The journey of the year 2016 is about to come to a wonderful end in less that 24hours, we’ve looked forward to entering this year back then luckily for us we made it into the year and here we are today about to enter 2017 despite all the even and the odds of 2016,we were able to weathered the storm and pass through the tunnel of 2016 successfully. Today I will be refreshing our memories on some events that shaped the year 2016, some of these events have been forgotten while some are not. Some brought laughter to our faces, some brought tears while some were mixtures of both cries and laughter. The events are reeled out below….
The Year started on a Beef Note (permit me to use the celebrity language) earlier than expected. The venue was Landmark centre Victoria island Lagos, the event was 2015 Headies Musical Awards, the event have started on a good and enjoyable note not until when the award for the next rated was to be given out. The award had people Like Kiss Daniel, Reekado Banks, Korede Bello, Lil Kesh and Cynthia Morgan as nominees it was later clinched by Mavin Artiste Reekado Banks contrary to the expectation of some people that the YBNL Youngster Lil Kesh will win, unfortunately according to the Organizers Lil Kesh was unable to garner enough votes ahead of Reekado Banks who later emerge as winner. This did not go down well with Olamide Adedeji the YBNL Boss as he used the medium of Award Presentation to fellow Label Mate Adekunle Gold to express his displeasure about the award given to Reekado Banks by declaring Lil Kesh as their Next Rated Artiste. As stated in the law of motion that to very action there is equal and opposite reaction the MAVINS Boss Collins Ajereh popularly known as Don jazzy won’t have any of that shade being thrown at his boys.During his acceptance speech after receiving a life time achievement awards from Headies he replied the YBNL Boss by simply asking him to come and take the award if he needs it. immediately hell was let loose and the fight continue on social media between the fans of the two individuals , about 5 days after peace was brokered by Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote and the disagreement between the two died a natural death and their friendship was re-ignited.
Also in January the Federal Government of Nigeria imposed a stamp duty fee of 50 Naira on Bank Customers for money received into their account. This decision by the Buhari led Federal Government was condemned by Nigerians but as usual the Government prevailed. The same January the Federal Government through the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) announced a 45% increment in electricity tariff, the decision according to the Government was aimed towards improving the erratic Power supply situation in Nigeria but till now the electricity situation remains the same .
February 2016 Professional Photographer Toyin Sokefun popularly Known as TY Bello was on a Photo shoot with Nigerian-American Rapper Tinie Tempah in Lagos. In an unplanned and unexpected situation a young lady hawking Bread Photo-bombed the shoot and that Photo bombing led to a life of stardom for her, immediately the shoot was over TY Bello posted the Picture on her social media page and it spread like wildfire, many people were interested in knowing who the lady is and Ty Bello went on a search for that lady whom we later known as Olajumoke Orisaguna a 28years Old Mother of two from Osun state who came to Lagos to hustle as many are doing . Few days after she was the front Page Cover for Nigeria’s Prestigious Fashion Magazine Thisday Style, she later got a modelling contract, lots of endorsements from corporate organisations with educational scholarships for her children; she was featured by the CNN and later got an apartment free of charge from the sujimoto group. That bread seller of yesterday is now a social media celebrity.
March 2016 a young Nigerian Known as Ayodele Dada also made the news as he emerged the best graduating student of the University of Lagos with a CGPA of 5.0 the first in the school History and Probably the first in Nigeria’s History he made A’s in all his courses in the Psychology Department of the school he was honoured by so many corporate organization including the Nigeria House of Representatives. Also in march 2016 the Federal Government of Nigeria announced a Ban on the sale of forex for Nigerian students studying abroad as the country cannot Afford their forex demands. The decision was rejected by Nigerians but Government as usual had its way and some had to withdraw their children back home to continue schooling.
May 2016 the Federal Government of Nigeria announced an increment of Petroleum Pump Price from 97 to 145 Naira. The decision was shocking to all Nigerians as the Buhari led government have once campaigned against subsidy removal but the subsidy they once campaigned against have been removed by them. Immediately this happened the NLC AND TUC went on strike except the joe Ajaero faction that boycotted the strike, that single action by the joe Ajaero Faction of NLC which have now rebranded itself into the United Labour Congress made the NLC AND TUC Strike an effort in futility as the strike was called off without the Price of petroleum being reversed.
In the Month of June 2016 following a referendum held in UK in which 52% of votes were cast in favour of leaving the EU, the UK government intends to invoke ARTICLE 50 of the treaty on European Union. The process popularly termed BREXIT was shocking as the Prime minister of Britain Mr. David Cameron resigned his position as the UK Prime Minister for a new Government to midwife the BREXIT process. He was immediately replaced by Theresa May a female as the new British Prime Minister.
