Davido explains the reason for the hate he gets

Davido is of the opinion that those who hate him only do so because they are "mad" about his father's wealth.



He said this while responding to a Twitter user.



"Davido doesn't deserve the amount of hate he gets," the Twitter user wrote.



And Davido responded: "What hate ?? The just mad my Dad rich !! MY FANS LOVE ME !!"

Abba Kyari almost became Obasanjo’s VP in 1999 - President Buhari's nephew, Mamman Daura

President Buhari's nephew, Mamman Daura has penned down a glowing tribute to his uncle's Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari who died of Coronavirus last week.



Daura described Kyari as an intelligent man who was recommended as running mate to Olusegun Obasanjo after Nigeria returned to democracy in 1999.



He wrote;




“These times coincided with the country’s return to democracy and Malam Abba was among those enthusiastically espousing the cause of General Obasanjo.

“On his selection as PDP candidate, a group of women and youths in the PDP lobbied Obasanjo to pick Malam Abba as his vice presidential running mate. After heated debates, Obasanjo eventually picked Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

“In the 2003 elections, Malam Abba was in opposite camps with President Obasanjo. General Muhammadu Buhari had declared his intention the previous year to contest the presidency and Malam Abba joined his team and worked wholeheartedly in all the campaigns through the drudgery and injustices of the 2003, 2007 and 2011 elections without losing hope or sight of the ultimate goal.



He further revealed that the late Kyari stood firmly behind Buhari and his “perseverance paid off” in 2015, when Buhari won the presidential election.



Daura added;




“To his great surprise, the president appointed Malam Abba as the chief of staff. Fortified by the rigours of a Cambridge education and varied experience in banking, industry, investment and journalism, Malam Abba set himself the task of defining the role, functions and status of the chief of staff. He started by consulting previous incumbents of the position he could reach as a way of educating himself of the challenges ahead of him."



President Buhari's nephew also recalled how Kyari lived a very simple life and never took up the flamboyance people in his class were known for.




“He lived a fairly simple life and habitually wore a red cap, white clothing and black shoes. He had to be forced by his friends to change the cap and he wore the shoes to the ground before buying a new pair.

“Malam Abba Kyari was a man blessed with mountainous gifts and uncommon attributes of intelligence, diligence, hard work, loyalty to friends and worthy causes.

“I first set eyes on Malam Abba about 47 years ago. I was at my desk at the New Nigerian newspapers office scribbling something or other when the gate messenger brought a sheet of paper with a name ‘Abba Kyari Chima’ wanting to see the editor.

“When he came in he looked winsome and slightly diffident. After pleasantries I wanted to know his reason for coming to New Nigerian. He said he read and liked an editorial in the paper a few days earlier headed: ‘Solution looking for a Problem’ and he resolved to work with us. After swift enquiry, I was told there were no vacancies in the newsroom nor in sub-editing. But a lowly position existed as proof reader as someone had just left.

“I was about to apologise to him that what was available was beneath his station. Malam Abba quickly said: “I will take it.” After formalities he was enrolled as a staff of New Nigerian.

“By ‘taking it’ he was taking a sizeable cut from his previous teaching job’s pay as the salary scales in the New Nigerian where Malam Abba and I worked were historic in their frugality. You couldn’t get fat on the wages of the New Nigerian in the mid -70s.”



Daura also disclosed that Kyari who helped revive the United Bank for Africa (UBA) before becoming its chief executive officer, was greatly influenced by some Indian professors.




“When Mr. Hakeem Belo-Osagie assembled a team of investors and managers to help revive the collapsing UBA, Malam Abba was persuaded to join the group and after weeks of diligence the group acquired UBA and Malam Abba joined the bank as a Senior executive.

“Needless to relate, he eventually became the bank’s chief executive and on retirement was persuaded to remain as non-executive vice-chairman.

“Malam Abba was at odds with many senior members of the government on economic policies. Many Nigerian elites tend to lean towards the Bretton Woods one-size-fits-all solutions long discredited and demonstrably failed in so many so-called third World countries. Malam Abba tended to look inward for solutions and was not an ideologue.

