₦airaland Forum

President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday accepted his
nomination as the PDP Presidential Candidate in the 2015
election with a pledge that he would not fail Nigerians.

The President also announced Vice President Namadi
Sambo as his running mate again for the presidential
election.

Speaking after delegates to the PDP National Convention
had nominated him, the president promised to give his all to
ensure that the living standard of Nigerians improved.

Jonathan said that his nomination as the PDP Presidential
candidate exemplified the party’s determination to ensure
that democracy in Nigeria yielded the desired benefits to
Nigerians.

He urged political parties in the country to rise above all
impediments to project the country to a higher level.

He assured all PDP members that all complaints and
grievances within the party would be amicably resolved.

According to him, the country’s fight against corruption is
on course and will be won.

He said the government would ensure that no child lacked
basic needs and that no woman died from child birth.

The president said the observance of human rights was the
cornerstone of his administration, adding that no Nigerian
would be persecuted for holding a contrary view.

He restated that Nigeria was undergoing some
transformation being progressively enjoyed by the people,
adding that many of the projects being showcased by those
who defected from PDP were actually initiated by the party.

He enjoined the opposition to be honest in its campaigns
and should be devoid of propaganda and half truth.

Jonathan had earlier captured 2,812 votes cast at the
convention to emerge as the party’s candidate for the 2015
presidential election.

The party had also amended its constitution to address the
issue of tenure in the party’s administration.

Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos displays his resident card during the unveiling of the Lagos state residents card in Lagos on Tuesday.


The unveiling was done at the governor's office with the deputy governor Mrs Orelope Adefulire and the Commissioner of Science & Technology Mr Mabadeje

Chief Bayo Dayo, Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Ogun State has declared that the former Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole is not among the aspirants of the party that will contest the governorship election primaries
tomorrow in the State.

He disclosed that the party was not aware of the former Speaker’s aspiration to vie for the exalted seat.

The Peoples Democratic Party has fixed Monday for its governorship primary across the State.

The Party said Bankole was not one of its eleven aspirants that will be contesting in tomorrow’s primary election.

The party added that the former Speaker did not buy the expression of intent form from the State secretariat in Abeokuta, which would have formally announced him as an aspirant in the contest.

The State Party Chairman of the PDP, Chief Bayo Dayo disclosed this Sunday while addressing journalists at the party secretariat in Abeokuta.

He alleged that Bankole had since 2011 after losing his re- election bid into the House of Representatives, distanced himself from the party in the State.

He said he will never be a party to the alleged plan to pick the former Speaker as the consensus governorship candidate of the PDP in the State.

According to him, “I’m still saying that I am not aware that Dimeji Bankole is contesting the governorship in Ogun State. The money we are using to run this party is enormous. Some people have been doing that for years.

Somebody cannot just say because he has been to Harvard, Cambridge or Oxford, he is coming to lead us overnight. It’s not going to happen.

”So, if you are contesting, you must come to the State secretariat and obtain an expression of interest form. Those funds that are given to us by the various aspirants are the forms we are using for all these primaries, congresses we are doing. We do not have special funds for all these things.

It is the money contributed by all these aspirants that we are using. The arrangement about Dimeji Bankole, I do not know anything about it,” Dayo maintained.

The Chairman revealed that, unlike other governorship aspirants of the party in the State, Bankole had failed to show seriousness about his aspiration to become the party’s standard bearer.

He said that Bankole had only been looking for a “short cut” to become the PDP governorship candidate, instead of going through due process.

“If you want to contest the governorship of the State, it is only two months to election and two months to the election will you still be struggling when the aspirant should be going round the local government to tell the people what you will do?

“When you see somebody who is only trying to take a short cut, I can tell you there is no short cut to a good job. If you want to do a good job, you start from the scratch. You must follow due process. This young man is not following due process, he is only looking for a short cut and there is no short cut in politics.

“I can tell you today that whatever arrangement is going to happen, I’m still the Chairman of the party, I must know what the arrangement, even though, it is coming from our leaders at the national level, I will still, at least, be an observer at whatever meeting, where they are going to have a tangible discussion,” Dayo said.

Engr. Bayo Dayo however said that he could not stop any aspirant who had done the right thing from contesting for the tickets of the party, “but we will continue to say it that Dimeji Bankole did not obtain expression of interest form from Ogun State. Until that is obtained, I wouldn’t know him as one of our aspirants,” Dayo posited.

