By Prince-Solomon Okorie-Guidepost News International
EFCC Grills Former Senate President, Pius Anyim Over ₦750 Million Fraud.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Sunday, commenced interrogation of a former Senate President, Pius Anyim, in a case of alleged corruption and diversion of public funds.
According source, Sen. Anyim who was Senate President between 2000 and 2003, was appointed by then President Goodluck Jonathan as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation in 2011, a position the 60-year-old held till 2015.
Our reporter was informed by EFCC sources with direct knowledge of the case against him that Mr Anyim arrived at the headquarters of the commission in Abuja at about 3p.m. on Sunday.
As of the time of filing this report, Mr Anyim was said to still be facing interrogation by operatives of the anti-graft agency.
Though details of the specific allegations against Anyim were sketchy as of press time, sources said they are related to a case involving the incumbent Anambra North senator, Stella Oduah.
Oduah also served as the Minister of Aviation under the Goodluck Jonathan administration from 2011 until 2014 when she was sacked based on a contract scam involving the purchase of BMW armoured cars.
She, according to EFCC sources, is being investigated over fraud allegation involving rehabilitation fund to the tune of N780 million allegedly diverted to a company in which the former Senate President was said to have interest.
When contacted, EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, said that the matter is still under investigation.
The EFCC is currently prosecuting Oduah, along with Chinese construction giant, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) Nigeria Ltd, and other defendants on separate money laundering charges involving N5billion.
By Prince-Solomon Okorie-Guidepost News International
Recently, the artisans in Ebonyi state in ancient but largest Mechanic Village in Abakaliki, South East Nigeria, under the Chairmanship of Mr. Emmanuel Eleke (JP), praise Governor Umahi for his his numerous achievements anchored on his foresightedness in all he does, they thank him for dual carriage road he constructed at the mechanic village entrance route, which today is serving as shortcut to new Government house, International Market and the state central mottor park, it also serves as a link to Ogoja, Enugu Abakaliki Express Road.
Mr. Emmanuel Eleke, (JP), Chairman Mechanic Village, Abakaliki
“Like Oliver Twist, we ask the Governor to look into Mechanic Village internal roads, especially now he is centralizing: Mottor Park, Building Materials Market, he should consolidated and sustain already centralized ancient mechanic village. Due to bad roads that leads to individual mechanic workshops, some mechanic are moving outside the mechanic village into the streets, and I don’t blame them because you do not expect a family man who has come to work in order to feed his family to sit and play draft because the road to his shop has been cut off, or a truck driver whose vehicle develops minor fault while carrying load to come and sink his truck in the mud or fall down his truck, this happens all the time. Trucks carrying load fall at the mechanic village while coming to fix his vehicle thereby causing more damages for the drivers and their customers. The small vehicle owners are not exception, they face the same challenge, they only come to the mechanic village to buy spare parts and meet their mechanic in the streets to fix their cars. We therefore please with the people oriented Governor of Ebonyi state to come to our aid, as we work assiduously to ensure that he become the country president if given ticket in 2023”.
One of the Mechanic Village’s Internal Roads
“We can not thank him enough because he has been the only governor that initiates life- touching projects and programmes: 13 Flyover Bridges, world class shopping mall and Ecumenical Center, the biggest International Market, international standard University of Medical Sciences, new Government House, roads on concrete, 24 hours regular electricity supply, empowerment of women and youths etc”.
By Prince-Solomon Okorie-Guidepost News International
Ebonyi State Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Barrister Orji Uchenna Orji today said he had confirmed from the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, that Mr Godfrey Chikwere, (a.k.a Baby Mouth) a former guest artist to the state broadcasting cooporation, EBBC is not a Journalist. Orji made the claim in his office while briefing newsmen in Abakaliki, Ebonyi state capital. The Information Commissioner while debunking the social media speculation accusing him of the detention but now Hospitalized, former Media Aide to the state Governor, Mr Godfrey Chikwere, popularly known as Baby Mouth, as a Journalist. He attributed the high spate of killings and hatred across ethnic divides as a result of inciting and Unverified social media posts. According to him: “My attention was drawn to a social media post and speculation that my office was used to cause the detention of a practicing Journalist in Ebonyi state but I was to use this medium to categorically state the obvious, that the person-
that is been refer to as Mr. Godfrey chikwere is not a journalist by academic or by profession and not a member of Nigerian Union of Journalists in Ebonyi state, I have confirmed from state Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, and they clearly stated that he was not a member of the union.
