FEATURES
Salihu Mohammed Lukman, former national vice chairman (North West) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has issued a stark warning to President Bola Tinubu, urging him not to disregard the mass protests erupting across the country over the high cost of living.
In a statement released in Abuja on Wednesday, Lukman, a former Director General of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), cautioned that failure to address the underlying issues could lead to widespread unrest in the nation.
Lukman expressed deep concern over the prevailing economic challenges, stating, “As it stands, the renewed hope agenda of our party has been overshadowed. Like the fluctuating Naira exchange rate, Renewed Hope is being exchanged for Renewed Anger, fueling frustration among citizens.”
Highlighting the severity of the situation, Lukman emphasized the prevalence of hunger in the land, lamenting that such hardships are occurring under the leadership of the APC. He criticized the statement by Mr Felix Morka, the National Publicity Secretary, attributing the protests to opposition influence, labelling it as dishonest.
“How can we attribute protests in APC strongholds like Minna and Kano to opposition sponsorship?” Lukman questioned. He reminded that both cities are known as APC strongholds, with Niger State ruled by the APC and Kano being the home state of Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the APC National Chairman.
Lukman stressed the need for the APC leadership to acknowledge the legitimacy of these protests as responses to the harsh realities Nigerians face. He warned that the protests would escalate nationwide if left unaddressed, posing a significant challenge to the party’s credibility, leadership, and democracy.
In conclusion, Lukman cautioned that ignoring the protests would be at the peril of the APC and President Asiwaju Tinubu, urging them to take decisive action to address the people’s grievances.
Nigerian film anctress, Ethel Ekpe, who played the role of Segi in Basi and Company, a sitcom that ran on Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) from 1986 to 1990, has died.
The University of Calabar graduate reportedly died of cancer on Monday.
Director general of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) Dr Shaibu Husseini announced her death in a Facebook post on Monday night.
The post read:
“(Ethel Aderemi nee Ekpe), the screen beauty that delighted fans with her inimitable interpretation of the role of Segi in the defunct sitcom on Nigerian Television Authority by Ken Saro Wiwa titled ‘Basi and Company’ has passed on.
“The actress and later day Pastor and star of Amaka Igwe’s ‘Forever’ and most recently ‘Sons of the Caliphate” reportedly died of Cancer today in Lagos.
“She will be sorely missed. My family will particularly miss her because we named my second daughter Ethel, after her. Good night good woman!”
The deceased also stars in Aguila Njamah’s Heartbeat, Tchidi Chikere’s Speak the Word and Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen’s Traumatised.
Nigerian music sensation, Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, also known as Ayra Starr, has revealed that American-Barbadian singer, Rihanna, alias Riri is her “greatest inspiration.”
She stated this in an interview with Rolling Stone that Rihanna’s ‘Anti’ is timeless and the greatest album ever made, adding that she listens to it repeatedly.
Ayra Starr said she picked a valuable lesson from the album, which is to come to terms with the fact that being oneself and accepting certain disappointments is okay as not everything will work out. In Ayra Star’s words:
“Rihanna’s ‘Anti’ is the album I can put on repeat for life. I love Rihanna. She is my greatest inspiration. She is my matriarch. She is my queen. Her album ‘Anti’ is timeless. I listen to it always. The more I listen to it, the more I understand it. I love it so much.
“What I heard from Rihanna is being myself, understanding myself; whatever works for me is fine, some things don’t work for me, it’s fine. I’m just going to be myself in every situation.”
In a related post, Ayra Starr in an interview with UK-based Kiss FM, stated that Rihanna influenced her fashion style.
Timaya sends message to Nigerians living in South Africa following AFCON semi-final victory
The singer who is known to wear very short outfits while featuring on Elle’s Game of Song Association in another interview, stated that she would love to collaborate with Rihanna aka Riri.
The “Rush” singer mentioned that collaborating with Rihanna has been her childhood dream as she considers her a “queen.”
She praised Rihanna’s music for instilling confidence in her and described her love for everything Riri.
