Nurudeen Shotayo

<h2>Nigerian Afrobeats gem Yemi Alade has shut down a fan on social media for trying to compare her and another music queen, Tiwa Savage.</h2>

Yemi Alade and Tiwa Savage are two of the biggest female African music superstars to come out of Nigeria. However, it would be quite an arduous call to conclude that the duo are on friendly terms, at least from the perspective of their respective fanbase.

It’s on this premise, however flawed it might appear, that their teeming fans are floating the idea of a rivalry between the two songstresses.

However, Alade may have done enough to dismiss the notion of any bitter rivalry between her and Savage when she cautioned an over-excited fan on X (formerly Twitter) from trash-talking her Nigerian contemporary.

It all started when the self-styled Mama Africa, who is billed to <a data-link-role-code="open_new_tab" href="https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/celebrities/yemi-alade-to-thrill-fans-at-afcon-2023-opening-ceremony/rlv25hh">perform at the opening ceremony</a> of the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d’Ivoire later today, shared a video clip on her page with the caption, "Africa our time is NOW!!.”

Responding, the fan with username @ThatNigerianlad replied to the post with a derisive comment aimed at Savage, writing, "U better than tiwa."

But Alade quickly shut down the X user, saying, "Comparison is the thief of Joy. We're both winning.... celebrate and support us all."

<div class="embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Comparison is the thief of Joy. We&#39;re both winning.... celebrate and support us all. <a href="https://t.co/rpb6UCCOj4">https://t.co/rpb6UCCOj4</a>&mdash; ✊🏾 yemialade (@yemialadee) <a href="https://twitter.com/yemialadee/status/1746156595094937952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Alade will light up the stage at the 60,000-capacity Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara in Abidjan today, where she will be teaming up with other artists from Africa to perform the theme song of the 2023 AFCON ‘Akwaba,’ which means welcome in Baoule language in Cote d’Ivoire.

For her part, Savage, fondly called Mummy Jam Jam by fans and admirers alike, was in the news during the week following her <a data-link-role-code="open_new_tab" href="https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/celebrities/tiwa-savage-accuses-davido-of-physical-threats-calls-police-to-intervene/tlz3j2f">altercation with Nigerian music megastar and Grammy award nominee Davido</a>.

Yemi Alade cautions fan who tried to stoke rivalry between her and Tiwa Savage

The self-styled Mama Africa urged the over-exuberant fan not to make a comparison among artists.

<h2>The Ogun State Police Command has confirmed the shooting of a Nigerian actor and movie director cum producer, Azeez Ijaduade, by a trigger-happy police officer.</h2>

Ijaduade, the son of a veteran Nollywood actor, Waheed Ijaduade, was reportedly shot by an errant police officer in the Iperu, Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The news was broken by the actor's colleague, Abiodun Adebanjo, via a post on his Instagram Story in the early hours of Sunday, December 24, 2023.

With the handle @iamabiodunadebanjo, Adebanjo wrote, “Please, we need help in Iperu. My director, Azeez Ijaduade, @kingzeez1, was shot by a Nigeria Police personnel.

“He is presently at Babcock University Teaching Hospital.

“Anybody with the contacts of the Police IG or Commissioner should reach out.”

Confirming the incident, the Command’s Spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, said in a statement that Ijaduade “was hit by an ammunition shell after a mobile officer shot into the air during an end-of-year party.”

She added that the officer responsible for the shooting has been identified, and the command has begun an investigation into the incident.

“We received a report of a shooting incident on the 23rd of December 2023 at about 11:24hrs from one Fakoya Adewale, Napoli Hotel manager In Iperu where he reported to the Divisional Police Officer that during Bramaj Company end of year party in the hotel a mobile policeman attached to the Chinese expatriate expended a shot into the air and unfortunately the ammunition shell hit one Azeez Ijaduade – an actor – on the neck.

“Commander Mopol 16 has contacted the actor and also visited him in the hospital where he will be discharged soon. The Commander has also taken up responsibility for the medical bill.

“The Mobile Policeman has been identified and investigation into the shooting incident has commenced by the Command. Members of the public will be updated accordingly,” Odutola said.

Police confirm shooting of Nollywood actor Ijaduade by trigger-happy officer

Azeez Ijaduade was shot by an errant police officer during an end-of-the-year party in Ogun State.

