Thursday 31 December 2015

Davido Child Abduction Scandal: What Really Happened – Dele Momodu

By Dele Momodu
In September 2015, I got a call from Dr Adedeji Adeleke, a long time family friend, telling me his son had fathered a baby girl with my cousin, Sophia Momodu. I rejoiced with him as any reasonable soul would do. He apologised that he had not called all along because he wasn’t sure if Sophie’s baby was going to turn out a fake one like that of two others who had turned up at his doorstep. But mercifully, according to Dr Adeleke, Sophie’s baby passed the DNA Test by over 98 percent and he was elated. I congratulated him again as a proud grandfather. He said he would like to meet me with Sophie since Sophie’s dad, Uncle Jibola Momodu, passed on years ago and Sophie mentioned me as her cousin.
I had known about Sophie’s baby through her first cousin Ruth Abraham and had called to congratulate her. I was happy when she sent me pictures of the baby and other romantic pictures with David Adeleke, aka Davido.
But I never contacted David’s dad deliberately so as not to create the impression of begging for marriage. Where we come from, it is the man who approaches the lady’s family to plead to be allowed to marry into the family.
Prior to this phone call from Dr Adeleke, Sophie had narrated to me how on the 11th July, 2015, she was tricked to Davido’s sister, Coco Adeleke’s house with her baby, Imade Aurora Adeleke. After getting to the house on Baderinwa Alabi Street, Lekki Phase I, Lagos, her baby was forcefully taken from her and she was thrown out of the premises with the threat that she would be decisively dealt with if she ever bothered to return there. There were armed policemen in the premises and to avoid what could have been a messy encounter, instinct prevailed on her to make her leave her breast suckling baby behind, with so much pain in her heart.
By daybreak on the next day, Sophie was again at Coco Adeleke’s house to take her baby, but she was prevented by armed policemen from gaining access into the house. She was again threatened and warned never to return for the child.

Despite the pain and trauma my cousin was made to undergo, I restrained myself from getting directly involved in the matter and appealed to her to stay calm and take it easy with the Adelekes.
But after the phone call from Dr Adeleke, precisely on September 10, 2015, I picked up Sophie and her mum and drove to Dr Adeleke’s home in Lekki, Lagos. All through this time, I had waited patiently to meet Dr Adeleke with questions probing for answers.
Dr Adeleke invited two of his close friends to the meeting namely His Majesty OBA ADEDOKUN ABOLARIN and Mr Wale Adeeyo. We went into lengthy discussions. His daughter Coco had brought in the little baby and both attended the meeting.
Dr Adeleke explained why it took some time to call me and I said I understood.
Dr Adeleke said the baby was discovered to have traces of marijuana in her during medical test and said he believed Sophie and David were smokers and he needed to protect the child from two irresponsible parents, as he described them. He told the gathering that the baby would be under temporary custody and observation. He directed that Sophie would come to his house every Sunday to see her baby. Our family agreed. He promised to pay Sophie a monthly upkeep. We thanked him for his kindness. He promised to buy her a car. We were grateful for his generosity. We had dinner with him and left. David was not present.
Sophie said she got the monthly upkeep but never got the car and that she prefers to have her baby back and the Adelekes can keep their money.
I called Dr Adeleke and he said I should allay her fears. I pleaded again for patience. I was shocked when Sophie called me desperately and said her daughter was being taken to Dubai by Coco. I immediately called Coco and she said she was taking the baby for intensive medicals and I wondered how she would pass through the airport without the consent of Sophie but she actually did and even sent me pictures from Dubai. I played it cool and encouraged Sophie to calm down.
Sophie became withdrawn and extremely saddened. The situation went from bad to worse. She and David became aggressive enemies. At a point, David sent messages to Sophie and using the ‘f’ word against me. His father was shocked and called him to apologise which he did and I accepted and even told him how much I love him.
The worst came when my wife came from London and went with Sophie to check on the baby at Coco’s house and they were literally walked out and told they were not welcome in her house. My wife called and I called Dr Adeleke who said they should go to his house and wait for him.
Their meeting did not go well because my wife asked when the baby would be returned to her mum and Dr Adeleke went into the same old story of marijuana abuse and Sophie said she was ready for a test which Dr Adeleke wasn’t interested in. Dr Adeleke explained why the car had not been bought and my wife told him the baby was the issue and not the car. Dr Adeleke didn’t like the sound of this but it was reaching a point that some truth needed to be told that a baby cannot be bought with money.
I flew to Nigeria on December 28, 2015 after Sophie told me the Adelekes were travelling to Dubai with her baby without her consent again. As soon as I landed I called Uncle Wale Adeeyo, a close confidant of Dr Adeleke and expressed our displeasure at the way Sophie was being treated and he promised to speak to Dr Adeleke. When he came back to me he didn’t sound too positive. We spoke several times and nothing tangible came out of his supposed intervention.
I called Oba Dokun Abolarin but he was busy at a wedding in Ibadan. I then called Uncle Wale again and told him Sophie has plans to stop the trip on the knowledge that David has collected an American passport for the baby and the rumour that the baby was being abducted to America. I pleaded that we should avoid a confrontation.
I headed to the airport to alert the authorities including Immigration and Emirates. As predicted, the Adelekes arrived the airport with the baby where Immigration had laid in wait for them. Coco came forward and was asked who the mother of the baby was and she claimed ownership and her passport and that of the baby were taken away by Immigration. Her dad was alerted and he came to the office of the Comptroller with others to try and rescue the passports but the Immigration stood their grounds. I saw him making frantic calls but he gave up after the flight departed. He repeated the same boast that no one could ever take the baby from him and I told him to stop talking like God.
No one likes a fight but we have been treated shabbily and had to stop the charade. We could not be intimidated and everyone at the airport expressed shock and horror at such a brazen attempt to export a human being only seven months old without the mother. We thanked the officers who rescued us from a powerful family. We are always for peace, justice and equity. No one threatened the Adelekes with any expose unless they were using reverse psychology. Personally, I’m not a junk writer and would never descend so low to abuse those permanently connected to us through an innocent baby. We love the baby like they do and such an innocent child deserves to be protected by both families.

Wednesday 30 December 2015

Mike Famiyesin's Blog: Dele Momodu Mocks Davido’s Travails On Instagram, ...

Mike Famiyesin's Blog: Dele Momodu Mocks Davido’s Travails On Instagram, ...: The cousin of Davido ’s baby mama, Dele Momodu has mocked him after his press statement on Instagram on Wednesday night. The cou...

Dele Momodu Mocks Davido’s Travails On Instagram, Shares Photos of Him Stuck @ The Airport

The cousin of Davido’s baby mama, Dele Momodu has mocked him after his press statement on Instagram on Wednesday night.
dele-momodu
The cousin of Davido’s baby mama, Dele Momodu has mocked him after his press statement on Instagram on Wednesday night.
Davido and his family labored in vain yesterday as they attempted to travel out of the country with his 7 months old daughter, allegedly without his mother’s consent. Ovation Magazine publisher, Dele Momodu played a key role in blocking his move.
Dele took to Instagram and he decided to mock him.DAVIDO being consoled last night by an Uncle after all his yelling at Immigration officers that he’s untouchable was rebuffed and his sister’s American passport was seized and his dad could not travel on Emirates as planned…All the phone calls to Abuja by Davido’s powerful family failed to impress the highly professional officers at MMIA as they tried to travel illegally with a seven month old baby they had seized from her mum months ago!


