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Tag: death

  • Death is not peculiar to the entertainment industry—Yaw

    Death is not peculiar to the entertainment industry—Yaw

    Consummate entertainer, Steve Onu, popularly called Yaw, has come a long way in the Nigerian entertainment industry. The On-Air Personality with Wazobia FM and star actor of the rested soaps, Twilight Zone and Flat Mates, has evolved over the years into a brand in showbiz.

    In this chat with MERCY MICHAEL, Yaw, who features versatile actress Funke Akindele in his Yaw Live on Stage comedy show, The Bar, speaks passionately about his love for acting, the challenges and his comedy show.

     

    TELL us all about The bar. It’s a satire basically. It’s a two-man play. Don’t be deceived by the flyer. It’s just Funke Akindele and I. The others will just entertain in what they know how to do best but every year I do a two-man stage play. In the past, I’ve done with Jude Orhorha, Owen Gee, MC Abbey, Koffi, but this year I’m doing it with Funke Akindele.

    Why the choice of Funke?

    Because she’s got the blend of craziness that I actually need and she’s versatile. You know, a lot of people don’t believe she can speak English. I was speaking to her yesterday and I told her a lot of people believe she’s coming to do Jenifa. Unknown to them, she’s coming to do something totally different.

    Is this a political satire?

    To an extent it’s a political satire. It centres on what has been happening in Nigeria from 2012 to 2013. Just everything that has been happening all this while; we’ll talk about it in a way that will make people laugh while at the same time pass a message.

    Radio seems to have overshadowed your love for acting…

    My problem is with timing. I was speaking to a director recently and that was the same thing we talked about. I told him that the problem I’m facing is time. You want to go shoot a movie; they say come to location at 8am. You get there at 8am, you don’t start to shoot till 2pm. They tell you, you are going to shoot for only four days, at the end of the day you end up shooting for seven days.

    It appears that you are not as passionate about acting as you are with radio?

    I am very passionate about acting. I just shot my TV programme called Yours and Mine. It will start to air from March 8. It will be aired every Friday on LTV and Tuesdays on TVC. Acting is my life. Even when I talk on radio I act. I do stuff for BBC and if BBC will need you for five days they will book you down for eight or ten days, bearing in mind that anything can happen but our productions are not like that.

    If they want to shoot, they will tell you we are just shooting you for only two days, but at the end of the day you will stay more days than you were booked for. I was supposed to be in the movie Mr. and Mrs. I was supposed to be the other guy. You know Joseph Benjamin was the rich mean guy. I was supposed to be the so called good guy, but it was the same issue of time that squashed that plan.

    They said I had to come to Abuja. I asked them how many days I was going to be shooting. They said at least four days. Now if I have to be taking permission from work it has to be that four days because I can’t take permission for four days and I’m staying eight days. It’s not right. And true to my fears, they spent more than the four days I was supposed to shoot. I didn’t go but when I asked, I was told they spent more than four days. So if I had gone to do it and then I tell the producer or director that, ‘sorry I can’t spend beyond four days,’ that I must go back. Of course, I would look like I’m not being considerate or I’m adding to the challenges they are already facing.

    So, would you ever quit radio to be able to fit into the challenges of timing in Nollywood?

    I think with time it is getting better. I don’t think it will continue like this forever. I want to believe that with time it will get better. Like the producer that was talking to me two or three days back, I told him that my problem is time. My station will give me the opportunity to go but I cannot tell my station that I will be away for five days and then under five days, you’ve not finished. It is the movie mentality. If they want to come and record in this building for instance, they will tell you that, “we are recording for only two hours sir.”

    Meanwhile, for the next four, five hours they’ve not finished and yet they would have told you that they are recording for only two hours. For this play, we did a skit, myself and Funke. We shot it in a hotel in Ikeja. The man asked me how long we would be spending. I knew I was recording two skits; I told the man that I would spend six hours. He said six hours is too much, so I asked him if he would prefer I lied to him.

    In your own production, do you avoid this issue of timing?

    I try to. When I was shooting my TV programme titled Yours and Mine last April, if not that I fell ill, I had chicken pox which made me stop shooting and everybody saw it, I would have finished shooting within the time frame that I set. I asked the director how many days it would take him to shoot and he said it would take him ten days. I said fine, I’m telling all my cast and crew that we are shooting for fourteen days bearing in mind that someone might have a reason not to be around when we are ready. All those things have to be put into consideration.

