Welcome to Linda Ikeji's Blog: 12/23/2007 - 12/30/2007

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Saturday 29 December 2007

Father Patrick + Soyinka on Ribadu's removal

I am Catholic and whenever I read anything negative about our Catholic priests, it does something to me.

Here's a story, courtesy Sunnewsonline, about a Priest, a woman, an illicit affair and an abortion.

Wearied by the papal oath of celibacy, which insists on strict abstinence from sex and marriage, a Catholic priest, Reverend Father Patrick Okon, who allegedly yielded to things of the flesh, has found himself trapped in the whirlpool of an abortion-related web.With the wind now taken out of the sail of his six months of sizzling romance with one Miss. Ebere Eze, who is still battling to overcome abortion complications she alleged was instigated by the priest, Father Okon is now torn between renouncing the vow he entered into with the Papacy with a view to getting his lover permanently hooked and doing all he can to keep the liaison a guided secret.

Begun somewhere at Agege, Lagos, in December 2006, Ebere told Saturday Sun that she met Father Okon at Tasty Fried Chicken (TFC) where the priest initially introduced himself as a lawyer on an attachment with Saint Kizito Catholic Church, Iju, Agege, Lagos.

From one declaration to another, Father Okon, allegedly swore his immortal love for Ebere, which culminated in the promise of marriage and an exchange of engagement ring between Ebere and the Reverend Father.

During the flourishing period of their liaison, which peaked when Father Okon relocated to Saints Peter and Paul, Somolu, a parish, the stealthy romance, which transpired without the parish priest’s knowledge according to Ebere, usually involved her being smuggled in with the assistance of the security man at the gate.While this practice of sneaking her into the Priory endured, Ebere said she could not understand why this was so, even as Okon had consistently said he was a lawyer and not a worker in the Lord’s vineyard. At Saints Peter and Paul’s, Somolu, where she eventually found out that Okon was indeed a priest, contrary to his previous claim, sometime in April, Ebere said she was already pregnant for him.

Her refusal to yield ground for fear of risking her life, Ebere said, dangerously pitched her against Okon. But desperate to ensure that the looming scandal did not morph into an institutional humiliation, following a series of failed persuasions from the priest on his lover girl, Ebere told Saturday Sun that Okon tricked her into going out for ride with him in June 2007. And at a spot along Lagos-Ibadan expressway, just after the crusade ground, Okon, in a BMW 3 Series, pulled up at a joint, where he ordered drinks (a Star lager beer for himself and a small bottle of Guinness Stout for Ebere) for both of them.

Among other reasons the priest advanced for insisting on the termination of the pregnancy, Ebere alleged, was the cost of bringing up a child. According to her, just as she was about to take her drink, it was then the priest remembered he forgot something in the car and asked her to go get it for him.

Unsuspectingly, she returned to take her drink, which she also alleged might have been laced with poison.

Ebere further alleged that after the drink, she could neither remember how she made it back with Father Okon to the Reverend fathers’ house at Saint Peter and Paul, Somolu nor how her under wear got soaked with blood. She disclosed that she woke up at about 5:pm, after several hours of unconsciousness to find herself protected with sanitary towel heavily flooded with her own blood. Terribly weak to go back to Oshodi, where she lives with her brother, and not knowing what to tell him was responsible for her profuse bleeding, Ebere said she spent two nights in Okon’s apartment.

Devastated by what she alleged Father Okon had done to her, by discretely administering an abortion on her, Ebere said she threatened to let the world know what he had done to her. According to her, since the development, she has been experiencing an erratic menstrual flow, sometimes twice in a month or once in two months, coupled with loss of weight.

Some of the texts purportedly sent to Ebere and which she forwarded to this reporter, are reproduced below:
“Ebere, it is Appiah and Fabian that paid you to betray me and you did it. How much did they give you? Can you see the prove (sic) of the love you had for me? You told me the other time you did not have the Cardinal’s number, where did you get this from? All I want is peace, once more, I am sorry for the pain I caused you”.

