The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Behold

  • Behold, a new Obaro of Kabba

    Ah!  What a season of efflorescence it has been for the institution of traditional authority and rulership in post-colonial Nigeria particularly in this political dispensation since 1999. Today, a landmark book, ‘The Benin Monarchy: An Anthology of Benin History’ written under the authority and warrant of His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, Oba of Benin is being presented to the public at the Oba’s Palace in Benin City. The ancient throne of the Benin Kingdom continues to enjoy far greater prestige and reverence among the people than any democratically elected government can hope to do.

    On Monday this week, the Alaafin of Oyo, Iku baba yeye, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, marked his 80th birthday to wide acclaim within and far beyond his domain. The youthful Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, who clocked 44 on October 17, continues to exhibit wisdom and exude a charm and quiet dignity that belies his age.  Every year the annual Ojude Oba festival through which the industrious Ijebu pay obeisance and homage to their highly revered traditional ruler, the Awujale of Ijebu land, Oba Sikiru Adetona, grows ever more glamorous and elaborate.

    From the Sultanate of Sokoto to the Emirate of Kano and right across the North, the traditional institution continues to be the object of immense awe and adoration.  In his slim classic, ‘The Trouble with Nigeria’ published about three and a half decades ago, the great Professor Chinua Achebe noted that even the republican Igbo who once prided themselves on having no king have embraced the  institution of traditional authority with remarkable gusto. The inimitable novelist estimated at the time that there could be no less than 400 traditional rulers in the old Anambra State. It will be interesting to take a census of the situation today!

    So intrigued was the noted political scientist, Professor Richard Sklar, with the persistence and resilience of the institution of traditional authority in post-colonial Africa that in 1993 he published an in depth study of what he called the phenomenon of ‘dual authority’ in postcolonial Africa. He was referring to the co-habitation in African polities of modern sovereign state structures which possess electoral mandates and/or monopoly of control over the instruments of coercion with unelected traditional authorities that retain considerable influence and legitimacy despite their denudation of all legislative, executive and judicial authority as a result of the colonial encounter.

    Yet, despite the reality that stares them in the face, some African scholars and thinkers continue to live in an illusory world as regards the continuing, even increasing, relevance of traditional political institutions in post colonial Africa. For instance, in their 1989 discourse, ‘Integrating the Past with the Present: A Futile Exercise?”, Professor A. Badejo and S.A. Ogunyemi contend that “The institution of traditional rulership is an historical relic that belongs to antiquity. These relics of bygone instruments of oppression which are a constant reminder of uneven social development and sociological disunity in Africa are irrelevant to a society currently subject to the objective laws of capitalism controlled from the Western seats of capitalism”.

    They are supported by Professor Ekong E. Ekong who, in another article in the same book, submits that “In Nigeria, if we sincerely desire to build a strong and united nation, we cannot afford to retain a traditional government at the grassroots and expect to superimpose a successfully run non-traditional government at the state and federal levels”. Mercifully these kinds of theoretical flights of fancy are effectively counteracted by a scholar like Ilufoye Sarafa Ogundiya who, in another publication in 2005 contends that “traditional rulers are vital to governance in contemporary Nigeria and equally vital to the search for national integration. These rulers continue to wield tremendous influence among their people and in their communities, despite attempts to make them irrelevant to constitutional governance and the political process over the years”.

    The veracity of Ogundiya’s submission is confirmed by the sheer excitement that has gripped the ancient Kabba community of Kogi State since the announcement by the Kogi State government of the appointment of His Royal Majesty, Oba Solomon Dele Owoniyi, Obaro Otitoleke Oweyomade 1, as the 44th Obaro of Kabba and Chairman of Okun Traditional Council. The new Obaro will be formally presented with his Staff of Office today by the Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, at the prestigious Saint Augustine’s College field at 10am. Oba Solomon Dele Owoniyi succeeds his highly revered predecessor, Oba Michael Olobayo, who joined his ancestors in May 2016 having reigned for over three decades.

    Born on January 1, 1957, in Ile-Ife, Osun State into the family of Mr and Mrs Owoniyi, Oba Solomon Dele Owoniyi started his primary education in the ancient city in 1964 before moving to Saint Andrew’s Primary School, Egbeda, Kabba, Kogi State in 1966 where he obtained his first School Leaving Certificate in 1970. He was admitted into Ijumu Anglican Secondary School, Iyara, Kogi State in 1971 and graduated from the institution in 1975. Thereafter, in the same year, the new monarch was admitted into the Jos Campus of the University of Ibadan for his preliminary studies. In 1976, Oba Owoniyi and other undergraduates of the institution were moved to Ibadan, the mother campus, where he graduated with a degree in history in 1979. Showing a foretaste of things to come and his tremendous leadership potentials and love for his community, Oba Owoniyi served with distinction as National President of Kabba Students Union in 1978.

    After his compulsory one year participation in the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) scheme in Niger State, the new monarch was employed as a News Editor with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) where he served with characteristic diligence and industry until 1988 when he joined the Nigeria Custom Service (NCS). Oba Owoniyi retired from the NCS in 2015 having risen to the position of Deputy Comptroller of Customs. Married and blessed with children, Oba Owoniyi perfectly fits the bill of a noble personage described by the Yoruba as ‘Atobatele’, one who had always exuded royal bearing, carriage and responsibility ever before ascending the throne. This is particularly because of his philanthropic disposition to the downtrodden and unrivalled commitment to the development and progress of Owe land.

    Of course, given the immense prestige of the Obaro throne, there were other illustrious contenders for the office apart from Oba Owoniyi. This has always been the case not just in Owe land but across Yoruba land. Indeed, some claimants to the throne had even gone to court apparently in futility to stop the installation of the new monarch. But the overwhelming sentiment is that with the emergence of the new Obaro, all stakeholders in the peace, progress and development of Kabba and Okun land in general should sheath their swords and join hands with the new Obaro in strengthening unity and stability in the community as a basis for accelerated positive transformation.

    Given his rich administrative and managerial experience as well as his deep immersion in the mores and traditions of his people, Oba Owoniyi certainly has what it takes to forge an enhanced sense of community and harmony in Owe land while running an inclusive traditional administrative style that carries all along. It is widely acknowledged that Kabba, indeed Okun land, is endowed with tremendous natural, agricultural, touristic and other potentials that remain largely untapped. A versatile traditional ruler like Oba Owoniyi can contribute significantly to complementing the developmental efforts of the state government and also in mobilizing the people for the arduous and challenging task of self development.

    In his aforementioned thesis on the concept of ‘dual authority’ in Africa, Professor Sklar posits powerfully that “The African national governments are fragile, and there is great need for authority based on consent of the governed. In this circumstance, a separate source of authority, embedded in tradition, could powerfully reinforce social discipline without abandonment of democratic forms of government. The rejuvenation of traditional authority would not, then, imply a resurgence of either “feudalism” or political oligarchy”.

    And in his classic, ‘The Black Man’s Burden: Africa and the curse of the Nation State’, the famous late Africanist, Basil Davidson, contends, with the then Gold Coast as the specific example, that Africa’s post-colonial history and destiny could most likely have been radically different if at the end of the colonial era power had been “returned to acknowledged African chiefs and kings” who “were often persons of genuine authority and expertise who drew their status and prestige from a long pre-colonial history, in itself one of successive changes and developments”. He continues: “To reject their claims to take over from the British when Britain withdrew must be tantamount to rejecting the claims of Africa’s self-development through countless centuries. In that case the institutions of renewed African independence would have to evolve out of a void, or rather out of the utterly different history of England”.

