Today
Spotify launches Clubhouse competitor Greenroom
Spotify’s live audio app, Greenroom, formally launches today on iOS and Android, marking the company’s first real attempt at creating a social media platform. The social audio app, which is similar to Clubhouse, allows users to host live conversations about sports, music, and culture. Today’s launch doesn’t come with a marquee creator announcement or specific event planned, but instead, the company is taking the opportunity to encourage people to sign up and figure out how they’ll want to use the app. Some of its core functionality, a person close to the situation says, will eventually make its way to the actual Spotify app, so the team will monitor what happens in Greenroom closely. The app is built on Locker Room, which Betty Labs created and Spotify acquired in March. That app focused s...
Omashola: How I fought gun-wielding men who tried to rob me
Former BBNaija housemate, Omashola, has narrated how he fought two suspected gunmen who tried to rob him some weeks back. In an Instagram post on Monday, the reality TV star stated that the incident happened when he was about driving home after attending an event. Omashola, who is also a model, stated that in the process, the two men had stopped him abruptly and tried to take away his valuables. According to him, sensing that he was seemingly helpless, he mustered the courage to engage his attackers in a fight. Although, the reality TV star did not disclose how it ended, he stated that his phone got damaged during the face-off. He further disclosed that he regretted his decision at the time because one of the two men was holding a gun. He wrote: “Weeks back I was about to enter my car and ...
Governor Tambuwal: PDP determined to ‘rescue’ Nigeria
State governors under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have pledged to provide the needed platform for the party to return to power at the national level in 2023. The Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum and Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, made the pledge on Sunday at a state banquet, organised by the Akwa lbom State Government, ahead of the forum meeting in Uyo on Monday. Mr Tambuwal said the PDP governors would not disappoint Nigerians who are looking up to them to actualise their yearnings for the party to return to power in 2023. “These star-studded leaders of PDP governors in their respective states and political generals are determined by the grace of God through your prayers, support and cooperation, to rescue Nigeria. “It is a task that we must accomplish...
Femi Falana charges Nigerian government to dialogue with agitators, secessionists
Nigeria’s foremost human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN) yesterday challenged the federal government to dialogue with various groups agitating for secession from the federation. Falana justified this demand on the premise that it “is on the roundtable the grievances can be sorted out” in the interest of peace, security and development He made this at the 25th anti-corruption situation room, which the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) organised in Lagos yesterday. Speaking on the subject, “Assessing The Fight Against Corruption,” said it was the promise to fight corruption that made Nigerians vote for President Muhammadu Buhari. The human right lawyer said it was the corruption in the system that culminated in agitating for secession, noting that it “is better for the fe...
June 12: MKO Abiola represented hope, liberty – Gani Adams
File Photo Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba land, Chief Gani Adams, has said that the late Chief MKO Abiola represented hope, liberty and freedom during his lifetime. Adams stated this at the commemoration of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election by Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) on Saturday in Lagos. According to him, Nigeria’s democracy is still not in tune with the ideals, which Abiola, winner of the election, lived and died for. He said that the democratic ideals of the late business mogul enabled him to win the presidential election, even in the North where his main opponent, Alhaji Bashir Tofa, came from. Adams, who decried what he called disunity, rivalry and senseless killings, said that these challenges had had adverse effect on the nation’s democracy. He said: “This present d...
Edo deputy governor: Godfatherism bane of Nigeria’s democracy
The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shaibu, has blamed the advent of godfatherism in Nigeria’s politics as the bane of democracy in the country. This is even as he called for the removal of a bicameral legislature to reduce cost of running governance. Shaibu stated this on Saturday at the Government House in Benin, the state capital, while addressing hundreds of youths who were protesting alleged misrule in the country. The protesters under the aegis of Coalition of Civil Society Organizations, Students’ Unions and other concerned Nigerians, brandished placards of various inscriptions, as they joined others across the country to seek for good governance and sustainable democracy. The protest which commenced at 10 am, lasted for more than two hours and disrupted free flow of hu...
