If we go back to the history of Nigeria, the truth is: dear fatherland has learnt nothing. In the days of Obafemi Awolowo and Ladoke Akintola, this was how they started inventing stuff that had never been in existence; and that has continued to trouble the Nigerian state, even till this day. Therefore, what’s yet unclear to the likes of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and his protégé, Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State is that, since society is like a cyclical entity, the chicks will always come home to roost. Since what goes around comes around, whether Wike, who was governor until May 28, 2023, has his way or Fubara forces his way through, whatever it is now will surely come back.
Nigerians must learn that, if we crave a just society, there is a price for it. So, whosoever wins an election should be sworn-in; and whosoever loses should go home and prepare with a view to re-climbing the horse that has fallen him or her. If we don’t have that understanding, if it is not internalized and, most importantly, if it is all about power at all costs, then there will always be problems of unimaginable proportions to contend with. That’s what’s happening to the political gladiators in Rivers State. Since nobody wants to lose, doing the careless permutations and reckless realignments with the winning forces has been the catalyst for Nigeria’s sorry pass. In Nigeria, governance is secondary, if not tertiary, while self is primary, and the ultimate. That’s why, even the villagers are getting used to high figures. The prices of our cars for official duties are in billions of naira and expenditures over some few things are in trillions. But there is nothing to show for them. So, what type of society is ours? Look around: the roads are horrible and infrastructures are non-existent. As a matter of fact, one can take segments and keep writing.
There is a serious lesson in the Wike-Fubara feud: when one aligns with a force just to achieve one’s goal, one must be cautious of how one invests in that goal. For example, when was their agreement solidified? One doubts if it’s up to ten years. But look at how it has faltered and fallen like a pack of cards? Well, Wike may not yet understand that power calculus is a very dicey thing: once you are out of power, your power turns to powder. But again, when was Fubara brought in that he has grown wings to the extent of showing his true colours? What has he swallowed within such a short period of time that he now wants to bite the finger that fed him, so soon? Why didn’t he do that when he was campaigning and begging the people, including Wike, for votes? Yes, Fubara should have told Riverians not to vote for him because of Wike but because of what he (Fubara) was capable of doing. Had the then governorship candidate been bold enough to tell that to the people – and the people voted for him – he would not have been under Wike’s shackles.
Incontestably, there are inevitabilities of certain events in life. The philosophers attempted to unravel them but they couldn’t. Even the scientists had to quickly agree to some certain things that lie in the hands of fate which are beyond the understanding of mere mortals. The First Republic lasted at the backbone of the practice of politics in Great Britain. So, when situations that were not typically similar to our own homegrown political incidences started arising, problems started showing up. For example, ‘Operation Wet e’ was never in Britain; and ditto for the ‘Wild, Wild West’. The Awolowo-Akintola fracas, which once defined politics in Western Nigeria, didn’t happen in Britain. It’s because Nigeria’s leaders could not match it; and … that signaled the doom of the First Republic.
Back in those days, the Awolowos of this world had examples from other climes, especially Great Britain to fall back on. In other words, they always found examples in the West. As such, politicians of that era were under obligations to obey or conform to the doings of the party because there were examples to draw from. It’s not that it was easier to do so, it’s because they had no choice.
Indeed, that’s where the Whites are wiser. They determine what happens from the crown to the government. They see themselves as certain special people who run the affairs of the state and, be it at work or in the church – in everything they do – they conjure their thinking around the fact that they’re going to give an account of what they do here on earth to a superior power, whether they like it or not. Over there, the judge is not just the judge because the system has so made him. Instead, he is the judge on behalf of the people and he or she will give an account. Indeed, that’s what regulates that society.
Go to Britain! The Lord Chancery has a responsibility to the King, not the Prime Minister. So, the Prime Minister cannot just wake up one day and decree that a Brewery be built in Ijebu-Jesa, my Native Nazareth. No, it doesn’t go that way! Those people are not used to that arbitrariness. Theirs is a clime where orderliness reigns supreme; and that has become a tradition. They have a regime of usages that nobody, even when he or she wakes up from the wrong side of the bed, can just deviate from. It will be strange to them. Nigeria’s problems emanated – subsequently became aggravated – because, culturally, all the laws and the norms being practised in Nigeria were foreign in context and content. As a matter of fact, they were migrated social structures.
Politics contains an attachment, and that attachment is on its own a whole independent and different ballgame. When the man, Fubara and Wike were doing their things and plotting their graphs, it was not in the open and it was not debated democratically. Surely certainly, the fallout is what’s now coming out and bringing everybody together. At that time, the nitty-gritty of that concocted connivance was never meant for public consumption but, now, it has become public property. So, Nigeria’s political gladiators should learn one or two lessons from that. As Yorubas would always say, ‘Oro ti a ni ki Baba ma gbo, Baba naa ni yio pari re’ (The father of the house would be finally consulted to resolve all the knotty issues that were previously hidden from him). As fate would have it, all that was cooked in secret, Wike and Fubara will now have to tell the world how it all happened.
Tragically, while Wike may not yet appreciate the structure and the texture of the trouble in which he has courted, Fubara may have yet to grasp the shape and the size of the amazing mess in which he is conveniently immersed, all because of the struggle for power and relevance. Now that they have signed up their individual destinies, the clear prescription for Wike is to learn some lessons in power from Rotimi Amaechi, his predecessor in office. Before Fubara also contemplates outshining his master, let him grab a copy of Robert Greene’s ’48 Laws of Power’. Otherwise, he may need to sit at the feet of Chris Ngige a la Okija Shrine to avoid finding himself in the cycle of crises, again and again.
