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  • Kanye West becomes richest rap artiste 2019 – Forbes

    American rapper and fashion designer, Kanye West has been named the highest-paid hip-hop act in the world, earning 150 million dollars in a year.

    According to Forbes, Kanye West top the 2019 list, edging out JAY-Z who earned 81 million dollars and Drake who made 71 million dollars, to stand at second and third positions respectively on the list of top 20.

    JAY-Z has always been one of the top earners in hip-hop, but for the first time ever he has lost out to Kanye West,his former protégé.

    The top ten consists entirely of male hip-hop artists, as Eminem, DJ Khaled, Kendrick Lamar, Migos, and Childish Gambino round out the rest of the list.

    The only female artists to make it into the top 20 are Nicki Minaj and Cardi B, who come in at the number 12 and 13 slots respectively.

    Nicki Minaj made 29 million dollars earnings, and Cardi B, the youngest to make the list at 26, raked in 28 million dollars in earnings.

    In 2018, Kanye West stood at number 10 on the list with 27.5 million dollars, while Jay came in at number one with 76.5 million.

    It’s a huge surge for Kanye, as his partnership with Adidas is expected to pull in over 1.5 billion in sales in 2019.

    Read Also; Kim Kardashian, Kanye West welcome fourth child

    Check out the top 20 list below:

    1. Kanye West – $ 150 million

    2. Jay-Z – $ 81 million

    3. Drake – $ 75 million

    4. Diddy – $ 70 million

    5. Travis Scott – $ 58 million

    6. Eminem – $ 50 million

    7. DJ Khaled – $ 40 million

    8. Kendrick Lamar – $ 38.5 million

    9. Migos – $ 36 million

    10. Childish Gambino – $ 35 million

    11. J. Cole – $ 31 million

    12. Nicki Minaj – $ 29 million

    13. Cardi B – $ 28 million

    14. Swizz Beatz – $ 23 million

    15. Meek Mill – $ 21 million

    16. Birdman – $ 20 million

    17. Future – $ 19.5 million

    18. Nas – $ 19 million

    19. Wiz Khalifa – $ 18.5 million

    20. Pitbull – $ 18 million

    (NAN)

  • Tribunal validates re-election of Ikpeazu, dismisses Otti’s petition

    The Governorship and State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, on Friday affirmed the reelection Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

    It threw away the petition brought before the tribunal by the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Dr. Alex Otti, challenging the declaration of Ikpeazu as the winner of the 2019 polls in the state.

    Otti had approached the tribunal seeking the nullification of Ikpeazu as the winner of the poll, but the Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye said that the petitioner failed to prove the alleged non compliance to the Electoral Guidelines in the said 15 LGAs.

    Ogunmoye further stated that the petitioner failed to prove the case of over-voting and alleged irregularities.

    According to Justice Ogunmoye all the reliefs sought by Otti and APGA were dismissed and described the application as unmeritorious.

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    Counsel to the respondent, Chief Paul Ananaba (SAN) appreciated the Tribunal for delivering what he described as unbiased and sound judgment. But Otti’s lead counsel, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) said “the judgment has moved the law forward. The position of the tribunal is that the decision of the Supreme Court in the case regarding card reader is no longer the law.

    “The law has been amended as was decided in Wike and others and the tribunal actually agreed that the law has changed. There is an amendment now.

    “However they believe that the infraction which has been done to the election, in this case, is not substantial enough to nullify the election.”

    Reacting to the judgment, Ikpeazu who spoke at the Governor’s lodge, Umuahia invited Otti to join hands with him in the development of the state.

    Ikpeazu said the “APGA candidate should sheath his sword and respect the will of the people and join hands to build Abia,” adding, “there is a space for everybody.”

  • UPDATED: Tribunal upholds Okowa’s election

    Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta has urged his rival in the March 9 gubernatorial election, Chief Great Ogboru of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to join hands with his administration in building a stronger state.

