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Ahead of the September 21, 2024 Local Government Council polls in Imo state, members of the ruling All Progressives Congress and the opposition parties are wary of the process leading to the election, Tony Icheku reports.
About two weeks to Imo State’s first local government council polls in five years, furrows have formed on the foreheads of the All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirants, and their eyes are red and bleary from sleeplessness and worry. They are no more certain that the process would be transparent, free and fair as they grapple with the contradictions in executing the letters of the party’s constitution concerning internal democracy.
In early June, 2024, Chairman of the Imo state Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC), Chief Charles Ejiogu announced Saturday, September 21, 2024 as the date for local government council polls in the 27 local government areas (LGAs) of Imo State. He assured critical stakeholders and all registered political parties in the State of ISIEC’s preparedness and readiness to offer all a level playing ground. “It will be free, transparent, and credible”, he said.
APC loyalists quickly embraced the exercise. They looked forward to a seamless and rancour-free process: The governor may have nothing at stake, they reasoned, that he is in his second and last term. Expectations were high that he would play the unbiased umpire and allow loyalists who have stood with him through thick and thin to finally have their day in the sun.
In a twinkle of an eye, over 800 councillorship hopefuls purchased nomination forms to jostle for 305 councillorship seats at N1 million each and 200 chairmanship hopefuls shelled out N3 million to jostle for 27 chairmanship seats.
The weeding out process would be through primary, the party and ISIEC assured them stressing that the principles of internal democracy would be duly observed, but after four postponements, the message finally sank in that it may not all be smooth sailing after all.
By the tail end of August, 2024, after several postponements of the primary, Governor Hope Uzodimma finally intervened and prescribed consensus as his preferred option for the selection of chairmanship and councillorship candidates. The governor while addressing all chairmanship and councillorship aspirants, state leaders and stakeholders at APC’s Secretariat in Owerri, the state capital explained that the party constitution allows for three methods of producing candidates for election, namely direct primaries, indirect primaries and consensus.
The Imo Governor also declared that party aspirants who failed to clinch the party ticket will be refunded their expenses, but on the condition that they exhibit good behavior during and after the process, stressing that the decision to opt for consensus candidates was taken to promote unity and cohesion in the party as well as stability of politics in the State. He reminded the party members that APC was one family in the State, urging them to make sacrifices for the victory of the party.
His words: “I will plead with the party to go into the contest with one spirit. Those who win, we will encourage them to work with those who didn’t win”.
According to him, the 27 chairmanship and the 305 ward councillorship candidates would emerge through consensus. He added that where the consensus option fails to select a candidate, the party will conduct a primary election, either direct or indirect. The decision became imperative following the high number of interested candidates in the polls, he said.
Uzodimma was economical with details of how the consensus candidates would emerge. And it is also pertinent to recall that earlier in the race, he recommended zoning of the positions as one of the factors in determining the flagbearers for the chairmanship slots.
Aspirants left the meeting holding their breath in suspense which turned to bewilderment few days later when Local Government chairpersons of the party were forbidden from holding meetings in their domain forthwith.
Uzodimma’s current posture and body language are at variance with his earlier stand that he is “not going to influence the Local Government Election, it will be transparent. We must go by the rules and ensure that credible people that will serve the people are elected.”
He advised those angling for positions as either chairman or councilor to go to their people and sell themselves since they will be accountable to the people at the end of the day.
Analysing the issue, a journalist and public affairs analyst, Henry Ekpe stated that Governor Uzodimma’s position on zoning and consensus option are opaque and ambiguous as “there are clear differences between zoning formula and consensus, including Direct or Indirect primaries.
“While zoning means the rules must be followed to balance the political equation in each given LGA based on their age long way of sharing political positions, but consensus means arriving on immediate acceptable solution based on what is on ground, not minding if it met balancing or not”
Again Ekpe maintained that the consensus option renders the delegates impotent while transferring powers to a clique or a powerful leader to produce the candidates. So, who ever, between a leader or group of leaders who manage to foist a chairman on a LGA become automatically a kingmaker or kingmaker(s).
“Under this consensus option, the Imo APC chairmanship and councillorship primaries have been left on the altar of the survival of the fittest, lacking in democratic norms, but the end justifying the means, with a looming implosion”, he submitted.
Ekpe argued that the true pictures would emerge if Uzodimma’s next political agenda is known – Will he be running for elective office after his governorship or simply interested in installing his successor? Either way, he would want only his trusted allies to hold power as Executive Chairperson or Councillor under the LG’s new financial autonomy dispensation where they would be very influential.
