Patty Obassey: How wife sustained music dream after husband’s demise

Arguably the most gifted, celebrated, acclaimed truly born-again gospel artist of his time, Patty Obassey is dead, but his musical dreams kept flying as his wife, Minister Esther Patty Obassey popularly known as Ezinwanyi di uko, has sustained her husband’s dreams. She spoke to SUCCESS DAMIAN recently at a conference titled Let Me Pass organized by Rhema Deliverance Mission International in Lagos.

 

Esther Obassey who thrilled the congregation with her husband’s evergreen songs Ezinwanyi di uko and Bianu ka anyi kele Jehovah, revealed the source of her musical inspiration when she said “On the source of my musical inspiration, I have passion for music from my childhood, God being so kind, introduced me to a musician whom I got married to, and with the help in the music industry and with what he was doing, I think I grew from there to what I am now.

Mrs Obassey also spoke on what she is doing to keep alive the mantle handed over to her, especially performing her husband’s songs, she said “I would say I have been doing this before he died, I didn’t start today, because when he was alive anytime he had so much programmes, he would send me to go and cover for him, depending on where the programmes were. So from there I said, if I have been doing this when he was alive, there was no need to allow the dream to die, so I have to continue from there and by God’s grace, I can tell you, God has been faithful through this ministration, and I am not finding it difficult to do his works because it is something I have been doing before.”

She also let out what she considered to be her challenges when she said, “Not really that I have not had any challenge, I had but you know in Nigeria, they normally see musicians that, you must have your own albums in the market, but because I have no album in the market, it became a little bit of a challenge, and most people do not know that I sing except that the few that have seen me on stage where I sing. That was the challenge I was facing. Then when I started going for some programmes, some men of God were seeing me, they say wow, you are trying, we don’t know that you are doing well, from that point they started inviting me to their programmes.”

On her intention of doing an album, she said “I am believing God; that before the middle of next year my album will be in the market.”

Ezinwanyi di uko, speaking on her family music carrier said she has two boys and a daughter “My first son is in the university of Nigeria Nsukka reading music, he is also into music; he plays guitar, my second son just finished SSCE, my daughter is in SS1.

She opened up on the challenge she faced immediately her husband died. “Apart from my music ministry, initially I was into a business, but when he became sick, it drew everything away from us, so financially I couldn’t go back to it, right now I am not doing anything else,”

On her challenges working in a male dominated sector she said “I wouldn’t say there is any challenge on that level, everybody has his or her own grace carrying him or her. So if you have your own grace, where you want to attend or where you are I don’t think it is a problem to me. I have my own grace everybody’s grace is not the same; we are the same but grace differs when it comes to the things of God, the grace they carry may not be the same grace that I carry. 

So I am doing mine on my own level, in my own grace.”

Obassey added “All of my children are musicians, my first son is into guitar, in fact it is because of his schooling, that I didn’t come with him, if I had come with him I wouldn’t be facing some of the challenges I faced here,” Mrs Obasi  disclosed.

Fulani herdsmen working with internal collaborators, says Don

Success Damian:

Prof. Anthony Kola-Olusanya, a Professor of Environmental Sustainability, Osun State University, Osogbo, has  stated that the Fulani herdsmen attacking communities in Nigeria cannot succeed without internal collaborators.

Olusanya made the disclosure as a Guest Speaker at a Public Lecture titled "Climate Change and Environmental Conflict in Nigeria: Implications on National Security" organized by Centre for Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development (CESSED) and held at Aderemi Makanjuola Lecture Theatre, Lagos State University, Ojo.

He said there are many towns that are noted for banditry even in Yoruba land, and those acts of banditry are being perpetrated by indigenes. He wondered why all the banditry being perpetrated in Nigeria is now being regarded as originating from the Fulani herdsmen.

“Why is it that all of a sudden all those indigenes have become Fulanis, it takes somebody within to allow the enemy without to come in. So if Fulani herdsmen are running over us, then there are some Yoruba collaborators, there are some Jokun collaborators, there are some Efik collaborators, there are some Igbo collaborators.”

Olusanya then proposed panacea for the raging imbroglio when he said “The way-out from the conflict between farmers and herdsmen, if you want to solve a problem, you engage the people, talk to the people. Who are the people in this case now? It is the herders and the farmers, not tribal leaders par say.”

He said the search for solution should be facilitated by tribal leaders or eminent personalities so that a solution can be found. “It is not that kind of solution that you have to craft together in Abuja, in the Senate or House of Rep or in the Federal Executive Chamber of Aso Rock, no. It is a solution that would come out of a conversation, serious conversation with the people on the ground and that is how you can evolve a solution. In this case you cannot impose, that is why I use the word evolve. It means solution would come out of the conversation you have with this group, so that we can nip every other problem in the bud.”

