₦airaland Forum

Popular thespian, Iyabo Ojo in an Instagram published on Wednesday night has reminisced on her journey as a single mother.

Iyabo Ojo who raised her two children, Festus and Priscilla alone spoke about the turmoil she had to due to the ordeal of single motherhood.
Reminiscing on how far she has come, the mother of two stated that she is thankful for the experience.

Iyabo Ojo revealed in her post that she used to be afraid and confused whilst raising the kids as a single mother, albeit, she was able to pull through in the end.

The actress who tied the knot in 2001 and divorced couple of years later mentioned further that she felt like a failure after her marriage was dissolved.

However, seeing the outcome of she and her kids, she can only but thank God.

Iyabo Ojo had this to say;

”This year i began my journey as a single mum with no direction…

i was afraid, sometimes depressed, confused, i always had a lot of anxiety

I felt like a failure, a loser; also, I felt I wasn’t good enough.”

She continued;

“I felt little, I didn’t really know how to fit in or even start,

How was I even going to pull through,?

I never thought of me making it in life; i just wanted my kids to be fine.

Also, that was my ultimate goal….

https://newsroundtheclock.com/actress-iyabo-ojo-reminisces-on-single-motherhood/

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has debunked rumours that it has zoned its 2023 presidential ticket to the South-East, saying there is not truth in the stories that has been circulating in the media.

The viral report that the party had zoned the presidential ticket to the South, the Vice Presidential position to the North and other key positions to other geo-political zones, had gain grounds on Tuesday with many believing the viral reports.

In a statement on Wednesday by Mamman Mohammed, the Director General, Press and Media Affairs to Mai Mala Buni, the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the APC, the party said there was no iota of truth in the reports, as it had not zoned its presidential ticket to any region.

Buni, is the Governor of Yobe State, said that a decision on zoning of the party’s tickets will only be taken at the convention of the party coming up in February.

“The attention of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Yobe State and Chairman APC Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Hon. Mai Mala Buni, has been drawn to media publications with purported zoning of offices allegedly announced by him,” the statement reads.

https://newsroundtheclock.com/apc-denies-zoning-its-presidential-ticket/

The Federal Government has revealed that any law governing the operations of Twitter in Nigeria will apply to other social media networks.

This was disclosed on Wednesday by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed in Cairo at a meeting with his counterpart, Egypt Minister of Communication and Information Technology, Dr Amir Talaat.

The meeting was a bilateral discussion with Africa Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) on how Nigeria can access funding to support its growing creative industry.

During his engagement with the Egyptian Minister, Lai Mohammed disclosed that the requisite laws within the National Broadcasting Corporation Act and Code will be amended to ensure compliance by all social networks operating within the country.

“The beauty of the engagement with Twitter is immense. Whatever applies to Twitter will apply to all other social media platforms, be it WhatsApp, Facebook, or any other.

“That is why we will be having a retreat to amend the NBC Act and the NBC Code to incorporate these new gains we made with the engagement with Twitter,’’ he said.

The Minister also stated that Twitter had agreed to operate under the auspices of Nigerian law by payment of taxes and collaboration with agencies to ensure accountability.

“Twitter has agreed to comply to all payable taxes as they are operating under the Nigerian laws and this they agreed to do within one week of restoring their operations.

“Twitter agreed to immediately work with the Federal Government in the area of code of conduct which is in line with global best practices

https://newsroundtheclock.com/nigeria-will-treat-social-media-platforms-like-twitter/

The Presidency on Tuesday revealed the discovery of at least 500,000 bank accounts with stolen funds belonging to civil servants across various federal ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).

This was contained in a statement issued by the Presidency media aide Garba Shehu in Abuja.

According to Garba, “his (Mr Buhari’s) administration discovered more than 500,000 bank accounts operated by ministries, agencies and departments. In these accounts, the money belonging to the government was kept.”

As a result, the administration had to incorporated the usage of the Treasury Single Account, TSA in order to redress this menace.

“What is more, some of the signatories had left the service or were ‘unknown’, and so no one had access to the funds. MDAs are now compelled to use the Treasury Single Account, TSA, domiciled in the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“Very often, we hear people say that Nigeria’s problem is not plans and policies; but rather that of a lack of implementation.

“The subtext of such comments is simple: the bureaucracy is the key; if it works, everything works; if it fails, plans and policies are hardly worth the paper they are written on; the bureaucracy literarily holds the future of the nation in its hands,” the Presidency stated.

https://newsroundtheclock.com/presidency-discloses-how-civil-servants-pilfered-funds-in-500000-bank-accounts/

Renowned political commentator and economist, Pat Utomi, says he would only accept to run for the president of Nigeria in 2023 only on certain conditions.

