The Nation Newspaper

Category: Victor Akande

  • Celebs on Omoni Oboli’s autobiography

    Nollywood star Omoni Oboli, has continued to receive accolades for her autobiography, ‘The Stars are Ageless,’ which was launched recently.

    The accolades have been pouring in from her colleagues who have read the book.

    Mercy Aigbe, who was seen reading the book on a plane during one of her trips recently stated, “My babe @omonioboli you are such an inspiration. This book is a must read!… mere reading it lifted my spirit and gave me that boost to keep striving, keep moving, keep knowing that I will achieve my dreams, my set out goals.”

    Another colleague Lami Phillips-Gbadamosi wrote, “I just finished reading @omonioboli’s book. I had dropped it at a point because I found my heart broken at the passing of her mother… but I forced myself to push through till the end. Besides, the revelation of how resilient and strong Omoni is, is the bigger revelation that every Queen has her strengths cohabiting with her struggles. I found myself in bits of her story. She knows she deserves more. Her dreams are big and valid. “Why are you standing in my light”, she asks.

    “I applaud her bravery in telling her story. I celebrate her husband @nnamdioboli for letting her fly. And I pray every queen with a dream gets their chance to truly shine including me.”

    Fashion entrepreneur, Onu Ovuoma Radiance, spent the Democracy Day holiday reading the book and recommended the book for youths.

    “Someone please ask me how I spent my Democracy Day and let me proudly scream it in your ears that I spent it reading a life changing narrative,” she said.

    “This is a must read for every youth! Yes, the youths need this even more than those at the top of success already. I saw the slash sale on these pages @okadabooks @omonioboli and I said to myself, “I must grab this opportunity today”. Kai, I started reading this book and I couldn’t stop. I’m not fan of finishing a book at a sitting but I couldn’t resist this.

    “Lol, an aunt who came visiting (of course she didn’t have my attention) had to ask “Is this a textbook you’re reading? Are you preparing for exams already? Why so much concentration?”. Lol, I was this glued to it! I read this book and I said to myself, “Stars are not made in one day! They pass through a process; the tougher your process, the glower your shine. Just accept to go through the process.

    “For the next few days, I’d be sharing my lessons from this book! To one of my role models @omonioboli reading this piece by you has reinvigorated the star in me. I’d work so hard till you hear my story someday ma’am. I love you.”

  • Comedian AY shows off wife’s achievement

    Noted for promoting his wife’s endeavours, comedian Ayo Makun, aka AY, on Wednesday, showed off his wife’s works, hyping her as one of the leading interior décor operators in Nigeria.

    Uploading the picture of her Midas Interiors office, he stated; “All these interior people can form oppression. See how my PA @midas_interiors office is looking finer than mine. Like say my money and my money na mate? Just come and do my office again if you don’t want me to move into yours”.

    Mabel Makun, who recently got nominated for the TENA Entrepreneur of the year 2018 on June 24th, 2018, at Bespoke Event Center, 4th Round about Lekki Lagos, will be honored at the Global Ambassador Merit Awards 2018.

    The award is in honor of some individuals who have in one way or the other contributed to humanitarian services, entertainment development and peace building across the country.

    Also on May 26th, 2018, the CEO alongside some other top personalities will be playing a march at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, as part of an enlightenment campaign against childhood cancer. The match is orgnaised by Daivyan Children Cancer Foundation.

  • Imagine the Benue of 2Baba and Co

    There has been dead silence in the face of the ongoing gruesome killings in Benue State, Middle Belt of Nigeria – a sometimes daylight massacre, purportedly orchestrated by an unusual type Fulani herdsmen.

    The silence is so deafening and in sharp contrast to the showiest musical tone of celebrities like Innocent Idibia, aka 2Baba; torch light-styled singer, Zaaki Azzay and the once popular Michael Aboh and Al-Hassan Ibrahim of the defunct Zule Zoo group. Not forgetting other singers like Gabriel Oche Amanyi, aka Terry G; and Ahmedu Augustine Obiabo, aka Blackface all from Benue State.

    This supposedly new age nomads with obvious undertone as a terrorist group appear to have more blackmailing hold on the political sensibility of this country than the Boko Haram insurgents, and if the powers that be – including political leaders in the State have lost the volume with which they seek political offices in this seemingly unending war against their own, ravaging homes and sniffing life out of harmless women and children – what has become of the voice of musicians and their heavenly gift that we know commands attention?

    Indeed, 2Baba had paid his State Governor, Samuel Ortom a visit on January 17, 2018, over the New Year mass murder in Benue, he has resorted to condemning the killings on his Twitter page, where on one occasion he said: “The killings are getting ridiculous and shameful.”

    It is my opinion that the singer could do better, perhaps more than his physical involvement in the pre-2015 elections’ campaign of ‘Vote Not Fight’. As the leading artiste in Benue, it couldn’t have been out of place if he brings others together in a campaign song against these senseless killings.

    Not many are aware that there are other notable Nigerian celebrities from Benue State, including gospel singer Morgan Ochogwu, aka Chris Morgan; rapper David Torkuma, aka Pherowshuz; singer, song writer and composer, David Adoga, aka Overdose; and 2011 winner of Project Fame reality show, Monica Ogah.

