The Nation Newspaper

Tag: marriage

  • A woman’s travails in marriage

    A woman’s travails in marriage

    Book review

    Title: Idaamu Omoribiwon (Travails of Omoribiwon)

    Author: Michael Akande

    Publisher: Mestak Publishers, Lagos

    Reviewer:Andrew Iro Okungbowa

    Thebook, Idaamu Omoribiwon, has eight chapters and in written in Yoruba Language. It reflects various Yoruba cultural beliefs and practices, ranging from traditional marriage, naming ceremony to polygamy.

    The narrative dwells on the life of a woman named Omoribiwon, unravelling her business, her marital and family life among others. Omoribiwon was plagued by series of problems from her early life. From age 13 she sets out to work as a housemaid in order to elk out a living. She was later trained as a tailor and from that her life took a different turn with noticeable improvement in her quality of life. However, somewhere along the line her love relationship went awry with the fiancé jilting her on her account of her dogged refusal to get pregnant before marriage.

    Omoribiwon later became the third wife of Alabi Adetunji and the union was blessed with five kids. But her first child who was a son suffered kidney damage necessitating an immediate kidney transplant to keep him alive. But no one among the family member was ready to donate a kidney to him however the mother volunteered one of hers. The transplant was successful and things returned to normal for the son and herself, including the other members of her family, however, temporarily, as exactly a year after the son suffered a relapsed following a brief illness. In the process, Adeola, Omoribiwon first child died.

    Omoribiwon was full of grief but later consoled herself. She bounces back and continues to live her life in good health and sound mind. Some of the lessons to be drawn from the book include the power of connection, perseverance, sacrificial life and truthfulness as well as dedicated to family life, children and contentment with one’s state in life.

    The book is written by Michael Akande, a lecturer at Emmanuel Alayande College of Education in Oyo town, Oyo State and it is first novel publication but he has over the years published a number of textbooks for use by students. The publishing house is Mestak Publishers Lagos while the forward to the book was written by an author emeritus, Chief Oladejo Okediji, the author of Rere run.

     

  • How ladies tried to lure me into marriage with money after losing my wife –Trado-medical practitioner Olayemi Lateef a.k.a. Kolaq

    How ladies tried to lure me into marriage with money after losing my wife –Trado-medical practitioner Olayemi Lateef a.k.a. Kolaq

    Alhaji  Olayemi Atunda Lateef, popularly known in social circles as Kolaq, has been a trado-medicine practitioner for over two decades. According to him, the growth of that health sub sector has been remarkable and shows that Africans indeed have a divine gift to share with the rest of the world. He came into limelight back in the late 90s and was embraced by society folks, who he says were overwhelmed by his herbal products and patronised him. But more importantly also was the role of his late amiable wife, Afisat Olamide, who was well loved, as both of them were usually, favourite faces at parties. But after the death of his wife, Kolaq, seemed to have taken a leave of absence from the society scene. In this interview with Paul Ukpabio, he shares with us the passion for his work, memories of his late wife and the joy of re-marriage.

    Some time ago, you lost your wife. She was very endearing in society circles. And after that, it’s like you receded from society circles…

    Yes, the death of my wife affected me because she was supportive in many ways when she was alive. But then I thank God that the family was able to move on after that. Her death didn’t mean that I had to close down the business, though she played a major role with me while she was alive. Her death was painful.

    When was that?

    That was about 10 years ago. Hmm, Yoruba people say, ‘Olorun a fi igbagbe si’  (meaning may God give us the grace to forget.)

    At what point did you decide to re-marry?

    I re-married five years ago. If you recall, my late wife and I were very close. Her death indeed affected me because she was a humble woman. She was very supportive. A major part of my business was handled by her. I felt free to involve her in my business. I enjoyed her enthusiasm in the business. Her interest and good performance made me to gain lot of confidence in her. All that made her death to be painful when it took place.

    After waiting for five years without your late wife, you ended up marrying a much younger woman. How have you been coping with a much younger woman?

    (Laughs) But I am still young too. For me, marrying a younger woman was not much of the attraction to beauty and so on, but it was more of prayer. I particularly prayed to God to give me a good wife, my ‘own’ wife. I prayed that God should give me my best friend. And when my present wife, popularly known as ewa Islam, came, I found out that she was okay. As it is today, she is more of a friend to me. We are best friends. If you do not see your wife as your best friend and your wife does not see you as her best friend, then the marriage cannot work out well.

    Is your new wife taking part in your business?

    She is trying. She is presently involved. She is not actually the only one that is involved; my children are now well involved. There is one over here handling the business, and then there is another one in America in charge of the office there. He is handling that side of the business. He has been in America for more than 10 years now. He studied pharmacy over there.

    How have your children been coping with your young new wife?

    My children have really been good to me. I am grateful that the investments that I have made over them over the years have started paying off. I am lucky I have four boys.

    Are you expecting more children?

    Yoruba people say, ‘won ki nka omo fun olomo (meaning you don’t count children).’ If children decide to come, then they have come (Laughs). So whether I am expecting right now or not expecting, I am sure that when a child arrives, the sound will be heard and the sound of celebration will be heard too.

    Your new wife is an artiste. What kind of music does she sing?

    She sings gospel music. She has actually just finished a collabo with popular fuji musician Saheed Osupa. She was already an artiste before I met her. So I was not involved in her decision to be an artiste. And when I met her, there was nothing I could do but to support her. I had to encourage her because i didn’t want to kill the talent or discourage her. Right now she already has two albums in the market. The one she just finished will be the third one.

    What is life like living with a wife who is an artiste?

    She sings a lot around the house. It is normal being that she is an entertainer. I am comfortable with the kind of music she plays since it is religious. Her kind of music allows her to be homely as well.

    But after you lost your first wife, did ladies look out for your interest in marriage?

    (Laughs) Yes, a lot of ladies came around with interest for marriage. Some actually bribed people close to me, in order to come closer to me themselves and suggest it. There were actually two other cases that left me shocked. One lady called and said she heard about the death of my late wife and will gladly put N10m in the bank. I gladly accepted. But when she said that we should make it a joint account, I had to think twice about it. Three times she called at different times to ask for that joint account. But I declined. There were also women from America who tried to talk me into it.

    What is your style?

    I love shoes. I love my shoes to be neat, clean and attractive. So I wear stylish shoes. I believe that someone’s shoes stand the person out. I value shoes more than clothing and even jewellery. But I must tell you that shoes tell much about a person. People take more interest in clothing but shoes show more of a person’s class and taste.

    You have been in the trado-medicine world for quite some time, what is the feeling like, being one of the few successful ones?

    When I started in 1986, it was a shameful thing to call oneself a trado- medicine practitioner. But I was determined because I admired the traditions of my forebears. In those good, old days, there was herbal medicine and then there was also a religion which was largely based on traditions. So these two were perceived to work together. For instance, in those days, before medications were given to a sick person, some of the time, the medicine man had to first consult  the oracle.

