Nigerian observer 03 07 2013

1 WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 2013THE NIGERIAN

PUBLISHED SINCE MAY 29, 1968 • Vol. 38 NO.267 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 2013 . N100.00

FIRE INCIDENT: Members of the Panel of Inquiry into the fire incident that gutted the Ministry ofSecondary, Technical and Higher Education, Dr. Osagie Obayuwana, Hon. Justice R. I. Amaize (rtd)Chairman of the Panel, Mr. Stephen Omoruyi and A.C.P PULCUMA T. Mustapha, Edo State.

PLACE OFPRAYER

Page 21How intimateare you with

God? (4)

HEALTHYLIVING

Page 25Stayinghealthyduring

pregnancy

STOP OIL BUNKERINGPeople of Edo State,Government has discovered thatinspite of measures taken by se-curity agents in the State to stopillegal oil bunkering, perpetra-tors of this shady business havecontinued unabated.The State Government iswarning all those still involvedin oil bunkering in the State to,in their own interest, stop thisshady and dubious businessforthwith as stiffer penaltiesawait them.Any person or group of personscaught in the illegal businesswill be dealt with according tothe law.All vehicles and equipment usedwill be burnt.Be patriotic, report any personsuspected to be in the businessof oil bunkering to the authori-ties concerned.Join Government to rid the Stateof enemies of progress.Edo State must continue tomove forward.This message is from the Edo State

Ministry of Informationand Orientation

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The Nigerian

Execution Of Condemned Criminals

Pol parties back Oshiomhole

2013 Budget Amendment

Oba Erediauwa meets stakeholders over oil well, boundary dispute

Continues on page 2

Kidnap of S-Court Judge’s wife

Continues on page 2

NASS, Okonjo-Iweala fightdirty

BENIN CITY- Threemembers of a gang thatkidnapped the wife,daughter and driver of aJudge of the SupremeCourt, Justice Bode

Rhodes-Vivour, in May,this year, were amongseven suspects paradedby the State SecurityServices in Benin City,yesterday.

The other suspectsparaded were threeextortionists whothreatened to kill theirvictim if he didn’t pay upand a musician who was

paraded for trafficking inpersons.

The State Director ofthe SSS, Mr. BelloBakori who paraded the

By JOSES SEDEABUJA – The maxim

that grasses alwayssuffer when twoelephants fight, is set toplay out in an escalatingwar of supremacybetween the federallegislators and theexecutive arm over the2013 Budgetimplementation.

The Budget which waspresented to the NationalAssembly (NASS) byPresident GoodluckJonathan in November

2012, was passed thefollowing month ofDecember (2012) to allowfor 100% implementation,from January 2013 toDecember 2013.

However, theAppropriation Bill was not

signed into law untilFebruary 2013; and onMarch 14, anamendment proposalwas transmitted toNASS by thepresidency, an act that

unsettled the legislators.Also in June 26, a new

version of the categorised2013 amendment budgetproposal indicating

BENIN CITY – Coalition of Registered PoliticalParties (CRPP), Edo State has lashed at critics ofthe Edo State Governor, Comrade AdamsOshiomhole over recent execution of fourcondemned criminals in the state, saying thecriticisms are unjustified. The CRPP in astatement signed by itschairman, Dr. Samson, Mr.Omorogbe Joseph andIsibor and secretary madeavailable to the NigerianObserver yesterdaydecried the heinouscrimes committed by thecriminals. “They killed their victimsand the victims remainswere dismembered, cut

into pieces and thedecapitated bodies were

buried in different places.These heinous crimeswere committed many

years ago. Their deathsentence was signed bythe past administrations

for over ten years ago.”CRPP said. “Recently the

President of Nigeria (Dr.Goodluck Jonathan)delegated the power tosign the death warrant ofcondemned criminals tothe state Governors.Governor Oshiomholeexercised that powersconferred on him bysigning the death warrant

Continues on page 2

Continues on page 2

By THOMPSONERHOMONSELE

BENIN CITY – TheOmo N’Oba N’Edo UkuAkpolokpolo, ObaErediauwa, Oba of Beninyesterday in Benin Citymet with the Edo State

Commissioner forSpecial Duties, Oil andGas, AmbassadorOrobosa Omo-Ojo (JP),representatives ofOrogho Community and

Seplat PetroleumDevelopment CompanyLimited on the lingeringdispute on oil well andboundary with BoborokuCommunity in Delta

State. At the stakeholders’meeting, AmbassadorOmo-Ojo narrated allefforts he had madetowards finding a lasting

Continues on page 2

By RICHARD EWEKA

Fund Policeadequately,

FG urgedBy QUEENTETH A.

ORODEDOBENIN CITY-The

federal government hasbeen called upon toadequately fund theNigeria Police which isthe panacea to exploitthe abundant potentialsin officers and men of theforce.

Secretary to the EdoState Government, Prof.Julius Ihonvbere stated

SSS parades suspects


NewsOba Erediauwa meets stakeholders over oil

well, boundary dispute

Pol parties back Oshiomhole

Continued from page 1Itohan Osahon-Ogbeide emerges

ALGON Chairman

Continued from page 1

NASS, Okonjo-Iweala fight dirty Continued from page 1


8 Fuel Laden Ship wait todischarge at Lagos Ports

By OSE EHEBHA

and amicable resolution of theimpasse to the extent ofleading directors of the Minstryof Special Duties, Oil and Gasto the administrativeheadquarters of Seplat inLagos to table the matterbefore the oil company’s ChiefExecutive Officer andManaging Director, AustinAvuru as well as involving theEdo State Surveyor-General toProfessionally determine thelocation of the oil well dispute.

According to thecommissioner, the outcome ofthe survey indicated that the oilwell that was being contestedwas more than two kilometersinto the land of OroghoCommunity in Edo State. While drawing the Oba’sattention to the brewingcontroversy inObagienunuamwen Communityin Edo State, Ambassador Omo-Ojo also told His Royal Majesty

that the state governor hadapproved his official journey toAbuja to take the Oroghoboundary dispute with Boborokuto the National BoundariesCommission pointing out thatthe Owe Community crisis withthe neighbouring community inDelta was another patheticsituation. At the meeting, the letterwritten by the commissioner to

the Benin Monarch was read bythe secretary to the BeninMonarch, O. OronsayeGuobadia. In his comments, the Iyasereof Benin Kingdom, Chief SamIgbe who expresseddispleasure over the situation,said the quietness and peacefuldisposition of Edo peopleshould not be mistaken asweakness adding that Seplatshould not also use the fundssourced from the naturalresource of Orogho Communityto pay persons not from thestate. He, however, urged thefederal government and that ofEdo State and Delta States tourgently step into the matter andresolve it soonest. Also, the Enogie of OroghoDukedom, Prince (Engr.)Osayande Patrick Akenzua,disclosed that Seplat had metthe requirement of paying theindigenes of Orogho andBoboroku equally and that theoil company had promised topay the royalty. In his remarks, the Obobaifoof Benin Kingdom, Chief EsosaEghobamien, said he is amember of the Edo StateBoundaries Committee andrecalled a boundary meetingheld in Delta which did not endamicably even as he hinted thatthe state Boundaries Committeehad not met for the past threeyears. Chief Eduwu Ekhator, theEkhator of Benin Kingdomadmitted that he was aware ofthe controversy andcommended Ambassador Omo-Ojo for being pro-active inresolving the issue. Speaking on behalf of SeplatPetroleum DevelopmentCompany Limited, the BaseManager and Logistics Support,Prince Dr. Chuks’ Igelenyahreiterated that the company hadcommenced equal paymentroyalties to indigenes of bothOrogho and Boborolu andpromised that the royalty wouldalso be paid just as heexpressed hope that theboundary dispute would beresolved once and for all.

of the devilish criminals whohave no value for human life. “The CRPP is in support ofthe signing of their deathwarrant to serve as a deterrentto those whom devil will useagain to commit such dastardlyact. As Edo State is noted fornotoriety, cultism, armedrobbery, kidnapping and othersocial vices. We are muchgrateful to the Governor for notallowing the tax payers moneyto be used in feeding notoriouskillers under the pretext ofconverting their deathsentence to life imprisonmentas been canvassed by the so

called Human RightsOrganisations.” The statementsaid. The CRPP urged theComrade Governor to ignorethose jobless, ill motivatedcritics and self style humanrights activists condemning theexecution of these hardenedcriminals who deserve nosympathy of any responsibleorganisations.” CRPP accused civil societyorganisations of not beingsincere to themselves, they areplaying to the gallery to justifythe money they collectedfraudulently from theunsuspecting foreign donors in

the name of fighting injustice,human rights and goodGovernance, they are allpretenders.” “These NGOs should beasked what about the victimsmudered and the families theyleft behind, who cares for them,where were the so called NGOstill now when the offence werecommitted. The holy booksabhors killing the innocentsouls. That is why they placeinjunction that “whatsoever killsby the sword much surely die bythe sword.” It is only God thatgiveth life and also taketh life.”CRPP stated.

changes proposed acrossthe expenditure categories wasforwarded to the NASS.

In the new version, PresidentJonathan canvassedrestoration of about N72.2billion he alleged was cut fromhis initial proposal.

“This cut will have theadverse effect of severelyundermining our capacity tocreate the jobs needed for ourteeming unemployed youths,women and physicallychallenged citizens.

Personnel cost was cutacross all MDAs (Ministries,Departments and Agencies)which will make it difficult tomeet government’s obligationsto its workers.

I therefore seek your kindunderstanding for therestoration of the said cuts inorder to maintain industrialharmony”, the presidentialletter read in part.

While the presidential letteris under consideration, theminister of finance and Co-ordinating Minister for theEconomy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala allegedly remarked thatunless the cuts were restored,October salaries of federalgovernment workers would beimpossible.

In his response however,Senate Committee chairmanon Information, Media andPublic Affairs, Sen. EyinnayaAbaribe insisted on theconstitutional rights of NASS toapprove national budget asthey deem fit and necessary forthe country.

He therefore warned theminister to desist from

comments that “tend to give theimpression of a collision coursebetween the executive and thelegislature” adding, “we are allworking towards the samepurpose and our purpose is tomake sure that we take care ofthe welfare of Nigerians”.

Speaking on the newamendment version, the Senatespokesperson regretted that itwas contrary to an earlieragreement, stressing that theproposed amendments wasmore voluminous than theoriginal Budget document.

He added that theamendment considerationwould only be possible after theAugust/September recess,during which time 2014 Budgetproposal is expected to betransmitted to NASS by thepresident.

What we got from thePresident which is actually athird amendment is a set ofdocuments amending thebudget.

Now, we find that thesedocuments are even larger thanthe budget itself and there is noway the Senate and indeed theNational Assembly can considerthese amendments until wecome back from our vacationthis year.

There is absolutely no wayamendments of this naturewould be considered with theshort time we have until we goon our national vacation.

The point really, is that, wethought that if there aredifferences, and this wasdiscussed with the Presidency,that we take those fewdifferences and deal with them.

Coming to now bring up a

whole list of amendments thatare even much more than theoriginal documents, I do notexpect that the Presidency willnot expect us to take time to lookthrough it.

In addition to all this wealready have other things thatwe have to deal with; so, whatwe want to appeal is that, effortshould not be made to put uson a collision course”, he added.

The 2013 Budget isN62,598,425,601 aboveN4,924,604,000,000 totalpackage earlier submitted to theNASS by President GoodluckJonathan on October 10, 2012.

These increases are reflectedin Capital Expenditure ofN1,621,477,655,252 which isN80,703,655,252 above theN1,540,774,000,000 approvedfor 2012; and StatutoryTransfers of N387.976 billionwhich is N7.956 billion aboveN380.020 billion approved for2012.

However, the RecurrentExpenditure package ofN2,386,024,770,349 for 2013 isN2,602,122,965 less than theN2,412,046,000,000 approvedfor 2012, while theN591,764,000,000 for DebtService in 2012 remains for2013.

The NASS also increased theexecutive proposed crude oilBenchmark of US$75 per barrelto US$79 per barrel, butapproved the proposals of 2.53million barrels per day, GrossDomestic Product rate of 6.5%,and inflation rate of 9.5%, whileExchange rate of Naira to theUS Dollar is N160.

suspects before the Governorand the Press said the suspectshad confessed to the crime andthat three members of thekidnappers of the Judge’s wifeare still at large.

He said Mrs. Rhodes-Vivourand her daughter were kept ina house in Upper Sokponba,area of Benin City from wherethe kidnap suspects werearrested. All the kidnap suspectswere from Delta State while thetrafficker in persons is from EdoState.

The Governor who was miffedthat despite Government’swarning that landlords shouldscreen their tenants to ensurethat their properties are not usedby criminal elements said thebuildings used by the kidnapsuspects to hold the Judge’swife, daughter and driver will bedemolished at the appropriatetime.

“For the landlords, we havealready made the decision thatanyone that aids and abetskidnapping will have hisstructure demolished. Anyhotelier who does not follow theinstruction of documenting whostays in the hotel and such areused for kidnapping or humantrafficking, we will demolish it.Nobody has the right to makemoney out of the pains ofNigerians”, he said.

SSS paradessuspects


LAGOS - Eight shipare waiting to dischargepetroleum products at thevarious oil terminals inLagos ports, the NigerianPorts Authority (NPA) hassaid.

The “ShippingPosition’’, a daily publicationof the NPA, made availableto newsmen on Tuesday inLagos, reported that sevenof the ships were laden withpetrol, while a ship woulddischarge ethanol.

The document

indicated that six other shipswere waiting to dischargebulk wheat, bulk sugar, bulkfertilizer and containers.

It also reported that 93ships, carrying differentcargoes, would arrive Lagosports from July 2 to July 28.

NPA said that 17 of theexpected ships would arrivewith petroleum products.

It said that other shipswould sail in with new andused vehicles, generalcargoes, bulk wheat, bulkfertilizer, fresh fish, rice, steelproducts and containers.

Monarch tasks Nigerianson cultural practices

LAGOS - Oba AbiodunAdekoya, the Onigegbo ofIbonwon Land, Epe LocalCouncil Development Area(LCDA) of Lagos State, hasurged Nigerians to developa good attitude towardsgovernment property andcultural practices.

Adekoya told newsmenin Lagos yesterday thatmost Nigerians hadnegative attitude towardculture and governmentproperties.

“Many peoplevandalise governmentproperties and neglectindigenous culture becauseof the negative attitude theyhave towards publicfacilities and culturalpractices.

“ M a i n t a i n i n ggovernment property andembracing the nation’sculture would build the

society and encouragedevelopment, “ Adekoyasaid.

He urged Nigerians tosee government propertiesas their own and ensure theirproper maintenance.

Adekoya urged youthsto embrace, appreciate andvalue the nation’s richculture for peaceful co-existence.

“Most Nigerian youthsdress indecently, therebycausing public harassmentby the people.

“The uncultured attitudeby youths is as a result ofcivilisation andmodernisation, “ he said.

He said that for peaceto reign in the country,parents, teachers andleaders should inculcatemaintenance culture in theirchildren and wards, andteach them how to embracethe Nigerian culture.

ILLUSHI Uneasy calmnow pervades IllushiCommunity in Esan SouthEast Local Government Areaof Edo State, followingviolent clashes that haveclaimed one life.

THE NIGERIANOBSERVER gathered thatthe clashes were occasionedby disagreements betweentwo rival groups overcollection of revenue in thecommunity.

A group allegedly backed

1 die in Illushi crisis, asclan head flees

by the clan Head of thecommunity, Chief IkeIkebodi, investigationrevealed, is being resistedby some youths led by thecommunity youth leader, Mr.Jonathan Mawa.

After series ofconfrontations, it was learntthat one of the groupsallegedly mobilized cultistsfrom neighbouringcommunity to invade Illushiwith dangerous weapons,resulting in the death of oneAbiodun Ojobor and injuringof several others.

BENIN CITY – TheChairman, Ikpoba OkhaLocal Government Council,Hon. (Mrs.) Itohan Osahon-Ogbeide has emergedchairman of the Associationof Local Government ofNigeria (ALGON), Edo Statechapter after an election inBenin City. Also elected was thechairman, Esan Central LocalGovernment Council, Hon.Solomon Eremosele as ViceChairman, and the Chairman,Owan East Local governmentCouncil, Hon. Jimoh Ijegbaias Secretary of ALGON. The chairman, Ovia SouthWest Local GovernmentCouncil, Hon. MorrisonOgunrobo Ovia emerged theALGON Public RelationsOfficer; Chairman, EtsakoEast Local Government

Council, Hon. SuleimanAfegbua, Treasurer while theChairman Esan South EastLocal Government Council,Hon. Joseph Ikpea emergedthe ALGON financialsecretary. After the election, theALGON executive membersvisited the Commissioner forLocal Government andChieftaincy Affairs, ChiefLucky James to formallyintroduce themselves. Addressing the newexecutives, thecommissioner urged them tobe role models, focused,positive in thinking andpeople – oriented ingovernance. He urged them to beunited and work as a teamtowards enhancing thewelfare of the people at thegrassroots.

Fund Police adequately, FG urgedthis in Government House,

Benin City, shortly after hedecorated his police orderlywho was recently promoted.

Prof. Ihonvbere, assistedby the ADC to GovernorAdams Oshiomhole, HarunaYusuf decorated Mr.Oruamen Vincent, orderly tothe SSG who was newlypromoted to the rank ofinspector in the Nigeria

Police.Prof. Ihonvbere said most

officers and men of the NigeriaPolice have demonstratedhigh level of patriotism andcommitment to the Nigeriastate and expressed concernthat insufficient funding hasbeen the major bane to theirperformance when comparedto their contemporaries elsewhere.

The SSG said his newly

elevated orderly has remaineda dutiful, courageous,experienced and honestpolice officer even while hewas in the state anti-robberysquad, adding that thepromotion is well deserved.

The decoration of the newlypromoted Inspector, OruamenVincent, was witnessed bysome of his colleagues inGovernment House andmembers of staff, office of theSSG.


Edo Assures Of CancerCure, Blindness

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Etsako Central LG BossInaugurates Land Allo-cation Advisory C’tee

Edo State Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Egberanmwen Odubu (Arrowed) flanked by hiswife, children and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Women Leaders in the statecutting the birthday annivery cake of the deputy governor in Benin City.

Edo State Deputy Governor, Dr. Oius Egberanmwen Odubu and his wife, DeaconessEndurance with inmates of Orphanage who graced the 56 birthday anniversary ofthe Deputy Governor cutting the anniversary cake. PHOTO: MOSES OBOH

FUGAR-The ExecutiveChairman of Etsako CentralLocal Government Council,Hon Emmanuel OzemedeMomoh has charged mem-bers of Land Allocation Ad-visory Committee to ensurethat they work within theambit of the land use law asenshrined in the Nigeriaconstitution and applicablein Edo state.

The chairman stated thiswhile inaugurating the 8member committee at thecouncil secretariat in Fugar,the administrative head-quarters of the local govern-ment.

He noted that the com-mittee was the first to be in-augurated since his assump-tion of office a sign of theimportance of the commit-tee to his administration’sagenda for the developmentof the local governmentArea.

Hon Momoh said the de-cision to set up the commit-tee was as a result of callsthe civil servants who em-phasized on the need to setup a body to advice thechairman on land allocationcommittee in the local gov-ernment Area.

He urged the committeemembers to show morededication and commitmentto the service of the localgovernment and to boost therevenue of the local govern-ment, saying the task aheadof the committee was rigor-ous but however expressedconfidence in them.

BENIN CITY- The Sec-retary to Edo State Govern-ment (SSG), ProfessorJulius Ihonvbere, has reiter-ated the state government’sresolve in the prevention andcure of cancer and blindnessin the state.

He made this known atthe re-launch of the AmenHealth Foundation in Beninrecently.

According to the SSGwho was represented by thePermanent Secretary office

BENIN CITY- The con-struction of a block of sixclassrooms in the newly es-tablished Oba Erediauwa Pri-mary School located in theinterior part of Upper Mis-sion Road Aduwawa axis,Benin City is to be completedwithin two weeks.

The construction work isunder the auspices of EdoState Oil and Gas Produc-ing Areas DevelopmentC o m m i s s i o n(EDSOPADEC). When of-

BENIN CITY- His Ho-liness, Bhakti Dhira Damodara Swami of the

International Society forKrishna Consciousness(ISKON), Hare Krishnamovement in West hascalled on Nigerians of dif-ferent religious persuationto put into practice the trueteachings of their faith.

He gave this call duringthe ISKON Annual WestAfrica Festivals and Me-morial of a leader of themovement, at the weekendin Benin City.

According to His Holi-ness Bhakti Dhira, the fes-tival celebration is aimed atpromoting the conscious-ness of God among menand the need to draw closerto him.

Speaking with The NI-GERIAN OBSERVER,he said the problems con-fronting today’s society areconsequences of the lost ofconsciousness’ of Godamong men.

He however, warned thatNigerians should not mis-take religion as a goal inlife, rather, it should be uti-lized as a vehicle for attain-ing the true goal of life,which is God’s kingdom.

According to him, “theonly true way to achievingthe goal of life is to put intopractice what each religionteaches its adherents.”

He noted that since reli-gion is more about God,people should endevour tobe like God in their dailyconduct and relationshipand not competing withanimals that only focus oneating, sleeping and mat-ing.

of the Secretary to the stateGovernment, Barrister M.Abu, cancer and blindnesshas become a peculiar healthproblem that needs seriousmedical attention.

He advised people to al-ways check themselvesregularly to ensure that theirbody is functioning well,adding that a functioningbody always leads to goodhealth and long life.

Also speaking Chairman,Order Local Government

Area, Mr. Osaro Obazee, as-sured of his administration’ssupport for the foundation.

He said that this councilis committed to the wellnessof all, adding noting that thefoundations goals were inline with the council visionin the health sector.

He therefore chargedwell-meaning individualsand organisations within thestate to embark on similardevelopmental project.

Speaking during the oc-casion the Founder andPresident of Amen HealthCare Foundation, Mrs.Aizehi Oguntoyinto, saidthat the re-launch of thefoundation was to redirectand reinforce approach of

communities towards cancerand blindness.

She said the foundation isproviding glasses, perform-ing cataract surgeries, cer-vical cancer screening train-ing on self-breast examina-tion, lectures on hygiene andfamily planning.

She stated that these ser-vices are meant to enhancethe well-being of the generalpublic.

The event which was donein collaboration with the De-partment of Eye, Universityof Benin Teaching Hospital(UBTH) had health workersand organisations in atten-dance. The Amen HealthCare Foundation waslaunched in 2004.

The council boss said itwas the responsibility of thecommittee to formulatepolicies within the ambit ofthe law which will affect theindigenes of the area posi-tively hence the selection ofthe members was based ontheir credibility and com-mitment which he saidshould be brought to bearin the discharge of theirduty.

Responding on behalf ofother members, the chair-man of the committee, Mr.John Ogah thanked thecouncil boss for findingthem worthy of appoint-ment and promised not tobetray the confidence re-posed in them.

Mr. Ogah said he is notunfamiliar with the localgovernment system of ad-ministration as he has

ficials of the state Ministry ofSpecial Duties, Oil and Gasled by the Director of Admin-istration and Supply Mr. OsaAsemota visited the site ofthe project as part of ongo-ing inspection ofEDSOPADEC projects it wasobserved that work hadreached advanced stage.

Speaking about theproject, the project manager,Mr. Charles Daudu ex-pressed optimism that, withtimely release of fund, the

project would be completedon the scheduled date.

