Woman who texted dead dad's phone daily for years gets reply from grieving man

A woman who texted her dead dad’s number daily for four years claims to have received an emotional reply from a grieving stranger who had lost his own daughter in a car crash.

Chastity Patterson, 23, of Arkansas, USA, had been sending her dad's phone number daily life updates after his death four years ago so that she could feel connected to him in her grief.

Then, to her surprise, on the fourth anniversary of his death someone replied.

A man identifying himself as 'Brad' said he had been reading her messages for years as he sent her an emotional text revealing he was a father himself, and that he had lost his own daughter in a car crash.


Chastity's Facebook post sharing the heartfelt messages from the grieving dad went viral, and she said she has been inundated with messages of support.

She wrote as she shared the screenshots of the text messages: "I text my dad everyday to let him know how my day goes, for the past Four years! Today was my sign that everything is okay and I can let him rest!"

She has since explained in another update that Jason is not her biological father, but he parented her.

She sent the lengthy message to his old number on Thursday, the night before the fourth anniversary of 'Jason's' death.

Chastity wrote: "Tomorrow is going to be a tough day again!

"It's been 4 years since I lost you and not a day goes by that I don't miss you."

Chastity writes a life update covering huge milestones, like beating cancer, graduating, having her heart broken, then finding new love

Chastity writes that she is "afraid of marriage" and wishes he was there if she ever does have the big day.

She writes: "I'll have to walk that long aisle alone and you won't be there to tell me everything will be okay, I'm doing great, you would be so proud of the woman I have become...."

She finishes the text to her dad with an upbeat assurance she still has a "smart mouth" and her "attitude has not changed".

Chastity writes: "I just wanted to say I love you and I really do miss you!"

She then received a reply from a man who introduces himself as 'Brad' and tells her he is a father too.

In the screenshots of his message shared by Chastity, he reveals he has been reading her messages to her late dad for years, and opens up about his own grief.

He writes to Chastity: "I lost my daughter in a car wreck in August 2014 and your messages have kept me alive."

He had never replies to Chastity's messages in the past, but wrote that he felt it was time to let her know he was there.

"I'm sorry you lost someone so close to you but I have listened to you over the years and I have watched you grow and go through more than anyone.

"I have wanted to text you back for years but I didn't want to break your heart. You are an extraordinary woman and I wish my daughter would have become the woman you are."

He writes that Chastity's father would have been proud of her and finishes the message saying he believed their correspondence was a "sign from God."

After receiving a heartfelt response from hundreds of thousands of people who liked and shared her post on Facebook, Chastity went on to explain who Jason was to her.




source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2019/10/woman-who-texted-dead-dads-phone-daily.html

Fake police officer captured in Lagos (photo)

Officers of the Rapid Respond Squad, RRS, along Lagos-Abeokuta Road have arrested a fake police man, Samuel Umoh.

He was arrested while plying on an illegal route and against traffic.

According to the RRS, on its Facebook wall, when he was accosted, he claimed to be a “staff”, showing the policemen a fake ID card which they detected immediately.

Further questioning revealed he was impersonating the police and was thus arrested.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2019/10/fake-police-officer-captured-in-lagos.html

27 Yahoo boys arrested as EFCC raids Owerri hideouts

Twenty-seven suspected internet fraudsters have been arrested in one fell swoop as the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission stormed Owerri, capital of Imo.

The suspects were arrested on Thursday, October 24, 2019 in Eura Hostel, Naze-Obibiezena Road, Nekede and Bloomnesdays Plaza Hostel, Nekede, all in Owerri, Imo State, following intelligence and diligent surveillance carried out on them.

Intel established that the suspects were living above their means from proceeds of their alleged fraudulent activities, following which a team of operatives executed a coordinated raid in their residences.


Items recovered from them include: mobile phones, laptop computers, three Lexus E350 cars with registration numbers AFM 206 MK, WER 468 PP, LAG 615 FE; two Lexus R300 SUV with registration numbers MUS 276 FB, NGN 153 NX and one Toyota Avalon with registration number AAA 124 EP.

The suspects have already provided useful information that is aiding the Commission’s investigation.