    What about actress Susan Peters, actor and film producer, Akume Akume, and legendary footballer Daniel Amokachi…

    Over the year, more than 100 farmers have been reportedly killed, as the violent confrontation between armed herders and unarmed farmers is on the rise, with the nation’s security agency yet to arrest the situation.

    Only recently, a Catholic Minor Seminary was attacked in Jalingo, part of Nigeria’s north-central, leaving no fatalities but several injuries, including two priests.

    This, being the latest in a long-running series of violent incidents followed the deadly attack on April 24, in which the herdsmen killed 17 worshippers and two Catholic priests while burning down a church in Benue State.

    On Wednesday, Governor Ortom insinuated that the killings were regarded as a jihad in view of the comments credited to the Fulani Nationality Movement, FUNAM, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore and Miyetti Allah Cattle Herders Association, saying that the attacks were a jihad and struggle for the control of natural resources in the Benue Valley, and thus called for the arrest of the leadership of the groups to prevent further killings.

    I think we require more voices on this situation, whether or not it would solve the problem in the end. But surely, posterity will, as they say, judge those who speak up and those who have chosen to keep quiet in the face of tyranny.

    On the other hand, I think it is indeed worrisome that, for an economic train that we are still struggling to bring back to rail, if we imagine how deeper this crisis is plunging Nigeria in view of the fact that Benue is the largest yam producing State in Nigeria and beyond?

  • Between Falz’s and Childish Gambino’s state of affairs’ video

    Nigerian rapper, Folarin Falana, aka Falz The Bahd Guy, stirred the hornets’ nest when he released the remake of American rapper, Donald Glover, aka Childish Gambino’s ‘This is America’ video.

    Although, both tracks speak about societal ills, there is the issue of specificities as regards location.

    All over the world, it is a common thing to see people speak up against their government and music is fast becoming an essential tool for voicing out such misgivings. At a time when there is a growing concern about security the world over, it is not surprising how widely both tracks were received.

    Although Falz received knocks with some opining that the video is a rehash of someone else’s creativity, he has also been receiving accolades from the world scene. Two of the world’s biggest Networks, CNN and Aljazeera recently profiled his video and the issues it seeks to address.

    Because of the difference in locale, the issues addressed by both artistes tend to have differences. Gambino’s messages tilt towards mass shootings, racial murders, drug use, gun violence and whatnots.

    Falz on the other hand sings about internet fraud, corruption in government offices (citing the N36 million allegedly swallowed by a snake), corrupt political office holders, rising insecurity, mass hysteria by way of prosperity preachers, and lack of adequate electricity.

    But there is a meeting point. While drug use has always been an issue in the United States, it is a growing concern in Nigeria. So is the issue of mass shootings.

    For instance, in his video, Gambino depicts the murder of a choir, a subtle reference to the 2015 massacre at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Falz also references the mass murder being orchestrated allegedly by  herdsmen in the North and some parts of the Middle Belt.

    While Gambino tells his story using graphic representations, Falz tried to tone down the gore, perhaps because the Nigerian audience appears not to be ripe for such representations.

  • Firm names street after Aishat Abimbola

    A leading real estate firm, Fresh Forest Nigeria Limited, has named one of the streets in its estate after the late actress, Aishat Abimbola, aka Omoge Campus.

    Abimbola, who died few weeks ago, was one of the brand ambassadors of the company.

    In a statement issued by his Media Assistant, Murphy Ajibade Alabi, the Chief Executive Officer of the company, Ibidire Adetunji Lams, stated thaACt nothing was too much to immortalise the multi-talented actress.

    “It is still a shock to us, the management of Fresh Forest Nigeria Limited that we lost our lead ambassador and  popular Yoruba actress, Aishat Abimbola. We pray almighty God accept her soul and may she continue to rest in the bosom heart of God. Aishat had been our ambassador for years and we will surely miss her.

    “In order not to forget her name, we have  decided to immortalise her by naming one of the streets in our estate, Aishat Abimbola Crescent, Fresh Land Estate, Igbesa, Ogun State,  after her, and we also plan to reduce the price of our properties in her honour.”

  • JUST START, BANKY W ADVISES FANS ON THEIR DREAMS

    Singer, music producer and actor Banky W has urged his fans to not to remain stagnant as they pursue their dreams.

    Banky W said this during his session at the sixth edition of the LiveYourDreams Africa tagged, ‘The Awakening’, which held last Saturday, May 19, at Glitz Event Centre, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos. He spoke on a panel with Funke Bucknor, Nosa Afolabi (Lasisi Elenu), Inetimi Odon (Timaya), Olakunbi Oyelese (April by Kunbi), Ireti Doyle, Joke Bakare, Kaffy and others.

    However, reliving the moment with his presentation at the event, Banky W took to Instagram to share videos of the event on Thursday.

    “God never gives you everything you need for every single step of your journey,” he wrote, posting videos alongside.

    “but he always gives you enough to get started. Just start. Things will fall into place once you get moving.. but nothing happens when you remain in the same place. The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. Just start.”

