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Tag: mother

  • ‘Will mother come back today?’

    Soon after the reality of the finality hit me, a poem came to my mind.  The pithy lines of Streamside Exchange by J.P. Clark became more real to me than ever.

    Child: River bird, river bird

    Sitting all day long

    On hook over grass,

    River bird, river bird

    Sing to me a song

    Of all that pass

    And say,

    Will mother come back today?

    Bird:  You cannot know

    And should not bother;

    Tide and market come and go

    And so shall your mother.

    This recollection transported me back to the 1970s when I first experienced the poem in secondary school. In a way, the gripping dialogue prepared me for an event that was to happen about 38 years later. It was a death foretold. But when it eventually occurred, I was still unprepared.

    For over five decades, Eleanor Bodunrin Macaulay (nee Williams) was a constant and consistent parental presence. Even now, the shadow of her presence remains, suggesting a deathless physicality. I was her first-born and bonded with her beyond the restrictive ephemerality of earthly life. Genetically and by socialisation, she will always be with me.

    This is a time for the choreography of memory. What can I remember? What do I remember? What do I want to remember? Her modesty was magical and magnetic, particularly in a world of vain noisiness. Her younger brother, Mr. Bankole Williams, said of her: “She disliked anything flamboyant and believed in modesty.”  One of her favourite sayings, “Little drops of water make a mighty ocean,” provided an insight into her sense of organic development and increase, which was reflected in the way she lived and projected herself.

    Hers was a life of meticulous attention to order and propriety. As a working mother with four children, three boys and a girl, she had to strike a balance between her workplace and her home, which she did with remarkable aplomb. Apart from her incalculable contribution domestically, she was able to hold down a job in a bank for 30 years. During the period, starting from July 1955, she held secretarial positions at the Barclays Bank (DCO), and later at the Union Bank following a business-name change, and retired in 1985. She was awarded certificates for “loyal and faithful service” to mark her 10th, 20th and 30th service years.

    Bodunrin Macaulay was dependable and consistent, and had long-term money-keeping responsibilities in the Shotan Williams family union as well as her church society. She was also a fascinating stickler for time. By Saturday afternoon, she was already prepared for church service the next day, with her clothes and accessories chosen and ready. Also, when she had to attend a special event, she would start planning for it at least a week or two ahead. She was impressively time-conscious and her punctuality was a timeless lesson.

    It is food for thought that as she lay dying, she was sufficiently conscious of her commitments, and a particular demonstration of her sense of duty was noteworthy. She sent her monetary contribution to the Women Missionary Union (WMU) through a family member, despite her infirmity and the distraction it represented.

    Bodunrin Macaulay was born in Forcados, a riverine area in the present-day Delta State, on January 5, 1935. She was the fifth of the eight children of the late Pa Joseph Latunji Williams (alias J.L.), who was a marine engineer with the Nigerian Marine, now Nigeria Ports Authority. Her mother, Omare Edudun (known as Nene) from Isie, Warri, was of Itsekiri stock. In the mid-forties, her father was transferred back to Lagos and lived with his family at No. 29 Odunlami Street, Lagos Island. Bodunrin had her elementary education at the Salvation Army Central School, Kakawa Street, directly opposite the famous Da Rocha House. After completing her Standard Six education, she worked for Alban Pharmacy and enrolled with Pitmans Secretarial Institute, and studied Typing and Shorthand. On completion of her studies, she passed the Intermediate Level and joined the then Barclays Bank (DCO), now Union Bank, as a Shorthand typist, and rose through the ranks to senior secretarial positions.

    In 1960, she got married to Frank Olusola Macaulay (of blessed memory), a grandnephew of Herbert Macaulay, the famous Nigerian nationalist. Their wedding, which followed a considerably long courtship, took place at Ereko Methodist Church, Lagos. They were married for 53 years and were only separated by the death of her husband in August 2013. It is worth mentioning that in a moment of candid expressiveness in the 1980s, Olusola Macaulay advised his first and second sons, me and my younger brother, who were then undergraduates, to go for women who would be like their mother when they were ready for wedlock.

    It is a reflection of her loyal and dedicated nature that until her death Bodunrin Macaulay maintained a good relationship with members of the Ladies Friendly Society, which was founded in August 1947 by 12 people including her, even after she had followed her husband to the First Baptist Church, Lagos. In a tribute, the group described her as “respected.” The group also said: Without any exaggeration, our late Sister Bodunrin Macaulay has set a unique record that is difficult to challenge or beat, viz. (1) She is a foundation member (2) Her great financial involvement and commitment to our Society and the Church of God.”  It added: “We need to remind ourselves that great deeds never perish and great men and women are always remembered by those they left behind.”

    Bodunrin Macaulay would have been 80 on January 5, 2015, but she didn’t wait for the celebration. Three weeks to the milestone, on December 15, 2014, her mortality intervened. The fictional conversation between the child and the bird in J.P. Clark’s immortal poem came alive in all its profundity.  I ponder on David Carradine’s poetic line: “If you can’t be a poet, be the poem.” Bodunrin Macaulay might not have been a poet, but she was a poem. Her life had a poetic quality, and I am duty-bound to extend the lyricism. Let me ask a rhetorical question: “Will mother come back today?”

  • Boko Haram victim cries out: Where are my seven children and their mother?

    Boko Haram victim cries out: Where are my seven children and their mother?

    A man in his early 40s is frantically searching for his wife and seven children. He has not sighted them for more than three months after their Vi village in Adamawa State was invaded by the deadly Boko Haram sect on September 7. Matthew Zira said he had conducted all the search he could without the luck of finding any of them alive or dead. Now, he is roaming the streets of Jos, the Plateau State capital, frantically searching for his beloved family members.

    Narrating his ordeal to our correspondent in Jos, Zira said: “My name is Matthew Zira. I am from Vi village in Minchika Local Government Area, Adamawa State. I was living comfortably with my family until that fateful Friday.

    “Before that day, there had been rumours that Boko Haram would attack the village, but no one knew when they would come. So on that day, as usual, I went out of the house to look for my daily bread. I ride commercial motorcycle in the village, I am also a farmer, and did the commercial motorcycle work when farm work was over.

    “So, I left home as early as 6 am on the 7th of September 2014 on my motorcycle to commence the business of the day. But at about noon, I started hearing gunshots and everyone said Boko Haram had arrived town. I immediately rushed back home to go and evacuate my family, but before I got home, they had fled along with other villagers to an unknown destination.

    “I went round town looking for them but could not find them. I went to the police station, hospitals and everywhere but could not find them. Before the evening of that day, Boko Haram had already taken over the entire village completely. I was advised not to go back home because all the houses in the village had been razed by Boko Haram.

    “I fled to Minchika to continue the search for my children. Later, we had to flee to Yola when we heard that Boko Haram would attack Minchika. I spent one month in Yola searching everywhere for my children but I could not find them. Those of us who escaped from Vi village and other surrounding villages were camped at the NYSC camp in Yola. I thought of meeting my children there in the camp but they were not there.

    “I had to come to Jos because I was told that thousands of Adamawa people ran to Jos. But I have searched all the IDP camps in Jos since the 5th of November when I arrived, I can’t still find them. There is even no iota of information about where I could find them. “Others who lost their families during the rush to escape have found their people, but in my own case, I’m still searching in vain. It is only God that will reveal to me what happened to my family. So, I am only looking up to God now because I have done all that is humanly possible.

    “I am really in trauma; at night I can’t sleep, I keep thinking of my children. At times, if I am eating and the thought of the whereabouts of my children came to my mind, I will not be able to eat any longer, from that moment I will lose appetite.

    “I am pleading with any Nigerian who knows where I can locate my children to contact me on my phone – 07037728905. My wife’s name is Tinana Mathew. My seven children are Rita, Ziramatu, Tumbamatu, Kwata, Racheal and one-yearold Doris. Please, I am eagerly waiting for any information on their whereabouts.”

  • There were threats to kill me if my mother died in kidnappers’ den—Rivers Assembly Deputy Leader Robinson Ewor

    There were threats to kill me if my mother died in kidnappers’ den—Rivers Assembly Deputy Leader Robinson Ewor

    The Deputy Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Robinson Nname Ewor, represents the Ahoada East Constituency One in the Rivers West Senatorial District. Recently, he suffered the misfortune of having his aged mother abducted by kidnappers. He recalls the ugly experience in an interview with BISI OLANIYI and  speaks on the crisis in the House of Assembly, stating that the self-acclaimed speaker of the assembly, Evans Bipi, and the five legislators supporting him do not conduct themselves as the honourable members. Ewor insists that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will win the 2015 elections in Rivers State on account of the performance of Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. Excerpts: 

    How did you meet your wife?               I met my wife, Evelyn, when we were both at the Community Secondary School, Erema in Ogba/Ogbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, Rivers State. That was a long time ago. I was a year ahead of her in secondary school, but four years older than her. My wife was a very beautiful girl and a sprinter. She is still beautiful.

    After secondary school, we were always having contact. We got married in 1995 and we are blessed with six children, three boys and three girls. They are all schooling in Nigeria. The first born has just gained admission into the university and is about resuming.

    How has it been combining lawmaking with a full-time doctoral programme?

    Legislative business is an area where you have to read. Combining academic work with lawmaking enhances my performance and makes me to read books, conduct research and look at the computer all the time. Each time I sit down to read books, I feel happy.

    Do you intend to embrace lecturing after your political career?

    If I do not secure elective position by 2015, I will go back to teach. I have no business roaming the streets. With a first degree and a master’s from UNIPORT and about completing doctorate, I will prefer teaching in the university, conduct research and do write-ups that will help the society. Nigerian politicians should begin to consider having second address. Some politicians are broke three months after they leave office. Some politicians would be in office for four years and would not be able to build a modest house to live in.