Utomi who made the disclosure during an interview with Arise TV, stated that his ambition was subject to a consensual agreement by the Igbo people of the southeast.

The issue of an Igbo Presidency has been the subject of various political discourses with some stakeholders advocating for the region to produce the next President, in the interest of equity.

The two major political parties in the country, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have yet to decide on zoning the Presidency to any region.

However, some high-profile politicians from the APC including National Leader of the party and former lagos State Governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, and Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Uzor Kalu, have signified their interests in running for the coveted position in the country.

When asked whether he will consider putting his hat into the presidency ring in 2023 as an Igbo candidate, Utomi said:

“Igbo candidacy? If people come to me and say, ‘look! We have looked at your background. We have looked at your whole life of service and we think you are the candidate that the Igbo nation needs to offer to Nigeria, I would have no problem with that. But, am I driven by the very fact of position?

https://newsroundtheclock.com/pat-utomi-gives-conditions-for-2023-presidential-race/

A former aide to ex-Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, Kassim Afegbua, says his former principal is not fit to contest for Nigeria’s presidency in 2023 as the former number two man will be too old to handle the affairs of a complex country like Nigeria.

Afegbua who was a former Commissioner of Information in Edo State, and a foundation member of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who disclosed this at a press conference in Abuja, said the PDP would be shooting itself in the foot if it gives its presidential ticket to Atiku.

Afegbua said it would not only be immoral for the party to allow Atiku run in 2023, but it would be a disservice to other candidates who are also qualified to run for president.

“Having concluded the convention of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, with a new leadership that looks promising, the party will have to rise above board to produce a presidential candidate from the Southern part of the country to complete the narrative,” Afegbua said.

“With the abysmal performance of President Muhammadu Buhari on account of age, incompetence and lack of capacity and political will to take deliberate and sustained action to bail out the country from all manner of challenges, it will be immoral for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to continue to express interest in seeking election in the 2023 presidential election having attained the retirement age.

Afegbua urged the former Vice President to forget his personal ambition and throw his weight behind a younger candidate from the South-East to run for president.

“He cannot assume the role of a perpetual candidate or professional aspirant year in, year out, as though the party was established for him alone.

“It defeats all sense of logic for such an old man to attempt another round of political contest at a time the general feeling and mood in the country supports a younger Nigerian from the Southern part of the country.

“For me, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar should drop his quest for presidency and support a southern Nigerian candidate in the spirit of fairness, equity and justice, that will assuage the feelings of stakeholders from the Southern part of Nigeria.

https://newsroundtheclock.com/former-aide-says-atiku-is-too-old-to-run-for-presidency-in-2023/

Over 120 Roman Catholic Church priests and employees within a community in Germany have decided to come out as homosexuals, while also launching a campaign demanding an end to institutional discrimination against LGBTQ people.

The priests and church employees took to the streets on Monday after allegedly facing constant discrimination, and also called for better protection of LGBTQ rights and an end to institutional discrimination against queer people.

The protesters, including former and current priests, teachers, church administrators and volunteers, who identified themselves as gay and queer, asked the church to take into account their demands and do away with “outdated statements of church doctrine when it comes to sexuality and gender.”

They also published a seven-point demands on social media under an initiative called “OutInChurch.”

The demands range from queer people saying they should be able to live without fear and have access to all kinds of activities and occupations in the church without discrimination.

They demanded that their “sexual orientation must never be considered a breach of loyalty or reason for dismissal from their occupation.”

https://newsroundtheclock.com/catholic-priests-come-out-as-gay/

The removal of the fuel subsidy will be the worry of the next Nigerian government as the Federal Government says it would approach the National Assembly with a Bill to delay the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act for another 18 months.

What this means is that the incoming administration will have to worry about fuel subsidy removal as the President Muhammadu Buhari-led regime would have elapsed before then.

With this, the Buhari-led administration would be dumping the responsibility of taking a decision on removal of the fuel subsidy to the next government.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, disclosed this at a press conference on Tuesday in Abuja, and confirmed the temporary suspension on the proposal to eliminate payment of fuel subsidies.

The minister disclosed that the government was planning to send a Bill to the National Assembly for an amendment of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) with a proposal to extend its implementation by 18 months, a period by which the present administration would have handed over power to another administration.

“The NNPC limited and any of its subsidiaries shall conduct their affairs on a commercial basis in a profitable and efficient manner without recourse to government funds. The organisation shall retain 20% of its funds to grow its business,” a section of the PIA read.