    Then there wasn’t really any difference between the medicine man and the spiritual or religious head of the community. Also, most often in some cultures or traditions, the two were not found separated. That was one of the major challenges that I faced when I started the work on herbal medicine. It took some time before people could separate herbal medicine from the work of herbalists of those days. But now people know better. They now know there is a difference.

    How did you start out?

    I started out poorly. That was at Bariga area of Lagos. It was through dint of handwork and much determination. I rented a place at a sawmill and gradually started operating from there. I can say that my initial success came about through advertisement. At that time, herbal medicine practitioners used to be  located at hidden places and were only known to those who were close to them, or those who lived around them. But that changed when I met a journalist, who convinced me that I should advertise if I could vouch for my herbal therapies. I told him that I was sure of my products. So I went public. There after, I experienced an unusual patronage. People came to verify if my products were okay and from then on, I became popular among society people.

    Does that mean that high society folks patronise herbal medicine?

    Yes, they do. Even when herbal medicine was not very popular, they were patronising it. The truth is that herbal medicine is traditional to us. As Africans, we have known about it and it has  been a part of us. Also what has helped the growth of herbal medicine in the country is the increase in diseases and the inability of orthodox medicine to meet up with the demands and challenges of lasting cure for diseases and ailments. And then the high cost, non- affordability and lack of easy access to orthodox medicine; that gave us space for growth.

    You ask if high society folks  patronise herbal medicine, my reply is that since they are human and they fall sick too, then they are likely to look for cure to their sickness. You will be surprised about the large number of high society people that have benefited from the use of herbal medicine over the years. I will not be able to mention names, but suffice to say that I was a nobody until high society folks began to enjoy good patronage from me. As a matter of fact, it is the rich folks that made me.

    You mentioned that sicknesses and diseases have been increasing over the years, why is it so?

    It is unfortunate that despite the increase in the wealth in our society, the lifestyle of today’s people  has remained unhealthy. Most of the foods that people eat are either unhealthy or not properly eaten. Sometimes people eat food at the wrong time or eat greedily. All these lead to sickness and illness. Then also, multiple sexual relationships and the increase in promiscuity have led to various diseases. Take for instance, young people who drink half carton of beer at a sitting or drink three bottles of red wine at a sitting. Some people do such regularly. There is no way that such persons will not have one illness or another in the long run.

    Today for instance, young people do not sleep at night. Even the middle aged too. They stay awake most nights phone-pinging one another. Those kinds of lifestyle lead to health issues.  Some people wake at 4am and they are never back home till 11pm. These are some of the complex lifestyles of today. So for people who do not sleep properly, by the time they are 35 or 40 years old, they are definitely likely to develop hypertension. And that leads to other diseases. That is definitely not how God said that we should be using our bodies.

    So are you saying that the way we use the body determines how long one lives?

    What I am saying is that, it goes a long way to determine how long one lives. For instance, if you buy two brand new cars today, two years later, the wear and tear of each of the cars will be determined by their use. That is how the body is too. If you use your body poorly by throwing in all sorts of junk, it is likely that you will be affected in later life with illnesses.

    So how do you take care of your own body?

    I take care of my body. Anyone that does not pay attention to his body will end up being older than his actual age. I do not copy anybody and I am not envious of other people’s lifestyles. I am always contented with what I have and with what God has given me. I drink and eat in moderation. I live a free life because I do not ask God for what I cannot handle or control. People  who are rich in wrong ways cannot sleep. They end up worrying so much, age and develop illness and diseases. I live by the day!

    Then more importantly, I treat myself with natural herbs. I use my products. Anyway, before I approve a product for the public, I make sure that I have used it myself. That way I ensure that I live a healthy lifestyle. I eat what my system needs or requires. In those days, when a child wakes up in the morning, they are given ‘bitters’ which cleanse their systems. But today, you hardly see such things happening. These days what you are likely to see are children who are woken up with large sized chicken, meat-pie, carbonated drinks of various colours and so on. This happens day in and day out. That lifestyle is not healthy.

    It’s an open joke that herbal products lay spurious claims to cure. one product for instance, could be said to be able to cure a variety of diseases. Why is this so?

    No, I think that is the problem of marketing. Take for instance the orthodox medicine, analgesics cure more than one ailment; so also some products of herbal medicine may cure more than one ailment but when it is said to cure several, it may be superfluous.

    Is any of your children taking after you in your line of business?

    Funny enough, all my children are already involved in it. I live an open life and one way or the other, the children have been learning. They have been having opportunity to watch and learn under me and therefore got involved. The knowledge has been interesting and the children ignited passion and interest in it early in life. Don’t forget that I learnt from my parents. But I didn’t stop there, I got into formal education as well. However, unlike my home then when I was the only one that got the knowledge from my father among all his children, my own children are very much interested in learning and knowing from me the secrets of herbal treasures.

    Which were your boom years in your business?

    (Laughs) Every year has been my boom year. Though herbal medicine is everywhere now and much accessible. at the level that I am, there are only a few of us there, nonetheless, herbal medicine is always around the corner. Our products are sold openly in pharmacies and health wellness centres these days. Herbs which are locally called ‘agbo’ are now everywhere. They are right there in your face. I am actually proud of the distributive network that we have been able to achieve with herbal medicine. This area has become a money generating source for many in Nigeria. A lot of people are living and surviving through the production network of herbal medicine. I believe that it is time that the government should take advantage and encourage more circulation and export.

    Your most embarrassing moment?

    Can’t really remember a particular case but I recalled that in my earlier days as a herbal practitioner, there was a complaint by somebody who purchased my herbal medicine that it was used and it didn’t work. From then on, I strove harder to ensure that such a thing never occurs again. I still remember that it was painful to me because such report kills brands. So over the years I have endeavoured to ensure that such a thing never happens. It hurts. The joy of a product is to see it work.

    What has motivated you over the years?

    It is God. I cannot say that it has been my wife. I cannot even say it has been my staff. It is God that has motivated and sustained me over the years.

    Your most challenging moment?

    There have been challenges but I must tell you that there is no time that you look up in the sky in the afternoon that there won’t be a black lining in the sky. And at the same time, there is no time at night when you look up in the sky that you won’t see a white lining there. That means that there are different times and seasons in the world. There definitely will be times when things will be well, but even then, there will be challenges. There is no way a vehicle will move from one distance to another with the same speed. So for me, I do not see challenges, instead what i see is a beautiful life with ups and downs.

  • How ladies tried to lure me into marriage with money after losing my wife –Trado-medical practitioner Olayemi Lateef a.k.a. Kolaq

    How ladies tried to lure me into marriage with money after losing my wife –Trado-medical practitioner Olayemi Lateef a.k.a. Kolaq

    Alhaji  Olayemi Atunda Lateef, popularly known in social circles as Kolaq, has been a trado-medicine practitioner for over two decades. According to him, the growth of that health sub sector has been remarkable and shows that Africans indeed have a divine gift to share with the rest of the world. He came into limelight back in the late 90s and was embraced by society folks, who he says were overwhelmed by his herbal products and patronised him. But more importantly also was the role of his late amiable wife, Afisat Olamide, who was well loved, as both of them were usually, favourite faces at parties. But after the death of his wife, Kolaq, seemed to have taken a leave of absence from the society scene. In this interview with Paul Ukpabio, he shares with us the passion for his work, memories of his late wife and the joy of re-marriage.

