A pop singer, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as ‘Portable’ has released an album entitled ‘Kuku Do Ritual’.

Meanwhile an Islamic human rights organisation, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has condemned the album for having the potential to encourage ritual killing and misleading Nigerian youth.

MURIC’s statement was released on Monday, 23rd January, 2023 by its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

The statement reads :“Popular pop singer, Habeeb Okikiola, has released a new album under the title ‘Kuku Do Ritual’ in which part of the lyrics say, ‘Kuku do ritual. If you do ritual you go die. If you no do ritual you go die. Kuku do ritual’.

“We find this song disgusting, detestable and egregious. It is a brazen assault on Nigerian and African values. Portable’s latest song has reduced human life to the level of ordinary ants that can be stamped out under human feet without qualms and without consequences. It is an open invitation to criminality. It makes mockery of law and order. It is an open disrespect for human life.

“This song has the capacity to influence our young ones in a negative manner. It is also capable of destroying the future of the youth. Something must be done urgently. Already, there are several reports of young ones engaging in the shameful act for the purpose of getting rich in their tender ages.

“Three teenagers were caught attempting to kill a 13 year old girl for money ritual in Bayelsa State in January 2022

“Four teenagers living in Abeokuta, Ogun State, killed the girlfriend of one of them for money ritual

“MURIC calls on all men of goodwill, all mothers in Nigeria, Muslim and Christian leaders to rise against the madness called Yahoo Yahoo and ritual killings among young ones whose ambassador has just released this horrendous song in their praise. ‘Kuku Do Ritual’ is nothing but a eulogy to glorify and elevate the names of ritual killers to high heaven.

“This album calls for immediate action from Nigeria’s traditional rulers. They are the custodians of our tradition. We therefore take our cry for help to these royal fathers to speak up on this sacriledgious song released by ‘Portable’. They must put pressure on the authorities to stop the circulation and broadcast of this album on any radio or television station and through any medium whatsoever.

“We invite the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) and the Performing Musicians’ Association of Nigeria (PMAN) to take necessary action with military dispatch.

“We see no reason why the security agencies should not investigate the author of this most embarrassing and irrational song to explain the number of rituals in which he has indulged. A scape goat must be made of this album and its artist before the trend escalates.

“Nobody should hide behind artistic priviledge, poetic licence or freedom of expression to launch such barbaric offensive on our culture, our norms and our values. This is beyond free speech. It is criminal speech. It is incitement to commit murder. It is instigation to criminality. It is a bestial invasion on decency and good manners. It is Bohemian.”
https://www.otowngist.com/2023/01/muric-others-ban-portables-kuku-do-ritual/

A political earthquake has hit Delta State as the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, mainstream wing, Delta Unity Group, DUG, today declared for the All Progressives Congress, APC, with a commitment to vote all candidates of the party in the 2023 general elections.

The DUG is renowned as the strategic and “intellectual “ arm of the Delta PDP.

Vanguard reported that the group previously coalesced around Olorogun David Edevbie, former Delta Governor, Chief James Ibori’s choice for Delta state governor; a choice that was rebuffed by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa in favour of controversial and unpopular House Speaker, Sheriff Oborevwori.

At a Special Declaration Rally, Sunday, January 22, at the St George’s College, Obinomba, thousands of DUG members donning their signature red shirts and hats declared formally for the APC.

They were led by its chairman, three-time member of the House of Representatives, Daniel Reyenieju; ex-house speakers, Chief Monday Igbuya and Olisa Imegwu, among others,

Speaking, Reyenieju said the DUG was founded and created to support the best candidate of the PDP, but when the best could not be presented, “we went round the state for a man who could do the modernization programme of David Edevbie.

“And (we) found that capacity in the person of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege. Galvanizing that find outside would be meaningless, hence we decided to join the APC.

We will show PDP pepper. We can’t continue like this, we can’t have a President that will sell all our assets, we can’t have a vice president that will continue to borrow money with nothing to show.

“All the money they borrowed and kept away will turn to fertilizers in their farms.”

Former House Speaker, Igbuya, recalled that when Governor Okowa came on board with him as Speaker, “he complained that the debt burden incurred by former governor Emmanuel Uduaghan was so heavy.

“He cut all our entitlements; that there was no money. Now the debt he has incurred in eight years will be difficult to pay back in a life time.”

