₦airaland Forum

Nigerian artistes are a big force to be reckoned with globally although most of the lyrics are vacuous as most people are just interested in the beats. There is no substitute for good and inspiring lyrics which are missing in Nigerian songs which can be attributed to lack of songwriters in Nigeria. In this piece ANTHONY ADA ABRAHAM writes on the imperativeness of hiring good songwriters.

The concept of ghost writers or songwriters is alien to Nigerian music. In this part of the world, an artiste in trying to save cost usually write his songs. It is instructive to note that ghost writing is when a writer (“ghostwriter”) is hired to create a piece of content for a company or individual, who will then publish the work as their own. On the other hand, a songwriter is a professional that writes lyrics and composes musical compositions for songs. In Nigeria, many top musicians don’t know the importance of a ghost writer, hence the release of songs which cannot make the cut in international market. In the United States and United Kingdom because of the pressure of churning out award winning songs, the artiste in most cases hires a song writer.

Little wonder many international artistes have continued to wax stronger and made it to the world Billboard chat with the help of song writers. Babyface is one big international star who has written for top musicians and is still writing for others. He literally wrote all the songs for Toni Braxton’s debut album and Boys 2 Men owe their success to the song writing prowess of Babyface. Babyface also wrote Madonna’s hit song ‘Take A Bow’ and also Beyonce’s ‘Irreplaceable’ song. Arguably, the greatest artiste of all time, Michael Jackson, hired song writers for most of his hit songs. Jackson’s game changing song ‘Thriller’ was written by Rod Temperton. He also wrote “Off The Wall” and ‘Rock With You’ songs for Michael Jackson.

Teddy Riley also co-wrote his hit song, ‘Remember The Time’. When Nick Cannon released his debut self-titled album in 2003 with the hit single “Gigolo”, a collaboration with singer R. Kelly, little did people know he was the writer of the song. Also, rap artistes are not left out of this. Sauce Money took ghostwriting efforts to new heights when the crafty wordsmith won a Grammy for penning Diddy’s tribute to his fallen friend, B.I.G, “We’ll Be Missing You. Jay-Z’s ‘96 debut, ‘Reasonable Doubt’ may not have struck platinum until much later, but he earned a plaque that same year for his writing contributions to Foxy Brown’s Ill Na Na. He’d previously written for Fox on RD’s “Ain’t No Nigga” and penned Memphis Bleek’s verse on “Coming of Age.” He arguably topped himself when he ghostwrote Dr. Dre’s ‘Still Dre’ three years later. NAS is another famous writer on the rap scene. He has put in writing duties for Smith on the Tinsel Town titan’s Big Willie Style album, contributing “Gettin’ Jiggy wit It, ‘Miami’ and more. He also put in work for Dr. Dre (‘Watcher’), Diddy (‘I Need A Girl’), Foxy Brown and Jermaine Dupri.



While many artistes have succeeded in achieving a lot from ghost writers and songwriters, others are still basking in the euphoria that they are song writers and musicians, dropping songs that fail to meet the minimum requirement of quality and acceptability. Consequently, Nigerian artistes can benefit from this if they can seek the help of professional song writers to write their songs. Most Nigerian artistes are the butt of jokes rom comedians because of their shallow lyrics. Vacuity is an understatement when you listen to what is called songs in Nigeria. Most artistes including the grade A ones are also guilty of these as they concentrate mostly on the beats. This is because in Nigeria once your beats are accepted and song is played in a club, you are on your way to stardom. Recall Davido once said someone wrote his hit song ‘Gobe’ . There is still controversy on who wrote Tubaba’s ‘African Queen’. The sooner Nigerian artistes begin to employ the services of good song writers, the better for all of us.

https://www.akelicious.net/why-nigerian-artistes-should-patronise-songwriters/

A suspected fraudster, Ismaila Adamu, got more than he bargained for recently when he was arrested by the police for buying $2,500 from a bureau-de-change operator at Alaba International Market, Lagos.

City Round learnt that 23-year-old Adamu, who lives in the Iyana Ipaja area of the state, had gone to buy the hard currency from one Abdulkareem Goje on Thursday, July 25, 2019.



After agreeing to get the $2,500 for N897,000, he reportedly collected Goje’s account number and sent it to his accomplice, who is still at large.

Some minutes afterwards, Goje received a credit alert of N897,000 on his mobile as payment for the $2,500.

Our correspondent gathered that as Goje was arranging the money, Adamu hurried him up and he (Goje) became suspicious.

He was said to have insisted on verifying the payment at a nearest bank – a move that did not go down well with Adamu.

A trader at the market, Godwin Chukwu, who witnessed the incident, told City Round that Adamu attempted to run away when he realised that his game was up.

Chukwu said, “A man, who later identified himself as Ismaila Adamu, came to buy dollars that day from a bureau-de-change operator called Goje, close to my shop. He sent N897,000 into the Goje’s account through somebody and he was in a hurry to collect the dollars and leave. Goje noticed his countenance and became suspicious. He asked Adamu to allow him to check his account balance at a nearest bank before he could release the dollar.

“Adamu was not comfortable with the request and tried to assure Goje that the money was in his account, but he insisted on checking his account balance. At that point, Adamu wanted to run away, but people held him back. Goje quickly went to the bank and discovered that his account was not credited. Adamu started begging. He said it was his boss at Ikeja who sent him to carry out the fraud. We alerted the police at the Ojo division and handed him over to them.”

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Bala Elkana, confirmed Adamu’s arrest to City Round.



Elkana said Adamu confessed to have defrauded some people in connivance with his boss, one Sani, who operates at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Ikeja.

He said, “The suspect went to buy $2,500 and claimed that he could not transfer the N897,000 equivalent at once. He made a phone call to his boss to transfer the money to the complainant’s account.

“Subsequently, the complainant received an alert of N897,000 and the suspect started pressuring him to release the dollar equivalent. But the complainant insisted on making a confirmation from his bank. The bank confirmed that it was a fake alert and that no money was transferred into the account. The suspect was arrested immediately.”

Elkana stated that Adamu had been charged with fraud, adding that the police had launched a manhunt for the suspect’s accomplice.

https://www.akelicious.net/police-arrest-fraudster-paying-n897000-with-fake-alert/

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has demanded evidence of the arrest of a soldier who killed a commercial motorcycle rider from Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia state.

The slain cyclist, Chimaobi Nworgu was allegedly shot dead following his refusal to offer N100 bribe to a military officer at a checkpoint.

The group in a statement issued on Friday by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, said no arrest was made as claimed by the governor.

It said the death of Chimaobi represented a watershed, insisting that no amount of photo-opportunity or public relations would diminish the fact.

The statement partly read, “It is unbelievable that Okezie Ikpeazu and the Police Commissioner in Abia State announced the arrest of the killer soldiers involved in the death of Chimaobi Nworgu.

“Nobody has ever seen any picture or video of the murderers as is customary with Nigerian Police anytime they arrest suspects in high profile cases.

“No news conference where their full names, ranks and division they are serving in the army were made public. The pattern of covering up for the worst excesses of Fulani terror soldiers continues in Igboland.

“Biafrans must know there is no iota of truth in the widely circulated lie that those soldiers responsible for the death of Chimaobi are under custody.

“What we are demanding is very simple, pictorial or video evidence that those that shot and killed Chimaobi are in custody.

“Their names must be made public and a commitment extracted from the army to vacate every checkpoint in Biafraland.

“The hurried and clearly orchestrated announcement by Okezie Ikpeazu and his commissioner of police in Abia State is nothing more than just that, a mere announcement. It means nothing and solves nothing.