    The governor made the call on Friday at an inter-denominational thanksgiving service shortly after the reaffirmation of his electoral victory by the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, which sat in Asaba.

    “I appeal to my brother, Ogboru, that the time has come to stop fighting; it is time to partner together to do the best that we can for our people.

    “I appeal that enough is enough; it is time to build Delta State together for the good of our people.

    “I ask for the hands of the opposition, because Delta State is for all of us; we cannot do it alone and I want to thank our supporters and all Deltans for praying for us.

    “We require the assistance of all in prayer and in human partnership.

    Read Also: Delta won’t regret voting for me, says Okowa

    “We must continue to pray for our state and our country, because we believe that our prayer will save our country.

    “As Deltans, we must hold firmly to the Lord, because Delta State will continue to remain peaceful and united as we will prosper together,” Okowa said.

    The governor thanked his legal team and former President of the Senate, Sen. David Mark, who attended the service in company with his wife.

    He assured Deltans that the next four years would be more fruitful than his first tenure.

    Earlier in his sermon, the Government House Chaplain, Venerable Charles Osemenem, said that God rules the affairs of men.

    According to him, because God is interested in the affairs of man, we should be careful and mindful of what we do.

    “Let us acknowledge God in all our ways because our God never fails.

    “When He opens a door, nobody can close it,” the chaplain said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the governor’s wife, Dame Edith Okowa; the Deputy Governor, Mr Kingsley Otuaro; Sen. James Manager; House of Representatives member, Ndudi Elumelu; Speaker, Delta House of Assembly, Sheriff Oborovweri, were among dignitaries at the service.

  • Kidnapping: ASUU wants FG to close gap between rich, poor

    The President, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, wants the Federal Government to close the gap between the rich and the poor to reduce the high rate of insecurity.

    Ogunyemi described as worrisome the continued kidnapping of its members,saying the situation is causing apprehension on the campuses.

    “It has led to a general feeling of insecurity on many campuses; recently, we had one of our colleagues abducted and eventually killed; that was a professor of Mathematics from Ondo State University of Science and Technology,” he told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    “ASUU believes that you cannot get the problem resolved until and unless we address the socioeconomic problems in the country.

    “Our belief is that the gap between the rich and the poor has continued to expand and it’s almost coming to a point whereby the rich will not be able to sleep, when the poor are hungry, because they say a hungry man is an angry man.

    “We have seen people travelling on commercial vehicles and they were waylaid. That is to say that if that happens, it could be anybody.”

    Read Also: We were framed up, dismissed ASUU-LASU members say

    Ogunyemi urged all tiers of government to take a comprehensive look at the general social-economic problems bedeviling the country.

    He said the union had called for a socialist democracy where resources would be distributed.

    According to him, there is a need for a new model of development that is people-oriented which also ensures social economic justice.

    His words:“What we have in the country today is chronic capitalism and in which case, you can have everything while others have nothing, and that doesn’t work for any society.

    “What we have in this country now is injustice in all spheres of life, education, health, housing and transportation have been priced out of the reach of the poor and can hardly be afforded.

    “Until we are prepared to drop this model of development that does not allow for popular participation in the ownership and control of the means and production of wealth distribution, we cannot have lasting peace.”

  • Jukun-Tiv conflict: Catholic bishops call for peace

    Catholic Bishops of Abuja and Jos Ecclesiastical provinces have called for peace and an end to the recent upsurge of violence between Jukun and Tiv communities in Taraba State.

    The bishops, rising from a meeting in Abuja, said they were “saddened about the continuous disturbing trend leading to deaths, destruction of homes and means of livelihood in the affected regions, among tribes that should be best of neighbours.”

    “As Christians we believe and uphold the sanctity of life from birth to natural death (cradle to the grave),” they added.

    “We know that scripture and teachings of the Church are uncompromising about the sacredness of life.”

    They pointed out that since many of the Tiv, Jukun, Idoma, Igala, Angas, Berom, Eggon, Alago, Bassas, Mumuye, Kuteb who occupy that part of the country are Christians, “the words of St. Paul in his letter to the Galatians should be their binding force.”

