Emir Sanusi urges states, FG to encourage investment in power sector

The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II has called on both the Federal and State Governments to encourage private entrepreneurs to invest in the power sector.

He made the call while delivering a keynote address at a two-day conference in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the creation of Kano state.

NAN reports that the conference is part of the week-long activities organised by the state government to celebrate the anniversary.

He said there was urgent need to encourage private investors to invest in the power sector with a view to promoting socio-economic activities of the people in the country.

According to him, investment in the power sector was necessary in order to ensure economic growth and development in the state in particular and the country at large.

We must invest in the development of Kano and the country at large.

The monarch, who lamented the current power shortage in the country, noted that majority of the industries in the state had collapsed or stopped production due to inadequate power supply.

He, however, called on the Kano state government to continue to give priority attention to education with particular emphasis on girl-child education.

Education holds the key to our development. We must continue to give priority attention to the sector because it is the bedrock of any development,” he said.

Government should also give priority attention to the agriculture and industrialisation because they are key to moving the state and country forward,” he said.

He noted that with the collapse of the nation’s industries, the country was now importing three million pairs of shoes from China annually.

We must be ready to change our way of thinking; if we must be able to face the challenges and ensure economic growth and development of the state.” he added.

NAN reports that the conference was attended by prominent personalities from within and outside the state. (NAN)

Beyonce holds African themed baby shower

Grammy award singer Beyonce,35, who is expecting twins with husband Jay-Z, had an African themed baby shower to celebrate her upcoming bundles of joy with friends and family.

The “Carter push party” which held on Saturday In Los Angeles, had African drummers, people dressed in African outfits and Afrobeats music blasting in one of the make shift huts.

Celebrities in attendance included Jay Z, Mum, Tina Knowles, Kelly Rowland, Solange, Michelle Williams and a host of others.

Beyonce and Jay Z, officially became billionaires according to Forbes which has placed their joint wealth at $1.16 billion.

“Eyo Festival’s’’ early morning showers: Signs of peace, acceptance by gods of Lagos City

Lagosians in their thousands on Saturday defied the early morning downpour but trooped out to welcome their own “Adamu Orisa’ popularly called Eyo festival.

The Naijaroyaltyculture.blogspot.com reports that festival is part of the activities to celebrate Lagos @50 marking 50 years after Lagos State was created from the old Western Region on May 27, 1967  by the then Military head of state, general Yakubu Gowon.

He appointed Brig.-Gen. Mobolaji Johnson as the first military governor of Lagos State.

The residents who did not open shops described the rainfall as a sign that the gods of the land were pleased with the celebrations and with the present administration of Lagos state led by Gov. Akinwumi Ambode.

It is also a sign of peace that greeted the popular Eyo festival and our masqueraders as we used the cultural festival to commemorate Lagos @ 50, they said.

They told the Naijaroyaltyculture.com in Lagos that rainfall during “Eyo” masqueraders’ parades was a sign that the heavenly beings or the gods were at peace with the land.

Naijaroyaltyculture.bologspot.com also observed that the masqueraders in their immacualte white regalia and accompanying palm frond and caps to match danced round Lagos island in the downpour that had been drenched and stained from red mud and erosions from floodings.

Mr Jacob Kehinde, an indigene of “Eko’ the Yoruba name for Lagos city, said that the array of white regalia and costumes was a true replica of the culture and traditions of the indigenes of Lagos Island.

According to him, the festival was a theatrical display and pageantry that highlights and showcases the rich indigenous history of the people and Lagos city.

“Every thing done in this festival is showcasing what we have as a people and what our culture entails.

Lagos is a tourist attraction centre and we must use this medium to showcase sites while we celebrate Lagos as a state,’’ he said.

Also, Mr Taofeek Adebisi, a freelance journalist, advised Africans and the general public to seek knowledge rather than attributing Eyo festival to a fetish practice.

“I was born and breed as a Muslim on the mainland of Lagos and over the years I have been made to believe that Eyo masquerade dance is diabolic.

“On the contrary, it is not true because I have been going around town with the guys dancing since 10p.m. on Friday night and I have not seen anyone pouring libations to any deity.

“Eyo is all about fun and nothing else, but, pure fun,’’ he said.

The  Festival which started several decades ago was invented as part of the regalia for the purpose of wading off undesirable elements.

From the beginning, the festival depicted by the image of masqueraders in flowing white apparel has grown for a rural festival to an internationally acclaimed event, he said.