Other EDSOPADECprojects inspected were theconstruction of toilets andwater borehole at UgiomoJunior Secondary Schools atEvboriaria and the Solarpowered Water borehole atArmy Day secondary schoolon Lucky Way , betweenRamat part and Upper Mis-sion Road, Benin City.

All the projects are citedin Ikpoba-Okha Local Gov-ernment Area.

worked with them for manyyears abroad and assuredthe chairman that they willput in their best by ensur-ing that the council gets theneeded advice and support.

He promised that the

committee would devote itstime and service towards theprovision of all the neces-sary advice needed by thelocal government and thenecessary resources to runthe council.


BENIN CITY – Christians havebeen charged to guard their focus asit is the only way to make their visionsin life not to crash.

Pastor Prosper Opute, made thecall while ministering at the ChristAmbassadors Students Outreach(CASOR), UNIBEN/UBTH CCAconvocation.

According to him, focus allowsa Christian not to be distracted in thepursuit of their goals in life.

Inside Edo

Public Service Drivers TrainedOn Road Safety

Benin Monarch Reaffirms HRH JeremiahOmorodion As Enogie Of Igbontor

Cleric Urges Christians To BeFocused In Their Vision In Life

Disregard MisinformationAbout My Tenure - IPMAN

Zonal Boss

ASUU Strike: Students Call For DialogueAmong Stakeholders

BENIN CITY - The actingzonal chairman of theIndependent PetroleumMarketers of Nigeria (IPMAN),the Uwayoba of BeninKingdom, Chief SolomonNosakhare Ogbewe (JP) hascalled on marketers and entirepeople in the zone todiscountenance the purportedstatement by one of its membersalleging that his tenure was over.

Chief Ogbewe, who wasreacting to a newspaperpublication allegedly signed byone Elder Francis Ogunsuyiurged the public to disregard theempty venom as there wasnothing like “Elders Council” inIPMAN, even as his claims wereridiculously designed.

The Zonal Chairman furtherexplained that all members ofIPMAN, as well as its zonalexecutives were merely holdingforth for the National ExecutiveCouncil, which is the highestdecision making body in theAssociation.

According to him, “the bodyhas been very peaceful and thereis no looming crisis in the zone”He lamented why somebodycould sit down in the corner ofhis office and continue tofabricate lies, just as hedescribed it as the figment of hisimagination.

He further asserted that theNational Secretariat in a letterduly signed by Alhaji AminuAbdulkadir and Mr MikeOsatuyi, National President andSecretary of the Associationrespectively further re-appointedhim to be acting as the ZonalChairman of IPMAN,Midwestern Zone, whichcomprises of Benin and WarriUnits.

Chief Ogbewe, therefore

called on the law-abidingmarketers in the Zone to putbehind them the spirit ofinsurrection as the associationwas bigger than any individual orgroup of persons who wish to toethe line of peace.

Meanwhile, a group ofConcerned Marketers in the Zonehas disassociated itself from thesaid newspaper publication,which they described as the “faceof undue personality” in thepaper.

The group in a communiquésigned by one Douglas OsagieIyike and Adesuwa Emuze andothers, made available to TheNIGERIAN OBSERVERcondemned the said publicationin strong terms, particularly as theauthor, Francis Ogunsuyi urgedthe marketers to stop thelegitimate levy paid by itsmembers to the association.

The communiqué however,stated that the said “elders forum”was unknown to the IPMANconstitution and thereforeadvised all its members todisregard the antics of the forumto cause feud within its members.

BENIN CITY – The BeninMonarch, Omo N’Oba N’Edo,Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba of Benin,has reaffirmed His RoyalHighness (HRH) JeremiahOmorodion as the Enogie ofIgbontor in Igbanke Community.

In a letter referenced Palace113/Vol.X1/S/178 dated 25th June2013 and signed by the Secretaryto the Oba of Benin, O.Oronsaye-Guobadia, a copy ofwhich was made available to TheNIGERIAN OBSERVER, THEBenin Monarch stated that thereaffirmation was sequel to arequest for a copy of his

pronouncement on theEnogieship seat in IgbontorCommunity as reached on 11th

June, 2013. It will be recalled that

following the solution of theleadership tussle in Igbontor inIgbanke Community inOrhionmwon Local GovernmentArea of Edo State on the 11th ofJune, 2013, the Royal LegalAdviser, Evbuomwan SylvesterEsq in a letter dated June 13th

2013, and forwarded to thePalace of the Benin Monarch,requested for a copy of the OmoN’Oba’s pronouncement whichwas subsequently obliged.

Chief Solomon N. OgbeweAg. Zonal Chairman, IPMAN

HRH Jeremiah Omorodion

BENIN CITY – A one dayseminar on road safety and goodhuman relation for drivers in EdoState public Service has beenheld in Benin City, Edo State.

The seminar, organized bythe Directorate of Establishment,Training and ManagementServices of the office of the stateHead of Service in conjunctionwith Isaac Rufus Associates wasborne out of the need to furtheracquaint participants withrelevant safety codes andtechnique.

According to the State Headof Service Princess EkiuwaInneh, who was represented byMr. A.T. Idahosa, the seminarbecame necessary followingobservation that governmentdrivers who are supposed to berole models to other road usersafter times exhibits habits whichfall short of public expectation.

She commended the stateGovernor, Comrade Adams

Oshiomhole for his commitmentto capacity building of allcategories of staff in the statepublic service with a view toenhancing quality servicedelivery.

Speaking on the topic,“Discipline and Good HumanRelationship,” a ManagementConsultant and HumanResources expert, Elder ReadsAlufohai charged the drivers to

exhibit characters that would notbring the public service todisrepute.

On his part, Major P.U.Udugbezi advised the drivers toadopt preventive maintenance asit is the best and most appropriateway to manage their vehicles.

He noted that 80 percent ofroad accidents are preventableones that are due to human error.

Participants at the seminarwere drawn from variousministries and governmentagencies and department.

BENIN CITY – Students haveexpressed displeasure over thestrike embarked upon by theAcademic Staff Union ofUniversity (ASUU), saying itwould have a negative effect onthe academic calendar ofinstitutions of higher learning andmight lure students to engage innefarious acts.

According to a 200 levelstudents of BusinessAdministration, DELSU, ReginalUsarrier the strike will affect thesmooth running of academicprogrammes. She noted thatthough the federal government isdoing its best to improve

By ROLAND OSAKUE

By EMMANUELEGOBIAMBU/GEORGE

OGBOLU/OYENMWENNOMOROGBE education is the country, there is

need to do more. She said that the last strike

action embarked upon by thelecturers is still affecting mostschools as they are still strugglingto meet up with the normalacademic calendar.

Also speaking, AnthonyOkpala, of the political sciencedepartment, UNIBEN, regrettedthe ongoing strike by ASUU.

He said that it was not in thebest interest of the students andthe country’s education at large.

Anthony advised theappropriate stakeholders to cometo the round table and resolve thematter amicably.

Also Isaiah Imharria, a 300

level student of MassCommunication, UNIBEN saidthat the strike action is a badomen for the nation’s academicadvancement.

Isaiah’s said that the strikewill affect the academicprogrammes in the country,adding that no other country willhave their programmes runningwith the country lagging behind.

Another student MusaRhoda, 300 level MassCommunication studentUNIBEN, bemoanedgovernment’s inability to meet upwith the demands of ASUU.

She said that the strike actionwill hamper the growth of thenation’s educational system.

Rhoda noted that the best wayto forestall the strike fromdragging on is to adopt dialogue.

However, Chizzy Opara, aTheatre Arts student, UNIBENcharged the Federal Governmentand ASUU to mend fencesimmediately so as to avoid furthercrime in the country.

He said that allowing thestrike to continue will only makestudents roam the streets andtherefore become tools in thehands of criminally mindedindividuals.

By EMMANUEL EGOBIAMBU He said that as light givers, thebelievers, attract all sorts of peopleand should therefore take heed ofpeople in their lives.

Pastor Prosper however urgedthem to pursue fervent love for oneanother.

He stated that it is the only wayto fulfill God’s command adding thatshowing love should be practical andnot by words of mouth. He also calledon them to be submissive to leadersas they are God’s representatives onearth.

(Left): Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Secondary, Technical and Higher Education,Mrs. Gladys Idahor (left) and the Secretary of the Panel of Inquiry into the fire incidentthat guited the Ministry last month, Mrs P. E. Aziegbemhin during the inaugural sitting ofthepanel

(L-R): Dr. Osagie Obayuwana (left) and Hon. Justice R. I. Amaize (rtd) Chairman of the panel of Inquiry into the fireoutbreak at the Ministry of Secondary, Technical and Higher Education, Iyaro,Benin City.


Across The Nation

NHF Contributions Hit N22b - FMBN Chairman

RRRRRehaehaehaehaehabilitabilitabilitabilitabilitation oftion oftion oftion oftion of Mission Sc Mission Sc Mission Sc Mission Sc Mission Schools:hools:hools:hools:hools: GoGoGoGoGov Obi Donav Obi Donav Obi Donav Obi Donav Obi Donates N733mtes N733mtes N733mtes N733mtes N733m

Improved Maternal HealthGovt Donates N320MOU

Painter, One Other,Acquited Of Murder

Security Guard Remanded Over Alleged Murder Of Employer

LAGOS -An Ebute MetaMagistrates’ Court, Lagos, hasdischarged and acquitted apainter, Gbadebo Oladejo, whowas earlier charged with themurder of his 40-year-old wife,Olajumoke.

Oladejo, 46, and his appren-tice, Simeon Abiona, 34, werearraigned before the court onMarch 19, on a two-countcharge of conspiracy and mur-der.

The accused, whose pleaswere not taken, were subse-quently remanded at the IkoyiPrisons

At the resumed hearing of thecase, the Magistrate, Miss Y.B.Okusanya-Badejo, dischargedand acquitted the two men, fol-lowing a legal advice fromMrs. Olayide Eboda, the StateDirector of Public Prosecu-tions.

The advice, which was readby the prosecutor, Mr. CyriacusOsuji, quotes Eboda as saying“after a careful consideration ofthe facts of the case, a primafacie case of murder cannot beestablished against the ac-cused.’’

She said that for prosecutionto sustain a charge of murder,the following must be estab-lished: that death had occurredand that such death was causedby the accused.

Others are that the act wasdone with intention to causegrievous bodily harm or death,and that the accused knew thatdeath would be a probable con-sequence of his action.

The director said that the po-lice duplicate case file revealedthat on the Feb.14, the two ac-cused returned home fromwork, ate dinner and later re-tired to different rooms to sleep.

“In the morning, the hus-band, sent for his wife and un-fortunately she was found deadwith the loss of one of her eyesand there were marks of vio-lence on her, but no sign offorceful entry,” she said.

Eboda noted that the de-ceased was buried without anautopsy, which would havethrown light on the cause ofdeath.

According to her, there are nofacts in the case linking theaccused to the death of his wife.

The director, who furthernoted that there was also noeyewitness account, said“ thusit will be impossible for pros-ecution to prove its case againstthe accused and sustain convic-tion.’’

She ordered that the two ac-cused should be dischargedand released immediately, ifstill in custody.

Eboda said that the legal ad-

LAGOS - An Ebute MetaChief Magistrates’ Court inLagos has remanded a 27-year-old security guard, AbdullahiHassan, at the Ikoyi Prisons,over the alleged murder of hisemployer, Mrs. Azighode Idoko.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs.Y.O. Aje-Ajunwa, ordered thatthe accused be remanded inprison custody, pending legal

AWKA -Governor Peter Obiof Anambra has presentedcheques worth N733 million tochurches for the rehabilitationof mission primary schools inthe state.

Reports that the schools werereturned to the churches by hisadministration in 2011.

Presenting the say cheques atthe Government Lodge, Awka,Obi expressed satisfaction that

ABUJA - Chief BisiOgunjobi, the Board Chairman,Federal Mortgage Bank of Ni-geria (FMBN), said the NationalHousing Fund(NHF) contribu-tions hit N22 billion in the lasttwo years.

He gave the figure at asensitisation workshop on thenational housing fund organisedfor stakeholders in the housingsector in Abuja.

Ogunjobi said that through thebank’s “aggressive pursuit’’ ofmore contributory states, contri-butions to the scheme rose fromN17 billion in 2011 to N22 bil-lion in 2012.

He said the figure accountedfor about 40 per cent of totalcollections since inception about21 years ago.

He said the workshop was partof the bank’s strategic cam-paigns to enlighten the publicand other stakeholders on theroles, rules and operations of thefund in providing affordablehouses to Nigerians.

MAIDUGURI -The BornoGovernment has signed a N320million Memorandum of Under-standing with the NationalHealth Insurance Scheme(NHIS), to improve maternalhealth care services in the state.

Dr Salma Kolo, the Commis-sioner for Health, signed on be-half of the state, while the NHISZonal Coordinator, AlhajiMa’aji Abdu, signed on behalfof the scheme.

Speaking at the ceremony,Kolo said that the MoU wasaimed at providing access to freematernal health care services forwomen of productive age in allparts of the state.

She said that the programmewould take off as a pilot schemein three hospitals in each of thethree senatorial districts.

“We have selected the GeneralHospitals in Askira-Uba, Biu

his partnership with theChurch in the area of educationand infrastructure developmentwas yielding positive results.

“Last year, Anambra camefirst in NECO. This year thestate produced the best in UnitySchools,” Obi said.

He said the aim of returningthe schools to missions was torestore the schools to its pride

of place, especially in the areaof quality upbringing of chil-dren.

The governor said morebuses, computers, generators

and internet facilities would beprovided to government,church and privately owned

schools before the end of theyear.

Obi expressed satisfactionthat his partnership with theChurch in the area of educationand infrastructure developmentwere yielding positive results.

The Anglican Church wasrepresented by ArchbishopChristian Efobi while theCatholic Church was repre-sented by the Catholic Bishopof Awka, Bishop PaulinusEzeokafor.

“Today our secondaryschools can boast of buses; wewant to thank God because Obiis doing this because he has thefear of God,” he said.

He assured the governor thatthe beneficiaries would con-tinue to support him and thestate in prayers.

Ezeokafor, who representedArchbishop Valerie Okeke,thanked the governor for thecourage to return the schoolsand for the continued supportto rehabilitate them.

He, however, said that in spiteof the gains of the last two years,the scheme had failed to achieveits set target as a window ofhousing provision in Nigeria.

According to him, some of thefactors affecting the smooth op-erations of the fund are the fail-ure of some states andorganisations to contribute to it.

He also mentioned lack of fi-nance from banks and insurancecompanies and poor manage-ment of the fund.

“With the establishment of theNHF 21 years ago, it shouldhave become an adult, havingreached the age of puberty andbe eligible to vote and be votedfor and ready to take on respon-sibilities.

“Unfortunately, the high hopesenshrined in the NHF Act havenot all been realised.

“For example, while NHF isa mandatory contributoryscheme for all Nigerian work-ers, not all states andorganisations are contributors to

advice from the Lagos State Di-rector of Public Prosecutions.

The accused, who resides athis employer’s residence at No.8, Ladipo Latinwo Crescent,Lekki Phase I, Lagos, is facinga charge of murder.

The Prosecutor, ASP EtimNkankuk, said that the offencewas committed on June 5 atabout 1:30 a.m., at the above

mentioned address.He said that the accused, and

others still at large, allegedlystrangled Idoko, 27, at midnightin her house.

Nkankuk said the offencecommitted contravened Section221 of the Criminal Law ofLagos State, 2011.

Reports that Section 221 pro-vides a death penalty for con-victed offenders.

The case was adjourned toJuly 17 for mention.

the scheme, while the invest-ments expected from the banksand insurance companies arenon-existent.

“At the same time, the man-agement and performance of thefund have been less than opti-mal’’, he added.

Amid the constraints, thechairman said the focus of the

bank was to increase the NHFbase, coverage, collection, re-mittance and achieve overall ef-ficiency and persuade the non-compliant states andorganisations to join the scheme.

He identified lack of access tofunding, difficulties with prop-erty registration, titling, cost andtime of foreclosing, high inter-est rate and lack of housing sup-ply in new construction as ma-jor challenges of the sector.

and Shani in the Southern Sena-torial Zone, hospitals in Mafa,Dikwa and Guzamala will hostthe scheme in the central zone.

“In Northern zone, the schemewill take off in hospitals inMobbar, Magumeri andMalamfatori,” Kolo said.

She said that the state govern-ment had provided the counter-part funds needed for the take-off of the scheme.

“Gov. Kashim Shettima hasapproved the release of N160million being the counterpartfund for the take-off of thescheme.

“The money represents 50 percent of the total cost of thescheme as contained in theMoU,” Kolo said, adding thatNHIS would provide the bal-ance.

The commissioner said thatunder the scheme, free medicalservices would be provided forchildren under five, as well asnutritional support for pregnantwomen.

“All women of reproductiveage, pregnant women and chil-dren under the age of five willhave free medical services.

“We also provide free drugsand nutritional support for preg-nant women right from concep-tion to three months after deliv-ery,” Kolo said.

Also speaking, Abdu said thatthe agreement would fast-trackthe attainment of the Millen-nium Development Goal 4, toprovide access to quality healthcare services to the people.

vice was attached for service oneach of the accused, in compli-ance with the provisions of Sec-tion 74(5) of the Administra-tion of Criminal Law 2011.

Earlier at their arraignment,the prosecutor said that the of-fences contravened Sections221 and 231 of the CriminalLaw of Lagos State, 2011.

Leader, Federal Government Delegation to China on Poverty Alleviation, Chief ArohNweke (L), addressing newsmen in Enugu recently with him is member, Ebonyi StateHouse of Assembly, Mrs. Ify Igwe.

From left: Former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, former Head of State,Gen. Yakubu Gowon and Senate President David Mark, at the 4th National Civil Mili-tary Dialigue resently.


South West

Ajimobi Tasks Africans On Cultural Heritage

Sacked Lecturers: Osun AssemblyOrders Reinstatement

Jail Break: 54 FleeingInmates Re-Arrested

Audit Query: Ogun Assembly Threatens LG Officials

CommissionerLaments

Poor StateOf Hospital

OSOGBO -The Osun StateHouse of Assembly has issueda two-week ultimatum to themanagement of the stateCollege of Education in Ila-Orangun to reinstate sackedlecturers of the institution.

Mr. Johnson Ojo, the ViceChairman, House Committeeon Education, Science andTechnology, gave thedirective in Osogbo when thecommittee met with themanagement and governingcouncil of the College.

Ojo warned themanagement that failure tocomply with the order of theHouse would attractsanctions.

The committee expresseddismay that the College hadflouted the directive given bythe House to reinstate thelecturers more than threemonths ago.

It was learnt that theaffected lecturers were sackedover a loan package acquiredby the cooperative society ofthe school.

The House also urged thenewly-appointed governingcouncil to look for ways ofgenerating revenue andimproving standards in theschool.

In his response, theChairman of the council, Mr.Oyeniyi Akande, representedby a member, Mr. OyewoleOtitoola, lauded the House

AKURE -The Ondo PoliceCommand says 54 of the 175prisoners that escaped whengunmen attacked the OlokutaMedium Prison on Sunday havebeen re-arrested.

The command’s Public RelationsOfficer, Mr. Wole Ogodo, toldnewsmen in Akure that the arrestedinmates had been returned tocustody.

Ogodo described as incorrect thereport in some newspapers that 10travellers were killed during the jailbreak.

The police spokesman said nodeath was recorded during theincident, adding that the attack wasmainly aimed at freeing somemembers of the gang being held inthe prison.

He urged journalists to alwayscross check their informationbefore going to press.

Reports state that no fewer than175 inmates early on Sundayescaped from the facility whengunmen numbering about 30attacked the prison located onOndo Road on the outskirts ofAkure.

The Comptroller of Prisons inthe state, Mr. Tunde Olayiwola,had told newsmen that the attackwas unusual and that the culpritswould soon be brought to book.

Olayiwola said the incidenthappened around 12.05 a.m.,adding that the attack was notmasterminded by the Boko Haram

as being speculated in somequarters.

“We cannot specificallyidentify those behind the attack,but the attack is unusual.

“One of our officers wasinjured during the attack and heis in the hospital right nowreceiving treatment.

“ But I am assuring that thosebehind the attack will broughtto book,” he said.

Olayiwola said the attack wasthe first of its kind in the historyof the prison.

IBADAN - GovernorAbiola Ajimobi of Oyo Statehas stressed the need forAfricans to show greatercommitment to promotion oftheir culture.

Ajimobi made the call inIbadan while declaring openthe third Toyin FalolaAnnual InternationalConference (TOFAC) onAfrica and the AfricanDiaspora

“Our rich African culturefaces the risk of extinction ifstakeholders do not embracethe drive to promote thevalues of Africa,’’ he said.

Ajimobi, who wasrepresented by Mrs. AdetutuAkhigbe-Adeyemi, theCommissioner for Cultureand Tourism, tasked TOFACto do its best in settingagenda for the promotion ofYoruba culture.

“I am very happy about thewhole idea and thepersonalities behind thisprogramme.

“I am expecting that theconference will, no doubt,offer recommendations and

suggestions that would bebeneficial to Oyo State andthe entire nation,’’ she said.

Prof. Ademola Dasilva, theconvener of TOFAC 2013said the forum engaged theminds in matters of seriousconcern on Africa and theAfrican Diaspora.

“The main objectives arethe promotion of excellencein Africa and the AfricanDiaspora cultural studies.We create general awarenessand proffer enduringsolutions on matters that

concern Africa.“TOFAC is originally

designed to go round Africato engender a network ofbudding scholars, tofacilitate effectivementorship, global exposureand visibility’’, Dasilva said.

Prof. Gabriel Ogunmola,the Chancellor, Lead CityUniversity (LCU), said theconference was named after

Prof. Toyin Falola under theauspices of the IbadanCultural Group, Faculty ofArts, University of Ibadan.

Ogunmola said Falola washonoured with theprogramme in recognition ofhis contributions to thepromotion of African values.

Reports say that theoccasion featured the formaltransfer of the TOFAC

ABEOKUTA -The OgunAssembly has said that anylocal government official whorefused to answer an auditquery would be sanctioned inline with public service rules.

The Chairman of the HouseCommittee on PublicAccounts, Mr. AbiodunAkovonyon, stated this inAbeokuta.

He spoke while conductinga check on the 2011 auditedaccount of local governmentcouncils in the state.

Akovonyon said that refusalto answer an audit query wasa serious offence, adding thatthe check being conductedwas not to witch-hunt anyministry or agency.

Noting that the exercise wasto correct anomalies noticedin the 2011 auditor’s report,he advised the affected localgovernment councils to allowinternal auditors to operateaccording to rules andregulations.

He urged also the Auditor-General for LocalGovernment to take a secondlook at all the financialqueries with a view todetermining whether therewere inflated contracts.

The lawmaker expressedthe determination of theAssembly to ensurerepayment of such funds intogovernment’s coffers.

Also speaking, thecommittee’s vice chairman,

Mrs. Adijat Adeleye-oladapo,stressed the need to re-orientatelocal government officials.

Adeleye-Oladapo advisedlocal government officials toallow internal auditors tooperate freely, saying thiswould make the auditor-general’s job more effective.

Reports say that localgovernment councils inattendance included those ofAbeokuta South, AbeokutaNorth, Ifo and Ado- Odo Ota.