    “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Gal 3:28).

    “By the same understanding, we are saying that in Christ there is neither Tiv, Jukun nor native, indigene nor foreigner, neither visitor nor stranger.

    “We are all one in Jesus Christ the Saviour of all mankind. We are all created in the image and likeness of God. He gave us the land to inhabit and improve for our own benefit and development.”

    The bishops called attention to the embarrassing conflict with attendant mutual atrocities, which contradict the local traditions, cultural and Christian values.

    They asked government to get to the root cause of the recurring conflicts which have caused great setbacks and obvious hardship in different forms for the people.

    READ ALSO: Jukun-Tiv crisis: Workers, students relocate to Benue from Wukari

    Continuing,they said: “We would appreciate moderate and reconciliatory utterances from our political, traditional and religious leaders and elders, with more concrete and deliberate actions in favour of peace and not war.

    “Silence during such conflicts is not golden but very unhealthy.”

    The statement was signed by 16 bishops, including His Eminence, John Cardinal Onaiyekan of Abuja, Ignatius Kaigama of Jos, Mattew Audu of Lafia, William Avenya of Gboko,Wilfred Anagbe of Makurdi and Charles Hammawa of Jalingo.

    The Tiv/Jukun crisis which erupted from Kente, a border town of Benue and Taraba has led to the loss of many lives including, women and children, in the last three months.

    On August 29, bandits ambushed and killed a Catholic priest, Rev Fr. David Tanko at Kufai Amadu in Takum Local Government Area, by setting him and his vehicle ablaze.

    The cleric was said to be on his way to Takum for a peace meeting with fellow clergymen on how to resolve the lingering Tiv, Jukun crisis.

  • Unidentified woman ‘steals’ two-month-old baby in Ekiti

    A yet-to-be-identified woman has reportedly stolen a two-month-old baby boy from his mother in Ado Ekiti

    The incident occurred on Friday around 1 pm at the State Secretariat in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti state capital.

    A source who spoke on condition of anonymity said the woman tricked the baby’s mother, Funmilayo Sunday to follow her to the State Secretariat under the guise to help collect some relief materials being given by government to flood victims.

    “On getting there, she sent the mother to help her to procure recharge card but ran away with the baby before the arrival of the woman, a source said.

    Narrating her ordeal, Funmilayo who was drenched in tears explained that the abductor whom she suspected to be from the Eastern part of the country, had been patronizing her consistently at the Oja-Oba market, where she sells soup ingredients.

    She said the woman informed her on Wednesday that she would take her to the State Secretariat where her husband works and that the husband would facilitate the relief materials for her.

    The woman, who preferred to be anonymous, explained that the woman came to her shop with a list of possible beneficiaries and included her name making her believe that she was being favoured.

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    According to her, “the woman who had become a regular customer had this morning invited me to the Secretariat and pretended to be waiting for someone, having entered one or two offices under the pretence of making some arrangements.

    “She later took my baby and sent from me and asked me to go and buy recharge cards and before I came back, she had fled with my baby”, she stated.

    The poor woman, who claimed she had lost a child recently before the delivery of the stolen boy, said the suspect collected her phone to prevent her from contacting the police for her immediate arrest after perpetrating the crime.

    When contacted to confirm the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti Command, DSP Caleb Ikechukwu, could not be reached with his mobile phone line switched off as at the time of filing this report.

  • Why I am pursuing judicial option for my mandate — Atiku

    The Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar said his recourse to the court over the 2019 presidential election was to ensure that “votes of Nigerians count.”

    Abubakar in a statement he issued on Friday in Abuja, said it was also to ensure that democracy was seen to be done in Nigeria.

    He said that “nothing good comes easy” and that hard work was needed in the task to rid Nigeria of the forces of fascism.

    Besides, he said that the route he had adopted for reclaiming his mandate was also for the full restoration of the rule of law and democracy in Nigeria.