A word is enough for the wise!
May the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, grant us peace in Nigeria!
Today is decision day in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states. Eyes are on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as residents troop out to elect their governors. The burden is on the umpire to conduct an exercise that will substantially comply with the constitution and the electoral act.
However, election is a joint responsibility involving the electoral commisssion and all the stakeholders. Apart from the electoral agency, other key players-party leaders, candidates, their followers, adhoc staff, security agencies and voters-should play the game by its rules. If any of the actors, individuals or groups, refuse to abide by the regulations, the poll will be flawed.
Each election circle should be an improvement on the previous ones. Electoral democracy is expensive
Only free and fair polls can justify the huge expenditure.
Today’s exercise means a lot to the competing parties. The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is fielding Usman Ododo in Kogi, Governor Hope Uzodimma in Imo and former Governor Timpreye Sylva in Bayelsa. APC is itching to build on its feat at the centre, having won the presidential poll that ended the dream of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) for political control.
The distressed PDP is making frantic efforts to guard jealously its supposedly strongholds in the states, its colossal defeat at the last national elections notwithstanding.
LP, which was also dazed at the presidential poll, is making some efforts, at least, in Imo, where Senator
Athan Achonu is the flagbearer.
In Kogi, where the governor, Yahaya Bello, is not contesting, having been elected twice, the stakes are high. APC candidate Ododo, former Accountant-General of the state, had embarked on an aggressive campaign. The ruling party picked its candidate from the local government, constituency and senatorial district of the governor, despite the agitation for zoning. Bello has insisted, defensively, that rotation should not be an issue in a state that is united and cohesive. This is a novel experiment that may engender a paradigm shift, if the party succeeds. But, if it fails to retain power, the failure will be attributed to the neglect of rotation.
Bello believes that his achievements in almost eight years should swing the pendulum of victory to the party. Indisputably, APC is the most formidable party in the Confluence State.
PDP has disagreed with the APC’S permutations. The campaign of its candidate, Senator Dino Melaye, has been boosted by the victory of the Amazon, Senator Natasha Akpoti, who is aggressively mobilising for him.
Ododo of APC also faces other challenges. Muritala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Leke Abejide of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) are on the prowl. Both are defectors from the ruling party. No doubt, they are popular. But, their platforms are not strong, although Ajaka, an Igala, who belongs the most populous ethnic group, is urging his kinsmen to vote for the son of the soil. If the opposition parties come together, APC’s dream of continuity may be aborted.
In Imo, Uzodimma is being challenged by two foes-Achonu and Senator Sam Anyawu of the PDP. The three friends are now divided by politics. After the poll, and the electoral litigation that is likely to follow it, they will resume their friendship, without their feuding supporters knowing the details of the truce.
Almost four years ago, PDP claimed that APC secured a judicial victory that abruptly terminated its mandate in Imo. Therefore, while APC is trying to prove Uzodimma’s popularity, PDP is trying to prove that the last governorship election was “judicially rigged.” But, APC has continued to wax stronger.
During the last presidential poll, LP won in Imo. Can the party repeat the feat today? It is noteworthy that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)’s gimmick in Imo has collapsed like a pack of cards. While Imo chapter of NLC has disputed any rift with Uzodimma, observers think the national leadership has tried effortlessly to manufacture a non-existing industrial crisis.
In Bayelsa, there are alignments and realignment of forces. Interest is key. Four years ago, it was believed that former President Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP supported APC candidate David Lyon. Today, he is back with Governor Douye Diri, who is more confident than in the previous poll.
The news from the Bayelsa APC suggests a house divided against itself. Some party leaders are at loggerheads. The snail-like approach to reconciliation has not produced the desired result.
In the three states, residents are anxious. It is not without judtification. Reports have indicated that the states are enveloped in tension.
Election is like war in Nigeria. What should be a festival of choice becomes a nightmare; violent and bloody. There is panic. There is gnashing of teeth. When will the malady end?
Ahead of the elections, fear had gripped many residents. The genesis of the offseason polls was the madness of the past, which the court had corrected. In the process, the time lost to irregularities and litigations could not be regained.
Yet, the political class has failed to learn from the past. The campaigns in many parts of the states have been tough and rough. Violent attacks, destruction of banners and billboards, defacing of posters, vandalisation of vehicles, dispersal of crowds at rallies and arson have been recorded.
In some instances, there was loss of lives during clashes. Scores were wounded.
Police have been overwhelmed. Political parties have even alleged compromise by the police and urged the Inspector General to change or swap police commissioners in the three states.
Candidates are very combative. They do more than selling their manifestos to prospective voters. There are allegations and counter-allegations of unruly behaviours. Character assassination, campaign of calmuny, falsehood and incitement were elements of the campaigns.
The splits in political parties created enmity and bitterness, which heralded the chaotic preparations. There is mutual suspicion between and among ruling and opposition candidates, party leaders and their fanatical followers. Thugerry is the order of the day.
IGP Kayode Egbetokun has asked trouble makers to stay clear. INEC Chairman Prof Mahmood Yakubu has also threatened that in those areas where violence is recorded, the votes will not be counted.
But, the solution is to apprehend the culprits, prosecute them at the electoral malpractices tribunal and jail them to serve as deterrents to others. The setting up of the electoral fraud court is still a tall order.
