The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has glorified God for saving the lives of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and his aides who were involved in a helicopter mishap on Saturday.
The Ooni expressed his feeling in a statement signed by Mr Moses Olafare, Director, Media and Public Affairs, Ooni’s Palace, Ile-Ife.
The helicopter in which the vice president and his aides were on a campaign tour crash-landed in Kaba, Kogi, on Saturday.
Oba Ogunwusi said he rejoiced with all the survivors, their families, the Government and people of Nigeria over the rescue of the vice president and his aides.
He urged all the politicians to remain unshaken by the incident and continue with their electioneering activities ahead of the Feb 16 and March 2 general elections.
The royal father wished them Divine grace and protection before, during and after the elections.
He also prayed for the country’s economic prosperity, security, political stability and peaceful coexistence among the people.
The Nigerian Air Force says the Augusta AW139 Helicopter involved in a mishap in Kabba, Kogi, on Feb.2 while conveying Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, does not belong to the Nigerian Air Force or from the Presidential Air Fleet (011 PAF).
NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, clarified this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.
He said that some unscrupulous individuals had even circulated a video showing the crash landing of a military helicopter from an unrelated incident.
“The NAF wishes to state categorically that the helicopter that crashed in Kabba does not belong to the NAF or 011 PAF.
“The owners/operators of the civilian helicopter, Messrs Caverton Helicopters, have already issued a statement on the matter.
“In addition, the military Dauphin Helicopter, painted in desert camouflage colour, seen in the video circulating on social media does not belong to the NAF and should not be misrepresented as belonging to the NAF,” Daramola said.
He called on the public to disregard such erroneous information and the misleading video.
“NAF joins the nation in thanking God for sparing the life of the Vice President as well as other passengers and crew members involved in the mishap.
“We pray for the safety of the Vice President and that all his take-offs will culminate in an equal number of safe landings,” Daramola said.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) says investigation has began into Saturday’s crash landing of an helicopter conveying Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo in Kabba, Kogi State.
Mr Sam Adurogboye, General Manager, Public Relations, confirmed the development on Sunday in Lagos.
Adurogboye said the investigation was being conducted by the Accident Investigations Bureau (AIB), the statutory agency saddled with the task of investigating such serious incidents and accidents.
“The NCAA has been notified about the incident and we have notified the AIB to begin investigations in line with its mandate” Adurogboye said.
A source also told NAN on the condition of anonymity that the AIB had already deployed its team of investigators to the crash site to ascertain the remote and immediate cause of the incident.
Also confirming the development, Caverton Helicopters, in a statement signed by its Managing Director, Capt. Josiah Choms, said the relevant aviation agencies had been informed about the incident.
Choms said “An Augusta AW139 Helicopter, under management by Caverton Helicopters was involved in a mishap on landing in Kabba, Kogi State on Feb. 2 as a result of unusual weather conditions.
“There were no injuries to the passengers or crew on board and they were all quickly and safely evacuated.
“The relevant authorities have been duly informed and an investigation into the incident has commenced. We will, of course, support the authorities as required.
“We wish to reassure the public and our various stakeholders of our unwavering commitment to safety in all our operations,” he said.
Osinbajo and his entourage had crash landed in Kabba when he visited the town for his Next-Level engagements with the people.
However, the incident did not deter the Vice President from continuing with his engagements according to a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr Laolu Akande.
General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye has said the devil wanted to take the life of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. “But God put the devil to shame”.
TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports Pastor Adeboye on Sunday in a live telecast from the RCCG headquarters, Lagos, asked his congregation to rise and give glory to God for saving the life of Osinbajo, whom he described as his son.
He asked the congregation to specially appreciate God on behalf of the Vice President and all the crew onboard, for his supernatural protection, saying Nigeria would not mourn.
In his sermon entitled: “Carriers of Glory”, Adeboye said for anybody to carry glory, he must be a true child of God and live a life of holiness.
Taking his lesson from the Bible in the book of Isiah 60:1-4, he said: “Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
2 See, darkness covers the earth
and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you
and his glory appears over you.
3 Nations will come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
4 “Lift up your eyes and look about you:
All assemble and come to you;
your sons come from afar,
and your daughters are carried on the hip.
“As a carrier of glory, anywhere you arrive the darkness will automatically disappear.
