’s motive for his action andhis criteria for the computation oftime in the absence of statutoryor constitutional provision mayalso be put on a searchlight.However, Judges have very widepowers when it comes tosanctioning of erring lawyers.Only recently, a New York appealscourt suspended a lawyer fromlaw practice for two years after afederal grievance committeefound he had submitted briefs of“shockingly poor quality.”Another lawyer was sectioned bythe same Court for ‘frivolous,Outrageous and UnprofessionalDeposition Behavior”. At thedeposition, the lawyer who hasbeen practicing meritoriously forforty years, “repeatedlyinterrupted the questioning andmade improper objections andlengthy speeches that had nomerit”; but the New York AppealsCourt imposed a $10,000.00sanction on him for his behaviorwhile he was also ordered to payattorney fees to the other side forthe costs of pursuing the sanctionsmotion. Be that as it may, it isdoubtful whether a Judge candisband a prosecuting team aspart of his sanctions withoutusurping the functions andpowers of the Attorney General ofthe Federation who appointed theprosecutors.

Nonetheless, can JudgeAchibong’s order represent the

fruit of the poisonous or forbiddentree or has his order served theinterest of justice? Did heoverreact or has he not thrownthe baby away with the bathwater all in a bid to give the babya through clean bath?

A cursory examination of theentire proceedings on that dayand the historical background ofthe proceedings before the trialjudge might taint the motivebehind the Judge’s order ofdismissal and sanction. We aretold from the records that theprosecuting team had earlierfiled a motion requesting thejudge to disqualify himself fromthe case which he denied as aresult of which the prosecutingteam filed an appeal. We are alsotold from the records that afterhearing the prosecutionargument, the judge rose andwent into his chamber to writehis ruling on the prosecution’smotion to stay furtherproceedings in the matterpending an appeal against hisrefusal to recuse himself; again,we are told that minutes later,the Judge came back into thecourtroom and delivered the farreaching Order dismissing thecase and sanctioning the lawyersthereby rendering the appealagainst his refusal to recusehimself moot. Finally, recordsavailable to the public indicatethat the Judge made the farreaching orders sua spontewithout a formal application orprior motion or request by thedefendant to that effect.

Arguably, the Judge shouldnot have sat on the case after amotion for recusal had been filedand argued against him even if

he had denied the motion as he didin the instant case; otherwise, hisdecisions and rulings might betainted with bias and retaliation.Writing on a paper, “DecidingRecusal Motion: Who Judges theJudges? Prof. Leslie W. Abramsonposits that “judicial impartialityis a significant element of justice.Judges should decide legal disputesfree of any personal bias orprejudice. As a result of a conflictof interest, a judge may be unableto maintain impartiality in a caseand thus should be disqualified”.Public confidence in a legal systemand the ability of the judges todischarge their duties fairlywithout bias is crucial to theeffective dispensation of justice. Alegal system that does not enjoypublic confidence in its ability todispense justice fairly andspeedily, will ultimately collapse;hence, the foundation ofdemocracy and rule of law.

Even though, the decisionwhether or not to withdraw froma case rests squarely on thediscretion and good conscience ofthe presiding judge, the generalstandard for disqualification isthat a judge should disqualifyhimself in a proceeding in whichthe judge’s “impartiality mightreasonably be questioned.” Inaddition, it is doubtful whetherAkingbola’s case is the onlycriminal action before JudgeAchibong that had been pendingfor more than two years; if that isthe case, his impartiality mightreasonably be questioned for notsatisfying the appearance ofjustice. In rule of law and judges’disqualification, what matters isnot the reality of bias or prejudicebut its appearance.

Lastly, while the Judge haschided the prosecution fortardiness, by far the worst culpritfor the protracted tempo ofcriminal trials in Nigeria is theoutdated, behind the times andtedious nature of the Nigeriancriminal justice system and theadministration of justice whichrequire a total overhauling,remodeling and new legislation.Case management is very crucialto the criminal justice system andlack of it can be very vital toeffective administration ofjustice. Currently in Nigeria, ourcriminal procedure does not havea place for pretrial conferencesand in most cases; judges do nottake active roles in ensuringcompliance with speedy trials andeffective administration ofjustice. In most jurisdictions, it isthe duty of the trial judge toschedule a trial managementconference to discussadministrative aspects of thecase, such as scheduling and otherpretrial matters.

Pretrial conferences which arealso being been conducted in civilcases in several jurisdictionsincluding Nigeria to formulateand simplify the issues in thecase, eliminate frivolous claimsor defenses, obtain admissions offact and documents to avoidunnecessary proof, identifywitnesses and documents, makeschedules for the submission ofpretrial briefs and motions, makerulings on motions submittedbefore the conference, set dates forfurther conferences, discuss thepossibility of a settlement, anddiscuss the consolidation ormanagement of large, complexcases can be also be introduced in

criminal cases as well in order tomake trial judges more proactiveand effective in theadministration of justice and todecide matters that do not go intothe core of the case such aswhether the defendant is guiltyor not. A pretrial conference incriminal cases can be conductedto expedite disposition of the case,help the court establishmanagerial control over the case,discourage wasteful pretrialactivities and improve the qualityof the trial with thoroughpreparation. The Judges can alsouse the pretrial conferences toadmonish a lethargic prosecutorand put him back on fast track.For instance in the US, Under rule17.1 of the Federal Rules ofCriminal Procedure, pretrialconferences for criminal casesmay be conducted to promote afair and expeditious trial whichin practice, include a decision onsuch preliminary matters as whatevidence will be excluded fromtrial and what witnesses will beallowed to testify at trial.

Nigerian Courts are alwayscongested and crowded by theday, therefore, the use of pretrialconference in criminal cases tonarrow down issue for trial willhelp to decongest the Court systemand assist in the prompt andeffective dispensation of thecriminal justice system. Pretrialconferences can save valuabletime for courts by narrowing thefocus of the trial and resolvingpreliminary matters.

For now however, it isdebatable whether the ends ofjustice has been served by thefederal trial Judge’s actions.

Concluded

Continued from page 13

GEJ needs to think away from the noise

I couldn’t help laughing when Iread President GoodluckJonathan’s address to African

leaders in Addis Ababa in whichhe urged them to empower youthsin their countries to enable themtake up their leadership roles inAfrica’s future within the nextdecades. What I am not sure aboutwas if Jonathan was also advisinghimself considering that Nigerianyouths have been continuallyviolated.

Nigeria is a country where a30-year-old man calls himself aboy, and don’t blame him. He stilllives with his parents, unmarried,clothed and fed by them. Hecannot look up to himself foranything because he has lost hisself-esteem due to theincapacitating economicconditions of his country. Hispsyche has been bastardized somuch so that at 30 he feels proudbeing called a mummy’s ordaddy’s boy.

I know politicians thrive ontheir ability to outshine oneanother in lying, but in otherclimes the lies are laced with half-truths. The heartless wayNigerian politicians dish out lieswithout blinking their eyesirritates rather than amuse me.If not, what qualifies our Otuoke-

born once-shoeless President toadvise anyone about youthempowerment? Does he hope toextricate himself from all blameby blurting out in an even-if-I-don’t-do-it-at-least-I-say-itmanner? Or is that how he doespenance?

Some people have argued thatmost Nigerian leaders only gothrough their speeches on the dayit is to be delivered. So, by notdigesting it to input their ownideas, they motionlessly andpassionlessly read to theiraudience what their speech-writer has penned down for them.After all, it is not their words.Unfortunately in Nigeria, mostspeech-writers put in theirprincipal’s speeches what theyknow, judging by his character,he could not accomplish in thislifetime all in a bid to present himlike some kind of orator, only thatin Jonathan’s case, the deliverywould mar whatever beauty iscrafted into the words.

Most Nigerian youths aredisoriented, with no clear-cutvision of their future. Like theirleaders, many hope to stumbleand wobble to a much-desiredbright future, only that we knowthat works one in one hundred.They bow in reverence to thosenot as brilliant as they are if itwould ensure the day’s meal. It is

their turn to serve the children ofthose their fathers have served.Slavery by inheritance imposedby the clueless greedy few.

Besides stopping to insult uswith his Abati-written speechesand press statements, Jonathanshould also spare us the agony ofhearing his voice for it bears in itno assurance or re-assurance, butonly non-performance andingratitude to Providence forgiving him shoes and removinghim from Otuoke to Aso Rockwhich he has further desecratedwith his own style of rudderlessgovernance.

Instead of fouling our publicspace with his vocal farts, he shouldact on the subsidy probe and proveto us that the money was not spenton his re-election in April, 2011.The two-sides-of-the-mouth talk ofhis Justice Minister, Adoke, shouldstop.

In a sane society, thegovernment consults the peoplebefore taking any decision on theirbehalf. Without adequateconsultations and the lie thatsubsidy would not be removeduntil April, the JonathanGovernment unilaterallyremoved subsidy on New YearDay, his trojan horse to Nigerians.It started on Tuesday, 13December, 2011 when he madeno mention of subsidy in the 2012

budget during his presentation ofsame to the National Assembly.As it turned, the greatest daylightrobbery has been meted out toNigerians in the name of subsidyunder GEJ’s nose. We now knowwho was right, Nigerians or GEJ.

When I remember names likeObafemi Awolowo, NnamdiAzikwe, Tafawa Balewa, I wonderand ponder if integrity has givenway to roguery? Whetherperformance has given in tovacillation? Whether beingremembered for good has givenway to living good? Apart fromusing the name of Nigeria’sfounding fathers to campaign,don’t Nigerian politicians feelbothered about how they wouldgo down in history? Why wasJonathan named Azikwe if he hasnot the zeal of the great Zik? Weall know he cannot be a General,but were Nnamdi Azikwe,Obafemi Awolowo and TafawaBalewa Generals?

Most African leaders, whenpresented with opportunity,have failed to set their people onthe path of progress. LikeKoomson in Ayi Kwei Armah’sThe Beautyful Ones Are Not YetBorn, they bungle on endlessly,concerning themselves only withamassing wealth at the expenseof the ones they are supposed toserve, thus making corruption

look like the only way out ofpoverty. And in the end, likeKoomson, they are forced to godown the latrine of history, withits attendant odious smell, neverto be remembered for anythinggood again. Jonathan wasoverwhelmingly voted in byNigerians. He has the chance tomake things right. He should pushaside all his toothless speeches andgo into his closet, away from allthe noise and the scheming, tothink deeply.

And as for David Mark, theSenate President, he should stopbeing Jonathan’s defendant. Heshould know that he is thePresident of the Senate of theFederal Republic of Nigeria,accountable only to Nigerians,and not the President of the Senateof the Federal Government ofNigeria or PDP. Most of his wordsand actions are filled withnuances that he holds moreallegiance to GEJ than toNigerians. If truly he wants to takehis turn at the presidency come2015, that is if Jonathan does notbetray him like he has betrayedNigerians, he should know thatdespite PDP’s rigging prowess,Nigerians would still be thedeciding factor.‘Dimeji Daniels wrote in from6 Fiyinf’Oluwa Street,Adebayo, Ado-Ekiti

By ‘Dimeji Daniels


Development control demolishes3500 shanties along Airport Road

The Federal CapitalTerritory (FCT)administration has

revealed that over 3,500shanties along the UmaruMusa Yar'Adua Expressway(Airport Road), have beendemolished, and that moreadditional shanties springingup in the suburb of the FCT willsoon be raided.

The FCT Minister, Sen. BalaMohammed, who revealed this

during the FCT OperationsBriefing Session at Gwarinpa IDistrict (Life-Camp),yesterday, directed theDevelopment ControlDepartment to double its effortsto rid the Federal Capital Cityof all illegal structures.

While cautioning all thoseoccupying such structures tovacate them immediately,Sen. Mohammed said that ahigh-powered Task Force wouldbe constituted to assist inclearing the back logs of

By Josephine Ella shanties and illegal structuresin Abuja.

He however, pointed outthat while his administrationis determined to achieve theobjective of upholding thesanctity of the Abuja MasterPlan, "we must clearlydifferentiate the differencebetween the original Abujaindigenes, their villages andthe squatters who have overthe years erected illegalcommunities".

Sen. Mohammed

The Police CommunityRelations CommitteePCRC, Kuje area council,

in the Federal CapitalTerritory (FCT), hasinaugurated five differentcommittees withresponsibility to work withNigerian police to bring anend to various crimes in theareas.

The committees are; Publicenlightenment committee,Disciplinary committee,Welfare committee, Financeand general purposecommittee and Centralplanning and strategy.

Inaugurating thecommittees, the DivisionalPolice Officer in Kuje AreaCouncil, CSP Danladi Isa,charged the committees not tosee the responsibility as aminor but do everythingwithin their capacities andresources to achieve the best.He said members of thecommittees should see theirselection as a privilege fromGod.

The DPO, who called fornighbourhood watch, also saidmost of the crimes beingcommitted in the area werebeing committed in thepresence of people; andblamed the people for notreleasing necessaryinformation to the police. CSPIsa revealed that Nigeriaconstitution empoweredevery Nigerian to arrest andhandover to the police anysuspected criminal in theirarea.

He therefore called on allthe members of PCRC towholeheartedly work withpolice, adding that policecannot work alone withoutuseful information from thegeneral public.

Earlier, Chairman of PCRCin the area, arch. AshafaKayode, told Journalist thatthey decided to inauguratethe committees so as to workwith police in carrying outtheir official dutiesexcellently.

He said the committees wasexpected to sensitize people onthe need to be police friendlyand release necessaryinformation to them when theneed arises. The chairmancharged all the members to besecurity conscious in theirarea, and give every neededsupport for the organization soas to achieve its aims andobjectives.

Communitypolicing:Kujeresidentsinauguratecommittees

emphasised that theDevelopment ControlDepartment must decisivelydeal with the menace ofshanties springing up aroundthe city; saying that theexpansion of these villages isunacceptable.

"We cannot afford tocontinue this way, otherwisewe will be faced with allmanner of social problemsincluding threat to security inthe Federal Capital Territory,"he said.


T wo unemployed men,Abraham Moses , 23 ,and Joseph Abraham,

19 , were yes terday ,arra igned before an AbujaChief Magistrates’ Court fora l leged jo int ac t , c r iminalintimidation and assault .

The Police Prosecutor, MrPaul Anigbo, told the courtthat the case was reported tothe Lugbe Police Station byone Clement Obah of TudunWada area of Lugbe, Abujaon April 26.

Anigbo sa id that thecomplainant had a quarre lwi th Moses somet ime inApr i l , adding that theaccused la ter came wi thAbraham and one otherperson who is now at large.

The prosecutor said thatthe accused allegedly stonedthe complainant and in theprocess, his (complainant’s)vehic le windscreen gotbroken.

He added that the accusedpersons a l legedlythreatened to k i l l thecomplainant whenever theysaw him at Tudun wadaarea in Lugbe.

Anigbo sa id that theaccused were , however ,unable to g ive sat is factoryaccount o f the ir ac t ionduring interrogat ion.

He noted that, the offencecontravened sect ions 79 ,327 , 265 and 397 o f thePenal Code Law.

The accused persons ,however, pleaded not guiltyto the charges.

Magistrate Hadiza Dodo,granted the accused bail inthe sum of N200, 000 witha re l iable surety who mustres ide wi th in thejurisdiction of the court.

She then adjourned thecase t i l l June 13 , forhear ing. (NAN).

2 unemployedmen dockedfor criminalintimidation

An elderly woman goes for plywood as alternative energy source in Garki Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

The chairman of Abaji areacouncil, Hon. YahayaMuhammad, has

commensurate with Kpachecommunity, in Abaji, FCT,over the death of its villagehead, Alh. Moh’d NdastuKpache, who died after a brief

illness.Muhammad, in his

condolence message, prayed forthe decease and sought forAllah’s Mercy for him to makeJannah.

Similarly, the chairmanalso visited the family of aformer councillor, Hon MosesAdilo, representing Nuku/

Abaji chair condoles with Kpachecommunity over death of village headBy Adeola Tukuru Sabongari ward in year 2001,

who died last week, after a briefillness.

Responding on behalf of thecommunity, the presentspeaker of Abaji Area CouncilAlh. Usman Abubakar Ajiyathanked the chairman for thevisit and prayed for success inhis tenure.

Two men were yesterday,arraigned before anAbuja Magistrates’ Court on

a three-count charge of negligentconduct, office breaking and theft.

They are Danlami Alhassan,27, and Istifanus Isah, 24, bothsecurity guards of Yasmin PrivateSchool located located at 14 Road,Gwarinpa Estate, Abuja.

The Police prosecutor, Sgt.Salisu Mohammed, told the courtthat the case was reported on May

7 at the Gwarinpa Police Stationby one Oyealaro Lucky of BlockA1, Suit 1, Commercial Road,Area 1 Abuja.

He said that the accused hadnegligently abandoned their dutypost, allowing thieves to breakinto the school and stole N28,000and two laptops.

Mohammed said the offencewas contrary to section 196, 355and 287 of the Penal Code.

The accused pleaded not

2 security guards in court for negligence, theftguilty to the charges.

The Magistrate, HajiyaSadiya Mayana, granted thembail in the sum of N10,000 withone surety in like sum.

She said the surety must havea decent and reasonable means oflivelihood and must be livingwithin the jurisdiction of thecourt.

Mayana adjourned the casetill May 16 for further hearing.(NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, MAY 15, 2012 PAGE 17

A man pushing his soft drinks-laden motorcycle at Apo village, Abuja

Taxi-cabs and motorcyclists compete for passengers along Airport road, Lugbe, Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-Owo, Mahmud Isa and Joe OroyeGoat meat seller at Aco Estate Lugbe , Abuja

Clearing of refuse: Staff of Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), yesterday at Aco Estate in Abuja.

A man loading planks in this SUV, yesterday at New Nyanya in Abuja


According to her, "thesuccess recorded in thefirst batch of the

rehabilitation exercise in 2011,encouraged other unemployedladies, who availed themselvesof the opportunity and that iswhy today we are graduating animpressive number of 473 ladiesas against 39 ladies in the 1stbatch".

She, therefore solicit thesupport of other agencies,international organisations andNGOs for assistance in the areasof training, provision ofequipment and financialdonations for the project.

Also speaking, the Chairmanof the House of Representativescommittee on the FCT, Hon.Emmanuel Jime, urged the girlsto put the training to good useand to in turn, be employers oflabour, stressing that anythingshort of this would be adisappointment to the society.

On his part, the chairman ofthe occasion, Senator SmartAdeyemi commended thesecretariat for its efforts andencouraged the graduands to putthe training and kits given tothem to good use.

Adeyemi, who is also theChairman of the SenateCommittee on FCT, said as partof the effort to support thesecretariat in rendering suchservices, the committee hadreviewed its 2012 budgetproposal upwards, to enable it domore in the fiscal year.

For the graduands, who wenthome each with a starters packand take-off grants of N100,000, donated by the FCTadministration, it wasunspeakable joy.

Earlier, the socialdevelopment secretary said thatthe gesture was part of thecommitment of theadministration to ensure thatthe beneficiaries are able toestablish a business based on the

The day vulnerable groups inFCT smiled home with N53m(II)

skills they acquired in the courseof the training programme.

This, she noted is aimed atempowering them financially sothat they are not tempted to goback to the streets gain.

Virtually all the graduands,who spoke with journalists atthe occasion, whereappreciative of the training theyreceived.

Those of them that hadhitherto engaged in prostitutionassured that there was no goingback to their vomit.

Barely two day after thisceremony, was yet anothergraduation ceremony, but thistime around for a set of trainees

of the Bwari Vocational andRehabilitation Centre for thePhysically Challenged Persons,Child Hawkers and Street -Kidsat Kichiko in Bwari.

Picked up from streets in theFCT, the 57 graduands,comprising of physicallychallenged persons and destitutehad undergone a three-sixmonths training on electricalworks, computer training,leather works, metal work/fabrication, tailoring and art.

In order to assist them to setup businesses in their respectivevocations, the Federal CapitalTerritory (FCT) administrationalso donated a cash grant of

N100,000 and starters park toeach of these beneficiaries.

According to Onuh, theinitiative is a proof of thecommitment of theadministration to rid theterritory of the nuisanceconstituted by destitute andphysically challenged persons.

"This initiative of the FCTadministration under the socialdevelopment secretariat is acontinuous process. It is not goingto stop. This is a way of takingpeople off the street, to say thatthe FCT has a rehabilitation,training centre where they canbe useful to themselves and theirfamilies," she said.

Furthermore, the secretarysaid that within the last oneyear, the secretariat hasrehabilitated and empowered141 child hawkers and beggarsin Abuja.

She had equally, urged thegraduands not to indulge in selfpity, thereby constituting aburden to the society, but to riseabove their limitations andmaximise the knowledgegarnered at the centre.

While emphasizinggovernment's duty to meet thebasic needs of destitute and othervulnerable group, Onuh urgedprivate and public institutions toapportion a reasonablepercentage of their vacancies tothe physically challenged.

She said a monitoring groupfrom the secretariat wouldmonitor their progress, disclosingthat arrangement has alreadybeen concluded with a microfinance bank and other corporate

By Josephine Ella

organisations to support themwith loans if they do well.

