A Nigerian newspaper and Online version of the Vanguard, a daily publication in Nigeria covering Niger delta, general national news, politics, business, energy, sports, entertainment, fashion,lifestyle human interest stories, etc
World-record signing Neymar marked his home debut for Paris Saint-Germain with a goal in their Ligue 1 match with Toulouse at the Parc des Princes on Sunday.
The Brazilian, who scored on his debut last week at Guingamp, tapped in to equalise for Unai Emery’s men on the half-hour mark after Max Gradel’s early opener for Toulouse, before Adrien Rabiot quickly completed the turnaround to make it 2-1.
PSG paid 222 million euros ($261m) to bring the 25-year-old to France from Barcelona earlier this month.
As Prof Nwosu insists on credible primary By Vincent Ujumadu Awka – RIVERS State governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, his counterparts, Ayo Fayose of Ekiti and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu were expected in Awka Sunday night for Monday's Ward Congress of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Wike will be the chairman of the exercise.
The three governors are part of the five member panel mandated by the national leadership of the party to lead the conduct of the party’s congress for the nomination of three delegates from each of the 326 wards in Anambra State
At the time of filling this report, all logistics had been put in place to enable them conduct a hitch free exercise in which Vanguard gathered, must have at least a woman as one of the three ward delegates.
Already, the atmosphere in the state has been charged as stakeholders had begun political horse trading to ensure that they were not left behind during the exercise.
At a popular hotel in Awka, many PDP big wigs were seen milling around and awaiting the arrival of the governors and other members of the panel last night.
It was gathered that members of the panel would immediately on arrival, go into a meeting with the Professor Alphonsus Nwosu –led state caretaker committee to work out modalities for a smooth exercise today.
Prof Nwosu, while interacting with reporters last night, promised a credible ward congress and governorship primary election in the state, adding that his team would ensure that no aspirant of the party high jacked the process.
According to him, many of the stakeholders had been clamouring to contribute candidates for the ward delegates' exercise, but the committee had insisted on not giving anybody any opportunity to influence the exercise.
"The era of PDP share the money is over, which is why we are not accepting any money from any stakeholder to ensure that we have credible people as delegates and officials of the party in Anambra State.
“We have been meeting stakeholders and members of the party in the state, and we have assured them that the process will be fair to all. We are in Anambra to ensure that we restore the political process in the state and we are surprised some of our people are still interested in bending the rules," Nwosu said..
By Vincent Ujumadu Awka – THE Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Sunday called on the United Nations to prevail on the Nigerian government to fix a date for the conduct of a referendum for Biafra without further delay.
Leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu with leadership of Ala Igbo Development Foundation in Owerri
The group, which spoke after holding a rally at Ekwulobia in Anambra State, also insisted that it would boycott the Anambra governorship election, thereby debunking an earlier statement that it had accepted that its members would participate in the November election.
A statement by IPOB media and publicity secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful said: "We are not in Ekwulobia rally today to play Nigerian politics. Rather, we are here to show the whole world how serious and determined we are towards the restoration of Biafra independence.
"There will be no election in the whole of Biafra land. There will be no , no surrender because we have taken it as a point of duty to restore Biafra without war and anybody or group calling for war is doing that to his or her own detriment.
"We are calling United Nations and other relevant human rights organizations across the globe to prevail on Nigerian government to give us date for referendum to ascertain whether the people of Biafra want to stay in Nigeria or not.
"IPOB under Nnamdi Kanu is a peaceful and ordained movement that is bent only to restore Biafra independence. We are not fighting for our personal gain and we are only interested in Biafra restoration or nothing. As stated earlier, IPOB will boycott election in Anambra State."
The Lagos State Government on Sunday ordered the immediate closure of an illegal plank market in Oko-Baba Extension by Wright Street in Yaba Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of the State.
The government, in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Hon. Muslim Folami, said the decision to shut down the market was based on the fact that it had become a security threat as well as a hide out for hoodlums who attack innocent citizens and commuters in the area.
He said the State Government, under Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, was passionately and irrevocably committed to the safety of lives and property of residents in the State and would not allow any potential security threat to thrive.
Therefore, Folami urged traders in the affected market to comply with the directive, just as he warned that those who flout the order would face the wrath of the law.
Besides, the Commissioner said the State Government would not hesitate to also close down any of such illegal market in any part of the State in the overall interest of the people.
By Chinedu Adonu ENUGU – THE leader of Biafra National Guard, BNG, General, Innocent Orji, has warned the Federal government to, as a matter of urgency, release all the Pro-Biafra agitators incarcerated in various prisons because freedom fighting is not a crime.
Orji, said that the time of carrying placards and receiving live bullet and being detained has passed in the fight for Biafra restoration.
Orji who made this call in his statement to pressmen, weekend in Enugu, threatened that if Nigeria fails to release IPOB members, that the day of reckoning for Nigeria is near.
He said that if self determination is a crime as Nigerian government termed it, that the former South Africa leader, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Junior, Mahatma Gandhi of India should not have been crown and celebrated.