    What was your experience with the July 9, 2013 fracas on the floor of the Rivers State House of Assembly?

    The incident could have been avoided. There is no way five members of a 32-member Assembly would impeach the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Dan Amachree. Only two-thirds of the members of the House can impeach the Speaker or the Deputy Speaker. It is a constitutional matter. To be able to impeach the other officers of the House (leader, deputy leader, whip and deputy whip) in line with the Standing Order of the House, it must be by simple majority. A motion must be moved, properly seconded and the question will be put by the presiding officer. When they arrive at a simple majority, it is taken that the officers have been impeached.

    The five lawmakers should not have contemplated going into the hallowed chambers of the House to consider impeaching the Speaker without firstly complying with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which states that you must serve the Speaker or the Deputy Speaker an impeachment notice and they must respond. After responding, it will then be put to vote. Quite unfortunately, the five lawmakers felt they could go ahead and impeach the Speaker without complying with the provisions of the constitution. I wonder where they derived their powers. Illegal impeachment is not possible in this modern day democracy and present day Nigeria.

    Do you share the belief that the attempt to remove the Speaker on July 13 was aimed at impeaching Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi who is also the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF)?

    The five members of the Rivers State House of Assembly wanted to remove Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Dan Amachree as the speaker, impose another speaker and thereafter impeach Governor Amaechi. They wanted to try the Dariye option. It worked then because we had just entered democracy. But democracy has endured for over 15 years now. The Dariye option of illegally removing a governor can no longer work because the people who elected Governor Amaechi would resist the impunity and unconstitutional impeachment move, as demonstrated by the people of Nasarawa State, when the lawmakers attempted to impeach Governor Tanko Al-Makura. Power rests with the people.

    There was desperation on the part of the persons, who are indigenes of Rivers State but wanted to take over power from Governor Amaechi, because they have access to the Federal Government and used the federal institutions to perpetrate what they did.

    Some people have fingered President Goodluck Jonathan in the plot to impeach Governor Amaechi. Do you subscribe to that?

    Democracy is about freedom; freedom of association and of speech. You have the right to express your opinion. President Jonathan is not God. We elected him and we have the right to speak when the President is doing wrong in order to right the wrong. Rt. Hon. Amaechi, as an individual, as a governor and as the NGF (Nigeria Governors’ Forum) Chairman, he has the right not just to criticise but say the right things, and he has been saying the right things.

    In Nigeria, each time we say the truth, some people will interpret it to mean disloyalty or confrontation. That is why people are afraid of saying the truth. All the things Governor Amaechi said were simply the truth. Did the Federal Government not move Rivers State’s oil wells to President Jonathan’s Bayelsa State and neighbouring Abia State? Did they not abandon the Port Harcourt International Airport at Omagwa? Check Federal Government’s 2013/2014 budget, there was no capital allocation to Rivers State. Everybody can see how slow the dualisation of the strategic East-West Road is.

    Those who forced Governor Amaechi out of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) want to be governor of Rivers State in 2015. It is obvious they were not fighting any genuine cause. They lied to President Jonathan that Governor Amaechi was not respecting him.

    The representative of the Ogu/Bolo constituency, Evans Bipi, is still claiming to be the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly. What is your reaction to that?

    By the standing order of the Rivers State House of Assembly, no new member/first timer can be an officer of the Assembly. Bipi is a new member and he is disqualified to be the speaker. Who elected Bipi as the speaker? Five members in a 32-member Assembly could not have elected Bipi as speaker on July 9, 2013. Bear in mind that we have six officers in the House (speaker, deputy speaker, leader, deputy leader, whip and deputy whip). If you share the six positions among the then five members who attempted to impeach Rt. Hon. Amachree, they are not even complete. It is ridiculous. Bipi does not know what he is talking about. If truly he is a legislator, he should be ashamed of even talking in the public.

    What of Evans Bipi’s claim that he has the key of the Rivers State House of Assembly in his pocket and can open it at any time?

    Why has he not opened the Assembly since July 9, 2013 and go in to sit? It is a confirmation that he is not the Speaker. Bipi does not have what it takes to go and sit. Will he sit with five members?

    Let us assume that Evans Bipi (Ogu/Bolo) is the speaker, Victor Ihunwo (Port Harcourt III, the only old timer/re-elected member, among the six) is the deputy speaker, Michael Okechukwu Chinda (Obio/Akpor 11) is the leader, Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani (Andoni) is the deputy leader, Martins Amaewhule (Obio/Akpor I) is the whip and Kelechi Nwogu (Omuma) is the deputy whip, where are the other members of the House? They do not form a quorum.

    The quorum of the House to sit is one third. There are 32 members in the House. That is why they cannot sit. To pass the budget, you compulsorily need two thirds of the members. That is the position of the law. How will the six members form a quorum to sit and legislate? It is ridiculous. They do not portray themselves as lawmakers. They are portraying themselves as street boys.

    The self-acclaimed Speaker of the Rivers House of Assembly, the anti-Amaechi lawmakers described you and the other legislators backing Amaechi as rubber stamps supporting lawlessness and impunity…

    If we are lawless or we are rubber stamps, then they are common criminals. They are animals in human flesh. Legislators ought to know the law. They ought to be in jail by now, if Nigeria is a country where things work well. Those who break the law ought to be in jail. They desecrated the hallowed chambers of the Rivers State House of Assembly on July 9, 2013. They abused their legislative rights and privileges. So, why won’t they be in jail?

    Quite unfortunately, they are still moving freely on the streets of Port Harcourt. Two of them are still residing in their official houses at the Assembly Quarters in Port Harcourt, which they have been doing from the beginning. The other four have been living outside the Assembly Quarters from the outset.

    Two anti-Amaechi lawmakers stay with the 25 pro-Amaechi lawmakers at the Assembly Quarters. Do they relate freely with you?

    We talk every day. We gist. We drink and eat together. But we abuse them. By now, the six of them will be counting their gains and losses. They were elected to serve their people. Instead of doing that, they decided to serve something else. The primary responsibility of lawmakers is to make laws. It is not to go and fight and attempt to remove the duly elected Speaker of the Assembly. We ought to be role models and people of integrity. The six lawmakers should go and read the meaning of “honourable.” We ought to be respected by people in the society because we make laws for the rest of the society.

    It is alleged that Governor Amaechi has pocketed the legislators and he is also attempting to do the same to the judiciary. Members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Rivers Chapter, are not likely to call off their strike until January 2015. This, some people say, is meant to prevent Justice Daisy Okocha from functioning as an Administrative Chief Judge as appointed by the National Judicial Council (NJC)…

    You elect a governor for a four-year mandate, but if you want to remove him unconstitutionally and illegally, he is bound to fight. There are constitutional provisions on how to remove a governor. If you want to remove a governor, mobilise the lawmakers and you must have two-thirds of them. The governor must be served with impeachment notice. He must respond to the allegations levelled against him. The House of Assembly will then push it back to the judiciary and the Chief Judge must constitute a seven-member panel to investigate the allegations, and the governor must be given fair hearing. The onus lies on the accusers to prove their case. The Rivers people elected Governor Amaechi and not one man. So, you cannot just wake up and say the governor must vacate office or he should be removed unconstitutionally/illegally.

    On JUSUN strike, it is a crisis situation. Rivers State has been in crisis for more than one year. In a crisis situation, just like during war, people go through pains and sacrifice must be made. The way forward is for persons involved in the crisis to sheathe their swords and give peace a chance. Those who want to remove Governor Amaechi by force should be prepared to go to the poll and take over legally through election in 2015. They should forget about using soldiers and policemen to cripple the Rivers government, because the people will continue to resist them. We have consistently done it in this state and we will sustain it till the end of this dispensation.

    Some people believe that the leadership of the PDP does not want Governor Amaechi to be in office till May 29, 2015, so that the party (PDP) can easily win both the governorship and presidential elections, with the likelihood of President Goodluck Jonathan seeking re-election. Do you share that view?

    It is already impossible for anybody to contemplate removing Governor Amaechi. They tried through the legislature, they failed. They used the police, they failed. They attempted it through the judiciary and it is failing. Rt. Hon. Amaechi is with the people of Rivers State and the people want him. Governor Amaechi has delivered and the people will continue to move with him.

    Governance is about deliverables. The All Progressives Congress (APC) will win 2015 elections in Rivers State, considering what Rt. Hon. Amaechi has put on the ground. He is performing in all the sectors. If not for the distraction over plot to impeach him, Rt. Hon. Amaechi would have done more. I am very confident that Governor Amaechi will serve out his tenure. Power belongs to God.

    You have just said the APC would win the 2015 elections in Rivers State. But the Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, who intends to vie as Rivers State governor in 2015, recently declared that the PDP would produce the next governor of the state. Do you think the APC can face the federal might?

    Rivers people will decide who will be the next governor of the state. The era of rigging elections in Rivers State is gone. One or two politicians used to write the results of elections in Rivers State. The electorate’s votes will count in 2015. APC leaders are talking to the people of Rivers State. We are not relying on the military, police or the powers of the Presidency. APC will certainly win all the elections in Rivers State next year. We depend on God, not federal might.

    President Jonathan is spending six years in office. His performance should campaign for him, not for Wike to be deceiving some Rivers people that he is sensitising them to vote for Dr. Jonathan, when he is busy campaigning for Rivers governorship, contrary to the provisions of the Electoral Act. Campaigns must only take place 90 days to elections. Can you show me one or two projects that President Jonathan has done in Rivers State that will encourage the people to vote for him? This is not about Wike’s rhetoric. In 2010, all of us fought for Dr. Jonathan to become President. The members of the National Assembly had to invoke the Doctrine of Necessity, just for him to be President.

