Mama Ekundayo – The Kogi Woman Who Raised Over 500 Orphans And Abandoned Children.
Mama Ekundayo has been described as the Mother Theresa of Africa, because she dedicated most of her life to take care of orphans and abandoned children in the society.
In 2007, she adopted her 469th child, and by the year 2008; she had already cared for over 500 children. This act earned her the nickname “Olomo yeye”, which means someone with many children.
Her lifestyle projected the meaning of her name, “Ekundayo,” which is translated to mean, “tears have turned to joy” in Yoruba language.
Mama Ekundayo, who’s real name is Janet Ekundayo gave birth to five children of her own, but that did not stop her from adopting other kids because of her love for children.
She enjoyed the company of little children, therefore taking care of them came naturally to her.
In 1969, Mama Ekundayo made a decision to dedicate the rest of her life to taking care of orphans and abandoned children.
For over 50 years, Mama Janet Ekundayo ran the Ekundayo Orphanage Home in Isanlu Makutu, Kogi state. She has been described as one of the most influential Kogi Women of all time.
Among her kids is popular Nigerian Singer and Photographer TY Bello
HIJAB: WHY THE SUPREME COURT OF NIGERIA ERRED AND WILL REVERSE ITSELF . BY CHIEF MALCOLM EMOKINIOVO OMIRHOBO
In a majority decision of six in favour and one dissent, the apex court of Nigeria on Friday in Abuja. affirmed the rights of Muslims Female Students in Lagos state public primary and secondary schools. to wear Hijab .
The supreme court erroneously held that wearing the hijab was an Islamic injunction and an act of worship required of Muslims and consequently the banning of female Muslim students from wearing Hijab to school is a violation of their fundamental rights to freedom of thought, conscience, religion, dignity of human persons and freedom from discrimination .
The supreme court heavily relied on section 38 of the 1999 constitution which guarantees every Nigerian citizen the right to freedom of thought , conscience and religion. The justices failed to see the rights contained in section 38 of the constitution as private rights that must be exercised privately in our homes , place of worship , community , religious schools and not in the public or public schools for that matter funded with tax payers money .
I respectfully submit that the Supreme court’s decision allowing female students to wear Hijab, is a flagrant violation of section 10 of the Nigerian constitution which provides for the secularity of Nigeria by prohibiting the Government of the Federation or of a state from adopting any religion as state religion . The justices ignored the secularity of Nigeria in section 10 of the constitution which has mutilates and/or whittle down the individual right of every Nigerian citizen to freedom of thought , conscience and religion as contained in section 38 of the constitution . The supreme court.’s decision I respectfully submit tantamount to its encouraging the adoption of Islam as State religion and this I humbly submit is an error .
It is sad and disturbing that the justices of the supreme court failed to see how our public schools will look if students from white garment church family background like Celestial Church of Christ and Cherubim and Séraphin Church sew their uniform in sutana style covering all their bodies from neck to toe with cap to march and go to school bare footed because it is a Christian injunction and an act of worship required of them ?
How will our public schools look like if the children of traditionalists come to school with white powder on their faces and necks with charm bracelet on their arms and cowrie’s or life tortoise tied around their necks ? How will our public schools look like if children from Rastafarian families leave their dreadlocks unkept or wear their Rasta cap or tam in line with their religious believes.
It is unfortunate and regrettable that the justices of the supreme court failed to see that public schools are established by government with public funds and by virtue of section 10 of the Nigerian 1999 constitution are secular . Our public schools are suppose to be centers for learning and not worship centers and therefore students must be helped to focus on their studies at school not religion because religion is a personal thing that must be practiced privately .
Whether we admit it or not the supreme court’s decision will give rise to the identification of students’ religion by their dress code which in turn will bring about discrimination , favouritism , nepotism , victimisation , disunity and distraction in the public school system
I appreciate the fact that the judgement of the supreme court is final and must be complied with nevertheless I find solace in the fact that the supreme court do reverse her decisions when it finds it expedient to do so especially after it has erred in an early decision and this case is one of such occasion .
I want to specially thank the justice that dissented in this case for his courage, independent mind and level of intelligence to apply the law to serve its purpose And for the other six justices who erroneously gave the judgement, I urge them to be ready to reverse it at the slightest opportunity because it is a bad decision in a multi religious / secular country like Nigeria
I expected Buhari to choose his successor – Tinubu
Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has said that he and other presidential aspirants of the party pleaded with and expected President Muhammadu Buhari to pick an anointed candidate for the 2023 presidential election
Bola Tinubu defeated his closest challengers and former Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi and Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, to emerge the candidate of the ruling party.
