Popular skitmaker, Olamide Babatunde Ogunleye, popularly known as Oluwadolarz has taken to social media to publicly apologise to his wife, Ife for constantly disrespecting her.
Taking to his Instagram page to share photos of him and his wife, he confessed to have disrespected her in so many ways and has also taken her lover for granted.
The skitmaker and content creator stated that he is apologising from the bottom of his heart.
He added that he hopes his wife can find a place in her heart to forgive him as she is his number one and only one.
“I have disrespected you so many times my love, I have taken your love for granted …from the bottom of my heart I want to say I’m sorry, I hope you can find a place in your heart to forgive me
My number 1 and only
I love you wifey @ife_luv12″, he wrote.
Many flooded his comment section questioning if he had cheated on his wife
Below are some reactions:
Skitmaker Craze Clown wrote, “You don go look for trouble. Mama sorry please forgive am na mumu dey worry am
One Adaobi Jennifer wrote, “The best apology is to never go back to the same thing that hurt your partner. There’s nothing sexy about typing “I have disrespected you so many times”
One Omotea wrote, “Disrespected u so many times sounds like a pattern. I hope u learn that it’s not a flex to keep on doing the same thing u know will keep u asking for an apology. Hope you do right by her Amen
One Bukky Hendrix wrote, “I have disrespected you so many times?? Lmao God forbid
One Nurse Canazy wrote, “Na every time this one dey apologize. You go still do am again tomorrow
One Ade Mexico wrote, “Werey don go cheat again
One E2k Officialz wrote, “Abeg no vex for am if we catch am again we go report am sharp”.
As 2023 comes to a close, Deputy Political Editor RAYMOND MORDI captures some of the political intrigues, suspense and controversies that shaped the year. Being an election year, 2023 was eventful politically. It was dominated mainly by the events leading to the general election and the echoes of the election. In January, the country was on the verge of a decisive electoral contest in which the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was expected to face a tough battle to remain in power after the tenure of the then-incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari. The following are the highlights of what took place during the year.
Protests over naira scarcity:
Towards the tail end of the Muhammadu Buhari administration, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) introduced a policy of withdrawing the old N200, N500 and N1,000 naira notes in circulation and replacing them with new ones.
The authorities said redesigning the naira was meant to curb crimes, counterfeiting and corruption, as well as the recall of excess cash stashed away back into the banking system. The situation was worsened by the gradual withdrawal of the old notes when the new ones were yet to circulate; making business transactions difficult.
Though many Nigerians were in support of the policy, its poor implementation brought untold hardships to the citizens, as the shortage of currency notes in circulation brought businesses to a halt across the country.
The authorities at the time did not indicate that the policy was meant to curb vote-buying during the general election. But, the timing suggests that that was the major reason; the old notes were to cease to be legal tenders less than a month before the general election.
January 31 was initially designated as the deadline for the old notes to cease to be legal tender. But, the CBN was compelled to announce a 10-day extension from January 31 for citizens to have access to the new naira notes. Ahead of the designated February 10 deadline for the old redesigned currency notes to cease to be legal tender, there were protests in several states across the country over the scarcity of the new notes on February 4. This snowballed into violence in some states, as angry mobs vandalized banks and gas stations.
Nigerians were also subjected to scarcity of fuel due to a disruption in the product distribution chain caused by the activities of cross-border smugglers. So, the scarcity of naira notes compounded their woes. Many citizens were compelled to resort to the black market to get cash for their daily transactions. Pressure was brought to bear on former President Buhari to address the nation. He called for calm and said he had met with officials to resolve the problem in a lasting manner.
After a series of extensions, the deadline has since been made indefinite.
Three-horse presidential race:
On February 25, Nigerians headed to the polls to elect a new president and their representatives at the National Assembly. They were at their respective polling units as early as 7.00 am on February 25, undeterred by long queues and delays to vote for the presidential and National Assembly candidates of their choice. As many as 93.4 million eligible Nigerians registered to vote, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). But only 24.9 million persons or 26.72 per cent of the registered voters voted on February 25.
There were four frontrunners among the 18 presidential candidates. They are Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC); Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP); Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP); and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP). At the end of the day, Tinubu won the fiercely contested election with about 8.79 million votes. Atiku who garnered 6.98 million votes was his closest challenger, while Obi came third with 6.1 million votes.
Similarly, the breakdown of results released by INEC, following the February 25 election, indicated that the APC remains the majority party in the National Assembly, after winning 57 out of the 109 seats in the Senate and 162 out of the 360 seats in the House of Representatives. The PDP secured 28 seats in the Senate, while the LP got six. In the House of Representatives, the PDP won 102 seats, while the LP secured 34 seats.
The governorship and state assembly elections were to have been held on Saturday, March 11 but were later shifted to March 18 by INEC. This was to ensure that there was adequate time to back up the data stored on the over 176,000 BVAS machines used for the presidential and National Assembly elections and then to reconfigure them for the governorship and state assembly elections.
Out of the 36 states of the federation, eight states — Osun, Ekiti, Kogi, Bayelsa, Anambra, Edo, Ondo and Imo — have off-season governorship polls. Against this background, there were elections in the remaining 28 states. The 28 states are Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara.
The APC secured 16 states during the election, and the PDP 10, while the LP and the NNPP won one state each. There was a major upset in Zamfara, as the then incumbent Governor Bello Matawalle lost the election to the PDP’s Dauda Lawal. The APC also lost Kano and Plateau to the PDP. Conversely, the main opposition party also lost Benue to the APC.
Nevertheless, some of the victories declared by INEC during the March 8 election have been reversed by the lower courts. However, some of them are still subject to the final judicial ratification by the Supreme Court.
Seamless transition:
Following his victory during the February 25 presidential elections, President Tinubu was sworn in on May 29, to take up the mantle of political leadership for the next four years. Former President Buhari has since retired to his hometown, Daura, Katsina State.
