The Peoples Democratic Party caucus in the House of Representatives has asked the Federal Government to lift the ban on the micro-blogging site, Twitter, or it will take legal action against the government as soon as possible.
The PDP caucus described the suspension of Twitter in Nigeria as “one more step in a litany of attempts to restrict the fundamental rights of Nigerian citizens as enshrined in and guaranteed by Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution.”
The leader of the PDP caucus made this known in a statement issued on Sunday and titled ‘Press Release on Suspension of Twitter in Nigeria.’
The opposition lawmakers recalled that the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, on August 4, 2020, issued an amended 6th National Broadcasting Code for the country “which similarly imposes restrictions on sundry fundamental freedoms.”
The caucus further recalled that when it was convinced that the broadcasting code violated Chapter IV of the Constitution, the lawmakers filed a suit before the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, in Suit No.: FHC/ABJ/CS/1136/2020, between Rep. Kingsley Chinda & 8 Ors v. Minister of Information & 2 Ors, a matter that is still pending.
A statement by the caucus partly read, “As members and leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party caucus in the House of Representatives of the National Assembly, our objectives are to ensure compliance with the rule of law, good governance, the preservation of law and order, fidelity to the principles of constitutionalism and the general adherence to democratic ethos and principles in public administration throughout the length and breadth of the Federation.
“In the discharge of our foremost duty as custodians of the Constitution and representatives of the Nigerian people, we hereby request the Federal Government to immediately reverse the decision to suspend the access of Nigerian citizens to Twitter.
“We also call on the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture to immediately rescind its directive to the National Broadcasting Commission to begin the licensing of social media operators in the country, having regard to the absence of any enabling legislative framework for such directive.
“We, hereby, give you notice that in the event of the failure, refusal and or neglect of the Federal Government to withdraw, reverse and/or cease the implementation of these oppressive and unconstitutional actions, we shall be constrained to institute legal proceedings at the appropriate judicial venue within the shortest possible time.”
The lawmakers said they noted “with great worry” the attempts by the government, through the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), to prosecute Nigerians “who have chosen not to be cajoled by a government intent on violating their right to freedom of expression guaranteed by Section 36 of the Constitution 1999, and who have continued to express themselves through their Twitter handle by using the VPN application.”
According to the caucus, the supposed suspension imposed on Twitter has no legal foundation as executive fiats. “No matter the language they’re couched in, they have no force of law. No citizen can be tried for an offense that has no basis in law or backed by written law and punishment prescribed,” it stated.
The statement further read, “For many Nigerians, social media is not only a means of escape from the drudgery of daily existence but has become a veritable source of employment, advertisement and meaningful engagement. Twitter, in particular, has become an integral component of the citizens’ ability to keep the government in check and to provide real-time feedback on the impact of government’s activities on the citizenry.
“It is worrisome that, at a time when the country faces a real existential crisis and totters on the brink of implosion from acute challenges such as widespread insecurity manifesting in banditry, kidnapping and the activities of armed non-state actors across the federation, coupled with the parlous state of the economy resulting in ballooning inflation and massive youth unemployment, the Federal Government appears to be more preoccupied with stifling the right of Nigerian citizens to freely express themselves on social media and elsewhere.”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says the commission was working tirelessly to focus on gatekeepers in money laundering.
Executive Chairman of EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in New York that the gatekeepers are non-designated financial institutions as provided for in the Money Laundry Prosecution Act and include tax consultants, car dealers, real estate managers, lawyers and accountants, among others.
“We are working toward re-boosting and improving the activities of the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering.“
In addition, he said EFCC had been working with the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to create awareness and take transaction reports to prevent and combat corruption.
NAN reports that Bawa had presented Nigeria’s position at the just concluded three-day UN General Assembly Special Session on Corruption focusing on “Challenges, Measures to Prevent and Combat Corruption and Strengthen International Cooperation’’.
The EFCC boss said the take home point from the UN special session was for countries to strengthen cooperation and sharing of intelligence information to help combat corruption.
According to him, member states have signed into UN Convention against Corruption, which Nigeria signed in December 2003.
He added that it was ratified in December 2004 and has been adopted as a political declaration.
“The member states acknowledged first and foremost that there is no country in the world that is immune to corruption.
“Unlike before, member states have worked toward strengthening international cooperation; what is of interest to us is the idea of sharing of information and intelligence as well as return of stolen assets wherever they are.
“We have another understanding or belief that member states, particularly countries where these assets are hidden, have all joined into this particular declaration.’’
The EFCC boss said work had been on top gear and negotiations were continuing to repatriate some funds stolen from Nigeria.
The Commission Chairman also said, it has commenced the process of carrying out fraud risk assessment on Federal Government agencies as part of efforts to fight corruption in the country.
He said the measure would detect the agencies that were vulnerable to fraud.
Bawa said EFCC had built its capacity to understand fraud risk assessment, which it had already started implementing.
“The idea is for us to advise government on vulnerability of those agencies to fraud and corruption.
“We have already engaged the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, they are willing to partner with us towards carrying fraud risk assessment on all the parastatals under the ministry.’’
He further stated, that the EFCC had understanding between fighting corruption and fighting corrupt people and would do its best to achieve its mandate of combating corruption in the county.