    In 2011, Rivers people massively voted for President Jonathan. In fact, Rivers State had the highest number of votes during the presidential election. But there has been no project initiated by the Federal Government in Rivers State to justify the support. Governor Amaechi has spent over N110 billion on federal projects in the state without a refund. Has Jonathan’s Presidency given Nigerians anything? Has it given us power, education, health, water, good roads, employment and agriculture, among others? We should consider APC in 2015 to bring about the much desired change.

    With Wike as Minister of State for Education and later as the Supervising Minister of Education, you could see the terrible state of Nigerian education. Which Nigerian university, polytechnic or college of education can you give 20 per cent? The libraries, laboratories, classrooms and other essential things are not there. In some Nigerian universities, students still learn at the convocation arena, under the trees and stadia. It is very shameful. If we cannot provide classrooms, that means we have failed.

    On April 29, 2013, Rivers PDP, led by Chief Felix Obuah, suspended you and other pro-Amaechi lawmakers from the party, but you recently defected to the APC. What went wrong?

    Felix Obuah and members of his executive do not have the power to suspend us from the PDP. In line with PDP’s constitution, it is my ward that can suspend me. And before doing that, they must set up a disciplinary committee. I must be given fair hearing. The ward will forward the report to the local government executive committee of the party, thereafter to the state executive committee.

    Obuah and his co-travellers do not know what they are doing. State legislators must know the Constitution of Nigeria. It should be our Bible or Quran. The next thing you must know is the Standing Order of the House. For you to advance arguments in the House, you must make reference to the Standing Order and the Constitution. If a pastor preaches for one hour, without making reference to the Bible, he cannot be said to be a pastor.

    Most of officials of the PDP are in office but they do not read. If you do not read, you do not know. There are persons who spend four or eight years in the House of Assembly but do not know what the Standing Order talks about, much less of the Constitution.

    How would you react to the move by the Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, to be the next governor of Rivers State in spite of being an Ikwerre man like Governor Amaechi?

    By 2015, Governor Amaechi would have spent eight years in office as governor, bearing in mind that he was also the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly for eight years between 1999 and 2007. It is not right for Wike or any other Ikwerre person to be the next governor of Rivers State. On moral grounds and because of our level of political development at the local government, state and national levels, people enter into internal agreements, even if they are not written. Rivers South-East Senatorial District, which has not produced the governor since the creation of the state on May 27, 1967, should be allowed in 2015 to produce the governor, for the sake of justice, equity and fairness.

    Since 1999, Dr. Peter Odili is from Rivers West Senatorial District, while Sir Celestine Omehia and Governor Amaechi are from Rivers East Senatorial District. Power should rotate among the three senatorial districts in Rivers State. I do not believe in upland/riverine dichotomy.

    After May 29, 2015, what next?

    As a politician, one will always want to continue. I am still talking with my constituents. Whatever my constituents decide, I will abide by it, because I depend on their votes. In politics, we keep talking. We talk till the last minute.

    How do you relax?

    I go to public places and they roast fish for me.

    Are you not scared of being kidnapped?

    If I go to Ahoada, there is a place I drink with my people and it is by the roadside. As I park my car, before I sit down, the place is filled up with the people of my constituency. At times, before finishing, I would owe the owner of the joint. I would relax with my people for many hours and we would gist so well. Only that I have also tried to be careful after the kidnap of my mother, Madam Janet, in 2011. But I do not move with policemen. I move alone or at times with my driver and one or two persons. The gate to my house in the village was always open, but I started closing the gate after my mother was kidnapped. Whenever I am in the village, anybody is free to come in at any time.

    Where is your mother now and how did the kidnap happen?

    My mother briefly came to Port Harcourt, but she is back to the village. She cannot stay in Port Harcourt. She is an old woman, getting close to 80 years. The kidnappers went to the village compound of my father, Pa Enwukauma who died in 1994, and they kidnapped my mother around 7 pm. The four men who kidnapped her were heavily armed.

    Then, there was good policing in Rivers State. The policemen, operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) and the military personnel worked together and tracked the calls of the kidnappers, a man and woman who were calling from Sapele in Delta State. Another man (kidnapper) was picked in Warri, Delta State, not knowing that my mother was kept in an uncompleted building for 12 days in a village near Omoku, the headquarters of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA of Rivers State.

    The three persons were moved to Port Harcourt where they admitted that members of their group kidnapped my mother, but they were not the ones that carried it out. They gave us the names of the persons who kidnapped my mother. Soldiers, policemen and SSS operatives stormed Omoku for the rescue operation in the night. No ransom was paid to the kidnappers before my mother was released. Governor Amaechi supported the operation of the security personnel.

    How was the experience like while your mother was with the kidnappers?

    I could not eat for the 12 days my mother was in kidnappers’ den. The house was no longer comfortable. I would go to the office, lock up everywhere and stay till late in the evening, but would leave the phones open. Besides the pressure by the kidnappers for ransom, my own people too were mounting pressure on me to pay the ransom to secure the release of my mother in order that she would not die in the custody of the kidnappers. My people were threatening that if my mother should die in the hands of the kidnappers, they would kill me.

    How much ransom did the kidnappers demand?

    They started from N80 million. They later came down to N60 million. The day the security personnel rescued my mother, the kidnappers had come down to N1.5 million. That night, I brought the N1.5 million because of the pressure and I gave it to my brother, but I told him to wait, because I knew they were going for the rescue operation that night. I told my brother to wait for my call till 9 am the following day before proceeding to hand over the money to the kidnappers.

    The security personnel, however, asked me not to negotiate with the kidnappers and never to speak with anybody that night. They went for the operation, led by an Army Captain, and they succeeded. Over 15 Toyota Hilux vans packed with soldiers, SSS operatives and policemen stormed Omoku. The three arrested kidnappers gave the name of the boy who kidnapped my mother and his house in Omoku. SSS operatives first went to the area on surveillance and identified the place as the boy’s house. They were not keeping my mother in the house.

    Even the night the security personnel went, the boy was not in the house, but they arrested his father, all his brothers, wife and girlfriend that he kept in the house. He had almost abandoned his wife and was living more with the girlfriend. They asked the girlfriend to call him, which she did, and he was informed that everybody had been arrested.

    The Army Captain told the boy that if he did not release my mother in 30 minutes, they would shoot all his people in their custody and the boy could go ahead to kill my mother, if he wanted. The boy started crying on the phone. Within 10 minutes, my mother was released. My mother said in the uncompleted building where she was kept for 12 days, one fully-armed man was kept permanently with her.

    By 8 am, I was already at home and I met my mother with the Army Captain and other security personnel, who participated in the rescue operation. The money I gave to my brother to pay the kidnappers, we used it for celebration.

  • Right to life as mother of all rights

    Right to life as mother of all rights

    The book begins with an overview of the 16 chapters. It starts with the first chapter, which deals with constitutional concepts and focuses on the primary concern of constitutional law. The second chapter is focused on the legal regime of amalgamation in Nigeria, which the authors indicate as absent in earlier works. Chapter three chronicles the journey from Nigeria’s dependence to independence; Chapter Four looks at constitutional developments in Nigeria from 1900 to 1999 beginning with the annexation of Lagos in 1861 and carefully reviews all constitutions from the Clifford Constituion of 1922 to the 1999 Constitution.

    Chapter five specifically addresses the literal and liberal approaches to interpretation of the constitution. It looks at the canons of interpretation and focuses on the interpretative jurisdiction of the judiciary on account of Section 6 of the 1999 Constitution. Chapter Six looks at the Fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy. Chapter Seven deals with fundamental rights, here each of the constitutional provisions on Fundamenatl Rights were clearly set out and discussed with the aid of decided cases. Chapters Eight, Nine and 10 deal with the Judiciary, Executive and Legislature respectively. Chapter 11 covers citizenship; Chapter 12 deals exhaustively with the principles of locus standi. Here the authors contend that the rigid rules about locus standi have to be relaxed and brings a new dimension, that all tax paying adults in the local government council area are to be invested with the rights to call the council to order whether or not their individual interests are adversely affected.

    Chapter 13 examines access to information as fundamental human right, it juxtaposes the experiences of the other jurisdictions to bear on the issue. Chapter 14 covers both freedom of information as well as national security in Nigeria, it touches on Nigerian secrecy laws, the scope of the Freedom of Information Act and the concept of national security. Lastly, Chapter 15 and 16 deal with presidential powers and states of emergency as it has been invoked in the governance of Nigeria. The chapter reviews the first state of emergency declared in Nigeria in 1962 and the cascades to the emergency declaration in Plateau and Ekiti States  under President Olusegun Obasanjo and President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. In these last two chapters very salient legal and constitutional questions are raised

     

    Constitutional law concepts

     

    This chapter begins with the rudimentary, reminding the reader of the relevance of certain very salient concepts. Perhaps this chapter would be considered to be one the most crucial as it lays the foundation for further discourse. The authors begin by classifying pertinent concepts that pertain to the constitution and follows with some relevant definitions. It is worthy to note that the authors think that “no country can afford to have a weak central government that will have coordinate powers with state government in this present age of science and technology when the survival of countries, as a whole, is the main concern of federal governments”, further proffering that what is needed is equality of states and central governments in a federation

     

    Legal regime of amalgamation in  Nigeria

     

    This chapter gives a brief historical account of the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates and the real reasons behind the amalgamation and the system of administration adopted. The chapter addresses  various academic studies on the economic and fiscal policies of the British before 1914 and the impact of the unprofitability of two separate protectorates as a result of the vast territory without the requisite manpower which would not have been in the interest of the British had they not been brought together. The authors review the system of indirect rule as practised in the Northern and Southern protectorates and the setting up of an advisory body known as the Nigerian Council which served mainly as a deliberation and advisory body. The authors are critical about the council and refer to various scholars who indicate that traditional chief had no functions at all. Very interestingly, the authors are of the view that if the objective of the colonial administration was the independence of Nigeria, then this had hadly begun because Nigerians were bystanders.