“But the truth of the matter is that as a Ministry of Information and State Orientation, in keeping with the mandate of ensuring orientation to the people as against bad habits and also in keeping with it’s duty in sensitizing the people and ensuring the implementation of Ebonyi state law on cyber crimes prohibition 2021 (which is law 012 of 2021) we had to swing into action by trapping any person spreading fake news on social media, publication or however, any other electronic means”. “Incidentally, this said Godfrey Chikwere happened to be one of those that we found to be in the habit of posting fake information and spreading hate speech” “As a matter of fact, Ebonyi state has passed a law on this and it’s my duty as the Commissioner for Information not only to sensitize members of the public but also ensure the implementation of that law because it thus concern information dissemination, and it happened that Godfrey Chikwere is one of the persons that is a suspect”. “Let me mention that we have had two cases were people who were seen circulating fake information were arrested and were quizzed and once premia facie was established and police has to do the needful”. “We have had a case of PA to the vice Chancellor Ebonyi state University who is under this administration was arrested, quizzed and also charged to Court”. “So, the case of Godfrey Chikwere can never be treated separately or exceptionally in this regard” “I just want to urge members of the public to join us in the campaign against fake news and hate speech because it has been an evil wind that has really done alot of bad in the society. All of these killings and all of these hate issues here and there are as a result of social media post that are not true. “Ebonyi state is an exceptional state because we’re in a haste to develop. As a young state and we wouldn’t like to involve in all those things that will bring about crisis, violence and distrust among states of the federation. “We are committed in ensuring that we stepped out of challenges of hate speech and fake news in Ebonyi state”. “Let me also mention that Godfrey Chikwere was once a staff of the civil service in the state and I can tell you that some times he had to pull out because of issue about his result. So, we are not trying to talk about his character but I can say that I have been having series of activities that’s anti development in nature and it is our duty to find a way of bringing him to book”. he explained When asked about the content of the publication that led to his arrest, the Commissioner said “The said Godfrey Chikwere published and stated among others that it is clear that if army is an arm of armed forces ,that the army is seriously and willingly loosen respect and that’s capable of discrediting integrity of the army and perhaps, of course you know the implications”. “He also mentioned that politicians would sponsor youths to kill persons or to murder persons but will not engage them positively or give them money to do business”. “So, that kind of allegations are capable of causing political apathy in the state”. The Information Commissioner further noted that the police has done their work and enjoined the general public to remain calm until the accused person is tried according to the state law prohibiting hate issues. “For politicians to begin to take advantage that Godfrey Chikwere was arrested to be peddling alot of rumors and castigating government. I want to tell them that Godfrey Chikwere is just like any person that could be invited by the police and that the law is not a respecter of anybody”. Barr Orji also said that he was aware of the health situation of Mr Godfrey” I was not aware that he was hospitalized. I just seeing that in social media and very sure that when he was arrested,he was healthy”. He, however, emphasized that the former media Aide to the sitting governor was not a Journalist but trying to curry cheap sympathy from the professional body.
The Commissioner for Information and State Orientation says there is no going back on the fight against fake news and hate speech, urges Godfrey Chikwere to stop further deceiving the gullible with false pretenses as he is not a journalist and has no illness as to entertain the gullible with a drama of a sick suspect admitted in a hospital.
Meanwhile, when our reporter visited the office of Ebonyi state Police Public Relation Officer, DSP Loveth Odah confided on us that she was not aware of Godfrey being hospitalized but will find out if the accused person is in the hospital and cannot make further clarification until relevant informations are gathered.
By Prince-Solomon Okorie-Guidepost News International
Viewpoint of Dr. Stephen Odo, Hon. Commissioner for Commerce and Industry and Business Development, he said “an honest observer will admit that the PDP was stable when Governor Umahi was still there because he was playing a leading and reconciliatory role. The moment he left for the APC, PDP became a ghost of it’s former self. Due to Umahi’s advisory and prominent role, that is why the PDP, stakeholders and some of their governors like Wike of Rivers State notice the negative impact his exit has on PDP accused Umahi openly for destroying the PDP which he never intentionally did”.
“However much, critical observation will tell you that PDP in the South-East has fallen apart, hence, the centre can no longer hold. Take for instance the circumstances surrounding the removal of their National Chairman, if it was when Umahi was there, it wouldn’t have happened that way because Umahi would have just consulted key stakeholders and let them understand that, that approach was wrong and injustice as he always did when he was with them”.
