As 90th birthday gift, Tinubu renames National Theatre after Wole Soyinka – Newstrends
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As 90th birthday gift, Tinubu renames National Theatre after Wole Soyinka

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As 90th birthday gift, Tinubu renames National Theatre after Wole Soyinka

President Bola Tinubu on Friday renamed the National Theatre in Lagos after Professor Wole Soyinka.

The announcement was contained in a birthday message to the Nobel laureate who turned 90 on July 13.

“It is also fitting we celebrate this national treasure while he is still with us,” Tinubu said.

“I am, accordingly, delighted to announce the decision of the Federal Government to rename the National Theatre in Iganmu, Surulere, as the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts.

“We do not only celebrate Soyinka’s remarkable literary achievements but also his unwavering dedication to the values of human dignity and justice.”

The President added that “Professor Soyinka, the first African to win the Nobel Literature Prize in 1986, deserves all the accolades as he marks the milestone of 90 years on earth”.

“Having beaten prostate cancer, this milestone is a fitting testament to his ruggedness as a person and the significance of his work,” he said.

In 2005, the professor served on the Encyclopædia Britannica editorial board of advisors.

Soyinka was also in the trenches when activists battled the military to enthrone democracy.

“Beginning from his 20s, he took personal risks for the sake of our nation,” the President said.

“His courage was evident when he attempted to broker peace at the start of the civil war in 1967.

“Despite deprivation and solitary confinement, his resolve to speak truth to power and fight for the marginalized was further strengthened.

“His early writing, such as ‘The Lion and the Jewel,’ ’Death and the King’s Horseman’, not only testified to his mastery of language, his innovative storytelling, but also his unflinching commitment to enthroning a fair and just society.

“Our paths crossed during our just struggle for the enthronement of democracy in Nigeria following the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election.

“When faced with a trial in absentia and death sentence by the military regime at home, he galvanized opposition in exile through NALICON and NADECO.

“His global stature made him the face of our struggle to validate June 12 and restore democracy in Nigeria.”

Tinubu described Soyinka as a Nigerian whose influence transcends the country, noting his criticisms of the then-apartheid era in South Africa and racism in the US.

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Davido planning to arrest me, Dammy Krane alleges

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Dammy Krane and Davido

Davido planning to arrest me, Dammy Krane alleges

Nigerian singer, Dammy Krane, has accused Davido of planning his recent arrests, claiming that he is being targeted and oppressed for seeking justice.

Krane alleged that Davido was attempting to frame him with false accusations to protect his interests.

The dispute between the two artists began last year when Krane claimed that Davido owed him for songwriting contributions.

In response, Davido called Krane “ungrateful” and denied receiving any payments for their collaborations.

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Krane, on August 21, spoke out via his X handle stating Davido should be held responsible if anything happens to him.

He wrote: “If anything happens to me @davido should be held responsible, oppressor @davido has paid them to arrest me.

“They wrote a petition lying that I am into flutterwave & crypto scam just to arrest me. This is how they keep using bad cops to spoil the name of the police.”

Davido planning to arrest me, Dammy Krane alleges

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Mohbad’s wife, Wunmi, breaks silence on reports linking her to husband’s death

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Late Mohbad and wife, Wunmi

Mohbad’s wife, Wunmi, breaks silence on reports linking her to husband’s death

Wunmi, the wife of the late Nigerian singer Mohbad, has broken her silence amidst the swirling controversies surrounding her husband’s tragic passing.

In a statement, she addressed the scathing accusations made by her sister, Karimot, who had previously been her staunch defender.

Karimot’s sudden about-face had shocked many, as she accused Wunmi of having a hand in Mohbad’s death, alleging a heated altercation between the couple on the day of his death. Moreover, Karimot claimed that Wunmi had stolen Mohbad’s phone from his mother and refused to return it.

In response, Wunmi vowed to take legal action against her sister, asserting that she would not engage in public debates or defend herself on social media. Instead, she would focus on defending her truth in a court of law.