    Could it also be that the reason you are not ready to stick out your neck for acting is because it’s not lucrative enough?

    I think it’s more of the pleasure. That’s why I want to still come back to act. That’s what I love to do. But if it’s about putting food on my table, I don’t know. Maybe it is for other people. But I don’t think so. I don’t think it’s actually putting food on the tables of many of us. For me, it’s just for the love of it. That’s why I’ve stayed glued to it.

    What are television soaps like?

    Twilight Zone and Flat Mates was crazy. Then, there were not much TV soaps and all that. I think that was the only programme on TV for young people and a lot of people actually liked it. It was good. A lot of people still make reference to it till date. I was with Kanu Nwankwo when we went for the Olympics, and he asked why we stopped Flat Mates. I guess most of us just went on to other things.

    Would you do Flat Mates again if you are cast for it?

    Yes I would, but I don’t think it would happen. I think the storyline would change because it’s difficult now removing those actors from what we are today. Basketmouth is already big. I am at my own level, so is Kayode Peters. It might not really be easy. Besides, people will now look at it like, “What is wrong with these old men? Abeg make una leave this thing for small boys to do.” That’s what I think. But Kayode is working on something, trying to do a reloaded kind of thing. Everybody is now big. We just pick it up from that angle. That was what Kayode said.

    Did you find radio or radio found you?

    No, no, no Wazobia started in November, I joined them in December. But I think I contributed in building what the station should look and sound like, yeah! I’m not sure they wanted humour at the early stage but maybe because I came in, so my MD made it a point of duty that you must be humourous to be able to work in Wazobia. If you are not humourous you cannot work there.

    So what’s your background?

    I did Theatre Arts at the Lagos State University, Ojo. And that was when? I did my diploma sometime in 1995. E never too tey (laughs).

    As an on-air personality, did you ever encounter Goldie before her death?

    No, not much. She came to Cool Fm, which was after Big Brother. I think that was the last time she came. Except if she came on some other shows I don’t know about. Like I’m not in the studio right now, so I don’t know who and who is there. But I knew on the day she passed on she was supposed to come to Cool Fm the evening of that day, February 14.

    She was supposed to come on Freeze’s show to come and talk about the Grammy experience and what’s new. That was after she had done the two singles. She was supposed to come, but I never had a close encounter with her.

    Fears have been raised about the constant deaths in the entertainment industry. What’s your take on it?

    I think a lot of people would say the entertainment industry needs to pray, I’m not ruling that out. I think it’s important that they do, but another thing I would say is that just like people die in the entertainment industry, people die in other sectors but maybe because they are popular, they are public figures, people know them; that is why you think that theirs is worse. I’m sure if you go to the banking industry in the whole of Nigeria I’m sure you will see one banker that died today or yesterday, so it’s like that.

    That’s the way I want to see it but I’m sure it’s also very important that we pray and rededicate ourselves to God because the position that we are is not like every other man on the street. Please permit to say that. Let me just give you a simple example. I remember when they did the ‘Abacha one million man match’, the youth earnestly asked for Abacha, if you remember. Shina Peters was one of those that performed for him. Now he went to Ife to perform and students yapped him. They were shouting at him to get out. He had to prostrate to beg them that he was sorry for going to sing for Abacha. He was castigated for a long time. Then I looked at it, when Abacha was alive, there would have been times when he was sick, and doctors attended to him, taking care of him. Who is castigating those doctors? Nobody.

    Now, they said the Abacha’s family embezzled money but lawyers are still standing for them in court. Who is castigating those lawyers? Nobody! But if an entertainer endorses any of those people haaaaaa!!! He or she is castigated and I don’t know why. It means our position is different from everyone else. So it’s very important that entertainers should do things and do them right. Let’s be careful with the things we do and steps we take. If a man slaps a woman it is nothing but let an actor slap a woman, it is news. It means that we occupy a delicate position and it should be guarded. So prayer is very important in our industry.

    As a humour merchant, will standup comedy come later?