They will be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded, said EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren.




source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2019/10/27-yahoo-boys-arrested-as-efcc-raids.html

My only regret is my tribal mark- Actor Olaiya Igwe

Everyone calls him Olaiya Igwe, but his real name is Ebun Oloyede. He is regarded as the Igwe of the movie industry. He has paid his dues.  He has put in 45 years. So, he is a veteran scriptwriter, actor and producer who has produced so many great movies until a few years back when his N52 million movie was pirated and that has been a big set back for him. In an interview with City People  he shared part of the story of his life at almost 60. He will be 60 in a few years time. He told City People that his biggest regret in life remains his parents’ decision to give him tribal mark. Olaiya Igwe insists that there is no need for parents to give their children tribal marks. Excerpt from the interview ...

How has it been maintaining your brand over the years and you are still relevant in the industry?

I feel so happy and excited. Though at times, I still feel bad because of the country I found myself; a country that doesn’t appreciate artistes; a country that doesn’t see artiste as somebody they need to appreciate or recognized; especially by our government. We are just trying, patching everything up, but we still have to thank God. If by now I have a jet, or you point to a jet and they said it belongs to Ebun Oloyede, I deserve it considering my input so far.


I formed my own theatre group; Olaiya Films Nig. Ltd., in 1979, about 40 years ago. It is very difficult for me to say I want to celebrate 40 years on stage because of the present situation, but like I said, I still have every reason to thank God, at least I’m still alive.

You keep looking young and younger, what is the secret?

I don’t know how he’s doing it. At times when I look at my contemporaries, I see them older than I am. Seriously, I see it like an act of God.

Are there any specific things that you do, like routine, what you eat or exercise to keep fit?

I was born in the village, Mogan in Abeokuta. At the age of 5 my mum took me to Oke Koto in Agege, Lagos, and then later returned me back to Abeokuta. Why am I saying this? I enjoyed a lot of natural things in the village especially food and fruits. Probably, I was given some herbs too that makes me look young always (laugh). I did not regret living, growing up from the village. The only thing I regret is the tribal mark.

Why sir?

Tribal mark is not a culture. It is an uncivilized act. It is not a DNA, because as at that time they believed it is Yoruba DNA. It is very easy to recognize one another outside that you are from the same compound, but who told them that I belong to their family or part of their family? It is only my mother that can tell if I belong to the family or not. What if my pregnancy belongs to her concubine, but she brought it to my father? Which is very possible then, and there was nothing like DNA test to check the true paternity of a child then. Look at our father, Alaafin Oyo, a very handsome man even with his tribal mark, though some of his children have tribal marks, but what about the grandchildren? None of them has a tribal mark. That is to tell you that tribal is not our tradition, it is not our culture, because if it is, somebody like Alaafin Oyo should keep and promote the custom till date because he’s our father. If it is our culture then it shouldn’t have disappeared from the palace; it shouldn’t have been erased from the palace. It is purely an act of wickedness. Thank God for civilization that completely erased it. If it is something important or part of our culture, all my 7 children should have it because I have it.

Was there any moment you regret having a mark in your journey in life?

Everyday! If it is part of our culture I might not feel bad. There are so many shenanigans done by our ancestors, forefathers that people think it is part of our culture simply because they were uncivilized. I will continue to say it, if it is that important we would have seen Alaafin Oyo keeping, nurturing it till now.



source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2019/10/my-only-regret-is-my-tribal-mark-actor.html

Jeff Bezos reclaims ‘World’s Richest Man’ title after losing it to Bill Gates

Jeff Bezos suffered a drop in his vast net worth on Thursday after Amazon stock tumbled more than 7% on disappointing third-quarter financial results.

The stock rout, largely driven by Amazon’s first quarterly profit decline in two years and a weak revenue guidance, translated to a $9 billion loss on paper in Bezos’ personal account. Although it wasn’t a huge write-off compared to Bezos’ $100 billion-plus total worth, it was just enough to knock him off the champion’s podium as the world’s richest person.

After the stock tumble Thursday afternoon, Bezos’ net worth stood at $103.9 billion, about $2 billion less than that of Bill Gates, who became the world’s richest person again—after losing the title to Bezos two years ago.


The new order didn’t last long, however.

Amazon shares began recovering Friday morning, gradually climbing 4% in the mid-day trading hours, which pumped Bezos’ net worth back to above $110 billion and re-throned him as the world’s richest man, according to Bloomberg’s real-time Billionaires Index.

The Amazon CEO wouldn’t have had to worry about his status change at all had he not gone through an expensive divorce with his wife of 25 years, MacKenzie Bezos, earlier this year. The split reduced Bezos’ fortune by about a quarter after the former Mrs. Bezos took away $35.6 billion worth of Amazon stock.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2019/10/jeff-bezos-reclaims-worlds-richest-man.html

Meet Ini Edo's lookalike (photo)

The lady made the SOS call on social media, saying her friends have been saying she looks like Nollywood actress, Ini Edo. See any resemblance?

