Oluwasegun Adesuyi, Author at SocietyGazette.com

Nigerian Celebrities Who Joined Shettima’s Challenge

Some Nigerian celebrities joined the #ShettimaChallenge alongside other Nigerians on the micro blogging platform, Twitter.
The challenge was triggered by the outfit worn by the All Progressive Congress, vice presidential candidate, Kashim Shettima to the Nigerian Bar Association conference in Lagos on Monday, August 22.

Young Nigerians decided to create a trend called #ShettimaChallenge with images of several of them, donning various sizes of suit with a red tie, and pairs of gym shoes across Nigerian twitter to mock the APC chieftain over his outfit.

Amongst the celebrities who joined the challenge is, Nollywood actress, Toni Tones.

The actress, like others, donned an oversized coat with a long red tie whilst posturing like the VP.

Another celebrity who joined the challenge is, Nigerian singer, Charles Oputa aka Charly Boy.

The controversial singer cum activist joined the challenge on Tuesday, with a photo of himself on social media wearing a similar outfit.

Captioning the photo, he wrote: “Nothing my pikins no go make me do. I was ordered by one of my Area children to do the Shettima Challenge. Wahala for person wey no get tye Even though my shoe no show, but I try naah. Wetin u think?”

Nothing my pikins no go make me do.

I was ordered by one of my Area children to do the Shettima Challenge.

Even though my shoe no show, but I try naah.

How Kwankwaso’s Camp Dared Shekarau For Control Of NNPP

The camps of two former governors of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau and Rabiu Kwankwaso have apparently thrown the New Nigeria People’s Party into crisis.

Kwankwaso, who apparently has the upper hand in the contest to control the party’s machinery, appear not to feel disturbed about threats to decamp by the Shekarau camp.

Kwankwaso had said through his spokesperson, Ladipo Johnson, that whatever Shekarau intends to do will not affect NNPP’s chances come 2023 general elections.

On Monday, Shekarau told his supporters in Kano that Kwankwaso failed to honor his agreement with him implying that he would quit the NNPP as a result.

He said, “All the agreements we had with him were betrayed by Kwankwaso and his boys and they did not accommodate one single person from my camp.

“We reached an agreement to accommodate my supporters into various elective positions in the party, but until now, the committee set up could not accommodate one single person apart from the senatorial slot given to me.

“I will never be a party to injustice. My integrity is utmost and not any political position that will make me compromise it and that of my people. Nobody will use position or money against my integrity.”

Meanwhile, prior to Shekarau’s outburst, Johnson appeared on Arise News Night on August 18 explaining what Shekarau wanted , which to him, was practically impossible.

“Senator Kwankwaso and the NNPP have not failed to keep any promises.

“When the Shekarau camp came, they came at a time whereby primaries and other things had virtually been over and it’s not easy when you have other people who have paid for their nomination forms, who have followed due process, it’s not an arbitrary thing , you cannot just simply tell them oh, you are stepping down,” Johnson said.

He opined that Shekarau had the right to leave the NNPP, adding that it’s what democracy is all about.

He said,”We in the NNPP, revere and are happy to have Senator Shekarau with us , the decision is left to him and his people. The NNPP is not in crisis, we are building blocks, if unfortunately one seems to go out , others are coming in on daily basis round the country.”

He added that NNPP has its path to political victory irrespective of who leaves.

Davido Meets Wike, Seyi Makinde, Ortom, Ikpeazu In Paris

Nigerian award-winning singer David Adeleke, popularly called Davido, has met with some Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Paris, France.
Naija News reports that photos of the ‘If’ crooner alongside Governor Nyesom Wike, Seyi Makinde, Okezie Ikpazu and Samuel Ortom emerged online on Monday night, 22nd August.

However, the exact date of the meeting with the politicians and musician was not made known.

In one of the photos, they were captured having a dinner and it is uncertain if the meeting was a coincidence or something that has to do with the 2023 election.

Davido’s uncle, Senator Ademola Adeleke, was recently elected Osun State Governor on the platform of the PDP and it might be difficult for him to openly back the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, like other youths.

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Atiku Reacts As Arsenal Go Top Of Premier League Table

Arsenal currently sits top of the English Premier League table for the 2022/23 season after recording a 3-0 victory over Bournemouth in the clash between both teams on Saturday.
The win maintains Arsenal’s perfect start to the season as the Gunners have now made it three wins out of three games so far played this season.

