Category: Nigerian Tribune

Fuji sensation, Sulaimon Adigun Azeez, popularly known as Poly Maitama, has continued to receive accolades following the success of the much-talked-about ‘Unity Show’, an initiative aimed at promoting peace, reconciliation and lasting unity within the Fuji music industry.

The event, held on Sunday, July 19, at Greenland Hotel, Wema Bank, Iwo Road, Ibadan, drew Fuji lovers, industry stakeholders and enthusiasts, many of whom described it as a significant step towards ending years of rivalry and unhealthy divisions among practitioners of the indigenous music genre.

Speaking of the inspiration behind the initiative, the ‘Mr Correct’ crooner explained that the gathering was conceived to send a strong message that the Fuji family is stronger when united.

According to him, the event was designed to consign the long-standing rivalries and fracas that have often dominated conversations about the Fuji industry to history, while fostering harmony among established stars, their protégés and loyal followers.

Widely regarded as one of the brightest voices of the new generation of Fuji musicians, Poly Maitama, a protégé of Fuji icon Pasuma, is steadily carving a niche for himself beyond music by championing initiatives that strengthen the industry and uphold the enduring legacies of its pioneers.

One of the defining moments of the colourful event was the symbolic gathering of emerging Fuji artistes representing different camps within the industry as the all performed to the admiration of fans. The lineup featured Poly Maitama, Sketo J and Arogunmasa (Pasuma protégés); Obesere Osun (Obesere protégé); Perfect (Saheed Osupa protégé); Isa Mirinda and Ike Anobi (Malaika protégé); Sure Boi and Toshiba (Taye Currency protégé); as well as Small Remi and Asoju Remi Osun (Remi Aluko protégés).

Their joint appearance and performances were widely applauded by fans as a powerful demonstration that the next generation of Fuji artistes is committed to promoting friendship, mutual respect and healthy competition rather than division.

The event was promoted by Expert-E Production Inc. in collaboration with Kolex Entertainments, packaged by SUADMA Records, and supported by Angel Communications, Otasneh TV and Comrade Shalom TV, while popular entertainer MC Layan Ashamu anchored the programme.

Sources close to the organisers also revealed that Fuji superstar Pasuma had endorsed the initiative before the event, describing it as a welcome development and a pathway to lasting unity within the Fuji industry. The music icon also commended his protégé, Poly Maitama, for taking the bold step of championing peace and fostering stronger bonds among the industry’s younger generation.

With the successful staging of the maiden Unity Show, Poly Maitama has not only reinforced his reputation as one of his Fuji music’s promising stars but has also positioned himself as a young industry builder whose vision for unity could help shape a more harmonious future for the genre.

Afro-jazz musician and creative director Salako has released his latest single, Dagunro, a nearly 12-minute composition that blends traditional African rhythms with contemporary jazz, while unveiling plans for the 2026 Abuja International AfroJazz Festival.

The new single, which was unveiled at an exclusive listening event in Abuja, showcases Salako’s distinctive approach to music through a single-take recording featuring rich trumpet and saxophone solos woven into a fluid, orchestral-style arrangement. Departing from conventional song structures, Dagunro embraces improvisational jazz techniques while drawing heavily on indigenous African storytelling traditions.

Derived from a Yoruba expression, Dagunro carries layered meanings. It represents a formidable defender and advocate for the people, while also symbolising resilience and strength through its interpretation as something untouchable or inedible. These themes are reflected in the composition’s shifting tempos, tonal changes and dynamic instrumentation.

Speaking at the listening event, Salako announced that the 2026 Abuja International AfroJazz Festival will be held from November 16 to 21. The festival, where he serves as artistic director, is expected to continue promoting cross-cultural collaborations, strengthening Nigeria’s live music ecosystem and positioning Afrojazz as a globally recognised genre.

The Abuja event attracted members of the music community, diplomats and representatives of cultural institutions. Guests included associates of the German Embassy, Austrian Embassy and the French cultural community, alongside local creatives and international visitors.

According to the organisers, Dagunro generated strong digital interest ahead of its release, recording impressive pre-save figures that reflected growing anticipation among fans.

A native of Osun State, Salako has established himself as one of Nigeria’s leading Afro-jazz performers, with appearances across Germany, France, Poland, the United Arab Emirates, Nigeria and other West African countries. His music is widely recognised for blending diverse African sounds with contemporary jazz influences

The Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Dr. Babatunde Ogunjimi, is expected to appear before the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Monday as lawmakers intensify investigations into the controversial inclusion of the alleged phantom Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council/Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PFIPC/PEAC) in the 2026 Appropriation Act.

