BESTs OF 2019

MOVIE OF THE YEAR

In the literal sense,Martin Scorcese's The Irishman would clinch this ahead of Shaft but this has always meant everything for me including tv series.Overall,i would pick the third season of Snowfall as the best thing i watched in 2019.

COUPLE OF THE YEAR

Burna and Steff didn't look like they would last long.Steff is one of the most coveted ladies in the world of music with names as high profile as Drake (who has always been vocal about his love for BBWs (Big Black Women) reaching out publicly for a date.Steff has not only settled for Burna boy,she appears to love the African Giant even more than he does her.It looked like the end when a video leaked of Burna having a video chat and hanging out at the same spot as big a**ed Ghanaian actress,Princess Shyngle but Steff's love for Don Guorgon was strong enough to power the couple through.

Whether or not they go the whole hog,these two are my best couple for 2019.

BEST ARTICLE

Aisha Buhari's criticism of her husband's social investment schemes was an eye opener for a lot of my brothers in the north.The blind support for Buhari and his lopsided appointments now not only meant the open-minded ones among us didn't have to be worried about a Southern President continuing the trend of brazenly favouring his brothers,it also meant the people were being taken for granted; no need to please an already pleased people with tradermoni and other schemes which were perceived by most nigerians as campaign mediums for the 2019 Presidential election.

My article AISHA BUHARI: BUHARI'S APPOINTMENTS & THE NEW REALITY FOR THE NORTH allowed me highlight how the chicken has come home to roost for those blindly rooting for Buhari.

SPORTS PERSON OF THE YEAR

Anthony Joshua without a doubt.Deontay Wilder's WBC belt is the only one left for him to scoop and become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and the only reason that hasn't happened yet is because Wilder is dodging a fight with Joshua.AJ fought Andy 'the destroyer' Ruiz Jnr to keep busy and he ended up suffering a knock out.He rose back up and regained his belts in Saudi Arabia 6 months later.The heavyweight category may not have as many good fighters as it used to even in recent years but if there is one thing most people are certain of,it is that AJ is better than anyone in the divison.

Special mention must also be made of Israel Adesanya and Kamaru Usman who are both UFC champions.

LEADER OF THE YEAR

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state is arguably the most popular politician in the country right now.His strides have been phenomenal.That needs to be said but Governor Bello Muhammad Matawalle of Zamfara is who i will hand this to.He travelled to Dubai in the heat of the banditry crisis in the state to meet security experts shortly after being elected.Not that he was going to get the UAE to send men or weapons, he just needed Zamfarans to know he wasn't sitting back doing nothing while they were being slaughtered and that singular move highlighted the type of governance this country had been missing over the past years.One where leaders worried about optics and were ready to go the extra mile to keep the people inspired even though they were truly helpless.When Matawalle months later,decided to negotiate with the bandits to save the lives of his people especially those in rural parts of the state who were being subjected to attacks almost on a daily basis,nobody was heard complaining in Zamfara.He had already earned the trust of his people.

Thankfully, Zamfara is now safe.Only God knows the amount of lives that would have been lost if Matawalle 'did the right thing' by waiting for Buhari and his law enforcement agencies to handle the situation.He is my leader of the year.

BOOK OF THE YEAR

I have had Roger Dawson's The Confident Decision Maker for years now and only just read it.A quite brilliant book.

ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

In addition to scooping numerous awards based on his feats in 2018,Burna boy dropped another great album in 2019 titled African Giant and got Grammy nominated for it.Many like myself who have followed Nigerian music keenly over the years will tell you Burna boy's accomplishments are not only well deserved but long overdue.

The Afro-fusionist has for quite some time been the most talented Nigerian artiste and it is an attestation to the saying that 'God does not sleep' that he is now Nigeria's biggest musical export.

BOO OF THE YEAR

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Ibrahim Tanko in his screening at the senate didn't know what legal technicality meant.After taking off his glasses and beating round the bush, he said when the courts are faced with 'technical' issues,it invites an expert to answer questions on that.I had never been more sorry for this country.

MAN OF THE YEAR

Omoyele Sowore without a scintilla of doubt.The Sahara Reporters publisher and Presidential candidate of the AAC in the 2019 election sought to mobilize Nigerians who were frustrated at how Buhari was running the country to protest and demand better.Sowore made his demands public-implementation of the new minimum wage by all state governors, a review of the current billing scheme of the power companies, the unconditional release of all political prisoners & employment for youths among others.He categorically stated that failure to comply by the Buhari government would mean protests would subsist.

But Buhari and his DSS without an iota of shame, conveniently interpreted Sowore's 'Revolution Now' slogan to mean only a forceful change of government.Any dictionary worth a dime also has as the meaning of revolution, a drastic change in how people live and think.That is totally in sync with Sowore's demands.He told the world what would happen if Buhari didn't meet the demands and at no time did he promise to uproot Buhari from Aso Rock.It was very obvious General Buhari wanted to punish anyone willing to rally Nigerians to ask for what they deserve.For his immense love for this country,Sowore abandoned the comfort of America to come home and liberate his people.He was asked to denounce the struggle and be released but he stood firm.I salute his patriotism.

WOMAN OF THE YEAR

Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court is handling Sowore's case.Most people see the judiciary as corrupt and eager to do the bidding of government.Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu is a beacon of hope as has been proven by the fearless and impartial discharge of her duties.She granted Sowore bail without caring a hoot who she was offending and when her bail conditions appeared striking a balance between pleasing the masses and making it impossible for Sowore to get out,she judiciously relaxed the conditions.

Her husband Professor Ernest Ojukwu SAN is someone i have always known to be of impeccable ethical standards and it is easy to see why he found his missing rib in such a lady.As a matter of fact, the Prof wrote the Rules of Professional Conduct for Nigerian legal practitioners and also the Legal Practitioners Act.I supported him at the last NBA election based solely on his manifesto which sought to restore pride and integrity to the profession despite being my DDG at the Enugu campus of the Nigerian law school.A lot of people see now what they missed.Justice Ojukwu is my woman of the year.

TOP 20 SONGS & TOP 5 ALBUMS OF 2019

1.NON-STOP-TERRI

2.SOAPY-NAIRA MARLEY / MEDUSA-YSRN FEAT UNKNOWN T

3.BABY SITTER-DABABY FEAT OFFSET

4.RANSOM-LIL TECCA

5.HATE ME-ELLIE GOULDING FEAT JUICE WRLD

6.CEASE & ALAMO-ZAYTOVEN FEAT QUAVO & TAKE OFF

7.RICH OFF-KEVIN GATES

8.SMOOVE KRIMINAL-YOUNG M.A

9.DIFFERENT-BURNA BOY FEAT DAMIEN MARLEY & ANGELIQUE KIDJO

10.CHOKO MILO-OLAMIDE

11.GET TO YOU-DAVIDO

12.BLOW MY MIND-DAVIDO

13.FINDING EFE-JOHNNY DRILLE

14.223's-YNW MELLY FEAT 9LOKKNINE

15.NO MERCY-YOUNG M.A

16.UNUSUAL-CRAYON

17.I BEEN WAITIN-BIG KRIT

18.YES-FAT JOE FEAT CARDI B & ANUEL AA

19.OWONIKOKO-MZ KISS

20.WHEN IT COMES TO YOU-SEAN PAUL FEAT YG

TOP 5 ALBUMS

1.HERSTORY IN THE MAKING-YOUNG M.A

2.AFRICAN GIANT-BURNA BOY / ONLY THE GENERALS GON UNDERSTAND-KEVIN GATES

3.HARVERD DROPOUT-LIL PUMP

4.MELLY V MELVIN-YNW MELLY

5.LAUGHTER,TEARS & GOOSEBUMPS-FIREBOY DML

TOP 10 SONGS & TOP 3 ALBUMS OF LAST QUARTER 2019

1.SMOOVE KRIMINAL-YOUNG M.A

2.CHOKO MILO-OLAMIDE

3.GET TO YOU-DAVIDO

4.223's-YNW MELLY FEAT 9LOKKNINE

5.NO MERCY-YOUNG M.A

6.MONEY PLAY-BURNA BOY / YES-FAT JOE FEAT CARDI B AND ANUEL AA 

7.SUNSHINE-PERUZZI FEAT DAVIDO / THE VIPER-MI (LETTER TO VECTOR)

8.TALES BY MOONLIGHT-SHOW DEM CAMP FEAT TEMS / OWONIKOKO-MZ KISS

9.LOVE LIKE THAT-YCEE / / WHEN IT COMES TO YOU-SEAN PAUL FEAT YG

10.WAIT & SEE-FIREBOY DML / I DEY 4 YOU-M.ANIFEST

TOP 3 ALBUMS

1.HERSTORY IN THE MAKING-YOUNG M.A

2.MELLY V. MELVIN-YNW MELLY

3.LAUGHTER,TEARS & GOOSEBUMPS-FIREBOY DML / KIRK-DABABY

ALBUM REVIEW: GREAT SONGS,YES BUT SHOW DEM CAMP'S PALMWINE EXPRESS IS TOO ONE DIMENSIONAL

Show Dem Camp has tried tweaking their sound on a few occasions with the most straining being the comical Happy Weekend Sir in 2014 but nothing has really changed as far as the SDC's modus operandi is concerned-rap verses and a melodious chorus.The duo exude a genuine golden era ambience and are rightly regarded as one of Nigeria's best wordsmiths.

