HIV Infection Is A Blessing To Me - Gloria Asuquo

From the depths of distress, disillusionment, dejection and the certainty of untimely death occasioned by HIV infection through blood transfusion at the tender age of 12, Gloria Asuquo, has risen to become a vibrant, assertive and ambitious young woman who is taking a decisive and incisive battle to one of the world’s most dreaded infectious disorders – HIV/AIDS.

In an encounter with Sola Ogundipe in Abuja, the energetic 24-year-old recounted the frustrations of living as a pauper in addition to the ignominy of HIV stigma and discrimination.

Today, Gloria who once contemplated death until sheer luck and doggedness turned her fortunes around and brought unhindered access to the elusive, life-saving treatment has undergone a transformation. The same HIV infection that took her to the brink of total despair is today a source of her blessing. How did it happen? She tells it all in this encounter.

Excerpts:

Living with HIV stigma

I’m a young person diagnosed HIV positive at 12. I was in Primary six going to JSS1. I got infected through blood transfusion. The stigma was so much I couldn’t bear it. There were drugs at that time, but they were too expensive for my parents to afford. Each time my father raised the money to pay for my drugs, my mother would challenge him. Why are you giving her the money? she would ask. We know that she would soon die. Why is she taking the drugs? Why are we wasting money? My mother went to the Church and told the Reverend who announced my status to the community.

He advised I should be taken to one of the General Hospitals and abandoned there to die. But my father refused to heed such advice. Rather, he challenged the Reverend to take one of his four children to the hospital and abandon her there to die first, only then would he obey the instruction. The pressure became too much.

My mother separated me from the rest of the family. She demarcated my own part of the house separate from the others. The stigma became too much.

Escape from home

One day I could not bear it again. The pressure was too much for me to bear. I had to break the window and jumped out to escape from home at the age of 12. I escaped to an unknown village called Oki. I went to Jabi Park in Abuja, I had only N800. I didn’t know where to go, but just wanted to leave and even die.

Death wish

I wanted to die. I was in the bush; I had stopped using my drugs which at that time cost N15, 000 per month. Test for CD4 count was N6, 000, viral load N12, 000. Where was I going to get that kind of money? I wasn’t working, I just told God to let me die.

Before then, I went to NTA and shared my story. I told them I was HIV positive; I wanted to declare my status to the world. They said I should cover my face, but I said no. I wanted the world to know my story so that if I die, everyone would know what killed me. Breaking the stigma is an individual thing. If you want to come out to testify, nobody can take that away from you

Saved

Then I met Dr. Anthony Agu, a lecturer at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. When he asked about my parents, I burst into tears. He took me to the University and I told him my story. He took me to his house, gave me a room to stay. But he told me not to disclose my status to his family. He enabled me continue my education and in 1996, I finished my school.

Back to treatment

Dr. Agu then told me that he heard that the drugs were now free that I should go and try. So I went back to Gwagwalada General Hospital where I met Dr. Ajayi. When he asked if I had been taken my drugs, I said yes. I lied to him because I was afraid that if I told him I had not been on drugs, he would send me away.

But he placed me on the drugs. That night I went back to Nsukka, but never went back home. Dr. Ajayi got all my details and related to Dr. Pat Matemilola and Professor Babatunde Oshotimehin who were all looking for me. Eventually, it was Godwin Odemije of Radio Nigeria that came to look for me, and brought me back home. In 2006, I developed typhoid and ovarian cyst. Doctors said I would be operated upon because I stopped using my drugs for a number of years. To the glory of God, I’m still on firstline drugs.

HIV infection as blessing

God first, but the treatment has kept me alive till today. If there were no free drugs, by now, I would have been a forgotten issue. People would have forgotten me, my name would not be written anywhere. HIV has become a blessing to me. I am sitting with important people. If not for HIV, I would not meet Ministers, and Ambassadors and so many important people. If not for HIV, I would not have ever fly in an aircraft. I’m proud to be HIV positive. Today, I’m a testimony in my family, there is no meeting at which they do not seek my opinion. I’m proud that I’m HIV positive.

Make treatment available

I’m still pleading to the Ambassadors and everyone in the country to make these drugs accessible especially the youths and women. We are the most vulnerable and do not have anywhere to go. We are tomorrow’s leaders. We may be driven out when we are diagnosed with HIV because the general belief is that HIV is contracted through promiscuity. But HIV can be contracted through many ways.

