MKO Abiola: OPC and NUJ celebrate 25 years of June 12 presidential election

By: OPANIRAN BOLUWATIFE FAITH

It was a day of historic remembrance for the election, annulment and struggle against the annulment of
the June 12, 1993 presidential election that would have saw Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO)
Abiola as the democratic president of Nigeria, as Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) in collaboration with
Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ); Lagos State Council, celebrate 25th anniversary of the election.
With the theme: “Nigerian Politics And Democratic Process MKO Abiola And The June 12, 1993 Cries And
Beyond”, the Excellence Hotel of Ogba-Lagos was capacity filled with heroes, supporters, and several
activists of the June 12 presidential election.
In his keynote remark, the Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland and OPC founder, Gani Adams, said whether

the Federal Government’s decision was more political than legal as argued by some people, for Gani, it is
crystal clear that the journey to make June 12 the Democracy Day of Nigeria started several years back.
Although he appreciated the president, Muhammadu Buhari for honouring Abiola with the most
prestigious national honour in the country – the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) and
said “I am sure posterity will always be kind to him for putting Nigeria’s democratic history in the right
perspective.
The truth is, there is always light at the end of the tunnel. The June 12 episode was one event that
actually shaped the destiny of this nation, but today, it is a new beginning,” he said.
Admonishing Buhari to take care of the issues of security, good health, education, enduring social
structure, good economy and other good things of life, which will ameliorate Nigerians’ sufferings, Gani
said the way they clamoured and struggled to make June 12 Democracy Day, they need to make
sacrifice, struggle and make a case for restructuring.
“We need to stand firm and raise our voices in support of restructuring. If Nigeria is restructured, the
federating units or states will develop at their own pace.
Our democracy has been so monetised and doesn’t encourage the young people to participate in the
affairs of their country, even though the president has signed not-too- young-to-rule,” he said.
The occasion’s chairman - a human rights activist and lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, however, said
those who annulled and betrayed June 12, 1993 presidential election should apologise.
Sani said it was unfortunate that “these saboteurs did not allow the late Chief MKO Abiola to realise his
dream of enabling Nigerians to say farewell to poverty. But the traitors of June 12 must not be
honoured.
“Those who worked for the late Gen. Sani Abacha and Gen. Ibrahim Babangida to truncate the June 12,
1993 presidential poll must not be honoured,” he said.
The senator, also, lambasted the people who abandoned Chief Abiola during the struggle and hailed
heroes of democracy like the late Gani Fawehinmi, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Prof. Wole Soyinka, the
late Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti and others “for ensuring that Nigerians now enjoy democracy”.

While appreciating Buhari for recognising and declaring June 12 as Democracy Day, he urged Nigerians
to reject any political motive towards 2019 that is behind the honouring those who keep the struggle
flame burning.
Speaking further, he said the greatest honour President Buhari can do to the late Chief Abiola is to
sustain his ideals by promoting unity and ensuring that Nigerians enjoy the good things of life, because
MKO has invested so much of his wealth in the June 12 presidential election.
According to the Guest Speaker, Associate Professor of Political Science, UNILAG, Dr Derin Ologbenla,
“We don’t totally condemn the military government because they constructed several infrastructures,
but they over stay in government and their mode of ruling is not condone,” he said.
He confessed that Nigeria must be restructured, Yoruba must continue to tolerate others ethnic
members of the country, and Nigerians must get their Permanent Voters Card (PVC) to stand a chance
to vote them prefered person.
Also speaking, Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos State Council, Dr. Qasim Akinreti
hailed President Buhari for doing justice at the right time by recognising Chief Abiola and declaring June
12 as Democracy Day and requested from the president that MKO’s house should be a presidential
library.
“MKO Abiola should be declared as President elect of the June 12 1993 presidential election of Nigeria,”
he requested.
More so, several personalities who fought for June 12 were given awards at the event, the likes of Dr Joe
Odumakin, Senator Shehu Sani, Alhaji Yerima Shettima; the President of Arewa Youth Consultative
Forum (AYC), Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu; former Abia State Governor, Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (rtd), Comrade
Ayodele Akerin, Prof. Shonbi Oluwole, Barr. Babajide, Dr. Jide Rotimi, Comrade Tony Oranta, Dr. Amos
Akingba, Prof. Tunde Babawale, Dr. Derin Aladenla, Representative of Ezendigbo, Prof. Mike Odueze,
Prof. Bayo Lawal, Prof. Oribogunje Oladele, Prof. Chidozie Okoro, Prof. Ogundiwole, NUJ Chairman; Dr. Qasim Akinreti,and many others were honoured.

