Ten years ago, a woman made the life-changing decision to adopt three black children. Little did she know that making this choice would result in the most extraordinary manifestation of gratitude imaginable. Alaya Robinson’s story is one that truly inspires.
Her journey began when she entered the world as a baby born to a mother who was addicted to drugs. This led to her being placed in the custody of the state, and she spent much of her youth being shuffled from one foster home to another…Click Here To Continue Reading>> …Click Here To Continue Reading>>
Alaya spent the first four years of her life in the foster care system, moving from home to home and watching as the friends she had developed close bonds with were adopted, leaving her alone once again. These experiences left her struggling with feelings of unworthiness and abandonment. However, she was fortunate to have two younger siblings who provided some distraction from her pain.
Alaya would often take on the role of caretaker for them, who were only two and three years old. She would get them dressed every day and offer them ndless cuddles to make them feel warm and safe. To them, Alaya was a bright light in a dark place.
It wasn’t until she was four years old that her own life took a turn for the better. She was adopted along with her two younger siblings by Misty Robinson, her forever mom. Misty was overjoyed to adopt these three beautiful children and finally give them all the love they deserved. She knew that there was something special about all of them and also believed that every child deserved a family. Alaya and her siblings went through a period of transition and adjustment when they arrived at Misty’s home, but soon they became a happy family together.
Though Alaya had been placed with a foster parent who had given her toys and gifts before, she was surprised to discover that her younger brother had brought nothing with him when they moved into their new home. This prompted her to gather a few items for him, and from that moment on, she knew she wanted to help other foster children. Her desire to help other foster children grew stronger after attending a garage sale with her mother and younger brother, Elijah. She saw how people were willing to give away their belongings for a good cause, and it sparked an idea in her mind.
It was a hot summer day in Sulfur, Oklahoma, and Alaya was out and about with her family when they stumbled upon a group of teenagers selling lemonade. But this was no ordinary lemonade stand; the teenagers were raising money for a friend’s quinceañera, and they had put their hearts and souls into their operation. Alaya’s mother bought some lemonade from the group, and at that moment, something sparked inside the girl. She knew she had to do something to help others too.
With her mother’s consent and her grandparents’ help, Alaya set up her own lemonade stand. The sun beat down on her as she poured lemonade into cups, her hands trembling with excitement and nerves. Alaya felt her heart pounding as she set up her lemonade stand for the very first time. She had spent countless hours preparing for this moment, making sure everything was perfect.
But as soon as the first customer arrived, she knew she had nothing to worry about. With a big smile, Alaya greeted each person who came by, excitedly pouring cups of icy cold lemonade. As the coins began to pile up in her jar, her nervousness turned to pure joy. By the end of the day, she had raised an impressive $132, an amazing feat for a young girl. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>
But Alaya wasn’t just proud of herself; she was eager to use her earnings to make a difference. She used the money to buy teddy bears for herself, but she also wanted to give back to the community. Every child who visited her stand received a Bible and a toothbrush, small gestures that meant the world to them and made Alaya’s heart swell with pride and happiness. Providing this service and offering these gifts to others was the biggest source of joy and pride for Alaya. She was happy with her impact but still wanted to do more. She decided to do some research and shop around to see how she could make these donations even better.
This is how Alaya Robinson was able to create what she calls “love packages” for foster children. These backpacks, which cost around ten dollars each, include a warm blanket, a cuddly stuffed bear, a Bible, a toothbrush, and toothpaste. Though she has already given away over 300 backpacks, the number of children in the U.S. foster care system, which stands at over 400,000, means she still has a long way to go. Alaya’s fundraising efforts have been nothing short of incredible. With the help of her GoFundMe page, she has already raised over six thousand dollars in donations, a feat that has left her and her family overwhelmed with gratitude. And it doesn’t stop there. Alaya’s Lemonade Stand has gained national attention, with her inspiring story being viewed over 1.3 million times on YouTube.
The attention hasn’t gone unnoticed by some big names either. Ellen DeGeneres and Usher both showed their support for Alaya and her efforts. When Usher reached out to her on Facebook, calling her a superhero, it was a moment of pure excitement and joy for the young girl. Her hard work and dedication have truly paid off, and her actions have made a significant impact on the community.
The incredible response to Alaya’s Lemonade Stand has left her and her family in awe. The love and support they have received from people all over the country have been nothing short of remarkable. Alaya’s journey has been one of triumph over adversity, and the fact that so many people have rallied around her is a testament to the power of love and generosity. The donations of lemonade, toys, and supplies have come pouring in, and each gift has been received with gratefulness and wonder. One kind-hearted individual even went above and beyond, surprising Alaya with a Barbie Jeep that she had been dreaming of. The support has been overwhelming, and it’s clear that Alaya’s message of kindness and generosity has touched the hearts of people across the nation.
