You think they have it all...you even envy them...then they commit suicide

I've been trying to make sense of actor and comedian Robin William's death yesterday...from an apparent suicide. I asked myself why would a man who seemed to have it all...fame, money, successful career, children, wife, and some things many dream of and only a few have - Oscar win, Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, block buster movies, millions of fans around the world, star treatment anywhere they go..etc...and yet, they take their own lives after battling depression for years.

I'm not an expert on depression, but I used to think depression comes from not being fulfilled in life. When there's something you desperately want for yourself and you're unable to achieve it or when you have it all and then you lose it or you lose a loved one, or your business/marriage fails..stuff like that. When I battled depression for a few months back in 2010 it was because I was so unfulfilled. My dreams weren't coming true, everything seemed hopeless and I just didn't know what else to do.. but I eventually got over it. I've been asking myself, why wasn't Robin Williams able to get over it?

Diff'rent Strokes star Todd Bridges took to Twitter last night to criticize Robin's suicide, calling it a 'selfish act'. Below is what he wrote 

'Suicide is a very selfish act. You don't think that my life has been hell and I've had so many ups and downs now. If I did that what am I showing my children that when it gets tough that's the way out? No you gotta buckle down ask God to help you. That's when prayer really comes into effect. Rest in peace Robin Williams I hope you found what you were looking for.' Continue

He's since taken the tweet down and apologized after he was bashed for the comments.

'I would like to apologize for the terrible timing of me comments that I made in reference to the untimely death of Robin Williams,' Bridges wrote. 'My best friend committed suicide a few months ago, and I was devastated to discover that he did not solicit my help.

'I am sure that my attitude toward Williams's death was a delayed reaction of my best friend's death.'

Robin is my all-time favourite stand up comedian and definitely one of my most loved actors. I don't understand the world inside his head, I just wish he had been able to fight his demons. He battled depression and substance abuse for most of his career...and you wonder, why? He could make the world laugh but he couldn't find anything to live for? I don't understand. Can someone help the rest of us make sense of this?

Man arrested for killing school pupil after she refused his sexual advances

The Ebonyi state police command has arrested 28 year old Sunday Nwali for allegedly killing a pupil miss Chioma Ezekwele of Kingdom Secondary School in Ikweator Idembia in Ezza South Local Government of Ebonyi state after she refused his sexual advances.

Parading the suspect before newsmen at the state police command in Abakaliki the state capital, the state Police Commissioner, Mr Maigari Dikko said Nwali aka Machine in company of his friends named Chukwuma Eloma and Friday Ebenyi had gone to the hostel of the school where they accosted late Chioma and her friend Sandra. He demanded sex from Chioma which she refused and in anger, he shot her dead. He then dragged her friend Sandra into the bush where he raped her and then fled the scene.

'Chioma resisted a move by Nwali to have carnal knowledge of her and in annoyance, he shot her dead. He then dragged Sandra to a nearby bush, defiled  her and ran away. His two accomplices, who were later identified by Sandra, were arrested and charged to court for conspiracy/murder.” the Commissioner said

Nwali was recently involved in a murder case after he and his gang killed the three year old son of one Mr Orie Okorie who they had gone to assassinate in Effium in Ebonyi state. 

How Lagos nursing mother got infected with Ebola virus - doctor

A medical doctor has described how a nursing mother who is one of the confirmed cases of the Ebola virus in Lagos contracted the disease while attending her antenatal care at First Consultant Hospital in Obalende, Lagos where the first victim of Ebola virus in Nigeria, Patrick Sawyerr, died. The lady was confirmed to have the deadly disease after testing positive at the NNPC staff clinic on Muri Okunola street in the Victoria Island area of Lagos.

