THE LIFE AND TIMES OF SIR, PROF., VICTOR EFOSA UWAIFO, MON, JP

Prof. Sir Victor Efosa Uwaifo MON, JP, was born in Benin City, Edo State, on 1st March 1941.

He obtained his secondary school education at the Western Boys’ High School Benin and St Gregory’s College, Lagos, from 1957 to 1961.

He began playing guitar when he was 12 years old, his earliest popular music influences being records of Spanish and Latin American music.

He studied graphics at Yaba College of Technology, Lagos and graduated in 1961-63 at the age of 22 years old.

He received a bachelor’s
degree with first-class honours at 54 years old (Valedictorian) and a
master’s degree from the
University of Benin in 1997 at 56 where he studied Fine and Applied Arts and majored in Sculpture.

After leaving Benin, Uwaifo continued playing music at St Gregory’s, Lagos. He was a contemporary of Segun Bucknor, and they were both among the leading Lagos high school bandleaders at the time.

During school holidays and weekends, he jammed with Olaiya’s All Stars band After completing secondary school studies, he played with E.C. Arinze’s highlife during late hours.

Uwaifo also briefly worked with Stephen Osadebe and Fred Coker before he formed Melody Maestros in 1965.

The band released “Joromi” which became a hit in Nigeria and other parts of West Africa.

Uwaifo made history in
Nigeria when he won the first Golden record in Nigeria, West Africa and Africa (presented by Philips, West Africa) for his song Joromi” in 1996.

Between 1965 and 1968, he developed the Akwete rhythm sound.

In 1969, he launched a new
beat called Shadow accompanied by a new dance also called shadow, a mixture of Akwete and
twist.

The sound was released
when soul music was popular in Lagos and lasted a few years.

After the launch of Shadow, the Melody Maestros went on tour of various Nigerian cities.

Uwaifo later experimented with a new rhythm that was similar to soul but soon left it for Ekassa, an interpretation of a traditional Benin sound.

In 1971, Uwaifo opened the Joromi Hotel in Benin City, and within ten years established his own
television studio.

From there, he produced a national weekly music
and culture programme.

Uwaifo, who had a total of 12 golden records to date, travelled to many countries including the United States, Russia, Japan, United Kingdom, Bulgaria, Romania, Germany, France, Hungary, Rome, Ghana, Ivory Coast
(Cote d’lvoire), Togo, Benin
Republic, Spain, and Canada.

He was the winner of the first gold disc in Africa (Joromi) released in
1965 and seven other gold discs in Guitar boy, Arabade, Ekassa series and Akwete music.

He recorded under the name Victor Uwaifo and His TItibitis.

He was recognized as the most educated performing music legend, musical instrument inventor, and artist worldwide with
a B.A. Honors (first class
valedictorian), Masters degree and Ph.D. in Architectural Sculpture
(Thesis: A reinvention of Benin Royal Ancestral Pieces, University of Benin, Nigeria).

The Federal Government of Nigeria, in appreciation of his talents and contributions to Nigeria, honoured him with a National Honors Merit Award in 1983, which read in part: “.. whereas you have been nominated and appointed as Member of the Order of the Niger to have and hold and enjoy the privileges of the Federal Republic of Nigeria of the said Order, MON” Uwaifo was the first professional musician in Nigeria to receive such an award.

He was a Justice of the Peace and had served in many capacities.

Uwaifo was also appointed the Honorable Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism and Member of the State
Executive Council, the highest policy-making decision body in Edo State from 2001-2003.

Appointed Justice of the Peace (JP), Public Notary and Lay Magistrate.

Sir Victor Uwaifo was awarded the National
Honors of Nigeria (MON).

In 1995, Uwaifo was invited by the United Nations Staff Day International Committee to perform during the UN Golden Jubilee celebration.

He was cited in the Grove Dictionary of Music and
Musicians, 1983 edition,
documented in the “Who’s Who in Nigeria”, “Who’s Who in Africa’, “Who’s Who in the Commonwealth’, and “Men and Women of
Distinction in the Commonwealth sections.

He was an Honorary Member of the Biographical Advisory Council, Cambridge, England; a member of both the Performing Right Society, and of the Advisory Board of American Heritage University, California, US.

He was the first Nigerian to win a gold disc in Africa, (Joromi) released in 1965 at the age of 24 years old.

Uwaifo was the Chairman of Joromi Organization, a multi-track recording and television studio in Benin City.

