Leadership Newspapers - For God and Country

Sambo Condoles With Emir Of Kano Over Death Of Sheikh Salga.

Leadership Editors — Sat, 26 May 2012 17:41:12 +0000

Vice-President Namadi Sambo on Saturday said that the death of Sheikh Mudi Salga was a great loss to the country, in view of his enormous contribution to the propagation of Islam.

Sambo said this in Kano on Saturday when he paid a condolence visit to the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, over Salga’s death.

Salga died in his residence in Kano on Friday after a brief illness.

Responding, the emir thanked Sambo for the condolence visit.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the vice-president earlier attended the funeral prayers organised for the late Salga at the Sheikh Isiyaka Rabi’u Mosque.

The prayer session, led by Sheikh Sama’ila Kalifa, was also attended by Gov. Rabi’u Kwankwaso of KanoState, along with the governors of Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi states.

The prayer gathering was also attended by the Emir of Kano, the Minister of Defence, Dr Bello Mohammed, the Minister of Transport, Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman, and the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

Some members of the National Assembly and other top government officials are part of the dignitaries who attended the prayer session.

NAN also reports that the vice-president also attended the wedding ``Fathia’’ of two younger sisters of his wife, Hadiza and Zainab Abdullahi, before returning to Abuja. (NAN)

APGA Crisis: Change or Face the Consequences, Bianca Ojukwu Warns Umeh

Leadership Editors — Sat, 26 May 2012 17:38:14 +0000

As efforts to resolve the crisis rocking the All Progressive GrandAlliance (APGA} continue to meet brick walls, Ambassador Bianca, wifeof Ex-Biafran Warlord, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu has warned thatif the National Chairman of the party, Chief Victor Umeh failed toretrace his steps , he would be rendered a king without a kingdom.

Speaking during a meeting of stakeholders of party held in her latehusband’s Enugu residence Saturday, Mrs Ojukwu regretted that Umehwas absent at the meeting convened to find lasting solutions to theproblems of the party.

“This party must function as a national party, we are calling on ourgovernors to strengthen this party at all levels, we call on our

national chairman, we are calling you to come back home, we want youto come back, the legacies of Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu will not die inyour hand, this party must move, this party must survive. If you donot retrace your steps, we will render you a king without a kingdom”,She said.

She noted that her late husband consistently called for setting upof a reconciliation committee that would reach out to aggrieved

persons who were frustrated out of the party, declaring that there wasno internal democracy in the party.

While warning that time was running out, she stressed the need for allorgans of the party at all levels to be restructured, regretting thatmost organs of the party were moribund.

Mrs Ojukwu expressed dismay over what she described as destabilizingcomments of Umeh in the media, insisting that the comments wereunacceptable.

In a related development, a communique issued at the end of the oneday meeting has called on the National Executive Committee {NEC} ofAPGA to organize a National Convention without further delay andarrange to conduct proper congresses throughout the Federation.

Our correspondent observed that the National Chairman of the party,Chief Victor Umeh, National Secretary of the Party, Alhaji SanniShinkafi, who allegedly sent text messages to discourage people fromattending meeting, State Chairman and some official of the party in Anambra State were absent at the meeting while Governor Peter Obi,Mrs Bianca Ojukwu, Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly,Vice Chairman , Board of Trustees of the party, Dr Tim Menakaya,Chairman of the party in the South east, Hon Barrister MorganAnayalechi were in attendance.

UN Welcomes Resumption Of Talks Between Sudan, South Sudan

Leadership Editors — Sat, 26 May 2012 17:31:04 +0000

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the announcement by the governments of Sudan and South Sudan tO resume stalled peace talks in Addis Ababa, next week.

The talks are to be held under the auspices of the AU High-Level Implementation Panel.

A UN statement, made available to PANA in New York on Friday, stated: ``The Secretary-General encourages the parties to reconvene in an atmosphere of goodwill and called on them to demonstrate the flexibility necessary to reach agreement on outstanding issues.

``This is in accordance with the guidance and deadlines set by the African Union Peace and Security Council and the UN Security Council.''

It said that Ban reiterated the readiness of the UN to assist the parties implement their agreements and support the mechanisms established by them.

``The Secretary-General stresses the need to commence the work of the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism for peace and security along the border and confirms the readiness of the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) to immediately support its operations,''it noted.

The UN Security Council established UNISFA in June last year following an outbreak of violence after Sudanese troops took control of Abyei, a border area disputed between South Sudan and Sudan.

