After almost four decades in this world, I've found myself reflecting on some of the things I longed for when I was much younger.
As a child, I watched Titanic on a black-and-white television. I was captivated by the idea of romance. I cried when Jack sacrificed his life so Rose could live. The story suggested a love so deep that it transcended wealth, status, and even death.
Then came Nollywood.
I watched Ijele, where the legendary Sam Dede fell in love with Genevieve Nnaji. I was obsessed with that movie and never got tired of watching it during the VHS era. Later, there was Laraba, a story that explored the difficulties of a cross-cultural relationship between a Hausa man and an Igbo woman. Then came My Love, where Ramsey Nouah's character practically risked everything for love. A whole fine boy Ramsey!
These movies shaped my expectations. They made me believe that somewhere out there was a person who would love me simply for who I was. I imagined that my first love would become my wife and that we would live happily ever after. I believed in my own Cinderella story. The older I get, the more I realise that the version of love sold to us by movies is often a fantasy. Love may be blind, but marriage is certainly an eye-opener.
Relationships are not just about passion. They involve finances, values, family backgrounds, ambitions, sacrifices, disappointments, and countless compromises. Many people enter relationships hoping for love but also looking for security, comfort, opportunity, companionship, or social status. Others stay in relationships that no longer make them happy because leaving would be too costly emotionally, financially, or socially.
And let's be honest, loyalty is not always guaranteed. Some people leave when circumstances change. Others stay physically present but emotionally absent. Some men cheat. Some women cheat. Some relationships survive hardship, while others collapse under its weight. None of this resembles the stories we were sold growing up.
Sometimes I wonder if the actors themselves laughed behind the scenes at the scripts they were performing. They sold us dreams that real life rarely delivers. Yet despite all my cynicism, a part of me still wants to believe that genuine love exists. Not the dramatic movie version where someone dies on a floating door in the Atlantic, but the quieter version. The kind where two imperfect people continuously choose each other through life's uncertainties.
Maybe that is what true love really is. So I'm curious:
How is your marriage or relationship going? Do you believe true love exists? Or were we all misled by the movies?
The aftermath of the death of the famous gospel singer, Olayemi Bayonile Bolaji, popularly known as Toluwanisings, is beginning to follow a path similar to that of Mohbad. The reason is not far-fetched: money is involved. It does not have to be a large sum. As long as a few self-entitled people feel marginalised, there is bound to be a problem.
His wife has unknowingly inherited a problem that may never be fully resolved. The only reason there was a cold war rather than a full-blown conflict was because the singer was still alive and the opposing parties remained hopeful. Now that he is gone, many of the financial promises he may have made can no longer be fulfilled. As a result, some people appear to be taking out their frustrations on his wife, and they may eventually extend that hostility to her children. If the widow were to spread a few million naira around, many of these critics would likely change their tune overnight.
I am concerned that a blogger who has exclusive access to vulnerable members of his family may be taking advantage of the situation. Social media users have criticised the blogger, but what should one expect? He saw an opportunity, it worked, his page is growing rapidly, and he is capitalising on what is bringing him attention. He interviews elderly members of the family, who freely share their views in a very raw and unfiltered manner.
The blogger has showcased the singer's father's unfinished house and highlighted how it reportedly remained unroofed despite promises that were made. A woman believed to be his aunt claimed she hardly received up to ₦10,000 from him. The standard of Toluwanisings' home appears to be in stark contrast to the conditions in which some of his family members live. It is almost like comparing Gaza to New York. Such a disparity naturally raises questions. While I am not in a position to tell anyone how to spend their hard-earned money, I do feel that the living conditions of some of his family members could have been better.
Collectivism and dependency have become a way of life in many African societies. It is one of the ways communities support one another. While this culture can sometimes become parasitic and detrimental, it remains deeply ingrained in our way of life. One of the worst assumptions a person can make is that they owe nobody anything. I rarely assume that all my money is mine alone. Although I am far from wealthy, I find fulfilment in keeping some extra cash available for close associates who genuinely need help. This is separate from the monthly support I give to my parents.
No matter how discreet you are about your achievements, people will make financial demands. Giving can be uncomfortable in Africa because the requests never seem to end. Contrary to what the Bible teaches, givers in a place like Nigeria are increasingly becoming broke due to over-giving. Returning to Toluwanisings' family situation, I believe an improvement in their circumstances, closer to his own standard of living, might have been beneficial. The living conditions of some family members do not appear remotely comparable to his. Of course, there may be much more to the story than the public currently knows.
The family reportedly wants him buried in his house, but his wife has allegedly objected. This is a very delicate issue. You cannot teach someone how to grieve. It is easy to tell a boxer to get up after a punch when you are merely watching from the side-lines. When life delivers a devastating blow, only then do you understand what survival mode truly feels like. The widow simply wants to heal and move forward for the sake of her wellbeing after losing a man she reportedly knew for more than 20 years, the father of her two children.
Again, life can feel fragile and fleeting. When someone dies, the world does not stop turning. Friends may mourn deeply and still share a cold drink later that day. Some may even return to their normal routines almost immediately. This is because nobody is indispensable. In the same vein, the widow is likely trying to find a way forward and rebuild her life. She has two children looking up to her. This is one of life's hardest realities to accept.
A report claimed that a visitor to the family's residence was surprised to find them eating takeaways rather than mourning. The visitor frowned upon it. However, life must go on. After all, would you start riding a horse simply because you were involved in a car accident and lost trust in automobiles?
Human behaviour is like an iceberg. What we see is only the tip. The underlying causes, often much larger and more significant, remain hidden beneath the surface. The actions of certain family members may stem from years of perceived neglect, and they appear to be directing those frustrations toward the widow. Some may even feel she took away their "cash cow."
One family member reportedly believes the singer's death was suspicious and has called for intervention from religious bodies, government institutions, and security agencies to uncover the truth behind his sudden and untimely passing. We have seen a similar situation before in the aftermath of Mohbad's death.
The widow is likely facing a long and emotionally exhausting journey. In a society where many people strongly believe in spiritual forces, she may fear that some family members harbour ill intentions toward her. Such fears can be deeply troubling, especially when the perceived threat exists largely in the mind.
The golden lesson from all of this is that when fortune smiles on us, we should do our best to improve the circumstances of our family members where possible. Procrastination can be a thief of time. If Toluwanisings' relatives had felt more included in his success, it is possible that many of the unpleasant revelations now emerging would have remained unsaid. Whether that would have been right or wrong is another debate entirely.
A top aide to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Tope Fasua (Special Adviser on Economic Affairs in the VP's Office), has sparked public outrage after circulating a fabricated Sahara Reporters news graphic targeting Nigeria Democratic Congress' presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
In a now-viral Facebook post, Fasua shared a graphic designed with the banner and branding of online investigative platform Sahara Reporters. The fabricated headline read: "FAKE DRUG PRODUCERS NEED ORIENTATION NOT DEATH SENTENCE - OBI REPLIES FG"
Accompanying the fake graphic, Fasua added a derogatory comment attacking the former Anambra State Governor: "The guy is congenitally damaged"
Fact-Check Busts the Lie
The post quickly drew intense backlash from social media users and public commentators, who exposed the headline as an outright hoax.
Media scholar and columnist Professor Farooq Kperogi publicly called out the presidential aide in the comment section:
"I looked this up, and it appears that the image is manipulated. There is no record of this story on Sahara Reporters' website or social media handles. I asked AI to search Sahara Reporters' website in case I missed something. It confirmed that no such story was ever published by the outlet."
Other commentators equally lambasted Fasua for failing to conduct basic editorial due diligence before amplifying disinformation to the public.
Persistent Propaganda Campaign
This incident marks the latest in an ongoing pattern of coordinated disinformation and fabricated newspaper graphics falsely attributed to Peter Obi in recent months. Political observers have continued to decry how senior government appointees and state actors are actively relying on doctored imagery and fake quotes to smear opposition figures rather than engaging on issues of governance and public accountability.
The death of a 35-year-old Nigerian man in the United Kingdom is not just painful; it is devastating. Ekeobong Omega Nelson died on 17 October 2026, leaving his wife and two children behind. One can only imagine the grief his family is battling. He reportedly went to sleep and never woke up. Earlier this year, a Ghanaian nurse, Richmond Mensah, 33, reportedly passed away in similar circumstances while resting in preparation for a night shift.
Samuel Acquah, 38, worked as a theatre nurse at Southend University Hospital in Essex. He failed to report for his shift, and his colleagues later found him dead at his home on 18 August 2025. He was believed to have died in his sleep. He left his wife and two daughters behind in Ghana.
In April 2026, another Nigerian, Ademola Oke, 37, reportedly died after being found unresponsive at his workplace in the United Kingdom. According to reports, he appeared to be in good health when he left home for work and kept in touch with his wife. There are many other reports of young Nigerians dying suddenly. The list is becoming longer, and these deaths raise questions about the pressures facing Africans working in the UK.
