On August 2, 1997 Afrobeat legend/activist, Fela Kuti passed on at the age of 58.
Today, 19 years after Nigerians have taken to the social media to pay tribute to the man, who enlightened many with his songs and is responsible for some of the greatest music the world has heard.
While Nigerians led the tributes, causing #Fela to trend, music lovers worldwide and The Economist magazine were not left out.
File: Two unidentified Nigerian siblings aged 11 and 10, rescued in the Mediterranean on Friday after losing their mother while on a dangerous journey to Europe. AFP.
Residents of a Libyan town have buried the decomposing bodies of 21 migrants who had washed up on their beach after authorities failed to act, an NGO and medics said Monday.
The first bodies were spotted on the beach of Al-Maya, just west of the capital Tripoli, on August 2, said a statement from a civil society association in Wersheffana district where Al-Maya is located.
It said in a statement that over the next three days more bodies washed up on the beach, bringing the total to 21, and that they were in an “advanced state of decomposition”.
“The residents became increasingly scared this could spark diseases and epidemics,” it said.
The Libyan Red Crescent in Janzur, a suburb of Tripoli, were informed of the situation and dispatched staff to Al-Maya, said its chief Hussam Nasr.
“We went there to retrieve the bodies and to lift DNA samples,” said Nasr.
“We also tried to get in touch with the authorities to secure a permit to bury the bodies to no avail and the bodies remained on the beach for three days,” he said.
Concerned by the “health hazard” decomposing bodies could pose, residents decided not to wait anymore for an official permit and took matters into their own hands, he said.
On Saturday they buried the unidentified bodies in a cemetery in Al-Maya, where a Muslim funeral service took place.
People smugglers have taken advantage of the chaos gripping Libya since the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed dictator Moamer Kadhafi to boost their lucrative business.
They cram migrants into boats that are small and unsafe for the perilous journey to Italy just 300 kilometres (190 miles) from Libya’s shores.
Thousands of migrants try each year to make the sea crossing but many drown.
A total of 4,027 migrants and refugees have perished since January trying to flee wars and poverty looking for a better life mainly in Europe, the International Organization for Migration said Tuesday.
Of that total, some 3,120 died trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea, including 120 who drowned off Libya’s coastal town of Sabratha at the end of July, it said.
Consul-General of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Lagos, His Excellency Ingo Herbert, says he is impressed with what Governor Adams Oshiomhole has achieved in Edo State as Governor in the past eight years. Speaking during a visit to the Governor in Benin City, yesterday, the German envoy said he hoped the next Governor will continue with the progress made in the past eight years. According to him, “we talked about the election, and I expressed my hope that it will be peaceful, fair and transparent, and for the beneficiary to continue with the development that has started in the last years. I think from my point of view that is nice. I am quite impressed.” He continued: “when we arrived Benin City, I was surprised because everywhere there was German colour of our national flag. I felt a very warm welcome to your state. We talked also about the achievements and challenges of Edo State, and I congratulate the Governor for what he achieved with his team here. When he leaves office in November, I hope to continue the contact.” The Governor assured the envoy and people of the state that the September 10, governorship election will be peaceful and transparent. According to the Governor, “our election will be peaceful. It has to be because we launched one man, one vote in this state. “Before I came in here, election rigging was taken as a given, and the big boys carried guns and scared people away and they took the ballot boxes, they would write results and tell you to go court. And I said we can defeat these guys, and we have defeated them. “Even with their full control of the military, police, Air Force, State Security Service, with stolen funds from the NNPC, we still defeated them. They gave the money out, and we told our people, collect the money but don’t vote for them.” He said, “so, we are looking forward to a very transparent election. We have no choice. That is our selling point, it is a lot better now.”
Lagos – A 35 year old man arrested by the operatives of Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Lagos State Police Command, has insisted that his pastor pushed him into selling of stolen vehicle.
The suspect, Olawale Olabinwonnu, working with Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Igbogbo, Ikorodu, as an administrative officer was arrested by RRS Intelligence Team on Tuesday for trying to sell a Nissan Sentra, 2015 Model, stolen at gun – point.
The vehicle, whose original vehicle number was changed to a fake one – APP 510 DW, in order to sell it, was recovered on Monday, August, 1st 2016 at a car park in Lekki, Lagos.
It was learnt that RRS investigators had on seeing the vehicle on a popular online shopping platform, (name withheld) called its marketer to indicate their interest in buying the car before pretending as couples interested in the car.
And, enthusiastically, the man who took the custody of the stolen Nissan Sentra came forward to welcome the buyers before he was arrested. He however assisted the police in the arrest of its marketer in Ikorodu several days later.
Olawale, apparently sensing something was wrong with the vehicle had along with his family parked out of his Ikorodu residence and office to evade arrest, but investigators were said to have tracked him on Sunday to another church in Ikorodu where he was arrested last Sunday after church service.