     

     Constitutional developments in Nigeria from 1900-1999

     

    This chapter is an empirical research on constitutional developments in Nigeria since the annexation of Lagos in 1861. The historical nature of this chapter is central considering its relevance in giving the reader an in-depth understanding of Nigeria’s constitutional history. By the nature of this chapter, it shall be considered the most important. The chapter begins with the administration of three entities (the Colony of Lagos, the Protectorate of Southern Nigeria and the Protectorate of Northern Nigeria) under Lord Lugard which was later reduced to two entities in 1914 and in 1919 became the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria. The authors review the Clifford era where a new legislative council was set up and later gave birth to the Clifford Constitution in 1922, the principle feature being its elective principle and political awakening. The authors also review the Bernard Bourdillon era which led to the Richards Constitution in 1944 which had at its mainstream to bring the Northern Provinces into the Nigerian Political development, this brought about some criticisms as the North had no political organisations.

    The authors also discuss another important landmark in our constitutional history, which is the breakdown of the Macpherson Constitution. The authors indicate that inherent in the constitution are the perceived weaknesses in the system which include its failure to provide responsible government at the centre due to allegiance of ministers to their regions,  hence the Lyttleton Constitution was born and heralded as the first genuine Federal Constitution of Nigeria that enhanced the standard of the Regional Legislatures and governments. The authors also drew light on the Independence Constitution of 1960 which brought various fundamental changes, so also was the review of the Republican Constitution of 1963 to reflect more realistically on the independence and sovereignty of Nigeria and was promulgated as an entirely new independent instrument to reveal its indigenous character and political autonomy

     

    Principles of constitutional interpretation in Nigeria

     

    This chapter focuses on the Interpretative jurisdiction of the Judiciary by virtue of Section 6 of the 1999 Constitution which confers judicial powers and in so interpreting the courts have recourse to certain canons or rules of interpretation as justice of each case demands. In this chapter the authors look at the canons of interpretation of statutes and also make a distinction between interpretation of statutes and constitution. The authors give an exhaustive discussion on the literal and liberal approach and rightly recall the case of Attorney-General of Bendel State .v. Attorney General of the Federation as the premise for constitutional interpretation.

    Fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy

     

    This chapter looks in detail at the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of States Policy, with the particular novelties in the 1999 Constitution which were absent in the 1979 Constitution. The authors have looked at Sections 13-24 of the 1999 Constitution and highlight various novelties. Unfortunately, the authors reiterate the non-justiciability of the rights and indicate that they run subsidiary to the fundamental rights contained in Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution.

     

    Fundamental rights

     

    The authors state that the rights as enshrined in the constitution are the rights which the executive, the legislature and the judiciary are all enjoined to protect. This chapter is thoroughly exhaustive as the authors will give a very detailed analysis on all the rights as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution. Firstly, the authors begin with the foundation of making the very important distinction between human rights and Fundamental rights and further  classifying the rights into three categories, absolute, qualified and protection rights. It is based on this classification that authors go on a voyage on the analysis of every right as enshrined in the constitution.  The authors review the Right to Life as the first generation right and acknowledge that the right to life is the mother of all rights known to mankind and further indicate that the right to life is an inalienable right and individuals lack the ability to forfeit it. The attitude of the courts on the Right to Life in Nigeria was carefully analysed by the use of case law. It is worthy to note at this juncture that the chapter is an explosion of case law and review and the reader is placed at a vantage in a clearer understanding of the intricate nature of these rights. The case of Bello v. A.G of Oyo State whichclearly gave an exception to s.33(1) where the apex court unanimously held that by execution, the deceased had lost both his right to life and the right to prosecute his appeal. Also the authors introduced the case of Gbemre v. Shell where the Nigerian Federal High Court held that the Right to Life in Nigeria is extended to healthy environment

     

    The Judiciary

     

    One of the important tenets of our Constitution is the Separation of Powers. Here, the authors have given an exhaustive analysis on the judiciary, particularly focusing on its independence. This chapter lays some very fundamental issues, apart from the preliminary which deal in part with the jurisdiction of the courts, here the authors have delved into more complex issues. They juxtapose the provisions of the 1979, 1985 (Draft) and 1999 Constitution. The authors look at various innovations in the latter constititution as well as impediments as it affects the independence of the Judiciary.

     

    The Executive

     

    In this chapter, the authors look at the merits of the Single Chief Executive as opposed to the plural executive of the parliamentary, here the authors contend that the single chief executive has the merit of unity, energy and dispatch which are the ingredients of good government. The authors further analyse aspects of the constitution that strengthens executive independence, most profoundly discussed was the case of Incorporated Trustees of Nigeria Bar Associationand others v. Attorney-General of the Federation. In this case, the authors challenge the constitutionality of the action taken by the National Assembly and uphold the view that the decision was unconstitutional.

     

    The Legislature

     

    The legislature does a whole lot more than law making, the authors will reveal the constitutional balancing roles and numerous oversight

    This chapter deals with the details of the legislative arm of government and will reveal its numerous oversight responsibilities. This chapter brings out the relevant constitutional provisions regarding their powers, functions, composition, and how members can be removed. The authors contend that watertight compartmentalisation is old fashioned and unworkable in the present democratic setting, thus why the representatives of the people in the legislature have oversight functions. The authors further postulate that the constitution makes no pretence to turn the legislature to an alternative judicial body which runs contrary to the theory of separation of powers on which the constitution stands.

     

    Citizenship

     

    The chapter reviews citizenship in Nigeria by looking at citizenship pre and post independence. The authors highlight past constitutions and the present constitution created under section 7 of the Independence Constitution of 1960, chapter 2 of 1963 Constitution, Chapter 3 1979 Constitution and now Chapter 3 1999 Constitution. Interestingly, the authors note that all constitutions failed to provide for the definition of a Nigerian Citizen but rather provide for the means of its acquisition and other matters relating. The chapter basically reviews all rights guaranteed by the constitution for the enjoyment of citizens, how citizenship can be acquired in Nigeria by virtue of s.25, 26 and 27, denunciation of citizenship s.29, Deprivation of citizenship s.30 and dual citizenships s. 28 of the 1999 Constitution.

     

    Judicial interpretation of the principle of Locus Standi in Nigeria

     

    This chapter adduces the reasons for the existence of the principle of locus standi and its characteristics. It gives an in-depth analysis with case law on what constitutes sufficient interest or not. The chapter is subjected to a thorough critical analysis and will expose the reader to very interesting arguments on whether or not there are consistent criteria for the granting of locus standi. This chapter is in several folds as it looks at locus standi in enforcement of fundamental rights, the position of the Attorney General and the inherent abuses.

    The controversies surrounding the issues of locus standi is well discussed by the authors in this very exhaustive and lengthy chapter. First, the authors address its strict interpretation as encapsulated in the case of Adesanya v. President 1981 2 NCLR 358 which was decided under the 1999 Constitution and then  makes a shift to a more lenient interpretation by virtue s.36 (1); s.46 (1) and s.6 (6) (b) of the 1999 Constitution and Order 1 Rule 2(1) of the Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure) Rules and arrives at the revolutionary judgement in the case of Fawehinmi v. President F.R.N (2007) 14 NWLR (Pt 1054) 275

    Flowing from  Section 46 (1) of the 1999 Constitution where the proceeding for human rights enforcement is instituted by the victim only, the authors analyse it from the view of Locus Standi to enforce Human Rights on Behalf of a Person. Here the authors elaborate on some very interesting case law, Richard Oma Ahonaruogho v. Governor of Lagos State and Ozekhome v. The President.The authors also brilliantly do a comparism between  Section 46(1) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria and Section 18(1) of the 1996 Constitution of Botswana and identifies the problems inherent in the restrictive interpretation of the two provisions. The author’s identify and proffer that the s.38 of the 1996 Constitution of South Africa has a very robust interpretation and is wider than the Nigerian and Botswana Constitution.

     

    Access to information as a  fundamental right

     

    This chapter focuses on the desirability of having access to information as a fundamental right and the compelling arguments for and against it. The authors bring in very compelling postulations from various scholars on the subject matter, some are worthy of mention The authors have rightfully quoted Sekhar, who states that “democracy requires an informed citizenry and transparency of governance which are vital to its functioning and also to contain corruption to hold governments and their instrumentalities accountable to the governed”.

     

  • My mother introduced my wife to me –Nollywood actor Kenneth Okonkwo

    My mother introduced my wife to me –Nollywood actor Kenneth Okonkwo

    Since he acted in Living in Bondage, Kenneth Okonkwo, famously called Andy, has stayed true to his craft. Though his career once suffered a lull following his crashed marriage and quest for more knowledge, the veteran actor came back bigger and better with Dumebi the Village Girl. Ever since, his profile has been on the rise. In 2013, he was honoured with the AMAA Recognition Award for his contribution to Nollywood.  In this interview with MERCY MICHAEL, he talks about his marital life and career, among other things.  

    You come across like a very blunt person, are you?    In my family, they would tell you that if I have a problem with anyone, they can pass judgment once they have heard my own side of the story. Anything you say that is contrary to what I say is a lie. That is the truth and I wouldn’t say anything that will favour me. I will say it just the way it is; and then, I will apologise where necessary. So, that is just the kind of person I am. The truth is the truth. Yes, it may hurt sometimes, but when you tell the truth, you have done your best. Even if someone gets mad at me for saying what I said, he or she will come around. But unfortunately, there are situations in which by the time they come around, you would have moved on.

