The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Comedian

  • Comedian calls out ex-in-laws for denying him access to his child

    Comedian calls out ex-in-laws for denying him access to his child

    Popular comedian, Onyebuchi Ojieh, popularly known as Buchi, has called out his estranged wife’s family for obstructing his access to his kid.

    The comedian, in a series of posts via his Instagram page on Saturday, November 18, said the ex-in-laws are leaders at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in the United States, adding that their pastor is aware of the case.

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    He claimed his former in-laws are demanding exorbitant amounts from him before he can access his kid.

    According to him, his communication with his daughter was reduced from twice a week to one video call and then to voice notes, saying that they always block him after every call until he responds to their demand.

    He wrote: “Mr and Mrs Salami, you have my kids, your plan worked. I am not fighting you, you are leaders at the Redeemed Christian church there I know for sure that RCCG Nigeria will not allow such. You need to tell me why I can’t speak with my kids. Please if you are in the US help me call the church. The pastor knows the matter! Leaders should be examples. Enough is enough.

    “Wake UP!! U people asked me to pay to have access but it’s child welfare, that is anything I have I should pay first. I paid the money. una say e no reach more access is more money abi? 2ice communication a week is now 1 video call, then vn abi? u can only call with ur phone.. u block me after every call until I don beg abi? Okay, make una take I can’t meet ur offer… I work in Naira .. if it’s hard for you return my kids PLEASE!! Gather ur evidence I have mine pls @james_fadel @febidahosa do u have friends in RCCG? pls Look into this matter because it’s going to be a movement very soon.

    “My lovely child, am tired of being strong .. NO FORCE IN THE WORLD WILL STOP ME. The storm is coming. I need to know why I can’t talk to my baby.”

  • Comedian Propet Rolex strikes multimillion ambassadorial deal

    Comedian Propet Rolex strikes multimillion ambassadorial deal

    A popular comedian, Anthony Chisom Odunze, popularly known as Propet Rolex, has signed a multimillion ambassadorial deal with a travelling agency,  TMT Travels and Tours Limited. 

    The Chief Executive Officer of the traveling Agency, Ifeanyi Onukwubiri, who spoke to newsmen on Wednesday in Owerri, Imo State, during the eleventh year anniversary of the company, said that the firm was grateful to renew the deal with Propet Rolex.

    Onukwubiri said that TMT Travels and Tours Limited offered the skit maker a renewal deal worth millions because he represented the company well in the past one year.

    He said that Propet Rolex represents the kind of image the company needs to keep competing favourably in the traveling agency sector.

    Onukwubiri said ” I am pleased to announce to you that as we mark our eleven years anniversary at TMT Travels and Tours Limited, we have happily renewed our ambassadorial and endorsement deal with ace comedian and skit maker, Anthony Chisom Odunze popularly known as Propet Rolex.

    “Anthony Chisom Odunze popularly known as Propet Rolex represents the kind of an image TMT Travels and Tours Limited needs to effectively operate in the Traveling Agency sector of the Nigerian economy.

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    “Within the past one year, Anthony Chisom Odunze popularly known as Propet Rolex has conducted himself in such a manner that had upgraded the public image of TMT Travels and Tours Limited and made it the destination hub for all those seeking visas to travel outside Nigeria.”

    Responding, Prophet Rolex said that he was pleased that the firm renewed its contract with him and promised to continue to project the traveling Agency in positive light.

    Propet Rolex has worked with brands such as Pepsi and Nickelodeon, which have contributed to his income and success. Additionally, Rolex, one of the brands he has collaborated with, is known for its partnerships in sports, exploration, and the arts, which have been based on a shared vision and mutual respect.

