The Nigerian social media space has been alive since Tuesday night following the demise of legendary singer, Onyeka Onwenu who passed on shortly after performing at a private birthday party for prominent pharmaceutical entrepreneur, Stella Okoli, in Lagos.
The veteran singer, songwriter, broadcaster, actress and politician, reportedly died on Tuesday night at the Reddington Hospital in Lagos after slumping at the birthday party.
“It is very sad. Onyeka Onwenu just performed at the birthday of Mrs. Stella Okoli today (Tuesday, July 30, 2024), and after performing, she slumped.
“Onwenu was attending a friend’s birthday party when she took to the stage to perform. Shortly after returning to her seat, she suddenly collapsed.
“Emergency responders swiftly arrived and rushed her to the hospital in Victoria Island, where she was later pronounced dead,” the source said.
A multi-talented artist whose career spanned over four decades, Onwenu was not only a singer but also an actress, journalist, and politician.
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Her music was a blend of different genres cutting across reggae, pop, highlife and local folklore which she was able to use to address social and political issues.
Born in 1952 in Obosi, Anambra State, Onwenu began her music career in the 1980s and released her debut album, “For the Love of You,” in 1981. She went on to release numerous albums and singles, including the hit song “One Love,” “Iyogogo,” and “Ekwe.”
She was also known for her political activism and was at one time, the chairperson of the Imo State Council for Arts and Culture and the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Centre for Women Development.
As an actress, she featured in top class movies including Half of a Yellow Sun, and Lions Heart, among others.
Onwenu was recognized for her contributions to Nigerian society including being awarded the National Honors of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) in 2011.
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Nigerians mourn legendary songstress, broadcaster, Onyeka Onwenu
Shehu Sani, Omokri mourn veteran singer Onyeka Onwenu
Former Kaduna Senator, Shehu Sani, and ex-presidential aide, Reno Omokri, have mourned legendary Nigerian singer and actress, Onyeka Onwenu.
According Online earlier reported that the veteran singer died at the age of 72 on Tuesday at the Reddington Hospital in Lagos after slumping at the birthday party of the Managing Director of Emzor Pharmaceuticals, Mrs Stella Okoli.
Reacting to the development in an X post on Wednesday, Sani said the country has lost a great artist who spread messages of love and peace through her music.
He wrote, “Onyeka, the nation has lost a timeless legend and a great artist who sang from the heart, spreading the messages of love and peace through music. Your melodies will forever resonate in our souls. Rest in peace.”
Also reacting in an X post, Omokri described Onwenu as an elegant stallion, saying that she elevated music and artistry with her natural charm and stage presence.
He wrote, “I am heartbroken at the news of the death of veteran singer, broadcaster, and actress, Onyeka Onwenu, at 72. I knew her, and we bonded over my love for her music, which added value to my early years. It was one of the greatest honours of my life to collaborate with her and Panam Percy Paul on a charity single I executive produced.
“She was called the elegant stallion for a reason. And the reason is that she elevated music and artistry with her natural charm and stage presence.
“Onyeka Onwenu was a great asset to Nigeria and a significant star on the African continent and beyond. She will be greatly missed. May her soul rest in peace! Onyeka Onwenu: January 31, 1952-July 31, 2024: Gone but never to be forgotten.”
Flood: 44 persons died in 42 LGAs – NEMA
Flooding has claimed 44 persons in 42 local government areas across 18 States of the Federation, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), said in its latest report.
Mrs. Zubaida Umar, the NEMA Director General, made the disclosure in Abuja during the National Emergency Coordination Forum meeting of stakeholders convened to review the current flood situation and strengthen synergy towards efficient mitigation and response strategies.
She expressed dismay over the ugly development, and underscored the need to strengthen partnership towards ensuring effective implementation of mitigation strategies and timely response to avert the tendency of more losses from the disaster.
She said: “as we receive full details of the flood update and cholera situation across the country today, it is expected that it will awaken us to take more proactive measures to save the lives of our dear citizens and be able to adequately respond in areas that have already been affected.”
Umar, while appreciating the commitment of the stakeholders, urged all relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, including Non-Governmental Organizations not to relent in their efforts to ensure that steps were taken to reduce the impact of disasters across the country, especially flooding and cholera outbreaks currently being experienced.
The Director-General stated that NEMA had intensified efforts towards sensitizing the general public on the need to take precautionary measures to mitigate the impact of the predicted flood disaster through awareness campaigns at the Local Government and community levels, as well as the media.
Mr. Trond Jensen, the Head of United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA) in Nigeria, assured the cooperation and support on the United Nations Systems in Nigeria work with NEMA in the management of disasters in the country.