The inaugural speech of President Tinubu was arguably one of the defining moments that shaped the economy in 2023. Tinubu defied all odds when he declared the removal of petrol subsidies during his inaugural address; a decision many believe was long overdue.
A similar handover ceremony took place in the 28 states where governorship elections took place during the year.
10th Assembly inauguration:
The 10th National Assembly was also inaugurated with its new set of leaders on June 13. Senator Godswill Akpabio who represents Akwa Ibom Northwest Senatorial District emerged as Senate president, while Barau Jibrin who represents Kano South Senatorial District emerged as his deputy.
At the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas who represents Zaria Federal Constituency in Kaduna State also secured his election as the 10th speaker of the chamber, while Benjamin Kalu who represents Bende Federal Constituency in Abia State emerged as deputy speaker.
Wike vs Fubara crisis:
Wike and his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara have been entangled in a duel over the control of the political structure of the PDP in the oil-rich state. The crisis came to public knowledge when some suspected arsonists threw explosives into the Rivers State House of Assembly complex, destroying a part of the complex. The incident came in the wake of alleged moves by a group of lawmakers to impeach Governor Fubara. The relationship between Wike and Fubara had deteriorated due to the threats of impeachment against the governor, with many speculators pointing fingers at Wike as the mastermind of the impeachment plot.
All the parties to the crisis have been enjoined to sheath their swords, with President Tinubu’s intervention.
Obaseki, Shaibu crisis:
The relationship between Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shaibu also deteriorated during the year over the latter’s interest in contesting next year’s off-cycle governorship election in the state.
Obaseki indicated, while addressing some PDP loyalists, that he began to doubt Shaibu’s loyalty when he chose to work for another candidate, aside from his, for the position of the speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly. The governor said the claim by Shaibu that there have been moves to impeach him as deputy governor was false and that he would not talk much about it since the matter is in court.
Though the conflict is no longer making headlines, Shaibu, it is said, remains adamant over his intention to contest the PDP primary scheduled to be held on September 21. As a result, the governor and his deputy have been engaged in a cold war over the matter.
Tension over off-cycle polls:
There were off-cycle governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi states on November 11, which generated a lot of tension. But, at the end of the day, the incumbency factor decided the outcome, as the APC retained Kogi and Imo, just as the PDP remained in control in Bayelsa.
In Bayelsa, the incumbent Governor Douye Diri (PDP) who faced former Governor Timipre Sylva of the APC secured his re-election with ease. Sylva was initially disqualified by a court ruling (on October 10) from contesting in the election because he had been sworn in twice and had served for five years as governor. But he appealed and won the case. As a result, his name was restored to the list of contestants. Udengmobofa Eradiri was the LP flag bearer in Bayelsa.
Of the three off-cycle elections, Kogi was expected to be the toughest because incumbent Governor Yahaya Bello was not on the list of contestants; he is concluding his second term and not qualified to contest again. But, the APC candidate, Usman Ododo, scaled through the hurdle with 446, 237 votes. He defeated Murtala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) who came second with 259,052 votes. PDP’s Dino Melaye scored a paltry 46,362 votes.
In Imo, as widely predicted, Governor Hope Uzodimma of the APC was re-elected for the next four years, according to the results announced by INEC. Though 18 candidates participated in the election, it was a three-horse race; the two other major contenders were PDP’s Samuel Anyanwu and the LP’s Athan Achonu. However, the PDP and LP have rejected the result; the parties described the election as a sham.
Still on election dispute:
After almost nine months, the dust raised by the 2023 general elections is yet to settle. The results of some governorship and legislative elections are still being challenged in courts across the country.
Aiyedatiwa assumes power in Ondo:
Ondo State had been in the news for the wrong reasons for several months. After surviving attempts to impeach him, former Deputy Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa was on Wednesday sworn in as the substantive governor, following the passing away of his erstwhile principal, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
Aiyedatiwa had been declared the acting governor on December 13, after the late Akeredolu transmitted a notification of his medical leave to the state House of Assembly.
Akeredolu had been absent from the state since June on health grounds. Even after he returned to the country in the first week of September, following his three-month medical leave in Germany, he had opted to remain in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. His absence from the state had generated a political crisis.
It took the intervention of President Tinubu to settle the matter. The crisis is not unconnected with the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary coming up early next year.
Nigerian sports evoke lots of positive memories as well as negativity too in 2023. In this report, TUNDE LIADI highlights potpourri of events that made the headlines across Nigerian sports in the outgoing year
All is well that ended well for sports in Nigeria in the out-going Year 2023 following the conquests of both Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala as the men’s and Women’s African Footballer of the Year at the annual CAF Awards Gala held in Marrakech, Morocco.
Actually, things started falling in shape for the duo in September when France Football Magazine announced that Osimhen and Oshoala were both nominated for the 2023 Ballon d’Or.
A month later, Osimhen finished eighth on the list and became the first Nigerian to be named in the top 10 of the Ballon d’Or. He was also the highest-ranking African, finishing ahead of Egypt’s Mohammed Salah, who placed 11th.
Oshoala finished 20th in the women’s category en route to her record-extending sixth CAF women’s Footballer of the Year award on December 11 while Osimhen was crowned the 2023 CAF Men’s ‘Player of the Year.
Yet Osimhen’s award was even more remarkable as he became the first Nigerian men’s footballer to win the CAF award in 24 years.
The Super Eagles striker garnered the highest number of votes to defeat Egypt’s Mohammed Salah and Achraf Hakimi of Morocco to win the coveted individual as he joined the illustrious list of his compatriots who had been previously so honoured.
