celebrity radar - gossips

Col. Gabriel Ajayi: Tortured to impotence

Published

9 years ago

March 15, 2016

Sixteen years after General Sani Abacha’s death, a Swiss delegation led by the country’s Federal Councillor and Head of its Foreign Affairs Department, Mr. Didier Burkhalter, and the Swiss Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Eric Mayoruz were with Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo last Tuesday to sign a memorandum on the return of another $321m loot by the dark goggled general.

It was a paradox of some sort that the same Sani Abacha had the temerity to engage in anti-corruption fight at some point in the sorry story of this funny country called Nigeria.

He hounded a number of bank chiefs to jail under the Failed Banks Decree in what would now appear to be that Abacha in his era had monopoly over stealing and whoever stole apart from him committed a grievous offense a gainst him-not the state.

A day after the signing of the agreement that reminded us of the evil general’s rapacity, I met with a gentleman whose ordeal in the hands of Abacha paints the grimmest picture of man’s inhumanity to man and the excruciating pains of irreparable damage far beyond stolen funds that can be repatriated years after.

Hausa as lingua franca His name is Col. Gabriel Ajayi who was retired from the Nigerian Army he joined in 1971 under controversial circumstances.

Ajayi left Secondary school in 1969 under the tutelage of the late Chief Adebayo Adefarati burning with a lot of passion. He was offered a job at the Nigerian Tribune where he honed his journalistic zeal before he joined the army in 1971with a hope of re-enacting the warrior streak of his ancestry.

Three years into his career in the army in 1974, he encountered his first shock of innocence at the army barracks in Ibadan where the Hausa Language was “official” language of communications.

Young Ajayi felt that was not right. He voiced out that this was supposed to be Nigerian Army barracks in Ibadan and there was no reason Hausa language should be lingua franca. His gut to say that earned him 15 days in the guardroom in the hands of a fellow Yoruba commander who was loyal to the iniquitous arrangement.

The said officer was to later apologise to him later in life after he was dealt a fatal blow by the very system he tried to protect. Col. Gabriel Ajayi (rtd) continued his career with spartan discipline and rose to become Colonel Administration and Quartermaster General, Lagos Garrison Command.

By his appointment at the Garrison Command, he was second-in-command to the then General Officer Commanding, GOC, Major Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi, whose hands infantry officer alleged were apparent in his travails over the alleged 1995 coup. Ajayi along other officers was accused of planning to overthrow General Sani Abacha. He was arrested after taking Holy Communion in a church with Bamaiyi, tried and sentenced to death alongside former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the late Major Gen. Shehu Musa Yar’Adua and Colonel Lawan Gwadabe, among others.

In the course of being tortured for an offense he insists till date he did not committed, Ajayi lost his manhood in the hands of deranged soldiers.

He was sentenced to death on July 14, 1995 by the Brigadier General Patrick Aziza’s Special Military Tribunal (SMT) before it was commuted to 25 years jail term. He spent four years in Minna prison before he was compulsorily retired in 1999 when co-convict Obasanjo became President.

Ajayi holds till date that his travail was over his insistence for justice and that he was roped into a coup because he objected to the annulment of June 12 elections and the murder of hundreds of protesters in Lagos on June 23rd 1993 when Abacha drove through protesters. He recalls vividly how his boss, Bamaiyi, once boasted in an army conference that he had only pity for Yoruba women and children whose husbands and fathers would be gone when the shooting would commence.

The shootings indeed commenced and quite a number of Yoruba women became widows while a lot of children became either fatherless or motherless. I see Aliu and Kazeem Abiola every now and then with reminiscences of the unlimited ramifications of evil.

Col. Ajayi carries eternal scars of the physical and emotional violence done to him and others by mindless fellows who went to Oputa panel to brag that they would repeat the evil they did if they had the chance again. He carries with him the library of iniquities perpetrated under that dark era.

He reminded me of Prof. Agboluaje who left America in 1997 and was to have arrived at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and has not been seen till date. Anger wells in you when you see men like Ajayi who have been deeply hurt by Nigeria’s machinery of injustice without any remorse.

You are annoyed the more to see prominent men of that evil era occupying prime offices in our affairs today. And Nigeria thinks it can make progress in the midst of such injustice? I doubt it!

celebrity radar - gossips

Ayra Starr’s Mother Sparks Buzz with Confession About Her Mystery Crush

Published

10 hours ago

December 23, 2024

Sahara Weekly

Ayra Starr’s Mother Sparks Buzz with Confession About Her Mystery Crush

The mother of Nigerian Afrobeat sensation Ayra Starr has sent social media into a frenzy with a playful revelation about having a crush on someone who, humorously, calls her “mummy.” In a video that quickly went viral, she expressed her excitement about the possibility of meeting her crush at Ayra Starr’s upcoming show on Christmas Day.

Captioning the video, Ayra Starr’s mother wrote: “Wahala, my crush is calling me mummy. Anyways, we will meet at Ayra’s show on the 25th.” Her candid and lighthearted confession immediately captivated fans, sparking a wave of speculation about the identity of her mystery crush.

Many have taken to social media to guess the individual who has captured Ayra Starr’s mother’s affections. A popular theory among fans is that the crush might be none other than Don Jazzy, the renowned Nigerian music mogul and the boss of Ayra Starr’s record label, Mavin Records. However, Ayra’s mother kept the identity of her crush under wraps, leaving fans to wonder and eagerly anticipate any clues that might surface.

