Sterling Bank extends Farmers’ Radio to six-geo-political zones

Sterling Bank Plc, Nigeria's leading commercial bank, has extended coverage of its Farmers’ Radio programme to cover the six-geo-political zones of the country, following its wide acceptance and success in the northern part of the country.

Since its debut in 2018, the Farmers’ Radio show is the only agriculture-related radio show sponsored by a commercial bank in Nigeria. It started with a pilot in three northern states.

Group Head, Agric and Solid Minerals Finance, Sterling Bank, Mrs. Bukola Awosanya said this year’s edition of the seasonal radio programme will air for 13 weeks in major languages across all geo-political zones of the federation. 

Awosanya said each broadcast will last for about 30 minutes, with resource persons from research institutes and Development Financial Institutions (DFIs), among others being invited to discuss technicalities, innovations and available opportunities in agribusiness finance, as well as some dos and don’ts of modernized farming techniques.

She added that the radio programmes are structured like business rooms where needs-based discussions are held with the purpose of facilitating partnerships as well as drawing government and private investors' attention to specific value-chain related interventions to enhance business opportunities across agricultural finance and the value chain.

According to the Group Head, the programme will be broadcast on local radio stations across key agribusiness hubs in Nigeria to conceptualise, produce and broadcast unique programmes aimed at identifying and resolving the constraints faced by farmer groups and processors alike.

On the choice of broadcast medium, Awosanya pointed that radio remains the most widely used media platform outside of major urban areas, and a key medium for reaching people in areas with limited media options and penetration. 

On specific broadcast partners and regions, Awosanya disclosed that the North West geo-political zone will be covered by Kano Arewa FM, Katsina Companion FM and Kaduna FRCN FM; the North Central by Abuja Aso Radio, Kogi Grace FM, Benue Airwaves FM and Plateau Peace FM while Bauchi Globe FM, Adamawa Gotel FM and Borno Radio will broadcast to the North Eastern part of the country.

Ogun Paramount FM (Abeokuta), Osun Orisun FM (Ile-Ife), Oyo Splash FM (Ibadan) and Ekiti Golden Voice FM will air the program in the South West geo-political zone while the South East geo-political zone will receive broadcasts from Imo Orient FM and Abia Broadcasting Corporation, with the South South geo-political zone to be covered by DBS Melody FM, Akwa-Ibom Atlantic FM and Cross River Hit 95.9FM.

The principal objective of this season’s schedule include increasing and maintaining awareness of financing opportunities available to smallholder farmers, aggregators, off-takers, stakeholders and observers across the agribusiness value-chain. 

The programme will also serve as a platform for creating new commercial opportunities by driving market linkages, enabling multi-stakeholder interactions across the value chain with the goal to improving efficiency and output, especially among smallholder farmers.

Pregnant Kate Ferdinand shares stunning snaps from holiday with Rio and the kids

Pregnant Kate Ferdinand has plenty to look forward to with the birth of her and husband Rio's baby around the corner.

But she also loves a little look back too after sharing a sweet snap of the family's recent holiday.

The ex-footballer, Kate and her three step-kids enjoyed their luxury break so much she wants to go back.

The couple didn't announce exactly where it was they were going - but fans are desperate for some travel advice after seeing just how good their trip was.

The former TOWIE star uploaded a snap of a huge swing bed overlooking the beautiful blue water.

On it, Kate, 29, is snuggling with nine-year-old Tia - and they look soon comfortable it's no surprise the mum-to-be wants to return.

Kate captioned the shot: "How long is it acceptable to post holiday throwbacks? wishing we were back here."

It isn't just the reality star missing the sea.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/08/pregnant-kate-ferdinand-shares-stunning.html

Russia registers first COVID-19 vaccine, Putin’s daughter inoculated

Russia on Tuesday became the first country in the world to officially register a COVID-19 vaccine and declare it ready for use, despite international skepticism.

To underscore its efficacy, President Vladimir Putin said that one of his daughters has already been inoculated.

In the Philippine, President Duterte in a late night address said he sees a COVID-free December as Russia has offered to give free vaccines to the Philippines.

Putin emphasized that the vaccine underwent the necessary tests and has proven efficient, offering a lasting immunity from the coronavirus.

However, scientists at home and abroad have been sounding the alarm that the rush to start using the vaccine before Phase 3 trials — which normally last for months and involve thousands of people — could backfire. 