In its reaction to the development, a civil society organisation, the National Youth Alliance (NYA) Imo State chapter described the consensus option as a confrontational attack on the psyche of Imo people and a brutal attack on democracy and rule of law.
According to the NYA Imo coordinator, Comrade ChinonsoNonsokwa, the consensus option is “…totally unlawful, illegal, undemocratic, unacceptable, tyrannical, dictatorial and grossly dehumanising of all aspirants in that party who truly believed there would be primary election”.
Beyond the controversy over the emergence of APC candidates, the insecurity challenge has also reared its ugly face as ISIEC recently declared that the scheduled elections may not hold in three local government councils namely: Onuimo, Okigwe and Orsu LGAs due to insecurity l.
ISIEC Chairman, Ejiogu, while speaking during an interactive session with the various security outfits in the state, proffered that the major operational challenges facing the Commission in the discharge of its duties ahead of the upcoming elections is protection of staff and movement of election materials.
He noted that electoral officers cannot get easy access to some LGAs for routine verification of polling units and collation centres in line with operational guidelines.
Nevertheless, the ISIEC boss affirmed that the Saturday, September 21,2024 date for the LG Polls in other LGAs of the State remains sacrosanct in the absence of any circumstances beyond the Commission’s control.
The LG election is definitely an APC affair as the major opposition parties have distanced themselves from it.
Speaking with THISDAY, DrVinUdokwu, the Coordinator of the Rebuild Imo Movement, comprising former Governor EmekaIhedioha’s loyalists that pulled out from the PDP ruled out the participation of the movement in the LG elections which he described as being programmed to produce a predicted outcome.
Udokwu, a former Chief of Staff to former Governor AchikeUdenwa, maintained that it is an established tradition for LG election conducted in a particular state to be won by members of the ruling party in the State.
“The parties which field candidates in these elections fully understand the game and they only use the elections for sensitisation and mobilisation of members, at worst a very popular party may win one or two councillors, but definitely not the chairmanship”.
The Imo State chapter of the Labour Party (LP) has emphatically distanced itself from the election and described the Imo State LG Polls as coronation of selected persons to man the 27 Local Government Councils in the State and not an election.
Speaking exclusively to THISDAY in Owerri, the Imo LP State Chairman, MrCallistusIhejiagwa maintained that LP chose to boycott the LG elections as it refuses to lend itself to be used to endorse the shenanigan and coronation of cronies of Governor Uzodimma to man the LG Councils.
“Imo State LP have no confidence in the democratic credentials of Governor Hope Uzodimma and we do not see ISIEC as completely independent. Go and find out, the word on the streets is that Uzodimma and the Imo APC have already compiled a list of those who would be announced as winners in the so-called election. The LP refuses to be part of such coronation. The Party will not lend itself to endorse such shenanigans”, Ihejiagwa stressed.
The LP State Chairman described the electoral process as flawed from the beginning even as he argued that Uzodimma have an agenda for scheduling the LG elections so early in his second term, stressing that in his first four years the Imo governor refused to hold any LG elections.
Commenting on the forthcoming LG polls, the State Organising Secretary of the APC, Hon IkechukwuUmeh, refuted the allegations that the GovUzodinma has already endorsed certain candidates ahead the September 21 council polls, describing the allegations as false and misleading.
The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the governor on Electronic Media, Ambrose Nwaogwugwu stated: “We want to categorically state that this claim is false and misleading. Governor Uzodimma has not endorsed any aspirant for the elections, neither privately nor publicly.
“There is no list of endorsed aspirants existing anywhere, and the Governor has not made any statements to that effect and will not make”.
Across the State, the political environment is like lifeless ashes after a a big fire as the aspirants wind down on the hitherto hyperactive political activities as they wait directives from the APC leadership.
[ThisDay]
The Lagos State Police Command said the body of a 17-year-old boy, identified as Adeolu Olubade has been found buried in a shallow grave at an apartment on Jesus Assembly Omoguwa Street in the Ejigbo area of Lagos.
The deceased boy’s family had alleged that a suspect was responsible for the death of the teenage boy while the unnamed 30-year-old suspect has been arrested for questioning.
Spokesperson of the Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, a Superintendent of Police disclosed this to newsmen on Thursday.
“On September 3, 2024, at about 8:00 am, a family member of the deceased approached and reported at the station that his 17-year-old cousin was discovered dead and buried in one of the rooms at Jesus Assembly Omoguwa Street, Ejigbo.
“They suspected the crime was carried by a 30-year-old suspect of the same address between 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm.