As should be expected,their lyrical game is top notch on Palwine Express but the album more than anything else,highlights a need to deviate from their one dimensional approach.Considering that both Tec and Ghost played pivotal roles in the semi-resurgence hip hop underwent last year with their Headie-nominated verses on Crown; the title track of what is without a doubt the best pure content offering of the last decade, fans had to expect a grittier & less pop driven body of work.

Ghost's verse on MI's Popping off the Playlist album was breath-taking and he is on a lot of current top 5 lists.Quite sadly, SDC didn't see a need to stretch beyond their comfort zone at a time they really should.

Right from their break through hit, Farabale which thrust May D in the spotlight,they have had to share the plaudits for their best tracks with singers who most times,even end up gaining more attention than the duo.Most recent being Funbi on Up To You.Palmwine Express has a quite impressive support cast to provide the singing from Burna boy,B.O.J,Moelogo,Tems,Funbi and Nonso to unheralded names like Fasina,Buju and Toni Thomas.

Ghost and Tec effortlessly drop tight bars on what effectively is a late night rap album but in all honesty,Palmwine Express is agonizingly monotonic.The same format all through with absolutely no attempt to create catchy pre-choruses and the sorts that may or may not involve the rappers themselves.Vast artistry from 2 very talented artistes is what this album lacks.

The closest thing to diversity asides the trappy Alariwo (the only song with no featured artiste) was Ghost opening Incase with a hot verse and Tec, Tales By Moonlight instead of their singing guests as was the case in the other 9 tracks on the album.Not to take anything from the fact however,that every song on Palmwine Express

would stand out as part of a more robust work.

One mitigating factor however to the unidimenisonality of the album is the recognition of individual strengths by both artistes and the effort to always work along those lines.Ghost may be a doper lyricist but Tec has a sicker delivery and a more vocal presence.Flex on You fabulously comes together largely because of the synergy between Moelogo's scintillating opening chorus and Tec's verse right afterwards.Tales By Moonlight is my personal favourite off the album and its largely because of how Tec's lines enthrall you at the start before Tems' does her thing

.Buju kills the hook on Do Me Nice and Tec sits pretty nice with an undertaker flow-"I just focus on the mission and ignore the hype.Babes trying to tap current coz i gat the light.You now rocking with the best out,Show Dem,boy we giving them the next bounce.My guy carried 5 pies to the guest house,I asked why, Egbon said he was stressed out".

A song like Vibrations on the other hand was better suited to a stronger lyrical start than what Tec had and Ghost's verse should have come first.He raps "Body shots with these strokes i'm delivering,from slow and deliberate,to choking and flipping it,the flow is intimate".Overall,Tomi Thomas' chorus didn't get the matching effect it needed.Incase needed Ghost popping off from the jump like he did and Tec yet again,riding BOJ's wave on Different Case.A brilliant opening chorus in most cases and the right verse after that already accounts for half a track.You are either in it or not at that point.

Good time featuring Funbi and Nonso felt over crowded and True Story would have been better off with more intense Burna boy vocals but that is really as far as anyone would fault the quality of Palmwine Express.It is a collection of really great songs that just happened to be made alike.

LET US DISAPPROVE OF THEM FOR THE RIGHT REASONS: A CASE FOR THE SOCIAL MEDIA AND HATE SPEECH BILLS

The disapproval of the social media and hate speech bills by a lot of nigerians is quite understandable.The ignominy with which the Buhari administration has repeatedly made a mockery of the rule of law has made it almost impossible to trust him.But that is really as far as it goes.If you have any other excuse for being sceptical about these bills,then you probably need to find out more about them.

Over the last couple of days,i have seen people i would have never expected to, hop blindly on the bandwagon and say the social media and hate speech bills are unconstitutional.As a matter of fact,nothing could be farther from the truth.Section 39 of the constitution guarantees freedom of speech but it doesn't guarantee the dissemination of falsehood and the making of offensive statements capable of inciting trouble.Both proposed legislations are clear as to intent and it is preposterous for anyone to outrightly tag them anti-free speech.

The honest truth is that what both bills seek to tackle are issues we would have to address at some point and like i have always said,nigerians need to learn to better manage their displeasure with Buhari.That he has failed woefully doesn't mean no good can come out of his administration or the party he represents.We mustn't throw away the baby with the bath water.

Ours is a delicately set society with various tribes and a very strong passion for religion.In as much as a lot of us wish to one day have a Nigeria where citizens will hold placards and demonstrate at the police headquarters for action to be taken against someone disrespecting their religion or tribe,we are a long way from that.

Only God knows what would have happened if a lot of people took Femi Fani Kayode seriously.In criticizing the Buhari government for using an image of a fulani herdsman and his cows in a page he referred to as 'accursed' in the new nigerian passport,he said "fulani herdsmen are symbols of bloodshed, terror, mass murder, ethnic-cleansing, genocide, carnage, torment, trauma and evil".This is just one of several times FFK has come out to say derogatory things about the fulani.The hate speech bill aims to curb comments like this and if people like FFK tell you it is meant to steal away your constitutional right to freedom of expression because they will no longer talk like this and walk scot free,please disregard them.

The more sensational a piece of news sounds,the faster it is likely to spread.Former Senator representing Kaduna North Central, Shehu Sani said he heard rumours N70M belonging to northern senators was carted away by monkeys and till this very moment, most people have come to regard the official position on that matter as 'monkeys stole N70M'.When the Federal Government said the RUGA initiative meant to settle and confine cattle and livestock rearers to a particular space was optional and that only interested state governments could apply for it, mischief makers hit town with the news that Buhari was trying to 'fulanize' the entire country and wanted his people in place to seize every land.There were quite verifiable reports of the Jonathan administration approving what Reno Omokri has gone on to say was as much as N100bn for RUGA ( i re-emphasize the need to better manage our displeasure with Buhari) and when Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi state shed some more light on the initiative by saying the RUGA idea originally belonged to our colonial fathers, FFK said he should take 'his accursed cows and do his RUGA there'.

The government had to cancel what would have otherwise benefitted a community like Benue which has a very long history of farmer/herdsmen crisis.Politicians being politicians and knowing they count on the support of the majority, have had to shelve very well-meaning plans because of the shenanigans of a set of people skilled at exploiting public discontent to suit the objectives of their static and myopic minds.The more accepted position of RUGA as things stand is that Buhari's plan to forcefully settle fulanis across Nigeria to 'take over' was fought and defeated.

Like i said earlier,the social media law is something we were always bound to consider; if not now,then some time in the near future.We would be doing ourselves more harm than good in the great words of Benjamin Franklin by putting off until tomorrow what we can do today for obviously wrong reasons.Before anyone forms an opinion on these bills,it is important they read them or at the very least,endeavour to find out what they are really about.

Some commentators have gone on to say the Cyber Crimes Act of 2015 has tackled what the Social Media and Hate speech bills seek to address but it is not so.Section 15 (Cyberstalking) makes mention only of falsehood meant to cause annoyance,needless anxiety and inconvenience to another.Injurious falsehood doesn't have to be targeted at an individual alone.The Social Media bill not only deals with falsehood in a broader sense, it also mentions network providers that defy warnings to shut down such a subscriber and also seeks to punish the sponsors of these fake news.

Section 18 of the Act speaks about racist and Xenophobic offences and it doesn't speak about provocative and divisive statements leading to the death of persons.The one valid controversy the bill generated was the death penalty it sought to put in place for that offence which was widely deemed too harsh.Its sponsor,Senator Sabi Abdullahi has graciously removed that.

I for one was worried about these bills turning out to be legislations President Buhari wanted in place to help achieve a 3rd term plan.But there is nothing in these bills that suggest they want to punish anything other than falsehood and comments capable of stirring trouble or that ample room has been left for them to be manipulated capriciously.

