Tag: Nigerian Newspaper

  • Embracing our differences

    I deciphered that we all like colours. Why? The answer is based on the universal acknowledgement that colours are beautiful. I would say that Mother Nature secretes pleasure from colours. Mother Nature gets elated upon sighting colours. This is why she beatifies some with black; brown; white; yellow; and many more.

    Mother Nature has palaces, and it is in these palaces of hers that she has placed us. These palaces are what we now call Africa; Antarctica; Asia; Australia; Europe; South America; and North America.

    I need to tell the whole world that these palaces have been given to inhabitants in order to cause a change in it. It is like a family where parents are blessed with children. To make that family organised, the parents could allot different rooms to those children; and they expect that they all take care of their rooms.

    Juxtaposing this with my stance, I would like to tell the world that we are in the rooms of Mother Nature because she has allotted rooms to us and she has given us a truth; and by truth, I mean what we possess to redefine our minds and world.

    We all need to form a universal circle with the truths given to us so that the world would be beautiful. It is saddening to realise that the world has arrived at a port where one African individual is a xenophobe to another African individual.

    The South African crisis has stolen many growing lives that should serve as a cursor of change for the continent since we have all failed to accept the truth that we are to work together, as to repaint the ugly face of our common earth; instead we murder ourselves; we murder the beauty that should fill every heart.

    History is the eyes at the back of our head; and if should use these eyes to survey the past, we would outright notice how Nigeria helped pull the South African nation out of the grotesque manacle of Apartheid.

    It is also evidently proved that Nigeria has contributed to the growth and development of the South African nation, the same way the South African nation has fostered economic growth in Nigeria. We cannot exchange hate for hate. The only demon that can destroy the demon of hate is love. Love is the orbit of perfection that the universe desires.

    Boycotting South African industries in Nigeria—MTN, Shoprite, DSTV—will only worsen the status quo as many Nigerians are employees in these companies. What I see here is a productive relationship between two countries, about to be destroyed by fear.

    Fear is that obstacle in our heart that stops us from moving closer to another individual. That man or woman you neglect is your mirror; but if you neglect him/her you might not be convinced of who you really are or the qualities present in you.

    I remember a time at a garden, where I saw a bird. Tersely, I had this surgical thought that I wished the bird could draw closer to me, so we could mingle and exchange friendliness but I was afraid it would fly away. I realized also that the bird could have the same intention but it felt that I could harm it, too. I did not move; I was still fixated on that spot but the bird was frighteningly walking around. It drew closer a bit and sang its song. I whistled back; but the fixity of my strength was still on that sit.

    What I realized from this event was the fact that there is only one thing that quells us from relating with others: FEAR. That bird had the sensual feeling of harm. I had the feeling that it would fly. This is spawned by the collective unconscious. The collective thinking of birds is that the human being can harm them, whilst the collective thinking of the human being is that birds fly. This is what breeds fear.

    What entangled our minds that moment was fear (Xenophobia). But I want humanity to arrive at the knowledge that we are the mirror of ourselves. This is true, in the sense that we cannot see our own faces. We need a mirror to see our true reflections.

    This is why I would say that that neighbour and neglected friend of yours could be your mirror in that there is a part of you that is lost and that is why you were born naked; we cloth ourselves.  From time to time you need to check, through this mirror, if you have not been stained in the face.

    I think we all need to reconstruct our collective thinking by sending fear into eternal exile. We should stop thinking about the harm we can cause ourselves if we move closer to another individual; rather, we should think about the unending harm we would cause our planet; our continent; our lives; our common future, if we fail to unite and change the sick state of the world.

    We need to recognise that one nation is to another nation a woman. We mate with ourselves to procreate change. One nation would be barren without the presence of another. It is for this reason that I put, metaphorically, that we all come from one mother; and that is Nature. No one is superior to another.

    Mother Nature finds and/or seeks pleasure through colours. We dwell in her abodes; her palaces. Consequently, it is our duty to procreate change in the abodes she has found for us. How we outgrow underdevelopment is to plant, in our hearts and minds, the wisdom of Nature; and this wisdom is to make us embrace our differences and see ourselves as one world.

