We have objectively come up with a review of different remarkable activities ranging from politics, entertainment, and other areas that have kept many Nigerians wondering whether we would have anything positive to remind us of 2012 apart from the grief that accompanied the nation to the gate of 2013.
Despite the bloodshed in the North and other parts of the country, the incessant kidnapping in the east and some parts of the North, plane crashes, sicknesses, hunger, communal clashes, jungle justices, and other atrocious acts that ruined 2012, we believe so strongly that 2012 has gone with its problems, and will be no more. However, the leaders who created the harsh 2012 for us still live in our midst, the kidnappers are still here with us, the Boko Haram sects have not gone far beyond the North, our roads are still death traps, and our different aircrafts are still flying with no recent innovations to curb air crashes. So, what becomes of 2013? Are we hoping to see a change with just a mere addition of an alphabet from 12 -13 or a total transformation of the polity?
We shall give you an extensive rundown of some of the happenings in 2012, which we believe will be very useful in the running of the affairs of 2013, if we see the experience of 2012 as a “teacher”.
At DailyPost, we say happy New Year, and a prosperous 2013.
Fuel Subsidy Protest
THE FUEL HELL
The Panoramic box was opened on January 1. It was a gritty welcome to 2012. The fuel subsidy brouhaha began. Within hours, exhilaration of “Happy New Year” turned to elegy of ‘Hardship New Year’. From N65, the price of petroleum product skyrocketed by more than 120 percent. As the crazy hike took its toll, motorists bought fuel across the country at differential prices that ranged from N140 to N250 per litre. By the next day, whatever illusion anyone had about the year evaporated in the face of the grim reality on the street.
Protest spread beyond the regular ‘professional’ agitation, others also joined the fray – on the street of Lagos, and placard-carrying lawyers in their full regalia also joined the protest train. In Benin, Edo State, Occupy King Square protest became unpredictably radical. In London, Nigerians staged anti-subsidy removal protest march at Kings Cross Station. In Ilorin, Kwara State capital, a protester was shot dead. In Kano, Kaduna and Katsina, and Warri , the rage began to spread like wild fire. Not since the days of Abacha and the June 12 melee did Nigerians express such indignation in their collectives.
The protests spread from the street to the Internet, particularly on blogs, Facebook and Twitter. Spiteful tweets and venomous facebook post were being thrown at President Goodluck Jonathan, so strong-worded.
From outright curses of “Mr. President, the Bible says there is no peace for the wicked. …The bible says there is no peace for you” to regrets such as “I’m really disappointed in you my President… I curse the day I cast my vote for you to sit where you are” Nigerians vented their anger.
Affected houses
FLOOD OF DEATH
Also in 2012, Nigerian coastal and inland cities experienced heavy rains, and residents “gasped for breathe” due to flooding. In addition, there was gridlock on major roads, causing people to cancel appointments they had fixed. Thousands of stranded commuters had to pay increased fares for the few bus drivers who were willing to risk travelling on the roads.
Hundreds were killed, thousands displaced, houses submerged, farmlands washed away, billions of Naira damaged in the flood that wreaked havoc across the country.
The federal government responded in the only manner it knows best, by dolling out N17.6 billion to rehabilitate the victims.
Adamawa, Benue, Taraba, Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta, Anambra, Kogi and a host of other states would not forget the ill luck that visited them in the year 2012.
Dana Crash relations
DANA CRASH: TEARS, BLOOD, AND SORROW
It happened like a scene straight from a Hollywood war flick. 153 persons died as Dana airline crashes in Lagos was the song on the lips of every Nigeria on June 3.Call it ‘black Sunday’ and you won’t be wrong. It will remain a dark day in the history of Nigeria.
The tragedy occurred in a residential area in the Iju-Ishaga Alagbado area of Lagos on Sunday afternoon. The flight was said to have been on its way from Abuja to the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos when it went down in a residential area. Tears streamed like an ever flowing river. We lost great Nigerians in the crash. May their souls rest in peace.