Oba Ewuare II recalls ostracised family

Oba Ewuare II N’Ogidigan of Benin on Friday recalled Mrs Victoria Orhue ostracised from Obe N’Evbueribo in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo by Odionwere (head) and Ohen of the village.

The Oba also directed that all her lands and other property that were confiscated by the village leadership be returned to her immediately.

Ewuare II gave the order at Ugha-Ozolua in his palace while presiding over matters affecting individuals, families and villages. Orhue and her children were banished from Obe N’Evbueribo in Ikpoba-Okha by the Odionwere, Mr Oyeobasojie Ekhator and Ohen Osaghae Edobo after a dispute over land and other property.

She was also said to have been assaulted severally by some Community Development Agency youths believed to have been working for the Odionwere and Ohen.

Oba Ewuare said the banishment was unacceptable and a unilateral decision of the Odionwere and Ohen, adding that they had no powers to banish anyone from the village.

The oba ordered that decision on certain traditional matters must be brought to the palace for due consultations before adjudicating on them by traditional and village heads including ohen in Benin kingdom.

Ewuare II further directed odionwere and ohen to desist forthwith from such decisions and make peace with Mrs Orhue and her children including all the people of the village

Also, Mrs Ann Aghayere reported Odionwere of Amagba, Mr Oduoriyekemwen in Oredo Local Government Area to the palace over the selling of her land.

Oba ruled that a fresh land of same measurement with the one sold, including the seized documents, be restored to her with immediate effect.

The oba also directed that a perimeter fence should be erected on the said land by the Odionwere as compensation.

The Naijaroyaltyculture.blogspot.com, reports that there was jubilation in the palace ground by friends and relations of the litigants after the verdicts, and prayed for the success of monarch.

Oyo monarch canvasses continuity in tenure for Oke-Ogun lawmakers

Oba Sunday Adepoju, the Oniro of Otu in Oyo State, has advocated continuity in tenure for first term lawmakers from Oke-Ogun area of the state.

He made the call on Friday at  a town hall meeting and inauguration of projects by Rep. Abiodun Olasupo in Otu, the headquarters of Itesiwaju Local Government in Oyo State.

The Naijaroyaltyculture.blogspot.com reports that Olasupo (APC-Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa Federal Constituency) held the programme in the four local governments in  his constituency.

Continuity for our representatives is very important to us as it will help them finish whatever project they facilitated or embarked upon.

For instance, a fresh lawmaker in the National Assembly will find it difficult to lead a committee but a second term lawmaker has the opportunity of being a principal officer,’’ he said.

Adepoju urged political leaders to look into the issue and ensure continuity for the representatives, adding that it would benefit the constituency greatly.

I am very particular about  this constituency which is the largest federal constituency in Oyo State with four local governments,’’ he said.

He said that Olasupo had  performed creditably well  in the last two years, describing him as an unbiased representative who had evenly distributed all his constituency projects.

The monarch expressed optimism that the lawmaker would have achieved a lot if he was allowed to represent the constituency till 2023.

Similarly, Mr Niyi Adeagbo, the Caretaker Chairman, Itesiwaju Local Government 

Area,  commended the lawmaker for facilitating projects for the constituency.

Adeagbo stated that the lawmaker was a good representative of the constituency, adding  that he had  always returned home to implement development programmes apart from those he facilitated.

Sometimes ago, he came around and his attention was drawn to one of the dilapidated schools which he promised to renovate.

Today, we are here to inaugurate the school. This is  great commitment from a real and upright lawmaker, he said.

Naijaroyaltyculture.com reports that the lawmaker had  facilitated the  construction and renovation of classroom blocks, supply and equipping of ICT centres as well as  provision of desks  in schools.

He had  also sunk  10 modern boreholes  and  sponsored ICT training of young school leavers.

Naijaroyaltyculture.blogspot.com further  reports that the lawmaker would on Saturday distribute  empowerment equipment and cash to beneficiaries in his constituency.

Ooni unveils Yoruba Parapo Cultural carnival Logo

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has unveiled the Logo of Yoruba 

Parapo Cultural carnival (YPCC), an event put together to promote the oneness of Yoruba race.

The Ooni officially unveiled the YPCC logo and inaugurated the Central Coordinating Committee, in his Palace, on Friday, in Ile-Ife.

Prince Solomon Gbenga, the Executive Consultant to the programme, said that in the history of Yoruba, tribe and cultural development needed to be lauded and honoured.

He said the peaceful coexistence and unity of the race was worth celebrating and promoting, adding that the carnival would attract cultural troupes at home and internationally.

