CHIEF COMMANDER EBENEZER OBEY @ 78

                                                                             

At the right front of the first floor of Building 11 Kadiri Street, Suru Lere, Lagos, a two story building partitioned as face-me-I-face-you rental rooms, was Baba Femi’s Repair Shop. Baba Femi was an electrician, famous for his tales of rendezvous at Chief Ebenezer Obey’s Weekend “Owambe party”performances and midweek gigs inside his popular hang-out joint, Obey’s Miliki Spot, than his knowledge of repairing troubled televisions, Kenwood stereo systems, KDK mosquito killing fans and other electronic home appliances of that era’s living comfort.

Apart from being an annoying “loudmouth at his Shop, Baba Femi also doubled as a “Disc Jockey’. He had Turn-table equipment and latest selections of vinyls, from mostly juju, Fuji and Apala music genres, for his side kick deejay midweek music musings..

Baba Femi opened his store at 9a.m every day. The street knew when he was opened for business. He would disturb our mornings with nonestop selections of juju music, featuring Chief Ebenezer Obey’s latest music. That was between 1973 and 1974. Chief Obey’s single, “Edumare Soro Mi Dayo” was a monumental hit then. It preceded the wickedly mega hit, BOARD MEMBERS.

So, every mid morning, the neighborhood came alive and gyrated to the polyrhythmic sounds of miliki king blaring from Baba Femi’s Shop.

Commander Ebenezer Obey’s unique juju music featured wailing lead guitar, scattered electric guitar solos that interpreted stanzas of his lyrics, with mind blowing talking drums and sassy percussions, leading a scarcely but baited bass rhythm. You couldn’t resist the music when the tenor voice cuts through the lane:” Alaja lo se obokun fun alajala… emi meje o.. emi meje…” The street kids gathered and fretted, singing along to the call and response infectious juju philosophical progression of Chief Ebenezer Obey’s music. That was how Baba Femi steadily introduced me and a few area kids to the Miliki music by the greatest music composer, maker and singer of my generation.

I became an Ebenezer Obey addict: Incurable. Every miliki music sent me to “miliki rehab..” When the monster hit “KETEKETE’ was released within that decade, though young, I was “permanently miliki disturbed”. I have not recovered since. I refused several rehab offers because Miliki was a cure to a scattered life..

My paths with Commander Obey crossed when I became an Entertainment reporter at Punch newspapers. My Entertainment Editor/mentor, Ladi Ayodeji privileged me all access to Entertainment Reporting: My partner at the entertainment desk, Kafui Gale Zoyiku and I were privilege to everything entertainment news, thanks to Mr. Ayodeji’s trust in our judgments. We were also workaholics and “Reporterholics”. Ladi, as we fondly called him, allowed us to roam with celebrities and their ways of life. In one of my early assignments of covering the music beat, Ladi sent me to cover Chief Obey’s University concert at the University of Benin, Ugbowo campus.

That afternoon, I was assigned the front seat with the juju music icon in his Mercedes Benz vehicle, driven by Muhammed, his driver..A few years ago, I visited Commanders home at Ikeja and met Muhammed who still recognized me… That day to Benin Concert, we drove four hours from Lagos to Benin. During the drive, Commander and I struck a conversation and something improbable exploded between us. He referred to me thus: “My dear AzukA” throughout our conversations,the drive to Uniben and back next day. That moment was, as I remembered, how we developed a certain father/son relationship. Since that weekend drive to Benin, Chief Ebenezer Obey chose to call me “My Dear AzukA”. He recognizes my voice from any distance and crowd: he would break out his infectious smile to humble my presence.
In life, we may never know what or whom life privileged us: I don’t know why, but whenever I visited Commander Obey at his Ikeja residence, I was always welcome like a member of his family: he took me to several places and I have met great Nigerians by being in his company. Commander introduced me to the late MKO Abiola and I became fond of visiting. .

I encouraged him, those years, to be proactive with the media. I described him then as ”a gently aggressive”but humane. That night in his home, he listened, calmly and fatherly, nodded his head as I spoke with so much young energy and rascality. But he listened, patiently and attentively….He is a blessing to all situations.

September 1987, I returned from Music Against apartheid concert in the old Soithern Africa region, with serious illness. The tour took the Nigerian musicians that included Late Sonny Okosun, Late Christy Igbokwe and Onyeka Onwenu, took us to Zambia, Lusaka, Kitwe, Kabwe, and in Zimbabwe, Harare.