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2019/10/meet-ini-edos-lookalike-photo.html

My husband is the most honest person I have ever met – Regina Daniels

Beautiful Nollywood actress, Regina Daniels has been repeatedly vilified by all and sundry over her marriage to billionaire businessman and lawyer, Prince Ned Nwoko because of almost 40 years difference in their ages.

But in a recent chat with Potpourri the actress says she’s living her best life, giving reasons she loves her aged husband.

“His honesty. He’s the most honest person I have ever met. In short, I love his honesty,” she said, adding that she has no regrets whatsoever and has not missed anything by marrying someone old enough to be her father.


 “Well, I have never actually liked hanging out with my age mates. I go for people that are far older than me, so I could learn something from them or people who are bellow, so I could teach them something and being married to my husband hasn’t stopped me from relating with those people,” she said, adding that marriage has robbed her of nothing.

 “I can’t think of anything marriage has robbed me of, because when I was single, my life was always about acting, schooling and I didn’t have time for party but now that I’m married I could go out for parties. I can even say I’m more privileged to have more opportunities now to do things than when I was single.”

 On her initiation into the Aniocha women’s cult after her marriage, a traditional rite presumed to shackle the actress and prevent her from ever marrying any other man, she said it was more of honour than bondage.

“First of all, I will not call it an initiation, it’s more like being welcomed to womanhood and for you to be part of that group. It’s an elite group, you must be married and be a woman of substance. I will say I’m even privileged to be part of that group,” she said.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2019/10/my-husband-is-most-honest-person-i-have.html

Human Ken Doll channels Nicki Minaj in head-to-toe Fendi as he prepares for 75th plastic surgery

Rodrigo Alves looked full of beans over the weekend as he stepped out in Istanbul, Turkey - where he is preparing to have his 75th cosmetic procedure.

Having recently undergone work on his teeth, the former Celebrity Big Brother star, 36, is gearing up to have a further procedure carried out on his chin, as well as a so-called Brazilian Butt Lift, liposuction and the removal of his 'fake six-pack'.

Roddy spent Saturday evening hosting a small party with close pals at his suite at The W Hotel, Istanbul, where he likes to stay when he is in the city.

And whats more cathich, he channeled Nicki Minaj's look from a year ago.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2019/10/human-ken-doll-channels-nicki-minaj-in.html

Khloe speaks of Lamar Odom after 4 years of silence

Khloé Kardashian got back in touch with ex Lamar Odom for the first time since his drug overdose on Sunday's episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians.

As the episode opened, the 35-year-old reality star said she'd heard that her ex-husband was writing a book, which had her 'nervous.'

Called Darkness To Light, it detailed their relationship and delved into his addictions to drugs and alcohol, even touching on a near-death experience.


But for Khloé, who hadn't spoken to Lamar, 39, since he was hospitalized after partying at a Nevada brothel in 2015, it was cause for worry.

'We had a really great marriage, but Lamar was battling some inner demons, so we had to divorce,' she said of the Los Angeles Lakers star to whom she was married from 2009 to 2016.

'After I got him on his feet, I felt it was better that we went different ways to not confuse our personal healing and growth.'



source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2019/10/khloe-speaks-of-lamar-odom-after-4.html

Photos/video: Kylie Jenner dresses daughter Stormi in her Met Gala look for Halloween

She made quite the splash at this spring's fashionable Met Gala, and now her daughter is following in mom's footsteps in a wildly entertaining kid's costume for Halloween.

Kylie Jenner, who wore an eye-catching feathery lilac ensemble to the Metropolitan Museum's annual buzzy fundraiser in May, uploaded an irresistibly cute gallery of photos and video to her Instagram account and stories on Sunday showing daughter Stormi Webster, aged one and a half, in a twinning look.

The look, based on Kylie's Versace-designed gown, featured poofy lavender feathers at the sleeves and hem of the gown, which was constructed of flesh-toned fabric and silvery embroidery.

The finishing touch, of course, was the little girl's long flowing lilac wig, which also matched mom Kylie's tresses from the gala.

View this post on Instagram

My baby!!!!!!!! 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜 i cant handle this!!!!

