A Recap of the Top 12 News Stories of 2012

The year 2012 has been a very eventful year. Various happenings across the country have shaped decisions, influenced policies and changed the way both Nigerians and foreigners regard the country.

As we count down the last few hours till the end of the year, we have compiled a list of 12 major events that will not be forgotten in a hurry as far as 2012 is concerned. There was never a dull moment in Nigeria, however, some events stood out and are worth recounting. Here is a list (in no particular order) of what we feel are the 12 major news stories of the year 2012.

DANA AIR CRASH

 The DANA plane crash of Sunday 3rd June 2012, ripped the heart of the nation. All 153 passengers on board and some people on ground died when a commercial airliner operated by DANA Air heading from Abuja to Lagos crashed in the Iju area of Lagos. The event brought about a reawakening of the falling standards in the aviation sector and a ripple of events followed after the crash. President Goodluck Jonthan declared three days of mourning; DANA’s operating license was suspended but the suspension was lifted some months after; the coroner’s inquest was suspended and more.

Doctors’ Strike in Lagos state

For several weeks in the course of the year, doctors in Lagos state under the aegis of Medical Guild went on an indefinite strike, shutting down health activities in major government health institutions. The effect of the strike was devastating for residents of the state as the health of many patients suffered and some lives were lost due to the lack of affordable health care. During the strike, the doctors and the Lagos state government were at loggerheads as for several weeks, both parties refused to succumb to the other’s demands, thereby prolonging the strike.  The doctors demanded for the full implementation of  the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, CONMESS just as the Lagos state government said it couldn’t meet the demands. Also 788 doctors were sacked during that period but were later reinstated to their positions.

 Read More After The Cut

 

Cynthia Osokogu’s Murder

The tragic murder of 24 Year Old Cynthia Osokogu, a post-graduate student of Nasarawa State University and a clothing retailer by her Facebook friends in Lagos is another sad event that shocked many and brought a reawakening on the dangers of trusting people met via Social Media. Cynthia, upon the invitation of two young men she met via Facebook who promised to help her get cheap goods for her business was lured into Lagos. She was drugged, raped and killed in a hotel in Festac. Following her death her killers were arrested; the Pharmacists who sold the drugs to her killers were also arrested and released; other victims of her killers emerged; and the Federal Government made a move to ban Rohypnol, the drug used to sedate her.

Farouk Lawan vs Femi Otedola: $620,000 Bribery Scandal

When President Goodluck Jonathan constituted a committee to probe into the alleged misuse of funds meant for fuel subsidy, his overall aim must have been to catch and prosecute the culprits who mishandled the funds. However, a few weeks after the committee was constituted, the tables turned against the Chairman of the House of Representatives’ ad hoc committee on Fuel Subsidy, Farouk Lawan  who is alleged to have collected $620,000 as part payment for a bribe which he demanded from billionaire and oil magnate, Femi Otedola  in a bid to exonerate his companies from the fuel subsidy probe. The emerging stories from the discovery of the bribery; Lawan’s denial and subsequent admittance of collecting the bribe; the release of phone conversations between Otedola and Lawan and many more was nothing short of dramatic.

James Ibori’s Conviction and Sentencing in London

The former Governor of Delta state, James Ibori was undoubtedly, one of the most extravagant Governors ever in the history of our country, Nigeria. On February 27th 2012, he pleaded guilty to laundering millions of dollars from the oil-rich state. In a brazen case of corruption and fraud, Ibori was accused of stealing up to $250million. On Tuesday 17th April 2012, he was sentenced to 13 years in Prison at a UK Court. The news of his arrest, conviction, sentencing and other emerging stories was undoubtedly one of the most popular in 2012.

UNILAG renaming to MAULAG

On Tuesday 29th May 2012, during the Democracy Day broadcast, President Goodluck Jonathan unveiled new changes in the country, part of which was the renaming of the University of Lagos after late Chief M.K.O Abiola. President Jonathan announced that the name University of Lagos would be changed to Moshood Abiola University of Lagos, an announcement which was met with severe resistance by authorities and students of the University as well as other interest groups. Soon after the announcement, students of the institution poured out into the streets to protest, an action which lasted for two days. Although the Federal Government tried to put up a strong front, a court later restrained the FG from renaming the institution.

