Young Chinese girl hugs President Buhari affectionately

During his visit to Yang Xiong, the Mayor of Shanghai, China on Thursday, April 14, President Muhammadu Buhari was welcomed by some Chinese. Apart from the Mayor himself, there were other members of the city that came out to welcome the Nigerian leader and usher him into the city; one of them was a young girl who hugged him affectionately.

President Buhari who is on a four-day state visit to China to strengthen diplomatic ties with the Asian giants, also visited some Nigerians living in the country, as he issued a serious threat to pipeline vandals, warning them that he would crush them like he did Boko Haram terrorists. He is expected back to the country this weekend as Nigerians will be hoping that he finally puts pen to paper on the controversial 2016 budget.

Analysing the Wizkid and Linda Ikeji drama in eight points

The entertainment industry in Nigeria has seen a number of beefs and social media dramas over time. However, not in a long while have we seen such a long-lasting face-off as the one between Linda Ikeji and an A-list singer. We run through the way things have played out between her and the Nigerian pop super star Ayo ‘Wizkid’ Balogun in eight points. Social media drama and the entertainment industry The Nigerian entertainment industry has kind of adjusted to the long-standing social media feud between blogger Linda Ikeji and Afro pop star Wizkid. The situation has generated deep controversy to say the least, but hey, what is the entertainment industry without issues of this sort? It clearly comes with the terrain. Social media possesses strong potential in that it can make or break an individual or a corporate body. Therefore any keen observer will tell you that a brand can either leverage social media for its greater good or be buried in the dirt. Observers will also tell you that, given the bottomless nature of the internet, it is best never to ‘spread your dirty fabric’ on social media because whatever gets out there stays there for life.

Linda Ikeji and Wizkid – who stands to lose more? Over time, Linda and Wizkid have put up such ‘wonderful shows’ on the internet that there has been speculation as to the exact nature of their relationship. Some circles even say it is not just an artiste-blogger rift anymore. Their beefs, like the recent episodes between the Okoye brothers, are steeped in intrigue, garnished with real life happenings and though entertaining drive their images into a mud of shame and backlashes. Who stands to lose more in situations like this and who stands to win the long term battle? The answers are slightly confusing but let’s try to analyse further. Looking at both of them, one party has a lot more at stake. One person has more interest in a preserving a public image, and so he who has more to protect is he who is disadvantaged in a situation involving a public face off. This is the first point we must establish here today. The artiste, the celebrity, the entertainer, the brand ambassador, the one who relies on the positive feedback from the media, the patronage of the audience and the corporate clients is he who has more to lose in any public show of shame. And if you study the entertainment industry keenly, you will see that corporate funding is gigantic and a core of every successful entertainer’s business, so no one messes with brands and public image and perceptions. This is obvious given the huge sums spent on crisis management and branding the image of public figures and celebrities around the world. So anyhow you look at it today, the man who has more to gain from earnings which tie directly or indirectly into corporate funds is the loser in any form of commotion. So technically they are both public figures in the Nigerian entertainment industry and have one thing or another to do with corporate clients, even though Wizkid is the bigger figure. Given this, we look at the situation and how it’s likely going to end.

Analysing their drama in eight points Against the backdrop of the aforementioned, we summarize our discourse here in eight points viz; 1. The pen will always be mightier than the sword – So naturally he who has the platform with which to speak or write will always be the winner any day. This clearly edges Wizkid out. 2. Linda Ikeji has a platform that isn’t time specific – Music and the stardom in its wake is never forever; there will always be a shelf life. Even the biggest and brightest stars have come and gone but we can’t exactly say the same for media platforms. 3. Both figures will suffer image crisis in the long run as more dirt gets unearthed but the one who needs a ‘cleaner’ public image will suffer the more. And this is not just the celebrity here; Linda has a lot to lose as well as she is a woman and this is Africa. 4. With the way things are currently set up between both parties it appears there might be no end in sight to whatever ‘issues’ they both have. 5. Wizkid and Linda Ikeji have drama in their DNAs and it’s only a matter of time before they make a Nollywood appearance. 6. The people are looking forward to their social media feuds but will soon be bored and want something fresh, so enough with the dramas. Linda Ikeji and Wizkid need to get with the system, they both need to wake up and smell the coffee. The blogger should get back to blogging while the entertainer gets back to the thing he is best known for. 7. Wizkid is being a kid and Linda Ikeji talks too much – they both need to zip it up.

8. We have also learnt that the inner workings of social media dramas among celebs and public figures are good for the business. In other words, a little beef and uproar here and there is just fine and helps ‘spice up the stew’ nicely. In this light, think of beef as bacteria that even though harmful also helps. Linda Ikeji is a ‘witch’ as far as blogging is concerned in Nigeria and West Africa. Her influence is pervasive, her magic exists on several planes and her acclaim is untouchable. Wizkid is a super star in every sense of the word. You think of him today and the closest thing that comes to mind is that lad who is poised to bring greatness to his people in many more ways previously unimagined. It is just sad that this has been the situation between him and Linda when he should be involved in more pressing matters like trying to make more music with strong content and bettering his Ojuelegba record among other things.