“Fighting corruption is about looking at the system, looking at the loopholes and advising the government on what to do regarding that.
“EFCC is working towards intelligence-driven investigation and that is why one of the things I did is to establish a full-fledged department of intelligence.
“In addition, when we talk about catalogue of stealing and receiving stolen goods as enshrined in the Criminal Code; if you steal and you are convicted, it is seven years imprisonment and if you receive stolen goods, it is 14 years imprisonment.
“Our study of that is the fact that without those who are receiving stolen goods, stealing will be prevented; that is why they have high punishment for those receiving stolen goods,’’ Bawa said.
Undeterred by the Federal Government’s suspension of Twitter operation in Nigeria, Nigerian News Agencies – the primary news content provider for Nigeria’s newspapers, electronic media and bloggers have continued sharing their news and commentaries on the micro-blogging site, Twitter.
But, Channels Television – a Nigerian independent 24-hour news and media television channel based in Lagos, Nigeria. The parent company, Channels Incorporated, suspended tweeting. The Privately owned TV Station is one of the stations that has come under sanctions by the Muhammadu Buhari’s Government – The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) had directed Channels TV and Inspiration FM Lagos to pay a fine N5 million each for infractions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code only recently.
Channels TV is one of the broadcast stations accused by the NBC of promoting secessionist, divisive, violent and inflammatory comments. The Twitter ban which took effect on early Saturday morning, was triggered after the micro-blogging site deleted a controversial tweet by the President Muhammadu Buhari, that referenced the Biafran war of 1967-1970 which led to loss of millions of lives.
“Many of those misbehaving today are too young to be aware of the destruction and loss of lives that occurred during the Nigerian Civil War,” he tweeted, announcing the ban on Friday, Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed alleged that the social media platform was undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence.
Hours later, telecommunications companies in Nigeria, including MTN, Airtel, Glo and 9Mobile, started blocking access to Twitter, with the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria saying it had received a directive from the NCC to block access to the social networking site.
Despite the ban taking effect with the implementation service providers on Saturday, Nigerian media agencies like the majority of Nigerians have continued business as usual and have been disseminating the news via the platform.
Agencies like TheCable, Premium Times, Daily Trust, Punch, have continued tweeting while Channels Television have complied with the ban and have suspended tweeting to their millions of followers.
Checks by NewsWireNGR, Sunday, revealed that their last set of tweets were in the early hours of Saturday. The media house last tweeted Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State displeasure with the ban and in the other, and they also tweeted that the First Lady, Aisha Buhari deactivating her account.
No media house has released an editorial stand on the ban but their continuous use of the platform is a silent protest of the dictatorial directive of the Federal Government. The U.S., Canada, the European Union, the U.K. and the Republic of Ireland issued in a joint statement Saturday condemning Nigeria’s government for banning Twitter.
In the meantime, the suspension of Twitter may have affected the operations of the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), which usually updates the country’s daily statistics of the pandemic on its official Twitter handle.
In compliance with the directive, the health agency did not upload the COVID-19 statistics on its handle on Saturday but instead did so on website.
Gunmen on Sunday morning burnt the country home of the Imo State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba.
The attack at his Community in Ubulu-Ihejiofor in Oru West Local Government Area of the state took place in the early hours of Sunday.
The gunmen succeeded in setting on fire the two houses in Emelumba’s compound. The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy who confirmed the attack told our correspondent that his country home was burnt down.
Emelumba who managed to say few words said “yes, it is true. My house in the village has been burnt down. It was completely razed. We don’t stay in the village. My gateman managed to escape.”
In another incident, the Imo State Police Command on Sunday said it repelled an attack on the police headquarters in the State by hoodlums on Sunday, killing five of the attackers in the process.
Recall that in a coordinated attack on April 5, unknown gunmen suspected to be members of the proscribed IPOB attacked the police headquarters and that of the Nigerian Correctional Service, freeing 1844 inmates.
Bala Elkana, spokesman for the police in the state, Public Relations Officer in the State, said in a statement on Sunday that the hoodlums invaded the facilities in the early hours of the day but repelled by the police
“Hoodlums masquerading as unknown gunmen attempted an attack on the Police Headquarters this morning but suffered a huge defeat.
“They made effort to access the Police Headquarters through Works Layout around Avan Nursery and Primary School but were vehemently repelled.
“They came in a white Hummer bus. Five of the hoodlums were killed during an exchange of fire and others were injured.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sent an Urgent Appeal to Patricia Scotland, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, urging her to “apply the Commonwealth Charter to hold the Nigerian government to account over the unlawful suspension of Twitter in Nigeria, and the resulting repression of human rights particularly the rights to freedom of expression, access to information and media freedom, as well as flagrant disregard for the rule of law.”
The organisation asked Ms Scotland to “urgently consider recommending the suspension of Nigeria from the Commonwealth to the Heads of Government, the Commonwealth Chair-in-office, and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, as Head of the Commonwealth to push the government to take concrete measures to respect and promote the Commonwealth’s values of human rights, transparency, accountability and the rule of law.”
In the Urgent Appeal dated June 5, 2021, and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “The Nigerian government has repeatedly demonstrated that it is not committed to protecting human rights. The Commonwealth should take a clear stand to ensure accountability of institutions, freedom of expression and access to information in Nigeria.”