The three zeros

If the drugs are made to be more available, only then can we truly have the three zeros, that is, zero related deaths, zero new infection and zero stigma. As a young person I cannot come out but keep quiet and spread it, but if we provide access to treatment, give free education, employment and there is no stigma, I bet you, these three zeros will be achieved.

Ambition

I’m dreaming to become a medical doctor. I want to achieve this. HIV has nothing to do with my future. I would match it and overcome it. I need you to help me achieve my dream and also to find a cure to HIV. I want my name to be great, so that it will be said that Gloria Asuquo found a cure to HIV. I want a scholarship so that I can achieve my goal

2 policemen dead after gunmen attack police station Kaduna

Gunmen were said to have attacked the divisional police station in Kaura, Kaduna, killing two policemen early Wednesday morning after they invaded robbed several houses in the area, includng that of the Seretary to the Local Government, Umar Yakubu.

The Kaduna State Police Commissioner, Olufemi Adenaike, described it as “a kind of hit-and-run operation by the hoodlums.”

The Punch reports:
However, Adenaike added that the gunmen were chased out of the place by the superior fire power of policemen.

Meanwhile, one armed robbery suspect in Anambra State was killed on Wednesday when a gang of armed robbers engaged the police in a gun battle at Ngborokpo in Anaocha Local Government Area.

Three other suspects sustained serious injuries in the confrontation, which eventually led to the arrest of some members of the gang.

Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emeka Chukwuemeka, who briefed reporters about the incident, said the police recovered three AK 47 riffles, two pump action guns, four locally made pistols and some quantity of ammunition.

Chukwuemeka also added that suspects were arrested in various parts of the state for offences related to armed robbery and bank robbery.

Senate Approves Marriage for Underage Children.

The Senate of Federal republic of Nigeria has approved the marriage of under-aged children irrespective of their age in the country. This new law will proscribe the 18 year-old rule for any Nigerian child to qualify to engaged into a conscious agreement of marriage.

The Senates claimed that a woman is deemed to be full of age once she is married irrespective of her age.

The Proponents or supporters of the under-age marriage rule includes Senator Yerima Ahmad Sani, Zamfara West, who claimed that the provision which stipulates a certain age for women before getting married, was at variance with Islamic law.

After a moment of controversy, Senate President David Mark asked his colleagues to vote afresh on the provision, a situation that eventually went in favour of Sani, who, thereafter, thanked the Senate president and his colleagues for supporting his cause.

It is worthy of note that Senator Yerima Ahmad Sani had two years ago married a 13-year-old Egyptian in violation of the constitutional provision.

How Husband Cuts Off His Wife’s Private Parts For Rituals

A desperate man, Okorie Ogbafor, has murdered his 26yrs old wife, Ifeoma Okorie and removed her genitals and hair in the Onicha-Isu area of Ebonyi State, for money ritual purposes...

Briefing newsmen at Police headquarters in Abakaliki on Wednesday Police PRO, DSP Sylvester Igbo, said the corpse of the deceased was found in a bush behind the couple’s family house adding that it had already started decomposing when a team of policemen from the state command found it.

From what we gathered, the husband took off to Lagos after committing the crime. It was their relatives that assisted the Police in tracking him down as he is now in custody.

DSP Igbo said: “On July 12, 2013, a case of murder was reported at Onicha-Isu, in Onicha Local Government Area where it was alleged that one Ifeoma Okorie, 26, wife to Okorie Ogbafor was murdered and the corpse dropped in a bush behind their family house.

“When the police team went to the place, on a closer examination of the corpse, it was discovered that the head of the woman was nearly severed from her body and it was also discovered that her private part was chopped off and parts of the hair shaved while the corpse was already decomposing.

“It was taken to the Federal Teaching Hospital mortuary for autopsy.

“It was after three days that her body was discovered. However, in the effort to know the actual perpetrator of the act, some people were arrested and it was then that we discovered that Okorie Ogbafor was the person behind the killing of his wife.”

It's indeed sad how far some men can go just to make "hot" money!

B-R-E-A-K-I-N-G NEWS: Okorocha Sacks Entire 75-Man Cabinet.

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state has dissolved his 75-man executive council with immediate effect.
The abrupt dissolution left most of the officials speechless was announced to the cabinet members during the weekly state executive meeting.

Affected in the dissolution are all the Commissioners, Political Advisers, Senior Special Assistants and all Special Assistants.