See below for photos he shared and the captions



YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF- DAVIDO TO DELE MOMODU


Nigerian singer Davido has replied the publisher of Ovation magazine and former presidential candidate of the National Conscience Party (NCP), Chief Dele Momodu.
Mr. Momodu, the cousin of Davido’s baby mama, Sophia Momodu, had in a post on his instagram page, accused the singer and his family of trying to travel out of Nigeria with his baby last night.
This came after Davido first lashed out at him and his babymama on social media.

YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF- DAVIDO TO DELE MOMODU

Nigerian singer Davido has replied the publisher of Ovation magazine and former presidential candidate of the National Conscience Party (NCP), Chief Dele Momodu.
Mr. Momodu, the cousin of Davido’s baby mama, Sophia Momodu, had in a post on his instagram page, accused the singer and his family of trying to travel out of Nigeria with his baby last night.
This came after Davido first lashed out at him and his babymama on social media.

Responding to the accusation, Davido again took to social media and posted: “ASHAMED OF YOURSELF!! GOD BLESS YOU STILL @delemomoduovation”
YOU SHOULD BE

Friday 30 October 2015

APPEAL COURT GIVE CCT GO AHEAD ON SARAKI'S TRIAL


Justice Moore Adumen of the Court of Appeal this morning upheld the trial of Senate President, Bukola Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
Adumen, reading the unanimous verdict of the three man panel, said the tribunal, which docked the Senate President on 22 September and 21 October was properly constituted.
He said the tribunal led by Danladi Umar could sit with the chairman and one other member.
He relied on section 28 of the Interpretation Act to reach the decision.
He said the CCT and CCB Act and the constitution did not talk about a quorum.
Adumen said the judgment could not be delivered on 19 October as earlier planned because the justices have to struggle to reach a consensus.
Saraki wanted the appellate court stop his trial at the CCT, where he has been charged on 13-counts with false asset declaration.


Judgment was initially fixed for 19 October, but was postponed at the 11th hour, with the court promising to communicate a new date to parties.
Notices were sent to parties informing them about today’s date.
Arguing the appeal on October 16, Saraki’s lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN), urged the appellate court to set aside the entire proceedings before the CCT, including the charge before it.
He argued that the CCT was not properly constituted on when it assumed jurisdiction to entertain the charges because it was made up of two members as against three, which is provided for in Paragraph 15(1) of the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution.
Daudu contended that the provision of Section 28 of the Interpretation Act relied upon by the respondents to argue that the tribunal could validly sit with its Chairman and one other member, was a contradiction of the three-member provision in the Constitution.
He also argued that the tribunal not being a superior court recognised by the Constitution could not exercise criminal jurisdiction.

Sunday 11 October 2015

THE CHANGE WE ALL VOTED FOR


Without the ministers' involvement the petrol and electricity are now at the reach of ordinary people. The change is beginning to change the lives of people in the north, south, east and west. The electricity is beginning to transform our houses and communities. There will be more money in the pockets to buy other essential commodities, that is the reflection of multiplier effect on the consumption side.

If Buhari can restore the confidence of our people and bring about badly needed jobs to our people in general, then the old man deserves to be our hero. We have tried young man for six years and all we got back were poverty, insecurity, corruption, looting, kidnapping, interethnic distrust, interethnic disaffection, interethnic divide, etc. We have to stop wasting our collective lives unnecessarily.
PDP wasted 16 years of our life, we are beginning to look like liability to the world citizenry. Thank God for the timely intervention of some patriots that  never allow ed the destruction  of our dear Nation .
Thank God for the real change,
The  inevitable change has come to stay.
God bless Nigeria.

Saturday 10 October 2015

OLISEH PLAYING POKER WITH OUR FOOTBALL DESTINY


By :- GBENGA OLUMEKUN


I felt relieved when the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) finally decided to do what it had always wanted to do all along: get rid of Stephen Okechukwu Keshi (SOK). We all followed the rigmarole of contract renewal and all the tactical games played by all sides hence it didn’t need a clairvoyant to foretell that the ignominious departure of Keshi was a question of time. Apparently, greater powers within Aso Rock wanted to ensure the uninterrupted stay of Keshi as our Gaffer but as soon as there was change of power, I knew evening time had come for him.

What baffles me most was the fact that with all his experience and knowledge about Nigerian football Stephen, Keshi should have known so much about Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8. Unfortunately there is so much wisdom in the word of God but only few ever manage to latch on. Thank God those who are wise will continue to seek wisdom and those who are foolish will continue to pursue inanities.
It is unfortunate that the issues in contention are not about whether Keshi knows his onions or not but they are issues bothering on the recognition of body language, spoken and unspoken language. I am an awfully proud man and if I were Keshi, I would have walked away after the African Cup of Nations in 2013. Well, he stayed because he felt there was unfinished business and the business is now finished, albeit on a sad note. The law of averages has caught up and to whom the music is played must dance the “dance of death”. I almost forgot that there was a report somewhere that SOK is demanding one billion Naira from the NFF. I wish him well but since some issues are sub judice, I must keep my pen from such.

