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How social media threatened my 40-year-old marriage – Lai Mohammed

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FG RAISES SECURITY ALERT

 

Lai Mohammed, former minister of information and culture, says social media threatened his 40-year old marriage.

Mohammed spoke in Lagos at an event to commemorate the 90th birthday anniversary of Wole Soyinka, Nobel laureate.

 

Mohammed explained that one of the pressing challenges he faced in office as minister was the spate of fake news, misinformation and disinformation.

 

Speaking on how the menace almost ruined his marriage, Mohammed said the consequences of fake news, disinformation and misinformation were far-reaching

 

“Permit me to share publicly with you today for the first time, how social media threatened the foundation of my forty-year-old marriage,” he said.

“It was sometimes in 2018 when I came to Lagos from Abuja for an official assignment. As usual, I retire to bed about midnight, but about 3 am, my wife gently roused me from my slumber.

“At first, I panicked, fearing that there had been a security breach, but my wife’s mien belied that possibility, for she was calm and composed.

 

“Solemnly, my wife asked me if I was fully awake as there were some serious issues to discuss.

“I could not fathom what was that urgent or serious to warrant being woken up at this time of the night.

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“My mind immediately did a kaleidoscope of my rascalities and escapades in the last few months.”

The former minister said the accusation from his wife was “a bombshell”.

 

“Daddy, death can come knocking at any moment, please let me also, as your wife, be a signatory to your oversea account in Ali Financial which contains 1.3 billion dollars,” his wife reportedly said.

The former minister said he could not believe that his wife could believe the fake story in circulation crediting huge sums of money in overseas accounts to government functionaries/ministers under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

 

“I spent the next two hours or so, sweating to convince my wife that there is no iota of truth in the allegation,” he added.

“I had to fetch a calculator and reproduce the federal appropriation act for 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 in the middle of the night and explain to her why it is simply preposterous for me to have 1.3 billion dollars in a foreign account.

“I explained to her that there is no year my capital budget exceeded N5 billion, which then, at about N400 to a dollar, was just 12.5 million dollars.

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“I explained that, even if I managed to divert every kobo of it to my personal account, it will take at least, 104 years to save the sum of 1.3 billion dollars being peddled that I stole.

 

“My wife insisted that the whole world believed the story and that her friends had as a result, besieged her with all kinds of requests.

“She said every effort on her part to deny the existence of this foreign account only succeeded in depicting her in the minds of her friends as a selfish, greedy and uncaring friend.

“Is my wife truly convinced of my innocence? The answer is in the wind!”

‘DISINFORMATION IS A SIGNIFICANT THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY’

Mohammed reiterated that social media remain the platforms of choice for the purveyors of fake news, anti-state groups, anarchists, secessionists, terrorists and bandits.

 

He noted that while in government, his ministry uncovered 476 online publications that were dedicated to spreading fake news against the previous administration.

 

Mohammed said fake news has become exponential through the use of Artificial Intelligence and deep learning techniques to create highly realistic fake or manipulated videos, audio recordings or images.

 

“The consequences of disinformation and misinformation are far-reaching,” he said.

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“They undermine democratic processes, sow discord within communities, and pose significant threats to public health and safety.

 

“Today, even the media is at the risk of losing its credibility because of the proliferation of fake news on the social media.

 

“Therefore, the media, as custodians of the public trust, must take decisive action to combat the scourge of disinformation and misinformation.”

 

He said social media should be checked through robust regulatory frameworks to curb the spread of false information while safeguarding freedom of expression.

 

While in government, Mohammed had argued that there was a need to check the “excesses of social media” owing to the rise of fake news and disinformation.

 

He had said if left unregulated, social media would destroy the country.

 

On June 4, 2021, the Buhari-led government suspended the operations of X (formerly known as Twitter) in Nigeria.

 

The development came hours after a tweet by Buhari was deleted but the federal government had said the decision was as a result of “the persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence”.

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EFCC transfers Bobrisky to Abuja for interrogation

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Embattled social media personality and crossdresser Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, who was re-arrested on Thursday night, will face interrogation on alleged bribery and corruption in Abuja.

Bobrisky, according to an official of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, would be flown to Abuja today (Friday).

The controvwrsial crossdresser was stopped and removed from an Amsterdam-bound KLM flight at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and detained by immigration officers late Thursday night while attempting to leave the country for London, the United Kingdom.

The popular cross-dresser posted on his Instagram page to alert followers about the arrest, stating that he had sustained injuries during an altercation with the immigration officers.

Bobrisky alleged that the EFCC was responsible for his detention.

He wrote, “Nigerians help me, EFCC just arrested me. I’m badly injured.”

However, according to sources, his arrest was due to his failure to honour several invitations by the commission following his allegations against the EFCC.

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Bobrisky had, in a voice note shared by a controversial social critic, Martins Otse, aka VeryDarkMan, allegedly said he bribed EFCC officers with N15m to drop money laundering charges against him.

Although the EFCC denied the allegations, it set up a committee to investigate the matter.

At a press briefing on Thursday, the Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwajaren, had hinted that Bobrisky could face a fresh charge from the commission if the allegations against the EFCC were false.

Uwujaren stated that one could be charged for giving false information to the EFCC, let alone making false allegations against the commission.

However, a top source in the commission told our correspondent on Friday that Bobrisky was picked up to prove his allegations against the EFCC.

