Oduduwa Republic introduces currency

 

 

They had insisted that this was not a time to talk about restructuring, resource control or a new constitution but rather the Yoruba to secede from Nigeria. 

A Yoruba group has launched the currency for the proposed Oduduwa Republic.

The image of the currency, known as “FADAKA, was posted on Twitter via the group’s handle, @OduduwaRepublic, on Sunday.

“Oduduwa National Currency shall be called ‘FADAKA’ Meaning Silver .. or short as just ‘FAD’ Here is a 20 Fadaka Sample Banknote,” the secessionist group tweeted.

 had earlier reported that Yoruba Historian, Banji Akintoye and activist, Sunday Igboho during the passing week, declared the sovereignty of the Yoruba.

Akintoye and Igboho, among other Yoruba leaders, said that the South West was no longer under Nigeria.

They called on people of the region to work together for the independence of the Yoruba nation.

Obasanjo hints on next move as statesman

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo said as a statesman, he would live the rest of his life serving humanity.

NAN reports that Obasanjo spoke on Saturday in Abeokuta at the 20th anniversary of the Communion Faith Assembly and new chapel dedication.

The head of the church is Bishop Tunde Akin-Akinsanya, the chairman, Ogun chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

Obasanjo told the gathering that he arrived from Sudan on Friday night and would be travelling back to the United States on Sunday.

“I am committed to global peace and service to humanity and I am here to play my part in peacebuilding”, he said.

The former Nigerian leader noted that the best way to determine a successful life was by measuring one’s positive impact on others’ lives.

Obasanjo especially hailed the Christian leadership in Ogun. He said they had continued to act as peace agents in the state.

FA Cup: Ancelotti names best team in the world

 

Everton manager, Carlo Ancelotti, has named Manchester City as the “best team in the world”, following their FA Cup defeat on Saturday.

The Merseysiders managed to keep City at bay for over 80 minutes of their quarter-final clash at Goodison Park.

However, late goals from Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne sent City through with a 2-0 win.

“We were almost there, we did well and we did the best that we can do. We defended well and for at least 80 minutes, we had the game under control,” Ancelotti told BT Sport after the final whistle on Saturday.

“I am satisfied because we were beaten by the best team in the world – they are the best.

“We wanted to keep them uncomfortable. Of course, they are comfortable with the ball but we defended well and we didn’t concede space. We played the game that we wanted to play.

“They have the best bench in the world. It was a good experience for us and there are no regrets.”

Biafra group : talks tough as Nigerian Navy deploys ships, choppers to Gulf of Guinea

 

Biafra Nations League, BNL, has berated the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo for deploying ships, tugboats, helicopters and aircrafts to the Gulf of Guinea.

 

BNL, which has its operational base in Bakassi Peninsula in the eastern end of the Gulf of Guinea accused the Chief of Naval Staff of “taking such decisions because of our planned expulsion of oil companies operating under Nigeria in the maritime boundary area of Bakassi Peninsula.”

In a joint statement signed by the National Leader of BNL, Princewill C Richard, Deputy National Leader, Ebuta Akor Takon and the Chief of Staff of BNL, Linus Essien on Saturday evening, the group said “any military operations in the Gulf of Guinea would be resisted by the inhabitants of the region.”

Recall that the Nigerian Navy had at the weekend deployed six ships, two tugboats, two helicopters and a Nigerian Airforce ATR42 aircraft to the Gulf of Guinea.

Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), had on Saturday inaugurated the 11th Exercise Obangame Express 2021.

The flag-off of the multinational exercise for maritime security was held on the board of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) THUNDER, at the Naval Dockyard in Victoria Island, Lagos.

Gambo said the huge resources and vast potential of the Gulf of Guinea was being undermined by multifaceted domestic and cross border threats.

The CNS said the exercise presented another opportunity for the Nigerian Navy to work together with other national and regional Navies in the spirit of the Yaounde Code of Conduct.

Entertainment : How Coming 2 America De-aged Eddie Murphy & Arsenio Hall

 

 Coming 2 America is packed with references to the original. But here's how Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall were actually de-aged in two of the scenes.

33 years later, Coming 2 America follows up the 1988 cult classic, and among other references to the original, has scenes where it actually de-ages Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall. The original, Coming to America, was a massive hit after it was released, and has since nestled its way into pop culture. There was an array of funny and memorable scenes in the first film, but one of the best was the nightclub sequence, where Semmi spits out his drink after another version of himself in drag aggressively hits on him and Akeem.

In the sequel, there's a continuation of the original club scene. It's depicted via a flashback where the Zamundan prince realizes that he has a long-lost son back in the United States. But this sequence does more than just set up Coming 2 America's premise and reference the '88 original: in the club and in the apartment, both Akeem and Semmi appear de-aged. In real life, Murphy is 59 and Hall is 65, but they appear eerily similar to how they looked 33 years ago — thanks to CGI effects.

 

 In an interview with Yahoo Entertainment, Murphy explained where he got the idea: "I was watching one of those movies with Schwarzenegger [2015's Terminator Genisys]. And they used a special effect, but it made him really young. And I was like, 'We could do a scene where we're young and we could connect it.'" It was an unexpected and fun idea, but the endeavor wasn't easy. When he spoke with Insider, director Craig Brewer said that "they [the team] spent a good month de-aging Arsenio for that scene.