He ran and managed an art gallery and the Victor Uwaifo Hall of Fame.

Uwaifo’s hobbies included
swimming, bodybuilding, gaming, reading and writing.

He was a Christian and married with children.

He was also a lecturer at the Department of Fine and Applied Arts at the University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.

He died on the 28th of August, 2021.

References

The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular
Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books.
p. 1206. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.

  1. “Biography of Prof. Sir Victor
    Uwaifo” 2. 18 January 2012.
    Archived from the original on 18
    January 2012.
  2. Interview with Sir Victor Uwaifo “Tales from the Guitar Boy”,
    Thicc Tourism, 30 April 2014.
  3. Collins, John (1985).
    Musicmakers of west Africa .
    Washington, DC: Three Continents
    Press. pp. 77-80 .
    ISBN 97808941 00758.

WE WILL HUNT YOU DOWN: BIDEN ADDRESSES U S. ATTACK IN AFGHANISTAN

President Biden spoke to Americans on Thursday, nearly nine hours after
the first attack on the Abbey Gate at the Kabul airport, after being MIA all day.

“It’s been a tough day,” Biden began, adding that he’s “been engaged all day in constant contact with military commanders” in the Pentagon and Department of Defense.

Biden’s affect was flat throughout the speech, except for a few moments
when he read some tough-talk off the
teleprompter.

He stumbled badly in the first few minutes of the address to the nation, sounding more defeated
and confused than resolute.

He acknowledged that “the situation on the ground is still evolving,” but said the American service members who gave their lives “were heroes”

“They were part of an airlift and evacuation effort unlike anything in history”

He didn’t mention that the devastating events on the ground were caused by his failed leadership.

He said the soldiers who died on Thursday were part of “the bravest, most selfless military on the face of the earth… the spine of America, the best the country has to offer” Jill and I, our hearts ache” he said, showing no emotion.

“We’re outraged as well as heartbroken.”

As Biden usually does when he faces criticism, he trotted out his deceased son Beau, bizarrely suggesting that his son’s cancer was somehow the result of his military service.

He said he was devastated “when Beaul came home after a year in Iraq and was diagnosed, like many, many coming home, with an aggressive cancer of the brain, who we lost”

“You get this feeling like you’re being sucked into a black hole in the middle of your chest and there’s no way out” he reflected.

He then turned his attention to the attackers.

“To those who carried out
this attack, we will not forgive, we will not forget, We will hunt you down and make you pay,” he said, vowing to use “every measure at my command.

“We must complete this mission and we will” he said, referring to the evacuation. “And that’s what l’ve ordered them to do”

“We will respond with force and precision at our time, at the place we choose, at the moment of our choosing.

“These ISIS terrorists will not win.

We will rescue the Americans in there.

We will get our Afghan allies out’ he vowed. “America will not be intimidated”

He revealed that there had been “complete unanimity” among his military commanders concerning the hasty evacuation.

“I granted every request from military commanders”

“We have so much to do. It’s in our capacity to do it”‘ he said.

“We just have to remain steadfast”

Asked whether he will send additional troops to Afghanistan, he replied, “l’ve instructed the military, whatever they need, if they need additional force, will grant it”

He explained that the Taliban “subscribe to the mission as defined to get as many people out as we can” before the deadline.

Regarding whether his mistakes were responsible for the devastating events
of the last week, he said, “No, I don’t.

Look, I think Gen. McKenzie handled this very well. The fact is, we weren’t in a situation, we inherited a situation”

Shockingly, he said that members of the Taliban-the same folks beheading people across Afghanistan-“are moving back the perimeter, stopping vehicles, and searching people” suggesting that that was a good thing.

But don’t worry, because “they’re acting in their interest… no one trusts them.

We’re just counting on their self-interest to continue to generate their activities.

It’s in their self-interest that we leave when we said and that
we get as many people out as we can.”

“It’s not a matter of trust, it’s a matter of mutual self-interest” he again
insisted.

“There’s no evidence thus
far, that I’ve been given… that there has been collusion between the Taliban and ISIS in carrying out what
happened today”

The president said the evacuation is “expected to continue beyond today”

Asked how he can justify putting more troops in harm’s way, he gave an incoherent answer.

“What America says matters.

What we say we’re going to do in the context in which
we say we’re going to do it, that we do it, unless something exceptional
changes.”

“They’re not good guys, the Taliban” he reiterated.