“When God begins to use you, the glory belongs to God and you, so you must learn to always give glory to God.
“Do not take the glory to yourself because it is not yours, it belongs to God,” Adeboye said.
Meanwhile, Osinbajo speaking during a thanksgiving service at the RCCG, City of Grace, Lokoja, said that no amount of thanksgiving and praises to God would be enough for saving his life and the nine others in the Saturday’s helicopter crash.
“Only God can take the glory for saving my life and that of the nine crew members on board,” he said.
He said that it would have been breaking news on local and international media that Vice President Osinbajo and nine crew members died in a helicopter crash, but God had not allowed such to happen.
“No amount of thanksgiving and praises to God would be enough for saving my life and nine crew on board.
“God is the one who can do all things, and only him can take the glory; we return the glory to him.
“We are here to say thank you, thank you Jesus. We bless his name forever and ever,” he said.
He prayed God to bless all the people that have celebrated with him in the state, the nation and the world at large.
“All I have to say is that we are grateful and we are moving to the next level; the Lord will uphold us to the next level and Kogi will be number one,” Osinbanjo said.
The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), on Sunday, facilitated with the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, for surviving an helicopter crash on Saturday in Kabba, Kogi.
The President, Rev. Samson Ayokunle, in a statement in Abuja, issued by his Special Assistant, Media and Communications, Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, also appreciated God for Osinbajo’s safety.
“The leadership of CAN is grateful to God and rejoice with the Federal Government and Osinbajo.
“We give glory to God for sparing the life of the Vice President and his team from the helicopter crash while mobilising support for his party in preparation for the coming general elections,” he said.
The cleric recalled that the Vice President had similar experience in 2018 while visiting the Nigeria Customs College in Gwagwalada, Abuja.
“It is our prayers that God will continue to watch over him and other top government functionaries in Jesus’ Name,” he said.
Ayokunle urged the technical team or those responsible for the certification of the aircrafts and helicopters in the country used by the government officials to be more meticulous so as to avoid putting their lives in danger.
“May God continue to watch over our nation, our leaders and its citizens in the name of Jesus,” he said.
A statement by the Vice President Spokesperson, Laolu Akande, explained: “The Vice President, departed Abuja around 1p.m Saturday on a chopper ride to Kogi State in continuation of the Family Chats & Next Level engagements.
“Prof. Osinbajo headed first to Kabba, and while landing at the Kabba Stadium, the helicopter suddenly skidded sideways until it halted on its side few metres away from the intended resting spot.
“Alongside VP Osinbajo, the Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, Prof. Stephen Ocheni, senior presidential aides, security officials and the crew; there were a total of 12 people on board. everyone came out safely after the incident.
“The Vice President is continuing the planned engagements in Kogi State as scheduled.”
The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on Sunday took his door-to-door campaign to the Hausa commuity leader of Agege, Alhaji Musa Dogonkadai.
The leader, who doubles as the Chairman of the Chieftaincy Council of Arewa in Lagos State, alongside members of his council, received the vice president amidst fanfare in his palace in Agege.
The vice president who arrived at the palace at about 4 p.m., was greeted by a large crowd who chanted President Muhammadu Buhari’s name in different songs as they escorted him to the palace.
A meeting, which was held in closed-door between the vice president and the leader with his council, lasted for about 45 minutes.
Addressing newsmen, the Treasurer of Arewa Community in Agege, Alhaji Abdulkareem Abubakar, said the members felt happy that the vice president decided to pay the leader of Arewa Community a visit.
He said they would vote massively for All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019 elections because they wanted continuity of good governance in Lagos State and Nigeria at large.
“We are very happy with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s visit to Arewa Community leaders in Agege. We are excited to see the vice president.
“We are enjoying this government. We don’t want money; what we want is peace, which we are enjoying from this government. We are enjoying peace in Agege and Lagos State and we want it to continue.
“Because we want continuity of good thing and peace, we are going to vote for APC candidates in 2019 elections. We are going to vote for Buhari, Osinbajo, Sanwo-Olu, Obasa, Ogundimu and other APC candidates.”
Among those in Vice President Osinbajo’s entourage were the Senior Special Adviser to President on Political Matters, Sen. Babafemi Ojudu and Executive Secretary for Transportation, FCT.