“We reiterate our demand that those responsible must be arrested and prosecuted or else Okezie Ikpeazu is merely embarking on an exercise in futility.”

https://www.akelicious.net/ipob-demands-evidence-of-arrest-of-soldier-who-killed-okada-rider/

Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah of the Young Progressives Party has begun his defence at the Anambra Elections Petitions Tribunal sitting in Awka.

Ubah’s victory is being contested by Sen. Andy Uba of the All Progressives Congress and his younger brother, Chief Chris Uba of the Peoples Democratic Party in consolidated petitions marked EPT/AN/SEN/09/2019 and EPT/AN/SEN/11/2019 respectively.

Ubah presented a total of eight witnesses, four for each petition on Wednesday, to testify on the validity of his victory at the February 23 Senatorial election for Anambra South District.

Chuma Ogunjiofor and George Igbokwe SAN, were counsel to Sen. Andy Uba and Chris respectively, while Dee Nwigwe SAN stood for Ifeanyi Ubah in both petitions.

During cross-examination by Igbokwe, Mr Chukwuma Uba, who worked as YPP collation agent for Nnewi North Local Government Area, said the election was free and orderly.

He said that he signed the council election result for his party alongside other party agents.

The party agent said the voters’ register and card reader were used in the election and that there was neither inducement nor intimidation of electoral officials, adding that agents signed the result voluntarily.

When confronted with an exhibit of voters register, the witness confirmed to the tribunal that his name was not ticked as having voted.

He also acknowledged discrepancies spotted in the number of the accredited voters, card reader reports and number of votes cast.

He, however, blamed the discrepancies on INEC and told the tribunal that no vote was awarded or donated to his principal.



Also testifying, Mr Okey Onuzuluike, who worked as YPP collation agent for Ekwusigo Local Government Area, said the council was calm on the election day.

Onuzuluike, who identified his name and signature as an agent of YPP on the council result, confirmed the name and signature of PDP agent on one of the result presented.

But he told the court that he did not know who signed for PDP in another result for the same local government.

When also confronted with discrepancies in the total number of accredited voters, card reader report and number of votes cast, the witness said the figures were tiny and he could not see them because he had an eye problem.

Igbokwe offered the witness his glasses but he declined, noting that their sight problems were not the same.

Justice Thelma Okara told the defence to present all his remaining witnesses on the next adjourned date for the closing of all cases as the tribunal was constrained with time.

The matter was fixed for August 10 for the continuation of the hearing.

https://www.akelicious.net/anambra-tribunal-sen-ubah-defends-case-against-uba-brothers/

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on Federal Government to release Mr Omoyele Sowore and 26 other protesters arrested on account of the #RevolutionNow protest on Monday.

The body stated that Sowore only exercised within the room of his civic rights.

The publisher of Sahara Reporters and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress in the February 2019 elections was arrested in the early hours of Saturday by operatives of the Department of State Services in Lagos.

The protests held on Aug. 5 in some states of the federation, with security agencies arresting some protesters.

While Sowore was moved to Abuja on Sunday and currently being detained in the custody of the DSS, 26 other protesters have been arraigned in a Lagos court.

NLC General Secretary, Dr Peter Ozo-Eson in a statement on Wednesday said the right to peaceful protests, assembly and association are fully guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under sections 39 and 40.



According to him, the NLC view the violent attack on the peaceful protesters by security forces as a total violation of their fundamental rights as guaranteed by the constitution.

“Besides, peaceful protests against perceived anti-people government policies is one of the critical fundamental rights that expands the entrenchment and growth of democracy.

“Sowore and other protesters were not carrying arms against the state and we, therefore, demand their immediate release unconditionally.”

https://www.akelicious.net/sowore-didnt-commit-any-offence-nlc-tells-buhari/

General Overseer of the Evangelical Bible Outreach Ministries International (EBOMI), Prophet Isa El-Buba, has stated that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government is gradually worsening the prospects of unity and cohesion in Nigeria, stressing that the country “is already drifting towards war” due to certain tendencies, actions, and policies of the administration.

He said because of the insincerity of those in power and because of the personal benefits they derive as the war rages, Boko Haram terrorism will continue until its perpetrators in power decide to end it.

El-Buba disclosed this while addressing journalists in Jos, the Plateau State Capital, on the state of the nation.

He maintained that it was regrettable that Nigeria has never had it so bad, citing the manner insecurity has spread across the land; the impunity that has characterised the operations of bandits as well as the impetus of herdsmen carrying out sporadic killings in different parts of the country.

The General Overseer also said, “there is too much of insincerity, deceit, injustice, and sundry vices that manifest in the day-to-day running of the Buhari-administration, with very little hope for the youths and other ethnic components of the country.

“In spite of Government’s claim of winning the war against the Boko Haram insurgents in the North East, Nigerian troops are being daily decimated and depleted as secret burials are often carried out in Maiduguri, without the authorities informing the families of the dead soldiers or making the burials public.”

El-Buba further said, “the insincerity of those in power, because of the personal benefits they derive as the Boko Haram war rages will continue until its perpetrators in power decide to end it”.

Speaking on the ministerial designate, the Clergy described the proposed cabinet as “uninspiring and unambitious” for good governance.

He pointed out that, “the Buhari government has given no hope to the youth population of this country, because the composition of the cabinet, replete as it is with characters of questionable moral pedigree, does not have the outlook or determination to re-position the public space and forge a new direction predicated on moral rectitude.”

Speaking on the continuous disobedience of court bail order for El-Zakzaky by the Buhari government, the cleric described their action as “primitive and punitive stance”, saying their insistence on keeping the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) in the cell of the State security has neither helped the cause of justice nor the prospect of democracy in Nigeria.

He urged the Buhari government to be careful in handling the El-Zakzzaky issue, noting that if the detained IMN leader dies in government custody, the consequences could be more than imagined.

In the same vein, the General Overseer carpeted President Buhari over the arrest and detention of the publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, for proposing to stage a pro-revolutionary protest against the “ills, injustices, failures, and ethnic and geopolitical inequalities prompted by the present administration”.

He said while the idea of ‘revolution’ is not patently negative or strictly connoting change of government, there was no basis to arrest Sowore, or use state security to abort the protest, saying it amounts to hypocrisy as Buhari and his government have benefited from such ‘revolutionary’ protests in the past.

https://www.akelicious.net/nigeria-drifting-towards-war-prophet-el-buba-blasts-buhari/

https://www.akelicious.net/flashback-buhari-is-a-prayer-answered-to-nigeria-says-mbaka-video/

Is president buhari still prayer answered to nigeria ?






https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnRDlLufe7A

Ruga:Borno State Govt Promises Implementation In Multiple Locations,Blasts critics
Borno State Government, on Tuesday said it will key into the Federal Government’s Rural Grazing Area (RUGA) to curb farmers/herders clash in the state.

Gov. Babagana Zulum told newsmen at the Agricultural Resource Team Farm in Konduga Local Government Area that multiple locations will be provided for the scheme.

Umara said that the scheme was rejected by some states due to misconception of the programme.

“The scheme is to provide a place where farmers and herders will leave in the same place and graze and farm which will reduce or totally eliminate clashes”, NAN quoted him as saying.

“We have identified six different locations we considered safe for the pilot scheme in the state.

“The RUGA scheme is as old as history, is not a new thing. I don’t know why some people are politicising it.

“We are going to provide them with security and other necessary facilities. RUGA settlement will greatly reduce farmers/herders clashes”.

Malam Musa Kubo, the Chairman, Borno state Agricultural Resource Team, said the body had identified Gambole Cattle Range and other game reserves to be used to pilot the RUGA scheme.

