₦airaland Forum

Former Military President, retired General Ibrahim Babangida, has finally reacted President Muhammadu Buhari's victory at the just-concluded presidential election in Nigeria.

In a statement he signed on Saturday, IBB congratulated Nigerians for conducting themselves peacefully during the voting process and urged the president to work on healing the wounds of the aggrieved.

READ THE STATEMENT BELOW

“Sadly, due to violence in some part of the country, lives were lost and I would like to extend my heartfelt condolences to their families for the death of their loved ones”, he noted.

“I wish to congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR on his re-election to lead Nigeria in the next four years. I have observed that, the electioneering campaign was very strenuous and the contest very keen.

That despite the turbulent terrain of politics, the President submitted and subjected himself to this process. Indeed is a clear testimony that he believes in the democratic process and ideals.

“The newly elected president should heal the wounds of the heated campaign exchanges by embracing those who contested alongside with him. The President must resist the temptation to see them as enemies; not even opponents, but fellow compatriots who merely disagreed with him on how best to move our country forward.

“Now that the President has won his re-election bid, he should confront with renewed vigour the most urgent problem confronting Nigeria: ‘insecurity of lives and property’.

“The Boko Haram insurgency remains a threat to many Nigerians; particularly in the North East sub-region, while the twin evils of kidnapping and armed robbery/armed banditry remain a major national menace. The president must pay priority attention to these security issues.

“The economy of the country must also occupy the president’s urgent attention. There is the need to be more creative in formulating policies that will improve the nation’s economy, create employment opportunities and give hope to our teaming youths.

“The President may wish to heed to the yearnings of reasonable Nigerians for restructuring and seek all constitutional means to devolve some powers presently exercised by the Federal Government to the other tiers of government.

“Let me commend and convey my admiration to the other contestants for the office of president.”

https://lailasnews.com/ibb-finally-speaks-on-buharis-victory/

lalasticlala

A Nigerian College of Aviation aircraft (NCAT) crash-landed Friday night.

According to PRNigeria, the accident occurred about 6.5 nautical miles from the Kaduna Civil Airport, Kaduna International Airport.

The training aircraft crash-landed in an area suspected to be notorious haven of armed bandits and kidnappers who terrorise travellers and residents in Kaduna and Zamfara States.

However, both the instructor and a student-pilot cheated death as they escaped unhurt with the support of residents of Ruma Village in Sabon Birni, who rushed to the crashed scene.

An intelligence source, who sought anonymity, confirmed that all the victims were successfully evacuated.

The source said:

“Immediately the aircraft crash-landed, the pilot-instructor and a student escaped from the scene.

“Some people in Ruma Village in Sabon Birni who noticed the wobbling of the aircraft before the crash rushed to the scene and evacuate the victims to safety.

“Surprisingly, immediately afterward, some armed bandits rushed to the scene rained bullets on the aircraft and set it on fire thinking that it was one of the jets in the fleet of the Nigerian Airforce (NAF) that had been bombarding their camps since the beginning of the year.”

https://lailasnews.com/nigerian-college-of-aviation-aircraft-crashes-in-kaduna/

lalasticlala

The founder of the Get Them Off The Street (GTOTS) initiative, Isaiah Jonatha, has been killed in a house fire in Kano, which also saw the death of his wife and 3 kids.

Isaiah Terungwa Jonathan had looked forward to a great month and took to Facebook hours before his death to write:

"Let whoever think whatever. I stay winning in this month of March."

He also wrote:

The battles you face in life are designed to develop confidence in you.

Whatever you may be up against, be assured, when you look back and take note of all you overcame, you will certainly be the more confident to face the next battle......

Stay strong in the battle!

The tragic incident occurred, yesterday, at their Hausawa Qtrs, Ribadu road, kano home, following a fire incident.

https://lailasnews.com/gtots-founder-isaiah-jonatha-wife-3kids-fire-kano/

lalasticlala

Coninuation:

Sometime in the summer of 2017, I read all over the media that there had been a meeting in Trump Tower in June 2016 involving Don Jr. and others from the campaign with Russians, including a representative of the Russian government, and an email setting up the meeting with the subject line, “Dirt on Hillary Clinton.” Something clicked in my mind.

I remember being in the room with Mr. Trump, probably in early June 2016, when something peculiar happened. Don Jr. came into the room and walked behind his father’s desk – which in itself was unusual. People didn’t just walk behind Mr. Trump’s desk to talk to him. I recalled Don Jr. leaning over to his father and speaking in a low voice, which I could clearly hear, and saying: “The meeting is all set.” I remember Mr. Trump saying, “Ok good…let me know.”

What struck me as I looked back and thought about that exchange between Don Jr. and his father was, first, that Mr. Trump had frequently told me and others that his son Don Jr. had the worst judgment of anyone in the world. And also, that Don Jr. would never set up any meeting of any significance alone – and certainly not without checking with his father.

I also knew that nothing went on in Trump world, especially the campaign, without Mr. Trump’s knowledge and approval. So, I concluded that Don Jr. was referring to that June 2016 Trump Tower meeting about dirt on Hillary with the Russian representative when he walked behind his dad’s desk that day — and that Mr. Trump knew that was the meeting Don Jr. was talking about when he said, “That’s good…let me know.”

Over the past year or so, I have done some real soul searching. I see now that my ambition and the intoxication of Trump power had much to do with the bad decisions I made.

To you, Chairman Cummings, Ranking Member Jordan, the other members of this Committee, and the other members of the House and Senate, I am sorry for my lies and for lying to Congress.

To our nation, I am sorry for actively working to hide from you the truth about Mr. Trump when you needed it most.

For those who question my motives for being here today, I understand. I have lied, but I am not a liar. I have done bad things, but I am not a bad man. I have fixed things, but I am no longer your “fixer,” Mr. Trump.

I am going to prison and have shattered the safety and security that I tried so hard to provide for my family. My testimony certainly does not diminish the pain I caused my family and friends – nothing can do that. And I have never asked for, nor would I accept, a pardon from President Trump.

And, by coming today, I have caused my family to be the target of personal, scurrilous attacks by the President and his lawyer – trying to intimidate me from appearing before this panel. Mr. Trump called me a “rat” for choosing to tell the truth – much like a mobster would do when one of his men decides to cooperate with the government.

As Exhibit 8 shows, I have provided the Committee with copies of Tweets that Mr. Trump posted, attacking me and my family – only someone burying his head in the sand would not recognize them for what they are: encouragement to someone to do harm to me and my family.

I never imagined that he would engage in vicious, false attacks on my family – and unleash his TV-lawyer to do the same. I hope this committee and all members of Congress on both sides of the aisle will make it clear: As a nation, we should not tolerate attempts to intimidate witnesses before congress and attacks on family are out of bounds and not acceptable.

I wish to especially thank Speaker Pelosi for her statements in Exhibit 9 to protect this institution and me, and the Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Adam Schiff and Chairman Cummings for likewise defending this institution and my family against the attacks by Mr. Trump, and also the many Republicans who have admonished the President as well.