Speaking at a government meeting Tuesday, Putin emphasized that the vaccine has undergone proper testing and proven safe to use.

“I would like to repeat that it has passed all the necessary tests,” he said. “The most important thing is to ensure full safety of using the vaccine and its efficiency.”

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/08/russia-registers-first-covid-19-vaccine.html

COVID-19: US hands over 200 ventilators to Nigeria

The United States Government has handed over 200 ventilators to the Nigerian government.

The items were presented on Tuesday by the U.S Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Bert Leonard at the Abuja Premier Medical Warehouse in the nation’s capital.

This comes four months after President Donald Trump administration promised to support the country with ventilators as the Federal Government battles the COVID-19 pandemic that has ravaged the world.

Trump’s promise is sequel to a telephone conversation he had with President Muhammadu Buhari on April 28.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Mr Lai Mohammed, who disclosed this during a briefing said the call which was at the request of the American President centred on Nigeria’s response to COVID-19 pandemic.

Mohammed revealed that the conversation of both leaders centred on the efforts of the Nigerian government to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.

Although Nigeria reported 1,337 confirmed COVID-19 cases with its death toll at 40 as of April 26, the number of infections has however risen to 46,867 with 950 fatalities recorded as of August 10.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/08/covid-19-us-hands-over-200-ventilators.html

FG issues warning as covid-19 death toll nears 1,000

The Federal Government has warned that the 945 deaths recorded in COVID-19 pandemic cases is a wakeup call for citizens to take appropriate measures to avoid being infected.

The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said this on Monday in Abuja at the joint national briefing of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19.

According to Ehanire, as at August 10, 2020, Nigeria has recorded 46,577 cases from 317,496 samples tested so far, while 33,186 persons have been treated and discharged.

He said that 945 persons have been lost to the COVID-19 disease, which had now been identified in 549 of the 774 local government areas.

“Half of all cases in Nigeria so far are concentrated in 20 Local Government areas, which could offer the attractive option of targeted attention, to focus on case finding, isolation and treatment.

“The figures show that Nigeria is also sadly approaching the symbolic 1,000 number of fatalities, a grim reality that should be a wakeup call for us,” Ehanire said.

The minister said that many more Nigerians today personally knew a person who succumbed to COVID-19, warning that COVID-19 was still around and would be for a long time.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/08/fg-issues-warning-as-covid-19-death.html

Humble Smith announces his exit from his record label

Humble Smith has announced his exit from his record label, Ntyze Entertainment.

The singer announced his exit on his Instagram accusing the record label of certain things. 

1. Ntyze Entertainment Limited failed to furnish any iota of consideration under the purported Artiste Management contract which it claims to have entered into with our humble smiths a situation which renders the entire contract anullity.

2. Failure of Ntyze Entertainment Limited to render periodic account to our Client regarding the monies had and received on behalf of humblesmith.

See full statement below...

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/08/humble-smith-announces-his-exit-from.html

Gunshots rocks White House as Trump flees briefing

President Donald Trump was abruptly escorted from his press conference on Monday less than five minutes after it began after a Secret Service agent shot a 51-year-old man who 'aggressively' approached the officer and said he had a weapon outside the White House.  

In a update released Monday night, the Secret Service said the man approached an agent around 5.53pm at the corner of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW near the White House complex. 

'The suspect approached the officer and told the officer he had a weapon,' the statement reads. 'The suspect then turned around, ran aggressively towards the officer, and in a drawing motion, withdrew an object from his clothing.' 

The agency said the man then 'crouched into a shooter's stance as if about to fire a weapon'. 

'The Secret Service officer discharged his weapon, striking the individual in the torso,' the update reads.

Authorities did not release any other information about the man's condition, only saying that both he and the agent were transported to local hospitals. 

'The White House Complex was not breached during the incident and no Secret Service protectees were ever in danger,' the agency added. 

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/08/gunshots-rocks-white-house-as-trump.html

Man accused of r3ping woman is released from prison due to coronavirus, then he goes ahead to shoot his accuser DEAD

A Virginia man who was accused of r3ping a woman in October but released from jail over concerns surrounding Covid-19, has shot dead his accuser.

Alexandria police say Ibrahim E. Bouaichi, 33, fatally gunned down Karla Dominguez outside her apartment on July 29. 

The Venezuelan native was found dead outside her home with multiple gunshot wounds at around 6.20am.