The previous Nigerian winners includes Rashidi Yekini (1993), Emmanuel Amuneke (1994), Victor Ikpeba (1997) and Nwankwo Kanu, who won the prize twice in 1996 and 1999.
Indeed, 2023 will be a year to remember in Nigerian football as the country also produced Super Falcons and Paris FC goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie , as the CAF’ Goalkeeper of The Year while the Falcons’ show at the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand earned them the National Team of The Year gong.
On the pitch, other feats recorded by Nigeria on the continent in 2023 were the qualifications of both the Super Eagles and the Super Falcons for next year’s AFCON and WAFCON respectively.
Osimhen was the AFCON qualifiers top scorer with 10 goals as Nigeria topped its group with 15 points. On the other hand, the Falcons reached the tournament billed for Morocco after beating Cape Verde 7-1 on aggregate.
Below are other potpourri of events that made the headlines across Nigerian sports in 2023.
HIGH-FLYING SUPER FALCONS
Super Falcons were one of three African countries to cruise to the round of 16 of the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. They won the hearts of fans globally with their spirited display and qualification from a seemingly tough group that had Olympic champions Canada, co-hosts Australia and Republic of Ireland. They however, defied the odds by staying unbeaten in the group stage with five points before they were knocked out on penalties by England in the round of 16.
Yet the preparation of the Super Falcons for the 2023 Women’s Cup was mired in controversy after coach Randy Waldrum complained about the team’s abysmal preparation for the tournament. He also revealed that the NFF owed him seven months’ salary.
The American said some players were also owed “per diem and bonuses” from two years ago and this expectedly led to a frosty relationship with the NFF.
Two days before the start of the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Tobi Amusan was cleared by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) to compete, one month after she was provisionally suspended for three whereabout tests failures. Amusan is the first ever Nigerian world champion and world record holder in an athletics event when she won the 2022 World Championships 100 m hurdles gold medal, setting the current world record of 12.12 seconds (+0.9m/s) in the semi-final, followed up by a 12.06 seconds (+2.5m/s) in the final.
But she was unable to defend her title at the 2023 World Championships held in Budapest where she finished sixth in the final held on 24 August, in the race won by Jamaica’s Danielle Williams. Three weeks later, she capped her season with a third successive Diamond League title in a time of 12.33secs.
DOMINANT D’TIGRESS
Just a few weeks before the 28th edition of the AfroBasket Women held between 28 July and 5 August 2023 in Kigali, Rwanda, the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) employed former national team player, Rena Wakama as the replacement for Otis Hughley, the coach who had led D’Tigress to three consecutive continental titles.
The federation also overhauled the team, with the squad for the 2023 Afrobasket compiled following open try-outs in Chicago, Lagos, and Abuja. But the absence of the known experienced players had little consequence as the newcomers led by Amy Okonkwo steamrolled teams to get to the finals, where they also defeated Senegal 84-74 points to claim Nigeria’s fourth consecutive Afrobasket title. They also equalled the record set by Senegal in 1981 when they lifted the crown in Rwanda. Wakama became the first female coach to win the competition since its inception in 1966.
But there was little to cheer about their men’s counterparts as D’Tigers failed to qualify for the basketball event of the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris.
It is the first time the national men’s basketball team would miss the Olympics since Beijing 2008 after failing to secure a ticket at the FIBA Olympic pre-qualification tournament held, ironically, in Lagos.
QUADRI, OSHONAIKE RULE WAVES IN TABLE TENNIS
In September, Nigeria table tennis star, Quadri Aruna successfully defended his ITTF Africa Senior Championships crown, defeating Egypt’s Ahmed Saleh 4-0 (11-2, 12-10, 11-6, 11-6) in the men’s singles final in Tunisia.
The 35-year-old made a light work of the Egyptian to win his third continental title. He won the second title last year in Algeria with a 4-3 close win against Egypt’s Omar Assar. He had to come back from two sets down to achieve that feat.
Meanwhile, ageless 47-year-old Funke Oshonaike combined with Fatimo Bello to win gold in the women’s doubles event at the 2023 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) African championship in Tunisia as the Nigerian duo defeated Cameroon’s Sarah Hanffou and Egypt’s Marwa Alhod in the final.
ENYIMBA IN NINTH NPFL’S HEAVEN
Two-time CAF Champions League winners Enyimba FC reigned supreme as the most successful football team in the country by winning a record-extending ninth Nigeria Premier Football League title in Lagos. The People’s Elephant edged Remo Stars by superior goal difference to clinch the title during a keenly contested Super 6 tournament in Lagos.
CRICKETERS GET CRACKING
Nigeria recorded significant improvements in cricket in 2023. It started with the women’s senior national team, the Female Yellow Greens, winning the NCF T20i tournament in Lagos just as their male counterparts, the Yellow Greens, also won the maiden West Africa Trophy with a 100 per cent record in Lagos. Before the men’s triumph, Nigeria was selected as one of the countries to host the ICC 2023 Cricket World Cup Trophy. The two-day event, which began in Abuja climaxed in Lagos.
UNSTOPPABLE WRESTING TEAM
Team Nigeria emerged winner of 12 medals including six gold medals, four silver medals and two bronze medals at the 2023 African Wrestling Championship held in Hammamet, Tunisia. The medal winners at the 2023 African Wrestling Championship include Olympic medallist Blessing Oborodudu who won gold to becomes 12-time African champion. Others that won gold medals are Mercy Genesis (50kg), Christianah Ogunsanya , Adegoke Jumoke (55kg), Mercy Adekuoroye (57kg) and Ebi Biogos (72kg).
The silver medalists were Patience Opuene (59kg), Esther Kolawole (62kg), Hannah Reuben (76kg) and Ebipatei Moghenbofa (65kg).
With the victory, Nigeria retained its team title in female wrestling, to become 12-time African female wrestling champions.
