₦airaland Forum

Abbeyme:
Presently we pay monthly for water consumption. This is most stable essential service that is delivered in Lagos state.

I don't understand the new line of payment with World Bank vendors ooo.

Kidnappers Release Mrs Nwosu, Sun Deputy MD's Wife by Chiemelie Ezeobi

Exactly four days after Mrs. Oluwatoyin Nwosu, the wife of the Deputy Managing Director of Sun Newspaper, Mr. Steve Nwosu, was kidnapped from her Okota home, she was this morning released by her captors.

The victim was kidnapped in the wee hours of Monday by a nine-man armed gang at their residence in Lagos.

The heavily armed gang had first stormed the area in a gestapo style, robbed them of some valuables before abducting their victim to an unknown place.

Details are still sketchy on how she was released, and if the gang finally got their demands of N100 million as ransom. http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/kidnappers-release-mrs-nwosu-sun-deputy-mds-wife/220482/

Exactly four days after Mrs. Oluwatoyin Nwosu, the wife of the Deputy Managing Director of Sun Newspaper, Mr. Steve Nwosu, was kidnapped from her Okota home, she was this morning released by her captors.

The victim was kidnapped in the wee hours of Monday by a nine-man armed gang at their residence in Lagos.

The heavily armed gang had first stormed the area in a gestapo style, robbed them of some valuables before abducting their victim to an unknown place.

Details are still sketchy on how she was released and if the gang finally got their demands of N100 million as ransom. http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/kidnappers-release-mrs-nwosu-sun-deputy-mds-wife/220482/

Exactly four days after Mrs. Oluwatoyin Nwosu, the wife of the Deputy Managing Director of Sun Newspaper, Mr. Steve Nwosu, was kidnapped from her Okota home, she was this morning released by her captors.

The victim was kidnapped in the wee hours of Monday by a nine-man armed gang at their residence in Lagos.

The heavily armed gang had first stormed the area in a gestapo style, robbed them of some valuables before abducting their victim to an unknown place.

Details are still sketchy on how she was released and if the gang finally got their demands of N100 million as ransom. http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/kidnappers-release-mrs-nwosu-sun-deputy-mds-wife/220482/

FERNANDEZ: At last ‘the veil is lifted’
_{BY HRH Erelu Abiola Dosumu (Princess Fernandez), Erelu Kuti IV of Lagos}

Oh my Deinde – Even in death your innermost wishes are being thwarted by human frailties and manipulations – Sun re e

You came, you saw and you conquered! You set the bar for corporate Nigeria, our traditional institutions and wore the badge of Nigeria like a shield of Honour.

You were a Giant as you were a Dove.

You were proud like a King and as humble as a servant.

You were valiant but ruled with a gentle heart, Fernandez.

Most importantly, you accepted the presence of the Almighty; otherwise why your outburst to me in the midst of your pain “You did the work for the wealth for which they all want to kill themselves”

YOU left home at the age of 18, in search of the Golden Fleece. You traded in commodities between Africa and America. We met in 1972 on one of your return journeys with your business proceeds. You constantly used the profit from your business ventures to add value to the lives of families, friends and sundry; examples of your kind hearted generosity abound: you changed dollars at less than 50 per cent value to help them pay their children’s school fees, pay hospital bills and even give their families much needed holidays.

We discovered our families were old friends and after all the initial courtesies and ceremonies, we got married in April 1973. It was with great pomp and pageantry in the palace of the then Oba of Lagos with the wedding reception attended by several dignitaries including the then Governor Lawal. We waited on the Lord for our baby to arrive and in March 1976, our daughter Oyinkan Antoinette Fernandez (whom you named after your mother and first daughter of your mum) was born.

Private rooms

I was in the process of completing the purchase of “Habib Building” on Berkeley Street, Onikan when you exclaimed ‘How can you have a property like that when I do not have a leaf in Nigeria?’ I had it transferred to you at cost to the amazement of the Habib family. For me what ever was mine was yours and whatever was yours was mine. I carried out the renovation of the three office floors, 34 residential flats and built private rooms for us on the 18th floor, while providing jobs to teeming Nigerians. The rooms still stand till today despite the fear of professional engineers.