It is unfortunate that many did not see imminence of the present scenario but I had seen it ever since SOK was appointed as the Boss of the Super Eagles. Ever since Keshi was appointed, a certain Sunday Oliseh had believed the job was his own and had never hidden his contempt for Keshi.
I remember reading several blistering comments from him (Oliseh) about him being the more suited for the job. It didn’t take a crystal ball gazer to see that Keshi's heels were being gnashed at by no less a personality than one of his boys. Whether he was a true boy or not, time will tell. However, I felt disturbed when I read those unforgiving comments which lucidly alluded to the fact that he, Oliseh, was more qualified and better placed to lead the Super Eagles. I find the superciliousness not the least uncharitable.
Originally I had thought the guy, brilliant as he was as a captain of the Eagles, was on an ego trip but as issues unfolded I saw that he was Keshi's nemesis and it was only a question of time for the issues to come to the market square. Bringing the issue into contemporary context, Oliseh was acting more like an opposition spokesman to the government of SOK. It was more like Lai Mohammed versus Femi Fani-Kayode. The battles had no clearly defined armaments but the theatre was no less a place than the television screens of Supersport on DSTV and our ever news hungry newshounds. Oliseh was always quick to let all and sundry know that he possessed the skills and requisite knowledge to coach the Super Eagles and when the deed was done, it didn’t surprise amateur pundits like me that we had reached the denouement.
Since the change of guards I have followed the comments of several football commentators and gurus like Clemens Westerhoff, Adegboye Onigbinde and Segun Odegbami. I had known Segun since our Polytechnic days when I played Badminton and he was playing football. I have always agreed with Segun on his tips and analyses. I have however been trying to find commonality with him on this Oliseh issue but there has been no grounds for concord. Segun hardly gets it wrong and one of my regrets is that people like him have never been able to come near piloting the affairs of our “House of Football”. I still believe in him but on this Oliseh issue I really must follow my own heart and disagree with his undisguised optimism that Oliseh is, for now, a suitable person for the position.
Westerhoff says Oliseh is inexperienced and I am in absolute agreement. Onigbinde says so too and it leaves me wondering that if Oliseh is the best we have, are we so short of good quality materials? Don't get me wrong. I am actually egging myself to display enough optimism to wish him unqualified success but the critical part of me is saying that Sunday Oliseh will be a failure. I am praying that he will prove me wrong but the pointers are there for everyone to see. If he succeeds, I will be one of the very few to take credit, not because I really like him, but because I have always believed that we need to patronise our local talents rather than import several has-beens or those whose qualification for appointment as our National Team coach is the lightness of their skin colour and the length of the bridges of their noses. It is only on this point that I feel obliged to throw my hat into the ring in support of Oliseh, otherwise my better judgement is saying a different thing because I see big failure looming. If I get my predictions wrong, I will be most happy and will gladly dig into the “humble pie” that will be laid before me.
I have spent several moments wondering why we have suddenly displayed so much limited optimism about a guy who admittedly has had robust experience in Europe playing in the best leagues and mixing it with the best players on planet earth. However, playing football and coaching are two different things altogether. Does a few hours of paid punditing on TV equate to ability to coach the national team? Where has he coached before or is experience never a consideration for appointments any more? I can still vividly recollect that one of the big guns pointedly screamed that “if coaching was determined by level of playing, Pele would have been the best coach in the world” and “Maradona has been running from pillar to post trying to become a prominent coach. Has he made it? On the other side of the fence, in which league or country did Jose Mourinho play football? But he is one of the best coaches in the world. So playing and coaching are two different things. We are saying all these things in the interest of Nigeria,” he said.
Over the years we have seen several of our national players transmute into coaches and they have earned their apprenticeship with the lesser national teams or with clubsides. Examples such as Henry Nwosu, Samson Siasia, Nduka Ugbade, Daniel Amokachi and Emmanuel Amunike abound. We have followed their progress and have been able to see a few of them advance into top management by their deliverables. That should be the way.
There are too many arm-chair critics on football grounds and the best place reserved for them should be at the stands rather than on the pitch. Even in public issues, brilliant as they were critics, the likes of Tai Solarin and Gani Fawehinmi's deliverables when they had the opportunity to control affairs have demonstrated that critics and performers are too far separated in space and time in the performance index. Time will still tell.
As a scientist, I believe in experimentation and such bold attitudes are often rewarding. However the position of our national team coach in a season when football is big business and big politics, we cannot afford to play poker with our football destiny. In fact it is actually worse than poker; we are playing Russian Roulette and the omen is not good for our destiny.
One issue I have had irreconcilable differences with is the gargantuan pay attached to the position regardless of qualifications, experience and the reality of the Nigerian situation. I felt so terribly insulted when I learnt that the new coach was going to earn Five Million Naira (N5,000,000.00) per month whereas literate Nigerians like me, with all the big big degrees, don't earn that much in a year. Is he worth to the nation what I am worth? How much expenditure has he made on himself to warrant earning in less than two months what our President Buhari is going to earn in a year?
I have too often been critical of our value system which I believe is rotten; based on how performance is denominated or how importance is measured. The sort of pay doled out to other practitioners makes nonsense of our values and virtues and it makes hard-working folks like me want to throw in the towel and check out. I guess we'll have to revisit our reward system as I have always preached. The only problem is that much as I can shout, my voice may not be heard over the din of the moment.

Friday 9 October 2015

ROBBERS RAID AIRPORT, ESCAPE WITH #20m





An unnamed micro finance bank located in the Sam Mbakwe Cargo Airport, Owerri as well as the offices of Arik and Air Peace Airlines in Imo State, were Friday, reportedly raided by suspected armed robbers.
Reports claim that over N20m and other valuables were carted away in the robbery operation that
allegedly lasted just a few minutes.

An eye witness, whose name was not mentioned, alleged that the armed robbers, who besieged the airport in two unmarked vehicles, overpowered the security men attached to the bank.
According to the undisclosed source, the noise of banging of doors and windows by the robbers coupled with their gunshots scared people away from the scene.
In the same vein, an employee of Arik, who spoke on grounds of anonymity, said their offices were broken into, while company and personal valuables of the workers were stolen.
He said, “We are still in shock how the robbers could have been able to operate freely without being challenged, with the number of security men at the Airport.
“This calls for serious concern because if the Airport cannot be safe, where else can be?” the Arik employee asked.
The Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Andrew Enwerem, who confirmed the incident, said it was a case of burglary.
According to him, “We got the report that some hoodlums broke into a Micro Finance Bank at the airport, but we did not get any repo7rt that they removed cash and no one was killed or wounded.
“Already investigation is ongoing and the two security men attached to the bank are currently being interrogated,” Enwerem noted.

ITUNU AKOREDE ORGANIZED GREEN WHITE GREEN PRAISE IN DALLAS U.S.A

Nigerians based in Dallas stormed the RCCG winners assembly, Downtown Dallas U.S.A, on Thursday October 1,2015 for a concert tagged GREEN WHITE GREEN PRAISE BANQUET, Put together by Itunnu Akorede and his friends basically to praise Almighty God for the success milestones of a preceding year to commemorate Nigeria independent anniversary celebration.

The event equally featured Pastor Ralph Adebayo as a guest speaker on a
topic (THE POWER OF UNITY).

She event which marked the median edition of the annual celebration that saw big names from gospel acts in music industry in attendance, They include,  Dammie drums based in Dallas ,Derin Whyte , M.c Kanmi koncept , Meciah , Funke 77

See photos below

EFCC NABS TWO WITH 600 ATM CARDS, TRAVELLERS CHEQUES

Abuja—The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested two Nigerians with a shocking 556 banking instruments, with which they had been using to commit unsuspecting large scale fraud.
The two men-Jonathan Odu Isikwei and Paschal Onuora Udeh were picked up operatives of the commission for unlawful possession of 448 travelers’ cheques and 108 Automated Teller Machine (ATM)/Debit cards.
Jonathan Odu Isikwei was found with 448 travelers’ cheques, while Pascal Onuora Udeh, 34, was arrested with 108 ATM cards on his way to China.

A statement issued by the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson iUwujaren, said the two suspects would soon appear in court to account for their action.
The statement said: “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is set to arraign one Jonathan Odu Isikwei for unlawful possession of 448 travelers’ Cheques.
“Isikwei 51, a native of Igbodo in Aniocha local government area of Delta State, was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, by the Operatives of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) during the outward clearance of passengers on a Belgium- bound flight.
“The case was transferred to the EFCC for further investigation.”

