Famed Nigerian actor Kanayo O Kanayo recently made a noteworthy appearance on Nedu Wazobia’s popular podcast, “The Honest Bunch.”

In his revealing interview, the veteran actor candidly discussed the obscured aspects of Nollywood, highlighting secretive practices that have significantly impeded the industry’s advancement.

During his engaging chat with Nedu and his team, Kanayo O Kanayo also reflected on his enduring aspirations in acting and his desire for a long-lasting career.

The veteran actor bravely addressed the prevalent issue of homosexuality within the movie industry, shedding light on its prominence.

Kanayo candidly expressed concerns about the influx of inexperienced young women in Nollywood who have gained entry through dubious means. He lamented the prevalence of individuals who lack acting talent but have secured roles through questionable practices like “sex-for-role.”

The Thespian passionately emphasized that acting is a craft requiring innate talent that can be honed but not easily acquired through shortcuts or manipulation.

He also disclosed his ambition to continue acting well into his 90s or beyond.

This coming hours after Kanayo O. Kanayo publicly accused teenage actress Angel Unigwe and her mother, manager Juliet Unigwe, of violating a contractual agreement.

According to the filmmaker, Angel Unigwe prematurely left a filming contract with his production company due to her mother’s intervention.

Kanayo O Kanayo urged Nollywood producers to avoid working with the young actress and even threatened to disrupt any shoots involving her in the future.

WATCH HIM SPEAK BELOW 

Former Big Brother Naija housemate, Adekunle, has officially confirmed the end of his romantic relationship with fellow reality star, Venita Akpofure.

The two had sparked a connection during the All Stars edition of the show last year, but it appears their bond has fizzled out.

In a recent interview with YouTuber Olufemi Daniel, Adekunle opened up about the end of their relationship.

Adekunle revealed that he and Venita had a post-show conversation about their relationship, but the outcome wasn’t what they had hoped for.

“I would like to think that we were in a relationship in the Big Brother’s house. I wouldn’t want to use the word love. It’s too strong for that scenario. But what we had was more than an understanding. I think we when were in the House together, it was a real thing,” Adekunle said.

The reality star also made it clear that they no longer communicate.

He said:

“I don’t talk to her anymore because we don’t have a relationship. We don’t communicate, we don’t speak [with each other]. A lot of bad things happened, that’s why I’m not going to share them here out of respect for her.”

Recall that Venita in a recent interview also confirmed that she and Adekunle  have gone their separate paths.

Venita revealed this during her appearance on Tacha’s ‘The Big Friday Show’, that she and Adekunle are not romantically linked.

She went into further detail about the distinctions between their current paths and their prior experiences.

Venita claims that she is now devoting the most of her energy to her work and her acting career.

As part of effort to create an enabling environment for the growth of the Nigerian movie industry and further consolidate its enviable standing in the world, the highly revered Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has brokered peace between veteran actor Kareem Adepoju ‘Baba Wande’ and award-winning movie producer and director, Tunde Kelani.

Dotun Taylor, the President of Aroba Groove, an International Cultural Organisation, made this known in a statement on Saturday.

The two gladiators of the Nigerian movie industry are said to have been at loggerheads for more than three decades.

Taylor who’s also the Asoju Asa of Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, asserted that the reconciliation of Baba Wande and Kelani would paved way for the advancement of Nigerian cultural heritage globally.

According to him, the longstanding feud between the two veterans has affected the growth of Nollywood industry in one way or the other.

He said that the reconciliation, marks a significant milestone in the promotion and preservation of Nigeria’s cultural heritage.

“The three decade-long dispute revolved around royalties from the movie “Ti Oluwa Ni Ile.”

“Ooni of Ife also told me how great the film was ‘Ti Oluwa Nile’ and that’s why he choose me as agent for the reconciliation of the long time feud.

“The Asoju Asa Oodua to the Ooni of Ife, played a pivotal role in facilitating the peaceful resolution.

“Delegates from the palace, at the behest of the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi (Ọjaja II), visited Tunde Kelani at his Abeokuta home in Ogun State, Nigeria, to seal the settlement.