“We are calling on the federal government of Nigeria as a matter of urgency to release all pro-Biafra agitators incarcerated in their prisons because freedom fighting is not a crime.
“If the likes of Maduka Mmadu, Chidiebere Onwudiwe, David Nwawuisi and different pro-Biafra groups’ members committed crimes; Nelson Mandela of South Africa is not supposed to be crowned and celebrated but scorned as a criminal and also Martin Luther King Junior, Mahatma Gandhi of India committed crime.
“Time has gone when we continue to carry placards and receive live bullets and bury our own of detain our own, if Nigeria fails to release them, the day of reckoning for Nigeria is near “, Gen, Orji warned.
Disclosing the responsibility of Biafra National Guard, BGN, Orji said that BGN is a Military wing of pro-Biafra group that has sworn to protect the rights and lives of Biafrans pending when Biafra is restored.
Orji who said that BGN can no longer fold hands and watch her people being molested, denied of legitimate right to live and self rule by Nigeria, promised to bring to an end of these mess by any means as active defence would be activated.
Gen, Orji also warned Nigeria government to desist from any plans to re-arrest IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu as such attempt would make BGN to come hard on Nigeria government.
Lamenting on the unjust massacre of thousands of “Biafrans” by Nigeria Military, urged them to fight terrorists like Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen and not people that are peacefully agitating for restoration.
He promised that BGN would map out her second strategy towards Biafra restoration as a result of continued massacre of defenceless people of “Biafra”.
“Thousands of our people have died unjustly, Nigeria military found strength in killing us but unable to tackle any armed outfit like Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen killing and raping our women.
“We are opposed to peaceful restoration of Biafra because Nigerian government doesn’t understand peaceful language. Because of the continued massacre of defenseless people of Biafra, Biafra National Guard, BGN will unveil her second agenda towards Biafra restoration”, the statement concluded.
———calls for rotational formula By: Chinenyeh Ozor
Protests have continued to trail the forth coming local government election in Enugu state over an alleged distortion of zoning principle in some local government areas in the state for the position of chairman of the council.
In Igbo-eze south local government area of the state, a forum under aegis of Igbo-eze south west forum staged a protest to the government house in Enugu with a call for the state government to remain respect to the rotational policy in the area which has been in existence and maintained for a long-time in the area.
The forum in an open petition handed to the governor Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi titled ''A passionate appeal from Igbo-eze south west forum'' and endorsed by its chairman Mr. Johnson Eze during the protest, applauded the giant strides of the governor on infractural developments across the three senatorial zones of the state.
Eze said that the membership of the forum was drawn from eight the wards of the local government council which includes Ibagwa-Aka, Itchi, Nkalagu-Obukpa, Unadu and Alor-Agu, appealing to the state government to respect the established zoning principle in the election of chairmanship position of the council to avoid unnecessary tension and instability in the area.
He noted that the government had prior to the announcement of the conduct of the local government election in the 17 local government areas in the state assured Igbo-Eze South West section of the area of producing the next elected council chairman, adding that the south west of the local government area became worried over rumours from party chieftains that the government had endorsed the incumbent transition caretaker committee chairmen to run for the Nov. 4 council poll in the state.
"This action will distort the zoning arrangement in the area and place Igbo-eze south west on the bench of the chairmanship position for eight years as Igbo-Eze south east have held the chairmanship position since 2012 to date'' he said.
Responding, the state governor Ugwuanyi assured that his administration would respect the zoning policy in areas it existed and urged them to consult the stakeholders in their area for the true position of the zoning principle in the area… However, the Special Adviser to the state governor on Political Matters, Mr Emeka Mmadu said that government is against imposition of candidates in the forth coming local government election in the state.
Mmadu disclosed this while briefing newsmen amidst growing tension amongst the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faithful and other interest groups in the state, adding that the state government would have no hand on imposition of any candidates against the wish of the people.
Vanguard reports that there have been pockets of protests from some local government areas over alleged attempt to endorse the incumbent caretaker committee chairmen as PDP candidates in the November local government polls in the state
The special adviser said that stakeholders of PDP in the various local government councils would rather meet to agree on the best candidate to present as the party flag bearer.
"It is the stakeholders that will determine who represents them. The government will not interfere," he said.
The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki on Sunday condoled with Mrs. Belinda Ogiefa at her residence in Benin City over the death of her mother, Deaconess Alice Orobor, who died at the age of 85 years.Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, Mrs. Belinda Ogiefa and the First Lady, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, during a condolence visit to Mrs. Ogiefa on the loss of her mother, Deaconess Alice Orobor in Benin City on Sunday, 20th August, 2017.
The governor who was accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Besty Obaseki, said the visit was to empathize with Mrs. Belinda Ogiefa, who is a strong member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state and played an active role during the 2016 governorship election.
"We are here to commiserate with her as she mourns her late mother. She was very close to her late mum and we know how painful it is when you lose a loved one.
"As members of the same political family we taught we should come around to give her support during this painful moment," the governor remarked.
