The Tekno-Drake collaboration; Firdaus, the hijabi who was not called to bar | Here are last week’s winners and losers

by Alexander O. Onukwue

We are just going to go right into it because everyone on this list has had a lot already said about them over the past week. Here are your winners and losers.

Lola Shoneyin

The 2018 Caine Prize will be contested by four writers from the African Continent and one of them is Lola Shoneyin. The poet and writer has had a wonderful 2017 in which the Ake Book Festival achieved all of its set out goals. Ms Shoneyin, a daughter-in-law of Wole Soyinka, is also a nominee for the Y!/YNiaja Person of the Year for 2018.

Tekno

The singer teased fans this week with a photo of himself and Drake, suggesting that a collaboration could be in store in no time. Wizkid’s international status over the last 12 months has significantly benefitted from “One Dance” and “Come closer”. It is impressive to see the value being attached to the work of Nigerian acts.

PDP

After losing out in the election for the Chairmanship position of the PDP, Prof Tunde Adeniran was clearly not a happy man last week. His frustration was reflected in rumours about a possible break off of disgruntled South-Western leaders from the PDP. Tensions have now calmed and aggrieved members have been approached with conciliatory measures.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

Royal Family buffs have been drooling for a month now over the engagement of Prince of Harry and American actress Meghan Markle. Now, the 19th of May 2018 is the date to look forward to.

Grace Olanrewaju Gureje + 4292 Others

The legal community in Nigeria received no less than 4200 new members this week with the call to the bar ceremony held midweek in Abuja. Among the new luminaries were 29 first class students with distinguished recognitions in various areas from Property and Corporate Law Practices, as well as Civil and Criminal Litigation. With 14 individual honours to her name, including the Council of Legal Education Star Prize, Grace Olanrewaju Gureje was the standout new barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

LOSERS

Firdaus Al-Jannah Amasa

She would have been the 213th person to be called to the bar among the 3:00 pm set only if she adjusted her hijab to uncover her ears. The story about Ms Amasa being barred from the bar on Wednesday has continued to generate counter arguments on social media, with many making cases for and against her fate. Whichever way the conversation swings, however, there is little doubt that anything will change other than her waiting to be considered in 2018. She will be losing a few months that’s for sure.

Burna Boy and fans

Burna boy has turned himself in to the Police and will be charged on Monday, according to reports. The dancehall act has denied any complicity in the robbery of fellow artist Mr 2Kay but the Police has held the position that he has to answer for certain actions to which he has been connected. Burna boy is the second artists this year to be embroiled in an accusation of a crime after the credit card case against Dammy Krane in June. Burna’s troubles mean he will not be able to hold his concert this December again, a disappointment to fans who had lined up plans to rock their bodies to his tunes this season.

President Buhari

The $1bn approved this week by the National Economic Council from the Excess Crude Account has stirred mostly negative reactions. Like the Ekiti state Governor, many fear these funds will be diverted to service the 2019 re-election bid of President Buhari. This notion gets more weight when added to the revelation that the president’s chief of staff had approved the exemption of a N50 billion fund from the NNPC from the TSA policy. The view is that President Buhari has much explaining to do on both counts.

Saraki

And speaking of counts, three counts of false assets declaration has been upheld by a Court of Appeal against Senate President Bukola Saraki. The Code of Conduct tribunal had dismissed the Federal Government’s suit against Saraki in August but with the resuscitation of the matter by a higher body of law, 2018 will begin with Saraki back in the hot water bath.

NFF

The NFF must hold its head in shame for fielding Shehu Abdullahi against Algeria despite the player having been suspended against Cameroon, hence ineligible to play. Nigeria’s unblemished qualifying record has now been tainted and it could have affected the nation’s rankings and subsequent placement at the 2018 World Cup group. Real shame.

Roy Moore

He lost his Senate bid for Alabama to Democrat Doug Jones, despite the support of Trump to overshadow the harassment claims that were brought against him.

 

 

 

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