OSOGBO -The OsunCommissioner for Finance,Economic Planning andBudget, Dr Wale Bolorundurohas expressed dismay over thepoor state of government-owned hospitals in the state.

Bolorunduro made theremark in Osogbo when hereceived a monitoring team ledby Mr. Ayanleye Aina, theministry’s Permanent Secretarysaddled with the responsibilityof assessing the hospitals.

He said that due to the longperiod of neglect by pastadministrations, healthinfrastructure in the affectedhospitals had becomedeplorable.

According to thecommissioner, mostwarehouses and corpsmembers’ lodges have becomeabode of wild animals whilelabour rooms and kitchens arenot better than abattoirs.

“Mortuaries, x-raydepartments, bed rooms andother hospital equipment havebeen damaged beyondreasonable level,” Bolorundurolamented.

The commissioner urgedcontractors handling the on-going rehabilitation andrenovation of the ninegovernment-owned hospitals tomeet the stipulated deadline forcompletion of work.

Bolorunduro told them thatGov. Rauf Aregbesola waseager to have high qualityservice and that they should notdisappoint.

He said that Aregbesola hadapproved N1.7 billion toupgrade neglected hospitals atIle-Ife, Ipetu-Ijesa, Ede, Iwo,Osogbo, Ila, Ikire, Ilesa andIkirun.

The commissioner said theapproval became necessary to“fast-track’’ the free health careservices of the currentadministration as enshrined inits Six-Point Integral ActionPlan.

committee for its intervention.Oyewole told the legislators

that the council would lookinto the matter and takeappropriate steps.

plaque to LCU by the stateCommissioner for Culture andTourism.

Dr. Doyin Aguoru of theUniversity of Ilorin; Dr. AyoOwolabi, LCU; Dr. AbimbolaAsojo, University ofMinnesota; and Dr.Olufadekemi Adagbada,Olabisi Onabanjo Universitywere presented with theTOFAC Awards at theoccasion.

The theme of TOFAC 2013is “‘Ethnicity, race and peacein Africa and the AfricanDiaspora.’’

L-R: Principal, Sunshine International High School, Ibadan, Mr. Kayode Bakare, Teacher,Mr. Adegb ulukigbe Joseph, Oyo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), AlhajiNasir Ayilara and another teacher, Mr. Lanre Bakare, during voters education exercisein the School recently.

Students of the Sunshine School, Ibadan, casting their votes during the voters educationexercise in the school recently in Ibadan.


Across The NationFCT Minister Commends Army’s Role In InternalSecurity

WAEC: Teachers Advocate Higher Pay

ABUJA - The FCT Minister,Mr. Bala Mohammed, hascommended the Nigerian Armyfor its role in internal security,especially in the FCT.

The minister gave thecommendation when the Chief ofArmy Staff, Lt.-Gen. AzubuikeIhejirika, together with hisprincipal officers paid him acourtesy visit in Abuja.

He said that the FCT washighly delighted and appreciativeof what the army was doing inthe territory, especially in the areaof security. “We cannot pay youfor what you are doing for us inthe FCT and we say with all senseof humility we are appreciativeof what you do.

“We cannot pay you as oursecurity welfare and that of theresidents cannot be better withoutyour support and services,especially from the variousformations that you have in theFCT. “We remain very loyal andwhatever support we give is a tipof the iceberg as we cannot payyou.”

Mohammed said that the FCTwould continue to make sure thatit established a vibrantrelationship with the army.

He said that the visit by thearmy authority was an attestationthat the army and the FCT couldbe in partnership to render mutualsupport whenever called upon todo so.

“On behalf of myself and mycolleagues, I want to say we arehighly delighted on the visit to usand to say this relationship willblossom more than what it is now.

“The army day is somethingthat had been established in thecountry and we will do all we canto give you the necessarypublicity needed.”

Ihejirika had told the ministerthat they were in the office toformally thank the minister foraccepting to host the Army DayCelebration.

equations in exams,” she said.She noted that if the payment

was attractive, subject specialistswould be more interested inmarking, thereby improvingproductivity and efficiency in thefield.

“I get paid N12.38 k formarking one mathematics script,and I marked 300 scripts whichwould attract only N11,800,while coordinators formathematics get N2,868.75k forsupervising, “ she told newsmen.

According to an EnglishLanguage teacher in a Unityschool in Benin, the payment formarking English language isdiscouraging, because of thelength of essays and stories.

“Marking English Language ispeculiar and demanding for justN14; we have to read through thelines, observing the grammar andtense: only a few in dire need ofmoney would risk the stress,” shetold newsmen.

She noted that many EnglishLanguage teachers were getting

He said that the visit was toappreciate him for his support inensuring that necessary logisticswere put in place for a

hitch-free event.He said that the purpose of the

annual Army Day Celebrationwas to enable the army to recapits rich history, values and renewits resolve to defend the territorialintegrity of the country.

“It is also to review other rolesassigned to us in the constitutionof the Federal Republic ofNigeria.

“The last time the event washeld in Abuja was 2009, and wehave held this event in variousstates but this time we decided tohold it in the Federal CapitalTerritory for several reasons.

“But the most important reasonwhy we are holding it here inAbuja is because of our goodrelationship with the FCTminister,’’ he said.

discouraged by the poorremuneration.

A Geography teacher, whomarked scripts in Jos, PlateauState, told newsmen that markersof SSSCE scripts should be givenspecial consideration.

“Those who mark scriptsshould be paid well because towhom much is given, much isexpected. Good markingdetermines the fate of thecandidates, and so, should not behandled shabbily,” he said.

Another teacher, who simplygave his name as Jerome, saidapart from the pay, the process ofindicating those suspected tohave been involved inmalpractice was too severe.

He said that the process themarkers had to follow to indicatesuch students was rigorous.

A Chemistry teacher in AgoIwoye, Ogun, Mr. Paul Newman,told newsmen that he did not takeup marking of the scripts because

of the meagre payment and theshort period for the exercise.

“I was invited to mark thisyear’s scripts, but I rejected theoffer because I cannot stressmyself trying to meet thedeadline for just N13 per script’’he said.

A chemistry teacher in amissionary school in Idimu,Lagos, Miss Angela Ogbor, told.Reporter says that training themarkers would also improve theirperformance.

“It is not only when markingis needed that we are called, thereshould be some incentives for usthat would improve ourproductivity, “ she said.

However, newsmeninvestigation shows that markingof external examinations wascarried out by both junior andsenior teachers who aregraduates.

Reports say that the stipends

paid for script coordination was-N2, 868.75, except English andLiterature coordinators who getN3,206.25.

Markers get N1,407. 00 forattendance and N13.50 per scriptas “lump sum.”

Those who mark all subjectsget N12.38 per script as markingfee, except English Language andLiterature markers who get N14per script.

Reacting to the claims of theteachers, Deputy Registrar ofWAEC, Mrs. Comfort Agu, toldjournalists that the amount beingpaid the markers was not toosmall.

She noted that when the “lumpsum’’ and the payment per scripwere put together, a marker gotover N20 per script and there wasno immediate plan for increment.

The Deputy-Registrar alsofaulted the complaint that theprocedure the markers had tofollow in indicating those

Students at the annual Children Road Show in Lagos yesterday

L-R: Physiotherapist, Dr. Michael Akintunde; Assistant Corps Commander, Mainland Unit, FRSC, Commander ArinzeIgwe and Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Samuel Adesanya, at the 2013 Annual Children Road Show in Lagos yesterday.

LAGOS - Some teachersmarking examination scripts ofstudents who wrote the SeniorSecondary School CertificateExaminations (SSSCE), hasurged the West AfricanExaminations Council (WAEC)to make the exercise moreattractive by enhancing their pay.

They spoke with newsmen inseparate interviews in Lagos onthe ongoing marking of the 2013SSCE scripts.

Some of the markers, whosought anonymity, told newsmenthat the current payment of anaverage of N13 per script was notcommensurate to the markingexercise.

One of them, a Mathematicsteacher in a public school inAkure, told newsmen that shedecided to mark this year’s SSCEscripts merely to improve on herteaching techniques. “I decidedto mark this year’s scripts notbecause of the meagre pay but tofurther discover weaknesses andchallenges of students in solving

Nweke urged members of theassociation to ensure that theNNPP emerged victorious in thestate. “Our greatest task now is togo home and participate activelyin the politics of Anambra.

“We must sensitise our peoplethat the time has come for achange.

“NNPP is the party to join. Weshould also go home and pick upforms from the party to contest allelective positions on the platformof the NNPP,’’ Nweke said.

He said that those who refusedto participate in governanceshould not complain when theyget bad leadership. “This is notime for fear or complaints. Withour large number across Anambra,it will be difficult to defeat ourparty of choice if we aredetermined to truly see change inAnambra,’’ he said.

In his response, the NNPP

Assoc: Endorses NNPP For AnambraElections National Chairman and Founder

of NAGAFF, Dr BonifaceAniebonam, commendedmembers of NAGAFF for theendorsement.

Aniebonam said that NNPP,now in 28 states, came from thebackground of the transportindustry in Nigeria.

He, however, assured thosewilling to contest the comingelections in Anambra on theplatform of the NNPP, a levelplaying ground.

“The party has also decided toallow as many people as possibleto pick nomination forms at nocost.

“We already have two aspirantsfor the governorship election andmany more are welcome to pickup the forms,’’ he said.

Aniebonam added that theNNPP would contest all positionsin both the council andgubernatorial polls.

LAGOS - The NationalAssociation of GovernmentApproved Freight Forwarders(NAGAFF) has endorsed theNew Nigeria Peoples Party(NNPP) for the forthcomingGovernorship and Councilelections in Anambra.

Reports say that theendorsement was made duringan interactive session in Lagosby Anambra indigenes who aremembers of NAGAFF.

Reports also indicate that theCouncil elections in Anambrahave been slated for Oct. 2013,while the Governorship electionmay hold at the end of the yearor in 2014.

Speaking at the interactivesession, the NAGAFF President,Chief Eugene Nweke, tasked themembers to fully support theNNPP for the elections.


Across The Nation

Kaduna To Build Girls SchoolsLangtangelders urge

weaponowners tosurrender

them

Zamfara Killings: Katsina Donates ToVictims

Jigawa ConductsFree Eye Surgery

L-R: Dr. Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu, Mr. Tunde Adelaja, Rear Adm. Adetoye Sode (rtd)and former Minister of State (Defence), Mrs. Modupe Adelaja, at a lecture in honour ofModupe’s father, Pa Abraham Adesanya, in Lagos recently.

New Board Assures Corps Members Of ImprovedFacilities

JOS - Elders in Langtang,Plateau, have implored owners ofweapons to surrender them to thesecurity agencies.

The call came after a meetingof key political office holders inthe area recently.

In a communiqué, the elderssaid they have noticed influx ofaliens into many settlements inthe Senatorial District.

They urged the security agents“to fish out such elements as theirpresence portended danger.’’

While condemning the recentviolence in Langtang, the eldersexpressed disgust over reports ofcattle rustling.

They also condemned thereported hiring of mercenaries bysome communities to attackperceived enemies.

The elders resolved toconstitute a committee fromamong themselves to visit the sixlocal government areas of thezone to sensitise people on theneed for peaceful co-existence.

They commended the securityagencies’ efforts to end theviolence and urged them to stepup action to avoid a re-occurrence.

The elders drew attention to thepresence of heavily armed militiamen in the forest borders ofTaraba, Nassarawa and Plateausaying such causes cross-borderattacks.

They decried the lack of goodroads that had made movementsdifficult for security agents, andemphasised the need to open upsome of the roads to easemovements.

The communiqué was signedby Deputy Governor IgnatiusLongjan, Deputy SpeakerJohnbull Shekarau and SpecialAdviser to the President onSecurity Matters, TimothyParlong.

KADUNA - GovernorMukhtar Yero of Kaduna Statehas said that the stategovernment would establishfour new girls sciencesecondary schools in 2014.

Yero told the Minister ofWomen Affairs, Hajiya ZainabMaina, in Kaduna that the aimwas to boost girl-childeducation.

“Plans are already being putin place for the building of theschools,” he told the ministerwho paid him an advocacy visitto push for the domesticationof the Child Rights Act in thestate.

The governor disclosed thatthe administration plans toprovide adequate welfareservices to the destitute and aneducation-for-all programme in2014.

He assured the minister of thegovernment’s resolve todomesticate the act, saying thatthe administration would adopt

JOS - The new GoverningBoard of the National YouthService Corps (NYSC), hasassured youth corps membersof improved facilities,security and welfare, as partof efforts to maximise theircommitment to the goal of thescheme.

Chief Gordon Bozimo, theBoard Chairman, gave theassurance in Jos when he ledmembers of the board on avisit to the temporaryorientation camp of thescheme.

Bozimo, who wasrepresented by Prof. RiskuwaShehu, the Vice Chancellor,Usman Danfodio UniversitySokoto, who is also a boardmember, said that the boardwas “very conscious of theproblems facing the entireNYSC”.

He listed some of theproblems to include stretchedfacilities on camp,accommodation, placement ofcorps members and insecurity.

According to him, the new

board which was inauguratedtwo months ago has mappedout strategies to tackle theconcerns.

“Already, members of theboard are reaching out to

relevant stakeholders to rallysupport for proper andeffective repositioning of the

scheme, especially in theareas of facilities and corpsmembers welfare.

“Although these problemsmay not be fixed in one day, Iwant to assure you that it willcertainly not take long for the

impact to be felt.“The board will leave no

stone unturned in its bid toensure that there is increasedfunding for the scheme fromall tiers of government toeffectively carry out itsprogrammes,’’ he said.

He said also that “Apartfrom the heavy deployment ofsecurity personnel to carry out24-hour surveillance,arrangements have been madefor close watch on all corpsmembers’ lodges in crises-prone areas.

“There is also the NYSCdistress contact centre at theNYSC directorateheadquarters that isoperational for 24 hours. Thisis to give prompt response toissues of security threat tocorps members.

“Do not hesitate to accessthe facility anytime you foundyourself or your colleagues indanger.”

He called on them to takeadvantage of the variety ofskills acquisition trainingprogrammes at the orientationcamps to develop theirentrepreneurship skills for selfemployment.

Also speaking, a member ofthe board, Chief DominicGambo, called on the stategovernment to speed up workat the permanent orientationcamp at Mangu, so that thenext group of corps memberswould use it.

The director said thatcataract was a commondisease in the state especiallyamong the rural dwellers.

Balangu said that the routinefree surgery was to assist theresidents who could not affordthe cost of the operation.

According to him, theprogramme is in collaborationwith the state government,local governments and theChristafelle Blinded Mission,a Vision 20:20 supportprogramme.

He urged people to alwaysvisit hospitals whenever theyhad eye problem and desistfrom patronising unqualifiedhealth workers in theirlocalities.

GUSAU - The Katsina StateGovernment has donated 100bags of maize to families ofvictims of last month’s killings atKizara Village in the state.

The Head of the Civil Serviceof the state, Alhaji MuhammadAliyu, who led a three-mandelegation to the GovernmentHouse, Gusau presented thefoodstuff on behalf of Gov.Ibrahim Shema.

Aliyu said that Shema hadcondemned the killings in itsentirety, assuring that Katsina

State would join neighbouringstates to fight crime.

The governor urged families ofthe victims to regard the incidentas “an act of God”, praying thatthey would have the fortitude tobear the loss.

He said the donation was anextension of the brotherhood thatexisted among the states of thefederation.

Receiving the donation, Gov.

Abdul’Aziz Yari of Zamfara, saidthe assistance would complementthe ones being provided by theState Government and goodSamaritans.

Yari said the foodstuff wouldimmediately be released to thestate’s Emergency ManagementAgency for onward delivery tothe beneficiaries.

It would be recalled thatgunmen had attacked KizaraVillage in the Tsafe LocalGovernment Area, killing over 30persons.

L-R: Former SenatorsOlorunnibe Mamora,Olabiyi Durojaiye andIyiola Omisore, at a lec-ture in honour of PaAbraham Adesanya inLagos recently.

DUTSE - The JigawaGovernment said it hadoffered free eye surgery to36,000 patients suffering fromcataract in the last six years.

Dr Umar Balangu, theDirector, Disease Control inthe state Ministry of Health,said this in an interview withnewsmen in Dutse.

Balangu said the exercisewas carried out between 2007and 2012 in all the 27 localgovernment areas of the state.

“Since the inception of thepresent administration, everyyear, we operate over 6,000patients suffering fromcataract in the 27 localgovernment areas,” he said.

relevant sections that were ofpeculiar interest to the people.

The governor said:“Government is committed tobeing fair and equitable to all,especially women and children.

“We have captured women inour SURE-P empowermentscheme to improve theireconomic well being.

“Fifty women have beenselected from each of the 23LGAs to take part in skillsacquisition and empowermentprogrammes. We aredetermined to reduce povertyamong our women.”

Maina had earlier said thedelegation was in Kaduna onadvocacy, includingcompliance to the AffirmativeAction and gender equality inpolitical appointments andeconomic opportunities.

Meanwhile, Yero hasinaugurated the OrganisingCommittee of the Internationalconference on ‘Cities in

Transition’.The committee, headed by

the Chief of Staff, GovernmentHouse, Alhaji Aminu Yahaya,is to arrange the successfulhosting of the conference fromNovember 4 to 8.

The 25-member committeehas among others thePermanent SecretariesReligious Affairs; Dr AlimiBello, the President ofKADCIMMA; Hajia Bilkisu

Yusuf, Women NGO; Dr LydiaUmar, and the Coordinator ofthe state security outfit,Operation Yaki, as members.

The governor said the hostingof the conference was in linewith measures adopted toengender peace and unity in thestate, as well as ensure that“people live together, side byside, irrespective of theirbackgrounds”.


Abuja

CNPP Tasks presidency To Recover Nigeria’sLooted Fund

HOS Advocates LeadershipManagement, Succession Planning

OkiroPledges

ProfessionalismIn Police

Senate Suspends PlenaryIn Honour of Late Ewherido

Forum Demands AdequateInformation On Suntai’s Health

ABUJA -Senate PresidentDavid Mark has said the Senatewould suspend Tuesday’s plenarysession as a mark of respect forthe late Sen. Pius Ewherido whodied on Sunday.

Mark stated this when he ledGov. Emmanuel Uduaghan ofDelta and some senators to theresidence of the late senator inAsokoro, Abuja, on a condolencevisit.

In a statement signed by hisSpecial Adviser on Media, KolaOlogbondiyan, Mark said, “inline with our tradition and as amark of respect to our departedcolleague, the senate will suspendplenary yesterday.”

He urged the late senator’swife, Mrs. Doye Ewherido, andother family members to continueto have faith in God noting thatdeath always subjected peoplesfaith in God to test.

“As Catholics, it is easy to saythe Creed that I believe in God,the Maker of Heaven and Earth.

“But when death comes, wequestion God. This is the time toincrease our faith in God.

“If there was anything we could

have done to save the life of ourdistinguished colleague, wecould have done it but the Lordowns his life,” Mark said.

Uduaghan also extolled thevirtues of the late Ewherido,describing him as a strong voicefrom Delta.

According to Uduaghan, in thelast two years, Ewherido hasbrought his experience to bear onthe floor of the senate.

Receiving the delegation, the

late senator’s elder brother, Rev.Fr. Anthony Ewherido, expressedthe family’s gratitude, saying theshow of support meant a lot to thefamily.

Meanwhile, the SenateLeader, Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba,has described the death of lateSen. Pius Ewherido as an“unspeakable tragedy’’.

Ewherido died on Sunday at theNational Hospital, Abuja.

In a statement signed by

Ndoma-Egba and made availableto newsmen, Ndoma-Egbadescribed the late Ewherido as aquintessential legislator, cerebral,insightful and clear in languageand thought.

According to him, Ewheridohad the courage of hisconvictions and had an excellentgrasp of legislative practicedrawing from his experience asspeaker of the Delta State Houseof Assembly.

ABUJA -Alhaji Bukar Aji,the Head of Civil Service ofthe Federation, has called forleadership management andsuccession planningmodalities in the country

Aji made the call in Abujawhen he declared open a one-day workshop on LeadershipManagement and SuccessionPlanning in the Federal CivilService.

He said for Nigeria toachieve its vision of buildinga world class civil service, itmust develop a process thatwould put the suggestion inplace.

“The civil service we cravefor is one that is highlyprofessional, performance-driven and anchored onstewardship to the people.

He disclosed that a newleadership management andsuccession planning processhad begun in the federal civilservice.

“The process is aimed atsustaining effective andefficient service delivery.

He implored participants tosee the civil service as anessential pillar of a modernstate that must continue torenew and re-invigorate itselfto meet up with thecontemporary worldchallenges.

Aji told the participants todeliberate on the leadershipchallenges of the Federal CivilService and come up withimplementable managementplanning and succession

planning models.Sen. Aloysius Etok , the

Chairman, Senate Committeeon Establishment and PublicService Matters, assured thatthe Senate would continue tobe in partnership with theFederal Civil Service.

He reiterated the Senate’scommitment to support theservice in its current reformefforts to deliver effective andefficient services to Nigerians.

The workshop wasorganised by the ServicePolicies and Strategies Officein the OHCSF the Departmentfor InternationalDevelopment’ (DFID), andFederal Public AdministrationReform (FEPAR).

It was designed to acquaintstaff of the new Departmentof Leadership and SuccessionPlanning in the OHS CivilService of the Federation withits mandates and functions.

ABUJA -The Chairman ofthe Police ServiceCommission (PSC), Mr. MikeOkiro, has promised to bringhis wealth of experience tobear in enhancingprofessionalism in the NigeriaPolice Force.

A statement issued by Mr.Ferdinand Ekpe, the PSC’sAssistant Director,Information, said that Okiromade the pledge when adelegation of the Nigeria-Turkish Chamber ofCommerce paid him acourtesy visit in Abuja.

The statement quoted thePSC boss as also promising towork toward disabusing theminds of Nigerians in theDiaspora on the wrongimpression that the countrywas witnessing a “precarious’’security situation that wasinimical to investment.

He said that Nigeria was notthe only nation facing securitychallenges, assuring investorsadequate security.

Earlier, the ExecutiveChairman of the chamber, DrHyacinth Eze, congratulatedOkiro on his appointment asthe chairman of thecommission.

Eze said that the purpose ofthe visit was to inform thePSC chief of his appointmentas an ambassador of thechamber.

He invited Okiro toIstanbul, Turkey, to deliver akeynote address on securitychallenges in Nigeria, duringan investment conference,scheduled to take placebetween August 19 andAugust 24.

ABUJA -The Conference ofNigeria Political Parties (CNPP),has tasked the presidency torecover the over 400 billiondollars Nigeria’s looted fund.

This is contained in acommuniqué signed by CNPP’sspokesman, Mr. OsitaOkechukwu and made availableto newsmen in Abuja.

“We demand as a matter ofurgency national importance forPresident Goodluck Jonathan torequest for the recovery of over400 billion dollars fleeced offour treasury in the last two

decades.”Okechukwu said that the CNPP

was reacting to a report by theAttorney General of theFederation, Mohammed BelloAdoke, that the FederalGovernment had recovered aboutN5.5 billion looted fund.

The report added that thenegotiation had reached advancedstage to recover N36.7 billionfund looted by Sani Abacha.

The CNPP urged PresidentJonathan to “utilise the window

opened by the United NationsConvention against Corruption,which bound countries to rendermutual legal assistance ingathering and transferringevidence.’’