Governor Obaseki signed the condolence register and prayed that God will give the family the fortitude to bear the loss.
In her response, Mrs. Ogiefa said her mother died on August 15 this year and appreciated the governor and his wife for coming to sympathize with the family.
The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Dgbonnaya Onu , says the ministry will continue to deploy suitable technologies for the promotion of Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the country.
A statement issued on Sunday in Abuja by Mr Abdul Aminu, Chief Press Secretary to the minister, quoted Onu as saying this at the African SME Expo held in Lagos.
According to him, the idea is to ensure economic diversification and sustainable economic growth in the country.
"Agencies of the Ministry such as the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI), Federal Institute for Industrial Research Oshodi (FIRO) have offered aids to SMEs.
" Also, Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) and Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) have established centres in different states to provide support to SMEs across the country.
"They have trained and empowered so many entrepreneurs through their various technologies and innovative skills programmes," he said.
According to him, the ministry is aligning with the government's economic diversification drive to ensure security and self- reliance.
He added that application of technology across sectors would create jobs, contribute to growth in Gross Domestic Product, Create new products and services, create SMEs, transform the workforce, improve living standards, and enhance international trade.
He said the ministry, with its agencies, would intensify effort in using the tool of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) to stimulate various sectors to strengthen the country's economy.
He added that some of the ministries' several products that were researched and developed were ready for commercialisation.
By: Kingsley Omonobi Abuja – Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello has said that the successful return of President Muhammadu Buhari from medical vacation has rekindled hope and strengthen faith among Nigerians that the country would be great again.
Governor Sani Bello, who had earlier visited the President while recuperating in London, noted that the uncommon, natural good-will and support he enjoys from most Nigerians would strengthen his resolve to return the country to the glorious past and take it to the next level.•Gov.Abubakar Sani Bello
In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Jibrin Ndace, the governor said, “President Buhari's return to the country will no doubt rekindle hope for a better Nigeria. Nigerians look up him as a father – figure who is committed to building a country of our dream.
"The spontaneous positive reaction of Nigerians was a clear indication of the love for, and faith in the President's capacity and political will to build a new Nigeria". According to him, the President’s return has indeed dealt a blow to mischief makers and death wishers who, rather than wish President Buhari well, wanted him dead or resign.
Governor Sani Bello regretted that the perpetrators of such false, malicious and ungodly speculations and those calling for his resignation either wanted to overheat the polity for their selfish end or are completely ignorant of the country’s constitutional provisions.
The Governor expressed gratitude to God Almighty for answering the collective prayers of all Nigerians by returning the President back home in good health.
The Governor used the opportunity to commend Vice President Yomi Osinbajo for successfully piloting the affairs of the country throughout the President’s absence.
"Vice President Yomi Osinbajo kept your hope alive as Acting President. And in Niger state, we remained on track through delivery of people-oriented policy and programmes in tune with APC manifesto and in line with the Restoration Agenda in Agriculture, health, education, peace and security, youth and women empowerment and infrastructural development".
While commending religious bodies and political organizations for their prayers, outpouring love and solidarity during the President’s medical trip to London, Governor Sani Bello urged all Nigerians to always be positive and pray for their leaders.
“Positive thoughts and prayers are a fundamental instrument necessary to overcome challenges facing the nation, I am particularly excited at the level of solidarity shown to the President by Nigerians”.
He prayed Allah to continue to grant Mr. President sound health, greater strength, wisdom and courage to continue with the good governance of this country.
…Asks NIWA To Respect Appeal Court Verdict On Inland Waterways
…Reiterates Call For Operators To Adhere To Safety Standards
The Lagos State Government on Sunday confirmed the death of 12 persons in the boat mishap which occurred at the weekend in Ilashe area of the State.
In a statement issued by the Managing Director of Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Engr Abisola Kamson, the State Government attributed the unfortunate mishap to overloading of passengers on a Banana Boat and operation of illegal jetty.
Kamson said four victims of the mishap who were rescued are already receiving treatment at a nearby hospital, while search and rescue operation was still on-going.
While commiserating with the families of those that lost their loved ones, the State Government said the mishap had again brought to the fore the need for the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to respect the recent verdict of the Court of Appeal which upheld the powers of the State Government to control its intra-inland waterways.
Going into details of the mishap, Kamson said: "An unfortunate incident occurred at Ilashe today Sunday August 20th arising from overloading of passengers on a Banana boat taking off from an illegal Jetty which has become a perennial issue of the Lagos State Government to rid our Waterfront areas of illegal operators.
"We sympathize with the families of the deceased as 12 lives were lost in the mishap and four people receiving treatment in the hospital.
"The LASWA rescue team has been on ground and search is still on-going. This brings to fore again the need for NIWA to allow the judgement of the Appeal Court granting Lagos Control of her waterways to take effect without hindrance.
"It is a matter for regret that ever since the judgement was pronounced, NIWA has ejected all State Water Guards monitoring standards from all Federal owned Jetties. In spite of this, the Government of Lagos State aligns to the safety of citizens on the waterways. All Lagosians are enjoined to wear standard life jackets at all times on our Waterways," Kamson said.