According to a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Anthony Anwukah all Commissioners have been directed to hand over to their ministry's permanent secretary before Friday this week.

Funke Akindele's Husband Returned To One Of His Wives Who Gave Him A Baby Boy

The marriage which suffered many hiccups shortly before it became known to the public, continually overwhelmed The Return of Jenifa star due to shocking and disturbing tales of extra-marital relationships that have led to not less than10 love children traced to Kehinde. The spate at which the estranged hubby’s sexcapades played out nearly turned the hitherto adored actress to an object of ridicule and the topic of rile discussion among professional colleagues and fans. It worsens with caustic and cynical comments online.

According to close family sources, the kitchen became too hot shortly after the marriage, as issues that did not surface prior to the wedding kept rearing their ugly heads and left unresolved. Kehinde, showed no remorse though after much pressure and damning, he admitted one of his mistresses, Modinat, and then three months pregnant for him was actually carrying his baby.

Earlier, the media was awash with the shocking revelation that his second wife at home, Fadeke, was equally pregnant. Fadeke was forced to travel out during the wedding to Dubai, an indication that she did not support the union. In a typical Yoruba setting, the senior wife should receive the new bride into the family. Checks revealed Fadeke too was not formally received by the evicted first wife, Toun. All these and more drew public odium to the hitherto much loved The Return of Jenifa star, especially women who believed she’s a home wrecker.

Though her world nearly crashed, Funke gathered the bits and pieces of her life, shunned critics, naysayers and had the wedding with all the trappings of a celebrity. Like a blind lover, she was rushed into the marriage. Even when it was obvious there was a crack in the marriage, she debunked all the reports: “ ‘My husband has never been married. I am the woman he got married to. I was married properly. A lot of negative comments came from sadists who want to run their mouths. So because I am a Youth Ambassador or a Celebrity, I can’t have my life? “‘It is my life. If I do things because people want me to, I will end up unhappy. I do what I do because I want to be happy. I would still continue to teach morals and campaign against HIV/AIDS and enlighten the youths. It doesn’t make me bad; that is even if it is, because I can tell you authoritatively that my husband is not married to anyone else. “‘Yes, he has beautiful children, who are not mine now and we have a cordial relationship, which dates back to even before we got married. “‘So what if he has kids? Is that a disease? That is where my heart is! I had many non-biological children even before I got married. I take them as my own children, pay their bills and help them. I have always loved children. So now that God has given me these ones, what should I do? “Will people be happier if I had married someone who didn’t have children, seem so perfect, put on my make-up and fake smile on the red carpet and start weeping when I get home? And about my in-laws, they are very wonderful and supportive and my parents and siblings as well.

Funke Akindele, observers argued , must really be in love and with that claim the inquisitive media kept off her trail but it was only a matter of time. The secret cannot be kept away forever. As expected, Funke blinked first but she could not say it out. She knew it was over and ready to face it, not by defending herself but putting her struggles and triumphs behind her to face her career. They kept each other at measured distance and it worsened with the fact that elderly family members, influential personalities cannot intervene. Both are fiercely independent adults. Kehinde had been to Funke’s dad once and hardly call her mum. Time, they believed will heal all the wounds.

Her mum, just like her siblings have become such an intricate part of keeping her strong. The mother has since moved to her Ikeja home to give her strength. More evident that there was a crack in the marriage is each time Funke stepped out on the red carpet, Kehinde never showed. He was never with her at any public function. She however found company in her immediate elder sister, Ayo Ola Mohammed and shut her doors at some professional colleagues to avoid gossips. “While the trouble was brewing silently sources claimed that Funke gave several breaks and chances. She would call him, begged him even when she was right but Kehinde just wanted to have his own way not minding the consequences or effect of his actions on her, her career and public perception. He cared less about her status, in fact, all those negative media never got to him. He’s fiercely independent.

Surprisingly, he returned to Modinat Dada, who gave him a baby boy last October while he married Funke in May. It was a slap on Funke’s face. In the heat of this, she lost her pregnancy though reliable sources hinted she was glad it happened as it prepared her for the imminent exit. The fact that both of them lived separately also worsened the situation. While Funke can be traced to her Ikeja home, her hubby is a ‘bed sharer’.