We were so happy there – I convinced you to come back home and we spent fifteen glorious years together in this Lagos with our children, our new large family. Teju, Gbemi, Tony, Akin, Titi, Koye, Kunle, Dewunmi and later Oyinkan our daughter, who came along in 1976. It was truly the only home you ever had. Oh you used to entertain us with Gelede dance using dustbin as your bum, towel as your masque and bed sheet as your wrapper!

Having succeeded in making you come back to Nigeria, we embarked on the business of creating wealth. Brigadier Mobolaji Johnson (still a living witness) gave us twenty hectares of land on Badagry Road to build our first factory. I reassured him you were not going to be an absentee landlord and as the senior officer to my late husband he gave us every support. As usual I sprung into action and almost pestered the life out of Engineer Segun Jawando to facilitate the sand filling of the land, as it was a swampy area.

You brought the prestigious Gorenje Company to our shores; we set up a factory to assemble the CKD of white goods – cookers, fridges, washing machines etc – our fellow Nigerians were employed and, therefore, empowered as senior and junior staff. As a result of this innovative commercial enterprise, all manner of people, tertiary institutions and communities benefited greatly.

Next was the “Fernandez Food Corporation”. We competed with Uncle Ben's Rice by acquiring rice from the same source and packaging it in our factory on Badagry road; we also ventured into the manufacturing and packaging and distribution of other foods. Many illustrious Nigerians were our valued customers and distributors including the revered Mama Awolowo who was very kind to me and a lot more people were empowered through the factory. I was the businessperson and you were the philanthropist with a heart of gold, who being almost generous to a fault, gave a lot away without payment!

Living legend

Then we veered into the oil industry. You were the first private Nigerian to lift crude oil partnering with major oil companies including Tenneco and Texaco. You would have built the first private oil service station with my ‘Head’ as the logo but as a visionary, you were well ahead of your time and the technocrats in the civil service were not ready to see indigenous Nigerians actively involved in the oil industry. Chief Phillip Asiodu a living legend of the Nigerian civil service can corroborate this.

We bought land in other parts of Nigeria to set up rice farms but the Federal Government bureaucracy scuttled all that effort, hence the decision to look to other parts of Africa and the World. We took some of our proceeds from Nigeria to Congo where you already had interest. We sent my Rolls Royce Phantom VI to the President of Mozambique and bought twenty-five cars for the people there, to be used as taxis. Many other philanthropic gestures abound and formed part of your way of doing business in every land you created enterprise; such as Swaziland where you had a beef factory, Angola where you operated oil fields in Cabinda, Geneva where you had a trading company dealing in oil and gemstones from Congo etc.

Africa embraced you, pulled you to her bosom, although Nigeria gave you birth, nurtured and empowered you, Africa gave you wings, made you a world renowned diplomat, a global citizen, a father, mentor and motivator of Nigerians indeed Africans in Business. You never ever stopped wearing the Nigerian shield like a badge of honour. You gave support to the advancement of politics. I can still remember many visits of our great politicians like Papa Adeniran Ogunsanya and the revered Zik of Africa Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe; Alhaji Ganiyu Daudu (to name but a few) to our Tower Fernandez home and most leaving with heavy bags of support.

You revolutionized our traditional institutions, you tread where the pseudos feared to venture. Despite your sophistication and exposure to all that is refined in the world, you wined and dined with the grass roots; even I used to marvel at the level of your love and humility, especially when you shared the same ‘IGASI’ to drink gin and schnapps! You made us believe that our tradition and culture, traditional religion etc are our Legacies, which we should cherish, respect, protect and uphold knowing that we look upon the same Almighty and Omnipotent God.

Traditional palaces

We traversed the length and breadth of our traditional palaces together. We gave great gifts and even put some traditional rulers on salaries as there was not an effective local government system then, as we have today. We single handedly furnished and renovated some palaces. The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adesoji Aderemi was so impressed by your love for tradition. He gave you the title of “Woye-Ileri” of Ife while at the same time gave our one year old daughter, Oyinkan a royal title and royal beads and said to me you are already royalty! The Alaafin of Oyo was our greatest ally; he honoured you greatly as you also honoured him. Oba Lipede, the Alake of Egbaland loved you unconditionally and we were constant guests around his table.