In his remarks, the Principalof the Centre, Comrade MusaBala, blamed theinjustice in thecountry to higher socialimbalance as he lamented thesecuritychallenges resultingfrom this.

"So many things have gonebad in this country. If we do nothelp to remove these people fromthe streets, then there can be noend to the Boko Haram menace,because these are the same peoplethat are paid N10, 000 and givenan explosive-containing bag to goand drop somewhere," Bala, aphysically challenged fellow said.

However, he commended theFCT administration and SAP-CLN for the efforts towardsempowering the less privileged.

He explained that out of thenumber trained, three weretrained in the electronicdepartment, 22 in ICT, six inleather works, 17 in metal works/fabrication, six in tailoring, andthree in arts.

As the beneficiaries movedforward to the podium to collecttheir certificates, starters packand cash grant, they were full ofsmiles and excitement.

"We will never return to thestreet again. We thank thegovernment for what they havedone for us today. We will startour own business with the moneythey gave to us," this quote froman interview with one of thebeneficiaries, trained in leatherworks, Ali Madaki, captures theresponse of other beneficiariesinterviewed at the occasion.

FCT National Youth Service Corps(NYSC) Coordinator, Mrs Linda Amugo, presents a cash grant and starter pack to a physicallychallenged beneficiary at the event

Assorted handcrafts by graduating repentant social workers at the event


Management Tip of the Day3 tips for creating a realistic budget

Don't let other issues sidetrackyou.

Don't do it alone. Includeyour team members indeveloping the budget - theymay have knowledge aboutcertain line items that youdon't.

Question yourassumptions. A budget

should take current data, addassumptions, and createprojections. Be careful aboutthe assumptions you make andquestion how likely they are tocome true. When you presentthe budget, you'll need to beprepared to defend them.Source: Harvard BusinessReview

INSIDE

If you have to put togetheran annual budget for yourdepartment, your

compensation may depend onyour ability to stick to it. Hereare three tips for creating amanageable budget:

Stay goal-oriented. If youaim to increase sales, makethat your overriding concern.

BUYING SELLING

CFA 0.2883 0.3083• 200.8036 202.1012£ 249.3332 250.9444RIYAL 41.2623 41.5289$ 154.75 155.75

CBN 9th May, 2012

EXCHANGE RATES

PARALLEL RATES BUYING SELLING

• 210 212£ 250 252RIYAL 40 42$ 156 158

Shell loses43,000 bpd to

theft

- Pg 20

Email: [email protected] Mob: 08033644990

BBBBBUSINESSUSINESSUSINESSUSINESSUSINESS

Flight schedule

LOS-ABJ: 07.15, 11.40, 14.00,16.30, 17.00, 17.20, 18.30

ABJ-LOS: 07.00, 09.30, 10.30,11.15, 16.15, 19.15, 19.35

ABJ-KANO: 18.40

KANO-ABJ: 08.35

ABJ-SOK (MON): 09.35

SOK-ABJ (MON): 11.35

LOS-ABJ: 06.50, 13.30, 19.45

ABU-LOS: 07.30, 13.00, 14.00, 19.00

LOS-ABJ: 07.02, 08.10, 12.06,15.30, 17.10

ABJ-LOS: 07.20, 09.36, 13.05, 14.40

LOS-ABJ: 9.45, 11.45, 2.45

IRS AIRLINES

AIR NIGERIA (MONDAY - SUNDAY)

DANA AIRLINES (MON - SUN)

AEROCONTRACTORS (MON - SUN)

ABJ-SOK (FRI): 10.10

ABJ-SOK (WED/SUN): 11.20

SOK-ABJ (FRI): 12.00

SOK-ABJ (WED/SUN): 13.20

LOS-ABJ (SUN): 12.30

LOS-ABJ (SAT): 16.45

ABU-LOS (SUN): 10.30, 14.30, 19.30

ABU-LOS (SAT): 18.30

ABJ-LOS (SAT/SUN): 13.05, 18.00

LOS-KANO: 08.10

KANO-LOS: 11.25KANO-ABUJA: 11.25

ABUJA-KANO: 10.08

ABJ-LOS: 11.30, 3.45, 4.45

LOS-KANO: 6.15LOS-KANO (SAT/SUN): 16.30KANO-LOS: 07.30KANO-LOS (SUN/SUN): 10.30

FG to distribute energy-efficient bulbssubsidy for some categories ofelectricity consumers. He addedthat, energy efficient bulbs arebetter though a bit moreexpensive than the currentbulbs used as they consume lessenergy.

Nnaji said energy efficientbulbs would save more than 80per cent of the currentelectricity bills most consumerspay.

“We are going to inauguratethe Energy EfficiencyProgramme in this country inthe next three weeks,” he said.“The EEP means that we aregoing to get bulbs, energy

efficient bulbs and then take theenergy inefficient bulbs fromusers and destroy them.

“The energy efficient bulbsare more expensive than yourcurrent bulbs, but you will besaving more than 80 per cent ofyour electricity.”

The minister added that thenew bulbs would release morepower for everyone.

“If you have a 60-watts bulb,you will get the same lighteningwith a 12-watts bulb. This issomething that is coming by thefirst week of June this year andwhat it does is that it releasesmore power to everybody.You

L-R: Assistant General Manager, Legal, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mr. Victor Eniang, Commissionerof Police in charge of ports Affairs, Mr. Kola Sobipo, and acting General Manager, NPA, Eastern Ports, MrUgochukwu Empire, during a visit by the Commissioner of Police to NPA, yesterday in Port Harcourt.

Photo: NAN

By Abdulwahab Isa

IMF cuts sub-Saharan Africa 2012 growth forecasts to 5.4%

The Federal Government hasconcluded plans tocommence the distribution

of energy efficient bulbs andphase out the high energyconsuming ones, Minister ofEnergy, Prof. Bart Nnaji said atthe weekend.

The distribution which willcommence from first week ofJune, is in line with the proposedelectricity tariff increase, whichwould be implemented on June1 .

The Minister said the FederalGovernment would provide

will pay even less.“So, for those of you who are

going to get the energy efficientbulbs, you will pay much less forelectricity in addition to thesubsidy being provided by thegovernment.”

Nnaji also disclosed that in afew years, the government wouldno longer need to provide subsidy,as a tariff structure that wouldmake customers who could payto subsidise those who cannot.

He said that government haddirected that all the electricitygeneration recovery projectsmust be completed within sixmonths.

By Aminu Imam with agencyreport

Sub-Saharan Africa’seconomies will expand at aslower rate in 2012 than

earlier projected, underminedby global financial distress anda sluggish recovery in SouthAfrica, the InternationalMonetary Fund (IMF) saidyesterday.

Africa’s growth hasremained above 5 percent in thelast eight years, underpinned bystrong prices for its naturalresources, better governance andgrowing disposable incomes.

In its latest RegionalEconomic Outlook, the IMFforecast 5.4 percent growth thisyear from 5.1 percent in 2011.Its previous projections were 5.9and 5.5 percent respectively.

“The growth outlook for 2012is somewhat less favourablethan outlined in the October2011 Regional EconomicOutlook, with the growthprojection for 2012 now cut byalmost one-half a percentagepoint, driven in large part by theweaker economic outlook forSouth Africa,” the IMF said.

Growth in Africa’s economicpowerhouse was likely to be arelatively modest 2.7 percentthis year and 3.4 percent in thenext, held back by its relianceon trade with Europe and closelinks with western financial

markets, the Fund said.However, an upturn in

drought-hit East Africa, freshoutput in new natural resourceproducers such as Niger andSierra Leone and recovery inpost-conflict nations such asIvory Coast should help boost thecontinent’s economic activity in2012.

Sierra Leone and Niger couldpost outstanding growth of 35.9and 14 percent respectively. Bigoil-producers Nigeria andAngola will also be major driversof the expansion.

Economies reliant on non-renewable resources areexperiencing faster growth butare also suffering the worstvolatility in exports, revenuesand GDP expansion, the IMFsaid.

The fund also said the rapidexpansion of pan-African banksmay be cause for concern incountries with poor regulation.

Banks such as South Africa’sStandard Bank, Togo-basedEcobank and Kenya’s KCB havebeen widening their reach,increasing competition in theirnew markets while improvingtechnology and expertise.

“But rapid expansion of thesegroups may, in some cases, haveoutpaced supervisory capacity.Under adverse economicconditions across the region,these banking grounds couldbecome a channel for cross-border contagion,” the IMF said.

Countries with fast-expanding loan books shouldprioritise strengthening theresilience of their financialsectors, the IMF said, pushing forcross-border supervision in the

region.“Effective mechanisms for

limiting cross-border contagion,

such as ring-fencingarrangements aimed atpreserving subsidiaries’

resources could be added to areview of existing banking-resolution frameworks,” the IMFsaid. (Reuters)

Naira weakens on fuel importers’ dollar demand

The Naira weakened againstthe U.S dollar on theinterbank market

yesterday, as strong dollar demandfor the local currency from fuelimporters held down the localunit.

The Naira closed at theinterbank market at 157.95 to thedollar, weaker than the 157.75 itclosed on Friday.

Traders some fuel importerswere issued fresh import licences,boosting dollar demand. This was

combining with insufficient dollarsupply from oil companies werepilling pressure on the localcurrency.

“Some oil importers have beenissued fresh round of licences toimport fuel, while outflows todividend payments by somecompanies are increasing demandfor the dollar and putting pressureon the naira,”one dealer said.

Dealers said that although theNigerian National PetroleumCorporation (NNPC) sold about

$500 million to some lenders lastweek, the impact of the dollar saleson the Naira was subdued becausethe company sold at a rate close tothe prevailing market price,leaving too small a margin forlenders.

“We see rate crossing the 158naira to the dollar mark byTuesday (today) unless there issignificant dollar flow frommultinational oil companies tocounter demand,” another dealersaid.(Reuters)


IPP project:Delta receivesturbine

The first batch of 37components of gas turbinefor the Delta State

Independent Power Project (IPP)has arrived Oghara, Deltastate, the site of the project.The second batch of theconsignment is said to be atOnne Port, Rivers State.

FCSL rolls outfour new mutualfunds intoNigerian market

An Investment firm, FCSL(Finance andCommercial Services

Limited), has rolled out fournew mutual funds for theNigerian market which wouldprovide an avenue for assetdiversification and riskmanagement. The launch ofthe funds occurred at the FCSLinvestor forum, which was heldin Lagos last week.

Delta Airlineplans to saveN48 bn in fuelcost withacquisition ofrefinery

Delta Ailrline, whichoperates daily flightsinto Lagos from Atlanta,

has reported strong financialand operating performance forApril 2012 just as it acquiredan oil refinery fromConocoPhillips for $180m.

Dangote Cementsees profit atN77.5bn

Dangote Cement Plc ofNigeria said net incomefor the six months

through June will probably be77.5 billion naira.

Marketoperators urgegovt to checkprofit-takings byforeign investors

Capital market operators,on Monday, attributedprofit-takings by foreign

investors as a fresh problemmilitating against the capitalmarket.They explained that the foreigninvestors’ dominance ofactivities and their highdependence on marginal gainswould make the market tooscillate.

COMPANYNEWS

Afren discovers significant oil reserves in off-shore Nigeria

Exploration firm, Afren hassaid that it had foundsignificant oil reserves at its

Ebok North Fault Block well,offshore Nigeria.

According to the findings, thedata showed that there could bean excess of 100 barrels of oil atthe site, towards the upper end ofAfren’s pre-drill expectations.

In a statement by its ChiefExecutive, Osman Shahenshah,said that they had encountered

370 feet of true vertical thickness(TVT) of oil in excellent qualityreservoir sands, adding that theproximity of Ebok NFB to existinginfrastructure at the main Ebokfield production hub means thatthey can quickly monetize thenewly discovered volumes.

It was also noted that thecompany made a discovery ofsignificant oil pay at the locationunderlined the high-gradeprospectively that exists across

French oil company, Total SAat the weekend said itstopped a natural gas leak at

one of its plants in Nigeria’s crude-rich southern delta after 54 days,an emergency that forced the firmto shut down the field andevacuate the area.

Total said it used heavy fluidsand cement plugs to stop the gasflow from its Obite natural gasfield in Rivers state, in the heartof the country’s Niger Delta.Workers will put a cement seal onthe well to permanently staunchthe flow from the well, Total saidin a statement.

A spokesman for Total’sNigerian subsidiary, FredOhwahwa, said on Sunday thatthe company hoped to restart gasproduction at the plant soon, butthat he didn’t know an exact date.Crude oil production at thefacility continued while the gasplant there was shut down during

the leak, he said.Workers noticed a mix of water

and natural gas bubbling up fromportion of a marshy site near theplant on April 3, the company hassaid. Officials blamed it on a“technical incident” that occurredthere March 20, without givingany other details. Rumors aboutan accident at a Total operationhad circulated in Nigeria forweeks, though the companyremained silent.

Total said its workers willcontinue to sample air and wateraround the plant to make surethere is no residual pollution fromthe gas leak, though the companyhas said it found no toxic damagein the time since the leak began.

Nigeria, Africa’s mostpopulous nation with more than160 million residents, is a topenergy supplier to the U.S. TheOPEC member nation also has

Total says gas leak has stopped at Nigeria fieldseen foreign oil firms boostproduction of natural gas in recentyears.

However, environmental andindustry regulations lag behindspills and violence in its oil-richNiger Delta, a region ofmangroves and swamps aboutthe size of Portugal. Someenvironmentalists say much as2.1 billion liters (550 milliongallons) of oil have spilled duringmore than 50 years of production.That would be at a rate roughlycomparable to one Exxon Valdezdisaster per year in a regionwhere oil still stains beaches andwaterways.

Many foreign oil firms blamethieves for much of the oil spillsnow happening in the region, asthey tap into pipelines to stealcrude. However, there have beena series of major spills andaccidents in the last six months,

Stories by Muhammad Nasir

L-R: Commissioner for Insurance, National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Mr Fola Daniel, DeputyCommissioner (Technical), Malam Ibrahim Hassan, and Deputy Director, Corporate Services, Mr LuckyFiakpa, during a workshop on diagnostic study of microfinance in Nigeria, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: NAN

including a spill by Royal DutchShell Plc at its offshore Bongafacility that saw some 40,000barrels of oil spill.

Natural gas projects in Nigeriaalso have seen serious accidentsin recent months as well. On Jan.16, an offshore Chevron Corp. gasrig exploded in an apparentindustrial accident that killed twoexpatriate workers. Natural gasbubbled to the surface of theAtlantic Ocean and fueled amassive fire on the water forweeks after the explosion.

Total’s Obite gas plant exportsa capacity of 10.65 million metriccubes of natural gas, and collectsoil condensate to mix with crudeoil it produces from another area,the company has said. Totaloperates in the plant inpartnership with the state-runNigerian National PetroleumCorp.

the wider area.However, it has been a mixed

year for Afren, because it had seensuccess at its Okoro East site,offshore south east Nigeria, aswell as the Simrit-2 explorationwell in the Kurdistan region ofIraq.

Meanwhile, shares took a hittowards the end of April after thecompany reported disappointingresults from its Nunya 1xexploration well, offshore Ghana.

Ex-NUPENGboss laudsPPPRA forprobity

The Executive Secretary,Petroleum Products PricingRegulatory Agency

(PPPRA), Mr. Reginald Stanley,has been commended forentrenching transparency andsanity in the operations of theagency.

The disclosure was made bythe former President of the blue-collar National Union ofPetroleum and Natural GasWorkers (NUPENG), PeterAkpatason, in Abuja at theweekend.

Akpatason, who is now amember of the House ofRepresentatives, was reacting tothe recent suspension of a SwissOil trading company, NIMEX bythe management of the PPPRA,noting that Stanley had sinceassumed office, and has shown theresolve and firmness necessary torealise the transformation agendaof the Federal Government in thedownstream sector.

The unionist said that Stanleyhad demonstrated strong abilityto carry oil and gas unions alongin achieving the set goals ofgovernment in the oil industry.

It could be recalled that on May6, the management of the PPPRAannounced the suspension of aSwiss firm NIMEX, for failing toprovide detailed documentationon its oil trading activities inNigeria.

Announcing the suspension,Stanley said that the action was aclear warning to all marketersthat a new regime of transparencyand due process in the oil and gasindustry had come to stay.

It is to be noted that thedownstream sector has beenundergoing tremendous reformsin recent months, following thedirective issued to ministries andagencies by President GoodluckJonathan in pursuit of thetransformation agenda of hisadministration.

Shell loses 43,000 bpd to theft

Shell PetroleumDevelopment Company ofNigeria Ltd. loses at least

43,000 barrels of oil a day to crudetheft and illegal bunkering inNigeria’s Niger Delta, a statementby Precious Okolobo, the oil giant’sspokesman, said on Monday.

In 2011, Shell lost about11,806 barrels in 118 incidentsdue to sabotage and crude oiltheft. The spills, equating anaverage of one spill every threedays, accounted for 77% of thetotal spilled volume during the

period.“Since, we calculate crude

theft quantities based on volumesproduced from flowstations andwhat is received at terminals it istrue that additional oil is stolenbetween wellheads and flow-stations,”, Managing Director ofSPDC, Mutiu Sunmonu said.

According to the statement,most thefts have been on SPDCjoint venture’s two majorpipelines in the Eastern NigerDelta—the Nembe CreekTrunkline, known as NCTL, and

Trans Niger Pipeline or TNP. TheNCTL was replaced in 2010 at acost of $1.1 billion, the statementsaid but the new line is still afavorite target of crude thieves.

It was shut down for one monthin December last year following aspill caused by two failedbunkering connections. Thethieves took advantage of thatmonth-long pipelinedepressurization to install evenmore bunkering points.

Since the restart of productionin January 2012, there havebeen multiple trips caused bypressure drops resulting fromillegal off-take.


Glo wins ‘Telecoms Operatorof the Year’ awardBy Muhammad Sada

Leading telecoms operatorGlobacom emergedTelecoms Operator of the

Year at the Beacon of ICT(BoICT) Awards held recently,where it also took home twoother awards for its sterlingperformance in the telecomssector.

At the award ceremony,which was held at Eko Hotel &Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos,Globacom won the TelecomsOperator of the Year,Submarine Cable Company ofthe Year for Glo 1, and the BestPromotion of the Year forText4millions promo.

Organisers of the BoICTevent, CommunicationsWeek,said the award was institutedto reward the vision andenterprise of individuals andcompanies that havecontributed to the growth of theICT industry in Nigeria.

Editor-in-Chief and ChiefExecutive Officer of themagazine, Ken Nwogbo, said themain objectives of the awardswere to evaluate and recognizestandards of excellence in thecountry's quest for growth anddevelopment in the use of ICTand to ensure that ICTprofessionals are provided abenchmark for recognisingand validating outstanding

contributions.Nwogbo explained that the

Telecom Operator of the Yearaward was given to Glo as arecognition of "Glo Mobile'sunparalleled achievementsand for variously impressingwith its ability to reinvent thewheel, for breathing life intofixed line service with GloBroadaccess, for providingsufficient bandwidth foreconomic prosperity throughGlo 1 and for helping therealization of government'scashless policy through Glo TextCash (mobile money ), amongstother initiatives."

According to him,Submarine Cable Company ofthe Year was awarded to Glo 1for being the most significantmilestone that has redefinedtelecommunications in Nigeriaand Ghana since landing. Headded that Glo 1 "has improvedand increased telecom andinternet services as well aspenetration."

For the Best Promo of theYear Award, Nwogbo observedthat "Text4millions" Season 2has transformed lives withhundreds of winners and givenback so much to Glo's loyalsubscribers. The promo ishugely popular andtransparent and has an openprocess of selecting winners aswell as an easy-to-play

module," Nwogbo stated.Globacom's Executive

Director, Mr. AdewaleSangowawa expressed delighton the awards and attributedthe recognition to the hardwork of the Board,Management and staff. Hespecially thanked thecustomers for their loyalty,adding that "they are thereason why we are in business."We at Glo dedicate the awardsto our esteemed customers," hesaid.

Yahoo chief executive steps downYahoo is replacing its Chief

Executive Officer (CEO)for the third time in as

many years, and giving threeboard seats to a hedge fund ledby Daniel Loeb, putting him ina strong position to influencestrategy at the strugglinginternet company.

Yahoo did not give a reasonfor Mr Thompson's exit but saidthe company's global mediahead, Ross Levinsohn, will beinterim CEO.

Separately, the Wall StreetJournal reported yesterdaythat before resigning as chiefexecutive of Yahoo over theweekend, Mr Thompsondisclosed to the company'sboard of directors and severalcolleagues that he has beendiagnosed with thyroid cancer.

The paper had sourced thereport to people familiar withthe matter.

The decision to step downfrom Yahoo was in partinfluenced by Mr Thompson'scancer diagnosis, a person toldthe Journal.

The diagnosis had occurredin recent days while the boardwas investigating why theexecutive's academic recordhad erroneously included acomputer science degree,according to the newspaper.

Mr Thompson's departureafter just four months on thejob throws into question thefuture of Yahoo as it strugglesto revive growth amid fiercecompetition from the likes ofGoogle and Facebook, andproduce a long-term strategy

to convince investors to reverseits share slide.