During the conference, Sylva stated that there was already a provision within the PIA which empowers the Federal Government to effect the total removal of fuel subsidies.

However, this mandate had to be suspended due to the lack of requisite infrastructures necessary to mitigate its effects on the populace.

“There is already a provision in the law but because President Muhammadu Buhari is concerned about the plight of the people, he believes that the impact the removal of subsidy will have on the people should be mitigated by putting the right structures in place — these structures are not in place.

“The modalities to ensure refineries are revamped are in place. The Dangote Refinery will commence at the end of the year; the Port-Harcourt refinery will also be functional at some capacity.

“There is a scheme to ensure the introduction of auto gas for automobiles with the conversion of one million cars by April with corresponding stations. We have discussed with manufacturers who are willing to set up the requisite infrastructure so it is a 50-50 arrangement which has been concluded.

“Thereafter, Nigerian marketers will be able to access the funding in order to ensure a widespread ripple effect. All these will come together before the removal of fuel subsidy.

“All these have to be in place before the removal of subsidies; also the introduction of palliatives by the Finance Minister.

https://newsroundtheclock.com/the-federal-government-has-shifted-the-removal-of-fuel-subsidy-to-the-next-government/

The interim coach, the Super Eagles interim of Nigeria Augustine Eguavoen has reacted to the team’s exit from the ongoing African Cup of Nations (AFCON) holding in Cameroon.

Tunisia bundled Nigeria out of the tournament on Sunday with a 1-0 win in the Round of 16. The Carthage Eagles progressed to the next round through a second-half goal from Youssef Msakn.

Tunisia which won the 2004 edition of the tournament will now face Burkinfaso on Sunday in the quarter-finals.

Eguavoen blames bad officiating
Giving his thoughts on the match during the post-match press conference, Eguavoen, a former Nigerian international said the Super Eagles exited the tournament due to bad officiating.

While noting that his players fought a good fight, Eguavoen said it was always very difficult playing against a tactical side like Tunisia, especially when the officiating was not fair.

“We tried to come back after the Tunisia goal, and we chased the game. But then we got a red card. It was clear that the officiating wasn’t fair.

“I won’t criticise the referee because they are masters of the game, but Alex Iwobi’s red card wasn’t fair. The foul wasn’t an intentional one,” he said.

https://newsroundtheclock.com/afcon-2022-we-lost-due-to-bad-officiating-eguavoen/

On Sunday, December 12, an anonymous musician, Portable real name Habeeb Okikiola cracked the airwaves with his smash hit, ‘Zazzuu’ featuring renowned Hip Hop and Afrobeat’s icon, Olamide Baddoo.

Since his mainstream debut in December 2021, Portable aka Dr Zeh has continued to make headlines primarily for negative reasons.

Within the space of four weeks since he became a popular artiste in the country; Portable has been involved in a feud with social media dancer and hype man Poco Lee, show promoter Kogbagidi and recently members of his publicity team.

Portable has no known history, he simply emerged from the dusk. Prior to the release of the smash hit, ‘Zazzu’ in the concluding part of 2021; the Ogun State-born musician has no single recorded, no prior interview sessions or freestyle videos on social media.

He was just a young man with a unique appearance. His hairstyle, choice of earrings, the free-spirited tattoos and non-conformist ideology meant that Nigerians are about to experience something different.

Yes, he is giving Nigerians the show that they subscribed for.

Once in a blue moon, the Nigerian music industry unveils mavericks; in the 2000s we had stars such as Konga and Terry G, in the latter 2010s; Naira Marley broke into the mainstream, in 2021, it was Portable otherwise known as Mr. Zazzu or Dr Zeh.

How did Mr Portable become a star?
In life, there will always be outliers; people who do not possess apparent talent or skill albeit they always find fortune and fame in their field of endeavor. Portable is fortunate to be in the limelight, no talent whatsoever, but he is making headlines.

In the early part of December 2021, Portable was introduced to Afrobeats icon Olamide by social media influencer and dancer Poco Lee. In the video, Portable held on to Olamide’s legs, seeking his blessings.

Few days afterwards, the single ‘Zazzu’ was born. It quickly gained acceptance among Nigerians primarily because of Olamide’s trademark vocals, it became the most played single in December and it is still one of the most popular songs in the country.

Judging from comments from netizens, no one understands Portable’s lyrics on ‘Zazzu’, however, it is still a popular single because of the hypnotic chorus.