Oba Oyekan was your father, you were the son in whom he was well pleased. You loved him, we took great care of him both at home and abroad. You took care of the entire Royal family. We paid school fees of some Lagos Island families and extended families. We paid school fees of their children, we contributed funds to various indigenous trust funds including Isale-Eko descendants Trust Fund. We built houses for some. Some we gave jobs, some you just empowered to be able to stand on their own feet. Papa honoured you with the title “Bajiri” of Lagos (the Pillar and First Consultant of the king) in 1974 and the family unanimously bestowed on me the title of the Erelu of Lagos. Despite all this, you never left the church. Monsignor Pedro Martin was your spiritual father and we visited him every night when we were in Lagos. We worshipped with him every Sunday in Apapa, he even christened our daughter Oyinkansola in Apapa. When he moved to Dodan barracks, we followed him to worship there, every Sunday. Your last wish was for you to be brought back to Nigeria and to be buried in Lagos as a Catholic, where you were once a choir boy.

Choir boy

Deinde, there is no end to your contributions. I should reserve the rest for the book I am writing in your honour. In London, Claridge’s hotel lights up when Chief Fernandez is in residence with your array of great business associates and royalty. King Hussien of Jordan loved you like a brother. The Crillon in Paris rolls out the red carpet always for the “Grand Chief” Fernandez. America was your oyster. The world was at your feet. We bought the house in Connecticut in America and the Chateau in France to be our homes away from home, but alas it was not to be. The lawyers pressurized me to claim my right but I told them we don’t take our husbands to court where I come from. I am still an “Isale-Eko” girl at heart.

Nigeria it is time to welcome home your son, a conquering hero, a true proud Nigerian like no other. You used to draw my picture while asleep and when I asked why, you would say that when God made me He used a special mode, which he never used for anyone else. My Deinde it is more true for you than for me. Good night my Darling……...
http://www.diversitybox.com/lifestyle/relationships/item/1644-fernandez-at-last-the-veil-is-lifted

MuguliciousMUGU:
Please, who is giving FFK oshogbo weed?

That person should stop ooo... Its not fair, the guy is high.

doug:
You sincerely don't believe everybody knows this farm right, which local government area, which state?

SonOfEl:
take a look at the mirror for all your speech, I won't dignify you by repeating myself again.

Flyoruboy:
... Your folks are obviously yet to recover from the psychological effects of that defeat, hence the recent clamour for 'freedom' -- only slaves ask for freedom . ...

mightyhaze:
well,we will neva knw wot wud av been d outcome if d expeditionary force had. Seized dia objective in good time.we will neva knw wot wud av happend had banjo not sabotaged d effort.but I cud make a guess wot happens if a serpent is decapitated.I cud guess wot may happen if d den lagos authorities had fled in panic wich dey had already commenced on hearin of d biafran advance.I cud also hazard a guess dat negotiations wud hav commenced dat wud av averted d full scale wars dat ensued afterwards.well,like I said,we may neva knw,...

zendy:
I don't give a rata$$ if the Yorubas or any other ethnic group wants to be Nigerians, that's their business. My main concern is for my people, the Igbos, to exit this cursed union called Nigeria.

mightyhaze:
let me educate u mr tales by moonlight.in warfare,dere is sth dey call element of suprise. Dis is a function of speed.wen u lag n shuffle feet,instead of quik advances,u gv d enemy ample time 2 regroup n counter.d delay obviously made d operatn a flop.evn if ur loaded wit all d armanent in d world,a quik move by d enemy can turn evth against u.durin d hey dayz of insugency in nigeria,rag tag boko fighters took heavy military installations by suprise,sackin whole barracks dat hav v large armouries,heavy equipment and evn aircrafts.so lagos havin superior arms n more men doesn't hold water. Banjo flopped dat mission,period!

OrlandoOwoh:
It's still not clear who first saw the corpse, and its state. Former Governor Segun Osoba of Ogun State, who was the time a journalist who visited the scene, gave a different story. In 2010 Matthew Mbu said Tafawa-Balewa was never shot, but died of shock or other heart related sicknesses.