Admittedly,they are coming at the wrong time.Buhari has proven over time to have no respect for the law and even a legislation seeking to control reckless and malicious speech is bound to be interpreted as an attempt to gag nigerians.There are concerns but most aren't valid.What we really ought to be doing is pointing out dubious loopholes that will allow for these bills if they eventually become laws, to be used unjustly and not say they are 'unconstitutional' or an attempt to suppress free speech without making any sense of how they so do.

Buhari may have given us reasons to hate him but we must also learn to keep an open mind regarding policies and weigh them like we truly want what is good for us.

WHY HAVE SOWORE'S SURETIES NOT COME FORWARD?

There was an air of certitude to the DSS' call for Omoyele Sowore's sureties to come and pick him up.The Buhari administration has never hidden its intention to hold onto him and one ordinarily would expect his lawyers,former PDP youth leader and activist,Deji Adeyanju and others that went to pick him up to begrudgingly be told so.But the DSS instead came to the media to relay its 'predicament'.

By the time its spokesperson, Peter Afunanya said they couldn't release him to a mob and asked "What if he got hit by a car?", my suspicions had reached a crescendo.The man appeared to know those sureties won't come forward and was using that to taunt Sowore's people.

Everyone supporting Sowore believes he is being punished for nothing other than wanting the best for his country and it is mind-boggling that when the power to free the man finally leaves Buhari and his DSS,those clamouring for his release duck and refuse to at the very least,urge his sureties to visit the DSS.You can't be screaming 'Free Sowore' when you haven't gotten his sureties to visit the DSS and shut down the one excuse they so confidently put forth.

The first thing the DSS said was that 'no one came to pick him up' and now they have said 'he will only be handed to sureties'.While it is perfectly understood that the Buhari administration has over the last 4 years and 6 months,exhibited an unprecedented disregard for the rule of law,it has never publicly promised to release a person upon the fulfilment of a condition and failed.It at least deserves the benefit of the doubt.

To be realistic,no sane person would insist on fighting the propriety of the authorities insisting he must be handed over to sureties instead of rescuing him from detention.So what really is the problem; are Sowore's sureties high profile politicians or businessmen that wouldn't want to risk offending Buhari?.Well,the odds are he knew their identities from the very moment they presented themselves to the court.Were they threatened?.

As part of Sowore's bail conditions,he was to deposit the sum of N50M to the court.Sowore may not be poor but that is a hefty sum for a man like him.Okay,say he scrapped that up,one also has to consider that for his co-accused,the lesser known and affluent Olawale 'Mandate' Bakare to fulfil his (which he did),he was required to put forth N20M.That is N70M altogether.

Its more probable than not that someone 'important' sympathized with them.Maybe more than one.Could it be that these same sympathizers stood as sureties and were subsequently arm-twisted into abandoning him?.Sowore is up against the government of the federal republic and his adversary is in a position to issue potent threats to just about any politician or businessman in this country rich enough to cough out that much for someone else's bail.

Just one of the sureties being absent would automatically mean they fall short of the DSS' condition of release.

Something is not right and that Sowore's people haven't fixed a date to accompany his sureties to the DSS office amidst much fanfare more than anything suggests the core members of his movement have conceded to the wishes of the surety/sureties and are appreciative enough of their efforts not to publicize their identity/identities.

Sowore's lawyer,Femi Falana has been the most vocal of his camp and in as much as his dedication to fighting injustice is most commendable,right now he should only be heard bemoaning the refusal of the DSS to hand over Sowore despite his sureties making themselves available and not that Justice Ojukwu's order did not specify that he be handed to those that will guarantee his presence in court.

In as much as he is saying the truth,the DSS would sell itself as taking precautionary measures in the name of national security and also ask why if he was such a fan of 'strict sense',he didn't insist on transferring Sowore to either the Suleja or Kuje Prisons from the cozy DSS detention facility he chose to stay when the court ordered him to be moved to either.

Enough of the 'Free Sowore' cries,the needful at the moment is addressing head-on why Sowore's sureties have not come forward to put him out of his misery.That is the right thing to do.

OSINBAJO: BUHARI CAN'T KEEP FRIENDS AND IS MAKING ENEMIES

The old Muhammadu Buhari was very reserved and easy-going.There is no record (factual or speculative) of him initiating political alliances or of him going the extra mile to consolidate his political ties other than attending marriage ceremonies and a few other social events.He was the most loved political figure in northern Nigeria and the politicians jumping over themselves to associate with him badly needed to tap into his clout.Buhari with the leaches aside,is a recluse.

When Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu kick-started the process of building a mega opposition party,it was him who reached out to Buhari and an agreement was reportedly struck for Tinubu to 'lead' the party and for Buhari to get the 2015 Presidential ticket.

Now as President of Nigeria,a deficiency in managing existing relations may eventually turn out the greatest undoing of the new Muhammadu Buhari and sadly enough,he may not even realize till its too late.Goodluck Jonathan may have rallied the right people and gotten them to prevail on President Buhari to grant 'amnesty' to himself and his wife,Dame Patience whose properties and monies the EFCC keeps seizing without charging her to court.Diezani Madueke too,whom EFCC boss,Ibrahim Magu has been promising to extradite for more than 2 years now.I doubt if Buhari can pull that off with a PDP government in 2023.

President Buhari and Vice-President Osinbajo

There are very few people he can bank on to stick their necks out for him if at all he tries to reach out.The only people that have forced themselves on him over the years are those that stand to gain from him politically and at the rate Buhari is going,he may not only lack anyone in his APC  to depend on,he will become a target there too.

At the commencement of President Buhari's 2nd term in office,most political observers said whenever the issue came up, that it wasn't safe to think a Bola Tinubu 2023 bid would resonate with Buhari.He would rather have his loyal Vice-President run instead.

A politically naive Buhari in 2015 set about making the APC more democratic and ensured the Tinubu-installed party chairman,John Odigie Oyegun had a louder say.That essentially meant Tinubu had to shed a large degree of control in the party.When a war erupted between Tinubu and Oyegun his former stooge in the build-up to the Ondo gubernatorial election,Oyegun floored Tinubu hands down by ensuring his preferred choice,Rotimi Akeredolu emerged as the APC's flag bearer over Tinubu's candidate.

It was so bad the word then was that Tinubu was planning to leave with Atiku and a handful of other people to start a new party.Buhari has always hated Tinubu's guts and it is a testament to Asiwaju's patience and political foresight that he has stuck around,sucked it all in and focused on how best to co-exist with his bully 'friend' in power.When his annointed candidate for the APC ticket in Lagos state,Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu won the party primary, a 'committee' was sent from Abuja to Lagos and their first point of duty was spreading the word that the just concluded Lagos primary was not recognized by the party and that a valid one would hold the next day.

Starting a messy war with the people of Lagos a few months to the general elections wasn't a good idea so eventually Sanwo-Olu's victory was allowed to stand.Buhari it was presumed,would rather have his loyal Vice-President Prof.Yomi Osibanjo take over and not Jagaban.At the very least,it will guarantee he sleeps good at night.However,happenings over the last couple of months have strongly suggested otherwise.It is not clear whether Buhari waited till he had gotten a 2nd term or that he suddenly grew disdainful of VP Osinbajo but one thing that is clear is that Osinbajo is currently not in his good books.The least Buhari could do was grant Osinbajo supervisory powers over the recently constituted economic advisory council since he didn't want him heading it after dismantling the old economic management team which he led.The constitution of the council was made to contain a rider that they would report to the President directly.

The Social Investment Programmes were also seized from Osinbajo and after that,he was asked to now seek approval from President Buhari in respect of several government agencies whose governing boards he led as chairman.Most people in the camps of the President and his Vice denying that Buhari was sticking it to Osinbajo totally forget to consider that if it wasn't so,Buhari would soft pedal at least for the optics.

But the President didn't stop there.He went to Saudi Arabia and moved to London from there on a 'private visit' without transmitting a letter to the National Assembly notifying it of Osinbajo's acting capacity as laid down by our constitution.Rather he ensured it was in the public domain that Abba Kyari flew to London with the PSC bill for him to sign and also made sure pictures were taken of him doing so.Then Osinbajo's aides were drastically reduced on the excuse that they were more than the President's.The million naira question is WHAT HAS OSINBAJO DONE WRONG?.Is it that Buhari can't stand the thought of people around him being ambitious or is it that he can't imagine not handing over to a non-northerner?.Its really hard to understand.