Chapter five of the Conventionmakes asset recovery explicitly afundamental principle of theconvention.

“The looted funds if recoveredwill be needed to invest in criticalinfrastructure, revamp ourdecayed social services and stemgross unemployment.’’

ABUJA -The Taraba JusticeForum, a political pressure groupin the State, has called foradequate information on the truestate of health of GovernorDanbaba Suntai.

It would be recalled that Suntaihad been receiving medicaltreatment abroad following thecrash of an aircraft he piloted onOctober 25, 2012

The group made the call in astatement signed by its PublicitySecretary, Mr. Bala Yaya andmade available to newsmen inAbuja.

“We wonder why it is difficultfor the ailing governor to directlyaddress the people of the state onpublic television.

“We are at a loss as to whygovernors who had been visitinghim cannot take NTA, Channelsand AIT to the USA to interviewthe governor in his sick bed,’’ thestatement said.

It called on Governor GabrielSuswam and Jonah Jang of Benueand Plateau respectively to desistfrom meddling in the politics ofTaraba.

The statement frowned at therecent trips of the two governorsabroad “during which theyreportedly visited Suntai inhospital.

The forum described the twogovernors’ involvement inSuntai’s health issue as“politically unhelpful’’ in findinga lasting solution to Taraba’spresent political problem.

“We all remember that Jang,months ago, came back withpictures published in severalnewspapers. Now it is the turn ofSuswam with pictures alsosyndicated in majornewspapers.’’

The statement urged Suswam torelease the unedited video clips

of his encounter with Suntaiconversing with guests in theUSA, if any, to independentbroadcast channels.

“What we are kicking againstis the culture of deceit and silenceover the true nature of thegovernor’s health.

“As our governor, we have theright to know his state of healthand are seeking the invocation ofthe relevant section of the 1999Constitution without furtherdelay,’’ the forum said.

Chief Executive Officer, Dangote Group of Companies, Mr. Joseph Makoju; exchangingan MoU with Minister of Industry, Trade and Investments, Dr. Olusegun Aganga duringthe signing of an MoU on the bid plans of the refineries in Abuja yesterday.

Queue for petrol in Abuja yesterday.

1 0 WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 2013THE NIGERIAN

Across The NationNUPENG Strike: Lagos Motorists Yet To Feel Impact

British British British British British VVVVVisa:isa:isa:isa:isa: Oba Of Lagos Condemns Proposed £3,000 De£3,000 De£3,000 De£3,000 De£3,000 Depositpositpositpositposit

Examination MalpracticeNOA Canvasses Media

Support

ANSIEC Boss AllegesThreat To LIfe

Business Relations Manager, SNEPCO, Mr. Ijere Kanu (left), presenting the ICT centrehandover certificate to the Vice-Chancellor, Cross River University of Techniology, Prof.Ene-Obong Effiom Ene-Obong during the inauguration of the centre in Calabar yesterday.

LAGOS - Motorists in Lagosare yet to feel the impact of thewarning strike embarked bymembers of NUPENG.

Reports that most of the petrolstations in Lagos were stilldispensing petroleum products.

Mr. Tayo Oduleke, StationManager, Mobil Filling Station

at Ojuelegba, said that motoristswould soon begin to feel theimpact of the strike.

“Beyond today, the strike willbe felt by every Nigerian,” hesaid.

Our correspondent, whomonitored the situation inLagos, reported that activities at

the depots were paralysed as allthe depots in Lagos were underlocks and key.

It would be recalled thatNUPENG, had issued astatement an June 30 that itsmembers would embark on athree-day nationwide warning

strike from July 1.The strike is to protest the

“unfair labour practices“ by majoroil companies.

Mr. Isiaka Yahaya, AuditorGeneral, Sahara Unit of NUPENGat the Apapa Depot, told Newsmenthat they had stopped loading ofproducts.

He said that tanker drivers andthe Apapa depot workers wereobserving the strike.

“If the pending issues areresolved, loading of product willcommence.

“I urge the government to find alasting solution to the inhumantreatment meted out to tankerdrivers by some major oilcompanies in this country,” hesaid.

Mr. Taye Ogunleye, a tankerdriver with the Sahara Unit ofNUPENG, however, said that hewas not aware of the strike.

He said that he came from BeninCity to load petrol from the ApapaDepot, but would have to stay backfor days to achieve his aim.

Ogunleye appealed to theFederal Government to resolve theissues with NUPENG so as not toinflict hardship on Nigerians.

Alhaji Tokunbo Korodo, LagosChapter South-West Chairman ofNUPENG, told newsmen that theunion had earlier given a 14-dayultimatum to the FederalGovernment to resolve theirgrievances.

“We were called for astakeholder meeting in Abuja andwe are yet to be attended to.

“Many of us came from

ABAKALIKI - NationalOrientation Agency has inAbakaliki called for the mediasupport in the war againstexamination malpractice in thecountry.

Mr. Mathew Odonor, ChiefOrientation and Mobilisationofficer in the agency, toldnewsmen that the mass mediawere critical instrument in thefight against examinationmalpractice.

According to him the,Nigerian media has steeredmany positive changes in thesociety.

He said that the time had comefor them to actively support andjoin in the crusade againstexamination malpractice to savethe educational sector fromcollapse.

He recalled the leading rolesplayed by the media in thestruggle to achieveindependence and end colonialdominance in Nigeria as well astheir struggle during the militaryrule.

Odonor said that the media

remained the conscience of thenation, and that their supportwould facilitate an end toexamination fraud in the nation’seducational institutions.

Odonor, who led other officialsfrom the agency to monitor theongoing National ExaminationCouncil (NECO), examinationcommended the level of sanityprevailing in the various centres.

He, however, said that a lot stillneeded to be done in order to freethe state from the monstrouseffects of examinationmalpractice.

The officer said that though theconduct of both the students andthe examiners represented adeparture from the old orderwhen students and externalexaminers committedexamination fraud with impunitybut there were some pockets ofoccurrences in some of thecentres.

He said that what was neededwas a media awareness campaignto further sensitise the public andcritical stakeholders on theimportance of stamping out theevil to consolidate the gains madein the education transformationprogramme.

“The conduct of the studentswriting the ongoing NECO examis commendable and a pointerthat the war against examinationmalpractice by government isyielding result.

“In many of the centres, thecandidates and the examinerswere doing the right thing whilesome pockets of malpracticeexisted in some other centres.

“I therefore call on the mediato join the crusade and supportefforts being made in thisregard,’’ he said.

According to him, the presswill leverage the fight, take thewar to all nooks and crannies ofthe state and expose the latesttechniques used by perpetrators.

“If the media fully identify withthe campaign they will use theirprofessional know how toleverage on the war and exposethe latest techniques in use bythese perpetrators,’’ he said.

AWKA - Mr. SylvesterOkonkwo, chairman, AnambraState Independent ElectoralCommission (ANSIEC), saidthe commission was poised toconduct credible polls in thestate.

Okonkwo said this was inspite of text messages andphone calls from unknownpersons threatening his life.

Okonkwo stated in Awkawhile releasing the electionguidelines and time table forthe conduct of local councilelections in the state scheduledfor October 5 that he hadreceived many of such threats.

“They call me at nightthreatening me that they willkill me and even burn downANSIEC building. That theprevious mayhem visited onthe state would be a joke.

“I am however determined togo on with the exercise notminding the activities of thedetractors,” the ANSIEC bosssaid.

He urged the political partiesand stakeholders participatingin the polls to ensure thatinternal democracy wasentrenched in their variouspolitical parties through free,fair and credible primaries.

Okonkwo said that thecommission would notentertain multiple candidatesfrom any party, saying that allfactions were expected toreconcile and present acommon candidate for theelection.

He said any political partythat failed to abide by the ruleswould face automaticdisqualification.

He also said that thecommission would not tolerateany court injunction to truncatethe exercise.

The chairman said thechairmanship aspirants should

be minimum of 30 years oldwhile the counsellorshipaspirants were expected to beat least 25 years.

Okonkwo said thecommission would soonembark on a sensitisation tourof the 21 local governmentareas to educate the people ontheir civic responsibilitiestoward the conduct of theelection.

However, the spokesman ofthe Anambra State PoliceCommand, Mr. EmekaChukwuemeka, told Reporteron phone that he was notaware of any threat to the lifeof the ANSIEC boss.

“It there is any thing likethreat to the life of the Actingchairman of the commission,I am not aware.

“No report of such has come.If his life is being threatened,he should make a formal reportto the office of the CP, whowill provide security for him,’’DSP Chukwuemeka said.

Meanwhile, the TransitionChairman for Anambra EastCouncil Area, Mr. ChineduObidigwe, has described therelease of the electionguideline and time table as amark of commitment on thepart of the commission.

He said that the polls wouldenable political parties to testtheir popularity ahead of thegovernorship poll in the state.

Obidigwe, who is also thePresident, Anambra YouthAssembly, said the election, ifconducted as scheduled,would transform the economicand social lives of the youthin the state.

“The polls would furtherbroaden the minds of the youthon the real concept ofdemocracy as they would beelected into positions ofleadership,” he said.

LAGOS -The Oba of Lagos,Rilwan Akiolu, has condemnedthe British proposed 3,000pounds deposit for visa byNigerian travellers.

Akiolu said this at theopening ceremony of a five-day workshop on corporatefraud organised by the policeSpecial Fraud Unit incollaboration with the City ofLondon Police in Lagos.

“It is unacceptable to us as anation, we will not take it. It isa big insult on us for British todemand 3,000 pounds beforewe can go to London. We arenot criminals,’’ he said.

On the corruption in thenation, the monarch stressedthe need for the government torelease the reports of the somemajor probe on corruption,

including Halliburton caseamong others.

Declaring the workshop open,the Deputy Senate President,Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, said thatlack of strict enforcement of thelaw against corruption wasresponsible to it striving inNigeria.

Ekweremadu noted that onlythe poor were found in theNigeria’s prison, while the richbailed themselves to enjoy theirloots.

He described corruption asthreat to humanity, stressing thatthe major effect of it was theintroduction of wrong values,where some people believed inovernight wealth.

“Wrong value is whatcorruption breeds. Itencourages overnightmillionaire, suggesting thathard work doesn’t pay. Somepeople are encouragingcorruption in the society bygiving chieftaincy titles andhonour in churches to corruptpersons,’’ he noted.

The senator said that forcorruption to be checked thereshould be creation of jobsopportunities, good businessenvironment for big and smallbusiness to strive, provision ofelectricity and ICT introductionto crime detector.

He noted that Nigeria could not

run a federal system ofgovernment and maintain a goodpolice force.

The Inspector General ofPolice, Mohammed Abubakar,who was represented by DIGPeter Gana, described corporatefraud as a difficult crime toprevent.

“With the creation of effectivepolicies, a system of checks andbalances and physical security, acompany may limit the extent towhich fraud can take place.

“Corporate fraud is considereda white collar crime and the gatekeepers in the financial marketcan perform better if properlyequipped with modern tool ofprevention,’’ Abubakar noted.

different parts of the country andwill not expect to be provokedfurther by any delay to hold themeeting to address the issues,” hesaid.

L-R: Vice-Chancellor, Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH), Prof. Ene-ObongEffiom Ene-Obong; Permanent Secretary, Cross River State Ministry of Education, Mrs.Ann Odeh; Business Relations Manager, SNEPCO, Mr. Ijere Kanu and Cross Rivers StateCommissioner for Lands, Mr. Raphael Uche, browsing the internet during the inaugurationof the centre in Calabar yesterday.


It is hereby announced for the information of the general public especially candidates fromEdo State who sat for the Nigerian Defence Academy Entrance Examination for the 65thRegular Course held on Saturday 18th May, 2013 that the result of the examination has beenreleased.

2. The under-listed candidates have been invited to attend the Armed Forces selection Boardinterview at the Nigerian Defence Academy old site Kaduna from l4th July — 9th August,2013.

Serial Exam No. Name SexFACULTY OF ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES:

(1) 000357 Akhigbe Michael Isimenme (M)(2) 004025 Imoesemi Great Elijah (m)(3) 008073 Unuigbe Sunday (M)(4) 010602 Uwague Bobmanuel Ehijale (m)(5) 012054 lyoha Theophilus 0. (M)(6) 012624 Aganwonyi Victory Daniels (M)(7) 014679 Eviebor Derrick Oghimire (M)(8) 016295 Ebojele Lucky (m)(9) 016579 Ufuah Ellisha Osezele (M)(10) 018051 Osewa Joseph Osamagbe (M)(11) 018810 Odinegun Kingsley (M)(12) 020824 Raji Enahoro David (M)(13) 021669 Joseph Margret Omoh (F)(14) 026506 Ehigbe Nosaikake (M)(15) 028663 Ekpenga Osayande Felix (M)(16) 031403 Ilevbaoje Joan Kelly (F).

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING:(17) 001212 Omoaka Leonard (M)(18) 003086 Osazuwa Osagioduwa (M)(19) 00766 Ogudugu Isa Ebanitta (M)(20) 009074 Ilegogie Kindheart Uzoma (M)(21) 009410 Martins Ayo Evans (M)(22) 009805 lgbinosa Favour Esohe (F)(23) 012003 Arase Peter ldus (M)(24) 012449 Egbe Solomon Ofuje (M)(25) 013351 Agboneni Uyinome lgbelokoto (M)(26) 014018 Ekpen Marvellous Osayamen (M).(27) 014784 Amanokhal Usman (M)(28) 016258 Akubor Kelvin Osighe (M)(29) 018520 Iseghohimen Ehigiator O. (M)(30) 020053 Okolo Augustine Enakhe (M)(31) 020521 Aideloje Ohireme Oluwatobi (M)(32) 021368 Ighalo Israel Osamudiame (M)(33) 026484 Unuigbe Dorcas Omohunwen (F)(34) 030124 Enoruwa Osakpolor Paradise (M)(35) 030369 Young Gabriel Ganaka (M)(36) 032772 Odigie Evans (M)

FACULTY OF SCIENCE:(37) 004044 Yusuf Usman (M)(38) 005130 Enagbare Ighosa Moses (M)(39) 005350 lyere Judith llokugbe (F)(40) 010705 Aguele Superior Osasunmhen (M)(41) 011061 Buhari Usman Ehikioya (M)(42) 012798 Obaro Ameh Kathrine (F)(43) 014289 Osigbheimhe Joseph Pius (M)(44) 019022 Akhabue Kenneth Odianose (M)(45) 020644 Osarobo Precious Osayamen (M)(46) 021981 Ogbomon Ernest Osamudiamen (M)(47) 024529 Okiki Oghena-Osai Peter (M)(48) 024682 Sanni Jonathan Daniel (M)(49) 027717 Momodu Mohammed Success (M)(50) 027780 Bamidele Kingsley Omoh (M)

3. Successful candidates are by this announcement advised to check their names in TheNigerian observer of Wednesday 3 July, 2013 for details.

4. The successful candidates are required to attend the Armed Forces selection BoardInterview at the Nigerian Defence Academy old site, Kaduna from 14th July, - 9th August,2013.

Signed:Odion O. Ogun

For: Secretary to the State Government.

GOVERNMENT SPECIALANNOUNCEMENT All 2013/2014 UTME candidates who applied to Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma as Institution

of First Choice, with a UTME score of 180 and above are invited to attend a screening exercisein the University on the days and venues indicated below:

Screening Time-TableScreening exercise for the various Faculties is scheduled to take place at 9.00 a.m. each day onthe following dates.

AMBROSE ALLI UNIVERSITY,EKPOMA

SCREENING OF THE UTME/DIRECT ENTRYCANDIDATES FOR 2013/2014

ACADEMIC SESSION ADMISSION EXERCISE

Candidates are expected to report at the venues of screening at 7.30a.m prompt.

Subject for Screening: Candidates will be screened in subjects relating to their first Choicecourse of study in Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma.

Method of Application:Applicants are required to purchase an eTranzact PIN (Payment Voucher) for Ambrose Alli Uni-versity, Ekpoma Post UTME on-line application form at a fee of N2,000.00 (Two thouseandNaira) only from any of the under listed Banks Nation wide.

1. ACCESS BANK OF NIGERIA LTD2. ECOBANK OF NIGERIA LTD3. FIDELITY BANK PLC4. FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA, PLC5. FIRST CITY MONUMENT BANK6. GUARANTY TRUST BANK, PLC7. KEYSTONE BANK LTD8. UNION BANK OF NIGERIA, PLC9. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA, PLC10. ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK, PLC

Procedure for Online Application:Only candidates with their names on the cPortal as uploaded from the JAMB First Choice listand with a score of 180 and above are eligible to make payments at the designated banks andalso participate in the Ambrose Alli University Post-UTME screening exercise. Consequently, candidates are advised to first check the Ambrose Alli University cPortal @www.myaau.com for their details by logging onto the cPortal with their JAMB UTME registra-tion number as access code. Such details containing the student’s bio data and AAU applicationnumber should be printed out by the candidates and used as payment instrument at the banks forthe purchase of the eTranzact PIN.On purchase of the eTranzact PIN (Payment Voucher), all candidates are to visit the AmbroseAlli University cPortal @www.myaau.com to complete and submit the post-UTME online appli-cation form. All such candidates must upload their coloured passport photograph and scannedcopies of all relevant certificates/documents to the cPortal. Candidates should preview and confirm that the photograph is properly uploaded as no com-plaint of wrong or blank picture will be entertained after submission of forms. Candidates arewith other documents on the screening dates stated above. The examination study guide is avail-able for download on completion of the application process. All candidates are to come to the screening exercise with the following:

1. UTME e-registration slip and UTME result slip.2. HB pencil, eraser and biro.3. A print-out of the duly completed post-UTME online Application form.

Direct Entry:All Direct Entry Candidates who applied to JAMB for admission and chose Ambrose Alli Uni-versity, Ekpoma as Institution of First Choice are also required to complete the o online applica-tion form for their screening exercise. All such candidates must upload scanned copies of allrelevant certificates/documents to the cPortal. Screening exercise for Direct Entry (DE) candidates is scheduled to take place from Thursday,1st August, 2013 to Friday, 2nd August, 2013, from 9.00am each day. Please, be informed that there shall be NO Direct Entry into Medicine, Medical LaboratoryScience and Law. All Direct Entry candidates should follow the online application procedure as stated above andalso obtain the eTranzact PIN (Payment Voucher) for Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma post-UTME online application form at a fee of N2,000.00 (two thousand naira) only from any of the

(i) Examination study guide: N1,350 (One thousand, three hundred and fifty naira)only, Technology fee: N1,000 (One thousand Naira) only and bank charges, willbe charged at the point of purchase of the eTranzact PIN (Payment Voucher)

Duration of Application:Application forms for UTME and Direct Entry (DE) candidates will be available online forcompletion and submission form Monday 1st July, 2013 to Friday, 12th July, 2013.

ADVICE: Candidates should check the University website @ www.aauekpoma.edu.ng andcPortal @www.myaau.com regularly for further details on the application/admission procedure.

Warning!(a) Any candidate (UTME) and DE) who fails to appear for the screening exercise

automatically forfeits his/her eligibility for consideration in the 2013/2014 aca-demic session’s admission exercise.

(b) Anyone caught impersonating will be handed over to the Police and the candi-date so impersonated will be automatically disqualified.

(c) All communication gadgets/telephone handsets are strictly prohibited as invigilatorsare mandated to confiscate any of such items and penalize erring candidate(s).

DAY DATE FACULTY VENUE

1. Thursday, 18th July, 2013 Faculty of Arts, Agriculture and As shown on theManagement Sciences application slip

2. Friday, 19th July, 2013 Faculty of Social Sciences, Law, As shown on theNatural Sciences and Environmental application slipStudies.

3. Saturday, 20th July, 2013 Faculty of Engineering & Technology, As shown on theFaculty of Education and College application slipof Medicine.

Signed:Mr. Fola Ojo-Maliki, MNIM, MANUPA

Registrar


FOR five weeks running, Primary Schoolteachers in Edo, like their counterparts in a fewother states of Nigeria, operating under theaegis of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT)stayed away from their official duty posts forstate governments to implement a 27.5%Teachers Enhanced Allowance agreement,purportedly entered into by 16 state chapterswhich were directed by the national body toembark on an indefinite strike action.

ALSO on Monday, the Academic Staff Unionof Universities (ASUU) commenced anationwide industrial action in protest ofFederal Government’s non-implementation ofan Agreement and Memorandum ofUnderstanding (MoU) entered into with theunion in December 2011.

AGAIN, the National Union of Petroleum andNatural Gas Workers (NUPENG) on Mondaybegan a three-day nationwide warning strikewhich ends today, with a further threat toprogress into a full blown strike if theiremployers- Shell Petroleum DevelopmentCompany (SPDC), Chevron Nigeria Limitedand Agip Oil Company do not meet theirdemands.

ALL these actions have crippled essentialservices in affected sectors as public PrimarySchools have remained closed while thenation’s public universities are under lock andkey. Long queues have resurfaced in fuelstations across the country occasioned byNUPENG strike.

THE NIGERIAN OBSERVER condemns themultiple strike actions currently going on acrossthe country. We denounce resort to strikeactions by feuding trade unions who from everyindications did not exhaust other options ofdispute resolution before embarking on thedisturbing strike actions and shutting down

StemmingHarvest Of Strikesservices considered very essential.

THE Strike action embarked upon by the EdoState wing of the Nigerian Union of Teachers ismost reprehensible given the huge investmentthe Edo State Government has made intransforming basic education in the state in thepast four and half years of the Comrade AdamsOshiomhole regime.

THE NIGERIAN OBSERVER detests hidingunder national directives of a trade union asclaimed by Edo NUT to prosecute the currentstrike action, more so, when the ComradeGovernor was one of the first state governors toimplement the new Teachers Salary Structure inthe country, even when buoyant states like Lagosand Rivers were yet to do so. What the issue is,from our understanding is resolvable. Weexpected the NUT in Edo to hold the ComradeGovernor, who himself is a labour activistextraordinaire in confidence and go into dialoguefor the implementation of the 27.5 per centEnhanced Allowance and not declare full scalewar along other states which have not evenimplemented the TSS trail-blazed by Edo.

WE, however, recommend a quick resolutionof the face-off in the interest of innocent primaryschool children who have not in any waycontributed to the logjam, yet their future iscurrently at risk. We call on both Governmentand the NUT to go into dialogue and resolve the

impasse.WE further call on well meaning individuals

and public spirited institutions, Civil SocietyOrganisations (CSOs) to take a lead in bringingfeuding parties to a roundtable with an aim ofending the dispute so that public primaryschools could re-open to conclude currentacademic session in Edo.

THE frequent resort to nationwide strike bythe ASUU is also very disturbing as the nation’spublic universities have come to be synonymouswith strike actions characterised with dislocatedacademic sessions, an ugly development whichhas continued to tell on the quality of thenation’s University graduates.

THE NIGERIAN OBSERVER, however, isvery worried about a situation where theFederal Government, with its officials’ eyes wideopen, enters into agreements with ASUUwithout keeping to the terms of agreementsbeing reason often adduced for most ASUUstrike for some years now. This is irresponsibleand we urge the federal government to desistfrom such acts forthwith. It is against thisbackdrop, we call on the Federal Governmentto take necessary steps to respect its pact withASUU or renegotiate their agreement with anaim of ending the current nationwide strike.