Nigeria vs Iceland: Arsenal congratulates Super Eagles

By Raji Adam Adebayo

English Premier League side, Arsenal has reacted to Nigeria’s 2-0 win over Iceland in their Group D fixture at the 2018 World Cup.

Ahmed Musa scored both goals for the Super Eagles, as they claimed their first win at the tournament in Russia.

The Gunners have made it clear that they will be rooting for the Super Eagles on the biggest stage as one of their own, Alex Iwobi, plays for the West Africans.

Congratulating the Eagles, Arsenal in a tweet on its official Twitter page wrote “The Super Eagles are soaring now!

“Big congratulations to our Naija boy Alex Iwobi and his SuperEagles team-mates – Nigeria have just beaten Island 2-0 in Volgograd.”

The Eagles will now face Argentina on Tuesday, hoping to book a place in the knockout rounds.

Any Actor that has House in VI, Lekki is into Something Else- Kunle Afolayan

By Raji Adam Adebayo

At a time when many actors are opting to own choice houses in posh parts of Lagos, popular actor Aremu Afolayan is not convinced that they made their money through the craft.

The actor told Saturday Beats that Nigerians are quick to believe anything especially once it is on the internet but the truth is that most actors driving big cars most likely got their money from influential people.

He said, “By the way, I live my life, people tend to think that I am the richest Yoruba actor, but that is a lie. Nigerians assume a lot. I live in a rented apartment because I cannot afford to build one. When they see me buy a new car, they don’t know if I paid for the car in instalments; instead they call me a big boy. What type of big boy lives on N50,000 or N100,000 income per film as an actor? I challenge any Nigerian actor that is living larger than life to state how they made their money because I am sure it is not from the movies they make. I am talking about both the English and Yoruba actors. If they like, they can say they make N5m per film, they cannot afford to build or buy a house at Lekki or Victoria Island or Ikoyi. It is impossible. They should call out mathematicians to figure it out. It is a lie. It is because they meet some influential people that give them businesses or they have side businesses. Since we do not all meet such people or make the kind of money they make through these people, we just have to be content with what we have. In my life, I have never seen an ‘educated illiterate’ country like Nigeria. Nigerians are very gullible when it comes to judging other people’s lifestyle since they do not know anything, they assume. Then social media came and it made things worse.”READ ALSO: I killed our victim because he struggled with us –Suspect

The filmmaker who is often referred to as one of the most controversial actors in the industry for his outspoken nature told Saturday Beats that he was shocked when Nigerians tagged him as a homosexual simply because a picture of him pecking a man surfaced online. He said that at a time, Nigerians called him a gigolo. Now, they are referring to him as gay simply because of a publicity stunt.

“I went to a store with a friend to pick up a wristwatch I had been paying for in instalments. My friend was taking pictures when I told him that we should cause trouble on social media with a picture of me pecking him. When I posted the picture, it went viral within 15 minutes. In fact, we were still in the store when the picture went viral. I was shocked that Nigerians would even conceive the idea that I am gay because I love women. Anybody can be gay and I mean no disrespect to them but as for me, the picture was just done for publicity stunt. I never knew it would go viral that fast.

“People call me a gigolo; how come I do not have money? I know a lot of people that are gigolos and they are doing fine. If they say I am an actor and gigolo, why would I have to sell a car in order to afford another car? What is wrong with me buying Versace and Ferragamo? Why would I be a gigolo and not dress like a posh boy? Why would I be wearing slippers everywhere I go? So why should I answer the people calling me a gigolo? I do not have to convince anyone; when I know that at the end of the day, I would not waste my time convincing you about anything. You can think about anything you like but I am not here to convince anyone,” Afolayan said.

10 reasons why you should buy the Samsung s9

By Okpo Favour

Either Apple is making it easier for Samsung phones to stand out, or Samsung is just getting really, really good at making smartphones.

After using the flagship devices from Apple and Samsung, I've come up with a few ways that the Galaxy S9 beats the iPhone X.