Although the causes of these deaths have not necessarily been established, the circumstances raise concerns about work-related stress, night shifts and long working hours. I want to add that working night shifts and long, extended hours place a heavy burden on the human body. Because humans are biologically wired to be active by day and sleep by night, disrupting this natural rhythm creates a cascade of physiological and psychological stress. Major health agencies, such as the CDC and the World Health Organisation, link chronic night work and long hours to several severe health issues such as Circadian Misalignment, Metabolic and digestive disorders, mental health challenges, immune system suppression, and cancer risk.
In other articles I have authored, I have lamented how Nigerians and other Africans work themselves to exhaustion in the UK. I have seen Nigerians do 12-hour shifts for seven consecutive days. These are not regular white-collar jobs. They are physically and emotionally exhausting.
Some of these jobs involve cleaning large spaces, heavy lifting in warehouses, construction work and caring for elderly people, vulnerable adults and patients with mental health conditions. Working with mentally ill patients might appear simple, but it can be highly dangerous. It can involve physical intervention, verbal abuse and serious physical attacks. It is like being paid to be a punching bag. People lose their lives, suffer eye injuries, break their noses and sustain severe injuries doing these jobs.
Many Nigerians have little awareness of the risks involved in these jobs. They are often focused on the money. People mount unnecessary pressure on themselves. I have seen cases where a support worker’s car is more expensive than that of a medical consultant who earns considerably more. Some Nigerians will finish a day shift somewhere and head straight to another workplace for a night shift.
Something is constantly chasing Nigerians. It might be the desire to acquire a luxury car they are struggling to pay for through car finance, or a mortgage with high repayments. Some want the latest Apple products. In this age of social media, everybody wants to create enviable content about their success and attract followers. Some people use nearly all their earnings to fund the survival of family members back home. Resting and getting enough sleep have become luxuries for some Nigerians in the UK.
To balance family responsibilities with work, some Nigerian men resort to night shifts. The potential health risks associated with night work and inadequate rest are often overlooked. Nobody seems to be looking at the bigger picture. The focus is on immediate financial gains.
I never knew work-related stress could have such serious consequences for a person’s health until I moved to the UK. Sometimes, it feels like a slow process that gradually wears you down. Before you know it, your health has suffered in ways you may not have anticipated. Your watch ends, and all your plans are paused forever. Nigerians need to slow down in their desperate search for money and prioritise their health. Financial success means little if you sacrifice your wellbeing in the process.
Do not allow any family member or friend to mount unreasonable financial pressure on you because you are abroad. Preserve your life first. If you die, the people you were supporting will continue with their lives and face their problems in other ways.
A shout-out to all those old friends who borrow money from us and then stop talking to us.
I feel that many people in Nigeria have become less creditworthy. In fact, money has become a true test of friendship. Once money enters a relationship, there is a good chance that the foundation of that friendship will be shaken, sometimes to the point of collapse.
A secondary school classmate reached out to me on WhatsApp. He said he urgently needed ₦100,000 and that it was a matter of life and death. To be honest, I wasn't financially comfortable myself, but I sympathised with him and decided to help a friend in need.
After sending the money, I jokingly told him that I was lending him a large sample of my blood. He laughed and promised to repay me within a month, and I agreed.
However, there was a red flag. The way he expressed his gratitude seemed unusual. He thanked me as though I had given him a gift rather than a loan. Immediately, I remembered the popular social media joke: "E get as person go thank you after you borrow am money, you go know say the money don go." I became slightly concerned, but ₦100,000 was still a relatively low-risk amount for me.
At the end of the month, he contacted me to explain that his father's wife was unwell and that there would be a delay in repayment. I remember thinking, "What does her illness have to do with the money I lent you?"
Nevertheless, I chose to be understanding and accepted his explanation in good faith.
Since then, I have not heard from him. He is no longer visible on WhatsApp, and all communication has ceased.
I don't feel particularly bad about the money. What disappoints me more is what our friendship apparently meant to him. Unfortunately, this wasn't the first time.
Another friend was experiencing difficulties in his marriage, and I lent him ₦300,000 to support a business idea. Within a month, the business had folded. To this day, I have received no meaningful explanation about the money or any indication of when it might be repaid.
Experiences like these sometimes make me wonder how much some people truly value friendship. It can be painful when someone is willing to sacrifice a genuine relationship over a relatively small amount of money.
One lesson I have learned is to distance myself from people who refuse to communicate after borrowing money. If you owe me ₦50,000 and deliberately avoid me, then I consider that amount the price of learning who you really are. In a sense, I have paid for that lesson, and you will never enjoy the same level of trust or access to my life again.
Money can be recovered. Trust is much harder to rebuild.
What has been your experience lending money to people in the current economy? Has it ended well for you, or have you faced similar disappointments? Share your thoughts in the comments.
If you believe there is an upset coming in Nigeria’s next presidential election, then you must have started following Nigerian politics yesterday. There is nothing particularly surprising about what is unfolding. In fact, the more things change, the more they remain the same.
The last time I expressed genuine optimism about Nigerian politics was in 2015, when the late President Muhammadu Buhari defeated the incumbent, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. I truly believed Nigeria was going to change. A few years later, Buhari’s performance turned Jonathan into a hall-of-famer in the eyes of some Nigerians. With Buhari, I thought Nigeria had reached its lowest point. Then the presidency of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu happened.
After witnessing Tinubu’s years in office, I have concluded that he has nothing new to offer. I support a change of leadership, although I am not convinced it will happen. The frontline opposition candidates, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, appear to have helped Tinubu win the last election by going their separate ways. Tinubu eventually became president with fewer votes than any previous winner of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic presidential elections.
Interestingly, one might have thought Atiku and Obi had learned from their mistakes over the last three years. But they appear to have learned nothing and are ready to build on their past mistakes. They want to miraculously achieve a different result using the same failed strategy.
Atiku appears to have run out of effective campaign strategies. He is shifting his position on the controversial removal of fuel subsidies, seemingly to curry public support. He also appears to be hoping that the FBI will do him a favour by releasing information about Tinubu’s alleged criminal history.
He has resorted to verbal attacks against Tinubu, referring to him as a 90-year-old man, as against his official age of 74. He claims he has documents to prove it in court. On the other hand, Paul Ibe, his media adviser, said he will be referring to Tinubu as ‘Amoda’ instead of Bola. This reignites long-standing identity and name controversies about the president.
All these are not new. Such rumours and controversies have followed Tinubu for years. The bigger question is whether they will make any difference. Many Nigerians who want him out of office are more concerned about the state of the economy and their daily struggles than the controversies surrounding his identity.
Obi, on the other hand, appears to have lost some of the intellectual sharpness and strategic clarity that endeared him to many supporters. He continues to maintain that he won the last election, a claim that remains disputed. He has also spoken about vacationing in Zamfara and other parts of Nigeria affected by insecurity. Meanwhile, he continues to cite economic figures from Asian countries to impress potential voters.
Tinubu, meanwhile, must be looking at the political landscape with some satisfaction. Reports of widespread support for his re-election bid among state governors suggest that his political machinery could be formidable. His campaign team does not appear to be under much pressure. They can simply wait for Atiku and Obi to speak before issuing rebuttals. They do not always seem particularly concerned about selling Tinubu’s achievements to Nigerians.
Even when his supporters attempt to do so, the claims can be laughable. One supporter, for instance, claimed that unemployment in Nigeria had dropped to 5% under Tinubu. Five per cent? One of the lowest unemployment rates in the world? Wow!
Tinubu does not appear keen on enduring the physical demands of a conventional nationwide campaign tour. He has indicated that he will not be touring the country as some might expect. Perhaps he will sit comfortably at the Aso Rock Villa and watch events unfold on television.
Meanwhile, his administration is offering a ‘discount’ on fuel prices for 30 days. At this point, the government sometimes seems to operate like a private company, with Nigerians as its customers. The difference is that these customers cannot simply take their business elsewhere.
The incumbent Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, has also joined the presidential race, seemingly determined to make his presence felt nationally. Whether he can translate that ambition into meaningful electoral support, even in his home state, remains to be seen. For now, he is another political actor competing for the headlines.
Then we have Omoyele Sowore, the leader of the African Action Congress (AAC), one of the colourful characters in this circus of a presidential election. Sowore has promised to introduce drone taxis for public transportation within his first four years in office to ease traffic congestion in major urban centres such as Lagos, with deployment reportedly targeted for 2030. He has also proposed using artificial intelligence in governance, including the idea of an “AI Minister of Finance”, to eliminate human corruption, waste and financial manipulation in public administration. It is good to have a Nigerian Elon Musk in our midst!