“We had a meeting with members of Al Haya, Miyeti Allah, directors from Ministry of Agriculture and other stakeholders and agreed on the identified areas,” he disclosed.

https://www.akelicious.net/ruga-borno-state-government-promises-implementation-in-multiple-locations-blasts-critics/

Seven presidential candidates and aspirants in the 2019 general elections have called for unconditional release of Mr. Omoyele Sowore.

The presidential candidates and aspirants under the aegis of Third Force Forum in a statement lampooned the Presidency of being intolerant of criticisms.

The statement, signed by presidential candidate of Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party (ANRP), Tope Fasua; presidential aspirant, Labour Party (LP), Okey Samuel Mbonu; 2019 presidential aspirant, All Progressives Congress (APC), S.K.C. Ogbonnia; 2019 presidential aspirant, Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), Thomas-Wilson Ikubese; 2019 presidential candidate, Change Nigeria Party (CNP), Emmanuel Etim; 2019 presidential aspirant, Young Progressives Party (YPP), Ayodele O. Favour and 2019 presidential aspirant, Social Democratic Party (SDP), Clement Jimbo, said that President Muhammadu Buhari should be reminded that the constitution of Nigeria does not allow violation of human rights.

The candidates implored Buhari to immediately order the security agencies “to immediately release Sowore unconditionally to maintain peace in our country, and to deter further national and international repercussions on this matter.

“We, the coalition of 2019 presidential aspirants and candidates, under the aegis of Third Force Forum, hereby demand the unconditional release of one of our compatriots, Mr. Omoyele Sowore, who was arrested by an agency of the government on August 2, 2019, pursuant to plans for a protest march across Nigeria, which is within his full constitutional rights toward “Freedom of Expression” pursuant to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“We must also remind you, the President, that to refrain from adhering to these national and international rights, is to invite anarchy onto the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Therefore, we implore you to immediately order the applicable agencies of the state to immediately release Mr. Omoyele Sowore unconditionally to maintain peace in our country, and to deter further national and international repercussions on this matter.”

https://www.akelicious.net/7-presidential-candidates-seek-release-of-sowore/

Access Bank has said it is planning to list a N30 billion Tier-2 bond on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). A bond is a fixed income instrument representing a loan made by an investor to a borrower (typically corporate or governmental).

Bonds are used by companies, municipalities, states, and sovereign governments to finance projects and operations. Owners of bonds are debt-holders or creditors of the issuer. The bank in a statement sent to the NSE’s website, noted that it had concluded the process of the issuance of its N30 billion tier-2 bond following the approvals of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

It said the bond had a tenor of 7 years as it would be due in 2026.

“The bank has obtained the CBN’s no objection mandate to the bond issuance in addition to the SEC approval. Access Bank will undertake a listing of the bond on the NSE imminently as the market will be provided with further information in due course.”

Prior to this development, Access Bank’s Group Managing Director, Herbert Wigwe, was quoted as saying that the Tier-2 N30 billion subordinated unsecured bond issued by the bank to strengthen its funding base was oversubscribed and was to support the bank’s low-risk appetite.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.sunnewsonline.com/access-bank-plans-n30bn-15-5-tier-2-bond/amp/

The Vice Chancellor of Plateau State University, Bokkos, Prof. Yohanna Izam, says the institution has commenced payment of earned allowances to its staff whose claims have been verified.

Izam disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bokkos.

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the university comprising Non Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) had on July 25 embarked on strike over non payment of their earned allowances.

“The process has commenced; we have gotten the critical endorsement of the Governing Council to implement these allowances for the staff.

“We have gone ahead to request staff to make submissions about claims that will be verified.

“The process of verification has been on, as a matter of fact, the management has made commitment to staff of the university across the unions to commence implementation.



“The list of staff and the verified amount due to them as per the template that is relevant to us here has been submitted to all the unions.

“Some of the unions that have verified their claims have responded back to the management.

“As we speak today, we have already approved their payment and those unions whose claims have been verified have started getting their payments,” he said.

https://www.akelicious.net/strike-plateau-varsity-begins-payment-to-staff/

Fans have labelled Saturday’s party as ‘the best’ so far for the season’, hailing DJ Sose and the new housemates for bringing the heat.

Nigeria News Agency reports that new ‘Pepper Dem’ additions Venita Akpofure, Elozonam Ogbolu, Enkay, Cindy Okafor and Joe Abdallah paired with some old housemates to rock the dancefloor.

Led by Khafi, housemates also formed their own dance routine which is usual for BBnaija housemates. Season after season, signature dance steps have been associated with housemates.

Reacting on social media, some fans applauded the rising interest in the parties and appreciated the new housemates for adding some spice, especially the dance routine.

@Iamdo2tun said, “Finally! they formed their own dance routine. I was thinking they will wait till they finish Big Brother. Last season housemates are still the shiznit .. my opinion #bbnaija.”

@Bam_mide tweeted, “This is the best party ever in that house.”

@Beedizzle said, “#Bbnaija the parties are getting better week on week.”

@Temmy_NGO said, “Today’s party is absolutely lit!!! I give it up for this Dj.”

@Moniquebrown said, “But this Dj Sose is too lit! And this is the best part they’ve had so far, hands down. The new housemates are a mood tbh.”

@Mizzkay said, “The DJ is lit and the new housemates brought a whole new energy to the house.”

NAN reports that with the addition of five new housemates, at least one housemate will be evicted on Sunday. Mike, Tacha, Jeff and Omashola are up for eviction.

https://www.akelicious.net/bbnaija2019-fans-laud-dj-sose-tagged-saturday-night-party-best-so-far/

Mr Lani Baderinwa, former Commissioner for Information in Osun State, who is now the Supervisor, Ministry of Information and Strategy in the state, said he counted the people of the state lucky not to have Senator Ademola Adeleke as their governor.

Baderinwa disclosed this in an interview with the Sunday PUNCH when asked to respond to the criticism of the APC government in the state by Senator Adeleke and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

According to him, “You cannot give what you do not have, no matter how hard you try. With due respect to Senator Ademola Adeleke, his obvious limitations as far as education is concerned will not permit him to have a clear understanding of certain things, especially the serious matter of governance. Senator Adeleke does not have any record of success in private or public enterprise. It is only sheer ignorance, mischief or “bad belle” that will make anybody to say the kind of things attributed to Senator Adeleke. No responsible person will make an un-substantiated claims like this and want to be taken seriously by the community of rational human beings.”

He delivered more punches on the Senator by describing him as an uneducated character lacking in intelligence to lead a state as governor.

“He does not know what he is talking about. If he has the right education and intelligent quotient to assess situations, he will never make that allegation. Recently, the ICPC put to shame haters who bellyache and derive joy from the cheap and random condemnation of the Aregbesola’s government by declaring it as one of the most transparent in the history. So, who is Ademola Adeleke, a man who did not write WAEC examination, to know the quality of a government? And that is why Osun people should considered themselves lucky for not falling into the trap of being ruled by a clearly uneducated street dancer.” Baderinwa fumed.

He expressed confidence in the capacity of Governor Gboyega Oyetola’s administration to turn things around, in spite of the state’s huge debt portfolio, and condemned the criticism of those he called “uneducated characters who desperately wanted to be governor even when it is certain they do not have the capacity for anything other than dancing around the streets with women of easy virtue.”

https://punchng.com/governance-goes-beyond-dancing-with-prostitutes-baderinwa/amp/

Minister-designate and former Osun State governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has described his appointment as a call to greater service and a challenge to exhibit and deploy his skill for solving difficult tasks to the nation’s benefit.

The former governor said there was a huge task before all minister-designates, in view of the wide gap between current realities and expectations from majority of Nigerians desirous of improvement in their life and a secured environment.