The former Speaker’s phone lines were not going through and he has not responded to the message sent to him.

kunlekunle:
in my home town,
there was a church situated on a street, 20 meters away from it, there was this mosque and almost opposite the church a shrine and by the shrine a joint.
there was never a clash.

Please, are you from Imota?

Our Presidential Candidates ;

Gen Mohd Buhari

Atiku Abubakar

Rabiu Kwankwaso

Rochas Okorocha

Sam Nda-Isaiah

Will be having a debate on saturday 6th Dec by
4.pm at the Shehu Yaradua Center Abuja.

The Debate is strictly on invitation but will be aired nationwide by AIT and Channels TV.

Please endeavor to tune in and hear their visions & plans for our dear Nigeria

IN ANOTHER NEWS.... Obafemi Hamzat
Congratulates Akinwunmi Ambode

Lagos State Commissioner for works and first
runner up at the APC Governorship primary, Dr
Kadri Obafemi Hamzat has congratulated the
winner, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode.

In a statement posted by him on his facebook
page, he promised to give his support to Ambode
and the party.

Hamzat’s stand seem to contradict some
unconfirmed reports by a section of the media
(Not The Complex), which suggest that all the
other aspirants who lost in the Lagos APC
primaries are gearing up for a showdown with
the party heirachy.

See the statement below:

One disappointment is not the end.

Your life doesn’t stop because of a single
setback.

It will all work together for your good.
The bigger the disappointment, the bigger the
blessing.

There is beauty for your ashes—joy for your
mourning.

You’ve got to let go of what didn’t work out.

You can’t do anything about the past but you can
do something about right now.

I congratulate Mr Akinwunmi Ambode for his
victory in the Lagos Gubernatorial Primary
Election.

We shall support you for the upcoming final
victory by February 28th 2015.

Olorun afun e se. #Ekoatesiwaju.

Mods, pls do d needful now

AeroMobil Beautiful flying car. Beautifully
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to move.

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and can be used in road traffic just like any
other car. As a plane it can use any airport in the
world, but can also take off and land using any
grass strip or paved surface just a few hundred
meters long.

The current flying car prototype AeroMobil 3.0
incorporates significant improvements and
upgrades to the previous pre-prototype
AeroMobil 2.5.









I'm so sure Naija polithievicians would buy 2 each

ypzilanti:
It seems that the job of the presidency according to his supporters is just to attend functions and sign documents on behalf of Nigeria.

According to them, the President is not responsible for anything.

Should he go and fight insurgents in the forest?

Is he the one that locked the National assembly gates?

How was he to know that people were stealing subsidy money?

The recruitment that killed Nigerians that wanted immigration jobs; he wasn't aware!

Oduagate...he wasn't aware.

He had no idea naira would fall.

His opposition are criticizing him too much so he cant concentrate on his job.

These people act as if he is some child that has to be led through his job and pampered by his adversaries.

He is the effing commander in chief of my country. He campaigned for the job. He is campaigning again for it.

It is a CEO job. You hire and fire. You build a team. you build teams. you set out a vision. You monitor progress. And most importantly you take credit when things go right and RESPONSIBILITY when it goes wrong.

Sorry bro, this ur CEO has got no single vision @ all

hybridtm:
Him neva win golden teeth award....held only by sir Suarez

Looooooool
Guy, u won kill me here oooooooooo

This guy is just a genius

Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba,
has warned the Speaker of Nigeria's House of
Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, from using thugs and undermining laws in the bids to achieve sinister agenda.

The IGP warning to Tambuwal was contained in a statement issued by police spokesman,
Emmanuel Ojukwu, in response to today’s
violence at the National Assembly complex where Tambuwal and scores of lawmakers were stopped from entering the chamber.

The statement read “Following an intelligence
report of a likely invasion of the House of
Representatives by hoodlums and thugs, the
Nigeria Police Force promptly deployed its
personnel to the premises to prevent a
breakdown of law and order.

“Consequently, the Police condoned the area and began screening of all members and visitors
alike. In the course of this lawful exercise, Alh.
Aminu Tambuwal CFR, arrived the venue with a
motley crowd, who broke the cordon, assaulted
the Police and evaded due process and the Police had the duty to restore order and normalcy, using lawful means.”

Indirectly warning Tambuwal, the Police IGP said
“The IGP seizes this medium to warn all political
actors and their followers to respect constituted
authority and due process and to desist from the use of thugs to pursue their agenda.