    Continuing in another video, Banky W wrote: “When you get to that place.. when you feel like you’ve lost hope.. when depression sets in.. that is when you have to hold on a little longer. Hitting “Rock Bottom” can be a good thing because there’s nowhere else to go but UP. As long as you don’t die.. as long as there’s still breath in your lungs.. your life can still turn around. Things can and will get better. Believe in God and never EVER give up on yourself. Ever. I’m a testimony.”

  • Give me some accolades; Ali Baba demands

    Reputed for being one of the pioneers of stand-up comedy in Nigeria, celebrated comedian, Atunyota Alleluya Akpobome, popularly known as Ali Baba, has said that people only see him as one who comes on social media to flaunt riches.

    To counter that narrative, the humour merchant shared his journey to success and all the challenges  that came with it.

    Addressing the issue of people accusing him of having no idea about what they are passing through, he wrote: “These days, no one wants to know I was thrown out of 1004, just after network news and went from there to live at the bar beach for nearly a year. Or squatted in #YabaTech for 1 semester. Or with Uncle Philip Efoguah, for nearly 2 Christmas celebrations .

    “And trekked from NTA Ahmadu Bello Way to Palmgrove depending… Or squatted with the present DG of SON. Osita, for nearly a year. Or with Abigail and Dr Pama in Ketu for some time. Or that I came to Lagos in 1990 with just a suitcase of books and 2 pairs of jeans and 2 brogues. With 2 shirts, 3 polo T-shirts and 2 coats. Or that the only hope to survival then was God and @giantajaloko… Naaaaa… all people see now is Ali Baba is flaunting. Na your flaunting? Did you also say ‘chai Ali Baba has suffered’, noooooo, because the story you know is the good times one. So you think that’s all it is.

    On his feeding method back then, he wrote; “I laugh when some people come on my timeline and say, I talk because I don’t know what people are going through. You see that 0-1-0 code, or 0-0-1, or 0-0-0, 0-0-1, 0-0-0, 1-0-0… was a routine. Meanwhile it was not Ramadan. Let’s not compare notes. I’m a Notary Public when it comes to hard knocks. So when you see me now… give me some accolades.”

  • ‘Kolo for Jesus’ set to win souls

    United Kingdom-based Nigerian artiste, Pastor Juliet Iyeyemi, is set to win more souls for Christ with her new album titled ‘Kolo For Jesus.’ The ten-track album is the seventh album of the gospel singer and social crusader.

    In a statement by her media aide, David Idahor, the singer hopes the songs would lift souls; give hope to the poor and the less-privileged.

    She added that efforts to ensure peaceful co-existence amongst the people necessitated her visit to Liberia and Lagos, where she hosted the orphans. She also disclosed that there are plans to empower the needy at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

  • Achievas Entertainment boss Ossy touched by plight of poor citizens

    The CEO of Achievas’ Entertainment, Paul Chiori Cole, better known as Ossy Achievas, has announced that he would be putting a smile on the faces of the less-privileged people  including the visually impaired, widows, motherless babies amongst others via his newly launched charity foundation, The Richout Foundation.

    The Richout Foundation, according to Ossy, is set to be officially opened  to the public come Sunday May 27, at an event to be held on the day widely celebrated as Children’s Day.

    On why he is setting up a foundation and launching it  on the Children’s Day celebration, Ossy disclosed that the day marks his birthday and there is no better way to describe his vision for the less privileged.

    He said: “Everyone surely  has a story to tell. I was not born with a silver spoon. I am only fortunate to be where I am today and as such,  it brings me joy to put smiles on people’s faces irrespective of their condition, tribe or identity.”

    The charity foundation, he said, will run as a Non-Governmental Organization. “However it is important to note that I  will be granting scholarship up to university level to two kids; Tchiko Blessing and Tchiko Ines.” Achievas Entertainment is reputed to have successfully organised the first three editions of ‘Olamide Live in Concert’ (OLIC) and one of the most talked about concert of the year 2017; Davido’s ’30Billion Gang Concert’.

  • Tiwa Savage appreciates fans with cash gifts

    A lucky fan of hip hop artiste Tiwa Savage will win N1m as the singer is set to reward her fans for supporting her new songs, ‘Tiwa’s Vibe’ and ‘Labalaba.’

    The 38-year-old mother of one took to Instagram to announce the give-away on Wednesday; other fans would get a chance to win N100, 000 every Friday.

    “You guys have been so amazing with the support of my new records, so I want to reward someone by giving N1m ($3000) cash price,” the Mavin Records first lady wrote.

    “All you have to do is post a video of your best vibe and it can be anything because it’s your VIBE, so it could be you singing, driving, dancing, painting, etc. Just get as creative as possible and make sure you #tiwasvibe #myvibe #tiwasvibechallenge and we will post these videos on this handle @tiwasvibechallenge.

    Also every Friday starting this Friday I’ll give a random post N100k.

    “Good luck beautiful people … let’s VIBE.”

    Just as Tiwa has been hitting the airwaves with her two latest singles, ‘Tiwa’s Vibe’ and ‘Labalaba’, she has also been caught in the storm built up by fans on whether she and fellow artiste, Wizkid are dating.