By Babafemi Ojudu If you have ever witnessed the Ede masquerade, the Aladoko, or the Alamudu perform, you will instantly appreciate the poetry of Niyi Osundare, the world-renowned poet. Osundare hails from Ekiti, as do these mesmerizing masquerades. Had education not found him, Osundare might well have been a bearer of one of these magnificent masks—adorned with multicolored feathers and mirrors cascading from the nape to the feet—chanting profound verses…

UK court sentenced Urfan Sharif, 43, and Beinash Batool, 30, to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of 10-year-old British Pakistani Sara Sharif, who died after enduring a prolonged campaign of “torture” and “despicable abuse.” The pair will serve minimum terms of 40 and 33 years respectively, as ruled by Judge John Cavanagh at London’s Old Bailey. The court heard harrowing details of Sara’s suffering, with her body found covered…

Recently, the singer David Adeleke was given a global stage to do whatever he wanted and deliver any message. Sadly, Mr. Adeleke used the opportunity to speak in an American accent. Not only that, he used that American accent to talk down on Nigeria and tell the world not to invest in Nigeria because, as he put it, Nigeria’s “economy is in shambles”. Coincidentally, a month after his faux pas,…

Language is a dynamic tool shaped by interaction, cultural perception, attitudes, and beliefs.While some see language as a simple system of words, research shows it is a complex set of symbols, expressions, and actions that resonate with specific communities.In Nigeria, known for its creativity and linguistic diversity, 2024 has seen a surge of new words and phrases popularised through social media.These expressions are quickly adopted into daily interactions, showcasing the…

Shina Peters, 66, a Nigerian juju icon, reveals his ordination as a Cherubim and Seraphim bishop, citing his gospel-inspired music’s spiritual impact. According to Peters, his journey to becoming a bishop was not planned. He revealed that the decision came after a divine instruction was given to the church leaders. “The Almighty God told the leaders of the church that I should be made the first bishop in the C&S…

By Dr. Okolo Oteri Eme Kemi Badenoch is not the only one who demeans Nigeria to gain acceptance from Caucasians. Unfortunately, this behavior has become the default mode for many Africans, especially Nigerians. I’ve seen and heard it too many times for it to be dismissed as a coincidence. This attitude might be one of the reasons we have progressed so slowly as a people. We are often too personally…

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol today announced he would ‘step aside’ following a parliamentary vote to impeach him, urging an end to divisive and confrontational politics. In its Saturday’s report, it was stated that in a televised address, Yoon acknowledged the decision, signaling his temporary withdrawal from the political stage. “Though I must now step aside for a while, the journey toward the future must never come to a…

In a tragic incident that occurred in Lokoja on Friday morning, two female students from the Federal University Lokoja (FUL) and Kogi State Polytechnic lost their lives in a ghastly motor crash along the Felele axis of the state capital. According to reports, the accident involved a heavily loaded articulated vehicle heading toward Abuja, which lost control and rammed into a tricycle (commonly known as Keke NAPEP) carrying passengers toward…

The Benue State Police Command has arrested Dr. Ichor Tersagh, a lecturer at Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University of Agriculture, Makurdi (JOSTUM), over allegations of masterminding the abduction of Mrs. Susan Anyagh, wife of his colleague, Mr. Paul Anyagh. Mr. Anyagh is the chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), JOSTUM chapter. The incident reportedly took place on Saturday along Otukpo Road, Makurdi. According to police reports, Mrs. Anyagh…

The Law Firm of Afe Babalola has formally submitted a petition to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), requesting the removal of human rights activist and lawyer, Dele Farotimi, from the roll of Nigerian legal practitioners. The 90-page petition, dated December 6, 2024, was signed by Ola Faro, a partner at the firm. It accuses Farotimi of breaching several provisions of the Rules of Professional Conduct for legal practitioners. The…

Former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, on Friday, pleaded not guilty to a fresh 19-count charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja. The former governor, who was brought before the court from Kuje prison, denied his alleged complicity in an N80.2 billion fraud. Specifically, the EFCC alleged that the defendant, who piloted the affairs of Kogi…

Nigeria suffered a widespread electricity blackout on Wednesday, the 12th time in 2024, after its national grid collapsed.The country’s national power grid is prone to frequent collapses, with the resulting power shortages proving an obstacle to economic growth and investment in Africa’s most populous nation.The World Bank estimates that the Nigerian economy loses $29 billion a year due to its unstable power supply, which causes electricity blackouts across the country.Here…