celebrity radar - gossips
Amosun:Tinpot Emperor by Sam Omatseye
His cap fits him, especially as a measure of his ego. It points up like an airport tower as though intending to graze the sky. Ibikunle Amosun’s head gear suffers from what Sigmund Freud and his followers would call phallic anxiety. From base to top, the cap occupies a real estate bigger than his face from fore-head to chin. To his credit, few politicians have so mastered what I would call the “political look.” Some showcase their shirts, others their shoes, many their caps. But few set themselves apart like the Ogun State governor as a fop of the head. Many say it is inelegant with the top rims caved in so the centre spikes up like a blade. But it is his own.
What does not fit, though, is the man and his task. So, Amosun may be a governor, but he is not gubernatorial. He has never been gubernatorial, not even before he mounted the throne and grovelled in prayer from party leader to party leader, sitting in lobbies on end and playing the suppliant fellow as an impresario of humility. Like Oliver Goldsmith’s familiar character, Amosun thinks he stooped then. Now it is his time to conquer. He was afflicted early by the fear of gratitude, and his ogas must pay for his humble pie.
The first shadow of the ego at work was a picture of a flood few months into his reign. The man paid a visit, and in spite of his ponderous boots, he would not allow his special footwear to touch the intrusive waters. He cruised on a canoe while the rest of Ogun humanity around swam. He, with his boots, was too pristine for the stain.
Of late though, what he has done puts the man in bold relief, especially his bold belief. He wanted to post his successor, and he had the right to it. But he wanted to do it without due process. A godfather must earn the respect of his son. The scriptures warn parents not to provoke their children to wrath. It was lesson number one that he did not understand. He was less than the lesson. Godfathers must play a delicate game of balance and flattery of conflicting interests and tendencies. If he wants to impose he must follow the paradox of imposition by consent. He followed the path of imposition by fiat.
Because he was too confident, he fell out of touch with the grassroots. The primary poll came, and he lost. His candidate for governor had to wait on the side-lines. But while others cheered, he lamented. His party, the APC, had thumbed its finger for another man, Dapo Abiodun. Amosun would not yield. His patriarchal air would not absorb such a defeat. He had to seek oxygen elsewhere.
His path was to seek another party, and be on record as one of a few governors who are leaders without discipline. He betrayed what Joseph Conrad calls a “bravado of guilt” or “an adventurer’s easy morality.” He, like his Imo State mate of erections, Rochas Okorocha, announced that his candidate was going to another party. A party leader masterminded an anti-party activity. Party chairman Adams Oshiomhole yelled, but the man Amosun yelled back. He had cried that party leaders had squeezed him out of contention in his own realm.
He screamed at Lagos, and at Abuja, and he screamed until he turned hoarse. He said he wanted to run as senatorial candidate of APC. The people of Ogun State he urged to vote him as APC senator and his candidate Akinlade of the APM as the governor pick. That was local politics.
He who claimed to love Buhari more than the so-called cabal decided to play another stunt. His people should vote Buhari of the APC for president, him for senator and Akinlade for governor. A confused trinity. He took his man Akinlade on a sojourn to Aso Rock. It was indeed a theatre when even Buhari received Amosun in Aso Rock and received the candidate and posed for the camera. If all politics is local, Amosun is making the byway the main road. Governor is main road but by asking his supporters to go to another party for the top post in the state, he made the byway the main road.
Segun Osoba had to remind Buhari that he had erred woefully by taking the party pick to visit him. But Buhari is for everyone and nobody and the translation is that Buhari is for Buhari only. By that, Buhari had become guilty like Amosun.
But nothing reflected the absurdity like what happened in Abeokuta at the APC rally when members of his own rival party APM pelted the president with missiles and boos. He endangered the life of the first citizen. Rauf Aregbesola called him a hypocrite. It was a lawless scene that day. Eyewitness accounts show that persons were mauled and one person’s eye was gouged.
Yet he wants to be a senator. As I tweeted, we have enough of the tout in a certain fellow from Kogi State. The senate cannot abide another one, especially if he was once governor. Amosun is a great shuffler. That day, he jostled Abiodun from the front row. It took the vice president’s intervention who ceded his place beside the president to him. Prof Yemi Osinbajo had to secure a place on the other side of the president. More than one governor has told me that when his colleagues gather around the president, he often pushes them away so as to stand beside Buhari. Hence he is often beside the man for photo ops, unless on a few occasions when the shuffler fails.
Amosun ought to learn about the limits of power. A friend of mine apprised me of a text message he sent Amosun as new year greetings in 2017. Excerpt: “…it is obvious the euphoria that greeted your ascension to power in 2011 has avoidably vanished… rather than be the solution, most inhabitants of the Gateway state, including civil servants, most politicians, civil society groups, market men and women now see you as the problem…this could be traced only to one factor: …you listen only to yourself…which can only lead to self-perdition…why are you daring God with your published statement that you know the person that won’t be governor come 2019…you’re determined to play Babangida here but we all know how Babangida ended…but try to reflect on why the populace of that state no longer like you. Remember the verdict of history and the incontrovertible fact that: today is not forever.”
During the Yoruba Wars, the story is told of an Alafin, who grovelled by day and plotted by night, and he ended up in the night of infamy. For now, we can say Amosun is playing emperor, but an expiring one. His reign is going roughneck into that goodnight. He is raging against the dying of his light, apologies Dylan Thomas.