The source said, “We have arrested him in Lagos today and will be flown to Abuja today. He accused us of bribery and corruption; we invited him severally, but he did not show up. He who alleges must be ready to prove. Those allegations are too weighty to allow slide.

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“Also, remember that he has also refused to show up at the National Assembly on the matter. We are left with no other choice than to pick him up so that he can substantiate his claims. And that is what we have done. “

EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, confirmed Bobrisky’s arrest.

“Bobrisky is on his way to Abuja as we speak,“ he added.

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Olo Omidan Bata Set To Drop Another Hot Single On Nov 10

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Female talented drummer, Olo Omidan Bata, is fresh out of the studios and she is set to drop yet another hot single that will explode in everyone’s faces!

 

The 23 year old youth beauty is very proud of her culture and flaunting it in stylish class. While her musical colleagues are busy trying to re-sell foreign music, Olo Omidan Bata the queen of the Bata drums is busy most times in the studios working on new African hit songs that will set the dance floor on fire!

 

Her dexterity and dedication to her kind of music has reflected in her other past singles, released in recent years.

 

Olo as she is also fondly called is actually one of the very few female that can handle the Bata, and that’s because Bata is such a tasking kind of drum to play.

But Olo handles Bata drums with ease and that is why ‘Inun mi dun’, her next hot song, is going to reflect the star energy that she has put into the African fusion she’s presenting.

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The new single is weaved around celebration as the title: ‘Inun mi dun’, suggests. In the song, Olo is thanking God, she’s thanking her star and thanking Atunda Entertainment for making her to hit stardom in her musical career.

“I’m happy to have seen this day! I’m happy to have the right people around me. I’m happy to have been enjoying the right support that has taken me this far. I’m happy for life, so let’s celebrate!” Olo Omidan Bata said excitedly.

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IPADA: VANUATU TRADE COMMISSION IN CONJUNCTION WITH ADCB SET TO EMPOWER 5 MILLION AFRICANS

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The IPADA INITIATIVE founded by Otunba Olawanle Akinboboye has received a massive boost from friends from the Diaspora. The Vanuatu Trade Commission in conjunction with African Diaspora Central Bank has rolled out an array of mouth watering knowledge programmes that is about to fast track and elevate Africa in the global competition for contemporary Al knowledge.

 

H.E. Prof. Dr. Hugh Aryee, the Vanuatu Trade Commissioner to Ghana, shared his excitement in a letter to the Founder of IPADA Initiative, Otunba Olawanle Akinboboye, regarding the launch of a multifaceted AI project aimed at advancing AI-related skills across Africa. Designed to run for a year, this initiative aims to empower Africans by building a foundation of knowledge and skills aligned with global AI standards. As the Vanuatu Trade Commissioner to Ghana, I am optimistic that the IPADA Carnival initiative will expand to reach and positively impact the people of the Republic of Vanuatu, becoming part of our shared journey toward transformative growth and developmen.

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The laudable knowledge impacting training programme is for 5 million Africans over a period of one year, of which 5000 participants will be trained during the carnival, in what is tagged business unusual, over a 3 day period, to kick start the programme.

 

Upon completion of the training programme, the participants will be empowered with AKL Lumi parity value of US $100 and be listed on a learning management system for ongoing learning and career opportunities.

 

This knowledge based skill programme is therefore set to open the entire African continent to a huge new developmental opportunity, that will likely change the face of Africa.

 

The initial training of 5000 participants during the IPADA Carnival will definitely set the ball rolling and open the door to Africans to acquire Al knowledge which ordinarily would have cost each African about a whooping US $1000.

 

Speaking about this to newsmen yesterday, an equally excited Otunba Olawanle Akinboboye, commended H.E. Prof. Dr. Hugh Aryee, the Vanuatu Trade Commissioner to Ghana, and the entire government and people of Vanuatu. He said it is a new dawn that will open up a new chapter, in the relationship between Vanuatu and people of African descent.

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Furthermore on benefits of the fallout of this breaking news, Otunba Olawanle Akinboboye said, “the benefits that will accrue from this, are too overwhelmingly multidimensional. It is going to be a path to a new journey, that will lift Vanuatu to a global space and accord the African continent, fast growth and development.

 

Asked to say something on the IPADA Initiative, H.E. Prof. Dr. Hugh Aryee became very poetic, as he replied:

“When will the children of Africa and lovers of Africa come back home? The IPADA Carnival Initiative is here, paving the way for thousands to journey back to Africa, reconnect with their roots, and celebrate the unity and strength of our heritage. Join us as we welcome the African Diaspora and lovers of Africa to an unforgettable experience of culture, connection, and celebration. This is more than a homecoming; it’s a powerful reminder that Africa is a vibrant, growing heartbeat, welcoming all who share in its dreams and vision.”

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Vanuatu, is an island nation that comprises of 83 islands in the South Pacific ocean, about 800 kilometres west of Fiji and 1800 kilometres east of Australia. The nation reached out to Africa, through IPADA Initiative, and through its Trade Commission in Ghana.

And IPADA which means the return, is a platform created by Motherland Beckons to bring African people from the Diaspora and Lovers of Africa to Africa, to experience the content of Africa through tourism, cultural exchange and business opportunities.

The Ipada Carnival is a ten day long invitation to people of African descent across the globe to experience an unparalleled cultural renaissance in Lagos, Nigeria, at the 65 acres La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort located at Ibeju-lekki.

 

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