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April Obichies Preye Bags Multiple Nominations At TINFF

Nollywood Actress and filmmaker April Obichie’s short film titled Preye has garnered multiple award nominations from the Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival. According to a statement sent to Sunday Scoop, the film aims to raise awareness of female genital mutilation. Obichie played the role of a victim of FGM, while Kelechi Udegbe acted as her husband, Jaja. The film was nominated in categories such as Best Film by a Female Filmmaker(Africa), Best Short Thriller/Drama, and Best Short Film (Nollywood). Expressing joy at the nominations, Obichie said, “Being nominated is such an incredible honour, and I’m so grateful for the recognition. It is a dream come true, and it feels so good to finally see one’s hard work pay off. I can’t wait to see what the future holds.” Obichie, who was also nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her work in the movie, The Waiter, added, “It is truly surreal. It’s an absolute honour to be recognised for my work in such a fantastic film. I am so grateful for the opportunity, and I’m thrilled to be part of it all.”

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Is Salman Khan Finally Settling Down? A Suspicion That Has Fans Going Gaga

For more than three decades, Salman Khan has dominated Bollywood not only with his hit films but also with his title of being one of India’s most eligible bachelors. Even with his string of relationships, gossip, and public speculations, the actor remains single, to the fascination of fans and media personnel alike. But a recent Instagram update from the actor of Battle of Galwan has set the internet agog, fueling renewed rumors about whether the superstar is finally set to get married. On Wednesday, Salman Khan went to Instagram to wish his brother-in-law Atul Agnihotri a happy birthday. What was apparently a normal post soon generated headlines, not for the birthday per se, but for the emotional caption that Salman added with the snap. He wrote: “Happy birthday, Atul. “My bil” means “brother-in-law.” Thank you for taking care of my sister. I love you, man. Best husband and father, now can you please be the man I knew? One day I will be the man you are. Wake up, brother.” It was the line “1 day I vil be the man you are” that caught everyone’s attention. For years, Salman has been asked about his marriage plans, and this cryptic statement seemed like a soft admission that marriage could be on his mind. Social media exploded soon after the post went live. Fans rushed to the comment sections and fan pages, speculating whether Bhaijaan is finally planning to get married. Comments ranged from hopeful curiosity to full-blown excitement: • “So one day Salman will also be married?” • “Matlab bhai shaadi karna chahte hai?” • “Is this the hint we’ve been waiting for?” The fact that Salman mentioned wanting to become a man like his brother-in-law, a dedicated husband and father, was enough to make fans believe that marriage might not be off the table for the superstar anymore. This isn’t the first time Salman has addressed the topic. In an appearance on Aap Ki Adalat with Rajat Sharma, he had opened up about why he has remained unmarried. With his trademark honesty, he said, “Jab upar waala chahega, Sir (when God wills it). Two individuals are needed for marriage. In one case, the marriage didn’t happen. When I said yes, the other person said no. When the other person said yes, I said no. Now it’s a no from both sides. When both say yes, the marriage will happen.” He also added, “There’s still time. I’m 57. I want that this time, it should be the first and last. Matlab ek hi biwi honi chahiye.” This rare moment of vulnerability from Salman revealed that he’s not against marriage; he just hasn’t found the right time or person yet. Salman has had his share of romantic relationships over the years with many top actresses, such as Aishwarya Rai, Katrina Kaif, Iulia Vantur, and Zarine Khan. Perhaps the most serious relationship he had was that with Sangita Bijlani. Rumor had it that their marriage was imminent; wedding cards were even ordered. But the romance did not last after Salman reportedly cheated on her with Somy Ali. While the media have had a field day speculating about his romantic life, Salman has remained tight-lipped, never denying or confirming the various rumors. And yet another recurring motif in Salman’s interviews and public appearances is how much he loves children. He’s reputed to have wanted children even if it meant obtaining a father before a husband. He’s famously documented for having loved his nieces and nephews and frequently posts moments with them on social media. This latest caption expressing admiration for his brother-in-law as a father is yet another indication of how much Salman values the idea of family. While fans are busy speculating about his personal life, Salman remains focused on his professional commitments. He is prepping for his next film, Battle of Galwan, a patriotic drama inspired by the actual confrontation between Indian and Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley in June 2020. Familiar with playing high-impact, emotionally charged roles in the past few years, this movie will see the actor deliver a more intense and realistic performance. Whether Salman Khan is actually going to settle down anytime soon or not, it’s sure that his cryptic caption has re-piqued the public interest in his personal life. Being an individual who has closely kept his personal life under wraps for years, even a little hint from Salman seems monumental. Maybe this time, it’s not just another rumor. Maybe, just maybe, Bhaijaan is finally ready to become a husband and a father, the man he always admired in others. Until then, fans can only wait and hope. After all, in Salman’s own words, “When both say yes, the marriage will happen.”