Also speaking, Chief Evans Iwurie, a prominent DUG leader and former Delta Assembly member, said Governor Okowa, by his incompetence, has become an embarrassment to Delta State, Nigeria and the medical profession, assuring that with Senator Ovie Omo-Agege as governor, Delta State will regain its pride again.

An obviously elated Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, Deputy Senate President and Delta APC Governorship candidate, said he was in awe, but not surprised by the development.
https://www.otowngist.com/2023/01/pdps-premier-group-dug-declares-for-apc/

A member of Board of Trustees (BoT) and the National Caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Abia state, Ochiagha Benjamin Apugo has declared that the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi and the party's governorship candidate in Abia, Dr. Alex Otti will win the State in the forthcoming general elections.

Apugo made the declaring while dissociating himself from a report that linked him with the endorsement of the candidate of the APC in Abia state, Chief Ikechi Emenike.

In a report sent to Vanguard in Abuja by the Spokesman of the Alex Otti Campaign Council, Ferdinand Ekeoma who was present at a press briefing by the APC chieftain at his country home in Ibeku Ancient Kingdom, Abia State, Apugo said he was not supporting party but individuals with track road of performance.

He said "Chief Ikechi Emenike and his team paid me a courtesy visit as a Chieftain of the party to inform me of his governorship ambition as well as the proposed visit of the APC Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Umuahia, Abia state.

"I emphatically told Emenike that the APC would lose both the Abia governorship and Presidential elections, and restated my uncompromising support for the Labour Party governorship candidate in Abia state, Dr. Alex Otti and its Presidential Candidate, Mr. Peter Obi.

"APC will fail woefully in Abia State. PDP is already dead. I am supporting Otti. I didn't endorse him (Emenike). I told him that APC will not win because there is nothing to show APC people. So, forget about endorsement."

Giving reasons for supporting Obi and Otti, Apugo said " If you check my political history, you would discover that I have always associated with people of high moral standing and integrity, hence my support for Otti whom I believe will develop this land when he becomes governor".

Apugo said it would not be politically reasonable to support a party that could not fix the strategic Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene road and the Umuahia-Ohafia-Aro chukwu road respectively, maintaining that both the APC and the PDP have failed Abians and should be roundly rejected.

The elder statesman, widely respected for his candour and firm stance on critical national and state issues, insisted that Otti was the only outstanding personality in the Abia governorship race with proven capacity and passion to develop the state, stressing that though he was a member of BOT and National Caucus of the APC, the development of Abia, including Ibeku land was of paramount importance hence his decision to support the former managing director of Diamond Bank.

He also vehemently refuted the idea of anti-party when reminded about that.

"What is anti-party? What I am telling you is the correct thing. They haven't done anything here. I am saying it with annoyance. With the position that I held in APC, nothing. I am not talking about myself. I have not gotten even one contract from them.

"No employment for one single person since 8 years. So, what are you talking about anti-party? They know that what I am talking is the correct thing. They have not done anything to my people here. They didn't do one single thing here in my home town which is the capital of Abia State. No federal presence", he said.

Apugo also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC for the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) innovation and enjoined the Abia electorate to come out on the election day and vote for Otti for governor and Obi for President for the development of Abia and Nigeria at large, stressing that the era of election rigging was over.

"In the first place, the electoral act does not permit anybody or give anybody chance to rig elections. What you can do is vote buying which is also a crime covered by law. So, if you think that somebody is going to rig the election, I doubt. If they will rig elections, they will rig it in other states. Here, we are ready to die instead of thinking that we are alive when we don't have hope.

"So, boys and girls will protect their votes. Men and women will protect their votes and we are going to vote for the best. I don't think money will solve this election. Who are you giving money to? Are you giving somebody who's nearer to the grave?

"He's already dead and you are giving him money. He wants to resurrect, he wants to come back to life", the Prince of Ibeku land stressed.
https://www.otowngist.com/2023/01/2023-election-obi-otti-will-win-abia-says-apugo-apc-chieftain/

The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), has described as alarming and unacceptable the continuous killing and kidnapping of Christian clerics in Nigeria.

Bishop Francis Wale Oke, President, PFN, in a statement, noted that, “As an organisation that worships God, we pray that the wrath of God shall fall heavily on all those responsible for terrorising Nigerians and killing innocent citizens.”

The statement condemned what it called “the recent gruesome murder of Rev. Fr. Father Isaac Achi of St. Peters and Paul Catholic Church, Kafin-koro, Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State by bandits”.

