Welcome to Olokunbola's Blog |
- Just like man, a fish can pose for the camera
- 47yrs Old Nike Oshinowo Welcomes Twins In The US
- Family of 6, 12 others die in boat mishap on River Niger
- Caught On Camera: How Policemen Killed An Innocent Man
- Photos: Bola Tinubu Returns To Nigeria
- READ Teju Babyface's Tribute To Late Chief Tunji Okusanya, MIC Boss
- Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez welcome baby boy!
- The Life Of Married Men Living As "Bachelors" In Abuja
- How we survived the plance crash, by Feyi Agagu
- Rita Dominic flies her personal assistant to the US on holiday
- Plane crash victim Akeem Akintunde's last Feacbook message
- Why Agagu's casket was intact after plane crash that killed 13
- I Wanted Deji To Take Over From Me But He's Gone ––Falae
- Fani-Kayode Drops Bombshell Over Agagu's Plane Crash
| Just like man, a fish can pose for the camera Posted: 06 Oct 2013 07:45 AM PDT  Just like human beings, a fish can pose for the camera Here a girl takes a photo of a fish through the transparent walls of a tunnel in a lake in Madra, 70 km southeast from Brno, South Moravia, Czech Republic on September 30, 2013. The tunnel is located at a depth of three meters, measuring eight meters in length from which one can observe sturgeon, carp, catfish, perch, tench, eell and trout. AFP PHOTO/ RADEK MICA  |
| 47yrs Old Nike Oshinowo Welcomes Twins In The US Posted: 06 Oct 2013 07:25 AM PDT   |
| Family of 6, 12 others die in boat mishap on River Niger Posted: 06 Oct 2013 07:22 AM PDT  Nigeria's Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) says 18 persons, including a family of six, died in a boat mishap which occurred on River Niger at Kokoli village, Agwarra Local Government Area of the state. Alhaji Mohammed Shaba, the Special Adviser to the Governor in charge of NSEMA, made this known to in a telephone interview in Minna on Saturday. Shaba said that the boat was conveying 80 traders and their children and to Kokoli village after the weekly Thursday market in Ulakami village when the accident occurred around 4 p.m. The boat reportedly broke into two parts at the middle of the river and the boat, with all the passengers and its driver, sank. "The most touching aspect of the tragic story was that a family lost six daughters in the accident. "We have so far recorded the deaths of 16 women and two men; we have recovered 15 bodies from the river and they have been given mass burial by the river bank,'' he said. Shaba said that efforts are underway to recover the three remaining bodies from the river with the help of local swimmers in the area," he said. He, however, said that the state government was planning to deal with the recurrence of such tragedies via the enforcement of the regulation on the use of life jackets by boat and ferry passengers. "The government will also ensure strict adherence to the rules and regulations governing water transportation,'' added. Mr Umar Ibrahim, one of the persons who survived the boat accident, told NAN that they were in the middle of the 10-km journey when the boat suddenly broke into two parts. Ibrahim said that he was able to rescue about 10 women and children, adding that his efforts had gone a long way to reduce the casualty figure. Malam Mohammed Garba, the Village Head of Kokoli, confirmed that the village lost 18 women and children, adding that they could not swim a long distance after the accident. He said that a total of 58 passengers had so far been rescued by local swimmers. Mr Richard Oguche, the Police Public Relations Officer in Niger, confirmed the accident, adding that the police had dispatched its Marine personnel to the area to assist in the recovery of the remaining passengers who drowned. NAN recalls that a similar incident happened in the same locality a week ago. (NAN)  |
| Caught On Camera: How Policemen Killed An Innocent Man Posted: 06 Oct 2013 07:19 AM PDT |
| Photos: Bola Tinubu Returns To Nigeria Posted: 06 Oct 2013 07:07 AM PDT |
| READ Teju Babyface's Tribute To Late Chief Tunji Okusanya, MIC Boss Posted: 06 Oct 2013 06:47 AM PDT  I walked into his office to invite him 2 Season2 of our show in 2010. We had never met but he hugged me. He told me how he loved our show and how I would go far up the ladder of Success. I discovered that he liked to laugh a lot. On the day of recording, he came to time and when we were done, he shared money around like a politician going to the polls. And so we would become 'friends'. More like Egbon (elder sibling) and aburo (younger sibling). When my father died 2years later and we reeled in pain and confusion, his boys were there in 30mins with MIC's best hearse. Without a mention of money, they took my dad to the best morgue around and immediately started making plans for the burial. In his office, he gave me my pick of the best coffins and asked me to bring any amount of money I wished. 