• Home
  • Contact
Monday, July 14, 2025
Northeast Star
  • Home
  • News
    • All
    • Gender-Based Violence
    Buni distributes agricultural inputs to 1,000 vulnerable farmers in Yobe

    Buni approves two minimum wages for varsity staff, others in Yobe

    Armed Forces Score 81% in BRAVE-IT Security Rating, Navy, NDLEA Receive Top Honours

    Armed Forces Score 81% in BRAVE-IT Security Rating, Navy, NDLEA Receive Top Honours

    NOA engages Gombe stakeholders to strengthen national unity

    NOA engages Gombe stakeholders to strengthen national unity

    uni upgrades 16 additional PHCs to boost Yobe's healthcare delivery

    Buni Boosts Rural Healthcare: 16 More PHCs Upgraded Across Yobe

    States, councils creations resonate at Constitution review committee in Northeast

    States, councils creation  resonate at Constitution review committee in Northeast

    Cooperative society key driver of economic growth – Adamawa Gov

    Cooperative society key driver of economic growth – Adamawa Gov

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
    • Breaking News
    • National
    • Local
    • Africa
  • Politics
  • Business & Economy
  • North East
    MNJTF deploys swamp buggies to tackle terrorism, water hyacinths in Lake Chad  

    Nigerian Army boosts troops’ morale with 70 houses to end terrorism, kidnapping

    DHQ Debunks Misleading Reports, Says CDS Musa Never Blamed Benue Victims

    Troops Foil Massive Bandit Invasion in Kebbi, Neutralize Dozens

    CDS Musa Launches Youth-Led SAVE Task Forces, Rallies Northeast Students Against Extremism

    CDS Musa Launches Youth-Led SAVE Task Forces, Rallies Northeast Students Against Extremism

    Navy, Army commit to secure naval base, Lake Chad waters against insurgency in Borno

    Navy, Army commit to secure naval base, Lake Chad waters against insurgency in Borno

    Army Vows Crackdown on Benue Killers, Strengthens Operations Nationwide  

    Army Vows Crackdown on Benue Killers, Strengthens Operations Nationwide  

    Army, Police collaborate to tackle insecurity, two others in Borno

    Army, Police collaborate to tackle insecurity, two others in Borno

    Deadly Blow to Terror: Haram Commander Abu Fatima Killed in Kukawa Strike

    Deadly Blow to Terror: Haram Commander Abu Fatima Killed in Kukawa Strike

    Fierce Firepower: Troops Repel Boko Haram Attacks in New Marte, Kumshe — Recover VBIED, Neutralize Dozens

    Fierce Firepower: Troops Repel Boko Haram Attacks in New Marte, Kumshe — Recover VBIED, Neutralize Dozens

    NAF Jets Pound Over 100 Illegal Refineries in Niger Delta Blitz

    NAF Jets Pound Over 100 Illegal Refineries in Niger Delta Blitz

    Trending Tags

      • Adamawa
      • Bauchi
      • Borno
      • Gombe
      • Taraba
      • Yobe
    • Defence
      MNJTF deploys swamp buggies to tackle terrorism, water hyacinths in Lake Chad  

      Nigerian Army boosts troops’ morale with 70 houses to end terrorism, kidnapping

      DHQ Debunks Misleading Reports, Says CDS Musa Never Blamed Benue Victims

      Troops Foil Massive Bandit Invasion in Kebbi, Neutralize Dozens

      CDS Musa Launches Youth-Led SAVE Task Forces, Rallies Northeast Students Against Extremism

      CDS Musa Launches Youth-Led SAVE Task Forces, Rallies Northeast Students Against Extremism

      Navy, Army commit to secure naval base, Lake Chad waters against insurgency in Borno

      Navy, Army commit to secure naval base, Lake Chad waters against insurgency in Borno