“He was heavily influenced by two Nobel laureates, the great West Indian economist, Professor Arthur Lewis and the eminent Indian Professor Amartya Sen, the latter Malam Abba frequently called to exchange views. Despite holding firm views, his advice to the president was dispassionate, even-handed and did not hide unpleasant facts, in the best traditions of public service. In point of intellect, he stood above all ministers and special advisers in this government.”



Daura further revealed that Abba Kyari donated his house in Maiduguri, Borno state to internally displaced persons (IDPs) since he was no longer living there. The President's nephew said 75 persons were also being taken care of by the ex-chief of staff, alongside his children.



He added;




“Few people knew that over ten years ago, he turned his house in Maiduguri (since he no longer resided there) into accommodation for IDPs. At some stage there were 75 people whom Malam Abba was feeding, clothing and looking after; in addition to their children’s education."

Actor Joshua Jackson and wife Jodie Turner-Smith welcome their first child, a girl

Canadian-American actor, Joshua Jackson and his wife, model and actress Jodie Turner-Smith have welcomed their first child together.



The couple’s baby arrived on 21 April 2020, after Queen & Slim star Jodie revealed they were expecting a daughter.


A rep for Joshua confirmed the happy news to Metro.co.uk, adding: ‘Both mother and baby are happy and healthy.’


Jodie, 33, and Joshua, 41, were reported to have tied the knot in a secret ceremony in 2019.


Neither of the actors have confirmed or denied their secret wedding, but the actress said in an interview: ‘People are assuming whatever they want, but when people tell me “Congratulations,” I say “Thank you.”’

AY reveals the challenges celebrities face when giving to charity

Comedian, AY Makun has opened up about the challenges he and other celebrities face when giving to the needy.



He said when celebrities give in private, they are usually called out on social media for being stingy and not joining their fellow celebrities to help the poor. When they decide to take photos and videos of their giving and share publicly, they are accused of showing off.



He added that when companies give back to society and announce it, it's called "Corporate Social Responsibility", but when individual celebrities so it, they are shamed for showing off their acts of charity.



He wrote:




The major problem we have concerning the act of giving in Nigeria, are people who lace good thoughts with insults to the detriment of the givers. When celebrities give to people in need without letting you know anything about it, you say to them "All you Yeyebrities are busy posting pictures of your houses when your mates are doing a lot to help people who are hungry out there". When we respond by letting you know how we have been doing a whole lot to help, some of you ask for proofs by saying " Please don't come here and tell us how you've been helping people with what we can't see or confirm". When we now give and let you in our business, you come to us again and call it 'showoff'. When companies operating within our environments gives to the people and announce it to the public with bigger events and unveilings, you applaud them and accept the ideas as good acts of Corporate Social Responsibility. But when celebrities with brand names do exactly same,You will still sneak in on them with your negative comments, and call them 'Audio Givers or Showoff Kings/Queens. You even sometimes attack them by saying " Do it quietly, we don't have to know on social media". It is actually okay to make constructive suggestions or share better ideas on how to give to those in need, without trying to indict the people that are at least making some efforts. Let's make it our responsibility to do the best we can in changing the things we don't like by encouraging each other respectfully.
Rather than have a picture of someone 'showing off' in your head, celebrate the individual who is doing what the government is not doing for its citizens in need. Social responsibility is what everybody is entitled to do in their own ways.

I have more respect for you after making a mistake and owning up to it - Don Jazzy tells Funke Akindele

Don Jazzy has applauded actress Funke Akindele-Bello for owning up to her mistake after her faceoff with the Lagos state government.



Recall that the actress and her hubby, JJC Skillz, were arraigned before an Ogba Magistrate court by the state government for holding a house party in their Amen estate home on April 5 despite the social distancing order. Funke acknowledged her mistake and thereafter apologised to Nigerians.



In a post shared this morning, Don Jazzy says he has more respect for her for making such a mistake and owning up to it.


''#WCW I have always admired your talent and hard work but I have more respect for you now as a person. You made a mistake and you owned it. This takes courage and you have shown all of us that you are courageous. As humans, we must make mistakes. Only God is perfect. My prayer everyday is that I don’t make a mistake that will cost me my life or reputation.

