His fame cuts across local and international boundaries. Tajudeen Oyewole aka Abija is an actor but eight years ago he almost lost his life in an auto crash. Since then, he tells us, in this interview that he has been living from hand to mouth

You probably do not know, but Chief Tajudeen Oyewole, popularly known as Abija in the Yoruba movies genre now limps. This much The Nation found out during a chance encounter with the renowned actor recently. Also, you almost wouldn’t recognise him, as the usually vibrant defender of the oppressed, who is always quick to take the battle to the witches and wizards and other negative spirit forces in the movies, now cuts a pitiable sight no thanks to a ghastly auto-crash he was involved in sometimes in 2007.

But like a leopard who can never change its spots, the actor’s countenance changed right after the initial introduction, and with raised voice and eyes bulging, he began chanting incantations and gesticulating, as if in a trance or on stage, acting.

How he got the stage name- Abija

Oyewole said he derived his stage name, Abija from an engineer. “There was a construction company called Abija Construction in Oshogbo; the company was owned by a respectable old man and when we wanted to do a13-week play, we deliberated on what they should call me and the name of the construction company came to my mind, and I said ‘Abija’. We had 25 episodes in the play and I was asked to use the name – Abijawara Bi Ekun. Later, we simply called it Abija.

“Before that time, I had been using other stage names, but none earned me popularity as when we used the name ‘Abija ‘ in the series ‘Opa Aje’. The name also became my trademark and shot me into limelight. Today, only a few people know my real name.”

Opa Aje, facts behind the story

Said Abija, ‘Opa Aje’ was shot long time before it debuted on TV and it was a surprise to the entire crew that it became so popular. He said “the story line is about three villages and the ‘Opa Aje’ (prosperity staff). The mysterious staff was owned by Lasigun Village (his mother’s village) and it was agreed that it should be rotated round the other two villages: Bilagun and Telude, but Lasigun refused until Bilagun took it by trick and it resulted into a war; Telude also had to resort to force by waging war against Bilagun, to collect the staff from her. Abija a powerful juju man and warrior was asked to rescue it, thus it rotated among the three villages.”

Interestingly, he said it wasn’t until recently that they found out that the story was indirectly referring to the Nigerian nation’s battle for power and resource control.

His Taboo

He confesses that despite the fact that he played the warrior roles in movies, there are some costumes he dared not put on without offering certain sacrifices and atonements to the gods. Also there are some that a woman dares not meet him on the way or even make an attempt to embrace him. “We don’t just treat these costumes anyhow; if there is need to perform rituals or offer sacrifices before wearing them, then I must humbly comply. If not, the side effect could be fatal. I know this because my paternal and maternal line-ages are both from Ifa priesthood and Babalawos. So it means I inherited the act of Ifa from the two sides. Aside this, I am also from the family of hunters. No woman could embrace me while returning from a hunting expedition because of what I may have on my body. If I need any animal, I only need to go into the forest to kill it. The power is there.” He said, beating his chest in confidence.

How rich is Abija?

Despite all his fame, Abija revealed that it hasn’t translated to money. “I am not rich; I don’t have a roof over my head, which is part of measuring one’s wealth in this part of the world; I don’t even have a land. And it’s not because I am not serious or that I’m a prodigal son; the money realised from acting is just not much, or even enough, as people out there or our fans think. I am prudent and I have only one wife. But having said that, I cannot say that I am not a rich man, because I have children higher institutions, although I may not be rich in cash.”

Asked why some male artistes tend to keep a harem of wives, Abija said “it is because of the perception of fans and the general public that female artistes are wayward; so the male artistes prefer to marry them and use them as actresses in their works. If you look at it, this is even economical for them, as they may not have to pay them exorbitant fees they’d have had to pay for independent actresses.”

The auto crash

Abija who is still limping as a result of the ghastly motor accident back in 2007, says he is just lucky to be alive. He said it happened on his way back from a film location: “I went with my crew to shoot my new film ‘Ibinu Abija’ and on our way back late in the evening; I hit a big brick road divider along Canaan Land, which position had been changed by the road constructors, without any sign. I ran into it with my Toyota Camry. But thank God, I was not speeding. My hip dislocated, while the lady, an artiste sitting by the driver’s side died immediately. Another woman sitting behind me was seriously injured. I also thank God for Otunba Ajawesola Ayinde Busari, who assisted me, and stood by me. That film will hit the market soon, and believe me; you will learn a lot from it.