“The Nigeria Police shall continually apply all
lawful means to prevent a breakdown of law and order in all segments of the society and shall apply the full weight of the law on any political actor who violates the peace and security of the nation.”

U.S. Consulate Lagos will conduct a live
auction sale of used furniture, appliances,
auto parts, building maintenance items,
kitchen items, bedding materials, and three
20 foot containers containing miscellaneous
office supplies.

Venue: Lagos Logistics Center 3, Sapara
Street Ikeja

Inspection Dates: Saturday, November 22, 2014 9:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.
Monday, November 24, 2014 9:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.

Sale Dates: Tuesday, November 25, 2014,
9:00 a.m. Wednesday, November 26, 2014,
9:00 a.m.
Property Removal Dates: Friday,
November 28, 2014 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
December 1 – 3, 2014 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

General Payment Terms

Full payment shall be made immediately
after winning the bid or the item will be
re-bid.

NO CASH ACCEPTED
Debit card from UBA or any of the banks on Interswitch network – Preferred Method Customers Note

All items are sold “as is” and “where is” with no warrantee expressed or implied.
All sales are final, and no refunds or returns will be allowed.

Items purchased are expected to be removed from the Warehouse compound by December 3, 2014.

Payment for all items, is due immediately after the winning bidder is declared. In the event a winning bidder fails to promptly pay for an item, it will be re- auctioned.

Payments will only be accepted through Nigerian debit cards in the Interswitch (Verve) network. Payments by debit card have a fee of 1.25% of the winning bid amount.

NO CASH ACCEPTED.
Attempting to pay by cash will result in the property being re-auctioned.

All bidders must pay Nigerian Customs duty in addition to the winning bid amount. The Nigerian Customs Service determines the customs duty, which can be viewed online at: https:// www.customs.gov.ng/Tariff/index.php

The U.S. Embassy cannot release any item
to the buyer without proof of customs duty payment. Representatives from the Nigerian Customs Service will be on hand during the auction to receive payments. Items marked as “locally purchased” are exempt from customs duty.

Note Procedure for Payment:

Step 1: Make payment to Bank
representative

Step 2: Make payment to Customs
representative

Step 3: Obtain signature from U.S.
Consulate representative

nigeria.usembassy.gov/mobile//auctions.html

saintikechi:
Suspention or no suspention, it is still gonna be "GEJ TILL 2019"

I guess you only read the headline...........

The umbrella body of all Fulanis in Nigeria, the
Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, has suspended its
national chairman, Alhaji Bello Abdullahi Bodejo,
over his alleged involvement in politics.

In a communique signed by Alhaji Wakili Ali
Babangida, and issued at the end of a meeting of the body in Kano, conveyed Bodejo’s suspension.

State chairmen, secretaries as well as members
from 30 states of the federation attended the
meeting.

The association flayed the national leadership of
the association under Alhaji Bodejo for failing to
organize election, four years after registration of
the association.

It noted that the action was against the provisions of its constitution, which stipulates that elections should be held after every three years.

The group also condemned the involvement of its national chairman in partisan politics; the recent being his endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term ambition.

The association said the action caused it and
indeed all Fulanis across the nation serious
embarrassment.

A five-man committee was also set up under the
chairmanship of Alhaji Lawal Ali Mai Mamman to
investigate the accusations against Bodejo.

The committee was given one month to submit its report and recommendations.

Interim national caretaker executives under the
leadership of Dr Ibrahim Abdullahi was
constituted to manage the affairs of the
association pending the outcome of the committee’s investigation.

This guy(GEJ) is not fit to be a LG chairman not to talk of pressy.......... But 9ja politics sha

This tin make me dey fear woman sef!!!

EroticAngelina:
Jesus!!!! chai! MBA! MBA!! she went too far!

Big time!!!!!!

I mean what do u think of the woman that did this to her husband simply because she caught him
cheating

Guys, please pray very well so that you won't marry this kind of woman oooooo

L atest reports from the Niger Delta creeks
indicate that about 14 journalists reportedly
kidnapped by ex-Niger Delta militant, Chief
Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo on
Sunday have regained their freedom in the early
hours of Monday.

The kidnapped journalists include South-South
Regional Editor of the Vanguard newspaper,
Emma Amaize, South-South Editor of Nation
newspaper, Shola O'Neil, a reporter with Daily
Independent, Emma Arubi, South-South region
editor of the Leadership, Shola Adebayo, a
Channels TV cameraman/reporter and others who were abducted in Oporoza.