N1.3bn Fraud: How General Overseer Acquired Hotel, Factory Primary School From Crime Proceeds [PHOTOS]
AdminA fresh report has revealed more details on the criminal activities of the General Overseer of Faith On The Rock Ministry International, Apostle Theophilus Oloche Ebonyi.
Recall that the clergyman was apprehended by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Ebonyi was arrested for allegedly defrauding his church members and other Nigerians using fake grants from the Ford Foundation to the tune of N1.3 billion.
He defrauded his victims, comprising Non-Governmental Organisations, NGOs and individuals, by advertising an intervention project through his NGO (Theobarth Global Foundation), claiming that the Ford Foundation was offering a grant of $20 billion to assist the less-privileged in society.
A report from the Punch showed that Ebonyi acquired a 23-room hotel, a pure water factory, two blocks of a Primary School and two bungalow office at Nyanya-Gwandara, New Karu, Abuja and a five-bedroom duplex at Karsana, Abuja with the proceeds of his fraudulent dealings with his subscribers.
He also set up a live broadcast channel with studio equipment for his Theobarth Global Foundation with the funds of his subscribers.
He allegedly deceived his victims into subscribing as beneficiaries of the phoney grant by asking them to pay for registration forms and clusters. Each subscriber group was made to pay N1.8 million.
Through this arrangement, Ebonyi allegedly raked in N1.3 billion from his unsuspecting subscribers and non-governmental organisations.
A statement by EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, showed that Ford Foundation had no arrangement, grant, relationship or business with Ebonyi.
According to the statement, Ford Foundation has pointedly disclaimed Ebonyi and his NGO, stressing that it had no link whatsoever with them. The Commission has also traced five properties he acquired as proceeds of his criminal dealings.
Ebonyi is still reportedly reaching his subscribers on some social media platforms to market his spurious grant from Ford Foundation despite his arrest and probe by the EFCC.
The pictures below, show some of the properties he acquired from the crime proceeds.
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Nollywood actor, Don Richard, has tackled married women who password their phones to make them inaccessible to people, including their husbands.
Naija News reports that the movie star, in a video making rounds online, said he finds it funny that a man would pay his wife’s bride price and spend so much on their wedding, and thereafter, she passwords her phone and restricts him from knowing the people she is communicating with.
Don Richard insists he must know everything about his wife’s phone and online conversation, stating that such an act of privacy should have ended when the woman was a single lady, or she should not have gotten married.
The thespian added that men who think it’s okay for their wives to password phones said they might end up training children for 25 years before discovering they are not the biological father.
He said, “It’s just really funny. How will I pay your bride price, pay for the wedding, not small money o, I then finish marrying you and you start putting password on your phone, saying I can’t check your phone, I can’t check who you’re chatting with on WhatsApp, I must not check who sent you a friend requests or voice notes and you call me your husband that married you the right way.
“You men, so your woman will tell you not to touch her phone because there’s a password, and you married her? Don’t you know how much you spent on the wedding? I pity you. You would have taken care of your children for 25 years before discovering you are not the father, better go and do a DNA test. How will you marry a woman and she says her phone is passworded? Is something wrong with her?”
The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, has made a bold declaration regarding his safety, stating unequivocally that he is beyond the reach of kidnappers and assassins, attributing his protection to divine rather than traditional powers.
This statement comes against the backdrop of increasing concerns over the security of traditional rulers in Nigeria, particularly amidst a spate of kidnappings and assassination attempts targeting monarchs.
In a press briefing at his palace in Iwo on Wednesday, Oba Akanbi addressed the issue of security for traditional rulers, especially in the southwest, emphasizing a shift from the reliance on ancient deities to seeking protection from God.
He argued that continued dependence on such deities not only fails to ensure safety but also tarnishes the honour of the thrones they occupy.
Oba Akanbi highlighted the imperative for traditional institutions in Yorubaland to recognize their role as representatives of God on earth, rather than emissaries of ancient gods.
He urged his fellow monarchs to embrace this perspective for their safety and protection, moving away from traditional practices towards a more divine trust in God.
Furthermore, the Oluwo touched upon the pressing issue of economic hardship in Nigeria, directing attention towards governors and lawmakers.