I am not a perfect man. I have done things I am not proud of, and I will live with the consequences of my actions for the rest of my life.

But today, I get to decide the example I set for my children and how I attempt to change how history will remember me. I may not be able to change the past, but I can do right by the American people here today.

Thank you for your attention. I am happy to answer the Committee’s questions.

Michael Cohen's statement: The former attorney and fixer for President Donald Trump, Michael D. Cohen, in his statement to Congress, has provided information and alleged bad sides of the American President.

READ FULL STATEMENT BELOW

TESTIMONY OF MICHAEL D. COHEN

COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND REFORM U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

FEBRUARY 27, 2019

Chairman Cummings, Ranking Member Jordan, and Members of the Committee, thank you for inviting me here today.

I have asked this Committee to ensure that my family be protected from Presidential threats, and that the Committee be sensitive to the questions pertaining to ongoing investigations. Thank you for your help and for your understanding.

I am here under oath to correct the record, to answer the Committee’s questions truthfully, and to offer the American people what I know about President Trump.

I recognize that some of you may doubt and attack me on my credibility. It is for this reason that I have incorporated into this opening statement documents that are irrefutable, and demonstrate that the information you will hear is accurate and truthful.

Never in a million years did I imagine, when I accepted a job in 2007 to work for Donald Trump, that he would one day run for President, launch a 2 campaign on a platform of hate and intolerance, and actually win. I regret the day I said “yes” to Mr. Trump. I regret all the help and support I gave him along the way.

I am ashamed of my own failings, and I publicly accepted responsibility for them by pleading guilty in the Southern District of New York.

I am ashamed of my weakness and misplaced loyalty – of the things I did for Mr. Trump in an effort to protect and promote him.

I am ashamed that I chose to take part in concealing Mr. Trump’s illicit acts rather than listening to my own conscience.

I am ashamed because I know what Mr. Trump is.

He is a racist.

He is a conman.

He is a cheat.

He was a presidential candidate who knew that Roger Stone was talking with Julian Assange about a WikiLeaks drop of Democratic National Committee emails.

I will explain each in a few moments.

I am providing the Committee today with several documents. These include:

• A copy of a check Mr. Trump wrote from his personal bank account – after he became president - to reimburse me for the hush money payments I made to cover up his affair with an adult film star and prevent damage to his campaign;

• Copies of financial statements for 2011 – 2013 that he gave to such institutions as Deutsche Bank;

• A copy of an article with Mr. Trump’s handwriting on it that reported on the auction of a portrait of himself – he arranged for the bidder ahead of time and then reimbursed the bidder from the account of his non-profit charitable foundation, with the picture now hanging in one of his country clubs; and

• Copies of letters I wrote at Mr. Trump’s direction that threatened his high school, colleges, and the College Board not to release his grades or SAT scores.

I hope my appearance here today, my guilty plea, and my work with law enforcement agencies are steps along a path of redemption that will restore faith in me and help this country understand our president better.

***

Before going further, I want to apologize to each of you and to Congress as a whole.

The last time I appeared before Congress, I came to protect Mr. Trump. Today, I’m here to tell the truth about Mr. Trump.

I lied to Congress about when Mr. Trump stopped negotiating the Moscow Tower project in Russia. I stated that we stopped negotiating in January 2016. That was false – our negotiations continued for months later during the campaign.

Mr. Trump did not directly tell me to lie to Congress. That’s not how he operates.

In conversations we had during the campaign, at the same time I was actively negotiating in Russia for him, he would look me in the eye and tell 5 me there’s no business in Russia and then go out and lie to the American people by saying the same thing. In his way, he was telling me to lie.

There were at least a half-dozen times between the Iowa Caucus in January 2016 and the end of June when he would ask me “How’s it going in Russia?” – referring to the Moscow Tower project.

You need to know that Mr. Trump’s personal lawyers reviewed and edited my statement to Congress about the timing of the Moscow Tower negotiations before I gave it.

To be clear: Mr. Trump knew of and directed the Trump Moscow negotiations throughout the campaign and lied about it. He lied about it because he never expected to win the election. He also lied about it because he stood to make hundreds of millions of dollars on the Moscow real estate project.

And so I lied about it, too – because Mr. Trump had made clear to me, through his personal statements to me that we both knew were false and through his lies to the country, that he wanted me to lie. And he made it 6 clear to me because his personal attorneys reviewed my statement before I gave it to Congress.

****

Over the past two years, I have been smeared as “a rat” by the President of the United States. The truth is much different, and let me take a brief moment to introduce myself.

My name is Michael Dean Cohen. I am a blessed husband of 24 years and a father to an incredible daughter and son. When I married my wife, I promised her that I would love her, cherish her, and protect her. As my father said countless times throughout my childhood, “you my wife, and you my children, are the air that I breathe.” To my Laura, my Sami, and my Jake, there is nothing I wouldn’t do to protect you.

I have always tried to live a life of loyalty, friendship, generosity, and compassion – qualities my parents ingrained in my siblings and me since childhood. My father survived the Holocaust thanks to the compassion and selfless acts of others. He was helped by many who put themselves in harm’s way to do what they knew was right.

That is why my first instinct has always been to help those in need. Mom and Dad…I am sorry that I let you down.

As many people that know me best would say, I am the person they would call at 3AM if they needed help. I proudly remember being the emergency contact for many of my children’s friends when they were growing up because their parents knew that I would drop everything and care for them as if they were my own.

Yet, last fall I pled guilty in federal court to felonies for the benefit of, at the direction of, and in coordination with Individual #1.

For the record: Individual #1 is President Donald J. Trump.

It is painful to admit that I was motivated by ambition at times. It is even more painful to admit that many times I ignored my conscience and acted loyal to a man when I should not have. Sitting here today, it seems unbelievable that I was so mesmerized by Donald Trump that I was willing to do things for him that I knew were absolutely wrong.

For that reason, I have come here to apologize to my family, to the government, and to the American people.

Accordingly, let me now tell you about Mr. Trump.

I got to know him very well, working very closely with him for more than 10 years, as his Executive Vice President and Special Counsel and then personal attorney when he became President. When I first met Mr. Trump, he was a successful entrepreneur, a real estate giant, and an icon. Being around Mr. Trump was intoxicating. When you were in his presence, you felt like you were involved in something greater than yourself — that you were somehow changing the world.

I wound up touting the Trump narrative for over a decade. That was my job. Always stay on message. Always defend. It monopolized my life. At first, I worked mostly on real estate developments and other business transactions. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Trump brought me into his personal life and private dealings. Over time, I saw his true character revealed.

Mr. Trump is an enigma. He is complicated, as am I. He has both good and bad, as do we all. But the bad far outweighs the good, and since taking office, he has become the worst version of himself. He is capable of behaving kindly, but he is not kind. He is capable of committing acts of generosity, but he is not generous. He is capable of being loyal, but he is fundamentally disloyal.

