The Nation Newspaper

Tag: mourns

  • Nollywood mourns as lawyer dies

    Barely a week after the burial of veteran actor, Justus Esiri, in Oria-Abraka, Delta State, the Nigerian entertainment industry, popularly called Nollywood, has lost another member.

    The death of frontline entertainment lawyer, Efere Ozako, filtered into town yesterday. It caused grief and disbelief among the industry’s top echelon and keen followers.

    Ozako, also a Delta State indigene like the late Esiri, died yesterday morning after reportedly complaining of a headache on Wednesday.

    His wife and close friends became apprehensive after he was refereed the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) from Havana Hospital, Surulere, Lagos, where he was initially rushed to. Even LUTH could not help his case as the lawyer died hours later at the hospital of a condition suspected to be cardiac arrest.

    He was 49.

    Notable filmmaker, Amaka Igwe, was stunned for word when she heard the news of Osako’s death on telephone. She wept.

    “I can’t say anything, I don’t know what to say,” Igwe said in a tone that betrayed her emotion.

    Kaine Agari, the late lawyer’s cousin and business partner, must have become distraught on hearing the sad news. Her telephone rang several times without an answer.

    The mood at the Surulere home of the deceased depicted how much he was loved. His neighbours cried inconsolably, like the entertainers, who thronged the house in droves.

    Early callers at the Ozako’s home were producer and comedy merchant, Opa Williams; actors Fred Amata, Charles Inojie, Kate Henshaw, Emeka Osai and movie director, Fidelis Duker.

    Ozako, a Multichoice Nigeria’s Legal Adviser and famous participant at various entertainment conferences, distinguished himself through frantic agitations for “the right of the entertainer to profitable works”. His doggedness as an intellectual property rights commentator changed the lukewarm attitude among Nigerian entertainers.

    The late lawyer was well known for his workshop series – Wetin Lawyers Dey Do Sef? He started the series in 2006 through Dtalkshop, an agency he co-ran with Agari. The forum was meant to awaken filmmakers and musicians to the possibilities of living and feeding well from their artistic endeavours. The late Ozako frowned at the activities of pirates and similar rights infringers.

    It was learnt that the late lawyer had been penciled down for honours in the next edition of Ojez Monthly Entertainment Forum, which will hold on the last Sunday of this month. The forum rewards celebrities who have been outstanding in their careers.

    Ozako’s pursuit of a commercially viable and respected entertainment industry was unequalled. He saw the commercial potential of the Nigerian film industry as a situation that is largely untapped.

    Through Dtalkshop, he engaged economic experts to educate stakeholders on how to harness the business and professional ends of Nollywood, which the United Nations Education and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has rated third in the world, mainly in terms of quantum.

  • Ajimobi mourns Adegbite, Obadare and Akinnola

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has described the deaths of Chief Samuel Adegbite, Chief Bayo Akinnola and Prophet Timothy Obadare as a shock to the nation.

    He said Nigeria needs the business acumen, philanthropy and spiritual abilities of the three men.

    In a statement by his media aide, Dr. Festus Adedayo, Ajimobi said the late Adegbite was “a banker and philanthropist of note, who was well-loved by his people”.

    He said: “We will sorely miss Chief Adegbite in Oyo State. He was an elder statesman, who was preoccupied with the progress of our state and the promotion of good governance. On a personal note, I have known Chief Adegbite for decades and he has contributed significantly to the good governance and development of our state.”

    Ajimobi said the late Akinnola was one of Nigeria’s foremost entrepreneurs.

    He said: “As the Lisa of Ondo Kingdom, Chief Akinnola was a man of culture, who recognised the pride of place that the people’s past should occupy. We have lost a generous man, who was a humanist to the core.”

    Ajimobi said the late Obadare was one of the earliest televangelists, and described his death as the exit of one of the greatest foot-soldiers of Christ.

    He said Obadare laid a spiritual foundation in the Southwest through his spiritual teachings, crusades and televangelism and would be missed by all.

    Ajimobi urged the families of the three men to celebrate their lives.

  • Mark mourns as TUC seeks declaration of state of emergency

    Mark mourns as TUC seeks declaration of state of emergency

    Senate President David Mark yesterday lamented the gruesome murder of the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chinwike Asadu in Enugu last weekend.

    Mark, in a message of condolence to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar, bemoaned Asadu’s assassination and said the late police chief served the nation meritoriously.

    He decried the renewed violence in some parts of the country and called on security operatives to rise up to the challenge.

    In the statement by his media aide Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, Mark said: “The continued loss of lives to violence crimes attracts the condemnation of all right thinking members of the society.

    “The assassination of Kwara State Commissioner of Police is to say the least regrettable and an affront.

    “We suddenly find ourselves in a society where life has become so cheap and almost meaningless. We must do all we can within the ambits of the law to halt these menace.

    “That is the only way we can guarantee that the late police commissioner did not die in vain.”

    He sympathised with the Nigerian Police and the immediate family of the deceased, praying God to give them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

    Also yesterday, the Rivers State Chapter of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) said the assassination called for the declaration of a state of emergency on security by President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Union Chairman Chika Onuegbu who spoke in Port Harcourt, described as unfortunate, the assassination of Asadu in Enugu, his home state, He also said it was very sad that the police boss’ orderly and driver were severely shot.

    He noted that the assassination of the police chief, at a time Boko Haram suicide bombers and other fundamentalists were killing innocent people and destroying valuable property, called for serious concern.