<h2>Nobel Laureate Prof Wole Soyinka has given those accusing him of parading fake academic credentials a 30-day ultimatum to file their evidence to relevant authorities to prove their allegations.</h2>

The playwright vowed that if found culpable, he would strip himself of any titles and honours he might have been bestowed in his career.

Soyinka challenged the peddlers of the allegations to provide their evidence to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

The Nigerian literary icon, however, said failure by his accusers to provide evidence within the stipulated time would mean that they lack honour.

This comes following the resurrection of an old accusation online, which suggested that there was a dispute over Soyinka’s degree from Leeds University in the United Kingdom.

In a 1998 article by one Joseph Dahip, he referenced a 1996 report in which a scholar, Prof James Gibbs, was quoted as unravelling some claims allegedly made by Soyinka.

The 1996 article partly read, “The claim by Professor Wole Soyinka that he obtained a first-class bachelor's degree in English Literature from Leeds University has been challenged. Instead, what the Nobel laureate actually obtained from Leeds was a second-class degree. This startling revelation was made by Professor James Gibbs who has closely monitored the activities of former Leeds students in English literature.”

The report also quoted Gibbs as saying he used information from various sources, including contemporary Leeds publications, archival material, Soyinka’s work and “interviews I had with him” in arriving at his conclusion on Soyinka’s academic status.

But Soyinka in a statement on Friday, October 6, 2023, said he was awaiting the decision of his lawyers on whether or not to take legal action against those behind the allegations.

He said, “A document of unmatchable scurrility, last encountered during General Sani Abacha’s global campaign of calumny against opponents of his despotic, infernally venal and homicidal reign, is back in circulation. Duly modified to suit a debased internet culture, it is making its grimy rounds ironically under the auspices of a democratic political party, supposedly dedicated to an ethos of freedom of opinion and expression. The contents of that script are attributed, as before, to the scholastic industry of a Bristol schoolteacher.

“While awaiting a decision from my lawyers whether or not to dignify the current sponsors of this mouldy tract with legal action, I wish to state in advance that I voluntarily waive all protection under the statute of limitations, and insist that the laws that govern fraudulent academic claims be invoked and applied to these allegations to the uttermost limit. I also declare, in advance, that if found culpable, I shall strip myself of any titles and honours I may have garnered in my entire career, from the most obscure to the most coveted.

“In return, I expect the purveyors of this sordid material to submit all evidence, however minuscule, to the nation’s investigative agencies – Directorates of Prosecutions, EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission), ICPC (Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission), plus affected institutions and others – within the next 30 days. Failing this elementary service in public interest within the stated time, and/or if such allegations are yet again proven baseless, thus indicating that their sponsors can boast of neither honours to their careers nor honour to their births and origins, then, as a token of moral recompense, they should undertake to jump off the bridge of the symbolic River Niger, provided with life jackets to ensure a life of remorse after this ritual purgation, but chained to one another in a commendable unity of purpose.”

The Nigerian literary icon has given his accusers a 30-day ultimatum to prove the allegations of fake credentials against him.

Wole Soyinka dares accusers to prove allegations of fake academic credentials

<h2>Authorities in the Niger Republic have imposed a ban on exportations of Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) to Nigeria and other countries, a statement released by the government on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, has revealed.</h2>

According to the statement, gas produced locally should be used to supply the domestic market only, and where exists a surplus, a special authorisation can be sought to export it.

Over the years, Niger has exported gas to neighbouring Nigeria, and both countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for petroleum products importation as recently as 2022.

The formal signing of the agreement was done in the presence of Nigeria's former Minister of State for Petroleum,&nbsp;Timipre Sylva&nbsp;and&nbsp;Foumakoye Gado, who represented&nbsp;Niger Republic.

“This is a major step forward. The Niger Republic has some excess products which need to be evacuated. Nigeria has the market for these products. Therefore, this is going to be a win-win relationship for both countries," Sylva had said.

“My hope is that this is going to be the beginning of deepening trade relations between Niger Republic and Nigeria,” he added.

However, the relationship between the two West African neighbours has strained no thanks to a recent military takeover of government in the Niger Republic.

Nigerian President and Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS),&nbsp;Bola Tinubu, spearheaded the effort to force the military junta to restore the deposed President of Niger,&nbsp;Mohamed Bazoum.

With the military leaders putting up a strong resistance against ECOWAS economic sanctions and threats of military invasion, it now appears that the putschists have gained footing to fully dictate Niger's affairs.

