Late Ooni of Ife’s wives banned from re-marrying...

According to a Palace Chief who spoke anonymously, the wives of the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, the Olubuse II, by tradition cannot re- marry as its forbidden, they can only be inherited by the new Ooni. This order was prescribed by the Ife tradition since the Ooni is not considered dead but to have transited to a higher realm.

“The rule is general and applies to all Ooni that has passed on and not peculiar to the wives of Oba Sijuwade, the immediate past Ooni. There may not be a clearly defined repercussion against the tradition but it is advisable that the order is obeyed at all times and for all generations. The best that can happen to the Oloris left behind by any late Ooni is for them to remain single or be inherited by the reigning Ooni. Whether the wives are young or old does not matter, what matters is that the tradition must be sustained in the overall interest of the society.” the source said

Photo: Heir to the Netherland throne, Princess Amalia rides a bike to school

Saw this trending and decided to share. This is the daughter of the King & Queen of the Netherlands, Princess Catharina-Amalia riding a bike to school. Apparently, it seems good for the Dutch to see a member of their royal family acting normal. 

Ooni of Ife’s Final Funeral Rites: Palace Warns Residents to Stay Indoors for Oro Deity

Residents of the ancient town of Ile-Ife, have been warned to remain indoors for the Oro deity to observe the final funeral rites for the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Ile-Ife, Osun, observed that the palace town criers were going round the town announcing that residents, especially commercial drivers and motorcyclists should stay indoors between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.

NAN reports that this will enable the Oro deity perform necessary rites for the departed monarch.

It was gathered that the Head of Oro Cult in Ife, the Awara of Iwara, Oba Layi Adereti had ordered the curfew, warning that anyone who flouted the order, irrespective of age or gender would face its consequences.

However, residents were apprehensive of the stay at home order as many of them rushed to the few available markets to get essentials that would last them for the day.

It would be recalled that major market places in Ife had been shut since last week Friday when the burial rites started.

Although, some markets in Mayfair and its environs have been in operation.

As a result of the curfew, some Heads of Departments in the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife cancelled the continuous assessment tests for their students earlier scheduled to hold on Saturday.

Some students, who reside off campus, have been advised to remain indoors in compliance with the Oro cult order.
Also, hundreds of commercial motorcyclists, popularly known as “Okada riders” were seen on Friday distributing a hand bill to their colleagues, warning them against operating in Ife on Saturday.

The Vice President of the Okada Riders Association, Ile-Ife chapter, Idowu Akamo, told NAN that the fliers became imperative because some members of the association were always busy and might not have heard the town criers while making the announcement.

He said that many of the residents as well as the Okada riders had thought the mourning period would end on August 21, adding that many residents were surprised when they heard the stay-at-home order.

According to him, the Oro people should not be dared because the consequences might be disastrous, saying the association will not like to lose its members because of disobedience.

It would be recalled that the Oro cult had on penultimate Friday, after the inter-religious farewell service for the monarch in Ife, asked residents of Ife to stay at home from 4 p.m. till dawn for the next seven days in continuation of the final rites of the late Sijuade.

Many residents had respected the order and were thinking it had ended on Friday but got a shock when the curfew order came on Saturday.

Etcetera Says Pres. Buhari Has Failed to Keep His Promises

Social commentator, Etcetera, is back again with more viewpoints about the state of Nigeria. And this time, he has chosen President Buhari as his subject matter to deliver viewpoints on.

Etcetera believes that Buhari has failed to keep his promises. Read his article below, as published by Punch:

“I believe if Nigeria does not kill corruption; corruption will kill Nigeria. I pledge to publicly declare my assets and liabilities and encourage my political appointees to also publicly declare their assets and liabilities.” – President Buhari (during his campaign)

Now, the presidency through the presidential spokesman has said the promise of asset declaration wasn’t made by Buhari but his political party. Jeez! These people just think say we be mumu sha… dem think say everybody for naija dey suffer from dyslexia. Shebi na dem preach say Buhari na modest man with just two houses and 150 cattle? They also said Buhari and Osinbajo have declared their assets, and it is deposited with the code of conduct bureau and the only thing needed is just verification by the bureau? How many months does the Code of Conduct Bureau need to verify an asset of two houses and 150 cattle? Nawa ooo!!! Naija una don see una sef? Is this the “change?”

President Buhari’s achievements as a former military Head of State may be many. But he has utterly failed to keep a simple promise core to the rationale for his election into office. And as the campaign promises recede into memory, it is equally clear that this administration may never provide the needed reforms that will address the most worrisome flaws in our democratic system. I have met a lot of Buhari supporters who are finally coming to the realisation that they may have made a very bad decision in the last Presidential election. So many of them no longer seem to know why they believed that a retired military general would perform any better than the career politicians they mistrust.