SonOfEl:
inferiority complex, jealousy, hate, hypocrisy, cowardice, all combined into one person - YOU.

mightyhaze:
do u know dat murtala n d rest northern elements were already ferryin dia poiticians and elders bak 2 d north wen dey got wind of d biafran advance? Dere was general panic and evry1 includin gowon were gettin ready 2 flee lagos. If not for d delays by. Banjo lagos wud hav been seized v quikly and a ceasefire negotiated!

AnanseK:
Rubbish. He was killed by the Igbo murderer and quintessential hypocrite - ifeajuna.

T9ksy:
Oh, so according to you and your impish folks, because Tafawa Balewa allegedly introduced nepotism into the Nigerian Army, that was enough reason for your brothers to snuff the life out of him? Am certain you and your ilk will tender "genuine" reasons for every non-ibos your blood-thirsty brothers killed in the jan 1966, coup.

It was a good thing Awo was in prison at the time 'cause am sure you guys would have had him murdered too, for one reason or the other, irrespective of how preposterous it sounds to sane minds.

SonOfEl:
descend into realm of insults? take a look at the mirror.

zendy:
Brainwashed? I don't need to be brainwashed. My father was a Biafran soldier and he told me the story of the war himself. Everyone in our family were Biafran supporters long before I ever heard of Kanu or Radio Biafra. I know that the concept of freedom will be lost on someone like you who cannot see past 'one Nigeria' so I will leave one of my quotes below for you to digest

What is Nigeria?
An illegal amalgamation of unconsenting ethnic groups?

An artificial creation of the white man?

A forced marriage?

A business organisation set up by Lugard to make money?

A highly derogative term invented by Lords Lugards girlfriend after she heard about the river Niger?

Take your pick in the above. Nigeria is an illegal entity that has no shred of legitimacy. A country is only gotten by the direct permission of the indigenous native people, not by force. It is the God given right of Igbos to decide what they are, Biafrans or Nigerians. It is not for Lugard or Yorubas or Hausas to tell us who we are. 200 years ago, all these people didn't even know each other, now they shout 'one Nigeria' because Lord Lugard came from Britain to tell them it should be that way. Nigeria is a fraud, Nigeria is a forced marriage, Nigeria in its self is an act of illegality. [/color][/b]

SonOfEl:
its only in nairaland that you can spew trash. in the real world, Biafra's bravery in self determination amidst huge opposition is something you cowards can never think of in your slavish life.

SirJeffry:
I keep hearing that Ojukwu fled and I want to quickly correct that impression. Ojukwu was forced to leave Nigeria by his close associates especially Effiong almost at gun point when it was obvious that the war was about to be lost after Banjo/Ifeajuna betrayal.

He wanted to die in the war but they told him that if the Nigerian soldiers got him alive, it would be more humiliating and forced him to leave.

Please nobody should insult that great man who had an undying love for his people even though he had his shortcomings then due to youthful exuberance.

peleson:
If Banjo and ifeajuna had gone beyond Ore,lagos would have fallen! They had a back up stationed in Benin enroute kwara down to north! Kaduna nzeogwu was stationed btw enugu n makurdi! If it was Kaduna nzeogwu,lagos would have fallen!

Who Killed Major Nzeogwu?
_{By Max Siollun | maxsiollun@yahoo.com}

....Nzeogwu died in the final week of July 1967. While there is consensus that he died, exactly how he died and at the hands of whom has remained in dispute. In conspiracy rife Nigeria, all manner of rumours and apocryphal stories have alleged that Nzeogwu was murdered in a Machiavellian plot engineered by Ojukwu to eliminate him or perhaps that he was killed while trying to defect to join the federal army. As always, the truth is much more mundane....

Nzeogwu was admired and feared in equal measure. He was admired for his intelligence, warmth and charm. He was feared because of his suicidal courage. Junior Biafran foot soldiers were reluctant to be conscripted by Nzeogwu. Conscription by Nzeogwu meant being taken to the front line and faced with grave danger. Nzeogwu was brave enough to cross behind enemy lines, carry out reconnaissance and engage the federal army in close quarter combat. In late July 1967, his courage took him a step too far.