SUSPECTED ROBBER FALLS FROM BANK'S ROOF


There was drama on Friday at the Unity Road Branch of Guaranty Trust Bank in Ilorin as a suspected robber fell from the bank’s roof, throwing the banking hall into pandemonium.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that the suspect was hiding in the roof of the bank while waiting for his accomplices to commence a robbery operation when he fell.
A security man attached to the bank told NAN on condition of anonymity that the suspected robber must have been hiding in the roof overnight.
He also said nobody knew how the suspect got into the roof of the bank as there was no sign of damage to any of the security doors in the bank.
The security man said the suspect was promptly apprehended by some customers inside the banking hall and later handed over to the police.

The Police Public Relations officer, ASP Okasanmi Ajayi, confirmed the incident to NAN.
He said immediately the report reached the police command, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Esosa Amadasun, visited the bank.
The police spokesman said nobody was injured in the incident while interrogation of the suspect had commenced.
When NAN visited the bank, it was under lock while a security man was busy directing customers to the Taiwo Road branch of the bank. (NAN)

Wednesday 7 October 2015

TIWA SAVAGE IS BACK ON HER GRIND !

Spotted Refueling Cars At Forte Oil Stations ;



The brand ambassador for forte oil joined in the customer appreciation week by selling fuel at some of stations in Lekki and Ikoyi  .

If you see her , be sure to say hi ;

SENATE IN ROWDY SESSION OVER AMAECHI


The senate broke out into a rowdy session on Wednesday after George Sekibo, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senator from Rivers east, presented a petition to the senate against Rotimi Amaechi. Amaechi is one of the ministerial nominees of President Muhammadu Buhari. In the petition submitted on behalf of the three senators from the state, Sekibo accused Amaechi of fraud and corruption. As he rose to present the petition, some senators of the All Progressives Congress (APC) shouted him down, chorousing “no, no, no”, “dead on arrival.” A shouting match then ensued between the PDP and APC senators and it took the intervention of Olusola Adeyeye (chief whip) to quell the melee.

 On Tuesday, TheCable reported that senators opposed to the inclusion of Amaechi’s name in the ministerial list might stage a protest. Amaechi’s case is akin to that of Musiliu Obanikoro whose nomination as minister was opposed by senators from his state, Lagos. But on the day of his screening, former Senate President David Mark asked him to simply take a “bow and go” amid protests from APC senators.

Sunday 4 October 2015

NIGERIAN PILGRIMS WILL END "STONING OF DEVIL" ~ Sanusi

The Emir of Kano and head of Nigeria’s 2015 Hajj delegation, Muhammad Sanusi II, has said that he would recommend that Nigerians stop participating in the Jamarat (symbolic stoning of the devil) rite of Hajj in Mina, except they are given accommodation close to the site.
He stated this Friday in Makkah when he led a delegation to visit to Sokoto pilgrims at their residence.
His comments followed the death of 769 pilgrims, in September, as over 2 million people made an attempt to “stone the devil”.
Emir Sanusi reiterated that blacks, particularly Nigerians, were not responsible for the Mina stampede that also left over 900 people injured.
Mr. Sanusi said Nigeria does not have any issue with the Saudi Arabian authorities, but that they must understand that no human being is superior to another in the sight of God, except those who fear God most.
He said the stoning of the devil was not worth the blood of any Muslim.

Emir Sanusi, who quoted several verses from the Qur’an and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, said refusal to even perform the stoning of devil rituals does not in any way invalidate one’s Hajj.
“During the era of Prophet Muhammad, he permitted pilgrims who came on camels to stay in Makkah after Arafat, instead of staying in Mina and sleeping at Muzdalifa. So, if the Prophet can give such grace to some people, just to protect their animals, why didn’t our scholars educate our people properly to avoid this untoward hardship and death,” he said.
“Therefore, it will be part of my recommendation to the Federal government that, if we cannot get accommodation close to Jamarat where the Arabs reside in Mina, then this year may be the last time we will sleep in Mina and Muzdalifa because we want to stone the devil.
“Besides that, if one deliberately refuses to even perform the stoning of the devil rituals, all he needs to do is just to slaughter a ram. So, if this is the situation, why do we go and suffer and die instead of sacrificing a ram.
“As it is presently, sleeping in Mina and Muzdalifa is not backed by any Hadith (sayings/deeds of Prophet Muhammad) or verse of the Qur’an. So, why do we continue to do it?” 

Saturday 3 October 2015

Mike Famiyesin's Blog: DAPO ROTIFA VS ARABIRIN DESINATU

Mike Famiyesin's Blog: DAPO ROTIFA VS ARABIRIN DESINATU: Does anybody know if Desinatu Orente 'aya Oga', Aya Alison-Madueke speaks Yoruba? Desinatu, boo ba ngbo mi, bogo ba nje t'Oloh...

DAPO ROTIFA VS ARABIRIN DESINATU

Does anybody know if Desinatu Orente 'aya Oga', Aya Alison-Madueke speaks Yoruba?
Desinatu, boo ba ngbo mi, bogo ba nje t'Olohun, o ni bo nbe o.... O faso penpe tuko l'oko oba'birin ilu eebo
"Dapooo.... Olopa ewo ntepe, amuni nje amuni, ewo niti o ni bo nbe?

Epe ko jare, talo nsepe? Awa i sepe o.... adua ni..... Tan rangun nse? Tie de ba niyen.... Abi kini mo so o ore mi journalist?
Dumb! Shouldn't Ibori had taught her a lesson not to run to Britain? Why didn't she run to Afghanistan, Somalia, or even China?

MORE SENATORS WITHDRAW VOTE OF CONFIDENCE ON SARARI

More Senators for unknown reasons, have withdrawn the vote of confidence given to the leadership of Senate; Senate President, Bukola Saraki and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu barely 48 hours after pledging fealty.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Business and Rules, Babajide Omowarare backed out few minutes after the motion was raised reducing the initial number of 84 to 83 Senators.


Sabo  Sabo   Muhammed Nakudu representing Jigawa South-West Senatorial District and number 41 on the list Published on Tuesday by POST-NIGERIA has also purportedly withdrawn his endorsement.
Nakudu in a press statement said to have been personally signed by him, on Wednesday, stated he was not consulted before his name was included in the names of Senators who signed the vote of confidence on Teusday.

Friday 2 October 2015

DIEZANI ALLISON ARRESTED IN LONDON

Ex-Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, Arrested In London
The immediate past Minister of Petroleum Resources,

Diezani Alison-Madueke, was on Friday arrested in the UK National Crime Agency, PREMIUM TIMES can exclusively and authoritatively report.

Sunday 27 September 2015

SARAKI'S RESIGNATION LETTER LEAKED OUT

After consultations with my constituents and like minded citizens of Nigeria , I have decided to step aside . Though I am as yet to be convicted of any crime but to repose the confidence of the people in the Upper Chambers, to ensure accountability and confidence in the lawmaking procedure by legislators and to instill discipline in our future Aspirants , I hereby step aside .



Though I am aware that it is a tough decision for me to take since i know my case with the CCB will open floodgates of trials for 90% public officers who are also guilty of ' False Declaration of assets. It is good for the country as a whole and an opportunity for the younger generations to take up the mantle of leadership since those of us that have held office since 1999 messed up big time.
My resignation should be seen as a call to sacrifice to ensure probity, accountability in the public service. It is a call to ensure people with baggages should never held public office or to be at the helm of affairs in our country.
This is the New Nigeria we all have been looking forward to and i hereby step aside and i expect those members/public officers that have declared ' Anticipatory Declarations/Speculative to follow suit so as to save costs of prosecution.
Thank You all ,Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria ,Long live my people.