    When I examined the Christian religion or culture, I realised that they do not say “I am a white Christian or black or whatever.” They say “we are Christians.” Thus, if religion could connect us together as one world, if continental or intercontinental relationship could affix us, or if language could flow through us like the same blood, it means we are not different.

    Those colours are just there to please Nature. Therefore, I want the world to hold my words as a staff when I say that the future of humanity depends on our global interconnections. We all have dreams; imaginations that we need to conjoin, as one planet, and turn into reality for us to have a future that is more civilised than this present one.

    Nature is our teacher but she has her agents (we are all agents of Nature). I am one of these agents and I have decided to change the world through my words by apprising the living and the unborn that we need to embrace our differences because this is how we form the culture of peace. Peace is a culture that must be formed; one way to form it is through international cooperation. We need to heal ourselves of racial segregation; and these words are the antidotes. This is why I want every heart that reads these words to know that a single person cannot hold the world from falling and breaking apart.

    We are all pillars, created and placed in continents to hold the planet from destruction. It is high time we stopped gashing the latterly beautiful face of Earth. It’s high time we quelled warring against ourselves whether we are of the same colour or a different one. It is high time we know that the orbit of the human life is love; the orbit of human spirituality is love.

    Love is an energy that connects the human spirit together; and love lives in the heart. We can restore the dying energy of love in our hearts if we all peacefully come together to embrace our differences. Why must we always leave harsh, inhumane stories (like this deleterious xenophobic incident) in history book for coming generations to read?

    Humanity is sick but it seems we are comfortable with this sickness because we have failed to give ourselves the antidote to our sickness since the antidote is right there in our heart: Love.

    The dreams and hopes that we all have are camped in the belly of our minds, undigested, unbeknownst to our expectant eyes because we have failed to bring the world into a spherical point of contact—Oneness. Oneness is a way the human spirit merges to form a single individual, higher and larger than the planet itself, capable of holding the universe from falling asunder, as to reshape and repaint the planet until her beauty is profoundly found.

    We should take my words as a letter written to our hearts and reply with a change of thought and action when I put, metaphorically, that the world is a coin with different sides that cannot be separated. We are for complementariness.

    There is a nature that Mother Nature wants to culture in the nature of humanity. That nature is the nature of commensalism as one planet.   What I want humanity to know is that we are all equal in the eyes of Nature, that is, no one is superior to another.

    The Earth cannot neglect the presence of the Sun; they mate together to equip us with growth. We need ourselves to heal ourselves, to heal the world. Let us make the world (it is “the” world not two worlds) one planet and embrace our differences because embracing our differences is embracing peace (not war) that would spawn our desired beautiful world.

    John F. Kennedy says “Together we shall save our planet or together we shall perish in it” (p.38). When I read his words, I said to myself that what I want to do to change the world, not just myself, is to plant my words as seeds in the hearts and minds of every human being—living and unborn—until we all grow a tree of oneness in our hearts by embracing our differences and seeing ourselves as equal children of Nature. We have to stop wasting innocent lives, unfurling ugly histories. We must all embrace our differences.

    oluwaseyioso01@gmail.com

  • Passion alone won’t make you succeed in music industry – Owens

    The Chief Executive Officer, Money Making Machine Gang, MMMG, Mr Agbontan Godson Owens aka Owens Leo has disclosed that to excel in the music industry it requires more than passion.

    Speaking in a media chat, Owens said that money plays a key role in delivering the kind of quality music his fans will admire. The endowed artiste said MMMG as a record label is a coinage that he finds very motivational. “Name does several works in our life,” he added.

    He said music was his passion from childhood. “I love good music and I can sing as well. But I was never opportuned to chase that career at a tender age. In 2009, I venture into the music business and my record label was officially launched in 2017. This year I signed my first artiste“White man”.

    Speaking on challenges so far, Owen said “ Since 2017, it’ has not really been easy but we’ve both been together. My artist was first working with me as a hypeman in the club, then I found out that he actually got the talent and he’s a good entertainer. I decided to sign him after listening to his songs, which I noticed had good messages to deliver, unlike the regular Naija jams. His songs are inspirational and motivational.