“Furthermore, it takes a man with pedigree, integrity and focus to standout over certain national issues to say, we can’t afford to have as a party with this kind of recklessness, it means that the future of the country is not secured with them”.
“We certainly cannot hide the obvious that Umahi’s exit from the PDP has a damaging impact and irreplaceable vacuum on the party”.
“He added that other instance is the Governor’s influence which strengthened APC within the South-East, since he joined the central politics. You will agree with me that there was no significant impact of APC as a party before the Advent of Governor Umahi, that alone is enough silent message: prior to his Advent, there was no presence of APC in Ebonyi and the entire South-East but he has strengthened APC not only in Ebonyi but the entire South-East.
During the last APC meeting at Enugu, his impact was tremendous, he has brought major Igbo leaders to APC, some Governors, Senators, House Rep. members and a lot of ordinary people are joining the party, he has become a political rally point, that is a plus for the Governor.
You see, politician who knows the direction of the wind now use his name as APC slogan “APC..!!! Umahi is the Answer” because they know that, with what has done in Ebonyi, he can solve Nigeria’s dunting problems, you can see that he has redefined politics at the state and federal level.
I crave your indulgence to narrow this down to Ebonyi State which is the starting point of his political carrier, before he became the Governor, Ebonyi State is known as ‘Dust of the Nation’ but he has in a very short while changed that narrative; Ebonyi now has the best roads, the only Nigerian roads constructed with concrete, a state without a single Flyover Bridge now has 13 Flyover Bridges, world class shopping mall and Ecumenical Center, regular electricity supply, 3 Industrial Clusters, Best in Africa or better still, world class University of Medical Sciences, the most sophisticated International Airport 60 percent completed, bogus international market, human empowerment of all kinds: financial, tricycle, car empowerment, 5, 000 windows were empowered #100,000 each, with sum total of five hundred million, market women were empowered with three hundred million, the traditional rulers were not left out as they were also empowered with three hundred million Grant and brand new SUV each.”
The SSA to the Governor on Religious and Welfare Matters, Very Rev. Fr Dr. Abraham Nwali goes round the government hospitals monthly offsetting hospital bills of indigent patients totaled over forty million monthly and a lot more.
“All these are indications that he Governor is a Prudential manager of scarce resources, if given the opportunity to lead the country in 2023, Nigeria will become the most developed in Africa”.
By Prince-Solomon Okorie-Guidepost News International
As people of Ebonyi state continue to beat their drums of support and celebration for the new dawn in Ebonyi state felicitation with the Executive Governor of the state, His Excellency, Engr. Chief David Nweze Umahi for his remarkable achievements and rapid transformation of the state and historic celebration of Ebonyi at 25th birthday, the Principal Secretary to the Governor, Chief Emmanuel Obasi describes Umahi as the best governor in 36 states of the federation, he said that Governor Umahi has transformed Ebonyi beyond expectations.
He said that Dubai is tourist epicenter of the world, one of the most beautiful cities in the globe, but Ebonyi state today is competing with Dubai interns of solid, innovative and sophisticated infrastructures scattered in the 13 local government areas of the state, which includes 13 Flyover Bridges amidst dwindling economy when other states are struggling to complete one, he is the first governor in Nigeria to construct all the state and federal roads on 10 Inches concrete based tilling, he built the most beautiful, innovative Christian Ecumenical edifice in Nigeria, he built the most sophisticated International Standard Shopping Mall and Industrial Clusters in the 3 goe-political zones of the state, he has successfully built the best University of Medical Sciences, the ongoing Airport project 60 percent completed is wonderful, constant electric supply, youths and women empowerment.
Finally, he appealed to Nigerians to give Umahi opportunity of ruling Nigeria in 2023, if Nigeria must get better, that is the only hope for the future of the country, he concludes.
(Lady) Eberechukwu Nwagu Reporting, Guidepost News International
What happened in Imo state was a shock to many, a police man chassed an “unknown Gunmen” in Imo state, after exchanging gunfire with the Unknown men the police man succeeded in klling the “unknown Gunmen”.
What surprises everyone was that it was later discovered that this “Unknown gunmen” killed by this Police man is Nigerian DSS. Imo state is still in shock, most Nigeria media houses, instead of reporting accurately, they change it that “Police mistakenly killed Nigerian DSS”. It is now clear that most of this killings in Imo is may not be IPOB but Nigeria DSS. This is very bad, Nigeria has turned to something else, nobody is safe here anymore.