He criticized them for not alleviating the people’s suffering, especially in light of the income generated from the removal of fuel subsidies, which is distributed among states and earmarked for constituency projects.
In his critique, Oba Akanbi also called for the implementation of capital punishment for corruption, underscoring this as a crucial step if the government is truly committed to combating the menace of corruption.
He said, “The steps that this new government is taking is right. Money can’t get to Nigerians except through their governors, Senators, House of Representatives and others. Revenue going to states and others is unprecedented in the history of this country. Lets show love to each other, let’s help each other. Money accruing to the federal government after fuel subsidy removal is being shared all tiers of government in Nigeria. Why are people now becoming poorer? Why are Nigerians hungry. There should be meeting at the federal level where questions would be asked about how resources going to other tiers of government.
“A state in South South was said to have recieved over N437billlion between now and when subsidy was removed. Yet people are still hungry. All elected and appointed political office holders are getting money yet people are hungry. I feel they are covering each other. Mr. President should tell them the truth and ask them to use the available funds to ease economic woes of the people. Corruption is thrieving and to put an end to it, death penalty should be the punishment for graft.”
Five pregnant girls have been rescued following a raid of a baby factory by security operatives at Umunya in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The rescue efforts followed a collaboration of the Anambra State Ministry of Health and security agencies in the South-Eastern state.
Briefing journalists on Wednesday, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike said it was observed that the baby factory was functioning as a hospital but it was a base for child trafficking.
He identified the facility as ‘Mother and Child Hospital and Maternity located on a road along the Tansian University, Umunya.
“We found that some hospitals that are not registered are operating in the state. We have created data that will capture the hospitals in the state so that people will be able to have quality, good healthcare,” he said.
“Unfortunately, in one of the hospitals that we came for inspection, we found out that in our data system, they were not registered. We came here to verify and look at what is happening,” he said.
‘Ran Away’
He said the facility was not registered with the Anambra State Government, adding that the government that seven nurses on duty ran away.
The commissioner put the ages of the victims as 14 to 21 years, stressing that Governor Charles Soludo’s administration is determined to tackle the menace.
“Unfortunately, the hospital is not registered and activities are suspected to be very fraudulent. So we decided to just see the senior doctor in the hospital and all the seven nurses.
“They locked us outside. Before they opened the gate, they followed the back and ran away. Seven to eight of them ran away. We saw little girls here that are pregnant, some of them ranging from 14, 15, 16 and 21 years,” the commissioner said.
Ondo State Security Network, codenamed Amotekun Corps has intercepted some trucks loaded with arms and other dangerous weapons and charms from entering the state from the northern part of the country.
Amotekun nabbed the suspects during operations that took place in three local government areas of the state.
Parading the suspects in Akure, the state capital, the state commander of Amotekun Corps, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye, said the agency had been monitoring the influx of strange persons in the last couple of weeks within and around forest reserves and other parts of the state.
Adeleye, who said another set of 31 suspected criminals were arrested two weeks ago, explained that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa had directed that buses carrying pupils in the state must be protected and placed on serious surveillance.
He said, “A couple of weeks ago, we started having a very heavy influx of strange people within our forest reserve areas and the Ondo State territory.
“Majority of these people who claimed that they were coming into the state as hunters, were arrested around the black spots where we have robbery operations and kidnapping in the local governments where they were nabbed.
“They surprisingly and carefully concealed and kept their weapons, bags of Indian hemp, and cutlasses under their vehicles and they claimed that they were coming from various parts of the country.
Adeleye added that the arrested 149 suspects have been profiled, while some of them are still being questioned.
Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, former Minister of Education and Founder of the School of Politics, Policy and Governance (SPPG), has identified the shortage of competent political leadership as the root cause of Nigeria’s economic difficulties.
Addressing attendees at the inaugural session of the SPPG Distinguished Guest Speaker Series, Ezekwesili emphasized the urgent need for comprehensive reforms, including a new constitution and restructuring of political, electoral, and economic frameworks.