“This historic reconciliation is a testament to the Ooni of Ife’s commitment to promoting Nigeria’s cultural heritage and the core aim of Aroba Groove Ltd. in preserving the rich cultural history of the Yoruba lineage.

“The Aroba Groove successful mediate the reconciliation which has been giving birth to the seamless production of ‘ASIYANBI’, the stage adaptation of TI OLUWA NILE,” he said.

According to him, ASIYANBI ‘Ti Oluwa Nile’ is produced by Aroba Groove in collaboration with the House of Oduduwa with the endorsement of the Ooni of Ife, Ogunwusi for new generation to learn from rich history of the Yoruba culture.

Taylor said that following the successful reconciliation, he praised the exemplary leadership displayed by Kelani and Baba Wande citing their willingness to put aside differences as a valuable lesson for the industry and beyond.

He said that their actions demonstrated the importance of intergenerational collaboration, ensuring a seamless transfer of knowledge and values between the old guard and the next generation.

Taylor added that by working together, we could avoid misunderstandings and misaligned efforts, ultimately driving progress and development in the entertainment industry.

Taylor said that the two veterans have put aside their differences, attributing the past feud to royalty issues from the 1993 hit film Ti Oluwa Ni Ile.

He said that in a heartwarming reconciliation, they expressed gratitude to the Ooni of Ife for his intervention and the vital role played by Asoju Asa Oodua.

Baba Wande in his remarks during the reconciliation said that Kelani is his bossom friend.

“We will continue to work together for the growth of our beloved industry and Yorubaland.”

Kelani also in his remarks said that the peace initiative was a reminder that their work (Ti Oluwa Nile) was appreciated.

“This peace initiative is a reminder that our work is appreciated, and we are being watched.

“I thank the Ooni for his intervention and assure my full support to the production of ASIYANBI, the stage adaptation of TI OLUWA NILE,” he said.

Mr Ibitayo Akindeji, the Producer and Project Coordinator of ASIYANBI, said that Aroba Groove was reviving the classic tale through a groundbreaking stage production, promising a thrilling and innovative theatrical experience.

Akindeji said that the captivating stage play, ASIYANBI, was set to captivate audiences in major cities in Nigeria, UK and USA later in the year.

According to him, the historic reconciliation embodies the core values of Yorubaland’s ‘Omoluabi’.

“While the timeless story of TI OLUWA NILE remains unchanged, its presentation this time around is nothing short of breathtaking,” said.

The production couldn’t have come at a more opportune moment for Nigeria, as the country navigates its current challenges. 

“With unwavering belief, the team affirms that Nigeria is God’s beloved nation, and this land is indeed God’s own – TI OLUWA NILE.

“Following a teaser released, Aroba Groove has announced that drama enthusiasts can look forward to a treat from October as the ingenious production tour cities across the country and abroad.

The talented cast for the stage-play featuring Kareem Adepoju (Baba Wande), Actress Aisha Lawal, Ozain, Lekan Agba Inaki, Jude Chukwuka, and Dele Omo Woli amongst others, will bring the production to life in these cities, promising an unforgettable experience.

The iconic film, released in three parts, remains one of the best-selling Yoruba movies of all time, and this reconciliation marks a new chapter in the industry’s history.

Nollywood actress of the Yoruba extraction, Abidemi Adisa has affirmed that sex-for-role syndrome is a clear and present danger in the movie industry as it has driven some highly talented, well-meaning actors out of the industry.

Adisa said, “ “It sure does exist and it is one of the things driving many talented people away from the Nigerian movie industry. This is not even limited to actresses, but men too are sometimes victims. But we can’t stereotype Nollywood for this because it sure does exist in other Industries as well.”

“Luckily for me, no one has ever asked me for sex for a role because I’m not desperate for stardom”, she added.

She also speaks on her foray into the industry, “My passion for the make-believe industry drove me into acting. I always appreciate how great actors interpret roles and make people believe it is a real occurrence. This greatly influenced my decision to take up acting as a career”.

Abidemi Adisa learned the rudiments of acting under the veteran actor, Mr Saidi Balogun and she had starred in quite a number of movie productions such as: Violence part 1&2, Bisola Peperenpe, Tani, Drotimi, Ire, Asiri Pepe, Akete, etc. The delectable actress also had 3 movies she had produced herself namely Ota, Ojiji Ife, Bidemi Jagba 1 & 2.