Saturday 26 September 2015

Friday 25 September 2015

THE RISE & FALL OF SARAKI'S POLITICAL HEGEMONY

Since 1979 the people of Kwara state have been caged under the political dynasty of the Sarakis. This enslavement was pioneered by the late Olusola Saraki and carried on by his son, Senator Olubukola Saraki. For those that may not understand, Olusola Saraki was the father of Olubokola Saraki, the embattled President of the Senate. I shall give a run-down on the Saraki Dynasty from 1979 to date.
The Saraki Political Dynasty:
Since creation in 1967 till date, Kwara state has produced a total of SIX Executive Governors. All SIX Governors were/are installed by the Saraki Dynasty. In 1979, Olusola Saraki brought late Adamu Attah as the National Party of Nigeria(NPN) governorship candidate for Kwara state election. Attah was elected, while Saraki was elected Senator and also majority leader of the senate. In 1983 Olusola Saraki had problem with Attah and NPN National leadership, he re-contested the Senatorial election and also shifted base to UPN where he brought Cornelius Adebayo as his candidate. Adebayo and Saraki emerged victorious. Buhari's December 1983 coup cut short Adebayo's 4-years tenure and ushered in long military rule. When IBB 'pretended' to return democracy, Olusola Saraki, a member of SDP brought in another of his pretege Muhammed Lafiaji as his candidate for the December 1991 Governorship election in Kwara state.

Lafiaji won. Lafiaji took power in January 1992 but his tenure was cut short by Abacha coup in November 1993. With the return of democracy in 1999, Olusola Saraki, a member of APP brought another of his protege Muhammed Lawal as his candidate for the governorship election. Lawal was elected and ruled for 4years. He also presented his daughter Gbemisola as the House of Represntative candidate for their district, which she won. However, because Lawal later fell out with Pa Olusola Saraki, coupled with the problem he was having with National ANPP in the build-up of the 2003 poll, Olusola Saraki defected to PDP and brought his Son Bukola Saraki as the governorship candidate of PDP in the 2003 poll. He also presented his daughter Gbemisola Saraki as the party candidate for 2003 Kwara South Senatorial election. Bukola Saraki defeated incumbent Lawal and Gbemisola climbed to the Senate. Olusola 'retained' the positions for his children in the 2007 election. In 2011, Olusola Saraki and his son played a fast one on Kwarans that saw his son replace his sister in the senate, while a new stooge, Abdulfatah Ahmed was installed as the Governor.
BUKOLA CONTINUED THE DYNASTY
The death of Olusola Saraki in 2012 saw the natural inheritance of the Saraki dynasty by Bukola Saraki, who was determined to maintain the dynasty and possibly handover to his own children when they come of age. In 2015 the fraudulent change mantra saw Saraki retaining and advancing the cause of the dynasty. Also note that the Sarakis have always determined who get what from councillor to chairman up to ministerial and board appointments from Kwara state since 1979.
What Did Kwarans Gain From Saraki Dynasty?
The Saraki's practically turned Kwarans to beggars while feeding fat on their common wealth. A tour round Kwara state will reveal acute poverty and suffering of the people. The Sarakis from time to time do prepare 'food' and give to the hungry people that they deliberately impoverished. The people inturn hail them with chant of 'ranka-dede'. The only gain Kwarans get was glorified beggar status and national mockery.
Now That Kwarans Have Woken Up:
For 36years Kwarans have maintained the status of beggars, feeding from whatever drops to the floor of those that cornered their collective wealth. Today, Kwarans in their numbers came out to pelt stones to their oppressors; the Saraki dynasty. With the pelting of stones/satchet water on Saraki, Kwarans have realised and are now saying 'ENOUGH IS ENOUGH'. I wholeheartedly congratulate Kwara people and I assure them that they have the support of Nigerians of good conscience. However, I want to encourage them to keep their PVCs safe because it is the only legitimate tool to kick-out every oppressors and their stooges from position of leadership.
I pray that other Nigerians learn from Kwara people and liberate themselves from the claws of fraudulent establishmet that called themselves 'godfathers'.
Once again CONGRATULATIONS to Kwara people.
May God Bless The people of Kwara state
May God Bless  NIGERIA .

Thursday 24 September 2015

AMBODE HOSTS AMERICAN VETERAN ACTOR, DANNY GLOVER

Lagos state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, decided to extent his good hands of hospitality by hosting Hollywood actor, Danny Glover, Desmond Elliot,

Bimbo Akintola, Bolanle Austen Peters and other cast and crew members of the movie 93, at his office in Ikeja today, Wednesday, September 23, 2015.
It was a lots of fun and excitement as his Excellency brought the stars together under one roof to appreciate their good deeds.

Thursday 10 September 2015

WOMAN ARRESTED FOR BITING OFF HER NEIGHBOUR'S NIPPLE

A mother of three, Mrs. Bola Olowolagba has been accused by her neighbour, Mrs Adelowo Taiwo of biting off and swallowing her nipple dur a fight, P.M.News reports. The incident occurred after an argument between the two women over the dirty state of their compound located in Shasha, Lagos.
Mrs. Taiwo narrated how Mrs. Bola, a mother of four, littered the compound after holding a party and refused to clean up. She took it upon herself to clean the compound. It was then Bola came out of her apartment and confronted her. They got into an argument which eventually led
to a fight.

In the process, Bola allegedly bit off Taiwo’s right nipple and swallowed it. According to Taiwo, she was rushed to Igando General Hospital where she is currently being treated. The police at Shasha Division arrested and charged Bola to Ejigbo Magistrates’ court for inflicting bodily injury on the complainant.
During her arraignment, Bola pleaded not guilty and the presiding Magistrate, Mrs J.O.E. Adeyemi, granted her bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum.
Mr. Bola was remanded in prison custody at Kirikiri pending when she will apply for bail. The matter was adjourned till 21st of september 2015.