The appearance follows an invitation issued by the Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee, Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, after testimony by key government officials shifted attention to the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) and the Head of Civil Service for the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, over the budgetary identity assigned to the controversial council.

Hon. Gagdi had, after Friday’s investigative hearing, announced that the AGF was invited to provide further clarification on issues raised during the inquiry, particularly allegations that the OAGF assigned the administrative budget code that enabled the council to appear within the Federal Government’s budget framework.

The Ad-hoc Committee is seeking to unravel how the council, whose legal status has come under scrutiny, found its way into the 2026 national budget and to determine the roles played by various government institutions in the process.

Appearing before the panel on Friday, Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Dr. Yakubu Tanimu, maintained that the Budget Office neither created nor unilaterally inserted the council into the budget.

According to him, the council entered the 2026 budget through official government instruments whose origins predated the current budget cycle.

Dr. Tanimu traced the institution to the Presidential Economic Advisory Council inaugurated by former President Muhammadu Buhari on October 9, 2019.

He explained that before preparation of the 2026 budget commenced, the Office of the Accountant-General had already assigned the council an administrative budget code, while the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation had approved its authorised establishment and recruitment waiver.

He also noted that the applicable public service salary structure had already been provided.

Explaining the Budget Office’s role, Dr. Tanimu said: ‘The Budget Office did not create the Council; it did not assign its code; it did not approve its establishment; it did not grant its recruitment waiver. It received official instruments and did what the law required of it. It measured their fiscal effect.’

He insisted that the Budget Office merely reflected the fiscal implications of approvals received from competent government institutions.

With the Budget Office identifying the OAGF as the institution that assigned the council’s administrative code, lawmakers are expected to seek explanations from the Accountant-General on the legal and administrative basis for creating the budget identity that enabled the council to receive allocations.

The committee is also expected to examine whether due process was followed in assigning the code and whether the action was backed by appropriate executive approvals and statutory authority.

Hon. Gagdi, while acknowledging that the National Assembly eventually passed the appropriation, stressed that the investigation was intended to establish the chain of responsibility and strengthen safeguards against future irregularities.

He disclosed after Friday’s sitting that the committee would also invite chairmen of relevant House Standing Committees responsible for oversight of the Presidency’s budget to explain their roles during the appropriation process.

Other stakeholders invited by the Ad-hoc Committee but yet to appear include the Minister of Finance, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, among others.

The distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in Okuku, Odo-Otin Local Government Area of Osun State, was abruptly halted on Sunday after armed hoodlums invaded an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) distribution centre and reportedly escaped with packs of voter cards.

The incident occurred at Oyinlola DC Primary School, Ward 2, where eligible voters had gathered to collect their PVCs ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

An eyewitness, who identified himself simply as Gbadebo, said panic erupted when the assailants, numbering about eight, suddenly appeared at the venue and began firing gunshots into the air, forcing INEC officials and prospective voters to flee for safety.

According to him, the attackers headed directly to the area where the voter cards had been kept by electoral officials and fled with several packs of the PVCs before escaping from the scene.

‘I was among those waiting to collect my PVC when the incident happened. The gunshots caused confusion and everyone ran in different directions. The attackers appeared to know exactly where the cards were kept and took away some of the packs before leaving,’ the witness recounted.

Confirming the development, the spokesperson for the Osun State Police Command, SP Abiodun Ojelabi, said the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, had strongly condemned the attack and ordered an immediate investigation into the incident.

According to the police, the attack was carried out by about 10 armed thugs who disrupted the peaceful distribution exercise by firing sporadically into the air before making away with three packs of Permanent Voter Cards.

Ojelabi said the Commissioner of Police had directed detectives to launch a comprehensive investigation aimed at identifying, arresting and prosecuting everyone connected with the attack.

He added that tactical operatives and intelligence teams had been mobilised to trail the suspects, recover the stolen voter cards and prevent any attempt to compromise the electoral process.

The police spokesperson reaffirmed the command’s commitment to maintaining law and order throughout the election period, assuring residents that every effort was being made to bring the perpetrators to justice.

He appealed to members of the public, particularly residents of the area and anyone with useful information, to assist the investigation by reporting to the nearest police station or contacting the command through its emergency lines.

The command also urged residents to remain calm, law-abiding and avoid actions capable of escalating tension, assuring that adequate security measures had been put in place to safeguard electoral activities across the state.

