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Twitter Ban: Presidency And PDP Trade Words Over Fake News Peddling

Twitter Ban

The dust raised from the Twitter ban in Nigeria is yet to settle as there have been several ripple effects across the board. And as Nigerians continue to feel these effects, the presidency would not want to be left out of the whole drama.

Following a communique by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors’ forum in which they lambasted the Buhari administration for suspending the microblogging site, Twitter, in the country indefinitely, the presidency has fired back.

Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu has claimed that the PDP is only bothered about the suspension of the bird app in the country because it has limited their ability to spread fake news about the current administration.

In a statement, Shehu said:

“The PDP grieves over the Federal Government’s action over Twitter – for it represents the curtailment of their ability to use the platform to spread fake news and invented stories to the detriment of community and good-neighborliness between the peoples of Nigeria.

“The PDP Governors propose no solutions to any of our nation’s challenges in the face of COVID and global economic downturn: instead, they grasp for more money and mourn their lack of access to social media to spread falsehoods and hate.

‘Their statement is evidence, if any were needed, as to why the President and the APC ended the PDP’s one-party rule in 2015, were re-elected by an increased margin in 2019, and why their winning trend is set to continue far into the future.”

It should be recalled that the Buhari administration had on June 4, 2021, banned indefinitely the usage of the social media site, Twitter, in the country. The Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, further threatening to prosecute whoever is caught still using the app in the country.

Read Also: FG Reacts As Twitter Deletes Buhari’s Inflammatory Tweet

With the claim that PDP governors are lamenting over Twitter because they cant peddle fake news about the government anymore, the PDP, through a press statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, has come out to defend their governors.

Read the full statement below:

“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it is appalled by the unwarranted attack and name-calling by President Muhammadu Buhari against the governor elected on the platform of the PDP.

“The party describes as unpresidential and pedestrian, a statement by President Buhari, in which he described the governor elected on the platform of our party as peddlers of fake news, just because they pointed to his failures and proffered solutions to the challenges facing our nation.

“For the avoidable of doubts, the PDP insists that our governors are responsible and responsive leaders, who have always shown concerns towards the plight of Nigerians.

“It is on record that they attend to the wishes of Nigerians in their respective states and do not by any whim, recourse to the peddling of fake news and lies like the Buhari Presidency and his All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Nigerians will not forget how President Buhari and his party came to power by means of fake news, lies, falsehood, fake promises, deceit, beguilements, and negative innuendos, a scope they have widened and deepened in the last six years.

“In fact, it is equally on record that never in the history of Nigeria have we had a Presidency that so thrives on lies like that of President Buhari, to the extent that Nigerians have even given one of his ministers the public the appellation of a “liar”.

“Even most recently, President Buhari openly resorted to false claims when he told Nigerians that his administration has pulled 10.5 Nigerians out of poverty in the last two years, only for the World Bank to do a fact check and discovered that, to the contrary, 7.8 million Nigerians have rather been dragged below the poverty line in the last 12 months.

“It would also be recalled that in fishing for lies to justify its unwarranted ban on Twitter, the Buhari-led Federal Government alleged that Twitter makes “billions of naira” in Nigeria, only for fact checks to reveal to the contrary.

“Nigerians have not forgotten how the Buhari administration scammed Nigerians with a non-existent national carrier for which billions of naira was funneled out of the treasury, in one of the biggest lies a government ever told its citizens.

“Since the Buhari Presidency has called itself out on its tradition of lies and falsehood, the PDP will not hesitate to publish the Buhari and APC compendium of lies, as told to Nigerians.

“It is also ludicrous that President Buhari whose Presidency is a known sanctuary of corruption could attempt to point accusing fingers at governors elected on the platform of the PDP just because they pointed to the evident mismanagement of our petroleum and other national resources.

“This is an administration which has not been able to account for over N15 trillion reportedly stolen from NNPC coffers including the N9.6 trillion detailed in the leaked NNPC memo, the reported N1.1 trillion worth of crude stolen with 18 unregistered vessels, the over N2 trillion siphoned through various subsidy scams and other reported frauds in agencies such as FIRS, NPA, NDDC, NEMA, NHIS, among others.

“It is on record that, unlike the PDP administration that exposed and prosecuted any official accused of any misdemeanor bordering on corruption, President Buhari, in a very recent global interview admitted that his government and party are infested by corrupt people and that instead of exposing and prosecuting them, he devised a way of “easing them out”.

“The Buhari Presidency and the APC must know that their unwarranted attacks on our governors cannot sway the public or divert attention from the atrocities of the Buhari administration.”

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Odumodublvck drops 23-track Industry Machine album

Nigerian rapper Odumodublvck has officially dropped his highly anticipated 23-track album, Industry Machine, featuring powerhouse collaborations with Wizkid, Davido, Skepta, Seun Kuti, and several others. Produced by Telz and P.Priime, the project seamlessly fuses hip-hop and Afrobeats, underscoring Odumodublvck’s versatility and bold sonic direction. Within hours of its release, the album soared to No. 1 on Apple Music Nigeria’s Top Albums chart, signaling both widespread acclaim and the rapper’s growing dominance in the music industry.

Among the standout tracks, “Big Time” featuring Wizkid debuted at No. 9 on Apple Music’s Top Songs chart, earning praise for its infectious rhythm, Wizkid’s captivating verse, and Odumodublvck’s sharp lyricism. Fans and critics alike have hailed Industry Machine as a defining moment in Nigerian music, celebrating its high production value and collaborative depth. Speaking on the project, Odumodublvck described it as “a celebration of creativity, hustle, and the evolution of the industry,” cementing his reputation as one of the country’s most innovative and influential rap voices.

