There’s a trending video about the “wife of a popular politician and traditional ruler” in Delta state who was caught cheating on her husband with another man.
In the video, the woman can be heard in the footage telling Police officers that October 2017 will make it two years she has been having issues with her husband, while the man in question said he never knew she was married.
Ladies and gentlemen… If you marry the right woman, you’d just find yourself falling in love with her over and over again.
A Nigerian man recently surprised his wife with a Brand new Benz GLK 350 just to show her love and say “thank you for loving me back”. The car is worth $35,995 (12 million naira). Instagram page, Instagram page @aaaawwwhh, who packaged the surprise wrote;
“Part 1: so we got a call from @jahs_own wanting to put a smile on wifey’s face.Imagine you waking up and you have absolutely no idea what the day got for you…… *clears throat* so you are just sitting on your own jejely and a Benz GLK 350 comes knocking with a royal hug
……. there was absolutely ‘NO OCCASION’ just a way of saying ‘thank you’ and ‘I love you’
Ladies and Gentlemen, Nigerian men are the MOST romantic men alive, if your man is not like @Jahs_own then you MIGHT just be in the wrong relationship #lol or if he is not romantic, just give him our contact……… I salute all ‘Yoruba Angle’s’ out there making efforts to put a smile on your loved ones faces, we pray money will never finish in your hands in Jesus name Love is such a powerful weapon, that we only pray we find our soul mates, I pray we marry the right person in Jesus name, the one that would love you more than you can imagine, the one that would always be giving you a ROYAL HUG”
Popular Nigerian musician, 9ice, who recently shared his opinion about marriage and said it’s not by force to get married, shared stunning photos of himself on Instagram.
He wrote:
Living Being Thank God Is Friday???The amazing photographer @mrarilabadi wave???
A Nigerian man, identified as an Imo state indigene has successfully produced a car using locally available materials in the state.
A Facebook user, Citizen Ikenna Samuelson Iwuoha took to his page to share beautiful pictures of the made in Nigeria vehicle by a Biafran auto engineer.
In appreciation to the maker of the vehicle and his origin, the beautiful made in Nigeria vehicle has been named ‘Biafrakwezuonu 2017 model’.
He wrote:
‘BIAFRAN AUTO—ENGINEER MANUFACTURES MADE IN NIGERIA VEHICLE WITH LOCAL RAW MATERIALS IN IMO STATE PICTURES SHOW THE ENGINEER WITH CITIZEN IKENNA SAMUELSON IWUOHA AND THE VEHICLE (BIAFRAKWEZUONU 2017 MODEL)
Knowing that such beautiful piece could be made by a Nigerian is a proof that there are so many talented individuals in our society.
As usual, Radio Personality, Daddy Freeze, has taken to his Instagram page to share photo and react to the story of Nigerian Billionaire Kidnapper, Evans.
He asked whether kidnap kingpin, Evans should implicate his wife since they were both in the business together and also added that he would not implicate a woman who loves him.
He wrote:
Guys lets be very honest, will you implicate your wife if you were in Evan’s shoes? Some people are saying; “so who will now take care of the kids?”
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Baba make me I talk true, Emi nitemi o, if na woman wey love me true love, like @tastebudzng, I go cover am walahi, but if na problematic woman wey dey stress me, dey frustrate me, dey beat me, come dey cheat on me join, come still wan spend my money on top another man head, so only me go come suffer alone, baba one time I don implicate am, nothing go do children, dem no go die..
–
We are going down together, as long as we jollof the money together!
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As I no too get sense, na my own definition of gender equality be that.
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Ok o! over to you, whetin you go do? ~FRZ
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#Repost @temilolasobola (@get_repost)
・・・
My wife knows I am a kidnapper. She sometimes collect the ransom money for me -Evans
Following the ongoing investigation of kidnaps staged by notorious billionaire kidnap Kingpin, Evans, A senior Police Officer disclosed that 162 Phone lines have been recovered from the suspect.
On wednesday, An Officer who pleaded anonymity revealed that the suspect has 11 phones, including a Thuraya and 2 Vertu phones, valued at N2.4 million and N2.6 million, respectively and added that SIM cards used by Evans complicated the challenges posed by the sophisticated phones, as he bought SIM cards registered from miscreants in Computer Village, Ikeja.
He said:
“More discoveries have been made during investigation. On Wednesday, we discovered that Evans still had 36 more SIM cards outside the 126 lines we already have.