SERAP said: “Nigerians can only freely participate in the democratic processes and shape the society in which they live if these fundamental human rights are fully and effectively respected, protected and promoted.”
According to SERAP, “The suspension has the character of collective punishment and is antithetical to the Nigerian Constitution and the country’s international obligations. Nigerian authorities would seem to be suppressing people’s access to Twitter to exploit the shutdown to cover up allegations of corruption, abuses, and restrict freedom of expression and other fundamental rights.”
The Urgent Appeal, copied to António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations; and Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, read in part: “The Nigerian government has also called for the prosecution of those who violate its order suspending Twitter operations in Nigeria. This order for prosecution of Twitter users violates the legal rule that there should be no punishment without law.”
“The principle that only the law can define a crime and prescribe a penalty (nullum crimen, nulla poena sine lege) is a fundamental part of Nigerian constitutional jurisprudence.”
“The Commonwealth Charter recognises the right of individuals to participate in democratic processes, in particular through peaceful exercise of their freedom of expression and access to information, which apply both offline and online.”
“Respect for Commonwealth values is essential for citizens to trust Commonwealth institutions. The Commonwealth ought to take a strong stand for protection of human rights, transparency and the rule of law in Nigeria, principles which are fundamental to the Commonwealth’s integrity, functioning and effectiveness of its institutions.”
“Allowing citizens to freely exercise their human rights including freedom of expression and access to information without threat of reprisal or prosecution would enable them to contribute to society on issues of transparency, accountability, good governance, integrity and human rights.”
“Nigerian government has a legal responsibility under the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 [as amended] and international human rights treaties including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to respect, protect and promote freedom of expression, access to information, and to ensure a safe and enabling environment for people to enjoy these rights.”
“The suspension of Twitter in Nigeria demonstrates the authorities’ determination to suppress all forms of peaceful dissent by the Nigerian people. There are well-founded fears that the human rights situation in Nigeria will deteriorate even further if urgent action is not taken to address it.”
“According to our information, the Nigerian government on Friday 4 June, 2021 unlawfully ordered all internet service providers to suspend Twitter in Nigeria. The suspension of Twitter operations in Nigeria followed the deletion of President Muhammadu Buhari’s tweets, which according to Twitter ‘violated the Twitter Rules.’”
“The suspension of Twitter in Nigeria is taking place against the background of repression of the civic space and harassment of media houses, and journalists who are targeted simply for performing their professional duty.”
“The suspension of Twitter has seriously undermined transparency and accountability in government. The lack of transparency undermines the rule of law and Nigerians’ ability to participate in their own government.”
“Lack of transparency and accountability, and the absence of the rule of law in Nigeria have contributed hugely to denying Nigerians their fundamental human rights. People have been targeted simply for using Twitter and peacefully exercising their fundamental human rights.”
SERAP, therefore, urged the Commonwealth to:
Publicly condemn the suspension of Twitter in Nigeria, and put pressure on the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to reverse the unlawful suspension;
Urge the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to respect freedom of expression, access to information, and media freedom, as well as promote transparency and accountability, and the rule of law;
Urge the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to withdraw the threat to prosecute Nigerians simply for peacefully exercising their rights through Twitter
Establish a mechanism to visit Nigeria to monitor and report on violations of Nigerians’ right to freedom of expression, access to information and media freedom, absence of transparency and accountability, and persistent disregard for the rule of law, and to get to the root of the facts and circumstances of such abuses, with a view to ensuring full accountability. Such mechanism would be the right response from the Commonwealth to protect the integrity of the institutions and ensure compliance by members to the Commonwealth values as enshrined in the Commonwealth Charter and declarations.
At least 15 people have been reported dead when gunmen attacked Igangan, a town in Oyo state located in Ibarapa area of the state.
The Igangan community has been under the spotlight over repeated clashes between herders and farmers; and in recent times, over the ejectiion of wo Fulani leaders in the town, Seriki Saliu and Iskilu Wakili enforced by Oduduwa Republic activist, Sunday Adeyemo better known as Sunday Igboho.
Mr. Abiodun Adegoke, a youth leader in Igangan, said gunmen suspected to be Fulani Herdsmen, invaded the town late on Saturday, burning fuel stations, houses, shops and the palace of Oba Lasisi Adeoye, the monarch of the town.
He added that the armed men operated till the early hours of Sunday.
”You need to come to Igangan now to see the destruction here and ruins off the town after the attack. Around 11 pm on Saturday, Fulanis in large number stormed our community and began to burn all petrol stations. They burned shops, houses and the palace of our king. They burnt several houses too,” he said
“They killed 10 people and injured many others. They used sophisticated weapons in the attack. But their activities were later repelled by men of the Oyo State Security Network Agency (codenamed Amotekun) and youths in the town. Four of the attackers were killed while others fled. As I speak to you, there are dead bodies in front of me.”
Igangan Residents Flee As Fulani Herdsmen Kill Scores In Renewed Attack On Oyo Community, Burnt Down Houses
In the meantime, Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, has called for calm after suspected killer Fulani herdsmen attacked Igangan, in Ibarapa North Local Government Area of the state.
During the attack, a truck loaded with cassava flour and some cars were said to have been set ablaze by the gunmen.