For a while now, followers of Nigerian music have been keenly aware of the concept of the ‘INDUSTRY MACHINE.’ The swaggering phrase has been an integral part of the digital vocabulary of Nigerian rapper and singer, ODUMODUBLVCK, hinting at the highly anticipated follow-up to his 2023 mixtape, ‘EZIOKWU’, which spawned several hit tracks and established his reputation as one of Nigeria’s finest Hip-Hop acts.

In the two years since ‘EZIOKWU,’ ODUMODUBLVCK has only grown more unstoppable, racing to the top of charts in Nigeria on multiple occasions while showcasing the full breadth of his amorphous Okporoko sound on songs like “100 Million” and “NOT ALL THAT” as well as on collabs like “JUJU,” “Funds,” and “Flako.”

Seven months after the surprise drop of ‘THE MACHINE IS COMING,’ ODUMODUBLVCK has finally released ‘INDUSTRY MACHINE,’ bringing a thrilling conclusion to months of anticipation with a blockbuster 23-track release that runs through the full gamut of the Abuja rapper’s fascination and beliefs across a variety of soundscapes.

Throughout ‘INDUSTRY MACHINE,’ ODUMODUBLCK glides between euphoric party starters (“BANZA BOY, “VINICIUS,” and “GROOVING”) and gritty Rap joints (“UNAWARE,” “IF YOU LIKE GYM,” and “LAYI WASABI.”). At different turns, he reveals a new layer to his work without losing touch with the uniquely Abuja perspective that broke him through.

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Lifestyle

#SpotlightAfricaThrowBackSeries Ado-Ekiti Indigenes Celebrate the Life and Times of Late Chief Ogunremi

Ado-Ekiti witnessed an outpouring of tributes as family, friends, and dignitaries gathered to honour the life of High Chief Oluwasesan Ogunremi, the Barafon of Ado-Ekiti and a respected leader of the traditional warlord chiefs in the kingdom.

The funeral began with a Christian wake and service of songs at the open grounds of St. Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, Ado-Ekiti, before proceeding to the deceased’s compound in the Idolofin axis of the town for the main service. The ceremony, attended by top figures from within and outside Ekiti, featured prayers, thanksgiving, and eulogies in recognition of the late chief’s contributions to his community.

Following the service, Chief Ogunremi’s remains were interred at his residence, accompanied by hymns and tributes from relatives and well-wishers.

A reception later took place at the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion, where guests—including family members who travelled from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Germany—were entertained with a lavish banquet. The event featured a performance by renowned gospel and highlife singer Evangelist Yinka Ayefele, while veteran emcee Olushola Oladele, popularly known as Pa Aristoe, anchored the proceedings.

The gathering attracted prominent personalities such as Mr. Babatope Adebiyi (King Jafil), Mr. Goke Olatunji, Regent Omotunde Adelabu, Hon. Abiodun Fawekun of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, members of the Ewi-in-Council, lawmakers, politicians, business leaders, and artisans.

Born on February 7, 1929, to Mr. Williams Akomolafe Ogunremi and Princess Abigail Ogunremi in Ado-Ekiti, Chief Ogunremi began his education at St. George’s Primary School, Agere, before moving to Lagos for electrical training. He later founded the well-known Micho Electronics and worked with business figures such as Chief Lawrence Omole and Chief Ajanaku in Ilesha.

He married his first wife in Ilesha, where the ceremony was held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. In 1970, he returned to Ado-Ekiti and established Micho Motors, expanding his business interests into the automobile sector. His ventures took him across Europe, including Austria, Brussels, Italy, and Germany.

In July 1988, he was installed as the Barafon of Ado-Ekiti by Oba George Adelabu, the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti. He became widely known for hosting the Udiroko Festival at his Okeilaja palace, a major cultural event that drew indigenes and chiefs before culminating in celebrations at the Ewi’s Palace. He later served as commissioner of the Ekiti State Electricity Board during the administration of Governor Adeniyi Adebayo.

Until his passing, Chief Ogunremi remained an active member of St. Patrick Catholic Cathedral, Ado-Ekiti. He is survived by his wives, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

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Fresh reaction emerges over Saraki’s peace move amid PDP crisis

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Renaissance group has praised the reconciliation efforts of the committee led by former Senate President Bukola Saraki, describing the intervention as pivotal in preventing the party from collapsing under internal disputes.

In a statement issued on Thursday, August 28, Bashir Sulaiman, convener of the group, commended both Saraki’s Reconciliation and Strategy Committee and the PDP Governors’ Forum under Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State for “restoring peace where many expected chaos.”

“I am very impressed by what Dr. Bukola Saraki, the Reconciliation and Strategy Committee, and PDP Governors Forum, led by Governor Bala Mohammed, have done to get the PDP back on track,” Sulaiman said.

“They were tasked with resolving disputes and preparing the party for its convention, and they have delivered with precision and dedication.

The PDP has been in turmoil since the 2023 general election, with key figures such as Sunday Udeh-Okoye, Setonji Koshoedo, and Sam Anyanwu embroiled in a tussle for the National Secretary position.

According to Sulaiman, Saraki’s intervention was instrumental in ensuring that the long-standing dispute was finally resolved in favour of Anyanwu.

“Many had predicted that the PDP would collapse under the weight of its internal disagreements. Yet, thanks to Dr. Saraki, his Reconciliation Committee, and the backing of the PDP Governors’ Forum, the party has defied those expectations,” Sulaiman noted.

“The 100th, 101st, and 102nd NEC meetings were conducted without rancour, and lingering disputes have been amicably settled.”

With preparations for the party’s convention and zoning framework now underway, the PDP Renaissance group believes the opposition is on course to reclaim power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“The party is now better positioned to take power back from a government that does not care about the needs of the people,” Sulaiman said.

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