The Nation Newspaper

Tag: mother

  • Security beefed up for Magu, mother,  family

    Security beefed up for Magu, mother,  family

    Security has been strengthened for the Acting Chairman of the EFCC Mr. Ibrahim Magu and his family, including his aged mother.

    It was learnt that some strangers have been prowling Magu’s residence in Maiduguri. Some policemen have been deployed in Magu’s  uncompleted bungalow in Karshi, Abuja.

    According to  a source who who pleaded not to be named, the last seven months had been tough for Magu because of his refusal to bow to pressure from some high-profile suspects and Politically-Exposed Persons.

    The source said the  pressure had grave implications on Magu’s and his  relations’ safety.

    The development has led to the review of Magu’s and most of the key investigators’ security.

    The source said: “In the past few weeks, security had been beefed up for Magu and  his immediate family because of threats from some forces.

    “His office was also recently reorganized  in line with the new security model. It is so bad that Magu now keeps his itinerary to himself until the last minute.

    “Hitherto, there was no protection for Magu’s aged mother in Maiduguri. But of recent, some suspected elements have been prowling the family house in the Borno State capital and issuing threats to the woman.

    “Due to old age, the mother of the Acting chairman could not recognise these elements. To avoid any harm, security has now been provided in and around the house.

    “And following the recent raid of Magu’s uncompleted building in Karshi, Abuja  by some suspected agents, the police have deployed in more men for sentry duties.”

    The source added: “It has really been tough because the pressure is too much on Magu, EFCC investigators and their families.

    “With the invasion of the strategic office of the EFCC in Zone 7, it is evident that we need to strengthen security for all our operatives.”

  • Man kills mother over “disappearance” charm

    An 18-year-old man, Agugu Adau, has allegedly killed his mother for refusing to give him a “disappearing” charm he claimed was his inheritance from his late herbalist father.

    A family source told the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) that Agugu committed the crime at his Kisaghyip village farm in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau.

    The source said that Agugu, after killing his mother, removed the sum of N20,000 from her blood-sucked clothes and used it to buy a mobile phone, a shirt and a pair of slippers.

    Mr Tyopev Terna, spokesman of the Plateau Police Command, confirmed that the suspect was being held, but declined further comments.

    “Investigation is ongoing. The details are not ready. Please understand with us and be patient,” he told NAN on phone.

    But Agugu, who spoke with our correspondent, said that he killed the woman because she refused to give him a charm that was his inheritance from his father.

    “When I was 14 years old, my late father, who was a native doctor, showed me a charm that enabled him to disappear and reappear at will. He promised to handover the charm to me when I turn 18.

    “On his dying bed four years ago, he gave my mother the charm and asked her to give me when I turn 18. But I am now 18 and she has refused to give it to me.

    “On this fateful day at the farm, I asked her about it, but she threatened to throw the charm into the river, if I disturbed her too much.

    “Her response infuriated me and I suddenly felt that she was of no value as a mother. I immediately slaughtered her with the knife I was using to harvest potatoes.

    “After slaughtering her, I dumped her body in the bush,” he said.

    Mr David Adau, senior brother to the suspect, has, however, dismissed the suspect’s claim that he killed the mother because of a charm.

    “Prior to the incident, the family had faced several problems with Agugu. He was fond of stealing and causing trouble.

    “I believe he killed our mother because of the N20,000 I gave her a day before the incident. I work at the mines in Barkin-Ladi, and usually give my earnings to our mother to keep for me.

    “I handed over the money to my mother in his presence; in fact, when I gave her the money, she expressed fear that Agugu could attack her to get the money. He has proved her right,” David said.

    David said that on his return from work a day after the incident, he asked after the mother but Agugu said he did not know of her whereabouts.

    “He said he did not know where my mother was. Later in the day, I saw him with a new mobile phone, a new shirt and slippers, and I became curious.

    “I asked him (suspect) where he got them from, but he could not give me satisfactory answers.

    “Other family members joined me and we kept pestering him over our mother, but he insisted he knew nothing.

    “Three days later, I invited the Police to question my brother. That worked immediately as he confessed to killing her,” he said.

    David said that the suspect later led family members and the police to the farm where they saw the already decomposing corpse of the woman. (NAN)

  • Mother, child exhibition to hold July 8

    The fourth edition of Mother and Child Exhibition will hold on July 8 and 9 at Havilah Event Centre at Oniru on Victoria Island in Lagos.