Prior to the primary, there were rumours that the President would name his successor, following his meeting with the Progressives Governors Forum, who he pleaded to allow him name his preferred candidate.
And in a letter to President Buhari on Saturday, the former Lagos State Governor thanked President Buhari for maintaining a neutral stance and allowing all the aspirants battle it out at the primary.
“Your Excellency, one must admire the sense of purpose, composure, and maturity you demonstrated in the weeks and months preceding the primary elections of our great party. As aspirants and party leaders, we all pleaded with you to “choose” your successor,” part of his letter read.
“Naturally, this is expected especially in African democracy. Up until the 6th of June, 2022, the day of the APC Presidential primaries, the whole of Nigeria, including myself, waiting for you to announce your preferred candidate. All of us thought and believed this was a very simple matter,” he added.
“However, it was only as the primary went into the night and as the candidates walked up to the podium and spoke that I fully and truly appreciated your position and stance to be neutral and non-aligned to any of us.
“As the hours rolled by that evening, it became clear to me that all of us were your preferred candidates. As you captured it aptly in your letter to me, the ‘spirit’ of 2013 and 2014 when we created and built APC was there for all to see.”
PVC: Governor Matawalle Declares One-Week Public Holiday In Zamfara
The Governor of Zamfara State, Hon. Bello Mohammed Matawalle has declared next week Monday to Friday, (June 20th to 24th, 2022) as work free week to enable the State’s public and civil servants to go to their respective localities and obtain their Permanent Voter Cards, (PVC).
The Governor directed all the commissioners, Special Advisers, Permanent Secretaries, other public office holders, party officials and traditional rulers to monitor and supervise the ongoing Voter Registration exercise.
This was contained in a press statement signed and issued to newsmen in Gusau, the State capital by the State’s commissioner for information, Hon. Ibrahim Magaji Dosara.
According to the statement, every person above the age of 18 is expected to be part of the exercise, saying that it was their constitutional right to elect their leaders.
Governor Matawalle appealed to the general public to participate in the exercise so that they would not complain later.
It Is Important That Women’s Voices Are Heard, Says Osinbajo
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, says it is important for the voices of women to be heard and for them to participate more actively in the development of policies in different sectors as they are major contributors to national development.
Prof. Osinbajo stated this today when he received at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, a delegation of Jam’iyyar Matan Arewa, the association of women in Northern Nigeria.
The Vice President also mentioned the proposed 35 per cent affirmative action for women to be given elective and appointive positions in government, noting that “there is a need for women to be properly recognized and given the rights in society.”
Prof. Osinbajo highlighted the work being done by the At-Risk Children Programme, ARC-P, a Federal Government led initiative in addressing the challenges faced by the vulnerable in society, especially children and young people, nationwide.
The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero alongside Emir of Bichi, HRH Nasiru Ado Bayero and the presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other dignitaries were in attendance, on Saturday, in Ibadan as Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, conferred Aare Fiwajoye and Yeye Aare Fiwajoye of Ibadanland on Kano state governor and his wife, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje and Professor Hafsatu Ganduje.
Balogun said the choice of the recipients was based on merit not monetary inducement.
According to him: “On today’s event, which is the first of its kind under this dispensation, the likely question to be asked is why Gandujes? And my response is if not Gandujes, who else could be?
“As I have had cause to say on occasions that Ibadan Chieftaincy titles, either traditional or honorary would not be for sale, I must make it clear that the choice of His Excellency and Her Excellency as Aare Fiwajoye and Yeye Aare Fiwajoye of Ibadanland was not induced financially.
“By the time I spell out the factors that came into play for their choice, you would agree with the choice. I want to put it on record that, but for our brother, Oba Yoruba Kano, Alhaji Engr. Muritala Alimi Otisese, Adetimirin-1, mine and the paths of today’s chiefs might have not crossed. It was this brother of us, who is also a ‘shon of the shoil’ that introduced the Kano state first couple to the palace.
“From the Oba Yoruba Kano, we got to know how detribalized the Kano State Chief Executive is alongside his wife. We were made to know how supportive our guests were to the aspiration and eventual emergence of our brother as Oba Yoruba Kano about two years ago.