He said it would also be colourful, entertaining and would add value to the political, socio-economic focus of the generality of the Yoruba race.

Gbenga said the economic and socio-political efforts of the sons and daughters of Yoruba race globally are reckoned with.

He called for the blessing and support of royal fathers, stakeholders, Nigerians, and corporate organisation toward a successful programme.

He also appealed for a land from Oba Ogunwusi to construct a Mega Yoruba Cultural Dome in Ife with 25,000 seats capacity.

In his remarks, Oba Ogunwusi commended the organisers of the programme for promoting the Yoruba culture and tourism potential.

He promised his full support to ensure the success of the programme.

The Ooni also assured the organisers of the sustainability of peace, unity and progress of Yoruba race globally.

Acting President receives 2017 budget from NASS

Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly (Senate), Sen. Ita Enang, on Friday transmitted the 2017 budget recently passed by the National Assembly to Acting President Yemi Osinbajo.

The event was done under closed-door, but Enang confirmed the delivery of the document to Osinbajo.

The budget as passed by the National Assembly has just been transmitted to the acting president. I just delivered it,’’ he told State House correspondents.

Enang used the opportunity to clarify the issue surrounding the power to sign the budget.

The acting president has the power to assent to the budget and he will assent to it when the processes are completed.

In February, he assented to seven or eight bills. Those that he didn’t agree with, he wrote the Senate and House of Representatives that he had withheld his assent from them.

He has the power of the president to assent to it,’’ he added.

The president’s aide also said that the assent to the Appropriation Bill would be after the completion of the standard operation processes.

According to him, the bill has 30 days within which it will be assented to, but the process can be completed within two or three days.

So, it is not possible to say it will be assented to in so, so and so days or in two or three days.

It is upon the completion of the process that it will be assented to by the president, and the president here now is the acting president,’’ he explained.

 

Emir of Daura commends military for unprecedented gallantry in North East

The Emir of Daura, Alhaji Farouk Umar, has commended Nigerian soldiers for restoring peace and security in the north eastern part of the country.

Farouk gave the commendation when the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.- Gen. Tukur Buratai, visited him in Daura on Friday.

He said the military had demonstrated “unprecedented commitment and gallantry in ending the protracted insurgent activities in the northeast.”

The emir noted that by so doing, the Nigerian Armed Forces had promoted the image of the nation at the international level.

He lauded Buratai for his unquestionable loyalty to Nigeria and the Commander-in-Chief, as well as his doggedness in combating insurgent activities through proper coordination of the battle.

The emir advised the Army Chief to remain steadfast “because God would reward you and others for safeguarding the country.”

Farouk called on officers of the newly established Army unit in Daura to live peacefully with their host community for progress and development

Earlier, Buratai told the Emir that he was in Daura to inaugurate the new army unit located at Koza village in Mai’adua Local Government area.

He said the unit would undertake intensive security surveillance in the border communities and work to ensure peaceful coexistence among the people.

Buratai told the Emir that his loyalty to the unity of Nigeria was absolute and the military would not compromise the unity of the nation.

NAN reports that Buratai was accompanied to the emir’s palace by Army and Air Force personnel.

Artifact of fruitfulness stolen from Nigeria found in Italy

The artifact that represented goddess of fruitfulness reluctantly released by Nupe people to Niger State Museum and stolen some decades ago, has been found in Italy.‎

The Executive Director, Niger State Council for Arts and Culture, Mr Emmanuel Zhiri, made this known to the Naijaroyaltyculture.blogspot.com in Minna on Thursday.

This artifact was found in Italy recently by the Commissioner for Information, Mr Jonathan Vatsa’’, Zhiri said.

Zhiri added that it would cost the state a “huge fortune,” to retrieve it.‎

Zhiri spoke on the sidelines of the 2017 Commemoration of the World Museum Day‎ with the theme: Museum and Contested Histories: Saying the Unspeakable in Museums.”

Zhiri said Niger state museum was one of the well-organised premier museums with experienced professional personnel‎.

Zhiri said government was working seriously to expand the museum by bringing in more artifact to enrich the state’s museum.

We are working strategically to bringing in more artifacts to uphold our cultural heritage.

We have identified artifacts we are going to bring in, like the musical strings of the late Walo Shatan Gwari and late Nupe musicians’ musical strings used in the course of their musical career.‎

We are going to pay the custodians of these musical strings and bring them to the Niger state museum.

It is going to cost us about N2 million to bring them from the Niger Zone A, Zone B and Zone C”, he said.