Aregbesola told Akelicious in Ikeja, Lagos, at the weekend, that it heart-warming to note that President Muhammadu Buhari had envisaged these expectations and had captured it in the ‘Next Level Agenda’ of his second term administration.


He also said with the Next Level battle cry, President Buhari had already set the agenda for all minister-designates, and that what is left is for those selected to key into it and come up with achievable ideas and documents suitable for attaining the Agenda’s content.

In his view, the widening gap between the poor and the rich, which has resulted in the falling living standard, was due largely to inequitable distribution of the nation’s wealth, where a tiny minority controls over 90 percent of the wealth, as well as endemic corruption.

He called for urgent redistribution of the nation’s wealth in a manner that would significantly reduce the gap between the poor and the rich; a situation he noted was embarrassing.

The minister-designate urged Nigerians to embrace the culture of hardwork, which he said builds a nation, while feeding on the nation without contributing meaningfully to her resources, depletes it.

He said a situation where some people feed fat on the nation without contributing must be stopped for the country to be able to meaningfully deploy all its resources for results

https://guardian.ng/news/ministerial-appointment-call-to-greater-service-aregbesola/amp

The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, His Eminence, John Cardinal Onaiyekan on Saturday called on Fulani leaders to caution their people against violence before things get out of hand in the country.

Onaiyekan, who made the call at a mass to celebrate his 50th Priestly Ordination Anniversary in Abuja, stressed that the Fulanis should be worried at the rate which they were being mentioned for something evil.

He noted that at this rate, very soon no place would be safe for Fulanis anymore because no one is safe at the moment because of Fulanis.

”If I am a Fulani, I will do whatever it takes to advise them to stop giving the Fulanis a bad name, because people are saying that every attack in the country right now is perpetrated by Fulani herdsmen.

”Many who were kidnapped, after their release report that their kidnappers were Fulani herdsmen, if we can start by cleaning up the Fulani camps so that those using the Fulani names for evil will not do so anymore.

”Rev. Fr Paul Offu, who was shot dead on August 1, 2019, was said to have been killed by some hoodlums suspected to be the notorious and murderous Fulani herdsmen,” he said.

He, however, prayed for the soul of Fr Paul Offu to rest in peace, adding: ”We pray that those whose job it is to secure the nation will brace up to the challenge and do what is required of them.”

Onaiyekan, who noted that he had never regretted being a priest, stressed that like every person in life, priesthood had its own challenges and as a priest there were sacrifices one must make.

”As a priest, you must be ready to sacrifice and get use to some of the inconveniences that comes with it, priesthood is not as difficult as they make it to look,” the Prelate added.

Mr Peter Onaiyekan, brother to Cardinal Onaiyekan said that he was proud to have a brother like him, and that the cardinal was the most intelligent in the family.

He noted that Onaiyekan was a true man of God and prayed that God continues to bless and keep him.

Bishop Anselm Umoren described the Cardinal as a humble, kind and committed man of God.


https://www.akelicious.net/onaiyekan-wants-violent-fulani-herdsmen-cautioned/

Fast rising actor, model and television presenter, Somadina Adinma, has finally opened up on his relationship with teenaged actress, Regina Daniels.

Adinma, who admitted that he has found love again after Regina left to marry another man, however, revealed that his opinion doesn’t count if someone decides to marry whomever he or she desires. He also talked about other issues. Enjoy it.

Tell us a bit about yourself

My name is Somadina Adinma. I am from Anambra State. I am the last child of my family. My dad is late and I have just my mom and a sibling.



From being a kid actor, how has the journey been?

It wasn’t easy. It was very hard. You know, at a point, I stopped acting because my mom felt that acting was taking my mind away from school. So, I stopped acting. I couldn’t get admission to higher institution, so I went to do a diploma course in Cooperative Economics and Management. After my two-year course, I gained admission to study Theatre Arts and Film at the university. I started acting again in my 300 Level and it was very hard. Now, staging a comeback is very hard.

What’s it like combining education and acting?

It was very hard. I studied Theatre Arts and Film, so combining acting and schooling was very tough. I wasn’t getting jobs frequently and it was after my graduation that I started getting roles.

What kind of student were you in school?

Of course, I was like every other student. The only difference was that they treated me a bit special. But then, in Theatre Arts, everybody was a star. They knew I was an actor but everybody in my department was a star, including the lecturers.

Did you fail any course?

Yes, in my first year, I didn’t know it was all about attendance and stuff like that. I had few carryovers in my first year, but I never had any carryover again till I graduated.

What was your motivation?

The love of the craft was my motivation. This was something I started as a child. Then, it was like a plaything. But it started making sense for me to want to study Theatre Arts and Film in the university.

Did life as a kid actor rob you of your childhood?

No, it didn’t. Life as a kid actor didn’t take anything away from me. I had time to play with every other child in school and at any other places.

How were you discovered as a kid actor?

There was this day I came out into my street and I met some people filming. It was actually Osita Iheme and Chinedu Ikedieze (Aki and Paw Paw) doing the filming. So, I walked up to one of the cast, he was an actor too, and said I wanted to be like these ‘kids’. He looked at me and smiled. He said ‘those are not kids, they are adults, but if you are really sure you want to act, I can meet your parents to get the go ahead’. They eventually came, but they wanted to take my brother instead of me. And I was like ‘who does that?’ Then I was very small, I was like seven or eight years old. But the edge I had over others was that I could read and understand the words, and they had to tell other kids to say ‘this and that’ before they could say so. That was how it started for me. I think my first movie was actually a scene, the tittle was ‘Charge and Bail’, and I did it with Osita Iheme.

Which movie brought you back into the spotlight?

I did two movies ‘Love and Oil’ directed by Ifeogwu. It starred acts like Yul Edochie, Nuella Njubuigbo and so many others. The second was ‘Miss Teacher’, a Chika Ike’s movie, which was about child’s right. I was one of the main characters in the movie, and then ‘Mr China’s, ‘Eliza the Village Lover’ and others. Those were the movies that people saw and started calling me for jobs again.

Now that you are back, has it been easy for you?

It wasn’t easy to stage a comeback. But now that I am back as an adult actor and a graduate, I think it will be easier.

Which is your most favourite movie?

Wow, do I have a favourite movie? I think all of them are cool, but the movies that took me everywhere was the ones I did with Regina (Daniels). I think that’s ‘the woman I love’.

What was the chemistry like between you and Regina?

We met at a location, we were both young and we bonded. We were meant to be friends and when you are cool with the characters on set, interpretation of the story becomes normal. So, it just happened. It’s like when Genevieve (Nnaji) and Ramsey (Nouah) were doing their thing. Yeah, we were able to connect.

Looking at the whole scenario, would you say meeting Regina Daniels added a kind of vibe to your career?

Yes, it did. But I was the vibe before I met her. Then, she added more vibe and that’s it. After the movies, we became friends, colleagues and close friends.

What do you have to say about the reports that she dumped you for another man and you became angry?

No, no, no, I got angry because people were coming to say stuff they didn’t know anything about. They were trolling me. All I know is that people need to mind their business. It’s not everything you inquire about. At times, people should just be like ‘this is none of my business, let me just allow this slide’. Regina and I were very close friends. She didn’t dump me for anybody. Nobody dumped anybody. Nobody is feeling bad about anything.

What’s your take on her marriage to Ned Nwoko?

I don’t have a take on someone’s personal life. Whatever anyone has chosen to do with his or her life, that’s his or her personal life. My opinion is not even needed. My stand won’t change anything.

