Former Super Eagles captain, Mikel Obi has said no better youth to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari than Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State.
Mikel, who currently plies his trade with Stoke City, England made the remark during a courtesy call on the governor.
The former Chelsea star said Nigeria has come of age to produce a youthful leadership.
Mikel also pledged to support Bello’s political ambition ahead of 2023.
He said youths should be given the chance to get the much-desired change.
“What better person to lead the youths than him, because he has been doing all these good works and that is why I am here to see whatever way I can come in.”
To get the youths together to know and see how we can make things better for our country and how we can align to achieve all that,” he said.
Banky W says the youth in Nigeria can’t possibly protest all the problems in the country.
In an interview with HipTV, the actor and musician spoke of the backlash that trailed the government’s Twitter ban.
“It’s a shame that despite all the issues we’re facing as a nation, Twitter deleted a tweet of the president and the best course they thought up is to ban a service young Nigerians use in expressing themselves and in business,” he said.
“We’re as unsafe as we’ve never been. Kidnapping, banditry, terrorism, and robbery are on the rise. Our educational system is in tatters; healthcare is nothing to write home about. Everywhere you turn in Nigeria, there are issues.
“It’s sad leaders lose all sense of empathy to dialogue and the automatic reaction is ‘ban’. There were [EndSARS] protests. But, instead of a dialogue where they do what the youth were asking, they started looking for scapegoats.
“CBN froze people’s accounts. FG seized passports. It’s almost like young people are in an abusive relationship with our country.”
Banky W said he hopes the Twitter and #EndSARS situations would push the youth into action.
“I hope actions that like this push us to the wall, where we decide to speak up, stand up, push back, and fight for this democracy,” he said.
“Not in a violent way but that we stand up for democracy; move from protest to power. Honestly, we can’t protest about every problem we have. But we can focus on power and those we allow to get into positions of power.
“I mean, all of this is going on and where are our elected representatives? Where our senators? Where are those supposed to be speaking for us and fighting on our behalf? Surprisingly enough, everybody’s quiet.
“Young people in Nigeria and outside need to use this as motivation, as fuel. Let’s organise. 2023 is really not that far away.
“Let’s start from the ground up. The problem is from the top down, but we can start lower and push back. We can organise ourselves and vote. It’s time to take a stand. We have to be the generation all of this nonsense stops with.”
GOVERNORS elected on the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital expressed worry over the rising debt profile of the country, describing the coun- try’s N33 trillion debt profile unsustainable.
Besides, the governors pointed out that the operations of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) were not in tandem with the due process of financial management and accountability as enshrined in the 1999 constitution, as amended.
According to them, NNPC’s failure to remit its statutory contributions to the federation account has crippled states and rendered them incapacitated to address their challenges of development. In a communique at the end of a meeting hosted by Governor Udom Emmanuel, the governors who once again reviewed the state of the nation maintained that monies should only be borrowed for productive purposes.
In the communique read by their chairman and governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, the PDP governors “frowned at the rising and seemingly uncontrollable debt profile of Nigeria with over 80% of normal appropriation spent on debt servicing.
“All the gains of the PDP government under Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR, where Nigeria exited its foreign debt obligations has been destroyed. Borrowing for frivolous items such as funding the Nigerian Television Authority(NTA), is scandalous. “Money should only be borrowed for productive purposes as Nigeria’s current debt of over N36 Trillion Naira is becoming clearly unsustainable relative to our earnings and GDP.
“We should not saddle incoming generations with undue debt burden. The borrowing spree of the APC administration if unchecked, will certainly lead Nigeria into avoidable bankruptcy.” The communique said. They expressed alarm over the running of the NNPC by the Federal Government and the continuous non remittance of their statutory contribution by other Federal agencies to the Federal Government.
“The Forum examined the operations of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), and expressed alarm at the manner it carries out its operations.
“It decried the recent NNPCs decision not to make its statutory contributions to the Federation Account, thereby starving the states and Local Governments and indeed Nigerians of funds needed for employment, development and general well being.
“The meeting frowned at a situation where the NNPC decides in a totally discretionary and often whimsical manner, how much to spend, how to spend it and how much to remit to the Federation Account, contrary to the letters and even the spirit of the 1999 Constitution,” it said.
In the same vein, the forum of the PDP governors expressed deep concern over the operational system and methods of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), regretting that the apex bank has continued to operate like a “government within a government.