“Based on this report, a team of detectives was dispatched to the crime scene and took photographs of the shallow grave before the corpse was exhumed
Mohbad’s Widow Wunmi Pens Heartfelt Tribute On First Anniversary Of His Death
“The body has been taken to the Isolo General Hospital for post-mortem examination and the suspect mentioned has been apprehended, and the shovel suspected to have been used to bury the victim has been recovered, taken to the station, and registered as an exhibit,” Hundeyin said.
The police image-maker added that the case file, the suspect, and the exhibits are transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Yaba for further investigation.
Dele Agbeyo, Nigerian gospel singer popularly known as Dele Gold, has passed away.
His death was confirmed by fellow gospel artist Alayo Melody, who took to social media on Wednesday to share the tragic news.
In an Instagram post, Melody expressed shock and sadness, writing: “Dele Gold died kee?? Ahhh This is getting too much ooo!!!! May God help us stop this untimely death. Dele Agbeyo, May your soul rest well.”
Wonder Doyin Kujore, another gospel singer, also expressed his grief on Instagram.
“Nothing in this world… let us live today and leave tomorrow for God. It saddens my heart to post about those who die prematurely, but I have to pay my last respects. Rest in peace Dele Agbotikuyo, Dele Gold,” he wrote.
In 2019, Dele Gold made headlines when he collaborated with Juju music legend Ebenezer Obey on one of his albums, solidifying his place in the Nigerian gospel music scene.
He recently celebrated his birthday in April, where he reflected on what he described as “rare blessings and favour.”
His death follows that of another gospel singer, Aduke Ajayi, better known as Aduke Gold, who died from cervical cancer in August. Ajayi was laid to rest in Lagos on August 23.
Dele Gold’s passing marks a somber moment for the Nigerian gospel community, which has now lost two of its voices in quick succession.
A 30-year-old motorcyclist, Michael Olorunfemi, has been arrested for allegedly raping his wife’s 17-year-old sister inside the bush, in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
The suspect, a father of four, was said to have raped the victim sometime in August 2024, at 10 p.m., in the Onigaari area of Irese Road, Akure.
Police source told Vanguard that the suspect had confessed to the crime.
A source said that the suspect confesses that “The victim approached me to take her to her boyfriend’s house, and on our way, I stopped near a bush and raped her.
“I promised to give her money, which I did not. She then reported me to her mother, which led to my arrest.”
Contacted, the police image maker, Funmi Odunlami said that the suspect had been charged to court.
Odunlami said the suspect has been remanded at Olokuta prison by the court, over the alleged rape.
The police prosecutor, Inspector Taiwo Oniyere, said the defendant committed the offence sometime in August 2024, at 10p.m., in the Onigaari area of Irese Road, Akure.
Oniyere added that the defendant unlawfully had carnal knowledge of the 17-year-old girl (name withheld).
The offence, according to the charge, contravened Sections 357 and 358 of the Criminal Code Law of Ondo State, 2006.
Police prosecutor, Oniyere, urged the court to remand the defendant in prison custody pending advice from the office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, DPP.
The trial Chief Magistrate, Kolawole Aro, has, therefore, ordered that the defendant be remanded in Olokuta prison and that the case file be transferred to the DPP for advice.
Magistrate Aro has adjourned the case till October 31, 2024, for review
Sweden’s government said, on Thursday, it would drastically increase grants for immigrants who choose to leave the country.
As of 2026, immigrants who voluntarily return to their home countries would be eligible to receive up to 350,000 Swedish kronor ($34,000).
This is up from the current 10,000 kronor.
The amount, $34,000, is N55,930,000, using the recent exchange rate of N1,645/$.
The move is to encourage more migrants to make the choice.
The right-wing government, which is propped up by the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats, made these known in a statement.
Wunmi, the widow of late Nigerian singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, has shared an emotional tribute on social media to mark the one-year anniversary of his death.
In her heartfelt message on Instagram, Wunmi expressed how deeply she and their son, Liam, have missed Mohbad since his passing.
She reflected on the plans they had together and prayed for his soul to find peace, asking God to forgive his shortcomings.
In the lengthy tribute, she wrote: “llerioluwa mi, Husband of my youth, my best friend! It’s been a year today-a year since you left me and our Liam in this cold world. It’s been so hard. I miss you so much. Liam misses you too. I wish you were here to see him; you would have been an incredible father.
“I still don’t know how I’ve survived without you. God, I wish you were here every single day-every millisecond of the day. Your passing brought me unbearable pain, but it has also shaped me. I’ve learned so much, and I’m still learning. I’ll never be okay with you not being here; it messes with my head.
