NEWS
Reactions Follow Deyemi’s Letter To Attah After Banky W Poll Loss
Nollywood actor, Deyemi Okanlawon, has caused a reaction on social media by penning an open letter to Thaddeus Attah, the Labour Party’s (LP) Eti-Osa Honourable-Elect, congratulating him on his victory over musician and politician, Banky W.
In a lengthy letter shared on his Instagram account on Friday, Deyemi asserted that he voted for Banky W because he believed he was the most suitable candidate for the job.
He also congratulated Attah on his victory and urged him to share his plans for Eti-Osa, acknowledging that despite his extensive research on the official, he was unable to find any concrete information.
Additionally, the actor extended an invitation to the newly elected official to respond to his inquiries through an Instagram chat.
He wrote,”(Edited) OPEN LETTER TO HOR-ELECT THADDEUS ATTAH.
“Dear Sir,
“I’ll like to use this opportunity to congratulate you, Mr. Thaddeus Attah @jt.atta of the Labour Party(LP), as the winner of the Eti-Osa Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives.
”Before I go ahead with what I will like to say, I will like to fully disclose that I voted for Mr. Bankole Wellington of the Peoples
“Democratic Party (PDP) as I honestly thought he would have been the best candidate for the job. I do have immense faith in our
“discernment as a people to elect the right candidate, however I am also quite worried about the role tribal sentiments,
“cyberbullying and herd mentality on all sides has played in our electoral process. That being said, I am a firm believer in.
“democracy and I would want nothing more than for the people’s wish to prevail so once again I congratulate you Sir.
“Mr Attah, same as with a lot of Lagosians, I only first heard of you when you were announced the winner a few days ago. Since
“that time I have made a significant effort to find out as much as possible about our newly elected federal HOR candidate. To my
“surprise, my quest for answers left me even more puzzled as to who you really are as well as what your qualifications, past
“precedents and plans are for the people of Eti-Osa. With little or no online presence, and for someone that overthrew both an
“incumbent and a public figure, I am yet to find any indications of your campaign manifesto. It would therefore be a great pleasure
“if you Sir will do me the honour of accepting an invitation to join me online for a live Instagram conversation this weekend to address concerns and respond to questions many others like myself may have.
“Finally, without seeking to influence or enforce any candidate on anyone, I will like to use this medium to urge all well-meaning,
progressive Lagosians ahead of the March 11 elections to find their own individual voice such that when we head to the polls we
“ensure the person we are voting for reflects our collective want for great leadership and our desire for excellent governance. I look forward to a lively discourse.
“Your constituent.
“Deyemi Okanlawon.
The statement caused a debate on social media, some trolls, argued that there was no need to question him.
Vincentokonkwo said,”Ko necessary he won out to grace and am sure so many candidates across Nigeria were equally lucky Abi you wan set ring light for over 84 elected LP members of house and senate or it is because it’s someone I know that is involved.
Ifbnw said, “How many of the APC reps in the past years did you single out for public questioning?. This is a poor mix of performativeness, bullying and hypocrisy laced with faux concern for how competent Mr. Thaddeus is.
“If you really want to get to know him, you’ll send a DM, send an email, arrange to meet him in person, discuss his ideas and plans and then translate that to your online audience or organize events for him to gain more visibility online, if you must. Instead of publicly putting him on the spot to question his competence simply because you don’t know him.
“Your logic indirectly also implies that this seat is Banky’s birthright because he’s popular and if you don’t see how that’s the problem we are fighting against on a national level, then you’re part of the problem.”
its_tegadominic said, “So, this is nicely written, but I beg to differ, personally I have seen his works and he campaigned, he may not have been as loud as Banky but he did his bit, like I said to those who cared, Labour Party was literally a minority at a time so most people didn’t believe in them, in the case of Banky it was all clear why he didn’t win, when you are angry it affects everyone, that’s what happened.