“A situation where CBN creates money, decides how much of it to spend, on what to spend it on without any form of controls or supervision is patently subversive of our constitutional order.
“It has become not just a Leviathan, but also a father Christmas of sorts, dabbling into every sphere and scope of governmental activity, not just as a lender of last resort, but as a full executing agency of government.
“The meeting observed that the CBN has become such an octopus that it threatens state governments publicly, without decorum, about sanctions on any attempt to question its modus operandi”, the forum stressed.
It further reviewed the emerging threats to the country’s democracy, constitutionalism and rule of law and cautioned the FG to exercise power with restraint. On the suspension of Twitter from operating in Nigeria, the governors condemned the personalized reasons given for the action by the Presidency and urged the federal government to review its decision for national interest.
“The mere ego of Mr President is not enough for such a drastic action that deprives millions of Nigerians of such an affordable means of expression and communication. We hope that this is not a harbinger or early warning signs of descent into dictatorship.
“The meeting noted that social media regulation can only be done within the exist- ing laws on the subject and should not be used as an at- tempt to punish or gag Nigerians from enjoying constitutionally guaranteed rights.
“Nigerian youths do not have adequate access to employment and a lot of Nigerians rely on TWITTER for their livelihood, businesses and self-employment.
“This will further worsen Nigeria’s 33% unemployment rate which is the high- est in the world, improve Nigeria’s ranking as the country with second highest poverty rate in the entire world, all of which happened under APC’s unfortunate stewardship,” the forum stressed.
The 29-year-old collapsed on the pitch during Denmark’s Euro 2020 match with Finland on Saturday afternoon.
It was suspected his heart stopped for five minutes on the pitch.
The Denmark captain needed to be resuscitated and was stabilised by the time he was transferred to hospital.
The Mail Online has quoted Dr Scott Murray, a leading NHS consultant cardiologist specialising in prevention of heart problems, saying the heart attack may have spelled the end of Eriksen’s career.
Murray said Italy pride themselves on their record of preventing cardiac arrests in football – so the Danish player’s problems will likely spell the end of his time in Serie A.
He told the MailOnline: ‘It probably is (the end of his career) for him. The Italians stop people participating in sport if they are found to have a significant cardiac abnormality, it’s in law.
‘They’ve been doing that for a long time, beyond 20 years and they’ve reduced the death rates from cardiac arrests in sport from beyond 3 per cent down to below one per cent.’
The Inter star went to ground unchallenged mid-way through the match in Copenhagen and received immediate CPR treatment from medical staff already present at the stadium.
The match as postponed just after 6pm on Saturday evening and Eriksen was then seen sitting upright whilst being stretchered off with an oxygen mask on his mouth.
He was admitted to hospital and the Danish FA confirmed that he was awake, conscious and his agent Michael Schoots confirmed that he was able to speak and talk whilst receiving more checks.
Dr Murray claimed Italy, where Eriksen plays his club football with Inter, have one of the best systems in the world for checking and predicting potential heart problems .
He said the fact that Eriksen still suffered a cardiac arrest shows how dangerous and unsuspecting heart problems can be.
‘He (Eriksen) comes from an Italian club so he must have had all of the tests before he started. The Italians are the best at screening for heart disease in competitive athletes”, he said.
Yoruba socio-cultural group, Majeobaje, has accused South-West governors of politicising Amotekun and maintains that the security outfit across the region is disunited.
AYoruba socio-cultural group, Majeobaje, has accused South-West governors of politicising Amotekun and maintains that the security outfit across the region is disunited.
According to the group, the region needs a united and depoliticised Western Nigeria Security Network (Amotekun) to protect life and property.
Akintayo Akin-Deko, the group’s convener, told journalists this after a meeting, tagged ‘Majeobaje Roundtable,’ held on Sunday in Ibadan.
Various Yoruba representatives attended the roundtable, including the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission.
Mr Akin-Deko added that from the extensive deliberations at the meeting, many expressed their displeasure at the operations and management of Amotekun.
“We can see the politics in the whole management of Amotekun. The governors have their political leaders and agenda. Yorubaland needs a united and depoliticised Amotekun.
“So we are not happy the way it is being run, and we are going to keep pressure on the governors, on our leaders to make sure Amotekun works as an independent unit,” said Mr Akin-Deko.
The convener stressed that Yoruba groups needed to unite to ensure they speak with one voice and protect their territory from invaders.