Don't get too upset now, iPhone X users. Your phone has plenty of great features that the Galaxy S9 doesn't have, and that list is coming soon.

For now, though, check out 10 ways the Galaxy S9 beats the iPhone X:

1. The iPhone X's OLED display is great, but the Galaxy S9's is better.

Apple may finally have given one of its iPhones an OLED display, but it still doesn't quite compare to Samsung's own glorious OLED displays.

Samsung's OLED display on the Galaxy S9 produces even more vibrant colors than the iPhone X, and contrast between light and dark parts of the screen is stunning. Apple may have gone for a more "true-to-life" color, brightness, and contrast tuning for its iPhone X display, but if you want something closer to reality, you could just look at the world around you.

2. The Galaxy S9 comes with fast charging right out of the box.

Fast-charging is a feature that has often come in handy, and it comes standard with the Galaxy S9.

Meanwhile, if you want to take advantage of the iPhone X's fast charging, you either need to buy a separate charging brick and cable from Apple, or use the USB-C charger that comes with Apple's more recent laptops. Either way, you'll need to buy Apple's USB-C-to-Lightning cable.

Basically, Apple makes you spend extra for something that comes included with the Galaxy S9.

3. The Galaxy S9's camera can take better shots in low light.

There's no argument here. The Galaxy S9 can widen its camera aperture to a whopping f/1.5 - which allows more light into the lens than the iPhone X's f/1.8 aperture (the smaller the number, the wider the aperture).

Combined with some of Samsung's camera wizardry, the Galaxy S9 can take better shots in dark situations than the iPhone X.

4. The Galaxy S9 has a built-in heart rate monitor.

Feel like checking up on your heart rate? Don't own a smart watch? Go right ahead with the Galaxy S9. It's not a massively popular feature, but hey, it's there if you want it.

5. The Galaxy S9 has a fingerprint scanner.

Apple's decision to remove the fingerprint scanner from the iPhone X has put me off the $1,000 device permanently. Face ID never worked properly when I used the iPhone X for about a month, and I didn't have a fingerprint scanner to fall back on when it failed.

6. The Galaxy S9 has a headphone jack.

No dongles or adapters required here for Galaxy S9 users. The headphone jack is there if you want it on the Galaxy S9, and Samsung still managed to make a sleek smartphone.

7. Android does a few things far better than iOS.

There are a few important things that Android does better than iOS.

For one, notifications are much better designed on Android than they are on iOS. Pretty much everyone I've spoken with who has tried both Android and iOS agrees.

Android is also highly customizable, and you can create some amazing and beautiful home screens as a result, like the one pictured above. If any iPhone X user can make their homescreen look as good as the S9's above, I'd love to see it. Shoot me a tweet or email with your valiant - yet likely futile - efforts. Thanks to Redditor Anithera for the inspiration.

8. The Galaxy S9 doesn't have a notch.

Some don't mind the iPhone X notch, others hate it. Either way, the notch — that module towards the top of the phone that houses the front-facing camera and sensors required to make Face ID work — helped Apple give the iPhone X its beautiful bezel-less design.

Samsung's Galaxy S9 don't have notches, but it means they also come with larger bezels than the iPhone X, at least on the top and bottom of the display. Still, it's not like the Galaxy S9 looks like an old phone with an outdated design. On the contrary, it still looks sleek and modern, even with its narrow bezels.

9. I love Samsung's audio settings, which make music sound better for me.

Buried deep within its settings, the Galaxy S9 has a few audio features that I find enhances music when I use headphones.

The Dolby Atmos feature is like an overall booster of music to make it sound a little more dynamic and exciting.

The UHQ upscaler can give a sound quality boost to your music, even if it's artificial.

The Tube Amp Pro setting gives music a warmer, rounder sound that's similar to classic tube amplifiers.

There's also a Concert Hall setting that basically gives an echo boost to your music, but I don't like it very much. Still, it's there for Galaxy S9 owners to try.

10. To top it all off, the Galaxy S9 is cheaper than the iPhone X.

Anyone keeping track of the Galaxy S9's announcement was pleasantly surprised with its pricing. Samsung sells the regular Galaxy S9 for $720, and it charges $840 for the larger Galaxy S9 Plus model.