President Buhari’s bygone promises to run “the most transparent administration in the history of this country” have become a subject of mockery, given how he has failed in a simple task of appointing ministers.

When critics like me attacked his go-slow government, the administration defended itself by claiming the president was only taking his time.

But the problem with this administration is not only about being too slow but it has also left untouched the corrupt individuals, which means that we would continue to live under a government with significant transparency problems, a culture of lobbying that is often tantamount to sanctioned corruption, and an executive branch of government that preaches a change that no one gets to see.

Is it unrealistic to expect ambitious systemic reforms in Nigeria? Yet it remains the case that many people voted for Buhari precisely because he promised to attempt them.

I believe president Buhari can solve a lot of things … but won’t. Whatever he once was or wasn’t, we should accept that Buhari is now a creature of the political establishment. He is captive to its loyalties and prejudices, and committed to safeguarding its interests. I am not arguing that he hasn’t or won’t accomplish anything, but there are whole categories of problems that he won’t try to fix.

“Change” is a mirage sold to us by Buhari and his political party to get our votes. And that’s a shame. Nigerians are unlikely to support a politician making similar promises in the future because Buhari has made them impossible to believe.

Those sending messages to me at mail@etceteralive.com asking me to write on how Buhari’s administration has improved electricity supply in the country should ask themselves how long president Buhari has been in office to put in place the machinery for such a turnaround. Abi rain nor dey fall for una area? Let us wait till the dams are dried up before singing halleluyah.

Karen Igho Rakos & Hubby baptize Baby Samuel

Being a mom never looked so good.

We have definitely missed former Big Brother Africa star and actress Karen Igho Rakos at social events here in Nigeria, but the new mom is settling into her life.

Today, Sunday 23rd August 2015, Karen and her husband baptized their son,Samuel.

For the event, Karen was pretty and glam in a black-and-grey lace dress, nude pumps and a black clutch, while her husband wore a black striped suit. They were joined by family and friends for the baptism.

**Update**
Article contained information that has since been removed.

Photo Credit: Instagram.com/karenighorakos

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Kaduna State Govt hosts UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon (photos)

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Photo Credit: @MusadiqZ

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Last administration paid N140bn as consultancy fee for the 2nd Niger bridge -Oshiomhole alleges

Edo state governor, Adams Oshiomhole has alleged that a whooping N140bn was paid as consultancy fee for the construction of a second Niger bridge by the last administration. Oshiomhole  said this while reacting to insinuations that the Buhari led government was victimizing the Igbos because they did not vote for him. He said if at all there was any victimization, it was in the last administration.

"For those who are interested in politics of sharing, I am not interested; I am interested in the politics of baking. If the competent hands come from one family and they will deliver to the nation so be it. If a Kenyan can be elected as an American President why should we continue to discuss South South or South East.
The second Niger Bridge is what Ndigbo needs to ask Jonathan, where is that bridge? They did ground breaking, water breaking, where is the bridge? When Father Mbaka talked about the shame of Onitsha-Enugu road, people misconstrued his comments. Let me tell you, if the Igbos were marginalized, it was by President Jonathan under the PDP. Even the consultancy they did in the name of the second Niger Bridge, the expenditure they incurred which is not on ground, about 700 million dollars of that was funded from the Sovereign Wealth Fund which is money not belonging to the Federal Government but to the 774 Local Government Areas, the 36 states and of course the Federal Government. We called them to appear before us and they said they spent 700 million dollars from the Sovereign Wealth fund and I asked them where is the bridge? That 700million dollars amounted to N140billion on the second Niger Bridge and that money belongs to the three tiers of government. Okonjo Iweala was shouting on the need to have a Sovereign Wealth Fund but you can see what they used the money for. Those are the issues the Igbos should ask Jonathan to account for. Where is our bridge? Where is the dual carriage way from Onitsha to Owerri and Enugu. The roads in the South South as Obasanjo will say are embarrassment to the people of the South South. You cannot drive to Yenagoa, no road; so much noise about East West road, where is the road? You go to Akwa Ibom the Federal roads there are in bad shape. I have listened to governors from the South East, they will tell you there are no roads in the South East. So if the Igbos were marginalized, it was President Jonathan and the PDP. If Nigerians know what these people did, they will stone them to death – jungle justice. 700 million dollars gone on second Niger bridge without any bridge to show"he said