    “We believe in working before eating, hence the reason for his genre. It was not easy because I was not financially buoyant. But I managed to release some songs while I also collaborated with some of my Russian friends. My music journey took me to Greece but I was only able to stay in Russia for 2 years while pursuing my education. I was unable to complete my education in Russia because the cold was too much. It wasn’t good for my chest, so I had to return to Africa and enrolled in Adonai Institute in, Benin Republic where I eventually finished and went for my youth service in 2016. I studied Computer Science and I have the plan to go for my Master very soon. ”

    Owen shares success tips to other young artistes – “You need to have another source of income. For instance, I have been trying to establish several businesses that will ensure the money keeps coming and for posterity sake. I have Saloon and also a night club where people can relax and have fun. Am a very ambitious person and I have the plan to set up more businesses. I usually stock farm products like red oil, melons and ogbolor when its cheap and sell when it increases in price.

    “ Music business needs the money and without funds to push it, your passion is wasted.”

    Reacting to a viral post of himself and Davido, on social media, he revealed that there is a working relationship between tge multiple award-winning singer and himself.

    His words, “I am working with Davido on something. Collaboration with Davido is cooking already. Am also looking at working with Burnaboy and Olamide.

    Owen is not bothered about what the future holds. To him, only present event and happenings matters. “The future is not sure for anyone, Maybe, you can call me the only man who doesn’t believe in insurance, because my life itself is not assured.”

  • Nigerians spent N1.2bn in cinemas for July, August

    Nigerians spent over 1, 294, 602, 827 billion naira watching movies in the cinemas for July and August.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the figures are according to data provided by the cinemas and compiled by the Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria (CEAN).

    Following its lead in June, ‘Bling Lagosians’ led the first week of July by raking in 37, 409, 372 million naira. However, it was one of the only two Nigerian films in the top 20 movies.

    The other was Kunle Afoloyan’s ‘Mokalik’ starting the month at number nine while ‘Avengers: Endgame’ sank to 18th position, earning 151, 966 Naira that week.

    By the second week, ‘Spiderman: Far from home’ edged ‘Bling Lagosians’ out of the first position. It had a 34 per cent decrease in revenue while ‘Spiderman’ earned 64, 072, 680 million Naira.

    ‘Spiderman’ remained on top for the third week, although earnings decreased by 36 per cent. However, general grosses dropped by 20 per cent while ‘Lion King’ debuted for a few days, raking in 4, 040, 854 million Naira.

    By the fourth week, ‘Lion King’ had settled in and climbed to number one with 108, 447, 093 million Naira. ‘Bling Lagosians’ stayed at number three with ‘Mokalik’ at number 13.

    Other Nigerian films in top 20 included ‘Rant Queens’ at number eight, ‘The Gift’ at number eleven, ‘Wakill’ at 15 and ‘Coming From Insanity’ at 17.

    Buzz around ‘Lion King’ dropped by the fifth week with earnings down by 33 per cent, totalling 73, 040, 701 million Naira. All the top 20 films earned 136, 936, 341 million naira in total.

    Infographics showing revenue for July, August (NAN)

     

    ‘Fast and Furious: Hobbs and Shaw’ debuted and snatched the number spot with 104, 443, 577 million naira. On Nollywood’s side, ‘The Set Up’ entered late into the week and raked in 187, 500 naira.

    Although revenue dropped by 48 per cent, ‘Fast and Furious’ maintained the number one position while ‘The Set Up’ made its real box office debut at number three with 25, 634, 606 million Naira.

    By the next week, all films maintained their positions but the ‘Bling Lagosians’ sank to number eight after spending eight weeks in the box office. ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ debuted leading to a week total of 113, 615, 730 million Naira.

    In week nine, ‘Angel Has Fallen’ climbed to the number one spot, making 64, 227, 240 million naira. ‘The Set Up’ was pushed to fourth position with a 49 per cent drop in revenue.

    For the last weekend in August, ‘Bling Lagosians’ settled at number 20 with ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ struggling at number 19. ‘The Set Up’ had dropped to number five.

  • BBNaija: Housemates party with 2baba on his birthday

    Music legend, Innocent Idibia aka 2baba paid a surprise visit to the housemates of the ongoing BBNaija season four.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that, on Thursday night, the ‘African Queen’ singer stormed the house with Larry Gaaga and Efe Omoregbe.