    As the new Obaro receives his staff of office today, there is widespread expectation and hope that the king will build on the successes of his predecessor and help elevate Kabba and Okun land to a new pedestal of peace, prosperity and progress. May God Almighty help Kabiyesi in the no mean task ahead.

  • Behold the revivalist Bishop of Lagos

    Monday 30th July, 2018 will remain significant and memorable for the Diocese of Lagos, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion).

    It was the day the Diocese enthroned a new Diocesan Bishop, Right Reverend (Dr) Humphrey Bamisebi Olumakaiye, to take over from Most Reverend Adebola Ademowo who retired gloriously after serving for 29 years as Bishop of the Church of Nigeria and Archbishop of the Lagos Province.

    The enthronement, which was quite serene, was at the same time colourful due to the array of dignitaries who graced the occasion. Not less than 62 Bishops representing the hierarchy of the church were joined by eminent personalities from all walks of life across the country.

    Members of the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos also adorned beautiful attires to celebrate the day.

    The church auditorium was filled to capacity while worshippers and guests who could not find seats inside had to sit under canopies outside the church.

    The ceremony was by all means an historic event, a testimony to the wide acceptance of the new Bishop thus laying to rest the initial apprehensions raised in some quarters following his election.

    In his inaugural address, Bishop Olumakaiye humbly acknowledged the good and unforgettable footprints of his predecessors in the diocese and promised to build and improve on their efforts to lift the diocese to the next level.

    He said he would carry the priests along in this task and would make their welfare a priority. He also recognised the contributions of the various societies in the church and prayed that God would reward them.

    He, however, observed that it may be a hard task for him to surpass the achievements of his immediate predecessor, Bishop Ademowo, whom he said trained and nurtured him in the ministry.

    On the state of the nation, he said the country required divine intervention in her quest for the right and enduring solutions to her challenges.

    He urged Nigerians, both the leaders and the led, to return to God so that the light of God would illuminate the nation thus paving the way for the desired positive changes to manifest.

    He urged Nigerians not to lose faith in the country but to continue to pray and preach the undiluted gospel that will lead to a positive change of the hearts and attitude of all stakeholders.

    Unfolding his plans to take the Diocese to higher level, Bishop Olumakaiye said his top priority would be evangelism and revival of the church, which he noted had been a significant pillar of the evolution of the Anglican Communion since the 18th Century with the emergence of the Church Missionary Society (CMS) that God used to bring revival and awakening to the church.

    He recalled the historic efforts of the early fathers of faith under the CMS who braved all odds, including demonic strongholds to bring the gospel to the dark alleys of Africa.

    He explained that the revival will “target the total man. We will provide for the needs of the people. We will engage in the priestly, prophetic, pastoral, prayer and praise ministries.

    “We shall have diocesan convention ground where we will hold large scale meetings. Our diocese shall exist mainly to exhibit God’s glory.”

     

    • Olamiti (FNGE) is a Media Consultant, Abuja.

  • Behold, Lagos new judges

    The number of high court judges in Lagos has risen to 59, following the swearing in of three new judges last week by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. ADEBISI ONANUGA profiles them.ofiles them

    Lagos State Governor  Akinwunmi Ambode has sworn in three new  High Court judges.

    They are Justices Abiola Soladoye,  Yetunde Pinheiro and Olukayode Ogunjobi.

    While Justices Soladoye and Pinheiro were appointed from the judiciary, Ogunjobi was appointed from private legal practice.

    Their appointment bring to 59 the number of judges in Lagos.

     

    Justice Soladoye

     

    Justice Abiola Oladunni Soladoye (59) rose through the ranks to the position of Chief Registrar, a position she held until her elevation to the bench.

    She is  a 1985 law graduate of the Holbon Law Tutors Greyhound England where she obtained her LL.B and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1986.

    She was appointed a Magistrate in 1997. As the Chief Registrar, she  served as the Probate Registrar, the Official Receiver, the Tax Master and the Sherriff of the High Court of state.

    Prior to becoming the Chief Registrar, she had served as Deputy Chief Registrar (Legal),  Deputy Chief Registrar (Administration), and  Registrar of Titles, Land Registry.

    As a Magistrate, she was appointed to serve on various committees, including Criminal Justice Committee of the UN-ODCCP Pilot Court project in collaboration with state Judiciary, among others.

    Before  joining the state Judiciary, Justice Soladoye did the National Youth Service Corps Scheme (NYSC) with the law firm of Ogunsanya & Ogunsanya  & Co in 1986 and worked there till 1988 before joining  Haisha Investments Company Limited as Company Secretary and Head of Legal from 1988 till 1995.

    She was sponsored by Ford Foundation to work with the Continuing Legal Education Association of Nigeria as an Administrator between 1995 and 1997 before joining the state Judiciary.

    She has attended several professional training and seminars both locally and at internationally.

    She is an associate of some professional bodies, including Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Nigeria) and Soroptimist International.

    A former Vice-Chairman of the Magistrate Association of Nigeria, Lagos Chapter, and member of the Criminal Justice Sector Reform Committee, Lagos State.

     

    Justice  Pinheiro

     

    Justice Yetunde Pinheiro (48),  is a law graduate of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, where she obtained her LL.B in 1991 and Masters in Law (LLM) in 1996. She  was called to the Bar in 1992.

    Justice Pinheiro rose through the ranks to become a Chief Magistrate, having served in various magisterial divisions. As a magistrate, she delivered an average of 150 judgments and 250 rulings yearly.

    Prior  to her appointment as a magistrate, Justice Pinheiro  observed her NYSC programme between 1992 and 1993 and did her primary assignment as Solicitor/Legal Assistant at Agip Oil Plc.

    Her experience in the oil firm increased her interest in private practice. She resigned and joined the law firm of Idowu Sofola & Co, Lagos in 1994 as a Litigation Counsel.

    Justice Pinheiro has attended various conferences, workshops, and seminars.  She attended a labour training course at the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies in 2016; the Commonwealth Magistrates’ and Judges’ Association Conference, University of Brighton in September 2010; Stakeholders summit on ‘Improvement of Case Flow Management Across Criminal Justice Institution’ (2009);  workshop on ‘Promoting Ethics and Integrity at the Magistrate Court’ (2008); Forensic Workshop Series 1 (2009); Interactive Workshop on ‘Administration of Criminal Justice Law’ (2008); ADR Workshop for Magistrates on LMDC Law and Practice Directions on Mediation Procedure (2008); and Computer Appreciation Programme (2008);

    Others were ‘Handling the Criminal Case-Nigerian Magistrates’, National Judicial College, Reno, Nevada (2007); Stakeholders summit on ‘Magistracy and Justice Sector Reform’ (2007); ‘The Magistracy in the 21st Century-The Way Forward’ (2006) and ‘A three-day workshop on ‘Reforms of Civil Procedure Rules (2002), among others.

     

    Justice  Olukayode Ola Ogunjobi

     

    Justice Olukayode Ogunjobi (58)  is a 1986 law graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife where he obtained a LL.B.  He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1987.

    He took part in the NYSC programme between 1987 and 1988 in Aba, Imo State (now Abia State)  and has been in private legal practice since 1989.

    In 1991, Justice Ogunjobi established his law firm, Kayode Ogunjobi & Co. His experience spanned over three decades.

    He is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Lagos Branch and the International Bar Association (IBA).

    He is an attorney with experience in Civil and Criminal Litigation at the state and federal high courts, National Industrial Court, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

    Justice Ogunjobi was a member of the Law and Educational Publishers’ Editorial Team for 44million Volumes of “Encyclopedia  of the Laws of Federal Republic of Nigeria’’. He is also the author of “Pleadings in Civil Procedure: A Reference Practice Guide”, an authoritative text for lawyers in civil litigation.