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Its Okay For Men To Cry, Chimezie Imo Speaks On Mental Health

Actor and model, Chimezie Imo, in commemoration of the Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, has spoken up on the burdens and pressures men, especially actors, face in society. Speaking in an interview with Sunday Scoop, the actor said, “In this part of the world, men don’t express themselves because there are so many expectations. “Sometimes, we tend to be angry when we can’t help financially. But, I’ve learnt that if I could, I would, but when I can’t, it’s also fine and it was conversations around Men’s Mental Health Awareness that helped me with this shift in perspective. It made me take time to realise myself more mentally. It taught me that yes, there’s a lot I want to do as a man, but it’s okay if I can’t do everything. “There’s no such thing as ‘manning up’ for me. It’s okay for a man to cry. Men have feelings. We are humans first with emotions, before being men. It’s okay to go through a breakup and cry and call somebody to tell them how you feel. Sometimes when I see how overwhelmed I am, I just go home, rest, think about the problem and try to find a solution. And if I can’t find one, I just let it be, without beating myself up.” He added that as an actor, he had always needed to protect his mental health. He said, “Your mental health is very important. Nobody will call you for a job if you go crazy. If you bottle up too much inside you, you can have a major outburst on set, and people will start saying ‘Oh, this is how he is,’ not knowing what you’ve been through.” The actor also advised that therapy should be encouraged for actors, especially because some of them leave the set with the characters they’ve played, and which “messes” with their mental health.

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North Biggest Beneficiary Of Tinubus Govt APC Vice Chair, Salihu