Nollywood actor Jimmy Rolland has alleged that his former wife falsely claimed she was a virgin before they got married, saying he only discovered the truth on their wedding night.

The actor made the claim during an episode of the African A-List podcast uploaded on Saturday, where he recounted events leading to the failed marriage and the emotional toll the separation had on him.

Rolland said he overlooked several red flags before the marriage because he believed everything his former wife told him.

‘I am not a fool. I saw signs, but I was hypnotised by my mother-in-law,’ he alleged.

He also revealed that his mother and some of his friends had warned him against going ahead with the marriage after seeking spiritual guidance, but he ignored their advice.

‘My mother and friends made spiritual consultations and warned me not to marry her, but I did not listen,’ he said.

According to the actor, they were in a relationship for four years before tying the knot, during which his former wife repeatedly maintained that she was a virgin.

‘She told me she was a virgin, so I did not bother to make attempts to make love to her. We dated for four good years,’ Rolland said.

He said she insisted they should remain abstinent until after their wedding following their introduction ceremony.

‘After our introduction, she said, ‘Till the wedding night.’ I had to wait for some months, then on the wedding night, it ended up to be a lie,’ he said.

Rolland described the discovery as deeply painful, adding that he considered ending the marriage immediately but chose to stay.

‘I was disappointed, and I should have walked away, but I did not. It was not me,’ he said.

Speaking further about the collapse of the marriage, the actor said being separated from his two children remains the most heartbreaking consequence of the breakup.

‘What was disheartening is that we have two kids together, and she took them away.’

He further claimed that the emotional strain caused by the separation from his children contributed to him suffering a stroke.

‘Because of the children she took away, I had a stroke.

‘Because of too much thinking about those children, I had a stroke,’ he said.

Rolland added that the situation has continued to affect his mother, who longs to reunite with her grandchildren.

‘My mother still cries because she wants to see those children.’

Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has dismissed claims that his election as president would divide Nigeria, insisting that his leadership would instead unite the country and promote national healing.

Obi made the remarks during an interview on Sunday Politics with Seun Okinbaloye on Channels Television, where he responded to comments by former Borno Governor Ali Modu Sheriff questioning his ability to foster national unity.

Rejecting the criticism, the former Anambra State governor said his record over the years reflected a commitment to every part of the country.

‘I will unite Nigeria, and I know what it takes to unite Nigeria,’ Obi said.

He recalled travelling to Borno State at the height of the Boko Haram insurgency to condole with the Sheriff following the killing of his brother, describing the visit as one of several humanitarian interventions across northern Nigeria.

‘At the onset of this Boko Haram issue, his own brother was killed. I travelled to Borno State to console him. When people didn’t want to go there, I went to Borno,’ he said.

Obi also recounted returning to Borno after devastating floods, where he donated ?50 million, met with the state governor and the Shehu of Borno, and visited internally displaced persons (IDP) camps.

He said similar interventions had taken him to Katsina, Kebbi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Bauchi and Sokoto, where he supported victims of crises, educational institutions and healthcare projects.

‘I’ve been to the most troubled parts of the North. I’ve been to Benue up to four times, visiting the various affected communities. I’ve spent Christmas and New Year in IDP camps,’ he said.

According to Obi, he also funded borehole projects in several northern communities, including at the Faculty of Agriculture of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.

‘I’ve built boreholes in Gombe, in Kaduna, in every part of the North. When the University of Sokoto Agricultural Faculty said all they need is a borehole for their farm, I did it,’ he said.

The former Labour Party presidential candidate added that he had travelled extensively across Nigeria by road because he wanted to better understand the country’s diverse communities.

‘There’s no politician today in Nigeria that has been able to travel places that I have been by road because I want the country to be together, and I understand the people,’ he said.

Speaking on national reconciliation, Obi said his administration would begin a process of healing the divisions that have persisted since the Nigerian Civil War.

‘A Peter Obi presidency will commence the healing and the unity that is required to stabilise and build a better Nigeria,’ he said.

While acknowledging Nigeria’s history, he argued that the country must not remain bound by past conflicts.

‘We have a history, but we must not be trapped in it. It must not deprive us of tomorrow,’ Obi said.

He said his vision was to build a nation where every Nigerian could succeed regardless of ethnicity or religion.

‘I want the child of Nigeria to be able to grow up in Nigeria, go to school, and live his life without thinking about his tribe, without thinking about yesterday, without thinking about his religion, but as a Nigerian, proud of it,’ he added.