'I could do it for free', he said, 'but I don't want you to bury your father in a coffin that costs you nothing'. On burial day, he personally carried my father's body all the way to our village, Ajaawa, in Oyo State. He spent the night. Next morning, he danced in front of the coffin to and from the church and personally laid my dad to rest. He also stayed for the party after, 'spraying' money on us all as we all danced to Shina Peters, trying to bury our sorrow. When I returned to thank him in his Lagos office, he was wearing a beautiful pair of slippers. Black and obviously costly. 'I like your slippers Uncle', I said. He immediately removed them and insisted I must take them there and then! I protested long but he wouldn't budge. If you see me wearing a pair of Italian leather slippers, they are the ones. He explained to me how life was just fleeting and how we should try our best to avoid unhealthy attachment(s) to anything. You see, having buried so many, rich and poor alike, he had a view to life dat was uncommon & probably wholesome in health. He also agreed to come on our show for the 2nd time setting a record as the only Special Guest to have had that honor. When it was time to get married, he danced behind me on the engagement day, wearing my colors and yes, sharing money again. Not minding age, he threw himself prostrate beside me and my friends as we 'begged' for my wife in the tradition of the land. He would call me up every now and again, always chuckling. 'Iyawo mi nko', he would ask? (how is my wife?) He was in the habit of saying to my family, 'I love you guys'. I am not sure I ever said d same to him even though I felt it. And so I woke this rainy day as even the skies mourned and shed tears thinking 'surely if good deeds meant anything...surely if good deeds mean anything, this was a man who did not deserve to go thus. Surely not in this manner!' But what do I know? I am just another traveller on this parched tract. Your work and Legacy live after you Uncle Tunji. I love and will miss you. In the words of the yoruba people, 'O ye Olorun bi ko ye Eniyan'. (God understands all mystery)  |
| Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez welcome baby boy! Posted: 06 Oct 2013 06:44 AM PDT   |
| The Life Of Married Men Living As "Bachelors" In Abuja Posted: 06 Oct 2013 06:37 AM PDT  It is a common sight to notice him in markets - a corporate gentleman haggling with the market woman pricing pepper, fish, okro, garri and vegetable oil. At other times, you see him in the high brow areas of major cities doing his shopping at the mall. If he is the high society type, he spends much of his time at the Club house. He lives a relatively quiet life at home – no chattering or running around of children. Except, perhaps, for the occasional female visitor, that is for those who want to keep body and soul together.The house environment has an uncomforting serenity. They learn to cope with mundane jobs; cooking, ironing washing and other domestic chores. Loneliness, depression and unshared responsibility are among their other problems. Although a few claim they enjoy cooking, many of the live-alone husbands say they don't find it funny going to the market. The above scenario typifies the changing times for the family set-up, especially for 'live-alone' husbands in Abuja. These 'forced bachelors' on daily basis, bear the burden of their new found life and the missing link of not having their wives and family members around, with unusual equanimity. Economic factor, especially employment, has largely been responsible for dispersal of many families, for example, a husband works in Abuja and the wife in Lagos, with dire consequences for family cohesion. With Nigeria's worsening economic problems, many of these 'forced bachelors' find it difficult to keep two families. The situation has created a huge financial burden on them running two homes. Engr. Olukoya, a civil servant, falls into the category of men living without their families. Having lived in Abuja for about 20 years now, he shuttles between Abuja and Ibadan. In 2009, I decided that I wanted to return to Ibadan. My teenage children, born in Lagos, refused to relocate to Abuja. Of course, they have their education to think about. My wife stayed with them and so I became a 'Married Bachelor'. So I had to do my shopping, cooking and cleaning. House-helps, not reliable, second wife, out of the question, being a Christian. The loneliness was reduced by my involvement in church activities. I do travel regularly to see my family members. However, I still miss the presence of my wife and children''. Mr. Kayode Adeyemi, 45, an engineer with a construction company was transferred from Benin to Abuja early this year. One of his problems is that he finds himself discussing what he cooks for supper and breakfast with male friends. Loneliness is also the problem highlighted by Mr. Adeyemi. He has had to struggle to make ends meet. ''Some men are actually using the opportunity of their job to run away