    In a statement, the organiser, Mr Segun Opebi, noted that the exhibition will showcase products and services for children between one year and 12 years.

    Opebi said the exhibition would ensure that expectant mothers, nursing mothers and children get quality products and training on how to live a healthy life.

    He said: “We want to ensure that participants get quality products and acquire the knowledge of best practices in the health sector. There will be medical experts on the ground to disseminate information through seminars, discussions and other interactive forums.

    “There will be several enlightening and fascinating activities, including health seminars, demonstrations, panel discussions, competitions, celebrity appearances, children’s play facilities and prizes for participants.”

  • Rahama Indimi: The pains of a mother

    Rahama Indimi: The pains of a mother

    If having and rearing children is a mother’s greatest joy, losing custody of them against her own wish would definitely amount to great sorrow. Rahama Indimi, estranged wife of Muhammed Babangida, is at the moment like the mother hen mourning the loss of her young, tender chicks.

    Many years ago when Rahama, daughter of billionaire businessman Muhammed Indimi, got married to Muhammed Babangida amid pomp and fanfare, her joy multiplied with the arrival their children. She felt a great sense of fulfilment, never expecting that a day would come when she would no longer be in possession of both her husband and her children.

    Now, one year after her marriage to the son of former head of state, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) crashed like badly-stacked cards and the bitter fight over the custody of their children, Rahama is still feeling the pain of separation from two of her four children who are with their father. For emotional reasons, she is holding on to the other two in spite of a court order Muhammed custody of the four kids.

    As the birthday of one of her daughters came and went a few days ago, Rahama was broken-hearted at not being able to be with her or physically wish her happy birthday. Muhammed was, however, not moved by her public lamentations as he has vowed not to allow her near the kids again. Rahama, on her part, has vowed to continue the fight.

  • Employee ‘kills’ Chinese boss for insulting his mother

    Employee ‘kills’ Chinese boss for insulting his mother

    An employee Amos Okechukwu has been arrested by the police for allegedly killing his Chinese boss, Alice Xu.

    Okechukwu, a casual worker at the victim’s firm, allegedly committed the offence around 8pm on Friday at Tayo Close, Akinola Cole Estate, Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja.

    It was gathered that the suspect sneaked into the deceased residence and suffocated her with a pillow for “ridiculing my mother.”

    Having suffocated the victim, Okechukwu was said to have ransacked her residence, carted away about N800,000 and $2,000 cash he found.

    He was said to have disguised as a mad person to avoid raising suspicions at the estate gate manned by policemen and private guards, but was identified by one of the guards who notified the police.

    It was gathered that the suspect was instantly arrested and the deceased’s residence contacted without response.

    The Nation gathered that guards were sent to the premises and it was discovered that the woman had died, promoting the transfer of the suspect to Man Centre Police Division.

    A source said the suspect claimed he wanted to teach the woman a lesson for the frequent verbal assaults he received from her.

    The source said: “He alleged that the woman had been very insulting and disrespectful and that he felt humiliated. He said the woman even insulted his mother.

    “He entered her apartment when she had slept and tied her up. He covered her mouth and nose. The woman died because she could not breathe properly. He said he only wanted to punish her and did not mean to kill her. N800,000 and $2,000 belonging to the woman were recovered from him.”

    According to a worker in the estate, the house has been shut since Friday.

    He said: “It was when I came to work the following day that I learnt about the incident. I was shocked. The woman was young and usually jogged around the estate. I think it was greediness that made him kill her.”

  • June 12 is ‘Mother of May 29’

    June 12 is ‘Mother of May 29’

    To All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the agitation triggered by the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election results is the precursor of the democracy being enjoyed today. The former Lagos governor believes the Fourth Republic would have been a mirage if pro-democracy forces had not resisted military rule. In a retrospective appraisal of the annulment 24 years ago, Asiwaju Tinubu describes June 12 as the mother of May 29.

    The blood of those who gave their yesterday and sacrificed even their lives for the democracy and freedom we enjoy today was not shed in vain. The truth is June 12 is the mother of May 29th. Without the uncompromising resistance to military rule engendered by the annulment of the June 12 election, there would most probably be no Fourth Republic today and we would still be groaning under the jackboots of military dictatorship.