“I keep thinking it’s a nightmare I’ll wake up from, but 366 days have passed, and I haven’t. Oko mi, we had so many plans together, and you had so much more to give to this world. It hurts deeply to know that all our dreams, everything you worked so hard for, are now gone with you.
“I want you to know that Liam and I are holding on to the strength and love you gave us. Every day, I see pieces of you in him-your kindness, your smile, your spirit. I promise to raise him with the same love and care you would have given him, keeping your memory alive in every step of his life.
“But today, I choose to celebrate you. Today, I choose to honor your legacy. Today, I choose to give all glory to God for blessing me with you, llerioluwa. Today, I choose to be grateful for the gift of Liam-the beauty for our ashes.
“My love, I pray for your soul today. I ask that God forgives you of all your shortcomings and welcomes you to rest at His right hand. I hope it’s always a celebration up there for you. I love you so much. Thank you for Liam-I’m forever grateful for the gift of him! Fly high with the angels, love of my life.”
Her emotional message touched many fans and followers, who offered their support in the comments, as they remembered Mohbad on this solemn occasion.
The All Progressive Congress (APC) has blamed Nigerians for the removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Tinubu.
Speaking on the removal of fuel subsidy, the National Publicity Secretary of APC, Felix Morka, said what President Tinubu did was to implement what the law stipulated.
He argued that the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) passed into law by the National Assembly canceled payment of subsidy.
He explained that Nigerians failed to speak to their representatives in the National Assembly against passing the PIA.
Speaking with Arise TV, on Wednesday, Morka stated that what President Tinubu did was to permit the law.
“What has happened is not a function of politics or a proclamation by the president. It is a function of law the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) eliminated the system of subsidy as we knew it under the former administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. Now as of the signing into law of the PIB, petroleum subsidy was gone. Meaning that Nigeria, this new government succeeded President Buhari could not pay subsidies because the law didn’t permit it.
“So what President Bola Tinubu did on the day of his inauguration was simply communicate what the law had declared.
“And I think this point is critical to make that we should be mindful that what the President did on the first day of his inauguration was to declare the state of the law.”
Morka explained that subsidy was also unsustainable. He noted that the problem was that Nigerians have become dependent on fuel subsidy against international practice, but refused to call their National Assembly representatives to order.
The APC spokesman noted that NNPC did not completely remove fuel subsidy to avoid a complete shutting down of the economy.
“He didn’t do anything of his own free will. It had been legislated by the National Assembly and signed into law by the previous president. Anyone who read the national budget. including some of the supplementaries there’s no provision for subsidies at all.
“NNPC, being now a quasi public-private entity continued in some way shape or form to some degree to manage that recognizing that a wholesale complete total removal of subsidy would in fact further exacerbate existing economic conditions for the time being.
“The point I’m making is that that subsidy regime had become completely unsustainable. You cannot have a country where all of the earnings, the gross earnings of a country, was expended subsidizing one single product for the people.
“I understand that historically we’ve created the dependency on subsidy, so our people are used to buying fuel at almost nothing compared to what others are buying elsewher.
“However, now that it’s become obvious that we cannot sustain that system. That system had to go and it was removed by law. Nigerians have representatives in that National Assembly. They could have told their representatives object to the removal of subsidy when that discussion was taking place. There were public hearings done,” Morka explained further.
One year after the mysterious death of rapper Ilerioluwa Aloba, better known as MohBad, head of the Aloba family’s legal team, Taiwo Odumosu, has shared the difficulties in securing pathologists for the case.
Odumosu revealed in an interview with The Punch that the investigation is proceeding through various channels, including a second autopsy and toxicology test, as directed by the court.
According to Odumosu, forensic experts have sent the specimen abroad for analysis, opting for a European lab rather than the USA due to the controversies surrounding the initial autopsy.
The court is also expected to rule on objections raised by Wunmi regarding the DNA test on October 18.
“Presently, we are approaching the issue from different angles. The second autopsy and toxicology test is being conducted as directed by the court. We hope this will shed more light on the circumstances leading to the death of MohBad. Presently, the specimen has been taken abroad by forensic experts for the toxicology examination.
“Given the controversy generated by the first autopsy, the forensic experts in their professional estimation believed the laboratory in Europe would be better. So they avoided the USA altogether. The DNA test too. Wunmi brought preliminary objection on some flimsy grounds. We have argued the objections and the ruling is reserved by the court for October 18,” Odumosu revealed.
Securing pathologists has proven challenging as Odumosu disclosed that attempts to engage four different experts from locations such as Kaduna and Maiduguri were unsuccessful, as they declined due to the influence of powerful figures involved in the case.