LASTLY, we do not expect that NUPENGwould afford to dislocate the nation’s economyand public life by grounding fuel supply chainbecause of some unresolved issues with theiremployers, most of which are privately-owned.While we urge the private employers of theNUPENG to move quickly to end the currentaction, we urge NUPENG members nationwideto consider the consequences of dislocating thechain of fuel supply to the economy and choseother options in getting their employers meettheir demands outside the strike action option.

THE NIGERIAN


Issues

By RICHARD OKORO-EWEKA

Combating Impunity: Media As A ToolTHE mass media is the

fourth estate of the realm andthe watch dog of the society.The media has played asignificant role in thedevelopment of the nationand has continued tocontribute its quota to theentire well being of thepeople.

Mass media whichcomprises of radio,television, newspapers,magazines, cable andsatellite stations has over theyears serve as a medium ofdissemination ofinformation to the peopleand keeping them abreast ofthe happenings around themboth the good, the bad andthe ugly.

Despite the immensecontribution of the media insanitizing the society, thesociety still remain in astagnant position that hascontinually hindered theprogress, prosperity, unityand development of thesociety. Some of the weighingproblems that this nation isfacing is that of IMPUNITYwhich has become prevalentin the Nigerian society oftoday. Impunity has nowbecome the order of the dayin our nation as manyengage in the act and throwcaution to the winds andoperate as if there is no lawgoverning us as a people. Talking about impunity inNigeria, it has assumed aworrisome state in thecountry, and internationalmedia reports state thatNigeria has consistentlyranked low in numerousdevelopment studies byglobal institutions despitehuge potentials. The statisticshows that the 2011 HumanDevelopment Report ofUNDP ranked Nigeria 156out of 187 countries whileTransparency International’s

2012 report ranked her 139out of 179 countries. This isnot a healthy developmentfor us as a nation. In addition to thedevelopmental challengesbrought about by impunity,it has also fueled humanrights violations, aidedorganized crime, contributedsignificantly to the spread ofviolence and fear across thecountry. Impunity continues toundermine the rule of law,allowing a class of powerfulpeople to steal, plunder, kill,and generally behave as ifthey are exempted from therules by which civilizedsocieties are governed. Inmost cases, such people arenot prosecuted for theircriminal behaviours andwhen they are, it is donewithout rigour. Looking at the state of thenation as regards impunity,the citizenry have a wholelot of role to play incombating the scourgeeating deep into the annalsof the nation and herdevelopment. The mediaespecially have a moreimportant role to play inreducing if not totallyeradicating this dreadeddisease threatening todevour this nation. In a media workshopattended by 22 journalistsacross the nation recently atBenizia Hotel, Off SummitRoad, Asaba in Delta Statethe importance of using themedia to fight impunity to astandstill in the nation wasunveiled. Mr. Edetaen Ojo ofMedia Rights Agenda,Lagos was one of thefacilitators at the programmeand he delivered a lecturetilted “Why The Media Is aCritical Tool In CombatingImpunity”. This becomesnecessary because of thepower and important role of

the media in developing thenation. Ojo said that there was nosingle Institution, agency,government or indeed anysingle sector of the societythat can successfully combatimpunity on its own withouta collective effort fromvarious quarters which mustimportantly include themedia. According to thefacilitator, all hands must beon deck to halt the wide

spread of impunity. For the entire society to beinvolved in the campaignagainst impunity, a numberof things need to happen.According to Ojo, peoplemust be aware of whatimpunity is, as well asknows how it affects theirsocial lives and economicwell-being. They must beable to mobilized to actagainst impunity or insist

that action be taken againstimpunity. He said the media remainan important tool andinstrument for combating alot of social ills and vices inthe society includingimpunity which has givingrise to the wave of crime inthe nation. The media isimportant in all this due toits essential characteristicsand its power to impactgreatly on the citizenry.

What is the nature ofMedia Power? The mediahas the power to createawareness. It has the greatcapacity to reach masses ofpeople and provide themwith reliable informationabout all manner of issueshappening around them.Media channels are moreeffective than other avenuesin getting reliable

information into the societysystem quickly. They arefastest means ofdisseminating reliableinformation to a largenumber of the general publicincluding the low and mostpowerful. The media can be used toinfluence governmentdecisions and policies on awide variety of issues. It isequally used to set agendafor public policy-making. Ifproperly used, it can forcegovernment to take action on

a wide variety of matterswhich may include,economic, social, political,and cultural and the likes. The media should beeffectively used to propagatethe problem of impunity inthe country because it has thepower to influence and shapepublic opinion. This is madepossible because of its greatcapacity to reach the masseswhen used strategically. Media practitioners, shouldremember that the media hasenormous power that can beput into action to mobilizethe people. With its capacityto reach masses of peopleand influence their thoughtprocesses and opinion,media can also be used tomobilize people aroundissues. Power to force

government action- Bysetting the agenda andmobilizing public opinionaround it, the media canforce the government orpolicy makers to put in placeappropriate policies andmeasures required tocombat impunityeffectively. It is worthy of note thatpeople who engage in actsof impunity fear exposure(especially when there aresanctions mechanisms thatcan be applied against

them). They will only do itif they believe they can getaway with it. The media isvery important to stop thewide spread of this act thathas continually soiled theimage and name of this greatcountry. The media has anherculean task to carry outif this scourge must stop.The media must engage inwar with this cancer wormthrough investigative andother forms of journalism.They can expose impunity,consistently focus thesearchlight on cases ofimpunity and ensure thataction is taken. If this isdone people will begin torealize that they will beexposed and that they can nolonger get away withbreaking the law.

“The media has the power to create awareness. It hasthe great capacity to reach masses of people and providethem with reliable information about all manner of issueshappening around them. Media channels are moreeffective than other avenues in getting reliableinformation into the society system quickly.”


Communique

One Thing You Still Lack IntroductionTHE Second Session of theFourth Synod of the Dioceseof Esan, The Church ofNigeria (AnglicanCommunion) was heldunder the guidance of theHoly Spirit and theleadership of The MostRev’d F.J. Imaekhai, Ph.D,Diocesan Bishop of Esan,and Archbishop of theEcclesiastical Province ofBendel from Sunday, June23 to Wednesday, June 26,2013 and with the ClergyConference on Thursday,June 27, 2013 at St. Paul’sChurch, Iruekpen, Ekpoma.The theme of the Synod was,“… One Thing You StillLack …” (Mark 10:21). TheRt. Rev’d John U. Aruakpor,Bishop of the Diocese ofOleh preached the sermonwhile the Bible studysessions were led by The Rt.Rev’d Dr. O.O. Obijole, theretired Bishop of theDiocese of Akoko. Synodwas also ministered tothrough The Rt. Rev’d DapoF. Asaju, the BishopTheologian and Rector,Crowther GraduateTheological Seminary,Church of Nigeria (AnglicanCommunion).The Synod featured theopening Thanksgivingservice on Sunday, June 23,2013, the delivering of thePresidential address onMonday, June 24, 2013 anddeliberations on variousreligious, political, andsocio-economic issuesraised in the address fromMonday, June 24 toThursday, June 27, 2013 bythe houses of Bishop, Clergyand the Laity.At the end of all sessions anddeliberations, Synod issuedthe following communiqué.THE COMMUNIQUÉ 2.0. The Synod Theme:2.1. Synod commends theDiocesan for the aptness ofthe theme which was alsoconsidered to be appropriate.Pursuant to the theme, whichwas, “… One Thing You StillLack …” (Mark 10:21)Synod views with greatconcern the high level ofselfishness and self-centeredness in our societytoday, especially among

many who profess to beChristians and followers ofChrist. Synod, therefore,enjoins all Christians toembrace brotherliness, lovefor others and surrenderingall they have for the overallwelfare of all in obedienceto the teaching of our Lord,Jesus Christ. 2.2. In the same vein,Synod notes with graveconcern and outrightlycondemns the alarming levelof the quest for personalenrichment among membersof the political class and theconsequent impoverishingof the populace, who theywere elected to serve. Synodcalls on political, businessand religious leaders toexemplify the servant-leadership style andsacrificial life of Jesus Christand be ready and willing tomake every necessarysacrifice for the commongood of all. 3.0. The State of the Nation: 3.1. Synod commends thePresident, Dr. Goodluck E.Jonathan for the declarationof emergency rule in thestates of Adamawa, Yobeand Borno to curb theactivities of Boko Haramreligious sect. However,Synod calls on the FederalGovernment to go a stepfurther by fishing out theirsponsors and bringing themto book according to the lawof the land. Furthermore, theSynod calls on theGovernment to completelydislodge the insurgents andreturn normalcy to the allaffected parts of the country.Synod expresses dismay andconcern over the politicalcrisis that has engulfed thenation due to the leadershiptussle in the NigeriaGovernors Forum (NGF).

Synod calls on theGovernors to stop chasingshadows and concentrate onsolving the visible andnumerous challenges facingtheir various States acrossthe Federation. Synod callson the Governors not to puttheir selfish interest over andabove the common good ofthe country by providing thedesired leadership in theStates that would enhancethe delivery of democraticdividends to the people.Synod identifies povertyand the high rate ofunemployment, in Nigeriaas potential threat to thesecurity of lives andproperty in the country and,therefore, calls ongovernments at all levels toaddress the situation withthe urgency it deserves. In apractical application of thetheme to the presentsituation in our country,Synod notes that it would goa long way to improving thelot of millions of poverty-stricken Nigerians andunemployed youthsroaming the streets, insearch of jobs, if only theNigerian political andbusiness class will be moreinclined to a life of selfdenial and genuine concernfor the poor and helpless inour society. Synod,therefore, prays God to openthe eyes of all concerned tosee that there is indeed “onething which they still lack”and grant them the grace todo the needful.Synod commends thetransformation agenda ofthe present administration atthe Federal level. However,Synod notes that thetransformation agenda hasnot been able to address thekey areas of improvedhealth services, povertyalleviation, qualityeducation, power supply,agriculture and

u n e m p l o y m e n t .Consequently, Synod callson the Federal Governmentto make its impact felt by thepeople in theaforementioned areas for thetransformation agenda topositively affect thecitizenry.Synod commends theChurch of Nigeria (AnglicanCommunion) for itsconsistent campaign againsthomosexualism and samesex marriage, whichculminated in itsendorsement of the recentlegislation of the NationalAssembly againsthomosexualism. Synod alsocommends the patriotismand courage of the NationalAssembly in passing thea n t i - h o m o s e x u a l i s mlegislation, in spite of allthreats and intimidationfrom some key actors of theglobal community,especially of Euro-American stock. Synod callsfor steadfastness inmaintaining this laudableposition of defending theauthentic faith. Synod frowns at theincreasing level ofcorruption in high placeswhich, has in recent timesassumed an alarming andscandalous level, withpeople who occupy veryhigh positions looting fromthe national treasury, hugesums of money, running intobillions of naira, otherwisemeant for very importantnational commitments suchas fuel subsidy and pensionfunds. Synod, therefore,calls on Government at alllevels, anti-corruption andanti-crime agencies such asof EFCC, ICPC, the Policeand SSS to step up the fightagainst corruption andefforts to save Nigeria fromeconomic strangulation andtotal collapse. 4.0. Edo State:

Synod commends the StateGovernment for the giantstrides it has taken inadvancing the course ofgeneral development in theState through massiveconstruction of roads andrenovation of schools andhospitals in different parts ofthe State. Synod howevernotes with concern, that thepeople need a safe andsecure environment to enjoy the full benefits of theselaudable developmentefforts of government. Synod, therefore, frownsat the rising incidents ofkidnapping, rape, loss ofhuman lives in questionablecircumstances, and others. Heinous crimes,particularly within the State.Synod, therefore, calls onthe State Government to takedecisive steps in curbingthese anomalies with a viewto ensuring that people havea better sense of safety andsecurity of their lives andproperty. Synod, while appreciatingthe reasons for the banningof motor bikes popularlycalled “Okada” withinBenin metropolis (3 LocalGovernment Areas),however, notes with concernthat if the policy is to beextended to other LocalGovernment Areas in EdoState as is being suggestedin some quarters, there isneed for the StateGovernment to assist thoseaffected with alternativemeans of livelihood and alsoimprove on alternativemeans of publictransportation to mitigate thecurrent hardship beingexperienced by people andother associated problems.Synod calls on the StateGovernment to urgentlyaddress the issues it has withthe NUT that resulted in theteachers’ strike that has beenon for about a month now,with a view to ensuring

return of teachers and pupilsto school. Synod also callson teachers to be open todialogue and willing to makesome concessions where itbecomes necessary in thecourse of negotiation, in thespirit of give-and- take, inthe larger interest of societyat large. Charge to Christians:5.1. Synod admonishesChristians all over the worldto continue to heeduncompromisingly, thetimeless teaching of ourLord Jesus Christ to focusless on material andtemporal things of the worldbut more on things spiritualand eternal. Synod,accordingly, calls onChristians, not only in theDiocese of Esan but inNigeria and the world allover, to acknowledge andaccept the theme, “one thingthat you still lack,” as apointer to the cost ofdiscipleship, which includesa renunciation of the self aswell as the pursuit of wealthand other earthlypossessions at the expense oftotal commitment to thequest for eternal life. Synodalso calls on Christians tolive out the example ofChrist, to teach and defendthe authentic Christian faiththey profess.Synod calls on Christians inpositions of authority tobring to the fore thehumility, servant attitudeand self sacrificing idealsexemplified by Jesus Christas they serve in their variouscapacities and to use theopportunities provided bytheir God-given positions tosupport and assist theChurch and humanity. The Most Rev’d F.J.Imaekhai, Ph.D, JP The Ven. A.O. Isibor Archbishop of BendelProvince and Synod Clerical SecretaryBishop, Diocese ofEsan Diocese of EsanJune 27, 2013 June 27,2013

Diocese of Esan, The Church of Nigeria (AnglicanCommunion) Bishopscourt, Ujoelen, Ekpoma. Thesecond session of the Fourth Synod held from Sunday,June 23 to Thursday, June 27, 2013.

“While appreciating the reasons for the banning of motor bikes popularly calledOkada within Benin metropolis (3 Local Government Areas), however, notes withconcern that if the policy is to be extended to other Local Government Areas inEdo State as is being suggested in some quarters, there is need for the StateGovernment to assist those affected with alternative means of livelihood and alsoimprove on alternative means of public transportation to mitigate the currenthardship being experienced by people and other associated problems.”


Education

AUCHI Polytechnic wasa beehive penultimateweek when it played hostto dignitaries from allwalks of life who hadconverged on its maincampus. The venue was itsrecently refurbished schoolauditorium

They came in theirdroves, all with diversereasons, but unified by themission to give honour towhom honour is due, Dr.(Mrs.) Phillipa ldogho,who is currently enjoyingher 2nd spell as Rector ofthe Institution, having beenre-appointed last year.

Graceful and exudingpositive vibes, she was thecynosure of attention andher charm nearlyovershadowed the mainattraction of the day, whichwas the institution’ssecond inaugural lecture.The last one took place 11years ago. Since then, a lotof good water has passedunder the Auchi PolyBridge, courtesy of theRector and hermanagement team.

Auchi Poly is highlyrated as one of the verybest in the country and themenace of cultism in theschool is at its lowest ebb.

Highly regarded ineducation circles as aresolute and hard nosedintellectual, Dr. Idoghoprobably faced thetoughest challenge in heracademic career as shemounted the rostrum infront of a large audiencemade up of the chairman ofthe school’s governingcouncil who also chairedthe event, top governmentofficials, captains ofindustry, academicians,

traditional rulers, students’body, etc. the auditoriumwas jam-packed.

Guests, friends and wellwishers, were very mucharound to give her themuch needed moralsupport. There weredifferent categories ofguests at the event: thosewho came to credence toher famed academiccredentials. the doubtingThomases who came tofind out if indeed herreputation as a performerand iron lady were true; thechauvinists who wanted towitness her beingunmasked as a weaklingand finally, her admirerswho felt the event willserve as a proof that brainand beauty can beenhanced in a singleindividual.

As it turned out,everyone must have gonehome satisfied that theencounter with thisamazon was a richlyrewarding experience,Indeed, stereotypes andthis gave way topragmatism and efficacyand reality. Such is thepower of presentation anddelivery encapsulated invery simple and plainEnglish over outlandishand abstract languageswhich leaves the intendedaudiences even moreconfused.

Now to the lecture propertitled, “EducationalResource and PolytechnicEducation in Nigeria:Issues of Management forQuality Assurance” inlooking at the past,reviewing the present andforecasting the future.

In so doing, she was ableto show how the role of

education as catalyst tonational development andhuman capitaldevelopment has beenconstrained by severalmitigating factors such asunderfunding, persistentshut downs, dearth of

infrastructure, just tomention a few, thereby,leading to the rot and lowrating of the Nigerianeducational system.

Though emotional indiscussing the troubledNigerian educationalsector, which is quiteunderstandable anyway,she was, however, able topaint a graphic picture ofthe rot in the system,

noting that the country canstill catch up with the restof the world if our leadersgive vent to ther e c o m m e n d a t i o n scontained in several whitepapers on strategies torevamp education,

particularly increasedbudgetary allocation inconformity with UNESCObenchmark.

She pointed out that goodeducation can solve a lot ofthe challenges confrontingus as a nation, stressingthat sound educationproduces quality andeffective leadership, goodgovernance, stronginstitutions, behavioural

modifications, etc. Sadly,this has not been so latelybecause our education isseriously troubled and onfast decline as a result ofthe disparity betweeneducational resources suchas workshops, manpower,funds, libraries,laboratories, etc andquality assurance.

Perhaps, to demonstrateher undying love foreducation, with specialbias for polytechniceducation, her forte in thepast 30 years or so, shetook the pains to provide aproper roadmap towardsrevamping the sector andthe various efforts she hasmade in the past five yearsas Rector of Auchi Poly toredress the situation, evenif it was just a microcosmof the global rot in thesystem.

This then leads one to themajor flaw of the lecture.Having spoken about thefundamentals in thebeginning portion of thepaper, she took a full

plunge into an account ofher rectorship. This is aclassical example in selfadulation.

To an extent, critics mayfind this portion boring andless intellectual, in thesense that the paperquickly swung into storytelling; about the do’s anddon’ts and the pit falls agood Rector should avoid.Basically, this part of thepaper is replete withdescriptive details ofmilestones attained nadministering a crisisprone institution such asstudent’s teachers’reorientation, provision ofconducive learningenvironment, partnering

Challenges Of PolytechnicEducation In Nigeria - Idogho

with immediatecommunities, etc.

Without being told,anyone would know thatshe was telling her successstory as a Rector. On theother hand, however, shecan be easily pardonedbecause there are fewNigerians who can discussthe rot of our educationalsystem undetached,without emotions. If aNigerian minister canweep over the state of ourroads, then, Dr. Idoghodeserves praises fortransforming Auchi Polywith the little resources ather disposal.

For her eloquence andgood delivery, she got astanding ovation from theaudience that worth theink, paper and timeinvested into the research.

What was even morestriking about the timing ofthe lecture is the fact thatit came just whenpolytechnic teachers wereon strike over thedeplorable state ofpolytechnic education inthe country. Thus, it servesas a wake-up call on stateand federal governments toproffer quick-fix solutionsto the challenges in thesector.

Above all, Dr. Idogho hasraised consciousness andthe job now rests onsociety to decide what bestlegacy of education itdesires for the Nigerianchild.

Finally, to this writer, shehas set her ship sailingsmoothly in the directionof her professional quest.

SAM DADA AYOKHAI,MEDIA CONSULTANT,BENIN, EDO STATE

Dr. Philipa Idogho, Rector, Auchi Polytechnic

“As it turned out, everyone must have gone home satisfied that the encounter withthis amazon was a richly rewarding experience, Indeed, stereotypes and this gaveway to pragmatism and efficacy and reality. Such is the power of presentation anddelivery encapsulated in very simple and plain English over outlandish and abstractlanguages which leaves the intended audiences even more confused.”

By SAM DADA AYOKHAI


Nigerian LeadershBy PAUL AMEN-AIFUWA

AS the states Craft of theNigerian statehood zoomsnear the dawn of herCentenary landmark, mixedfeelings are rife on the partof various schools ofthoughts with deep concernsand reminiscences whichinclude arguments, that foralmost 50 years postindependence, the nation hadstuck in a precarious state dueto her colonial circumstances;while others would contrarilyand more discernibly put itcynically, bluntly that thenation is simply what andwhere she is Democraticallydue to her own delinquent ordiligent making of the fortuneor misfortune of her Self-Rule: insisting that MotherLand ought to have faredexceedingly better on thesocio-economic-politicalclime.

This is particularly so fromthe hindsight appraisals ofperformances as are self-explanatory from thebarometer of the cumulativeand prevailing events asreflected in, amongst otherthings, the uncherry state ofher receded industrialgrowth, the parlous state ofbasic infrastructure, let alonethe multiplicity of socio-economic challenges allthrough the tenures of variousAdministrations ofincumbent Governments wayback in time Yet, this is as itominously reflected in theobservable indices ofdemocratic evolution of theNation, as compared to whatobtains ideally globally withother upward-mobilesocieties; but that such a stateof retardation is heightenedby the fixity of continuedsocial unrests which derivedproximately from viciouspolitical differences; while ofmuch more overwhelminglydaunting with a surfeit ofworry is the pall of theravages of sufferings andmiseries in the midst ofplentiful resources withwhich the nation is roundlyendowed by Mother Nature— all of these fundamentalnational questions that havebeen the purports ofExecutive Engagements ofGenerations of the RulingClass as the nation journeyedthrough the chequered courseof Statehood, particularlywithin the matrix of politicaltenures of the last near OneHundred Years.

This is with a objectiveintrospection, when it wouldnot be out of place to note thatthe personages in whosehands were the administrativeruns of the nation werearguably some committed

compatriots who gave their‘all’ to the best and the limitsof their ability: as may havebeen spurred by the liberationuphoria which spelt themomentum for the sociopolitical cultivation of theNigerian nationhood by thepantheon of the foundingfathers.

But ironically, it is from thecrucibles of all this that thenation is still this far leftseemingly with repletes of allthat leaves much to bedesired; with the rebounds ofthe appalling turn of events astraceable to the cumulativesocio—political actions orinactions at the tenural milieuof the said compatriotindividuals or group whowere and/or are still in thesaddle of the nation’sleadership undertakings; suchthat stoke up the pains andpangs and lamentations ofmajority of the citizenry; andwhich must have evoked therueful sighing by the saidcompat r io t - l eadersh ip -stakeholders with some sortof quibbling in self-preservatory alibis: that theyprobably came aboard thepodium of National Service atthe right places but the wrongtimes; and/ or the wrong timesat the right places.