Many people thought that though you felt sad, you’ve moved on

But why should people feel like that. When you are not ready to marry, would you tell the other person not to marry because you are not ready? That’s wickedness. Even when you are ready, you may decide not to marry the person. I am not saying that’s the case, but Regina and I were close friends.

So, you didn’t feel bad about the whole thing?

No, not at all.

Are you in a relationship now?

Yes, I have always been in a relationship.

Who’s the lucky girl?

My mom, my brother, my friends; all these people love me and I love them too. Is that not enough?

How do you handle female fans that want to get down with you?

It’s okay to be cool with everybody, all your fans. One thing they should know is that you can’t be for everybody. You can never be for everybody. I will like to follow everybody on my Instagram, but unfortunately I can’t do so.

What’s the craziest thing a fan has done to you?

The craziest thing keeps repeating itself all the time. When they want to take pictures with me in public, and I am a very shy person. I always feel embarrassed when all these things happen but I’m getting used to it little by little.

How about remuneration? Would you say the movie industry is able to put food on your table?

Sure, it does. But you don’t have to put all your eggs in one basket. You also have to do other businesses.

Apart from acting, what other things do you do?

I just finished my NYSC. I wanted to do my own movie. I’ve done one, which is showing on YouTube entitled, ‘My Best Friend Caused My Pain’. It’s the story of two siblings that did something that’s a taboo. From there, I would expand to other businesses.

Rumour has it that you are now dating Princess Nnenna Orji after dumping Regina Daniels?

(Laughter) I don’t know anything about that o. People always feel I have everything figured out, so if they feel this is what’s going on now, then it is.

Are you confirming that you are in a relationship with her?

I don’t know (laughter). It’s just that Princess Nnenna Orji and I are very close friends. The kind of friendship I had with Regina is the type of friendship I have with Nnenna now.

What attracted you to Princess?

Princess is my very good friend.

Are you using her to rub off?

No, certainly not so.

Apart from who we see on the screen, who really is Somadina?

Somadina is very funny. That’s the Somadina you don’t know. Somadina is a calm guy, but when you step on his toes, he will show you he’s not so calm. And Somadina is a very hardworking person; he’s a goal getter. Somadina believes in slow and steady and Somadina is someone who has a very big dream.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.sunnewsonline.com/regina-daniels-ned-nwoko-and-i-the-true-story-somadina-adinma-actor/amp/

The Lagos State House of Assembly 16-man ad hoc Committee for Screening Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s Commissioners and Special Advisers nominees on Friday grilled additional five five as the exercise entered second day.

The Nigeria News Agency reports that the committee, headed by Mr Rotimi Abiru, a four-term lawmaker representing Somolu Constituency II, had on Thursday screened eight of the 25 nominees.

The screening being carried out at the Lateef Jakande Auditorium, Assembly Complex, Ikeja, is ongoing as the committee is currently on a break to observe the Jumaat prayers.

The five additional nominees screened before the break were: Mrs Bolaji Dada, Mr Lere Odusote, Mr Moyo Onigbanjo (SAN), Mrs Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf and Mr Segun Dawodu.

Meanwhile, the committee at the first session on Thursday screened Mrs Toke Benson-Awoyinka, Princess Aderemi Adebowale, Mr Tunji Bello, Ms Adekemi Ajayi-Bembe, Dr Wale Ahmed and Prof. Akin Abayomi.

Others screened were: Mr Hakeem Fahm and Mr Gbenga Omotoso.

NAN reports that Sanwo-Olu’s 25 cabinet nominees sent to the House were: Dr Rabiu Onaolapo, Mrs Folashade Adefisayo, Prof. Akin Abayomi, Dr Idris Salako, Mr Tunji Bello and Mr Gbenga Omotoso.

Others are Mrs Toke Benson-Awoyinka, Mrs Bolaji Dada, Mr Lere Odusote, Dr Frederic Oladeinde, Mr Gbolahan Lawal, Dr Wale Ahmed, Mr Moyo Onigbanjo (SAN), Mr Hakeem Fahm and Mrs Ajibola Ponnle.

Also on the list are Mr Aramide Adeyoye, Mr Segun Dawodu, Mrs Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, Mr Sam Egube, Ms Ruth Olusanya, Princess Aderemi Adebowale, Mr Tunbosun Alake Mr Afolabi Ayantayo, Ms Adekemi Ajayi-Bembe and Mr Femi George.

Since the commencement of the exercise on Thursday, only one nominee, Ahmed was told to take a bow and leave without being questioned by members of the committee.

Ahmed is a former member of the House during the 4th Assembly (1999-2003) and presently the State Secretary of APC.

Speaking to newsmen after the exercise on Thursday, Abiru said: “The people demonstrated a high level of knowledge and understanding of government.

“They realised that this is a call to service and they have promised that they will add their experience to governance.

“I don’t have any doubt that those that we have spoken to so far are good hands that will join hands with the governor to make the state better,” he said.

http://leadership.ng/2019/08/02/sanwo-olus-cabinet-lagos-assembly-screening-cttee-grills-additional-5-nominees/

The Nigeria internet Registration Association (NiRA), has raised concern over the low figures recorded in domain name registration in Africa, including Nigeria.

NiRA made the observation during the 2019 Dot NG Media College, organised in Lagos.



Addressing media practitioners during his presentation, titled: ‘Understanding the Domain Name System (DNS) Industry and Local Hosting,” the President of NiRA, Mr. Muhammed Rudman, expressed dissatisfaction over domain name registration in Nigeria and across African countries.

He stressed the need for more engagement with Nigerians and Africans in the areas of generic Top Level Domain Name (gTLD) and country code Top Level Domain Name (ccTLD) that represent a country’s identity in cyberspace.

Nigeria’s domain name in cyberspace is .ng, South Africa is .za, United States is .com, and United Kingdom is .uk

Most Nigerians and Nigerian organisations still use foreign domain names from United States and United Kingdom, thus depopulating the .ng domain name, which is Nigeria’s identity in cyberspace, and populating foreign domain names, he said.

Disturbed by the development, Rudman said there was need for enlightenment of Nigerians on the need to populate Nigeria’s domain name registration.

According to him, the global statistics of ccTLDs showed that as at April 2018, Africa had 3.3 million ccTLDs, America had 13.7 million ccTLDs, Asia had 37.6 million ccTLDs and Europe had 72.2 million ccTLDs.

According to the statistics, in 1994, global domain name registration was 30,000, but as at 2019, the figure had risen to over 351 million, an indication that the growth domain name registration is on the increase, yet in Nigeria and Africa, the growth is abysmally low.

Nigeria’s total domain name registration was put at 140,709 as at June 2019.
Rudman who expressed worries over the dominance of foreign domain names in Nigeria and Africa, and the hosting of such domain names and data outside of Africa and Nigeria, said African countries would continue to lose revenue streams from the hosting rights of domain names outside of Africa and Nigeria.

He described internet as a network of networks, joining many government, university and private computers together and providing an infrastructure for the use of email, bulletin boards, file archives, hypertext documents, databases and other computational resources.
“There are over 4.4 billion internet users worldwide out of the 7.7 billion people worldwide. We have about 351 million registered domain names globally as at June 2019, and these figures show growth of both internet users and domain names registration globally, which is a wake-up for Nigeria,” Rudman said.

Speaking on the benefits of domain name registration, the Vice President of NiRA, Mr. Toba Obaniyi, said “a domain name is a unique name on the internet that points visitors to the hosting account that serves them content.”

According to him, people can have a wider range of domains to select from when registering with the .ng extension; people can also get creative with their domains, such as drivi.ng, sleepi.ng, danci.ng, ceili.ng, just like what Google did with googli.ng and Microsoft did with bi.ng; and the registry is local, making resolution of issues easier and faster.