Odumosu said, “Getting pathologists to attend to the matter was a bit tough. We got in touch with four pathologists: one from Kaduna, another from Maiduguri and one other place but they said powerful individuals were interested in the matter and declined to take it on.
“We also consulted those in America. However, because of the controversy trailing the first autopsy, we decided to boycott America altogether. For those who agreed to help us now, we thank them. The way to justice is always strewn with thorns. But we have the firm belief we shall get there.”
Odumosu noted that the decision to enlist a forensic pathologist from the northern region was driven by concerns over potential compromises in the process.
“We don’t want anybody to compromise the process. We suspected that the delay of transferring the previous specimen to America took a long time. We also suspected government intervention and institutional laxity on the part of the police, so we decided to look elsewhere to do what we wanted. But we eventually got somebody,” he added.
Speaking on the key challenges the legal team has faced in seeking justice for Mohbad’s family, Odumosu said, “The biggest challenge we have had so far is from the Nigerian Police. Apart from the shoddy investigation that is clear even to the novice, they have refused to cooperate with us on certain levels.
“It is an open secret that the court granted the Aloba family an order to conduct another autopsy and toxicology test after the government-assisted toxicology test led to inconclusiveness. We sent a letter to the police informing them of the order of the court and the need for them to release documents and exhibits to the forensic experts.
“They didn’t acknowledge nor release the documents to the forensic pathologists. We sent a reminder to them and still, they ignored it. This sort of attitude does not commend the police to the populace.”
A Nigerian working as a nurse in the United Kingdom, Ruth Auta, has been sentenced to three years in prison for neglecting her 10-week-old baby, Joshua Akerele, who died while she was at work.
The 28-year-old single mother had reportedly left Joshua alone in her nurse’s accommodation for eight hours on December 20, 2022, to complete her shift, according to a Daily Mail report.
On returning, she discovered her son lifeless in his cot and immediately called 999, reporting that he was not breathing.
The infant died an hour after the ambulance arrived despite resuscitation efforts. Tests revealed that he might have overheated due to excessive layers of clothing and bedding.
The report further claimed that Auta, who worked at the Royal Bolton Hospital, was charged with cruelty to a child.
She pleaded guilty at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on May 24, 2024, while her sentencing was delayed by a month.
On June 6, while attempting to board a flight to Nigeria, she was apprehended at Gatwick Airport with a one-way ticket.
She had told the police she had collected Joshua from a childminder, fed him, and then fell asleep with him on her bed. She claimed she found him unresponsive upon waking.
However, CCTV footage and incriminating text messages contradicted her story.
The footage showed Auta leaving and returning to her accommodation without Joshua, and texts revealed she had instructed her childminder to falsely state she was caring for Joshua that day.
The childminder later confirmed she had not seen the baby for several days.
Giving her judgement, District Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West Sara Davie, stated, “Ruth Auta failed to provide the care her baby needed and chose to leave him alone.
“As a nurse, she should have been aware of the dangers of leaving her child unattended. Her attempts to evade justice further demonstrate her lack of remorse.”
Armed bandits have obstructed the busy Gusau–Funtua highway, kidnapping an unspecified number of travellers.
According to Channels Television, Yusuf Tsafe, a commuter stranded in the area, said that the bandits set up a roadblock at the Tazame axis early on Thursday.
Armed with about 50 motorcycles, each carrying three people, the bandits abducted several travellers and remained on the road for hours.
Tsafe described how the bandits began their operation around 7 am and continued until at least 9 am.
Despite military efforts to address the situation, the road remains blocked, and no vehicles have been allowed to pass. Another commuter confirmed that the Magazu–Kucheri Road, which links Gusau to Funtua, has also been blocked by the bandits.
“They entered the road around 7 am, and till around 9am, they were still there, we just parked by the roadside waiting for the military to clear the road, we are seeing the bandits taking people inside the bush.
“The military guntruck moved to the area earlier, we were just hearing gunshots, but they are yet to open the road. Till now, no vehicle has been allowed to pass.”
Another commuter also confirmed to Channels Television that Magazu – Kucheri Road, which is also the road linking Gusau to Funtua, have been blocked by bandits this morning
“The military men asked us to stop because the bandits blocked the road, we are still waiting for them to clear the road,” the source said.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Zamfara State Police Command, ASP Yazid Abubakar, stated that additional troops, including operatives from the Nigerian Police Mobile Squad, have been deployed to clear the road.
Zamfara State, along with other regions in northwestern and central Nigeria, has been plagued by armed gangs carrying out mass abductions for ransom and engaging in widespread looting and destruction.
