peoples daily newspaper, friday, february 3, 2012

Vol. 7 No. 66 Friday, February 3, 2012 Rabiul Awwal 11, 1433 AH N150

PAGE 2

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I N S I D EFemale suspect arrested in Abuja Judge threatens to free Ndume

A Federal High Court judge in Abuja yesterdaythreatened to strike out the case againstSenator Mohammed Ali Ndume for lack ofdiligent prosecution by the FederalGovernment – Page 3

Nigeria spends N4.8bn on schoolfees of envoys’ childrenThe Federal Government bankrolled theschool fees of Nigerian diplomats’children abroad to the tune of N4.8 billionin 2011 – Page 4

The Minister of FCT yesterday, confirmedthe arrest of a suspected female member ofthe Boko Haram sect who had reportedlytried to gain access into the FCDA last week– Page 3

RRRRRobobobobobberberberberbers cars cars cars cars cart at at at at awwwwwaaaaay N95 million ay N95 million ay N95 million ay N95 million ay N95 million atttttMurMurMurMurMurtala Mohammed tala Mohammed tala Mohammed tala Mohammed tala Mohammed AirAirAirAirAirporporporporport,t,t,t,t, La La La La Lagggggososososos

Boko Haramspokesman speaks

R-L: YobestateGovernor,Malam IbrahimGaidam, in ahandshakewith the actingInspectorGeneral ofPolice, AlhajiMohammedDahiruAbubakar,during thegovernor’scondolencevisit to the IGPover the deathof his wife,Hajya MaryamAbubakar, inKano,yesterday

From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

Contd on Page 2

Spokesman of the Jama’atuAhlis Sunnati Lidda’awatiWal Jihad alias Boko

Haram, Abul Qaqa, whose arrestwas celebrated around securitycircles on Wednesday, has deniedbeing arrested by operatives ofthe State Security Service (SSS)in Maiduguri, the Borno statecapital.

Rather, he said, the mancaptured was actually AbuDardaa, head of the publicenlightenment unit of the group.

Speaking to newsmen onphone yesterday, Qaqa claimedthat contrary to the SSS claims,Dardaa was actually nabbed inKaduna where the sect directedhim to meet some topgovernment officials to discussFederal Government’s offer fordialogue. President GoodluckJonathan had, last week Mondayasked Boko Haram to come out ofhiding and talk with thegovernment.

He said: “We purposely sentDardaa to Kaduna to discuss withsome key governmentfunctionaries on the issue ofdialogue. Indeed, he had startedtalking to them but unknown tohim; they informed somesecurity agents, who trailed himand was instantly nabbed”.

Identity of nabbed suspect established

As multiple blasts rock MaiduguriSix ‘splinter’ group members slaughtered

Says ‘I’m not under arrest’

CONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSNews 2-11Editorial 12Op.Ed 13Letters 14Opinion 15Metro 16-17Business 19-22S/Exchange 23S/Report 24Religion 26Feature 27

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Battle of the titans, asAdamawa decides . . .,

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PAGE 2 PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

Boko Haram spokesman speaksContd on

Dare devil robbers carts awayN95 million at Lagos airportFrom Suleiman Idris, Lagos

The spokesman furtheradded: “This was what exactlyhappened; it was unfortunatethat Dardaa volunteered topresent himself for the dialogueon behalf of us but was betrayed,everybody knows our capabilityand tactics of operation. It isevidently clear that none of ourmembers could be caught on aplatter of gold and withoutconfrontation”.

According to him, the majorcondition for dialogue Dardaawas expected to raise during hisbotched discussion with thegovernment representatives wasthe unconditional release of theirentire members, who were pickedin various parts of the North.

According to him, the groupinitially thought that the muchpronounced dialogue was real butthe latest development hasproved government’s insincerityover the issue, saying nobody cannow accuse them of causing morebloodshed.

The arrest of Dardaa, he said,

was an outright deception andbetrayal by the government andsecurity agents, whom he said,proclaimed dialogue but aredoing the opposite, adding that“his arrest has proven to us thatthey were waiting for us to availourselves so that they can arrestus.

“The truth is that even if theyarrest all of us, God will protectIslam as we want to reiterate thatno amount of threat, arrest andintimidation will deter us fromour course. Our slain spiritualleader, Malam MohammedYusuf was arrested and detainedseverally before being killed bythe security forces but we, hisfollowers were not deterred frompropagating Islam”, heconcluded.

Meanwhile, residents of Kwar-Maila ward of Maiduguri wereengulfed in fear yesterdaymorning following the discoveryof six corpses suspected to be thoseof Boko Haram militants,allegedly slaughtered by theircolleagues.

The incident which occurredon Wednesday night, came lessthan 24 hours after the SSS inthe state allegedly captured thespokesman of Boko Haram, AbulQaqa. The killings were alsofollowed by multiple bombblasts in six different locationsof the state capital, throwing theresidents into intense panic.

Although the motive behindthe killing of the men allegedlyby their colleagues could not beascertained, it was gatheredthat the incident may not beunconnected with the suspicionthat the deceased persons belongto the moderate faction.

They were said to be accusedby the extremist group ofleaking information that led tothe arrest of the 11 suspectedmembers killed last Saturdayduring a gun duel with soldiers.All the incidents had occurredin the same area.

Another version of the storyhad it that the six slain menwere not Boko Haram militantsbut rather, relations of

members of the moderategroup.

Further investigationrevealed that the assailants,numbering five went to thearea at midnight and knockedthe doors of some selectedhouses, before dragging thevictims outside and slashingtheir throats, the police said.

It was learnt that two of theaffected persons were civilservants, including a driverattached to the Governor’sOffice at the Borno statesecretariat, Zannah Malampopularly known as Goi-Goi,and Baba Gana Shettima.

Spokesman of the JointMilitary Task Force (JTF), Lt.Col. Hassan Mohammed,confirmed the incident tonewsmen, saying“preliminary investigationrevealed that the six deceasedpersons were suspected BokoHaram militants and werekilled by another parallelgroup of the sect”.

What could be describedas an apparentsecurity lapse around

Nigerian airports reared itshead in Lagos when dare devilrobbers stormed theinternational wing of theMurtala MohammedInternational Airport in Ikejaand made away with the sumof US $600,000 (N 95, 969,998.17 million) from a Bureaude Change operator inside oneof the car parks at theterminal.

A sources at the airportdisclosed that the men of theunderworld stormed the carpark which is usually indarkness, and shot sporadicallyinto the air while shooting a

woman in the process beforedispossessing their victim ofthe said amount around8.30pm on Wednesday night.

The incident, according tothe operator who simplyidentified himself as Salisu,took place without anychallenge from the securityagents stationed at variouslocations at the airport whilethe robbers carried out theiroperation and went away withthe loot.

Salisu said the robbers whoarrived with sophisticatedmachine guns traced a Dubaibound passenger that came tochange some local currencyinto American dollars when theoperator ran into the robbersand were dispossesed of theforeign currency.

Chairman of the Bureau deChange operators at theinternational wing of theairport, Alhaji Umar Abubakartold journalists that his officeis carrying out a detailedinvestigation to ascertain howthe incident that involved suchhuge amount of money tookplace within the vicinity of anairport of such magnitudewithout detection by thesecurity agents.

However when a call wasput to the phone number of theCommissioner of Police,Murtala Muhammed AirportCommand, Mr. Gwari Alkali,he neither answered norreplied to an SMS while thecommand’s Public RelationsOfficer, Mr. Denis Ifijeh alsoreacted in the same manner.

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

Army ‘relocates’ GOC to GombeFrom Nankpah Bwakan, Jos

The headquarters of theNigerian Armyyesterday directed the

General Officer Commandingthe 3rd Division, MajorGeneral Buba Marwa, toimmediately relocate thetactical headquarters of theDivision in Rukuba, Jos, toGombe state, temporarily.

Our correspondent learntthat this is connected with thehorrible activities of the BokoHaram sect in the North-eastregion.

Lieutenant Colonel AndrewIdachaba, Assistant Director,Army Public Relations,Maxwell Khobe Cantonment

Jos, in a press statement, saidthe relocation becamenecessary because of theactivities of some religiousextremists, adding that therelocated unit wouldcoordinate and fight theactivities of criminals withinthe region.

According to the statement,“Following the intractablesecurity situation in the North-east region of the country, andthat the GOC upon relocation toGombe has undertaken a visit tothe formations in Pompomari inDamaturu, Bauchi, Gombe,Potiskum, Maiduguri, Biu, Mubiand Yola”.

Gen. Marwa assured thosewithin the identified flash region

of his operation of their safety,warning that the division willnot condone any act ofcriminality stressing that anygroup that will want to engagethe division would be dealtwith decisively.

The statement said soldiershave already been trained asquick response groups and havebeen fully deployed to the areato fish out criminal elements.

The GOC, the statementsaid, has been supported by thechief of training and operationsin the army headquarters,Major Gen. Lawrence Ngubanewho visited the division andwent round the area with theGOC.

10 yearsafter Obj’s failure,Jonathan tolicence newrefineries

Ten years after formerPresident OlusegunObasanjo made a failed

attempt to ensure the fullparticipation of 18 privatecompanies in the refining ofpetroleum products, PresidentGoodluck Jonathan yesterdaydisclosed that the FederalGovernment was willing to givelicences to those interested insetting up refineries in thecountry.

This, he said, was part of theoverall effort to raise the nation’spetroleum refining capacity andreduce the importation of refinedproducts in line with the currentderegulation policy.

Speaking to a delegation ofinvestors from Brazil, led by Mr.Reuben Voigt, chairman of theVoigt Group, at the State Houseyesterday, President Jonathansaid, “Nigeria has fourrefineries, but their combinedcapacity does not meet thecountry’s needs, so we arewilling to approve applicationsfor refining licences.”

The President said thatNigeria was still a green area interms of investments, addingthat government had opened upsectors of the economy, whichwere previously restricted, toprivate sector investment.

He directed the CoordinatingMinister of the Economy andMinister of Finance, Dr. NgoziOkonjo-Iweala to holddiscussions with the VoigtGroup, to explore areas ofmutual cooperation.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

Subsidy probe: Repsreject representativesof major companiesThe House of Representatives

yesterday turned backproxies representing the

Managing Directors and ChiefExecutive Officers of major oilcompanies who are billed to appearbefore its Ad-hoc committeeinvestigating the nation’s subsidyregime.

Chairman of the committee,Rep Farouk Lawan, who turnedback the representatives of the oilmajors frowned at the excuses putforward by the Chief Executivesfor their inability to appear inperson before the committee evenas he directed that do so insubsequent sittings.

Lawan also directed that the oilmarketers must make available

increase in subsidy paymentscannot fly before the committee.

Meanwhile, the outstandingdebts being owed the importers byboth the Nigeria NationalPetroleum Corporation (NNPC)and Petroleum Products PricingRegulatory Agency (PPPRA) arenow on the high side as all the oilcompanies which appeared beforethe panel yesterday claimed thatthey were being owed betweenN1.9 billion and N10 billion as atDecember last year.

Also, some of the companiesindicted by the KPMG audit reportwere grilled by the Committee andthese include the ManagingDirector of Dee Jones Petroleum,Mr. Richard Eze and MD of VitolCompany, an offshore concern,Mr. Rodney Gavshon.

By Lawrence Olaoye before the committee, "Certificatesof Incorporation, Letters of Credits,Letters of Allocations, Bills ofLading, Invoices, quantities ofproducts imported and theircountries of origin and evidence ofpayments."

Also a member of the panel, RepAli Ahmed alleged that most of theoil companies were owned byPolitically Exposed Persons (PEPS),like top government officials,members of the National Assemblyamong others.

Chairman House Committeeon Appropriation, Rep John Enoh,however warned the major oilcompanies against feeding thepanel with lies and doctoreddocuments.

He said that the excuse of highexchange rates as responsible for

FCT minister confirmsarrest of suspected femaleBoko Haram member

The Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) yesterday announcedthat it would hold its

suspended National ExecutiveCouncil (NEC) meeting in themiddle of this month.

The party in a statementreleased to newsmen by itsNational Publicity Secretary, Prof.Rufa’i Ahmed Alkali, stated thatthe PDP would hold its congressesfrom the ward to the national levelin March this year.

This clarification is coming onheels of insinuations in certainquarters that the members of theparties National WorkingCommittee (NWC) may behatching a plot for tenureelongation by suspending the NEC

By Lawrence Olaoye and congresses indefinitely.Alkali stated: “A slight

adjustment to the Timetable wasmade to allow for Congresses tocommence on the 4th of February2012 and terminate an the 25thof February 2012 with theNational Convention.

“However, following theSupreme Court ruling on tenureof the Governors of Adamawa,Bayelsa, Cross-River, Kogi, andSokoto States, the IndependentNational Electoral Commission(INEC) announced an electiontimetable which clashed with ourtime table in the same month ofFebruary 2012.

“This unforeseen action byINEC necessitated a postponementof our earlier programme in ordernot to complicate preparations for

elections in the four states whereelections were ordered by theSupreme Court.

“However, in order to ensure asmooth transition, the NationalWorking Committee resolved tocall for a meeting of the NationalExecutive Committee (NEC) of theParty mid-February to considerand approve a new time table forCongresses and NationalConvention.

“The National WorkingCommittee (NWC) also resolvedthat, subject to ratification byNEC, all Congresses shallcommence from the first week ofMarch 2012. This clarification hadbecome necessary in order to clearall doubts raised as a result of thepostponement of Congresses,” hesaid.

PDP convenes NEC, holds congresses March

A Federal High Court in Abujayesterday threatened tostrike out the case against

Senator Ali Mohammed Ndumefor lack of diligent prosecution bythe Federal Government.

Trial in the matter, which wasbilled to commence yesterday wasstalled following the nonappearance of the prosecutingcounsel, Mrs. OlufumilayoFatunde

The prosecuting counsel who isa Deputy Director in FederalMinistry of Justice wrote to thecourt asking for an adjournmentin the case till another date on theground that she was on a nationalassignment.

The trial Judge, JusticeGabriel Kolawole who expresseddispleasure over the request for anadjournment, asked the FederalGovernment to bear in mind that

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin the matter is of national interestand should not be delayed.

He threatened that if theprosecution failed to show up forthe case on March 21, 2012, beingthe next adjourned date; he will becompelled to strike out the case.

Justice kolawole subsequentlyadjourned Ndume’s trial tillMarch 21, 28 and April 10, 2012.

Ndume is facing trial forallegedly concealing informationon attacks being planned by theBoko Haram sect.

He is alleged to have receivedinformation on or about October 4from convicted Boko Haramspokesman, Ali Sanda UmarKonduga (alias Al-Zawahiri)regarding planned attacks onjudges of the Borno State electionpetition tribunal and the NationalAssembly, but failed to disclose theinformation to a law enforcementofficer as soon as reasonablypracticable.

...As judge threatens to free Ndume

A Federal High Court sittingin Kaduna yesterdayrejected the bail application

for the release of Alhaji NuhuMarafa, currently being detainedalong with one of his sons, by theNigerian army authorities, onallegation of gun running.

Counsel to the applicant, BelloIbrahim, had approached the courtseeking enforcement of his clients’human rights in accordance withsections of the 1999 Constitutionand the African Charter of Humanand People's Rights act as well asand United Nations Declaration onHuman Rights.

According to him, failure of theNigerian Army and the GOC of I

From Agaju Madugba & Moh’dAdamu, Kaduna

Mechanized Division who arejoined in the suit, to charge hisclients to a competent court of lawwithin 24 hours after their arrestconstituted a violation of theirrights to fair hearing.

He therefore sought the courtorder compelling the defendants torelease his clients a he argued thatthe army invaded the residence ofMarafa and arrested him alongwith his son, without any justcause.

But in his argument, BiolaOyebanji, counsel to the NigerianArmy, said that he received thenotice on January 30 and askedfor an adjournment to enable himmake his response.

In his ruling, Justice LuciaOjukwu adjourned the case toFebruary 8.

Court denies alleged gun runner bail

Kogi state Governor, Captain Idris Wada (middle), his Deputy, Mr Yomi Awoniyi (left), and Chairman, A-Think Tank Committee on Blueprint for the Transformation of the state, Prof. Francis Idachaba (right),during the inauguration of the committee by the governor at Government House in Lokoja, on Wednesday.

control the situation around thecity.

Meanwhile, security remainedhigh at the entrance to thecomplex, which also houses theMinistry of Agriculture.

Following bomb threats inAbuja, some security measureshad been introduced by the FCTAdministration, which includerelocation of the car park fartheraway from the buildings. Vehiclesgoing into the premises are beingsearched thoroughly, while the useof bomb detectors has beenintroduced.

A number of times, traffic werediverted away from the entrancegate. The number of mobilepolicemen at the gate has also beenincreased.

The Minister of the FederalCapital TerritoryAdministration, Senator

Bala Mohammed, yesterday,confirmed the arrest of a suspectedfemale member of the Boko Haramsect who had reportedly tried togain access into the FCDA lastweek.

Although the minister did notdisclose the identity of the suspect,he however she said she confessedunder investigation by the StateSecurity Service (SSS), that therewere plans by Boko Haram toattack the FCDA.

He further disclosed that thesuspect had provided usefulinformation to the SSS about thesect, and assured residents of thecity that security agents were in

Maulud: FG declares Mondaypublic holiday

The Federal Government hasdeclared Monday, Feb. 6 aspublic holiday to mark the

Eid-el-Maulud.The announcement was made

in Abuja yesterday by theMinister of Interior, Mr. AbbaMoro.

Moro in a statement issued onhis behalf by Mr. Bem Goong,Assistant Director, Press Affairs inthe ministry wished all Muslimsin the country a happy andpeaceful Maulud celebration.

NAN reports that the Eid-el-Maulud is marked by Muslims tocommemorate the birth of ProphetMuhammad. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012PAGE 4

LASTMA official escapes lynching as bus conductor is crushed to death

Pandemonium broke out at theold toll gate area, alongLagos–Ibadan Expressway

yesterday following the death of anunidentified bus conductor of a

commercial bus who was allegedlycrushed to death by anothervehicle coming behind whiletrying to evade arrest by officialsof the Lagos State TrafficManagement Authority,LASTMA.

Apparently irked by the deathof the conductor of the commercialbus with registration number XZ76 AGL, who was simply identifiedas Ilorin by street urchins alias ’AreaBoys’, traffic was disrupted as bothsides of the expressway were blocked.

One Mutiu Alfred, a Vulcaniseworker nearby, who claimed tohave witnessed the incidentnarrated thus; “The LASTMAofficers pursued the commercial bus

that was coming from Oworosonkiarea heading towards the toll gate...and dragged the conductor downfrom the bus by force and in theprocess he hit his forehead on theground before another vehiclecrushed him to death”.

He told our correspondent thatthe LASTMA officer who had theword “Oshodi” on his uniform wasimmediately apprehended by othermotorists who gave him severebeatings before a police teampatrolling the area came to rescuehim from the mob that attemptedto set him ablaze.

Samson , a fellow conductor seenweeping uncontrollably told ourcorrespondent that the conductor’s

wife gave birth few days ago , sayingthe deceased was a peace lovingperson .

As at press time many motoristswere still trapped in traffic while acombined team of LASTMA, Policeand Road Safety officers battled toredirect vehicular traffic throughother routes.

In a swift reaction, Commissionerfor Transportation, Mr. KayodeOpeifa who described the incidentas regrettable, however, deniedany involvement of LASTMA ,saying, he had ordered immediateinvestigation into the incidentwith the aim of bringing theculprit(s) to book

From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

By Bimbo Ogunnaike and

Embattled Edo state AttorneyGeneral and JusticeCommissioner, Dr. Osagie

Obayuwana was about 3:30 pmyesterday granted bail by theFederal High Court in Benin Cityon self recognition, four days afterthe same court remanded him inprison.

The chief law officer of the Statewas remanded for contempt ofcourt and non-compliance withcourt order mandating the Stategovernment to hand over themanagement of Bendel breweriesto Churchgate Industries Limited,an Indian company.

The bail application of theaccused person was argued by hisCounsel, Ken Mosiah, SAN afterstrong arguments to prevail onthe trial Judge, Justice AdamuHobon to order his release.

On compliance with thefederal High Court order,

Obayuwana said, “the issue is apolicy issue the Stategovernment would have toreview. These are policy issues,my health deteriorated while Iwas there. I’m still on medicationwhich I’m taking home now’. Buthe declined comment ongovernment’s move to alleviatethe sufferings of the inmates.

Following a medical report,the Attorney General was takento undisclosed clinic onWednesday night by his doctorbarely two days after heembarked on hunger strike.

But Edo State governmenthad on Wednesday resolved notto obey the Court ordermandating it to hand over themanagement of Bendel breweriesto Churchgate Industries Limited;just as it equally vowed to approachthe appropriate court to contest thecommittal order of the trial Judge,Justice Adamu Hobon and vacateit.

Contempt: Jailed Edo AG granted bailFrom Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

Governor Shettima signs N140bn budgetFrom, Mustapha Isah Kwaru,Maiduguri

Borno state Governor, KashimShettima yesterday signedthe 2012 Finance and

Appropriation Bill passed by thestate House of Assembly into lawwith a promise to embark onmassive infrastructuredevelopment and employmentgeneration.

Governor Shettima whomaintained that posterity wouldnot judge him well if he failed to

improve the lives of the people ofthe state while signing the bill intolaw yesterday at a brief ceremonyat the Government House, said thelevel of poverty and despondencyin the state were alarming.

He said his government hasthe responsibility to perform,adding that much was expectedfrom him.

Shettima disclosed that with thesigning of the budget into law, thetime has come for all members of theexecutive council to work, addingthat all special assistants and other

political appointees would be made towork.

“The era of political appointeescollecting salaries and allowanceswithout working has gone,” hedeclared.

He also said the executive wouldmeet next week to award manycontracts for road constructionincluding the Damboa-Chibok road.

According to him, the mostambitious Damasak-Malamfatoriroad which linked the state with NigerRepublic in the northern part of thestate would be constructed soon.

Truckcrushessoldier, 3others atcheckpoint

Niger state Governor, Dr. Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu (2nd right), in a handshake with Chairman, NigeriaLabour Congress, Niger state chapter, Comrade Yahaya Ndako (right), during a solidarity visit to thegovernor by the Labour leader, in Minna, on Wednesday. With them are Minister of State for NigerDelta, Hajiya Zainab Ibrahim Kutchi (2nd left), and state PDP Chairman, Hon Abdullrahaman Enegi(left)

Nigeria spends N4.8bn onschool fees of envoys’ children

Four persons including amilitary personnelyesterday died in a ghastly

motor accident involving atanker and two Opel Vectra saloncars at a checkpoint inSabongari Narabi inToro localgovernment area of Buachistate.

Confirming the incident, theBauchi Sector Commander ofFederal Road Safety Commission(FRSC) Zakariyya Mammansaid three vehicles-two OpelVectra cars and a tanker wereinvolved.

He said six persons wereaffected in the accident addingthat only a militarypersonneldied immediately while fiveothers were seriously injuredand were taken to hospital.

The sector commander saidthe tanker trailer had a brakefailure and the driver lostcontrol and rammed into twovehicles that were waiting to bepassed by the soldiers at thecheckpoint.

However an eye witnessShuabu Umar who narrated theincident to our correspondentsaid the tanker which wasbelieved to be carrying black oilfrom the southern part of thecountry to Bauchi lost control ona slope at Narabi and rammedinto the two cars at the militarybarrier.

According to him, the tankerran over the two vehicles andcrushed four of the occupants todeath saying four died instantlyincluding the militarypersonnel.

The Federal Governmentbankrolled the school fees ofNigerian diplomats’ children

abroad to the tune of N4.8 billionin 2011, it emerged yesterday asgovernment officials scramble toreconcile past spending, and defendfresh proposals.

Up till weekend, ministries anddepartments and parastatals areto face lawmakers for the annualbudget defence ritual, wherefrightening details of government’sbogus spending usually meet withlawmakers’ fleeting rebuke.

The House of RepresentativesForeign Affairs Committee headedby Nnena Elendu-Ukeje yesterdayexpressed shock at the huge bill theforeign affairs ministry spendsannually on school fees.

For 2011, the ministry paidN4.8 billion for foreign educationof its workers’ wards -an amountthat overshot approved allocationfor the purpose.

The ministry proposes to spenda relatively lower N5.2 million forthe same purpose this year, afigure lawmakers believe will beraised after appropriation.

The amounts foot the fees ofchildren of ambassadors and otherdiplomatic staff in the nearly 200missions run by Nigeria across theworld.

Lawmakers said ministryofficials have been presenting suchfees and other expenditures of theministry in bulk without details,names of beneficiaries, therebyallowing officials a freehand to lateradjust the approved figures, andspend same unilaterally.

“You have put votes forsecurity in four different placesand that is the issue. You have fourdifferent sub-heads showingsecurity votes. That is notacceptable,” Elendu-Ukeje told theminister, Olugbenga Ashiru, at adefense session.

Yet, the legislators have notindicated any plan to block theproposals or to order adiscontinuation of the heftygovernment scholarship.

The ministry’s security votes for

2012 totals a little below N2 billionwhile it plans to spend N2 billion ontransport and travels, anothersubhead the lawmakers queried.

The minister’s response wassimple: “We travel to get the best,”he told the lawmakers”

“You need to get well-traineddiplomats. Without training, youwill not get good diplomats. Withouttraining, there will be no results. Wesend some of them to Oxford, someto Italy as they will be competingwith the best from the world,” he

said.Nigeria also spent hugely in

funding to the United Nations,African Union and the regional body,ECOWAS in 2011.

The house committee brandedthe lavish levies “ridiculous.”

For 2011, the minister said,Nigeria paid 3.3 billion Naira (16million US dollars) to the AfricanUnion. Contributions to the UnitedNation was N300 million whileN285 million was paid to theCommonwealth. (Premium Times)

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012 PAGE 5

We did not meet over Al-Mustapha– Northern Emirs

The eighth prosecutionwitness in the on-going trialof former Managing

Director of Keystone Bank(formerly Bank PHB), Mr. FrancisAtuche, his wife, Elizabeth and theformer chief operating officer of

the bank, Ugo Anyanwu, Mr.Alex Ojukwu yesterday toldJustice Lateefah Okunnu of aLagos High Court sitting in Ikeja,that no official of the bank can beheld liable for customers’ defaulton accounts opening.

Mr. Ojukwu, who is a formerHead of the Remedial

From Francis Iwuchukwu, Lagos Management section andcentralised shares services of BankPHB stated in his testimony beforethe judge that the rule of the bankdoes not hold any staff liable overdefault by some customers.

He also stated further thatAnyanwu also could not be heldfor default by any customer whose

Atuche: No bank official should be heldliable for customers' default, says witness

Northern emirs and chiefswho met early in the weekin Kaduna have refuted

reports in a section of the media thatthey met to take a position on the

From Mohammed Adamu, Kaduna conviction of former Chief SecurityOfficer to late Gen. Sani Abacha,Major Hamza Al-mustapha by theLagos High Court.

In a reaction, the Emir ofKazaure, Dr. Najib HussainiAdamu who attended the

meeting, said insinuations in asection of the media to the effectthat they met over the plight ofAl-mustapha were “crude, falseand uncharitable.”

He confirmed that the emirsdid met in Kaduna, but insisted

that the meeting had absolutelynothing to do with the convictionof Major Al-mustapha by a LagosHigh Court.

“In the first instance, thismeeting was called 10 days beforethe judgment was given. The daythe court convicted him was theday of the arrival of the emirs andchiefs. How could the issue be onour agenda?” Dr. Adamu said in a

statement yesterday.Dr. Adamu, who is also a

lawyer, said the matter of Al-Mustapha was subjudice hencecould not have been a subject ofdiscussion by the monarchs.

“Nobody, not even thePresident can meddle in that casenow because it is before the court.Nobody can touch it unless it isover,” Adamu said.

The Acting Inspector Generalof Police, AlhajiMohammed Dahiru

Abubakar, has promised toreposition the Nigeria Police to whathe described as “people orientedpolice” that will meet the yearningsand aspiration Nigerians.

Mr. Abubakar who spoke whenhe paid a courtesy call on thegovernor of Kano state, Dr. RabiuMusa Kwankwaso, yesterday, saidhe will no longer tolerate corruptionand indolence in the force.

“We must have a new andpeople oriented-police force thatwill be devoid of corruption andindolence; those who know mebelieve we can achieve this.”

“With an estimated 10 million(people in Kano), 8,000 policestrength is inadequate and we areworking towards addressing the inbalance”.

“I am not happy with thesecurity situation in Kanofollowing the event of January 20in which about 186 residents andinnocent citizens were killed.”

A minute silence was alsoobserved at instance of the policeboss in honour of the departed souls.

Responding, Dr Kwankwaso,prayed that the sad event ofJanuary 20 maybe the last of suchdevelopment.

He then commended the policefor their efforts in handling thesituation posed by the attack ofBoko Haram.

From Edwin Olofu & Bala Nasir,Kano

New IG pledgesto repositionpolice force

Miyetti Allah accuses Sayawa people of attacking members

The Bauchi state chapter ofMiyetti Allah CattleBreeders Association have

accused Sayawa Youth and Securityoperatives of attacking their membersin Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro Localgovernment areas of the state.

The spokesperson of the groupin Bauchi state, Alhaji Sadiq

From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi Ibrahim Ahmed, revealed thiswhile briefing newsmen at thesecretariat of Nigerian Union ofJournalist in Bauchi.

According to him, we are nothappy with the excessive attacksand massive cleansing of ourmembers by both resident Sayawaand security agencies. This is aserious threat which must becheckmated by government

without delay”.He said: “Two persons namely

Hassan Ibrahim, and Gambo Ladanwere attacked and killed by Sayawayouth at Wuro Gara village, fakesecurity men invaded GigyamFulani village and searched theirhouses, and on January 1, twopersons Wada Abubakar andDan’asabe were attacked in TafawaBalewa, Wada was killed and

Dan’asabe narrowly escaped andone person arrested by soldiers washanded over to the police was killedby policeman and his corpse wasset ablaze by Sayawa youth.”

In his response, the Secretaryof the Sayawa Council of elders,Barrister Bukata Zhadi denied allthe allegations made against theirpeople, describing the allegationsas baseless.

L-R: Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoki, Chairman, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, and Chief of Staff to the President,Chief Mike Ogiadomhe, during a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Mahmud Isa

accounts were opened through thedeferral policy of the bank.

In his examination in chief,Ojukwu stated that the accountsinto which money was transferredwere opened without accountopening forms based on a mail hegot from Ugo Anyawu whichinstructed him to open the accountsfor the customers includingFutureview Security Limited,Extra Oil Nigeria Limited andTragec Oil Limited.

In his cross-examination, heagreed that this was not unusualin the deferment policy of thebank, adding that no official of thebank, who had acted in good faithby bringing customers to the bankunder the deferral policy can bemade liable for the default of thatcustomer.

The trial continues today.

By Lawrence OlaoyeThe Speaker of House of

Representatives, Rt. Hon AminuWaziri Tambuwal yesterday,promised to give maximumsupport for the development ofatomic energy in the countrythrough the Nigeria AtomicEnergy Commission (NAEC).

Tambuwal who made thisknown in a statement signed byhis Chief Press Secretary, Mr.James Ojo, also assured the agencythat the House would amend theobsolete law establishing theagency.

He noted that Decree 46 of1976 that established the AtomicEnergy Commission has not beenamended.

He said: “As an arm ofgovernment, we shall give the

commission all the necessarysupport to make us realise the loftygoals and ideas behind theestablishment of the commission.

“Of course, technology canonly be attained with properfunding because it is very, veryexpensive. We would call on theexecutive to pay more attention tocritical commission like this, and

From Francis Iwuchukwu, Lagos de –emphasise investment of ourresources into commissions thathardly add little or no value to ournational life”.

Tambuwal promised that theNational Assembly will not wastetime in looking into the bill whenit is presented by the Executive foramendment even as he noted thatit was unfortunate that successive

administrations in the countryhad not fully activated thepotentials in the sector.

According to the Speaker,many developed countries of theworld are reaping the benefits ofdeveloping their atomic energypotentials and some developingcountries of Africa are equallydoing so.

Tambuwal promises legislative support for NAEC


NANS hails ASUU for suspending strikeThe leadership of the National

Association of NigerianStudents (NANS) has

commended members of theAcademic Staff Union ofUniversities (ASUU) over itsdecision to suspend the two monthsold strike action which paralysedacademic activities in publicuniversities across the country.

to our Universities”.The statement further

appealed to the Federalgovernment to ensure it fulfilledthe agreement entered with theunion to avoid future strike actionsby university lecturers.

It said, “having realised thedecision of both parties to worktowards the practicalimplementation of the agreementas reached between ASUU and the

By Abdullahi Yunusa In a press statement signed byNANS President, Comrade DaudaMohammed, the body said “whilecommending ASUU for the steptaken, we must also appreciate thecommitment shown by thepresent government towardsensuring that issues surroundingthe ASUU/FG agreement arefinally resolved in order to ensurethe return of normal academicactivities devoid of incessant strike

Federal Government, we want tosincerely appeal that thegovernment should see this avenueas an opportunity to improve onthe fortune of the educationalsector in Nigeria”.

The body threw its weightbehind ASUU’s demand for ayearly increase in budgetaryallocation to the education sectorbeginning from the 2013 budgetof the country among other things.

It also appealed to both partiesto stick to terms of agreemententered into to avoid a breakdownof negotiations.

“It is our desire that we shallnot be once gain forced to go homeby the inability of parties in theASUU/FG agreement to complywith the various terms of theagreement thereby leading to anyform of industrial action in thefuture”.

Birnin KebbiFedPolymatriculates3,489

The Rector, Waziri UmarFederal Polytechnic Arc.Mohammed Kabiru Nabade

has urged the newly matriculatedstudents to be law-abiding, shunexamination malpractices andother social vices

He gave this advise yesterdaywhile matriculating 3,489students of the Polytechnic inBirnin Kebbi for 2011/2011 sessioncomprising of 879 for HND,2444for ND, 300 for Pre-ND [science]and pre-NCE with 300 students.

The Rector, also urged thestudents to be disciplined, law-abiding, responsible, obedient andorderly in and out of the institution.

“You must also remember thatthe certificate which you havecome here to acquire are based firstof all in character and thenlearning. Any student foundcontravening the rules andregulations of the polytechnic willbe sanctioned appropriately,” hesaid.

From Ahmed Idris, Birnin Kebbi

The Edo state governmenthas restated itscommitment to screen and

treat persons diagnosed withcancer to mark the world Cancerday Celebration billed forFebruary 4 this year.

State Director of the office of thefirst Lady, Hajia MaimunaMomodu dropped the hint in BeninCity, yesterday when theleadership of the State chapter ofNigeria Association of WomenJournalists, NAWOJ made acourtesy call on her.

The director sued forcontinued partnership with theassociation on the need forNigerians, especially marketwomen to present themselves forscreening to slow down theprevalent rate.

State Chairman of NAWOJ,Comrade Amina Ebor had told theDirector of the association’s plan toembark on a State wide healthawareness campaign with specialemphasis on hypertension andcardiac arrest which has taken abad turn among rural and marketwomen.

Edo govt totreat morecancer patientsFrom Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

An expert on developmentissues working with aKatsina based NGO,

PADEAP, Mr. Shola Babadiya hasdisclosed that lack of properunderstanding of the concept andvision of the United NationsMillennium Development Goals(MDGs), is the major factorhampering its success in Africa.

Babadiya who made thedisclosure while speaking in anoccasion organised by NYSC/MDGAwareness Creation Club inKatsina, noted that people shouldbe made to understand that it waspart of the programmes core dutyto make the public question therole of government indevelopment and to hold itaccountable.

He noted that although thefocus of MDG was to addresspoverty in the developingworld,the timeline set for the endof the programme in 2015 maynot be achieved due to someperceived setbacks, hoping thatthe life span of the programmewould be extended.

From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua,Katsina

According to him, the MDGprojects in the North-West zone ofthe country focused more onmaternal and infant mortalityissues, adding that peace andconflicts resolution was also part oftheir activities and promised toput in more effort.