This could be a somberexercise in ‘had-I- known...’from the inner minds of thesaid Leadership- Steward(s)to whom the cliché may go as“to-err-is-man...”; save that inall of this irony, hardly wouldthere be justifiableexoneration on the apologeticstate of the comparativesocio-economic index of thenation, due to theunfortunately resultantantecedents of the service-delivery-dispositions of thenation’s Ruling Class; thisbeing a typical background tothe reality of the serviceagainst which achievementswere seen to beinfinitesimally low in contrastto the lofty goals that were thedreams to have been scaled —such that hallmarked the cruxof the nagging question of thestakeholder- leadershipswhich cannot but pander tothe clamoring of thebystander-majority of thepopulace; particularly at thethorny levels of the nation’sdecriable manifold troubles,that were not only self-inflicted and avoidable, butnever were without themarked presence of cadirs ofthe leaders at the helm ofaffairs — such that werecircumstantially evidential tothe points of the upheavals inwhich the disastrous socio-political leadership had

attracted the ongoingsimmering public restiveness;save also by the way, that suchoutrage of reactions by thepublics would hardly be of theguilt of the leaderships alone- on a deeply charitableappraisal, without the relativecomplicity of thefollowerships - that is, thegenerality of the citizenry. This is as a matter of whatquality of performance asdispensed by the leadershipson one hand, as compared tothe levels of thecorresponding receptivenessand cooperativeness,adaptability and/orgovernability on the part ofthe followerships; this again,is when viewed against thebackdrop of the diversecultural make-ups and genericworld views of the saidcitizens in such vastly andmore or less complex ethnicentities: this is as regardsHOW psychologically,conducive is the foregroundfor efficient management ofPOWER by the leaderships,for the ultimate good of thepeople of the nation undergovernance — this being arealm at which is the sayingthat “a People Get theLeadership they deserve”; butthis should also be a saying tobe equally juxtaposed to thenotion, that those who rose upto the exalted stool ofleadership must do well to beof benignly distinguishingqualities of the Creed thatwheels our commonhumanity: this is withexemplariness anddemonstrability of such traitsthat are of the preserve of theidea/leadership roles; such asmay be cursorily summed toinclude, a life’s station ofone’s excellent self-mastery tohave blossomed in spirit andthe purity of human goodness;to earn the seat that confersone with superiority incapability at pace-setting, asmodel and fore-front fenderthat defines one as beingworthy to be looked-up-to byothers!

Thus, it would be aptlyadmitted that a retrospect tothe historiology of thenation’s Ruling Class wouldshow a pedigree of statesmenand compatriots who neverlacked the prerequisites ofthese leadership traits — thisis as can be deduced from thefreedom fighting andliberative exploits of thenation’s founding fathers;save that along the line therewere fortuitously interveningforces, which smacks of someshock-wives in which thenation was not only caughtunawares, but hit by a

seeming social and politicalparanoia, resulting indisorientation on the psycheand temperament of theunsuspecting polity ... eversince when things were neveragain the same!! This is to theextent that the nation perhapsunknowingly, drifted intosuch abysmal chaos; such thathad been of tension-filledhazards in which any onecould hardly be emotionallywell enough to think clearly,neither nurse hopes nor

R e c o n s t r u c t i o n ,Reintegration andRehabilitation...”; theaftermath of which weresubsequent coups andcounter coups throughmilitary interregnums: whendemocratic dispensation wasshoved aside: during whichinterlude that is better likenedto the twist of fate in whichthe nation fell prey to unduesocial and politicalfermentation that occasionedwide-spread touchiness in

mistrusts and distrusts withinthe hierarchy of the RulingClass.

This was more so at thepoint of procurements of theyields of the resources and thedetermination of the nation’scommonwealth - the axis ofwhich became the fertileground of bitter feuds, rancorand deep-seated acrimoniesamong the diverse intereststhat soon mushroomedvirulently in nepoticinterpersonal and intergrouprelationships amongst thecitizenry; with upsurge of alegion of Religious houses ofWorship, Party Alliances andlots of mis-match-intimaciesof strange bedfellows: all indesperate quests for outlets ofsurvival - this is such thatsoon led to furies and heatedpublic disillusionments; andas if the polity was nowcharged into a stage that waslike “To Thy Tent 0 YeIsrael!”; and/or “Everyman-to-Himself and God-to-Us-

All!”; when the citizens (outof which stock are the samebreeds as the said leaders),began to sag and sap out ofthe fabrics of pristine values,which are necessary spiritualartifacts for integratedhumanism; such that areindispensable socialnutrients for a nation thatmust be synergized inresourceful and meaningfulgrowth - needless to say thatthese were the antecedentsthat cast undue tolls withwaned effect on the nation’ssystemic-scheme-of-things;

and this that was not far-fetched from a demoralizingslant on the otherwisevouchable credibility of thenation’s leaderships, amongstwhich personages as eventsunfolded, were the abrasivelyuncouth, the morallyuncircumcised, the ethicalneophytes, including those inthe class of attitudinal senility,who soon fell prey to intriguesand contemptible vices asclandestine plotting, selfaggrandizements, abuse ofoffice and the rest of thestrands of socialmisdemeneaur, popularlybranded as CORRUPTION:and that these distortionatebehavioral traits had becomethe contaminants on theotherwise puritanicalAFRICANESS andennobling CORE VALUES ascharacteristics of the nation’sleaders; but such that nowquaked and vitiated under therude trails of a deluge ofsocietal malfeasciances, that

assueffoAdmtranthe Gall odebechunfocivisootthe pno pwhohaunLIV

Midweek Magazine

heavthe sordperhthe dawgloongof trsubjof cvivirefe‘excGomdemwrowithpragwouexerevathat modtuitschonatimoractsWal

President Goodluck Jonathan Senate President, David Mark

contemplate towards a better‘tomorrow’ - a deplorablescenario as of hostilities andviolence to which the joltedpolity had been exposed: withdire threats to life expectancywhich is now at its lowest ebb,due to crisis-induceduncertainties which nowcontends even with the shortspan of nature’s mortality forthe nation’s inhabitants!!!

WHERE THE NATIONMISSED IT

It would be said that it isfrom the above untowardexperiences that the nationwas taunted to wobble andstumble into a trip from herdemocratic gait - such thatwere like the point thatmarked her socio-politicaleclipse, as generated by ethnicdifferences, biases andprejudices which were lacedwith disenchantments — suchthat sparked the 30-month oldcivil war; which though wasprosecuted to an end on avaunted “Three Rs” as


hip Can Make Itumed a defiance of theorts of successiveministrations through thesformational exploits ofGovernments of the Day:of these sordid nationalacles that were the re-oing vestiges of theortunate events of the saidil war that needs nothsaying to be likened toproverbial DEAD that wasproperly buried, but ofose ghost resurrected tont, taunt, and torment the

VING: while one may

from the perspectives of thefactors that exigently requirea revisit to the aforesaid CivilWar antecedents, whichnecessitated the said ‘cliché’as “Reconstruction,Reintegration andRehabilitation” - of whichlaudable intendment ansignificance that should beintrospectively re-examinedespecially from the stance ofthe said “Reintegration’,which suggests a purposefulfine-tuning on functionalUnity and Co-existentialunderstanding amongst the

what became the undoingelement of segregative andnegative reflexes in - mutualdisaffection, anddiscriminatory tendencieswithin the ranks and files ofthe Political Class; such thatrobbed off malevolently onthe attitudinal temperament ofthe polity that soon assumeda stigma of mutative socialdefect with corruptible effecton the otherwise Spartancharacter of the Nation, out ofwhich were the engenderedtracks of issues that arosefrom the imbroglios of the

crime waves; just as someconcerned irate civil societygroup now on the let-loosehankering for all manner ofuprising and revolution; thisbeing heightened by them o t h e r - o f - a l l - t e r r o rinsurgency in unprecedenteddevastations that had almosterased the Northern Regionout of demographic andeconomic existence — thisbeing a reality that is of anomen with a pall ofimplication that is gravelydicey as it reflects an apertureof perilous threat to thenations democracy: needlessto say that the critical situationbeckons the quickest ofconstructive action fromconcerned Stakeholders,especially from the stable ofthe nation’s Leadershipswhose performance abilitiesare now on edge of a trial.

E X C O R C I S I N GINSURGENCY &INSECURITY FROM THELAND

It is for the gravely weightyimplication of the aboveobservations that one woulddigress cursorily, with theCaution: that the seemingcombative engagements ofthe pro-Northern Stake-holderships against theSpirited Efforts of the FederalGovernment in the face of therecrudescence of theinsurgents’ aggression, wereas unfortunate as they areironically uncalled for: that is,given if there’s not more to itthan meets the eye; neitherany intent for pussy-footingon the part of either party; andif political differences must besunk in lieu of the gravity ofthe looming offensives, it isto be found that options ofmore result-oriented andtactfully logical attention andaction abound: this is whatexigently calls for a pertinentand pertinacity of the exactresponse by every concernedinterests; from the purview ofwhat ought to be doneinitially, that should beconsidered aptly expedienteven now. — this is in orderof First-thing. First, thatcentres on due process withjudicious dissection of thepeculiarity of the very reasonsand/or grievances of thewarring Sect: that a first-handspontaneous reaction bedispassionately established,from the stand point of thefraternity and aboriginalconcerned Body of theMuslim Hierarchy, and thepantheon assemblage of theNorthern Governor’s Stake-holderships, with the eminentpersonages of Northerndescents, along with the ex-

Heads of States, together withthe Royal Fathers includingthe Emirs and the pre-eminentSultan - all together of whomwith such majesticpatriarchate to say “Nd’! “That the out-break of theterror incident is abominableto our Founding Fathers, andto our Motherland, and evenas it is a profanity andanathema to the peacefulBrotherhood of Islamic Faith,and our common humanityunder Allah”!

That all of the stakeholdersto meet jointly in the spirit andmanner in which a parentwould, for example, tend toone’s child or ward with afirst-aid attention, in asituation of sudden injury orattack of affliction— such asthis to be the initiallymediatory exercise to becomplemented in earnest withfairness and firmness, to sparenot the rod and spoil not thechild’; and a thrust of skin-deep conciliatory rapport withthe said sect, that their mindmay be tempered, by therobustly unassailable clouts ofthe said leaderships of theNorthern Statesmen, whichinclude the overridingadvantage of the congenialityof their kindredship as fellowindigenes; and in the order ofthe conducive logistics andproximity of the geographiclocality in which the sectoperates predominantly - withthe candor and sincerity ofpurpose that are bound by thecomparative aboriginallineage, nay the dog-don’t-eat-dog goodwill, as would beconjured by the inherentlycollective filial aura of thesaid Northern Prime Movers,that can not fail to put the‘Northern intervention to bedrastically on top of thematter:

Such amicably tacticalmoves in a family setting tobe equally anchored by theFederal Government (perhapsby the representation of theAmnesty Committee), thatcannot but yield much soonerto a full-scale peacefulresolve; this is as suchcalculated moves would haveenhanced in-depth scrutinyinto the anatomy of the Sect’sposture of the said insurgency... which would have provideda chance for the eminentIslamic Doyens and worthyNorthern paternity to deploysituation and enlighteningdidactics towards theirreorientation; to enlist theirremorse towards voluntarysurrender of the unprovokedhostilities.

This is more so against thebackdrop of the Sect’senigmatic and hard-to

decipher culture of guerilla-warfare inclinations: this nowbeing a way that would be infavor of their longings,perhaps, for a self-assertivebid for clemency that theymay be saved to save themfrom themselves: needless tosay that this would be aconcisely dignified way tomeander tidily out of theSect’s spasmodic insecuritymenace; and of noteworthywould be the foray of thisenvisaged troubleshootingmasterpiece, that it is not onlywithout prejudice to the limitsof the concerns andcommitments of the FederalGovernment so far (especiallywith the Schedule of the State-of-Emergency), but wouldultimately be seen to reflect anall-sided judiciousdecisiveness, in which theembattled FederalGovernment is not entrappedwith a precipitate politicalstep that may turn out to be aboomerang of a dangerousprecede--0------nce, thatwould seem to scotch-thesnake-in-the-bush...:, anaction that would not be aseeming open license forother similar criminally-minded to be rather spured intheir ‘trade-in-stock’, asregards the handling of thesomewhat amorphousmagnitude of the unfortunateinsecurity saga: just as onewould be equally mindful ofthe victims of the fratricidalattacks who now lurk in thewaiting and moaning for abefitting justice!

This is for the so bewilderedNorthern Region and the restof the Nation to heave a sighof relief; and that theaftermath degree of successthereto, would be atriumphant credit to theoverall leadership sagacity ofwhich the North istraditionally not known to bea push-over neither alilliputian but an inimitablestalwart.

This is also not only for thehostility of the insurgency warto be won preferably withease, and at its cost-effectiveratio, but for the preservationof ultimate peace that is theensuing desire ... Just yet assuch victory would haveevinced a profoundbreakthrough in a somewhatLitmus Test for the nation’sleadership generally; such thatI would usher in opportunemoment not only for hopes inthe said nation’s leadership torise to the delight of thecitizens, but would attract afar-reaching and gratifyingnods by the internationalcommunity to be resilient inthe confidence tthat Nigeria,after-all, has what it takes inlatent Leadership Preserve tobe so entrusted with theleadership chair, not just ofthe Continental Negroid Race,but as a formidable self-esteemed leadership that canbe reckoned with at the strataof the larger World that is nowa global village.

ve a sigh of optimism ineuphemism that these

did experiences arehaps a somewhat sign of

“darkest-before-thewn’... but let it not bessed over that suchoing debilitating momentsravails which had almostjected the nation to a kindcross-road that comparesidly with the Scripturalerences of the amoralcesses’ of Sodom andmorrah, are in desperate

mand for the righting of thengs that would be a matter

h premium of exhaustivegmatic action: such thatuld, by the way, elicitrcises for a drasticallyamped educational system

should include speciallydulated syllabus on civicion in all strata of theools’ grades; and that theon would brace up muchre assiduously to get hers together in a focus tolk the Talks, doggedly

Midweek Magazine

Aminu Tambuwal, Speaker, House of Reps

breeds of populace; this beingan axis from which the socio-political turbulences actuallytriggered; and that thisremotely Division andSeparatist orgy be tacticallytargeted and Resolved for thebenefits of its beneficently far-reaching effect on the trickyissues of ‘Survival’ which isthe spell that the notoriety ofethnicism had arbitrarily caston the harpless citizens, inother words, it’s thefundamental question of ethniccohesion that must as ofpriority be tackled from aTake-The-Bull-By-The-Hornrange; as it has all alongremained the un-healing ulcerwithin the genetics of thesociology of the populace —given the peculiarly sensitiveand emotive human anglewhich form the confoundingdilemma of the nation’sdemography, as configured bythe Colonial Order of 1914Amalgamation; and this needsto be further stressed as being

antecedents of the said civilwar; and the inability of thePolitical Class to have risen tothe occasion, to move thenation away from ever racingagainst the tide in quest of thepanacea to the seeming mirageof the swelling Nationalchallenges, which require thedetermination of envisionedGOAL with the musteredPolitical WILL to ascertain theright footing in the rightdirection which leads to a trainof FORWARD-EVER...

This is needless to say thatall of this would needintensified efforts and passionswith a proven supersedingmaturity in Leadership. This isfor the nation to be alive to theprospects of all that believe theby-gone stories foretold of Heras a potentially SUPERPOWER nation, but steeped inavoidable jeopardy, as evennow aggravated by subversivereactions of some lay-aboutmembers of the public who arenow prowling in a free-for-all


Viewpoint

By OLUGBEMIRO MICHAEL

Proposed UK Visa, LessonFor Nigeria

Continues on Pg 24

SO many reactions haveplagued the recent proposalby the British governmentto force citizens fromNigeria and four othercountries to pay a £3,000(N750,000) bond to beallowed to enter Britain. Inview of this proposal, theywill only get their moneyback once they leave thecountry, in a bid to endabuse of the Visa system.The other countriesaffected by this propositioninclude Ghana,Pakistan,Bangladesh and India. Inthe proposal by the HomeSecretary, Theresa May,the proposal is targeted atnationals of the countriestagged as “High Risks”. Iwill be approaching thisissue from a perspective,which might not be soobvious. But before then,let me bring some otherreactions to the same plan.The intention is to make theimmigration system moreselective and deter peoplefrom overstaying once theirvisitor’s visa has expired.There are plans that theAustralian style- bondscheme will also includeforeign workers andstudents.

In a report by AdekunleAdekoya in Vanguard, heobserved that the UK visapolicy has in reality alwaysbeen discriminatory toNigerians and if you like,nationals of other countriesincluded. According tohim, it started in September1986 when the MargretThatcher administrationdecided, at the end of acabinet meeting that infuture, travellers fromNigeria, India, Ghana andBangladesh and Pakistanwill need to obtain Visafrom their own countriesbefore travelling. Beforethe 1986 decision,nationals of all commonwealth nations except Srilanka did not need visas totravel to the UK.

On the other hand, theHouse of Representatives

committee on foreignAffairs slammed the moveas “discriminatory andunacceptable”. NnennaElendu – Ukeje, chairmanof the committee in astatement said such apolicy was not in the bestinterest of Nigeria andNigerians. She said thatthey will take a ‘criticallook at the policy’ as itaffects Nigerians and comeup with a way forward. TheMinister of foreign affairs,Olugbenga Ashiru, saidNigeria “will do everythingwithin its means to protectits citizens from any harshpolicy by any country.” Ina statement issued by theMinistry of Foreign Affairson Tuesday, 25th of June,2013, it was said that theMinister had alreadysummoned the UKcommissioner, Mr Andrewpockock, to formallyregister federalgovernments’ displeasureto the policy. The statementquoted the minister asdescribing the policy as“not only discriminatorybut also capable ofundermining thecommonwealth family”. Itadded that the proposedpolicy would negate thejoint commitment signedby Prime Minister DavidCameron and PresidentGoodluck Jonathan, todouble the volume of tradeof both countries by 2014.

However, as the twist inthe issue continues todevelop, the British Highcommissioner to Nigeria,Mr. Andrew pockock saidit was regrettable that theyet- to – be announcedpolicy was leaked to themedia as the modality forimplementation was yet tobe worked out, while alsoassuring the Minister thatthe views and concerns ofNigerians would beconveyed to his homegovernment.

While there have beensome reverse reactionstowards the plans, the idea

has been welcomed bybackbench Tony MPs, whohave been urging thegovernment to take atougher line onimmigration. The policyalso has the backing of LibDem Leader, Nick Clegg,who suggested theintroduction of bonds inMarch, though was

proposing the level shouldbe fixed at £1000.Although, Keith Vaz,chairman of the HomeAffairs select committee,said the idea was‘unworkable’ and‘impractical’. Mr. Vaz, anex- foreign Office Minister,claimed it would not deterpeople from trying to stayon after their visas endedand said the targeted

countries would be “likelyto retaliate”.

It is important to note thatthere was a similar plan of£1,000 bond in 2008 amidan outcry from migrantright groups. . Unarguably,this policy if implementedis going to be a doubleedged sword. “Inperspective, the policy if

implemented will haverepercussions on bothsides. If dealing with theillegal immigration is thesole object of the policy,then Nigerians who see theUK as an escapedestination will be affected.On the contrary, Nigeria isa business destination formany United KingdomNations, including those ofNigerian descent. If

Nigeria reciprocates, asgovernment may berequired to, business onboth sides will sufferirreparably...” (AdekunleAdekoya,Vanguard).

However, my heart cry isnot even about the effect ofthis proposal on students,parents, immigrants etc,but on a lesson that thecitizens and government ofthis nation are supposed tolearn. Not that the things

mentioned above are notimportant, but just that theyare not my main focus. Onecan hardly blame them, ifwe want to be sincere,because no country wantsan uncontrolled influx ofpeople, as it has its owneffect on them. My heartcry is that is that this nationshould be made liveable inall ramifications and I wantthe government of and

people of Nigeria to learnfrom this insult and doeverything possible in theirpower to bring back respectto this nation. On variousoccasions, I have beenopportuned to be arounddiscussions of youngpeople, who just talk aboutlooking for ways of leavingthis country to find greenerpastures in variousEuropean countries.Majority of them, alwaysend with statements like “Ino go just come back again,this country too hard...”

hence the struggle by manyNigerian future leaders tofind their way out of thiscountry, to go and domenial jobs; going throughdifferent hardships andissues just to get papers.

A home office official inBritain said the sixcountries highlighted werethose with “the most

“It is important to note that there was a similar plan of £1,000 bondin 2008 amid an outcry from migrant right groups. . Unarguably,this policy if implemented is going to be a double edged sword.”

President Goodluck Jonathan


Natural Medicine WithDr. MAO

08030717341

Healing Power Of Quail Egg WHILE growing up in theNorth, we ate a lot of guineafowl and bush fowl eggs.Our preference at the timewas not for chicken eggs atall. We chose the higherguinea/bush fowl eggsbecause of their nourishingcontents and taste. A taste ofthe pudding is in the eating. Later, as we grew older,another egg appeared on ourtable. It was quail eggs fromJapan. I don’t know howthese eggs came intoNigeria. Well, this didn’tbother us as children. All wewere interested in was thatit was a good health food forus and every adult who ateor drank it alone or did sowith orange juice, After all,in our primary at St.Michael’s Catholic School,Minna in Niger State, weequally ate free lunches ofeither cooked whole wheatgrains or yellow wheat flourand drank powdered milk aswell. They were gifts fromAmerica. In 2013 as I rifledthrough my naturalmedicine files, I stumbledon documents detailingQuail Eggs and their healingpowers. I had kept thesedocuments away for yearsand seemed to haveforgotten about them. So, Iwas happy about thediscovery. I celebrated it andtold myself that I must seekout the Quail Eggs in BeninCity before I goggle whereit can be obtained from inJapan. This set of mind propelledme three weeks ago to visitthe shops at the vegetablemarket near the NigerianObserver office alongAirport Road, Benin. First,I was at shop one which Iknow so well because thewife of my friend, Mr. Usi,operates it. No show. Thereare no Quail Eggs there.

Well, I wasn’t disappointed,the exhausting search forQuail Eggs continued until Igot to shop A7B. Eureka!,There I found the eggs. Ibought lots of them as myfriends stared at me insurprise. One of them asked:“what are you going to dowith these eggs. I smiled. In response, Iinformed him to wait for myfuture article on the healingpower of Quail Eggs in TheNigerian Observer. It wasno use therefore talking aboutit. How many people can youreally explain naturalmedicine to on a one-on-onebasis? Very few. Hence oneof the best medium is anewspaper platform or apublic one. So, now to business. Whatis a Quail Eggs? To start with,the egg is laid by a bird calledQuail. The egg, which issmall, weighs between 10 –12 grams. If you flip through the Bible,reference is made to the quailegg. Check, for example,Exodus 16:13 … Psalm105:40 … and Number 11: 31– 32. The Holy Book talksabout the Quail. It is acreation of God Almighty.Similarly, the Quran in 2:51mentions the bird. Nature – wise medicine menin Chinese, now leading theworld in herbal medicine,have been using Quail Egg asa healer and as food forhundreds of years. However,it is only recently that the eggis receiving serious attentionin Nigeria. Yet it’s use haslong taken a foothold inSouth Africa and Ghanaseveral decades ahead ofNigeria in natural medicine. A quail egg may be smallerthan a chicken’s egg. But thatis where the greatness of thechicken egg ends. Beyondthis, a Quail Egg has

comparatively moreunquantifiable nutritional andhealth benefits than thechicken egg. Here are someof the benefits. A Quail Egg has moredigestible protein thanchicken egg. Researchesshow that a quail eggcontains more protein thanchicken egg. Specifically, ifyou focus on the egg yolk

alone, a quail egg has 1.4%of cholesterol unlike 4% inchicken egg. Thus, a quailegg is heart friendly and isless likely to causehypertension. Furthermore, the proteincontent in a quail egg is 23%compared to 17% in chickenegg. Now, let’s us selectivelylook at the comparativevalues of micronutrients inboth a Quail Egg andChicken Egg, using this

linear, modular explanation.Vitamin A: There is twice ofthis vitamin in a quail eggthan in a chicken egg.Vitamin B-One: A quail eggcontains six times of thisvitamin than in a chicken egg.Vitamin B-Two: A chickenegg has fifteen times less ofthis vitamin than a quail egg.Vitamin D: A quail egg hasmore of this vitamin than that

found in a chicken egg. Twoeggs of quail bird suppliesyou with over 20% of anadult’s daily recommendedintake of vitamin D. anyonewho works in doors shouldtake note of this fact. He/shecannot get adequate vitaminD. A deficiency of thisvitamin pre-disposes a personto cancer, osteoporosis,multiple sclerosis and otherdegenerative illnesses thatlead to untimely death.

