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Heroine to Zeroing; what is wrong with Abike Dabiri-Erewa?
They say power corrupts, and in many cases, people have made this rhetoric very factual following their antecedent before they have access to any form of power and how they treat people as soon as they assume a position of authority. This vice didn’t elude the once revered former lawmaker, Abike Dabiri-Erewa who is currently the chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM).

Dabiri-Erewa like many of us who knew her during her time as a broadcast journalist on the popular Sunday night program “Newsline” on NTA, was someone a lot of people held in a very high standard and thus when she decided to run for public office in 2003, the people threw their weight behind her when she contested to represent Ikorodu constituency of Lagos at the Federal House of Representatives, she would win this election with a landslide victory going on to spend a total of 12 years at the National Assembly, ultimately stepping aside in 2015 after which she was appointed to handle the pertinent issues bothering Nigerians in Diaspora as the huncho of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission.
Prior to her appointment, this position didn’t exist and as such she was the inaugural chairperson of the agency and was immediately tasked with resolving the problems that Nigerians in foreign countries experienced. This includes visa, student/study and legal issues, her primary function was to assist Nigerians who found themselves in any of these problems without escalating it so as not to project the country in a certain negative image. In other words, she is an ‘image-maker’ of the country.

Over the last few years, there has been a few cases which has highlighted her inefficiency in this capacity as well as her questionable personality, one of which is the Itunnu (Becky Paul) case which has been heavily criticised for the lackluster manner in which the case was treated ultimately leading to the untimely demise of the young lady in the Ivorian prison where she was serving a 10 year jail term for human trafficking, an offence she allegedly didn’t commit and pleaded “not guilty” till her dying day. To add salt to injury, Dabiri-Erewa would be seen in a radio interview attempting to deflect questions about the late Itunnu, an action which has been further criticised and labelled a show of apathy and insensitivity.
The Jos born former lawmaker had popped up in the news again for the wrong reasons, again, and this time, it is not something that Nigerians could stomach as heavy criticism and call for her suspension or removal over her comments in response to a tweet highlighting her inefficiency to assist the troubled Nigerians living in Indonesia, a response which sparked enormous outrage among internet users, especially tweeters.
In the said tweet, Dabiri-Erewa had a personal tantrum with a Twitter user, but that wasn’t the case. The bane of the matter was how she profiled Nigerians living in Indonesia as criminals.
A lot of people also criticised not just this subject but the personal attack she metted out on her accuser, as not being an action expected from a public figure or government worker. The word ‘ode’ a Yoruba word which means ‘fool’ was rather offensive but in her defense, it was in retaliation to the ‘mumu’ that she was called by the concerned Twitter user. In the Nigerian pidgin parlance, ‘mumu’ also meant ‘fool’, but looking at the bigger picture, you’d expect that a person in such a high profile position should not allow themselves meddle in activities that could put them in a bad moral standing, especially with the people they supposedly represent. Among the host of her critiques was a former minister of education Dr Oby Ezekwesili who described the post as messy and asked her to “clean it up”, an advice Dabiri-Erewa was clearly not going to oblige as she immediately stated that she’d do not such thing as there was nothing to clean up in the first place.
At the end of the day, a lot of people actually not mind the personal tantrum which she displayed, rather the stereotypical attack on her fellow countrymen whom she’s supposed to represent and above all project the image of the country in a very positive light at all times. To say that Abike Dabiri-Erewa is a questionable character could just be a rhetorical retort, and I’ll continue to ask this question about a woman I once considered a heroine in my childhood, eventually turning out to be a villain; what is wrong with Abike Dabiri-Erewa?
News
Fulani Militia Murder 42 Christians In Plateau Christian Community
*More than 50,000 Christians have been killed and millions displaced over the past 20 years.
*The goal of all these attacks is to drive the Christians out altogether and make the area entirely Muslim.

This attack is only one of many that Christian communities have faced post-election.
Gunmen wielding AK-47s and machetes killed 42 Christians and burned dozens of houses near Mangu in Nigeria’s Plateau State.The attackers – suspected to be Fulani militants – raided at least 11 communities from midnight to dawn early Tuesday in Nigeria’ North-Central region about 55 miles from the capital, Jos; Mangu County has faced multiple attacks by the Fulani militants this year.
More than 60 Christians were killed in the district after Mutfwang and his Peoples Democratic Party prevailed in the March election, Mutfwang described the attacks as “ethnic cleansing.” Radical Islamic Fulani militias have targeted the mostly Christian farming communities – more than 50,000 Christians have been killed and millions displaced over the past 20 years.
Others say a growing scarcity of farmland for the nomadic Fulani herders contributes to the attacks and conflict, witnesses say the Fulani, however, often get a free pass by government and military leaders who are tied to and mostly sympathetic with the Fulani.
Lifestyle
23 Nigerians who are Guinness World Record Holders

As Nigerians celebrate Hilda Bassey, the Nigerian Chef who has just broken the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking time, we decided to take a tour in history to remember and appreciate her compatriots who came before her.
The Akwa-Ibom born chef cooked for 100 hours, breaking the previous record of 87 hours & 45 minutes set by Indian chef, Lata Tondon in 2019.

