Transition: Michelle Obama’s mother, Marian Robinson, dies at 86

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11 months ago

May 31, 2024

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Marian Robinson, the mother of former US First Lady Michelle Obama, has died at 86, her family has announced.

In a statement, the Obamas said that Robinson had died “peacefully” on Friday morning.

Robinson was a well-known fixture at the White House during the eight years of Barack Obama’s administration between 2009 and 2017.

She spent much of that time taking care of her two granddaughters, Michelle and Barack Obama’s daughters Malia and Sasha.

In a statement posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, Mrs Obama called Robinson her “rock, always there for whatever I needed”.

“She was the same steady backstop for our entire family, and we are heartbroken to share she passed away today,” she wrote.

In a separate tweet, Mr Obama said that “there was and will be only one Marian Robinson”.

“In our sadness, we are lifted up by the extraordinary gift of her life,” he added. “And we will spend the rest of ours trying to live up to her example.”

No further details were given about the cause of death.

Born in 1937, Robinson grew up one of seven children in Chicago, the city where she spent much of her life before agreeing to come to Washington DC after Mr Obama’s electoral victory.

Early in her life, she studied to become a teacher before working as a secretary. She raised Michelle and her other child, Craig, together with her husband Frasier Robinson on Chicago’s South Side.

Obituary: Marian Robinson, Michelle Obama’s mother, dies

“At every step, as our families went down paths none of us could have predicted, she remained our refuge from the storm,” the Obama statement said.

“On Election Night in 2008, when the news broke that Barack would soon shoulder the weight of the world, she was there, holding his hand.”

An image taken on the night in 2008 when her son-in-law made history as the nation’s first African-American president showed Robinson sitting on a sofa with him, watching the results come in.

The statement added that Robinson had agreed to move to the White House after a “healthy nudge” from Barack and Michelle Obama, who, along with their daughters, “needed her”.

It was said that she insisted on doing her own laundry there.

In a later interview with CBS, the BBC’s US partner, Robinson said she felt compelled to move to Washington because she felt “like this was going to be a very hard life” for her daughter and son-in-law.

“And I was worried about their safety,” she added. “I was worried about my grandkids. That’s what got me to move to DC.”

Robinson – whom Mr Obama once called “the least pretentious person” he knew – said that it was a “huge adjustment” to have her needs met by White House staff.

“Rather than hobnobbing with Oscar winners or Nobel laureates, she preferred spending her time upstairs with a TV tray, in the room outside her bedroom with big windows that looked out at the Washington Monument,” the family statement said.

“The only guest she made a point of asking to meet was the Pope,” it added.

Ohanaeze youths knock FG over closure of Enugu airport, concession plan

Published

13 hours ago

April 23, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

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Fresh condemnation has trailed the sudden closure of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) had announced that there is a significant rupture in the asphalt surface at a critical section of the runway that requires emergency repairs.

FAAN, in a statement by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mrs Obiageli Orah, stated that the repairs will be conducted on that portion of the runway from April 22nd to May 6th, 2025.

FAAN added that all flights to the airport will be diverted to nearby airports.

However, in a statement made available to journalists on Wednesday, the National President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike said it was unjust for the FAAN to shut the airport without giving adequate notice to the users.

Okwu said, “to make the matter worse, it came during the festive period, as though Ndigbo, who are known to be regular travelers during this period, are the targets.

“Did the airport runway suddenly develop a fault? We are aware that airlines have been complaining about this, but the government waited till the Easter period to hastily shut down the airport, throwing our people into confusion.

“This is not the first time Ndigbo are being subjected to this cruel treatment. The last time the runway was re-asphalted, it was also shut down during the Easter period.

“However, what makes the present case worse is the lack of notice.

“The cruel and degrading treatment of the affairs of Ndigbo in Nigeria should stop.

“We know for sure that this cannot happen in Lagos, Abuja or Kano airports. Why also Ndigbo?” Okwu queried.

The Ohanaeze Youths President urged the government to ensure that the rehabilitation is carried out and completed on the stipulated date.

He also said the explanations offered by Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo on the concessioning of the airport was not clear enough.

According to him, “the minister merely painted words without saying anything concrete.

“He said the process is still on; we want to hear- how many years are there in the pipeline for the concessioning. If it is not 80 years, how many years are they proposing?

“We want to make it clear that we are not going to accept anything different from what shall be obtained from other airports.”

Obi Cubana’s Adopted Son Claims He’s Next of Kin – Obi Responds

Published

13 hours ago

April 23, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

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Recently, Obi Cubana’s adopted son posted a video on TikTok saying he is the “next of kin” to Obi Cubana. Shortly after, Obi Cubana posted a photo of his biological son on Instagram with the caption: “Ancient and Modern. Eyes on the ball – AKA the next of kin.”

This sparked a lot of reactions online. Some people said Obi Cubana was being petty, while others agreed he did the right thing by clearing the air.

Here’s my opinion:

Obi Cubana did the right thing. Since the adopted son made a public statement, it was only fair for Obi to make a public clarification. If he had kept quiet, people might think he agreed, and that could cause family problems in the future.

We need to stop being too emotional. In Africa, most people still see biological children as different from adopted ones. That’s just the reality of our culture.

That’s why I advise women who are getting close to menopause to try and have their own children if possible.
If you’re over 35, have a stable job, and your body can still carry a baby, consider finding a responsible man to father your child. It’s better to raise a child from your own blood than adopt one when you don’t know the full background of the child you adopt unless your egg and supamu is not working. Lets be practical, not just emotional.

I am Awuzie Frankline – I insist, if you are a lady Over 35 years and no sign of getting husband, Biko Jee Turu Ime

Troops Avert Ethnic Violence in Plateau as Soldier Nabbed Over Car Theft in Abuja.

Published

1 day ago

April 22, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

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According to Ekwutosblog , Troops of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) on Saturday, April 19, 2025, averted what could have been a deadly clash between ethnic groups in Plateau State after armed youths attacked a Fulani settlement in Riyom Local Government Area, PRNigeria reports.

The crisis erupted in Tanjol Village around 1:00 p.m. when suspected Berom youths opened fire on cattle belonging to Fulani herders, killing one cow and injuring two others.

The provocative assault triggered a swift mobilization of Fulani youths from nearby Mahanga in preparation for a reprisal, raising fears of renewed ethnic violence.

According to Zagazola, prompt intervention by security forces — including OPSH’s Sector 6, reinforced by Sector 4 and the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Gashish — successfully dispersed the armed groups before the situation escalated.

Two Fulani youths sustained gunshot wounds during the incident, while the attackers fled into surrounding bushes.

Troops and police have since intensified patrols in the area to prevent further unrest.