Nollywood: I achieved fame earlier than I thought –Blossom Chukwujekwu

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February 1, 2021

AMVCA winner, Blossom Chuwujekwu, is one of the talented actors that is making the movie industry tick at the moment. His fluid acting skills have also endeared him to many.

In an interview with Sunday Scoop, the actor said people often told him that his rise to stardom was swift. He said, “I think I achieved fame earlier than I thought. Everybody tells me that my rise was really fast. It has been amazing. There have been challenges but we have surmounted them and I don’t have any regrets. There are things one might think one could have done better, but there is really no time to regret. The most important thing is to move on and correct any mistake one thinks one has made. My journey, so far, has been really amazing and rewarding. I would credit it all to the grace of God. However, working hard and having the right people around one has been strategic as well. Also, one cannot discount the place of humility. Humility opens doors. One has to stay humble, irrespective of what one thinks one has achieved. I like to learn from people I work with, whether the person is experienced or inexperienced.”

Asked if he had ever rejected a movie script, the ‘Oloture’ actor said, “I had been rejecting movie scripts right from when I started my career. For me, the message and execution is important. That is not to say I have not done some not-so-good ones but I reject scripts a lot. It has to fit my direction and appeal to my spirit. That is apart from the fact that scheduling might also make me reject a script.”

On how he has fared in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic, Chukwujekwu said, “I play by different rules. I do not operate on this climate. I don’t mean to sound insensitive because I understand that a lot of people were really affected by this. I did what I could in my own little way to help. I pray that all this ends really soon.”

Republican Rep. Kinzinger Who Voted To Impeach Trump Pays The Price, Says They claim ‘I’m possessed by the devil’

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Emenike Agu

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February 1, 2021

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Congress State Department — Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., questions witnesses before a House Committee on Foreign Affairs hearing looking into the firing of State Department Inspector General Steven Linick, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020 on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Kevin Dietsch/Pool via AP)

Rep. Adam Kinzinger on Sunday offered a glimpse of what it’s like being one of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach former President Donald Trump: Friends and family turned against him, and he was told he’s “possessed by the devil.”

“Look it’s really difficult. I mean, all of a sudden imagine everybody that supported you, or so it seems that way, your friends, your family, has turned against you. They think you’re selling out,” the Illinois congressman said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

“I’ve gotten a letter, a certified letter, twice from the same people, disowning me and claiming I’m possessed by the devil.”

In the days after the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol, it appeared Republican leaders had decided to take a stand against Trump, with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy saying Trump bore “responsibility” and that he must accept blame for the riot.

But GOP members have begun heading back to the former president. On Thursday, McCarthy met with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, in a meeting that was later described as “very good and cordial.” The readout was released with a photo of the two men smiling.

“I was disappointed over the last few weeks to see what seemed like the Republican Party waking up and then kind of falling asleep again and saying, ‘Well, you know, what matters if we can win in two years and we don’t want to tick off the base,’” Kinzinger said.

“The photo,” he added, “shows that the former president is desperate to continue looking like he’s leading the party.”

Kinzinger has launched a website, Country1st.com, as an effort to refocus the Republican Party’s “conservative principles.”

“I think the Republican Party has lost its moral authority in a lot of areas,” he said. “How many people think that conservative principles are things like build the wall, and you know, charge the Capitol and have an insurrection? That’s what Country1st … is all about — is just going back and saying, ‘Here’s what conservative principles are.'”

The Illinois Republican Party is expected to censure Kinzinger for his vote to impeach the president — what he referred to as “GOP cancel culture.” The same has happened for others like GOP Rep. Tom Rice of South Carolina after his vote to impeach. And last week, Rep. Matt Gaetz, (R-Fla.) went to Wyoming to rally against GOP. Rep. Liz Cheney for her moves against Trump.

“If you look at Matt Gaetz going to Wyoming because, what, a tough woman has an independent view and he doesn’t want to have to go out and explain why he didn’t vote for impeachment, that’s totally GOP cancel culture,” Kinzinger said. “What we’re standing for, and I think what, frankly, a significant part of the base wants, is to say, ‘Look, we can have a diversity of opinion.’”