“If you are Fulani and you are a law-abiding citizen of Yorubaland, we are honour-bound as Omoluabi to protect you with our own lives.
“Our anger is against non-Omoluabis, illegal herdsmen, and anybody who try to destroy the welfare of the Yorubas. What happened in Igangan was obviously the death of innocent people in Yorubaland,” he explained.
The convener added that the group intended to evolve self-defence measures towards finding out who perpetrated the Igangan massacre and get justice for the victims.
He further noted that the measures would also bring relief to the children of the victims, their widows and help rehabilitate the affected communities.
Oladokun Oladiran, the convener of Igangan Development Advocates, commended the Majeobaje group for bringing other groups in Yorubaland together to forge a united voice.
Mr Oladiran stated, “So, there should be a way for us to motivate ourselves, educate ourselves, enlighten ourselves so that we will not be caught unawares.
“I hope that we have some governmental stakeholders in this gathering who have listening ears and ready to act.”
He added, “My take-home lesson is that the onus is on us to protect our territories and families.”
EFCC Nabs juju scam kingpin, Alaka Awise Over N250m fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested Abayomi Kamaldeen Alaka (a.k.a. Awise).
Awise is the leader of a deadly syndicate of juju scammers that operates from a shrine at Ashipa town, near Abeokuta Ogun State.
He was arrested following a petition by a victim, Juliet Bright who lost N250million to the gang after she was tricked to provide money for sacrifices to heal her of an ailment.
Juliet was introduced to Alaka by Akinola Bukola Augustina (a.ka. Iya Osun) whom she met on Facebook.
EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren in a statement said what drew Juliet to Augustina was the latter’s post under the name, Osunbukola Olamitutu Spiritual Healing Centre.
Augustina promised Juliet recovery only if she paid N16million. The victim paid the money to an account belonging to Mohammed Sani, a Bureau De Change Operator.
Afterwards, Augustina passed the victim to other members of the syndicate, notably Awise. Juliet later met Awise at his shrine in Ashipa town where she was hypnotized.
Juliet subsequently transferred various sum through bank accounts and in cash to the suspect and his colleagues, until she lost N250million without healing.
Acting on her petition, a team from the Foreign Exchange Malpractices Section (FEMS) at EFCC headquarters, on May 21, 2021, arrested Sani and Augustina at Egbeda and Abule Egba in a sting operation.
Augustina, currently on administrative bail, led operatives to the Awise’s shrine but he had escaped arrest having gotten wind of operatives’ presence. Detectives kept tabs on him until he was nabbed.
Uwujaren disclosed that the EFCC has traced and marked a number of assets linked to Awise.
“The assets include vast land at Ashipa town, Abeokuta, used as shrine to deceive the complainant; a newly renovated filling station named Alaka Oil and Gas at No. 2, Adeneye Street, Oke-Oriya in Ikorodu, Lagos.
“An uncompleted event place named Alaka Event Centre at No. 2, Adeneye Street, Oke-Oriya, Ikorodu; uncompleted blocks of flats at No. 2, Adeneye Street, Oke-Oriya, Ikorodu, and a newly renovated storey building with boys’ quarters at No. 22, PSSDC Road, Magodo Phase 2.”
The suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.
One of the daughters of popular man of God, Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua well known as TB Joshua, Sarah has gotten a lot of people talking after she welcomed her baby boy on her father’s birthday.
The daughter of the founder of Synagogue Church of All Nationa (SCOAN), Sarah welcomed her son on the 12th of June, 2021, the birthday of her late father, TB Joshua. TB Joshua would have been 58 years on the 12th of June but passed on a week to his birthday.
Nigerians woke up to the sudden death of the man of God Prophet TB Joshua after he was reportedly preached to his congregation a few after his death was broken. The news of his death shock most people and the whole world in general.
After his church took to their official Instagram page to announce his death, the premises of his church was filled up with widows, orphans and other individuals TB Joshua lend a helping hand and also became a blessing.
According to reports, he suffered stroke two months ago where he was flown to Turkey for treatment where he recovered and returned home. His wife, Evelyn Joshua disclosed that she met him dead in his seat in the office. Apparently, the prophet died in his sleep a few hours after preaching to his congregation.
However, a new development has occurred after the death of Prophet TB Joshua. According to reports, one of TB Joshua’s Sarah Joshua who tied the knot with her Tanzanian husband, Brain Moshi on Saturday 8th May welcomed her son on her late father’s birthday, June 12th.
