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Stop dissipating efforts on chasing agitators; tackle insecurity — Anglican Bishop tells Presidency

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—– Agitation in South West sequel to attacks, mindless killings of valued souls

—- FG appears not to understand the feelings of the people

The Bishop of Owo Anglican Diocese, Right Reverend Stephen Fagbemi has asked the Presidency to stop dissipating efforts on chasing agitators and focus on major security challenges facing the country.

Fagbemi said this during the 3rd session of the 13th Synod of the Diocese of Owo, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) at the Saint Paul’s Church, Okeluse in Ose council area of the state.

Reading his charge, he lamented that the Federal government had not been able to resolve security challenges which had led to agitations from some sections of the country.

The cleric said rather than dissipating efforts on chasing agitators, efforts should be used on solving poverty, kidnapping and banditry that had bedevilled the land.

“While the troubles of our land are truly numerous, insecurity is one that has overwhelmed everyone in recent times, and it is evident that our national government has not been able to overcome yet.

“Banditry has brought untold hardship and untimely death to many communities, and the highways are not safe.

“Kidnapping seems to have become a lucrative but wicked business in our land. Many lives have been lost and millions of money paid on ransoms. We need deliverance.

“The agitation of the South West people of Nigeria came to the fore because of the attacks on its people and the mindless killings of valued souls attributed to Fulani herdsmen.

“While no area or state has been spared including Ogun, Ekiti and Ondo; it is in Oyo State in lbarapa Local Government Area that it has received more prominence.

“And this is why Sunday lgboho has suddenly become a household name symbolizing the aspiration of the people for freedom and deliverance from these evil people.

“It was disturbing to see the undeserved attack on his house in Ibadan on July 1. The government needs to exercise caution about attacking these people.

“It must rather concentrate efforts at tackling the issues that led to their emergence. If only our government could exact the same efforts it used on attacking Chief Sunday Adeyemo a.k.a. Sunday Igboho’s house and use the same intelligence and skill it used on kidnapping and bringing Nnamdi Kanu the leader of [PCB to Nigeria, on the bandits and insurgents in Nigeria, our country would have become a better place to live in.

“Whatever the Government of Nigeria is doing with these individuals and others, it should bear in mind that they stand for the concerns and interest of millions of Nigerians.

“Therefore they should be handled with caution. There is no need to cause problem where there is none. They should run after our real troublemakers and killers and kidnappers of the people.

” l wish to call on all stakeholders in the Southwest to work together to save and protect its people from ruthless killings of their people. The Federal Government appears to not understand the feelings of the people.

“Regrettably, the response to the Statement by Southern Governors, attributed to the presidency is, to say the least, insensitive and proven evidence that they would rather hold on to power than addressing the common needs of their people.

“How on earth can the ban on open grazing be compared to motor spare-parts dealers living and doing their legitimate business in the northern part of Nigeria? When the Governors spoke, they spoke the minds of their people.

“How can a call for the President to address the people take so long to come and when it did, it had no solution to the problem but compounded it by attempting to revert to an old route for bringing cattle to the South?

“How can the business of a section of the society be allowed to override the collective security interest of the entire country?

” We call on the Buhari-led Federal Government to as a matter of urgency address the concerns of the people of this country instead of allowing an undue crisis to fester.”

Bishop Fagbemi who commended Governor Rotimi Akeredolu for efforts being put in place to fight insecurity urged the governor to be more proactive in the ban of open grazing as herdsmen had disregarded the ban and had been moving their cows around again.

In his remark, governor Akeredolu speaking on the theme for the synod  “Abiding Fruitfulness” charged the congregation to be faithful in all their dealings with God and humans.

Akeredolu also admonished the people to continue to adhere strictly to all Covid-19 protocols, particularly to ensure that the Delta variant doesn’t spread among the people of the state.

“Last year, there was a problem. The whole world was shut down. There were not many synods that were held.

“We have many reasons to thank God for this year. But don’t take this Covid-19 for granted, particularly when you look at the Delta variant that has just come in. It’s more dangerous than what we have before.

The governor said “This will be my appeal to most of us, especially if you have not been vaccinated. I want to advise us, take the time to obey these COVID-19 protocols. Wear your mask, wash your hands.

Culled from the Vanguard News Nigeria

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Houston

Houston’s Urban South Brewery Celebrates Fourth Anniversary

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Urban South Brewery Houston will host its upcoming Anniversary Party from Friday, April 5 through Sunday, April 7, in the HTX Taproom, starting at 11 AM, celebrating four years of crafting exceptional brews and fostering community culture. This milestone event will be an exciting day featuring live music, food, activities, and a vendor market.

Beer enthusiasts are also in for a treat with the release of four exclusive anniversary specialty beers. Highlights include “Press Start,” a crafted Czech Pale Lager brewed in collaboration with Parleaux Beer Lab. Additionally, beer fans can indulge in “Level Up,” an Old-Fashioned Cocktail Sour Ale infused with orange peel, Luxardo cherry syrup, and subtle bourbon barrel notes. The offerings continue with “High Score,” a robust Double IPA bursting with flavors of Mosaic, Citra, and Chinook hops, and “Game Over,” a decadent Neapolitan Ice Cream Stout layered with strawberry fruit, Tahitian vanilla bean, and milk chocolate.

