President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday led dignitaries to attend a special Juma’at service in commemoration of the nation’s 57th Independence Anniversary.
The service was held inside a mosque near the President’s office at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Buhari was joined at the prayer session by the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki; and former Vice-President Namadi Sambo among others.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Abubakar Sadique; Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris; and Comptroller-General of Customs, Hameed Ali, also attended the service.
Others in attendance were the Minister of the Interior, Abdurahman Danbazzau; Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu; Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu and some other senior presidency officials
Saraki later told State House correspondents that the nation had achieved a lot in the 57 years of its independence.
He urged Nigerians to continue to pray for the country.
“A lot of people would say what are we congratulating ourselves about, we have achieved a lot. We have been able to maintain our peace despite our diversity.”
The Federal Government yesterday, disclosed that it has collected Deoxyribonucleic Acid, DNA, profile of arrested Boko Haram insurgents in an attempt to deal with the dissidents.
Meanwhile, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has commissioned first DNA Forensic Centre in West Africa, stressing that the centre would help resolve crimes, paternity and other issues through modern technology.
Equipment in the new Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre at Lagos Island.
Chief of Defence Staff, Major-General Abayomi Olonishakin, while addressing congregation at the commissioning ceremony yesterday, which was also attended by Consul General of United States Embassy in Lagos, Mr. John Bray, hinted that the Abuja started a DNA project 2008.
Olonishakin, who was represented by Rear Admiral Lawan Adams, assured that the military would partner Lagos state government to ensure that the facility continuously provides the required service.
He said: “The centre is a major milestone for Nigeria because centres like this are used globally to fight insurgency and other crimes.
“The Defence Headquarters started its DNA centre since 2008. And incidentally, the agency that completed Lagos centre is the one we are partnering,” he added.
In order to ensure that the centre, when completed would have materials to work on, Olonishakin said: “Presently, we have collected samples of all military personnel and high profile insurgents for analysis.”
Earlier, Ambode said that completion and handing over of the centre was a significant milestone and a symbolic manifestation of his administration’s policies in reforming the justice sector and in line with his vision to make the State safe for residents and investors.
The governor added that the DNA Centre was another move by the government to stay ahead of criminals through scientific investigations.
Giving details of the DNA Centre, he noted that the facility has capacity to provide the Police, Prosecutors, Defence Attorneys and Private citizens with crime scene processing; serological screening for blood and semen; DNA analysis of bone, teeth and hair; maternal and paternal relationship DNA analysis; expert witness and case handling services; paternal and maternal ancestry DNA analysis; cold case file review and mass disaster human identification.
Ambode disclosed that the plans have been concluded to embark on second stage of building, that is, development of Toxicology; Trace Evidence and Controlled Substance Analysis; Fingerprint and Latent prints; Firearms, Ballistics and Tool Marks; Digital Forensics; and Questioned Documents Examination.
According to him, development of these other forensic sections at the facility would complement the DNA forensic section and enhance the level of services offered in the country.
He lamented that before development of the centre, most DNA analysis were performed outside Nigeria, a situation that caused longer turn-around times and an overall higher cost of bringing closure to a case.
“I am therefore convinced that the establishment of the Lagos DNA & Forensic Centre will improve the speed and quality of evidence collected to assist our Courts in the quick dispensation of justice. This centre is a definite boost for our administration’s Justice Sector reform programme. It shows that our covenant with Lagosians to create a safe and secure State is being kept,” Ambode added.
In his welcome address, the State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Adeniji Kazeem said the centre would assist the State to have a reliable DNA database that would enable investigators and law enforcement officers identify crime patterns and suspects, and also help exonerate or convict suspects.
On his part, the Consul General of United States Embassy in Lagos, John Bray, commended the state government for successfully completing the building that would enhance justice and progress.
Congo-Brazzaville's President's daughter, Claudia Sassou Nguesso was recently involved in a blackmail scandal and when she refused to oblige her blackmailer, he released her sex tape.
Claudia, 50, is married to a lawyer but she kept a side-dude. Her boyfriend recorded a video of them having sex, but he made sure his face did not show, then he threatened to release it if she does not give him the sum of $50,000 US dollars. When Claudia refused, the boyfriend went on to share the sex tape online and as expected, it has gone viral
.Claudia Sassou Nguesso is the Communications adviser to her father, Denis Sassou Nguesso. In June this year, she was indicted on corruption charges in France over the purchase of a mansion valued at $ 3.4million in the swanky Paris Suburb of Neuilly Sur Seine just North of the Ritzy 16th arrondissement, according to a judicial source.