You have made yours and the whole world has seen. Thankfully, it didn’t cost you your life or anyone else’s. Just a tiny reputational damage that in my opinion you have already restored because you have paid the price with jara on top. If you dey shame, stop am o, because as TuBaba talk, “nobody holy pass”. I pray that henceforth, you continue to be the good example that you have always been to us all. Amen. One more thing, I don dey act now o. Tenks! #IDJA cc @funkejenifaakindele'' he wrote

Georgia governor, Brian Kemp to reopen gyms, bowling alleys, saloons and some other businesses from April 24

Some Georgia businesses that have been shut down for weeks now, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, will be allowed to reopen later this week. Also, the statewide shelter-in-place order will be ending at the end of the month, Gov. Brian Kemp announced Monday.



Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp announced plans to allow gyms, bowling alleys, hair and nail salons, massage therapists and more to reopen their doors as early as Friday, April 24, if they adhere to social distancing measures and hygiene requirements.



He added that theaters, private social clubs & restaurant dine-in services can reopen on Monday, April 27.



Governor Kemp tweeted: "Due to favorable data & more testing, gyms, fitness centers, bowling alleys, body art studios, barbers, cosmetologists, hair designers, nail care artists, estheticians, their respective schools & massage therapists can reopen Friday, April 24 with Minimum Basic Operations. #gapol.







"Minimum Basic Operations includes, but is not limited to, screening workers for fever and respiratory illness, enhancing workplace sanitation, wearing masks & gloves if appropriate, separating workspaces by six feet, teleworking if possible & implementing staggered shifts. #gapol.



"Subject to specific social distancing & sanitation mandates, theaters, private social clubs & restaurant dine-in services will be allowed to reopen on Monday, April 27. We'll release more information in the next few days. #gapol.



"Bars, nightclubs, operators of amusement park rides & live performance venues will remain closed. #gapol







"The shelter in place order is still active and expires at 11:59 PM on April 30 for most Georgians. We urge everyone to continue to follow @CDCgov & @GaDPH guidance by sheltering in place as often as you can. #gapol."







Kemp said emergency room visits from people with flu-like symptoms are declining in Georgia, a sign that infections are down.



The news comes as the Georgia Department of Public Health reports at least 18,947 confirmed cases of Coronavirus in the state, including 733 deaths.



Kemp's announcement has been criticized by a number of people who opined that it's not the smartest decision, considering that Coronavirus is still a threat in the state.







Several mayors in Georgia said they weren't given any notice of the announcement and questioned the governor's decision.



Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms told CNN on Monday she had not spoken with Kemp before learning of his decision to reopen businesses. Bottoms said she was concerned about the move as Georgia’s case count continues to go up and asymptomatic people or people with mild symptoms are not being tested.



Bottoms said: "We really are at a loss and I am concerned as a mother and the mayor of our capital city. I am perplexed that we have opened up in this way. ... As I look at the data and as I talk with our public health officials, I don’t see that it’s based on anything that’s logical."



However, some Georgia business owners were happy about the announcement and said they were eager to reopen their doors.

US Senate passes new $484b Coronavirus relief package for small businesses, hospitals and Covid-19 testing

The US Senate has approved about $484 billion in new coronavirus aid for small businesses, hospitals and testing, making it the US' second economic relief package since the Coronavirus pandemic started, if signed into law.


The agreement, made after weeks of negotiation and disagreements between Republican and Democratic Lawmakers was passed by a voice vote after agreements were made on Sunday and Monday.



The deal will include an additional $310 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), $60 billion specifically for community banks and smaller lenders, as well as $75 billion for hospitals, $25 billion for testing, and $60 billion for emergency disaster loans and grants.







Sen. Rand Paul (Republican-Kentucky) said he opposed the funding but would not block its passage because more bail outs will increase America's annual deficit.



Senator Rand is the only senator who has been infected with the coronavirus.


"The virus bailouts have already cost over $2 trillion. Our annual deficit this year will approach $4 trillion. We can't continue on this course. No amount of bailout dollars will stimulate an economy that is being strangled by quarantine," Paul said from the Senate floor on Tuesday.



The House of Reps is expected to pass the bill on Thursday morning, with members returning to Washington for a recorded vote.



US President Trump threw his support behind the relief package on Tuesday.

"I urge the Senate and House to pass the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act with additional funding for PPP, Hospitals, and Testing," Trump tweeted.