2021 came with a blinding ray of hope. It was the year after the coronavirus pandemic lockdown and the longing for pre-Covid normalcy was overwhelming. But the year was also riddled with urgent news and conversations that at times were shocking, revealing, uplifting and fascinating, and got us talking and talking. Vanessa Obioha looks at some of the news that defined 2021
Twitter Ban
The Federal Government’s suspension of Twitter activities in Nigeria in June raised an uproar. Following the deletion of the President’s tweet that condemned attacks on police stations, prisons and offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in the South-east, with a warning to perpetrators of such violence, that many deemed improper and insensitive, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, according to a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Segun Adeyemi announced that the government is suspending the activities of the microblogging site indefinitely. Ironically, Nigerians got to know about the ban on Twitter.
Nigerians called out the government for not only attempting to gag freedom of expression but depriving many Nigerians who use the platform for their business, a source of livelihood.
In their defence, the government said that Twitter has been complicit in supporting violence in the country, citing the ENDSARS protest of 2020.
Nonetheless, Nigerians turned to VPN to access the social media site, fetching the wrath of the Attorney-General of the country Mr. Abubakar Malami who threatened to jail Nigerians who accessed Twitter through VPN.
Despite talks of negotiations to lift the ban, many doubt that possibility given the difficult tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
Repentant Terrorists
This was one of the news stories that churned the insides of many Nigerians. The army’s rehabilitation and reintegration of Boko Haram terrorists who surrendered into the society through its Operation Safe Corridor (OSC) faced criticisms from Nigerians. Nigerians were not ready to easily forget the heinous crimes committed by the daredevils or the young kidnapped Chibok girls who were put in the family way by their captors. Not even the placards of forgiveness paraded by the ex-Boko Haram loyalists moved Nigerians to sympathy.
The debate mainly focused on the trustworthiness of repentant terrorists. Many feared that they may be used as spies and given the heightened insecurity in the country, it was not wholesomely considered a good strategy.
Attack on Nigerian Defence Academy
Nigerians woke up on Tuesday, August 24 to the shocking news that the Nigerian Defence Academy situated in Kaduna was attacked.
Now, the military university is not an abandoned warehouse anyone can easily access, which was why Nigerians were horrified to learn about the attack on the highly secured institution. It was reported that the attackers killed two officers and abducted one. The incident happened during the peak of insecurity in the North-west.
Abubakar Shekau’s Death
The news of the death of the leader of the Boko Haram Abubakar Shekau was greeted with uncertainty having been pronounced dead in the past. But an audio recording by the rival group Islamic State-West Africa Province (ISWAP) declared the wanted leader, stating that Shekau blew himself up to avoid capture. But his death had little to no effect on the North-east region where violence still spread like wildfire.
Lt-Gen Ibrahim Attahiru Plane Crash
Barely five months after he was appointed Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Ibrahim Attahiru lost his life in a plane crash in May. The aeroplane was said to have crashed as it was about landing at Kaduna International Airport. The cause of the crash was attributed to bad weather. While there are reservations in some quarters regarding the cause of the crash, what irked many Nigerians was the president’s absence at the burial of the COAS and 10 other top aides. He has since been replaced by Lieutenant General Yahaya Faruk.
Super Cop Abba Kyari’s Fall from Grace
Reputed as one of the best police officers in the country, the former Deputy Commissioner for the Nigerian Police Force Abba Kyari faced humiliation when the US declared him wanted in July over a fraudulent case. It all started when Ramon Abbas, who goes by the nickname Hushpuppi confessed that Kyari accepted a bribe from him to arrest a man Vincent Chibuzor who betrayed his cybercrime syndicate in 2020.
Desperate to save his reputation, Kyari posted on a now unavailable post that the money he collected from Hushpuppi was to make native attires for him. The statement elicited cheeky remarks from the public, who deemed it ridiculous. Kyari was suspended and a team was constituted to probe his involvement in the scam case handled by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The team is expected to reveal their findings soon.
Obi Cubana’s Rain of Money at Oba
Before the obscene display of money at his mother’s burial, Obi Cubana kept a low profile, only known to those who matter in the social scene. But with his mother’s burial at Oba in Anambra State, the businessman born Obi Iyiegbu became the poster boy of affluence. The rain of Naira at the ceremony was seen on the various viral social media posts by celebrities at the event.
But this singular event was not the only headline the socialite grabbed this year. In early November, he was in the news for his three-day detention by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja where he was quizzed over alleged complicity in money laundering and tax fraud. He was later released on bail.
Again, the month saw the club owner in the news after a customer was said to have been electrocuted in his Abuja club, Hustle & Bustle. But the club denied the narrative, claiming that the lady simply tripped and fell. Although the club was temporarily closed, the business has returned to normal.
Grammy Fete
March was a celebratory month for the Nigerian music industry as Burna Boy and Wizkid brought the Grammy home. Burna Boy took the Global Music Album award for his album ‘Twice as Tall’.
Wizkid made similar strides as he shared the Grammy spotlight with American singer Beyoncé whose song ‘Brown Skin Girl’ took home the award for Best Music Video.
More Grammy accolades are expected to roll in for Nigerian artistes as Femi Kuti, and his son Made, Tems, Wizkid, Burna Boy are all nominated in the 64th Grammy Awards.
IPOB Sit-at-Home Order
Arguably, 2021 is the year the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) grabbed news headlines. From their agitations to the series is violence attributed to them in the South-east region. Following the capture of their leader Nnamdi Kanu, the separatist group gave a sit-at-home order in the region which inadvertently led to violence and hunger. Their influence in some of the eastern states somehow made them demigods to be feared and respected more than the Number One citizens of affected states. While many considered their agitations valid, they are however pilloried for their approach.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala WTO Appointment
The former Minister of Finance Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala flew the Nigerian flag very high when she was appointed the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation. She assumed the role as the first woman and first African to lead the organisation on March 1.