The vehicle, which is owned by one of the first generation banks in the country, was reported stolen at gun point when robbers invaded an hotel in Iju – Ishaga area where the manager of the bank was lodging.
The robbers were reported to have requested for the car key from the banker before making away with it along with other valuables.
According to Olawale, “the vehicle was given to me to sell by Ahmed Abbey. I met him at Dammy Jay Hotel, Ikorodu. I went there to drink and he came to my table, bought drinks for everybody. That was how I liked him.
When I was going home, I told him I was going home and he gave me N2, 000. Those were moments I was struggling and I had no job”.
He said, “I saw Abbey later that week to explain how he could help me get some money because I had no job. This was the time he asked me if I could help his sister ,who was travelling overseas to sell her car. And, I told him that I would try.
I consulted my pastor twice on the issue of helping him sell a car. First, the pastor told me to go ahead and collect the car from him and sell it. I took the car from Abbey and began to market it but after about three weeks, I couldn’t get a buyer. He took the car from me”.
“Some weeks later, I stumbled on him with the car and he challenged me that I didn’t want to help his sister sell her car.
After a while, we agreed that I will help him to look for buyer. I consulted my pastor again for him to pray about it.This time, the pastor introduced me to somebody in Lekki who has a car park at a very conspicuous place, where we can put the car for sale.
It was here the car was until I learnt that the car was stolen at gun – point”, he added.
The suspect continued: “since I was arrested, I have been calling Abbey to come and explain to the police that he gave me the car to sell, but most of the time, he avoided my calls, at times, he switched off his phone. Presently, he’s no longer picking any call on that line”, he added.
Confirming the arrest, the State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, said that the suspect was helping the Police with investigation, adding that efforts are on – going to arrest the man that gave him the car to sell.
The suspect along with the vehicle has been transferred to Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) for further investigations.
A Newly Elected Executive has been Inaugurated/Sworn-in to Administer the Affairs, Programmes and Projects of the Nigerian Community in the Entire Netherlands under the Auspices of the Nigerian National Association-Netherlands, NNA.NL.
The Eventful Ceremony took Place in the Famous City of Amsterdam on the 30th July, 2016.
The Elected Executive Officers sworn in for the 2016-2018 tenure were: *Chief, Mrs Evelyn Azih-President. *Elder G.Uyi Olaye, AMBCS-National Vice President. *Mr Otunba Bambo Larry- Secretary-General. *Mr John Robert-Financial Secretary. *Apostle, Mrs Helen Dorkeno-Treasurer. *Mr Basil Okwudili Ike- Chief Whip.
*Mr Alexander Daniel Jika-Provost-Executive Working Committee.
*Mrs Joyce Ovunda- Coordinator of Rotterdam.
Other Officers Elected were:
*Prince John Paul Idojiere-National Chairman,Executive Working Committee.
*Mr K Fatoki- Director of Publicity.
ABOUT THE NIGERIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION-NETHERLANDS,NNA.NL.
_______________________________________________________________
The Nigerian National Association-Netherlands,NNA.NL is the Umbrella National Body of All Registered Nigerian Organisations, Unions, Clubs, Associations and Bodies in the Netherlands.
It was Founded in 2011 under the Ambassadorial Initiative of the Former Nigerian Ambassador to the Hague, Chief Mrs Nimota Akanbi.
It is a National Body of all Citizens of Nigeria residing in the Netherlands belonging to Registered Nigerian Associations, Organisations and Groups across Holland.
The Existence of the NNA.NL was borne in Recognition of the Common interest of Nigerians in achieving our Aims of Integrating in the Dutch Society, Developing and Promoting the Culture and Social Welfare of our People both in the Netherlands and Home Land Nigeria.
The Motto of the NNA.NL is "UNITY,PEACE AND PROGRESS"
The Slogan of the NNA.NL is "UNITING FOR INTEGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF NIGERIANS".
We Encourage all Nigerians belonging to any registered Organisation or Body by Nigerians in the Netherlands whether in the Business, Social, Entertainment, Music, Comedy, Cultural, Educational, Professional, Religious or Political Interest to become registered with the NNA.NL to give them a Wider, Stronger, Protected and Beneficial sense of Belonging among Nigerians in the Netherlands.
The Elder Uyi Olaye-Truth Teller Officially Sworn in as the National Vice-president of the Nigerian National Association Netherlands NNA.NL
in an Inauguration Ceremony in Amsterdam,Holland.
It was a colorful Event graced by Prominent and Well meaning Nigerians which cuts Across the Religious, Professional, Social, Academic and Business Circles from various parts of Europe.
*Mrs Ruth Obasuyi- Coordinator- Enschede/Overissel.
The Elder Uyi Olaye-Truth Teller Officially Sworn in as the National Vice-president of the Nigerian National Association Netherlands NNA.NL