Today, INEC should avoid previous pitfalls. It should brace up for the challenge of conducting polls in coastal areas, which in the past were reputed for rigging.
Electoral officers should demonstrate patriotism. They should report for polling duty promptly. The right and appropriate officers should be at the right and appropriate place.
Polling materials should be adequate to prevent voter anxiety. Polling officers should be above board. They should neither aid nor abet. Indeed, they should shun financial inducement.
A great challenge is collation. It was the bone of contention in the last election. The promise of IREV by INEC without the hope of fulfilling it, as experience has shown, will generate controversy, indignation and bitterness. Any promised made and unfulfilled by the commission can dent the outcome of the poll, unless there is a rational and justifiable explanation. But, by now, candidates should know that electronic transmission of result has no backing of the electoral act.
Overzealous obsrvers and monitors ahould be circumspect. Hasty generalisations should be avoided. Election is a sensitive matter and assessment should be thorough and devoid of bias and sentiments.
Security agents should be up and doing in policing the votes and protecting participants in the critical exetcise.
If there is no vote buying today across the three states, then, the ballot box would have been sanitised and its sanctity and dignity restored.
The leadership of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has distanced itself from a communiqué released by the group’s General Secretary, Chief Sola Ebiseni, where the organisation was said to have faulted the Supreme Court judgment upholding President Bola Tinubu’s election.
According to a statement on Thursday by the National Organising Secretary, Kole Omololu, the group’s leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, and other leaders were not aware of Ebiseni’s press release and did not authorise it.
The statement read: “The world will recall that the leader of Afenifere himself, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, had congratulated the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces on his election into office, and also expressed solidarity over his victory at the apex court.
“It is then clearly underhanded and mischievous to have such preposterous attack on the judiciary by intemperate elements within the fold, fanning the embers of national discords with political motives, using the name of Afenifere.”
The statement noted that, as the acting leader of the group, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, in the natural and traditional order of Afenifere, was expected to defer to his leader, who appointed him, Fasoranti, without reservations.
“To do otherwise is to tread such ignoble path in national discourse as this unfortunate release reveals,” the statement added.
The communique being disowned by the group was issued by Ebiseni and made available to journalists in Akure, Ondo State capital, on Wednesday at the end of a meeting of the group held at Adebanjo’s residence in Ogbo Ijebu, Ogun State.
The communique partly read: “Nigeria is a federation of entrenched ethnic nationalities which has failed to evolve into a nation because of the deviation from the foundational principles of federalism.
“Except Nigeria is ruled based on true federalism which guarantees inclusiveness, fairness, egalitarianism, justice and a sense of belonging to all its constituent groups, it will remain a mere geographical expression with no sense of common nationalism and patriotism.
“In this connection, the only way forward is to change the military constitution now and re-enact a constitution in line with the foundational federal principles.
“Except this is done now and quickly, all the errors that occasioned the type of electoral shenanigans witnessed during the 2023 general elections and the technical judgement by the Supreme Court legitimising the same will fester ad infitum.”
Herbalists, distillers, others flood market with products
Ghanaians, others smile to bank selling unregistered products
in Nigeria Youths high on enhancers mess up at orgy party
Production and sale of aphrodisiacs has become a big money spinner. Most herbal concoctions, energy drinks, alcoholic bitters, among others, are laced with aphrodisiac ingredients and marketed with messages that brazenly hype their potency. Ghana and many other countries are latching onto the thriving business and turning Nigeria into a dumping ground for all manner of unregistered aphrodisiac products. INNOCENT DURU examines the implications of the trend for the rising incidents of rape and health problems in the society.
ADAMU, a dark complexioned young man, sells herbal medicines stuffed in plastic bottles along LASU/Isheri Road in Lagos. Besides the herbs, he also sells all manner of aphrodisiacs which he brazenly displays on his table.
The products need no introduction, because the obscene pictures on the packages say it all.
“This one works well,” he said in reply to our correspondent’s request for potent brands. “It costs just N500 a pack. It is in tablet form and you only need it before the match,” he said in salacious tone.
Pointing to another, he said, “This one is just like coffee. You only pour it in hot water and drink before you start action. Walahi, e dey work well well (I swear, it works very well)”
Asked how he knew that it works well, Adamu said: “People buy it a lot. It is one of the brands that people buy the most.”
Checks on some of the products showed that they are not made in Nigeria and are not registered by NAFDAC. Information on the packages showed that some of them came from Ghana while others bear Arabic inscriptions without NAFDAC’s mark of approval on them.
As the conversation was going on, a man suspected to be in his 50s walked in. The customer knew what he wanted and where it was kept as he opened a box, took a small tablet and handed N200 over to Adamu.
“What is that?” our correspondent inquired after the customer left. Adamu opened the box containing different tablets cut into pieces. A particular brand was shaped like a man’s private part with the sac attached to it.
“It helps man to perform well. The man will last longer after taking it, Adamu said with a sense of expertise.”
A number of other young men also strolled in at regular intervals to pick their brands from Adamu while our correspondent sat observing the craze for aphrodisiacs among Nigerian men.
Besides the likes of Adamu who sell by the roadside, online checks revealed that many young ladies have been quitting their jobs and floating mega aphrodisiac businesses, which they say is highly lucrative because the products are in high demand.
Walking away from Adamu, our correspondent ran into another trader who gleefully marketed his products to him.
He particularly advertised a product he claimed had no side effects.