    Some time ago, you lost your wife. She was very endearing in society circles. And after that, it’s like you receded from society circles…

    Yes, the death of my wife affected me because she was supportive in many ways when she was alive. But then I thank God that the family was able to move on after that. Her death didn’t mean that I had to close down the business, though she played a major role with me while she was alive. Her death was painful.

    When was that?

    That was about 10 years ago. Hmm, Yoruba people say, ‘Olorun a fi igbagbe si’  (meaning may God give us the grace to forget.)

    At what point did you decide to re-marry?

    I re-married five years ago. If you recall, my late wife and I were very close. Her death indeed affected me because she was a humble woman. She was very supportive. A major part of my business was handled by her. I felt free to involve her in my business. I enjoyed her enthusiasm in the business. Her interest and good performance made me to gain lot of confidence in her. All that made her death to be painful when it took place.

    After waiting for five years without your late wife, you ended up marrying a much younger woman. How have you been coping with a much younger woman?

    (Laughs) But I am still young too. For me, marrying a younger woman was not much of the attraction to beauty and so on, but it was more of prayer. I particularly prayed to God to give me a good wife, my ‘own’ wife. I prayed that God should give me my best friend. And when my present wife, popularly known as ewa Islam, came, I found out that she was okay. As it is today, she is more of a friend to me. We are best friends. If you do not see your wife as your best friend and your wife does not see you as her best friend, then the marriage cannot work out well.

    Is your new wife taking part in your business?

    She is trying. She is presently involved. She is not actually the only one that is involved; my children are now well involved. There is one over here handling the business, and then there is another one in America in charge of the office there. He is handling that side of the business. He has been in America for more than 10 years now. He studied pharmacy over there.

    How have your children been coping with your young new wife?

    My children have really been good to me. I am grateful that the investments that I have made over them over the years have started paying off. I am lucky I have four boys.

    Are you expecting more children?

    Yoruba people say, ‘won ki nka omo fun olomo (meaning you don’t count children).’ If children decide to come, then they have come (Laughs). So whether I am expecting right now or not expecting, I am sure that when a child arrives, the sound will be heard and the sound of celebration will be heard too.

    Your new wife is an artiste. What kind of music does she sing?

    She sings gospel music. She has actually just finished a collabo with popular fuji musician Saheed Osupa. She was already an artiste before I met her. So I was not involved in her decision to be an artiste. And when I met her, there was nothing I could do but to support her. I had to encourage her because i didn’t want to kill the talent or discourage her. Right now she already has two albums in the market. The one she just finished will be the third one.

    What is life like living with a wife who is an artiste?

    She sings a lot around the house. It is normal being that she is an entertainer. I am comfortable with the kind of music she plays since it is religious. Her kind of music allows her to be homely as well.

    But after you lost your first wife, did ladies look out for your interest in marriage?

    (Laughs) Yes, a lot of ladies came around with interest for marriage. Some actually bribed people close to me, in order to come closer to me themselves and suggest it. There were actually two other cases that left me shocked. One lady called and said she heard about the death of my late wife and will gladly put N10m in the bank. I gladly accepted. But when she said that we should make it a joint account, I had to think twice about it. Three times she called at different times to ask for that joint account. But I declined. There were also women from America who tried to talk me into it.

    What is your style?

    I love shoes. I love my shoes to be neat, clean and attractive. So I wear stylish shoes. I believe that someone’s shoes stand the person out. I value shoes more than clothing and even jewellery. But I must tell you that shoes tell much about a person. People take more interest in clothing but shoes show more of a person’s class and taste.

    You have been in the trado-medicine world for quite some time, what is the feeling like, being one of the few successful ones?

    When I started in 1986, it was a shameful thing to call oneself a trado- medicine practitioner. But I was determined because I admired the traditions of my forebears. In those good, old days, there was herbal medicine and then there was also a religion which was largely based on traditions. So these two were perceived to work together. For instance, in those days, before medications were given to a sick person, some of the time, the medicine man had to first consult  the oracle.

    Then there wasn’t really any difference between the medicine man and the spiritual or religious head of the community. Also, most often in some cultures or traditions, the two were not found separated. That was one of the major challenges that I faced when I started the work on herbal medicine. It took some time before people could separate herbal medicine from the work of herbalists of those days. But now people know better. They now know there is a difference.

    How did you start out?

    I started out poorly. That was at Bariga area of Lagos. It was through dint of handwork and much determination. I rented a place at a sawmill and gradually started operating from there. I can say that my initial success came about through advertisement. At that time, herbal medicine practitioners used to be  located at hidden places and were only known to those who were close to them, or those who lived around them. But that changed when I met a journalist, who convinced me that I should advertise if I could vouch for my herbal therapies. I told him that I was sure of my products. So I went public. There after, I experienced an unusual patronage. People came to verify if my products were okay and from then on, I became popular among society people.

    Does that mean that high society folks patronise herbal medicine?

    Yes, they do. Even when herbal medicine was not very popular, they were patronising it. The truth is that herbal medicine is traditional to us. As Africans, we have known about it and it has  been a part of us. Also what has helped the growth of herbal medicine in the country is the increase in diseases and the inability of orthodox medicine to meet up with the demands and challenges of lasting cure for diseases and ailments. And then the high cost, non- affordability and lack of easy access to orthodox medicine; that gave us space for growth.

    You ask if high society folks  patronise herbal medicine, my reply is that since they are human and they fall sick too, then they are likely to look for cure to their sickness. You will be surprised about the large number of high society people that have benefited from the use of herbal medicine over the years. I will not be able to mention names, but suffice to say that I was a nobody until high society folks began to enjoy good patronage from me. As a matter of fact, it is the rich folks that made me.

    You mentioned that sicknesses and diseases have been increasing over the years, why is it so?

    It is unfortunate that despite the increase in the wealth in our society, the lifestyle of today’s people  has remained unhealthy. Most of the foods that people eat are either unhealthy or not properly eaten. Sometimes people eat food at the wrong time or eat greedily. All these lead to sickness and illness. Then also, multiple sexual relationships and the increase in promiscuity have led to various diseases. Take for instance, young people who drink half carton of beer at a sitting or drink three bottles of red wine at a sitting. Some people do such regularly. There is no way that such persons will not have one illness or another in the long run.

    Today for instance, young people do not sleep at night. Even the middle aged too. They stay awake most nights phone-pinging one another. Those kinds of lifestyle lead to health issues.  Some people wake at 4am and they are never back home till 11pm. These are some of the complex lifestyles of today. So for people who do not sleep properly, by the time they are 35 or 40 years old, they are definitely likely to develop hypertension. And that leads to other diseases. That is definitely not how God said that we should be using our bodies.