Speaking anonymously with Punch, the doctor said;

'The lady attended ante-natal at First Consultant prior to the arrival of the Liberian, Mr. Patrick Sawyer. She was delivered of her baby at the hospital after which she was discharged. A few weeks later, Mr. Sawyer came around and was attended to by health workers. He was first treated for malaria, then typhoid, before there was high index of suspicion. He tested positive for Ebola and died. Then the woman, who gave birth at the hospital came back to the hospital for her baby’s immunization. The nurses who attended to Sawyer also attended to her. When she visited the place again last week, she discovered the place had been shut down for proper fumigation as a means of control against Ebola.” he said. Continue...

Seeing that the hospital has been shut down, the lady who had started showing signs of fever proceeded to the NNPC staff clinic which was close by.

'She was first treated for Malaria. However, after some medical tests, there was a high suspicion of Ebola haemorrhagic fever. On Friday, the Lagos State’s emergency response team on Ebola virus came around and took her to the Infectious Diseases Hospital,” he added.

The management of the hospital after confirming she had the deadly virus immediately shut down the hospital indefinitely. 

Confirming the doctor's report, the Medical Officer of Health, Iru-Victoria Island Local Council Development Area, Dr. Wale Akeredolu, said the woman's baby has been quarantined and is under surveillance 

“The baby has also been quarantined to see if after the incubation period of two to 21 days, she would manifest the symptoms of Ebola.” he said

Graphic Photo: Ghastly Motor Accident involving RCCG Members

According to an eyewitness, some RCCG members coming back from camp had a fatal accident some hours ago along Akure - Ilesha expressway. See the full photo after the cut. May their souls rest in perfect peace.

Spanish priest infected with Ebola in Liberia dies in hospital

The 75 year old Spanish priest who was infected with the Ebola virus in Liberia and evacuated to Spain to get better treatment has died, a Madrid spokeswoman from Madrid Health authorities said this morning.

Fr. Miguel Pajares, who was airlifted from Liberia on August 7 after contracting the disease while working for a non-governmental organization in the African country started using the experimental drug, Zmapp last Saturday 9th August but sadly lost the battle to the deadly virus. He was being treated at Carlos III hospital Madrid where he had been quarantined since his return from Liberia.

This will be the first European that has died from the recent outbreak of the deadly virus.

Ebola: US finally agrees to give Liberia experimental drug, ZMapp

The Liberian president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, announced yesterday that their country is to receive sample doses of experimental drug, ZMapp to treat doctors infected with Ebola

A statement published on Mrs Sirleaf's website on Monday said the US had approved a request from Liberia to ship the medicine after a direct appeal to US President Barack Obama on Friday.

But spokesperson for the US Health and Human Services (HHS) Department said US authorities had simply assisted in connecting the Liberian government with the drug's manufacturer, insisting that the drug company had worked directly with the Liberian government.

Meanwhile the deaths from Ebola has passed the 1,000 mark. Late yesterday, the World Health Organization said 1,013 people have now died from Ebola.

Woman who was brutally beaten by her husband over fish goes to court.

Fatima got 26 stitches on her face after she was brutalized by her husband over fish she took. Hope he goes to jail for this.

Kim K takes a selfie while kissing Kanye West

The queen of selfie herself talking a pic while kissing her husband, Kanye West, in an elevator.

Daddy Showkey declares armed robbers can never rob Him, they respect Him.

In an interview with Tribune, popular dancehall star Daddy Showkey said no armed robbers in Lagos can rob him because they respect him too much. He said he's encountered many of them on the streets, but they immediately let him go and even apologize when they recognize him. See below...

You were said to have been attacked by those alleged to be gunmen in your Lagos home shortly after you returned, could you tell us what happened?
Yes, they were assassins. They came to my house and killed one of my boys. Thank God I was lucky. Those guys were not armed robbers because in Nigeria today, no armed robbers can come to my house. It can never happen.
Why?
I grew up in the street of Ajegunle. I have always been a street boy. Armed robbers can never rob me. I have met a lot of them on the streets of Lagos several times and they will tell me Showkey Baba, we didn’t know it was you. Please, no vex, dey go. That respect is always there.
Armed robbers respect you? Do you have any connection with them?
That is a story for another day, Mr reporter.