The Group Executive Editor, DigitalSENSE Africa Media Group, Mr. Remmy Nweke, highlighted some fundamentals of changing the DNS industry through a well-set out and thought-out structure of media engagement via professionals; conducting training sessions for media practitioners in the country, especially for those on the line of reporting/covering the DNS industry in Nigeria. He equally advised NiRA to institute a reward for excellence in DNS coverage in the country within the media.

https://www.akelicious.net/concerns-mount-over-africas-domain-name-registration/

Dolapo, wife of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, will visit Anambra State on Friday to declare open this year’s Mothers’ Summit holding in the state.

Her husband visited the state recently for a meeting with stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress.



The VP had, at the meeting, said Anambra State must join the “Next Level” in 2021.

He blamed APC’s failure in elections in the state on disunity among members, urging them to endeavour to win the state’s governorship election scheduled for 2021.

Anambra State has been ruled by the All Progressives Grand Alliance since 2006.

In a statement by Emeka Ozumba, media aide to wife of the Anambra State governor, Ebelechukwu Obiano, the VP’s wife would be in the state on Friday for the 2019 Mothers’ Summit holding at Dr. Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka.

The statement making the announcement reads in part,”The highlight of the annual women’s meeting is the conferment of awards to select Anambra women of exceptional and excellent achievements in various fields of women endeavours.

“The Mothers’ Summit has, over time, become a veritable platform for the exchange of ideas and celebration of our womenfolk.

“We have done it for over four years now and I thought it’s fitting to have an exemplary mother and wife of the Vice President join us as we deliberate and recognise our hardworking daughters and achievers.

“The annual Mothers’ Summit brings together Anambra women to deliberate on issues of common interest to women in the evolving demands of modernity.”

https://www.akelicious.net/osinbajos-wife-dolapo-visits-anambra-state/

The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has described skills acquisition as an integral aspect of its youth empowerment and job creation initiatives.

Mr Olusade Adesola, Permanent Secretary of the ministry, made this known in an interview with the Nigeria News Agency in Abuja on Wednesday.

Adesola recommended an inter-agency collaboration for effective empowerment of Nigerian youths.

He said that the ministry had trained about 15,000 youths in different skills since 2015 and would continue to do more.

‘’Skill acquisition is important to youth empowerment, fighting unemployment and job creation.

‘’The question of youths and skills is multi-sectorial and multi-stakeholders’ affair.

‘’The local governments and state governments should be actively involved.

‘’The Federal Government is doing a lot already and our international development partners identified with us. Between 2015 and 2019, we were able to train and empower more than 15,000 youths in different skills,’’ he said.

The permanent secretary said that his ministry scaled up skills acquisition in the area of fashion designing in 2019 by training 85 youths to acquire more expertise in the field.

‘’In 2019, we decided to do something different. We introduced a scale up training in fashion designing and apparel production.

‘’The objective is to provide beneficiaries with skills and the finesse that will make their products attractive. Eighty five youths were trained in March and since they graduated, the feedback has been encouraging,’’ he said.

Adesola commended government’s National Social Investment Programme and the Skills Acquisition programme of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

He described Nigerian youths as intelligent and focused; only requiring support to excel.

He described sports as another sector where youths could build capacity to escape poverty.

‘’In the sports sector alone, we provide capacity and we build capacity. We had over 20,000 youths that participated in the 19th National Sports Festival.

‘’Many of them have been lifted out of poverty through the perfection of their skills and their engagement in competition,’’ he said.

https://www.akelicious.net/govt-prioritises-skills-acquisition-for-youth-empowerment-job-creation/

Sen. Uba Sani says it is unprecedented for the senate to work on a Friday.

Sani, a senator of Kaduna Central Senatorial District, made this known in an interview at the National Assembly (NASS), Abuja on Tuesday.

He said the events of the past week clearly demonstrate the level of commitment of the 9th Assembly senate towards the progress of the country.

“Even the Senate President, who has been in the National Assembly for almost 20 years now made it clear that in all his stay in NASS, the senate has never worked on a Friday.

“This time around we all decided unanimously to put our personal interest, comfort and political affiliations aside and work for the interest of our country.

“Of course, what happened last week shows that this 9th senate is a different one, it is a senate that works for Nigeria, not for any section or personal interest, and I can assure you that what we did is just the beginning,” he said.

The senator also said the screening of forty three ministerial nominees in just a week has never happened.

Sani, also commended President Muhammadu Buhari in his choice of some of the ministerial nominees ,who have clearly demonstrated that they are competent and ready to get the job done.

“We will work closely with the executive arm of the government, but at the same time not take our oversight job lightly, we will be very serious about it, and make sure to do the needful.

“While working, we will make sure we have the interest of our country at heart, because that is paramount and most important.

“We will make sure we pass the budget whenever the President decides to bring it to the National Assembly,” he said.

Sani, however, said the senate will urged the executive arm of the government to submit the budget as early as September, so the budget can be passed on time and the president can start implementing major projects.

“We have procurement procedures, even if the budget is approved by the National Assembly, it will take nothing less than 3 months to initiate any major project in this country.

“The senate President has promised that we will try and suspend the plenary for at least a month and focus on the budget.

“So, we can pass the budget before December, and the President can start implementing major projects by January,” he said.

According to Sani, the inaugurated senate committee is not the most important thing, but working for the people of Nigeria is all that matters.

https://www.akelicious.net/senate-working-on-a-friday-unprecedented-says-sen-sani/

'Nigeria Can Break Up. The President Need To Stop Saying That Nigeria Cannot Break Up'

- Femi Falana, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN)

https://www.akelicious.net/nigeria-can-break-up-femi-falana-to-ruling-govt/



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx8WGZhWdOo

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Seawolf Oil Services Limited alongside its receiver/manager Mr Michael Igbokwe SAN has dragged Chief Emeka Offor’s company Kaztec Engineering, limited before a Federal high court in Lagos, claiming $ 9.8million in damages.

In an amended statement of claim, the plaintiffs alleged that Kaztec Engineering Company’s ship, MV ‘EKULO CHEYENNE’ caused extensive damage to their vessel which will require $9,800,000 to repair.

Seawolf is an oil drilling company currently under the receivership of Mr. Micheal Igbokwe, SAN, the second Plaintiff in this case. Igbokwe was appointed as the Receiver/ Manager of the Seawolf Oil services company by the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) in 2013 to redeem a First Bank loan obtained by Seawolf.

Part of the assets of the Seawolf which Igbokwe took control of are three mobile Jack-Up drilling rigs, “the ‘Onome’, the ‘Oritsetimeyin’, and the ‘Delta Queen. The Jack-Up drilling rigs, the ‘Onome and ‘Oritsetimeyin’, are currently moored (warm-stacked_ at the Lagos Marina Area, while the ‘Delta Queen’ has been moored (Cold-stacked) at the Intel’s Nigeria Ltd’s Jetty, Calabar, since 2012.

On 10th February, 2014 at around 9pm at night, the MV ‘ EKULO CHEYENNE’ (MV Ekulo”) attempted to berth alongside the “Delta Queen’ at the Intel’s Nigeria Ltd’s Jetty. It however collided with Delta Queen that was stationery in a cold-stacked position at the said jetty. The collision left Delta Queen seriously damaged.



Seawolf is now suing Kaztec for negligence.

https://akelicious.net/oil-firm-demands-9-8m-from-emeka-offors-kaztec/

Former Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Alhaji Abdul Rafiu Ogunleye, is dead.

Alh Abdul Rafiu Ogunleye was deputy governor during the administration of Chief Olusegun Osoba.

He died Monday morning at his home town, Itele, Ijebu, at the age of 79.