Reacting to the incident, Makinde who took to his verified Twitter handle on Sunday described it as shocking.
The governor, however, said ?security operatives are now in control of the situation.
“I have received the shocking news of the attacks on residents of Igangan, Ibarapaland, in the early hours of this morning. I am currently being briefed on the incidents. I urge residents to remain calm as security operatives are now in control of the situation,” he tweeted.
Pediatricians say at age 6, parents can’t help but worry if their children are growing at the right pace. At this stage, a child is just being able to follow three commands in a row and string a sentence with five to seven words together.
But there are some special children who pass the milestone expected of a 6-year-old child.
And Nigeria’s- Samuel Ajibola is one who defies this logic – Not long after one of his aunties discovered he had that gift of expressing emotions, she drafted him into one of the defining auditions of his career.
She took him to renowned filmmaker Opa Williams, and made him pitch why he was the best child actor deserving of a movie role and that move earned him a place at Williams iconic movie – Tears for Love at the age of 6.
That debut kick-started the acting career of one of Nigeria’s favorite characters on television and he has consistently done so for the last 25 years, with three best ‘Best Kid Actor’ of the year and multiple awards – he does not only has the attention of Nollywood movie lovers but has become the reason why some stick to their Television to watch him perform.
Recently, Samuel, known as ‘Spiff’ by millions of his fans for his character on Africa Magic’s “The Johnsons” series, announced that he is quitting the role. Seeking to provide needed answers to the many questions that have trailed the announcement, NewsWireNGR reached out to Mr Samuel Ajibola on the WHAT, WHY he has decided to take a walk from series.
Here he filled us in on his acting career, his creative process and why he made the decision to quit The Johnsons.
This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
I’m probably one of the few people to call you Samuel, how does it feel to have been called ‘Spiff’ for the past 10 years?
Well, let me say that I understand that here in Nigeria one of the things actors suffer is the fact that the audience who appreciate their performance tends to see these actors in the light of the characters they play rather than them being actors.
So I choose not to take offence because I understand it is mostly coming from a place of love. But then you can’t take away these things. It’s just one of the ways they call Funke Akindele – Jenifa.
Where did you grow up and how was growing up like for you?
I grew up in Surulere. I am a regular Surulere boy to the world.
I had great parents, great parenting and had siblings at a very young age. From primary school, I had already developed a very high sense of responsibility. I went to one of the finest schools in terms of discipline and knowledge. Let’s just say I’ve had a very great background.
I came from a very spiritual background, I have Christian parents that brought us up in the light.
You starred in a movie when you were 6, what was your earliest acting memory?
Well, I can vividly remember how it started. A child of 6, 7 years-old already knows to a fair degree left from right. I started with an experience that happened in church where I was called on to play the role of Samuel. I don’t know whether it’s a coincidence that I played the role because my name is Samuel. But it so happened that I had a big aunty who was already in the industry that was in my church who was going to realize that I seemed to be blessed with the talent of delivering lines, expressions, and all that. And she was quick to recommend me for my first movie- Tears for Love.
I remember vividly when I was called upon to the office of Mr. Opa Williams who is the executive producer of ‘Virgin Productions’ which is one of the biggest houses that were making films.
So I remember him vividly calling me to his office, you know giving me a few scenarios to play. Just trying to see my expressions and I’m very sure he was very proud of my performance and that’s what gave him the decision to make me star in my first film – Tears for Love.
Despite earning a star role at age 6 and working with a-list actors afterwards, you still first went to the University to study a conventional course. So does it mean you felt this acting thing would be a side hustle?
In my opinion, you find out that in the industry, we have some set of actors who actually studied theatre arts you know there are quite a number of actors who didn’t even study anything acting but they got into the industry by virtue of time, being in the right place at the right time or just you being recognised for the talent.
So I would say I was one of them because conventionally, growing up, I wanted to become a lot of things. In my primary school, I wanted to become a veterinary doctor, then a mechanical engineer. By the time I entered secondary school, I wanted to do business administration. But when it was time to enter university, I was offered what I eventually studied- Political Science.
Somehow I feel like it was something I’m naturally drawn to because right from secondary school, I started offering courses like Literature in English, Government, Commerce, and other art subjects.
Then again, I still went ahead to get some of the best knowledge that has helped my acting career in Film School and that till today has been the landmark of some of the great characters in which I portray today because prior before then I was just acting myself, you know portraying characters in the way I felt, but acting opened my eyes into understanding the beauty of acting and you know character interpretation and so on.
How did you bag your SPIFF role at The Johnsons?
After I had taken a 6-year hiatus from acting from 2003- 2009. I got back into the industry as a young adult. And so I started the hustle back into the industry in 2009. I started with auditions, I started acting, got referred by a couple of people and by 2011, I attended a Tinsel audition . Tinsel audition was like the biggest thing in Lagos back then, so I went for the audition. I wasn’t picked but then I didn’t know I was preserved for ‘The Johnsons’ which was more of a new television series that had more younger characters in it
.
So I got a call from them asking me to come for an audition and I went for the audition and I came back for several calls until I found myself in the final audition.
I was, I mean I picked the name of Spiff because there was this scenario where. You know Spiff eventually came into the show as an adopted family.