I had moved into the Punch Mulero compound with my colleagues Rotimi Durojaiye and Dozie Okebalama. On the same street as my flat was Commander Obey’s younger sister’s home. He suspected I liked his niece, Funke, but baba was always soft, tender and lovely. So one weekend, he paid a surprised visit to my house…I was very sick. He came and offered prayers for my swollen right arm and wellness…After prayers , Baba Maliki invited me to his church, located along the road to the estate: unbelievable to see such a cultural icon in my small living room with no electricity, offering songs of praise for my healing. It was spiritual and Magical.

I didn’t know why Commander had special likeness for me, a spectacular relationship that still exists to this day; I was young, restless, rascally and I never cared about life. I just wanted to exist as a free-spirit reporter. I was pure, natural and a hopeless Entertainment Editor, but Commander never gave up on me. He trusted me, respected and explored my young critiques of his works. He was never angry at my writings to criticize or gossip about his lifestyle. He never complained…

Eight years ago, I returned to Nigeria with a remarkable idea to promote Commander Obey alongside King Sunny Ade in a concert billed as ONE NIGHT STAND. I will tell the story another day. Through the years, Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey continues to reform: from International Band to inter-reformers. He went deeper with his faith and religion, an unapologetic believer of Christ. He built a home of worship in the densely populated area of Mulero/Agege, on the outskirts of lagos, city dwellers axis for everyday people of the city, expanded his religious outreach programs and proclaiming Christ as King in all his musings, music, messages, characters and behaviors. This great national treasure is pleasantly Nigerian. His music is regional. But his humanity is universal. I am privileged to have been blessed by his presence in my life as a young lost teenager, hooked on his music, first heard from the blaring speakers of Baba Femi the electrician and as a careless free spirit young bohemian reporter. He allows me to still refer to him as COMMANDER EBENEZER OBEY, years after he became known to us as REVEREND EBENEZER OBEY. I am humbled by his candor and unconditional love for me: a kind man, a tribe less statesman: when life provided me a chance as a new bachelor, he purchased and delivered to my new Flat, my first VONO mattress to my scanty flat. I was 23 years old. I dared not confess the sins on the mattress.
My dearest friends and family, please salute this incredible music maker, a legend of Nigeria’s music culture on his 78th birthday.

*** Unedited Excerpts From my autobiography: MY SCATTERED LIFE.By Azuka Jeboze

THE ELITES

ALL CELEBRITIES THAT ATTENDED FUNKE AKINDELE'S HOUSEPARTY MUST BE QUARANTINED

                                                                         

Funke Akindele recently organized a birthday bash to her husband JJC Skillz, and why she threw a house-party to celebrate his 43rd birthday, despite calls for social distancing amid Coronavirus pandemic.

The birthday party took place on Saturday April 4, at the actress' home in Amen Estate; singer Naira Marley, Eniola Badmus,Martin Feelz, Lagos state gubernatorial candidate, Babatunde Gbadamosi and his wife   and other friends turned up for the crowded birthday party.

Following the controversy the birthday party incited and calls for the actress' arrest, Funke Akindele has explained why she held the birthday party. According to the actress, most people who turned up for the birthday party had been camped in Amen estate before the lockdown order issued by President Buhari on March 29. Funke Akindele added that they are all safe and happy.
See her tweets below;

SOURCE

CELESTIAL SHEPHERD CAUGHT PICKING POO-POO IS A PSYCHIATRIC PATIENT

                                                                        

An updates from Ccelestial Church Christ revealed that the Shepherd C.C.C. Open Windows of Heaven Parish, Meiran, Lagos State.Joseph Boade Opawumi,caught in a shameful has been suspended , bellow are the reaction from the headquarter of the church:

Re: Joseph Boade Opawumi, Shepherd C.C.C. Open Windows of Heaven Parish, Meiran, Lagos State.

The attention of the apex authority of the Celestial Church of Christ W/w has been drawn to a video clip gone viral on the social media, in which the afore-titled was caught in a shameful and utterly despicable act capable of smearing the image of our great church.

Consequent upon a swift and thorough investigation and intervention by the appropriate organs of the church, the following discoveries were made and the following actions are taken:

-It was established that the culprit is a psychiatric patient, who had deliberately and successfully kept his condition hidden from the church authority.

-Upon his release from Police detention, it was recommended that he should be confined medically and given psychiatric attention.

-Consequently, he has been relieved of his position as the Shepherd In Charge of the parish in question as he is not medically fit to continue in that capacity.

-The parish in question, Celestial Church of Christ, Open Windows of Heaven Parish, Meiran, Lagos State has been shut by the apex body of the church while the investigation into the matter continues.