The sex tape is the latest scandal trailing Claudia and it's extremely graphic. The clip released online lasted 58 seconds and shows the man fondling her boobs before he finally discharged in her.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confirmed the arrest of two key officials of the Ekiti State Government for alleged misuse of bailout funds.
In a statement on Thursday evening, spokesman of the commission, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, identified the officials as the Commissioner for Finance and the Accountant General of the state.
Uwujaren said they were picked up by EFCC operatives “following their refusal to honour previous invitations for interrogation in relation to pending investigation on the misuse of bailout funds by the Gov. Ayodele Fayose administration”.
The arrest came on the day that Gov. Fayose formally declared his intention to run for the President in 2019 election.
Theo Walcott scored twice as a much-changed Arsenal beat Bate Borisov in the Europa League to make it two wins from two in Group H.
Jack Wilshere was excellent and set up a Walcott chance which hit the post before assisting the forward’s close-range opener.
Bate keeper Denis Scherbitski then inexplicably passed the ball straight to Walcott to slot home a second.
Rob Holding scored his first Arsenal goal, turning home Per Mertesacker’s flick-on from Walcott’s corner to seemingly put the game past Bate after 25 minutes.
But Mirko Ivanic pulled one back for the Belarusians after one of their few real attacks in the first half with an excellent 10-yard header from Aleksey Rios’ cross.
Arsenal restored their three-goal advantage after the break as Olivier Giroud scored his 100th Arsenal goal from the spot after a soft penalty award against Vitali Gayduchik, who did not appear to make much contact with Shkodran Mustafi.
Bate did pull another back when Mikhail Gordeychuk slammed home from close range after David Ospina parried Ivanic’s header.
And Arsenal – who had looked comfortable up to that point – were hanging on at times in the end. Aleksandr Volodko could have set up an anxious finale but he fired a shot wide from inside the box.
The Gunners are top of Group H on six points with Red Star Belgrade second on four points after they beat Cologne, who have lost both matches, 1-0 thanks to Richmond Boakye’s goal.
Nigerian rap artiste/Producer Abdul Rasheed Bello popularly known as JJC Skillz and husband to talented actress Funke Akindele is celebrating his birthday.
The Bello’s shared these lovely family photos alongside JJC’s three kids as he turns 40 today.
The three kids: 20-year-old daughter, Tamira, his first son who is 17 and his last son who is 12 are from 3 different women.
The kids who live outside the country arrived Lagos, Nigeria yesterday for holiday.
In some parts of the world, Africa in particular, Nigerian movies reign supreme, and the actors are semi-gods. With their repertoire of popular movies, they have undoubtedly mended cracks in the union of some viewers, but then, many of their own marriages have been characterised by heartbreaks, separations and divorces.
They have made their way into the hearts of millions of people, who dream to be like them. But either at home or abroad, there is one thing none of their fans will pray for —failed marriages and heartbreaks.
This development seems to be more rampant among the movie stars. While some of them have remained eligible spinsters/bachelors, those that managed to walk down the aisle barely sustain the momentum. The list of movie stars with failed marriages is endless, and with the recent decision of actress Laide Bakare to walk out of her marriage to Mr. Okunfulire, the last has not been heard.
Laide Bakare, after about three years of denying that there are cracks in her matrimonial home, has eventually walked out of her marriage. In the early hours of 3 May, she officially announced through her publicist, Folorunsho Hamsat, that her marriage has hit the rocks.
Laide Bakare: Opted out of her marriage
The official statement from her publicist reads thus: “We would like to announce to the general public on behalf of Nollywood star actress, Laide Bakare, that she has officially opted out of her relationship with Mr. Okunfulire, her former husband.
“While it lasted, the actress showed the utmost level of maturity, in spite of the ‘glaring injustice’ from her former husband. Laide has endured the marriage with Mr. Okunfulire for whom she displayed total affection. But things fell apart when she discovered that she was indeed married to a man with a legally married wife and two children not a single man she thought he was as told her by Mr. Okunfulire when the relationship started.
“But, being a celebrity who has become a model to young persons in the society, coupled with the need to exercise decorum, she has kept fate with the marriage until lately when she could no longer continue and then called it quits. Her former union with Mr. Okunfulire produced a beautiful child, Similoluwa who is nicknamed Chelsea.”
