MyAfricanBargains Forums

United States Deport 87 Nigerians

MrBargains — Thur, 05 Jun 2008 15:29:33 GMT

US deports 87 Nigerians

Eighty seven Nigerians deported from the United States arrived in the country on Wednesday aboard a special flight.

A News Agency of Nigeria investigation showed that the deportees arrived at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos at 8 a.m.

NAN reported that they were handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service and other security operatives at the airport, for ``proper debriefing.

Sources in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the deportation, adding that some allegedly committed various offences like fraud, sexual assault and drug trafficking.

``Some of them have also completed their jail terms, though there is every likelihood that they might be punished here for dragging the countrys name into disrepute, NAN was told.

A total of 314 illegal immigrants were recently deported from Libya.

Punch Newspaper.

June 5,2008.

Forum: Nigerian And African News

http://www.radiopalmwine.com

naijababe — Sat, 31 May 2008 15:31:20 GMT

To listen to the best in Nigerian Music, log on to the largest Nigerian online radio http://www.radiopalmwine.com make requests and dedications in real time Live 24/7

Forum: Nigerian Music

M.K.O Abiola Was Beaten To Death

MrBargains — Thur, 29 May 2008 17:01:16 GMT

Justice Olokoba, however, observed that the DMI was now a party in the suit even though they had not been served. He consequently extended the date of service to the DMI while adjourning to next Tuesday when the court is expected to issue directives as to the filing of written addresses by the parties for adoption.

This is not the first time Al-Mustapha would be alleging that the late Abiola was actually killed. During the Oputa panel sitting in November 2000, he insisted that the official report that Abiola died of natural causes was false.

The late Abiola was arrested by the Abacha government in 1994 but died on July 8, 1998 during the regime of Abacha's successor, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar.

The death came exactly a month after Gen. Abacha's. The then government said he died of natural causes, a claim corroborated by a team of world physicians who carried out a post-mortem on his body.

But at the Oputa panel on human rights violation set up by the Obasanjo government, Al-Mustapha on Thursday, November 23, 2000, pooh-poohed the official claim declaring that Abiola was killed. But then he declined to name the culprits, saying that they would be revealed in due course.

It was also claimed that Abiola died after taking tea served him by the then United States Under-Secretary for Africa, Susan Rice. This piece of evidence was given by Major Abdulsaheed Mohammed Aliyu, the then Chief Security Officer to Gen. Abubakar.

According to Aliyu, when Abiola was attending the meeting with the United States officials led by Mr. Thomas Pickering, Abiola initially declined the offer to take tea but upon suggestion by Susan Rice, the Chief took the tea to soothe his cough.

But this account has always drawn the ire of the late Abiola's personal physician, Dr. Ore Falomo. On June 5, 2003, in an interview with reporters, Falomo had said: "I believe there was a conspiracy on the part of the then Federal Military Government and all the top hierarchy. I am not even absolving Abdulsalami Abubakar. Whether he was actively involved or innocently kept behind does not matter. None of the members of the hierarchy wanted him to come out of detention."

Dismissing the "tea theory," Falomo went further to say that "there are indications that Abiola's heart was thrice the size of a normal human heart at the time he died."

The United States government was also frantic in its denial of any complicity in the death of Abiola.

In a faxed statement dated December 20, 2000 and sent to media houses from the U.S. Consulate office in Lagos, Nicole Theriott said any suggestions that the United States government officials had anything to do with Abiola's death "are ridiculous and lack substance."

Guardian Newspaper

Nigeria

5/29/08

Forum: Nigerian And African News

Sunny Okosun Is Dead

MrBargains — Mon, 26 May 2008 22:01:33 GMT

Sonny Okosuns is dead

Monday, May 26, 2008

Popular musician, Evangelist Sonny Okosuns, is dead. He was aged 61. The freedom fighter turned preacher died in Howard University Teaching Hospital, Washington D.C, United States of America last Saturday, at about 7:00p.m. Nigerian time.

Okosuns finally succumbed to death after a prolonged battle with cancer of the colon.

His younger brother, Charles, who was on hand yesterday to receive sympathizers in the deceaseds Aguda-Ogba home in Lagos, told Daily Sun that the Oziddi maestro passed on in the presence of his wife and children. He said that he was yet to receive words on when his corpse would be flown into the country.