from a woman that has never been there for them; if a woman has been good to the husband, no man will prefer to stay away and miss her wifely intimacy, love and affection. I won't trade the care of a loving wife for anything! But you know, this is about my job and the family must go on. I love my family and I am always in touch with my wife," One amazing phenomenon about this category of men living alone is that many are not contemplating taking a second wife. Even those in their early 50s who can still fool around avoid serious relationships, while those who contract temporary marriages soon abandon the venture. Check revealed that the decision against taking a second wife, for many, is generally financially based, given the rising cost of living in Abuja. According to 60-year-old Alhaji Musa Ibrahim, whose wife and children are in the US, "How do you expect me to start training a child at this age"? He said he draws inspiration from more elderly people who are in their 70s and in a similar situation. He, however, conceded that he feels the absence of his family most during festive seasons. Mr. Owen Okparakwu has been living in Lagos for the past 20yrs, but now relocated to Abuja. With his family still in Lagos, Owen finds it difficult to cope with his new environment. "Since my job separated me from my family, it hasn't been a pleasant experience at all. I had to get up early, prepare my breakfast before getting off to work. Then, when I'm back from work, I also prepare my dinner, which has been my daily routine. Weekends were not any better as I have to take care of other domestic issues. Sometimes you could fall ill and nobody is there to attend to you. This can be disheartening and dangerous. "Even though it wasn't an easy task being alone, I however, got used to the lifestyle as I had no choice. I am able to cope well because my neighbours are understanding and sometimes give me some assistance. All the same, I still miss my family." Prof. AdelaniOgunrinde, a former Vice-Chancellor, National University of Lesotho, while delivering the Second Commencement Lecture of Bowen University, Iwo on October 16, 2008, highlighted, almost in lamentation, this phenomenon of the dispersed family using his family as an example: He lives in Lesotho, the wife in Abuja and the children in North America. He died about two years later, with the family still dispersed. In many cases, families are being fractured where men went about life without their family. By Leadership's Osby Isibor |
| How we survived the plance crash, by Feyi Agagu Posted: 06 Oct 2013 06:35 AM PDT   "The young man said that once they got to the tarmac before boarding and once he sighted the plane, what struck him was the seemingly very old look of the plane. Feyi said he didn't like the looks of the plane. He also said but for the importance and significance of the trip, his inner sense didn't feel comfortable boarding the plane. "In fact, Feyi said he told another survivor, Femi Akinsanya, that the plane looked too old and he didn't feel like boarding. But Feyi said he was told not to get himself worked up needlessly since this was not going to be his first time aboard a plane neither would this be the first old-looking plane that he would board. That was how he said he boarded the plane". "Feyi recounted how he and Femi Akinsanya boarded the plane and moved straight to the back end to take up seats. Why Feyi chose the back seat", the source said, "was more a function of his state of mind about the state of the plane rather than a preference for taking a back seat. "When they sat down, Feyi told me that he and Femi simply prayed that they should just take off and land safely, oblivious of what lay ahead of them. "Feyi said once they took off, everything happened so fast. What he also told me was that both he and Femi noticed what looked like a crack not far from where they sat at the rear end of the plane "He said everything happened so fast that by the time the plane crashed on the ground, it was that crack that had been noticed earlier that transformed into a gapping exit point upon impact on the ground. "Feyi said the exit point created was where he and Femi escaped through". Another source further revealed that most of the survivors of the crash appeared to be those seated at the rear end of the plane. Though 23years old, the plane, according to Balami David, the President of the National Association of Pilots and Engineers, during a television interview, reportedly operated some days before the ill-fated flight.  |
| Rita Dominic flies her personal assistant to the US on holiday Posted: 06 Oct 2013 06:33 AM PDT   Rita told friends who queried the economic sense behind such gesture that it is her own way of rewarding the young girl who has been dedicated to her job. Kate said working for Rita Dominic is by far the best job she's ever heard.  |
| Plane crash victim Akeem Akintunde's last Feacbook message Posted: 06 Oct 2013 06:31 AM PDT    |