The talented actress is currently working on a new project she’s planning to shoot in the United Kingdom and Nigeria. The title is “Iku Ore”. It is a story of a lady that pleases her friend in every way but who doesn’t care about herself.

In 2018, Brazilian pensioner João sought medical help after he found a wart on his penis.

“I started visiting medical clinics to find out what it was, but all the doctors told me it was due to excess skin and prescribed medication,” the 63-year-old recalls.

Despite the medication, the wart continued to grow. It started to take a toll on his marriage and João and his wife’s sex life declined. “We were like siblings,” he admits. He was determined to find out what was going on.

For five years João, not his real name, went back and forth to specialists who prescribed more medication and ordered new biopsies. “Nothing solved it,” he says.

Then, in 2023, he was given a diagnosis – João had penile cancer.

“For my family, it was a very unpleasant surprise, even more so because I had to have part of the penis amputated. I feel like I was decapitated,” he says.

“It’s a type of cancer that you can’t talk about with people because it could turn into a joke.”

Penile cancer is rare, but incidences and mortality rates are on the rise around the world.

According to the latest studies, Brazil, where João is from, has one of the highest incidence rates of 2.1 per 100,000 men.

‘Terrified of surgery’

Between 2012 and 2022, there were 21,000 reported cases, according to Brazil’s Ministry of Health. This resulted in more than 4,000 deaths and, over the past decade, there have been more than 6,500 amputations – averaging two each day. 

Maranhão, the poorest state in Brazil, was found to have the highest incidence rate globally at 6.1 per 100,000 men.

Symptoms of penile cancer often start with a sore on the penis that does not heal and a strong-smelling discharge. Some people get bleeding and colour changes of the penis, too.

When detected early, there is a high chance of recovery through treatments such as the surgical removal of the lesion, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

But if left untreated, partial or total amputation of the penis, and possibly other nearby genital organs such as the testicles, may become necessary.

João underwent a partial amputation in January and says it was a difficult time. 

“It’s something you never imagine will happen to you, and when it does, you can’t just go around telling people,” he says.

“I was terrified of surgery, but there was no other alternative. The feeling in the first weeks after the surgery was one of sadness, I can’t deny it. Not having part of your penis is horrible.”

Some patients undergo a total amputation which is life-changing.

Thiago Camelo Mourão from the Department of Urology at AC Camargo Cancer Center in São Paulo says: “In the case of partial amputation, urine continues to exit through the penis.

“However, in total amputation, the urethral orifice can be relocated to the perineum, between the scrotum and the anus, requiring the patient to urinate while sitting on the toilet.”

Mauricio Dener Cordeiro of the Brazilian Society of Urology says the persistent infection of human papillomavirus (HPV), a name given to a common group of viruses, is “one of the main risk factors”. HPV can be transmitted during sex and in some cases, it can lead to cancers including in the mouth and penis.

He says: “Mass vaccination against HPV is essential due to its high effectiveness in preventing related lesions,” but he adds that vaccination rates in Brazil are below the level needed to be truly effective.

“In Brazil, despite the availability of the vaccine, the HPV vaccination rate remains low for girls – reaching only 57% – and for boys, it doesn’t exceed 40%,” he says. “The ideal coverage to prevent the disease is 90%.”

Vaccine

He believes misinformation about the vaccine, unfounded doubts about its effectiveness and a lack of vaccination campaigns have contributed to the low take-up.

According to the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) website, smoking can increase the risk of getting penile cancer, too. It also says you might be more likely to get penile cancer if you “have problems pulling back your foreskin (the skin covering your penis) to keep your penis clean (a condition called phimosis)”.

“When a man does not expose the glans and fails to clean the foreskin properly, it produces a secretion that accumulates,” Dr Cordeiro says. “This creates a highly favourable environment for bacterial infections.

“If this occurs repeatedly, it becomes a risk factor for the appearance of the tumour.”

But Brazil is not the only place where penile cancer is on the rise. According to the latest research, the number of cases is increasing around the world.