  • Ukraine votes comedian as president

    IT was an astounding victory. Volodymyr Zelensky, a Ukrainian Jew, lawyer, actor and comedian, won the country’s 2019 presidential election by a landslide. Incredibly, he took more than 73 percent of the votes in the runoff election. In a country historically pockmarked by anti-Semitism, especially during World War II, it is remarkable that his Jewish ancestry and comedian identity were no impediments for a country on the throes of war with Russia, their powerful and unsmiling neighbour and foe, to vote him as president. Quite literally, everyone was left really gobsmacked. Some 39 candidates had participated in the first round of the poll. Mr Zelensky took a little over 30 percent of the votes. In the runoff, however, he beat the incumbent, Petro Poroshenko, who took a measly 25 percent. The victory was definitive.

    Mr Zelensky, a popular comic, played president in a TV sitcom the “Servant of the People”, a television character who transformed from an ordinary teacher to a corruption-busting president. It is not clear whether his role play was so persuasive as to make him electable, but most analysts think that Mr Poroshenko lost the election, much more than the 41-year-old challenger won, because the 53-year-old president seemed powerless to do anything about the corruption that had bedevilled the system and made it inoperable and ineffective for years.

    Mr Zelensky is undoubtedly inexperienced. The mere fact that he was a comedian in a series that saw a nobody transformed into a corruption-fighting president makes it doubly amusing that voters would entrust their country, badly unnerved by Russian annexations, including the annexation of the well-known Eastern Ukrainian regions of Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk, to his hands. For a comedian with no political experience whatsoever, the issues he will have to contend with in the coming months will strain his acting skills and subject the myth his television carrier has woven around him to inordinate pressures. Many will scoff at his election, but as recent history has shown, it is really not unprecedented.

    In 2017, Emmanuel Macron, also 41-year-old, won election in a manner that upended political calculations in both France and Europe. He was thought to be inexperienced; but he has soldiered on admirably, despite the chequered yellow vests protest movement. In 2003, actor Arnold “The Terminator” Schwarzenegger spectacularly won the California recall governorship election despite widespread fears he might be unable to transcend the flimsiness and superficiality of Hollywood. He went on to serve two terms and performed creditably. In 1998, Jesse “The Body” Ventura, a wrestler (WWF) and actor, also won the Minnesota governorship election to become the 38th governor despite being an entertainer. He, however, declined to seek re-election in 2003. With the exception of Mr Macron, all the rest were entertainers. But they won elections handsomely and were no pushovers in politics and governance.

    At bottom, there is of course nothing unusual about entertainers winning presidential polls. Some of them are well educated, as Mr Zelensky, a lawyer, shows. To focus exclusively on their entertainment  backgrounds, and to treat entertainment disdainfully, is to completely miss the point and draw inaccurate conclusions. The leitmotif of these electoral victories by entertainers is the supreme self-belief which they exuded. They dreamt it, believed it, and fought to bring it about. More importantly, who could fail to notice how quaintly Mr Zelensky reconciled playing a character on television and going on to assume that role in real life?

    The human mind is incredibly strong and inventive. When the great religions urge individuals to watch their thoughts and words, it is because they have long recognised the sheer transcendental quality and power of words and thoughts. Words are spirits, and they are life. They are harbingers or forerunners of physical realities. Mr Zelensky acted the role of a teacher turned by both political and historical sleight of hand into a president. Who could tell how intensely the Ukrainian president-elect believed and dreamt that transmutation? In any case, acting became, for him, a medium for transposing reality. He merely keyed into that reality.

  • Comedian I Go Dye scouts for new talents

    As a way of helping to combat youth restiveness in Delta State, notable comedian, Francis Agoda, popularly known as I Go Dye has launched a new project tagged Sorting Out Raw Talents (SORT), which he says will help the young people discover a new path in life.

    SORT is part of his Francis Agoda Path of Honour (FAPOH) initiative for which he staked USD 5,000 on potential winner of a video skit to promote peace during the 2019 general elections with the hashtag #Istandforpeace2019elections”.