“A man of peace, Dr. Ganduje it was who came down to Ibadan when there was a clash between Hausa traders and the people of Sasa at Sasa Market the other time to calm the frayed nerves and peace was restored.
Peter Obi’s VP Will Be Announced Soon, I’m Standing In Temporarily – Doyin Okupe
Former presidential spokesperson Dr Doyin Okupe on Friday said he is ‘standing in’ as vice presidential candidate of the Labour party.
He made the announcement on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
If his candidacy holds, he will run alongside Peter Obi in the 2023 presidential elections.
However, Dr Okupe might be a placeholder to beat INEC’s deadline for the submission of the name of a vice presidential candidate.
The deadline ends today.
“Choosing the vice presidential candidate is an electoral process and it does not stop until the process and schedule ends,” Dr Okupe said. INEC allows you to present a candidate and later on, if you want to substitute, you may do so, if necessary. But if it’s not necessary, you may as well continue.”
Ten reasons I can’t be Peter Obi’s running mate – Aisha Yesufu
Sociopolitical activist, Aisha Yesufu, has provided ten reasons she cannot be a running mate to Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP.
She gave the reasons while responding to calls by many social media users, who were asking her to deputize Obi.
In a tweet she shared on Friday, Aisha gave ten reasons it is almost impossible for her to join Obi’s presidential race.
“For those who have been asking, here are 10 reasons I cannot be Peter Obi @PeterObi ‘s running mate! It’s a thread!” She tweeted.
For her number one reason, Aisha said she was not at a place to serve, adding that anything she does she does with her heart, body and soul.
“ I am from South South, Peter Obi is South East (An all Southern ticket is insensitive just like Muslim-Muslim ono), the Edo-born social activist, added.
“For many who still do not know. I am from Agbede (Kukuruku empire) in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State! My coconut head come from ancestors!
“I am a very passionate person & unafraid to match toes on issue of Justice, accountability and human rights & there are people who love me dearly and also others who hate me passionately. At this fragile time, Peter Obi cannot afford to antagonise any group! Perception is key!
“So my support for Peter Obi will do more good than me being his running mate.
“Those who love me will jump on board. Those who hate me will be able to overlook as I am only a supporter! (We have to think a million steps ahead)
“I love campaigns! I can sell someone but I will not be able to sell myself.
“Vote for me because I am a better candidate! Who told me I am a better candidate?!
“I can say vote for him or her because he or she is a better candidate. Even in business I can’t market my goods
“I am not a process person & not too good with day-to-day management. I am more of a strategist. I can gauge a situation & see an angle people are not looking at or focused on or I can to an extent see how a situation will play out. I prefer working on where my strength is!
“I will not make a good party person for now because I can not keep quiet when a party does anyhow because it is my party. They will suspend me for anti party activities
“I love the freedom of controlling my time! As a public servant, or elected official or an appointee I will give up that freedom. I will now have to go to office daily and on time. I cannot travel out when I want and stay as long as I want if I am a public servant.
“Also I will not be able to talk anyhow to people who come to my TL and do anyhow because they would be my bosses as per taxpayers! I love my mouth too much. You people know i don’t subscribe to the ideology of if they go low you go high!
” The last but not the least is that I will be forced to be politically correct. Not say things that should be said but things that will make people feel good! No way!
“I am a person at peace because my outside matches my inside always.
EFCC Re-arraigns Lagos Pastor For Alleged N54.7m Fraud
The EFCC on Thursday, June 16, 2022 re-arraigned one Cletus Ilongwo, a self-acclaimed Lagos-based prophet, before Justice Sherifat Solebo of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos on an amended seven-count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretence to the tune of N54.7 million.
The defendant was first arraigned on November 5, 2018 on an 11-count charge to which he pleaded “not guilty”.
His victim, one Obinna Ezenwaka, a former employee of Fidelity Bank Plc, alleged that he was introduced to the defendant sometime in 2015 when he was seeking solution to his “spiritual problem”.
However, Ilongwo allegedly lured Ezenwaka to part with N59,760,000 under the guise that he would use it to purchase a property located at Diamond Estate, Festac Town, with the assurance that they would resell it to a Chinese company at the cost of N150million.
The defendant, however, reneged on his promise prompting him to petition the EFCC.
Peak News 
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