Banning Okada Was A Very Painful Decision By Oshiomhole – Edo Deputy Governor

Edo State deputy governor, Dr Pius Odubu,
yesterday said that banning commercial
motorcycles popularly known as Okada, was
the toughest decision taken so far by
Governor Adams Oshiomhole.
According to him, “It was a very painful
decision for Mr. Governor. The clamour has
been on for quite some time now, but with
recent happenings in some other states of
the federation, where okadas were banned,
the effect of those happenings was now
beginning to be felt here in Edo State. The
influx of those persons now into Edo state
increased crime and criminality.”
The deputy governor, who further explained
that Governor Oshiomhole had to take the
decision in light of security challenges in the
state, however, assured that the palliatives
being proffered by government in
collaboration with the leadership of the okada
union would ameliorate the pains of genuine
okada operators.
“Security reports every day indicate that
people use okada to perpetrate crime every
day. A decision now has to be made. The
governor has since met with the leadership of
okada riders and I am aware that palliatives
will be delivered in the shortest possible time.
It was a painful decision to be taken but part
of the responsibility of leadership is to take,
sometimes, very difficult decision, provided
that decision is in the interest of the vast
majority of the people” Odubu noted.

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Golden Jubilee Anniversary: I’ve Never Known Fear, Says Emir Of Kano

Five months after a bloody attack on
his motorcade by suspected insurgents, the
Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, has declared
that nothing frightens him.
No fewer than three palace aides were killed
in the January 19 attack while the emir and
two of his sons who sustained injuries were
flown abroad for treatment.
Speaking in a rare interview in the palace on
Thursday night, Alhaji Bayero said: “In fact,I
don’t even know what shock is.”
He was responding to a question on if he had
ever been in a state of shock or frightened by
anything to which he responded: “What do
you mean by shock? In fact, I don’t even
know what shock is. What I believe is that
whatever happens to me on this earth is
destined to happen to me by Almighty Allah.
“So there is no point in showing any fear, as
whatever happens to any person is already
pre-destined to happen to him. Therefore,
wherever such things happen, whether good
or bad, what is required from that person is
to thank Allah; if it is for good, exercise
patience.”
The interview was to mark the emir’s 50th
anniversary on the throne.
He praised Allah for his long reign, saying: “I
have nothing much to say than to thank
Allah for sparing my life to witness these
years on the throne as the longest serving
Emir of Kano. It is not by my doing. It is
through the help of Allah that I was able to
have a good and understanding relationship
with all the governors that governed the
state during my reign.
“Alhamdulillah, all praises are due to Allah
who, through all assistance, made it possible
for me to witness these years on the throne,
a feat that none of my predecessors
achieved.
“I thank all the people of Kano and the
country at large for showing me great love
during this time and to have succeeded
despite challenges because as I always say
whoever puts his trust in Allah and follow
instruction as prescribed by Islam in
whatever he does, that person has nothing to
worry about. So it is through Allah’s
assistance that we succeeded all these
years.”
The special Juma’at service in Kano was
witnessed by thousands of well wishers from
near and far.

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Arnold Schwarzenegger to start ‘Terminator 5′ shooting in January

The 65-year-old actor is to reprise his most
iconic role as the killer Cyberdyne cyborg for
the first time since 2003′s ‘Terminator 3: Rise
of the Machines’ and filming will begin at the
start of 2014.
During an appearance at the 21st Century
Financial Education Summit in Australia,
Schwarzenegger is reported to have said:
“I’m very happy that the studios want me to
be in ‘Terminator 5′ and to star as The
Terminator, which we start shooting in
January.”
Patrick Lussier and Laeta Kalogridis – a friend
of ‘Terminator’ creator James Cameron – have
been hired to write the script for the sequel,
while Paramount has been in talks to
distribute the movie.
Schwarzenegger did not make an appearance
in 2009′s fourth instalment ‘Terminator
Salvation’ because he was working as the
Governor of California at the time.
However, his character – referred to as the
T-800 Model 101 in the film – did feature
briefly with a likeness of the actor’s face
created with CGI and mapped over Austrian-
born bodybuilder-and-actor Roland Kickinger,
who portrayed the cyborg on screen.
‘The Terminator’ was first brought to screens
by Cameron in 1984 and the sequel
‘Terminator 2: Judgement Day’ – also directed
by Cameron – was released in 1991 and was a
huge box office success.

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Achebe drew the world closer – Obama

Lagos—United States President, Barack
Obama and his wife, Michelle have described
the late Nigerian novelist, Prof. Chinua Achebe
as a “Revolutionary author, educator, and
cultural ambassador.”
In a letter made available to Vanguard but
addressed to the Achebe family and read by a
White House representative, at the
Celebration of Life event for Chinua Achebe,
last Sunday night, at the Andrew Mellon
Auditorium, Washington, DC 20240, Obama
and First Lady Michelle Obama said Achebe
was a “Revolutionary author, educator, and
cultural ambassador.
“Achebe shattered the conventions of
literature and shaped the collective identity of
Nigerians throughout the world. With a dream
of taking on misperceptions of his homeland,
he gave voice to perspectives that cultivated
understanding and drew our world closer
together. His legacy will endure in the hearts
of all whose lives he touched with the
everlasting power of his art.”
The event which also featured an arts
exhibition and reception kicked off at 6 pm.
Other highlights of the event included
tributes from public and private friends and
dignitaries, cultural dance troupes, music,
masquerades and tributes.
The Francesca Harper project provided a
thrilling ballet and the former Nigerian based
US citizen, Chuck Mike theatre group
enthralled the crowd with a theatrical
production of a scene from Achebe’s Things
Fall Apart.
Professor Mike reportedly had the audience
laughing with his rendition of his experiences
in Nigeria and the idiosyncratic tendency of
Nigerians to respond with the phrase “we
thank God” when asked a variety of questions
in various scenarios.
The Afrobeat band Eme and Heteru thrilled
the crowd with electrifying music. Speakers
included the host, Johnnetta Cole, President
emeritus of Spelman and Bennet Colleges and
now director of the Smithonian museum of
African Art; Ruth Simmons, former president
of Brown University, Poet Sonia Sanchez,
Micere Mugo and Simon Gikandi, Scott
Moyers, president of Penguin, and Jules
Chametzky, professor emeriti of Umass
Amherst, where Achebe spent time in the

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