He shuttles between three known women- Funke, Fadekemi, Modinat, and strangely too, other harem. Baffling too is the issue of complex and security. Kehinde, according to our source could not believe that Funke’s back-to- back endorsement comes so easy. He thinks those corporate guys who give those endorsements cannot really take their eyes off her. Severally, he checked her phone and queried some names and the relationship she has with her callers.” Observers believe the fact that the marriage is broken was hurting enough but the decision of Kehinde to announce it on Facebook was heartbreaking and nasty. Not a few have lampooned him for his action considered to be childish and immature. His post did not give room for reconciliation. It went public and viral as soon as it was posted.

His “Facebook divorce”, an observer said, confirmed the marriage has been through hell and he needed to pour his broken heart out to the world. At Funke’s home, mum is the word. Members of the family have resolved to keep mute, fold their arms and watch how events unfold. It is such an unhappy ending.

Gumsu Abacha (Abacha’s Daughter), Lashes Out At Wole Soyinka On Twitter

Taking to her twitter page, Late Nigerian Dictator’s Daughter Lash out on Prof Wole Soyinka.

Gumsu Sanni Abacha claims “Wole Soyinka is a “Mad Empty Professor that lives on bad mouthing his Motherland and continent for Dollar and euro!”

Fatima Gumsu Sanni Abacha is one of the daughters of the late General Sanni Abacha.

See her Tweet:

Funke Akindele Says My Marriage Is Intact, I'm Going to Court

Star actress Funke Akindele has finally broke her silence on her alleged failed marriage saga and she said she is heading to go to court to clear her name and the issues...

The news of her troubled marriage was first reported by The Nation, so Funke Akindele has forwarded an sms message to the media house. The message reads:
“I read in the newspaper yesterday that I am divorced. What proof do you have? And I am taking this to court because my marriage is intact. You guys are rumour mongers. Funke Akindele Oloyede.”

It was reported on Tuesday that the actress may have been separated from her husband, Kehinde Oloyede, son of former Iyaloja of Oshodi market.

This is after Kehinde Oloyede himself announced a “separation” via his facebook page on Monday.


He said:

“It is with heavy heart that I am announcing the separation of me and my wife, Mrs Olufunke Akindele. We have both agreed to go our separate ways because of irreconcilable differences. We are still best of friends and we would forever remain good friends.”

The statement, which the actress’ husband has since deleted from his facebook wall, generated concerns among the star’s fans, who made the issue a major topic on the social media.

Attempts to reach Funke on Monday failed. Her elder sister, who doubles as her spokesperson, Mrs Ayo-Ola Muhammed, failed to make an official statement she promised when contacted because, according to reports, the actress asked that no statement be made on the issue. Complete story....

Reckless Police Driver Hits Woman And Her Baby [PHOTOS]

A reckless police driver behind the wheels of a van attached to the FESTAC police station has been accused of hitting a woman and her baby, causing brain damage in the nursing mother.

Several sources related to the woman told SaharaReporters that the accident happened on June 23, 2013 as the police driver sped dangerously against the flow of traffic on a one-way lane along the busy Oshodi-Apapa Road, hitting down the unsuspecting woman and her baby.

“The accident was avoidable, and could have been avoided if the police man obeyed simple traffic regulation that marked the road as one-way,” said a relative of the injured woman. “Now, the action of this [police] man has resulted in serious brain injury to the mother.”

The source revealed that the accident happened at Church bus stop along the Oshodi-Apapa express road. An eyewitness said the victim, Taskirat Anjolaiya, was alighting from a public bus with her child and had not noticed the furious police van coming from the wrong traffic direction towards her.

One of the victim’s relatives disclosed that the driver of the police van, identified as Corporal Friday, told their family that he was driving his boss’s mistress to the airport, apparently to catch a flight, and had to maneuver through traffic to get his passenger quickly to her destination. An eyewitness said the police corporal seemed to act with drunken disregard for other road users. “As he was driving, he was waving his hand and shouting at drivers who were driving the right way to clear out of the road,” the witness told SaharaReporters. “He kept driving that way until he eventually knocked down the woman coming out of the bus with her baby.”

Family sources said the badly injured woman and her baby were rushed to the emergency ward at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). Doctors reportedly discovered that she had sustained a pelvic fracture, facial bruises, and brain injury. The baby, Ammarah Anjolaiya, also suffered deep facial cuts and a broken jaw.