Outside of the intraparty chaos surrounding the former president’s impeachment, Republicans are also butting heads over the behavior of one of their own.

House Republicans are trying to distance themselves from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) after hours of Facebook videos surfaced in which she expresses racist, Islamophobic and anti-Semitic views.

Kinzinger said the people have the right to choose their representatives, and that he isn’t sure he supports evicting the congresswoman. But he said he would vote her off committees to “take a stand.”

Nadal wants to play at Olympics but acknowledges challenges

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Emenike Agu

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January 31, 2021

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Rafael Nadal wants to play at the Olympics but the star said fitting more quarantining into the ATP Tour calendar looked “difficult”.

After being postponed last year due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Games are scheduled to start in Tokyo on July 23.

Naomi Osaka said she would be willing to quarantine ahead of the Olympics, with players having gone through similar in preparation for the Australian Open.

Nadal, an Olympic gold medallist in singles and doubles in 2008 and 2016 respectively, said he would listen to the experts, but acknowledged quarantining could be tough.

“It’s the same as always. I am nobody to have a clear opinion on that. I am just a tennis player, a human person that doesn’t have enough knowledge about all the situation,” the Spanish star told a news conference on Sunday.

“What we have to do is just follow the instructions of what the people who really have the right knowledge of all this stuff give to us. What’s going to happen in Tokyo for the Olympics, if the Olympics are going to happen or not, or if we have to do quarantine before Olympics for 15 days or not, seems like a sports perspective very difficult because it’s difficult for us, I don’t know, combining our Tour with another 15 days of quarantine to play Olympics. It looks difficult to fix it in our calendar.

“But, as I said, we’re going to do what the people who know about virus and who know about protecting the people in every single country, [we] are going to just follow their instructions.”

Asked if his intention was to go, Nadal said: “I think everybody wants to play in Olympic Games, then let’s see what’s going on.”

Nadal and Spain will begin their ATP Cup campaign against Australia on Tuesday.

Tension, Anxiety in Police over fate of Inspector General of Police, 3 DIGs, 10 AIGs

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Emenike Agu

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January 31, 2021

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There is suspense in the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) ahead of the service exit date of the Inspector-General, Mr. Abubakar Adamu Mohammed.

The suspense is hinged on the fact that it is not clear whether Adamu’s tenure will be extended by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Some power brokers were said to be lobbying for the extension of the IGP’s tenure till November 9 when he will be 60 years old.

By service records, the IGP, who enlisted on February 1, 1986 will attain the mandatory 35 years service scheduled for retirement on Monday.

As at Saturday, the IGP was not sure of his fate and has been commissioning some projects in order not to be caught off guard.

The IGP’s dilemma is shared by three Deputy Inspectors-General of Police and 10 Assistant Inspectors-General of Police who are due for retirement with him on Monday.

The DIGs are Aminchi Samaila Baraya; Ibrahim A. Lamorde and Nkpa N. Inakwu.

The affected Assistant Inspectors-General of Police are Mohammad A. Mustapha; AIG Jonah Jackson; Olushola Babajide David; Yunana Y. Babas; Asuquo A.A. Amba; Nkereuwem Akpan; Olafimihan Adeniran Adeoye; Agunbiade O. Labore; Undie Adie; and Olugbenga Adeyanju.

A top source, who spoke in confidence, said: “We are all in suspense because the President has the prerogative to extend the tenure of the IGP as he did for some of the retired Service Chiefs, the Comptroller-General of Immigration and the immediate past Comptroller-General of Nigerian Correctional Service.

“We are also not sure if the President will extend the tenure of the three affected DIGs and 10 AIGs. We are waiting for an announcement from the presidency.

“Even the IGP is not too confident of what will be the decision of the President. He is busy putting finishing touches to some signature projects while awaiting Buhari’s position.

“There were also rumours of an assurance already given to IGP that he will spend extra one year in office based on his performance.

“What is clear is that while some power brokers have been lobbying for the extension of IGP’s tenure by one year to complete the ongoing police reforms, some AIGs are also pushing hard to replace him.