Earlier, the former presidentof the club, Mr. EmmanuelJesuyon listed some of theachievements recorded by the clubin Katsina, which he said includethe acquisition of an office complexfor the club, building partnershipwith other stakeholders and theestablishment of a magazine.

Similarly, Jesuyon urged clubmembers to support the newexecutive, put the office complexto proper use and add efforts incarrying the good message of theMDG to the grass root so thatpoverty and hunger could beeliminated.

In a remark, a patron of theclub, Mr. Jacob Aaron tasked themembers of the club to take theactivities of the club very seriousas Nigeria, more than any time inits history, was yearning for thepeace, security and unity of itspeople.

‘Lack of understandinghampers MDGs vision’

The National EmergencyManagement Agency(NEMA) has donated

hospital consumables and beddingsof unspecified millions of naira tofour hospitals in Kano to treatvictims of the January 20coordinated bomb blasts by theBoko Haram sect.

Presenting the items to themanagements of the respectivehospitals yesterday in Kano,Director General of NEMA, AlhajiMuhammadu Sani Sidi said he andhis team were in Kano tocommiserate with the people of thestate over the incident and thendonate the items.

The Murtala MohammedSpecialists Hospital (MMSH),Aminu Kano Teaching Hospitaland the Orthopaedic Hospital Dalaare the three hospitals officiallydirected to admit victims of theblasts.

Muhammadu Abdullahi WaseHospital otherwise known asNassarawa Hospital is the fourthhospital that benefitted fromNEMA’s donation as some of theblast victims are also on admission

From Bala Nasir, Kano at the hospital.NEMA Director explained that

as disaster managers in thecountry, his Agency is primarilyconcerned with thehumanitarian consequences ofsuch disasters and that theywouldl do all they could to supportKano state to alleviate thesufferings of the blasts victims.

Responding, the Chief MedicalDirector of MMSH, Dr TankoMohammed thanked NEMA forthe drugs and other consumablesdonated to their hospitals andpromised that they would use themjudiciously.

He stated that MMSHadmitted the largest chunk of theblasts victims at a special ward whowere treated free as directed by thestate government.

Only one of the victims is stillon admission at the hospital as therest have been discharged, and arenow treated as out patients, he said.

The director also paid a visit toGovernor Rabiu Musa Kwankwasoof Kano state where he condoledhim over the incident and prayedfor non occurrence of similarincident in the state and anywhereelse in the country .

NEMA donates items toKano hospitals

L-R: Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Road Safety, Hon. Nasiru Sani Zangon Daura, Corps Marshal/Chief ExecutiveOfficer, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Mr. Osita Chidoka, and Deputy Chairman of the committee, Hon. Daniel Akpan,during the committee’s oversight visit to the FRSC headquarters in Abuja, on Wednesday. Photo: Mahmud Isa


Adamawa killings: CACpresident urges prayerFrom Blessing Tunoh, Yola

President and generalsuperintendent of theChrist Apostolic

Church (CAC), where 10worshippers were recentlykilled in Yola, theAdamawa state capital,Pastor C.S Fasuyi has calledon Nigerians to be full ofprayers for the country.

Fasuyi gave the call inYola during a condolencevisit to the ill-fated parishwere the gruesome incidentwhich he also described as‘abominable’, happened.

The clergy decried thecritica situation in thecountry but insisted thatwith prayers theperpetrators of all evil actswould be exposed andNigeria would be a safecountry again.

“Christ never promised

us a soft Christian life, butwith this persecution wewill find our way intoheaven because the earth isfull of tribulations; so be ofgood cheer bearing in mindthat Christ has conqueredthe world”, he stated.

Recounting the parish’sordeal to the president,Pastor John Mangai of theCAC Yola District ChurchCouncil, said the experiencewas horrible andunfortunate.

“Members were aboutrounding off the New Yearprayers for the day between7.00pm to 7.30pm whenall of a sudden somegunmen broke in; startingfrom the gate thesemerchants of death whohad come on motor-cyclesstarted firing right into thechurch”, Mangai narrated.

Explaining further, he

said: “The sporadic gun firewas deafening, it was likethey wanted to wipe awaythe entire congregation.Two brothers of sameparents were gunned downat the rear of the church; atthe front, the elder leadingthe closing prayers and theother one who had preachedand led the prayers for theday were riddled withbullets”.

He placed the figure ofthose murdered inside thechurch auditorium at 10,while two neighbours of thechurch who were outsidewhen the assailants camecalling, were also slain.

The state governmenthad placed a N25 millionreward for any person whogives a clue leading to thearrest of the assailants whilethe police say they are stillinvestigating the matter.

NLC lauds Oshiomhole overpalliative measuresThe Nigeria Labour

Congress (NLC),y e s t e r d a y ,

commended Gov. AdamsOshiomhole of Edo state forintroducing palliativemeasures to cushion theeffects of the recent increasein the price of petrol fromN65 to N97 per litre.

The chairman of thestate council, Mr.Emmanuel Ademokun,gave the commendation ina letter which the NLC sent

to the governor, copies ofwhich were madeavailable to newsmen inBenin.

The labour congressexpressed its sincereappreciation of the variouspalliative measuresannounced by thegovernor to cushion theresultant effects of subsidyremoval.

“The state council isparticularly proud to notethat the Comrade

Governor is again the firstto announce andimplement the reliefpackage in the country.

“Your action is atestimony of a pragmaticand proactive leadershipguided by the drive tobetter the lives of thepeople of Edo state andNigeria at large…” theletter stated.

The NLC, however,added that it lookedforward to the extension ofpalliative measures to thepublic servants in the state.(NAN)

NACOMYO wants speedy trial overBoko Haram leader’s death

The National Councilof Muslim YouthO r g a n i s a t i o n s

(NACOMYO), has taskedthe Federal Governmentto accelerate litigationagainst police personnelinvolved in the unlawfulkilling of Boko Haram sectleader, MohammeddYusuf.

The council gave thetask in a press statementissued as message to markMaulud Nabiyy, just as italso emphasised dialogueas panacea to tackling theBoko Haram menace.

The statement signedby Alhaji Kamal’ddinAkintunde, nationalsecretary of theorganisation, equallychallenged the NigerianInter-Religious Council(NIREC) of not justifyingits existence by not beingproactive at checkingsectarian crisesthreatning Nigeria’s

corporate existence.It decried the

utterances of thepresident of the ChristianAssociation of Nigeria(CAN), who is also thechairman of NIREC, asbeing inflammatory,toxic and prejudicial to

peace and goodneighbourliness.

In the same vein, thereligious body imploredBoko Haram to shiftgrounds and relax itsstance by ceasing fire andembracing the dialogueinitiative, as it is a meansto an end.

From Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji, Abeokuta

As part of its effort toe n s u r etransformation of the

Nigeria Police Force, thePolice Service Commission(PSC), has resolve tomonitor the conduct ofofficers in the forth-cominggubernatorial elections toensure that high level ofintegrity, neutrality andprofessionalism ismaintained by the officers.

A statement issuedyesterday by the Directorof Press in the commission,Ferdinand U. Ekpe, statedthat the election will be

held in Adamawa state onthe 4th of February, 2012,Bayelsa state 11thFebruary, 2012, Sokotostate 18th February, 2012,Cross River 25th February,2012.

The statement addedthat the monitoring teamto the four states will be ledby Dr. Otive Igbuzor, acommissioner in thecommission, and called onthe public to lodge theircomplaints through thefollowing numbers:0 8 1 6 4 1 8 3 5 9 7 ,0 8 1 6 4 1 8 3 6 4 7 ,08166857653, and08166857484.

PSC to monitor police conductduring governorship electionsBy Tobias Lengnan Dapam


Goodluck Jonathan for taking theinitiative of cutting his salary by25 percent and those of his cabinetmembers, as part of measuresaimed at reducing the cost ofgovernance.

“The president’s action in

Compel NASS, governors to also cutsalaries, clergy urges Jonathan

cutting his salary by 25 percentis a rare sacrifice. Members of theNational Assembly, stategovernors, as well as localgovernment chairmen shouldfollow suit without further delay.

“There is no doubt that the

various measures adopted by theFederal Government incushioning the effects of the oilsubsidy removal will soon bringdividends to the poor’’.

Rev. Inyang who appealedto Nigerians to support theFederal Government’stransformation agenda,said the mass transitprogramme already in operationin Abuja, had started easing thetransportation difficulties ofcommuters within and aroundthe city.

He also appealed to the FederalGovernment to ensure thejudicious use of funds fromthe subsidy to justify the removal.

“The funds realised from thesubsidy should be channeled intoroad maintenance, education,healthcare, housing, agricultureand job creation.’’ (NAN)

L-R: Minister of State for FCT, Ms. Jumoke Akinjide, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ms. Amma Pepple, Minister of Power,Professor Bath Nnaji, and Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, during a meeting on state of the economy withPresident Goodluck Jonathan at the State House, in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Joe Oroye

A Clergy, Rev. IdongesitInyang, has called on thepresidency to compel

members of the NationalAssembly, state governors andlocal government chairmen to cuttheir salaries by 25 percent.

Inyang, the Nyanya ResidentPastor of Qua Iboe Church, AbujaAutonomous District, gave theadvice in Abuja yesterday, in aninterview with the News Agencyof Nigeria (NAN).

He commended President

Emir charges media on Nigerian unity

The Emir of Ilorin andChairman of Kwara stateTraditional Rulers

Council, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, has charged Nigeriamedia houses to work towardssustaining unity in Nigeria justas he challenged them to educatethe younger generation on thenorms and traditions of thecountry.

Sulu-Gamabri, who made thecall yesterday in Ilorin, whilehosting the founder of Royal FM,

Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, in hispalace, noted that the unity ofthe country was not only theresponsibility of thegovernment, stressing that therole of the media would go a longway in bringing people of diversebackgrounds together.

The Emir appealed to allNigerians to be firm and uniteddespite the challenges thecountry is facing, adding that alltraditional rulers in the state arebehind youths who areprogressive minded, pledgingthat they would be given total

From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin support in an attempt to developthe state.

He however appealed to thefounder of the station not to allowany pressure group or politicalassociate to suppress the stationfrom carrying out its duties inaccordance to the laid downprinciples.

Earlier, the founder of thestation, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo,in his remark, said the challengesfacing the country would beresolved if all the traditionalrulers in the country worktogether with government.

Gaidamcommiserateswith IGP overwife’s deathGovernor Ibrahim

Gaidam of Yobe statehas described the death

of the wife of acting InspectorGeneral of Police, MohammedDahiru Abubakar, MaryamAbubakar, as a “painful loss”,not only to the Abubakarfamily but also to Nigeria.

The governor spokeyesterday when he paid acondolence visit to the actingInspector General of Police athis family residence in Kano.

“It is certainly a great loss,especially at this time whenyou needed her counsel, adviceand companionship to confrontthe daunting securitychallenges facing the nation”,Gaidam said.

The governor who told thenumber one cop to take solacein the Qur’anic verse whichsays “every soul must taste ofdeath” and that “we are allfrom God and to Him is ourfinal return”, prayed theAlmighty Allah to grant thedeceased eternal rest.

Police set to ensure best practices

Just a week after hisappointment as the ActingInspector General of Police,

M.D. Abubakar, has assuredNigerians that he wouldrebrand the Nigeria PoliceForce into a combatant andmorally responsible force thatwould meet up with theyearnings of the populace.

Abubakar, who gave thisassurance at the forceheadquarters while briefingnewsmen on his determinationto transform the force, addedthat his members will do their

best to protect the lives of citizensand their properties at this timeof critical challenges in thenation’s history.

He said though the police hashad a turbulent time in tryingto cope with various challengesbeclouding the profession, it ishigh time to make adjustmentsso as to present the public witha police that is free ofcorruption.

The new police boss furthertold the officers that the era ofcorruption and humiliation ofthe public were over, stressingthat the new force would notcondone corruption and human

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam rights abuses.To ensure that all officers are

up and doing in their variousstations, Abubakar saidAssistant Inspectors General andCommissioners of Police would beheld responsible for any crimecommitted within theirpurview, while calling on thepublic to partner with thesecurity operatives withinformation that would aid themin the fight against terrorism.

He further called on othersister agencies to team up withthe police, so as to effectivelycombat the waves of crime in thecountry.

The House CommitteeChairman on Road Safety,Hon. Nasiru Sani Zangon

Daura, has pledged thecommitment of his committee torequisite legislations on road safetymatters.

Nasiru gave this assuranceyesterday, at the routine tour offacilities at the Federal Road SafetyCommission (FRSC), nationalheadquarters in company of othermembers of the committee, duringan oversight visit.

The chairman commendedFRSC for the level of investment ithas made so far on information andcommunications Technology(ICT), adding that the FRSC hasembraced ICT in its operational andadministrative activities whichimpacted positively on last year’sstatus of road traffic crashes with adownward slide as against previousyears.

In his words, “we are absolutelybreathless with what we saw todayin FRSC, which to a large extentwill provide the required boost forthe Federal Government’stransformation agenda”.

In his response, the FRSC CorpsMarshal, Osita Chidoka, presentedthe Corps’ 2011 fiscal budgetperformance which according tohim, witnessed a 99.62%performance in the face ofN303,104,941.00 released, out ofN448,533,941.00 appropriated toFRSC in last year’s budgetaryallocation.

Continuing, Chidoka statedthat with the limited resources, theCorps has managed 42 help areasand 12 ambulance emergencycentres, 224 field commands, 79ambulances, 28 tow trucks and hasremitted N1, 326 billion to theFederation Account as finesgenerated from enforcement oftraffic rules and regulations.

House pledgeslegislativesupport toFRSCBy Adeola Tukuru


Strike: Students applaud FG,ASUU for reaching compromiseSome students of the

University of Nigeria(UNN), Nsukka, have

commended the FederalGovernment and ASUU forreaching a compromise that ledto the suspension ofthe nationwide strike.

ASUU embarked on anindefinite strike on Dec. 5, 2011,following the FederalGovernment’s failure toimplement the agreement itsigned with the union in 2009.

Mr. Nnamdi Azubike of theDepartment of CombinedMicrobiology and Biochemistry,told the News Agency of Nigeria

(NAN) in Nsukka yesterday, thathe was happy that ASUU hadsuspended its strike.

He said: “I am very happy thatASUU has suspended the strike.The news is cheering.

“I want to plead withuniversity managements not torush us in the syllabus.’’

Another student, MrChinanye Udechukwu of theDepartment of Foreign Languagesand Literary Studies, said that thesuspension of the strikewould bring relief to students whowere tired of staying at home.

“I thank God that governmentand ASUU have settled their

differences at last. It is cheeringnews as well as a welcomedevelopment.

“I hope they have settled theirproblems once and for all.’’

A Department of ElectricalElectronics student, who pleadedanonymity, said that governmentshould ensure that its agreementwith ASUU was implemented toavoid another strike.

“I want to plead withgovernment to implement everyagreement reached with ASUUthat led to the call-off of the strike.

“Students will not be happyif ASUU goes on strike againbecause of non-implementation of

agreement reached withgovernment.’’

Dr. Aloysius Okolie, thechairman of ASUU, UNNchapter, confirmed that thestrike had been suspended.

He said: “ASUU national bodyon Wednesday called off itsnationwide strike but lecturersare to resume work on Thursday.

“Universities will now holdcongresses to suspend the strikeso that normal academicactivities will resume.

“ASUU considered nationalinterest in suspending the strike”.(NAN)

Former governor of Sokotostate, Alhaji AliyuWamakko, has pledged

positive transformation in the state,if voted into power come February18.

Wamakko made the pledgeyesterday, at the flag-off of hisgovernorship campaign inGwadabawa local governmentarea of Sokoto state.

Wamakko pledged to embarkon massive construction of feederroads, hospitals, schools, amongothers if elected.

He blamed his detractors in thePDP for spreading rumours with theaim of creating confusion and chaosin the state.

The former governor statedthat some Abuja politicians hadengaged in evil machinations inorder to pull him down.

According to him, suchmischievous politicians claiming tobe 'old PDP' members have lostrelevance and want to destroy theparty in the state.

Also speaking, Acting Governorof the state, Alhaji Lawali Zayyana,pledged to do whatever it takes toensure Wamakko's return forsecond term.

From Muhammad Abdullah, Sokoto

Wamakko flagsoff campaign,pledgestransformation

YOSACA buysN9m HIV test kits

L-R: Members of the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, Hon. Samuel Adejare, Hon. Joseph Kigbu exchangingpleasantries with Minister of State 1 for Foreign Affairs. Mrs. Viola Onwuliri, during the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2012 budget defencebefore the Committee at the National Assembly, in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Mahmud Isa

The Yobe state Agency for theControl of HIV and AIDS(YOSACA), has bought

15,000 cartons of HIV test kitsworth N9.7 million to encouragefree and voluntary testing amongthe people.

Hajiya Farida Mamudo, thedirector of the agency, told theNews Agency of Nigeria (NAN) inDamaturu yesterday,that each carton contained 100test kits.

She said the kits were currentlybeing distributed to 19 healthinstitutions in the state, explainingthat the state government boughtthem through the NationalAgency for the Control of HIV andAIDS to ensure high standards andaccurate results.

The director said that test kitsworth N2.5 million weredistributed to health institutions inthe last four months.

“The agency is vigorouslytrying to instill the culture of HIVtest among our people as a measureto combat the virus and encouragethose with the infection to accessthe free drugs provided bygovernment.’’

She noted that the workingpartnership with traditional andreligious leaders had encouragedpeople to make themselvesavailable for test while those livingwith the virus were made to accessfree drugs.

“There is tremendousimprovement in the fight againstHIV and AIDS in Yobe as peopleliving with the virus join supportgroups in sensitising the public onpreventive measures andaccessing drugs for those with thevirus.’’ (NAN)

organising a peaceful protestrally which, according to him,was hijacked by opportunisticindividuals to wreak havoc.

Gov. Aliyu noted that theattacks and destruction werecarried out systematically andtargeted at government edifices

Niger govt exonerates NLC, TUC from subsidy unrest

The governor of Niger state, Dr.Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, hasexonerated the state chapter

of the Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC), and the Trade UnionCongress (TUC) from the civil

unrest and attendant destructionof property that followed theremoval of fuel subsidy.

Receiving executive membersof the organised labour atGovernment House in Minna,the state capital, he commendedthe labour movement for

and properties of the PeoplesDemocratic Party (PDP) andsome of its members.

He contended that thepeaceful protest by labour waslegal and justified but was quickto add that the strike wouldhave been averted if adequatemobilisation and sensitisationcampaigns were carried out onthe positive implications of fuelsubsidy removal.

Chairman of NLC in thestate, Comrade Yahaya IdrisNdako said they were inGovernment House tocommiserate and sympathisewith the state government overthe destruction to public andprivate properties during thestrike by some hoodlums.

Comrade Ndako condemnedthe violent protests anddissociated the union from thedisturbances, adding thatlabour only embarked on apeaceful protest rally to show itsdisapproval over the removal offuel subsidy which wasunfortunately capitalised upon bysome irate youths in pursuance oftheir own rebellious agenda.

From Iliya Garba, Minna

act. We have taken actions but whatwe are saying is that until we havethe facts, we are constrained”.

According to him, the DPP hadrequested the police vide a laterdated July 28, 2010, to investigatethe matter to enable them issue aconsidered legal opinion and takenecessary steps.

He claimed that the police wasyet to conclude its investigation,adding that it was thereforepremature for Keyamo to seek foran order of mandamus.

Keyamo had approached thecourt presided over by JusticeYetunde Idowu for an order ofmandamus compelling the DPP toexercise his discretion whether ornot to prosecute Inde.

Certificate:No evidence to prosecute Customschief, DPP says

Attorney-General of Lagosstate and Commissioner forJustice, Mr. Ade Ipaye,

yesterday, told an Ikeja High Courtthat it lacks adequate informationto respond to the call to prosecutethe Comptroller General ofCustoms, Alhaji Abdullahi DikkoInde for alleged certificate forgeryas requested by Lagos radicallawyer and rights crusader, FestusKeyamo.

Arguing his application whichasked the court to dismiss Keyamo’ssuit on the ground that it wasimmature and lacked sufficient

evidence, a counsel from theministry of Justice, Mr. OlarenwajuAkinsola, told the court that it wasuntrue that the DPP was notinterested in prosecuting thecustoms boss.

According to him, from theevidence available to the office ofthe Director of Public Prosecution,there was nothing to justify theprosecution of the custom boss asalleged by the Lagos lawyer.

It has filed a counter affidavitchallenging the rights of the lawyerto have requested for a mandatoryorder for the DPP to prosecute thecustoms boss for the alleged offence.

He said: “The law states that anoffence must have been committedbefore the law officer is meant to

From Francis Iwuchukwu, Lagos


15-year-old student stabs3 colleagues

The Minister of Interior,Comrade Abba Moro, hasreiterated government

determination to protect lives andproperties of citizens and noncitizens alike in the country.

He stated this yesterday at theheadquarters of the ministry whileplaying host to the members of theRed Cross Society of Nigeria(RCSN), added that partneringwith the association is sacrosanct,owing to the waves of violence inthe country.

He further said the presidentand all the security agencies wouldnot relent to protect law abidingcitizens in the country, as it isnecessary for the government toplay an effective role in protectingits citizens.

The minister said it is high timefor Nigerians to support thegovernment and its securityagencies with viable informationthat would assist the governmentin stemming the threat posedbefore it by the Boko Haram sect.

Moro thanked members of theRCSN for their desire to partnerwith government, while calling onother nongovernmentalorganisations (NGO), and privateorganisations to join in the waragainst terrorism, as governmentalone cannot quell the problem.

On his part, the leader of theRCSN said the association has beena major supporter of governmentand would continue to worktowards ensuring peace in thecountry.

Interior ministerreiterates govt’sdetermination toprotect citizensBy Tobias Lengnan Dapam

Four suspected rapistsidentified to be students ofMoshood Abiola Polytech-

nic, Abeokuta, have been arrestedand handed over to the police forinterrogation.

The gang had kidnapped afemale student within the campus,and took her into a bush but thelady victim was discovered to bemenstruating.

Our correspondent reliablygathered further that the gang,however held on to the victim’smobile phone.

The gang used the phone to callher parents demanding ransom ofN50, 000, with a threat that shewas in their custody having beingkidnapped, but luck later ran outof them following their arrest.

As at the time of filing thisreport, the suspects were said tohave been handed over to the policefor further investigation, just as twofactions of a secret cult in the schoolyesterday engaged in a gun battle.

Our correspondent reliablylearnt further that the exchangeof fire which took place at theOnikolobo-Oloke area of Abeokutaclaimed the life of a male studentwhile others sustained injuries.

MAPOLYstudent rapistsarrested as cultgroup clashesFrom Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji,Abeokuta

In its effort to ensure goodgovernance andaccountability both at the

state and in the local governmentcouncil administration systems,the Jigawa state government hasresolved to place the 2012 budgeton the internet for stakeholdersconsumption.

This was disclosed by theBirniwa local government councilchairman, Alhaji Aliyu Idris

Diginsa while speaking tonewsmen in his office. He said themeasure is in line with theGovernor Lamido’s effort inensuring public trust among thepeople of the state.

Alhaji Diginsa explained thatthis will also give the general publicand avail the citizenry sufficientrecord and the opportunity to trackthe budgetary implementationduring the year.

The local council chairmanexplained that the State House of

From Ahmed Abubakar, Dutse Assembly had already directedthem to bring forth their financialcommitment before a committeefor further scrutiny andsubsequent placement of same onthe internet.

According to him, “all the 27local government councils in thestate have been directed by thestate House of Assembly to vividlyexplain their 2012 budget devoidof any ambiguity to either projectsor the costs for the execution of theprojects”.

He further explained that thedecision is a clear testimony ofGovernor Lamido's commitment toan open-door governance while atthe same time allowing the citizensto participate in governmentprogrammes.

The chairman howevercommended Jigawa stategovernment for the adequatefunding to the local councils, whilecalling on the general public tocontinue to support the policythrust of the administration.

Jigawa to place state, LG’s budget on the net

NAFDAC moves against adulteration of drugsand fake products

A 15-year-old secondaryschool student, Hammedhas been arrested by the

Ogun state Police Command forallegedly stabbing three of hismates in Orile-Ilugun, Odeda local

government area of the state.The boy, according to Peoples

Daily investigations, had gone wildafter a corporal punishment wasmeted on him by the schoolauthority for indiscipline. Hisvictims were said to have assistedthe school authority to disciplinehim.

From Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji,Abeokuta

According to the schoolsources, the three stabbed studentsassisted their teacher to pin thearrogant boy down, while he wasbeing caned.

But hours after receiving thecorporal punishment, he wentafter his mates and stabbed the trioin vengeance.

The boy later ran off from thescene of the crime, while thewounded boys were rushed to themedical centre in the town for firstaid treatment, and later

transferred to State Hospital,Ijaiye, Abeokuta where they wereplaced on admission. The runawaysuspect was arrested and detainedat the police headquarters atEleweran, Abeokuta.

When contacted, the OgunState Police Command PublicRelations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi,confirmed the incident, addingthat further investigation wasongoing while the commandassured that the law would take itscourse.

The National Agency for Foodand Drugs Administrationand Control (NAFDAC),

has urged drug vendors andpharmacists to help the agency incombating adulterated drugs andfake products across the state.

The Director of PublicEnlightenment of the agency,represented by Mrs. ChristabelJulie Okoye, gave the adviceyesterday in Birnin Kebbi, at theone-day sensitisation workshop onfake and adulterated drugs, addingthat the aim was to inform,educate and communicate with

From Ahmed Idris, Birnin Kebbi

the people on behalf of the agency.The programme which was

organised by the NAFDAC, wasaimed at curbing the menace inthe state and Nigeria at large withthe major concern to safe guardthe life of the Nigerians.

She summoned the drugvendors in Kebbi state to join handsin combat against the adulterateddrugs and should also stand firmagainst fake and substandard

regulated products, for a betterNigeria.

Mrs. Okoye added that there isthe need to screen herbal drugs andhave them listed for registrationby the NAFDAC.

“Let us be part of rebrandingNigeria; the lives and destiny of ourborn and unborn children are inour hands; let us channel themproperly and direct them right fora better society”, she said.

L-R: Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Bukar Tijjani, Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi AyodejiAdesina, and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Ezekiel Oyemomi, during the ministry’s 2012 budget defence before the Houseof Representatives Committee on Rural Development, at the National Assembly, in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Mahmud Isa


To borrow N794bn to finance budget deficitThe Federal Government

plans to cut the 2012N4.749 trillion budget by

about N400 billion. TheCoordinating Minister for theEconomy and Minister of Finance,Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, gave thehint during a meeting with theSenate Committee onAppropriation at the NationalAssembly.

The cut, however, will notaffect provisions for capitalprojects as it would be restrictedonly to the recurrent vote, shesaid. The plan is coming against

untouched while overheads andrecurrent expenditure will bereduced", she said.

She also demanded for morecuts on expenditure on part of theNational Assembly, though theSenate President, David Mark,had earlier announced a 40percent cut in its overheadsbeginning from the 2011 fiscalyear.

Dr. Ngozi explained furthersaying: “We still need to find morecuts. As the Executive cuts itsown, we hope that the National

the backdrop of prevalentuncertainties and volatility in theinternational oil market.

The minister told members ofthe committee that PresidentGoodluck Jonathan was not awareof the proposal as he has not beenbriefed.

She however, added thatcapital expenditure for the fiscalyear would not be touched buthinted that there will be drasticcuts in overheads and recurrentexpenditure. “Capitalexpenditure for 2012 is left

By Richard Ihediwa

Assembly will still cut its own inorder to help us. We are going tolook at the statutory transfers,look at the Judiciary, INEC andothers; whoever we can negotiatewith to help us out this yearshould do so... We need to makethat sacrifice. At the minimum,we need to find N370 billion,almost N400 billion so as to bringdown the deficit to a manageablelevel”.

“There’s a revision (of thebudget) we need to show MrPresident and we have not had a

FG plans to cut 2012 budget by N400bnchance to tell him about the cuts.It’s very difficult but that’s wherewe are now", she said.

Giving further details on theyear 2012 budget, the FinanceMinister told the committee thatgovernment would borrow N794billion out of the projected N1.104trillion to finance the year 2012budget deficit.

Responding, the Chairman ofthe Senate committee, SenatorAhmed Maccido, reminded theMinister that the NationalAssembly had already cut itsexpenditure and added that theministry must give specific detailsabout its year 2012 budget.

Governor Saidu Dakingariof Kebbi state has assuredthe management and staff

of the Federal Radio Cooperation ofNigeria, Kaduna, that in the nexttwo weeks, the Kebbi state PowerStation branch will commence fullservice.

He gave this assurance whenthe Zonal Director of the FRCN paidhim a courtesy visit inGovernment House onWednesday. The governor thenordered the Commissioner forInformation, Secretary to the StateGovernment and the SpecialAssistant on Media to summits thecost implication of the remainingprojects at the station.

In his remark, the ZonalDirector of FRCN, Malam LadanSalihu, expressed satisfaction overthe development recorded underGovernor Dakingari since heassumed office; adding that hismission is to ensure that the FRCNstation in Kebbi commencesoperation as all the equipment arealready installed.

Kebbi FRCNto commenceservice in twoweeksFrom Ahmed Idris, Birnin Kebbi

The Federal RoadMaintenance Agency(FERMA), has pleaded with

the House of Representatives toprevail on the Petroleum ProductsPricing Regulatory Agency(PPPRA), to release the statutoryfive percent pump price onpetroleum products in order toaugment the agency’s revenue.

FERMA’s Managing Directorand Chief Executive Officer (CEO),Engr. Gabriel Amuchi, told theHouse Committee on FERMAchaired by Rep. Ofor Chukwuegbo,during his budget defense, that themajor challenge preventing theagency from delivering on itsmandate was paucity of funds.

According to the FERMA boss,the petroleum fund, according tothe Act establishing the agency,was to be deducted from both dieseland petrol.

He requested the committee toprevail on the PPPRA to obey thelaw empowering it to deduct thepetroleum tax made in 2004 andremit some to the agency.According to him, the fund whenremitted would be shared on ration40/60 between FERMA and the 36states of the federation with roadmaintenance agencies.

Amuchi, who appeared beforethe committee to defend his N32.9billion 2012 appropriationproposal told the committee thatseveral efforts made by the agencyand the parent Ministry of Worksto compel the PPPRA to remit thefunds have failed in the last sevenyears.

Responding to the allegation,PPPRA’s Executive Secretary, Engr.Reginald Stanley, told thecommittee that he was not awareof such tax in the agency’s templateon diesel because the product hadsince been deregulated.

By Lawrence Olaoye

FERMA lobbies Reps for assessmentof 5% petroleum fund

Insecurity: Sarkin Hausawa advocatesconstitutional amendmentstatutory roles to traditional rulersin the country as a recipe fornation's insecurity.

Zungeru stated this in Ibadanduring a media chat saying thiswould facilitate enduring peaceand unity across the nation.

Specifically, he expressed thehope that a lasting solution wouldbe found to the recurring BokoHaram insurgency in the countrywith the effective involvement oftraditional rulers in the peaceprocesses.

as Muslims, Christians and eventhe pagans own this country. Thisis why I strongly call on thedifferent state governments allover the country to join forces withthe Federal Government andconvene sovereign nationalconference that will giveconstitutional role to traditionalrulers in bringing peace and unityto the nationals, and also bring atotal end to religious bigotry in thecountry,” the Sarkin Hausawasaid.

He also insisted that if the royalfathers are involved in peacemoves, “they will effectivelymonitor and unearth theintruders within their respectivecommunities.”

Alhaji Zungeru condemned instrong terms the killings ofinnocent people in the Northernparts of the country which hedescribed as unnecessary andungodly.

“There was no need for peopleto pounce on fellow human beings

From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

The Sarkin Hausawa ofIbadanland, Alhaji AhmedZungeru, yesterday,

advocated constitutionalamendment that would give

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

National Drugs Law EnforcementAgency (NDLEA), havecommenced a three-month basiccourse for about 118 junior andsenior officers on organised crimeinvestigation and interdictiontechniques law to equip the officerson the task of combating trafficking

wealth and resource of any nation.Mr. Jang who spoke through the

Commissioner for Women Affairs,Mrs. Olivia Dazyem, said incessantintake of drug by youths has becomedangerous to the nation and urgedNDLEA to work hard and stem themenace in the country.

He charged NAPTIP and NDLEAto collaborate with other securityagencies in order to help the nationby ensuring that “this moderncrime against humanity is broughtto the barest minimum not only inPlateau state but Nigeria at large”.

in the country.The senior and junior officers of

NAPTIP who are participating inthe training are drawn fromLagos, Akwa-Ibom, Edo, Sokoto,Borno, Kano and Enugu states andthe federal capital, Abuja.

Speaking at the event, Plateaustate governor, Jonah Jang, urgedNAPTIP and NDLEA to double upefforts in the fight against drug intakeamong youths which has ruined thefuture of many youths who are the

From Nankpah Bwakan, Jos

NAPTIP, NDLEA train personnel on combatingdrugs, human trafficking

L-R: ASUU Vice-President, Dr. Nasir Fagge, ASUU President, Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie, and former ASUU President, Dr. AbdullahiSule-Kano, during a news conference on the suspension of their strike, in Abuja, on Wednesday. Photo: NAN


Jonathan’s ill-advised bidfor AU chair

One of the key decisions takenat the just concluded 18thAfrican Union (AU) Summit

held at its newly built magnificentheadquarters in Addis Ababa,Ethiopia, was the choice of a newchairperson for the year 2012, aposition that is rotated. At the endof the three-day summit whichopened on January 29, PresidentThomas Boni Yayi of Benin Republicemerged as Chairperson for theyear, taking over from the Presidentof Equatorial Guinea, Mr. TeodoroObiang Nguema Mbasogo.

In the run-up to the election,Nigeria’s President, Goodluck EbeleJonathan, reportedly made anattempt to displace the BeninRepublic leader and ready himselfas the eventual chairperson of theAU. His move was, however,thwarted by stiff opposition fromsome of his colleagues at a mini-summit of the Economic Communityof West Africa States (ECOWAS) ofwhich he is the current chair. Theother ECOWAS heads of state andgovernments had insisted that agentleman’s agreement reachedearlier at the regional level tosupport Benin Republic’s bid mustbe respected. Besides, theyreportedly urged Jonathan to paygreater attention to containing therising insecurity in Nigeria, which tothem, poses a serious threat topeace and security in the sub-region.

“We at Peoples Daily aredeeply saddened by the ill-

advised move of ourPresident, coming at a time

when Nigeria needs thegoodwill and support of sisterAfrican countries, especially inthe ECOWAS sub-region, forits higher aspiration for a slotin the United Nations Security

Council

EDITEDITEDITEDITEDITORIALORIALORIALORIALORIAL

At the end of the selection process,President Jonathan’s spokesperson,Reuben Abati, and Nigeria’s ForeignAffairs Minister, Olugbenga Ashiru,made spirited attempts to deny mediareports that their boss vied for theUnion’s top job. The reports,according to Abati, were “calculatedto cast his (Jonathan’s)administration in a bad light”, even as

he admitted: “It is true, however, thatin the last week, some newspapershave been speculating that PresidentJonathan may be adopted by theECOWAS Heads of State andGovernments to be the next chairmanof the African Union, since it was theturn of ECOWAS to produce the AUChairman for 2012-2013. Mr.

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President was indeed approached byleaders within and outside the WestAfrican sub-region to take up thechallenge of leading the AU for thenext one year”.

Credible diplomatic sourceswithin the AU, however, revealedthat the Nigerian leader had indeedshown interest in leading theorganization, and only backed out ofthe race when it was all too obvioushe would lose if it came down to avote being called at the ECOWASlevel, as the sub-regional group hadthe mandate to produce the newchairperson.

We at Peoples Daily are deeplysaddened by the ill-advised move ofour President, coming at a timewhen Nigeria needs the goodwilland support of sister Africancountries, especially in theECOWAS sub-region, for its higheraspiration for a slot in the UnitedNations Security Council. We feelevery Nigerian president should tryto subordinate their ambition tothe overall national, continentaland global aspirations of ourcountry. This is imperative becauseNigeria, being Africa’s so-called BigBrother, can hardly achieve itsforeign policy goals if its leadersalienate smaller sister Africancountries. The ECOWAScommunity spirit and our ownenlightened self-interest demandthat we be sensitive to the concernsof our smaller neighbours.