ONDO ELECTION: THE RETURN OF IROKO
His victory at the October 20 gubernatorial polls in Ondo State vindicates the popular adage which says, “one good turn deserves another.” Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Labour Party (LP) made a historic return to the Ondo State House after beating his co-contenders in a landslide victory.
The final results were declared by the Chief Returning officer of the election and Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Professor Adebiyi Daramola who stated that Mimiko got the highest number of votes in the election, polling 260, 199 votes; Olusola Oke of the People’s Democratic Party(PDP) followed closely with 155, 961 votes; Action Congress of Nigeria’s (ACN) Oluwarotimi Akeredolu got a total of 143, 512 votes behind LP and PDP.
Oshiomole wins
EDO ELECTION: THE END OF GODFATHERISM
It was a victory well deserved for former NLC president, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomole of Edo State in the July 15 governorship election in Edo State.
Osho Baba, as he is fondly addressed by fans and followers defeated his closest challenger; Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) retired General, Charles Airhiavbere in an election that shook the entire nation.
ACN won in all of the 18 local governments of the state. In the results announced by the Chief Returning Officer, Professor Godwin Oshodin , ACN polled 477, 478 ,PDP scored 144, 235; ANPP-3642; CPC-2793; LP-604; NCP-540 and SDMP-807.
ACHEBE VS AWO: THINGS FALL APART
When Chinua Achebe, a world acclaimed literary giant embarked on writing and subsequently publishing his much-anticipated memoir of the Biafran war entitled: There was a Country, little did he know that he was about stirring a controversy in the already heated Nigerian polity.
Achebe in the book, accused the late Yoruba leader, Chief Benjamin Awolowo of being part of the intellectual arm of the cabinet that intentionally initiated the pogrom of the Igbo.
The uproar generated by the book, which most Yoruba elites kicked against, for undermining and belittling the name of their late leader, Obafemi Awolowo.
While some applauded the octogenarian, saying that no writer would have been placed above him to tell the story of the Nigerian/Biafran war from both cultural and political perspectives, others lambasted him, describing his memoir as half-baked truth.
OJUKWU’S WILL: DEAD BUT STILL SPEAKING
On November 30th, ex Biafran warlord, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu literarily resurrected at Enugu High Court where family members gathered for the reading of the his Will.
The will of the late Ikemba Nnewi, DIM Chukwuemeka Odeumegwu-Ojukwu, generated ripples and became a talking point, not only among the Igbos, but across the Nigerian society. The testament, which reflects the wishes of the late Eze Gburugburu concerning his vast property brought to the fore the catalytic role of will in triggering conflicts and controversies among children and relatives of the deceased.
The Ojukwu Will came with a good dose of shocks and surprises. Aside the listing of a hitherto unknown daughter, Tenny Harman, as a beneficiary, the Biafran Warlord tacitly disowned one of his sons, Sylvester, as he did not list him among his children, while he explicitly stated that only the listed were his children.
The highlight of the will, however, was the allocation of the lion’s share of the Late Ikemba Nnewi’s property – including his personal effects, monies and cars – to his wife, Bianca, a former beauty queen, who is currently Nigeria’s ambassador to Spain, while the first son, Emeka, who according to African tradition, and by Igbo customs be the heir apparent, got only a paltry share.
students leaving troubled Mubi a town besieged by suspected Boko Haram members
MUBI, ADAMAWA KILLINGS
It was indeed a bloody independence celebration in Nigeria on October 1st as heavily armed gunmen, wearing military uniforms invaded hostels of Adamawa State University in Mubi town, killing 46 students with several others sustaining various degrees of injuries.
Initially, many had thought the attacks were orchestrated by the Islamist fundamentalists –Boko Haram, but the dreaded group later stunned the entire nation when it denied responsibility for the mass massacre.
It was learnt that some of the students were spared after mentioning their names.
The attack, which lasted for hours kept many residents indoors without any form of response from security agents.
