In this interview with Stanley Ugagbe of The News Chronicle, Convener of Africa Covenant Rescue Initiative (ACRI), Richard Odusanya shared insight on the birth and role of the platform. He also harped on certain national issues. TNC: Thank you for accepting our interview invitation. The Africa Covenant Rescue Initiative (ACRI) platform in which you are the convener was put in place by African leaders to rescue and facilitate efforts in curtailing the lingering conflicts in the continent of Africa. Can you tell us how it works and some of the feats it has achieved since inception? Odusanya: First and…
Author: Stanley Ugagbe
A few days ago, I was ruminating on President Muhammadu Buhari’s journey so far as the leader of the most populous black nation in the world and after a thorough overview of his actions and in-actions in the past six years, I came to the conclusion that he is the most strategic politician I have ever known. Whether this is in the positive or negative, I don’t know but the man has shown that it takes beyond normal prudence to stay at the top of the game of politics despite gross incompetence. How did I come to this conclusion? To…
For Solomon and Dorathy Onitsha, every 12th of November will remain a day they will live to cherish for the rest of their lives. This is because their beautiful love story was put to bed on the 12th of November, 2011 as they were joined together as husband and wife. Though they are originally from Delta State, they live in Lagos and are currently blessed with three children. On this 10th wedding anniversary, the elated couple is having a nostalgic reminiscence of their love story which actually started in the higher institution. In a chat with Stanley Ugagbe of The…
The word “twerk” – a dance move popularised by singer Miley Cyrus – actually dates back to 1820, according to the Oxford English Dictionary. The dictionary describes twerking as dancing “in a sexually provocative manner, using thrusting movements of the bottom and hips while in a low, squatting stance”. In recent months, ‘twerking,’ which is very common among females, has taken the centre stage in the theatre of dance, and with the rate at which it is being embraced by young people; drastic moves have to be urgently made to curtail the scourge. A thorough overview of the dictionary definition of the…
A few years ago, there were certain issues that were considered sacred and could only be harped on in the closets. Regrettably, the narrative has drastically changed negatively – the moral bankruptcy in the present day society has degenerated to a point where nothing is too raw to discuss in the public. The concept of married having affairs outside their marriage – what is now popularly called side chic – is gradually becoming a norm and from the look of the skyrocketing rottenness in the society, some of us will not be taken aback if it eventually succeeds as a…
For Amodu Ocheleche Joseph and Mercy Avokeye Samuel, Saturday the 30th of October, 2021 will remain a memorable day they will live to cherish for the rest of their lives. This is because their beautiful love story was put to bed on that day as they eventually tied the knot to formally seal their affair. Joseph, who hails from Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State and Mercy, an indigene of Isoko North LGA of Delta State, were declared husband and wife at Glory Light Assembly in FCT, Abuja. For the couple, who thrilled their guests in well calculated dance…
Cristiano Ronaldo was the centre of attraction on Saturday evening as Manchester United put up a sterling performance to defeat Tottenham in a Premier League game. Ole Gunar Solskjaer’s men who were coming from back to back defeats in the league, outplayed their opponent to secure the available three points of the match. Five-time Balon d’Or winner, Ronaldo, put the reds in front in the first half with a sensational strike following a through ball from his Portuguese teammate, Bruno Fernandes. Edinson Cavani doubled the reds’ lead in the second half after Ronaldo played him through in the centre of…
Religious Rights Advocacy group, CSW will host a protest outside the Nigerian High Commission in London today as part of its ongoing ‘Sing For Freedom’ campaign, which is calling for action to stem the scourge of abductions targeting educational establishments in northern and central Nigeria. Speakers include Lord David Alton of Liverpool, Pastor Fred Williams of Spirit Life Missions, and Mervyn Thomas CMG, Founder President of CSW and Chair of the UK FoRB Forum. The protest is expected to hold between 1-1:30pm BST. It would be recalled that the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) estimates that at least one million…
President Muhammadu Buhari Monday in Abuja lauded the exploits of the Nigerian Armed Forces to maintain peace, unity and stability in the country, urging Nigerians to celebrate them as the pride of the country. A statement by Femi Adesina said the President gave the charge at the 2022 Armed Forces Remembrance Day emblem appeal launch, an annual event to appreciate the gallantry, sacrifices and accomplishments of veterans of the first and second world wars, peace support operations and internal security operations in Nigeria. Paying tribute to veterans who devoted most of their active lives to securing the nation and the…
The adoption of the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) and its underlying technology, called block chain, can increase Nigeria’s GDP by $29billion over the next 10 years, President Muhammadu Buhari said Monday in Abuja at the official launch of the eNaira. A statement by Femi Adesina said the President declared that the introduction of the eNaira would enable the government to send direct payments to citizens eligible for specific welfare programmes as well as foster cross border trade. Buhari said that alongside digital innovations, CBDCs can foster economic growth through better economic activities, increase remittances, improve financial inclusion and make…