    “The annulment was a bitter pill to swallow, especially for the millions of people who expended so much time, energy and material resources to help ensure victory for Chief MKO Abiola.

    “The late MKO selflessly committed so much of his substantial fortune towards ensuring his victory at the polls. In doing this, he was not motivated by personal, selfish or pecuniary considerations.

    “Abiola could have chosen to abandon the mandate in order to rebuild and resuscitate his disrupted business. But he opted for the path of the true ‘Omoluabi’.

    “He refused to sacrifice honour for an ephemeral mess of pottage. He was an embodiment of the eternal Yoruba adage, which says that death is better with honour than life without dignity.

    “Looking back, we can say, thank you Chief MKO Abiola for giving your all that we may bask in the glow of democracy today. The annulment was meant to halt the unstoppable and irresistible march to deeper democratic practice in Nigeria. That objective failed woefully.

    “The annulment was a challenge that precipitated a concerted response, which helped to promote the cause of democracy in Nigeria, contrary to the will of its anti-democratic perpetrators.

    That annulled free and fair election taught us, once again, to organise; it tutored us new tactics and strategies of confronting, undermining and ultimately overcoming seemingly impregnable forces and fortresses of dictatorship and oppression.

    “It revealed to us the imperative of forging relationships and diverse networks across ethnic, religious, regional and partisan divides if we were to move forward.

    “It is this invaluable experience we gathered in the struggle to enthrone democracy and retrieve our country from the iron grip of dictatorship that emboldens us today to warn those directly or indirectly threatening our democracy through another military intervention to perish the idea.

    “Just as happened in the past, those who stand on the path of truth and higher moral values will always triumph over those whose strength derives from the barrels of the gun.

    “Twenty-four years after its annulment, the spirit of June 12 lives on in the hearts and minds of millions of Nigerians. The lessons of that election still speak eloquently to us today despite the utter lack of vision and imagination in governance between 1999 and 2015 that has fuelled the revival of separatist agitations and deepened distrust among the component parts of Nigeria.

    “One enduring truth that June 12 demonstrated is that given inspirational, visionary and sincere leadership, Nigerians can rise above divisive primordial sentiments to demonstrate high patriotism and a belief in merit in their voting patterns.

    “Thus, Chief MKO Abiola won a pan-Nigerian mandate in that poll, garnering considerable votes across the various zones of the country and even beating his opponent in the latter’s Kano State home base.

    “Again, despite having a fellow Muslim, Alhaji Babagana Kingibe, as his running mate, the duo won handsomely even in wholly-Christian dominated parts of the country. All these show that it is really the elite most times that deliberately instigate the politics of distrust, fear, suspicion and divisiveness; they are the ones that all too often exploit our differences to destabilise the polity for their own selfish interests.

    “This year’s commemoration of the anniversary of June 12 coincides roughly with two years in office of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the federal level. Some critics, particularly of the opposition, are already writing off the government as a failure.

    “Well, that is their prerogative and in accordance with their rights in a democratic polity. But the vast majority of Nigerians are neither stupid nor lacking in political sophistication. They are aware of the immense mess inherited by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

    “Of course, the APC administration has not simply sat back, lamenting the crippled economy it inherited from the previous government of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, which earned unprecedentedly high oil revenues for the most part of its tenure with little or nothing to show for it.

    Two years into its term, any objective analyst will agree that the APC has already taken impressive strides to clear the Augean stables it inherited from the past administration. Concrete gains are being made in curtailing corruption, reviving and diversifying the economy and strengthening national security even though much harder work still lies ahead admittedly.

    “There is no doubt that once the APC-led Federal Government successfully contains these challenges, and we are gradually turning the corner with light discernible at the end of the tunnel, it can more urgently and firmly begin to address other planks of its manifesto especially the imperative of strengthening the country’s federal practice.

    “But even in our darkest moments, let the torch of democracy be our guide to the higher and nobler plains of good governance, strong institutions, reverence for the rule of law and a continually-improving and growing economy.

    “It is only through strengthening the institutions, practices and procedures of democracy that we, like the Americans, foremost exemplars of the democratic ideal, can ceaselessly strive moment by moment, day by day and year by year to continually aspire towards the more perfect union of our dreams.”