As the excitement for Ayra Starr’s Christmas Day show builds, fans are eagerly awaiting the event, with many now watching closely to see if Ayra’s mother’s cheeky prediction about meeting her crush will indeed come true.

Stay tuned for updates and watch the video below as the mystery continues to unfold!

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A post shared by The Tattle Room 🇳🇬 🌎 (@thetattleroomng)

celebrity radar - gossips

Self-Anointed Financial Guru, Geh Geh, Celebrates the Launch of His Luxury Hotel

Published

10 hours ago

December 23, 2024

Sahara Weekly

Self-Anointed Financial Guru, Geh Geh, Celebrates the Launch of His Luxury Hotel

Popular financial influencer and self-proclaimed guru, Geh Geh, has officially opened the doors to his new hotel, marking another milestone in his ever-evolving career. The hotel, a modern and tastefully furnished establishment, was unveiled on December 22nd amidst a wave of excitement from his followers and supporters.

Taking to his X page a few days prior to the launch, Geh Geh teased his fans with the announcement, hinting at the grand opening. True to his word, the influencer shared clips from the event, including a moment where his pastor prayed over the establishment during its official dedication.

The event was attended by friends, family, and well-wishers, who gathered to celebrate his achievement. Online reactions, however, have been a mix of admiration, skepticism, and humor as netizens took to social media to share their thoughts on Geh Geh’s latest accomplishment.

Social Media Reactions

The news of Geh Geh’s hotel opening has sparked lively conversations across social platforms. Some users congratulated him on his success, while others questioned the legitimacy of his wealth and mocked the idea of a pastor blessing a hotel.

@BIG🌍 AP❣️: “Finally, Geh Geh don get the congratulations 🎉 way him dey find since lol 🤣🤣 Congratulations 🎉 Opueh Presido.”
@ucheuch2 MMM: “Geh Geh no get hotel.”
@Quency baby 🫂🥹: “Dem open hotel, pastor dey pray 🤦‍♀️.”
@Elbulletin: “So this guy gets money?”
@Boy alone💜🧎‍♂️🧎‍♂️☹️: “Omo, wait oh, na Geh Geh really get am? Omo, if na him, I go start worship Geh Geh online oh 😞.”
@Babatunde Phillip: “Imagine a pastor attending the opening ceremony of a hotel where Geh Geh said girls go cryyyy.”
@user97174499693224: “So pastor dey pray for hotel opening 😂😂😂.”
@ABIODUN__🌴💙🚬: “I dey cryyyyyyy now, if to say I know, I for worship Geh Geh online 😭😂.”

While the reactions may vary, one thing is clear: Geh Geh knows how to command attention. As he steps into the hospitality business, all eyes will be on him to see if the financial guru can translate his influence into success in this new venture.

@unclenasco_

Congratulations to Geh Geh , he has finally opens his hotel 🏨

♬ original sound – Nasco

Sports

Oleksandr Usyk Defeats Tyson Fury Again, Solidifies Legacy Among Boxing Greats

Published

2 days ago

December 22, 2024

Sahara Weekly

Oleksandr Usyk Defeats Tyson Fury Again, Solidifies Legacy Among Boxing Greats

Ukrainian boxing sensation Oleksandr Usyk retained his heavyweight championship titles and cemented his place in boxing history with a unanimous decision victory over Britain’s Tyson Fury in their rematch on Saturday night.

The judges scored the bout 116-112 in Usyk’s favor across the board, marking his second consecutive win over Fury. This victory extended Usyk’s flawless professional record to 23-0, with 14 knockouts, adding another chapter to a career already highlighted by Olympic gold and an undisputed cruiserweight championship.

A Masterclass Performance

Usyk, 37, showcased his signature precision and relentless pace, repeatedly catching Fury with clean left hooks and dominating the latter stages of the fight. Fury, at 6ft 9in (206cm) and weighing a career-high 281 pounds, attempted to impose his physicality but was unable to break Usyk’s composure.

The fight, held in Saudi Arabia, saw Usyk wearing traditional Cossack attire during his entrance, while Fury entered the arena dressed in a festive Santa-inspired robe to Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You.”

The early rounds were competitive, with Fury landing powerful jabs and body shots. However, Usyk’s endurance and tactical brilliance began to shine in the middle rounds. The Ukrainian landed sharp combinations and dictated the tempo, including a stunning uppercut in the final round that left little doubt about the outcome.

“I thought I’ve won both fights,” Fury said post-match, sporting a bruised right eye. “But I’ll always believe until the day I die that I won that fight.”

A Legacy Sealed

Usyk’s victory solidified his standing as one of the greatest heavyweights in history. Already the first undisputed heavyweight of the four-belt era, Usyk joins the ranks of legends like Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis, and Mike Tyson.

The bout, reported to have a prize purse of $190 million, also underscored Saudi Arabia’s growing influence in global sports. Usyk, who served briefly as a soldier during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, celebrated his victory by hoisting a symbolic sabre belonging to Ukrainian nationalist hero Ivan Mazepa.

Fury’s Uncertain Future

The defeat leaves Fury’s future in doubt. Once unbeaten across 35 fights, Fury now stands at 34-2-1. His attempt to reclaim glory after a brief retirement in 2022 has been marred by back-to-back losses to Usyk.

Usyk, on the other hand, continues to add to his already remarkable resume, leaving fans and critics alike in awe of his technical skill, resilience, and determination. As the heavyweight division looks ahead, Usyk’s reign appears unshakable, and his place among boxing’s all-time greats is firmly secured.