The people of Moriki town in the Zurmi Local Government Area of the state are in fear as the deadline given to them by notorious bandit kingpin, Bello Turji, to pay an imposed N30m levy expired, PUNCH Online earlier reported.
But reacting to the development, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, described the bandit kingpin as a deranged person, wowing that the military would soon capture him.
No fewer than three persons lost their lives in April when bandits invaded a market in Tsafe town.
In May 2024, bandits attacked no fewer than 50 communities in the Zurmi Local Government Area of the state.
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Nigerian comedienne Anita Afoke Asuoha, popularly known as Real Warri Pikin, has shared how a motivational speaker nearly drove her to attempt suicide.
She made this revelation in a post on her Instagram page, on Wednesday, in recognition of World Suicide Prevention Day.
The comedienne revealed that in 2018 her husband fell into debt after being persuaded by a motivational speaker to explore various business ventures in the quest for financial success.
Her husband, motivated by the advice, tried his hand at several businesses in hopes of achieving financial success, but instead, they found themselves in debt amounting to ₦22 million.
Asuoha shared the emotional story as part of her commemoration of World Suicide Prevention Day. She revealed that, feeling overwhelmed by the financial burden, she attempted suicide in June 2018.
“I tried suicide so you don’t have to, in 2018, June 6, 3 pm to be precise, I attempted suicide, I gave up on life because the burden was too much.
“Life just dey hit me left right and center, life dey turn me round like barber chair. And I felt like the only way to escape is to end the pain,” she said in a video clip shared on her Instagram page.
In a video posted alongside her message, the comedienne disclosed that a family member arrived just in time to prevent her from ending her life.
She urged her followers not to see suicide as an option, no matter how tough life may seem, reminding them that life is made up of seasons and phases.
“Suicide is making a permanent decision to a temporary problem. And most of all, hold on to God and do the one your power reach,” the comedienne said.
“I Still Don’t Know How I’ve Survived Without You’ – Mohbad’s Widow, Wunmi, Pens Heartfelt Tribute
AFOLABI
Wunmi, the widow of late Nigerian singer Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, has shared an emotional tribute on social media to mark the one-year anniversary of his death.
In her heartfelt message on Instagram, Wunmi expressed how deeply she and their son, Liam, have missed Mohbad since his passing.
She reflected on the plans they had together and prayed for his soul to find peace, asking God to forgive his shortcomings.
In the lengthy tribute, she wrote: “llerioluwa mi, Husband of my youth, my best friend! It’s been a year today-a year since you left me and our Liam in this cold world. It’s been so hard. I miss you so much. Liam misses you too. I wish you were here to see him; you would have been an incredible father.
“I still don’t know how I’ve survived without you. God, I wish you were here every single day-every millisecond of the day. Your passing brought me unbearable pain, but it has also shaped me. I’ve learned so much, and I’m still learning. I’ll never be okay with you not being here; it messes with my head.
“I keep thinking it’s a nightmare I’ll wake up from, but 366 days have passed, and I haven’t. Oko mi, we had so many plans together, and you had so much more to give to this world. It hurts deeply to know that all our dreams, everything you worked so hard for, are now gone with you.
“I want you to know that Liam and I are holding on to the strength and love you gave us. Every day, I see pieces of you in him-your kindness, your smile, your spirit. I promise to raise him with the same love and care you would have given him, keeping your memory alive in every step of his life.
“But today, I choose to celebrate you. Today, I choose to honor your legacy. Today, I choose to give all glory to God for blessing me with you, llerioluwa. Today, I choose to be grateful for the gift of Liam-the beauty for our ashes.
“My love, I pray for your soul today. I ask that God forgives you of all your shortcomings and welcomes you to rest at His right hand. I hope it’s always a celebration up there for you. I love you so much. Thank you for Liam-I’m forever grateful for the gift of him! Fly high with the angels, love of my life.”
Her emotional message touched many fans and followers, who offered their support in the comments, as they remembered Mohbad on this solemn occasion.
Amid ongoing pricing and supply crises in the downstream sector of the Nigerian oil industry, the International Monetary Fund, IMF, has tasked the Federal Government to prioritize building and accelerating a social safety net that protects vulnerable citizens.
But taking this position in an interview with Arise TV yesterday, the Resident Representative of the IMF in Nigeria, Dr. Christian Ebeke, also hinted that petrol is still selling below market price, indicating the possibility of a further upward price movement.
Recall that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, has also taken a similar position.
The IMF executive expressed worry that Nigerians are going through significant hardship due to policies being implemented by the present Federal Government.