The dispute led to the displacement of tens of thousands of people in the weeks before South Sudan became an independent State.

Last week, the Council extended UNISFA's mandate by another six months, and demanded that the two countries finalise the establishment of an administration for the area in line with an agreement signed last year.

In a unanimously adopted resolution in early May, the 15-member Council said that the prevailing situation along the border between the two countrries constituted ``a serious threat to international peace and security''.

It also called on the two countries ``to immediately end hostilities and resume negotiations, and voiced its intention to take appropriate measures if the parties did not comply''.

Earlier this week, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan, Ali Al-Za’tari, said that only 5,000 people had returned to Abyei while more than 100,000 others remain displaced.

He noted that it was time to gice access to the humanitarian workers in Abyei from Sudan, saying that, ``currently, international humanitarian workers were only able to get to Abyei if they travel via South Sudan.''

South Sudan became independent from Sudan in July last year, six years after the signing of a peace agreement that ended decades of warfare between the north and south.

However, the peace between the two countries has been threatened recently by clashes along their common border and outstanding post-independence issues that have yet to be resolved.

Tensions increased in recent weeks after South Sudanese forces moved into the oil-producing region of Heglig in Sudan’s South Kordofan state before eventually departing, and Sudanese forces engaged in the bombardment of South Sudanese
territory.(PANA/NAN)

Iran Boosting Sensitive Nuclear Capacity -IAEA

Leadership Editors — Sat, 26 May 2012 17:24:31 +0000

Iran has raised its potential capacity to make sensitive nuclear material by installing hundreds more uranium enrichment machines at an underground site, a UN watchdog report said, a day after world powers failed to convince Tehran to halt such activity.

The International Atomic Energy Agency also said on Friday that satellite images show ``extensive activities'' at the
Parchin military complex which inspectors want to check over suspicions that nuclear weapons-relevant research
was done there.

The activities could hamper the IAEA's inquiry, it said - an allusion to what Western diplomats have said may be Iranian efforts to remove incriminating evidence.

Iran has denied pursuing a clear weapons capability there or anywhere else.

Obtained by Reuters, the confidential report further said inspectors had found traces of uranium particles enriched to up to 27 per cent at Iran's bunkered Fordow site, compared with the 20 per cent level Tehran has officially reported to the IAEA.

The report said Iran had told the UN agency that this higher-grade enrichment, taking Iran significantly further down the road to potential weapons-grade threshold ``may happen for technical reasons beyond the operator's control''.

The quarterly report added that Iran had hooked up 368 new centrifuges in Fordow, a 50 per cent increase in numbers, but that these were not yet being fed with material for enrichment.

Iran had increased its stockpile of higher-enriched uranium to around 145 kg in May from nearly 110 kg some three months ago, the report went on.

It said the IAEA had told Iran in a letter sent this month that it needed ``early access'' to Parchin.

Iran has repeatedly refused this, maintaining that Parchin is a solely conventional military base beyond the writ of nuclear inspectors.

The IAEA said it had urged Iran to expedite a final agreement to enable inspectors to resume their long-running investigation into suspected nuclear explosive experiments.

IAEA chief Yukiya Amano had said on Monday after talks in Tehran that the two sides were close to such a deal although ``some differences'' remained before it could be sealed.(Reuters/NAN)

Lagos Residents Bemoan Increase In Cybercrime

Leadership Editors — Sat, 26 May 2012 17:12:39 +0000

Some Lagos residents on Saturday complained about the rising wave of cybercrime in the country and urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts to check the menace.

Cybercrime is the use of the Internet for criminal activities, which range from Internet hacking to scam, extortion, fraud and impersonation.

Speaking with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the residents urged the Federal Government to expedite actions to fight the menace.

A cybercafé operator, Mr Obinna Iheanyi, stressed that cybercrime had seriously tarnished Nigeria’s image.

He noted that the Internet had created myriad opportunities for commercial, social and educational activities, adding, however, some unscrupulous individuals had abused the use of the Internet.

``I was made on a certain occasion to send my financial details to a stranger who sent me convincing details of my bank account and urged me to transfer a huge sum of money for my account’s upgrade,’’ he said.

Iheanyi said that many unsuspecting members of the public had been defrauded in such manner.

A banker, Mr Patrick Oreki, said that Internet fraud could be perpetrated from any part of the world, advising Nigerians to be wary of the machinations of Internet fraudsters.