Obi also dismissed allegations that he had made derogatory remarks about northerners, describing the claims as false.

‘That’s a lie. It never happened,’ he said.

To support his position, he noted that his aides and associates had included many northerners and Muslims, including his aide-de-camp from Kano, while all his cooks during his eight years as governor of Anambra State were from northern Nigeria.

He also said his administration sponsored Muslims in Anambra State on annual pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia and that he currently supports Almajiri schools in Kano and Bauchi, as well as a School of Nursing in Bauchi.

Obi urged Nigerians to focus political discourse on addressing the country’s pressing challenges rather than personalities.

‘Instead of us discussing the problems of the country, people come before you to discuss Peter Obi,’ he said.

He maintained that poverty, insecurity, education and healthcare should remain the central issues ahead of the 2027 general election, reiterating his commitment to building a united and prosperous Nigeria.

The Federal Government has commenced the registration of unemployed and unskilled Nigerians for the third phase of the Renewed Hope Employment Initiative (RHEI), aimed at creating jobs and promoting self-reliance in Ondo State.

The Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in the state, Mr. Silas Agara, who disclosed this, said the programme is in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He disclosed that the initiative will provide participants with training in over 70 demand-driven skills across agriculture, entrepreneurship, public works, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), as well as technical and vocational trades.

According to Agara, a total of 26,961 Nigerians will benefit from the training nationwide under Phase III of the initiative, disclosing that 3,405 outstanding graduates of the training would be provided with starter packs and work tools to establish sustainable businesses upon successful completion of the programme.

He explained that the registration for the programme began on July 23, 2026, and will last for one week, while the training is scheduled to commence in August.

He urged interested applicants to complete their registration online through the NDE registration portal using a valid National Identification Number (NIN) and a recent passport photograph.

He explained that participants would be selected on a first-come, first-served basis, with beneficiaries drawn from electoral wards across the state to ensure fairness and inclusiveness.

He encouraged eligible unemployed and unskilled residents of the state to take advantage of the opportunity to acquire employable skills and improve their livelihoods.

African Peoples Movement (APM) candidate for the Ondo Central Senatorial District, Sunday Falae, has called for the governorship of the state to return to the central senatorial district after the current administration, arguing that Akure deserves the opportunity to produce the next governor of the state.

Falae argued that although the current political contest is for the Senate, but said the agitation for equitable power rotation in the state cannot be ignored.

According to him, the North and South Senatorial Districts have produced governors over the years, while Akure, despite being the state capital since the state was created in 1976, has yet to produce an elected governor.

He said, ‘We don’t have anybody speaking for Akure. I know this is not the time for governorship election, but people are already positioning themselves, and some are not even from the Central because they believe power should return to them.

‘Even if the current governor completes another term, power should naturally come back to the Central. The North has produced governors several times, the South is producing the current governor, but Akure has waited for almost 50 years without producing one.’

Falae said he personally witnessed the creation of Ondo State in 1976 and believes it is unfair that Akure, the state capital, has remained politically marginalised despite its strategic role.

He disclosed that his aspiration for the Senate was driven by a desire to give the people effective representation while also serving as a strong voice for the central district.

The APM candidate said representation must go beyond lawmaking to ensuring that elected officials remain accessible to their constituents.

He promised that if elected senator, he would establish functional constituency offices in every local government within Ondo Central.

‘There will be an office in every local government staffed by a lawyer. If constituents have challenges requiring intervention, they will have somewhere to go. Representation should not end after elections,’ he said.

Falae also said his years of living in the United States exposed him to a responsive legislative system where elected representatives remain accessible to citizens.

Drawing from that experience, he pledged to make himself available to the people throughout his tenure if elected.

He dismissed suggestions that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had already secured victory ahead of the 2027 elections, insisting that personality, credibility and grassroots acceptance would matter more than party platforms.

According to him, ‘It is no longer about the party. It is about the personality. People vote for those they trust and those who have impacted their lives.’

Falae said his long-standing involvement in youth empowerment and community development across Ondo Central had prepared him for public office, adding that his mission was to bring governance closer to the grassroots.

Leading public relations expert and founder of Emiralty Africa, Idris Olakunle Bello, has been appointed to the Digital Media and Fans Engagement Sub-Committee for the inaugural National Intermediate Games, tagged EKO 2026, by the Lagos State Government.

The appointment, approved by the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is part of the state’s preparations for the maiden edition of the National Intermediate Games, a competition designed to bridge the gap between grassroots sports and elite national competition.