To make the celebration even more memorable, fans can pre-order an Exclusive 8-Bit Beer Box featuring the four-anniversary specialty beers (Press Start, Level Up, High Score, Game Over), a 16oz can-shaped Silipint with discounted refills, and 2 tokens redeemable for draft beer.

The Anniversary Party is open to the public, welcoming families and furry friends. Urban South Brewery invites everyone to join in the festivities and toast to four years of brewing excellence.

For more information on Urban South’s Anniversary Celebration, follow the Houston taproom on Instagram and Facebook.

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Lifestyle

$600 Million Showdown: Michael Jackson’s Estate Executors Refusing to Pay Pop Star’s Mom $500k Legal Bill

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Now She is Fighting to Block Music Catalog Sale

The war between Michael Jackson ’ s mother Katherine and the two executors running his estate has heated up. According to court documents, lawyers for the executors, John Branca and John McClain , asked the court to shut down Katherine’s recent demand for $500k.

As we first reported, Katherine filed a motion asking that she be reimbursed $561,548. She said she spent the amount on a team of lawyers to fight the executors over the sale of Michael’s music catalog .

The executors asked the court to approve the music catalog sale in 2022. Katherine quickly opposed the deal. The parties went back and forth in court for months until a hearing was held on the matter.

At the hearing, Katherine testified that Michael did not want the music catalog sold and that he considered it a lifeline. Michael’s children Paris and Blanket told the court they opposed the deal too. Blanket said he opposed on emotional grounds.

The executors fired back claiming Katherine has a pattern of objecting to lucrative deals. They argued the market was hot for the music catalog sale and they needed to take advantage of it.

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The estate said it had every right to make the deal. 

“The Estate was teetering on the verge of collapse, with more than $400 million in debt that encumbered Michael’s most significant assets and little or no liquidity or means to service that debt. Through creative thinking, hard work and business savvy—and, of course, Michael’s extraordinary creative legacy—the Executors transformed the MJJ Business into a profitable enterprise,” the executors said as they argued for the deal to be approved.

Despite the family’s plea, the judge approved the executors’ deal and allowed them to move forward with the sale.

Within weeks, Katherine had filed an appeal of the decision. She argued the executors did not have the authority to sell Michael’s assets.

Recently, the executors argued that Katherine’s appeal should be dismissed. They said they had every right to sell the catalog. No decision has been reached on the appeal.

On February 9, 2024, the estate announced they sold one half of Jackson’s music to Sony for $600 million — a deal that Katherine said should not have gone through.

As part of the appeal, Katherine won a couple of small victories against the estate. As a result, she asked the court to award her the $561k in legal fees.

Now, the executors asked the court to deny the motion for legal fees. In their motion, they argued, “The Petition does not indicate the source from which Mrs. Jackson’s counsel seeks to have the requested attorney’s fees and expenses paid. It is not clear whether she is seeking payment from the probate estate or from the Trust.”

Further, the executors argued, “To the extents Mrs. Jackson seeks payment from the probate estate, the Petition lacks merit because it relies on provisions of the Trust, claiming that payment of legal fees is required by provisions of the Trust authorizing the Trustees to make payments “in [their] absolute discretion, for [Mrs. Jackson’s] care, support, maintenance, comfort and well-being.”

A judge has yet to rule.

Culled from Rada online

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Houston

Otu-Umuokpu Anambra USA in Houston Gets New Leadership  

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Houston – TX: The Otu-Umuokpu Anambra USA Association Inc., Headquartered in Houston, Texas, has inaugurated its new executive leadership. An election was held in November 2023 where a set of new executive leadership emerged and was officially sworn-in on February 4, 2024.

Adaeze Stella Icon Adeone Samuel ( Stainless) is now the group’s new President, whereas Adaeze Nkiruka Mbonu ( Mmili doluedo) is the  Vice President.  Former President, Adaeze Dr Maria Elioku (Nkpulunma) remains the President Emeritus. A complete list of the new executive board members will be available on the group’s website, it was gathered.

While welcoming the new leadership team, President Emeritus Dr. Elioku thanked the outgoing executives for their impeccable service during their tenure. “As we all know, our mission as Otu- Umuokpu Anambra, USA Association is to promote and uphold our welfare and culture as well as foster unity, love, and harmony among us; and I am glad that within the past years, we were able to curtail distracting challenges to uphold those values,” she said.

Otu- Umuokpu Anambra, USA Association is a community of all paternal daughters of Anambra State of Nigeria with the core mission to promote and uphold the welfare and culture of her members; and foster unity, love, and harmony among them. The group has since its inception shared the uniformity of their ancestry as a unifying tool for community development and bonding of sisterhood.

For more information about Otu-Umuokpu Anambra, USA Association, Inc., please call 832-640-6329 or click to visit their website >>>>

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