Buhari’s Visit to Imo
What was supposed to be a dignified presidential visit to the South-east state turned out to be a caricature of President Muhammadu Buhari’s outfit. Nigerians on social media poked fun at the trouser of the president which appeared undersized for his tall frame. Memes of the president and the tailor who made the outfit flooded the internet, detracting from the historic visit of the president to the state.
The Killing of Iniobong Umoren
Nigerians were riled up by the news of the rape and killing of Iniobong Umoren, a Philosophy graduate of the University of Uyo, who left her home for a job interview in the outskirt of Uyo. Initially declared missing, Umoren was found raped and killed by a 20-year-old young man, Uduak Akpan.
The serial rapist was said to have buried her in a shallow grave in his father’s house. Over 2000 women including the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Ini Adiakpan, and other women in the state executive cabinet protested her death and demanded justice against Akpan whose case has been adjourned.
Controversy over Lekki Tollgate EndSARS ‘Massacre’
Any closure expected from the Lagos State EndSARS Judiciary panel on the fated shooting at the Lekki Tollgate met a brick wall when the state government issued a White Paper that rebutted the claims of a ‘massacre’. Not a few Nigerians, eager to uncover the real happenings at the tollgate expressed anger and disappointment at the government’s claim of no massacre such that governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s plea to have a peace walk with university students and celebrities were declined by many.
Change of Service Chiefs
After many years of pressure from the Nigerian public and CSOs, the Buhari administration finally appointed new service chiefs. Gen. Leo Irabor became Chief of Defence Staff while the late Lt-Gen Ibrahim Attahiru became the Chief of Army Staff and Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo became the Chief of Naval Staff and Air Marshal Amao, the Chief of Air Staff. Buhari made the appointment on January 26 following the chain of violence and kidnappings that kickstarted the year.
Death of Prophet Temitope Joshua
The sudden death of the leader of Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua popularly known as T.B. Joshua on June 5 sent ripples of shock across Christendom. Famed for his miracles that brought worshippers from different parts of the world to the Ikotun area of Lagos State, the prophet who was 57 at the time of his death was mourned by many. However, what many didn’t anticipate was the leadership tussle that ensued between his widow and some disciples of the church accused of misappropriating funds. However, the church resumed services this month.
The Collapse of 21-dtorey Building in Ikoyi
Tragedy struck in the highbrow area of Ikoyi on November 1 when a 21 high-rise building collapsed claiming lives, including that of the owner and CEO of Fourscore Homes, Femi Osibona. About 46 fatalities were recorded while 15 people escaped death.
Controversies however trailed the number of floors Osibona received approval for. It was initially reported that Osibona got approval for a 15-storey building but exceeded his limit and used inferior materials. The deceased was said to have tried to prevent officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) from sealing off the building in question.
But a contradictory report from a “preliminary investigation” carried out by the Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers (NIStructE) indicated that the building was initially designed for six floors, and later to 12 floors before it was changed to 15 floors. The Lagos State Government is however probing the collapse and the Governor vowed to deal with saboteurs.
Election of Prof. Chukwuma Soludo as Governor-elect of Anambra
The November 6 Anambra elections grabbed headlines as the main political parties in the state competed fiercely to win the Number One position in the state. The former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Charles Chukwuma Soludo would emerge winner, beating Andy Uba who ran on the platform of the All Progressives Congress. However, Soludo’s victory which recorded
only 4.5 per cent of registered voters is the lowest so far, in the nation’s electoral history.
Raid on Justice Mary Odili’s Home
The attempted raid on Justice Mary Odili’s home on October 29 was seen as a disrespect to the judicial system. Odili, who is also the wife of the former governor of Rivers State Peter Odili and the second most senior justice of the Supreme Court had her home invaded by security operatives who claimed they received a tip that criminal activities were going on in the house. However, they were stopped by vigilant security officials who smelled a fish in the search warrant given by a Magistrate Court in Abuja.
Many theories have since emerged on the mastermind of the raid, with some pointing fingers at possible intimidation of the justices by powerful personalities.
Chidinma Ojukwu and Usifo Ataga
The murder of the CEO of Super TV Usifo Ataga by Chidinma Ojukwu was one of the news that led conversations in 2021. Chidinma, a 21-year-old student of Mass Communication at the University of Lagos was arrested by the police on June 23 for killing Usifo at a short-let apartment in Lekki.
She was arraigned alongside Quadri Adedapo before Justice Yetunde Adesanya of the State High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square on Lagos Island over the murder. Her sister Egbuchu Chioma is also fingered in the crime after the late Ataga’s iPhone 7, was found in her possession. Her trial is still ongoing.
Evangelist Naomi’s Alleged Divorce from Ooni of Ife
On Thursday, December 23, Evangelist Silekunola Naomi delivered a bombshell to Nigerians with the announcement of her separation from the Ooni of Ife Adeyeye Ogunwusi. Writing on her Instagram, the prophetess denounced her Queen title and clarified that she was not leaving the three-year marriage because of the Ooni marrying another queen.
But shortly after the report went viral, it was reported that the Palace is looking at a possible hacking of the Queen’s account. The Oba is yet to make any statement regarding the separation. Their union produced a son, Tadenikawo.
Oromoni’s Bullying and Death
The painful and untimely death of 12-year-old Sylvester Oromoni at the hands of bullies at Dowen College sparked a discourse on bullies in schools. The school earlier denied that the victim was bullied by a cult group. Concerned parents aired their opinions on how schools should handle bullies while recounting harrowing experiences of their wards. The school was eventually shut down by Lagos State Government but the granting of bail to suspects before the investigation is completed is sparking reactions from Nigerians.