“Im not suggesting that at all. But they have a keen interest… they’d very much Iike to see how they can keep the airport open.. and maintain what is a portion of the economy that is not robust but fundamentally different than it had been”

Asked whether it was a mistake to abandon Bagram Air Base, he said that in the “best military judgment” of his commanders, “they concluded, the military, that Bagram was not much value added, that it was much better to focus on Kabul and so I focused on that recommendation”

“1 bear responsibility for fundamentally all that’s happened of late” he
confessed, but then blamed former President Trump.

“Here’s the deal… you know as well as I do that a former president made a deal with the Taliban to get all forces out of Afghanistan”

“There is a reason why there were no attacks on Americans on the date until I came into office was because the commitment was made by President
Trump, 1 will be out by May 1st.

In the meantime, you agree not to attack any Americans! That was the deal.

That’s why no Americans were attacked”

“Ladies and gentlemen, it was time to end a 20-year war” Biden concluded.

SUICIDE BOMBINGS KILLS 12 U.S. TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN

Twin apparent suicide bombings rocked a gate to Kabul airport Thursday, killing at least 12 U.S. troops along with at least 13 civilians,

It was gathered that eleven Marines and an American medic were killed in the terror attacks, and a number of other American military service members were wounded.

The apparent suicide attacks struck just outside the perimeter of Hamid Karzai International Airport at an entrance known as Abbey Gate, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said.

The blasts came hours after U.S. officials warned Americans and other
Westerners to stay away from the vicinity of the airport, which remains the only way out of the country as an August 31 withdrawal deadline looms.

2020/2021 UEFA AWARD WINNERS

Chelsea and Italy midfielder Jorginho has been named 2021/21 UEFA Men’s Player of the Year.

The 29-year-old, who last season became only the tenth player to win a European Cup and a EURO in the same year, beat off competition from Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and Chelsea team-mate N’Golo Kanté.

The award was announced during the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League group stage draw inIstanbul. N’Golo Kanté has also been named Midfielder of the Season for the 2020/21 UEFA Champions League.

The French international, 30, beat off competition from Jorginho and Kevin De Bruyne after a remarkable campaign that concluded with Player of the Match performances in the semi-finals and final.

Edouard Mendy was named Goalkeeper of the Season for the 2020/21 UEFA Champions League.

The French-born Senegal international, 29, beat off competition from Manchester City’s Ederson and Real Madrid No1 Thibaut Courtois to cap a remarkable rise from
unemployment just seven years ago.

The award was presented to Mendy during the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League group stage draw ceremony in Istanbul.

HUSHPUPIGATE: PROBE PANEL SUBMITS REPORT ON SUSPENDED KYARI

The Special Investigation Panel (SIP) headed by Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIG, Joseph Egbunike, to investigate the suspended commander of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), DCP Abba Kyari, on his indictment by the Federal Bureau of lInvestigation
FBI) has submitted its report to the Inspector General of Police, Usman Akali Baba.


Force Public Relations Officer Of the Police High Command, Frank Mba, who made the disclosured, that the Chairman of the SIP, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Joseph Egbunike, presented the report to the IGP, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.


DIG Egbunike, while presenting the report, told the IGP that it contained the case file of the probe, evidence and findings as well as testimonies from DCP Abba Kyari and other persons and groups linked to the matter.

The IGP, who commended the panel for the work done, stated that the essence of the probe was to carry out discreet investigations into the allegation levied against the officer, to enable the force leadership to be appropriately guided in its
decision-making processes.

He assured that a careful and expeditious review of the recommendations will be undertaken to enable the force leadership to be appropriately guided in its
decision-making processes.

The IGP also assured that a careful and expeditious review of the recommendations will be undertaken by the Force Management Team and,
thereafter, forwarded to appropriate quarters for necessary action(s), even as he reiterated the commitment of the Force to justice for all.

Following the allegation and indictment of DCP, Abba Kyari, by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Abbas Ramoni Olorunwa AKA Huspuppi, and his fraud syndicate, the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Usman Baba Alkali, consequently suspended Abba Kyari and a probe panel was constituted by the Police Service Commission to investigate the matter.

COURT REINSTATES SECONDUS AS PDP NATIONAL CHAIRMAN

A Kebbi State High Court
has ordered the reinstatement of Prince Uche Secondus as the National Chairman of People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Delivering ruling in a motion ex-perte, in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday, in suit no: KB/AC/M. 170/2021,
the vacation Judge, Hon. Justice Nusirat Umar held that it was satisfied after reading the affidavit of the respondents that an interim order be granted on the purported suspension of Secondus pending judgment.