Recall that yesterday during one day prayer summit organized by Her Excellency Chief Mrs. Ogonna Rachael Umahi at the Christian Ecumenical Center Abakaliki, in his address, the state Governor, Engr. David Nweze Umahi stated that hoodlums has hijacked separatist activities of IPOB in the South-Easth and pledged reward of two million naira on any person who will give relevant information that could lead to arrest of the unknown gunmen, Governor Umahi is right after all !
Wonders Shall Never End: Unknown Gunmen Identified In Imo State
Lady Eberechukwu Nwagu Reporting, Guidepost News
What happened in Imo state was a shock to many, a police man chassed an “unknown Gunmen” in Imo state, after exchanging gunfire with the Unknown men the police man succeeded in klling the “unknown Gunmen”.
What surprises everyone was that it was later discovered that this “Unknown gunmen” killed by this Police man is Nigerian DSS. Imo state is still in shock, most Nigeria media houses, instead of reporting accurately, change it that to suit their interest “Police mistakenly killed Nigerian DSS”. It is now clear that most of this killings in Imo is may not be IPOB but Nigeria DSS. This is very bad, Nigeria has turned to something else, nobody is safe here anymore.
By Prince-Solomon Okorie-Guidepost News International
Dr. Stephen Odo, Hon. Commissioner for Commerce and Industry and Business Development, Ebonyi State
(1) Recently BugIT did an assessment of how the 36 States of the federation generates their fund through IGR, VAT and what they receive from Statutory Federal allocation and how those receipts are utilized in the payment of salaries and other operating expenditure including investment in capital expenditure, servicing and repayment of debt etc.
The assessment covered four areas in addition to the overall ranking.
In the first level of assessment, it looked at the ability of States to meet their operating expenses i.e, recurrent expenditures obligation with only the sum of recurrent revenue and VAT received. States that ranked higher on that first level assessment have comparatively limited dependence on federally distributed revenue for their operations and thus have greater viability if they were to theoretically exist as an independent entity.
The second level of assessment reviews the State’s ability to cover all operating expenses and loan repayment obligations with their total revenues that is, internally generated revenue, statutory allocations and capital receipts without resorting to borrowing. States that rank higher in this aspect have comparatively more public revenue left to invest in capital infrastructure after fulfilling repayment obligations to lenders and their governments’ operating expenses.
The third level of assessment estimates how much fiscal room States have to borrow more. States that rank higher on this assessment have more room to borrow than those at the bottom, it is measured by evaluating the extent to which the States total revenue in a single year can theoretically pay off outstanding debt
Finally, the fourth level of assessment evaluated degree to which each State prioritizes capital expenditure with respect totheir operating expenditure that is the ratio of capital to recurrent expenditure in the State budget. States that rank higher on this level of assessment, give comparatively higher priority to investing in capital expenditure compared to operating expenses
We need to note that beside coming second in the overall ranking of the 36 States Ebonyi came 1st in both prudent use of public resources and investment in capital projects and 4th in well controlled borrowing and investing towards self-reliance.
This implies that the assessment presented a clear indication of the disciplining approach by the State Government toward fiscal policy in the state.
(2) The report said that Ebonyi is a new entrant. What did the state do differently to achieve this new ranking?
Answer:
Ebonyi State emerged the second position up from its sixth position in 2020 and 13th in 2019. The Engr. David Umahi led administration since coming into power in 2015 has been outstanding in prudent management of the States scarce resources. The government commitment to improving internally generated revenue is known to all just as it has also been rewarding. For instance, in 2020, despite fiscal shocks from covid 19 pandemic across the country, the state recorded a total internally generated revenue of N13.59bn, up by 82.03% from the N7.46bn IGR recorded in 2019. This performance is better than the 21.33% year-on-year IGR growth the State witnessed from N6.14bn in 2018 to to 7.46bn in 2019.
More so, our internal control system especially in the area of IGR collection has progressively improved closing up some obvious leakages even though we still have some rooms for improvement in the collection process.