Sowore has also pledged to introduce a ₦500,000 monthly minimum wage for Nigerian workers if elected president. That would represent a significant increase from the current ₦70,000 national minimum wage. While poverty-stricken Nigerians would certainly welcome a substantial increase in their earnings, the question is whether they believe Sowore has the political machinery and economic plan to deliver on such promises. For many, he still comes across more as a content creator than a serious contender for the presidency.
The support group of the Accord Party Presidential candidate, Dr Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has boasted about racking up 6 million votes for him across Nigeria’s North-West region in the 2027 general election. We all know INEC might not bother to collate Hashim’s votes on election day for obvious reasons. The jokes just never end.
Tinubu has also announced his campaign committee. But what novel ideas or strategies should Nigerians expect? Beyond the familiar distribution of bread, rice and petty cash that often accompanies election campaigns, it is difficult to see what will be different this time around.
All these politicians are beating their chests like WWE fighters, convinced they can unseat Tinubu despite the challenges of building the political structures required to win a national election. They parade themselves like thespians on a stage, while their followers cheer them on and applaud every performance. Then, 24 hours after the election on January 16, 2027, the comedy show will be over, and everyone will have to face reality.
The 2027 presidential election is already shaping up to be a circus, with its political actors playing the roles of colourful clowns. The tragedy is that, while the performers may be having fun, the consequences of their performance will be borne by millions of Nigerians.
Wotowotoman: Which kind senseless epistle be this? No wonder e no get single engagement. Mods wey like to dey push posts go front page no even send you after you call all of them. Ogbeni, you need to do better
I hope you can do better than me. But I doubt. The truth hurts.
On 14 October 2026, news broke that Nigerian gospel singer Olayemi Bayonile Bolaji, popularly known as Toluwanisings, had suddenly collapsed and passed away in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
Social media users began sharing his music, pictures, stories and memories. WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X and other platforms were flooded with updates about him. People who would hardly post on social media suddenly found an urgent reason to do so. Some went further by sharing family pictures of him with his wife, Itohan, and their two children. We also learnt that his wife is 31. Such posts attracted sympathy, reactions and engagement, further fuelling the conversation around his death.
Some content creators, including Dele, cried on camera and posted videos of themselves mourning him. Before long, it began to look like a competition for social media attention. As someone who had never heard of him before, I found myself learning so much about him in less than 24 hours, almost involuntarily.
This got me thinking. With my background in psychology, I took some time to reflect on a familiar subject: the relationship between human beings and negativity. There is a psychological tendency for humans to pay more attention to negative information than positive information. We may not always be conscious of it, but our brains are wired to give certain negative experiences greater weight.
Tell someone that you have just bought a car and a house, and their reaction might be relatively muted, especially if they are not directly benefiting from your success. In the same vein, tell that same person that you have lost your house and car in a fire, and you may be overwhelmed with sympathy. The news could spread faster than wildfire.
Does this mean human beings love negativity? Not necessarily. But are we often attracted to bad news? Yes! This is one of the tendencies media platforms exploit to capture public attention, and it can be a remarkably effective strategy.
There are several established psychological explanations for why people are often drawn to bad news, scandals, tragedies, controversies and other negative events. These explanations span psychology, neuroscience and human behaviour.
Firstly, there is the negativity bias.
Bad news often carries more psychological weight than good news. If you receive nine compliments and just one negative comment, there is a good chance that the negative feedback will command more of your attention than the nine positive ones.
From an evolutionary perspective, overlooking a potential threat could have had serious consequences for our ancestors. Recognising danger, betrayal, aggression and other warning signs helped them survive. Paying attention to negative information can therefore serve a protective function. Our brains did not evolve simply to make us happy; they also evolved to help us detect threats.
Another factor is curiosity about unusual events.
Human beings are naturally curious and often want to know what is happening around them. Unusual circumstances raise questions, and we tend to seek answers.
The reported sudden death of a 41-year-old singer who was not publicly known to have been seriously ill is the kind of event that can generate intense curiosity. Reports that he was turned away by about eight hospitals before his death, if verified, would only raise further questions. People want to know what happened, why it happened and whether it could have been prevented. The uncertainty surrounding an event can sometimes make it even more compelling.
The social comparison factor also comes into play.
Other people’s misfortunes can sometimes make us feel better about our own circumstances, although we may not readily admit it. In psychology, one related concept is schadenfreude — pleasure derived from another person’s misfortune.
Think about what happens in some churches when the congregation is unresponsive. A minister might remind worshippers of those lying in hospital beds or those who have died, encouraging them to appreciate the fact that they are alive and well. The misfortune of others becomes a reference point for appreciating one’s own circumstances. However, this does not mean everyone who follows a tragic story takes pleasure in another person’s suffering. Some people are genuinely concerned, while others may simply be curious or moved by the loss.
Then there is the enormous market for gossip and social information.
Celebrity gossip has become a major part of the media industry. Linda Ikeji, for instance, built a prominent media brand around celebrity news, gossip and entertainment. Her success illustrates how much public interest there is in the private lives of other people.
As social animals, we are often interested in what others are doing, who they are dating, what they own, the challenges they face and the controversies surrounding them. We want to know what is happening in other people’s lives, even when we have no personal connection to them.
There is also a practical side to our appetite for information. Keeping up with events can help us identify potential risks and prepare for possible dangers. During the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, many people closely followed news updates to understand the spread of the disease, its risks and the measures they needed to take to protect themselves.
Furthermore, there is the emotional intensity of bad news.
Negative news often evokes powerful emotions such as anger, fear, shock, sadness and disbelief. These emotions can make a story feel more urgent and memorable than an ordinary positive development. They can also encourage people to share the story with others, helping it spread rapidly across social media. This is one reason a tragic event can dominate online conversations while positive achievements receive comparatively little attention.
Now, back to Toluwanisings’ death.
Those most directly affected by his passing are his family members and the friends who shared close relationships with him. Yet thousands of people who never knew him personally have joined the conversation, sharing pictures, expressing grief and discussing the circumstances surrounding his death.
Here is the uncomfortable part: if another sex video of Tiwa Savage leaks on social media today, you will be surprised that the social media mourners will take off their dark shades to have a full glimpse of the video. All attention will shift to the new development. People's attraction to this misfortune, without ever being involved in his story and journey, is a testament to the dark side of humans.
About five years ago, when many of us arrived in the United Kingdom, we were fresh, enthusiastic, and highly optimistic. Being in the UK gave us a sense of freedom. It felt like leaving a prison. Almost everybody loved what they saw: stable electricity, good roads, magnificent buildings, a functioning transport system, exposure to people from different ethnic backgrounds, and even the weather for those who enjoyed the cold.
The conversations among Nigerians were often the same: How can we stay back? What visa routes are available? We need to come together and keep one another informed.
In 2021, life was good in the UK. There were plenty of blue-collar jobs and money was flowing. Nobody really cared about working in an office. Employers were actively searching for workers and offering shifts. Some immigrants worked themselves to exhaustion in pursuit of financial success. As American rapper Lil Wayne once suggested, we were on a paper chase, but the paper was not running.
People soon started looking "British" and overhauling their wardrobes. Some fashion enthusiasts switched exclusively to Nike products. These were the same people who had arrived with mostly unbranded clothes made in Aba, in south-eastern Nigeria. Social media became flooded with glossy pictures taken on iPhones in beautiful locations. Almost overnight, some Nigerian immigrants became social media influencers. After swapping their Android phones for Apple products, many began buying cars. The transformation was real.
Many people also wanted to build their travel records. It was a Plan B designed to facilitate future relocation to other Western countries if the UK did not work out. Some obtained Schengen visas and travelled across Europe. The ultimate targets were Canada, Australia, and the United States. It felt as though we were all living on borrowed time, and everyone wanted to make the most of it.
I remember two colleagues who exclusively dated foreigners. To many of us, they seemed like mini-gods. They would scroll through their phone galleries, Hinge profiles, and WhatsApp chats, proudly presenting evidence of their romantic conquests, complete with unfiltered and mouth-watering details. It was all about grandstanding.
The party was buzzing, but there was one subject nobody wanted to discuss: returning to Nigeria. No one was willing to entertain that conversation. Anybody who had useful information about visa routes instantly became the darling of the community. Their phone numbers were highly sought after, and people listened attentively whenever they spoke.
Then came the Health and Care Visa route, which many Nigerians saw as a lifeline. I still remember the excitement on the ward when my former employer announced via email that they had secured a licence to sponsor visas but had only a limited number of slots available. That single phrase, "limited slots," tore friendships apart. People became fiercely competitive. Relationships became strained as everyone fought for an opportunity to remain in the country. For some, it became a do-or-die affair. One day, I will tell that story in full.
To this day, one of the quickest ways to dampen the mood of a Nigerian immigrant is to remind them that their time in the country may be limited. Some stop eating properly, lose sleep, become isolated, and begin losing weight. The thought alone can be terrifying. The fear of Nigeria is real.