Bouaichi had been in jail since October after Dominguez accused him of r3ping her, but he was released in April on bail, amid fears he could contract coroanvirus.

He shot his accuser just a few months later. 

Police issued a video news release asking for the public's help finding him after the attack, calling him 'armed and dangerous,' the Washington Post reports. 

Two days later, federal marshals and police found Bouaichi in Prince George's County and chased him, causing the suspect to crash. Authorities share that they found Bouaichi with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

He was later listed as being in grave condition. He also now has a murder charge.

Bouaichi was indicted on r3pe, strangulation and abduction charges after Dominguez testified that he s3xually abused her during a violent incident last October.

He was ordered in jail without bond, with his next court appearance scheduled for March 30. 

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/08/man-accused-of-r3ping-woman-is-released.html

Photos: Police nab fake soldier with Indian hemp in Delta

The Police Command in Delta State has arrested a fake soldier along Sapele-Benin road, conveying 420 wraps of Indian hemp.

DSP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, the Command spokesperson, who confirmed the arrest of the suspect to journalists in Asaba, said the man was arrested with a vehicle painted in army colours.

“The suspect, 44-year-old Mr Fabian Ojumah, was arrested with a Toyota Tundra truck painted in the Nigeria Army colours.

“The suspect paraded himself as a Major in the Nigeria Army when he was quizzed by police operatives of the Delta Operation Safer Highways.

“He was caught conveying 420 wraps of Indian hemp, and cannot specify where he is taking the exhibits to,” he said.

He also said the command has commenced investigations to unravel the fake soldier’s criminal network.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/08/photos-police-nab-fake-soldier-with.html

Families of those who steal from covid-19 funds will partake in the curses of the pandemic, Abiara warns

A former General Evangelist of the Christ Apostolic Church, Prophet Samuel Abiara, has said politicians and government workers who steal from Covid-19 funds are cursed.

Abiara, in a statement on Monday, commended the Lagos State Government for reopening worship centres and pledged the commitment of his congregation to keeping regulations on Covid-19. 

He, however, called on religious leaders in the country to intensify prayers for the end of the virus, saying only God could deliver the world from the pandemic.

“For those who are in charge of the donation of money, food items, etc, God said you must not steal anything from the money, food and all items donated for COVID-19 for yourself. If you do that, curses of the pandemic will be in the family of those who do this,” he added.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/08/families-of-those-who-steal-from-covid.html

Peacemaker stabbed to death as rivals fight over girlfriend

A peacemaker, Muhammed Obadimeji, has been killed while separating a fight between two men, Eniola Ayodele and Kayode Babashola, in the Dopemu area of Lagos State.

Punch Metro gathered that Ayodele and Babashola were fighting over their girlfriend, Barakat Wasiu, when Obadimeji intervened to make peace. 

While separating the rivals, it was learnt that Ayodele, who was armed with a sharp object, allegedly stabbed Obadimeji in the chest in an attempt to stab Babashola.

The impact of the stabbing made Obadimeji to fall to the ground, but as the 25-year-old was clutching on to life, some good Samaritans came to his rescue and rushed him to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, for urgent attention.

However, it was learnt that Obadimeji died in the process of being treated.

A resident of the area, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Obadimeji had no relationship with Barakat, but played the role of a peacemaker between Ayodele and Babashola when they were fighting, adding that he was killed in the process.

He said, “The boyfriends were fighting over the girl and the person who came to separate them was killed. One of them stabbed the person, who wanted to separate them and the injury led to his death. The man knew nothing about the fight; he wasn’t the one in a relationship with the girl; he just intervened to stop the fight and that was it.

“The girl is a teenager and somebody was killed because of her. The police have arrested the two rival men and the girl. All of them are in the police station.”

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/08/peacemaker-stabbed-to-death-as-rivals.html

Erica emerges ‘head of house’, picks Kidd Waya as deputy

Erica, has emerged the fourth Head of House (HOH) in the ongoing Big Brother Naija ‘Lockdown’ reality show.

She takes over from Ozo, whose HOH tenure elapsed on Monday afternoon.

The position of HoH is assumed weekly by a winner of the weekly task as instructed by Big Brother.

Erica, during her diary session with Big Brother earlier in the day, said it was her wish to be the next Head of House.

