Portable says he plans to return to school, regrets dropping out of Kwara Poly

 Controversial singer Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, has said he still intends to complete his education despite his success in the music industry.

The singer made the revelation in a preview of the Honest Brunch Podcast, scheduled for release on YouTube on Monday, where he spoke about his education, financial struggles and journey to fame.

“I go still finish school as I dey like this. I no finish school,” he said.

Portable explained that he struggled to pay his school fees while selling sachet water and eventually dropped out after losing financial support.

“I no see anybody to sponsor me again. The school fees is high. I go still finish school as I dey like this,” he added.

The singer said he gained admission into Kwara State Polytechnic through the indigene quota to study Business Administration but could not complete the programme because of financial constraints.

He described leaving the institution as one of his greatest regrets, expressing hope that he would return to finish his studies.

“Na Kwara Poly pain me pass. I be student… Na indigene this thing I use enter. I studied Business Administration,” he said.

Reflecting on his journey, Portable said he was once regarded as the least academically gifted among his siblings but now supports his father financially, while his sisters are also employed.

“Person wey dem dey call olodo for my family na me still dey feed my papa now,” he said.

While urging young people not to abandon education, he added that a degree is not the only path to success.

“It is not a must you finish school before you get am. You fit go get am from outside and come back finish school. I go still finish school as I dey like this,” Portable said.

How I welcomed twins after 18-year wait — Actor Ricardo Agbor

Actor Ricardo Agbor has opened up about his 18-year wait for children before welcoming twins with his wife.

Speaking in a recent interview with AfricanAList, the actor said he endured a long period of childlessness but remained patient and faithful throughout.

He noted that he had chosen to marry a woman outside his tribe, and contrary to expectations, their union was peaceful.

Agbor, who welcomed twins, said he had prayed specifically for twins and stayed committed during the waiting period when many people would have given up.

He said, “I wanted to get married to a particular lady; I have married her regardless of where she is from. She is not from my tribe. So ordinarily, we were supposed to have strife; no, it was very fair,” he said.

“It took 18 years for me to have the twins. And I waited. God knows, 18 years and they are 14 now, so I told God I wanted twins.

“So while that wait was on, if it were someone else, he would cross. But at the end of the day, I have twins. I have a boy and a girl. I asked God what I wanted.”

The actor also spoke about the most difficult moment of his life, which was the death of his mother.

He recounted that his mother had been on treatment for about three weeks without improvement.

He noted that doctors later advised that she be taken to South Africa for further care.

At her request, Agbor said that she moved her to another private hospital in Surulere.

He said as he was putting her into the car, she passed away in his arms.

He described the experience as painful, adding that it was the first time he cried in his life, noting that he usually cries when acting a role.

“My mom died right in my arms, you know. At the hospital, they were bringing almost 10 doctors to do tests. I didn’t know maybe they just felt we were picking money or we had all these things every now and then, and the sickness was not improving after almost 3 weeks,” he added.

“It was after 3 weeks that they told me to come and carry my mom and take her to South Africa. I took my mom away and took her to another private hospital within Surulere, it was my mom that told me to take her away from that place. As I was carrying her into the car, she gave up.”

“I think that was the first time I cried in my life. I don’t cry. If I cry, maybe it is in a movie and it is a role. So I cried. It was painful”, he said.

Governor Adeleke lists Osun expectations after IGP Disu’s visit

Osun state governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has reviewed the just concluded visit of the Inspector General of Police to the state and repeated the expectations of all stakeholders for impartial and fair policing before, during and after the upcoming governorship election.

In a statement issued on Monday and signed by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, the governor commended the police boss for the fact-finding visitation and posited that residents and citizens of the state expect immediate implementation of measures to ensure effective, non-partisan law enforcement.

Noting that the visit must have been an eye opener for the IGP, the governor opined that from the submissions of all political groups and the interaction with other community stakeholders, the police boss must enforce oversight for immediate implementation of agreed positions and conclusions.

“We appreciate the visit of the Inspector General of Police and that of the Deputy Inspector General a week earlier. The facts are out in the public domain. The IGP has heard and read from both parties. My only interest is to safeguard the safety of my people and protection of lives and properties ahead of the elections.

“We expect the IGP to hold his men at the Osun state command accountable. The Commissioner of Police must as a matter of necessity be compelled to avoid partisanship in both investigation and prosecution of cases of political violence. That is the only way the police can secure and regain the confidence of the people.

“We seek the arrest of any law breaker irrespective of their political affiliation. Those who commit crimes should be arrested and prosecuted. We harbour no thugs in Government House or anywhere. The police should do its job in line with best policing practices. We are opposed to politicisation of criminal investigations.