It explained that the bandits, according to reports, invaded his residence at about 3am on January 15 and after failing to gain entrance into the residence, set the house ablaze and the clergyman was burnt to death.

The PFN recalled that the deceased’s colleague, Father Collins, was equally shot in the shoulder while trying to escape and was rushed to the hospital, describing the incident as most unfortunate.

The statement added that the killing of Achi is indeed one killing too many, saying, “The continuous killing, as well as kidnapping of Christian clerics in Nigeria is very alarming and unacceptable.”

The organisation lamented a situation where Nigeria had become a killing field where people are slaughtered like animals and the perpetrators go scot free.

“This has to be stopped at all costs. The government must do everything possible to bring an end to this evil,” the statement said.

The PFN called on the federal government and security agencies to intensify efforts to salvage what it called “this ugly situation” and give Nigerians a new lease of life, stressing that the lawless and barbaric act has continued for too long, without anyone being arrested and prosecuted by the government.

According to the organisation, the criminals may think they have escaped from the judgment of man, but they can never escape from the judgment of the almighty God who sees everything.

The PFN sennt its heartfelt condolences to the family of Achi and the Catholic Church and prayed that God will comfort them and ensure peace and unity in the country.
https://www.otowngist.com/2023/01/pfn-reacts-to-killings-kidnapping-of-christian-clerics-in-nigeria/

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended the appointment of nine Heads of Courts and 84 other judicial officers as part of concerted efforts to prepare for challenges that may arise for the Judiciary in the coming general elections.

The recommended persons would after appointment serves at the Federal and State Courts in the country.

A statement from the Council on Saturday in Abuja said the candidates were presented for recommendations by its panel after interviews during its 100th meeting presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.

The statement by NJC’S Director of Information Mr Soji Oye listed those recommended for posts of Chief Judges to include Justice Muhammad Tukur Mu’azu Aliyu for Kaduna, Justice Majebi Josiah Joe for Kogi, Justice Odusola Aiyedun Olusegun for Ondo, Justice Halima Sa’addiya Mohammed for Gombe and Justice Lilian Abai for Abia State.

Others are Justice Abdulateef Kamaldeen as Grand Kadi, Kwara State, Justice Stanley Adekunle Lawal, President, Customary Court of Appeal, FCT, Justice Monisola Oluwatoyin Abodunde as President, Customary Court of Appeal in Ekiti and Justice Uhuo Patrick Uchenna as President, Customary Court of Appeal, Ebonyi State.

A breakdown of the recommended 84 Judicial officers showed that four are for the Ondo High Court, namely Akinbinu Sylvester Femi, Leonard Boyede Ologun, Bolatito Florence Ajibade and Akinwumi Bankole Jacob.

The Customary Court of Appeal in Ekiti has three nominees, Lawrence Babatope Ojo, Adegboye Rotimi Adesoji and Ogundele Olufolakemi Olufunke.

Borno State has five and they include Amina Mustapha, Ibrahim Mohammed Maina, Hafsatu Isah Bappah, Bukar Malgwi Umar and Mallam Buna Makinta while Anambra has two comprisingEtomike Innocent Ndigwe and Tagbo Chinwuba Anieto.

The five nominated for the Sokoto High Court bench are Bashar Ibrahim, Fatima Ahmadu Suka, Abubakar Adamu, Kabiru Muhammad and Amina Modi Yabo while the Sharia Court of Appeal in the state has two nominees as Kadi and are Idris Adamu and Mustapha Abdullahi Ahmad.

Ogun State High Court has 8 nominees comprising Oluwafunke Omolara Odubanjo, Adelaja Adeola Ireti, Basirat Bolanle Adebowale, Adebayo Bamidele Adedapo, Ayodele Adebayo Omoniyi, Sunday Olufemi Adeniyi, Awofeso Ireti-Olu Babatunde and Abimola Christopher Shokunbi.

The two nominees for Bayelsa State High Court are Charlie Ebiyon Duke and Ekadi Amadise Michael while the six for Ebonyi State are Esther Awo Ota, BUkeni Ogoke Stella Ejituruchi, Ruth Obaji Okeh, Blessing Ibeabuchi Chukwu, Christopher Ofoke Mbam and Francis-Abba Solange Amaka.