Yahoo was a dominantplayer in the early days of theinternet but has struggled foryears to maintain its relevanceas social media, mobilecomputing and highlypersonalised advertising haveredefined the industrylandscape.

While brands such as YahooNews, Yahoo Sports and YahooFinance remain among themost popular destinations onthe web, a relentless industry-wide decline in displayadvertising prices has made itdifficult to make money onthose assets and raisedquestions about the long-termviability of an ad-basedstrategy.(Reuters)

The comments below areadapted from apresentation I put

together for seniorpolicymakers in a developingcountry who have high leveloversight of the use oftechnology in thousands ofschools.

Complemented by aseparate discussion about'worst practices' in ICT use ineducation, there were meant tobe provocative, and to serve asa springboard for subsequentdiscussion and debate. Theymay or may not be useful orrelevant to the people who readthis blog (especially those witha lot of experience using ICTsin schools over many years),but I thought they potentiallywere relevant to the group withwhich I was speaking. To theextent that they might be ofany interest to others, herethey are:

1. Computer labs are abad idea

In most places I visit,putting all (or most) of a school'scomputers into a special'computer lab' is seen as theobvious thing to do when aschool is being 'computerized'.This may seem obvious ... butis it really a good idea?

The trend in industrializedcountries has largely beenaway from computer lab-centric models for educationaltechnologies. One reason forthis is quite practical -- thecomputer labs are already fullof computers, and if you wantto buy more of them, you needto put them in other places.Fair enough. There is also arecognition, however, that ifyou want computers and otherICTs to contribute directly toimpacting the learningprocess in core subjects, youneed to put them where coresubjects are being taught --like in the classroom. Themove toward 1-to-1

computing, whereeach student (and/orteacher) has her owndedicated laptop, canbe seen in some waysas a further extensionof this belief.

This is not to saythat school computerlabs are a bad idea. Or,for that matter, thatthey are a good idea.Rather, it is to arguethat, where thedecision is made toinvest in them, itshould be for the rightreasons -- and not justbecause "that's whateveryone else seems tobe doing (or did in thepast), so we should doit too".

2. ICT literacyclasses are a badidea

Why do you need to putcomputers in schools? So thatkids can 'learn how to usecomputers'. How do kids bestlearn how to use computers?By deliberately being taughttheir basic functions as part ofa special 'computer class'.Right?

Some people don't think so,and contend that using ICTsprimarily to build 'ICTliteracy' tends to crowd outother educational uses of thetechnologies, and that desiresto develop skills that conformto narrow definitions of 'ICTliteracy' (i.e. basically themechanical stuff -- opening adocument, word processing,etc.) can often be met byutilizing ICTs in other ways.Might it be better, they ask, tohelp students develop their'computer skills' as a natural by-product of ICT use as part ofother learning activities than to'teach' them, for example, howan operating system works andhow to use basic officeproductivity applications? Ofcourse local context isimportant here: What works inone place (or time) in thisregard may not work so well inanother. This is not to say thatvocational computer-relatedinstruction is a waste of time.Certainly not! (Although itmay be worth asking whatextent basic 'computer courses'are really appropriate in placeswhere likely usage scenarios forICTs going forward do notinvolve someone sitting at adesk, but rather using a mobilephone or -- soon -- a tabletdevice.) Nor is it meant toimply that children do not needto learn how to perform basictasks with a computer. Butthere is more than one way toaccomplish the task of makingstudents 'ICT literate'.

A World Bank blog on ICTuse in education, submittedby Michael Trucano

(To be continued)

Ten things about computeruse in schools that youdon't want to hear (but I'llsay them anyway)

I don't want to hear this

Considering that voicetelephony has justbecome a basic service in

many countries of the worldtoday, while data transmissiondefines for them the speedwhich businesses areconducted in the new worldorder, Accenture, gatheredtechnology experts and otherindustry stakeholders lastweek, in Lagos, to brainstorm

on possible ways of promotingand sustaining broadbandavailability in Nigeria.

Interestingly, Minister ofCommunications Technology,Mrs. Omobola Johnson chairedthe parley while the ExecutiveVice-Chairman of NCC, DrEugene Juwah also made apowerful presentation on theway forward.

The event seemed to have

Broadband, key to rapid GDPgrowth - Minister, NCC boss

revolved around these two,considering that theinstitutions they head are keyto the success or otherwise of thecountry's broadbandpenetration efforts. While theministry is expected toformulate and implementright policies to ensure growth,NCC is expected to sustaingrowth through focusedregulation.

Globacom boss, Mike Adenuga


CBN says enterprisesfund not to bailoutmicrofinance banksThe Central Bank of Nigeria

(CBN) at the weekend saidthat the Micro, Small and

Medium EnterprisesDevelopment (MSMEs) fund wasnot meant to bail out distressedmicro-finance banks.

The Director, Other FinancialInstitutions Development (OFID)department of the CBN, Mr.Olufemi Fabanwo, made theclarification at the 2nd AnnualGeneral Meeting (AGM) of theNational Association of MicroFinance Banks (NAMB) inAbuja.

Fabanwo said the fund,which was initially establishedas Micro Finance DevelopmentFund (MDF), was changed toMSMEs Development Fund.

“The MSMEs fund is notmedicine for those who are weak,the MSME fund is going to beassessed by institutions that haveshown proven record ofperformance; it is not for any

micro finance bank. “It is not a bailout fund. There

is going to be a social window forcapacity building in any areathat will augur well for thedevelopment of the sub-sector.’’

The director said CBN was notsatisfied with the level of returnsrendition and the auditedaccounts of micro-finance banks.

He said that only about 70 percent rendition had been recordedby the apex bank since the end ofthe last financial year.

Fabanwo, however, addedthat the MFBs had recordedgreater stability after theSeptember ‘sanitation’ carriedout by the apex bank in which244 licences of MFBs wererevoked.

He stressed the need for micro-finance banks to update theirsubscriptions annually, warningthat the apex bank would nothesitate to penalise defaulters. (NAN)

NEPAD seeks SMEDAN supporton ‘Global Partnership Week’By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

The Director-General of theSmall and MediumEnterprises Development

Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN),Alhaji Muhammad NadadaUmar has pledged the agency’ssupport for the New EconomicPartnership for AfricanDevelopment (NEPAD) BusinessGroup on its upcoming GlobalPartnership Week and otheractivities as they relate to thedevelopment of small andmedium enterprises (SMEs) inNigeria.

Alhaji Umar made thecommitment at the weekend, while receiving the ExecutiveSecretary of the Group, Dr.Aniebo Roberts, who paid theSMEDAN DG a courtesy call incompany of the NEPAD BusinessGroup Program Manager, Mrs.Dorothy Gam in Abuja.

The SMEDAN boss promisedto bring other relevant agenciesof government on board, tomake contributions towardachieving the set objectives ofthe Group.

Earlier, the ExecutiveSecretary of the NEPAD Group,Dr. Aniebo Roberts explainedthat the purpose of their visitwas to notify the agency of theproposed Global PartnershipWeek, in celebration of theInternational Year ofCooperatives and seek areas ofpartnership and support fromSMEDAN.

He said that the event,which would be supported by theEconomic Community of WestAfrican States (ECOWAS) and

other international partners, isbeing held to among other thingshonour the founding fathers ofECOWAS, for their roles in theoverall development of Africa,and especially for their roles inthe debt cancellation of Africancountries by the Paris DebtClub.

He disclosed that the NEPADBusiness Group, which dealswith private sector componentssuch as advocacy and humanresources development, aims toharmonize the informal sectorat the upcoming GlobalPartnership Week, whereSMEDAN’s expertise in thedevelopment of micro, smalland medium enterprises (SMEs)would be needed to mentorparticipants.

The event according to him,would x-ray the securitysituation in Africa, examine theexternal debts of Africancountries, addressentrepreneurial training needsacross board, establish mentor-mentee relationships as well asprofile and promote SMEDAN’ssuccessful trainees.

Based on the laid downobjectives of the event, the Groupboss sought SMEDAN’s support inthe areas of granting the Groupaccess to SMEDAN’sentrepreneurship centers acrossthe country, providing technicalsupport to SMEs and linking themto credit sources (funding andinsurance), active participationin the preparation for andattendance at the planned event.

L-R: Chairman, Elumelu Foundation, Tony Elumelu, and CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi,during theinauguration of Agricultural Transformation Implementation Council, yesterday, at the State House, inAbuja. Photo: Joe Oroye

and Federal Government aremaking life unbearable fortelecoms companies as they slamoutrageous levies and taxes onoperators.

Represented by the company’sRegulatory Affairs Director,Osondu Nwokoro said aside thefinancial harassment fromdifferent government bodies,many telecoms operators areunable to plan their operationsdue to multiple regulations.

“It is important that weunderstand that multipletaxation and multipleregulation are two differentissues. For instance, if aparticular operator has a basestation in a particular

community, he is faced with thechallenge of paying all mannerof levies and taxes to differentgovernmental agencies for justthat base station. Also, he is facedwith the challenge of multipleregulations from differentgovernment agencies.”

He said “At the end of the day,the customer is made to suffer forthis, as some of these agenciesusually shut down base stations,thereby preventing engineersfrom performing routinemaintenance work.

Just imagine an operator withmore than 2,000 base stations.Indeed, the impact is huge andcustomers are made to sufferunjustly.”

Swaroop also noted thatgovernment is also losing revenueas independent tax consultantsare raking in handsome profitsfrom the exercise. “Without adoubt, if telecoms operators aremaking more money, it meansmore taxes for government. Butif they are making losses or lessprofit, government gets little ornothing.”

He also cautioned that thetwin challenges of multipletaxation and multipleregulations can lead to loss ofForeign Direct Investment, lackof cooperation from telecomsoperators and failure on the partof government to create realvalue for the citizens.

Airtel CEO decries multiple taxation, regulation

Chief Executive Officer andManaging Director ofAirtel Nigeria, Rajan

Swaroop has raised an alarm overthe rising spate of multipletaxation and multiple regulation,saying that telecoms operators aregroaning under the heavy burdenthe enormous financial demandsof multiple government agenciesand institutions.

Swaroop, who was speaking atthe 2012 Edition of the WestAfrican Information andCommunications Congress(WAFICT) in Lagos, saidindependent tax consultantsworking for different local, state

From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

Africa Finance Corporation(AFC), a Lagos-baseddevelopment financier, is

considering potentialinvestments worth $3 billion(about N480 billion) across sub-Saharan Africa over the nextyear, its chief executive said onMonday.

Created in 2007 to helpincrease much-neededinvestments in the keyinfrastructure, transport andheavy industries sectors inAfrica, AFC - 46 percent-ownedby seven west African statesincluding Nigeria and Ghana -has already invested $500million in projects worth a total$4 billion from Cape Verde toZambia.

“In our sectors we see a lot ofopportunities. We are currentlyreviewing investments totalling$3 billion across the continent.That is what our pipeline is,”Andrew Alli told Reuters in theKenyan capital.

Alli said AFC - part of a

growing phenomenon ofAfricans investing in their owncontinent - also looks for acommercial return on itsinvestments, was looking toconclude the potential dealssoon.

“It is almost certain that wewon’t invest in all of them butwe would expect to review themand close them over the courseof the next year or so,” he said.

Other potential investmentsbeing evaluated include some inthe Nigerian power sector whereplanned privatisations laterthis year could open upopportunities, Alli said.

AFC is also assessinginvestment opportunities inSenegal, Ethiopia, Ghana andIvory Coast, where they havealready secured approval to fundconstruction of a tall bridge inAbidjan, Alli added.

“Infrastructure is theskeleton that economic growthgenerally hangs,” hesaid.(Reuters)

AFC targets N480bn investmentsin sub-Saharan Africa

PAGE 25PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, MAY 15, 2012

Facebook CEO turns 28He famously wears a

hoodie, jeans andsneakers, and he was

born the year Apple introducedthe Macintosh. But MarkZuckerberg is no boy-CEO.

Facebook’s chief executiveturned 28 on Monday, settingin motion the social network’sbiggest week ever. Thecompany is expected to startselling stock to the public for thefirst time and begin trading onthe Nasdaq Stock Market onFriday. The IPO could valueFacebook at nearly $100billion, making it worth morethan such iconic companies asDisney, Ford and Kraft Foods,according to Associated Press(AP).

At 28, Zuckerberg is exactlyhalf the age of the average S&P500 CEO, according toexecutive search firm SpencerStuart. With eight years on thejob, he’s logged more time asleader than the average CEO,whose tenure is a little morethan seven years, according toSpencer Stuart. Even so, thepressures of running a publiccompany will undoubtedlytake some getting used to.

Once Facebook begins sellingstock, Zuckerberg will beexpected to please a host of newstakeholders, including WallStreet investment firms, hedgefunds and pension funds whowill pressure him to keep thecompany growing.

Young as he may seem —especially in that hoodedsweatshirt— Zuckerberg will beabout the same age as MichaelDell and older than Steve Jobswhen those two took theircompanies, Dell Inc. and AppleInc., public. In his years asFacebook’s CEO he’s met worldleaders, rode a bull in Vietnamwhile on vacation, startedlearning Mandarin Chineseand as a personal challenge,wore a tie for the better part ofa year.

Facebook, of course, got itsstart in Zuckerberg’s messyHarvard dorm room in early2004. Known asThefacebook.com back in thosedays, the site was created tohelp Harvard students — andlater other college students —connect with one anotheronline. The scrappy websitelater grew to include high-schoolers, then anyone else withan Internet connection. Todaymore than 900 million peoplelog in at least once a month,making Facebook the world’sdefinitive social network.

All along, Zuckerberg hasshown a maturity beyond hisyears. As the site grew rapidlyand caught the eye of big mediaand rival Internet companies,

Zuckerberg consistentlyrebuffed mouth-wateringbuyout offers, including fromGoogle Inc. and Yahoo Inc.

“Simply put: we don’t buildservices to make money; wemake money to build betterservices,” wrote Zuckerberg inhis letter to prospectiveshareholders. “And we thinkthis is a good way to buildsomething. These days I thinkmore and more people want touse services from companiesthat believe in somethingbeyond simply maximizingprofits.”

People who’ve observedZuckerberg closely say his ageis an asset. His is the generationthat grew up with socialnetworking, with computers allaround them and the Internetas something that’s alwaysexisted. Many of his employeesare younger than him, as are alot of the up-and-comingtechnology entrepreneurs withwhom he competes.

“I don’t think you could builda company like this if you werean old guy like me,” says DavidKirkpatrick, a 59-year-oldauthor who chronicled thecompany’s early history in

“The Facebook Effect”.Kirkpatrick, who is also founderof Techonomy, a mediacompany that hosts conferenceson the relationship betweentechnology and economy andsocial progress, first metZuckerberg six years ago. Hesays he was impressed with hisvision, even then. “It’s thewillingness to take risks, thewillingness to abide by a verycontemporary vision ... I don’tthink that he’s too young. Ithink most CEOs are too old.”

Zuckerberg, who lives inPalo Alto, Calif. with hisgirlfriend and a whiteHungarian Puli dog namedBeast, has matured as a leaderwith the help of experiencedmentors. One of his closestadvisors is Sheryl Sandberg,who he hired away from Googlein 2008. Zuckerberg, known forsometimes-awkward publicappearances, realized that therazor-sharp, people-savvyadvertising executivecomplements his ownshortcomings. Sandberg isZuckerberg’s No. 2, the chiefoperating officer who overseesadvertising and often serves asFacebook’s smiling, public face.Then there’s Donald Graham,the 66-year-old CEO andchairman of The WashingtonPost Co., who serves as a mentorto Zuckerberg and holds a seaton Facebook’s board of directors.

Rebecca Lieb, analyst at theAltimeter Group, saysZuckerberg has assembled a

Sculley, the former Pepsicoexecutive Apple hired as chiefexecutive. Jobs famouslyreturned to lead Apple in 1997and the company has thrivedsince.

Not much is known aboutthe relationship Jobs andZuckerberg shared, but Jobsreportedly told his biographer

Walter Isaacson: “We talkabout social networks in theplural, but I don’t see anybodyother than Facebook out there.Just Facebook, They aredominating this. I admireMark Zuckerberg . . . for notselling out, for wanting tomake a company. I admire thata lot.”

When Jobs died last October,Zuckerberg wrote on hisFacebook page, “Steve, thankyou for being a mentor and afriend. Thanks for showing thatwhat you build can change theworld. I will miss you.”

Jon Burgstone, professor atthe Center forEntrepreneurship andTechnology at the University ofCalifornia, Berkeley, believesthat Zuckerberg will need tokeep his perspective andcontinue developing.

“He has already become oneof the world’s most famouspeople, and also the richest,” hesays. “He walks into a room andyou can feel people’s excitementand the rush to be near him.He’s already had time to learnhow to deal with such fame andfortune, but now it’s advancingto an entirely new level. Howwill he handle it, emotionallyand professionally?”

Lieb marvels at the lifeZuckerberg has led so far.Imagine being in your 20s, aself-made billionaire, your lifethe subject of a Hollywoodmovie. “It’s a lifetime and theguy isn’t 30 yet,” says Lieb.

He’s made big mistakes,especially with regard to users’privacy. One example is

Beacon, Facebook’s misguidedadvertising product thatbroadcast user’s activities onoutside websites without theirconsent. Still, he took steps tocorrect them. On blog postsabout Facebook’s privacyblunders, he’s admitted thecompany has made mistakes.His 2007 post about Beaconshowed his straightforward,methodical thinking:

“ We’ve made a lot ofmistakes building this feature,but we’ve made even morewith how we’ve handled them.We simply did a bad job withthis release, and I apologize forit. While I am disappointedwith our mistakes, weappreciate all the feedback wehave received from our users.I’d like to discuss what we havelearned and how we haveimproved Beacon,” he wrotefive years ago. Facebook shutdown Beacon two years later.

Zuckerberg has done wellfor himself so far, but he’ll bepulled in many directions onceFacebook is public.

“There is going to be atremendous amount ofscrutiny on this company,”Lieb says. “Who really isqualified” to carry such aweight?

Source: AP

team of “truly exceptionallieutenants.” David Ebersman,Facebook’s chief financialofficer, who hails from biotechfirm Genentech, is anotherexample. Zuckerberg hired himin 2009, saying that

Ebersman’s previous job,helping to scale the financeorganization of the fast-growingbiotech company “will beimportant to Facebook.”

He was right. Facebook’srevenue grew from $777million in 2009 to $3.7 billionlast year. In the first quarter of2012 it was more than $1billion.

Obviously, Zuckerberg stillhas a lot to learn. As part ofFacebook’s pre-IPO “roadshow”last week, Zuckerberg visitedseveral venerable East Coastfinancial institutions wearinghis signature hoodie. WhileSilicon Valley insiders defendhis fashion choice, others sawit as a sign of immaturity. Wasit, as some speculated, a sign ofa rebellious 20-somethingacting out? For MichaelPachter, analyst at WedbushSecurities, Zuckerberg’sattitude and attire symbolizes“a level of aloofness tostakeholders.”

“He seems very customerfocused and very employeefocused. I am not sure he caresabout anyone else... If he’sgoing to go public, he has toanswer to shareholders,”Pachter says. “That’s whyGoogle hired Eric Schmidt.That’s why Steve Jobs wasultimately forced out of Apple.”

Jobs, in fact, was anotherSilicon Valley luminary whohad Zuckerberg’s ear. He was25 in 1980 when Apple wentpublic. He was ousted five yearslater after clashing with John

Mark Zuckerberg

Facebook said a bug allowed an intruder to hack founder Mark Zuckerberg's fan page.

Mark Zuckerberg, a young millionaire to admire


Iran and Israel: Comparingmilitary machines (II)There are 18,000 Iranian

naval personnel and30,000 air force personnel,

including 12,000 in air defence.The Israeli army has more than

3,000 tanks, reported to include441 Merkava MkI, 455 MerkavaMkII, 454 Merkava MkIII, 175Merkava MkIV and 206 Centurionmodels.

The Israeli military also has,according to Reuters, some 10,484armoured personnel carriers(APCs) and 5,432 artillery pieces,including 620 motorised and 456towed pieces.

Iran's military reportedly has1,613 tanks, including some 100locally produced Zulfiqar, about100 ageing British-made ChieftainMk3 and Mk5 models obtainedbefore the 1979 revolution,alongside 150 US-made M-60A1s -as well as 480 Soviet-designed T-72 tanks and 540 T-54/T-55models, according to the Reutersnews agency.

Tehran also has about 640APCs, in addition to 8,196 artillerypieces - of which 2,010 are towedand more than 800 are motorised.

The Israeli navy has threeDolphin (German-made type 212variant) tactical submarines -thought to be nuclear-armed inorder to give Israel offshore secondstrike capability - in addition to 57patrol and coastal combat ships,including three corvettes.

Iran, on the other hand, has asignificantly larger fleet of navalcraft, containing 23 submarines,including 15 tactical subs; threeKilo-class Russian-made Type 877diesel-electric attack submarines,12 midget submarines (Iranian-built Ghadir and Nahang shallow-water vessels made for the Gulf) andeight swimmer delivery vehicles.