    The housemates, who did not see the surprise coming, got to celebrate 2baba’s birthday with him as Biggie set up the party in the arena, complete with food and musical performances.

    Prior to the party, housemates took turns to ask the legend questions about the industry and success tips that every celebrity should have.

    He said, “Keep your head straight. Respect people, respect your craft. Develop yourself. There is no limit to what you can do.”

    Frodd asked how he kept calm despite the pressure before a performance. He said, “You have to keep your game face on. You have to block it out. You have to go out and satisfy your fans.”

    To celebrate his birthday, he was welcomed into the beautifully set up Arena, where the Housemates chorused a happy birthday song for him and cut the cake.

    The housemates also had karaoke games with Seyi, Tacha, Omashola and Cindy creating funny moments.

    Larry Gaaga and 2Baba took the lead in dancing as they grooved hard to their classic songs, while Mike showcased his Zanku skills.

    NAN reports that the party also features performances from Okeimute, Kholi and a band, Alternate Sound.

    To wrap it up, 2Baba introduced his new product to the lucky Pepper Dem top ten as he talked to them about launching his branded headphones.

  • Police shut down O’Pay Kano office

    The Kano branch of Opay office -an online payment outlet for commercial tricycle operators-  has been shut down by the police.

    The outlet was closed down during a raid  carried out by the Kano state police command over alleged non-compliance with the government rules and directives.

    The Nation reports that armed security personnel stormed the state office at Lodge road in Kano at about 11:00am on Thursday.

    The police officers also ordered all the staff and scores of commercial tricycle operators known as Adaidaita Sahu to immediately vacate the premises, threatening anyone who failed to comply with the order risked arrest.

    Read Also: Police arrest wanted Port Harcourt serial killer

    An eye witness told The Nation the commercial operators were planning to settle their balance for previous night’s work when the police arrived and dispersed them.

    The spokesman of the Police command,DSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, who confirmed incident,told this reporter  that, the command received an order from Kano state government to close the office.

    Haruna, said the Opay company didn’t comply with some rules set for it by the state government in order to operate

  • Boko Haram: Army assures Maiduguri residents of safety

    The Army has dismissed rumours of Boko Haram planned attacks on Maiduguri and its environs.

    Deputy Director Army Public Relation Col. Ado Isa in a statement attributed the rumours to some mischievous elements.

    He assured the public of Army’s commitment to protect lives and property in Maiduguri and its environ.

    The statement said: “Information on the social media showed that some mischievous elements are insinuating and peddling rumours of terrorists’ plan to unleash attacks on some selected populated areas and key facilities in Maiduguri town and neighbouring areas, in order to cause panic and inflict injuries on Nigerians.

    “The headquarters of Theatre Command, Operation Lafiya Dole, assures the public that measures have been put in place to checkmate the purported evil plans of the criminals.

    Read Also: Army bans NGO for ‘aiding Boko Haram’

    “Accordingly, troops have been ordered to ensure that movements and activities of the marauders are thwarted. Troops are also in staging positions in line with the Super Camp concept to attack the bandits whenever they are seen.

    “The public are urged to disregard the rumour of ‘deadly attacks’ on Maiduguri and its environs. The fake news is circulated by mischievous elements and other collaborators of the criminals to instil fear and panic in people and sabotage the efforts of the military and other security agencies in the struggle to end the menace.”

    “The public are, therefore, enjoined to disregard the alleged attacks on Maiduguri and its environs and go about their activities without fear or hindrance.”

  • Gumi decries 2019 general election

    An Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has described the 2019 general election as the worst in the country, saying it has produced an incompetent government led by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Gumi, who blamed the southern political class for the outcome of the election, alleged that the Buhari administration has plunged Nigeria into poverty.

    He spoke yesterday in Kaduna when he hosted the President and Founder of Evangelical Bible Outreach Ministries International, Prophet Isah El-Buba.

    Gumi said the southern political class deliberately supported what he described as failure during the 2015 and 2019 elections for their personal gains.

    The Islamic scholar said the elections were characterised by irregularities, which, according to him, produced an incompetent government.

  • Police arrest wanted Port Harcourt serial killer

    The Police in Rivers State have arrested an ex-militant Gracious David West, 26, alleged to be responsible for the murder of about 13 women.