DIRECTOR/ EDITOR-IN-CHIEFRUFA’I IBRAHIM


By Umaru Ali Shinkafi

State police: A policy option for current insecurity

Amid unprecedented threatsto national security by local insurgents which have not

only posed serious challenge togovernance but also continue toclaim scores of innocent lives, it ispertinent that public attention isincreasingly focused on the needto strengthen law enforcement ingeneral and the police inparticular. While there isunderstandable consensus thatthis objective entails boosting thecapacity and effectiveness of thepolice in terms of personnel andequipment, the other strategynecessitating the introduction of asecond tier of police formation atstate level has been engulfed inunyielding controversy. The issueof introducing state police inNigeria has however not lostcredibility on account of suchconflicts of opinion and in the latestround it is clear that sooner thanlater, controversy will give way tosheer necessity, notwithstandingits unfounded rejection by anunduly biased section of publicopinion and other entrenchedinterests. Indeed it was recentlydisclosed that the Presidentpresented a memo to the NationalCouncil of States recommendingthe proposal which the Councilunfortunately rejected.

The main opposition toestablishment of state police inNigeria has been driven by anexaggerated, misleading andunfounded precedent focusing onthe abuse of state police throughpolitical interference andmanipulation. The truth is thatstate police has never beenestablished in Nigeria before, so

there are no unsavory antecedentson which to hang this prejudice.Critics are deliberately swiping thestate police with the stained brushof the Native Authority Police, acreation of convenience of thecolonialists’ administration intenton capitalizing on therudimentary security outfit ofpalace guards of the traditionalrulers in the northern, westernand eastern regions for its indirectrule policy. The Native AuthorityPolice was itself an enforcementinstitution of the paramount ruler,mainly staffed by princes,aristocrats, allies and servants,established to implementadministrative directives. Theparamount ruler, whether emir,oba or obi, was, in classicalautocratic fashion, already anembodiment of chief executive,chief legislator and chief judge inhis domain. In furtherance of itsagenda, the colonialadministration provided thepalace guards with a modicum ofpolice training which enabledthem to wear police-styleduniforms, among otherembellishments. Little or noattempt was made by thecolonialists to reform or evencurtail the notoriously oppressiveand abused service. It waseventually abolished in thesweeping reforms thataccompanied creation of states bythe military in 1966.

The Nigeria Police Force wasalso created by the colonialadministration in 1943 as a lawenforcement agency modeled afterthe British police formation, withlegislative backing andoperational guidelines. It wasestablished to maintain a law and

order regime that strengthened thecolonial administration’s control ofthe Nigerian protectorates whilecollaborating with the provincesthrough the Native AuthorityPolice. At independence, theNigeria Police Force was adaptedto function as a federal police withelaborate constitutional backing.There were specific provisions toaccommodate the concerns of thenew dispensation, especiallyregarding the fears of theminorities, which included thePolice Council comprisingrepresentatives of the federal andregional governments andresponsible for policies andcommand appointments. TheForce was headed by an Inspector-General of Police with regionalcommands under Commissionersof Police who interacted withPremiers of the regions inmaintenance of law and order.These arrangements also served aschecks and balances in the policiesand operations of the police,especially in areas where theopposition held sway. It wasdefinitely a departure from theoppressive NA Police which actedon the whims and caprices of a localemir or chief.

This was the scenario until theeventful military intervention inthe political administration ofNigeria with disruptive impact onseveral national institutions,including the Nigeria Police. Themilitary embarked on systematicimposition of its unitary commandstructure in entrenching itselfhaving abrogated crucialconstitutional encumbrances. Thissignaled the creeping unitarismthat altered the status and role ofthe Nigeria Police and brought the

Force, in effect, under thedomineering control of the centralmilitary government. All decisionson operations and appointmentswere made by the military Headof State with the ulterior interestof maintaining the paramountposition of the military and alsoreducing the capacity of the Policeto pose real threat to the militarygovernment. The provision for aPolice Council in the constitutionwas subverted by the reality,under military rule, of the Councilbeing composed of subordinateofficers. The IG therefore becamesolely and absolutely answerableto the Commander-in-Chief, noteven the apex Military Council,necessitating his virtual relocationfrom Force Headquarters to thePresidential Villa so as to be at thebeck and call of the C-in-C, and amere appendage of the Presidency.It was observed that since theSecond Republic, most IG’s spent asubstantial part of their workinghours interacting with thePresidency, rather than with thecommand and main body of theForce! At one time the Chief of Staff(Supreme Headquarters) was thechairman of the Police ServiceCommission.

Even worse, the Force was laterto further be relegated to thesupervision of a ministry in thefederal system with a substantiveMinister of Police Affairs, whogradually assumed responsibilityfor budgetary spending andprocurement, not to mention, aswe saw recently, dabbling in“supervision” of operations. Thecontinued retention and relianceon a federally-controlled NigeriaPolice Force has not beensignificantly curtailed despite the

Al- Mustapha: The perversionof cause of justice (I)With tears in my eyes and

a deep hole in my heart Iwatched the patronizing

pronouncement of a supposedcourt of law. It was a perfectcharade by a deranged temple ofjustice recruited by a blood thirstycable determined to justify a statemurder. The truth is while thehired guns might hail the courtas having delivered vengeance,it was a sordid moment for everytrue legal mind and thosegenuinely concerned about thejustice of the law as against justiceof vengeance. The judgement wasa class lesson in the art of politicalengineering of judicialjurisprudence. This is becauseapart from Nigeria, there isnowhere in the world where acourt of law will convict anaccused person for allegedconspiracy to commit murder onthe fragile grounds of a derangedwitness who sounded delusionaryeven to his choreographers afterfourteen years of dehumanizingdetention.

By Shehu Abdullahi Zuru Looking at the text of thejudgment as carried in mostnational dailies, as a very seniorlawyer I make bold to say thatapart from the chief architect ofthe circus road show with a toxicand demented mindset, there wasnothing compelling in the mindsof the neutral and the uprightabout the weight of evidence inthe discharge of onus of proofbeyond every reasonable doubtwithin the content of the supposedconviction.

Nevertheless, it was a sweetsymphony to the ethnic gatekeepers who had worked so hardpreparatory to the conviction topoison public opinion against theaccused through systematicvilification and pathologicaldemonization of those who servedunder the regime of late GeneralSani Abacha of the blessedmemory with the diligence, thezeal and the perfection of theirprofessional calling. It isimportant to remind thecannibals that although itsomewhat feels as though theyhave succeeded in delivering

their prepared script on thematter by making Maj. HamzaAl-Mustapha and others thesacrificial lambs of generalAbacha’s regime, thecelebrations are peremptorybecause it will not be over until itis over. On the other hand, forthe judiciary, this watershedmiscarriage of justice is allowedit will go down as a permanentscar on the collective conscienceof the Nigerian Judiciary.According to Justice Cordozo, onetime Chief Justice of the UnitedStates and a very long timeHarvard University academic,The problem of law and justicestemmed from the fact that oftenthan not there are stupid judges,stupid juros stupid lawyers andstupid sheriff while I may notagree entirely with the learnedChief Justice, the truth is,scenarios like the trial andpurported conviction of Maj. Al-mustapha will most certainlyprove him prophetic. Havingsaid that, I take refuge in theproposition of Mitch Albom in hisbook, The Five People you Meet

in Heaven, that fairness is not thegoverning regime for life anddeath otherwise nice peoplewouldn’t have died.

Yes indeed nice people wouldn’thave died, but it is the greatestbetrayal of rule of law and thephilosophy of justice for theultimate beacon of hope (theJudiciary) to degenerate to thelevel of a licensed executionerready to tighten the hangman’snoose round the neck of the hated,the despised and even theinnocent in a ritual of statemurder. This has never happenedbefore as far as knowledge isconcerned, not even atNuremburg when the mostserious of serious crimes ofgenocide and crimes againsthumanity were in issue and triedby the victor’s tribunal. It wasappalling if not despicable to see ajudge fully roped abusing theprivilege and opportunity of aCourtroom to misinform on themost basic common senseprinciples of fair trial, procedureand decorum in the callous bid toperpetuate ethnic justice.

Sadly, that is where we areand that underscores theimperative to identify this ethnicconviction for what it is andcondemn accordingly; this is amandatory service to rule of law,democracy and freedom of speech.

In the language of late Gen.George S. Patten, a soldier is purelya product of a baptism of blood andfire. He said that this during theinvasion of Sicily during the 2ndworld war. Little did he know thenthat a major in the NigerianArmy would one day fit his thesison soldiering. The truth is you area natural soldier, fearless,courageous, intelligent, aperfectionist and your record ofgallantry speaks for itself. You area soldier in the mould of the battlehardened whose pedigree historywas forced to stop and took notice,Allah jikan maza, late Gen. MusaBamayi (magayakin zuru), Gen.Joshua Dogon Yaro, late Gen.Luka Yusuf and, of course, Gen.Victor Malu.

Shehu Abdullahi Zuru is alaw lecturer at the Universityof Abuja.

unabated political interferenceand manipulation by the centralgovernment. One regretful resultof such undue influence is theexploitation of lapses in therecruitment and appointmentprocess that has effectively todaynegated the federal character inthe Force. Other snags givingpolice a bad name such ascorruption, brutality andindiscipline are essentiallytraceable to the human factorwhich can be remedied byinstitutional measures.

As for the deep-rootedapprehension against abuse, it isrelief that today’s judiciary hasdeveloped the required sensitivityto the protection of civil rights ofcitizens and the citizenry is evermore aware and capable ofpursuing such rights. In the finalanalysis, the lee-way for impunityand rampant abuses in policeoperations has been considerablycurbed. Even better is the much-talked about establishment of aconstitutional court withenhanced enforcement of civilrights and monitoring of lawenforcement agents at all levels.

However, the prevailingchallenging circumstances inmaintenance of law and order andthe rampant outbreaks of newforms of criminality such asterrorism and insurgencyrequiring urgent innovativeresponses demand new strategiesand changes in operationalstructure of the Force. Today, morethan ever before, the potency ofintelligence gathering anddynamic pro-active engagement incombating crime is assuming

Continued on page 15


Yes to subsidy removalI finally spent a little over fourhours to watch and digest theYouTube debate video from

the second town hall meeting onsubsidy removal, moderated byNduka, with governmentofficials, labour and civil societyrepresented. I also heard anunverified rumor that organizedlabour was “settled” to call off theprotests against subsidy removal.Before I saw this video, I saw quitea bit of news clips of manyNigerians from all works of life,across the globe, protesting theremoval of fuel subsidy and usingthat as an opportunity to “occupyNigeria,” with additionaldemands to end all the ills of thesociety, including corruption.

I have all along stood for thesubsidy removal, except for twomisgivings. First, like mostinformed Nigerians, I think theNigerian government shouldhave drastically cut their cost ofrunning government, put inplace certain shock absorbersbefore it removes the subsidy, andas well as phase in the subsidyremoval. Second, allay the fearsof Nigerians regarding a generallack of confidence in their abilityto truly reinvest the conceivedsavings from the subsidyremoval. Only government’sbetter performance can satisfythis second point.

In a true capitalists society themarket forces must be allowed towork properly for the good of all.That means government cannotdo everything for its people, exceptprovide those things which thepeople cannot provide forthemselves and entrenchopportunities to aid the very poorto rise and join the middle or upper

class without necessarily beingsocially connected and privileged.These are the areas where thegovernment of Nigeria hasrepeatedly failed Nigerians.

In my opinion, capitalism isbest described by citizens’acknowledgement of who is inpossession of factors of production—hopefully in thehands of privateindividuals, in theright way. Thus,governments haveno businessrunning things,except to providethe climate withinwhich things arerun efficiently. Ihave alwaysadvanced thedefinition ofleadership to be amovement. That is,a leader must havethe ability to takepeople and thingsfrom one location to another, fromwhere they are to where theywant to be. This of coursepresupposes that the led havewillingness to follow or arepersuaded with superiorarguments and accomplishmentsto follow, but not coerced to follow.

The two questions that mostNigerians ought to constantly askare: who are our leaders? Why arethey not efficient and effectivemost of the time? Hopefully asyou/we ask these questions, you/we look at yourself/ourselves inthe mirror and ask if you/wepossess the same leadershipdeficiencies of our current or past

Peoples Daily welcomes your letters, opinion articles, textmessages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written

contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters - 150words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your name anda valid location. Letters to the Editor should be addressed

to:

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WRITE TO US

leaders. The point is leadershipcomes from the “group.” Logicsuggests that the Nigerian societyis corrupt, inefficient, amongother things, and that is why itattracts leaders who are areflection of its society at large. Ourredeeming grace lies in somedayhaving a courageous leader with

impeccable character traits andheart unafraid to set the tone fromthe top downward and eventuallyremove corruption from the fabricof our society.

My unpopular position is thatfuel subsidy does not provide poorNigerians the much neededincentive to freely navigate theircommon sense away from theviciousness of poverty. Forinstance, folks having too manykids because of their religious orcustomary or political beliefsshould face the trickle down effectsof transportation costs and the costof all other things associated withenergy as a way for society at

large to be serious with familyplanning—a common sense issuein today’s world. Why bite morethan you can chew? Nigeriancentral government has a toughrole here too, to be the chiefadvocate for family planning byproviding contraceptives andcounselling to those needing

them.However,

the federalgovernmentm a yu n l i k e l yfulfil thisrole unlesst h r o u g hv o l u n t a r ys t a t e sparticipationbecause ofr e l i g i o u sand politicalreasons. Ithink thatthe politicalneed of

certain regions of the country toalways maintain the highestnumber of people to ensureexclusive control of Nigerianpolitics will trump any attemptfor a meaningful futurepopulation control policy. Ideally,there should be strength innumbers but in Nigeria’sexperience, more numberswithout proper and efficientallocation of resources is settingthe country backward to fastbecoming a failed nation.Invariably, the government’snumerous chats to illustrateNigeria’s oil production andrevenue per citizen compared to

countries with oil wealth but withsmaller population also prove ourexploding population is a hotbutton issue no one wants toaddress.

According to Democritus, anancient Greek philosopher andlater confirmed by modernelementary physics, an atom isthe smallest indivisible particleof matter difficult to see with thenaked eye. Electrons and othersubatomic particles are smallerthan atoms and are even moredifficult to discern with thenaked eye except, I guess, bythose with super eye sight. IfNigeria continues to divide itsfinite oil wealth among itsexploding population, a timewill fast approach when eachcitizen’s share will be difficult tosee with the naked eye, let alonebenefit anyone in anymeaningful way. Some willargue that right now mostNigerians don’t even see theirshare of the oil wealth or benefitfrom whatever wealth Nigeriaclaims to possess. Frankly,because of Nigeria’s endemiccorruption, I couldn’t agree morewith that argument.

That brings me to thisconclusion. To all you passionate“occupy” folks out there, fight theNigerian government forcorruption, its inability to providesecurity of lives and property,lawlessness and its generalinefficiency, but don’t stop it,without the benefit of doubt, fromimproving the structure of thecountry’s economy.

Christopher C. Eke is onfacebook.com/cceke

By Christopher C. Eke

Maiduguri: Once a city of peace, now thorn of fearThis story is about some

normal village people.They lived in communal

spirit and have great respect fortheir elders and communityleaders. They are law abiding andgo about their business of buyingand selling which is the mainpreoccupation of the people whooften take their goods to sell in thecity especially after harvests.Even though they were beingextorted by the police whomanned numerous road blocks ontheir way to the city and collectillegal levies from them as well asfrom the drivers of commercialvehicles on which they travel, thetrend was accepted as normal andwas carried on until it has nowcome to a stage when the villagersfelt that they are no longer safe.

A major incident in the citywas stirred by some self acclaimedreligious reformers that went outof hand. It happened when theirmembers openly denounced theintroduction of a policy compellingmotorcyclists to wear headhelmets. Their open disregard tothe law and refusal to complywith it was met with heavyhanded approach since enforcingthe law was met with stiffresistance through openconfrontations with lawenforcement agents; there was an

incident that led to the death of amember of the self acclaimedreligious reformists.

The religious sect membersdemanded for and obtained thecorpse of their dead colleague andprepared for his burial. Theirmembership swelled as a result ofthe sympathy to their cause bycommercial motor cycle ownerswho joined the sect members insolidarity and followed them to theburial. Yet another majorupheaval was created when theywere confronted by joint militaryand police operatives who openedfire and killed some of the religioussect members who wereaccompanying the corpse of theirmember to the cemetery becausethey were riding on their motorcycles without helmet.

Since then on they vowed todefend themselves against furtherattacks by security men in thefuture and started preaching forviolence and urging theirfollowers to gather weapons andarm themselves. Their open callfor self protection led to the arrestof their leaders who were releasedon bail. To show their strengththey organised a mass receptionto their released leaders. Themassive turn out that followedrattled the political class and thesecurity operatives whichunderestimated the initial level oftheir followers. Buoyed by the

turnout the leadership of the sectdecided and issued warnings to theauthorities to stop any furtherarrest against them claiming thatthey were prepared to resistfurther arrests and fight back infuture if it becomes necessary.They began organising exercisesand combat trainings in the openas a proof of their preparedness.

Yet again the stateauthorities arrested and detainedtheir followers in variousdetention centres, some in policestations, others taken to theprison in Maiduguri and otherparts of the country. Incoordinated attacks on policestations aand prison yards wheretheir members were held, theysuccessfully launched an assaultand released prisoners and tookaway their members. Whatfollowed was a full scale warbetween the Nigerian state andthe sect members. Initially, themilitary succeeded insuppressing the uprising andeffectively arresting theleadership of the sect andthousands of their followers. Butthere was an outcry against theopen execution of the leadershipof the sect members withouttrial.

Many armed securitypersonnel exploited the situationand went about unleashing areign of terror against innocent

civilians in the community.Citizens living in the area whoare not sympathetic to the selfacclaimed reformists and havenothing to do with the sectbecame targets were randomlyarrested and shot at because theyhave common tribal and religiousidentity with the suspected sectmembers or have beard.

Villagers travelling to thecity on business trips were cut outand many lost their lives andproperties to men in uniform whosuspect them as reinforcementsdeployed to back the sectmembers. People continued tolive in fear and find it difficult onwho to trust. The local peoplestarted losing trust on theactivities of the uniformedpersonnel who continued withtheir random search andexecutions of innocent civiliansunabated. The attacks by thesecurity personnel that weredeployed to contain the situationon innocent citizens who werealso accused of looting,committing robberies and rapingof their women cause them theloss of trust and made someresidents to be sympathetic tothose at the receiving end of theiratrocities.

Young men who run the riskof being taken away on allegationof being members of the sect eventhough they were not start to toy

with the idea of seeking for meansto avenge the atrocitiescommitted against their relationsby the security agents byidentifying with the sectmembers who cashed in on thisopportunity to gain more recruitsand further regroup and gainmore grounds to carry on thefight.

The result is that thepreviously peaceful and sleepytown of Maiduguri and its peoplewere turned to become wild andviolent. Borno and its neighbourYobe have become a lawless statewhere only the fittest survive.Maiduguri which was acclaimedto be the home of peace has nowbecome the city of fear. And whenvillagers suspect beyond doubtthat those who robbed and killedthem were uniformed securitymen and to their dismay realisethat the military commanderscontinued to shield and protecttheir men and officers againstarrest and prosecution for thecrimes they commit againstthem, it is little wonder then thatit is no longer at ease for thesecurity personnel and theirpolitical masters who are at a losson how to find solution to themonster they created eventhough it has become an avenueto further enrich themselves.

Bashir Shuwa wrote in fromMaiduguri.

By Bashir Shuwa


State police: A policy option for current insecurityContinued from page 13

This is because Islam, beinga highly ethical religion,rejects such anarchy and

mischief. Islam commandsMuslims to have deep respect forall human life and to ensurepeaceful-co-existence. This is whyIslam was able to co-existpeacefully with Christianity inthe Middle East since the time ofProphet Muhammad (AS), a factthat becomes evident when oneconsiders that the Middle EasternChristian community is ahistorical community, ratherthan a community of converts.The presence of this communitysince the time of Jesus Christ (AS)and its thriving under manyIslamic rulers bear eloquenttestimony to how importantIslam considers freedom ofworship and peaceful co-existence.

In Nigeria, Muslim andChristians have lived for decadesin relative peace and willcontinue to do so after the currenttragedy is ended. Of course there

had been tensed times andmutual violence directed againstboth communities, but thejudgmental flaw of the authorand people like him who cherry-picks events to promoteIslamophobic agenda will onlymake them a laughing stockbefore those who have studieddivine scriptures and history.This is because adhering to theelementary requirement ofobjective evaluation of historicalfacts is what separates honestcritics from ordinary rag-heads.Mr Igwe’s letter and othercaricatures like it only shows thatserious discourse on criticalnational issues must not be leftin the hands of mereshenanigans.

Finally it is most importantto acknowledge that manyChristian and Muslim leadershave spoken and actedcourageously during thismoment of intense pressure and

crisis. Their words and actionsare renewed sources ofinspiration and encouragementto those of us who believe inharmony, peaceful co-existenceand shared destiny. It is worthreiterating that the entireNigerian Muslim communitystands full-square with NigerianChristians in revulsion andhorror at attacks directedagainst them and their places ofworship. We sincerely feel yourpains and share the sorrow of thevictims of those attacks. We willcontinue to stand with you torepel the evil of sectarianism andextremism which are blights ondivine religions. This is a difficulttime for all Nigerians and onlydivine religions are capable ofsustaining our collectivestrength as we confront anddefeat the ills we face together.

The evil actions of the BokoHaram group affect allNigerians and their false claim

By Disu Kamor Boko Haram and Islam (II)to piety and self-righteousnessare ordinary veneer for theirevil ambitions and actions.Anyone aspiring to establish a“Shariah state” must start byestablishing a “Shariah state ofmind”. Muslims have beenvictims of their terrorist attacksas anyone else; as terroristattacks are indiscriminate. In thesame edition of the Guardiannewspaper, the spokesman of BokoHaram is reported to havethreatened His Eminence, Sultanof Sokoto, Alhaji MuhammadSa’ad Abubakar III, the Speakerof the House of Representatives,Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, andthe Governor of Sokoto State. Allthose mentioned in this latestthreat are Muslims, and so aremajority of those killed in theKano attacks. Muslims sufferdirectly from the terrorist groupwhen they attack as well asreprisal attacks due to their evilactions. Yet, in all of these we

have risen up in one single voiceof total condemnation becauseour God, as taught to us in theQur’an and through theexamples of prophet Muhammad(AS) commands us to respect thesanctity of ALL human lives(Qur’an 4:29, 6:151, 17:33) andthat He, God Almighty, is the“King of mankind, God ofmankind” (Qur’an 114: 2-3). TheBoko Haram group does not speakor act for Islam or the Muslims.We reject their rhetoric, weoppose their violentmethodology, we pray that thewind of time blows them away asquickly as other extremist groupsbefore them, and we remain veryproud of the religion which Godhas blessed us with.

Disu Kamor is theDirector of Media andCommunications, MuslimPublic Affairs Centre(MPAC), Nigeria.

Concluded

greater consequence over theprevious emphasis on numericalstrength and fire power. Thischanging scenario necessitates acorresponding structuraltransformation and devolution ofcommand and operationalcapacity to the state level, beingcloser to the towns and cities thatare the theatres of criminality. Theneed for such strategicrestructuring has also beenidentified in dealing with publicapathy to providing vitalinformation to police therebygiving tacit cover to criminals andtheir nefarious activities. Concernsover the time honored nexusbetween police work and localknowledge informed calls ongovernment to adopt a policy ofposting policemen to their areas oforigin in the light of weaknesses inlaw enforcement functions atcommunity levels. This did notmeet with success owing tooverwhelming social pressures andinherent limitations in deploymentcapacity. But there is no denyingthat the trust which has to beengendered between police andcitizens can be better secured undera police system that gives duepriority to posting personnel to theirareas of origin which also acts tocheck excesses, especially corrupttendencies of policemen byremoving the anonymity enjoyedin postings to non-indigenous areas.

The unavoidable partisancompetition involving a diversityof political beliefs typical ofdemocratic dispensations oftentranslates into power struggle andmutual distrust between rivalpolitical leaders. This underlyinganimosity has in fact tainted theprocess of building a rightfulconsensus on the desirability ofstate police in Nigeria to the extentthat the applicability of federalismitself is dismembereddiscriminately between governingparty and the opposition.

Thus, the political leadership atthe centre will not evencontemplate transferring executive

powers over security to stategovernors lest the opposition securea means of check-mating their ownmanipulations of the policecommand, particularly for politicalpurposes. Political self-preservationoverriding considerations foreffective state security can onlyworsen the security situation in thecountry as is now unfolding.

We are now face-to-face with thedeadly menace of guerrilla-styledinsurgency and associated moderncrimes that can only be better andmore effectively tackled within astate-based police structure andoperation, accessing all the strategicand logistic advantages ofcommunity cooperation anddeploying them more efficientlyand effectively for law enforcementand counter-insurgency objectives.

Recourse to zonal commands,joint task forces and stategovernment sponsored operationalcontingents among other ad hocarrangements are mere half-measures with doubtful impactand insecure status. Recentrevelations also indicate fiscalproblems at the federal level whoseimplications further underscore thenecessity for downloading someresponsibility for police work fromfederal to state governments. Wehave authoritative admission ofhuge gaps between budgetallocations to the police and actualdisbursements, withdisbursements as low as 29% in2010 plummeting to an abysmal8% the following year. Thisworrisome trend has alreadycompelled states such as Lagos withserious security challenges toexpend as much as N10 billion onvarious logistic needs of the policecommand in their states withoutreference to the federal authorities.The truth is that the FederalGovernment itself is no longer ableto settle the bills for the NigeriaPolice Force.

The emerging state police wouldbe organically and structurallyconnected to the communities thatcomprise the state in terms ofrecruitment and deployment andderive optimum advantage for

intelligence and operations alike.Lingering constitutional factorswhich hamper the timely andeffective direction and deploymentof security measures andoperational synergy in relationwith the civilian political leadershipat state level need to be realisticallyresolved once and for all in theinterest of national security,peaceful coexistence and routine lawenforcement functions. The stategovernors should thereby takecharge of the affairs of their states inpractical terms that leave nothingof strategic or administrativeimportance beyond their control. The level and impact ofaccountability and transparency inlaw enforcement and investigationsarising from the mutualfamiliarity between police andcommunity would be substantialand evident. Recognition of realitiesof today’s law and order situationwhere states take more than a fairshare of responsibility for policeoperational logistics withoutcorresponding authority over theForce is an aberration that shouldbe remedied. It creates loopholes forillicit connivance between the CPand the governor for localarrangements that are detrimentalto maintenance of law and order.They also leave governors absurdlyvulnerable to such explosive politicalintrigues that once saw an AIGarresting a governor in Anambrastate on orders, through a localpolitical lackey, from above!Previously, there were othershameful cases of the police, at theinstance of political forces at thecentre, making state governanceextremely difficult. Instructively,the adoption of state police conformsto our federalist politicalnomenclature in a moremeaningful manner and is thereforea better option to the currentscenario of aberrations, role conflictsand distrust that is demonstrablycounter-productive in the quest foreffective and efficient policeoperations in Nigeria. Theestablishment of state-police doesnot in any way preclude theinvolvement of the federal police in

any part of the country because ofthe envisaged and inevitablerequirements for complementaryand collaborative interaction of thetwo formations in order tomaximize the impact on nationalsecurity.

This symbiotic cooperation willbe facilitated by the re-allocation ofinvestigative and operationalresponsibilities to reflect theparticulars of focus in lawenforcement functions of the twoformations such that petty crimesand violations of state laws withoutbearing on national security oreconomic adversity can bewithdrawn from the jurisdiction ofthe federal police. This should resultin greater efficiency as the twoformations are assigned functionscommensurate with theirjurisdictions and capacity. Thepresent Force CriminalInvestigations Department and itsramshackle forensic outfits whichmust be modernized should beretained. The Police Mobile Forceshould also be retained. The officeof the IG should be retained but re-organized to perform purelyinspectorate, standardization andcoordinating roles of the sovereignstate police command.

Contemporary argument andthe convention world-wideencourage localization of the police,especially prevention of crime andmaintenance of law and order. Thispractice has very well stood the testof time in most moderndemocracies. Modern doctrines ofinternal security managementemphasize small, well-equipped,motivated and extremely mobileenforcement mechanisms in civilsettings. These earn prompt andlasting respect from the civil orderand therefore much neededcooperation.

In our peculiar circumstancestoday, we are confronted by thefrequent recourse to the use of themilitary in internal securityduties, quite often not inconformity with the lawstipulating such intervention anddeployment. The damage to theprofession of the military itself has

ominous consequences. We aretoday witnesses of how untowardsocio-political behavior has robbedthe police of some of its hard earnedreputation and this is also beginningto afflict the military equallyadversely. Deployment of armedsoldiers for civil duties has its otherhazards. The average soldier is athin-skinned, short-fused trainedcombatant who can spark on theslightest provocation andsometimes take on even hissuperiors, not to talk of “bloodycivilians”. Even for this reasonalone frequent and unnecessarydeployment of troops for civil dutyshould be avoided. Again, frequentdeployment of troops for civil dutyembraces the additional risk ofexposing the failure the politicalorder thereby tempting subversionwith all its repercussions on theconstitution as well as democracy.

Concerns about corruption andpolitical victimization in policeoperations will not necessarily besimultaneously assuaged by therestructuring process however.The stubborn prevalence of theseills are the result of systemic lapsesin recruitment, training,orientation, discipline, conditionsof service, funding and leadershipcaliber which have to be addressedprofessionally and sincerely on acontinuous basis. This is perhapswhere the burden of responsibilitylies heavily on the federal and statepolitical leadership to ensure thatnational/public interest supersedespartisanship and clannishness indealing with police affairs at alllevels. Matters of national securityin general and the police inparticular are integral to the fabricof governance that is permanentand should be insulated from thevagaries of partisan politics. Thelevel of maturity and ethicalconduct of our political leaders istherefore just as critical asenhancement of the structure ofgovernment and its institutions.

Umaru Ali Shinkafi, aformer Director-General,National Security Organization(NSO), is the Marafan Sokoto,who wrote in from Kaduna.


The chairman ofGwagwalada AreaCouncil Hon. Zakari

Angulu has called on Nigeriansto unit together in the fightagainst insecurity in thecountry.

Angulu said that Nigeria as ablessed country that hasachieved developmental stride inthe past years should not beallowed to be control by few peoplewho do not have the interest ofthe nation at heart.

He said that leader in areacouncils and other localgovernment areas in thecountry should urge the peopleresiding in their councils tosupport the fight againstinsecurity and work in hand withsecurity agencies by reportingsuspicious individuals in theircommunities.

“This is one of the ways to fightthe insecurity crisis within allthe states that have been effectedby Boko Haram. The issue of BokoHaram should not separate thiscountry or cause crisis all overthe country. If we come togetherin agreement to fight thisinsecurity, it will transform thepresent insecurity crisis to peacein the country.

“Nigerians should remaingood to themselves and shouldnot allow evil minded people tochange their good hearts to evilones, because it will be a mistakeif we do not join hands togetherto work with the nation securityagencies from the federal to thestate and local governmentlevel,” he said.

Council boss callsfor unity to steminsecurity in Nigeria

Arresting for traffic offence and causing trafic jam along AYA junction in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Joe Oroye

Two robbery suspectsshot dead in KujeTwo suspected armed

robbery were Wednesday,gunned down by men of

the Kuje Divisional PoliceHeadquarters after cash andhandset robbery by the team inZuba, Gwagwalada and Kuje.

Kuje Divisional Police Officer(DPO), CSP Isa Danladi, whoconfirmed the incident tonewsmen in Kuje said the

robbery incident took place atabout 12 noon on Tuesday inKuje.

He said his men chased thesuspects who carried out theoperation with a Honda Civiccar with registration number,CU 98 RSH after a distress callby the victim, Hajara Usman.

“Shortly after the call, wealerted our men at various checkpoints as well as our patrol teamand when they noticed there

was no way of escape theyabandoned the car and ran intothe bush.

“That was when our menengaged in shootout on themthat led to the death of two whilethe other two succeeded inescaping with their arms,” hesaid.

Danladi, who said N30, 000cash and five handsets wererecovered from the victims notedthat the Honda Civic car was still

in the custody of the division.He said police investigation

through the handsets showedthat they had earlier robbed oneUma Ibrahim in Zuba andAmina Nda in Gwagwaladabefore robbing Usman in Kuje.

The DPO ,who said corpse ofthe suspects were deposited at theUniversity of Abuja Teachinghospital added thatinvestigations were ongoing toget the other two arrested.

Cook jailed for stealing from employerAn Abuja Area Court

sitting in Karmo has sentenced a 28-year old

cook, David John, to one monthimprisonment for stealingfrom his Italian employer.

Presiding Judge AbdulMohammed, however, gaveJohn an option of N3,000 fineafter he pleaded guilty to theoffence.

John of Suleja, Niger, was

arraigned on a one-countcharge of stealing, which thepolice prosecutor, Insp. EgwuClement, said was contrary toSection 289 of the Penal Code.

Baico Rudoff, an Italian,who resides at TAK ContinentalEstate, Life Camp, Abuja, hadreported the convict onJanuary 24, 2012 at the LifeCamp Police Station.

Rudoff said the convict, who

was his cook, made away withhis Acer laptop computer worthN250,000, a Sony digitalcamera worth N30,000 andgold pendant worth N40,000.

He said that John carriedout the act on December 7,2011 while he was away atwork.

The prosecutor told thecourt that during policeinvestigation, the digital

camera and laptop computerwere recovered.

He prayed the court togrant the complainant acompensation of N40,000being the value of the goldpendant.

Mohammed, therefore,released the convict on bond toenable him to pay thecompensation. (NAN)

AEPB hands 48 hours ultimatum to Gwarimpa contractors over sanitation

The Director, AbujaE n v i r o n m e n t a lProtection Board (AEPB),

Mr Isa Shuaibu yesterday,gave the contractors handlingthe cleaning of Gwarimpa

District, 48 hours to ensurethat the areas of his jurisdiction are kept clean or risk revocation of his cleaning contract with the FederalCapital TerritoryAdministration(FCTA).

Shuaibu, who handed the

ultimatum at a press briefing said that there have beennumerous complaints from thepublic on the poor hygienicsituation of the area, hencethe board was compelled todraw the attention of thecontractors of the cleaning

exercise.He expressed displeasure

over what he described aslukewarm attitude of somecleaning contractors especiallythe one at the Gwarimpa axis.

“We can’t keep sendingmoney without getting results

Dear reader, Metrowelcomes humaninterest stories in yourneighbourhood. Pleasecall or send SMS to08065327178 or [email protected] to inform us abouthappenings in yourarea. Share yourexperiences or those ofyour friends andneighbours with fellowreaders.

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By Adeola Tukuru

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By Adeola Tukuru

and if the situation persists, Iwould be forced to take adecisive decision within 48hours,” he said.

He charged thesecontractors to be innovativeand selfless in the discharge oftheir duties.

When securityoperatives placethemselves above the law

Chief of Naval Staff, ViceAdm. Ola Ibrahim

According to thedoctrine of the Ruleof Law, which is

fundamental to democraticrule, everybody,irrespective of socialstanding, political, religious,ethnic, educational oreconomic status is equalbefore the law, hencesubjected to the common lawof the land.

As simple as these soundsand easy to comprehend,this is one dictum that bigwigs in the society- highstanding persons and otherpeople in the position ofauthority find very hard toaccept and imbibe.

The law enforcementagencies in the country, inparticular who are supposedto be custodians of the law areoften found breaking the lawthey are meant to enforce asthey see themselves as beingabove the law.

Cases abound in theFederal Capital Territory(FCT), where lawenforcement agencies haveexude behaviours thatportray them to be above thestanding rules andregulations as it relates todifferent aspects.