Bello’s appointment was conveyed in an official letter dated June 25 and signed by the Secretary-General of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Deji Aladegbemi. He will serve on the committee responsible for shaping the tournament’s digital media strategy and driving fan engagement before and during the games.

Widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s leading communications strategists, Bello has built a reputation for media curation, brand storytelling and creative consulting through Emiralty Africa. His expertise in digital campaigns and audience engagement is expected to play a key role in promoting EKO 2026 and connecting the tournament with sports enthusiasts, particularly young Nigerians.

His selection follows the successful hosting of the Scar to Shine Conference in May 2026 at the Radisson Blu, Ikeja, where he brought together influential figures from business, government and the creative industry. The event further reinforced his reputation for delivering impactful public engagement and high-profile industry conversations.

The National Intermediate Games is a first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at creating a structured pathway for emerging athletes from the country’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to compete at a high level before progressing to elite competitions.

As host of the inaugural edition, Lagos State is expected to set the standard for future editions, with organisers targeting a memorable tournament that will become a permanent fixture on Nigeria’s sporting calendar.

With Bello now entrusted to spearhead digital media and fan engagement, stakeholders believe EKO 2026 is well positioned to attract widespread public interest, amplify athletes’ stories and establish a strong national and international digital presence.

Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have decried the lack of parking spaces in public markets across Abuja.

A visit to Wuse Modern Market, one of the most congested markets in the territory, showed heavy vehicular traffic at the entrance as motorists trooped in for business.

Before gaining entrance, motorists were required to pay for tickets. A ticket attendant told the Nigerian Tribune that the fee is N300 for cash payments and N400 for Point of Sale (POS) transactions.

Inside the market, motorists engaged in shouting matches with one another and with private security officers controlling traffic in the market and in the car park.

A trader who identified himself only as Ugochukwu said traders occupy most of the parking spaces before 9 am daily.

‘Before 8:30 to 9 am, we the traders alone fill up almost all the spaces in the parking lot, talk less of customers, and we don’t leave here till evening.

‘The management of the market can go down and create another parking space. There is space down there.’ He said.

A security officer, who declined to be named, said the situation was a daily challenge.

‘This is what we go through on a daily basis in this market. This place cannot contain the number of cars that come into this market. We need another car park in this market,’ he said.

A motorist who had finished shopping, who asked not to be named, said he was delayed because another vehicle blocked his car.

‘I’m calling on the FCT Administration to do something about this car park issue in this market. To think that we pay N300 to get inside. What is government doing with the money that they make here almost every minute during hours of the day?’ He stressed.

Efforts to get comments from the management of Wuse Modern Market were unsuccessful as staff declined to speak with the media.

Outside the market, a shopper who parked on the road corridor pavement said he avoided the hassle inside.

He said: ‘I don’t want to waste time looking for a place to park after paying money. On the other hand, if you are unlucky and park on the pavement, law enforcement officers will remove your number plate or tow your vehicle to their offices.’

At Garki Model Market, traders said parts of what should be parking space have been converted to a construction site for shops. They said the inadequate parking often drives customers to other markets.

Salisu Sokoto, a trader, said: ‘Most of our customers are civil servants. When they come they don’t want to waste time, but because of inadequate parking space here, it wastes their time and they sometimes go to another market. We are calling on Abuja Markets Management Limited (AMML), to look into the matter.’

In Nyanya Market, owned by Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), residents also lamented inadequate parking.

Dede Agana said the little space available was not enough, especially on Wednesdays, the main market day.

‘People come from neighboring states to sell or buy here. They take over that little space. In fact, they converge here, blocking the roads and causing traffic gridlock.

‘When most of the markets in Abuja were opened, they didn’t know that the population of the territory would expand to this level. Let AMAC and FCTA open more markets for us. Experiences like the one in Nyanya Market are so tiring,’ she said.

At Karu Market, also owned by AMAC, residents said they face the same problem.

Ushator Adamu, a resident, said: ‘You can see for yourself, the crowd at the gate and on the road is because there is inadequate parking space inside the market, so people park and shop on the road. We need more well-planned markets in Abuja.’

Efforts to get a response from AMAC were unsuccessful.

However, the Director of Operations of Abuja Markets Management Limited (AMML), Innocent Amaechina, said the FCTA was aware of the problem and was taking steps to address it.

‘We are not unaware of the situation, and as you can see in Wuse Market, for example, there is a multi-layer car park under construction. There are a lot more in other markets,’ he said.