    West was declared wanted by the police on Wedneaday after a Close Circuit Television Camera (CCTV) footage showed he had booked into a hotel with a young woman who was found dead on Tuesday.

    It was gathered that the suspect confessed to have killed five women in similar manner in Imo State and seven in Port Harcourt City.

    The Nation gathered that he was arrested on Wednesday along East-West Road while he was fleeing to Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State Capital.

    A native of Buguma LGA of Rivers State, West was alleged to be a renowned armed robber who was rehabilitated by a church and was assisted to secure a job at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri.

    But the suspect was said to have continued his criminal lifestyle and was declared wanted by the Police in June last year. He was said to have been on the run until the CCTV footage exposed him as a member of the syndicate that had been killing women in cold blood.

    Read Also: #ProtectPHGirls: Nigerians react over ‘Serial killer’ prowling in Port Harcourt

    West, it was gathered, told detectives that he was under a curse from his community and it was responsible for his actions.

    Narrating how he strangled his victims, he said: “We were inside the club then we discussed on how much I will pay her. After that we left the club to the hotel at Osas Road. When we got there, they took her up and I said let me look for a way to arrange for food that we will both eat.

    “After eating, we slept till the next morning around 5:30am. I brought out a knife. She was unaware there was a knife. So, I told her not to shout that if she does I will use the knife on her.

    “Out of fear she kept quite. During that time the television volume was loud. Then I used the wrapper to tie her hands her legs from the back and strangled her with pillow case.”

    Confirming his arrest through their official Twitter handle, the police said the suspect was a member of the Degbam cult group, adding that he had made useful statements.

    “Investigation is on with a view to ascertaining his motives and possible accomplices. The Commissioner of Police Rivers State, Mustapha Dandaura will be briefing the media on this significant police breakthrough on September 20,” the police said.

  • Biafra grievances with UN, says Kanu

    Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has said that issues concerning his people were before the various arms and agencies of the United Nations.

    He said Biafra’s case would no longer be ignored.

    Kanu has led a delegation of ‘Biafrans’ to a series of meetings with various United Nations agencies and officials at Geneva where he presented Biafra’s plight to the UN officials.

    The group’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, in a statement on Thursday, said Kanu’s emergence from the meeting was met with chants of eulogy by a congregation of Biafrans.

    It said Kanu demanded urgent action against the numerous rights abuses inflicted daily upon Biafrans and the need to support the undeniable right of Biafrans to self-determination as enshrined in law, statute and various UN conventions.

    Read Also: No plan to arrest Kanu’s father -Police

    The statement reads in part: “Every issue concerning our people is now before the various arms and agencies of the United Nations. Our case will no longer be ignored.

    “The case of RUGA settlement was also raised and the august body was left in doubt that Biafrans will never allow Fulani terror settlements in Biafraland.

    “Incessant killing of Biafrans in their own land by terrorist Fulani herdsmen, extortion and killing of Biafran motorcyclists and commercial drivers by Nigerian army and police over refusal to give #50 bribery.”

    The statement said Kanu, accompanied by his deputy, Mazi Uche Mefor, Head of Directorate of State, Mazi Chika Edoziem and other top echelons of the struggle, also raised the continued illegal detention of Omoleye Sowore, the relentless persecution of the members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria led by Sheikh El-Zakzaky, among other issues.

  • Netanyahu, Gantz compete over Israel’s leadership

    ISRAELI Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his rival Benny Gantz are jostling over the terms of a unity government, after the country’s second election in a year ended in deadlock.

    Local media said both men’s parties failed to win enough votes on Tuesday to build a coalition with a majority.

    Netanyahu urged Gantz to start negotiations on a joint administration.

    Gantz rebuffed the idea, calling it spin. He said he wanted a unity government – but only one led by him.

    His party has ruled out joining a coalition led by Netanyahu, who faces possible corruption charges.

    At a ceremony attended by both party leaders in Jerusalem, President Reuven Rivlin said he had heard “loud and clear the voices calling for a broad and stable national unity government” and praised the prime minister for “joining that call”.

    Rivlin will hold consultations with party representatives before nominating a candidate whom he believes has the best chance of forming a government.