The National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (North-East Zone), Mustapha Salihu, speaks with ISMAEEL UTHMAN on the endorsement of President Bola Tinubu for a second term and the reported move to drop Vice President Kashim Shettima in 2027. Why did you omit Vice President Kashim Shettima’s name during the endorsement of President Bola Tinubu for a second term at the July 15 North-East APC Stakeholders’ meeting? That report is mischievous because nobody comes into a primary election with a running mate in any party. Everybody contests individually. After securing the ticket, the candidate then picks his running mate. In line with that, the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress, at its last national summit in Abuja, passed a resolution to adopt President Bola Tinubu as the sole candidate of the party. So, as the North-East zone chairman and a member of the NWC, I only reaffirmed and adopted the endorsement earlier made by the NWC on Tinubu. There was no harm intended. The procedure was followed, but people quoted it out of context because some of them lack knowledge of party procedures. The violence that erupted at the meeting was unnecessary. An individual who brought thugs into the arena caused the problem. That action did not represent the position of any state, including Borno. It was the act of one person who has benefitted from thuggery throughout his political career and still seeks to benefit from it. We thank God that all the stakeholders understood the situation, and nobody has credited that thuggish act. The Vice President is not in support of such conduct. If you consider his personality and that of the Governor of Borno State, they are too educated and refined to support such archaic politics. Who was that individual responsible for the violence? He is a political actor who is traditionally a thug and was given a position of power but has refused to refine or develop himself. He remains stuck in thuggery, thinking he is helping while, in fact, damaging the reputation and leadership of the state. Nobody wants to be associated with violence in politics. In a democracy, everyone has the right to express their opinions without hindrance. If people with opposing views are afraid to speak out for fear of being attacked, then there is no freedom of opinion, association, or speech. That is not what we practice. What he did was highly counterproductive. He believed he was protecting the interests of his bosses, but we regret any inconvenience his conduct may have caused the public. That is not what the APC stands for. It was an isolated incident, and we are working to ensure that everyone involved is brought to book. It will not happen again. Are you aware of reports suggesting that President Tinubu may drop vice president Shettima in 2027, and that some people are already positioning themselves to replace him? That is above my pay grade. I don’t know anything about that. But I want to refer to historical events. Since 1999, no administration has been free from speculation that the president wants to drop his deputy. It happened during the Obasanjo-Atiku era. You know what occurred during the brief Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan period. The same rumours surfaced during the Buhari-Osinbajo administration. So, the speculation about Tinubu dropping Shettima isn’t new. But there is no evidence or any empirical sign of a rift between Tinubu and Shettima. That said, it is the prerogative of the President to… let’s leave it at that. The North-Central has been agitating for the Vice Presidency to be zoned to their region. Would you be willing to relinquish the VP slot? We will not. Emphatically and categorically, we will not. This is a federation. Every region, every federating unit—has the right to aspire and pursue what it believes is due to it. But we believe we are the rightful beneficiaries of the Vice Presidency, and we intend to hold on to it. We will do everything within legal and political bounds to retain this seat through political consensus. We are going to sit with the North-Central and explain why they should support us in retaining the VP slot. We operate through free and fair political consultation, and through elite and stakeholder consensus. That is how we achieve our goals because we cannot operate in isolation as a zone. We need other zones. You earlier wanted to say it’s the President’s prerogative to choose his running mate. What will be the reaction of North-East APC if Tinubu decides not to pick his VP from your zone in 2027? Most of what you are asking me falls above my pay grade. What I can assure you is that our support for the President is unconditional. I have said it countless times: we never, and will never, endorse the President with conditions attached. We are grateful that the President picked our son as Vice President. We are also grateful that he appointed the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, from our region. We appreciate the ministries allocated to us—Agriculture, Health, Humanitarian Affairs, and so on. These are major ministries, and there are other political offices too. We are thankful for all of this and for the confidence the President has shown in our people. That is why our stakeholders decided to endorse the President unconditionally, not because he needs it or because it will make much difference politically, but because even God, when He gives you something, expects appreciation. So, we are simply appreciating the President and giving him a moral boost. How do you respond to claims that the North is being marginalised under Tinubu’s administration? This is a democracy; everyone is entitled to an opinion. But I am a scientist; I base my analysis on data, not rumours. Let’s put the numbers on the table. The North has the lion’s share from this government. From the most critical source of income in this country which is the NNPCL, to the least, the North is well represented. The person heading the NNPCL is a northerner. The entire security architecture of this country, which has the largest budget allocation, is in the hands of a northerner. Ministries such as Agriculture and Food Security, Livestock, Health, Regional Development, and Humanitarian Affairs are among the largest in terms of budget and project implementation, and they are headed by northerners. We even have a Minister of State for Works, under whose supervision