Besides, the LASWA boss urged boat operators and other stakeholders in the inland waterways sector to adhere strictly to safety standards at all times.
The High People's Court of Guangdong Province, China, has finally confirmed a death sentence with two years probation on a Nigerian, Mr. Ikechukwu Peter Obiekezie, who was reportedly found guilty of smuggling 1410.9 grams of cocaine into China.
Details reaching Vanguard disclosed thatObiekezie, with Nigerian standard Passport No. A50296207, was on 2nd October, 2016, arrested at the Baiyun International Airport in Guangzhou, China, upon arrival from Addis Ababa aboard Ethiopian Airlines Flight No. ET 606 on suspicion of smuggled drugs, which he swallowed and brought to China.
File: Cocaine wraps excreted by a suspect
He has, since October 3, 2016, joined the growing list of Nigerians who are detained and serving various jail terms in Guangdong Province, China, after he excreted a total of 1410.9 grams of cocaine at the Chinese Aviation hospital.
Having been in detention since then, Obiekezie was on August 18, 2017, issued a death sentence, following rejection of an appeal made at the Intermediate Peoples' court of Guangzhou on April 7, 2017, after he was declared guilty of smuggling the hard drug into China and was given suspended death sentence.
A follow up report from the Nigerian Consulate General in Guangzhou, China, disclosed that, the death sentence, in the case of Obiekezie, will not be carried out within the period of two years if the convict shows remorse, good behavior and if no new crime is intentionally committed during the two-year probationary period.
The Consulate also said that the death sentence will be reduced to life or 10 to 15 years imprisonment if the convict remains of good behaviour.
"Capital Punishment is a legal penalty in the People’s Republic of China. It is mostly enforced for murder and drug trafficking, and executions are carried out by lethal injection or shooting.
"There is widespread public support for capital punishment, especially as a penalty for violent crimes. The People’s Republic of China executes the highest number of people annually.
"It is worth noting that after a first trial conducted by an Intermediate People’s Court which concludes with a death sentence, a double appeals process must follow.
"The first appeal is conducted by a High People’s Court if the condemned appeals to it, and since 2007, another appeal is conducted automatically (even if the condemned does not make the appeal) by the Supreme People’s Court of the People’s Republic of China (SPC) in Beijing, to prevent the awkward circumstance in which the defendant is proven innocent after the death penalty, an obviously irrevocable punishment has been administered.
"Chinese courts often hand down the death sentence with two years probation. This unique sentence is used to emphasize the seriousness of the crime and the mercy of the court." It also stressed that cases of drug smuggling into the People's Republic of China is giving Nigeria a bad image in China, adding that, "Presently, there are more than 500 Nigerians serving jail terms for drug trafficking and over 200 languishing in jail for illegal residence in China.
"The Consular problems arising from this barrage of drug related activities of Nigerians have overwhelmed the staff of the Consulate-General of Nigeria in Guangzhou, China.
"On 31st July, 2017, a Nigerian with drugs in his system died aboard the Ethiopian airlines flight to Guangzhou".
In reaction, Nigeria Consul General to China, Ambassador Wale Oloko informed the need to equip the Mission regulating authorities.
He noted that the Nigerian Mission in Guangzhou, China, is the busiest among the four Nigerian Missions in China and should be quipped with necessary tools to address affectively and follow up cases affecting some Nigerian immigrants to China, while pointing out that the Mission should not be facing serious financial predicament, which also include non-payment of Foreign Service Allowances (FSA) and rent on the accommodation of the Home-Based Officers and salaries of locally recruited staff.
The Mission currently is said to be facing ejection notice from its present location after its inability to pay its rent.
And if it goes through, it would be the second time within a period of ten months to witness such embarrassment, having earlier been ejected from its previous location in November, 2016 for non-payment of accumulated rent to give way to the Consulate-General of an African country and now the owners of the property have taken the Mission to court to recover outstanding rent fees.
All is now set for the unveiling of the official hair style and dress code for the 10th edition of the African Arts and Craft Expo (AFAC) holding from August 27th to September 17th this year.
R-l: Otunba Segun Runsewe, dg national Council for Arts and Culture decorating Fatimah Sule, coordinator of Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria during a courtesy call to the Central Bank of Culture in Nigeria recently.
The Director-General of the council, Otunba Segun Runsewe made this declaration while receiving members of the Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria (FADAN) at the headquarters of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) in Abuja as preparations for the Expo hits top gear.
During the courtesy visit, the DG announced the endorsement of 'Abahi' hair style typically adorned by the Benue people of North-central Nigeria affirming that the beautifully styled hairdo will make a very strong cultural statement during AFAC and stimulate the creativity of Nigerians.
Addressing the delegation, the NCAC boss identified possible ways the association and its members can partner with the Council starting with AFAC to create thousands of jobs which will translate to massive improvement in both the local and national economy while empowering the youths to become entrepreneurs.