Donald Trump is a man who ran for office to make his brand great, not to make our country great. He had no desire or intention to lead this nation – only to market himself and to build his wealth and power. Mr. Trump would often say, this campaign was going to be the “greatest infomercial in political history.”

He never expected to win the primary. He never expected to win the general election. The campaign – for him – was always a marketing opportunity.

I knew early on in my work for Mr. Trump that he would direct me to lie to further his business interests. I am ashamed to say, that when it was for a real estate mogul in the private sector, I considered it trivial. As the President, I consider it significant and dangerous.

I knew early on in my work for Mr. Trump that he would direct me to lie to further his business interests. I am ashamed to say, that when it was for a real estate mogul in the private sector, I considered it trivial. As the President, I consider it significant and dangerous.

But in the mix, lying for Mr. Trump was normalized, and no one around him questioned it. In fairness, no one around him today questions it, either.

A lot of people have asked me about whether Mr. Trump knew about the release of the hacked Democratic National Committee emails ahead of time. The answer is yes.

As I earlier stated, Mr. Trump knew from Roger Stone in advance about the WikiLeaks drop of emails.

In July 2016, days before the Democratic convention, I was in Mr. Trump’s office when his secretary announced that Roger Stone was on the phone. Mr. Trump put Mr. Stone on the speakerphone. Mr. Stone told Mr. Trump that he had just gotten off the phone with Julian Assange and that Mr. Assange told Mr. Stone that, within a couple of days, there would be a massive dump of emails that would damage Hillary Clinton’s campaign.

Mr. Trump responded by stating to the effect of “wouldn’t that be great.”

Mr. Trump is a racist. The country has seen Mr. Trump court white supremacists and bigots. You have heard him call poorer countries “shitholes.”

He once asked me if I could name a country run by a black person that wasn’t a “shithole.” This was when Barack Obama was President of the United States.

While we were once driving through a struggling neighborhood in Chicago, he commented that only black people could live that way.

And, he told me that black people would never vote for him because they were too stupid.

And yet I continued to work for him.

Mr. Trump is a cheat.

As previously stated, I’m giving the Committee today three years of President Trump’s financial statements, from 2011-2013, which he gave to Deutsche Bank to inquire about a loan to buy the Buffalo Bills and to Forbes. These are Exhibits 1a, 1b, and 1c to my testimony.

It was my experience that Mr. Trump inflated his total assets when it served his purposes, such as trying to be listed among the wealthiest people in Forbes, and deflated his assets to reduce his real estate taxes.

I am sharing with you two newspaper articles, side by side, that are examples of Mr. Trump inflating and deflating his assets, as I said, to suit his financial interests. These are Exhibit 2 to my testimony.

As I noted, I’m giving the Committee today an article he wrote on, and sent me, that reported on an auction of a portrait of Mr. Trump. This is Exhibit 3A to my testimony.

Mr. Trump directed me to find a straw bidder to purchase a portrait of him that was being auctioned at an Art Hamptons Event. The objective was to ensure that his portrait, which was going to be auctioned last, would go for the highest price of any portrait that afternoon. The portrait was purchased by the fake bidder for $60,000. Mr. Trump directed the Trump Foundation, which is supposed to be a charitable organization, to repay the fake bidder, despite keeping the art for himself. Please see Exhibit 3B to my testimony.

And it should come as no surprise that one of my more common responsibilities was that Mr. Trump directed me to call business owners, many of whom were small businesses, that were owed money for their services and told them no payment or a reduced payment would be coming. When I advised Mr. Trump of my success, he actually reveled in it.

And yet, I continued to work for him.

Mr. Trump is a conman.

He asked me to pay off an adult film star with whom he had an affair, and to lie to his wife about it, which I did. Lying to the First Lady is one of my biggest regrets. She is a kind, good person. I respect her greatly – and she did not deserve that.

I am giving the Committee today a copy of the $130,000 wire transfer from me to Ms. Clifford’s attorney during the closing days of the presidential campaign that was demanded by Ms. Clifford to maintain her silence about her affair with Mr. Trump. This is Exhibit 4 to my testimony.

Mr. Trump directed me to use my own personal funds from a Home Equity Line of Credit to avoid any money being traced back to him that could negatively impact his campaign. I did that, too – without bothering to consider whether that was improper, much less whether it was the right thing to do or how it would impact me, my family, or the public.

I am going to jail in part because of my decision to help Mr. Trump hide that payment from the American people before they voted a few days later.

As Exhibit 5 to my testimony shows, I am providing a copy of a $35,000 check that President Trump personally signed from his personal bank 14 account on August 1, 2017 – when he was President of the United States – pursuant to the cover-up, which was the basis of my guilty plea, to reimburse me – the word used by Mr. Trump’s TV lawyer — for the illegal hush money I paid on his behalf. This $35,000 check was one of 11 check installments that was paid throughout the year – while he was President.

The President of the United States thus wrote a personal check for the payment of hush money as part of a criminal scheme to violate campaign finance laws. You can find the details of that scheme, directed by Mr. Trump, in the pleadings in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

So picture this scene – in February 2017, one month into his presidency, I’m visiting President Trump in the Oval Office for the first time. It’s truly awe-inspiring, he’s showing me around and pointing to different paintings, and he says to me something to the effect of…Don’t worry, Michael, your January and February reimbursement checks are coming. They were FedExed from New York and it takes a while for that to get through the White House system. As he promised, I received the first check for the reimbursement of $70,000 not long thereafter.

When I say conman, I’m talking about a man who declares himself brilliant but directed me to threaten his high school, his colleges, and the College Board to never release his grades or SAT scores.

As I mentioned, I’m giving the Committee today copies of a letter I sent at Mr. Trump’s direction threatening these schools with civil and criminal actions if Mr. Trump’s grades or SAT scores were ever disclosed without his permission. These are Exhibit 6.

The irony wasn’t lost on me at the time that Mr. Trump in 2011 had strongly criticized President Obama for not releasing his grades. As you can see in Exhibit 7, Mr. Trump declared “Let him show his records” after calling President Obama “a terrible student.”

The sad fact is that I never heard Mr. Trump say anything in private that led me to believe he loved our nation or wanted to make it better. In fact, he did the opposite.

When telling me in 2008 that he was cutting employees’ salaries in half – including mine – he showed me what he claimed was a $10 million IRS tax refund, and he said that he could not believe how stupid the government was for giving “someone like him” that much money back.

During the campaign, Mr. Trump said he did not consider Vietnam Veteran, and Prisoner of War, Senator John McCain to be “a hero” because he likes people who weren’t captured. At the same time, Mr. Trump tasked me to handle the negative press surrounding his medical deferment from the Vietnam draft.

Mr. Trump claimed it was because of a bone spur, but when I asked for medical records, he gave me none and said there was no surgery. He told me not to answer the specific questions by reporters but rather offer simply the fact that he received a medical deferment.

He finished the conversation with the following comment. “You think I’m stupid, I wasn’t going to Vietnam.”

I find it ironic, President Trump, that you are in Vietnam right now.