    It is said that you charge as high as N2m per movie. Could you react to this?

    Well, I wouldn’t want to discuss my fee because you are being unfair to me. You don’t go and ask a civil servant how much he or she is earning. But the fact remains that from Living in Bondage Part 2, I have been earning what I love to earn. It is satisfying; it is just good enough because we are in Nigeria.

    By next month, I will be due to make a movie, Eye of the Eagle, in the United States. It is a very fantastic story and you will fall for it.

    Is it a Nigerian/Hollywood production?

    Yes, Nigerians are involved. Basically, it is by a Nigerian over there and he wants to do a collaboration work with Hollywood. So, that is why we are going to do it there.

    You’re one of the best actors in Nollywood. So, what are those qualities that stand you out?

    Should I not allow you to answer that (Laughs)? If you put it to me, I will say thank you for saying nice things about me. But I think it is basically the grace of God. There is this thing about charisma, which is a gift. I’ve seen a lot of actors and actresses who act very well, but are not being liked. You see, likeability is different from the acting and I think that’s a gift. I think the grace of God contributes a lot to entertainment. You see, before Living in Bondage, Nigerians would not even want to be patient enough to watch a local movie. I went to one video shop and the man had this inscription: “No local video is allowed here”. But immediately Living in Bondage came out, though we didn’t even advertise it, it was like there was an outcry. People were rushing to buy it. And with all due respect, it was the story of my character from beginning to the end. So, you can see the likeability. The real first one that came out was not subtitled. But Hausa and Yoruba people wanted it subtitled because they loved everything about it. So, we had to take it back to subtitle it. Likeability! So, that’s the grace of God, working in its highest form. And I’m grateful to God almighty for that. What can I do?  What can I say? I didn’t contribute anything to the way I look or the way I talk. I didn’t go to any school of Theatre Arts. But I always carry myself into any movie and I am just accepted. That’s the grace of God. Then, do you know the secret of my success? I read a lot, think a lot and work a lot! That’s what Henry Ford told the businessmen who wanted to be successful.

    So, when you are not on screen, what do you do?

    I read a lot and I’m a born-again Christian now. I wasn’t a good guy from birth. So, that helped me also to cut out a lot of frivolities and I keep praying to God that I fall not into temptation. Also, I pray that ladies do not lead me into temptation because the beautiful ones are coming out every day! You don’t just need prayers only, but you need to do the biblical injunction too.

    At what point did you become a born-again Christian?

    It was in 1994. You know, when you think that material things, fame and fortune will make you happy and God deposited all these things in you, yet you are not happy, then, you just know that there is a vacuum.  God must be interested in me. The story of my salvation is determined by the God Almighty. I just knew that truthfully without Him, I can’t do anything.

    Do you have any regrets regarding your past life?

    No! I don’t have any regrets about the things I did. When I was doing them then, I was enjoying it; so, I have no regrets. I thought I was having fun.

    You are very stylish. What informs your style?

    I think by nature, I’m just stylish.

    Though the way you walk is stylish, I think it is not natural…

    The truth is that, if not that people are saying it, and everybody is saying the same thing, I would have argued that it’s not true.  That is the way I’ve always walked from day one. As a matter of fact, at times, I try too hard not to walk that way. But once my mind gets off it, I just return to it.

    You must have a lot of admirers. How do you cope with your female fans? 

    What can I say? I just try to be nice to them.  I relate to some of them as very good friends.

    How do you handle the persistent female fans?

    How are you sure that there are persistent ones (laughs)? Hmm! One of the best things that God made on earth is the woman. There is something about them. They know more than we think. They know the sincerity of your heart. When you’re very honest to them, they will see the real thing God has deposited in them. Some of them may feel hurt when you say no, but they will understand, especially when they know that you mean it and your standard is the same for everybody. And that initial feeling of hurt will transform into big love, respect and truth. When you get your act right with women, you will know that they are the sweetest things on earth. If you start messing with women, you can only have one at a time and eventually it will limit a lot of things for you. But when you’re good to them, without asking for anything in return, you have all of them at a time. Women have a way of contributing to a man’s success, if they know you are genuine. And so, I’m having a very good relationship with them now. But, at the initial stage, it was bumpy. However, it later became beautiful.

    How has marriage helped to stabilise you?

    Since I got married, I have not had carnal knowledge of any other lady. But I have been very close to it. But with Jesus Christ helping me, it has not happened.

    Since when?

    2007.

    What do you love most about her?

    She’s very beautiful and very brilliant. She also understands me. And more importantly, she loves me very well.

    Sorry to take you back, you must be a strong man not to have played ‘side-betting’ since 2007…

    (Cuts in) For what ‘side-betting’ is (pauses)… But you know, as an actor, she understands. I don’t count the ‘peripheral’ thing that we even do publicly, but I mean the real thing.

    Are there not times that you guys act to things and you get some feelings for the person?

    You get used to what you are a professional in. It is like asking a doctor, ‘Don’t you get tickled?’ Doctors are even closer than us.

    Every chance you get, you celebrate your present marriage…

    (Cuts in)The only thing I’m going to say is that this is the real time that I have a privilege to settle down with a woman and marry her. This is really the first time that I can tell you that I settled down in a marriage made for two of us without any third party.  As a human being, I have very soft spot for women. That’s known. I have not brutalised any woman since my adult age and the facts are there. So, anybody telling you that I brutalised anybody is telling you a lie. But I’ve always told people that I am not going to put my neck for my enemy to cut it off. I have said it before and I am saying it again. If you leave at the mercy of your enemy, you are simply making your enemy merciless. So, the mere fact that I have not placed my neck for anybody to cut it off does not mean that I have anything against anybody.

    How do you reconcile the fact that you are born-again and you are divorced?

    I don’t want to go into that. But there is nothing contradictory about it. Any relationship that you get into that is made of more than one person, the destiny of that relationship does not lie in your hands alone. That’s why we are men. We are not God. And I’m not the kind of man who wants to live a lie or live in lie. A lot of people are separated and are doing certain things, but they will come out and pretend they are not doing anything. I know myself. I know the limit of what I can sustain and with my profession. So, I know I can’t stay alone for a long while without really messing up. You know the Bible says that it is not good for a man to be alone.

    So, how do you cope now, since you are always on locations?

    What does it take? If I’m in London and I feel so, I can fly in, see my babe and fly back to location (laughs). At times, I would be on location and after a while, I will scream, ‘Hey! Hey! I just have to go home. I don’t know how my body is feeling.’ I’m that straight forward. I will announce it in the public. And if I don’t run that time, something will happen.

    How did you meet her?

    She is from my place. You know what? This is the truth of how it happened. It was my mother who introduced her to me.  My mother sat down and said to some people: “If there is anybody who should have a problem in his marriage, it should not be this boy. I can vouch that this guy is a Christian and a born-again one.” So, when my mother saw this lady and she knows my ‘spec’, she called me and said she had seen a lady I would marry. My mother is a very fashionable and beautiful woman. I was like, ‘Me?’But she wasn’t aware of it. And I’m like, this one that my mother is talking like this. Then, she started enticing me, telling me about her physical attributes and so on. Then, I got interested. I called her and the rest is history. I talked to her in a manner that she just couldn’t let me go. She has been known in my town as a very decent lady. My mother has eagle eyes; and since I’ve been with her, it’s been bliss.

    But you were not born-again when you were married the first time?

    I was. I got born-again in 1994 and I got married 2000. I can tell you another thing: from the time I got born-again till I got married, I didn’t have a carnal knowledge of any woman. And that’s me. When I am here, I am here. That doesn’t mean I don’t get tempted; I do. But I have told you the secret. When I can’t hold my body, I run away.

     

  • Nigeria gets Norwegian $15m grant for mother, child healthcare

    Nigeria gets Norwegian $15m grant for mother, child healthcare

    Efforts to improve the country’s healthcare delivery service, especially for mother and child care received a boost  yesterday as Norwegian government offer Nigeria a grant of $15million.

    The money is to assist Nigeria to  upscale it’s  maternal and child health programme.

    A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to that effect was signed yesterday in Abuja.

    The project is to be implemented by Clinton Health Foundation.

    Speaking at the occasion, Minister of Health Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu said the country remain committed to meeting the Health-Specific Millennium Development Goals (MDGS) by 2015.

    He explained that the “Norwegian government is supporting Nigeria with equivalent of 90million Norwegian crones. When you change it to US dollars, it translates to $15million. Now, they have given Nigeria that money as a grant or donation to support the work we are doing in terms of maternal and child health to ensure we meet the MDG target by next year; as far as goal number four and five are concerned.

    “This commitment by Norway of giving us $15million to support our maternal and child health is in furtherance of friendship between the two countries. We called it tripartite agreement because to execute it, both countries agreed that we will use the Clinton Health Action Initiative, what we call CHAI. They’ve been working for us in Nigeria and they have demonstrated capability and capacity to work in the health sector particularly in this area of maternal and child health. They also have to commit that they will do exactly what the two countries want the money to be used for. That is the essence of today’s ceremony.”

    He further explained that “although Nigeria has mainstreamed MDGs target into various national initiatives and strategies in order to fast track the attainment of the MDGs, more efforts continue to be required to ensure we achieve the goals, or come as close to achieving them as possible by the end of next year.

    “The development of Harmonized Country Plan of Priority Interventions for 2014-2015, HCPPI, is one of such initiatives to step up our efforts in this regard.