Chef Hilda Effiong Bassey Set A New Guinness World Record For The Longest Ever Cooking Time
- BOSE OMOLAYO: The heaviest para powerlift by a female in the 79 kg category is 144 kg (317 lb 7 oz), achieved by Bose Omolayo (Nigeria) at the World Para Powerlifting Championships in Tbilisi, Georgia, on 2 December 2021.
- PAUL KEHINDE: The heaviest para powerlift by a male in the 65 kg category is 221 kg (487 lb 3.5 oz), achieved by Paul Kehinde (Nigeria) at the 9th Fazza 2018 World Para Powerlifting World Cup in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on 19 February 2018. Kehinde broke his own world record of 220.5 kg, set at the World Championship in December 2017.
- STEPHEN KESHI: The youngest person to win the Africa Cup of Nations as a player and coach is Stephen Keshi (b. 31 January 1961, Nigeria) who was 52 years and 10 days old when he won the tournament as head coach of Nigeria at the FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa, on 10 February 2013. Keshi was captain of the national team when he won the tournament as a player in 1994, beating Zambia 2-1 in the final. As a manager Keshi lead his team to glory after a 1-0 win over Burkina Faso in the final.
- CHINONSO ECHE: The most football (soccer ball) headers in a prone position in one minute is 233 and was achieved by Chinonso Eche (Nigeria), in Ikot Ekpene, Nigeria, on 13 October 2021. Eche also holds the record for the fastest time to 1000 football (soccer ball) touches while balancing a ball on the head in 7 min 46 sec in Ikot Ekpene, Nigeria, on 13 October 2021. He equally earned the record of the most consecutive football (soccer) touches in one minute while balancing a football on the head which is 111 in Warri, Nigeria, on 14 November 2019.
- HARUNA ABDULAZEEZ: The most American football touches with the feet in one minute (male) is 75 and was achieved by Haruna Abdulazeez (Nigeria) in Kano, Nigeria, on 1 October 2020.
- PETER AHO: Nigeria’s Peter Aho took six wickets for five runs in 3.4 overs against Sierra Leone in a match staged at the University of Lagos Cricket Oval in Nigeria on 24 October 2021. This included a hat-trick with the last ball of the second over and the first two balls of the fourth as the visitors subsided to 70 all out, chasing 91 for victory.
- BAYO OMOBORIOWO: The largest photo book measures 60.84 m² (654 ft² 87 in²) achieved by TheJTAgency, Bayo Omoboriowo and Federal Republic of Nigeria, (all Nigeria) in Abuja, Nigeria, verified on 30 September 2021.The book is a recreation of the photo book titled Discover Nigeria.
- MFON UDOH: Mfon Udoh scored 23 goals for Enyimba in the Nigerian Premier League in 2013–14, breaking the previous best of 20 set by Jude Aneke (Nigeria) in 2010–11. It was Udoh’s first season for Enyimba, having transferred from Akwa United FC.
- DAVID OMUEYA DAFINONE: Three sons and two daughters of Senator David Omueya and Cynthia Esella Dafinone of Lagos, Nigeria, all qualified as members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales between 1986 and 1999. Their father had also become a member of the same institution in 1963. Igho Omueya Dafinone, Ede Omueya Dafinone and Duvie Omueya Dafinone are currently working within the firm of D O Dafinone Co. Chartered Accountants in Lagos. Daphne Omueya Dafinone and Joy Ufuoma Dafinone live in London.
- MODENINE: The Headies (formerly the Hip Hop World Awards), were inaugurated by Hip Hop World Magazine in 2006 to honour outstanding achievement in Nigerian music. British-born rapper Modenine (aka Babatunde Olusegun Adewale, Nigeria) has, appropriately enough, won nine Headies: Best Rap Album (Malcolm IX – The Lost Sessions, 2006), Best Rap Single (“Cry”, 2007) and seven “Lyricist on the Roll” awards (2006–11 and 2013).
- FELA KUTI: Fela Kuti recorded 46 albums as a solo artist over the course of a solo career spanning 23 years. The first solo album was recorded in 1969 and the last in 1992.
- VINCENT OKEZIE: The most consecutive backwards handsprings with a football (soccer ball) between the legs is 10, achieved by Vincent Okezie (Nigeria), in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom, Nigeria, on 11 March 2022.He also joined Chukwuebuka Ezugha, Victor Richard Kipo to achieve the most consecutive passes of a football (soccer ball) between the head and soles while balancing on the back of a person which is 129, in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom, Nigeria, on 11 March 2022
- BLESSING OKAGBARE: The most appearances in Diamond League meetings by an athlete is 67, achieved by Blessing Okagbare (Nigeria) in the 100 metres, 200 metres and long jump disciplines between 3 July 2010 and 31 August 2018.
- LAURITTA ONYE: The farthest shot put by a female F40 athlete is 8.40 m, achieved by Lauritta Onye (Nigeria) at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 11 September 2016.
- LUCY EJIKE: The heaviest powerlift for a -61 kg female athlete is 142 kg, achieved by Lucy Ejike (Nigeria) at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 11 September 2016.Her lift of 127.5 kg in the women’s -44 kg division has also stood since 20 September 2004, when she won gold at the Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece.
- FOLASHADE OLUWAFEMIAYO: The heaviest powerlift by a female in the -86 kg category is 152.5 kg (336 lb 3 oz), achieved by Folashade Oluwafemiayo at the World Para Powerlifting Championships in Tbilisi, Georgia, on 3 December 2021.She had to settle for a silver medal in the women’s -75 kg class at the Paralympic Games in London, UK, on 3 September 2012, but earlier that same day she completed a record lift of 148 kg.
- TUEDON MORGAN: The fastest time to run a half marathon on each continent and the North Pole (female) is 62 days 12 hr 58 min 49 sec, and was achieved by Tuedon Morgan (Nigeria), from 8 February 2015 to 12 April 2015.
- WIZKID: The first track to reach one billion streams on Spotify is “One Dance” by Drake (Canada) featuring musicians Wizkid and Kyla, as of 16 December 2016.
- YAKUBU ADESOKAN: Nigeria’s Yakubu Adesokan lifted 180 kg in the men’s -48 kg powerlifting competition at the Paralympic Games in London, UK, on 30 August 2012.
- JOY ONAOLAPO: Nigeria’s Joy Onaolapo won a gold medal at the Paralympic Games in London, UK, on 1 September 2012 when she produced a lift of 131 kg in the women’s -52 kg division.
- ADEOYE AJIBOLA: Adeoye Ajibola ran the men’s 100 metres in 10.72 seconds at the Paralympic Games in Barcelona, Spain, on 6 September 1992. Ajibola competes in the T46 classification, for athletes with an impairment that affects their arms or legs, including amputees.
- AYO MAKUN: AY’s debut movie in a leading role and producer, ‘30 days in Atlanta’ got recognized by Guiness Book of World Records in September 2016 for it’s high domestic gross earnings and at the time became the highest grossing Nollywood movie of all time. The movie also featured top Nollywood actors like Desmond Elliot, Majid Michel, and Ramsey Noah.
- KAFFY: Kafayat Oluwatoyin Kafayat (born 30 June 1980), popularly known by her stage name Kaffy, is Nigerian dancer best known for breaking the Guiness World Record for “Longest Dance Party” at the Nokia Silverbird Danceathon in 2006.
Food, Travels, Arts & Culture
Nigerian Chef Sets New Guinness World Record For Longest Cooking Time