Betrayal from friends

With a forlorn look, the artiste said he has been let down and betrayed several times by his so-called friends and colleagues that he now finds it hard to trust. “I have been disappointed by a lot of friends. There was a year a man wanted to sponsor my film; I called one of my best friends to accompany me to the negotiation. But would you believe that this friend of mine went behind me to the same sponsor a week later, and negotiated a lesser and ridiculous amount? My friend later invited me to star in a film for him, and I obliged, not knowing that it was the same film I should have owned. On location, I invested all my energy and I almost killed myself to make it successful, not knowing I was a fool. When I later went to meet the sponsor, he began dilly-dallying. He later showed me the VHS my friend had produced. He accused me of demanding for higher price on the film, lambasted me and told me my friend had done the job.

“And this is a film I had invited my fellow artistes from Ondo, Abeokuta, Ekiti and other places and even lodged them in hotels in preparation for. In the end, the film did not sell, while my so-called friend and the sponsor became enemies. The sponsor even reported him to the police for fraud. I was the one who again went to beg the promoter to let my friend go.”

On his rumoured death

Abija said the rumour of his death, which spread like wildfire some years back, was as a result of the accident, as many feared he had died or could not survive it. “You can see that I still limp. The accident was fatal, but I thank God that I survived it. I spent about two and a half years in the hospital and later at home. I also went to a trado-medic for bone setting, as my hip was badly affected. The accident happened eight years ago, on the 10th of September, 2007. However, I don’t believe it was caused by enemies or that I was being haunted spiritually as some think. I see it as what it is, an accident. No more, no less.”

On current Nollywood films

Abija denounced the present crop of home video coming out of the industry for low quality. He said too many movies are being hurriedly put together and said it was not like this when he was active. “We never met it like this and we were never taught like this. I was in Dakar, Senegal with some of our CDs and they only picked two. The films they watched were condemned because in some of them, the ladies were half naked and they detest all these.”

His solution

“We need to work harder. The films being produced now are of poorer quality. In Yoruba land, we are known for producing films that educate; thought-provoking films that are well-researched. That is why we are called prophets

“As for those who think our culture is dying or that it is fetish and ungodly because of their religion, I can tell you that they are coming back to it.”

His background

“I was born over 50 years ago. I attended only primary school at Local Authority Primary School, Oniyere in Ayedun Agbo Bi Ekun Village, Osogbo, Osun State. My parents actually sent me to school but I was a truant. That is why I did not go beyond primary school, but it pains me now. At the moment, none of my children is into acting, but one of them edits. As for me, I think it is education first for children. If they place acting first, their future could be ruined. It is lack of education that almost ruined me.” He admitted.

I need help

“I want Nigerians to help me in my career. I need sponsors. I am not a greedy person. I believe in Allah. People interestingly call me Alhaji, although I am yet to visit Mecca. The only car I own was condemned in that accident. As I speak, it probably would have been towed away by government agencies. I will appreciate every help that comes my way.

Source: http://nigeriana.org/

A 30-year –old man, Taiwo Eko who attempted suicide by drinking a raw motor battery acid in 2011 over what he described as helpless condition, is now urgently in need of medical attention to survive the damages done to himself.

He bought N400 acid from road side mechanic whom he lied that he was going to use it for important experiment and ended up using himself as the experiment material with an excuse that he had no parent or anybody to assist him in life.

Taiwo, after attempting to take his life damaged his throat and his voice cracked. His tongue was also affected which made him not to speak louder to the hearing of anyone in the same room with him except the person draw closer.

The Delta State born Taiwo who now eat through the assistance of naso -gasgric tube (GNB) and artificial oxygen for his breathing, said he had been treated both in Nigeria and India yet his condition is getting worse on daily basis.

He said Apollo Hospital in India treated him to the extent that he no longer breath with artificial oxygen or eat through tube, adding that he was surprised and confused that when he returned to Nigeria everything got worse.

Taiwo pleaded with the State and Federal government to return him back to India where he had contacted a doctor who promised to save his life. He noted that his major problem is fund since he has no parent or working to earn income.

Narrating how he attempted to take his life, Taiwo said “I drank acid; I wanted to kill myself because I was not happy with my condition. I have no parent and I have being suffering for many years without help. I went to mechanic workshop to get the acid with N400 but the acid didn’t end my life the way I wanted.

“The people who rushed me to the hospital said I was already dead, that the first hospital rejected me. I was referred to Eko Hospital in Delta State and nothing happened. They took me to University of Benin Teaching Hospital where I stayed a year and six months.