Compare that to the iPhone X's minimum $1,000 price tag while considering all the features included with the Galaxy S9, and you'll wonder why anyone would pay quadruple figures for a smartphone.

Two laptops worth your money

By Okpo Favour

We live in a world where smartphones are ubiquitous, tablets are commonplace, and even smartwatches are a thing that people talk about on the regular. But throughout all of these advances, the laptop has remained and for good reason. When it comes time to actually get something done, whether that's editing photos, writing a lot of emails, composing documents, or staying in touch with colleagues and family, the laptop is often the ideal device for the job.

That isn't to say there haven't been advancements in the world of laptops or notebook computers. We don’t have to deal with inch-plus-thick clunkers that weighed upwards of seven pounds and lasted less than two hours away from an outlet. The modern laptop is lightweight, sleek, efficient, easily portable, and powerful enough to get most any computing task done.

It's getting harder to buy a truly bad laptop, but what separates a good laptop from a great one is how it balances power, efficiency, portability, and comfort. It should have a fantastic keyboard and trackpad — after all, those are the two biggest reasons you'd choose a laptop over a smartphone or tablet. Its display should be easy on the eyes, bright, and sharp enough that you aren't distracted by jagged edges and visible pixels. It should be powerful enough for almost anything short of intensive video editing and advanced gaming. It should be easy to carry around from place to place, and it should be able to last all day without needing to be plugged in.

Naming “the best laptop” is a little different than naming the best phone or tablet. People’s needs for their laptop can vary widely. Some people need to do intense video editing and should pony up for a pro machine. Others just need a reliable keyboard and a few windows, so something less powerful will do. Some might want a super light laptop that can sometimes double as a tablet. Here, we’re talking about the best all-around product: a traditional laptop that will work well at most things for most people, and even stretch to handle more intensive tasks on occasion.

There are a lot of laptops that have some of those qualities, but if you're looking for a laptop that hits enough of those marks, the obvious choice turns out to be the right one.

THE BEST LAPTOP RIGHT NOW:

MICROSOFT SURFACE LAPTOP

Microsoft’s new Surface Laptop is the best laptop for most people because it blends power, portability, and battery life better than any other computer. It has a great keyboard and trackpad; a beautiful, high-resolution touchscreen; and comes in four different colors. It uses Intel’s latest processors and can be specced out with up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage.

The Surface Laptop isn’t cheap — the model most people should get runs for $1,299 — but it feels like a premium computer should, and if you spend most of your day working on a computer, you should spend a little more to get a good one.

The one big drawback to the Surface Laptop is it comes with Windows 10S, Microsoft’s limited version of Windows that only allows apps from the Windows Store to be installed. You can easily upgrade the Surface Laptop to Windows 10 Pro, however, and then you can run any Windows app you can find. That upgrade is free through at least the end of the year. Microsoft says it will charge $50 for it at some point in the future, but has not specified exactly when.

THE MAC OPTION: APPLE MACBOOK PRO

If you don’t like the Surface Laptop’s fun colors or the fact that it runs Windows, the best laptop for you is Apple’s MacBook Pro. The MacBook Pro has a compact and light design, premium build quality, and the largest trackpad we’ve ever seen on a laptop.

The MacBook Pro comes in a variety of flavors, but most people should go with the 13-inch model that starts at $1,299. It has a standard keyboard and lacks the controversial Touch Bar found on the more expensive versions, but we don’t think that’s a big loss, as the Touch Bar hasn’t yet proven its worth. The one thing that the higher-end MacBook Pros offer is more USB ports. The entry-level version only comes with two USB Type-C ports, which means plugging in accessories will likely require an adapter or two, so be prepared to spend money on at least one dongle.

WHY TEENAGERS SHOULD GET INVOLVED IN POLITICS

By Okpo Favour

So, you're a young dude or chic, beautiful, smart, probably just done with secondary school. The world is amazing; life is bright. You're slaying up and down. You have a lit IG page with about 6k followers. You have enough street cred, you have a loyal clique. Your goons are topnotch. Your gang is wavy. You don't care about governance and politics. You don't care about it at all. APC or PDP? Mehn, they can all go to hell, you prefer ICM. You don't care about who goes into power. It’s none of your business. You're just there for the swag. Lol.