      Army Vows Crackdown on Benue Killers, Strengthens Operations Nationwide  

      Army Vows Crackdown on Benue Killers, Strengthens Operations Nationwide  

      Army, Police collaborate to tackle insecurity, two others in Borno

      Army, Police collaborate to tackle insecurity, two others in Borno

      Deadly Blow to Terror: Haram Commander Abu Fatima Killed in Kukawa Strike

      Deadly Blow to Terror: Haram Commander Abu Fatima Killed in Kukawa Strike

      Fierce Firepower: Troops Repel Boko Haram Attacks in New Marte, Kumshe — Recover VBIED, Neutralize Dozens

      Fierce Firepower: Troops Repel Boko Haram Attacks in New Marte, Kumshe — Recover VBIED, Neutralize Dozens

      NAF Jets Pound Over 100 Illegal Refineries in Niger Delta Blitz

      NAF Jets Pound Over 100 Illegal Refineries in Niger Delta Blitz

      Trending Tags

        • Crime
      • Health
      • Agriculture
      • Entertainment
        Osunsanya, Onwuka, Duru Named in NANTAP FCT’s State Advisory Council

        Osunsanya, Onwuka, Duru Named in NANTAP FCT’s State Advisory Council

        Actor Godwin Nnadiekwe Raises Alarm Over On-Set Safety After Near-Fatal Injury

        Actor Godwin Nnadiekwe Raises Alarm Over On-Set Safety After Near-Fatal Injury

        Empowering Women, Transforming Africa: CBW-Africa to Host Landmark Summit in Lagos

        Empowering Women, Transforming Africa: CBW-Africa to Host Landmark Summit in Lagos

        Court Postpones Speed Darlington's N300m Suit Against Police Until March 19

        Court Postpones Speed Darlington’s N300m Suit Against Police Until March 19

        Funke Akindele, Tunde Olaoye Top Nigeria’s Highest-Grossing Directors of 2024

        Funke Akindele, Tunde Olaoye Top Nigeria’s Highest-Grossing Directors of 2024

        Afrobeat Star D'Banj to Perform at African Military Games Abuja 2024

        Afrobeat Star D’Banj to Perform at African Military Games Abuja 2024

      No Result
      View All Result
      • Home
      • News
        • All
        • Gender-Based Violence
        Buni distributes agricultural inputs to 1,000 vulnerable farmers in Yobe

        Buni approves two minimum wages for varsity staff, others in Yobe

        Armed Forces Score 81% in BRAVE-IT Security Rating, Navy, NDLEA Receive Top Honours

        Armed Forces Score 81% in BRAVE-IT Security Rating, Navy, NDLEA Receive Top Honours

        NOA engages Gombe stakeholders to strengthen national unity

        NOA engages Gombe stakeholders to strengthen national unity

        uni upgrades 16 additional PHCs to boost Yobe's healthcare delivery

        Buni Boosts Rural Healthcare: 16 More PHCs Upgraded Across Yobe

        States, councils creations resonate at Constitution review committee in Northeast

        States, councils creation  resonate at Constitution review committee in Northeast

        Cooperative society key driver of economic growth – Adamawa Gov

        Cooperative society key driver of economic growth – Adamawa Gov

        Trending Tags

        • Trump Inauguration
        • United Stated
        • White House
        • Market Stories
        • Election Results
        • Breaking News
        • National
        • Local
        • Africa
      • Politics
      • Business & Economy
      • North East
        MNJTF deploys swamp buggies to tackle terrorism, water hyacinths in Lake Chad  

        Nigerian Army boosts troops’ morale with 70 houses to end terrorism, kidnapping

        DHQ Debunks Misleading Reports, Says CDS Musa Never Blamed Benue Victims

        Troops Foil Massive Bandit Invasion in Kebbi, Neutralize Dozens

        CDS Musa Launches Youth-Led SAVE Task Forces, Rallies Northeast Students Against Extremism

        CDS Musa Launches Youth-Led SAVE Task Forces, Rallies Northeast Students Against Extremism

        Navy, Army commit to secure naval base, Lake Chad waters against insurgency in Borno