Flood: 44 persons died in 42 LGAs – NEMA
Onyeka Onwenu: She spread messages of love, peace – Shehu Sani mourns
Former lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani has mourned the passing away of veteran Nigerian singer and actress, Onyeka Onwenu.
Sani said the nation had lost a timeless legend and a great artiste who sang from the heart.
He posted on X: “Onyeka: the Nation has lost a timeless legend and a great artist who sang from the heart, spreading the messages of love and peace through music. Your melodies will forever resonate in our souls. Rest in peace.”
TVN reported that Onwenu passed away on Tuesday shortly after performing at a birthday party in Lagos.
According to the report, she collapsed at the Reddington Hospital in Lagos after falling ill during a private function.
Sources close to the family said Onwenu was attending a friend’s birthday party when she took to the stage to perform.
However, she suddenly collapsed shortly after returning to her seat.
Onyeka Onwenu: She spread messages of love, peace – Shehu Sani mourns
Bomb Blast: Yobe govt warns citizens against collecting, moving abandoned objects
Special Adviser on Security Matters to Yobe State Governor, Brigadier General, Dahiru Abdulsalm (Rtd), has warned the public, especially metal scavengers (known as Baban Bola), against collecting and moving of scraps and other abandoned metal objects from other places into the state.
The governor’s aide, who gave the warning in a statement issued on Tuesday, said this became necessary following the detonation of an abandoned unexploded ordinance picked by unsuspecting scavengers crossing over from the deserted parts of Sambisa Forest to Goniri area, injuring five of them.
“The public is hereby advised to report any suspicious object or movement of persons in their communities”, he advised.
Abdulsalam noted that the military Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit was working round the clock to explode possible devices that might have been abandoned in the past years.
Bomb Blast: Yobe govt warns citizens against collecting, moving abandoned objects
Those killing innocent Biafrans cannot be addressed as police, Army officers – Simon Ekpa
The Simon Ekpa-led Biafra Republic Government in Exile has claimed that criminal elements are hiding under Nigerian security agencies to perpetrate evils in the South-East.
Ekpa made this known on Tuesday in a post on his official X handle while reacting to some incidents in the region, particularly Imo State.
He was particularly reacting to a recent attack at a checkpoint near SaveMore Market Place, Irete in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State where some security operatives and civilians were murdered.
According to him, “Those neutralized in Owerri were terrorists who killed innocent Biafran ladies during fierce battles with Biafrans.
“People that kill and maim innocent and unarmed civilians are not to be addressed like officers.
“They are none of those names, address them as terrorists they are”.
Ekpa further claimed that the Biafra forces have only been battling with terrorists causing mayhem in the region and not officers of the Nigerian security agencies as reported in the media.
TVN reports that Nigerian security forces have repeatedly blamed the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and its militant wing, the Eastern Security Network, ESN, for the various attacks on security agencies in the South-East.
Those killing innocent Biafrans cannot be addressed as police, Army officers – Simon Ekpa
Fight poverty, invest in education to combat human trafficking – Peter Obi to Nigerian Govt
The Labour Party, LP, presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has called on the government at all levels to fight poverty, invest in education and health as a panacea to combat human trafficking.
In a post via his X handle on Tuesday, Obi called for measures to combat the menace as the entire globe commemorates World Day against Trafficking in Persons.
While regretting that statistics showed Nigeria is hit hard by cases of human trafficking, Obi said human trafficking is slavery.
“Trafficking in persons remains a global societal issue that must be addressed, with measures devised to combat the menace.
“The 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report by the U.S. Department of State, classified Nigeria as a Tier 2 country, ranking us among countries whose governments do not fully comply with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act’s minimum standards but are making significant efforts to comply with those standards.
“The 2023 Global Slavery Index Report ranks Nigeria 38 out of 160 of the countries with the highest number of slaves which is about 1.6 million. The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, 2019-2022 statistics also show that 61 percent of human trafficking in Nigeria happens internally, while 39 percent is generated from cross-border trafficking,” he said.
The former governor of Anambra State tasked governments to address challenges of poverty, unemployment and porous borders which he blamed for Nigeria’s human trafficking cases.
He called for investment in education, health, and policies that will address poverty in the country, explaining that with a better and quality life, citizens will understand their rights as humans.
Fight poverty, invest in education to combat human trafficking – Peter Obi to Nigerian Govt
Hunger protest: Imo NURTW warns members not to participate
Following the planned nationwide hunger protest scheduled to hold on August 1 across the Federation, the Imo State Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Samuel Udeh has enjoined members of the union not to join the protest.
He said it would cause more harm than good.