    He is a member, Executive Committee, Environmental Research Law Institute(ERLI) and a Director, Civil Forum Initiative (CFI), two Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) concerned with Environmental Protection and Civic Education.

  • Behold the new poet laureate

    Behold the new poet laureate

    Few days before the announcement of this year’s Nigeria Prize for Literature, Mike JImoh met Ogaga Ifowodo, Tanure Ojaide and Ikeogu Oke, who were shorlisted. Oke won the crown with his book The Heresiad.

    After a heavy three-course lunch that should otherwise send a non-cautious reporter to sleep, Oke got us on the edge of the sit.

    He had arrived dressed as a Zulu warrior, complete with an Ogbuefi cap, without Shaka’s short fighting sword though, but with a spotless flywhisk nonetheless. His was one sartorial expression that caught you off guard.

    The Heresiad has similarly taken the literary establishment in Nigeria by storm. Nearly 550 lines in heroic couplet, it is Miltonian in scope and took the poet 27 years to write. “I started writing it in 1989 in Calabar,” Oke told me. At the time, he didn’t have the award in mind. Of course, the Nigeria Prize for Literature was still years away. With each passing day, week, month, year, Oke wrote lines upon lines, like a bricklayer, adding a few more blocks until the building is completed.

    Like Lucifer after his fall in Milton’s Paradise Lost and his cohorts making a case for the dethronement of man, the characters in The Heresiad also argue for and against the death of an author who has transgressed a ruler. It is impossible not to think of Salman Rushdie as a model for Zumba, Oke’s embattled protagonist.

    Hear Zumba in one of his moments of distress: “The contours of his worries thus surveyed,/ Our author, Zumba, bent his knees and prayed:/ ‘Gracious monarch, please don’t take my life -/ Spare a thought for Mercy – that’s my wife -/ And our children who, without a crime,/ May lose their father long before their prime.”

    On and on it goes, nearly 600 lines of rhymes going back and forth on whether to kill or spare a writer. In the end, Zumba is saved. It is impossible for any reader not to marvel at Oke’s hard work in The Heresiad, especially the rhyme scheme so effectively deployed. Oke himself acknowledged the influence of Alexander Pope, 18th Century English poet who famously invented heroic couplet.

    “Pope is a poet I read and admire so much,” Oke insists.

    That style is precisely the problem some critics see in The Heresiad. No contemporary poem should be written the way Oke has done. It is like taking writing, poetry this time, several centuries back, to the time of Pope.

    Odia Ofeimun, an accomplished poet, admits that Oke has done enormous work with The Heresiad.

    “Ikeogu is one of our most-enterprising poets and The Heresiad is a particularly ambitious work,” he told me.

    “It comes at you as a laboured text in pursuit of the kind of 18th Century poetic diction that Henry Wardsworth Longfellow damned in his introduction to the Lyrical Ballads. He has turned his back on the poetry of everyday speech to rummage in what he calls, but I would not accept as, heroic couplets. What he has done yields a stylistic dead end that I would not recommend as a model for Nigerian or African poetry in 2017.”

    Asked about that, Oke rose stoutly to his own defence, insisting that “poets should exercise faith in themselves, in their creativity. I don’t think that artists should work according to the prescription of other people. Do your work and have the boldness to produce it and put it out there for people to judge.”

    Oke feels it is an honour to be shortlisted with Ifowodo and Ojaide, whose works he is quite familiar with and who he admires. He also says that if he wins, all well and good. But if he doesn’t, life will go on.

    Life will also go on for Ifowodo and Ojaide if they win or not. When we met Ojaide at the same venue, life seemed to be going swimmingly. Like his contenders, he has been chaperoned all week by staff of LNG at the swank hotel overlooking the ocean, very much like cosseted progenies, making sure everything went well; making sure they lacked nothing.

  • Behold the Forbidden City

    Behold the Forbidden City

    Looking at the entrance, a first timer would not know what lay ahead. The Forbidden City lay quietly in between the Tenement Square and the vast Palace Museum; built during the Ming and Quing dynasties. It represents the enduring and resplendent civilisation of China in many ways through its magnificent architecture; displays of the palace as it was originally furnished; through galleries of Chinese calligraphy and paintings; bronzes; ceramics; jewelry; clocks and other art works from ancient times.

    The Forbidden City accommodates 50,000 visitors daily. Onward they marched in their number. Young, old, men and women from various tribes and races. A wide stretch of land with brilliant architectural designs. Each section was thronged with spectators and tourists alike. Even the natives were not left out.

    The construction of the Forbidden City began in 1407 and was completed in 1420, covering approximately 780,000 square meters. With 9,999 rooms encircled by a 10 meter- high wall, the Forbidden City stands as the highest and most well preserved complex in China. The labourers were well paid to be able to build such nice edifice.

    All the buildings were made of wood and became very dangerous during the dry season. It has been burnt down twice after being struck by lightning in 1420 and 1670. Rebuilt 240 years ago, it has 85 percent of its original plan. Now, there are pins on the roofs to checkmate this. Each building had animals carvings on it.

    Every wooden door in the palace had carvings made of pure gold. Its artistic designs left many in awe.

    The Forbidden City, being a palace of feudal power is divided into two: the outer and inner courts. The outer court was where the emperor held grand ceremonies. In it were: the Hall of Supreme Harmony; the Hall of Central Harmony and the Hall of Preserving Harmony; the Hall of Literary Brilliance and the Hall of Marital Valour.

    The inner court, where the emperor dealt with routine government affairs and lived with his empress and concubines, contains: the Palace of Heavenly Purity; the Hall of Union; the Palace of Earthly Tranquility.

    Following the completion of the Forbidden City, it served as residence for 24 emperors from both dynasties. The different buildings were for different functions. It was called The Forbidden City because nobody was allowed into the complex. It was strictly for the emperor, his family members and palace workers.

     

    The Hall of Supreme Harmony

    This refers to the harmonious co-existence of all creatures in heaven and on earth. In it, important events were held including: celebrations for the New Year; the winter solstice; the emperor’s birthday; enthronement ceremonies; imperial weddings; coronation of empresses and the launching of major military expeditions.

    It features the highest level of decoration with a gold-lacquered throne carved with dragon designs occupies the middle of the hall. Above this throne hangs a tablet. The floor is paved with square bricks made of fine clay.

    Around the Palace were 308 simple yet elegant copper and iron vases to be used for firefighting and were usually filled with water. Whenever the temperatures become low, charcoal will be burnt underneath to prevent the water from freezing. But it was never enough to keep the Palace from burning.

     

    Empress Dowager Chongqing

    In an era when family and state formed a unified system, a son’s position fundamentally affected that of his mother. Consequently, the empress dowager enjoyed supreme status. Even the emperor would refer to himself as her son and subject.

    She lived in the Palace of Longevity and Health for 42 years.

    She was highly regarded for her great virtue and benevolence and for keeping the palace in harmony, for treating her subordinates well and for not intervening in state affairs. So, the Qianlong Emperor, who sought to be the model of filial piety paid the highest respects to her, served her with great reference and showed her his respect by conferring her with nine honorary titles on different occasions.

    In imperial practice, the length and prestige of her title reflects the great esteem her son held for her.

    She died at 86 as one of China’s longest queen mothers.

     

    The life of the Emperor

    The inner courts were the Emperor’s residence where he sits in power till he dies. He is stuck there, because his security is of paramount. That explains why there are no trees.