He has 11 phones, including a Thuraya and 2 Vertu phones, valued at N2.4 million and N2.6 million, respectively. That was why it was very difficult to arrest him because the two phones can operate without SIM cards.
That is the kind of phone the Boko Haram terrorist group is using in the desert. All the 162 lines are operational lines, except one that is for his immediate family. We are working on the new lines and phones. .
Turaya is a satellite phone. In Nigeria, we don’t have the capability to track Turaya. He used the three phones for his nefarious activities. We succeeded in tracking him through the other phones he has.”
“We studied and analysed 162 SIM cards before we caught him. We have about two-page analysis of each of the numbers. He used 161 of those numbers to call his gang members only and used one to call his mother, wife and sister.
He said he bought all the SIM cards already registered in Computer Village for N1,500 each. We picked his sister, his childhood friend with whom he attended primary school, and four of his girlfriends. .
They gave us the information that led to his arrest. Evans confirmed that they didn’t know he was into kidnapping. Because of that, we granted them bail, while investigations continue”
Another source then revealed that operatives had uncovered two other camps, which would soon be visited aside from a camp in New Igando, where Evans kept his victims.
Big Brother Naija reality TV show winner, Efe Ejebe, popularly known as Efe has released a new jam he titles “Somebody”.
As usual, the track was produced by his long-time friend producer, Duktor Sett.
Efe released this new track as an appetizer while we await the Official Music Video to his First single after leaving the BBNaija house – “Based on Logistics”, which will feature his fellow ex-housemates.
To keep his fans pumped, Efe took to twitter saying “#EfeNation while we await the release of #BOL video…shld i drop a new jam..coz i feel lyk giving u guys a song to dance to”
Human rights activist and Lawyer, emeka Ugwuonye has shared the story of a Port-Harcourt based woman who is nursing the wounds she sustained from the brutal beating she got from her husband.
She has cried out to him and says she’s tired of the union as she is tired of the physical and mental abuse meted on her by a man she calls her husband
“I don’t want the union again. Because I am tired of the physical and mental abuse from him, but he is making it difficult for me to see my kids”
A woman, identified as Uzoma Austin,who lives at 5, Adesoji Street, Agiliti, Mile 12, Lagos has been allegedly accused of setting her 12-year-old foster daughter ablaze.
The case was taken up by the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team, DSVRT, after the Ketu Police Station Family Support Unit informed them of the incident.
The child was then rescued by DSVRT and taken to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, for first aid treatment, after which she was transferred to the Gbagada General Hospital where she is currently receiving treatment.
The 34-year-old woman was brought before an Ogudu magistrate’s court in Lagos on Wednesday, 14th June.
The Prosecutor, Sergeant Lucky Ihiehie, said the woman set the little girl ablaze on June 8, at her residence, for stealing N1,000.
Accordint to Vanguard, the accused was docked on a two-count charge of injuring by explosive substance and causing grievous harm whose offence contravened Sections 242 and 243 of the Lagos State Criminal Code Law, 2011, which stipulates 14 and seven years imprisonment, respectively, for convicted offenders.
The magistrate, Mrs Sule Amzat, set the bail at the sum of N50,000 with two sureties, one of who must be a family member and show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government after the accused pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge.
The case was adjourned until July 8 for further hearing.
Just to give his numerous fans across Africa the assurance that he did not declare himself a born-again Christian and a pastor for selfish reasons, award-winning Ghanaian actor, Majid Michel, has stressed that he is a true servant of God.
Apparently responding to cynics and critics alike, who had earlier dismissed his claims of being a pastor as a ploy to preserve his popularity among movie fans on the continent, Majid, who had been preaching about God and the Christian faith on social media, recently noted on Instagram that his motive was not to seek the attention of anyone.
Quoting directly from the scriptures, he wrote,
“Am I now trying to win the favour and approval of men or that of God? Or am I seeking to please someone? If I were still trying to be popular with men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.”
Considering the intensity of his passion for the gospel nowadays, it is becoming clear that the actor, who is now addressed as Evangelist Majid Michel, may decide to dump the screen for the pulpit anytime soon.
As proof that he may well be destined for the switch, Majid was a guest speaker at a three-day Leadership Summit organised at the Strong Tower Parish of the Fire of Life Ministries, a Christian organisation, in Benin City, capital of Edo State, last May.