Initially, the whole story was centred around the main family and Efe. You know who was always having issues in school with bullies. And then coming home and meeting a lot of drama and all that.
So Spiff was among them. Spiff was initially supposed to work with Abulu but in the casting, the director just asked me to merge the two and pick one character. I feel Spiff would stick more on people’s minds. So I just picked Spiff to deliver and so the journey started.
How did being Spiff change your life?
Well, to be very honest, ‘The Johnsons’ platform has been up to date the most significant platform I have had experience of portraying myself as an actor. It’s been a big show and I’m grateful to MultiChoice for giving me, it’s been a wonderful ride. It’s a daily show being shown on a Cable Network that has a lot of people watching. In fact, not just in Nigeria. But over there to other African countries. So it’s quite a big platform and it was just the right avenue for me. Just one of the many sides to my creativity and talent when it comes to you know interpreting characters.
I’ve also done a couple of jobs that people have seen, recognised and appreciated the characters I played in them. An example is The Call, a movie by my friend and colleague, Woli Arole. That was also something that gave me the opportunity to display different characters entirely and anytime Stiff fans that watch, they open their mind and say oh this guy is not just this, he can become other characters. This is another unique character but all in all it’s been the biggest platform I got on. It has gotten me loads of my awards and from then till now, it is a , it’s something I won’t forget in a long while. I mean I’ve been on the show for 10 years, almost 10 years.
I’ve had a decade, so it’s more of a very significant part of my story and my life.
The Spiff character is a very interesting character and for some of us who follow back stories of foreign actors, we hear the lengths they had to go through to kill a role. For example, that Joker guy
Yes, Heath Ledger
Yes, he had to lock himself up in a room to get the mannerism needed for Joker. What weird things did you do on the back end to kill that Spiff role?
Well, The Johnsons had already started as a television before I got the knowledge that I currently have on interpreting characters through an acting course in the Centre for Excellence in Film and Media Studies under the tutelage of the late Amaka Igwe (may her soul rest in peace).
We had done the first season of the show and I just played myself like I used to. Then the second season came and before the second season, I had just come out of that acting course and so my head was still boiling out of knowledge, of things like he mentioned like what actors have done in the past to be able to portray credible performances in characters in roles.
So I for one had studied various successful actors, Hollywood actors because those are where I tend to learn from. I learnt a lot from a lot of great Hollywood actors. For example, Christian Bale and even Denzel Washington. I’ve watched a lot of their movies and learnt a lot about their characters and how they portrayed various characters. Johnny Depp too, another important man. I watch a lot of Johnny Depp movies. In fact, I think I watch more Johnny Depp, more Denzel and more.
So my mind was still boiling with characters, so I sat down and understood that my body is my workshop as an actor because with all of my body, I could just put things together and just come up with a unique character.
So I sat down and worked on mannerism and so many things. And I put it together and while we got on set in the beginning of the second season, I walked up to the director and I said sir, there is this input I have created for the character. Would you just let me try it and see. He said go ahead and he gave me the freewill.
While we were still shooting that very first scene, both the co-actors, the crew members, and everyone around, students, were already laughing and I knew it was already a successful one. All I just needed to do was to maintain consistency. And that was what I used over the years to push the consistency to the point where I am today.
Why did you say you wanted to move and what next should we expect from you?
It’s very important for one to know who he is and where he is going. These two things can help a lot of people to achieve and become successful things in life. I’m one that knows who I am. I’m very creative, gifted, and talented. I’m not one that likes to you know be in a position for too long. I’m not one that likes to settle down in my comfort zone. I’m always adventurous, looking for new challenges you know and that has been part of me.
So, this decision did not just come up when I posted it about the news. It’s been something I’ve been giving conscious thoughts to for years now. You know, for more than 2, 3 years, if I think about it, I thought about the fans, how they would feel. I thought about the family on the show. I thought about various things but at the end of the day, change is painful but nothing is more painful than staying in a place where you don’t belong. And so, I sacrificed, I gave it my very best and all in terms of creativity, mannerism, giving people some of the principles that even led me to creating those characters, the mannerism of the characters which was pinned in the idea of you know we are going through a lot in Africa, in terms of stark poverty, poor health care systems, you know, bad leadership. If we cannot even afford a proper health care system that can take it to our people, at least laughter is a medicine. It heals people for me and that was one of the driving forces that pushed me into maintaining that consistency.
I’ve had testimonies of people that told me how the Spiff character has helped them battle high-blood pressure, you know and all sorts of things that may be wrong with them. So while that has fulfilled the purpose, I’m at a point where I feel I’ve fulfilled my purpose on the show. And it’s time for me to go and fulfill other God-given purposes because time is essential to everything. There is time for everything under the earth. So it’s time for people to see me in a new light. It’s time for people to see the other sides of me. I’m not just you know just entertainment and art, I have great skills in leadership, I have skills in so many other things. I have so many other things that are driving me beyond just acting.
I have not quit acting, I don’t think I will quit in a long while because I really do enjoy it. Ehrm, I feel I was also called for it. I’m also moving into other dimensions in the industry. You know, so that is my reason for leaving.
I think I have also mentioned other things that I am working on, no specifics for now. I mean when it’s time they will all just keep on unveiling, unveiling and unveiling.