    The Emperor stays there most of the time in the evening and night. There, he systematically chooses a concubine from a UNIX. For each night, one is chosen either for diplomatic reasons or sometimes, for physical.

    Sometimes, the emperor’s life is not so sweet. He has no freedom of movement and is lonely most of the time.

     

  • Behold her ‘feet of grace’

    Behold her ‘feet of grace’

    Dr Irene Titilola Olumese was a nutrition scientist with the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) for 15 years. She suffered lungs related disease for 20 years, which later resulted in lung transplant. But her resolve to stay alive opened her up to a greater challenge, which has since defined her life and destiny. In a chat with SEYI ODEWALE, she explains how what suddenly changed her course of destiny began. 

    She walked into the reception lobby of the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, that Tuesday with  two men, her husband, Peter and a family friend she held a walking stick that she used to support her gait. Spotting a pair of black trousers and a red, beautiful flowery blouse, the bespectacled Dr Irene Titilola Olumese was full of life. Nothing actually gave her away as an amputee. The former United Nations’ International Children’s Emergency Fund’s (UNICEF’s) nutrition scientist has learnt to carry her cross gracefully and resolved to use her story to change the lives of many hopeless Nigerians, who otherwise would not have had the opportunity of living a meaningful life because of their permanent disability:

     

    My background

     

    I’m a nutrition scientist. I worked for UNICEF for 15 years as a nutrition professional. I stopped working in 2007 because of my health. I’m married to Dr Peter Olumese. We have two sons, who are in the university in the United States (US).

    For 20 years I suffered from chronic respiratory disease called bronchitis. It is a disease of the lungs. This is when the lungs do not work as they should.  This meant that I was coughing nonstop, everyday for those 20 years. It was really a bad cough with a lot of secretions. Sometimes, you find it difficult to breath because of the coughing and in addition, I had a neuromuscular disease called Myasthenia Gravis. What happened was that the muscles of the upper part of my face got weakened.

    The combination of the two made respiration very difficult and I kept having recurrent chest infection because I could not move out the secretions in my lungs as I should. For the first 10 years, it was on and off the hospital, I still continued with my job even though I was coughing every day. It was manageable, having frequent antibiotics therapy, using a lot of ventilation to dilate the lungs. I was using the bronchodilator or ventilators to dilate my lungs. As the years went by, it got worse.

    By 2006, I was working in Cairo, Egypt, and with the heat and dust there it got worse. I had worked in Ghana before then, when the lungs actually collapsed. I was in the northern part of Ghana when  I was evacuated to Accra, the capital, and from there to Geneva, Spain, where I had the second surgery on the lungs. I had the first surgery on the lungs in 1993 when we recognised the fact that there was a problem then.

    In 2007 the lungs became so bad that I became oxygen dependent. I had to have oxygen bottle with me. I needed supplementary oxygen as my lungs were no longer able to hold enough air for me. Since I was working far away from home in Cairo, I had to have oxygen cylinder in my office.

     

    Working and living with oxygen

     

    Well, the oxygen cylinder in the office then was a big one. It could go for four or five days in the office.  And at home I had oxygen concentrates from which I extracted oxygen. So, I had to wear oxygen mask around my nose. Then in between, I had a  spray that sprayed on. But by 2007, that was insufficient. So, I had to return to Geneva because that was where my family was staying. I had a huge oxygen reservoir at home. At the beginning, the reservoir would last for a week. So, every Wednesday the hospital had an arrangement to refill the gas at home. We had to pipe the house and laid them carefully so that people would not step on them. But the situation continued to deteriorate. Then I needed two reservoirs and later three to last a week. Going out, I had smaller bottles of oxygen with me. At first, I could go out for four hours because one bottle would last four hours. Later it reduced to one hour. I could not go out of the house for more than four hours because I had two bottles with me. So, wherever I was going I had to be back within the space of four hours. Of course, we had incidence of when the oxygen would finish and that became a bit of problem for us. That was how we continued to manage the situation. My children were in school, my husband would go to work and both were taking care of me.

    By 2010, the situation got worse and the doctors told me that there was no longer a medical solution to the problem.  So, I needed to put on a ventilator to be able to sleep and be sure that my lungs would work. It was at that point that they told me that I needed a transplant. It was the only option I had to live. So, in 2010 I did a medical check up; it was an extensive medical examination that I had to do to ensure that I was a suitable candidate for a transplant. And then they put me on the waiting list. We waited for another three years. It was in April 2013 that they called us that they have found a suitable donor for me. I had to be moved into the hospital immediately because I had been told that I had to live within a four-hour radius of the hospital. So, they sent an ambulance because I lived some 60 Kilometres to the hospital

     

    My surgery and its effect

     

    So, I went in for the surgery on April 13 and the session was done overnight till the morning of April 14. And that was the only part that I knew of. I didn’t wake then. It was my husband and the doctor that told me what happened. They said the surgery went on very well and I got very strong lungs. But 48 hours after the surgery I began to have complications. My limbs got very weak and my organs started shutting down. I began to have renal failure and I went into medical coma and I woke up from that coma four weeks after. They told me everything that happened when I was in coma. When I woke up they told me that I had very strong lungs, but the news was that while I was in coma the complications involved poor circulation of blood to my hands and feet and in the process the tissues died and there was the possibility that they would have to amputate both my hands and feet. That was quite a bit of shocking news to hear after living with the problem for 20 years and getting the solution and another problem came up.

     

    Challenges involved

     

    It was a challenging period emotionally coming to terms with that. It was God’s grace that sustained us at that time. Even though they gave us about two weeks to make a decision, but it was not a matter of decision making, it was obvious that if I wanted to live to keep the lungs-the precious gift God has given me, I had to do it. It was at that moment that God ministered to us through a friend of my husband that He would give me the ‘Feet of Grace’ that would take me to places my natural feet could not. And that it would be beyond my imagination. When my husband was away in Somalia the word came and we just subjected ourselves to the process. But in the interim, I began to get some feelings back into my hands. So, God saved my hands, it’s just a miracle. On the 30th of May, 2013, I went back to the theatre and had my two legs amputated below the knees.

    I came out of that. First of all, I began to recover the use of my hands, learning to hold something, feed myself and write again. At the same time, I began the healing process for the lungs. After these, we began to think of what was to happen next. Definitely there was going to be a new definition of ‘normal’. What really happened was that I had a remarkably fast recovery rate from my surgeries. In fact, the doctor said mine was the first amputation they were going to do in that hospital that did not require going back to the theatre. In fact, the wounds healed within two weeks. In fact, they told me that they had no reason whatsoever to stop me from my rehabilitation process.

    Initially, after any amputation, you are advised to go home to return after six months to be able to fit into the rehabilitation process. But in my case I was able to start immediately and a month after my amputation, I was able to stand up on my ‘feet’. I was able to stand on my new legs, which are now called the ‘Feet of Grace’. Remember, God told me that He would give me  Feet of Grace that would take me to places my normal feet could not take me to. So, I went through the process of learning to walk by taking my first steps after amputation. Interestingly, at the rehabilitation center where I ought to spend months, I spent a few weeks to learn how to walk with my prosthetic legs. I walked my first metre, my first 20 metres and slow and steady I could walk with the support of a walker and later crutches, and later I could walk my first kilometer.

    I was taught so many things in the rehabilitation. Things like how to adjust to my new status; how to sit down; how to stand up when I fall down; how to ascend the stairs and descend same as well and how to get to the bathroom. So, all these I went through and we had to do some adjustments to the house to suit my new status.