    Onuegbu said: “It will not be out of place for President Jonathan to declare a state of emergency on security in Nigeria. Imagine the assassination of a commissioner of police by hoodlums, who were bold enough to make away with his injured orderly’s rifle!

    “Innocent people are being wasted in Nigeria on a daily basis. Kidnappers, armed robbers, cultists, sea pirates, suicide bombers and other criminals have been let loose. Those at the helm of affairs should not appear helpless and clueless.

    “The protection of lives and property is the essence of governance. Criminals should not be allowed to continue to have a field day and make it to appear as if nobody is in charge. It is quite pathetic. Urgent action must be taken, to stop the dastardly acts forthwith.”

     

     

     

     

     

  • NFF mourns Okey Isima

    NFF mourns Okey Isima

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has expressed deep shock at news of the death of former international defender Okechukwu Isima, MON, which unfortunate incident occurred in the Federal Capital, Abuja on Monday.

    “The news of the departure of Okey Isima, MON at a time we are still celebrating the Super Eagles’ triumph at the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa hit us like a thunderbolt. He was a gentleman on and off the field.

    “We are deeply saddened by his death and we pray that the Almighty God will grant him eternal rest and grant those he has left behind, including the Nigeria football family, the fortitude to bear the loss,” said Emeka Inyama, Chairman of the NFF Media and Publicity Committee.

    Better known as Okey Isima, the renowned left back won the Africa Cup of Nations trophy with the Green Eagles in 1980 and also played for Nigeria at the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow as well as the 1982 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Libya.

    He played for a few more years with the Eagles after the Libya ’82 adventure, scoring a famous goal in the 1-0 defeat of Tunisia in a 1986 FIFA World Cup qualifying match in Lagos in 1985.

  • NFF mourns Ayo Ositelu

    NFF mourns Ayo Ositelu

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Thursday expressed deep grief at the death of seasoned sports analyst, writer and administrator, Deacon Ayo Ositelu.

    Ositelu, who needs no introduction as one of the finest sports journalists of his generation, with special attention to tennis, died in Lagos on Wednesday after a brief illness, three months to his 70th birthday.

    Chairman of the NFF Media and Publicity Committee, Emeka Inyama said: “The NFF is shocked to receive news of the passing of one of the best sports journalists and commentators that this country has ever produced, Deacon Ayo Ositelu. He was a marvel in his area and did his job with painstaking attention to details.

    “He worked very hard and was meticulous. We mourn him because he was a good man through and through. But we are consoled by the undisputed fact that he left his giant footprints in the sands of time, not only in tennis reporting, but in the entire sports arena,” Inyama concluded.

    Nicknamed ‘Arena,’ the late Deacon Ayo Ositelu worked with some leading national dailies, including The Punch (where he edited Sunday Punch) andThe Guardian – where he was a member of the editorial board. He left no one in doubt of his mastery of his vocation, with fascinating presentation of historical facts and matchless previews and reviews wrapped in excellent prose.

  • Chukwu, mourns Oduah

    Chukwu, mourns Oduah

    Former Nigerian manager, Christian Chukwu has expressed deep shock at the sudden death of former Green Eagles’ captain, Victor Oduah.

    Oduah, who was at one time captain of Insurance of Benin, died on Tuesday evening in Benin City. Chukwu said he never heard the late Oduah was sick let alone being dead.

    “It’s a terrible shock to me because I never knew he was at any time sick. I got the shocking news early this morning (Thursday) from a colleague in Port Harcourt. I’m really short of words, it’s a big blow to the football family,” said the former Nigerian defence ace to supersport.com.

    Chukwu described the former Nigeria defender as a perfect gentleman off and on the pitch.

    “I played with him briefly in 1973 at the point he was leaving the national team after the team won gold at that year’s All Africa Games in Lagos. He was an evangelist, gentleman, peaceful, unassuming and an amiable captain. May his soul rest in peace,” he submitted.

    Chukwu would want the nation to honour one of their best past heroes.

    “Nigeria should honour him, he captained and won laurels for the nation as well as Insurance of Benin. The federation should sit down and see how to honour their past hero,” he said.

  • Ibadan community mourns Adesina

    The Kasumu Estate Residents Association (KERA), Odo-Ona Elewe, Orita Challenge, Ward II, Oluyole Local Government in Ibadan, Oyo State, has commiserated with the family of the late political icon, former governor, National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) chieftain and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) leader in the state, Alhaji Lamidi Adesina.

    Members of the association said his death was a great loss not only to the ACN and Oyo indigenes, but also to Nigeria.

    Describing the late Adesina who ruled Oyo State from 1999 to 2003 as a political leader and lover of the masses, they said his death has left a vacuum in the progressives’ camp.

    In a statement signed by KERA’s Chairman Mr. Niyi Fagbemi Public Relations Officer Mr. Wale Afinjuomo and Secretary, Mr. Abdulraham Abdulazeez expressed their heartfelt condolence to the widow, Alhaja Saratu Adesina, Governor Abiola Ajimobi, Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade I, the Adesina family and Oyo State indigenes on.

    The community suggested that the Ajimobi administration should name The Polytechnic Ibadan after the late politician, being the first Ibadan indigene that ruled Oyo State for four years as a governor.

    “His was a straight forward and detribalised person. We will sorely miss him, but we seek solace in the fact that he impacted positively on humanity and Nigeria as a whole. May Allah grant him aljaana firdaus,” the association said.