Also, sharing his experience on the set of Emem Isong’s ‘Ayamma’ in an interview with our correspondent in October, 2016 the actor had revealed his real motive as a born-again actor when he said,
“I have just realised that the authority of Jesus Christ must be asserted in every culture and tradition.
“I believe that Jesus came to purge these cultures and to take them away. Also, He came to take away our traditions and to replace them with His kingdom on earth. I believe that the real culture is the way of God.”
However, Majid is not the first popular Nollywood actor to become a Christian evangelist or pastor all of a sudden.
Many movie fans have not forgotten how Eucharia Anunobi, easily one of the most popular actresses that Nollywood has produced, stirred up the entertainment when she announced in 1997 that she had become a born-again Christian.
Twenty years later, the actress, who claimed in an interview with an online newspaper that her conversion had instantly made her the butt of most jokes in the film industry, appears to be doing fine as a pastor.
Just as Eucharia did not quit acting, it is also possible that Majid may retain his status as a pastor while entertaining his fans on the screen.
A worker with Bedmate Furniture Company, Magboro, Ogun State, William Ekanem, is in pain after his spinal bone was allegedly damaged by his Chinese boss, identified as Master Wan.
PUNCH Metro learnt that Master Wan, who is skilled in kung fu, had demanded to see a bag of rice which Ekanem bought from a foodstuffs seller, identified as Iya Melo, on the premises of the company.
The 27-year-old had reportedly challenged the Chinese for poking his nose into his personal business.
After forcefully checking the content, Ekanem said he was leaving when Master Wan allegedly gave him a kick in the back, which sent him sprawling on the ground.
The suspect was said to have stamped his foot on the victim before he was rescued by some other workers on the premises.
Our correspondent gathered that since the incident, Ekanem had not been able to walk well or stand straight.
The victim said although the case was reported at the Ibafo Police Station, the Divisional Crime Officer allegedly took a N50,000 bribe from the Chinese company.
He was said to have backed the company against the Uyo, Akwa Ibom State indigene, who was accused of exaggerating the assault.
Ekanem, during a chat with our correspondent, noted that the incident happened sometime in April.
He said,
“I joined the company on January 7, 2007 and rose to become a foreman, overseeing black workers in a department of the company. Despite working for long, my salary is only N34,000. I don’t have an identity card and I am not a member of staff just like the rest of the over 300 workers at the company.
“Sometime in April 2017, I approached the foodstuffs seller on the premises to give me rice and groundnut oil on credit pending when we would be paid our salaries at the end of the month.
“I was taking the foodstuffs to the office when Master Wan demanded to know what was inside the bag. Because he didn’t understand English, I simply said, ‘rice, chop-chop’.
“He dipped his fingers into the sack and checked it. I protested against the action. He hit me in the chest as I collected my bag from him. I was walking away when he suddenly gave me a kung fu kick from the back. I fell. He charged at me with his foot and pinned me to the ground. I lay on the floor and started groaning with pain as some people came to drag him away from me.”
He said he was thereafter taken to a private hospital in the Arepo area, where he was given an injection.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the company gave Ekanem N10,000 for his medical expenses, while the company’s Nigerian manager, identified only as Lekan, assured the hospital that Bedmate would pay for all the expenses.
He was said to have been asked to go home by the doctor, who said a specialist would be contacted to treat him.
Upon Ekanem’s return to the hospital the following Monday, it was learnt that the result of a test he did showed his spinal cord had “shifted”.
The doctor reportedly gave him a list of drugs and asked him to take time off to rest.
The victim said the pain,, however, aggravated as he could no longer sleep.
Around that time, Ekanem’s pregnant wife reportedly gave birth.
“I went to the company to collect my N34,000 salary. When I got there, they gave me N24,000 and said they had removed the N10,000 they gave me for my feeding and treatment at the hospital.. I broke down in tears at the company. I could not believe they could treat me so shabbily. I left in anger. I was thinking about the situation on the road when I slumped,” he added.
He said together with a friend and some rights activists, the case was reported at the Ibafo Police Station.
PUNCH Metro was told that the Ibafo DCO detailed two policemen to join Ekanem in arresting the Chinese man at the company on that Friday.
Master Wan, however, reportedly fled and went into hiding on sighting the policemen at the company.
The policemen were said to have been kept waiting for over two hours on the company premises as Lekan, the Nigerian manager, reprimanded Ekanem for inviting the police.
“When it was getting dark, Lekan promised to bring Master Wan to the station by 10am the following Monday. He followed us back to the station and promised the DCO that he would personally bring the man. He gave the DCO N50,000 in our presence,” the victim said.
