Politics
By Anthony Isibor
ALTHOUGH many Nigerians will easily remember the year 2022 for all the positive gains they recorded, some others, who were not so lucky, will most definitely remember it for the loss they had.
Realnews takes a look at some of the top losers and winners in different categories both locally and internationally.
In the area of politics, the Osun and Ekiti state governorship elections would definitely stand out as important political activities of 2022 in Nigeria.
While Biodun Oyebanji, the candidate of the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, emerged the winner, Bisi Kolawole of the Peoples Democratic Party was the loser in Ekiti State. Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party came out as the winner in Osun State after defeating the incumbent governor, Oyetola of the APC.
In the international scene, 2022 witnessed an upturn of political permutations and the subsequent emergence of new political leaders.
Africa witnessed two presidential elections in Kenya and Angola and many parliamentary elections were held that led to the emergence of several winners as well as losers.
In Britain, for example, Liz Truss defeated Rishi Sunak to become the new Prime Minister of Britain with 81,326 votes to 60,399, after Boris Johnson’s resignation in July.
However, in a twist of events, Rishi Sunak ended up as the top winner after Truss resigned just six weeks into a disastrous term, making her the shortest-serving Prime Minister in British history.
The year, 2022 also recorded the death of some prominent Nigerians, including celebrities, religious leaders, politicians among others.
However, the entertainment industry seem to be the worst hit, following the deaths of Gospel singer, Osinachi Nwachukwu, who passed away on Friday, April 8, 2022, at the age of 42, popular gospel singer, Sammie Okposo, died on Friday, November 25, 2022 at age 51, Oniyide Azeez, a Nigerian trap artiste and rapper best known as Dablixx Osha, was one of the few Nigerian artistes, died on Wednesday, November 9, 2022
Ada Ameh, a Nollywood veteran died on July 17, 2022, in Warri, Delta State at the age of 48, Sola Awojobi Onayiga, another veteran Nollywood actress, died on July 18, 2022, Yoruba actor, John Adewuni died in Osogbo on February 1, at the age of 69, Veteran actor, Romanus Amuta, died on February 9, 2022 at the age of 79, as well as Late veteran actor, Yinka Ogundaisi, who passed on Wednesday, June 15.
There was also Biyi Bandele, a Nigerian novelist, playwright, director of Half of a Yellow Sun and co-director of Blood Sisters, a Nigerian series, who died on Sunday, August 17, 2022, Lari Williams, founding National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, died at the age of 81 on February 27, 2022, Patrick Fakoya, Big Brother Naija former season 3 housemate, popularly known as Rico Swavey also died on Thursday, October 13, 2022.
Similarly, Nigeria lost Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, the 45th Monarch of the Oyo Empire who reigned for 51 years at the age of 83 on 22 April, His Royal Majesty, the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji also died in January at the age of 93.
Internationally, there was so many deaths recorded, but we will forever remember, Queen Elizabeth II of England, Barbara Walters, the broadcast legend, Barbara Walters, the broadcast legend who is famous to have interviewed every sitting president and first lady from the Nixons to the Obamas, and for her sit-down interviews with household names like Mother Teresa and Colin Powell in her annual special Barbara Walters’ 10 Most Fascinating People, which ran from 1993 to 2015, Mikhail S. Gorbachev, Sidney Poitier, Bill Russell, Loretta Lynn, Jiang Zemin, Madeleine Albright, Jean-Luc Godard, Shinzo Abe, Pelé, Régine, Meat Loaf, Ivana Trump, Vin Scully, and a several host of others.
Nigeria also recorded the death of Ernest Shonekan, former President and Head of the National Interim Government (ING), on January 11, 2022, at aged 85, Arthur Nzeribe, on May 8, at the age of 83, Vincent Ogbulafor, former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, died on October 6, at the age of 73, among others.
The year rounded up with the exit of two great men, Prof. George Obiozor, President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, and football legend Pele.
However, millions of Nigerians will definitely stand out as top losers as 133 million of them have been declared to be living below the poverty line as they continue to daily confront widespread insecurity, unemployment, double digit inflation, socio-economic and political challenges which have made life more difficult for Nigerians.
A.I
Tags: Ademola Adeleke Bisi Kolawole Prof. George Obiozor