Zhiri added that the essence of bringing such artifacts to ‎Niger museum was to preserve the history and make it public to those who did not know such history.

People come in here to learn the history of different artifacts; we keep them safe for posterity.

Managers of museum strive a lot to bring in inherited artifacts from the people they were bequeathed to because they do not know the use as much as we do.

They do not know the significance of these artifacts. As far as they know, they are keeping them because they inherited them‎. That is how much most of them know”, he said.

He said they do a lot of research on artifacts in the museums.

We do compilation of oral and written tradition of the artifacts so that the people will get to know more about the artifacts, community, people and their culture”, he said.‎

Osinbajo urges incentives for farmers to enhance trade competition

Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, the Acting President, on Thursday said it was very important to give local farmers incentives to be able to compete favourably in international market.

He said this when he addressed the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) meeting in Abuja. According to him, the reason the imported rice are cheaper than local rice is that the foreign producers get incentives to produce at cheaper rates.

He said that he was not worried much about the current high cost of rice in the country because it was a temporary challenge that would soon end.

It is a short time challenge and we fully expected it even in agriculture policy.

It is fully expected that Nigerian rice will be more expensive than imported rice.

The simple reason is that the countries that export rice to us subsidise the production of rice.

So, their rice will hit the Nigerian market cheaper than our farmers and millers can currently deliver.

The acting president said that trade was a serious business and all countries of the world understood that trade created employment at home and made their countries to grow and make progress.

He said that other countries were subsidising to create jobs for their farmers and millers. According to him, it is up to the country to take measures that will reverse the negative trend.

If we continue importing, we are simply transferring our farmers and millers jobs to the countries that export rice to us. And that is why it is so important for us to understand that we must incentivize our own farmers.

Currently, we are working with the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Finance and the CBN governor and several others to put together an incentive regime for our farmers to ensure that our famers are also able to compete.

Whatever it is that other countries are doing to make their products cheaper, we will do the same and we will even do better than that, Osinbajo said.

He acknowledged that the Nigeria civil service and its professionals were the best in the world and could drive the reforms in business environment.

Saraki, governors pay tributes to late Adeyinka Adebayo

Senate President Bukola Saraki and  governors  from the South West Zone on Thursday converged on Ibadan  to pay their last respects  to the late  Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo.

The Naijaroyaltyculture.blogspot.com reports that the corpse  of  Adebayo, a  former Military Governor of  the Old Western Region, was  received at the Government House Arcade at  2.20 pm on Thursday

The corpse was received by  Maj.-Gen. Martins Abraham, the General Officer Commanding(GOC), 2 Division, Nigeria Army,  and governors from the South West Zone  led by the host governor, Abiola Ajimobi.

The late Adebayo, who  died on March 8 in Lagos at 89 years, was military governor between  1966 and 1971.

Naijaroyaltyculture.blogspot reports that the corpse was  later moved to the House of Chiefs, Parliament Building, for the lying-in-state ceremony.

Paying tributes to the late Adebayo, the senate president  described the deceased as one of  those who worked to ensure the sustainability of  the nation’s unity.

Saraki, who also commended governors in the South West Zone  for giving a befitting burial to Adebayo, condoled with the family of the deceased.

He urged the younger generations in leadership positions  to sustain the legacy of peace and unity  which Adebayo promoted.

Ajimobi, who spoke on behalf  of the governors in the zone, described the late general as a fine gentleman  and a shining example to  younger generations.

He pointed out that although Adebayo’s career spanned  about three decades, he was never linked  to corrupt practices.

The governor described Adebayo’s exit as a monumental loss to the Yoruba nation  and  the country as a whole.

Earlier in his address of welcome, Alhaji Olalekan Alli, the Secretary to the Oyo State Government, said the event was at once  a painful loss and celebration of  a fallen patriarch.

Alli said that the occasion availed  all the opportunity to celebrate a former governor, worthy leader, elder statesman and respectable personality.

Among the governors present at the occasion were  Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun) and  Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos), while Ekiti and Ogun were represented by their deputy governors.

Also in attendance were Adebayo’s widow, Modupe, the son of the deceased and  former governor of Ekiti, Adeniyi , as well as former APC interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande.

Adebayo, born in 1928 at Iyin Ekiti in Ekiti State, attended All Saints School, Iyin-Ekiti, for his primary education as well as  Eko Boys High School and Christ’s School, Ado-Ekiti.

He was the first National General Staff Officer, Grade 2,  Nigerian Army Headquarters,  from 1961 to 1962 and the first indigenous Chief of Staff of the Nigerian Army from February, 1964 to November, 1965.