The Yoruba actress also announced that she has moved on by settling down with another man, Mr. Tunde Oriowo. She claimed that her relationship with the latter began late last year, a development that has been criticised.
Barely a week after this announcement, Mr. Okunfulire, who is based abroad, opened a can of worms in an interview with a soft-sell magazine. He claimed that Laide is still his wife, though there have been cracks in their marriage because “she sleeps around.” Okunfulire added that he only learnt of his wife’s statement on the purported breakup on social media.
Laide Bakare’s sordid tale is just one of the numerous heartbreaks and marriage break-up scandals in the movie industry.
They also blamed the media. The media, according to actress Benita Nzeribe, has broken many celebrity relationships with their sensational gossips. “No mother would read such scandalous stories and still allow her son to marry such lady. The media is not helping matters. The most painful aspect of it is that most of the things they write about us are not true.”
But Asiwaju Benson Akindeju, the producer of television dramas –Family Ties, Face-2-Face and Nowhere To Be Found, opined that the female entertainers, actresses in particular, should work more on their personality, rather than blame the society or media for their inability to get married.
Akindeju said the problem is more complex than what most people can imagine. “I think the problem starts with their inability to manage stardom. They could be humble at the initial stage of their career, but the moment fame comes, they tend to lose everything, forgetting that no matter the situation, an African man would always want to command respect from his wife.”
He added that most of them are so arrogant that they can’t even listen to simple corrections on set. “I have had cause to walk some of them off my set for insubordination. Most of them cannot manage stardom and it is a big problem. They always forget that nothing lasts for ever. If you are the best actress today, someone must surely take the baton from you tomorrow. So whatever you manage to achieve within your active reign is what you will live to remember. No matter her fame or achievements, a woman without a husband cannot be regarded as a successful person.”
Having played roles where they teach viewers many lessons about marriage and relationships, one would simply imagine that these actresses have one of the best homes or relationships, but the reverse is obviously the case.
The list of Nollywood actresses facing marital challenges seems to be endless. While some have tasted broken marriages, others have continued over the years to be eligible spinsters, and it has become an issue of growing concern. Many of the marriages break up on grounds of infidelity and battery.
Chika Ike: Lost her marriage to infidelity and assault
Chika Ike, one of the most beautiful Nigerian actresses, got married to Tony Eberiri in 2006, but a few years later, the union hit the rocks following allegations ranging from infidelity to assault. The actress, who filed for divorce, said in an interview: “I have a lot of friends who would have left their marriages but because of the African society, their in-laws, what people will say or other factors, they stay. We’ve heard a lot of deaths caused by bad marriages and before the death, there would have been signs, things would have been happening leading up to that. I think it has to do with age and many other things like compatibility and not being true to yourself in the marriage. Everybody has a limit. There are some things in marriage that you might not be able to stand. Some people’s limit might not be my limit. My limit might be somebody’s starting point.”
One of the most shocking was that of Fathia and Saheed Balogun. The much celebrated union hit the rocks over multiple allegations of infidelity, and efforts by influential personalities in the country to settle their differences fell on deaf ears.
Eucharia Anunobi: Quited over constant battery
Actress Eucharia Anunobi, who is now a pastor, called it quits with Charles Ekwu, the father of her son, Joshua, a few years after they got married. Eucharia cited constant battery by Charles as the reason she pulled out of the union. But it was actually Charles that first walked out of the relationship. He actually abandoned the actress and her son.
At the tender age of 15, Shan George got married and after bearing two kids, she walked out of the marriage at 21, alleging that her husband couldn’t send her to school but rather turned her into a punching bag. After she graduated from the University of Lagos at the age of 29, she has tried to get married on two occasions but all to no avail.
Clarion Chukwurah is no doubt one of the most talented actresses in Nigeria. She had been married twice; first to the brother of the late Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola and later to the Oduneyes, but at the moment, she is a single mother.
Popular actress, Ayo Adesanya moved out of her matrimonial home over alleged battery by her hubby, Goriola Hassan, who later blamed Ayo’s unfaithfulness for his actions. The hitherto rosy relationship hit the rocks amid controversy.
Frequent crisis, irreconcilable differences and incompatibility wrecked the four-year old marriage of actress Foluke Daramola to ex-hubby, Mr. Adebowale, though she is now married to Kayode Salako.