LPG is used for cooking, heating, and vehicles, and its usage has continued to gain acceptance in Nigeria. LPG price has drastically increased in Nigeria, reaching an unprecedented high of N1,000 per kilogram from the previous N750.

Niger Republic bans exportation of LPG to Nigeria. [BocopEnergy]

The Niger authorities said special authorisation would be required before LPG can be exported out of the country.

Niger Republic bans exportation of LPG to Nigeria

<h2>Military leaders in the Niger Republic have ordered the nation's armed forces to be on maximum alert over the increased threat of attack.</h2>

The order is contained in an internal document issued by Niger's Defence Chief on Friday, August 25, 2023, which security sources in the country have confirmed to be authentic.

As noted in the document, which was circulated online on Saturday, the order to go on the highest alert would allow forces to respond adequately in case of any attack and&nbsp;“avoid a general surprise,” Reuters reports.

“Threats of aggression to the national territory are increasingly being felt,” it said.

This comes as the President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, Omar Touray, clarified that the sub-regional bloc has neither declared <a href="https://www.pulse.ng/news/world/its-not-too-late-to-reconsider-your-actions-ecowas-warns-niger-junta/75gs8b2">war on the people of Niger Republic</a> nor planned to invade the country.

Speaking in Abuja on Friday, August 25, 2023, Touray explained that ECOWAS would only deploy all measures, including the use of its standby force to restore democratic order in Niger Republic.

Tourey noted that Niger as part of the West African region bloc signed up to its rules and regulations to deploy measures to support its fight against terrorism to ensure the restoration of democracy, peace, and security in the community.

There's an ongoing standoff between ECOWAS, chaired by <a href="https://www.pulse.ng/news/local/waging-war-against-niger-bad-for-my-economic-reforms-but-tinubu/mtcgpg9">President Bola Tinubu</a>, and Niger military junta, who forcefully deposed the country's democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum in a coup on July 26.

While the sub-regional body has insisted on the <a href="https://www.pulse.ng/news/world/ecowas-rejects-niger-coupists-3-year-power-transition-plan/ndcd5gh">unconditional reinstatement of Bazoum</a>, the junta, led by the former commander of Niger’s presidential guard, Abdourahamane Tchiani, has continued to hold on to power in the West African nation.

The Niger junta asked the nation's armed forces to go on the highest alert amid fears of a possible attack.

Coupists put Niger armed forces on highest alert over fears of attack

<h2>The Niger junta, led by General Abdourahmane Tchiani, has welcomed a dialogue with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to find a diplomatic solution to the crisis in the country.</h2>

This was confirmed by the Chairman of Jam’atul Izalatu Bida Waikamatu Sunnah, Sheik Bala Lau, who led a delegation of Islamic scholars from Nigeria to a meeting with the military leaders in Niamey over the weekend.

The respected scholar quoted Tchiani to have said doors were open to exploring diplomacy and peace in resolving the political impasse.

This represents a major shift on the part of the junta who had hitherto rejected several efforts to initiate dialogue and negotiations with ECOWAS, the United States and other global stakeholders.

Since President Mohamed Bazoum’s government was toppled on July 26, 2023, ECOWAS has imposed several economic sanctions on Niger in a bid to force the putschists to restore democratic order.

The regional bloc also gave the military leaders an ultimatum to vacate power and reinstate Bazoum or be prepared to face military action and even went ahead to activate its "standby force" for possible deployment in the West African country.

Meanwhile, in a statement on Sunday, August 13, 2023, after the meeting, Sheik Lau said his delegation met with the coup leaders and deliberated on several issues, including ECOWAS's demand for the reinstatement of Bazoum.

Asked to confirm if the option of dialogue was discussed, the Islamic scholar quoted Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine, the Prime Minister of Niger, who was appointed by the junta as saying, “Yes, for sure. That was exactly what the leader of our country told them, he did not say he was not open to dialogue.”

Zeine also expressed optimism that talks with ECOWAS would take place in the next few days.

‘’We have agreed and the leader of our country has given the green light for dialogue. They will now go back and inform the Nigerian President what they have heard from us…. we hope in the coming days, they (ECOWAS) will come here to meet us to discuss how the sanctions imposed against us will be lifted,” he said.

Before embarking on the trip, Sheik Lau said the delegation had informed President Bola Tinubu, who is also the Chairman of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, that their position is that the Niger crisis should be resolved through diplomatic dialogue.