The Iranians also reportedly

have more than 100 patrol andcoastal combat ships, including sixcorvettes, 13 patrol craft, four patrolboats, 21 semi-submersible boatsand 56 various other patrol vessels.

The Israeli Air Force establisheda reputation for its precision duringthe 1967 Middle East war, but washeavily criticised in the wake ofthousands of civilian deaths in theWest Bank, Gaza and Lebanon insubsequent decades. It has 460combat-capable aircraft, with 168fighters, including 27 Boeing F15AEagle, seven F15B and 90 F16AFighting Falcons. The fleet alsoincludes 227 ground attack fightersand 65 attack aircraft, in additionto nine tanker/transport aircraftand 77 other transport aircraft.

Israel maintains 81 attackhelicopters, including 30 Bell AH-1E/AH-1F Cobra and 30 Boeing AH-64A Apache gunships, as well as200 transport helicopters. Its airdefence capabilities include 48towed surface-to-air missilelaunchers (SAM) and 920 guns, ascompared with the 279 SAMmissiles reportedly held by Iran.

Iran's air force is believed tocontain some 336 combat-capableaircraft, including 189 fighteraircraft such as 20 US-made F5B

jets, 60 F5E Tiger IIs and Russian-made 35 Mig-29A jets. The force isalso understood to have 108 groundattack aircraft, among them bothIranian and Russian-built craft,many of which were reportedlytaken from Iraq. The country's 116transport aircraft were made inChina, Netherlands and the US,among other places. The IRIAF alsohas 30 Bell 214C maritimereconnaissance helicopters.

Iran's approximately 1,000strategic missiles, believed capableof striking throughout the Gulf andbeyond, are reportedly controlled bythe Revolutionary Guards, andinclude around 300 short-rangeballistic missiles, including Iranian-made Shahab-1 (Scud-B), Shahab-2 (Scud-C), as well as Tondar-69(CSS-8).

Tehran has also domesticallyproduced Shahab-3 strategicintermediate-range ballistic missiles(IRBM), with a reported range of upto 1,000km, the Ghadr-1 with anestimated 1,600km range and aShahab-3 variant known as Sajjil-2with a reported range of up to2,400km, according to Reutersreports. If true, Israel and much ofeastern Europe would be withinrange.

Iran & Israel Presidents

ANALYSIS

In January 2009, Iran said ithad tested a new air-to-air missile.Then on March 7, 2010, Iran said ithad started producing short-rangecruise missiles it described as highlyaccurate and able to destroy heavytargets. The Revolutionary Guardshave 24 launchers - of which 12 to18 are for the short-range Shahab1-2, and at least six are for theShahab-3, Ghadr-1 and Sajjil-2.

"All of this is shrouded in mysteryand not really transparent," saysBokhari of Stratfor. "We don't havea very good understanding of whatIran can actually do. There is agreater likelihood of Iranian missilesaccurately targeting Arab states inthe Gulf, but Israel is far away."

Bokhari suggests that Iran'spower lies in its "ability to disruptthe global economy" and keepingthe other side from unleashing amilitary campaign via "associatedcosts that are too high ... The issueright now is Iran's asymmetriccapabilities, and future nuclearcapabilities".

During war games in earlyJanuary 2012, Iran testedmedium-range surface-to-airmissiles in the Gulf which weredomestically designed and built.The launch coincided with

increasing international pressureover the country's atomicprogramme.

While Iran has denied it is inthe process of producing nuclearweapons, Israel is widely believedto have nuclear capability,despite its policy of "nuclearambiguity". Delivery meansinclude Jericho-2 intermediate-range ballistic missiles andJericho-1 short-range missiles. Itis believed to have in the range of200 nuclear warheads that it canlaunch with intercontinentalballistic missiles (ICBM).

On November 2, 2011, Israeltest-fired an ICBM thought to bean upgraded Jericho-3 from thePalmachim base, with a potentialpayload of 1,000kg and capableof reaching as far as SouthAmerica or Oceania. The nextday, Israel staged a mass civildefence drill simulating a missileattack in the centre of the country.

Despite the conventionalmilitary advantage to Israel,Roberts, the security specialist atRUSI, believes that "the Israelisdon't have enough planes andenough of the right bombs tosignificantly set back whateveris going on in Iran ... I don't thinkit's a very sensible thing to do.There should be no [illusion]that Israel can unilaterally put anend to the Iranian nuclearprogramme".

"The one absolute kind ofcertainty is that, subsequent to astrike, Iran would be guaranteed tobe pursuing the bomb vigorouslyand clandestinely."

ConcouldedCulled from Aljazeera.

By Ben

“The Iranians also reportedly have more than 100 patrol andcoastal combat ships, including six corvettes, 13 patrol craft,four patrol boats, 21 semi-submersible boats and 56 various

other patrol vessels.


Expelled SAfricanleader vowsto ‘fight on’

South Africa's renegadeyouth leader JuliusMalema has vowed that

he will one day lead thegoverning African NationalCongress (ANC) party, despitehis expulsion from the rulingparty for indiscipline.

"I'm going to lead the ANC. Iwill lead this ANC. It doesn'tmatter what time it takes,"Malema told journalists in hisfirst remarks since hisexpulsion last month.

"We are not submitting.We're going to fight thispolitical battle."

Despite his expulsion, theANC Youth League, the party'syouth wing, insists that heremains their leader,creat ing a new pol i t icalheadache for the party ofNelson Mandela, which hasruled s ince the end of thewhite-minority government18 years ago.

The party 's internalbattles with Malema are themost visible face of the ANC'sleadership contest , leadingup to its elective conferencein December when PresidentJacob Zuma wil l seekanother term as chief.

Given the ANC's hugesupport among voters, Zumais a lmost guaranteed ofretaining South Afr ica 'spresidency.

Malema was once a vocalcampaigner for Zuma, at onepoint vowing to "kill" for him.

But his f iery rhetoriceventual ly became toomuch, as Malema advocatedseizing mines and farms andcalled for "regime change" indemocratic Botswana.

Malema, however, said hewould not start his ownpolitical party.

"I will die in the ANC. Thisis my home and nobody is goingto chase me away from myhome," he said.

Mid-ranking army officersseized power in March in protestat the government's failure toend a Tuareg-led rebellion inthe north, but the coupbackfired and triggered alightning advance by rebels whonow control two-thirds of thecountry.

The twin crises have led todisruptions in the local goldsector in Africa's third largestproducer.

Mali's neighbours alreadyimposed foreign asset freezes andtravel bans after the power grabbut they were lifted after juntachief Captain Amadou Sanogolast month formally stood downto allow Dioncounda Traore totake over as interim leader.

Yet Traore's stint in chargehas been overshadowed by the

Mali coup leaders threatenedwith new sanctions

West Africa's 15-nationECOWAS blocthreatened yesterday

to impose new sanctions on Mali'scoup leaders and their allies,accusing them of blocking areturn to civilian rule andfurther destabilising the dividednation.

Mali's neighbours and donorsare furious that the officers wholed a March 22 coup are stillmeddling in politics despite apledge to stand down. They havealso criticised the coup leaders forfailing to tackle separatist and alQaeda-linked rebels in control ofthe north.

Neighbours are looking tosend a 3,000-strong militaryforce to Mali but the deploymenthinges partly on ending apolitical stand-off in the capital

Bamako. The coup leaders'CNRDRE group last week resisteda call by ECOWAS to extend themandate of the caretakerpresident which is due to expirein a week's time.

"The ECOWAS Commission isclosely monitoring the situationand will not allow anyindividuals or groups to hold thetransition to ransom," the blocsaid in statement.

"It wishes once more to warnthat failure on the part of theCNRDRE and their civilian alliesto clearly reaffirm theircommitment to the transitionalarrangement in the next fewdays, and to refrain from anyfurther interference with thearrangement, will be met withthe immediate reinstatement ofthe targeted sanctions," it added.

Mali"s junta leader Captain Amadou Sanogo speaks during a news conference at his headquarters inKati April 3, 2012.

Despite his expulsion, the ANCYouth League insists that JuliusMalema remains their leader

NATO underplayed Libya civiliandeaths, claims Human Rights group

women.NATO considers its Libya

operation highly successful,illustrating the allies' ability towork well together in a limitedcampaign. NATO carried outsome 26,000 sorties includingsome 9,600 strike missions anddestroyed about 5,900 targetsbefore operations ended on Oct. 31.

The alliance said the campaignhad been conducted with"unprecedented care and precisionand to a standard exceeding thatrequired by internationalhumanitarian law".

"NATO did everything possibleto minimise risks to civilians, butin a complex military campaign,that risk can never be zero," saidNATO spokeswoman OanaLungescu in a statement.

"We deeply regret any instanceof civilian casualties for whichNATO may have beenresponsible."

western alliance of failing toacknowledge the scope of collateraldamage it caused during thecampaign that helped oust

Muammar Gaddafi.In a report based on

investigations at bombing sitesduring and after the conflict, theNew York-based HRW said NATOstrikes killed 20 women and 24children. It called on the alliance tocompensate civilian victims andinvestigate attacks that may havebeen unlawful.

"Attacks are allowed only onmilitary targets, and seriousquestions remain in someincidents about what exactlyNATO forces were striking," FredAbrahams, special adviser atHRW, said in a statement.

The report claims to be themost extensive investigation todate of civilian casualties fromNATO's air campaign andpresents a higher death tollestimate than a March paper byAmnesty International whichdocumented 55 civilian deaths,including 16 children and 14

NATO air strikes killed 72civilians in Libya lastyear, Human Rights Watch

said on Monday, accusing the

military maintaining its grip onmuch of day-to-day power in thecountry and uncertainty overwho should take charge once his40-day mandate set out by theconstitution runs out.

Backers of Sanogo say heshould take the helm given thecrisis in the north and thepublic's lack of confidence in thelocal political class - a propositionthat regional leaders andWestern donors have firmlyrejected.

ECOWAS mediators leftBamako at the weekend after fivedays of failed talks aimed atbreaking the deadlock. Sanogosuggested on Monday a nationalconvention of political and civicsociety groups decide who shouldtake charge of the country.

But in a statement issued onMay 11, the United Statesunderscored internationalfrustrations with the coupleaders. The U.S. StateDepartment called on Sanogo tostep aside and allow for the fullreturn to civilian rule.

It said the coup leaders hadundermined democracy andhampered the West Africannation's ability to respond to thehumanitarian crisis in northernMali.

"We hold the (CNRDRE)directly responsible for theincreasing suffering of theMalian people," Victoria Nuland,a State Departmentspokeswoman, said in astatement.

The northern part of Mali isnow in the hands of a mix ofTuareg separatist rebels andIslamist groups, some of whichare closely collaborating withregional al Qaeda-cells.

The United States, which isone of Mali's top donors and hadspent millions of dollars oncounter-terrorism training, hasalready imposed sanctions onSanogo and cut all non-humanitarian aid.

Relatives and neighbors search for survivors in the rubble of theGafez family home in Majer on August 9, 2011, one day after NATOstrikes on this and another compound killed 34 people andwounded more than 30.


Syrian troops ‘killed’ in Rastan clashesHuman Rights said.

Opposition sources also saidthe army had shelled the town,which they say has been underrebel control since January.Nine people were reportedlykilled in the bombardment.

"Shells and rockets havebeen hitting the town since3am (12:00 GMT) at a rate of

Fierce clashes betweenSyrian governmentforces and opposition

fighters have left at least 23soldiers killed in the centralSyrian city of Rastan, activistssay.

Dozens more were woundedin yesterday's violence, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for

Rastan, in the restive Homs province, has become a stronghold of the armed opposition

About 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails had been on hunger strike to protest conditionsand policies

Rahmani was laid to rest on the Nader Khan hilltop

one a minute. Rastan has beendestroyed," a member of theopposition Free Syrian Army inRastan who declined to benamed told Reuters newsagency by satellite phone.

Al Jazeera's Rula Amin,reporting from Beirut inneighbouring Lebanon, saidthree armoured vehicles

carrying government troopshad been attacked as they wereheading to Rastan, in Homsprovince.

"Rastan is a strategic townand a stronghold of the FreeSyrian Army," she said. "Manydefectors from the army comesfrom Rastan."

Syrian authorities say more

than 2,500 members of thesecurity forces have been killedsince the uprising began inMarch last year. Oppositionactivists say more than 9,000people have been killed.

Yesterday's violence furtherundermines a UN-backed peaceplan that is supposed to bringan end to Syria's deadly crisis.

A ceasefire that wassupposed to begin on April 12has had only a limited effect,throwing into doubt the rest ofthe plan that calls for talksbetween President Bashar al-Assad's government and thoseseeking to end his rule.

Part of the plan includes thedeployment in flashpoint areasof around 300 UN militaryobservers. By Sunday,189observers were on the ground,and several more arrived onMonday.

In the latest effort to isolateSyria internationally,European Union foreignministers agreed freshsanctions against the countryon Monday, the 15th round sofar to protest against therepression of dissidents.

An EU statement issued at ameeting of ministers said theyadopted "sanctions against theSyrian regime" but gave nodetails.

An EU diplomat confirmed,however, that the ministersagreed to impose an assets freezeand visa ban on two firms andthree people believed to providefunding for the regime.

Syria-linked violence hasspilled across the border intoLebanon, with five people killedsince Saturday during clashes inthe northern port city of Tripoli,according to officials.

Gunbattles erupted onSaturday between residents loyalto Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and those supportive of theSyrian opposition.

Fighting flared in Tripoli againon Monday, leaving two peopledead and nine wounded, a securityofficial told the AFP news agency.

Palestiniansend Israelprison hungerstrike

The Palestinian Ministerfor Prisoner Affairs hassaid a deal has been

reached with Israel to end aweeks-long hunger strike byhundreds of Palestinianprisoners.

Issa Qaraqe said thePalestinian prisoners signedthe deal yesterday afternoon atan Israeli prison in Ashkelon.

He did not have details of thedeal, and Israeli officials had noimmediate comment.

About 2,000 prisoners heldby Israel have been on a hungerstrike since mid-April,demanding better conditions.

A handful of prisoners havebeen refusing food for as longas 77 days, and are said to bein a critical condition.

Group claimsAfghan peaceenvoy killing

A Taliban splinter group hasclaimed responsibility forthe killing of Arsala

Rahmani, a top negotiator forAfghanistan's High PeaceCouncil (HPC), according toPakistani media reports.

The little-known Mahaz-e-Mullah Dadullah, or MullahDadullah Front, said it wasbehind Sunday's shooting in atext message, the Express-Tribune newspaper saidyesterday.

According to a spokesmanwho identified himself as QariHamza, Rahmani had beentargeted because of hisconnections to the governmentin Kabul and its foreign allies.

"The infidel forces hadassigned Arsala [Rahmani] tosell out the mujahideen to non-Muslims, so that the non-Muslims continue theiroccupation of Afghanistan," theman said. "We will target andeliminate all such people."

Mahaz-e-Mullah Dadullah,which operates mainly out ofKandahar, Helmand andUruzgan provinces, is namedafter a senior Talibancommander, Mullah Dadullah,who was killed in Helmandprovince in 2007, and opposesTaliban negotiations with theUS.

The former senator's bodywas laid to rest in Kabul's NaderKhan hilltop at a burialceremony this afternoon.

The burial took place 100metres from the grave of theAfghan King, Mohammed NaderShah.

Rahmani was killed in westernKabul on Sunday when anunknown attacker in a vehicleshot the former Taliban deputyeducation minister while on hisway to work, said MohammadZahir, head of the Kabul policedepartment's criminalinvestigation division.

"Shortly after leaving home hewas hit by a single bullet from apassing car. The bullet passedthrough his left arm and hit hisheart," Mohammad Waris,Rahmani's grandson, told the AFPnews agency. "He died in thehospital."

The former British ambassadorto Afghanistan discusses theprospects for peace and stability.

Rahmani was on his way to ameeting with politicians and otherofficials in a government-runmedia centre in the heavilybarricaded diplomatic centre ofKabul.


Scores of headless bodiesdumped on Mexican highwayMexican authorities

have found thedismembered bodies of

at least 49 people stuffed intobags and dumped on a mainroad leading to Texas near thenorthern city of Monterrey, inwhat appeared to be the latestin a string of drug gang killings.

The bodies were found in theearly hours of Sunday,sparking a large deployment oflocal, state and militaryofficials to the scene, theExcelsior newspaper reportedon its website.

"What's complicating theidentification of all the peoplewas that they were allheadless," said Jorge Domene,the Nuevo Leon stategovernment's spokesman forpublic security, who addedthat many hands and feet werewere also missing.

The bodies were being takento a Monterrey auditorium forDNA tests.

They were found on anisolated stretch of the road,scattered in a pool of blood atthe entrance to the town of SanJuan, on a highway leadingfrom Monterrey to the bordercity of Reynosa. A white stone

Merkel dealt heavy blow in German vote

hanging from a bridge and 14others that had beendecapitated.

Authorities have blamedmuch of the deadly violenceon battles between the Zetas,

: Forensic technicians and police detectives remove the body of journalist Otto Rene Salgado Ortafrom the trunk of a vehicle in Cuernavaca on Sunday.

Chancellor Angela Merkel'sconservatives havesuffered a heavy defeat in

regional elections in Germany'smost populous state.

According to preliminaryresults, the centre-left SocialDemocrats (SPD) won 38.9 percent of the vote in North Rhine-Westphalia, a western Germanstate of more than 13 millionpeople, and looked set to form acoalition with the Greens.

Merkel's Christian Democrats(CDU) saw their support slide tojust 26.3 per cent, down fromnearly 35 per cent in 2010, in astate that includes the cities ofCologne and Duesseldorf and theindustrial Ruhr region.

"This is not a good evening forMerkel," Gero Neugebauer, apolitical scientist at Berlin's FreeUniversity, said.

"The SPD is strengthened bythis election, which will stir thingsup in Berlin."

"People don't want us to makehard cuts in social funding, whatwe want is a 'New Deal' where boththe social welfare state andfighting debt will work."

The victory could emboldenthe German left to step up attacksagainst Merkel over her supportfor European austerity policies 18months before national electionsin which she is expected to fightfor a third term.

The election is the third state-level vote this year and comes aweek after a coalition of Merkel'sconservative ChristianDemocrats and pro-market FreeDemocrats - the parties that makeup the national government - lost

Hannelore Kraft, federal state premier of North-Rhine Westphalia(NRW) and top candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SPD)and Sylvia Loehrmann of the Greens (R) a coalition partner ofthe Social Democrats.

arch welcoming visitors wasspray-painted with black letters:"100% Zeta."

The victims could have beenkilled as long as two days ago atanother location, thentransported to San Juan, saidstate attorney general Adrian dela Garza.

De la Garza said he did notrule out the possibility that thevictims were US-boundmigrants.

Only one couple looking fortheir missing daughter visitedthe morgue in Monterrey whereautopsies were being performedon the mutilated bodies onSunday, a state policeinvestigator said.

The officer said none of the sixfemale bodies - some of whichwere badly decomposed -matched the missing daughter'sdescription.

Suspected drug gang violencehas flared up across the countrythis month, with scores of deathsattributed to massacres betweenthe two largest drug cartels andclashes with security forces.

Eighteen people were founddecapitated and dismemberednear Mexico's second-largest city,Guadalajara, on Wednesday.

Just a few days earlier,there were 23 killings in thecity of Nuevo Laredo, inTamaulipas state adjacent toNuevo Leon on the US border,where nine people were found

a gang set up by ex-commandos,and groups allied to the SinaloaFederation of Mexico's mostwanted drug lord, Joaquin "ElChapo" Guzman.

"This is the most definitive ofall the cartel wars,'' said RaulBenitez Manaut, a securityexpert at Mexico's NationalAutonomous University.

The Zetas are a transientgang without real territory or asecure stream of income, unlikeSinaloa with its lucrativecocaine trade and control ofsmuggling routes and territory,Benitez said.

The government's success inkilling or arresting cartelleaders has fractured some ofthe big gangs into weaker,quarreling bands that in manycases are lining up with eitherthe Zetas or Sinaloa. At least oneof the two cartels is present innearly all of Mexico's 32 states.

Under President FelipeCalderon's nearly six-year assaulton organised crime, the twocartels have become the largestin the country and are battlingover strategic transport routesand territory, including along thenorthern border with the US andin the Gulf coast state of Veracruz.

Drug violence has killed morethan 47,500 people sinceCalderon launched a stepped-upoffensive when he took office inDecember 2006.

Mexico is now in the midst ofpresidential race to replaceCalderon, who by law cannot runfor re-election. Drug violenceseems to be escalating, but noneof the major candidates, AndresManuel Lopez Obrador, EnriquePena Nieto or Josefina VazquezMota, has referred to the bodydumpings directly.

All three have said theywould stop the violence andmake Mexico a more secureplace, but offered few details onhow their plans would differfrom Calderon's.

EU ministers mull Euro 2012 boycott of Ukraine

European Union foreignministers were debatingyesterday whether to boycott

this year's European soccerchampionship matches played inUkraine to protest alleged abuse ofjailed opposition leader YuliaTymoshenko.

"We've been very consistent insending messages to Ukraine about theimportance of justice being done andseen to be done," EU foreign affairs chiefCatherine Ashton said.