    I think we all have our strengths. Babasala was not a comedian. Ibu is not a standup comedian. Nkem Owoh is not a standup comedian. I don’t know if you get me. Dele Odule is not a standup comedian. These people are comic actors but that doesn’t also mean they can’t handle the mic. I just think I understand my own market and I’m just following it squarely. I anchor events, I crack jokes at event. It works well for me.

    How do you handle your female fans?

    You can’t run away from female fans. There is nothing you can do about it. Women make the world go round so you must learn to relate with them. Even if you bring them close you must learn to keep them at arm’s length. Let me give you an example. When you go to a club, it’s usually free for the ladies. So what that means is that without the ladies the men won’t come there. So you must just learn to walk around it.

    Tell us about your ordeal with a female fan if you have any?

    There was a time a lady came to my office with my name “Yaw” tattooed on her waist. She said that is the extent to which she loves me. I was shocked. I’ve never seen her before and she tattooed my name on her waist! That’s madness! I just left and told the security people to chase her away.

    Are you the typical African man who doesn’t believe a woman should express her feelings to a man?

    Of course I believe… I don’t have a problem with that. It happens but not to that extent. That is going to the extreme.

    What are your plans for 2013?

    Apart from The Bar, coming up very soon, written by Obe Martins there is the TV programme Yours and Mine which will start showing from March.

    How did you spend the Valentine?

    I was in a meeting. I went for a meeting.

    Are you married?

    I’m involved. Work come first for me in everything I do. Besides, I have a show. Every day is love for me. But that apart I had a meeting on that day and it was important I went because of my show.

  • ‘My dad’s death left a huge hole in my heart’

    ‘My dad’s death left a huge hole in my heart’

    Omorinsola Abaniwonda is the daughter of the late ministerial nominee and chieftain of the Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Al-Mustain Abaniwonda. A graduate of Environmental Management, she returned after a long hiatus in Canada, packed up her university degree and set up her dessert café, Helado Delicia. During an interview with Rita Ohai, she talked about losing her father, her new-found passion .

     

    TAKING a wild leap and making a major career change can be a daunting process. However, when people are able to achieve this successfully, there’s a lot to be thankful for.

    Morinsola Abaniwonda has travelled the world and seen the huge potential in the food-making industry; this fanned the embers of her courage as she joined a competitive market and set up her ice-cream shop.

    In her words: “I love desserts and as I travelled to different parts of the world and visited different ice cream parlours and cafés, I knew I just had to open a dessert restaurant here in Nigeria. Just before I moved back to Nigeria from Canada, I took an intensive six months’ course in dessert and pastry-making. This was very different for me as I do not have a culinary background. However, as the months went by it got easier.”

    Although playing with forks and knives might be a walk in the park for her, it still takes a lot of effort to turn a blind eye to crazy drivers, mean and slothful people.

    One of the things she cannot stand about living in Nigeria is the craziness experienced on Lagos roads, she says, “I can’t stand how impatient Nigerian drivers are. A majority of the people on the road have zero driving skills.”

    Further, she shared, “I do not like it when people do things without the fear of God. As humans, we will all pass on eventually and on the Day of Judgment each and every one of us will be held accountable for our actions. I believe that in all that we do we should always have this at the back of our minds. The world will be better place if we do.

    “Finally, I don’t like laziness. In my opinion, for you to attain success, one has to be very hard working.”

    Certainly not a lazy person herself, Abaniwonda, a lover of African meals, now enjoys cooking. When she gets home from work, Edikan ikong is one of the special dishes she prepares due to the ‘variety of ingredients and its aromatic nature.’

    The death of her father, Chief Al-Mustain Abaniwonda, came as a shock to many. While many believe there was some foul play involved, Morinsola and her family are simply thankful for the good life he lived. However, they still miss his presence.

    “We were so close,” she says. “I miss him every single day. I miss chatting with him. I miss his voice. I miss his kindness and warmth. His death left a huge whole in my heart and every day I pray for him to continue to enjoy eternal rest and for Allah to grant him Al-JannahFirdaus.”

    While his demise shook the family to its core, they have found a way to grow in spite of it all; “Coping, since he passed on, hasn’t been easy but God has been wonderful. We are all doing great. Everyone is excelling in all aspects of their lives. My older sister just got married about a month ago and my younger ones are just about finishing their university education in Canada and the UK.”