“Oga, this one is not for drinking. You only need to rob it on your manhood and it will stand well well,” he said, assuring that our correspondent would come looking for the product subsequently.
Prior to his meeting with the above traders, our correspondent had run into a trader who caught his attention in an unusual way.
“Oga, buy Maradona,” he said as our correspondent gazed at him to see what he meant.
Having caught his attention, the trader raised a very dark wood perfectly carved like manhood. Holding it firmly, he tossed it up and down to demonstrate how turgid a man’s manhood would become after using his product.
“When you use it, you will still be on after one hour,” he said as he brought out other products he said were in high demand.
Herbal concoctions aggressively marketed as aphrodisiacs
Apart from the above types of sex enhancers, checks further revealed that regular herbal concoctions sellers have begun to make brisk business aggressively promoting aphrodisiacs. While some sell their aphrodisiacs in raw forms, others have elevated their brands, selling them in well branded packages.
The poor herbal concoction sellers have moved from selling powdery aphrodisiac called ale (hardener) in Yoruba language. They now do a series of mixtures for their clients.
“How about the one that will make you perform very well as a man,” a seller asked our correspondent who had bought herbs meant for treatment of pile from her.
For some who use megaphones to market their wares in public areas, the manner of advertising the products are sometimes crude and disturbing. They pronounce private parts and sexual issues without any consideration for the effects it could have on the morality of the children who are listening to them.
One of the marketers’ advertisements on major roads in Lagos goes thus: “Oga, you do only three seconds and give up, saying yours is a quick action. Are you a fowl? Better buy this enhancer and make madam happy.
“When you use it, your manhood will stand kakaraka like iron, and wherever you meet your woman, you will be able to hit her well. If you see her in the kitchen, you hit her. If you see her in the bathroom, you hit her.”
At times, they employ fear appeal to compel pliable consumers to buy their products.
“You, a landlord that performs only once and gives up, may God never allow your tenant to take over your wife. You better come here before a tenant takes over your responsibility.”
Some more privileged manufacturers go on air to advertise their wares and are overlooked as they use all manners of foul expressions.
Alcoholic bitters, energy drinks, others as aphrodisiacs
Other forms of aphrodisiacs that are highly abused are energy drinks and alcoholic bitters. The brands in the market are innumerable and they all thrive on being potent aphrodisiacs.
The adverts are couched in suggestive words and at times in irresponsible manners. They come in sachets, small plastic bottles as well as big bottles.
Age restrictions about who can consume the products are at times placed on the packages but that is hardly followed.
Aphrodisiacs in pharmacies and supermarkets
The sales of aphrodisiacs are also common in supermarkets and pharmacies. In supermarkets, the drugs are sold as over the counter products and open to anyone who has the money to buy them.
At supermarkets, they come in different forms, including herbal teas. Everywhere you turn to in the country, aphrodisiacs are available in any form you want.
Why demand for aphrodisiacs is on the rise
Speaking on why demands for aphrodisiacs are on the increase, a sex therapist and Executive Director of Sex in Marriage Therapy (SIM) Omolola Natural, said: “Its use has been abused overtime just because of people’s ideology of what is expected of them when it comes to sex. It is something majorly used by men because they want to last longer.
“That is not the only reason, but most times, men want something that will make them last longer in bed because they feel that is what makes them a man.
“The use of those things come from wrong viewpoints about sex in the first place. For a woman’s satisfaction, it is not about the man lasting longer because the man can last as long as can be and still not satisfy a woman. Most men don’t understand that aspect. They don’t understand that satisfying a woman is not just about the jerking and penetration. They are just all about ‘let me last long’.
“It has become something like a norm that if you don’t use these things, you can’t perform and you are not a man. Everybody wants to feel like a man and they go all out. They can pay anything to get it.
“Like I can have people book for therapy and tell them the therapy fee and explain the gains of doing it. But they will just tell you no, no,no, just give me the drugs.
“I tell them you actually don’t need drugs but they don’t want to hear that. They are not interested in the right information. They are just interested in the drug.”
Aside from wanting to last longer in bed, she said: “Some men tell me that they want a longer manhood because theirs is six inches. They want eight inches. It is just this mentality of wanting more.
“I don’t know if you read the story of the man with the longest manhood. He is feeling he is carrying too much load. Although he has entered the Guinness Book of record, he has lost many job opportunities. Now it has become a burden for the man who has a long one, but those who have shorter ones want it to be longer.”
Also speaking, the Executive Director of Initiative for Sustaining Family Unity, Kate Ibeanusi, said: “Some people take it as self-help medication to help them perform no matter how minimal. Some are using it to show that they can do this and do it more than any other person. Then, there are these people who are taking it for the fun of it to embolden them to molest people.”
Going further, she said: “Nigeria is a fertile ground for everything that is not good, and it is coming from the point of regulation. We have the rules but we don’t have strong institutions that can monitor and control whatever rules that exist.
“The country becomes very porous and people can bring in anything at any time without any fear of reprimand or being caught or cautioned. Even when they are caught, they would easily tell you that they will get away with it.”
She regretted that individuals in Nigeria are using the excuse that the times are hard to indulge in vices that have long term implications for productivity for relationships with one another.
“These vices are affecting meaningful conversations because a number of people take this, I don’t know if it is only the sexual effects it has on them, I also believe it impairs their judgment.
“If the only thing that is occupying the mind of a man is how he will take aphrodisiac to perform, it will impair his judgment, which will eventually make him not to have attraction just for the partner for which he has taken it but it could also be for harassing and intimidating other people.”