The Death of Nzeogwu

Nzeogwu had gone out on a reconnaissance mission in the Nsukka sector. He was travelling in an improvised armoured vehicle (known as a "Biafran Red Devil") that had been converted by the ingenious Biafran engineers from a Bedford truck. The vehicle was cumbersome despite its impressive ingenuity.

The vehicle became immobilised and was surrounded by federal troops of the 21st battalion at a roadblock near the University of Nigeria Nsukka campus. The troops were led by Captain Abubakar Gora, and they opened fired on it. The vehicle's improvised armour withstood their bullets until it was attacked with the fearsome 106mm recoilless rifle which pierced its body. Ironically, the 106mm recoilless rifle was the same anti-tank weapon that Nzeogwu and other soldiers used in January 1966 to attack and destroy the official lodge of the Sardauna of Sokoto.

At this point, the accounts diverge. Olu Mamdap (former military driver to General Domkat Bali) witnessed the incident and claims that Nzeogwu and the other “two or three” occupants in the vehicle were killed while still inside the vehicle. Mamdap claims that it was not known that Nzeogwu was inside until the corpses were dragged out....

Nzeogwu's corpse was identified by Lieutenant Abdullahi Shelleng who ordered that it should be stored firstly in the University of Nigeria campus at Nsukka. .....

Despite the fact that Nzeogwu was now technically an enemy soldier killed in combat against the Nigerian army, Gowon ordered that Nzeogwu's body should be flown to Kaduna and buried with full military honours – even as the war raged on in the Eastern Region. http://www.gamji.com/article8000/NEWS8721.htm

NDIGBO, OJUKWU & BIAFRA: WHERE DID WE GO WRONG (PART II)
_{by Osita H. Olisa | Nigeriaworld.com}

Who is Ikemba of Nnewi, Dim, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, People's General, Eze Gburu-gburu Ndigbo?

.... Before the events leading to the declaration of Republic of Biafra, there were certain presuppositions, which were construed as indisputable facts, through scorch-earth propaganda bombardment. Like perceptions, they gained currency and acquired weight amongst Ndigbo with power of categorical imperative....

..Psychology and wellbeing of Ndigbo, at this juncture, were reprogrammed with poisonous propaganda, which entered into collective consciousness of Ndigbo, and were one-dimensionally formatted, for strategies of fight or flight response system...

...Proposals for a comprehensive, peaceful conflict resolutions and reconciliation by well-meaning individuals and organizations, were promptly rejected by our intransigent leader for selfish reasons. All doable and practical entreaties and overtures by peace-loving people all over the world to avert catastrophic war, were dismissed with speed of light by Ojukwu for reasons best known to him....

...Here are some of the antics employed to kill any peaceful negotiations:

During the Aburi conference of January 15 and 16, 1967 it was agreed that civil servants of Eastern Nigerian who fled from the North would continue to receive their salaries till March 31st, 1967 the end of financial year, provided that they did not hold any other paying jobs. The Federal Government of Nigeria authorized the salary payments as per agreement. Eze Gburu-Gburu Ndigbo, the Head of State of Biafra, was it true or not?

On March 17, 1967 Decree No. 8 was promulgated to implement the Aburi agreements. The terms of your demands were virtually met under the Decree No 8.

The Supreme Commander of Nigerian Armed Forces was changed to read Commander-In-Chief consistent with your demand. Eze Gburu-Gburu Ndigbo, the Head of State of Biafra, was it true or not? Your request was granted and implemented.

To avoid putting the executive power of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in one man's hand, that was Col. Yakubu Gowon, you suggested that that such power be vested in the hands of governing body, which was, Supreme Military Council. Eze Gburu-Gburu Ndigbo, the Head of State of Biafra, was it true or not? Your request was granted and implemented.

To make your request foolproof and watertight, the newly created Supreme Military Council cannot make laws that had far reaching greater national security impact without the approval of all the four regional governors. The power of executive authority of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was now vested in the Supreme Military Council. Eze Gburu-Gburu Ndigbo, the Head of State of Biafra was it true or not? Your request was granted and implemented.