July 2016 Deaconess Elisha Eunice a Pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God RCCG was murdered while Preaching in the Kubwa area of Abuja early in the morning of the 9th of July, the death made the news as some suspects were arrested and till today nothing good have come out of the case like previous ones. Also in July the worst fear of all Nigerians about the Economic situation of Nigeria was confirmed as the minister of Finance Mrs Kemi Adeosun while appearing before the senate committee on Finance announced that the country is in Recession after denying that on several occasion, she later gave a relieving news that the recession will end by December 2016 but till today the situation remains the same as a Dollar is now equals to 500 Naira.
Also in July 2016 the Federal Government released a Press statement signed by the Minister of Interior Lt. General Abdurrahman Dambazzau extending the Eid-el-Fitri holiday by one day due to the non sighting of the moon initially the Government declared 6th and 7th as Public Holiday but due to the non sighting it was extended by a day more, the Decision was met with condemnation from Nigerians considering the Economic status of the country as at the time but as usual the Government went ahead with it. Its one event in 2016 we won’t forget so soon.
October 2016 the First Lady of Nigeria Hajia Aisha Buhari granted an exclusive interview to the British Broadcasting Corporation(BBC) in which she condemned the Policies and actions of the Buhari Led Government in general and Mr. President in Particular she expressed her displeasure about the way appointments were being made into the Government without recourse to those that laboured for the Party to win the Election in 2015, she even declared some people wielding influence in the Government as people without voters card and they didn’t know the manifesto with which the President campaigned with and she feared for the revolts of the 15million Nigerians that voted for her husband and conclusively she has promised not to support her husband in 2019 if things continue like this. Few days after the President replied the First Lady accusations in Germany during a visit to President Angela Markel he said and I quote “I don’t know which Party my wife belongs to but I know she belongs to my Kitchen the living room and the other room” many thought the President was joking but he later confirmed the statement again when speaking with German Broadcaster Deustche Welle.
October 31 2016 we were awaken to the news of the release of 21 Chibok Girls that were Abducted by the Boko Haram sect over 3years ago, it was a news that Put smiles on the faces of all Nigerians as the Campaign for the release of the girls have reduced in momentum but only Spearheaded single handedly by the Bring Back our Girls Movement Led by Dr. Oby Ezekwesili and Aisha Yesufu. Further reports indicated that the girls release was secured by the International Committee of Red Cross and the Swiss Government.
Also in October 2016 an overnight raid by the SSS personnel led to the arrest of some judges across six states in Nigeria, at the end of the raid wads of cash both foreign and local currencies was recovered , cars and other materials .some of those affected include Justice Inyang okoro, Sylvester Ngwuta, Adeniyi Ademola, Mohammed Tsamiya among others, the raid was condemned by NJC, The labour unions but was supported by other Nigerians including Professor itse sagay the Chairman of the Anti Corruption Advisory committee to the President as they described it as a measure of cleaning the Augean Stable in the Judiciary.
November 2016 American Billionaire and Real Estate Guru Mr. Donald Trump was elected as the President of the United States of America defeating his closest rival Mrs Hilary Clinton. The victory was an unexpected and a shocking one so to say as Hilary Clinton had the support of many world leaders and American Political Leaders including President Barack Obama but Donald Trump emerged against all odds also in November 2016 Barrister Rotimi AKeredolu of the APC Emerged as the Governor elect of Ondo state after a second time attempt at the seat defeating his closest rivals Eyitayo Jegede of the PDP and Olusola Oke of AD.
On the 3rd of December 2016, the Nigeria Senior female football team the Super falcons won the 10th Africa women championship cup finals in Yaoundé Cameroon defeating their opponents the lioness of Cameroon wining the tournament for the 8th times in its 10th year, the Falcons end up Protesting before their entitlement was Paid by the Federal Government .
December 2016 during the Ordination of Pastor Akan weeks as a Bishop in his church in Akwa Ibom state the church roofed caved in killing over 40 church members and injuring many, the state Governor Mr. Udom Emmanuel escaped unhurt but some were not lucky as they gave up the ghost.
Another sad events of 2016 was the death of some Popular Personalities like Babatunde Okungbowa OJB Jezreel, No moreloss, Oba of Benin, Madam Bukky Ajayi a Veteran Nollywood actor and chief Rasheed Gbadamosi former Minister of National Planning in the year under review. May their souls continue to Rest in Peace. Amen
These among others were events that shaped the year 2016, the year will continue to be a remarkable and unforgettable one, I Pray we will all have a better 2016.Amen
THANK YOU!
2016 is coming to an End anytime Soon and I looked Back to how I started and how I’m ending the Year ,it’s been a successful and worthwhile journey, to all My Readers I say Thank You for the show of Love to a Little Boy Like me. Indeed you made me Better than I was. I’m Grateful. See you in 2017
Adesina Tosin Nathaniel is a Forward Looking Nigerian Youth, He Writes from Ikorodu Lagos
For more of his writings visit www.donteewrites.blogspot.com
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Nice one bro. Keepirup
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