    So are you saying that the way we use the body determines how long one lives?

    What I am saying is that, it goes a long way to determine how long one lives. For instance, if you buy two brand new cars today, two years later, the wear and tear of each of the cars will be determined by their use. That is how the body is too. If you use your body poorly by throwing in all sorts of junk, it is likely that you will be affected in later life with illnesses.

    So how do you take care of your own body?

    I take care of my body. Anyone that does not pay attention to his body will end up being older than his actual age. I do not copy anybody and I am not envious of other people’s lifestyles. I am always contented with what I have and with what God has given me. I drink and eat in moderation. I live a free life because I do not ask God for what I cannot handle or control. People  who are rich in wrong ways cannot sleep. They end up worrying so much, age and develop illness and diseases. I live by the day!

    Then more importantly, I treat myself with natural herbs. I use my products. Anyway, before I approve a product for the public, I make sure that I have used it myself. That way I ensure that I live a healthy lifestyle. I eat what my system needs or requires. In those days, when a child wakes up in the morning, they are given ‘bitters’ which cleanse their systems. But today, you hardly see such things happening. These days what you are likely to see are children who are woken up with large sized chicken, meat-pie, carbonated drinks of various colours and so on. This happens day in and day out. That lifestyle is not healthy.

    It’s an open joke that herbal products lay spurious claims to cure. one product for instance, could be said to be able to cure a variety of diseases. Why is this so?

    No, I think that is the problem of marketing. Take for instance the orthodox medicine, analgesics cure more than one ailment; so also some products of herbal medicine may cure more than one ailment but when it is said to cure several, it may be superfluous.

    Is any of your children taking after you in your line of business?

    Funny enough, all my children are already involved in it. I live an open life and one way or the other, the children have been learning. They have been having opportunity to watch and learn under me and therefore got involved. The knowledge has been interesting and the children ignited passion and interest in it early in life. Don’t forget that I learnt from my parents. But I didn’t stop there, I got into formal education as well. However, unlike my home then when I was the only one that got the knowledge from my father among all his children, my own children are very much interested in learning and knowing from me the secrets of herbal treasures.

    Which were your boom years in your business?

    (Laughs) Every year has been my boom year. Though herbal medicine is everywhere now and much accessible. at the level that I am, there are only a few of us there, nonetheless, herbal medicine is always around the corner. Our products are sold openly in pharmacies and health wellness centres these days. Herbs which are locally called ‘agbo’ are now everywhere. They are right there in your face. I am actually proud of the distributive network that we have been able to achieve with herbal medicine. This area has become a money generating source for many in Nigeria. A lot of people are living and surviving through the production network of herbal medicine. I believe that it is time that the government should take advantage and encourage more circulation and export.

    Your most embarrassing moment?

    Can’t really remember a particular case but I recalled that in my earlier days as a herbal practitioner, there was a complaint by somebody who purchased my herbal medicine that it was used and it didn’t work. From then on, I strove harder to ensure that such a thing never occurs again. I still remember that it was painful to me because such report kills brands. So over the years I have endeavoured to ensure that such a thing never happens. It hurts. The joy of a product is to see it work.

    What has motivated you over the years?

    It is God. I cannot say that it has been my wife. I cannot even say it has been my staff. It is God that has motivated and sustained me over the years.

    Your most challenging moment?

    There have been challenges but I must tell you that there is no time that you look up in the sky in the afternoon that there won’t be a black lining in the sky. And at the same time, there is no time at night when you look up in the sky that you won’t see a white lining there. That means that there are different times and seasons in the world. There definitely will be times when things will be well, but even then, there will be challenges. There is no way a vehicle will move from one distance to another with the same speed. So for me, I do not see challenges, instead what i see is a beautiful life with ups and downs.

  • Court dissolves six years marriage over pride, adultery

    Court dissolves six years marriage over pride, adultery

    An Ile-Ife Customary Court on Thursday dissolved the six-year-old marriage between Sunday Adelakun and his wife, Rasidat over adultery and pride.

    The President of the court, Chief Abioye Olatunbosun, in his judgement, dissolved the marriage and ordered that there would be no refund of dowry.

    Olatunbosun awarded the custody of the two children to the respondent and admonished her to take them to government hospital whenever any of them fell sick.

    He also ordered that the petitioner should pay N3, 000 every month per child for the upkeep of the children as well as take full responsibility of their education.

    The court advised both parties to give peace a chance and desist from causing trouble henceforth.

    The husband had on November 2, urged the court to dissolve their union for alleged adultery, uncooperative attitude, pride and constant fighting.

    He told the court that they got married in 2009 and the marriage was blessed with two children namely – Seyi, five, and Imole, 11 months.

    “My wife is fun of adultery, giving me no rest of mind since we got married and has no courtesy or respect for me and my family.

    “Am tired of her, there was a time her boyfriend attacked me, he would have killed me if not for God, to the extent that I was hospitalised.

    “If I delay the divorce, she would eventually kill me and marry her concubine,’’ he said.

     

  • ‘No initiation, no marriage’

    ‘No initiation, no marriage’

    In the past, for failing to undergo a stringent manhood ritual in some Ebonyi State communities, a man was forbidden to marry, among other harsh consequences. Now that tradition has been whittled down to the elders’ chagrin. OGOCHUKWU ANIOKE reports

    It was a tough ritual but if you were a young man in Afikpo North and South councils of Ebonyi State in those day, you had better go through it. In some cases, you could live in the wild for years before you were readmitted into the community. If you shunned the tradition, you were forbidden to marry. If you chose to have an affair and manage to put the lady in the family way, you lost an ear to the sharp knife of the no-nonsense keepers of the tradition. There were other tough sanctions including fines and having your house pulled down.

    That tradition is now seriously threatened by modernity and Christianity, and the elders are sad, saying that the rite, among other things, helped to check promiscuity and its consequences.

    For a person to be accorded all the rights and privileges of a male child in Ehugbo, Amasiri and Edda in the two local government areas, and regarded as a full-fledged man who could  marry and participate in decision making of the communities, such a person must undergo the initiation process called Ibu-ubu and Ipu-ogo.

    Anything short of this usually attracted serious sanctions including pulling down the person’s residential building and that of his father and removal of one of the ears of such a person.

    Chief Idume Ajah said, “This was so serious before that you didn’t dare the male ones and get married without being initiated; you didn’t try that at all unless you wanted severe sanctions which you may regret.

    “You don’t also impregnate a girl without doing initiation otherwise you should be ready to lose your residential building and your property and your father should also be ready to do so too. Not only this, one of your two ears will be cut off with sharp knife or razor blade if you try it.

    “You will also be fined heavily if you impregnate a lady without undergoing this male initiation. These sanctions were so serious before that nobody does rubbish but now it is no longer like that, it is no longer serious and that is why most of our girls today are being impregnated indiscriminately.

    “Marriage was honourable but nowadays people get into marriage anyhow without recourse to our tradition especially the male initiation which was a ticket to marriage.