When Daily Sun visited his residence, which also houses the House of Prayer Ministries, which the late Okosuns pastored, the mood was pensive.

The news came to me as a shock, but what can we do? Charles sermonized. We have no choice than to give glory to God almighty. Death is a debt which every man owes and we cannot redeem ourselves with money, he philosophized.

At the deceaseds residence yesterday, the mood was expectedly solemn. Even though the church auditorium was empty, four members of the church who knew about the news of Okosuns death were around to sympathize with the family.

When asked to explain the contrast between the preachers death and the celebration of Nigerian music via the Nigerian Music Awards held last Saturday in Owerri, Charles simply said, actually, it calls for prayers for all music stars, so that God can see them through.

Another of the deceased younger brother, Momoh, who is also a senior pastor in the House of Prayer Ministries, narrated how Okosuns, like someone who had premonition of his death, re-organized the church when he visited the country about three weeks ago.

His words: He told me as his deputy that the job is in the church and that I should plunge myself into it.

Momoh, who also described Okosuns as his mentor and benefactor, described his last encounter with the man of God. After the anniversary, he called us together and asked questions about the progress of the church. I told him that the church was making progress. However, he told us that before he returns to U.S, everything would be put in order. I thought he was talking about restructuring the church. But before he left, he ordained some members as deacons and deaconesses. On the day of ordination, he gave us a word, that the authority of the church should be followed strictly, because the church belongs to God, not him.

He warned that if there were people coming to the church because of him, such a persons were already failures. He told the newly ordained church leaders that they should know the type of work for which they had been called because they were the pillars of the church and others should take orders from them, he added.

According to the cleric, he thought it was an advice which any man of God would give his followers until the unexpected happened.

Also speaking, Henry Arumogbe, Okosuns personal driver and bodyguard for 18 years, described the late cleric as a very nice man and told Daily Sun that the last time the musician visited Nigeria, he drove him (Okosuns) in a car to his village in Irrua.

According to Henry, Okosuns informed him about his intention to build a small bungalow in his village and thereafter he visited his mothers grave. After that, he narrated further, Okosuns went to the market and gave money to the villagers.

When I asked why he was doling out money, he replied that it had been long he visited his kinsmen. After that, we made a stop over at Benin, on our way to Lagos, where he preached the gospel, Arumogbe added.

Since he was diagnosed of cancer in a U.S hospital last year, following several failed attempts to identify the cause of his failing health in Nigeria after he woke up one morning to discover he could neither urinate nor use the toilet, Okosuns, sought medical services abroad, a move which has seen him in and out of the hospital in the last one year. The news that his body was being ravaged by the cancer of the colon was broken to him in the United States after which he underwent surgeries.

Many times rumours were rife in the media about his death, but he always rose to debunk such.

It was a jubilant congregation and fans that received him last month when he flew back into the country after a successful surgery. His return also coincided with the 9th anniversary of his church, which was celebrated with all pageantry.

In his last interview with Daily Sun, the renowned musician, who against all odds danced despite his frail frame, said he had bounced back and would live for another 70 years.

Born in Irrua in the Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State, Sonny Okosuns launched into stardom in the early 70s with his fiery Oziddi music, in an era when highlife music was at its peak of popularity. He first started with Help then Fire in Soweto. But his music, which took the country by storm, and which was acclaimed to be his best, was Papas land.

He was a strong voice and advocated a popular ideological struggle in the fight against apartheid through his songs.

He was also a founding member and past president of Performing Association of Nigeria (PMAN).

In a telephone interview with Daily Sun, Mr. Dan Aigbavboa, Chief Press Secretary to Edo State Governor, said Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor, was very saddened by the death of the illustrious son of Esanland.

It is a very sad loss to the people of Edo State, Nigeria and the music industry, Osunbor said, adding that the state government will do everything to immortalise the late music maestro.

Meanwhile, Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Prince Adeotkunbo Kayode, in his condolence message, commiserated with Nigerians on the death of the veteran music evangelist, describing him as a freedom fighter, lover of the downtrodden and a true religious leader.

The minister also condoled with the entire nation, but particularly with families of the 44 soldiers and two civilians who lost their lives in a fatal road mishap, which occurred last week.

Kayodes message, which was conveyed in a statement, also described the soldiers as heroes who fought to defend their fatherland , praying that God would avert such tragedies in the future.