The high handedness of security agencies, was againbrought to the fore last weekSaturday, when theauthority of the NigerianNavy bluntly defied theFederal HousingAuthority(FHA), theconsequence of which was thecollapse of a building at navyquarters in 1st Avenue ,Gwarimpa, which killed twopersons and injured fiveothers.

About seven labourerswere said to be working onthe defected building, after ithad been detected by theFHA, which ordered a ‘stopwork notice’ on the building.

The most sympatheticaspect of this incident is thatit was the common man,desperate labourers, whopaid the costly price withtheir dear lives.

This ugly incident is oneout of a thousand instances,where the big wigs andsecurity operatives in thesociety, through their highhandedness, snuff outinnocent citizens.

Sometimes last year, February 23, to be precise anugly scenario that portrayedthis illusion of immunityplayed out along the KashimIbrahim Way at Wuse, to thedismay of passersby.

An officer of the NigeriaSecurity and Civil DefenceCorps (NSCDC), attached tothe Nigeria FootballFederation (NFF) Mr. OgbaduAustine and his accomplice

pounced on an official of theAbuja EnvironmentalProtection Board(AEPB) afterhe was confronted for parkingon the walk way.

The security operative,who was in plain cloth and didnot identify himself at thatinstance, got furious in theprocess, pounced on the AEPBofficial, Reuben Adamu,leaving him with a brokenforehead.

The AEPB, had earlierthat month, embarked on aone-week sensitisationexercise along Wuse andJulius Berger junction, toforewarn motorists, againstthe chaotic traffic situation along the routes, occasionedby wrong parking.

Barely four months later,as if this was not enough, onJune 3, last year, a DivisionalPolice Officer (DPO) attachedto Garki Police Station, TonyOlofo, invaded the AEPB enforcement office at area 3in Garki.

With a team of fullyarmed mobile policemen inseven loads of Abuja CrimeControl Squad (ACCOS)vehicles, while they wereoutside the gate they startedshooting sporadically.

Olofo and his team onmeeting resistance fromsome AEPB officers on duty atthe time, allegedly pulleddown a gate to gain entranceinto the premises, engagedthem in a gun battle in his bidto release the suspects.

The rampage left severalAEPB officials injured with onehospitalised and arrest ofsome staff, including a coupleof policemen attached to theplace as well as escape of over15 suspects from the custodyof AEPB.

What led to the DPO’sinvasion of AEPB was thearrest of a lady who is said tobe a friend to one MariamOlofu, a lady who hails fromthe same community withthe DPO during a raid by ateam of AEPB at the late hoursin some flash points of the

Territory, in which suspectedcommercial sex workers werearrested.

It is highly unthinkableand unheard of that forwhatever reason, the police,which is meant to uphold thelaw of the land, in this caseshow respect to the law onprostitution in the FCT, willtow this rather shamefulpath.

Whatever the case wasthen, even if it was hisdaughter that was picked up,which was not even the case,common sense teaches thatthe DPO and his men shouldhave followed the due processor a honourable path toresolve the matter.

But, beclouded in theirthinking, they ratherdisplayed the madness whichearned them a lot of criticism.

I could go on and on withinstances whereby securityoperatives exhibit this abovethe law tendency by taking ittoo far but, for spaceconstraint.

The bottom line is thatapart from giving securityoperative the bad name thatthey are already earning insome aspects, this kind ofattitude undermines theprinciples of the rule of law andthe law of the land.

Innocent citizens haveoften being at the receivingend of this kind of thisseeming madness.

Take a look at the collapsebuilding in Gwarimpa, theNigerian Navy Holdingslimited exhibited thistendency which resulted tothe unfortunate death of twoinnocent labourers desperateto eke out a living forthemselves, with five othersinjured.

The navy had in a letterdated December 12, 2011and signed by lt. E. O Aigbe,made a request to the FHA fora controlled demolition andreconstruction of the buildingquite alright.

However, according to theManaging Director of FHA,Arc. Terver Gemade, beforethe integrity of the buildingwould be probed and approvalgranted (or otherwise) to thenavy, the Authority’sDevelopment Controlpersonnel on routineinspection noticed somedemolition activity on the sitein the evening of Thursday,January 26, 2012.

Following thatdevelopment the authorityissued a’ stop work notice’ thefollowing morning and thebuilding concerned was dulymarked.

Those engaged to carryout the unapproveddemolition, however ignoredthe notice and continued withundue haste on Saturdayapparently to take advantageof the weekend.

The result was thecollapse of the building and theunfortunate loss of lives.

Since this incidentoccurred, many residentshave been criticising thenavy over the unfortunateincident.

It behoves on the Nigeriannavy and other securityagencies to caution their staffagainst misconducts whichwill only give them badnames.

Perhaps, this may helpreduce these tendencies andto some extend rebuilt theirimage before Nigerians at thelong run.


An Abuja ChiefMagistrate's Courthas sentenced

Godwin Attah to 27 monthsimprisonment for causingthe death of Joseph Kalu bydangerous driving.

The News Agency ofNigeria (NAN) reports thatthe convict, a staff ofBankers Warehouse, Wuse11, Abuja, was firstarraigned before the courton November 21, 2009.

NAN recalls that theconvict had then pleaded notguilty and was granted bailin the sum of N200, 000with two sureties in like sum.

Police Prosecutor AhmedMohammed had told thecourt back in 2009 that theconvict drove a bullion vanwith registration No. BK 957EPE, belonging to hisemployer.

Mohammed said the

Driver jailed for causingdeath of SSS officer

convict drove dangerouslyalong Ahmadu Bello Way,Maitama without due careand attention, adding thathe also failed to obey trafficsign placed at the junction.

He said the convict raninto a Honda CRV jeep withregistration No. EH 195ABJ and driven by oneGeorge Ugoh of Kubwa,Abuja.

He further said that theconvict also ran intoanother Peugeot car withregistration No. AA 449GWA and driven by JosephKalu of State SecurityService (SSS), Abuja.

Mohammed told thecourt that the three vehiclesinvolved in the accident gotbadly damaged, while Kaluand one of the occupants ofthe car, DorothyChristopher sustainedserious injuries.

The prosecutor saidvictims of the accident wererushed to the Wuse GeneralHospital, while Kalu laterdied in the hospital.

Delivering judgment onThursday, Chief MagistrateAdemuyiwa Oyeyipo foundthe convict guilty of thethree-count charge andaccordingly sentenced him.

Oyeyipo sentenced theconvict to 18 monthsimprisonment without anoption of fine for causingdeath by dangerousdriving, and six monthsimprisonment and N400fine for reckless driving.

The convict was alsosentenced to three monthsimprisonment and N200fine for the offence of carelessand inconsiderate driving.

Oyeyipo, however, saidthat the sentence would runconcurrently. (NAN)

Thirteen persons,including 11passengers and two

commercial driversyesterday, escaped death ina ghastly accident alongUtako-Jabi road.

Eyewitness account hasit that the accident resultedwhen the driver of one of theill-fated vehicles, the 11-seater commercial bus withregistration number, FCTAE870 ABC collided with aToyota Corolla, registration

13 persons escape death in Utako auto crashnumber XE33KUJ.

Narrating how theaccident occurred, oneSuleiman Ibrahim said:"The Toyota corolla wantedto cross the road, while thebus which was coming fromWuse side, failed break andran into the taxi which wasalready crossing".

According to him, someof the passengers and thedrivers sustained injuriesand had been conveyed toan unknown hospital.

Our correspondent, whowas at the accident scene

shortly after it occurred,saw some of the victimsthat escaped unhurt.Theyhowever refused to narratethe experience.

Another eyewitness,Uche Ugwu said that thebus was filled with allfourteen passengers, whilethe taxi had one passenger.

The ill-fated vehicleswere still at the scene.Officers of the Federal RoadSafety Commission (FRSC),who arrived at the scenedeclined comments on theincident.

The Federal CapitalT e r r i t o r yMinister, Senator Bala

Mohammed has given hisapproval for allocation of plotsof land for both office andresidential use of staff ofNational Agency for Food andDrugs Administration andControl (NAFDAC).

The minister gave thisapproval yesterday, when theDirector General of NAFDACProf. Paul Orhii paid a courtesy

FCTA approves plots of land for NAFDACcall to his office in Abuja.

In his speech, the DGelaborated the need to partnerwith FCT government inachieving the goal of gettingrid of fake drugs in the societyespecially hawking and illegaladvertising of herbal medicinewhich is presumed to cure allailments.

He said as an enforcementagency, accommodation hasbecome a stumbling block asthe present head office inAbuja is not big enough andnot properly located

considering the securitysituation in the country.

Senator Bala in hisresponse, promised to workwith the agency byimmediately providing theland it requested for and alsoequipping major hospitals inFCT with the Cutting EdgeTechnology making wave byNAFDAC.

He further advised thatthe agency should see itself aspartner of people, providingalternative where necessaryand not just persecuting them.

ABUJA DIARY

with JosephineElla

[email protected]

By Josephine Ella

By A'isha Biola Raji

The Utako accident along Eterna filling station involving a commercial bus and taxi. Photo: Josephine Ella


The former militant nowtravels overseas inspectingtraining facilities on behalf

of the Federal GovernmentFor agreeing to drop his arms

and join the amnestyprogramme of the FederalGovernment, EbikaboweiVictor Ben, aka Boyloaf, hasbecome a Presidential envoyembarking on internationalinspection visits on behalf of theFederal Government.

As part of his visits, Boyloafrecently led a delegation toRotterdam to inspect proposedvenues for the training offormer militants.

According to African EnergyIntelligence, Boyloaf arrived inRotterdam late January andhas already visited AlbeldaCollege where governmentplans to train dozens ofmilitants.

The training programme ispart of the amnesty programmeput in place by the FederalGovernment.

The programme, whichbegan in 2009 under latePresident Umaru Yar’Aduaallows for the training of formermilitants in the Niger Delta invarious crafts relevant to the oiland gas industry.

The amnesty program is atpresent being coordinated byKingsley Kuku, the specialassistant to President GoodluckJonathan on Niger Delta affairs.

It is unclear why Boyloaf, whohas no known professionalqualifications, is leadingpresidential delegations on suchvisits; but sources say this is notthe first time Mr. Ebikaboweiwould embark on such trip.

As a leader of a federalgovernment delegation, not onlydoes Boyloaf get estacodes and

first class hotel reservations, heis also entitled to aides whoaccompany him on such trips.

Mr. Kuku could not bereached for comments whilePresidential spokesman, ReubenAbati, did not return calls orrespond to text messages sent tohis telephone.

When contacted, Henry

Former militant, Boyloaf,becomes presidential envoy?

Ugbolue, spokesperson for theamnesty office confirmed thatmany of the inspection trips weresponsored from the department,which is domiciled in thepresidency.

“All the former militantleaders are stakeholders, theyare entitled to theseinspections,” Mr. Ugbolue said.

Boyloaf (in dark goggles) during a recent inspection visit to the Netherlands

When asked whatqualification the militantleaders have to embark on suchinspection visits, Mr. Ugbolueresponded that “because theystakeholders, the boys are theirboys.”

He explained that themilitant leaders were playing amajor part in the training ofmilitants and the success of theamnesty program saying “thatis why from day one whengovernment developed thetemplate they involved theleaders and called themstakeholders.”

It’s a militant worldBoyloaf is not the only

militant making money fromgovernment activities. Themilitants’ influence within thecorridors of power can be seen atthe Transcorp Hilton hotel inAbuja where some of them havepermanent suites to themselves.The hotel, used by topgovernment fuctionaries,diplomats and (international)businessmen, is one of the mostexpensive in Nigeria.

A report by NEXTNewspapers last year showedhow another militant,Government Ekpemukpolo akaTompolo was virtually handedcontrol of a government agency,the Nigerian Maritime Safetyand Administration Agency(NIMASA).

Source: Premium Times


Management Tip of the DayTrust your innovation

Trust your intuition thatyou are on to a big idea andkeep moving forward to testyour assumptions. Analysiscan only reveal so much. Youcan't be certain you have agood or bad idea until you takeaction.

Get out of the office and try

out your idea in the real world.However, don't have blindfaith. Research otherinnovations and understandwhat kind of patterns indicatethings are working, and whichindicate they're not.Source: Harvard BusinessReview

[email protected]

08033644990

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, 2.45IRS AIRLINES

AIR NIGERIA (MONDAY - SUNDAY)

DANA AIRLINES (MON - SUN)

AEROCONTRACTORS (MON - SUN)

ABJ-SOK (FRI): 10.10ABJ-SOK (WED/SUN): 11.20

SOK-ABJ (FRI): 12.00SOK-ABJ (WED/SUN): 13.20

LOS-ABJ (SUN): 12.30LOS-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: 08.10KANO-LOS: 11.25KANO-ABUJA: 11.25ABUJA-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

Most innovatorsexperience crises ofc o n f i d e n c e - e x p e r t s

dismiss your underlyingassumptions, you can'tvalidate market demand,discussions with potentialpartners stall. If this happens,keep the faith.

BUYING SELLINGCFA 0.2933 0.3133• 204.3251 247.2883£ 245.7102 247.2883RIYAL 41.5167 41.7833$ 155.7 156.7

CBN 1st Feb, 2012EXCHANGE RATES

PARALLEL RATES BUYING SELLING• 210 212£ 255 257RIYAL 40 42$ 164 165

L-R: General Manager, Total Nigeria Plc, Mr. Jeff. Nnamani, Managing Director, Total Nigeria, Mr. BoussagolFrancois, and General Manager, Operation, Total Nigeria, Mr. U.J. Ibanga, during the company'spresentation before the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Monitoring Subsidy Regime,at the National Assembly, in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Mahmud Isa

ITF donates N50mequipment toAbuja College

- Pg 21

1,200 ‘YouWin’ programme winners toreceive between N1m and N10m grant By Abdulwahab Isa

After a thorough screeningconducted by someeminent Chief Executive

Officers, 1,200 lucky Nigerianyouths have emerged asbeneficiaries of FederalGovernment’s Youth Enterprisewith Innovation in Nigeria(YouWiN!) program.

Coordinating Minister ofEconomy/Minister of Finance,

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iwealaannounced the grant yesterdayin Abuja, at a formal signingceremony between her Ministryand eighth partneringcommercial banks for the YouWinprogramme.

The lucky 1,200 youths willbe giving a grant ranging betweenN1million to N10million as seedequity capital to start theirbusinesses.

She said a total 24, 000applications were received outwhich 6,000 were selected and

1,200 eventually emerged aswinners in a strict selection processcarried about by some eminentNigerians. She said winners cutacross the six –geo-political zonesof the country.

T h e F e d e r a lGovernment had announced theinitiative in October 2011, withsole aim to create jobs for upcomingand exiting youth entrepreneurs.

The Minster said, “Eachwinner would get a grant betweenN1 million to N10 million to shore

up their businesses. They will beintroduced to banks to access tocredit. Winners whose businesshad not been registered with theCorporate Affairs Commissionwould be assisted to do so.”

She said the project is expectedto create direct entrepreneurialjobs for 3,600 Nigerian youths inthe next three years; 1, 200 peryear.

They successful youths are inturn expected to createemployment for another set of100, 000 Nigerians she said.

The partnering banks are SkyeBank, Guarantee Trust Bank,Union Bank, UBA, Access Bank,Bank of Industry, Stanbic IBTC andZenith Bank.

Lagos needs N8tr to addressinfrastructural decay-Fashola

By Bimbo Ogunnaike

Lagos state Governor,Babatunde Fashola yesterday disclosed that it

will cost the state about $50 billion(N8 trillion) to meet theinfrastructural deficit in the state,saying that the regeneration andbridging of the gap hascommenced in earnest.

Fashola made disclosureduring official handing over forpublic use three newlyrehabilitated roads and a 110-bedMaternal and Child Care Centre(MCC) all in Surulere LocalGovernment Area even as hecharged residents to protect theproperties against vandalisation

The roads are; 1.4kilometre,Akerele Street, 960 metreAdelabu street and 1.2 kilometreOgunlana street, all located inSurulere

The governor, along with all

the state Executive Councilmembers, traditional rulers andother stakeholders, described theprojects as the fulfillment ofpromise he made to residents ofSurulere during his pre-electioncampaign.

Fashola noted that the roadswere constructed by localconstruction companies, whichemployed about 738 peopleduring the period of constructionthereby providing jobs forunemployed youths in thecountry.

His words: “We believe that thisis the way to grow the economy,this is the way to provide jobs, we

can’t provide jobs by just speaking,you provide jobs by getting thingsdone

“The state still has a long wayto go in catering for theinfrastructural deficit, which willcost the state about $50billion(N8trillion) but the regenerationand bridging of the gap hascommenced in earnest. “

The governor continued:“Every year, the best we can evermanage to do is about $3billion(N480billion). The calculation ofour budget is about that size and

that includes all the taxes that youpay, so you can see what we are upagainst”

He assured that the train of roadconstruction will continue to moveacross the state to ensure thatnetwork of roads are constructed,urging for the cooperation ofresidents to ensure that thechallenges of infrastructuraldevelopment are surmounted.”

Fashola, however, cautionedresidents against carrying outactivities on the roads that couldshorten the life span reminding

United Arab Emirate (UAE)’stelecoms firm, Etisalat maysell its telephone tower

operations in Africa and isconsidering sharing infrastructurewith rival carriers, the formermonopoly said in a statementyesterday.

Etisalat operates in about 10

African countries, including Egypt,Nigeria, Tanzania and Ivory Coast.

“Etisalat, like other telecomoperators in Africa, is constantlyevaluating good businessopportunities which includes but(is) not limited to infrastructuresharing with other operators,” thestatement said.

“No final decision has beenreached at this point in time as (to)selling or sharing towers.”

On Wednesday, two sources toldReuters that Etisalat had invitedbidders for its telephone toweroperations in Africa.

The firm has about 4,500 towersin Africa, one source said, andwanted to sell them all in a singledeal potentially worth around $500million. (Reuters)

Etisalat says it may sellAfrican towers

that the roads were built with taxpayers’ money.

“This is not Fashola road, this isour roads, it is for you and I, youhave a duty to protect it and ensureit serves you the purpose for whichit was built”, Fashola said.

He said the state was alsoembarking on other road projectsin Surulere and its environsincluding Agbebi, Imam Daudaand Bode Thomas, adding that ablock of four flats to house 36families in Shitta is also underconstruction.


Experts seekupgrade of securitypersonnel atairports

A group, under the aegis ofAviation Round Table(ART), has expressed fear

over the porous nature of thenation’s airports, which itdescribed as a serious securitychallenge for patrons of thefacilities.

Bank of Agric seeksN100bncapitalisation

Worried by the slowgrowth in theagricultural sector,

the Bank of Agriculture (BOA)has identified its low capitalisationas bane of its effective mandatefulfillment to stakeholders.

Ecobank deploysOracle’s bankingsoftware across 30countries in Africa

Ecobank TransnationalIncorporated hasimplemented three of

Oracle’s banking solution tostandardise its processingplatform across its affiliates in 30sub-Saharan African countries.

Hershey plans$10m investmenton Cocoa inNigeria, Ghana,others

The Hershey Company,the largest chocolatemanufacturer in North

Amarica, has announced its planto reinforce cocoa sustainabilityefforts in Nigeria, Ghana and theIvory Coast, by enhancing cocoadevelopment in a region reputedto produce 70 percent of theworld’s cocoa.

Agusto & Co ratesStanbic IBTCMoney MarketFund AA (f)

Agusto & Co has ratedStanbic IBTC MoneyMarket Fund, one of the six

mutual funds managed byStanbic IBTC Asset ManagementLimited and regulated by theSecurities & ExchangeCommission (SEC) AA (f).

Survey puts Nigeriaahead of SouthAfrica, others ininvestment savings

A recent survey conductedby MasterCard has putNigeria ahead of other

African emerging marketsinclude South Africa, Kenya,Morocco in investment savings.

COMPANYNEWS

The AviationRoundtable recentlycalled for the

submerging of the of theaviation ministry under thatof the transport; do you thinkthat it is in the right direction?

I strongly disagree with thisposition. One, because, it has beendone before and it never succeeded.Remember that the presentpetroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke was a former transportminister when Mr. Felix Hyat wasin charge of aviation. Aviation andtransport were merged, butthroughout that period, nothingliterarily happened in the

aviation sector becauseattention was on the transportsector. So, it has been tried briefly,but did not work and that was whyit was demerged again.

And it is not going to work inour own situation now simplybecause the ministries arecompletely on the ground. Thetransport sector is even better thanthe aviation sector because itcomprises of the road, rail andmaritime sectors. If you look at allof them, they all have problems andthat is why the government hasfocused strongly on the transportsector and is trying to revive therailway sector and looking at themaritime sector and the roadtransport is another major problemin the country.

What should governmentdo in this case?

Firstly, look at the airport sub-

sector, we don’t have any airportthat we can beat our chest and saywe are proud of this airport as attoday, except a few of the state-owned and the private airports thatwe can say are ok, like the MMA2,Asaba and Akwa Ibom airport.These

are some of the airports, but interms of the airline operations andsystems, these airports don’t makeany serious addition to what it isbecause they are still newdestinations.

Any pass mark for theagencies?

The Nigerian Civil AviationAuthority (NCAA), as aninstitution is being brought upgradually; it hasn’t come back towhat it is or what it should be. Lookat Nigerian Airspace ManagementAuthority (NAMA), it has just gota new and young management inplace as the past removal ofprofessionals in the agency reallyaffected it. NCAA has acquired somestability, but it has not firmed up. Iftoday, the DG of NCAA goes, peoplewould be worried over who is next?Yes, there are people that will comein, but NCAA has managed tostabilize, however, NCAA in itsfunction has remained onedimensional. The other dimensionlike the economic

regulations, which are criticalhaven’t been addressed veryseriously and so, it stabilises in onesingle dimension, but we feel proudwith what has happened in NCAA;but that does not mean we can beat

Calls for merging Aviation Ministrywith Transport not well-thought out,says ex Nigeria Airways chieftain

our chest and say we have aninstitution that is firmly stabilisedand nothing can happen to ittomorrow.

Concerning the airline sub-sector, the only airline today thatgives us some pride despite thechallenges it is facing is Arik Air,because of its equipment. Arik hasgone international, so, you can saythere is a Nigerian carrier thatrepresents us out there. Take awayArik, which other airline can webeat our chest and say this is ourairline?

It is only Arik air that isinternationally rated among ourindigenous airlines. So, a countryas large as Nigeria, we have onlyone airline that is rated but then,what traffic does it carry whencompared to other airlines thatcome into this country?

Do you think we haveindigenous professionalsenough to run the industry?

They talk about scrapping theaviation sector while professionalsare allowed to run the institutionsunder the transport sector. Whereare the professionals in theindustry? NCAA, which is stabilisedto a certain extent is depending onthe returning professionals, that is,those who were sacked before werebrought back. Without this, whatwill you take away from NCAA;who will man the place? Howmuch training have we done to getpeople there? Look at FAAN, it is ina very terrible situation. With thedevelopment of airports, how muchtraining has gone on in FAAN?How many strong airportmanagers can you go to FAAN andpick out today?

The MD of FAAN remains themost exposed of them and heremains so because of his tenure inSouth Africa and not his tenurehere. So, he’s bringing hisexperience in Cape Town toNigeria. Who are the other personshere? The professionals they aretalking about don’t

exist, even in the airport sub-sector or even in the regulatorysub-sector. The professionals there,remove all the returningprofessionals that are keeping thoseagencies in place and the agencieswill collapse. They are all theformer staff of Nigeria Airways.

NAMA is still battling to addvalue to what it has achieved. So,look at all of them in the variousareas; the industry needs to be growand therefore, if you now look atour system of government, wherepolicy decisions are made, it is atthe Federal Executive Council(FEC) level and it is only a minister

that can take your case to FEC so,once it is scrapped, you have to nowhave to wait for the transportminister to do this when he has hisown mammoth problems. So,what it indirectly means is thatthe place will be left unattended toand uncared for and then, whatwill happen? The place will collapseand would be worse-off than whatit is today.

Today, we need a very strongminister who can take the problemof the sector to FEC and I think thatfor once, we are lucky we have avery strong minister of aviation.This is the time we need to rallyround and build up the industry.Or else, we will go nowhere. So, tosuggest the scrapping of theministry at this point in time, Idon’t think it is well thought-out. Ihave respect for my colleagueprofessionals, but it is not well-thought out.

Your colleagues madereferences to the informationand communication sector…

They made a comparison thatthe ministry of communicationand information are merged. Look,the ministry of information, youcan literarily scrap the ministryof information without anyproblems. The ministry ofinformation has stable institutionslike NTA, News Agency

of Nigeria and so on and everyministry has an informationofficer, either deputy directorattached to the ministry. I’m notsaying the ministry of information

should be scraped or whatever,but I’m saying you don’t comparethe two of them. A lot of those armsare privatised. We have privatemedia houses today in the countryand so, you can have informationon this country.

Look at communications, theyhave privatised it; NITEL is theonly problem. The NigerianCommunication Commission isfirm and in place despite all thedifficulties. The sector has beenprivatised, we now communicatefar better than we used to in thepast.

Those ministries havestabilised institutions and canstand and run on their owncompared with ministries that arestill struggling to stand on theirown. So, that analogy is faulty andcannot be compared.

So, to deal with it, we need avery strong aviation ministry andwe are lucky for now, because wehave somebody that is strong andfocused. We need to rally round theminister so that before she leaves,she can take the sector higher.

The ex-spokesperson for the defunct NigeriaAirways and Managing Director of aviationconsultancy firm, Belujane Konzult, ChrisAligbe spoke to Suleiman Idris on pressingissues still bedeviling the industry and sug-gested on the way forward. Excerpts:

Chris Aligbe

“We need to rally round theminister so that before she leaves,

she can take the sector higher.

NACCIMA seeks revision of2012 budget, fiscal discipline

The organised private sector,represented by the NationalAssociations of Chambers of

Commerce, Industries, Mines andAgriculture (NACCIMA) hasadvised the Federal Government todo a thorough revision of the 2012budget to reflect the mood of thenation after the subsidy crisis whileat the same time decried the dearthof the actual data for consumptionof petroleum product, especially thePremium Motor Spirit (PMS),popularly known as petrol.

In a press conference in Lagos,

the president of NACCIMA, HerbertAjayi, noted that the wastageresulting from the 23% deficitfigure of the total budget can easilybe corrected. This figure translatesto N1.105 trillion in real terms.

He said though the gesture of25% reduction of basic salaries ofthe executives arm wascommended, a revision based on thetotal compensation, emolument ofpackages is imperative if it is to yieldthe desired result.

“This is the amount accruablefrom the 25% of N4.749 trillion lessN2.5 trillion slated for statutorytransfer services of debt overhang”.

This, according to the president, willhelp ensure the completion of viableon-going capital projects and helpto reduce deficit to about N487billion.

Mr Ajayi said that with theintroduction of N97 per litre of PMS,foodstuffs and transportation costsoared, and under the streetmarketeering became the order ofthe day, particularly outside Lagos.“The Petroleum Products Pricingand Regulatory Agency (PPPRA)claims that 24 million liters’(valued at N667 billion perannum) was never delivered toNigerians,” he stated.

PAGE 21PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

Alhaji Umaru Kwairanga

L-R: President & CEO General Electric (Africa), Jey Ireland, President, Arik Air, Dr Johnson Arumemi-Ikhide, Global Chairman, General Electric, Mr Jeffrey Immelt, Chairman, Arik Air, Sir Joseph Arumemi-Ikhide, Managing Director, Arik Air, Chris Ndulue and Africa Executive General Electric, Mr Jay Wileman,during the preliminary discussion on power and aviation development in Nigeria, at Transcorp Nicon, inAbuja, yesterday. Photo: Joe Oroye

From Uche Mbah, Lagos

NASS to get revised VAT laws soon — FIRS

The Federal Inland RevenueService (FIRS) on Wednesdayin Abuja said that a revised

version of the Value Added Tax(VAT) would soon be presented tothe National Assembly.

Chairman of FIRS, Mrs. IfuekoOmogui-Okauru stated this at theon-going investigative hearing ofthe House of Representatives ad hocCommittee on the management ofthe subsidy regime.

Omogui said that it was a policyof government not to charge VATon Premium Motor Spirit (PMS),popularly called petrol andkerosene imported into the country.

According to her, this wasdeliberate to save Nigerians frompaying heavily for the products.‘Government has been verysensitive on the issue of tax onpetroleum products which is amajor source of revenue,” she said.The chairman noted that thoughPMS and kerosene were taxed inother countries, the Nigeriangovernment had been sympatheticto Nigerians.

She promised to forwarddocuments authourising theservice not to charge VAT onpetroleum products.

Similarly, the ManagingDirector of Total Oil Nigeria Plc, Mr

Francois Bussagol, in hispresentation, said the company waspaid N11 billion in 2010 for theimportation of 251 million litres ofpetrol.While in 2011 it was paidN16 billion for importing 211million litres.He explained that thecompany did not collect anypayment on kerosene which it soldat N50 per litre to the public.

Chairman of the Federal RoadSafety Commission, (FRSC), Mr.Osita Chidoka in his presentationsaid that the number of vehiclesoperating on diesel were fewbecause of the cost of the product.Chidoka said that 5,000 tankerstransport fuel daily across Nigerianroads. He said that 25,305 vehiclesin the country run on petrol while9, 984 run on diesel, representing99.7 and 0.3 per cent respectively.

According to him, 88 millionNigerians travelled by road in 2010while 14 million travelled by air atsame period. He urged thatcommittee to advice governmentto initiate policies that wouldencourage operators of mass transitprogrammes.

Earlier, the chairman of thecommittee, Rep. Farouk Lawandirected the FIRS to make availableto the committee paper ofauthorisation and all oil companies

that benefited from the waiver. Healso asked for the details of incomeand other taxes paid by thecompanies involved in importationof petroleum products.

Similarly, the committee hadrequested the Total Oil Nigeria Plcto forward to it, Letters of Credit,Certificate of Discharge and Bill ofLading from 2006 to date. (NAN)

The Board of Directors of Ashaka Cement company Plc(AshakaCem), a subsidiary of

Lafarge Group located in Gombestate has approvedthe appointment of Alhaji UmaruKwairanga as its Chairman, .

A professional with severalyears of experience in capitalmarket, banking and the realsector, Alh. Kwairanga has beenserving on AshakaCem Boardsince 2008. He is also the GroupManaging Director & CEO ofFinmal Finance ServicesLimited since 2001.

In addition, he is serving onthe Board of several companiesincluding Central SecuritiesClearing Systems Ltd (Affiliate

of the Nigerian Stock Exchange)Gombe State Investments CoLtd, Barade Constructions CoLtd, Jaiz Bank Plc, PenmanPension Ltd, amongst others.

Alh. Kwairanga holds a firstand post-graduate degrees inBusiness Administration,Corporate Governance andFinance respectively. He hasalso attended courses andtraining programmes in fieldsrelating to finance, investmentand money market in reputableinstitutions including the HarvardBusiness School, New YorkInstitute of Finance and EuroMoney.

He holds traditional title ofSarkin Fulanin Gombe.

Kwairanga now AshakaCem chairman

The cash centre of GuaranteeTrust Bank inside the newdomestic terminal two

(MMA2) of the MurtalaMohammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagoswas late Tuesday evening guttedby fire.

A staff of the terminal told ourreporter that the fire out breakoccurred in the wee hours when theterminal was almost asleep, afterall the airlines that operates fromthe terminal had closed theiroperations after the last flights inand out of Lagos.

Our correspondent who visitedthe cash centre observed that as aresult of the fire out break, whichdamaged the ceiling and othermajor operational equipment ofbank, the bank could not operateon Wednesday, as security and fireexperts cordoned-off the bank areato carry out a clean up exercise.

Airlines passengers who usuallyuse the bank’s Automated TellerMachines( ATM), to pick up cash topurchase their ticket for flights werehowever left stranded as some ofthem expressed disappointmentover the situation as they had tofind other means of accessing cashenable them continue with theirtrip.

A visit to the terminal lateWednesday evening, ourcorrespondent saw airline personneland passengers gathered to glanceat the cordoned-off section of thebank, where security and firepersonnel were seen carrying out aclean up exercise.

GTB ATMs at the new terminalhad hitherto been the most activeand patronised at the terminal sinceother banks in the terminalrelocated out of the building.

Reacting to the incident, Bi-Courtney Aviation ServicesLimited issued a press statementsigned by its Chief OperationsOfficer, Media Relations & BrandManagement , Femi Kolawolewhich stated that, “Our firefighting and detection equipment(smoke detector and sprinklersystem) had respondedappropriately and contained thespread before the arrival of FAANFire Tender,” the statement added.

In its bid to boost the humancapital base of Nigeria throughtechnical education, theIndustrial Training Fund (ITF)has donated equipment worthN50 million to the College ofScience and Technology, Orozo,Abuja.

ITF Director-General,Longman Wapmuk spoke at thecommissioning of theMechanical Craft Workshop inthe school, adding that the Fundhad identified a huge gap betweenthe skill requirements of thecountry and the available humancapital base, adding that effortswere being made to bridge the gap.

“So, we decided that, as part ofour own efforts to revitalisetechnical and vocationaleducation, we identified twoinstitutions: Yaba College ofTechnology, in Lagos and thetechnical school in Orozo andsupplied them with someequipment which they will use.

When they brought theequipment, the space wasinadequate so we decided tobuild a workshop for them sothat they could move theequipment given to them intothe workshop. The equipmenthad already been put into usewhile some have not beeninstalled”.

In his remarks, theDirector-General, NigeriaEmployees’ ConsultativeAssociation (NECA), said thatexcept the skill gap in thecountry was urgently addressed,the quest for a place among thedeveloped nations by the year2020 would remain a mererhetoric.

“The vision 2020 documentis a well articulated developmentplan but the fact about it is thatwithout a backup manpowerdevelopment plan that willensure that Nigerians are giventhe competencies and skills to beable to support that vision; it willbe a tall order to achieve thevarious objectives that havebeen articulated in thatdocument,” he said.

ITF donatesN50mequipment toAbuja College

Lagos airportGTB cashcentre guttedby fire

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem


Unbundling power sector:Lessons for Nigeria

administration to the challenge ofregular power supply in thecountry.

Electric utility reform meansdifferent things to different peoplein different countries. Noone model fits allcountries. Several countries haverecently unbundled their powersectors. Examples are England andWales, Argentina, Bolivia,Hungary, Peru, Poland, Ukraine,Kenya and India/Delhi and theMiddle East .

Power sector reform is alsounderway in many regions andcountries around the world,particularly in the six countries inthe Gulf Cooperation Council(GCC) region of the Middle East.The reforms are resulting inindependent power production andcompetition in generation,decentralization, privatisation,unbundling of generationfrom transmission anddistribution, and even – in somecountries – competition in

UAE, has undergone major reformsin its power sector since the 1990s.

Prior to 1999, the sector hadbeen vertically integrated andmanaged by the government. In1998, a new law was adoptedwhich began reformation of thesector. The new law reformed thesector based on a ‘single-buyer’model and establish fourgeneration and desalinationproduction companies; a single-buyer company to purchase theelectricity and water productionfrom, and to supply gas.

It also established atransmission and dispatchcompany, with the responsibilityfor electricity and watertransmission; two distributioncompanies for the supply ofelectricity and water to customersand an independent regulatorresponsible for both economic andtechnical regulation of the powerand water sectors.

In Saudi Arabia, following aRoyal decree in 2000, the SaudiElectricity Company (SEC) wasestablished as a result of mergingthe ten regional power companiesresponsible for the Kingdom’spower supply. However, toprovide opportunities to theprivate sector to compete andalleviate the financial burden forinvestments to meet the powerdemands, the government haspermitted the private sector toinvest in power generation.

A proposed electricity sectorreforming plan for a three-stageelectricity marketevolution over the period 2008–2016 was developed. The planwill consist of: Unbundling &Generation Competitions (2008–2010): involves the unbundlingof the SEC into operationallyindependent generation,transmission, anddistribution companies, and theintroduction of competition inpower generation. It will seethe creation of four generationcompanies from existing SECassets, a power

Despite the great efforts offederal and stategovernments in Nigeria for

over a decade, there is certainly nogreater source of frustration to anyindividual or institution in thecountry than irregular electricpower supply. Everybody oreverything is one way or the othera victim and at the mercy of theperennial shortage of electric powerin the country.

