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Meet Sarah Forbes Bonetta: Queen Victoria’s Goddaughter

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Sarah Forbes Bonetta was originally born ‘Aina’ in 1843 to Egbado parents of the Yoruba ethnic group . Her father was the high chief of Oke-Odan, an Egbado village in western Nigeria, till he was killed in 1848 when King Gezo of Dahomey , one of the notorious slave raiders in the 19th century , raided his village. 
Sarah’s parents and siblings whose names are unknown were killed in the raid which turned Sarah, an Egbado princess, into a slave. Many of the villagers captured during the raid were made slaves and sacrificed to the gods of Dahomey but fortunately for Sarah, she was saved by the quick intervention of Captain Frederick E. Forbes , a British naval officer who was on a visit to Dahomey kingdom to persuade King Gezo to abolish slave trade. Captain Frederick E. Forbes persuaded King Gezo to present Sarah (then Aina) as a gift to Queen Victoria, he said: “ 
She would be a present from the King of the Blacks to the Queen of the Whites. ” King Gezo agreed and thus Sarah’s life was spared and subsequently she was named Sarah, Forbes, the captain’s surname and Bonetta which was the name of his ship (HMS Bonetta).
On the 9th of November, 1850, Captain Frederick Forbes took Sarah to Great Britain to meet Queen Victoria at Windsor castle. The Queen admired Sarah’s intelligence and ability to learn quickly. Even Captain Frederick wrote: “ She is a perfect genius; she now speaks English well, and has great talent for music… She is far in advance of any white child of her age in aptness of learning, and strength of mind and affection…” Shortly after, Captain Frederick Forbes died and so Sarah was sent to the Schoen family in Palm Cottage, Gillingham. Queen Victoria adopted Sarah as her goddaughter and sponsored her education. Being the Queen’s goddaughter, Sarah had unlimited access to Windsor castle like other members of the royal family. Shortly after Sarah began to live with the Schoen family, she developed a health problem due to the damp weather of Britain. Queen Victoria arranged for her migration to Sierra Leone to continue her education at the Female Institution, a CMS school in Freetown where she excelled in music and her academics. In 1855, Sarah returned to Great Britain.
In January 1862, Sarah Forbes Bonetta, now 19 years old, attended the wedding of the Queen’s eldest child, Princess Royal Victoria, as a guest. Seven months later, she was offered a marriage to Captain James Labulo Davies , a 31-year-old wealthy Yoruba businessman who lives in Britain. Sarah was reluctant to accept the offer due to reasons known to her but she eventually accepted after much persuasion. The wedding took place in August 1862 at the St. Nicholas Church in Brighton, England. It was such an extravagant one; dignitaries from different parts of the world were in attendance.
The new couple moved back to Africa and settled in the town of Badagary in Lagos, Nigeria. Shortly after her marriage, Sarah Forbes Davies had her first daughter and requested for permission from Queen Victoria to name her Victoria. The Queen granted the permission and also adopted baby Victoria as her goddaughter. In 1867, Sarah and her daughter visited the Queen then returned to Lagos where she had two more children named Arthur and Stella. Sarah was diagonised with tuberculosis and later died on August 15, 1880 at the age of 37. She was buried in Funchal, Madiera Island, Portugal. It was such a sad moment for her family. Queen Victoria wrote in her diary, “ Saw poor Victoria Davies, my black godchild, who learnt this morning of the death of her dear mother ”. Queen Victoria took good care of Sarah’s children and maintained close contact with them. Till today, the decendants of James Labulo Davies and Sarah Forbes Bonetta Davies lived in England, Sierra Leone and Lagos, Nigeria.

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PDP Reaches Out to Peter Obi for 2027 Presidential Ticket

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In a major political development, Professor Jerry Gana, a founding member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has confirmed that the party has officially reached out to Peter Obi, inviting him to return and contest the 2027 presidential election under the PDP banner.

Gana described the move as part of a broader strategy to reposition the party ahead of 2027 by rallying credible leaders with proven integrity. He emphasized Peter Obi’s strong grassroots appeal and untainted public record as key reasons the PDP wants him back.

“We have reached out to Peter Obi to return home for our party’s presidential ticket,” Prof. Gana stated.

Do you think Obi should return to the PDP or continue with his current coalition?

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Tinubu Engages Power Sector Leaders, Pushes for Lasting Energy Reforms

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday held a strategic meeting with key stakeholders in Nigeria’s power sector at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, as part of renewed efforts to tackle the nation’s long-standing electricity issues.

The high-level session was chaired by the President, with his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, and Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, in attendance.

Also present were some of the industry’s most prominent figures, including Heirs Holdings Chairman, Tony Elumelu; Chairman of the Association of Power Generation Companies, retired Colonel Sani Bello; Managing Director of Sahara Group, Kola Adesina; and Acting Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Musiliu Oseni.

The meeting focused on exploring sustainable solutions to Nigeria’s energy challenges, with a strong emphasis on collaboration, regulatory reform, and long-term investment.

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Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda Elected as New APC National Chairman at Party’s 14th NEC Meeting

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In a significant development within Nigeria’s ruling political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda has been officially elected as the new National Chairman. His election was ratified at the 14th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party, held in Abuja on Wednesday.

The decision comes following weeks of internal consultations, with Yilwatda emerging as the consensus candidate after the resignation of former Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. Party insiders say the move is part of broader efforts to reposition the APC ahead of upcoming state and national elections, as well as to stabilize internal party structures.

Prof. Yilwatda, a former university lecturer and current Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, is well-regarded in both academic and political circles. He previously served as the APC gubernatorial candidate in Plateau State during the 2023 elections and is known for his technocratic approach to leadership. His emergence as chairman is seen by some analysts as a strategic attempt by the APC to blend intellectual credibility with grassroots political experience.

Addressing the NEC and other stakeholders shortly after his election, Prof. Yilwatda expressed gratitude for the confidence reposed in him. He pledged to promote unity, discipline, and inclusivity within the party, stating that “a house divided against itself cannot stand.” He also emphasized the importance of returning the party to its founding ideals and promised to foster open dialogue and reconciliation among aggrieved party members.

The NEC meeting, which brought together top-ranking members including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, APC governors, national assembly members, and other party leaders, also featured deliberations on policy direction, party reforms, and electoral strategies.

President Tinubu, in his remarks, congratulated the new chairman and called for loyalty to the party’s mission of delivering good governance to Nigerians. He stressed the need for organizational discipline, urging members to support the new leadership in building a stronger and more cohesive APC.

As Prof. Yilwatda assumes leadership, expectations are high that he will help steer the APC through the evolving political landscape, mend internal rifts, and strengthen the party’s hold ahead of future elections.

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