Fathia
Ibinabo Fibresima, the National President of the Actors’ Guild of Nigeria, AGN, is among female entertainers with failed marriages. The Okrika, Rivers State-born actress has experienced two failed marriages that produced two children.
Monalisa
Actress Monalisa Chinda accused her ex-husband, Dejo Richards, of battery and she moved out of her matrimonial home. The union was blessed with a daughter. The list of the industry’s personalities with failed marriages include Bimbo Oshin, Doris Simeon, Kate Henshaw, Moji Olaiya, Fred Aseroma, Emem Isong and Peace Anyiam Osigwe to mention a few.
Sultry actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde is one of the few lucky actresses that have enjoyed a good marital life. In an interview, she identified the inability of her colleagues to “draw the lines between their profession and family” as the reason behind many failed marriages.
According to Omotola, an average African man will not compromise the level of respect he gets from his spouse, and as a result, the woman, irrespective of her status or class, must give due respect and time to her family.
The multiple award-winning actress cited that for instance, “when you see me outside, I’m Omo Sexy, the movie star. But at home, I’m the humble and obedient wife and mother. The moment you fail to realise this, there is likely to be a problem in your relationship.”
Mercy Johnson-Okojie has revealed why she is extremely in love and crazy about her husband.
According to the Nollywood actress , it is because her husband is a saint and the closest thing after God’s existence.
Mercy told Nigerian Tribune in a new interview when asked what drew her to her husband:
‘My husband is a saint. Everything. My husband is not someone you interact with, with your body. He is someone you commune with, with your soul. You just love his soul.
He is everything bottled in one person. I don’t know how to explain him. My husband is the closest thing after God’s existence. I am not saying he is perfect, but l love that man too much [Sings]. Sometimes I can’t explain him.
I used to have mentors, but for some time now it has been my husband. He has the best things to say about everything. I am always awed by the way he reasons.
He has certain perception of life that intrigues me. For like four years now, he has been my mentor. He makes me see things right. And we all need a person who makes us see the best in everything. So, yea, my husband is my mentor.
How is your relationship with Tonto Dikeh?
She’s my girl. She is like a sister to me. We outgrow things. We both have kids and are raising them.
You are a born-again. Does your faith influence role interpretation?
Yes, I am a born-again Christian. I wouldn’t say it influences my role because as a Christian you are a bridge maker. People should look at you and tell the difference.
In filming, I don’t like to embarrass myself, I don’t like to embarrass my husband.
Ex-husband to Tonto Dikeh Olakunle Churchill has caused a lot of controversy on social media lately due to unconfirmed reports that he is in a weird love triangle with actress, Rosaline Meurer and former Big Brother Naija housemate, Tboss.
LIB ran into Olakunle Churchill at the airport in Lagos and quickly cornered him for a brief chat.
When asked about the rumors making rounds, a visibly upset Churchill said:
‘Listen to me. I’m a very busy man and honestly I don’t have time for social media banter and gists. I don’t know where these stories come from and it’s been lingering for a long time, any lady that works with me automatically goes online as someone I’m dating and it’s no longer funny.
I don’t know where these stories emerge from but they are not true. At the moment, I am a single man and for all you care I can hangout with 100 women if I want it’s no one’s business’. Then he went on to say Rose is an actress, someone he’s known since childhood and was never his personal assistant. In his words,
‘Like I said. Its nobody’s business. Let me just shut this thing down once and for all. Rose is family to me, I’ve known her since childhood before she started working with the foundation and for the last time, she didn’t break my home.
She’s an actress, not my personal assistant as many people believe and in the real sense, a company cannot have an actress as a ‘P.A’. Anything you read online that doesn’t come from me is not true, there’s too many fake news sponsored against me by jobless people.
My marriage crashed because of personal issues that we could resolve and I tried to fix it several times because of my son but it didn’t work out.
As for Tboss, she was present as many other celebrity at the Fire service event we did last month in Abuja so how does this translate to dating any of them. I don’t think I owe any one any explanation, when and if I am ready to get married again, my family will know not the media. I will choose to keep my life private like it used to be. When asked about the reported domestic violence allegations against him and how often he sees his son:
‘I don’t know what you are talking about. because all that is not true, I was not even in the country when she moved out of my house with my child without my consent and she left with all her things to an unknown destination. I repeat I have never raised my hand on any woman before and I will never do it no matter what happens.
only a weak man would hit a woman, i’ll rather walk away at that moment. And since then I’ve tried to see my son but I’ve been taking it slow because I don’t want any false claims’ he said.
