Onoshe Nwabuikwu; sms: 08099400229
The New Year is barely 48 hours away! I had planned to write about the concerts that took place last Sunday, especially the Wizkid in Lagos concert, in addition to bringing back some old materials – blast from the past. However, it soon became obvious that I had to make this last edition of this column for 2018 a COME Again-fest. Enjoy!
COME AGAIN? The Best of 2018
“Even though we are fighting, I still say happy birthday to you,”
Lanre Gentry, HipTV headlines, Monday, January 1, 2018, 2am-ish
Mr. Lanre Gentry is the estranged husband of actress, Mercy Aigbe. He was in the news for allegedly beating his wife, Mercy, like a ‘panel beater’ – with horrific pictures as proof. It is that act of ‘panel beating’ that Mr. Gentry calls ‘we are fighting’.
“Buhari directs halt to Benue killings,”
-New headlines, Channels TV, Wednesday, January 3, 2018, 10.18pm-ish.
Does this statement mean it’s within President Buhari’s power to direct the start and stop of killings?
P.S: That was January 2018. Nearly 12 months after, the news headlines are not much different. The latest, “Buhari orders security agencies to find killers of Alex Badeh” or this very creative version, “Buhari gives security agencies marching order to find killers of Alex Badeh.” The problem is that no one returns with an update on the results of all the supposed ‘ordering’ and ‘directing’.
“I will succeed Buhari,”
Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha
This statement was credited to the Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, according to the newspaper headlines of Tuesday, April 17, 2018, read on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily.
There are many instinctive responses: ‘God forbid bad thing’. Or we could just laugh this off or pray. Meanwhile, Rochas appears to have been ‘Maradona-ed’ out of the APC. While he’s busy succeeding Buhari, he’s failing in his own backyard.
“Welfare of Leah’s parents not really a presidency matter,”
Femi Adesina, Special Adviser, Media, to President Buhari, on Sunrise Daily, Channels TV, Tuesday, September 28, 2018.
Things went downhill pretty fast after Maupe Ogun-Yusuf asked, ‘Is government reaching out to her (Leah Sharibu’s) family?’ Adesina: “I wouldn’t be categorical about that. But I expect the Yobe State Government to be in touch with the family and grant them some succour…it’s not really a Presidency matter… because in Nigeria, they expect the Presidency to do everything” (laughing heartily). “There’s devolution. Her local government should be in touch with the family; her state government should be in touch with the family. Then, they can relate to the Federal Government. When Maupe pointed out that, “We’ve seen the family cry out in recent times.” Adesina was quick to say:
“Maybe that’s a wake-up call for the people at that level who should be relating with the family. That’s why you have government at various levels. And that’s why you have NGOs, and other organisations. Instead of just engaging in agitation and politicising the matter, those NGOs can also do something for the family. It’s not only government…when one talks of the Presidency, it’s omnibus but Nigerians want the Presidency to do everything.”
Meanwhile, the abduction of the Dapchi girls had attracted international attention. Only Leah Sharibu, who turned 15 in captivity, is still being held.
“Entertainment: US First Lady Ivanka Trump announces closure of fashion brand,”
AIT news headlines, Wednesday, July 25, 2018, 9.37 am-ish.
Donald Trump has been involved with beauty pageants and was the host of the reality TV show, Celebrity Apprentice. Even as president, he seems intent on rebranding the White House as a reality TV set. But news about him doesn’t fall under entertainment.
Then, there’s the error that Ivanka Trump is the US First Lady. Melania Trump is the US First Lady. Though Trump has sometimes conducted himself as though Ivanka, his first daughter, was something other than his child by infamously wishing he could date her.
“The feel of this movie gives me goose bumps…”
“I just can’t wait for you guys to see a movie with a difference,”
Behind the scenes quotes from crew of Make Room, Thursday, July 27, 2018, 12.27am-ish.
How does the feel of a movie give one goose bumps? Then there’s the second quote taken from the director of the movie, Robert Peter: ‘A movie with a difference’. Really? Why not 7-Up difference?
“Some of us have also been governors before…,”
Dr Chris Ngige, Sunrise Daily, Wednesday October 31, 2018.
Does the honourable minister really want to go down that route? How did he become governor? In any case, the courts sent him packing because he’d enjoyed someone else’s governorship victory, i.e. Peter Obi’s for three years before the judgment. What does that make him?
“President Trump offers olive branch to democrats,”
Channels TV news headlines, Thursday, November 8, 8.35am-ish
I am shocked that this is what Channels TV managed to get out of President Trump’s rambling press conference. The same press conference (at which) Trump knocked his own party, talked about how he could sack everyone in his cabinet, among other things. Not to mention his ‘brawl’ with CNN’s Jim Acosta.
END
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