The recent story of a Nigerian woman who was allegedly given sixty days to secure visa sponsorship or leave the country inspired this article. She recorded herself in tears and shared the video on social media. Watching it, I could feel her pain.
Whether people agree with her reaction or not, it highlights a reality many immigrants understand: the prospect of returning home can be deeply unsettling.
Personally, I would not mind returning to Nigeria under certain circumstances. However, in the current economic climate, I would find it difficult. The cost of living continues to rise, opportunities appear increasingly scarce, and everyday life has become more challenging for many people.
This economy is for the strong, and I am not entirely sure I am one of them.
The major reason the Osun State governorship election drew massive media attention and public interest had little to do with the progress of the south-western state. Many people became interested because it was seen as a referendum on the administration of President Bola Tinubu and his All Progressives Congress (APC).
For many Nigerians, the election was an opportunity to send a direct message to the president about their dissatisfaction with his government, in case he had somehow missed the cries and complaints expressed across traditional and social media. Governor Ademola Adeleke joined the Accord Party after reportedly being blocked from joining the APC.
Nigerians rallied behind him because they saw the election as a prelude to the main event, the 2027 general election. Davido, the popular Nigerian singer, deployed his enormous social media influence to campaign for his uncle, Governor Ademola Adeleke, popularly known as the "Dancing Governor". Davido's online megaphone kept drawing media attention to Adeleke, and it worked remarkably well.
Governor Adeleke is a rare politician. He sold himself with his dance steps rather than his words. Politicians are salespeople. Their greatest tools are usually their voices and their ability to persuade. Adeleke, however, chose to endear himself to voters with his feet and body language.
While many found it entertaining, I saw it as a weakness that he cleverly masked. Nigerian politics, especially at the campaign stage, is often built on theatrics. It is a mudslinging festival and a circus show until power is won. Governor Adeleke would spend less time discussing his manifesto at campaign grounds and more time dancing. The crowd applauded, the videos went viral, and the strategy paid off. Job done.
When news of his controversial academic credentials resurfaced, I began to understand why the dancing was often more prominent than the talking. Many of his admirers point to his payment of salary arrears and pensions owed by previous administrations as evidence of good leadership.
But, in my view, does it take a genius to pay workers and retirees what they are rightfully owed? The standard by which public officials are assessed in Nigeria has become so low because of the general failure of leadership across the board. I was never a fan. That said, I did not believe the APC governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, deserved my support either, largely because of his association with the ruling party at the national level. I therefore had no horse in the race and simply watched events unfold.
When Governor Adeleke was declared the winner, social media erupted in celebration. Many used the victory to taunt Tinubu, seeing it as a warning sign of what could happen in the 2027 presidential election. I was amazed by the scale of support Adeleke enjoyed.
But less than 24 hours after his victory, he delivered what many supporters considered their first shock. In a video statement, he pledged loyalty to Tinubu and promised to support the president's second-term bid in 2027. He was neither hiding nor pretending.
Adeleke would later travel to Abuja to meet Tinubu and some of his close political associates. Around the same period, Davido, who had frequently criticised the APC online for what he described as poor governance and economic hardship, was seen in the company of prominent APC figures. He prostrated before FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and was later photographed sitting comfortably with him.
The message appeared clear: we are together.
Many of Adeleke's newfound supporters suddenly went quiet. They had been played.
Adeleke's political camp, the Imole Campaign Council, has reportedly promised President Tinubu 1.5 million votes in the next election. Constitutionally, Adeleke only possesses one vote. But in Nigeria, such promises are often treated as achievable targets. You know how.
At an APC event yesterday, Governor Adeleke was introduced as a campaign coordinator in Osun State. He joyfully danced to the podium amid applause and cheers. Speakers described him as a happy man. I am not aware of any formal alliance between the APC and the Accord Party. Whether such an alliance exists or not appears secondary to Adeleke. Politics, like most things, often comes down to personal interest.
The ease with which Tinubu has been able to attract opposition politicians into openly supporting him while disregarding their own parties' candidates is a remarkable political phenomenon.
Should we applaud it? I am yet to decide.
My greatest hope is that those who become emotionally attached to politicians and their flowery promises learn a lesson from all of this. Politicians are often more united than their supporters realise. They are, as the saying goes, the same rat in different holes. Only the locations and formations change.
So, if you supported Adeleke against Tinubu and now find yourself watching them work together, there is no need to feel hurt or betrayed.
Just learn from it. Those who fail to learn from history eventually become victims of it.
If you have struggled with dating women your age or younger, you might want to try dating someone older than you. In my view, it is a different experience, and the pressure is considerably reduced.
Older women have been there and done that, like Lionel Messi, and there is often less for them to fear or feel anxious about. They are simply on a cruise, enjoying the journey rather than rushing to their destination.
If you are looking for something that is not too serious, financially demanding or stressful, an older woman could be the answer. In my opinion, older women tend to understand young men better. Even when you are not talking, they can actually hear you clearly.
They can look at a man’s age and understand some of the life challenges he might be facing. They know how frustrating life can be for a young man who is still trying to find his feet, especially when he has to deal with financial pressure, unnecessary arguments and endless demands. Some of them simply want to focus on the fun side of a relationship: pleasure, companionship and making beautiful memories.
They can also be excellent advisers on life issues. From my experience, some older women are less jealous than their younger counterparts. They create an atmosphere of peace, which is important for a man’s mental well-being. Some also cook exceptionally well and have a way of spoiling their younger lovers with thoughtful, simple gifts.
Let me be clear: I am not talking about a sugar mummy. I mean a romantic, respectful relationship that is not exploitative. There is little pressure. You see each other when it is convenient for both of you, eat, talk, discuss life and keep the bed shaking. Some of these women are also well-connected and could open doors to fantastic opportunities for a younger man.
I briefly had a relationship with an older woman, and we connected deeply. The encounter was cordial, respectful and genuinely meaningful. She opened my eyes to some of the mistakes young men make while living abroad. Her advice helped me navigate a challenging period in my life. Even after we moved on, we stayed in touch and occasionally teased each other about our old memories.
However, dating older women is not without its challenges. One thing I have noticed is that some can be very good at hiding their feelings. They are not always easy to get close to, and they tend to keep their emotions guarded. It can take time before they feel comfortable opening up to someone younger.
Even when they meet a man they admire, they may spend too much time assessing the risks instead of making a decision. But if you manage to crack the code, you might discover the playful, affectionate side of them that they rarely show to the outside world.
Loneliness can also be a reality for some older women, particularly those who struggle to find compatible partners. However, I believe many have simply become more selective about who they allow into their lives.
As expected, some people will frown at this argument. People often have strong opinions about experiences they have never had. But I believe dating an older woman is a goldmine worth exploring, particularly for young men who want companionship, peace of mind and a different kind of romantic experience.
I see it as something worth exploring in the interim, rather than necessarily a long-term destination. After all, not every relationship has to lead to marriage to leave you with valuable lessons, beautiful memories and a different perspective on life.
Buyer’s regret or remorse is common in the exchange of goods and services. A similar feeling can also creep into marriage, although the emotional consequences are far deeper. You meet someone, and they seem angelic. They tick all the boxes for you. Suddenly, five years into the marriage, their dark sides begin to emerge in full force. You start nursing regrets and wondering whether you made a mistake. It is a feeling that can be difficult to explain to anyone.
You both begin to keep up appearances and live like “partners”, as they call it abroad. Even sex is no longer fun. It becomes an exercise in ticking boxes. Some people begin to look outside their marriages for succour. They dress up more, attend events, talk to people more frequently, become more active on social media, and upload beautiful pictures that might attract potential suitors. It becomes a means of escapism, something people engage in consciously or unconsciously.
Sometimes, it innocently starts with having that opposite-sex “bestie” at work. That person you enjoy talking to. He or she has a way of distracting you from the rigours of your marriage. At some point, it crosses your mind that you like this person, but you choose to live in denial.
People working long shifts in the United Kingdom can find themselves in situations where emotional boundaries gradually become blurred. One day, the handshakes turn into hand-holding, then hugs, until one party becomes so attached to the other that they stick together like bedbugs.
There was a story making the rounds at a popular workplace in the UK about a married woman who allegedly slept with a close colleague during a night shift. According to unconfirmed reports, things escalated quickly during their break in the dead of night. They allegedly hid under a massive conference table in a meeting room, and the man invaded the ‘place’ viciously like a bandit. It was a big blast like Ukraine’s attack on energy facilities in Russia.
According to the mental pictures painted, he did it like the opportunity was never going to present itself again. There is a saying that: “There is no meat that is as sweet as a stolen one”; it comes with a different flavour, taste and satisfaction. That’s a joke, though.