Youths share aphrodisiacs at orgy party
Kate Ibeanusi also spoke about how youths hold orgy parties where they share aphrodisiacs.
She said: “Young people now put anything in the foods they eat. They now hold orgy parties where they come together and collectively share aphrodisiacs to spike their sexual desire for one another.
“Beyond it being linked to the increase in rape cases, what about the ones that these teenagers come together cook food and spike it?
“They also make cookies and spike it with the intention to raise their sexual arousal level so that they can all make love to one another. It is a huge problem.”
She said the use of aphrodisiacs among the youth is like a rite of passage now. “It is a way to show that you are in town. It is not only for the guys but also for the girls. It is a ritual of growing up in recent years. They force themselves on one another. For those who are not consenting, they will force them.
“Little children engage in different sexual activities simply because they are taking these things. So many of them are getting raped and raping one another because they are taking these things.
“And because we don’t have strong institutions, anybody can buy anything. In more organised countries, even to buy alcohol, you have to show your ID card to show that you are up to a certain age. But here, even little children are sent to buy alcoholic drinks. Even these alcoholic drinks you are talking about and all these sachet drinks they call all manners of ridiculous names, little children are sent to buy them for adults. So, why would it not be everywhere?
“It is no longer a thing that people hide. Before, when people talked about Viagra they covered their mouths and lowered their voices. Now with the proliferation of production of all these kinds of bitters, energy drinks and all that, people are no longer ashamed of using it.
“Young men buy a bottle of coke, pour these drinks in them and consume.”
Why some women use aphrodisiacs
Omolola Natural explained why apart from men, some women also use aphrodisiacs.
She said: “Women take these things for different purposes. I told you that men take it for the purpose of energy to last longer. Women are not interested in energy or lasting longer. Some women are interested in being wet for a longer time because they go dry on time. There is what we call virginal sugar.
“Some women take it because they want their virginal sweeter. We have something like Spanish Fly that can make a woman go gaga, but only a few women want to do that. I hardly see women who would do that because they want to go gaga.
“I am not talking about women who use sex as their means of trade. Those ones might want to do anything to be in the mood. We hardly have products in this category that are adulterated because they are natural.”
Demand fuels adulteration
Omolola Natural noted that there has been adulteration of aphrodisiacs because of the high demand for them.
She said: “The reason why we are having adulteration is because of that unsatisfying desire in the heart of people to just want to do anything to feel like a man and what makes them feel like a man is because they feel it is when I am able to last longer to the extent that she can’t walk.
“But like I said earlier, satisfying a partner sexually is not really about that.
“If you are greedy about gain, you can actually put anything together and say it works for this, and people will gladly buy it. That is why we are beginning to have a lot of adulteration, because whether it works or not, as long as you give it that tag, people will gladly buy it.
“They may try for the first time and not come back, but they will gladly buy it.
“I have had a friend who spent N5,000 buying one online to improve his performance. Immediately he opened it, the whole house started smelling, and that was something that he was supposed to drink. He ended up turning the drink which costs N5, 000 into his toilet. There was no way someone could have drunk that kind of thing because it was really smelly.”
Recently, the operatives of the Zone ‘B’ Strike Force of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) intercepted assorted foreign sex drugs worth over N6 million in Katsina State.
According to the agency, the drugs, all bearing fake NAFDAC registration numbers, were intercepted in Malumfashi and Jibia Local Government Areas of the state as part of the NCS’s ongoing war and zero-tolerance for smuggling.
They included 52 cartons of EJAC powder manpower alongside several manpower capsules such as Bobarak capsule manpower, Ginseng coffee manpower, Sacks manpower, Goldfly, gonorrhea capsule, amipara plus capsule and hympashy capsule.
Aphrodisiac business highly profitable
Speaking on the profitability of the business, Executive Director of SIM, Omolola Natural, said: “Aphrodisiac business is a big market and it is extremely profitable. If you know how to mix the natural herbs in a way that they will work, you might probably spend N1,000 to mix something and sell it for N20,000.
“People will buy it. You know human beings need anything to save face. One big problem of humans is shame. Anything that will make them boost their ego, human beings can give anything to get it. This is why you will see people quit their jobs to go into it.”
Relationship between use of aphrodisiacs and rising rape incidents
Incidents of rape in the country are said to be on the rise. Although there are no statistics to confirm this, the United Nations Women said a total of 11,200 rape cases, including children who were raped to death, were reported in Nigeria in 2020.
The Technical Specialist, Spotlight Initiative of the UN Women, Tosin Akibu, added that violence against women and girls had continued to grow at an alarming rate.
She said: “In 2020, a total of 11,200 rape cases were reported. Some of these included children who were raped to death. Violence against women continues to occur at an alarming rate.
Speaking on this, Kate Ibeanusi said she could not expressly say that the use of aphrodisiacs is responsible for rising rape cases. “Just like we would tell you that alcohol is not a reason for any form of abuse, the use of aphrodisiac, I cannot say it is directly related to the increase in rape. Rather, I will say that it has an influence in the sense that people who take aphrodisiac, they have a motive for taking it.
“Having taken it, it now emboldens them to go out and carry out that act. Just like the way alcohol does not necessarily make a man beat his wife, but with the intake of alcohol, he is more emboldened to do it. That is what these aphrodisiacs are doing.