``Criminal activities could be faster, easier and more damaging with the use of the Internet,’’ he noted.

Oreki said that many countries had developed strategies for preventing, detecting and checking cybercrime; stressing that Nigeria should also take a cue from such countries.

``Fighting cybercrime requires not just knowledge of Information Technology (IT) but also IT intelligence, on the part of security agencies.

``In this clime, there is a serious shortage of skills to deal with threats associated with IT,” he said.

Mr Chimezie Emuka, a student of the Petroleum Training Institute, Warri, said that those perpetrating cybercrime were conversant-with computer applications, adding that efforts to check their activities required advanced IT knowledge.

``To fight cybercrime, those involved have to spend time to learn about cybercrime processes before devising strategies to fight it,’’ he said.

Another cybercafé operator, Mr Sunday Nwadike, said: ``These cyber criminals are smart and intelligent; we need to adopt a holistic approach in tackling them.’’

He, nonetheless, warned the people against the temptation of responding to phony telephone text messages and calls informing them that they had won some money.

Nwadike said that those who were not wary of such messages were likely to fall victim to the plots of cyber fraudsters.(NAN)

Scots Begin Push To Be A Nation Once Again

Leadership Editors — Sat, 26 May 2012 17:02:34 +0000

With rousing speeches, patriotic music and support from actor Sean Connery, supporters of independence for Scotland launched a campaign on Friday.

Campaigners hope the move would lead to the demise of a 305-year-old union with England and the breakup of Britain.

``This is the beginning of something really special, the beginning of the campaign to restore nationhood to Scotland,''Alex Salmond, leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), told hundreds of supporters in a hall in the capital Edinburgh.

``We want a Scotland that is fairer and more prosperous.''

The campaign hopes to tap into a blend of historical rivalry, different political tastes, and a perception that the British parliament in London does not safeguard Scotland's interests to win a referendum in 2014 which would pave the way for full independence two years later.

If successful, the drive could create serious problems for Britain, which comprises England, Scotland and Wales (Britain is in turn part of the United Kingdom which also includes Northern Ireland).

With its kilts and tartans, bagpipes and whisky, Scotland has a distinctive, if romanticised, culture.

There has also been darker history of poverty, violence and ill health, notably in the largest city Glasgow, once an engine of the British Empire.

Scotland already has many of the trappings of an independent nation such as its own flag, sports teams, and a history of achievements in science and literature.

Britain's current government, a coalition between the Conservative party and the Liberal Democrat party, is opposed to Scottish independence as is the opposition Labour party.

Britain is stronger as a union, they argue, and an independent Scotland might struggle on Europe's fringes.

The SNP's Salmond, speaking in front of a giant screen showing a cloud-flecked blue sky, had no such doubts.

He said his aim was to get one million Scots to sign the ``Yes Declaration''before the referendum.

Under a devolved system of government, the Scottish parliament created in 1999 controls health, education and prisons while the British government in London controls everything else including foreign policy and defence.

``If the parliament can run education, why can't we run the economy? And if we can protect our old people why can't we protect ourselves without the obscenity of nuclear weapons?" Salmond told the audience.

The launch event drew on rousing patriotic music and a film showing the country's stunning Highland landscapes, fishermen, universities, and, inevitably, leaping kilt-clad dancers.

It also relied on celebrity endorsement.

A message of support was read out from actor Sean Connery, an Edinburgh milkman before he found fame as secret agent James Bond.

Hollywood actor Brian Cox called Scotland's current predicament ``centralised servitude'' and related how like many Scots, he had become disenchanted by previous Labour governments led by former prime ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

``The parliament at Westminster can see no further then the end of its own bridge,''he said.

Scotland's national poet Liz Lochhead read out a poem focused on English-Scottish rivalry in the 16th Century.

Opinion polls show that around 40 per cent of Scottish people are sympathetic to independence, with around 10 per cent undecided and the remaining 50 per cent opposed.

South of the border in England, polls show people are largely apathetic.

Author Harry Reid said the referendum's success may hinge on whether the Labour party, traditionally popular in Scotland, can revive its fortunes.

Scotland is more inclined to vote for the left, whereas English voters have voted in much larger numbers for the right, underscoring a political fault line between north and south.

Although the Conservative party won more votes than any other party at the last British general election in 2010 it won only one parliamentary seat in Scotland.