    For me to begin to redefine life was important to me and it made a whole lot of difference to my mental health not to be dependent on people, but to be independent. I thought about those living in poor communities where all the services I enjoyed were not available. My prosthesis alone cost us almost 35,000 Swiss Francs. I began to think about what to do next. I knew definitely I could not go back to where I was working before, because my routine then at the UNICEF involved travelling, which I knew I could no longer do again. I now said if had this opportunity why did I not turn it to opportunities for others as well? So, I began to check what kinds of opportunities are available to amputees in Nigeria. Who is supporting them? How are they getting prosthesis limbs? It was in the process of gathering information that I realised that there was a huge need here and that we can contribute as well. That was what informed the Feet of Grace Foundation.

     

    Her advocacy

     

    At the beginning, what we wanted to do was to raise funds from our friends and channel the fund to support those who have no money to purchase prosthesis. So, we started to put the foundation together in 2014 and by 2015 we had the first charity walk in Geneva, where we called our friends together to walk. We were sponsored to walk. Initially, I told them that I was going to walk five kilometers, but eventually, I could only walk three kilometers, which was remarkable for somebody who just recovered from surgery less than a year ago. It was indeed, a feat. We did that to raise funds to be able to give Chidiebere, a 10-year-old boy a leg and a 42-year-old lady her leg. At the end of the year, we were able to do two more women, Vivian and Agana.

    This year we have been able to do one more and supported a wheel chair bound widow to get her a wheel chair. As we began to work we realised that it would not be sufficient for us to give limbs, but the circumstances around the people we are supporting required that we began to look at the possibility of leveraging, for example, the 10-year-old boy wanted to go to school, but he comes from a very poor family. His father is dead; his mother was the only one catering for him. He lived in squalor in Enugu. He wanted to go to school. He desired to be a doctor, but that was not going to happen if he did not go to school. So, we decided to look for sponsors because our funds capacity could not do that at that moment. So, the Feet of Grace has to network to be able to get sponsor for him. One of the women we were supporting had to die because she had no money to buy her drugs because she was diabetic.

    So, we had to look at how we could alleviate poverty among women. Hence, the widow I talked about, we gave her a seed fund to start her business. We see ourselves being able to mobilise funds from friends and general public by presenting stories of these people, who would not otherwise have the opportunity. The story of what happened to me has positioned me to become the voice of these voiceless people to be able to speak on behalf of an amputee. And being an amputee myself, I know what the challenges are. And I can speak from the authority of that experience that life as an amputee can be challenging in all as it is with those complications that go with an unfavourable environment. And just beyond providing prosthetic limbs and poverty alleviation opportunities where possible, I’m also looking at advocacy. How do we create handicap friendly facilities? How do we make an environment to be handicap friendly for people like to be able to move around? I should be able to go to the bank without being supporting me. I should be able to go to the rest room without a member of my family going with me. An amputee wants to be independent. He does not want to be a burden to anyone. Advocacy would ensure that we are able to mobilise institutions, agencies and governments to do the needful for us to have handicap car parks just like it happens in western countries. These are some of the things we want to engage in as the Feet of Grace Foundation expands and pursue its goal. On Saturday, July 23, the Feet of Grace Foundation was launched as a registered NGO in Nigeria. We got incorporated in January by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

     

    Succour for my travails

     

    My family and friends were very helpful. We have a great network of friends. They were very supportive. And if I had not experienced what happened to me I probably would not have given the project a cursory look for that matter. But having experienced it first hand, made me to put all that I have into it.

     

    Genesis of my lungs’ problem

     

    There are some things you cannot explain. I did not know how it started and what the cause was. We cannot say what triggered it. What I knew was that the cough started and it was not congenital. But during our investigations we found out that I had a cyst between my heart and my lungs. But an X-ray we did then in 1992 did not show that, that was what it was. It was just that I had a cough and it was not going and one of the requirements for me to be employed by the UNICEF. That was when we saw that there was something there. When I had the cough for about three months and it was not going that was when my doctor linked the cyst as being responsible. So, in 1993, I had the first surgery. It turned out to be a benign tumour. But after it was removed a few other things started happening. By end of that year I had myself being seriously allergic, yet the cough persisted. By 1994 the allergy became too serious. I was reacting to so many things. I remember towards the end of that year I just finished a meeting and went back to my office when I suddenly had my pupils got dilated; it was as if the whole room was flooded with light and I could not see. That was the beginning of the signs that we began to see of the second condition-Myasthenia Gravis. It became whirl pool of problems and in the midst of it I had my first son in 1994. I managed the situation to have my second son in 1997 and in 1998 everything just happened again with the myasthenia gravis. I literarily lost the use of my upper arm. I could not comb my hair because of weakening of the muscles. That was when the diagnosis was made. My doctors at the UCH, Ibadan did the diagnosis in addition to the lungs’ problem, there was another one-neuromuscular problem. That was when they told me that it myasthenia gravis.  I later went to the US where a battery of tests was done on me. They later confirmed the earlier result. They also told me that it was a degenerating disease and that in the next couple of years I would not be able to move. But I said that was not for me. So, I came back home, but my uncle was sending my drugs to me every six months until I could get a suitable location here to get them. I was on medication everyday to ensure that my muscles were working.

     

    Getting a donor for the lungs

     

    Unfortunately here, the culture of donating body organs before one’s death is not here. Everybody wants to go to the grave with every organ of their body intact. To the best of my knowledge, its kidney transplant that people are familiar with here. When I told somebody that I had lung transplantation the response was ‘is it possible to transplant lungs? Yes, I said it is. It is possible for people to donate their organ while alive. It’s just to indicate that whenever they die a particular organ of their body should be given to whoever needs. And the harvesting of such organs is done only when the recipient is around. The donor must be kept on life support facility until the recipient comes around. That was why they told me that once you are on the waiting list you just have to be around and there are numbers they must call to get you. You must be within a certain radius to be able to reach you.

    If I were in Nigeria it could have been worse. First of all the oxygen supply that I used or seven years could not have been easily available. I did visit Nigeria during those periods. It was a lot of organisation for me to be able to stay then. I came with my battery-operated cylinder with oxygen concentrates.

    In fact, that was part of the divine intervention. For us to have been in Switzerland at that time was just divine intervention. We never planned to move out of Nigeria then. My husband had a good job at the UCH then.

     

    Cost of getting a prosthetic limb

     

    Now it cost about N1 million to get limb of prosthesis. And this depends on size. It changes with age of the recipient, especially for children, the size changes with their age. Our concern is to give a good balanced limb, which will not affect the gait of the child when he or she walks and will not give him or her pains on the back. The kind of limbs that we give we always ensure that they are not too tight, shorter than the height or too heavy. But an adult can use the limb for so many years, particularly, when there is no catastrophe. For an adult, it cost an average of N1.5million per limb, going by the current rate of Forex.

     

  • Behold, man of figures, words

    Behold, man of figures, words

    He used to play with figures. Now Dr Sunny Oby Maduka is feasting with words. Maduka, Senior Manager (Audit) at Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), has presented two novels – The Surviving Twins and Tears for Love in Lagos. The Accountant-author, EVELYN OSAGIE reports, is calling for peaceful coexistence and cultural re-orientation.

    They call him a man of many parts. He is an accountant-turned-writer, a marine expert, motivational speaker and filmmaker, among others.

    Dr Sunny Oby Maduka, Senior Manager (Audit) at Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), brought friends and associates together at the presentation of his books in Lagos.

    But they were not his first. The author has three other works – The Whispering Voice (2013), My Nation My Agony (2014) and The Collection of Iluminatory Poems (2014). He has also produced a film, titled: Blood Communion.