As existence draws curtains on the year 2018, TheNewsGuru (TNG) takes a look back at some unforgettable top trend moments of the year.
With President Muhammadu Buhari emergence as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2015 and as 2018 ushers in another election year to determine if he serves second tenure as a democratic president or is replaced, the years seems to be 3 years in one.
It seems 2018 is the year of the mother of all politics, especially as coalition such as the one seen pre-2015 general elections cropped up, however rickety, in earnest expectations to oust seating president Buhari, whom many in some quarters have judged to have performed below par.
From Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s recent stuttering at the vice presidential debates to former governor of Ekiti state, Mr. Ayodele Fayose’s ‘I’m in pains, I can’t take this anymore’ gimmicks to small girls who have big gods, 2018 seems to be the year of assurance; assurance?
The unforgettable trend moments in the year 2018 were just dropping, one by one, gbagam, and we bring them to you in this list ‘gbagamly’.
I’m in pains, I can’t take this anymore; EFCC I’m here
2018 would be incomplete without the mention of former governor of Ekiti state, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, who many have judged, alongside Senators Dino Melaye and Ademola Adeleke, as the clowns of Nigerian politics.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BlIYyZTHq6M/
While Senator Melaye is the all time musical politician Nigeria has known, and Senator Adeleke won the prize for the best dancer politician, former governor Fayose won the award for Nigeria’s best actor politician.
The year was dramatic when Mr. Fayose appeared on TV donning a neck gear and weeping accusing the Nigerian police to have beaten him up during a rally organised by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti state capital.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BlGFwFSjCeT/
Nigerians will not forget in a hurry the polo t-shirt the former governor put on when he appeared at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) headquarters in Abuja.
Let’s not forget that our all time musical politician jumped off a moving vehicle in a ‘james bondic’ manner and then went on to spend 11 hours on top of a tree, escaping people, he said wanted to assassinate him.
The lawmaker, who defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the PDP alleged that his attackers were policemen.
PDP’s Vice Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi and his counterpart in APC, Yemi Osinbajo both stole the show as they battled each other at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja in the vice presidential dabate.
The internet was abuzz with uploads of memes, quotes, short videos, other form of excerpts from the debate session and of course Osinbajo’s stuttering caught the attention of Nigerians, who themselves also took over the heated conversation by citing some of the statistics doled out by the several vice presidential candidates to support their arguments who should be Nigeria’s next VP.
Candidly, I did not know how to spell out Osinbajo’s famous stuttering at the debate. Whether it is “why we were where were where” or “why we where were we were”, I really don’t know. But, what we all know is that our amiable VP said what he said. Thats all!
The police is your friend, so if we laugh over a transmission joke, they will understand. The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris Kpotun transmitted in the course of the year while trying to read his speech during a commissioning event.
President Muhammadu Buhari in April did not take it easy on the Nigerian youth at the Commonwealth Business Forum in London he attended.
He expressed dissatisfaction with the country’s young population he said just want government to hand them everything on a platter.
While the president did not explicitly say Nigerian youths are lazy, Nigerians felt bad by the comments he made that implied so.
One Anthony Okolo questioned the president about the Northeastern region of the country, which actually prompted Buhari’s reaction.
https://youtu.be/zzsxim-q-eo
Iberiberism
Okay, so, if anyone wants a statue of himself at any location of choice in Nigeria, we probably now know who to contract by now. In Imo State, it seems Governor Rochas Okorocha might be having the statue of every Nigerian in the locker room to erect somewhere. Lets not forget this is our happiness governor and the crooner of iberiberism.
What if you come to my state, I have collected N500 billion and the only thing I could show to you is borehole… for me that is what I call iberiberism, Okorochas said in an interview with Channels TV.
Whatever iberiberism meant in that syntactic structure, the term stood among the top trend moments of the year.
NYSC certificate
2018 might not be the best of years for former Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun as reports emerged she allegedly skipped the compulsory one year National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) programme and forged her exemption certificate.
Adeosun, who is one of the best ministers, if not the best, President Buhari had was forced to resigned after investigations into the matter. The Adeosun certificate moment is one of the most powerful moments of the year.
Assurance
Of course, it seems 2018 is the year of assurance. If 2018 is not the year of assurance for you, it definitely was for Chioma Avril.