We wish to assure the general public and our teeming members spread across the globe that the leadership of the church remains as committed as ever towards fulfilling the divine mandate of the last boat of salvation.

Stay home, stay safe. And pray without ceasing.

SVMSE Kayode Ajala M.P.I.C.
For Celestial Church of Christ W/W
@cccworldwideofficial
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#weintheccc #omocele #celestialchurchofchrist #CelestialFamily

WOMAN KILLED HER MOTHER-IN-LAW TO SAVE HER MARRIAGE |

                                                                          

A Nasarawa state-based housewife, Rosemary Osegba Clem, has said she has no regrets hacking her mother in-law, Mrs Ashi Clem, to death in Abena community in Doma Local Government Area of the state on March 18, over the woman's interference in her marriag.


According to Rosemary, her inability to bear a child for her husband saw her mother in-law mounting pressure on him to take another wife. She said her husband at a time began yielding to his mother's pressure and was introduced to a girl who started living with her mother in-law. The imminent threat to her marriage forced her to take her mother in-law's life as she could not share him with another woman.

Rosemary in the interview said she is ready to face the consequences.

    “My mother-in-law made life unbearable for me because I could not bear a child for her son. It has been hell for me from day one of this marriage. My mother-in-law did everything humanly possible for me to leave the marriage. She always swore that if indeed she was my husband’s mother, she would not allow the marriage to work. I did everything humanly possible to appease her, but it was all to no avail.

    She insisted that I must leave the house and that her son must get married to another girl. True to her threats, she went as far as getting another girl for my husband. I also blame my husband for telling his mother everything about our private matters, including sex, finance and other issues. My husband always complained that I refused him sex most times, even though I told him that I’m not the type that likes to have sex all the time.

    I don’t have sexual feelings like other women because I was circumcised. But I told him I loved him. We had sex only once in a week, but he couldn’t bear it, and he told his mother who had already developed hatred for me about it. My husband decided to focus his attention on the new girlfriend his mother brought for him. Most times, the girl would spend a whole week in my mother-in-law’s apartment with the consent of my husband.  When I could no longer bear it, I took the decision to eliminate her so that I can save my marriage.

    I still love my husband and cannot afford to share him with anybody. It is God that gives children. I strongly believe that one day, I will also take in and deliver. It is all in God’s hands. She accused me openly of cheating on her son by calling me all sorts of names, which is embarrassing to me. I was ashamed of myself even moving around. I don’t know what I did to her. The trauma and intimidation became unbearable for me, so I was forced to kill her before she would disgrace me out of my husband’s house.

    My parents are no longer alive. If she gets me out of this marriage, where will I go? Ordinarily, I don’t have much problem with my husband. We always have a way of settling our issues. But her interference was overbearing. In the midst of these, my husband, who used to love me so much suddenly changed and was completely obeying his mom’s directives and I watched him sleep with the proposed girl by his mother, it was clear that he does not have feelings for me anymore.

    I took the decision (to kill her) because I was ready for the worst. The marriage had become boring and characterized by crisis, courtesy of my mother in law.

    At a point, it became obvious to me that the marriage had irretrievably broken up. I suggested to my husband that since he was convinced by what his mother was telling him, he should let us call it over and I would move on, but he refused. So I concluded that killing her would stabilise my marriage and restore my happiness. I hatched the plan for some time but only made up my mind to execute it today.” she said



On his part, 43 years old, Mr. Chem, the only son of his parents, who had lost his father when he was only 18 years old, said he was shocked and confused about the whole incident. He said he loved and misses his mother

    “She taught me to be the man that I am today—strong, kind and someone who believed in giving a second chance. When my father died, things were not easy, but this woman stood by me to survive the trauma. I am really hurt and traumatised by the violent and horrifying act she committed. My mother was compassionate and caring. Never did I doubt her unconditional love for me. She had taught me to dream and ultimately to live unselfishly.

    “My mother was not wicked or cold-blooded as my wife is painting her. I used to tell her to be calm, but she refused. What does she want me to do? To fight my mother who gave birth to me? Now that she has killed my mother, she will be the one to tell me what she wants, and at the appropriate time, I will battle it out with her. I won’t take it lightly.”he said

SOURCE: LINDA IKEJI BLOG

UPDATES :YAHAYA BELLO SUSPENDS COMMISSIONER WHO ALLEGEDLY RAPED A LADY

                                                                             

                                                                

 Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has ordered the suspension of Mr. Abdulmumuni Danga, Commissioner for Water Resources in the state.
According to SaharaReporters, Danga was suspended over a report that he assaulted and raped a lady over a Facebook post.