With just one single, Portable was allowed to perform at Wizkid’s concert. Also, he entertained fans at the concerts of Davido, Olamide and every other event in the music industry.

Why Portable’s music career will decline before it emanates

Despite Portable’s new found fame, he doesn’t possess the propensity to keep his head in the game and it only a matter of time before he fizzles into obscurity.

https://newsroundtheclock.com/portable-the-no-holds-bar-entertainer/

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will be playing against the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia in the last 16 of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations.

Gabon have been paired against Burkinafaso, while Gambia after their triumph over Tunisa will face Guinea.

Senegal will trade tackles with Cape Verde while host country have to face debutant Comoros that sent Ghana home.

Morrocco will play against Malawi while Ivory Coast after a 3-1 win against Algeria will face another North American side, Egypt.

https://newsroundtheclock.com/afcon-2022-nigeria-to-play-tunisia-in-round-of-16/

Great innovative idea. I just hope say people no go disappear after collecting the loan o

President Buhari has expresssed delight with how The Gambia has developed since the Administration of President Adam Barrow.

He states this via his Facebook page after attending the inauguration of President Adama Barrow for a second term in office in Banjul, the country’s capital on Wednesday.

“We deeply value our relationship with The Gambia. We stood firmly with the Gambian people when they faced a political crisis five years ago, and I am pleased to see how far the country has come since then.”

He, therefore, promised that Nigeria will continue to offer all the necessary support within the framework of the Economic of West African States (ECOWAS).

“As West Africans, our destinies are tied together. Nigeria will continue to offer all the necessary support within the framework of ECOWAS to ensure that member states adhere to cherished democratic ideals.

https://newsroundtheclock.com/i-am-pleased-to-see-how-the-gambia-has-progressed-buhari/

In a bid to help Nigerians deal with financial challenges and meet urgent needs without hassles, customers, and non-customers of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) can now access a higher loan amount of up to N200,000 through FastCash - the bank's quick loan product. They also have the additional benefit to spread the loan repayment for up to three months. This means that customers can now pay back lower amounts each month while accessing higher borrowings than before.

FastCash is a personal instant loan product that is convenient, paperless, and available to existing customers and non-customers. It requires no collateral and is open to both salaried and non-salaried customers. Customers can conveniently access the loan through the FCMB New Mobile App or by simply dialling the bank's *329*11# USSD code via a registered mobile phone number. After a successful application, it takes less than five minutes to get credited.

FastCash is like other innovative loan products from the bank, such as Salary Plus. The Salary Plus Loan is a consumer credit scheme available to salary account holders. Through this scheme, qualified FCMB customers can access short or medium-term funding before salaries to meet urgent needs, such as school fees payment for their children. Existing customers on Salary Plus can also top up their loans when they require additional financial support.

Commenting on the products, the Divisional Head, Personal Banking of FCMB, Mr Shamsideen Fashola, said:

"We realise the financial challenges confronting our customers and indeed Nigerians at this critical period. As a caring and responsive bank, we are committed to giving them all the support required to overcome. We have digitised the application process for many of our loans to make it more convenient for customers to get loans instantly. We expect to significantly impact the lives of our customers and Nigerians at large by giving them the financial support they need when it matters most."

FCMB explained that the decision to restructure its consumer loan products to be more flexible is in response to the economic challenges caused by the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, which has affected personal and household incomes and businesses in general.

A purpose beyond profit commercial banking institution, First City Monument Bank is a member of FCMB Group Plc, led by Ladi Balogun as Group Chief Executive. The bank is committed to COVID-19 recovery, income equality and poverty reduction by easing credit constraints to disadvantaged individuals and small businesses.

https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2022/01/20/fcmbs-fastcash-offers-n200000-support-for-school-fees-emergency-needs/

The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, has given reasons why the Federal Government will continue to rely on external loans to address the country’s infrastructural deficit.

Lawan, who addressed Senators in his welcome address on the first plenary session of the year on Tuesday at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja, expressed concerns that the funding of the 2022 Budget was predicated on significant borrowing.

“Our country is caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. We have to construct and provide infrastructure, in all parts of our country because infrastructure is needed for our nation to develop.

“However, we do not generate enough revenues to fund the provision of such infrastructure. Until more revenues are generated, the country has to borrow and also resort to other sources of funding our infrastructural development. But we cannot continue to borrow endlessly.

“It is imperative that we need to improve on the revenue to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio. At about 8 percent Revenue to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio, our country is basically at 50 percent of what is required of the revenue to GDP of 15% for it to support any significant economic development.”

https://newsroundtheclock.com/senate-president/

At last, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has fixed February 26, 2022, as the date for its long awaited national convention.