Our correspondent was told that by 8am on Monday, Lekan, the Chinese head of the company and others arrived at the station without the suspect.
Ekanem said he was called by his brother, who asked him to hurry to the station.
The DCO allegedly supported the company and scolded Ekanem’s brother for not resolving the issue amicably.
“I started crying. I told him that if I were his son, would he say such a thing to me? Shortly after, the Chinese head asked me and my brother to excuse them. As we were stepping out, I sighted him giving the DCO another envelope.
“Our lawyer arrived shortly after and started an argument with them. The lawyer threatened to report the DCO to the Area Command and transfer the case from the division,” the 27-year-old added.
It was learnt that the police later referred the victim to another private facility, Divine Touch Hospital, Ibafo.
Lekan, the Nigerian manager, was alleged to have pressured Ekanem to drop the case, saying he could not fight the Chinese company due to his poor background.
He was reportedly abandoned at the hospital for two weeks, as the police and the company refused to care for him.
The matter was subsequently transferred to the Sagamu Area Command.
Ekanem was said to have been referred for further checks and treatment at the General Hospital, Owode.
The company’s lawyer, Ayo Durojaiye, later said the company had decided to give the victim N134,000.
“The lawyer said it was because I was hungry that I looked malnourished. He said the company had instructed that I should spend N100,000 on my feeding, and take N34,000 as my salary. He said I could return to work afterwards. My lawyer disagreed with him and expressed disgust over my treatment,” he added.
Ekanem’s lawyer, Felix Emeruwa, demanded an apology from the company and payment of N50m compensation.
Emeruwa, in a letter addressed to the Area Commander, Shagamu Command, accused the company of attempting to suppress justice in a case of assault occasioning harm, inhuman treatment and discrimination.
The lawyer also accused the Arepo hospital of compromising medical ethics in order to please the Chinese company.
“As we speak, our client is seriously emaciated, suffering several pains at the back and dying gradually as a result of the attack on him by the Chinese man. We believe that the spinal cord of our client is now seriously affected. We consider the action of Master Wan as cruel, wicked and an attempt to subject the life of our client to the sacred form of sadism,” the letter read in part.
A medical test conducted by Divine Touch Hospital, according to Emeruwa, revealed that Ekanem suffered “loss of lumbo, sacral curvature, and associated muscular spasm resulting in his inability to walk, bend and flex.”
When contacted, Dr Dotun Odofin of Divine Touch Hospital, said for the two weeks that he treated Ekanem, Bedmate did not pay him anything, adding that instead, he spent his personal money on the patient.
He said,
“Physical examination showed that there is a loss of curvature. The effect of that is that there is a problem with his mobility. He cannot stand straight or walk freely. I brought in a physiotherapist for the treatment. What he actually needed was to complete his treatment which will span for a month.
“He does not need any surgery or any other treatment. The physiotherapist charged N100,000 for one month and two weeks treatment.
“While he was here, I made a deposit of N10,000 for him. Nobody has given me anything. I was even the one feeding him. I gave him N500 every day.”
The doctor at the Owode general hospital, who did not want to be identified, said the victim was not exaggerating the effect of the assault.
The Nigerian manager of Bedmate, Lekan, insisted that the victim was pretending, adding that he could not talk about the incident.
“I can’t say anything on it because I was not there when it happened between them. The only thing I know is that the guy is pretending,” he said.
The company’s lawyer, Durojaiye, promised to get back to our correspondent after a meeting with Ekanem’s lawyer, Emeruwa.
He did not get back as of press time and did not reply calls and a text message sent by our correspondent.
A musician and member of the Peace Messengers, Rachael Sparkle, described the incident as sad.
She said efforts by her group to settle the case had been frustrated by the company, who treated them with disdain.
Her husband, Ras Sparkle Black Moses, said, “It is unbelievable that these Chinese men can come to our country and treat us as they like. Can you imagine that up till now, the police have not arrested this man? They don’t even care.”
The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the Divisional Police Officer of the Ibafo Police Station was on special duties in Maiduguri.
“I am trying to get in touch with one of the officers at the station. I will get back as soon as I get a feedback from Ibafo,” he added.
Olisaemeka Akamukalem, 57, a member of the Board of Trustees for the All Progressive Congress, has died after he drowned in the flood in Abuja.