And yet, I continued to work for him.

Questions have been raised about whether I know of direct evidence that Mr. Trump or his campaign colluded with Russia. I do not. I want to be clear. But, I have my suspicions.

https://lailasnews.com/full-text-michael-cohens-statement-congress/

lalasticlala

A Nigerian lady has taken to her social media page to cation men against giving ladies money before marriage.

He instead advises them to rather save for their future as majority of the ladies, in her own opinion, are independent.

And she also added that the sex will also not be taken out of the relationship. All they want to see is the guy achieving his dreams.

She wrote:

Dear guys, please stop giving us money when we haven't married you We have our own money, we are independent save for your future we will still sex you without money I'm speaking on behalf of all ladies !

https://lailasnews.com/stop-giving-us-money-before-marriage-lady-cautions-men/

lalasticlala

Momo suicide game otherwise known as the Momo challenge is a game targeted at kids across the world and it directs them to take their lives.

The so-called 'challenge', featuring a haunting character with bulging eyes, has sparked warnings to British parents.

It has already been linked to the suicide of a 12-year-old girl in Argentina and at least 130 teen deaths across Russia, BBC reports.

And now, UK primary schools have warned about the dangers of the game, saying it presents a "serious risk" to kids' safety.

In a letter to parents, one Cumbrian school said the game is "easily accessed" through social media and "rapidly spreading".

A police officer said Momo was clearly run by hackers who are looking for information.

"Whatever or whoever is behind it, there is no disputing the content being sent is horrendous," reads the post.

"A 'curse contact' sends a number and tells you to contact them on WhatsApp.

"One video of such an interaction in America I've seen, shows an ominous-sounding voice recording being sent to a child telling them to take a knife to their own throat.

"Another threatens family if a 'challenge' is not completed. It's chilling viewing.

"There are numerous variations and of course now imitators."

Police said the danger lay with children feeling pressured to either follow the orders on any app by carrying out "challenges", or because of peer pressure in chat rooms.

https://lailasnews.com/momo-suicide-game-momo-challenge-whatsapp-suicide-children/

Udeme Otike-Odibi, lawyer who reportedly killed husband, Symphorosa Otike-Odibi, has urged the Lagos State High Court in Igbosere to reject the confessional statements she made to the police.

Forty-eight-year-old Udeme is standing trial for allegedly stabbing her husband to death at their residence on the Diamond Estate, Sangotedo, Lagos State.

According to Punchng.com, the police witness, Olusegun Bamidele, had told the court that Udeme confessed to killing her husband at the last adjourned date on January 23, 2019.

However, when the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions, Titilayo Shitta-Bey, wanted to tender the statements, Udeme’s counsel, Oluseye Banjoko, objected.

Banjoko noted that the constitution made provisions that the statement of any person arrested must be made in the presence of a legal practitioner or must be videoed.

https://lailasnews.com/lawyer-killed-husband-court-reject-statements/

lalasticlala

The INEC Electoral Officer in Bokkos Local Government of Plateau, Mr Salihu Adamu Musa, on Monday apologised over the “shameful” behaviour of a drunk Returning Officer deployed to the area.

According to The Guardian, Musa was being queried by APC Collation Officer in Pankshin, Mr Emmanuel Bok, who wanted to know why the returning officer deployed to the area was not the person declaring the results of elections for Bokkos.

Musa, in his explanation, told the party agents, observers and INEC officials that the Returning Officer, a university lecturer, was drunk on Sunday and was sacked when he could not perform his duty.

“The Returning Officer’s attitude was appalling; he was drunk and couldn’t do anything at all.

“I took over the job based on instructions from the INEC headquarters in Jos,” Musa explained.

Musa apologised to the election officials on behalf of the electoral body, and promised that the situation would not repeat itself.

https://lailasnews.com/inec-apologises-over-drunk-returning-officer/

lalasticlala

Nollywood actress Tonto Dikeh has revealed that a Nollywood actress is in Dubai with her friend's husband.

The actress took to her social media page to call out the man who left his wife in Nigeria and rather opted for his mistress, who happened to be his best friend's wife.

They were both spotted in Dubai.

Tonto threatened to call names if those guilty dare to call her phone. She then went further to say that the actress needs to be buried alive for betraying her friend and she is the reason why most people choose to tag Nollywood actresses as prostitutes.

https://lailasnews.com/actress-dubai-best-friends-husband-tonto-dikeh/

lalasticlala

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC office in Imo on fire.

The office located at Isiala Mbano area of the State was razed down by unknown persons in the early hours of Monday while the presidential elections results were yet to be collated, Guardian reports.

The commission said it had not visited the office to ascertain the level of damage.

It added that the Electoral Officer for Orlu Local Government, Aloy Njoku and the senatorial district Returning Officer have been held hostage and forced to declare false results.

It is clear if there was any causality in the fire incident, but according to reports, the case has been reported at the nearest police station.

https://lailasnews.com/inec-office-imo-on-fire/

lalasticlala

Popular Nigerian OAP, Toke Makinwa, while reacting to the election violence that is being reported in some states of the nation, has said she hopes Nigerians can appreciate Goodluck Jonathan, the former president.

According to her, she is even getting tired of praying to God about Nigeria and all her problems. She also added that Lagos is no mans land as every tribe contributes to development of the mega city.

Read her tweets;

Ballot box snatching, burning down election materials cos you are dissatisfied it’s not going in your Favor is weak! If you lose, lose with some dignity, I hope we all appreciate Goodluck now. Sighhhhh

“My people perish for lack of knowledge”, in the case of Nigeria it is not lack of knowledge but “Poverty”.... Poverty of the mind is the worst kind. God help us all

I even get tired of calling God in to our matter as Nigerians, he has given us so much, blessed us so much. Our problem is man made, selfishness, greed, lack of love

The bloodshed is disgusting, if this can happen in 2019, how ready are we really for the change we crave so bad? It is not by force, if we don’t want you, leave us with the consequence, of who we elect does not do us right we meet again in 4 years and we do the same.

https://lailasnews.com/appreciate-goodluck-now-toke-makinwa-nigerias-election/

lalasticlala

Manchester United caretaker manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has set a new Premier League record after his side's match with stiff rivals Liverpool ended in a goalless draw.

The two teams failed to score at Old Trafford as they lacked any real clear-cut chances during the match.

According to Metro UK, Solskjaer became the first manager in the Premier League history to win most points after ten matches in charge of a club in the English top-flight league.

The report claimed that Solskjaer broke the record held by former Chelsea manager, Guus Hiddink.

Solskjaer was appointed as United temporary coach following the sack of former Red Devils boss, Jose Mourinho in December.

Man United’s results against Liverpool means, Jurgen Klopp’s side return to the top of the Premier League table with one point ahead of second-placed of Manchester City.

https://lailasnews.com/solskjaer-breaks-new-premier-league-record-after-liverpool-match/

lalasticlala

Veteran actor Baba Suwe's 1st son, Adesola Omidina has written an open letter to Nigerians to appreciate them for coming to the family's aid in taking care of their father's medical expenses.