When Tymoshenko launched ahunger strike last month after sayingshe was beaten by prison officials,several European leaders vowed toshun Ukraine during Euro 2012 inprotest, but critics have warned thatboycotting the matcheswould mean

mixing sports with politics andcould do more harm than good.

She said Poland, co-host of thetournament, would brief theministers on the situation. Ukraineis not a member of the EU, butPoland is.

Officials said no formal decisionon the move was expected at themeeting on Monday. Instead, the27 ministers were expected to agreeto jointly decide on any futuremoves regarding Ukraine, said asenior EU official who could not benamed understanding rules.

"It would be more of anundertaking that they won't makeany individual decisions (on theboycott) that would give theimpression of lack of coordination,"

he said.British Foreign Secretary

William Hague said he personallyhad no plans to attend 2012.

"It's very important thatthere is a focus on Ukraine," hesaid. "But as far as ministerialattendance is concerned, thatwill be kept under review."

Critics say shunning thematches could lead to boycottsof other nations withquestionable democraticcredentials, including Russiawhen it hosts the Sochi winterOlympics in 2014 and the WorldCup in 2018.

Some ministers also playeddown the political significance of apossible boycott of the tournament.

power in the northern state ofSchleswig-Holstein.

The Free Democrats enjoyed arebound in support in North Rhine-Westphalia, gaining 8.3 per centof the vote to secure a return tothe state assembly.

The Pirate Party, whichcampaigns for internet freedomand shot onto the national stagelast year, continued a strong runat regional level, making it intothe fourth straight stateparliament with 7.8 per cent ofthe vote.

North Rhine-Westphalia, atraditional centre-left stronghold,voted three years ahead ofschedule after its currentminority government, made upof Germany's main nationalopposition parties, narrowly failedto get a budget passed in March.

Elections in the region havea history of influencing nationalpolitics. Seven years ago, ahumiliating loss for then-

Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder'sSocial Democrats in the stateprompted him to call an earlyelection, which he lost to Merkel.


Birthday girl, six, hit by car and killedoutside her home minutes after partyA six-year-old girl was

mown down and killedoutside her home minutes

after her birthday party, it emergedtoday.

Tragic Daisy May Brooks wasplaying with her new gifts outsideher home when she was hit by a caron Saturday evening.

Daisy was rushed to hospital butshe died of multiple injuries a shorttime later.

Earlier that day Daisy,nicknamed 'Pud', had beencelebrating her sixth birthday at herhome in Wolverhampton, WestMidlands, with 20 family and friends.

Her distraught mum Helensobbed as she spoke of her daughter,saying that Daisy had beensurrounded by lots of friends at herparty.

She said: 'She had had a lovelyday. They played pass-the-parcel andwent to the park.'

Ambulance crews were called tothe house after the accident at5.14pm.

Daisy, who attended SpringdaleInfants School, was taken to NewCross Hospital in Wolverhampton butdied hours later.

Helen said: 'We would like tothank everybody for their support.Daisy will never be forgotten.

Tragedy: A picture of Daisy May Brooks aged two. The six-year-old was taken to hospital but died a few hours later

Since the accident on Saturday night, flowers and cuddly toyshave kept building up outside Daisy's family home

Heart breaking: Daisy's friendshave left teddies and littlemessages at the scene of theaccident.

Lizard got your tongue? Hilarious momentreptile fought back when cat attacked

Biting off more than it could chew: The smoky grey cat looksconfused as the lizard latches on to its tongue and refuses to let go

This cat ended up biting offmore than it could chewwhen it decided to go after

a lizard.For when the feline made a

play for the reptile the tinycreature latched on to itstormentor's tongue - andwouldn't let go.

The lizard took the phrase'cat got your tongue' and gaveit a whole new meaning when

it launched its revenge attack.A comical video uploaded to

YouTube shows the irritated catwalking around a back yardtrying to shake off the lizard.

Its tongue stretches as theweight of the creature pulls ittowards the ground - and thestubborn reptile seems contentto dangle precariously from thecat's mouth.

The confused moggy

‘There were lots of her friends at the party. Theyplayed pass-the-parcel and went to the park’Ambulance crews were

called to the house afterthe accident at 5.14pm.

Daisy, who attendedSpringdale Infants School, wastaken to New Cross Hospital inWolverhampton but died hourslater.

Helen said: 'We would like tothank everybody for their

repeatedly tries to shake off thestripey lizard but is unable todo so.

At one point the lizardbegins to disappear into thecat's mouth as it pulls thetongue back in.

The video, which has beenwatched more than 130,000times, was uploaded by user

Marcztr.They said: 'I feel bad for

this l i tt le guy, because youknow it 's not a pleasantexperience.'

One user posted: 'Poor cat Ibet that was not fun', whileanother said: 'Ironic isn't it?Cat got your tongue - morelike lizard got your tongue'.

support. Daisy will never beforgotten.

'All the doctors and nursesthere were brilliant. They triedtheir best for her but sadly theycould not save her.'

Teachers, neighbours andchildren yesterday left dozens offloral tributes to the populargirl.

Daisy's father Simon Davies,37, added: 'The crash happenedjust after the party.

'Daisy was a lovely little girlwho always had a smile on herface. She was funny andcheeky.

'Her nickname was 'Pud'because after she was born webought her a musical Christmas

pudding hat and the name juststuck. We have still got that hat.'

The couple have three otherchildren, Chelsea, 11, Liam,nine, and eight-year-old Hollie.

West Midlands Policeconfirmed the driver of the car,a Honda Civic, had been spokento and investigations werecontinuing.

Just can't shake it: At one point the lizard begins to disappear inthe cat's mouth as it pulls the tongue back in


Chemicals in household items are ‘causing hugeincrease in cancer, obesity and falling fertility’

claimed.In recent decades, there has

been a significant growth in manyhuman diseases and disordersincluding breast and prostatecancer, male infertility anddiabetes.

The substances mimic femalehormones and have already beenlinked to breast cancer, lowquality semen and thryoid diseaseas well as sex changes in fish inpolluted waterways.

Many scientists think that thisgrowth is connected to the ‘risinglevels of exposure’ to mixtures ofsome chemicals in widespread use.

Jacqueline McGlade, EEA

Chemicals found in householdproducts may be causingsignificant increases in

cancers, diabetes, obesity andfalling fertility, the EuropeanEnvironment Agency haswarned.

Among the everyday itemscontaining endocrine disruptingchemicals (EDCs), which affectthe hormone system, are food,cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

The chemicals, which canleach out into food and be absorbedby the body, are also causing anincreased number of neurologicaldevelopment problems in bothhumans and animals, it is

and less due to the increasingdiscrepancy between what the bodyclock tells us and what the boss tellsus.’

To find out the scale of theproblem, Dr Roenneberg’s team iscompiling a vast database onhuman sleeping and wakingbehaviour, which they’lleventually use to produce a worldsleep map.

Now, 10 years into the effort,they already have lots ofinformation - includingparticipants’ height, weight, andsleep patterns.

Their analysis shows that peoplewith more severe social jetlag are

also more likely to be overweight.Dr Roenneberg said, in other

words, it appears that living‘against the clock’ may be a factorcontributing to the epidemic ofobesity.

He said it would help if peoplebegan spending more time outdoorsin open daylight or at least sittingby a window.

As people fail to do so for onereason or another, their body clocksget set later and later, leaving themawake into the night and tired byday.

Dr Roenneberg added: ‘Wakingup with an alarm clock is arelatively new facet of our lives.

‘It simply means that wehaven’t slept enough and this is thereason why we are chronicallytired.

‘Good sleep and enough sleep isnot a waste of time but a guaranteefor better work performance andmore fun with friends and familyduring off-work times.’

The findings were publishedonline in the journal CurrentBiology.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Snoozing at your desk? Piling on the pounds? You may have social jetlag

Killer: Tiredness makes us more inefficient at work and could evenbe dangerous when behind the wheel.

The chemicals mimic female hormones and have already been linked to the rise in obesity.

Warning: Chemicals found in household products may be causingsignificant increases in cancers, diabetes, obesity and falling fertility

Our hectic lifestyles anddemanding jobs have leftmany of us battling ‘social

jetlag’, researchers say.The condition has been blamed

for everything from sleepingproblems to obesity.

It is caused by a mismatchbetween the body’s internal clock –which says we should get up whenit becomes light and go to sleep whenit gets dark – and the realities of ourdaily work and social schedules.

Doctor Till Roenneberg, of theUniversity of Munich in Germany,said: ‘We have identified asyndrome in modern society thathas not been recognised untilrecently.

‘It concerns an increasingdiscrepancy between the dailytiming of the physiological clockand the social clock.

‘As a result of this social jetlag,people are chronically sleep-deprived. They are also more likelyto smoke and drink more alcoholand caffeine.

‘Now, we show that social jetlagalso contributes to obesity; the plotthat social jetlag is really bad for

our health is thickening.’He explained that every human

has a biological clock, but we can’tset the clock according to our whimslike watches.

They are rather regulated bydaylight and darkness to providethe optimal window for sleep andwaking.

Dr Roenneberg said: ‘In modernsociety, we listen to those clocks less

executive director, said: ‘Scientificresearch gathered over the lastfew decades shows us thatendocrine disruption is a realproblem, with serious effects onwildlife, and possibly people.

The EEA has called for a‘precautionary approach’ to thechemicals until their affect is betterunderstood, but stopped short ofrecommending a complete ban.

It did, however, fully acceptthat there is a definite link betweenthe chemicals and some diseasesseen in humans.

The study says: ‘There is a

large body of evidence linkingchemical exposure to thyroid,immune, reproductive andneurological problems in animals,and many of the same or similardiseases and disorders have beenobserved to be rising in humanpopulations.

‘Both animals and humansmay be exposed to these chemicalsin the environment, or via wateror the food chain where thechemicals can build up.’

EEA scientists arrived at theirfindings after combing throughscientific literature commissioned

by the agency over the past 15years.

The study has been publishedin a report titled ‘The impacts ofendocrine disrupters on wildlife,people and their environments’.

It concludes: ‘Tthe effects ofEDCs on humans may be moredifficult to demonstrate, due tothe length, cost andmethodological difficulties withthese types of studies – so wildlifeand animal studies may be seenin some cases as an early warningof the dangers.’

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Clocking off: Pressure of workmeans we are ignoring ournatural rhythms and causing ourhealth damage, say experts.


Jonathan Silas Zwingina andGrace Bent as well former factionalchairman of the party, MedanTeneke, who had for a long timeboycotted PDP activities in thestate; all surfaced and featuredprominently as members of thereception committee.

In separate remarks withjournalists in the state, the triohad described Tukur’schairmanship as God-sent andfrowned at the manner the partyis being run in the state andexpressed optimism that theelder statesman would do awaywith the “impunity” state chapterof the party has come to be knownfor and instill internaldemocracy. Former Vice PresidentAtiku Abubakar in a goodwillmessage on behalf of the northeastsaid the Herculean task ofreforming the PDP andrepositioning the country’sdemocracy has been entrusted onBamanga, and therefore urgedhim to brace up against thechallenges of instilling internaldemocracy into the ruling PDP.

“Healthy democratic practiceis a true reflection of democratic

Tukur’s charity-begins-at-home vision

maturity from politicians; youhave to look inwards with theview to addressing the challengeof entrenching internaldemocracy into our party.”Atiku advised amidst cheers fromparty members in the crowdsupporting his argument.

The former Vice Presidentstressed that the processes leadingto the election of party executivesand subsequent nomination ofmembers are key to embeddinginternal democracy in politicalparties.

While calling on the NationalChairman to ensure his tenureaccords a level playing groundfor members seeking electivepositions, he argued that the onlyway the party could retain thesupport of people is throughprovision of good democraticgovernance, entrenchinginternal democracy and respectfor rule of law.

Considering the obvious signsof grievance in some of the statechapters of the party, Atikutherefore suggested for aconvention of North-East PDPstakeholders where a clear road

map on the ways to rebuild andchart a common course for theparty in the geopolitical zonewould be decisively addressed.

Immediate past Senatorrepresenting Adamawa Central,Prof Jibril Aminu, who had alsogone comatose ever since he wasdenied ticket for a third term saidTukur’s emergence was welldeserved and maintained that itis a good omen for the North-Eastzone.

Prof Aminu corroboratedcomments of the early speakerswith regards to internaldemocracy and urged theNational Chairman to address thenagging intra party wranglingthreatening the existence of theparty in some states. In his speech,Vice President Namadi Sambohad described Tukur as “atechnocrat, true son of Nigeria, agalvanizer and an embodimentof humility” and one who iscommitted not only to thegrowth of PDP but theadvancement of democracy inthe country and urged Tukur toensure that internaldemocracy, party discipline,observance of rule of law holdsway in the PDP.

Speaking earlier, GovernorMurtala Nyako expressedhappiness over the calibre ofpersonalities that gathered tograce the occasion, saying it wasa clear testimony that AlhajiBamanga Tukur is widelyaccepted as the NationalChairman of the PDP. Nyakoobserved that the choice ofTukur was no fluke, adding “itwas well deserved and a welltaken decision.”

Chairman of NorthernGovernors Forum, ChiefServant of Niger stateBabangida Aliyu, whorepresented Rotimi ChibuikeAmaechi (Rivers) Chairman ofNigeria Governors Forumvouched their support for theNational Chairman. Aliyustated that Tukur is an elderstatesman who has theexperience to turn around theruling party for good. Hetherefore called on Tukur toaddress the many illsbedeviling the party as well asensure that aggrievedmembers are listened to andcarried along in the scheme ofthings.

“We expect that where thereare ills, misgivings, injusticeand nagging problems would bespotted out and healed for thebetterment and growth of ourgreat party” just as he observedthat the bane of the party insome states of the federation islack of internal democracy andtherefore advised that the issuebe critically looked into if theparty must forge ahead.

In his remarks, an elatedTukur admitted his new positionis another call to continue to offerselfless service to Nigeria andassured he would do everythingpossible to excel andaccommodate all in the bigfamily umbrella. By and large,the Adamawa state chapter ofthe PDP is counting on theTafidan Adamawa’s leadershipto bridge existing gaps of discordas the his first assignmenttowards repositioning of theparty for national growth.

Founding fathers of theruling People’sDemocratic Party (PDP) in

the country have expressedconfidence that Alhaji BamangaTukur’s emergence as NationalChairman of the party wouldrestore internal democracy.Members of the party from the sixsenatorial zones in the countryreiterated this in separategoodwill messages during a civicreception organized for Tukur bythe party’s leaders in the North-East zone in his home town duringthe weekend.

Saturday’s reception followedthe one organised last Thursdayat the Ribadu square Yola byGovernor Murtala Nyako and thestate chapter of the party for theNational Chairman. The epoch-making occasion was anassemblage of crème de la crèmein the PDP’s fold, as it is easier tosay who was not there thandignitaries in attendance asfriends and business associates ofthe Tukur’s dynasty includingformer Ekiti state governor,Segun Oni, converged at MayoKalaye in Jada local governmentto honour the former Governor ofdefunct Gongola state.

Former President OlusegunObasanjo and immediate pastchairman of the party’s Board ofTrustees (BoT), Senate PresidentDavid Mark, Speaker House ofRepresentative Aminu WaziriTambuwal and former militarypresident Gen. Ibrahim BadamasiBabangida were conspicuouslyabsent; as well as Lamido ofAdamawa, Alhaji Barkindo AliyuMusdafa who was supposed toserve as father of the day.

However notable among thebigwigs who were present includethe Vice President Namadi Sambowho represented PresidentGoodluck Jonathan, former VicePresent Atiku Abubakar,Governors Babangida Aliyu ofNiger state, Isa Yuguda of Bauchistate, Theophilus Orji of Abia state,host Governor

Murtala Nyako, GovernorIdris Wada of Kogi as well somestate deputy governors.

Others include Senator AbdulNingi who represented theNational Assembly, Minister ofDefence Bello Haliru Mohammed,former Chairman of PDP PrinceVincent Ogbulafor, AmbassadorIdris Waziri, PDP National WomenLeader Ambassador KemaChikwe, members of the NationalWorking Committee of the PDP,former BOT Chairman Chief TonyAnenih, and the North-East zonalVice Chairman of the party AlhajiLawan Girgir.

Expectedly, there are highexpectations on the new PDPleader; but for Tukur, charitymust begin at home as the party’schapter in his home state, whichhas for long been fragmented byaggrieved politicians fromdifferent quarters, is in dire needof a healing balm. Typicalinstances are former Senators

The climax of reactions that trailed Alhaji Bamanga Tukur’s emergence as NationalChairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) played out last weekend in hishometown, Mayo Kalaye, in Jada council area in Adamawa state. Blessing Tunohtakes a look at the significance of Tukur’s emergence on the state chapter for the party.

“Healthy democratic practice is a truereflection of democratic maturity frompoliticians; you have to look inwards

with the view to addressing thechallenge of entrenching internal

democracy into our party

PDP Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur Governor Murtala Nyako


The July proposed localgovernment elections inOgun state started on a

danger note yesterday; as youthsfrom Odeda Local Governmentattacked the Senatorial Districtoffice of Senator Gbenga Obadara,accusing him of plot to imposecandidates against the wishes ofmajority.

Obada is a Senator representingOgun Central Senatorial District inthe Senate. The protesters swoopedon the lawmakers office located inIsabo, Abeokuta, in annoyance anddestroyed properties and valuables.

On completion of thedestruction, the aggrieved youthsheaded to the home of the motherof the Senator at Oke-Aregba, in thetown asking the aged woman to callhis son to order on the alleged planto impose candidates on them.

The protesters who aremembers of the ruling ActionCongress of Nigeria{ACN} likeObadara, were seen with variousplacards with inscriptions such as'Zoning is Government',' Odeda saysno to imposition of Chairman',' PlsMr. Governor, Elemide from Odedaward as our Honorable, Obadara,Senator from Itesi ward, the sameconstituency, let Opejiconstituency produce theChairman'

The youths emphasized "On thezoning arrangement put up by our

Ogun LG polls: ACN youthattack Senator’s office

elders we stand, it is the turn of Opejito produce the next Chairman forour Local Government, ACNleaders; the electoral fortune ofOdeda Local Government in yourhands and Odeda-Ilugun hasproduced the member of the StateHouse of Assembly-thechairmanship slot is ours"

However, while reacting to thedevelopment on phone, Obadaratold newsmen that he was not aparty to the jettisoning of the zoningarrangement, admitting that hehimself was a product of the zoning,and there was no way that hewould go against the system.

He denied having any secret

A socio-cultural association,the Pene Da Bwatiyeyesterday urged the

Adamawa State House ofAssembly to institute a high-powered probe into thecircumstances surroundingSunday’s attack by alleged Fulanimercenaries on 12 villages inLamurde Local Government Areaof the state.

Addressing a press conferenceat the NUJ secretariat, Yola,Prince Hebron Fada, President ofPene Da Bwatiye Association, anumbrella body housing all Bataand Bachama kingdoms in

Adamawa state, claimed thatgovernment did not respond toreports of an impending attackmade to it.

“The security committees ofNuman and Lamurde LocalGovernment Areas had metseverally and using laid downchannels, communicated to thegovernment and all indicatorspoint to the fact that this attackwas in the offing” Fada stated.

The group however expresseddismay that even with suchsecurity reports, governmentfailed to deploy troops into thearea, alleging that “No securitysteps were taken and it seemed thatgovernment deliberately turned

deaf ears and blind eyes to whatseemed obvious, in surreptitioussupport of the act seen asretaliation”.

Reacting on the Lamurdemassacre, Governor MurtalaNyako through the Secretary tothe State Government, Mr KobisAris Thimnu described the attackas unfortunate, bizarre anduncalled for, insisting that “noresponsible government will sitand allow its citizens to take up armsagainst themselves no matter theprovocation”.

He explained that governmenthas always provided logistics to allservice Chiefs in the state to ensurethe security of lives and property of

Probe Lamurde killings, group urges Adamawa Assembly

Chairman, Igbemo GeneralAssembly, Abuja Chapter,Mr. Bola Olowosejeje, has

called on members of Ekiti House ofAssembly to deliver true democracydividends to the people of the state.

He made the call on Sunday inAbuja at a reception organised bythe assembly to honour indigenes ofIgbemo recently elected andappointed into various offices inEkiti.

NAN reports that the occasionwas also used to raise fund for thecompletion of some developmentprojects embarked upon bymembers of the assembly.

“The government and the peoplemay have looked at some qualitiesin you before choosing you, pleasework very hard and make sure youdo your best not to disappoint thosewho choose you.”

He added that the people ofIgbemo were particularly looking upto the state legislators for thedevelopment of infrastructure,water and employment generation.

“You should try your best toensure that taps in the town flowsagain. Look into providing boreholein the three quarters of Igbemo toaugment government efforts.’’

The community leaderurged the state legislators to unitethe three quarters of Igbemocommunity, stressing that this wasnecessary to ensure theachievement of the desired goals.

He commended Gov. KayodeFayemi for his developmentalstrides and love for the people andassured him of the peoples’ supportand loyalty to his administration.