She said it was because she wanted the assurance of being in the house for another week, as well as the access to the head of the house lounge and other perks.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/08/erica-emerges-head-of-house-picks-kidd.html

Donald Trump says neither Russia or China wants him to win reelected

President Donald Trump has insisted that neither China nor Russia want him to be reelected, claiming that China would 'own' the U.S. if Joe Biden were elected to the presidency.

'If Joe Biden was president, China would own our country,' Trump said in remarks at a press conference Friday night, responding to reports about foreign interference in the November election.

'If China makes a deal with the United States with Joe Biden in charge they would own our country,' he went on.

Asked about reports that Russia is engaged in 'denigrating' Biden to help Trump's campaign, Trump brushed off the concern, saying 'I am the last president Russia wants to see in office.' 

Trump cited his moves to get European members of NATO to increase their defense spending, and his stance against a Russian oil pipeline to Germany, the Nord Stream 2, including the threat of sanctions to halt its construction. 

Earlier on Friday, a new warning from U.S. intelligence singled out Russia, China and Iran are attempting to interfere in the election, with Russia allegedly opposed to Biden and China opposed to Trump. 

In the case of Russia, the motive appears to be to run down Democratic former Vice President Joe Biden, who is days away from accepting his party's nomination to challenge President Donald Trump. 

The assessment came from Bill Evanina, director of the National Counterintelligence Security Center, in language that has become commonplace after years of hearings and testimony, as well as indictments of Russian officials alleged to have worked for a Kremlin-backed troll farm that hacked Democratic emails in 2016. 

'We assess that Russia is using a range of measures to primarily denigrate former vice president Biden and what it sees as an anti-Russia 'establishment.' he said.

But in a new twist, his statements are focusing on the three countries. 

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/08/donald-trump-says-neither-russia-or.html

Woman left with her lip hanging off and her nose sliced in two after dog attack

A woman was left with horrific facial injuries after a frightened dog attacked her at a barbecue.

Amber Esala, 26, from Virgina Beach in the US, was celebrating Independence Day on July 4 when distant fireworks spooked a German Shephard she was dog-sitting with her boyfriend, Kyle, 24 and their 11-month-old daughter, Raelynn.

The panicked dog attacked Amber’s face, inflicting her with gruesome wounds that left her lip damaged and her nose sliced in two.

“My friend and I were sitting on the ground with a German Shepherd that our neighbours happened to be watching for the night.

"This particular dog seemed nice yet a little frightened due to the fireworks being set off," said Amber.

"I remember it being quiet and then we heard a loud boom of fireworks down the street. The last image I had was staring at this dog face to face. I remember the dog's eyes locking with mine before it attacked me.

"I came back to reality when I got up and the blood came pouring down. I was so confused and all I could remember was saying: 'My face, my face is messed up.'

"They rushed me to the first hospital. It was question after question and all I could think about was my little girl sound asleep in her bed. The thought of her having to wake up without her mum really terrified me.

After leaving hospital following hours of surgery the next day, Amber was at first worried her wounds would scare her daughter, but a huge hug for mum when she came home stopped those doubts.

"As I walked out of the hospital all I could do was cover my face. I was ashamed. I was embarrassed. I was scared. The number one thing I thought about was going home to my daughter and her being scared of what she could see.

"Seeing my daughter made me want to be strong for her."

Now over a month since the accident, Amber suffers from night terrors and sometimes feels sad when she looks in the mirror. 

Although she finds it difficult to smile due to the loss of sensation in her face, Amber is determined to not let herself be defined by her scars and is instead embracing them as a sign of being a warrior.

Remarkably Amber doesn't blame anyone - or the dog -  for her accident.

"There was no one at fault, it was a lapse in judgment. At the end of the day we as people let our guards down too easily and that is something that we need to realise; animals are animals they have animal instincts and if they're scared or frightened they can attack.

"We need to be more cautious when around all animals even if we think we know them."

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/08/woman-left-with-her-lip-hanging-off-and.html

Tanker drivers suspend strike, reach agreement with Lagos govt

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, on Monday, directed its Petroleum Tankers Drivers, PTD, to suspend its ongoing strike in Lagos State after the union reached an agreement with Lagos State government and other stakeholders.

 Recall that the tanker drivers had began an indefinite strike, Monday, following Friday’s directive by NUPENG for members of the PTD, Lagos zone, to shut fuel distribution in Lagos and its environs over take-over of access roads to tank farms and fuel depots by containerised trucks, among other grievances.