Naija News reports before the win against Bournemouth on Saturday, Arsenal had previously recorded victories against Crystal Palace and Leicester City respectively.

On Saturday, the North London team continued their fine start to the season with two goals from captain Martin Odegaard, and the third from William Saliba.

Reacting, Atiku Abubakar on Saturday personally wrote on his Twitter account: “3 out of 3. It’s looking like a great start this season for @Arsenal.”

3 out of 3. It’s looking like a great start this season for @Arsenal :). -AA

— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) August 20, 2022

Up next for Arsenal is a home game against Fulham on the 27th of August.

Why Over 200 Soldiers Resigned – Army

The Nigerian Army has denied allegations that 243 soldiers retired because of low morale and poor conditions of service.
The Director of Army Public Relations, Brig Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement titled, “Voluntary Retirement or Discharge is a Routine in the Nigerian Army” explained reason the 234 soldiers who recently retired from the force tendered their resignations.

It reads, “The allegation that soldiers of the Nigerian Army (NA) are proceeding on voluntary retirement due to alleged corruption, poor service conditions and low morale as recently reported by some outfits in the social media is nothing but a concoction of the imagination of the unrepentant enemies of the nation and mischief makers and should be out rightly discountenanced by the public.

“The subjective and unethical report is a distraction and another failed attempt at dampening the morale and fighting will, of the loyal, dedicated and patriotic fighting force of the NA.

Soldiers Are Allowed To Apply For Voluntary Discharge
“Perhaps these impenitent mischief makers need to be schooled to understand that the NA is not a conscript Army and that recruitment into the NA is voluntary with extant policy on discharge and retirement of soldiers and officers respectively, like other organizations.

“This provides its personnel the opportunity to apply for voluntary discharge, when they deem fit and meet the terms and conditions as stipulated in the Harmonized Terms and Conditions of Service soldiers/ratings/airmen (Revised) 2017.

“It is thus, the inalienable right of a personnel to voluntarily or on medical grounds apply for discharge, if they meet the terms.

“It is therefore not an aberration that the COAS granted approval for 91 NA/32/4792 WO Ndagana Ishiaku and 242 others to voluntarily discharge from the NA, as being unprofessionally manipulated by some media.

“Given the mannerism of the ill-fated report, it is clear, that it is targeted at deflating the high morale of troops by downplaying recent critical interventions by the COAS Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya on troops’ welfare, which include car loans, housing loans, extensive construction of new accommodation, massive renovation of old and dilapidated accommodation, building of befitting residences.”

Breaking: Anthony Joshua Losses World Heavy Weight Boxing Return Match To Usyk

The boxing title rematch between the Nigerian British fighter, Anthony Joshua and Ukrainian, Oleksandr Usyk ended in a loss for the Nigerian.

Joshua lost the WBA, WBO , IBF and IBO belt on Sunday at the Jedda Superdome in Saudi Arabia.

Joshua had lost the first match to the Ukrainian in 2021, but needed a win to retain the title he previously held.

After the 12th round, the judges ruled that the Ukrainian won on points.

The first judge ruled 115-113 in favour of Joshua.

The second and third ruled 115-113 and 116-112 respectively in favour of Usyk.

Joshua had boasted that he would defeat his opponent before the match.

He had said, “I wanted to overcome my opponent, whether it’s Usyk or anybody else, that was the mentality. I want to beat my opponent and crush him come Saturday,” Joshua said in his pre-match press conference.

“I was focusing on different aspects of my career such as having a better jab, punch more and getting punched less, for example. You need to focus on your aggression and I don’t do that at the end of the day. My competitive spirit can overcome any obstacle.”