One joke doing the rounds since two Chinese pandas took up residence in Edinburgh Zoo notes that there are now more pandas in Scotland than Conservative MPs.

Scotland's preference for a more centre-left brand of politics which favours egalitarianism over the free market is reflected in education policy.

In England, students have to pay large tuition fees to attend university, whereas in Scotland such education remains free for Scots.

Reid said disenchanted Labour voters who switched to the SNP in disgust at Labour's support for U.S. foreign policy in Iraq and Afghanistan may yet return to the fold.

If they do, Scotland's dreams of independence could evaporate, he said.

``If we're going to get a decent Labour government back in 2015 people might wonder whether they really need independence."

In spite of its relatively small population of just over five million, compared to England's population of just over 52 million, there are also fears that a 'yes' vote would diminish Britain's voice on the world stage.(Reuters/NAN)

UK's Cameron Defends Role In Murdoch Takeover Deal

Leadership Editors — Sat, 26 May 2012 16:49:27 +0000

British Prime Minister David Cameron rejected calls to fire his Culture Minister on Friday.

The call came after a public inquiry heard how the minister had ignored warnings from workers not to lend his support to a major Rupert Murdoch takeover deal.

Appearing on a morning television show more commonly known for light-hearted issues, Cameron was tackled on his judgment in appointing a minister to rule on News Corp's bid for BSkyB who he already knew supported the deal.

The ultimately aborted takeover has become a key issue in the long-running controversy in Britain over whether Murdoch and his newspaper executives have undue influence, with the government accused by critics of trying to bend the rules to steer the deal through.

The minister in question, Jeremy Hunt, previously had sent a memo to Cameron detailing his view that the takeover would be good for Britain.

A month later Cameron put Hunt in charge of deciding whether to approve the deal.

Evidence revealed at a public inquiry has since shown that an adviser to Hunt built up a close relationship with a lobbyist at Murdoch's company during the regulatory process, providing highly sensitive details on a regular basis as Hunt worked with regulators to approve the deal.

A senior civil servant at Hunt's department told the inquiry on Friday that he had warned the minister that the takeover was a ``boiling hot potato''which should be treated very carefully, with no informal links forged with News Corp.

``I don't regret giving the job to Jeremy Hunt,''Cameron said on television.

``The crucial point, the really crucial point, is did Jeremy Hunt carry out his role properly with respect to BSkyB and I believe that he did.''

Critics say Cameron assiduously courted figures at Murdoch's company and particularly its British newspaper arm News International as part of his drive to become Prime Minister.

He has since been embarrassed by a series of revelations shedding light on the close ties, including the details of weekend gatherings with Murdoch family members and executives at their respective country homes.

``Some people are saying there was some great conspiracy between me and Rupert Murdoch to do some big deal to back them in return for support,''Cameron said.

"Rupert Murdoch has said that's not true, James Murdoch has said that's not true, I have said that's not true. There was no great conspiracy.''

Tony Blair, a former British prime minister criticised for his close ties to Murdoch when in office, will appear before the Leveson inquiry into press standards on Monday.

Murdoch eventually had to ditch the planned takeover amid public outcry over phone-hacking by journalists at his Sunday tabloid, the News of the World.

But the impression that the government sought to steer the deal through on behalf of Murdoch poses problems for Cameron.

The adviser to Hunt, 30-year-old Adam Smith, appeared at the Leveson inquiry for a second day on Friday to give evidence, saying that Hunt and his office had known about his contacts with News Corp throughout the process.

Smith resigned in April after the evidence came to light.

He initially had been reassured by Hunt that he would not have to go because he had just ``been doing his job'', but the minister changed his mind hours later after discussing the issue with other senior workers.

``The perception had been created that something untoward had gone on,''he said.

Critics including the opposition Labour party have called for Hunt to quit, accusing him of breaking the rules and then blaming his aide Smith to protect his own career.

Hunt will appear before the inquiry next Thursday.

Meanwhile police investigating allegations of phone-hacking and illegal payments to public officials by journalists arrested a 37-year-old woman on Friday on suspicion of bribery and corruption offences.

News International confirmed the woman was a current employee but did not name her or say for which publication she worked.(Reuters/NAN)

Ban Commends Egyptian Presidential Election Process

Leadership Editors — Sat, 26 May 2012 16:43:11 +0000

The UN Secretary-General, Mr Ban Ki-moon, on Friday commended the Egyptian authorities for their organisation of the country’s presidential elections and the participation of the people.