    In appreciation of the man and his gifts, guests thronged the Best Western Hotel, Victoria Island.

    Many wondered where this multi-talented executive finds the time and energy to churn out five creative works and a film within three years.

    Moved by Maduka’s agility and flair, Mr Chidi Ogboku, who chaired the event, described him as “an immutable talent” who is influencing many, particularly the young, across the nations.

    “Maduka is a man of many parts that is committed to whatever he does. I am not surprise that he keeps churning out books yearly. He is also very passionate about people, especially the young. The best we can do for posterity is to document our aspirations. Great minds, like the late Prof Chinua Achebe, Prof Wole Soyinka and their peers, have done their parts. It is inspiring to note that Maduka is following in their footsteps,” he said.

    Besides praising Maduka’s ability to merge diverse vocations, guests eulogised the intellectual depth in his works. They linked it to his being an avid reader. It was also observed that the multitasking author is also an ardent advocate for literacy, culture and moral values.

    The book reviewer, Mr Chris Emeka Mba, described the books as motivational, observing that the love expressed by the author in both works transcends “human understanding”.

    Mba,, an engineer, was of the view that the literati hold the power to change society. He, therefore,  commended the didactic lessons Maduka’s books, while urging guests to borrow a leaf from the author’s efforts at promoting reading culture and intellectual expressions.

    He said: “Having read his five books, I cannot but buy into his rare ideals. As an intellectual builder, he is indeed a comparative professor whose books talk about topical issues of global interests. Maduka makes case for culture and tradition. Both books are fascinating but similar in many ways in that they both hammer on the universal benefits of love and cultural reorientation.”

    Asked how he is able to keep abreast with the demands of his diverse endeavours, accountant-turned-writer said: “Multitasking has been a part of me from a very young age. As I grew older, I became used to doing many things at the same time and doing each well. I only sleep for few hours; and I am happy my wife understands the kind of person I am and supports me.”

    Maduka called for proactive steps to ignite the reading culture in the young, noting that in promoting and supporting writers and their works would improve the literacy rate.

    He said: “African must refuse the epithet of literary illiterates with the assertion that we don’t read. We must cultivate the cultural heritage of great who were/are not only good in writing but excellent in reading. Africa must arise and honour our literary giants who have put us in the world’s hall of fame, such as Wole Soyinka, Zainab Akali and the late Chinua Achebe.”

    While observing that “every creative work has a pondering and reflexive lessons for mankind”, Maduka emphasised that “no nation succeeds without its citizenry understanding the place of reading”.

    He decried the decadence in the social order, while naming the failure of government, corporate bodies and society at large to promote worthy causes as its source.

    He said: “Together let’s teach ethical values to generations beyond ours by becoming positive change agents in the gloomy earth’s systems. Let us be part of that generation that abhors any form of tribal and religious disunity that has knifed our great African communal heritage. No true African writer would devalue our values through their works. Writers should endeavour to promote our rich moral and cultural heritage through their works.

    “I have been inspired by the pains of the rich, the pleasure of the poor, the laughter of a home filled with love, the screaming of the exact opposite. I draw inspiration from the rat race where the rich out runs the poor and unfortunately too, the poor become architects of their doomsday by smiling ingloriously at glaring acts of injustice.”

    This writer-cum advocate brings his beliefs to bear on his writings as his works speak of a better future engineered by people-oriented change.”

    In The Surviving Twins, Maduka hazardous condemns anti-social traditions, such as the killing of twins. In it, the “abominable” twins and their mother were to be killed in Agafe forest. The task of execution was to be shouldered by two noble sons of the soil,but were murdered. Saved from death, the condemned and supposedly abominable soon became the turning wheel of Afigbo’s progress.

    Tears For Love is a love of Michael. The trouble is that Michela is not w in love with the woman he’s agreed to marry: he has hopelessly fallen for Phina. After meeting briefly her at the airport, his whole world turned upside down. But what and how is he going to tell his bride to be, Oluchi? And there’s also the problem of his all-controlling mother; not to mention the fact that Phina has no feelings for him and is barely aware of his existence, except as someone who is destined to marry someone else. Under pressure from all sides, Michael goes ahead with the marriage, but he can’t forget Phina, and begins an exciting journey to find her and make his feelings known.

     

     

  • Behold new state First Ladies

    Behold new state First Ladies

    Behind every man is a woman, they say. In this report, Sam Egburonu, Dare Odufowokan, Nicholas Kalu and Precious Dikewoha unveil the profile of some of the new state first ladies who have recorded personal accomplishments before the emergence of their husbands as governors 

    Benue

    Mrs. Eunice Erdoo Ortom, the new First Lady in Benue State, is a 43 year 0ld doctoral student of Benue State University (BSU). The youthful wife of Governor Samuel Ortom bagged a second degree in International Relations and Strategic Studies from the same institution in 2004.

    The mother of five is an Industrial Development specialist whose desire for more academic laurels dated back many years. Before emerging as the First Lady, she worked as a public servant in the office of the Head of Civil Service. A respected professional, she has worked in various capacities within and outside government.

    A devoted Christian, she is a worker in the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). In 1997, she was ordained an Evangelist in the Children Evangelist Ministries (CEM).

     Kano

    Dr. Hafsatu Umar Ganduje, wife of the incoming governor of Kano State is a highly respected professional who recently completed a doctorate degree programme in Education Psychology in flying colours, at Bayero University, Kano (BUK).

    The mother of seven is an indigene of Malam Madori Local Government Area of Jigawa State. She was born in 1958 and trained as an educationist in various institutions before her marriage to Governor Umar Ganduje.

    She was a principal at a school in the Federal Capital Territory. It was from this teaching job that she took a leave of absence to pursue her doctoral programme at Bayero University, Kano (BUK).

    Currently, she is a Director in the Ganduje Foundation, a philanthropic organisation in the state that is affording her the opportunity to live her desired life of giving to the less privileged.

     

    Rivers

    Hon. Justice Eberechi Nyesom Wike holds a Masters Degree in Law from University of Sussex, United Kingdom. She was a scholar of the prestigious British Chevening Scholarship.

    Born on 24 May, 1972, she is married to Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike. She was a legal counsel litigant with E.C. Ukala and Co, between 1998 and 2001. She was later appointed a Magistrate in 2009.

    She served in various judicial capacities before her last appointment as a Judge of the High Court of Rivers State on 14 February 2012.

    Hon. Justice Eberechi Nyesom-Wike was born on Wednesday, the 24th day of May, 1972 into the Christian family of Dr. Ikechukwu Amadi Obuzor of Odiokwu in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State.  She is happily married to Chief Ezenwo Nyesom Wike and together they are blessed with three children.

    Upon qualification to study law and on admission into the Rivers State University of Science and Techonology, Port Harcourt, Nigeria, she began the pursuit of a noble career in the legal profession when she obtained a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) (Hons) in 1996 and proceeded to the Nigerian Law School wherein she obtained the Barrister-at-Law (B.L.) (Hons) in 1997 and was called to the Nigerian Bar on the 25th of February, 1998.  She holds a Master’s Degree in Law (LL.M), from the University of Sussex, United Kingdom by virtue of the prestigious British Chevening Scholarship (2005/2006).

    Between 1998 to 2001, she was a Legal Counsel (Litigation) with E. C. Ukala & Co (Efe Chambers) and was later appointed a Magistrate Grade I in the Rivers State Magistracy where she climbed through the rungs of varying grades and served for more than 10 years, her last appointment being Chief Magistrate Grade II in 2009, until her present appointment as a Judge of the High Court of Rivers State on 14th February, 2012 where she is presently the presiding Judge, High Court of Justice.