Analysing the Wizkid and Linda Ikeji drama in eight points

The entertainment industry in Nigeria has seen a number of beefs and social media dramas over time. However, not in a long while have we seen such a long-lasting face-off as the one between Linda Ikeji and an A-list singer. We run through the way things have played out between her and the Nigerian pop super star Ayo ‘Wizkid’ Balogun in eight points. Social media drama and the entertainment industry The Nigerian entertainment industry has kind of adjusted to the long-standing social media feud between blogger Linda Ikeji and Afro pop star Wizkid. The situation has generated deep controversy to say the least, but hey, what is the entertainment industry without issues of this sort? It clearly comes with the terrain. Social media possesses strong potential in that it can make or break an individual or a corporate body. Therefore any keen observer will tell you that a brand can either leverage social media for its greater good or be buried in the dirt. Observers will also tell you that, given the bottomless nature of the internet, it is best never to ‘spread your dirty fabric’ on social media because whatever gets out there stays there for life.

Even 'Olopa' hitch rides too

The hardship being faced by Nigerians as the fuel scarcity and economic downturn keeps biting is affecting every strata of the society, even members of the forces. Before now, woe betide any driver or conductor who would dare ask a uniformed man to pay for his bus ride. It did not matter the make or colour of the uniform. The mere mention of the word 'staff' was enough to do the magic. But not anymore as transport operators are no longer smiling. They now make sure you pay for entering their buses, or you could as well hitch a ride on the tail board of the bus.

Boko Haram 800 terrorists surrender to Nigerian Army

Colonel Sani Usman, also disclosed that the Nigerian Army has rescued 11, 595 civilians from Boko Haram captivity in the past six weeks.

The Nigerian Army has revealed that 800 Boko Haram fighters have surrendered to troops wging war in the North-East, in the last 21 days. Confirming the reports, the acting director, Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Rabe Abubakar said “I can confirm that about 800 of the Boko Haram members have surrendered to the military.” According to reports, the Federal Government has also established a camp for repentant terrorists to rehabilitate them. Also, the Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Usman, also disclosed that the Nigerian Army has rescued 11, 595 civilians from Boko Haram captivity in the past six weeks. Meanwhile, President Buhari revealed that Boko Haram is being funded by the International terror group, ISIS also known as Islamic state or ISIL. Boko Haram also released a new video in which it denies abandoning the insurgency.

Nicki Minaj "I am not engaged to Meek Mill"

In a new interview with Ellen DeGeneres, the 'Anaconda' rapper says she has decided not to talk whether or not she is in a relationship because "when people hear that they go to a mean place."

Has Nicki Minaj and Meek Mill broken up? This is so not true but the rapper claims 'the boy that likes her' is yet to give her an engagement ring and she's yet to publically call him her "boyfriend". Yikes!

In a new interview with Ellen DeGeneres, the 'Anaconda' rapper says she has decided not to talk whether or not she is in a relationship because "when people hear that they go to a mean place." The rapper also claims that she used to say she was single even while having a 12-year-realtionship with ex-boyfriend, Safaree Samuels. "So I feel like just going back to that same place and say I am single," she told Ellen.

When asked why she was wearing her alleged engagement ring, Nicki explained that, "I have two rings from my boy… from this boy that likes me. That's not my engagement ring though but he said if he gave me a third ring, that would be my engagement ring." When asked if she wanted the third ring or is ready to get engaged, the controversial rapper replied, "I don't know. We are still figuring each other out and in fact, I don’t really want to say I am in a relationship anymore."

After trashing rumors about her "lonely and giftless Valentine's Day", she said, "No matter how great your life is, you can't even impress people. You just have to do you and make yourself happy and forget about getting people's approval. It's better to just keep those things scared . So now, I don’t really care to say I am in a relationship or engaged or whatever… I just sat there's a guy who really likes me." She continued: "Honestly, he[Meek Mill] and I are just two souls passing through the universe and we don't know what's gonna happen. I have just learned over the years to just let things be and we would see what happens…"

French parliament bans paying for sex

The French members of the parliament have passed a law that now makes it illegal to pay for sex. The French members of the parliament have passed a law that now makes it illegal to pay for sex. According to BBC, the bill which, took two years to pass has imposed a fine of up to €3, on anyone caught buying sexual acts. During the final debate, about 60 sex workers demonstrated outside the parliament in Paris. Placards read, “Don’t liberate me, I’ll take care of myself.” Though those in support of the law says it is to minimalize trafficking, the members of the Strass sex workers Union say it will affect the livelihood of prostitutes. The law also stated that foreign prostitutes will be given a temporary residence permit in France if they agree to find jobs outside of prostitution. Speaking to the Associated Press Agency, Maud Oliver, Socialist MP stated that because 85% of prostitutes in France were as a result of human trafficking the law is willing to help prostitutes who are willing to change. “The most important aspect of this law is to accompany prostitutes, give them identity papers because we know that 85% of prostitutes here are victims of trafficking,” Oliver said.