The State also from 2015, prioritized her project implementation in favour of capital project knowing fully well that it forms the basis of development, attraction of foreign investment, creation of job opportunities and growth of MSMEs. The Development of Agricultural value chain has also been a major focus for job creation and over all economic development having focused on development of rural roads to guarantee the movement of agricultural products from our rural areas to the cities considering the facts that the state is an agrarian state
The zero-oil initiative/local content drive of His Excellency, Engr. Chief David NwezeUmahi has been another booster to the growth and development of the State economy. The use of local human amd material resource became a major policy of government as all the constructions on our concrete roads, flyovers, bridges, shopping mall, international market, international airport, Uburu Medical University, etc are all product of our local engineers from our ministries of works, housing, special projects, project monitoring, etc. These reinforces our commitment to transparency in governance which has become synonymous with the administration of His excellency, Engr. Chief David NwezeUmahi seen majorly on our transparency on the award of contract and adoption of e procurement in job execution.
3. How does this ranking relate to the well-being of the Ebonyi man?
Answer
In the first place, the ranking is a confirmation of consistency and adequacy of Ebonyi State government policy and should restore the confidence of the public in the governance process of Ebonyi State including investors and intending investors who should see this as a confirmation of the viability of the State economy. The ranking should also improve the confidence of international organizations in their working relationship with the state in developing the State economy which should translate into more investment by private sectors leading to more job creation and revenue generation and the overall welfare of the citizens.
Practically, Ebonyians has enjoyed numerous human capital development and empowerment under the leadership of His Excellency, Engr. Chief David NwezeUmahi which includes but not limited to the following;
a) Empowerment of 1000 Ebonyians per Local Government with a grant of 250,000 per beneficiary
b) Lagos Diaspora Empowerment to 520 street hawkers to keep them off the street
c) 400 Branded tricycles with MP3
d) Horticulture empowerment of One Million Naira each to 6 farmers (2 Per zone )
e) 4000 widows empowered with One Hundred Thousand Naira
f) Empowerment of403 Spouses of Security personnels with Two Hundred Thousand Naira each
g) Branded Toyota Sienna Empowerment to 90 Cooperative Groups and Agric Entrepreneurs
h) Additional 26 Sienna Procured and distributed to Ebonyians on equality of LGA to start up Transportation Business of help then in their other carriers
i) Four Billion Naira disbursed as Agric loan to civil and Public servants
(4) Ebonyi prides itself as the emergent investment hub of the South East. How has the state fared particularly in the area of job and wealth creation for the youth?
The State is driven consciously by the zero oil campaign and local content policy of the Umahi led administration. This initiative encourages increase in local production, consumption and utilization of both human and material resources.
As stated above, every Ebonyi youth is a partner in our development process. The engineers, architects, artisans, working in our various project sites are Ebonyians who we deploy as a matter of policy instead of outsourcing such job opportunities. There is also a deliberate policy of youth engagement in our political recruitment process where over 8,000 youths are variously engaged as councillors, management committee members, liaison officers, technical assistants, senior technical assistants, SAs, SSAs, etc.
The Ebonyi state shopping mall, the international airport, the ring road project that covers over 8 LGAs in the State, the Uburu Medical University are projected to engage over 30,000 youths in both direct and indirect employment. The Ebubeagu Security outfit has become another opportunity for youth engagement in our fight against criminals and criminality in the State. The second address initiative of His Excellency also emphasis the need for every youth to be engaged in any productive venture of his choice especially, in our lucrative agricultural sector.
We are also involved in various discussion with investors and institutions who are partnering with the State in the management of our various projects like the medical university at Uburu which have been handed over to the catholic church to manage on behalf of the state, the international airport when completed will also be handed over to any willing investor as part of the implementation of our public-private partnership initiative and this is expected to create job opportunities for our teeming youths
Ebonyi State played host to AFI awards this 2021 where we had both local and international investors.
Post award activities had seen the state involved in serious discussions with Edon Nig. Limited, Ibeto Group, Splendid Furniture, etc on how to establish their plant and industry in the state or partner with the State in the revitalization of industries like the State building materials limited, Ebonyi State Waste recycling plant, Ebonyi State Pipe Production limited, Ebonyi State Industrial clusters, etc these will also increase job employment opportunities for the youth
(5) Some persons have accused the Government of Gov Umahi of embarking on esthetic projects with no direct economic benefits to the people. They talk about the numerous flyover bridges, water fountains, decorative lights and the rest. What’s your view?
Such talks are obviously politically motivated aimed at trying to score cheap political points. Infrastructural developments globally are known incentives that drive foreign direct investment. Leadership is about vision. Some leaders think of today others think and plan for the tomorrow of the people they are leading. His Excellency, Engr. David Nweze Umahi is building an Ebonyi State of tomorrow.