        Navy, Army commit to secure naval base, Lake Chad waters against insurgency in Borno

        Army Vows Crackdown on Benue Killers, Strengthens Operations Nationwide  

        Army Vows Crackdown on Benue Killers, Strengthens Operations Nationwide  

        Army, Police collaborate to tackle insecurity, two others in Borno

        Army, Police collaborate to tackle insecurity, two others in Borno

        Deadly Blow to Terror: Haram Commander Abu Fatima Killed in Kukawa Strike

        Deadly Blow to Terror: Haram Commander Abu Fatima Killed in Kukawa Strike

        Fierce Firepower: Troops Repel Boko Haram Attacks in New Marte, Kumshe — Recover VBIED, Neutralize Dozens

        Fierce Firepower: Troops Repel Boko Haram Attacks in New Marte, Kumshe — Recover VBIED, Neutralize Dozens

        NAF Jets Pound Over 100 Illegal Refineries in Niger Delta Blitz

        NAF Jets Pound Over 100 Illegal Refineries in Niger Delta Blitz

        Trending Tags

          • Adamawa
          • Bauchi
          • Borno
          • Gombe
          • Taraba
          • Yobe
        • Defence
          MNJTF deploys swamp buggies to tackle terrorism, water hyacinths in Lake Chad  

          Nigerian Army boosts troops’ morale with 70 houses to end terrorism, kidnapping

          DHQ Debunks Misleading Reports, Says CDS Musa Never Blamed Benue Victims

          Troops Foil Massive Bandit Invasion in Kebbi, Neutralize Dozens

          CDS Musa Launches Youth-Led SAVE Task Forces, Rallies Northeast Students Against Extremism

          CDS Musa Launches Youth-Led SAVE Task Forces, Rallies Northeast Students Against Extremism

          Navy, Army commit to secure naval base, Lake Chad waters against insurgency in Borno

          Navy, Army commit to secure naval base, Lake Chad waters against insurgency in Borno

          Army Vows Crackdown on Benue Killers, Strengthens Operations Nationwide  

          Army Vows Crackdown on Benue Killers, Strengthens Operations Nationwide  

          Army, Police collaborate to tackle insecurity, two others in Borno

          Army, Police collaborate to tackle insecurity, two others in Borno

          Deadly Blow to Terror: Haram Commander Abu Fatima Killed in Kukawa Strike

          Deadly Blow to Terror: Haram Commander Abu Fatima Killed in Kukawa Strike

          Fierce Firepower: Troops Repel Boko Haram Attacks in New Marte, Kumshe — Recover VBIED, Neutralize Dozens

          Fierce Firepower: Troops Repel Boko Haram Attacks in New Marte, Kumshe — Recover VBIED, Neutralize Dozens

          NAF Jets Pound Over 100 Illegal Refineries in Niger Delta Blitz

          NAF Jets Pound Over 100 Illegal Refineries in Niger Delta Blitz

          Trending Tags

            • Crime
          • Health
          • Agriculture
          • Entertainment
            Osunsanya, Onwuka, Duru Named in NANTAP FCT’s State Advisory Council

            Osunsanya, Onwuka, Duru Named in NANTAP FCT’s State Advisory Council

            Actor Godwin Nnadiekwe Raises Alarm Over On-Set Safety After Near-Fatal Injury

            Actor Godwin Nnadiekwe Raises Alarm Over On-Set Safety After Near-Fatal Injury

            Empowering Women, Transforming Africa: CBW-Africa to Host Landmark Summit in Lagos

            Empowering Women, Transforming Africa: CBW-Africa to Host Landmark Summit in Lagos

            Court Postpones Speed Darlington's N300m Suit Against Police Until March 19

            Court Postpones Speed Darlington’s N300m Suit Against Police Until March 19

            Funke Akindele, Tunde Olaoye Top Nigeria’s Highest-Grossing Directors of 2024

            Funke Akindele, Tunde Olaoye Top Nigeria’s Highest-Grossing Directors of 2024

            Afrobeat Star D'Banj to Perform at African Military Games Abuja 2024

            Afrobeat Star D’Banj to Perform at African Military Games Abuja 2024

          No Result
          View All Result
          Northeast Star
          No Result
          View All Result
          Home News