Those honoured included MrAyodeji Odu, Chairman Ekiti StateHouse of Assembly Committee onJudiciary, Dr Adewale Agboola,Mr Olushola Oloniniyi, PrinceSamuel Omowumi, Mr OluwasholaAyinna and Mrs Bisi Olowoyo,among others.

Odu, who spoke on behalf of therecipients, expressed appreciation toGod for giving him the opportunityto serve his people in his presentcapacity.

He stressed that as a legislator hewould always initiate and supportviable and reasonable bills andmotions to improve the social well-being of the people of the state.

Odu said that the state assemblyhad already passed into law thesocial security bill to enable theaged receive some allowance at theend of every month.

He further said thatthe assembly had also passed theFemale Gender Law, the Freedomof Information Bill and otherbills that would enhance progressin the society.

“As at today, we have passedabout 30 bills in Ekiti State that willimprove the social and economicwell-being of the people of the state,”Odu said.

In a remark, Deputy Speaker ofEkiti State House ofA s s e m b l y , A d e t u n j iOrishekade, said Odu was a pillar inthe assembly, adding that thecommunity was lucky to have himas a member of the house. (NAN)

From Kayode-Adedeji, Abeokuta

From Blessing Tunoh, Yola

Chairman, Ekiti House ofAssembly Committee onJudiciary, Hon. Ayodeji Odu,

on Sunday called on the FederalGovernment to take more proactivemeasures to tackle insecurity in thecountry.

Odu told the New Agency ofNigeria (NAN) in Abuja thatinsecurity arising from the BokoHaram insurgence could only betackled by the Federal Government.

“The Boko Haram insurgencehas become a menace but thank Godit has not been able to get to the Southbut we do not have to wait until itgets to the South.

“Boko Haram has the colouration

of politics and religion. We believethat something more drastic must bedone to ensure that the members are checked.

“The recent decisions of theNational Assembly in this regard is awelcome development.

“As citizens, we must giveinformation to security agencies bybeing alert to our environment.

“I want to appeal to FederalGovernment to take more proactivemeasures by strengthening theinternal security apparatus to dealdecisively with security issues in thecountry,’’ Odu said.

Odu,who is serving on the ticketof the Action Congress of Nigeria

(ACN), debunked recent newspaperreports that a Yoruba man wascaught as a leader of leader of theBoko Haram sect.

“Though the possibility of aYoruba man leading the sect cannotbe completely ruled out, particularlyin Kano where you have a placecalled Sabon Gari that ispredominantly occupied byYorubas.

“But I do not believe that a Yorubaman will be involved in suchactivities which has no objectives,’’Odu said.

He called on the people of Ekiti tojoin hands with the governorto rebuild the State.

NAN reports that the NigeriaGovernors Forum, an association ofthe 36 elected governors at itsmeeting on May 10 pleaded withNigerians to showgreater understanding over thepresent security situation in thecountry.

The forum said that steps werebeing taken to address the situationas a brainstorming session would beorganised in June with a view toaddressing the country‘s securitychallenges.

The forum saidthat insecurity caused by theactivities of the Boko Haram sect hadbecome a national embarrassment.

Ekiti House member calls on FG to tackle insecurity

meeting with the Governor,Senator Ibikunle Amosun, insupporting any aspirant or on howto jettison zoning arrangements asbeing alleged. Obadara pleaded forunderstanding with the people andpromised to ensure that thegovernor respects the wish of thepeople.

people of the state, adding that “Sincethe January crisis in the area, troopsand members of Operation Tsarohave been stationed there”.

“We have security agenciesstationed in Lamurde since crisiserupted in the area last January andgovernment has not relented in itsefforts to ensure that peace returnsto the area” the SSG stated.

Kobis said as part of efforts tobroker peace between Fulaniherdsmen and farmers in Lamurde,several meetings were held withreligious and traditional leaders,stakeholders, opinion leaders etc inthe area on ways to promotepeaceful co-existence amongst thepeople.

Group urgeslegislators todeliver democracydividends

L-R: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, receiving publicationsfrom the National Coordinator, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), Comrade EmmanuelOnwubiko on a visit to PDP secretariat, at the weekend in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-Owo


Sen. Helen Esuene, (PDP,Akwa Ibom) has urgedmembers of her constituency

to make inputs in the proposedconstitutional amendment by theNational Assembly.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that Esuene,r e p r e s e n t i n g A k w a I b o mSouth, made the call onSunday during a constituencybriefing of members of EketSenatorial District.

The Senator also used theforum to inform representativesfrom the 12 council areas

Senator Esuene briefs constituentson constitutional review

constituting the district of currentdevelopments at the NationalAssembly. She said that thereview of some sections of theconstitution was desirable to makethe Nigerian constitution to be inline with present realities.

She informed the meeting thatthe National Assembly hadidentified 16 areas it requiredmemorandum from the public.

The areas include devolution ofpowers, state creation, recognitionof the six geo-political zones, role oftraditional rulers, localgovernment and fiscal federalism.

Others are expunging of Land UseAct, NYSC Act and Code ofConduct, Immunity Clause,Nigeria Police, rotation of officesamong senatorial districts of aState, among others.

Responding, Dr EffiongEdunam, a PDP chieftain said thatthe proposed review was silent oncorruption as the nation requireda stringent legislation to tacklecorruption.

“The National Assembly hastaken the right steps to amend theconstitution but the proposedamendment is silent on corruption

and the elections.“Corruption is a major problem

that confront us as a nation, wecannot make progress indevelopment without addressingcorruption,” Edunam said.

Chief Bassey Essien, formerspeaker of Akwa Ibom, House ofAssembly also urged the NationalAssembly to make a legislation toprotect oil bearing communities toensure that they got part of thederivation funds.

The meeting raised a five-member committee to draft amemorandum on the 16 areashighlighting the position of thesenatorial district.

Governor GodswillAkpabio of Akwa Ibomhas advocated for equal

opportunity to be given all thefederating units of the country.

He made the call on Sunday inUyo when he hosted the Nigeria LawSchool Class ‘88 at the Le MeridianHotel and Golf Resort.

“Unless equal opportunity isgiven to all the sections of thecountry, it will be difficult forNigeria to rise beyond its presentlevel,’’ the governor said.

He said the act of discriminatingagainst one region would continueto suppress the growth anddevelopment of the country.

Akpabio noted further thatNigeria’s problem stems from lackof justice, adding that instead of thefederating units developing theirregion they have been interested infighting each other.

“It is either the West is pullingdown the North, or the Northpulling down the West, or both ofthem combining to pull down theEast, or all of them combining to pulldown the South and vice-versa.

“There is the tendency that ifyou pull down somebody, you toowill remain down with him,’’ hesaid.

The governor, who is also amember of the group, advisedmembers of the group to use theirprivileged positions to sustain theunity and development of thecountry.

Akpabio wantsequal opportunityfor all geo-political zones

Obasanjo, others pay tribute to Ige

7 members of CPC in Katsina kick against dismissal

Seven members of theCongress for ProgressiveChange (CPC) in Katsian state

have kicked against their dismissalfrom the party.

The members are; Sen. LadoDanmarke, who was CPC’sgovernorship candidate in the lastgeneral elections in the state, GamboMusa, representing Danmusa/Safana/Batsari FederalConstituency and Sen. AbduYandoma, Sen. Ahmed Sani-Store,Mamman Danmusa, Dr Bashir

Kurfi and Tijjani Zango . Danmusa, former State

Chairman, Elder’s Committee of theCPC, who addressed a news conferenceon behalf of the other members inKatsina on Monday described ”the dismissal is a farce.”

Danmusa said , “as far as we areconcerned, the dismissal asannounced by the caretakercommittee is null and void, thereforewe are still members of the CPC.’’

“ CPC constitution says thatpunishment to be imposed may take

the form of expulsion from the partyand not dismissal.

“What the members of the statecaretaker committee did is incomplete disregard to court order.

“On the purported suspension ofthe executive committee of the CPCin Katsina State, most members ofthat committee went to court andfiled their case on March 1, 2012 andthe case is going on.

“But in their attempt to frustratewhatever judgment the court maygive, they instituted a caretaker

committee to investigate the causesof crisis within the CPC in the stateand as a result we filed in a motion onnotice to refrain them fromestablishing a committee.”

Danmusa said, “because thesepeople have no regard to due process,on the eve of delivering the judgmentthey selected some people includingmyself and announced that theyhave dismissed us from the CPC.”

He further said that Danmarkeand the other members werestill bone fide members of the CPC.

Former President OlusegunObasanjo has paid tributeto the late Sir Dele Ige, a

businessman, who died on Saturday,aged 82.

Dele was the younger sibling ofChief Bola Ige, the former Attorney-General of the Federation.

“I receive with shock the death ofSir Dele Ige last Saturday,”Obasanjo said. “He was a good friendand a successful businessman.

“He was a good father who lookedafter his family and those of his eldersiblings,’’ Obasanjo said, adding thathis place in the family and thecommunity would be hard to fill.

Meanwhile, scores of Nigerianshave continued to visit the Bodija

residence of the late industrialist.Some of the visitors, who spoke to

the News agency of Nigeria ( NAN ),described Ige as a philanthropist,public spirited and a good neighbour.

One of the visitors, Chief IsholaSangobowale, who said he met theIge in the course of his businesspursuits, described him as principled,saying this was not like the averageNigerian businessman.

Referring to his manyphilanthropic activities,Sangobowale said Ige was not givento making public his philanthropicdeeds.

Another visitor, Mr AbdlrasaqGbolahan, said Ige would beremembered for his self-effacing

approach to “societal initiatives”.Gbolahan, who said he was close

to the family, noted that thedeceased, as the patriarch of thefamily, wielded the entire Igehousehold as one united entity.

Describing the deceased as ahumanist, he said Ige would bemissed by the Esa-Oke communityin Osun.

A resident of Bodija, where thedeceased lived for decades, Mrs TayoAdebowale, told NAN that althoughIge was not too visible on the socialscene, he contributed his quota tothe development of the largelyresidential area.

He said residents of thecommunity would miss the

deceased for his generosity.Mrs Toyin Akintola, the eldest

daughter of the deceased, told theNews Agency of Nigeria (NAN) thather father was not sick when he died.

He added that he was hale andhearty before he stood up to speak athis birthday party.

“It was a complete shock I can’timagine my father dying in the next10 years because his health was goodenough at 82.

“If I say that he was kind, lovingand humane, it’s anunderstatement. I don’t have thebest word to describe him.

“He did to us the children, all thatwas expected of a God given father. Iwill miss him forever,’’ she said.

Gov. Chibuike Amaechi ofRivers has attributed thecurrent security challenges

in the country to bad leadership.Amaechimade the statement

when he paid a courtesy call onGov. Sule Lamido in Dutse onMonday, saying the problem wasthe people’s resistance to badgovernance.

He said Nigerian leaders hadfailed to provide good education andhealth facilities.

“This insecurity is an attemptby society to resist the government’sinability to address poverty anddecay in education sector, amongother problems, “ Amaechi said.

Amaechi said while the BokoHaram insurgency washappening in the north, kidnapping was rampant in thesouth.

The governor said he was inJigawa to exchange ideas with thegovernment of Jigawa on policiesand programmes.

Responding, Lamido said thatthe visit of Amaechiwould giveNigerians confidence that someparts of the north were safe.

The Rivers governor will onTuesday inaugurate the newSchool of Nursing and Midwiferyin Birnin Kudu as well as Babura-GumelRoad built by the Lamidoadministration.

Rivers Governorattributesinsecurity to badleadership

L-R: House ofRepresentativesLeader, Hon. MulikatAkande, SenatePresident DavidMark, Chairman,Public ComplaintsCommission (PCC),Justice GeorgeUloko (rtd), andDeputy Speaker,Hon. EmekaIhedioha, after theinauguration of PCCby the NationalA s s e m b l y ,yesterday in Abuja.Photo: NAN


Some political parties inAbuja yesterdaya l l e g e d t h a t t h e

Independent National ElectoralCommission (INEC) wasgiving preferential treatmentto selective political parties.

The Deputy NationalChairman of Democratic PeoplesParty (DPP) Mr OlisaemekaAkamukali, said in an interviewwith News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) that INEC officials were notmaking themselves accessible toparty officials on administrativeissues.

Akamukali said, “politicalparties and ElectoralCommission anywhere in theworld are supposed to be partners

in progress, but the reverse is thecase in Nigeria.

“INEC is so unfriendly topolitical parties in Nigeria, thedistance between the INEC andthe political parties is too wide.

“This is unnecessary underthe democratic dispensation,INEC should be friendly with thepolitical parties and desistfrom creating bad impressionabout itself.”

In a related development, theConference of Nigerian PoliticalParties (CNPP) said in most cases,INEC was not carrying thepolitical parties along in some ofits activities while in most cases itgave priority to few politicalparties.

Political parties accuse INECof preferential treatment

Jangexpressessurprise overjournalists’boycott threat

Gov. Jonah Jang of Plateauon Monday reacted tocalls by Plateau

Correspondents Chapel toboycott government activities,and described the developmentas “surprising’’.

The Chapel, in a statementsigned by its Chairman, YemiKosoko, and Secretary, SerikiAdinoyi, had urged its membersto boycott the state governmentactivities, citing the governor’sinability to explain why thePlateau violence had continuedunabated.

The journalists said theywere miffed that the governorhad continued to keep mum,while lives were being wasted onthe Plateau.

They said they were alsoappalled at the governor’sinsensitivity to the plight ofjournalists in the state.

“Just recently, some of ourcolleagues were attacked whilecovering the crises in Riyom,but nobody showed anyconcern,’’ the correspondentsalleged.

They also accused thegovernor of refusing to create anopportunity for interaction withthe media men on “weightymatters”, and called for morelight on a recent claim by thegovernor that he had beenreleasing N1 million monthly tojournalists in Plateau.

But the governor, throughMr James Mannok, the Directorof Press Affairs, rejected themedia men’s claims anddescribed them as rathersurprising.

“Governor Jang hascontinued to maintain a goodrelationship with all journalistsover time.

“Most of the members of thechapel can testify to the fact thatthe governor had stepped in toassist many of them even in verypersonal issues like ill-health,births and deaths.

“He has always been therefor them and fully identifiedwith them especially in the timeof need.

“Jang has also remainedcommitted to supporting theSpecial Task Force (STF) towardpeace in Plateau and it will bewrong for journalists to say thathe was not bothered about theirsecurity.

“In words and deed, thegovernor has demonstrated lotof commitment to a peacefulPlateau for all residents. He hasremained constantly in touchwith Abuja and otherstakeholders toward peace inPlateau,’’ Mannok said.

The media officer advisedjournalists to see themselves asmajor stakeholders in thePlateau peace process, sayingthat they should collectivelystrive to contribute to stabilityin this time of its history.

The Director of Code ofConduct Bureauin Katsina state, Mr. Abu

Simon, said 26 out of the 34Local Government CaretakerCommittee Chairmen in thestate had declared their assets.

Simon, who stated this onMonday in Katsina during asensitisation visit to the stateMinistry of Justice on theactivities of the

bureau, said eight of thechairmen were yet to declaretheir assets.

He said the bureau was stillexpecting the affected chairmento comply in accordance with theprovisions of the constitution.

“Every public officer shallafter taking office declare his orher assets and subsequentlyafter every four years or at theend of his office term,’’ he said.

According to him, publicofficers were expected to declaretheir assets within 30 days ofreceiving the asset declarationforms from the bureau.

He said that the mainobjective of the bureau was toensure high standard ofmorality in the conduct ofgovernment business.

Simon added that thebureau was also mandated to

8 LG chairmen in Katsina yet to declare assets – CCB

Mr Osita Okecheukwu,Chairman CNPP, said, “as apolitical party, we are supposedto be friends of INEC, but thereverse is the case.

“More often than not,officials of the political parties arebeing harassed by uniformedmen in INEC and sometimes,party officials are not allowedto gain entry to INEC office, this isnot too good for democracy.

“There are sometimes one willsend in a request to see the INECofficers, there will be no response.

He advised INEC to remove allthe barriers hindering the partyofficials to have free access to it andits officials.

According to the CNPP

chairman, the electoral process isnot being done in the open, therebyclosing every opportunity for thepolitical parties to be part of theprocess or have an input.

Okechukwu emphasised theneed for political parties to berepresented whenever INEC wasprinting the ballot papers.

However, INEC said thecommission always gave equalopportunities to all political partiesin all its activities.

Mr Mohammed Hammanga,a National Commissioner in INEC,said some of the political partieswere fond of violating the rules.

He said some of the partyofficials were not following theprocedure whenever they hadbusiness with the organisation,adding that there were proceduresfor all visitors to be followed whilein INEC.

Hammanga said thatINEC could not involve thepolitical parties in the printing ofballot papers due to the sensitivenature of the materials.

According to him, INEC caninvite the political parties to verify,proof read and approve the ballotpapers before they are printed.

He said INEC hadbeen friendly with the politicalparties, but recently at a meetingin Calabar, members of thepolitical parties walked outon INEC officials when it was atime to discuss the code of conductfor the parties.

Hammanga said INEC wouldalways bring the political partiestogether to argue out points andarrive at solutions in order tomove the country forward.

The national commissionerurged the political parties tocooperate with INEC at all timesand during this period of securitychallenge in the country.

ensure that the actions andbehaviours of public officersconform with the higheststandards of public morality andaccountability.

The director said civilservants in the state had beenissued with the forms,adding, “workers are expectedto fill the forms within the timelimit or face the wrath of thelaw.”

Assembly, had presented theitems to some of the people inhis constituency.

Igbe said the fight againstpoverty would not be won ifindividuals and organisationsdid not contribute their quotato fighting the menace.

“If people in authority andin certain organisations can dowhat Shuaibu has done today,I am sure we will be talking ofcompletely banishing povertyamong our people in no distantfuture,’’ he said.

In his remarks at theoccasion, Shuaibu who is theState Assembly’s MajorityLeader, said the items were hislittle way of appreciating hispeople.

“It is also to help incontributing to eradicatingpoverty in the area,’’ he said.

Shuaibu said lawmakerscould assist the state and federalgovernments to eradicatepoverty by empowering peoplein their constituencies.

“I do not have to wait for

elections to come before givingback to them. They have beenbehind my success and I cannotsay ‘thank you’ enough for theirsupport.

“This is not about politics butabout the people. We areconcerned about the people,irrespective of politicalparty affiliation,” said.

NAN reports that amongitems given out wererefrigerators, grindingmachines and over 500 crashhelmets.

Edo Speaker urges state federal lawmakers to help fight poverty

L-R: Hon. Hamza Sule Bichi and Hon. Salisu Ibrahim Mohammed, all members of Kano state House ofAssembly, during the opening ceremony of a retreat for members and staff of the state House of Assembly,yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

Speaker of Edo House ofAssembly, Mr Uyi Igbe,has urged federal and

state lawmakers not to relentin efforts at eradicatingpoverty from the rural areas.

The Speaker made the callon Sunday in Jattu, EtsakoWest Local Government Area ofEdo during the presentation ofpoverty eradication items byMr Philip Shuaibu.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that Shuaibu, amember of Edo House of


Chigozie Agbim, Azubuike Egwueke, Gabriel Reuben, Okocha says they are not quite ready for Eagles

Rush Soccer Academy, inconjunction with the KanoState Football Association,

has concluded plans to organisea three-day seminar for coachesand football administrators in thestate.

The Director of the academy,Oladimeji Abdulgafar, dropped thehint in Kano while presentingcertificates to 10 participantswho graduated.

He said that the seminarscheduled for May 31 to June 2in Kano was organised to exposecoaches and footballadministrators to moderncoaching techniques and upgradetheir knowledge.

“‘The aim of the seminar is toget our coaches andadministrators in tune with thenew changes and challenges inthe world of football,” thedirector said.

Aminu Maigari

The board of NationwideLeague, the amateurdivision- has called on the

Nigeria Football Federation to banfrom international competitions allpremier league players from theFlying Eagles and the GoldenEaglets.

The board made the call whenits leadership paid a courtesy visiton the President of the NFF, AlhajiAminu Maigari where the membersof the board registered theirdisgust with incessant use ofoveraged players in cadetchampionships.

According to the board, use ofage cheats to prosecute cadetchampionships was not only anembarrassment to the nation butdetrimental because it negatesthe grassroots talentsdevelopment, which the cadetfiestas are meant for.

Chairman of the nationwideleague, Ahmed Kawo Muazu, whopresented the position of theamateur league board to Maigari,

said the nation has enoughgrassroots talents to feed the age-grade teams noting that the useof age-cheats players had onlybeen encouraged by lazy coaches.

Meanwhile, Maigari hasapplauded the board of theNationwide League for its ‘surprise achievement’ recordedwithin short time in office, notingthat he was impressed with thelevel of performance and assuredthat the football federation wouldthe board the necessary supportto grow the game.

“I am impressed with what Ihave heard and seen about theNationwide League and what you(board members) are doing. It issurprising that within a fewmonths that you came onboard,you are able to record theseachievements, which meansbefore the end of your tenureNationwide league would becomea delight to the nation.”

He said that the NFF wouldassist the board to meet its targetadding the league is strategicbecause being a grassroots it

serves as the spring board forfledgling talents to be discoveredand then exposed to grow.