BUHARI IS ON RIGHT TRACK ~ Bamanga Tukur


Abuja , By Chibuzo Ukaibe
— Sep 10, 2015 4:58 pm

Former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Alhaji Bamanga Tukur on Thursday declared that the President Muhammadu Buhari is on track as far as his agenda is concerned.
He however disclosed that if he had remained as PDP chairman, the party would have lost the presidency and other positions.
Tukur, who spoke with newsmen ahead of his 80th birthday ceremony, however decried the influx of ethnicity and religion in the polity noting that it has hampered the growth of the country.
He, however, cautioned Buhari, ahead of his appointment of ministers to appoint those who the job needs and not those who want the job.
When asked about the anti-corruption war and the appointment so far, Tukur said “As far as I am concerned he is going according to his agenda. So you can judge as well as I can judge.”
Making his assessment of Buhari’s
administration in the last 100 days he said “It is not for me to assess. A hundred days became a kind of syndrome. What has been said by Buhari is that he wants to confront corruption, he want to confront insecurity and he wants to confront unemployment and empower, by these he has set the agenda and it is going on.
“So how can you now tell me that you have a land mark to asses NEPA by improvement to know if it is improving. What are you going to use to measure the insecurity? Are they fighting it, are the moving to me they are going the right way he has not deviated from that they said they will do”.
Tukur stated that If he been allowed to remain as chairman of PDP till the 2015 election, the party would have won the election.
He said “Well, when I was there I won elections and in the same vein, if were there also I expect to win the election.”
Reflecting further on his removal as PDP chairman, he said “Well, I thought we were in a system of democracy and my views are such that what I believe in is what I will preach. I want election and people say they want selection. If the majority or the strong people in the PDP did not believe in it then the chioce or the next thing for me to do was to leave.
“It is either I leave or they leave but I did not want them to leave so decided to leave. At that time, people said I am preaching internal democracy instead of imposition. So it will be difficult for me to sit down”
He further noted that zoning within the PDP was never faulted but that the inability of the party to let the people decide on what they want was its undoing.

He however distanced himself from those calling for the sack of PDP’s NWC saying the problem of the party was the loss of the election.
He said “You know to get the solution you have to look at the problem. The problem is that the party did not win election. Therefore the focus should be what should be done what is going
wrong? Is not about sending somebody away For instance if you have malaria, what are the causes of malaria, maybe mosquitoes, then you try to eliminate the mosquitoes from the system so that the malaria can stop.”
He however ruled out any thought of defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC) noting “at 80 what do you want somebody to do. You want to change somebody character at 80? Is it possible? At 80 you remain because you cannot bend unbendable anymore because it will break.”
Speaking on the way forward for the youths, he said while there are plenty opportunities for them in the country, politics of religion ethnicity must be jettisoned. He also advocated mass education as a panacea to the ills facing the country.
He said “Nigeria should try to conquer the basic reason why what I consider we cannot move as a nation. We must remove religion from politics. We must accept ourselves as Nigerians and not see ourselves as being from A or B state, or local government. We must ensure that anything, culture or ethnicity that we cannot change we don’t bring to the table. What you cannot change we must endure. You cannot change yourself from being an Hausa man to Ibo man or an Ibo man to a Yoruba man, or a Yoruba man to an Ijaw man. You can’t. So forget about that, it is not an issue. So don’t bring it on the table. Ethnicity should be removed from our politics. What we must bring into our politics is equity, justice and for us to be our brothers keeper. We can do it. I have told you, God has given you land, water and us, as people that is what He gave to every nation on earth.
“To Educate our people is the key.
What you will do as people is to work together. We can work together and exploit all the opportunities. We are talking about education and they are talking about power. If you educate the people they will know how to get solar to get power, to mine oil to get power. They will know how to do everything to get power including using water.
“But you can’t educate them if you don’t have peace, or if you are divided. You can’t educate them if there is equity and justice in the way of doing things.”
On his happiest and saddest moments he said “as I am sitting here now, healthy, happy and with you. And to thank God because it has been happiness every time. When one lost his child then you can say that is the saddest moment. But my saddest moment is when I lost my mother.”

Thursday 27 August 2015

THE SAD STORY OF ADEYEMI COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, ONDO


It's about time the truth be told about happenings at Adeyemi College of Education. The reversal to a College of Education is about the best thing at this time to save the college from total collapse. Adeyemi College of education was upgraded to a University 4 days to Jonathan exit and he appointed his friend and classmate Prof. Richard King who is a Professor of Zoology as Vice Chancellor two days to his exit as President.

 It is important to note that Prof. King has been out of the University system for over 10 years and has been a politician without affliction to any University. His qualification for the job is being a member of Jonathan Campaign team and his personal friend. Prof. Richard King was appointed on the 27th of May, but didn't resume to the office until the 3rd of August due to health issues. On

   resumption, he came with 5 special assistants who all lodged in the most expensive hotel in town on tax payers money. It is important to also note that since the 3rd of August till date, Prof. King has only been to the college thrice and spent less than 3 hours in total in the college. One of his Personal Assistants, Mojeed is the one running the college, writing minutes on memo and meeting with staffs. A "Yar Adua" scenario has been playing out. Even the memo issued out claiming the University status has been put on hold does not have Prof. King's real signature but was signed by Mojeed. What kind of University is this supposed to be. I implore the media houses and journalist to verify all this claims. President Buhari is known for due process. Let due process be followed in the upgrading of colleges of education to Universities if it is absolutely necessary. A cult of lecturers, the "Third Eye" is the one trying to incite lecturers and students in the college. They are against the innovative ideas and change the young 46 year old Provost, Professor Ogen has introduced since his assumption of office. They are against his refusal to join their cult and continue to hold staffs and student in perpetual bondage as it was in the past. It is important for the security agencies to investigate this and bring everyone of them to book.

Wednesday 26 August 2015

NIGERIAN DIES IN MALAYSIA AFTER SELLING KIDNEY FOR #6M




In the quest for fast money, a 28-year-old
Nigerian man identified simply as Chukwudi, has
lost his life in bizarre circumstances after he
traveled to Malaysia to donate one of his kidneys
to a patient needing a transplant.
According to a Nigerian business man based in
that Middle East country, Chuwkwudi is not alone
in this risky and dangerous business of selling
internal organs for money as many young
Nigerians undertake this venture just to get rich
quick.
This is what the business man (name withheld by
Pulse) reported exclusively to Pulse:
"I know many Nigerians will say it is none of my
business how others make their money but I want
to bring this to the notice of our country people
how many of our young men die here in Malaysia
in very disturbing circumstances.
I can tell of this young Igbo boy named Chukwudi,
from Owerri, (Imo State) who was paid the sum
of N6 million by one rich man to donate his
kidney for a transplant.
The young man was brought in from Nigeria and I
had the privilege of interacting with him and tried
to dissuade from undertaking such a risky venture
but he was adamant, telling me he had made up
his mind already and nothing could stop him.

I even offered he join me in my little car washing
business from which I have been able to build a
house back home but Chukwudi did not want to
struggle to make money.
He wanted fast money and he ended up a dead
man because the operation was not successful.
he died in the process while the rich man had a
successful kidney transplant.
I felt so bad because I kind of liked the boy who
was graduate and had a lot of life ahead of him.
I want to use this opportunity to warn our young
people not to always be in a hurry to make fast
money."

Friday 21 August 2015

GARAGE OF NIGERIA'S 2ND REPUBLIC SENATE PRESIDENT

See the garage of Nigeria's 2nd
Senate president, Akweke Nwafor
Orizu

According to Wikipedia, Prince Akweke Nwafor
Orizu was Nigeria's 'second' Senate President
from Nov 16, 1960 to Jan. 15, 1966, during the
Nigerian First Republic.