    Still speaking on marriage, when asked if she would ever agree to be a second wife, Morinsola expressed: “I will never agree to be a second wife because I am a very possessive person and I don’t want to be an option. I will always want to be the only option.”

    While many shy away from speaking on their rights as women, this lady makes bold to share her stand on the liberation of her gender.

    Listen to her: “I strongly believe that every woman in the world can be empowered if she is given the right resources. In Nigeria today, women still do not have equal rights. Women are required to be lower, weaker, inferior and subordinate for back stage and backbench positions. The Nigerian culture endorses this view often to the detriment of the woman’s overall well-being and state of mind. For Nigeria as a country to really develop, the basic needs of women cannot be ignored.”

    Revealing some of the challenges faced in her industry, Abaniwonda says, “The major difference between culinary industry in Nigeria and Canada is that in Nigeria cooking is viewed as a way of life and not a profession. In the western world it’s viewed as a profession and in a lot of cases even viewed as an art. It is taken a lot more seriously over there. Here in Nigeria we have very few seasoned culinary schools that produce well trained chefs.”

  • MASSOB writes Jonathan, UN on members’ death

    The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) yesterday said nine of its members were among the mystery bodies found in Ezu River at Amansea, Anambra State and Enugu State boundary.

    The group has written to President Goodluck Jonathan, the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) and Amnesty International to prevent its members from further extra-judicial killings by security agents.

    In a statement by its National Director of Information, Comrade Uchenna Madu, MASSOB decried the killing of its members and throwing their bodies into the river.

    It also wrote the United States President Barack Obama and the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, Mr. Ban KiMoon.

    MASSOB described itself as a non-violent organisation agitating for a separate nation that would be carved out of Nigeria.

    The group alleged that the nine members were arrested by the security agents on November 9, last year, and had not been seen.

    It said efforts by its lawyer that the detainees be charged to court proved abortive.

    MASSOB also alleged that some of its members and relatives of the detained members were denied access to the suspects and prevented for assisting them with medical supplies.

    “Efforts by our legal team to secure their bail from the security agents were futile. Our demands for their arraignment before a competent court of law were were frustrated by the officers.

    “We suspect that some of the bodies found in Ezu River at Awka, Anambra State, might be those of our members detained by security agents.

    “We demand that if what we are alleging is incorrect, our members – Basil Ogbu, Michael Ogwa, Sandy Omogo, Philip Nwamkpa, Eze Ndubuisi, Ebuka Eze, Obinna Offor, Joseph Udo and Uchechukwu Ejiofor – should be produced and arraigned by security agents.”

  • Yakowa’s surviving brother dies

    Less than one month after the death of  former Kaduna state governor, Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, tragedy again struck the family at the weekend with the death of his only surviving brother, Francis Adamu Yakowa.

    Francis Adamu who has been battling with an undisclosed illness before the death of the former governor will be buried on Monday at the family compound at Fadan Kagoma.

    Even details of the cause of death were available at the time of this report, the news of the death of Patrick Yakowa may have contributed to worsening his condition as he reportedly collapsed when the news of his brother’s death got to him on his sick bed.

    Born in 1964, the late Francis Yakowa worked with the Kaduna state ministry of Health and later the Ministry of Transport as a Vehicle Inspection Officer before voluntarily retiring in 1992.

    He is survived by a wife, sisters ans six children.

  • Benue lawmaker escapes death

    Benue lawmaker escapes death

    The Minority whip of the Benue House of Assembly, Hon. Terkimbir Ikyange, narrowly escaped death yesterday in Makurdi during a fire outbreak in his residence.

    But his posh cars, a Ranger Rover SUV 2006 model and a Toyota Avensis, were burnt to ashes in his new GRA residence in Markurdi.

    Narrating the unfortunate incident to newsmen, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) member representing Ushongo constituency, said he was attracted by the fire around 1am.

    Before his family and members could do much, he said his two vehicles were completely burnt to ashes.

    The arrival of fire fighters, he said, stopped the inferno from spreading to the main building.

    Ikyange dismissed insinuations that the fire might have been ignited from one of the engines, insisting none of them was on during the incident.