His letter comes just a few days after his dad got admitted to LUTH for treatment.

See the full letter below:

Dear Sir/Ma,

It gives me great pleasure to express the gratitude of our family to every Nigerian/Baba Suwe's fans, Non-Nigerians home and abroad.

Starting with my mother, His Excellency Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (Ori idobale ni mo wa sir), TAMPAN President & Members, Movie Marketers, Late Barrister Aturu & his wife, Mr. & Mrs Segun Rasco, Mr. & Mrs. Whesu (Awokoya) Pittsburgh, Mr. Kola Olotu, Mr. Yomi Fabiyi, Jamaica Hospital New York, Federal Ministry of Health, Lagos University Teaching Hospital(LUTH) staff, Nollywood Colleagues, Media Houses, Journalists, bloggers, Human Rights NGOs, clergymen and so on. Kindly pardon me if any ommission.

On behalf of Omidina family, I like to deeply thank everyone for your countless support, financially, morally and otherwise. The love shown to my father Babatunde Omidina (a.k.a Baba Suwe) is so enormous and extra-ordinary especially in the last 6days. The contributions and those still contributing to my father's road to recovery are unimaginable and unthinkable. This is simply Pure Love.

I can see the favor and grace of God in my dad's life. It is our prayers that in few months time, with your continued prayers and support, he will return fit, healthy again and back to the screen. He sends his deepest appreciation and will of course do personally later.

The family will never forget this unique love, care and acceptance. God bless all the hands that giveth, they SHALL NOT LACK. Our family wish everyone the best of sound health and prosperity.
With sincere humility and gratitude.

SIGNED:
Adesola Omidina (@twenty2ndstudios)
For: OMIDINA FAMILY.
23/02/2019

https://lailasnews.com/baba-suwes-1st-son-adesola-omidina-thanks-nigerians/

A man believed to be the Head of OPC in Okota, Mr Demola has been reportedly stoned to death by voters in the area for disrupting the election in the area.

According to a video posted on Twitter by a handle @tweetmankind, the alleged leader of the Oodua People's Congress in the area was accused of arranging thugs that scattered the voting process in Okota, which was earlier reported in the news.

He tweeted:

Mr. Demola the head of the OPC has been stoned to death by angry voters who claimed he was the one that scattered the voting process earlier today at Okota Lagos.

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE
https://lailasnews.com/alleged-head-of-opc-in-okota-stoned-to-death-by-voters-video/

These are the official election results at some polling units that were announced by the INEC presiding officials and they are valid results collated from these units across the country

Results gotten from PREMIUM TIMES
Lowcost Polling Unit 0016 Lokuwa Ward Mubi North Local Government Area Adamawa State

Presidential

PDP. 156

APC. 78

Senatorial

PDP 159

APC. 46

Reps

PDP 145

APC 44

Polling Unit 1, Ward 3, Etinan, Akwa Ibom State

Presidential

PDP *219

APC * 109

Senatorial

PDP *215

APC * 111

House of Rep.

PDP *222

APC * 108

PU 03 Ward 01 Pategi, Kwara State.

House of Reps results

APC 172; PDP 14

invalid 03

Lagos Central Senatorial District, Eti-Osa local government area, Ward 1,Bonny camp v, PU 29

Presidential

MDP 5

ADC 1

MPM 1

APC 34

PDP 31

DPP 1

ANN 1

YPP 1

SENATE

APC 39

PDP 27

ADC 1

REPRESENTATIVE.

APC 36

PDP 24

PU 08, Ijomu Oro, Irepodun LGA, Kwara South

Presidential

APC- 98

PDP- 40

Senate

APC- 98

PDP- 43

Rep

APC- 100

PDP- 40

PU 44 Ward 5 Port Harcourt City LGA Rivers State

Presidential

PDP - 33

APC - 3

***APC not allowed candidates in other elections

Senate

PDP - 37

Reps

PDP - 35

Okpujie Pry School I PU 002, Uromi, Esan North East LGA, Edo Central Senatorial District.

Presidential

PDP: 159

APC: 31

Edo Central Senatorial Election

PDP: 165

APC: 35

Esan North East/Esan South East Federal Constituency

PDP: 158

APC: 39

MORE RESULTS TO COME

https://lailasnews.com/nigeriadecides2019-official-election-results/

lalasticlala

A Kenyan preacher identified as Jacinta Nzilani, has on Friday made a revelation on how she became a lesbian after her husband of 25 years died.

Nzilani said she decided to become a lesbian after being treated badly by her in-laws who wanted to take advantage of her husband’s death.

“I am a lesbian. I am widow and a woman who stayed with her husband for more than 25 years and then he died and I was treated badly by my in-laws and that is how I decided to live with other women as lesbians,” she said on Friday.

The evangelist added that the church community was not supportive during her trying moment as they pressured to re-marry even though she was not interested.

She said she later met up with other lesbians in the city and joined their church where she says she has worshiped happily-ever-after.

She now has a church near Odeon Cinema in CBD.

https://lailasnews.com/lesbian-husband-died-jacinta-nzilani/

Pop star Davido who is known for his outspokenness on political issues in the country has advised Nigerian on what to do today, which is the Presidential election day.

The singer advised Nigerian, via his social media page, to go out and vote and stay safe at the same time.

He further stated that they can't do anything to the voters and their votes is just the power that is needed to propel the country.

See his tweets:

Showtime!!! Everyone go out and vote!!! Be safe! Be vigilant! They can't do anything to you ! Your vote is all the power you need!

In another tweet, he wrote:

Everyone go out! A lot of units stared late but as far as you're in the queue before 2pm they can't tell you anything! Your vote go count! Whether na 10pm them ready! All man must vote!

https://lailasnews.com/davido-advises-nigerians-what-to-do-election-day

lalasticlala

The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Abubakar Atiku has just cast his vote at his polling unit of Ajiya in Yola North Local Government Area of Adamawa.

Atiku was earlier reported to be having difficulties getting accredited to vote, even after the INEC agents had arrived at the polling unit an hour before.

He has just updated on his social media profile on his successful accreditation and now being able to cst his vote.

He wrote:

I just cast my vote at Ajiya Ward in Yola, Adamawa State. Go out and cast your vote too if you have not done so yet. -AA

https://lailasnews.com/presidential-election-2019-atiku-cast-vote-2/

lalasticlala

It looks like Nigerian singer 2face and wife are having marital crisis.

The insinuation is coming after the music legend took to social media to apologize to his wife on an issue he did not state.

In his statement, he wrote that he was sorry for f**king up so much and that he has not lived his life up to expectation as a father and a husband and he acknowledges the fact that Annie, his wife has tried her best for him

See his tweet

I'm sorry to say that i have bleeped up so much. i have bleeped up as a role model as a father and as a husband. annie im sorry. i know u tried your best.