In 2022, the journal JMIR Public Health and Surveillance published the results of a large-scale analysis involving the latest data from 43 countries.

It found the highest incidence of penile cancer between 2008 and 2012 was in Uganda (2.2 per 100,000), followed by Brazil (2.1 per 100,000) and Thailand (1.4 per 100,000). The lowest was in Kuwait (0.1 per 100,000).

“Although developing countries still bear the higher incidence and mortality of penile cancer, the incidence is on the rise in most European countries,” the team of researchers led by Leiwen Fu and Tian Tian from Sun Yat-Sen University in China found.

They reported that England had seen an increase in penile cancer, rising from 1.1 to 1.3 per 100,000 between 1979 and 2009 and in Germany cases increased by 50% from 1.2 to 1.8 per 100,000 between 1961 and 2012.

These figures are only set to get higher, according to the Global Cancer Registries prediction tool. It estimates that by 2050, the global incidence of penile cancer will rise by more than 77%.

This change can largely be attributed to the ageing population, according to the experts, who say the highest incidence occurred in men in their 60s.

Dr Cordeiro says: “Penile cancer is a rare disease but also highly preventable”. 

He advised that using condoms during sex and undergoing surgery to remove the foreskin in cases of phimosis could help reduce the risk of penile cancer.

Neil Barber, Clinical Lead for Urology at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, adds: “Penile cancer is almost unheard of in the circumcised population. Poor hygiene and infections beneath the foreskin, as well as conditions like phimosis that make it difficult to retract the foreskin and maintain good hygiene, are risk factors. This is linked to higher overall infection risks”.

“Established risk factors also include unprotected sex, specifically not using condoms, with poor hygiene further increasing risks through this route.”

João is currently waiting for his latest test results, which he will receive later this year. “I’m confident that these exams will show that I’ll be cured,” he says.

“Now, following the amputation, the pain has gone away, and I’ve been feeling much better. But I’ll have to live with a partially amputated penis for the rest of my days.”

According to Cancer Research UK, more than 90% of men diagnosed with penile cancer which has not spread to nearby lymph nodes survive for five years or more.

The piece was published by BBC

A retired Brigadier General of the Nigerian Army, Uwem Harold Udokwe, was tragically murdered during an armed robbery at his residence in Sunshine Homes Estate, Abuja, in the early hours of Saturday.

According to reports, the late Brigadier General was attacked by three suspected armed robbers who invaded his home.

During the robbery, the assailants reportedly demanded jewellery and took the general’s pistol before fatally shooting him.

The attack marks the third such incident at the general’s residence, intensifying concerns about security in the area.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, led by Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igweh, has ordered a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Udokwe’s death.

The command spokeswoman,  SP Adeh Josephine, issued a statement confirming the commencement of a discrete investigation aimed at apprehending those responsible for the heinous act.

Commissioner Igweh expressed his condolences to the family of the deceased and assured the public that the police are committed to delivering swift justice.

He emphasized the command’s dedication to enhancing the security landscape of the nation’s capital by adapting strategies to combat evolving criminal activities effectively.

The National Assembly’s Sergeant-At-Arm, Air Commodore S.A Zakari (retd.), also confirmed the general’s death, providing additional details about the tragic event.

According to Zakari, the general’s wife reported that this was the third attack on their home.

The statement released by the police reads, “According to Pastor Awe, his neighbour, the robbers injured one of the estate guards. That one was taken to the jospital at Abacha Barracks along with Brig Gen H Udokwere rtd N/5575, the victim. While the injured guard was being treated at Abacha Barracks Hospital, the General was referred to the National Hospital Abuja.

“Air Cdre MM Igho informed Air Cdre SA Zakari rtd of the incident at 0810 hrs. Zakari dashed to NHA to support the family. Zakari met Pastor Awe (the neighbour) with the victim’s wife, son and other neighbours. Air Cdre Zakari was told Gen Udokwere was dead and the corpse was at the National Hospital morgue.

“Zakari met the wife, calmed her down and reported the issue to Maj Gen Dr Okereke. The Comd NAOWA Hospital sent an ambulance to retrieve the body of the late General Udokwere to NAOWA Hospital where he was confirmed dead.