Epileptic, irregular andinsufficient power supply limitsincome-generating opportunities ofthe informal sector; it leads toincrease in the cost of doing businessfor both informal and formalsectors. It also compromises theoperations of security agencies andparalyses power-dependent socialactivities.

In short, it saps vitality out ofthe national life of a modern society.Power (energy), especially in itselectrical form, is required to fuelthe machinery of socio-economictransformation and development.Without regular and sufficientsupply of power, the dream of rapideconomic growth and sustainabledevelopment would remain largelyunrealistic.

Yet, Nigeria’s energyinsufficiency and insecurity haspersisted not because of lack ofconscious efforts to turn thesituation around. The civilianadministration of former PresidentOlusegun Obasanjo took a numberof steps to overhaul and reformNigeria’s power sector with a viewto achieving at least 10,000megawatts of electricity by thetarget date of December 2007.

The Obasanjo administrationengaged in a long and tortuousprocess of unbundling andrestructuring of the erstwhileNational Electric Power Authorityas well as the privatisation andderegulation of the energy sector.

Among other things, the processled to the setting up of the ElectricPower Implementation Committee(EPIC), the formulation of theNational Electric Power Policy(2001), the drafting andenactment of the Electric PowerSector Reform Act (2005), thetransformation of NEPA into PowerHolding Company of Nigeria(PHCN) as well as the unbundlingof PHCN into 18 units comprisingsix Power Generation Companies,an independent TransmissionCompany and 11 DistributionCompanies.

In addition, there wasinauguration of the NigeriaElectricity Regulatory Commission(NERC), to serve as power sectorregulator as well as the

establishment of a RuralElectrification Agency to cater forthe energy needs of the ruralmajority.

The conscious attempt tomainstream the private sector inthe Nigeria’s drive for energysecurity, efficiency and sufficiencyalso saw the advent of EmergencyPower Producers (EPPs),Independent Power Producers(IPPs), Private Power Producers(PPPs), and Build Operate andTransfer (BOTs) initiatives. As partof a National Integrated PowerProject (NIPP), the FederalGovernment initiated 7 newprojects located in various states inthe Niger Delta.

It is believed that some of theprojects are yet to come on streamor function optimally because ofnon-completion or lack ofconnection to their gas sources ofpower. The reality is that the powersector is not only cost-intensive butalso one with a long gestation period.

From all indications, past

procurement company to act as asingle-buyer, and a grid companyto own the transmission systemand act as an independent systemoperator.

The plan also consist ofWholesale Competition (2010–2013), Retail Competition (2013–2016), which will introduce a fullwholesale electricitymarket being operated by anindependent system operator.Both generation anddistribution companies will haveindependent roles in the marketwith a restricting role forthe single buyer. Currently,major industrial consumers areallowed to generate their ownpower and sell off excess power toSEC transmission.

In Qatar, the government hasalready initiated a programme forthe reform and privatization ofthe electricity sector. Functionalseparation of generation,transmission and distribution hasbeen allowed, along with privatesector participation.

Here in Nigeria, a bill seekingto further unbundle the powersector and break FederalGovernment’s monopoly in powergeneration, transmission anddistribution has scaled throughthe second reading last week in theHouse of Representatives.

The bill would also give thestate, local governments as wellas private individuals opportunityto invest in the sector.

The Bill has moved to theHouse Ad hoc committee onConstitutional review, power andJustice for further legislativeaction.

The challenge is obviously toget sufficient energy to more usersin ways that are environmentally,economically and sociallysustainable. Well-meaningNigerians who are desirous ofenergy sufficiency and securitywould do well to support and evenadvocate comprehensive powersector analysis with a view todetermining the best options andways forward.

Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji

The recent power sector reform agenda of the Goodluck Jonathan-led administration was launched last year, aimed at unbundling ofthe Power Holding Company of Nigeria. AminuImam and Lawrence Olaoye in this analysis, whileappraising global experiences in similar power sector reforms,contend that such experiences have yielded several generallessons for developing countries like Nigeria.

“Electric utility reformmeans different things to

different people in differentcountries. No one model fits

all countries. desperate efforts and good intentionshave not translated to energysufficiency or security in the powersector. As it were, Nigerians havewitnessed plenty of motion withoutany leap forward. The fact is thatwe have had a lot of trial and errorwith many shots fired into the darkwithout hitting the target. Givingvent to our national tendency forfire-brigade approach, we havethrown so much money, energyand materials at the powerproblem without arriving at asustainable solution.

Little wonder, the helplessness,hopelessness and frustration ofmost Nigerian individual andcorporate citizens over thecountry’s energy situation. It isthis reality that has informed thecautious, systematic, scientific butseemingly measured approach offormer president Yar’adua’s

distribution.Since 1981, the six countries in

the GCC have madesubstantial reforms to theirelectricity sectors. Driven by theso-called ‘second oil boom’, the GCCcountries – which comprise theUnited Arab Emirates, theKingdom of Bahrain, the Sultanateof Oman, the State of Qatar, theKingdom of Saudi Arabia and theState of Kuwait – have achievedan average sustained growth ofalmost six per cent annually, thusmaking the GCC one of the mostrobust economic blocks in theworld.

In the United Arab Emirates(UAE), the rapid increase in thedemand for electric power led to theformation of a privatisationcommittee for both the power andwater sectors. Abu Dhabi, thelargest of the seven emirates in the


Arms seizures: Who is sendingguns to kill Nigerians?

As Nigerians were on thestreet protesting overfuel subsidy removal, a

British based man was beingarraigned in UK over theshipping of 80,000 rifles andpistols and 32 million roundsof ammunition to Nigeria.The shipment included40,000 AK47 assault rifles,30,000 rifles and 10,0009mm pistols.

According to a report bythe BBC, the man whosename is Gary Hyde, shippedthese huge arm cachewithout receivingpermission from the relevantgovernment department inthe UK.

Gary Hyde was not alonein this deal. It was carriedout with his business partnerKarl Kleber, a German

Nigerians have to beconcerned that he has set hiseyes on supplying arms to thecountry. A report inFebruary 2011, in TheObserver in UK shows thatHyde is also facing charges inthe US for smuggling armsinto the country. TheObserver describes him as"Britain's very own lord ofwar; an international armsdealer, whose chief currencyis the AK-47 assault rifle"

The Observer reports thatUS officials arrested Hyde inconnection with the allegedillegal import into the US ofalmost 6,000 Chinese-produced AK-47 magazines,each capable of holding up to75 rounds of ammunition.

The Observer also quotesa Wiki leaks release of

confidential US embassycables which shows that in2008 York Guns, whereGary Hyde is a director, triedto ship 130,000 of theassault rifles to Libya. TheWikiLeaks revelation showsthat Gary Hyde through hiscompany acted as anintermediary between anunidentified Ukrainian armsmanufacturer and Libyanofficials. "The size of the dealraised eyebrows indiplomatic circles, as Libyahas only 70,000 ground-force troops and these wouldbe unlikely to use a weaponas dated as the AK-47. Thecable noted that the exportlicence was rejected becausethe "UK is concerned that theintention may be to re-export the weapons,

particularly to armed rebelfactions backed by Khartoumand/or Ndjamena in theChad/Sudan conflict".

Kleber, Gary Hyde'sGerman partner, also has areputation that does not sitwell with the authorities. TheObserver reports that "in2008 the German federalpolice agency, the BKA,launched an investigationinto Kleber to determinewhether he had been involvedin "the illegal sale of machineguns via Croatia to Iraq". Thiswas in response to allegationsthat companies linked to Hydehad sold tens of thousands ofguns to Ziad Cattan, theformer head of militaryprocurement at the IraqDefence Ministry, without anappropriate arms brokeringlicence. Cattan fled Iraq aftera warrant was issued for hisarrest amid allegations thathe had siphoned off millionsof dollars in corrupt deals."

What emerges from thesereports is that the two mennow being named inconnection with supply ofarms to Nigeria should raiseserious concerns in Nigeria.

The assortments of arms and ammunition seized recently in Ghana andNiger, apparently heading for Nigeria raises the question: who is sendingguns to Nigeria?

Weapons of death: Who is bringing them to Nigeria?

Nigerian soldiers show journalists illegal arms seized last year arms at Apapa Port in Lagos

national based in Germany,the court was told.

The pair acted as middlemen between two Polishcompanies acting for theNigerian buyers and Chinesecompanies, the court heard,according to the BBC report.Both men receivedcommission payments forthe deals totaling around$1.3m (£840,000) or N351million.The story apparentlyleft several questionsunanswered. Who were theNigerian buyers? Were theseguns really delivered toNigeria eventually?

It is also interesting thatsince this story broke out inthe British media, theNigerian government hasnot come out with anyspecific statement on it. Were

these weapons imported bythe Nigerian government? Ifthey were not imported bythe Nigerian government,have they made any effortsto trace the importers of theselarge numbers of weaponsinto the country? Thirty twomillion rounds ofammunition are enough tokill thirty two millionNigerians, assuming eachbullet will kill a Nigerian?This may be an exaggeration,but there is no doubt that ifthere is this amount of gunsand ammunition out thereoutside the control of thegovernment, then everyNigerian has a serious courseto be worried at this time.

The reputation of GaryHyde, the man at the centreof the storm shows that

Have they supplied someother arms into the country,that the authorities are notaware?

The concern becomeseven more real consideringthe fact that at the sametime Gary Hyde was beingarraigned in UK, theGhanaian authoritiesintercepted a truck loadedwith arms andammunitions heading toNigeria. The ammunitionsincluded pump action riflesand live rounds. Thesearrests are coming at a timethat the Boko Haraminsurgence is getting worsein Northern Nigeria asbombs explode on almost ondaily basis and masked mengo on killing spree withsophisticated weapons. Theactivities of Boko Haram,the continuous crisis in Josis no doubt raising seriousconcerns and fears ofretaliation from otherethnic groups. Could thisinflow of arms be linked toethnic groups armingthemselves? Are theyarming themselves todefend themselves or to go

on the offensive?This is a critical period in

Nigeria's history and allpeople of goodwill must standup and douse the risingintention. As I said in myearlier post, the Rwanda tripwill be a dangerous place forNigeria to go. Thegovernment must also actand act fast.

This is also the time theinternational communitymust come to the aid ofNigeria. It is clear that theNigerian intelligenceagencies do not have thecapacity to deal with theemerging challenge. Theymust offer their help at thistime. They cannot wait for aRwandan type crisis todevelop before theyintervene. China, especially,should caution its businesscommunity. This is not thetime to fuel the crisis inNigeria for monetary gains.Nigeria is China's biggestmarket in Africa. Anunstable Nigeria will not begood for China's long termeconomic interest.(Source : PambazukaNews)

... The arms-bearing ship intercepted by soldiers

Comptroller-General, Nigerian Customs Service, Abdullahi Dikko Inde


Mouloud celebration: A defyingbid’ah despite disaffirmationsThe Messenger of Allah, on

the authority of Aishah,said: “He who innovates

something in this matter of ours thatis not of it will have it rejected." And"He who does an act which ourmatter is not [in agreement] with willhave it rejected.” (Sahih al-Bukhari/2697 and Sahih Muslim/1718).

The month of Rabi’ul Awwal isthe third month of the IslamicLunar calendar, and is usuallyreferred as ‘Shahrul-Maulud’; themonth of birthday celebration.Though, the authentic date of theMessenger of Allah’s date of birthremains disputable amonghistorians, but the generality of theUmmah chose the 12th. Of Rabbi'ulAwwal, yielding to historicalcoincidences.

As a matter of fact, in Islamthere are only two holidays: IdulFitri (the first day Shawwal, afterthe fasting month Ramadan) andIdul Adha ((the 10th day ofZuhijjah (the month ofpilgrimage)).

Mauloud celebration was firstcelebrated in Egypt during the ruleFatimides, an off-shoot of Shi'ism,around the year 487-515 AH/1095-1121 CE, according toQalqashandi, in his book Subh Al-A’sha. According to this account,the Fatimides also celebrated theChrist birthday during their reignin Egypt. The celebration was notonly for the Prophet’s birthday butalso the birthday of Ali (theProphet’s cousin), Fatimah (hisdaughter) and the Amir as thepresent imam of Shi’ite Muslim.The influence of the Shi'itedoctrines of the celebration of theProphet’s birthday was very clearand is still eminence in modernEgypt even today. The Daura cityversion remains the mosttraditional form of mauloudcelebration in Nigeria as almostevery forbidden thing is not onlysfree and allowable, but alsoabundance. It is christened, ‘sallargani’, meaning, 'here I am for you'!

Another new phenomina, isthe Shi'ites's mothod of Mauloudsin Nigeria is a non-eliminationmethod. What I mean from adistant observation is an allinclusive celebration for anybodyor organization against the maingroups of ‘Ahlus-Sunnah waljama’ah’. That is why, theTijjanis, the Qadaris, the Ahmadis,the Qala-Qn the atos and even the'inda ta fadi sha nes' are invited asstakeholders. In their Mauloudsyou see young men and women invarious raglias and colours, withflags to differentiate. In the variousgroups you will find, the 'MichealJackson, the Bob-Maley, theNiggers and all for, 'wal iyazubillahi, for the Prophet!

Allah says: “And We have nottaught him (Muhammad SAW)poetry, nor is it meet for him. This isonly a Reminder and a plain Qur’an”.(Y. S.: 69)

And: “As for the poets, the erringfollow them. See you not that theyspeak about every subject (praising

ISLAMISLAMISLAMISLAMISLAMEXPLAINEDEXPLAINEDEXPLAINEDEXPLAINEDEXPLAINED

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others right or wrong) in theirpoetry? And that they say what theydo not do”. (ash-Shu’ara’: 224-226)

Thus, the Prophet of Allah isdistant away from theseinventions.

However, by488 Hijra, allthe celebrationswere stoppedupon an orderfrom Caliph Al-Musta’li billahas stated by IbnAl-Atheer in hisbook Al-Kamel.A l - A f d a lS h a h i n d a h ,incidently, wasan icon of Sunnah during his rule.This innovation stoppedcompletely until the ascension of

Al-Ma’mun Al-Bata’ihi topower when he issued an officialdecree in 517 Hijra enjoining thedistribution of alms in 12thRabee’ul Awwal with Sanaa’ Al-Malik in charge of distributingthem.

By the beginning of the 7thCentuary, that’s in 604 AH/1207CE, Prince, Muzafar Al-Deen AbiSa’d Kukburi Ibn Zein Ed-Deen ‘Ali-Ibn Tabakatikin, the brother ofSalahuddin al-Ayyubi (Saladin).not only restored the celebrationof maulud but passed a decreemaking it an official ceremony inthe city of Irbil. And that was aftera long stoppage by the Ayoubideswho outlawed all Fatimidesinnovations in Islam.

Consequently, there were thedays of Crusades when for almost200 years the crusaders fromEurope came to the Middle East tofight Muslims in their owncountries. Thus, the processes ofacculturation, adaptations andassimilations interchanged. BothIslamic and Christian culturesexchanged adherents; Christianstook away sciences, technologiesand wisdom of the East to Europe,and Muslim imitated somefestivals and feasts of theChristians who lived among them,and all the bad behaviours.However, one of these feasts is thetradition to celebrate the birth ofthe Prophet Muhammad(P.B.U.H) just as Christianscelebrate the birthday of JesusChrist, known as Christmas.

Prince Muzaffar paid greatattention to such celebrations andordered tents to be erected rightfrom of the month of Safar. Thetents were extravagantlydecorated in a very long row. Thecelebration usually begin the 8thof Rabee’ Al-Awwal and wellthrough the 12th day.

Ibn Al-Hajj Abu ‘Abdullah Al-Abdari in his book ‘Al-Madkhal’,said that such festivals werewidespread in Egypt during hisreign and condemned theinnovations that used to take placeduring such festivals.

However, due to the spread ofthe inherent innovations duringsuch celebrations, many scholarsdenounced them because they

were baseless and unfounded.Among these scholars was theMaliki jurist Taaj al-Deen ‘UmarIbn Al-Lakhmi Al-Sakandariknown as Al-Fakahani, who died

in 731 AH; he wrote his thesis Al-Mawrid fil Kalam ‘Ala-Mawlid onthis issue and even Imam As-Suyuti mentioned it in his bookHusn Al-Maqsid.

Generally, the pro-mauludhinged their argument on the needto remember the life time of theProphet Muhammad (pbuh), andto make the youngsters to know

more important than LailatulQadr, Lailatul Isra' and the Hijrah!Thus, if what they conjectured isby any standard near right, theimplication would be a direct

accusation of Allah(wal iya dhubillah!) offorgetfulness tohave revealed so toHis last Messenger!Or indicting HisProphet ofdishonesty oruntruthfulness ofconcealment, if Hehad revealed so!Logically onewould ask; how can

such very important andrewarding event could haveescaped Allah’s mentioning in theQur'an and His TrustworthyProphet in the Sunnah? Suchprodigious omission is not onlyinsensitive or wild butunappeasable! This is far from theempirical approach.

No true believer would ever

Consequently, anybody whothought that by innovating anykind of ‘act of worship’ to form partof the main Islam out of love of theProphet, or honouring him, thereality is that he or she is actuallyhating, dishonouring andattainting him (SAW). This isbecause true love and honouringof him is only demonstrated infollowing his Sunnah as it was, andpracticed by his Companions. Andindeed whoever desires to innovatein the Shari’ah of Allah that whichis not from it, then his love of Allahand His Messenger is questionable.Allah says:

‘O you who believe! Do not put(yourselves) forward before Allahand His Messenger, and fear Allah.Verily! Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. O you who believe! Raisenot your voices above the voice ofthe Prophet, nor speak aloud to himin talk as you speak aloud to oneanother, lest your deeds may berendered fruitless while you perceivenot’. (45:1-2)

And the Messenger of Allahsaid: “He who innovates somethingin this matter of ours that is not of itwill have it rejected.” And “He whodoes an act which our matter is not(in agreement) with will have itrejected.” (Sahih al-Bukhari/2697 and Sahih Muslim/ 1718).Similarly, Islam not only frownsat innovation but condemn it intotality. The Messenger of Allahsaid: ‘Every innovation is perversityand every aberration is in the Hell-fire’. And “He who innovatessomething in this matter of ours thatis not of it will have it rejected.”

Personally speaking, I thinkmarking out one day of the 365days of a year to remember theMessenger of Allah, and call thatlove and respect of he him, is notonly humiliating but assaultingthe personality and status of theHoly Prophet (PBUH)! A trueMuslim commemorates theMessenger of Allah every momentof his entire life time and believesin him to be the best of models. TheQur’an testifies thus; ‘Ye haveindeed In the Messenger of Allah abeautiful pattern (of conduct) for anyone whose hope is In Allah and thefinal Day, and who engages muchIn the Praise of Allah’. (33:21)

The numerous poems, songs,drumming, music and dancing byboth men and women are freelyuse as means of gracing thecelebration of the Prophetbirthday. In many occasionsliquor, drugs of all types ofintoxicants are freely sold andserved. Single and unaccompaniedyoung women are easy preys. Allthese are vices that are abhorrednot only by Islam, bu by decencyand modesty.

Finally, Truth can only bepromoted and defended throughlegitimacy, and falsehood mayonly win for a short period but cannever endure. “O Allah! Show usthe truth and grant us the courage tolive by it! O Allah! Expose for usfalsehood and grant us the audacityto shun it”!

the treasures of Islam. However,the reasons may sound enticing; itis still an act contrary to theProphet and his companions. TheProphet never celebrated hisbirthday nor did his companions.He used the Qur’an to positivelychanged the world!

Additionally, Imam Muslimreported on the authority ofQatadah Al-Ansari that theProphet (peace and blessings beupon him), was asked about fastingon Monday and he replied: “It isthe day on which I was born andon which I received the DivineRevelation”. It is also reported onthe authority of Ibn Abbas and IbnJabir that the Prophet (peace andblessings be upon him) was bornin the “year of the elephant”,received the Divine Revelation,ascended to the Heavens, migratedto Madinah and ultimately passedaway all on the 12th of Rabbi'ulAwwal. The superimposed eventscan cause a lot of mystification tothose who are pro-maulud.

This group has gone far gradethe celebration of the Prophet’sbirth as the most eminent eventthe world has ever witnessed; it is

Allah, and the seal of the Prophets:and Allah has full knowledge of allthings’. (333:40)

Thus, there would never comea new brand injunctioncommanding or prohibiting thebelievers of any act of worship(ibadah), after the demise ofProphet Muhammad (pbuh).

For those who hide under thecostume of the love of the Prophetlegalizing the celebration ofmauloud, let them know that loveis not without legislation in Islam.True loving of the Messenger ofAllah is a religious obligation uponevery Muslim. Incidently, both theQur’an and the Sunnah haveclearly defined the methodology.The Qur’an says:

‘Say: “If you (really) love Allahthen follow me (Muhammad), Allahwill love you.’ (3:31)

That is to say, love of Allah loveof and His Messenger is onlyactualised by strict imitation of theteachings of the Messenger,without addition or subtraction.Thus, anyone who follows theMessenger is more eligible to winthe love and favour of Allah andthe love of His Messenger.

doubt theabsolute sincerityof the Messengerof Allah indelivering all therevelations hereceived from hisLord, Allah theMost High.Similarly, allMuslims believethat ProphetM u h a m m a d(pbuh) is the lastand final Prophetand Messenger ofAllah. TheQur’an testifies:

‘Muhammadis not the father ofany of your men,but (He is) theMessenger of

Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III


NTDC’s peace messagebears fruits in Plateau

In recent years, Jos, the beautifulrocky city that is the capital ofPlateau, had known no peace.The home of Irish potato in

Nigeria has been stricken by fataltribal, ethnic and religiousconflicts that have claimed manylives and properties.

However, those who havewitnessed goings-on in Jos and itsenvirons since mid-December,2011, realize that there is a brighthope for peace and the return ofnormalcy to the plateau.

In the days between Dec. 19,2011 and Dec. 25, 2011, theNigeria Tourism DevelopmentCorporation (NTDC), practicallyrelocated from its Abujaheadquarters to Jos, the Plateaucapital, advocating peace andpeaceful co-existence.

Led by its director-general,Otunba Segun Runsewe, the NTDCteam went round the North-Central city and its environs withits “peace message” in the courseof the “National Peace Week”.

The national peace week wasorganized in collaboration with theoffice of the Chief of Defence Staffand the Ministry of Defence.

The week featured interactivesessions with religious, traditionaland youth groups, a peace concert,carnivals, as well as golf and lawntennis tournaments.

It also featured the planting ofa “Peace Tree’’, and the cutting of a“Peace Cake.’’

But three weeks after theNTDC peace initiative, residents ofJos have continued to enjoy whatmany consider an “unexpected,strange calm” as former brothersturned enemies are becomingbrothers once again.

Jos residents in particular andthose of Plateau in general, areidentifying the interactive sessionsas largely responsible for the returnof peace to their embattledhomeland.

Rev. Joseph Bot, ExecutiveDirector, Plateau PeaceMovement, believes that the peacewitnessed in Jos, after theChristmas day bomb that hitMountain of Fire Ministry Church,is because the youths are heedingRunsewe’s counsel against reprisalattacks.

Bot recalls the massiveviolence that followed similarbombs on Christmas Eve of 2010,and expresses happiness that thefrank talk has made meaningfulimpact on the youth in Plateau.

Bot also notes that “not a singletyre (bonfire) was burnt during theweek-long protests over theremoval of petrol subsidy, thatturned fatal in many states’’.

According to him, thougheverybody, from far-and-near,must have expected Plateau toburn during the fuel subsidyprotests, they were disappointed asthe state recorded zero violence.

With his proficiency in theHausa language, Runsewe, aYoruba man, had gathered youthsof the various warringcommunities and created aplatform where they all poured outtheir minds.

Though not exactly the “truthand reconciliation” commission,the meetings were the first of theirkind since hostilities began 10 yearsago in Plateau.

Speakers from both sides voicedout their worries, after which theyall agreed to forgive one anotherand live in peace.

The sessions witnessedsymbolic embracing of oneanother by youths and elders ofhitherto rival communities, adevelopment many observershardly believed as they had beenat one another’s throat for long.

Communities where peaceembrace took place includedGiring, Dogon Karfi, Dutse Uku,Tina Junction, and Jarawa. Theseareas had been hotbeds of violenceover the years.

Remarkably, the communityleaders followed up this path ofreconciliation at a meetingbetween the Jama’atu Naril Islam(JNI) and the ChristianAssociation of Nigeria (CAN), atthe Jos Central Mosque, after theChristmas day bomb. There, theyresolved to work together to restorepeace to Plateau.

With the “peace seed’’ heplanted in Plateau already yieldingthe right fruits, Runsewe saidrecently that a sincere approachto the crisis could indeed endhostilities in Plateau and makeway for the exploration of itspotentialities as a major touristattraction in Africa.

“Our visit to Plateau gave us alot of insight into the problem andhow to tackle it. Clearly, there hasalways been a communication gapamongst the people.

“What we did was simply toestablish the platform where theycould reach out to each other andaccept each other as one,’’ he says.

Alhaji Jamilu Yusuf, a topmember of the JNI, believes thatthe NTDC team made muchimpact because it was a neutralbody that had no selfish interest,aside the genuine desire for peace.

“When we listened to OtunbaSegun Runsewe, we could seegenuine efforts at bringing allparties together. He spoke ourlanguage and brought himself toour level. That was why all groupswere ready to open up,’’ Yusuf said.

Runsewe says he is happy thatthe approach is really working.

“Throughout the interactivesessions and my meetings with allgroups— both in private and in theopen— I could sense that they werewilling and ready to embracepeace.

“A large segment of thepopulation showed a deep desire forthe return of peace and normalcy.

From my experience, all weneed is a sustained, sincereapproach that will address thelingering mutual suspicion andPlateau will be very peaceful onceagain.’’

He says his team wasinterested in getting to the root ofthe matter, especially since it wasclear that children there wouldhave no future if there should beno peace.

Runsewe speaks further: “Inone of the areas we visited, I feltencouraged when a 55-year-oldman told me that he was worriedover the future of his children.That shows that everyone,irrespective of tribe or religion, istired of the violence and wantspeace.’’

Runsewe says he was moved totears the day residents of war-torncommunities of Giring, DogonKarfe, Dutse Uku, Tina-Jarawa, allin Jos North Local Government,embraced each other and pledgedto live in peace, henceforth.

“It was emotionally touching

to listen to youths relay how theyhad been deceived into taking uparms against friends; it was alsogladdening to listen to such youthspromise to ask people instigatingthem to first bring their childrento the battle field,’’ he says.

He adds that he was happy thatsome people, who had left theirsettlements, agreed to return, andparticularly recalled thetestimony of a man who said hehad lost 13 children to the orgy ofviolence on the plateau.

“The man was convinced hecould ‘forgive and forget’, andthrow his misfortune to the past,so as to have some peace of mind,’’he adds.

The NTDC boss alsocommissioned some people tospecially pray for peace in Plateau,noting that only a “significantfew” were still distracting thepeople from their goal of a united,prosperous and peaceful Plateau.

Runsewe, however, agrees onthe need to release the whitepapers of communities on theprotracted violence over the years,but declares that the peoplethemselves “must be willing to livein peace”.

“It will be good to release thewhite papers and implement theirrecommendations. But, the peoplemust resolve to accept and love oneanother and live in peace.

“In life, you can never get peaceunless there is peace within youand that is our mission here –make the people have peace insidethem, so that it can radiate toothers.’’

To sustain the effort, Runsewesays that the NTDC and thePlateau Government have agreedto hold an annual peace carnivalto restore mutual confidence. Healso suggests constant dialogue toresolve misunderstandings.

“Plateau alone can contributeN120 billion to Nigeria if itstourism potential is maximized.With its rocks, the natural falls, theweather and many other touristattractions, Plateau can rake inN120 billion tourist funds forNigeria,’’ he explains.

Runsewe recalls that Plateauwas always the destination offoreign and local investors, as wellas foreign and local tourists, untilpeace took a flight and violencescared everyone away.

“As a body, we have alwaysscheduled our conferences here; ata time, every other year, theFederal Government heldconferences in Plateau. That is nolonger the situation.

“Again, the falls in Dubai areartificial, yet, it is a major touristattraction. We have naturalwaterfalls in Plateau, which canearn huge resources,” notesRunsewe.

As the people continue tosavour their friendship reunion,Rep. Bitrus Kaze, who representsJos South and Jos East, hascontinued to praise the NTDCinitiative.

“Honestly, the most laudableaspect of the NTDC peace effort wasthe interactive session that

brought the people to one platformwhere they expressed their angerat happenings over the years.They also voiced the perceivedwrongs committed against them.

“That psychological purge dida lot of wonders; people were ableto face each other with accusationsand some misconceptions they hadbottled up, over time, wereresolved,’’ he said.

Mr Timothy Parlong, theSpecial Adviser to Gov. JonahJang on peace building, is alsohappy with the NTDC initiative,and says that the stategovernment will continue todialogue with all groups towardresolving lingering conflicts.

“Violence and fighting are nomore the right way to resolveconflicts and issues in ourcommunities. If you have aproblem, there is a channel ofcommunication and we want toencourage people to use suchchannels,’’ says Parlong.

To consolidate on recent giantstrides toward peace, Jang saysthat government will tackle theremaining areas of suspicionamong the communities.

“It is such suspicion that leadsto the balkanization of Jos City andsome places being referred to as ‘no-go areas’,’’ he says.

With the NTDC initiativealready lauded as a huge success,Chief of Defence Staff, Air MarshalOluseyi Petinrin, recently movedto the second phase of the peaceeffort by launching a free medicalservices scheme for the 17 localgovernments in Plateau.

At the launch in Barkin Ladion Jan. 9, 2012, Petinrin said thatthe aim was to boost mutualconfidence among the peopletoward permanent peace.

The services, to be handled byAlliance Professional ResourcesServices, include free eye, bloodpressure, tooth and sugar leveltests, free treatment for variousailments, as well as communitysanitation.

“The free medical services area follow-up on the gains on peacebuilding recorded by the NTDCduring its Christmas weekcampaign to end hostilities inPlateau,’’ he says.

Petinrin says he is delighted atthe impact the peace week had onthe people, and that he is glad thatNTDC focused on the poor andvulnerable, who are “usually thefoot soldiers and victims of violence.

“But for the peace efforts by theNTDC, the problem in Jos wouldhave been worse during theChristmas festivities.

“In the course of our meetingswith the youths, we advised themagainst being incited against oneanother. We also spoke against the‘so called-reprisals’ that usuallyfollow every attack.

“You can see that no one tookup arms against another after theChristmas bomb blast. It was notthe same when similar blastshappened in 2010. Many peoplenow know that they are victims ofthe same situation,’’ adds.

Source: NAN

Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau


Every sphere of the Nigeriansociety has experienced onechange or the other in the

last five decades of the nation’sindependence.

In sports, arts and craft,sciences, medicine, mass media,education, telecommunications,among others, some of the changeshave been most phenomenal inmanifestation.

In particular, the growth of thenation’s information sector hasbeen striking as a plethora of mediaorganizations now abound in allparts of the federation.

From just a few mediaorganizations in the 1960s, thenumber has exploded intohundreds of print and electronicmedia, operating on public andprivate ownerships basis in allnooks and crannies of thefederation.

Specifically, the broadcastmedia, which was hithertomonopolized by government, hasbeen liberalized to allow privateownerships, thus offering varietiesand alternatives to theirnumerous audience.

Today, Nigeria boasts of over40 television stations, about 139radio stations and a handful ofsatellite-broadcast stations, whilemany applications for new licenceshave yet to be approved by theregulatory authority – theNigerian BroadcastingCommission (NBC).

Analysts say that thephenomenal growth of thebroadcast media has also comewith unique challenges, both forthe media owners and the mediapractitioners.

Malam Abubakar Jijiwa,Chairman of the BroadcastingOrganization of Nigeria (BON),says that broadcasting in Nigeriahas come of age and that BON isalways ready to support thegovernment’s development efforts.

According to him, the mainchallenge for the media is livingup to the emerging demands ofglobalization of the broadcastmedia.

He says that more than everbefore, broadcast stations aregiving more access to all segmentsof the Nigerian society.

He, nonetheless, expatiatesthat the main preoccupation ofbroadcast media in the country inthe months and years ahead willbe the transition to digitalbroadcasting.

“As chairman of BON, I can tellyou that our members arecommitted to addressing thesechallenges; our only problem iswith the private stations, but wewill get there,” he says withoptimism.

Mr Yemi Farounbi, a veteranbroadcaster, also appraises thetelevision revolution in Nigeriaand concludes that it has recordeda phenomenal growth, includingmoving from ‘black-and-white’ tocolour production, and fromanalogue to digital broadcast

mode.“The emphasis in the sector is

shifting from quality of content tothe impact of content on theattitudes and aspirations of theaudiences.

“A child must learn to crawlbefore he can walk. Colourbroadcasting in television is onelevel of development after theordinary black-and-white era.

“We started televisionbroadcasting in Nigeria whenthere was no colour anywherearound the world; we used ‘black-and-white’, and when the timecame for the engineers to developand design colour production, ittook time to join the trend.’’

Going on memory lane,Farounbi recalls that the firstcolour television production inNigeria took place in Jos, PlateauState.

For Mr Steve Koranyom, whoin 1979 was a 22-year-old studentat Midland Commercial College inJos, “all I knew about televisionthen was NTA’s telecasts.

“We did not have the luxury ofchoosing which station to watchnor did we have access to satellitechannels like we all have today.NTA was all that we knew abouttelevision.”

Koranyom, who is now 54, seestelevision from a broaderperspective these days, havingexperienced those years ofgovernment’s monopoly of themedia.

He contrasts those years of very

limited choice of televisionentertainment to the current eraof ‘liberalisation’ of broadcasting.

He, however, advises thatpolicy makers and experts in thesector must strive to continuallymake adjustments to suitemerging needs of the dynamicworld.

Lasode Ogunbiyi, a masscommunication scholar, says thatinnovations in technology, nodoubt, pose a challenge as theyhave invariably changed theattitude of media audiences aroundthe world.

“These challenges are mostlyin the areas of access and content,which are the hallmark of theemerging broadcast revolution.”

Re-echoing Ogunbiyi’sviewpoint, Mr James Ashiekpe, amass communication lecturer atthe University of Jos, posits thatthe challenges for the broadcastmedia in the 21st century extendto changing tastes and preferences.

He insists that because of theintensity and extensiveness ofmedia globalization, the broadcastmedia needs to act as agents ofdevelopment, arguing that thechanging tastes and preferences ofthe society will always alter theirposture and structure.

For Rev. Fr Patrick Alumunku,a catholic priest andcommunication scholar, a lot stillneeds to be done in the area of“democratizing” broadcasting inNigeria.

He argues that in spite of the

Challenges for Nigeria’sbroadcast media

struggle in the past five decades,Nigeria has yet to get it right interms of “democratizing”communication as compared towhat obtains in other developingnations of the world.

“Despite almost a decade of ourfight, we still have not entered intoa democratic era in broadcasting– the granting of licences to privateorganizations.

“Democratic communication’means that the people havecommunication in their handsand are able to use it to bring aboutdevelopment in their communitiessince democracy aims atdevelopment,” Alumunkuexpatiates.

He advises that after 51 yearsof independence, the ultimatechallenge for the broadcast mediain Nigeria is to consolidate on theliberalisation of the sector, whichstarted in the 1990s.

“Nigeria is a huge society witha variety of voices and so, thosevoices need to be heard. Unless thosevoices are heard, you will behearing the voices of a few peoplewho pretend to speak on behalf ofeverybody else,” he says.

The communicator-clericrecalls his experiences in someAfrican countries.

“I lived in a country for twelveyears where every singlecommunity in that country —every little town, had a radiostation. Some of them operatedtheir radio stations for just twohours; that is, when they cameback from work in the evening.

“Some villagers would sit downto play music and discuss localproblems — how to improve theirtown.