SaharaReporters learned that the journalists were in the Delta State creeks this afternoon for the first hand coverage of massive protest staged by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s kinsmen over the manner the Tompolo and other Ijaw leaders are frustrated the take off of the $16billion Export Processing Zone Project due for commissioning by President Goodluck Jonathan but was botched following severe threats by Tompolo and other Ijaw indigenes.

Confirming the report of the freed journalists, the Commanding Officer NNS Delta, Navy Captain Musa Gemu stated that the journalists are now in protective custody of the Commanding Officer, Escravos and were quartered in a houseboat, adding that he already instructed the CO Escravos to ensure their safe return to Warri on Monday.

However, SaharaReporters learned that about
three youths loyal to the chairman of the
Waterways security committee, Ayiri Emami who
were kidnapped alongside the journalists are still being held by the army because some firearms were found in their possession right on the same boat boarded by the journalists.

The journalists were led on a voyage by Ayiri but
he narrowly escaped being kidnapped by
Tompolo because he was said to have used a
different boat.

Meanwhile, the Itsekiris of Delta State have
lambasted President Jonathan, calling him is a
coward and therefore demanded the President
and the State governor should resign from office.

Reacting to the development, chairman of the
"Itsekiri Leaders of Thought", Pa J. O.S Ayomike,
said that by succumbing to the threat by the Ijaws of Gbaramatu Kingdom in cancelling the ground breaking ceremony last week, the President was taking side against the wish and aspiration of the Itsekiri people.

“President Jonathan’s refusal to perform the
groundbreaking ceremony of the project as fixed
for Friday was a show of cowardice unexpected of his office which should stand for the rule of law.

He has shown that he has joined the Ijaw
militants in creating division amongst the ethnic
nationalities in the Niger Delta region and Nigeria in general.

“Jonathan should know that Itsekiri the world
over will go to the UN to request for secession if
Jonathan and Ijaws want to pursue the
extermination of the Itsekiri people.
We will ask for the protection of the Britain, USA
and the United Nations.” Ayomike, an
octogenarian stressed.

While berating their son and governor of Delta
state, the Itsekiri stated that Uduaghan is not fit
to be a governor as such he should without any
further delay tender his resignation letter.

They further lambasted Uduaghan, for not using
his influence to prevail on President Jonathan to
honour the ceremony they had lavishly prepared for, calling him to throw in the towel as Governor that he had boasted that nobody can stop Jonathan from coming for the EPZ
groundbreaking ceremony.

Adesam09:
Ok

Can you please send this pics to me via: speedrock2007@yahoo.com

I had an air conditioner once. It was the size
of a transformer. It was as loud as …(thinking
of the best word). Let’s just say everyone in
my building automatically knew when there
was light because of the sound heralded by
my AC . The thing had no control. It could
cool for Africa. We (my roommate and I) wore
top coats, mufflers and socks to sleep. It took
us to the north pole and back.

Back to the title now. My one year internship
was up so I had to give up the flat. I couldn’t
carry the AC home because I knew NEPA
would be convinced we had factory machines and bring bills to prove it. I just had to sell it.
The buyer was a trader. He had a stocky
stature and an air around him that smelled of
money. ‘ I no fit buy this thing pass 2k’. He
looked at me as if I was denying the obvious.
‘ What? This AC wey dey comot block’ . I guess
he could see the desperation in my eyes as
he counted the 1000 naira notes. Business
completed. Then he said ‘ are you a nurse?’.
‘No, a doctor’ I replied. ‘Baby, let me take you
out’. I knew he wanted to go out with the
doctor and not me. I didn’t know how to
explain to him that they were one and the
same.

The truth is this piece isn’t really about
uneducated Igbo men who marry educated
women. Its just about the complexities of the
human mind(who am I kidding). It is about
how unique Nigeria is. How tribe and tribal
lines are so ridiculous yet so very revered.
How I began to be aware that a student from
Katsina could get into any unity school of his
choice even though his common entrance
scores were much lower than those of his
peers from the South. I was 10 years old
when I realised that yet it didn’t make sense
to me. It still doesn’t. How we say ‘Let’s
balance it, let the class captain be male and
the assistant be female’. What if there’s no
suitable female for an assistant? Why can’t
they both be boys? Or girls? Who creates
these yeye balances anyways?