Ojukwu's Objections And Disagreements With Decree No. 8 Are The following:

Decree No. 8 upheld the part of Constitution that stated in part and l quote, "no region could exercise authority in a manner that placed the corporate integrity of the federal government in jeopardy". Eze Gburu-Gburu Ndigbo, the Head of State of Biafra, what exactly did you actually find objectionable with this provision of the law? As a historian, do you know any country in this globe that would do or act otherwise contrary to, with or without Decree 8? Was it not your attempt to subvert and torpedo any peaceful resolutions that was offered, and to pave way for your life-long burning desire of becoming head of state, even if it was in hell.

Decree No. 8 stated under what conditions such state of emergency could be declared all over Nigeria or any part of Nigeria by the Supreme Military Council. Decree No. 8 stated that before such state of emergency would be invoked, three out of four regional state governments must be in agreement. That is 75% of the governing body. This is what our most revered "Timber and Caliber" late Dr. K. O. Mbadiwe called "accord con-cordial". Eze Gburu-Gburu Ndigbo, the Head of State of Biafra, what exactly did you actually find objectionable with this provision of the law? Was it not your attempt to subvert and torpedo any peaceful resolution to the then impending cataclysm.

Decree No. 8 also stated that when an emergency is declared, the federal government has the sole authority to suspend or overrule any laws and regulation previously passed by the said regional government. Eze Gburu-Gburu Ndigbo, the Head of State of Biafra Republic, what exactly did you actually find objectionable with this provision of the law? Was it not your attempt to subvert and torpedo any peaceful resolution of the crisis.

Your argument against that section of Decree No 8 were the followings:

That as the Military Governor of Eastern Nigeria you have the sole authority to maintain safety and security of indigenes of Eastern Nigeria. That to deny you such power under the state emergency was a contradiction of the terms and agreement of Aburi accord. In all humility, the most erudite.. in Igboland, Eze Gburu-Gburu Ndigbo, the Head of State of Biafra Republic, where in the Aburi accord was the state of emergency discussed? Additionally, the secretary to the Eastern Nigerian Regional Government, AN Akpan, did not share your views and he completely disagreed with you. At the time all your senior eastern army officers disagreed with you. Was it the reason why they were not informed and consulted prior to declaring secession?

"Eze Gburu-Gburu Ndigbo, how did this Decree negatively impact Ndigbo, as you have always purported that you were protecting or fighting for their interests? The only person this Decree would have impacted should there be violations was Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Eze Gburu-Gburu Ndigbo. How? You could be removed, retired or transferred which will abort your craving for becoming "Your Excellency The Maximum Ruler of Biafra".

How enervating, debilitating, nauseating for any objective Ndigbo man or woman to know that the reason why our people were slaughtered and maimed during war was to protect, the job of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. In Igbo aphorism, it is said, "okuku eri eri, oborsa aborsa" translated to mean - either l have it or no one else will have it.

Read the rest here: http://nigeriaworld.com/articles/2003/aug/253.html

Volksfuhrer:
The "expeditionary" thrust to Lagos via the SW was ab initio ill-conceived. If Ojukwu had stayed put in Biafra, It would have been difficult for Yorubas to enter the war. The war should have been kept simple.

Volksfuhrer:
Yoruba soldiers were not involved until the skirmish at Ore. In any case, you still missed the point. Biafra lost the moral high ground when its forces ventured outside its borders.

Granted that some Yorubas were Ministers in the Federal government, the war was still between soldiers from the North and the East. Until Ore changed the game.

Ojukwu simply did not build enough coalition for the Lagos offensive. It was flawed from the start. Nothing could be more naive than thinking Yorubas would submit to Banjo because he was a Yoruba man!

Amdayburh:
Ehn ehn..so aw much last??

kenonze:
Of a truth I tell u Mr Gbossa, Biafra will eventually come but KANU is not the Messiah we are clamouring for. He is a radical. Biafra has face.
He is making mockery of our noble quest

kingdenny:
single phase N7500
three phase N15, 000