The Culture boss stressed that fashion remains a huge global industry capable of enhancing the socio-economic condition of the country in terms of employment generation while advising members of FADAN to work on their corporate brand identity and ensure greater cooperation sighting instances abroad where Designers form partnerships to create unique attires.
Otunba Runsewe promised to give the Association a Stand during AFAC challenging them to maximize the opportunity and create an outstanding AFAC designer outfit that will epitomize the cultural heritage of Nigeria.
Speaking earlier, the leader of the delegation and Coordinator of FADAN in Abuja, Fatima Sule said the group visited the Council to reaffirm their support for the DG and his management seizing the opportunity to appeal to Runsewe in assisting them secure accommodation at the Arts and Craft village to make their work easier.
She also advanced the need to relax the stringent conditions put in place by banks to ease access to soft loans by Fashion Designers while also advocating for a friendlier visa regime to enable members secure visas in order to participate in international exhibitions.
In a separate development, the Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria (FTAN) has bestowed ambassadorial status on the DG, NCAC.
One of the stanzas of the Nigerian National Anthem reads, the labours of our heroes past shall never be in vain, and it was in realisation of that popular message that eminent Nigerians, scholars and students or what could be described as the crème de la crème of the Yorubas gathered at the Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, UI, to once again celebrate a prolific Yoruba writer, Daniel Oluwafemi Fagunwa.
•Unveiling of the book
The occasion, put together by Fagunwa Study Group, FSG, in conjunction with Bookcraft, was a public presentation of a book titled, "Celebrating D.O. Fagunwa: Aspects of African and World Literary History", edited by Professors Adeleke Adeeko and Akin Adesokan.
Though it was a book presentation, the event turned into an intellectual discourse as many issues pertaining to development—aesthetic, cultural, social, political, and economic were discussed.
In their contributions, most of the speakers eulogised the sterling qualities of a man who made a career of creating fiction that examines the universal theme of human progress through the local motif of transition to modernity, and wrote in a language that was pronounced a vernacular by the principal agents of transition. They also commended the FSG for channeling a path to society's redemption and recovery.
In his welcome address, Ondo State Governor, Akeredeolu, said that there was a sense in which the significance of the event defined the challenge of nationhood, stressing, "It is quite so in the sense that a functionalist review of Fagunwa epistemology shows the ABC of nation building, particularly the individual responsibilities and collective mentality required of all the key institutions of a nation-state".
For Arakunrin Akeredolu, "Fagunwa's books are metaphors for the catalepsy suffered by our nation and the context of its possible remediation. The pastoral Fagunwa represents the originality, discretion and cultural conservatism of Ondo state people while the narrative artistry and metaphysical settings of his works are imageries conjured from the very heart of the physical expression of Fagunwa's Oke Igbo in our Ondo state," he added.
The Chair of the occasion, Professor Ropo Sekoni who stood in for Chief Ade Ojo, who started his speech with quotations from the book, from Femi Osofisan's paper, Kehinde Olupona's paper and from the Arts Council of England: lamented that the government is not doing enough to arrest alienation of citizens from arts and culture.
Sekoni who called on the government of South West to invest in culture, noted that there is nothing in the present system that prevents Yoruba governments from supporting the promotion of arts and culture and making sure that the students in primary schools learn Yoruba, and called for the resurrection of the infrastructure that existed during the government of Action Group to support excellence in the arts and improve access of citizens to creative products.
Also speaking, Tejumola Olaniyan who represented the Chair of Fagunwa Study Group, FSG, Professor Femi Taiwo, dsiclosed that the group is a collection of scholars and professionals with an abiding interest in the works of Fagunwa, stressing that Fagunwa and his works are the anchors of the organisation. Stating that the group aspires to offer a platform for the expansion of the study, creation and dissemination of knowledge about Yorùbá civilisation at the highest intellectual level.
On his part, Professor Adeleke Adeeko narrated the genesis of the day's programme which dates back, specifically to six years ago around two simultaneous discussions among scholars who all cut their reading teeth on the novels of Fágúnwà .
Dr. Ayo Adeduntan of the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, reviewed the book. While Prof. Soyinka, who presented the book to the public commended the FSG and described the book as "a marvelous testimony to the Yoruba pioneer and literary genius, D.O. Fagunwa."
In her remarks, Fagunwa's wife, Chief Elizabeth Fagunwa, who debunked some of the erroneous stories about Fagunwa, said, "Fagunwa was a human being, he was not a spirit. I married a man not a spirit. Against the notion that Fagunwa's body was not found, I want to tell you that his body was found and buried in Oke Igbo."
The event was spiced with cultural performance by members of Ondo State Cultural Troupe and reading of short excerpts from one of Fagunwa's novels by Iwalewa Olorunyomi, of the Department of Classics, University of Ibadan.