If there was a genuine issue,an anonymous story trying to justify Buhari's actions and manage public opinion would have leaked to the press listing the Vice President's sins.The most noteworthy thing Osinbajo has done since Buhari travelled is host the Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam.He has gone on a farm visit to Nasarrawa,attended an investment summit in Delta,headlined a prayer breakfast by the National Assembly and as of this moment,is on his way to represent Buhari in Niger Republic.The Emir of Daura, Buhari's home town said last weekend that Osinbajo was the most honest politician Nigeria has had in recent times.It indicates that Buhari will lose a lot of goodwill if the onslaught continues.

Aisha Buhari came out to say before the elections that 'Nigeria was in the hands of 2 or 3 people and that the men should wrestle it back'.None of the '2 or 3' names mentioned as members of Buhari's cabal are non-northerners and secondly, if a President from the South emerges in 2023,none of those names weild enough influence to save him if it gets ugly.

The spokesperson of the Afenifere,Yinka Odumakin has said President Buhari stopped handing over to VP Osinbajo since he sacked and arrested his former DSS chief and townsman,Lawal Daura.The weighty implication of this is that a yoruba President would score a lot of points with his people if he looked into everything Buhari did.There are a number of facts that support arguments of Buhari's ethnic bias.Add that virtually all of the South East and most of the South South along with some of Buhari's fellow northerners would love it and that President would be endearing himself to the entire country.A political leper bad at cultivating and keeping relationships would be helpless and maybe only then would he realize he should at least have made no enemies if he was bad at keeping friends.

RE: 'WHO REALLY KILLED ALEX BADEH AND WHY ARE HIS ALLEGED KILLERS NOT IN COURT?'..A LOT HAS BECOME CLEARER

Barely 24 hours after my article titled Who Really Killed Alex Badeh And Why Are His Killers Not In Court? on the 25th of June,an announcement was made that a joint team of the DSS and military operatives had arrested another 14 suspects in relation to the murder.The police had already arrested 5 persons in December 2018 with a video confession of one of the suspects going viral and adding another 14 persons from a different source at that point more or less appeared a confirmation of the worst; a cover-up was in play.

In addition to the lingering question of why the police would keep self-confessed murderers of the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff for 6 whole months without charging them to court,there was now a very glaring one on just how shabby and shameless the authorities were in what any right thinking person would deem a ploy to kill off the case.

Questions were now being asked and getting another fresh batch of suspects would suggest that investigations hadn't been concluded.It didn't matter that they were alluding to the lack of credibility of the process.Not that it will suprise anyone but it has been 3 months since the latest arrests and 9 months since the ones before that.Whoever isn't coming out to publicly declare Buhari and his government the murderers of Alex Badeh is only holding back out of respect for the law.

Anyone would be excused for thinking back then that the Badeh family were overwhelmed by grief when they described the videoed confession of one of the suspects as a charade and adduced their reasons for doing so.Not any more.Its obvious they knew what they were saying.Detained former AAC Presidential candidate and Sahara Reporters Publisher,Omoyele Sowore has said how he was denied the use of a phone to call his family in DSS detention while boko haram commanders had access to not only that but also to televisions and cable in their cells.

There has been nothing to suggest Buhari is a member of boko haram other than claims years before he became President that he and a number of northern elites backed the sect to help entrench islamic rule early on but withdrew when their activities got out of hand.Boko haram in an attempt to make public mockery of him,named him among its mediators to a dialogue with the Federal Government arranged by President Jonathan in 2012.Buhari declined.The sect is known to slaughter members that renounce it as traitors and that that was the reason for the attack on his life in Kaduna.It has never really gone past that.

But if at all boko haram commanders are now accorded VIP treatment in detention then it suggests an appreciable level of expertise in handling 'friendly scapegoat' situations.Rather than waiting to be ridiculed for not prosecuting people you have arrested for a murder,why not just extend the deal to include a cozy detention and a hasty and harmless trial?.Well,a lot could go wrong,true.

A spokesperson of the Badeh family gave a heart-breaking account of the travails of the former CDS' before his demise.His Abuja house couldn't be cleared of waste because government had stopped him from receiving his entitlements in addition to freezing his accounts on grounds of facing a corruption charge and was only going to his farm that day to arrange for some maize to be sold so he could raise some cash.Their more believable version claims Badeh had already been at the farm and had even given a villager who asked for money to buy drugs, some maize to sell because he had no cash on him.

The interviewed suspect on the other hand claimed they blocked him on his way to the farm and carted away money like he had 'never seen before'.There were only 5 suspects arrested and admittedly in consonance with his testimony which didn't indicate there were too many accomplices.The 5 of them managed to spend all that money 'he had never seen before' within the 10 days before they were arrested because nobody told us any cash was recovered.The authorities said Badeh still had the security he was entitled to but they were kilometres behind where he was blocked and shot.Badeh was killed and by the most powerful people in Nigeria and they want you to totally forget it ever happened.

The Buhari administration locked away Sani Baba-Inna,the former aide de camp to Aisha Buhari for allegedly defrauding persons of N2.5bn in her name.His family members corroborated claims he may have been helping her keep money by adding that he only started to get greedy and had even been made to buy a house for one of her daughters in Abuja.He certainly has a lot to say and for more than a year now,he has still not been charged to court.

It is no secret that former DSS boss,Lawan Daura's men joined the police in barricading the residences of former Senate President,Bukola Saraki and his deputy,Ike Ekweremadu weeks before they invaded the National Assembly.Buhari was fully aware of Daura's activities and is said to have only sacrificed him from London when foreign countries beseiged Acting President Osinbajo with calls as to what was really going on.Daura is Buhari's townsman whom he pulled out of retirement to head the DSS and he may be privy to quite a lot of sensitive things regarding Buhari and others.He also hasn't been charged to court a year and 3 months later.We already know the lengths Buhari can go in defiance of the rule of law and public opinion just to protect himself and members of his inner caucus.It is nothing out of the ordinary for government to toss people in jail and forget them.

Buhari as an ex-military man understands just how serious the military and other security agencies take the killing of their colleagues.Moreso when it is a former Chief of Defense Staff and his suspected killers are in custody.The Badeh situation is one that would ordinarily require a monthly update.They are hiding something and whatever it is,i pray it comes to the fore some day.

THE 2019 HEADIES: NOT DISAPPOINTING BUT ALSO NOT EXCITING

Though the 2019 headies had Falz,Teni,Rema and Mayorkun among its notable attendees,it still had the misfortune of holding on the same night as Wizkid's Starfest.The creme de la creme of the Nigerian music industry were in London as performing guests and a large chunk of music followers had their eyes fixated there.Most of the other top-tier stars who didn't make the cut with the exception of Davido who was in the labour room with his soon-to-be bride,didn't deem the headies worth their time.To the night proper,one thing very few have pointed out was the excellent job Reminisce did as co-host.There was the occasional wit,composure and a baritone voice made for a man in charge.He made you forget Nancy Isime's dry jokes and lack of a commanding presence.

Lets take the categories one at a time.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

A voting category for the rookie of the year who has had a successful year musically, with the absence of an album in the year under review.

1. Crayon

2. Buju

3. Barry Jhay (Winner)

4. Oxlade

Oxlade has witnessed a drastic rise in his stocks over the last few months but this category was always going to be won by either Barry Jhay or Crayon.Crayon has a good EP out under Don Jazzy's Mavin records and with a well accepted lead track in So Fine but despite not really pushing as hard as he ought to after scoring a big hit with Aiye,Barry Jhay is still more a fan favourite than any name on that list.Add also the only one with a bonafide hit.Accolade well deserved.

BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (FEMALE)

A non-voting category for the single female artiste with most outstanding vocal performances on a single song or album.

1. GoodGirl LA - ‘ Bless me’

2. Waje – ‘Udue’

3. Teni – ‘Uyo Meyo’ (Winner)

4.Tems – ‘Mr Rebel’

5. Falana – ‘Repeat’

Teni would ordinarily be listed in the Next Rated Category if Soundcity didn't nominate & award her best young artiste.The headies wouldn't want to appear to be following in the foot steps of its rivals so it left her out of it and barring any altercation with the organizers en route,she was bound to be compensated one way or the other and this being a non-voting category,the headies didn't hesitate in settling for Uyo Meyo.Most fans would too if they could but if all these songs were to be honestly judged based on vocal quality,Tems' Rebel would win it.

BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (MALE)

A non-voting category for the single male artiste with the most outstanding vocal performance on a single song or album.