    His Lordship is a member of the International Bar Association (IBA); International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Rivers State Branch (and once the Assistant Financial Secretary); National and International Associations of Women Judges (NAWJ and IAWJ); also an Associate Member of the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators (ICMC) and an Associate member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (ACIArb).  She was once a member of the Magistrates’ Association of Nigeria (MAN) Rivers State Branch and a one-time Public Relations Officer of the Association.

    She has attended conferences, workshops and leadership programmes organised by the National Judicial Institute (NJI) and the Lagos Business School (LBS) amongst others. She enjoys travelling, cooking, reading, listening to classic and contemporary music and keeps fit through swimming and playing lawn tennis.

    As she climb the political ladder as the First Lady of Rivers State from May 29 when the husband took oath of office as the governor of Rivers State it is believed she has what its takes to be the mother of the state. Of course, she will be the second First Lady of Rivers State to be addressed as justice after the wife of Dr. Peter Odili, Justice Mary Odili.

     

    Cross River

    Dr. Linda Ugwuye Ayade is the wife of the newly elected governor of Cross River State, Professor Ben Ayade. She hails from Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State. She is a mother of three.

    A medical practitioner, she holds an MBBS from the University of Port Harcourt and an MPH from University of Wolverhampton, majoring in Health Improvement and Health Promotion.

    She is also a member of Nigeria Medical Association and General Medical Council of United Kingdom. Until 2014, she worked with the National Health Society in the UK.

     Taraba

    Annah Darius Ishiaku, the wife of Taraba State’s new governor, Arc. Darius Ishaku, is a mother of five and a graduate of Law (L.LB) from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. She was in private law practice in Makurdi for six years after her National Youth Service Corps Scheme, NYSC.

    After her marriage, she left private practice and picked appointment with the Kaduna State Ministry of Justice, where she rose through the ranks and retired as a Permanent Secretary in the ministry.

    Lagos

    Mrs. Bolanle Ambode, the wife of the new Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, was born into the Odukomaiya family in Epe, Lagos, on February 15, 1964. She attended St. Theresa’s College, Ibadan, Oyo, for her secondary school and Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, Lagos, from where she graduated in Physics/Mathematics for her first degree in 1989 and later Masters degree (MSc) in Public Administration in 1994.

    Mrs. Ambode  worked in the now defunct Peoples Bank of Nigeria and Instant Finance Nigeria Limited and later Aguagem Consulting before setting up her confessionery business, where is was the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Rehoboth Chops and Confectioneries Limited.

    Bolanle’s marriage with Governor Ambode, which was consummateted in 1991, is blessed with twins – a boy and a girl.

    Those who know her intimately say she has deep passion for charity as she has, for long been donating to many motherless babies homes in and around Lagos metropolis.

    Born in Ibadan on January 8, 1964 to the Makinde’s family of Erio – Ekiti,  Mrs. Feyisetan Fayose is the wife of the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, and founder of the Feyi Fayose Trust Foundation.

    Ekiti       

    Mrs Feyisetan Fayose, the wife of the new governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose, a daughter of a retired Chief Superintendent of Police, has always talked of her self set mandate  to serve humanity. She says such mandate was the motive force behind the founding of her foundation, Feyi Fayose Trust Foundation (FFTF) which was formally flagged off on September 3rd, 2003. The foundation’s aim  is to contribute to the meaningful development of women, children, the youths, the aged and the handicapped.

    A mother of four boys, Mrs Fayose serves other non-profit making and charitable organisations, such as the Ekiti State Action Committee on AIDS (SACA) as Chairperson and National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) Women Wing as Matron before her husband’s return to the Government House as governor.

    Described as a devout Christian, Mrs. Feyisetan Fayose enjoys gospel music, cooking and meeting people.

     Niger

    Dr (Mrs) Aminat Sani Bello, the wife of Niger State new governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello.

    She is the daughter of General Abdulsalami Abubakar, a former Military Head of State and his wife, Justice Fati Abubakar.

    Other state first ladies whose profile has been subjects of interest include Mrs Tambuwal, the wife of Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto, Mrs.  Martha Udom Emmanuel, the wife of the new governor of Akwa Ibom State Mr. Udom Emmanuel , Mrs. Jibrilla Jindow of  Adamawa State, Nasir el Rufai of Kaduna State among others.

    Given their exposure, personal accomplishments and interests in women, children and the empowerment of youths, the expectations of Nigerians are high. Already, some of them have come out to make public their determination to make impact.

  • Behold: World’s largest African heritage library

    Behold: World’s largest African heritage library

    The world last week celebrated the World Book Day with fanfare, lectures and exhibitions, but most Nigerians do not know that right here in Nigeria and somewhere in a village near Ibadan, Oyo State, is located the world’s largest African Heritage Library. Taiwo Abiodun who was there recently, reports.

    Located in Adeyipo Village, Lagelu Local Government Area of Ibadan, Oyo State is the African Heritage Research and Cultural Library (AHRCL) acclaimed to be the biggest African heritage library in the world.

    For the villagers, the complex, with its different structures and architectural designs is a Film village and tourist center that has put their little serene village on global map, but for the numerous visitors that throng the place, it is a world renowned African library of no equal, with its 500,000 books and volumes on Africa and African history, literature, culture and research. Not even the University of London, with its 250,000 books comes close.

    So says the brain behind the project, Prof. Bayo Adewale, who is proud to add that “we donate to African studies in Africa; we are the largest African collection in the world.”

    The library attracts scholars, students, teachers and researchers from Nsukka, Zaria, Lagos and other parts of the country and as far as London, USA and the Caribbean Islands. It contains music sections, books, artefacts, and traditional and other local arts materials cum products. On the walls are huge photographs of literary heavyweights and African nationalists like Professor Wole Soyinka, Bob Marley, King Sunny Ade, Nelson Mandela, Steve Biko, James Brown, Kwame Nkrumah, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, and a host of others even in the diaspora.

    There are also libraries for the Arts, Science, African talking drums, flutes, literature works, and books from Classic to the contemporary, amongst others. Right at the back of the library is a botanical garden where one can get African leaves and herbs for curing various ailments. The Nation also found that some buildings are under construction, to underline that it is a constantly expanding project. It also has facilities for lodging.

    Borne of a desire to leave a legacy

    The library took roots 28 years ago in Ila Orangun, Oyo State, out of the sole effort of the good professor (Adewale) to leave a legacy. He had begun by piling up his personal books to form a library; and like the proverbial drop in the ocean adage, Adewale affirms that it has continued to grow and expand.

    “The centre is my own token contribution to educational development of the entire Africa and black race, and the objective is to minister to the needs of the community on the one hand, and the people and researchers of archives and documentations on the other. It is the first rural community-based African studies research library on the continent. In the universities, we only have Africanised sections of the libraries, but here we are talking about the whole library on African studies. The library collects books on African Studies in African education, literature, politics, music, Sociology and science. So it’s an Africanised library and we are trying to re-orientate researchers to begin to look inwards and gear their research towards being Afro-centric, rather than Eurocentric. We don’t want researchers on Napoleon Bornarpate; we want researchers on African phenomena like Agbekoya, and other African problems. The white people have done a lot of research into their own world and are reaping the benefits, so we want Africans to look inward and conduct researches that would benefit Africa and the entire black race, and address issues like poverty in Africa.”

    Continuing, Professor Adewale said “We have the music of Africa auditorium, the audio/visual section, the rural community development building; there is also the Dr. Olaiya Music of Africa auditorium, Afe babalola, N. Idowu and Wole Soyinka Building.”