Meanwhile, there is also Odunayo Adekuoroye’s majestic march to the next year’s Olympics as the three -time Commonwealth Games wrestling champions, Odunayo ye booked her ticket to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in France.
World number 22, Adekuoroye, earned her placement at next year’s games after winning bronze at the 2023 World Wrestling Championships in Belgrade, Serbia as defeated World number 12 Elvira Kamaloglu of Turkey 9-5 points in the 57 kg category to become the first Nigerian wrestler to pick a ticket to the games. She has now qualified for her third consecutive Olympic Games after appearing at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.
WONDERFUL WEIGHTLIFTERS
Nigeria’s Weightlifters finished the 2023 African Weightlifting Championships with 12 medals made up of three gold, seven silver and two bronze medals in the championships held in Tunisia.
The two Nigeria’s Weightlifters, Rafiat Lawal and Adijat Adenike Olarinoye who competed in the women’s 59kg category won three gold and three silver medals respectively in Snatch, Clean and Jerk and Total. They both lifted 217kg and 211kg in that order. While the duo of Joy Ogbonne Eze and Edidiong Umofia bagged four more silver and two bronze medals at the competition that also doubles as the Paris 2024 Olympic qualifier in Women’s 71kg and Men’s 73kg.
Meanwhile, Nigeria consolidated her Olympic Games qualification aspirations as two lifters, Ayodele Ruth Imoleayo and Folashade Rafiatu Lawal made it into the top 10 positions in the IWF Championship.
GLORIOUS RETURN OF NIGERIAN BOXERS TO OLYMPICS
The Nigerian trio of Cynthia Ogunsemilore, Omole Dolapo and Olaore Olaoitan have qualified to represent Nigeria at the boxing event of the 2024 Paris Olympics. The trio achieved the feat after clinching gold medals in their respective weight divisions at the Olympics Africa Boxing qualifiers in Dakar, Senegal.
Omole defeated Leta Fikremariyam Yadesa from Ethiopia in the men’s 57kg to win a gold medal and clinch the ticket.
In the men’s 92kg, Olaore won gold after out boxing Algeria’s Houmri Mohamed to earn another Olympic berth for Nigeria.
Similarly, Ogunsemilore beat Khelif Hadjila from Algeria in the women’s 60kg final to win gold.
ATHLETICS DROWN IN DOPING
Athletics which hitherto used to be Nigeria’s medal warehouse at international competition only dominated the headlines in 2023 with doping issues.
Apart from the ruse that was the doping charges against Tobi Amusan’s for missing three mandatory whereabouts test, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) handed Divine Oduduru, the Nigerian sprinter, a six-year ban for breaching two anti-doping rules. Also , Grace Nwokocha was given a three-year ban for using prohibited substances in October.
SENATOR ‘JOE’ REPLACES SUNDAY DARE AS MINISTER
Of course, how can we forget the appointment of Senator John Owan Enoh fondly called Senator JOE by admirers as the minister of Sports in August President Bola Ahmed Tinubu unveiled his cabinet.
Senator JOE replaced Sunday Dare to become the country’s 36th minister of sports. A farmer and philanthropist, Enoh has brought to bear an uncommon consultative approach to management in the hitherto troubled ministry and it goes without saying that he would be on the spot in 2024 as the country chase honours across all sports particularly at the 34th Africa Cup of Nations to be held in Cote d’Ivoire between January 13 and February 11 as well as the Paris 2024 Olympics Games holding in France between July 26 and August 11.
Death is a debt that every human being has to pay, irrespective of class, creed, race, and social status.While many celebrities died in 2022, the outgoing year will also go down in the annals of world history as another year when human lives were lost to a single incident. At the last count, about 20,000 Palestinians have lost their lives to the Hamas-Israeli war. Fortunately, the number of deaths recorded in the outgoing years is far better than what the world witnessed in 2020 when COVID-19 ravaged the world. In this write-up, GBENGA ADERANTI looks at world leaders, politicians, and celebrities who passed on in 2023.
JANUARY
Peace Anyiam-Osigwe
On January 10 when the death of the Nigerian prominent filmmaker, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe was announced, the entertainment industry was shaken to its foundation.
A recipient of the national honour, ‘Member of the Order of the Federal Republic, ‘ and fondly called ‘The Queen of Nollywood Movies,’ Peace Anyiam-Osigwe also directed the first music video of hip-hop sensation, P-Square.
She also founded the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) and was president, the Association of Movie Producers (AMP).
According to a report, Anyiam-Osigwe had stated in her last Instagram post that she was taking a “coffee break” before her death.
Anyiam-Osigwe died on Monday, January 9 at 53 in a Lagos hospital.
Sunday Akanbi Akinola
Nollywood actor, Chief Sunday Akanbi Akinola, aka Baba Feyikogbon, also passed away on January 9, 2023.
The actor, born on September 19, 1942, was no stranger to the viewers of Feyikogbo, a Yoruba weekly drama on NTA Channel 7 in the 1980s and 90s.
His problem started when he was diagnosed with kidney and hypertension, he later died at age 80.
Contrary to his posture on the screen, he was never a rich man. He once said during an interview that acting only gave him fame without fortune.
At the height of his sickness, the actor was cap in hand to raise 30 million naira to travel abroad to treat kidney failure and hypertension.
Uchenna Ikonne
PDP governorship candidate in Abia State in the 2023 governorship election, Uchenna Ikonne, also died on Wednesday, January 25 at the National Hospital Abuja after a brief illness
He was a professor and former Vice Chancellor of the Abia State University, Uturu, Abia State.
In February, the former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Enugu State Branch, and the Labour Party candidate for Enugu East Senatorial district, Oyibo Chukwu, was reportedly killed on February 22, three days before the election.
Oyibo, a lawyer, was said to have been attacked while returning from a campaign trip in the Agbani area.