Renowned media practitioner,Tunde Fagbenle recently hosted friends and the public to a reading from his most recent publication, And That’s Saying It the Way It Isat the Quintessence Gallery in Ikoyi.The third in a series that includes the titles, Nigeria: This Is My Country, Damn It! and Nigeria: A Thousand Laughs,A Thousand Cries, the book is a collection of the author’s columns in Nigerian newspapers between 2010 and 2016.
Fondly called TF by his friends and associates, Tunde Fagbenle was born on October 4, 1947 in Zaria and raised in Minna, Niger State even though he is originally from Igbajo in Osun State. He was educated at Kiriji Memorial College, Igbajo where he thrived as an actor and a sportsman. After his secondary education, he proceeded to the University of London and later, Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.
The reading session was organised by JahmanAnikulapo, a culture curator and Ilemakin Soyinka, the Executive Director of the I-Represent International Documentary Film Festival, while it was moderated by the Executive Editor of The News Magazine and PM News, Kunle Ajibade. Friends such as Femi Esho, Chairman of Evergreen Music; Dotun Fagbenle, the Logunde of Igbajoland; veteran broadcaster, Dele Adetiba; thespian, TunjiSotimirin; health practitioner, Dr. Femi Olugbile and football icon, Segun Odegbami, were in attendance, to pay homage to the media practitioner.
The author’s son, Kunle kicked off the tributes by reading a letter he had written to thank his father when he was called to the Nigerian bar. He thanked his father for his relentless efforts to attend his call-to-bar ceremony and that his presence athad made the day extra-special.
Next was Dotun Fagbenle, the Logunde of Igbajoland, who described the author as a kind-hearted and open-minded man who had always handled responsibility from a young age. He reminisced about the author’s unconventional wedding to his wife at the Bar Beach and his influence and intervention at various points in his life, including when the author gave him an amount to pay his rent “when he thought his wife would be joining him in Lagos”.
Meanwhile, thespian Tunji Shotimirin, wondered why Mr Fagbenle embraced creative writing in spite of his talent for acting. The author replied that he was a shy man who preferred the anonymity of writing to speaking. He also mentioned that writing was a better form of self-expression unlike acting which involved role playing.
According to the Chairman of Evergreen Musical Company Limited, Femi Esho(who doubles as the author’s in-law, and whose son, Tokunbo, published the collection) his first encounter with the author occurred when the latter stumbled on a tryst involving Mr Esho and his younger sister, Bolanle. Regardless of the awkwardness of their first meeting, Mr Esho explained that both men have remained inseparable and have since “done some very bad things together”.
Also speaking at the event, advertising veteran Dele Adetiba, described Mr. Fagbenle as a writer who had found a way of presenting public discourse “in a way you would appreciate and relate to”.
Mr Fagbenle emphasised the importance of research and added that it had been made much easier by access to the Internet and social media. He concluded that only a lazy writer would neglect to use such channels. This was in response to a question by Ayotunde Olowofoyeku, a representative of Senator Iyiola Omisore, on how he was able to reproduce factual accounts of past events.
Before the evening of banter, readings, recollections and tributes was brought to a close by Ilemakin Soyinka, who thanked everyone for taking the time to celebrate Mr Fagbenle, the author sharedanecdotes about his experiences as a writer, political prisoner and activist as well as his dalliance with competitive politics. The following are excerpts from the narratives that form the thrust of his newest collection of articles.
On the pleasures and pains of writing his column over the years
It has been such a journey, and in between that, I must say that I have had the temptation to stop writing. While I wasn’t a staff writer, I was freelancing, alongside running my own business and getting on with my life. But writing, obviously, took on a life of its own. I had ventured into the media, running a magazine and even starting a newspaper in England,so I’ll call myself a media entrepreneur. However, taking up the pen and writing is what I consider a natural thing.
The pleasurable part is being recognised everywhere you go, getting pointed at, with people coming to you. It has its own dangers. For example, one piece I wrote about a great boy called Faruq, whom I met at the hospital. He was a lame boy whom I had promised that I would pay a visit. He was a secondary school student, but one of my ardent readers. I promised him that I was going to visit him because it was surprising that a secondary school boy in Nigeria read my column and was bold enough to approach me to say so.
