Entertainment
Celebrities Unite for Peace Ahead 2023 Elections
A non-partisan body of eminent individuals in Nigeria’s entertainment industry has charged Nigerians to come together in order to achieve a hitch-free and peaceful elections come 2023.
The entertainers who under the aegis of Celebrities United for Peace (CUP) include actors, artistes, poets, among others, National Association of Online Security News Publishers, NAOSNP can report.
The member of CUP frowned at the degree of hate speech, fake news, and sentimentalism which is rife on social media. They also encouraged Nigerians to embrace patriotism and seek collective interest above other individual or sectional interest.
On Tuesday, CUP organized a media briefing with the theme ‘2023 General Election and National Peace/Order’ in order to express their plans and line of action toward the elections.
Present at the briefing were the Special Adviser to the President on Intergovernmental Affairs, Mr. Steve Eboh; Dr. Mrs. Olusola Darasimi; the President of Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Emeka Rollas; representatives from the Department of State Service (DSS); veterans and upcoming acts in the entertainment industry; among others.
Addressing pressmen at the briefing, the convener of Celebrities United for Peace (CUP), Mr. Andy Chukwu observed: ‘Owing to the commencement of electioneering campaign in line with INEC directives, electorates are bound to pitch tents with different political parties and candidates. This usually gives rise to verbal warfare as supporters are always ready to go the extra mile to market and promote their candidate. Sometimes this results to hate speech, dissemination of fake news to discredit their opponents with resultant violence’.
‘Having carefully considered the effect of these vices we have offered ourselves as mediators between the citizens, the political parties, and the candidates to educate them on the need to jettison hate speech, fake news, and shun violence before, during, and after the elections. As we have experienced even before the advent of the 2023 general election calendar, the social media space, regional platforms, and religious communities have been unnecessarily charged by fake news, social instigation, tribal, and religious sentiments’
‘Our ultimate goal is to reignite unconditional patriotism amongst the citizenry and make the protection of our unity and peaceful corporate existence an endearing necessity of collective interest. To this end a peaceful 2023 election becomes sacrosanct. Our focus is to disabuse the minds of all stakeholders and the general public from extremism, hate speech, fake news dissemination and violent engagement throughout the electoral process. The expected impact of this will activate a national conscience-oriented mentality and strategic hacking of these vices from the roots will dismantle agitated structures of conflict and guarantee a rancor-free election’, NAOSNP gathered.
Assuring Nigerians about the nonpartisan nature of the group, Andy Chukwu shared: ‘We are quite aware that most creative minds have pitched tents with different political camps and interests. We, Celebrities United for Peace, are devoid of any partisan interest or tribal alignment, as we are committed to moderating and nurturing the conscience of all for the emancipation of a united and peaceful Nigeria beyond the 2023 election.’
The convener used the opportunity to praise the efforts of all security agencies in Nigeria to avert violence and maintain orderliness. ‘But for the gallantry of our law enforcement agents especially the DSS whose capacity in intelligence gathering and management have ensured national stability as most of these vices are obvious threats to our national unity and security at large’, Chukwu concluded.
In the same vein, the President of Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Emeka Rollas briefly addressed pressmen. ‘We are not interested in a party, we are interested in Nigeria, in good governance and peaceful elections. That is why we are having this. We want a greater Nigeria.’
‘If you see an actor campaigning for a candidate, they are free to campaign but Actors Guild of Nigeria is not the one campaigning, the Producers Guild is not the one campaigning, Nollywood in general is not campaigning. We are interested in Nigeria. We also want to tell the principals of each political party, please can you convince us with your ideas about good governance’, Rollas noted.
Leading provider of digital and telecommunications services, Globacom, has congratulated its brand ambassador, Tobi Amusan, on her victory in the women’s 100-meter hurdles at the Diamond League final in Oregon, United States.
Amusan won the race on Sunday night in 12.33 seconds to win the Diamond League for the third time in a row. She captured her maiden Diamond League trophy in 2021 and had successfully defended it in 2022 in Zurich, Switzerland.
Globacom, which applauded Amusan for the remarkable accomplishment, said in a statement on Tuesday that her triumph, “despite her recent setback, has demonstrated that she is a bright professional who still has a lot to give the world of athletics”.
“With the third Diamond League trophy in her kitty, Amusan remains a true African ambassador at the world stage and an inspiration to millions of youths who look up to her as a role model”, Globacom said.
The company praised Amusan for embodying the resilience and work spirit of the Nigerian people and challenged her to keep progressing, win more laurels, and create a lasting impression on the world of athletics stage.
Amusan has now won three 100m hurdles championships, making her the second woman in Diamond League history to do so after Dawn Nelson-Harper.
By Eric Elezuo
A man, who identified himself as Obama, in a viral video, posted by Ogunsuyi Kehinde David @kennywhite234, has threatened to kill Afro hip hop singer, Naira Marley, if he comes to Ikorodu.
The man, who appeared pissed off at the burial site of Mohbad, and said to be cult leader, was seen issuing death threat at Marley in company of other equally aggrieved young people. They accused the musician of being responsible for Mohbad’s tragic death on Tuesday.
It is imperative to note that ever since the death of the 27 year-old singer was announced, the internet has been awash with accusations of culpability against Naira Marley. They said he knows one or two things concerning the death.
Recall that Mohbad and Naira Marley were once part of the same music family. Mohbad, a young rapper, was signed to Naira Marley’s record label called Marlian Records. However, things between them turned sour, and they went their separate ways in 2022. There were hints of trouble before their split.
Mohbad had posted messages on social media, suggesting that he felt threatened and was having problems with Naira Marley and his team. He even shared photos from a hospital bed, claiming he was assaulted. This made people wonder if there were issues between them.
While many suspected that their disagreements might have played a part in Mohbad’s tragic death, there is no concrete evidence to confirm this.
Furthermore, the exact details of what happened between Mohbad and Naira Marley are still sketchy but nonetheless the music community is sad and it appears their anger is directed at the “Soapy” crooner.
Apart from the Ikorodo threat, Naira Marley has received condemnations and more concerning the death of Mohbad.
Mohbad, who died on Tuesday, was hurriedly buried on Wednesday, less than 24 hours after his death.
More will surely be heard concerning the death of Mohbad in the days ahead.
Watch video here:
https://twitter.com/kennywhite234/status/1702056550750101794/mediaviewer?mode=profile
Nigerian music star Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema, emerged winner of the first Best Afrobeats award at the MTV Video Music Award in Newark, New Jersey, United States of America Tuesday.
Rema won for his collaborative effort with International star Selena Gomez on the record ‘Calm Down.’
Organisers of the show unveiled the best afrobeats category in the 2023 edition.
Rema’s ‘Calm Down,’ was nominated alongside Burna Boy’s ‘It’s Plenty,’ Davido feat Musa Key’s ‘Unavailable,’ Ayra Starr’s ‘Rush,’ Libianca’s ‘People,’ Wizkid feat Ayrra Starr’s ‘2 Sugar,’ and Fireboy DML’s ‘Bandana.
