Shockwaves are reverberating across Yorùbáland and the global Yorùbá diaspora following the sudden death of the Baba Ọba (King’s Father) of the famed Oyotunji African Village in South Carolina, USA. The late Baba Ọba, Lukman Arohunfale, a revered socialite and traditionalist, passed away under circumstances already sparking fierce controversy. His death comes just days after he publicly accused the newly installed Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty Oba Akeem Adéyẹmọ Owoade, of allegedly ordering his courtiers to beat him mercilessly during a recent courtesy visit to the Oyo palace in Nigeria. In a widely circulated voice recording, the deceased recounted how what was meant to be a simple homage turned violent. Although the Baba Ọba had reportedly battled ill health in the past year, growing insinuations suggest that the alleged physical assault may have aggravated his condition, ultimately leading to his untimely death. The palace in Oyo recently denied that s...
This story just keeps getting more controversy. The family of Mayowa Ahmed has denied claims its fund raiser to fly the UNILAG graduate abroad for cancer surgery was a scam.
The family had raised $100,847 via crowdfunding site Go Fund Me, with the support of people like actress Toyin Aimakhu. Additional donations, reportedly running into millions were also received via a bank account provided by her family.
But on Thursday reports started flying in the social media that the #SaveMayowa campaign was a scam, sparking controversy. What is the position of things now?
According to reports, Toyin Aimakhu, who played a role in soliciting funds, had reported the family to the police, with claims that doctors at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital had said that they refused to give the family a referral for treatment abroad as no hospital could save her.
The report divided Nigerians on social media with some expressing anger and disgust at the family and others criticising the reports and LUTH for insinuating that the family shouldn’t have pursued further treatment after being informed Mayowa’s cancer was at stage 4.
Amid the controversy, the family issued a statement, insisting that they did not deceive Nigerians and that they had contacted hospitals abroad and were concluding arrangements to fly her abroad for treatment as planned.
In the statement, Mayowa Ahmed's family explained that it had also contacted Flying Doctors to fly Mayowa to Dubai for treatment, while providing evidence of correspondence with a hospital abroad.
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