We want men and women to be equal but we
have a quota for women. But the counter
argument says women have been marginalised for years so we want to encourage them. I say if a woman is good for the job, she has my vote. If a man is more qualified then that’s where my vote would go. Why must we have a Muslim president and a christian vice president? Or vice versa. What do we plan on using that demographic information for? ‘Bibo, you don’t understand, its more complicated than that‘ . Why doesn’t someone simplify it. That Igbo people could be rude and disrespectful but Yoruba people could be like that too, so can Ijaw and Kanuri. See me doing the exact same thing. Making sure I mention enough tribes to make it
balanced.

Let me know what you think.

Yours truly,
Mc 4larin

The Benue state Governor Gabriel Suswam, Liyel
Imoke from Cross River and Enugu state Governor, Sullivan Chime may soon leave the ruling Peoples Democratic Party

The three key governors supportive of the President Goodluck government may dump the party.

Their complaint followed unsettled political crisis in their states by the PDP’s national secretariat.

Gabriel Suswam, the Governor of Benue State, may leave the ruling PDP for one of the opposition parties in Nigeria, the Labor Party, to realize his senatorial ambition.

His Cross River counterpart, Liyel Imoke, is supposedly and is intimidating to join the All Progressives Congress, APC following the PDP’s choice of Senator Victor Edoma Egba.

Similarly, Enugu State Governor, Sullivan Chime, who is also bitter over the party’s decision to allow the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu to run on the ticket of the PDP instead of him (Chime), is considering defecting
the party to run on the platform of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA for the senatorial seat.

It was reported that shortly after a meeting,
where President Goodluck Jonathan and the management of the PDP accepted automatic tickets to 40 out of 72 PDP senators, who want to return to the red chamber, the governors were affected.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar defected his party the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the All Progressives Congress, APC, months ago.

House of Representatives speaker Alhaji Aminu
Tambuwal, has recently defected from the ruling party to APC which caused a highly-publicized scandal in Nigeria’s politics.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) may be going on another very long strike just a year after they called off their 5-month long strike, following the Federal Government inability to honour the agreement it reached with the lecturers during the last strike.

Speaking yesterday at a press briefing in remembrance of the killing of former ASUU leader, Professor Festus Iyayi by the convoy of Kogi State Governor, Captain Idris Wada,
ASUU lamented the failure of the Federal
Government to fulfill its promises.

The union disclosed that no government-owned university had received a dime from the N200 billion the government said it had set aside for the revitalization of university education in the current year.

Chairman, Nnamdi Azikiwe University branch of ASUU, Comrade Dennis Aribidor said: “It seems Iyayi’s death opened the pandora box that suggests that ASUU’s relationship with government might seem irreconcilably hostile.

While he fought for a just cause, ASUU is
presently skeptical that he died in vain especially since the contention over honouring the ASUU-FG 2009 agreement, which cut his life short, is still far-fetched. This position is based on some hard truths.”

Details on AIT Online

temmyt20:
na wa oooo

Big wa ooooo sef!!

The hopes of thousands of women mobilized for the flag-off of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) in Bayelsa state by Nigeria’s first lady, Patience Jonathan, were dashed as they were sent home with nothing yesterday after
policemen tear gassed a couple of them. Some overzealous security operatives also used batons on the hapless women who were frustrated for being hoodwinked by Mrs. Jonathan to come for the "empowerment program" she had claimed was from the MDG, only to be confronted with a political rally for
the president’s re-election. One of the bags of Rice with expired Rice.

One woman who could not hold her frustration and anger, Preye Dressman, said the whole thing was deceitful. "We came from our communities since 5 a.m.; I have not eaten and stayed under sun and rain, and now they are sending us home with empty hands.”

A motorist, Stella Honesty, wondered why the President’s wife was coming to give Bayelsa women empowerment items to the people this late in her husband’s tenure.

She said, “Is it because general elections are around the corner? In fact, if I were some people, I will reject any empowerment. Where was she all this while? Some of us have refused to be deceived by this political gimmick. Look at the kind of suffering one is going through because she is coming.

Must she create tension each time she visits anywhere? I have been trapped in this traffic logjam for a long time for a journey that would not have been more than 30 minutes.”

Commuters and motorists who were trapped in the gridlock created by the visit were seen struggling to make detours.