Chef Hilda Bassey Set A New Guinness Record By Cooking For 100 Hours Non-stop.
A 27 year old Nigerian chef, Hilda Baci has broken the record for the longest cooking time ever by an individual by cooking non-stop for over 4 days. The Akwa-Ibom born culinary delight and restauranteur whose real name is Hilda Effiong Bassey had set out to break the former record of 87 hours & 45 minutes set in 2019 by Indian chef, Lata Tondon by cooking non-stop for 96 hours, but decided to go a full centurion by pushing for 100 hours, thus breaking a record and setting a new one and in the process becoming the first ever individual in the world to reach the 100 hour mark in a cook-athon.

Chef Bassey Receiving Psychological Support From Her Sous-chef.
The venue of the event in Lagos was packed to the brim and attracted Nigerians from all walks of life including many public figures who came to cheer her on to victory as this was no easy feat considering how physically and mentally demanding the task was. Nollywood actor, Charles Okocha and brand influencer, Enioluwa were amongst a few of the celebrities who showed up to add positive vibes to the atmosphere. The event was also graced by Lagos state executive governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Senator Godswill Akpabio who coincidentally is from her home state of Akwa-Ibom. Also at the event was Mrs Margaret Obi, wife to LP’s presidential candidate and alleged winner of the 2023 presidential election, Peter Obi also touched ground to give words of encouragement as both also hail from the same state.
Go Hilda. We are rooting for you to break that record . And I trust say the food go sweet die. pic.twitter.com/jZjjOEZ3RP
— Burna Boy (@burnaboy) May 14, 2023
Netizens on Twitter and Facebook didn’t hold back in pouring out encomiums to the young chef who many have already started drawing inspiration from. Afrobeats superstar, Burnaboy, Kate Henshaw, Peter Okoye of PSquare are a few of the entertainers who wished her well on her journey to achieving this feat through their Twitter pages.
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