“But later the Hospital management changed their mind to perform surgery on me. As God want it, I met Dr. Richard Okonye, a man of God who volunteered to take me to India where I got treated. But when I came back to Nigeria my condition got worse. I called one of the doctors in India and he said I should come to India, but I don’t have money to travel abroad. I am begging Nigerians to help me.”

Source: http://nigeriana.org/

A middle-aged woman is currently recuperating in a Lagos hospital, after robbers stormed her rented apartment on the Lagos Island, during which she stabbed one of the assailants to death.

It was learnt that the woman, identified simply as Adenike, and her family were attacked on Tuesday at about 2am on Eyin Iga Street. It was gathered that the robbers, who were armed with knives and cutlasses, reportedly gained entrance into the house after damaging the gates.

It was also learnt that when the robbers got to Adenike’s apartment, a struggle ensued between Adenike and one of the robbers, identified as Quadri Iginla, who cut her with a knife. Adenike was said to have wrenched the knife from Iginla, and stabbed him in the stomach.

The robbery suspect reportedly lost balance and fell off from the two-storey building. Neighbours, who learnt of the robbery, were said to have alerted the police at the Adeniji Adele Division.

The other suspected robbers reportedly escaped after the police got to the area. The policemen were said to have rushed Iginla, who was unconscious, to the Lagos Island General Hospital, while Adenike was also taken by her family to a private hospital.

Unfortunately, Iginla died in the hospital.

Adenike’s husband, who declined to give his name, said the robbers injured his wife.
He said,
“We cannot confirm the number of the robbers. They entered my apartment at about 2am. One of them injured my wife in the hand and there was a struggle. As this went on, other people called the police and a patrol van was sent to our street. “The robbers quickly fled from the house. One of them, who had sustained a knife injury, fell off the staircases. The policemen took him to a hospital for treatment.”
A police source said that Iginla was not attended to at the general hospital for lack of a vacant bed.

He added that the robbery suspect died at a health center on the Adeniji Adele Road.

He said:
“The police patrol team responded to a distress call on the street at about 2.30am. A male robbery suspect, Iginla, was found injured. The suspect and others, who are still at large, allegedly entered Adenike’s room. While making away with possessions, the woman overpowered one of them, and stabbed him in the stomach. “She was also injured in the hand. During the struggle, others escaped, but the robber fell off the building. The police took the suspect and the victim to the hospital.”
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that Iginla’s girlfriend showed up at the police station, and wanted to know where he was being treated.
He said,
“No one in the area knew the identity of the robber. His girlfriend showed up at the station, and was asking the police to let her stay with him, but they did not allow her.”

The knife has since been recovered, while the case had been transferred to the State Department of Criminal Investigation.

e duro naa, ki lon wa kiri naa? I will keep praying for you tho

I find this piece quite interesting and I wish to share with you all so you can air your views. Enjoy

Seun has just received a mouth-watering offer from a multinational organisation with head office in Lagos. Her salary package would include a brand new car, an apartment in Ikoyi, and yearly all expense paid holiday for her, her spouse and two dependent relatives. Her monthly take home will be triple what she currently earns. It’s a dream job and one she should not reject yet she fretfully starred at the letter as she was chauffeured on her way home from work. As juicy as the offer was, it came with one caveat…no two people from the same family can work there at the same time. Her hubby had been a member of staff of the company for some years now and was also forging an impressive career for himself until this sudden dilemma.

The scenario painted above is what most organisations refer to as “Policy on Connubial Relationships”. How many of us find ourselves in such a precarious situation and how do we handle it? Would you let your spouse resign for you? Would you resign for your spouse? Who’s career is more important, his or hers? As usual the best way to deal with situations like this is to draw from the experience of those who have faced such situations. Some work places are so demanding, employees have no other form of meeting people except in the office. They end up falling in love only to face the snag of deciding who to resign first should their relationship end in marriage. In some organisations, such policies are instituted belatedly leaving spouses with the quandary of deciding who should step down for the other.

Issues like this typically cause disaffection and if not handled properly can lead to a break up in marriage. From a financial standpoint, decision-making in the case highlighted above is easier if quitting the job in favour of your spouse will result in the family income being higher than what it currently is should he reject the offer. Decisions like this also bother on mutual understanding between the husband and wife and on the basis that whatever decision they take is in the best interest of the family. For example, if she accepts the job on the basis of the income being more, could the set back in the career of the husband be a costly price on their relationship? There are issues that are beyond financial gains that should also be taken into consideration.