“Gen Hashim, the neighbour, has taken the family to his house for his wife to handle Mrs Udokwere. However, Mrs Udokwere insisted she must see her husband. Contact was made with the Cse Mates (NDA 15th Cse) and Brig Gen KA Kareem was tasked to visit the family which he did. The family will decide the next line of action regarding the funeral.”

A year after the leadership of the opposition Labour Party was separated with the incumbent National Chairman, Julius Abure and the Deputy National Chairman of the party (South), Lamidi Apapa laying claim to the mantle of leadership, both camps have agreed to sheath their swords and work together.

Loyalists from both camps were torn apart in April 2023 following a court judgment restraining Abure and three others from parading themselves as national officers of the party. 

But Abure fought back fiercely to retain his seat with the help of the parent body, Nigeria Labour Congress, under the leadership of its National President, Joe Ajaero.

The embattled LP chairman, however, fell out of favour with the NLC following a contentious national convention held in Anambra that returned him and all his loyal members of the National Working Committee to office three months ago.

Despite a series of picketing at LP secretariats nationwide and other threats by the unionists amid calls for an expansive and inclusive convention that should start from the grassroots, Abure did not budge.

The action subsequently compelled the NLC Political Commission to void the new leadership and set up a transition committee, saddled with the task of engaging stakeholders of the party and conducting a fresh convention in 90 days.

A source at the LP national secretariat, who preferred anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, explained that Abure felt the urgent need to close rank with the Lamidi Apapa’s faction following the open revolt and media war from its Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi as well as the pressure from the NLC.

“It is the only logical way for him to have a united front against the threat of the NLC in particular. I believe you already know Abure has a long history with Lamidi Apapa and Abayomi Arabambi before now,” the source explained.

When The PUNCH contacted the Apapa’s camp, the factional spokesman, Abayomi Arabambi, confirmed the development.

Arabambi told our reporter that they had no problem with Abure from the outset because they knew he was being influenced and misled by some leading officers of the NLC.

He said, “We are together to stop all those political hawks from taking over our party. We thought they (NLC) were fighting for a just cause. But it is very obvious they only want to take over our party and we are not going to accept that. We in the Lamidi Apapa group are not lawbreakers like those who supported Abure in disobeying the court order. I have said this several times on air.

“It was because of this threat that Abure extended an olive branch for all of us to bond together. It was obvious that these people were not only with him to fight us but to take over the control of the party. So we cannot be outside and allow some people to take over our party. That was why Abure asked us to come together in the party’s interest.

“We are here to fight those people who want to use the Labour Party to foment trouble and destabilize the country. That is what we are against. Nobody is contesting or running for any election now. We know the next race is in 2027. Why should we now be seeking ways to bring the nation down? We are averse to that.”

He added, “I also want you to know that there is nothing like Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign here anymore. It has been dissolved. Everybody has reverted to former governorship and presidential candidate. We don’t want disinformation at the Labour Party.

“Again, you recall that there was a crisis in APC and the PDP. Yet, the warring parties came together and resolved it. So what stopped us from resolving ours? When you are fighting, there is no permanent enemy. It is all about permanent interest.”

Efforts to get Abure to react to the report were unsuccessful.

But the National Publicity Secretary of LP, Obiora Ifoh, also confirmed the reunion, saying there was nothing out of place for Abure to extend olive branches to aggrieved members of the party.

He said, “Labour Party is united. We do not have a division in the sense that as a party that came out of the election hugely successful with a lot of results to show, several people would want to have a stake in the Labour Party. The implication is that a lot of stone-throwing and interest will begin to manifest. But the Labour Party has a constitution and it has a rule completely spelt out.

“Anybody that tries to go out of it will get his hand burnt because the law will not support what you are doing just as the NLC is doing. Besides, we have never seen the Lamidi Apapa people as having their camp because there’s only one camp. That is the one led by Julius Abure.

“Of course, they have the right to be aggrieved and take positions that are not aligned with the interest of the party. But as soon as they discovered it was not the right way, I think they took the better decision to begin to retrace their steps. That is what we have seen.”

He stated further, “Many people who were involved in anti-party activities in the past are beginning to discover that the laws are not on their side. The best thing is to retrace their steps and return to the fold.