Lamenting further, he noted that Okosuns death came at a time when younger musicians were being celebrated in Owerri, Imo State at the Nigerian Music Awards.

The minister, however, added that Okosuns music, which was devoted to fighting causes, such as apartheid in South Africa as well as unity in Nigeria, would remain an inspiration to many young Nigerians.

Daily Sun(Nig)

Date: May 26,2008

Forum: Nigerian And African News

100 Feared Dead In Nigerian Pipeline Fire

MrBargains — Fri, 16 May 2008 02:55:40 GMT

LAGOS, Nigeria More than 100 people were feared dead on Thursday after a construction vehicle struck an oil pipeline on the outskirts of Lagos, Nigerias biggest city, setting off an oil-fed inferno that spread to surrounding homes and a school.

Times Topics: NigeriaThe fire was very high, said Johnson Fabunmi, a doctor who lives in the area. Everyone was running for their life.

There were vastly differing accounts of the toll. Nigerian Red Cross officials said that at least 100 people died, but a representative of the Nigerian Emergency Management Agency said that only 10 died, including a 2-year-old, and that 36 were injured.

There have been many rebel attacks on oil pipelines in Nigeria, Africas leading exporter of crude oil and the eight largest in the world, attacks on oil pipelines are common, particularly in the troubled, oil-rich southeastern Niger Delta region. So are fires related to pipeline leaks some caused by poverty-stricken people trying to siphon oil to resell on the black market. But the Lagos police said the Thursday fire appeared to be an accident.

The fire began when a road grader performing maintenance in the suburb of Ijegun struck the pipeline, sending oil gushing onto the vehicle, according to a coordinator for the emergency agency, Abdulsalam Mohammed. Unfortunately, there was a spark, and the operator of the grader died instantly, he said. Hundreds of residents fled their homes, and local schoolchildren were evacuated.

The children got out, but some of them were injured, said Agha Idiam, a journalist for a local paper, Thisday, who visited the site. Directly outside the school gate is a market, so you can imagine the scene.

At least 45 people were killed in Lagos last December when the fuel they were siphoning from a buried pipeline caught fire. In December 2006, another pipeline ruptured by thieves caught fire, killing about 260. In May of that year, 150 died in pipeline explosion east of Lagos, and another such fire in 1998 killed 1,500 in southern Nigeria.

The vast majority of Nigerias 130 million people live on less than $2 a day.

Source:New York Time

Date :May 16,2008

Forum: Nigerian And African News

Fela's Son Regains Freedom

MrBargains — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:23:26 GMT

Felas son regains freedom

By Tunde Busari

Seun, the son of the late maverick afro music maestro, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, on Friday night regained his freedom after interrogation by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Lagos State Command.

He was arrested in the early hours of the day in his residence at Gbemisola Street, Ikeja, Lagos.

The Public Relations Officer of the agency, Michelle Ofoyeju, told SUNDAY PUNCH on Saturday that he was arrested alongside a lady identified as Omowumi, following a petition alleging the ladys trade in Indian hemp.

After we conducted our usual interrogation on them, we released them on bail around 6.30 in the evening. This is because we did not find Indian hemp in the house after our search.

We only found what could be called a left over in Seuns room. But we are putting the woman on surveillance, while Seun is under counselling, the NDLEA spokesman said.

He added that the agency was all out to rid the society of people dealing with hard drugs.

If we can be able to deal with this drug problem from the root, there is no doubt that there is going to be a drastic reduction in crime because drug use has been linked to crime commission, Ofoyeju said.

Our correspondent, who called at Seuns house on Saturday morning, got a hostile reception as no one confirmed the information.

Kunle Kuti, a brother to Seun, however, saved the ugly situation.

He said, Seun is out of the country now. He travelled to France yesternight to promote his forthcoming album.

SourcePunch Newspapers.Sunday,April 20,2008

Forum: Nigerian And African News

Nigerian Movies

chickixy1000 — Thur, 10 Apr 2008 15:07:28 GMT

What kind of movies do you guys plan to sell.Is it in video cd format or dvd.I have bought your audio cds,I hope your movies will be of good quality.Your website is good,keep it up.Also you should include Pete Edochie's movies.