We hope everything is fine with 2face and wife, Annie.

https://lailasnews.com/2face-and-wife-are-having-marital-crisis/

lalasticlala

Actress Seyi Hunter, has said she made the decision to take a break from acting so she could have enough time to learn more about sex.

She made this revelation in an interview with punchng.com

“I took a break from my movie career last year to learn more about sex education and therapy. I did some courses on Sex Education and Human Sexuality to make me a certified sex educator. However, I just produced a movie titled, The Return. I’m also currently working on another production and I have scripts lined up from other filmmakers. So, it’s already a busy year.”

Seyi Hunter who also talks more about sex on her vlog, gives reason on why she does that:

“When I started my vlog, Sinful Friday, I realised that it was a welcome idea. It felt like Nigerians and the rest of the world had been waiting for me. People are in need of someone to teach them sexual skills and pleasure. I’m good at it and I’m an expert in the game. So, I decided to focus on everything that has to do with sex.”

https://lailasnews.com/i-took-a-break-from-acting-to-learn-more-about-sex-seyi-hunter/

Nollywood actor Nonso Diobi has cried out once again after a suspected scammer has been going on social media to defraud Nigerians with his name.

The actor who made this known via his twiiter handle @iam_nonsodiobi revealed that the scammers promised fans an iPhone X and selected winners are asked to send N5000 as delivery fees.

Some Nigerians have been falling for the scam and so they began to call out the actor, who has come out to deny every knowledge of the promo.

He wrote:

Good morning my people. Please beware of impostors!!! I am not doing any 20k give away on Twitter. Anyone asking you to send 5k and receive 20k or gift is fraudulent. These 2 accounts are fakes iamnonsodiobi and iam_nonsodiobi1. Pls beware and warn others.

https://lailasnews.com/nonso-diobi-cries-out-as-scammers-defraud-nigerians-with-his-name/

lalasticlala

A woman has taken to social media to call out a Lekki school after her son's hair was shaved off in the school.

She told her story on Instagram and gave details on how shocked she was to see that her sons hair had been shaved off. She says in these days of money ritual, she cannot keep quiet.

And to make the matter more suspicious, the school refunded the child's school fees as seen in a letter written to the family.

See her post:

Please read my current situation. I need all the help I can get. I need answers to my questions.

On the 18th of January 2019, after dressing my children up for school, my husband dropped them off.

I usually pick them up at school but I was busy and requested that that the school drop them with the school bus .

I noticed a strange thing on my son's head immediately and I asked him what happened to his head/hair. He said he was sleeping in the class and one of the students woke him up.

I immediately went to the student's house(names withheld) and asked what he knew about my son's shaved head. He responded that he knew nothing about it. Thereafter, I called the owner of the school about what happened and on Sunday, she came to my house that the matter would be investigated.

After waiting and not getting any feedback as promised, I reported the matter to the police station. She was subsequently invited and asked to come with the teacher and class nanny. The DCO of police stated she would go to the school to see things by herself.

She pleaded I should allow my chidren return to school, assuring me that nothing would happened to them. The DCO also asked the little boy that my sons said woke up but the little boy was just crying.

The class teacher was also said to have gone to one of the student’s house and upon enquiry from the school owner, she said the teacher is also carrying out her own investigation. What investigation? When the police is involved already!

During one of these period, my son said his teacher told him to mention the boy that woke him up from sleep as the person that shaved his hair.

Since the DCO has assured us that my kids are safe, we let them returned to the school and to my surprise, the owner of the school after the close of the day, refunded the money we have paid to the school and wishing my kids all the best in life.

I have been in turmoil since this incident happened because nobody could explain why my son’s hair was shaved and who did especially in this season when pants, pads and diapers are being stolen for God knows what purpose.

Attached is the shaved hair, the refunded cheque and the letter from the school.

https://lailasnews.com/woman-cries-out-after-sons-hair-was-shaved-off-in-lekki-school/

lalasticlala

Controversial security expert, Mr Aye Dee has said Nigerians don't have the right to access internet on election day as so it should be shut down.

In his defence, Aye Dee argued that the internet encourages the spread of fake news, which is very much likely to ignite crisis across the country during and after the election.


He wrote:

Access to the internet in Nigeria is NOT a right, if @inecnigeria believes internet access during the election needs to be restricted in order to prevent the spread of #FakeNews, specifically fake election results, it would be the right thing to do for Nigeria's sake.

The internet in should be shut down by 11:59PM on Friday, Feb. 15th, 2019 and restored by 11:59pm on Saturday, February 16th, 2019. If this is not done, there will be chaos as fake results are bound to be brandished by both @OfficialAPCNg and @OfficialPDPNig, causing chaos.

In this crucial election, Nigerian cannot afford to have the electorate manipualted by rumors and propaganda emanating from both major parties. Therefore, it makes sense to ensure the sanctity of the electoral proccess by restricting access to the internet.

Bangladesh with a population of 160 million + shut down its internet before its elections, heaven did not fall, the poll was orderly , free and fair. Nigeria deserves same.

I did not say internet should be restricted for just PDP supporters or just for APC supporters, I said it should be restricted for ALL Nigerians.

https://lailasnews.com/nigerians-dont-have-right-to-access-internet-on-election-day-aye-dee

Bollywood actress Esha Gupta's support for a friend who said Alex Iwobi is a gorilla, has brought under The knives of social media users who tagged her racist, despite her position as an Arsenal Ambassador.

Esha, an avid Arsenal supporter and an ambassador of the English Premier League side, criticised Iwobi's performance in the club's recent game on a WhatsApp conversation with her friend which she later shared as an Instagram story.

"Solves our winger issues. I can't see that gorilla faced Iwobi running down the flank again.

He's so bad ya,'' read the screenshot, which according to IANS, was written by Esha's friend.

As a reply, Esha typed out: "Haha... I don't know why they don't bench him more."

Following the criticism on Instagram, Esha took to Twitter to apologise for her words.

She tweeted,

''Guys I am sorry you thought it was racist. Was bad on my part, being a sports lover. Sorry guys, forgive the stupidity.'

She later clarified her words during the Whatsapp conversation as out of frustration and that she failed to realise that it was directed towards racism.

She tweeted,

"It was us discussing our frustration during the game.sorry as I din realise it directed towards racism.laughed over the spur of the moment, which was the games result guys.been victim of racism myself before. But this is not something m proud of. It was a fault,sorry guys"

https://lailasnews.com/iwobi-is-a-gorilla-esha-gupta-blasted-for-sharing-racist-chat-with-friend/

Praizeupdates:
Rumour accross the internet recently is that Beautiful actress Yvonne Jegede marriage is no more as her baby daddy decides not to talk about her and her new baby.

She reacted to the break up rumour with her caption as she shares cute hot photo on her page recently.

See more photos below

Gist From Praizenews ; http://www.praizenews.com/actress-yvonne-jegede-react-to-breakup-marriage-rummour-shares-hot-photo/

Mumu blogger...How can a married woman have a BABY DADDY

Pop star Davido sends death threat to man who allegedly scammed him of £10,000 and he has placed an unusual kind of bounty on his head.