1. Tay Iwar – ‘Utero’

2. Johnny Drille – ‘Finding Efe’

3. Nonso Bassey – ‘411’

4. Funbi – ‘Serenade’

5. Wurld - ‘Wishes & Butterflies’-(Winner)

Johnny Drille is an incredible artiste with an absorbing and distinctive vocal prowess and in as much as he appeared the favourite to clinch this,you also knew you couldn't safely wave off Wurld's Wishes and Butterflies.The key determinant here if you ask me was voice rather than vocal dexterity.The choice of Wurld's Wishes and Butterfly may not be what you expected but then it didn't disappoint you.

BEST STREET-HOP ARTISTE

A voting category for the artiste whose songs are inspired by the streets. Such song should contain lingua, which may also be originated by the artiste and popular on the street.

1. Erigga – ‘Motivation’

2. Chinko Ekun – ‘Able God’ (Winner)

3. Zlatan – ‘Leg Work’

4. Barry Jhay – ‘Aiye’

5. Lyta – ‘Time’

Street hop wasn't quite about being a tight category as it was about not knowing what to expect.Chinko Ekun had one of the biggest hits in the period under review and would ordinarily be the clear favourite for the headie but Legwork was an anthem to commemorate Zlatan's Zanku dance which had swept through the nation and beyond.As far as following criteria strictly went,it birthed what still is the most common slang on the streets-'Gbe bodi e'.In the end,the biggest song won.

BEST RECORDING OF THE YEAR

A non-voting category for the best rec ording (that meets the judges’ requirements of excellence; songwriting, production, rendition) by an artiste or group in the year under review.

1. Adekunle Gold – Ire

2. Patoranking - Heal D World

3. Brymo - Olanrewaju

4. Teni - Uyo Meyo (Winner)

5. Burna Boy - Ye

If you don't agree Patoranking's video for Heal D World is the best ever by a nigerian artiste then you would at least agree that its the best in the last decade.Soundcity rewarded it and since the headies refused to list it in the best video category,one had to think he would be compensated for that here.Especially since its non-voting and entirely at the discretion of the organizers.Well,the headies chose Teni for Best Recording and i don't think anyone would disagree with that.

BEST RAP SINGLE

A voting category for a single (released on-air) recording of a rap song.

1. ‘Talk’ - Falz (Winner)

2. ‘We Don't Do That Over Here’ – Hotyce

3. ‘40ft Container’ – Illbliss featuring Olamide

4. ‘Sacrifice’ - Payper Corleone featuring Alpha Ojini

5. ‘ Gang Gang’ – AQ and Loose Kaynon

Falz's Talk is a great song and had always been the favourite to take this home.Illbliss' 40 feet Container represented the most likely possibility of an upset but over the years also,the headies has exhibited an uncanny appreciation of rap music and could also choose to reward AQ & Loose Kaynon's Gang Gang.No controversy,Falz clinched it as expected.

BEST ALTERNATIVE SONG

A voting category for the artiste whose songs reflect any form or style of music which falls outside the mainstream of recent or past popular musical trends.

1. ‘Cash’ – Lady Donli

2. ‘Rebel’ – Tems

3. ‘Finding Efe’ – Johnny Drille (Winner)

4. ‘Heya’ – Brymo

5. ‘Ire ’ - Adekunle Gold

Tems' Rebel and Finding Efe are very good songs but Adekunle Gold's Ire was everyone's pick for this category.Asides being more a fan favourite than any artiste on this list,Ire resonated with music lovers in a way none of the other songs were able to.The headie suprisingly went to Johnny Drille for Finding Efe.Alternative music however,has never been a category many people worried about and i doubt many observers would list this among the talking points of the night.

BEST RAP ALBUM

A non-voting category for the best album by a rap artiste or group in year under review.

1. ‘Moral Instruction’ – Falz (Winner)

2. ‘Crown’ – AQ and Loose Kaynon

3. ‘A Study On Self Worth: Yxng Dxnzl’ – M.I Abaga

4. ‘Clone Wars, Vol. IV (These Buhari Times)’ - Show Dem Camp

First of all,no serious award show should list a category as huge as best rap album as a non-voting.Best Vocalists and Best Recording they could be excused on the grounds that they wanted to reward the qualities the average music fan won't bother much about but even if rap weren't as much a big deal as it was,the mere fact that albums; whole music projects would be judged requires fans to have a say.The headies chose to go with Falz's Moral Instructions probably because it was a socio-conscious effort and everyone loves to wax sanctimonious about how that should be encouraged but talking genuine rap quality,AQ & Loose Kaynon's Crown is a rare gem.The very best in recent memory.

LYRICIST ON THE ROLL

A non-voting category for the rap artiste with the best lyrical depth and performance on a single song or album.

1. YCEE – ‘Balance’

2. Boogey – ‘ Implode’

3. Paybac – ‘Implode’

4. Ghost – ‘Crown’

5. Tec – ‘Crown’

6. AQ – ‘Crown’ (Winner)

Not that votes really count much even where they are solicited and one can't help but feel it would be more honourable for the headies to list these categories as voting and then go ahead to make their pick.It is an insult on rap fans to insinuate at this age and time that they don't understand the concept of 'lyrical content'.

Probably there was a need for variety et al,if not, verses off AQ and Loose Kaynon's classic Crown album would take up the entire nominations in this category.That is the best lyrical work naija hip hop has seen in quite a while.Ghost's verse on MI's Popping would be the only external content on this list.

Ycee appeared the favourite here because he was the only nominee with a whole track which technically meant he had a lengthier pool of lines for the organizers to judge from but to be honest,the choice of AQ's verse on Crown can't be faulted.Anything off the Crown album is indisputable.

BEST COLLABO

A voting category for the best r&b, pop or hip-hop collaborative track (including cameos).

1. ‘Like’ - Reekado Banks featuring Tiwa Savage, Fiokee

2. ‘One Ticket ’ - Kiss Daniel featuring Davido

3. ‘Fake Love’ – Starboy featuring Duncan Mighty, Wizkid

4. ‘ Killin’ Dem' - Burna Boy featuring Zlatan (Winner)

5. ‘Amaka’ – 2baba featuring Peruzzi

This was what i initially tagged the toughest category of the night till i figured out there were really just 2 contenders involved-2baba's Amaka featuring Peruzzi and Killin' Dem,Burna boy featuring Zlatan.2baba had always gotten loads of love from the headies and had to be favourite but if votes really were to count,Killin' Dem is a much fresher hit with the voting public and would win a free and fair contest.Killin' Dem won it and that indeed was the popular choice.

BEST PERFORMER

A non-voting category for the artistes whose stagecraft, showmanship and performance routines are exceptionally conceptualized and executed in the year under review with consideration of live performances.

1. Falz

2. Tiwa Savage

3. Brymo

4. Yemi Alade (Winner)

5. Adekunle Gold

Yemi Alade puts mad energy into her stage performances and i couldn't help but agree with this choice as well.

BEST R&B SINGLE

A category for the best R&B single in the year under review (by a single individual or group).

1. ‘ Tipsy ’ – Odunsi ft. RAYE

2. ‘Serenade’ - Funbi

3. ‘ Uyo Meyo ’ – Teni

4. ‘Wishes and Butterflies’ - Wurld

5. ‘Gimme Love’ – Seyi Shay featuring Runtown (Winner)

This category had to be between Teni's Uyo Meyo and Wurld's Wishes and Butterflies.The organizers could choose to reward a huge hit from a star artiste or the mind-blowing singing of an up and coming force.There is no way in the world Seyi Shay deserved this headie over these other 2 nominees.Its daylight robbery.

BEST POP SINGLE

A category for the best pop single in year under review (by single individual or group).

1. Ye-Burna Boy

2. Wetin We Gain- Victor AD

3. Fake Love–Starboy ft Duncan Mighty, Wizkid

4. Case-Teni (Winner)

5. Jealous– Fireboy DML

6. Baby-Joeboy

This was a pretty tight one that had to leave you feeling sorry for the others."As my papa no be Dangote" was at a time the most popular line off a nigerian song.As brilliant and loved as the other songs on this list were,you would have to agree Teni's Case deserved this more.

BEST R&B/ POP ALBUM

A category for the best r&b/pop album in the year under review (by single individual or group).

1. Rare – Odunsi (The Engine)

2. Outside – Burna Boy

3. No Bad Songz – Kizz Daniel

4. Mayor of Lagos – Mayorkun (Winner)

5. About 30 - Adekunle Gold

This had to be between Burna boy's Outside,Burna boy's Outside and Burna boy's Outside.You can't sell even to the worst fool on earth,that Mayorkun's Mayor Of Lagos was a better album than Outside.Not a few music lovers will tell you it is the best album made since OBO's Genesis in 2012.Burna boy made a true classic and the headie going to Mayorkun is even a much bigger robbery than Reekado Banks winning the Next Rated over Lil Kesh and Kiss Daniels.