"

Of course, Murphy received the effects as well. Brewer also said, "When we were discussing 'how are we going to do this flashback sequence,' I had the idea that we should start it right at the moment when Arsenio does the spit gag opposite himself playing the woman. I wanted people to think, maybe this scene happened in the first movie but they just didn't use it." And the effects certainly looked the part, causing many viewers to do a confused double-take. But this de-aging technology isn't limited to films like Coming 2 America and Terminator Genisys; in fact, it's become an increasingly popular special effect in recent years.

 

Martin Scorsese's The Irishman (2019) saw the likes of Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, and other characters de-aged into "younger" versions of themselves. And other films, in 2019 especially (e.g. Avengers: Endgame, Gemini Man, etc.), utilized age-altering technology. Clearly, more and more projects are willing to splurge for intricate, time-defying special effects. But, even with this recent popularity, Coming 2 America is still breaking its own new ground. So far, the most notable movies that use de-aging or forward-aging have been more serious movies, infused with drama, crime, superheroes, and horror. Whereas in this cult classic sequel, the technology is used as a fun callback, one to make fans jump out of their seat in surprise. And the overall tone of the film itself is light and fun, continuing the original's legacy. Overall, the CGI de-aging scenes added to what the film had to offer and offered even more goofy nostalgia.

Now that age-altering is becoming commonplace and permeating different genres, the world of cinema is bound to keep seeing more and more of it, often in previously-out-of-place genres and scenarios. Visual effects supervisor Patrick David (from Rodeo FX in Montreal) captured the sentiment well when talking to CBC News, "It's the volume of work that's able to be done and the technology being more accessible to more companies. Maybe one company was able to do the de-aging kind of stuff back then [in the past], right now it's really something that's more accessible to a lot more filmmakers for different budgets." Likely, Coming 2 America won't be the last lighthearted comedy to make a splash with this technology that is no longer so elite and egregiously high-budget.

NEWS : If you kill Ortom, be prepared to bury Nigeria – Wike warns FG

 

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has warned the Federal Government against conspiring to assassinate the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom.

 reports that unknown gunmen suspected to be Fulani militia attacked Governor Ortom in his farm along Gboko-Makurdi road on Saturday afternoon.

Ortom while briefing journalists at the Benue Peoples House after the incident said he was inspecting his farm when the militia attacked.

Reacting, in a statement issued by Kelvin Ebiri, Special Assistant to the governor on Media, the Rivers Governor warned that a civil war may emerge if anything happens to his Benue State counterpart.

According to him, the Federal Government must be held responsible if Ortom is killed.

BIAFRA : Asari Dokubo speaks for himself – Ijaw stakeholders disown Biafra Customary Government

 

Major Ijaw stakeholders, Kinsmen of the Former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan under the aegis of the Ogbia Brotherhood Youths Council and other Ijaw groups under the auspices of Movement for the Survival of Ijaw Ethnic Nationality in Niger Delta (MOSIEND), have disowned a former warlord, Alhaji Mujahid Asari Dokubo, for listing them as part of the Biafran territory.

While the National President, OBYC, Comrade Napuru Bassuo, in a statement described Dokubo-Asari as a loner on the journey, the Movement for the Survival of Ijaw Ethnic Nationalities in Niger Delta (MOSIEND) through its National President, Kennedy Tonjo West, said Dokubo was on his own and should not be taken seriously.

The President of MOSIEND, Kennedy Tonjo West, in a statement issued via electronic mail, said all Ijaw communities were insulted by Dokubo’s attempt to associate them with Biafra and called on the ex-militant leader to tender an unreserved apology to the Ijaw nation.

West said: “Asari Dokubo’s statement is lacking in substance and merit. It is self-seeking and self-serving. He is on a wild goose chase and a lonely Biafran. Izon communities can never be a Biafran province. Dokubo’s Biafra Customary Government is a figment of his wildest imagination.

“None of the purported province claimed by Asari Dokubo belong to Biafra. Dokubo’s statement is insulting, provocative, and narrow in perspective. Can he say this before the communities or their kings?

“MOSIEND condemns it and demand an apology for his 

 bogus and unfounded claims. Asari is on his own. Asari should not be taken seriously on this matter.”

West said Dokubo’s latest adventure would only cause disaffection between the Ijaw and the Igbo and warned the ex-militant against creating enemies for the Ijaw people.

He said: “Dokubo’s claim is an affront to the ancestral integrity of those ancient towns he made mention. It is disturbing, misleading and undermining. While we respect the views of our compatriots from other ethnic nationality, our agitation should be devoid of ethnic rivalry.

“Izon communities and we believe others feel the same way, are not conquered province, not for sale. Asari Dokubo must not use Izon communities as a bargaining chip to advance his selfish interest.

Also kinsmen of President Goodluck Jonathan under the aegis of the Ogbia Brotherhood Youth Council (OBYC), carpeted Dokubo, on his declaration of Biafra Customary government.

The National President, OBYC, Comrade Napuru Bassuo, who spoke in an interview said if anything else, the Ijaw would only support the declaration of the Niger Delta Republic, not the Biafra Customary Government.

He stated: “As an Ijaw people from Ogbia extraction in the Niger Delta, we do not subscribe to the declaration made by Dokubo-Asari on the constitution of Biafra Customary Government.

“There’s no gainsaying that Dokubo-Asari’s alliance has never been supported by the Ijaws, not in Bayelsa nor any part of Ijaw land. For as long as we know, the Ijaws belong to the Niger Delta’s cause and no land of the Niger Delta or Ogbia land will be a territory of the Biafra Customary Government.

“And by this I mean Dokubo-Asari is a loner on this journey. If for nothing, we the Ijaws will only support the declaration of an NDR and not BCG.”