Whether the story happened exactly as reported or not, it illustrates how a situation that begins as an innocent friendship can cross boundaries when attraction, opportunity, and poor judgement come together. Infidelity in marriage is not peculiar to any country. However, in some cases, people may remain in unhappy marriages because of practical considerations, including their immigration status. When that becomes part of the equation, the marriage can turn into something people endure rather than nurture.
When people make such mistakes, the experience can feel like love. They begin to imagine how much better life would have been if they had met the person they are cheating with earlier. The person having an affair may even claim to be unhappy in their marriage as a way of justifying their behaviour and satisfying their desires.
But is it really love, or is it the excitement of something new? Sometimes, what people interpret as love is simply infatuation, sexual attraction, or an escape from the problems they have refused to confront in their marriages.
Nobody is perfect. Beauty fades with time. The firm and pointed breasts you are tripping for today may fall like the Berlin Wall after childbirth. That unique shape that intrigues you may not remain the same forever. The money you love a man for might not be there tomorrow. He might not remain as fresh as Poco Lee after a couple of years.
But this is where commitment comes in. You learn to love the person beyond their physical appearance, financial status, and the excitement they brought into your life when you first met. You understand that marriage is not a destination; it is a journey that requires patience, sacrifice, forgiveness, and a willingness to keep choosing each other.
Of course, this does not mean that people should remain in abusive or irreparably broken marriages. Sometimes, relationships end, and people genuinely find love again. But there is a difference between leaving a marriage that has run its course and secretly pursuing another person while pretending to be committed to your spouse.
So, is there anything like finding the love of your life after marriage? It remains debatable.
International documentary photographer Etinosa Yvonne has shared a hilarious video of a carrot she bought from the local market.
The renowned photographer made a short clip of the root vegetable, which uncannily resembles a curvy woman with round hips posing for a social media picture. After carefully washing it, she showed it off online.
"Hi guys, my name is Etinosa, and this is what I would look like if I was a carrot," she joked in the video. "Yea, you get it girl, flat tummy, hipsy girl with them sexy legs. Oh my goodness! Y'all ain't got nothing on me. Y'all BBL folks ain't got nothing on me. I am so hot. Oh my God! Look at me, look at me! hahaha!" she added.
As expected, the video generated massive reactions, with many joking that the weirdly shaped vegetable should be preserved in a museum.
This might just be the sexiest carrot you will ever see in your lifetime. What's the weirdest food shape you've ever found?
Legendary Yoruba actor Yinka Quadri might have one of the most understanding wives in the world. In a recent interview, he revealed that his wife, Sadiat, was so loving, understanding and accommodating that she would house and cater for other female actresses he was dating. That was a bombshell, and the explosion has been reverberating across Nigeria. Millennials are stunned by his revelation, while Gen Z, who are often more vocal about such issues, are not having it.
The actor made the revelation in a snippet of an interview with African A List released on Friday. He said his wife was aware of his relationships with other women but did not engage in confrontations with them. Quadri explained that some actresses would approach his wife to discuss his relationships with other women, even though some of them were also romantically involved with him.
“At some point, some female colleagues in the industry will approach my wife to gossip that I’m dating other actresses, even though I’m also dating some of the very actresses who gossip about me. My wife knows about it and doesn’t fight with them,” he said.
“Sometimes, when we finish production late and some of them come to sleep at my house, my wife feeds and takes care of them despite knowing that I’m dating them,” Quadri added.
Their marriage has stood the test of time. Quadri met Sadiat in 1985, and they married in 1989. Their union is blessed with children and grandchildren.
Isn’t that the woman of the year? In my view, women of old often kept their marriages together by being tolerant, understanding and knowing how to manage their emotions. I sometimes feel they kept their jealousy in check better than many people do today. Of course, not every woman of the past was happy in her marriage, and some endured things they would not tolerate today. However, I believe there is something to be learned from the ability to manage emotions and avoid turning every suspicion into a major confrontation.
Veteran journalist Reuben Abati touched on something similar in an opinion piece he wrote. He stated that there was no love lost between him and his former lovers. He said some of them would still message him occasionally to ask for financial support. He added that their relationships remained cordial and respectful, unlike what we sometimes see today, when people seem to wish they could bewitch their exes. These days, some marriages are damaged not necessarily by proven infidelity but by suspicions of cheating that remain unproven.
I once watched a Nollywood movie in which actress Rachel Oniga put condoms in her husband's travelling bag as he prepared to embark on a business trip. The husband's reaction was awkward, but he got the message and smiled. The tactic might have been an unusual way of communicating distrust, but at least the couple appeared to understand each other without a major confrontation. Compare that with some relationships today, where suspicions can quickly escalate into bitter fights and, eventually, separation.
I also once dated a girl who told me she didn't mind me cheating as long as I hid it from her. I was abroad, while she was in Nigeria. It didn't sit well with me. It eventually turned out that she was also doing the same while I was away. That experience made me wonder whether some people who claim to tolerate cheating are simply trying to protect their own secrets. Of course, that was just my experience, and it doesn't mean everyone who tolerates infidelity is unfaithful.
As a man, would you marry a very jealous woman or an understanding one like Quadri's wife? I wonder whether Quadri's wife believes that life is hard enough and that her husband deserves some freedom and companionship, even if I cannot say for certain what goes on in her mind. Perhaps she has simply found a way to manage her marriage that works for her.
Regardless of her approach, the longevity of their marriage is remarkable. They have been married for almost four decades. That is a massive achievement!
But here is the question: Is a long marriage necessarily a successful one, or is the real success in finding a way to live together with peace, trust and understanding? I
I feel Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, has turned his electioneering campaign into a joke. This is a bit surprising, considering the fact that Peter Obi appeared intellectually grounded and came across as a problem-solver during the 2023 presidential election. His popularity was so strong that many unknown and unpopular Labour Party candidates benefited immensely from it.
From my anecdotal assessment, I feel Peter Obi is physically and intellectually stretched thin. Contesting for the number one job in Nigeria comes with enormous challenges. It is a 24-hour job. You have to deal with criticism from the opposition, make proactive and reactive plans, grant countless interviews, strategize, and travel across the country. In my view, candidates often feel compelled to keep talking even when they have little or nothing new to say.
Below are some of Peter Obi's statements since the 2026 electioneering campaign began that I find alarming:
(1) "I won the 2023 presidential election, but I don't have any evidence to prove it. Everything is not based on evidence."
Obi made this claim while speaking to the international media outlet, the BBC. This is rather shocking. Why would you make such a statement without presenting credible evidence to support it? This is the kind of thing some unscrupulous social media users do in pursuit of attention and online traffic. Peter Obi is supposed to be better than that.
(2) "I will not spend my holidays outside Nigeria."
Peter Obi recently stated that, if elected, he would spend his holidays in different Nigerian states rather than abroad. He specifically mentioned Zamfara, Borno, Kwara, Ebonyi, Edo, and Ekiti States. The first two states, Zamfara and Borno, have long been associated with serious security challenges and insurgent activities. Even President Bola Tinubu, despite being heavily protected by security personnel, has largely avoided such visits. Who would trust a politician to risk his life for his people? Obi is no Jesus Christ.
(3) "I might not even be alive."
In July 2026, Peter Obi alleged that the Tinubu administration was targeting opposition figures. When asked whether he would contest the 2027 presidential election, he responded dramatically:
"Not even a candidate. I might not even be alive. I'm telling you."
In my view, this seems exaggerated. The fact that Obi is alive today and actively contesting the election lends credence to my position. The statement sounds unpresidential and more like something one would hear during an informal conversation in a rural marketplace.
(4) "There is no politician in Nigeria today who has travelled to more places by road than I have."
This statement comes across as both boastful and comical. It sounds like the kind of sweeping claim President Donald Trump might make for effect. Such a bold comparative assertion is difficult to verify unless someone has systematically documented and compared the travel records of Nigerian politicians. This is quite unlike Okwute, as he is fondly called.
(5) "If your people are dying, you should be ready to die."
For the first time in the history of Nigerian politics, we seem to have found a loving, caring, and passionate leader who is willing to sacrifice his life for the people. He sounds like one of those ancient kings in the Bible who personally led their troops into battle.
A more recent example is Idriss Déby Itno, the President of Chad. In April 2021, he was wounded while visiting and leading Chadian troops fighting the rebel group FACT (Front for Change and Concord in Chad) in northern Chad. He later died from his injuries.
On a more serious note, many Nigerians are likely to laugh off Obi's statement rather than take it literally.
(6) "I will remove corruption and retain the subsidy."
Peter Obi made this statement while speaking to BBC News on the controversial fuel subsidy removal implemented by the Tinubu administration.
Peter Obi appears to have made more U-turns on the fuel subsidy issue than a confused bus driver. At times, he seems to be speaking according to whichever side of the bed he woke up on. Recall that in 2023, Obi pledged to remove the fuel subsidy, arguing that the funds should instead be redirected towards critical sectors of national development.