  • Mother of AK47-bearing Chibok schoolgirl: I won’t watch video

    Mother of AK47-bearing Chibok schoolgirl: I won’t watch video

    Madam Esther Yakubu, mother of Maida Yakubu, the Chibok schoolgirl shown carrying an AK 47 gun in a Boko Haram video released at the weekend said yesterday she would not watch the video.

    The video is one of the two made available by the sect at the weekend where Maida and three other girls said they would not return from the terrorists’ den.

    Speaking yesterday in a telephone conversation, Madam Yakubu said she had not seen the video and was not ready to watch it.

    “I have not seen the video and I don’t intend to see it. I cannot comment on what I have not seen,” she said.

    Also yesterday, Parents of the released 82 girls confirmed that they were being mobilised from Chibok and environs where they live to visit their children in Abuja.

    The father of one of the girls, Yama Pogu, said the parents had been meeting in Chibok, getting ready for the journey to Abuja.

    Pogu said although a date had not been fixed, all the parents had been mobilised.

    He said the parents had no idea if the Federal Government would  sponsor their trip to Abuja but were determined to see their daughters.

    “They have mobilised us and we have started making preparations but yet to set a date for our departure. We even had a meeting today, all the parents, including those outside Chibok.

    “We have all decided that we are going; we don’t know if they would be paying for our transportation or sending vehicles for us, but we as parents have decided to look for money so that whether they pay for our transportation or not, we can pay our way to Abuja to see our daughters.”

  • ‘Mother’ should not be used to describe bomb – Pope

    ‘Mother’ should not be used to describe bomb – Pope

    Pope Francis has criticized the naming of the U.S. military’s biggest non-nuclear explosive as “Mother of All Bombs”, saying the word “mother” should not be used in reference to any deadly weapon.

    The Pope said he was ashamed when he heard the name of the U.S. most destructive non- nuclear bomb, reports said.

    Pope Francis told an audience of students on Saturday that: “I was ashamed when I heard the name.

    “A mother gives life and this one gives death, and we call this device a mother. What is happening?”

    The U.S. Air Force dropped one of the bombs, officially designated as the GBU-43 Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) on suspected Islamic State fighters in eastern Afghanistan in April.

    The nickname was widely used in briefings and reporting on the attack.

    Pope Francis is set to meet President Donald Trump on May 24 in a potentially awkward encounter given their opposing positions on immigration, refugees and climate change. (NAN)

  • ‘How my mother inspired me to start my business’

    ‘How my mother inspired me to start my business’

    Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, PayPorte Technologies Limited, Eyo Bassey, is a man of many parts—techie, entrepreneur and venture capitalist.

    He is one of the most successful e-commerce entrepreneurs.   Whether it was his strong work ethic, never-give-up attitude or advice to just believe in him, Bassey is proud to say that the first support to start his business came from his mother.His mother, a civil servant, saved money to get him a computer, which he dismantled and coupled.

    Without her encouragement and belief in him, Bassey said he would not have been able to live his dream. Bassey started his first business venture at 21. Raised in the Federal Capital Territory, he was conferred with the best student award in the West African Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASCE).

    Bassey gained admission to the University of Ilorin where he studied Civil Engineering  and bagged a Masters in Applied Physics from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH).

    After establishing himself as a developer, he was given the contract by a state government to develop a  software for revenue collection. He introduced the e-receipt system to the government. But to execute the  contract, he needed money.

    To raise funds from the bank for the job, his mother allowed him to use their house. He has since proven himself as a risk taker, founding various companies and  established   online retail shopping platform – PayPorte.

    Launched in 2014, Payporte was the first to launch a 1k Store in the industry to support its customers through the economic downturn.

    He started  the business  with about $100,000. He founded PayPorte at the peak of the first dot-com boom. Few entrepreneurs dared to expand into several markets, while they were in their early stages. But  he  took that plunge headlong.  It is now a highly-valued business. The launch of  payPorte  can, in some ways, be explained as the distillation of many  experiences. Bassey is a successful tech entrepreneur  and  has built an enviable portfolio. He  has been ahead of others in encouraging firms to pivot—refine or change their business models.His investments include online marketplace , logistics provision and ordering app,  among others. At Payporte, he  has built an e-commerce firm that is capital-efficient than most other Nigerian  e-commerce brands.