    He explained that the Library engages in exchanges of books with other parts of the world like the Pacific Region, North America and Black America. Altogether, the centre has six different libraries: the Music library with its rich collection of African music, the Research Library (Africanised), Wole Soyinka Writers Library, Village Library and the Schools’ Library.

    The Library started with about 500 books of the direct founder; books he used in his college days. Gradually he spread the word that he had started an African Heritage Library, to which doubting Thomases laughed in his face. But in a matter of months the book collection had swelled to 12,000 volumes, with donations from Europe, America, Afro-America and the Pacific, and soon grew to 100,000 volumes, becoming the third largest Africanised library in the world, after World Western and London University.

    On the choice of a rural setting

    Adewale said “The choice of the rural setting was deliberate because of its serenity. Another reason is that most of the people living in rural areas are largely uneducated and we took it as a duty to spread the gospel of education to them. We also want to debunk the idea that library services are meant for the elite.”

    He recommended that Africans listen to African music for education on past occurrences like the various civil wars and other major events. He cited artistes like the late apala singer, Haruna Ishola, who waxed a song on the Nigerian civil war and war heroes like the Black Scorpion, Benjamin Adekunle.

    He also spoke on the cassettes and LPs in the musical library: “They are our materials. We can easily translate the cassettes into local languages of the people, so they can learn how to take care of themselves, treat snake bites and other ailments; understand more about the political setting of their environment, and even record important audio messages.

    A Mecca for gladiators

    The library has also played host to literary gladiators likes Professors Akinwunmi Ishola, Femi Osofisan, Niyi Osundare and Dr. Tony Mahiro.

    “Prof. Adebayo Faleti would spend weeks doing research here. This is where he finished his ‘Fere Bi Ekun’ film. Also we have featured John Pepper Clark here; the Association of Nigerian Authors used to come here to organise their reading sessions; so also the actors and actresses. The village is fast becoming a film village and several films have been shot here. We have hosted artistes like Baba Wande, Lere Paimo, Ojo Pagogo, Baba Geebu, who come here to shoot films. At least about four or five films have been shot here.

    “The Virgins, the first book I wrote in 1984 was adapted by Tunde Kelani into a film titled ‘The Narrow Path’. I wrote that book here. In fact, I used this place as my research base when I did my PhD research works, principally because all books are available for use here.”

    Even musicians are not left out. People like Tunji Oyelana, Apola King, Idowu Animasaun all visit our musical auditorium and spend days, hanging around. Some like Idowu Animasaun and Orlando Julius also donate virtually all their works.

    Immortalising Wole Soyinka

    “We are building an African Writers Enclave in honour of Professor Wole Soyinka. We’ve already intimated him about this and he even gave us his phone number to reach him in case we need his assistance. If you click on Soyinka on Internet, you will see our little effort at immortalising his name; our intention is to establish the biggest library in Africa in honour of Wole Soyinka. Like other world literatures, our own Soyinka is an international icon and global scholar. We’re also planning to train writers. We have given them fellowship are putting in place a literature prize for Soyinka, to come alive soon.”

    Financing the project

    “We have donors all over the world who assist us; people like Afe Babalola who donated a rural community building, Chief N.O. Idowu who helped us complete the visitor’s chalet; and organisation such as Mobil, that donated 8, 000 blocks, and several others who have donated cash from as little as 50 naira to 50,000 naira. Aside these, we go to our bank to take overdraft because our account is always in red. Some of the rural women here also offer themselves for cheap and free labour.

    “In terms of the buildings and acquisition of the books, we probably have spent something in the region of 2 billion naira. In appreciation, we have named some of our buildings in honour of some of our donors and great philanthropists. We named our visitors’ chalet after our father and philanthropist, N.O. Idowu. We have the JP Clark Garden and another building building named after the same renowned poet, who at some point was here on retreat for four days.

    Gift from Adeyipo

    Prof. Adewale revealed that the land on which the library is situated, running into about 20 to 30 hectares was donated to the project free of charge. “He said the villagers

  • Behold, a new National Assembly

    During the past week, a phenomenon of significant proportion took place in the power structure of the federation. Never before has the party or a party in opposition to the incumbent President gained control of the federal legislature or any of the two chambers. But, during the week, the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) took control of the House of Representatives. In line with the change in the power configuration of the House, and the expected announcement of the defection of Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, it is obvious that some changes in the leadership would be effected. Of significance is the likely change of the Majority Leader.

    It is not yet clear what would transpire at the Senate. It cannot be lost on any analyst that Senators like Bukola Saraki, Abdullahi Adamu, Danjuma Goje and Magnus Abe, among others are already in APC. All that is required now is to make their new standing and status known to the leadership. Then, as has been done in the House, the numbers would decide which is the majority party, and which is the minority.

    In legislative tradition and practice, should the APC have the upper hand, a new era may begin.

    This is great news. As I have always maintained, my interest is not the name of the party in charge. There isn’t much in the name, Peoples Democratic Party. It is neither democratically run, nor is it for the people. If it were both, it would be working in the people’s interest and there would be fewer clamours for a change. But, there is very little to recommend the All Progressives Congress yet. I am yet to see it as a Congress or assembly of the progressives. Many of those who have moved into it have pedigrees that suggest that they are merely shopping for a platform to ply their trade in 2015. It needs to do much more to convince the people that it has a pro-people, progressive agenda. It is still suffering the crisis of integration. However, I am glad that the ruling party knows that it is no longer business as usual. The earlier defection of five governors from the PDP to APC, and the notice of disaffection by at least two others have shown the redefinition of the political map. The Northwest has shown it would not join the Jonathan train in 2015. The South West people had always shown that they have their own plans. They voted Jonathan in 2011 because there was no other viable platform. Now, there is APC that is least at par with the ruling party. It may be faced with its own challenges, but, as a label, it has enough to scare the ruling party.

    This is good for the country. It must be known to all that there is a reward for performance in office, and punishment for incompetence and sloppiness. The PDP governments, since 199, have demonstrated that entrusting the governance of Nigeria in their hands was a mistake. It is therefore time to demonstrate that democracy is about choice and supremacy of the sovereign will of the people. First, the PDP government, in a desperate bid to hold on to power, is likely to step up its game, hoping that it’s not too late. Second, the opposition would be emboldened to make a big bid for power, and, in so doing attempt to impress the people with the performance of governors inn states under its control. And, in the event that change is effected in the personnel running affairs of the country, it would be obvious to all that the Nigerian people cannot be taken for granted. It would show that the votes do indeed count in this country. It would be a lesson to all politicians that ultimate power resides in the electorate, and that a we party in power could also be voted out if it fails to meet the people’s expectation.

    From now till 2015, President Jonathan who was frightened off personally presenting the Appropriation Bill will have to sit up. He must realize that the giant that has been asleep for so long is being roused after all. He will be faced with a crisis of monumental proportion in the party and in the country at large. The only consolation he has is that the APC is not yet an organic whole. It is still a conglomeration of tendencies. In Kano, the challenge of integration is staring the party in the face. In Kebbi, Adamawa, Sokoto, Kaduna and other North Western states, it will take ingenious, transparent intervention by the national leadership to keep the party intact. But, that is one reason the new season starting in 2014 would be interesting: while the PDP is struggling to control the exodus, the APC is devising strategies for building a political party. How would it keep and align the interests of General Buhari, Atiku (if he eventually joins), the new

    PDP governors, the ACN and the ANPP? Do the leaders have the needed experience and patriotism to quickly douse the tension being generated all over?

    Whatever happens, there can be no dull moment from this point.