Maigari, appealed to wellmeaning Nigerians and corporatebodies to lend their support tothe nationwide league adding suchsupport would go along way tohelp fund and stabilise the league.

“I am calling on corporatebodies, individuals, governmentand all football lovers in thecountry and beyond the shore ofNigeria to support the good workthe board of the nationwideleague has started in repositioningour football in the grass rootswhich is the basic for footballdevelopment.”

Okocha thumbs downdomestic league Eagles

NNNL board wants premier leagueplayers ban from cadet tourneysBy Patrick Andrew

African Footballer of the Year Perpetua Nkwocha will lead threeforeign pros for an African Women’s Championship qualifier versusZimbabwe.

MTNFootball.com can exclusively report that Perpetua Nkwocha,Onome Ebi and Rita Chikwelu are the only three foreign-based playerscoach Kadiri Ikhana has invited for the game against Zimbabwe.

The three players will join up with the rest of the squad inZimbabwe.

“We are inviting the three players to join up with the players wehave on ground. Like I have said before, I will only invite players weneed and we are starting with three,” coach Ikhana said.

Nkwocha leads Falcons pros

Nigeria’s remaining candidatein the continental clubscampaigns, Sunshine Stars will

know their opponents in the CAFChampions League group stage today.

Sunshine only last Sundaydefeated Djoliba FC of Bamako,Mali to book the group stageticket along with BerekumChelsea, TP Mazembe, EToile DuSahel, ASO Chlef, Esperance,Zamalek.

The Nigerian representativeslike their counterparts fromGhana Chelsea reached this stageat a first shot and would hope tomake impact but would face anuphill task were they to be drawnagainst the defending championsEsperance, former winners TPMazembe or even Zamalek.

However, Sunshine must bewary of ASO Chlef of Algeria whodefeated Al Hilal of Sudan 4-2 onaggregate after holding the hoststo 1-1 draw in Khaurtom.

Holders Esperance whodismissed Dynamos of Zimbabwe7-0 on aggreagte will be anxiousto avoid stubborn opponents liketheir neighbours Zamalek or EtoileDu Sahel even as they would desireimmediate clash with sensationalBerekum Chelsea who have intheir confines the championships’current highest goal scorer,Emmanuel Clottey. The Ghanaianforward has six goals in his kitty.

CAF ChampionsLeague:Sunshine Starsto knowopponentstoday

Academy,Kano FA toorganisecourses forcoaches

World Cup qualifiers

that the current set of playerswould need at least three years toget into the mood and ofcommanding regular shirts in theEagles.

“I guess it is definitely the wayforward, but I don’t think the home-based players are ready yet, so if Iwere in Keshi’s shoes I would betrying to get them ready in the next3 or 4 years,” he said during a liveweb chat on the GuinnessVIP mobiplatform.

The former captain concedesthat there are a few talentedplayers who can make the squad,but plumps for the more exposedEurope-based players.

“Of course, if some of them areso talented that they are quicklearners then I would include themin my squad, but the truth is thatwe still have so many professionalplayers who are hungry and eagerto play for their country, so it willbe better to use them as they have

Former Super Eagles skipperand member of the NigeriaFootball Federation technical

sub-committee, Austin Okocha, hasthrown a spanner in the works ofHead Coach, Stephen Keshi, whoseconfidence in the local leagueplayers seems to have growntremendously.

Okocha, who admits that thefuture of the Nigeria senior nationalteam rests with players from thedomestic league, however, claimed

that level of exposure.”With Nigeria turning to focus on

the home-grown lads after years ofdisappointment, Okocha agreesthat the future is at home.“Definitely the future lies in thosenew players, but for the momentthey cannot be as consistent aswhere we want to be.”

Okocha also spoke about hisrelationship with former WorldPlayer of the Year Ronaldinho andhow he mentored the former Brazilstar. “I had a great time at PSG andRonaldinho was like my kid brother.I realised he was just so talentedand he just needed someone toguide him. And I’m so glad he turnedout to be one of the best playersin the world.”

Okocha turned out for the likesof Fenerbahce, PSG and BoltonWanderers, but picked out lowlyEintracht Frankfurt as his best club.

“Eintract Frankfurt was my bestteam, as for coach that was(Dragoslav) Stepanovic because hewas the one who brought me froma third division club and gave memy first real opportunity.

“For me, for a coach to be ableto scout a player from a lowerleague and make him a first divisionplayer shows he has some greatqualities. He was definitely the bestI’ve played under.”


Berekum Chelsea striker Emmanuel Clottey emergedtopscorer in the CAF Champions League after scoringhis sixth goal in Sunday’s 2-1 win at CotonSport.

Clottey opened his continental account with a braceagainst Liberian side LISCR in the preliminary roundqualifier.

He scored a hat-trick at the Golden City Park as theythrashed Raja Casablanca in the penultimate qualifier.

“We are excited and me for instance, it’s my first shotat the Champions League. I am happy with theperformance. The quality of players we have gives mehope that we can go to the finals and win the Cup,” the2007 Ghana Premier League goal king said

The Ghanaian side are through to the money zone tothe continent’s flagship event which begins in July.Berekum Chelsea will find out their Group opponents forthe competition after today’s draw.

Alou Diallo, the head coach of Djoliba AC of Mali hasdescribed the team’s exit from the CAF ChampionsLeague on Sunday after losing 0-1 as “painful and

unfortunate.”Diallo, whose team were defeated by Sunshine Stars at

the Dipo Dina International Stadium, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun,thereby foiling to reach the money spinning group stageof the CAF Champions League, regretted the 1-1 drawthat they played at home a fortnight earlier.

The Stars scored the vital goal in the 38 minute intothe game, a goal the Malien coach said distabilised histeam’s plans. Sunshine’s goal was scored by Azuka Izu.The Super Eagles played had equally scored in the firstleg in Bamako. The result meant the Nigerian side movedto the next round on a 2-1 aggregate.

The Djoliba coach said that the goal by Izu disorganisedtheir original strategy to be executed for the match.

Diallo, however, said that his team would try to maintaintheir lead in the league in Mali to return to play in theCAF Champions League in 2013.

“We are out of this year’s CAF Champions League but Iam happy that we are on the top of the league in Maliand this is an opportunity for us to get back. We aregoing back home to consolidate our position but all thesame I give credit to Sunshine players,” Diallo said.

The Malian coach expressed satisfaction with thehospitality accorded his team by their Nigerian hostsduring their stay in the country.

In his reaction to their victory, Gbenga Ogunbote, theHead Coach, Sunshine Stars described the game as a toughmatch, stressing that only the determination of his playersenabled the team secure the victory.

He explained that the players’ awareness that anotherdraw with Djoliba would be dangerous for theirqualification motivated them to give their best.

“I must confess to you the match was a tough one butthe most important thing is that we won and we havemoved to the next stage. Although our target was toscore two goals, we could not, but we thank God becausethe lone goal was good enough to take us through.”

The Coach explained that the team would be underserious pressure, being the only surviving Nigerian teamin the CAF Champions League.

“Now that Sunshine is the only surviving team in theCAF Champions League, there are no two ways about it,there will be a lot of pressure on the team. But we willnot bow to the pressure. We will do our best to ensurewe manage the pressure as it comes”.

Super Eagles chief coach, Stephen Keshi, has calledon the Kogi government to establish a professionalfootball club which can play in the Nigerian Premier League.

Keshi, who spoke on Sunday inspecting of facilities atthe newly-constructed Lokoja Confluence Stadium, saidsuch a club would help launch the state into theinternational arena.

“The state should be able to establish or fully supportone of the clubs in the state to the Premier League level,”he said.

The Super Eagles chief coach decried the level of footballclubs in the state, adding that so long as they are all stillplaying at the amateur and pro-league stages, the statewould remain in the back waters of Nigerian football.

He commended the foresight of the state governmentin constructing the stadium which has a 25,000-capacityand called on the government and sports-loving individualsto ensure its proper maintenance.

Keshi pointed out that bad maintenance culture was

Leonel Messi Cristaino Ronaldo

Robin Van Persie

The management of theRayfield Golf Club in Jos,Plateau state has

selected Samuel Mancham,Zingat Wadak and NendangWadak to represent thecountry in Scotland.

Chairman of the caretakercommittee of the club, Mr.D.D Auta, a retiredcommissioner of Police (CP),said the trio whoparticipated in the kids GolfInternational competition at

IBB Golf club Abuja wereselected because of theirsuccesses during the fiesta.

According to him,arrangement is on for thetrio to proceed to Scotlandto participate in acompetition slated for Junethis year.

He also disclosed thatduring their tenure ascaretaker committee therehave successfully hostedtwo tournaments sponsoredby Jos ElectricityDistribution (JET) in honour

the bane of sports facilities in the country and urged thestate to curtail the trend by ensuring that the stadiumwas properly maintained.

“Resources that should have been used to developsports are over the years wasted through the repair offacilities that were allowed to fall into dilapidation due tobad maintenance culture,” he said. The coach said sportsdevelopment would assume a new dimension in the statewith the stadium in place.

“I will discuss with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF)and the National Sports Commission (NSC) on ways to keepthis stadium busy,” he said adding that the natural grasswould have been better than the synthetic grass whichhad been laid on the pitch.

The coach, who was led on the inspection tour by theSpeaker of the state House of Assembly, Alhaji AbdullahiBello, inspected the dressing rooms of the stadium’s mainbowl, the stadium’s indoor hall’s facilities and the standbygenerator serving the stadium.

of their Chief executiveOfficer Mrs Vera NgoziOsunhor and MTN.

Further, Auta commendedthe chairman and membersof the board of trustees forthe opportunity given tothem to serve the club andthanks members for theircorporation which enablethem to achieve these result.

Meanwhile, the chairmanboard of trustee the RayfieldGolf Club, Air Marshall JonahWuyep, has commendedmembers for the peaceful

conduct of the election ofnew executive members ofthe club at the weekend.

He advice the newleadership of the club towork as a team to move theclub to greater height.

In his acceptance speechon behalf of the newlyelected executivemembers, the Captain of theclub Col Flix Ghan thankedthe members for theconfidence repose on themsaying they will notdisappoint them.

Lionel Messi has won theEuropean Golden Shoeaward as the

continent’s top scorer.The Argentine superstar

scored an incredible 50league goals over thecampaign, and finished theseason four goals clear ofnearest rival CristianoRonaldo in La Liga.

Messi failed to find thenet on Saturday, asBarcelona drew 2-2 withReal Betis in Pep Guardiola’sfinal league game in chargeof the Catalans, but hecould not be caught byRonaldo, who netted justone as Real Madrid beatMalaga 4-1 at the SantiagoBernabeu.

Robin van Persie ended

the term on 30 goals, butfailed to find the net asArsenal beat West Brom 3-2at the Hawthorns toconfirm the Gunners placein the Champions Leaguenext season.

The Bundesliga came toa close last weekend,where Klaas-Jan Huntelaarand Mario Gomez finishedon 29 and 26 goalsrespectively.

In fifth place, ZlatanIbrahimovic became the firstperson to win thecapocannoniere (Serie A’stop scorer award) with twodifferent clubs as he endedhis campaign with 28 goalsfor Milan, despite notscoring in the club’s 2-1 winat home to Novara.

Wayne Rooney came inclosely behind with 27goals, as he bagged thewinner in ManchesterUnited’s 1-0 win atSunderland.

Four players made up therest of the places, all joinedon 48 points for the season.Burak Yilmaz failed to findthe net in Trabznspor’s 1-1draw with Besiktas on Fridayas he ended the campaignwith 32 goals.

Bas Dost’s seasonwrapped up last weekendas he helped Heerenveento fifth in the Eredivisie with32 strikes.

Radamel Falcao ended hisseason on a high. He scoreda late winner for AtleticoMadrid as the team beat

Villarreal to condemn theYellow Submarine torelegation. He is joined at24 goals by Diego Milito,who rounded off his superb2012 with a penalty for Interas the club went down 3-1to Lazio at the StadioOlimpico on Sunday.

3 to represent Rayfield Golf Club in Scotland

Keshi advises Kogi to establish premier league club

Djoliba’s coachrues loss toSunshine Stars

Clottey leads ChampionsLeague scorer chart

From Nankpah Bwakan, Jos

Messi beats Ronaldo, VanPersie to win EuropeanGolden Shoe award


Babatunde Fasola, Lagos State Governor Patrick Ekeji, DG, NSC

The 34th Central Bank ofNigeria (CBN) Senior TennisTournament ended on

Sunday in Lagos with AbdulmumuniBabalola and Fatima Abinuemerging as winners of the singlesevents.

Number three seed Babaloladefeated Shehu Lawal, seededfour, to win in two straight setsof6-3 6-4 to emerge champion in themen’s singles.

In the women’s singles finalmatch, Abinu who was seededone beat 14-year-old tennisprodigy, Sarah Adegoke, 6-4 6-3 inan exciting game that brought thebest both tennis players.

An elated Babalola said after thegame that he was happy to winand hoped to keep up with hiswinning streak.

“I am a proud man today, andtruly I am really short of words toexpress myself. I practised hardto have this win, although I hadan opponent that knows my gameand gave me a tough time.

“We have met in different finalsin this competition and he haswon a couple of times. I know hisgame well, because we play asimilar style of game. We like to

hit the ball hard and play close tothe net. At a point I almost gaveup but something in me just keptpushing and I didn’t give in andrallied to win,” he said.

Reacting to his loss, Lawal saidhe was tensed up during thematch, especially after hisopponent won the first set.

“I have played against myopponent on a number of

occasions and I have beaten himin some games. I really know hisgame plan. But I failed to shut himup on time. I was not relaxedwhen I lost the first set and thisput me under more pressure towin the second set,” he said.

On her part, women’s singlestitle winner Abinu told NAN thatshe was nervous initially in playingthe highly-rated Adegoke who had

defeated several big names toarrive at the final.

“My heart skipped as I playedmy game, because I was playingagainst a junior player who wasas determined to win.

“The first 10 minutes in the firstset gave me the jitters but I hadto fight to win. I am happy I wonthe game finally,” she said.

In the men’s doubles, the pair

of Adamu Sanni and Henry Atseyeemerged winners after defeatingthe pair of Clifford Enoseregbe andNonso Madeke.

The pair of Blessing Samuel andChristy Agugbom beat the pair ofFatima Abinu and Omotola Ibrahimto win the women’s doubles title.In the mixed doubles, Fatima Abinuand Shehu Lawal beatAbdulmumuni and ChristyAgugbom.

The winners of the male andfemale singles titles went homewith N600,000 each, while therunners-up got N400,000 each.Also, winners of the doubles eventreceived N200,000, while therunners-up got N150,000.

The winners of the mixeddoubles received N300,000, just asthe runners-up took homeN150,000.

Ikana Mbora, Secretary of theNigeria Tennis Federation (NTF),organisers of the competition,thanked the National SportsCommission (NSC) and the CBN fortheir support for thechampionships.

She noted that CBN was a majorcontributor to the developmentof tennis in the country.

Roger Federer admits he has one eye on eclipsing Pete Sampras’ all-time record for most spenttime as world No. 1 after leapfrogging Rafael Nadal in the world rankings, released yesterday.Federer’s victory at the Madrid Open saw him move back to No. 2 in the world rankings as he

came from a set down to beat Tomas Berdych 3-6 7-5 7-5 on the controversial blue clay.The last time Federer won in Madrid he went on to win the French Open - victory at Roland

Garros would see him return to No. 1 - equalling Sampras’ record of 286 weeks at the top of theworld rankings.

“Back then I was just trying to stay world No. 1 and I never really looked at Pete’s record thatmuch,” Federer said. “I guess I could have chased it a few years ago, just really trying to beat thatrecord. It’s no secret for any player out there that you’d rather be No. 1 than No. 2. “But I look atthe long term, maybe if I wasn’t good enough to break that record, then maybe I never will be.”

Novak Djokovic is aiming to hold all four major titles by winning the French Open, but while theSerb tips six-time champion Rafael Nadal as the man to beat at Roland Garros, Federer is a man inform - having claimed a fourth title of 2012 on the blue clay in Madrid.

“I don’t need to beat every record Pete set, he’s my idol after all and I’m just happy I’m thatclose already,” he said. “But it’s exciting times ahead for me. Winning so many tournaments andplaying so well, obviously I do believe I can win the grand slams.

“But I know the difficulty of the French Open and the focus will be a lot on Novak because he’sgoing for four in a row and on Rafa because he’s the defending champion. It’s going to be anexciting tournament.”

Babalola, Fatima win CBN tennis tourney’s singles

Federer hopes to eclipse Sampras’record, eyes world No. 1

Coach Adeka Daudu of DodanWarriors Basketball Club ofLagos, has expressed

delight over his team’s unbeatenrun in the ongoing 2011/12 DStvMen’s Basketball League in Lagos.

Daudu disclosed this to theNews Agency of Nigeria (NAN)on Sunday after his clubdefeated Lagos IslandersBasketball Club of Lagos 76-55in week 11 match of thecompetition.

The Warriors, who were thirdin the Atlantic Conference last

season, are now leading theother seven clubs in the DStvleague with 22 points.

“My team will no doubtdethrone the reigningchampion, Royal Hoopers ofPort-Harcourt at the end of theseason.

“The team’s performance sofar is the end result of hardwork and determination. I givekudos to my players andsponsors, IGI, which have madeit possible for the team to bewhere they are today.’’

So far in the league, a totalof 44 matches had already beenplayed with 12 matches to go.The ongoing season will end inthree weeks.

The four top teams for theFinal Eight Play offs would bedecided at the end of the 14-week league format of thecompetition.

The fifth, sixth and theseventh placed teams wouldremain in the league while theeighth placed team would berelegated to Division one.

Basketball League:Dodan Warriorsperformance delights Coach Daudu

Sports Festival:MOC/LOC assignvenues for eventsThe Main and Local Organising Committees of the 18th National Sports Festival

(NSF), tagged: “Eko 2012,” on Monday named 11 venues for the hosting ofthe 25 events of the fiesta, which is billed to hold from November 27 through

December 9. The Secretary General of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) ofthe festival, Dr Kweku Tandoh, in a statement said that the two committeesnamed the venues after an “exhaustive deliberation”.

Tandoh said that Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere would host athletics,gymnastics, squash, swimming, taekwondo, traditional sports, and volleyball.

He said that National Stadium, Surulere would host chess and table tenniswhile Mobolaji Johnson Sports Centre, Yaba, would host basketball and badminton.

Other venues, he said, were Agege Stadium, Abalti Barracks, National Instituteof Sports, Surulere, Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, University of Lagos, Tafawa BalewaSquare, Yaba College of Technology and Campos Square.

The secretary added that the committees also concluded plans for the tourof the festival torch to the 36 states of the federation and Abuja.

Roger Federer


The hottest women in 200m, Allyson Felix hopes she could make a double dip at the LondonGames, but the three-time 200m world champion just isn’t sure which one. Felix produceda stunning upset in the women’s 100m at the Diamond League meeting in Doha on Friday,

clocking 10.92sec to beat home Jamaican rivals Veronica Campbell-Brown and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.

The American then hopped on a plane for Dallas, arriving in time for the US Olympic Committee’smedia summit, a three-day event where more than 100 Olympic contenders and hopefuls metthe press to discuss their London ambitions.

Felix, who attempted a 200m-400m double at the World Championships in Daegu, SouthKorea, last season, said she didn’t yet know if she’d try for two individual events in London.

If she does, however, it could be in the 100m and 200m.“It’s definitely one of my possibles,” she said of a potential 100-200 bid. Since my

last race people actually believe me,” she added.Whatever she and coach Bobby Kersee decide, she said she

doesn’t want to do anything to jeopardise her 200m bid.“I like to call the 200 my baby,” Felix said. “It’s my

favourite event. I’ve had almost four years to thinkabout being the silver medallist,” Felix added withan unhappy stress on the “silver”.

In Beijing four years ago, Campbell-Brownclocked a personal best to finish ahead of Felix – whoalso earned silver behind the Jamaican at Athensfour years earlier.

“That (the 200m) is my main focus. But I amcomfortable with running another event.”

In Daegu, Felix settled for silver in the 400m and thenbronze in the 200m. As in plotting her Daegu campaign, Felix saidthe difficulty is that the 200m would follow either the 400m or 100m,perhaps proving too tiring to leave her at her best for her pet event.

But she said her experience in South Korea had taught her a lot about how to approach adouble.

“Getting to go through rounds was a very valuable experience for me,” she said. “I do feelconfident I could run two events.”

Before that can happen, Felix must get through the demanding US athletics trials, which willbe held in Eugene, Oregon, in June.

She said her performance in Doha was a signal that her season is shaping up well.“I was definitely excited to start my season off that way,” she said. “I’m going in the right

direction. Of course it’s going to be a long season ... I feel like things are on schedule now.”

Double Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt will race in the Zurich leg of the Diamond Leagueon May 30, organisers announced on Monday. Bolt, also the world record holder over the100 and 200m, kicked off his season on home soil last week, winning

the Jamaica International Invitational in a world-leading 9.82seconds.

