seven-year-old girl has died in an accident involving two commercial buses.
Nine persons, including the two drivers, were injured.
The accident occurred at about 4pm yesterday at Obe Town on Agbani Expressway, involving two L300 buses with registration numbers XE 683KWL and XF 530FKJ.
Police spokesman Ebere Amaraizu said the victims were receiving treatment at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH).
THE Lagos State chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) was thrown into mourning following the death of one of its members, Kunle Alade who died on Thursday.
A former senior correspondent with Compass Newspaper, the late Alade’s last official appearance was at Tuesday’s Lagos SWAN parley with the League Management Company (LMC) at the National Stadium, Surulere. He died in his sleep on Wednesday night.
The deceased, who was in his 40s, was a campaigner for professionalism in the administration of sports in Nigeria and a passionate critic of the Nigeria Professional Football League until his demise.
The jovial but hard-working Alade hailed from Yematu, Ibadan South-East Local Government Area of Oyo State, and before his death transversed the sports desks of major Nigerian dailies like the Daily Times, Today’s Sports, NewAge Newspaper, Champion Newspapers to mention a few. He is survived by a wife and kids.
Oluwole Awolowo, son of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, died last night in London. He was 70.
The Vice Chairman of the African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc, publishers of the Tribune titles, died at 7.40pm (Nigerian time) in Wellington Hospital, St. Johnswood, London.
The company confirmed his death in a statement signed by its Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, Mr Edward Dickson, last night.
The statement reads: “We announce the final home call of the Publisher/ Vice Chairman of the African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, publishers of the Tribune titles, Chief Oluwole Awolowo. He was 70 years old.
“Chief Awolowo died this evening at Wellington Hospital, St Johnswood, London, following complications arising from a car crash that occurred on September 30, 2006.
“He had been in and out of hospital, home and abroad, since he was involved in the ghastly accident seven years ago on the Lagos- Ibadan Expressway.
“Despite his health challenges following the accident, the late Awolowo devoted his life to the service of God and was deeply involved in evangelical activities. In the past four years. He authored a Christian column, OBA’S LECTERN, in the Sunday Tribune.
“He fought a good fight and has gone to rest with his Maker.
“We ask for prayers at this most trying time for the Awolowo family and for the ANN Plc.”
The news shocked many prominent citizens.
The National Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun described the death as a sad and painful loss.
In his reaction through his media aide, Mr. Sunday Dare, Tinubu prayed God to grant Mama HID Awolowo the strength to bear the irreparable loss in her old age.
The statement said: “Oluwole was a gentle personality and a brilliant man, who loved people and affected his environment positively. He was from a great family of excellent political tradition and his life and contributions would not be forgotten in a hurry.”
Praying that God should grant the Awolowo clan the fortitude to bear “this painful loss”, the ACN leader said: “They must not despair, but must be strong for Mama and, above take solace in the fact that he lived a memorable and fulfilled life.”
Amosun described Awolowo’s death as a sad occurrence.
The governor said: “We are surprised to hear about the sudden departure of the publisher of Tribune titles, who was not only the son of our late sage but was himself a major political figure, going by the prominent role he played in the Second Republic when he served meritoriously as a legislator in the Lagos State House of Assembly.
“The entire people of Ogun State mourn the departure of this illustrious son of our dear state. Our condolences go to the entire Awolowo family, particularly our dear mama, Chief (Mrs) HID Awolowo. We pray that God Almighty will console and strengthen them at this time of grief. We also pray that God should grant the dead eternal rest.”
The pan-Yoruba socio-political group – Afenifere also mourned.
It described the death as a big pain and loss to followers of the late Chief Awolowo.
Afenifere, in a statement by its spokesman Mr Yinka Odumakin said: “The entire Afenifere family mourns the passing away of the scion of our illustrious leader’s family,Chief Oluwole Awolowo.
“His death is a big pain and loss to all of us who are followers of the late sage. We pray that the Almighty will strengthen our Mama and the entire family in this difficult moment. May his amiable soul rest in perfect peace.”
RENOWNED evangelist and founder of the World Soul Winning Evangelical Mission (WOSEM), Prophet Timothy Obadare, is dead.
Obadare, an Akure, Ondo State evangelist noted for the monthly Koseunti Crusade, died yesterday at an undisclosed private hospital in Akure, the state capital. He was 85.
The late cleric was of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) before the ministry fell inot a crisis over certain issues.
Obadare’s death was confirmed by the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ondo State branch, Bishop Joshua Ketiku, who said it came “as a rude shock”.