          Wasted generation of Nigerian youths

          Lawrence Audu by Lawrence Audu
          September 24, 2023
          in News
          0
          Wasted generation of Nigerian youths
          0
          SHARES
          1
          VIEWS
          Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsApp

          By MS Abubakar, PhD, CAS

          Back in the ‘80s when those in leadership positions were running Nigeria aground, making a huge mess of everything they came in contact with, Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka summed up the situation as tersely as he could and not without his characteristic piquancy: Counting himself among that lot, Soyinka referred to one and all of them as a wasted generation, a generation, in his reckoning, that added no value whatsoever to a country they benefitted from immensely in several different ways.

          Many of them in positions of authority at the time were professionals in accounting, banking, law, medicine, public administration and management but always fell short of what proper governance is, should be or even how to make things work efficiently without the bureaucratic bottlenecks and sheer ineptitude of those calling the shots. Nor did the free education and scholarships they enjoyed abroad turn them into better managers of their own educational system. Despite all that preparation for those replacing the departing British colonial administrators in post-Independence Nigeria, nothing much came off it, in Soyinka’s view, thus his unflattering description of that generation.

          There has not been much changes from then till now. If anything, things have gone from bad to worse. While the older generation still hold onto power maintaining the status quo, as it were, Nigerians are witnessing another frightening dimension of another generation wasting away not from failure of leadership but because of self-inflicted wounds.

          Early in September, Nigerians woke up to the awful news of the tragic death of pop musician Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba aka Mohbad under very controversial and tragic circumstances. He was just 27!

          And such is the tragedy of his sudden demise that it has united in grief a greater population of young people across the country from north to south and east to west. Even now, bits and pieces of his death are still unfolding and trending with commentaries from Nollywood has-beens such as Tontoh Dike to friends and colleagues of the dead musician himself.

          One has said he has been suffering from insomnia since Mohbad’s death because of deceased’s strong spirit. It did not help much that he was alleged to have been done in by his close friends and former mentors Naira Marley and Sam Larry co-owners of Marlian Music label where Mohbad was once a signee.

          Following Mohbad’s demise are rumours of bullying from his senior colleagues. He was reportedly ordered beaten in Naira Marley’s residence once. He was also allegedly accosted and roughened up at a video shoot spearheaded by Larry himself along with other assailants bearing machetes, whips and much else. It was after that incident Mohbad promptly wrote a petition to the police authorities to alert them of the threat posed to his person by Larry.

          “I, of the above name and address, a law-abiding citizen and a musician bring to your notice the assault and threat to my life by the above-mentioned persons,” Mohbad’s petition to the CP of Lagos State began. “On 25th June, 2023 while having a video shoot with another artist by name Zlatan (Ibile, the above mentioned persons numbering about fifteen led by Sam Larry Elegushi invaded the premises with dangerous arms such as guns, cutlasses etc where I was shooting video and scattered the whole process of the shooting, damaged the equipment I was using for the shooting valued about Five Million Naira and started threatening my life which in the process they became violent and assaulted me which I sustained injuries but narrowly escaped.

          “Attached to this petition is the said pictures. Total amount I paid for the shooting they have destroyed is Eight Million Naira (N8, 000,000) which is non-refundable.

          “However, during the assault, they were boasting that they work for Oba Elegushi and that they have been asked to deal with me for reasons best known to them which till date they are still threatening to kill me if seen.

          “Sir, I call on your good office to save my life from the above-mentioned persons and bring them to book. Thank you for your timely intervention.”

          As it now seems, the police authorities’ intervention may not have been timely enough. Or, as the authorities themselves claim, Mohbad probably delayed it himself. Following his petition, the police duly invited the petitioner, Naira Marley and Sam Larry to state their case at the police station. Naira Marley and Sam Larry honoured the invitation presto. But Mohbad himself never showed up on the day in question.