    “This plan represents a call to action to all states and supporting partners to improve programming and focus more resources on the identified, evidence-based, cost-effective and scalable interventions that are already producing results in order to achieve better health outcomes.

    “Through this plan, we aim to save an additional 420,000 maternal and children’s lives by 2015 at a total cost of $650 million as identified in the Harmonized Country Plan, and we have an estimated funding gap of $420 million. We have available commitments totaling $121 million currently being mobilized through projects from the Private Health Sector Alliance, UNICEF, GFATM, the Federal Ministry of Health, USAID and GE Healthy Imagination among other, leaving $299 outstanding.

    “The Tripartite Agreement we have signed today represents one of the many efforts to meet the resource gap. The expected impact on the target group is the reduction of maternal and neonatal deaths in the three selected states by 40% by 2015. This translates to approximately 2,961 maternal and 19,825 neonatal additional lives saved.”

    In his short remark, Norwegian Ambassador to Nigeria, Rolf Ree said the  collaboration could not  be successful without the strong leadership of Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu.

     

  • What my Mother Did When I Was Pregnant at 17—Nollywood star Toyin Alausa

    What my Mother Did When I Was Pregnant at 17—Nollywood star Toyin Alausa

    Her story, without doubt, is unputdownable. It is one of a seriocomic tale. It will tug at your heartstrings. It is not only didactic, but also inspiring. Except she voluntarily knits her memoirs, you may never know that beautiful Toyin Alausa, a popular Nollywood actress, is also a good counsellor. Interestingly, in this interview with BABATUNDE SULAIMAN, the single mother of one opens up her bitter-sweet experience in life. 

    You started out as a kid actor; so, how did that early exposure impact on your childhood and even growing up?

    There are two sides to every coin in life. With regard to my own life, I would say I have tasted both the positive and the negative sides of life. As a kid actor, I was exposed to life very early. I could call myself a smart kid, so I understood everything around me. One single incident that still lingers in my head often is my experience with the late Enebeli Enebuwa.

    In Portakabin Nine, when we were doing Tales by Moonlight, he said: “Why are you around?” and I said: “I am on holidays.” He then said: “Have you resumed?” and I said: “We haven’t resumed.” So, he said: “Immediately you resume, you go back to school because education is the ultimate. I know you are a fantastic actress, but you still have to go back to school.” So, that was the kind of exposure I had as early as 12 to 15 years of age. I would say it also helped me because it made me a wiser person. As a kid actor, I made some mistakes, but I had my mum and others who used to correct me, apart from school. I didn’t take things for granted.

    So, will you also say it has really prepared you for what you are doing now?

    Yes, it has because you already know that wherever you go to, people are starring at you; that whatever you do, there are people out there waiting to run you down or applaud you. Of course, as a human being, you make mistakes. Also, that you are a celebrity doesn’t mean your star can’t fall or that you won’t make mistakes in your choices in life. But people are there to pat you in the back and say you have made the mistake, but you have to move on.

    If your mum wasn’t an actress, would you have been an actress?

    I would say yes because before my mum started to take me to NTA and I was given a role in Drama Showcase, I was alone in the house. I am my mum’s only child and I can recall imitating my teachers, headmistress, friends and others. I did that a lot, but I didn’t know what it was called until I got that opportunity to act. Well, I think the rest is history today. I still would have been an actor, though I used to tell my mum I wanted to be a newscaster. There is no other preparation I would have had, even if I had studied Theatre Arts or Mass Communication.

    You said you are the only child of your mum, so are you also the only child of your dad?

    What happened then?

    Nothing happened? I am a Yoruba woman and I come from a polygamous family. My father is a Muslim, but I practise Christianity now.

    How is it like coming from a polygamous family, considering that many people say awful tales about it?

    In Yoruba, they say, “Ile olorogun, eta’nu ma wa ni ibe”. But I think it has to do with individuals. I enjoy my childhood and I am proud of my parents. They had their own mistakes and they made their own choices. I also had my own mistakes and I have my own choices to make.  So, I will not come out and say anything awful about my family because I have my own stepsisters and stepbrothers. If my father didn’t have them with their mum, I probably would not have brothers and sisters to call my own. So, I will say it is a blessing to me. Though I am not propagating polygamy, it is part of Africa.

    You attended a college of education. But was it by choice or circumstance?

    There is no big deal because I tried to acquire education the little way I could. I would say financial constraint at that time and some other situations that I wouldn’t want to go into the details now. I am always in the line of training and learning. I guess anyone can go to the university or polytechnic at any time, as long as you are focused, determined and ready for it.

    But I know that wasn’t your dream?

    It wasn’t my dream. You see, if it was about dreams, many people would not be where they are now. It was about what life had thrown to me and I was ready to accept.

    Did you attempt to go further?

    I have been a working mum, so to say. From time to time, I have been doing one thing or another, which has contributed to my life positively. Yes, I missed the aspect of me not going to the university, but it is not a lost dream because at the set time, that is one of the things I will love to face.

    You mentioned financial constraint as part of the reasons you attended a college of education. But one would have thought that you were from a privileged home.

    I am from a humble home and my father could afford what he could for us all until there had to be a separation; and, at that point, things became shaky. I was neither here nor there. Eventually, I had to be somewhere in-between. Those were the times I struggled to maintain a balance in my life and determined that this is who I want to be.

    Psychologically, how did you pull through?

    It wasn’t really easy. The Bible says: “When the foundation is faulty, what can the righteous do?” When the unit you break out from is faulty, either by mistakes or choices that your parents or your forefathers have made, it has a vital role to play in the person you become in the society. At that point when I was neither here nor there, I was just lingering in life.

    Those were my vulnerable years; those were the years I made a whole lot of mistakes and I had to learn the hard ways. I also have to thank God for that part of my life because it is not a period of time so short that I can just waive away. All the while, I was also acting, even if it was two or three scenes. In-between struggling to make it in life, I met a lot of people who could make you forget your destiny and those who actually wanted to see you up there because my formative years were neither here nor there.

    The second force that will battle your foundation that is faulty is actually your person. I knew I had potentials and I knew what I loved to, so I turned them all to work for my benefits. I wasn’t thinking of the fact that I come from a wealthy background. Even till date, I don’t think anything is actually my problem. What I just need to do is to go to the right people and ask; or better still, I pray to God to provide it for me. It is not about what life has thrown at you, but it is about what you can do with what life has thrown at you. In my formative years, strangers were my friends and family. So, as an individual, I see myself as somebody who has a large family.

    When did you start leaving independently of your parents?

    When I say I was alone that time, I mean that everybody was going about his or her business and nobody wanted to really understand how you were feeling psychologically. It was just me in my world, so one could do some naughty things through peer group influence. I won’t advise parents to leave their children alone. They should try and understand how they feel, even in their decision-making because you might not know where you have left them alone.

    Did that also result in your dropping out of school?

    Yes. You know, you can just stray away without looking back, if you refuse to listen to what people are saying. My mother was extremely strict and she shaped me with proverbs. The proverbs were enough strokes of the cane that will last you a lifetime.  I missed with friends who didn’t think of the future but the present and you could just play away your lectures, exam dates, tests and assignments. That is it why I still maintain that it is you as an individual.

    I guess that was also the period you got pregnant?

    Yes, that was the period. I had my baby; and like I said, you now have to start correcting the mistake you have made. All in all, it was a wonderful experience that I can never trade away today. I thank God I had him then, though early. As I said earlier, my youth really got me prepared for what lies ahead of me. As an individual, I already knew what I wanted and how I wanted it, so I would just say it is a blessing that it happened then.

    How old were you then?

    I was 17.

    You mum must have been very disappointed in you, knowing that she was always cautioning you.

    She took me in, washed me, cleaned me up and put my feet firmly on ground such that I had to start and do it right. I would say ever since then, our bond got tighter as mother and child. She is a mother any human being will ever wish for. A lot of people gave her all sorts of advice.

    Did she feel she didn’t do enough to caution you?

    She just attributed it to destiny. I am the only child; so, if I had to be at home, I would be locked up in the house. But as a mischievous child, I devised a means of still going out to play with my friends. Of course, it wasn’t anything naughty. But a child needs people around him or her. So, it is not really nice when a child is alone in a massive compound because he or she might get naughty. And at times, you get tired of being alone.

    So, you wanted to explore?

    Yes, you are right.

    And then, you abused the freedom in the process?

    When the people who are supposed to shape you are not around, you tend to miss your ways. I guess that was what happened and I made my mistakes in time and corrected them in time.

    Did you attempt to abort the pregnancy?

    Yes, I did. But it didn’t work for me.

    How?

    I was asked to use some pills; but you know, destiny is destiny. He was meant to come and he came. He couldn’t even be aborted. There are children out there whose parents did everything humanly possible to terminate them, but they still came. There are reasons why the abortion would fail and it is only God who knows the reason. And if you are lucky not to get it terminated, you will see the reason. Honestly, I don’t think it is a good option, but it is as old as prostitution.

    Why did you consider abortion when you knew the man who was responsible for the pregnancy?

    I was a teenager, so I probably would not have made any good decision on my own. I couldn’t even allow my mum to know in time. In fact, I didn’t even know I was pregnant until I was way gone, so that is why I said he is a destiny child.

    Like how many months?

    I was about five months gone! By the time I knew and thought of abortion, nobody would want to do that for me.

    What advice will you give teenagers who are pregnant now?

    I am worried about teenagers nowadays. I have seen and heard all sorts. I don’t know what to do, but I just believe that God, the government, the NGOs, parents, teachers, guardians and good citizens of Nigeria should help to shape the young ones coming behind us. They have lost it. The mistake I have made, I have been able to correct them by myself. But I have seen and heard of other cases where people could not correct themselves and their lives went in shambles. That you are not a graduate is not an excuse.