BEST MUSIC VIDEO

A voting category for the best conceptualist, best directed and most exciting video in the year under review. This award goes to the video director.

1. Dangote (Burna Boy) – Clarence Peters (Winner)

2. Available (Patoranking) - Clarence Peters

3. Ire (Adekunle Gold) - Aje Films

4. Talk (Falz) - Prodigeezy

5. Jaiye (Ladipoe) - 88 Factor

It really is not possible to overlook Patoranking's Heal D World video.The only logical explanation would be that it couldn't be nominated without winning and since Soundcity had already done that,the headies didn't want to appear to be 'playing catch up'.Having said that,i don't think anyone would agree that these were the best videos in the period under review.Not when there are Mr Eazi's Ogede and others of similar quality.

Burna Boy's 'Ye was an even better video than Dangote and for the life for me,i simply can't explain why the headies,even with a music station among its sister outfits,would deem Adekunle Gold's Ire and Falz's Talk among the top 5 videos in Nigeria.Its ridiculous.To make matters worse,Burna boy's Dangote was chosen over the only video worth a second look,Patoranking's Available.

HIP HOP WORLD REVELATION OF THE YEAR

A voting category for the best new artiste with a debut album adjudged to be outstanding in terms of artistic quality and impact within the year under review.

1. Odunsi

2. Mayorkun (Winner)

3. Wurld

4. Humblesmith

Mayorkun may not have deserved to win Best R&B/Pop album over Burna boy but he definitely deserved to win this.The Mayor of Lagos may not be as good as Outside but it would stand out from most albums. 

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR

An individual responsible for producing the most acclaimed song or album in the year under review.

1.Phantom - ‘Ye’ by Burna Boy

2.Ozedikus – ‘Dumebi’ by Rema

3.Spellz – ‘Askamaya’ by Teni

4.Killertunes – ‘Fake Love’ by Starboy featuring Duncan Mighty and Wizkid (Winner)

5. Kel-P Vibes – ‘Killing Dem’ by Burna Boy featuring Zlatan

Listing these in the right order, Phantom for 'Ye would be first,Kel-P for Killin' Dem would come second,Ozedikus for Dumebi third,Spellz for Askamaya fourth and Killertunes for Fake Love last.You may disagree with my other choices but if Killertunes isn't at the bottom of your list then maybe i shouldn't even be having the conversation with you in the first place.The headies gave it to Killertunes.

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

A voting category for the best album (solo or group) in year under review, that meets judges’ requirements of excellence (songwriting, production, rendition and impact).

1.About 30 - Adekunle Gold

2.Outside – Burna Boy

3.Moral Instruction – Falz (Winner)

4.No Bad Songz – Kizz Daniel

At this point you want to get on the stage and re-enact's Olamide's 'Ko ni dafun Iya anybody' moment.Falz's Moral Instructions can't beat Burna boy's Outside to album of the year.Saying the fans voted for it makes it all the more annoying.You could at least understand the organizers awarded him best rap album because it was 'righteous' to reward a socio-conscious album in these times to encourage other artistes to tow that path but when then encroach into the voting categories and try to pass off their personal choices as those of music fans,then there is a huge problem.No one would deny Burna boy's Outside best album and make any sense.

NEXT RATED

This category is a voting category for the most promising act in the year under review.

1. Rema (Winner)

2. Joeboy

3. Fireboy DML

4. Victor AD

5. Lyta

6. Zlatan

When Tekno rejected his Next Rated nomination 2 editions ago,the organizers laid down the criteria for a nomination here.Most noteworthy was the declaration that an artiste was eligible no matter how huge if he/she didn't have an album out.There were times when this category had genuine prospects with more than one hit to their names and most did go on to become much bigger stars.Zlatan,Rema Ok..Victor AD fair but the 2 'boys'-Joe & Fire,should have been sacrificed for more gloss-Teni,Peruzzi to name 2.The choice of Lyta as a nominee here is a very bad joke.Maybe its time the Headies merge Rookie of the year and Revelation of the Year with Next Rated into a straight forward Best New Artiste category.

Well, the Next Rated crown was between Rema and Zlatan and Rema won.

SONG OF THE YEAR

A voting category for the most popular song in the year under review.

1. 'Ye - Burna Boy (Winner)

2. Dumebi -Rema

3. Wetin We Gain-Victor AD

4. Fake Love–Starboy ft Duncan Mighty, Wizkid

5. Case- Teni

6. Leg work- Zlatan

7. Baby– Joeboy

8. Jealous– Fireboy DML

In as much as i believe Burna boy was cheated twice,i don't think 'Ye deserved to be Song of the Year ahead of Teni's Case,Victor AD's Wetin We Gain and Rema's Dumebi.It wasn't as accepted by music lovers as these 3 were.Burna owned the year under review so perhaps there was a need for him to have just as many headies as anyone for the night.

ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

Most critically and commercially adjudged artiste in the year under review. Overall most successful artiste in the year under review.

1. Burna Boy (Winner)

2. Wizkid

3. Davido

4. Tiwa Savage

5. Falz

This here was also between Burna boy,Burna boy and Burna boy and i am glad he got what was rightfully his.No worthier choice.Burna had a blazing single before he announced an album in Deja Vu,dropped a dazzling pre-album single in Heaven's Gate and knocked everyone out with one of the finest works ever by a nigerian artiste with the Outside album.The world stumbled on 'Ye while searching for Kanye West's album of same title and when he shot the video for the song, nigerians were celebrating a song released over 6 months ago like it came just yesterday.As if that wasn't enough, Burna dropped the bomb called On the Low shortly afterwards.Then of course there was Killin' Dem with Zlatan.This headie already had Burna boy written on it a whole year ago.

HEADIES’ VIEWER’S CHOICE

A voting category to award the fan’s favorite artiste with the most digital tractions (downloads, views, streams) in the year under review.

1. Mr Eazi

2. Burna Boy

3. Teni (Winner)

4. Fireboy DML

5. Rema

6. Joe Boy

7. Wizkid

8. Davido

Most people don't really care about a category organizers slot in to make viewers of their music channel feel good and as such,no matter where it went,few really cared.Wizkid has more fans than any artiste here and would ordinarily be expected to win.Teni did.

AFRICAN ARTISTE RECOGNITION

A non-Nigerian award category for an individual African artiste or group with the most outstanding achievement, impact and infiltration into the Nigerian music scene in the year under review.

1. Master KG - Skeleton Moves (SOUTH AFRICA)

2. Afro B - Drogba (Joanna) (IVORY COAST)

3. Sauti Sol – Melanin (KENYA)

4. King Promise – CCTV (GHANA) (WINNER)

5. DJ Maphoriza - iWalk Ye Phara (SOUTH AFRICA)

Not to take anything from the quality of King Promise's CCTV but Sauti Sol's Melanin featuring Patoranking,if we want to talk the song that resonated most with Nigerian fans and if were to talk outstanding achievement and impact,this headie would undoubtedly be Afro-B's Drogba; the biggest hit on the continent.It also was without a doubt the most loved by music fans outside Africa.Afro-B had Wizkid on the remix and had already sold out the O2 Islington Academy in London by this time last year.

It would be too harsh to say the 2019 headies was disappointing so i will simply say it wasn't exciting.Only few categories were 'tight' in the strict sense of the word and even at that,there were some quite shocking choices.Even if they still hold onto the Best Vocalists and Recording of the Year categories,the organizers really need to make the Best Rap album and Lyricist on the Roll categories voting ones.At this point,we really should be talking about rebranding awards to suit the dictates of time and not how to make them decent.A Rookie of the Year headie is according to them,one for a rookie who had a 'successful year without an album' while the Next Rated is also specified as being for 'the most promising act' also without an album.A stand-out rookie in plain language,is a promising act.If at all,they choose to keep both then the specifications really need to change.I honestly don't think an artiste that has recorded a debut album needs special encouragement with 'Revelation Of The Year'.If he is good enough,he would be vying for the top prizes on display.I hope the headies gets better.