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has expressed sorrow over the demise.

Abiodun, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Kunle Somorin, described Alhaji Ogunleye as an astute administrator and a politician per excellent, who contributed immensely to the socio-economic and political development of Ogun State.

The Governor attributed the development currently being enjoyed by the people to the efforts of people like the deceased, who worked tirelessly to ensure that the State attains its current status.

He said he had hoped that the former Deputy Governor would live longer so that his administration “would continue to tap from his wealth of experience for the benefit of the people of the State”.

Abiodun urged the family to take consolation in the fact that Alhaji Ogunleye lived an impactful life that benefited thousands of people, praying Almighty Allah to give them the fortitude to bear the loss and grant him repose in Aljanna Firdaus.

https://akelicious.net/ogun-ex-deputy-gov-abdul-rafiu-ogunleye-is-dead/

The clash Started when Okorocha’s Daughter Tried To Stop The Taskforce from Recovering N2bn worth of assets belonging to the state government on the premises which belonged to Okorocha’s wife.




https://akelicious.net/video-taskforce-member-slaps-ex-gov-okorochas-daughter-in-imo-state/






https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZEUBuVSrGM

The Ogun government says the last batch of intending pilgrims, 174, from the state to Saudi Arabia for 2019 will leave the state on Saturday.

The Executive Secretary of the state Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Abdul-Hakeem Kalejaiye, stated this on Saturday in an interview with journalists in Abeokuta.

“This will be the last batch of intending pilgrims to be airlifted by the state for the 2019 pilgrimage,” he said.

Kalejaiye explained that out of the 913 slots allocated to Ogun for the exercise, 724 intending pilgrims scaled its screening, adding that 550 had earlier been transported to Saudi Arabia.

“The first batch of intending pilgrims was airlifted on July 20 and arrived in Medina on July 21.

“Presently, 550 Pilgrims are in Saudi Arabia while 174 intending pilgrims are about to be airlifted, any moment from now,” he said.



He said that all necessary arrangements had been put in place to ensure a hitch-free pilgrimage.

According to him, spiritual fathers are on ground to instruct, teach and guide the intending pilgrims on the tenets of Islam.

“Many people often desire to perform hajj with Ogun Muslim Board due to our track record on pilgrimage.

” Our good performance has always been made possible by the support we usually receive from the state government, especially in the area of logistics.”

Kalejaiye urged the intending pilgrims to take heed of instructions dished out to them and put them into practice, for them to be spiritually fulfilled.

https://akelicious.net/2019-hajj-last-batch-of-ogun-intending-pilgrims-set-for-saudi-arabia/

Elder statesman and former governor of Anambra State, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife has said that no Igbo man will still claim Nigerian citizenship if the South East zone is not supported to produce the nation’s president in 2023.

In this interview with WILLY EYA, he was emphatic that denying the East the chance to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023 will be too dangerous for the unity of the country.

A major issue of concern to every Nigerian today is the increasing level of insecurity of lives and property in the country today; as a senior citizen of this country, how do you feel?

I think our traditional leaders including the Obas, Obis, Emirs and others from other areas should hold some kind of summit.

It is necessary that the herdsmen are spoken to properly. Whatever happens, they are the final losers in the game, however way it ends. If they think that they are the leaders and whatever they want will happen, and they talk with some kind of arrogance, nobody enjoys beeing talked down on.

They should also partner with churches and mosques to find a solution to the challenges we are facing as a country. What is happening now is very bad. I heard that about two people this morning were kidnapped in Anambra and I heard one was asked to bring N1.5 million and the second person asked to bring several millions as ransom. Such a development is not good for the country.

When the British, our colonial masters left Nigeria, the Fulani had a very good name. Now, I am sure that three years from now, that is if it will be that long, some people will become hated so much that nobody will like to see them and it is not good for anybody to fall into that category. I do not want my people to be so hated and I do not also want the Fulani to be so hated. Anybody who feels he is enjoying the situation now is not realistic; it is not an enjoyable situation. We appeal to individual groups to sue for calm and we should also be talking to God with regards to the situation we find ourselves in Nigeria.

Do you agree with those who insist that the style of leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari is the cause of the crises we are having especially in the security situation in the country?

There are many things going on and some people say he is doing what he is doing because he is the patron of the Miyetti Allah. All these things should be corrected for the future of the country. One of the narratives coming from some groups and prominent northerners is that southerners, especially the Igbo, are enjoying in the North whereas they make their place South uncomfortable for the herders. What is your reaction to that?

Everybody knows the truth. People may pretend but everybody knows the truth. The Igbo man is comfortable in Japan, China, United States, any part of the world. No matter the condition of any place they find themselves, they try to survive there. Anybody making that kind of insinuation knows that Nigeria has fully benefitted from the Igbo man. The Igbo man believes in Nigeria and helps in developing the country. We should all approach what is happening in Nigeria today with an open mind.

So many prominent Northerners are already flying a kite that power will not come down South in 2023 after President Buhari would have spent eight years in office ? As a statesman from the South East zone which is yet to have a shot at the presidency since 1999, what is your take on the projection?

It is easy to pontificate. There will be no Igbo citizenship of Nigeria if in 2023, the South East is not given serious chance to produce the president of this country. After being given a serious chance and we could not make it, that could be understood but if anybody begins to say that there is no chance in 2023, that will be very dangerous. The argument by some people is that the Igbo are not playing good politics by always putting their eggs in one basket. The explanation is that the region has always identified with the PDP and should not expect anything from the APC government?
I do not know how many baskets there are. People who want to follow their minds would always do so.
In the 2019 presidential election, the PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar who everybody knows where he comes from, became an original Igbo man. How could anybody have called on the Igbo to divide themselves and vote one part for Atiku Abubakar and the other for President Buhari. The Igbo did not vote for one party actually. They voted for both the PDP and the APC but we followed our minds just like we followed former President Goodluck Jonathan. We cannot begin to pretend not to know where we want to go. What I am saying is that when it is our turn, let them vote for us, that is all.

But with the picture you are seeing in the country today, what do you think is the future of Nigeria?

I am sure you know me. For very good reasons, especially being an economist, I believe in one Nigeria. I prefer one Nigeria. Therefore, I believe that instead of having miniature countries called Nigeria, I prefer that Nigeria is a big country where there is peace and where the market is as large as it is and where individuals are at peace with one another. This is what I am thinking. In such a situation, nobody loses. The way I am thinking is the same way other Igbo are thinking about it; they crave for a peaceful large area.

How did the suspension of the controversial Ruga settlement policy come to you? I ask this question because many are calling for outright cancellation of the plan to forestall the backlash over fears of its long term implication on the areas where they are established.

I think there are many mistakes being made by this administration. We have a law which entrusted the land to the state governors and not to the president of the country. Therefore, if we follow our own law which we gave ourselves, it will be better, instead of looking for land that does not belong to the Federal Government.

https://akelicious.net/ndigbo-will-cease-to-be-nigerians-if-denied-2023-presidency-chukwuemeka-ezeife/

National President of Miyetti Allah Kautel Hore organisation, Alhaji Abdullahi Bodejo has said that Afenifere, the apex Yoruba socio-cultural group has no right to order herdsmen out of South West region of the country.

He urged all Fulani herders to stay anywhere they want in Nigeria and carry out their legitimate businesses, saying that Nigeria belongs to all. The Miyetti Allah leader made the statement in reaction to the order by Afenifere for Fulani herders to leave the South West part of the country in view of the several cases of kidnapping and killings linked to some of them.

Bodejo berated Afenifere for getting involved in politics, saying the organisation should transform into a political party. He called on the Federal government to monitor the activities of Afenifere, cautioning that the socio-cultural group lacks the authority to drive Fulani herders out of Yoruba land.