    “So culture to me especially this aspect in our area is not all that bad because it is for the betterment of the people. It checkmates teenage pregnancy which is now rampant in our area today because the occult initiation of males is no longer taking very serious as before,” he said.

    “For one to undergo the initiation especially the full one, such a person must be in the bush for seven years and must appear in the attire prescribed by the elders by wearing only a tiny towel or palm fronds on his waist throughout the seven years or period of the initiation.

    “During this process the person cannot return home until the initiation is completed.

    He explained that if one didn’t want to do the one of seven years, such a person can do that of two weeks or two days which are not usually serious like the one of seven years but that the person that undergoes that of seven years is usually different in terms of character.

    A community leader in Amasiri, Afikpo North local government area of the state, Chief Idam Enyum told The Nation that the male initiations are usually done between August during the New Yam Festival and dry season period.

    He noted that at the climax of the initiation women and the uninitiated men keep indoors while the invisible spirit parades the villages. The women he explained are not supposed to see the spirit otherwise they develop incurable swollen stomach.

    “During the initiation period especially in some special hours, any male who has not undergone the initiation and also women are not allowed to move around especially the playground known as ogo where the initiation usually takes place otherwise strange things will happen to them. They will develop swollen stomachs that cannot be cured.”

    “In Edda, Afikpo South local government area, you can even be attacked or killed if you are a woman and you move around during certain periods of the initiation.

    “This is because the males who have undergone the initiation before including those undergoing the initiation process are usually stark naked patrolling the villages till certain periods of the time. So it usually annoys them if their nakedness is seen by women during that process”.

    “This is usually taken so serious that if you come out, you may be attacked or killed and nothing will come out of it,” he said.

    Enyum regretted that the initiation is losing grip in some parts of the area, adding that most of the buildings where the initiation process takes place are now dilapidated with some falling down without attention and blamed in on the advent of Christianity.

    “You see, Ibu-ibu is seriously losing grip in Ehugbo. People are no longer taking it so serious that our fattening rooms and structures where the initiation usually takes place have fallen down with some dilapidated and no attention as to reconstruct them is given.”

    “I think it is because of Christianity. Our people have all entered into church including most of the elders who were leading this initiation process before. So it is no longer as serious as it used to be except in some places in Amasiri and Edda.”

     

  • Marriage of fiscal convenience

    Marriage of fiscal convenience

    Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele has promised to marry price and financial system stability with economic growth and development. So far, key intervention projects including the N300 billion Real Sector Support Facility and the Development Finance Department (DFD) project are designed to boost the economy and the investment climate, writes COLLINS NWEZE.

    The strength of every economy is in its ability to broaden the scope of development financing to create wealth to ensure better life for the people.

    When Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele came on board on June 3, last year, he recognised the crucial role to be played by the Development Finance Department (DFD) in stimulating the growth of the real sector.

    The apex bank chief was determined to reposition the developmental financing initiatives of the apex bank so as to boost specific enterprise areas in agriculture, manufacturing, health, oil and gas.

    Emefiele also promised to establish Secured Transaction and National Collateral Registry as well as a National Credit Scoring System that will improve access to information on borrowers and assist lenders to make good credit decisions. He equally promised to build resilient financial infrastructure that serves the needs of the lower end of the market, especially those without collateral.

    However, some analysts have challenged the CBN for raising the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) on public sector deposits from 12 per cent to 75 per cent before it was harmonised at 31 per cent for both private and public sector deposits.

    Again, when the falling Brent crude oil prices hit the Nigeria economy, analysts spoke on its implications for the economy. Manufacturers were no longer funding the importation of raw materials because of dollar scarcity and the CBN was urged to further devalue the naira instead of using so much forex in defending the local currency. Despite these resistances, the CBN has continued with policies it believed would boost economic development.

     

    Real sector facility

    Emefiele explained that the N300 billion Real Sector Support Facility (RSSF) was established as part of efforts to unlock the potential of the real sector to engender output growth, value added productivity and job creation. The facility, he said, will support large enterprises for start-ups and expansion of the financing needs of N500 million and a maximum of N10 billion.

    “The real sector activities targeted by the facility are manufacturing, agricultural value chain and selected service sub-sectors.  The facility is expected to improve access to finance by Nigerian Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to fast-track the development of the manufacturing, agricultural value chain and services sub-sectors of the Nigerian economy; increase output, generate employment, diversify the revenue base, increase foreign exchange earnings and provide inputs for the industrial sector on a sustainable basis,” he said.

    Also, N213 billion Nigerian Electricity Market Stabilisation Facility was aimed at settling certain outstanding debts in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI). The facility covers legacy gas debts and the shortfall in revenue during the Interim Rule period (IRP). It is expected that this will guarantee the take-off of the Transitional Electricity Market (TEM). Already, over N56.68 billion disbursed to five generating companies (Gencos) and five distribution companies (Dicos). For Emefiele, the challenges in the power sector  are interconnected with the unexpectedly large revenue shortfalls in the industry, which needed to be fixed.

    Also, the CBN in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMA&RD) established the Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme (CACS) in 2009, to fast track the development of the agricultural sector, generate employment, and reduce the cost of credit for agricultural production by providing credit facilities for commercial agriculture at a single digit interest rate.

    Already, N38.65 billion has been disbursed to 113 projects while N24.91 billion representing 64.45 per cent of disbursements focused on commodities.

    Also, the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund (ACGSF) was established to provide credit guarantees on facilities extended to farmers by banks up to 75 per cent of the amount in default net of any security realised. In the period under review, there has been an increase of loan limits for unsecured lending from N20,000 to N50,000. There has also been an increase of loan limits for secured lending to corporate bodies under the ACGS from N10 million to N 0 million.

    Agricultural Credit Support Scheme (ACSS) is aimed at developing the agricultural sector of the economy by providing credit facilities to farmers at single digit interest rate to enable large scale farmers exploit the untapped potentials of the sector.

     

    Naira volatility

    Emefiele assumed office at a time there was visible pressure on the naira as well as decline in the country’s foreign reserves. The volatility of the naira has continued, despite several policies aimed at pursuing a gradual reduction in key interest rates, and include the unemployment rate in monetary policy decisions and maintain exchange rate stability and aggressively. The policy of the CBN was als directed at shoring up foreign exchange reserves; strengthening risk-based supervision mechanism of banks to ensure overall health and banking system stability; building sector-specific expertise in banking supervision to reflect loan concentration of the banking industry among others.

    For instance, the CBN closed the Retail Dutch Auction System (RDAS) foreign exchange window at the CBN in order to check further pressure on the country’s foreign exchange to avert the emergence of a multiple exchange rate regime and preserve the country’s foreign exchange reserves.

    Emefiele also proposed to abolish fees associated with limits on deposits and reconsider ongoing practice in which all fees associated with limits on withdrawals accrue to banks alone.