    Despite the success of PayPorte, Bassey  maintained  that it is still morning for e-commerce in the country. He should know; he launched the company in Abuja  before  relocating to Lagos. He has seen it all—the dot-com boom and the challenge of foreign- funded ecommerce firms coming into the market. But he persevered. He is not afraid to change gears and has an uncanny ability to see beyond the short-term, and though pressure is high at the moment, his clarity of vision allows him to consider the more significant lasting effect of decisions.

    Bassey is hands-on as well,  as it  involves software development  and consulting for other organisations.  He has spent the last four years as the founder/CEO Rom-Flex Technologies, increasing and expanding the business in Nigeria, Africa and beyond.

    Most notable is the ‘Roll-Out Immigration e-Passport, setting up the largest e-library and e-learning hub in East Africa (MUBS Uganda)

    According to him, Nigeria is a large consumer market and its openness is very exciting—it allows players to come to in and push the boundaries of innovation.

    He believes that e-commerce is the future of retail and it will play a big role in Nigeria.

    According to him, the toughest thing about being an entrepreneur is to contend with the choices of what to sacrifice: “You surely can’t have your cake and eat it when you are bootstrapping a business, so making choices and being comfortable in your own skin about the decisions you make are essential.”

    Startup Grind Lagos’ Chapter Director, Uwem Uwemakpan, said the forum was held to highlight and proffer solutions to challenges the Lagos entrepreneur faces.

    Regional Programme Manager, Techpreneur Africa,Teleola Adegoke, urged young entrepreneurs to seek capacity building opportunities to enable them grow their businesses in the face of challenges.

  • International Mothers Day: Celebrating mothers

    International Mothers Day: Celebrating mothers

    “Who sat and watch my infant head, when sleeping on my cradle bed, and tears and sweet affection shed, my mother; When pains and sickness makes me cry, who gaze upon my heavy eyes, when pain is much that I should die, MY MOTHER.”

    This popular rhyme is one a lot of us can relate with, especially one that we sang with so much emotion for our mothers when we were yay high. It lays credence to the dedication, care, and even pains that a mother goes through all because of her child. A classic soul song by the legendary Asa goes like this, “nitori omo, o jiya nile oko…”; meaning “…because of her child, a mother suffers and stays in her husband’s house”.

    The dream of every girl is to transit conveniently from a single lady to being a mother with children. However, this enviable dream is one that comes with its own challenges and personal sacrifice. Without these responsibilities, the toga of “mother” becomes a mere nomenclature with no substance.

    Today we celebrate all the virtuous women in this teraqueous globe we call earth; women that would literally starve themselves just to feed their children, women that would garb themselves in cheap apparels just to ensure that their children are dressed in the best of clothing; women that would engage in businesses and petty trades to afford decent meals for their family. In fact, apart from being a mother, she assumes the role of chef, stylist, disciplinarian, doctor, fashion designer, teacher, etc., to her family.

    According to Bala an undergraduate of Kogi state university, “my mother is a perfect example of a virtuous woman. She is a great disciplinarian, who does not spoil the child by sparing the rod. She gives out a healthy blend of the carrot and stick. Since my father’s demise, she has been the breadwinner for I and my siblings.”

    Tijesunimi, a student of Computer Science, Yaba College of Technology, “My role model is my mom; I know that she is flawed with her personal foibles, however, I love her perfect imperfections. Being a single mother with so many burdens on her shoulders with little funds to get by each day, she somehow finds a way to ensure that education for me remains a priority. As a family, we have had our share of ups and downs, however, somehow with God and her dogged spirit, we scaled through,”

    Taking a cue from the inspiring story of Olajumoke “the bread seller” whose meteoric rise to fame and stardom became the buzzword on the street, we see the latent story of a mother hustling to make ends meet in order to cater for her child. In the process, she serendipitously met with good luck. At the time, she was not well-educated, howbeit, she made conscious efforts to see that her children get an education.

    As we come to the crux of this article, it is important that we stress the fact that the girl child should be treated with respect, kindness, and equity because the little girl of yesterday will someday become a wife and mother. Therefore, she should be protected and valued; even in times when she seeming go rusty, we should polish her until she gleams like new; she becomes special because we made her so.

    Finally, it is pertinent we realize that “behind every successful and peaceful home, community, and nation is a virtuous mother”.  With confidence I can proudly say that the loveliest master piece of God’s creation is the heart of a mother.

    God bless Nigeria!