The MDGs, a United Nations benchmark which is aimed at eradicating extreme poverty and hunger for all citizens, became the basis for a political campaign ground for Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN), a political group affiliated with President Jonathan’s re-election.

Several bags of rice repackaged in bags branded with Mr. Jonathan’s photos, sewing machines,
hair dryers, and tricycles known also “Keke NAPEP” were distributed to some at the rally. However, several of the women left empty-handed.

A cursory investigation showed that most of the items, especially food items, had expired, and most of them were later diverted to Peoples Democratic Party politicians for onward distribution exclusively to their followers.

Mrs. Jonathan, who was formerly a civil servant in the state, resigned a few weeks ago even though she had never shown
up for a single day of work before and after Governor Seriake
Dickson promoted her to the position of permanent secretary.




Source: Saharareporters

A Malaysian-Chinese, Mrs Odediran, an optometrist, is married to a retired Nigerian United Nations Children’s Fund United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) staff member.

Read her interesting interview with Tribune:

Can you let us into your background?

I’m a Chinese but grew up in Malaysia. I’m from a non- Christian home but there was a small population of Christians there. Most were Buddhists, so there were many temples
where idols were worshipped. Buddhism is an ancient religion while Christianity was regarded as Western religion. I lost my mother as a teenager, my father therefore took another
wife. My father is a businessman and also runs a big farm, so we were quite comfortable. He spent his money mainly on educating us.

When did you get married?

That was January 16, 1988.

How did you meet your spouse?

I became a Christian when I went to Australia in 1981 for my A’Level studies. In 1982, I was in Brisbane, where I studied Optometry while he studied Public Health Engineering. We both belonged to Overseas Christian Fellowship (OCF) and he was the president. The fellowship
held its convention at the time we were rounding off our courses. We were in the dining room and I wasn’t feeling fine, I therefore asked him for a pain reliever which he gave me. That was the first time we held a close gaze. I felt a strange feeling within me and his thought didn’t leave me. It was same with him. He later told me his mind but what got him confused was the fact that he was coming back to Nigeria a week after. Since I have learnt to hear from God, I prayed and He gave me Psalm 112 as a confirmation and then I knew there was no going back. My profession was then in great demand in Brisbane. I therefore got employed
immediately after graduating. We thus got in touch through mails and phone calls.

Didn’t you entertain any fear marrying someone outside your country and continent?

God gave me a word in Psalms 45 and I held on to this. It was a lot of stress because I didn’t have the support of my family. My maternal grandmother on her part was concerned about the distance. The Bible was what gave me comfort.

How did your family receive the news?

I wrote my dad and asked, ‘Is it okay or alright if I marry a non-Chinese and non- white?’ I intentionally didn’t say African or Nigerian. He replied ‘Please consider very well.’ He later sent my aunties to me in Brisbane to discourage me.
My father was very authoritative. He later came, asked me to resign and come back to our town, Penang in Malaysia.
Back home, my family members and relatives kept on trying to persuade me to let go of the relationship. They made jest of African black skin and said their lips were thick and they were hungry. They referred to my white skin
as milk and my husband as coffee. They also taunted me that no children of mine would look like me.

What effect did this have on your relationship?

We were still getting in touch and my dad knew this. I sometimes spoke with him on the phone. My dad never stopped or scolded me. My father didn’t actually understand English Language and so didn’t understand what I was saying. I came to Nigeria in 1987 to pay him a visit. I told everyone else except my dad and stepmother. My husband was then staying at 1004 in Lagos. It was during this visit
that he has got a job with the United Nations Children’s Fund United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), after working for some few years with the Lagos State government. We decided to get married, and so we prayed about it and God gave us middle of January, precisely January 16 the following year, as our wedding date.

What was your husband’s family reaction to his choice of you?

His father asked him if there was no other person in Nigeria he could marry. I met some of his siblings and we were cautious in the way we related.

How did the wedding go?

We had it in our home church in Penang. None of my family members attended. My father bribed my two sisters in New Zealand with money so as not to attend. Only my aunty and
her four children attended and she came back the next day to the hotel where we stayed weeping that she was scolded by other family members.

How long did it take your dad in particular to come to terms with your choice of husband?

I was writing him to give him update about us though he never replied. Even while in Australia, he never replied my letters aside the one I wrote on the choice of my husband. I actually never experienced the love of a father. Two years
after our wedding, I travelled home and stayed in my uncle’s hotel. I had our first child with me. My dad also came in to see my uncle. On sighting me, he avoided me. Again, while
on a visit to my sister in Singapore, I tried to speak with him on phone but he hung up. In December 1993 which was our daughter’s fifth birthday, the ice was finally broken. He
held a reception for us and invited relatives.