Cool bro, but, may I tell you that you're just digging a grave for not only yourself, but, for your generation and generations after you. Sounds harsh But, it's the truth. If we begin to grow a generation that's just content with the status quo, a generation that doesn't care about how they are ruled, a generation that's afraid to speak truth to power, a generation that's lost their voice, then we are breeding a seven-headed snake. Future generations will come up and blame us for keeping quiet when it mattered the most.  Listen, it’s time to begin to get interested in what goes on in your country. You know why? Every policy that's made by the government has a way to affect you.

Generation Z is one amazing generation. The quality of life and expressions this generation is showing is one that can blow your mind away. Teenagers are becoming the livewire of everything. Can you imagine a church without teenagers right now? No. Teenagers are not just being ignored, no. There is heavy awareness as to the power teenagers carry.

Generation Z starlets are born into the whole tech world. That’s why young people today do not need to painstakingly learn how to use tech tools. It’s just like an inborn skill.

What about the media? Teenagers have owned it. Generation Z have come to revolutionize how we see the media. With Social Media, they have built massive following. You guys have taken over culture, dropping one hot trend or slang and the next day it goes viral. You guys have learned and mastered the art of 'dope' and its cool.

But to what end?

Wait. Are you just gonna be this fly, dope, popular, cool, suave and all? Are you just gonna be all these and then, it all ends there? Don't you think there's a whole lot more you could do with all these attributes, talents and stuff that you've built up.

Just few weeks back in the US, the popular Kids Choice Awards organized by Nickelodeon was held and I was amazed to see teenagers make huge political statements. From Zendeya to Jojo Siwa. I particularly love the denim jacket worn by Millie Bobby Brown which had the names of the 17 students killed in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting on the 14th of February, 2018.

Just go to google and search for the name Emma Gonzalez of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, the young girl who gave a rousing speech after the shooting and called out Mr. President. You need to see the way this young teenage girl spoke with such vigor.

We must begin to get creative in our activism. We need to begin to get loud. We need to begin to use our influence well. We need to begin to use our platforms and stages well. Do you sing, rap, model, act? Are you popular? Are you influential? Do you have massive followers on social media? This is the right time to put those into hood use. You should speak out. Talk. Shout. Sing. Act. Boycott. Wear clothes that send a message.

Dear Teenagers, we must not just sit and relax. We must get involved. Every year, JAMB changes its procedures to get admission to universities. Students are left stranded. They have no one to cry to. Our universities are in ruins. It’s a pathetic sight in our institutions. Hungry lecturers teaching hungry students.

And then, when you even finally get the admission, your time in school is not complete until you’ve experienced the normal flexing of muscles by our lecturers and political leaders called ASUU Strike.

Students will be at watching movies, whiling away time, our poor lecturers, hungry; yet it is the least of worries for those in power. Our students are being murdered by allowing hungry, unpaid, un-motivated lecturers teach them in our schools. There is no way on earth they will teach passionately. How then do we now become sound and learned in our fields? Yet when we graduate, we are called 'half baked', 'unlearned', 'uncultured' and so many other funny names.

We must begin to get angry. Don't be deceived, anger is good.

If you think all these don't concern you, you need to think twice. A president’s term lasts for four years. There's a high possibility of winning a second term. That makes it eight years. Get it straight. Whoever gets into power might probably in control for the next eight years.

Now, let's take it personal. You might be 17 right now and have no worries in life. But, think. Eight years from now, you'll be 25. Probably done with school and in the job market. Then, you'll join the bandwagon of wailers and complainers whyning about bad governance. You could have made a little difference few years ago, but, you chose to just be wavy and wavy alone. Whatever actions are taken by those in power will affect you for the next four years of your life…for sure, and probably for the next eight years.

This is the time to ask questions. This is the time to read. This is the time to be woke. This is the time to be alert. This is the time to know how to make political choices. Why should Buhari come back for a second term? Who is Fela Durotoye? Who is Sowore? Why has Atiku been trying to become President for so long? Yes, ask these questions and more. Get interested. That’s the first step.

It is because we are not interested, we then become ignorant. Hence, we can easily be fooled. Yes, when you don't know something, you'll be easily deceived.