He was said to have been burnt inside his vehicle, and three persons were suspected to be with him in the vehicle.
MARCH
Ojo Arowosafe
Veteran Nollywood actor, Ojo Arowosafe, popularly known as Fadeyi Oloro, died on Tuesday, March 7, at the age of 66, after a protracted illness.
Fadeyi Oloro who featured prominently in many celluloid films, including ‘Agbo Meji,’ produced by the World Black Films in the 90s, and other TV programmes including ‘Arelu,’ was popularly known for his grasp of Yoruba incantations, little wonder, most producers were comfortable giving him the role of a villain in their flicks.
He was born September 15, 1957 in Igbara-Odo, Ekiti State.
While battling with an ailment, he once called on Nigerians to help him financially to take care of his health.
Peter Nweke
The murder of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain Peter Nweke in Ebonyi State, generated a lot of media buzz.
Nweke was said to have died on March 18 as a result of injuries he sustained from attacks by hoodlums suspected to be political thugs during the governorship and state assembly elections in the state.
Nweke’s younger brother, Samson Nweke, said that his brother was beaten to a coma by thugs.
The AK-47 rifles-wielding assailants were said to have invaded Nweke’s Polling Unit 10, Ogboji ward, Ezza North LGA Ebonyi State.
Nweke’s younger brother accused some political opponents of being behind the attack.
APRIL
Peter Pan
Osajele Aizegbeobor Enahoro aka ‘Peter Pan’ was a Nigerian journalist and publisher, he died on April 24 in London at the age of 88.
At 27, he edited a national newspaper, the youngest Nigerian journalist to achieve that feat.
He served as a sub-editor, features editor, (the Nigerian) Sunday Times editor, editor of the Daily Times, and editor-in-chief of Times Group.
His column in the old Daily Times, Peter Pan’s column, was torn in the flesh of many politicians and top military personnel.
Enahoro escaped from Nigeria in 1966, fearing for his life after the 15 January coup.
In 2015, when he turned 80, while reflecting on the role of the media in national development, he told the Daily Trust that newspapers are very good at saying what is wrong. But we are not yet very good at suggesting what can be done to heal it so that we don’t become part of the problem.
He wrote four books: How to be a Nigerian (1966), You gotta cry to laugh! (1972), The Complete Nigerian (2016) and Then Spoke the Thunder (2009).
MAY
The month of May could be described as probably one of the most unfortunate months in 2023. Hardly did a day pass without hearing reports about the death of one prominent Nigerian or the other.
Chris Mba
On May 3, 2023, one of the popular pop artistes in the 80s, Chris Mba, died at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) after a protracted heart-related disease.
At the height of his career, he released hit songs including ‘Baby Don’t Cry,’ ‘A Little Touch,’ ‘Oke Ochicho (Greediness), ‘Funky Situation,’ ‘We Need Each Other,’ ‘Love Everlasting,’ among others.
The news of his death was made public by the General Manager, Premier Music, Michael Odiong.
Mike Onyemachara
A day after the death of Chris Mba, the death of an ex-Nigerian youth international Mike Onyemachara was announced.
Onyemachara was said to have died at the age of 53 in Ajegunle, a suburb of Lagos.
The former defender played for First Bank of Lagos and was part of the Nigerian team that won Silver at the FIFA Under 20 World Cup competition held in Saudi Arabia.
He was reportedly healthy when his wife left for work and kids left for school only for them to return and found that the food served to him on the table was not touched and that he had died.
Saint Obi
The angel of death struck again on May 7, as ace actor Saint Obi reportedly passed on at the age of 57.
Saint Obi, born Obinna Nwafor, was said to have battled an undisclosed ailment before he eventually died on May 7 at his family house in Jos.
Saint Obi came into the acting scene in 1996 after featuring in a commercial for Peugeot on NTA.
He featured in over 250 films including, ‘Take Me to Maama,’ ‘Candle Light,’ ‘State of Emergency,’ ‘Sakobi,’ ‘Goodbye Tomorrow,’ ‘ Heart of Gold,’ ‘ Festival of Fire,’ ‘ Executive Crime,’ and ‘Last Party.’
Saint Obi was born on 16 November 1965 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Soji Adagunodo
The harvest of deaths in the first week did not recede as the unfortunate incident continued in the second week.
The first prominent Nigerian to pass on in the second week of May was the Southwest Vice-Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Soji Adagunodo who died on May 9, 2023.
Adagunodo was said to have died in a hospital in the United States of America after a protracted ailment.
Murphy Afolabi
It will be difficult to forget in a hurry the light-complexioned Yoruba actor, producer, and director, Murphy Afolabi who died on Sunday, May 14, 2023, at the age of 49. He died nine days after celebrating his 49th birthday.
Those who knew him said he had a very good relationship with the people in his industry, little wonder many of them were always willing to work with him.
Born on 5 May 1974, he obtained a diploma in Theatre Arts and Film Production from Osun State Polytechnic in Iree, Osun State. He was an actor and director, known for Wasila Coded Reloaded (2022), Jimi Bendel (2016) and One Blood.
Tina Turner
Tina Turner, born Mae Bullock, was described as the ‘Queen of Rock’n Roll’. She was one of the most successful American female rock stars in the United States.
She died May 24 in her home at Kusnach, near Switzerland at the age of 83. Some months before, she lost his son Ronnie to the cold hand of death.
She was diagnosed with intestinal cancer in 2016 and had a kidney transplant in 2017.
In her 50-year music career, she won 23 awards and 32 nominations
She became one of the most commercially successful international female rock stars.
Her sultry, powerful voice, incredible legs, time-tested beauty and her unforgettable story all contributed to her legendary status.
JUNE
Silvio Berlusconi
Former Italian President and the owner of AC Milan football Club Silvio Berlusconi died on June 12 at the age of 86.