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria has six nominees including Buhari Sani, Damachi-Onugba Agede Joyce, Hassan Muhammed Yakubu, Sandra Audu Yelwa, Subilim Emmanuel Danjuma and Muhammad Adamu Hamza.

Cross Rivers High Court has two nominees in persons of Okokon Edem Nyong and Amajama Jacob Eneji while the four for Adamawa High Court are Christopher Dominic Mapeo, Ahmed Isa, Mohammed Ibrahim Tola and Benjamin Lawan Manji.

Besides, Adamawa has one Kadi nominee for its Sharia Court of Appeal in person of Isa Yusuf Khalid while its Customary Court of Appeal has another Judge nominee in the person of Adabala Nicholas.

The breakdown showed that Rivers State High Court has five candidates comprising Asivosuo Maccarthy Oriye, Omonigho Nwibani, Comfort Ifikmotu- Awaji Adangor, Prince Chika Mini and Beauty Ihuoma Emmanuel-Okere while its Customary Court of Appeal has two Judges nominees, Odiki Daniel- Kalio and Tetenwi Ngeli Elerabari.

Zamfara High Court has four and are Abdullahi Muhammad Gusau, Umar Adulnasir, Saad Garba Gurbin-Bore and Muntaka Ahmad Ya’akubu.

Osun State High Court has four nominees comprising Lasisi Muhammed Adebayo, Awe Micheal Oludare, Fatimah Adejoke Sodamade and Owolawi Joseph Olukunle while has one and is Adamu Mohammed Jajere as well as one Kadi for its Sharia Court of Appeal in the person of Kasim Mohammed Kasim.

Kaduna State High Court bench has seven candidates and are Yakubu Bodamasi, Abdullahi Isiaka, Buhari Mohammed Balarabe Bashir Shitu Yusuf, Nana Fatima Mohammed John Aku Ambi and Joyce Asabe Akaa’ahs.

Apart from the recommended seven high court Judges, NJC also sought for appointment of five Kadis for the Kaduna Sharia Court of Appeal and they are Aminu Ahmad Jumare, Nuhu Mahmud, Murtala Nasir, Abdulrahman Ibrahim and Mahdi Muhammad Suraj.

In the same vein, the Kaduna Customary Court of Appeal is to have three Judges and they are Dorothy Sim Inwulale, Atung Dorcas Tabitha and Yusuf Yakubu.

The breakdown also showed that the Plateau State Customary Court of Appeal has only one Judge nominee in the person of Jettei T. Pekun.

The NJC statement indicated that all recommended candidates would be sworn- in upon approval of their recommendations by their respective state governors and State Houses of Assembly.
https://www.otowngist.com/2023/01/njc-seeks-appointments-of-9-heads-of-courts-84-judicial-officers/

How to participate in Mr Cruz's #MyRokpokpoDance Competition

To participate in #MyRokpokpoDance Competition, you will have to do the following.

1. Download Rokpokpo by Mr Cruz

2. Make à 1 minute video of you dancing to the song.

3. Post the video on instagram with the hashtag #MyRokpokpoDance and mention @MrCruz7

My sexiness is natural and part of my job - Actress Oluchukwu Stephana Nwabuzor

Beautiful actress cum model Oluchukwu Stephana Nwabuzor known on screen as Oluchi Nwabuzor in an interview with www.otowngist.com, said that being sexy is simply natural for her as well as part of her job.
Speaking in a movie location in Lagos State, the curvy actress who played a role in Prophet Nebu, said she sees things turning out well for her because she has both the looks and talent of a movie star.
"My looks, shape and attitude are just natural", she said, waving off the assertions that she works too hard to retain her appearance.

"The reward for great job, is more work, so I have to watch it. Am I supposed to grow fat? Am I supposed to wear things that don't fit me? The answer is just no"
"No matter what you know, you want to know more and get better, so it's same with looks, every lady wants the curves to get better, you want to transform into a the most beautiful women your future can ever see. It's not hard work, it's just natural"
"I have to take care of my body as a model and actress because you'll never know when a sexy talented model or actress will be needed for a job", she said, ending with soft laughter.
On the direction of her career, the Anambra State born Political Science graduate of Babcock University, said "one thing is certain, 'Oluchi Nwabuzor' will surely ring like a bell everyone must hear because I have the beauty, body and talent of a genuine movie star and super model"
Oluchukwu Stephana Nwabuzor as a model earlier in 2016 did a commercial for telecommunication giant Etisalat and has starred in many movies.