The factional National Chairman of the Labour Party, Mr Lamidi Apapa, has said he was nearly killed by a mob that attacked him on Wednesday, May 17, at the Court of Appeal in Abuja.
Recall that Apapa was booed by the mob while he was leaving the court after clashing with the erstwhile national chairman, Julius Abure, over a seat.
Addressing journalists after the incident, Apapa insisted that the suspension of the embattled LP National Chairman, Abure, by an FCT High Court paved way for him to function in that capacity.
According to Apapa, the seat reserved for LP’s national chairman ought to have been occupied by him, adding that it was wrong for the Director-General of Obi campaign organization, Akin Osuntokun, to occupy it.
“I went to him (Osuntokun) and inquired to know on what capacity he was sitting on the seat. I told him that since I am in court today, I am the right person to sit on that chair,” he narrated.
On how he was mobbed, Apapa, said: “They po¥nced on me, removed my cap and I am very sure that if not that you people (journalists) were there, I would have been d€ad by now.
As you can see, I have recovered my cap. But as for the person that removed my cap, he will suffer till the end of his life. I saw him. He is a young chap but he will never grow old.”
Ahead of the May 29th swearing-in of the President Elect, Bola Tinubu, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has advised him to ensure he assembles only people with capacity, character and track records of performance into his cabinet irrespective of their political backgrounds in order to hit the ground running immediately.
To this end, he is asking aspirants jostling for the various National Assembly leadership positions to work and respect the decision of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the President-Elect to enable the incoming administration succeed in delivering its campaign promises to the people.
Wike, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), spoke in Kaduna State on Saturday at a public book presentation, ‘Putting People First: The El-Rufai Years’, where he also commended El-Rufai for championing the zoning of the presidency to the southern part of the country for equity and fairness.
The book, written by a Kaduna-based Journalist, Emmanuel Ado, is a compilation of published articles and interviews focusing on El-Rufai’s eight-year tenure as an appraisal of his core values, mission and achievements as governor of Kaduna. Notwithstanding belonging to different political parties, El-Rufai said he shared same political ideology with his Rivers State counterpart.
Those in attendance include Senator Uba Sani, Prince Arthur Eze, traditional rulers, top government officials and captains of industry.
The APC organ had zoned the Senate President to the South-South, Senator Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Deputy Senate President to the North-West, Senator Barau Jibrin (Kano) and this continues to spark controversy ahead of the inauguration of the 10th NASS in June.
Others are the Speaker of the House of Representatives (North-West) – Abass Tajudeen (Kaduna), and Deputy Speaker South East – Ben Kalu (Abia).
The 9th edition of the African Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) main event was held yesterday Saturday, May 20, 2023 at the Eko Hotel in Lagos Nigeria.
The annual event which was instituted as a way of celebrating talents in the film industry across Africa had Veteran Nollywood Actress Patience Ozokwor (Mama G) going home with the Industry Merit Award for her admirable service to the Nigerian Movie Industry.
The movies ‘Brotherhood and’ Anikulapo’ produced multiple Awards in various categories while Nollywood Actress, Osas Ighodaro made it back to back as the Best Actress.
Here is the list of all your Winners:
Best Actor in a Comedy – (Movie/TV Series). Samuel Perry (Broda Shaggi).
Best Actress in a Comedy – (Movie/TV Series) Bimbo Ademoye – Selina
Best Actor in a Drama – (Movie/TV Series) Tobi Bakre – Brotherhood
Best Actress in a Drama – (Movie/TVSeries) Osas Ighodaro – Man of God
Best Supporting Actor (Movie/TV Series) Abdisattar Ahmed – Gacal
Best Supporting Actress (Movie/TV Series) Efe Irele – Four Four Forty Four
Best Short Film Adeoye Adetunji – Pa Aromire
Best Online Social Content Creator Elozonam, Kie Kie – Back From The Future
Best Original Telenovela Mpali
Best Unscripted Original – King Bugar
Best Original Comedy Series – Njoro Wa Uba
Best Original Drama Series – Ricordi
Best Art Director Wale Adeleke – King Of Thieves (Agesinkole)
Best Costume Designer (Movie/TV Series) Adeola Art-Alade – The Real Housewives of Lagos (Reunion Episode)
Best Lighting Designer (Movie/TV Series) Mathew Yusuf – Brotherhood
Best Picture Editor (Movie/TV Series) Holmes Awa & Daniel Tom – Crime & Justice
Best Sound Editor (Movie/TV Series) Anu Afolayan – Anikulapo
Best Soundtrack (Movie/TV Series) Kent Edunjobi – Anikulapo
AMVCA ‘Best TV Series’ Best Makeup (Movie/TV Series) Maryam Ndukwe, Hakeem Effects Onilogbo – Shanty Town
Best Writer (Movie/TV Series) Sola Dada – Anikulapo
Best Cinematographer (Movie/TV Series) Loukman Ali – Brotherhood
Best Movie, Southern Africa Jewel – Elvis Chucks
Best Movie, East Africa – Click Click Bang – Philip Karanja Njenga
Best Movie, West Africa Brotherhood – Jade Osiberu
Best Television Series – Crime & Justice – Yinka Edward
Best Documentary Nigeria-the Debut – Nora Awolowo
Best Director Loukman Ali – Brotherhood
The Multichoice Talent Factory Film – Leaked
Best Indigenous Language, Swahili (Movie/TV Series) Philip Karanja Njenga – Click Click Bang
Best Indigenous Language, Yoruba (Movie/TV Series) Anikulapo – Kunle Afolayan
Arole Oodua Olofin Adimula, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwui,CFR, Ojaja II, The Ooni of Ife has formally received his wife, Olori(Dr) Opeoluwa Elizabeth Akinmuda in line with customs and traditions of the Ife Kingdom known as source of the entire Oduduwa race worldwide.
