As the ‘ganusi’ controversy between Muslim clerics and Fuji maestro, King Wasiu Ayinde continues to get Nigerians talking, his rival in the industry, Abass Akande (Obesere) enjoys public approval as he marked his 60th birthday with heartwarming donations.

Born on January 28, 1965, Akande, also known as Omorapala, commemorated his birthday by building a mosque for his former secondary school in Lagos. 

The Fuji artiste also donated essential learning materials, including books and school bags, to students.

Sharing a video of the mosque on Instagram, Obesere said he won’t stop his philanthropic gestures.

“To God Be The Glory! Today, we commissioned the newly built mosque at my alma mater and also donated learning materials to the pupils. This will continue and won’t stop for a bit,” the singer said.

Obesere’s birthday celebration and donations came amid a lingering controversy that followed the burial of his counterpart Wasiu Ayinde’s mother, popularly known as K1 de Ultimate. 

Recall that K1 became a subject of conversation on social media following his controversial remarks about Muslim clerics and his refusal to apologise to them.

Ahead of his late mother’s 8-day Fidau prayer, K1 was seen in a viral clip conversing with a man. In their discussion, he used the words ‘ganu si’ in reference to the clerics who visited his residence after his mother had been buried.

“Alfas will not go to my father’s house; it’s my house they will, “Ganu si,” he said in Yoruba.

Many Muslim clerics found the word ‘ganu si’ insulting as many interpreted it to mean the clerics attended social events uninvited primarily for pecuniary reasons.

During the 8-day Fidau prayer, which took place on Friday, January 24, a respected and popular cleric, Sheikh Faruq Onikijipa — who delivered a sermon at the event — urged K1 to apologise for his purported disparaging comment about the cleric, but the musician refused.

He said he didn’t do anything wrong, adding that tendering an apology would amount to admittance of guilt.

His refusal to apologise sparked reactions among the Muslim community as some supported him while others criticised him for allegedly belittling the clerics

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says it will embark on a nationwide mass rally on Tuesday February 4, 2025, in protest of the 50 per cent telecom tariff increase recently approved by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

According to a communique signed by the NLC president, Joe Ajaero, on Wednesday, the decision was taken at an emergency meeting convened by the union’s National Administrative Council (NAC) on Wednesday.

The NLC said the rally will serve as a warning on the dangers of imposing such an unfair increase on a struggling population earning a minimum wage of only ₦70,000; a population that has suffered outrageous hike in the price of petrol, high cost of food, hike in electricity tariff and general rising inflation.

It directed its affiliates and state councils to begin full mobilization in preparation for the nationwide protest rally, calling on willing civil society allies to also join the preparation.

The Congress as well, called on all Nigerian workers, the informal sector, and the general public to stand in solidarity against what it termed unjust policy.

The NLC said that its NAC-in-session totally rejected the 50% Telecom Tariff Hike which it considers as too harsh for citizens.

“It therefore strongly condemns the Nigeria Communications Commission’s decision to approve the increase in telecommunications tariffs.

“This decision is insensitive, unjustifiable, and a direct assault on Nigerian workers and the general populace, who are already burdened by worsening economic hardship foisted on them by Policies of government which was no fault of theirs,” the union said.

The NLC demanded an immediate suspension of the 50% tariff hike.

It called on the Federal Government, the NCC and the National Assembly to engage in meaningful dialogue with critical stakeholders to review the proposed tariff adjustment within the context of the economic realities facing Nigerians.

The Congress added that if this is not heeded, it will escalate its actions, including the possibility of a nationwide boycott of telecommunication services and further mass actions which may involve nationwide withdrawal of our service to resist policies that exacerbate poverty and inequality.

“The Nigeria Labour Congress remains committed to protecting the interests of Nigerian workers and citizens against exploitative economic policies.

“We will not relent in our struggle against policies that undermine the welfare and dignity of our people. Nigerian workers and citizens must unite and take action to prevent further economic oppression.

“We must resist any policy that prioritizes corporate profits over the well-being of the people,” the union added.

On January 20, the NCC announced its approval for a 50% tariff increase for telecoms operators in the country.

In a statement, a spokesman for the regulator Reuben Muoka said the price adjustment though lower than the “over 100% requested by some network operators, was arrived at taking into account ongoing industry reforms that will positively influence sustainability”.

The regulator said the increase was pursuant to its power under Section 108 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003 (NCA) to regulate and approve tariff rates and charges by telecommunications operators.

“These adjustments will remain within the tariff bands stipulated in the 2013 NCC Cost Study, and requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis as is the Commission’s standard practice for tariff reviews. It will be implemented in strict adherence to the recently issued NCC Guidance on Tariff Simplification, 2024,” the statement read.

Nigeria has secured a $1.1 billion loan from the African Development Bank (AfDB) for the provision of electricity for 5 million people by the end of 2026.