“If you take a look at countriesthat surround Nigeria such asCameroun, Benin, Niger, Chad,you will find out that they are farahead of us.

“My study of many of theseAfrican countries show that we arefar behind many of them ininformation management,” hesays.

The cleric insists that thetechnology available todayallowed every single communitythe access to responsiblebroadcasting, emphasing that thedemocratization of broadcasting isabsolutely a great challenge forthe broadcast media in Nigeriatoday.

“It has nothing to do with theequipment; it has to do with achange of mind and of attitude,”he says, adding that muchenergies are being dissipated on thechange from analogue to digitalmodes of broadcast.

These viewpointsnotwithstanding, there are thosewho believe that the desiredchanges in the nation’s broadcastmedia should be gradual as theexisting stations are really doingtheir best.

Malam Awwalu Salihu, Head,Public Affairs Department of theNational Broadcasting

Commission (NBC), says thattremendous strides have beenmade in the nation’s broadcastindustry despite dauntingchallenges.

“Initially, the private playerswere not so sure of their place inthe industry as very few of themdared to stake their resources in thesector.

“It took a long time for people torealise that this is for real and now,we have a deluge of applicationsfor new licensing pending.

“We have people who areinterested in communitybroadcasting; people who areinterested in all kinds ofbroadcasting.”

Awwalu, however, expressesworry that there are othertroubling dimensions to thephenomenal growth in theindustry, especially with regard tothe dearth of efficient manpower.

“You find in some instances,unqualified persons holding keypositions in big broadcast stations,to the detriment of genuine growthin the sector,’’ he says.

Awwalu, nonetheless, stressesthat “broadcasting in Nigeria isholding its own as far as the sectoris concerned.”

He observes also that thechallenge of digitization anddemocratization is very critical tothe development of the broadcastindustry in the country.

“Digitisation is a natural andnormal progression in theindustry; avoiding it is at thecountry’s peril. If there is notransition to digitization, there willbe no space to accommodate newplayers.”

He adds that ‘democratisation’of broadcasting cannot be pursuedin isolation, noting that digitizationis closely tied to democratisation.

On his part, the Director-General of the NationalBroadcasting Commission, MrYomi Bolarinwa, expressesoptimism that Nigeria is mostlikely to be one of the first nationsto go truly digital in terms ofbroadcasting in Africa.

Nigeria, he insists, hasdeveloped in broadcasting; fromthe initial government’s monopolyto the over 345 broadcast stationscurrently existing in parts of thefederation.

He points out that the NBC hasalways given the requireddirection to them, therebyenabling quality service to theiraudiences.

Malam Mohammed Garba,President of the Nigerian Union ofJournalists (NUJ), posits that justlike their print mediacounterparts, broadcastjournalists in Nigeria have heldtheir own in the industry.

He describes Nigerianbroadcasters as being among thebest on the continent, havinggrown from a modest backgroundto becoming major players in thesector.

He, however, decries the poorremuneration for broadcasters,insisting that it is uninspiring toprofessionalism, as it will not bringout the best in them.

Culled from NAN

Malam Abubakar Jijiwa, Chairman of the Broadcasting Organizationof Nigeria (BON)


Madonna plans tennew schools in Malawi

Madonna has announcedplans to build 10 newschools in Malawi with a

new partner after mismanagementforced the pop star to scrap her firstproject last year.

The singer, who has adoptedtwo children from the impoverishedsouthern African nation, said shehoped the 10 new schools wouldeducate at least 1,000 children ayear - half of them girls.

That is double the number ofchildren she hoped to help with herpreviously planned academy forgirls, which was scrapped in March2011 because of mismanagementand cost overruns.

Madonna said her RaisingMalawi charity was teaming up thistime with the non-profit groupbuildOn, which has constructed 54primary schools in Malawi in the last19 years.

In a statement, she said: ‘I amexcited that with the help of buildOn,we can maintain our ongoingcommitment to move forwardefficiently.

‘We will now be able to serve twiceas many children as we would haveserved with our old approach.

‘I have learned a great deal overthe last few years and feel confidentthat we can reach our goals toeducate children in Malawi,especially young girls, in a muchmore practical way.

New project: Madonna walks with her daughter Lourdes in Gumulira village, Malawi, in 2007. Thesinger has announced plans to build 10 new schools in the African country

‘Constructing smaller schools inpartnership with buildOn hasrestored my faith that we canaccomplish what we promised wewould.’

The Material Girl’s earlier plan tobuild a state-of-the-art school foraround 400 girls just outside the

Malawi capital Lilongwe collapsedlast year, and the board of her RaisingMalawi charity were sacked.

The New York Times said at thetime that $3.8million had been spenton the school, with little to show forit.

Madonna has lent $11million tothe organisation which she co-founded in 2006.

Earlier this month, she agreed topay £96,000 to a group of charityworkers who sued her after they losttheir jobs when the first school projectwas abandoned.

Last year, it emerged that RaisingMalawi’s initial plan involved land setaside by the government, but whichhad already been claimed by localvillagers.

Malawi has more than half amillion children orphaned by theAIDS epidemic and is ranked by theUN as one of the world’s 20 leastdeveloped countries.

Madonna’s plans for new schoolscame at the start of a busy week forthe singer, actress and director.

Her new film, ‘W.E’, which shewrote and directed, opens in U.S.cinemas on Friday and she willperform at Sunday’s half-time showat the Super Bowl.

She will also release the first singlefrom her new album on February 3.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Foundation: The pop star holds her adopted son David Bandaalongside the boy's biological father Yohane during a visit toMalawi in 2009

Star: Madonna stands with villagers at the Home of Hope Orphanage in Mchinji, Malawi

Collapsed: Madonna digs the beginnings of foundations for agirls' school in 2009, and carries the foundation brick, right. Butplans for a 400-pupil school outside the capital Lilongwe fell apartlast year because of mismanagement

Mission: The singer holds Mercy, whom she adopted two yearsago from Malawi

“I have learned agreat deal over

the last few yearsand feel confidentthat we can reach

our goals toeducate children

in Malawi,especially younggirls, in a muchmore practical

way


World’s smallest woman becomes electioncampaigner for right wing party in IndiaThe world’s smallest woman

has revealed her very bigambitions - after turning her

hand to politics to become theworld’s smallest electioncampaigner.

Jyoti Amge, who stands just62.8cm (2ft 6ins) tall, was seensupporting candidates of theMaharashtra Navnirman Sena(MNS) party, ahead of theforthcoming civic election inMumbai, India.

The 18-year-old was officiallyrecognised as the world’s smallestwoman on her last birthday inDecember by Guinness WorldRecords officials.

Earlier this week she beamed ata huge crowd after being hoistedinto the air while supporting theMSN Party in Mumbai.

She was lifted above the crowdsby 7ft 1inch tall look-alike of theWWE wrestler ‘Great Khali’,drawing cheers from the largecrowd who had gathered aroundher.

Jyoti had shown her support forthe local right wing party in the localmunicipal elections this week.

However, she fears herdiminuitive status means she hasbecome too famous.

She said: ‘One of the problemswith being famous is people mob youwherever you go.

‘Many of them ask very irritatingquestions. If I were not the shortestwoman in the world, I would nothave become famous.’

Jyoti weighs just 12lbs (5.5kg) -only 9lbs more than she did at birth- and has a form of dwarfism callachondroplasia, which stopped hergrowing after her first birthday.

She has brittle bones and is likely

Hitting the heights: Jyoti is held aloft while supporting her local right wing political party ahead of civic elections in Mumbai, India

to need care for the rest of her life.As a teenager at school in

Nagpur, Jyoti had her own smalldesk and chair, but said the otherstudents didn’t treat her anydifferently.

She also has to sleep in aspecially-made bed and uses

utensils that are smaller thanaverage.

This was not Amge’s firstGuinness record. Until her 18thbirthday she was considered theworld’s shortest teenager, but inturning 18 qualified for the new title.

She has grown less than 1cm

(0.4in) in the last two years,Guinness said in a statement, andwill grow no more due to a form herdwarfism.

Her teenage title brought thechance for multiple Guinness-sponsored trips to Japan and Italyfor tours and meetings with other

record holders, she said.The title of shortest woman in

history continues to be held byPauline Musters, who lived in theNetherlands from 1876 to 1895 andstood 61 centimeters (24 inches)tall.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Contd. from Back Page

What should interest us and citizensand our national assemblymembers is that similar provisionswere made in the 2011 Budget forall these items, so what have wespent so far and when will thebudgeting cycle end and the“ongoing projects” completed? Arewe getting value for money? Exceptfor Iridium which there is enoughcomparative data, there aren’tenough details on the other itemsto say no for certain and sincesecurity procurements are usuallyexempted from open, competitivebidding, ‘due process’ andprocurement audits, we can all drawour conclusions.

The SSS proposes to spend about N46 billion in 2012. Abouthalf of this will go to paying the15,000 or so staff of the service -about N1.56 million per head. Theregular overhead to run the SSSoffices in Abuja and all the states ofthe federation is a N4.14 billion.Compared with the NSA’soverhead, the SSS provision looksmodest! The “operations vote”, thatis what the SSS can freely spend oninformants and intelligence is amere N700 million for operationsin 36 states, the FCT and

headquarters compared with theNSA’s N950 million in oneadvisory/coordinating location.There is something amiss here!

The capital budget of the SSS isnearly N18 billion, a nearly tenfoldincrease from last year’s. The SSSintends to spend N1 billion onvehicles, cellphone locationtracking system (N1.3bn), countersurveillance jammer (N500m),VSAT project (N1.675bn), advancedexplosive detectors (total of N3bn),arms and ammunition (N500m)and construction of various officeand residential buildings all over thecountry for N6bn. Should SSS stafflive in special “provided”accommodation? Should they notlive within the communities theyare located, enabling blending andmore effective intelligencegathering? These are policyquestions that require seriousconsideration.

The NIA intends to spend aboutN41bn this year - N23.6bn forpersonnel costs, about N3bn foroverhead and about N14.8bn forcapital projects. The regularoverhead to run NIA’s Abuja officeand its agents abroad is someN2.6bn, about the same as theNSA’s office. The operations vote isN450m, less than half of the NSA’s!

Again, there is something that doesnot add up here. The NIA plans tospend a whopping N530m to buycomputers (N146m), active andcounter-measures equipment(N142.5m), GSM monitoringequipment (N104.5m), Accesscontrol system for Abuja office(N101m) and covert photographicequipment for N36m). If eachcomputer and software bundle costsan average of N150,000, it meansthe NIA intends to buy nearly1,000! There must be something toexplain here.

The NIA wants to purchase itsown firefighting engine for aboutN14m and upgrade its fire alarmsystem for N46m!. The agencyintends to purchase encrypted fixedsatellite terminals (N128m), 115Bgan terminals for N100m, and anassortment of satellitecommunications equipment,interception systems andaccessories for over N1.5bn! Bombdetectors, metal detectors andcyber-security (again!) investmentswill cost over N1bn. Servers,storage, central power backup andvirtual private networks will costabout N2bn. ’Training andtechnical presentation tools’ forAbuja and our 135 missions abroadwill cost another N2bn.

The NIA intends to buy P.90Belgian rifles for N1m each insteadof the average retail price of about $1,900. Russian-made AK-47assault rifles retail for between$400 and $600 in the open market,with the East European version ascheap as $100 each. We hope theN63,750 NIA proposes to spend willpurchase the more expensive,original Kalashnikovs! In all theNIA will spend N286 million buyingsuch rifles, pistols and ammunitionof various kinds. Ongoingconstruction projects to beundertaken in the year includeresidential buildings (N2.28bn),Schools (N2.7bn), three entrancegates at the headquarters (N100m),the expansion of its clinic (N100m),and the rehabilitation of gym andshooting range (N321m).

Back to the value-for-moneyquestion. Are the prices that we arepaying for these items the rightprices? Those amongst us that arequantity surveyors, cost engineersand procurement experts wouldopine that we are paying way aboveinternational market prices formany of these items. However, amore pertinent question is whetherthe duplication of investments insatellite communications, GSM/GPS tracking and interception

systems in the NSA, SSS and NIAbudgets (details above) are notwasteful and proof of coordinationfailures! Clearly, the investmentsneed to be streamlined with all theservices connected to a ‘situationroom’ in the NSA’s office and theVilla, not what appears to be here -each agency pursuing itsinvestment agenda independent ofthe other, and buying similar stuffthat are probably technicallyincompatible.

Unless we target our resourcesto real needs, increase transparencyand accountability in securityspending as suggested by GeneralMuhammadu Buhari in December2011, and eliminate duplicationsand copy-cat procurements in ourbudget, we will continue to lose thevalue of these investments. Whenthe spending is supposed to be forour security, it might simply end upin the pockets of officials andcontractors, while the citizens getinsecurity as the result. Securitymust not be seen as an easy, money-making machine. This is what itappears to citizens these days. Wecan do better. Our leaders must dobetter. There is no better time to actthan right now, that security is oneveryone’s mind.

Concluded

Budget 2012 (3) - The security spending spree


Race relations in Britain: Howfar have we really come?(I)ANALYSIS

Stephen Lawrence's racially motivated murder dispelled the illusion that racism no longer existed in the UK [EPA]

There are some days thatwill stain our collectiveconscience for

generations to come.April 22, 1993, was one of

these. This was the day thatblack teenager StephenLawrence was stabbed todeath by a group of youngwhite men in an act of racistabuse in Eltham, southLondon. The victim was 18.

January 3, 2012, wasanother of these days. Almosttwo decades after Lawrencewas killed, 35-year-old DavidNorris and 36-year-old GaryDobson were convicted ofperpetrating his raciallymotivated murder, and latersentenced to a minimum of 14years and 15 yearsrespectively.

The verdicts may havebeen cathartic in the mindsof some, a sense of relief thatBritain and its attitudestoward race have come along way since 1993.Stephen's race-relatedmurder, London'sMetropolitan Police Service's(MPS) abysmal investigationof it and two failedprosecutions forced thecountry to take a long, hardlook at itself. And we didn'tlike what we saw. For whenStephen's future was stolenfrom him, the UK was alsorobbed of the comfortblanket that it had cocooneditself in.

We had been under anillusion that the days ofwidespread racism, of theNational Front marches inthe 1970s and Brixton raceriots of 1981 had beenconsigned to history. Thiswas a fact that many non-white people had longknown: that certain elementswithin British society werestill racist. And the myth thatonly white working-classyouths were bigoted wasexposed for what it was: a lie.Some in the middle classesand in our institutions - thepolice, the Crown ProsecutionService and the judicialsystem - the very people we,as Britons, turned to forjustice, were also racists.

The publication of theMacpherson report in 1999 inthe wake of Stephen's deathwas seminal in modern Britishculture. The official inquirycatalogued a series of failuresin the criminal justice systemand the Metropolitan Police

handling of the murderinvestigation. It branded theforce, and British police ingeneral, as "institutionallyracist". The findings shockedmainstream British society tothe core.

In the weeks afterStephen's murder, I recall mymother's fears for my teenagebrother's safety. She urgedhim not to stay out late, forfear the next time she wouldsee him would be in a hospitalmorgue. Many mothers,whose children were notwhite, also felt the same.

These anxieties are nestledalongside of childhoodmemories of having friends ofvarious races. At school inLondon, my classes includedchildren of many ethnicbackgrounds, a diversity thatI took for granted. But this wasa childhood that was alsopunctuated by flashes ofracism - of growing up on acouncil estate where beingsouth Asian wasn't acceptableto some.

"Why are you riding a bikewhen you should be on acamel or an elephant?" Or:"Paki, go home." These wouldbe among the insults myolder brother and I wouldsometimes receive fromwhite teenagers. When he was11, I saw him take a beatingfrom a much older white boybecause of the colour of hisskin. So when covert policesurveillance footage ofDobson and Norris - in whichthey boasted of how they'dlike to kill "coons" and "Pakis"- was made public, somethinghit home. Hard.

Britain has come a longway since then. Stephen'sdeath and the public outcrywhich followed forced a longperiod of introspection thatled to procedural andinstitutional changes withinlaw enforcement and thecriminal justice system.

The Macpherson reportprompted the MetropolitanPolice to initiate reforms thatvastly improved the ways

victims of race crime weretreated by officers. The forcealso worked towardsrecruiting more black andAsian officers. Today, almostten per cent of the MPS'approximately 32,000officers are from ethnicminority backgrounds -almost three times thenumber a decade ago - thoughrising to a senior rank remainselusive to many.

Legislative reform alsoformed the backbone ofM a c p h e r s o n ' srecommendations. Englandand Wales' double jeopardylaw - which meant a personcould not be re-tried for anoffence they had already beenacquitted of - was amended in2005. This meant thatsuspects could be re-tried ifnew evidence was discovered- a change that wasinstrumental in securingDobson's conviction, after hewas acquitted of Stephen'smurder in 1996.

Courts also came undergreater pressure to imposeheavier sentences on raciallymotivated and faith-basedcrimes, and political pressureled to the extension of theRace Relations Act to legallyrequire all public institutionsto promote race equality.

Today, we can also seemany more MPs of differentethnic backgrounds inparliament. This inclusiveparticipation in thedemocratic process is amarked change that should beacknowledged. Recent officialfigures point to thisheterogeneity - around 12 percent of the 55 million peoplein England and Wales are notwhite.

But though societalattitudes are changing,progress in addressingsystematic institutionaldiscrimination has been fartoo slow. Legislation is onlyas fair if it is correctlyimplemented. Nowhere is thismore evident than in policestop and search figures,conviction rates and thesentencing of black and Asianpeople. These arecontroversial litmus testsagainst which the police,courts and broader criminaljustice system continue to fallshort.

Source:Aljazeera.com

But though societal attitudes are changing, progress inaddressing systematic institutional discrimination has been

far too slow. Legislation is only as fair if it is correctlyimplemented.

“


Anger in Egypt overdeadly football riot

Al-Ahly players escaped from the field as al-Masry fans rushed to the pitch after Wednesday'smatch in Port Said [AFP]

Egypt has declared threedays of mourning for atleast 74 people who died at a

football stadium amid violentclashes between rival supporters inthe northern city of Port Said.

Angry members of parliamentdenounced the lack of security atthe match and gathered for anemergency session yesterday, aday after violence eruptedfollowing an upset victory byhome team al-Masry over Cairo'stop club, al-Ahly.

"Egypt went through a difficultnight yesterday. Egypt spent itsnight crying [over] its dead,"parliament speaker Saad Katatnisaid in the session's openingremarks.

Earlier, Essam el-Erian, apolitician from the MuslimBrotherhood's Freedom and Justiceparty, said the military and policewere complicit in the violence,accusing them of trying to showthat emergency regulations givingsecurity forces wide-rangingpowers must be maintained.

"This tragedy is a result ofintentional reluctance by themilitary and the police,'' he said.

Mohamed Ibrahim, Egypt'sinterior minister, said many of thevictims had died in a crush of peopleat the stadium.

At least 52 people have beenarrested and authorities said thesearch for suspects linked to theviolence was continuing.

Activists scheduled rallies forThursday outside theheadquarters of the interior

ministry in Cairo to protestagainst the inability of police tostop the bloodshed.

In Port Said, residentsmarched early on Thursday,denouncing the violence andsaying it was a conspiracy by the

military and police to cause chaos.The violence broke as soon as the

referee blew the final whistle inWednesday's match, which saw al-Masry beat al-Ahly 3-1.

Fans of the winning al-Masryteam flooded the field seconds after

the final whistle.A security official said fans

chased al-Ahly players andcornered their supporters on thefield and around the stadium,throwing stones and bottles atthem.

ECOWAS new commissioners assume officeSix new ECOWAS

Commissioners yesterdayassumed duty at the

Commission, replacing some of thepioneer Commissioners whose four-year tenure ended on 31st January2012. The Commissioners, whoemerged from a recent recruitmentexercise, validated by the ECOWASCouncil of Ministers at an extra-Ordinary meeting on 14th January2012, were introduced to staff bythe President of the Commission, HisExcellency James Victor Gbeho. Thenew Commissioners are: Dr.

Abuja Headquarters, PresidentGbeho welcomed the newCommissioners and expressed thehope that they would put their vast,varied and impressive experiencesat the disposal of the Commission inpursuit of the goals of the regionalOrganization. He also pledged thecommitment of the staff to workclosely and diligently with the newCommissioners. The outgoing Vice-President of the Commission, Mr.Jean de Dieu Somda welcomed thenew statutory appointees andwished them well. The President had

Lapodini Marc Atouga of Togo -Agriculture, Environment andWater Resources Mr. HamidAhmed of Niger - Trade,Customs, Industry, Mines andFree Movement Amb. IbrahimBa of Mali - MacroeconomicPolicy Mr. Ebrima Njie of TheGambia - Infrastructure Mrs.Khady Ramatu Sacco of SierraLeone - Administration and FinanceMrs. Salamatu Suleiman of Nigeria- Political Affairs, Peace and SecurityDuring the brief introductionceremony at the Commission's

DR Congo opposition makes election gains

Opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi's Union for Democracy andSocial Progress (UDPS) party won 41 seats [Reuters]

earlier anniounced that theincoming Vice-President Dr. TogaMckintosh, until now Liberia'sForeign Minister, will be joining theCommission's management teamlater this month. Following itstransformation in 2007 from anExecutive Secretariat to aCommission, the ECOWASCommission is run by a managementteam comprising the President, Vice-President and seven Commissioners.The tenure of the pioneer seventhCommissioner, Dr. Adrienne Diopwill end in June 2012.

The Democratic Republic ofCongo's ruling party andits allies won a reduced

election was decried by theopposition as fraudulent, inp o l l s w h i c h w e r e a l s oc r i t i c i s e d b y i n t e r n a t i o n a lobservers .

" T h e r e s u l t s o f t h e s eelect ions took a long t ime,b u t i t w a s t o e n s u r e t h e i roveral l transparency," saide l e c t i o n c o m m i s s i o n c h i e fDaniel Ngoy Mulunda.

Kabila's PPRD party won6 2 s e a t s i n t h e a s s e m b l y ,d o w n f r o m 1 1 1 a f t e r t h eprevious legis lat ive polls in2006, Mulunda said.

p a r l i a m e n t a r y m a j o r i t y i nN o v e m b e r e l e c t i o n s ,a c c o r d i n g t o r e s u l t sre leased two months a f terthe disputed polls.

T h e e l e c t o r a lcommission announced thef i g u r e s y e s t e r d a y , s a y i n gP r e s i d e n t J o s e p h K a b i l a ' sP e o p l e ' s P a r t y f o rR e c o n s t r u c t i o n a n dDemocracy (PPRD) and itsall ies captured an absolute

majority of about 260 seatsi n t h e 5 0 0 - s e a t N a t i o n a lA s s e m b l y .

The opposition won about110 seats , the resu l ts f romt h e N o v e m b e r 2 8 v o t eshowed.

D e s p i t e t h ep a r l i a m e n t a r y m a j o r i t y ,K a b i l a ' s p a r t y l o s t m o r et h a n 4 0 p e r c e n t o f i t slegislative seats to its rivals.

T h e o u t c o m e c o u l dw e a k e n h i s r u l e i n t h ec e n t r a l A f r i c a n s t a t e a f t e rh i s o w n p r e s i d e n t i a l r e -

Tunisian forces killed twogunmen and captured athird after clashes on

Wednesday night with whatappeared to be a group ofIslamists smuggling weaponsin the east of the country,several security andgovernment sources said.

Five Tunisian securityforces were also wounded in thefighting near the industrialport city of Sfax, 237 kms (147miles) southeast of Tunis, andpolice and military hadcordoned off the area, securitysources said.

The clashes were the first totake place in Tunisia sinceelections in October ushered ina government dominated bymoderate Islamist groupEnnahda and two secularpartners.

Tunisia's interior ministryforces were shaken by therevolt that ousted Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali and broughtdown his police state a year agoand secularist groups haveaccused Ennahda of being toosoft on armed militants andreligious extremists.

Mohammed al-Tunsi, aNational Guard official, hadsaid the three gunmenappeared to be Salafis, ultra-conservative Islamists, butInterior Minister Ali Larayed,a senior member of Ennahda,told reporters on Wednesdaynight it was too early toidentify them.

He described the incident as"dangerous" and promised moredetails on Thursday.

Larayed said a large stashof assault rifles andammunition had beendiscovered in the vehicle thethree men were travelling in.The gunmen abandoned theircar and hid in the surroundingcountryside where theyexchanged fire with police andmilitary for several hourswhile a helicopter buzzedoverhead.

A spokesman for PresidentMoncef al-Marzouki told statetelevision he believed thegunmen were part of a 20-strong gang that smuggledweapons through Tunisia.

Tunisia, the birthplace ofthe Arab Spring protests thatswept the region in 2011, hasmade a relatively smoothtransition to an electedconstituent assembly that willdraft a new constitution for thecountry.

Tunisian forceskill two inclashes witharmed group

Human-rights groups inSenegal, including thelocal branch of the UK-

based Amnesty International,have condemned police violenceduring an opposition rally inwhich one person was killed.

Officers used tear gas andwater cannons to break up theprotest in the capital, Dakar, onTuesday night, attended by an

Rights groups condemn violence in Senegalestimated 10,000 people inwhat until now had been oneof Africa's most stablecountries

Amnesty International andthe Senegalese Human RightsLeague and African Assemblyfor the Defence of HumanRights said in a statement onWednesday they "vigorously[condemned] deliberate

violence perpetrated by policeagainst peaceful, unarmedprotesters".

The joint statement,drawing on witness accounts,said live bullets had been firedinto the crowd. They alsoaccused police of having "firedtear gas at medical vehicles."

Scores were injured and oneman killed when a police lorry

drove into the crowd. Police havedenied it was their vehicle whichkilled a 32-year-old man.

The two rights groups calledfor an independent inquiry intothe night's unrest.

Thousands of people wereprotesting against plans byPresident Abdoulaye Wade, 85,to seek a third term in office inFebruary 26 polls in what theopposition has branded a"constitutional coup d'etat".


China’s investment in Africa reached$14.7bn in 2011

How would youcomment on thecurrent development

of China- Africa relations?How will China help Africagain its due place on theinternational arena?

In recent years, relationsbetween China and Africa havecontinued to make fresh progresson the basis of their traditionalfriendship, demonstrating astrong vitality and a hugepotential for development.Political trust between the twosides has deepened steadily withcooperation in the economy,trade and other fields ascendingto new levels and cultural andpeople-to-people exchangesincreasing in scope and depth.The two sides have maintainedclose coordination on majorinternational and regionalissues. Under the guidance of theForum on the China-AfricaCooperation (FOCAC), the newtype of strategic partnershipbetween the two sides is growingin strength and assuming newdimensions.

We are pleased to note thatthe role played by Africa ininternational and regionalaffairs has become increasinglyimportant in recent years. This,in my view, is attributable to twofactors. The first is that the trendof seeking strength throughunity among African countrieshas picked up momentum. Thesecond is that the solidarity andcooperation between Africancountries and other developingcountries has grown stronger.Facts have proven that China-Africa cooperation has not onlyserved the economic and socialdevelopment and risinginternational status of the twosides but also contributed topeace and development globally.

I have come here uponinvitation to attend the AfricanUnion summit and pay a visit toEthiopia. The purpose of my visitis to show to Africa and theinternational community atlarge that China firmly commitsitself to enhancing solidarity and

cooperation with Africancountries, firmly supportsAfrican efforts for strengththrough unity and theintegration process, and thatChina firmly support a greaterAfrican role in international andregional affairs. Chinaendeavors to deepen itscooperation with African on thebasis of equality, mutual trustand mutual benefit, and is readyto join the internationalcommunity in promoting peaceand development in Africa.

What are the principlesguiding China's efforts topromote economicdevelopment in Africa? Whatwill the Chinese governmentdo to expand investment inAfrica?

China pursues a win-winstrategy of opening up, whichmeans that China aims todevelop itself amid the commondevelopment of all developingcountries. While working todevelop ourselves, we strive toenhance economic cooperationwith Africa and accelerateAfrican development throughour own development. Inconducting cooperation withAfrica, we adhere to theprinciples of mutual benefit andcommon development, makingsure that our assistance will beresults-oriented and that we willnot interfere in the internalaffairs of the recipient countries.This practice has been widelyappreciated by Africancountries.

Investment is an importantpart of China-Africa economiccooperation. The Chinesegovernment has all alongencouraged and supportedgreater investment in Africa bycompetitive and reputableChinese companies and hastaken measures to guide suchefforts. They include providingconcessional loans, establishingthe China-Africa DevelopmentFund and setting up economicand trade cooperation zones inAfrica. These measures haveserved as effective incentives.The stock of Chinese investmentin Africa surged from US$490million at the end of 2003 to

US$14.7 billion in 2011, whichcovers mining, finance,manufacturing, construction,tourism, agriculture, forestry,animal farming, fishery andmany other fields. The numberof Chinese companies that havemade investment in Africa hassurpassed 2,000.

The Chinese side standsready to discuss with the Africanside on the areas, modalities andchannels of expandinginvestment with a view toimproving the quality ofcooperation in the future.

How do you view the statusand role of AU? Whatsymbolic meaning does theAU Conference Complex builtby China have for China-Africa relations? The 18th AUsummit will convene underthe theme of "Boosting Intra-Africa Trade". What role willChina play in promoting thiskind of trade?

The AU is the mostrepresentative and mostimportant inter-governmentalorganization in Africa. Since itsinception 10 years ago, it hasmade significant contribution topeace, stability anddevelopment in Africa andbecome a banner of strengththrough unity in the continent.China attaches greatimportance to its relations withthe AU. In recent years, thanksto the concerted efforts of bothsides, China-AU relations haveachieved comprehensive andrapid growth with bilateralexchanges and cooperation invarious fields deepeningcontinuously. The decision tobuild the AU ConferenceComplex was a key outcome ofthe FOCAC Beijing Summit.With less than three years ofconstruction, it was completedon schedule at the end of lastyear. The AU ConferenceComplex on top of the "Roof ofAfrica" embodies China'sstaunch support for Africa'seffort for strength through unityand the integration process, andwill undoubtedly become a newmonument to China-Africafriendship and China-AUcooperation.

Given the complex and grimpicture of the world economy,strengthening economicintegration at the regional levelwill help build up Africa'scapacity to resist external risks.That the 18th AU summit chose"Boosting Intra-Africa Trade" asits theme is of great significance.We sincerely hope that themeeting will make positiveprogress to this end. We havenoted that both the AU and theAfrican countries at large hopeto see China activelyparticipating in the integrationprocess of Africa, Particularly inthe areas of cross-border andcross-region infrastructuredevelopment. China holds apositive attitude towards this.We are ready to step upexchanges and dialogue with theAU and sub-regionalorganizations and will lose notime in promoting cooperationfor enhanced connectivity inAfrica in a spirit of practicalityand innovation.

The Chinese governmentannounced eight newmeasures to advance China-Africa practical cooperationat the 4th MinisterialConference of FOCAC. Whatprogress has been made inthe implementation of thesemeasures?

Since the inception of FOCACin October 2000, the Chineseside has earnestly implementedall its cooperation commitmentsmade at various ministerial andthe Beijing Summit. Theachievements, which have beenwell received by the African sideand highly regarded by theinternational community, arehere for everyone to see.

In well over two years sincethe 4th Ministerial of FOCAC,China and Africa have worked

together to implement theoutcomes of the conference andmade important headway incooperation despite gravechallenges posed by theinternational financial crisis.Smooth progress has been madein debt cancellation, tariffexemption, provision ofconcessional loans and thescheme of special loans designedto help small and medium sizedAfrican enterprises. Suchprojects as agriculturaltechnology demonstrationcenters, clean energydevelopment and China-Africafriendship schools have all beenwell underway. Personneltraining programs for Africanshave been carried out in an all-round way. A series of importantand exciting activities such asthe China-Africa AgricultureForum, the FOCAC-legal Forum,the Young Leaders Forum, thePeople's Forum, the Science andTechnology Forum, the Think-tank Forum, the "African Culturein Focus" program, the 20+20Cooperation plan for Chinese andAfrican Institutions of HigherEducation and the Joint Researchand Exchange Program, havebeen held one after another,bringing China-AfricaCooperation to a new high.

This year will see the "grandfinale" of the implementation ofthe 4th Ministerial outcomes.China will keep on workingwith African countries tocomplete all follow-up actions.With the 5th Ministerial ofFOCAC due to be held this year,China will step up consultationand coordination with Africancountries to make goodpreparations so as to ensure itscomplete success and pave theway for greater progress in thenew type of China-Africastrategic partnership.

MrJiaQinglin,

INTERVIEW

MrJiaQinglin, is the Chairman of the National Committee of the ChinesePeople's Political Consultative Conference(CPPCC). He attended theopening ceremony of the 18th AU Summit in Addis Ababa, capital of

Ethiopia. Prior to his visit, he spoke to reporters on current China-AU,China-Africa relations. Excerpts:

China will step up consultation and coordination with Africancountries to make good preparations so as to ensure its

complete success and pave the way for greater progress inthe new type of China-Africa strategic partnership.

“


US to end Afghan combat role in 2013

India's Supreme Court hasrevoked all 122 telecomlicences issued under a scandal-

tainted 2008 sale, plunging themobile network market of Asia's third-largest economy into uncertainty.

Thursday's ruling is a setback forManmohan Singh's government,which oversaw the sale of the licencesat below-market prices, costing theexchequer up to $36bn in lostrevenues.

The licences affected byyesterday's decision include thoseheld by Unitech Wireless, the Indianjoint venture of Norway's Telenor andUnitech.

"We have been unfairly treatedas we simply followed thegovernment process we were askedto," the Telenor joint venture said in

a statement."We are shocked to see that Uninor

is being penalised for faults the courthas found in the governmentprocess."

The telecoms scandal is thebiggest of several to emerge duringSingh's second term and triggeredmassive street protests last year.

Two ministers, including formertelecoms minister AndimuthuRaja, who presided over the 2008grant process, have resigned. Rajais in prison awaiting trial.

"This country is no longerwilling to allow these corruptcorporations and these corruptpublic officials to retain the benefits

of their illegal and corrupt actions,"Prashant Bhushan, a lawyer andpetitioner in the case, said.

India is the second-largestmobile phone market in theworld by subscribers, with 894million at the end of December,although the market is crowdedwith more than a dozenoperators, making call ratesamong the lowest in the world.

Investors and operators havelong been calling forconsolidation in the crowdedindustry, and Thursday's rulingstands to benefit the country'sbiggest operators, includingBharti Airtel and Vodafone.

The United States hasannounced plans to endits combat mission in

Afghanistan in 2013 and shiftto a training role, one yearprior to when most US troops areexpected to withdraw.

Wednesday's comments byDefence Secretary Leon Panettawas the first time the USadministration had forecastAmerican and allied troopscould end their combatoperations by the second half ofnext year.

"Hopefully by the mid-to-latter part of 2013, we'll be ableto make a transition from acombat role to a train, adviseand assist role," Panetta toldreporters aboard his plane enroute to a NATO meeting inBrussels.

"That's basically what...wedid in Iraq. And it's what we'regoing to try to do inAfghanistan", Panetta said.

In keeping with the approachused by the administration of USPresident Barack Obama in

Panetta was "pleased" France indicated it would retain long-term training and advising role inAfghanistan [Reuters]

Iraq, Panetta said the end of aUS combat role in the Central-Asian nation is part of a gradualNATO plan adopted in Lisbon in

November 2010, which calls forhanding over security duties toAfghan forces by the end of 2014.

The United States had no plans

to move up the 2014 deadline forthe withdrawal of Americanand coalition forces, Panettasaid.

India revokes graft-tainted telecom licenses

India's former telecoms minister Andimuthu Raja is awaiting trialover widespread corruption allegations [AFP]Kuwaitis vote to choose new government

Voting is under way in oil-exporting Gulf Arab stateof Kuwait to elect a fourth

parliament in six years after a

Kuwaitis took to the polls after the country's ruler dissolvedparliament and called for elections in December [Reuters]

Pakistan's top court hassummoned Yousuf RazaGilani, the prime minister, to

appear later this month for theframing of contempt charges overhis refusal to pursue corruptioncases against the country'spresident, his lawyer said.