Other grievances of the union are deplorable state of the roads and extortion of tanker drivers by security operatives in Lagos and its environs, NUPENG, in a statement by its President and General Secretary, Prince Williams Akporeha, and Olawale Afolabi, respectively, lamented perceived failure of various authorities in the state to address three major issues that have caused pains and harrowing experiences on the hapless petroleum drivers in the state for several months.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/08/tanker-drivers-suspend-strike-reach.html

Covid-19: Over 10,000 British Airways staff to lose their jobs

More than 10,000 British Airways staff are being made redundant as the airline scrambles to cut costs to survive the  

In a sign of the brutal cuts workers were facing at Britain's flag carrier, more than 6,000 employees across the business applied for voluntary redundancy. 

A further 4,000 were due to be told yesterday that they were being laid off.

Many of the remaining staff will suffer steep pay cuts and will see significant changes to their contracts. 

Long-serving cabin crew claim they could lose up to 50 per cent or 60 per cent of their income from the shake-up – which caps the amount cut from their basic pay at 20 per cent but will strip out a number of take-home allowances. 

Unions branded the day 'Black Friday' and accused BA of 'industrial thuggery'. BA has been at loggerheads with cabin crew unions Unite and GMB over the job-cutting plans, which it insists are crucial to its long-term survival.

BA's owner IAG plunged to a £3.8billion loss during the first six months of the year after the number of passengers on its flights fell by 98 per cent in the second quarter.

The company is planning to raise £2.5billion of emergency funding, backed by its largest shareholder Qatar Airways, to shore up its finances as it fears it could take until at least 2023 for business to recover.

Rivals including Virgin, Ryanair and Easyjet are all planning to cull jobs and slash spending to survive the crisis as they face months of lower passenger numbers.

IAG boss Willie Walsh has said Covid-19 is the biggest crisis the airline has ever faced.

A British Airways spokesman said: 'We are having to make difficult decisions and take every possible action now to protect as many jobs as possible.'

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/08/coronavirus-over-10000-british-airways.html

Governor Makinde sacks works commissioner who spent 55 days treating COVID-19

Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo, has sacked Raphael Afonja, the state commissioner of works, infrastructure and transport.

In a statement on Monday, Taiwo Adisa, chief press secretary to the governor, said the termination of Afonja’s appointment was contained in a letter dated August 10 and signed by Olubamiwo Adeosun, secretary to the state government (SSG).

The reason for the commissioner’s sack was not officially stated, but Afonja had announced at a radio programme earlier on Monday that he spent 55 days treating COVID-19.

The sack letter as reproduced by Adisa, read: “I wish to convey the approval of His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde, on the termination of your appointment as Honourable Commissioner, with immediate effect.

“Consequent upon the above development, you are hereby directed to hand over all the government items in your possession to the permanent secretary (ministry of works, infrastructure and transport).

“I am to add that, your contribution within the time of your sojourn is appreciated and commendable, and therefore, wish you successes in your future endeavours. I thank you.”

The governor also swapped the portfolios of two of his commissioners.

Bayo Lawal who was commissioner of special duties was moved to the state’s ministry of local government and chieftaincy affairs, while Funmilayo Orisadeyi who held sway in the latter ministry was given the former role of Lawal.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/08/governor-makinde-sacks-works.html

Kano court sentences singer to death for blasphemy

A court in Kano, Northern Nigeria, has sentenced a musician to death for blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad.

The Kano Upper Shari’a Court sitting at Hausawa Filin Hockey sentenced 22-year-old Yahaya Sharif to death by hanging.

The judge, Aliyu Kani, gave the verdict on Monday after finding Mr Sharif guilty as charged.

He was convicted based on Section 382 (b) of Kano penal code of 2000.

Mr Sharif, a resident of Sharifai in Kano metropolis, was accused of committing blasphemy against the prophet of Islam in a song he circulated via WhatsApp in March 2020.

Following the incident, protesters burnt down the singer’s family home and led a procession to the Kano Hisbah command’s headquarters.

The Hisbah is a Kano State-owned security outfit that enforces the Shariah law in the highly conservative state.

Mr Sharif’s father, Aminu Sharif, had disowned him, saying he was not living at his house when he committed the crime.

He also said that he did not share his son’s religious views.

“I want to categorically inform the general public that blasphemy is not my ideology, and I promise to arrest him (my son) and hand him over to security agents whenever he is found.