The date was announced by the Chairman, Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee and Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, on Tuesday.

In a statement by the Personal Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on New Media, Bashir Ahmad, Buni made the announcement at the Progressives Women Congress held in Abuja.

According to Ahmad, Buni implored women to increase their involvement in political activities across the country.

“You remain the best mobilizers of support to any political party and its candidates. You have always been there in the queue on election days to determine the fate of candidates. With this, we are confident of winning the 2023 general with huge success.

“Let me assure you that the party shall not forget this gesture by supporting women and youths for their political aspirations. And to realize their political dreams.

https://newsroundtheclock.com/the-apc-has-fixed-a-date-for-its-national-convention/

Veteran Nollywood actress, Iyabo Ojo, has called for guns to be legalized in Nigeria tigeria to deal with pedophiles who molest children.

The popular Yoruba actress made her views known while reacting to a video posted by comedienne, Princess, on her Instagram page following the alleged molestation of her foster daughter by Yoruba actor Baba Ijesha.

Alongside the video, Princess had written:

“Abuse of minors have become the new trend in Nigeria and only a few people are speaking up. Even in the animal kingdom, it’s not this bad. Our society stigmatizes, even threatening victims and their parents, while the perpetrators like Baba Ijesha walk freely.

“Our children are being destroyed daily and most people see it as cruise.”

https://newsroundtheclock.com/nollywood-actress-iyabo-ojo-wants-guns-legalized-in-nigeria/

The Buhari Media Organization (BMO), has come on hard on the spokesman of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, for daring criticize the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

The BMO which reacted to Baba-Ahmed’s criticism of Buhari in a statement last week, said the NEF spokesman is shameless and has only resorted to criticizing Buhari because he no longer gets favors from the President.

The NEF had, in a statement last week, said the north was full of regrets for voting Buhari into power as he had disappointed the region.

The group had also insisted that Buhari had failed in his core duties to Nigerians. But in a reaction on Tuesday, the BMO said Baba-Ahmed was not objective in his criticism of the President and should not be taken seriously by Nigerians.

The BMO statement which was jointly signed by its Chairman, Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary, Cassidy Madueke, noted that the NEF spokesman has “never been known to be objective on issues concerning the Buhari administration and the All Progressives Congress (APC).”

“We are not surprised that Dr Baba-Ahmed has, again, resorted to verbal attacks on the person of the President under the guise of presenting an unbiased assessment in the midst of political hustling for the 2023 elections.

“However, we want to advise him and his NEF colleagues to be brave enough to endorse or announce their candidate for the 2023 Presidential election, rather than a resort to their all-too-familiar cheap politicking.

“Baba-Ahmed’s comments are largely a refrain of what he and his ilk had been repeating annually since he lost out in the power play in APC, regardless of what the Buhari administration had been doing to improve on what he met in 2015.

“We make bold to say that only a thoroughly biased individual, as well as an opposition figure, which Hakeem Baba-Ahmed is, would pretend not to notice general improvements in several sectors of the economy, including those that he mentioned in his media interaction.

https://newsroundtheclock.com/bmo-criticizes-nef-spokesman/

Popular Nigerian singer and songwriter, Innocent Idibia, popularly known as Tuface, has publicly declared that he has stopped impregnating women.

The Benue State-born singer made the declaration at the recently held Idoma International Carnival in the state, where he said he is now the real ‘Innocent (Idibia)’.

According to the ‘African Queen’ crooner who had fathered quite a number of children from different baby mamas before settling down with Annie Macaulay, he noticed that some ladies at the event were cold and couldn’t shout.

To make them feel at ease, Tuface said they should not be cold but be lively as he doesn’t impregnate ladies anymore.

“I noticed some ladies over there are scared of shouting; please don’t be scared. I have stopped impregnating women. Ask anyone around you, they will tell you I am Innocent (Idibia), I don’t do that anymore,” Tuface said.

https://newsroundtheclock.com/i-have-stopped-impregnating-women-tuface/

Super Eagles right-back Ola Aina has explained what led to him giving away a penalty against Sudan in Saturday’s AFCON 2021 Group D game.

The Eagles were comfortably ahead of 3-0 Sudan when the Torino defender committed the blunder. Sudan were awarded a penalty after Aina was adjudged to have fouled an opponent following consultation with VAR.

The penalty was converted, leading to the Eagles losing their clean sheet in the tournament.

”We gave away the clean sheet it’s sad for the team, the defence and it’s sad for Madu (Okoye) because he’s been keeping a clean sheet.