Highlighting the correlation between effective governance and national progress, Ezekwesili underscored the imperative for a political landscape conducive to good governance.
In her discourse-themed ‘Power, Performance and Legitimacy: Renewing Global Democratic Momentum,’ she underscored the findings of the #FixPolitics research, stressing that the absence of good governance remains the foremost impediment to Nigeria’s economic advancement.
Ezekwesili decried the prevailing trend where political leaders prioritize personal interests over the collective welfare of citizens, lamenting the failure of African politicians to fulfil their obligations to the populace.
Proposing a radical solution, Ezekwesili advocated for establishing an innovative SPPG to nurture a new cadre of principled politicians capable of prioritizing public welfare.
She emphasized the necessity of training a new breed of Nigerians in ethical politics, policy, and governance, with a curriculum tailored to instil values that promote the common good.
Moreover, Ezekwesili called for collective action among Nigerians to demand sweeping reforms, warning against the looming threat of state failure if urgent measures are not taken.
Echoing Ezekwesili’s sentiments, Prof. Larry Diamond from Stanford University criticized the monopolization of political power by ruling parties, undermining electoral integrity and stifling democratic processes.
The Voice Nigeria season four contestant Yunus Emmanuel Abdulrazak, better known as Manuel Muzic, has died.
Manuel’s death was confirmed by fellow singer Ric Hassani who reacted to the tragic news in the comment section of the singer’s latest music video on Instagram on February 5. Ric Hassani wrote:
“I am refusing to accept this all day. So heartbroken. Manuel. You were just at my place eating and playing just last week I don’t get all of this. I am so sorry, I don’t even know how to process this. I truly don’t, I don’t even just know what to say,”
Manuel competed in the fourth edition of the singing competition under the mentorship of singer Niyola. He, however, did not make it to the finals.
During his time on the show, Manuel performed songs like Cee Lo Green’s ‘Forget You’, ‘Mona Lisa’ by Lojay, and ‘Sexual Healing’ by Marvin Gay which he performed as a duet with fellow contestant, Gidion.
He released the music video for his single ‘Photos’ on December 8, 2023
Although the cause of his death is not yet known, many reports say he died of typhoid and malaria.
Manuel died two months after celebrating his birthday on December 19.
“Happy birthday to me. The above picture is our mood board. The future is orange! May the oranges be with us as ride through the next year,” he wrote in a Facebook post on his birthday.
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Yoruba market women in Ogun State say the government of president Bola Tinubu has brought nothing but excruciating pain and unbearable hardship to the people.
The livid traders said the poorly conceived and haphazardly implemented policies promulgated by Tinubu have further plunged Nigerians into the abyss of poverty as they negatively affect the prices of goods.
The lamentation and exasperation of the hapless market women were captured in a viral video shared by an X user, Somto Okonkwo, on Tuesday and seen by Within Nigeria.
The market women speaking to a Sugarlink Concepts reporter in their local dialect, expressing their disappointment and discontent as they lamented the soaring prices of goods in the country.
They said the rising cost of living engendered by the economic hardship has eroded the purchasing power of the people and push the prices of hitherto affordable staple food items beyond their reach.
The traders who said Tinubu disappointed Nigerians, particularly the Yorubas, threatened to beat the president.
“He’s not behaving like a Yoruba man; he has disappointed us in Yoruba land,” another elderly woman stated.
A fish seller said, “As things are now, we’re tired. A carton of sardine is N100,000.”
Another trader appealed to the president to have mercy on Nigerians, saying, “We’re tired of Nigeria; everything is costly, everything is getting costly every day.”
An elderly woman who also voiced her displeasure with the current administration lamented that several Nigerians starved to death over Mr Tinubu’s economic policies.
“Countless people are being killed because of food, we don’t see food to eat, the elderly that are dying are too much,” she lamented.
Asked what they would tell the president if they had the opportunity to see him, one of the traders threatened, “We will beat him up, the president.”
The trader added, “What he promised us is not what’s happening now. This is too much.”
A plantain seller, who also urged Mr Tinubu to find a solution to the hardship, lamented that traders made losses due to the high cost of petrol.
