News

Zik Zulu Okafor Pens Moving Tribute to Chief Eddie Ugbomah

Published

5 years ago

May 11, 2019

Editor

CHIEF EDDIE UGBOMA…A SOLDIER MARCHES ON… WITH HIS SOLID BOOTS TOGETHER !
I never thought he would die. Too strong, too resilient, too optimistic. Too, too defiant , an epitome of uncommon drama ! May your buoyant soul and defiant spirit rest eternally Chief. Sad Chief Eddy Ugboma, OON, fought all his life to see a better movie industry.

He fought federal, state govts, agencies, all for the film maker to find a more conducive space for his trade. Well over 70, he remained unshaking and indeed unshakeable about his hope and faith in film. His entire life was a struggle for the motion picture bloc in Nigeria. He didn’t see his dream turning a reality, not even glimpses. From talking, he started agitating, then got combative with corrosive comments against all and sundry. He became a lonely , hoarse voice in the wilderness.

None heard. He got tired but not disillusioned, but then began to struggle to pay his bills. That was not the life he envisioned. Not him. Once a fully comfortable man, his life diminished, frustration, pain, and agony followed. The horizon carried a gloomy picture but few saw the eerie portrait.

A pioneer Chairman of Nigerian Film Corporation, NFC, govt didn’t see his shadows not to mention seeing his ailment and intervening.

Thanks to Mr Adedayo Thomas, MD, NFVCB, for his humane intervention. His awesome efforts and those of a few others like the ever committed Shuaibu Hussein, Fidelis Duker, Seun Oloketuyi, plus the AMP President and his Vice were gallantry.

Tragically, they couldn’t stop Chief Ugboma’s journey to a place called PEACE . I salute you guys for standing up. You raise our profile amidst blinking hopes of many a practitioner. Nollywood is still a tragic arena. We give smiles to people out there and return home to sit with our family searching for same smile we give to people. Tragic !

But we will press on . With people like the NFVCB boss, Mr Thomas , we can still take a step forward. He is an amazing protagonist inour unfolding drama of hope in a fractured journey. That hope must remain robust and eternal. Surely, some day, in our time, in our finest hour we shall stand solid in the theatre of victory to pay tribute to those who paved our path. Good bye Chief. Rest Chief Ugboma. The sounds of your drum will never be drowned. Now you are the might of silence. And we shall sustain the magistracy of your irrepressible office. Accept my final greeting as i bow for you in loud silence. Peace !!

News

National Grid Collapses Again, Nigeria in Total Blackout

Published

17 hours ago

April 15, 2024

Eric

The electricity national grid has collapsed again throwing the entire country into total blackout.

Some electricity distribution companies (DisCos), on Monday, confirmed the fresh collapse of the national grid, resulting in loss of power supply to their customers.

The grid experienced a fresh shutdown, and generation fell to 64.70 megawatts at 2:42 am on Monday, which was confirmed by officials of some of the DisCos.

According to an earlier report, the latest data from the Independent System Operator showed that the grid was generating 266.50mw of electricity from Okpai, Geregu and Ibom power.

Confirming the collapse in a statement, Jos DisCo said: “The current outage being experienced within our franchise States is a result of loss of power supply from the national grid. The loss of power supply from the national grid occurred in the early hours at about 0242 hours today, Monday, 15th April 2024, hence the loss of power supply on all our feeders.”

The company’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Dr Friday Adakole Elijah, expressed hope that the grid will be restored for normal power supply to its esteemed customers.

The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), also confirmed the collapse in a statement titled “NOTICE OF TOTAL SYSTEM COLLAPSE”.

“The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company PLC (EEDC) wishes to inform her esteemed customers of a total system collapse which occurred at 2:41 am today, 15th April 2024.

“This resulted in the loss of supply to all our interface TCN stations. Consequently, we were unable to provide service to our customers in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo States.

“However, the situation is gradually being resolved as we received the supply at Awada TCN station, Onitsha, at 7:30 am.

“We are in constant communication with the relevant authorities awaiting the full restoration of supply by the National Control Centre, NCC, Oshogbo. Thank you for your usual understanding and cooperation,”

A statement by Head, of Corporate Communications, EEDC, Emeka Ezeh said.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) is yet to confirm the collapse as of press time.

News

Gunmen Abduct Channels TV Reporter in Rivers, Demand N30m

Published

4 days ago

April 12, 2024

Eric

Gunmen have kidnapped a journalist and reporter with Channels Television, Mr Joshua Rogers, at his residence in Rumuosi in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State on Thursday night.

Rogers, who covers the Rivers State Government House for his organisation, was reportedly trailed after he closed from work to his residence.

The miscreants accosted him before he alighted from his car, pointed a gun at him and whisked him along with his vehicle off to an unknown destination at about 9 pm.

A source who said he doesn’t want his name mentioned said the reporter had earlier covered an event in Ndoni in the Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area of the state where Governor Siminalayi Fubara, inaugurated a Primary Healthcare Centre.

The facility was built and donated to the state by the PAMO Educational Foundation, founded by former Rivers governor, Dr Peter Odili, on Thursday.

The source said, “Yes, he was kidnapped last night at his residence in Rumuosi and taken away in his car by some unknown gunmen.

“We are appealing to the kidnappers to release him immediately and unhurt. He is just a journalist doing his job and not a moneybags. So I don’t know the purpose of his kidnap.”

It was also gathered that the hoodlums had contacted his wife and demanded N30m as ransom before releasing him.

Efforts to reach the spokesperson for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, for confirmation, were unsuccessful as she did not pick up several calls put across to her by The Punch.

Iringe-Koko has also yet to reply to a text message sent to her as of publication on Friday morning.

The Punch

News

Bobrisky Goes to Jail! Sentenced to Six months Term, with No Fine Option

Published

4 days ago

April 12, 2024

Eric

Cross-dresser, Idris Olanrewaju Okuneye popularly known as Bobrisky, has been sentenced to six months imprisonment without any option fine for abusing the Nigeria currency – naira.

Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court, Lagos, in her sentence, said the judgment will serve as a deterrent to others who are fond of abusing and mutilating the naira.