Former undisputed world super welterweight boxing champion, Floyd Mayweather met with 2023 Presidential Aspirant and Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi on Monday.
Mayweather is currently in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital since Sunday, May 8, to promote his exhibition match in Dubai.
He held a news conference alongside his opponent in his upcoming boxer, Don Moore. Mayweather said the visit to Nigeria was part of plans to promote the sport of boxing in Africa.
He also revealed plans to establish a boxing academy in Nigeria.
A socio-political activist, Omoyele Sowore, on Monday asked Nigerian students to ‘teach the country’s leaders who are playing Russian roulette with their future, a big lesson’.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) earlier today rolled over its ongoing strike for another 12 weeks.
A statement signed by ASUU president, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, said this was to give the federal government enough time to satisfactorily resolve all the outstanding issues.
It also stated that the roll-over strike was effective from 12.01 am, May 9, 2021.
ASUU said it took this decision after its National Executive Council (NUC) meeting which started on Sunday night at the Festus Iyayi National Secretariat, University of Abuja (UNIABUJA).
Sowore, a presidential aspirant in the 2023 election on the platform of the African Action Congress (AAC), called for mass action until Nigerian universities are well-funded.
ASUU strike update
“Nigerian youths/students must teach these inhuman political rulers playing Russian roulette with their future a big lesson. Let the organising start now. Shut down everything with mass action, stop everything until our higher institutions are well-funded.
“They’re doing this because their kids don’t attend Nigerian universities!” Sowore wrote on his verified Twitter handle.
Funsho Adeoti, the first wife of movie producer Kazim Adeoti (Adekaz) has issued a final warning to Mercy Aigbe for taking pictures in her house.
There have been speculations that the house Mercy Aigbe is currently living with her new husband, Kazim Adeoti was jointly built with his first wife, Funsho.
The report alleged that Funsho contributed over 70% of the money used in building the house before she left Nigeria.
However, Mercy Aigbe has continued to take photos in the house to taunt Funsho Adeoti who is currently in America.
Stepping out for the 40th birthday celebration of her colleague Ini Edo, Mercy Aigbe took to her Instagram page to share photos she snapped in the house.
Displeased with this, Funsho Adeoti in a post shared on her Instagram page issued a stern warning to Mercy Aigbe and Kazim Adeoti.
Funsho Adeoti said Mercy Aigbe and Adekaz should stop pushing her and urged the actress to pull down the photos and videos from Instagram within the next 12 hours.
She wrote: @realmercyaigbe @adekazproduction for the last and final time stop pushing me. Kazim do the needful. Pull it down… you’ve been warned 12 hours only.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has condemned the unruly conduct of a Police officer caught in a viral Tik Tok video singing and dancing in praise of a particular confraternity (cult).
Naija News reports that the officer identified as Corporal Matthew Isaac, attached to the Ebonyi State Police Command has been arrested after the video went viral on social media.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Muyiwa Adejobi, in a statement on Saturday, May 7, said, “The IGP has cond#mned the unruly conduct of the police officer caught in a viral video, singing, dancing, and brandishing a rifle in praise of a particular confraternity (cult). The officer has been identified as Corporal Matthew Isaac, attached to the Ebonyi State Police Command.
“The act of the officer in question, which is clearly calculated to portray the NPF negatively, is a discreditable conduct in line with the provisions of the First Schedule to Regulation 370 of the Police Regulations.
“His actions equally viol@ted the provisions of the NPF Social Media Policy (SMP), penal laws, and other extant laws regulating the conduct and discipline of all Police officers.
“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc(+), NPM, fdc, has directed the Commissioner of Police in charge of Ebonyi State to detail the Command’s OC Provost to hand over the erring officer to the Force Provost Marshall for necessary disciplinary actions.”
Palpable Crisis is looming in the All Progressives Congress, APC over the inclusion of a Withdrawal Letter in the Presidential Nomination Form, POLITICS NIGERIA has gathered.
Some Presidential Aspirants in the party have declined to sign the letter on the basis that it could be a move to force a consensus candidate on them.