2019 is coming. The politicians have started strategizing. They know that teenagers are a strong force. They know that teenagers exist in large numbers. But, trust me, that’s not the only thing they know. They also know that this seemingly large army of teenagers are clueless, gullible and completely disinterested in politics. They don't know their right from wrong. And so, it makes it easy to deceive them.

So, watch and see, they will hit you guys hard. I know the strategy they will use. It’s called the 'Data Strategy'. Yes, watch and see. With data, teenagers will lose their heads, they will sell their conscience, votes, voice.

What's the one thing you guys love?

Data!

They will start sharing data. And yes, the clueless, gullible and easily deceived teenagers will be bribed by data and sell their future for just access to slay on IG.

This is why you must get your PVC. It is a very big shame for you to be 18 years and above, and currently do not have a PVC. We won't be their pawns this time around. And that’s why we need to be woke. We need to be knowledgeable. We need to know what's going on. We need to slay in politics too. Our voice needs to be heard.

Gone are those days when we were just a demography. Now, we are a major force. Teenagers are not just sitting and watching things happen. We are taking the bulls by the horns. We are a new voice. We are aware. We are conscious. We are angry. We are smart. We have questions to ask. We want to be involved. We are here to stay and there's nothing anyone can do about it.

The movement has started! Create Your Tomorrow!

Ogbomoso: Myth of the 331-Year-Old Tortoise

By Raji Adams

In the palace of the Soun of Ogbomoso can be found a 331 year old giant male tortoise that  has witnessed the installation of 17 Souns. The ancient town of Ogbomoso and second largest city in Oyo state, has continued to attract tourists from all over the world because of #Alagba, the legendary giant male tortoise that has lived and witnessed the installation and coronation of 17 Soun’s of Ogbomosoland who have reigned in the town since its inception.

Popularly called #Alagba as a sign of respect because of their claim that it is the   oldest living animal in the world, the tortoise has been acclaimed to be 331 years old by the people of Ogbomoso land.

In deference to its age, it is called #Alagba, which means ‘the elderly one’ in Yoruba. In Ogbomoso, where the legendary tortoise lumbers about in the palatial grounds of the palace, it is almost a sacrilege to refer to #Alagba as an ordinary tortoise.
Since #Alagba is believed to be older than everyone in Ogbomoso, its true age relies heavily on oral history. Its present age was arrived at by calculations done from the period the Soun who brought it to the palace reigned.

The #Alagba, was brought to the palace by His Royal Highness, Oba Ikumoyede Ajao, #The_Third_Soun to the founder of Ogbomoso, who is believed to have reigned between 1770 to 1791.

Oba Ikumoyede, is a hunter who got the tortoise and brought it to the palace before he became the ruler of the town. Since it was customary in those days to transfer the property and all palace belongings to the new monarch, Alagba has remained in the palace after the king’s death till date.

Alagba is said to be guarded by the Soun of Ogbomoso himself,  and three other able men,  which include Mr Adeniyi Alagbe, Mr Abdulahi Bello and Baba Iyabo, who carry out the Oba’s instructions to take care of Alagba. They say the animal eats three   times a day like human beings and that its meals are prepared together with people’s food in the palace. “He usually eats food of  three to four people whenever it is eating and finishes one and half bucket of water (approximately 38 litres of water) which he takes once in every three months.

The animal everything that human beings eat, but likes pawpaw, particularly. It is said to detest heat and plays a lot in the rainy season, moves around in the palace and sleeps under a shaded flower in the palace. His weight is put at over 100kg since its weight is equivalent to two bags of cement, and it requires many hefty men to lift it up.

“No matter how heavy a person is, Alagba will carry him or her on its back and be moving about,  but the incumbent Oba, who cares so much about the well-being of Alagba, stopped people from climbing  on its back as the animal got older.

Alagba used to be caged and chained in the past for protection. This later affected its legs and made them perforate its shell, and connect the chain to it, and tied him down so that the tortoise won’t be stolen.

“The animal has attracted lots of tourists from all over the world and majority of them even wished to take the tortoise away, if they were permitted.

Alagba was sick some years ago and required surgery on its neck, while its doctors put its survival chances at 50 per cent. But later, it recovered, despite Soun’s rejection of the surgery. Also in 2008 during the dry season, he fell sick again for many weeks , which  made him reject food and refuse to play .When Kabiyesi’s attention was called to it, he was treated and started eating and playing after the treatment.