| Why Agagu's casket was intact after plane crash that killed 13 Posted: 06 Oct 2013 06:23 AM PDT  Meanwhile during his burial on Friday, his widow Funke Agagu insisted on seeing the body before he is buried. She was photographed praying for the body before he was lowered into his grave. See the photo after the cut *viewer discretion advised*   |
| I Wanted Deji To Take Over From Me But He's Gone ––Falae Posted: 06 Oct 2013 06:14 AM PDT  Falae spoke when the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, paid him a condolence visit in his Akure, Ondo State home. "I was looking forward to seeing Deji take over from me, because I have reached the peak of my being in politics. I will miss him so much."He, however, pointed out that he had submitted to the Almighty God and he could not question God over the death of his son. The House Speaker told his host that Deji was his friend and that he had sent useful text messages to him on how to move the country forward, four days before the unfortunate incident. He prayed God to grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss.  |
| Fani-Kayode Drops Bombshell Over Agagu's Plane Crash Posted: 06 Oct 2013 06:08 AM PDT  What made this all the more tragic was the fact that Ghana had never experienced a plane crash at Kotoka International Airport before this incident. It is a pity that it had to be a Nigerian plane, with a Nigerian crew and cargo that had to break that enviable record. Before the first crash took place last year and between the two major crashes there were numerous other smaller ones involving light aircraft, private jets, military planes and helicopters that were not publicised. All these unfortunate events occurred under the tenure of Princess Stella Oduah, who is the current Minister of Aviation. Under her watch, close to 200 souls have been killed in air crashes in the last two years alone.Over one year later on 3rd October 2013, which was last Thursday, there was yet another plane crash in Nigeria in which 13 people died. Worse still, the following day, 4th October 2013... A Saudi Arabian-bound Nigerian plane which was owned by Kabo Airline and which was carrying 400 passengers on board from Sokoto, almost crashed when both its tyres exploded mid-air and it had to crash land. Had that plane actually crashed we would have lost another 400 precious souls on that day. This does not surprise me given the nature of the individual that is involved. What does surprise me however is the fact that just one day after those that perished in the latest crash were killed, before the victims were buried, before the site of the crash was cleared, whilst the charred bodies and burnt parts of the victims still lay at the crash site and before any formal investigation into the causes of the crash have commenced, the ruling PDP, through their spokesman Chief Olisa Metuh, has told the world that they have "full confidence" in Stella Oduah and that "she should be allowed to continue her good work". Is there any greater evidence of the fact that the PDP is a sick party that is led by sick people than this? Such insensitivity is rarely seen anywhere in the world. Only in Nigeria can this happen. Not only am I surprised but I am also utterly disgusted. How many more people have to be killed in air crashes before our President realises that he needs a new Minister of Aviation? The truth is that there is more to aviation than beautifying airports. The first and most important consideration has to be the safety of the passengers and the airworthiness of the planes followed by a solemn and avowed commitment to ensure the discipline, professionalism and efficiency of the aviation parastatals. Most important of all when a plane crashes, whatever the reasons or causes, the Minister ought to assume full responsibility and even offer his or her resignation. Failing that he or she ought to be redeployed to another ministry or completely removed from the cabinet. This is because it is his or her primary responsibility to keep air travellers safe and alive. Sadly it does not appear that this is likely to happen anytime soon. As a matter of fact I am convinced that even if 1,000 people were killed in air crashes in the space of just 6 months under President Goodluck Jonathan he would still not redeploy or sack Stella Oduah because our President just "doesn't give a damn". Each time a plane crashes it saddens me deeply because to anyone that has ever worked there before aviation is like a family. Worse still those people that lost their lives were our people - they were our fellow Nigerians. It really does hurt. Suffice it to say that there were no air crashes under my watch and not one drop of blood was spilt from the air whilst I was Minister of Aviation, whether it be passenger plane, private jet, helicopter or light aircraft. I thank God for that because if it had happened I would not have been able to sleep at night. I am