The CAN chairman said the deceased lived a good life and had gone to rest, adding: “Baba is happier where he is now.”
The media aide to the late cleric, Michael Awe, described him as a great evangelist, who travelled wide within and outside the country on rigorous evangelism.
Awe, who said there was no faction in the CAC Worldwide, added that WOSEM had always been an evangelical arm of the church.
The Publicity Secretary of the CAC Worldwide, Pastor Adeemisoye Alawode, said the entire CAC was shocked by the news of Prophet Obadare’s death.
Alawode said the President of the CAC Worldwide, Pastor Abraham Akioso, had condoled with the Church and the family of the deceased.
According to him, the late Prophet Obadare worked like a ‘General’ in the Jesus Army, saying he did his best for the Church.
One of the children of the late prophet, Mr Joseph Obadare, said his father lived a fulfilled life, adding that the family was waiting for the eldest son before making further comments.
Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko described the death of Pastor Obadare, as an example of the marching on of a saint.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Eni Akinsola, Mimiko likened Obadare’s life, ministry and influence to those of saints.
“In his way of life, concern for the lost soul and uplifting of the name of God, Obadare stands tall among the prophets of his generation and broke barriers that health attempted to place on his way. He was consistent and controlled, aggressive yet unobstructive and had no pretensions about his faith and God.
It reads: “Prophet Obadare made the life of the poor and the down trodden his and helped many re-discover their connections to God His strident cries against sin and warnings to those departing from what is right and just will be sorely missed.”
In Ibadan, news of his death filtered threw numbers of the CAC and his followers.
He succeeded the founder, Prophet Ayo Babalola, having served under him faithfully for years before he (Babalola) died.
He held the position of the General Evangelist of the church until his death.
Baba liked standing for the truth. He was generous and offered purposeful leadership. He reached out to the poor. We are really going to miss him,” a church leader said.
The cleric relocated five years ago to the United States of America (USA)to attend to his health only to return to his Akure base late last year.
A man simply identified as Alfa Kabiru yesterday died in a lone auto accident around First Bank in Alagbaka, Akure, the Ondo State capital.
The incident involved a truck, marked LAGOS FKJ 944 XA, said to be heading towards Abuja.
The truck had two occupants, the driver and the deceased, who was his assistant.
Eyewitnesses said the driver lost control of the truck owing to excessive speed and the vehicle ran into a fence opposite Alagbaka Roundabout.
The injured driver was taken to the State Specialist Hospital, Akure and the remains of the deceased were deposited at the hospital’s mortuary.
The on – going African Cup of Nations tournament in South Africa has claimed its first casualty in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, as one Moshood Owolabi slumped and died.
SportingLife gathered that Owolabi, 40, and father of two kids, died on Sunday while watching the quarter final clash between Nigeria’s Super Eagles and the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire at a crowded viewing centre at Promise Stadium in Lanlepe compound, Oke-Sokori area of Abeokuta.
Owolabi could no longer control himself as the match progressed. He suddenly jerked up from his seat only to collapse on the lap of another viewer, sitting adjacent to him.
An Engineer with Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) at theFederal Ministry of Works in Abeokuta office of the Federal Ministry of Works, he started to choke and foam from both mouth and nose.
He was quickly rushed to Success Medical Clinic and later to First Alpha Medical Centre where he was confirmed dead.
Medical Director of Success Medical Clinic, Dr Odede Kolawole, confirmed the deceased was brought dead to his hospital and efforts to revive him failed.
Dr Kolawole said Owolabi probably died of anoxia (shortage of oxygen)as a result of excessive inhalation of carbon dioxide.
Kolawole said: “Immediately the man was brought in dead. A close friend of the deceased told me of how he survived a fatal accident about two months ago.
“From the way I saw him, he looked weak and sick for a very long period of time. Like someone who was managing his life, and facing a crowd with shortage of oxygen he must have suffered from anoxia persistently for a long period of time but it was late before he was brought here.”
A witness, Mr Taiwo Adebayo, said it was like Owolabi had cardiac arrest and was foaming when he fell to the ground.
He noted that the deceased was rescued and taken to the clinic alive but there was no doctor to attend to him at the first clinic and said it was while rushing him to the second clinic that he died on the way.
He said:“We were together when the match started, when Moses played a shot on target and it was deflected off by the Ivorian defender. It was at that time that he fell on someone’s laps as is if he suffered from cardiac arrest and he started foaming.