          Not much was heard on the matter until news filtered around that the musician had died under questionable circumstances. Even now, information is still sketchy. One report had it he was rushed to a hospital shivering like he got the shakes at which point an auxiliary nurse injected him. Things became progressively worse from then on till Mohbad breathed his last and then the accusations and counter accusations started flying.

          What made the pain unbearable for his fans and sundry mourners was his age – a mere 27, and a budding musical talent for that matter already on the way to the top in is chosen métier.

          “Youth would be an ideal state,” an English wag once mused, “if it came much later in life.” The inference is that the beauty, freshness of youth, a forever-young state would be desirable in old age when the inevitable wrinkles invade us. But what about when young people die in their prime, when they’re almost just budding, sort of?

          Shortly before Mohbad’s untimely death, a 19-year-old boy, according to reports, was buried in his father’s compound “after being shot by so-called cultists.” Last August, a just-graduated student of Lagos State University Ojo had a great time with her parents during the institution’s convocation. Rather than go home with them, she opted to stay back and have some fun with her friends. It would be the last time her parents would see her alive. The following day at 5am, she was found dead and buried in a shallow grave with her private parts sliced off. The graduate was a mere 21.

          Another premature death involved an 18-year-old student who told her parents she wanted to visit her classmates. She returned in pieces, bloodied, mutilated and deposited right in front of her father’s compound. It was a cult-related killing.

          Of course, their demise did not attract as much attention or traction in social media as Mohbad’s. “When beggars die, there are no comets seen,” Shakespeare long ago reminded us in Julius Caesar. “The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.”

          The deceased students were certainly not paupers. Neither was Mohbad a prince. He was born into an unremarkable home at Ikorodu in Lagos state but threw himself into a profession where he hoped for that infinitesimal chance of making money, of becoming somebody to be reckoned with in society – a celeb kind of. Therefore, his death became something of a national disaster simply because of his fame.

          In the end, the same fame Mohbad sought was his undoing. Until his conversion by NDLEA, Naira Marley was the original poster boy of substance abuse, of copious consumption of mind-altering drugs. He sang about them, was never without a joint in his musical video promos and enthusiastically encouraged their use among his many admirers of which Mohbad was one.

          In death, Mohbad is in good company with a fellow musician who died under the same tragic circumstances and was also destined for the top.

          Oladapo Olaitan Olaonipekun aka Da Grin was the rave of the moment when he died in a freak auto accident on April 10 2010. He was two years younger than Mohbad, at just 25.

          Now, Entertainment reporters have been pondering the eerie coincidences in the premature death of the two artistes. One account has said that “both deaths caught Nigerians unawares, leaving them in shocking disbelief given the musicians’ age and celeb status. Both were also noted users of mind-bending drugs. In the case of Da Grin, a postmortem conducted on him found the level of alcohol was enough to kill a man two times over. Da Grin died while driving under the influence in a car crash somewhere around Ojuelegba on Lagos/ Ikorodu Expressway.”

          Naira Marley asks God never to allow him quit smoking

          As a disciple of Naira Marley, Mohbad was also a notorious consumer of hard drugs, forever experimenting with a cocktail of drugs or anything as long as it can give a high. As anyone can tell and from as long as anyone can remember, substance abuse and artistes are somewhat inseparable. The great African American left-handed guitarist Jimi Hendrix died of a drug overdose. Kurt Cobain of Nirvana contemplated suicide many times before finally killing himself. South African songstress Brenda Fasie ended up the way many thought she was going to go. So with immortal Whitney Houston.

          But not many of them foresaw their demise. In that, Mohbad was also in good company – again with Da Grin. Da Grin released “If I Die,” before he passed on. Those in the know insist it “sounded like a prophecy or a premonition of his death. The song was almost too accurate to be a coincidence and it remains a mysterious question to date. Did he know he was going to die? The lyrics of the song felt like he was sending cryptic messages of what was to come. This remains a question we will never get answers to.”