the only Minister of Aviation in Nigeria between 2002 to date that can lay claim to that. I put it down to hard work, prayer and the grace of God and nothing else. Unlike some others I was literally paranoid when it came to air safety and security because it was obvious to me that there was more to the whole thing than meets the eye. Permit me to go into a little detail. The year before I became Minister of Aviation there were 5 plane crashes and 453 people perished from our skies. The airlines that crashed were Bellview (2005), Sosolisso (2006), a Nigerian military plane carrying a large number of senior army officers (2006), ADC (2006) and a private light aircraft in Kano which had on board the adopted son of the PDP National Chairman Ahmadu Ali and a pilot (2006). At the time that all these crashes took place Professor Babalola Borisade was the Minister of Aviation. In November 2006 Borisade was redeployed to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism where I was Minister and I was sent to Aviation and by the grace of God from that point on my team and I, with the full backing and support of President Olusegun Obasanjo, put a stop to the crashes and we broke the cycle. We left office in May 2007 and almost immediately after that the standard dropped again and the cycle of terrible air crashes returned to our shores. They have not stopped since. As I pointed out in another essay which I wrote last year after the Dana crash, 90 per cent of the crashes that have taken place in Nigeria in the last 11 years have taken place at weekends. That in itself is strange but what is even stranger is the fact that there are two "ten year cycles" of major crashes that have been in operation in our country since 1992. I call them "sacrificial cycles". The details are as follows. There was a major crash in 1992 (C-130 military airplane in which 160 army officers were killed). Ten years later there was a second major crash in 2002 (EAS Airline in which 105 people were killed). Ten years later there was a third major crash in 2012 (Dana Airline in which 163 were killed). This represents the first "ten year cycle" of crashes and if it is not broken there will be another major crash in 2022 which will result in a large loss of life. The second "ten year cycle" began in 1996 when ADC crashed with the loss of over 160 lives. This was followed by another crash ten years later in 2006 which involved another plane from ADC and which again resulted in the loss of over 160 lives. If the cycle is not broken I have little doubt that there will be another major crash in Nigeria in 2016. These observations have nothing to do with superstition but they are based on painstaking research, facts and logic. There have many other big and small crashes within and between the dates of the two major "ten year cycles" but what seems amazing and strange to me is the recurrent and definitive pattern of the ten year cycles themselves. It is almost as if it is some kind of pagan or religious obligation or debt that is being paid to some hidden and dark forces. Some may dismiss all this as mere coincidence but the actual day and month that all those crashes took place on tells another story which I will not go into here. Whatever anyone else may believe or think I have no doubt whatsoever in my mind that there is a spiritual dimension to these matters and I have been saying so publicly since I was at Aviation. Other than sheer hard work, an insistence on full compliance with safety standards and the display of the most rigorous form of discipline from the top to the bottom, in order to break these patterns and cycles of crashes and protect our skies, much prayer and intercession is required. There are a number of other rather startling and strange patterns as well but I am not prepared to share those with the public in order not to create any panic. One thing that I know though is that God is in control and that, as the Bible says, "He reveals to redeem". There is absolutely no cause for any fear or alarm. I have written and spoken many times on this. I have pointed out the problems over and over again and suggested how it can be stopped. It may not stop though because there are some depraved people in our country that do not want it to stop, that benefit from it, that delight in it and that believe in it. This is the bitter truth. That, together with the fact that in Nigeria, not enough people care for or truly value human life. We only pretend to care. One last point. I find it nauseating and distasteful that some people would relish the fact that the corpse of Governor Agagu went through all that it did when he was being flown to Akure for his final burial rites and that they seemed almost joyful at the fact that the plane crashed resulting in the loss of all those innocent souls. This is a disgrace and I feel utterly outraged by it. The shameful refrain, which is all over the social media, is that Agagu somehow