Author: Khadijah Olowode

By Abimbola Ogunnaike A final-year student of the Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki(EBSU), identified as Favour Ugwuka has allegedly committed suicide in her hostel at the Ishieke Campus of the university on Thursday, 23 May, 2024.. It was gathered that the deceased, a final year student in the Department of English passed all her courses but repeatedly failed a particular course, whose lecturer had vowed she would never pass. In a melancholic video seen online by our correspondent, a woman said to be the deceased’s mother blamed a lecturer for making her daughter commit suicide. According to the woman, who was…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Afrobeat musician Seun Kuti has revealed his late father and the pioneer of Afrobeats, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, had over 100 concubines, just as he also encouraged men to embrace polygamy, stressing that every man should have multiple women. Kuti said people only knew of Fela’s 27 wives, but they didn’t know of his over 100 concubines who were living in his house. The musician stated this on the latest episode of the ‘Bahd & Boujee’ Podcast co-hosted by reality star Tolanibaj and actress Moet Abebe. “People only know of Fela’s 27 wives, they don’t know of his…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Famous Nigerian Singer, Oludipe Oluwasanmi David, popularly addressed as Spyro, has recounted how his estranged Canadian lover broke up with him for pecking a female friend. The ‘Who’s Your Guy’ hitmaker said the heartbreak was “quite painful” and made him resent Canada. Spyro, who disclosed that he already bought an engagement ring to propose to her before the incident, however, said he is now “healed” after his pastor sent him a series of messages. On his Instagram account, Spyro wrote, “Canada I want to be honest today… “The reason why I have pushed this tour this far…

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Friday, paid condolence visit to the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, over the death of his beloved father, Alhaji Sulaiman Obasa. Governor Sanwo-Olu was accompanied by the Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Barr. (Mrs) Abimbola Salu-Hudeyin; Head of Service, Mr. Olabode Agoro; Chief of Staff, Mr. Tayo Ayinde; and other members of the State Executive Council. Sanwo-Olu and his cabinet members, during the visit to Obasa’s residence in the Agege area of Lagos, presented a condolence letter to the Speaker and his family on behalf of…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The 16th Fulani Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has mounted the palace seat, receiving royal greetings. This development comes in spite of a joint security agency in Kano State declaring that they are upholding a court order that prohibits the reinstatement of the monarch. Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II, who came out from the Emir’s inner palace to the outer palace, where traditionally Emirs receive their subjects and conduct court sittings, was cheered by hundreds of his supporters as he majestically rode a horse. The state Deputy Governor, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, earlier told newsmen that “nobody can…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The National Chairman of the Labour Party(LP), Julius Abure, has been suspended over alleged anti-party activities. He was suspended by the LP in Ward 3 in Arue-Uromi, in Esan North-East Local Government Area of Edo State. Letter of his suspension dated May 14, 2024, was approved on Friday night by the state executive committee in Benin. The suspension letter was signed by the Chairman of the Ward, Thompson Ehiguese, and the Ward Secretary, Stanley Usiomoh. It advised the embattled national chairman to stop holding out or parading himself as a member of the party. The suspension, which…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Federal Government has stated that Nigerians no longer have to travel to the immigration office to obtain their passports, as home delivery of passports is set to begin in June. This development was announced by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Friday, 24 May, 2024 when he inspected the electronic gates at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport’s new terminal in Abuja. Tunji-Ojo said the delivery will not include every location to avoid overloading and damaging the system. He said the Nigerian Immigration Service would start home delivery in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kano, and Abuja. He…

It has been challenging. It has been fulfilling as well. We took over, and we have stopped the bleeding. I can say categorically now that Nigeria is no longer bleeding. And it will not bleed to death, but rather will now move to prosperity. That is the promise that I made to you all, and it is also the charge that you gave to me. We are managing to swim through the pond. The current is not a good one. We will turn the tide. We are turning the bend. This I assure you. I am being very careful. The…