“If I had the authority to punish him by law, I will do that right away,” Aminu Sharif had said of his son.

On Monday, the court also sentenced one Umar Farouq of Sharada quarters of Kano metropolis to 10 years imprisonment with hard labour for making derogatory statements concerning the Almighty Allah in a public argument.

The judge said the convict committed the offence at a younger age, and his trial was delayed to enable him to attain adulthood as proscribed by Maliki Islamic jurisprudence and the administration of criminal justice law.

Both convicts have 30 days to appeal the judgment.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/08/kano-court-sentences-singer-to-death.html

FG directs civil servants on levels 12, 13 to resume

The  Federal Government has directed civil servants on Grade Levels 12 and 13 as well as those on essential duties to resume full duties.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan, gave the directive in a circular dated August 10, 2020.

The circular was titled “Resumption of officers on Grade Levels 12 and !3 and those on essential duties”.

Before now, as part efforts to curtail further spread of COVID-19, only workers on Grade Level 14 and above are resuming at their duty posts, and they only work three days in a week.

But Yemi-Esan, in the circular, added that all workers resuming for work will henceforth work from Monday to Friday and from 8 am to 4 pm.

She wrote, “Following Mr President’s approval of the recommendation of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, officers on Grade Levels 12 and 13, and those on essential services are hereby directed to be in the office every working day (Monday to Friday) with effect from Monday, August 10, 2020.

“Also, the officers and those affected by earlier circulars on resumption of duty are now to resume by 8 am and close by 4 pm daily.

“Permanent Secretaries/Chief Executive Officers are to define the officers performing essential services in their MDAs.

“However, in doing so, consideration must be given to the health implication of the number to recall for duties in the light of the extant guidelines on the measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.”

As they resume work daily, Yemi-Esan asked the officers to ensure full compliance with the directives and advice on the COVID-19 pandemic preventive measures, including maintenance of physical distancing, regular washing and/or sanitising of hands and wearing of face masks.

She added that efforts should be made to avoid overcrowding in individual offices.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/08/fg-directs-civil-servants-on-levels-12.html

I don’t care what people say about me when I die, Obasanjo speaks again

Nigeria’s former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has said he does not care what people say about him when he die.

Obasanjo had on Saturday released a sarcastic statement on the death of Senator Buruji Kashamu, saying that the former lawmaker used politics and legal means to escape justice but could not use the same to stop death.

In his words: “The life and history of the departed have lessons for those of all us on this side of the veil. Senator Esho Jinadu (Buruji Kashamu) in his lifetime used the maneuver of law and politics to escape from facing justice on alleged criminal offence in Nigeria and outside Nigeria.

“But no legal, political, cultural, social or even medical maneuver could stop the cold hand of death when the Creator of all of us decides that the time is up.

“May Allah forgive his sin and accept his soul into Aljanah, and may God grant his family and friends fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”

Obasanjo’s statement generated lots of controversies, with former Governor of Ekiti State and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu attacking him for his reckless statement.

But Obasanjo is undaunted, he told Premium Times in an interview on Sunday that it was okay for people to mourn every death but that the living, including himself, must draw the right lessons from the lives of those who have died.

He said it was only in doing this that the society can make progress.

“When I was growing up, in our community, when anyone known with bad character died, we usually only mourn him and bury him. No eulogy. No praise-singing.

“There is an English saying that urges us never to talk ill of the dead. But in this case, we are not talking ill of the dead. We are only drawing lessons from the life and history of the dead. I am not gloating over his death. It is sad for anyone to die and we must mourn him.

“But we must learn from such a passage. There will be bad lessons. There will be good lessons. But we should not just be praise-singing or eulogising the dead, especially when there is no need to do so.

“We should not cover up bad histories and conducts so that the right lessons can be learnt,” Obasanjo states.

The former President said he did not care what people would say about him when he died because he had said the right thing about Kashamu.

“As you know, I say my mind as truthfully as I know them and in line with my convictions. People are free to say whatever they want about my comment. I don’t begrudge people for holding opinions on whatever I say or do.

“Let people say whatever they like when I transit. Now that I am alive, am I not being abused? Whenever I transit, let people say whatever they know or think about me. Let them say it as it is. What my maker thinks of me is what matters most,” he added.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/08/i-dont-care-what-people-say-about-me.html