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‘The Musical controversy’ House of Oduduwa, Austen-Peters battle for Moremi soul

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A controversy is brewing between the House of Oduduwa and Bolanle Austen-Peters Productions over the intellectual right to the Moremi the Musical.

Recall that Bolanle Austen-Peters, despite objections from the House of Oduduwa, announced the successful screen of the controversial stage play with almost about 40,000 views.

According to a statement signed by the producer of Moremi the Musical, Joseph Umoibom, while reiterating that it ownership belongs to BAP, stated that the stage play was its own contribution in ameliorating the effect of coronavirus lockdown.

“It was like our own CSR to Nigerians and, more importantly, a gift to our teeming fans all over the world and to the cast and crew of the play whose sweat and labour of love have once again been appreciated by the wonderful comments while the streaming was on.

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“We have the right on the intellectual property ownership of the play, as the signed MoU is a legal document that clearly stipulates the rights and entitlements of the collaborating parties on the project,” he said.

But the House of Oduduwa thought otherwise.

The House of Oduduwa insisted that Bolanle Austen-Peters didn’t have the right to stream the stage online as IP right wasn’t part of the signed agreement.

“Mrs Bolanle Austen- Peters did not tell the world the full story of her infringement of Intellectual Property Rights in ‘Moremi The Musical’ written, produced and performed under an agreement between Bolanle Austen Peters Productions (BAP) and House of Oduduwa Foundation (HoOF).

“In September 2018, the two parties entered into an agreement where BAP was commissioned to adapt and deliver the Moremi script for stage performance of Moremi The Musical in Nigeria and abroad,” HoOF claimed.

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It was also alleged that BAP was fully paid for delivering the stage performances including payment for the use of its TerraKulture venue.

“In due recourse to Mrs. Austen-Peters, the play was billed to continue in December 2019. However, Mrs. Bolanle Austen-Peters refused to participate because she was busy with other plans. We pleaded with her to no avail. We had paid for the venue. She told us to cancel. We had no other choice than to commission another production company with their own choreography, music and direction to deliver the stage performance at InterContinental, at an additional huge cost to HoOF.

“The question we asked ourselves was; should we be stuck with Mrs. Austen-Peters’ personal programmes or preferences when we knew we own the intellectual property rights and we could commission new production, especially after her refusal?”

That was the disagreement HoOF had with BAP or so it thought it was the only disagreement.

“Little did we know she could go as far as embarking on streaming the play on YouTube when she knew that was far outside her domain because she did not own the IP rights.”

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The HoOF lamented that it was unfortunate for a professional to act in such a way and unapologetically breach an agreement.

“It is unfortunate that those who ought to know better can chose to embark on actions in breach of the law.

“For the avoidance of doubt, BAP does not own the intellectual property rights in Moremi The Musical and clearly she could not have owned the rights in the original script or the trademark – “Queen Moremi Ajansoro” belonging to the HoOF, neither does she have the right to exploit the work in the digital media as she has flagrantly done in what she has called her ‘version of the play’.

“No ethical entity in the creative or any industry at all would tread that path in infringement of Intellectual Property Rights if they are not under the impression that they are above the law.

“It is now her lot to rush to the public arena to justify her unlawful and illegal act.”

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The HoOF threatened not to let such attitude fly by without due action.

“We promise every well-meaning lover of arts that we will not allow this unlawful act to stand, not to the utter disdain on the office of Ooni & the House of Oduduwa Foundation,” the statement read.

How this friction will pan out, the coming days is pregnant.

The House of Oduduwa Foundation in an ongoing commitment to relentless service to humanity, is a vocal advocate for the less privileged, driven by His Imperial Majesty, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II.

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Mr Macaroni calls for Government action amid crisis in Enugu State

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Mr Macaroni, Enugu State crisis

Mr Macaroni condemns government inaction over the ongoing crisis in Enugu, where over 44 farm settlements have been overrun

 

Popular Nigerian content creator and rights activist, Mr Macaroni, has voiced his concerns over the ongoing crisis in Enugu State, where more than 44 farm settlements have reportedly been overtaken, displacing residents.

The affected communities, including Abor Ishala, Mgbuji, Agu-Amede, Eha-Agu, and Umuhu, have been devastated by escalating violence, forcing many to flee their homes in fear for their lives.

In a post shared on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Mr Macaroni expressed frustration over the perceived silence of both the federal and state governments in the face of this growing crisis in southern Nigeria. He criticised the lack of action and described it as a glaring injustice that required immediate attention.

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“The evil happening in Enugu should be condemned by everyone! The government must act swiftly and show there is zero tolerance for this sort of barbarism!” he wrote, calling for urgent intervention to protect the lives of citizens.

The comedian and rights advocate further warned that continued inaction from the government could result in citizens taking matters into their own hands to defend their homes and properties. He cautioned that such actions would only escalate the violence, leading to further loss of innocent lives.