World Peace Symposium In Honour Of Ambassador Buratai Holds August 28

The 2022 World Peace Symposium in honour of Nigeria’s former Chief of Army Staff, now Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Benin, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, Ret’d, has been fixed for Sunday, August 28 at Golden Tulip Essential Lagos Airport Hotel, Lagos.
The symposium which is organized by World Institute for Peace is expected to kick start at 11.30 am and is themed ‘Building Up Internal Security Set-Ups And Community Protection In Nigeria: Notions, Styles, Possibilities and Master Plan.’
The symposium will feature series of events including the launch of an anthology of poems as well as the declaration of General Buratai as the bearer of security touch in recognition of his excellent service to Nigeria and the West Africa sub region as Army Chief and as an Ambassador.
The event organizers say General Buratai is the first to be so honoured in the world by the World Institute for Peace.
While the event will be hosted by Chief Lamina Kamiludeen Omotoyosi, executive chairman, World Institute of Peace, Mr. Salaudeen Hashim, a public affairs analyst, will deliver a keynote address.
Others from Asia, Europe Continents would lend their voices as speakers physically and on zoom.
Born on November 24, 1960, Ambassador Buratai who hails from Biu Local Government Area of Borno State, North East Nigeria was commissioned into the Nigerian Army in 1983 and had multiple command, administrative, and instructional appointments before he retired in 2021.
He was Chief of Army Staff between 2015 and 2021.
He was made Ambassador of Republic of Benin by President Muhammadu Buhari few days after retirement from the Army.

Nigerian Man Dies After Hard Drugs Burst Inside His Stomach

The identity of the 45-year-old Nigerian man known as Ibrahim, who died in India after drug capsule he smuggling burst inside his stomach, has emerged.
ETV Bharat reports that the deceased was found dead in Delhi after he was declared missing by his wife who lodged a complaint with the Kondwa Police Station in Pune.

It was gathered that late Ibrahim came from Nigeria to Pune about a decade ago and was married to an Indian woman from Kondhwa area of the city.

Trouble started when Ibrahim complained about abdominal pain and was admitted to AllMS hospital in India.

However, he tried to escape from the hospital as he was allegedly carrying drug capsules in his stomach, according to the police.

An autopsy report revealed Ibrahim had drugs in his stomach as at when he was admitted to the hospital over abdominal pain.

Speaking about the incident, Inspector Aviraj Kurade of Mira Road said that the police had informed Ibrahim’s wife about his death and an identification paraded was also conducted to identify the deceased.

He added that investigators found that Ibrahim used to meet his friend, Andy in the Mira Nagar area.

Upon receiving information that Ibrahim has died in Delhi, a team of officials from the Mira Nagar Police station was sent to Delhi.

Ibrahim was suspected to be a drug dealer and had swallowed capsules of drugs to hide them which later burst in his stomach.

Further investigation is going on, police added.

NUJ Reacts, Blasts NBC Over Suspension Of Licenses Of Media Houses

The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has reacted to the decision of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to suspend the licenses of several media houses.

Naija News recalls the NBC on Friday announced it had revoked the broadcast licences of Silverbird TV, AIT, Raypower FM, and Rhythm FM amongst others over their failure to renew broadcast licences.

This was made known by the Director General of the NBC, Mallam Balarabe Shehu.

He also directed NBC state offices to liaise with security agencies to ensure the shut down of the operation of these stations within the next 24 hours.

Shehu stated that the licenses of about 52 television and radio stations was suspended over failure to pay federal licensing charges to the tune of N2.6 billion.

Reacting to the development, the NUJ in a statement on Friday by its National President, Chris Isiguzo however described the action of the industry regulator as hasty, ill-timed and reckless.

It added that a media blackout is not what the nation needs at the moment, adding that more dialogue should have been employed in resolving the issue.

The NBC statement reads: “The decision today by the Industry Regulator, the National Broadcasting Commission – NBC, to revoke the licenses of 52 broadcast stations nationwide over-indebtedness to the Commission was ill-advised. The affected stations, according to NBC, are said to owe arrears of licence fees amounting to N2.6 billion since 2015.

“Although the Director General of NBC, Malam Balarabe Shehu Ilelah claimed that this development had no political motives, yet we insist that the action was ill-timed and reckless. It should be noted that this wholesale revocation of licences at this critical time of insecurity in the Country appears to be a decision taken without careful prior deliberation, consultation or counsel.

“While we regret the inability of these broadcast stations to fulfil their obligations to NBC, in view of dwindling resources, we caution against such a large-scale clampdown of broadcast stations in disregard to security issues and the attendant consequence.

“We cannot afford the unpleasant outcome of such a media blackout at this time. We call on NBC to exercise more restraint on this issue in consideration of national security and allow for more dialogue and consultation to find a better way of dealing with the situation.”