Nigerian music superstar, Davido orchestrated this unforgettable 2018 moment gifting Chioma, his girlfriend, a Porsche car which reportedly costs N45 million.
The 2018 lover boy also took to his Twitter handle to announce a N60 million endorsement deal for Chioma, and it did not end there.
The Nigerian pop star released a high-life mid-tempo song with a follow up Chioma-dedicated music video, in which Davido shows his romantic side, heaping praises on Chioma his lover.
Nigerians sure caught the fever, and 2019 may be the year of insurance.
Sweet Boys Association
Many know him as a rapper and actor, but Folarin ‘Falz’ Falana now loves to be called president of the Sweet Boys Association (SBA).
The entertainer calls SBA a prestigious league of well-mannered, well-clad and purposeful, ambitious gentlemen.
According to Falz, the inaugural members of the Sweet Boys Association are BBNaija star Tobi Bakre, media personality Noble Igwe, fashion designer Mai Atafo, singers Ric Hassani, Adekunle Gold and Banky W, actor Timini Egbuson, among others.
If you have not been living under a rock, the Sho mo age mi ni trend won’t be alien to you. ‘Sho mo age mi ni’ meaning ‘do you know my age?’ is a Yoruba jargon that trended on Nigerian social media platforms especially on Instagram.
The slang, made popular by budding Nigerian actor, Abimbola Kazeem a.k.a Jiganbabaoja, spread like wildfire with celebrities creating comedy skits from the trend.
2018 was the year of stew, as well, and this may echo forth into the year 2019.
Everywhere stew is a slang that can be attributed to Freedom Atsepoyi popularly known as Mr. Jollof, with stew becoming viral after Wizkid released his hit song titled ‘Fever’, in which he featured Tiwa Savage in the video.
Celebrities like D’banj and Don Jazzy also leveraged on the trend by using the slang to talk about their songs and activities.
Personally, I think Naomi Campbell won the ‘small girl, big god’ contest, if it were to be a contest actually. Campbell and Buhari allegedly stumbled upon each other at the launch of the Eko Atlantic City, and it was the talk of the town for a period of time in the year.
Campbell took a snapshot with Buhari and tweeted, “Was a pleasure to be invited by his Excellency, the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, to the private launch of Eko Atlantic @NGRPresident @MBuhari”.
When a typical Yoruba man says “I deserve some accolades”, it sounds like a person’s full name, like Adisa Sam Akolade, just like Toke Makinwa found out that “Able God” was not actually “Ebuka”.
Mr. Spellz
Internet sensation, Dede Nne aka Mr. Spellz gained prominence over a viral video he featured in where he misspelt ‘Buhari’, with Nigerians on social media in a bid to imitate his spelling errors created a trend from his mistakes.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BqJ1zZmDM2Y/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BqJymLPDy7n/
The year 2018 was important, 2019 is importanter.
Did we miss out on any moment that should make TNG’s unforgettable top trend moments of 2018, drop it with a comment below… it’s importantest!
After the outing of Yemi Osinbajo, Peter Obi and other candidates in the vice presidential debates, immediate past Commissioner for Works in Lagos State has played down importance of the debates.
TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports the former commissioner, Ganiyu Johnson, on Sunday said the debates would not determine who would win the 2019 presidential elections in Nigeria.
Johnson, who recently resigned to run as the All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives candidate for Oshodi Isolo II Federal Constituency, made the assertions at an interactive session with newsmen in Lagos.
He spoke against the backdrop of the debate between vice-presidential candidates of five political parties on Saturday and the upcoming Presidential debate scheduled for Jan.19.
It was organised by the Nigeria Election Debate Group (NEDG) and the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON).
Johnson argued that though, debates might have counted in other climes, in Nigeria majority of voters do not watch such debates, but vote based on benefits from governance.
He was, however, optimistic that that President Muhammadu Buhari would have a landslides victory at the polls.
Johnson said: “Debates are good for the enlightened, but you cannot use it to judge.
“Most of the viewers are not voters. You can make statistical judgment from it, but it doesn’t affect results or show voting patterns.
“How many market women or ordinary Nigerians tuned in for the debate?
“The elites who did are the ones crediting or discrediting the contestants based on their affiliations and these group of Nigerians hardly vote. Their criticisms and choices end on the internet.