    Speaking on SORT, I Go Dye said: “Obviously at this point of our existence, selfless contributions that will create alternatives to engage the youths should be encouraged. We cannot continue to leave the  responsibility of supporting the youths in the hands of government  alone. In the past, programs like West Africa Idol, Project Fame and others have really helped our  talented youths in Nigeria, making the winners who they are today. So, this requires the support of us all, because its  objectives are  aimed at eradicating youths restiveness, making them to become more  resourceful and productive and we have the support of Delta State Government. We are looking at taking it across Niger Delta before we do SORT NINJA. Like they say, charity begins at home, that his why we are lunching this project SORT today in Delta State.”

    He said the project will  begin on February 13, 2019 and end on February 27, 2019.

    “The activation and auditioning will commence   in Warri on the 13th of February  at Wellington hotel from 9am to 5pm. Agbor will be next on 21st of February at City View Suite and Lounge, and the  last auditioning will   hold  on 23rd of February 2019 at Nelrose Hotel Asaba while the grand  event is on the 27th of February 2019 at the Dome Event Centre, Asaba. Project SORT will be looking out for talented youths across Delta State, it is expected to reach those in the grassroots and afford them a place to be heard and seen.”

    Continuing, I Go Dye said, “Winners of the auditioning  for each local government will become  FAPOH Talents and Brain Ambassadors of their local government and he will be  rewarded with the sum of N500,000 which will qualifier them winners to the grand finale. The star prize will be N2million and a brand new car, while second and third prizes are N1.5 million and N1 million respectively.”

    To perform at the grand finale event will be veteran comedians like I Go Save, Gordons, AY and I Go Dye himself, while 2Baba and Harrysong are expected to lead the ensemble of musicians that will perform at the event.

    According to him, there has been a decline in the growth level of entertainment in Delta State over the years, because opportunities to harness the talents have not been adequate.

    “I want to thank the state governor Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa for the partnership and support of this project  as we strive to achieve the FAPOH set goals. I also thank 2face, Harrysong, I Go Save for their support. I want to   call for individuals and cooperate organizations to support this project, because this responsibility is not for FAPOH alone, it’s for all, it empowers the youths for the future,” he said.

  • Democracy Day: Comedian wants Nigerians to eschew corruption

    Fast becoming a social commentator, comedian Francis Agoda, aka I Go Dye is supporting President Muhammadu Buhari’s fight against corruption.

    In an open letter to the President, the comedian who expressed his support, albeit subtly, highlighted the damages which corruption has done to the nation, while urging Nigerians to eschew the vice.

    He said: “As a people, most especially the youths, we should realise that national pride comes first, we should not wait to be reminded before we use our greatness to rebuild this nation. The time has come for us to ask what has been happening to our collective wealth; who, how and what have been done with the money. This issue is beyond religious beliefs; it is the major problem against our spiritual lives in this country today. We have to speak and build our national pride, we must take patriotism as a virtue that must come first, it so important, without it no nation can be built. Regardless of what we enjoy today as elites and successful people, our prosperity cannot be easily transferred to all our children, let’s work to build a country devoid of corruption, a place where children, youths and our mothers will not wallow in pain of starvation and poverty.”

    Making reference to this year’s Democracy Day, I Go Dye categorically opined that there’s nothing to celebrate about democracy in the face of corruption.

    “Corruption is killing our mothers and young children on a daily basis, because the funds meant for healthcare and proper management of our hospitals have often been diverted by someone in authority,” he added, pointing out that today, “We still have the highest mortality rate because of corruption. It’s beyond religious and ethnic boundaries; it’s an epidemic that lives with us like our shadows.”

  • American Comedian Brings Wong Street Journal to Lagos Theatre Festival

    American Comedian Brings Wong Street Journal to Lagos Theatre Festival

    Renowned American performance artist and comedian, Kristina Wong, is visiting Lagos this week to participate in the Lagos Theatre Festival.   The festival runs from  February 27 to March 4.

    Supported by the United States Consulate General Lagos, Wong will conduct master classes for performing arts students, faculty, and theatrical directors at the University of Lagos, Lufodo Academy of Performing Arts, and PEFTI Film Institute.