A FOREMOST international sport journalist Deacon Ayo Ositelu is dead. The sad news was broken to reporters on Wednesday night after the International friendly match between Super Eagles Nigeria and Cape Verde.
According to reports confirmed by a family friend and journalist, Kayode Tijani, Ositelu popularly known as ‘Arena’ amongst his peers, died last night after watching the friendly match.
“I can confirm now that Deacon AYO OSITELU is indeed DEAD!. I spoke to his Wife. Who said he was watching TV with her and The next minute he was dead. I am in SHOCK.”
Kayode Tijani, who confirmed the death after speaking to the deceased’s wife.
The deceased was a respected sports journalist and was the compere when tennis icons, Serena and Venus Williams, came to Nigeria for an exhibition match in November 2012.
While pouring encomiums on the deceased, Mr. Tijani said “Deacon Ayo Ositelu told me and never to detest those who wrong me, betray me/ are mean to me but still be nice and civil to them.”
He described Mr. Ositelu as a complete gentleman, principled and trustworthy.
It will be recalled that Arena served as the compere during the November 2, 2012 exhibition match between the Williams sisters (Serena & Venus) at the Lagos Tennis Club.
The veteran international sports journalist and former chairman of Ejigbo Local Council Development Area, who was born April 6, 1947 amd died three months to his 70th birthday.
The remains of the Emir of Dukku, Alhaji Abdulkadir Rasheed, were on Tuesday interred in Dukku, Gombe State.
Alhaji Bala Mohammed, the Secretary of the Dukku Emirate Council, spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dukku on Tuesday.
He said the late Rasheed died at 91, had three wives, 53 children and many grand-children.
He said the emir died on Monday night at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Gombe, following a protracted illness.
Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo and other top government officials attended the funeral.
Other dignitaries at the prayer included the Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Shehu Abubakar as well as the Emir of Kaltungo, Alhaji Sale Mohammed.
Dankwambo commiserated with the deceased’s family and the people of the state.
He said the country would remember the late emir for his contributions to nation-building.
eteran actor, Enebeli Elebuwa, is dead. He was 66. Elebuwa passed on on Tuesday after being bedridden for months in India where he was receiving treatment.
The Delta State-born actor, whose first movie role was in Sanya Dosunmu’s 1974 celluloid film, Dinner with the Devil, was hit by a strange ailment sometime last year, resulting in stroke.
He was first treated at St. Luke’s Hospital, Yaba, Lagos, but was later moved to St. Topaz Hospital, Surulere Lagos. He received assistance from the Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola and Delta State Commissioner for Information, Richard Mofe-Damijo, who is also an actor.
The deceased was one of the pathfinders in the Nigerian movie industry with about 125 movies to his credit. Among them are Abuja Top Ladies, Queen of Hasso Rock, The Corridors of Power, Extra Time, True Love, Squad Twenty-Three, Separate Lives, Dons in Abuja, Expensive Game, Bumper to Bumper, Mortal Sin, Together as One, the highly-rated 1999 blockbuster Domitilla and a host of others.
Though known for delivering roles on the television, the actor’s journey as an entertainer began on the music scene. As a musician, he led the band of veteran highlife artiste, Victor Olaiya, during the Nigerian Civil War.
He also performed with the Steve Rhodes Voices. He played the role of a police officer in the rested popular soap, Village Headmaster.
He was the lead character in a television commercial in the 80s that discouraged Nigerians from fleeing abroad for greener pastures. He earned the sobriquet, Andrew, for his role in the commercial. Governor Uduaghan has commiserated with the Elebuwa family and the entertainment industry on the death of the popular actor.
He described his death as “painful and saddening.”
Uduaghan, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sunny Ogefere, said he was shocked that the efforts made by well-meaning Nigerians to save his life did not yield result.
He prayed God Almighty to grant the family, Nigerians and his colleagues in the entertainment industry the fortitude to bear the loss.
Abubakar Olusola Saraki, medical doctor, former Senate Leader and elder statesman, who is widely known as the “godfather of Kwara politics”, died yesterday in Lagos. He was 79.
Dr. Saraki’s death has ended an era of more than four decades in Kwara politics.
The Second Republic Senate Leader passed on in his sleep.
He had been staying in his Cameron Road, Ikoyi, Lagos home since he returned from overseas after undergoing treatment for cancer, according to his son, Olaolu.
Describing his last moments, Olaolu said: “He had been battling cancer for about five years. He was fine this morning (yesterday). He was comfortable and even said his prayers.