This has also been seen as a move to protect the party from court cases/litigation.
The withdrawal letter, seen by this newspaper, has to be signed before a Commissioner of Oath/Public Notary before submission with the following declaration; “I hereby voluntarily withdraw my candidacy from the contest. My withdrawal is in the best interest of our great party, the All Progressives Congress.”
Speaking on the development, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Babatunde Ogala opined that the addition of the letter “might be wrong.”
“It might lead to a lot of problems including litigation because you can’t ask a man to withdraw from a process that you have not even started.”
He queried why the party will have members purchase the form only to assent to withdrawing from the contest before even participating in the process.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the aspirants who have declared from the APC include; Ogbonnaya Onu, Rochas Okorocha, Rotimi Amaechi, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Yemi Osinbajo, Tunde Bakara, Yahaya Adoza Bello, Emeka Nwajiuba, Godswill Akpabio, Kayode Fayemi, Ibikunle Amosun and Nicholas Felix Nwagbo.
The United Kingdom Government may have classified the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist organisation.
In September 2017, the Federal Government of Nigeria declared IPOB, led by Nnamdi Kanu, a terrorist group.
Critics have long accused the UK of refusing to do the same because Kanu holds a British passport.
Kanu, who is facing charges bordering on treason, has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since repatriation in June 2021.
In December 2021, the Nigerian government urged foreign countries to also outlaw those regarded as enemies of State.
“We are lobbying our Western allies aggressively for partnership, investment and support in other areas, such as proscribing Boko Haram, bandits and IPOB as terrorist groups.
“This would severely dent their funding”, said Garba Shehu, President Muhammadu Buhari’s spokesman.
In an updated UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) policy, the British Home Office announced new rules.
The guidelines issued to decision makers explained how to consider and grant asylum applications to Biafra agitators.
The UK noted that IPOB and its militia, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), created in December 2020, “have reportedly committed human rights violations in Nigeria”.
Britain said though banned, Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) is not a proscribed terrorist group but “reportedly been involved in violent clashes with the authorities”.
“If a person has been involved with IPOB (and/or an affiliated group), MASSOB or any other ‘Biafran’ group that incites or uses violence to achieve its aims, decision makers must consider whether one (or more) of the exclusion clauses under the Refugee Convention is applicable.
“Persons who commit human rights violations must not be granted asylum”, the policy dictated.
Decision makers were directed to find out if asylum seekers submitted a previous application for a UK visa.
Thus, asylum applications matched to visas should be investigated before the asylum interview.
Immigration officers must consider each case on its facts, the legal status, profile and size of the organisation the person belongs and its activities.
Others are whether a person in the UK would wish to continue their activism if returned to Nigeria; whether the organisation has a presence in Nigeria, and any evidence that it is being monitored by the government.
Also for consideration are the person’s profile, activities (including online), relevant documentary or other evidence; the profile and activities of family members, among others.
The Palace of Soun of Ogbomosoland has been invaded by a suspected drug addict popularly known in the town as Ajanlekoko.
Although the mission of the intruder could not be immediately ascertained but some claimed he broke into the palace to steal the crowns while some said he wanted to occupy the vacant throne.
It was gathered that Ajanlekoko broke through the main gate and headed to the administrative office in the palace where he destroyed some doors before he was tamed by some men.
Ajanlekoko was said to have attacked a chief who challenged him and removed the chief’s two teeth with punches.
The Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Oladunni Oyewumi, died on December 12 2021 and the stool has been vacant since then
The Palace Secretary, Toyin Ajamu while confirming the incident in a statement to THE WHISTLER on Friday said there was no iota of truth in the claims on social media that the intruder invaded the palace to steal crowns.
The statement read, ‘Attention has just been drawn to news circulating on the social media about a man who is suspected to behave under the influence of hard drugs by destroying properties that worth million of naira at Ogbomoso Palace.
“The message is sent to debunk the rumors in the media that the man came to steal crowns at the palace.
