Author: Akintayo Adams

Veteran entertainer Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, has criticized Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka for remaining silent during the ongoing hardships faced by Nigerians. In a video posted on his verified X microblogging account, Charly Boy recalled how Soyinka led a mass protest against former president Goodluck Jonathan when he removed fuel subsidies, causing petrol prices to rise from ₦87 to ₦120. He questioned why Soyinka has chosen to stay mute amid the current challenges, accusing the Nobel Laureate of being a “tribalistic bigot.” “There was a time when Uncle Wole Soyinka cared deeply about Nigeria and Nigerians.…

The reinstated Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, has formally dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to rejoin the All Progressives Congress (APC). The deputy governor was accompanied by prominent members of the Dan Orbih-led Legacy Group of the PDP as he made his return to APC. Shaibu walked directly to where former Governor of the state, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, was seated at the venue and knelt before him, drawing applause from party supporters. Speaking, he said, “On behalf of the Legacy Group, I announce our movement to the APC. We have come to add value to the party.…

Meta will be appealing the $220 million fine imposed by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) for violating Nigeria’s data privacy laws. This was made known by WhatsApp, an arm of Meta. In a statement provided to the News Agency of Nigeria on Saturday in Lagos, WhatsApp stated, “We disagree with the decision today as well as the fine and Meta will be appealing the decision.” The statement continued, “In 2021, we explained to users globally how talking to businesses among other things would work. While there was a lot of confusion then, it has actually proven quite…

The 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, is here, and it’s just five days away. Nigeria is scheduled to compete at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris from 26 July to 11 August 2024. A total of 88 athletes will represent the nation in different sports. Here is the list of all the sports events Team Nigeria will compete in: Meanwhile, the Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, has stated his aspiration for Team Nigeria to surpass its best Olympic outing achieved at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, USA. Enoh has called for Nigerians to throw their…

The Joint Committee of the House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria is investigating the arbitrary rise in cement prices in the country. Major producers in the industry, including Dangote Cement Company and Lafarge Africa PLC, have been asked to submit documents detailing their production costs to justify the current market price of cement. The committee, led by Chairman Rep. Jonathan Gaza (APC-Nasarawa), resolved to visit the production plants of these companies after reviewing their financial records. The goal is to ascertain the cost of production and determine a fair price for cement for all Nigerians. Gaza made this demand…

Vote buying increased by 5 per cent in the 2023 general elections. This was contained in a NBS report titled, ’Corruption in Nigeria: Patterns and trends third survey on corruption as experienced by the population’. The report said the elections recorded 22 per cent of vote buying, which is five per cent higher than the 2019 general elections with 17 per cent. “Furthermore, in 2023, 10 per cent reported that they were not personally offered money or another favour in exchange for their vote, but that instead another member of their household was approached, compared to 5 per cent in…

US President Joe Biden vowed to remain in the White House race on Friday, despite a growing revolt within the Democratic party. This defiance fueled speculation that he might step down as early as this weekend. “The stakes are high, and the choice is clear. Together, we will win,” the 81-year-old said in a statement from the Delaware beach home where he is in Covid isolation. “I look forward to getting back on the campaign trail next week,” Biden added, as his doctor said the president was bouncing back from the symptoms of the disease. However, Biden’s political health seemed…

Nigerian doctor and visual artist, Dr. Fola David, has surpassed the existing record for the world’s largest painting by an individual. On Friday, the fourth day of his attempt, David broke the previous record of 629.98 square meters, held by Ravi Soni from India. He has stated that he is determined to attain his ultimate goal of 1,000 square meters of art. In a post on Instagram on Friday, he wrote, “Congratulations to us all. On Day 4 at 9 p.m., we broke the current record of 629.98 square metres, but we are not yet done! “The goal is to…

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka has described the Former President of the United States and Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump as a consummate liar. Soyinka, who said the US Politician is a menace to the world spoke with TheNEWS as part of activities to mark his 90th birthday. “But he did one thing. He studied and he understood the American psyche,” the Prof. said. “And he knew the right chord to tweak in order to get them on his side, to get them to believe anything that he says. “I don’t think the world has ever known such a consummate…

The embattled Chief Whip of the Senate and Lawmaker representing the Borno South Senatorial District, Senator Ali Ndume on Friday declined the offer of chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Tourism. Ndume announced the decision at his country home in Maiduguri, the Borno State Capital, about 48 hours after he was removed as the Chief Whip of the Senate. Reacting to his removal, the lawmaker stated that after reviewing the conversation that angered his colleagues, he believed his actions did not warrant the punishment. He said he declined the chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Tourism because he lacked the…