Alaya’s mother beams with pride as she watches her daughter’s mission unfold. The outpouring of support from strangers has been overwhelming, and their small home can hardly contain the countless donations and gifts that have arrived. But what truly sets Alaya apart is her steadfast commitment to helping others. Despite the overwhelming attention and generosity, she remains humble and focused on the cause.
It is evident that her difficult childhood experiences have taught her the true value of giving to those in need. She recognizes that material possessions hold little meaning compared to the joy of making a difference in someone’s life. She has been able to pass on her wisdom to her younger siblings. They were used to being cuddled and supported by their big sister, and through her amazing example, they both turned into wonderful people who now cuddle and support others in turn.
Together, these three kids have repaid their adoptive mother’s kindness in the most beautiful of ways. Alaya’s mother hadn’t realized that her actions and choices would create a ripple effect in the world. By adopting these children in need, she showed compassion and love. This act multiplied when her children grew up to be generous and kind people who also wanted to help others. Ten years later, they have repaid her by giving her the ultimate gift. They have grown into beautiful people who care about others and give back to the world any way that they can. Isn’t that the best thing we can hope for when raising children in this world?
For Alaya’s mother and her family, they are very happy and living a life filled with good deeds. The story of Alaya and her lemonade stand is not just heartwarming; it also serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of taking care of others. In a world where selfishness and individualism often seem to rule the day, Alaya’s selfless acts of kindness remind us that we are capable of making a positive difference in the lives of others.
Gen. Diya was crossed examined at the Human Rights Violation Commission (HRVIC) on the coup plan 1997 to overthrow Gen. Sanni Abacha, He bluntly denied the fact that he was part of the plan but he admitted he knew about the plan. He further explained that he was afraid of being killed by the Coup Master Planner if he revealed the plan.
Gen. Diya Oladipo then was appointed as Chief of Defense Staff. He was appointed Chief of General Staff in 1993 and Vice Chairman of the Provisional Ruling Council in 1994. In 1997 Diya and dissident soldiers in the military allegedly planned to overthrow the regime of Sani Abacha. The alleged coup was uncovered by forces loyal to Abacha, and Diya and his cohorts were jailed. Diya was tried in a military tribunal, and was given the death penalty. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>
Nigeria has seen the rise and fall of many military regimes since she became a sovereign state in 1960 and this, at every turn, has altered the direction of the country.
A second coup since independence which happened on July 29, 1966, would see to the brutal death of Nigeria’s Supreme Commander, General J.T.C Aguiyi-Ironsi (the nation’s 1st military head of state) and his friend, Lieutenant Colonel Francis Adekunle Fajuyi, who was the sitting and 1st Military Governor of the Western Region…Click Here To Continue Reading>> …Click Here To Continue Reading>>
Aguiyi-Ironsi was a guest at the Government House, Ibadan, as he came to hold a meeting with traditional rulers in the Western region. Ironsi arrived Ibadan the previous day and unknowingly, he met his death during the counter-coup which is generally believed to be a retaliation to the January 15th 1966 coup in which prominent Northerners in power were killed.
The Northerners were believed to hold a grudge since the first coup as they lost leaders including Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (Nigerian Prime Minister) and Sir Ahmadu Bello (Sardauna of Sokoto and Premier of the Northern Region). They tagged it an ‘Igbo Coup’ as no Eastern casualty was recorded in both the military and public service as even the West lost Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola in the coup. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>
This counter-coup of July 29, 1966, led by General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma was tagged the bloodiest coup by many in the history of Nigeria. Ironsi and Fajuyi’s death which still remains a controversial debate among historians because how they were killed isn’t clear but both bodies were found in a bush in outskirts of Ibadan. Read a comprehensive account of how Aguiyi-Ironsi was killed here.
Aside from the Head of State and Western Military governor, many other casualties were recorded in the army and most killed or maimed were Easterners, particularly Igbos. This will be one of the many reasons the country would go into a civil war the following year as the Eastern region tried seceding.
54 years after, we remember this gruesome act done in the Brown Roof City and how much has happened or changed since then.
General Sani Abacha is perhaps Nigeria’s most enigmatic head of state. He reigned from 1993 until his death in 1998. General Abacha was born in Kano state, northern Nigeria on September 20, 1943. He hails from Kanuri in Borno state.