So there’s nothing you’re doing now, you’re just chilling?
I am working oh.
You’re looking fresh. Does that mean you’re just chilling?
I am more busy now than I have left.
What are the things keeping you busy?
Okay, I was recently at the national assembly’s constitutional review happening in the zonal region. It happened in Lagos.The other day, I went to inspire students of LASU with my story.
I’m also granting interviews.
I’m working on a couple of projects. But I’m also a child education enthusiast. I did a write up on children’s day on my page. So I have so many things now that I now have the time to do and that’s what I really want to do myself. That’s what’s really making me happy right now.
What was your biggest win in your stint at ‘The Johnsons’?
For me, I wouldn’t say it’s the award I won from the show because I have a twisted orientation about awards.
My biggest win for me is 2 things. First one is the fact that the character is therapeutic and healing in nature. That for me is a lot because there are a lot of testimonies from people that have really had their lives become better from just watching comedy and laughing.
The second thing for me is about the joy I get when I discover that some or the fans actually think that the character I play is real and when they get to meet me, they see I’m a different person entirely. It means that I have been able to do my work so well as an actor to make them believe that that character really exists. Those two things have been fulfilling for me.
I noticed you’ve been doing a daily series, Dele issues on Samuel Ajibola TV. That’s also a comedy. Does that mean comedy is your forte as an actor?
Well, I have always had a funny side to my own personality beyond the character. I didn’t realise that I had the potential of having a strong contact because prior to ‘The Johnsons’, most of the jobs I had done were not comedy. They were drama, do you get?
But as when the show came in, I saw that I could milk with this. I have a funny side and I could just milk this. It now began and then I realized over time. But I’m not one that wants to be stereotyped into a box of just being a comic actor. I am an actor in general and a modern actor to be specific. I can portray any character. I am looking forward to people seeing me act as a psychopath or a serial killer or a you know just something different from what they used to know me and I am that kind of actor that can go well into such characters and bring out the best out of it. So it doesn’t matter. Well, comedy seems to be thriving right now, yea. But that’s not all I can do. I’m an actor in general.
Looking back, what were the biggest mistakes you recall yourself making and you would advise people to stop to avoid those mistakes?
Well, If you’re still acting and you’re going through school, I’ll advise that you find a way to finish your education. At least, to the university level or the masters level which I personally would advise any Nigerian because B.sc no dey hold water again for this country.
I’m currently doing my masters too so I’m currently using that to make people see education as a light. While people might think yes, what are you using this school for?
The way a primary school student thinks and the way a secondary school student thinks is different. The fact that you finished primary school and you went to secondary school, the environment, the people you meet, they would be on a different level of thinking, that would also help you to think that way
The same goes for someone that is schooling in secondary school and someone that is in university. Even if that person came out with third class, his orientation would have changed from someone that just finished secondary school. And it goes further and further ahead.
It also has other benefits to it. There are some certain positions you apply for or things you want to achieve in life and these qualifications are part of the requirement.
Beyond just education too, another advice I’ll give people that are entering the industry is that you should not live above your means, don’t try to impress people and then put yourself in a box whereby you’re catching up to meet the expectations of people about you.
Be who you are, as simple as you are. Dress simply, don’t borrow clothes, don’t try to impress people.
Humility is very important in this. Humility and hardwork. I mean if you follow the fastest way up, your success would not last because you don’t have the experience that comes with following a single growth. So following a senew growth would allow you to see all the loopholes in your field of study or in your place or centralisation.
And then most importantly, I advise people to be very spiritual. Hold on to God. He is the best thing that can help you in terms of direction and he can help you too to achieve faster and what he has proposed for you.
Who are your role models in the industry?
Most of them are in Hollywood and there are a few of the Nollywood that I really do, I would not just say Nollywood but in different fields of study that I really value. But let me look at a few from Nollywood. I can mention some of my Nollywood actors that I look up to here.
I really appreciate the hard work of people like Funke Akindele, Kunle Afolayan, they’ve done great and great things and they are just you know, showing the world that there is so much you can achieve in this field.
I also like Fela Durotoye, he has a fantastic personality. I like lots of Pastor E.A Adeboye, he is a great model. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, he is a great model to me. He is not just you know , he is taking me as a father, he is a mentor, he is putting me in the light of things I’m loving about leadership. So I have so many role models scattered in different places . It depends on the relevance and the things I’m learning from them determines these people as my role model. So there are so many, there are some that might even have not mentioned right now that I have forgotten. Barack Obama is also one of them too. I have met African great leaders and I also look forward to Kwame Nkrumah. There are so many guys I have read about and I am really impressed by what they’ve done for us in this world.
When you discuss, I see you have a passion for leadership
Well, I have a huge concern beyond just being a natural born leader and it is , I’m the first son in my family, I’m a natural born leader. My own personality is one that is self-sacrificing and tends to look for how to make better use of the large population and that kind of person that thinks of a lot of people, not just myself. And because of my passion for children, I’m compelled to know follow up roles of leadership. What does that mean?