Adebayo served as the Chairman, Organisation  of African Unity (OAU) Defence Planning Committee from 1963 to 1965 and military governor, Western Nigeria,  from 1966 to 1971.

He was the Commandant, Nigerian Defence Academy,  from 1971 to 1972 and  finally retired from the Nigerian Army with the rank of Major-General in July,  1975.

The late Adebayo participated actively in the resolution of the Biafran crisis and was later appointed Chairman, Committee on Reconciliation and Integration of the Igbo back into Nigeria  by Gen. Yakubu Gowon, the then military Head of State.

 

Just In: Actress Moji Olaiya dies

Nollywood star actress Moji Olaiya has been reported dead. She was 42 years old. Multiple sources said she died of heart attack in Canada, where she gave birth to a baby girl in March. The baby was her second child. Her first daughter is 18 years old.

The beautiful actress, who had featured in many Yoruba and English movies  married her second husband last year after the first one  to Bayo Okesola crashed in 2008.

She was the  daughter of highlife music legend, Victor Olaiya. She was born in February 1975.

Fans, fellow Nollywood actors and actresses have all expressed shock about her death.

In an Instagram post two days ago, she wrote:  “Allhamdulilahi to you Allah I give all the glory for all you have done. I will forever praise and worship you. It’s not by power but the Grace of Allah. Thank you for the gift of life. Thanks also to all my friends and family my fans for your supports and prayers. Love you all.”

And this was penned on Tuesday. The day after, she dramatically left the world.

In another post, she made after, she announced to her fans that Okiki app is now available on Apple App Store. “watch movies from me and other great actors for free”, she wrote.

At the moment, her Instagram account @mojisolaabikeade, where she had 240,000 followers,  has been inundated with messages of lamentations and condolences by her fans.

Nollywood “Coat of Harm”premieres at 2017 Cannes Film Festival

Nollywood short film, “Coat of Harm has been selected to screen and premiere at the 70th Cannes Film Festival which opened on May 17 in Cannes, France.

The 15-minute short film, Directed by veteran filmmaker Stanlee Ohikhuare, stars Nollywood actors Ndubisi Donald, Funky Mallam, Daniel O. David, David Ohikhuare, Napoleon EH.and Stephenie Ohikhuare.

Coat of Harm” plot is on two dead neighbors who have one last discussion as corpses in a local morgue, after one of them facilitates a terror attack that results in their death.

Their conceived closeness in life is scrutinized in death, as they both make new discoveries of innate hate that is fueled by ‘indoctrination’.

In 2015, Stanlee Ohikhuare was at the Cannes Film Festival with “Iterum”, also a 15 minute short film starring Kiki Omeili and Paul Utomi.

The Cannes ‘Court Metrage’(or short film corner) is an attempt to offer an all-encompassing panorama of short film production worldwide, as well as to stimulate the creativity of short film artistes.

Meanwhile, organisers of the 2017 Cannes Film Festival, say there will be no Hollywood blockbusters this year as the festival opens on Wednesday.
The festival will end on May 28.

Cannes Film Festival is an international film festival that draws attention to and raises the profile of films with the aim of contributing towards the development of global cinema. (NAN)

Wealth of 5 richest Nigerians can end extreme poverty –OXFAM

The Inequality report released by Oxfam International on Wednesday, revealed that the combine wealth of five richest Nigerians, put at $29.9 billion, could end extreme poverty in the country.

The report, entitled ‘Inequality in Nigeria, Exploring the Drivers and obtained in Abuja, exposed the large and growing gap between the rich and poor in Nigeria.

It revealed that the benefits of  the nation’s economic growth had been captured by a few wealthy elite at the expense of the ordinary Nigerians.

According to the report, the economic inequality is a key factor in the conflict in the North-Eastern states of the country.

Oxfam International also disclosed that Nigeria’s richest man earned 8,000 times more in one day than a poor Nigerian would spend on basic needs in a year.

It said that more than 112 million people were living in poverty in Nigeria, yet the country’s richest man spent one million dollars a day for 42 years to exhaust his fortune.

According to the report, Nigeria is one of the few countries where the number of people living in poverty is on the increase despite the growth of the economy.

The report also indicated that 69 per cent of people now live below the poverty line in North-Eastern states, compared to the 49 per cent in the South-West.

It also showed that women were not being captured on the benefits of economic growth because they tended to be employed in low-skilled, low-paid informal jobs.