Calcium/phosphorus: Aquail egg has six times morecalcium and phosphorus thanthose found in a chicken egg.Iron: This mineral in a quailegg is five times of the onein a chicken egg. It is for thisreason a quail egg is a betterfood for oxygenating theblood, enlivening life andpreventing iron-deficiencyanaemia.

Because of these nutrients ina quail egg as well as severalothers not mentioned. In thisarticle, a quail egg is not onlya nourishing food but aquintessential healer. Forinstance, consumption of theegg slows down the ageingprocess, enhances hair/skinbeauty and remedies gastricproblems like poor digestion,gastritis as well as stomachulcers. Also, it improves libidosexual potency in men andwomen. It aids diabetes andblood vessels treatment.Fourthly, the egg assists in themanagement of osteoporosis.This is because it promotesbone density. Fifthly, whenyou take quail egg, yourimmunity against severalillnesses increases while yourbody is more able to copewith allergy problems likeasthma, skin rash, rhinitis oreczematous conjunctivitis. Quail egg boosts yourhaemoglobin level. It helps

anaemia cases, therefore. Areyou interested in weightreduction, elimination ofdeadly toxins from the blood,fighting depression, panic,anxiety and stress as well asacquiring brain power? Then,go for quail egg. Also, the egghelps in post-surgery andradiotherapy recovery.Similarly, the egg is of great

value in treating respiratorydisorders, migraine andcentral nervous systemproblems. Children also benefit fromquail egg consumption justlike pregnant/nursingmothers and the elderly.Studies indicate that the eggimproves the intelligencequotient of children and givesthem mental as well asphysical balance. Also, thestudies reveal the egg renewsthe body and slows the onsetas well as progress ofdegenerative diseases in theelderly. What is more, similarstudies have demonstratedthat the egg fortifies the bodyof a woman before andduring pregnancy while itimproves her breast milkproduction. In deed, quail egg is ahealth food of choice. It maybe small in size, but it is astrong and reliable healer. Tryto explore it now. Go for it.

“Children also benefit from quail egg consumptionjust like pregnant/nursing mothers and the elderly.Studies indicate that the egg improves the intelligencequotient of children and gives them mental as well asphysical balance. Also, the studies reveal the eggrenews the body and slows the onset as well as progressof degenerative diseases in the elderly.”


New HorizonFather, Father Forgive Them...

WithVICTOR ANIUKWU

JESUS Christ thought hisdisciples and people ingeneral how to pray — “OurFather who art in Heaven,Hollowed be thy name, thykingdom come, thy will bedone on earth, as it is inHeaven. Give us this day ourdaily bread, forgive us oursins as we forgive those whotrespass against us and leadus not into temptation nowand forever more — Amen.Jesus Christ never taughtpeople to pray against but topray for people who expresstheir sincerity of heart forhelp. When Jesus was on theplanet His main assignmentwas to preach the word of theBible without compromiseand to deliver all those whohave faith in God. JesusChrist so had great faith inhis Father, God Almightythat he never preachedotherwise. He never didcampaign nor ask people tocome to him to be healed.Jesus Christ was too busypreaching the words of theBible that he doesn’t knowwhat is happening aroundhim. Except one comes toJesus and declare himselfwill Jesus assist. Jesus Christdon ‘t tell people aboutpower which is in today’spreacher’s habit. Preachers inmost cases of today will doeverything that will make hisministry grow. The man ofGod will use any means tocapture the audience. Thepeople may say that he hadnoble ideas and not so asrecommended by Jesus.Jesus Christ was a first classmaster and preacher whotaught that:

1. As a preacher if you getto any one’s door who did notwelcome you, dust your feetand move to the next door,for someone is waiting there.

2. As a preacher, you don’task people to come to behealed. You let them come toyou by their faith which theywill express by themselves.For example with JesusChrist, people come to himand said master I am blind for15 years and now that I haveheard about you, 1 know thatyou can help me to regain mysight, please help me. AndJesus Christ answered “Goyour faith had healed you,tell no one and sin no more”.And this fellow became wellagain. Jesus Christ never toldanyone that he can heal andthat is why he neveradvertises himself for anyreason. Neither does hecompete with anyone. Hehumbly goes aboutpreaching the words of theHoly Bible. He does not add

nor subtract — it has beenfound through research thatthe Holy Bible contains65,000 mistakes — fromgenesis to revelation. Majorityof the bible we see today arenot the Holy Bible but just aBible. Frankly and painfully,the Holy Bible has beendistorted in many ways whichmislead, misguide, andmisinform people about thetrue words of the Holy Biblewhat about our children whowill grow with this negativementality. Our elders whoread the Holy Bible in the50‘s, 60‘s and 70’s knew whatI mean for example, thou shallnot kill is now thou shall notmurder. Jesus Christ is the trueSon of God, is now translatedas Jesus Christ is God. VirginMary, the mother of JesusChrist is now translated asVirgin Mary, mother of God.Thou shall not use the nameof God in vain, peoplegenerally use the name of Godin vain in many aspects of lifeincluding preachers whoshould know better. Have arun down on the tencommandments the reverse isthe case. Here we are talkingabout the Holy Bible andcommandments, what aboutordinary morals and etiquettewhich is the beginning ofdiscipline — hardly taught inschool and at home and ifthought, the percent remainsat below 25 percent. In thefifties and sixties, a teachercan Cain a child at school andsecondary level. No teachercan try that now because of theugly implications that parentssubject the teachers into,These implications whichwere not addressed at top levellead to the withdrawal ofteachers from having the fullright to discipline the childrenwithin their jurisdiction. Thisabove analysis tells us whyPastors, Reverend fathers,Reverend Doctors, Bishopsand Arch Bishops in their owninterdenominational capacity,encroached, on the legal rightsof the Holy Bible to makealternations using their ownwords jugglery. This does nothelp the doer nor the future ofthe children. When ourchildren are told in thechurches that Jesus is God andvirgin many is the mother ofGod whereby the AlmightyGod was and still remainsunborn. Anything that is bornmust grow old and die.Almighty God is unborn, doesnot grow old nor does he diebut remains ever young. Andthat’s why the Holy Bibleinserted that seek and youshall find, of-course we areseeking knowledge and an

intelligent person knows thatone cannot seek knowledgefrom one source. Theknowledge of God, isunlimited and the source isalso unlimited. For example,if one reads only the Bible andconcludes about theknowledge of God, such aperson is not a wise person. Awise man is someone whoknows a little abouteverything. Jesus Christ neverdiscriminates. He attends toChristians and non-Christiansequally. Jesus Christ at year12, left home to the far Eastto equip himself with higher

knowledge of God before hereturned home to flag off hispreaching carrier. Todayanyone can become apreacher or pastor far as youcan pay for a shop or a roomanywhere. The next thing isto claim to be a visioneer, aprophet, a healer, a man ofGod who eats and dines withthe Lord every day. Peoplewill immediately want to bepart of it without knowing thedeadly implications. Ignorantof the law and its practice isnot an excuse. Thisdiversification has lead tochurch prolification. Thechurches are now a place oflaizez faire affair. Anyone cancome, do whatever he or shewants and get away with it.Jesus Christ did not wasteanytime when he chased theJews away from theSynagogue (House of God)when it was turned to abusiness centre. Where werethe leaders of that Synagoguethat Jesus Christ had to comehimself to put such a cautionabout the do and don’t of hisFather House of Preaching

and not business us usual.Today such activities arcgoing on in all churches aschurch programmes, and soJesus warned before he left theplanet, that “He will comeagain, but as a thief”, and somany churches and preachershad preached and are stillpreaching that Jesus is comingagain. This is hap-hazardpreaching. When is hecoming, no one knows, manyhad died waiting yet he is yetto come. To come as a thiefmeans that he will come inspirit to oversee what he hadthought the people of the

world. Right now as I amwriting this piece of article,Jesus Christ is aroundwatching closely at ouractivities. Can you see a thiefaround you — No. So youcan’t see Jesus as a thief.That’s why Jesus Christ said,“Where two people aregathered in my name, I ampresent in their mist. Hasanyone seen Jesus Christwhile preaching? He is theunseen guest and master butnow overseeing us in spirit,and taking record of ourvarious activities. Every oneis hereby reminded that whatyou sow, you shall reap, whatyou reap now, you have sownin the past. Because there isno halfway to paradise,preachers should learn topreach the accurate words ofthe Holy Bible — Forexample — “Jesus Christ iscoming again, but as a thief’.Messages of the Bible must befully delivered at all times. Onthe other hand, Jesus Christcalled to his Father, Father,Father, forgive them, for theyknow not what they are

doing”. Furthermore, whenJesus Christ was carrying hiscross, Simon Peter out ofcompassion for Jesus,chopped off the ear of one ofthe soldiers in question. ButJesus Christ out of higherknowledge calmed downSimon Peter and plucked thechopped off ear back to itsposition. Jesus Christ alsopleaded to his Father toforgive them, for they don’tknow what they do. This is anattitude of mercy,compassion, forgivenesswhich ushers in love ofmankind. See what is goingon in today’s world ofpreaching. No moreforgiveness, no more mercy

but fire for fire everywhere.Holy Ghost -Fire, Holy GhostFire, Holy Ghost- fire ya yaya. Holy Ghost burn them,consume them, pursue them,kill them, demolish them,finish them, swallow them,capture them and throw theminto everlasting fire in thename of Jesus, and thecongregation will answer-Amen. Show me where Jesustaught such kind of prayer.Jesus Christ taught hisdisciples to pray — “OurFather, who art in Heaven,Hallowed be they name, theykingdom come, they will bedone in earth, as it is inHeaven, give us this day ourdaily bread, forgive us oursins as we forgive those whotrespass against us.... That isthe prayer of master Jesus andnot Holy Ghost fire-fire them.This kind of prayer iscounterproductive and antiJesus in nature, and yet peopleare there to give them kudosto the incumbent man of Godwho has no sense offorgiveness. Finally, theDevil, the witch craft, the

ghost are all children of Godin their own capacity. God isall powerful, all horrowful, allfearful, all deadly, all horrific,etc at same time verycompassionate to us -8,400,000 species of life thatexist within the three world —The higher planet, the middleplanet and the lower planetarysystem). Everything emanatesfrom God and nothing isoutside of God. God is thebeginning, the middle and endof everything that exist. Godis beyond these three world’sbecause they are a temporaryplace of existence. Anyonewithin these three regions isbound to die no matter theduration of life - 1 00 years,1000 years, 1,000,000 years,1 Billion years, I trillion years,etc.

All are but, bound to die atthe duration of their life span.This material world is calleda place of anxiety (Kunta) andthe kingdom of God is called(Vaikunta) a place of noanxiety. What is anxiety —No food, no money, no wife,no friend, no drinks, no job,no security, no peace of mind,no hope, no gain but loss, notrust, fear of the unknown, etc.All these and more contributeto the great anxiety of man.This affects both the rich andthe poor. The kingdom of Godbears no anxiety and anintelligent person strives to bethere in the kingdom of Godby strictly following theprecepts and laid down stepby step regulative principlesto clean up our filthy mind,words, and actions that bindus in this material world.Jesus Christ told us that “Inmy Father House, there aremany mansions there”. He didnot accumulate nor carriedaway by the glittering of thisworld which has led manyhuman beings astray just likeseeing the mirage in thedesert, which is water like butnever water to quench yourtaste. So it is in this materialworld. That’s one of thereasons why nothing issatisfying in this worldbecause it is a place of illusioncontrolled by the illusoryenergy of the Supreme Lord.

Finally, this material worldis compared to the river bankwhere you have trees by thebank. Look into the river andyou will find those trees justupside down. Is it notmiserable to find treesstanding on their roots to bestanding on their branches?Where is their survival andwhere is our survival? In thissituation, who bells the cat?Except you are a seriouspractitioner, you may notunderstand, this game. This isnot academics,professionalism nor business.


Place Of Prayer

How Intimate AreYou With God? (4)

WithPastor Samuel

O. OsaghaeSMS Only

08030809339

INTIMACY is a season ofexpression of love to divinity.It is a place where worshippredominates and listening iscrucial. It is not a place whereyou do spiritual warfare, hereyou forget your enemies,problems and challenges andshift your focus to God youseek Him to know more ofHim and to make Him happy.It is a place where worshippredominates, and where theworshipper has one purposein mind; to make God happy.Every aspect of it is done inthe consciousness of God’spresence and the activitiescarried out during this periodinclude worship,intercession, personalpetitions, meditative study,listening and reaffirming ofyour love for God indeedwhen divinity is made happyby your worship, then be restassured that heaven will alsosatisfy you and make youhappy.

The success of your day’sactivities is determined bywhat you gained in yourintimate fellowship with Himat the break of that day. Thestrength to overcome,wisdom for good decisionsand all other benefits that willmake your day fulfilling isreceived in your intimacywith God.

Today, we continue theseries on the benefits ofintimacy with a look atDaniel 6 (Daniel 6:10, 21-23,28). In that scripture, we seethe intriguing story of a manwho had implicit confidencein the ability of his God tosave him. This was a manwho even though he was anhonoured Prince and a friendto the king of Babylon, themost exalted and powerfulking in the world at the time,preferred to please God ratherthan please man. Over time,Daniel had built up the habit

of spending time daily inintimacy with the Father, thispart of his day was soimportant that he never toyedwith it. At this time, he wouldretire from all activities andfrom all friends andcolleagues and turn hisundivided attention to God.This was an activity that heplaced above every otherengagement, nothing was asimportant to him as hisintimacy period. Hiscolleagues came to knowhow much value he placed onhis God and they discoveredthat the only way they canbring an accusation againsthim was on an issue thatconcerned his God. Many ofus have worked in offices andlived in our neighbourhoodfor some years now and yetno one can really say withcertainty that we are childrenof God, we have completelymasked this part of our livesbecause we are not proud ofthe God that we serve, whata shame. Daniel prospered inBabylon and was preferredabove the presidents andprinces because an excellentspirit was in him, this spiritcame upon him because heknew the value of spendingtime daily in intimacy withGod. The exploits that herecorded was because heknew his God intimately(Daniel 11:32). You cannothope to live a victorious andsuccessful life when you donot know God intimately.Some of us give an excusethat we have a very busyschedule and therefore haveno time to spend in intimacywith God, I wonder if you arebusier than Daniel was.Daniel was one of threePresidents that had beenplaced over the very greatand vast kingdom of Babylonand had to report regularly tothe king, yet in the midst of

all these tasking activities, hestill found time for intimacywith the father on a veryregular basis. Little wonderthen that he found favourboth in the sight of God andin the sight of the King ofBabylon. He not only found,he became a candidate for allthe other numerous benefitsof intimacy. The jealouspresidents and princes

planned to bring him downbut God over turned theirwicked plot because Danielwas a man after His heart. Isa54:15 Behold, they shallsurely gather together, but notby me: whosoever shallgather together against theeshall fall for thy sake.

This scripture came to barein the life of Daniel asrevealed in the scripture weare studying. In the selectedverses of Daniel 6, we see

five benefits Daniel enjoyedas a result of his intimacywith the Father; you too canenjoy these benefits if youmake it a constant practice tospend quality time daily inintimacy with God.

1. Gods guiding angelswill always be with you. MyGod hath sent His angels vs22. God’s angels are alwayswith those that spend time in

intimacy with Him, He neverleaves them defenseless. In 2Kings 6, the king of Syriasent his army to arrest theProphet Elisha, it was such agreat army that the servant ofthe Prophet was thrown intopanic, alas when God openedthe eyes of this servant, hesaw that the host of angelsthat were with them wasmore than the host of theSyrian army. When youspend time daily in intimacy

with Got, harm can befall youbecause God will daily giveHis angels charge over you(Mail. 4:6).

2. Your enemies will haveno power over you. And hathshut the lion’s mouths thatthey have not hurt me vs 22.When you dwell daily inintimacy with God, He willshut the mouths of all thosethat are trying to consume

you and take their strengthfrom them, they willsuddenly discover that youhave an immunity to theirenchantments. You don’thave to pray against yourenemies when you dwell inthe secret place of the MostHigh God, you will naturallyabide under the shadow of theAlmighty God (Psalm 91:1).

3. Those that planned evilfor you will turn around tohelp you. Then was the kingexceeding glad for him, andcommanded that they shouldtake Daniel up out of the denvs 23. The same king thatordered that Daniel be throwninto the pit was now the oneseeking his promotion andelevation. When you dwell inintimacy with God, the samepeople who have been tryingto bring you down will be

used by God to lift you up,they will suddenly findthemselves speaking in yourfavour.

4. When you go throughdangerous territories, youwill come out unhurt. SoDaniel was taken up out ofthe den and no manner of hurtwas found upon him vs 23. Ifa den of hungry lions is notdangerous territory, then I

wonder what is. Daniel spenta full night with dangerous,hungry lions yet he came outof the den unscathed. Whenyou practice intimacy, itdoesn’t matter the danger yougo through, no evil will befallyou, God by Himself will takeyou through (Psalm 23:4).

5. Sustained Prosperity. Sothis Daniel prospered in thereign of Darius, and in thereign of Cyrus the Persian vs28. All those that spend timeconsistently in intimacy withGod are members of thecommonwealth of heaven.Their prosperity is notaffected by times and season,they prosper both in goodtimes and in bad times, whenmen are cast down, then youwill say there is lifting up (Job22:29).

“The success of your day’s activities is determined by whatyou gained in your intimate fellowship with Him at the breakof that day. The strength to overcome, wisdom for gooddecisions and all other benefits that will make your dayfulfilling is received in your intimacy with God.”


International Compliled ByISAH STELLA

Snowden’s Assylum Search HitsHurdles

Egypt: Morsi’s 2Spokesmen Quit

South Africa: Apartheid-Era Leader Sick

North Korea Seeks Talks With US To Ease Tensions

MOSCOW — NSA leakerEdward Snowden’s best chanceof finding refuge outside theUnited States may hinge on thepresident of Venezuela, whowas in Moscow yesterdaymeeting with Russian PresidentVladimir Putin.

President Nicolas Maduro ofVenezuela told Russianreporters yesterday that hiscountry has not received anapplication for asylum fromSnowden and dodged thequestion of whether he wouldtake Snowden away with him.But Maduro also defended theformer National SecurityAgency contractor whoreleased sensitive documents onU.S. intelligence-gatheringoperations.

“He did not kill anyone anddid not plant a bomb,” Madurosaid ahead of his meeting withPutin, the Interfax news agencyreported. “What he did was tella great truth in an effort toprevent wars. He deservesprotection under internationaland humanitarian law.”

During his Kremlin meetingwith Putin, Maduro spoke aboutplans to build on the strong tieswith Russia formed under hislate predecessor, Hugo Chavez.Neither he nor Putin mentionedSnowden in their publicstatements.

The Kremlin-friendlynewspaper Izvestia reported

Monday that the two presidentswould discuss Snowden,adding to speculation thatarrangements would be madefor Snowden to travel toVenezuela. Snowden hadinitially booked flights toHavana, Cuba, and then on toCaracas, Venezuela, beforebecoming trapped in legallimbo in a Moscow airportmore than a week ago.

.”Snowden withdrew his bidfor asylum in Russia when helearned the terms Moscow hadset out, according to Putin’sspokesman Dmitry Peskov.Putin said on Monday thatRussia was ready to shelterSnowden as long as he stoppedleaking U.S. secrets.

At the same time, Putin saidhe had no plans to turn overSnowden to the United States.

Snowden also has applied forasylum in 20 other countries,according to WikiLeaks, asecret spilling website, butmany of those countries said hecannot apply from abroad.Officials in Austria, Finland,Germany, the Netherlands,Norway, Poland, Spain andSwitzerland all said he mustmake his request on their soil.

WikiLeaks said requests havealso been made to Bolivia,Brazil, China, Cuba, Ecuador,

France, Iceland, India, Italy,Ireland, Netherlands,Nicaragua, Spain andVenezuela.

India’s External AffairsMinistry spokesman SyedAkbaruddin said Delhi hascarefully examined the asylumrequest and decided to turn itdown.

WikiLeaks also posted astatement attributed toSnowden on its website lateMonday, in which he slamsPresident Barack Obama for“using citizenship as aweapon.”

“Although I am convicted ofnothing, (the United States) hasunilaterally revoked mypassport, leaving me a statelessperson,” Snowden says in thestatement. “Without anyjudicial order, theadministration now seeks tostop me exercising a basic right.A right that belongs toeverybody. The right to seekasylum.

“Their purpose is to frighten,not me, but those who wouldcome after me.”

Snowden, who has been onthe run since releasing thesensitive NSA documents, isbelieved to have been in thetransit zone of Moscow’sSheremetyevo Airport since hisarrival from Hong Kong onJune 23.

WikiLeaks legal adviserSarah Harrison delivered therequest for asylum to an officialat the Russian consulate at theMoscow airport on Sunday,according to the group that hasadopted Snowden and hiscause.

Ecuador, where he hadinitially hoped to get asylum,has been giving mixed signalsabout offering him shelter.

Britain’s Press Associationnews agency said it hadobtained a letter from Snowdento Ecuadorean President RafaelCorrea thanking him forconsidering his asylum request.

“There are few world leaderswho would risk standing for thehuman rights of an individualagainst the most powerfulgovernment on earth, and thebravery of Ecuador and itspeople is an example to theworld,” PA quoted the letter assaying. The agency said it hadobtained the Spanish-languageletter from sources in Quito, thecapital of Ecuador.

JOHANNESBURG - F.W.de Klerk, the last leader of SouthAfrica’s apartheid era and a co-recipient of the 1993 Nobel PeacePrize with Nelson Mandela, hassuffered dizziness and will befitted with a pacemaker to helphis heart function, a foundationsaid yesterday.

A Cape Town-basedfoundation named after 77-year-old de Klerk said the formerpresident felt dizzy afterreturning home on Sunday froma trip to Europe, and consulted hisspecialist on Monday.

“He has had several such spellsin recent weeks and his specialistrecommended the immediateinstallation of a pacemaker. Hewill be fitted with a pacemakerlater today and will spend thenight in hospital,” the foundationsaid in a statement.

On Saturday, the foundationissued a statement on behalf ofde Klerk and his wife Elita,saying they had decided tosuspend a working visit andvacation in Europe becauseMandela is critically ill, and thatthey were praying for animprovement in the health of theanti-apartheid leader.

Mandela, 94, was taken to aPretoria hospital on June 8 to betreated for what the governmentsaid at the time was a recurringlung infection. Since then, therehas been a groundswell ofconcern in South Africa andaround the world for the man whospent 27 years as a prisoner under

apartheid and then emerged tonegotiate an end to white racistrule before becoming president inthe country’s first all-raceelections in 1994.

De Klerk, a former educationminister who had backedsegregated schooling, was a keyfigure in a delicate transition thatturned out to be relativelypeaceful despite fears ofwidespread racial conflict. In1990, a year after becomingSouth Africa’s president, heannounced he was legalizing theAfrican National Congress, thebanned group that led the anti-

apartheid movement, and wouldfree Mandela. He received theNobel prize along with Mandelafor his reformist initiatives andeffectively negotiating himselfout of power.