Among those in attendance were: Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, Ondo State Governor (represented by his Special Adviser, Research and Documentation, Kunle Adebayo); his immediate predecessor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko; Professor Wole Soyinka; Professor Femi Osofisan; Professor Taoheed Adedoja; Col. Rowland Omowa retd; Professor Dan Izevbaye; Professor Tunde Babawale ; , Kunle Ajibade; delegates from Adekunle Ajasin University, AAU, Akungba, led by its Vice Chancellor, Professor Igbekele Amos Ajibefun, Professor Tola Badejo; Professor Gbemisola Adeoti; Professor Dele Layiwola; Professor Arinpe Adejumo and many others.
For Professor Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, Wednesday's reading at the University of Lagos, UNILAG, was a great honour done to her by the institution which doubles as her Alma Mater and where she retired as a lecturer.
Akachi Adimora Ezeigbo
The monthly reading organised by the English Department of UNILAG has turned into an event lovers of literature look forward to and Prof. Ezeigbo's session didn't let them down as she treated guests to an outstanding performance of a dirge for late literary icon, Buchi Emecheta, which earned her a standing ovation.
The multiple award winning writer and author of so many books which cut across all the genres of literature including children's literature, opened her reading with her latest short story, "Mr. President's Change Agent" which is coming out in November.
"Mr. President's Change Agent", narrates the story of a woman who receives her share of injustice in the hands of an unscrupulous Nigerian police officer after she refuses to give a bribe. Being afraid that she may be shot by the desperate officer, and coupled with the fact that she is already late for her appointment, she parts with the only cash she has with her after she is delayed for over an hour.
"The story was written from my personal experience. I felt diminished as a human being and it was difficult for me to drive to work thereafter because I was very unhappy due to the way the policeman treated me. It was a helpless situation but as a writer, I decided to write about it to let authorities know what is happening and ensure there is change," Ezeigbo explained.
Also narrating other ugly encounters still involving the police, the Professor of English and activist stated that, "When you travel to the Eastern part of the country, you'll know that people in Lagos are enjoying. The police there are something else. I travelled from Ebonyi to Awka and was surprised to notice not less than 40 police checkpoints and at each stop, they collected money from the drivers. At a point, I warned the driver not to bribe them again else I'll make trouble but to my greatest surprise, the driver and passengers attacked me, warning that I should not let the police delay them."
The reading from 'Mr. President' gave way for poetry. She rendered two poems; both were tributes for renowned Ghanaian poet, Kofi Awonoor, who was killed 2 years ago in a bomb blast in Kenya, and one of the pioneer female African writers, Buchi Emecheta, who passed away early this year. The tribute for Awonoor was titled 'Flight of the Song Bird'.
Surprisingly, the tribute to Buchi Emecheta elicited argument from members of the audience who contended whether or not Emecheta being a woman, should be ranked among the literary ancestors. As expected, the house was divided.
"Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo: Life and Literature", being the celebrator's biography written by Exechi Onyerionwu, was also unveiled during the reading.
Prof. Ezeigbo's session came to a climax with her amazing performance of a dirge for Buchi Emecheta. Although the mood of the audience turned emotive due to the lyrics, the folk song which she performed in Igbo Language got everyone joining in the refrain.
Umuahia, Abia State- born Chidi Kwubiri is a German-based artist who studied fine arts (painting) at the Art Academy Dusseldorf with Prof. Michael Buthe and Prof. A.R. Penck (Master of Fine Arts [Meisterschüler]). He has had multiple solo exhibitions in Nigeria, USA, Germany, South Africa, France and the Netherlands. Over the years his works have been shown at the Casablanca Biennale, Morocco, the "Palm Beach Contemporary", Florida,USA, the UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, Goethe-Institut, Dusseldorf, Germany, OPERA Gallery, Paris and at the 50th Anniversary of the Nigerian Independence at the Nigerian Embassy and Deutsche Bank, Berlin, etc. In this encounter, Chidi talks about his works, inspiration and more. Excerpts:
•Chidi Kwubiri
By Prisca Sam-Duru
Why the choice of art as a career?
I started painting at the age of five or six. Born and raised in the village, I didn't have any role model or any knowledge about art. It was like an instinct. As a teenager, I even had to bear the punishment of my parents, who thought I was wasting my time and whose dream was for me to become a doctor or a lawyer. I just followed my dream against all odds. I can't say why I chose art as a career. I can only say that I felt very early that this ambition was inborn.
Professionally, at what point did you decide to become an artist?
I think it was in the eighties, when I was already quite successful as a young man, doing commissioned works and portraits for a lot of dignitaries in Nigeria. At some point I felt like this could not be all about being creative. That was the time I decided to travel abroad to seek a professional art education and to get new impulses about art and creativity.
Considering that many believe art appreciation isn't yet what it's supposed to be in Nigeria, why did you decide to come and base here in Nigeria?
I am not based in Nigeria as an artist but I am often busy together with other artists in Nigeria to engage in projects and my studio is in Germany, but I have strong ties here in Nigeria and often come back home to enjoy the village scenes and festivals – This is very important for me as an artist, because as the roots are the foundation by which a tree is able to stand and grow, so are my culture and tradition keeping me strong and enabling me to rejuvenate and create. And as the proverb goes… "The river that forgets its source will run dry". My culture and tradition remain my basic source of inspiration. In addition, Nigeria is also a very important art market for me as I have a very strong Circle of Collectors here and often come back home to engage and to contribute to the vibrant evolving art scene. Like I have always said "It is good to engage globally – but it is also very important to be active locally."