The two day event which started with the historic arrival of the queen at the Ile-Oodua palace of the Ooni in Ile-Ife at about 8:pm on Friday in company of her parent, family members and friends, also continued on Saturday with a brief thanksgiving service 11am and 12 midday inside the banquet room at the palace followed by a 2 hour recess to allow for other rites and subsequently climaxed by the reception party and entertainment of guests at main hall right inside palace lasted the whole day.
FRIDAY: The queen being ushered in by a group of women into the palace after she was received by a retinue of the Ooni’s traditional aides known as ‘Emese Ooni’ who led her to the Sacred “Yemoolu Well” to perform her first assignment as an Ooni’s wife. She was told a brief history of “Yemoolu” a one time Ooni’s queen who transformed to the sacred well which has since become mandatory Ooni’s water for drinking and other important uses at the palace.
Having administered the Yemoolu rites on her, the Queen was escorted to the official residence of the Ooni where the waiting Ife high chiefs and Iyalodes led by The Lowa Adimula of Ife, High Chief Adekola Adeyeye rained traditional prayers on her and officially received her into the Ile-Oodua(palace ) before she was handed over by her father to the Olori Agba(most senior wife) in the Ogunwusi Royal family, Olori Margret Ogunwusi who handed her to Olori Mariam flanked by Olori Aderonke Ademiluyi Ogunwusi.
Having been received by her husband, Queen Elizabeth was made to sit beside her husband as the rites continued till about 10pm before she was finally led to her residence which is less than 50 meters from the Ooni’s official residence.
SATURDAY: The colourful wedding ceremony which took inside the Multipurpose hall at the palace was witnessed by creme-de-la-creme of the society including the Olota of Ota Awori, HRM, Oba(Prof) Adeyemi Abdulkabir Obalanlege. The cutting of the masterpiece cake for the wedding was supervised by the SookoLaekun of Ife, Prince Adegboyega Ogunwusi who doubles as The Head Of The Princes Of Ife Kingdom.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, Former president of Nigeria represented by King (Dr.) Amalate Turner, Obanobhan of Oloibiri Kingdom, Bayelsa State, expressed happiness to be at the event celebrating with the foremost monarch on his wedding celebration.
“Ooni Ogunwusi has been a lover of peace and promotes it in every fora he is. Since mounting the throne of his forebears, he has been propagating peace all round the globe and we are very proud of him”. He said.
It will be recalled that Ooni Ogunwusi had in the first week of October 2023 married Dr Opeoluwa Elizabeth Akinmuda, an Awori Princess room Ajibode Community in Ota, Ogun state, Nigeria is a PHD holder and Scotland-UK based Electronic Data Processor who became his second wife at a traditional wedding engagement in Magodo, Lagos few days after taking Olori Mariam Ogunwusi as his first wife.
The formal entry to the Ooni’s Palace by the queen is in fulfillment of the necessary spiritual and traditional rites in accordance with inherited royal wedding culture of Ile-Ife.
The Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde, members of Oyo State House of Assembly, Commissioners and other political functionaries were hosted yesterday in London for International Business Summit (OYSIBS) 2023.
Makinde in his presentation, at the event titled, “Your All Access Card to Sustainable Investments in Oyo State – Follow the Data,” he talked about how the data from Oyo State shows that Oyo State is the gateway into Nigeria’s thriving economy.
Thus, He discussed the investment opportunities in Oyo State in the Agribusiness, Solid Minerals, Sustainable Energy, Tourism and Infrastructure sectors.
As part of the pre-summit activities, he also visited the CEO of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr Richard Burge and his team yesterday.
Makinde was quoted as saying, “ we talked about investment opportunities in Oyo State and how Oyo State can benefit from their ongoing activities around the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“Ibadan is part of the Lagos, Ibadan and Cotonou city cluster, which is the second largest in Africa and thus a big market for investors and so, we look forward to this collaboration.
“Many thanks to Mr Burge and his team for their warm welcome”.
The Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, has congratulated the new Accountant-General of the Federation, Dr. (Mrs.) Toyin Madein.
Abiodun, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, on Saturday, expressed delight that Maiden, who is the first female to occupy the exalted position in the country is from Ogun State, saying she has recorded another first for the state reputed for many firsts in the country.
According to the governor, the newly appointed Accountant-General’s track records and astuteness in the accounting profession would have served as a launch pad into the number one public accounting officer in the country.
