Entertainment
“Igbos, You Are Targets o!”, Kanayo O. Kanayo cries out
Legendary Nollywood actor Kanayo O. Kanayo has stated that he thinks Nigeria will advance as a country if an Igbo person holds the presidency.
He claimed that the idea that “Igbophobia,” or fear or prejudice towards Igbo people, keeps them from running for president is untrue.
The actor talked about the importance of his Nigerian and Igbo identities on a recent episode of the podcast “The Honest Bunch.”
Kanayo stated, “Being an Igbo means that I come from a side of the country that speaks a dialect just like the Hausas, Fulani, and others.
“It also means to me that I’m a special person created that everything I touch prospers. When we [Igbos] are called the Jews of this part of the world, it means a lot.
And much is required of those who receive much. The tree with the knife wound is the one by the road.
“We’re in the market place always and we dance beautiful dances. That’s who the Igbos are. So we become the envy of other people.
“An Igbo man starts his business with kiosk today, give him the next one year, he turns it to a shop. From a kiosk to a shop.
“It’s here. Spit into our hands by a force we call Chukwu Abiama. You can’t take it away. So we would continue to be the envy of other people.
“I remember during the elections last year, some people said the Igbos want to take over Lagos. How can we take over Lagos? For what when we have an ancestral home we come from?
“But then most of us don’t want to go back. And it’s only in Nigeria that it happens. A New Yorker is a New Yorker regardless of where they come from.
“So if we abolish state of origin in Nigeria, we will be better as a country. What has it got to do with state of origin when you’re employing somebody? It’s the IQ we’re looking for.
“So being Igbo has become an endangered specie. Because I’m now judged by where I come from, not by what I have to offer.
“The content is what should be looked at. So in the larger entity called Nigeria, there has been a division, nepotism orchestrated by many people for political, economic and religious purposes.
“Being Igbo and being a Nigerian to me, is like running at opposite courses. It looks like the [civil] war never ended.
“For instance, Prof Yusuf formerly of the NHIS granted an interview I watched on Arise TV a few months ago.
“He said, ‘these our Igbo brothers, why are they not talking? Why are they not joining the protest?’ And I replied him the next day, I said, ‘Prof, during the elections, you said we didn’t have the capacity to be president, so we don’t have the capacity to protest.
“You said we can’t be trusted with power.’ I mean, these are statements that are on papers so I’m not saying it out of context.
“When other Nigerians were protesting from region to region, I said, ‘Igbos, you are targets o!’ Igbos are the only people who come to every community in Nigeria and build houses.
“We are the only people. Give it to us because we call every place we come home. We are not looking for an Igbo president. We are looking for a president of Igbo extraction who will give Nigeria with what he has and what God has given him.
“The fear of the Igbo man that ‘in 1967, Ojukwu declared a succession, if you give them that opportunity again they will secede,’ is only imaginary.
“Like I said, we are the only people who own properties even in the remotest areas in Nigeria. So that fear is induced.
“The day you give an Igbo man the presidency of this country, that is the day Nigeria will discover why it is Nigeria. Economically, people would begin to say Hallelujah.”
There are indications that notorious bandit leader Bello Turji has established a new base.
The base is reportedly located in the Indaduwa Forest, approximately three kilometres northwest of the village of Bula, near the boundaries of Gundumi, Galadi, Maradun, and Raba in Sokoto State.
Zagazola Makama, a counterterrorism and insurgency expert in the Lake Chad Basin, disclosed this in a post on his X handle on Sunday. He noted that the gang’s activities extend to areas bordering Galadi, Maradun, Gundumi, and Raba.
Makama stated that the new base, reportedly formed three weeks ago, has been linked to recent attacks in the region, including the blockade of the Isa-Marnona road.
He added that an ambush targeting security personnel on the Gundumi-Isa Road on December 21 was allegedly carried out by operatives from Turji’s new base.
According to the security expert, more than 40 individuals are currently believed to be held captive by Turji’s group in the Indaduwa Forest.
Makama explained that ransom payments are allegedly facilitated through informants stationed in Marnona and Gidan Rana near the Gundumi-Isa Road. Survivors recently freed from captivity reportedly confirmed the gang’s operations in the area.
“Sources suggest that the group operating from the Indaduwa Forest base has been responsible for ambushes, kidnappings, and other criminal activities targeting travellers and residents.
“Informants in Illela and Marnona have allegedly been aiding the gang by facilitating ransom payments and providing intelligence.
“Impeccable sources have identified two primary reasons for establishing this new camp: conflict with rival bandits and unresolved feuds.
“Turji has an ongoing rivalry with the Maniya group, stemming from a longstanding feud inherited from his father, Rugga Chida. This feud led to a violent clash years ago, resulting in the death of Kachalla Dullun, a prominent Maniya figure.
“Turji reportedly views the new base as a strategic position to undermine the Maniya group’s operations in the Dutsin Gwauro area, which serves as their headquarters,” Makama explained.
Popular comedian and filmmaker, Bright Okpocha, aka Basketmouth, has accused some of his colleagues of not showcasing Nigeria’s rich culture in their movies.
The movie star alleged that most of the epic movies released recently do not promote the country’s culture.
In an interview with Hip TV, Basketmouth claimed that the filmmakers wasted opportunities to showcase Nigeria’s culture positively.
He said, “I believe that we still have the opportunity to get it right. But we had a great opportunity to showcase our culture and most of the filmmakers blew it up. They just ruined that great chance because I see epic movies and they look like stage plays.
“When I was seeing most of the epic movies, I was disappointed.
“You guys blew up a great opportunity but let’s hope we still have another chance to strike at it.
“I’m sorry, only very few movies have impressed me so far. I believe that we can do more.”
Big Brother Naija reality show star, Beauty Tukura has confirmed her break up with colleague, Neo Akpofure.
Beauty made this known amid the breakup rumors between her and Neo after unfollowing each other on Instagram.
Speaking in a red carpet interview, she shed light on her current relationship status .
While addressing her relationship status, the reality star emphasized the importance of faith, security, and support.
The interviewer asked; “Are you in a relationship?”
She responded; “It is complicated and I’m not seeing anybody. I love a God fearing man who can make me feel secure, encourage me and support me to fly.”
Watch video below:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DDy1O9JNQPr/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading
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