How did your spouse and father relate?

They shook hands but couldn’t communicate because as I said, my father didn’t. understand English Language, but I remember that my husband helped iron my father’s shirts.
What were the things you found strange on getting to Nigeria?
We were then living in Ketu in Lagos and the way people run after molue, sell by the roadside, irregular power supply and having to carry buckets to fetch water due to lack of water supply, the sandy paths and untarred roads were somehow strange to me. But then, with the kind of upbringing I had, I could adapt to any situation. Another is the family member
issue. Being the first child, he had to bear the responsibility of training his siblings and attend to some other needs or demands of his family.

Where is your spouse from?

Odeyinka in Osun State. His mother is from Apomu also in Osun State.

Have you ever been to these places?

Yes. We pay them visits and even take the children along. We also go to Gbongan, Ipetumodu and Ikire.

How easy was it learning Yoruba language?

I picked quite a bit like greetings especially. My husband taught me how to greet. I did my shopping at Mile 2 market.

How did you interact with the traders?

They call me their husband (oko mi). Some would help bring the stuffs to me so that I could make my choice. I remember a female trader got so excited during one of my shoppings that she carried me and swung me around.

What things did you find interesting?

Partying and blocking of roads. Nigerians do a lot of dancing. In Malaysia you don’t block the roads unless when rituals are being carried out during a burial ceremony.

What were the things you learnt to do?

I learnt to prepare amala, eba, egusi and okro soups, among others.

What about backing of babies?

I didn’t do that because I’m not tall. Our help did that.

What is your favourite Nigerian dish?

Moin moin and pap for breakfast and pounded yam with egusi soup for the other meals.

Can you pound yam?

I did it once but it was actually a little quantity. My husband later bought the pounding machine.

How will you describe a Nigerian man?

I won’t say a Nigerian man but a Christian man. Even though born again, some men have not removed their Nigerian mentality of dealing with women. You shouldn’t treat your wife as a slave. It amazes me when a man or his wife says
’my children’ or ‘my car’ and the like. In marriage, you no longer say ‘yours’ or ‘mine’ but ‘ours’. A man who has the understanding of what marriage entails runs his home in line
with the Bible culture and I thank God that through the different Christian trainings we have had, my husband understands this. He protects me in many ways. For example,
If we are going to give his parents money, I sometimes sign the cheque.

What thrills you about your spouse?

He’s very caring and he displays this nature not only to his family members, but whoever comes his way.

What other things did you discover about him?

He can also be angry and when he is, he looks stern and wears that cold face.

Where do both of you differ?

He loves visiting but my life is a close-circuit one.

Do you consider your husband romantic?

We are very free with each other; free to express ourselves and make each other to laugh. We are friends to each other.

What has made your marriage work till date?
Openness, commitment, trust, humility, joint decision—even if you don’t agree on an issue, you should exercise patience. But some husbands will say, ‘how can I listen to my wife?’
We pray together on issues and hear from God what steps to take.

Yours was a long distance relationship. Will you encourage your children to do same?

It wasn’t that easy, but then our case is different. We knew each other physically before he came back to Nigeria. But I object to internet friendship because it can be deceitful.

To what extent are your children exposed to the Nigerian lifestyle?

They know how to greet in Yoruba language. When they were young, they sometimes attended occasions in Yoruba traditional outfits.

Do you also attend socials in the traditional wears?

I don’t like iro and buba because you have to tie the wrapper round you. I like it free like the Kaftan or boubou.

geedot:
judging a whole school by just a single graduate of Hers that you met is inappropriate..
Did you manage to ask her what she graduated with? It might be a "Pass" you know!
And we both know any student that graduated with a "Pass" in any of his/her various courses is far below average.. Not a student of the Institution, just tryna clarify some things..
#Team-Nigeria-Premier-University..

Its not because of a student, majority of them I engaged in chats have really fallen ma hand and they call their selves Accountants? They are scattered accountants

You can't mention Law if lasu isn't there
We talking Accounting, you mentioning Unilag of all schools. Where a grad of dt skul I met in Nysc camp can't even differentiate between Cashflow & Value added statement & what they are used for. She can't even extract a trial balance from ledgers.........



Rubbish