“What happened was that I wasn’t looking at the player obviously I held his shirt a little bit but there’s a little bit of shirt holding in the box.

“I was just watching the ball I didn’t see when I stepped on his foot but these things happen but luckily we were already 3-0 up. Even when they scored I still thought we were in control of the game so we are lucky for that.

“I understand why they gave it as a penalty but also the ball was nowhere near me or the guy I don’t understand how it could be a penalty but in that same instance I understand why they gave the penalty because obviously what has been done,” Aina told NFF TV.

Eguavoen to try other players
The Eagles are already through to the round of 16. It is therefore expected that interim coach Austin Eguavoen will rest some of his regulars against Guinea-Bissau on Wednesday in their final group game.

https://newsroundtheclock.com/afcon-2022-what-led-to-me-conceding-a-penalty-against-sudan/

World number one tennis player, Novak Djokovic won’t be able to defend his Australian Open after being deported.

The deportation occurred after it was unanimously agreed his visa to Australia would be cancelled.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion issued a brief statement shortly after it was announced he had lost his appeal at the Federal Court, just before 6 pm on Sunday.

The tennis superstar said he was ‘extremely disappointed with the court ruling and said he would be taking some time to rest and recuperate.

Justice Allsop earlier said he accepted Djokovic could be seen as ‘an iconic sports star that is setting an example that is not ideal to be followed’.

‘If Mr Djokovic won the Open, as he has in the past, there is an example embedded in the Minister’s reasoning that this is an example for young and not so young fans of tennis.’

The government did not indicate whether they would take up the option to prevent Djokovic from applying for a visa to enter Australia for the next three years.

In a show of love, over 83,000 people turned in to the Federal Court live stream of the proceedings by 11 am to watch the showdown.

Responding to Djokovic’s argument deporting him would cause havoc – with riots and protests expected in the streets of Melbourne, the government lawyers said they would not be deterred based on the fear of public backlash.

They insist he poses an ‘overwhelming risk’ to the Australian public. This, they said was demonstrated by his decision to ignore safety measures in his home country and attend work obligations while knowingly infected with Covid-19.

https://newsroundtheclock.com/extremely-disappointed-djokovic-reacts-to-his-deportation/

38-year-old Khadijah Okunnu-Lamidi, has become the first female to declare her interest in contesting for the president of Nigeria ahead of the 2023 general election.

Khadijah whose father, Femi Okunnu, was a Federal Commissioner of Works & Housing in Nigeria from 1967-74, made her intention known at a press conference on Friday.

She said she was motivated to contest for the presidency because of her desire to rekindle hope and make Nigeria work for all Nigerians, especially the youths.

Speaking at the media conference held in Lagos, Khadijah added that she was vying for the presidency in her desire to make Nigeria work for its diverse populace while also harnessing the undoubted power of its teeming youths.

“I believe in the possibilities Nigeria holds; that is why I have taken this first step, not because there are no fears, but the will to bring about the Nigeria we all wish, hope and believe we can make a reality together,” she said.

While noting that 2023 was a defining moment for the country, she restated her confidence in playing a leading role in writing a new history and restoring hope for Nigeria.

Who is Khadijah Okunnu-Lamidi?

Khadijah Okunnu-Lamidi is a 38-year-old media personality who is from Lagos State and married to Adeshola Lamidi.

She is the daughter of former Federal Works Commissioner, Lateef Olufemi Okunnu and the only child of her parents.

Educational Background

Khadijah Okunnu-Lamidi attended the University of Lagos Staff School & Childville School, Yaba, for her primary education, before proceeding to Atlantic Hall School, Maryland, for her secondary education.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the University of Bolton, RAK Campus in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and a Master’s degree in Strategic Project Management (SPM) from the prestigious Heriot-Watt University, Dubai.

She moved back to Lagos to undergo the mandatory NYSC programme, where she taught Physics and Chemistry at a Lagos State government school.

Khadijah Okunnu-Lamidi’s Parents

Khadijah Okunnu-Lamidi’s father is Lateef Olufemi Okunnu (SAN), a Nigerian lawyer and former pro-chancellor and chairman of the governing council of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi...

https://newsroundtheclock.com/khadijah-okunnu-lamidi-declares-for-president/

Outlawed Igbo separatist group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has declared another sit-at-home on Tuesday, January 18, in the South-East to coincide with the resumption of the court case of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

The order which was came via a statement by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful on Saturday, “will be strictly observed in the whole of Biafraland as a mark of honour your Mazi Kanu as court proceedings commences on January 18, 19 and 20, 2022 at the Umuahia High Court.”