Ban commendation is contained in a statement by his spokesperson Martin Nesirky at the UN Headquarters in New York.

``The Secretary-General has been following with interest Egypt’s presidential election process.

``These historic elections, in which Egyptians will freely choose their President from amongst numerous candidates, are an important milestone in Egypt’s democratic transition,'' the statement said.

It stated that in addition to his praise for the poll’s organisation and the public’s participation, Ban also welcomed initial reports of a strong turn-out of women voters.

``He also notes the calm and positive atmosphere in which the voting took place and looks forward to credible and peaceful conclusion of this process,’’ the statement added.

This is the first round of voting for a new president, the first since long-standing leader Hosni Mubarak was toppled by popular protests in January last year.

A runoff second-round is expected to be held on June 16 and June 17 , and the victor expected to be announced on June 21. (NAN)

French Left Ahead In Parliament Vote - Poll

Leadership Editors — Sat, 26 May 2012 16:38:11 +0000

The French left will comfortably beat the conservative UMP party in next month's parliamentary election, a poll showed on Friday.

The development is coming as rivalries triggered by Nicolas Sarkozy's defeat in the race for the presidency risk splitting the right-wing vote.

President Francois Hollande's Socialists and other left-wing partner parties could together win 44 per cent of the vote in the June 10 first round of the election, compared with just over a third for the UMP.

The left aims to build on its momentum after voters swept Hollande to victory on May 6, bringing the Socialists back to government after a decade in opposition.

The size of Hollande's majority in the new parliament will dictate how easy it will be for policymaking.

Some investors are concerned that he could be forced to the left to placate hard left or ecologist lawmakers on whom his government might be dependent if the right manages to do better than expected.

Pollsters Opinionway found that the Socialists would take 32 per cent in the first round of the election for the National Assembly while allied Greens would get 4 per cent and the Left Front 8 per cent.

Sarkozy's defeat leaves the UMP limping into the election, especially with the far-right National Front (FN) looking to scoop up voters after a strong showing in the first round of the presidential election in April.

According to the Opinionway poll, the UMP would garner 31 per cent of the vote with Marine Le Pen's FN tallying 16 per cent.

While this would give the right biggest proportion of the vote, the UMP has ruled out any alliance with the FN even though polls have shown most of its voters are open to such a deal.

Sarkozy's prime minister, Francois Fillon, now replaced by an interim Socialist prime minister in place at least until the parliamentary election, stirred hostilities within his own party on Wednesday when he said the UMP had ``no natural leader''.

His comments, undermining UMP boss Jean-Francois Cope, could be the first shots in a battle to be the next conservative presidential candidate.

If candidates poll more than 12.5 per cent in the first round, they move on to the June 17 runoff. If candidates from the National Front, Left and UMP all qualify, the ensuing three-way contest would be won with a simple majority.

The survey was based on interviews with 1,836 adults carried out between May 23 to 25.(Reuters/NAN)

Ikorodu Residents Urge LASG To Curb Crime Rate

Leadership Editors — Sat, 26 May 2012 16:32:39 +0000

Some residents of Ikorodu in Lagos on Saturday called on the Lagos State Government to check the increasing crime rate in the community.

Some of the residents told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that they were being robbed in daylight, particularly around the roundabout in the town.

Mr Babajide Samuel, a student, told NAN that the criminals usually monitored their victims and would seize any opportunity to rob them.

“Recently, I went to the bank to cash a cheque for my school fees and the money I withdrew was to be deposited in another bank, just about 100 metres away.

“On my way to the next bank, someone bumped into me and I apologised to him because he started abusing me in spite the fact that he was at fault.

“As I moved from that point, a woman just said, ‘foolish boy, they just removed your money’. Immediately, I checked my pocket and discovered that my jean was torn and the N52, 000 I withdrew was missing.”

Mrs Victoria Akinola, a medical practitioner, said that she was shocked by the audacity and smartness of the thieves that robbed her.

“I was held in traffic at Benson Bus stop in Ikorodu, suddenly two men tapped the glass of my car and ordered me to wind down.

“I obeyed them because they had shown me the pistol hidden under their shirts. I was told to cooperate by bringing out the money I just collected from the bank.

“Fortunately, I had some money in the dashboard of my car, which I gave to them and they greeted me, shouting ‘mama rere’ meaning `good woman` so that people around will not suspect them,” she said.