MI'S THE VIPER: THE KING IS BACK

The saying 'If you shoot at the King then don't miss' should be made to come with the proviso '..And be wary of a reprisal'.The King may have gotten too comfortable and started to take a lot of things for granted but a direct hit is enough motivation to prove why he is King in the first place.Before MI's pummeling of Vector on The Viper,he had appeared incapable of being that rapper we once knew and revered.He had become more concerned with playing Godfather and strutting around like Nigerian hip hop rested solely on his shoulders.If he hadn't been dissed by Vector and there was so much beef in the air like the one between Davolee and half the other rappers around,i bet he would have dropped a song by now preaching 'Nobody wins when the family feuds' but even Jay-Z didn't become God MC after 2 or 3 hit albums.To worsen matters,MI wasn't quite on the level he once was years ago.But if he has proven one thing with The Viper,it is that his is a genuine loss of hunger perhaps due to a premature belief that he has nothing to prove than a case of having lost it.MI actually was the best lyricist in his prime but why he changed the game and made hip hop an essential fixture of the mainstream is that he created the perfect balance for those who wanted the lines and those who couldn't care less.His well-crafted lyrics were rendered in the sickest delivery we had ever seen over inch-perfect beats.The Viper answers the question where has the real MI been.No one is raising an objection as to how long it took him to respond to Vector because anyone who knew he was cooking a delicacy as sumptuous as The Viper would have told him 'take your time'.

Artistes have thumped through tracks.Matter of fact one just 2 weeks ago referencing Jude Abaga but the menacing drum effects combine fabulously with a royal delivery on The Viper to breathe extraordinary power into his lines."..So I swore by my name coz there is no higher authority..".The emotion pierces through and by the time he says "You can never battle Jude, your default setting is loose.Thats why i choose when you raise your alarm to hit that snooze", you are suppressing screams.MI needed to remind everyone who he was before stating his case and the artistry involved is why no other rapper boasts of more fans outside rap.

With game like he had on The Viper, MI is back to 'SONning' MCs and anyone taking shots at 'daddy' does so at his own peril.

What is important however,is that MI finds a way to stay motivated without having to be incentivized by a beef.Its very obvious he hasn't lost it and there couldn't be a better time for the hip hop cause which he is so passionate about.The genre has received massive attention since several beef tracks followed V.E.C's The Purge and that can only be consolidated by some great rap music.Every enthusiast hopes MI's Judah EP dropping on Wednesday 9th is the first step in that direction.

The King is back.

MAINA: WE MUST NOT FORGET THE ROLES BUHARI AND MALAMI PLAYED

It is in the best interest of Nigeria for politicians to use our anti-graft agencies to fight themselves or whomsoever they would ordinarily look away from.Though they end up being called 'hypocritical',at least the nigerian people get some form of atonement.The former head of service,Winifred Oyo-Ita became a marked lady since she went public with Buhari's knowledge of Abdulrasheed Maina's reinstatement and the role the Attorney-General of the Federation,Abubakar Malami played in bringing back the former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT).

She told the public how Malami by passed her office through the Federal Civil Service Commission and got Maina reinstated into the civil service with a promotion to Director at the Ministry of Interior.To use the exact words of the House of Representatives probe committee,Maina's reinstatement was 'fraudulently master-minded' and that the Attorney General,Abubakar Malami 'pressured all that mattered' to force Maina back into the civil service.

The Presidency after almost 2 years of searching,eventually found Oyo-Ita wanting in a N3bn contract scam and forced her into retirement.The lady herself isn't putting in much of a resistance perhaps in the hope that she is availed a soft landing.Well,not that too many are jumping to her defence.

If a lot of Nigerians criticized former CJN,Walter Onnonghen's trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal despite knowing his defence to having over a billion naira in liquid cash as at 2016 was that he saved his allowances and sold farm produce,it was because they were worried Buhari wanted a northerner in place and in time for the 2019 election petitions.

Oyo-Ita won't enjoy that privilege and nigerians are bound to treat her case as a welcome casualty in the power game.

Maina was arrested just days ago at a hotel in Abuja along with a 20-year old son of his whose name was given as Faisal after sneaking in from Dubai.There are 2 issues we should be worried about.The first is the tendency of the Buhari administration to lock away persons with sensitive information without trial.Maina while in hiding,granted an interview saying Malami orchestrated his recall into the civil service after a meeting with him in Dubai on the orders of President Buhari.In other words,Maina corroborated Oyo-Ita's position on Buhari being fully aware of his return.It is not only the DSS that hides anyone government doesn't want squealing on it.

Buhari's former head of DSS and townsman,Lawal Daura was arrested shortly after the seige by his men on the National Assembly complex with the last heard about him being he had been handed over to the police.Aisha Buhari's Aide de Camp,Sani Baba-Inna was accused of defrauding unnamed persons of N2.5bn in her name.There were questions as to how a common ADC would grow so much balls.That was before a member of his family in an interview with popular activist Prince Deji Adeyanju said they knew he took the money because he had been keeping money for 'madam'.

As a matter of fact,they were aware of a house he bought for one of Buhari's daughters in Abuja.Baba-Inna was also 'handed' to the police.More than a year later, Daura and Baba-Inna haven't been taken to any court.Maina in addition to how President Buhari was a part of his recall, also claimed to have pointed this administration in the direction of stolen public funds.Asides saying what could raise questions as to how government proceeded regarding those funds,he may know a lot more.

Maina must not be hidden somewhere.If they have arrested him to answer for his alleged embezzlement of N2bn pension funds,then they must do so.We must bare in mind that the last major talking point generated by the Buhari's war against corruption was the withdrawal of charges against Danjuma Goje for looting funds as Gombe state governor in what appeared part of a deal to make him step down for the President's preferred choice for Senate President.

If Maina is an attempt to score some PR points for themselves, then they must be aware that it means more than that to Nigerians.Questions will definitely be asked of Buhari and his gang if Maina is controversially let go.

The second thing we should be worried about is Abubakar Malami's involvement in the Maina saga.If Buhari is immune from prosecution,Malami isn't.Nigeria's Attorney-General is accused of meeting with a wanted fugitive which is a crime and also boycotting due process in installing him back into the system.What of Abubakar Malami?.If President Buhari didn't know sitting down with a fugitive is a criminal offence,it is the duty of the Chief law officer of the country to point it out to him.

The House of Reps have already indicted Malami in Maina's reinstatement and we cannot revisit the issue of Maina without mentioning Malami.Oyo-Ita wasn't reprimanded,sacked or charged to court for lying and that more than anything indicates they all knew she was telling the truth.Buhari has not acted on Oyo-Ita's report neither has he acted on that of the House of Reps all indicting Malami.While on the hunt for Oyo-Ita,Buhari didn't even bother constituting his own probe even if to give nigerians a wrong impression that he was serious about fighting corruption.He still doesn't care what anyone thinks.These are the times we live in.

ZLATAN: WHAT HITS ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

Sometimes having the talent isn't just enough.Nigerian artistes have over the years pulled stunts to draw attention to themselves and their craft.From the semi-effective like Skiibii faking his own death to the utterly feckless like Peruzzi having a bedroom video of himself and a lady leaked just weeks before his HeartWork EP dropped.But if ever any real discussion is had on factors outside the music working to favour an artiste then Zlatan Ibile will feature prominently.

I followed him more closely once i heard Oja and by virtue of that,have had a front row seat to his meteoric rise in the music industry.Zlatan has grown to become not only Nigeria's number one street artiste but also the most featured musician in the industry right now.His most widely accepted song is Zanku (Legwork) which at best is a semi-hit and of all the zillion features he has had,Killin Dem with Burna boy and Chinko Ekun's Able God, if we walk a little further in time are the only ones worth mentioning.

A critical look at his input on both songs will reveal he didn't have as much bearing as others on it.Killin Dem was almost entirely Burna's chorus and verse while Lil Kesh in addition to a verse,also contributed to Chinko Ekun's well loved chorus on Able God.Why then is Zlatan the most coveted artiste in the country?.Where are the hits?.

First he courted attention.A careful look at Zlatan's instagram page before the fame will reveal he aggressively pushed 2 things-a bottled water throwing challenge in which he tagged a lot of celebrities but didn't get much response and the Zanku dance.At that time,the bottled water challenge which involved tossing a half full bottle and making it land upright appeared his best bet at catching the eye.The Shaku Shaku was in vogue and he appeared somewhat lame and desperate trying to start his own dance.

Zlatan even before the fame was pictured and videoed in fly houses and had as friends he hung out with,even bigger artistes who appeared to be eating from his palms rather than the other way round-Lil Kesh and Naira Marley to name two.He featured both on the follow up song to Oja, Jogor which also didn't get much buzz.

Then the break through finally came in the form of Chinko Ekun's Able God where the artistes danced his Zanku in the music video.People loved the dance and it started to grow from then on.It became much bigger than an even bigger Zlatan whose best claim to fame at that time was being on Able God.When he released the Zanku (Leg work) song,a lot more people got to know he started it and that was when he started popping on the streets.

