US honours Soyinka, Okundaye at African Cultural Festival 2025 Pennsylvania

The United States government through the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and the Pennsylvania Senate has honoured the Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka and the renowned African art icon, Chief Nike Okundaye of Nike Art Gallery, Lagos for their contributions to art in Nigeria and globally.

While Soyinka was conferred with “Distinguished Honors” for his extraordinary contributions to literature, culture, human rights, and global discourse, Nike Okundaye was honored for her revolutionary impact on contemporary African art.

She was recognized for being the pioneer of the Adire resist-dyeing technique, which has seamlessly blended ancestral motifs with modern aesthetics, earning global acclaim, thereby solidifying her legacy as a custodian of African heritage.

The honor was bestowed on them on March 26 at the unveiling of African Cultural Festival 2025 held at the Pennsylvania State Capitol . The festival will take place from September 19 to 20, 2025, in Pennsylvania.

The Senate of Pennsylvania lauded Professor Soyinka for his pioneering role in modern African literature and his relentless advocacy for free speech, social justice, and democracy.

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives, led by Speaker Joanna E. McClinton, also commended him for his unparalleled literary achievements and for inspiring critical thoughts across generations.’

For Okundaye, she was honoured for giving hope to marginalised women, training and equipping over 5,000 women with Adire-making, weaving, and traditional craft skills.

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“Her mission to foster economic independence and cultural continuity has empowered communities across Nigeria and beyond, ensuring that African artistry thrives in future generations,” the House and the Senate stated.

Speaking about the upcoming festival, Wole Adeniyi, the Chief Executive Officer, CEO of ACI234, said the festival was designed to celebrate African heritage, foster international collaboration, and stimulate trade and cultural exchange between Africa, the United States, and the world.

Adeniyi emphasised that the festival will solidify Africa’s cultural influence while creating pathways for sustainable growth and artistic innovation.

He thanked the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, the Senate, and the State of Pennsylvania for honouring the two Nigerian icons of art.

Part of activities lined up for the festival includes the launching of Duduplugs, an innovative digital platform by ACI234 Entertainment LLC, designed to connect creative industries across continents, and elevate Africa’s creative economy.

Commenting on the upcoming event, Festival Director Foluke Michael described the African Cultural Festival as a celebration of tradition and innovation — a vibrant fusion of Africa’s timeless heritage with contemporary expression.

She acknowledged the pivotal role of the Lagos State Government in laying the foundation for this global movement through the Lagos Black Heritage Festival, which was steered by Professor Wole Soyinka during his tenure as Festival Consultant.

“That era gave birth to a cultural renaissance,” Michael noted. “It was during that time that the iconic Rhumble in Lagos — featuring President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and boxing legend Evander Holyfield — became a symbolic moment that planted the seed for what we now know as the African Cultural Festival.”

She further revealed that the official countdown to the 2025 edition will begin in Lagos at the end of April, setting the stage for a global celebration of African excellence.

US honours Soyinka, Okundaye at African Cultural Festival 2025 Pennsylvania

Ali Baba spills what Obasanjo told him on how to become Nigeria’s President

Ali Baba, the ace comedian, has revealed political strategies he claims were shared with him by former President Olusegun Obasanjo on how to become Nigeria’s president.

In an interview on Outside The Box, the 59-year-old entertainer said Obasanjo allegedly shared the strategies with him via chat because he thought he was venturing into politics and wanted to guide him.

Ali Baba claimed that Obasanjo emphasised the importance of gaining the support of seven governors, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, to clinch the presidential seat.

“I was speaking with Obasanjo one time, and he listed some things that are necessary in politics,” the comedian said while picking up his phone to show proof that he documented his conversation with the former president.

“He thought I was going into politics, so he was happy I was talking to him about politics. He said ‘Ali, I’m happy you are catching up with politics, but you still have a lot to learn about how governors and presidents are selected’.

“He said ‘you need seven governors to win an election. Lagos, Bayelsa, Delta, Rivers, Kano, Kaduna and the CBN governor’. Then I said ‘Kano and Kaduna don’t have money,’ he said ‘that is for the numbers’…

“You need 44 of the most popular senatorial districts.”

The comedian, born Atunyota Alleluya Akpobome, also alleged that Obasanjo mentioned the key tasks to be accomplished in the first term to increase the chances of being re-elected.

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“You need to have awarded 10 contracts and 15% of that contract can give you a marginal impact at the polls. And you must award this contract in your first year of assumption of office,” he said.

“If you don’t do that, then, you can’t ask the people for anything because when you give them at the first year of your getting into office, when it’s time for elections you just tell them ‘Do you want to continue this contract or not’.”

Ali said Obasanjo emphasised the importance of making strategic appointments, including “the chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), controller-general of customs, head of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), inspector-general of police (IGP), and CBN governor”.

The comedian said Obasanjo allegedly advised on steering clear of corrupt governors who are “loaded” and can be “financially useful when needed”.