The Court then granted leave to Secondus to continue exercising all the
constitutional powers of the office of Chairman of PDP (second defendant) as enshrined in both 1999 Constitution of Nigeria as amended and the Peoples Democratic Party’s
constitution.

Hon. Justice Umar gave an order of interim
injunction “staying the purported suspension of the first respondent pending the determination of the substantive motion on notice No. KB/ HC/M.170/2021 now pending before this honourable court.


“An order of this honourable court granting leave to the first respondent (Uche Secondus) to continue
exercising all the constitutional powers of the office of Chairman of PDP (second defendant) as enshrined in both 1999 Constitution of Nigeria as
amended and the Peoples Democratic Party’s constitution pending the
hearing and final determination of the motion on notice filed.

Some PDP members, Yahaya Usman, Abubakar Mohammed and Bashar
Suleman, initiated the suit as Claimants/Applicants in the matter while Prince Uche Secondus and the PDP were joined as Defendants/Respondents.

PLATEAU GOVT. RE-IMPOSES CURFEW AS JOS BOILS AGAIN

The Plateau Government has re-imposed the 24-hour curfew on Jos North Local Government Area,
following growing tensions arising from fresh attacks in Yelwa Zangam community in the area.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that Yelwa Zangam community
was attacked by gunmen on Tuesday night, where people were killed and
properties destroyed.
Gov. Simon Lalong in a statement issued by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Dr Makut Macham, on Wednesday in Jos, said the 24-hour curfew would take effect from 4 p.m. on Aug. 25 until further notice.

He said the proactive decision became necessary following imminent threat
to lives and property within the Local Government Area and the need to forestall the breakdown of law and order.

Lalong said the decision was also to enable security agencies to appropriately control the situation, as the search for the attackers of the villagers continued.

He appealed to the residents of Jos North to cooperate with the Government by complying with the 24-hour curfew, as defaulters would be arrested.

The governor said that the 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew on Jos South and Bassa local government areas remained in force, until further notice saying. only people on essential duties were exempted from the curfew.

He called for calm, saying he is seriously grieved by the attacks.

He sympathised with the victims of the attacks, while appealing to them to show restraint and allow Government to handle the matter.

Lalong said the action was also to prevent hoodlums from taking to prevent hoodlums from taking
advantage of the unfortunate situation to cause mayhem and destruction in the state.

NAN recalls that the State
Government had on Aug.15 imposed a 24-hour curfew on the Jos North Local
Government Area, following the kiling of at least 22 travelers passing through the area by hoodlums, but relaxed it to 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Aug.18.
(NAN)

ARMY DENIES ENLISTING REPENTANT TERRORISTS

NIGERIAN ARMY DOES NOT ENLIST FORMER TERRORISTS

Our attention has been drawn to an online video making rounds in the social media by one Young Elder and produced by Anthony Jay. In the video, the so called Young Elder attempted to draw conclusion from the collapse of the Afghan military and trying very hard to relate it to the ongoing surrender by the Boko Haram/ Islamic State West Africa Province Terrorists in Nigeria.

The Young Elder in a comic way tried to express worries about the surrendered terrorists.

While it is understood that the situation in Afghanistan calls for concerns by any right thinking person or organisation, the manner in which the comic Young Elder presented it shows his lack of basic knowledge on the subject he hurriedly delved into. The amateurish production conjured some unfounded and baseless claims that only exist in the pigment of their imagination, claiming that surrendered terrorists where going to be absorbed into the Nigerian Army (NA).

For the avoidance of doubt, the NA does not have any repentant terrorists joining its ranks and does not have any plan for that. There are teaming able-bodied Nigerians that are willing to join the NA and genuinely help in the fight against terrorism and other violent crimes. The NA therefore is not desperate for prospective recruits to stoop so low and engage the services of former terrorists. As a general rule, it is not even recommended to absorb former fighters into the services of a regular military.

The NA wish to state that the campaign of falsehood embarked upon by some individuals who do not wish the nation well cannot distract its personnel from their resolve to bring an end to the violent crimes in the country. We wish to reiterate that the NA under the leadership of the Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya will continue to operate within the dictates of the law. Surrendered terrorists will be received, processed and passed to the appropriate Government agencies that are saddled with the responsibility of handling them.