“Let us meet and talk. Friends do have misunderstanding. I am in love with you. Don’t let anyone separate us. When can we see? I am sorry for hurting you”.

“I left the Church (Saint Peter and Paul) since June. I work in a school (Missionary Society of Saint Paul, Iperu-Remo, Ogun State). So you have to arrange for another place where we can meet during the week”.

“Come to Sagamu. I am at RSS Sagamu. When you get to the park, I will pick you up”.

“Eby, if it is marriage you want, let us meet and talk. I may leave my job before end of the year”.

“Have you ever offended God and asked Him to forgive you? That is what I am asking of you. I may leave my ministry soon and I need you with me”.

“Please don’t sleep with anybody. I can’t cope without you. Please forgive. I will start taking good care of you please”.

And so on and so forth.

If you want to read all the sordid details, then go to sunnewsonline.com

What do you guys think of this story?

Soyinka on Ribadu's removal
Howmany of you know that Mallam Nuhu Ribadu has been removed as the chairman of the Economic and Financial crimes Commission (EFCC)?

That's sad huh? People have been reacting to it, describing it as a contemptuous New Year gift, that constitutes an assault on the corporate integrity of the nation.

The person most pained is Professor Wole Soyinka. In a press statement yesterday, Soyinka said Ribadu’s removal would have a far more devastating impact on the psyche of the Nigerian nation “than the deadly event that now threatens to destabilize Pakistan,” through the assassination of her democratic front runner, Benazir Bhutto.

Soyinka said the precarious socio-political condition into which the Pakistani people have been thrown, echoed, in both parallel and divergent directions, the blow dealt to the Nigerian nation by the “assassination” of the head of the EFCC.

The Nobel Laureate said Ribadu had commenced “the process of restoring dignity to a people whose nation has become a byword for the most breath-taking scam in high-places, for endemic corruption, contempt for accountability and transparency and the abuse of national resources in the pursuit of personal and party power consolidation.”With the removal of Ribadu, he said the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had proven yet again that there is no reformist agenda possible within its ranks.

Also, Lagos lawyer and human rights activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi said with the removal of Ribadu, the government has subverted the anti-corruption crusade embarked upon by the EFCC under the outstanding leadership of Ribadu.

What's your view on Ribadu's removal?

Thursday 27 December 2007

Rundown

How's everyone doing? Having a great time?

I'm having a great time...working...boring huh?

I'm spending Christmas with colleagues, holed up in Vera's flat on the Island, (She's either in the UK, Dubai or SA...she travels a lot) working on our 2008 projects.

So what's been happening around the world since Christmas?

Let's check it out together...


Death on Christmas day
On Christmas day, Tuesday 25th 2007, about Forty-two residents of Ikate, Iru Local Council of Lagos State, were burnt to death in a petroleum pipeline fire. The victims of the pipeline explosion, which occurred at Ilagbo Village, a riverine community near Ibagbo-Iru, Victoria Island, Lagos, whose corpses were burnt beyond recognition, have been buried in mass graves near a site close to the scene of the disaster. Most of the victims were said to be women and children. Over 3,000 pieces of 50-litre jerry cans used by the victims to scoop fuel from the scene were recovered. The jerry cans were already filled with petroleum products.

Raz B of B2k is accusing his manager, Chris Stokes, and friend, Marquis Houston of sexual molestation. He put out a Youtube video accusing the two of not only molesting him, but also other members of B2k.

Omarion had this to say about the accusation “I want to be on the record as saying that “Raz B” Thorton and Ricardo Thorton are lying regarding Chris Stokes. Chris is a father figure to myself, and many others in the industry. He’s guided us, helped raised us and is nothing more than an inspiration and someone I respect to and look up to. I have spent countless hours, days, weeks and months with the man since the age of 5 and have never once seen him behave inappropriately. He’s married to my aunt and I know this man very well. I stand behind him with no question whatsoever,”
The things that happen behind closed doors...