Aluu4: Murder of Four Undergraduate students of University of Port Harcourt

Nigerians were thrown into shock when news of the brutal killing of four students of University of Port Harcourt was spread. On Friday 5th October, 2012, the students were beaten to death by a mob in Aluu community, Port-Harcourt where they resided in off campus accomodation. Although they were initially accused of being cultists and robbers, the Inspector General of Police later exonerated them of all charges saying they were innocent and killed unjustly. Their death threw the country into a sober mood as students of their institution later protested; the institution was shut down, among other events that followed their death.

Boko Haram’s Violent Attacks

Hundreds of lives were lost in Nigeria, mostly the North-Eastern states in the most brutal way this year through bomb blasts and violent attacks by the radical Islamic sect, Boko Haram. Day after day, week after week, the sect terrorized Nigerians, launching bloody attacks on churches, schools, and public places. Each time, there was blood shed, loss of lives and tears. What is sad about the situation is that it has not been brought to a halt. The threats, bloodshed and insecurity of lives and property still rages on in most Northern states of the country.

Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor’s Private Jet

On Sunday 11th November 2012, a multi-million dollar private jet was gifted to the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN)/President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) – Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, an event which later became one of the hottest topics on Nigeria’s media sphere. The acquisition of the private jet by the Pastor was followed by a plethora of comments and debates on whether it was appropriate for a “man of God” to own such an expensive item. It was to became one of the most sensational topics of 2012.

Patience Jonathan

The first lady of Nigeria, Patience Jonathan was perhaps one of the most talked about women in Nigeria in 2012. She made the headlines several times, for diverse reasons and every time she did, she exuded this “you-can’t-stop-me” confidence that always made news about her a trending topic. From her appointment as a permanent secretary in Bayelsa state, to the mystery shrouding her prolonged stay in Germany for health reasons and her carnival like reception upon her return, the First Lady always had some drama around her.

CBN, Lamido Sanusi, N5,000 Notes

The apex banking institution in Nigeria, the Central Bank of Nigeria and its Governor, Lamido Sanusi were prominent names in financial related news this year. The bank came up with a number of policies, suggestions and reforms that were trending topics across the nation. In August 2012, Sanusi announced that the apex bank was going to introduce N5000 notes into circulation, a move which was resisted by most Nigerians and was eventually thwarted by the Presidency and House of Reps. The CBN also made mention of introducing coins dispensing ATM Machines, graphic ATMs for the physically challenged and halted the N100 charge for inter-bank ATM withdrawals.

Chinua Achebe vs Awolowo

The renown novelist, Chinua Achebe, brewed up quite a storm this year following the release of his long awaited war memoirs ‘There was a Country’. The book received some good reviews, however, his accusation of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, one of Nigeria’s most respected leaders of being part of the genocide brought up perhaps one of the most heated debates in the comment section on BellaNaija. The piece written by another renown novelist, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie titled “We Remember Differently” brought up another round of debates

Wait a minute! Do you remember #Occupy Nigeria? It is more than just a News item; it became a movement!  The #Occupy fever spread from the far West and soon landed in Nigeria en route North Africa. Only it was ignited by a January 1st announcement of the removal of fuel subsidy and a corresponding increase in the pump price of petrol. Nigerians would not have any of it, and in less than 24 hours, what would become one of the nation’s most significant civil mass protests began. Small groups of determined Nigerians multiplied across several major cities and increased rapidly in size, no thanks to the growing influence of social media and technology in propagating information. More than 16 people died in the ensuing seven days plus of civil disobedience that saw the Nigeria Police Force and (Nigerian soldiers in Lagos) cracking down on protesters. Check out the website here: www.occupynigeria.org.ng