    “I owe so much to this great land of Nigeria that took me from the streets of Jada, where I sold firewood, to the heights I have attained, by God’s benevolence, in the civil service, in corporate Nigeria, and in public service.

    “If I do not play my part in making it possible for other orphaned children, indigent youths and the less privileged, to replicate and even surpass my path to significance, I will have failed my Maker.

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    “If I do not ensure that the ladder I climbed remains accessible to those at the bottom, middle and top tiers of society, I will not have fulfilled my purpose.

    “And only by ensuring that democracy is not just done, but seen to be done, can Nigeria and Nigerians have a sense that this our dear land is indeed a land where unity, faith, peace and progress reside.

    “It is for this and other patriotic reasons, that I am pursuing this judicial route: To ensure that the votes of Nigerians count and are counted,” he said.

    The former vice president said those who did not want Nigeria to be a reality, would use every trick in the book to undermine, discourage, misinform and mislead the populace.

    He, however, said that with God’s help and the support of Nigerians, he would ensure that Nigeria was on course towards genuine democracy.

    “We must return to being Africa’s bastion of democracy, where the rights to freedom of speech and freedom after the speech, are guaranteed.

    “We must stand together to pursue this just cause all the way, so that our judiciary are not afraid to do their jobs and have to be wary of blackmail, intimidation, and victimization,” he said.

    Abubakar appreciated Nigerians’ support for shared common goal and the solidarity he enjoyed from all walks of life and every strata of society, right from July 21, 2018, when he declared his intention to contest the presidential election.

    He said that the support continued to Sept 11, when the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal rendered its verdict.

    Abubakar noted the immense outpouring of goodwill from ordinary Nigerians in every nook and cranny of Nigeria and from all regions, religions and relationships.

    “I also thank the governors elected on the platform of my party, the PDP, as well as the National Executive Committee, for their unanimous and unambiguous support for the judicial phase of this struggle, especially after it was announced that we would go on to appeal,” he said.

    He urged all Nigerians to continue their support for that recourse to constitutional order via the courts.

    “Even if there is little or nothing you can do to ensure that justice is done in Nigeria, just believe that it will happen. Let us never underestimate the effect of our belief in Nigeria.

    “Finally, I say to all concerned, that we will all die and give account of our lives to our creator, “ he said.

    (NAN)

  • Senate may review security architecture, says Lawan

    The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has hinted that the upper legislative chamber might review the nation’s security architecture to address emerging security challenges across the country.

    Lawan however said, the proposed review would be carried out in collaboration with the executive arm of government, as he stressed the urgent need for improvement in the nation’s security situation.

    The Senate President, however, did not elaborate on the scope and sphere of the pending review. He spoke with journalists in Abuja on Friday shortly after his arrival from a foreign trip.

    Lawan said, “In the Eight Senate, we had an ad-hoc committee that I was privileged to chair, to review the security architecture of the country. We are going to look into that report, and of course in addition, other contemporary issues that affect security in the country.

    “We intend to do those things that would ensure that the security situation in the country improves, and this we would do with the executive arm of government, as this cannot be done alone”.

    The Senate President disclosed that the National Assembly had received the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), which he said, was sent to by the executive while he was away.

    “I have been informed that the executive arm of government has sent the request for the MTEF to the Senate, and I am sure that will be the first thing that would be looked into when we resume next week.

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    “We hope to take on the MTEF within the first legislative week.

    Our committee on finance will be saddled with its first major responsibility; that it works expeditiously on the FSP/MTEF request of the executive arm of government, and thereafter the budget will come after that”, Lawan said.

    He also expressed the readiness of the National Assembly to receive the 2020 Appropriation Bill anytime soon, saying that the executive was working assiduously to ensure that the document is presented to the legislature by month’s end.

    “We are hopeful and optimistic, as well as hungry and thirsty, to receive the 2020 appropriations bill. I am aware that the executive arm of government is working assiduously to ensure that the appropriation bill for the year 2020 is presented to the National Assembly at the end of this month.