The billionaire media mogul was the longest-serving Italian premier.
Before he finally passed on, he was reported to have spent 45 days being treated for a lung infection and chronic leukemia at the same hospital, before being discharged three weeks later.
JULY
Ajose-Adeogun Mobolaji
The First Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Mobolaji Ajose-Adeogun, passed on July 1, at 96.
He was appointed the Minister of Federal Capital in 1976 by the Murtala Mohammed military administration and served in the position till 1979.
President Bola Tinubu, in a tribute described the late nonagenarian as an eminent statesman for his contributions to national development.
AUGUST
Taiwo Odukoya
If death were to be an entity to be kept in a pouch, the leadership and members of The Fountain of Life Church, Ilupeju, Lagos would surely do so without blinking an eyelid.
On 10 December 2005, Bimbo Odukoya, the wife of the Senior Pastor of The Fountain of Life Church, Taiwo Odukoya, died in an air crash in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Pastor Taiwo remarried a South African woman, Nomthi. Unfortunately, death came knocking again on November 9, 2021 and Nomthi was taken away,
The late Nomthi was said to have battled cancer for two years.
Unfortunately on August 7, 2023, Pastor Taiwo Odukoya died in the USA. Though the cause of his death was not made public, a source said he never got out of the shock of losing his twin sister, a few weeks after losing his second wife.
Announcing his passage, the church posted on Facebook: “The Fountain of Life Church Family, in total submission to the will of God Almighty, announces the passing unto greater glory of our Father, our teacher, a great servant of the Most High God, Pastor Daniel Taiwo Odukoya, founding pastor of The Fountain of Life Church, who passed unto glory on August 7, 2023, in the USA. We are in total submission to you LORD!!! We thank the Lord for the gift of a great leader!!!”
Pastor Odukoya was born on June 15, 1956, in Kaduna State where he was also raised, studied Petroleum Engineering at the University of Ibadan, Oyo State.
Yevgeny Prigozhin
The death of the Wagner mercenary group leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, who staged a short-lived mutiny against Russia’s military shook the entire world.
Many had thought that the insurrection against Russian President Vladimir Putin would change the course of the Russian-Ukrainian war, and nobody had suspected that he would die the way he did.
He died after a jet went down northwest of Moscow on Wednesday, August 23.
While the Russian government had continued to deny involvement in the ill-fated plane crash, many have continued to point fingers at the Russian President as being the brain behind the unfortunate incident.
Prigozhin was among 10 people who died when a private plane crashed outside Moscow on Wednesday, August 23.
His death was confirmed by the Russian authorities on Sunday after investigators said that genetic testing showed that the victims of the plane crash matched all the names on the jet’s manifest. The confirmation put an end to days of speculation over whether Mr. Prigozhin had died.
A day after the crash, President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia spoke of Mr. Prigozhin in the past tense and offered condolences to the families of the crash victims. U.S. officials said they believed that the likeliest cause of the crash was an explosion on board. They also suggested that Mr. Putin had ordered Mr. Prigozhin’s killing.
SEPTEMBER
Mohbad
There was never a time in the history of Nigeria that the death of an artiste was met with frenzy like that of Mohbad.
Born Ilerioluwa Aloba, the afrobeat star died on 12 September in Lagos at the age of 27.
His death was greeted with anger and protests as there were a series of conspiracy theories surrounding his death.
While many had blamed his death on some people in the music industry, and the investigations still ongoing, the only thing that was confirmed was the fact that the young man was administered a tetanus vaccine by an unlicensed nurse. Nobody has been able to link the vaccine with his death.
For many days, there were protests in many parts of the Southern part of the country. It took the ingenuity of the Nigerian Police Force to stop Mobad’s death from being turned into a violent protest.
Akintola Williams
Nigeria’s first chartered accountant Pa Akintola Williams, died at 104. Williams died in his house in Lagos on Monday, September 11, 2023.
He was the first president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).
Akintola Williams was also the first president of the Association of Accountants in Nigeria in 1960 and a pioneer in the development of the Nigerian capital market. He was a founding member of the Nigerian Stock Exchange and served on its board of directors for many years.
OCTOBER
Umaru Shehu
Professor Umaru Shehu who died October 2 was the first northerner to become a professor of community health, and also a foundation student of the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Oyo State.
He was a recipient of national honour, Commander of the Order of Niger (CON).
Until he died at the age of 92 in Maiduguri, Borno State, he was a world-renowned scholar with many publications to his credit and membership in international and local professional bodies.
A Professor Emeritus of Community Medicine, the University of Maiduguri, Borno State don was also the founder of the Kanem Borno Historical and Cultural Foundation and a co-founder of the Borno Elders Forum.
The late professor was a founding fellow of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, the West African College of Physicians, the Nigerian Academy of Science, and the Faculty of Community Medicine in Nigeria.
His remarkable achievements and unwavering commitment to the field of medicine earned him the esteemed titles of Honorary Consultant Physician in 1991 and Professor Emeritus in 2000.
Christopher Oladipo Ogunbanjo
Chief Christopher Oladipo Ogunbanjo died October 7, at 99, two months before his 100th birthday.
An Ijebu High Chief and a corporate lawyer, he was born in 1932 in Ogun State, Southwest Nigeria.
He was a recipient of national honour, Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).
In the late 1960s, the late Ogunbanjo was among the group of businessmen who supported local equity participation in foreign firms operating in Nigeria.
He was also part of several top companies such as West African Batteries, Metal Box Toyo, Union Securities, 3M Nigeria, ABB Nigeria, Roche Nigeria, and Chemical and Allied Products Limited.
The Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun in his tributes to the corporate lawyer, described him as “a very cerebral lawyer who combined the knowledge of law with entrepreneurial shrewdness.”
