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 I’m proud to be Yoruba, not desperate to go international – Olamide Nigerian rap star, Olamide, has said he is comfortable being an indigenous artist and not in a rush to chase international fame. Speaking in a recent interview with BBC Radio 1Xtra, the YBNL boss said staying true to his roots and understanding his audience have always been the key to his success. “I’m a Naija guy, Yoruba boy… and I’m proud about it,” Olamide said with confidence. The rapper, who has built a career blending Yoruba lyrics with street vibes, explained that authenticity will always make good music travel beyond borders. “You have to identify your audience. Once you identify your audience, the rest of the world will catch up eventually,” he said. “No matter where I find myself, I have to stay true to who I am.” Olamide added that he has no intention of changing his sound or accent to fit international expectations. “I’m comfortable in my skin. I have H-factor and all that, and I’m proud about it,” he ...

 Afrobeats made me proud being African – Tiwa Savage Afrobeats singer Tiwa Savage has opened up on feeling unhappy about her African heritage while growing up in London to embracing it with pride due to the global impact of Afrobeats. Speaking at the Unstoppable Africans event, she attributed the genre’s success to its ability to showcase the continent’s positive image. According to Savage, Afrobeats is the fastest-growing genre in the world, achieving remarkable success despite lacking support and infrastructure. “Afrobeats is the fastest growing genre in the world. We kind of created it with nothing; no support, no infrastructure, no real belief even from our own people initially. “I remember growing up in London and I was not happy being African. But now I’m so proud because of how big Afrobeats is growing,” she said. She dismissed claims that Afrobeats is declining, pointing to its increasing presence on charts and sold-out stadium performances. Savage emphasised the genre’s un...

 DSS arrests man canvassing for military coup on social media  The Department of State Services (DSS) has trailed to Oyigbo, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and arrested one Innocent Chukwuma who used his social media handle to rally the military to overthrow the current government.  Posting on his “X” handle “@TheAgroman,” Chukwuma stated that a coup was needed in Nigeria and called on the military to “suspend the Nigerian government.” He posted: “A coup in Nigeria is needed. Dispose of APC, suspend the Nigerian Government, and join the AES. That is all we need now.  “It will happen eventually. Nigerians, the military needs your support now! Only them can save this country. “The bastard in Aso Rock has basically sold this country to the West, and they run our intelligence apparatus. Only the military can reset this country. Support them,” Chukwuma posted. A source disclosed that the suspect is cooperating with DSS investigators.

 Okonjo-Iweala calls for reform of WTO’s trading system, says it’s not flexible enough Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director-general (DG) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), says the trading system of the WTO needs to be reformed to make it more flexible. Okonjo-Iweala spoke on Tuesday while addressing criticism of WTO’s trade system by the United States during an interview with Arise TV on the sidelines of the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The DG acknowledged the validity of criticisms levelled against the global body, particularly by the United States, regarding its operational rigidity. She said the complexity of the WTO’s structure, which includes 166 members utilising a consensus-based decision-making system, has led to issues with the speed of enacting new rules and agreements. “Well, one of them is, this is specifically of the WTO, and I share it. The US feels the WTO is not flexible enough. It’s too inflexible. You can’t get decisions made quickly because...

 Court adjourns police case against Sowore, #FreeNnamdiKanu protesters to Nov 5 The absence of the presiding judge stalled proceedings in the suit filed by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) against the conveners of the #FreeNnamdiKanu protest at the federal high court in Abuja. According to NAN, Mohammed Umar, the presiding judge in charge of the suit, was said to have to be sitting in the Enugu division of the court. The case, which was listed on Wednesday’s cause list, has now been rescheduled for November 5 for the hearing of the motion on notice. The police had approached the court seeking an order to restrain Omoyele Sowore, human rights activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, and others from staging a protest demanding the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), in parts of Abuja on October 20.

 Jarigbe meets PDP leaders, says defection to APC is to support Tinubu’s reforms Jarigbe Jarigbe, senator representing Cross River north, has told top leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from his senatorial district that his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) is to support President Bola Tinubu’s reform-driven agenda. The senator spoke when he met with the PDP leaders in Abuja on Tuesday. In a statement issued on Wednesday, John Agom, media aide to the lawmaker, said the meeting was part of Jarigbe’s ongoing consultations following his visit to Aso Rock on October 22, where he officially informed the president of his defection. He told party stakeholders that his defection into the ruling party was not about personal ambition but a strategic decision to align with national progress. “My people should be assured that defecting to the ruling party will not stop me from empowering the constituents and embarking on people-orientated projects to alleviate the suf...

 Adamawa Court Sends Bank MD to Five Years Jail Term Justice Benjamin Lawan Manji of the Adamawa State High Court , Adamawa State has convicted and sentenced  the managing director,   Bonghe Micro Finance Bank,  Grace Andreas Karka to five years imprisonment.  Karka was prosecuted on two- count charges bordering on criminal conspiracy and cheating to the tune of N32,000,000( Thirty Two Million Naira) by the Gombe Zonal Directorate of the EFCC. One the charges reads: “that you Grace Andreas Karka and prince Moses Batalu between August 2020 and March 2021 in Yola, Adamawa State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did agree amongst yourselves to do an illegal act to wit theft in the sum of N66,792,960.00  from Bonghe Micro Finance Bank Nigeria Limited with account number 2013668857 domiciled with First bank Nigeria limited by dishonestly moving the said sum without necessarry approval contrary to Section 61(2) of the Adamawa State penal Code ...