He badly needed to build on that and he got featured by Burna boy and Davido back to back.Most people i told i felt he had an 'agreement' to be featured on those songs said he wasn't rich enough.They obviously hadn't seen what he was living like.The yahoo scandal had them thinking again and even sprung up the question of whether Chinko Ekun was also paid through Lil Kesh to have him on Able God.Bum Bum didn't have the usual fanfare accompanying a Davido song asides the fact that it was produced by Zlatan's producer,Rexxie and both videos weren't at par with what both artistes were used to making.

Killin Dem was initially pitched as a joint effort when it was released and till this day,Zlatan's name comes first on the video on Burna boy's YouTube page.Remarkable also is the fact that only Zlatan's name was mentioned at the beginning of the song.However,that strategy worked wonders.

The 'Zanku' guy had the attention of the big boys and everyone too wanted a slice.The yahoo saga worked more in favour of Naira Marley who went on to drop 2 well accepted songs upon release in Opotoyi and the monstrous hit, Soapy but most people barely noticed Zlatan recorded 4 Days in Okotie Eboh and This Year as well.Not even his street fan base.

Countless features ever since but Zlatan asides not having a decent delivery,has neither a catchy nor distinctive style to enable him make a solid impression on virtually all the songs he has been on.A hit is truly a hit when the streets love it and the Zanku dance and 'Gbe bodi e' slang have kept the streets enthralled till this day.

Most artistes try to key into the street cred when they put him on a track.Regardless of having not really  stood out artistically, the streets love Zlatan and that represents opportunity.

He has teased a song dissing recently evicted Big Brother Naija contestant and erstwhile favourite,Tacha.Everyone is talking about it with fans on his side finding it ballsy and hilarious.

Focus will most likely be on anything but the quality of the song and because the Gbe bodi e master is still appreciated where counts most for him,it won't change a lot.Never have factors outside the music favoured an artiste this much.

VECTOR'S THE PURGE: BREATHING LIFE INTO THE GAME

MI HAD IT COMING

There couldn't be a better pointer to how dormant Nigerian hip hop was than MI walking away unscathed with a proclamation as audacious as You Rappers Need To Fix Up Your Life.South African rappers were killing ours out there but this guy too was below par and singing like his peers.He released a pop culture friendly album after that and just months later was back to his opportunistic best exploiting the low-pressure ambience of the rap scene to tell us he wanted to resurrect hip hop in Nigeria with his crew and had 3 albums coming.MI may be the biggest ever rap artiste Nigeria has produced but he wasn't half the rapper he once was.Like Vec rightly said on The Purge-"African rapper number one my ass.Boy,the Flavour left".

MI was more or less a personification of the problem-our rappers simply stopped being good enough but MI rather than cop to the fact that he slipped off,was telling others they needed to up their game.Of the 3 albums released on his hip hop mission,AQ & Loose Kaynon's The Crown was the only one qorth talking about.Blaqbonez sang and nursery-rhymed through his while MI was appalling with the excessive attempt to sound foreign over some lame songs.He was telling us Pusha-T ought to be grateful to be mentioned in the same breath as him and was preaching against racism where he lives (Nigeria,just so we are clear).The Martell Cypher came and rolled past without a single line worthy of mention.Then a second one dropped after Blaqbonez declared himself best rapper in Africa with 4 guys from Chocolate City still chest-thumping like they were doing something out of the ordinary.Vector had enough.Heck,even if it meant resurrecting a 'deaded' beef,MI and his baggage needed to be put in their place.

IMPACT ON THE CULTURE

Vector's The Purge featuring Payper and Vader was the number one trending topic on twitter just hours after it was released.Rap is a contact sport and beef is a highly appealing aspect of rap culture especially for fans outside the genre.The Purge is quite simply the strongest surge Nigerian hip hop has felt in quite a while.No desperate chorus trying to appeal to a wider range of fans and no fancy beat to conceal a lack of substance.Albeit for just one track,we were back to talking dope punchlines and metaphors-3 lyricists unleashing a most brutal verbal assault.

There's been several degrees of revolt against the subsisting order by some top rap acts in the past and in all cases,a shred of purity is sacrificed with each level of conformity to the status quo.The Purge is classical rap music and it highlights just how viable pure content still is.

They say if you shoot at the King then don't miss and MI took quite a hit from Vector.That is a landmark and there couldn't be a better wake up call to naija rappers.'Accountability' is key.Anyone wishing to assume flagbearer status must be up to it.Rappers have been quiet for too long.

ALBUM REVIEW: DESPITE A DIP IN ARTISTRY, PHYNO STILL DELIVERS ON DEAL WITH IT

Phyno made a name for himself as an indigenous rapper with the least dependence ever on a groovy or catchy chorus.He always had an inch-perfect delivery for a track and the classy drift from ibo to english and back was breath-taking.When he tried his hands on afro-pop,he made 2 of the biggest songs in the country back-to-back in Connect and Father Father.It has to be said for him that no nigerian artiste has ever managed that prior.

A lot has happened since he released his sophomore album,The Playmaker where we saw him excel at new levels of versatility and display an abundant knack for the extraordinary.Everything that has happened since then are pretty much summed up on the 21 tracks on this album.

Though the unique quality the artiste has does pop up every now and then, in between he makes songs that at the very best,can be referred to as casualties of the very high standard he has set.Then finally,there are ones that make you wonder if you even know the artiste at all.

Noteworthy also is the heavier reliance on the indigenous elements of his game for Deal With It than ever before.Some times to great effect,other times not.He opens the album with much panache on the title track,Deal With It.Phyno oozes sheer class on a thumping Benjamz beat in a style quite reminiscent of the 'King of the East' we fell in love with.

Deal With It is perhaps the best indigenous hip hop song made in at least the last 2 years while the trappy and infectious Oso Ga EMe gives an insight to just how ingenious Phyno's creative process can get.Ke Ife O is sweet,refined and well produced with all the trappings of a new era love song.On his day,the Playmaker is a master of sounds.

However,what baffles about this album is the disparity between the great songs and others not on their level.God's Willing with Runtown lacked a genuine spark to lift it out of the ordinary while he had Phenom and Falz to save Get The Info and make the nice chorus count.A Major Bangz beat complete with a subtle soul sample and what is fast becoming a trademark switch in rap instrumentals make Speak Life sound perhaps more pleasant than it ordinarily would.

These latter set of rap songs are what you could classify as victims of an over-pampered listener.

But it is Body feat Harmonize and Recognize with his Pent hauze signee,Cheque that shockingly speak little of Phyno's artistry.He sounds many worlds apart from the artiste we have seen severally shuffle ibo and english lines with an absorbing delivery on the right beat.

While Recognize has a decent pre-chorus and chorus to serve as a healthy distraction,he is ineffectively fast and tasteless on Body.Phyno in addition to being a rapper also sings and a song with the highlife King and fellow Enugu boy,Flavour would have anyone salivating at its prospects but then Vibe is a huge disappointment.They never quite adapt to the native instrumental with Phyno's pace being put again to dismal use and Flavour's unmoving chorus making matters worse.When language starts to become a barrier when listening to a Phyno track,you know he has set himself up really wrong for it to come to that.

Judging from more recent antecedents, Phyno's best was likely to come from his pop songs.The Bag was so very well received by fans,everyone overlooked the not-so-impressive All I See featuring Duncan Mighty which could very much pass for the second pre-album single.There was the typical sprinkling of highlife elements but it basically had you stuck in foreplay all through with no raw cutting edge to drive it home.

Overall,it must be said for Phyno however that there are more outstanding pop songs on the album and a lesser gap in quality between them and the ones that aren't.

A lot of focus will be on songs with high profile features like Blessings which had the chorus-killing heroics of the maestro,Don Jazzy himself and a verse from his regular side kick,Olamide to complete the 'Father Father' recipe.Then also the very captivating Ka Anyi Na Yo; where Phyno and Teni combine so brilliantly with some great singing in ibo and yoruba.

But songs like Deri deserve just as much mention.The absorbing shift in rhythmic gears on that tempo is so dazzling.The ibos have proven time and time again they have a distinctive winning formula when it comes to gospel songs and Phyno taps quite brilliantly into that for the uplifting I Got Your Back.The Zoro assisted Uwam also has to go down as a memorable Phyno track.

On the other hand, Ride For You tops the list of songs that fall victim to the standard set by a singing Phyno even on this album.It has a big name feature in Davido and he did some really good singing in ibo.Ma Chi is a bit drenched in too much intensity for a love song and the only song to fall on the not-just-good-enough column is Problem.

Phyno may not quite be the artiste he once was but dripping this much quality in his current state attests to just how talented he is.Deal With It is an impressive album.