01082020 - You're cruel insentitive for care of repentant terrorists, abandoning us

More documents

Recommendations

Info

26—Vanguard, SATURDAY, AUGUST 1, 2020 Yetunde Arebi Twitter: @yetundearebi yetty5050@yahoo.co.uk 08054700825 Once married, the pressure to remain so, no matter the odds becomes a bigger challenge, once again, especially for the woman. Right from the wedding ceremony, she is made to understand that returning home is not an option for consideration. Marriage is about endurance, the window to return to single status is closed. You either make a success of it, or die trying to. And indeed, this has sent a lot of women to their untimely graves, even when not physically, but mentally and psychologically. Derin, a very close friend who had a successful career as a partner in a high profile law firm was forced to quit her job and lay low for almost five years in her bid to avoid a scandal when she eventually summoned up the courage to end her 12 years marriage to an abusive and jealous husband. “By the time I realised that I needed to get out or I would not be useful even to my children, I had become an emotional wreak, unable to even perform my duties at my office or church. I was always afraid I would do something that would set off his tongue against me. I finally figured that he hated the fact that I was successful at my work and had men like him working for me in the office. His, was not physical abuse, but he had a poisonous, double edged tongue that I was no match to. When he would start, I would cry because I could not find the strength to stop him. He would make fun of me, asking if that was how I dealt with the guys in my office. He would express the desire to invite them to the house to see me cry like a baby. I am also a woman leader of my group in church, he would make fun of me endlessly, taunting me that he would go and tell them that I am a weakling and know nothing about marriage, so they should relieve me of the post and not allow me to counsel anyone. My decision to remain in the marriage was not because I lacked the financial capability to take care of myself and my two children, but I felt trapped by moral and societal standards. I was afraid to be tagged a divorcee and a woman who could not persevere”. Like Derin, a lot of women are trapped by moral and societal values in marriages they are not happy in and cannot do anything to remedy. Those who try often have to face the hostility, insincerity and lack of support of family and friends, who ought to rally round them with love. Domestic violence has become an increasing menace and challenge in many marriages across the country, even though the Nigerian situation is not an isolation. Before now, many women endure systemic physical and psychological abuse in silence and are blamed for lacking the will to speak out. Speaking out, will help create awareness as well as assist them seek help to stop the abuse. The truth is that, many who manage to summon up the courage to speak up, often lack the support they need to get out of their abusive situation. Sometimes, help also comes too late. Fresh on my mind is the Kolade Arowolo murder saga in the city of Lagos, a classic case of persistent domestic abuse and crime of passion. The couple’s whirlwind troubled marriage was not unknown to their parents and friends. The fight that led to the death of Titilayo, the young banker wife and mother of one was indeed, not their first. They had fought several times and had settled. Titilayo had even allegedly told her parents and friends that she was tired of the relationship and wanted out, but she lacked the support from the right people who ought to offer or provide a safe haven for her. On that fateful night, something snapped inside Kolade that resulted in him stabbing his young wife 76 times according to pathology reports, Till death do us part My decision to remain in the marriage was not because I lacked the financial capability to take care of myself and my two children, but I felt trapped by moral and societal standards thus resulting in her untimely death. A waste of life, a needless death which could have been avoided if marriage was not a “do or die” affair, as we often have it. Way back in the late 70s, (I’m no longer very sure of this date) my late dear friend, Honourable Bola James of the famous James family of Badagry, lost his sweet sister, Sena, to the murderous rage of an ex lover in London. According to Bola, his sister had finally summoned up the courage to call off their volatile and abusive relationship after many years of fighting and making up, and to prove to him that it was over, began dating another guy. Angry and unable to accept the development, he’d allegedly killed her and hacked her body to pieces in her London flat before calling the Police to report himself. Their long-term relationship which dated back to their high school days in Nigeria had been a tempestuous one, known to their family and friends, but to which they had no idea could result in death. Even if death seems a bit remote and far between, several stories abound of love-hate relationships that have ended on very sour notes. In