A financial dispute might have led to the Christmas Eve slayings of six members of the same family, including two children, whose bodies were found Wednesday inside a rural home near Carnation.
The possible motive emerged late Wednesday after the arrest of 29-year-old Michele Kristen Anderson and her boyfriend, Joseph McEnroe, in connection with the fatal shootings of Anderson's parents, her brother and his wife and the couple's two children, a 6-year-old girl and a 3-year-old boy. Investigators believe Anderson and McEnroe both shot the victims, said one law-enforcement source familiar with the investigation.
Read more on google news.

List of 2007 National Honours recipients

COMMANDER OF THE ORDER OF THE NIGER (CON)
1. ABDULLAHI, Professor Ango
2. ADEREMI, Hon. Justice Pius O.
3. AKIOLU, HRM Oba Rilwan B.O Oba of Lagos
4. EBUTE, Senator Ameh
5. ENEH, Hon. Justice Christopher M.C
6. GALTIMARI, Amb. Usman Gaji
7. GONI, Alh. Mohammed
8. IGBUGBURU X. JP, King W.S. Joshua, IBEANAWEI OF BOMO KINGDOM
9. LAWAL, Dr. Hassan Muhamma
10. MAKAMA, Chief Samuila Danko
11. MOHAMMED, Hon. Justice (Dr.) Ibrahim I
12. MOMOH IV, JP, HRM Oba Akadiri Saliu, Olukare of Ikare land
13. ODUGADE I, Obas Samuel Odulana, Olubadan of Ibadan land
14. RIMI, Dr. Mohammed Abubakar
15. TABAI, Hon. Justice Francis F.
16. UMAR, HRH Alh. Umar Farouk, Emir of Daura.

OFFICER OF THE ORDER OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC (OFR)
1. ADAMU, Professor Mahdi
2. AZUBUIKE, Professor Jonathan C.
3. BA’ABA, Hon. Justice Baba Alkali
4. BABAKAKIN, Chief Bolanle Olawale
5. BANSI, Hon. Justice Bemure S.
6. BULKACHUWA, Hon. Justice Zainab
7. COOMASSIE, Hon. Justice Muhammadu S.M.
8. DOKPESI, High Chief Raymond Aleogho
9. EKWAREMADU, Senator Ike
10. GUMMI, Hon. Justice Lawal H
11. IBIYEYE, Hon. Justice Saka A.
12. IMOHE, mni Amb. Emmanuel Enaruna
13. KALU, Dr. Kalu Idika
14. KARI, Alh. Ahmadu
15. MAIGWARI II, HRH Mal Zubairu Jibril, Emir of Birnin Gwari
16. NDU, Hon. Justice Iche Nwenenda
17. NWAZOTA, Hon. Justice Ibiora
18. OGUNSOLA, Hon. Justice Fasasi
19. OMOLE, Professor Wale
20. ONOVO JP, HRH Igwe Jeremiah Oko
21. ONUGBO, HRM Eze (Dr.) Hope
22. YAKUBU, Professor Nuhu Omeiza
23. YUSUF, Hon. Justice Sanusi Chiroma
24. ZAHRADEEN, Professor Mohammed Sani