Speaking on issue of RUGA and why people rejected it, he said “I hear people say RUGA means something in Hausa, something in Fufulde, RUGA is just rural grazing area, “If the federal government is saying we are creating a rural grazing area, it is simply saying we are creating ranches. I think the real issue is the suspicion that all of suddenly created among ourselves.”

He attributed the hullaballoo over RUGA to what he called the handiwork of politicians. “What generated problem is not ruga, what generated problem is the politicians who want to destabilize the country, because they are not eating from the pot now, I said eating because when a certain group were in power in this country, they didn’t see some of these issues as problem, now they are out of governance, I am speaking as a detached individual and as a concerned person in the country and as a stakeholder too, it is beyond farmers and herders’ conflict.”

According to Olusanya, politicians constantly set the people against the government to create fear in the mind of the people so that the people would continuously hate the government in power.

He stated that the aims of the lecture, amongst others, include to determining what constitutes environmental conflict; how climate change affects natural resources availability.

Quoting Ban Ki-Moon, the former United Nation Scribe he added that Climate change is "simply the greatest collective challenge we face as a human family".

He stated that Climate change is one of the challenges of African nations especially and at the heart of climate change is conflict relationship which is the issue of natural resource scarcity and competition.

Speaking further he disclosed that an understanding of the induced climate change resource-based conflict is the best captured in the herders/pastoralist-farmer conflict.

"Wars are often over resources, the destruction of the environment would lead to environmental crisis and wars will be fought."

Climate change is a key development issue as well as being one of the most challenging problems facing the 21st century.

“As climate change unfolds the world is likely to become a dangerous place as global temperatures rise and one of its effects is a heightened risk of violent conflict. It's impact is harder on the poorest and most vulnerable members of the public.”

LASU longest road named Lateef Jakande Road, as institution celebrates iconic former Governor @90

It was the rain of encomiums as Lagos State University Faculty of Arts gathered who is who in Lagos and beyond to give honour to who it is due, and it was no other person than the iconic administrator, the former governor of Lagos State, Alhaji (Dr) Lateef Jakande who clocked 90 years. SUCCESS DAMIAN reports.

Happening at the main auditorium of the institution on Monday, July 22, Lagosians, Academics and non-academics, students, friends and well wishers were moved to the point of tears as encomiums flowed like river in honour of the former governor who made it to the institution despite his obvious age challenges.

Professor Olanrewaju Adigun Fagbohun, Vice Chancellor of the university while addressing the crowd that graced the occasion said “In 1983, LKJ had the opportunity to cast a stone across the waters. He did that so well that all of us today are beneficiaries of that vision.  LKJ conceived and signed into law the bill that brought the creation of this great institution. The creation of LASU positively impacted the lives of many.”

He disclosed that from just three faculties, 55 Admin Staff and 37 Technical Staff, and 375 students admitted, the institution has grown into three major campuses, Ojo, Epe and Ikeja. “Today, our institution is able to boast of 7 faculties, 4 Schools and 1 college. We are also able to boast of many Directorates. 

“Every year now, we admit over 6500 students from just 375 students in our first year. Think about it, if this genius of ideas did not conceive of LASU, what would have become the faith of these ones?”

Directing his thought to Pa Jakande, the VC said “You are revered as an example of Public Administration.  We at LASU count ourselves privileged that we are able to celebrate with you today. We rejoice with you and your family.

The Pro-chancellor of the institution, Professor Adebayo Ninalowo on his part said “Our world-class university was founded during the administration of Alh Lateef Jakande. It is therefore expedient that we celebrate his 90th birthday with a Lecture to be delivered by Prof. Hakeem Danmole.

“To immortalize this distinguished personality who has remained relevant in the scheme of things, the Council has decided to name an infrastructure in his name.”

Dean of Faculty Arts LASU in his address said “You are indeed a blessing from God. Your housing estates dot the nook and cranny of Lagos.

The Guest Speaker, Prof. Hakeem Danmole of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Kwara State said the enviable status which Lagos has attained was based on the solid foundation which was laid by Jakande and no administration in Lagos has touched lives as much as Jakande.

Prof. Olumakaiye advises FG to guard against economy receding to recession

Success Damian:

L-R: Wife of former Bishop of Lagos, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Mrs. Oluranti Ademowo; Wife of the Governor of Lagos State, Dr. (Mrs.) Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; Diocesan Bishop of Lagos, Church of Nigeria, (Anglican Communion) The Rt. Rev. (Dr.) Humprey Bamisebi Olumakaiye and his Wife  Prof. (Mrs.) Motunrayo Olumakaiye; at the Centenary Women's conference

 
Professor (Mrs) Motunrayo Olumakaiye, Diocesan President, Women & Girls’ Organisation, Diocese of Lagos Anglican Communion, has implored the Federal Government of Nigeria not to allow the nation’s economy to slip back to recession.