March 2011, Chika Egbo was doused with acid by her boyfriend, David Sulaiman for undisclosed reasons. On May 5, 2011, another undergraduate student of Federal University of Technology, Yola, Adamawa State, Franca Ogbu, was given the acid bath and permanently disfigured by yet to be identified persons. One report claimed an embittered wife of a lecturer Franca was allegedly dating was responsible while another report said it was a guy she rebuffed his love advances. Still the deed has been done. Deanne Igbo from Rivers State had her eye plucked out for ritual purposes by her husband/ boyfriend, Sylvester Emezi. Another woman was doused in Kerosine and set ablaze by her husband who suspected her of infidelity, and many more. Strangely too, the women are also taking arms against their husbands, some in self defence, others in moments of rage like their male counterparts. A classic case is that of Maryam Sanda who stabbed her husband, Bilyaminu to death in a feat of rage. Maryam had accused her husband of infidelity. Ironically, the woman he was accused of cheating with was his first wife, the one he’d divorced to be with her. Maryam has been sentenced to death by hanging by an Abuja High Court. In Katsina, Rabi, 19, stabbed her 25 year old husband, Shamsideen to death over an argument. In Ajah Lagos, 41 year old mother of four children paid N500.000 to assassins to kill her husband. He narrowly escaped death. One could go on and on. But the question is, should marriage end in “till death do us part” by our own hands? It took a well orchestrated campaign and counselling for the parents of a young lady to accept her back home after just a year of marriage recently. In what still remains shrouded in mystery, the lady and her husband began fighting seriously after just a few weeks into their marriage. On the last count, the husband beat her up so severely he left several bruises on her body and announced to the whole neighbourhood his intention to kill her if she refuses to leave their matrimonial home. Afraid for her safety and her little child’s, she returned home and informed her parents of her decision to quit the marriage. Naturally, they called a meeting with the guy and his family and he told them to their faces that he was no longer interested in the marriage. But to everyone’s shock, this young lady’s parents still refused to see the danger ahead, insisting that their Christian religious beliefs forbids divorce and they would not allow their daughter put them to shame. (Is their daughter’s life not worth more than religious beliefs?) I may not understand because I am not very religious. Last weekend, a young lady called me, wailing profusely on the other end. She told me that her husband who works outside Lagos would be returning this weekend, but had threatened to pluck out her eyes, should he find her at home. I asked what she was still doing in the house. What if he returns and God forbid, carry out his threat? That is, if he does not even kill you in the process. I asked what she would do without her eyes? She would be rendered useless to herself and a burden to her family. Chances are that he might walk away free or incarcerated, but the deed would have been done. According to her story, they have only been married for less than two years and had been blessed with a little baby girl. She said he’d presented himself as a gentle, born again Christian who in fact fasted on their wedding day throughout the ceremonies. However, barely two weeks after the wedding, he turned a new coat, irritable, irrational and uncompromising. Nothing she did was pleasing to his eyes anymore. He would abuse her, her parents and family, no one was too big for him to talk down at. He would slap her around a bit too, (if there is anything like that) throwing anything within his reach at her and even the baby. Once, he’d poured water on her and the baby while she was being fed. I had to tell her to stop at that point because the story had taken a new twist, he was either crazy or under a spell. What about his own family, if he did not respect his wife’s? The lady disclosed that it had become evident to her that her husband had very little respect for his mother too. It seemed a bit complicated. Anyone who does not have someone they listen to, or who can correct them is a dangerous person, run far away from such a person. So, this young lady has gone to her parents’ home for safety while we await her husband’s return this weekend. I am all for the marriage institution. It is ordained by the Almighty. It is the union of two imperfect individuals who have resolved to find perfection in the eyes of God and man. I love weddings, the sheer beauty of the ceremonies make me cry. But I also hate pain, my body and mind have almost zero tolerance for pain and painful situations and therefore I am against violence in any form, especially in a place dedicated for love. So, I am guided by the favourite quote of my very good friend whom I call the Giant; “by all means, marry. If you are lucky to marry a good partner, you will be happy. If not, you will become a philosopher”. Do have a wonderful weekend and, stay safe, please!!
SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 1, 2020—27 MURDER AT DAWN: How Okada rider raped, murdered nursery school senior prefect in Ondo By Emma Nnadozie, Crime Editor On Friday July 17 th , 2020, Mama Zainab, as she was popularly called, sent her 12-year-old daughter, Zainab Justina Adeyemo to a neighboring village, Eshe-Akoko in Akoko North west Local government Area, Okeagba, Ondo state. The vivacious Zainab, a senior prefect at Saint Augustine Nursery and Primary School in her village, Iru-akoko, wasted little time in responding to her dear mother’s errand. Journey to the unknown She left their house around 2pm and took a motor bike to make it easier and quicker for her. Unfortunately, hours after her mother thought she would have come back, she was nowhere to be seen. The apprehensive mother quickly dashed to the village where her daughter was sent only to be told that she had long gone back after delivering the message. Still hopeful, she rushed back to her village to meet an empty house, no Zainab. In desperation, she went back to Eshe where she sent her and was told that her daughter joined a popular commercial motorcyclist called Dare while returning home. She was directed to Dare’s house where, to her chagrin, Dare denied seeing her. Suspect opens up This infuriated other commercial motorcyclists and they attempted lynching Dare, their colleague, but later ended up dragging him to the nearest police station where he admitted that he truly carried the girl with his motorbike and that he dropped her at Iru motor Park. At this stage, he was compelled to show them where he dropped her which he did. •Suspect •Late Zainab •Nwachukwu He was then taken to the nearest police station. Agony of a mother Mama Zainab who could not control her emotions at this stage narrated to Crime Guard in tears. “On getting to the police station, now visibly frightened Dare pleaded that he should be treated gently assuring that the missing girl would eventually be seen. Shockingly, he further claimed that while he was on his way from Eshe to Irun with Zainab, they had an accident and the girl was seriously wounded. “Initially, we told the police to carry out immediate investigation into his claims but they were insisting that we must wait for the stipulated 24 hours before taking any action. This infuriated villagers and they went out in search of Zainab without the police. Luckily, after about five hours' thorough search, the corpse of Zainab was discovered along a footpath in the bush. The police was informed and they later picked it. Protest for action “The delay by the police forced both commercial motorcyclists in the area and villagers to stage a protest demanding that Dare must be brought out to say what happened to the little girl. The protest made the police to accost Dare who started narrating how he raped and later killed the little girl. He told gory tales of how he was raping her inside the bush while they were on their way only to discover that she was dead. He claimed that Zainab died as result of the struggle that ensued between them during the process and he dumped her body in the bush.” Police sources said after his confession, the protesting crowd nearly set the police station ablaze by insisting that Dare must be handed over to them to be killed, However, the police succeeded in curtailing their moves and later transferred the suspect to the State Criminal Investigations Department in Akure where more investigations will be carried out over the case. •Mama Zainab Dogara’s defection in perspective By Dirisu Yakubu When in the build up to the 2019 general elections, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives, quit the All Progressives Congress, APC for rival Peoples Democratic Party, PDP; one of the reasons he advanced to justify his action was the failure of President Muhammadu Buhari to deliver on the much hyped change agenda. Addressing a National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting of the PDP in February 2019, the then Speaker came short of labeling the APC-led government a disaster, citing the lofty promises it made in the course of electioneering campaign and the harvest four years after. He deflated the President’s public morality which in his words had adorned the garb of hypocrisy for all to see. With applause punctuating virtually every point he marshaled; Dogara went for the killer when he said by failing to champion the cause of education for the vast majority of Northern youths, Buhari would struggle to earn a place in the hall of fame to which iconic leaders like Ahmadu Bello, Obafemi Awolowo and Nnamdi Azikiwe had since been inducted. “The almajiris have seen through the fraud, this charade. The President has lost his constituency. We thought Buhari would choose to become the Minister of Education, not Petroleum,” Dogara stated. For journalists who were yet to settle on a story angle, Dogara made their day as his remark relegated other speakers like former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and the then Senate President, Bukola Saraki to the notch of “meanwhiles.” A little over a fortnight ago, the federal lawmaker presided over the screening of nine Ondo governorship aspirants, all vying for the sole ticket to contest the October 10 election. Typical of him, Dogara took all aspirants down the distance; a development he pinned on the need to do a thorough job devoid of loopholes. Two weeks after this assignment, he returned to the party he once •Dogara branded a fraud. “I write to intimate you of my decision to resign my membership of the PDP. This became necessary because the same reasons why (sic) we fought hard in 2019 to effect changes in the governance of our dear state are festering now. I intend to bring these issues to the front burner once again as the fight to install decent and egalitarian government in our dear state continues. “Why are we segmenting salaries and why is payment of salaries of state workers outsourced to a private firm as consultants? Why are contracts inflated, awarded and payment of mobilization done in violation of extant rules on procurement? Why are our highly revered traditional rulers and elders treated with odium contrary to the guarantee we gave during the campaign that such will not happen under a PDP government? “If I abdicate this responsibility on the altar of partisan loyalty, I will be the most irresponsible and unprincipled politician in Bauchi state...” Dogara wrote in a letter he addressed last week to the PDP chairman of his Bogoro ‘C’ Ward. What the former Speaker has not been able to tell Nigerians is if returning to the fold of the APC has now made him “principled and responsible.” In his reaction, former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani- Kayode described Dogara’s return to the APC as “unbelievable The almajiris have seen through the fraud, this charade and totally inexplicable.” That said, the former minister had to intercede on behalf of Dogara, saying “my prayer is that God delivers Yakubu and cause him to retrace his steps and come to his senses. It is never too late to return to the light and I believe that one day he will.” He continued: “I urge him to return to God and to the ranks of the God-fearing, the righteous and the faithful and to be the man that the Lord has destined him to be.” For Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ozekhomhe, Dogara’s defection is a portrait of the shoddy state of politics in the country after two decades of unbroken democracy. Likening his cross-over to the APC, Ozekhomhe noted that until the politics of stomach infrastructure is downplayed in the nation’s political process, the much-talked about dividends of democracy would remain a mirage. “It is inconceivable that Yakubu Dogara, a brilliant lawyer whom Nigerians hailed for politics of principles when he dumped APC for PDP in February 2019 and won his parliamentary election, could suddenly discover that he went to the wrong camp. How does a governor’s alleged non-performance in just a little over a year be enough reason to swap camps? It is all about inequitable elites’ distribution of the common patrimony. No one is deceived. If the governor was sharing the state’s resources, we would never have heard this. “Politicians share people’s money in the nights like witches and wizards in a coven. In the United States of America from whence we borrowed our presidential system, you can never hear a Democrat suddenly becoming a Republican overnight, simply because a governor in his state has not done well. They have party ideology. Here, there is none. It’s so embarrassing and shameful,” Ozekhome said. Unconfirmed reports link Dogara’s defection to the politics of 2023 with the Vice Presidency slot up for grabs. A school of thought claims that the APC is bent on settling for a Southern Muslim to fly its Presidential flag, while the Vice Presidency could go to a Northern Christian, liked across the North and South of the Nigerian divide. If this is the bait the former Speaker fell for, Nigerians can only wait to see how it pans out for him. For quitting the APC only to return to its fold, the simple matters of integrity and character would dominate discourse when the partly finally decides the bearers of its flag.
Page 2 and 3: C M Y K 2 — SATURDAY Vanguard, AU
Page 4 and 5: C M Y K 4 — SATURDAY Vanguard, AU
Page 6 and 7: 6 — SATURDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 1,
Page 8 and 9: 8 — Vanguard, SATURDAY, AUGUST 1,
Page 10 and 11: 10—SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 1, 2
Page 16: 16—SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 1, 2
Page 19 and 20: SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 1, 2020
Page 21 and 22: C M Y K There are stark reminders a
Page 23 and 24: Mamman Daura is powerful. His uncle
Page 25 and 26: SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 1, 2020
Page 27: SATURDAY Vanguard, AUGUST 1, 2020
Page 31 and 32: It is Thursday morning as I write t
Page 33 and 34: encountered Zidane tie could see th

01082020 - You're cruel insentitive for care of repentant terrorists, abandoning us

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?