OFFICER OF THE ORDER OF THE NIGER (OON)
1. ABATCHA, Alh. Ali
2. ABDULLAHI, Dauda Ahmad
3. ABDULLAHI mni, Alh. Abdulrahman M
4. ABDULRAHMAN, Maj. Gen. S.A
5. ADEBAYO, Alh. Abdulrahim
6. ADEBUSOYE, Prof. Paulina Makinwa
7. ADEBUTU, Chief Kesington A.
8. ADEBIYI, Gloria O
9. ADEMOWO, Most Rev. Ephraim Ademola
10. ADEOYE, Mr. Adebayo S. DIG
11. AGBOIFO, Pharmacist (Sir) Samuel E.
12. AJAKAIYE, Prof. Deborah
13. AJAYI, Dr. Herbert Ademola
14. AKAIYEJO II, JP, Alaiyeluwa Obas Samuel Adegoke Adeboye THE OGOGA OF IKERE-EKITI
15. AKINFEMIWA, Mr. Akinsola. A
16. ALIYU, Dr. Abdullahi
17. ALKALI, Arch. John L.S
18. ASKIRAMA II, Alh. Mohammed
19. AWOFODU, AVM S.I
20. BALOGUN, Mrs. Hairat A
21. BENSON-IDAHOSA, Rt. Margaret
22. BIDA, Prof. Shehu
23. BINDAWA, Amb. Ibrahim Mu’awiya
24. BUWAI, mni, Alh. HM
25. DAMBO, Dr. Lawal
26. DANKWAMBO, Alh. Ibrahim Hassan
27. DZANMA, Maj.-Gen HM
28. EBONG, Bartholomew Bassey
29. EFEIZOMOR II, JP, HRH Dr. Emmanuel O. Obo of Owa Kingdom
30. EMUREN, Mrs. Elizabeth B.P
31. EPHRAIM, Dr. (Engr.) Roland B.
32. ESHIORHOAMBER HRH (Dr.), Alh. Dirisu Andrew Yusuf, OKUOKPELLAGE OF OKPELLA
33. ESIRI Justus
34. FALETI, Adebayo
35. FOLARIN, Mrs. Wonu
36. GEIDAM, Alh. Baba Duna
37. HARRY, Dr. Kalada
38. HASSAN, Prof. Abba Waziri
39. IBRAHIM, Mr. Solomon Baba
40. IBUTEME-SPIF,F Prof. Ayebaemi
41. IKPEAZU, SAN, Dr. Onyechi
42. ITA, High Chief Ita Ekanem
43. IWEZE, Prof. Felicia A.
44. JALINGO, Dr. Ahmed Usaman
45. JANFA, mni, Mrs. Susan
46. JONAH, Rear. Admiral G.J.
47. KESHI, Amb. J.C
48. MADUBUEZE, Mrs. Juliet. A
49. MAHMOOD, Engr. Sadiq M
50. MAILAFIYA, HRM, Alh. Mohammadu, Emir of Shani
51. MAKINDE, Chief Moses A
52. MANSSA, Chief John Eddie
53. MATANKARI, Mr. Solomon Danasabe
54. MOHAMMED, Alh. Yusuf
55. MOHAMMED, Dr. Safiya. I
56. MUAZU, mni, Alh. Magaji
57. MUKHTAR, Alhaji Ibrahim
58. NDUGBU, Chief (Mrs.) Agatha
59. NWACHUKWU, Mrs. Gwendolyn T.T
60. NWOSU, Mr. Japh C.T
61. ODUGBEMI, Prof. Tolu
62. OGUNBAMBI, mni, Dr. Rafiq O.A
63. OGUNLANA, Prof. Ebenezer O
64. OJO, Prof. Samuel Adeoya
65. OKEKE, Chief (Dr.) Simon N.
66. OKENWA, Engr. Raymond N.
67. OKPOKO, SAN, Chief Thompson J.O.
68. OKWUOSA, Dr. (Mrs.) Adaoha C
69. OLATUNBOSUN, Chief Dupe
70. OLUSI, Mr. Tajundeen Oluyele
71. ONYEKWERE, Mr. Chima A.
72. OPUTU, Ms. Evelyn
73. ORKURGA, Prof. Malu Abraham
74. OTUKOYA, Mr., Folorunsho
75. OYINGBENU, Mr. Otaki
76. PETERS, Mr. Samuel
77. RINGIM, Mr. Uba B
78. SATOMI, Alh. Garba Abba
79. SHEHU, Prof. Riskuwa A.
80. SOLANKE, SAN, Chief Folake
81. TALBA, Alh. Ibrahim
82. UZODIKE, Engr. Gilbert Ajulu
83. YAHAYA, HRH (Dr.) Haliru Ndanusa, Emir of Shonga
84. ZUOFA, Senator Amatari