    During the festival, Wong, who is notable for her works focusing on women and economic empowerment, will perform her critically acclaimedWong Street Journal show on Friday, March 2. The event will be hosted by United States Consul General, Mr.  F. John Bray, at Terra Kulture Arts and Cultural Centre, Lagos.

    Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Consulate General Lagos, Ms. Darcy Zotter, expressed optimism that Wong’s visit to Nigeria will strengthen cross-cultural understanding and collaboration between the people of Nigeria and the United States.

    ”The Public Affairs Sections of our Embassy in Abuja and Consulate General in Lagos sponsor programs that share the best of the U.S. arts community with Nigeria.

    “We are pleased to support Kristina Wong’s participation at the 2018 Lagos Theatre Festival.  She is one of the many American arts professionals who have come to Nigeria to give performances, and mentor young Nigerian artists,” Zotter said.

    Wong has created five solo shows and one ensemble play that have toured throughout the United States and United Kingdom.

    Her most notable touring show ––Wong Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest looked at the high rates of depression and suicide among Asian-American women and has toured to over 40 venues since 2006.

  • Comedian launches book, ‘Asiri Mystery’

    Comedian launches book, ‘Asiri Mystery’

    Nigerian comedian and actor, Damilare Osundare, popularly known as Asiri has launched his first book titled ‘Asiri Mystery.’

    The event took place on Sunday, January 21 at Ikeja, Lagos and had in attendance social media influencer, Japheth Omojuwa, Eniola Agbaje, Owen Gee, Aroli, Femi Branch, Niyi Johnson and a host of others.

    Speaking at the launch, which was graced by Nollywood practitioners and opinion shapers, the book reviewer, Samuel Olatunji, said the book which had its foreword written by comedy veteran, Alibaba, is coming at a right time.

    “Asiri spoke about growing up in Ibadan and going to Bodija market,” Olatunji said.

    “The book dwells on discovering your real essence and not being confused about the opinion of other people. The second chapter of this book is very interesting because it is an era where social media is confusing everybody. Discover your true essence and stick by it.”

    Also speaking the author said that leadership is lacking in this society.

    “I understand that you cannot lead someone if you can’t influence them,” Asiri said.

    “And you cannot influence someone if you cannot inspire them. That is why I tagged the book a mobile mentor in the sense that it is your teacher when your teacher is not there, it is your pastor when your pastor is not there. It is your guide when your guide is not there. This book was born out of a passion to inspire. I want to put my thoughts in as many households as possible. It is not possible to do it from the corner of my room. But my book can reach place where I’ve not been to personally. So that is the whole essence of the book.”

  • Comedian I Go Dye throws jab at Atiku

    Comedian I Go Dye throws jab at Atiku

    Ace comedian and United Nations Millennium Development Goal Ambassador, Francis Agoda, also known as ‘ I Go Dye ‘ has warned former Vice President Abubakar Atiku to not use sentimental empathy on youths as he goes about his 2019 presidential ambition.

    “Sir, you are one of those that have immensely benefited from Nigeria since your birth in 1946,” he said.

    “Having worked for 20 years with the Nigeria Customs where you retired at the age of 43 in 1989 as Deputy Director, your bucket list sure looks good because you were obviously employed at youthful age of 23.

    “In 1999 you became governor of Adamawa State and ultimately the Vice President, all of these you achieved at 53. What did you do during your time in that exalted position?  When will the youths like in your time get a chance? I am motivated to speak, based on your statement: A party that does not take the youths into account is a dying party. The future belongs to the young. Please which of the future?

    “Remarkably, between 1999 and 2007 that you were the Vice president of Nigeria, it is recorded that tertiary institutions witnessed several strikes that wasted seventeen months, three weeks and three days. Within this period, what did you do?”

    Continuing, he emphasised that the former Vice President never truly had the interests of the youth at heart, accusing him of never implementing a programme in the interest of youths in the country.