Conclusion
Are these red flags? Are these signs Nigerians should pay attention to? There is a saying that when you ignore the signs, you are bound to witness wonders in the future.
Whether these statements are harmless political rhetoric or indicators of deeper concerns is ultimately left for Nigerians to decide.
This topic is hardly discussed, but gradually, social media users are creating awareness about it through memes and jokes. Before people get married, their sex life is usually explosive. It is as if an elderly white witch with one eye and one leg has cast a spell on them. The bed will be shaking like it has got Parkinson's disease. At some point, the couple might even fear for their lives. It is as if one party might pass out.
But as soon as marriage happens and they start living together, lovemaking, sex or whatever name you give to it starts to slow down. If you can manage it two or three times a week, then your marriage is doing great. Most people just do it once a week, twice a month, once in a while, or sometimes nothing at all, especially if you have a wife who easily closes her legs in protest against a wrong move from you.
Research has also found that sexual activity tends to decline as relationships become longer and couples move through different stages of life.
The first few years of marriage are often described as the "honeymoon period", when the man goes in, guns blazing, and blows up the entire place like President Trump. After that, things begin to slow down. Sex can even become boring. The style mostly remains missionary, kisses might not be exchanged as frequently, and it begins to look like a small ritual the married couple needs to perform to keep the marriage moving forward.
But why is this so? Let's look at some of the reasons.
1. Bad habits
Some men with high body counts are already used to sleeping with different kinds of women. Part of what they enjoy about sex is the excitement of variety and the experience of being with someone new. So, when they become married and are expected to sleep with the same woman over and over again, the excitement may gradually disappear.
This is not true of every man, but familiarity can certainly change the way some people experience sexual excitement.
2. Routine
The zeal to impress is usually very high when you are dating a woman. There is anticipation and unpredictability, and that can make romance exciting. It is like exploring a new, sophisticated car. You notice every little detail and appreciate the element of surprise.
But after marriage, the same person who once dressed up for a romantic date may now be sitting beside you in old pyjamas, discussing electricity bills.
When partners transition from romantic dates to sharing utility bills, chores, mortgages and other responsibilities, the relationship can start to feel more like a roommate arrangement or a business partnership than a passionate romance.
3. Life stress
Many young people see marriage mainly from the perspective of love. But love is only one part of it.
Marriage can be expensive and hectic. Balancing careers, household responsibilities, social obligations, rising bills and, especially, raising children can create a serious shortage of time and energy.
By the time the children are asleep and the bills have been paid, one partner may simply want to sleep.
Stress can affect mood, sexual desire and, in men, even erections. It is difficult to feel sexy when your mind is occupied with rent, school fees, work deadlines and the next problem waiting around the corner.
4. Unresolved conflicts
Some women are like activists and investigators. They want to get to the root of every matter, no matter how much chaos it causes. Some men, on the other hand, struggle with this approach. Instead of resolving the disagreement, they withdraw.
But unresolved arguments do not simply disappear because the couple eventually goes to bed. Resentment can affect emotional closeness, and emotional distance can eventually affect sexual desire.
The same thing can happen in reverse. A man who constantly ignores his wife's emotional needs may eventually discover that she no longer feels emotionally connected enough to desire intimacy with him.
5. Biological and health factors
There are also physical reasons why sexual activity can decline. Natural hormonal changes, ageing, certain medications, including some antidepressants, and health conditions can all affect libido and sexual performance.
The problem is that couples do not always talk about these changes openly. One partner may think the other has simply lost interest, while the real problem could be stress, medication, hormones or an underlying health issue. If these changes are ignored for long enough, physical intimacy can quietly disappear from the relationship.
While a decline in sexual frequency during major life transitions is normal, a complete disappearance of intimacy may be a sign that something else needs attention. Perhaps the real problem is not that marriage kills sex. Perhaps marriage simply removes the excitement of the chase and exposes everything else that was hiding underneath it.
When you were dating, you had to create time to see each other. You dressed up. You planned dates. You missed each other. You had something to look forward to. Marriage changes all of that.
clarocuzioo: A Nigerian X user, Olamide Adee, has reported a fellow Nigerian to the UK Home Office for allegedly working illegally,A Nigerian X user, Olamide Adee, has reported a fellow Nigerian to the UK Home Office for allegedly working illegally,
Nothing surprises me about these people. Same thing with Kemi Bandenoch. They are inherently treacherous.
But what does she stand to gain? A Pakistani or Indian will never do this.
A Nigerian X user, Olamide Adee, has reported a fellow Nigerian to the UK Home Office for allegedly working illegally, sparking intense debate online.
In a post on the microblogging platform, Adee publicly alerted the Home Office to the issue, writing: "I think you'd like to check your mail, there's a very [sic] much undocumented Nigerian working in a construction site illegally."
Her actions quickly drew the ire of social media influencer Benjamin Kuti, popularly known as Oluomo of Derby, who publicly condemned her. In a lengthy response, Kuti questioned her motives, asking: "What exactly is the colour of your problem and what is wrong with some Nigerians in diaspora?" He also pointed out that Adee is married to an Eastern European man living in the UK. Oluomo has volunteered to get a lawyer and help out the unnamed man with his immigration challenges.
Kuti is a prominent voice within the diaspora community, having founded and served as the former president of the Nigerians in the United Kingdom (NIUK) community group.
Adee’s initial post has since ignited widespread outrage, leaving social media users sharply divided over the ethics of her actions.
The Anthony Joshua-Tyson Fury fight, scheduled for December 11 in Cardiff, Wales, could be likened to that party Jollof rice that has been hoarded away from party attendees by a very greedy caterer. People longed for it and protested, but they refused to bring it out for consumption, citing various reasons. People got frustrated and sought alternatives. By the time the food finally came out, it was already stale and sour. Some people tried it anyway, but with groans and moans.
I am a lifelong fan of Anthony Joshua, but this fight is about a decade late. If the fight had happened in 2017, when Joshua had just beaten Wladimir Klitschko, before both men suffered major setbacks, the fight would have shook the world. Two years later would have still made the cut, especially after Fury’s first fight against Deontay Wilder, which ended in a controversial draw in December 2018. At the time, many boxing fans regarded Wilder as one of the most dangerous punchers in the division.
After Joshua suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Andy Ruiz Jr. in June 2019, his vulnerabilities were exposed. Joshua would later win the rematch in December of that year by outboxing Ruiz over 12 rounds. That wasn’t the vengeance the world wanted to see. From that moment, Joshua, who was never gun-shy, appeared more cautious and started prioritising safety in fights instead of taking unnecessary risks.
While Joshua took big fights, Fury was constantly fighting opponents who were considered less dangerous than the elite names in the division. Sefer Seferi, Tom Schwarz, Otto Wallin and many others. Wallin, in particular, ended up being a banana skin for Fury. In fact, many would argue that Wallin was unlucky not to get the decision in his fight with Fury.
Fury is a good salesman. He would deceive anybody who isn’t well-informed. He projected himself as unbeatable while, in my view, carefully avoiding certain fights. He used Joshua’s star power to build his profile, yet the two never managed to meet. Proposed fights would build up on social media, but the buzz would eventually die. Just like Floyd Mayweather, Fury used retirement to evade the pressure of certain fights. He kept coming in and going out of boxing like it was a cheap brothel.
Turki Alalshikh of Saudi Arabia finally lured Fury back into the ring with the kind of financial incentives that were difficult to resist. The British fighter returned to face Oleksandr Usyk, a former undisputed cruiserweight champion, and lost twice — first in May 2024 and then in their December 2024 rematch. Guess what? Fury never really accepted defeat. For a fight with video footage that was watched live and recorded in HD? Goodness me! It soon became clear that Fury was all talks and no walks.
Joshua, on the other hand, changed coaches a few times, but nothing much seemed to change. It is hard to make a pastor out of a politician. The vessel was the problem. At some point, it appeared Joshua was back after he beat Robert Helenius, Francis Ngannou and Otto Wallin in remarkable fashion. Later on, heavy-puncher Daniel Dubois baptised Joshua with the fire of beating. Joshua was flattened in the fifth round with a highlight-reel knockout at Wembley in September 2024. That outcome damaged much of what was left of Joshua’s credibility as a fighter.
Things got so bad that Jake Paul, who is like the Nigerian Peller of boxing, felt he could stand a chance against Joshua. The former got his jaw broken after Joshua stopped him in the sixth round in December 2025. Paul later said the injury had put his boxing career in doubt.
Joshua would later lose his friends, Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele, in a fatal car accident in Nigeria in December 2025. Joshua was also injured in the crash. That broke Joshua. Rumours swirled that he was going to retire from boxing. But the stakes were too high. The money on the table was something money rituals couldn’t guarantee.
Joshua’s star power is divine. No other current British heavyweight fighter pulls crowds like him. Matchroom Boxing, the promoting company that has worked with Joshua throughout his professional career, has experienced its own rollercoaster in business. Eddie Hearn had to bring Joshua back to boxing for business.
