Day: July 23, 2023

Breakfast with Yebo Gogo, Kole Omotoso By Festus Adedayo

Emporium Reporters

In 2018 when news sieved in that that constellation of emeriti, Prof Bankole Ajibabi Omotoso, had crept into Akure, Ondo State, our association, Ooye Development Initiative, (ODI) bated him like mousetrap does mice. Was Akure big enough to contain that hippopotamus-statured literary giant? I wondered. I, perhaps, was the most excited of the lot. I had read Omotoso’s works with doting wonder and imagined if he wasn’t a gnome or some genie. So, this day in September, as we drove towards the then pot-holes ridden Oda road to honour an…

Tinubu as “Sobia” in need of Oluganbe leaf By Festus Adedayo

Emporium Reporters

Initial applauses from Bretton Woods and some local economists that greeted the economic reforms of the Bola Tinubu presidency were deafening. The reforms were termed bold and courageous. The most surgically painful of them, which drilled deep down into the marrows of Nigerians, was the removal of fuel subsidy. In a country that is almost totally dependent on PMS, the unbearable pains of the people reached ear-shattering decibel. Cars disappeared from the roads. Costs of transportation are tearing the roof, with rife social dislocations. Rates of crime have since been…

Amen Junction By Funke Egbemode ([email protected])

Emporium Reporters

Yes, Amen Junction. The last bus stop. The day of judgement. The evening of life, what Yoruba call ‘ojo ale’. The point of no return. The season of harvest. Whatever you call it, however you see it, every relationship is headed in the direction of the end game, where we all reap what we have sown in our youthful years, when our barns will be waiting for us, full or empty.   Let me quickly confess that the phrase or term is not original to me. I got it from…

MINNA-BIDA ROAD: Niger Govt constitutes compensation committee.

Emporium Reporters

In response to the impending construction of the 82 KM ISDB Assisted Minna-Bida-Road and the need to compensate individuals affected by the right of way, the Niger State Governor, Hon.Mohammed Umar Bago, has taken a decisive step by approving the establishment of a Claim Verification and Payment Committee.   A statement issued by Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Abubakar Usman disclosed that the reconstruction of the Minna – Bida road is being co-financed by the Islamic Development Bank, Abu Dhabi Fund for Development and the State Government.  …

Ghana female minister resigns after stashed cash found in her home

Emporium Reporters

Ghana’s sanitation minister resigned on Saturday over reports staff found and stole stashes of local and foreign money from her home, she said in a letter to the president in which she denied any wrongdoing.   Cecilia Abena Dapaah made headlines on Friday after two former household staff appeared in court accused of stealing cash and personal belongings from the minister and her husband between July and October 2022.   Prosecutors told the court that the accused bought houses and a vehicle with the stolen money and gave some of…

The President’s palliatives By abiodun KOMOLAFE

Emporium Reporters

Not long ago, Adeola Olatunde (not his real name) fell ill and was admitted to hospital. At a point, his condition became so critical that help had to be sought from public-spirited individuals. Eventually, former Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State heard about it and took up the challenge. Nigerians remain grateful to the Iragbiji, Osun State-born politician for this benevolent act. Obviously, Olatunde was fortunate because a Good Samaritan intervened when help was most needed; otherwise, the story would possibly have been worse. But then, his case was not…

Happy Birthday Chief Oku Ukpong

Emporium Reporters

An accomplished Environmentalist, a believer in the noiseless delivery of selfless service to both his immediate community, Oro-Ukpabang and humanity as a whole.   Born into the iconic family of Late Engr. Robin Oku Ukpong and Late Madam Akon Oku Ukpong of Udung Uwe Village in Urue Offong Oruko, Akwa Ibom State. His father was the first engineer ever to come from Oro Nation and was one of the local civil engineers who constructed the Niger Bridge in Onitsha, the third largest ethnic tribe in Akwa Ibom State. For his…

The Shylocks Within, by Hassan Gimba

Emporium Reporters

Last week, the federal government, through the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), banned two loan app banks, permanently removing them from Google Play Store and initiating the process of deleting their respective apps. The culprits, Sycamore Integrated Solutions Limited and Orange Loan and Purple Credit Limited, along with their apps, Getloan and Camelloan, were permanently delisted due to their illicit practices and for their harassment of Nigerians. They were also accused of duplicity and illegal activities when they were discovered to be using APKs to attract borrowers, which…