He passed out of the Nigerian Military Training Centre in Kaduna where he proceeded to Mons Officer Cadet School in Aldershot, England before being commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in 1963.
He is held by some as Nigeria’s most successful coup plotter. When he was still a Second Lieutenant with the 3rd Battalion in Kaduna, he took part in the July 1966 Nigerian counter-coup from the conceptual stage. He could well have been a participant in the Lagos or Abeokuta phases of the coup the previous January as well…Click Here To Continue Reading>> …Click Here To Continue Reading>>
Abacha fought for Nigeria in the country’s civil war against Biafran secessionists continuing to rise through the army ranks.
He was instrumental in the 1983 Nigerian coup d’état which brought General Muhammadu Buhari to power as well as the August 1985 coup which removed him from power. He announced the coup which removed the government of Shehu Shagari.
When General Ibrahim Babangida was named President of Nigeria in 1985, Abacha was named Chief of Army Staff. He was appointed Minister of Defence in 1990. With Babangida’s resignation, an interim government headed by civilian President, Ernest Shonekan was formed.
Sani Abacha became the first Nigerian soldier to attain the rank of a full General without skipping a single rank in 1993. In the same year, he moved for the ultimate.
Shonekan resigned and transferred power to Sani Abacha in a move widely believed to be another bloodless coup. In September 1994, he issued a decree that placed his government above the jurisdiction of the courts, effectively giving him absolute power. Another decree gave him the right to detain anyone for up to three months without trial.
Abacha is noted for helping restore peace and democracy to Sierra Leone and Liberia after the civil wars.
On his administration of the Nigerian state proper, he established The Petroleum Trust Fund aimed to address major economic issues facing the country at the time. Between 25-100km of urban road in major cities such as Kano, Gusau, Benin, Funtua, Zaria, Enugu, Kaduna, Aba, Lagos, Lokoja, and Port Harcourt was planned to be constructed each. A N27.3bn contract was awarded for road rehabilitation in the first quarter of 1996.
There was a restructuring of major insurance companies that supported SMEs across the entire country.
Abacha mandated the PTF to publicise its accounts as it was the second-largest public corporation at the time. In 1997, the account of PTF showed that it disbursed N24.3bn on roads, N21.2bn on security, N7.8bn on health, and N3bn on other projects. Other disbursements include N2.2bn on water supply, N936m on food supply and N476m on education. It realized a total of N1.049bn from various investment activities.
It’s curious the sums which emerged after his death that he stashed in overseas accounts as the Abacha administration became the first to record unprecedented economic achievements overseeing an increase in the country’s foreign exchange reserves from $494 million in 1993 to $9.6 billion by the middle of 1997. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>
He also reduced the external debt of Nigeria from $36 billion in 1993 to $27 billion by 1997. His Petroleum (Special) Trust Fund is also hailed for infrastructural projects and interventionist programmes in education, water and health.
His wife is credited with setting up the National Hospital in Abuja viewed as Nigeria’s foremost national hospital, which was initially set up as a hospital for women and children before its upgrade.
Nonetheless, Abacha was ruthless with groups he considered hostile to his administration between 1993 and 1998. There was a crackdown on the civil rights groups, media and pro-democracy groups.
It was also under him that Nigeria became a perpetual importer of petroleum products as the refineries packed up. The emergence of the ‘foul fuel’ which damaged car engines and released a repugnant smell was in his time.
General Sani Abacha earned the title ‘Thug of the Year’ from Time magazine in 1995 after the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa. Abacha developed the habit of working only at night. Availing himself to be seen publicly rarely while being averse to granting interviews.
The events of his death on June 8, 1998, at the presidential villa in Abuja are murky and while the official account is that he suffered a heart attack, other accounts say he was in the company of two Indian sex workers flown in from Dubai when he died. He was buried on the same day, according to Muslim tradition, without an autopsy. This fueled speculation that he may have been murdered by political rivals via poison.
Foreign diplomats, including United States Intelligence analysts, believed that his drink or fruit (apple) was laced with a poisonous substance while in the company of prostitutes.
Abacha was married to Maryam Abacha with whom he had had seven sons and three daughters.
In March 2014, the United States Department of Justice revealed that it had frozen more than $458 million believed to have been illegally obtained by Abacha and other corrupt officials.
On 7 August 2014, the United States Department of Justice announced the largest forfeiture in its history: the return of $480 million to the Nigerian government.
Stashed sums in other accounts have been discovered with the Nigerian government working to have the funds returned.