Joshua eventually announced his comeback against Kristian Prenga, an obscure Albanian heavyweight, in Saudi Arabia. He was knocked down twice in the first round before recovering to stop Prenga in the second. It was hardly the flawless comeback performance many expected, and it raised fresh questions about Joshua’s punch resistance.
Back to Tyson, he retired from boxing after his second defeat to Usyk in December 2024. He sailed off and enjoyed some decent time with his family. He returned to the ring in April 2026 against Arslanbek Makhmudov and won by unanimous decision. He then fought Mariusz Wach in September 2026, stopping the veteran Polish heavyweight after seven rounds.
Boxing promoters knew that there was still a big payday. So they decided to rekindle the old rivalry between Joshua and Fury. Turki Alalshikh stepped in again with the money, and the fighters agreed to it. Reports have valued the overall fight purse at around £150 million, or approximately $200 million, although the exact amount each fighter will receive has not been publicly disclosed. Frank Warren has confirmed that both men will receive record British boxing paydays.
Both fighters are now in their mid-to-late 30s. There is nothing left to prove to themselves. No pride or glory to defend? Perhaps. It is an exhibition fight to say the least. It is a money grab! The potential losers are the paying audience. The good thing about the UK is that people will seize every opportunity to congregate and have fun. Most times, it is not about the game itself; it is about the activities surrounding the game and its ambience. Manchester United can struggle to win five games in a row and the fans will never stop turning up because stadium attendance is cultural.
So who will win? It is like a pendulum and could swing both ways, to be fair. Fury is the favourite according to current betting markets, but the fact that Ben Davison, who helped Fury during his comeback after his long absence from boxing, is now back in Joshua’s corner is an interesting twist. Davison previously worked with Fury and played an important role in his 2018 comeback. Could that be a game-changer?
Solseal007: But is still shows you have no real life goals and priorities
If you send me your account number, I could make you smile this morning bro. I know the kind of frustration living in Nigeria brings especially when you are broke. I have been there my gee. I am just a passionate writer who has touched several topics including politics and others, I didn’t cause any of your problems and that of Nigeria.
Blunt99: You wrote an article on top two irresponsible digger engage in a useless scripted amateurish fight for views and like! 🤦
You must really have lots of time in your hands, dude.
Seun won't pay you for this effort, just so you know.
Damn!
I do this cos I love it. I have been writing on Nairaland for 11 years. I don’t need Seun to pay me. I live abroad and I have a good job. I am happy with life with no bitterness like you. It is only a hungry man that wants to be paid for everything.
When the fight between Phyna and Nkechi Blessing was announced, it sounded ridiculous. But my journalistic instinct told me the fight was going to be a smashing hit. Both women are traffic-driving personalities. I wrote an article which focused on how the smaller fighter, Phyna, could beat Nkechi. A friend of mine mocked the fight, but he didn't see what I was seeing.
As I expected, the fight was not only entertaining, but an exhilarating experience. It was real "Chaos in the Ring," as the event was tagged. For the first time in my life, I feel all the parties won. The organisers, Balmoral Promotions, Bet9ja, DAZN, the two fighters and the audience all won.
Both women promoted the fight well. The animosity between them appeared real. They also worked hard in training to follow the rules of the game and keep each other safe. It is possible Phyna read my article, as she used her legs to nullify the threats posed by Nkechi. She moved in and out of danger swiftly and was disciplined with her jab usage. She got greedy at times by engaging Nkechi in a firefight, which wasn't working well, but she quickly resorted to what was working. I love her movement and athleticism.
Nkechi was frustrated but wasn't ready to give up. She had her pride to protect, and she kept coming forward like a consuming fire. Yes, the knockout was a bit dodgy and looked like a push, but I think Nkechi was also exhausted. I am just glad she is fine and her health is intact.
The fight lived above my expectations. Nigeria's traditional media had to jump on it the following morning because web traffic was only going one way. For once, the web seemed to have little appetite for the usual depressing political content about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar.
Phyna marketed her BBL in the second round or thereabouts by seductively twerking. I think that is the best BBL I have seen in my life. She was not greedy like other women who wanted a house behind their backs.
I enjoyed the scene when actress Etinosa came into the ring to accept a fight against Phyna. That looked gangster! But can she really do it?
Nkechi had also recently lost a friend, but it didn't deter her from showing up strong for the fight. Phyna, on hearing this, gave her a hug. It is all love at the end of the day. There is no room for bitterness.
My respect for Phyna has increased tremendously. She took a dangerous fight and decently executed a clinical game plan. There is more to who Phyna is, and there is a reason why she won Big Brother Naija Season 7. She has voiced her intention to go professional. I like her self-belief and confidence.
But, to be sincere, going professional at 29 is risky. Those success-hungry female boxers will break her face and puncture her BBL.
Nigerians were so appreciative of Nkechi that they went to her social media pages to shower her with praise for her efforts. As a smart woman, she is leveraging the momentum to launch some programmes on social media. She deserves it.
Their male counterparts, Carter Efe and Speed Darlington, let the sport of boxing down. They hardly followed the rules of the game. Carter Efe's tactics were dirty and amateurish. He punched Speedy at the back of his head and had to be cautioned by the referee. He was apparently holding his head at some point, which is illegal. To make matters worse, he punched Speedy while he was on his knees.
Speedy kept turning his back against him, which was a quitting sign, and Carter continued his barrage of punches against him. Speedy looked heavy and his conditioning was poor. He was breathing heavily and appeared to have consumed bowls of fufu with egusi soup prior to the fight.
Watching Speedy celebrate afterwards, I couldn't help wondering whether the money was his biggest motivation. He has been building a mansion for years, and the opportunity to rake in some cash to complete the project came with the fight offer. No wonder he was rejoicing after he embarrassingly lost the fight.
Whoever paid to watch the Carter Efe vs Speedy fight has been robbed and deserves a refund. Apart from that, I am enjoying celebrity boxing, and the enthusiasm of the audience shows the strength of the Nigerian entertainment industry. We were all entertained.
Whether we like it or not, celebrity boxing has found an audience in Nigeria. And after what I saw, I don't think this will be the last time we see this kind of chaos in the ring.
SmallmebigGod: Since AI became available to everyone, post have become unusually longer , circling round the same points but with more words
Why are you so bitter? I have been dropping long articles on Nairaland for 11 years now. We have been bossing this game before AI. Evidence full my account.
Apostle Joshua Selman's recent prophecy. Let's dive into it.
I like Apostle Joshua Selman. He is an intelligent and eloquent man who carries himself with remarkable confidence. From his messages, you can tell that his words come from a place of deep knowledge, conviction and personal encounters with God. He is a pastor's pastor. I could listen to him all day without getting bored, and that is not an exaggeration. He remains one of the most respected Christian clerics in Nigeria and across Africa.
Few days ago, during a church service, he revealed that God had shown him that the time of a high-ranking Nigerian politician was up.
If you live in Nigeria and follow current events, you would have heard similar prophecies before. Fear can easily be used to command attention and influence behaviour in this part of the world. When those pupils and teachers in Oriire, Oyo State, were kidnapped months ago, alongside many other reported and unreported cases across the country, some Nigerian prophets began rolling out predictions about insecurity. Many claimed the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway was next and urged people to pray. The late T.B. Joshua was also a master of this sort of prophecy. To be fair, he got some right and many wrong.
So when Apostle Selman made his prophecy, it sent shockwaves across Nigeria. There are several reasons for this. First, he has never really been known for this kind of prediction. Second, he is a highly respected man. Third, the prophecy happened around the same time rumours were circulating that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was unwell.
To be fair, rumours about President Tinubu's health never seem to go away. The good thing for him is that he has consistently found ways to dismiss or simply outlive them.
Weeks ago, it was announced that Tinubu would be going on vacation to Europe. Whenever Nigerian leaders travel abroad for what many suspect may be medical reasons, the word "vacation" somehow finds its way into the conversation. Naturally, the rumour mill went into overdrive. People drew comparisons with the prolonged medical trips of late President Muhammadu Buhari and late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua.
Then Tinubu's return date was adjusted and pushed back by a few days. The timing coincided with Apostle Selman's prophecy. People connected the dots and immediately linked it to the President. His critics certainly wanted it to be him.
Tinubu has since returned to Nigeria looking hale and hearty, at least on the surface.
So, is the prophecy real or just a gamble?
It is difficult to tell.
If I decide to be more logical than spiritual for a moment, the prophecy does not exactly tick the boxes of originality. It sounds vague, ambiguous, cautious and, most importantly, safe. No names were mentioned, which makes verification difficult.
Again, many of Nigeria's most powerful politicians are already in their 60s and 70s, while the country's life expectancy at birth is about 55 years. That means the possibility of a prominent political figure passing away is not exactly a wild prediction. Due to shortcomings in healthcare and other social challenges, deaths occur every day across the country without attracting national attention. It only tends to strike a nerve when fame, power or wealth is involved.