    Also, ignorance is not an excuse. If you don’t learn a trade or do anything to improve your life and you expect manna to come from Heavens, you will either steal or prostitute; and if you do either of these, you will end up destroying your destiny. But if you know you have a good plan for yourself, you should try and stay under your parents and obey the laws. I am not saying you can’t come across one or two misfortunes in life, but you can avoid it when you stay on the right tracks.

    Was it a case of infatuation or love?

    It was infatuation. It couldn’t have been real love because I didn’t know what real love was then.

    How do you relate to your son now?

    I relate to him very well. I call him my correction. Everything I did wrong, he is doing it right. He is 19 years old now and he is a wonderful young chap. Every mother will say that about her child. But when outsiders say that about your child, then, you know you are not trying to massage your ego. I thank God I have a good product in the society. I am not trying to praise him overboard, but he knows his boundaries; so, I thank God for everything.

    What is it like being a single parent?

    It is not a child’s play at all. There was a time he lived with his dad because I have to fulfill all righteousness. He wanted him and we discussed it, so I allowed him to go. But circumstances still warranted me to be in the custody of the child now. So, raising him alone is a blessing to me. It has made me strong. Whatever decision I make, I make sure I put him into consideration. I thank God I am not lazy; at least, I have been able to feed him well, clothe him well and give him good education. It has not been easy, but being a single parent has made me who I am today.

    You are the only child of your mum and you have so far had only him, so aren’t you bothered?

    I don’t see it as something bizarre. I have loads of cousins and I have stepbrothers and stepsisters.

    But I am particular about your own?

    I am going to get married and I am going to have more children. But for now, it is just my career and me. My son is a grown-up; so, I am not nursing anymore.

    You have never been married, so you are considering getting married now?

    But what are the qualities you want in your-would-be man?

    From experience, I want a real man, an African man. Well, not a tyrant. But then, he should be in charge. I want a father figure and I want my own husband.

    Why has it been hard for you to get a man who has all the qualities?

    I won’t say hard because I sure have suitors. I am, however, waiting for the God-ordained one. I don’t want to make any mistake. There are so many factors that lead to separation in marriage. If you marry outside the will of God, there will be a crack or separation along the line. It is a sacred thing.

    So, it should not be because you have come of age or because you desire it or because you are searching. If you rush into it, you will rush out of it. These are the things we should learn and accept in life. Some people are not meant to get married! So, I won’t say because I have suitors, I will rush into marriage. A lot of them will tell you they will marry you, but iro ni won pa( they are lying). They probably just want to use you to ‘pose’ as their wife, given that you an actress. After three months, one year or so, it will pack up.  I have pressure from my mum and others to get married. They say they will buy gele and aso.

    But I might shock them because I might only pick gele. I don’t want any elaborate ceremony.  So, it depends on what God has designed for me. I am not finding it hard to get a husband. At the set time, the right person will come my way.

    But some believe you don’t want to get married because you have all that a man may want to give you?

    I tell a lot of guys that I can’t have anything to do with them, but we can be friends because, at the end of the day, nothing good will come out of it. I can’t allow myself to be used as a display thing. Some of them even have fiancés tucked abroad and they date you for months and years. But before you know what it is happening, they are gone.

  • Exit of a sweet mother

    Exit of a sweet mother

    A special Fidau has been held for Alhaja Sidiqat Adedayo, mother of a business tycoon and Arowoshadini of Nigeria, Alhaja Muinat Shopeyin-Akande, at Beko Kuti Recreation Centre on Anthony Village, Lagos.  OLATUNDE ODEBIYI reports.

    Family members, friends and well wishers came in their numbers to sympathise with the children of the late Alhaja Sidiqat Adedayo.

    Alhaja Adedayo, the mother of a business tycoon and Arowoshadini of Nigeria, Alhaja Muinat Shopeyin-Akande, died last month.

    She was 88.

    Many were at her house in Anthony Village in Lagos to mourn her departure before the Fidau (Prayer for deceased) in her honour last Thursday.  Her home was a beehive of activities that day.

    Islamic clerics from many associations within and outside Lagos were there. Despite the down pour, guests  still turned out in their numbers.

    LASTMA officials had a hectic time controlling vehicles around the venue. Itinerant drummers made brisk business as they drummed and sang the praises of guests on entry. For traders in the area,  it was a money-making day.  Beggars made their way to the venue and got some assistance from guests.

    Many of the guests were dressed in choice traditional attires and most of the women had net Hijab on their head gears. A few of the women were on uniformed pink lace.  They all sat under the tent.

    The event was anchored by a senior lecturer at the Lagos State University (LASU), Dr Ahmad Rufai Saeed. He was assisted by the Rector, College of Islamic Affairs, Dabiri Boonyamin, and a presenter in NTA Lagos, Aliu Gbodofu.

    Imam Abdul Bariy Saba said the opening prayer and guests were introduced.   Ustaz Abdul Karim recited from the Holy Quran following which the Chief Missioner NASFAT worldwide, Sheikh Abdullahi Akinbode, started the programme. Other Islamic clerics said prayers.

    Portions of the Quran were recited by the Chief Missioner, Lagos Central Mosque Alhaji Mujitaba Giwa.

    The first lecturer, Sheikh Jubril Ramadan spoke on “Preparedness towards Akhirah”.

    He urged the gathering to avoid any form of distraction when studding the Quran.

    He said death is something that will happen to everyone and urged the people to live a good life, adding that God has a good plan for all.

    The second lecturer, Sheikh Muhydeen Bello, spoke on: The scenario of the grave.

    He described the death of Alhaja Adebayo as “a painful loss that affected all of us.

    “Even though she lived to an old age, we did not want her to go but she has gone.  Nobody wants to die but the truth is that we will all die someday”.

    He urged the people to use the gathering to reflect on what would be said of them when they are no more.

    “It is time for you to check yourselves and amend your ways,” he said.

    He wondered why a Fidau should be held like a wedding event where everyone wine and dine and all the women wore flying head gears, saying: “We are playing, gisting and whispering into the ears of our neighbours instead of paying attention for prayers because we are in the presence of God,” he said.

    “Correct your errors today so that your tomorrow will be better, do you disrespect God? Do you have wisdom? Why are our ladies wearing cloths that are showing all the shape of their bodies and our Alfa’s cannot correct them? These are questions we need to provide answers to,” Sheikh Bello said.

    Facing the clerics on ground, the firebrand preacher said: “This is your duty; it is your responsibility to tell the girls that their manner of dressing is wrong, you are not doing what you are expected to do, you have the authority to tell them that what they are wearing is wrong but you do not, God has given you the power but you are not using it. Let us all fear God.”

    The cleric later said prayers and some other Islamic clerics also did.

    Collection of blessings/ Khutbah followed and Alhaja Shopeyin-Akande thanked all for honouring her.

    The event continued with a reception at the same venue, where guests were entertained with choice food and wines.

    Kas Ventures, led by Kazeem Quadri, was on the stage. Layiwola Itinerant band was also there.

    One of the children of the diseased, Mrs Atinuke Gborigi, a business woman, described her mother as “sweet, real, kind and loving. I like everything about my mum, she was just too nice and she lived a successful and fulfilled life”.

    Alhaja Shopeyin-Akande said her mum was a good mother and a worshipper that brought up her children in the way of God. She described her  as a faithful Muslim that taught her children the Islamic religion and western education.

    “My mother was my friend and I will miss her for so many things things, including her good advice and her teachings on the way to go about life. There is no one like my mother,” she said.

  • ‘I’m a mother, graduate, bus driver’

    ‘I’m a mother, graduate, bus driver’

    •Meet Blessing Ekwueme, Abia’s first woman commercial driver

    She is every bit a model. She has made history but does not wear that honour like a badge. She is calm, yet very active, inspired and focused on her responsibilities and vision.

    Mrs. Blessing Ekwueme is the first woman commercial driver in Abia State. She is so happy at what she does that she cannot imagine taking her feet off the accelerator in the foreseeable future.

    She received a National Certificate in Education (NCE) in Economics from Alvan Ikoku College, Owerri, and tried very hard to work with the Immigration and later the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC). None of them clicked. She set up a trading business, buying crayfish from Calabar, Cross River State, and selling in Abia. One day, some fellows stopped by her stand, bent down and took away her stock. Why? She was not registered with the market union, she was told. That was it for selling crayfish.

    Undaunted, she turned to driving, starting as a commercial bus conductor and taking home only a stipend. Five years ago, she decided to sit behind the steering herself and do the driving. But first, she needed to learn to do so. Will her boss teach her? Yes, and she paid attention while he did. Today, she fills her large bus with passengers and takes them to their destinations, and back.

    Ekwueme is conscious of the fact that she operates in a male-dominated environment and not only is she courageous and determined to make the most of it, she is equally aware that she is a model to other people, especially women.

    She is married to an oil rigger with whom she has three children. And she is happy to be contributing to the family upkeep, conscious of her role as a helper to her husband on the home front.

    Mrs Ekwueme, who now operates a bus on the state youth employment scheme, spoke exclusively with SUNNY NWANKWO, detailing how she combines her many parts. Excerpts:

     

    Family and education

    My dad is married to two wives. My mother is the first wife. We were seven in number, but one of us, the first daughter, is late. Our most senior brother is a politician but he doesn’t stay at home with us.

    I come from a responsible home. My dad was a civil servant, while my mum is a farmer. They trained me well.

    I am married with three children. My husband is from Afor Umuda Ohuhu in Umuahia North Local Government Area. He works as a rigger at an oil company at Port Harcourt. He is at work for about three months and comes back to spend one week with us. In the face of this, I accepted to do something so that I don’t stay idle or join other women in gossiping and creating problems for my family.