    The lawmaker attributed the incident to the handiwork of arsonists and political opponents.

    The Speaker of the Assembly, Barrister Terhile Ayua, who led other lawmakers on a sympathy visit to the residence, also condemned the attack, which he described as an attempt to stop the lawmakers from doing their job.

    He said the House would wait for the outcome of police investigation into the matter before taking the next line of action.

    The Publicity Secretary of ACN in Benue, Hon. Titus Zam, called on the State Police Command to fish out the arsonists.

  • Our father’s death was God’s will , says Yakowa’s son

    Our father’s death was God’s will , says Yakowa’s son

    Son of the late former Kaduna State Governor Patrick Yakowa, Peter, yesterday said the death of his father was God’s will.

    “ It was a grand design by God to show Northerners and Southerners that we are indeed brothers and sisters,” Peter said during the funeral mass for his father in Fadan Kagoma, Kaduna State.

    He went on: “A lot of people described the crash in Bayelsa as an accident. I describe it as a grand design by God to show Mr President and Nigeria that Patrick Yakowa was indeed his brother and sincerely believed in him and his administration.”

    Describing his late father as an apostle of peace, Peter said: “He has made the ultimate sacrifice that was made on the altar of peace. I pray that that sacrifice will not be a waste. I pray there will be peace in Kaduna State.”

    Mrs Amina Yakowa, widow of the former governor said she had come to terms with the demise of her husband, as the people continued to testify to his good nature while he lived.

    She urged the state to immortalise her husband by being committed to his ideals of peace, unity and development.

    “May the death of my husband brings unity to the people of Kaduna State,” she prayed.

    A large crowd of mourners defiled the heavy security presence as the corpse of Yakowa was brought into the St. Pius Catholic Church, Fadan Kagoma, in a Kaduna Government House ambulance on the final lap of his final journey.

    In his funeral oration, Yakowa’s eldest child, Jatau, said the family has taken the death of their father bread-winner in good faith, describing it as a grand design to show the President that Yakowa sincerely believed in him and to show Nigerians that both northerners and southerners are indeed one.

    Jatau said: “We have taken our father’s death in good faith, as he taught us to accept anything that happens in life, no matter how painful, as the will of God. He had spent his life, serving the people. My father was an apostle of peace. He always preached peace at any given opportunity. He made the ultimate sacrifice and that sacrifice was made on the alter of peace.

    “I pray there will be peace in Nigeria. I described the Helicopter crash which killed my father as a grand designed by God to show Mr. President that Yakowa was indeed, his brother, who sincerely believed in him and his administration.

    “It was a grand design by God to show Nigerians that we are indeed brothers and sisters. Daddy, God has finally called you to rest, the rest that you constantly denied yourself while alive. We are happy that you are in a better place with God watching over us.”

    He concluded that his father’s death has “indeed proven beyond reasonable doubt that good people can succeed in life even in Nigeria, because he came, he saw and he conquered.”

    Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) and Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, who spoke on behalf of the governors, said the late Yakowa had one character that was not spoken about. He told the audience that the late Yakowa always told him of his desire to ensure peace and stability in his domain so that he could develop the state.

    Amaechi said: “Yakowa told me that when we talk about peace and disagreement, it is the rich men; those in government that talk about it. The poor man does not fight a Muslim or a Christian. He told me that there is no difference between the Kaduna Muslim and the Kaduna Christian. He said only one thing united them- poverty. He told me that the solution to peace is to fight poverty. He promised me that the number of years he will be in office, he will fight poverty.

    “Yakowa told me that until we are able to fight poverty that is when we will achieve peace. Yakowa believe that all of us who are in government should fight poverty together and then we as Muslims and Christians can worship in peace.

    “Yakowa sacrificed himself in the pursuit of peace, I hope that we’ll not disappoint him because his spirit will continue to hover around us, reminding us on the need to eradicate poverty and have the numerous resources of this country go to people as many as possible so that we can all leave in peace.

    “We will identify with the family; we will know those of us friends in Kaduna after today. I know that the present governor of Kaduna will stand by you.”

    Also speaking, the Chiarman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu, said the views expressed so far about the late Yakowa and the attendance at his funeral was a testimony to the fact that Yakowa was a good man.