“Osun people want a secured environment to cast their votes. The killings and attacks are not conducive to genuine exercise of rights to vote and be voted for. So we expect the IGP and other security agencies to secure Osun state and her people before, during and after the August 15 elections”, the governor was quoted as saying.

The governor who expressed confidence in the capacity and the commitment of the IGP to implement all agreed resolutions pledged the commitment of the state government to continue to support the security agencies in the discharge of their mandate, adding “we seek no favour other than fair, impartial policing”.

Oyo mass kidnap: Obi alleges government failure, expresses shock over Tinubu's failure to speak with Makinde

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2027 election, Peter Obi, has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of presiding over what he described as a worsening leadership crisis marked by incapacity, lack of compassion, and the collapse of governance.

In a statement released on Monday, Obi said the ultimate consequence of "uncompassionate leadership” is the transformation of citizens’ frustration into deep and volatile resentment, warning that the country’s worsening insecurity reflects a government that has failed in both capacity and empathy.

The former Anambra State governor expressed concern over the abduction of schoolchildren in Oyo State, lamenting that more than 50 days after the incident, there had been no tangible progress toward securing their release.

Obi disclosed that he had spoken publicly about the abduction on two occasions, including appealing directly to the kidnappers to release the children. He also revealed that he had called Seyi Makinde twice to express solidarity, stressing that the incident was not merely an Oyo State problem but a national tragedy.

According to him, he travelled to Ibadan on July 3 alongside Pat Utomi to meet with Governor Makinde after more than seven weeks had passed without the rescue of the abducted children.

During the meeting, Obi said he shared his experience in tackling insecurity while serving as governor of Anambra State, recalling that former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and Goodluck Jonathan personally contacted state governors whenever serious security challenges arose.

Obi said he was surprised to learn from Governor Makinde that President Tinubu had not placed a single call to him regarding the abduction more than 50 days after the incident.

Drawing a comparison with the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping, Obi noted that although the administration of former President Jonathan was heavily criticised for taking over two weeks before contacting the Borno State governor, the current administration had gone more than seven weeks without similar engagement despite experiencing over 13 school kidnapping incidents.

He recalled that Tinubu was among the prominent critics who demanded Jonathan’s resignation over his handling of the Chibok crisis, arguing that the same standard should now apply to the current administration.

Obi described the situation as evidence that governance had “completely collapsed” under Tinubu’s administration, citing what he called a total lack of capacity, compassion, and sensitivity to the plight of Nigerians.

The former presidential candidate maintained that, given the prevailing insecurity and leadership failures, President Tinubu should either resign from office or, at the very least, decline to seek re-election in the interest of the country.

Ekiti Govt. orders free treatment for rescued worshippers

Gov. Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti has directed the management of Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) to provide free and comprehensive medical care to recently rescued kidnap victims in the state.

The directive followed the rescue and release of worshippers of the Eda-Oniyo Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), who were abducted by gunmen in the state.

This is contained in a statement issued on Saturday in Ado-Ekiti by the governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Mr Yinka Oyebode.

Oyebode said the governor also commended President Bola Tinubu for his support in ensuring the safe return of the worshippers.

He said Oyebanji had directed the Ministry of Health and Human Services to oversee the welfare and wellbeing of the rescued worshippers, including all medical expenses incurred during their treatment.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the victims are currently receiving care at EKSUTH and will remain under medical supervision until they are certified fit to reunite with their families.

Oyebanji commended heads of security agencies, the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, leaders of the Eda-Oniyo community and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for their roles in securing the victims’ rescue and release.

The governor urged individuals politicising the incident on social media to desist and instead support efforts aimed at building a safer and more prosperous state.

NAN reports that the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti, Mr Sunday Abutu, had earlier announced the rescue and release of the kidnapped worshippers in a statement issued on Saturday.

According to the statement, the victims were rescued through sustained intelligence-led operations and coordinated efforts involving the Nigeria Police Force, the military, other security agencies, the Amotekun Corps, local hunters and the Ekiti Government.

The statement added that the rescued victims had been taken to hospital for medical examination and treatment to ascertain their health condition and ensure they received adequate medical care.

The Commissioner of Police in Ekiti, Mr Falade Adegoroye, commended the dedication, professionalism and synergy displayed by security stakeholders, noting that their collective efforts led to the successful rescue of the victims.

He also applauded residents for their continued cooperation, vigilance and timely provision of credible information to security agencies.

Adegoroye said efforts had been intensified to apprehend those responsible for the abduction and bring them to justice.