The Nation Newspaper

Tag: My mum

  • My mum didn’t protect me from my dad

    Rather that take action, a girl has told the police that her mother made life unbearable for her after she recounted how her father was sexually abusing her.

    The 14-year-old girl said she ran away from home to avoid her mother’s constant humiliation.

    She spoke yesterday at the Gender Unit of the Lagos Police Command  in Ikeja GRA, where detectives handling the case of rape against her 58-year-old father, Johnson Okon, asked her to narrate what transpired.

    She said: “I never believed that my mother would not believe me. It was very painful that I told my mum what my father did to me when she was away. But instead of taking action, she warned me that I should not tell anyone. I ran away from home when I couldn’t stand the pains anymore.”

    Okon, who lives in Ikorodu, was paraded yesterday  by Police Commissioner Imohimi Edgal

    Edgal said it was painful that the girl’s ran to her father’s friend’s home for refuge when she could not find succour at home.

    “This case is being investigated. The victim has been referred to Mirabel Centre for medical examination,” he added.

    Edgal said the command was also investigating a 64-year-old carpenter, Habib Abdullahi for allegedly assaulting a six-year-old girl.

    He said the incident was reported by the victim’s mother, in Ikorodu.

    “During investigation, it was revealed that on December 3, at about 10am, the suspect took the minor to his room and inserted his fingers into her private parts.

    “However, her mother noticed that her daughter was unnecessarily irritated and withdrawn, so she began to ask her questions and she revealed to the mother what uncle Abdullahi had done to her. Investigation is on. The suspects will be arraigned soon,” said Edgal.

     

  • SUNDAY FALEYE: My mum nearly made me a tailor

    SUNDAY FALEYE: My mum nearly made me a tailor

    Teenager Sunday Faleye broke into the consciousness of Nigerian football followers  with his sterling performance  last season  in the NPFL with  Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan. The 19-year-old shares his humble beginning, amongst other things with LANRE AGIRI & MORAKINYO ABODUNRIN.

    Sunday Faleye, the velvet-skilful striker with the Super Eagles to the recently concluded African Nations Cup in Morocco, could have been a tailor today but for divine intervention.

    Until his talent was spotted by former Nigerian international, Faleye was at one stage in his life enlisted as an apprentice with a local fashion designer. But fate had so much in store fore for him.

    “One of the craziest things I have done over the years was running away from a fashion shop my mum enrolled me into because she felt I was playing football too much,” revealed Faleye amidst roaring laugher. “But I only went to the tailoring shop for just two weeks, I joined another team away from the neighbourhood and I lied to my parents I was still learning tailoring.”

    Yet, Faleye’s life was tailored to play football and little wonder, he was spotted by no other person than former Nigerian international striker, Jonathan Akpoborie, in the popularly Ajegunle suburb in Lagos.

    “ What attracted me to Faleye was instincts to pick out talents when I see one,“ stated the 49-year-old  Akpoborie who made headlines in his heyday  with several  Bundesliga sides including Hansa Rostock, VfB Stuttgart and VfL Wolfsburg.“ What makes him special was the development  from when I first saw him, the rapid progress. Plus he has worked very hard on the disciplinary part of football  so far, and he is willing to give more on the field.”

    Faleye plays football with smile and gives everything to the cause of his team both in club and national shirts.

    After he copped an injury in the CHAN quarter final against Angola, he was sadly missed in that ill-fated CHAN final match when the home-based Super Eagles lost 4-0 to the hosts, Morocco

    “Until his injury (in CHAN), I think he was playing well although the team in general was not the best,” Akpoborie offered with his razor-sharp analysis.

    “He just needs playing now and we will continue to watch his progress before taking the next step.

    “I would have loved him to play in the CAF Champions League this season, and then we see what brings for him and then take it from here,” added Akpoborie

    Faleye’s breakthrough from a neighbourhood footballer to Nigeria Professional Football League star has been swift and impressive and the lad admitted his palm kernel was cracked by a benevolent spirit.

    “I started my career as a teenager with Bright Future Football Academy but I never took football as a serious business but just playing it for the fun of it,” explained Faleye, an indigene of Ogbomosho in Oyo State. “But my school team coach told me that I can be great through football during an inter-classes football competition in my junior class in secondary school. After that discussion, I decided to focus on the game and started playing for my school team. I won principal cup and emerged as the highest goal scorer in Lagos State.