He gave the warning to fellow unionists during an emergency meeting of the State Executive Committee, SEC, of the Union, held on Tuesday in Owerri.
Addressing the executives, Udeh noted that though a peaceful demonstration by citizens to express the unfair treatment being meted out on them by their leaders was a constitutional right, this particular right had been abused and wrongly carried out, which according to him had caused more pains, sorrows and setbacks.
The NURTW boss urged the members to resist the temptation of joining the planned protest.
He believed that dialogue with the leaders remained the best approach of getting things done rightly in the country rather than resorting to protest.
“The risk and possibility of the protest being hijacked by miscreants and hoodlums who may want to use it to perpetrate evil and cause havoc in the process should be a concern to Imo citizens.
“We are not disputing the fact that there is hunger and hardship in the land, but we must be careful not to allow those with evil intentions of destroying lives and property to prevail”, Udeh said.
In their separate speeches, some of the executive members agreed with what the Chairman said and commended him for calling the meeting which they said was timely as it availed the opportunity for the members to know the position of the Union as regards to the protest.
They also acknowledged the Chairman’s effort in fighting for the general good of the members as he always carried members along in the scheme of things.
They generally asserted that the protest would not in any way favour them as drivers, but would rather be to their own detriment and vowed not to be part of it.
Hunger protest: Imo NURTW warns members not to participate
Apologize to Northerners over ‘many children statement’ – Shehu Sani to Fayose
The former lawmaker who represented Kaduna Central senatorial district in the National Assembly, Shehu Sani has urged former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose to tender an apology to Northerners following his comments on people of the region.
Fayose had in an interview on a Channels Television programme on Monday night stirred the hornet’s nest when he said the failure of the federal government to develop Nigeria was because northerners were marrying multiple wives and having many children indiscriminately thereby constituting a huge problem for Nigeria and a burden on the government.
“The reason why it is difficult for Tinubu to develop Nigeria is because Northerners are giving birth to children they can’t cater for,” Fayose said.
Reacting in a post on his official X handle on Tuesday, the former lawmaker said Fayose’s statement was not palatable.
“Even though Fayose spoke as an individual, his reported statement on Northerners is contemptuous and unconscionable.
“I suggest he should humbly withdraw it and tender an apology as a statesman”, Sani stated.
Apologize to Northerners over ‘many children statement’ – Shehu Sani to Fayose
Top 10 stories from across Nigerian Newspapers, Wednesday, July 31, 2024
Here are the top 10 stories making headlines across the country.
1. Nigeria declares prisons ‘red zones’ ahead of #EndBadGovernance protests
The Federal Government has declared all the 256 custodial centres across the country as “red zones” ahead of the planned #EndBadGovernance protests to begin on August 1.Read more
2. EFCC grills Hajj commission chairman over alleged mismanagement of N90bn subsidy
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday grilled the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Jalal Arabi, over alleged mismanagement of 2024 Hajj exercise fund.Read more
3. Organisers of #EndBadGovernance protests defy IGP, to proceed with street rallies
Organisers of the #EndBadGovernance protests have rejected the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun’s proposal of confined rallies.Read more
4. Amid attack over line disconnections, MTN shuts offices nationwide
MTN Nigeria has ordered the closure of its offices nationwide due to the violence that broke out over the disconnection of some MTN lines.Read more
5. Former PDP Chairman Secondus says Tinubu lacks moral authority to stop protests
Uche Secondus, a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has launched a scathing attack on President Bola Tinubu, asserting that he lacks the moral authority to stop the planned #EndBadGovernance protest.Read more
READ ALSO:Top 10 stories from across Nigerian Newspapers, Tuesday, July 30, 2024
6. Shehu Sani tells Fayose to withdraw comment about northern region, apologise
The former lawmaker who represented Kaduna Central senatorial district in the National Assembly, Sen. Shehu Sani has called on former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose to tender an apology to Northerners following his (Fayose’s) comments on people of the region.Read more
7. Keyamo gives NAMA go-ahead to ground Arik Air planes over $2.5m debt
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo has granted the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) permission to ground some aircraft belonging to Airik Airline over a $2.5m debt owed to Atlas Petroleum International Limited.Read more
8. NGX: Investors lose N171bn in five hours
Investors in the Nigerian capital market lost N171 billion at the close of trading on Tuesday.Read more
9. Woman kills husband, dumps body in uncompleted building in Abuja
A woman simply identified as Rahimat Salaum has allegedly killed her husband in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).Read more
10. Osimhen’s agent debunks Chelsea loan move rumours
Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen is yet to make any official move this summer and remains a Napoli player, his agent has said.Read more
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