A poor widowed mother who could not afford new school supplies for her kids is startled. When cops unexpectedly arrive on her doorstep, almost everyone in Mary’s neighborhood was busy getting things ready for their children’s new school year.
Hey Mary, do you want to go shopping with us? We’Re going to get some school supplies for our kids, Mary heard, one of her neighbors, Mrs Dawson, say, as she waved at her Mary hesitated, forced to keep the little money she had for the week’s groceries. No, Mrs Dawson, I can’t afford to buy them this time…Click Here To Continue Reading>> …Click Here To Continue Reading>>
I don’t have enough money, but thanks for asking Jesus, I’m sorry to hear that Mary. But don’t worry this too shall pass someday said Mrs Dawson, as she took off with the other women. It ripped Mary’s heart and made her cry thinking her nine-year-old and seven-year-old Simon and Melissa would be going to school in two days without the necessary supplies. How am I going to tell them that I can’t afford everything they listed down. She sobbed silently staring outside Peter.
Why did you leave us like this? Peter was Mary’s late husband who died six months earlier on his way home from the factory he worked. The family was already struggling and Peter’s salary contributed significantly to making ends meet after his untimely death. Mary was pushed to the extreme of Misfortune and had to fight her best to raise her children. Her sorrow doubled when she had to quit.
Waitressing due to health issues. She focused on her household and her savings were completely drained. Tears streamed down Mary’s face as she blamed fate for how things turned out in her life. Then a faint voice interrupted her from behind Mama school starts in two days and we haven’t bought anything yet said Simon. Will we go shopping at least today, Mary didn’t know what to say: sweetheart I’ll try to do something but Mom you told us the same thing last week and we were given a whole list of items to take to art class.
What do we do now? We have two days left added Melissa, the more her children questioned her, the more Mary felt hurt and lost honey. I said I’ll do something she said again, but Simon and Melissa were disappointed. They mumbled and walked away certain their mom would still do nothing. Mary was crushed and decided to do something she wiped away her tears and picked up her phone, giving it her last shot by calling someone she knew for help: hey Salma Hi.
How are you she asked? Salma was a friend she had waitressed with six months ago. I’M good Mary, how are you I’m glad to hear from you after a long time? So how is everything? Did you find a new job?
Not really. I shouldn’t have quit that job, but I had no choice because I had to attend. Peter’S funeral and my health was deteriorating. His parents already had problems with me and I didn’t want them to criticize me again. Yeah, you told me about your in-laws.
Did they visit you after that? No, what can I expect? They were already angry with me for marrying their son against their wishes, and now that he’s gone they’re constantly, accusing me saying I took him away from them. Mary felt a little light talking to her friend, although her main motive behind the call was to ask for some money. However, she decided against it and just hung up after their casual conversation.
At that point, Mary had no idea who else to ask Mom Dad. I know you’re watching me struggle from Heaven. Your grandchildren need help with just basic school supplies and I’m not even able to afford them that much I’ve run out of savings. Please make some miracle happen. Mary cried looking up at the sky from her window shortly after she heard loud sirens and a couple of police cars stopped in front of her house. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>
Why are the cops here she shrieked hurrying outside to find out a weird feeling of fear and curiosity crawled into Mary’s nerves, as one of the officers got down from the car and approached her God, I hope nothing’s wrong. Why is she coming this way? Mary mumbled anxiously, Mrs Parker, yes officer. It’S me what happened? Your husband died six months ago right.
Why? Yes, we moved here just recently after that is anything wrong. No ma’am! Not really! We just came here to give you something.
Mary grew suspicious, as the officer gestured for her fellow cops to bring something over by this point. Mary’S gut began to churn with fear and anxiety. Her neighbors flocked around her house murmuring things careful. Where are the rest of them? The officer asked one of the cops Mary was bewildered and kept watching unable to see what was in the heavy boxes.
They unloaded from the vehicles officer what’s going on and what are these boxes for Mary asked, Mrs Parker, we are pleased to gift your kids school supplies. They would need for the next five years, replied the officer jolting Mary, what she exclaimed school supplies for my kids, but how did you know that they needed them? Well, since you’re new to this part of town, you must be unaware of our little tradition spoke. The officer Brewing the elated mother’s curiosity, Mrs Parker. We pick the most underprivileged families in this neighborhood every year and help them with certain things.
This time we chose to help your kids after your neighbor, Mrs Dawson, informed us about your husband’s death and your current financial crisis, as it turned out when Mrs Dawson learned of Mary’s misery that morning, she informed the cops prompting them to pick Mary and her kids. As this year’s beneficiaries of the police force, Mary could not believe her eyes. She looked around and saw Mrs Dawson emerge from the crowd. Smiling. Mrs Dawson, I don’t know how to thank you you made my day today.
This means a lot. I hope this helps Mary, as I said this too shall pass someday exclaimed Mrs Dawson, before walking away, leaving a delighted Mary to shed tears of joy and Mrs Parker. We would also like you to attend an interview here. This is a small company in town and they’re, hiring a receptionist. The boss is my friend.
Maybe I could refer you there. The officer said adding more shades of joy to Mary’s teary eyes. Thank you so much officer. It really means a lot. She cried joyfully.
The incident gave the poor mother a fresh breath of Hope. Meanwhile, Simon and Melissa were so happy to see the boxes full of school supplies.
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.