“Those opposed to the extension of tenure alleged that one year cannot make any significant change in the Nigeria Police Force.”

Another source said: “Some people claimed that a major challenge of the Nigeria Police is the recurring retirement of experienced hands.

“But no one can change it because the law says you are either 60 years old or 35 years on the job. I think we are going through a strange experience of tenure extension. Politics is creeping into police and military service.

“Assessing Nigerian Police, some foreign powers had opposed the nation’s bid for the President of International Police (INTERPOL) in December 2020. So, it depends on which side of the divide you belong.”

A group, Coalition of Youth and Student Organisations, has pleaded with President Buhari to extend the tenure of IGP.

The Convener of the group, Comrade Isah Jabbi said: “While we appreciate the forthright decision of our dear President Muhammadu Buhari, to have appointed one of our best hands, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, as the IGP then, we are proud to say that the President’s decision has been justified to a huge extent, despite the challenges posed by our internal security.

“The morale of the officers and men of our police force, is now always high and this has been made possible by the visionary and dynamic leadership style of Mr. Muhammed Adamu, the Inspector-General of Police, under whose leadership the Nigerian Police has continued to record tremendous successes both against our security challenges and in the general wellbeing of officers and men of the force.

“IGP Adamu’s brutal confrontation of banditry is not only a pacesetter in the history of the Nigeria Police, he is a man with many ‘firsts’.

“The Nigerian Police under his leadership has conducted successful recruitment, training, and deployment of 10,000 police recruits in line with Federal Government’s manpower development plan of the Nigeria Police.

“Enhancement of Operational Capacity of the Force with the procurement of patrol vehicles including 46 Police Smart Surveillance (CCTV Camera-on-the Move) vehicles, tactical operations vehicles fitted with state-of-the-art surveillance equipment; armoured personnel carriers; troop carriers; and 7 anti-riot water cannon trucks.”

Iran Rejects New Talks Or Participants In Global Nuclear Deal

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Zoe Maven

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January 30, 2021

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Iran’s foreign ministry on Saturday rejected any new negotiations or changes to the participants in Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers, after French President Emmanuel Macron said any new talks should include Saudi Arabia.

Iran began breaching the deal’s limits on uranium enrichment activity after Washington withdrew from the pact in 2018 under then-President Donald Trump and reimposed economic sanctions on Tehran.

President Joe Biden’s new administration has said it will rejoin the deal but only after Tehran resumes full compliance with its terms.

Saudi Arabia and its ally the United Arab Emirates have said that Gulf Arab states should be involved this time in any talks, which they say should also address Iran’s ballistic missile programme and its support for proxies around the Middle East.

In his comments on Friday, cited by Al Arabiya television, Macron stressed the need to avoid what he called the mistake of excluding other countries in the region when the 2015 deal was negotiated.

Saudi Arabia, which is locked in several proxy wars in the region with Tehran including in Yemen, supported Trump’s “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran.

New Protests In France Against Security Bill

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Zoe Maven

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January 30, 2021

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Fresh protests were held Saturday against a French security bill which critics say will restrict the filming of police and posting images to social media, notably to document cases of police brutality.

A broad cross-section of protesters turned out in dozens of French cities, including activists from the anti-government “yellow vest” movement and others calling to protect the cultural sector.

Also among the protesters were young people calling for the right to hold rave parties such as one in Brittany that attracted 2,400 at the start of the year.

The demonstrators are protesting draft legislation that would ban filming police activities, which the ruling LREM party of President Emmanuel Macron has said it would rewrite.

But people are also protesting the use of surveillance tools such as drones and pedestrian cameras.

Footage of white police beating up an unarmed black music producer in his Paris studio on November 21 has fuelled anger over the legislation, condemned by many as signalling a swing to the right by Macron.

The number of protesters who turned out Saturday was limited by bad weather and Covid-19 restrictions.

WHO Investigators Visit Second Wuhan Hospital That Treated Covid-19 Cases

By

Zoe Maven

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January 30, 2021

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A team of WHO experts investigating the origins of the coronavirus have toured a propaganda exhibition celebrating China’s recovery from the pandemic in Wuhan.