Then there is the phrase "high-ranking politician". It is a relative term. A local government chairman might consider himself high-ranking, while most Nigerians would have someone else in mind. No date or timeframe was given either, making the prophecy even harder to assess.
In many ways, it resembles the style of prophecy popularised by T.B. Joshua and several others over the years. It is the kind of prediction that carries very little risk if it fails and enormous rewards if it appears to come true.
It is a bit like me predicting that an English club will win the Premier League. Who is going to be impressed if that eventually happens?
The fact that all this is unfolding at the peak of a political season makes it even more intriguing. Election seasons in Nigeria often come with drama, suspense, speculation and theatrics. Prophecies have increasingly become part of that spectacle too.
But let me switch sides for a moment, like a corrupt politician changing allegiance.
This is Apostle Selman we are talking about. He does not normally engage in this kind of prophecy, and that alone makes me hesitant to dismiss him outright. I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
What feels strange, however, is that people are now waiting for someone's father, mother, husband, wife, brother, sister or child to pass away simply so a prophecy can be validated.
That, perhaps, is the most uncomfortable part of the entire conversation.
Before I start, this writer has no intention of triggering anyone. This story is just a crazy personal experience that I find amusing.
I tried to matchmake two friends of two very good friends. It was just a random idea which I found exciting. Everything appeared smooth on both sides. Both parties seemed to be ticking the boxes for each other. I felt proud of myself. I was like: “What an ingenious idea from me!”
I wanted my male friend to be in the driver’s seat, so I privately encouraged him to be intentional about her, which he agreed to. He said he was ready to get married next year. Wow! Nice plan, in my opinion. But something awkward happened. The caveat was that he wanted to get married to a virgin. This friend of mine is far above 30 and has the highest level of education. He is very brilliant. I thought my ears were deceiving me, or perhaps it was a random joke. I ignored it.
As someone with a background in psychology who has also worked in a psychiatric hospital, I have heard too many ridiculous things in my life. The Britons have one working strategy for managing situations like this: once they hear something unusual, they play it down and refuse to feed into it. They redirect the person away from that kind of fantasy. That strategy failed me.
My friend kept insisting on marrying a virgin. At this point, I had to ask him if he was mad or probably smoking something. He said no. He asked me to confirm with the lady. To me, that was a very awkward question to ask a woman, especially in this age of high body counts.
I was like: “Where are you going to find a virgin girl in Lagos?”
He sharply replied that his friend found one in Ibadan and his sister married a virgin. I was getting frustrated, so I asked if he was a virgin, and he said no.
He was like: “I am a man now. What do you expect?”
At this point, I was so pissed. I advised him to extend his search to the northern part of Nigeria, focusing on the rural areas. He might even have to reduce the minimum age to a barely legal level. Looking for a virgin girl in Lagos is almost as hard as seeing a whale in a local river.
Ever since the Buhari administration, during which the Nigerian economy hit rock bottom, many young girls have supposedly adopted the “Cookie Monetisation Policy” — CMP — which, in my ridiculous imagination, has eroded all forms of virginity in the two “sim slots.”
Nobody talks about virginity anymore. Even in the villages, the story is supposedly the same. I used to have a female friend who almost lost it the day we accidentally discussed the issue of body counts. It was a taboo. Perhaps my friend is simply looking for something that has become increasingly difficult to find. Or maybe he needs to adjust his expectations.
Personally, I feel he might benefit from some serious counselling for embarking on a virgin-hunting mission in Lagos. Then again, probably I am the one who has a problem here. You never can tell.
Last week, two unrelated African giants grabbed the headlines as they made two very different decisions and turned in opposite directions. One went right and the other went left.
One of them is Nigerian singer Damini Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy, one of the biggest musicians in Africa. The other is Sadio Mane, one of the most decorated footballers on the continent and a Senegalese football superstar. Both men are very successful but have very contrasting lifestyles. While Burna Boy is proud, bold and sometimes overconfident, Mane keeps a very low profile and is hardly in the news for reasons unrelated to sports. Last week, their paths crossed indirectly on social media as they made major financial decisions that offered a fascinating contrast.
Mane announced a $20.4 million agro-industrial project that could significantly expand mango processing in Senegal. The Liverpool legend's project, named SM10 Agro, is expected to create 1,000 jobs in various areas of the mango industry. Mane grew up in the town of Bambali, and the 34-year-old Al Nassr superstar is now giving back to his community and country. Speaking about the project, he explained that the Sedhiou region loses between 30 and 40 per cent of the mangoes it produces because of failures to store and process them properly. “I want the wealth of our soil to remain here with us in Senegal. This initiative will employ 1,000 people from the outset,” he said.
Processing plants will be established in Bambali, with one specialising in the production of mango butter.
There will also be a 500-hectare mango plantation and an agricultural college. The SM10 Agro complex is expected to process up to 8,500 tonnes of mangoes a year in southern Senegal. Mangoes are among the most popular fruits in Senegal, and Mane's project could create opportunities for farmers, workers and young people in the region for years to come.
Around the same period, his African counterpart, Burna Boy, announced the purchase of a Bugatti worth about ₦9 billion, which is approximately $6.78 million. In the last year, Burna Boy has reportedly added several major luxury high-performance vehicles to his collection, while also gifting a vehicle to a team member. Among the cars associated with his collection are:
Custom Bugatti Chiron VXX: His most high-profile acquisition, a one-of-one bespoke widebody Bugatti customised by Dubai-based Venuum.
2025 Ferrari SF90 and Porsche 911 GT3 RS: Reported additions to his garage alongside his other high-performance cars.
Tesla Cybertruck: Reportedly purchased as a gift for his close associate and team member, King Manny.
Together, these vehicles are estimated to be worth around $10 million, or more than ₦13 billion.
When Burna Boy unveiled his customised one-of-one Bugatti Chiron VXX, reportedly delivered in September 2026, there was a massive fanfare around the car in Lagos. All roads seemed to lead to his house as people gathered to celebrate the singer amid loud praise and excitement. The atmosphere was almost like that of a soldier returning from a victorious war. There were cameras, lights and plenty of action. Burna Boy was celebrated by bloggers and young Lagosians who came out to catch a glimpse of one of the most expensive cars owned by an African entertainer. He also made history as the first African recording artist reported to have taken delivery of a customised Bugatti Chiron.
In an era where there is fierce competition over who is the most successful among African music's biggest stars, Davido, Wizkid and Burna Boy, such an ostentatious purchase inevitably attracts attention. Davido has also made several high-profile luxury car purchases and has never been shy about showing them off.
But there is an interesting difference between the two African giants I have highlighted.
One has invested a significant amount of his wealth in something that could create jobs, support farmers and contribute to the future of his community. The other has spent millions of dollars on an extremely expensive asset whose financial value is unlikely to appreciate in the same way as a productive business investment.
Of course, Burna Boy is entitled to spend his money however he wants. He worked for it, and nobody should begrudge him the opportunity to enjoy the fruits of his success.
But there is a bigger question here. What should extremely successful African entertainers and sportsmen do with their wealth when they reach the top?
Careers in music and football can be very short. It is hard to climb to the top of the ladder, and it is even harder to stay there. One day, a footballer is scoring goals and winning games. The next day, he misses a crucial chance, his team loses and he is suddenly being compared with the worst players in the league. Music is not very different. A poorly received album can affect an artiste's relevance, bookings, endorsements and revenue. When that happens, income can decline rapidly. This is why wealth accumulated during the good years needs to be treated carefully.
As successful as legendary musician King Sunny Ade is today, he has reportedly faced accusations from his daughter over his ability to provide adequately for his family. If such reports are accurate, it shows just how complicated wealth and financial security can become, even for people who once stood at the very top of their profession.
This also reminds me of Floyd Mayweather, who has faced various reports and public speculation about his finances despite earning hundreds of millions of dollars during his boxing career. Whether or not every claim about his financial situation is accurate, his story is often used as a reminder that earning enormous amounts of money does not automatically guarantee financial security. It all boils down to making the right financial decisions.
There is nothing wrong with buying a Bugatti. There is nothing wrong with enjoying the rewards of hard work. But there is a difference between spending money to impress people and spending money to create wealth that can survive long after the applause has stopped. The cheers of the public are temporary. Fame is temporary. Even football and music careers are temporary.
So the question is simple: do you want to quietly secure your future, or do you want loud cheers from a public whose support may not always be there?
Burna Boy has achieved something most people can only dream of. But while the world is celebrating the Bugatti today, he should also be thinking about what remains when the music stops, the cameras disappear and the applause dies down. That is the real test of wealth.
TV/Movies › The Movies Lied To Us All About True Love by uche87(op): 12:02pm On Oct 29