The IPOB statement, however, notes that the sit-at-home will only be for January 18 and not observed on the other days of the court sitting.

“Following our leader’s upcoming court proceedings on January 18, 19 and 20, 2022, we wish to remind Biafrans that there will be only sit-at-home on January 18 and not 19 and 20.

“In keeping with our avowed solidarity with our leader, the entire South-East will be on lock down only on January 18 for obvious reasons,” the statement stated.

“In keeping with our avowed solidarity with our leader, the entire South-East will be on lockdown only on January 18 for obvious reasons. We don’t want to compound the pains of our people, hence, we will limit the sit-at-home to only January 18. People are free to go about their normal businesses without molestations on January 19 and 20.

“This clarification is necessary because IPOB has realised that some unscrupulous traitors sponsored by the compromised security agencies have been trying to create confusion about the days for the sit-at-home and have been dishing out false information and propaganda trying to create confusion in the South-East.

https://newsroundtheclock.com/ipob-declares-sit-at-home-for-january-18/

A man who has been parading himself as an Army General has been arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for an alleged fraud of N270 million.

The suspect, Bolarinwa Oluwasegun, who was arrested by operatives of the Lagos Zonal Command of the EFCC, was said to have been impersonating the Nigerian Army with the lie that he had been nominated as the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), and defrauding unsuspecting Nigerians in the process.

His arrest came following a complaint by a company he had defrauded, Kodef Clearing Resources, which led to the operatives swooping in on him.

https://newsroundtheclock.com/efc-c-arrests-fake-army-general/

A 58-year-old Protestant Pastor in Pakistan, Zafar Bhatti, has been sentenced to death by a district court in Rawalpindi, after he was ‘found guilty’ of blasphemy against Islam.

Bhatti, who has been in prison since he was arrested in 2012, was sentenced to death on Tuesday, after he was accused of sending blasphemous SMS text messages which “dishonoured” the Holy Prophet Mohammad and his mother.

The Pastor, according to Anglican Ink, ran a house church before his arrest, and was the founder of a charity organization called ‘Jesus World Mission’ with the mandate of assisting the poor in the country.

His arrest came after an anonymous person filed a complaint against him and though the service provider revealed that the SIM card number used to send text messages was not registered Bhatti’s name but belonged to a Muslim woman named Ghazala Khan, the Pastor was arrested and allegedly tortured in detention.

Though he repeatedly denied the charges against him, Bhatti was first sentenced to life imprisonment on May 3, 2017, under Articles 295 (a) and 295 (c) of the Penal Code of Pakistan, while the woman who owned the phone number was tried in April 2013 and granted bail.

Khan, whose national identity card details had been used to register the SIM in question, was arrested and charged with blasphemy but at her trial in April 2013, the Lahore High Court did not pass judgement against her and instead tried to convince the petitioner to forgive her and she was granted bail.

Several reports after investigations by independent international organizations had also proved that the SIM card was not registered to Zafar but was in fact registered to Ghazala Khan.

https://newsroundtheclock.com/pastor-sentenced-to-death-for-blasphemy-against-islam/

The Caretaker Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, says his party is now the largest party in the whole of Africa.

Buni who made this boast when he hosted some party big wigs in Damaturu, the state capital, said with over 41 million registered members after its recent membership registration and revalidation exercise, the APC will continue to win elections in the country.

The Yobe governor disclosed that the “APC currently has over 40 million registered party members, going by the validation exercise and records obtained from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).”

“The APC conducted a very successful membership registration and revalidation exercise. We now have over 41 million registered members across the country, with full details of every member,” Buni noted.

“APC remains Africa’s largest political party and Nigeria’s ruling party with a population that will always win elections,” he further boasted.

He, however, admitted that the APC had not succeeded in fulfilling its promise to stem the rising tide of terrorists and bandits’ atrocities, blamed past regimes for the insecurity situation in the country.

“Sadly, the country is facing serious security challenges because the nation’s security forces were left ill-equipped by successive administrations, while poverty and illiteracy bred a population ready for recruitment into criminal activities.”

A check on INEC‘s website shows that currently, there are 84 million registered eligible voters in Nigeria and what the APC claims mean is that it has about 52% of all eligible voters in the country as members, leaving the remaining parties with a little over 43 million voters to share.

https://newsroundtheclock.com/buni-says-apc-largest-party-in-africa/

Popular Nigerian celebrity, singer and songwriter, Timi Dakolo, believes it is possible for one to be famous, well known and still be broke.