The Presidential Candidate of Botswana Republican Party, Biggie Butale has given reasons why he is contesting for presidency. Botswana is expected to go to the polls in October. According to the Africa Centre for Strategic Studies, Botswana is long regarded as one of Africa’s most stable and enduring multiparty democracies. The current President, Mokgweitsi Masisi of the Botswana ruling Democratic Party, was elected April 2018 and he will be standing for re-election . But Butale believes he can upstage him at the polls, insisting he was primed to take-over from president Masisi to end what he termed hereditary tendency in…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, on Friday, 24 May, 2024, against court order, reinstated Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi as 16th Emir of Kano. Recall that Federal High Court sitting in Kano presided over by Justice A.M. Liman granted an ex-parte order stopping Governor Yusuf from reinstating Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II pending the determination of a substantive suit filed against the reinstatement. The order also kicked against the abolishment of four emirates: Bichi, Gaya, Karaye, and Rano. Recall that the reinstatement was consequent upon a bill earlier passed by the State House of Assembly on Thursday, 23…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike An Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court, Ibadan, presided over by Magistrate, Mrs Oluwabusayo Osho on Friday, 24 May, 2024 remanded Imole Dauda, 19, and Lateef Tajudeen, 30, for allegedly flogging a 22-year-old to death with ‘koboko’. The defendants, whose addresses were not provided, were charged with conspiracy and murder. The Magistrate, Mrs Oluwabusayo Osho, did not take their pleas for want of jurisdiction. She directed the police to return the case file to the state Director of Public Prosecutions for advice. Osho adjourned the case until July 18 for mention. Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp Olalekan Adegbite, told the court…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has assured Nigerians that electricity tariff will come down. Adelabu made this disclosure on Friday, 24 May, 2024 during the sectoral briefing by Ministers in Abuja. Recall that on April 3, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, announced a 240 per cent electricity tariff hike for band A customers who receive a 20-24 hour power supply. After the Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC) and Trade Union Congress(TUC) called for reversal, the Commission slashed the tariff by N18. Unsatisfied with the development, the Organised Labour threatened to go on strike. Meanwhile, Adelabu said the electricity hike…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike French investors and economic experts have expressed the desire to invest in the agriculture and tourism sectors of Cross River State. Head of the Regional Economic Department Nigeria-Ghana of the French Embassy, Florent Mangin disclosed the country’s intentions when he led a team on a courtesy visit to the Deputy Governor of the state, Peter Odey in Calabar. Mangin, who said the French business community is eager to partner state government in vital sectors and to undertake infrastructure projects, added that the collaboration is to enhance economic growth and development in the state. He also expressed appreciation…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwunmi Adeshina, has announced an investment of $1.44 billion to facilitate the development of energy, power, transport, water, and sanitation infrastructure in Nigeria. Adeshina, made this disclosure in a recent statement at the Nasarawa Investment Summit 2024. Adeshina, represented by Lamin Barrow, the Director-General of the AfDB’s Nigeria Country Department, said Nigeria faces a huge infrastructure deficit, which inhibits its efforts to diversify its non-oil production and achieve international export competitiveness. He noted that the energy sector requires the most significant portion of this investment, amounting to $759 billion. According…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ordered Israel to “immediately halt” its military offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. CNN reports that the development further increases international pressure on Israel over its war against Hamas. United Nations’ top court issued the order in a suit filed by South Africa. South Africa had accused Israel of using forced evacuation orders in Rafah to “endanger rather than protect civilian life”. Israel, which has rejected the allegations, is yet to officially react to the ICJ ruling. Thegazellenews.com reports that ICJ rulings are final and binding, but the…

By Abimbola Ogunnaike Popular Nigerian comedian, Ayo Makun, also known as AY, has finally reacted to rumours that he expecting a child with Big Brother Naija star, Alex Unusual. There have been widespread rumours that Alex was pregnant with AY’s child, which contributed to the crash of the actor’s marriage to Mabel Makun. In the wake of the allegations, Alex deactivated all her social media accounts and returned with an intriguing video about the widespread claims on Wednesday night. Although she did not directly address the rumours, the reality star made a compilation of some hurtful words that were said…

The former Chairman of Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Area of Lagos State, Demola Doherty is dead, reports thegazellenews.com Sources told this medium that the late Doherty died early Friday, 24 May, 2024 after a protracted illness. Thegazellenews.com learnt that the ex-Chairman of Ifako-Ijaiye LG died in London while on another medical mission. He was reported to have been in and out of hospital in recent time. Doherty was the Chairman of Ifako-Ijaiye LG between 2008 and 2011.

By Ganiu Bamgbose, PhD With the world as a global village, every country needs the other one way or the other. This is the meaning of international relations; existing, occurring, or carried on between nations. It struck me that Nigeria mainly has a foreignational relation with most other countries of the world. I have coined the word “foreignational” to capture the mutually exclusive relationship between Nigeria and many other counties of the world. At all levels of existence, smart countries of the world all have a thing or the other to tap from Nigeria, but hardly do we know what…

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has given assurance that it will expedite action in the construction of the Nigerian Army Jetty and other projects it is executing at the 3 Battalion, Nigerian Army Barracks in Effurun, Delta State. Speaking during a joint inspection of the project with the Commander,46 Engineer Brigade, Brigadier General Eke Odoemele, the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, said that the Commission will give priority to the project which includes living quarters, administrative blocks, clinic, helipad, armoury and fuel dump. The NDDC team at the inspection included the Commission’s Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Alabo…

The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has fulfilled the N2million cash awards promise he made for 2020/2021, 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 Best Graduating Students of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, during the combined convocation of the three sessions. Presenting the cheques on behalf of the Governor, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, said the gesture was to encourage outstanding learners to further improve themselves, recalling that the present administration in the state had made it a tradition to always reward Overall Best Graduating Students in both public and private tertiary institutions across the state…