“To put the record straight, there was no crown at the palace as the seat of Soun of Ogbomosoland is presently vacant with no crown and nothing whatsoever is being stolen except that he destroyed main Entrance Aluminum Sliding doors and Exit door leading to Soun Administrative office from the Palace.
He also injured one of the Palace Chief: Aremole of Ogbomosoland.
“Members of the public are hereby advised to ignore the rumors peddling around that he was at the palace to steal crowns or any property and those circulating such news should desist from doing so.”
Italian fashion brand, Gucci, will accept payments in cryptocurrencies in the U.S. beginning from May.
Gucci will accept cryptos in selected stores across the US.
The shops to receive the crypto assets are Wooster Street in New York, Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles, Miami Design District, Phipps Plaza in Atlanta and the Shops at Crystals in Las Vegas, according to Vogue Business.
Gucci will also accept payments in more than 10 cryptocurrencies including: Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Wrapped Bitcoin, Litecoin, Shiba Inu and five stablecoins pegged to the US dollar.
The fashion giants will also accept Dogecoin, a crypto founded by Jackson Palmer.
Marco Bizzarri, Gucci president and CEO said, “Gucci is always looking to embrace new technologies when they can provide an enhanced experience for our customers.
“Now that we are able to integrate cryptocurrencies within our payment system, it is a natural evolution for those customers who would like to have this option available to them.”
Many brands have been testing blockchain technologies like crypto as a pay form, but the use has been frustrated by many Central Banks.
Brands like Microsoft, PayPal, AT&T and Starbucks have already adopted some cryptos as payment for their products.
Veteran comic Yoruba Nollywood actor Olaniyi Afonja popularly known as Sanyeri has wowed many Nigerians with videos of his children that surfaced online.
Sanyeri is a household name in the Yoruba genre of Nollywood and has left many lovers of indigenous movies glued to him due to his funny character.
Unarguably, Sanyeri’s level of education is a major hindrance in his career, as it restricts him from taking up major English-speaking roles.
However, a video of Sanyeri’s children that surfaced online shows they are currently living outside Nigeria.
For someone who had faced some limitations because of his education, Sanyeri decided to change the narrative and many Nigerians were left speechless with the video of his children.
The video captured the kids of the veteran. actor pleading with fans to support their father by subscribing to his Youtube Channel
Reacting to the video, many Nigerians claimed that Sanyeri married a beautiful wife to produce such cute children and every kid deserve a better life than the parents.
rich___kinging wrote: “He changed the generation”.
unified_wale wrote: “He actually married a very beautiful wife”.
naimafit_ wrote: “Woooow your kids deserve better lives _ because you struggled don’t mean you treat them with comparison or allow them go through the same . It’s was your decision to BIRTH THEM so TAKE CARE OF THEM WELL … I’m impressed”.
pappyfaiithgram wrote: “Aww I’m so happy for this man , Daddy didn’t fine but Him Pinkin like am”.
The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has arrived Nigeria for a bilateral meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, religious leaders and private sector to discuss impact of the Russia/Ukraine war.
The UN office in Nigeria announced his arrival in a tweet on Tuesday, adding that he will also travel to Maiduguri to see those displaced by terrorism.
“UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrives Nigeria, meets with Borno State Governor, ProfZulum and IDPs in #Maiduguri. He will have an audience with @NGRPresident , Vice President, religious leaders, women, and the private sector representatives, among others,” the UN tweeted.
Before Guterres’ visit to Africa, he had travelled to Russia and Ukraine in a bid to convince both parties to stop the war which began on February 22.
Part of the reasons he presented before the Russia Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov was that African countries are witnessing unusual increase in prices in food and energy.
“We are interested in everything that can be done to minimize the impact ( of the war) in different parts of the world.
“I will be going to Africa after this visit, we are witnessing the dramatic impacts of the war in the situations that we have in countries that already face the covid, that face the uneven access to resources after the covid in very unfair way that international financial system works and now with the increase of prices. I have a deep interest to end the war,” he had said.
Nigeria is the third country he is visiting after Niger Republic and Senegal.
