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JUST IN: Popular Nigerian Musician, Baba Esho Is Dead
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
A renowned Nigerian musician, music promoter and the head of Evergreen Musical Company Limited, Femi Esho, has reportedly died.
It was gathered that Esho, born on October 29, 1946, died on Monday in Lagos at the age of 77 after battling an undisclosed illness.
A statement from the family, dated Tuesday, and issued by Mr Bunmi Esho, confirmed the sad passing of the musical icon.
The statement reads: “We announce the passing unto glory of our Patriarch, Mr Samuel Babafemi Esho, popularly known and referred to as “Baba Esho”, Baba Musician, etc.
“Baba Esho departed to greater glory on Monday, 17th June 2024, after a brief illness at the age of 77 years.
“Baba Esho, until his demise, was the Chairman of the Evergreen Musical Company as well as the Founder of the Evergreen Music Heritage Foundation.
“Baba Esho was a mentor and “encyclopedia” to many ‘Highlife music aficionados.”
The statement further noted that the deceased will be remembered as one who gave so much of himself to see to the immortality of the musical works of Nigerian Highlife, Juju, Sakara, Apala, Afrobeat and a crop of other Nigerian/African genres of Indigenous music.
The family noted that further information about Esho’s burial arrangements would be made public soon.
Reacting to the sad development, one of the deceased’s friends, Tunde Fagbenle, a notable writer and columnist, said: “He has gone to rest. He carved a niche for himself and made a mark on the national canvas with it. He was a gentle, cheerful and giving soul. God bless him. He was my buddy!”.
In May, Esho embarked on an extraordinary endeavour, establishing the largest music museum and gallery on the continent, the Evergreen Music Heritage Foundation, in partnership with Dr DK Olukoya.
This grand project is meant to feature a music museum, a music library, an exhibition hall for the Head Burst of Artists, and a display of more than 1,000 photographs of Nigerian musicians dating back to 1914, along with artefacts of their attire and vintage musical instruments, is set to be finished by December.
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Just in: Gov Soludo reveals those behind kidnapping in SE, says it’s now a lucrative biz
… better than oil and drug peddling
Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State on Saturday disclosed that arrested Finland-based self-acclaimed Biafra agitator, Simon Ekpa “has continued kidnapping for ransom.
Soludo said kidnapping is currently a business that is more lucrative than drugs and oil.
The governor who spoke in Awka, the state capital, said before he became governor, eight local government areas in the state were being controlled by gunmen.
Soludo also recalled how his father was kidnapped in 2009.
He said: “Kidnapping is not new, my father had been kidnapped as far back as 2009. GU Okeke, Pokobros and many others have fallen victim too.
“Before I assumed office, about eight local government areas were being controlled by gunmen.
“They killed policemen and collected guns, attacked and burnt down police stations and went into the bush to label themselves liberators.
We came in and went to work and cleared them and we recovered the eight local government areas that were under siege. These gangs claim to be Biafra freedom fighters. IPOB has dissociated themselves from it, but one Simon Ekpa has continued kidnapping for ransom.
“Kidnapping for ransom is now the most lucrative enterprise, even more lucrative than drugs and oil. For every one naira reported as payment for ransom, five to six naira was not reported.
“With a culture that celebrates wealth without craft, even the kidnappers amongst us are now celebrated. Idolatry which these criminals have converted to have become the fastest growing religion in the South-East. Nothing is sacred to them anymore.”
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Just in: Obi angry over exorbitant charges by POS operators despite hardship
Ex-governor of Anambra State and presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the 2023 general election, Mr Peter Obi has protested the level of hardship faced by the poor in Nigeria.
The former governor spoke during a visit to the Archbishop Province on the Niger and Bishop of Awka Diocese of Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion, His Grace Alexander Ibezim.
He said: “The hardship in Nigeria is too much, how can the ordinary people survive. The woman who sells pepper by the road side has to pay huge charges to get her own money. How much is her profit margin and how much will remain after paying charges?
“No country is run like that. Don’t bother to interview me on that, I will write officially to the President on this and state all these things.
“These (POS Charges) is too much, no country is run like this,” Obi told journalists who approached him to speak on the matter.
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Oborevwori expresses sadness over Edna Ibru’s passage
Delta State Governor, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has commiserated with the Ibru family of Agbarha-Otor in Ughelli North Local Government Area of the State on the death of their wife and mother, Mrs. Edna Ibru.
Mrs Ibru, who reportedly died after a brief illness, was the wife of late Olorogun Senator Felix Ovuodoroye Ibru, first Executive Governor of Delta State.
A former Miss Nigeria, Mrs Ibru in 1964, died in London after a brief illness on Wednesday.
In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir Festus Ahon, the governor described the demise of Mrs Ibru as sad and painful, adding that she was a loving wife and mother who supported her husband and family in all his noble endeavours.
He said, “On behalf of the government and people of Delta, I mourn the passing of a great woman of substance, a caring mother and loving wife, Mrs Edna Ibru.
“The news of her death came to me as a shock, especially now that the family members needed her motherly and wise counsel.
“She was a woman of faith who devoted her time in supporting her husband’s political career which culminated in his election as the first Executive Governor of Delta State.”
Oborevwori prayed to God to accept the soul of the deceased and grant fortitude to the family and friends she left to bear the loss.
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