Olisaemeka Akamukalem who hails from Delta state is said to have died after his car was swept off by a torrential rainfall.
Olisaemeka was the Chairman of the Democratic Peoples Party in 2013, the Director-General of Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso Campaign for President and also served as a member of the APC Presidential Campaign Committee that led to the successful election of President Mohammed Buhari.
His body has since been recovered and deposited in the morgue, Punch reports.
Speaking on this, the APC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi said:
He was the Director-General of Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso Campaign for President and thereafter served as a member of the APC Presidential Campaign Committee that worked for the successful election of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.
The late party chieftain who served the APC as first interim National Auditor was one the stabilizing forces in the party and always identified with progressive causes to strengthen the Party and ensure unity among members. Sadly, the late Akamukali has left us at a critical time when he was needed to contribute to nation building and the implementation of the APC Change Agenda.
Sadly, the late Akamukali has left us at a critical time when he was needed to contribute to nation building and the implementation of the APC Change Agenda. We, however, take solace knowing that the late Party chieftain lived a fulfilled and impactful life during his time on earth
The Big Brother Naija Reality TV show, has opened a lot of opportunity for it’s ex-housemates.. From the Top 5 housemates getting endorsement deals here and there, to those housemates who didn’t even make it to the Top 5.
One of which is Soma…
Somadina was the first housemate to be evicted from the show, and he got his first Endorsement deal with Payporte.. and now, he has joined the cast of the Famous Funke Akindele-led TV series –
Jenifas Diary.
The actress herself on snapchat made a video to announce it, and welcome the payporte ambassador to their family.
The video shows Funke Akindele, Lota and Soma chilling at a location, while she welcomed the latter to their family.
We brought you reports about the young man who was arrested for disguising as a female and then sleeping with men for money in Benue.
At first we wondered how this could be possible, as there’s no way a man will “sleep” with someone disguised as a female, and not notice his private organ is a rod.
Apparently, he has confessed and he says a female organ usually manifests when he’s about to sleep with men.
Kpaakpa’s real identity was discovered by the Police during a raid involving a case of N2,500 theft at a brothel along the railway bye pass at High level area of Makurdi metropolis.
The 19-year-old who hailed from Kastina-Ala Local Government Area of the state told Daily Trust in an interview that her classmate in Secondary School initiated her to the mermaid world five years ago.
“For the past five years, I have operated like a woman. At night, I would stand on the road as a prostitute and men would pick me up at an agreed price. Usually, the female organ would manifest during my operations but at day time, I will remain in my normal masculine state and so far, I have slept with over 1000 men,” the suspect said.
State Commissioner of Police, Bashir Makama, who paraded the suspected impersonator alongside others for various crime at the Command headquarters yesterday in Makurdi said the raid was conducted at the said brothel by police operatives following a report of theft.
“Upon search, one Jenifer kpaakpa dressed as a female was discovered to be a man whose real name is Ushahemba Yaapera. The DPO (woman) who conducted the body search on all suspects because they were females in the process discovered the unsual.
Makama said the matter is being investigated and that scientific test would be conducted on the suspect before he would be charged to court for unnatural offence.
Nollywood actress and filmmaker, Funke Akindele, has among other celebrities in Gospel artiste, Nathaniel Bassey‘s Instagram live praise session tagged Hallelujah Challenge, asked for a request from God during the praise worship session.
At the end of the the prayer session, the actress made the following proclamation in the comment section, ‘Emi naa Dolomo’ which means ‘I have become a mother’.
Funke also proclaimed that no more barrenness, miscarriage and no more delay in marriage would be witnessed.
The talented Nollywood actress is married to music producer, JJC, who has three children, though with women from previous relationships.
Many a time we’re engrossed with the finessed images of most of our favourite celebrities that we tend to forget that they are just humans like the rest of us.
MAVIN’s recording act, Reekado Banks was sighted at a studio session recently for the ongoing GLO fest, without the usual TV makeup and edited looks.
The “Katapot” crooner had so much breakouts on his face and fans couldn’t help talking.
Over the weekend, the report of Nigerian singer, Davido‘s generous gesture towards his young fan, Utibe, went viral after the male music sensation shared a photo of the house he is building for the lucky lad and his mother.
Chelsea legend Didier Drogba was moved by the singer’s kind gesture that he had to take to his social media to laud the singer.
Drogba, 39 took to his official Twitter handle to tweet at Davido, describing his act as classy.