    “If social support were given to youths then, their children will be between 18 and 20 years during the 2019 elections, obviously they would have willingly voted for you or anyone that you endorse in 2019. This is the essence of making sacrifices for the future generation. You cannot be credited to have been philanthropic to the youths. The recent revocation of the NPA contract with Intel, your company, is the major issue. As a company either, the people in the region you operated cannot accredit Intel to have provided credible  support for the youths or built skills acquisition centers to  curb  unproductivity as part of it’s corporate social responsibility , which has resulted to many youths embarking on the sub- Sahara deserts route travel to Europe, which has claimed many lives”

    “Your Excellency Sir  Atiku Abubakar, please don’t use sentimental empathy on the youths to express your political ambitions, because by 2019 the youths are preparing to substantiate the real economical, political and progressive change. I kindly recommend that you should advocate for process that will afford us the opportunity of a youthful leadership in the 2019 election.”

    ‘I Go Dye’ is a recipient of many awards including the United Nations Millennium Development Goal Ambassador; United Nations World Habitat Ambassador and 2017 African Child Prize. He is also listed among 100 Most Influential Persons in Africa by Global Icons and 100 Most Influential Deltans among others.

  • Top Social Media Power Players

    Top Social Media Power Players

    1. Lilly Singh

    Comedian, Writer

    Lilly Singh (born 26 September 1988) was born and raised in Scarborough, Toronto.Her parents, Malwinder and Sukhwinder Singh, are originally from Punjab, India, and she was raised as Sikh. She was in her final year of university, finishing a psychology degree when she first learned ‘YouTube star’ was a viable career option. She’d always wanted to rap, dance, and act, but lacked confidence and didn’t know where to start.

    It was, in part, a video posted by early YouTuber Jenna Marbles that brought her out of her shell. Marbles (real name: Jenna Mourey) had filmed herself performing comedy from her own bedroom, on a laptop, and was broadcasting to an audience of millions. 

    Singh’s first video was a spoken word piece on religion and humanity, now deleted as it’s no longer on-brand. It managed 70 views. She caught the attention of YouTube executives early on. Within her first year, the Google-owned video platform asked Singh to join their Partner Program. By 2012, having monetized her videos, she was able to hire a manager.

    With its entertaining mix of comedy sketches, rants, skits, and the occasional activism, like her anti-sexist #GirlLove series, Singh’s channel — under her username, ‘IISuperwomanII’ now boasts 11.7 million subscribers.

     

    2. Brian Kelly

    Blogger, Entrepreneur

    Brian Kelly is the founder and CEO of The Points Guy (TPG), the digital platform renowned worldwide for all points, miles and travel related tips. Kelly launched TPG in 2010 during his time as a Wall Street road warrior, where he developed his keen sense for maximizing travel experiences while minimizing spending.

    Since then, the company has grown into a powerhouse travel and lifestyle media platform with a team of distinguished editors and freelancers spanning the globe. With Kelly at the helm, TPG’s audience has doubled every year since the launch, expanding its editorial content to include flight and hotel reviews, curated travel guides, immersive video reviews as well as global event activations. Today, TPG has a dedicated fan base, receiving 4.2  million unique monthly visitors and more than 2.1 million followers on social media.

     

    Mark Edward Fischbach(Markiplier)

    Comedian, Digital Star, Vlogger

    Mark Edward Fischbach (born June 28, 1989), known online as Markiplier, is an American Youtube Personality. Originally from Honolulu, Hawai. He began his career in Cincinnati, Ohio and is currently based in Los Angeles, California
    Mark Fischbach dropped out of college, where he’d studied engineering, to grow his career as a YouTube gaming commentator, specializing in the horror genre. In five years, his videos have been viewed over 7 billion times. In the ultimate sign of crossover success, he inked a deal with mega-agency William Morris Endeavor in 2016.H

    As of July 2017, his channel has over 7 billion total video views and 18 million subscribers and is currently the 23rd most-subscribed channel on YouTube. Fischbach specializes in Let’s Play videos, commonly of survival horror and action video games.

    courtesy: Forbes

  • Comedian among slain Badoo suspects

    Comedian among slain Badoo suspects

    •Outrage on social media over MC Think Twice, others death

    A Comedian, Paul Chinedu aka MC Think Twice, was said to be among the three persons lynched on Sunday in Ikorodu for allegedly being members of the Badoo cult, it emerged yesterday.