Adamu Fika
Malam Dr. Adamu Fika, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, was a principled man to the core.
Fika (Wazirin Fika), finally succumbed to the cold hand of death on Tuesday, October 24 at the age of 90 after battling a health issue.
Highly principled, the story of how he quit public service is always told and retold.
He was known to have opposed part of the 1988 civil service reform policies of the IBB regime. For example, IBB wanted ministers to be the accounting officers of their ministries, a function hitherto performed by the permanent secretaries. In the opinion of the Wazirin Fika, accountability in the management of public finance was not only about patriotism but beyond it was the imperative of training.
Waziri quit the public service rather than compromise his principles.
In retirement, he served in different capacities including being the Chairman, National Commission for Colleges of Education, March 1989-1990; Administrative Secretary for the government-funded Social Democratic Party, 1990; Chairman, United Bank for Africa (government appointee), January 1990-March 1993; Clerk and Director General of the National Assembly, 1992-1993; Pioneer Chairman, Salaries and Wages Commission, September 1992-March 1993; and Pioneer Chairman, Federal Character Commission, December 1995-March 2001.
Li Keqiang
The former premier of China Li Keqiang had a heart attack on October 27, less than a year after stepping down from his post as the country’s second-highest-ranking leader.
He could not survive the heart attack and died at the age of 68.
He was said to have had a heart attack as he swam at Shanghai’s Dongjiao State Guest Hotel, all rescue measures failed.
Alaba Lawson
The Iyalode of Yorubaland, Chief Alaba Lawson also passed on October 28 some months shy of her 82nd birthday
She served as the first female president of NACCIMA and chairman of the board of the Governing Council, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Ogun State.
Sayyed Reza Mousavi
Senior commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps Sayyed Reza Mousavi was killed in an Israeli airstrike near Damascus, Syria on Christmas day.
He was a senior Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) adviser in Syria.
Mousavi was described by Iranian state television as “among those accompanying Qassem Soleimani,” the Iranian commander who used to lead the Revolutionary Guards’ Quds Force before he was killed in a US drone strike in Iraq in August 2020.
Qasem Soleimani was an Iranian military officer who served in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. From 1998 until his assassination by the U.S. in 2020,
Though Mousavi has since been buried, Iran has vowed to avenge Mousavi’s death.
Dejumo Lewis
Veteran film and television actor Dejumo Lewis known for his role as Kabiyesi in the NTA TV programme ‘The Village Headmaster’.
He died at the age of 80.
Aside featuring in one of the longest running TV soap opera, ‘The Village Headmaster (1968-19880),’ ‘ he also acted in films such as ‘A Place in the Stars,’
‘Abeni,’ ‘Agogo Eewo,’ ‘Crossroads,’ ‘Otelemuye,’ ‘Toru Toru,’ among others.
Expressing his displeasure towards resting of ‘The Village Headmaster’ in an interview, he said “It was sad because it was rested without consultation with even sponsors, producers, and all the stakeholders that were involved in the production. It was just yanked off the scene and that was it. Viewers have been requesting on a daily basis to have the programme back, but the NTA turned a deaf ear to the clamour for it. Even while the creator was alive, he wanted a private production of the programme and he detailed Tunde Oloyede to work on it. But for some uncanny reasons, it just didn’t take off till the man died.”
Ghali Na’Abba
Early in the morning of Wednesday, December 27, the news of the passage of the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Na’Abba was made public by his aide, Ahmed Lawal.
Family sources said that the late Na’Abba battled with the ailment for a long time before passing away.
He was initially flown abroad for medical treatment and stayed there for several months before returning to Nigeria.
Ghali Na’Abba died at the age of 65 at the National Hospital, Abuja.
He is survived by one wife, 10 children and three grandchildren.
The late Na’Abba joined the Peoples Democratic Party, and became the party’s candidate for Kano Municipal Federal Constituency, a position he won during the April 1999 general elections.
He subsequently emerged Speaker of the House of Representatives after the political crisis that led to the exit of the first Speaker of the Fourth Republic, Salisu Buhari.
While many were smarting from the death of the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Na’Abba, made public in the morning of December 27, the public was again hit with the news of the death of the former Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu.
Until the cold hands of death snatched him on that Wednesday morning, he had been in and out of the hospital within and outside Nigeria while battling with prostate cancer before he died in an undisclosed hospital in Germany.
Until his death at the age of 67, Akeredolu served as governor of Ondo State from 24 February 2017 until his death on 27 December.
From 1997 to 1999, Akeredolu was Ondo State’s attorney general. In 1998, he was appointed as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. From 2005 to 2006, he presided over the Legal Aid Council as its chairman.
He also served as the President of the Nigerian Bar Association between 2008 and 2009.
While announcing the passing away of the governor, The late governor’s son, Rotimi Akeredolu (Jnr), in a statement said: “He died peacefully and departed in his sleep at a Hospital in Germany, where he was undergoing treatment for protracted prostate cancer.
“While we are deeply saddened and devastated by his departure, we find solace in the understanding that as he transitions to eternity, he will be guided by the benevolent hands of the angels of light, with whom he resided during his remarkable and fruitful journey on earth.”
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), has called on the Anambra State governor, Professor Charles Soludo to pay contractors the sum of N900 million owed them for supplying Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) to power streetlights before they were stopped.
According to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Chairman of IPMAN, Enugu Depot Community in charge of Anambra, Ebonyi, and Enugu states, Mr Chinedu Anyaso, made the appeal in Awka on Friday.
According to Anyaso, the contractor had complied with the directive of the government to return all the generators in their custody in a bid to recover their debts when the contracts were terminated.
The IPMAN chair warned that marketers in the state may have to suspend operations without further notice until the state government paid them.
He said the marketers were heavily indebted to their lenders and their businesses were being distressed because of their trapped capital.