          Convicted fraudster claims he had cocaine-fueled sex with Obama in 1999

          On his part, there are reports now (whether real or imagined is hard to say) Mohbad told friends of his apprehensions about his imminent death, of his quarrel with his former music mates and smoking companions. What is more than certain like the tattoo on the bicep of a teenage city boy with orange hair is that Mohbad died too soon (just like Da Grin) thus securing for them a prominent place among the wasted generation of Nigerian youths.

           

          Post Views: 155

          Related

          Tags: Wasted generation of Nigerian youths
          Previous Post

          British model issues lengthy, sincere apology for cultural appropriation

          Next Post

          Julie Okoh Abah: A Champion for Women’s Rights and Social Justice

          Next Post
          Julie Okoh Abah: A Champion for Women’s Rights and Social Justice

          Julie Okoh Abah: A Champion for Women's Rights and Social Justice

          Leave a Reply Cancel reply

          Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

          1 × three =

          Stay Connected

          • Trending
          • Comments
          • Latest
          Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed commission completes border demarcation peacefully, says UN

          Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed commission completes border demarcation peacefully, says UN

          July 1, 2024
          UN Commends Nigeria, Cameroon for Implementing ICJ Border Ruling

          UN Commends Nigeria, Cameroon for Implementing ICJ Border Ruling

          January 29, 2025
          Gindiri Old Students' Association (GOSA) Holds World Press Conference for 2024 National Convention

          Gindiri Old Students’ Association (GOSA) Holds World Press Conference for 2024 National Convention

          October 4, 2024
          Restoring The Rule Of Law To Otulu Ogwashi-Uku: A Community Under Siege

          Restoring The Rule Of Law To Otulu Ogwashi-Uku: A Community Under Siege

          December 7, 2024
          Gov Inuwa Constitutes Task Force For Distribution Of Food Items, Others

          Gov Inuwa Constitutes Task Force For Distribution Of Food Items, Others

          4

          Gombe Govt presents 77% Aggregate Revenue Performance from 2020 Budget

          1

          Truck drivers protest, block Numan-Gombe highway over police brutality

          1

          GPHCDA takes delivery of medical equipment, provides free delivery kits for pregnant women

          1
          MNJTF deploys swamp buggies to tackle terrorism, water hyacinths in Lake Chad  

          Nigerian Army boosts troops’ morale with 70 houses to end terrorism, kidnapping

          July 13, 2025
          Buni distributes agricultural inputs to 1,000 vulnerable farmers in Yobe

          Buni approves two minimum wages for varsity staff, others in Yobe

          July 13, 2025

          July 13, 2025
           Dan Barde Sparks New Political Momentum in Gombe Ahead of 2027

           Dan Barde Sparks New Political Momentum in Gombe Ahead of 2027

          July 11, 2025

          Recent News

          MNJTF deploys swamp buggies to tackle terrorism, water hyacinths in Lake Chad  

          Nigerian Army boosts troops’ morale with 70 houses to end terrorism, kidnapping

          July 13, 2025
          Buni distributes agricultural inputs to 1,000 vulnerable farmers in Yobe

          Buni approves two minimum wages for varsity staff, others in Yobe

          July 13, 2025

          July 13, 2025
           Dan Barde Sparks New Political Momentum in Gombe Ahead of 2027

           Dan Barde Sparks New Political Momentum in Gombe Ahead of 2027

          July 11, 2025
          • About
          • Advertise
          • Privacy & Policy
          • Contact

          © 2024 Northeast Star - The Widely Read Magazine.

          No Result
          View All Result
          • Home
          • News
            • Breaking News
            • National
            • Local
            • Africa
          • Politics
          • Business & Economy
          • North East
            • Adamawa
            • Bauchi
            • Borno
            • Gombe
            • Taraba
            • Yobe
          • Defence
            • Crime
          • Health
          • Agriculture
          • Entertainment

          © 2024 Northeast Star - The Widely Read Magazine.