Ebeke stated: “I think this upward adjustment of petrol price at the pump comes at a time Nigerians are already feeling significant hardship.
“There is a lot of pain for Nigerians coming from multiple shocks, compounded shocks, including high inflation, high food inflation. Now, the country is dealing with devastating floods, among others.
“So the upward adjustment to pump rice comes at that particular moment when the economy is also dealing with multiple shocks and Nigerians are feeling this pain.
“I would advise that as we clearly stated in our annual review of the Nigerian economy which we published in May and our advice is very clear.
“It is important to strengthen social protection in Nigeria. It is important to accelerate the mechanism and the disbursement of this support to the most vulnerable, so they can cope with this multiple shocks they are actually facing now.
“The programme the Federal Government has is reaching out to 15 million households, this is the way to go. This programme should be accelerated, cushioning the impact of the pump price policy on the most vulnerable is the immediate priority.
‘NNPC fuel prices are not market-reflective’
Supporting the earlier position of the NNPCL that the current pump prices of petrol were not yet market reflective, Ebeke said: “I think the starting point should be to ensure that there is enough supply stability of this product. The queues that we see at gas stations needs to be addressed.
“We also understand that for a long time, price at the pump has not been reflective of market conditions and this led to challenges to petrol supply and challenging situation also falls for NNPC.
“So our position again is while you are making these adjustments, it is very important to be mindful of the potential impact these have on the most vulnerable. Again, the narrative should really be about how to accelerate support to the most vulnerable, so they can cope with this type of shock.
“Now, if this upward adjustment brings enough supply in the market and have addressed fuel scarcity, this will be a very good development for many Nigerians because the scarcity is not really helping the productive capacity of the country and also with this situation, people normally don’t get a life”.
Dangote supply, distribution
Ebeke also expressed the view that the controversy surrounding the earlier claims that NNPCL would be the sole distributor of Dangote Refinery petroleum products was better resolved in favour of consumers if availability and competition were in place.
He stated: “Availability of supply, competition, those are principles that usually work in favour of consumers. They bring good product quality when you have competition, and when you have competition, you ensure that there will be stability of the supply in the market.
“Again, everything that works in favour of those principles is something we will welcome and the market should be a market where the two principles are clearly achieved.
“Stability in supply with competition will ensure that consumers can have the best deal and the best bargain.”
Reacting to the position of the Federal Government that despite the hardship on the citizens, its economic reforms were necessary for a sustainable growth, Ebeke stated: “A constant topic and theme here for us is about how you balance policy.
‘’When it comes to this type of challenging reforms, you have to look at them as packages. You have a package where the first leg is having a clear mechanism to discuss or implement a price modulation for this type of products like petrol but you don’t do it just alone.
“Then you have to blend this first pillar with another one, which is how do you cushion the impact on the most vulnerable.
“So the price adjustments or any effort you are making to resolve the balance sheet problem should be accompanied with something meaningful to the people.
“That is why we see this as a package of policies in the recommendations contained in our annual economic review of the Nigerian economy in May. It clearly stated that those policies should be implemented as packages.
‘’So you have these price modulations that you can design and have a clear and transparent framework for price determination for petroleum price at the pump and also have a robust social safety net programme or a mix of programmes that targets the most vulnerable, so they can really cope with the multiple shocks they face now.”
2024 economic outlook
Ebeke also took a look at the end-of-year position of Nigeria’s economy and the 2025 insight, stating: “I think, maybe three points here. First, the authorities have an ambitious plan to transform the economy, restore market stability, promote growth, and really, really deal with poverty.
‘’This is the ambition. We have clearly stated it. It’s an impressive and very ambitious plan they have. Meanwhile, there is also a recognition that there is significant hardship in Nigeria. The population has to deal with multiple shocks, and those shocks are not just one after the other; they’re also compounded.
‘’Clearly, there is a need right now to continue all the efforts to really reach out to the most vulnerable and ensure that while the reforms are being rolled out, those vulnerable can really be reached out to, and, the administration can help them cope with the challenging situation they face.
‘’I think programmes like the one the Federal Government has, reaching out to 15 million households, providing direct payments, supporting with CNG buses, plans that hopefully will be implemented soon, and additional plans, providing grains, using strategic agricultural reserves to reach out.
“This is very, very important, and those type of initiatives should be accelerated to ease the pain on Nigerians.
“Now, going forward, one of the key issues for Nigeria has always been the revenue part. You can have all the plans, but how do you finance those plans? So raising revenue in a country that has one of the lowest revenue-to-GDP ratio in the world is one of the ultimate priorities for now and also in the medium term.