    “It is true I joined Shooting Stars from nowhere. I was at the training that day and somebody came to inform me about Shooting Stars Football conducting a trial in Ibadan and I quickly packed my bag and belongings to join the exercise the following morning.

    “When I got to the camp, I met a lot of good players, so I tried my best and the rest became a history today. Honestly, I thank God for his grace and I appreciate the management of Shooting Stars for believing in me.”

    Though the Oluyole Warriors were relegated from the top flight of the NPFL at the end of last season, they still have in their firmament Faleye who had an impressive 11 goals and several assists in only his first season. He offered: “Honestly, I’m one of the luckiest guys on the planet, I don’t even expect myself playing for Shooting Stars at this very tender age, but I thank God for his grace, and then I thank Coach Fatai Amoo for believing in me and give me chance to prove myself.

    “Coach Amoo is no doubt a good coach. He knows what to do and when to bring any player into any game. He used me as super sub-player that can change the game at point of need and I felt that’s one of the reasons he played me from bench when he was with Shooting Stars.

    “I thank God for the opportunity given to me by the Shooting Stars’ management and having the opportunity of  playing in the Nigeria Professional Football League is one of the greatest things that has happened to my football career, I knew this could happen this fast.

    “Another honour is being a player for one of the oldest teams in Nigeria with a wide fan base. It’s a thing of joy for me, I never knew I can be a Shooting Stars player at this early stage of my career.

    “The Shooting Stars fans are my big family and pillar of support; they are there for me in terms of prayer and moral support. Anytime I am about to lose focus they call me to order and bring me back to my right senses. I love them.”

    Meanwhile, Faleye, who went on trial in Denmark with top division side Nordsjaelland, has singled out Akpoborie as the major influence on his fledging career, adding that the former Nigerian international has done more than anybody to push him on course.

    Hear him: “Jonathan Akpoborie is my role model, he supported my career and gives me a good platform to proof myself. He took me to Cowbell Football Camp, bought me kits and to crown it all, he is the one that gives me money to travel down for Shooting Stars trial, which led to my big breakthrough.”

  • PETER SUSWAM: Wife shares similarities with my mum

    PETER SUSWAM: Wife shares similarities with my mum

    Former junior international Peter Terna Suswam has admitted it’s natural for men to see some similarities between their wives and mothers as he purred on his adorable sweetheart, writes MORAKINYO ABODUNRIN

    Until most recently, Peter Terna Suswam’s reference for love was no other person than his mother who has stood behind him like the rock of Gibraltar .

    “My mum is my favourite, she is my life and I’m very close to her,” stated Suswam in a file interview with our correspondent. “I will get married no doubt but whoever I marry would have to accommodate my adorable mother.”

    In another breath, Suswam has shared such endearment about his wife, adding that exchanging of marital vows with Natalia, a Polish, was his best moments in 2017.

    “A lot of people have their own definitions of love but as for me love has no colour,” Suswam hinted recently.  “When you love someone, you fall in love completely and you are both joyful about each other.”

    He offered more: “My wife has things in common with my mother because they are both strong women with so much love to share. One of my great moments in 2017 was October 15; the date when I exchanged vows with Natalia as mywife. We met through a friend and since then, the rest is history.”

    To demonstrate his love for Natalia, Suswam waited for the opportune time before making a formal proposal and where else can someone propose than the idyllic ambience of Lake Solina.

    For those not conversant with tourist destinations, Lake Solina according to an online encyclopaedia  was created in 1968 by the construction of the Solina Dam on the San River. It has an area of 22 square kilometres and contains 472,000,000 cubic metres of water, making it Poland’s largest artificial lake. It is the best known tourist attraction of the region, with waterside villages like Solina, Myczkowce and Polańczyk catering to water sports enthusiasts. The lake’s great depth, water clarity, and mountainous scenery make it a very popular destination for boaters. Because of these qualities the lake has been nicknamed the “Bieszczady Sea”.

    “My wife is from Poland and we went on holidays to Lake Solina,” stated Suswam who is currently attached to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) champions, Plateau United. “Lake Solina with its very cold water is really a cool place to chill during summer and that was where I proposed to my wife.

    “Why did I marry her?  She’s very loving and supportive; she’s unique and a person any man would wish for a wife and she’s the mother of my beautiful daughter. We were together for three years before marriage and our daughter is about one year and six months old. She was named Sayen Nadoo Suswam. Sayen is an English name and it means lovable and Nadoo means great gift in my Tiv dialect,” he said.