He posted the man’s photo and used slur words on him.

In one of his posts he wrote that men are already on the alleged scammer and he has messed with the wrong person:

Ole Buruku!!! Thief!! All men are on you Bastard!! U bleeped with the wrong one

He then made another post sending death threats to the man.

This nigga a fraud..Change your ways before men fall you. Bastard!!! 10K pounds a shit to me. Enjoy the money Bleep boiii...Open

He later posted a video saying:

‘Anyone who finds him should collect the money and keep it’.

https://lailasnews.com/davido-sends-death-threat-to-man-with-death-after-he-scammed-him-of-10k

Oby Ezekwesili withdraws from presidential race on Thursday morning and has rather opted to help build a coalition to defeat the All Progressives Congress and the People’s Democratic Party in the February 16, 2019 election.

In a statement issued by the spokesperson for the Obiageli Ezekwesili Presidential Campaign Organisation, Ozioma Ubabukoh, Ezekwesili was quoted as saying that her decision to withdraw from the race followed extensive discussions with Nigerians at home and the Diaspora.

According to her, the action is also prompted by an examination of the country’s electoral environment sequel to the 2019 presidential debate of Saturday, January 19, 2019.

“This decision followed extensive consultations with leaders from various walks of life across the country over the past few days. I deem it necessary for me to focus on helping to build a veritable coalition to ensure a viable alternative to the #APCPDP in the forthcoming elections,” the statement read.

She said,

“It is my ardent belief that this broad coalition for a viable alternative has now become more than ever before, an urgent mission for and on behalf of Nigerian citizens. I have therefore chosen to lead the way in demonstrating the much needed patriotic sacrifice for our national revival and redirection.

“I wish to state that over the past three months, I have been in private, but extended talks with other candidates to birth a coalition that would allow Nigerians to exercise their choice without feeling helplessly encumbered by the evil twins of #APCPDP.

“While the deliberations continued, I never hesitated for a moment in my willingness and determination to sacrifice my candidacy in order to facilitate the emergence of the envisaged strong and viable alternative that Nigerians could identify with in our collective search for a new beginning.

“My commitment to this promising political recalibration has been consistent and in consonance with my agreement, at the request of candidates under the Presidential Aspirants Coming Together (PACT) arrangement in 2018, when I consented to supervise the internal selection process as an outside observer passionate about building an alternative force.”

Ezekwesili also said,

“However, despite resistance from the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria on these and other issues, I have decided that it is now necessary to show by action and example my determination on this issue by stepping down my candidacy so as to focus squarely on building the coalition to a logical conclusion.

“We have no right to allow citizens give in to despair. We will #Fight4Naija together and prove to all that the mess, which the political class has now become, should not be allowed to destroy our spirits and nation. We are also determined to ensure that the message keeps resonating that our beloved country deserves better, and that we will get the best that we deserve.”

She added,

“From last year, when I joined the presidential race, I made it clear to Nigerians that the country has always had a 20-year cycle of change - 1958, 1979, and 1999. As such, 2019 begins another 20-year cycle, and together with all Nigerians of good will, I stand ready to play my part to ensure that we do not miss this golden opportunity to sing a new song.

“There is no more time to waste. Let’s get to work!”

Meanwhile, Ubabukoh thanked Nigerians, including campaign donors and volunteers, who supported Ezekwesili, saying that “every money donated to the campaign and funds spent will be accounted for in the coming days.”

https://lailasnews.com/oby-ezekwesili-withdraws-from-presidential-race-insists-on-coalition/

A Nigerian lady, Ifeoma Dan Nwude has taken to social media to narrate on how her Winners Chapel hand band saved her from ritualists in Abuja.

According to the lady, who is a member of the Living Faith Church, Worldwide, overseen by Bishop David Oyedepo, she was abducted by the ritualists in Abuja and all the attempts they made to kill her, became futile.

She also mentioned that she was shot at twice, strangled, stabbed with knife all over body, but it seemed there was a power making her impenetrable.

They eventually saw the Winners Chapel hand band on her wrist and made to remove it, because they thought it was the charm she had been using, but they couldn't remove that as well.

Read her story below:

#GOD GAVE ME #DOMINION #OVERDEATH IN THE HANDS OF RITUALISTS.
#PRAISETHELORD My name is LETURA SAAGWE and I’m privileged to serve in the Sanctuary Keeping Unit and also Crowd Control Unit.

On Monday, the 14th of January,2019 is a day I will never forget in my life and one I will forever give glory to God. After the Communion Service on Monday, a brother gave me a lift to Maitama junction where I could easily get a car to Maraba where I live. Myself and a lady whom I met standing there, boarded a vehicle and unknown to us, the four guys in the car were ritualists.

Immediately the car took off, the guy at the front seat told us that they were kidnappers and they were going to use us for sacrifice, he brought out a white substance and blew on our faces and immediately the other lady passed out, but because I am too defended to be a victim, the charm did not have effect on me, the God of Dominion neutralized it. Immediately I began to pray and declared that I have dominion and as such, I can not die.

I reminded God of the covenant I have with Him and the prophecies of His servant in the house, Pastor Chris Abraham. And while I was praying, they were busy beheading the other lady and cutting off the vital parts which they needed from her. I remember I had a mantle in my bag and as I tried to remove it they collected the bag from me.

They searched it and took my phones and ATM cards, they asked me if I had money in the cards and I said yes, they brought out POS and began to make withdrawals. After the withdrawal, the driver ordered one of them to strangle me, brethren, they did everything possible to kill me but to no avail because my God was on duty.

When they became frustrated, they brought out knives and iron and started hitting me all over, they began to stab me all over with daggers but to no avail, one of them brought out a gun and shot at me twice but like my father Pastor Chris will say, God has built around me an impenetrable wall of defence.

They started shouting and asking me where I was hiding the charm they thought I was using and one of them pointed at my dominion hand band and said that’s the charm she was using.

They began to pull the hand band but the power was too much for them, they could not remove it. Out of anger and frustration, they tore my clothes and one of them attempted to have a carnal knowledge of me but the others refused him and said that wasn’t their mission and so he left me. I was asked if I knew where I was and I said no, and they told me I was at Kaduna road and they asked if I knew my way back and I said no.

They thereby drove back all the way and dropped me off at Wuse zone 3 by the road side. I checked my bag and discovered that my tablet phone was not taken and with that I was able to make calls and that was how I was rushed to the hospital.


I have come like that one leper to return all #glory, honour and adoration to the #God of #Dominion.
#ThankyouJesus #Hallelujah
Sister Letura Saagwe
#LFC
#winnerschapel
Jahi, Abuja.

https://lailasnews.com/winners-chapel-hand-band-saved-me-from-ritualists-in-abuja-lady

lalasticlala

An American political analyst Judd Legum has written on how President Donald Trump's corrupt administration paved way for PDP Presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar into the United States of America, despite being banned.