“He said you must name your CJN, IGP, controller general of customs, head of the NNPC, CBN governor, and you must suspend pending cases of corrupt past governors who are loaded,” he added.

Former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo

“Don’t forget that those guys have war chests that they are just sitting and waiting for who they want to align with. No matter how much EFCC milks from them, they still have plenty.

“These are people who were sitting on a monthly federal allocation. Don’t forget that some states that when they get their federal allocation, they don’t touch it.

“They actually add to it because their state’s internally generated revenue is higher than what the federal government gives to them.

“So if the federal government gives them N3, they can add N4 to it and spend N7. When they leave office, EFCC can’t come looking for them because they added money to what the federal government gave them, but you see that internally generated revenue that is their sweat as it is called, it is their money, they generated it themselves. They can determine what they want to do with it.”

Ali Baba alleged that Obasanjo highlighted the importance of securing support from key figures, including foreign countries, the wealthy, religious leaders, and bloggers.

According to him, “he also advised infiltrating opposition parties and strategically influencing delegates by offering incentives to ensure loyalty during elections”.

“This is the meaty part of it, he says ‘Get US or China support because of their businesses in your country, they would support,” he said.

“Get National Association of Nigerian Students, market women, National Union of Road Transport Workers. Unsettle the organized labour. Get 10 of the richest Nigerians on your side. Infiltrate your opposition party and let them decamp for elections.

“So let me explain. You have your party and I want to infiltrate the party. I will send my people to leave my own party and join your own party before the elections. So when the time of election comes, they will then disrupt the whole thing.

“They will probably be the ones they will put in charge of electioneering campaign and you won’t know that the reason they decamped was to make sure that your own campaign doesn’t succeed. So when you are planning, they inform their original party.

“Obasanjo continued saying infiltrate the opposition party, but delegates one year before your congress.

“So I asked how do you buy delegates then he said “you know who and who that would be selected as delegates, give two of his daughters job in the bank, give another’s wife a shop, sponsor another’s trip to Hajj so when the time for election comes and you say this is the person I’m supporting, they won’t mess up because of what you have done.

“While some people are trying to raise money to give dollars, you already have bought their loyalty since. Have a hand in appointing all parties’ chairmen.

“Secure INEC and state rec, blogs, social media, religious leaders, royal fathers, appointment of board of chairman and DGs. Get four constitutional lawyers on retainship.”

Ali Baba spills what Obasanjo told him on how to become Nigeria’s President

Tinubu skewed appointments can boomerang, Ndume warns

Senator Ali Ndume (APC Borno South) has faulted the federal as well as political appointments made by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

According to him, the President has favoured an ethnic group, contrary to the dictates of the Federal Character guidelines.

Ndume said he was shocked when he read the endless and sectional list of federal political appointees going viral on social media, describing the situation as non-inclusive and not reflecting the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ of Mr President.

He spoke on Arise News (Prime Time) on Monday, which was monitored by our correspondent.

He pointed out that as a lawmaker, and based on his observation, President Tinubu’s appointments so far violated federal character and should be corrected.

The senator, who is a member of the ruling APC, has always been vocal and a critic, especially on some government policies and programmes allegedly not in favour of the Nigerian masses and the electorate.

Responding to a question on the list of political appointees by Mr President, which is in circulation and in favour of one ethnic group, Ndume said, “Well, I don’t think I have anything to add, because the figures are there; you can look at it; I sent you all. It is not that I am making accusations or saying that Mr President does not have the right to make appointments, but Section 14/3 of the Constitution is very clear. When you look at it vis-à-vis the appointments made so far, they are political appointments.

“If appointments that are professional, so to say, like you can’t appoint someone who is not a soldier to become Chief of Army Staff, or you can’t appoint someone who is not a police officer to become the Inspector General of Police, IGP, but then, when you come to look at political appointments, the Constitution, as I said earlier, is very clear, and it is because to avoid such infractions that the constitution of Section 14/3 states that political appointments should reflect the Federal Character….., which is not the case here.

“All I am saying is to call the attention of Mr President to such infractions so that they can be corrected; otherwise, this thing can boomerang at a certain period of time. Just like you said, people look at me as somebody that is critical of the government, but I have the right to do that because that is why I am elected as a legislator at the National Assembly in the first place.

“Collectively, we are supposed to oversee the acts of Mr President and point out some of the irregularities. This is what we swore to do. It is not personal, because if you count five people in the North that have a personal relationship with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I (Ndume) am one of them. But that does not stop me from saying the truth, because I have the obligation to do that in the interest of all Nigerians.

“As a Nigerian and a lawmaker, I have the right to voice this out, but Tinubu’s attack dogs will attack me, not the message. It is not personal, as I said, especially now that everybody will stand before God Almighty and account for his/her own stewardship as leaders. It is unfortunate that after this interaction, these so-called Tinubu Boys or people will start attacking Ndume, saying he is a very frustrating person,” Ndume said.