“Yes, rape is on the increase, but with the use of aphrodisiacs, the users are able to complete the process. At the end of the day, it still has its negative impact on our social interactions. Remember when I talked about how it interacts with social interactions, relationships and conversation.”
NAFDAC raises alarm over indiscriminate use of aphrodisiacs
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), recently raised the alarm over indiscriminate use of aphrodisiacs.
The agency warned that consumption of such substances could lead to stroke, organ damage or sudden death.
NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye,
said: “Most of the performance enhancing drugs are not registered with NAFDAC. They are smuggled into the country. If they were registered, the producers and peddlers alike would not be doing what they are doing in the supermarkets, social media platforms and on the streets.
Adeyeye lamented that many men have died using performance enhancing drugs and their relatives would blame their death on some imaginary witches in the village.
The NAFDAC boss also described as false the claim by the producers of the products that they have no side effects, insisting that the majority of the products did not go through the approval process of the agency.
Health implications of aphrodisiacs
Adeyeye noted that unbridled use of aphrodisiacs has a lot of implications in the entire body system, noting that the use of the products could potentially affect blood pressure.
The NAFDAC boss explained that “when you have a disproportionate flow of blood to a particular part of the body and lasting longer than normal, they tend to disrupt the normal flow of the circulatory system.
“When these things are used, especially with some herbal medicines that don’t have dosage and professional prescription, it can lead to internal organ damage. It can hurt the liver and the kidneys, leading to untimely death.”
Adeyeye recalled that over N3 billion worth of falsified and banned drugs and unwholesome food products were seized by the Agency recently at the Lagos Trade Fair Complex where no fewer than 20 trailer loads of such banned and unwholesome products were seized by officials of the agency’s investigation and enforcement directorate led by Barrister Kingsley Ejiofor.
She disclosed that some of the drugs impounded at the trade fair complex were performance enhancing drugs. Worse still, they are counterfeited.
“When something is counterfeited, the manufacturers don’t care about quality. They add what they are not supposed to add or add more than what they are supposed to add. Invariably, the user is the loser,” she said.
It is the battle between two clubs who are both in similar contrasting form in the 2023/2024 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season despite sharing 13 league titles between them. TUNDE LIADI writes on what makes the fixture a must-watch.
Kano Pillars and Enyimba have won 13 league titles between them. This fixture used to bring along with it keen rivalry with special features and prominence in the media. But ever since Kano Pillars got relegated two seasons ago and the managerial changes at Enyimba towards the end of last season, this fixture has lost some of its glamour.
Kano Pillars have dominated this tie in the last five outings with three wins while Enyimba had two victories but it is the People’s Elephant’s 4-0 drubbing of Sai Masu Gida in Aba on April 21, 2022 that has continued to reverberate.
Kano Pillars beat Enyimba by 2-0 on January 2, 2022 and June 7, 2019 with the other victory ending 2-1 on June 6, 2021. Enyimba also piped Sai Masu Gida 2-1 on January 17, 2021.
The Abdu Maikaba-tutored Kano Pillars do not have many sweet stories to tell in their return season to the topflight this term than their over-reliance on ageing Rabiu Ali who at 40 continues to be the club’s star player.
They are 10th on the league table with nine points from seven games but rely heavily on their home games that they most times struggled to win. They managed a 1-0 win over Katsina United and Rivers United 1-0 respectively. Their only convincing win till date this season is the 3-0 thrashing of Bayelsa United in Kano.
But their defeats on the road have been alarming. They have conceded seven goals from their last two away games to Enugu Rangers (4-1) and Sporting Lagos (3-0). They were beaten in Umuahia too by Abia Warriors (1-0).
They have been more comfortable in their home games than away. They are under pressure to beat Enyimba on Sunday to maintain their mid-table position. Sai Masu Gida are fancied to win by an odd goal this weekend with the reigning champions yet to get into their groove as well.
Enyimba have been awful in their title defence as they exited the CAF Champions League without a fight to Libyan side, Al Ahly Benghazi while they were dumped out of the African Football League 4-0 on aggregate by Wydad Casablanca of Morocco in a one-sided encounter.
In their first game of the season, they were easily beaten 2-0 by Gombe while they have been unconvincing in the two home games they have won against Akwa United (3-2) and Kwara United (1-0). The People’s Elephant grabbed their first away point of the season in their goalless draw against Niger Tornadoes in Kaduna recently while the true test will be against Pillars this weekend.
Most of the star players that delivered the ninth league crown like Sadiq Abubakar, Obioma Chukwuemeka, John Noble among others have left the club but they still have Mbaoma Chijioke, Ojo Olorunleke, Fatai Abdullahi and others to get the job done. They must work hard if they hope to secure their second consecutive away points in their trip to Kano.
Femi Afebunhame Thomas’ name first came to public space while he was in the colours of Nasarawa United in the Nigerian topflight but it was at Ocean Boys of Brass in Yenagoa that his true potential was identified after he joined the club as a replacement to then local hero, Ikechukwu Ezenwa.
Ezenwa had left the club to join Heartland FC when they were truly the Naze Millionaires.
He said that it was in Lagos he started his football journey before he got the chance to play for amateur teams in both Lagos and Abeokuta in Ogun State. He added that his consistency earned him professional contracts with Zamfara United and Nasarawa United from where he moved to Ocean Boys among other clubs including the revered Enyimba FC, Enugu Rangers and Heartland FC.