”When I first saw his bill on my street I knew he was going to win, I asked around about him and reports I got was also
encouraging, I have seen his manifesto and he means well, what we need to do is let them know that politics is not as before, you won’t be a mediocre and hide under the party umbrella and think you will last, I wish him all the best as he behaves well. I wish Banky all the best as well. There is a lesson to learn from this election… March 11 for GRV.”
mrcantuc said,”Oga go rest, is he the only person that you need to question over elections stuff?. You have been quiet over the presidential election na here you wan show yourself abeg go rest.”
NEWS
Kano Businessman’s Daughter Kidnapped After ₦8m Ransom Payment
In a shocking incident on Sunday morning, unknown gunmen suspected to be kidnappers invaded the home of Alhaji Auwal, a prominent businessman, in Garo Town, Kabo Local Government Area of Kano State.
The gunmen, estimated to be around 10 in number, forced their way into the residence, breaking down a door to gain entry.
An anonymous source revealed that the attackers were heavily armed, with three carrying firearms and the rest wielding other weapons.
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They quickly gathered the entire family in one room, instilling fear and panic in the household.
According to the source, Alhaji Auwal pleaded with the assailants to spare his family and agreed to meet their demands.
The kidnappers, who were determined to extort money, received ₦8 million from the family.
Despite this payment, the gunmen took the businessman’s eldest daughter, Zainab, a secondary school graduate, before fleeing the scene.
The whereabouts of Zainab remain unknown, and as of now, the kidnappers have not contacted the family.
This abduction comes just 48 hours after the tragic kidnapping and subsequent murder of former Gombe State Permanent Secretary, Atiku Mu’azu, who was killed by gunmen after a ₦10 million ransom was paid.
The two incidents have left the residents of Kano in shock and fear, prompting calls for increased security measures in the area.
Attempts to reach the spokesperson for the Kano Police Command, SP Abdullahi Haruna, for comment were unsuccessful as his phone remained unreachable.
Authorities have yet to make any official statements regarding the investigation.
International News
Colombia Blocks US Deportation Flights Over Migrant Treatment
In a bold move, Colombian President Gustavo Petro declared on Sunday that he would not allow US deportation flights carrying Colombian migrants to access his country’s airspace.
The left-wing leader took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his strong stance, stating, “The United States cannot treat Colombian migrants as criminals. I forbid entry to our territory to US planes carrying Colombian migrants.”
Petro made it clear that such flights would only be accepted once Washington established a protocol to ensure the “dignified treatment” of deported migrants.
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The president later confirmed in a separate post that he had already turned back US military planes that were en route with Colombian migrants on board, although he did not provide further specifics on the matter.
While AFP sought confirmation from US authorities regarding the blockade of deportation flights, no immediate response was forthcoming.
Petro’s statements come just a day after Brazil’s government voiced similar outrage over the treatment of deported Brazilians.
Brazil condemned the US administration under President Donald Trump, citing instances where Brazilian migrants were deported while handcuffed on flights, describing it as a “flagrant disregard” for their basic rights.
In his remarks, Petro emphasized that he would be open to allowing civilian US flights to transport deported migrants as long as they were not subjected to treatment “like criminals,” signaling a broader call for humane treatment of migrants under international deportation policies.
NEWS
Four Dead, Many Injured As Explosion Rocks Niger State Mining Site
An explosion at a mining site in Sabon Pegi, Mashegun Local Government Area of Niger State, claimed the lives of four individuals and left several others injured on Sunday morning.
The blast occurred as miners resumed operations, sending shockwaves through the community.
While the exact cause of the explosion remains undetermined, local residents have pointed to the poor handling of explosive devices by mining companies as a possible factor.
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The incident has sparked concerns about safety practices within the mining sector.
Community sources confirmed the recovery of four bodies, but authorities fear the death toll could rise.
Investigations are ongoing to establish the cause of the blast and assess the full extent of the damage.
One resident, Aminu, described the chaos that followed the explosion. “The sound was so loud that many of us thought it came from the hydroelectricity dam nearby. People panicked and ran into the bush for safety,” he recounted.
Another community member highlighted the potential role of mining operations in the tragedy.
“Mining companies here frequently use explosives during their activities, and this seems like an operational issue, not something related to terrorism,” the resident said, dismissing concerns about a security threat in the area.
As of the time of reporting, neither the state government nor security agencies have released an official statement regarding the explosion.