    Away from marital bliss, Suswam has an exciting soccer career too. He began his career with SEC Abuja and signed for Wikki Tourists in 2007.  With Wikki Tourists, he played his first professional games in the NPFL and was sold to Lobi Stars in 2009.

    He moved abroad in 2010 to team up with Vitoria Setubal and stayed with the Portuguese Primeira Liga side for three seasons. He later had stints with FK Kukesi in the Albanian Superliga,  as well as Stal Rzeszow in the Polish Professional League before returning home to join Plateau United.

    “I have gained much experience and my game has matured with varied experiences playing in Portugal, Poland and Albania,” he explained. “I have also grown up as a person

    “I had some best moments in those three countries. Playing in big games against FC Porto and Benfica was massive; these were games I used to watch on TV and it was absolutely great to find myself playing in such games. Yes, I played with Victoria Setubal where the late Rashid Yekini was well respected; he was a legend of the club.

    “In Albania, I had the experience of Europa leaguewith FK Kukesi and aside from the football, I met my wife in Poland and I now have a very lovely family. Things like these  are some of the best moments of my life and career.”

    “I’m presently with Plateau United; I just decided to come back home. They said when things aren’t going the way you  planned, you come back home. It was a bit challenging initially coming back home to play in the NPFL but now everything is moving smoothly.

    “I did not join Plateau United because they were the NPFL champions rather, they gave me an opportunity and I think it’s an ideal place for me. We have an agreement for two years and so we see what happen, I just have to put in the hard work

    “Of course, I have played in other local clubs before but Plateau United is a team with purpose and they are pushing us the players not just to be good but to better persons as well. It’s like a family  and this has shown in our readiness for the CAF Champions League.

    “The team won the league last year and we are one hundred percent ready to meet the expectations of many,” he posited.

    He’s still nostalgic about his days with the national teams when he helped the Super Eagles B team to win the 2010 WAFU Cup. He nearly gate-crashed into the squad for 2010 FIFA World Cup held in South Africa under Coach Lars Lagerbackwho handed him his first cap for the Super Eagles in the friendly  match against Saudi Arabia. Thereafter, he helped the Flying Eagles reach the quarter finals at the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia.

    “It’s true I had a great time at the youth level but my focus now is doing well with Plateau United, I’m not focusing on Super Eagles,” he stated.

    SHORT & SHARP WITH SUSWAM

    What are the things that give you joy?

    My family there is nothing like having a good family. In my family, we have four boys and three girls. I’m very close to my siblings and my mum because she has being there for us since the death of my dad.

    What makes you sad?

    Just sad that my dad is not alive. He died in 2005.

    What is your definition of fashion and what kind of dress do you like to wear?

    Just  to dress good and look smart. I love to wear jeans and T-shirt but sometimes I put on native.

    What would not be caught wearing?

    Babaringa (the flowing wide sleeved robe)

    Who are your best designs?

    I like Luis Vuitton, Zara and my very good friend is a designer and he owns Pivon’s Republic

    What encouragement did you get from your parents playing football?

    They wanted me to go to school; you know every parent back then would punish you for playing football.

    What would you have done if not playing football?

    Be an accountant.

    Who are those that inspired you as a footballer?

    My dad, he played football in his younger years. My dad was a very hardworking man. Though he was not rich, he made sure we had food to eat and cloth on our back so that makes him my hero. He is my idol because he taught us how to love and care for each other.

  • My mum lived a good life, says Abia gov

    My mum lived a good life, says Abia gov

    Abia Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has thanked God for the exemplary life lived by his late mother, Deaconess Bessie Ikpeazu.

    He urged Abians to emulate her sterling qualities.

    Speaking at a thanksgiving service organised by the Ikpeazu family for the successful burial of their late mother at the Seventh Day Adventist church, Umuobiakwa, Obingwa LGA, the governor described his late mother as a good person who touched many lives during her life time.

    He thanked the Seventh Day Adventist church and Umuobiakwa people for their understanding and support during the burial ceremony.

    Ikpeazu promised that their family will keep alive the legacies of their late mother.

    Preaching a sermon entitled ‘Ask and receive”,the President Aba East conference of the Seventh Day Adventist church, Pastor Joel Ubani assured Christians that God does not fail in his promises and admonished them to call on Him in times of distress.

    He reminded Christians that Christ is coming soon and advised them to seek everlasting life rather than ephemeral things.