So who were the people that came to my house?
The people that came to my house saw my son and asked him about my whereabouts, he said I was not around. My son went back inside and told one of my boys to go and attend to the guys at the gate, when he got there, they thought he was my bodyguard, so they shot him. They were inside my house for hours and they did not take anything away. Armed robber won’t come to my house and start asking of Showkey, they will face what they have come for and leave. But these guys were asking for me and when they didn’t see me, they left. I am sad because they killed one of my boys.
You were said to have been shot few months after that incident at your house, is that true?
Yes. I was shot inside a filling station in Lagos.
Why would anybody want to kill you?
I don’t know. I can’t even explain what could be responsible for that but I thank God that I have overcome that now.

Before you had that accident that kept you out of active music for almost ten years, the impression people had about you was that you had reached the eclipse of your career. Many people did not even know you had an accident until you came back. What do you have to say?
First of all, let me thank God that I am back again. Because If I had died before, during or after the accident, this interview will never happen. Talking about my career before the accident, you will agree with me that I have come a long way in the music industry. Myself and other old generation musicians set the ground rolling for today’s musicians and I am proud to say that.
But you will agree that at some point, Showkey’s name was not as pronounced as it used to be?
You can’t remain on top of your game for the rest of your life. There will be a moment when you will be forced to take the back seat and observe things, but that does not mean you are no more relevant or music has nothing to do with you again. The mistake most people make is that when they don’t see or hear about you, they quickly conclude that your life in music is over. I am not surprised that people didn’t know that I had an accident because I didn’t come out to tell Nigerians that I am down ooo, please help me.
Why? Are you saying that because you have the wherewithal to handle your predicament?
It is not about having the resources to handle my problem, it is more of my decision not to bother people with my problem. Why should I disturb them in the first place? Because they are my fans does not mean they should know about every step I take about my life. I asked myself one question which was, would Nigerians not have known if I was arrested for drugs or something capable of tarnishing my image?.
It seems you are sad that despite your popularity, Nigerians did not know that Daddy Showkey had a life-threatening accident...
No. I am not feeling any sadness in my heart. I am even happy right now. I can’t be happier. I am not bothered whether they know or they don’t. What matters to me is that I was able to handle my predicament through the help of God and some people who God used to help me. I am grateful to these people and I wish them well in all they do. They are my people now and they are my friends.
You have new friends now?
I didn’t say I have new friends. What I am saying is that I have learnt new lesson about life and I now know what friendship is about.
So none of your friends in the music industry came to the hospital to look after you?
The fact is that how many of them knew that I had an accident? How many of them knew which hospital I was admitted to?. It was not the matter of who was there or not, it was the matter of how I was able to handle my situation and managed everything very well. Another thing is that even those who would have come didn’t come because of one reason or the other but I am not bothered about that. Life goes on my brother. You live to learn and you learn to live. When on my sick bed, I read a report about my accident published by one national newspaper in Nigeria, I wept. I wept because that was the only newspaper that reported it.
What single lesson did that experience teach you?
Not a single one but many lessons but the chief of them is caution. I have learnt how to approach life with extreme caution. You know why? If Showkey had died in that accident, I am sure that by now people would have forgotten about me. Perhaps when they listen to any of my songs, they may feel like ouch! that was Showkey’s song. We missed him so much. The bitter truth is that life goes on.
What was running on your mind when you were on that bed? Did you at any point remember music and your dreams which could have gone unfulfilled?
How do I start to describe the experience to you? It was a very bad one but I thank God that I am lucky. The only question on my mind was will I be able to walk again? I was so particular about that question that my doctors would tell me, Mr man you will walk again. The doctors told me I would not have been able to work again if I had delayed the operation for few more weeks. I still don’t believe I am walking again because what I saw in the hospital gave me a different impression about life and I am grateful to God.