    “The National Assembly will work so hard to ensure that the 2020 budget is passed before we go on Christmas break.

    This is one issue that we hope to take head-on to ensure that we reverse the undesirable tend of the budget.

    “We believe this can be achieved, as doing so would make the economy better and predictable. We also think an early passage of the 2020 appropriations bill will have a desirable impact on Nigerians”, he said.

    On the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa, Lawan said the Senate would look into the matter on resumption.

    “You recall that this issue was reviewed before we went on recess. The Senate felt as an institution, that our citizens’ diplomacy must be protected whereever they go in the world.

    “The government must be there for them, and I am happy that after the xenophobic crisis, the federal government was able to take a position.

    “We need to be much more resolute, whatever the situation is; our citizens must be protected. If someone runs foul of the laws of a country, there are processes and procedures on how such a person can be prosecuted.

    “Therefore, we must try to protect our citizens. I also think we must be proactive to tell our citizens that if they choose to live in any country, they must ensure they stay within the limits of the laws of that country, just as we expect of foreigners in ours”.

  • Army assures Borno town of security

    The Nigerian Army has assure residents of Gajiram, the headquarters of Nganzai local council area in the Lake Chad area of Borno of security, urging them to continue with their normal activities.

    The Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Ado Isa, in a statement Friday, said the assurance followed reports of terrorists plan to attack and invade the town, conduct indoctrinatory preaching before observing the Friday congregational prayers on Sept. 20.

    Isa explained that many locals of Gajiram became apprehensive and reluctant to attend Jummat service in the mosque.

    He said that on receipt of the information, the Commander Sector 3, Operation Lafiya Dole (OPLD)/Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), Maj.-Gen. Bulama Biu, directed the Artillery Brigade to move to the town.

    Isa added that the Brigade commander, Brig.-Gen Jal Jimoh, moved to Gajiram to reassure them of army’s readiness to protect them and their property in Gajiram and its surrounding areas.

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    “Consequently, there was large turn-out of the residents for the Jumat prayer with the Brigade Commander and other Muslim officers and soldiers in attendance including the Commander of the Chadian troops under the MNJTF.

    “The prayers were hitch-free. Brig Gen Jimoh through a Kanuri interpreter addressed the people, reassured them of their safety.

    “He solicited for the support and cooperation of the community by providing credible information on the movements and activities of the fleeing criminals hibernating in the area.

    “At the moment, security situation in Gajiram is fully under control, while military patrols have also been intensified,” he said.

    Isa said that further plan to project the joint forces was already under way, with the troops morale and fighting spirit very high occasioned by the latest successes against the insurgents. (NAN)

  • Keystone Bank rewards verve card holders with free petrol

    Keystone Bank Limited, in partnership with Verve International, has launched a promotion to reward customers for using its Verve Card to purchase petrol at select Oando Petrol stations across Nigeria.

    According to a statement by the lender on Friday, promo tagged “Free Fuel Alert” is open to new and existing customers of the bank.

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    Customers of Keystone Bank Verve Card holders will receive free extra five litres of petrol each time they use their verve cards to purchase a minimum of N3,000 and above worth of petrol between 6am – 8pm every Friday from September 20-November 8.

    The selected Oando Petrol Stations where the promo will run are: Lagos (Maryland, Marina, Awolowo Falomo, Awolowo Fire Station, Lawanson, Alapere, Ajah, Agege Bye-Pass, Trade Fair, Fola Agoro, Ojodu Berger, Sangotedo, Ago Palace Way and Shiro Road Fadeyi) Abuja (Garki, Ahmadu Bello Way and Zone 6 Wuse) Enugu (Ogui Road), Imo (Assumpta Avenue) Kaduna (Junction Road by Stadium), Kano (Club Road 1), Oyo (Orita Mef and Iwo Road, Southbound) Portharcourt (Aba Road and 75 Transamadi) Delta (Effurun Junction) Edo, Benin – City (Akpakpava Road).