A post shared by Kylie ✨ (@kyliejenner) on Oct 27, 2019 at 5:54pm PDT

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2019/10/photosvideo-kylie-jenner-dresses.html

16-year old student kills mate during cult war in Lagos

Adewale Ayuba, a secondary school student, has stabbed a schoolmate to death during a cult clash between Oto Awori Secondary School and Government Secondary Schoolboys at Ijanikin in Lagos State.

Ayuba, who is 16-year-old, was arrested by the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC) and handed over to the police.

The LNSC's spokesman, Olawale Afolabi, disclosed this in a statement released on Sunday.

“When the LNSC operation team got the information, they notified Ijanikin police station. The police in conjunction with LNSC took the deceased to the hospital. The boy that committed the offence ran away but he was fished out and arrested by our men who handed him over to Ijanikin police station for further action,” said Afolabi.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2019/10/16-year-old-student-kills-mate-during.html

Naija Lady Flees With Estranged Lover's SUV After S*x

A 23-year-old woman, Deborah Nwachukwu, has been arrested by the Police in Ikeja, Lagos, after she allegedly escaped with her estranged lover’s Sports Utility Vehicle, SUV and other valuables.

The incident occurred on October 21 at MKO Street, off Toyin Street, Ikeja.

Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Lagos State Police Command, Bala Elkana said the suspect, an indigene of Abia State, residing at No 19 Irewale Street, Ipade area, Lagos stole a Toyota SUV, two Samsung S10, Wrist watch, designer perfume and some cash from her man's house.

“The incident happened on 20/10/2019 at about 0200 hours when the man (Patrick) was sleeping. According to the complainant, he invited the suspect to help in cleaning up the house for him. That he met her at Shoprite in Ikeja selling some cleaning products for a company around the Shoprite.

“And they agreed for N20,000 payment for her services. The suspect however added that the invitation was not just for cleaning of the house but for s*xual reasons. That after having s*x, she noticed that the complainant was fast asleep and she quickly took his two phones, Wrist watch, designer perfume, some cash and his SUV and escaped from the house after locking him up in the room.

“A team of detectives, led by the Divisional Police Officer, Ikeja CSP Gbenga Ogunsaki arrested the suspect and recovered the stolen items. The suspect has been charged to Court and remanded in correctional custody,” he said.

Bakare Slams 'Bourdillon' & 2023 Presidential 'Hope-Fools'

Tunde Bakare, serving overseer of the Latter Rain Assembly (LRA), has sent a cryptic message to Bourdillon, saying he who stole will vomit all he has stolen before he goes.

Speaking during a sermon at Latter Rain Assembly on Sunday, Bakare said the people are praising the one who stole from them, and regarding him as a generous man.

The fiery preacher, who also spoke about the race to 2023, added that a truly generous man is a man who “devises generous things, and by generosity, he shall stand”.

“The eyes of those who see will not be dim. The ears of those who hear will listen. Also, the heart of the rash will understand knowledge and the tongue of the stammerers will be ready to speak plainly,” Bakare said.

“The foolish person would no longer be called generous. You can say ‘so so and so’ has stolen all the money in the state, but he is a very generous man, you are foolish.

“That’s why potholes are killing you, that’s what pools of water… you can’t drive now anymore because what is meant for road has been stolen since democracy began, they are living larger than life having jets here, having jets there, having house in Bourdillon, having house in this place, having house in that place, having house in every place at the expense of the public.

“You will not go without vomiting what you have stolen. Wait, and see. Because a king will reign in righteousness and princess will rule with justice. Unfortunately, Nigeria people, you celebrate your villains and crucify your heroes.”

SPEAKS ON LAGOS FLOOD
Speaking about the floods in Lagos, the convener of the Save Nigeria Group (SNG) added that the government has not done right by the people.

“You’re complaining about Flood. Since 1999 the condition of this road for 30 years now since I’ve been here has remained the same. They’ll do patch-patch, join-join, until rain comes and reveal that they have not been right with the people,” Bakare added.

“And you think your children will stand shoulder high above the perversity you have created? I see the race to 2023, congratulations Presidential ‘hope-fools’. You cannot, you have stolen what belong to all.

“You can tell the man, he is a very generous man, he would pay for your hospital bill. Because he didn’t build hospitals. The foolish person will no longer be called generous.

“Woe betides the government that does not know that the purpose of government is the welfare of the people.”

Bakare, who ran alongside President Muhammadu Buhari in 2011, said some people came to him in 2011, and just told him to sign that I would step down after a few days as VP and get a house in Abuja and another one in “Banana Republic”.