Photo credit:

Eniola
Baker

Saturday 15 August 2015

POLICE ARRESTS ONE ' CHANCE ROBBERY 'SUSPECTS IN ABUJA


The Nigeria police have arrested a robbery
syndicate made up of one female and three
male persons. (pictured above). The gang
specializes in one chance robbery of innocent
citizens within the FCT. Below is the press
statement from the police...
At about 8:00am of 10th August, 2015,
the gang picked a female victim, The
victim (name withheld) from UTC Area
10 to Wuse 2 and along the way
attempted to rob her of her belong at
Central Business Area. While struggling
with the suspects the victim sighted a
police patrol team and she raised the
alarm for help which attracted the
police and other spirited citizens who
came to her rescue.

After a hot chase, the operational car
of the suspect was intercepted around
Coomasie House, CBD. The robbery
suspects attempted to escape but they
were arrested by the police team with
support of members of the public at
scene. An attempt to lynch the
suspects by members of the public was
thwarted by the responding Police team
on ground who made a call for backup.
Police re-enforcement was sent to the
area and the suspects were eventually
rescued from angry mob and situation
finally brought under control. The
suspects were arrested and brought to
the station for interrogation, victim has
volunteered useful information. Two
other persons (earlier victims) identified
one of the suspects as one of those
who robbed them recently using the
same one-chance method. The case
has been transferred to State Criminal
Intelligence and Investigation
Department (SCIID) Abuja for further
investigation.
Names of suspects arrested below..
1. MADAM OYEKACHI OGAZI 'F' OF MASE
AREA, SULEJA NIGER STATE
2.CHINEDU ONYEBUCHI 'M' OF GWAGWA
AREA, FCT
3.PAUL OKERE 'M' OF DAPE AREA, FCT
4.MAXWELL OKECHUKWU 'M' OF DAPE AREA,
FCT

OONI'S WIVES , CHILDREN BARRED FROM BURIAL RITES

Drama at Ooni's palace:
Wives, children barred from
The final burial rites of the late Ooni of Ife,
Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse II, was performed
on Friday, but his wives, children and family
members were unable to pay their last
respects as they were barred from the
programme.
Some people who had expected to see the
body of the monarch lie in state were
disappointed as his remains were neither
brought out for people to see nor was any
casket displayed during the burial service.
A lot of dignitaries were in attendance like
Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Rear
Admiral Akin Aduwo (retd.), Gen. Alani
Akinriande (retd.), Senator Babajide
Omoworare, Ondo State Governor Olusegun
Mimiko.
Traditional prayers were offered for the late
monarch by Tadimole Awo Ilare, Chief Faloba.
The event was conducted in less than three
hours.
A source at the palace said that no member of
the royal family was allowed to see the
remains of the monarch since he was brought
back to the palace.
He said:
"As we are holding this
interdenominational service here, those
concerned are performing their own
rites inside the palace where the body
is kept.
"You can see that the gates of the
palace are locked and nobody is
allowed to go inside. Nobody can see
him again except those who will bury
him.
"The wives and children were not even
supposed to see his corpse at all but
tradition was broken this time around
because he (Sijuwade) died in London.
But no family member can see him
again. Those performing the rites are
there now and they will complete it
today (Friday). He will be buried in the
middle of the night, but nobody will be
there apart from those who will lower
him into the grave."
The source said those who saw the bodies of
the previous Oonis were attacked by smallpox
and did not survive the ailment.
A monarch in Osun State, who spoke on the
condition of anonymity, disclosed that
traditional rulers of the town went to various
shrines, including the Obalufon shrine in Ife to
perform some rites for Oba Sijuwade on Friday.

He said the traditional rulers later went into
Ooni's palace shortly before an
interdenominational burial service for the king
commenced on the palace premises.
The monarch said:
"Nobody can see the Ooni, not even the
US President, Barrack Obama. We are
with him. It's only the initiates who can
see him. His wives and children cannot
see him."
During the service, the Preacher, Bishop of Ife
Diocese of Anglican Communion, Rt. Rev.
Oluranti Odubogun, said the monarch's demise
demonstrated that every mortal man would die
no matter their status.
He said:
"Baba has gone. He will stand before
the King of Kings who will judge what
he did while here on earth.
"Some persons have started jostling to
succeed him now but we must all
remember the judgement day when we
will give account of all that we did on
earth.
"I urge you to make today a memorable
one and give your life to Christ. Jesus
is the only way, accept him today."
As the interdenominational service was about
to start, worshippers of Oro cult in Ife, also
called Isoro, stormed the venue and attempted
to stop the service. The worshippers claimed
that it was a sacrilege to hold an
interdenominational service for the departed
king. And as the service went on outside the
palace, the traditional worshippers sang and
danced inside the palace.
As part of the palace tradition and custom,
women are forbidden from entering the palace
while traditional rites are being performed for a
passing monarch.
During the interdenominational service, sounds
of gunshots suddenly rent the air, making
some of those present at the service run for
safety.
A source said that more gunshots would be
fired later in the day, as from 5.00 pm, adding
that curfew to last for seven days would start
by 4.00 pm on Friday.
One of the palace chiefs, Sooko Adelugba, said
that many parts of the town had already been
deserted by residents who were eager to
comply with the curfew as announced by the
palace.
One of the initiates told one of our
correspondents who had tried to interview him
that it was an abomination to speak publicly
of traditional rites offered for a departed Ooni.
Meanwhile, fresh facts have emerged as to
why the monarch would be buried beside the
immediate past Ooni, Oba Adesoji Aderemi.
The mausoleum is said to be located at the
rear end of the palace.
A palace source said the final resting place of
Sijuwade had been constructed in
a mausoleum inside the Palace of Oba
Aderemi, adding that the cemetery inside the
palace is called Ile Nla (mighty house).
The worshippers of Oro cult in Ife, also called
'Isoro', clashed with residents who were
erecting tents for the interdenominational
burial service at the frontage of Enuwa Palace.
A prominent chief in Ife, who spoke on the
condition of anonymity, said the 'Isoro'
descended on the people who erected the tents
because they (initiates) wanted to observe a
seven-day burial rites for the departed king.
The chief said, "The 'Isoro' saw the erection of
tents for an interdenominational burial service
as a sacrilege against custom and tradition.
"They descended on the people erecting the
tents and flogged them heavily. They
destroyed the tents and swore never to allow
anybody do any interdenominational service at
the palace."
The chief revealed that the state government
had to wade into the crisis before the service
was allowed.
He said, "It took the intervention of officials of
the state government, who appealed to the
'Isoro' to allow the people to hold the
interdenominational service before the issue
was resolved. If not for the intervention of the
state government, the interdenominational
service would not have been allowed."
It was revealed that Sijuwade's eldest son,
Tokunbo, and some other family members flew
to England immediately the monarch breathed
his last to join the king's three wives,
Morisola, Ladun and Odunola - who were
already there.
Morisola is the eldest wife, Ladun is the
second wife and Odunola, who is the daughter
of the immediate past Orangun of Ila, is the
youngest wife.
It was learnt that the family members flew
down to England to pay their last respect to
the departed monarch.
The Araba of Osogbo land, Chief Yemi
Elebuibon, who spoke with one of our
correspondents on Friday, disclosed that the
corpse of the Ooni belonged to Ile-Ife and not
his family.
He said:
"The traditional burial rites of the kings
of Ile-Ife and Oyo are strictly complied
with and they are comprehensive.
"When the Ooni dies, the body becomes
that of the town. The 'Isoro' cult group
will take over. The 'Isoro' initiates are
the ones who worship the 'Oro' deity.
"It is the 'Isoro' people that would
inform the various deities, who were
worshipped and appeased when the
Ooni was crowned, that he (the
monarch) is no more.
"It's a rite. Nothing must stop it."
The Araba dispelled the belief that the heart of
the late king would be fed to the next Ooni.
He said, "The eating of the heart of a departed
King by an incoming one belonged to the past.
It no longer exists. People still make this
insinuation because many are barred from
witnessing the burial of a king.
"What the incoming king will eat is the
heart of an animal and not that of a
human. Nobody would be buried with
the Ooni. Nobody would be killed for
any form of sacrifice."
Elebuibon explained that animals are now used
for the burial rites of Yoruba Obas because of
modernisation, noting that Christianity and
Islam also stopped the use of humans for
sacrifice when God stopped Abraham from
sacrificing his son, Isaac.