Utibe is the lad who won Davido’s heart after he was featured singing the musician’s hit song, ‘If.’ – Utibe had been out of school and only passed the time miming songs until a concerned neighbour picked interest on the boy, and uploaded a video of him lip-syncing to the musician’s song on Instagram.
A National Youth Service Corps NYSC member identified as Aderinmola Damilola, has lost his life in an auto crash while he was on his way to his Place of Primary Assignment in Jos, Plateau State.
The gentleman, said to be the former president of the Faculty of Law, LASU, 2013/2014 session, was heading to Jos, shortly after writing an ICSAN exam in Abuja, when the sad incident occured.
His soul rest in peace… See more of his photos below and tribute of his friends to him:
Nigerian male barbie doll, Bobrisky and a fellow bleaching cream seller, Grety, engaged into a war of words on Snapchat this evening after the latter threw a shade at him.
The cross-dresser dragged the bleaching expert and noted the fact that he is her ‘mother‘ in the skin bleaching business.
Some say it might be a publicity stunt but hey… who knows?!
Wow! This before and after photo of Manchester United player Paul Pogba really proves that no condition is permanent – as long as you’re consistent and you persevere, your time will surely come!
The 1993 born Man U player began his football career at the age of six playing for US Roissy-en-Brie, a few miles south of his hometown where he spent seven seasons at the club before joining US Torcy, where he served as captain of the club’s under-13 team.
See some reactions to his before and after photo below:
A soon-to-be wedded couple went back to the classroom to take their pre-wedding pictures ahead of their wedding – the gentleman is set to marry his longtime classmate whom he met during their school days.
The picture concept has been heavily applauded online as it created a feeling of nostalgia. Who else had that high school crush back then?!
Continue with their beautiful pre-wedding photos below:
An unmarried American preacher, Desiree Allen, who got pregnant with twins after engaging in premarital sex with her fiancé says she is proud of her pregnancy.
She made this known in an article posted on her blog. Desiree said that she will not be “slut shamed” from the pulpit, vowing to preach with pride till she “can no longer waddle on the stage.”
Pastor Desiree Allen serves as the pastor of arts and spiritual formation of First Corinthian Baptist Church in New York City as well as the director of Harlem’s The Dream Center.
Read her post below:
“I found out I was pregnant at the happiest place on earth. It was Mother’s Day and I was on vacation at Disney World. Go figure. I noticed my normally regular period hadn’t come which is usually no biggie. I would chalk it up to stress. Except now, thanks to acupuncture, I was used to it coming like clockwork. It’s only day one I told myself. It’ll come tomorrow. And it did, but only stopped by for a brief visit before disappearing into the abyss. I waited for her to come back. She never did.
The next day, I did what any normal sane woman would do. Scoured the resort for pregnancy tests like a madwoman. I went to every store on my resort AND the sister resort. Not a test in sight. No not one. How is this the happiest place on earth and you not expect people to get pregnant or need a pregnancy test? How do you have the mind to have a chip at the bottom of my cup that electronically determines how many more refills I have at the soda machine, but not sell an EPT Pregnancy Test? Or at least a Disney knock-off brand.
I wasn’t giving up. I went to the front desk. They always have extra shoelaces, cans of beans or whatever you need. Maybe just maybe they had a pregnancy test. Nope, but the lady at the front did discreetly let me know there was an offsite pharmacy that would deliver these “sorts of things” to the resort for a fee. She slipped me the card like she was passing me a bag of weed and k2.
Was I really this desperate? You know I was. I placed the order and waited for a test to confirm what I already knew.
I was pregnant. My immediate reaction was shock. This was not planned. Yes, I know it’s a potential consequence of having sex, but not one readily expected. With the exception of living a pretty much celibate lifestyle in my twenties, I had been having sex on and off since I was 15 and had never been pregnant. In fact, I assumed when I was ready it would be very hard for me to conceive. Boy, did I miscalculate that?
After the initial shock was joy. Yet, underneath something else was lingering. Anger? No. Disappointment? No. It was pure and utter dread. Not at being pregnant. Not at whether or not I would be a good mother. What had my stomach turning, other than nausea, was me being pregnant AND a pastor.
Let’s face it. The church has not had a good track record of accepting unmarried women who got pregnant. If you’ve been in church for any period of time you’ve heard or witnessed the aftermath. Shunning, slut shaming, being sat down from your position, having to go up in front of the church and confess your sin, etc. etc. No one can be naïve enough to say this type of stuff doesn’t happen in church.