The ‘Amen’ crooner who made this known on his Instagram handle on Thursday, insinuated that most Nigerian celebrity hide behind their status and pretend all is well when in reality, they too are going through what every Nigerian is going through.

The ‘Iyawo mi’ crooner opined that fame doesn’t automatically translate to wealth. According to him, there are people who are very famous but struggle to put food on their table.

“You can be really famous, I mean really really famous and still be broke.” Timi Dakolo wrote.

Echoing Timo Dakolo’s words, popular Nigerian Disc Jockey, Big N, also took to his social media page to advise his fans as he disclosed there’s nothing worse than a broke famous person.

Big N had a word for those who are desperately in need of fame without finding strategic ways to create wealth, telling such people who desire to be famous, to know that it’s not honorable to be famous yet broke.

https://newsroundtheclock.com/timi-dakolo/

FCMB making our society a better place by providing support to the people, putting smile on their faces. Fantastic!

The Super Eagles of Nigeria needed just a solitary strike from Kelechi Iheanacho to get the three times winners maximum points in their opening game against Egypt.

There had been a lot of frenzy before the game with much attention on Egyptian striker, Mohammed Salah.

Having noted that the stars to watch out for in both teams were Iheanacho and Salah, it was the Leicester City striker that eventually smiled.

His strike capped off a god performance from Nigeria that kept on creating chances and reducing the treat that Salah carried. Nigeria through him found the back of the net on 30 minutes as the Super Eagles overcame lacklustre Egypt 1-0 in a clash of Group D big guns in the northwestern city of Garoua.

His match-winner and overall performance earned Iheanacho the man-of-the-match award on a day when prolific Liverpool scorer Salah and Manchester City winger Mahrez failed to sparkle.

Captain Salah who was isolated for much of the clash was frustrated at the Stade Roumde Adjia. When he did get a scoring chance in the second half, his prod was saved by the boot of goalkeeper Maduka Okoye.

https://newsroundtheclock.com/nigeria-v-egypt-how-super-eagles-wrecked-pharaohs-ship/

The death of Chief Ernest Adegunle Oladeinde Shonekan, who headed the Interim National Government (ING), that succeeded the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida, on Tuesday, January 11, at the age of 85, effectively ends another era of great nationalists who fought for the existence of Nigeria during the dark years of military dictatorship.

Shonekan who was the Abese of Egbaland, a traditional title conferred on him by his community in Ogun State in 1981, was born on May 9, 1936.



He was a British-trained lawyer, businessman, politician, astute administrator and statesman who was installed the interim Head of State of Nigeria from August 26, 1993, before he was removed in November 17, 1993, by the late Gen. Sani Abacha, which made him the 9th Head of State of Nigeria.

Before he was made the interim head of state, Shonekan was the chairman and Chief Executive Officer the United African Company of Nigeria (UAC), which was unarguably the largest conglomerate in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Shonekan, though from Abeokuta in Ogun State, was born in Lagos, in a family of six. He had his early education at the CMS Grammar School and Igbobi College.

He obtained a degree in law from the University of London, and later attended the Harvard Business School.

Shonekan joined the United Africa Company of Nigeria in 1964 and rose through the ranks to become the MD/CEO.

At the age of 40, Shonekan was one of the youngest members of the board of directors of UAC having risen to the rank of deputy legal adviser.

He was made Chairman and Managing Director in 1980, and went on to cultivate a wide array of international business and political connections, before eventually making a foray into the world of politics.

Following a crisis that rocked Nigeria with the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election by Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, Shonekan was installed by IBB as the interim head of state and assumed office as both the head of transitional council and head of government.

As the head of the transitional council, he was to design a roadmap for a scheduled hand over to an elected democratic leader of a Third Nigerian Republic.

However, in August 1993, Babangida resigned from office, but signed a decree establishing the Interim National Government and swore in Shonekan as the interim head of state.

In his short stint as the interim leader, Shonekan faced a serious political crisis which ensued following the election annulment, with the perceived winner of the election, MKO Abiola, mounting pressure on Shonekan to recognise him as president, often describing the Interim National Government as illegitimate.

Shonekan tried to schedule another presidential election and a return to democratic rule, but his efforts were thwarted by national strikes and opposition coming from the Abiola camp.

Shonekan however, scored some points by releasing political prisoners detained by Babangida and introducing a bill to repeal three major draconian decrees of the military government.

https://newsroundtheclock.com/what-to-know-about-late-ernest-shonekan-head-of-interim-national-government/