Forum: Nigerian Movies

Fire In Okosuns

MrBargains — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 13:23:43 GMT

Fire in Okosuns
olumide iyanda, oiyanda@independentngonline.com

It was an angry, though subdued, Evangelist Sonny Okosuns that came to our office on Tuesday. His anger derives from reports that he had been confined to the wheelchair by a debilitating cancer. He arrived from the United States of America the day before and ours was the first place he visited. With jet lag written all over him, he explained that he had come to show Nigerians that he was still on his feet.

Accompanied by close aides, the Ozzidi king would not volunteer much in terms of his health but gave thanks to God for keeping him alive. Media reports had quoted him as saying he was going to India via the U.S. for treatment but all he told us was that he was in high spirit.

He once told an interviewer that he was suffering from a colon infection, but the doctors had done a good job of treating him. The sickness might have confined others to the wheelchair. Not Okosuns. According to him, he is still able to move around and perform.

Like a cat with nine lives, Okosuns had survived years of physical emaciation. All manner of sicknesses have been attributed to him and different uncharitable words have been used to describe his look.

One thing is certain though; the former fire-belching anti-apartheid campaigner is no longer half the man he used to be. At least physically. His movement is slow and his speech measured. Nevertheless, he says he is able to do what many younger than him can no longer do.

Francis Sonny Okosuns has surely seen and done it all. His music and the message it contained was far reaching that his album Fire In Soweto was banned in South Africa barely a month after it was released into the market on December 5, 1977. An unrepentant apostle of racial equality and respect for all men, Okosuns achieved global acclaim with each musical arrow he fired right into the heart of the apartheid rulers of South Africa. He once lived for the release of Nelson Mandela from jail the way he now lives for the second coming of Jesus Christ.

Born on Sunday January 1, 1947 in Enugu, Okosuns had always wanted to be a star.

He started off as an actor in the early 1960s. After acting on stage in places like London and Dakar he returned to his Enugu place of birth a star. He soon swapped the theatre with the recording studio following the success and growing popularity of some indigenous and international musicians. The story of how his father tried to stop him and how one Madam Mariam Okagbue, who was a producer and later controller of programmes at NTV Enugu rescued his dream has been told several times over. What any writer of Okosuns's story will not tire of chronicling is the impact of his music and how he sold thousands of albums even in their first week of release.

With the artistic wizardry of producers like Odion Iruoje of Emi Records, he created a sound that was uniquely his. The music kept evolving and his message became a barometer by which the war against apartheid was gauged.

After releasing O Jesu and the monumental Ozzidi For Sale, Fire In Soweto launched him as a pan Africanist per excellence. With the successive success of Papa's Land, Holy Wars, Third World and Power To The People, the 'Bob Marley' of Nigeria was catapulted into international focus.

With the collapse of apartheid in South Africa some people predicted that Okosuns may not be able to survive the peace. Truly, the timbre of his anti racist crusade dropped and he focused more on issues at home in Nigeria. With time, he dropped the bow and arrow and picked up the Bible and hymn book. He founded a church called House of Prayers at his Ogba home in Lagos. He was known more for waxing religious than popular music. His call for the support of some rather unpopular Nigerian government got him on the wrong side of the people but Evangelist Okosuns had a Bible verse for each of his critics.

At 61, Okosuns has left the world and all shades of politics behind. While he still has breath in him, all he wants to do his shepherd the flock and sing praises to the Mot High.

Without doubt, his sight may evoke pity but that is not the kind of emotion the man wants.

He gets angry when people say he is ill. For good measure, he told this writer late last year, 'I still eat eba and all the solid food a man down with illness cannot even think of.' The question he keeps asking those who dwell on his state of health is: "why do people wish ill of others?"

His Order of the Niger (OON) national award and many years of strutting the global music stage may not account for much now in terms of goodwill, but his faith in God is what keeps him going.

On a lighter note, he told us that he is a fan of Real Madrid Football Club of Spain. He even said he met some of the players during a visit to Taribo West during his last trip. "They held a reception for me and we all prayed together," he disclosed with a smile on his face.

Many football fans in Nigeria would do anything to be in Okosuns shoes if only for that brief moment.

Forum: Nigerian Music

Nigerian Movies

starbigs — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 05:04:39 GMT

I am wondering when you will start selling Nigerian movies as you indicated a few months ago.Just wondering!

Forum: MyAfricanBargains News

Nigerian Music

Onyeka — Thur, 03 Apr 2008 14:03:55 GMT

I am looking for Kris Okotie's music cd.Where can I find it?

Forum: MyAfricanBargains News