A family source said Corporal Friday’s first concern at the scene of the accident was to immediately arrange a cab to convey the “madam” in his car to her destination. He later provided the injured woman’s family with N70,000 for treatment. The source said the culprit subsequently abandoned the victims of his reckless driving at the hospital. “We have so far spent above N500,000 on treatment and upkeep,” said the source.

Another family source told SaharaReporters that the victim’s husband, Sulaiman Anjolaiya, had been unemployed for several months. “His wife was the bread winner of the family and now she is down with mental and physical injuries due to the behavior of this police corporal who has now abandoned them to the fate he inflicted on the family,” she said.

Our sources disclosed that the family of the victim had a shocking experience when they visited the FESTAC divisional police station to meet with the Divisional Police Officer, Ibrahim Zango, whose mistress was being taken to the airport at the time of the accident. “DPO Zango spoke to us in a very rude manner before offering us additional ten thousand naira,” said one of the victim’s relatives. He added that the DPO said the woman being driven by the reckless police driver was “just a relative.”

Mrs. Taskirat Anjolaiya is currently receiving treatment at LUTH for her physical and mental injuries.

Dele Momodu & Femi Otedola pictured exiting the billionaire's yacht

Ovation Publisher:- Dele Momodu coming down from 'Femi Otedola's wonder-on-water :- A massive yacht with a three bed apartment. He was there for an Ovation International exclusive

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Police declare Rivers Assembly majority leader, Chidi Lloyd, wanted

You all remember the law maker who was filmed hitting his colleague with the mace during the mayhem at Rivers State Assembly last week? Yeah well, he's been declared wanted by the police.

Punch reports

Following the free-for-all that took place in the chambers of the Rivers State House of Assembly, the state Police Command has declared the Majority Leader, Mr. Chidi Lloyd, wanted.
Lloyd was on Wednesday declared wanted for his involvement in a case of conspiracy, attempted murder, wounding and willful damage on Monday last week.
The lawmaker, representing Emohua State Constituency, was caught in a video footage hitting a member of the House of Assembly, Mr. Michael Chinda, several times with a mace during the fracas in the Assembly.

Chinda, whose health condition became worse after the incident, had since been flown abroad for proper medical attention. He represents Obio/Akpor Constituency II in the State House of Assembly.
The injured legislator was one of the five lawmakers that attempted to impeach the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Otelemaba Amachree.

In a statement by the state Police Public Relations, Mrs. Angela Agabe, the command explained that Lloyd was declared wanted after he failed to honour the invitation of the police, which elapsed on July 16, 2013.

“The Rivers State Police Command has declared wanted one Honorable Chidi Lloyd (male); a native of Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State. He is the Majority Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

“He (Lloyd) was involved in a case of conspiracy, attempted murder, wounding and willful damage on the 9th of July, 2013,” the command’s statement read.
The crime, according to the statement, is being investigated by a special team from the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, in collaboration with the State Criminal Investigative Department, Rivers State Command.

It noted that the lawmaker was last seen at the Rivers State House of Assembly on July 9, 2013 and called on any person or group of persons with information of Lloyd’s whereabouts to call 0808088890 or 08033277007.

Reacting to the development, the State Peoples Democratic Party described police declaration of Lloyd wanted as a welcome development.
A statement by the Special Adviser, Media, to the State PDP Chairman, Mr. Jerry Needam, urged the Police to also arrest and investigate the Aide-de-Camp and Chief Security Officer to the state Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi.
However, the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Leyii Kwanee, expressed dissatisfaction with the decision of the police to declare Lloyd wanted.
Kwanee, who spoke in a telephone interview with The PUNCH on Wednesday, said the fracas in the state House of Assembly was not the first.

The deputy speaker recalled that lawmakers had fought in the National Assembly in the past without the police declaring anybody wanted.
In a related development, the Force Headquarters, Abuja, has summoned Lloyd; the ADC to the Rivers State Governor, Debeware-Semeikumo; and the Chief Security Officer to the Governor, Tony Iwelu, for interrogation.

They are to report to the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Force Headquarters, Abuja, for interrogation for their roles in the Assembly mayhem as seen in the video clips in circulation, according to the police.

Lloyd is one of the members of the House loyal to the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi.
The PUNCH had exclusively reported on Monday that Amaechi’s ADC had been summoned for interrogation by the Force Headquarters for engaging in a brawl with a member of the state assembly as captured in a video.

A statement by the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, on Wednesday stated that the men were invited to obtain further details that would assist proper investigation into the matter.