De Klerk later served as adeputy president duringMandela’s single five-year termas president. Since his retirementfrom political life, he has traveledwidely and delivered lectures.His foundation says its missionis to help poor and disabledchildren, contribute to conflictresolution and uphold SouthAfrica’s constitution, which

robustly supports the protectionof human rights.

Last year, Mandela’s archivistsand Google announced a projectto digitally preserve a record ofMandela’s life. In one onlinevideo, de Klerk recalled beingasked to address parliamentalongside Mandela in 2004. Itwas the 10th anniversary of theday Mandela became president.Mandela took de Klerk’s arm aslawmakers applauded.

“It is, if you now look back, asymbol of how reconciliation canmanifest itself,” de Klerk said,reflecting on his encounter withMandela.

BANDAR SERIBEGAWAN, Brune— NorthKorea’s top diplomat saidyesterday that the U.S. mustaccept its offer for dialoguewithout preconditions if it wantsto ease tensions on the dividedKorean Peninsula. He drew aquick rebuttal from his SouthKorean counterpart, who said theinternational community hasmade clear that Pyongyang mustgive up its nuclear ambitions if itwants better relations.

The Koreas were among 27nations at the Association ofSoutheast Asian Nations RegionalForum in Brunei, where theNorth’s nuclear weapons programwas a key topic, along with otherhot-button regional issues such asSouth China Sea territorial

disputes. Asia’s largest securityforum includes the U.S., NorthKorea and the four othercountries involved in long-stallednuclear talks on ending NorthKorea’s nuclear ambitions inreturn for aid.

U.S. Secretary of State JohnKerry said Monday that the U.S.,South Korea, Japan and China —North Korea’s chief ally — were“absolutely united” in theirinsistence on a denuclearizedNorth Korea. Washington saysPyongyang must move in thatdirection before it will agree totalks, but North Korean ForeignMinister Pak Ui Chun said duringthe conference Tuesday that it isAmerica that must act.

“The U.S. must accede to ourcourageous decision and

goodwill gesture (to offer talks)without preconditions if it is trulyinterested in ending the viciouscircle of intensifying tension onthe Korean Peninsula andsafeguarding peace and stability,”Pak said, according to NorthKorean delegation official ChoeMyong Nam.

Pak said that “a touch-and-gosituation in which a war can breakout anytime is fostered” on theKorean Peninsula, and that U.S.hostility against the North wasprimarily responsible for that,Choe told reporters. Pak said theU.S. must normalize relationswith North Korea and liftsanctions against the country,

saying the North Korean nuclearstandoff won’t be resolvedunless the U.S. changes its tone,according to Choe.

.”Shortly after Choe spoke,South Korean Foreign MinisterYun Byung-se told reporters thatmost diplomats at the forumexpressed a “very strongmessage” to the North Koreandelegation that Pyongyang mustscrap its nuclear program andrefrain from launching anotherprovocation.

“So they must have listened tothis message very, veryseriously,” he said, speaking inEnglish.

North Korea surprisingly

offered to talk with the U.S. andrejoin long-stalled internationalnuclear disarmament talks lastmonth after weeks of tensionfollowing its February nucleartest. The country also recentlyeased its warlike rhetoric, but hasstill vowed to bolster its nucleararsenal, citing what it calls U.S.military threats.

U.S. officials have coollyresponded to North Korea’sovertures, and analysts say theimpoverished country often callsfor talks after raising tensionswith provocative behavior inorder to win outside concessions.

Kerry on Monday stepped uppressure on the North to abandonits atomic ambitions aftermeeting with his counterpartsfrom China, South Korea andJapan.

CAIRO — A foreign ministryofficial says two spokesmen forPresident Mohammed Morsi havequit in the latest defections fromhis embattled administration as

protesters and the militarychallenge his authority.

The official says careerdiplomats Omar Amer and IhabFahmy have stepped down afternearly five months speaking onbehalf of Morsi.

The official spoke yesterdayon condition of anonymitybecause he was not authorizedto speak to the media.

The move compounds thewoes for Morsi as he facesmassive protests calling for hisouster.

On Monday, six Cabinetministers quit and the militarygave the president a 48-hourultimatum to work out hisdifferences with the oppositionor it will intervene and overseethe implementation of its ownpolitical road map. Theultimatum expires today.

Russia’s president Vladimir Putin, right, looks on as his Venezuelan counterpart NicolasMaduro, left, shakes hands with presidental spokeman Dmitry Peskov during a meetingat the Kremlin in Moscow.

File: South African President Nelson Mandela, left, and Deputy President F.W. de Klerkchat outside parliament after the approval of south Africa’s new constitution.


International Compliled ByISAH STELLA

Syrian Rebels Threaten ToTarget Shi’ite Villages In Aleppo

Obama Ends Africa Trip ByJoining Bush At Memorial

New US SanctionsWill Complicate

Nuclear Issue - Iran

DAMASCUS - Syrian rebels inthe northern province of Aleppo onMonday threatened to seize twoShi’ite Muslim villages that backPresident Bashar al-Assad unlessthey surrendered to the opposition.

Activists say both Nubl andZahra villages had been reinforcedby Assad’s allies in theincreasingly sectarian war, amongthem fighters from Iran andLebanon’s powerful Shi’iteguerrilla group, Hezbollah.

“We announce our intention toliberate Nubl and Zahra from theregime and its shabbiha (pro-Assadmilitia), and from the Hezbollahand Iranian elements,” the rebelssaid in an Internet video.

The 27-month-old conflict,which pits mostly Sunni insurgentsagainst Assad, from an offshoot ofShi’ite Islam, has already killedmore than 100,000 people anddriven 1.7 million Syrians to seekrefuge in neighboring countries.

Assad’s forces, spearheaded byHezbollah, have made a number ofgains since they seized the bordertown of Qusair last month. Therehave also been heavy clashes inAleppo and surrounding districts,fuelling expectations that Assadaims to re-establish control ofSyria’s largest city.

On Sunday rebels shot down ahelicopter close to Nubl, whichactivists said had been carryingsupplies to the villages. Authoritiesin Damascus said they were takingEducation Ministry employees tosupervise school exams. Sevenemployees and the helicopter crewwere killed, they said.

A video released by activists afew weeks earlier showed an armyofficer apparently recruitingShi’ite villagers in Zahra and Nublto form fighting units to support thearmy against the rebels.

“PREVENT A SINGLE DROPOF BLOOD”

“In order to prevent a single dropof blood from being spilled and tofind a peaceful solution, we haveset the following conditions,” thevideo statement by the rebels said.

Among the demands were the

DAR ES SALAAM,Tanzania - Democratic PresidentBarack Obama and Republicanpredecessor President George W.Bush found common ground inAfrica yesterday, honoring thevictims of a terrorist attack in anunprecedented chance encountera world away from home.

The U.S. presidents had a brief,silent appearance together at amonument to victims of the 1998embassy bombing here in the eastAfrican city where Bushcoincidentally happened to be asObama wrapped up a weeklongtour of the continent. While thetwo U.S. leaders didn’t sayanything publicly, their wivesengaged in a warm and chattyjoint appearance at a summit on

DUBAI - Iran has played downthe impact of U.S. sanctions thatcame into effect this week, butsaid the measures wouldcomplicate a resolution to thedispute over its nuclear program.

The new sanctions, which cameinto effect on Monday, target tradewith Iran’s shipping andautomobile sectors, gold sales toIran and handling of the Iraniancurrency, the rial - a furtherattempt to force Tehran to curb itsnuclear activities.

In recent years, Iran hasvigorously pursued itsdevelopment of nucleartechnology which Westerncountries suspect is masking itsattempts to develop a weaponscapability, allegations Iranianofficials have repeatedly denied.

“We have no doubt thatsanctions are a broken policy andwe are surprised about why the

CHANGE OF NAME

IGBINOVIA – I, for-merly called MissIgbinovia Ivie Ewaen isnow known and calledMrs. Egharevba IvieEwaen. All formerdocuments remainvalid. Concerned au-thorities and the generalpublic should pleasetake note.

PUBLIC NOTICE

I, Mr. John Longe of No. 38, Idahor Street, Off UpperSokponba Road, Benin City wish to bring for the infor-mation of the general public that I am the bonafide ownerof a landed property measuring 50ft by 100ft (fifty feet byone hundred feet) situate at Evborhan Plot Layout in Ward34/F. The general public, agents and concerned authoritiesare advised not to go into transaction with anybody con-cerning the land as the land is not for sale.You are warned.

CAVEAT EMPTOR

Signed: JOHN LONGE

CHANGE OF NAME

SUNDAY – I, formerlyknown as Mrs. HopeNkeiruka Sunday nowwish to be known asMrs. Hope NkeirukaFelix Onyeri. Allformer documents re-main valid. Concernedauthorities and the gen-eral public shouldplease take note.

surrender of Assad’s forces andtheir weapons, followed by apower sharing deal between thelocals and the rebels.

“”If there is no response (torebel demands for surrender)there will be a major militaryoperation on those two villages,”the statement said.

The sectarian nature of theconflict has set regional SunniMuslim powers - notably GulfArab states and Turkey - againstAssad’s Shi’ite Iranian andHezbollah allies in a deepeningproxy war on Syrian soil.

Deputy U.S. Secretary of StateWilliam Burns, speaking at the

end of a visit to neighboringLebanon, condemnedHezbollah’s militaryintervention in Syria.

“Despite its membership in theLebanese government,Hezbollah has decided to put itsown interests and those of itsforeign backers above those ofthe Lebanese people,” Burnssaid.

“We condemn in the strongestterms Hezbollah’s actions inSyria. They ... stand in directviolation of Lebanon’sdisassociation policy (fromSyria) and place the future ofLebanon at risk.”

American government and othergovernments who take part inthese sanctions continuallyrepeat a mistaken and failedpolicy,” the state televisionwebsite quoted Foreign Ministryspokesman Abbas Araqchi assaying late on Monday.

“Removing sanctions wouldcount as a confidence-buildingmeasure and can assist in aresolution of the issue butincreasing sanctions would haveno result, apart from making theissue more complex and harderto resolve,” he said.

Hopes for a resolution to thenuclear dispute were boosted lastmonth with the election aspresident of Hassan Rouhani, aformer nuclear negotiator whopromises a softer approach toforeign relations than hardlineincumbent MahmoudAhmadinejad.

African women.Initially the two presidents

weren’t even planning to meetwhile in town, but first ladyMichelle Obama joked as she satnext to her predecessor:“They’re learning from us.”

The Obamas departed Africafor home shortly after crossingpaths with the Bushes, who werehosting the summit promotingthe role of African first ladies inbringing change to theircountries. Bush ended up joiningthe current president for thewreath-laying ceremonyhonoring the Tanzanian victimsof the simultaneous attacks at theU.S. embassies here and inKenya masterminded by Osamabin Laden.

YOUR prayers andstruggles for all ofyour children have

not been in vain thispast eleven years

that you went to bewith the Lord.The values you

taught us place youon a pedestal that is

unrivalled.We know you are atpeace and you willforever be in our

heart.Adieu! Sweet

Mother.Fondly rememberedby your Daughter.

In evergreen memoriesPriceless Mum, Late Madam Rose Jugah

Signed:Princess Theresa

Erediauwa Late Madam Rose Jugah

Palace 113/Vol.XI/S/178

Evbuomwan Sylvester Esq.,Royal Legal Adviser,Enogie of lgbontor Palace,lgbontor Community,lgbanke,Edo State.

I am directed by the Omo N’Oba N’Edo, UkuAkpolokpolo, Oba of Benin, to refer to yourletter dated l3th June, 2013 requesting for acopy of Omo N’Oba pronouncement on theEnogieship seat in Igbontor Community asreached on 11th June, 2013 and to say thatOmo N’Oba reaffirmed his earlier decision thatHRH Jeremiah Omorodion is the Enogie ofIgbontor in Igbanke Community.Above for your record purpose, please.

CHANGE OF NAME

ORIAKHI – I, for-merly Miss GloriaOriakhi now Mrs.Gloria Osagie. Allformer documents re-main valid. Generalpublic and all concernedauthorities should pleasetake note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OMOSORIA – I, formerlyknown and addressed asMiss Omosoria Patiencenow wish to be known andaddressed as Mrs.Arebamen Obhenke Joy.All former documents re-main valid. Concerned au-thorities, Rapid ResponseAgency (RRA) and the gen-eral public should pleasetake note.

CHANGE OF NAME

IGIE-AKHAGBE – I,formerly known and ad-dressed as Elizabeth NitaAkhagbe ElizabethIgietseme and ElizabethNita Igie-Akhagbe nowwish to be known and ad-dressed as Elizabeth NitaIgietseme. All formerdocuments remain valid.Concerned authorities andthe general public shouldplease take note.

25th June 2013


Contd. from Pg 18

ViewpointProposed UK Visa, ...

significant risk ofAbuse”. “ Last year296,000 people granted sixmonth visas were fromIndia, 101,000 fromNigeria, 53,000 fromPakistan and 14,000 eachwere from Sri Lanka andBangledesh”( AFP).Imagine the figures! Let uslearn from this “Insult”(that is what it is to me),and make this nation anenvy for people outside.We can make this countrybeautiful enough for peopleto want to come in and ouryouths ready to stay andwork. We have verywonderful professionalNigerians working indifferent places inEuropean countries, whohave refused to come backhome, because of betterquality of job terms; wehave read in the News ofNigerians making giantstrides in their variousendeavours. All this wouldhave been things enjoyed inthis country if things wereas good as they ought to be.

This is my plea!Government, please youcan continue yourcomplaints on thediscriminatory policy, butplease also focus onmaking this nation a goldenstreet that people will wantto walk on. For thesupposed giant of Africa tobe put to this kind oftreatment speaks volumesin few lines. Please Sirs andMadams, OGAs at the Top,think deeply on thissituation, and pick uplessons, that will kick starta developmentalrevolutions that will affectall aspect of this nation.Please! For the governmentofficials that embezzle orthat have embezzled, Iwant to say that you arepart of the reason for this

insult. Money meant fordevelopment, werepocketed and used forselfish gains, anyway somepeople are at the cornerpraying for you and God islistening.

Mr. Government and herofficials, Nigeria needs

and nobody will insult usby calling us high risk forcontributing illegalimmigrants. I sincerelyknow that with the waythings have gone bad, itwill not take just one dayto solve the years of decay,but the process should

begin and the heart ofrestoration should be inevery of the governmentofficials. The governmentof South Africa has to makecomments regularlyregarding the conditions ofa citizen not ingovernment, churches holdprayers for him to remainalive even though he ismore than 90, even deathrespects his achievementsand have refused to takehim...this tells you thatbeing a good governmentofficial pays. Thumbs upMandela “Madiba”, mayyou live long for us.

To my fellow citizens,you have every right towant to leave the countryoh!, things are not well andwe watch in the Televisionof the beautiful thingshappening in the Europeancountries (thanks to theinformation flowimbalance). The reasonsnot to say are prettyobvious, but again hard

work and integrity pays. Ijust want to encourage usto stay with one anotherand develop this nation, theAmerica, Britain we run totoday were built by thesweats of people. For some,the inputs of some of ourforefathers via slave tradeforms the foundation oftheir development, hencewe should stick together inUnity and develop thisnation. I strongly believethat we can make it. I callon all the children, Youths,aged, Mothers, fathers etcto join the train of thosewith the heart to make this

nation great, the train isgradually gaining pace; soplease do not be leftbehind. Let us break thebarrier of corruption byfirst of all not beingcorrupt, kill ethnicity andtribalism from the roots,join with adequateinformation in the electoralprocesses. The goodpeople should contest and

continue to contest so thatthis nation enjoys thebeauty that comes when arighteous man rules. Fightcorruption with all sense ofsincerity and love for thisnation, not a fight taintedwith selfish reasons.

Please let us not wait forthe government, if they arenot working let us kickthem to the work by takingup their functions to makesure the citizens arecomfortable. You live in astreet as a Millionaire andthe streets are very bad,why wait for thegovernment, when you canbegin the process. The wellto-do could createscholarship platforms forthe bright minds in thesociety and provide theright environment for theirtalents to be horned.Parents should stopencouraging their children

that the grasses are alwaysgreener on the other side ofthe lawn. That is not how itis Oh. Get to ask questionsfrom those that made itback, some have had to dovery obscene things just tomake ends meet, so manyof them are even ashamedto say the true stories oftheir experiences. Some ofthose that tried to gothrough the desert have losttheir lives.

The Richest man in Africastarted and survived theenvironmental hurdles, JimOvia started in the Deltastate environments,Michael Adenuga beganGlobacom in Nigeria, andthe list continues.Mentioning people thathave survived the stress inthis great nation, who havealso made it and respectedall over the world will taketoo much space, hence Istill wish to assert thatmaking it is possible in thisnation. I know of the CEOof a leadingcommunication firm inVictoria Island, who startedin school not havingslippers to go to class withbut today runs a multiMillion naira company inthe communication sector.The good people still makeit, because it’s on theirshoulders that the greatnessof this nation lies. It is nota mistake that the theme forour image transformationagenda is “Nigeria, goodpeople, great nation”. Ourgreatness as a nation ishinged on the availabilityof good people who havegone beyond any barrieravailable, from poverty toreligion, ethnicbackgrounds etc. Be thegreat person and not asource of insult to thiscountry. Greatness evenwhen you are born into it,does not just fall onsomeone, it is nurtured.

This matter of £3000,Slammed on visitors fromthe giant of African shouldbring reflections and notonly reactions. Let theworld just continue to wait,we are coming! They willnot wait for too long,people like me that love thiscountry sincerely are

“The reasons not to say are pretty obvious, but again hardwork and integrity pays. I just want to encourage us tostay with one another and develop this nation, the America,Britain we run to today were built by the sweats of people.”

David Cameron, British Prime Minister

steady power supply, weneed good roads, we needemployment for ouryouths, we needuninterrupted terms in ourschools (No strikes), wellsecured neighbourhoodsand properly equippedsecurity agents. We thecitizens of Nigeria needcomfortable houses ataffordable rates andpolicies that will greatlyimprove the comfort of thegeneral public. Sincerelysir, if all these things areprovided, we will be theones making this kind ofpolicy, to control the influx


Healthy LivingStaying Healthy During

PregnancyBy ISEMHENBITA FAITH

NOW that you’re pregnant, taking care of yourself has neverbeen more important. Of course, you’ll probably get advicefrom everyone – your doctor, family members, friends, co-workers, and even complete strangers about what you shouldand shouldn’t be doing.

But staying healthy during pregnancy depends on you.According to kidHealth.Com, its crucial to arm yourself withinformation about the many ways to keep you and your babyas healthy as possible.

Parental Health Care Key to protecting the healthof your child is to get regular prenatal care. If you think you’repregnant, call your health care provider to schedule anappointment. You should schedule your first examination assoon as you think you might be pregnant.

At first visit, your health care provider will probably do apregnancy test, and will figure out how many weeks pregnantyou are based on a physical examination and the date of yourlast period. He or she will also use this information to predictyour delivery date (an ultra sound done sometime later in yourpregnancy will help to verify that date).

If you’re healthy and there are no complicating risk factors,most health care providers will want to see you:

· Every 4 weeks until the 28th week of pregnancy· Then every 2 weeks until 36 weeks· Then once a week until delivery. Throughout your pregnancy, your healthcare provider will

check your weight and blood pressure while also checking thegrowth and development of your baby (by doing things likefeeling your abdomen, listening for the fetal heartbeat startingduring the second trimester, and measuring your belly). Duringthe span of your pregnancy, you’ll also have prenatal tests,including blood, urine, and cervical tests, and probably at leastone ultrasound.

NUTRITION AND SUPPLEMENTS Now that you’re eating for two (or more), this is not the

time to cut calories or go on a diet. In fact, it’s just the opposite– you need even more. But if you’re overweight, yourhealthcare provider may advise you to consume fewer extracalories.

Healthy eating is always important, but especially whenyou’re pregnant. So, make sure your calories come fromnutritious foods that will contribute to you baby’s growth anddevelopment.

Try to maintain a well-balanced diet that incorporates thedietary guidelines including:

· Lean meats· Fruits· Vegetables· Whole-grain breads· Low-fat dairy product By eating a healthy, balanced diet you’re more likely to get

the nutrients you need. But you will need more of the essentialnutrients (especially calcium, iron, and folic acid) than youdid before you became pregnant. Your health care providerwill prescribe prenatal vitamins to be sure both you and yourgrowing baby are getting enough.

But taking prenatal vitamins doesn’t mean you can eat adiet that’s lacking in nutrients. It’s important to remember thatyou still need to eat well while pregnant. Prenatal vitamins aremeant to supplement your diet, and aren’t meant to be youronly source of much needed nutrients.

Calcium Most women 19 and older including those who are pregnant

don’t often get the daily 1,000mg of calcium that’srecommended. Because your growing baby’s calcium demandsare high, you should increase your calcium consumption toprevent a loss of calcium from your own bones. Good sources

of calcium include:· Low-fat dairy product including milk, pasteurized

cheese, and yogurt.· Calcium – fortified products, including orange juice,

soy milk, and cereals· Dark green vegetables including spinach, kale, and

broccoli· Dried beans etc.IronPregnant women need about 30mg of iron every day. Why?

Because iron is needed to make hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying component of red blood cells. Without enough iron,

the body can’t make enough red blood cells and the body’stissues and organs won’t get the oxygen they need to functionwell.

Iron rich foods include:· Red meat· Dark Poultry· Eggs· Enriched grains· Dried fruits, beans and peas etc.Fluids:

It’s important to drink plenty of fluids, especially water,during pregnancy. And drinking enough water each day canhelp prevent common problems such as dehydration andconstipation.

Exercise The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

recommends at least 150 minutes (that’s 2 hours and 30minutes) of moderate – intensity aerobic activity each weekif you’re not already highly active of doing vigorous-intensityactivity.

Exercising during pregnancy has been shown to beextremely beneficial. Regular exercise can help;

· Prevent excess weight gain· Reduce pregnancy related problems, like back pain,

swelling, and constipation· Improve sleep· Increase energy· Improve outlook· Prepare for labour· Lessen recovery time Low impact, moderate-intensity exercise activities (such

as walking and swimming) are great choices.

It’s also important to be aware of how your body changes.During pregnancy, your body produces a hormone known asrelaxin, which is believed to help prepare the pubic area andthe cervix for birth.

Sleep It’s important to get enough sleep during your pregnancy.

Your body is working hard to accommodate a new life, soyou’ll probably feel more tired than usual. And as your babygets bigger, it will be harder to find a comfortable positionwhen you’re trying to sleep. Lying on your side with yourknees bent is likely to be the most comfortable position asyour pregnancy progresses according to KidHealth.como n l i n e .Some Things To Avoid During Pregnancy

When you’re pregnant, what you don’t put into your body(or expose your body to) is almost as important as what youdo. Here are some things to avoid.

· Alcohol· Recreational Drugs· Nicotine· CaffeineSource:KidHealth.Com.

“Low impact, moderate-intensity exercise activities (such aswalking and swimming) are great choices. It’s also importantto be aware of how your body changes. During pregnancy,your body produces a hormone known as relaxin, which isbelieved to help prepare the pubic area and the cervix for birth.”


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Transcript of Nigerian observer 03 07 2013