“He died in the presence of one of my brothers, my mother and my two sisters.” The young Saraki spoke to reporters at his father’s Ikoyi home.
“He gave up the ghost at about 6 a.m.,” he said.
Saraki’s death threw Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, into mourning. His Lagos home was besieged by dignitaries.
The Kwara State House of Assembly adjourned sitting for eight days. Speaker Rasaq Atunwa ordered the suspension of all matters on yesterday’s order paper.
The House observed a two-minute silence in Saraki’s honour and directed the national flag at the Assembly to be flown at half mast.
Kwara State Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed declared yesterday a work-free day to allow residents receive the body of the late politician in Ilorin. Besides, a three-day mourning period was announced.
The state-owned radio station, Radio Kwara, suspended all regular programmes in honour of the late Waziri of Ilorin. The station was playing various tunes eulogising the life and times of the late politician.
Senator Bukola Saraki, elder son of the late Dr. Saraki announced his father’s passing. He said in a statement: “With gratitude to Almighty Allah, we announce the passage to eternity of our beloved father and grandfather, His Eminence, Oloye (Dr) Abubakar Olusola Saraki, Waziri of Ilorin, former Senate Leader, Second Republic, Federal Republic of Nigeria, who answered the call to great beyond early hours of today.
“We take solace in knowing that our father lived an exemplary life of service and selfless devotion to development of his people and nation,’’ the statement added.
The former governor, who saw his father last on Monday before leaving for Senate plenary in Abuja, said his father left “many legacies” and would be missed.
He said: “We give praise to Almighty Allah who has life. My father lived a great life. He left many legacies. We are proud of what he achieved in his lifetime and all of us his children thank Almighty God for his life.
“He touched many lives and we are proud of what he has been able to do.”
Asked if his father had any unfulfilled dreams, he said: “Let’s look at what he fulfilled rather than what he didn’t. He fulfilled many good things.”
According to a family source, the former Senate Leader died between 6.30am and 7am.
The source said: “Oloye(as he was politically known) died in his sleep. Dr. Saraki had been in and out of hospitals both locally and abroad in the last one and a half years.
“I can tell you that in the last six months, he had been in Nigeria receiving treatment.
“The former Senate Leader had some words with his son Bukola, in his sitting room without signs that death was lurking around on Monday. There were signs that his health had deteriorated.
“The ex-governor was in Abuja on Wednesday when he was asked to come over to Lagos at about 8am. He was trying to find out from his relations why the urgent summon but they tried to hide the death of his father from him.
“But as a medical doctor, he needed no one to tell him that his father was dead, having known Dr. Olusola Saraki’s condition. He was just supplicating as he left for Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
“With a chartered jet, the ex-governor hastily moved to Lagos but his father had passed on before his arrival.
“Upon sighting his father’s body, he became solemn and wept with relations consoling him. But he took time to pray for the repose of the soul of the great man.”
Early callers at Saraki’s home in Ikoyi, Lagos included Action Congress of Nigeria (AC N) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Managing Director of Intercontinental Bank, Mr. Lai Alabi and GT Bank Group Managing Director Mr. Segun Agbaje.
The Kwara State Government raised a burial committee, headed by a former Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Saka Onimago.
Tinubu was accompanied by the ACN’s National Publicity Secretary Alhaji Lai Mohammed and the party’s governorship candidate in the last election, Mr. Mohammed Dele Belgore. Also in the delegation was former Ekiti State Governor Niyi Adebayo.
Industirlist Molade Okoya-Thomas and the Olofa of Offa, Oba Muhammed Esuwoye II, were also at the house.
The remains of Dr Saraki were flown to Ilorin aboard an Overland Airways aircraft, which took off at the executive jet terminal at the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
The body arrived at the private terminal at about 3.00 pm in a motorcade, including a hearse belonging to the undertakers MIC, which conveyed the body in a casket that was ferried into the aisle of the aircraft.
The body of the late politician was accompanied by his children – Senator Saraki, Olaolu, Senator Gbemisola and Tope.
The atmosphere was solemn as scores of friends and family members of the late politician joined the children.
The body of the late politician was moved from the hearse into the aircraft with registration number 5N- BCR, flown by the airline’s proprietor, Captain Edward Boyo.
Another aircraft belonging to Rivers State Government, with registration number N56SRS, was on hand at the apron to convey Senator Saraki, his friends and associates.
The third aircraft parked at the terminal also ferried other friends and family members to Ilorin for the burial.