Mr. and Mrs. Cole for example, once found themselves in a similar situation. In their case they met in the organisation at a time when the policy was already in existence. They got married and the wife resigned immediately. Her husband was in a much more elevated position in the organisation and so they thought it was best she resigned. She soon had children and as time went by found it hard to get a job as most employers felt she had lost so much time within the period she was out of touch with industry requirement. Her husband being a very busy man was hardly around making her so miserable she almost fell into depression. To address the situation, which was threatening their marriage, the husband soon set her up with a small business where she sells dresses and toys for kids.

What if you do not have the finance to support your spouse should she decide to start a business? It is therefore important for the couple to take time to plan before deciding who is to resign. Is there a plan b should employment become unavailable? Is it easier for me to get another job than my spouse despite my elevated position in the organisation? Is my wife better off nurturing a career while I look elsewhere as I have a better qualification and experience to get another job? While it is financially and occupationally expedient for a spouse not to resign, it is equally important that you weigh the chances of getting another job for the spouse that would be resigning.

In the event that the spouse who resigns prefers to remain self-employed, then the other half must ensure full cooperation and support. Support can be moral, financial and even professional. For example, the spouse who remains in employment can use his or her influence to help the unemployed spouse get another job. You can help your husband get briefs should he resign and decide to choose a career in consulting. Similarly, you can also help your wife with professional advice and financial support should she decide to set out as an entrepreneur.

Seun did take the job on the insistence of her husband who believed she was better positioned to accept the job in view of her blossoming career. He resigned and for the next 12 months searched for another job in vain until he decided it was time to set out on his own.

Have you been in such a situation before? How did you resolve it positively and what do you think is the best way to handle such situations?

Send me an email ugodre@nairametrics.com or tweet at me @ugodre. Don’t forget to visit our website www.nairametrics.com/personalfinance for more personal finance articles.

Source: http://www.punchng.com/business/am-business/married-but-cant-work-in-same-organisation/

wow! i cant believe this. I posted this in the religion section and within 30mins, it is already on FrontPage . It is a clear indication that God is announcing me to my world shortly!!! *dancingToOldMaltinaAdvert*Wow! I feeeeeeeel gooooood tarararararara

A British agency, Charity Commission, has absolved Winners Chapel International of complicity in the alleged misappropriation of N3.4bn charity funds.

In a report published recently, the agency said Winners Chapel International, also known as World Mission Agency, demonstrated “good financial controls” for an organisation of its size.

While maintaining that the “employment of an individual who was related to the founder” generated a potential conflict, the United Kingdom-based agency said it was satisfied with the decision of the trustees in respect of the employment.

“Our review of the charity’s financial information identified minor discrepancies. However, the trustees were able to explain and resolve these. We found no evidence that N3.4bn or any other amount had been misappropriated.

“We were satisfied the charity could demonstrate good financial controls appropriate for a large and expanding charity,” said the report.

The agency said, investigations into the church’s books were launched following complaints from an “investigative journalist.”

Among other complaints, the agency investigated “the transfer of the charity’s funds to its sister organisation in Nigeria; the conduct of the charity’s founder, a pastor based in Nigeria who was (allegedly) caught on camera slapping a woman accused of being a witch across the face in front of a congregation; allegations that church members were encouraged to recruit vulnerable people into the church so they would contribute to the charity financially.”

Source: http://www.punchng.com/news/british-agency-clears-winners-chapel-of-n3-4bn-allegation/

SimpleJetty:
This question is solely meant to test your level of integrity. Your answer should be, having meticulously gone through the core values of the organisation which no doubt was in tune with my values as a being, I believe telling lies would be detrimental to the well-being of this organisation and negates the core values of the organisation. So therefore, if faced with such dire situation, my response will be toll the part of honesty, transparency and accountability which I strongly believe will in the long run favour the organisation.

Walai, you get grammer for mouth no be small....well said

Habisoye:
I trust some interviewer...they might av cut u off @d 4th paragraph, cox d question usually is not "Tell me all about urself" but "briefly tell me a little about ursef" and u start giving dem poem.. ¸.•´ ¸.ℓoℓ •*¨) ¸.•*¨)
If am d interviewer I will ask you if u'r a parrot or wether u swallow RADIO.

Cant just stop laffing at this.

Funmiladey:
Oga slimbone and havoc ( the best pitbull)

yeey! Havoc going places! Slimbone, please send me cut ooo

Thats a very beautiful sight to behold . but come to think of it, i never heard of VP Sambo's wife or even saw her pix for once or was i out of the continent?