    In spite of all the challenges, chief of which has been the fall in the global price of crude oil, Emefiele and his team at the CBN, have regulated the operations of Bureaux de Change (BDCs) to check rent-seeking among operators, depletion of the nation’s foreign reserves, unauthorised financial transactions, dollarisation of the economy, prunning down the unwieldy number of the BDCs and the unenviable position of Nigeria as the largest importer of dollars in the world.

    Towards achieving the CBN’s mandate of ensuring the safety and soundness of the financial system, it conducted a Risk-Based examination of all banks with High and Above Average Composite Risk Rating in June last year and those with Moderate and Low Composite Risk Rating in September last year.

    Among other examinations, the apex bank also carried out foreign exchange examination of all banks in September last year as well as the routine examination of all discount houses and financial holding companies in October last year. In January this year, it carried out the risk asset examination of 24 banks as at December 31, last year.

    In the period under review, the bank commenced the implementation of the Basel II Accord aimed at promoting financial system stability by ensuring that banks are adequately capitalised and have enhanced risk management systems.

    The apex bank within the period facilitated the refund of over N4 billion to bank customers based on the complaints resolved and directives communicated to them following the Consumer Compliance Examinations and a spot-check conducted on the banks. It also concluded full deployment of the Consumer Complaint Management System (CCMS) with the migration of all banks to the live –platform of the system.

     

    Reforms in Primary Mortgage Banks

    The apex bank also carried out further reforms of Primary Mortgage Banks (PMBs) where 32 PMBs had fully capitalised as at June 30, last year while 10 were in the category given up to December 31, last year. Licences of 21 PMBs, which failed to recapitalise or had remained technically insolvent were revoked on November 12, last year. The CBN partnered with the Federal Government and Development Partners to midwife the Development Bank of Nigeria that is envisaged to address the paucity of low interest and long-term funding for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria.

    The CBN also established a governance structure for National Financial Inclusion Strategy and completed the geo-spatial mapping survey of all financial access points across the country. It has also engaged seven State Governments on the implementation of the National Financial Inclusion Strategy and ensured the gradual reduction in percentage of financially excluded adults from 46.3 per cent in 2010 to 39.5 per cent by December, last year. “Other schemes include the Power and Airline Intervention Fund (PAIF), Capacity Building programmes through the existing Entrepreneurship Development Centres (EDCs) and the CBN/NYSC Entrepreneurship Training held in four centres,” it said.

     

    Banking, payments system

    In conjunction with the office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF), e-collection element of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) took off on September 15.       Real time remittance of government receipts directly into the Consolidated Revenue Fund Account (CRF) to enthrone transparency and accountability in management of government receivables began. The policy was also designed to promote effective monetary policy and reduce cost of liquidity management borne by the bank.

    The MDAs under the TSA platform has increased from 340 to 543. In continuation of the bank Verification Number (BVN) for banks customers, enrollment increased from 15,000 as at June 3, last year to over 20 million presently.

     

    Inflation refuses to abate

    Nigeria’s consumer inflation was at 9.4 per cent year-on-year in September, up 0.1 per cent from August, and staying above the central bank’s target upper limit, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said.

    Food inflation rose marginally to 10.1 percent year-on-year in August versus 10.0 percent in July. “The marginal increase was as a result of slower increases in alcoholic beverages, tobacco and kola, health, transport and recreation and culture divisions.

    “On a month-on-month basis, the pace of increases of food prices … has slowed, contributing to the relatively slower (overall)pace of increases,” the NBS said.

    Nigeria’s inflation rate rose above the CBN’s upper limit of nine per cent in June and is at the highest level since February 2013. Nigeria has been hit hard by the slump in global crude prices, which has sent its currency, the naira, spiralling. The CBN has imposed increasingly stringent foreign exchange measures to prop up the naira but investors are losing confidence.

    National Gross Domestic Product more than halved in the second quarter year-on-year and JP Morgan dropped Nigeria from its influential emerging market bonds index due to foreign exchange controls.

    Financial analyst, Michael Okafor, said  under Emefiele’s watch, there have been improvement in corporate governance as well as risk management processes in many of the lenders. He explained that the beauty of the banking reforms, which Emefiele inherited, remains that no bank has failed, no depositor lost money with the entire process executed with minimal cost.

    • Gwadabe
    • Gwadabe

    President, Association of Bureau de Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe, the confidence in President Muhammadu Buhari and the peaceful conduct of the general elections have helped to stimulate the economy. He explained that some of the steps taken by the CBN has led to dollar glut in the market, in spite of the tight liquidity squeeze in the money market.

     

  • Court dissolves 26-year-old marriage

    An Ado-Ekiti Customary Court has dissolved a 26-year-old marriage between a bricklayer, James Kayode Oguntuase and his wife, Felicia.

    Oguntuase (75) had dragged Felicia (53), a trader, to court accusing her of adultery, stealing, stubbornness and denying him sex, allegations which the respondent denied.

    In his evidence before the court, the petitioner claimed that he had caught the respondent with three different men, adding that she had aborted three pregnancies for her lovers.

    Oguntuase also alleged that Felicia stole his N35, 000 meant for the purchase of carpentry materials.

    He revealed that he had dragged his wife to court sometime in 2013 on account of her alleged sexual escapades.

    He prayed the court for the custody of the children, promising to be responsible for their upkeep.

    The union was blessed with six children, namely Caroline (25) who had been married, Peter (23), Akin (18), Ife (15), Rachel (12) and Tolulope (6).

    The respondent urged the court not to dissolve the union, even as she denied allegations of adultery and stealing. She told the court that she denied the petitioner sex on grounds of ill-health.

    In his judgment, Court President, Joseph Ogunsemi dissolved the union; saying the marriage had broken down irretrievably as the two parties failed to avail themselves of the opportunity given to them to settle the dispute amicably.

    The court also awarded custody of the children who are below the age of 18 to the petitioner while Peter and Akin who are above 18 years are free to decide where to live on the grounds that they are adults.

    The court also ordered the petitioner to arrange for an alternative accommodation for the respondent; the cost of which should not be more than N60, 000 and not less than N48, 000 per annum.

    The court ordered that the petitioner should pay for rent of two years for the new accommodation for the respondent and he is also expected to bear the cost of transporting her luggage to the new place of residence.

    The court ordered the respondent to always assist the petitioner in the upkeep of the under-age children while she should be allowed access to them between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on the day she chooses to visit.

    Any party aggrieved with the judgment is expected to file an appeal within 30 days the verdict was delivered in line with Ekiti State Customary Court of Appeal Law.

     

  • Seven tips for a happy marriage

    EVEN though we all hope our marriage will last forever, a third of marriages end in divorce, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. “Tough spots will always occur – one partner might get sick, get the sack, or need to attend to a dying parent,” says psychologist Meredith Fuller, explaining that every union will go through happy and hard times. A long-lasting marriage needs commitment, good communication and a good dose of love and affection. Try these seven tips for a happy marriage:

    Create your own rituals

    It could be as simple as making your husband a coffee in the morning while he lets you lie in at the weekend. Whatever you choose, a ‘couples’ ritual is a way to connect with your partner in the madness of a busy life. “The comfort of little rituals are trust giving, safety maintaining, and love enhancing  these things help us get through the day in the outside world,” says Meredith. “If your partner says they love you and demonstrates that with consistent gestures, you can believe it.”