“Things are too costly; we’re tired,” another fish seller grumbled. “A carton of Titus is N100,000; it used to cost N17,000. Kote is going to N60,000. Shawa, which we used to sell for N70, now goes for N700. Garri, that used to be N50, is now N700.”
Nigerian actress, Nkechi Blessing Sunday has warned friends on their comportment around her partner.
The controversial thespian stated that her friends are not permitted to smile with her man.
She argued that even though she trusts him to be faithful to her, she doesn’t trust her friends.
She further added that her friends aren’t allowed to ask her man for help when they get stranded as she noted how a lady stole her friend’s man, got pregnant for him, and even dared her friend to do her worst.
Nkechi Blessing also warned them to stay away from her ex-boyfriends. She said:
“As my friend ,you aren’t permitted to shine your teeth at my man. He wouldn’t even answer you. To the point you will now say, you’re stranded, can you please go and spend a night in his house, my sister I no go allow you. I trust my man oo but I no trust the nyash wey you carry.
My gender, I fear una, I fear myself sef. I can’t lose guard like that and again if you are my friend, you think that it’s someone that I have dated before that you want to marry, e don dey enter your eye when we dey date. Thief, you didn’t know how to say it. You know see man again, it is the one I dump that you feel is good. E good na im I leave ma”.
Born on 14 February, 1989, Blessing is a Nigerian actress, film producer, film director, and screenwriter, born and raised in Surulere, Lagos State.
She also serves as the director and chief executive officer of Nkechi films production, and NBS Foundation.
Following her breakup with Ekiti politician Opeyemi Falegan, Nkechi found solace in the arms of Eseoghene Obire aka Xxssive, who recently became SSA to the governor of Delta state on new media.
Controversial Nigerian actress, Lizzy Anjorin has shared her side of the story in a more detailed video.
The actress denied using a fake transfer to purchase gold jewellery, claiming that the reports about her were false.
Recall that Lizzy Anjorin was made fun of by several shopkeepers on Lagos Island when she was said to have used a fake transfer to pay for gold jewellery.
Lizzy Anjorin provided her version of the incident in a video, explaining that she had contacted her husband to transfer the N91,000 she had paid for clothing accessories from the business in Idumota Market to the seller’s account.
When the well-known actor questioned the store owner if he had received the money, he initially said that he had not, but he subsequently acknowledged receiving it.
She recently went back to the store, though, and the businessman approached her, informing her that the money she had sent for her previous transaction had not been received.
The actress claimed she immediately called her husband to pay another N100k to the businessman’s account pending the time they are able to figure out what happened at the bank.
Lizzy Anjorin said before she knew it, the man had gathered people who started threatening her and yanked off her hijab.
She also shared proof of her conversation and debit alert receipt as evidence, emphasizing that all those involved are now in police custody asides the man.
Watch her speak below:
Media
“Why Men should have sex at least 21 times a month” - Dr. Rasheed Adedapo recommended “side chic”
AdminPopular Nigerian doctor, Dr. Rasheed Adedapo Abassi, has opened up on the purported reasons why men should engage in sexual intercourse 21 times a month.
According to Dr. Rasheed Adedapo, during an interview with Classic FM, he revealed that engaging in such activity comes with various health benefits.
Dr. Rasheed began the interview by referencing a well-established physiological concept, stating, “If you don’t use it, you lose it.”
According to the doctor, erections, which are exclusively achieved through sexual activity, are crucial for exercising the prostate gland, leading to a healthier and more robust prostate.
The doctor supported his claims with research findings, suggesting that men should aim for 21 sexual encounters per month to potentially prevent cardiovascular problems and reduce the risk of prostate cancer.
While the specifics of the research were not provided during the interview, Dr. Rasheed stressed the importance of regular intimate relationships in promoting overall well-being.
In his advice to men, Dr. Rasheed recommended doing whatever it takes to convince their partners to engage in regular intimate activities.
He also suggested, somewhat controversially, that if feasible, men should consider having a “side chic” to help achieve the recommended frequency of sexual encounters.