He is scheduled to run the 100m in Ostrava, CzechRepublic, on May 25, and will also race the 100m at theDiamond League meetings in Rome on May 31 and Osloon June 7.

His final race before the July 27-August 12London Olympic Games will be over 200m at theMonaco Diamond League meeting on July 20.

“Zurich is often called the one-day Olympics andI expect this year to be a very special meeting 18days after the London Games,” said Bolt.

It will be the Jamaican’s fifth appearance at Zurich,having placed second in the 200m in 2006 and 2007 beforegoing on to win the 100m in 2008 and 2009, the latter twovictories having come on the heels of winning Olympic and world goldrespectively.

“Usain is the most popular track and field star of the millennium. We are delighted to havehim back in Zurich,” said meeting director Patrick Magyar.

“2012 will be a very special edition of our meeting. Zurich will be held 18 days after theOlympic Games - an ideal date in the outdoor competition calendar. This will help us presenthigh-level fields in all our events.”

Golden Boy Promotions want Amir Khan’s lossto Lamont Peterson to be declared a no-contest result. This will enable the British

boxer to reclaim the WBA and IBF lightweight titles.The promoters have asked commissioners inWashington to overturn the result of the boutbetween Khan and Peterson last December.

If the District of Columbia Boxing Commissiondoes so, Khan will get his belts back.

The move comes after a rematch, scheduled forMay 19, was called off because the American hadfailed a drug test last March. Khan has calledPeterson “a cheat” and demanded his titles bereturned.

A dismissal of Peterson’s split-decision victory isby no means certain. Peterson had not testedpositive for any banned substance before the fight.

He did so only under Olympic-style random testing that he requested ahead ofthe rematch, three months after the original fight.

But upholding the validity of the victory would not necessarily keep the titlesfrom being vacated or returned to Khan in the wake of the positive doping test.

The controversy after the bout resulted from referee Joe Cooper deductingtwo points from Khan for excessive pushing. Without those deductions, Khanwould have kept his titles.

A statement from Peterson’s camp noted he had not failed a drug test “beyondthis isolated and explainable occurrence. We still stand behind the fact that hedid nothing wrong and he was more than ready to go through with the fight.”

Khan, however, said his family and camp worried for his safety should he climbinto the ring with Peterson.

Khan is expected to fight again in late June or early July, but specifics couldbe delayed until the status of the titles is determined.

Bolt to race in Zurich

patrol van were available at the centre, toattend to the injured athletes, and to alsoprevent criminal acts. Niran Adeniji, the Vice-Chairman, of the technical committee,expressed satisfaction with the the largeturnout of athletes at the event.

Adeniji described the event as a good platformfor athletes to show their talents, adding thatthe state would have a good opportunity toselect the best athletes for the sports festival.He said the athletes were certified medically fitfor the Games.

“This is a very good opportunity for thefestival bound athletes, and the budding onesto show their stuffs, anyone who defeats theother will be selected for the festival,

“The state will not win at all cost or throughcrooked way as Gov. Babatunde Fashola havesaid, but they will contest fairly to emergewinners at the festival. “From this competitionwe will also discover future potentials, who willrepresent the state at other competitions inthe future,” Adeniran said.

He said the technical department was on topof coordination and logistics of the Games, toguard against logjam of events, while theathletes’ welfare had also be taken care of.

No fewer than 1000 athletes yesterdaybegan hostilities for honours in 25sports at the Lagos State Sports

Festival tagged “Ibile Games”, at variousvenues in the state.

The 12-day event, which will end on May26, would be used to select Lagos Stateathletes, ahead of the National SportsFestival (NSF).

The Games would hold at the TeslimBalogun Stadium, Surulere, Mobolaji JohnsonSports Centre, Yaba, University of Lagos(UNILAG), Akoka.

Other centres are theYaba College ofTechnology (YABATECH), Agege Stadium, andTafawa Balewa Square.

The Mobolaji Sports Centre, which hostsmost of the sporting events, was agog asathletes, who represented schools, LocalGovernment and Local Development Areaswere contesting in their various sports.

Table tennis, handball, basketball, squash,deaf table tennis, tug- of -war, wrestling,shooting and traditional sports like kokowa,dambe, Langa , ayo and abula, holds at thecentre. The Lagos State Ambulance Service(LASAMBUS) and the Nigeria Police Force

Usain Bolt

Ibile Games: 1000 athletes vie for honours

Allyson dreams two Olympic gold medals

Allyson Felix

WBA, IBF titles:Moves to reinstateKhan in top gear

Amir Khan


Alex McLeish is fired as Aston Villa manager after 11 months in chargefollowing the club’s 16th-place Premier League finish. Yorkshire skipper Andrew Gale gives his back to fellow batsman Jonny

Bairstow after his call-up to the England Test side.

Ospreys fly-half Dan Biggar earns a Wales squad recall ahead of the Junetour to Australia and clash against the Barbarians. Roger Federer returns to number two in the world with victory over Tomas

Berdych in the Madrid Open final.

United States Ryder Cup player Matt Kuchar wins the Players Championshipin Florida, with Scotland's Martin Laird joint second.

Gary Neville has joined Roy Hodgson's England set-up for the 2012 EuropeanChampionship in a coaching role and has signed a four-year contract.

PIC

TOR

IAL

Britain's Savannah Marshall upsets highly-rated US boxer Claressa Shields atthe World Championships in China.


TransferThe season is over. Clubs are counting their blessingas well as losses and would like to make amendsand even beef up their squads where noticeablelapses exist. And the transfer market is agog barely24 hours after major European leagues droppedthe curtain.And so to keep abreast with latest rumours, webegin daily doses of movements within the marketboth for players and coaches like.

Liverpool are reportedlyconsidering making amove for out of favour

Man United striker DimitarBerbatov. Kenny Dalglish islooking to beef up his Anfieldattacking options but still hasfaith in Andy Carroll to deliverthe goods in the long termand is therefore looking foran experienced back-upoptions with a proven

that the former Tottenhamman is still in a rich vein ofform, notching up nine goalsin eleven starts in allcompetitions.

Berbatov has been linkedwith a number of clubs onthe continent, most notablyLazio and his former sideBayer Leverkusen, but havingspent the past six years inEngland he is apparently

Olympiacos keeper Balazs Megyeri could be broughtin to provide competition for Tim Howard at GoodisonEverton boss David Moyes is checking on Hungarian

keeper Balazs Megyeri - as he looks for new competitionfor Tim Howard.

Megyeri plays for Greek side Olympiacos and is an under-21 cap for his country, but he wants to come to thePremier League and would cost around £800,000. Moyes’sspies have been tracking Megyeri recently after beingtipped off about his availability and they could pounce ifthere is a summer vacancy. Megyeri, 22, is entering thelast year of his contract but is keen to move this summer.He has made the Greek side’s first team but fears they willsign a top keeper in the next window.

Wigan Athletics maylose three players inthe coming summer

no thanks to interests fromseveral English Premiershipclubs.

The Latics are resignedto losing the Colombianhitman Hugo Rodallegaalong with keeper ChrisKirkland, midfielderMohamed Diame anddefender Steve Gohouri.

They are out of contractnext month and bossRoberto Martinez is not too

Chelsea in race with Liverpool tosign £16m-rated Markovic

Chelsea are looking to beat Liverpool to PartizanBelgrade’s 18-year-old attacking midfielder LazarMarkovic. Former Chelsea boss Avram Grant, currently

coaching Partizan, is understood to have recommendedMarkovic, who earned his first cap for Serbia in February.

Liverpool and Tottenham are also interested but Partizanwant around £16million and would also like to have himback on loan. The Reds are in hunt for an aggressivemidfielder that will beef up their engineroom especiallyfollowing the poor showing of Charlie Adams and JordanHenderson. Published: 10th May 2012.

Following Lille’sindication that theFrance right-back

would be allowed to leavein the summer transferwindow, both Man Unitedand Newcastle areconsidering bidding for theplayer.

The 26-year-old hasenjoyed a fine campaign forLille and is hoping to benamed in France’s Euro 2012squad.

He is keen to move on inthe summer and reports inFrance suggest his club willsell if a £6.5million bid isreceived.

Scouts from a number ofmajor teams have watchedDebuchy this season, andboth Bayern Munich andValencia are known to beinterested.

Manchester United bossSir Alex Ferguson travelledto France to see him inaction when Lille faced Lyonin March and is nowbelieved to be giving seriousthought to making an offer.

Right-back has been aproblem position for theRed Devils this term andFerguson has been forcedto deploy centraldefenders Phil Jones andChris Smalling there.

Newcastle are in themarket for a right-sided full-back as Danny Simpson is setto be sold after rejecting acontract offer.

The Magpies’ former Lillemidfielder Yohan Cabayerecently told the Journal hehad discussed life atNewcastle with Debuchyand that the defenderwould ‘love’ to join him atSt James’ Park.

Man United, Newcastle mullingbids for Debuchy

Premier League record andsees a move for the Bulgarianinternational as a viableoption.

The 31 year old Man Unitedforward has made just fivePremier League starts thisseason, despite last termfinishing as the top joint topscorer in the top tier.

Despite the lack of playingtime there is no doubting

hoping to be thrown aPremier League lifeline butdoes not wish to continue towarm the bench at ManUnited, a fact echoed by SirAlex Ferguson who hasadmitted that he may welllose the talented forward.

Dalglish has seen hisLiverpool side struggle forgoals this term, managingjust 47 goals in 37 PremierLeague games to date, thesame total as relegatedBlackburn Rovers and nowthe Scot is looking atpossible additions to helpadd strength in depth upfront.

A move for Dimitar Berbatovwould also prove inexpensivewith the forward having justover a year left on his currentcontract, which wasextended merely so that ManUnited wouldn’t lose a playerwho cost the club £30.75mfor nothing.

An offer in the region of£3-5m would probably suffice.

Liverpool may turn to United’s Berbatov for lifeline

Everton line up £800,000move for Hungary keeper

Arsenal are ready toenter the race to signBorussia Dortmund

attacking midfielder ShinjiKagawa as Arsene Wengerlooks to freshen up hisEmirates Stadium squad thissummer. The Japaneseinternational has stated hisintention to leave theBundesliga club this summerand has been stronglylinked with a number ofprospective suitors, mostnotably Manchester United.

Wenger sent scouts tomonitor the 23 year old lastterm and with AndreiArshavin and Abou Diaby saidto be exit bound and YossiBenayoun unlikely to beoffered a permanent role atthe North London clubthere may well be a need

to bring in a goal-scoringattacking midfielder whenthe transfer window re-opens.

Kagawa has enjoyed aremarkable spell inGermany, winning back toback domestic titles in hisfirst two seasons at BorussiaDortmund. Jurgen Klopphas used the Kobe borntalent in an advancedcentral midfield role, sittingbehind the club’s forwardsand in this role he hasmanaged 28 goals and 12assists in 70 matches.

The Borussia Dortmundman is not likely to cost agreat deal as he has just ayear to run on his currentcontract and hasproclaimed his intention toleave this summer.

Wenger is said to bewilling to make a substantialcash offer and is also willingto consider the use of anumber of squad players inpart exchange with the likesof the aforementionedArshavin, Nicklas Bendtnerand Marouane Chamakh aspossible inclusions in anydeal to bring Kagawa to theEmirates Stadium.

Arsenal, Borussia Dortmundin join race for Nippon ace

Hugo Rodallega is leaving Wigan this summersad to see them go.

All four have been unableto command a first-teamplace this season but it isRodallega’s fall from gracethat is the most surprising.

Last season, the 26-year-old scored the goal that keptWigan up on the final day atStoke but has just two goals

in 21 games since then.He signed for a club-

record £4.5million inJanuary 2009 from Necaxaand his 24 top-flight goals isa Wigan record.

Martinez said: “I don’tknow if he has another clublined up but he will go withour blessing.”

Hulk sets to exit Porto

Porto striker Hulk will definitely leave the club thissummer, according to the his agent. Hulk hasbeen strongly linked with Chelsea in recent

years, although Paris St-Germain have also beenreported as strong suitors for the powerful forward -who has helped propel Porto to another Portugueseleague title in his fourth season at the club.

Hulk’s agent Teodoro Fonseca believes the timing isnow perfect - for the player’s career, and the club’sfinances - for the 25-year-old to be sold to one of thebiggest clubs in Europe.

“Porto have valued Hulk at •100 million but I believethis will not be a problem. For any club, Hulk providesgoals, pleasure and titles and those are priceless.”

Hulk has scored 16 goals in 22 league games for Portothis season and recently expressed his hope that hewill get the chance to move in the summer, although heremains happy at Estadio do Dragao.

Chelsea have already made a start on their summertransfer activity, sealing a deal for Werder Bremenattacker Marko Marin.

Transfer target, Elm,warns Liverpool

transfer window.The Sweden international

has been strongly linkedwith a £7million move toAnfield, as the Reds look torevamp a midfield that hasstruggled during StevenGerrard’s injury absencesthis term.

Liverpool were reportedto be keen to conclude thedeal before the start ofEuro 2012, but the 24-year-old will not be rushed intomaking a decision about hisfuture.

The free-kick specialisttold Voetbal International:‘I say to all the clubs, I willwait until after theEuropean Championships.

‘I hope to take a stepforward in my career, but itis far from certain I will leavethis summer. I feel good atAZ.’

Elm has just 12 monthsremaining on his contractand there would be noshortage of interest if hebecame available on a freetransfer in 2013, as scoutsfrom Arsenal, Newcastle andBayern Munich have allwatched him in action thisseason.

Rasmus Elm has warnedLiverpool he is far fromcertain to leave AZ

Alkmaar in the summer

Lazar-MarkovicShinjiKagawa

HugoRodelega

Goalkeeper BalazsMegyeri Erasmus Elm

SPORTS LALALALALATESTTESTTESTTESTTEST

ADVERT:ADVERT:ADVERT:ADVERT:ADVERT: 0803 311 74580803 311 74580803 311 74580803 311 74580803 311 7458BUSINESS:BUSINESS:BUSINESS:BUSINESS:BUSINESS: 0805 689 17650805 689 17650805 689 17650805 689 17650805 689 1765NEWS:NEWS:NEWS:NEWS:NEWS: 0803 606 33080803 606 33080803 606 33080803 606 33080803 606 3308LAGOS:LAGOS:LAGOS:LAGOS:LAGOS: 0805 327 19690805 327 19690805 327 19690805 327 19690805 327 1969

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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]: 2141– 6141

TUESDAY, MAY 15, 2012

QQQQQUOUOUOUOUOTTTTTABLE QABLE QABLE QABLE QABLE QUOUOUOUOUOTETETETETEReflect on your present blessings,Reflect on your present blessings,Reflect on your present blessings,Reflect on your present blessings,Reflect on your present blessings,

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— Char— Char— Char— Char— Charles Dicles Dicles Dicles Dicles Dickkkkkensensensensens

Hazard confirmsManchesterdestination

He was arguably the bestfootballer that ever lacedhis boots for the Super

Eagles of Nigeria. Those whocriticised his style of play arguedthat he was technically deficient,yet they did not deny the fact thatfootball is all about goal scoring;and in this, Rasheedi Yekini was alegend. He was the nightmare ofdefenders across the globe, duringhis active playing days. Hisgeneration, thanks to his scoringability, was the golden era ofNigeria’s football.

To imagine, he died lonely anddepressed, according to mediareports, is a painful reminder ofour penchant for using anddumping our bests for charlatansand misfits. Rashidi Yekini shouldnot have died the way he did ifthose eulogising him now, indeath, were kind enough to look inhis direction when it appeared allwas not well with him. His mothersaid much when she admitted shewas battling mental depression,years after quitting football.

Yekini did not have to die, atleast, not the way he did. Hebrought smiles to millions of hiscountry men and women in hisactive years. One can seecommitment when Yekini adornedthe national jersey. He torturedhimself in the field of play, whenhe missed a golden chance to score.That, to me, is the hallmark ofpatriotism. Yekini was loyal toNigeria till the end of his career.Only very few players, during hisactive days, showed his type ofcommitment to the country.

Sunday Oliseh, Amuneke,Taribo West, Garba Lawal andFinidi were those who came close toYekini in terms of commitment tothe fatherland. Today, these menare not patronised by theleadership of the football governingbody in Nigeria. Rather, those whoheld the country to ransom andbrought psychological pain ontheir compatriots are now beingmade coaches of the national teams.

The likes of Stephen Keshi,Daniel Amokachi, Siasia and, ofcourse, Okocha do not deserveanything from Nigeria. Thesemen used Nigeria as a platform toget lucrative football contractsabroad. They were quick to jettisonnational assignments for clubengagements. And they areknown to blackmail the entirenation during crucial matches inthe name of allowances andbonuses. None of theseaforementioned men played forthe nation’s glory, theirs was selfservice; those in doubt should,

please, watch the recordedmatches again.

It is also shocking that in deathYekini became a tribal affair. OnlyYoruba states donated money tohis burial and were representedat his final interment. A man whobrought joy to all Nigerians,suddenly becoming a Yoruba manin the eyes of other governors indeath? Even the Nigerian FootballFederation, who are the directbeneficiary of his football exploits,did not deem it fit to honour himwith their presence!

Those commentators claimingYekini was fully paid his dues bythe government during his activedays are far away from the truth.In other climes, legends of Yekini’sclass are national treasures -priceless and are their country’ssport ambassadors till death.Nigeria indeed owes Yekini a debtof gratitude , and must ensure hischildren and aged mother are welltaken care of.

We all are made guilty byYekini’s death. The nationbetrayed him in his hours of

Yekini: Another hero betrayed

Lille attacking midfielderEden Hazard confirmedon Monday that he will be

playing in Manchester nextseason, but refused to revealwhether it will be at ManchesterCity or Manchester United.

Hazard was speaking at theUNFP (National Union ofProfessional Footballers) awardsgala, where he was crownedLigue 1 Players' Player of theYear for the second season insuccession.

"To Manchester, I'vealready said," he replied whenasked about his likelydestination at the end of thecurrent season. The decisionwill be taken soon."

French media reports havelinked the 21-year-old Belgianinternational with both Unitedand newly crowned Englishchampions City. He is expectedto cost in the region of 40 millioneuros ($51m).

www.peoplesdaily-online.com

. . . putting the people first

[email protected]

By Olurotimi Adeola

GUEST COLUMNISThopelessness. For five years, Yekinilived in our amidst exhibitingstrange behaviours and avoidingthe very people he gave his youthto entertain; no one raised aneyebrow. We watched himunconcerned. Even sport mediahouses that benefited greatly fromthe sport Yekini’s exploits helpedto popularise in Nigeria were silentas Yekini took the painful and noretreating path to mentaldepression.

Here we go again burying ourbest while the ranks of nonentitiesand charlatans continue to swellin our midst. We abandoned ourheroes and heroines in their hoursof need. All Yekini needed to stayalive was our comfort,appreciations and patronage; in allthese we let him down.

The Super Eagle today lacksprolific strikers in the class of YekiniYears after Yekini quit the stage,our senior national team could notproduce a successor to the legend.Those that were brought up by thesystem to replace him only showedsome sparks and then dimmed ourhopes. Yekini was just notreplaceable. Yet he was allowed towaste away in Ibadan, whenNigeria could have called on hisservice to tutor others on goalsscoring.

Kwara state House of Assemblyis believed to be making moves tohonour Yekini, by naming itsstadium after him. The samestadium that the Nigerian FootballFederation closed down a couple oftimes for being sub-standard? Howcallous can these Kwaraparliamentarians be! If thatstadium is not world class, then itdoes not befit the memory of Yekini.

Like every human, RashidiYekini has paid the ultimate price,death. But again, his deathdiminishes our humanity as apeople. The truth is, Nigeria is thegreatest loser by his death. Sleepwell, Yekini – king of goals; a herobetrayed by his country and itspeople.

“Kwara state House of Assembly is believed to be makingmoves to honour Yekini, by naming its stadium after him. Thesame stadium that the Nigerian Football Federation closed

down a couple of times for being sub-standard? How callouscan these Kwara parliamentarians be! If that stadium is not

world class, then it does not befit the memory of Yekini

Late Rashidi Yekini

Usain Bolt ended his six-month relationshipwith a Slovakian

fashion designer in order tofocus on the upcoming SummerOlympics.

News reports suggest Bolt'sbreakup with Lubica Slovak,28, was because of his desire torepeat his double-gold/world-record Olympic performance inLondon. The Jamaican sweptthe sprint events in 2008 andset the world marks in eachrace.

A source close to Bolt told TheSun, "He will have plenty oftime for relationships. At themoment he's concentrating onhis running career and doesn'twant anything to distract fromthat."

Slovak emigrated toCanada as a teenager and latermoved to Jamaica after shetook a vacation there. She wasintroduced to Bolt by reggaesinger Tami Chynn, a mutualfriend.

The sprinting star wascriticized in his native Jamaicawhen a picture of him kissingSlovak, who is white, appearedin a local newspaper. A cartoonaccompanied the photo, inwhich Bolt was seen runningpast a black woman with "local"written on her shirt and intothe arms of a "Slovakian fashiondesigner."

Bolt dumpsgirlfriend to focus onLondon Olympics

Peoples Daily Newspaper, Tuesday, May 15, 2012

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