    Learn to communicate

    If you or your hubby is a poor communicator, don’t just put up with it, says Meredith – being able to talk openly with your partner is a sign of a strong marriage. “Develop your skills  go to classes, read books, observe good communicators and interview them about technique, ask for feedback, practice,” she advises. “Communication skills enhance all areas of your life  home and work. Get cracking  no excuses.”

    Money matters

    We usually handle money in the same way as our family did, and often assume our way is best. Not so, says Meredith, who advises discussing your views on paying bills, saving and credit cards before you tie the knot. “You need to come up with the new blended way you both will do things. It’s easy to have a major joint account where you both must tell each other what you do, and a slush fund minor private account each where you can be yourself without having to justify what you spend.”

    Respect and affection are deal breakers

    Small gestures matter – if you want your marriage to last, keep reminding each other that you love each other and nurture your relationship with kind words. “You need to treat each other preciously  not for granted,” says Meredith. “Some people say ‘I love you’, and some people will show ‘I love you’  make sure that your partner understands your message, and work out what you both need then try to accommodate each other.”

    Adultery and jealousy are different things

    No matter how hard a marriage may seem at times, and while having affair might be exciting, almost everyone involved – children included  are destined to be harmed. “Either you are in or out  never humiliate your partner by duplicity,” says Meredith. “On the other hand, if your partner is jealous, and there is no reason for this, nip it in the bud. It is not cute or sweet, it is inappropriate, and can lead to violence. Get help. See a counsellor, and explore the past and work on this.”

    Make room for sex

    If you and your hubby’s libidos are matched evenly, don’t worry if sex takes a back seat on having kids. If one wants more nookie than the other, however, Meredith advises making room for sex in a busy schedule. “That might mean getting enough rest and sleep the night before, cancelling any other commitments, getting the kids minded, turning off your phones and computers, and doing nice things to each other,” she says. “Think about what the other person wants, not just what you feel like giving. So, ask them, take it in turns and take your time.” She adds that it’s perfectly normal for sex to fall of the menu when kids come into the mix. “Sometimes you just have to hang in there because one of you is dog tired. It wont be dreadful forever – but if the drought goes on for too long, seek some assistance.”

    Put your marriage first

    Meredith adds that having a happy marriage means being prepared to take turns with life’s stages. “You can still work towards your goals, but maybe they will take longer to achieve, because right now you choose to help your husband study for a post grad course, or delay moving interstate so he can care for his elderly father.” And, for those bored with their partner, she says slow and steady beats the highs and lows of an anxious passion anytime. “There are two aspects that glue lovers together in the long term: like and respect.”

    Source: Kidspot

  • RUSHING INTO MARRIAGE IS A TRAP–TOPE TEDELA

    RUSHING INTO MARRIAGE IS A TRAP–TOPE TEDELA

    Tope Tedela, one of Nigeria’s fast-rising actors, became famous a few years ago for his lead role in the movie A Mile from Home. In this interview with ADENIYI ADEWOYIN, Tope speaks on his journey into the make-believe world and other sundry issues.   

    DID you find your role in the new movie, A Soldier’s Story challenging?

    To be honest, the role was quite challenging and I am glad the director pushed me as much as he did during the course of filming. Being malleable is something I also had to learn over time which the director also helped in terms of shaping the performance and bringing what we both brought to the table and how we mixed it. So, it was an awesome experience. It made me to see another side of performing that I didn’t know about via the director.

    I overheard you saying you were looking for the director even before he contacted you. Were you looking for him so he could give you a role?

    There was a time that some funds was disbursed to film makers and I realised he was one of the film makers who got funding from the government then. So, I was looking for him because I thought he would want to do a great work and he got him touch with me. So, here we are.

    Are you saying there’s nothing wrong in asking producers for movie roles?

    Well, there are certain kinds of jobs you want to do. Sometimes, I do ask about upcoming projects that I could have roles, that I could come read for and all that. So, it’s work at the end of the day. I am an actor. Just like the job seekers seek a certain kind of job, there are times you have to seek out certain people and meet them, tell them you will like to work with them. Like I said, I will like to work with Tunde Kilani and anytime I see him, I try to chip it in, like, what are you working on so that I can come to read. So, I would if I have to.

    Cinema movies are gradually taking over home videos; how has the industry come this far?

    There is an influx of fresh air in the industry but cinema films cannot be the only films available to the audience. There is still a market for every type of film. At the end of the day, I think it depends on where you want to pitch your tent and what kind of movies you want to be in. You have a choice to make.

    How was schooling back then in UNILAG?

    School was good. I studied mass communication and I have always wanted to be an actor and also love presenting. My family didn’t think that I should study Theatre Arts. They wanted me to study mass communication because it is more professional but school was generally okay. I was a normal student, my class representative for about three years; I was an easy going fella, nothing spectacular. I graduated in 2009.

    You used to be a presenter at NTA…..

    It was still in the sphere of what I wanted to do. It’s all performance and if you are hosting a show, you are performing. At a point in my life I was about exploring everything that I could. You can call it a time of self-discovery because I was going to do anything that I could lay my hands on. And I was going to do it well because I realised that when I’m doing it, something will come up and I will know what I really want to do. That was it for me.

    When did you land your first movie role?

    I was actually in the university. My first major role in a movie was in Edge of Paradise in 2006 but the movie that brought me to lime light was A Mile from Home in 2013.

    Are you married?

    No I’m not married.

    Will you be getting married anytime soon?

    I am focused on my career now; marriage will come when it comes.

    But time is not on your side…

    You don’t get married because you are getting old. That’s a trap. You don’t get married because people are putting pressure on you to get married. Marriage is a long time commitment. I have thought about it. I’ve imagined it and I have an incline of how unhappy marriage can seem, so I don’t want to rush into it because you are getting older or because you are 39 years old or 40. I think you should take your time and wait for the right person. There’s no point in getting married and not wanting to go home or getting married and being depressed.

    How do you cope with you female fans?

    You will be cordial with them, friendly with them. When you have the opportunity to meet them, thank them. Just be a good person to them and appreciate them.

    Are you also going into production like most of your colleagues?

    I’m actually co-producing my first film with two of my friends now.

    Tell us about the movie?

    Well, it’s a thriller film about a woman who is trying to survive and make her marriage work against all odds – something along those lines.

    We hardly see top actors in movies nowadays, maybe because they charge too much. Do you think it is wise to charge more than what a producer can pay for?

    I’m not in their shoes to know the depth of whatever it is they are doing or why they are making the decisions they are making. Until you are in their shoes, you won’t know. Maybe they are not even approached, you won’t know. Maybe they are getting bad scripts, you just never know.

    Do you see yourself increasing your pay someday?

    I believe in placing value on yourself but I also believe in being reasonable. So you have to strike a balance between the both of them and you create your own project.

