...And Top Businessman, Okon Iyanam was Killed
Gently, she sobbed, clasping her hands to indicate her mood. Her tired gaze stared into the distance. And her eyelids blinked as if to shut out the present. But she couldn’t. Vignettes of blood and hastily carved curses stole from her lips into the chilly air. Muna Iyanam is bereaved! Her partner has been killed in cold blood. If Muna, indeed, had one chance to make a wish, she would wish the death of her husband was a mere nightmare. Watching her bemoan her fate, you could feel and touch her grief and like someone who has signed out on laughter, the sounds and melody of tumbrels and harps for her have stopped making any meaning for now. It’s often said, other deaths only speak but murder shrieks out. Yet each man kills the thing he loves. Some do it with a bitter look, some with a flattering word. The coward does it with a kiss, the brave with a sword; Okon Iyanam’s murderers did it with a blazing gun. Last Wednesday, Iyanam was killed by some gunmen at his guest house in Mowe, Ogun State. His family and friends are still mourning and wondering what could be the motive of his murder. They are at a loss about who could have been responsible for the gruesome act. Hence the matter remains a Gordian knot as no one can categorically trace his death to a specific person. But that Iyanam met his end in a gruesome manner that illfated Wednesday night is not in doubt. In the wake of his demise, not a few friends and family alleged that there is more to his death than meets the eye. The death of this young businessman reminds us of our dour humanity, and of the fragility of our hold on human subsistence. The world is indeed a stage and life itself is but a walking shadow. Life is a permanent shuttle in the sepulcher, and what we have are fleeting memories, stilled mementoes, fraught memories and the fractured memorabilia of those who are gone forever, never to be seen again. Iyanam was until his death the Chief Executive Officer of Bond Consulting. A pioneer staff of Globacom, he left the telecom company and was briefly with the Enyi Odigbo- led DDB Lagos before joining Insight/ Grey. with the group C17 under the name Young Valenti. His older brother, Roland, performs as Valenti. Detectives are appealing for information and witnesses to come forward after a ‘large fight’ took place following an event at the North Romford Community Centre, Clockhouse Lane, on Saturday, 23 June at 9.05pm. Police and the London Ambulance Service attended the scene and were confronted by around 100 young people. A Met Police spokesman confirmed a 15-year-old boy was found with stab wounds and although he was treated at the scene by paramedics, he was pronounced dead a short while later. Det Sgt Gurj Singh said: “I would like to directly appeal to those present to contact police about what they saw and heard to help my team build a clearer picture of what took place. Equally, if you have video footage or images of the violent aftermath to the party, we need to hear from you.” Response team Inspector Michael O’Donoghue from East Area Command said a large crime scene will remain in place for some time and high visibility patrols will be stepped up in the area.
Like many other elections across the world, there are the also-rans and the real contenders; those who come to make up the numbers and those who vaunt about their intentions for the cheap popularity and pecuniary benefits. This is why it is too early in the day to categorise the ambition of a beautiful woman, Elishama Ideh, one of the high society flying ladies. Give it to her, she is not only brave enough to declare her intention to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari, she is blunt enough to say. “It must be emphasised strongly that coming from this background of my work in the sociospiritual sphere, I was able to witness the stark reality of the decay and poverty level of our people and how special social security schemes or infrastructure are not in place to curb the debilitating situation which is why my heart and my passion has been stirred up to rise first as a citizen of this great country and become a change agent that the nation desperately needs.” Undeterred by the cynicism that has trailed her declaration in view of the dynamics of contemporary Nigerian politics, she said her vision is to see a Nigeria where things work. To achieve her dream, she has embarked upon a rigorous campaign exercise intimating the electorate about her ambition. While she is entitled to the inalienable right to vote and be voted for, let’s hope she would not forget to honour and observe the demands of public service and accountability. Her ambition makes one wonder if she isn’t just another desperate public office seeker vowing to build bridges even where there are no rivers.
Like still waters turned bubbling sea, Iara Oshiomhole is back. The beautiful wife of Adams Oshiomhole, former governor of Edo State and new chairman of APC, is back on the grind and it doesn’t look like she will lose steam or quit anytime soon. The permanent feature at a series of high society soirees in the past seem set to rekindle her spark with uncharacteristic vitality and panache so much that hardly anyone would remember she had at one time or the other