His words: “Afenifere should know that they cannot chase away the Fulani from their place. Let them not try it because the Fulani have a right to stay anywhere they want. Let them allow peace to reign.



“The Federal Government should monitor the activities of Afenifere because Nigeria is one nation. The Inspector General of Police should protect the Fulani anywhere they are; it is their right to stay anywhere in Nigeria to carry out their legitimate businesses.

“It is better for Afenifere to change to a political party because they are playing politics. They are telling the Fulani to go back to the North because they are a minority tribe in the country.

“The Southerners are everywhere in the North and we have not asked anybody to leave and go back to the South because we believe in one nation. All these people that are saying that the herdsmen are the cause of all these killings in Nigeria, are they police officers?

“They have no right to say that the herders are the people committing crime because the police, the army and other security agencies are doing their best to address the situation. But unfortunately, some people are trying to divert the attention of the security agencies and create more problems and tension in the country. I do not know why they are doing what they are doing. The Fulani should not allow anybody to chase them away; they should stay anywhere they want in this country. The Fulani are always the victims in all these crises in the country.

“If you investigate all these crises, you will find out that the Fulani are suffering too much because they do not hear English and do not have links with the media. They are usually in the bush and that is why everybody can tell all manner of lies against them.

“The Northern group calling on the Fulani to come back to the North is doing that because of the political interest of their members; we insist that the Fulani should stay anywhere they want.”

At a press briefing on Wednesday, one of the leaders of Afenifere, Ayo Adebanjo had ordered the Fulani herdsmen to leave the South West or face the consequences. Adebanjo who spoke on behalf of the group also warned the National Assembly not to amend the Land Use Act with a view to empowering the Federal government to allocate state lands to the controversial Ruga settlement project for herders.

https://www.sunnewsonline.com/afenifere-cant-order-herdsmen-out-of-south-west-miyetti-allah/

Members of Islamic Movement of Nigeria, IMN also known as Shi’ites are currently protesting at Gana Street of Maitama in the FCT, Abuja.

In a move that seems like a maneuver of the security system, the group stated the protest at night rather than the earlier proposed afternoon.

In a video obtained by Akelicious, the group can be seen demanding for the immediate and unconditional release of their spiritual leader, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky and his wife Malama Zeenah.

The group has intensified their protest for the release of their leader, El-Zakzaky since this week in a protest that started as a violent clash on Monday.


https://akelicious.net/live-report-shiite-muslims-stages-a-night-protest-in-abuja-video/







https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gs9p9Em2A24

The Warrior Zonal Office of Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has sealed two petrol stations in Asaba in continuation of its routine surveillance exercise.

The stations were sealed on Friday over offences bordering on under-dispensing and operating without valid licenses.

They affected stations are Alpha Bykeez Ltd. and Dwell Pet, both situated along the Okpanaun Road.

Mr Bright Ogbeni, the Manager, Upstream of the DPR, led the team of the regulatory agency on the surveillance amid heavy downpour.

Ogbeni addressed newsmen on behalf of the Operations Controller, Warri Zonal Office of the DPR, Mr Antai Asuquo.

“As required, we usually come out routinely to stations dispensing Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to ensure they are dispensing the right quantities to the public and also confirmed if they have valid operating licenses.

“We go out routinely not only when there is fuel scarcity, but to ensure the right quality and quantity of product is being delivered to the public at a good metre factor.

“So, that consumers can get values for their money.

“When you dispense PMS above the metre factor that is stipulated by the Federal Government, you are expected to pay a fine to the government.

“We have to ensure that the defaulters rectified their metres to ensure they reflect the quantity they are dispensing, then call on the agency for inspection before re-opening.

“We do the surveillance weekly or bi-weekly, we do random checks without notification because when the marketers know that we are not on the field, they re-adjust their dispensing pumps, ” he said.

Asuquo, who hailed the level of compliance by the stations, said that the agency’s action was a wake-up call for other petroleum marketers to adhere to the rules and regulations guiding the establishment and sale of petroleum and gas products.

“The level of compliance is not too bad, some are under-dispensing and we have deployed corrective measures to ensure they dispense correctly to the public.

“We have something worth emulating at Chronicle Petrol Station, the metre factor is 10.24 which is within the acceptable range,” he said.

The operations controller warned erring marketers against removing the seals without remitting the necessary fine to the government, saying that it would be a criminal offence.

“After paying the fine, the agency will come and unseal the station, ” he said.

Asuquo advised marketers to dispense at the right volume or ready to be sanctioned.

The surveillance team also monitored many gas plants in Asaba.

The Nigeria News Agency recalled that the officials of the regulatory agency had, on July 23, sealed nine retail outlets and two gas plants in Warri and environs.

https://akelicious.net/dpr-sanctions-2-petrol-outlets-in-asaba/

The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has told the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), that Fulani herdsmen and militias are engaged in a coordinated genocide across the country.

In a statement signed Thursday by Yinka Odumakin, South-west; Prof. Chigozie Ogbu, South-east; Senator Bassey Henshaw, South-south and Dr. Isuwa Dogo, Middle Belt, the leaders accused the ACF of pretending that the herdsmen were not responsible for the attacks across the country.

They stated that the “level of insensitivity being displayed by the ACF on the serial crimes against humanity being carried out by their kinsmen shows clearly they are a group who think only about themselves while ignoring the interests of other citizens they jokingly refer to as ‘fellow Nigerians’”

According to the SMBLF, internationally-quoted figures revealed that about 30,000 Nigerians have been killed in the last four years by Fulani herdsmen/militia, “with not a soul convicted even when we hear of people being charged to court for killing cows under this administration.”

The leaders insisted that it is “childlike” for ACF to blame Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum for the activities of these marauders, especially with testimonies from victims on daily basis.

“As late as yesterday (Wednesday), there was kidnap on Lagos -Ibadan road during which the son of the CMD (Chief Medical Director) of Lafia Hospital in Ibadan, Dr. Oladopupo Sule, and two staffers were kidnapped. This has been the common thread in many of the kidnappings in recent time in many communities.

“Instead of ACF and their ilk showing empathy with the victims as humanity demands and contribute to finding ways to end the menace, it is only insults that flow from their mouths.

“How can any reasonable person say the identity of criminals as identified by victims, being named simply because we have a Fulani president? We had thought it would be sensible to ask the Fulani president to use the security agencies to pursue the criminals and get them arrested. We would not mind apologising if that is done and those terrorising us are found not to be of Fulani extraction.

“But instead of doing that the ‘Fulani Presidency’ (apology to ACF) has been giving excuses on the killings and unwilling to apprehend the criminals. We must let ACF know that the lives of our people mean so much to us that we cannot engage in sinful silence when they are being wasted.

“ACF would do well to appeal to these criminals to desist from their acts if they still want us to continue to live together in the same country. We equally observed their jejune response to former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s observations on the state of the country after their several days of ‘studying’ his intervention.

“That all they could come up with was abusing Obasanjo shows the slippery ground upon which they are standing. We want them to know that Obasanjo spoke the minds of all Nigerians who are not part of or endorsers of the genocide going on .

“The reason why the ACF cannot see the valid points he raised is that Nigeria to them is just Arewaland and the votes spread the constitution requires from other parts of the country.

“If the federal government listens to ACF instead of acting to allay the fears on complaints about obvious ‘Northernisation’ and ‘Fulanisation’ agenda, it would mean the plot to destroy this country has official seal,” the leaders explained.

https://akelicious.net/southern-middle-belt-leaders-accuse-herdsmen-of-coordinating-genocide/