According to Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President, (Information & Strategy), President Bola Tinubu made this known in a speech presented by Adebayo Adelabu, Minister of Power, at the just concluded two-day Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Tinubu also stated that the AfDB’s $200 million in the Nigeria Electrification Project will provide electricity for 500,000 people by the end of 2025.

“I (Tinubu) acknowledged AfDB’s $1.1 billion, expected to provide electricity for 5 million people by the end of 2026, while its $200 million in the Nigeria Electrification Project will provide electricity for 500,000 people by the end of 2025.

“This is an ambitious goal, but we can achieve it together,” Tinubu said. “As Nigeria’s President, I am committed to making energy access a top priority.”

Meanwhile, the president of Nigeria is also expecting to get the planned $1.2 billion AfDB investment in the Nigeria Desert to Power programme and facility for the Nigeria-Grid Battery Energy Storage System.

“We also look forward to the AfDB’s planned $700 million investment in the Nigeria Desert to Power programme and its planned $500 million facility for the Nigeria-Grid Battery Energy Storage System, which will provide electricity for an additional two million people,” Tinubu said.

“We have equally begun making plans to ensure the effectiveness of the World Bank’s $750 million support for expanding Nigeria’s distributed energy access via mini-grids and standalone solar systems that will provide access to power to 16.2 million people,” he added.

President Tinubu thanked Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group, and Akinwunmi Adesina of AfDB for their transformative vision, which he said “will light up and power Africa.”

He also applauded the contributions of the UN Sustainable Energy For All, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the Global Energy Alliance for Development.

“As we all know, Africa is rich in energy resources, yet millions of our citizens still lack access to reliable and affordable energy.

Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have paid a condolence visit to Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde over the death of his elder brother, Sunday Makinde

Sunday died in the early hours of Friday during a brief illness at the age of 65.

The Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum, Gov. Bala Mohammed, led his colleagues on the condolence visit to Makinde in his private residence at Agodi GRA, Ibadan.

The Bauchi State Governor described Makinde’s brother as a man who lived a fulfilled life and expressed the forum’s heartfelt sympathy to his Oyo colleague.

He assured Makinde of the forum’s solidarity during this difficult period.

“We are here on behalf of the PDP Governors’ Forum to commiserate with you over the loss of your senior brother. Though we have spoken on the phone, we have to come to see you directly to show solidarity,” Mohammed said.

“We know this loss is huge and we know you to be a strong character. We know we are all here temporarily and would all go back to our creator.

“You should be consoled that this man came and contributed his own quota to the growth and development of Nigeria, which has even been testified to by your emergence as a governor.

“You have personally worked hard without going through the problem of godfatherism and you have become an indefatigable governor, who is in the PDP and has been doing very well.

“So, on behalf of my colleagues, we condole with you and the family and we pray that God will grant you the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”

In his response, Makinde acknowledged the emotional and moral encouragement provided by his colleagues, thanking them for their prayers and support.

“I want to, on behalf of the entire Makinde family, thank you for this visit. Thank you all for identifying with us at this very hour of need,” he said.

“We thought our eldest brother was just about to start life, because he was just 65. We thought after going all over the world, this is the time for him to settle down, but we cannot question God. We have to accept what has happened, because God giveth and taketh without needing any form of validation from anybody.

“It is also painful for us because it was quite sudden. This visit means a lot to us, especially the presence of my brother, Governor Sim Fubara, because we have been on different sides of the spectrum politically. But politics was put aside.

“I want to also, on behalf of the people and government of Oyo State, say thank you for the visit. Our prayer is that we won’t use this kind of visit as a payback.

“We pray that in our various families, people will grow old before they are called to the world beyond. So, thank you.

A former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Professor Usman Yusuf, has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The Head of Media and Publicity for the Commission, Dele Oyewale, confirmed this to Channels Television in a telephone conversation on Wednesday.

Professor Yusuf was arrested by EFCC operatives who raided his residence on Wednesday.

According to the Commission, he will be arraigned on Thursday 30th January, 2025.

A petition was submitted to the immediate past presidency under former President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Ministry of Health, over misconduct and fraudulent practices.

Yusuf was relieved of his appointment in 2019 by the former President Muhammadu Buhari seven months after he was recommended for dismissal by a fact-finding panel set up by the Federal Ministry of Health over alleged mismanagement of N919m

The battle for the office of national secretary of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) heightened as the two contenders, Senator Samuel Anyanwu and Sunday Ude-Okoye, clashed at the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting at the Wadata Plaza national secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday. 

Ude-Okoye had moved into the venue of the meeting before the arrival of Anyanwu and acting national chairman of the party, Ambassador Iliya Damagum.

However, following Anyanwu’s arrival, Ude-Okoye was forced out of the BoT meeting by pro-Anyanwu elements.

The PDP National Secretary position has been a contentious issue since Anyanwu left the seat to contest the Imo State governorship position, which he lost.