Bakare was arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) — also known as SSS — in 2002 for his sermons, which were seen as very critical of the government of the day.

Catholic Church To Start Ordaining Married Men As Priests

Catholic bishops approved a proposal Saturday allowing some married men to be ordained as priests in the Amazon region. The proposal, which must be approved by Pope Francis, would be a historic change to the church’s centuries-old tradition of unmarried priests.

It passed by a vote of 128-41 and applies only to some churches in the Amazon region that are experiencing a shortage of priests.

The region includes parts of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela.

The proposal, known as “viri probati,” refers to older Catholic men, who have stable families, are respected in their communities and who are already ordained as deacons in the church.

Allowing married men to become priests is not the same thing as allowing priests to marry, so the change would not affect the rule of celibacy for Catholic priests, who are not allowed to marry.

Pope Francis must approve the proposal for it go into effect, something he said he hopes to respond to by the end of the year. The pope has previously stated he was open to studying the possibility of allowing married men to be ordained.

Although the Catholic Church only ordains unmarried men to the priesthood, some converts, from Anglicanism for example, can become Catholic priests even if they are already married.

The proposal to ordain married men was one of the most contentious recommendations voted on Saturday evening at the conclusion of a three-week long meeting at the Vatican to discuss environmental and religious issues affecting the Amazon region.

The Vatican invited 184 bishops and priest from the Amazon region and around the world for the special meeting known as a synod. Thirty-five women, mostly religious sisters and nuns, were invited but did not have voting rights.

Another proposal recommended continuing to study the possibility of ordaining women as deacons.

NAN reports that a commission by Francis in 2016 did not result in a conclusive recommendations.

BBNaija Cindy Gives MC Galaxy A Portrait For Making Her A Millionaire

Former big brother naija housemate, Cindy paid a courtesy visit to MC Galaxy at his home to present him a portrait photo for making her a millionaire, after giving her money he planned for others.

MC Galaxy gift Cindy N1million after selected housemates, Ike and Khafi failed to show up.

Confession of a Yahoo Man who's a Masters Degree holder

An internet fraudster, Ernest Ogbor has made confessional statements to the police detailing how he delved into 'yahoo yahoo' fraud, making money from unsuspecting victims.

Ogbor said he used to work with a pharmaceutical company, before he joined a fraud syndicate.

Ernest, a Bsc holder in Microbiology with an MSc in Business Administration from the University of Benin poses as a Medical Doctor with the United Nations to defraud people with his romance format.

The police headquarters said he would be duly prosecuted in court at the conclusion of investigation.

Mother Of 4 Dies During Secret Abortion By A Fake Doctor

The Police in Ogun State have arrested a 56-year-old fake doctor for allegedly conducting an illegal abortion that killed one Kehinde Olakitan.

The suspect identified as Salahudeen Jamiu was October 24 at his hospital, Mojisola Maternity Clinic, after the woman’s husband filed a complaint at Onipanu Division in Ogun State.

It was gathered that the complainant who was the woman’s husband had received a call from her friend Dupe Odebunmi that she was on admission at the clinic. 

But before he could get to the hospital, it was gathered that the suspect and his accomplices had evacuated his wife’s body and dumped it at a building near his residence.

Angered by the development, the man, it was gathered, filed a complaint at the police station which led to a manhunt of the fake doctor and his eventual arrest.

The Nation gathered that it was after the suspect’s arrest the man knew his wife, a mother of four, was pregnant and had proceeded to have an abortion without his knowledge.

It was learnt that Odebunmi, a drug hawker, was the one who introduced the deceased to the quack doctor for the procedure but notified her husband after the woman had died.

Odebunmi, according to a police source, claimed she was not aware the doctor dumped the woman’s body near her residence.

Confirming the incident, police spokesman Abimbola Oyeyemi, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP) said both the doctor and Odebunmi were being interrogated.

He said, “The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Onipanu SP Magdalene Adeniji received the complaint and detailed detectives to track the operator of the maternity centre who was on the run at the time.

“Their efforts yielded positive result when the suspect was arrested on October 24. He admitted that he carried out abortion on the woman who was brought by Odebunmi and that in the process she died.

“He confessed that he was not a trained medical doctor that he learnt the practice off the street. He also admitted to have dumped the woman’s body near her house out of fear.

“The corpse has been deposited at the General Hospital Mortuary in Ota for autopsy. The Commissioner of Police Bashir Makama has ordered the transfer of the suspect to homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) for proper action.