Yesterday's court's decisionfollows an attempt by Gilani'slawyer to avoid the charge in ahearing before the judges lastmonth.

Court summons PakistaniPM in contempt case

"The court has decided to framecharges against prime ministerYousuf Raza Gilani. He has beenasked to be present in person onFebruary 13 when he will beindicted," Gilani's lawyer, AitzazAhsan, told reporters.

"There is a possibility for anappeal in this matter. It is up to thecourt whether to suspend this orderor not. This will be decided aftergetting a copy of the order," Ahsanadded.

The judge told the Supreme Court that there were grounds toproceed against Yousuf Raza Gilani [Reuters]

youth revolt last year led to theresignation of the prime minister.

"In the past years theparliament broke our hearts and

let us down," said Badr Yousef al-Juweihel after casting his ballotyesterday at al-Adeyliya pollingstation in central Kuwait.

"We didn't benefit, in fact wewent backwards and our time waswasted."

Kuwaiti opposition parties areexpected to make gains in thesnap election called by country'sruler, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, in December afterdissolving the chamber inresponse to a deepening politicaldeadlock that has stymied reformand held up vital developmentprojects.

Frustration has been growingat the impasse which came to a headin November when protesters ledby opposition MPs stormed theassembly demanding theresignation of then-Prime MinisterSheikh Nasser al-Mohammed al-Sabah, accusing him of corruption.

Extreme freeze claims lives in eastern EuropeAt least 43 people have died

in the past five days inUkraine in a cold snap that

has brought temperatures downto minus 33 degrees Celsius,causing chaos across swathes ofsouthern and eastern Europe.

Most of the victims werehomeless people killed byhypothermia, Ukraine'semergencies ministries said as thecountry reeled from its coldestwinter in six years.

Temperatures in the easternEuropean nation do not normallydrop below minus 15C in winter.

Another 500 people have beentreated in hospital for frostbite andother cold-related ailments while1,600 centres have been set up toprovide makeshiftaccommodation and dispense foodand drinks for homeless people,the ministry said.

In the Black Sea, Turkish coastguards are searching for eightcrew members missing since acargo ship sank in stormyconditions near the port ofZonguldak on Tuesday.

The Cambodian-registeredVera was sailing from Russia tothe Turkish Aegean port ofAliaga, according to Turkishmedia..

Three members of the 11-strong crew, consisting of 10Ukrainians and a Georgian, weresaved and taken to hospital.

Also in Turkey, the BosphorusStrait, a key shipping route forRussian oil and othercommodities, was closed to allvessels on Tuesday due to reduced

visibility caused by a snowstorm,coast guard officials said.

Passage for vessels longer than200 metres and those carryingdangerous cargo was suspendedon Monday due to poor visibilityin the strait, which runs throughIstanbul and forms a vital link fortraffic between the Black Sea and

the Mediterranean.Seven north-bound and south-

bound tankers were waiting forthe Bosphorus to re-open,shipping agenct GAC said.

There were gale warnings forparts of the Marmara, Black Seaand Aegean, the shipping agentadded.


‘I’m a figure of hate’: Single mother of 14slams critics who brand her a scroungerJoanne Watson responds to

critics on TV show 15 Kids andCounting 40-year-old insist

that she regrets their infamy Pays£27 a week rent on four-bedroomed house while receiving£565 in benefits

Squeezed into a four-bedroomcouncil house in Guernsey lives awoman branded the UK's mostprolific single mother.

Joanne Watson, 40, has 14children, ranging in age fromthree to 22 and survives largelyon state benefits after thebreakdown of her marriage in2010.

Once celebrated in endlessarticles in the press for her clan ofimmaculately turned-out blondechildren, who were thensupported entirely by the salaryof her hardworking husbandJohn, Joanne Watson and herfamily have now become figuresof ridicule - and even hate.

The family's bubble was burstfour years ago when an accidentmeant John, 46, had to give upwork as a lorry driver.

The financial pressure ofcaring for his 14 children meantJohn made a decision he willforever regret. As his healthimproved and with billsmounting, John claimed benefitswhile simultaneously takingsome earnings.

He was caught, and the manwho for two decades had been seenas the model father was sent toprison. The couple, who Joannesays had been arguing for years,separated and divorced.

'I feel pretty sore about whatwent on,' John says now. 'I've beenmarried 20 years and been a goodfather. I've worked hard. Nobodycan say I haven't, because I have.'

'I did get done for benefit fraud,'John admits.' But I paid mypunishment, I went to prison andI paid all the money back.

Joanne leaps to her ex-husband's defence. 'He wasn'tdoing it to go on holidays and buymobile phones,' Jo says. 'He wasdoing it to support us.'

The publicity the caseattracted has made life - one thatwas already played out in thepublic eye - yet more difficult forthe Watson children. Georgia, 15,says her regular appearance inthe papers makes life at her schoolin St Martins very difficult.

'When we're in the papers,everyone talks about it at school

Mum of Britain's biggest family Joanne Watson, 40, left, stands at the head of her 14 children at their family home in St Martin,Guernsey: From left to right, Indianna, two; Tallulah, three; Armani (known as Arnie), five; Nerilly-Jade, six; Lilly-Arna 7; Charlie, nine;Febrianne, 10; Brittany, 11; Caitlin, 12; Georgia, 15; Mariah, 15; Shanice, 19; Bradley, 20; and Natasha 22

" Natasha, 22

" Bradley, 21

" Shanice, 19

" Mariah, 16

" Georgia, 14

" Caitlin, 12

" Brittany, 11

" Febrianne, 10

" Charlie, nine

" Lilly-Arna, eight

" Nerilly-Jade, seven

" Armani, five

" Tallulah, four

" Indianna, three

Thewatson children

the next day,' she says. 'Last timeI was in the paper everyone wasdiscussing it. People were leavingmessages on my Facebook page.There were over 100 commentsand not one of them good.

'A boy at school the next daysaw me and said, "Oy, what's aWatson doing here?" I said I'dbeen here all along but he said I

shouldn't be there because therewas too many of us.

'We're only a family. We'relike everyone else,' she adds.

But Georgia is not entirelylike everyone else. She is a sweet,calm girl with an outlook that ismature beyond her years. Shehelps tirelessly at home:planning school uniforms and

packed lunches for the rest of thechildren, bathing her three-year-old sister Indianna andputting her to bed.

While her home life is nodoubt happy and full of love, shehas, perhaps, missed out on someof the carefree moments thatchildren in smaller families takefor granted.

Last time I was in the paper everyone was discussing it. Peoplewere leaving messages on my Facebook page. There were over100 comments and not one of them good.

Son Bradley, a professionalboxer, says the taunts arenever-ending. 'If your name

is Watson, it doesn't go down toowell,' 21-year-old Bradley saysevenly. 'They never say anythingto my face, but your ears arealways burning. I don't like it, butwhat can you do about it?'

But while the children of thehousehold struggle with lifeunder the microscope, Jo is defiantabout the public's reaction to her

Supplies, supplies: Joanne athome with her weekly shopping

and her brood.'When I was in town this week,

a woman looked at me and said,"Oh look, it's the baby-makingmachine." I just glared at her,' Joadds. 'Sod them all,' she says. 'Thisis the way I am.'

Despite Jo's ability to riseabove the attention though, it'sclear that her children despair oftheir mother's continualprocreation - and of their owncramped (if always neat and tidy)quarters.

'Our family is huge, lamentsone of the littlest boys. There's anew one born nearly every year.Being in a big family is horrible. Ifshe has any more, that's it, thishouse won't fit us.'

Indeed, the house is full tobursting. With 11 children stillliving at home, getting ready forschool is a military styleoperation, with little uniformedbodies filing out of the front doorin a seemingly endless line. Packedlunches are a production lineinvolving bags of fruit and dozensof sandwiches. There aremountains of washing to be donedaily - 56 loads a month, to beprecise.

Joanne pays only £27 a weekrent for the house, a heavilysubsidised fraction of the normalcost, receives a total of £160 aweek in family allowance for the

Squeezed on the sofa : Joanne Watson with the 11 children whostill live at the family home

11 children still living at home,and another £405 a week insupplementary benefit. Butmoney is still tight, and a budgetmust be adhered to.

And since her marriagebroke down, with a little helpfrom her children, Jo has to do itall herself. But despite theworkload, Joanne believesfirmly that ending hercrumbling marriage was theright thing to do.

'When I was expecting my14th child, my husband phonedthe papers to tell them so theycould arrange a photoshoot. ButI refused to do it. I couldn't go on

playing happy families. It's notright. I couldn't take any more.The way we were arguing, Ididn't want the children to hearit any more.'

Since her marriage brokedown, Joanne has been on thelook out for a new love - andhasn't given up on the idea ofhaving another baby.

In the hopes of meeting anew man, Joanne signed up tolocal dating agencies. Buteven there she met withprejudice.

One dating agency refusedpoint blank to have her ontheir books, saying the menthey dealt with wouldn't wantsomeone like Joanne.


Battle of the titans, asAdamawa decides . . .

Tomorrow, people of Adamawa will decide who becomes the governorof the state for the next four years. Our correspondent in Yola, BlessingTunoh, reports on the intrigues and strategies in play, and thechallenges facing the major contestants.

Contd on page 38

ANALYSIS

Barely twenty four hoursto the Adamawa stategovernorship election,

the plots and strategiespolitical groups in the statehave hitherto kept close to theirchest is beginning to play outamidst mounting tension in thevarious camps.

The forthcoming electionwhich promises to be keenlycontested has the likes of Brig.Gen. Buba Marwa of theCongress for ProgressiveChange (CPC), Engr. MarkusGundiri of the Action Congressof Nigeria (ACN), Dr. ZainabKwonchi of African DemocraticCongress (ADC) and theimmediate past governor,Murtala Nyako of PeoplesDemocratic Party (PDP).

Judging by the build up tothe election, analysts havealways insisted that the battlefor who takes the cake is mainlyfor the ACN, CPC and rulingPDP because of the simple factthat only the three out of fivepolitical parties that fieldedcandidates embarked on a state-wide campaign.

This assertion gained morecredence yesterday whenANPP, which before now wasconsidered a dead party and anextension of the PDP, led by itsflag bearer Alhaji AhmedUsman actually dissolved intothe PDP and urged all itssupporters to transfer theirloyalty to former GovernorMurtala Nyako.

Alhaji Usman had told anews conference, barelytwo weeks ago, that

“ANPP would not step down forany candidate whatsoever,especially my other three malecolleagues. I am aware thatthey brag and say all sorts ofthings; but we are not shakenby their propaganda.”

To participate in agovernorship election in a statelike Adamawa is financiallyburdensome considering thefact that it boasts of affluentpoliticians that have exposedthe electorate to moneypolitics. Therefore, for politicalparties like the ANPP and ADCto chicken out of the race isrational.

But the ADC’s candidatewho was formerly Nyako’sHealth Commissioner beforeshe was unceremoniouslyditched, her entrance in the

arena as seen by somepoliticians in the state,appeared to be a decisionintended to take her pound offlesh and probably deplete thePDP’s votes in Fufore, her localgovernment area which is thelargest in the state. But at thesame time, Fufore also housesNyako’s greatest politicalstrategist, Senator Bello Tukur( Nyako’s former Chief ofStaff).

Hence, Kwonchi’s missionwill be determined at the endof the political hostility. Herinability to campaign in the 21council areas is suggestive ofthe lack of funds rocking thelittle known party in Adamawaas the only cash donation so farreceived by Dr. Kwonchi wasN2 million from the nationalsecretariat of the party.

Chairman of the party Mr.Alfa Ephraim, had recentlyslammed the nation’s FirstLady’s ‘Women for ChangeInitiative’ for turning theirback on its candidate, evenwhen she approached themseverally for support. For

Kwonchi, therefore, pride is theonly thing at stake andposterity will record that shehas contested and lostAdamawa state governorshipelection.

Admiral Murtala Nyako,on his part, who bearsthe PDP flag is the

immediate past governor of thestate and would be going to thepolls tomorrow to run forgovernorship of the state forthe third time; the first beingApril 2007.

Born in Mayo Belwacouncil area on August27, 1942, Nyako

entered into politics in 2006,successfully contested and waselected governor of Adamawastate in April 2007. Eightmonths into hisadministration, his mandatewas quashed by the ElectionPetition Appeal Tribunal; afresh poll was run and theretired naval chief returnedwith a landslide victory,winning in all the 21 council

Former Governor Murtala Nyako General Buba Marwa

“In the midst of all these supportenjoyed by Nyako, closure of the

state House of Assembly comprisingof over 2/3 majority as PDP membersfor about two months, has sent wrongsignals that all is not well in the PDP

after all

“Though, few see him as a threat to the re-election bid of the former governor,

considering the intimidating number ofvehicles on his campaign entourage,

pundits have written him off, alluding thathe is only living on past glory achieved in a

military junta


areas, and resumed office onApril 29, 2008.

Saturday’s election wouldserve as another litmus test forthe Admiral who has had tocontend with a lot of naggingintra party wrangling.However, observers of politicalhappenings posit that Nyako’srole in ensuring that Adamawapeople voted for PresidentGoodluck Jonathan in the April2011 general elections wouldearn him a good turn.

It did not come as a surprise,therefore, when during theAdamawa PDP campaignround off in January 2012,Vice President Namadi Sambowho doubles as National Pointman of the Nyako Re-electionCommittee, set up by thepresidency and PDP, said thegovernor must be returned.

Sambo affirmed thatAdamawa PDP really workedhard ahead of other northernstate chapters of the party toensure victory for PresidentJonathan.

But in the midst of all thesesupport enjoyed by Nyako,closure of the state House ofAssembly comprising of over 2/3 majority as PDP members forabout two months, has sentwrong signals that all is notwell in the PDP after all.

An aspirant to the nationalChairmanship of theparty, Senator Jibrin

Aminu, who has for long joinedthe opposition to unseat Nyako,described the closure of theAssembly complex as atreasonable act. Aminu hadaccused the then governor andthe party of undermining theconstitution of the FederalRepublic of Nigeria by aidingsecurity agents to barricadeentrance and cordon off thecomplex because of theDecember 5, 2011 change ofleadership at the House, whichmany stakeholders say Nyakohas opposed.

The House only re-convened following last week’s

termination of Nyako’s tenureby the Supreme Court and thesubsequent swearing in of anActing Governor, UmarAhmed Fintri, the new Speakerwho Nyako’s government wasopposed to, just as his deputyKwamoti Laori assumed actingSpeakership.

It is widely believed thatwith the humiliation andopposition suffered by thelawmakers who were barredfrom performing theirconstitutional responsibilitiesfor more than a month, theymight be tempted to workagainst the former governor,Nyako.

But state chapter of thePDP which hadsponsored thugs to

barricade the assemblycomplex ever since the mantleof leadership fell on Fintri

Battle of the titans, as Adamawa decides . . .Contd from ACN to urge Fintri to “provide

a fair playing ground in theforthcoming governorshipelection,” saying, “We are notunmindful of the fact that he isa member of the defunct Nyakoadministration. So, we cautionagainst giving himpreferential treatment byproviding him with somegovernment facilities andservices as if he were still aserving governor. Nyako is aformer governor and acandidate like other candidatesfor the election.”

During Fintri’s one weektransitional government, helifted completely the dusk todawn curfew hitherto placed onNuman and Lamurde councilareas of the state by Nyako - adevelopment that dousedtension in the state which ledto postponement of thegovernorship election twice.

Resources in June 1999.Having retired from civil

service, Gundiri joined activepolitics in 2010. He is describedlargely by his supporters as onewith tremendous intellectualendowments, unrivalled vision

“The structure of his party and hiscareer path also make him better

placed than Brig. Gen. BubaMohammed Marwa of the CPC

whom analysts believe is a big fishin a small pond

presidential ambition beforedeclaring intention onDecember 15, 2010 to run forthe Adamawa stategovernorship seat.

The former Nigeria’sAmbassador to SouthAfrica’s governorship

ambition, at a time theleadership of PDP in Adamawasaid there was no vacancy inthe government house, causedhim to leave the party inprotest. He joined the CPC aftermoves to align with the ACNhit the rocks in December2010.

Though, few see him as athreat to the re-election bid ofthe former governor,considering the intimidatingnumber of vehicles on hiscampaign entourage, punditshave written him off, alludingthat he is only living on pastglory achieved in a militaryjunta.

As a leading oppositionfigure, many had thought of analliance between the CPC andACN, since both parties haverepeatedly said their aim is tooust Nyako from office. Butunfortunately, rather thanpooling resources andsynergizing on how best toactualize their mission, both

the ACN and CPC havecontinued to throw banters oneach order.

Barring unforeseencircumstances, with over 72ethnic groups who live insegmented communities, andalso considering the fact thatmost people in the state aremainly Muslims or Christians,these factors would no doubthave a bearing on the votingpattern on Saturday.

Against this background,should people of the state voteon religious lines, Nyako andthe CPC candidate will shareMuslim votes while Gundiriwould take the prize on a cleanslate.

On the other hand, if votesare cast on ethnic lines, Nyakowould reclaim his office as votesof the non-Fulani tribes in thestate would be shared betweenMarwa and Gundiri - assumingthe polls are made free, fair andcredible.

suddenly made a U-turn as soonas he took over Nyako’s office,by describing him as “anillustrious member of the onebig PDP family”.

The development had led

Though he had joined hisparty candidate in a rallyaround the state capital lastWednesday to garner supportfor the Saturday election, he isnot unmindful of the fact thatall eyes are on him and wouldnot undermine the confidencereposed in him.

Engr. Markus NatinaGundiri (ACN) was bornin Gashala, Hong local

government area on July1952. He grew upeducationally to become aprofessional engineer. He wasformerly a Director Generaland Commissioner in charge ofAgriculture, Water Resourcesand Rural Development fromAugust 1988 to February 1991in the defunct Gongola state. In1999, he was appointed DeputyDirector and Director in chargeof all federal government damsand reservoirs under theFederal Ministry of Water

and creative powers to turnaround the fortunes ofAdamawa state for good.

Being a new entrant inAdamawa’s politicalarena, Gundiri enjoys an

overwhelming goodwill fromthe southern and northernzones of the state as well asparts of the central, hishometown.

The structure of his partyand his career path also makehim better placed than Brig.

Gen. Buba MohammedMarwa of the CPC whomanalysts believe is a big fish ina small pond.

Born September 9, 1953 inMichika, Marwa served in theNigerian Army where he rosethrough the ranks to retire asa Brigadier General. He wasformerly militaryadministrator of Borno andlater Lagos state.

After retirement, he joinedpolitics and nursed a

Zainab Kwonchi Engr Markus Gundiri

“As ADC's candidate who was formerly Nyako'sHealth Commissioner before she was

unceremoniously ditched, her entrance in thearena as seen by some politicians in the state,appeared to be a decision intended to take herpound of flesh and probably deplete the PDP's

votes in Fufore, her local government areawhich is the largest in the state. But at the same

time, Fufore also houses Nyako's greatestpolitical strategist, Senator Bello Tukur (Nyako's

former Chief of Staff).


Dino Melaye drags former Kogi gov to court

Kaduna: Election body to spend N1.3bn on LG elections

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

A former member of theHouse of Representatives,Ding Melaye has dragged

the immediate past governor ofKogi state, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris,to court, seeking an order forforfeiting all properties, moniesand shares Idris allegedlyacquired illegally while he wasin office.

Melaye, in the suit filed on hisbehalf by his counsel, Chief MikeOzekhome (SAN), asked the courtto order the former governor toforfeit the private residence hejust acquired and currently livesin at 99 Kwame Nkrumah Streetoff Thomas Sankara Street,Asokoro Abuja.

Other properties he sought tobe forfeited are; Gubabi RoyalHotel, Sokodo Crescent Wuse zone5, Abuja, Dreamland Suites, 4Amsi Musa Street Jabi, Abuja,Summerest Hotel, 73 LumbaStreet off Gana Street MaitamaAbuja, Palmac Hotel 11 Bola FGE

Asokoro, Abuja, Executive Suite[Hotel] 104 Kwame Nkumahstreet off Thomas Sankara StreetAsokoro [presently under going re-construction and re-modernization], Grand Ibro Hotelformerly known as Ibro Hotel atHerbert Marcaulay Way, WuseZone 5, Abuja, Etal Hotel,[formerly Excelsior hotel adjacentplot 30 Kudirat Abiola Way,Oregun Lagos (Opposite FirstBank) and Etal Hotels and Halls[formerly Excelsior] 1-5 EdeStreet, Apapa Lagos.

In the suit which was filed atthe Lokoja High Court, Melayefurther asked the court for anorder directing Idris to forthwith“forfeit and return to thegovernment of Kogi state allsalaries, allowances,emoluments, travel claims,estacodes and perquisites of officewhich he illegally, unlawfullyand unconstitutionally collectedfrom the coffers of Kogi statebetween May 29th 2011 andJanuary 27th 2012 during which

period he illegally occupied theoffice of the governor of Kogi state.

“I verily believe that themeagre salary and perquisites ofoffice available to the 1stdefendant as governor of Kogistate in eight years and eightmonths even if all addedcumulatively could not have beensufficient to buy one of the aforesaidproperties which values I verilybelieve run to several billions ofnaira”, he averred.

In an affidavit in support ofthe suit deposed to by Melaye, heaverred that “I verily believethat because of misgovernaceand mismanagement of publicfunds of Kogi state by the 1stdefendant, the state has sufferedstunted growth anddevelopment leading to lack ofbasic amenities such as goodroads, portable water,electricity, good hospitals,reliable educational system andshelter.”

He equally wants an ordercompelling the 1st defendant

[Idris] to declare all the assetshe acquired whilst he wasgovernor of Kogi state betweenMay 29th 2003 and January27th 2012, and an orderdirecting the Accountant-General , Auditor-General andCommissioner of Finance of Kogistate who were cited as the 2ndto the 4th defendants to give afull and wholesome account ofall incomes, receipts andexpenditure of the governmentof Kogi state headed by Idrisbetween May 29th 2003 andJanuary 27th 2012.

Melaye equally wants “Anorder of the court annulling allexecutive decisions andapprovals including all contractcarried out by the 1st defendantbetween May 29th 2011 andJanuary 27th 2012, duringwhich time the 1st defendantillegally and unconstitutionallyoccupied the office of Governor ofKogi state.”

No date has been fixed for thehearing of the suit.

Kogi: Wadainauguratesthink-tankcommitteeFrom Sam Egwu, Lokoja

Kogi state Governor, CaptainIdris Wada has restated hiscommitment to run an all

inclusive government that will bebased on the application oftransparency and accountabilityin governance when heinaugurated a 22 -member think-tank committee on Wednesday.

The governor who inauguratedthe committee at the conferencehall of Lugard House, Lokoja, statedthat the committee which is to beheaded by Professor FrancisIdachaba has, among other termsof reference, the duty to fashion outa transformational blueprint thatwill, in a short period, launch thestate among the most developedstates in the country.

Wada noted that the membersof the committee were carefullychosen based on their integrity,hard work and track records,stressing that government willimplement in totality all therecommendations by thecommittee.

He promised that hisadministration will focus on bestpractices in the management ofresources accruable to the state,vowing to punish those who willcircumvent the rules throughcorrupt practices, and rewardthose who excel in theirassignment.

According to the new governor,his administration will focus ontotal transformation of the statewith special interest in functionaleducation, health care delivery,youth empowerment andagriculture, adding, that the besttalents will be brought on board touplift the state.

He said accountability andtransparency will be his article offaith with the people, promisingthat he will be guided by theaphorism that “there is noimmunity in the people’s court.”

The governor stated that hisadministration will be “based on allinclusion, as no one will be denied aplace simply because of thecircumstance of his birth” but willbring on board the best Kogians,both at home and in the diaspora.

“We have lots of our people withexpert knowledge in all spheres ofhuman endeavours that can movethe state forward. I will advancesymphony of Kogians with talentsand skills that will bring out the bestfor us and by us, “ he promised.

In his response, the chairman ofthe committee Professor FrancisIdachaba, thanked the governorfor considering the membersworthy for the assignment, sayingthat they were ready for the job ifonly “the train of progress was notderailed”, adding they will workhard to justify their appointment.

He said he had no doubt in hismind about the capability of Wadapiloting the state to the desireddestination, saying that “theantecedent of Wada as a pilot willweather the storm of statecraft.”

SenatorGamawa urgesfair play at PDPconvention

Senator Babayo GarbaGamawa has urgedPeoples Democratic Party

(PDP) to provide a fair playingground for the delegates at theforthcoming nationalconvention of the Party.

Gamawa made the callwhile talking to newsmen inBauchi, saying that withexperienced and competentexecutives as leaders, the partywill sustain its popularity andtriumph in the 2015 generalelections in the country.

According to him, “Theconvention is very simple.Very simple in the sense thatthere are people with themandate to select who is goingto be the national chairman ofthe party, that is the delegates.What I will advise is that theparty should provide a fairplaying ground for thedelegates.”

He noted that there will beno rancor in the party if justiceand fairness prevail during theparty’s election.

Babayo Gamawa, who is theSenator Representing BauchiNorth senatorial district, alsocharged Bauchi state chapterof the party to resolve itsinternal wrangling.

He called on the executivearms of government at alllevels to intensify efforts inorder to surmount thedeteriorating state of securityin the country, noting thatprovision of security is purelythe responsibility of theexecutives.

From Mohammed Adamu, Kaduna

Kaduna state IndependentElectoral Commission(KDSIECOM) will spend

over N1.3 Billion for the executionof forthcoming local governmentelections scheduled to hold withinthe year.

This amount, according to thestate’s electoral body’s boss, Dr.Hannatu Binyat, would beexpended in printing of ballotpapers, purchase of ballot boxesand other logistics that willensure free and fair localgovernment elections in the 23local government councils in thestate.

She pointed, during a pressbriefing in Kaduna, that withalmost four million voters and5,184 polling units spread across

the state, the commission is facedwith enormous challenges; as suchthe said amount would be neededfor the successful conduct of theevent.

Dr. Binyat, who facedharmonization committee ofKaduna state House of Assemblyearly in the week, urged thelawmakers to look at the budgetof the commission dispassionately.She further noted that anothergreatest challenge hercommission is facing is that ofignorance among the ruralilliterates, but stated that she hadtoured the 23 local governmentcouncils, met and sensitizedstakeholders in the forthcomingelectoral event, describing thetour as “very successful and itwould assist the commission’sjob.”

Meanwhile, the Kaduna stategovernment has lifted embargoplaced on employment and said itis ready to recruit workers into itscivil service this year.

The head of service of the state,Mrs. Hannatu Ugah, disclosed thisin a chat with newsmen in Kaduna.While commenting on thecontinued accommodation ofcasual workers in the state civilservice, she said the situation wascaused by the embargo placed onemployment as well as last year’sverification exercise carried out.

She said “now that everythingis over, we know the total numberof our workforce. Governmentwill, this year, employ more peopleincluding the casual workers;thereby, bringing to an end anycasualisation of workers in theKaduna state Civil service.”

L-R: Governors Sullivan Chime of Enugu, Rotimi Ameachi of Rivers, Ibrahim Shema of Katsina,Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna, Jonah Jang of Plateau, and Gabriel Suswan of Benue, all PDP governorsarriving for a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice-President Mohammed NamadiSambo, at the State House, in Abuja, on Wednesday evening. Photo: Joe Oroye

From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi


A Federal High Court inAbuja yesterday joinedthe former governor of

Bayelsa state, Timipriye Sylva asthe second respondent in the suitfiled by Seriake Dickson prayingit to declare him the lawful flag-bearer of the Peoples DemocraticParty (PDP) in the forthcomingBayelsa state governorshipelection.

The trial judge, Justice GladysOlotu had earlier granted an ex-

Court joins Sylva in Seriake’ssuit over Bayelsa guber electionBy Sunday Ejike Benjamin parte order compelling the

Independent National ElectoralCommission (INEC) to re-listDickson's name in the list ofgovernorship aspirants in Bayelsastate.

This led Sylva to haveapproached the court through hiscounsel, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN)seeking to be joined as a party inthe suit.

While ruling on theapplication yesterday, JusticeOlotu held that the party seekingto be joined has shown in his

affidavit that he has interest incontesting for the Bayelsa stategubernatorial election on theplatform of the PDP.

She further held that theapplicant have shown that hewould be affected by thejudgement of the court and thatSylva had made out case thatwarrant him to be joined.

"On that basis, the motion forjoinder is hereby granted asprayed and the applicant is herebyjoined as the second respondent.

"The case thereby adjourned

till February 6, 2012 for hearing",she stated.

Sylva had earlier described theorder as "immoral, ungodly andpathetic", saying it was "obtainedby fraud in the dead of the night."

Counsel to Dickson, Joe -KyariGadzama (SAN) had at the lastadjourned date applied to thecourt for adjournment on accountthat he had just been briefed andtherefore needed time to study thefile so as to represent the interestof his client "properly andprofessionally."

Gadzama insisted that underthe rules of the court, he wasentitled to seven clear dayswithin which to respond toSylva's joinder application addingthat his time was still running.

However, counsel to Sylva,Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) arguedthat the application foradjournment was deliberately todelay hearing of his applicationbecause they had already gainedan advantage by "theextraordinary order ofmandamus issued by the court.".

Fagbemi said he wasconvinced if all the facts of thesubject matter had been broughtbefore Justice Olotu includingthe pendency of the subjectmatter at the Supreme Court,she would not have made theorder.

He reminded the court thattime had already been abridgedin the matter and thereforeGadzama could not rightfully layclaim to seven days to respond tohis joinder application.

The reconstituted Court ofAppeal panel in Makurdiyesterday struck out 6

appeals brought by the PeoplesDemocratic Party, PDP, againstopposition parties, ActionCongress of Nigeria, ACN, andAll Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP.

Most of the appeals were onthe mandatory 180 days timeframe within which to hear anddetermine election, asenshrined in the Electoral Act2010 as amended.

In the cases between PDPversus Prof. Daniel Saror,Governor Gabriel Suswamversus Prof. Steven Ugbah, aswell as Suswam versus Prof.Daniel Saror, Justices TheresaOrji and Regina Nwodo who readthe judgments, held that the180 days, as prescribed insection 285 of the Electoral Act2010 as amended, excludes thetime to appeal; noting, it dealsstrictly with the period withinwhich to hear and determine thematters and deliver judgmentby the election tribunal.

They also added that section294 of the Constitution does notaffect period of determination ofthe petition.

According to the judgment,“After due consideration of theissues formulated, argumentsand briefs of counsels, we holdthat the appeals lack merit andare accordingly dismissed.”

In same vein, the courtdismissed the appeal filed byMrs. Theresa Ujege of PDPagainst Ortese Gbev of the ACNfor Konshisha state House ofAssembly constituency on thesame 180 daysmisinterpretation.

The Appeal Court also struckout the appeal of Hon.Emmanuel Ayua PDP versusLetter Titus of ACN for Gwer-West state House of assemblyconstituency on grounds thatthe inspection of electoralmaterials, which was done bythe petitioner and thepresentation of the report madeto the tribunal which therespondent objected to, should goahead.

Makurdi: PDPloses 6 appealsat C/AppealFrom Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

The Independent National Electoral Commission,(INEC), Katsina state office

has fixed the 25th of February,2012 as the tentative date for theconduct of a bye-election into thestate House of Assembly forMashi Local Government Area.

Addressing newsmen on thepreparations for the bye-election, the state residentelectoral commissioner, AlhajiAbubakar Umar Wara, noted

INEC fixes February 25th for Katsina bye-electionFrom Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina that the seat became vacant

following the death of the formeroccupant of the seat, Late SirajoMashi (PDP).

“Let me briefly mention thatwe have proposed to conduct thebye-election on Saturday 25thFebruary 2012, if approved bythe National Headquarters ofthe commission. Mashi localgovernment area

has a total number of elevenregistration areas,” he added.

Similarly, Wara stated thathis office has started putting

adequate preparations andarrangements In terms oflogistic requirements,recruitment of personnel for theconduct of elections, training,provision and deployment ofsecurity personnel to allpolling units and collationcentres in the area.

He also said they were goingto mobilize a total number of 429NYSC members that would bedeployed to the 143 polling unitsas presiding officers, adding thatthey had already produced

copies of the proposed time table.The resident commissioner

assured all political parties tocontests the bye-election in thestate that INEC would continue toshow great sense of humility anddedication to service.

Wara alerted that the partiesto ensure internal democracy intheir choice of candidates, shunviolence, rigging and moneypolitics that he said had negativeconsequences on the election in agrowing democracy like that ofNigeria.

Benue state GovernorGabriel Suswam hasurged the new

Inspector General of Police,Mohammed Abubakar, to beemboldened by the demise ofhis wife, Hajiya MaryamAbubakar, especially in theface of difficult nationalassignment placed on hisshoulders.

The governor said this in acondolence statementyesterday, and madeavailable to the press by hisSpecial Adviser on Media andPublic Affairs Dr. CletusAkwaya, in which he notedthat the death of the IGP’s wife

came at a time when he isexpected to hit the groundrunning in the task ofconfronting the enormoussecurity challenges presentlyfacing the country.

Suswam attributed therecords of successful outingscredited to Abubakar at hisprevious duty posts to thesupport of his late wife,adding, “members of herfamily will surely miss her;but I urged the IGP to takesolace in God’s abundant graceand abiding love forhumanity. I pray God togrant him and the immediatemembers of her family thefortitude to bear theirreparable loss.”

Makurdi: PDPloses 6 appealsat C/Appeal

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

Suswam condoles IGP over wife’s death Wamakko’s re-election chances still bright,say election monitors

The Good GovernanceProject Initiative (GGPI),which studied the most

recent Supreme Court verdict thatterminated the tenure of fivegovernors of Kogi, Adamawa,Sokoto, Bayelsa and Cross Riversstates, has said the chances of AliyuMagatakarda Wamakko being re-elected as the governor of Sokotostate are still bright.

In a press briefing in Abujayesterday, the national presidentof GGPI, Dr. Innocent Okadigbo andits Secretary-General, SalehMohammed, said that despite this

verdict, Wamakko is still in therace for the state’s gubernatorialelection scheduled to hold inFebruary as the PDP gubernatorialflag-bearer, because INEC haspromised to go ahead with theelection as originally planned sincethe Supreme Court judgment didnot invalidate the electiontimetable and his candidacy.

According to Dr. Okadigbo,“Wamakko is the most likelywinner of the election because ofhis populist policies andprogrammes in the areas ofeducation, health, agriculture,infrastructure, economicempowerment of its citizens, etc.,

which brought about numerousdemocracy dividends for hispeople.

“It was Wamakko’sadministration which stabilizedSokoto state as a frontline PDP state.He nurtured the state to be 100percent PDP, such that all theelective local government, stateand National Assembly positionsare occupied by PDP members whohad good working relationshipwith Wamakko” Okadigbo stated.

According to him, Wamakko isa humble and grassroots leaderwho is greatly loved by his peoplewho commands amazingpopularity at the grassroots, thussignifying his chances of being re-elected.

L-R: British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Andrew Lloyd, Permanent Secretary, Department forInternational Development (DFID), Mr. Mark Lowcock, and Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon.Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, during the envoy's visit to the Speaker, at the National Assembly, inAbuja, yesterday. Photo: Mahmud Isa

By Augustine Aminu


Officials ForFlamingoes/Kenya

MatchMatch Commissioner: Ekene WaMaluka Madeleine (Dr Congo)Centre Referee: El-Harkaour Incaf(Morocco)1st Asst Ref:Oulhaj Souad (Morocco)2nd Asst Ref:Jalal Zahra (Morocco)Reserve Ref:Neama Mohamed (Egypt Felix Benjamin

Keshi

Baribote

The Nigeria Premier League (NPL)has descended heavily on Lobi Starsand Sharks following the unruly

conducts of their home fans during leaguematches last weekend.

SuperSport.com gathered from the NPLacting executive secretary, TunjiBabalola that Lobi are to cough outN400,000.

This followed an attack by its fans onthe assistant referee one and fourthreferees shortly after the first half in thematch against Akwa United at theKatsina Ala stadium. In line with Article5.8 of the Rules and Regulation, thepayment is expected to be made beforeLobi’s next home match againstHeartland this weekend.

