by Stanley Azuakola Nollywood producer shoots in Aso Rock It’s no longer news that President Jonathan plans to spend N140 million this year irrigating the garden at the presidential villa. What many don’t know is that a movie producer, Kunle Afolayan, recently shot a movie in that same garden. The movie entitled ‘Garden of Patience’, has D’banj (Goodluck)... Read More
While a lot of celebs have been catching heat for endorsing the President’s 2011 candidacy, Don Jazzy was practically getting thrown under the bus on Twitter for his overt involvement in the affair. Between the negative tweets and those in defence of him, the Mo’Hits maestro trended worldwide for a brief period, another milestone for... Read More
by ‘Ifreke Inyang Foremost Nollywood actor, Richard Mofe-Damijo, is alive after he was involved in a ghastly car crash in Warri, Delta State. RMD as he is popularly called was rescued from the scene of the accident and taken to hospital, where he is recovering well. Below is a picture of his SUV which was... Read More
Government is a disease masquerading as its own cure. -Robert LeFevre Over the last few weeks since the new year began, I and many others have been engaged in a vibrant national debate on whether or not the government should continue to subsidize premium motor spirit (also known as ‘fuel’ or ‘petrol’). Clearly, the disastrous... Read More
Culled from yomzie …on this issue of fuel subsidy removal, this script has been acted out too many times for us to have forgotten how the charade ends. As I watched the events of the last 36 hours unfold, I have had to explain to my wife and children why I am so silent, so... Read More
by Rachel Ogbu It almost seemed no one was cabable of replacing Larry King and then Piers Morgan came along. At the time, the critics reigned supreme but it’s been exactly one year since Morgan went live on CNN and what an eventful one it’s been. At first when news began to spread... Read More
Deji Agbeniyi We obviously have not discarded the military mentality even while we claim to practice democracy. After one week of nationwide strikes and protests, Nigerians today woke up to the brute reminder of the kind of fabric African Leaders are made of: Leadership dressed in a culture of colonial tactics , brute force ,ruler-ship by... Read More
by Wilfred Okiche …highlife duets with Duncan Mighty and Wizboy really have no business here. The second half of 9ice’s fourth album, ‘Versus’ can be described as a boxing arena where he books some of the biggest names in the music industry to battle with them. However, he withholds the one battle we would have... Read More
MILITARY DEPLOYED IN LAGOS Monday the 16th of January saw the deployment of Military personnel all over Lagos from the early hours of the morning. They set up roadbloacks and check points at strategic points calculated to deter protesters following the NLC directive that public demonstrations had been cancelled. Most of the military force was... Read More
Japheth Omojuwa One thing is clear, Nigerians are standing their ground. One thing is clear to Nigerian rulers today, Nigerians are no longer going to be passive spectators in matters that affect their well being and existence. Unlike in times past when Nigerians would within days adjust to whatever decisions those at the helm unleash... Read More
By Roselyn Kangara …how far are parents willing to go just to say or brag to their friends that their kids are studying or living abroad. Last month, I met one Jude Ogbulobu*. Pleasant young man I must say. Jude has been in Kenya for three years now. He left Nigeria with the... Read More
By Seyi Lawal K01, the Afro hip-hop Abinibi Crooner has come up with another brand new single which he titled, ‘Subsidy’. He made this special track with the aim of speaking the mind of the Nigerian masses in this present predicament they are going through. The track also speaks to the government asking them to pay... Read More
In this statement released by Babatunde Ogun, President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) reflects on the union’s role in the national strikes against the removal of subsidies on fuel. Dear Fellow Nigerians, With NLC and TUC calling off the strike action this afternoon, PENGASSAN which is an affiliate of... Read More
By Ferdinand Adimefe Nigeria’s problem is not the lack of creativity or the content of our ideas but the corrupt nature of the government shepherding the system. I can’t deny that I remain very sympathetic towards the President, partly because I supported him and canvassed for him on Channels television during “the show down debate”,... Read More