    I still believe that I am made to be a helper to my husband, so that is why I am supporting him and I think that we have a happy home today.

    I had my NCE (National Certificate in Education) at Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri, Imo State. I studied Economics there from 1998 to 2004.

    I looked for job but it wasn’t that easy for me. When I was told that Immigration was recruiting, I applied but it didn’t work out. I applied for Road Safety, did their training but after much, my name was unable to come out. So, I said no, let me do business on my own I don’t want to be dependent on any person. That was why I decided to do business.

     

    A stint in business

    Doing business or trading is all part of my profession. I started with selling crayfish; when I go to Calabar, I will buy them in bags and come down here to sell not until one day I encountered a little problem when I went to a local market at Ariam in Ikwuano Local Government Area to sell my crayfish when people on union came and confiscated my goods that I was not supposed to sell anything in their market because I didn’t register with their union. I pleaded with them, but they refused to release my goods to me. So, when I went home I started thinking of the alternative because I really want to help my family. Staying idle might cause a lot of things for me in my home because I have seen some other homes that are broken today because the wife was not able to assist the husband in sharing some of the responsibilities in the home.

     

    The road to driving

    It was at that point that I decided to join transport business as a bus conductor where I was stipends. I joined driving 5 years ago. We were driving from Umuahia to Port Harcourt. While I was still doing the conductor work, I met one of the drivers and explained my intention to become a driver, but that depends if he can teach me how to drive even if it is for two weeks. He eventually did and I started practicing on my own, not until today that I am perfect. I really find joy doing it because I can take care of myself and my family.

     

    Family’s initial reaction

    Initially when he heard it, he wasn’t all that happy because he was saying that since I want to join commercial driving, that it will turn me to be a tout. But I made him know that my mission going into commercial driving was not to be stupid, and that I would still maintain my integrity, and I’m happy today that I’m still making him proud.

    My mother in-law, like her son, initially objected to the idea of me going into driving. But I had to let her know that their own time and ours are not the same; that things were easier for them then, but now things are very hard. I told her that she shouldn’t expect me to fold my arms just because I went to school and therefore shouldn’t do the driving work because they were seeing it that I was going to mess around with men. I assured her that I was going to do the work better. After much battling, she came to understand that I am not the lazy type and that I mind my business. They are happy with me.

     

    Adapting to driving

    Commercial driving is not easy, especially when it is seen to be a job for the male folk. So, it wasn’t that easy for me to adapt because I faced a lot of challenges from male colleagues. On many occasions my vehicle was impounded and money demanded from me by these boys that collect money for daily tickets. That stopped when they understood that I am ready for the work.

     

    Contact with Abia Youth Empowerment Scheme

    They have seen me operating on Ubakala-Umuahia route. When the engine of the bus I was driving broke down, the owner of the bus said I should not be going far distance anymore, that I should be running the local route, so I started driving from Ubakala to Umuahia. The Chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Mr. Sunny Nwakodo saw me on several occasions driving and made enquiries about me. The people he asked told him that I am a perfect driver, that I driver very well and like men too.

    After some time, he called me and asked me some questions which I answered. Satisfied by my responses, he gave me the key to a bus, telling me to drive it to Aba and back. That day, I did well; I went to Aba three times. So, when I came back, I delivered well. That was when he decided to give me key to the bus and until today; I am still driving the bus. I didn’t pay any money to him. He just gave the key. What we normally do is a daily account depending on the number of trips. But basically, each trip is N5,000.

     

    How impactful has the driving experience being

    At least, I am using it to encourage other women, telling them that whatever a man does, a woman can do it much better. They should wake up and make Abia a better place just like our governor has been preaching. Now that I am doing it, there some areas I have been assisting my husband. At times, when they asked my children of their school fees, if my husband is not around, I pay it and don’t necessarily have to wait for him to come back and do it.

    It is also giving my parents, my mother and father in-law joy. At least they are proud of me. So the job has really helped me.

     

    Coping with male colleagues

    It is not easy to be the only woman in the midst of about 30 men. You know that men are “Lions”. Being in their midst looks as if you are carrying a chicken to a lion’s den. At times, our chairman, Sunny Nwakodo used to be there for me when they come up to challenge, humiliate or intimidate me. He will always remind them that I am the only woman in their midst and that they should pamper and carry me. I think they are not happy seeing me coming up to challenge them, but at a time, they begin to see that I am destined to do so; that is my nature. I am born strong to be strong and hardworking. They have no other option than to obey what the chairman said.

    Being among male colleagues, sometimes, I feel intimidated but because I know it is something that I am bound to see and a decision I made, I have to take up whatever that I see and now I don’t feel it all that. Whenever they challenge me, I react and I am still there (laughs).

     

    Any plans leaving the business?

    I am not thinking of dropping driving for now, unless I am being rewarded by the state government as the first Abia female driver with a lucrative and mouthwatering job (laughs out loud).

    One day, one of my passengers said that he was going to talk to Chief T.A Orji, our governor, although I don’t know whether he has the means. He said I need to be recognized, rewarded and promoted for having the nerve to not only break into a field dominated by men, but doing the job even better than the men.

    So, I am looking forward to be rewarded with a better job that is better than driving and risking of one’s life on the road. If the job comes, I will have no option but to drop commercial driving. But if it doesn’t come, I will continue with the one that I am doing now at least, I am feeding from it.

     

    Risk in the business

    I believe that there is no means of livelihood in this life that is easy. Before you make money in this life, you must undergo some risks. I don’t see it as a risk but a means of survival.

     

    Relationship with passengers

    Since I know that passengers are always right, when they become funny, I will understand. I will try to pet them so that I will get what I want from them.

     

    On using her gender effectively

    Just because I am a lady, many of the passengers believe that I drive carefully. Many people do wait for me at our loading bay because, according to them, they feel more relaxed and comfortable because of the way I drive. So, I have many passengers that do patronise me. I am satisfied and encouraged when I hear about the good things they say about me.

     

    Coping with the job and responsibilities at home

    My husband’s kid sister is staying with me. She helps in some house chores the way I direct her. At times when the kids are ill, she will take care of them till I will come back. The job actually doesn’t stop me from performing my responsibility as a woman. I do the things I am supposed to do for my husband, although it is not easy but there is nothing I can do because it is the type of world we find ourselves. I believe that one can only rest when he or she is old. But for now that I am still young, that is when I know that I am supposed to lay a good foundation for my family.

    To other women who are in other spheres of life dominated by men outside commercial driving, they are just like me. I am advising them to carry on because they I know that they will still experience peace in their homes just like I am experiencing in my own home. I am proud to say that since I got married, there has never been any time my husband visited police station maybe because of a trouble that I caused. So, women who stay at home to gossip should desist from that and engage themselves into meaningful ventures in order to help their family and also meet their personal needs without depending so much on their husband to do it for them.

     

    Advice to women

    I want to be a leader which I have equally started through this process (commercial driving). I am advising other women to come out and be up doing because these days are not days that you fold your arms and wait for a man to fend for you or for manner to fall from heaven. They should come up and join me. I need people that could come up and join me to do this job that I am doing. Even if they don’t have their own car, they can drive for someone just as I am doing until when God will give them their own car.

    I don’t see it as only for the men, I see it as a general work for everybody. Most of the problems we encounter in some homes today is as a result of idleness; when your husband go out to work and you relax at home, when he comes back and you ask him for something, he might not be able to give you exactly what you asked because you may not know what he is seeing to get that money and he might have other plans for that money that he came back with. So, you will see that a women staying at home and not helping her husband causes a lot of problems.

    At least the people around here are proud of me. When they see me, everybody would want to greet me because I am doing well. I used to tell my younger ones that I am today loved by all is simply because I did not fold my arms and I don’t beg anybody for anything, even in my family I don’t beg anybody for anything instead, I love giving out, so it bring joy and happiness to me, my family and the community as a whole.

     

    Relaxation?

    Yes, I do relax on Sundays. I attend Sunday Service; I have enough rest that I need against Monday and I still believe that I will not do it forever. A time is coming by the grace of God, when I will have proper rest. But for now, I don’t think I need rest.

  • Mother remanded for setting daughter ablaze

    A 37-year-old woman, Bose Oluwole, was on Wednesday remanded in prison custody by an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly setting her nine- year-old daughter ablaze.

    The Magistrate, Mrs O. Oshin, ordered that Oluwole should be remanded in prison custody until the next adjourned date.

    “I hereby order that the defendant be remanded in prison custody till June 2,” she said.

    Oluwole, a trader, is charged with assault, occasioning harm and attempted murder.

    The Prosecutor, Insp. Emmanuel Nwankpuma, told the court that the accused committed the offences on May 11 at her residence at Ijebu-Ode Road, Odomola in Epe, near Lagos.

    He said the accused unlawfully assaulted her nine-year-old daughter (name withheld) by pouring kerosene on her body and setting her alight with matches.

    Nwankpuma said the accused, who attends a ‘white garment’ church, had just returned home from a night vigil on the morning of the assault.

    He said the accused in her statement to the police, claimed she received a revelation during the vigil that her daughter was possessed by demonic spirits.

    He said the accused told the police that the only way to deliver her daughter from evil spirit was to inflict injuries on her through the use of fire.

    The prosecutor said the daughter was saved by the landlord who heard her cries and alerted the police.

    He said the victim was currently in hospital receiving treatment for the injuries she sustained.

    Nwankpuma said the offences contravened Sections 171 and 228 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 228 recommends a sentence of life imprisonment for anyone convicted of attempted murder.

    The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge. (NAN)