Just like some items in traditional palaces that exist for mystical purposes,  Alagba’s existence in the palace has no such inclination. Alagba is just a special creature by God and an aged animal that is well taken care of by the Kabiyesi .He reiterated that there are veterinary doctors who attend to it, give drugs that they put in his drinking water and its food, adding that it would have died if it was still in the bush.

Moreover, all sorts of myths have been woven around Alagba. Some say it hears what people say but cannot speak, Alagbe says. “It recognises kabiyesi‘s voice. If kabiyesi calls it Alagba, it will be shaking its head in agreement, while some people stay near Alagba to offer prayers for longevity.”

A source at the palace told us that for a long time since its existence, Alagba was the only being that the king‘s wives usually run to for refuge to avoid the king’s anger. The king usually pays  him  a visit  whenever he is coming back from an outing or strolling around the palace.

Whatever might have been anybody’s offence to the king, the kabiyesi overlooks it if such person runs to Alagba for protection.

The tortoise refused to respond when one of the guardian took our reporter to Alagba for introduction, because she called him Ijapa (Yoruba name for tortoise) when she got there. It responded when   called Alagba twice and was told he has a visitor. The ancient one slowly opened one of its eyes and brought out its neck full of age, spots and thick rough warts, and started moving round the palace.

Slowly, it retreated into its thick shell and went back to sleep, its thoughts as mysterious as its age.

Debunking claims by some people of celebrating Alagba’s birthday some years back, a source at the palace said there has never been any celebration in his name, and that no importance is attached to him because of the conviction that people may want to start worshipping him if such is done. “Kabiyesi only makes reference to him whenever there is celebration in the palace in recognition of past Obas, but no occasion has been organised in respect of the tortoise.

Contemplating on how Alagba’s age can be determined, apart from the use of oral history, Mr Adegbola of Ibadan Agbodi zoological garden, said looking at the body cells and carapace (shell) of tortoise can help to determine its true age. He claimed not to be expert in that area, but grew to understand that, having worked in the zoo for over 20 years now. He however claimed that it is possible because he has seen  tortoises  that live long , but not as long as Alagba, adding that the new one in their garden is now 38 years old.

He was however doubtful of the possibility of any expert in the country undertaking a venture to determine Alagba’s true age, since it would be of no economic value to them.

According to mirrornews@mgn.co.uk on the internet, tortoises generally live longer and give reasons for their longevity.
The site gave the reason why tortoises are able to live so long as having a lot to do with how they are built and how they live. They are protected by a strong hard shell and they are good at avoiding predators. They also live and move slowly, which means they use up less energy than lots of other creatures. If a tortoise is unable to find enough food, they can survive for longer on less, more easily than animals that burn through their energy really quickly.

The site also added that Addwaitya, the giant tortoise, is reckoned to have been 255 when it died at an Indian zoo in 2006, making him the oldest animal in the world. Jonathan, the tortoise, is believed to be 176-years-old and was photographed during the Boer war around 1900, and its life has spanned eight British monarchs from George IV to Elizabeth II and 50 prime ministers. It was taken on the South Atlantic island of St Helena, where Jonathan still lives today, along with five other tortoises David, Speedy, Emma, Fredricka and Myrtle, in a plantation.

The previous oldest tortoise was widely thought to be Harriet, a giant Galapagos land tortoise, that died in 2005 aged 175 in Australia. Despite its old age, locals say it still has the energy to regularly mate with the three younger females.

In March 2006, it was reported that an Aldabra tortoise at the Calcutta zoo died and was estimated to be 250 years old. A Madagascar radiated tortoise was said to have lived in captivity to at least 188 years. Similarly, a 176-year-old giant tortoise from an Australian Zoo died in June, 2006. Typically, the Galapagos tortoise lives 150 years. Other varieties regularly live to be 100.

But now Alagba is seen to be the oldest living animal in the world, having gone through the history of other long living animals.

Some of the visitors at the palace who came to see Alagba advised that he should be taken to museum to generate revenue for government, as such kind of creature is rare to come by these days.

There are also insinuations that some people are planning to steal the animal, which someone said is the reason behind the security around the tortoise.