Akinola urged the government to come to the rescue of the residents by sending plain clothe security officials who could unmask the thieves.

Mr Sunday Ayinla, an artisan, said that the thieves took advantage of busy and crowded areas within the town to carry out their activities.

“My experience was even funny. I had my phone in my pocket with an earpiece plugged in because I was listening to music and it was removed expertly without my awareness.

``I noticed that the music had stopped and was about checking the reason when I noticed that the phone was missing and just the earpiece was in my ears.”

Mr kazeem Ajibade, an engineer, suggested that security operatives in Ikorodu should be more vigilant for them to apprehend the robbers.

He urged the state government to create more employment opportunities so as to reduce the crime rate. (NAN)

Misuse Of Facebook Is Affecting Children Negatively - Parents

Leadership Editors — Sat, 26 May 2012 16:19:44 +0000

Some parents in Lagos have decried the growing abuse of the social network, Facebook.

They said that the medium was promoting immoral acts among the youths.

Facebook is a social network on the internet that connects individuals.

A cross section of parents interviewed by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Saturday, said that that the youths had neglected the positive aspects of the network.

Mrs Gladys Ohanu, the Principal of Young Covenant Group of Schools, said that the new development was sad as almost “every youth is on the Facebook”.

She said that the original intention of the site was commendable, but expressed disappointment that that the youths were abusing it.

Ohanu said that it was shocking that even under aged secondary school students were also involved in the menace.

She said that many minors were using it as an avenue to enter into sexual relationship.

Ohanu advised parents and guardians to adopt measures to guide their children and wards in the right direction.

Mr Isaac Nvene, a Lagos-based lawyer, said that another dimension to the social menace of the Facebook was pinging on BlackBerry phones.

He said that even children between the ages of 12 and 15, who were considered minors by law, were now boasting of having the opposite sex as their “BB mates”.

Nvene said that youths now chat recklessly on the network, even while walking on roads as if they were not well brought up.

“You see them pinging on the streets, in commercial buses, on the roads and most surprisingly inside the church,” he said.

He said that the youths were bound to be influenced by contacts they established through Facebook and other social networks.

Mr Bright Gbolahan, another lawyer, said that many were using the Facebook for immoral acts.

He cited a case in court that emanated from a connection through the Facebook.

Gbolahan said that the complainant alleged that he came in contact with a friend on Facebook who invited him over to his house.

He said that the complainant said on reaching the house it was discovered that the person in question was a homosexual who wanted to lure him into the act.

Gbolahan said that Facebook should be for only adults, but not youths who invited strangers they had never met.

“Most of the people they meet on the site are strangers and there is nothing educating or inspirational that they learn from the site,” he said.

He advised the youths against using thce site for immoral acts like pornography. (NAN)

AEPB Vows To Punish Persons Living In Unclean Environment

Leadership Editors — Sat, 26 May 2012 14:11:49 +0000

The Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) has cautioned residents of the FCT against unclean environment, saying that stringent punishment awaits defaulters.

Mrs Alice Kamalu, the Chief Environmental Health Officer, AEPB, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday.

Kamalu said an improved hygienic culture was crucial to sustainable clean environment and healthy living.

She expressed concern about residents who undermined the board’s efforts at sustaining clean environment, saying that they were vulnerable to diseases.

``So the message I have for Abuja residents is that they should try as much as they can to clean their environment, cut the overgrown grasses, remove the cobwebs and clear their drainages.

``All these things breed mosquitoes, and when you clean your environment, mosquitoes will not see a place to breed.’’

According to her, people will not be troubled with expending money to treat diseases transmitted by mosquitoes if they keep clean environments.

Kamalu said that AEPB detected junks, overgrown grass and mini markets during the house-to-house inspection in the Police and Fire service staff quarters located in Area 10.

She said that a notice had been served on the affected persons to remove the nuisance within 72 hours.

``They will face the mobile court if they fail to comply with the directive,’’ Kamalu insisted.

She pointed out that AEPB would intensify its awareness campaign to ensure that people understood the benefits of keeping clean environment.

Kamalu also urged the residents to cooperate with health officers in their role towards ensuring clean and healthy environment and not to be hostile to them.