“I started as a young kid. I played in the streets of Lagos, mostly in Ikotun area in Lagos and played in Agege league. I from there went to Abeokuta to play in the Amateur league 2 with Housing FC before joining Trinity FC in Lagos to play in the Amateur 1,” informed Thomas who won the league title with Enyimba in 2013 and 2015 said.
“From there I started my professional career with Zamfara United before moving to Nasarawa United. I left Nasarawa United in 2009 to join Ocean Boys and spent two seasons with them.
“Then, I joined Akwa United and thereafter Enyimba international, Rivers United, Enugu Rangers, Heartland and now with Abia Warriors FC. It has been a not too smooth ride but God has been faithful to me.
The former Enugu Rangers goalie stressed that God has been staying factor, which has helped shape his career.
The 2018 Federation Cup winner with Enugu Rangers disclosed that it will be hard for him to compare the NPFL with other leagues overseas because he has only plied his trade in Nigeria but reckoned that the Nigerian league has the tendency to rub shoulders with other leagues if the right things are done.
“I believe in the laws of nature and I allow God to lead me. He has always been there for me.
“I believe we are getting there. Various teams must revisit their traveling arrangements. The roads are so bad and insecurity is also a challenge. It is paramount to educate our referees. They need to be educated and reminded what they know almost all the time so that they do not bring the game to disrepute.”
Thomas disclosed that he is unable to quantify what football has done for him but that he bought a land with the first million naira he got from the sport
“Football has given me everything most importantly joy and peace of mind. It is through football I learn to respect people’s culture because I have played in the East, North, West and South of the country. I have been able to fulfill my passion there without any major incident.
“I knew I bought a piece of land with my first one million naira. I will continue to cherish that moment.
“There is a lot I have learned through football. It taught me to respect people’s culture. This has helped me to remain peace loving at everywhere I take my trade to.”
The 34-year-old says despite putting close to two decades to football he is still not eager to retire but that as soon as his body gives him the sign, he won’t hesitate to call it a day.
“It only God that knows how long and you know body system tells you too. I am enjoying what I am doing and I am not contemplating retirement yet.”
The soft spoken goalkeeper also revealed that he would have gone into fashion and modelling but for his unquenchable passion for football. Apart from football, I love fashion and modeling. I would have gone into it full time if not football,” he concluded.
NPFL FIXTURES Katsina United vs Rivers United Lobi Stars vs Sporting Lagos Niger Tornadoes vs Bendel Insurance Kano Pillars vs Enyimba Kwara United vs Shooting Stars Plateau United vs Abia Warriors Remo Stars vs Gombe United Sunshine Stars vs Enugu Rangers Doma United vs Akwa United Heartland vs Bayelsa United
Man and woman relationships typically end in marriage, which is a wonderful blessing for all of humanity.
Singleness, on the other hand, is circumstantial. It happens to people for all kinds of reasons: not being able to find a mate, death of a spouse, difficult family situations, medical or financial difficulties. The list goes on and on.
As a society it is widely believed that the logical path of life is having one has been born, they must pursue a solid education, secure a good job and find love while at it. After which get married and have kids.
And all those are expected to happen way before one clocks 40
This is yet to be the path for some Nigerian stars. Whether by choice or not, these celebrities are over 40 years old and have never been married.
Here are 10 Nigerian celebrities who are over 40 and not married:
Denrele Edun (42 years)
Adenrele Oluwafemi Edun has been in the film and TV industry since he was 11. He is best known as a television presenter. He has interviewed international celebrities, including Akon, Beyonce and Tyler Perry. He has won multiple awards for being a dynamic TV personality. He also acts occasionally, including starring in the 2014 film Make a Move.
Frederick Leonard (43 years)
Nollywood heartthrob and leading man, Frederick Leonard, is another man who has been the topic of many conversations.
Many people wonder why the dashing young actor is still not married, but according to Frederick, he is waiting until he finds the one.
Jim Iyke (47 years)
Born James Ikechukwu Esomugha on September 25, 1976 in Libreville, Gabon, Jim Iyke is an actor and entrepreneur.
Jim Iyke, who is well-known for his playboy roles in movies remains single although he welcomed his son, Harvis Chidubem Iyke with Dana Kinduryte from Lithuania in April, 2019.
The 47- year- old even though he has engaged in a number of romantic relationships with actresses and non-actresses has never been married
Nonso Diobi (47 years)
Multiple award winning actor and film director, Nonso Diobi was July 17, 1976 in Enugu State.
The Nollywood star who opened up in a chat with BBC Igbo revealed the reason he is yet to be married
Nonso disclosed that talks about wife and girlfriend interest him but he’ll only have the woman he’s destined to.
He noted he has come to the realisation that not everyone can be patient with actors like himself as they hardly have time; for they are always on the move from dusk to dawn
Franca Brown (56 years)
Born Franca Obianuju Brown on May 17, 1967 in Onitsha, Anambra State is a veteran Nollywood actress and movie producer who received recognition from her role in the TV series titled “Behind The Clouds.”
She has noted her husband will come at the fullness of God’s time though a mother of one, is yet to be married.
Tina Mba (56 years)
Veteran actress was born on October 2, 1967 in Delta State but hails from Enugu State.
She came to limelight for her role in “Everyday People” and boasts of other TV series such as Jemeji, Hotel Majestic, Desperate Housewives, Shadows and so on.
Mba is one of the few actresses with excellent and evergreen performances.
Tina, who acts in Yoruba and English movies, has remained a role model to some upcoming talents.