On Saturday afternoon, the team visited a cavernous exhibition that applauds the emergency response of Wuhan health authorities in the chaotic, early stages of the outbreak.

The group was driven to the Jinyintan Hospital, the first to receive officially diagnosed Covid-19 patients in late 2019, as the horrors of the virus emerged in the central Chinese city.

Details of the trip have been scant so far, with the media kept at arm’s length and information on the itinerary dribbling out via tweets from the World Health authorities Organization experts.

The WHO mission comes with heavy political baggage — China refused the team access until mid-January and there are question marks over what the experts can hope to find a year after the virus first emerged.

Last week, China warned the United States against “political interference” during the trip, after the White House demanded a “robust and clear” investigation.

The WHO insists the probe will stick tightly to the science behind how the virus jumped from animals — believed to be bats — to humans.

The team is also expected to visit the market believed to have seen the first major cluster of infections, as well as the Wuhan Institute of Virology and other labs.

Algeria’s COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign Kicks Off With Sputnik V

By

Zoe Maven

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January 30, 2021

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Algeria has kicked off its COVID-19 vaccination campaign with the first dose of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine given to a 65-year-old retiree at a health unit in Bilda, southwest of the capital, Algiers.

It was in this town that the country’s first coronavirus infection case was confirmed in March and Algerians have been frustrated by repeated broken promises of an imminent vaccine rollout,

There have also been growing concerns about President Abdelmadjid Tebboune who has been in Germany since early January for treatment of coronavirus-related complications.

Algeria received its first shipment of coronavirus vaccines on Friday at Boufarik military airport, west of Algiers.

Authorities did not indicate how many doses arrived, though the government stated it had ordered a first batch of 500,000 doses and is also negotiating the acquisition of the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Yacine Ali Messaoud, a health worker, came out to set an example for his peers and patriots by taking the Vaccine.

Newly confirmed secretary of state vows to promote LGBT agenda

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Henry Williams

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January 29, 2021

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The newly confirmed U.S. secretary of state has vowed to support the LGBT agenda by flying pride flags at United States embassies and resurrecting the “special envoy for the human rights of LGBTI persons.”

Antony Blinken, who was confirmed 78-22 by the United States Senate Tuesday, shared his thoughts about LGBT issues during his Senate confirmation hearing last week, which took place before President Joe Biden took office.

During the Trump administration, U.S. embassies were told not to fly the pride flag, which consists of the rainbow colors and is designed to show support for LGBT rights. Then-Vice President Mike Pence defended the State Department’s declaration that “on the flagpole of our American embassies that one flag should fly and that’s the American flag,” saying “I support that.”

As Markey explained, the special envoy for the human rights of LGBTI persons was “left vacant in the Trump years.” The position was created during the latter part of the Obama administration.

The first special envoy for the human rights of LGBTI persons was Randy Berry, who served in the position from 2015 to 2017 before former President Donald Trump appointed him to the position of United States Ambassador to Nepal.

Stakeholders and pro-life activist say morality in the United States is on a downward spiral warning that church persecution will be on a high as values drop. Recently a church in Florida was bombed by LGBTQ movement for its position of dissent.

Oyo crisis: My family has relocated temporarily to Ilorin, says Seriki Fulani

By

Henry Williams

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January 29, 2021

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Saliu Abdulkadri, Seriki Fulani of Igangan, Oyo state, says he is on a short visit to the north while his family members have settled temporarily in Ilorin, the Kwara capital.

Abdulkadir and his family left Igangan in Ibarapa local government area (LGA) of Oyo state last week, after his house and cars were torched by suspected thugs following an eviction notice issued by Sunday Adeyemo, a youth leader better known as Sunday Igboho.

Igboho had asked the herdsmen to vacate the area after accusing them of kidnapping and killing Yoruba people.

Speaking in Ilorin on Thursday, Abdulkadir said he has a house in Ilorin where his family has now moved to.

The Seriki, who said seven of his people were killed during the attack, added that he is open to moving back to Igangan if given the opportunity.