He said based on this, he told Tchiani that his delegation came to Niger to engage in constructive dialogue to encourage him and other military leaders involved in the coup to embrace peaceful overtures to resolve the crisis.

We're ready for dialogue with ECOWAS, Niger junta shifts ground.

The military leaders in Niger have expressed an interest in entering a dialogue with ECOWAS to find a diplomatic solution to the political impasse in the country.

We're ready for dialogue with ECOWAS, Niger junta shifts ground

<h2>The military junta in the Niger Republic has threatened that the detained President of the country, Mohamed Bazoum, will be executed if there's any military intervention to restore him to power.</h2>

The threat came to light hours after the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) activated its <a href="https://www.pulse.ng/news/world/breaking-ecowas-unleashes-military-standby-force-on-niger-junta/yjpsk95">standby force for a possible military invasion</a> of the politically troubled country.

Representatives of the junta informed the U.S. Under Secretary of State, Victoria Nuland, of the threat to Bazoum during her visit to the country earlier this week, a Western military official who craved anonymity told The Associated Press.

Meanwhile, a U.S. official, also speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media, corroborated the account to AP.

<a href="https://www.pulse.ng/news/world/i-now-survive-on-dry-rice-deposed-niger-president-cries-out-over-hardship/5rvnxt9">Bazoum has been held hostage</a> at his residence since his ouster from power in a July 26, 2023, coup led by Gen Abdourahmane Tchiani.

ECOWAS, during its Extraordinary meeting in Abuja on Thursday, August 10, 2023, directed the deployment of a “standby force” to restore democracy in Niger after the coup.&nbsp;

However, the regional bloc gave no details about the make-up, location, and proposed date of deployment for any military intervention force.

ECOWAS had earlier given the Niger military leaders a seven-day ultimatum to restore constitutional order in the West African country but they instead went ahead to <a href="https://www.pulse.ng/news/local/niger-coup-plotters-name-economist-new-prime-minister/4tjersw">appoint a Prime Minister</a> in a move that indicated their resolve to set up a new government.

Niger coupists threaten to kill Bazoum if military interferes. [CNN]

The military leaders in Niger have refused to budge despite mounting pressure from ECOWAS and other global stakeholders.

Niger coupists threaten to kill Bazoum if military interferes

<h2>A new twist has emerged in the ongoing political impasse in Niger Republic as a former rebel leader, Rhissa Ag Boula, has launched a movement opposing the military government that forcefully took power after the July 26, 2023, coup.</h2>

The development comes amid resistance by the Niger junta against threats by the West and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), who demanded an immediate return to democratic rule.

Since the coupists came on board, there has been no report of any internal opposition to them but the latest development coming from the West African nation indicated that a change might be in the offing.

Boula, who has floated the Council of Resistance for the Republic (CRR), said he aims to reinstate overthrown President Mohamed Bazoum, who has been in detention at his residence since the takeover.

He made this known in a statement on Wednesday, August 9, 2023, where he said “Niger is the victim of a tragedy orchestrated by people charged with protecting it.”&nbsp;

The rebel leader's announcement comes as all diplomatic moves to reverse the coup had hit a snag, with the military junta rejecting the latest advance from ECOWAS.

The Niger coup leaders refused an audience with a delegation of African and United Nations envoys on Tuesday, August 8, 2023, fending off attempts to be cowered into negotiation before the ECOWAS summit on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Boula, in his statement, declared support for ECOWAS and any other international actors interested in the restoration of constitutional order in the Niger Republic, pledging to make himself available to the bloc for any useful purpose.

Another CRR member claimed that several Nigerien political figures had pledged their allegiance to the group but had chosen to remain in the background for safety reasons.

Boula is a politician and former Minister of Tourism who led insurgencies by the Tuareg, &nbsp;a nomadic ethnic group present in Niger’s desert north, in both 1990–1995 and 2007–2009.&nbsp;

Like many former rebels, Boula was integrated into government under Bazoum and his predecessor, Mahamadou Issoufou.

A new twist has emerged in the political development of the Niger Republic as a former rebel leader launches a movement to counter a recent coup in the country.

Headache for Niger junta as former rebel leader launches anti-coup movement

<h2>The deposed President of Niger Republic, Mohamed Bazoum, has cried out over the inhuman treatment he's being subjected to in the custody of the coupists.</h2>

On July 26, 2023, Bazoum was ousted from power in a <a href="https://www.pulse.ng/news/world/7-fascinating-facts-about-nigers-coup-leader-general-abdourahamane-tiani/1s5ve3b">coup led by Gen Abdourahmane Tchiani</a>, who immediately suspended the country's constitution.