Though a proud mother of 2 grown-up children: Tania and Joseph, Tina Mba has never been married and remains single.
Osita Iheme (41 years)
Osita Iheme has been a Nollywood star since his breakthrough in 2002. He is commonly known as Pawpaw after his breakout role in Aki na Ukwa (2002). He is half of the dynamic duo Aki and PawPaw, along with Chinedu Ikedieze.
In 2017, Iheme was rumoured to have married Ghanaian actress Nana Ama McBrown. The actor neither confirmed nor denied the rumours. McBrown has been married to Ghanaian entrepreneur Maxwell Mawu Mensah since 2016, and they have one child together.
Uti Nwachukwu (41 years)
Model, actor and TV presenter Uti Nwachukwu started his career on the Nigerian reality show, Next Movie Star. After finishing second, he joined Big Brother Africa season 3 and later Big Brother Africa: All Stars (season 5), emerging as the winner. He has over 30 acting credits and hosted Jara and The Real Housewives of Lagos Reunion. Uti is also an alternative rock musician.
Nwachukwu has been adamant that he does not intend to “settle” with a woman. Instead, he plans to choose a partner when he feels the time is right. He emphasised that he does not owe the public access to his private life.
Elvina Ibru (51 years)
Elvina Esewvre Ibru is a actress and On Air Personality from Delta State. She is the daughter of industrialist Michael Ibru.
Ibru worked for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) as a broadcaster and also acted in theatre productions before returning to Nigeria. She was also an OAP at Classic FM where she hosted a weekly show called Mellow Magic
Ibru has one son named Elisha. Elvina has said she is not interested in getting married and also would not let society pressure her into doing it because of her age.
Baba Dee
Born Dare Fasasi is multi-talented actor, songwriter and dance hall artist Baba Dee is one of the pioneer video directors that revolutionized the Nigerian music video industry.
Baba Dee gained public recognition when he won the Lekki Sun Splash competition in 1995. He dropped his debut album, ‘Most Wanted’ in 1997 and has since gone on to garner international accolade.
In 2014, he teamed up with his younger brother, Sound Sultan who is currently 44 to produce Naija Ninja’s award winning debut movie, ‘Head Gone,’ which featured 2face, Ali Baba, Eniola Badmus, Akpororo among others.
Though a father to a son of mixed race but no news nor documentation to state he has ever been married yet still single.
The Police last night said no security personnel would be allowed to escort any important personality to the polling units in Kogi State during voting.
The Deputy Inspector-General of Police in-charge of Kogi State Governorship Election, Habu Sani, gave this order according to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Kogi State Police Command, Superintendent of Police, William Ovye Aya, in Lokoja.
According to the statement the DIG “ordered that on no account should any Security Personnel attached to VIPs, Political and Public Officers or any personality across the State will be allowed to move or escort their Principals during the period of restrictions of vehicular movement.
“He warns that any Officer who is caught violating this order by accompanying any VIP, Political and Public Official or any other personality to the Polling Unit will be arrested and dealt with accordingly.
“The DIG appeals to VIPs, Political and Public Officers to note this order so as to avoid any embarrassment that might befall them. Nothing that, the Police and other Security Agencies will not allow any security breach during the period of the Election.”
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the Imo election Senator Samuel Anyanwu has described the claim that he has withdrawn from the race as mischievous.
He said that the report trending on social media purportedly claiming that he has withdrawn is not only fake but blatant lie from the pit of hell.
The statement signed on Friday by the Director, Media and Publicity Imo PDP (Sam-Jones) Governorship Campaign Organization, Ikenna Onuoha reads: “Our attention has been drawn to a trending video on social media purportedly claiming that the Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the Saturday, November 11 off-season election in Imo state, Senator Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu popularly known as “Samdaddy” has withdrawn.
“This video is not only fake, blatant lie from the pit of hell, very mischievous, ridiculous and misleading, but a senseless vile sheepishly formulated by the outgoing Governor Uzodimma to deceive the public.
“A critical look at the said video indicates that it was criminally edited and super imposed by these mischief makers. Please, ignore such falsehood as Senator Anyanwu never withdrawn and does not have such intention in this attention he has almost won.
“The truth of the matter is that Senator Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu and the candidate of the PDP is a big threat to Uzodimma, who has become dried in both the physical and spiritual since Imo people started booing him.
“It is important to tell Uzodinma and his supporters that no amount of blackmail and empty propaganda will ever save him from the looming defeat on Saturday.
“Senator Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu remains a candidate to beat in this Saturday Governorship election. He is prominently in the race and will never ever think of withdrawing from a contest over 70% percent of observers have ticked him as the likely winner of the poll.”
A – 32 -year-old man Gbenga Kolawole has been arrested for allegedly raping a drunken 16 -year – old girl.
The incident happened on November 6 after the girl got drunk during an annual Church anniversary celebration at Adubi area of Ewekoro in Ogun State.
It was learnt that the mother of the girl found her daughter in a drunken state during the Church anniversary and quickly rescued her to a nearby bar shop where she locked her in.
But shortly after the woman left, the suspect allegedly gained access to the shop and raped the drunken teenager.
However, the suspect was caught in the act by one Sunday Ibrahim, who lives in the area.
Ogun Police Public Relations Officer Superintendent of Police (SP) Omolola Odutola confirmed this on Friday in a release, stating that the victim had been taken to Ore Ofe Hospital for medical examination and treatment while the suspect had also been arrested for investigation.
