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Entertainment Industry Practitioners Endorse Sanwo-Olu For Lagos Governor

Published

7 years ago

November 16, 2018

Eric

Leading practitioners in the entertainment industry including the veterans, A-listers and the up and coming in movies, music and comedy genres have endorsed the All Progressives Congress Candidate, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat in the coming general election as the next Governor of Lagos State.

The practitioners who include Prince Jide Kosoko during a solidarity visit to the APC candidate and his deputy at their campaign Ikoyi office promised to mobilize their fan base and the general populace to vote for Sanwo-Olu because of his capability and experience.

The creative industry professionals used their visit to present some of the challenges the sector is facing to the APC candidate, imploring him to solve for the growth of the sector that has been a major contributor to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

They identified security, access to public buildings such as hospitals, schools, airport, Police Station, Military Barracks and other permits as some of the operational issues they struggle with while shooting their movies and music videos in Lagos.

They urged Mr. Sanwo-Olu to also look at how payment of tax can be made friendlier in Lagos for them adding that the Lagos Internal Revenue Service often charges them arbitrary taxes because of their celebrity status using best of judgment.

Prince Kosoko specifically pleaded with Mr. Sanwo-Olu to appoint one of them into senior position in his government.

“We have very highly educated people among us and I want to charge you to appoint one of us into your government when you win the election by the grace of God. If we had one of us in your government he or she will represent us and our interests well. We are for you and APC in Lagos and we will support you to win this election.”

In his response, Mr. Sanwo-Olu appreciated the endorsement of the entertainment practitioners and promised to work with the industry to boost its capacity as a major contributor to the growth of the economy of Lagos and Nigeria as a whole.

“I am very happy to see many of you here in flesh and blood especially our veterans like Oga Jide Kosoko and Oga Bello. Those days before the age of the internet when we see you on television we look forward to meeting you. You inspired us and entertained us.

“The purpose of this interaction is to know the issues that are important to you that you want the government to address. We want your input so we can plan for. I appreciate your endorsement and support. It means much to me and my deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat. Let me assure you that by the grace of God when we get to the office I will appoint one of you into senior position as requested by Prince Kosoko and beyond appointment, we will through policies and necessary structure provide enabling environment for you to thrive and do your job well.”

While speaking at the event, Dr. Hamzat also reiterated the significance of the creative economy and Lagos as the center of entertainment in Africa.

“It is actually a stupid government that will ignore the sector as yours that is contributing to the GDP like our in-coming Governor, by the grace of God has said. We will provide the leadership that will make the industry to grow.”

Other members of the delegation from the film industry include Adebayo Salami (Oga Bello), Ebun Oloyede (Olaiya Igwe), Taiwo Hassan (Ogogo), Rachael Oniga), Yinka Quadri, Mrs. Lanre Hassan (Mama Awero), Chico Ejiro, Fred Amata, Muka Ray Sola Kosoko, Ik Ogbonna, Alex Ekubo, Femi Branch, Iyabo Ojo, Ayo Badmus, Lilian Bach among others.

Musicians among them include Wasiu Alabi (Pasuma), Daddy Showky, Owen G., Sound Sultan, Ozy Bosco (kid musical sensation), Muma Gee, Olisa Adibua and MC Lively.

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Tinubu Nominates Oyedele As Minister of State for Finance, Moves Anite-Uzoka to Budget Ministry

Published

1 day ago

March 3, 2026

Eric

A statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga, has announced that “President Bola Tinubu has nominated Taiwo Oyedele as the minister of state for finance, replacing Doris Anite-Uzoka.

“Mrs Anite-Uzoka will now move to the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, as the Minister of State, her third portfolio in the administration.

“President Tinubu has today conveyed the nomination of Mr Oyedele to the Senate for confirmation in a letter to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

“Until President Tinubu nominated him as a minister, Mr Oyedele from Ikaram, Akoko, Ondo State, was the chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, which overhauled Nigeria’s tax system.

“Mr Oyedele, 50, is an economist, accountant and public policy expert.

“He attended Yaba College of Technology, where he obtained a Higher National Diploma (HND) in accountancy and finance. He attended Oxford Brookes University and earned a BSc in applied accounting.

“He also completed executive education programmes at the London School of Economics, Yale University, the Gordon Institute of Business Science, and the Harvard Kennedy School.

“Mr Oyedele spent 22 years of his working career at PwC, joining in 2001 and rising to become the Fiscal Policy Partner and Africa Tax Leader.

“Mr Oyedele is also a professor at Babcock University in Ogun State and a visiting scholar at the Lagos Business School.”

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Defection: Atiku’s Son, Adamu, Resigns As Adamawa Commissioner

Published

1 day ago

March 3, 2026

Eric

Adamu Abubakar, the first son of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, has resigned as Adamawa State’s commissioner for works and energy development, days after Governor Ahmadu Fintiri defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.

Abubakar’s resignation letter, dated 2 March 2026, was addressed to the governor through the Secretary to the State Government. He gave no reason for his departure.

The timing is pointed. Fintiri announced his defection to the APC in a statewide broadcast last Friday, saying his cabinet and the PDP’s state structure had moved with him. Within 24 hours, 22 commissioners and special advisers publicly announced they were following suit. Abubakar, whose father remains one of the PDP’s most prominent national figures, was not among them.

In a statement issued Monday night, Abubakar’s media aide Abdulaziz Jauro said the former commissioner thanked the governor for the opportunity to serve and pledged continued loyalty to the administration’s developmental agenda. He also expressed gratitude to his father “for granting him the moral support and blessing to serve the people of Adamawa State” — a line that, read in context, suggests Atiku was consulted on the decision.

Abubakar said his resignation was not a withdrawal from public life. “This does not mark the end of his commitment to public service,” the statement read, “but rather the beginning of new avenues for developmental collaboration.”

The resignation leaves unresolved the question of whether it reflects a political break with the governor over his defection or a personal decision unconnected to the broader party realignment now reshaping Adamawa’s political landscape.

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DSS Nabs Man over Assassination Attempt on Peter Obi

Published

1 day ago

March 3, 2026

Eric

Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) has detained a man in connection with the recent attack and alleged assassination threats targeting Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

According to AIT, the shooting incident took place on February 24, 2026, in Benin City, Edo State, during a political gathering attended by Obi and several figures from the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The meeting was hosted by former APC National Chairman, John Oyegun. Gunmen reportedly opened fire at the venue, causing panic and forcing attendees to disperse for safety.

According to security sources, shortly after the attack, an individual identified as Udeme Monday Stephen allegedly took to social media claiming responsibility and issuing additional threats against Obi, warning of further violence.

Intelligence officials reportedly initiated swift investigations, employing digital tracing and forensic tools that led to the arrest of the 26-year-old suspect in Rivers State. He is said to be a teacher at a private secondary school in the Eliozu area of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area.

The suspect remains in DSS custody and is expected to face prosecution. The agency reiterated its commitment to responding to credible threats and safeguarding lives and national interests without bias.