NAN recalls that the monthly environmental sanitation exercise was replaced with House-to-House inspection by the AEPB. (NAN)

FRSC Begs Parents To Discourage Under-Aged Driving

Leadership Editors — Sat, 26 May 2012 14:03:52 +0000

The Lagos State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Mr Nseobong Akpabio, says effective participation of parents in road safety campaigns will reduce accidents by 50 per cent.

Akpabio, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Saturday, that parents should be determined to be involved in the campaigns.

``Our campaign should involve parents so much for us to achieve our goal of 50 per cent reduction in road crashes every quarter.

``Mothers should take it as a duty to talk to their family members to be safety conscious on the roads.

``If a mother does not talk to her family members to drive responsibly on the road, it would increase road accidents,’’ Akpabio told NAN.

Akpabio urged parents to discourage their under-aged children from driving as a strategy to boost road safety.

The sector commander regretted that some parents secured driver’s licenses for their children under 18 years.

He advised such parents to desist from the act in the interest of the society.

Akpabio said that reducing road accidents by 50 per cent quarterly would involve effective participation of all stakeholders in road safety campaigns. (NAN)

Poverty Alleviation: Zaria LG Empowers 1,300 People

Leadership Editors — Sat, 26 May 2012 13:59:28 +0000

Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Saturday disbursed N13 million to 1,300 people to reduce poverty in the area.

The Council’s Interim Management Committee Chairman, Alhaji Umar Rabagaddama, said this in an interview with newsmen shortly after inaugurating the exercise in Zaria.

He said the exercise was to set a pace for the beneficiaries to at least start something that would make them to become self-reliant.

Rabagaddama said the exercise, which was initiated by the State Governor, Mr Patrick Yakowa, was designed to give everybody a sense of belonging.

Speaking on politics, the chairman called on the people of the area to always be determined to elect credible candidates who would provide quality representation/leadership in all elective positions.

Similarly, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Transport, Alhaji Suneiman Yahaya-Richifa, urged beneficiaries from Soba Local Government Area to use their money wisely.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Zaria on Saturday that the disbursement scheme was meant to cushion the effect of poverty among the people.

The commissioner assured that 1, 300 beneficiaries of the N13 million were selected from the eleven wards of the local government area.

He said the disbursement committee in the area had settled four wards and hoped to conclude the exercise in the next two days. (NAN)

Former Nigerian Olympic Athlete In Prison For Murdering S/African Woman

Leadership Editors — Sat, 26 May 2012 13:42:06 +0000

Ambrose Monye, Nigeria’s former Olympic athlete who is presently being held in Pretoria for murdering a young Pretoria woman, Miss Chanelle Henning, late last year has been remanded in Pretoria prison by a Magistrate court in the region.

For not being able to pay a lawyer that would represent him in the court, the former athlete who appeared before a Pretoria Magistrate court presided over by Justice Maryke de la Rey last Thursday, was asked to be remanded pending the time that the hearing will properly commence in November.

The Presiding Magistrate told the accused person on Thursday that he should ensure he makes concrete arrangements for his legal representation before the next hearing of the case which will take place at a Pretoria High Court.

Monye’s former lawyer, Mr. Peter Jay was not present in the court to receive the notice of the case taken place at a Pretoria High Court in November as a result of the inability of the accused person to pay the lawyer for his representation.

However, the accused person was handed the notice by the Magistrate court before being taken to the prison.

In his earlier response, the former Nigeria’s Olympic athlete begged the Magistrate court to grant him time to fix his financial problems and get his former lawyers back for his representation.

In his submission, Prosecutor Andrea Johnson told the court on Thursday that she had communicated with the Monye’s lawyers and they were not ready to represent him again because he owes them a substantial amount of money.

“It is very clear that you want laywer Peter Jay to represent you in the trial. It is also clear Mr Jay has no plans of representing you in the trial” Magistrate Maryke de la Rey told Monye.

“Make concrete arrangements for yourself before this matter takes off. Speak to whoever you want to represent you but, avoid a situation where you will be forced to represent yourself in the High Court," the Magistrate added.

Meanwhile, another lawyer, Advocate Jeff Ledwaba told the court that he would take up Monye’s representation for his bail application, stressing that he would not be involved in any other matters apart from the bail application.

The hearing of the bail application was also fixed for June 15 in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court.

The former Nigeria’s athlete was arrested for killing a young Pretoria woman, Chanelle Henning in November last year.

He faces charges of murder, conspiracy to murder and illegal possession of a firearm andwill appear before a Pretoria high court in November, 2012.