ALUU 4
Barely four days after suspected gunmen massacred over 46 persons, mostly students of three tertiary institutions in Mubi, Adamawa State, the country was greeted with yet another horrific incident that took place in Port Harcourt. Four students of the University of Port Harcourt were gruesomely murdered in Aluu Community, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, for allegedly stealing phones and laptops in an off campus hostel.
The victims, Llyod Michael, Tekena Elkanah, Ugonna Obuzor and Chidiaka Biringa, were beaten and later set ablaze by the mob suspected to be members of the community.
The incident, which many Nigerian described as awful and appalling sparked controversy in the country, many of the suspects had since been arrested by the police.
TWO BROTHERS KILLED AND SOLD THEIR BROTHER’S BODY IN PARTS
It was another shocker within the year, as residents of FESTAC, Lagos, trudged out in large number on July 26 to watch the horrifying spectacle of two brothers who allegedly murdered their younger sibling. In other words, it was one of the weirdest cases of fratricide. They reportedly killed him, kept his mutilated body in a room inside the duplex which was left for them by their deceased parents. Subsequent search of the apartment produced prima facie evidence that summed up the fact that the two brothers, Omotola and Toye not only kill their sibling, Akinbuyi, but had also started selling his body parts.
Residents of FESTAC came out in their large number to watch the horrifying spectacle, as the council officials and policemen removed the body. Apart from the body that was recovered from the house, charms, and other amulets, a pot filled with human blood and two large dummies of human beings were discovered. Some of the charms and amulets were concealed inside a carton with the inscription: Lord Krishna Agabarthi 999.
EX-COMMISSIONER KILLS WIFE OVER SUPPER
It was a case of love gone sour between Matthias Eze, an ex commissioner in the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) and his wife when he shot his wife over her failure to prepare stewed rice for dinner.
The victim, Patricia, and mother of six had been married to Matthias for over 16 years before meeting her premature death in the hands of the man she once vowed to spend the rest of her life with. When Matthias, a staff of Enugu Sate Post Primary School Management Board (PPSMB), discovered that he had shot his wife dead, he put her inside the boot of his car and drove to a near-by hospital in Ogurute, Enugu.
He told the hospital workers, that some bandits came to his house and while he was exchanging gunfire with them, a stray bullet hit his wife.
The police revealed that investigation was ongoing but nothing has been heard about the case since then even though they promised to do everything necessary to ensure that justice was done.
CYNTHIA OSOKOGU
MURDER OF CYNTHIA OSOKOGU
This could settle for the most atrocious death via online. Cynthia, a 24-year-old pretty girl and only daughter of Maj.-Gen. Frank Osokogu (rtd.) was in the most gruesome manner murdered by her online friends, Echezona Nwabufor, 33, and Ezekiel Olisa Eloka, 23, on August this year.
She was lured from her base in Nassarawa, where she was undergoing her Post-graduate study in Nassarawa State University, Keffi, to Lagos by her online friends where she underwent grueling sessions of physical assaults, rape, leading to her death.
They deceived her into believing that they were genuine importers of foreign fabrics and clothing and proposed a business meeting in Lagos. She decided to pay her new online friends a visit in Lagos since that’s where she always purchase materials for her fashion outlet in Keffi. This time, however, she never returned alive.
The wolves in sheep clothing picked her up from Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, and drove to Cosmilla Hotel, Lakeview Estate, Amuwo Odofin, FESTAC. They inflicted pains, and strangled her before parting away with her money, phone and identity card.
The killers, were later caught, paraded, and charged to court. They confessed to have added Reflon tablet into her Ribena drink.
JEALOUS FATHER KILLS ONLY SON, BURNS WIFE WITH HOT IRON
The year 2012 also featured the story of a 37-year-old jealous husband, Henry Nnamdi, who beat his wife to pulp and inflicted multiple burns on her back, upper region and crotch with a hot pressing iron as punishment for allegedly flirting with his father. The deranged man concluded his evil action by killing their only son. The gory and shocking incident which jolted neighbours from sleep took place at No. 3 Lambe Street, Ago-Palace Way, Okota, Lagos, in the early morning of Easter Sunday. Till today, the embattled wife, mercy Nnamdi is still in pain.