THE SAD STORY OF OKITIPUPA

By :: Bayo Olupohunda


The deplorable state of the once flourishing and
functioning Okitipupa, a sleepy town in the south
side of Ondo State is a sad metaphor of the
Nigerian condition. Okitipupa, the palm oil rich
town is home to the indigenous Ikale people, a
micro-ethnic Yoruba group to which I proudly
belong. According to the 2006 census, the town
has a paltry population of just over 200,000
people. But it is a melting pot. The town
welcomes strangers. In the years that I spent
there as a teenager, even while I had not travelled
to various parts of Nigeria, I had been aware,
through contact with other Nigerians, that the
country is a multi-ethnic nation.
I remember with nostalgia how people from the
neighbouring Ilaje, Ijaw and the Urhobo flocked
into the town to be part of its growing
commercial activities. The riverine Ilaje, a
predominantly fishing people with a common
variant of the Ikale language with the Ikale
complemented the Urhobo. The Urhobo had also
long established themselves in local palm oil
production. The geographical location of
Okitipupa which lies in the mid-section between
the South-South and the South-East makes it a
port of call for traders and travellers alike.
The town can easily be accessed by land and
sea. In my childhood years, I remember how the
Hausa population mingled freely with the
indigenes and other ethnic groups. As a teenager,
I had the first taste of the Suya and Kilishi
delicacy in the Sabongari area of the town where
the local mosque also stands adjacent the
Anglican Church. Religious rancour was unheard
of. The Igbo population characteristically engaged
in trading. They provided the goods that the
indigenous people cannot easily access. There
were other ethnic groups who lived in harmony
with the indigenes. Inter-ethnic mistrust which is
gradually tearing the country apart was unheard
of.

The idyllic setting of Okitipupa also made it
conducive to the British colonialists. During the
British rule and in the years before Independence
from the colonialists, the palm oil-rich town
provided the raw materials that fed the industries
of Europe. It can also be safely said that the
wealth that built the British Empire was sourced
from the sweat of the Ikale people and their palm
oil. But that is the story of Africa.
The story of Okitipupa during colonialism was
that of exploitation and neglect. Its mineral
resources were exploited to develop Britain. But
its people became the “wretched of the earth”.
However, the resurgence of the town came after
the British left our shores. The period after
independence saw the rebirth of a town that was
on the throes of extinction. Obafemi Awolowo
regionwide development efforts had rubbed off on
the town. Okitipupa became a model town. As the
headquarters of the Old Ikale area, it attracted
development from the centre. Awolowo’s
development model was felt instantly. Even in the
late 1980s, Okitipupa still bore the development
imprints that stood the South-West out. I grew
up to see well-connected road network. The
streets were paved. The waterworks piped water
to every home. Light was constant. The Post and
Telecommunications delivered letters and returned
them promptly. It was in those years that we
wrote letters to our pen pals in distant lands. The
public hospitals had qualified doctors. Drugs were
in abundance. I attended a public school that
provided good education. There was a sports
centre known as the Government Field. It was
there I first saw Nigeria’s Second Republic
President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, who had come on
an official visit. Okitipupa was that important that
even Awolowo came often for campaigns. The
Technical College in the adjoining town of Idepe
supplied graduates who upon leaving school
established small scale industries that also
created employment. The town was also an
industrial town. The oil palm industry created by
Awolowo’s Western Region produced palm oil in
commercial quantity. Massive oil palm plantation
that served the industry was cultivated in all
parts of Ikale. These in turn created employment
for oil palm farmers. The sector also encouraged
private partnership in oil palm cultivation and
production. In the mid-1980s, the establishment
of a glass sheets manufacturing plant drastically
changed the face of the once sleepy town. With
the arrival of expatriate workers, the town was
transformed. Oluwa Glass Company produced
glass sheets in commercial quantity. The sheets
were exported to other states across the
federation and other neighbouring countries. The
effect of the industry on the local economy was
instant. In a few years, qualified Ikale youths
returned home to take up employment in the
company. Its subsidiaries also created
employment. Meanwhile, roads were repaired.
New ones were built. The town also wore a new
look as many of the employed youths
rehabilitated the homes they grew up in – the
homes of their parents.
Those were the glorious years. People came from
far and near to trade and to build houses.
Okitipupa was fast turning into a big city. It was
in that environment I spent my teenage years. But
soon, like every young people, I soon got
admission into the university and left the town. I
left with the impression of a town fast developing
into a modern city. But it was a fairy tale story
that was not scripted to a happy after ending.
Within years, the town began to suffer decline. Its
demise came to a head during the military
government of Ibrahm Babaginda. I remember
visiting as a young undergraduate to behold the
forlorn faces of inhabitants. The romance with
development did not last long. Their hopes had
disappeared like the morning mist as day light
approaches. The glass sheets company had
folded up. In all of the years the military was in
power till 1999, all attempts to revamp the
companies came to nothing. Now they lie
comatose, all their assets wasted away. The oil
palm company has also stopped producing palm
oil and other allied products. The company that I
visited on excursion in my secondary school years
had become a shadow of its former self.
The change I saw on a visit recently was
shocking. The town has become such an eyesore.
The roads are nothing to write home about. The
once enviable public schools have become so run
down that parents now send their children to
private schools. Even Okitipupa now has private
schools. It is scandalous. What happened to the
missionary schools that we went to? The
specialist hospital where I was treated for a dog
bite as a six-year-old has become worse than a
consulting clinic. The waterworks have dried up.
Now to make matters worse, many young men
have become commercial motorcyclists. The
demise of the once promising town of Okitipupa is
the sad metaphor of our country. Youth
unemployment, broken infrastructure, dilapidated
public schools, moribund industries tell the
heartbreaking story. The coming of democracy
seems to have, ironically, impoverished the town
and its people the more.
More than 14 years of democratic government has
done nothing to revive the industries that once
provided huge revenue for the state government.
Even the oil palm plantations in the whole of
Ikaleland have all been taken over by weeds. That
is the tragic story of my once beloved town. A
town ruined by those who had the good fortune
of ruling the state in the past.