I’m concerned about the situation of education in this country. Starting from the fact that we have about 10.1 million children who have never schooled. That figure alone is more than 5 European countries put together. That’s a whole lot of destinies that are being truncated. These kids don’t have the right foundation to be able to come up and become productive people to this society. It takes away from us, whether we like it or not because the current youth that we have are a product of that old educational problem. That was what Obafemi Awolowo was trying to solve when he was in for Free education in Nigeria because he knew that an educated person is an equipped mind to perform in a society.
So I have that passion for that. Also beyond that, the fact that we have some of the lowest budget for education in Nigeria that seems to be the giant of Africa is appalling. Nigeria has been moving between 5-7 percent of our national budget for education when some countries like South Africa have been doing at least 20 percent or so. I’m not really sure about the figures in the last 20 years. This shows that the input countries put into education helps their society to grow. Japan is a fantastic example. In Japan, they have no national resources. What their leaders do is invest in the minds of young people, in the minds of their children through education and technology and right now there is almost nowhere in the world where , almost no building in the world that doesn’t have at least ten to hundreds of Japanese components in them. I’m using my phone to talk, it’s a Japanese component. My watch, they’ve been able to just take over the world and become a global force to reckon with through education and if Nigerians with all innovations that we have because Nigerians are very innovative people. Some of the most educated people, American the other day on CNN announced how many Nigerians in America are quite educated, they are a large number compared to even their own citizens. It shows that we have people that have a very great mind, all we don’t have is good leadership and that has been the problem of Nigeria for quite a while. So imagine the limitless possibilities we can have with being able to tap through the innovation of these youths. So I am desperate, I’m passionate, I’m enthusiastic about leadership and I’m working on saving their future. It’s part of the things that I’m passionate about.
It’s difficult to create real change without getting into politics. Are we likely going to see you contest political positions soon?
Like I mentioned, if at all for nothing, I am at least qualified in terms of the fact that I studied Political science in the University of Lagos for 4 years
Beyond that I am rounding up my Master right now in Public Administration. So I have a lot of knowledge to offer. I’m a creative person, I’m very innovative, very analytical. You know I see myself as one of the finest brains that this country has provided through its own educational system, so why can’t I with the voice I have be able to contribute meaningfully to my society? I mean I’m the kind of person that doesn’t think financial wealth or success is the aim of everything for me. For me, what I can impact in the minds of people would be a greater greater fulfillment for me than anything I’ve achieved financially. And that is my aim, that is what’s driving me , and by the grace of God I’m looking forward to making a tremendous impact in my community, in my state and mostly, in my nation.
What are those pains you go through to remain a fantastic actor?
I’m someone that does a lot of research. Before I come on set to deliver, I’ve done research on the characters I’m about to play. So that takes time , working on the script and all that.
Acting itself is a very stressful job. I don’t know if people know about it but it’s very stressful. I mean a scene, just a scene that you guys watch for 5 minutes, we sometimes do it for about an hour. Different cuts, different takes, sometimes we do late night shoots till the morning.
It’s a very stressful job, and it’s not like acting pays like it does in Hollywood. So a lot of people are just doing it for the passion and not what it’s bringing, do you get? Maybe when you’ve earned a known name, you can now start earning good. But when you start your career, it will be something that should just be part of things that you’re doing to survive, I won’t advise you to take it as the only thing you have running. You should have other business to sustain . All in all, I mean another thing too is how it makes you feel, it takes away your private life. You can’t just wear bathroom slippers and go out and go and buy akara. Some people even judge you for taking and taking. I don’t know why people think celebrities are not to be taking okada or breathing the same air or moving the same ground. You know it just increases the expectation of people towards you.
I notice you shy away from mentioning your age in many interviews. I mean there were many speculations about your age … Why is it that part of your life you left to guesses?
(Laughs) This is a very wonderful question. Well, initially, I didn’t put out my age because I wanted to let a people wonder and also because of some reasons in my career, I kept it away
A lot of people still do see me as a young person even when I got married, people were saying ha is he not too young?
I like to tell people that I am the Pharrell of Nigeria. I know where the fountain of youth is and that is why I look almost ten years younger than my age. But recently, I came out and told my age on my Instagram page. I am 33 years old. I was born December 26, 1987, boxing day and that’s that about that.
The pastor of Synagogue Church of All Nations in Lagos, Prophet TB Joshua has died at the age of 57.
This was announced in a statement titled, ‘Prophet TB Joshua – June 12th 1963 to June 5th 2021,’ issued on the verified Facebook page of his ministries on Sunday.
The cause of his death was not revealed. However, the statement said the clergyman spent his last moment on earth in the service of God.
“On Saturday 5th June 2021, Prophet TB Joshua spoke during the Emmanuel TV Partners Meeting: “Time for everything – time to come here for prayer and time to return home after the service.”
“God has taken His servant Prophet TB Joshua home – as it should be by divine will. His last moments on earth were spent in the service of God. This is what he was born for, lived for and died for.
“As Prophet TB Joshua says, “The greatest way to use life is to spend it on something that will outlive it”.
“Prophet TB Joshua leaves a legacy of service and sacrifice to God’s Kingdom that is living for generations yet unborn.
“The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations and Emmanuel TV Family appreciate your love, prayers and concern at this time and request a time of privacy for the family.
“Here are Prophet TB Joshua’s last words: “Watch and pray.”
“One life for Christ is all we have; one life for Christ is so dear,” the statement read.