Entertainment
Like every other year, the Nigerian Entertainment Industry in 2012 experienced the tides, good times, bad times and most especially remarkable events and moments that we would always remember.
2face & Annie
MARRIAGE
The first major act that shook the industry was when 2face Idibia proposed to his longtime girlfriend, Annie Macauley on Valentine’s day, it was the talk of the season.
One would have thought that the ‘Ihe ne me’ star would have married Pero who actually bore 3 kids for him but he surprised everyone by settling for Annie.
Their quiet wedding paved way for several other weddings in the industy; weddings like that of Funke Akindele aka Jennifer who walked down the aisle with Kehinde Oloyede, Nollywood’s star, Uche Jombo who had earlier been in a failed marriage also got married, Stephanie Okereke got married as well.
The same went for both dancer Kaffy who wedded her heartthrob Joseph Ameh and Comedian Tejubabyface who also got married…so many weddings!
MoHits split
SPLITS
Like the saying goes ‘twenty friends cannot play together for 20years…the industry experienced several splits as well.
The major split that shook the industry was that of the Mo’hits crew. The big fight between Don Jazzy and D’banj led to the death of the Mo’hits records.
Like a fresh leaf from a dead tree, the death of Mo’ hit birthed the Mavin records which comprised Tiwa Savage, D’prince, Wande Coal and Dr Sid.
The Mavins stepped into the industry with the release of a compilation called Solar Pexus. Even though the album generated controversies, many preferred it to D’banj’s Oyato album.
The fight between May D and Psquare in August was another big one; not to mention the recent split of StylPlus which had Tunde moving on to rebrand himself as Nativeboy following the failed efforts of the group to make a big comeback into the music scene.
This year also produced new artistes like Tonto Dikeh who suddenly decided to delve into music. Her ‘hi’ and ‘it’s Ova’ tracks stirred up a social media fuss; Many Nigerians made fun of the songs yet the tracks managed to hit over 500,000 views/downloads from youtube.
Tonto Dikeh with her wild lifestyle stepped on people’s toes and damned her critics this year. Little wonder she was bestowed with the ‘most controversial actress 2012′ title.
It was a beautiful year for Iyanya Mbuk following the wide acceptance of his “Kukere’ album. Iyanya’s kukere video beat records by hitting a million downloads; he was invited to every concert to perform, even two actresses, Yvonne Nelson and Tonto Dikeh had to fight for his love.
It was also a year of breakthrough for Dare Art alade’s Protege Mo’ Eazy whose ‘Kosoro’ video topped charts across the country.
His recent release of a comic version of Psy’s hit ‘Gangnam style’ re-titled ‘Naija Gangnam’ was another hit.
GOSSIPS
The big fight between popular blogger, Linda Ikeji and Richard Mofe Damijo over a published post where it was disclosed that the actor cum politician was building a 250million house was another big issue. The fight floored fora, media headlines, and social media platforms for a while.
BIG BROTHER AFRICA
Another big event was this year’s Big Brother Africa. The BBA is always a hit but this year’s was super hit following the Goldie Harvey and Prezzo love drama. Even after the BBA ended, the love saga between the two waxed stronger. Prezzo had to come all the way from Kenya to Nigeria to look for Goldie.
Also worthy of mention is Nollywood’s Mercy Johnson who was the most searched name on the Google search engine for 2012; she delivered a baby girl in the USA on the 30th of December.
Baddest Concert Rehearsals
CONCERTS
Top concerts like the baddest EME concert, Rhythm unplugged, Davido’s OBO concert, Mavin all star concert, the recent much talked about ‘kokoconcert’ were major events that shook the industry too. The aftermaths of the concerts gave bloggers, local media and forums issues to talk about.
DEATH HARVEST
Finally, death hit the industry with Nollywood’s Giringori James Iroha passing on in February. Nollywood’s Pete Eneh was reported to have taken the final bow on November 15, Enebeli Elebuwa joined the list on 5th of December. Psquare’s mum also passed on in July…may their souls rest in peace
SOURCE
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