Enraged fans of Manchester United have continued to express displeasure over the demolition of the club by Liverpool on Sunday evening. Jurgen Klopp’s men put up a sterling performance to shatter Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men at Old Trafford in an EPL match that ended by five goals to nil. The lackluster Manchester United team was outclassed from the start to the end of the game and many were wondering if Ole’s men came to the pitch of play on empty stomach. Egyptian forward, Mohammed Salah was the centre of focus following his hat trick and an assist. Others on the…
As public discourse in Nigeria zeroes in on the 2023 presidential election, an Islamic human rights organisation, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has reaffirmed its preference for a presidential candidate from the Yoruba Muslim stock. In a statement on Monday by its director, Ishaq Akintola, MURIC argued that no Yoruba Muslim has ever occupied Aso Rock either as a president or vice president since independence in 1960 whereas ‘three Yoruba Christians have enjoyed that luxury’. MURIC said, “As public discourse in Nigeria zeroes in on the 2023 presidential election, we see the need for us to reiterate our position on…
An Islamic human rights organisation, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has appealed to the Federal Government (FG) to ignore the allegation made by the visiting Turkish leader, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, that Turkish terrorists were in Nigeria. The group advised FG to key into the pragmatic gains of the visit rather than dissipate energy on a wild goose chase. MURIC’s advice was contained in a statement on Friday by its director and founder, Professor Ishaq Akintola. The statement reads : “We heartily welcome the bilateral agreements signed by Nigeria and Turkey as they have the potential to boost economic and military…
President Muhammadu Buhari Wednesday in Abuja heaped praises on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for opening his country’s borders to accommodate millions of refugees in dire need of humanitarian support. It would be recalled that the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), had last week urged Buhari to be wary of the antics of Erdogan, accusing him of arbitrary arrest, torture, political killings, long imprisonment of opposition figures and critics, particularly members of the Hizmet Movement. However, speaking at a joint press conference on the occasion of the official visit of the Turkish leader to Nigeria, Buhari said his Turkish counterpart has…
In commemoration of this year’s birthday (Maolud an-Nabiyy) of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW), a Nigerian human rights group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has appealed to politicians to avoid ‘do or die’ politics. This was made known in a Maolud message released by the group’s leader, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Tuesday. The statement reads : “The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) felicitates with President Muhammadu Buhari, the Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Sa‘ad Abubakar, the Nigerian Muslim community as well as all Nigerian citizens and foreigners on the occasion…
President Muhammadu Buhari has felicitated with the Muslim Ummah, Nigerians of all faiths and the followers of Islam all over the world on the occasion of the Maulud-Un-Nabiyy, the birthday of the Holy Prophet Muhammad Peace Be Upon Him. In a message to mark the occasion, Tuesday, 19th October, a public holiday throughout the Federation, President Buhari said, “I am delighted to send greetings of peace, unity and goodwill to the Muslim Ummah, fellow citizens and Muslims all over the world as they observe and celebrate Eid-ul- Maulud.” The President urged Muslims to strive for “forgiveness and closeness to…
The African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL), in partnership with Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ), Enough is Enough (EiE) Nigeria, National Consultative Front (NCF), PLAYYA and MILID Foundation will Tuesday, October 19, 2021, hold a commemorative lecture and public presentation of Remaking Nigeria: Sixty Years, Sixty Voices – a book of sixty essays by sixty young Nigerians which salutes sixty years of Nigeria’s independence and points the way towards a better country. The event, which starts at 10a.m. at NECA House on Plot A2, Hakeem Balogun Way, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, is themed: “One Year After #EndSARS, 35 Years After…
An Islamic human rights organisation, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has berated the president of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan for “persecuting opposition back home in Turkey”. MURIC, in a statement on Monday by its leader, Professor Ishaq Akintola, accused Erdogan of arbitrary arrest, torture, political killings, long imprisonment of opposition figures and critics, particularly members of the Hizmet Movement. The statement reads: “President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will arrive in Nigeria today, Monday, 18th October, 2021 on a state visit. He is expected to sign some business deals with his Nigerian counterpart, President Muhammadu Buhari. However, Erdogan’s visit leaves a sour taste in…
The Federal Government has declared Tuesday October 19th , 2021 as Public Holiday to mark this year’s Eid-ul-Mawlid Celebration in commemoration of the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who made this declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, congratulated all Muslim faithful both at home and, in the Diaspora for witnessing this year’s occasion. He admonished all Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of love, patience and perseverance which are the virtues of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), adding that doing so would guarantee peace and…
Following the cry by an Islamic group, the Zumratul Jamiu Mumin Society of Nigeria (ZJM), ‘over plans by the Federal Government (FG) to forcefully eject thousands of its members from their settlement at the Pakuro-Lotto axis of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway,’ the Muslim Rights Concern has called on the President Muhammadu Buhari led government to perish such thoughts. MURIC in a statement by its director and founder, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Thursday, described the move to evict the Muslims as unjust, illegal, unlawful, illegitimate and unconstitutional. The statement reads: “We have it on good authority that the Federal Government (FG) plans to forcefully…