“The effort of the Federal government to successfully rescue the nation out of her foremost and worst economic recession in 29 years is highly commendable. The experts' opinion is that the economy is still very fragile; therefore the economic team of this administration should ensure that the nation's economy does not slip back into recession,” Olumakaiye said.

She took the position while speaking on the state of the economy at the 2019 Centenary Women’s Conference organised by Women's and Girls’ Organisation, Diocese of Lagos (Anglican Communion) which was held on Friday at Faith Plaza, Bariga. Lagos. The theme for the Conference was “Stronger, Deeper, and Higher”.

Quoting the World Bank Olumakaiye said in October 2018 'Africa Pulse' a bi-annual analysis of the State of Africa Economy via its official website said "The projected growth of Nigeria’s government to grow her economy in 2018 to 2.1 per cent dropped to 1.9 per cent. 

At the conference attended by Her Excellency Dr. (Mrs.) Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, wife of the Governor of Lagos State, Olumakaiye maintained that the drop was as a result of renewed clashes between farmers and herdsmen recorded in most parts of the year. This she said reduced and contracted productivity in the Agricultural sector.

While enumerating some of the projects embarked upon by the women which include Archbishop Abiodun Adetiloye Comprehensive College Igboye Epe; Faith Plaza, Bariga where the organisaion built a 40-room 3 star standard lodge called Faith Lodge, among other projects, she went further to say that the volatility and the unstable price of crude oil are among the variables largely responsible for the drop in the nation's economic growth projection in 2018. She said the government therefore cannot afford to allow the clashes to continue. The life of every citizen counts, and the Nation‘s economy must not be allowed to slip back into another recession. 

In her words “I encourage the government to look into re-appraising her economic team. Nigeria is blessed with adequate human resources, knowledgeable, highly rated international technocrats and successful businessmen and women. These brains are all over the world, in the United Kingdom, United States of America, Germany, United Arab Emirates and so on.”

She said Corrupt elements among the INEC officers must be removed as charity, they say, begins at home. “Those found culpable of engendering political thuggery, assault, vandalization and destruction, killings and other electoral offences must be punished.” 

On Power she said Electricity plays a pivotal role in the socio-economic development of the nation. “Electricity consumption in Nigeria is far above the Supply. This has made the country suffer acute perennial Electricity problems, which have been identified as hindrance to the Nation's economic prosperity and national development.

“Presently, the installed power generation capacity in Nigeria is 12,522MW; out of which 10,592MW is gas fired, while 1,930MW is from Hydro. The maximum peak generation by power plant as at last year is put in the region of 4,083.34MW.

When we put this figure side by side the nation's estimated population of about 180million people, it could only mean that we still have a very long way to go,” she said. 

Olumakaiye  stated that if the government was able to tackle and solve the recurring problems of power, the multiplier effect on the nation's economy will certainly be unimaginable. Citizens will live better, small scale businesses would thrive, industries folding-up or relocating to neighbouring countries would be over. “As industries and small businesses begin to thrive, it will boost employment generation. Youth unemployment will reduce drastically, youth unrest will reduce, and crime rate will go down.” 

She stated that an online publication of January 2019, puts the youth unemployment rate in Nigeria at a worrisome 36.50 per cent as at the third quarter of 2018 dropping slightly from an alarming 39 percent in the second quarter of 2018. Those are not comforting figures, as they remain worrisome indices of a challenging tomorrow. 

His Lordship, Rt. Rev’d  (Dr) Humphrey Olumakaiye, Diocesan Bishop of Lagos prayed and reminded the women to be stronger, deeper and higher in the lord, “We must take notice of these great things, we must be aware, we must know that our God is able and He is always available. For us in the Diocese we are not going to compromise, every member must be strong in the lord, go deeper in the knowledge of the word, and go higher in our hope for eternity.”

He reminded the congregants of the diocesan five-fold ministry of the church “Don’t forget our five-fold ministry: priestly, pastoral, prophetic, prayer and the praise. What we are doing now, we want you to have satisfaction in our church, to be contented in our church, we are doing everything that would give you fulfillment in Anglican as a church. We don’t want one leg inside and one leg outside, we don’t want a situation you have one pastor elsewhere.  We are evangelists, we are prophets. So just believe, and by the grace of God we pray that God will stand by you,” he said.