“Again, why are revenues important? Because you will use them to promote more infrastructure, more development spending, more health, more education spending. So that’s how we see the type of challenges, but also opportunities for the Nigerian economy.
“Now for the remaining part of the year, one of the keys, I would say milestone, or something you can put in the calendar, is really the 2025 budget.
‘’This budget will also set the stage for what would be the priorities for the administration for 2025, given all the challenges and also how to create the opportunities to really ensure that macro stability is restored and also growth is really promoted, going forward.”
Hike in fuel prices without adequate cushioning mechanisms worsen economic hardship — Egbomeade
Reacting to IMF concerns on the effect of the reforms, Clifford Egbomeade, Public Analyst/ Communications Expert said: “IMF’s statement about the pump price of petrol not being market-reflective points to a familiar challenge in the country’s economy.
“Over the years, fuel subsidies have been a contentious issue as they significantly strain government resources, but they also serve as a buffer against the high cost of living for ordinary Nigerians.
“While IMF’s call for market-reflective prices aligns with economic sustainability, it’s important to recognize that many Nigerians rely heavily on petrol, not just for transportation but also for small-scale businesses and power generation.
“Any hike in fuel prices without adequate cushioning mechanisms could worsen economic hardship, especially in a country where inflation, unemployment, and poverty are already pressing concerns.”
On the advice for social net, Egbomeade, said: “The emphasis on social safety nets for the vulnerable population is the right direction, but implementation will be key.
‘’For this to work in Nigeria, the government must first ensure that programs aimed at protecting the vulnerable are transparent, adequately funded, and well-targeted.
‘’If not properly handled, Nigerians could lose faith in both the subsidy removal and the promised social protections.”
Major challenge with economy is failure of policies — Olayinka
In his own reaction, Tajudeen Olayinka, Investment Banker & Stockbroker said: “ IMF is right with its advice to government but the major challenge with the economy is failure of policies, which is making it difficult for economy to be on right path to adjustment.
‘’Economy is simply not adjusting because the program is not well coordinated with the right set of required policies, programs and structures.
‘’Unfortunately, the economy cannot recover from the current crisis without taking it through a well coordinated adjustment program. Adjustment Program is about the most complex program in macroeconomic management.”
[Vanguard]
Folashade Ashley Adegoke, one of the wives of the Ooni of Ife, has revealed why she called her child the “crown prince”.
Last week, the queen and Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the monarch, announced the birth of their baby boy.
In an Instagram post, Folashade disclosed the childbirth followed after the loss of her twin pregnancy. She also described the newborn as a “crown prince”.
The post sparked a wave of reactions on social media with many users tackling Folashade for calling her child the crown prince when the monarch already has two sons — Tadenikawo from Naomi, Ooni’s estranged wife, and Oreade from Tobi Phillips.
In another Instagram post, Folashade disclosed her child is royalty on both his maternal and paternal sides.
She urged mothers to spread positivity to their children through their words. She also lauded her husband for being there during her pregnancy journey while reiterating her love for him.
“Thank you olodumare, for an amazing pregnancy journey which was very sacred for my husband and me, which was successfully kept away from society space to the glory of Olodumare,” she wrote on Tuesday.
“To my ever-loving, supportive husband who has stood by me throughout this journey, every step of the way, from start to finish, with daily prayers.
“You are my world, my crown jewel, Erujeje Adimula Oko Mi, Ikoyi Esho Mi.
“Nothing compares to your love for me and I love you till forever and with every fibre of my being.
“I’m thankful to my big sister for being there for me and for constantly keeping my handle busy with old pictures, old videos, and engagements with loved ones and friends just to kill all curiosity.
“To my amazing PA, thank you for holding every handle down for me during the last 9 months of grooming our prestigious crown prince from both sides of his parents.
“A prince from mother side of Ooni Adagba royal compound of Lafogido ruling house and a prince from father side of Ooni Agbedegbede royal compound of Giesi ruling house combined to the royal throne of Oduduwa.
“As a mother call forth and speak life to your children; call them what you want for them and what you want for them to be.
“Let your children know who they are in this world and what they were born and destined to be without prejudice. It is your duty and right to do so as a mother.
“There is power in your tongue, use it on your children. Do not apologise for speaking life to your seeds to germinate and produce fruit. Do not be pressured by no one or no man.”
Folashade tied the knot with Ooni on October 15, 2022.
She is said to be number four among the wives of the monarch.
The other wives include Mariam Anako, Elizabeth Akinmuda, Temitope Adesegun, and Ronke Ademiluyi.
[TheCable]