I asked where he stayed, and he said Shomolu. But the sad part was that I kept procrastinating, because each time I wanted to go toShomolu, it was either I did not have enough money or I was in a hurry. Finally, my driver and I went to Shomolu. Unfortunately, we were told that Faruq had passed away. Many of my readers wondered how I could delay my visit to the little boy and were scathing in their reproach of my procrastination.
On his release from detention by the Abacha regime, and his constant presence wherever there was picketing and protest against the regime
Leadership had become like a game of musical chairs where the military and the elite kept passing the baton. That really ticked me off and I wondered how a country could turn into a ball in the hands of such people. It was quite clear that Abacha was going to remain in power if we didn’t kick him out.
I formed the Movement for Democracy and Human Rights which was part of the effort of NADECO abroad. When Professor [Bolaji] Akinyemi came to England, my group had a demonstration at Trafalgar Square which is near the Nigerian High Commission. I think John Major was Prime Minister then. The demonstration was quite impactful because we had members of parliament and also Ben Okri– an old friend of mine – at the rally. We had hundreds of people clamouring for democracy and a free Nigeria.I knew that the Nigerian High Commission was monitoring us as we marched all the way to Downing Street.
Months later I needed to return to Nigeria, and was strangely allowed into the country. I arrived and continued writing. When I was about to leave, I was at the airport, at the final immigration check point, my luggage had already gone on the plane, but I arrested by security operatives, detainedat the airport, and later taken to their office, stripped of my clothes and kept in solitary confinement in a basement. I was quite lucky because I had friends and some family connections and it wasn’t long before I was able to get a message across to my wife. My experience in solitary confinement provoked the constant protests against Abacha’s regime.
On his failed attempt to become a senatorand his campaign for ethical reorientation
It is necessary for all those interested in nation building to get involved at a practical level, and that was what contributed to my quest to run for political office as a senator in 2003.
The Nigerian Constitution did not accommodate independent candidature, which I would have really loved to explore. However, I joined Dr GaniFawehinmi’s National Conscience Party because it was as good as running on your own. There was no structure and you were responsible for your campaign. I went to every village in my senatorial district. My Yoruba became so clear and I even became fluent in the local dialect. I would get home and look at myself in the mirror and wonder if I was the one who did all that.
I gotto go round, and encountered 8 to 9 year olds who asked for bribes and I would go back to ask their parents if the heard their children demanding bribes. It was a great experience because you get to meet all sorts of people and get involved.
How that experience influenced his commitment to radical change
I thought deeply about what ailed society and I reached the conclusion that it was a fundamental problem with our values and maybe we should start inculcating the right values in the youth and our children over time. It’s not going to be a radical transformation, but until we begin to get our values right, we won’t develop as a nation.
There are various core values that can be shared amongst different ethnic groups. At my daughters’ school in the US, students would be expelled if they were caught doing two things – tardiness and lying. I think Americans have successfully reduced the totality of all values to those two bad things. If you think deeply, you can reduce the problem with our country to those two things: politicians keep us waiting for hours and show up without apologising.
A sense of time is essential, if we are to achieve our goals as a nation. Preaching the right values and encouraging the youth to practise them is a cause very close to my heart.
On how his childhood in Minna helped to nurture his cosmopolitan outlook
There’s no running away from one’s upbringing and associations particularly from childhood;that and also boarding school. The Nigeria I grew up in did not see one tribe above the other – Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa were considered equal. I have observed this trend amongst my peers, but I am not sure I can say the same for those who came after us. You can’t spend four years in boarding school and take lying lightly, with the kind of friendships we made in those days…
Nigeria has reached a sad point, now, where no matter how brilliant or successful you are, you will see friends or followers responding to friends about people from an ethnic group, thosewho unite to threaten members of another ethnic group or those who are putting one ethnic group above the other.
I know that being born in the North, growing up in the North and living amongst different people (in different countries) for most of my adult life has played a very big part in forming my outlook.
On his hitherto unrevealed efforts to contribute to Professor Chinua Achebe’s medical expenses…
Professor Achebe was not flown out immediately after his accident, everything was hushed and nobody knew where he was. MKOAbiola got wind of the campaign and called me to his house. Those were the type of things that got MKO concerned because he was such a kind-hearted human being.
He put some money in an envelope and instructed me to find out where he had been taken to and hand it over. I was able to locate his wife and I handed over the money to her. Such gestures were part of MKO’s contributions to humanity.
Tunde Fagbenle’s And That’s Saying It the Way It Is, is published by Laminated Calendars Limited