MEMBER OF THE ORDER OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC (MFR)
1. ABDULLAHI, Alh. Sarki
2. ABUBAKAR, Alh. Ibrahim Magaji
3. ABUBAKAR, Alh. Mohammed, FNIM
4. ADAMU, Dr. Amos
5. AGANMONMEN (JP), Chief Vincent Esebanmen
6. AJAGU, Dr. Ausbeth Nnamdi
7. AJAYI, Mr. Peter
8. AKAR, Mr. Suhail
9. ALHASSAN, Engr. Mohammed Sani
10. ALI, Alh. Abba
11. AYIH, HRH Sylvester Oho
12. ABA, Alh. Inuwa
13. BUENO, Prof. Vince Del
14. BEBA, Alh. Mohammed Abubakar
15. ENVULUANZA, Alh. Halilu
16. EZEH, Dr. Christopher Ikechi
17. GADANYA, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed
18. GALADANCHI, Alh. Wakili
19. GARBA, mni, Alh. Yusuf
20. GOLAU, Col. T.K
21. HEZEKAIH, Rev. Prof. Daddy
22. IDAY, Mr. David O
23. IHEBOM, Ferdinand Okechukwu
24. IHEDIGBO, Dr. Steve L
25. JAGAFA, Mr. Ishaya A
26. KABIR, Alh. Mohammed
27. KONKWOR, Dr. Paul A
28. LAMIDO, Alh. Muazu
29. MOHAMMED, HRH Alh. Ismaila D
30. NDUKWE, Dr. Azaike Chimaoge
31. NOK, Prof. Andrew Jonathan
32. OBAGUN, Chief Muraino O
33. OKEY, Ntufam Dr. Itafo Joe
34. OKOLO, Dr. Simon Chukwuemeka
35. ONAKPASA, Dr. (Mrs) Christie
36. ONYECHERE, Mr. Ike
37. SAIDU, Alh. Salisu
38. UMAR, (Retd) Brig. –Gen. Mohammed A.
39. UMODEN, High Chief Gabriel E
40. YAKUBU, Alh. Zakari
41. YAKUBU, HRH Alh. Dr. Ahmadu42. YERO, Yenusa Hamman
Courtesy of Sunnewsonline.com

BTW, I just joined Facebook and I have absolutely no idea what it's about...or how to work it. But y'all can check it out if you know how to get there...lol. I used my name. I don't know how often I'm so supposed to go there or how to reply mails, so pardon me if I don't respond to a mail or a request quickly. But I'll figure it out in no time.

Will be back tomorrow. Cheers.

Monday 24 December 2007

Merry Christmas

I know 2008 will be beautiful...

Something happened today to reinstate my faith in that

Hope y'all are having a beautiful time?

World's first Christmas card
This is the card that is believed to be the first Christmas card...mass produced about 160 years ago. I, 000 was produced, only 10 copies remain today...at the Bridwell Library at Southern Methodist University's Perkins School of Theology.



"A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You" was printed on the first Christmas card.

And it's been the tradition since then...

What I will say is this...
~May Peace be your gift at Christmas and your blessing all year through~


~Christmas is forever, not for just one day, for loving, sharing, giving, are not to put away like bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf. The good you do for others is good you do yourself...~


Inspiring cartoons to make your Christmas even more beautiful




















To every reader of this blog, I wish you the very best Christmas ever!

May all your dreams, aspirations and wishes for the new year, come true!

I'm going to leave you with something beautiful to look at...



See y'all after Christmas
Kisses!

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