Though the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), under the Chairmanship of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, <a href="https://www.pulse.ng/news/local/tinubu-imposes-financial-sanctions-on-niger-mali-burkina-faso-through-cbn/rjy5xmh">gave the putschists a 7-day ultimatum</a> to release and reinstate the President or face military action, the junta stood firm and refused to budge.

As the regional body now set for another extraordinary meeting on Thursday, August 10, 2023, to discuss the next line of action on the Niger impasse, the detained President has lamented his condition in custody.

According to CNN, Bazoum, in a series of text messages to a friend, said he had been “deprived of all human contact” since Friday, with no one supplying him with food or medicine.

The ousted President also said he had been living without electricity for a week, a normal occurrence for all Nigeriens after Nigeria cut off electric supply in response to the coup.

He also complained that all of the perishable food he was supplied with has since gone bad, and he is now eating dry pasta and rice.

Bazoum has been in isolation since he was overthrown, but he's given the privilege to contact the outside world.

The junta declined the request of the acting United States Deputy Secretary of State, Victoria Nuland, to speak with the ousted President during her visit to Niamey, the Nigerien capital, on Monday, August 7, 2023.

However, Bazoum was granted the opportunity to<a href="https://www.pulse.ng/news/local/blinken-warns-against-russias-wagner-group-exploiting-instability-in-niger/pr6eqck"> speak with Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the phone</a>.

Pulse had earlier reported that the 14th Emir of Kano,<a href="https://www.pulse.ng/news/local/sanusi-meets-niger-coup-leaders-ahead-of-ecowas-leaders-meeting/wl8zkeb"> Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, met with the coup leaders</a> on Wednesday in an effort to negotiate a peaceful resolution of the matter.

Bazoum said he had run out of food supplies and had been without electricity in the last week.

I now survive on dry rice, deposed Niger President cries out over hardship

<h2>Controversial microblogging platform, Twitter, has threatened to drag its competitor, Meta, to court over the latter's newly-launched rival app, Threads.</h2>

On Wednesday, July 5, 2023, Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, rolled out Threads, a text-based Twitter-like platform.&nbsp;

Thread's entrance into the social media space was greeted with instant frenzied acceptance as the app quickly gained <a href="https://www.pulse.ng/news/politics/idan-has-landed-president-tinubu-joins-threads/gmter8q">over 10 million users</a> in less than 24 hours after going live.&nbsp;

Owing to its resemblance to Twitter as well as its direct link to Instagram, many users have tipped Threads to knock the bird app off its perch - or, at least, give it a good run for its money.&nbsp;

<h3>Twitter threatens Meta with lawsuit</h3>

Just hours after Threads made its debut, a lawyer for Twitter, Alex Spiro, dispatched a letter to Meta CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, accusing the company of poaching former employees to create a ‘copycat’ application.

In the letter sighted by Semafor, Twitter accused the social media giant of engaging in "systematic, willful, and unlawful misappropriation of Twitter's trade secrets and other intellectual property."

"Twitter intends to strictly enforce its intellectual property rights, and demands that Meta take immediate steps to stop using any Twitter trade secrets or other highly confidential information," Spiro wrote in the letter.

He added, "Twitter reserves all rights, including, but not limited to, the right to seek both civil remedies and injunctive relief without further notice to prevent any further retention, disclosure, or use of its intellectual property by Meta."

Spiro alleged that Meta hired dozens of former Twitter staffers who "had and continue to have access to Twitter's trade secrets and other highly confidential information."

He also claimed that Meta assigned those employees to develop "Meta’s copycat 'Threads' app with the specific intent that they use Twitter's trade secrets and other intellectual property in order to accelerate the development of Meta's competing app, in violation of both state and federal law as well as those employees’ ongoing obligations to Twitter."

Since the platform was acquired in 2022 by billionaire, Elon Musk, Twitter has undergone some radical changes that have corroded user-experience on the platform.

Mark Zuckerberg (left) and Elon Musk (right).Christophe Morin/IP3/Getty Images; Chesnot/Getty Images

Controversial microblogging platform, Twitter, has threatened to drag its competitor, Meta, to court over the latter's newly-launched rival app, Threads.

Twitter threatens Meta with lawsuit over rival app Threads

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