While we recommend that matters related to security be left with those who have the requisite expertise and experience, we wish to remind comic characters like Young Elder to focus on contributing towards nation building and not engaging in campaign of falsehood.

ONYEMA NWACHUKWU
Brigadier General
Director Army Public Relations
24 August 2021

US EMPOWERS TALIBANS TO BECOME THE 26TH WORLD LARGEST AIR FORCE

There are growing concerns over the fate of the Afghan people, religions as well as the multiplier effect the US recent withdrawal from Afghanistan would be in the coming months, owing to the large catches of arms, ammunitions and other military wares for Prosecuting wars left behind for the Talibans by the US.

Kabul, Afghanistan, had fallen to the Taliban amid the Biden administration’s poorly executed withdrawal from the country.

The Taliban possess a burning hatred for America and for those within their own nation’s boundaries who don’t suit their radical Islamic ideals.

US VETERAN GRIEVES

Now that they have access to U.S. military technology left behind amid our untimely departure, for the world?

Could we see our own supplies being used against the Afghan people or even against ourselves?


On Friday, The Wall Street Journal cited a 2017 Government Accountability Office report that indicated the U.S. had sent “nearly 600,000 small arms, 76,000 vehicles and 208 airplanes to Afghanistan’s military and police from 2003 to 2016.”


The Afghan military has put down their weapons in light of the Islamic militant takeover, and the Taliban isn’t reluctant to make use of the military technology we’ve left behind.

What once worked for us and for the Afghan people now works against both.

The Biden administration’s poorly executed troop removal gifted the Taliban a bounty of our own supplies.
It’s a devastating reality.

Judging by the numbers , the number of aircraft we’ve left behind for the Taliban to take would be enough for the radical regime to supplant Vietnam as the world’s 26th largest air force.


And this is happening as Biden laughs 0ff questions about the Taliban and attempts to justify his decision by saying “everyone wanted out of Afghanistan, so I finally got them out” (paraphrasing, of course).


He will continue to offer that defense as if his manner of executing the withdrawal is irrelevant.

But we know better.

Americans grieve. Veterans of a 20-year war feel as if their sacrifices were in vain. Our people left behind are hostages to the Taliban. The Afghan citizens, along with them, are left behind as collateral.


To salt the wound, Taliban fighters now have access to U.S. equipment.

“The Taliban have seized airplanes, tanks and artillery from Afghan outposts and from evacuating U.S. personnel, revealing one of the heavier costs of a U.S. troop withdrawal amid a collapse of Afghanistan’s government and army,” The Wall Street Journal reported.

The outlet also said “scores of videos” have emerged amid the catastrophe, showing Taliban fighters “rejoicing near abandoned American helicopters, carrying U.S.-supplied M24 sniper rifles and M18 assault weapons, stacking other small arms and materiel in unending piles and driving Humvees and other U.S.-made military trucks.”

They’re doing everything they can to flaunt their victory over an inept administration, even mocking us by raising their flag in a style reminiscent of the iconic Iwo Jima photo from World War II in a recent photo.


All the while, the U.S. the supplier of these arms, the world’s largest air force presence, the third-largest standing army in the world (behind China and India) and a world superpower (among other titles), sits back, watching the destabilization in agony.


Now the Taliban may be the world’s 26th-largest air force.

Assuming the militants have captured and made use of all 208 airplanes mentioned by The Wall Street Journal, the Taliban would rank just behind Belarus and ahead of Vietnam in number of combat aircraft, according to Nation Master .

Imagine the national security nightmares several nations now face in light of this and in light of what has already transpired.

Great Britain, one of our greatest allies, was left “rattled” by Biden’s rapid withdrawal-to quote an article from The New York Times-after the U.K. and other allies supported us in the region for 20 years.


The British Parliament even elected to hold Biden in contempt over the “botched withdrawal” on Wednesday (which essentially means Biden’s actions obstructed or interfered with Parliament’s operations).


Now, as U.S. presence remains at Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport , Britain and France are conducting military operations to liberate their citizens trapped behind enemy lines.

Needless to say, it’s unfair that they are forced to clean up the mess our president made for them.

Is this how they’re thanked for their help?

They, too, understand the grim reality we face as Islamic militants emerge as the victors of this long-standing conflict.

We all see where the Taliban’s newfound ownership of our military technology might lead, and the thoughts aren’t inviting.

And we all know who’s to blame.