    How do you relax?

    I read, I listen to a lot of music; I like Bez, Asa, Coldplay, Linkin Park, Brymo, Redhot Chili Peppers. I just love different genres of music and play the guitar, swim sometimes but I’m mostly an indoor person.

    Like most of your colleagues, do you see yourself going into music someday?

    You never know but I’m focused on my acting career for now.

    What you do you think might be the reason why most actors who delved into music didn’t make it in the music world?

    I don’t know if it’s the Nigerian audience. Maybe once you are an actor, they just want you to be an actor; they don’t want to see you do something else. But that also may not be true. It’s a question I have asked myself and I can’t really come up with a viable answer. That brings up another question. Do they have the guts and the power to push it because it’s two different careers although they look like they are in the same entertainment industry and I know that it’s not really easy combining both even for those outside the country. People like Justin Timberlake, Tyrese, how many films do you see Tyrese in? You know it’s not that easy.

    To me it looks like they are kidding…

    No not really. I think it’s easy to go from music to movie than the other way round.

    We have seen Hollywood collaborate with Bollywood. What is happening to Nollywood? Is it that we haven’t met their standard at all?

    Whether we like it or not we are still quite naissance and a lot of things need to be put in place to get that. We are growing and with time collaborations will occur.

    The past government provided loans for movie makers. Are they getting the loans easily?

    I know that some people got access to the money but I don’t know the expanse of the project. I don’t know how well it was disbursed.

    Like most of celebrities, do you own a charity organization?

    I don’t need to own a charity organization but I think it’s important to give back and I believe ardently in it. I feel I don’t have to tell you that I am involved in any charity programs to do it.

    Looking back at where you are coming from, what is that special thing you will always thank God for?

    I thank God for my family, I thank God for my Parents, and I thank God for how I was raised, my siblings. I also thank God for the values that my parents instilled in me. It’s not like I’m perfect. I’m very imperfect but the core foundation of being a “good person’. I am glad.

    What advice do you have to upcoming actors?

    The business is not about glamour. The business is about the art, the craft. You need to face the business, you need to face the craft, and you need to study, learn, humble and also pray. Ask yourself if you have what it takes to be an actor.

    Is it true that everybody can be what they want to be if they keep pushing?

    Ahhh, that’s a hard question, although it is a very idealistic thing to say but I don’t think everybody does make it and that’s the honest truth. There are different factors to it which I do not know but then I will say pursue it, go ahead but don’t keep doing the same thing hoping that you get a different result.

  • Battle against same-sex marriage far from over

    Abhorrent pratices like homosexuality, lesbianism, bestiality and their pervasive influence on governance recently engaged the attention of Rev. Chris Okotie’s Fresh Democratic Party (FRESH) mainly because the western world is determined to brow beat the whole world into accepting this immorality as the new norm. As a long-standing member of the Pastor’s Household of God International Ministries, I listened to his insightful teachings on what he called the ‘cult of the beast’, a broad title he used to describe the power of homosexuality and those who engage in such pervasion on government and other institutions of society. You only need to observe the frenetic urgency with which western nations are embracing this trend, as if the growth of their economies is dependent on it. Maybe it indeed is!

    Same-sex marriage is reminiscent of those who launder slush funds or black money from looted public treasuries, drug trafficking, illegal bunkering and illegal mining of precious stones. The ultimate aim of homosexuals is to control governments and fulfill Satan’s end-time objective, according to Rev. Okotie. The pastor-politician’s prediction in his book, The Last Outcast, that western nations would legalise same-sex marriage has come to pass, with its endorsement by the U.S. Supreme Court.

    Expectedly, many western nations have followed suit. At the last count, about 17 nations have approved what the major religions—Christianity, Islam and Judaism—considered to be an abomination. Now, what makes the homosexuality cult different from other sexual pervasions like adultery, fornication, etc? Cults are usually associated with the religious, and as heterosexuality is God’s way of continuing the creative process, homosexuality and lesbianism are cult’s way of perverting it. One can, therefore, appreciate the warning the FRESH Party gave President Mohammadu Buhari to resist western pressure to bring Nigeria into the emerging club of same-sex nations in the world.

    In The Last Outcast, Rev. Okotie brought to the notice of the world about 15 years ago that sodomy would become a new religion and why it would herald the unveiling of the Anti-Christ. Also, in an interview in Nigerian Compass of Monday, October 18, 2010, he told the reporter that “there are three levels of what I call the tripartite coalition of evil… We have elitism, satanism and mysticism. If you can understand these three, you will understand how politics works…” Yes, now we understand.

    To exert pressure on dissenting nations, a spokesperson for the British High Commission countered Nigeria’s signing of the Anti-Gay Act, saying that the law “infringes upon fundamental rights of expression and association which are guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution and by international agreements to which Nigeria is a party.” It was seconded by

    U.S. Secretary of State, Sen. John Kerry, who said: “…It is inconsistent with Nigeria’s international legal obligations and undermines … democratic reforms and human rights protections.” This is the coalition of evil that Rev. Okotie is talking about.

    The US, like its western counterparts, where incongruous practices like homosexuality are welcomed and embraced acts of institutionalised endorsement of the horrific trend, is an evidence of how strong the power of the Devil is on the world today. A cleric recently appeared in court facing charges for exercising his constitutional right to refuse honouring a gay marriage request, while a clerk was found guilty on the same charge in Kentucky, US, and has spent time in prison. This is the country that played a major role in the launch of the Pentecostal revival.

    Here in Nigeria, our immediate concern is different, as the Act, which strengthens a previous Constitutional provision against sodomy, is under threat from forces within as much as from without. Despite the signing of the Act, and President Buhari’s uncompromising stance in defence of it, there is no contesting the fact that there are numerous secret adherents of these perversions in the corridors of power, corporate circles, citadels of learning and across different spheres of our nation, who are still ‘in the closet’. There is also its appeal which has been craftily infused into the global village with years of subtle advertisements in the media and with the political might of the western culture and economies.

    This translates into the future possibilities of a Nigerian generation, government or leader upturning this Act to gain relevance in an already primed world. Our youthful generation, which consistently interacts with peers across the globe, is most susceptible to these obscenities, as they are more receptive of such liberal ideologies, especially via the mainstream and social media. Mr. President should not be lost on this fact. He should call the relevant authorities to task on ensuring that all avenues like movies, music and fashion, which western nations use to glamorize this perversion are regulated. That is why extreme measures like censoring the media and internet content to weed out offensive materials was being adopted by several countries like China, Sri Lanka and Russia.

    In summary, it is instructive to refer to what Jesus Christ foretold over two millenia ago. He said: “… as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man… Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built, but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.” That time is here, and we cannot be caught in its vortex. Rev. Okotie has sounded the warning, President Buhari has upheld the spirit of the Act; Nigerians must now take up the gauntlet for deviation from a course that will surely set man’s existence at odds with continuity.

     

    • Osewenghie Osagiede wrote in from Osun State.