The lady, identified as Elizabeth,  was reported to have been kidnapped after she told the commissioner on Facebook to assist his sister and family financiall.

Elizabeth said, “I saw a post by a local comedian of the commissioner sharing food and his family are complaining that he doesn’t attend to them, that was why I made the post.

“On the 29th of March, I made a post about the commissioner.
“After making the post, they started attacking me on social media and he sent some guys to come and get me.
“On getting to me, they flogged me. He flogged me himself, stripped me naked and made a video of me threatening to post it when next I make any public comment about it.
“They also made me apologise that what I said about him was not true under duress. I had to do so because they were all over me.

“The commissioner also smashed my phone and destroyed it totally, saying that maybe I might have been recording what was happening or I have been recording before getting there.”

This is the first time Governor Bello acted with tact and sense of purpose.

 READ MORE HERE

KOGI COMMISSIONER ACCUSED OF RAPING(VIDEO)

                                                                 

KOGI State Commissioner for Water Resources, Abdulmumuni Danga, accused of raping and battering a lady for calling him out on Facebook, has said that he wants the case to be left the way it is.

Danga who spoke to The ICIR on phone, was asked what happened between him and the victim identified as Elizabeth Oyeniyi and in response, he said: “I don’t want to talk too much please, let’s just leave the case the way it is”

Oyeniyi had made a Facebook post asking the commissioner to help his sister and family financially the same way he has been helping others. But Oyeniyi’s comment upset the commissioner.

According to her, the commissioner sent thugs to kidnap her and her three-year-old son from their home and they were whisked to an unknown location where she was striped naked and severely beaten.

The assault was recorded on video, and she was threatened to keep mute about it, else her nude photos would be released on the internet.

Thereafter, Oyeniyi said she was raped by Danga who made sure she stayed overnight just to have his way with her.

By morning, she had several beating marks on her body and was forced to do another video praising the commissioner.

“They flogged me. He flogged me himself, stripped me naked and made a video of me threatening to post it when next I make any public comment about it.

“They also made me apologise that what I said about him was not true under duress. I had to do so because they were all over me.

“He did not release me that day, rather he took me to a hotel nearby. Over the night, he made advances and raped me,” Oyeniyi recounted.

For safety, Oyeniyi said she had to run to Abuja from Kogi where the incident happened.

Leading the call for justice, Dorothy Njemanze of Dorothy Njemanze Foundation said the matter has been taken to the police and the victim has visited a hospital to get treated.

Meanwhile, Governor of Kogi State, Bello, has ordered an investigation into the allegations of battery and assault against Danga.

In a statement released on Thursday by Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Kingsley Fanwo, it was disclosed that the governor ordered immediate investigation into the matter.

“The Kogi State government reaffirms its unalloyed commitment to the protection of everyone from all forms of oppression, and will not tolerate violence against women or children under any form or guise,” the statement read in part.
Oyeniyi, said she continues to  live in fear.




SOURCE:VIDEO

RELIGION SCAM: PASTOR CHARGES N50K TO SWIM IN A POOL FOR HEALING (VIDEO)

                                                                           

Abuja based pastor, Remember Pastor Joshua Iginla of the Champions Royal Assembly, Abuja, good, am not here to write about his private life but on another wrong reasons that has been treading in the recent past.

According to report,Iginla has been accused of charging members and deliverance-seekers N50,000 to swim in a pool he built in his church and receive instant healing.

A Twitter user, Kelvin Odanz, in a thread of tweets via his handle @MrOdanz, revealed that an indoor pool that looks like an Olympic-size has been built in Iginla’s church and access to the pool attracts a fee.

Iginla, who named his private pool the ‘Pool of Bethesda’ because, like the biblical pool, it is also believed to have healing powers that cure any form of ailment once the sick make their way into it.

Kelvin Odanz wrote:

    “There is this church in Abuja with a weird flex. The pastor built a swimming pool in the church premises and called it “pool of bethsheba” or something. The pool has healing powers. Enter and your problems disappear. If you want to enter the pool, you have to pay 50K per swim.

    “For those who are too poor to pay 50K, there is an anointed bottle water sourced from the “pool of Bethsheba.” It goes for 10K. I am not sure it has as much healing power as paying 50K to submerge yourself in the pool itself. I mean, you cannot cheat God. It issa Pay as you go.

He added:

    “One certain Sundays, the Pastor of The church   does spiritual promo. That means he will let you bath in the pool, all expense paid by God. Even God Sabi do promo”.

  


POOL OF BETHESDA VIDEO