“So many other persons have indicated interest in returning to the party. LP does not have any problem with that. Our doors are wide open. If you are out in the cold and you need shelter in the Labour Party, we will bring you back and shelter you.

“The distinguished gentleman you just mentioned (Arabambi) is still our member. He has also recognised Julius Abure as the only national chairman. The party is coming together and I can tell you that the party is a lot more united now than ever.”

The Federal Government has allocated a substantial ₦14.77 billion for the repair and maintenance of the presidential air fleet over the past 11 months.

According to Punch, these funds were disbursed in 11 tranches from 16th July 2023 to 25th May 2024, utilizing the State House headquarters transit account designated for the Presidential Air Fleet Transit Funds.

This financial outlay comes at a time when the National Assembly is considering the approval for the purchase of two new aircraft for the presidential fleet.

The decision follows revelations that the President’s primary aircraft, a 19-year-old Boeing 737, along with several others in the fleet, have become dysfunctional due to age and wear.

The House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence has been instrumental in pushing forward these plans, having included the procurement in its technical subcommittee report.

The potential cost for acquiring two new state-of-the-art aircraft is estimated by experts to be over $623.4 million, or approximately ₦918.7 billion.

The report read in part, “The committee is of the strong and informed opinion that considering the fragile structure of the Nigerian federation and recognising the dire consequences of any foreseen or unforeseen mishap that may arise as a result of technical/operational inadequacy of the Presidential Air Fleet, it is in the best interest of the country to procure two additional aircraft as recommended. This will also prove to be most cost-efficient in the long run, aside from the added advantage of providing a suitable, comfortable and safe carrier befitting of the status and responsibilities of the offices of the President and Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

In recent times, there has been serious contention about the state of the air fleet despite enormous government resources spent on it during past administrations.

The unavailability of the president’s jet has seen President Bola Tinubu charter private jets, and Kashim Shettima abandon international trips.

The Vice President on May 6, 2024, abandoned his trip to the 2024 US-Africa Business Summit due to a technical fault with his official aircraft.

The Vice President was scheduled to represent the President, who had to board a commercial aircraft to Saudi Arabia after his main luxury jet was taken for rehabilitation and a second aircraft he was travelling in developed a technical snag in The Netherlands.

The Presidency currently maintains a fleet of six aircraft, namely a Boeing 737, a Gulfstream G550, a Gulfstream GV, two Falcon 7Xs, and a Challenger CL605, as well as six helicopters— two Agusta 139s and four Agusta 189s.

Buhari’s government spent ₦62.47bn for the operation and maintenance of PAF during his eight-year tenure.

Though Buhari promised to reduce the size of the fleet as part of his pledge to cut the cost of governance, checks reveal that his administration failed to live up to this promise.

In the 2016 budget, ₦3.65bn was allocated for the PAF, but this rose to ₦4.37bn in the 2017 fiscal year.

In 2018 and 2019, the allocation almost doubled, amounting to ₦7.26bn and ₦7.30bn, respectively. Closer observation showed a slight drop by ₦503.75m in 2020 when ₦6.79bn was budgeted for the fleet.

The allocation surged to ₦12.55bn and ₦12.48bn in the 2021 and 2022 fiscal budgets, respectively, before the ₦8.07bn allocation in 2023.

Meanwhile, checks by Punch using GovSpend, a civic tech platform that tracks and analyses the Federal Government’s spending, showed that Tinubu approved the disbursement of ₦14.77bn within one year of assuming office.

The amount is separate from expenses incurred during foreign and local trips by the President, Vice-President and other officials.

₦1.52bn was approved in July 2023 for maintenance and was followed by a payment of ₦3.1bn in August.

The next tranche was paid in November 2023 with a disbursement of ₦1.26bn. The government also paid ₦2.54bn in March 2024, ₦6.35bn in April 2024 and ₦1.27bn last month.

The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has opened up on while he did not challenge his removal as the Emir by the former governor of the state, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje in March 2020.

Sanusi, a former governor of Nigeria’s Central Bank, who spoke in an interview with Sun Newspaper, explained that he is one of hundreds of princes of the Emirate and therefore doesn’t have fundamental right to be an Emir.