June 12: Lagos markets shut, traders express fears
Despite Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu’s appeal to Lagos residents to disregard any sit-at-home order by activists, marketers in Ogba axis of Lagos, shut their stores Saturday over fear of violent clashes between protesters and security agencies. A trader who pleaded anonymity told newsmen he had been at his shop since 6:00am but couldn’t open his shop because he was scared protesters may attack him. “Saturday market is the best because you have more people who couldn’t visit the market during the week come to the market to shop for the week. But I can’t open because I don’t know what form the protest will take. All the markets in my shop were secured by loan” he said. As observed, the Area G Police Station was peaceful and calm with no baracade, but four patrol vans we...
France coach fires warning ahead of Euro 2020 opener
Didier Deschamps has attempted to play down the hype surrounding his France side going to the European Championship, warning those who think they “have already won” that plenty of hard work lies ahead. The 2018 World Cup winners are favourites to land this summer’s tournament, with Deschamps possessing a hugely talented squad with depth in all areas. That has understandably caused excitement among the supporters across the country, something Deschamps is keen to temper before the big kick-off. Asked whether not winning the tournament would be considered a failure given the talent at his disposal, Deschamps told Mundo Deportivo: “Right away there is talk of failure. We are world champions. I am aware, and the players are too, of our strengths. “We have quality, talent, high-level players, b...
Minister: Why Twitter, other platforms must register to operate in Nigeria
The Federal Government says its directive that Over the Top (OTT) and social media platforms operating in the country must register and obtain license to operate is in conformity with global trend. The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said this on Friday when he featured on Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) programme “Good Morning Nigeria’’ monitored by newsmen. NAN reports that the Federal Government recently suspended operations of Twitter and directed that all OTT and social media platforms operating in the country must register with Corporate Affairs Commission. The Federal Government said they must also apply for licensing with the National Broadcasting Commission ( NBC). NAN reports that OTT media service is a media service offered directly to viewers via t...
Lagos governor asks security agencies to crush criminals
Lagos State Government has tightened the noose on criminal elements, as Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu fortifies the armoury of the State Police Command with new hardware and gadgets. One hundred and fifty units of double cabin vehicles, 30 patrol saloon cars, four high-capacity troop carriers and two anti-riot water cannon vehicles are part of the crime-fighting equipment donated to the police, yesterday, by the Lagos Government to strengthen security responses across the state. President Muhammadu Buhari took inventory and inaugurated the security equipment before Governor Sanwo-Olu handed over the gears to the Inspector-General of Police (IG), Mr. Alkali Usman, for the use of Lagos Police Command. The equipment and gadgets were procured through the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) –...
Police dispel report of armed Fulani invasion of Ekiti market
The Ekiti State Police Command has dispelled reports that armed Fulani bandits had stormed Ado Ekiti, the state capital. The state’s Commissioner of Police, Tunde Mobayo, said it is important to allay the fear that engulfed residents of the town when the news made the rounds on Wednesday. A report had trended online on Wednesday that a truck loaded with Hausa-Fulani men, all armed with AK-47 rifles and other weapons, had arrived at the Shasha market, along Ikere Road in Ado Ekiti. Mobayo, in a statement signed by the Command’s spokesman, ASP Sunday Abutu, and made available to reporters on Wednesday night, explained that the report was concocted by purveyors of fake news, and should be disregarded by residents of the town. The statement, entitled “No Armed Hausa/Fulani Invaded Shasha Marke...
Anambra election: Political parties start primaries today
In line with the guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the conduct of next year’s Anambra state Governorship Election, primary elections by political parties to democratically nominate their candidates for the election will commence today (Thursday). Also the collection of nomination forms from INEC Headquarters has started even as the Commission had on Wednesday, June 9, 2021, implemented the first activity on the Timetable by publishing the official Notice for the election in its offices in Anambra state. This cheering news was disclosed in a terse statement by Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmoud Yakubu. The statement read in parts: “It will be recalled that on 19th January 2021, the Commission published the Timetabl...