Anyaso said IPMAN had written the Anambra government to inform it that they had met the conditions set for them to pay the marketers their money.
A copy of the letter which was made available to journalists, said the IPMAN general assembly was eagerly waiting for the response of the Anambra government to their demand.
The letter, titled: ‘Request For Debt Payment of N900,664,805.00 owed our members for Diesel supplied and Services Rendered in Respect Of Street Lights,’, was addressed to the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs
“We refer to your response on the above subject, dated Nov. 3 on the report of some vendors that are yet to return some of the government-owned generator sets allotted to them for the street lights projects.
“Be informed, Sir, that all the generators have been fully returned to the government.
“We, therefore, humbly request that the debt payments owed our members for diesel supplied and services rendered be treated and paid as promised,” it said.
BBNaija reality TV star, Josephina Ijeoma Itabor, popularly known as Phyna has compared her previous life to the newfound life after she was ushered into fame.
The Nation reported that Phyna has been in the news in recent times for many reasons, which includes her abortion statement, hair rental saga, clash with Beauty and Groovy, and many other scandals.
Phyna, during an interview on Hero’s Therapy, disclosed that she is not happy and that she wishes to go to a place where she can stay alone without anyone around her and surrounded by only water and fresh air.
She added that she used to be a happy person until fame because there were places she could easily go and have fun without being noticed until she became who she is now.
“I just wish there can be a place I will go and stay, that it is only my house that will be there. Every other thing should just be water. Like I don’t want to be seeing anybody, but I just want to have my phone. I am tired”, she said.
Popular gospel artiste, Ada Ehi Moses has urged netizens to engage fervently in the place of prayers in order to avert uprising in the country and Lagos state.
The singer took to her X account, asking Nigerians to have no fear but pray for the nation and Lagos in particular.
Ada asserted that she had a similar dream with her husband last night and urged Nigerians to pray intently and passionately.
She wrote: “Have no fear. PRAY! Last night, my husband and I had a very similar dream. Pray against terror attacks in Lagos and Nigeria. Please pray intently and passionately.
Felix Duke, president of Creative Industry Group (CIG) and a friend of Emeka Ike, has alleged that Suzanne Emma, the veteran actor’s ex-wife, is not a positive influence, claiming she encouraged their son to turn against his father.
Duke disclosed this in a post via his official Instagram page, in response to the recent turmoil surrounding the collapse of the Nollywood actor’s marriage.
The Nation reported that Emeka Ike’s ex-wife granted an interview where she accused the actor of physical assault.
Duke clarified that he had made several attempts to resolve the marital crisis from the beginning, saying that Emeka was a close friend even before his marriage to Suzanne.
Duke claimed to have arranged a meeting with the former couple before they went to court, adding that they met at a hotel in Ogudu, Kosofe Local Government Area, Lagos State.
Despite Suzanne Emma acting like everything was fine during the meeting, Duke revealed that after she left, the couple fell back into a crisis.
He emphasised that all his efforts to reconcile them were in vain, as Emma refused to heed his pleas, having already made up her mind to end the marriage for reasons known only to her.
Felix Duke wrote: “When Emma took Emeka to court, I was there. I went to court with Emeka. Emeka truly loved this woman but I believe she never loved him the way he loved her. From day one before Emeka met Emma, I have been friends with him.
“When he met Emma, he called me and told me, that it was so many years ago. He said there is this girl I met and I would want you to meet her and he brought Emma and introduced her to me. I was at their marriage when they had Micheal (first child), I was at the naming, Emeka was also at my marriage so many years ago. So we have been friends.
“I can tell you what Emeka went through. He was depressed after Emma left him, crying every day. I pet him and sometimes weep with him when he is crying.
“We kept praying together and I told him one day you will find love and he asked me: are you sure I will ever find love and I assured him he would.
“I followed Emeka to court and the judge told two of them to go outside the courtroom and talk and see if they can reconcile, but if they can’t, then they come back in, and he declared his judgment.
“When the judge told them that; myself, Emeka Ike and his wife, went out, and Emeka knelt down right in my presence to beg Emma, I even joined Emeka to beg her, but she refused.”
“Emma abandoned the school to run down because she was already out of the marriage. Emeka did not know that she was out of the marriage. Emeka still thought that he had a wife in Emma.
Speaking on Emeka Ike’s son, Michael’s reaction, Duke stated: “He will go on social media to insult his father. Tomorrow he will go and beg his father. How is he going to erase all the nonsense he already said on social media?
“He expects his father to forgive him and take him back after all these? His mother pushed him to go and say rubbish against his father. This is to show that Emma isn’t a good woman. Who will want to do this to her son?”
Calling out Shan George for supporting Emma, Felix Duke added: “Has she visited Emeka Ike and his wife in their home at Magodo or did she ever visit their school? How did she know that Emma did not do anything wrong to Emeka?
“How can one person that doesn’t know anything about this whole saga, just wake up and begin to talk, because she wants to trend?”
Controversial musician, Olalomi Oyegbile, popularly known as Portable has spoken on how lucky his boxing counterpart, Charles Okocha was during their celebrity fight on 26 December, 2023.
He explained why he chose not to unleash his full energy to kill Charles Okocha.
The singer revealed that he wasn’t in his full energy because he had gone for a show performance before turning up for the boxing match.
According to him, he would have unleashed his full energy and would have either caused Charles Okocha a serious injury or kill him.
He said: “I swear to God who made me, if I hadn’t gone to the show that day, despite my stress in the midst of a massive crowd, I was just throwing blows. The blows Charles Okocha was supposed to receive, I delivered them to the people at the show.”
“I was already tired before reaching Charles Okocha’s location, having performed earlier. I was under a lot of stress. If Charles Okocha had faced my full energy, he might have been seriously injured or killed by me.”