Asked why he didn’t challenge his dethronement by former Governor Ganduje, Sanusi said, “A number of reasons. I have told you that I don’t have a fundamental right to be an Emir. I am one of hundreds of princes. God chose me. And if God says I should leave, for me, I take it that God knows better than me why I had to leave. Okay, let’s say I go to court. Let me even say this; I just got a letter that said I had been dethroned for insubordination.

“I had never been queried for insubordination,” he explained.

“The details of the insubordination were not given. I had not been given any chance to defend myself. So, it was clear that the state and the federal governments had both decided that it was time for me to go. Okay?”

He revealed that even if he had gone to court and the court returned him, he wouldn’t have been able to work with the administration of Governor Ganduje.

“So, let’s even assume that the court said I should come back. Do you think I was looking forward to working with that government? Would I have been happy as an Emir in the last three years working with that government? You’re under a governor. The law gives him the power to be on top of you. He has said he doesn’t like you. He has made it clear he does not like you. If I come, he would just make my life miserable.

“It was going to be one story after the other. One fake story, one social media insult after another, and in my position, I won’t be able to respond. So, for me, I had a happier life in Lagos with my friends, publishing my book, doing my Ph.D, doing my UN work, doing my Tijaniya work, than sitting here in a constant fight with the government.

“Secondly, look at the Emir of Gwandu, who was removed under Obasanjo. How many years now? Almost 20. The state High Court said he was illegally removed, return him. So, there was an appeal. The Court of Appeal said he was illegally removed, return him. It is at the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has not yet spoken out about him. I mean, do I have 20 years to fight in court to come back to a throne?

“So, for me, I had been Emir for six years, alhamdulillah. I had done what I did. At least, the only reason I would have gone to court is if they had removed me on an allegation that harmed my reputation because the only currency I have is my integrity. So, if they had accused me of fraud or something, I would have had to go to court to clear my name, but they said insubordination.

“So, the governor was asked, what are the reasons for insubordination? He said, sometimes he is invited to meetings, and he does not come. For every well-meaning Nigerian who saw that story, who saw that news, I don’t even need to defend myself because if you are going to remove an Emir and the only reason you can have is that you invite him for some meetings that he does not come, then nobody takes you seriously. Everybody knows that this was not the reason. So, I always felt that if it was God’s will that I come back, if not, I’ll go and continue my life.

“So, I didn’t go to court to challenge my removal. I went to court to challenge their attempt to keep me in exile and under house arrest to enforce my fundamental human rights but I did not go to court to challenge the removal because I didn’t even have to because it was self-evident on the face of it that this was just a political act. So, that was why I didn’t challenge it.”

Sophia Momodu has accused singer David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, of harassment and neglect of his parental responsibilities to their daughter, Imade Adeleke.

The accusation was made in a statement issued by her legal representatives.

This followed a suit filed by Davido seeking unrestricted access to their daughter.

The singer claimed to have fulfilled his responsibilities towards Imade, including paying her school fees and providing transportation and accommodation.

However, Sophia refuted the claims saying Davido had not fulfilled his financial responsibilities to Imade since 2022.

The statement read, “Sophia ended the relationship with David in July 2022. Since then, David has repeatedly threatened to make Sophia’s life miserable if she does not make herself available to him sexually.

“Sophia has never denied him the opportunity to see his daughter. He has not reached out on special occasions such as her birthday or Christmas for the past two years, which has left his daughter distressed and questioning why her father has cut contact with her. Despite this, David posts images of her on social media to falsely portray himself as a supportive and active father.

“Since July 2022, David has not fulfilled his financial responsibilities towards their daughter, leaving her school fees unpaid. Their daughter’s school has contacted him multiple times regarding the fees for the 2021/2022 school term and January 2023, with no response.

“Legal counsel was sought in February 2023, resulting in David’s father, Mr Adedeji Adeleke, eventually paying the outstanding fees. Regardless of this neglect Sophia strongly maintains that the most important support David can provide to their daughter is his presence and emotional support.

“David is in a publicly known relationship, and Sophia wishes him well. She seeks to move forward in her life free from harassment and verbal abuse.”