    But news of the killing of another suspect has gone viral.

    There was outrage over his death on social media yesterday, with many condemning the Onyabo Vigilante group and residents for lynching people under the guise of hunting Badoo members.

    According to residents, the slain Chinedu and his friends who were caught around 1am, were said to have told the vigilante members that they were going to tow a broken down vehicle, but nobody believed them.

    The late Chinedu, who was said to be returning from a show, had a flat tyre and sought his friends’ help.

    It was gathered that the trio rode in a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) and were heading to the place the comedian’s vehicle broke down before they were stopped.

    Unconvinced by their response to questions, the vigilantes called out residents and the victims were set ablaze.

    On social media, the late Chinedu’s friends, lamented what they called the “barbaric action”, urging the police to arrest and prosecute the culprits.

    One of them, Ifeoluwa Olaoye, berated the vigilantes for resorting to jungle justice.

    According to her, Chinedu was billed to perform at “Salt the Album” launch on July 22, but was killed for nothing.

    She said: “After receiving calls this morning that you were part of the people burnt to death by a mob at Ikorodu, tears roll down my cheek! They mistook you for Badoo cultist, but you were just an entertainer/MC, moving from pillar to pillar to earn a living and make it to the top! The mob never thought twice as your stage name implies (MC ThinkTwice). I still find hard it to believe that you are no more.

    “The political elite have failed us yet we still strive to make a living without indulging in criminal act. Each time you performed on stage, I saw the next Basketmouth, AliBaba, AY in you but the only thing the mob could see in you was Badoo cult and they cut your dream short. So disheartening to see a fellow hustler, who worked hard in order not to be a liability or nuisance to the society, going down in such a way. May God pay back those who have done this to you because I can’t imagine how your parents and family are feeling right now.”

    Ikorodu Ambassadors Group, coordinator Rasheed Fatuga, while condemning the killings, urged residents to be law abiding.

    Claiming that security agencies have failed Ikorodu residents, he appealed to the people not to allow bitterness and the thirsts for vengeance rob them of their humanity.

    He said: “Are we going to just fold our arms and do absolute nothing about the security challenges we are facing in Ikorodu? No, we cannot let that happen. But we cannot turn ourselves into killers and murderers like them. We cannot let them take away our humanity. We cannot let them fill our consciences with regret.

    “We cannot let them fill our minds with hatred and fill our dreams with darkness. Let us say no to setting people ablaze, beating people to death and use of tyres to burn people.

    “It is a crime. Let’s do the right thing by handing criminals to the police, and make sure we follow it up. We are role models. The international community and our children are watching us.”

    Matti Olawale said killing suspects would disturb investigation, calling on residents to ensure that exhibits are kept intact so that investigators can unravel those behind the ritual gang.

    He said: “We are not doing the right thing by killing suspects. It would not bring an end to the devilish act. For instance, the SUV the suspects drove had a registration number. Why set it ablaze when further investigations could be conducted to establish the veracity of the allegation?

    Also yesterday, residents accused the police of arresting innocent people during last weekend’s raid and shielding those behind the Badoo killings.

    The command’s spokesman, Olarinde Famous-Cole, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), said screening of the 138 persons arrested had begun.

    Asked if those behind Sunday’s jungle justice had been arrested, Famous-Cole said no.

    He said: “Screening has commenced.  A total of 138 suspects were raided. Those found to be innocent would be released but those who are suspected of criminality would be charged to court. We have not arrested anyone in connection with the killings. Investigation is ongoing.”