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the All Progressives Congress (APC) to “accept their mass failures in party management and governance and stop bothering Nigerians with their regular lamentations”. The PDP in a statement by its national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan said “Our position is predicated on a statement by the APC in which it claimed to have improved on electoral process in the country, whereas what abounds in our nation is a painful story of how the APC has destroyed our economy, our electoral process and our national unity, to the extent that life has become despondent…
Ebonyi State Governor Dave Umahi, sometime in September, prayed that God should give Nigeria a president “who has good heart like President Muhammadu Buhari for the good of this country.” It would be recalled that Umahi defected to the All Progressives Congress in November, 2020. Delineating on why he joined the APC, he had said “My defection to APC was in obedience to God’s will, respect for President Muhammadu Buhari and an honour to dignitaries present as well as obedience to the wish of Ebonyi people”. His reasons for joining the APC are typical of the average Nigerian politician. His…
President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday in Abuja directed cabinet ministers and permanent secretaries to redouble their efforts and work in synergy toward total delivery of this Administration’s set target to improve livelihood of all Nigerians. The President, who gave the directive at the end of the two-day Mid-term Ministerial performance review retreat, also instructed the ministers to ‘‘ramp up implementation’’ of their mandates along the Nine Priority Areas of this Administration. The President also stressed the need for synergy between the fiscal and monetary authorities in the country to keep the economy on the trajectory of growth. He noted that intensive…
Muslims in Kwara State and the general public have been urged to ‘desist from jumping to conclusions’ on the viral video in which students of an Arabic school, Madrasa were severely beaten. This call was made on Monday by the director and founder of an Islamic human rights organisation, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Professor Ishaq Akintola. He said, “While we regard the punishment meted to the students as too harsh, we maintain that the action of the school authorities should not be judged in isolation. The fact that the parents requested the school to discipline their children must not…
President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the winner of the 2021 Nobel Prize for Literature, Abdulrazak Gurnah, a former lecturer in Bayero University Kano. A statement by Femi Adesina said in winning the prize, the Swedish Academy highlighted the Tanzanian novelist’s ”uncompromising and compassionate penetration of the effect of colonialism and the fate of the refugees in the gulf between cultures and continents.” Buhari believes that given the ignoble experiences of Africans and people of African descent in the past, all forms of race-related vices and injustices have no place in modern history. The President, therefore, salutes the bold African voices…
1. If yours is a community penis/vagina, you’re still in Babylon because those who have left Babylon know that their private part is only for them and their husband/wife. 2. If you’re sampling breast and nyansh, you’re still in Babylon because those who have left Babylon know that their dress code is decency. 3. If you still harbour the belief of “It’s my life and I will live it the way I want,” you’re still in Babylon because those who have left Babylon no longer have a life of their own but the life of Christ. 4. If you…
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said in spite of the huge challenges inherited by the current Administration, President Muhammadu Buhari has steered the country in the right direction and returned the economy to the path of sustainable growth. The Minister made the remarks in Abuja on Friday when he received a delegation from the African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD), which is in the country for the second peer review. “We came into government in 2015 and by the time we came to government, three things happened, the impact of which…
Nigerian Table Shaker, Reno Omokri has broken another table after he noted that Satan has retired from his duties of diverting people’s attention from God. In a post on Facebook, Omokri stated that mobile phones have taken over those duties from Satan. He wrote: “Twenty years ago, satan had to instruct his demons to find ways to divert your attention from God to either yourself or your possessions. But now, he does not even bother. he just instructs them to make sure you get a smartphone by hook of crook. “Your phone now does what his demons could not…
Spain’s skipper, Sergio Ramos is unarguably one of the greatest defenders of all-time. His defending prowess has also been attested to by some of the greatest footballers in the world. Below are some of the remarks made about him by some football icons. Lionel Messi: “It’s always a great honor for me to face Sergio, he’s one of the best power stations in history.” Paolo Maldini: “Ramos is the best Centre back in the world for a while.” Luis Suárez: “Sergio Ramos is the hardest defender I’ve ever faced, he’s a boss on the field.” Giorgio Chiellini: “Sergio Ramos is…
Prior to the finale of the Big Brother Naija season 6, there were strong permutations that Whitemoney would emerge the winner of the edition. Though a certain Liquorose was also polled as a strong contender for the N90million prize, it was popularly believed that Whitemoney had a larger fan base and was in a huge position to scoop the money! In view of this belief, tongues began to wag not just across the nation but Africa. As the ritual has it, people started airing their views and remarkably, certain religious leaders joined the tongue wagging on who will emerge the…