With a heavy heart, Wunmi expressed her gratitude to those who have stood by her during this difficult time. She emphasized that she has endured false and despicable accusations from various quarters, including family, friends, and strangers. Despite the pain, she has chosen to accept this situation as part of her journey.

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Wunmi noted that her primary concern is to protect the memory of her late husband, Mohbad. She implored his friends and loved ones to refrain from speaking ill of him, as it would be a disservice to his entire family. She begged them to remember him with love and respect, rather than tarnishing his memory with negativity.

Her post read in part:

“I want to express my deepest gratitude to each of you for standing by me during this difficult time. As many of you know, I have endured a great deal of despicable and false accusations from various quarters—family, friends, and even strangers.

Despite the pain, I have chosen to accept this unfortunate situation as a port of my journey.

I want to make it clear that I will not engage in public debates or attempt to counter the lies being spread about me. My focus will be on defending my truth in the court of law, not on social media. However, I must speak up on behalf of Ilerioluwa, who is no longer here to defend himself.

friend of mine and Liam’s, to refrain from speaking ill of my husband. I beg you, with all that you hold dear, not to tarnish his memory.

Disrespecting llerioluwa in his death is showing disdain for his entire family. Anyone who truly loved him would……………”

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Mohbad’s wife, Wunmi, breaks silence on reports linking her to husband’s death

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Peter came to my compound, played with my son after submitting petition against me at EFCC – Jude Okoye

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Jude, Peter and Paul Okoye  

Peter came to my compound, played with my son after submitting petition against me at EFCC – Jude Okoye  

Jude Okoye has said he almost lost his mind when he learnt his brother Peter Okoye filed a petition against him.

Peter earlier claimed he filed the EFCC petition after discovering his brother Jude Okoye opened a “secret company” and was diverting funds from their joint company to it.

Jude has denied this and claimed his company was not secret and while he and his brothers have a joint company, they all have their own private companies too, including Peter who has P-Classic and Paul with Rude Boy Record.

He added that his Northside Entertainment company has been in existence for 11 years and it was not secret.

Speaking on the petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), he stated that Peter never came to him to ask about the company he claimed he just discovered before going to file a petition against him with the EFCC.

He added that at the time Peter filed the petition, before he (Jude) became aware of it, Peter came to his house played with his son and acted like everything was fine. Only for him to get an invitation from the EFCC afterwards.

Jude said this action almost caused him to run mad.

He said: “This guy came to my compound to play with my son knowing fully well he just submitted a petition against me. I almost lost my mind.”

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Speaking on how Paul got involved, Jude said that, to defend himself, he had to file a petition against P-Square so that the anti-graft agency would see that the money he has in his account, Peter and Paul also have in theirs and he wasn’t cheating them.

Jude said: “I was able to get my petition in place against P-Square because that’s the only way I can defend myself.

“They were all busy focusing on my account to see what Peter alleged I was having as P-Square royalties. I couldn’t get them to focus on their account to see the evidence that what I was having, they’re also having their own share.”

He added that the EFCC case is still ongoing and the Commission has been very thorough.

He stated that whatever money he took is money that is rightfully his based on their agreed sharing formula.

Jude explained: “You said that I was taking money that I’m entitled to. You get your royalty when it’s due, you share into three,  Paul gets his own, he shares into three, I get my own, I share into three.

“P-Square had issues, you stopped sharing. I told Paul, stop sharing too, let everybody keep what they get and it has been like that for over four and half years.

“P-Square came back together, I did the noble thing, I brought it back to the fold again, everybody continued sharing again.

“But till date, two and half years after they came back, Paul is still not sharing,  Peter is still not sharing. They get it, they keep it to themselves. I said ‘no problem, let me move on with my life’.  I still end up in EFCC.”

Peter came to my compound, played with my son after submitting petition against me at EFCC – Jude Okoye

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