parastatals like the Federal Road Maintenance Agency operate. Both the substantive Minister and Minister of State for Defence are northerners. The National Security Adviser is also from the North. So, we have a lot. However, we will not silence the opposition or suppress criticism. We advise that people should be constructive. Nigeria is the only country we have. Yes, criticise, but let it be in a way that allows the government to adjust. Spreading lies only creates discord; it doesn’t help development. A northerner was president for eight years and left just over two years ago. Did he also marginalise the North? Our problems in the North are systemic and endemic. Let’s not shy away from discussing them. Let’s bring them to the table so the government can design tailor-made solutions. That is my candid advice to my elders and brothers who are making noise without any good thing to show. The anti-Tinubu coalition cites economic hardship as a major reason for demanding a change in government. Do you think that’s a valid reason? Most of those currently opposing Tinubu have benefitted from him at one point or another. Tinubu provided platforms for some of them when their own parties rejected them. He has helped many of them at various stages of their careers. So, this is a case of biting the hand that fed you. Many of them have no genuine interest in Nigeria. They are serial contestants, pursuing only the interests of their allies and immediate families. They don’t care what happens to the country. They will always be in opposition to whoever is in power, so long as they are not the one. It is true they are trying to form a coalition, but the APC is ready. We are not sleeping. We must return to the grassroots and sensitise our people because these are the lies that the opposition is feeding them. I want to encourage political appointees to go to the grassroots and ensure proper orientation for the people. Let the people understand the gimmicks being played. Nigeria is one country. Anything good for the North is also good for the South. The South supported us to become president. We ruled for eight years. Now it is their turn. Let’s also support them. Let them complete their eight years. We must be fair. What about equity? You had your turn in peace, allow others to have theirs in peace too. The anti-Tinubu coalition has been citing hardship as a major reason for change of government. Do you think that is enough reason? Nigeria is not isolated; we are part of a global system. Anyone who has travelled abroad knows that inflation is everywhere. Let’s use the dollar as a yardstick. Take $100 and see what it can buy in Nigeria in terms of foodstuff. Then take that same $100 to Ghana and see if it will buy even 30 percent of what it buys in Nigeria. Inflation is not as bad as people are projecting. Yes, it exists and it is global. But we are doing our best to maintain a standard of living. The N70,000 minimum wage is part of the effort to ease hardship. There is no reform without unintended consequences. That’s why social scientists say social change is ubiquitous. It is ambivalent; it comes with both good and bad outcomes. People just need to be patient. The benefits will come, and they will be enormous. As human beings, we are often impatient and quick to forget. We’ve forgotten the days when states couldn’t pay salaries, when ministries went for months without salaries, and when oil production was down to 800,000 barrels per day. We don’t want to compare then and now. It will just be amplifying the small mishaps that we have now, which are as a result of bold policies that will save this country. Assuming we are still maintaining the fuel subsidy regime, where are we going to be now? We are going to be insolvent. But today, we have saved money, we are paying our foreign debts, thereby making us investment friendly and also showing that we are now a credit worthy country. If we go to anywhere again to look for credit for infrastructure, we will get it. Before, if you knew someone at the Central Bank, you could walk in and get $1m. Within 30 minutes, you could earn N60–70m in profit. That’s how people became millionaires off the nation’s commonwealth. Nobody talks about how this administration has stopped that. They only talk about isolated issues. Yes, there is hardship, and yes, there is room for improvement. But the reforms are saving Nigeria. After the July 15 APC North-East meeting, have you reached out to the aggrieved members? Yes. In fact, immediately after that meeting, the first thing we did was to review the outcome. We later realised that what happened at the meeting was premeditated, it was not a crowd reaction. Even if I had just greeted people and left, there were people already sponsored to attack me and cause a scene. This was the personal interest of one individual among all the stakeholders in the zone. Investigations are still ongoing. Other stakeholders have called me and apologised on behalf of their people. I have also put it behind me. There was an attempted assault on me, though they didn’t succeed in touching me, as I was able to find my way out. That is the price of leadership, and I cannot hold grudges to the point that it would damage our zone. Has there been any arrest? No. We consider this a family affair. We don’t want to begin with arrests or legal proceedings. We want to explore the party’s internal mechanisms first to resolve the issue. If that succeeds, no one will hear of the matter again. If it fails, then we may consider arrests and legal action. God has actually curtailed the situation. It was a mob action, and someone could have been killed or seriously injured. But, by God’s grace, that didn’t happen. They didn’t even get the chance to lay a finger on me. They missed the headline they were hoping for—“Five injured, one killed at North-East APC meeting.” The North-East Development Commission has been criticised for making slow progress. What steps are being taken to ensure it delivers on its mandate? We don’t know what they are doing. There is no synergy between the commission and the party. I’m being categorical about it. We are preparing a position paper to the President on the matter. They are not aligning with the Renewed Hope Agenda, nor are they aligning with the party’s manifesto. As the National Vice Chairman of the party in the North-East, I don’t know what they are doing. I don’t even know where their office is.