According to Judd Legum, Atiku wouldn't have gained entry into the US if he had not lobbied through a popular lobbyist identified as Brian Gallard, whom he claimed the People's Democratic Party, PDP signed a $1.1million contract with.

Read his post below:

After being banned from entering the U.S. for 12 years, this man showed up at the Trump Hotel last Thursday. The previously untold story of how he got there illustrates how you can buy influence in Trump's Washington. Let's go.

You might have heard of Atiku Abubakar, the former vice president of Nigeria, because the FBI alleged he demanded a $500K bribe from former Rep William Jefferson. That was the guy with cash in his freezer who is currently serving a 13 year jail sentence

Abubakar was also featured in a 2010 Senate report called "KEEPING FOREIGN CORRUPTION OUT OF THE UNITED STATES." It detailed how Abubakar funneled $40 million in "suspect funds" into the U.S. Siemens admitted to sending a $1.7 million bribe

A former government official told Popular Information that, pursuant to a presidential proclamation targeting foreign corruption, Abubakar was barred from obtaining a U.S. visa.

His inability to travel to the US was becoming a major issue in Abubakar's campaign for president. Elections are next month. Then everything changed. What happened? Abubakar inked a $1.1 million lobbying contract with a man named Brian Ballard

Ballard is one of the most connected lobbyists in the Trump orbit. He ran Trump's Florida operation and before that was a lobbyist for the Trump org in Florida. Since Trump was elected he's signed up a slew of A-list clients like Amazon and Uber.

After a 12 year ban, a couple of months after hiring Ballard, Abubakar was in the U.S. -- he even met with a Congressman and spoke to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce

https://lailasnews.com/atiku-entry-into-us-sign-of-trumps-administration-corruption-judd-legum

lalasticlala

Pop star Davido's song Fall is reportedly taking over radio stations in the United States of America and the song is described as one of the biggest to ever come out of Africa.

This is according to a report by Rolling Stone.

Davido's song Fall even ought to have reached greater heights in the country, according to the report.

Read Full Report Below:

The Nigerian style of music known as Afrobeats has quietly entranced a large swathe of the world’s population. “Pretty much every song on pop radio [in the U.K. now] is sort of a Mr. Eazi-style, chill, afrobeats [track],” the producer Riton told Rolling Stone last year. But Nigerian singers have not yet established a foothold Stateside, despite well-received, afrobeats-dusted singles from established stars like Drake and Janet Jackson.

So it’s unusual that “Fall,” a springy, 19-month-old track from the Nigerian singer DaVido, is currently gaining traction on the airwaves. The growth has been gradual: 482 plays to date, spread across 36 stations, according to Nielsen BDS, which tracks radio activity. BDS reports that four new stations added “Fall” into rotation last week.

Those are admittedly not huge numbers — for comparison’s sake, Post Malone’s new single “Wow” grew by 1,700 plays last week alone. But listeners who hear “Fall” are scrambling to find their phones: It was one of the Top 100 most Shazam’d singles in America this week. In New York City, “Fall” was a Top 10 record on Shazam. And in Atlanta, another crucial market, only two tracks were getting more Shazam activity than DaVido’s.

Eliciting that level of interest in America is no small feat for an African singer. Columbia signed “Pana,” a 2016 single from Tekno, but wasn’t able to transform it into a U.S. hit. RCA signed Wizkid, the guest on Drake’s “One Dance,” but hasn’t been able to get a hit either. (RCA is also working with DaVido now.) Burna Boy, another Nigerian singer with impressive talent, is now affiliated with Atlantic, but his “Rock Your Body” didn’t reach a wide audience in America.

That has nothing to do with the music — “Pana” and “Rock Your Body” are both indelible polyrhythmic pop songs, wonderfully weightless next to the lead-footed trap that currently dominates both rap and pop radio in America.

But the machinery that creates hits in the U.S. remains conservative, even in the supposedly “new” era brought on by streaming.

Nowhere is this more true than at radio, which throws its still-considerable weight behind only a tiny number of tracks — “A Top 40 radio station is playing five songs 120 times a week every week,” according to one radio insider — and rarely takes risks on music that doesn’t align with seemingly-ancient-if-not-totally-incomprehensible norms.

Mainstream “urban” radio usually won’t play Latin trap next to American trap, even if the same producers worked on both tracks, or pivot from hard hip-hop into soft R&B. Meanwhile, pop radio tries hard to ignore viral rap records, which programmers characterize as “pretty extreme,” in favor of bizarre but ostensibly more palatable concoctions by Panic! at the Disco or Marshmello.

Even some Top 40 programmers are confused by this tendency: “I don’t know when everybody’s gonna get it through their heads that we can’t just keep forcing these pop songs that nobody likes down everybody’s throat,” Nathan Graham told Rolling Stone last year.

Radio also depends on a favor system of sorts: Artists play station concerts, stop by for interviews and record drops to help get their music onto the air.

This is costly for artists without American passports. “To work the U.S. is big money — even getting music onto radio in New York alone might cost you upwards of $100 or $200 grand,” the Nigerian star Mr. Eazi explained to Rolling Stone last year. That’s another reason why, “at the end of the day, nobody has properly broken an African act in the U.S.”

It’s too early to tell if DaVido can establish a new path from Nigeria to the American airwaves — his team only recently started “attacking US radio properly,” according to an email from the singer’s manager, Asa Asika.

But there’s no denying that when listeners hear DaVido’s music, they are immediately compelled to figure out who sings it.

And that’s not just the case with “Fall.” This week New Yorkers were also trying to determine who steals the show on local rapper Casanova’s new single “2am” (Shazaming Top 25). Surprise — it’s DaVido. He is also the artist behind the 2017 track “If,” which is Shazaming Top 50 in New York.

DaVido’s success appears to be a boon for other Nigerian artists as well.

Afro B’s “Drogba (Joanna)” was even higher than “Fall” on New York Shazam this week. If more radio programmers are willing to give these artists a chance, they may be pleasantly surprised by the results.

https://lailasnews.com/davidos-song-fall-is-taking-over-radio-stations-in-the-us-report

Sports betting in Uganda banned by President Yoweri Museveni who ordered that no new licences should be issued to sports betting companies nor renewing of permits for the existing ones.

According to Minister of State for Finance, Mr David Bahati, the President gave the directive saying that gambling has diverted attention of the youth from hard work.

“We have received a directive from President Museveni to stop licensing sports betting, gaming and gambling companies. The President has now directed the board which has been regulating them. From now onwards, no new companies are going to be licensed.

Those which are already registered, no renewal of licences when they expire,” Mr Bahati revealed on Sunday during a church service in Rugarama Hill in western Kabale town.

Mr Bahati said church leaders who have been against sports betting can now praise the Lord because their prayers have been answered.

However, the Ministry of Finance spokesman, Mr Jim Mugunga, said he was unaware of the president's directive but added that he does not doubt it.

“I don’t know but since it was said by a minister, quote him. That’s good news,” Mr Mugunga said.

https://lailasnews.com/sports-betting-in-uganda-banned/

lalasticlala