deserved to die a "second death" from the skies because "hundreds of people" had supposedly been killed in plane crashes under his watch as Minister of Aviation. This is false and malicious. Only God knows how each of us will come to our end and it is simply not true to say that the massive harvest of deaths that took place in the aviation industry whilst President Obasanjo was in power did so under Agagu's watch. He was appointed Minister of Aviation in 1999 and remained there until 2001 when he was redeployed to the Ministry of Power by President Obasanjo. I am aware of the fact that on January 5th 2000 there was a Skypower Express Airways crash at Abuja airport in which 17 people lost their lives. I am also aware of the fact that there was another crash of a Dornier airplane in the Niger Delta area on Oct. 26th 2000 in which 6 people were injured but no lives were lost. These crashes did indeed take place under Agagu's tenure as Minister of Aviation. However, other than the beginning of the two sacrificial cycles that began in 1992 and 1996 respectively, the string of consistent major crashes in Nigeria really began in 2002 when EAS Airline crashed in Kano killing over 105 people including the then Minister of Sports, Mr. Mark Aku. At the time of that crash Mrs. Kema Chikwe was Minister of Aviation and not Agagu. The most pronounced years of tragedy and carnage in aviation, which involved 6 major crashes and numerous smaller ones in a row, were really between 2002 and November 2006 when the carnage was finally brought to a halt. Sadly it began again almost immediately after we left office in May 2007 when small planes, light aircraft and helicopters started dropping from the sky. Then came the mysterious "disappearance" with a number of fatal casualties of Governor James Ibori's "Wings Aviation" plane from our skies in 2008 and things really went downhill from there. In the last 11 years, between 2002 and 2013 over 850 people have been killed in air crashes in Nigeria- 453 of them under Borisade and just under 200 of them under Stella Oduah. This is an atrocious record of air safety and I believe that I am right in saying that it is a peace-time world record. Whatever the case it is nothing to be proud of and it reflects badly on all of us, particularly those of us that were once Ministers of Aviation. I have done my research and I have the details of every single crash that has taken place in this country over the last eleven years whether it be a private plane, light aircraft, military aircraft, passenger plane or helicopter. As long as such a crash resulted in the loss of life I have the record of it and all the details. None of those crashes took place under the watch of Dr. Segun Agagu because he ceased to be Minister of Aviation in 2001. I implore those that are doing so to stop attributing the sad events that preceded his burial to some kind of divine retribution for what purportedly occurred when he was Minister of Aviation. Nothing can be more cruel than this and nothing could be further from the truth. Permit me to end this contribution with a few words to the families of those that were lost in the crash. It is always a painful thing when we lose someone dear and this is especially so when it happens in such a painful and violent manner. My heart goes out to each and every family that lost their loved ones in this latest crash. May the Lord comfort each and every one of them and may He heal their wounds with the balm of Gilead. My commiserations also goes to the people of Ondo state and particularly to my dear friend and brother Governor Olusegun Mimiko who is a man that I have tremendous respect for, a practising and commited christian and a man of immense integrity and spiritual fortitude. To my dear brothers that were lost in that terrible crash themselves, including Mr. Tunji Okunsanya and his son Tunji jnr. (whose MIC company buried both of my parents in 1995 and 2001 respectively), Mr. Deji Falae who was the Commissioner of Culture and Tourism for Ondo state and so many others, I say the following- may God have mercy upon you. May He forgive you of all your sins. May He cause His face to shine upon you. May He grant you peace eternal. May you abide with Him in eternity. May your souls be blessed forever. May the watchman and the boatman grant you safe passage into the higher realms. May the halls of Valhalla, where the brave shall live forever, be open unto to you. May you never be forgotten and may your names wax strong in our hearts and minds from generation to generation. May the memory of your beautiful smiles continue to give us strength and bring us hope. You were a real blessing to so many. Rest in peace. Until we meet again. By Chief Femi Fani-Kayode [Rumours of Sacrifice, Agagu and Stella Oduah]  |
| You are subscribed to email updates from Welcome to Olokunbola's Blog To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
No comments:
Post a Comment