“This is not to say that such debates are bad as it gives an idea of the performances of the present administration and an opportunity for the opposition parties to tell Nigerians who watch and the International community what they could have done differently.
“In this case, it was obvious that there is no alternative to the present administration, having watched the debate and realising that no other party has better plans than the APC.”
Johnson said that the achievements of the Buhari-led administration were being felt by Nigerians across the country and the administration have scored over 80 per cent in performance in less than four years.
“It is the elites that are exaggerating what is not. If you benchmark us today, you will see that our performance is so high in spite of the fact that we met the problems we are tackling.
“We met 16 years of rot, and we have tried to contain them and move the country forward. APC will take Nigeria, not only to the next level, but the desired level,” he said.
On the Wharf Apapa road gridlock, the former Commissioner of Works, said that the only solution was an alternative route.
“While there is need for expansion and serious rehabilitation of the road, only a dedicated route that will run from the port via Snake Island , through Mowe to the Lagos-Ibadan can resolve the gridlock.
“We have already identified this, but it is capital intensive. There must be financial backing to implement such projects,” he said.
Explaining why he resigned to run for election, GAJ said his people clamoured for it, saying “they want me as their representative based on my pedigree of having their interest at heart.
According to him, I also cater for them through my foundation which provides scholarships, support for widows and the elderly, among others.
Johnson said he would bring his experience to bear at the lower chamber of national assembly, if elected.
Ahead of the 2019 general elections, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Saturday met with former President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan; and Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports Vice President Osinbajo met with the duo at the interdenominational commendation service of Madam Goldcoast Dickson Mama Gogo, mother of Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson in Toru-Agiama community, Patani LGA of Delta State.
The Vice President, who was accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo, was captured in talks with Atiku, presidential candidate of the opposition party PDP.
The interdenominational commendation service of the mother of the Bayelsa State Governor also has in attendance Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa and Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki.
The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, and former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon(Rtd), on Sunday in Abuja thanked God for his goodness to Nigeria and also prayed for a more prosperous nation.
Osinbajo and Gowon were at the State House Chapel for the annual End of Year Thanksgiving Service.
Speaking with State House correspondents after the service, Osinbajo said that Nigerians had every reason to be extremely thankful to God.
“It has been a year where God has shown his faithfulness in some many ways; I think what God is also telling is that the coming months and the coming years will be even better.
“Our country is going forward; our country is getting better and better; our country will prosper; our country will be a place of abundance; all of us will enjoy the fruit of this land.
“So my message is that we should continually thank God because God has helped us a great deal and he is set to help us even more,’’ he said.
The Vice President had earlier during the service offered a special thanksgiving prayer to God for His mercy, grace and kindness to Nigeria.
On his part, Gowon said that his message for Nigeria was to pray ceaselessly.
He prayed God to accept the genuine prayers offered by Nigerians.
“Let God answer all the good prayers for Nigeria; what he thinks is best for Nigeria.
“That is my message and prayer; so that we contribute to the peace of Nigeria,’’ he said.
Pastor Ezekiel Odeyemi, Assistant General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God, who delivered the sermo said, that Nigeria was still a country was a good reason to thank God.
He said that Nigeria had passed through quite a lot as there were lots of signs and signals pointing towards disintegration but Nigerians still remained together.
“`That one is more than enough to thank God for,’’ he said.
The Chaplain, State House Chapel, Pastor Seyi Malomo, said that thanksgiving was something Nigerians should do continuously.
“Thanksgiving is something that is expected on a continuous basis; in fact, that is one of the requirements of God from us.
“ We thank God; God will make us whole; in every relationship, you do not see perfection; even in your life but when you thank God, that imperfection will be perfected.
“So, I see a perfection for Nigeria; I see a wholeness for every one of us,’’ he said.
The Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Mr Silas Agara, on his part, thanked God for guiding President Muhammadu Buhari and Osinbajo in the last three years.
He said that Nigerians should be thankful to God for giving the nation God-fearing leaders, unlike other nations, Nigeria was not at war.
Agara also prayed God to give the president and vice president another opportunity to lead Nigeria for another four years, so that the nation could witness more blessings from God.
The thanksgiving service was also attended by the Head of Service, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, Minister of Niger-Delta Affairs, Pastor Sani Uguru, representatives of the Chief of Naval Staff and Chief of Army Staff.