PRESS STATEMENT BY COALITION OF CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS ON THE FUEL-PRICING IMBROGLIO; AND INVITATION TO A PRESS CONFERENCE MONDAY, 16TH JANUARY 2012 IN ANTHONY VILLAGE, LAGOS On Monday, 16 th January 2012, Nigerians woke up to find their streets invaded by soldiers all over the country. This was done in an apparent bid to stop... Read More
Organised Labour have called off the nationwide strike that was called in protest of government’s removal of subsidies on the price of fuel. The decision was made known by the National Presidents of NLC and TUC respectively, Messrs Abdulwahed Omar and Peter Esele in a press conference given in Abuja earlier today. On whether all... Read More
by Wilfred Okiche Nollywood actors and actresses have joined millions of Nigerians in protesting the decision of the federal government to remove the subsidy on fuel. The musicians wasted no time and took the side of the people. Chocolate City rapper/producer, Jesse Jagz rallied his colleagues on the morning of the first day of protests.... Read More
It is now a cliche, but it is still true – this generation is different from the last, and there is much to celebrate They will no longer patiently wait for salvation, they will enforce it. By Stanley Azuakola “NOTHING GOOD is happening,” declared an exasperated blogger in late 2009, at the peak of... Read More
by Bankole Oluwafemi What: Fuel Subsidy Removal protest Where: Lagos When: (Day 5) 13 January, 2012
Former Minister for Solid Minerals and then Education, noted mentor to several young leaders, and the driver for the viral phrase “The Turning Point Generation” has confirmed her decision to leave her position as Vice President of the World Bank for Africa to lead civil society engagements at home. It takes effect in May. Below... Read More
A full excerpt of the speech as delivered by Babatunde Raji Fashola on military occupation of Lagos state: Dear Lagosians, For the past few days, I have monitored the developments related to the public protest against the increase in the pump price of petrol. During that period, I have at the invitation of my colleagues... Read More
Culled from The Kaleidoscope by Joachim MacEbong There has been an attempt to tag protesters as a mindless lot who are puppets on strings, but nothing could be further from the truth. There is an ideological similarity between the Tea Party and the protests in Nigeria, but it is not in terms of... Read More
by ‘Ifreke Inyang May D became the talk of the music industry when he became the first act to be signed onto P-Square’s record label. His first single, ‘Soundtrack’, earned him rave reviews and he also featured on the song, ‘Chop my money’ in P-Square’s Invasion album. He starts 2012 with the release of the... Read More
Early this morning YNaija first broke the news that Christian Purefoy, former CNN Lagos correspondent and now founder of online video startup Battabox, was picked up by government security operatives at Ojota. From his Twitter timeline, we gather that he first began to encounter Military road blocks at Orile Iganmu, and passed through four such checkpoints... Read More
by Wilfred Okiche The Golden Globe award, presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association was broadcast last night from the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. Hollywood A-listers from television and film turned up in their numbers to celebrate with the winners and stars such as Madonna, Angelina Jolie, Sofia Vergara and Reese Witherspoon... Read More
by ‘Ifreke Inyang Ebisan has released the video for her debut effort, ‘Love Story’. The clip which was directed by fast rising director, Ak One, features Nollywood’s new leading man, Joseph Benjamin. Ebisan and Benjamin play out the ‘love story’ brilliantly, as she remembers all the sweet memories they shared together before he decides to... Read More
by ‘Ifreke Inyang It is possible that Prophet T.B Joshua predicted the ongoing #OccupyNigeria protests. In an interesting Youtube video that is going viral, the Senior Prophet at the Synagogue Church of All Nations speaks to his congregation about the impending crisis. According to a brief description of the video posted, “On Oct 16th, 2011,... Read More
By Hauwa Gambo Since joining the fore runners of the anti-fuel subsidy removal campaign, outspoken pastor and Save Nigeria Group (SNG) Convener, Tunde Bakare has been under threats allegedly from the federal government. News that President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered the SSS to arrest Bakare and three others including civil rights attorney, Femi Falana, ex-member of house of representatives, Dino... Read More