By Prince-Solomon Okorie- Guidepost News International
The Legendary World Most Famous Musician, Bob Marley Died In Frorida US In 1981 @ Aged 36
CIA, Bill Oxley – finally spoke the truth – He killed Bob Marley Comment, Share, like – It’s time to wake up
A 79-year-old retired officer of the CIA, Bill Oxley, has made a series of stunning confessions since he was admitted to the Mercy Hospital in Maine on Monday and told he has weeks to live. He claims he committed 17 assassinations for the American government between 1974 and 1985, including the music icon Bob Marley.
Mr. Oxley, who worked for the CIA for 29 years as an operative with top-level security clearances, claims he was often used as a hitman by the organization, to assassinate individuals who could represent a threat to the goals of the agency.Trained as a sniper and marksman, Mr. Oxley also has significant experience with more unconventional methods of inflicting harm upon others, like poisons, explosives, induced heart attacks and cancer.
The 79-year-old operative claims he committed the assassinations between March 1974 and August 1985, at a time when he says the CIA “was a law unto itself.” He says he was part of an operative cell of three members which carried out political assassinations across the country and occasionally in foreign countries. Most of their victims were political activists, journalists, and union leaders, but he also confesses to assassinating a few scientists, medical researchers, artists and musicians whose ideas and influence “represented a threat to the interests of the United States.”
He claims he had no problem with going through with the assassination of Bob Marley, because “I was a patriot, I believed in the CIA, and I didn’t question the motivation of the agency. I’ve always understood that sometimes sacrifices have to be made for the greater good.” But Mr. Oxley confesses that Bob Marley remains unique among his victims, as he was the only victim he “felt anything for.”
“The others were assholes. Bob Marley was Bob Marley. I was no closer to being a long-haired hippy back then than I am now, but I must admit Bob’s music did move me. It held some power over me.”
He claims to have “mixed feelings” about Bob Marley’s death. On the one hand, Marley was “a good man, a beautiful soul” with “profound artistic gifts” who did not deserve to have his life cut short. But according to Mr. Oxley, Bob Marley was also placing the goals of the CIA in jeopardy and threatening the existence of the United States:
“He was succeeding in creating a revolution that used music as a more powerful tool than bullets and bombs. Bob Marley in 1976 was a very serious threat to the global status quo and to the hidden power brokers implementing their plan for a new world order. As far as the agency was concerned, Bob Marley was too successful, too famous, too influential… A Jamaican Rastaman who started using his funds and fame to support causes around the world that were in direct conflict with the CIA… To be honest, he signed his own death warrant.”
“It’s not like we didn’t warn him. We sent a few guys to shoot up his house in Kingston,” Mr Oxley says, referring to a shooting in the Marley residence that left the singer with an injured arm and chest. “We had a message for him. We impressed upon him the gravity of the situation he found himself in. He didn’t listen.”
“Two days later, in the mountains, I stuck him with the pin.“ How Bob Marley was murdered by the CIA Two days after Bob Marley was shot in the left arm by one of three gunmen who ambushed the singer and some of his crew in his house in Kingston, and after a brief stint in hospital, Bob Marley travelled to the protective hills of the Blue Mountains and spent time at the highest point in Jamaica, rehearsing for an upcoming concert. According to Mr. Oxley, he used press credentials to gain access to Bob Marley during his Blue Mountains retreat. He introduced himself as a famous photographer working for the New York Times, and gave Bob Marley a gift.
“I gave him a pair of Converse All Stars. Size 10. When he tried on the right shoe, he screamed out ‘OUUUCH.‘“That was it. His life was over right there and then. The nail in the shoe was tainted with cancer viruses and bacteria. If it pierced his skin, which it did, it was goodnight nurse.”
“There had been a series of high-profile assassinations of counter-culture figures in the United States in the late sixties, early seventies. By the time Bob Marley’s time came around, we thought subtlety was the order of the day. No more bullets and splattered brains.”
Mr. Oxley says he kept close contact with Marley during the final years of his life, ensuring the medical advice he received in Paris, London and the United States “would hasten his demise rather than cure him.” He died from cancer in May 1981. He was just 36 years old.
“The last time I saw Bob before he died he had removed the dreadlocks, and his weight was dropping like a stone,” he says.
“He was very withdrawn, unbelievably small. He was shrinking in front of us. The cancer had done it’s job.” “The day he died in Miami was definitely one of the most difficult moments in my career. I felt real bad. For a long time I wasn’t comfortable with my part in his death. But eventually I came to realize it had to be done, for America.”
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