The Secretariat also expressed worryover what it described as unnecessaryharassment of match officials during thematch involving Sharks and WarriWolves in Port Harcourt.

Precisely at the 89th minutesupporters of the home team (Sharks)harassed the assistant referee 1 for pickingan offside play.

The report also stated that ThankGodAmaefule with Jersey No.10 of Sharksassaulted the assistant referee 1immediately after the match therebyviolating Article 5.8 of the Rules andRegulations.

Sharks are fined the sum of N200,000and their subsequent home matches shallbe played behind closed doors while theplayer, Amaefule is given a four-match ban.

Coach Erasmus Onuh of ABS is bannedfor four matches with a fine of N200,000to be paid before his club’s next homegame. Onuh was penalized for what theleague board described as his unsportingbehaviour during the league matchinvolving Warri Wolves and ABS at theWarri City Stadium.

Babalola said the match report revealedthat thea s s i s t a n treferee 1 wasassaulted bycoach Onuhin the 89thminute. Them a t c hreports havebeen sent toN F FDisciplinaryand RefereesCommitteesfor furtheraction.

The Nigeria Premier League (NPL) club,Ocean Boys is struggling under theweight of unpaid wages as the 2011/

2012 season enters Week Seven.Playing personnel of the club are owed

250 percent of their signing-on fees from thelast two seasons. Morale at the club is at itsnadir as players at the club seek for succor.

Midfielder Felix Benjamin says thingsmust improve if the club is challenge forhonours. “Things are really difficult for us.We have not been paid anything since lastseason and we have been performing wellon the pitch,” Benjamin explained.

The club reached the semifinals of theFederation Cup last season, eventuallyovercoming Bayelsa United on penalties tofinish in third place.

Circumstances were however not happierin the NPL last term as the club managed tobeat the drop to the lower division on the last

day of the season.Benjamin says the club’s management

would need to offset the debts to players ifthe club is to effectively challenge forhonours this season. “To be honest, thesalaries are paid promptly but the main issueis the signing-on fees which represent thebulk of our money. It will help greatly if themoney is paid,” he said.

The 18-year-old took some time to discusshis objectives for the new season.

“I want to perform better than I did lastseason this time. I have been working on myskills alone after the normal training sessionswith the team. “I have noticedimprovements in my game and I willcontinue to go from strength to strength,”he said.

Benjamin who scored twice for OceanBoys last season joined the club from JigawaGolden Stars in 2009.

Chief Coach of Sharks, ImamaAmapakabo has expressedfrustration after watching his side

go down 0-5 to table-toppers, GombeUnited on matchday six.

The Blue Angels, mediocre allevening, were torn to pieces by thepacesetters of the Nigeria PremierLeague in a ruthless display of attackingfootball that left the former Kano Pillars’

goalkeeper red-faced.Sanusi Sani dispatched a hat-trick

while his teammate, Mustapha Babadidiclaimed a brace as Sharks were put tothe sword in emphatic fashion at thePantami Stadium, Gombe.

“I have never been humiliated likethat in football in all my life. Without ashadow of a doubt, it was my worst dayas a coach in football,” Amapakabo told

SuperSport.com.The trainer was however quick to

identify ‘basic mistakes’ made by hisplayers for the loss to the DesertScorpions.

“My players made several basicmistakes and the Gombe United ladspunished us severely. I am not makingexcuses. Fair play to Gombe United andcongrats to them for their victory,” hesaid.

Sharks will now look to regroup aheadof their Week Seven game against AkwaUnited in Port Harcourt and Imama fearsthere may be a backlash for the newly-promoted side.

“Sharks will never underrate any teambut there is an anger among the (Sharks)boys. They are angry with themselvesfor losing so badly against Gombe Unitedand will want to vent their frustrationson the side they will meet next so I say toAkwa United watch out,” Imama said.

The young gaffer rounded off byapologising to the fans of the club for theheavy loss in Gombe.

“There is nothing much to say. Weapologise to the fans and promise to makethem happy in the coming days,” he said.

The Super Eagles’ Head Coach,Stephen Keshi has invited 30players to the camp of the Senior

Men’s National Team, Super Eagles,ahead of the international friendlymatch against the Lone Star of Liberia inMonrovia on Wednesday, February 15.

The 49-year old former Senior Teamcaptain, presently in South Africaanalyzing the on-going African Cup ofNations finals for Supersport, and who isexpected back in the country early nextweek, has ordered the players to resumein camp on Sunday, February 5.

There are three goalkeepers, eightdefenders, 11 midfielders and eightstrikers. Most of the players were inthe squad that held Angola’s to a 0-0draw in an international friendly inAbuja on Wednesday, January 11.

The Super Eagles are expected toleave for Monrovia on February 13.

THE FULL LIST:GOALKEEPERS: Chigozie Agbim

(Warri Wolves), Okemute Odah

(Sharks FC), Daniel Akpeyi (HeartlandFC)

DEFENDERS: Juwon Oshaniwa(Sharks FC), Osasco Omomo (SunshineStars), Azubuike Egwueke (WarriWolves), Godfrey Oboabona (SunshineStars), Gbenga Arokoyo (Kwara Utd),Uche Oguchi (Heartland FC), AhmedAdesope (3SC), Papa Idris (Kano Pillars)

MIDFIELDERS: Ossai Uche (WarriWolves), Kola Anubi (Sharks FC), Ejike

Uzoenyi (Enugu Rangers),Bartholomew Ibenegbu, KingsleySalami, Stanley Ohabuchi (HeartlandFC), Reuben Gabriel (Kano Pillars),Henry Uche (Enyimba FC), SolomonJabason (Akwa United), ChidiOsuchukwu (Dolphins FC), DanielEssien (Niger Tornadoes)

STRIKERS: Sunday Emmanuel(Enyimba), Sunday Mba, Jude Aneke(Warri).

Wolves), Izu Azuka (Sunshine Stars),Barnabas Imenger (Kwara Utd),

Kabiru Umar (Heartland FC), UcheKalu, Ifeanyi Ude (Enyimba FC).

The Nigerian Football Federation ( NFF) has said that Kenya’s U-17 female team is afraidof their Nigerian counterparts, the Flamingoes, ahead of tomorrow reverse fixture ofthe 2012 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifier. To this end, the Kenyan Football

Federation, (KFF) are using the security situation in Nigeria as an alibi not to honour thematch.

The Flamingoes go into the first round preliminaries qualifier slated for Abeokuta, OgunState with a 2-0 advantage, after defeating their Kenyan counterparts at the Nyayo Stadium,Kenya, and a fortnight ago. Demola Olajire, NFF image maker said: “There is no truth intheir claim that security in the country is not conducive for the match to hold.

“The home-based Super Eagles recently played a friendly match against their Angolancounterpart at the National Stadium in Abuja without any hitches. The truth is that theKenyan girls are scared of our players and they are making excuses to gain easy victory.They are not going to get it.”

Peoples Daily Sports can report authoritatively that the Kenyan authorities have sincewithdrawn their protest and the team will arrive in Nigeria later yesterday to honour thematch.

NPL extendssledge hammerto Lobi Stars andSharks FCStories By Albert Akota

Ocean Boys cry-out over unpaid wages

Gombe defeat worst ever – Shark’s coach

Fear grips Kenya over Flamingoes preparation

Keshi invites 30 home based players


Ghana squad

P W D L GF GA PtsZambia 3 2 1 0 5 3 7Eq Guinea 3 2 0 1 3 2 6Libya 3 1 1 1 4 4 4Senegal 3 0 0 3 3 5 021/01/12: Equatorial Guinea 1-0 Libya, Bata21/01/12: Senegal 1-2 Zambia, Bata25/01/12: Libya 2-2 Zambia, Bata25/01/12: Equatorial Guinea 2-1 Senegal,Bata29/01/12: Equatorial Guinea 0-1 Zambia,Malabo29/01/12: Libya 2-1 Senegal, Bata

P W D L GF GA PtsIvory C 3 3 0 0 5 0 9Sudan 3 1 1 1 4 4 4Angola 3 1 1 1 4 5 4Burkina F 3 0 0 3 2 6 0

22/01/12: Ivory Coast 1-0 Sudan, Malabo22/01/12: Burkina Faso 1-2 Angola, Malabo26/01/12: Sudan 2-2 Angola, Malabo26/01/12: Ivory Coast 2-0 Burkina Faso,Malabo30/01/12: Sudan 2-1 Burkina Faso, Bata30/01/12: Ivory Coast 2-0 Angola, Malabo

P W D L GF GA PtsGabon 3 3 0 0 6 2 9Tunis ia 3 2 0 1 4 3 6Morocco 3 1 0 2 4 5 3Niger 3 0 0 3 1 5 0

23/01/12: Gabon 2-0 Niger, Libreville23/01/12: Morocco 1-2 Tunisia, Libreville27/01/12: Niger 1-2 Tunisia, Libreville27/01/12: Gabon 3-2 Morocco, Libreville31/01/12: Gabon 1-0 Tunisia, Franceville31/01/12: Niger 0-1 Morocco, Libreville

P W D L GF GA PtsGhana 3 2 1 0 4 1 7Mal i 3 2 0 1 3 3 6Guinea 3 1 1 1 7 3 4Botswana 3 0 0 3 2 9 0

24/01/12: Ghana 1-0 Botswana, Franceville24/01/12: Mali 1-0 Guinea, Franceville28/01/12: Botswana 1-6 Guinea,Franceville28/01/12: Ghana 2-0 Mali, Franceville01/02/12: Botswana 1-2 Mali, Libreville01/02/12: Ghana 1-1 Guinea, Franceville

Quarter-Finals:1. 04/02/12: Zambia v Sudan, Bata2. 04/02/12: Ivory Coast v EquatorialGuinea, Malabo3. 05/02/12: Gabon v Mali, Libreville4. 05/02/12: Ghana v Tunisia, FrancevilleSemi-Finals:08/02/12: QF1 winner v QF4 winner, Bata08/02/12: QF3 winner v QF2 winner,Libreville3rd place play-off: 11/02/2012, MalaboFinal: 12/02/2012, Libreville

Port Said residents in Egypt hashorrified by the football violencethat left 74 people dead in their city

accused police of incompetence by alleginga plot to enflame nationwide unrest.

Troops were stationed around thesprawling northern hub to prevent moreviolence after Wednesday night’s unrest,but the city was calm as people gatheredoutside hospitals treating the hundreds ofwounded.

Witnesses spoke of fans being crushedby the panicked crowds, trampled, beaten,stabbed and trapped as the anti-riot police

were not able, or did not want, to controlthe crowds.

“The lack of security was not normal,”charged one resident Medhat MokhtarNaim who had been at the match betweenhome-side Al-Masry and their fierce rivaland Cairo star team Al-Ahly and sawpeople trapped in the stands. “The securityforces did nothing,” added a young man,who gave his name only as Mohammed.“They just let people enter freely; thesearches were not done properly.”

Others questioned why police dogs werenot brought out or security reinforced,

with tension already brewing at halftime.“What happened was a plot!” interjected

another man on the pavement.“That was done on purpose, and it was

planned so that there would be chaos,”added Abdelfattah Mohammed, among themany who allege a deliberate attempt tofeed insecurity a year after the fall of long-time ruler Hosni Mubarak.

The dead were flown back to Cairo’sZeinhom morgue where shocked familymembers stood around corpses wrapped inplastic sheets.

Mothers and sisters of the deceased,

dressed in black, screamed in mourningas some of the bodies were taken out aheadof their burial.

A favoured theory is that the violencewas staged in the interests of Mubarak’sinterior minister Habib el-Adly, who is ontrial alongside the former dictator for thekilling of demonstrators in last year’suprising.

As investigations begin into thecountry’s deadliest football violence, thegovernment has sacked Port Said securitychief Essam Samak and city governorMohammed Abdullah.

Anger in Port Said over killing of Football fans

weekend.The midfielder has been in fine form

this season scoring four times in the six-week-old season.

He netted against Bukola Babes andSharks before taking his tally to four witha well-taken brace against Ocean Boys onWednesday.

The 22-year-old is now certain to miss

out on Enyimba’s Week Seven gameagainst Kaduna United on Saturday.

“The team will be travelling withoutme (to Kaduna). I am not happy becauseI have been playing well. But I wish themwell and I will be looking to come back asquickly as I can,” Maduabuchi said.

Maduabuchi scored seven goals in allcompetitions for Enyimba last season.

Enyimba Football club of Abia keyplayer Josiah Maduabuchi, hasbeen ruled out of action for the next

two weeks.The midfielder aggravated a

hamstring injury during his side’s 2-0win over Ocean Boys on Wednesday andwill now miss out on the trip to Kadunawhen they face Kaduna United this

Enyimba key player out for two weeks

Cranes of Uganda coach, BobbyWilliamson secretly met withSwedish-born Ugandan Martin

Kayongo Mutumba over the possibility ofthe forward playing for Uganda.

The meeting place in Kampala earlylast month. “I met him here in Kampalain January, just about three weeks ago.

“We exchanged mobile numbers andhe promised to get back to me, I’mwaiting. But I will get in touch with himsoon and possibly, invite him for a gameand see how it goes. I’ve watched his videoshe is a brilliant player.” The 26-year-old,AIK’s Mutumba, was once quoted inSwedish press saying he would love to beUganda’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

He would be a welcome addition at aCranes side that lacked the cutting edgeas they drew goalless with Kenya lastOctober, a game that would havequalified then to Gabon and EquatorialGhuinea had they won it.

While on his trip to the United Kingdomin December to look at some of the knownplayers with Ugandan roots, Bobby alsogot to speak with 16-year-old centre-halfBevis Mugabe from SouthamptonAcademy. “The boy is excited at theprospect of playing for Uganda,” he said,“But his first target is to break into theSouthampton senior team.”

Other players with Ugandan originsBobby is looking at include Ibra Sekajja(19-year-old from Crystal Palace) and 16-year-old Ismail Luswata Seremba, amidfielder with Chelsea’s Academy.Uganda’s 2013 Nations Cup first legqualifier against Congo Brazzaville isaway on the weekend on February 27-29

Uganda coach, Bobby Williamson

Guinea coach Michel Dussuyer hasmaintained that Ghana are stillfavourites to win the 2012 Africa

Cup of Nations even after he accused thereferee of helping the Black Stars beathis team.

Guinea crashed out of the competitionon Wednesday night after they couldonly manage a 1-1 draw with four-timewinners Ghana in a final Group D match.

Ghana, who last won this tournamentin 1982, will face Tunisia in aquarterfinal on Sunday night.

“I said it before the tournament thatGhana are my favourites to win thiscompetition and even after how thereferee helped them against us I stillbelieve they can go all the way here,”said Dussuyer.

“They are a much organized team.They are a great team and against sucha team you cannot afford to make anymistakes like we did against them.”

Frenchman Dussuyer lashed out at

South African referee Daniel Bennettfor only penalising Guinea in the firsthalf of the match against Ghana, whilehe also questioned the first bookingMamadou Bah received before he waseventually sent off.

However, he said he was satisfiedwith the overall showing of the SyliNational at this tournament.

“I’m satisfied with my team. Weplayed well but could not qualify,” heremarked. “We will continue to workhard and improve and hope to qualifyfor the next tournament.

“We will now look to the future. Wehave a young team with many of theplayers getting only their firstexperience at the Nations Cup in Gabon.We have learnt after playing at a highlevel competition like this.

“We played good football and showedwe have qualities. Therefore we arelooking forward to a very positivefuture.”

Swedish-bornUgandan setfor fatherland– Coach

Ghana are petsto lift ACN, saysGuinea coach

West Ham is believed tobe one of the 16 partiesto have expressed an

interest in moving to theOlympic Stadium after the2012 Games.

The Championship club hadlooked set to move into thevenue but a deal withNewham Council collapsed inOctober.

The government opened atender process on 20 Decemberand bidders have until 23March to submit full proposals.

The Olympic Park LegacyCompany (OPLC) revealed thenumbers after the 30 Januarydeadline passed.

A spokesperson for the OPLCsaid: "There have been 16registrations from partiesinterested in bidding to use thestadium after the Games. Theynow have until 23 March 2012to submit their full bids.

"The Legacy Company plansto appoint the winning biddersin May 2012 and remains ontrack to reopen the venue in2014."

Challenges from LeytonOrient and TottenhamHotspur, as well as ananonymous complaint to theEuropean Commission, led tofears that the battle for use ofthe stadium could go on foryears.

However, after West Ham'sbid collapsed it was decidedthat a new tender process wouldbe opened in December 2011for an anchor tenant at thevenue and the governmentrevealed the stadium wouldremain in public ownership.

The OPLC also reiterated thatthe athletics track remainingin place is a non-negotiable partof the process.


Captain Andrew Strauss saysEngland are determined tosalvage pride when they

face Pakistan in the third and finaltest, which starts today

Strauss's men, 2-0 down, arelooking to avoid a serieswhitewash and hold on to theirnumber one Test ranking.

He said: "For 24 hours or so,

after the second Test defeat, therewas a bit of doom and gloom, asyou might expect.

"But we've resolved to moveforward. It's just a very strongopportunity to salvage somethingfrom the series."

Strauss also warned againstplayers taking their places forgranted.

"For the environment to workproperly, we've all got to feel thepressure for our place," he added."No-one has a God-given right torepresent England. "I think you'vealways got to look at thingsrationally and think about howextended a period you can givesomeone in the side.

"You've got to look at people's states

of mind and how they're doingtechnically and all that sort of stuff.You throw all that into the mix andthen decide what the best XI is."

England played two seamersand two spinners in the 72-rundefeat in Abu Dhabi, with therecalled Monty Panesar returningfigures of 6-62 in the secondinnings.

England coach vows to beat Pakistan

Andrew Strauss

Chris Hoy

Britain defeated Portugal 3-0 in their opening Fed CupEuro/Africa Zone Group I

match.Anna Keothavong beat Maria

Joao Koehler 6-3 6-4 beforeElena Baltacha saw off MichelleLarcher de Brito 6-2 6-3 to sealthe tie, being played in Israel.

Heather Watson and LauraRobson then defeated Koehlerand Larcher de Brito 7-5 6-0 intheir doubles match.

“Today was fantastic,” saidJudy Murray after her firstmatch as captain. “We did notdrop a set.”

And Murray added: “We’ve gota tough one against theNetherlands but we’ve preparedwell and we’ll be ready.”

Baltacha was pleased by theform shown both by herself andKeothavong.

She said: “We knew it wasn’tgoing to be easy because the

Portuguese girls have done wellin the past.

“I think sometimes with girlsat that level you’re never toosure which one of them is goingto turn up, as in you don’t reallyknow what kind of game they’regoing to bring. But Anne and Iknew that we’d have to stick toour guns and get the job donewhich was the most importantthing.”

The format sees 15 nations

form four round-robin pools,played from Wednesday toFriday. The nations that finishtop in each pool will go throughto the promotion play-offs,which take place on Saturday.

The two winning teams will gothrough to the World Group IIplay-offs, while the bottomnations contest the relegationplay-offs to decide which twoteams are relegated to Euro/Africa Group II.

Britain and Australia haveboth named strong line-ups for February's track

cycling World Cup in London.The event, at the Olympic

Velodrome, is set to become anearly chance to see the likelysquads for the 2012 Games.

Sir Chris Hoy and VictoriaPendleton lead the British teamwhile Anna Meares and JackBobridge star for Australia.

Chief Dave Brailsford calledthe event a "learningopportunity" ahead of theGames, adding: "We haveselected a full-strength squadaccordingly."

Australian counterpart,Kevin Tabotta, said: "This willbe our only opportunity to raceon the Olympic Velodrome andfamiliarise both athletes andstaff with the environmentahead of the Games.

"We are on target to qualifythe maximum number of trackplaces for the Games, so thefocus now it to ensure we are inthe best possible position to winmedals in London."

Ross Edgar, earlier suggestedas a doubt for London's leg of theWorld Cup series as he recoversfrom injury, is named in theBritish sprint squad and is nowlikely to form the GB men'ssprint team alongside Hoy andJason Kenny.

The Olympics being on thattrack later in the year, it'sobviously going to beimportant for everyone," saidOlympic and world championKenny.

West HamwantOlympicsstadium

Britain defeat Portugal in Fed Cup tie

Britain,Australia setup LondonduelJames Hook says his World

Cup troubles are behind ashe prepares for Wales’ Six

Nations opener in Ireland.The 26-year-old concedes he

had a disappointingtournament although Walesearned plaudits for their fourthplace.

Hook missed kicks againstSouth Africa , semi-final rivalsFrance and against Australiain their bronze medal match,but could return to fly-half ifRhys Priestland fails a fitnesstest.

“It was so disappointing forme and my family,” Perpignanstar Hook admitted.

“The semi-final was the

Hook wants redemptionafter World Cup

lowest I have been after a game,without a doubt. You can’tquite think straight for a whileand going out to France wasthe best thing for me, probably.

“I was bitterly disappointed.I worked so hard for what isthe pinnacle of internationalrugby and it didn’t go well.

Hook completed his move toPerpignan from Ospreys onhis return from the WorldCup.

He was unavailable forWales’ Australia rematch inDecember due to hiscommitments in France but hecould find himself filling thecrucial fly-half position inDublin on Sunday.

Wales’ first-choice number10 Priestland is battling torecover from a knee injury andHook may be given a chance tomake amends from his WorldCup frustrations.

He missed six penalties andone conversion in three-and-a-half games at the World Cup,after starting the tournamentat full-back and ending itplaying fly-half.

The 59-times cappedWelshman suffered a shoulderinjury in their second poolgame against Samoa andreturned for a three-minutecameo as a replacement inWales’ World Cup quarter-finalwin over Ireland.

James Hook


World number eight, Phil Dowson is one of three uncapped players inEngland's starting XV to face Scotland in their Six Nations openertomorrow. Centres Brad Barritt and Owen Farrell make their debuts,

while Saracens team-mate Charlie Hodgson plays at fly-half in place of the injuredToby Flood.

Lock Mouritz Botha, another Saracen, wins his second cap in interim coachStuart Lancaster's first line-up.

Only six players remain from the World Cup quarter-final defeat by France.Phil just has match experience at club level which we think will transfer to the

international arena," said Lancaster of 30-year debutant Dowson, who was captainof England's second-string Saxons side during Lancaster's time in charge.

Saracens have five players in the side, with David Strettle making his firststart since the 37-20 defeat by New Zealand in June 2008.

Lancaster insists his back division will have a different style to that used by thePremiership champions.

Floyd Mayweather will step back upin weight to fight Miguel Cotto forhis WBA light-middleweight title on 5

May at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.The fight ends speculation that

Mayweather would fight Manny Pacquiaoin a super-fight in May.

"It will be a challenge for me to competewith him at this weight, but this is the typeof test I thrive on," said Mayweather, 34.

Cotto responded: "On 5 May I willconvincingly beat Floyd Mayweather."

He added: "I am here to fight the biggestnames in boxing. I've never ducked anyoneor any challenge in front of me."

Mayweather is due to serve an 87-dayprison sentence for a domestic violenceconviction but the Las Vegas authoritieshave deferred his sentence until 1 June andgranted him a one-fight licence to allow theCotto fight to take place.

Miguel Cotto is a world-class fighter whocan never be taken for granted andcontinues to prove he is one of the best inboxing," added Mayweather.

Cotto, 31, who has a 37-2 record,successfully defended his WBA superwelterweight crown with a revengestoppage win over Antonio Margarito inDecember.

Mayweather, meanwhile, scored a fourthround stoppage of Victor Ortiz last September.

The 34-year-old, who holds a 42-fightunbeaten record, last fought at light-middleweight when he outpointed Oscar DeLa Hoya in a disputed split decision in 2007.

Floyd Mayweather

Ian Bell

England trio set for debut against Scotland Bell passes fit forthird test againstPakistanEngland batsman Ian Bell has been

passed fit for the third Test againstPakistan, which starts today.

Bell has been suffering from the effectsof a stomach bug and missed training onTuesday.

However, he has now been cleared toplay in the final Test in Dubai. Englandtrail 2-0 in the series.

Bell, who has scored just 36 runs in fourinnings, accepts England's batsmen owetheir bowling team-mates a much-improved display.

England's top six, Bell, Andrew Strauss,Kevin Pietersen and Eoin Morgan havebeen impotent against Saeed Ajmal andAbdur Rehman in particular.

In the first two Tests, 34 of England's40 wickets have tumbled to Pakistan'sspinners.

Off-spinner Ajmal has led thedestruction with 17 scalps, while left-armer Rehman has claimed 12 wicketsand off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez five.

Following honest exchanges in a teammeeting on Tuesday, all of England'sbatsmen returned to net practice hopingto work out a method of playing the slowerbowlers.

Winger Lee Jones will win his first international cap in Scotland's Six Nationsopener against England at Murrayfield tomorroe. Edinburgh team-mateDavid Denton makes his first start in the back-row, alongside Ross Rennie

and Al Strokosch.The number 10 jersey, subject of much debate among Scottish supporters, will

be filled by Dan Parks, with Chris Cusiter given the nod at scrum-half.Hooker Ford taking over the captaincy, World Cup skipper Al Kellock drops to

the replacements' bench, with Jim Hamilton and Richie Gray the preferred secondrow pairing.

Glasgow-bound Sean Lamont and Edinburgh's Nick De Luca are the centres,with the latter coming in for the injured Joe Ansbro.

Joining Kellock on the bench are Scott Lawson, Geoff Cross, John Barclay, MikeBlair, Greig Laidlaw and Graeme Morrison.

Andy Robinson Scotland head coach said that Jones, 23, has represented Scotlandat A level and played seven international.

Jones and David start for Scotland

Mayweather agrees tofight Miguel in May

Celebrated boxing trainer, AngeloDundee Muhammad Ali’s cornermanin his greatest fights died Wednesday

at the age of 90.“Angelo died surrounded by family and

friends,” his family said in a statement.“He was very happy that he got to

celebrate Ali’s 70th birthday earlier thisyear, and also that he got to go to the Hall ofFame”, the statement said.

Noted for his ability to motivate andchallenge the best of boxers, Angelo passedaway at his home in Tampa, Florida.

While working with Ali for the majority ofthe boxing great’s career, Dundee trained 15world champions in total, including SugarRay Leonard and George Foreman.

One of the more indelible memories ofDundee’s career came in 1981 when heloudly exhorted Leonard in the late stages ofa world championship unification fightagainst Thomas Hearns.

After famously telling the fighter, “You’reblowing it, son,” Leonard came back out toregister a thrilling knockout after havingbeen dominated in preceding rounds.

“He saved Ray Leonard in the Hearns fight.He saved Ali (against Joe Frazier) in Manila,”longstanding boxing promoter, Bob Arum,told Reuters, having worked with Dundeecountless times over the years.

“To motivate (a fighter) takes a special skilland there aren’t many people that can do it.In the more than 45 years I’ve been in boxing,he is the greatest cornerman by far of anyonethat I’ve ever witnessed.”

Dundee’s work spanned six decades and hewas inducted into the International BoxingHall of Fame in 1994, cementing his legacyas an invaluable asset to some of the mostdecorated boxers of all time.

“Ali was this unbelievable figure, and a guywho symbolised an entire era of Americanculture and was idolised around the world.

“And through all those times, the personat his side was Dundee. For that, he willalways be remembered,” Arum added.

Muhammad Ali trainer,Dundee, dies at 90

Angelo Dundee, insertAli during training


Pictorial

Pix 1: Egypt's ruling military council announces three days of mourning after at least 74 die in clashes between fans of rival football teams. Pix 2: Phil Dowson,Brad Barritt and Owen Farrell will make their Test debuts for England in their Six Nations opener against Scotland. Pix 3: England batsman, Ian Bell, recoversfrom a stomach bug in time to play in the final Test against Pakistan. Pix 4: Lee Westwood, Graeme McDowell and Retief Goosen are all in action at the eventheld in Doha, Qatar. Pix 5: Former Olympic champion, Lynn Davies, recall Bob Beamon’s historic 1968 long jump win, which is still an Olympic record. Pix 6:Great Britain beat Portugal 3-0 in their opening Fed Cup Euro/Africa Zone Group I match in Israel. Pix 7: Angelo Dundee, who worked with Muhammad Ali andSugar Ray Leonard, dies aged 90.

7

4

5 6

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SPORTS

We continue our detailedreview of the 2012Budget proposals today

looking closely at the amountsearmarked for the office of the NSA,the SSS, and the NIA. Our objectiveis to appreciate the huge amountsallocated and ask the standardquantity surveying question - isNigeria getting value for itsmoney? A security consultantfamiliar with Nigeria Gordon Duffwrote recently inwww.veteranstoday.com that oursecurity services budget for RollsRoyce and end up buyingVolkswagen Beetle when procuringservices and equipment. Is itplausible?

Are the amounts spentpurchasing security for theNigerian citizen, or are theymaking a few "security chiefs" andtheir appendages so stupendouslyrich, thereby exacerbating theincome disparities, inequalitiesand injustice amongst us whichin turn have contributed to theinsecurity in our land? How aresecurity budgets made up? Howare they spent? Is there anyoversight and accountability likeother public funds? We will raisethese and other issues, providingsome insights about practices andspending processes forimprovement.

First, some history of our civilsecurity services. The first internalsecurity organization in ourcountry started as a department ofthe Nigeria Police Force, and theregional police units. The mostimportant function of these officerswas collecting information,however innocuous - that is whatis called 'intelligence'. They wereplain-clothes policemen living andworking in their communities, inconstant touch with traditionalrulers, hotel owners, motor parkand market managers, and evencommercial sex workers asinformants. These 'informants' areplaced on modest payrolls - whichthe bulk of security vote is supposedto be utilized for. There was asimilar outfit within the NigerianArmy which evolved into theIntelligence Corps. Nigeria was asafe and secure place to live in then.The system worked for most of thecitizens, until quite recently.

This system and practicecontinued intact until theassassination of General MurtalaMohammed (may his soul rest inpeace) on February 13, 1976.Abdullahi Mohammed, then acolonel and governor of Benue-

LALALALALATESTTESTTESTTESTTEST

Plateau state was recalled byGeneral Obasanjo and tasked withthe job of establishing a nationalsecurity organization. That led tothe birth of the NSO which becamenot only the coordinating body andclearing house of civil and militarysecurity and intelligence matters,but the main operational body ofinternal security and intelligence.The Research Department of theMinistry of Foreign Affairs focusedon external counter-intelligencebut with a dual reportingrelationship to the NSO and theForeign Minister.

The national security andintelligence system wasrestructured in the late 1980sunder the Babangidaadministration creating threeseparate operating services

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

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

QQQQQUOUOUOUOUOTTTTTABLE QABLE QABLE QABLE QABLE QUOUOUOUOUOTETETETETE“On the whole human beings“On the whole human beings“On the whole human beings“On the whole human beings“On the whole human beingswant to be good, but not toowant to be good, but not toowant to be good, but not toowant to be good, but not toowant to be good, but not toogood, and not quite all thegood, and not quite all thegood, and not quite all thegood, and not quite all thegood, and not quite all the

time”time”time”time”time”— George Orwell— George Orwell— George Orwell— George Orwell— George Orwell

reporting to Aliyu Mohammed,then a brigadier, as Coordinator ofNational Security (CONS), theprecursor to the current NSAposition. The old NSO was renamedthe SSS, the old ResearchDepartment became the NIA, theDefence Intelligence Agency wasthen created, while the Police andMilitary maintained the remnantsof their old intelligence services andremained internal to them. Thisremains the operating structuretoday to a large degree, with thechange of title from CONS to NSAunder Babangida. The NSA'sprofile rises or falls depending onthe occupant of the office, personalcloseness to the president, type ofadministration and how insecurethe administration feels about itslegitimacy!

Three points need to be graspedfrom the foregoing (1) over 90percent of security effectiveness isproactivity arising from gettingquality information, in advance(2) intelligence work is athoughtful, patient process not thegun-toting and arresting culturewe now see, and certainly NOT theextra-judicial killing of people thatare intelligence assets and (3) thesystem worked well when quiet,analytical, 'below-the-radar'professionals did their work asoperatives, while coordination isundertaken by experiencedpolitical appointees with deepintellect and good judgment, who

FIFA consolesEgyptians, offersassistance

The World FootballGoverning Body (FIFA)is deeply saddened by

the tragic incidents which ledto the death of football fans andothers in Port Said (Egypt).

As expressed by PresidentBlatter in a letter to theEgyptian Football Association(EFA), FIFA is in mourning andour thoughts are with thefamilies of all those who losttheir lives.

Furthermore, FIFA hasasked the Egyptian authoritiesfor a full report on the incidentsin order to evaluate whathappened.

It is important to recall thatFIFA has established strictsafety regulations for all of itscompetitions. As is mentionedin article 1, paragraph 2 ofthose regulations theregulations may only serve asguidelines for competitions andmatches not organised by FIFA,in which it is the responsibilityof the respective organiser andlocal authorities to apply theirown safety regulations.

Finally, FIFA has offered itsfull support to the EgyptianFootball Association and willprovide the EFA with anyassistance it needs with regardto this tragedy.

enjoy the trust and confidence ofthe nation's leadership. Looking atthese, and the current focus of thesector leadership on spendingpartly explains the gaps we see, andthe high levels of insecurity in ournation.

Now back to the budget andspending priorities. The budget ofeach agency consists of threecomponents - personnel costs,overhead and capital. Theoverhead is sub-divided into two -regular overhead which I assumeis for stationery, snacks, tea, coffee,diesel for generators, and othermaintenance and the "operationsvote". None of these components isbroken down, so while we knowthat the Villa wishes to spend nearlya billion on food and snacks thisyear, the NSA's expenditure oncoffee is a state secret - a manifestabsurdity! The 'operations vote' isanother name for that notorious"security vote" for which no recordsor receipts are kept, i.e. a slush fundfor the officials to spend as theyplease! For each of the services, thisamounts to several millions daily.The capital components itemizewhat our intelligence servicesspend their investment money on- buildings, equipment andinfrastructure to get their job done.We will now look at these in somedetail and then encourage thereader to draw some conclusions.

The office of the NSA is supposedto advise on, and coordinatenational security matters. Its directinvolvement in operations is quitelimited. It is therefore inexplicablethat it has N2.69 billion as a lump-sum regular overhead with lessthan 100 staff in one location. Thismeans the NSA intends to spendabout N27 million per employeeor N7.35 million every dayincluding weekends on runninghis Abuja office. The NSA's securityvote(operations vote) is extra - it isN950 million this year, about N2.6million every single day of moniesthat are never recorded, accountedfor or audited! The capital budgetis some N29 billion to be spent onsatellite communicationsincluding training (N8.9 billion),data signal centre/equipment(N14.4 billion), Iridium/Thurayacommunication platform (N3.2billion), 12 Jeeps with motorizeddirection finder (N373 million),Cyber-Security (without anyenabling legislation yet) (N150million) and PresidentialCommunication Network (N2billion).

Budget 2012 (3) - Thesecurity spending spree

“The office of the NSA is supposed to advise on,and coordinate national security matters. Its direct

involvement in operations is quite limited. It istherefore inexplicable that it has N2.69 billion as a

lump-sum regular overhead with less than 100 staff inone location. This means the NSA intends to spend

about N27 million per employee or N7.35 million everyday including weekends on running his Abuja office

NNNNNASIR EL-RASIR EL-RASIR EL-RASIR EL-RASIR EL-RUFUFUFUFUFAIAIAIAIAION FRIDON FRIDON FRIDON FRIDON FRIDAAAAAYYYYY

[email protected]

SSS D-G, Ekpeyong Ita

Contd. on Page 30

Prime ministersacks president,board

The Egyptian PrimeMinister, Kamal AlGanzori has sacked the

Egypt Football Association(EFA) President, Samer Zaherand his entire board.

This came after thousandsof fans called for their removalafter the recent disaster thatclaimed 74 lives.

Reacting to the news, boardmember Magdy Abd El Ghanyadvised that they were beingsingled out and madescapegoats while the real peoplewho had dropped the ball -namely the security forces -were being left unpunished.

Ironically Abd El Ghanywas a former Al Ahly playerwho scored a goal for Egypt inthe 1990 World Cup.

peoples daily newspaper, friday, february 3, 2012

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