    He said: “For me personally, we shared many things in common with the late governor Yakowa. We transferred our services to the Federal government in 1990 together. Yakowa a Christian was always the one who will remind us of our prayer time during our meetings.

    “Those who knew him didn’t know whether he was a Muslim or a Christian. I was happy when the Izala Islamic sect postponed their activities in his honour. The late Yakowa in his inaugural speech, told us that he was a governor for all and I remind all of us holding one position or the other to always remember that out of millions, God chose us, not because we are the most brilliant or the best, but because it was His will to do it the way he did it.

    “Our brother had good intension, not only for Kaduna state, but for all manner of people. Permit me to tell his successor as a new member of the Northern Governors’ Forum to remind him that he has a big shoe to wear.

    By the grace of God, governor Ramalan has promised to carry on with the good works of Yakowa. We will help him.

    “We will do our best to retain that relationship. May the soul of our brother rest in perfect peace. When our time comes, we will go. Let me conclude by saying, what does it benefit a man to lose his soul when he gained the world.”

    Senate President David Mark said the late Yakowa was a different kind of politician, stressing that the late governor was humble, dedicated and a committed nationalist.

    He said: “Yakowa built bridges not just between Muslims and Christians, but he built bridges even within the government. We shall miss him. But more than anything else, we as Christians know that Yakowa is resting in the bossom of the Lord. May his gentle soul rest in peace.”

    President of Catholic Bishop Conference of Nigeria, Bishop Ignatius Kaigam, described the late Yakowa as a humble and dedicated Christian catholic, who was very loyal, adding that “he was loyal and loved the church. He was not the pretentious Christian; he was not a Christian by political convenience; he was a Christian from the heart and he loves his God and his people.”

    He called on Nigerians to stop using religion as a political weapon, to kill and attack others adding that some people use religion to foster their political and group interest.

    The cleric said Yakowa stood for peace, love and development.

    “Why do you have to use your religion to exploit another person? Why do you have to exclude the other person because he does not worship in your religious way?” the cleric asked.

    Yakowa’s remaines were interred at his at his private residence at about 4:50pm.

  • How Timi Alaibe and I escaped death in helicopter crash, by Maku

    How Timi Alaibe and I escaped death in helicopter crash, by Maku

    Information Minister Labaran Maku yesterday recounted how he and former Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Timi Alaibe escaped death last Saturday.

    Maku said he, Alaibe and another Special Adviser to the Vice-President, Sani Umar, were billed to be in the Naval helicopter, which crashed and killed former Kaduna State Governor Patrick Yakowa, former National Security Adviser (NSA) Owoye Azazi and four others.

    The minister spoke yesterday at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.

    He said: “Saturday, 15th December remains a gloomy day for this country; on that fateful day, a number of us were in Okoroba Kingdom in Bayelsa State to pay last respect to the departed father of Special Adviser on Strategy and Documentation, Mr. Oronto Douglas. I went there because Oronto has been an old friend of mine and we have worked in government together.

    “When we arrived, the late Governor of Kaduna State, Mr. Patrick Yakowa, and Gen. Andrew Azazi were already seated. The two of them were full of life. We greeted, we embraced and later we went for the funeral. Unknown to us, we did not know it would be the last moment we would have with these two distinguished sons of Nigeria.

    “When we met in Bayelsa, it was a twist of fate that we did not board the same day because on that day, the Special Adviser to the Vice President, Sani Umar and myself and Timi Alaibe, we were supposed to travel together with the two of them back to Port Harcourt. Somehow just before we could take off from the funeral arena, Sani backed out and decided to travel alone. I stood up and was almost going with them but by some involuntary actions, I returned to my seat. I said: ‘I will wait for a moment’. That was simply the twist of fate that kept us alive. We must give glory to God. I tell this story because nobody goes before his time. We must give God the glory for what has happened. Their destiny was that day and that is what God has done.

    “Council members would recall that Gen. Azazi sat in this chamber with us when he was National Security Adviser. He also rose in the distinguished career of this nation to the rank of a full four-star General. He gallantly served as the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), then he was invited by Mr. President to help this nation overcome one of the most serious security challenges since the end of the civil war in 1970.