An ugly truth is people in church leadership have sex outside of marriage, affairs, do drugs, drink, so on and so forth. Generally, these are not considered acceptable acts. BUT I have seen many churches turn a blind eye to this behavior because it can be hidden. Don’t ask. Don’t tell. To be pregnant is a very visible indication of a private act and for some reason provides people with more of a need to respond.
You may as well Scarlet Letter it up and place a big ole S on your chest for sex Hester Prynne-style. “The church” is already harsher on women for their “crimes,” but being a pastor also meant that both me and my fiancé were going to go through this publicly. I didn’t know what that meant, how it would affect my job and if I was prepared to deal with it.
Pregnancy already inherently diminishes some anonymity as people feel it their right to invade your personal space, offer up unsolicited advice and ask you private questions. Pastorship inherently makes some feel your personal life is their public business as you lose some sense of individuality for the sake of belonging to the church. As a pretty private person I had always struggled with the latter. Adding pregnancy seemed like my worse nightmare.
It was not as if I had a blueprint for this in my church. My pastors had been very open about having their first child while unmarried in college. That was more than 20 years ago. They were young. None of us were there. They were not pastors then. It was in the past enough to be hazy memory and turn into a testimony.
Many of us know the struggles we have had in the past. For many, it’s what brought us to church. Yet, as soon as we get far enough away from our struggles to label them “redeemable” or for them not to be in the forefront of our minds it becomes much easier to give someone else the side eye for behavior we don’t agree with.
It is often easier to NOT afford others the grace we were so freely offered. I had experienced people judge everything from my clothing to social media posts fully aware that if it had been another pastor they would’ve gotten a pass. My apprehension was not unwarranted and although privately excited I was concerned about public persona.
I did a lot of wrestling that week. I came to grips with the reality that part of the monster in my head was created by me. My past. My upbringing. What I was taught about the Bible.
I realized I had some baggage and I wanted to deal with this pregnancy on my own terms regardless of how people felt or responded. In those first few months I decided I couldn’t carry the weight of others’ opinions and judgments including my own. I also had to confront the ways in which I judged others based on their decisions and actions.
I decided I was going to walk with my head held high because I was proud and excited to be pregnant. Often, when people think you’ve done something wrong or have sinned they want you to walk around with your head low in guilt. Otherwise, how would THEY know you were sorry? Well, I wasn’t sorry or ashamed.
Shame and happiness cannot reside in the same place. I decided to only surround myself with those who had positive energy. I knew there would be rough days, but I also knew the good would outweigh the bad. So when the first comment was made about my pregnancy being an abomination I wasn’t bothered, because it wasn’t MY truth. Plus who uses abomination anyway? Can we say antiquated?
I had a choice on how to define my own happy and write my own story. I thought about the women who were belittled in their churches for being pregnant. The women who felt abortion was a better option than humiliation. The girl or young women of a pastor forced into abortion, because the family couldn’t handle the shame. The woman who left the church permanently because the members couldn’t accept her child.
The woman who watched the same people who loved her each Sunday avoid her like a plague. The woman who would give up everything to be pregnant regardless of the circumstances and still finds her womb bare. So many women who may have made a different choice if they understood the power they had. If someone had told them, it was ok to make the best choice for them ignoring the outside voices. It would get better. They could outlive this. I understood what some people thought, what some scriptures said, but also the validity of my own experience.
At three months I revealed my pregnancy to the staff at my church. It wasn’t planned. It was at our annual staff retreat. If you could see inside my mind you would have seen the warring back and forth.
“Do it now.”
“What? Are you crazy? This is not the time.”
“It may not be your timing, but it IS the perfect time.”
“Can’t I wait? Or tell them one by one?”
“Well if you wanted to wait, you shouldn’t have worn that dress. Come on. It will be like pulling off a Band-Aid. Have this conversation once and you won’t have to have it again.”
“I’m nervous.”
“You’ll be fine. The outcome will be better than expected.”
The words kind of fell out of my mouth in front of everyone. I explained my joy and the importance this did not undo and diminish all the work and dedication I had put in for six years. I felt empowered. I shared what I wanted to share, how I wanted to share, own my own terms. I wasn’t responding to anyone or defending myself.