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Peter Obi Breaks Silence on Rome Visit Amid Smears and Propaganda Storm
Presidential hopeful and former Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, has calmly addressed a wave of politically charged misinformation following his recent visit to the Vatican, where he attended an inauguration ceremony. The backlash, largely fanned by known government allies Femi Fani-Kayode, Reno Omokri, and Omoyele Sowore, misrepresented the nature of his visit and falsely accused him of refusing to “pay homage” to the Pope until a supposed presidential intervention.
Contrary to the sensational headlines, Mr. Obi clarified that he did not meet the Pope, nor was such a meeting on his agenda. “I bought my own ticket and traveled for what I believe is a personal, non-political trip,” he told a close confidant in Abuja before departing. Emphasizing his commitment to modesty, Obi disclosed that he flew economy class, adding, “It’s the difference between business class and economy that I use for donations to build classrooms.”
Obi’s visit to Rome mirrored his past trips to the Vatican, including the 2013 inauguration of Pope Francis. A Papal Knight and longstanding Catholic faithful, Mr. Obi is no stranger to such events. This time, he traveled alongside former Ekiti State Governor Dr. Kayode Fayemi, both of whom held official passes granting them VIP access. They also paid a visit to Cardinal Francis Arinze, a 90-year-old Nigerian cleric and longtime Vatican figure — an act Obi has made a tradition of during such visits.
The criticisms have drawn widespread rebuke, with many questioning why a man known for self-funding his travels and donating millions to health and education continues to face political smears, while those squandering public funds remain unchallenged. Obi’s quiet return to Nigeria was followed, as usual, by school and hospital visits — the kind of grassroots outreach that has cemented his reputation as a man of service, not spectacle.
As misinformation continues to plague Nigeria’s political discourse, observers are calling for a return to truth and substance. “Enough of the lies. Enough of the propaganda. The truth has no tribe,” said a supporter who met with Obi before his Rome trip.
In an era of performative politics, Obi’s response has once again underscored his consistent message: humility, service, and transparency over noise.
celebrity radar - gossips
Casssahaaat!” – Davido Sparks Frenzy After Flaunting Mysterious Multi-Million Dollar Paycheck
Casssahaaat!” – Davido Sparks Frenzy After Flaunting Mysterious Multi-Million Dollar Paycheck
Afrobeats sensation Davido has set social media ablaze once again after teasing fans with a cryptic Instagram post flaunting a massive paycheck — but keeping the final figure under wraps. In the now-viral post, the superstar shared an image revealing just “$11” followed by a string of blurred-out zeros, captioned simply with his signature exclamation, “Casssahaaat!”, and laughing emojis.
The post has sparked a wave of speculation and banter online, with fans and critics alike attempting to decode the real figure behind the blurred digits. Many believe the paycheck is a staggering $11 million, roughly ₦1.7 billion, though Davido has yet to confirm.
This latest flex follows backlash the singer received for flaunting his $500,000 diamond-studded teeth and $2 million necklace, fueling debates around extravagance and humility. But Davido, never shy to stir the pot, appears unfazed by the criticism.
Fans flooded the comment section with mixed reactions. One user, Rich Hommie_yslimm, joked, “Make I show my account balance na radio station?” while Victor Timilehin quipped, “Fatherless children will soon start crying.” Another fan, Akass Onah, threw shade with, “30BG but we ain’t sure the amount, that might be 11k dozz,” and Ayomitunde Adeleke chimed in, “Now I know why they call me the broke Adeleke.”
As usual, Davido remains a master of both music and mystery — leaving fans guessing, critics grumbling, and the internet buzzing.
celebrity radar - gossips
From the Pulpit to the Tarmac: Televangelist Timothy Omotoso Deported After 8-Year Legal Battle
“Unwelcome Return: South Africa Deports Televangelist Timothy Omotoso After Acquittal
JOHANNESBURG — Controversial Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso has been deported from South Africa after being declared an undesirable person by the Department of Home Affairs, just weeks after his dramatic acquittal on high-profile criminal charges.
Omotoso was officially deported on May 18, 2025, with viral footage showing him being escorted by South African police and Home Affairs officials as he boarded a flight back to Nigeria at OR Tambo International Airport.
The founder of Jesus Dominion International was acquitted in April of 32 charges, including rape, human trafficking, and racketeering — allegations that had kept him behind bars for nearly eight years following his arrest in 2017. His case gripped the South African public and drew widespread international media coverage, particularly due to the graphic nature of the testimonies and repeated delays in the judicial process.
While Omotoso walked free from the courtroom last month, his legal vindication did not spare him from expulsion. According to the South African Department of Home Affairs, his presence in the country was no longer considered welcome, prompting immediate deportation proceedings.
“Mr. Timothy Omotoso has been declared an undesirable person under the Immigration Act. He was removed from the Republic on May 18, 2025,” the department confirmed in a brief statement.
The deportation has reignited debate around South Africa’s immigration and justice systems. Critics argue that Omotoso’s lengthy pretrial detention and eventual acquittal reflect deep flaws in the country’s legal machinery. Others insist his removal was necessary to preserve public trust and prevent further division.
Omotoso’s defense team, meanwhile, has decried the move as politically motivated and unjust, suggesting the televangelist is being punished despite his acquittal.
“This is not just deportation. It’s an attempt to erase a man who was never proven guilty in a court of law,” a source close to Omotoso’s ministry told reporters.
Since his return to Nigeria, Omotoso has remained out of the public eye, with no official statement yet from his church or legal representatives. Whether he will attempt to continue his religious mission from his home country — or mount a legal challenge to his deportation — remains to be seen.
His case, marked by emotional testimony, legal wrangling, and now, forced removal, is likely to be remembered as one of the most polarizing chapters in South Africa’s recent legal history.
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