Your works display your ingenuity, dexterity…yet little is known about you, why?
I don't know how much is known about me – or how much is supposed to be known about me. But I feel like my works speak loud enough. Since years I have a strong circle of international collectors also in Nigeria without being based here.
Your inputs in Wanderlust are outstanding, why is 'Priceless' important in the exhibition?
It is all about the importance of education and at the same time its fragility – especially for young girls and women in Africa. The title of the exhibition is "Wanderlust" – The "lust" to wander. Education is one of the most reasons why we all "wandered".
What inspires you as an artist and what's your ideal work environment?
My culture, my people, my tradition – and sometimes global events that touch me inspire me. My ideal work environment is my quiet and spacious studio in a converted historic steel-mill close to Cologne, filled up with my Nigerian music and the smell of freshly self-cooked hot spicy egusi soup…
Do large paintings help your creativity in any way?
I am a space freak. When I entered my first real big studio more than 10 years ago, it was like liberation to be chanced to do real big formats without constraints. And from there my dripping technique became real intense. I do smaller formats once in a while, but I simply love the big formats and I feel like my motives come out better on a large canvas.
We've seen artists presenting new frontiers in styles and medium especially in painting, what does it say about Nigeria and art?
Art knows neither limits nor boundaries. So there are still so many paths uncharted. As you know, an artist is a naturally born adventurer – so also is "a Nigerian" in contrary to my own situation then as a child, I today see medical students, law, economics, banking and finance, engineering students etc, all abandoning their studies and switching to arts – What was unthinkable just few years ago. The creative wave has hit Nigeria and many are ready to ride along with – The world's next greatest artist is going to be a Nigerian.
Any reason you may consider coming back home to stay?
Not before power (NEPA) is reliably working 24/7…
African Art is evolving, how do you see it in the future?
Africa is the new frontier in contemporary art – and Nigeria is obviously one of the front runners. I am proud and happy to be part of this exciting development. The upcoming young artists of Nigeria will have a much smoother path to go than the present generation artist.
What are the challenges contemporary artists face while practicing in Nigeria, and the way forward?
I don't practice here but I often hear from fellow Nigerian artists, that power (NEPA) and other infrastructural problems are killing creativity. And yet in the midst of all these obstacles, the artists here are still able to create such great masterpieces that can compete with any other artworks elsewhere in the world. I am surprised and happy about the attention, awareness and appreciation that contemporary art gets in the high level society of Nigeria at the moment, but I still hope that this attention and awareness don't end at the top, but trickle down to the common man and further to the public schools.
Governorship candidate of the United Progressive Party (UPP) in the coming Anambra governorship election, Chief Osita Chidoka has vowed to get to the root of the issues that led to the stampede and unfortunate death of a party official at the accreditation venue of the UPP governorship primary congress in Awka on Saturday.
A mournful Chidoka described the death of Mr. Maduabuchi Uwakwe who was chairman of UPP Owerre Ezukala ward 1 as "very painful and completely unacceptable", insisting that it must not be "waved off by anybody under any guise whatsoever".
Chidoka who spoke on Sunday when he visited late Uwakwe's family in the company of top party functionaries, described the deceased as a peaceful, dedicated and hardworking young man who dutifully propagated the ideology of the UPP, adding that those who instigated the stampede that led to his death have a lot of questions to answer.
Chidoka visits late Maduabuchi Uwakwe’s family to condole them
"Our event was going on peacefully and smoothly. We were therefore shocked to hear that the venue of the accreditation was invaded by thugs; that the police was trying to contain the situation and that one of our members had collapsed in the resulting stampede.
"We immediately ordered that the member be rushed to the hospital while we rushed to the accreditation venue. It was later that we received the painful news that our brother had died. Since then, our party has been thrown into deep mourning.
Chidoka visits late Maduabuchi Uwakwe’s family to condole them
"Our brother was a very dutiful, peaceful and hard working young man, a very loyal party man who believed in and vigorously propagated the ideology of our great party. His death is very painful and completely unacceptable to me as an individual and to us as a party", he said.
Chidoka who commiserated with the late Uwakwe's family, stressed that his death would never be in vain. He thereafter led members of his entourage in praying to God to grant the family and the party the grace to bear the loss.
Speaking, the head of the family, Ichie Maurice Okpara thanked Chief Chidoka for his concern and solidarity with the family, adding that the family has committed those who brought in the thugs that led to Uwakwe's death to God's hands.
Okpara described late Uwakwe as an industrious person, who had been playing leading roles in projecting the UPP in the area and prayed that his death will not be in vain, but a catalyst for the actualization of the mission for which he joined the party.
He therefore charged Chidoka and all members of the UPP not to despair but continue in the same spirit with which late Uwakwe dedicated himself to the cause of the party.