“When the government remains silent, people are forced to protect themselves, which often leads to more violence and the death of innocents. Injustice is injustice—no matter where it occurs, whether in the North, East, South, or West—we must always speak against it,” Mr Macaroni added.

His call for a stronger government response echoes growing concerns among Nigerians about the rising insecurity in many parts of the country. As tensions continue to rise in Enugu, citizens are increasingly calling for government accountability and action to ensure peace and safety for all.

With more communities under siege and no clear signs of relief, the need for a decisive and compassionate government response is more pressing than ever.

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Cynthia Morgan appeals to President Tinubu over fuel subsidy removal hardship

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Cynthia Morgan appeals Tinubu

Cynthia Morgan (Madrina) urges President Tinubu to roll back the full fuel subsidy removal due to the increasing hardship, inflation, and crime rates

 

Nigerian singer Cynthia Morgan, now known as Madrina, has made a heartfelt appeal to President Bola Tinubu, urging the government to address the severe economic hardship facing Nigerians in the wake of the recent fuel subsidy removal.

In a candid video message shared on her TikTok page, Madrina expressed her frustration, revealing that while she initially supported the decision to remove the petrol subsidy, the current situation has become unbearable for many citizens.

“Are you guys feeling what I am feeling? I’m not even going to lie, I’m feeling it o!” she stated in the video. She went on to explain that despite the government’s reasoning behind removing the subsidy, the consequences are proving to be too much for Nigerians to bear.

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Madrina pointed out the sheer scale of the financial strain, noting that the country had spent over $8 billion on fuel subsidies. She highlighted how this amount far exceeded Nigeria’s total annual revenue of around $20 billion for 2023/2024, raising questions about the sustainability of the subsidy removal.

“I was one of the persons who applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the removal of the fuel subsidy because you know what it is. But currently, I don’t think we have what it takes to live totally off subsidy removal on petroleum products,” she confessed.

According to the singer, Nigeria lacks the necessary structures to cushion the impact of the subsidy removal, leading to a sharp rise in inflation, as the price of petrol affects almost every other commodity.

The economic consequences, she said, have contributed to a weakening naira, higher import prices, and an increasing GDP per capita of just $860.

While acknowledging the long-standing issue of the petrol subsidy and the attempts by previous administrations, including that of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, to address it, Madrina stressed that the removal has not been implemented in a way that Nigeria can sustain. The country’s infrastructure and economic framework, she argued, are simply not prepared for such a drastic shift.

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In her message, the singer passionately called for a compromise, asking the government to reconsider and at least roll back 50 percent of the subsidy removal, saying, “People are hungry.

Crime rates are increasing.” She emphasized that while it is understandable to reduce the subsidy, the government must also consider the current socio-economic reality.

Madrina concluded with a call to Nigerians, urging them to refrain from complaining or protesting aggressively. Instead, she suggested that citizens engage in a “begging challenge” to plead with the government for help and reconsideration.

“Let’s beg the government to help us, that they shouldn’t be angry. Maybe we have been irresponsible,” she said.

As the economic hardships continue to mount, Madrina’s plea for immediate government intervention has resonated with many Nigerians, who are grappling with the effects of rising fuel prices and inflation.

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Nollywood Actress, Arewa Bukky Amos-Bello, Offers Support to Queen Naomi

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Nollywood actress Arewa Bukky Amos-Bello has expressed her support for former Queen Naomi Silekunola, who is facing difficulties following a tragic stampede at a charity event she organized in Ibadan, resulting in the loss of young lives

A top Nollywood actress and movie producer, Arewa Bukky Amos-Bello, has joined numerous well-wishers who have expressed their support for former queen of Ife Kingdom, Naomi Silekunola, who is currently facing challenges following a tragic stampede at a charity event she organised in Ibadan, resulting in the loss of children’s lives.

The beautiful thespian, popularly called Ajitannawo, in a statement made available to journalists on Sunday, sent a message of encouragement, urging Queen Naomi to stay strong.

In her heartfelt message, Arewa Amos-Bello expressed sorrow over the incident and offered prayers for Queen Naomi’s courage and resilience in the face of the tragedy.

“Be strong and courageous; the Lord is with you. And He will never forsake you my Queen Silekunola. My heart goes out to you in this sorrowful time of yours. My prayer is with you always. God bless you in this difficult time,” Arewa Bukky wrote, while she offered her sincere condolences to families and parents of the victims.

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Arewa Amos-Bello stated that she feels every bit of what Queen Naomi feels at the moment because she is also a philanthropist who understands that the former Ife Queen did what she did with good intentions.

She added, “I know she meant well because I’m also into charity. The Ibadan event was not her first nor was it the second. We can only pray that God help her and console the victims.”

“I want to assure her of my valid support; she is not alone. Her struggles are valid and real, and in acknowledging this, she finds our solidarity. When things like this happen, we may feel ashamed and find it hard to cope, yet even in such a dark time as this, we share our burdens, support one another, and find strength in our unity. She must not give up on her goal and she is encouraged to continue her philanthropic endeavours.”

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