Gospel singer, Sola Allyson has lent her voice to the recent criticism from Gospel singer, Tope Alabi against popular hit track, Oniduromi, famously sang by Alaseyori Adeyinka.
For me and many souls which connect to this song, Oníìdúró mi, we have stories which clearly show that we would have been forgotten long ago if not for the guarantor side of The FATHER that was expressed in our lives…
I commend Yinka @adeyinkaalaseyori for making the song more accessible to souls all over the world and I wish her more help in all her doings. The song tells the story of many of us who had no backing from anyone and none to rest on or be a hiding place as to what our tomorrow would be.
I first heard this song years ago from Mama Bola Are at my home-out-of-home, @agape_pground in Akure and I immediately connected with it because, me, I would have been ridiculed, and deserted and forgotten! The song helps me express my gratitude in that respect very succinctly.
I have come to learn that we understand the concept of GOD differently, depending on how we were “given” and how much we are granted to see as we make effort to dig deeper. And that’s why I live my life devoid of divides which different abilities in understanding breed…
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state has refuted reports that he was making clandestine move to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2023 general elections, saying it is a rumour that is not going to happen.
Speaking in an interview with Daily Independent, Makinde said based on the party’s non-performance since coming to power in 2015, APC is not a party anyone should be interested in joining.
Speaking on the performance of APC in Oyo state from 2011 to 2019, Makinde said the party did not construct up to 40 kilometres of road in the entire state for eight years before it was kicked out of office.
“Is APC a party that anybody will want to cross to? It can never happen. Here, when we came in, they were saying the previous administration was the architect of modern Oyo State; they said they constructed roads and I asked them to tell me the roads they constructed and calculate the kilometres of the road. We listed all of them and discovered that, for eight years, they did not do up to 40 kilometres of road and you can investigate that. I can list those roads they started and completed for eight years”.
“If you are coming to Ibadan from that Toll Gate interchange, they came down to Challenge, went to Orita, and that is just for that axis. When you get to Dugbe through Eleyele, Jericho, they got a spur to Aleshiloye, that rail line, and then to after Police Headquarters, and they came towards the Pension House. That is for that axis too”.
“They did 6 kilometres from the first roundabout in Iseyin to somewhere within the town. They completed that. They did the overhead bridge at Mokola. And that was all. If you see any other one anywhere else, please tell me”.
“They started the Saki Township road but didn’t finish it. We took it up, and at their own cost, we saved N1.5billion through Alternative Project Funding Approach. The Idi-Ape to Iwo road interchange, we finished it. We are doing the road all the way from Idi-Ape to Akobo-Ojurin”.
“The issue is I am not in politics because I am desperate for any position, I was looking for an opportunity to serve. But APC? No. That is not a platform that anyone will even be interested in. If they have done well for Nigeria at least from 2015 till now, they are in the best position to judge. They can set an agenda for all of us and tell us those things that they have done”.
“The PDP governors go everywhere, commissioning major infrastructure projects, how come APC governors are not doing that? I have been to Adamawa to commission projects. I have been to Rivers. They are more than us and how come they are not going to commission projects in their different states? So, the APC defection rumour is a lie from the pit of hell and it is not going to happen” he said.
Grammy award-winning Nigerian recording artiste, Wizkid real name Ayodeji Balogun has opened up about how he balances life as a musician and a father.
During a Docuseries aimed at celebrating the 10th year anniversary of his debut album, ‘Superstar’, the singer reflected on how far he has come in his profession.
In the interview session that surfaced on his YouTube platform on Saturday, June 12, the Afrobeats icon spoke about what matters the most to him.
He mentioned that he feels more fulfilled spending time with his children than in the studio recording a project.
Wizkid mentioned further that his son, Boluwatife is his best friend.
Here is what he said;
“My son is like my best friend.
“He calls me every day and we have the craziest conversations.
“He is nine. It is very important for me to keep my family together.
“That is one thing my parents always instilled into us— to understand that there is nothing more important than family.
“Fatherhood means everything to me.
“Before I used to see myself as a musician, but now, I see myself as a father.
“I am a father before anything else.
The Nigerian singer is a father of three boys.
In 2011, he welcomed his first son, Boluwatife with his then-partner, Shola Ogudu. In 2016, Wizkid welcomed his second son Ayodeji with baby mama number two, Binta Diallo, a Guinean-American model.
Again in 2017, the music star welcomed his third son Zion Balogun with his manager Jada Pollock.