“The CP also appealed to the public to always patronise qualified health providers whenever the need arises instead of seeking medical assistance from quack.”

Tinubu Bullion Vans: APC Reacts To Petition Against Him

The All Progressives Congress has reacted to the petition submitted to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

A group under the aegis of concerned Nigerians had submitted the petition to the EFCC asking it to probe the bullion vans sighted in Tinubu's residence on the eve of the 2019 elections.

The petition dated October 25 was signed by activist, Com. Deji Adeyanju on behalf of concerned Nigerians and two other activists – Ariyo Dare Atoye and Adebayo Raphael.

It would be recalled that a picture of two bullion vans entering Tinubu’s residence on the eve of the election had gone viral even as Tinubu claimed the money belonged to him.

Some Nigerians had taken on the EFCC for not probing the bullion vans despite the outcry trailing the movement of huge cash.

But the acting Chairman of the commission, Ibrahim Magu, had said the EFCC would probe Tinubu if it received petition to that effect.

It was on this basis that Adeyanju and his colleagues submitted the petition to the commission in response to the challenge by the Chairman.

Daily Trust learnt that the petition has caused panic in the camp of the APC leader with his followers and supporters wondering if the EFCC would go after their leader.

However the APC spokesperson in Lagos, Hon. Abiodun Salami in a chat with Daily Trust dismissed the petition, challenging them to come up with proof that Asiwaju had stolen any money.

He said, “Let them come up with the proof. The man is a private citizen and he has been out of government for the past 12 years. If he has decided to spend his money on his party, how is that a problem? Let them come up with a proof that somebody’s money is missing.”

Adeyanju had while submitting the petition said, “I have decided to take up your challenge after you called for a petition through your social media account on Twitter.”

BBNaija Winner Mercy Receives Duplex From Billionaire

The winner of Big Brother Naija reality TV show, Mercy Eke was super excited as she receives four bedroom duplex in Victoria Crest homes from billioniare businessman, Ned Okonkwo and his wife.

The key of the duplex was presented to her openly at an event. Other celebrities spotted were Cubana Chief Priest and ex BBNaija housemates.

Recall same Ned Okonkwo and his wife gifted Mercy $10,000 a few week ago.

Blind Nigerian Professor Who Lost His Eyes At Age 2 Wins N8.8million SUV

A visually impaired Professor of Education at Bayero University, Kano, Prof. Jibrin Diso, on Friday received a car worth N8.8m won through a raffle draw with 699 other persons, NAN reports.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Mr Ernest Umakhihe, during the hand-over of the car in Abuja, said Prof. Diso’s emergence as winner was God’s doing.

Narrating how the visually impaired university don won the luxury SUV, Umakhihe explained that he led a delegation of 700 participants of Joint Planning Board and National Council on Development Planning for a meeting in Asaba, Delta State.

He said that after the two days meeting, a familiarisation tour was undertaken to Innoson Vehicles Motor plant at Nnewi to see the level of commitment of the company to manufacturing industry towards the nation’s economic diversification.

He stated that as a show of appreciation for the visit, the Chairman of the company magnanimously donated a brand new IVM Ikenga model vehicle to the delegation.

The permanent secretary said there was confusion regarding how the owner of the car could emerge among 700 participants.

According to him, in order to determine ownership and ensure transparency, the council decided to use a raffle draw where Diso emerged a winner.

He added that it was God’s involvement for the visually impaired person to emerge winner in ‘699 no and one yes’, “the professor was lucky to pick the yes and he won’’.

Umakhihe congratulated the winner of the vehicle and also thanked IVM for the support to the national economic development.

He reiterated the government’s commitment and determination to support and encourage the local industries through the implementation of the local content’s policy in ensuring patronage of “Made in Nigeria’’ products.

Responding, Diso thanked the ministry and IVM for the donation and described his emergence as the winner as an act of God.

He said he was grateful to God who made it possible for him to partake in the national assignment where he had the opportunity to participate in the raffle draw and later won.

“I also thank God for making me visually impaired and then gave me the opportunity to turn my disability to ability.

“I must also state it clearly that it is not easy for a visually impaired person to become a professor in this country because of several challenges,” he said.

Diso, who said he became blind at the age of two, advised other people living with disability not to relent or discouraged to contribute their quotas to the development of the country.

The professor of education enjoined government at all levels to provide opportunities for those living with disabilities to partake in government and governance of the country.