I was standing in my truth. In a moment I will never forget, our executive pastor had the staff encircle around me and they begin to pray. A noise that can only be described as a wail left my mouth and I broke. To the point of needing a chair to sit in. I broke in the most beautiful way possible. In the breaking I was free. That ugly Jesus cry released every anxiety, fear and worry holding me down. They promised to protect me and support me. In that moment I saw God. It was a moment that transcended boundaries or judgment. It was pure love. I felt free.
One of my favorite lines from The Scarlet Letter is: “She had not known the weight until she felt the freedom.” I was carrying a lot of weight and baggage. The weight of what if. The weight of my upbringing. The weight of others’ opinions. The weight of judgment. It was heavy and I did the hard work of dropping that weight. I have no plans of picking it back up.
So no, I cannot carry your weight about MY situation. Whoever you are. I have my own beautiful, amazing and miraculous weight to carry for the next few months and a lifetime”.
Former BBNaija Housemate and second runner up of the reality TV Show Tokunbo Idowu, popularly known as TBoss has shared an inspiring message on her Instagram page about self-love accompanied with two new photos.
She wrote:
My WCW today is Myself. And unapologetically so. Today I celebrate myself, the amazing person that I am. Yeah yeah yeah some may say, look at her she’s not even humble!
Go on, give it your best shot, but I have had my fair share of trials and tribulations, pain that very few people can comprehend & yes I have triumphed! And this makes me so proud of myself. I am so happy and privileged to be Me.
I am not perfect not even close but I know Every decision taken,every mistake made & every act of kindness has brought me here & I am contend in the realization that I am on the right path to fulfilling my purpose. Glam Squad: FaceBeat @t.alamodebeauty Hair-@bernardsmiless Stylist- @iderao Photography-@ahamibeleme I ❤️❤️❤️u guys???… PS: That’s my natural hair?…
A Physically-challenged Nollywood actress, identified as Doris Samuel Akonanya has gotten her first ever-role as the lead actress in a Nollywood movie titled “Susanna”.
The video is currently been shot in the south-easter part of Nigeria.
Doris studied theatre arts at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Anambra State, and she lost her right leg as a teenager from an accident.
In spite of this, the actress didn’t abandon her dreams of working her way to become one of Nigeria’s top actress.
The movie “Susanna” is her first in a leading role. The pictures from the yet to be released film has warmed the hearts of Nigerians who are currently empathizing with her
“For her coming this far is testament to her mental fortitude, family support as well as her faith in God. For many people tragedy breaks their spirit but for others its builds their character” a top commenter familiar with her story said on social media.
Celebrated Nigerian superstar, Wizkid Ayo Balogun is/will be on the cover of US Hunger Magazine, as they wrote a cover article on him titled: “How WizKid is redefining pop and uniting young people from Lagos to London”.
In a recent chat, the Ojuelegba singer revealed that all he wants is to make good music for the world, but he still doesnt’ want to cross over to the international scene just yet, as he already has an African Fanbase.. and he knows what African wants.
On filling Fela’s Footsteps, Wizkid said he’s not interested in solving the problems of an increasingly messy and depressing nation; he just wants to give you a vehicle to escape them for a while, via an upbeat, global sound and rhythm, uniting young people from Lagos to London.
She impressed all the judges, especially Simon Cowell, and Simon is one Judge who’s really hard to impress. Howie Mandel, Simon and of course the audience gave her a standing ovation, after her performance.
During her performance, she introduced herself, then gave reasons on how she fell in love with music after surviving the infamous Sosoliso plane crash, which killed 107 passengers out of 109.
“I was in a plane crash when I was about 16 years old back in Nigeria. It took the lives of a 107 out of a 109 passengers, and I was one of the 2 survivors,” she said, adding that lying in the bed in the hospital and not being able to move, music was her escape.
Controversial Nigerian Actress, Tonto Dikeh has shared a beautiful photo she took while aboard a flight with Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed.
She shared the photo on Instagram and wrote:
What a great feeling to have the Hon Lai Mohammed speak about my foundation in such a passionate way. When you focus diligently on your work God will always make a way. Excited about the new plans ?? ?? #unwomen #unicef #TontoDikehFoundation #ProjectUnveilingSoon #LetYourWorkSpeakForYou #womeninspiringwomen
Her fans of course had several things to say, some said, the actress should be careful as the Minister of Information is known for his “first name”.
Meanwhile, a video went viral moments again, when our Minister of Information had a chat with CNN’s Richard Quest, and he was asked which country makes the best Jollof Rice, and then he replied with “Senegal”.
Well, Nigerians still haven’t forgiven him for suck betrayal!