The Catholic Archbishop of Jos, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, has appealed to priests and lay faithful of Ahiara Diocese to shelve their swords and accept Most Rev. Peter Okpalaeke as their consecrated Bishop.
Kaigama, who is also the President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), made the appeal in an interview with newsmen on Sunday in Jos.
Ahiara Catholic Diocese has remained without a Bishop, more than four years after the death of its pioneer, Bishop, Rt. Rev. Victor Chikwe.
Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama
Okpalaeke, who was appointed and consecrated in 2012 was rejected based on clannish differences, sources said.
In May, the Pope gave the Diocese a 30-day ultimatum to accept Okpalaeke and apologise over its unruly behaviour to him or face sanctions.
The ultimatum expired in June with compliance from some priests while others remain adamant.
According to kaigama, the church has not been pleasant with the lingering crisis rocking the Diocese in the past years.
"We are not happy that the church in Ahiara is outside the system for this long.
"We are particularly not happy that the name of Nigeria is ringing in different parts of the world as people who are disloyal to the authority of the Pope.
"But it is our fervent prayer that the people of Ahiara will see reason and come back to the church that is founded on the obedience to the authority of God.
"We sincerely pray and appeal to the priests and indeed the people, to put their grievances aside and accept Bishop Okpalaeke so that the work of God can continue," he appealed.
Kaigama also called on Christians to pray for God's intervention for the return of normalcy in the Diocese so that His gospel would be propagated well.
Wife of the Enugu State Governor, Mrs Monica Ugwuanyi, has advised women to register their births with the National Population Commission (NPC) to ensure accurate population data.
Ugwuanyi, who gave the advice on Sunday at the beginning of an Inter-Denominational August Meeting of Nkanu East Senatorial District, in Agbani near Enugu, said such data would be relevant in national planning.
She said that national planning and the allocation of resources were based on the population figures of a state, usually obtained from the commission
She said that every family would benefit from proper registration of births as the state government would receive from the Federal Government what should accrue to it for state and constituency development.
"Registration of birth is important; take your child from day 1 to 15 years for birth registration with the National Population Commission,'' she advised.
Ugwuanyi also urged every woman to learn a skill and to shun the habit of moving about looking for people to beg for money from.
She also urged women to help their husbands build a formidable family and to active participate in praying for their families and leaders at all levels of governance.
The wife of the governor underscored the need for women to register and obtain their voter card and national identity card, saying it was part of their civic responsibility.
"Time will come when anybody that does not have a national identity card or voter card will be disallowed from getting anything from government,'' she said.
The state's Commissioner for Gender Affairs, Princess Peace Nnaji, lauded the Gov. Ugwuanyi administration for ensuring that women in the state were not left behind.
She also advised married men in the state not to abandon their wives for single ladies.
Mrs Comfort Agbo, the Commander, National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), South East Chapter, expressed appreciation to the wife of the governor for her support in the fight against human trafficking in the state.
She said that human trafficking was on the increase due to massive unemployment.
In a message of goodwill, Mr Ikechukwu Ubagu, the Chairman, Nkanu East Local Government Area of the state, expressed appreciation to Gov. Ugwuanyi and his wife for their good works in the council.
He gave an assurance that the people of the local government would give the state government their support.
The Young Democratic Party (YDP) has expressed delight over the return of President Muhammadu Buhari to the country after medical vacation in London.
Mrs Khairat Animashaun-Ajiboye, the party's National Publicity Secretary, made the remark on Sunday in Abuja in a statement issued to newsmen.
She urged Buhari to swing into action to address different agitations across the country.
The statement read: "YDP is happy to see that our president is back in the country to continue the enormous task of nation building.
"President Buhari's state of health is critical to the resuscitation of the hope of the teaming Nigerian masses.
"We implore the President to urgently address key issues to forestall the impending crises that may emanate due to different agitations across the country.
"YDP believes in the collective responsibility of citizens and government to change the narratives and protect the future of this country.
"The integrity of our national sensibility must be resisted by all, from manipulators in whatever guise, who want to continue to impoverish our country amidst plenty and cause confusion for selfish purposes.
Nine people were killed when a passenger boat capsized in Nigeria’s commercial hub of Lagos on Sunday, the government said, blaming the accident on overcrowding.
Four passengers were also injured in the sinking in the waterfront community of Ilashe, while an unspecified number of others were yet to be rescued, it said.
“An unfortunate incident occurred at Ilashe today… arising from overloading of passengers on a banana boat taking off from an illegal jetty which has become a perennial issue of the Lagos state government to rid our waterfront areas of illegal operators,” the government said in a statement.
“We sympathise with the families of the deceased as nine lives were lost in the mishap and four people (are) receiving treatment in the hospital,” it added.
Although the number of passengers on the ill-fated boat could not be immediately determined, the government said a rescue operation was under way.
Boat accidents are common in Lagos as many communities and residents on islands in the city and other parts of the country travel to work, school and markets daily by boat, in some cases to avoid monster traffic jams.
Seven people were killed in January last year when a boat carrying 17 passengers in the city capsized.
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