    “He served his nation with distinction; he served to the best of his ability. He was able to manage the situation in which he found himself until the time came for him to have a relief and be replaced by another Nigerian to continue with the efforts by Mr. President to give this nation peace.

    “Governor Patrick Yakowa served and had distinguished career in the Civil Service and rose to the position of Permanent Secretary in the Civil Service of the Federation.

    “All the time he was Deputy Governor in Kaduna State, he showed courage, humility, patience as a man of peace and even as a governor, he was such a good man.

    “We commit the souls of the gentlemen who died in the ill-fated crash to Almighty God and He will grant the country mercy. Besides Him, there is no one else.”

  • Death penalty likely for terrorists

    Terrorists may face the death penalty as the National Assembly is set to tighten the anti-terrorism law – courtesy the conference Committee of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

    The committee has adopted death penalty for any act of terrorism.

    This is contained in a conference report presented in the Senate by the Chairman, Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Senator Mohammed Magoro.

    The conference committee considered reports of the two chambers on a Bill for an Act to amend the Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2011 and for other related matters.

    The Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2011 (Amendment) Bill, 2012 was passed by the House of Representatives on the 11th October and the Senate on Wednesday October 17.

    Magoro said: “Clause 2 amends Section 1 of the Principal Act, which deals with ‘prohibition of acts of terrorism’ in general. The Senate version prescribed life imprisonment for offences under this clause while the House version prescribed death penalty. After deliberations, the House version was adopted by the conference committee.”

    Section 1(2) of the House’s version states: “A person or body corporate who knowingly in or outside Nigeria directly or indirectly willingly does, attempt or threatens any act of terrorism…commits an offence under this Act and is liable on conviction to a maximum of death sentence.”

    The committee adopted the Senate’s new Section 17, which provides a minimum of 20 years imprisonment for acts of conspiracy. The House recommended life imprisonment.

    Both chambers also agreed to a new Section 18 of a life imprisonment for aiding and abetting terrorism.

    This section was however qualified by a clause which recommendes 20years where the act was not committed.

    The Senate could not adopt the report yesterday because some members of the conference committee did not sign the report.

    Magoro was mandated to return the report to the other members to sign before it would be adopted and passed.

  • Eaglets in Group of Death

    Eaglets in Group of Death

    Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets will renew rivalry with the Black Starlets after being drawn in a ‘Group of Death’ along side West African neighbours Ghana, Ivory Coast and Congo in Sunday’s African U17 Championship draw in Cairo.

    Hosts Morocco were drawn in Group A where they will take on Gabon, Tunisia and Botswana.

    Coach Manu Garba’s squad is expected to play their Group B matches in Marrakesh during the tournament while Group A matches will be played in Casablanca.

    The final tournament has been fixed for 13-27 April in Morocco.

    The semi finalists will represent Africa at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates next October.

  • Osun Commissioner says death of Team Leader a huge blow

    Osun Commissioner says death of Team Leader a huge blow

    Stephen Balogun, Osun Commissioner for Sports, said on Wednesday that the death of Omotayo Yusuf, Team Osun’s Leader of Delegation to the ongoing 18th National Sports Festival (NSF) has dampened the morale of its athletes.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Yusuf suddenly took ill during a Dambe match at the Abalti Barracks venue of the event. Balogun stressed that in spite of the incident, the athletes would strive to do their best, in memory of the late team leader.

    “The team leader’s death is quite demoralising, but nevertheless, the athletes will rise to the occasion. They will now try their best and make sure that they do their very best. So that the efforts of the team leader will not be in vain, they will rally round and do that, but it is certainly a setback,”he said.

    When asked to assess the performance of Team Osun at the ongoing 18th NSF, he told NAN that the athletes have performed fairly well.

    “We have won one gold, one silver and a couple of bronze medals. I think that considering the size of Osun, I don’t think they are doing that badly. I think that they are being stable and that’s alright for us at this stage. So, I think that I can say that I am satisfied with their performance, so far,” he added.

    Yusuf was said to have slumped while watching a Dambe match at the Abalti Barracks in Surulere, Lagos on Tuesday, but was confirmed dead at a medical facility, thereafter.

    Team Osun finished in the 25th position at the 2011 “Garden City Games’’ in Port Harcourt.