In his absence, the South-East Caucus of the party endorsed Ude-Okoye to replace him.

After losing the election, efforts to reclaim his seat as the secretary has thrown the party into further crisis.

An Appeal Court sitting in Enugu had on December 20, 2024, upheld an earlier decision of a High Court removing Senator Anyanwu as the PDP National Secretary and affirmed Ude-Okoye as the authentic secretary.

Anyanwu has, however, filed for a Stay of Execution and appeal at the Supreme Court.

Details later….

Uganda head coach, Paul Put, has acknowledged the strength of the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

The Cranes are drawn in Group C of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria, Tunisia and Tanzania.

The East Africans defeated the Super Eagles 2-1 in their only meeting in the competition at the 1978 edition hosted by Ghana.

Put admitted that his team will need self-belief to pull through in the group.

“There are no easy games in Africa. We are going to face Nigeria, the last edition’s finalists, and Tunisia, a team that consistently reaches the latter stages of this tournament,” the Belgian said after the draw ceremony in Rabat,

Tanzania adds the derby element, which is always intense. However, we must believe in ourselves.”

Tanzania will face the Super Eagles in their last group game in Fez on Tuesday, December 30.

A 44-year-old Nigerian-British politician, Florence Eshalomi has been appointed as the United Kingdom’s trade envoy to Nigeria.

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Eshalomi who is now the second Nigerian to be appointed as the UK trade envoy after Helen Grant confirmed her appointment on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday.

“It is an honour to have been appointed as the United Kingdom’s Trade Envoy to Nigeria,” she wrote.

“I’m looking forward to building on my close ties with Nigeria to promote a strong and flourishing economic relationship between our two great nations.

“I am looking forward to building on the UK’s relationship with Nigeria, to help explore shared growth and opportunities for both countries,” Eshalomi said.

Confirming Eshalomi’s post in a statement on Tuesday, the UK’s Business and Trade Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds announced the appointment of 32 parliamentarians, stating that trade and investment are key to delivering economic growth.

“I’ve launched a new team of Trade envoys, who will use their experience, expertise and knowledge to unlock new markets around the world for British businesses, drumming up investment into the UK and ultimately driving economic growth,” Reynolds said.

Eshalomi was first elected as a member of parliament (MP) for Vauxhall in 2019, succeeding Kate Hoey.

She was re-elected in 2024 for the newly created Vauxhall and Camberwell Green constituency.

A member of the Labour and Cooperative parties, she previously represented Lambeth and Southwark as a London Assembly member (AM) from 2016 to 2021.

Before her new appointment, she focused on transport, housing, and equality issues as an MP and currently serves as chair of the housing, communities, and local government committee

Popular Nigerian entertainer, Ayo Makun, also known as AY, has advised netizens to stop condemning 2face for announcing his divorce without addressing the root causes of the marital breakdown.

Speaking amidst the ongoing backlash directed at 2Face, the comedian stated that no one gets married with the intention of separation from their spouse later in life.

He berated the critics for failing to critically analyse the reasons behind the divorce.

AY also urged those he referred to as ‘online in-laws’ and blogs to choose empathy over creating social media drama and sensational content.

In a post on his Instagram story, AY wrote: “The man is always the monster in every story. Until you hear the true story.”

Similarly, on his X account, he wrote: “Instead of casting blame in broken marriages, why not focus on why the institution itself is under attack? No one goes in with a plan to fail.

“It is troubling to see online in-laws and blogs revel in sensationalism, often at the expense of those who are hurting. Real lives are involved. Let’s choose empathy over drama and content. Some of you will never rest until you lead your fellow human to suicide.”

The Federal High Court in Ado Ekiti has dismissed the defamation case brought against activist lawyer, Dele Farotimi, by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, over allegations of cybercrime.

The case arose from comments Farotimi made during an interview about his book, Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System, which included remarks regarding the founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Aare Afe Babalola.

At the court hearing on Wednesday, the complainant’s lawyer, Samson Osobu, informed the court that a notice of discontinuance had been filed.

Osobu cited Section 108(1)(2)(a) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, explaining that the prosecution sought the withdrawal of the case following intervention by well-meaning Nigerians and a formal request from Afe Babalola to drop the charges.

Defendant counsel, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), did not oppose the decision to withdraw the case. In response, Justice Babs Kuewumi officially struck out the suit.

After the ruling, Olumide-Fusika told journalists that the case had been resolved in Ado Ekiti but refrained from discussing related cases ongoing in courts in Lagos, Ibadan, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and the Magistrate Court in Ado Ekiti.

He also mentioned that he had advised Farotimi not to give any press interviews regarding the matter.

The decision to withdraw the charges was influenced by the intervention of prominent traditional leaders, including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and followed Afe Babalola’s announcement that he would instruct his legal team to drop the defamation charges.