Abiodun hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for approving the appointment, noting such a feat by Ogun State born public administrator would serve as an encouragement for the womenfolk in the country.
He, however, urged the Iperu-Remo born top public servant to uphold the ethics of the accounting profession and give good account of herself as true born Ogun indigene
The governor further charged her to use administrative experiences she had garnered while serving at different ministries such Police, Power, Works and Housing, Youth and Sports Development, to excel at her new duty post.
While reminding Dr. Maiden of the delicate and sensitive nature of her new position, Abiodun tasked her on probity, accountability and transparency while carrying out her duties as the Chief Accounting Officer of the Federation.
The president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has returned to the country from his 10-day working visit to Europe.
The private jet of the former Lagos governor landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja at about 2:15 pm, where his supporters, party members and some governors welcomed him.
Among the delegation were his Vice-President-elect, Senator Kashim Shettima; Governor Abdullahi Ganduje; Senate, Ahmad Lawan and the ruling party’s anointed candidate for the post of Senate president in the 10th Assembly, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
Tinubu had jetted out of the country to Europe, on May 10, ahead of his May 29 inauguration.
According to a statement by his aide, Tunde Rahman, Tinubu was billed to meet with investors and key allies in business during his trip to Europe.
This is coming two weeks after the President-elect returned to the country from a trip to the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia and France.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC has reacted to the alleged media attacks by Governor of Zamfara State against its chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, saying the recent attacks were sponsored by those on the watchlist of the commission.
This was contained in statement made available by the Commission via his official Twitter handle as read in part:
“The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has been drawn to a trending interview granted to the Hausa Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC, by Bello Muhammed Matawalle, governor of Zamfara State, where he allegedly made wild bribery allegations against the Executive Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa
“Matawalle’s recourse to mudslinging is symptomatic of a drowning man clutching at straws. But despite the irritation of his phantom claims, the Commission will not be drawn into a mud fight with a suspect under its investigation for corruption and unconscionable pillage of the resources of his state. If Matawalle will be taken seriously, he should go beyond sabre-rattling by spilling the beans – provide concrete evidence as proof of his allegations.
“Again, the Commission wishes to alert the public about plans by some of the alleged corrupt politically exposed persons to flee the country ahead of May 29. The Commission is working in close collaboration with its international partners to frustrate these escape plans and bring those involved to justice.”.
Recall, EFCC has made it known to the public that it has sent invitations to some serving governors and other government officials to turn themselves in at the EFCC headquarters immediately after their tenure expiration.
Among those invited by the EFCC are the erstwhile Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, serving governor of Zamfara State, Matawalle, Yahya Bello of Kogi State among several others.
ODUDUWA NEWS has gathered that the team of the the Nigerian Communications Commission NCC) has paid a visit to the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH Iseyin Campus in preparation towards the commencement of the construction of N1.1billion 250-Seater Virtual Examination Centre.
At the visitation to the school, the management of Ladoke Akintola University, Iseyin Campus handed over the document of the allocated land to the officials of NCC to begin the project as planned.
The LAUTECH team was led by the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Professor Adewale, while the NCC team was led by the Direcor of Projects of the Commission, Mr Philip Eratan.
Also present at the visitation, were the past chairman of Iseyin Local Government, Alhaji Saheed Alaran and the incumbent chairman of the council, Mr. Mufutau Abilawon.
The VEC is a 250 seater multi-purpose ICT facility that will make the university operate according to global digital standards.
This project is believed to have been facilitated by the Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Professor Adeolu Akande who hails from Otu, Itesiwaju area of Oke-Ogun.
The Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, has mourned the death of the Olori Omo Oba of Ijebuland and Chairman of FCMB Group, Otunba Subomi Balogun.
Balogun, a foremost banker and entrepreneur, was reported to have died at the age of 89, in London hospital after an illness
The death of the late Asiwaju of Ijebu Christians was posted on a Twitter handle of Adetutu Balogun, on Friday.
Mourning the passing of the business mogul and philanthropist, the governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, described the death of Balogun as a colossal loss, not only to Ogun State, but Nigeria as a whole.
He noted that the late Olori Omo Oba of Ijebuland was one of the foremost entrepreneurs who took banking to an enviable level in the country.
Abiodun added that apart from being a business magnate, Chief Subomi Balogun was a devoted Christian, a loving father and husband as well as lover of Ijebuland.
The governor said the contributions of the late banker to the socio-economic development of Ijebuland and Ogun State was humongous and beneficial to numerous people and entities.
According to the statement, the vacuum created by the demise of Balogun will be difficult to fill, pointing out that his love for humanity and dedication to the service of God was worth emulation.
While commiserating with the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Adetona and the entire people of Ijebu on the passing of the renowned entrepreneur, Abiodun equally condoled the immediate family left behind by him.
He emphasized that the death of Olori Omo Oba of Ijebuland is a loss of another illustrious sons of Ogun state, declaring that philanthropic gestures and good sense of fashion and traditions will be sorely missed.
While praying for the repose of the soul of the deceased, the governor urged his family members not to grief, but find solace in the fact that Chief Subomi Balogun lived a life of industry, service to God and humanity.
