(Published in The PUNCH, on Friday, January 5, 2024) At 14, Ogunwande left his father’s house for the clinic of a renowned olóòlà, the penis stylist in Akeetan, his Oyo hometown, and declared his mission to have the foreskin of his manhood surgically removed. “Mo fe da’ko,” he told the baba of his intention to be circumcised. The baba shot him a knowing look, fetched his surgical tools and intoned some words to himself. As directed, a bare Ogunwande lay spread-eagled, wrapping his arms around a giant gourd that passes for a surgical table while the olóòlà set to work.…
Author: Khadijah Olowode
Veteran Yoruba actor, Chief Adedeji Aderemi, a.k.a. Baba Olofa Ina is dead. The 73-year old actor was said to have died on Thursday, 4 January, 2024 in his hometown of Ede. Chief Adedeji Aderemi, also known as Baba Olowe was until his death, the Sobaloju of Edeland. He is a renowned name in the contemporary Yoruba theatre. He was born into the family of Late Chief AbdulSalam Aderemi and Late Madam Aisha Aderemi of Jagun- Olukosi compound, Ede in Osun State on 15th May, 1950 during the reign of Late Oba John Adetoyese Laoye, then Timi of Ede Land. He…
Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun has won the 2023 Governor of the Year Award by the Sun Newspapers and 2023 Silverbird Man of the Year Award The Awards were communicated in separate letters to the governor by the two media establishments. The Sun, in a letter signed by its Managing Director/Editor-In-Chief, Onuoha Ukeh, dated November 20, said the award was in recognition of Governor Abiodun’s strides in Ogun State, turning the state into an industrial giant, while also improving its revenue base. The letter said: “The management and staff of The Sun Publishing Limited, publishers of Daily Sun, Saturday…
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of new Executive Directors in two agencies under the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy: The two agencies are: Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). Those appointed according to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, are: Ms. Vivian C. Richard Edet, Executive Director, Finance & Administration, NPA; Engr. Olalekan Badmus, Executive Director, Marine & Operations, NPA; Engr. Ibrahim Abba Umar, Executive Director, Engineering & Technical Services, NPA; Mr. Jibril Abba, Executive Director, Maritime Labour & Cabotage…
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the extension of the yuletide free train service till Sunday, 7 January, 2024 to allow more Nigerians who are yet to return to their stations enjoy the benefit. The extension was announced on Thursday, 4 January, 2024, via a press statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale. The Federal Government announced a free train service on all serviced routes and 50% rebate on road transportation from Thursday, 21 December, 2023 to Thursday, 4 January, 2024 on specific routes to reduce the burden of high cost of…
The Kogi State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised the alarm that it has uncovered an ungodly plan between the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Hale Gabriel Longpet and the candidate of the SDP in the November Governorship Election, Murtala Yakub Ajaka, to tamper with electoral materials in order to compromise the outcome of an inspection. In a statement issued by the Spokesperson/ Director of Media and Publicity of the Kogi APC Campaign, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, the party said it is exposing an unholy alliance uncovered through the leaked text messages from the REC to some INEC…
A staff of Dangote Group has spoken on what officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) were asking for when they stormed the Lagos office of the Group on Thursday, 4 January, 2024, thegazellenews.com can confirmed. According to the staff, who preferred not to be named, stated that the officials of the Anti-graft were asking for documents on the company’s forex deals and transactions with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) during the era of Godwin Emefiele as Governor of the Apex Bank. “They (the EFCC officials) asked for the documents on forex transactions with the CBN,” the staff confirmed.…
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) has assured the public that there is no imminent increase in the cost of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol. This assurance was contained in a press statement by the company signed by its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye on Wednesday, 3 January, 2024. “NNPC Ltd. urges Nigerians to disregard unfounded rumours and assures them that there are no plans for an upward review of the PMS price. Motorists nationwide are advised against engaging in panic buying, as there is presently ample availability of PMS across the country,” the statement said. ReplyForwardAdd…
Coach Sebastine Broderick-Imasuen who led the Golden Eaglets to win the inaugural U16 World Cup (now U17) in China in 1985 is dead. Brodericks died on Wednesday morning, 3 January, 2023. The late coach had been bed-ridden for months now. He was reportedly suffering from stroke and diabetes. The former footballer also led the Golden Eaglets to the second edition of the cadet World Cup in Canada in 1987 where they finished in second position after losing to the defunct Soviet Union in the final via penalty kicks after the match ended 1-1 after full and extra time. He was…
A man has been arrested for attempting to hit officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency LASBCA) with a charm, reports thegazellenews.com This medium learnt that the incident took place on Tuesday, 2 January, 2024, while the agency officials were on routine monitoring exercise at Musical Village, Awolowo Road, Ikorodu. Thegazellenews.com learnt that it took the intervention of the security personnel attached to the monitoring team before the man could be arrested and later handed over to the police for further investigation. Reacting to the incident, the General Manager of LASBCA, Arch. Gbolahan Owodunni Oki condemned the increasing attack of…