The People’s Democratic Party has faulted the order by the Attorney-General of the Federation/Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to arrest Nigerian Twitter users.
Malami had earlier instructed the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation to begin immediate prosecution of those who violate the Federal Government’s order suspending Twitter operations in Nigeria.
The PDP, in a statement on Saturday, described the decision as null and void.
The statement, which was titled ‘Twitter Suspension: Malami’s prosecution order is illegal, null and void – PDP’, was signed by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan.
It read in part, “The Peoples Democratic Party declares that the directive by the All Progressives Congress-led administration to arrest and prosecute any Nigerian using Twitter, is blatantly unconstitutional, illegal, null and completely of no moment.
“The PDP asserts that the directive by the APC through the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, is not only downright ludicrous but shows the frenzied desperation by the Buhari Presidency to muzzle, victimise, clamp down on innocent Nigerians and foist a totalitarian system on our country.
“The PDP states that nothing in our extant laws, not even the suspension of Twitter in Nigeria, constitutionally criminalises the use of Twitter by Nigerians or empowers the Federal Government to arrest and prosecute any Nigerian for using Twitter.”
The PDP also asserted that the order had no legal backing.
“The directive by the Attorney General to arrest and prosecute any Nigerians found using Twitter does not have the backing of any law enacted by the National Assembly or any state legislative house, and as such, Malami’s declaration is completely of no legal consequence,” the statement added.
World superpowers on Saturday flayed the regime of Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari over the suspension of the ‘operations’ of microblogging site Twitter in the country.
In a joint statement, Canada, the European Union, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States of America said banning systems of expression is not the way forward.
The statement was titled, ‘Joint Statement From The Diplomatic Missions Of Canada, The European Union (Delegation To Nigeria), The Republic Of Ireland, The United Kingdom And The United States Of America’.
It read, “The diplomatic missions of Canada, the European Union (Delegation to Nigeria), the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States of America convey our disappointment over the Government of Nigeria’s announcement suspending #Twitter and proposing registration requirements for other social media.
“We strongly support the fundamental human right of free expression and access to information as a pillar of democracy in Nigeria as around the world and these rights apply online as well as offline.
“Banning systems of expression is not the answer. These measures inhibit access to information and commerce at precisely the moment when Nigeria needs to foster inclusive dialogue and expression of opinions, as well as share vital information in this time of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The path to a more secure Nigeria lies in more, not less, communication to accompany the concerted efforts of Nigeria’s citizens in fulsome dialogue toward unity, peace and prosperity.
“As Nigeria’s partners, we stand ready to assist in achieving these goals.”
Twitter had deleted a controversial civil war post by Buhari. Consequently, Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, announced the suspension of Twitter on Friday, citing the “persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence”.
Mobile network operators also said they received a directive from the Nigerian Communications Commission to block access to Twitter in the country following the suspension by the government.
Microblogging site, Twitter has wielded its big stick on the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, as the microblogging platform deleted a ‘Biafra’ post by the self-acclaimed IPOB leader for violating its rules.
In the tweet, Kanu had threatened government officials, saying, “any army they send to #Biafraland will die there. None will return alive even if it means sacrificing my people”.
He tweeted the post on June 2 but it was no longer available as of Saturday evening.
Twitter had come under fire for deleting a civil war post by the Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari.
The President had tweeted, “Many of those misbehaving today are too young to be aware of the destruction and loss of lives that occurred during the Nigerian Civil War. Those of us in the fields for 30 months, who went through the war, will treat them in the language they understand,” Buhari had said and tweeted while condemning attacks on police stations, prisons and offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission, especially in the South-East.
The President’s tweet rattled some persons who felt he was insensitive to have made an analogy of the civil war. His critics subsequently reported the tweet to Twitter and the microblogging site later deleted the post with a comment, “This Tweet violated the Twitter Rules”.
The Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry probing the alleged killing of #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki tollgate on October 20, 2020 has called for the record of all 99 corpses deposited in the mortuary of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital between October 19 and 24 last year.
The panel chairman, retired Justice Doris Okuwobi, made the order on Saturday after LASUTH Chief Pathologist, Prof John Obafunwa, gave testimony before the panel and presented autopsy reports and pictures of three out of the 99 deposited corpses.
Obafunwa told the panel that of the 99 bodies deposited at the mortuary, he was told that only three came from Lekki, hence, the decision to present three autopsy reports and pictures, showing corpses with varying degrees of injury.
“Those are the three bodies I was told were from Lekki as recorded by the people who brought them in,” the pathologist told the panel.
According to him, the other 96 deposited corpses were said to have been recovered from different areas of Lagos.
But one of the counsel representing #EndSARS protesters before the panel, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), disagreed with Obafunwa on the claim that only three corpses came from Lekki.
Olumide-Fusika asked the panel to order LASUTH to bring forward the records and autopsy reports on the entire 99 bodies deposited.
The panel chairman ordered LASUTH to produce records on the 96 other corpses in addition to the three presented on Saturday – The panel adjourned till June 19 for further hearing.
While the Nigerian Army has repeatedly denied shooting at or killing any of the #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki tollgate on the night of October 20, 2020, a number of persons with injuries have appeared before the panel insisting that they were shot at the tollgate and that they also witnessed the death of others.
